Batman: Year One animated movie trailer

If you're a fan of Batman, you're going to love this trailer.  It is for the upcoming DC Animated Universe DVD; Batman: Year One.  The same graphic novel by Frank Miller that redefined the character to the one we know today.  If it isn't for Frank Miller, there is no Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the character.  Enjoy the trailer and let us know what you think.

300 sequel will not be titled "Xerxes"... good

Probably a good idea the 300 sequel will not be titled "Xerxes".  Can you imagine what the marketing campaign would be like?  Teen boys wouldn't know how to spell it, then have mood swings about not accessing viral material, then throw tantrums, then boycott the movie.  It would be ugly.

A few weeks ago I posted about the sequel's announcement, no secret really.  But, what WAS a big deal was that Guy Ritchie may direct the film.  It's possible considering Zack Snyder, the 300 director, is going to be busy for at least 18 months on the Superman reboot. 

People involved with the movie have all but confirmed that Snyder will not direct.  Too bad too.  300 is totally Snyder's vision come true.  What's interesting is that Frank Miller has finished the graphic novel to the sequel.  Remember now, 300 is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, not the exact events in history.  So with the second graphic novel done, writers will be hired to adapt a screenplay.  We'll see what happens.  All this came from an article about the film being titled something other than "Xerxes". 

Guy Ritchie is rumored to direct Xerxes, the sequel to 300

Ok, so we know Guy Ritchie is busy filming Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, but there's an interesting rumor floating around.  Could Guy Ritchie take the reigns from Zack Snyder on a 300 sequel?  The internet says so, so it must be true. 

300 is really the defining film for Snyder.  His vision made the movie what it is.  It's no secret he and Frank Miller have been working on a sequel/prequel comic book following the Persian emperor, Xerxes.  Miller is of course the writer of the 300 graphic novel that inspired the film.  So why the Ritchie rumors?

I don't want to give internet rumors too much time, but here goes:  The third act to the new Superman script is weak and early reviews of Sucker Punch are bad so Warner Brothers doesn't trust Snyder with the tent pole film.  Bbbbbbbbbbbbbb.S.  I don't believe it for a minute. 

If the rumors are true and Ritchie is to take over the sequel, there has to be other reasons.  Say perhaps, SCHEDULING!  Shocking, scheduling difficulties is too boring a reason for a director to take over a film from another director; so we all make stuff up to compensate. 

My honest opinion is that Warner Brothers wants to get this project moving and so they're probably shopping around, nothing more.  With Snyder starting up Superman and Ritchie wrapping up Holmes... it makes sense.  I would be happy with Ritchie, but am going to hope for a back to back homerun with Snyder. 

Darren Aronofsky's "Wolverine" Sequel Now Has a Title

So, yes, it has been confirmed that Darren Aronofsky will re-team with Hugh Jackman for the Wolverine sequel. We already know the director and lead actor, as well as the plot. It will follow the Frank Miller, Japan Saga. Where Logan (aka Wolverine) falls in love with a married woman, the wife of a samurai. Logan must battle the villagers in hopes of ending up with the woman he loves.

The title has been revealed by Aronofsky himself. The movie will be called; The Wolverine. Back to basics, I like it! I never really liked the whole "X-Men Origins" part of the title anyway. It doesn't make sense to even use that if 'Wolverine' was going to be the only entry in the franchise; now that X-Men Origins: Magneto has been canceled. Aronofsky has an interesting visual style as well as the ability to tell a love story. He will do well and I will see this movie. That is all.

Quickie: Batman Year One is Warner Brothers coming

I love the Warner Brothers direct-to-video, animated films. A few weeks ago I told you about their latest outing, Batman: Under The Red Hood. Now comes news from Comics Continuum about a Warner Brothers animation movie; Batman: Year One.  Due out later this year.

The movie, I'm sure, will follow Frank Miller's legendary graphic novel which pulled Batman out of the "campy" and into the "dark side". The graphic novel is considered a classic and some of the key points were inspiration for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins.