Movie News

DVD/Blu-ray DISCussion (New for 3.29.11)

It is clearly a big week for horror releases. Black Swan is certainly Player Affinity’s film of the week, receiving excellent scores from us and was a major contender during the awards season. Scream 4’s is just around the corner so if you need to catch up the original trilogy is now out on Blu-ray. Foreign cinema is represented by releases from France, Greece and two from the United Kingdom. And for the children or simply the child within, Disney’s latest animated feature is out.

X-Men 4 and 5 In The Works

In a recent interview with Empire, producer Lauren Shuler Donner—who has acted as a producer for every “X-Men” film made to date—states that a direct sequel to 2006’s “The Last Stand” is in the works, with a treatment already written and passed to Fox execs (who apparently love it, go figure). Continuing on, this treatment for an “X-Men 4” (not surprisingly) is set up to bring “X-Men 5” to the masses.

Sucker Punch is Knocked Out by Wimpy Kid

It hurts to get beat up by someone littler than you. That is just how Sucker Punch feels the morning after being knocked out by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. The sequel to the family film of a similar name released this time last year made about as much money as its predecessor. The $23 million in sales solidifies the likelihood of many sequels to come. Sucker Punch should be the first and last of its kind, however. Zack Snyder’s female empowerment story was a hit with no one. Few opened their wallets to the action fantasy after being warned away by critics. 

Amy Adams is Lois Lane in Zack Snyder’s “Superman”

That’s timing for you. Shortly after news broke that his most recent film, Sucker Punch, got handed its walking papers by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules, Zack Snyder has announced that his “Superman” film has found its Lois Lane in Amy Adams (The Fighter). 

In an interview with the L.A. Times, Snyder says, “There was a big, giant search for Lois…for us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it.” Snyder is directing the reboot, with Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight) acting as an executive producer.

Armie Hammer Joins Julia Roberts in “Brothers Grimm: Snow White,” Saoirse Ronan Rumored

Perhaps most famous for his performance as the “Winklevi” in David Fincher’s The Social Network, Armie Hammer has joined the Relativity production The Brothers Grimm: Snow White. According to TheWrap, Hammer will play the prince. He joins Julia Roberts, the only other name that has been long-attached, who will play the wicked queen. As for the fairest of them all, Deadline Hollywood relays that Saoirse Ronan might be seriously in the running.

Viggo Leaves “Snow White and the Huntsman,” Could “Superman” Be Possible?

Kristen Stewart will still play Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman for Universal, but Viggo Mortensen won’t be her huntsman. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog, the actor dropped out of negotiations to star in the film.

Naturally, we’re all wondering about whether or not he will in fact play General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, even though Snyder himself denied it just a few days ago.

“Hunger Games” Zeroes In on Casting for Male Leads

Alex Pettyfer recently emerged as a candidate to star in The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence as the male lead, Peeta Melark. However, the most recent shortlist for the character doesn’t have him anywhere on it. Josh Hutcherson, Hunter Parrish, and Lucas Till are the three most buzzed-about in the mix along with Alexander Ludwig (Race to Witch Mountain) and Evan Peters (Kick-Ass), according to Cinematical.

Mila Kunis is Officially A Wicked Witch

Mila Kunis will play Theodora in Disney’s Wizard of Oz prequel Oz, The Great and Powerful. She will star alongside James Franco, who will play the titular character. Variety relays that Amy Adams, Keira Knightley, and several other actresses were in contention for this role.

“Bourne Legacy” Narrows Down Its Lead List

“The Magician’s Nephew” Will Continue the Narnia Series

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader wasn’t the big hit that people in the film industry had hoped for, but it has done enough business to justify the series to continue. Voyage of the Dawn Treader
debuted at number one in the US box office, but only made about $107
million. Not good for a film that cost $155 million. However, it made
$300 million worldwide and its total gross was over $400 million.