It seems too soon for a reboot on the man of steel considering his last appearance was only five years ago in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns.  But it was a disappointing performance for the last son of Krypton.  Now its Zack Snyder’s chance to reintroduce the world to the iconic hero.  The director of Watchmen and 300, Snyder has described the reboot as a modern take on the loved character.  Often defined as the epitome of a hero, Snyder aims to make Superman much more real and relevant to today’s audience.  Snyder has a daunting task ahead of him, to make the perfect superhero relatable.

But he seems to be heading in the right direction.  The story was co-written by David Goyer and Christopher Nolan, who worked together in creating the storylines for the successful Batman reboot.  They seem perfect for the challenge, considering they took the same strategy with Batman as Snyder is taking with Superman.  Goyer and Nolan were able to make the Dark Knight a more real character that the audience could understand and relate to, despite not being a millionaire whose parents were murdered in front of them.  In terms of storyline, Superman: Man of Steel is in good hands.

But it takes more than a good story to make a good film.  Snyder has been busy casting the roles that will carry the story and has recently announced his choice for the spunky journalist of the Daily Planet and Superman’s love interest.  Beating out stars like Rachel McAdams, Dianna Agron and Jessica Biel, the role of Lois Lane has gone to the talented Amy Adams.  A three time oscar nominee, this will be Adams first role in a major studio franchise.

Adams will be sharing the screen with Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent.  Diane Lane and Kevin Costner will also be present as Martha and Jonathon Kent.  It is yet to be revealed which villain Superman will be facing in this installment, but we eagerly await the announcement of who this foe may be.

I’d stick ‘em, and shoot ‘em… if ya know what I mean.

Hot, lingerie-clad chicks with swords and guns fighting dragons and bunny-faced robots. If you don’t want to see this I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Watch this trailer only once. I dare you:

A few more pics, for your viewing pleasure:

Character: “Amber”
Played By: Jamie Chung
Known For: She was in Sorority Row, then went on to play one of Rob Schneider’s sexy daughters from Grown Ups - but best of all she’s gonna be in Dragon Ball 2! Um… Awesome!..? (Please shoot me.)

Character: “Blondie”
Played By: Vanessa Hudgens
Known For: She was in High School Musical but her real claim to fame was the teen nudie pic scandal, a few years back…

Character: “Madam Gorski”
Played By: Carla Gugino
Known For: She played a tough lesbian who was forced to watch as Elijah Wood ate her fingers in Sin City, then she was a tough lesbian who got raped by The Comedian in The Watchmen. Not sure what the deal is with Madam Gorski but if history and that poster are any indication, I’d say odds are pretty good she’ll turn out to be a tough lesbian who will probably suffer some terrible fate.

Character: “Rocket”
Played By: Jena Malone
Known For: Most notably, she was Gretchen Ross, love interest to Donnie Darko.

Character: “Sweet Pea”
Played By: Abbie Cornish
Known For: I haven’t personally seen this chick in anything. Diggin’ the naughty elf costume, though.

If you believe the infernal buzzing of the media flies, you might think Jonah Hex is just another Megan Fox flick. In actuality, it’s the big-screen adaptation of a DC comic book of the same name. Of course, in true comic book movie fashion, we can expect Hollywood to take more than their fair share of liberties with the story…

In the comic book: Jonah Hex’s father sold him to the Apaches as a slave. After proving himself by rescuing the tribe’s chief from a puma, Jonah was adopted by the chief himself. The chief’s biological son didn’t take too kindly to this, and eventually he challenged Jonah to a sacred Tomahawk duel. Before the fight, the chief’s son sabotaged Jonah’s weapon, so Jonah was forced to use his knife to defend himself - a violation of the tribe’s sacred rules. The Apaches burned Jonah’s face with a hot Tomahawk before banishing his cheating ass from the tribe, forever.

