The Avengers features a superhero line-up the likes of which the big screen has never seen before with Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Nick Fury all teaming up to defend the Earth from Loki. But there is one character who has played a supporting role in films leading up to this legendary team-up who has garnered a fanbase that could possibly rival any of these heroes, and that is Agent Coulson, played tremendously by Clark Gregg.

After his first appearance in Iron Man, I immediately wanted to see more of this character and I wasn’t alone. Luckily, Marvel recognized this and gave Coulson more to do in Iron Man 2 and Thor, along with a couple of short films featuring our favorite agent. From what I hear, Coulson plays an even larger role in the upcoming Avengers and I couldn’t be happier. There is just something about his smart-ass attitude, his consistent calmness about every situation, and – as we saw in the short, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer” – his capability of being a complete badass.

Gregg visited Travis Smiley on PBS and discussed his experience in filming The Avengers and brought along a new clip from the film featuring Agent Coulson stumbling over his words as he speaks to Steve Rogers aka Captain America, apparently someone he has admired for a long time. You can check out the clip in the interview below, which starts at the 30-second mark, but I would encourage you to watch the whole interview.

The Avengers hits theaters in just over a week on May 4! (SQUEEEE!!)

Watch Actor-writer-director Clark Gregg on PBS. See more from Tavis Smiley.

Swirls of golden light fall from the sky outside a Moscow nightclub, appearing like beautiful fireflies but capable of disintegrating anyone in their path.

So begins The Darkest Hour, now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The scenery is incredible, with ominous gray skies appearing behind beautiful Russian buildings, including the impressive Kremlin.  And with the recent “firefly” massacre, the once-bustling city is an ash-covered barren wasteland.  The five main characters are able to avoid the initial carnage, but with nearly everyone else gone and no idea what these creatures are or what they want, they struggle to figure out what to do next.  To add to the direness of the situation, the mysterious invaders are capable of becoming invisible.

The very beginning of the film focuses on who these characters are and why they are in Moscow, but this is ultimately unimportant.  They are one-dimensional with names like Sean (Emile Hirsch), Ben (Max Minghella), and Natalie (Olivia Thirlby).  This doesn’t really detract from the very real danger of the enemy, though, since this is ultimately a story about the world on the brink of destruction and not interpersonal relationships.

With a running time of only 89 minutes, this is a short horror/sci-fi film, and it was much better than I expected.  Mostly I was intrigued by what the creatures really were and their motives for destroying Earth, as well as the empty Russian landscape.  Once the useless character introductions were over, the movie kept up a pretty rapid pace.  It’s not epic cinema, but I think it’s a decent popcorn film and certainly worth a look.

Special features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include “The Darkest Hour: Survivors” – Follow the rebel resistance in an all-new short film, Deleted & Extended Scenes, “The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion”, and Audio Commentary with the Director Chris Gorak.

Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Earth Day, which began on April 22, 1970.  It’s a brief animation sequence that begins with green leaves spelling out the Google letters and then sprouting into beautiful flowers.

The Earth Day Network cites Rachel Carson’s 1962 best-selling book Silent Spring as the precursor to the environmental movement, raising awareness of life on the planet and public health.  Now, more than forty years later, the day is still celebrated in various ways, such as planting trees, being more proactive about recycling, or watching a movie.

Yes, watching a movie.  Many great (and even not-so-great) films throughout the years have advocated being good stewards of our environment.  Some are more blatantly preachy than others, but we at Big Shiny Robot! love movies, and here are a few of our favorite environmentally-friendly movies:

Wall-E:  humans have destroyed the planet and have moved off-world to be lazy and fat until one day  . . . a lonely robot discovers the last living plant and the future for civilization on Earth.  This is one of the sweetest and cutest movies I’ve ever seen, and it really does carry a good message.

FernGully:  The Last Rainforest:  Fairy Crysta and vegetation-killer Zak must join forces to battle an evil that is threatening to destroy the rainforest.  (Avatar is often compared to FernGully, as well as Pocahantas).

The Lorax:  a more recent release, this movie is about a world with no trees, but Audrey desperately wishes to see one.  Ted, wanting to impress her, ventures out on his own and ultimately meets the Lorax.  Voiced by Danny DeVito, the Lorax does what he can to preserve nature.  I haven’t seen this but the message of the film was clear even from the trailers.

Do you have any films you would suggest for watching on this Earth Day?  And how much trouble will I get into if I suggest Return of the Jedi?  After all, it’s about tree-dwelling creatures who overcame a tyrannical, mechanical Galactic Empire.  Show the Ewoks some love on this day, too.   Yub Nub.

Guy Pearce has been cast in the upcoming Shane Black helmed Iron Man 3 as geneticist Aldrich Killian. Killian was a main character in the Warren Ellis-penned limited series Iron Man: Extremis, which seems to confirm that will provide the basis of much of the story of Iron Man 3.

Extremis was a storyline (spoilers ahead– from the comics, which we can assume will inspire the story but not necessarily follow exactly) wherein  a Stark Industries nanotech/biotech team led by Killian develop a nano-tech based virus, which then ends up infecting a man named Mallen, nearly killing him, but then giving him powers that outmatch Iron Man. After nearly being killed by Mallen and having his armor destroyed in the fight, Tony Stark also undergoes the Extremis process to, essentially, make the suit a part of him on the cellular level using nanotech.

Which makes a lot of sense. An evolution lesson: In the original Iron Man we saw the original suit, the Mark II, and the final Mark III suit. Then in Iron Man 2, an updated Mark VI armor, the Mark V suitcase armor, and then the triangle Mark VI… which (minor spoiler alert) gets kind of messed up from fighting different people in Avengers. And when he dons the Mark VII armor during the final battle. . .it is one of the BEST moments of Avengers. I mean, people stood up and cheered during the screening I was in. Stood up. And cheered.

And when you see how the Mark VII armor is deployed, you’ll see why Extremis is the next logical step. There’s also some talk in Avengers about how ever since Captain America, everyone has been chasing the secret of the super soldier serum– Extremis is an experiment similar to this.

And now for something personally exciting for me. While the Variety story is also reporting that principle filming will take place in North Carolina, the original Extremis storyline takes place in Austin and Bastrop Texas. Speculation: we’ll get some filming out here in my neck of the woods, too. Why? Well, in the Extremis story, a major fight between Iron Man and Mallen takes place along Texas Highway 71 (a major road between Austin and Houston, which runs through Bastrop). Highway 71? Also the road used in Zombieland.

So maybe this is all wishful thinking on my part. To pick some random place in America where it would be likely for a major tech company to have a research facility, it makes as much sense for it to be in Austin as it does in the research triangle of Raleigh-Durham. . . but if they say it’s Texas and they film it on some road in North Carolina. . .I’ll know the difference. But, come on, how much cooler would it be if Tony Stark was partying at SXSW Interactive with the rest of us? Or walked into some roadhouse outside of Bastrop all beat up, but still wearing his jet-boots, and the patrons in their cowboy boots are all like “nice boots” and he’s like “give me your strongest whiskey. . . ” A boy can dream, right?

Until we find out more about Iron Man 3, please continue anticipating Avengers, and MAKE MINE MARVEL!

Lionsgate has selected Francis Lawrence (Water for Elephants, I Am Legend) to replace Gary Ross as director for the next installment of the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire.

Lionsgate is a bit under the gun to get production going on the sequel because FOX is due to start production on the sequel to X-Men: First Class early next year, and Jennifer Lawrence is contractually bound to participate in a sequel. While other directors were circling the project, Francis Lawrence was the one who was able to start on this project immediately – not that he was at the bottom of the list necessarily, but I’m sure this helped.

I think Francis Lawrence is a capable director and will do just fine handling the sequel to the much-applauded Hunger Games. While the first installment was a great film, I don’t think we are in danger of ending up with a poor second installment by losing Ross at the helm. I think that danger comes from what appears to be a very rushed production schedule to ensure this movie gets made before Jennifer Lawrence gets swept up by the X-Men: First Class sequel.

Sound of on your thoughts in this change of directors in the comments below!

Yes, I still have three or four gems of films from SXSW I haven’t shared with everyone yet. We’ll get to them. (Fear not: Space Nazis, Time Travel, and the hackers Anonymous all get their due)

But, because it’s 4/20 and it gets a more wide release in theaters today, let’s talk about Marley, the biopic chronicling the life of reggae music’s most important musician, Bob Marley. (for those who think this is about the movie with Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, and the dog, you’ve landed in the wrong place. Also, the dog dies at the end. Oh. . .spoiler alert?) I caught it near the end of SXSW at the new location of the Drafthouse down on Slaughter Lane.  Oh yeah, I’m in love. My new favorite Drafthouse. It also helps that it’s now the closest one to my house.

I was a casual fan of Marley’s music, like most suburban teenage white kids. I knew the broad strokes of Marley’s life– coming from poverty in Kingston, Jamaica (in a government yard in trenchtown. . . ) and becoming one of the world’s most successful and influential recording artists before dying at a relatively young age. So the thing I was most impressed with was to find out just how influential Marley was. I had assumed his influence was mostly relegated to things like getting Eric Clapton to cover “I Shot the Sheriff” and giving douchebags something to listen to so they could appear multicultural.

So I was impressed as hell to learn how his influence helped quell violence surrounding an election in Jamaica and helped bring peace to a war-torn Zimbabwe.  Yes, there was once a time when singing “One Love” about Jamaica actually was more than a slick ad campaign for the tourism board and helped prevent what was basically a festering civil war.

Also great was to discover more about his roots, and how he was only partially accepted growing up because of his (absent) British father and his being half-white. In fact, one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the film is when one of Marley’s friends claims that it was the fact that his white genes were weaker, and that was why he succumbed to cancer, since black genes could have fought it off.

It is a fascinating journey into a completely different world that we think we maybe understand. Because, after all, we can kind of sing along with “Buffalo Soldier.”  And they speak English in Jamaica, right? Although many people speak with subtitles in the film– thankfully! because their accents are so thick.  You think I’m making this up? No, seriously, you will be glad there are subtitles. I haven’t hear English spoken in such a broken and accent-heavy way outside of Louisiana or Appalachia.

The documentary, which I should mention was co-produced by Ziggy Marley, Bob’s son and a reggae musician in his own right, is a warts and all representation of Marley’s wife. It spends a lot of time in interview with both Ziggy and his sister. There were definitely some issues between Bob and his kids as revealed here. Of course, that could stem from the fact that he had 11 kids from several different women, but whatevs.

This film is long, probably to fit so much of this information in, but it feels a bit long. It’s also a bit by-the-numbers– there are no broad themes or amazing truths to be revealed here. It’s just a biography of Bob Marley, but it’s a pretty good one at that.

Perhaps the best thing I can say about this is it gave me a greater appreciation for the man, and made me want to go listen to his music some more. If you’re at all a fan of his music, it’s worth checking out.

Smoke em if ya got em.

And also this:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNkr86zZaP4

-uw”>httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3UqvWk8-uw

Over the last few weeks the Ender’s Game Blog has been releasing some production photos from the Ender’s Game film that is, at long last, being made.

Despite my excitement for this film, I just can’t get terribly excited about these photos. Yes they have just barely started production, yes I know anything at this point is kind of cool, but what we have here is the back of a head/neck, a bulk-head of some sort, and a shot of Ender’s room. Woo. Hoo. In any case, these photos are at least proof-positive that Ender’s Game is finally getting the movie treatment – now we just have to wait until November 2013 to find out if it was worth the wait.

