Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Weekend Box Office - " The Hunger Games" was number one at the box office for the forth week in a row taking in $21.5 million, "The Three Stooges" was a surprise second taking in $17.1 million, and "Cabin in the Woods" came in third with $14.8 million.





                                                                                        


     Mattel released images of "The Hunger Games" Barbie based on the movie heroine Katniss Everdeen. The doll which will be released in August has already stirred collectors into a frenzy,especially on the internet. However, call me crazy and it won't be the first time, I believe that the Barbie looks more like Olivia Wilde than the actress who played Katniss...Jennifer Lawrence.
                   



                                                                      


    Anticipating the July 20 release of the final installment of the Batman trilogy "The Dark Knight Rises." Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway are featured on the cover of the Entertainment Weekly Summer Movie Preview issue in full costume as Batman and Catwoman.
 
 
 
 
                                                                           
 
 
 
                                              
     Ridley Scott has been releasing videos that introduce elements and characters from his upcoming Alien prequel "Prometheus". Here are two of the videos featuring Guy Pearce and Michael Fassbender.



                                                                                  
                                                                         



                                                                           
                                                                             


   
     Science Fiction came once again close to being science fact at the recent Coachella Music Festival when Snoop Dogg performed with a hologram of Tupac that seemed to interact with the crowd,as well as, his fellow rapper. The holo rapper was so well received that Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are seriously considering a tour. Words fail me. I'm still waiting for the flying cars.
 
 
 
 
                                                                          










                                                                                                                                                               

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

    Weekend Box Office - Hunger Games scored the number one spot for the third week in a row raking in $33.6 million, American Reunion came in second with $21 million, and third place went to Titanic 3D with $17.3 million.


                                                               
                                                                        


     AMC Theatres will be showing the Mighty Marvel Movie Marathon. The movies which will be shown in order of their release will be  "Iron Man", "The Incredible Hulk", "Iron Man 2","Thor", and "Captain America:The First Avenger" leading up to the midnight showing of "The Avengers". Tickets for this movie marathon has already sold out in some locations. There have been a few new trailers for "The Avengers" that have ramped up excitement for this movie and now this marathon has raised the level to a fever pitch.
                                                                               


                                                                            
                                                                               



                                                                    



                                                                                                                                                   

     "Avatar: The Legend of Korra" debuts on April 14 and I highly recommend watch this series, especially if you are a fan of "Avatar:The Last Airbender". I've seen the first episode and the series is as well written and as brilliantly animated as the original Avatar series. I look forward to watching this series and seeing more of this world unfold.



                                                                               


     We had "Mirror, Mirror" with Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins as one version of the Snow White story. Another version of the classic fairy tale which is a darker and more action oriented take called "Snow White and The Huntsman" is soon to be released starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth.



                                                                              
                                                                           

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

     Weekend box office - Hunger Games remained number one making $61.1 million, Wrath of the Titans came in at number two making $34.2 million, and Mirror Mirror came in third making making $19 million.
 
 
 
 
                                                                           
 
 
 

    Adult Swim pulled a genius April Fool's prank. Instead of the usual Saturday night anime, we got a flashback to the Cartoon Network of yesteryear and were treated to Toonami. The only anime they didn't preempt was "Bleach". We were treated to old faves like "Dragonball Z", "Gundam Wing", "Tenchi Muyo", and others that they no longer air. My seventeen year old received a text from one of his friends excitedly telling him that Toonami had returned. The realization that it was April Fool's Day and that this was a prank was not well received by many elated fans of Toonami. Especially when those same fans are quite miffed that Cartoon Network has almost become a misnomer. Nice one.
 
 
 
 
                                                                    
 
 
 
     Cartoon Network has released details of the new animated show " Beware the Batman". Warner Bros. Animation has produced a new "Batman series" featuring cutting-edge CGI and new style of Batman story that features classic Batman rogues, as well as, new villains never before seen in a Batman animated series. We'll also be treated to an Alfred that is a former secret agent and a different type of sidekick in a sword-wielding teenager named Katana.The show will be executive produced by WB Animation's Sam Register and will also have Glen Murakami ("Batman Beyond", "Teen Titans") and Mitch Watson ( "Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated") as producers.
 
 
 
 
                                                                  
 
 
 
      
    Sony Pictures released a trailer for the remake of "Total Recall" starring Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel. People who were concerned about a "Total Recall" that didn't take place on Mars need not worry. This trailer will put your fears to rest.
 
 
 
                                                         
                                                                            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

    Weekend Box Office: Hunger Games scored big raking in an epic $155 million, making it was the third the biggest opening weekend ever, only behind the finale of the "Harry Potter" series and "The Dark Knight". " 21 Jump Street" took second place with $21 million, and "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" held on to the number three spot with $13 million.

 
 
   
 
 
     The teaser trailer for the final installment of the "Twilight" series was released this week and has already created the obligatory buzz. Here's the trailer and you can see why.
    

