2 weeks after opening Scott Pilgrim Vs The World has made $21.6 million. Thats pretty damn low, especially since it cost $60 million to make and god knows how much to market. It’s one of the freshest and most original movies of the year and for some reason nobody is going to see it. For fucks sake a movie making fun of twilight beat it…thats just plain wrong. Take a look at this article from Vanity Fair and then go buy a damn ticket and see the movie. Here’s an excerpt from the article to get you thinking.

But really, the best reason to go see Scott Pilgrim is because it’s a good movie. It takes a stab at saying something honest in a new way, and has a lot of fun doing it. If you like that kind of thing, and would like to see more of it, please go and pay to see Scott Pilgrimright now. And if you don’t like it, I’ll forward you a really funny YouTube video about double rainbows. You can ROTFL. I’ll be at the theater.

As of late is seems as if there has been an endless string of castin news regarding X-Men: First Class. I, for one, am already getting that sick pit in my stomach from flashbacks about an over-crowded X3, but have tried to stay cautiously optimistic. For reasons I’m not sure about, Bryan Singer felt compelled to call up AICN and give some important plot points to this up coming film – it was after reading this article I got an even worse feeling about this film and a feeling they should probably have called the movie X-Men Origins: Professor Xavier (or, Kill-Tacular-Tron’s movie title suggestion, Boner.)

Here are some of the major plot points (spoilers):

The film takes place in the 1960’s. John F Kennedy is the President of the United States. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are on TV doing marches.

We will see how Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr met . . .they’re going to be in their late twenties. Xavier . . . will not be in his wheelchair to begin the film – but we will see how he wound up in a wheelchair. . .We’re going to see Professor X when he still had hair.

The costumes will be far more comic bookish than we’ve seen before – and while Scott and Jean aren’t here – Cyclops’ brother Alex Summers aka Havoc will be, as played by Lucas Till.

With January Jones and Kevin Bacon playing Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw – we will be getting the HELLFIRE CLUB.

. . . the film is going to have a much more international feel than the prior X-MEN movies.

We will get our first look at what some of the costumes will look like in a month or less.

It seems to me that continuity (both comic book AND film) is being thrown out the window in an effort to salvage a struggling franchise. This is probably the most random mix of characters I have heard of for a film adaptation of a comic book and it has me concerned. Honestly, I am trying my hardest not to sound like an angry fan boy, because frankly, I’m not angry. My expectations for another X-Movie from FOX are so low, these details are about on par. I’m all about the time period, I can see the Hellfire Club working as the main antagonist, but the cast is causing me to be very skeptical. I could be proven wrong and this new take and fresh beginning could really get the X-Franchise rolling again, just because a film doesn’t align with my preconceived notions of what a “First Class” film would be about, doesn’t mean it’s going to be terrible. But, until I see the finished product on screen and can make a final decision I am going to remain cautiously optimistic – eally heavy on the caution.

Come share your thoughts about these new details on X-Men: First Class over at the BSR Forum!

Hayao Miyazaki, considered by some to be the Japanese Walt Disney, is rumoured to be working on a sequel to his 1992 film Porco Rosso, about an Italian World War I flying ace who gets magically turned into a pig.

For anyone familiar with Miyazaki, you’ll know that his work is always startlingly original and a pleasure to watch.  In fact, it’s practically the only “anime” I still keep up with these days because he’s such an impressive filmmaker.

Geek Tyrant had the story:

The sequel to the film will be called Porco Rosso: The Last Sortie, and it will be set during the Spanish Civil War. He goes on to say it should be a very interesting film, and also had this to say in the interview,

“I’m not thinking about a movie of a girl.”

“I think that I must think about only a movie of a boy.”

“I do not need to make a movie if it is not a tragic story of a boy.”

“So I want to escape to Porco Rosso: The Last Sortie. I have all its materials.”

“If next two films succeed and [studio president Toshio] Suzuki-san lets me make it (Porco) while saying, ‘It cannot be helped because it’s a hobby of the old man’, I’m happy. It’s my hobby.”

