Superman has until 2011 to start production or else!

Today was a really sad day for comic book fans across the world. A judge has given most of the rights to Superman to the family of his creators. DC Comics purchased the rights from Superman creators years ago, but just now the families are filing suit. The judge ruled in favor of the families which means a number of different things. Warner Brothers' rights to the Superman properties runs out 2013 before they would have to restructure a deal with the families as far as profit sharing. After 2013 the families are going to ask for more money... A LOT MORE MONEY. Which means both Warner Brothers and DC Comics could lose the character to their competition all together.

Are you serious?! A Marvel Comics Superman? Yes, it could happen. Even though Superman has no other home than DC Comics, it is a very serious option. So for all you comic book fans what does that mean? You could be picking up books featuring a Superman/ Magneto fight. For all of us movie fans? It could mean an Avengers movie with Superman in it!

Some could argue that the studio and book publishers have been greedy and made billions of dollars on the Superman property, and that it's the family's turn to reap the benefits. I strongly disagree. If I go to work for DC Comics today and create the single greatest, most profitable, superhero that ever lived... DC Comics owns the property, not me! But we ARE in American and the American dream is to sue for what you want. What makes me even more mad is the fact that it isn't even the creators themselves suing; its their family two generations later. It's such b.s. But that's the way the cookie crumbles.

On a final note, you can bet that Warner Brothers is going to do everything in its power to speed up the process on a Superman film. We told you a few weeks ago that the Wachowski Brothers were in talks with Warner Brothers to write and direct the movie, that's becoming more real day after day. The film would have to move into production as soon as next year for Warner Brothers to be able to finish it, release it, release the DVD and absorb all of the profits for itself before the 2013 deadline.

Look up in the sky... it's a bird... it's a plane... it's Spider-Man and Superman!

Writer found for X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2

Every few days to a week we are getting more details about the 'Wolverine' sequel. Last week, Hugh Jackman revealed that the film would follow the Japan saga made popular in the 1980's comic. This week a writer has been hired, a good one! Christopher McQuarrie has written movies like Valkyrie, The Way of the Gun, and won an Oscar for The Usual Suspects in 1996 for Best Original Screenplay. Not a bad resume.

The next rumor/ order of business is, who will direct? Neither the studio or Jackman are saying if Gavin Hood would return. The greatest rumor of all is Bryan Singer. A few months ago we told you that producers wanted him for a Gambit spin-off. Now we're hearing he may do the Wolverine sequel. He has a great relationship with Jackman, whom he discovered. So it looks like a good fit considering Singer has worked with McQuarrie on three films now. We'll see what happens in the upcoming weeks. But I am very pleased with McQuarrie as writer of Wolverine 2, hope the studio doesn't mess this one up.

Quickie: Law Abiding Citizen trailer

Today is shaping up to be a day of trailers. This film stars Gerard Butler and Jaime Foxx, and is directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job). Just go numb for a minute or two and enjoy this trailer!

The Fourth Kind... the most creative trailer ever

The Fourth Kind is a new movie starring Milla Jovovich as a psychologist in a small Alaskan town. The film is based on actual events. People within the community are complaining of visions, the scary part is, they're all seeing the same vision. The trailer is by far one of the most unique I've ever seen. The trailer shows film footage, side by side with footage taped during the patient sessions. We also see Milla Jovovich speaking to us directly, to set up the clip. Amazing, and although "I don't do scary movies", I am fascinated by this trailer and think I will be seeing the movie... enjoy.

Tony: 17 Again DVD review

17 Again is the best movie you probably didn't see this year. Yes, I'm serious and no, I'm not being sarcastic. The movie stars Matthew Perry as a 30 something who's life isn't where he imagined it would be when he was a teenager. Perry plays Mike O'Donnell who's in the middle of a divorce. Perry's wife is played by the always funny, Leslie Mann. With a twist of fate kind of moment, Perry is transformed into his teenage self, played by Zac Efron. From here craziness ensues!

