Our Top Story Tonight: Hollywood Finds a Cinderella, Rosaline & Lady Macbeth

Hollywood was busy finding lead ladies for some pretty big projects today...

The first major casting announcement is that Lily James, an actress I have never heard of but is apparently a part of the rather large "Downton Abbey" cast, has been selected to play the titular role in Disney's live action version of Cinderella. This project actually sounds somewhat interesting. I am growing a bit tired of Disney churning out dark re-imaginings of their classic fairy tales, but the fact that Cinderella is a much more 'realistic' fantasy story, and will likely rely less on CGI, has me curious as to how it turns out. Kenneth Branagh is directing the film, and Cate Blanchett is set to star so there is clearly talent both in front of and behind the camera. With more casting announcements to be announced soon and a release date in 2014, I think this is one to keep an eye on.

Next, "Girls" star Allison Williams has been cast as Rosaline, a minor character in Shakespeare's classic "Romeo & Juliet" but the titular character in a new take on the play. For those who don't know, Rosaline is the original object of Romeo's affections who he quickly forgets about after setting his sights on Juliet. So, this new film will relay the classic story through Rosaline's point of view. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nerd and I love the idea of seeing the story from Rosaline's point of view. It could be hilarious. I've also really enjoyed what I've seen of "Girls" (I've watched the entire first season) and all the ladies from the series deserve to have a solid career. Also of note, Williams is on the shortlist for a role in the Fantastic Four reboot. Hopefully we'll hear more on that soon.

And when we're on the topic of Shakespeare, Michael Fassbender has found his Lady Macbeth in Natalie Portman. While Portman wasn't the first actress that came to mind when I heard about the project, she's an undeniably talented actress and will probably do wonders with the role. This Macbeth film should be interesting, and I'm really curious to see who else is cast.

Ending tonight's little news summary, it seems like Fox is planning on making a sixth Die Hard film despite the fact that A Good Day to Die Hard was universally panned. This sixth film is actually being drawn from an unused script for the fourth film, which is set in Tokyo. I pretty much gave up on this franchise. I'm not very cynical when it comes to studio films (more on that tomorrow...) but this franchise is so clearly an excuse for everyone involved to get a hefty paycheck it's almost insulting to both audiences and the original.


That's it for tonights news, check back tomorrow for more posts and in the meantime don't forget to...


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May 2013 Preview: The Summer Movie Season Begins!

May is the start of the summer movie season, where studios unveil their most anticipated (and most expensive) projects of the year and hope that audiences don't mind spending their hard earned cash at the theater week after week after week. This particular May is a bit of a battlefield when it comes to big blockbusters, with a highly anticipated comic book film, a long awaited sequel to one of the most well received sci-fi reboots in recent memory, the finale to one of the most profitable comedy trilogies of all time and an adaptation of the greatest novel of the 20th century. And that's not even half of it! Yes, get ready for a busy few weeks at the movies and feel free to use this guide to decide what you'll be seeing-

Worth making the trip:

The film I'm most anticipating this May is J.J. Abrams' long awaited follow up to my second favorite film of 2009. Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17) also happens to be the action film I want to see the most this whole summer. While I have not seen the film or TV series that spawned the popular reboot, 2009's Star Trek was my favorite action film of the past decade and remains extremely entertaining regardless of how many times I've seen it. Now, I am a bit worried that I'll be going in to see this movie with sky high expectations, and it's hard to imagine that lightening will strike twice for Abrams and this legendary franchise, but I do think this looks like a ton of fun and could be the best of this year's big budget flicks.

But I've also jumped, head first, onto the growing bandwagon of people waiting anxiously for Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (May 10). I'm a big fan of Luhrmann's two most popular films, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, so the fact that the film barely resembles Fitzgerald's prose doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I expected it. Luhrmann's style is always interesting, and while it may not be a testament to the film as a whole, the trailers and clips are showing that this will be one of the most unique films of the year. The cinematography is breathtaking, the soundtrack is fantastic and Warner Bros. has utilized a brilliant marketing strategy to get people excited for a film that's based on a book hundreds of teenagers dreaded reading for school. The Great Gatsby may be the only event film of the summer to not be a sequel or based on a comic book, and I can't wait to be a part of the large crowds on opening night, waiting to see if Luhrmann has delivered another spectacle of a motion picture.

Finally, one can't talk about summer movies without mentioning Iron Man 3. The film, which has already begun breaking records overseas, might be the biggest film of the year and it's hitting theaters in a matter of days. Now, I'm excited for Iron Man 3 (May 3). Marvel has done a fine job in handling their growing Avengers franchise, and while some entries (Thor) have been a bit dull, none have been truly awful. But, whenever a comic book franchise reaches its third installment, I can't help but be nervous. So, you'll excuse me if I look forward to Iron Man 3 (hell, I'm seeing it opening night) but if I keep my expectations low. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

I do feel a obligated to include Before Midnight (May 24) in this bunch. The film is, essentially, the indie movie equivalent to Iron Man 3. But, I have not seen any of the Before films at this time. I definitely plan on it by the end of the year, however.

Rentals and Matinees: 

There are a number of films that will be given a limited release this May that I would love to see, but most likely won't be able to due to the fact that they won't be playing in many theaters. Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha (May 17) looks terrific, but I highly doubt it will play anywhere near me so  I'll have to wait until it arrives on DVD. I also think that The Kings of Summer (May 31), which premiered at Sundance to positive reviews, looks like a fun little film but it also looks like one I won't be able to see until I can watch it at home.

But the independent film I'm most upset about (probably) missing is The East (May 31), Zal Batmanglij's follow up to the largely unseen Sound of My Voice. That film just barely missed my honorable mentions last year, mainly due to an ending that felt way too rushed, but I strongly recommend you all seek it out. It's a really great thriller that offers a lot of food for thought. The film also introduced me to Brit Marling, who stars in and co-wrote both Sound of My Voice and The East with Batmanglij. Marling has a screen presence like few actresses of her generation- there's an almost hypnotic quality to her acting. I'd love to see The East in theaters, especially since Marling has surrounded herself with some great co-stars (Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgard, Patricia Clarkson). But, much to my chagrin, I'll have to wait until I can see it on DVD.

On the blockbuster side of things, Fast & Furious 6 (May 24) looks like a lot of fun but I'll probably be waiting until it hits DVD, if only because I have never actually sat through any other films from the franchise. Obviously, the Fast franchise isn't the sort of thing where a lack of knowledge regarding the previous films will seriously dictate your enjoyment of it, but I just can't muster up the excitement (or willingness to pay for a ticket) given my lack of attachment to the long running series. Maybe I'll catch up on the series and check out Fast & Furious 7 in theaters, but I won't have to think about that until next summer.

