by Steve ‘Frosty’ Weintraub – Collider.com

MTV has confirmed what many of us already knew: Jon Favreau is not going to direct “The Avengers” movie. While fans were holding out hope that somehow Jon would find the time to take on the project, with his involvement in “Cowboys and Aliens” after he finishes “Iron Man 2″, he’ll only be executive producing “The Avengers”. The other bit of news is Jon saying Edward Norton will not be making an appearance in “Iron Man 2″.

On “The Avengers” movie, Jon said:

“They’ll have to [find a different director], because I’m not going to be available. It’s something I’m being the executive producer on, so I’ll definitely have input and a say. It’s going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with ‘Avengers’ you’re going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor. How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it’s going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we’ve created.”

Amazon Specials!

So we all know that Mickey Rourke is playing Whiplash in Iron Man 2. But all anyone had seen of it so far can just tell that Whiplash looks a bit fruity in his bondage gear. But now Marvel are releasing a 4 part comic called ‘Iron Man vs Whiplash’ just to get peoples mouths salivating at the thought of waiting any longer for the film. Interestingly enough, Whiplash has a completely new outfit (pictured above), so could this be the Whiplash we’ll see in the next movie…compared to the earlier picture we’ve all seen of Mickey Rourke i can only hope so.

So, I was going to write a post of my Top 10 movies, but I just couldn’t trim the list down to 10. I considered going up to 100, but I didn’t think anyone would actually read a list of 100 movies, so I trimmed it down to 25 30. Alas, while this list only comprises about 1% of the movies I’ve seen, it will have to do The list is sort of in descending order, but it is so hard to put one great movie ahead of another…

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 2009
2. Willow – 1988 (Should technically be tied for 1st place)
3. The Goonies – 1985
4. Casino Royale – 2006
5. The Dark Knight – 2008
6. The Princess Bride – 1987
7. Pirates of the Caribbean – 2003
8. The Matrix – 1999
9. Iron Man – 2008
10. Transformers – 2007
11. Lord of the Rings (Trilogy) – 2001, 2002, 2003 (I count this as one BIG movie )
12. Sweeney Todd – 2007
13. Batman Begins – 2005
14. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – 1983
15. Leon: The Professional – 1994
16. Pay it Forward – 2000
17. K-PAX – 2001
18. Bicentennial Man – 1999
19. The Last Samurai – 2003
20. Bridge to Terabithia – 2007
21. The Count of Monte Cristo – 2002
22. Constantine – 2005
23. Finding Neverland – 2004
24. Pan’s Labyrinth – 2006
25. Thank You for Smoking – 2005
26. Terminator 2: Judgement Day – 1991
27. The Usual Suspects – 1994
28. Brewster’s Millions – 1985
29. Flight of the Navigator – 1986
30. The Serpent and the Rainbow – 1988

Of the 2,500 or so movies I have seen, these are 30 of the very best, from action to drama, comedy to musicals.  Though not all movies are suitable for all audiences, to any adult film aficionado I recommend them highly! Perhaps I’ll do a few posts of my Top 10 favorite movies in each genre, or maybe from each decade…

KIRSTEN DUNST

SPIDER-MAN 4 is scheduled for a May 6, 2011 release.

——-
——-

THOR About Ready To Smash Some Face

THRALL WORLD observes that the best news in this interview is the writers familiarity with the very storyline that we began with when reading comic books way back in our wee one days. WALT SIMONSON’s “SURTUR SAGA” is damn good reading even if you’re not the biggest fan of comics. Also a mention of the more modern Thor take from ‘THE ULTIMATES’ in the interview.

——-
——-

JON FAVREAU

MICKEY ROURKE

Currently filming, the JON FAVREAU directed IRON MAN sequel has a release date of May 7th, 2010 and in addition to Downey Jr. stars; Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Garry Shandling, Kate Mara, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, and Clark Gregg.

——-
——-

SAM RAIMI

Read more HERE.

——-
——-

TOM HIDDLESTON

Check out another hot scoop on casting for the upcoming ‘THOR’ movie HERE.

——-
——-

CHRIS HEMSWORTH

btw, THOR was the first comic book I ever bought back in the day, a few issues before WALT SIMONSON took over the book on his critically acclaimed SURTUR SAGA. Pretty cool stuffs for my wee self back in the day.

