Tag Archives: movie notes

It’s official: ‘Anchorman 2’ is A-GO

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Great Odin’s raven! Anchorman 2 is officially underway at Paramount with star Will Ferrell aboard, along with original cast members including Steve Carell and Paul Rudd. Today Ferrell crashed the set of Conan O’Brien’s TBS late night talk show in full Ron Burgundy garb, flute in hand. He came prepared to play, make fun of the red-haired comic, and most importantly to announce that Paramount is going to back a sequel to the outrageous, cult 2004 comedy. Ferrell as Burgundy proclaimed, “As of 0900 Mountain time, Paramount Pictures and myself–Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy–have come to terms on a sequel to Anchorman.” And the crowd went wild.

Rumors of an Anchorman sequel have been rumbling since July of 2009 when Ferrell said that he was excited to talk about what a potential sequel would be about with castmates Carell and Rudd. Unfortunately due to salary concerns and scheduling conflicts, the movie failed to get off the ground. Since then, however, Ferrell must have pushed hard to make this happen and now Anchorman 2 is most definitely in the works! Adam McKay is back to direct and he will pen the script with Ferrell. Judd Apatow is producing under his production banner. Though the plot still remains under wraps, Ferrell teased in ’09 that a followup “would bring classy 1970s newsman Ron Burgandy into the 1980s.”

Grab a scotchy scotch scotch and click after the break to watch Burgundy flaunt his jazz flute and announce the highly anticipated sequel. Continue reading It’s official: ‘Anchorman 2’ is A-GO →

Trailer: Johnny Depp is vampire Barnabas in Tim Burton’s ‘Dark Shadows’

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From director Tim Burton comes another dark (and albeit comedic) film starring his oft go-to actor Johnny Depp. Dark Shadows, based on the gothic soap opera that aired on ABC from 1966-1971, tells the tale of Barnabas Collins (Depp). In the year 1752 he breaks the heart of a witch Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) and so she transforms him into a vampire and buries him alive. In 1972 Barnabus emerges from his tomb and returns to his home at the Collinwood Manor. His distant relatives are played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Moretz, and Gulliver McGrath. Other supporting actors include Jackie Earle Haley, Bella Heathcote, and another collaborator of Burton’s–his wife–Helena Bonham Carter.

Dark Shadows is set for a May 11 release. Another Tim Burton-directed flick Frankenweenie bows October 5.

Trailer: ‘Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter’

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Author Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) penned Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter in 2010 and this summer the history/supernatural mashup is coming to theatres in 3D. Here’s a quick synopsis, per Time Entertainment:

Honest Abe is born into an era of bloodsuckers, during a time of mass immigration, as the vampires are being flushed out of Europe. His grandfather was killed by a vampire, his mother was the victim to the poisons of vampire blood. When he’s elected president, he leads the charge into the Civil War as a means of averting a systematic takeover of America by power-hungry vampire hordes.

Though it sounds wacky, the novel went on to be hugely popular making the New York Times bestseller list and the trailer (embedded above) will definitely get your blood pumping. I mean, it’s Abe with an axe fending off vampires in Civil Wars times… what else could you ask for, really? Director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and producer Tim Burton collaborated to adapt Grahame-Smith’s vision for the big screen. Benjamin Walker (Flags of Our Fathers) plays the 16th President of the United States. We’ll see if the hype is worth it come June 22.

Teaser: Jeremy Renner in ‘The Bourne Legacy’

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Here is your first look at the next movie in the Bourne franchise, The Bourne Legacy. Matt Damon is out and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, Mission Impossible–Ghost Protocol) is in. Renner takes over the lead role and plays trained assassin Kenneth Kitson, or as the trailer reveals, “Treadstone, without the inconsistency.” Bourne fans will get that, no doubt.

Events planted in The Bourne Ultimatum, the final film in the Damon trilogy, ignite this new adventure based on the Bourne novels by Robert Ludlum and Eric Van Lustbader. Though Damon’s Jason Bourne lives on in the novels, the film franchise is starting fresh with new protagonist because like the tagline slyly says, “There was never just one.” Tony Gilroy helms (and wrote with his brother Dan) Legacy and this should make the original trilogy fanboys happy: he was the screenwriter on the first three movies. Like Damon, the triology’s director Paul Greengrass has no association with the new movie.