I'm also a bit on the fence about Now You See Me (May 31). I love the cast, hate the director, enjoyed the first trailer and rolled my eyes a bit too much during the second. Its release date doesn't inspire much confidence, as it gives the impression that the studio is trying to bury it. So, I'm gonna have to wait until DVD for this one. But, with a cast like this, I can't help but feel it will be worth checking out eventually.

I'm not interested:

I'm sorry, but I fail to understand how anybody can watch the trailer for The Hangover 3 (May 24) and think it looks good. Granted, I didn't enjoy the original and didn't bother to see the sequel. But its third installment just looks bad. I find no enjoyment in watching annoying, completely unlikable characters run around Las Vegas screaming and saying things that are outrageously inappropriate but allegedly 'funny.' Oh, and Zach Galifianakis' whole shtick has got to stop. His entire purpose in The Hangover series is to do and say things that are so ridiculously stupid that I can't help but wonder why the rest of the Wolfpack aren't legitimately worried for his well being. So don't expect a review of The Hangover 3 this May. I have no intention of ever seeing it.

Now that I'm done with that rant, I have a (much less malicious) one about Epic (May 24), an animated film that looks like a catastrophe to me. Now, I'm not all too knowledgeable about film marketing but I feel safe in assuming that animated films are intended (primarily) for children and that children like animated films with lovable characters that they'd want to take home in the form of a stuffed animal or action figure. Now, which characters in Epic are intended for children to take home with them? The strange looking human/fairy/warrior creatures? The stereotypically spunky snails, an archetype even the youngest of filmgoers have seen before? I don't know, I can't see anybody actually being interested in this. I had a similar vibe to Rise of the Guardians back in November. That film went on to break $100 million at the domestic box office, yet it still lost a lot of money over at DreamWorks and resulted in massive layoffs for the company. I can't help but think Epic will be an even worse disaster.

Then there is After Earth (May 31) which abandoned its well timed release date in June for a crappy one in late May just a few weeks ago. If that doesn't foreshadow a major flop, I don't know what will. This film fails to impress me in anyway. It just looks like a mess. And I'm not saying that because of M. Night Shylaman's involvement. The film just feels like a rehash of many different ideas that worked well in other blockbusters, with a plot that we've seen dozens of times before. Remember when Will Smith was a major movie star? Well, Smith may be likable but After Earth only serves as further evidence that he has lost the "golden touch" he once had when it came to selecting projects.

Finally, we come to Peeples (May 10), the film that wins the award for strangest title of the summer. Now, my knowledge on this film is fairly limited. I don't think I've ever actually watched the trailer, so I do feel bad for writing it off. But, this looks like what would happen if Meet the Parents was directed by Tyler Perry. Now, Kerry Washington is talented (and gorgeous), and the film doesn't look all that bad. But I've watched a lot of films in my time, and I feel like I've seen enough where the biggest laugh in the is a joke about a dog humping a human. I'll pass.

Love it or hate it, the summer movie season is upon us and after a rather dull start to the year, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the studios were simply saving their big guns for the hottest months of the year. You can expect my first review of the summer this weekend, and many more throughout the month.

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Our Top Story Tonight: More "Pacific Rim" is Here & More of Colin Firth on the Way!

Kicking off tonight's movie news recap is the very impressive trailer for Guilmero del Torro's Pacific Rim. This is the same trailer that premiered at Wondercon earlier this year and, in my opinion, it does a much better job at showing audiences what they can expect from this big budget flick. The action looks much more exciting here, and while the plot is hardly original the trailer gave me the impression that the film can be unique in terms of execution. If anything, this looks like a mashup of all things nerd and I'm now much more excited for Pacific Rim then I was when the first footage premiered. For those who don't know, Pacific Rim is essentially a film where soldiers use giant robot suits to combat giant monsters that have invaded the Earth. Clearly, we aren't talking about Shakespeare here, but this could be a lot of fun. You can check out the trailer above, and the film itself on July 12.

Speaking of Shakespeare, Michael Fassbender has just signed on to star in an adaptation of the Bard's classic play Macbeth. It's unclear if the film will modernize the play or not, but we do know that it will retain the original language and will be directed by Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders). I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nerd, and Macbeth is one of my favorite plays so I really can't wait to see what Fassbender does with the part. Any suggestions for who should play Lady Macbeth? The first two actresses that come to mind are Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett, but I'm open to suggestions. Maybe Rooney Mara? She's a bit too young, but she has the ferocity that would be needed to pull off the part. Regardless, the role of Lady Macbeth is a dream part for any actress and it'll be interesting to see who is cast.

Meanwhile, on the totally opposite side of the filmgoing spectrum, Jamie Foxx has signed on to play Benjamin Stacks in Will Gluck's update of the musical classic Annie. Stacks is the new and (possibly?) improved version of Daddy Warbucks, the rich man who adopts Annie. The film, which is being produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith, already has Oscar nominee Quevanzhané Wallis in the titular role and is set to be released next Christmas. I'm not much of a fan of the original (or musicals in general), but I am (mildly) interested in seeing how this film works out. Will Gluck has proven to be a solid comedic director as well, so this could be quite charming. And Foxx proved to have some nice pipes in Dreamgirls, so this could be interesting.

Finally, fans of Colin Firth will be pleased to know that the Oscar winning actor has signed up for not one but two films. The first is Matthew Vaughn's Secret Service, an adaptation of a comic series written by Mark Millar and David Gibbons that follows a veteran secret agent and his young into the shadowy business. That film is set to be released November 2014. But on a much more interesting note, the actor has also landed the lead role in Woody Allen's next film opposite Emma Stone. Now, this being a Woody Allen film, there is no real information to share regarding the project, but I'm already hoping that Firth and Stone play a couple and not a father/daughter as we would expect. Strangely enough, I could see the two having quite a bit of chemistry and it would be interesting to see the two as romantic leads. But, either way, I'm excited. The untitled film is set to film in the south of France later this year.

That's it for today! You can expect a preview of May's movies some time tomorrow, and a new box office related article by Thursday. Stay tuned!

Our Top Story Tonight: Who's Ready for "Scream" on MTV?

I remember hearing speculation about a "Scream" TV series, but now it seems to be a reality- MTV has just ordered a pilot version of the acclaimed slasher series, a personal favorite of mine, and Wes Craven may even be behind the camera for it. We don't have a storyline for the series, or even a writer, but fans of the film are already divided on it. I'm not exactly opposed to a series like this- and I'd rather see a TV show than another sequel, to be honest- but how will it be done?