——-
——-

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. As IRON MAN

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. ON The Set Of 'IRON MAN 2'

Currently filming, the JON FAVREAU directed IRON MAN sequel has a release date of May 7th, 2010 and in addition to Downey Jr. stars; Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Garry Shandling, Kate Mara, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, and Clark Gregg.

——-
——-

Following up on earlier previews, we get a full look into the project between Marvel Comics and SILLY THING founder TK. Quite different than the traditional Ironman, Tony Stark is given an awesome gunmetal treatment and blue heart. This special collaboration is scheduled to drop in the states in July 2009. Stay tuned for further details as they arise.

-Hypebeast

KATE MARA

“Under wraps…” Kate Mara as Janet Van Dyne (Wasp from THE AVENGERS)??

——-
——-

CHARLIE HUNNAM

KENNETH BRANAGH is confirmed to direct THOR which is scheduled for a May 20th, 2011 release and is timed to dovetail with the IRON MAN sequel (05.07.10), THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA (07.22.11), and the big enchilada; THE AVENGERS (05.04.12).

——-
——-

GARY OLDMAN

GARRY SHANDLING

Read more HERE.

——-
——-

-Robin Bougie, www.cinemasewer.com

I haven’t seen Watchmen yet, and frankly I don’t exactly know when I’ll get around to it. I have, however, watched a great many movies based upon the art form of sequential art, and have been reading comics fervently since I was in grade school.

What with Hollywood’s apparent lack of ideas and recent history of recycling and adapting anything and everything that ever sold more than a dozen copies off the “Hey Kids, Comics!”-stand, you’re probably hungry for alternatives to all of those shitty comic book movies. Yes, for every worthwhile effort, there are a dozen Ghost Riders, Catwomans, Howard the Ducks, and Superman IVs: The Quest for Peace. It’s enough to make one wonder if it’s even possible to use comics as a decent springboard for quality cinema.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it is, my friends. It is.

20. Persepolis (2007. France) One of the most important animated films of the last few years was based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical comic book of the same name, and follows a young girl as she comes of age against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. Created in black-and-white to mirror the style of the original graphic novel, the film drew serious complaints from the Iranian government and was banned in Lebanon—proof that Satrapi did this up right, y’all.

19. Mystery Men (1999. USA) An impressive comedic cast of William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, and Hank Azaria playing a trio of whack superheroes with totally unimpressive superpowers was a flippity flop upon it’s release—but has since developed a respectable cult following. Loosely based on the beloved indie comic Flaming Carrot by the talented Bob Burden, and loaded with amazing cameos and supporting roles by the likes of Eddie Izzard, Tom Waits, and Dana Gould.

18. Sin City (2005. USA) Possibly one of the most faithful adaptations in the history of comic-to-movie ever to come out of America. The only problem is, the comic the movie was based on wasn’t really anything but some weak-ass noir/potboiler eyecandy. Regardless of the pathetic adapted script, the creativity of director Robert Rodriguez slaps you upside the head, and the violence is delicious. Watch it while drunk.

17. Dragon Head (2003. Japan) On a very rare occasion, a movie based on comic actually manages to add to a story by trimming and being fitted down into a 2 hour theatrical blueprint—instead of the usual narrative castration that takes place. The original Minetaro Mochizuki manga for this post-apocalyptic drama about two teens wandering a destroyed Japan in a quest to survive is a 10-volume slog that seems to constantly reiterate and cover the same ground over and over again. Joji Iida’s live-action adaptation is much more lean, mean, and succinct in it’s depressive eye-gouging misery.

16. Iron Man (2008. USA) Just when we were beginning to worry that it was impossible to make a Marvel comic superhero movie that didn’t suck, along comes Jon Favreau’s big-budget barn-burner based on the long-running Marvel comic of the same name. And how perfect was the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark—the alcoholic billionaire and gifted scientist/engineer? This almost made up for those goddamn X-Men movies.

15. Ichi the Killer (2001. Japan) Talent-packed Takashi Miike adapted this gore-thriller from the cult comic by Hideo Yamamoto, where a wimp transforms himself into a blood-caked rabid dog of a man whose power and strength is derived from memories of his boyhood humiliations. And to add a twist? The hero squirts a load each time he kills. Trivia: The close-up during the intro sequence, when the film’s title raises out of a puddle of cum? Miike revealed recently that the jizz we see is the real deal. Ewwww.

