Su nueva pelicula, en la que comparte creditos con Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker en Spide-man) y con Jake Gyllenhaal, sin duda alguna Natalie lucia hermosa, perfecta en todo, desde el color del vestido, los zapatos y el maquillaje,  A+ para la actriz, Tobey Maguire asistio con su esposa luciendo mejor que en otros eventos, la cereza en el pastel se la llevo Jake quien no asistio a tan importante evento, tal vez Resee no le dio permiso!

click en las pics para agrandar

Awarded perhaps more than it was the case at this year’s Oscar gala, the films inspired by wars return. The last such film is Jim Sheridan’s drama, “Brothers”, whose premiere took place Monday night, at the SVA Theater in New York.

With a five star distribution, which include names such as Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film presents the moving story of a couple lost in Afghanistan and is considered by many critics to be part of the productions with real chance at this year Oscars.

If in the movie she only plays a secondary character, things stayed completely different for Natalie at the premiere of the film, Monday night. The talented actress has been in the spotlight throughout the event, also due to her short blue dress.

Even her colleague, Tobey Maguire, remarked it, as you can see it in the picture above.

The Cinema Society hosted a screening of “Me And Orson Welles” at Clearview Chelsea Cinemas yesterday in New York City. The cast, including Zac Efron, Claire Danes and Christian McKay were all in attendance.

Models Amber Rose and Lydia Hearst were also scout’d at the screening.

Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire were snapped at the premiere for the new film “Brothers”, featuring both of them in lead roles. The film tells the story of two brothers, Captain Sam Cahill (played by Maguire) and  Tommy Cahill (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). Sam is about to embark on his fourth tour of duty. He’s married to his high school sweetheart, Grace (Portman), but when he goes missing, Tommy moves in to take care of Sam’s family (two daughters and Grace), and eventually falls in love with his brother’s wife….

Model Agyness Deyn and actor Terrence Howard were also in attendance.

The premiere of new musical “Fela!” on Broadway at Gotham Hall went down last night in NYC. Among those who turned up = Jay-Z, Spike Lee, Harry Belafonte and of course Bill T. Jones (who wrote the book alongside Jim Lewis).

When asked if Spider-Man 4 will start filming early next year at a press conference for his latest film Brothers, Tobey Maguire’s response was a simple “Yes!” Peter Parker himself states it will swing into production around February or March of 2010. At least we got some confirmation from a legit source.

มาไม่ยั้งจริงๆ ครับ ช่วงนี้ กับข่าวคราวของตัวร้ายสุดเซ็กซี่ Black Cat ในหนังมหากาพย์ซีรี่ย์ Spider-Man 4 ที่ดูแล้ว จะลือกันเยอะจริงๆ หลังจากลือมาทั้ง ราเชล แม็คอดัมส์ ที่ตอนนี้ ปฏิเสธข่าวลือไปแล้ว โรโมล่า กาไร ที่ยังไม่เป็นอันยืนยัน จูเลีย สไตล์ส ที่เพิ่งลือกันไปเมื่อวาน ไม่ทันไร ลือกันมาอีกแล้วครับ คราวนี้ เป็นทีของ…

สาวงามสุดเซ็กซี่ ที่กำลังมีผลงานอันสบายตา Alice in Wonderland ที่สร้างมาจากการ์ตูน ชื่อว่า แอนน์ ฮาธาเวย์ ที่ได้ลือมาวันนี้ ว่าเธอจะมีบทบาทในหนัง Spider-Man 4 แล้วเธอจะเล่นเป็นใครล่ะ? โดย จูเลีย สไตล์ส นั้น ที่ได้ลือมาเมื่อวาน ก็ลือกันว่าจะเป็น Black Cat ซึ่งตัวแทนของ Deadline Hollywood นิคกี้ ฟิงค์ ได้ปล่อยบทความพิเศษของ แอนน์ ฮาธาเวย์ เธอนั้น ได้บอกว่า

“เธอเป็นที่ต้องการสำหรับบทบาทนี้ และเธอไม่ได้มาแทนที่ เคิร์สเทน ดันสต์“

แน่นอนอยู่แล้วครับ ว่าเธอคงไม่มาแทนที่นางเอกคนเดิมอยู่แล้ว แต่จะเป็นไปได้หรือไม่ ที่เธอจะเล่นเป็นแมวเหมียว Black Cat ถึงแม้ว่า จะลือถึงจูเลีย ไปแล้ว แต่ก็ยังไม่มีการยืนยันอย่างแน่ชัด ซึ่งผมว่า หน้าตาของ แอนน์ นั้น ก็เข้าเค้ากับแมวพันธุ์มวลขนดำอยู่เยอะ ผมลองจินตนาการดู ก็พบว่า “มันใช่!”

ตัวละคร Black Cat เป็นตัวละครสำคัญตัวหนึ่ง ที่เปลี่ยนแปลงชีวิตของ ปีเตอร์ ปาร์คเกอร์ หรือ Spider-Man (โทบี้ แม็คไกวร์)ไปอย่างมากทีเดียว เพราะเธอเป็น “เมียน้อย!” แต่ยังไม่แน่หรอกครับ ถ้ามีจริงๆ ตัวหนังอาจลดความรุนแรงทางเพศลง! หรืออาจเปลี่ยนเนื้อเรื่องให้ผิดเพี้ยนไปอยู่เยอะ ก็เพื่อให้คนดูนั้น ดูได้หลายวัยน่ะครับ

ถึงแม้ว่ายังไม่มีการยืนยันมา แต่แหล่งข่าวนี้ เป็นแหล่งที่เชื่อถือได้มาก เราอาจจะได้พบความจริง หรือจุดไคลแมกซ์ของข่าวคราว Black Cat นี้ อีกไม่นาน ถ้าทางค่ายโซนี่ เห็นใจแฟนๆ สไปดี้ ประเด็นก็เริ่มเข้าสู่ความจริง เธอจะเป็น Black Cat ที่สุดยอดใช่มั้ย!?

Spider-Man 4 กำหนดฉาย (สหรัฐ) 5 พฤษภาคม 2011 ครับ

While we’re on the topic of of horrible movies that I haven’t seen yet … this trailer came on while I was watching TV with my nine year old nephew.  Immediately after, he turned to me and said, “That is the worst movie I ever saw.”  No, I didn’t correct his grammar.  I was too busy cracking up.  He said, “No, I’m serious.  Why are you laughing?”  Hey, the kid’s got taste.  If you’re thinking about seeing this movie, I implore to you to see  the original Danish version by Susanne Bier first.  Tobey Maguire is a chihuahua compared to Ulrich Thomsen.  By the way, what is up with Jim Sheridan lately?  That must be one helluva mortgage.