One of my problems with the Scream sequels, most notably Scream 3, is that the series forgot what made the original so great- the fact that it mixed horror and meta comedy together seamlessly. Sure, the original film was funny and had some great one liners, but it was still legitimately scary. The legendary opening scene to the original freaked me out quite a bit as a kid. Nothing from the sequels ever even came close. Sure, there were some cool scenes but, generally speaking, they relied more on meta-humor. I have a feeling MTV will be going in that direction too.

I'm also wondering about how the mystery of the series will be developed. I could see MTV taking a "Pretty Little Liars" approach and stretch everything out for numerous seasons- a decision I would hate. The film franchise could barely make the mystery last an hour and a half before it started to become clear who the killer was. I just don't think a serious would work if the mystery as to who the killer was lasted past a season. So, maybe take the "American Horror Story" approach and have a new storyline/cast every year? That could be interesting- but I don't think they'll go for it.

Obviously, this is all speculation. We don't have enough information to write anything but speculation. Now, anybody that follows TV news knows that just because a pilot has been ordered, we don't know if the series will ever actually see the light of day. Hell, it wouldn't be the first property-based pilot to get the boot- remember NBC's "Wonder Woman"? Or the planned "L.A. Confidential" series starring Kiefer Sutherland. But I'm already a bit pessimistic when it comes to the possibility of a "Scream" series. I just can't imagine the series turning out okay and, best case scenario, it's a mildly entertaining guilty pleasure. Granted, with Craven involved I can't be totally upset. And I suppose it's best to move the franchise to television as opposed to having a terrible sequel. But, a part of me just wishes Sidney and the rest of the gang at Woodsboro just moved on after the original.

Our Top Story Tonight: JGL and C-Tates Get Ready to Sing on a Slow News Day

There just isn't much movie news to talk about today, but there was one interesting piece that Deadline broke earlier: Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are committed to starring in a remake of the classic musical "Guys and Dolls." While the film doesn't necessarily have a greenlight, 20th Century Fox has the rights and apparently both actors are interested in the parts, so the studio will be trying to scoop a writer and director together. For those who don't know, the classic film starred Hollywood legends- Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando. Are these guys the right actors to take over those roles?

My knowledge of "Guys and Dolls" is limited, outside of "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", but with Les Miserables impressing me so much (and doing so well at the box office) I don't really mind the inevitable wave of movie musicals revving up to hit theaters. That being said, I'm more interested in seeing film versions of "Wicked" or "Spring Awakening" (which will be hard to adapt, but still...). I also want another Rent movie, so we can forget the godawful travesty of a film Christopher Columbus churned out a few years ago. Hell, I even liked the idea of having JGL in the role of Roger. But, a guy can dream.

Also, with all this talk of music, has anybody been listening to the songs released from The Great Gatsby soundtrack? All I can say is wow. We got some serious contenders for Best Original Song. I included my favorite track at the bottom of this article, be sure to check it out.

Our Top Stories Tonight: Two Big Trailers, "Vacation" in Jeopardy & More

I'm trying to find a way to spice up the Top Story Tonight segments as I found that the old format was getting boring. So, the next few days I'll be experimenting with new ways to write this up. Anyway...


The "biggest" story of the day was that Thor: The Dark World has finally premiered some footage in the form of a trailer that has fanboys buzzing. The trailer shows a more glossy, stylish look for the God of Thunder, with some epic battles glimpsed at and a Silence of the Lambs-esque bond between Thor and Loki. The film looks solid, but I just wasn't crazy about the original Thor so it's hard to get too excited about this. But, what's funny about these trailers is that Marvel could basically release the crappiest trailer possible and I'd still pay money for this sequel. The Avengers films have treated me well so far and until the quality dips I see no reason to stop tuning in. I've attached the trailer below, but I will say that it is not the trailer I am most excited about...

It's The Bling Ring, Sofia Coppola's next film, that has gotten me excited with a new trailer. The comedy, which follows the true story of a few teenagers, dubbed The Bling Ring, that began stealing from real life celebrities (including Paris Hilton, who makes an appearance in the film). Frankly, the film looks fantastic. The trailer looks funny, the social satire is fascinating and Emma Watson's performance looks terrific. I can't wait. I don't want to add a second to the article- it'll make the article look overcrowded- but if you're interested in anyway, I implore you to check it out here.

Elsewhere in the movie scene, it looks like the Ed Helmes led reboot of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is in a bit of trouble. Production has shut down temporarily, due to creative differences regarding the film's rating. Now, I know next to nothing about this franchise, but the original film from 1989 was rated PG-13 so I do feel that the film wouldn't necessarily benefit from a harder rating. I mean, as far as I know, wasn't the original a family comedy? I don't know, it just seems a bit forced to me. I love a good, R-rated comedy, but a family friendly comedy can be just as great. I hope the studio doesn't go for unnecessary shock value to help a film become "funnier."

Finally, Emma Stone has added yet another interesting project to her ever growing resumé by joining the cast of Woody Allen's next film. Being a Woody Allen film, nobody really knows what the plot of the film will be, but even with more than a few crappy films in the vault Allen has churned out some fantastic films, most recently Midnight in Paris. Stone is a talented actress and working with Allen will only help her career. But, God, what a great line-up she's got coming out. Obviously we have The Amazing Spider-Man 2 coming out next summer, but Stone has Iñárritu's Birdman, del Toro's Crimson Peak and an untitled Cameron Crowe flick. So, for the next two years, we'll be getting a lot of Stone and I can't find a reason to complain about that.

Where is the Movie News?

For those wondering, I haven't been forgetting to post movie news these past few days- there just hasn't been much to report! Hopefully there will be more tomorrow, and I am currently writing up some other things to post throughout the week. And as for last night's absent box office results- that's because I am revving up a new box office "game" of sorts, to kick off during Iron Man 3's opening weekend! So, keep coming back for more! And keep your fingers crossed for some news from Hollywood tomorrow.

The Cannes Film Festival- Early Thoughts & Oscar Speculation

If you frequented my blog before and during the Oscars, then you already know I view the awards season as a sports fan would view a season of football, basketball, etc. In my opinion, Oscar season doesn't really get into full swing until September, and there is no reason to even try and make predictions before then because you're really just grasping at straws. Once we get to the fall, there will be footage from almost all the potential Oscar flicks, and many will be making their way to the various film festivals to help build buzz. So, for me to even try and think of who could be taking home Academy Awards next March would be a waste of my time. But, what's wrong with some early speculation?