14. Barbarella (1968 France/Italy) Jane Fonda brings Jean-Claude Forest’s amazing futuristic erotica to life in this campy non-explicit romp that takes place in the 40th century. Barbarella’s way-out adventures include discovering penetrative intercourse, seducing an angel named Pygar, and overloading a torture device called the Excessive Machine—which kills via sexual pleasure. Of course, a remake is in the works. Don’t worry, it’ll lack all the charm of the original and be totally worthless.

13. Akira (1988. Japan.) Operating as the breathtaking introduction to modern Japanese animation for an entire generation of pop-culture nerds, Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark film version of his own early ’80s manga series blew minds, and opened eyes to the possibilities of what animated movies could be. Set in 2019’s “Neo-Tokyo”, the movie finds the basic settings and characters adapted from the original 2182 page epic, although the complicated plot differs quite a bit. I recommend that you immerse yourself in both.

12. A History of Violence (2005. USA) Google “comic book movies” and look in on all the internet chatter that you like, but I can tell you now that your average monosyllabic message boarding moron simply isn’t aware that this expertly told story about a mild-mannered man who becomes a local hero through an act of violence, was based on a graphic novel. They’re too busy debating the merits of the CGI effects in the Hulk movies, which are frankly about as impressive as the graphics in the video games my nephews play.

11. Tekkonkinkreet (2006. Japan) A pun on “Tekkin Concrete” (the Japanese term for reinforced concrete), this gorgeous and colourful animated feature from the impressive Studio 4°C was adapted from Black and White, a three-volume manga series by Taiyo Matsumoto. Two street urchins (a tough boy named “Black”, and an innocent, gleeful kid named “White”) end up taking on the Yakuza. Violent, touching and exquisitely rendered entertainment. This is the anime you bust out for that person who thinks all anime sucks.

10. Porco Rosso (1992. Japan) Taking on a very brief life as a few watercoloured pages of comics in an animation magazine, Porco Rosso was adapted into one of Hayao Miyazaki’s lesser appreciated, but still totally worthwhile films. The whimsical story revolves around a 1930s-era seaplane pilot who is cursed with the body of a anthropomorphic pig. Acting as a bounty hunter in the Adriatic Sea, he chases air pirates for money and longs for romance. Every minute of this sweet bippy feels like a Valentine’s Day card to the history of aviation.

9. American Splendor (2003. USA) Welcome to the esoteric life and times of Harvey Pekar, a cranky file clerk from Cleveland whose cult-fave self-published comix used to get pimped back in the day on the David Letterman show. Paul Giamati does a fantastic job of portraying Pekar, and even more eerie is how dead-on some of the supporting cast are at channelling Robert Crumb and Tobey Radloff. Pretty much a perfect movie about one of the most important autobiographical comics to ever come out of the underground.

8. Lone Wolf and Cub and its sequels (Japan. 1972/1973/1974) Simply put; the greatest Samurai cinema ever made by someone not named Kurasawa. Adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike, this ongoing story of a one-man war waged by a Shogunate executioner and his infant son has intrigue and a legendary slowburn magnificence. Plus: A wooden baby cart that shoots knives and many splendid and exaggerated high-pressured geysers of blood.

7. Ghost World (2001. USA) Two unsocial teenage girls spend their last awkward summer together after graduation, and inadvertently end up infiltrating the life of a 40-something record collector. It seemed unlikely that Terry Zwigoff could properly bring Dan Clowes graphic novel of the same name to the big screen without losing something special along the way, which of course made it all the more pleasing when the project turned out as Goddamn terrific as it did. A new Catcher In the Rye for a generation of irony-loving hipsters.

6. Lady Snowblood (1973. Japan) Adapted from a manga into this live-action feature film of the same name starring Meiko Kaji, the tale within this breathtaking exploitation movie begins when a woman named Sayo loses her husband and their son to a band of criminals who attack the family. Sayo is taken into slavery to be raped and beaten continuously, although when the opportunity arises, she stabs one of her tormentors and kills him—which results in her arrest. After realizing she will be unable to avenge the death of her family, she seduces a guard in order to conceive a brat, and dies in childbirth. Vigourously trained for revenge her whole life, her daughter Yuki becomes a merciless killing machine, and learns how to use both her blade and her sexual appeal as a weapon. A must see.

5. Oldboy (2003. Korea) Great banana boner-yogurt, now this is how you do it!! A man spends ten years confined in a private prison, and has no idea why. His only form of entertainment is a TV set and his own delirium. Suddenly one day, his incarceration ends (again without explanation), and when he awakes he’s free to reclaim what’s left of his life. This intense, bare-knuckled urban thriller from Korea with a mega-crazy twist ending is adapted from a Japanese manga by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi.

4. Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991. Hong Kong) Wow. Just, wow. Words struggle to do it justice, my friends. So redonkulously over-the-top and desperate to entertain, that your eyes nearly bleed as you struggle to take in the insanity. This is the kind of movie that staples your tits to the coffee table and rests its testicles on the bridge of your nose. The kind of movie you loan to your best pals and prospective girlfriends/boyfriends—and If they don’t care for it, you know that continuing to spend time with them is pointless. Go ahead rinkydinks, look it up on youtube and see if I’m exaggerating.

3. Danger: Diabolik (1968. Italy) Don’t just take my word for it, comic book artist and historian, Stephen Bissette (artist on Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run and co-creator of John Constantine, aka Hellblazer) teaches film appreciation, and he calls Danger: Diabolik “the best adaptation of comic book to feature film, bar none.” Diabolik is a superspy cat-burgler who has a really choice gaget-packed underground lair, a sweet sports car, and a foxy bitch named Eva who likes to roll around naked in a huge pile of his money. Based on one of the longest running Italian comics of all time, which was created by Angela and Luciana Giussani—two cool sisters from Milan.

2. Female Convict Scorpion and its sequels (Japan. 1972/1973) One of the best women-in-prison movies ever made, and among the best exploitation movies to ever come out of Japan. Not to overstate things, but I’d even go so far as to say that this quadroligy of movies stands as my favourite film series of all time. Meiko Kaji plays the stoic “Scorpion”, a woman who is betrayed by her gangster boyfriend and is sent to prison to suffer for his sins. This traumatizing experience hardens her in ways that must be seen to be believed.

1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Japan. 1984) The Citizen Kane of manga is lifted up to the screen with all of its beauty, wonder, and fantastic entertainment value intact. One of the true landmarks of animated cinema, 20 years after its release Hayao Miyazaki’s animated classic continues to move audiences. In 1982, a comic about the warrior princess of a fictional valley appeared as a monthly serial in Animage magazine, and soon proved so popular that overwhelming demand cried out for a film adaptation— which Miyazaki created as he was working on the comic itself. Amazing.

THE AVENGERS Movie Release Date Is Set For 05.04.12

Last rumor I heard was that they’ll be trying to stop a rampaging HULK.

——-
——-

MICKEY ROURKE

SCARLETT JOHANSSON

Read more HERE.

——-
——-

R.I.P. Heath Ledger 1979-2008

Read more HERE.

——-
——-

Source: Variety.com

‘THE DARK KNIGHT’ director, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, just this week announced his next movie will be the science fiction action film, ‘INCEPTION’, which should push back any possible sequel to 2011 at the earliest. I’m thinking it will be closer to 2012. The length of time between Bat movies doesn’t really concern me as Nolan is going to need some time to plan his next move.

——-
——-

MICKEY ROURKE

Marvel has been low balling some of the talent they’ve been approaching money-wise, probably on the theory that their movies are so high profile. Reports are that Samuel L. Jackson may not return as Nick Fury and Terrence Howard definitely isn’t coming back as Rhodey. The wait-and-see is in full effect.

——-
——-

IRON MAN Movie Poster

Read more HERE.

——-
——-

The MINUTEMEN: 'THE WATCHMEN' movie will hit theaters on March 6th, 2009

Check it out HERE. My high-score initials are DTT and my high-score is 29,834 so beat that ya crazy foo’s

Keep an eye out HERE for more now that WARNER BROTHERS lawsuit with FOX has been settled and as the March 6th release date draws nearer.

——-
——-