Stephen Lang to reprise role for all 3 Avatar sequels; Cameron pegs three separate writers to pen the scripts

Whether you thought Avatar was an amazing sci-fi epic, Pocahontas in space, or as "South Park" refers to it "Dances with Smurfs," there's no denying its appeal.  And $700 million domestic box office translates to a sequel.  Or in this case three.

Sam Worthington recently dropped the news that the sequels would begin filming in October of 2014 and now we have some additional, and surprising, news.  Stephen Lang, who played Colonel Miles Quaritch and the requisite villain in the original film, will return for the sequels.  This despite having died at the end of the first movie. 

I thought Lang was one of the highlights of the first film and I'm glad to see that he's returning, but I wonder exactly how Cameron will pull this off.  Will he return as a Na'vi, human form, an android,....Ben Affleck?  Who knows.

Another piece of news are the writers of the aforementioned sequels.  James Cameron has tasked three writers to script a sequel apiece.  Josh Friedman will write the first sequel, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver the second, and Shane Salerno the third.  Let's hope these scripts are slightly more original.

There are also plans to create a series of novels to flesh out what is proving to be a massive story.  One thing you can say about Cameron, he doesn't just create movies, he creates WORLDS.

Here's hoping the upcoming sequels will be more about substance than spectacle.

Avatar 2 is set for a December 2016 release date with the third and fourth films occuring December 2017 and December 2018 respectively.

John Belushi biopic in the work, Joaquin Phoenix and Emile Hirsch rumored front runners for role

This is exciting news.

While a John Belushi biopic has been in development for a long time, it looks like there is finally some movement on the project.  While director Todd Phillips (The Hangover) was initially tied to the film, screenwriter Steve Conrad has replaced him. The picture is also moving forward as an Indie pic, rather than a big budget production.

"THR" also reports that Conrad is currently searching for actors for the main role with Joaquin Phoenix, Emile Hirsch, and Adam Devine at the top of the list.  Additionally, Conrad is looking for an actor to play Dan Aykroyd, and Nelson Franklin of "Veep" and "New Girl" fame appears to be the frontrunner. 

While a previous Belushi picture, Wired, came out in 1989 starring Michael Chiklis, the whole Belushi family rejected it and it met with poor reception.  This time around however Belushi's widow, Judy Belushi Pisano, is producing the film with Aykroyd serving as an executive producer as well. 

I'm psyched for this film.  I always loved Belushi* and his tragic death was a huge blow to the comedy world.  If I had my druthers I think I'd actually pick Devine for this role.  He has Belushi's build and as a natural comedic performer I believe he'd fit perfectly.  Phoenix is an interesting choice but I think Emile Hirsch would be awful.  Seems like a complete miscasting to me. 

The untitled project is slated to begin production in Spring 2014 in New York City.

*John Belushi was originally supposed to play Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters, but upon his death the role went to Bill Murray.

Ben Kingley working on undisclosed Marvel project

I loved Iron Man 3.  In fact I'd hazard to say that it was the best of the bunch, and at the very least a step up from Iron Man 2.  However, I fully acknowledge that plenty of fans were outraged about the use, or in this case misuse, of Kingsley's character The Mandarin.

Despite incurring the wrath of fanboys though, it looks like Marvel is still interested in Kingsley taking on roles in their universe.  In a recent interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Kingsley stated he was working on a secret Marvel project, but wasn't allowed to elaborate.  With all the rumors that fly around when it comes to comic book movies, you might think Kingsley was just blowing smoke.  However, Marvel producer Kevin Feige ALSO admitted he couldn't say anything, which leads me to believe that Kingsley's comments are genuine.  In any case Kingsley seems like a stand up guy so I don't see why he would lie. 

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Review: Gravity

Plot:  Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a mission specialist for NASA on her first assignment in space.  Stone and fellow astronaut Lt. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are on their last space walk, making some final repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope when disaster strikes.  A Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite has caused space debris to accelerate around the Earth's orbit, destroying anything in its path.  Before long Kowalski and Stone are in a desperate fight for their lives, running out of oxygen, safe harbor, and most importantly-time.

Review:  The word "groundbreaking" gets thrown around a lot in Hollywood in regards to films, almost to the point of cliche.  Yet in the case of director Alfonso Cuaron's latest phenomenal film Gravity, "groundbreaking" is the exact right word to use.  Not only is this a finely crafted masterpiece of a movie, it is also quite literally a game changer in the film industry.  What Bonnie and Clyde was to violence in films and The French Connection was to car chases on screen, Gravity is to cinematography and space films.  Not since Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey has there been a film like this. 