Keeping with the sports comparison, the Cannes film festival is like pre-season. Many of these films won't end up competing at the Academy Awards, largely because many of these films aren't quite Oscar fare. They tend to be more artsy and edgier. But some of these films are bound to show up next March at the big show. Last year, the Oscar nominated Amour and The Master both premiered at Cannes, while Beasts of the Southern Wild also competed. In 2011, a little film called The Artist premiered. Obviously, it went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. So, any of the films on the recently announced Cannes lineup could go on to be nominated, or even win, this winter. So, let's get to speculating-

The film I feel most confident in saying will be a contender next fall is Alexander Payne's Nebraska, which will be part of the main competition at Cannes. The film follows a man (Will Forte) and his alcoholic father (Bruce Dern) as they drive from Montana to Nebraska to claim a million dollar prize. Payne's last two flicks, The Descendants and Sideways both took home Best Adapted Screenplay in their respective years, while also competing in a number of big categories including Best Picture. While the film's reception at Cannes will certainly determine just how much of a contender it will be, this could be a major player in terms of writing awards, acting awards and, obviously, Best Picture this fall. Personally, Nebraska is one of my most anticipated films of the year and I'm eagerly anticipating the first reviews for it.

Meanwhile, the Coen Brother's next film Inside Llewyn Davis will be screened and compete for the Palme d'Or. The film is definitely one of the most anticipated at the fest, and the Coens have been on a roll as of late with critical darlings and Academy favorites. Obviously, No Country for Old Men won Best Picture, while A Serious Man and True Grit were both nominated for the big award, as well as many others. The Coens have certainly become favorites amongst Oscar voters, and the reception for their next film, which will follow a folk singer in the 1960s, will determine just how much of a player it will be in the fall. We could be talking about one of the biggest films of the year, or a movie destined for cult status (a la early Coens work like Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski). I will admit to not being a huge fan of the Coens, but I am looking forward to checking out Inside Llewyn Davis and like the footage I've seen so far.

I also think it's foolish to count out the French film The Past, which could be an underdog later this year. Asghar Farhadi's follow up to his universally hailed Oscar winner A Seperation, The Past follows a marriage between a French woman (The Artist's Berenice Bejo) and an Iranian man (A Prophet's Tahar Rahim) and what happens when the man decides to return to his homeland. A Seperation won Best Foreign Language Film in 2011, and assuming the Academy's incredibly bizarre rules don't prevent The Past from being nominated, we could be looking at a front runner. That film was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay (losing to Midnight in Paris), while Berenice Bejo was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (losing to Octavia Spencer). We shouldn't count them out from this year just yet.

The two films screening out of competition seem like huge possibilities as well. J.C. Chandor was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Margin Call and his follow up, All Is Lost could be a huge contender for this year. The film, which is about one man (Robert Redford) and his journey to survive in the wilderness, could find Chandor getting another nomination for writing, or maybe his first in the Best Director or Best Picture categories. And with a legend like Redford at the center of the story, I wouldn't be surprised if the Academy decides to honor him with a nomination for Best Actor. The film sounds ambitious enough to fail completely, but if it succeeds at Cannes then anticipation for the film will rise considerably. Also being shown out of competition is Guillaume Canet's Blood Ties, which features an impressive enough cast (Clive Owen, Billy Cruddup, Mila Kunis, Marion Cotillard) to get me excited, and have me think it could get a nomination or two.

There are a few other films that seem like possible contenders as well. With the Weinsteins backing it, Fruitvale Station will no doubt be talked about throughout the fall. The film, which is based on the true story of a man named Oscar who was shot and killed by two police officers despite being innocent of any crime, already had a great reception at Sundance and is shaping up to be quite a hit. The Weinstein's also have The Immigrant, previously titled Lowlife, up their sleeves. I've heard great things about Marion Cotillard's performance as a European immigrant who enters the world of burlesque to help her ailing sister, but I am a bit worried by the fact that the Weinsteins haven't put it on their fall schedule. And, while it's not an Oscar film per se, Steven Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra will have it's premiere at the festival before airing on HBO. The film, which Hollywood studios deemed "too gay" to produce, stars Michael Douglas as Liberace and will probably be huge at the Emmys later this year.

But I don't want to imply that I'm only excited for the Oscar films that are premiering there. In fact, the film I'm most interested in is The Bling Ring, which will be screening in the Un Certain Regard category. I don't expect much Oscar glory for the film, but it is my second most anticipated film of the year and a movie I can't wait to check out. I also am dying to see Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives, which I get more excited for with each new trailer and poster. If Drive was largely ignored by the Academy (excluding a sound nomination), I can't imagine this flick getting any notice from Oscar voters. It looks extremely violent and a bit strange to say the least. But I can't wait to check it out. You've also got a new Roman Polanski film, an As I Lay Dying adaptation by James Franco, and some cool looking foreign flicks premiering at the fest.

I won't be attending Cannes, unfortunately, but I will be covering how other critics respond to the various films at the fest. Their are a lot of great films premiering there, and you can see the full lineup here (thanks to Rope of Silicon, a fantastic site to check out this May if you want great Cannes coverage). As for Oscar buzz, I will be going into full awards season mode during the first week of September, where I will devote six days to predicting the Big Six awards. From then on I'll be updating my predictions about twice a month, adding more categories as time goes on. But, that's not for a while. In the meantime, let's enjoy the summer movie season and, of course, live vicariously through the critics and bloggers attending Cannes. At least that's what I'll be doing

**Please note I am posting this in lieu of a Top Story Tonight, primarily because it is the biggest news in the film community today. Top Story tonight will return tomorrow**

Our Top Story Tonight: Are You Joining "the "R.I.P.D"?

The long awaited trailer for R.I.P.D, one of the few remaining summer blockbusters that was lacking a trailer. The film stars Ryan Reynolds who is killed while on duty and is enlisted to join the Rest in Peace Division- a supernatural police force of fallen officers who track down ghosts in the human world. Jeff Bridges plays his partner, a former cowboy. The film will hit theaters on July 19 and you can get your first glimpse of the footage above.

Personally, I was excited for this film but the trailer was highly underwhelming. This looks very reminiscent of Men in Black, but devoid of all that film's charms. Nothing about this trailer impresses me in anyway. I don't plan on seeing it in theaters at this point and, honestly, will probably only watch it on DVD if it gets good reviews. Lastly, I plan on setting up a box office "game" of sorts over the next few days, and I think it's safe to say I'm not predicting much from this.

After the jump, check the few morsels of news I have from today...

