Sci-Fi Movies Thursday: Iron Man 2, Thor, Alien, Breaking Dawn, Ghostbusters 3, Clash of the Titans 2 + more

In this week’s Sci-Fi Movies column, we have all the latest buzz on Iron Man 2 (and Iron Man 3), details on the next (two) Alien movies, an update from Bill Murray on Ghostbusters 3, and much more, including the latest box office numbers, casting bites, images and videos.

 

 

 

GENRE MOVIE NEWS

Early buzz: Iron Man 2 + Black Widow spin-off possible?
Reviews are starting to trickle out for "Iron Man 2" and the consensus seems to be ‘not as good as the original’. With 38 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is currently sitting at 74% (28 Fresh, 10 Rotten).  Here’s a sampling of some of the reviews:

The Hollywood Reporter
"Everything fun and terrific about Iron Man, a mere two years ago, has vanished with its sequel. In its place, Iron Man 2 has substituted noise, confusion, multiple villains, irrelevant stunts and misguided story lines."

Variety
"Iron Man 2 isn’t as much fun as its predecessor, but by the time the smoke clears, it’ll do."

Telegraph
"If the movie often borders on smug, it’s equally happy to be only lightly reverent to the comics it’s based on. And I’d defend it as smug on purpose — one long, high-fiving in-joke about its own sure-fire success."

Digital Spy
Iron Man was a rare blockbuster that stayed with you — the sequel all but evaporates the moment it cuts to black."

Perhaps the most positive review comes courtesy Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News:

IRON MAN 2 is comic movie crack! I remember how I was after I saw SPIDER-MAN 2. It felt like the world finally f–king got it. I thought we’d always have films increasingly badass from that point—and SPIDER-MAN 3 was not better. And I got a tad sad. When you see a comic book movie that is absolutely the best of what that character can be on screen—it is euphoric. Something to celebrate, to revel in. I’ve been a comic geek my entire life. I remember when Bob Layton really began blowing my mind with IRON MAN. This is that… but on film… with hundreds of talented awesome artists, technicians and craftsmen all supporting that vision.

Looking towards the future, director Jon Favreau told ComingSoon.net/SuperHeroHype that a third film is years away and he may not return as director:

‘Iron Man 3’ is years down the road, and that has to reflect the reality of what’s been established not just in ‘Iron Man 1 and 2,’ but in movie time, between this film and that film, is ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ ‘Thor,’ ‘Captain America,’ and ‘The Avengers.’ I haven’t had to inherit anybody else’s backstory yet–it’s just simply what we chose to use or not use from the comic books–so I’m feeling like I’m passing the baton and after all those movies are done, it’s time to sit down and discuss if there’s something I can bring to it, if it’s something we want to do together, but that’s way down the road."

"Iron Man 2" hits conventional and IMAX theaters May 7. Here are some ‘bites’.

  • Read a transcript or listen to a recent press conference with the cast and crew at Collider.
  • Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said a "Black Widow" spinoff centering on Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow is "[d]efinitely possible"… [SCI FI Wire]
  • Writer Justin Theroux has confirmed the end-credits easter egg in the film. Without spoiling anything, click over to Collider and io9 for details.
  • Olivia Munn’s cameo has been revealed. She’ll play [highlight to view] a TV personality: "She plays an on-air correspondent reporting from an event that Tony Stark attends. It’s the same event that Stan Lee’s "Larry King" is at." [IGN]

First look at the late DJ AM’s cameo [Hero Complex blog]

Sneak peek: "New Assistant" [SCI FI Wire]

Watch more sneak peeks here

Ridley Scott wants two Alien prequels + Confirms 3D
At a press junket for "Robin Hood", Ridley Scott confirmed that the upcoming "Alien" prequel will "of course" be in 3D, however Scott mentioned that one of the problems with 3D is that you can’t shoot in low-light so they’re be working on the lighting issue in post. Scott also revealed that he’s developing two "Alien" prequels [Collider]:

You’re developing the Alien prequel, are you developing it as a series of films or a longer storyline?

Scott: It’ll be two. It’ll be prequel one and two. Then Alien 1.

Are you going to shoot the prequels together or shoot them separately?

Scott: At the moment I’m just trying to get the first one out.

While who knows if two films will ever happen, if you’re a fan of the Alien franchise, how can you not be excited.

