Oscar Nominee Bradley Cooper to play a talking raccoon....I'm serious.

Listen I don't pretend to be the biggest comicbook fan in the world.  Far from it.  Yeah I have a few graphic novels here and there but do I own a regular subscription to "Batman" or know the complete backstory of Ultron?  No.  So it's not surprising that when I learned that part of Marvel's Phase II would be Guardians of the Galaxy, my first thought was (you guessed it!) who the Hell are the Guardians of the Galaxy??

Suffice it to say that the more I hear about them, the less appealing I find them to be.  It's very kid oriented and there's a talking tree...and a talking raccoon...named Rocket Raccoon.  I....oy...I got nothing.  Can you sense my lack of enthusiasm here? 

Like it or not, Guardians of the Galaxy is currently filming with plenty of well known actors like Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, and Christopher Platt.  Well you can now add Bradley Cooper to that list.  Deadline reports that  Cooper will provide the voice to the wise cracking and sarcastic Rocket Raccoon.  Who exactly is Rocket Raccoon?  Well why don't I edify you with this piece of info:

Rocket Raccoon acts as the "Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant", an area of outer space sealed off from the rest of the cosmos by the so-called Galacian Wall. Rocket is captain of the starship Rack 'n' Ruin, and he and his first mate Wal Russ (a talking walrus) come from the planet Halfworld in the Keystone Quadrant, an abandoned colony for the mentally ill where the animal companions were genetically manipulated to grant them human level intelligence and bipedal body construction for many to become caretakers of the inmates. Rocket was Halfworld's chief law officer ("ranger") who protected the colony against various threats.


Now I may be way off base here but it doesn't seem like this film is going to appeal to anyone over the age of ten, unless you are a diehard Marvel fanatic.  Marvel is definitely taking a risk with this one and this could very well turn out to be their first major flop.

Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn, releases August 1st, 2014.

Casting news for Kurt and Kathleen, Russell joins Fast 7 and Turner joins Dumb and Dumber sequel

It's been awhile since Kurt Russell or Kathleen Turner* did anything significant. In the last six years Russell has appeared in only four films while Turner...well she's probably made some appearances at Dunkin' Donuts but beyond that I really can't say.

In any event, both actors are about to make splashes in some very high profile sequels.  "Variety" reports that Russell has just signed on for a role in Fast And Furious 7 alongside Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.  While the role wasn't disclosed, "Bleeding Cool" states that Russell's role will be the one originally offered to Denzel Washington and modeled after Liam Neeson...whatever that means.  Could be a villain but I'm guessing not considering Jason Statham is primed to play the baddie.

"Variety" also reports that directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly have cast Turner in an undisclosed role in Dumber and Dumber To.  The movie begins shooting this Fall and is set to release sometime in 2014, just in time for the original's 20th anniversary. 

Russell can next be seen in The Art of the Steal currently in post-production and Turner will hopefully be seen somewhere by somebody soon.  "Friends" reunion anyone?

*I couldn't put up a newer photo of Kathleen Turner.  I just...couldn't...do it. 

In other casting news...James Spader is Ultron!

In case you forgot in the midst of the Batman/Superman movie whirlwind, there's another little Indie pic coming out the same summer called The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

 Just as the Batfleck diatribes begin to die down on the Internet, Marvel ups and gives audiences another bit of casting news to ponder.  While this one certainly isn't as controversial it is certainly...interesting.

According to "Deadline" Emmy Award winning actor James Spader will play the villain Ultron in the followup to the 2012 box office hit.  While many speculated that Paul Bettany, the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S from Iron Man would take on the role, it's apparently not to be. 

Spader has made a career of eclectic weird roles, everything from an elitist douche in Pretty In Pink to a sex deviant who gets off at car crash sites in David Cronenberg's Crash.  This role seems right up Spader's alley.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron releases May 1st, 2015.

Batty over Ben: Analyzing the choice of Ben Affleck for Batman

It's a fact of life that sometimes things happen at the most inopportune times.  You forget your umbrella and it starts to storm.  Your car breaks down on your way to the big interview.  Amazon has the complete Blu Ray set of LOST on sale for $50 and  your bank account shows a zero balance.  Sometimes it's enough to make Alanis Morissette cry.