Ya que todavía no había tocado el tema y ha surgido mucho material sobre ello, vamos hacer un remix de las noticias salidas hasta la fecha sobre el futuro de la saga arácnida. Sabemos que Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, Kristen Dunst, J.K. Simons y  Dylan Baker están de vuelta para reinterpretar sus respectivos roles. Se sabe también que el mítico Bruce Campbell, que ya protagonizo diversos cameos en las tres películas anteriores, tendrá un papel con mayor protagonismo en esta nueva película sobre Spider-man. Sabemos también, por las recientes declaraciones de Raimi, primero que esperan comenzar con el rodaje en Marzo del 2010, y segundo, que el personaje volverá a los orígenes de las primeras entregas en las que solo había un villano.

Hasta aquí todo oficial. Ahora bien, un tema que siempre da mucho juego en este tipo de películas es especular sobre el/los villano/s que hará/n frente al protagonista. Con las declaraciones de Bruce Campbell hablando sobre un rol más importante en “Spider-man 4″, la gente comenta que podría encarnar a Mysterio, puesto que ya se generó una gran rumorología con este tema cuando “Spider-man 3” se encontraba en pleno desarrollo.

Otro villano que toma fuerza es el Lagarto. Personalmente creo que esta seria la opción mas lógica tras habernos presentado al Dr. Curt Connors en los dos últimos títulos y dejándonos pistas sobre sus investigaciones y conociendo todos como terminará el manco Doctor.

Pero ahora nos llegan nuevos rumores sobre un posible cast para interpretar a Felicia Hardy, es decir, a la Gata Negra. Dos actrices han saltado a la palestra como posibles candidatas para encarnar al personaje, Rachel McAdams y Romola Garai. La primera ya ha desmentido la noticia, y de la segunda no sabemos nada.

Y para cerrar el post, un anuncio oficial sobre un casting para el que se requieren gemelos exactos, de 2 o 3 años para interpretar a un niño de 2, y que sean pelirrojos. Muchos ya oyen los gritos del Carnage de Cletus Kasady en un posible flashbacks del personaje y otros se echan las manos a la cabeza al haber posibilidades de que Peter Parker tenga un hijo en la cuarta, que no ultima, entrega de El Hombre Araña.

O Spoiler TV teve acesso a uma lista de convocação de personagens para o elenco de Homem Aranha 4. O que chamou atenção nessa lista, é que Sam Raimi está procurando por um bebê na faixa de 2 anos, caucasiano, personalidade cativante e ruivo!

Claro que com essa novidade a primeira e mais óbvia conclusão é que Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) e Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) terão um filho no filme. Agora como a criança vai ser colocada na trama já é alvo de muitas especulações.

O mais provável e que teria mais sentido, é que a criança aparecesse talvez em uma visão do futuro com o casal tendo o tal filho ruivo. Realmente não teria lógica nenhuma colocar uma criança no meio da história nesse momento. Depois do fraco terceiro filme, Sam Raimi tem que se preocupar em fazer um filme atrativo e que consiga atrair o público, não em tornar a franquia em um filme para família.

Homem Aranha 4 começa a ser filmado em março do ano que vem e chega aos cinemas em 6 de maio de 2011.

The end of the year draws ever so near and with the turn of the calender comes a brand new slate of movies.

2009 hasn’t quite lived up to past year’s expectations, but there have been some really, really good movies. Some surprises, some stinkers, as usual. But with oh, 47 days left in the year, here at the 5 films, in order, I’m most looking forward to:

1. The Lovely Bones – why? Peter Jackson. Simply incredible book. Amazing young actress. Great cast. Riveting story.

2. Brothers – why? Two fantastic lead actors. Heart-wrenching storyline. Incredible trailer. Great director.

3. Up In the Air – why? Clooney in a perfect role. Director who hasn’t let down yet. Massive positive hype. Trailer.

4. Avatar – why? Decade in the making. Special effects like nothing before. Have to trust Cameron.

5. The Fantastic Mr. Fox – Amazing early reviews. Creative director with a creative cast. Looks inventive and hilarious.

I can honestly say I’m more excited for these 5 films than any other 5 films this entire year. Bring it on!

What is in my mind the finest month for the movies is almost here!  Let Marshall guide you through the best and steer you away from the worst, but most of all enjoy!  The studios have been holding back their best movies all year to dump them all here, where they can get serious awards consideration.

December 4

A major Oscars wild-card is “Brothers.”  No one really knows what to make of it.  If the movie hits big, it could completely change the game.  But it could just fly under the radar like most expect it to now.  However, the trailer makes it look as if it the movie could be absolutely mind-blowing.  Directed by Jim Sheridan, who has received six Academy Award nominations, “Brothers” follows Grace Cahill (Natalie Portman) as she and her daughters deal with the loss of her husband, Sam (Tobey Maguire), in war.  Sam’s brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) comes to live with Grace to lend a helping hand.  But romantic sparks fly between the two at precisely the wrong time: the discovery that Sam is alive and coming home.  With the two brothers both tugging Grace’s heart for their share, a different type of sparks fly.

You have heard me say plenty about “Up in the Air.”  If you haven’t read my Oscar Moment on the movie or heard my bliss at the release of the trailer, let me give you one more chance to hope on the bandwagon.

But the movies don’t stop there.  ”Armored,” an action-drama that is tooting its own moral horn, starring Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne.  ”Everybody’s Fine” appears to be a holiday movie, so that might be worth checking out if your in the spirit.  The movie, a remake of a 1990 Italian film by the same name, stars Robert DeNiro as a widower who reconnects with his estrange children.  And “Transylmania” looks to cash in on the vampire craze sweeping the nation by satirizing it, but I doubt it will be financially viable because it is being released by a no-name studio and without any big names.