Scott also talked about the status of the prequel — they have a fourth draft — and revealed plot details:

It’s set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney [Weaver’s character Ellen Ripley]. It’s fundamentally about going out to find out ‘Who the hell was that Space Jockey?’ The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle—there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer’s chair. Remember that? …

And our man [Tom Skerritt as Captain Dallas] climbs up and says "There’s been an explosion in his chest from the inside out—what was that?" I’m basically explaining who that Space Jockey—we call him the Space Jockey—I’m explaining who the space jockeys were.

Bill Murray on Ghostbusters 3: "[I]t’s just hogwash" and "a myth"
Bill Murray is again chiming in on "Ghostbusters 3", calling it a "myth" and "hogwash" until he sees a "great script" [Cinema Blend]:

 “It’s just a myth. It’s like the white alligator in the sewer, you know? Who’s seen it, really?”

“It’s just really the movie studio. They love the franchise, they’d just like to re-create it again. All this talk is just talk. It drives me nuts, it’s just people talking. And now, it’s like, on the street people go ‘hey, hey, hey,’ you know, why don’t you go back to high school? Quit bothering me. Until someone actually creates a great script it’s just hogwash, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s interesting that people are interested in it, they’d like to see it. It was a great thing, it really was fun. Maybe it should. And if it’s such a good idea, then someone will write the screenplay.”

The Hobbit, Superman, Batman 3, Fury Road and more in IMAX
A recent IMAX press release stated that "The Hobbit" would be released in IMAX in 2013, but a spokesperson for Warner Brothers says the date was a typo:

The first part of "The Hobbit" is still slated for a December 2012 release. The second installment will presumably be released the following year.

With regards to the press release, it was for a new deal struct between IMAX and Warner Brothers for up to 20 films to be released in IMAX over the course of the next three years (through 2013). In addition to “The Hobbit”, the films include “Batman 3”, “Superman”, “Dark Shadows” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” parts 1 and 2.

Clash of the Titans and Journey to the Center of The Earth sequels + Final Destination 5
Warner Brothers is developing a sequel to “Clash of the Titans” which could be ready as early as 2012. Sam Worthington will return to play Perseaus, but Louis Leterrier will not be back as director (although he’ll remain as executive producer) [Deadline New York]:

Berlanti will write the story and the studio is already canvassing the agencies for a writer and director who can whip the movie into shape to shoot before Worthington makes Avatar 2.

Deadline New York also reports that New Line and Walden Media are prepping a sequel the to 2008’s "Journey to the Center of the Earth", but original star Brendan Fraser may not return:

The reason: the studio wants to make a fall, 2011 release date which would mean hiring another director to replace Eric Brevig, who’s busy with another Warner Bros 3D film, Yogi Bear. Fraser wants to be loyal to Brevig and is resisting New Line’s suggestion of filmmakers like Brad Peyton. New Line’s alternative would be re-fashion the film around Josh Hutcherson, who played Fraser’s character’s son in the original film.

And in other development news, Eric Heisserer ("The Thing" prequel, "A Nightmare on Elm Street") has been tapped to write a script for a fifth "Final Destination" (in 3D) film for New Line. I guess "The Final Destination" wasn’t so final after all, huh?

Confirmed: Bill Condon will direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn
Summit Entertainment has confirmed last month’s report that Bill Condon ("DreamGirls") will direct "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" [Press Release]:

“Bringing Stephenie Meyer’s BREAKING DAWN to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity,” said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, for Summit Entertainment.

Added author Stephenie Meyer, “I’m so thrilled that Bill wants to work with us. I think he’s going to be a great fit, and I’m excited to see what he does with the material.”

“I’m very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen. As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book – and we’re hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience,” said Bill Condon.

First look at The Destroyer from Marvel’s Thor
Very, very little has been revealed from Kenneth Branagh’s "Thor", which has been filming in New Mexico, but Latino Review got their hands on a spy image of The Destroyer:

As per my source, THE DESTROYER  is sent to earth by Loki to destroy Thor.  It stands at about 9 feet tall.

The Destroyer is an enchanted suit of armor forged by Odin, and when it first appeared it was hinted that the Destroyer had been created as a weapon to face some dark menace from the stars. The Destroyer is used by Thor’s arch-foe Loki on several occasions, and each time has actually come close to killing Thor.

Check it out below.