For those not familiar with Miyazaki, I say shame on you.  All of his films are on Netflix and are widely available everywhere.  His are also some of the few Anime films that get wide American theatrical releases, so let’s hope this happens and we can see it on the big screen.

Here’s a trailer to Porco Rosso:

NY Mag is reporting that FOX has narrowed down their choices of director for the sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine to two men: David Slade (Eclipse, 30 Days of Night), and Robert Schwentke (RED). Apparently, Hugh Jackman who is also a producer on the film get the final say of who will take the helm and all signs point to that he will be selecting the former.

Slade doesn’t have a terribly long resume, and looks pretty hit and miss. I quite enjoyed 30 Days of Night for the most part, but then The Twilight Saga: Eclipse just stares at me right in the face as a giant negative. As most of you already know, the script takes Logan to Japan and supposedly is based on the Miller/Claremont story line, but, if history has taught us anything it’s that FOX will most likely deviate quite a bit from the source material – for the worse. In all honesty, I didn’t HATE the Wolverine prequel as much as most, but I certainly didn’t like it and I don’t feel that it’s deserving of a sequel. But, there are a lot of fan boys out there right now that have been wanting to see the Wolverine-in-Japan story line in movie form for a long time, and it looks like they are about to get their wish – for better or worse.

In any case, you know we will all go see it if nothing else out of morbid curiosity.

Come share your thoughts on an X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel over at the forum!

Teresa Palmer

Heat Vision Blog is reporting that the narrowing down of the female lead for Mark Webb’s Spider-Man reboot is underway and they are also stating that the role is not going to be Mary Jane.

Starting today and heading into the weekend, select actresses are meeting with Webb and new Spidey actor Andrew Garfield. In a departure from the Tobey Maguire-Kirsten Dunst movies, the love-interest character is not Mary Jane. What isn’t clear is whether the actresses are auditioning to play Gwen Stacy, Parker’s other love interest in the comics (played by Bryce Dallas Howard in 2007’s “Spider-Man 3”) or some other new character. The script pages being given to the actresses have no name listed for the character.

I actually really like the idea of them going with Gwen Stacy as opposed to Mary Jane. I love the Gwen Stacy/Peter Parker romance in the comics and I think it’s one of Peter’s defining relationships (along with Uncle Ben) that propel him into the man/superhero that he becomes. That being said, I also really hope they don’t just make up some love interest character for the film – especially when Peter has so many love interests giving the writers so many existing avenues to go down.

As far as Heat Vision’s list of actresses up for the part, you can visit their story for the full break down, but some highlights are Lily Collins (The Blind Side), Teresa Palmer (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), and Imogen Poots (HAA! (The upcoming Fright Night remake)).

Come chat about Peter Parker, his love interests, and the Spider-Man reboot over in the BSR! Forum!

As most of you may know, we have a weekly column in the Salt Lake City alt-weekly IN Magazine that’s usually about comic books and other geeky topics.

This week, on top of the regular Comics column (you can read the online version here), I was also asked to write up a recap of Star Wars Celebration and a big scoop about the possible location of Star Wars Celebration VI! (you can read the online version of that story here.) (Special thanks to Eric Geller from TheForce.Net for his pictures of The Main Event, since I didn’t have mine ready before deadline.)

If you live in the greater Salt Lake area, you can pick a copy up off the stands, or you can read the laid out versions below.

For the last 120 days, Pixar has been buzzing about the state filming the Barsoomian portion of “John Carter of Mars” and it was announced today that photography has wrapped.  And as exciting as this is, we still won’t see this film until 2012, which is sad because it will most likely be great.  (This is another film to add to the list of greatness we’ll be treated to in 2012.)

From the press release:

Salt Lake City, UT –  Principal photography is now completed in Utah
for The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming feature film, “John Carter of
Mars,” being directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton
(Finding Nemo, Wall∙E), and produced by Colin Wilson (Avatar).

Filmed throughout Southern Utah in the areas of Big Water, Kanab,
Hanksville, Delta and Moab, the production created 300 jobs over a
120-day period, and brought $21 million into several rural Utah
economies.

