G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – Summer Surprise, or Summer Suck?

We’ve chronicled the perceived suck and troubles with “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” here at AATM.com, and Dan even mentioned awhile back that Snake Eyes and Co. were getting some favorable reviews from audiences who had screened the Stephen Sommers’ cinematic Hasbro nerdgasm. I was and am leanging toward this movie reeking of Sommers’ stinky CGI and near-vapid plot and character, but from what I hear from the press folks I work with out of Denver, they won’t be screening “G.I. Joe” next week. That’s usually a sign of little or no faith in the film and the calculated foresight to keep critics and their sharp tongues from tainting the opening weekend box office potential.

There are only three reviews up at RottenTomatoes.com right now for “G.I. Joe,” one of which being from Devin Faraci of CHUD.com, a dude who also liked “District 9,” a movie I am absolutely dying to see. Faraci gives the movie 8.5 out of 10 and says of  “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra:”

“If I was 10 years old, GI Joe would be one of the best movies I had ever seen. As a grown up it’s one of the better summer movies; a delightfully light, fun and action-packed kick in the ass.”

So, maybe like Dan said, it’s time to readjust our “G.I. Joe” expectations. Either way, we won’t have any pre-release feedback for you and will keep you posted if other press folks are reporting a screening blackout, as well.

The Wolfman Release Date Change…Again

This is Benicio del Toro WITHOUT makeup.

In 2006, Universal Pictures announced they were remaking the 1941 horror classic “The Wolf Man” (that starred Lon Cheney, Jr – no relation to Dick, and Béla Lugosi) and had the hariest man in Mexico, Benicio del Toro, cast as the lead lycan, Lawrence Talbot. “The Wolfman” was given a release date of November 2008 and subsequently things went down the pooper. Original director, Mark Romenak, left the movie because of “creative” differences and Joe Johnston (“Jumanji,” “Jurassic Park III”) was brought in to finish the job. The release date was changed to November 6, 2009.

Now we have news the date has changed yet again to February 12, 2010. So this begs the question, is this film, with a seemingly stellar cast (del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving) simply being cared for with delicate hands – meaning the studio wants to put out the best product possible, or is this a project that has been doomed from the start of it’s first “creative” differences? I tend to gravitate to the latter scenario, especially with the release in February, which traditionally is reserved for movies that time forgot and studios wish to wash their hands of. That’s my take, but I don’t claim to have a spycam into Universal’s marketing boardroom, either.

What’s your take? Any interest in seeing a remake of “The Wolf Man?”

“Tron: Legacy” Adds Michael Sheen to Cast

Michael Sheen has a face that everyone knows, but a name that most don’t. In fact, in a recent AATM.com poll, readers picked “Michael Sheen is the younger brother of Charlie Sheen and has been in prision since he was 17″ over “Michael Sheen is the talented actor seen in such films as ‘The Queen’ and ‘Frost/Nixon’.” However, if you wanted to really get crazy, Michael Sheen was in “Timeline” with Gerard Butler, who was in “Reign of Fire” with Matthew McConaughey, who was in “Fool’s Gold” with Kate Hudson, who was in “Me, You and Dupree” with Matt Dillon, who was in “Wild Things” with Denise Richards (which also starred Kevin Bacon), who once was married to Charlie Sheen, who wears Michael Jordan’s underpants.

But in all seriousness, Michael Sheen is a fantastic actor. His performances as Tony Blair in “The Queen” and David Frost in “Frost/Nixon” are his most notable, but in Gary Oldman fashion, his other performances in the “Underworld” trilogy and “The Music Within” have made him a hot commodity in Hollywood. Not only will Sheen be in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” as Aro, but he’s also locked in for “Tron: Legacy” due in 2011, we just don’t know who he’ll be playing yet.

One thing is certain, let’s hope he’s not playing THIS GUY.

Check out Michael Sheen’s resume at IMDB.com. Are you familliar with his acting? If so, what’s your take on the “Tron” casting.

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” Gets Spawn of Ron Howard

I’m sure if you’ve read, scoured, obsessed, drooled and sweated over Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” novels, than you know who Victoria is, and chances are you have a poster of actress Rachelle Lefevre on your wall or behind your door. Lefevre played Victoria in last November’s “Twilight,” but as of today, she’s been axed from the third film – “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” – for Bryce Dallas Howard, seen most recently as Kate Conner in “Terminator Salvation,” but better known for her roles in “The Village” and “Lady in the Water.” I applaud the hiring because Bryce Dallas Howard is hot, which surprises me because she has Ron Howard DNA.

At any rate, I still don’t know who Victoria is, but it looks like she hung out with those nasty vampires from the first movie – the guy with the dreadlocks and the dude who was the bad guy in “Never Back Down.” If you’ve read the books, please share with the readers of AATM.com why we should give a flying leap who plays Victoria in the remaining “Twilight” movies.