PREVIEW Videos & Images

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Clip [YouTube]

George Romero’s Survival of the Dead

Trailer [YouTube]

Clip [Fangoria]

Inception

Promotional still [/Film]

New poster [NolanFans via /Film]

Viral video: Christopher Nolan research footage [YouTube via NolanFans]

Jonah Hex

New poster [Yahoo! Movies]

New trailer [Yahoo! Movies]

Kick-Ass

Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz discuss a potential Kick-Ass 2 [IGN]

The Last Airbender

Trailer #3 [YouTube]

Piranha 3D

First trailer [Trailer Addict]

Predators

Featurette on Danny Trejoy’s character "Cuchillo " [YouTube]

Scream 4

Teaser poster [EWcheck out an interview with Wes Craven by clicking on the link]

Splice

New trailer [MySpace]



Toy Story 3

Trailer #2 [YouTube]

MOVIE BITES

  • Previously on TrekMovie.com: Abrams Next Directing Project A Collaboration With Steven Spielberg?
  • "Transformers 3" will begin seven weeks of shooting in Chicago starting in early July… [Production Weekly]
  • …The site also tweets that Marvel’s "The First Avenger: Captain America" has opened a production office at Shepperton Studios, with principal photography scheduled to begin June 28. [Production Weekly]
  • Universal has delayed "The Adjustment Bureau", the George Nolfi-directed / Matt Damon-starring based on a Philip K. Dick story, from July 30, 2010 to September 17, 2010. [Box Office Mojo]
  • Paramount Pictures is developing a third “The Ring”, this one in 3D. The film is being geared more towards teens than the first, with aims to reinvent the franchise. [Heat Vision blog]
  • "Avatar" producer Jon Landau talks about what the additional scenes in the extended cut — to be released in theaters this August and on Blu-ray this November — will feature: "We’d like them to touch on some of the backstory that we did not have time to address. We’d like them to touch on exposing people to a little bit more slices of the world of Pandora that they might not have seen, and we’d like to have a little bit more action in there in a couple spots"… [SCI FI Wire]
  • …As an update to last week’s story, "Avatar" sold a total of 6.7 million DVD’s and Blu-rays in four days in North America alone. That includes a record 2.7 million Blu-rays, a new best-seller for the format (eclipsing the 2.5 million Blu-rays sold of "The Dark Knight", which took 18 months to hit that mark)… [20th Century Fox]
  • …In sequel news, "Avatar 2" will take place several years after the events of the original and will lay the groundwork for the other moons in the system. And there’s also no cap on the amount of sequels, this franchise doesn’t have to be just a trilogy. [Market Saw]
  • Adam McKay ("Anchorman") is reportedly on the top of the list to direct an adaptation of Garth Ennis’ "The Boys". [Film School Rejects]
  • "The Losers" opened to a disappointing fourth place last weekend with $9.4M. "Kick-Ass" dropped to fifth place in its second weekend with $9.3M, while "How to Train Your Dragon" took first place with $15.4M in its fifth weekend. [Box Office Mojo]
  • Breck Eisner’s "The Crazies" will hit DVD and Blu-ray on June 29. [Overture Films]
  • Marvel Studios plans to make smaller films in the $20-40 million range drawing on their extensive catalog of B-list characters. [CHUD]
  • Check out an interview with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige discussing "Iron Man 2" and other upcoming Marvel movies at [Comic Book Resources.
  • Producer Brad Fuller ("A Nightmare on Elm Street") says it’s "all systems go" on "Monster Squad": "We’re meeting with writers every day on that", but they’re still "trying to figure out" how to remake "The Birds". [Bloody Disgusting]
  • The "Sherlock Holmes" sequel, which will reunte stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law with director Guy Ritchie, could be shot in 3D. [Hero Complex blog]
  • James Cameron offered some thoughts on "Battle Angel Alita" which could be the director’s next project: "It takes place in a future world, a world that has cyborgs, but are you human if you have a mind, if you have a heart, if you have a soul? It’s a journey of a young girl who tries to discover herself and what she learns upon that journey." [SCI FI Wire]
  • Shia LaBeouf may be dedicated to making "Transformers 3" great, but that doesn’t mean he’s excited to return: "My mind battles with me all the time. My mind hates the fact that I’m going back to Transformers 3, but the kid in me loves it. The actor in me, who is looking to challenge himself, isn’t going to get it on in Transformers and I know that…I wasn’t happy with the second movie and unless the third one is better than both, then we failed." [Femalefirst.co.uk via TFW2005]
  • There’s a report that Columbia Pictures may have to make a "Ghost Rider" sequel without Nicolas Cage due to a deadline and Cage’s involvement in a third installment in Disney’s "National Treasure" franchise: "Insiders confirm to Vulture that Columbia is facing a ticking clock on the rights to the BBQ-skulled Marvel Comics character: Legally, if the studio isn’t in production on a sequel by November 14, 2010, the franchise automatically reverts to Marvel — which means the comic company’s new owner, Disney". [Vulture]
  • The third trailer for Christopher Nolan’s "Inception" will screen in front of select prints of "Iron Man 2" (in both conventional and IMAX theaters). [First Showing]
  • "FlashForward" showrunner / "Green Lantern" co-writer Marc Guggenheim has been tapped by Warner Brothers to write "Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever". The film is based on an original ide and treatment by Adrian Askarieh that "re-imagines Da Vinci as a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels". [Heat Vision blog]
  • "District 9" star Sharlto Copley expects a sequel to the 2009 hit "in about two years’ time." [Empire Magazine]
  • Eric Heisserer ("A Nightmare on Elm Street") was brought in to re-write the script to "The Thing" prequel and says that if everything goes right, the film will serve perfectly as "the first half of a double feature", explaining: "So that the last shot of this film will be two Norwegians and a chopper chasing after a dog. And you can plug in Carpenter’s film and they will both feel and look as they have been made around the same time." [io9]