In the movie: Jonah’s face was scarred by his arch-nemesis, Quentin Turnbull, whom Jonah spends the remainder of the film tracking down to exact his revenge. Aw, how neat and tidy that is! Stupid comic books with all their complex origins and intricate storytelling - who needs ya! Huh? Not us. We like to keep things simple so folks can follow along… in their sleep.

Let’s take a look at the trailer:

Well, the trailer is only about 50% Megan Fox, which is a lot, considering she’s barely in this movie. Hard to believe, given the press’s overabundance of attention to her “bad acting,” but I think Fox actually had less opportunity to show her acting chops in this than she did in Transformers.

But, enough about Foxy. Let’s get on to the meat of the subject. This is a western (of sorts), so I think I’ll break this up into three categories familiar to western fans. First…

THE GOOD: The visual effects for Jonah Hex’s supernatural powers were outstanding. The scenes in which Hex is reanimating, conversing and even fighting with the dead are the highlights of the film. I would have liked to see more of that. As for acting, Josh Brolin is good, Megan Fox is hot, and John Malkovich is… well, John Malkovich.

THE BAD: The story and character development are sorely lacking. When the movie starts out, it feels like you’re just tuning in to the middle. Some movies do this, then flashback to the events leading up to the incident, but this movie decides to jump forward instead. For reasons unknown, the bad guy who moments ago was our primary focus is now assumed to be dead, Jonah Hex has moved on with his life, and nobody has been given a chance to care about any of it. Add to that the lack of any real motivation for the villain other than just being a jerk, and you’re left with nothing more to look forward to than some flashy visual effects, a few gratuitous shots of Megan Fox in a corset, and the credits.

THE UGLY: For some unexplained reason, the realistic, rustic Western backdrops are periodically swapped for blatant, over-saturated ‘green screen’ images. Not that I was into the story much to begin with, but if I had been, these shocking distractions would have most certainly taken me out of it. To put it into perspective for our gamer friends out there: One moment you’re cruising through the old west a la Red Dead Redemption, the next you’re dropped into Mortal Kombat. No offense to MK intended, just trying to paint a picture of the difference between the two settings.

In the end, Jonah Hex is, sadly, just another Hollywood comic book movie. All things considered, I’m forced to give it an unimpressive D+.

There’s a new 8-minute movie floating around the mortal realm, and it’s causing quite a stir. Details are sketchy, which only serves to feed the flames of viewers’ curiosities, left to wonder how deep the rabbit hole goes…

If you haven’t seen it (or if you’d like to watch it again), here’s the controversial vid:

None too shabby? Well, at least it’s better than Annihilation.

The origins and intentions are, as of yet, uncertain. There are, however, some interesting theories and perhaps a few leads buzzing about:

Is this the mysterious culprit?

This guy looks suspicious…

Whatever the case, we’ll keep ya posted as we learn more. In the meantime, what do you think of the video?

Jack Black’s back with another chuckler. I’m glad. I like Jack Black. Of course, it’s probably gonna be extremely similar to his other movies, so there’s not much to say here. Let’s check the trailer:

Looks like fun, as one would expect. I’ll watch it.

Probably the most newsworthy thing about this movie is the fact that scheduling conflicts forced Emily Blunt to blow off the Black Widow role, which would have secured her a part in both Iron Man 2 (a stinker of a film) and The Avengers (hopefully better than IM2), as well as any future spin-offs (including voice acting gigs for horrible video games) which may include the Black Widow character. Sounds like a lot to sacrifice, considering you could blink and miss her part in the Gulliver trailer.

These two should definitely make a “movie” together.

Gulliver’s Travels is set to hit theaters December 22nd, 2010.

Worst movie poster ever?

If this teaser poster is any indication of the overall quality of the film, Director John Luessenhop’s Takers is sure to be a stinker. Note the obviously cut&pasted heads, the cheesy expressions, and the all-around lack of light and/or color awareness - I’ve seen ransom demands which took more pride in their presentation than this.

