Film Review - MEN IN BLACK 3 ★★½☆☆☆

Men In Black 3 is simply and exactly what it says it is: the third Men In Black movie in the series. It's been ten years since MIB2 if you can believe that, and this latest entry at times feels like a run of the mill go-round for Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

As the story goes, its been 15 years since Jones' Agent K recruited Smith's Agent J into the super secret Men In Black alien task force. Sadly with this passage of time, we have to say RIP to some familiar MIB's. Our beloved Frank (the talking Pug) is no longer on the roster, or is Chief Zed (Rip Torn). Both absences are acknowledged, and are missed in this entry.

The plot? MIB arch enemy Boris The Animal (played by a snarling Jemaine Clement) escapes from the Moon's Lunar Max prison to exact revenge on Agent K, the man who not only captured him 40 years earlier, but also shot off his left arm. So he's still pretty pissed and sees fit to wipe K out from history by killing him in 1969 via a Hollywood no-frills time travel plot. Agent J is the only one who realizes K has been erased from the timeline and in turn travels back to the past to stop Boris of skewing history.

What's missing here is the truly fun banter between the day and night personalities of J and K. As written, their field partner relationship has sadly become stale after all these years. By the nature of the series run, Smith's Agent J is no longer the wet under the collar rookie, and that makes for far less fun with Jones' sorely veteran Agent K. But the plot remedy for that is to limit Jones' screen time and introduce us to young Agent K in 1969, played with dead-on uncanny confidence by Josh Brolin (and easily ranks up there with Rob Lowe's younger version of Robert Wagner's Number Two in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me).

When dealing with the finer points of a time travel plot, screenwriters can either adhere to the rules with brain freeze inducing results (insert possible catastrophic universe ending paradoxes), or throw all thinking logic to the wind and just do it. The latter was the wise way to go here and no sci-fi mind games are put on the table.

Throughout the film, meaty back story details are teased and beg for some fleshing out, especially when we have gotten to know these characters since 1997, but get swept under the rug with the movie's brisk pace. While this can be a plus when many movies don't know when enough is enough, MIB3 jaunts from place to place like a film that was meant to be a chunk and change longer.

There were of course the reported script problems that lead to shutting down production halfway through filming, and although the story is in no way plagued with huge plot hole problems, it is a bit scant on needed rest stops by the time we reach the big showdown at Cape Canaveral as Apollo 11 is set for mankind's first manned moon landing.

Seven-time Academy Award winning make-up icon Rick Baker provides plenty of old school tangible eye candy visuals that help sell Boris The Animal and the various background creatures featured throughout the film. It's good to see that CGI FX haven't completely replaced old fashioned prosthetics. Danny Elfman returns to collaborate with MIB director Barry Sonnenfeld to once again deliver a rousing score that effectively helps to move the pacing of the film along even further.

Tommy Lee Jones has a surprisingly small role in the film. Older K for all intents and purposes merely bookends the film, which changes up the expected dynamic. But the addition of fun cameos by SNL's Bill Hader (as Andy Warhol), Emma Thompson and Alice Eve (as older and younger Agent O), and Will Arnett as J's partner in the alternate timeline, provide some solid extra support.

Men In Black 3 is a fun film, and yes it's in 3D, that sprints along and gets you harmlessly in and out of your theater seat in no time. But overall it doesn't quite pack the expected punch of a decade-in-the-making event film for our favorite sharp dressed alien investigators. Although it lacks a big 'must see' feel to it, Will Smith can be counted on here as Agent J to provide some light summer time travel adventure, and Brolin without question brings his A Game to K.

Men In Black 3 opens in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D this Friday which also happens to be Geek Pride Day, May 25th.

REVIEW RATING: ★★½☆☆☆
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld

Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Alice Eve

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 104 minutes 

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Three New 'Dark Knight Rises' Character Posters Unveiled

Courtesy of Yahoo! Movies, three new character one-sheets from The Dark Knight Rises were revealed today featuring Batman (Christian Bale), Catwoman / Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), and the villain Bane (Tom Hardy). The final poster was also released by Warner Bros. featuring the Dark Knight and a Gotham City in flames.

