Movies

Marvel has released the first still from the just commenced AVENGERS movie, and it's all about the sitting down. Director Joss Whedon and crew went into production yesterday in Albuquerque for the movie you may have always dreamed would happen.

Chris Evans and Sam Jackson were doing something this weekend in Times Square. It is believed to involve Joe Johnstone, director of the Cap movie, although um, duh Cap and Fury, that could also equal the Avengers movie, which just went into production. So....since this is set in the modern day, you can kind of add it all up....and figure it out.

So this is...whoa. It's very SF. Very STAR WARS, like everyone has been saying all along.

THOR, Marvel's first movie of this busy summer, had its world premiere in Australia this weekend (it opens in the us on May 6) and so far, critics are hitting the like button. THR has a reaction roundup:

After looking at this footage from "Rio Cloverfield" it's clear that it isn't really a Western; it's just a contemporary action film starring people who dress like cowboys. But it does look somewhat entertaining. Also, it's nice that they got a girl to play Megan Fox who isn't Megan Fox.

ICv2 has some hi-res photos of Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern  that we had previously missed. Looks a bit like an action figure, no? More in the link.

It was the biggest panel of the day at WonderCon, and the most crucial hour yet for the future of the revamped DC Entertainment brand. With appearances by stars Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, and the first view of effects-heavy footage, the Green Lantern panel was the chance to show that this is indeed the tentpole movie that is going to usher in a new era for DC's superhero universe.. Interest was certainly high, as a line to get in to the 5 pm panel stretched almost around the Moscone center. The panel was led by Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns himself. The only previous GL trailer was heavy on the romance aspect, due to the CGI footage not being ready -- and leading to some questions ever whether this movie was going to please the loyal Green Lantern fanboys. However, this new footage seems to lay those doubts to rest with a spectacular look at Oa, the GL Corps, Sinestro, Tomar Re, and the rest of the Lanternverse. You can read about the panel here, or watch the footage below.

It's incredible what some Disney marketing dollars will do. Marvel has been running a big promo for their Avengers/Thor/Captain America/Iron Man movie franchise gaggle where you try out to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent -- they were running it in Chicago at C2E2 but it didn't get the attention it has here in San Francisco where we were awoken this morning by someone slipping the above promo piece into our room at the convention hotel, the Marriot Marquis.

Comic fans care about the character or than a particular story. Be true to the characters and fans (in general) will be pleased.

And a stick figure shall lead them. The sequel WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES was the box office champion this week, knocking out Zack Snyder's snappy looking SUCKER PUNCH, $24 million to $20 million. Based on Jeff Kinney's immensely popular and charming Wimpy Kid series, the success of the film should come as no surprise. We caught a screening on Thursday as the guest of publisher Abrams, and laughed quite a bit -- it isn't as inventive as the books, but the film treats its characters with fondness, and the kid actors are all cute and funny. Plus Devon Bostick, who plays the evil older brother Rodrick, has "teen idol" written all over him in eyeliner. The humor is classic family stuff - one person we talked to compared it to "Christmas Story" and if it isn't that good it does have the same kind of classic situations -- a party out of control, a scary movie about a foot, a bathroom door without a lock.

Hooray! A grown woman will play the grown-up Lois Lane in the Superman reboot being prepped by Zack Snyder. Oscar-nominated Amy Adams will play the nosy reporter, “There was a big, giant search for Lois,” Snyder said of the casting. “For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it.”

Intensive lab scene accompanied by anxious music? Check. Unsubtle reference to Avengers franchise in title? Check. The line "You don't know when to quit, do you?" Check.