The MTV VMA's Bring Us The First Trailer to 'Divergent'

Last night during the 2013 MTV VMA's, the first sneak peek trailer for Divergent was reaveled.

Based on the trilogy of Young Adult novels by Veronica Roth (Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant), the film adaptation stars Shailene Woodley as Tris, an outsider in a dystopian future who does not fit into one of the pre-assigned classes society is grouped in to, and turns to changing her fate at any cost.

Directed by Neil Burger, Divergent  also stars Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Jai Courtney, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, Ray Stevenson, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q and Mekhi Phifer.

The film is set for 2D and IMAX screens on March 21, 2014.

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FIlm Review: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES ★☆☆☆☆

I'm a not a Yong Adult novel reader, and to my dismay I have to admit I am decades beyond that target age group. Even though the genre sometimes has more than enough sci-fi, fantasy and horror elements to base plenty of material for a site like this, the formula for these works isn't really my thing. Sure I read the entire Harry Potter series (and who hasn't, young or old), the Hunger Games successfully plays older and well enough to various age groups, Percy Jackson is what it is, but my tolerance and attention span was less than scant for the YA forbidden romanticism that anchored The Twilight Saga's big screen adaptations.

Despite that this particular work is based heavily in a fantasy genre I typically enjoy, I could not have squirmed in my seat any more sitting through the flat line cookie cutter experience that was The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

Based on the first book in the bestselling series by Cassandra Clare, the film follows Clary Fray (Lily Collins), who sees the ordinary New York City life she lives with her mother (Lena Headey) turned upside down when she becomes caught between opposing sides of an ancient world of magic, fought by gothic angels, dark demons and various evil creatures.

When Clare starts subconsciously drawing a mysterious symbol, witnesses a murder in a nightclub, and her mother (Lena Heady) disappears following an attack in her apartment, she subsequently falls under the watchful eye of hunky vampire hunter Jace Weyland (Jamie Campbell Bower) and his fellow fighters-for-good called Shadowhunters. Revealed to be a descendant of the ancient warrior bloodline, Clare holds the secret in her subconscious to the whereabouts of a mystical artifact that offers ultimate power.

In the rapidly expanding genre of young adult novels adapted for the big screen, most of the other series have a footing in making their own identity. The Mortal Instruments not only takes a broad stroke cookie cutter approach, but also throws in anything and everything it can to push it along its way.

Sure there is a big quest, demons to battle, and a grand final showdown with the big baddie Valentine (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), but the film makes no excuses, for all intents and purposes, in winging it every step of the way.  Somebody need a weapon that would be extremely convenient to use, sure its available. Need a new foe to fight in this scene? Without rhyme, reason or back story some new horrific monster appears that probably popped into the visual FX team's heads at some random moment. At the start of the film we are presented with the ancient order Shadowhunters, great an original concept, but quickly added into the mix are vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks in addition to other various creatures that can cause trouble. The screenplay runs along as if script doctor was there at every beat on set to provide the quickest and easiest fixes for any situation.

When the reluctant romance element kicks into gear, why not have set a scene in a magic garden in the film's NYC base of operations called The Institute (whose architectural grandeur also happens to be invisible to the eyes of normal humans. Hello Hogwarts?). Clary swoons for Jace, but her geeky life-long friend Simon (Robert Sheehan) of course completes the love triangle and provides for some cringe worthy romantic dialogue and moments. The movie takes heavy leads from the Twilight Saga when it concerns the two leads and both the expected and (almost) unexpected forbidden love bumps. If you don't think this is your thing, it isn't. While the film has its fair share of roll your eyes moments, it doesn't quite attain the laugh out loud high bar set by The Host.

There are also no shortage of direct cues taken from The Lost Boys, Harry Potter, Stargate and honest to God, The Empire Strikes Back. Some of these elements may not be painfully obvious to the mass of the intended younger viewers, but I was pleasantly surprised how well a throwaway Ghostbusters reference went over at my screening. Homage is one thing, but when I say the Shadowhunters keep a Stargate in the Institute (as in the movie and SG-1 Stargate), yes they really gave them a Stargate to utilize in a major plot point.

Lily Collins does her best as a reluctant one-dimensional heroine rammed head first into this supernatural mess. You would think there would be more depth written for a female lead who has an insane amount of upheaval thrush upon her. Campbell Bower plays it cold and occasionally silly at inopportune times. The Edward Cullen mold of hero is not lost here, just adding tattoos and leather for good measure in place of sparkly skin.