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters and IMAX screens on July 20th.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Movies

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TEASER TRAILER: 'Skyfall'

The poster was revealed last week by Sony Pictures, and now the much anticipated first look teaser trailer for the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, has been released.

Daniel Craig returns to the role of MI6 secret agent 007 for the third time following 2008's Quantum Of Solace. In the latest Bond adventure directed by Sam Mendes, we can look forward to a new villain Silva played by Javier Bardem, and the introduction to the new gadget master Q (Ben Wishaw). New Bond girls include Berenice Marlohe who plays Severine, and Naomi Harris joins the cast as Eve. In addition to Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, Dame Judi Dench returns as M.

According to Sony: "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Skyfall is set to hit theaters and IMAX screens on November 9th.

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Film Review - BATTLESHIP ★★½☆☆☆

Going into 2012, I had two big budget targets on my radar that I expected to go 'all film school' on: John Carter and Battleship. Unfortunately for Taylor Kitsch, he happened to star in both of them. John Carter was out of theaters before I was able to see it (my bad), and as for Battleship (yes, based on the classic Hasbro naval combat board game), well I'll be damned if I didn't have a great time throughout the ridiculous bombastic spectacle that it was.

To be fair, I am a firm believer that you can't appreciate good movies without sitting through bad movies. And by no means is Battleship a terribly bad movie, but to say it doesn't ride the B-Movie wave big time would be misleading (albeit a B-Movie with a budget of possibly $200 million or so). Every single production penny spent is up there on the big screen, Battleship easily excels as a film that looks and sounds expensive (and you will not experience a louder film this year, of that I can assure you).

Director Peter Berg (Hancock, The Rundown) really steps up several notches by borrowing heavily from the Michael Bay playbook of how to assault the senses of your paying audience. The film certainly has the hi-tech look and feel of a Transformers off-shoot, but Berg thankfully left out much of the roll your eyes humor that somehow always makes it to the final cut of a Bay film.

So let's get to the plot, which is safe to say is fairly straightforward. Throwing caution to the wind, some optimistic astronomers in Hawaii beam a blind 'hello' beacon to a distant Earth-like planet in hopes of high fiving any existing extraterrestrial neighbors. Lets just say when the eventual response years later is not a reciprocal greeting, but a preliminary alien invasion force, its up to the guys and gals of the U.S. Navy to let them know exactly where the buck stops.

Alex and Stone Hopper (Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgård) are our lead hero Naval officer brothers, with Alex being the unpredictable Maverick to Stone's straight and narrow Goose. Academy Award Winner Liam Neeson plays Admiral Shane, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, and adds the necessary weight to the role of the big man in charge. Sports Illustrated supermodel Brooklyn Decker plays Admiral Shane's supermodel physical therapist daughter, and to complicate matters, fiancée to Kitsch's screw-up sailor. And then we have Rhianna as Petty Officer Second Class Cora Raikes, who also serves as a weapons specialist (and also for my taste has far too much screen time as the tough-as-nails-who-always-has-a-one-liner military chick).

While the plot is thin, (do we get or even deserve a reason for the alien's invasion?), a big summer actioner like this should not (and does not) require its audience to think too hard. Are there scenes where combat takes place that are literally inspired by the board game based on nautical coordinates? Of course. They have you mid-scene before you realize it. And does anyone get to deliver THE big Battleship tag line? Wait for it...

When the aliens do arrive after we spend a little too long with character developing introductions, Battleship kicks in on full throttle. The intense battle scenes are well staged and the accompanying special effects are convincing. The powerful alien submersible ships are both impressive and oppressive, as are the razor laced roller balls of destruction. Another piece of eye candy are the humanoid aliens who travel about in nifty Mass Effect inspired exo-suits.

Battleship definitely settles into its A-game comfort zone with some quick cutting Top Gun-esque excitement on the high seas. Since ship to ship combat on the big screen has been monopolized by the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, it's great to see the bad ass arsenals of sea faring vessels that are not waving a jolly roger flag atop their masts.