And sometimes big movie stories break when you're on vacation.  That was the case with me last week when Warner Bros. dropped a bomb bigger than Gigli on the unknowing masses, casting Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Zack Snyder's upcoming Batman/Superman movie.  If I didn't know better I would've thought Warner Bros. was trying to break the Internet.

In retrospect, I think it was a good thing that I was on vacation and no where near a computer when the news broke.  While I wasn't against the casting, it certainly came out of left field.  I mean seriously.  Anybody who saw this coming raise your hands.  Oh no one did?  That's what I thought.  But to get back to my initial thought, the timing was a good thing personally because it gave me a chance to reflect rationally on the casting choice.  (In case you didn't notice some people had slight emotional overreactions to the news.)

Before I get to my thoughts however, I'd like to take a moment and assess the fan reaction.  Granted some of the memes that  have come out have been pretty hilarious, but I have never seen such vitriol and hatred spewed on the Internet like I have for Ben Affleck.  You'd think someone had hired the lead singer of Gwar to play Jesus Christ in a reboot of The Passion of the Christ.  People actually put up a petition on the White House website to have him removed from the film.  THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE.  Are you freakin' kidding me???  All I could think of was Shatner on SNL saying "It's just a TV show!"  People need to relax and remember at the end of the day it's just a movie.  And if we're going to be completely honest here, whoever Warner Bros. picked, somebody would've found a reason to bitch.  Because that's what the Internet and social media have become--places to gripe and moan anonymously.  But that's a post for a different day and probably a different blog.  In the interim 300 lb guy wearing a Justice League of America shirt, playing Call of Duty in your Mom's basement, and freebasing Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, why don't you dial it down a notch ok?  Your hatred is not appreciated.

Now as to my thoughts on the casting choice.  I don't hate the pick, but I can't say that I'm enthusiastic about it either.  Could Warner Bros. have cast someone more appropriate?  Probably.  However, could they have picked someone with more talent?  That's up for debate.  While fanboys may bitch and moan that Affleck ruined Daredevil (seriously guys it wasn't that bad) you can't deny the leaps and bounds that Affleck has made in the movie industry over the last couple years.  Here's a guy who had a lot of success early on and was really given the keys to the Bentley.  And what did Affleck do with those keys?  He gave the world Gigli, Reindeer Games, Surviving Christmas, and Phantoms.  The dude became a Hollywood joke, ripped by everyone, from Internet bloggers to Seth MacFarlane on "Family Guy." 

And then something magical happened.  Affleck turned it around.

In the last five years he's become quite the Hollywood professional.  His stint in Hollywoodland (where ironically he played George Reeves, television's Superman) was excellent and he's directed three superb films--Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo.  It's still a travesty that he didn't win Best Director, let alone get nominated for Argo.  Moreover, he's learned to embrace his essence as an actor.  Affleck is that moody, inward, aloof Clint Eastwood type.  (Let's face it the guy isn't going to up and do Hamlet anytime soon.)  From that perspective the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman makes a lot of sense.  Batman is a stoic, withdrawn man tormented by his past.  Batman doesn't really have to show a wide range of emotions.  Furthermore, Affleck also makes an ideal Bruce Wayne.  He's handsome, charming, funny, and could easily pass for a playboy billionaire.

Affleck detractors will site his earlier movies and his relationship with Jennifer Lopez as a reason to hate him in the role of Batman.  I think they are being myopic.  How long can you condemn a man for choices he made in his mid twenties?  I'm not sure about you but I know I made a lot of stupid mistakes in my twenties.  But you learn and you grow.  It's called maturity.  Fanboys and the like are quick to forget that audiences reacted in a similar fashion when Michael Keaton was cast as Batman.  People were even angrier when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker.  (The guy from Ten Things I Hate About You?  Really?)  Both of those decisions panned out pretty well, especially the latter.  Conversely, when George Clooney was cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne everyone rejoiced because he seemed to fit the image so well.  Guess what?  We got Batnipples and a movie that singlehandedly destroyed the franchise for the better part of a decade.

The point I'm trying to make here is that I'm neutral on the casting choice.  I'm willing to give Ben Affleck the benefit of the doubt until he proves me wrong in July 2015.  Until such time however, I'm going to reserve judgement.  It would be one thing if Warner Bros. had cast Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, or Bobcat Goldthwait in the role.  That's not the case though.  It's Ben Affleck.  If anything I wish Warner Bros. would have taken it one step farther and made Affleck the director.  When it's all said and done I think Affleck will be remembered more for his work behind the camera rather than in front of it.