“As Governor, I am particularly happy that Utah has been host to the
recently completed production of ‘John Carter of Mars’ during the past
year. The book series was a favorite of mine when I was young, and I
can’t wait to see the finished film,” Governor Gary R. Herbert said.
“This project has stimulated the state’s local economies at a critical
time and provided hundreds of jobs for Utah’s film professionals.”

The film’s producers were considering Utah when Senate Bill 14
(Financial Incentives for Motion Pictures) was passed in March 2009. SB
14, in addition to the quality filming locations and the availability of
professional crews, helped Utah win the starring role as the double for
Mars.

“The collaboration between the Utah Film Commission, the Motion Picture
Association of Utah and the State’s robust film industry has yielded
tremendous results,” said Spencer Eccles, executive director of the
Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “We are anxious to welcome
the next studio production to Utah, our message to Hollywood is, welcome
home.”

“This was an ideal project for Utah because of the unique landscapes we
have within our borders,” said Marshall Moore, director of the Utah
Film Commission. Lockheed Martin had also recently used Utah as a double
for Mars during an industrial shoot in 2009.

Various locations of the state were used in the production, among them
Kane County and Moab City which felt a large economic benefit. “The
film provided employment for extras, framers, carpenters and
landscapers. Many local businesses including grocery, lumber, hardware,
lodging and restaurants benefitted from the film,” said Kay Giles,
director of the Kane County Office of Tourism and Film Commission. The
City of Moab was pleased with the economic impact the film had on their
community. “This was a win-win situation for the City of Moab business
owners and our citizens,” said Dave Sakrison, Mayor of Moab, Utah.

The production of “John Carter of Mars,” represents the largest
economic impact of any movie made in Utah.  Based on the first of Edgar
Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom Series,” the film chronicles the journey
of Civil-War veteran John Carter (TAYLOR KITSCH), who finds himself
battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian
inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (WILLEM DAFOE) and Dejah Thoris (LYNN
COLLINS).  The film is scheduled to be released in 2012.

It looks like The Avengers has a start date for filming, at that date is in February 2011! If you’re counting, that’s a good fifteen months prior to the release date. All reports are saying that there will be 3-4 months of shooting and then the rest of the time will be spent on the visual effects – probably a lot of Hulk animation.

While there isn’t a whole lot more detail to give, next year is going to be a lot of fun watching leaked stills, publicity shots, etc. roll in from the shooting locations! I think they have put together a stellar cast and I can’t wait to see the interactions between all of them! So, keep your eyes peeled and keep up with all the leaks and stills right here at Big Shiny Robot!

Proliferating across the Internet at lightning speed is an image of Kilowog that ComicBookMovie.com posted earlier.  I don’t know how long it will last at any of the outlets, but we have it for the time being.

Here it is:

To be honest, I think his costume looks way cooler than Ryan Reynolds’.  And I think  it’s cool that they’re tackling Kilowog at all.  I wouldn’t have expected them to get into the Alien members of the corps too much.

What do you guys think?

What is Russell Brand running from? Could it be the doldrums of moviegoing- late summer and early fall (lucky thing we’ve still got The Expendables and Scott Pilgrim to light up our day, huh?) but after that, nothing to do but wait for Oscar season… or is there?

Here’s an update on what Disney has planned for us for the rest of the year- and oh boy, does it look good! And, of course, with media consolidation and what-not, by Disney I also mean Touchstone and Miramax.