Our Top Story Tonight: "Man of Steel" Continues to Impress with New Trailer

Did you miss me? Were you curious about my lack of posting? Well that's because my last few days were spent largely studying for an exam. If you want to make sure you remain in-the-know as to when there will not be any new posts, I strongly advise you follow me on Twitter. Anyway, I'll be back to posting regularly for the foreseeable future, so get ready.

Anyway, tonight's Top Story is the new trailer for Man of Steel that was just released about an hour ago. It features quite a bit of new footage, showcases some new action set pieces, and helps set the tone for what we can expect from the film- an emotional, but funny and ultimately entertaining movie. The new trailer feels a lot less dark than the past few, but still seems more realistic than your average superhero flick.

As I've mentioned before, I'm anticipating Man of Steel not only as a summer blockbuster but as a legitimately great film. While Zack Snyder's involvement worries me a bit, all the footage has inspired confidence so far. The film looks absolutely gorgeous, and I think it could be a lot of fun. But will it deliver? We'll find out June 14. In the mean time, check out the trailer above.

Check out the other news after the jump, including a new trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness & more...

Our Top Story Tonight: Ready For the Third "Hangover"?

Ready for the third entry in The Hangover franchise? I'm not, but I'm sure a majority of Americans are. Anyway, this film follows "the wolfpack" as they head to Vegas (again) to bring Alan to a rehab of some sorts? Naturally things go out of control and Chow comes back and wreaks havoc on the group. There is also, apparently, comedy in this trailer but I missed it.

I don't mean to come off as a film snob. I try to not "hate" on franchises that are popular amongst audiences. But I hated The Hangover. I didn't find it funny, clever, intelligent or enjoyable in anyway. In fact, I found it downright mean spirited. The "wolfpack" came off as incredibly unlikable characters. I wouldn't want to spend time with these people in real life, so why would I want to in a film? Anyway, this franchise just isn't for me. I'm sure many people will enjoy it, and that's fine, but I just can't imagine sitting through another film with these characters in it. And this is coming from a fan of Bradley Cooper and Justin Bartha. Anyway, the film hits theaters May 24.

Our Top Story Tonight: Tarzan Adaptation Possibly Shut Down?

Tonight's top story is a bit of a sad one. Deadline broke the news this afternoon that their planned big budget version of the Tarzan legend has been shut down, at least temporarily, due to the film's relatively high budget. The film was to be directed by David Yates and star Alexander Skarsgard ("True Blood") as the titular character, with a supporting cast that included Jessica Chastain, Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Foxx. The film might still happen- with Yates still in the director's chair- but not until next year at least.

I suppose this might be good news for audiences that don't want another reboot/sequel/reimagining out in theaters, but I do feel like this project could have been interesting, especially with all the talent that was involved.  I can't help but wonder if this news is a result of  Jack the Giant Slayer being a major disaster at the box office. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if Warner Bros. did decide to put the project back in development next year, as it certainly sounds like it could be a financial success. That being said, when will studios start taking into account the amount of money they spend on risky ventures? Spending $200 million on a big budget franchise sounds like a good idea. But projects like Jack the Giant Slayer costing $195 million is just ridiculous.

There wasn't too much news today, but you can check out a few interesting tidbits after the jump-

Our Top Story Tonight: Anne Hathaway to Reunite with Christopher Nolan in "Interstellar"

Christopher Nolan has added another A-lister to his upcoming sci-fi flick Interstellar. Deadline broke the news that Anne Hathaway will join Matthew McConaughey in the top secret film that is due for release in November 7, 2014. At this point, there really isn't much more to discuss since we don't know much, but the news is pretty exciting.

While I wasn't a huge fan of The Dark Knight Rises, Anne Hathaway gave a wonderful performance in it and I'm thrilled to see her reunite with Nolan in what will (hopefully) be a better film. But watching Nolan cast his films is always exciting, as he assembles a lot of A-list talent. Interstellar is an early contender for my most anticipated film of 2014, and I can't wait to check it out.

After the jump, check out a new trailer and more!

Our Top Story Tonight: "Avatar" Heading Underwater

Tonight's Top Story is the somewhat unbelievable news coming from Avatar producer Jon Landau: James Cameron & co. are planning on filming action scenes via motion capture underwater for the long awaited sequel. Here is his exact quote: "We have already made a commitment that the Avatar sequels will have underwater sequences, inspired as much by time Jim has spent scuba diving as his expedition to the Mariana Trench. And we're working on a way to do performance capture underwater right now. We have some really good people working on that. We set the problems, bring in people and say "Attack it. Here's what we want to do, and we believe you can do it" and then we just have to get them to believe they can do it too." Of course, the decision shouldn't be all that surprising- after all, Cameron has been spending a lot of time underwater as of late and it seems right up the ambitious director's alley.  But, naturally, there are many questions left unanswered about this decision, and we aren't even sure when the film will be released. Originally it was meant to be released in 2015, but that seems highly unlikely at the moment.

As an adamant defender Cameron and his entertaining films, I feel unbiased in saying that I am not looking forward to Avatar 2. I loved the original, and enjoy many of Cameron's films, but a sequel just seems like overkill. I'd much rather see Cameron tackle new projects. With this announcement, I can't help but feel a bit curious to see what the action would look like underwater, but at the same time I just don't care enough about the film itself. And, truthfully, I don't think Cameron's vision of filming underwater will actually come true. It just seems too unsafe and too difficult. And, perhaps most importantly- is their actually a story out there for Cameron to tell in this universe? Or does he just want to play with a few new toys? And, lastly, how many of us thought of "South Park" after hearing this news? Anyone? Just me?

After the jump, check out new stories involving two of this year's Oscar movies and more!

Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Dare to Check Out "Evil Dead"

As I expected, Evil Dead came out on top at the weekend box office with an impressive but not necessarily remarkable $26 million. The film had an incredible marketing campaign that almost dared audiences to check it out, and it seemed to have worked- for the film's opening night. But a C+ Cinemascore and declining grosses through the weekend seems to emphasize that audiences aren't crazy about the film. Still, with a $17 million budget this one should do solid business for Sony. It's the planned sequels they'll have to worry about. Though, if you read my review, you might see that it has the potential to be a cult classic, much like its original.

This week's other 'new' release is Jurassic Park 3D, which did much better than I expected with $18 million. 3D rereleases haven't performed very well as of late, and Jurassic Park's opening ranks relatively high amongst its peers- though it isn't exactly huge by any means. Still, it's almost impossible for these films to actually be flops, so I can't imagine Universal is too unhappy. As for whether or not the 3D rerelease trend will continue- I'm not sure, but I hope not.