Although I'm neutral on the casting, I actually am rooting for Affleck to do well.  In fact I think the perfect revenge against all his Internet haters would be to go and give the performance of his life.  Shut the fanboys* up and give them a great movie.  I sincerely hope that's what happens.  Then again in two years I may be eating a massive plate of crow.  (Or should I say bat?)  However, if I do, I'll also be the first to say the naysayers were right and I was wrong.  Until then let's withhold the Batarangs to Ben Affleck's groin and see how this plays out.

*Fanboys who say they are going to boycott this film because of Affleck--I call bullshit.  You guys have had a giant nerd boner since Warner Bros. revealed they were making a Batman/Superman movie at Comicon.  So don't give me your righteous indignation you hypocrites.

Could Elizabeth Olsen be playing Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron???

Whoa call Uncle Jesse, and Joey, and Kimmy Gibbler and....oh shit wrong Olsen.

Joss Whedon confirmed several weeks ago that the character of Scarlet Witch would appear in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Although actress Saoirse Ronan was offered the part, she passed, leaving Whedon to go after his second choice--Elizabeth Olsen.

This report comes via "Bleeding Cool" and while nothing is set in stone yet, I'm encouraged by the news.  Elizabeth Olsen certainly has more dedication and focus on acting than her older sisters (New York Minute anyone?) and has really made a name for herself in Indie films like Silent House and Martha Marcy May Marlene.  Plus she's not averse to summer tentpole films, as she'll star in next summer's Godzilla.  I could see this being an excellent role for her.

Olsen's next film Oldboy releases November 27th while The Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters May 1, 2015.

Director Guy Ritchie may helm an Empire State building movie

While audiences wait with baited breath for a third Sherlock Holmes movie, they'll have to content themselves with director Guy Ritchie's next film, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.  While Ritchie has been tied to numerous projects over the last year or so (including an Cannonball Run remake believe it or not) his next project may be about the building that made King Kong famous.

"Deadline" reports that Warner Bros. has just acquired the rights to the 2006 book "Empire Rising" which describes the construction of NYC's Empire State building.  Warner Bros. is currently circling Ritchie to helm the project if he's interested.  Thomas Kelly's historical fiction novel tells:

...the tale of a love triangle between Johnny Farrell, an important aide to the mayor; Johnny's artist girlfriend, Grace Masterson; and construction worker and part-time boxer Michael Briody. Each of these characters represents, without the flatness of type, a significant element of the fabric of New York City as the Empire State Building rises ethereally above the street-level realities of hard economic times and how big-city government works. Kelly successfully melds actual historical figures and fictional ones, but in the end, it is New York City itself that emerges as the central character here: a place that makes people the way they are.

Sounds intriguing. Seems like the kind of stuff that the Academy eats up for Oscar time too.  Also it has a criminal element and anybody who knows Ritchie knows he does crime dramas very well.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. does not yet have a release date.

Who let the dogs out? Playstation game Watch Dogs coming to the big screen

PS4 doesn't hit stores for another 2 1/2 months, but already Sony and Ubisoft are looking to bring one of the new console's games to the big screen.

"Watch Dogs" focuses on the ever popular open world motif, similar to the "Grand Theft Auto" games and has some amazing graphics.  The desire for a feature film based off the video game may have something to do with the game's plot:

Watch Dogs centers on Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker bent on revenge and inflicting his own brand of justice after a violent family tragedy. Using all of his skills, Pearce hacks into Chicago’s Central Operating System (ctOS), which controls the city’s infrastructure, including security cameras, traffic lights, and public transportation, as well as databases containing key information on the city’s residents. In the game, Pearce turns the entire city of Chicago into his ultimate weapon.

Seems like action movie magic to me.  I could totally see Karl Urban playing Aiden Pearce.  While I think there's never been a truly successful videogame to film adaptation, I believe audiences are bound to experience a good one sooner rather than later.  The storylines in some of these videogames rival movie scripts for content and suspense.  Don't believe me?  Try asking someone who's played "The Last of Us," "Mass Effect 3," or "Tomb Raider" lately and see what they think.  I see no reason why "Watch Dogs" couldn't be the first great video game adaptation.

Playstation 4 hits store shelves November 15th.