The Bourne Legacy hits theatres this summer on August 3. Also starring are newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac and franchise vets Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, and Scott Glenn. Jump after the break to eye the movie poster. Then watch this bad-ass trailer once more. Continue reading Teaser: Jeremy Renner in ‘The Bourne Legacy’ →

Trailer round-up: ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘The Dictator’, ‘Jack the Giant Killer’, ‘ParaNorman’

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This past week was packed to the brim with new movie trailers. Following The Three Stooges and Men in Black III is Rock of Ages, The Dictator, Jack the Giant Killer, and another look at the stop motion animation ParaNorman.

We start with Rock of Ages, a film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. This movie has two things going for it: a fantastic collection of classic rock songs and a killer cast. It features music from Def Leppard, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, and Twisted Sister, and the talented cast is comprised of Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Ackerman, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, and Tom Cruise as the rocker women pine over, Stacee Jaxx. Directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), Rock of Ages brings “the music of a generation” to theatres on June 1, 2012.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Trailer round-up: ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘The Dictator’, ‘Jack the Giant Killer’, ‘ParaNorman’ →

Trailer: ‘Men in Black 3’

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A decade after our last encounter with The Men in Black, they’re back. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return in the third installment in the Men in Black franchise as Agent J and Agent K, respectively. Also returning is director Barry Sonnenfeld who helmed the original way back in 1997 and the sequel in 2002. The first trailer reveals an interesting plotline involving Agent J traveling back in time to save K. In the ’60s, young K is played by none other than Josh Brolin. Here’s the official synopsis:

In Men in Black 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back… in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

With updated CGI, a fun time-travel story, and a Will Smith who hasn’t seem to age at all over the last ten years, Men in Black III looks like it’s going to be a winner for Sony Pictures when it hits theatres May 25, 2012.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. The trailer shows no sign of a catchy Will Smith tune to hype you up for the film’s release. My question is… will it live up to the 1997 diddy “Men in Black” or (dare I say) 2004’s mega-hit “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head)”? And you know he’s gonna star in an equally thug music video, too!

Trailer: ‘The Three Stooges’

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Here’s our first look at the The Three Stooges from the Farrelly Brothers. Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Will Sasso are Larry, Moe, and Curly, respectively, and they star in this zany, slightly nostalgic trailer that places the trio in modern day. Originally enthused about this remake, now I’m not so sure how I feel. The slapstick comedy and classic sound effects are fun, but did they really have to resort to including the cast of The Jersey Shore? The Stooges return April 4, 2012. Here’s the latest synopsis:

Left on a nun’s doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woo-wooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure. Out to save their childhood home, only The Three Stooges could become embroiled in an oddball murder plot…while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show.

Trailer: ‘The Cabin in the Woods’

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At long last, Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods is going to see the light of day. The director of The Avengers teamed up with Cloverfield helmer Drew Goddard to produce a horror flick originally slated to release in 2009. Due to MGM’s filing for bankruptcy, the film was shelved indefinitely. Thankfully Lionsgate came to the rescue and agreed to distribute it.

The Cabin in the Woods involves a group of good-looking teens who decide to spend a weekend at a vacant cabin to let loose and party. And then bad things happen. It’s a situation we’ve heard time and time again, but as the tagline hints, “You think you know the story.” Yeah, I went ahead and added the emphasis. Whedon, who produced and co-wrote with director Goddard, says it’s “a straight-up, balls-out, really terrifying horror movie…it is not just a slasher in the woods. It’s a little more complicated than that…” And if you screen the trailer above, you’ll see what he means by that. Sure, these kids are getting tortured just like in the classics (and the awful remakes I must admit), but the story is twisted and elevated a few notches higher when it starts to involve creepy voyeurs and a honeycomb-like forcefield that’s keeping the gang from escaping the woods. Will it rise above the recent slew of crappy horror flicks? With Whedon and Goddard behind the words and direction, I have no doubt The Cabin in the Woods will be a suspenseful thrill ride worth the price of admission. I’ve only watched this trailer like ten times and I’m ready to wait in line!