As for holdovers, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and The Croods are actually tying for second and third place right now, and we'll only know for sure the order of these two films on the Top 10 once actuals are reported. Both films are performing well, however. Olympus Has Fallen also continues to impress, Temptation is showing solid legs and Oz continues to make some serious money for Disney and should officially break even next weekend. In the meantime, check below the jump for a preview of next week. And here is your Top 10-

1. Evil Dead- $26 million (debut)
2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation- $21.1 million ($86 million in 2 weeks)*
3. The Croods- $21.1 million ($125 million in 3 weeks)*
4. Jurassic Park 3D- $18 million (debut)
5. Olympus Has Fallen- $10.04 million ($71 million in 3 weeks)
6. Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor- $10 million ($38 million in 2 weeks)
7. Oz the Great and Powerful- $8 million ($212 million in 5 weeks)
8. The Host- $5 million ($19 million in 2 weeks)
9. The Call- $3 million ($45 million in 4 weeks)
10. Admission- $2 million ($15 million in 3 weeks)

* is used to symbolize the fact that the two films are tied for 2nd and 3rd place. Results will change when actuals are reported tomorrow.

Movie Review: "Evil Dead"

Evil Dead is not a film to go to if you're looking for a particularly strong script or riveting character development. This is a haunted house of a horror movie- a film that moves the audience from one terrifying scene to the next, slowly but noticeably increasing the intensity of the scares and the amount of gore on screen with each new sequence. It isn't groundbreaking, though it is certainly one of the better horror remakes to date. For those who are ready and willing to go along for the ride, it will be one hell of a good time.

The characters in most horror films, Evil Dead included, are essentially piles of meat waiting to be ripped to shreds. The audience bought their tickets with that idea in mind- when each character meets their ultimate doom, it really doesn't come as much of a surprise. A good screenplay's job is to make us care about the characters enough so that when they do die, we feel something. And Evil Dead does that well. Instead of boring us with the obligatory "calm before the storm", screenwriter Rodo Sayagues (with polishes by Diablo Cody) actually gives us a reason to get invested.

The character at the center, Mia, is trying to quit a heroin addiction and is spending a weekend at a cabin with her friends as she undergoes withdrawl. In the process of creating some relatively interesting characters, the screenplay also manages to provide reasoning for why the characters will make the the stupid decisions that angry viewers will yell at them about later on. They can't leave the cabin because last time Mia tried to beat her habit, she gave up after a few hours. Mia's increasingly terrified behavior isn't abnormal as her mother showed signs of insanity not long ago, not to mention she's undergoing withdrawal. And there is no need to drive out to the hospital as one of the characters is a nurse. Are these first twenty minutes or so particularly well written? Not necessarily, but they help to differentiate Evil Dead from the dozens of other horror remakes that never bothered to give us a reason to care for its characters, while also subtly acknowledging the clichés of horror without relying on meta commentary- something that wouldn't have worked well in this film.

Eventually, as I'm sure most of the audience is expecting, the characters are subjected to a particularly sadistic breed of demon who begins picking the characters off one by one, disposing of them in increasingly disgusting manners.  At this point the plot is largely forgotten, but that's ok. This film becomes pure entertainment at about the 30 minute mark, and remains that way for a full hour, not once coming to a halt but instead creating a false sense of calm for a few minutes at a time. And, like all great haunted houses, the scares- or, in this case, the gore- get ratcheted up with each passing sequence. From a shard of glass to an electric knife and ending in, naturally, a chainsaw, Evil Dead encourages, no, insists that audiences embrace the film as nothing more than bloody entertainment. And, for the most part, they succeed.

Now, naturally, audiences that don't like a lot of blood with their horror will not enjoy this extremely violent film, but the film simply was not made for them. But as an exercise in trying to gross the audience out, it really succeeds. Director Fede Alvarez proves one scene after another that he knows how to stage an exciting and terrifying confrontation between our heroes and the demonic antagonists, without ever feeling like he's resorting to clichés or even relying on famous sequences from the horror classic of which it's based. It's the sort of horror film that will have viewers wanting badly to cover their eyes in fear but being too enamored to turn away. And while he certainly relies on gore to elicit scares, the real tension comes from figuring out where the gore will come from and what will produce it. Who will bite the dust next? What will happen to them? And with what weapon will the damage be done? Gorehounds will certainly go home happy- this is quite possibly the most violent mainstream horror film to date. It also happens to be one of the most creatively violent films in recent memory.

But in this gore lies one of my biggest problems with the film itself. I'm far from squeamish and love horror films of all sorts, but I do believe there is a fine line between effective gore and gratuitous, borderline offensive gore. That's my problem with "torture porn"- I take no pleasure in watching a film where we are simply introduced to characters simply to watch them get tortured. Not to mention that some violence should be almost off limit for directors of the genre. Sure, watching characters lop off body parts with kitchen appliances is brutal. But is it offensive? Not necessarily. Rape, however, is something I believe to always be unnecessary. There is, quite simply, no way to make it "fun" in any context. That was my biggest problem with Raimi's original.  Obviously "tree rape" is far from the actual act, but the idea behind it still rubbed me the wrong way. For the most part, the violence in Evil Dead didn't bother me, but there was on scene that came close to crossing the line. I won't get into specifics for those who don't want to be spoiled, but it was one of the earlier violent scenes and it definitely created a poor first impression. But, while I don't think it came as close to crossing the ethical line as the first one did, it certainly did bother me a little bit.

But that's not to suggest that this is a bad film. In terms of the horror genre, this is miles beyond many of the recent offerings and it stands tall in terms of horror remakes. It also serves as a great introduction to two talents I'll be looking out for at the movies- the aforementioned director Fede Alvarez and the film's star, Jane Levy. Her character is put through the wringer and forced to run a gauntlet of emotions, and she is constantly up to the task. I certainly believe she has a long career ahead of her. In a year devoid of entertaining films, let alone quality cinema, Evil Dead demands a trip to the theater- for those with the stomachs to handle it. Flaws and all, it's bloody good fun.

OVERALL GRADE: B
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Five Films I'd Like to See Back in 3D

I love Jurassic Park. When it come to blockbuster entertainment, you can't get much better. It is a legitimately well made, suspenseful action film with special effects that hold up surprisingly well. But, when it was announced that the film was going to be transferred to 3D for a re-release, I was surprisingly unenthusiastic. It's not that I'm against 3D re-releases (although they are, obviously, unnecessary). It's just that Jurassic Park is a film that can not benefit from 3D in anyway, and there are so many other classic movies that could really benefit from a transfer to 3D. So, I compiled this list of film that I'd love to check out on the big screen again, especially in 3D.