CASTING BITES

  • Will Smith is reportedly leaning towards making "Men in Black III" his next film… [EW]
  • …In related news, Sony has opened up production offices at KaufmanAstoria Studios with plans to star shooting in August. [Production Weekly]
  • Bruce Boxleitner ("Babylon 5", "Tron Legacy") will star in the Syfy original movie "Area 51". Boxleitner "will star as a military hero nearing retirement". The TV movie will premiere in 2011. [SCI FI Wire]
  • Tony Todd, who voiced The Fallen in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", will play a human character in "Transformers 3"… [Transformers Live]
  • …And Robert Paul Taylor tweeted that he landed a role in the film. [Twitter via Transformers Live]
  • Chris Evans recalls the process of being cast as Captain America in Joe Johnston’s "The First Avenger: Captain America" as "intimidating" adding: "It was a challenging process for me, trying to decide whether or not to do it.  I came down on the side of going for it because I really think Marvel is doing some great things these days, the script is great and it’s going to be a fun character to play." [ScreenStar]
  • There’s a rumor that Vanessa Hudgens is one of the front runners to play Spider Woman in Marc Webb’s 3D "Spider-Man: Begin Again". [MTV.co.uk]
  • Paul Reubens will voice the character Jokey in Raja Gosnell’s live-action / CGI 3D film "The Smurfs". [Deadline]


Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.

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The premier of iron Man 2 caused the street to be shut down in Hollywood around the Premier.

Some harsh reviews of Iron Man 2. I’d hate to see that they didn’t take this movie seriously because they knew it was going to be a hit no matter what.

*sigh* Still no release from Steven Spielberg about remaking ‘When Worlds Collide.’

I don’t get it… with all these prequels, sequels, remakes and rehashes being considered for filming these days, Spielberg has one of the greatest sci-fi novels in his hands… not to mention he is legally obligated to make for Paramount… and here, five years after announcing the remake, it seems few steps have been made in pursuing that project.

I am disappointed.

Saw Iron Man2 last night….highly unimpressed…..

Wont ruin it for anyone of course, and I’d advocate anyone to go see it…but I didnt feel remotely compelled b y the movie at all and after an hour I just wanted it to end….

Interesting commentary by Shia regarding sequel fatigue. I hope for the best in Transformers3 as well.

I’m going to see Iron Man 2 despite what people say (provided I get a job and can afford cinema tickets) for one simple reason: Scarlett Johansson. I don’t know what she’s doing married to that coffee table of an actor when she could just as easily have had me.

As for Alien’s prequels, very exciting. I find it kinda funny that Scott mentions “remember the Space Jockey”? Who doesn’t? After the Aliens themselves, it’s about the most iconic image from the entire franchise. And seemingly that will require some visual cues from HR Giger, which can only be a good thing. The aesthetic of the first Alien film was nothing short of amazing. The only thing that I would find slightly off-putting is that it’s going to be seen as an alien vs. Alien type scenario. There’ll be no human involvement, so dialogue is going to be kept to an absolute minimum. Keeping something like that up for two movies could be a little monotonous and dragged out. And I hope it doesn’t end up looking cartoony since we’re depicting fifteen foot tall alien type people (ie, the Space Jockeys), because I was less than impressed with the visuals of Avatar and it’s lack of realism. Realism should be what makes the Alien movies. Having recently revisited Alien 3 (which I enjoyed a lot more than I did the first time I saw it many years ago, and feel it probably got a bad rep at the time), it’s certainly whet my appetite for something that goes back to the traditional Alien saga – Resurrection was too comic-book like, and the Alien vs. Predator films were just awful.