I know there is a lot of controversy regarding Orson Scott Card, but the Ender’s Game series was one of the first sci-fi series I voluntarily picked up and read, and ultimately fell in love with. So despite Card’s irrational homophobia and inserting of foot into mouth, I am still excited to see this come to the big screen.

Ender’s Game stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, and Hailee Steinfeld

Official Synopsis: In the near future, a hostile alien race (called the Formics) have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander, Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young children to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy, but strategically brilliant boy is pulled out of his school to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham, himself, to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.

We’ve got 6 new stills From G.I. Joe Retaliation In theaters Jun 29th. Let’s hope Bruno and the Rock can save the film franchise.

© 2012 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Hasbro and its logo, G.I. JOE and all related characters are Trademarks of Hasbro and usedwith permission. All Rights Reserved.

Matt McDaniel over at Yahoo.com had the chance to talk with Marc Webb at the Wondercon. The main topic of discussion surrounded Peter Parker, and Webb’s decision to have Andrew Garfield play him.

Matt McDaniel: For you, what was the moment when you just knew that Andrew was the right guy to play Peter Parker?

Marc Webb:   We tested a lot of really talented, wonderful young actors.  And there was a moment when — I mean this sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.  We were doing a scene that’s not in the movie, where he was eating a cheeseburger and telling Gwen to like calm down or to — trying to put her at ease, while he is eating food.  And the way he ate this food — it was such a dumb task — such a dumb independent activity that you give to an actor to do, and he did it. [Laughs] I just felt like we were in a diner.  We were in the back of the soundstage and I felt like there’s something in the way he embodied and committed to that really tiny minutia — I just hadn’t seen before. I can’t explain exactly what I felt like it worked, but that was it.

And then beyond that, I just felt he was a new face.  That people didn’t have a lot of baggage [with him].  He sort of checked all the boxes. And there was this humor that he had and that he can do, and there was this emotional weight that he can do, but there’s also a physical capability that he can do.  I think the moment was just watching that over and over again.  There was something just compelling about his behavior, his physical behaviors that I thought people would really react to.  I think that there’s the language of the script, which is words, often in dialogues.  And then there’s the behavior that those words have to emerge from.  And he’s a master of understanding of what’s going on underneath the surface.

They also touched base on some of the reactions surrounding the darker portrayal of Peter Parker.

MM: What reactions have you gotten from the fans to the trailers and other footage you’ve released that have surprised you?

MW: I think initially there was a little bit of hesitation amongst the community because they didn’t know what we were doing. And when the materials — when we have gone out and showed people the materials, people have really started to warm up to us, and I think that there’s been — recently, especially since the last trailer — there’s been this real groundswell of support. And when they see Andrew and Emma, there’s something that feels new and really special about it that’s fun.

I can’t say it’s totally surprising because when we were shooting it, you could feel that we’re doing something that felt real and different and new and it had its own identity and I think people are coming around to that.

To check out the rest of the interview, head on over to Yahoo. It’s a really great read. To get you in the mood for the upcoming film, check out the International Japanese Trailer below. It has a few more shots of the Lizard as well as a little more story tying Connors to Peter’s parents.

As I laid out in my full review of Avengers, early in the film there is a throwdown between Cap, Iron Man, and Thor about differing views on what to do with the captured Loki. I obviously don’t feel terrible giving that away since it’s being used in promo clips. . . like this one:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y6vUn0YuUU

So, yeah.  Good times.  One of our readers asked if we got to see Iron Man actually use his suit to fight hand to hand with people much, much stronger than your average human. . . well, here you go. There’s more, and you see much more later in the film, but this is a nice tease. And a nice introduction early in the film where we see how relatively evenly matched our heroes are, but also how their fighting styles and so forth help inform their character.

It’s a great clip that really helps set up a great film.