December 11

The highlight of the weekend for many will be “The Princess and the Frog,” Disney’s return to the traditional animation by hand musical.  The movie looks to capitalize on what we know and love Disney musicals for, adding some catchy tunes to a fairy tale we have known since childhood.  Anika Noni Rose, best known for her role as Lorrell in the film adaptation of “Dreamgirls,” lends her talented voice to the princess Tiana.  As a huge fan of “Dreamgirls” during the winter of 2006, I couldn’t think of someone better equipped to handle the sweet, soft Disney music (which isn’t designed for belters like Beyoncé or Jennifer Hudson).  That being said, the music won’t sound like anything you’ve ever heard from a Disney fairy tale.  It is being scored by Randy Newman, not Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” etc.), and will have a jazzy feel much like its setting, New Orleans.

This week also boasts the opening of three major Oscar players. Two have been featured in Oscar Moments, “Invictus” and “A Single Man.” The former opens nationwide this Friday, the latter only in limited release. I’ll repost the trailers below because they are worth watching. But read the Oscar Moment if you want to know more about the movies.

According to the people that matter, “The Lovely Bones” has all the pieces to make a great movie. But for summer reading two years ago, I read the source material, Alice Sebold’s acclaimed novel. I found it dreadfully melodramatic and very depressing without any sort of emotional payoff to reward the reader for making it through. But maybe Hollywood will mess up the novel in a good way. If any movie could, it would be this one. With a director like Peter Jackson and a cast including Saiorse Ronan (“Atonement”), Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, and Susan Sarandon, it could very well happen.  It opens in limited release on this date and slowly expands until its nationwide release on Martin Luther King Day weekend in 2010.

December 16

Due to the flop of “Amelia,” Fox Searchlight has moved “Crazy Heart” to 2009 in order to milk some awards out of this year (although they should have just pushed “(500) Days of Summer” harder!).  The movie stars Jeff Bridges as an aging alcoholic country singer and Maggie Gyllenhaal as the young journalist that falls for him.  Bridges has been nominated for four Oscars but has never won, so maybe the Academy will feel generous to him this year.

December 18

We will skip the big blockbuster to address what is perhaps my most anticipated movie of the season, “Nine.”  I’ve already devoted an Oscar Moment to it, but it deserves some more talk here.  I’ll just throw out some names.  Daniel Day-Lewis.  Marion Cotillard.  Penelope Cruz.  Nicole Kidman.  Judi Dench.  Sophia Loren.  Kate Hudson.  Fergie.  Director Rob Marshall.  At what name did you start thinking, “Get here now, December 18th, I HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE!”?

Most sites I read think “Avatar” is going to be a huge box office success.  However, I wonder how they can think that when I have not heard a single teenager talk about the movie at all.  That is a critical demographic to the success of this movie.  It is what made “Titanic” the highest grossing movie ever (unadjusted for inflation).  And without them, this movie will flop.  A bomb is something that director James Cameron and the head honchos at 20th Century Fox simply cannot have happen.  Let me hit you with a statistic that will make your jaw drop.  ”Avatar” cost nearly $500 million dollars to make.  No, I didn’t tack on an extra zero to that figure.  Half-a-billion dollars have been dropped on this movie, so they need to make a whole lot of money to make it a profitable venture.  I’m sure with worldwide totals and video receipts, they will undoubtedly break even.  But if it is going to be a bonanza, there has to be more to “Avatar” than the coolest visual effects ever.  And I’m not getting the feeling from the trailers that it has all that strong of a story.  But at this point, no one knows.

Guilty confession: I’m actually kind of looking forward to “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” The movie stars Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker as married members of the New York elite who loathe each other. However, they are forced to spend a whole lot of time together when they see a murder and enter the Witness Protection Program in Wyoming. Sometimes these “fish out of water” comedies turn out to be quite funny. Plus, Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker usually have good taste when it comes to selecting movies.

And to help out a fledgling production company, Apparition, I’ll plug “The Young Victoria” with an embedded trailer.  If Martin Scorsese is pushing it, how bad can it be?

December 23

In order to get “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel” out of a convoluted Christmas Day openers crowd, they moved it to Wednesday, December 23.  Honestly, who wants to debate if this movie will be good or not?  I wouldn’t be surprised if it makes more money than “Avatar” the way kids ate up the first installment.

December 25

Celebrate Christmas at the movies with your family like everyone else in America!  ”Nine” and “Up in the Air” will be opening nationwide today.

Nancy Meyers, the director of “The Holiday” and “The Parent Trap,” makes movies that are just plain enjoyable to watch.  ”It’s Complicated” doesn’t look to break that tradition.  I refuse to watch the trailer because I don’t want to ruin it, but the film’s poster shows Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin bearing smug expressions in a bed with the tagline “Divorced…with benefits” written on the sheets.  Featuring a cast that also includes Steve Martin and John Krasinski (“The Office”), this could be the perfect crowd-pleasing Christmas Day movie.

Also opening on Christmas Day is a reimagined “Sherlock Holmes,” directed by Guy Ritchie (yes, Maddona’s ex-husband).  I’m all for the fresh approach, especially because it includes Robert Downey, Jr.  I loved the smug touch he added to Tony Stark in “Iron Man,” and I’m sure he will bring the same energy to the timeless detective.  The movie will no doubt benefit from the presence of Jude Law as sidekick Watson and Rachel McAdams as a love interest for Sherlock.  Although the character has lost respectability over the past few years on the silver screen, this is a version that I am more than willing to get behind.

And it is with great sadness that I have to say that Heath Ledger’s last new movie, “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,” will be released this day.  He passed while in production of the movie, and Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law stepped into finish the role.  The three stars donated their salary for the film to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda.  The movie seems to be quite a visual spectacle, and the eye-catching visuals could be a great complement to Ledger’s final performance.

December 30

The final release of 2009 is “The White Ribbon,” winner of the prestigious Palme D’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival this spring.  The film, directed by Michael Haeneke, follows a community in pre-World War I Germany as they deal with “the origins of terrorism,” as the director puts it.  It has been selected as Germany’s submission to the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards this year, so it is definitely a player there.  But with quite literal universal acclaim, it could compete in more serious categories.

So, have you started planning how you are going to fit all these movies into your holiday schedules like me?  If not, at least do me the courtesy of telling me what movie you would see if you could only see one.

On the eve of “Spider-Man 3”, I was literally excited beyond expectations.

The first two films had lived up to the hype and proved that this was the strongest superhero franchise around.

When I saw the first two films, I felt in heart that they emulated what was so great about the Superman movies back in the late 70s and early 80s.