As I mentioned previously, what separates Gravity from other movies is Cuaron's vision of space and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's ability to capture that vision.  Lubezki's work here is unparalleled, unveiling the beauty, majesty, and danger of space.  It begins and ends with the point of view of the camera.  Some of the most harrowing moments come from the POV of Stone.  We are literally in the suit with her as she tumbles uncontrollably through space, which serves to heighten the terror.  The audience feels what she is feeling.  Other wide range shots of the stars or the Earth miles above the surface, makes it look like the film was shot in space.  You cannot tell the difference.  In a very real sense, space itself becomes a character in the film.

Alfonso Cuaron has already established himself as one of the premier dynamic directors of his generation with films like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Children of Men, but Gravity is truly his masterpiece and the one film he will be remembered for long after he's gone. His singular vision of what it's like to face real danger in space is a revelation.  Gravity is the first film in a long time that kept me on the edge of my seat through almost the entire movie.  Cuaron's direction evokes a tension from his audience that's unparalleled.  Though the film clocks in at a tight ninety minutes, when you're done you'll feel like you've been through the ringer.  It's an emotional roller coaster that leaves the audience exhausted.  Alfonso Cuaron's pacing is excellent, interspersing terrifying moments such as a fire in space, with moments of heartfelt tenderness between Kowalski and Stone. 

Let me be upfront by the way.  I absolutely LOATHE Sandra Bullock as an actress.  I think her Best Actress Award for The Blind Side was a joke and most of the movies she stars in are garbage.  Having said that Bullock absolutely crushes it in Gravity.  Bullock carries the film much the same way that Tom Hanks carried Cast Away, but her performance is even better.  It's ironic that the tag line for Gravity happens to be "Don't Let Go" because that's exactly what Bullock's Stone can't do in her own life.  Stone recently lost her four year old daughter and suffers from a depression that makes her drive for hours on end so she doesn't have to face reality.  Life has become empty and meaningless.  Yet when she is thrust into a situation where she must scrape and claw for every breath, from one harrowing danger to another, to fight for her life at every step, Stone somehow finds the desire to live and not just survive.  Sandra Bullock presents a multi-layered character, someone the audience can not only relate to but root for as well.  Not only is this an incredibly physical role for Bullock (reports state that she was in a harness upwards of fourteen hours a day during filming) but a wrenching emotional performance as well.    In my opinion the best performances often come from the combination of the physical AND the emotional.  That's exactly what Sandra Bullock delivers with her performance as Dr. Ryan Stone.

Concurrently, George Clooney's Kowalski presents a perfect balance to Bullock's Stone.  A true space cowboy on his last space flight, Clooney slips easily into the role of a smooth talking, devil-may-care astronaut with a sizable ego and a closet full of stories.  Yet he is also a determined and knowledge commander, a leader that gets Stone through several crisises both physical and emotional.  I can't see anyone else playing this role other than Clooney.

Gravity will no doubt dominate come Oscar time.  I don't see a scenario where Bullock, Cuaron, and Lubezki don't get nominated.  Without having seen some of the upcoming award season films I'd say hand the Oscars to Cuaron and Bullock right now, but I'll reserve judgement for the moment.  Even Hans Zimmer's understated but brilliant score may finally land him a nomination. 

Nevertheless, awards or no awards, Gravity is a landmark achievement in film making and something not to be missed.

My rating:  10/10

Tim Burton in talks to direct sequel to Beetlejuice

If you're a child of the 80s and 90s you probably saw Beetlejuice more than once.  Quirky, zany, funny, horrific, it's classic Tim Burton before he decided to make everything with Johnny Depp.  Also up until the following year's Batman, Beetlejuice was the film Michael Keaton was the most known for.

Well looks like the "ghost with the most" may be back.  "The Wrap" reports that Tim Burton is currently in talks to direct the sequel to the 1988 hit film.  Michael Keaton also plans to return.  Burton was set to direct an adaptation of Miss Peregrine's Home for Unusual Children but may have since begged off.  Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is currently writing the script as well.  All we know is that the film is set some twenty-seven years after the first film.  There's probably no chance that Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis return, because let's face it, ghosts don't age.  (Obviously the same wouldn't apply to Keaton since he'd be under a heap of makeup.  See pic above.)  But I could definitely see Winona Ryder coming back.  Maybe her kids would be involved?

I have mixed emotions about this project.  On one hand a sequel to Beetlejuice is an intriguing prospect.  However, I'm really getting tired of Burton either revisiting old projects, rebooting old television shows, or adapting books into film.  He hasn't done anything original in years and if somehow he casts Johnny Depp in this I might lose my shit.