5.) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (dir. Edgar Wright, 2010)

I tried to keep this list to films that aren't all that recent, but one of the first films to came to mind when I thought of films that could benefit from 3D was Edgar Wright's fantastic celebration of all things nerd, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. With text literally popping out of thing air, giant computer-generated creatures, and so many outlandish moments that bringing it into the third dimension feels oddly natural. While the film certainly doesn't need the transfer, I feel like it would make the film even more entertaining than it already is, and add to the movie's considerably stylish visuals. 

4.) Spider-Man (dir. Sam Raimi, 2002)

Another one of my all time favorite blockbusters is Spider-Man, a film that had a considerable effect on me as a young movie nerd and made me realize how obsessed with film I really was. I always loved the swinging effects in the film, and thought I'd finally get my wish of experiencing the feeling of flying through the streets of New York with The Amazing Spider-Man last summer. And, in the end, I sort of got my wish... too bad the film was boring and not even close to the quality of Raimi's films. So, sure, maybe I want a 3D conversion purely to fulfill my childhood wish and see a great film at the same time. But, hey, this is my list and I figure I'd be honest. 

3.) Terminator 2: Judgement Day (dir. James Cameron, 1991)

Love him or hate him, James Cameron revolutionized 3D. Avatar remains one of the best uses of the technology to date, and completely changed the way the film community- and filmgoers in general- viewed 3D. I always figured he'd choose to release some of his older films in the format... but out of all his filmography, he chose Titanic? Financially it made sense, but it's just not a film that would benefit from the added dimension with the exception of one or two sequences. Now, Terminator 2 is a different story. Not only is it the best film Cameron has ever directed, but it's a special effects driven thrill ride that would become even more excited with everything flying out of the screen. It also helps that I absolutely adore this movie, and would run out to theaters to see it right away. 

2.) Moulin Rouge! (dir. Baz Luhrmann, 2001)

An unorthodox choice for sure, but Moulin Rouge! is one of the best looking films I've ever seen. Not only would the "beyond the window" moments (i.e., the things that fly out of the screen) look interesting, but it would add depth to the film that would make it's theatrical appearance even more pleasing. The elaborate sets would benefit from the "behind the window" visuals, and make the film feel even more like a musical you'd be witnessing on a stage- not a screen. Plus, with Luhrmann filming his next film, The Great Gatsby, in 3D it feels like the director's previous movies would work well in the format.

1.) The Matrix (dir. Andy & Lana Wachowski, 1999)

The Wachowskis revolutionized special effects in 1999 with bullet time, slow motion and the film's mind altering action scenes. At the time, 3D was almost nothing like what it is today- it was, merely, a gimmick saved for bad horror flicks and children's movies. And while it still may be a gimmick of sorts, films like Life of Pi and the aforementioned Avatar had terrific special effects that only further emphasized by 3D effects. The brilliant special effects in The Matrix would look incredible in 3D, and the film is already so over-the-top and stylized that making the transfer seems almost expected. In fact, I'm shocked it hasn't been done already. It is, by far, the film that I think would benefit the most from the technology. 

Our Top Story Tonight: The "Jane's Got a Gun" Saga Continues as Bradley Cooper Joins the Cast

It's Friday night, so I'm gonna keep this somewhat quick but there were a few interesting tidbits of film casting today. The most interesting, in my opinion, is that Bradley Cooper has joined the cast of the now notorious Jane's Got a Gun, the drama which Lynne Ramsay quit shockingly followed shortly by Jude Law. Cooper will fill Law's shoes as the film's villain, with Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton as the leads. The film will now be directed by Gavin O'Connor and follows a woman who's husband is targeted by a gang, leading her to seek the help of a former lover to take them down.

As I've mentioned before, the film sounds interesting and the addition of Cooper makes me think this project could rebound from its tumultuous production. With three great actors in the cast and a director that I find quite talented, I'm much more optimistic then I once was about this film.

After the jump, check out news on Guilmero del Toro and David O. Russell's next project...

Our Top Story Tonight: Ready For Prom? The "Carrie" Trailer Has Arrived

The trailer for the Carrie remake has arrived online after much anticipation this week. The film will find Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) filling in the shoes (or should we say prom dress?) of Sissy Spacek as the titular Carrie, an outcast teen that discovers she has telepathic abilities. Julianne Moore will be playing the role of Carrie's extremely religious (and psychotic) mother, who regularly abuses the teen. The film was originally to be released about two weeks ago but was pushed to October a few months ago. It is directed by Kimberly Peirce, making a pretty remarkable jump in terms of genres. Peirce is best known for her Oscar winning drama Boys Don't Cry, a film about the rape and murder of transgendered teen Brandon Teena. Carrie is set to be released on October 18.

Now, the original Carrie and the book of which it is based may be classics, but I was never all that fond of Brian de Palma's film. It may have been terrifying at the time, but it hasn't aged well at all and plays more like a campy classic than it does a horror film. That being said, Carrie is one of the few horror classics that I feel could actually benefit from a remake, especially with bullying getting much more national attention than it did back when the book was written and the original film was released. Yet, this trailer left me cold. Moretz, a talented actress, seems surprisingly miscast in these scenes and comes off as being far too young, and the whole film felt almost too similar to the original. Obviously I'll hold off on judgement until I see the final film, but I can't say I'm all that excited to check it out.

Check out more news after the jump-

Remembering a Legend

Earlier this week, I wrote about Roger Ebert's "Leave of Presence" and what he meant to me. Well, you can imagine my shock and sadness at hearing the news of his death today. It was an unreal experience for me, like a punch in the gut. Since I heard the news a few hours ago, all I've been doing is thinking about Ebert and his impact on both my own life and the film community in general.

The way I see it, Ebert was a celebrity; a film critic who moved past the pages of a newspaper and into pop culture. People who weren't involved at film culture at all- my mother, for example- knew about Ebert and actually cared about what he had to say. He, or more accurately, his thumb, became a symbol of film critique for generations, and his voice was one of the most respected in the industry. Yet, he was never pretentious about film itself. This is a man who loved both The Fast and the Furious and The Godfather, a man who wasn't afraid to praise a film he loved regardless of who made it and who its intended audience was. His passion for cinema was apparent to anyone who read his work. Ebert was also interested in interacting with other members of the film loving community, not just being at the head of it. He frequently interacted with film lovers, whether they be professional film critics, people with Twitter accounts or those who commented on his site. A personality like his is a rare thing in today's society, and it will be missed.

