Blu Ray and DVD releases for the week of October 22nd!!

Here are your Blu-Ray and DVD releases for Tuesday October 23rd:

Magic Mike, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Take this Waltz, The Devil's Carnival, Madea's Witness Protection, Secret of the Wing, Wrong Turn 5, Universal Monsters Collection*, Blade Runner*, Fear and Desire, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4, I Robot 3D*, Law and Order: Criminal Intent Season 8**, Happy Endings Season 2**, Meet the Browns Season 7**, Lost Girl Season 1

*Denotes Blu Ray only
**Denotes DVD only

Brad Pitt to go 20,000 leagues below with David Fincher?

     We've known for awhile now that director David Fincher (The Social Network, Fight Club) was planning to submerge beneath the waves for the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remake but now it looks like he may be pulling a frequent collaborator below with him.
     "Variety reports" that Fincher is actively seeking out actor Brad Pitt to play the role of Ned Land in the upcoming film.  Pitt has worked with Fincher on three previous films--Seven, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  While Pitt's representatives state he is still looking into roles for 2013 they did not deny the rumor.
     At this point however it is unknown if Leagues will even leave the bay.  Disney decided to put a three month hold on the project to decide if it's something they really want to do.  Really?  Three months?  With talent like Fincher and Pitt you shouldn't need three seconds to greenlight this movie.  But then again who am to criticize the town that brought us That's My Boy and Norbit. 
     Wonder who'd they get to play Captain Nemo?

The man who would be Gollum to direct motion capture adaptation of Orwell's "Animal Farm"

     If you only know Andy Serkis as the voice of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings you're really missing out.  The guy can flat out act and he's also a pretty talented director in his own right, shouldering a big amount of the second unit on the upcoming Hobbit films.  Apparently others agree as well.
     According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Serkis and London based movie studio Imaginarium will link up to produce a motion capture version of George Orwell's beloved novel "Animal Farm."  This is awesome.  Not only do I feel that "Animal Farm" hasn't ever gotten a memorable treatment through a different medium, but it's also high time for Serkis to get his just due.  The man is more than a creature corrupted by the One Ring people!
     Serkis sure has a lot on his plate these days.  Aside from "Animal Farm" he's got post-production for The Hobbit, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to star in, a sequel to The Adventures of Tin Tin to work on, and another directorial project called The Bone Season.  Don't worry that last one is actually a science fiction/crime thriller not Jenna Jameson's biopic.

Hamm and Gillespie team up for sports pic "Million Dollar Arm"

     Hamm and Gillespie.  Sounds the opening act for Penn and Teller.
     In this case I'm talking about actor John Hamm and director Craig Gillespie however.  Hamm (known almost exclusively for his role as Don Draper on AMC's "Mad Men") and Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, Fright Night) will join forces for the baseball film Million Dollar Arm.  The film is based on the true story of how sports agent J.B. Bernstein discovered pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel. 
       Bernstein (who Hamm will play) definitely went the unconventional route, starting a reality show in India called "Million Dollar Arm" because he noticed how cricket players' throwing motion was similar to that of baseball pitchers.  40,000 contestants, a course of baseball rules, and an intense study of English language and America culture later, and Patel and Singh became the first two Indian players ever signed to a professional baseball contract.
     I'm all about sports movies and this one sounds like it has just enough intrigue and originality to be a successful film.  Throw in quality talent like Hamm and Gillespie and this one could be a hit.  Lets hope Hamm's "Mad Men" co-star Christina Hendricks shows up at some point.

                                      YOU'RE WELCOME AMERICA.

DEAD BY SPRING!!!! Official Red Band Trailer for "Evil Dead" remake hits the net

                                        GROOVY.



     I've said for awhile now that I've had mixed feelings about the Evil Dead remake.  On the one hand I'm happy that the people who were originally part of the movie were associated with the reboot, that there would be no Ash character, and that Diablo Cody penned the script.  On the other hand...really?  I mean Evil Dead is a horror classic.  Why remake it.  Well now the world can look feast their collective eyes on the redband trailer and decide for themselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92dyjTFvP4Y

     I don't know how to respond to this film in a sophisticated or erudite way so I'm just going to say that it looks fucking terrifying.  I mean wow.  My only concern is that there was zero levity in this trailer and one of the great things about the Evil Dead movies is that they had a nice balance of horror and comedy.  Just hope that there are a few jokes thrown in among the dismemberment.
     Evil Dead rises April 13, 2013.

Director Matthew Vaughn exits "X-Men: First Class" sequel

     With just a few shorts months away from principal photography, director Matthew Vaughn has departed the directorial chair of X-Men: Days of Future Past.
     "Deadline" broke the news just a few days ago and although Vaughn did not state why he was stepping down, he did say that he will remain on as a producer.  The top choice to replace Vaughn is actually another producer, Bryan Singer, who directed the first two X-Men movies.
     To say this sequel has been a whirlwind for Vaughn doesn't even scratch the surface.  First he passes on directing the sequel, then he comes back to write the script treatment, then he decides to direct it after all, and now he steps away to direct another comic book film called Secret Service but will still stay on as a producer. 
     Somebody please remove the adamantium claw from my brain.
     Despite Singer's recent disappointments (his film Jack the Giant Slayer has bounced around more than Sofia Vergara's chest and the his Munsters television reboot "Mockingbird Lane" has the gone the way of a Halloween special) I still think he's a good director and no one knows the X-Men franchise better.  Plus he's already a producer and a known commodity so the choice seems like a non-brainer for Fox.  If they dick around too much looking for a "fresh new director" it's unlikely that they will meet the the July 18, 2014 release date for the film.

Unofficial runtime announced and a new audio format for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

     Saying Peter Jackson's Middle Earth films tend to be long is like saying there's just a few political adds on television right now.  It's an understatement of Smaug like proportions.  Well as expected the first part of The Hobbit trilogy is no exception, although it is shorter than any former incarnation.  In an interview to Empire Magazine, director Peter Jackson reveals that the unofficial run time for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is two hours and forty minutes.  I say "unofficial" because there are few effects shots that need to be finished which could increase the running time. 
     From a technology standpoint The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in Dolby's newest audio format: Atmos.  It's the newest surround sound format that actually has speakers in the ceilings above the audience to allow for a more immersive experience.  To date only Pixar's Brave and the recent release Chasing Mavericks have been released in this format although the upcoming Life of Pi will also feature Atmos.  Unfortunately, you might have to make a real effort to see The Hobbit Atmos-style as only about twelve theaters have it across the country.  However if all goes well I could see Atmos becoming a big part of summer blockbusters.
     The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases December 14th.