Jonah Hex…. Friggin’ Wow!

Vanessa Hudgens as Spider-Woman? NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

HOWEVER…if she were tapped (xd) to play Ilia in a future JJ Trek film, I would go for it:D

JJ-remake of 79 Trek film but with more action and NUDITY… :D

I’m not even that big a Thor fan, but that image of the Destroyer gave a little thrill to my fanboy heart. A glimmer of hope that they’ll actually pull off a Thor film that Marvel fans can embrace.

Scott B. out.

Just FYI,

The Fallen was voiced in Transformers 2 by Tony Todd, not “Tod Human”, whomever that is…

Thor,Capt America,Iron Mann, Supperman,Batman, All are wonderfull. But where is the Greates American Hero. Loved that 80s Show.

As an aspiring director, screenwriter, and cinematographer, I really hope the film industry eases up on this trend of remakes and sequels and I hope studio execs won’t make it a contractual obligation to go with 3D. If Hollywood continues these trends through to the next decade, I might just consider doing indie films only. >.<

I just got back from Iron Man2.

On the weak side the story with the bad guy was really just the same as Iron Man 1. Just a few more but as they are computer generated it’s kind of whoopdee do.

This rehash was annoying and a dumb decision by the studio to greenlight the script for that reason.

The personal journey of the characters was great and well done.

All in all you can spend $10 and see it at the theatre or you can watch the same story told a little better by renting out the dvd of the first Iron Man.

So was Iron Man 2 as bad as Transformers 2?
We need to know!!!!

Spider-Man: Begin Again? Sickening.
And worst title EVER.

Jonah Hex looks ridiculous. From what I understand it doesn’t even remotely follow the comic. Why bother then?

Spider Man: Just end it already.

I have always liked Thor and do look forward to this comic book movie. The Destroyer looks spot on.

Terribly curious about the Alien prequel idea. But do I really want some of the mystery taken out of the Space Jockey?

I would like to hear more news about the Starblazers flick they are filming (or have finished filming) in Japan. the FX work I saw was incredible. And there was this little flick at SXSW that was called something like “Monsters”. Little indy flick that sounded cool and seemed to have some awesome visuals.

I think the Alien prequel could be good. Since the Aliens take the general form of the host, I would like to see the Alien that came out of the “Space Jockey’s” chest.

That’s a lotta’ meatballs!

Spidery-Woman? Ok… Tha’ Europrean Spidery Woman had webs under her armpits…

Irony Man 2 should be a hoot… and if nots, I’ll just watch tha’ excitin’ trailer again and agains and pretend that be tha’ film.

Starblazers movie?! No way, mate.

“Searchin’ fur’ a distant star
We’re going oot’ ta’ Iscandar
Leavin’ all we love behind
Who knows whats we will find (in 3D!)

Tha’ plot be gettin’ cornier
Tha’ robot’s gettin’ hornier (Nova! Nova! Beda beda beda!)
Fightin’ wit’ tha’ Gamillons
We won’ts stop ’till we get rum

Our Star Blazers…”

Hey- Sigourney Weaver could make a full comeback aftar dealin’ wit’ Smurfs as her franchises (GhostBusterers and Aliens) be comin’ back. Digital technology could make her look younger fur’ an ET pre-quel and digital technology could make Bill Murray a script… ye’ get aboot’ two dozen chimps and a few cockatoos and place in front o’ tha’ keyboard as “ghost” writers… writes itself…

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…

14 & 15 You guys are so right about Spiderman, its getting old

We want NEW movies! Not remakes and sequels! When did everyone’s creative imagination die?!

When they do the Alien Prequel will they have it the Alien Sing as it did in Space Balls.

I hope they can get John Hurt to be in Alien prequel. But Maybe not say Oh No! Not again as well.

Ridley- dare I ask for a sequel/prequel to my favorite movie of all time, Blade Runner?
Probably safer to leave it alone, though. Sacred ground.

anyone else notice that practically all of these are remakes/prequels/sequels or based on a comic book/book/tv show? does ANYONE have any original ideas anymore?