The first one was the typical origin story where we follow the would-be hero as he emerges into the hero we all know. The second film then showcased what if the hero lost his powers and he wasn’t there to save the world and the ones he loves.

Just like “Superman 3”, “Spider-Man 3” carries on the tradition of that franchise by focusing on the darker side of the hero. The best part of “Superman 3” was the battle in the junkyard between good and bad Clark.

Sadly there is no scene like that in “Spider-Man 3”. But the upside to “Spider-Man 3” is that it doesn’t have Richard Pryor or that sadly conceived super computer as the villain.

The plot of the third film involves Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) finding out that a new person killed his beloved Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) just as he is about to propose to Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst). That new killer is Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) aka The Sandman. Just in time for Spider-Man to hunt Marko down, an alien parasite attaches itself to the Spider-Man suit and Peter starts to have new found confidence and a new brash look. Another thorn in Peter’s side is a new Daily Bugle photographer named Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) who is after Peter’s staff job at the Bugle.

Meanwhile after a confrontation with Peter, Harry Osborn (James Franco) loses his memory and tries to learn what his life was like before the accident. Who are his friends and who are his enemies?

“Spider-Man 3” has a lot of upsides actually. The visual effects on The Sandman are dynamic and nearly flawless. We don’t get a lot of Venom but what we do see is like the comic book come to life. Then there are the thrilling swinging sequences that just seem to get more and more amazing. (pardon the pun!)

I really liked Harry’s story more in this film than in previous but I am really getting tired of the love triangle between Harry, Mary Jane and Peter. I think for them to really evolve the series, they will have to get rid of Mary Jane and return the focus back onto Peter.

Maybe have her finally make it big as an actress and have her move away. Then either continue the Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) story started in this film or introduce a new love interest like maybe Felicia Hardy aka The Black Cat.

Probably my favourite character in the film is Sandman only because Church brings so much depth and dynamic to this struggling misunderstood man. The scene with his distant wife, played by Theresa Russell, is utterly heart-breaking. As for Topher Grace, I could take him or leave him. He really never made an impression on me.

The film itself is weirdly paced, off kilter and some characters do things out of character. But for me the third film really came completely unravelled in the film’s third act after Brock becomes Venom.

That act just feels like it was tacked on at the last minute. There are portions you kind of scratch your head and go “what?”. It felt a lot like the ending of a Joel Schumacher Batman film. You know rushed, lazy and unappealing. It is such a disappointment.

Now that Sony has said they are going to make at least three more Spider-Man movies, I just hope the fourth film isn’t directed by Brett Ratner and doesn’t have Nuclear Man in it.

3 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

Back in 2002, director Sam Raimi pushed the envelope with what a superhero film could be when he unleashed his mega-blockbuster “Spider-Man”. After the smoke cleared and I had a chance to see the film again another successful superhero franchise comparison emerged. And after seeing “Spider-Man 2” it is quite evident that this mega-franchise does emulate another hero’s adventures on the big screen.

“Spider-Man 2” opens with a montage to the first film and eventually drops the audience back into the life of struggling 20-something Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who is having a rough time trying to balance work and his night patrols as Spider-Man.

Desperate to not fail one of his pivotal university courses, Peter takes up his old friend Harry Osborn’s (James Franco) offer to meet brilliant scientist Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) who is on the verge of a breakthrough in harnessing the power of fusion.

Octavius is charismatic, a loyal husband to his beautiful wife Rosalie (Donna Murphy) and devoted to his craft. Parker is envious in some respects as he has dinner with the Dr. Octavius and his wife.

After Peter suffers a glitch in his “spider-powers”, he has a second encounter with Octavius as he finally witnesses Octavius and the full-power of his experiment. The experiment is controlled by 4 metallic arms which help Octavius control the many calculations.

Like all superhero films, the scientist’s experiment goes horribly wrong and Octavius watches as his whole world comes apart thus giving birth to the sinister Doctor Octopus.

With his glitchy powers, his relationship with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) all but over and the rest of his life coming apart at the seams, does Peter want to maintain his superhero identity and eventually stop the evil Doc Ock?

As I watched Sam Raimi’s continuation of his superhero epic I couldn’t help but see that Raimi seems to be throwing back to the “Superman” franchise of the early 1980s. There are so many obvious comparisons but it was never fully fleshed out until I saw star Tobey Maguire wore a pair of glasses after one his “power-glitches”.

In both the sequels to “Superman” and “Spider-Man”, the hero relinquishes his responsibility of being a superhero for the woman he loves. Both have problems getting their powers back when they decide they were foolish. Both heroes also have troubles stopping a train. Then there is the obvious homage to the “Superman” films when Parker drops his glasses on the pavement and we see one of the lens break from the frames.

Even though Raimi has framed his franchise in the same way as “Superman” he still seems to have improved on the concept.

Raimi has injected a lot of humor, zaniness in Parker’s life and a wonderful dynamic between him and the people around him. Raimi knows how to get us involved in these people’s lives. The humor is done with such delicacy that it doesn’t poke fun at the character but instead enhances our relationship with this struggling hero. It is the brilliant aspect of this sequel.

I loved how the film didn’t forget the man behind the mask as we are introduced to yet another villain. The filmmakers remember that the film is called “Spider-Man” and not “Dr. Octopus”.

The performance from Tobey Maguire was utterly brilliant especially during the forever classic train-stopping sequence. Raimi allowed Tobey to be just a young man with extraordinary abilities and with that it became pure magic.

Probably the most noticeable improvement from this film to the last was that Raimi was able to maintain his tone throughout. That alone makes “Spider-Man 2” superior to its predecessor.

The flaw in this sequel is that the middle does tend to drag some as Raimi focuses more on the relationships between the characters than the action of being a superhero. The relationships are heartwarming, deep and interesting but dwelling so much on them takes away from the flow of the film. We are here to see the hero not the drama between.

“Spider-Man 2” is a giant leap forward for the franchise and the evolution of “Spider-Man” but I have to say I still think “X2: X-Men United” is still the best modern superhero film thus far. The reason being is that it maintained the humanity, passion, action and flow that makes superheroes and their world so much fun.

4 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

With the flick of the web and the pounce of a hero, Sony Pictures unleashes Marvel Comics prime creation, Spiderman into a multiplex near you.

“Spider-Man” debuted in August 1962 in Amazing Fantasy #15 and launched a new kind of superhero. This new kind of superhero was a teenager who had typical human problems and was always influenced by the world around him. This hero was a more realistic version than heroes before him.