By the time the plan in store for third act big finish reveals itself, you will either be cheering or throwing your concessions at the screen. But again, that is part of the inherent fun of the popcorn formula it adheres to. There are some cringe worthy lines of dialogue that read better off the script page than in front of a camera, but frankly moments like that only make you appreciate more how Bill Pullman managed to pull off the pep rally Presidential speech in Independence Day.

Battleship doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. Its all there right in your face and you know already if this is your idea of a good time at the movies. If so, add an additional half star rating. So go with it, enjoy the intended high octane fun, watch big things go bang and boom, and most of all, don't over think it. That's what I did.

Battleship opens in theaters today.

REVIEW RATING: ★★½☆☆☆
Directed By: Peter Berg

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, and Liam Neeson

Studio: Universal Pictures

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 131 minutes 

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'Skyfall' Teaser Poster Revealed

Columbia Pictures has released the first teaser poster from the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall. Daniel Craig is seen in an iconic image that should be familiar to 007 fans all around the world.
 

According to the official synopsis, "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, is set to hit theaters on November 9th with Daniel Craig returning as James Bond, Dame Judi Dench (M), Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Naomi Harris, and Ben Wishaw (Q).

 SOURCE: 007.com

Preview: 'Arrow' First Look Footage

Check out the first clip from The CW's Arrow, now set to hit the air this October on Wednesday nights at 8pm.

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'Arrow' Officially Set To Hit The CW Wednesdays In The Fall

Hot on the heels of their Upfront presentation in NYC, The CW has announced that Arrow, based on DC Comics' iconic superhero Green Arrow, is all set to hit the air this fall on Wednesday nights at 8pm, as a lead-in to Supernatural. The show stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow and Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance.

The show has had steady buzz since the pilot was announced for production. Fans have been receptive towards the idea of another reboot of the popular character since the first image appeared online, and was also a lead on Smallville (played by Justin Hartley) for several seasons. This version of the bow & arrow armed hero will have no connection to Smallville in continuity. The CW plans to roll out their new fall shows in October 2012.

From The CW regarding Arrow:

After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.

The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Colin Donnell as Tommy, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, with Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance. Based on characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Green Lantern,” “Brothers & Sisters”), Marc Guggenheim (“FlashForward,” “Eli Stone”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Warehouse 13,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and David Nutter (“Smallville,” “Supernatural,” “Game of Thrones”). Melissa Kellner Berman (“Eli Stone,” “Dirty Sexy Money”) is co-executive producer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter from a teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Marc Guggenheim, story by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim.

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'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' First Image Revealed

Ron Burgundy tweeted earlier this week that a teaser for Anchorman 2 would be attached to The Dictator in theaters this weekend. Looks like we get an additional sneak peek as well, the first poster image with a title: Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Stay classy folks.

You can also check out my prior post with Ron Burgundy's surprise official first announcement of the sequel on Conan here.

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Film Review - THE DICTATOR ★★★☆☆

I think its safe to say that you know what you are getting into when you commit to see a movie starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The man behind larger than life characters like Borat, Brüno, and Ali G headlines his newest farce with another outrageous persona, but leaves the documentary pretense behind for The Dictator. As hard as he may try, any future attempts at shooting a movie and fooling the common citizen while hiding behind a crazy caricature could be very well be near impossible considering the infamy Cohen has gained over the years through Brüno and Borat.

The actor not only plays his creations on the big screen, but manages to pummel the public by appearing in character to no end on promotional press circuit tours. Cohen went so far this year as to walk the Oscars Red Carpet as Admiral General Aladeen from The Dictator (plus another banner stunt appearance at the Cannes Film Festival).

What goes without saying is that The Dictator is not for the faint of heart or for those easily offended or of a stout politically correct state of mind. Cohen takes to playing on, and running with, every stereotype of Middle Eastern culture imaginable as he re-teams with his Borat and Brüno director Larry Charles.

As Admiral General Haffaz Aladeen, Cohen leaves little untouched concerning taking comic advantage of the themes of terrorist paranoia that have been instilled on the world since 9/11. And if you think for a moment that the very question "Is it okay yet to joke about 9/11?" would not be presented to you here as a moviegoer, you would be sadly mistaken. The guilty scene that takes place during a helicopter tour over the Hudson River (that is briefly teased in the trailer, so you know its coming), goes on far longer in the film.

The plot?  Cohen plays the pampered fascist dictator of the fictional North African country of Wadiya. When he is caught under the United Nation's radar for attempting to enter the nuclear arms race, he travels to the New York City with his trusted second in command and advisor, Uncle Tamir (Sir Ben Kingsley) to assure the council that there are no weapons of mass destruction to be found. Tamir botches an arranged kidnapping and assassination of Aladeen, who then finds himself shaved of his beard and wandering the streets of NYC unable to prove who he really is. Tamir replaces him with one of his lookalike peasant body doubles with plans to have him sign a not-so-benevolent declaration of democracy for Wadiya.

The talented Anna Faris is caught up here unfortunately in a near thankless role as Zoey, a NYC vegan social activist with a pixie haircut, unshaven armpits, and happens to represent everything in a female that the sexist Aladeen has come to suppress. He is a ruler after all who is accustomed to paying to bed celebrities like Megan Fox and Katy Perry. Zoey's insufferable differences to Aladeen of course means he will inevitably fall for her as she becomes the unlikely key for the fallen leader to one up his turncoat former confidant. Sir Ben Kingsley adds the proper bravado to his role as Aladeen's would be over-thrower, but every now again you have to double back when you realize it's Sir Ben Kingsley playing along as the straight man in this vulgar comedy. Megan Fox and John C. Reilly also have memorable quick cameos that add to the fun.

There isn't much here I can say to either sell the film to new viewers or keep away those who will see The Dictator no matter what. But Baron Cohen has easily added another notch on his belt in between his Borat and Brüno improvised 'reality' romps, and the solid scripted performances he's done in Hugo, Sweeney Todd, and Talladega Nights.

If you enjoy his level of classless humor, and I freely admit that I do, you will enjoy The Dictator. It flies by at a scant 83 minutes and there are easily numerous genuine gems and moments throughout the film you will laugh out loud at. Is it offensively hilarious at times? Completely. You may, and should, even feel guilty for some of the laughs (Aladeen plays a Wii version of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre). Some zingers hit harder than others, and at times its disappointing when the low brow jokes sink so low when the film is completely capable of playing it smart at times. But overall The Dictator delivers and there is more than enough here to keep fans of The Baron entertained.

The Dictator opens in theaters today.

REVIEW RATING: ★★★☆☆
Directed By: Larry Charles

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Sir Ben Kinglsey

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Rated: R
Running Time: 83 minutes

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Home Video Review - CHRONICLE ★★★☆☆

**This review ran originally on February 3, 2012 for the theatrical run, and is being re-posted for today's release on Blu-ray and DVD**

Peter Parker learned through tragedy that “with great power comes great responsibility,” and only through that realization was Spider-Man born. In Chronicle, we learn what happens when super powered high schoolers do not have a life changing epiphany that inspires them to devote their lives to costumed heroics.

Director Josh Trank, in his directorial debut (and also co-wrote the screenplay), effectively adapts the waning POV 'found footage' style of film making to the superhero genre, and borrows familiar themes and imagery from Carrie, Cloverfield, District 9, and Akira.

With the studios pumping out tent pole superhero films more than ever, (Batman, Spider-Man, and The Avengers are all on deck for this summer), the time has never been better to sample a different spin on the genre. Chronicle offers just that, and it's even better when it's a job done well.

The film takes place in a Seattle, where the high school teens can be pretty cruel, especially to an introvert like Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan). He is not only a social pariah obsessed with capturing every moment of the day with his video camera, but finds himself burdened with an abusive father and dying bedridden mother.

During a house party, Andrew is recruited by his estranged cousin Matt (Alex Russell), and Steve (Michael B. Jordan), the popular jock who has it all, to record their underground discovery of a creepy glowing structure. Waking up the next morning, the trio discover they have gained telekinetic abilities as simple result of their close encounter with the object.

Personally I am fine with using scant literal logic to explain off what bestows super powers on mere mortals. A gamma ray overdose makes Bruce Banner Hulk out? Fine. Exposure to cosmic rays gives the Fantastic Four fantastic abilities? Sure. A lightning charged chemical lab bath bestows Barry Allen with super speed to become The Flash? Got it. Here, a mysterious underground crystal of unknown origins suddenly enables these teens to move objects with their minds. Just ignore the fact that they should maybe worry about radiation poisoning first, but that would be a whole different movie altogether.