I wonder.  If I say Johnny Depp three times will he go away from Tim Burton movies?

This is my BOOM SEQUEL! Bruce Campbell signs on for sequel to Army of Darkness

I loved the Evil Dead reboot from earlier this year, but if you revel in the original trilogy like I do, I couldn't help regretting it wasn't a straight sequel involving Bruce Campbell.

Request answered.

At Wizard World Nashville Comic Con this weekend the King himself was on hand discussing past and present projects.  When asked point blank whether there would be a sequel to Army of Darkness, Campbell stated, "All right sir, the answer is yes."

Now I know we've heard this sort of thing in the past but Sam Raimi recently confirmed that he spent the entire summer writing the sequel.  To have Campbell give a definitive "yes" to this project is finally a step in the right direction.

Now if we can just get a sequel to Bubba Ho-Tep.....

Review: Runner Runner

Plot:  Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) is a former Wall Street hotshot who lost his job and is now making his way through Princeton financial school.  Desperate for tuition money, Furst uses his talent for numbers on an online poker site to pay for school.  When Furst is cheated out of all his money however, he makes the bold move to fly to Costa Rica and confront the website's owner Ivan Block (Ben Affleck).  Surprisingly, Block admires Furst's guts and talent and offer him a job.  The perks are appealing to Furst, not just the money but Block's ex-girlfriend Rebecca (Gemma Arterton).  However, before long Furst finds himself dealing with the FBI, corrupt politicians, and his increasingly unstable boss.  Someone's life is about to fold.  The question is who?

Review:  In spite of the fact that Runner Runner comes care of the people who brought audiences the fantastic Rounders, Runner Runner proves to be a disappointing film.  Pedestrian, cliched, and occasionally entertaining, Runner Runner is nothing more than a predictable thriller.

The strength of Rounders was in its characters.  Mike, Worm, Teddy KGB, Knish; each had their own distinct traits and mannerisms that made them intriguing.  With Runner Runner its writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien completely forgot how to flesh out a character.  Neither writer succeeds in making Richie a likable or relatable character.  In point of fact, he's a little off putting in that he lures unsuspecting college students into gambling and is willing to give up a promising future in finance almost immediately, for a quick buck in Costa Rica.  Even Koppelman and Levien's weak attempts to evoke empathy for Richie through his relationship to his degenerate father Harry (John Heard) fall flat.  Ivan Block meanwhile comes across as your typical rich tycoon, someone who is manipulative, arrogant, and believes he's untouchable.  Even FBI Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) comes across as a cliched law enforcement official looking to stick it to "The Man." 

To their credit Timberlake and Affleck do well with what little they're given.  Timberlake conveys strength and ingenuity throughout Runner Runner.  In some ways his performance turns Richie into a slightly lesser version of Ivan Block, the implied message being that but for a few decisions, Richie could easily become like Block.  Additionally, Timberlake's tumultuous relationship with his father is believable if slightly contrived.  Timberlake continues to improve with each film he's in and although already a dynamo when it comes to comedy, he's definitely becoming a serious actor.  The role of Ivan Block seems tailor made for Ben Affleck.  Affleck fits into the character of Block like a well worn leather glove.  He excels at conveying Block's deviousness and arrogance.  Affleck also delivers some fantastic one liners, one of the few saving graces of this film.  Unfortunately, Affleck doesn't do menacing very well and the few times Block's actions required a certain amount of fury, Affleck couldn't quite measure up.  Historically though, Affleck has always had problems depicting true anger on screen.

As strong as Affleck and Timberlake were, Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie were equally bad.  Arterton was so vanilla and forgettable as Richie's love interest, that she might as well not have been in the film.  I never bought the relationship between her and Timberlake.  The chemistry was severely lacking.  Meanwhile Mackie, who I usually love in most things, comes across as too stale and one note for my taste.  Mackie plays Agent Shavers as the cliched pissed off government official always handing out threats and zingers in equal measure.  There is zero nuance to Mackie's Shavers.

Speaking of nuance, Runner Runner as a whole possesses little as a film.  Its biggest problem as I've alluded to is that it is predictable.  The audience knows early on the exact way the plot is going to go down.  It's easier than connecting the dots to form a triangle.  Eventually you find yourself waiting for the next item to check off your "Cliched Thriller" list.  And the "twist" at the end of the film?  Let's just say that if you don't see it coming five minutes before it happens you probably can't see the big "E" at the eye doctor's office either.

There's little entertainment to take away from this movie, which is a shame considering the writers and cast involved.  Runner Runner?  More like Bummer Bummer.

My rating:  4/10