Spider-Man was the brainchild of Stan Lee and famed comic artist Steve Ditko. Amazing Fantasy #15 eventually went on to become one of the greatest comics of all time.

In its comic book infancy, Spider-Man was never a sure thing a lot like the new feature film that is about to hit theatres around the globe. It has taken over a decade to bring the Marvel’s prime creation to the silver screen. It wasn’t until the character rights surfaced from legal battles that the film was finally green-lit.

The new feature film that stars Tobey Maguire (Cider House Rules) as Spider-Man’s alter ego Peter Parker is accidentally bitten by a “genetically-altered” spider while on a class field trip. This small insect bite revolutionizes Peter’s life.

Peter finds himself invigorated by the bite as he is able to make a mark in his world. But no matter how hard he struggles with his new identity, Peter can never quite get up enough nerve to ask out the girl of his dreams, Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).

Years go by and Peter eventually moves to the “City” and moves in with his friend and millionaire offspring Harry Osborn (James Franco).

Meanwhile Harry and Peter start to see significant changes in Harry’s father, Norman (Willem Dafoe) as a sinister armored man, dubbed the Green Goblin, starts terrorizing New York. Spider-Man is forced to confront this fiend when he targets people Peter cares about.

“Spider-Man” has all the elements of a great superhero film and a summer blockbuster. Just while I was watching it I couldn’t help but feel there was something missing within this new version of our favorite “webhead”.

The beginning and first half of Spider-Man is literally ripped right from that infamous Amazing Fantasy #15 and it made my adrenaline surge. I loved watching Tobey Maguire’s looks and eye movements during the scenes where he explores his new powers.

It was a great performance and encompassed the character to perfection. I could see what director Sam Raimi saw in Tobey. The wrestling match and the field trip were all great scenes. They were always what I imagined when reading the origins of Spider-Man.

I loved that they maintained to the classic look of Spider-Man’s costume but why make the Green Goblin look like a “Transformers” robot. I found it hard to relate to the villain because of that armored look. I would have liked to have seen him have prosthetics on his face as he goes insane (ala the Joker in the 1989’s Batman).

And have them maintain the green and purple style costume so loved in the comics. Since we can’t see either hero or villain’s mouth or eyes when they fight it kind of reminded me of those old Japanese monster films. You know the ones with the rubber suits. Maybe that was just me.

My problems and feelings of something that is missing occur when the film brings the characters to New York. I felt something was missing as they try to bring the worlds of Peter, Mary-Jane and the Osborn’s. I really liked how they portrayed Peter and how he eventually got a job at the Daily Bugle. The whole portrayal and handling of J. Jonah Jameson was brilliant. But the other stories really never did much for me except for Dafoe’s performance as the stressed out, secret hiding Norman Osborn.

As I thought more and more about what was wrong with the whole film I came to the conclusion was that the film doesn’t have a constant cohesion as it evolves.

The textures and tone of the film as it follows Peter’s life seem to be slightly off key. The feel of the second half of the film is much darker and grittier than the first half except when Spider-Man is swinging.

The final fight scene and eventual film ending is very dark and cryptic which made me wonder why leave a film on a down note even if it is a set-up for a sequel.

I enjoyed Spider-Man to a point but I guess I was disappointed because they stuck so realistically and loyal to the comic until the second half. I wish this adaptation would have maintained what it set out to do in the first half.

4 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

Rachel McAdams

From ContactMusic.com

Rachel McAdams has been tipped to take on the role of a comic book villainess in the upcoming Spiderman sequel.
 

The Notebook star is rumoured to be in talks with movie bosses to join the cast of the fourth film as Black Cat , the costumed alter-ego of Felicia Hardy – and Peter Parker’s latest love interest.

A source tells film website Heyuguys.co.uk, “She falls in love with Peter Parker, and uncovers his true identity. Her father then dies, and Hardy becomes a threat to Peter Parker.”

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will both reprise their roles in the next installment of the web-slinging superhero franchise, to be directed by Sam Raimi.
The film is due for release in 2011.

Amazon Specials!

The good folks over at Yahoo! Movies seem to be having a little trouble spelling the names of the stars of “Brothers”:

For the record, the actors are Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Brothers, la nueva producción de Lion Gates, la productora independiente que tiene buenas producciones, sin usar mucha tecnología, simplemente un buen guion y actores que valgan la pena.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire y Natalie Portman son los actores de esta producción. Cuando termine de ver la película me pareció una historia muy interesante e intensa. Lo que mas me llamo la atención de esta película fue Tobey Maguire, por primera vez lo veo en un personaje medio psicópata y una persona trastornada tras los traumas que vive durante la guerra. Cuando lo vi, primero me imagine que sería un personaje medio torpe o tal vez muy bonachón, ya que su personaje más conocido es el de Spiderman, y ahí lo vemos como un chico que no mata ni una mosca. Me quedo claro que el chico tiene sus dotes de un buen actor, porque me hizo creer su personaje.

La historia me hace recordar a un par de historias que ya había escuchado antes, pero lo más interesante es poder saber el desenlace de la película. Un padre de familia es enviado a la guerra, y su esposa se queda con sus dos hijas, pocos meses después el personaje de Maguire, muere en el campo de batalla, a lo que Portman (la esposa) tiene que enfrentar una cruda realidad, criar a sus hijas sola, sin nadie más. El buen samaritano llega (Gyllenhaal) y trata de poder suplantar a su hermano, y poder llenar esos vacios, incluso cumplir el rol de esposo.

Una mezcla de sentimientos encontrados, vacios, dudas, convierten en este guion en una producción interesante por saber que pasa al final, después de que Portman se entera que su esposo no estaba muerto (ni tampoco de parranda) está vivo, y ahora ella se encuentra en una encrucijada, la cual Maguire tendrá que dar el toque final a este gran final incierto e intenso.

May Day, May Day..!

Aqui les dejo una simple trivia que he preparado para todos ustedes, se trata de que ustedes digan que actor o actriz participo en cada pelicula (facil no?), por favor traten de hacerlo sin ayuda de google, sean honestos ya que no ganaran nada solo un poco de entretenimiento.

Aqui estan los nombres de los actores y actrices:

George Timothy Clooney

Tobey Maguire

Daniel Radcliffe

Timothy Olyphant

Angelina Jolie

Ahora demuestra que tanto sabes sobre protagonistas!!