But, on a personal level, Roger Ebert's passing is hugely upsetting to me. As I've mentioned before, I probably wouldn't be here writing this post if it wasn't for Roger Ebert. In fact, I probably wouldn't even be interested in journalism at all. It was "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" that made me realize that a movie can be- or, at least, should be- more than just something you "like" or "don't like." It's something you can discuss and analyze. It also taught me that a film, in the best cases, can seriously impact your life. As I got older, I obsessively read through Ebert's reviews, and religiously watched all the archived episodes of "Siskel & Ebert", adding all the films they enjoyed and even some they didn't to my ever-growing list of movies to watch. Some of my all time favorites, including films that a serious impact on my life, I never would have seen had it not been for Ebert and his all-powerful thumb.

Roger Ebert is a legend. There has never been, nor will there ever be again, a movie critic like him. He was an icon for film journalism, as well as a great man and a role model for all those that wanted to write. He was also a major influence on my life. At age ten, two years after I started tuning in to "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper", I told myself that, one day, I'd write and direct a movie that would get 'two thumbs up.' At age 16, when I realized that I'd rather write about film, I constantly looked to Ebert's reviews as sources of inspiration. I dreamed of one day meeting him at a screening, or film festival, or some movie themed event and telling him what his work meant to me. But I'll have to settle for this.

Roger Ebert, you have impacted my life for the better and your work will live on in my heart and the hearts of all those who love movies. Rest in Peace.

Our Top Story Tonight: Tim Burton Announces His Next Project & Lots More!

Now, in actuality, tonight's Top Story was revealed late last night. But, I was busy studying, so it'll just have to be written about now. Anyway, it was announced last night (by Deadline, who is apparently the only news site that does work anymore, giving them permission to go off on unprofessional and illogical tangents) that Tim Burton will be directing Big Eyes, a film he was originally set to only produce. The film, which is considerably different from Burton's recent films, follows the true story of artist Walter Keane and his wife, Margaret. I won't go into further detail for those who wish to not have certain (real life) events spoiled, but let's just say the project takes a few interesting turns along the way. The film was originally to star Ryan Reynolds and Reese Witherspoon but they have been replaced by Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams.

Personally, this project sounds fantastic to me. Burton is a polarizing director for me- I either love his films or hate them- but the films of his that I love I really love. It's nice to see Burton step away from the gothic fantasies he's been churning out as of late and I'm curious to see what he does with a more adult storyline or, dare I say, Oscar bait. With Waltz and Adams on board I'm sure we're in for a treat, as those two have proven to be quite talented and, more often than not, attach themselves to quality films. Hopefully Big Eyes, which I assume will be released in 2014, will live up to my expectations.

Check out more news below, including three new movie trailers...

A Quick, Emotional Post

To call Roger Ebert an idol for me is almost an understatement. I've loved movies since before I can even remember, but it was only when I discovered "Ebert & Roeper" that I feel my true passion for film ignited. I still remember waking up every Saturday morning and writing down any film they gave a "thumbs up" to for future reference. Later, I obsessively watched dozens of their archive reviews, as well as full episodes of "Siskel & Ebert." I even did a project on Ebert for my freshmen year journalism class in high school. Ebert, in my opinion, is a true genius when it comes to analyzing and critiquing films and, more importantly, an incredible human being. When he was first diagnosed with cancer I was deeply saddened and, years later, I sat on my couch with my family, a huge smile on my face, watching him talk to Oprah about fighting the illness. When it comes to naming major influences in my life, I don't like to arbitrarily throw out names, but I feel confident in naming Ebert on my life as a journalist, a film lover and even a human being.

Having just read Ebert's recent blog post about how his cancer has returned and that he is taking a "leave of presence", I am overcome with a variety of emotions. I'm, obviously, very upset. It's always difficult to see anyone, let alone someone you consider a personal hero, dealing with cancer. I'm also deeply moved by Ebert's optimism in the face of this disease, both from when it originally appeared in 2006 up to now. I tend to try to leave personal feelings out of this post, unless it involves my thoughts on a film or recent film news. But it's because of Roger Ebert that I started writing about movies in the first place, so it only felt right to put what I was feeling up on this page. So, I just want to say that I'm thinking about and praying for Roger Ebert- a great critic and a great man. 

Our Top Story Tonight: Get Ready for "Finding Dory"

After much speculation, Disney and Pixar have announced today that a sequel to the 2003 blockbuster Finding Nemo is in production. The film, to be titled Finding Dory, will take place one year after the original and focus primarily on the forgetful fish Dory (Ellen Degeneres), with Albert Brooks suspected to return as Marlin and many new characters to be introduced as Dory's family. The film will be released on November 25, 2015.

To be honest, my first response to this news was that it sounded like a late April Fools joke. The idea that Pixar has "sold out" has been floating around angry Internet message boards since Cars 2 was announced. That being said, the more I've thought about it the more I think Finding Dory isn't a terrible idea. I'd definitely rather see Pixar handle new, original material, but I'm not entirely opposed to this sequel. It makes a lot more sense from both a creative and a financial standpoint then, say, Cars 2 or Monsters University, and Dory is, in my opinion, one of the best characters Pixar has created so the idea of having the film revolve around her is certainly interesting. Plus, it's not like Pixar isn't planning any original films- they have three in production right now, all of which are scheduled to be released before this sequel. So, before we all jump on the hate bandwagon let's at least consider that this might not be as bad as we think. And let's not forget about two little sequels- Toy Story 2 and 3- that rank amongst the best sequels of all time, animated or otherwise.

After the jump, check out an awesome trailer for a film I can't wait to check out and more!

Our Top Story Tonight: No April Fools Joke Here

I hate April Fools Day. For one thing, it's just an annoying holiday- very rarely is one actually "fooled" by a joke and, in almost all cases, the joke does nothing more than annoy the hell out of you. For film lovers, it's even worse as there are many fake stories spread throughout the day. So, if any of these are proven untrue by tomorrow please know that I am merely a victim of April Fools Day, just like you. But the top story tonight is no joke.

The second red band trailer for the star studded apocalyptic comedy This is the End has found its way online, and it looks pretty damn funny. The film follows Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson as they try to survive the end of the world. Seeing as it comes from the writers of The Pineapple Express and Superbad, immature humor is to be expected, but  I can't deny that I laughed out loud throughout the trailer. The jokes in the trailer, including Mindy Kalling's description of why she'd have sex with Michael Cera and a sure to be memorable scene where Emma Watson tries to steal water from the main group, really makes me think that this could be one of the best comedies of the summer. It hits theaters on June 12, and I'll definitely check it out.

In the mean time, check out some more of today's (hopefully true) stories...