Clocking in at over two hours the pace surprisingly keeps moving along, but it tries to cram so much into every scene, from monsters, big effects, fight sequences, goth costumes, party scenes and romantic interludes, all it provides is even less reason to stop for a moment to explain exactly why the hell any of it is logistically happening. It manages to hit many of the familiar necessary beats you would expect from a first chapter setting up an inevitable franchise, but at the same time barely lays down a proper base coat to build upon you care about.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is soulless forgettable film fodder fit to fill in the void left in the wake of The Twilight Saga. Sadly it is hardly interested in pushing boundaries or making its own memorable mythology in the genre. Every beat of the story seems like off the cuff convenience rather than adhering to any of the thin plot parameters it has put so little thought into establishing. It is unfortunately content with begging, borrowing and re-hashing numerous familiar paths taken by other like films rather than making a leap into memorable new territory.

The Mortal Instruments: City of  Bones opens in theaters on August 21st.

REVIEW RATING: ★☆☆☆☆
Director: Harald Zwart
Starring: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Kevin Zegars, Robert Sheehan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Screenwriter: Jessica Postigo Paquette
Studio: Screen Gems
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 130 minutes

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The 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Trailer Is Online!

The trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was unveiled at Comic-Con during Lionsgate's Hall H panel Q&A with cast members Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Lenny Kravitz, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright and Willow Shields.

The film is set for a 3D release on November 22nd.

SOURCE: Yahoo! Movies

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Gary Ross Announces He Will Not Direct 'Catching Fire'

The final and official verdict is in: Gary Ross will not direct Catching Fire, the follow-up to the current box office juggernaut, The Hunger Games.

"As a writer and a director, I simply don't have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule," Gary Ross said in a statement regarding why he will not return to direct Catching Fire.

It's another hard lesson for Hollywood as the fierce competition between studios creates a mad rush to meet their announced theatrical release dates ever before all of the crucial and necessary pre-production steps have been sorted out. Too many tent pole films are set to hit theatres these days sometimes even before a director is appointed (i.e. the sequel to Captain America).

Internet rumors have been rampant over the past week concerning whether director Gary Ross would return to helm the next installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, which is set to start shooting in late summer / fall. According to Deadline a decision would be made following Easter Weekend, amid the speculation of 'will he' or 'won't he' stay on board for a franchise that he not only cultivated, but even co-wrote the screenplay with Suzanne Collins, author of the novels. 

In addition, the box office take for the first film starring Jennifer Lawrence has already amassed a worldwide box office gross of over $460 million since its release on March 23rd.

20th Century Fox and Lionsgate also recently came to a truce when it came to sharing Jennifer Lawrence's shooting schedule. While Fox has the red hot actress lined up to reprise her role as Mystique in the sequel to X-Men: First Class, Lionsgate obviously has her lock, stock, and barrel for Catching Fire (and the inevitable third Hunger Games film as well, Mockingjay).

Fox announced that X-Men would commence shooting in January 2013, freeing up Lawrence to film Catching Fire later this year.  

It is too soon to determine if Ross' departure has any affect on the Lionsgate shooting schedule. Big budget films, in theory, should have their director's involvement from the beginning, allowing them ample time to prepare, and at least put their stamp on the film. Ross' replacement now has the thankless task of not only rushing through all the countless necessary logistics to meet a pre-determined shoot date, but be expected to exceed expectations set by the first film's massive box office performance. 

Here is Gary Ross' full statement:

"Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends. 

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience."

Lionsgate, in turn, also released a statement:

"We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire. We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future."

Now let the speculation begins as to who steps in. Lest we forget that Steven Soderbergh directed some second unit scenes for The Hunger Games, but there are also numerous qualified candidates who may jump at the chance (given their availability) to take on a mammoth production set to shoot in several months. The Twilight series changed directors from film to film, with no let up in audience attendance (harsh critical reviews be damned).

Let's hope Lionsgate does not rush to that decision once again simply to meet deadlines, and keep our fingers crossed they do not have Brett Ratner's phone number anywhere near a speed dial button in their time of need.

The Nerdy Rotten Scoundrel 2012 Movie Survival Guide

2012 is here and Nerdy Rotten Scoundrel has a preview of what we can look forward to seeing on the big screen (some more than others) with this breakdown of some upcoming geektastic films. The new year will see the return of Batman, James Bond, the Hobbits, the Men In Black, and Spider-Man, lots more unnecessary 3-D, and a few sequels that fans probably really didn't demand...