                                                                                    
 
      The first trailer for "The Host" based on a novel by Stephenie Meyer (The Twilight Saga). The movie stars Saoirse Ronan and Diane Kruger.
 
 
 
 
                                                                                           
    
      April will be the month for new animated shows. First up on Disney XD the launch of Marvel Universe with "Ultimate Spider-Man" and "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes".
 
 
 
                                                                        
    
      Nickelodeon will release their new animated series "The Legend of Korra" the follow-up to the popular "Avatar: The Last Airbender"
              
                            
                                                                                
                                                                              

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

        The weekend box office had "21 Jump Street" at number one with $35 million, pushing "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" to number two with $22.8 milllion, and "Disney's John Carter" was third with $13.5 million.     
    As we get closer to the the beginning of April and closer to the debut of "The Ultimate Spider-Man",we get even more info about the show. The cast will feature Drake Bell as Peter Parker/Spider-Man,Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons as J.Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber as Norman Osborn, Greg Cipes as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter as Harry Osborn and Flash Thompson, Tara Strong as Mary Jane Watson, Misty Lee as Aunt May, and Stan Lee as Stan the Janitor.
  
                                      
             
 
 
 
                                                                                  

            
        Superman:The Elite is the next DCU animated movie that will be released by Warner Bros. Home Video. The Man of Steel finds his idealism under attack and his heroism overshadowed by a new team of superheroes who have a much darker attitude and utilize more ruthless methods of crimefighting.The cast features George Newbern as Superman, Pauley Perrette as Lois Lane, Robin Atkin Downes as Manchester Black, and David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen. The DVD and Bluray are scheduled for release on June 12, 2012.    



                                                                            
 
 
                                                       

                                                                
                                                                     

      The CW released the first image of Stephen Amell as Green Arrow for the pilot "Arrow". The suit was designed by Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood. The show is a darker and edgier version of the character and completely unrelated to the previous version seen in the CW show "Smallville".


                                                                   
                                                                      
                                                      
     




                                                                                                                            

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

    The weekend box office had "DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX" repeating its number one spot at the box office with $42.5 million, "DISNEY'S JOHN CARTER" came second with $30.6 million, and coming in third the teen comedy "Project X" with $11.6 million.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

      The next animated incarnation of Spider-Man debuts on Disney XD on April 1. "Ultimate Spider-Man". The show is part of Disney XD's Marvel Universe block along with the returning animated show "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes". The show is written by Brian Michael Bendis and Paul Dini and produced by Man of Action, the production company responsible for the animated shows "Ben 10" and "Generator Rex".
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
     Here is the first image from "The Lone Ranger" starring Armie Hammer as the title character and Johnny Depp as Tonto which is currently filming and set for release on May 31, 2013. The movie is being directed by Gore Verbinski who also directed "Pirates of the Caribbean".
 
 
 
 
                                                                              
                                                                        
 
 
     Last, but certainly not least, French artist Jean Giraud aka "Moebius" has died at the age of 73. The  artist well known for his comic book art, which often graced the pages of  "Heavy Metal" the self proclaimed adult illustrated fantasy magazine. His concept art also inspired the look of science fiction movies "Alien", "Tron",  and "The Fifth Element", as well as, the animated feature film version of  "Heavy Metal". 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    The weekend box office had "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" at number one with $70.7 million, "Project X" came in second with $20.8 million, and last week's number one, "Act of Valor" came in at third place with $13.7 million.
 
 
 
 
                                                                                    
 
 
  
     Sony Pictures has released a new trailer for "Men in Black 3". The trailer features more scenes of Josh Brolin as the younger version of Tommy Lee Jones' character "Agent K". Emma Thompson also stars as "Agent Oh"
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                             
 
 
 
      Walt Disney Pictures releases "John Carter" this Friday. The movie is based on the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of another famous iconic character, Tarzan.
 
 
 
 
                                                                              
 
 
 
       "The Avengers" movie releases on May 4 and is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Marvel Studios released a new trailer last week that was viewed more than 13.7 million times in the first 24 hours of its debut, setting a new record for the most viewed trailer on iTunes and the iTunes Trailers app fot iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
   
 
 
 
                                                                                  
 
 
 
 
      "Star Wars" concept artist Ralph McQuarrie has died at 82. For those who don't know, he created the look for "Star Wars". George Lucas hired McQuarrie to create the design for his epic space fantasy. He came up with the look for Darth Vader, CP3O, R2-D2, The Stormtroopers, as well as, many others. His artwork was instrumental in persuading 20th Century Fox to green-light the film.
 
 
 
                                                                                
 
 
    Last, but not least, actor Joel Kinnamman is set to star in MGM's remake of "RoboCop". Really, a remake of "RoboCop". "Fright Night", "Total Recall", and now "RoboCop". What else from the eighties and nineties are they going to remake.