The fun begins when the boys veer off the path of the Hero’s Journey because they are far more interested in utilizing their powers for pranks and hijinks rather than acts of valor. But when one incident takes things too far, it’s not hard to figure out where the film is headed, and which of the three will snap first when things inevitably go downhill when push comes to shove.

The film hits a high point when flight is added to their checklist of powers. An truly inspired flying sequence hits all the right marks for showing the audience both the thrill and inherent danger of taking to the clouds. It is here that the POV camera truly finds it’s calling. When controlled by Andrew’s mind, it is allowed to float around in the air and releases the film from the limited shooting style of an off-screen character holding the all too familiar shaky camera.

As Andrew’s demons begin to consume him, his powers also corrupt him, and the film turns to the dark side, complete with an explosive FX laden third act that echoes a heavy influence from Akira. Warner Bros. should take note how this climax was done extremely well with clever shooting on a shoestring budget, and be grateful they put their pricey adaptation of the iconic Japanese manga on the back burner.

The brisk 84 minute running time leaves little room for excessive expository chat between the characters, and quickly takes the audience right to the heart of the story, which works well here. The three leads all do all they can with their roles. Dane DeHaan has the standout part as Andrew, who has the most to work with. You certainly believe him as he breaks down under the weight of the circumstances he’s dealt with.

While the found footage genre is getting stale, Chronicle successfully plays around with the shooting concept enough so not to keep it to the standard issue we are accustomed to seeing. While the budget is low (the calling card of this type of movie), every once in a while much like Cloverfield, the film writes an occasional check to the FX house and wows you with impressive sequences.

Chronicle is easily a solid alternative to the current slew of superhero blockbusters where fancy costumes are a given, and the good guys must take on their arch enemies for the greater good of mankind. While setting up a welcome opportunity for sequels, the self contained story it presents will either satisfy you for keeping it to the point, or wishing it addressed the bigger picture.

The Chronicle publicity team at 20th Century Fox sends mysterious "flying people" soaring high over NYC...

REVIEW RATING: ★★★☆☆

Directed By: Josh Trank

Starring: Dane DeHann, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Rated: PG-13

Preview: 'Amazing Spider-Man' Four Minute Super Preview

Columbia Pictures has released a four-minute extended look at this summer's highly anticipated The Amazing Spider-Man. In addition to some previously seen footage from the other trailers, there are exciting new scenes included, the majority of which are at the top of the clip and show Spider-Man saving a young boy from a car that is about to plunge off the Manhattan Bridge.

The dark moody tone has been quite clear from the last few sneak peeks at the reboot of the iconic Marvel Comics wall-crawler, but there is sure to be some of Spider-Man's quick wit included as well. Even looking at some of this footage on a computer screen, it's already apparent that the film will have an epic scope in IMAX 3D.

C. Thomas Howell appears in the bridge sequence as the father of the boy the unmasked Spider-Man rescues following an encounter with The Lizard.  It was Howell who was the first to confirm last March that The Lizard would be the Spidey's adversary in the movie in an interview with Movieweb.

"I play a relatively small role. I play a construction worker who's son is caught in the middle of a battle between the Lizard and Spider-Man on the Manhattan bridge," he revealed.

Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days Of Summer), The Amazing Spider-Man stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Denis Leary as Captain George Stacy, Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors/ The Lizard, Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben, and Sally Field as Aunt May.

The Amazing Spider-Man swings into theaters in 3D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D on July 3rd.

SOURCES: SpiderManMovie, Movieweb

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'Avengers' Preview: Hulk Vs. Thor Behind-The-Scenes

With Marvel's The Avengers on the perch to top the $1billion mark at the international box office in the next day or two, I would assume that there are more fans out there who have seen it than those who haven't. That said, The Daily has posted an amazing behind-the-scenes ILM featurette on the Hulk with sneak peeks at many action scenes he is in from the film.