Rachel McAdams o Romola Garai

‘Spiderman’ busca a su Gata Negra

LOS ANGELES, 10 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS)

Sam Raimi está ultimando el reparto de ”Spiderman 4”. Con Tobey Maguire y Kirsten Dunst confirmados para el regreso del hombre-araña a al gran pantalla, ahora el director busca a la actriz ideal para encarnar a la Gata Negra. Dos son las candidatas: Rachel McAdams y Romola Garai.

Varios medios de Hollywood dieron por segura la incorporación de de Rachel McAdams, a la que pronto veremos en el nuevo Sherlock Holmes junto a Robert Downey Jr. y Jude Law, a la saga de Spiderman. Según se rumorea la actriz ya se habría reunido con los productores de la saga para hablar sobre su papel de Felicia Hardy, alias la Gata Negra.

Pero las alarmas han saltado al leer lo que la actriz Romola Garai (Expiación. Más allá de la pasión, Scoop), ha publicado en ‘The Observer’ detalles sobre su audición para un papel en la franquicia de Spiderman. “El amor es la raíz de todo lo bueno que ha sucedido y que sucederá”, esta es la frase que Romola tuvo que decir mirando a cámara y subiendo unas escaleras mecánicas de metro en el Oxford Circus.

Una enigmática frase que abre el casting sobre la Gata Negra. Aunque también hay quien va más allá y apunta a un posible relevo de Kirsten Dunst en el papel de Mary Jane. Sea como fuere, todavía habrá que esperar un poco para que se desvelen todas las incógnitas que Raimi todavía mantiene sobre la cuarta entrega de Spiderman, cuya llegada a los cines esta prevista para mayo de 2011.

Sorry ladies, it’s not hunk Ryan Gosling. This caught us off guard, considering Sam Raimi told us we would only see one villain in Spider-Man 4. Mania reports the franchise director has began the casting process for the Spidey sequel and has his lead star for the role of Black Cat; Rachael McAdams. How will her storyline play out? Will she be involved in yet another unexciting love triangle between Peter Parker and M.J.? These are all speculations for now, but we think she’s the perfect choice for the sexy cat burglar.

Al parecer Sam Raimi y su gente ya se han puesto manos a la obra con el casting de Spider-Man 4, nueva aventura del superhéroe en la gran pantalla. La primera gran noticia es que ya se está buscando como primera pieza del elenco, a una actriz protagonista. El papel que ocuparía sería el de Felicia Hardy, la ladrona que tanto atribula (en todos los sentidos) al arácnido. Para el personaje Raimi valora por el momento dos nombres. El primero es el de Rachel McAdams, a la que veremos pronto en Sherlock Holmes, que ya se habría reunido con los productores para tratar su incorporación. El segundo es el de la británica Romola Garai (en la fotografía, vista en Atonement), que incluso habría realizado una audición por el trabajo. Spider-Man 4 cuenta ya en su elenco con Tobey Maguire y Kirsten Dunst, que retoman sus papeles como Peter Parker y Mary Jane Watson. La película se estrena el 5 de Mayo de 2.011.

“Cabalga con el diablo” pasó sin pena ni gloria en su día, obviada por completo o despachada como un exótico/fallido “western” revisionista-romántico con una miopía alarmante que terminó por dejarla en ese limbo que acoge entre bostezos tantas y tantas películas recientes que no se acogieron a lo acomodaticio o a los modismos estéticos o que simplemente planteaban un cine adulto. Pero a estas alturas de la carrera de un director tan estimulante y fiable como Ang Lee, que se mueve sin perder sus coordenadas más originales entre géneros y estilos con asombrosa comodidad, este título no solo merece una revisión sino que aparece como uno de sus mejores trabajos pese a ser desde luego, un film algo tocado por una estructura demasiado episódica que provoca un cierto desequilibrio interno pero que de ningún modo merece el olvido y se erige como una pieza con verdadera personalidad.

El resultado del esfuerzo de Lee es un western historicista sobre las milicias de irregulares en Missouri durante la guerra de Secesión (a las que por cierto había pertenecido la banda James/Younger) y los enfrentamientos en la frontera con Kansas (de hay también el sobrenombre de “border ruffians” que se ganaron), que de modo bastante comprensible no pareció gustar a casi nadie. Principalmente por su extraño ritmo interno y su decidida falta de maniqueísmo, repartiendo por igual a unos y otros hasta acabar, razonablemente, siendo la historia de dos inadaptados, un joven de origen alemán y un negro que lucha con el Sur que terminarán por quedarse a la deriva (fenomenalmente explicitado en toda la parte final presidida por el lirismo paisajístico y un calma cotidiana que hasta el momento se les había negado, en ese sentido es ejemplar el corte de pelo de Maguire como despedida a toda una época de su vida) cuando las verdadera razón de su guerra desaparezca. Y es que esta no es otra que, no tanto la amistad, que también, como sobre la lealtad asumida como compromiso vital. Jake Roedel se alista a las órdenes del duro Black John siguiendo a su mejor amigo Jack Bull Chilles después de que los “jayhawkers” (las milicias nordistas) maten a su padre y arrasen su granja (una lealtad que se extenderá incluso post-mortem, ya que Roedel se hará cargo de Sue Lee Shelley y del hijo que engendró con Skeet Ulrich) y por su parte Daniel Holt sigue solo a su amigo y prácticamente hermano George Clyde (un estupendo Simon Baker mucho antes de “El mentalista”) comprado por su familia tras ser su  madre vendida  siedo esclava de unos vecinos arruinados ya que ambos se habían criado juntos, existiendo de este modo una relación intima y tierna  imposible de ser explicitada en público.Muy bien interpretada por un grupo de actores conjuntado y sin alardes, destacan eso sí, la economía expresiva de Tobey Maguire, el poso de Jeffrey Wright y un Jonathan Rhys-Meyers escalofriante como el pálido asesino natural Pitt Mackeson, que se la tiene jurada a Roedel y al que Lee recupera en la espléndida última secuencia completamente ido y decrépito. Con diálogos magníficos (ese “-Mujer, he matado quince hombres” con el que Maguire responde altivo a su torpeza ante Jewell en la casi forzada noche de bodas), estupendamente ambientada, con toques tan peculiares, y que ayudan a la nada decorativista autenticidad del conjunto, como la incongruente y atildada elegancia de los “bushwhackers” y sus cuidadas melenas y coloridas camisas herencia de una vida pasada en contraste con la rudeza de su estado actual. Unido a una sabia valoración del hermoso paisaje (con un uso naturalista del color y encuadres de los hombres descansando sobre los caballos o a galope y planos generales de las formaciones o las figuras en el paisaje que no pueden menos que recordar a las magistrales obras de los paisajistas americanos  con Frederic Remington a la cabeza) y los cambios de las estaciones como elemento dramático por antonomasia del western y rematada por una banda sonora fuera de serie cortesía de Mychael Danna privilegiando el banjo, el violín y la melodía tradicional, al igual que la película enérgica y melancólica a partes iguales.