The Cabin in the Woods, which can now be considered a horror/sci-fi mashup, makes its way to theatres April 13, 2012. It stars Dollhouse alum Fran Kranz and Amy Acker, along with Tom Lenk (Buffy, Angel),  Jesse Williams, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Brian White, and a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth. Want to know what else is intriguing about all this? Big-name stars Richard Jenkins (Let Me In) and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) are no where to be found in this trailer. Chew on that for a while. Then take a look at the trippy movie poster after the break. Continue reading Trailer: ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ →

Comedy trailer roundup: ’21 Jump Street’, ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Project X’

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Check out these trailers for three upcoming comedy films. First up is a red band trailer for 21 Jump Street, a film based on the 1980s crime drama that starred a young Johnny Depp. The theatrical adaptation stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as young undercover cops investigating crimes at a high school. It hits theatres March 16, 2012.

Jump after the break to watch the trailers for Wanderlust and Project X. Continue reading Comedy trailer roundup: ’21 Jump Street’, ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Project X’ →

Stop-motion animation studio LAIKA is back with ‘ParaNorman’ [trailer inside]

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Here’s a nice Halloween treat for us all: a teaser poster and trailer for the upcoming stop-motion animated feature ParaNorman. The movie is from Focus Features and LAIKA, the same partnership that produced 2009’s critically-acclaimed Coraline. ParaNorman is directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler; Butler imagined and penned the original story. The voice cast includes Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elaine Strich, Tempestt Bledsoe, Bernard Hill, and Alex Borstein. The trailer, embedded after the break, doesn’t reveal much of the plot as it includes zero dialogue, but this quick synopsis should suffice:

A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead takes on ghosts, zombies and, worst of all, grown-ups, in order to save his town from a centuries-old curse. Norman Babcock is an outcast in his small New England town. When a horde of zombies is unleashed on the populace, Norman learns he must use his paranormal powers to make things right again. That’s not an easy task when you’re only eleven. And you’ve just been grounded. 

The movie poster and teaser trailer make ParaNorman out to be a strange, dark, and visually stunning piece of work worthy of much anticipation. It releases wide August 17, 2012 in 3D. Continue reading Stop-motion animation studio LAIKA is back with ‘ParaNorman’ [trailer inside] →

Trailer: ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax’

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From Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (the animation studio behind Despicable Me) comes a film adaptation of one of Dr. Seuss’ most popular children’s stories, The Lorax. Danny DeVito stars as the voice of the orange, furry Lorax and Zac Efron voices the protagonist Ted. Here’s a nice synopsis:

The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Ashley, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax hits theatres in 3D on March 2, 2012.

Trailer: A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

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After trekking to White Castle and busting out of Guantanamo Bay, Harold & Kumar are ready to take on the holiday season in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. And they’re going to do it in style: the third flick in the stoner franchise is 3D. Here’s the setup:

After years of growing apart, Harold Lee and Kumar Patel have replaced each other with new friends and are preparing for their respective Yuletide celebrations. But when a mysterious package mistakenly arrives at Kumar’s door on Christmas Eve, his attempt to redirect it to Harold’s house ends with the “high grade” contents — and Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree — going up in smoke. With his in-laws out of the house for the day, Harold decides to cover his tracks, rather than come clean. Reluctantly embarking on another ill-advised journey with Kumar through New York City, their search for the perfect replacement tree takes them through party heaven — and almost blows Christmas Eve sky high.

David Krumholtz and Eddie Kaye Thomas reprise their roles as Goldstein and Rosenberg, and of course Neil Patrick Harris is back playing an outlandish version of himself. Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, directors and writers of the first two movies, penned the script and Todd Strauss Schulson was brought on to direct.

The trailer hints at so much we can look forward to: Harold wields a shotgun and shoots Santa out of the sky; NPH makes it into heaven and greets Jesus with this line: “you’re one of those”; he also gets a musical number; the stoners take a trip in claymation form; the fact that the movie is in 3D is acknowledged head-on by MADtv alum Bobby Lee; and hot women. Plus there’s bound to be a smorgasbord of memorable cameos; according to IMDb you can expect Danny Trejo, Thomas Lennon, Patton Oswalt, and Elias Koteas to show up at some point. Maria (Paula Garcés), Harold’s love interest from White Castle, is also expected to make a return.

Thankfully you won’t have to wait much longer; A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas hits theatres November 4.