ILM's Visual Effects Supervisor Jeff White talks about the detailed multi-layered process of bringing the Hulk to the big screen and incorporating Mark Ruffalo on set to perform live in character as much as possible, despite the fact that White approximates the Hulk would weigh in between 1100-1600 pounds in real life.

There are also some cool behind-the-scenes-pictures from the face off that takes place between the Hulk and Thor. The pics show how things can look on set when complicated special effects will be added in later as director Joss Whedon and Chris Hemsworth interact with the Hulk's bald stand-in. The finished scene has all the trapping of what fans would have ever hoped to see on the big screen with the gamma rayed rage of the Hulk battling it out against the mystical powers of the Norse God of Thunder. And let's not leave Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, out of this scuffle either.

SOURCES: The Daily, Comic Book Movie

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Film Review - DARK SHADOWS ★★☆☆☆

Perhaps to no one's surprise if you have scratched your head after seeing the recent trailers and TV spots, it's kinda hard to pinpoint where exactly Dark Shadows is trying to fit into.

Based on the cult TV supernatural soap opera of the same name that ran on ABC from 1966-71 starring Jonathan Frid as the patriarchal vampire Barnabas Collins (and laying claim to the bloodsucker craze decades before Twilight, True Blood, Underworld, and The Vampire Diaries), director Tim Burton teams up with Johnny Depp on the big screen for the eighth time to provide their version of the show. It's not by definition a modern day update since much of the story is set in 1972, but there perhaps begins some of the film's quirks.

Like every Tim Burton production, the film is in no way short changed in regards to his checklist of signature features (gorgeous gothic art direction, characters bearing scant skin pigment, looming overcast skies, lavish architecture and costume design, and a rousing score by the great Danny Elfman), but it's when the film tries to find its actual identity in tone that it starts to hit some bumps in the road.

Depp stars as Barnabas Collins, a young well-to-do 18th century Brit living in Maine who finds himself cursed with a vampire's immortality and buried "alive" by his scorned lover, housekeeper (and witch), Angelique Bouchard (played by a sultry Eva Green). When Collins is dug up nearly 200 years later in 1972, he is left to find his way in the 'modern world' and make good once again his family name for whom the local town, Collinsport, was named for.

Once back among the living with his descendants who have financial woes yet still keep shop in the ancestral mansion Colinwood Manor, the fish-out-of water dysfunctional family dynamic ensues and Barnabas soon discovers his centuries ago nemesis Angelique is alive, kicking, and has maintained a monopoly on the local commerce since banishing him to an eternal grave.

Dark Shadows is a strange brew of horror, slapstick quirky comedy, and family drama all wrapped up in typical Burton-esque gothic themes. The eyebrow raising marketing set to a groovy '70s soundtrack has the film pegged as an off beat comedy, but Burton sees to it that the film also walks a line of various tones, but then crosses that line over and over throughout its near two hour running time. Additionally, much of the broad humor in the film has been revealed in the numerous trailers, leaving less to honestly laugh at when you actually sit down to see it in theaters.

While the movie is bookended by promising darker material, its the middle of the film that gets chatty with its fair mix of soap opera subplots, straight up horror moments, retro humor, visual gags, and even a campy musical montage. But the overall decision of having an 18th century vampire befuddled over dated relics like lava lamps, Troll toys, and Alice Cooper seem to limit the comedic possibilities that would appeal to a younger demographic had it been set in the present day.

The films boasts an impressive solid ensemble cast, including many players familiar to the Burton-verse. But the script doesn't quite find the time to spotlight any of them for too long until they are forced to find quick resolutions in the big finish third act. Michelle Pfeiffer (re-teaming with Burton after re-defining Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns), Chloë Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, and Eva Green all manage to deliver worthy performances in the time they have to share on screen among a large cast. The always underrated Eva Green really shines here in a standout turn as Depp's love/hate witch nemesis, but her Angie reminded me of a campy version of her stinging mystical Morgan(a) from last year's short lived King Arthur retelling Camelot on Starz.

