FILM: Snow White and the Huntsman Teaser Trailer + Poster (News)

Fans of fairytales, be it by Disney or elsewhere, should get ready for a few live-action reimaginings in 2012 surrounding the story of Snow White. First up is Universal's entry, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN.

Directed by Rupert Sanders in his first gig helming a feature film and starring Kristen Stewart (TWILIGHT) as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth (THOR) as the Huntsman, and Charlize Theron (SWEET NOVEMBER) as the Queen.

Synopsis:

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN finds its way into theaters on June 1, 2012.

GAMING: Grand Theft Auto V Trailer (News)

Video game fans have reason to be excited as Rockstar Games recently unveiled their next game of the GTA franchise, GRAND THEFT AUTO V.

The trailer for the officially labeled fifth game, not counting the various spinoffs that have come out over the years (Vice City, San Andreas, etc) reveals that the game is set in the fictional Los Santos, a previously featured city in the San Andreas game that is based off modern Los Angeles.


GRAND THEFT AUTO V looks to be headed toward a 2012 release.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Cars 2 (Review)

Cars 2
2011 - Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on November 1, 2011

# of Discs: 5 (3D Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray x 2, DVD & Digital Copy)
Runtime: 106 Minutes

Star race car and four-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) finds his time at home in Radiator Springs away from the race track cut short when his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) gets him involved in an international racing series, the World Grand Prix.

However the race to the championship is not the only thing on their minds as Mater finds himself mixed up with international espionage, meeting two British secret agent cars, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), who are investigating a plot to sabotage the race.

While the trailers focused on the spy action of the movie, I was happy to see some time spent in Radiator Springs and its residents, albeit briefly. The global span was really felt as the movie went along, further developing the world of Cars and the real world translations that comes with it. Tokyo, Japan was the location of the first race and the assortment of cultural traits came along for the ride, from drifting cars to geisha cars and the bright lights of the city.

Then a shift in environs comes as the second race of the World Grand Prix is staged in Italy, and again in the third race that is located in England and each culture is clearly represented with scenes at villas and an inclusion of a few royal guards amongst the assortment of inclusions.

Blu-Ray is put to great use when it comes to animation, and action-packed films, and for Disney Pixar to combine the two lead to a non-stop visual bonanza that really sucked you into the story and the characters without a struggle.

CARS 2 was not only packed with great visuals, exciting action and fun comedy, but also plenty of special features a viewer can get lost in. Throw in the Toy Story short 'Hawaiian Vacation', where the toys create a vacation experience for a left behind Ken and Barbie, and a Cars short 'Air Mater', that continues the tradition of short, funny Cars shorts and helps introduce the world of Planes along with the teaser trailer that is also a part of the extras.

This movie surpassed my expectations and renewed my trust in Disney Pixar making quality films above anything else and the Blu-Ray release is the perfect way to watch the movie. The visual quality leaps above the previous Cars film and the tone is different as well but the nice blend of action, drama and comedy help push Lightning McQueen and Mater across the finish line once again. Give it a chance if you have yet to.

Look to buy the CARS 2 3D 5-disc Blu-Ray combo over at Amazon for $41.94.

FILM: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol Trailer (News)

A fourth foray into the espionage world with MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL brings back the character of Ethan Hunt to the big screen, once again with a mostly new set of faces on his team to fix what has gone wrong.

Starring Tom Cruise (WAR OF THE WORLDS) as Hunt, the film also brings back Simon Pegg (STAR TREK) as Benji Dunn from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III, and introduces to the series Jeremy Renner (THOR) as William Brandt and Paula Patton (PRECIOUS) as Jane Carter. Also this is director Brad Bird's (THE INCREDIBLES) first live-action film.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL opens in IMAX screens on December 16, 2011, with preview footage of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in front of it on 70mm screens, and then hits regular theaters on December 21.

FILM: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Trailer (News)

Next in line for movie adaptation from the vast library of Dr. Seuss, following the likes of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, THE CAT IN THE HAT, HORTON HEARS A WHO! is DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX, a cg animated film from Universal coming out in early 2012.

THE LORAX stars Zac Efron (CHARLIE ST. CLOUD) as the voice of Ted, an idealistic young boy living in Theed-ville who the story centers around. Taylor Swift (VALENTINE'S DAY) gives voice to the girl of Ted's dreams, Ed Helms (THE HANGOVER) plays the reclusive Once-ler and Danny Devito (LA CONFIDENTIAL) is the Lorax and the film is being directed by the team of Chris Renaud (DESPICABLE ME) and Kyle Balda.



Synopsis:

The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX illuminates theaters on March 2, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Booster Gold #45 (Review)

Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
Cover: Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The second week of June brought several contenders for the top of my weekly comic stack. DC continued its Flashpoint presence and had a few intriguing titles like several Green Lantern movie prequel books and FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN CREATURES OF UNKNOWN #1, which gave off heavy Hellboy vibes.

I am not a fan of Marvel's direction with Ultimate Spider-Man but the newest issue of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, #624 continued to deliver superb story and art. And from the smaller companies, I thought MEGA MAN #2 from Archie Comics was another solid issue.

But in the end it was the presence of Flashpoint that seduced me and led to BOOSTER GOLD #45 being the book that finished on the top of my stack. The great Dan Jurgens has been the main creative force behind the book for now his second issue after being away from the title for awhile.

As Booster Gold learns more about the new world he has found himself in, he has unfortunately been labeled as an Atlantean by the military and continues to be attacked by the controlled monster Booster remembers by another name, Doomsday.

What I enjoyed about the issue was the detective work Booster did and the conclusions he was able to come to on his own about Professor Zoom and the time stream being why the world is like it is. And to end on the situation created when Booster got help from his Greek lady friend, who unknowingly disabled the military's control of Doomsday, leaving Booster to face a monster unleashed in the next issue.

Jurgens has been connected to Booster Gold for a long time so seeing his art on the book and character again feel like this is how the character is meant to look and read. The action scenes looked great and there was a constant variation in the use of angles to present how the story was unfolding for Booster and the rest.

I have been encouraged by how this title has embraced Booster's role as the unsung hero, and I am looking forward to finding out how he looks to solve the problem of Flashpoint or at least play a part in how it wraps up. A solid issue.

FILM: Star Wars - Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D Trailer (News)

The era of remastering films into 3D for a re-release run in movie theaters really begins to hit its stride in 2012 as one of the big film franchises, Star Wars steps into the 3D circle with the scheduling of STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D.

Directed by George Lucas, the 1999 film has an all-star cast: Natalie Portman (BLACK SWAN) as Queen Amidala of Naboo; Liam Neeson (TAKEN) as the wisened Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn; Ewan McGregor (BIG FISH) as the loyal Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi; Samuel Jackson (PULP FICTION) as authoritative Jedi Master, Mace Windu; Ray Park (X-MEN) as Darth Maul.

And there are some returning Star Wars actors from the first trilogy: Ian McDiarmid (RETURN OF THE JEDI) as Senator Palpatine, Anthony Daniels (A NEW HOPE) as C3PO, Kenny Baker (A NEW HOPE) as R2-D2 and Frank Oz (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) as Yoda.


STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D hits theaters in a galaxy far, far away on February 10, 2012.