I gots an original idear…

An Earth ship visits a planet wherein all tha’ inhabitants communicate by tap-dancin’ and fartin’… Oh, wait, that wuz’ Kilgore Trout.

OK… uuuuh… An awkward teenager is bit by a radioactive hooker and gains immense super powers as well as diseases and… Oh, wait… too much like Stan Lee.

OK- I admit it. Thar’s nothin’ new under tha’ sun.
How aboots’ a movie based on “Tha’ Moat in God’s Eye” where wee little monsters tears apart people in space… Or “Childhood’s End” where devil-like aliens help mankind ta’ evolve inta’ Silver Surfers…

Or… Hamlet 2929- a Space Odd-ossy…
“There’s something rotten in the station above Denub…”

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…

I just wanna bang Megan Foxx…

@ #11:

“Supper”man, eh?

SAVIOR OF EVENING MEALS ACROSS THE GLOBE!

#25. Yes. I can’t Type today. But we may havt to get Superman himself to help Mcdonalds sell Happy Meals in some parts of Ca with toys.

All of this genre movie activity, and there’s nothing filming at Harlington-Straker?

BND

You and I think alike my brother. And it scares me just a little.

With so much amazing science fiction in the form of novels and with so much compelling storytelling we get movies about toy franchises from the 80’s. And Spiderman 12, Hulk reboots, Batman reboots, Xmen origins that don’t make sense, and a cowboy that has nothing to do with it’s origin story at all.

In fairness, they actually made an improvement with the Batman reboots, whereas the others you mention seem to just go ’round in circles.

While I understand the general lack of regard for reboots, it’s kinda the reason we’re all here! I wouldn’t say Star Trek ’09 was necessarily an improvement on the Original Series, because it was so different. But it was certainly a reboot.

I have to agree with you on Batman. I hated the Burton movies. I find them totally unwatchable today. Batman Begins was a better movie in my mind than TDK, but still, TDK was a pretty good flick.

NuTrek was a fun movie but as a matter of taste, it’s not what I was hoping for.

I would love to see more sci-fi along the lines of Moon, District 9, Sunshine, and Children of Men. i’m hoping that John Carter of Mars is as good as the books.

keep Star Trek 09 out of this conversation because I certainly loved it it was awesome guess that’s just me.

Just for that I will now continually harp on NuTrek until you apologize for you egregious affront.

NuTrek was not my favorite film of ’09 and I wish they had done an actual origins story.

I didn’t like the Spock Uhura romance angle.

Destroying Vulcan was a bummer.

My popcorn was burned on the third theatrical viewing of the movie and it totally took me out of the picture.

I’m dissapointed to hear the reviews for “Iron Man 2”. Oh well. I still plan on seeing it. But the movie still could hit the $1 billion mark.

I’m a bit surprised there hasn’t been much in the way of news regarding “Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time”. Its coming out soon and I am looking forward to it.

“Toy Story 3” looks most excellent. The first two hold up really well on Blu Ray.

“Spider Man: Begin Again” sounds like it has the potential to become a straight-to-dvd release. The idea of a reboot smacks of cynicism.

I can’t wait for the “Avatar” sequel. I hope the story isn’t as obvious and heavyhanded as the first one was though. I’d like to see some exploration in it as well.

Captain Mike

“Supperman” would make an interesting movie. He would be a superhero who becomes addicted to junk food and eats at fast food restaurants all the time. His eating gets out of control and he is unable to perform his job because of his massive weight gain. He is seen as a joke by people and becomes depressed. The idea is not unlike “Hancock”. Except instead of alcohol it is food.

As for “Avatar” on Blu Ray and dvd I have said it before and I will say this again: Best looking Blu Ray so far. Can’t wait for the special edition.

Destroyer! Looks like he walked right out from under Jack Kirby’s pencil!

I sure wish his estate was making some money from all these movies. The fact the a character he designed 40 years ago is hitting the big screen and his family gets NOTHING for it except a “based on the comic book by” credit is just WRONG. And I don’t want to hear about work-for-hire agreements. Once the work goes beyond the originally anticipated distribution/sales/revenue…companies need to step up and pay the creators. Period.

#35

Don’t underestimate the studios’ abilities to find legal loopholes to avoid paying the creators’ their fair share.

The Narada was kinda goofy looking and not menacing.