When the transformation occurs, Efron stays with his childhood friend, who is now an adult. The friend is played by Thomas Lennon, who is Lt. Jim Dangle on "Reno 911!". Lennon ads some great comic relief with his nerdy obsessions with such things as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Efron has to help his son overcome being shy, his daughter escape a horrible boyfriend and somehow earn back his wife's love.

The children in the movie are just interesting enough for you to care what happens to them. And Mann plays the neglected wife to the point where we care about her, but we don't think she's playing the victim. She knows her self-worth and is leaving her husband because that's what's best for her. When she decides to date other people, Efron is at her house before she leaves. It is pretty funny how he gets jealous of her date.

I guess what makes this movie so good, and so different, is that it doesn't follow your standard 'transformation' movie. There are movies where people switch bodies, i.e. Freaky Friday. But this movie is closest to Big, only in reverse. In Big, Tom Hanks' teenage mind is stuck in an adult body. In 17 Again, Perry's adult mind is stuck in Efron's teenage body.

Is it the best 'transformation' movie ever? No, I think that goes to Big. Is it the best Perry, Efron or Mann film to date? Probably not. But it was entertaining and it was a very pleasant surprise. I didn't expect anything and got a whole lot. I think you should all head down to your local video store and check it out. By the way, did we just create an entire new genre of film? 'Transformation' movies... Matt, we should trademark that!

Tony: The Soloist DVD review

In honor of The Soloist being released on DVD last week, we're going to give it a review. Our blog is young and was not online when this movie hit theaters, so this is something we're going to do pretty regularly. Also, when movies are released on DVD, we're able to watch special features and report to you behind the scenes information as to how the movie was made. Remember, our reviews are less about plot and more about opinion.

The movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez, an LA Times columnist. He runs into a homeless person in search of a new column topic. The homeless person is Nathaniel Ayeres, played by Jaime Foxx. Nathaniel is a homeless schizophrenic who has a passion for classical music. The movie then dives into the relationship between the two characters.

Here's what I did like about the movie:
The Story. What a fascinating story. These two men, who otherwise have no business with each other, find a way to put aside differences and be friends. Differences in class, occupation, race, all in the name of friendship. Even though Lopez gets accused of exploiting Nathaniel for his own gains, you see that he isn't. He genuinely wants to help Nathaniel return to greatness in the music scene.

The Cast. Are you kidding me? Downey Jr. is the A-List star he's always deserved to be, and Jaime Foxx is an amazing actor, WHEN HE WANTS TO BE. And believe me folks, in this film, he wanted to be amazing! He sells the character of Nathaniel to the point where you must remind yourself it's Foxx. There are a few scenes where Nathaniel's schizophrenia is making him hear voices that are not there; Foxx sells this to the audience in a way few actors can do. There is no dialogue, and he has to express fear, discomfort, confusion all at once. Great role for a great actor. It doesn't hurt that Foxx actually played all the music in film, not just close ups of his face to make us think it's him.

What I didn't like: one thing really...
The Director, Joe Wright. How the heck could you mess this up, the man made Atonement for God's sake? The story is there, the actors are in place, the scenery is vivid, vibrant and alive, how do you mess this up? Every scene is stretched to an unbearable length. Something that should have been shot in a minute of film is stretched to five minutes. The movie is one hour, fifty minutes, it should have been an hour and fifteen minutes tops.

There's a scene where we're taken into the mind of Nathaniel, while he's listening to classical music. The director tries to impress us but fails miserably. There are light displays that are reminiscent of a mp3 player's equalizer matching the beat to a song. Bouncing lights to help us imagine what Nathaniel is hearing? What?


Overall I give this film a 6 out of 10. This film is like buying a puzzle. All the pieces are there, in a nice and tidy box, just as the pieces to a great film were there for the director. But its on the person to put the pieces together in the right place. And Joe Wright did not do that. Anyone else? Agree to disagree with me?

Quickie: Amelia poster

A little over a month ago we told you guys about the upcoming Amelia film, starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. The movie will focus on the life and times of Amelia Earhart and her attempt to fly around the world. The trailer looked great and now the studio has released an official poster. Check it out and go back to the original post to see the trailer. Enjoy!

Picture courtesy of cinemablend.com