Let’s see if the trailer is any better:

Okay, it’s better than the poster. Still, T.I.’s acting rubs me the wrong way and there are a few other elements which leave me skeptical about the film. Of course, being the die-hard movie buff I am, I’ll have to see for myself.

Takers is due August 20th, 2010.

Movie poster awesomeness at its finest.

Mark Wahlberg, Will Farrell, Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock. It’s a combination so blatantly obvious it shocks me to my core that Hollywood has only just now thought to cast these four in a movie together. All we need now is Betty White, Jar Jar Binks and a talking monkey, and this wacky fruit salad will be complete.

Check out the trailer to see what it look like:

Awesome trail– Hold on, what’s this? I spotted Michael Keaton in that trailer! BeetleBats is ALIVE!!! Yee!!! ..Sorry, but I love me some Michael Keaton. That dude cracks me up. He’s also my favorite Batman (up to and including Bale’s gravel-gargling interpretation). But anyway, enough about Keats.

This movie looks awesome. I will be watching it August 6th, 2010.

Hollywood’s favorite MILF is back with a vengeance.

Directed by Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, The Bone Collector), Salt is the latest action flick to star the aging-yet-still-succulent lips of Angelina Jolie.

SYNOPSIS:
As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”

Here be the trailer:

Hmm… Looks like The Bourne Identity just got a collagen injection.

Salt is slated for release on July 23rd, 2010.

‘Defy the Future?’ …I think we might need to ‘defy a bit of the past’ first.

Since the dawning of man, video games and movies have been like dill pickles and peanut butter. Independently delicious, but combined they make for one nasty stomach ache.

Remember Super Mario Bros. the Movie? …Horrendous.

Street Fighter the Movie? …Despicable.

Anything directed by Uwe Boll? …Please, shoot me first.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that Disney’s latest fray into the cross-genre scene is destined to be a disaster, yes? Well, let’s take a look:

Like what you see in the trailer? …I did. Despite my own horrific past with video game films (and an equally rocky relationship with bait-and-switch movie trailers in general), I actually allowed myself to be excited by this one. Still, my wiser self was skeptical. I mean, there’s not a chance in hell the flick would be as good as the trailer… right?

Wrong. This is one time when the product is exactly as advertised… if not better.

The visual effects of PoP:SoT are dazzling. The stunt work is phenomenal. (I can’t believe I’m saying this about a video game movie, but…) even the story was good!

I can honestly attest that this is, hands-down, the best interpretation of a video game to the silver screen. Ever.

Director Mike Newell captured the pace and feel of Ubisoft’s classic franchise with impeccable acuity. BIG PROPS to Jake Gyllenhaal for taking the initiative to suggest adding more moves from the game (i.e. wall run) to the action, making the interpretation that much more authentic.

Swear, there were times during the heat of a chase when I found myself subconsciously wiggling my thumbs, as if I were actually playing a hyper-realistic, next-next-gen version of Prince of Persia, starring real actors on a big-ass screen! (One day, when I’m filthy rich and my nano-tech-nerve-manipulation research is complete, this fantasy will become real… but more on this later, once it is too late for you insolent fools to stop me… Muahaha!!)

In the complaints department, my only real qualms with this movie are that it felt a little long. At just shy of 2 hours, there are times when the story gets a tad stagnant… there may be one or two scenes which could have been trimmed a bit to keep things moving. In the end though, the length only lends more to the authenticity of the game-to-film transfer, as gamers know well that any game beaten in under 2 hours is often a game not worth playing.

One other gripe may be a slight lack of character development. The characters’ stories are definitely told, but at times they seemed just a tad brushed over, at least for my tastes.

All things considered though, Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time is all that and a bag of sand: time-shifting, magic-of-the-gods type sand. By comparison, anything else from the genre, thus far, is just plain dirt.

I give Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time a solid A-.

Now, let’s get crackin’ on Assassin’s Creed!

Universal and Working Title Films have acquired the rights to a short/trailer titled “CUP OF TEARS”. A full feature version is now in the works with it’s original creator Gary Shore at the helm.