I refuse to accept a 2500 foot Enterprise.

Delta Vega wasn’t that close to Vulcan.

The Beastie Boys stopped being relevant in 2036.

I continue to await your apology, startrekkie.

#37

Yeah, we get it already. You hate the movie. So just move on. Quit picking on Startrekkie.

#38

It’s a joke, son. Lighten yer britches some. if you were into reading you might have seen some of the hidden clues that would lead you to the conclusion that I indeed did NOT hate the new movie. Like the fact that I saw it multiple times in the theater. And that I said in my first post that I thought it was a fun movie.

I liked the movie just fine, I just would have liked something different more. Don’t let your world be defined in only colors of black and white. Absolutes are not the Jedi way.

And startrekkie, daylights a burnin’. Time to fess up and apologize, ya’ varmint.

“and a cowboy that has nothing to do with it’s origin story at all”

At one point in the comics he is sent to the future and fights androids… No movie can do so bad… unless Uwe Boll in involved… :P

Jonah Hex looks great. I’ve always wanted to see a cross between “A Fistful of Dollars” and “Spy Kids.” I just hope that at some point in the movie Jonah’s horse is equiped with a jetpack and a flamethrower. That would be super radical and tight. And OMG I can’t wait for the remake in eight years.

Go Hollywood!

#27-love that reference to UFO!

So all this huff about 3-D and CGI effects. It’s fine but how about creating some original stories and/or movies that we haven’t seen yet, rather than using old stuff. I think there’s too much focus on effects with “rapid action” camera angles So tired of all these remakes that are simply just not that good. The special effects are still cartoon-ish for the most part, and difficult to watch long enough for any details to be noticed. And man , the headache I had after watching 3-D Avatar!

I love the classic 2001-released in 1968 with wonderful special effects. Same goes for some of the Trek movies-the graceful moves the Enterprise, not this video game version with limited story and dialog.

It could be that maybe I’m just out of touch with modern film.

The first mistake they made with Iron Man 2 was hiring Scarlett who hasn’t actually ‘acted’ in a movie since around 2001. She’s a real drag.

#30 – I’m half there with you, Sunshine and Children of Men were great. Moon and District 9 were real letdowns for me. Both suffered from very messy 3rd acts.

Don’t mess with the space jockey! Leave it alone, It is better that it remain a mystery..inviting speculation. The prequel shouldn’t involve “The Nostromo” or LV486.

I liked Alien 4 Better than Alien 3.

Alien 3 was depressing.. Newt and Hicks dead..a feeling of hopelessness capped off by Ripley killing herself.

At least Alien 4 had a sense of humor.

How about Aliens VS Pandora?

Or Aliens VS Pandora VS Predators?

hmmm–the destroyer in thor–does look awesome n very kirbyish–my only worry-hope it doesnt turn into iron man how many bad guys in suits can ya have haha–kirbys family does deserve some kinda compensation and recognition from marvel/disney-not just for the destroyer or thor either-hell he co created 75% of the marvel universe-n several other universes too-his work with stan lee on the first 100 fantastic four issues went where no comic book ever went before or since-his kirby kosmicness created marvel n even today they are still trying to copy the mans incredible visual n plotting genius–galactus,silver surfer,the watcher,the inhumans,thor,hulk,nick fury,shield, avengers, iron man,x-men, etc. ad infininitim…his family deserves recognition n compensation as much as siegel n shuster deserved n got it for creating superman–and then some-

#43
If your idea of “wonderful special effects” is 2001 and not avatar 3d then, yes you are out of touch with modern film …

Well, count me in with #43 as well. CGI and 3D are made for the ADD generation, the video game generation. They have nothing to do with real film, IMO. Give me a real, physical model shot on actual film anyday. And you can’t honestly say your CGI/3D version looks more “realistic”, unless your view of “real” is skewed. But that’s a whole ‘nother thesis about the digital generation…..

Loved the Alien movies. Yes, all 4 of them! Mostly because of Ms. Weaver and the Ripley character. #4 was my least favorite – I loved the premise, but making her spawn into a somewhat sympathetic misunderstood child was a bad choice. But Ripleys journey kept me involved and caring.

Not sure about the prequel idea. I agree with some previous posters – the Space Jockeys should remain a mystery. There is plenty of other material to deal with. There are years upon years between the films that can be explored. But then again, why not leave well enough alone? There is a history in Hollywood of going to the well once too often…..

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