Let me first address the elephant in the room.  NOT on Disney’s schedule for the rest of the year is the anniversary release of Beauty and the Beast… in 3D.  I am a sucker for this movie, and always have been. The animation is gorgeous, and I’ve always had a crush on Belle.  Plus amazing voicework from the cast… but could it be that the fall and winter movie schedules are simply too full and there isn’t room for a 3D re-release?  Are execs at Disney reading the tea leaves (by which I mean the blogs) and realizing the backlash against 3D and the “Fill-in-the-blank raped my childhood” nonsense and decided not be that fill in the blank? *sigh*  So, we’ll make do with a (I’m being told) gorgeous transfer of the film on BluRay.  I’ll miss getting my little 5 year old daughter dressed up in her princess costume and going to see Beauty and the Beast in a theater in 3D, but I won’t miss it sitting at home with hours of viewing pleasure…

Now, on to the flicks! (we’ll go in chronological order, so if you’re looking for Tron, it’s near the end)

You Again – September 24

From the studio:

CAST: Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber and Betty White
DIRECTOR: Andy Fickman
PRODUCERS: John J. Strauss, Eric Tannenbaum, Andy Fickman
CO-PRODUCER: Betsy Sullenger EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Mario Iscovich WRITTEN BY: Moe Jelline GENRE: Comedy RATING: PG

Successful PR pro Marni (Kristen Bell) heads home for her older brother’s (Jimmy Wolk) wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis (Odette Yustman), who’s conveniently forgotten their problematic past . Then the bride’s jet-setting aunt (Sigourney Weaver) bursts in and Marni’s not-so-jet-setting mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes face to face with her own high school rival . The claws come out and old wounds are opened in this crazy comedy that proves that not all rivalries are forever.

My take: This could be this year’s version of “Hanging Up” (remember that one? No you don’t.) or it could be The Proposal.  I love almost every one of these actresses, and the only thing that makes me sad is Kristen Chenowith doesn’t have a higher billing.  (Dear Touchstone:  You can make it up to me if she performs a musical number. Double if it’s “>a They Might Be Giants song.)

Website: YouAgain-TheMovie.com

Like it on Facebook: facebook.com/YouAgainMovie

Secretariat – October 8

From  the studio:

CAST: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, James Cromwell, Kevin Connolly, Nelsan Ellis, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Dalton Thompson, AJ Michalka and Scott Glenn
DIRECTOR: Randall Wallace
PRODUCERS: Gordon Gray & Mark Ciardi
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bill Johnson, Mike Rich
WRITTEN BY: Mike Rich
SUGGESTED BY THE BOOK: “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack
GENRE: Drama RATING: PG

Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

I know, I know– David Spade called and said he really liked this movie the first time when it was called “Seabiscuit,” right?  WRONG.  Different horse, dummy.   I actually have high hopes for this movie. Who doesn’t love a great sports story about a ragtag team of misfits who makes it work?  Unfortunately we already know the ending, but getting there will be a great ride. And Disney always does these sorts of sports stories amazingly well.  Remember the Titans, Glory Road, etc. And, you’ve got John Malkovich.

Like it on Facebook: facebook.com/Secretariat

Tangled – November 24

VOICE CAST: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Jeffrey Tambor, Brad Garrett, Paul F. Tompkins

DIRECTORS: Byron Howard, Nathan Greno

PRODUCER: Roy Conli COMPOSER: Alan Menken
LYRICS BY: Glenn Slater

Walt Disney Pictures presents “Tangled,” one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told. When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower- bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. In theaters this holiday season in Disney Digital 3DTM, “Tangled” is a story of adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.

“Rapunzel! Rapunzel! … What kind of a name is that?” —Into the Woods

Ok, let me say this: Tangled will be Disney’s 50th animated feature ever. It is also a return to well-known princess fairy tales that have served as the backbone to the Disney empire for decades (just ask my daughter… and my sister… and my mom…)  And it’s digital animation– not done by Pixar.  Could be a problem?  Well, if they have as much faith in this to pull Beauty and the Beast for it, it’s got me uber-curious.  And the trailer many of us saw before Toy Story showed us that this is likely to be a lot of fun.  Plus, new songs from Alan Mencken, responsible for many of the classic Disney songs from the past two decade, and who most recently brought us the music in Enchanted- the best animated Disney feature that wasn’t a fully animated Disney feature.  If this can straddle the line between subversive self-mockery and bubblegum fun half as well as Enchanted did, this will be an instant classic.