Downey sets a Date with Galifianakis

This summer’s hit comedy “The Hangover” recently became the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time. Considering the movie had a budget of $34 million and subsequently raked in over $247 million, you can bet director Todd Phillips (“Old School”) is making Warner Brothers do cartwheels and backflips into a giant pool of sweaty money. It’s no wonder Phillips new comedy, “Due Date,” starts shooting this fall. “Hangover” star Zach Galifianakis is already attached and Robert Downey Jr has just signed on to play the other lead.

I’ll say it right now: I’d see the movie for Galifanakis, but with Downey Jr. this movie is easily a must-see. Phillips is calling his new comedy “a buddy comedy without the buddies.” I’d love to tell you when it’s scheduled to hit theaters, but there is no release date as of yet.

(Redband) Trailer Tuesday – The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

I laughed my kiester off watching this redband trailer for “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard,” which makes me worry the actual movie will suck. We’ll all know soon enough, as it’s due to hit theaters on August 14th. I just don’t see how a movie with Jeremy Piven (HBO’s “Entourage”), Ed Helms (“The Hangover”), Ken Jeong (“The Hangover”), Kathryn Hahn (“Revolutionary Road”), Ving Rhames (“Mission: Impossible III”), David Koechner (“Get Smart”) and Craig Robinson (“Pineapple Express”) could not be pee-your-pants funny. Throw in out-of-their-element actors James Brolin (“Last Chance Harvey”) and Alan Thicke (“Alpha Dog”), as well as Charles Napier (best remembered as Murdock from “Rambo: First Blood Part II”) and you’ve got the elements for some R-rated laughs.

Check out the trailer below and let me know what you think. Remember, it is a redband trailer.

Event Horizon Gets Remake Via Dead Space Movie

Since we’re on the topic of game-based movie adaptations (Halo!), EA’s enjoyable and visually excellent Dead Space is warming up for a film treatment itself. Of course, this will be more of a remake, since Dead Space owes almost all of its story/mood to Event Horizon, replacing Satan and his minions with The Thing‘s mutating body horror and Alien‘s blue collar space gloom.

Eagle Eye/Disturbia‘s D.J. Caruso is attached to direct, which bodes well. The guy’s capable and stylish and– until the end of Eagle Eye reveals a movie-busting twist which retroactively demolishes the probability of every circumstance that’s lead up to it– directed a pretty exciting thriller. Bear in mind this news doesn’t mean Dead Space is a go or even close to being greenlit– the script still has to be developed and shopped to studios. But it seems a pretty easy sell if EA gets their space engineers in a row.

And as I thoroughly enjoyed the game and am always game for variant sci-fi of all stripes, I’m all for it.

Happy Monday to YOU, Peter Jackson!

Just as I was ready to buy stock in the ExtenZe company for the sheer excitement and anticipation “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” scribe Stuart Bettie stirred in me last week with his zeal for a “Halo” movie, Peter Jackson craps on my dreams of seeing Master Chief on the big screen with both Joystiq and at a Comic-Con panel for “District 9.” Click on those stories to read in depth the details, but both links pretty much say the same thing: a “Halo” movie with Peter Jackson and Neill Blomkamp involved is dead and gone.

Here’s Mr. Jackson’s rather succinct statement from the Joystiq interview:

Well, Microsoft has a whole strategy with the Halo property, and when the rights expired with the two studios, that sort of ended my involvement with the project. That fell apart because of internal politics at Fox and Universal. It had nothing to do with the budget or anything else. In fact, we hadn’t even been greenlit at all at that point.

Thanks, Peter. Happy Monday to you, mate.

Bottom line? I still believe we’ll see a “Halo” movie. It has too much potential to be buried alive. I mean, if  someone is willing to finance and make a movie about the 80s video game “Asteroids,” then “Halo” has to be made. As someone passionate for the game and story, I sure hope someone in Hollywood, or Microsoft, pulls head from rectum and pushes the accelerator on this long-hoped-for, long-awaited film.

Hot Tub Time Machine Redband Trailer. No Really.

I just don’t even know what to say about this. I watched this, scratched my head and then had a moment of silence for all the brain cells I just lost and will lose when I Redbox this badboy three weeks after it’s theatrical release.

Tron Legacy Has Aims to Make Sweet Love with Your Eyeballs

Remember Tron? With its unique story and its visually stunning representations of computer programs duking it out in a video game, Geeks and 80′s nostalgiacs remember it fondly, despite the grownup Disney movie arriving shortly after–and being drowned by– E.T. and Firefox.

Recently, I watched it again… and it still holds up as an interesting and visually impressive (it’s got 80′s light up legwarmers!) film. Disney agrees, as last year they debuted test footage for a sequel which was such a surprise that no one knew it was coming. In the months since, Disney has been tight with the footage, which was not released in a viewable format… until Friday. Tron Legacy (previously named TR2N) returns the original Jeff “I am and always will be awesome” Bridges character to the computer world where programmers are represented by avatars that stalk, compete and kill one another.  The footage below looks incredible.

Watch it, marvel, get excited, go to AICN to see more concept art and then be sad that it’s not debuting until 2011.