Whether this was a Burton film or not, Depp's casting as Collins offers a solid choice to walk the mixed tone that is never quite firmly set in the film. His Barnabas is a charmer one minute, a blood sucking killer the next, but always finds maintaining a sense of strong family values at the top of his list of personal priorities. Though the man out of his time routine only goes so far, despite the charm Depp brings to the role. Jonathan Frid, who originated the iconic vampire role on the TV show, has a welcome blink and you'll miss it walk-by cameo. It goes without saying that life long Shadows fan Burton would make certain he had an appearance. Sadly, the actor passed away last month at the age of 87.

Last year's modern day Fright Night remake starring Colin Farrell pulled off a fantastic balance of horror that featured a snarky charismatic vampire, but also possessed a firm sense of confidence in embracing what it was trying to convey in tone on screen. It could be brutal in its horror violence, but its humor reflected that dark side. Shadows seems to suffer from an identity crisis at times, though the cast never flinch regarding the material and make each individual scene work. Though looking at both films overall, comparing Dark Shadows to Fright Night is the old apples and oranges debate.

Dark Shadows is a mixed bag of what you will be treated to on the big screen. As a Tim Burton production, there are all the familiar trappings you expect to see and will enjoy seeing. Those production perks do not disappoint. But overall I found it to be a bit confused regarding the who it is ideally targeting, and exactly the where it is trying to call home. But like any Tim Burton opus, if Dark Shadows comes across as a quirky misfit without a pace to fit in, then perhaps the director truly has succeeded in capturing a core theme common to all his films. 

Dark Shadows hits both 2D and IMAX screens today.

REVIEW RATING: ★★☆☆☆
Directed By: Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloë Grace Moretz

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 112 minutes 

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Joss Whedon Writes 'Thank You' Letter To 'Avengers' Fans

Following the worldwide record breaking box-office success of Marvel's The Avengers (over $744 million and counting), and the official announcement that the sequel is on the way, the film's Screenwriter / Director wrote a letter to thank the fans who have assembled in droves to see the film. Courtesy of the fansite Whedonesque.com, here is what, in typical Whedon fashion, he had to say:

"Dear Friends,

Well, it's been quite a weekend. Someday, long from now, I will even have an emotional reaction to it, like a person would. I can't wait! But before I become blinded by this "emotion" experience, there's a few things I'd like to say. Well, type.

People have told me that this matters, that my life is about to change. I am sure that is true. And change is good -- change is exciting. I think -- not to jinx it -- that I may finally be recognized at Comiccon. Imagine! Also, with my percentage of "the Avengers" gross, I can afford to buy... [gets call from agent. Weeps manfully. Resumes typing.] ...a fine meal. But REALLY fine, with truffles and s#!+. And I can get a studio to finance my dream project, the reboot of "Air Bud" that we all feel is so long overdue. (He could play Jai Alai! Think of the emotional ramifications of JAI ALAI!!!!)

What doesn't change is anything that matters. What doesn't change is that I've had the smartest, most loyal, most passionate, most articulate group of -- I'm not even gonna say fans. I'm going with "peeps" -- that any cult oddity such as my bad self could have dreamt of. When almost no one was watching, when people probably should have STOPPED watching, I've had three constants: my family and friends, my collaborators (often the same), and y'all. A lot of stories have come out about my "dark years", and how I'm "unrecognized"... I love these stories, because they make me seem super-important, but I have never felt the darkness (and I'm ALL about my darkness) that they described. Because I have so much. I have people, in my life, on this site, in places I've yet to discover, that always made me feel the truth of success: an artist and an audience communicating. Communicating to the point of collaborating. I've thought, "maybe I'm over; maybe I've said my piece". But never with fear. Never with rancor. Because of y'all. Because you knew me when. If you think topping a box office record compares with someone telling you your work helped them through a rough time, you're probably new here. (For the record, and despite my inhuman distance from the joy-joy of it: topping a box office record is super-dope. I'm an alien, not a robot.) So this is me, saying thank you. All of you. You've taken as much guff for loving my work as I have for over-writing it, and you deserve, in this our time of streaming into the main, to crow. To glow. To crow and go "I told you so", to those Joe Blows not in the know. (LAST time I hire Dr. Seuss to punch my posts up. Yeesh!) Point being, you deserve some honor, AND you deserves some FAQs answered. So please welcome my old friend and certainly not-on-my-payroll reporter/flunky, Rutherford D. Actualperson!"