Website: Disney.com/Tangled

Like it on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyTangled

The Tempest -Dec 10 / 17 (limited)

CAST: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn, Ben Whishaw
DIRECTOR: Julie Taymor

PRODUCERS: Julie Taymor, Robert Chartoff, Lynn Hendee, Julia Taylor-Stanley, Jason K. Lau
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ron Bozman, Tino Puri, Rohit Khattar, Stewart Till, Anthony Buckner, Greg Strasburg
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Phyllis Lavoie
SCREENPLAY BY: Julie Taymor
ADAPTED FROM THE PLAY BY: William Shakespeare
GENRE: Drama/Fantasy
RATING: PG-13
U.S. RELEASE DATE: December 10, 2010, New York and Los Angeles • December 17, 2010, limited expansion

In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s mystical thriller “The Tempest,” Academy Award®– nominated Julie Taymor (“Across the Universe,” “Frida,” “Titus”) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar® winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”). Prospera’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural

Shakespeare wrote The Tempest 400 years ago. It’s always been a favorite of mine– a little more bittersweet than most of his comedies, almost as if Shakespeare knew that it would be the last play he would write.  I personally love the idea of Prospero now being a woman- Prospera- as that changes some of the subtext but not too much. And I can’t think of a better cast… except maybe Russel Brand.  I don’t think of him as having the chops to do Shakespeare, but I am ready to be surprised. This would be the film I am most excited for this Fall/Winter, if not for my next review…

TRON: LEGACY – In IMAX and Disney Digital 3D – December 17

CAST: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen
DIRECTOR: Joseph Kosinski PRODUCERS: Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Steven Lisberger

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Donald Kushner WRITTEN BY: Eddy Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writing credits not final)

BASED ON CHARACTERS CREATED BY: Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird

“TRON: Legacy” is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer . When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape . Presented in Disney Digital 3DTM and scored by Grammy® Award-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, “TRON: Legacy” hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010, in Disney Digital 3DTM and IMAX® 3D.

Oh, I love Tron.  I watched it repeatedly as a kid.  Look, if you love Tron, you already know everything about it. You’ve seen the footage, the stills. And if you haven’t, be prepared to get sucked in to the hype faster than the Master Control Program can digitize Jeff Bridges.  Let’s hope they bring the goods.

And if you haven’t seen the pictures, here they are in all their beautiful goodness:

Website: Disney.com/TRON

Like on Facebook: facebook.com/TRON

Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/TronLegacy

The Debt – December 29

CAST: Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Jesper Christensen, Marton Csokas, with Ciaran Hinds and Tom Wilkinson
DIRECTOR: John Madden PRODUCERS: Matthew Vaughn, Kris Thykier, Eitan Evan, Eduardo Rossoff SCREENPLAY BY: Matthew Vaughn & Jane Goldman and Peter Straughan BASED ON THE FILM “HA-HOV” WRITTEN BY: Assaf Bernstein and Ido Rosenblum GENRE: Drama RATING: R (for some violence and language)

Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington star in “The Debt,” the powerful story of Rachel Singer, a former Mossad agent who endeavored to capture and bring to trial a notorious Nazi war criminal—the Surgeon of Birkenau—in a secret Israeli mission that ended with his death on the streets of East Berlin. Now, 30 years later, a man claiming to be the doctor has surfaced, and Rachel must go back to Eastern Europe to uncover the truth . Overwhelmed by haunting memories of her younger self and her two fellow agents, the still-celebrated heroine must relive the trauma of those events and confront the debt she has incurred

More Helen Mirren Oscar-fodder. And Sam Worthington shows up in another movie. Still, the plot seems intriguing and surely this is a great cast. It’ll also be interesting to see what, if anything, Matthew Vaughn(Layer Cake, Kick-Ass) brings as Producer.  Some producers, like Robert Rodriguez, you can feel their fingerprints all over a film, like this summer’s Predators. Many sit back and let the Director do the heavy lifting. But this is surely another piece of art delivered up by Miramax where the title may as well be “Gimme an Oscar!”  Let’s hope the film delivers on that point.