Combina con acierto lo contemplativo con lo activo en un tempo dramático quizás descompensado pero singular y está rematadamente bien rodada, con limpieza, elegancia y claridad (la contundente escaramuza primera resulta ejemplar, comenzada con un vibrante tiroteo y continuada por una huida por el bosque en loca cabalgada, no se asusta ante la violencia gráfica y el detalle verista, la mandíbula descuajaringada es buen ejemplo) que no desdeña ni la violencia ni la extrañeza como bien demuestra el célebre “raid” sobre Lawrence, Kansas, en la mañana del 21 de Agosto de 1863 a las órdenes del legendario Quantrill (que contaba nada menos que con 26 años) visualizado y narrado de un modo absurdamente sereno, la calma en el ojo del huracán con los dos protagonistas paseándose y desayunando tranquilamente (un elección no solo estética sino también dramática al simbolizar que ambos están pero ya no pertenecen, son “outsiders” entre los “outsiders”) mientras todos los hombres son sacados de su casa y negocios o ejecutados allí donde se encuentren.Una gran película que desborda humanismo (el uso de las cartas que guarda Maguire robadas a un soldado de la unión y que lee regularmente para sentir algo de genuino calor) y que pese a su dramatismo y reflexión no olvida ni el humor ni el amor en una bella historia que no nace de la pasión  sino de la necesidad y la comprensión y que aporta una verdadera paz nacida para perdurar. Lo que también puede ayudar a entender el fracaso crematístico del invento, la audacia de plantear algo así  en pleno Hollywood, tan lejano del folletín inflamado“bigger than life” como del  asexuadamente fantasioso romanticismo  adolescente.Ang Lee vuelve así a reflexionar sobre América prorrogando coherentemente la estupenda “La tormenta de hielo”, no solo en este componente histórico sino, y sobre todo, su agudeza, su falta de complacencia y un entendimiento profundo mezcla de fascinación y distancia, de cariño y dureza que se extiende aquí a traveés de una nada engolado discurso sobre el fin de unos tiempos y de unos hombres que como bien dice el personaje de Zach Grenier cuando acoge en su casa a los huidos, pelean por algo que ya no existe.

Cabalga con el diablo (Ride with the devil)

Director: Ang Lee

Año: 1999

País: Estados Unidos

139 min.

Fotografía: Frederick Elmes

Música: Mychael Danna

Guión: James Schamus según la novela de Daniel Woodrell “Woe to live on”, 1987

Reparto: Tobey Maguire, Jewell, Skeet Ulrich, Jeffrey Wright, Simon Baker, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Jim Caviezel, Tom Wilkinson, Margo Martindale, Jonathan Brandis,Zach Grenier, Mark Ruffalo

Why can’t I be loved as what I am
A wolf among wolves, and not as a man
Among men

Bonnie Prince Billy

Jake Gyllenhaal

By Dave McNary – Variety.com

Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to star in sci-fi thriller “Source Code” for Vendome Pictures and The Mark Gordon Co.

Duncan Jones will direct and Mark Gordon will produce with Vendome’s CEO Philippe Rousselet and Jordan Wynn. Production is slated to begin during the first quarter.

Summit Entertainment will distribute the film in the U.S. Summit International is also handling the international sales, which began at the American Film Market with over 15 territories licensed.

“Source Code” centers on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown commuter and is forced to live and relive a harrowing train bombing until he can determine who is responsible for it.

Project had originally been set up at Universal in early 2007 when the studio bought Ben Ripley’s screenplay and attached Topher Grace to star. Uni tapped Shane Abbess to helm last year. Current script includes revises by Billy Ray (“State of Play”).

Rousselet noted that “Source Code” will launch the Vendome slate, adding he believes it will appeal to a world-wide audience and exemplifies the types of producers and filmmakers with whom Vendome plans to work. He and co-CEO Fabrice Gianfermi plan to produce a minimum of a dozen films over the next five years.

Licensed territories for “Source Code” include France (SND), Benelux (Belga), Germany (Kinowelt), Spain (Aurum), UK (Optimum), Canada (E1), Australia (Hopscotch), Scandinavia (Sandrew Metronome), South Korea (The Daisy), Latin America (Sun Distribution), Middle East. (Jaguar), Turkey (Fida), Thailand (Sahamongkol), Israel (United King) and Greece (Odeon).

Gyllenhaal is currently filming “Love and Other Drugs,” helmed by Ed Zwick, and will next be seen in Jim Sheridan’s “Brothers” and Disney’s “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.”

Jones is currently writing the screenplay of the upcoming film “Mute,” which he will also direct. He has previously directed “Moon,” starring Sam Rockwell.

Gordon’s most recent projects include “2012,” “The Messenger,” starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson,” and “The Details,” with Tobey Maguire and Laura Linney.

Amazon Specials!

♥ “Mammoth”

In this indie movie, Gael Garcia Bernal (“Y Tu Mama Tambien”) and Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain”) play a couple whose lives start unraveling when Bernal flirts with infidelity on a business trip in Thailand.

The story also focuses on their live-in Filipino nanny, which is exciting since very few Filipino actors breakthrough in Hollywood. “Mammoth” even features subtitles for the actors speaking the Tagalog language. With more than 1,000 votes on IMDb.com, the film has received a 7 out of 10 rating.

♥ “Salt”

This espionage thriller was originally set to have a male lead, but when Tom Cruise (“Collateral”) dropped out of the project, the role was re-written for Angelina Jolie (“Girl, Interrupted”), naturally. Jolie is Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent, who is framed for a plot to murder the president. She must prove her innocence while on the run from authorities. Leaps unto buses ensue.

