Can’t say you’re surprised, can you? Avatar quickly became the best selling Blu-ray of all time after just four days on store shelves. 2.7 million Blu-ray copies were sold in North America alone, smashing the previous record of 2.5 million units sold by The Dark Knight. For a Blu-ray set that includes no extra features, I’d say this is quite the feat. Click here for more information about the future releases (w/ extra features, 3D support, etc.).
[Via Engadget]
This is an expert from the book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space. In it astronomer Carl Sagan talks about the the famous picture of the Earth, our “pale blue dot” taken by Voyager I on February 14, 1990. The short film adds a layer of classic movie scenes to the narration; it was put together by David Fu. Really puts things into perspective. We are but a speck in the vastness that is the universe.
[Via Gizmodo]
“Shall we play a game?”
That’s the eerie question this aged personal computer asked David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) in the classic 1983 film WarGames. The IMSAI 8080 is the computer Broderick used to connect to the defense department’s W.O.P.R. supercomputer. He thought he was playing a game about global thermonuclear war, but in reality he was bringing the world ever so close to nuclear devastation. The IMSAI 8080 has been perfectly preserved since it was used as a prop in the movie. Currently appraised at over $25,000 it is about to be sold on the market. Whoever manages to win the Ferrari from Ferris Bueller should try to snag the IMSAI 8080 and create a next-generation KITT. Wouldn’t that be something? Check out a recent photograph of the device after the break.
OK, did you take that all in? Good.
According to Deadline, Buffy the Vampire Slayer–Dollhouse–Firefly–Serenity–Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog creator Joss Whedon is in “final negotiations” to direct Marvel Studio’s mega-sequel The Avengers! Whedon has been rumored to helm the massive superhero flick for some time now, and I can’t believe the stars are aligning. The Avengers will bring together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Edward Norton), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), SHIELD leader. Others are expected to join, too. Thor and Captain America will be introduced in their own movies sometime next year. The Avengers is on track to hit theatres May 2012.
[Via Deadline]
Although there is still eight grueling months left until Tron: Legacy hit theatres, Disney is already looking way into the future. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Lost writers and the duo who penned the script for Legacy) have been hired to write a new script for a sequel to the sequel. There is no word if Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and cast members (Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde) will return, though their contracts stipulate sequel options, so we should find out soon enough. Tron: Legacy opens December 17. Watch the trailer again. Just do it.
[Via DigitalSpy]
Ten minutes of classic Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes. What else could you ask for?
[Via NYMag]
The Hangover 2 is a done deal. The script is underway and the film will be directed and produced by The Hangover director Todd Phillips. Warner Bros. recently signed a deal to bring back the three stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis. The actors will be getting $5 million each for their roles in the sequel (they received $1 million combined in the first film). But then again, The Hangover made $467 million dollars worldwide, and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. All we know what the plot is this: it will not take place in Las Vegas again. Rumors swirled that it would be set in Thailand, but Phillips shot that down. Shooting begins November 1 with an expected release during Memorial Day weekend in 2011.
So where have Harold & Kumar been lately? John Cho (Harold) has been working hard at Agent Demetri Noh on ABC’s FlashForward and Kal Penn went from playing doctor on FOX’s House to working along President Obama as associate director of the White House Office Of Public Engagement. Cho and Penn have decided to team up for a third time to make A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas. It will be a Christmas-themed adventure, with pot of course. Neil Patrick Harris is expected to reprise his role (didn’t he die in the last one?). New Line Studios confirmed that Todd Strauss Schulson will direct (creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg penned the script but are moving on to direct American Pie 4, see below) and it’s being contemplated whether or not the film will be shot in 3D. Shooting starts this summer and it’s slated to hit theatres Christmas 2011.
As noted above, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have signed on to write and direct American Pie 4, the first Pie movie to hit theatres since American Wedding in 2003. Though no deals have been made yet, the entire cast from the original trilogy is expected to come aboard for the “reboot.” They include: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge, Thomas Ian Nichols, and Chris Owen. Pie proved to be a lucrative franchise with its original movies and the four direct-to-DVD films. The plot is being kept under wraps for now and release info has not been disclosed.
You know the drill: another Halloween, another Saw movie. Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures confirm Saw VI director Kevin Greutert will reprise his directorial role. Also, the move will be shot in 3D, hence the title, Saw VII 3D. No plot details, but come on now, you know what to expect: blood, guts, and more blood–now in mind-boggling 3D! Saw is being pitted directly against Paranormal Activity 2; they both release on October 22 later this year.
[Via ReelzChannel; EW, here & here; Newsinfilm; THR; IGN]
Freakin’ hilarious. Opens May 21.
Paranormal Activity 2 is starting to come together. Writer and director of the original film Oren Peli posted a note to the film’s website sharing news that a new director has been chosen for the sequel. Kip Williams (The Door in the Floor) got the job. Peli says: “Kip is the guy we want at the helm, because he knows exactly what we want to deliver to the fans.” Peli will remain on the team as a writer and producer, and Michael Perry is set to pen the screenplay. Production starts in May and if all goes as planned, Paranormal Activity 2 should hit theatres right before Halloween on October 22. Any plot details, you ask? Tight-lipped Peli has this to say: “I don’t want to spoil the story but I promise it will surprise you. Stay tuned.”
[Via EW-PopWatch; ParanormalMovie]
Ah, Kick-Ass just kicked it up a notch. Meet “Hit Girl” in this Red Band trailer. She’s a swearin’, action drivin’ ten-year-old super hero who knows no limits. Enjoy.
Kick Ass, which might just turn out to be the best super hero movie ever, hits theatres April 16.
The Internet is ablaze with excitement over the debut trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Comic book fans especially are drooling over this graphic novel adaptation for film. Scott Pilgrim is a comic book series authored and illustrated by Bryan Lee O’Malley and published by Oni Press. The first volume was released in 2004 and the fifth and final volume, Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour, will release later this year alongside the movie. The series follows “23-year-old Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker, hero, and part-time bassist who is living in Toronto and plays bass guitar in the band “Sex Bob-Omb.” He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona V. Flowers, but must defeat her seven “evil exes” in order to date her.” And that is exactly what the movie is about. The trailer begins with the question: “Have you ever met someone you love so much it hurts?” Then it introduces Scott Pilgram (Michael Cera), his crush Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and the seven evil exes who include a telepath (Brandon Routh), a skateboarder with a powerful punch (Chris Evans), and Flower’s former college roommate (Mae Whitman). There’s plenty of comic book combat for everyone.
Directed by Edgar Wright (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World hits theatres August 13.
[Via TrailerAddict; MTV News; Wiki]
