Fan Rants

Entertainment Weekly has a nice chart to follow for those wondering which movies to see this summer. Me, I am using it as a big ol’ check list! (click through the image for the large version)

According to OneRing.net the AMC movie theater chain will be presenting all three Lord of the Rings films, extended cut versions. This all happens in June, hopefully at an AMC theater near you. Search over at AMCTheaters.com with the specific dates listed below.

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring – Extended Edition ~ June 14th, 2011
LOTR: The Two Towers ~ June 21st, 2011
LOTR: The Return of the King ~ June 28th, 2011

This of course coincides with the BluRay release of the extended editions on June 28th.

Related articles

• ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Extended Editions March Into Theaters This Summer (moviesblog.mtv.com)

Finally got some interesting news from Warner Brothers about the next Superman movie, Man of Steel.

Press Release from Warner Brothers:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Michael Shannon will star in the role of General Zod in director Zack Snyder’s new Superman film, titled “Man of Steel.”

“Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

Snyder stated, “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

As General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. The main cast also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.

Michael Shannon was honored with an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Shannon was most recently seen in the award-winning HBO drama series “Boardwalk Empire,” from executive producer Martin Scorsese. He will next be seen in Sony Pictures Classics’, “Take Shelter,” from director/writer Jeff Nichols.

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

“Man of Steel” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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• New Superman Movie Gets Its Villain (huffingtonpost.com)

Johnny and I attended the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle over the weekend, and we were lucky enough to catch a sneak preview of the upcoming movie “Super”, starring Rainn Wilson (who you may recognize as Dwight from the NBC show The Office). The basic plot involves Frank, a slightly depressed short order cook whose two “perfect moments” in his life involved pointing out where a mugger ran to a police officer and his wedding day. When his wife leaves him he thinks she has been kidnapped. He decides (with the help of a costumed Nathan Fillion) to become a super hero in order to save her.

I’ll be blunt; this movie is pretty graphically violent. I didn’t go into the film thinking it would be. Graphic violence doesn’t bother me too much, and honestly it’s far less violent and bloody than Kick Ass or Kill Bill. None the less, there are a few cringy moments. He uses a pipe wrench as his weapon of choice for balls sake!

Despite prominent roles for Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, and Ellen Page, this was a low budget film. While that showed in the production quality (mostly shot with one or two hand held cameras), it seemed to fit right in with the feel of the movie as a whole. The editing was lackluster at times, letting scenes linger too long, but those times were far and few between. For the most part the film flows well.

What really makes this film great is the story and the performances handed in by Wilson and Page. It felt believable, even though we’re talking about a guy running around in a costume whacking people upside the head with a pipe wrench. Who hasn’t felt like doing that?!? (On a side note, I learned that there is a guy in Seattle who puts on a costume and fights crime. Pretty fucking awesome)

In short, I give this movie a B+ and recommend seeing it when it opens on April 15. It will make an excellent tax day treat.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that producer Christopher Nolan and director Zack Snyder are zeroing in on an intriguing actor to play the villain for Superman reboot: Viggo Mortensen.  Mortensen….is said to be at the top of the list to play General Zod, the evil and super-powered scientist first introduced not in the comic books but in 1980’s Superman II. Terrence Stamp originated the role.

Holy CRAP! Okay, this has gotten me  little more pumped for the next installment of the Superman saga. I am not to keen on the casting of Henry Cavill in the red/blue tights, but a good villain always makes up for things like this. And Viggo would definately be able to pull this off. Perhaps as well as Terrence Stamp did back in the day. Heres some Zod goodness for those nostolgic people out there!