♥ “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”

Jake Gyllenhaal (“Jarhead”) stars in this adaptation of a video game where he, along with a princess (Gemma Arterton from “Quantum of Solace”), must stop a villain from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

It sounds lame when you put it like that, but from the trailers, it looks like the film has a good dose of comedy. It’s even produced by powerhouse Jerry Bruckheimer (“Pirates of the Carribean”). Sir Ben Kingsley (“Gandhi”) and Alfred Molina (“Spider-man 2″) also star. Catch the domestic and international trailers after the jump:

♥ “Brothers”

Lionsgate and Relativity Media previously released a trailer for “Brothers,” which I posted here. This is the second trailer of the drama, which stars Tobey Maguire (“Spider-man”), Natalie Portman (“Closer”) and Gyllenhaal.  It’s better if you view it without reading a synopsis first, so take a look:

♥ “The Road”

It’s based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel which tells of the end of the world. Hardly anyone is left but Viggo Mortensen (“A History of Violence”), Charlize Theron (“North Country”) and their son, newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee. Guy Pearce (“Memento”) and Robert Duvall co-star. Dimension Films has also released two trailers for this Oscar contender. They are distinctly different as one is more dreary than the other. See for yourself:

♥ “The Princess and the Frog”

Disney is going back to its roots with this animated movie. Beating the likes of singers Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys, Anika Rose (“Dreamgirls”) as well as Terrence Howard (“Hustle and Flow”) and John Goodman (“Coyote Ugly”) voice the characters. A teaser trailer and full trailer below:

♥ ”The Wolfman”

Check out a horror film that boasts of Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”), Benicio del Toro (“Traffic”), Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs”) and Hugo Weaving (“Lord of the Rings”):

♥ “Inception”

Here’s a film that’s been kept under wraps so much so that all IMDb.com states is this: “Corporations have developed a technology to enter dreams to extract information from certain people’s heads. A CEO (Leonardo DiCaprio) enters dreams and things begin to escalate, taking a turn for the worst.”

The buzz surrounding “Inception” is mostly due to its director, Christopher Nolan, who also did “The Dark Knight” and “Memento.” However, I’m watching it for one of my favorite actresses, Ellen Page (“Juno”). Marion Cotillard (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Michael Caine (Miss Congeniality”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Brick”) and Cillian Murphy (“Batman Begins”) are in it as well.

♥ “Green Zone”

Although it’s by the same people who brought us “The Bourne” movies, I think some would hesitate to watch it since it’s another war movie. Still, Matt Damon gives it some star power.

♥ “Invictus”

Damon is one hot commodity as he also stars in this Clint Eastwood film, otherwise known as an Oscar contender. Based on a true story, Damon plays the captain of a rugby team who is enlisted by Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to win, thus, uniting the country. Prepare to hear Damon speak with a South African accent …

♥ “Gentlemen Broncos”

Some have have predicted that “Broncos” will be a cult hit, perhaps in the same vein as “Napoleon Dynamite.” (They have the same director.) “Broncos” is a comedy about a science fiction author who steals the idea of a student (Michael Angarano from “Will and Grace”) for his next book. Jennifer Coolidge (“Legally Blonde”) is also in the movie, playing Angarano’s mom.

♥ “A Single Man”

Colin Firth (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”) plays a gay man who tries to carry on after the death of his partner. Julianne Moore (“Children of Men”) joins Firth, who is a potential Oscar nominee. Based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel, I must say the trailer is pretty original. It eerily plays on with no words the entire time. The film itself received an 8.6 rating on IMDb.com.

♥ “New Moon”

As the second part in the “Twilight” saga, we find  Bella (Kristen Stewart) left to gather the pieces with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) since the vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) left her. This time around, Stewart finds herself among werewolves and vampire royalty, the Volturi.

♥ “The Book of Eli”

Denzel Washington (“Man on Fire”) stars in this action movie set in yet another future depicting the end of the world. To salvage what’s left, Washington has to protect a sacred book. Mila Kunis (“That ’70s Show”) co-stars.

♥ “Nowhere Boy”

I don’t know why, but this feels like the most refreshing trailer out of the bunch. ”Nowhere Boy” is John Lennon (newcomer Aaron Johnson) of The Beatles. It chronicles the band’s beginnings and Lennon’s life. Kristin Scott Thomas (“Life as a House”) is part of the supporting cast.

♥ “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”

Perhaps better known as Heath Ledger’s (“The Dark Knight”) last film, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) strikes a deal with the devil, trading in his daughter at the age of 16. Parnassus tries to rectify his mistake by offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever can help him. Jude Law (“Closer”), Colin Farrell (“Minority Report”) and Johnny Depp (“Blow”) all stepped in to finish Ledger’s role.

♥ “When in Rome”

In this romantic comedy, Kristen Bell (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) takes some coins out of a fountain only to have the men who threw them in fall for her. The lovesick puppies include Josh Duhamel (“Transformers”), Will Arnett (“Blades of Glory”), Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Bell’s real-life beau, Dax Shepard (“Baby Mama”).

♥ “Dear John”

Another Nicholas Sparks’s book, another movie adaptation. By now, I should know better than to fall for Sparks’s sap, but the trailer was enchanting. Channing Tatum (“Stop Loss”) and Amanda Seyfried (“Nine Lives”) fall in love, but Tatum, a soldier, has to return to war. *Tear*

♥ “Pirate Radio” (aka “The Boat that Rocked”)

Richard Curtis, the man behind the darling “Love Actually,” brings a new movie to the big screen. The film already has more than 11,000 voters rating it 7.6 out of 10 stars. “Radio” is a comedy about DJs who air their show on the high seas. Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) joins the ensemble cast.

♥ “The Messenger”

IMDb users give this movie 8.6 stars. “Messenger” centers on the soldiers, Woody Harrelson (“Zombieland”) and Ben Foster (“Alpha Dog”), who are tasked with notifying the loved ones of their fallen comrades. Things are complicated when Foster gets involved with a soldier’s widow. Acclaimed actresses, Samantha Morton (“Minority Report”) and Jena Malone (“Stepmom”), round out the cast.

♥ “Alice in Wonderland”

This Tim Burton film hasn’t been released yet, but it’s already won an award. “Alice” was proclaimed the Most Anticipated Fantasy Film at the 2009 Scream Awards. If that still doesn’t convince you to see it, Oscar nominees Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) and Depp are in the movie.