A FAQ followed this letter which can be viewed at the original source via Whedonesque.com.

Up next will be his micro budget adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing featuring a cast of Whedon All Stars: Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Amy Acker (Angel, The Cabin In The Woods, Dollhouse), Fran Kranz (Dollhouse, The Cabin In The Woods), Clark Gregg (The Avengers), and Sean Maher (Firefly). The film is set to debut later this year.

Happy Star Wars Day! May The Fourth Be With You.

Happy Star Wars Day!

Star Wars fans all around the world have set aside May Fourth to honor the series because of the date's easy juxtaposition with the most famous phrase from the iconic sci-fi films. So if you happen by an unusual amount of people wearing Boba Fett t-shirts, carrying a lightsabers, or sporting a pair of furry Wookie slippers on the way to work, be sure to wish them a good day.

However, today should not be confused with May 25, which is the official observance of Geek Pride Day. That commemorates the day in 1977 when Star Wars was first released into theaters and forever changed the lanscape of big screen science fiction. 

May 25th is also known as Towel Day, in remembrance of Douglas Adams, the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, who passed away in 2001 and fans carry a towel because of the importance of the towel in the series.

But getting back to Star Wars Day, Wikipedia has a good background on the storied history of how it all came to be:

"May 4 is called Star Wars Day because of the popularity of a common pun spoken on this day. Since the phrase 'May The Force Be With You' is a famous quote often spoken in the Star Wars films, fans commonly say 'May the fourth be with you' on this day. Current day Star Wars fans were not the first to introduce the line 'May the fourth be with you': when Margaret Thatcher was elected Britain's first female Prime Minister on May 4, 1979, her party placed an advertisement in The London Evening News that said 'May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.' This reading of the line has also been recorded in the UN Parliament's Hansard."

"In a 2005 interview on German news TV channel N24, George Lucas was asked to say the famous sentence 'May the Force be with you.' The interpreter simultaneously interpreted the sentence into German as Am 4. Mai sind wir bei Ihnen ('We shall be with you on May 4'). This was captured by TV Total and aired on May 18, 2005."

"In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Festivities included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show; a costume contest with celebrity judges; and the web's best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes on the big screen. The second annual edition is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 4, 2012."

TRAILER: 'The Amazing Spider-Man" Trailer #3

Hot on the heels of the new trailer for The Dark Knight Rises debuting earlier this week, its no surprise to see a new preview for Columbia Pictures' The Amazing Spider-Man debuting online today as well. With Marvel's The Avengers hitting theaters tonight at midnight, it's been a banner week for the superhero genre on the big screen.

Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days Of Summer), The Amazing Spider-Man stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Denis Leary as Captain George Stacy, Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors/ The Lizard, Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben, and Sally Field as Aunt May.

The Amazing Spider-Man swings into movie theaters in 3D and IMAX 3D on July 3rd.

The Lizard In A Lab Coat! New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Images Emerge

While we fully expect to see a terrifying CGI enhanced reptillian villian in this summer's The Amazing Spider-Man, and we have been given sneak peaks over the last few months as to what The Lizard will actually look like on the big screen. But from the comics though, there is a not so terrifying and sometimes silly classic image engraved in the memories of fans of an upright standing lizard decked out in purple pants and a long white lab coat. 

When Spider-Man director Marc Webb was asked by MTV Splash last month on whether the lab coat will appear on The Lizard when Ryhs Ifans' Dr. Curt Connors transforms, he had this tease to offer. "That's a good question. Be patient, grasshopper," Webb said. "[Regarding] the lab coat, be patient… you won't be disappointed."

Yesterday Apple Trailers posted two new stills from the film that confirm that (in at least one scene) we will see a reference to the classic look of the Spider-Man's green scaled nemesis.

You can also check out images from the my coverage of the 2012 Toy Fair where the design of the creature was for the first time clearly put on display.

The Amazing Spider-Man is set to swing into theaters in 3D on July 3rd starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, and Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners/The Lizard.

SOURCES: Apple, MTV Splash

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