The story (for now) follows a scorned geisha who creates a magical cup made of tears that causes any man who drinks from it to fall into a permanent sleep. One night the cup is stolen, setting off a chain of events that threatens civil war amongst the clans. Taro, a gifted samurai, sets out to find the cup and one who can break the spell.

The trailer first appeared last October and has been gaining momentum ever since. It is the first samurai sci-fi/fantasy, beautifully and completely stylized in CG.

It would be a shame for such a movie not to be made. Watch it now and agree with me.

There are some gamers out there that choose to game on their PC, rather than on a system such as the XBOX 360 or Playstation 3. These PC gamers strive to have the best equipment out there, that, in some cases, include super powered notebook computers, such as a Dell XPS, a Powerbook, or maybe an Alienware notebook. The PC gamer’s beast of a computer is usually accompanied by a wired mouse, which is great for gaming, but might take away some of the portable aspect of having a mobile computer.

That is, until Razer came out with their Orochi Elite Mobile Gaming Mouse. This mouse is mobile when it needs to be (via Bluetooth), and is wired when desired for gaming.

This mouse has drivers available for both Mac and PC. Check the mouse out here for more details.

It sure is nice to finally have a decent Bluetooth mouse. For those of you who own a wireless mouse, you know of the annoyances that the USB dongle can provide. With a Bluetooth mouse, those annoyances are a thing of the past.

Whoa! Slow down, fellas. I think it may be that time of the month.

A Nightmare to Remember is coming in only 8 short days. Independent filmmakers the Bay Area over will come together to showcase their twisted works of horrific fiction…

There will be some interesting guests:

Mr. Lobo of Cinema Insomnia fame will be there.

Tony Moran, the original Michael Myers (Halloween) will be showing his new short film, Spilt Milk.

Personally, I’m most looking forward to Hubris, a short horror film directed by a good friend o’ mine, Mr. Ray Hom, and starring another good friend o’ mine, Mr. Leon Lai.

This joka better be calling Ghostbusters...

= Synopsis from www.TheHubrisFilm.com =

“A supernatural entity, with an intent to harm, invades the life and home of a young man named Jeremiah. After having convinced assistance from his best friend, Ellison, they both attempt to capture this evil spirit. But the men come to realize that the possibility of catching this ghost might mean that their own lives may be at stake. This fifteen minute dramatic, psychological short film follows the similar style of the current trend in Japanese horror.”

Behold, the teaser trailer:

An all-new Rise of Cobra trailer has hit the streets. Here, take a gander:

Hmm… Reserving judgement on this one. As a rule, I prefer my action movies to have real, live acrobatic stunts/fights rather than the computer-generated ones, however the CG may work better in this case… I just hope they don’t overdo it.

Probably the thing I’m looking forward to the most is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of Cobra Commander - By far my favorite character from the ‘toon, played by someone I never would have guessed but whose skills I do respect. I’m curious to see what his take on the Commander’s voice will sound like… Here’s what the man himself had to say about it:

From Joseph Gordon-Levitt:
“I love that voice (from the cartoon). Chris Latta is a fantastic voiceover artist, but if you did that exact voice it would sound ridiculous in a live-action movie. I guess it’s half Chris Latta and half me.”

Okay, sounds like a plan.

Hey, if nothing else, this flick has some very hot chicks parading around in skin-tight vinyl costumes. A movie that has that can’t be all bad, can it?

UPDATE:
New, longer trailer up:

Debut of Leonard Nimoy as ‘Old Spock’ in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek:

Did they actually use makeup and visual effects to make Nimoy look older, or has Lenny been sittin’ in the sun ever since The Undiscovered Country (1991)?

As for ‘Young Spock’ (Zachary Quinto), it’s nice to see Sylar doing something more worthwhile than the last few seasons of Zeroes. If only that show could recapture the vigor of its youth.. The first season of Heroes was the best show since Late Night with Sliced Bread!

Anyway, the nerd in me is looking forward to Trek. Seriously.