Sneak Peek "The Expendables 2": Big Enough, Ugly Enough

Sneak Peek the new teaser trailer supporting the $100 million budgeted action sequel, "The Expendables 2", directed by Simon West, starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger :

"...'Barney Ross', 'Lee Christmas', 'Yin Yang', 'Gunnar Jensen', 'Toll Road' and 'Hale Caesar', with newest members 'Billy the Kid' and 'Maggie' 'aboard -- are reunited when 'Mr. Church enlists the 'Expendables' to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries.

But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time - six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world..."

Lionsgate will distribute "The Expendables 2" August 17, 2012.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Expendables 2"...

"John Carter" Rediscovers His Humanity

Sneak Peek the new IMAX one-sheet poster supporting Walt Disney Pictures upcoming sci-fi adventure "John Carter".

Opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters March 9, 2012, the adaptation of author Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic novel tells the story of war-weary, former military captain 'John Carter' (Taylor Kitsch), who is transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions among the natives of the planet, including 'Tars Tarkas' (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating 'Princess Dejah Thoris' (Lynn Collins).

"...In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of 'Barsoom' and its people rests in his hands..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "John Carter"...

"Al Di Meola 'Morocco Fantasia'" - January 24, 2012

"Al Di Meola 'Morocco Fantasia'", will be released on DVD and Blu-ray, January 24, 2012, showcasing the 2009 concert shot @ the "Mawazine Festival" in Rabat, Morocco.

A pioneer of blending world music and jazz, going back to the Latin-tinged fusion of his 1976 album "Land of the Midnight Sun", 1977's "Elegant Gypsy" and 1978's "Casino', Di Meola's guitar stylings continue to reflect the rich influence of flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern, Brazilian and African music :

"...Al Di Meola's fantastic appearance in 2009 also represented a summit of different cultures and religions - Al Di Meola (guitar), Peo Alfonsi (2nd guitar), Fausto Beccalossie (accordion), Gumbo Ortiz (percussion), Victor Miranda (bass), Peter Kaszas (drums), and with special guests from Morocco, Said Chraibi (oud), Abdellah Meri (violin) and Tari Ben Ali (percussion). Di Meola wowed the audience with a repertoire containing not just familiar songs but also new tracks from his current album, 'Pursuit Of Radical Rhapsody'..."

Tracks include "Misterio", "Siberiana", "Double Concerto", "Michelangelo's 7th Child", "Gumbiero", "Turquoise", "Encore" and "Egyptian Danza". Bonus material includes excerpts from rehearsals, soundcheck and behind-the scenes performances.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Al Di Meola 'Morocco Fantasia'"...

Scott's "Prometheus" Challenges The Gods

Sneak Peek the first poster supporting director Ridley Scott's "Alien" prequel, "Prometheus" starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Logan Marshall-Green and Patrick Wilson :

"...A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe.

"There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race..."

Scott lensed "Prometheus" @ Pinewood Studios (UK), for Twentieth Century Fox, Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions.

"Prometheus" re-teams Scott with long-time collaborators production designer Arthur Max ("American Gangster"), Oscar-winning costume designer Janty Yates ("Gladiator"), Oscar-winning editor Pietro Scalia ("Black Hawk Down") and set decorator Sonja Klaus ("Kingdom of Heaven").

The initial draft of "Prometheus" was written by Jon Spaihts ("The Darkest Hour") from an idea by Scott, with Damon Lindelof ("Star Trek") and Scott developing the final screenplay.

"While 'Alien' was indeed the jumping off point for this project," said Scott, "out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place.

"The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien’s DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn’t be more pleased to have found the singular tale I’d been searching for, and finally return to this genre that’s so close to my heart."

Scott’s original 1979 "Alien" feature, starring Sigourney Weaver was inspired by the 1958 sci-fi horror movie "It! The Terror From Beyond Space".

That screenplay was by

Dan O'Bannon from a story by Ronald Shusett, starring Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto.

"Alien" was produced through Brandywine Productions and distributed by 20th Century Fox, with producers David Giler and Walter Hill making significant revisions and additions to the script.

The original 'Alien' creature was designed by Swiss surrealist artist H. R. Giger, while concept artists Ron Cobb and Chris Foss designed the human aspects of the film.

Scott's "Alien" received an Academy Award for 'Best Visual Effects', in addition to a Hugo Award for 'Best Dramatic Presentation'.

"Alien" was also inducted into the US National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2002 for historical preservation as a film which is "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The success of Scott's film, spawned an "Alien" media franchise of novels, comic books, video games and toys, as well as three sequel and two prequel big screen features.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Ridley Scott's "Alien"..

"Jessica's Run" Chases After "Logan"

George Clayton Johnson, co-author, with William F. Nolan of the 1967 dystopian future, sci fi novel "Logan's Run", has written a new "Logan’s Run" sequel, titled "Jessica’s Run".

"'Jessica's Run" is a true and direct sequel to the classic science fiction novel 'Logan’s Run'," said Johnson's literary rep, Whitt Brantley of the WBMT Agency.

In other "Logan's Run" news, development continues on the "Logan's Run" big screen reboot, starring Ryan Gosling ("Blue Valentine").

Producers Joel Silver and Akiva Goldsman have also attached director Nicolas Winding Refn to the project.

Screenplay for the new "Logan's Run", set in the 23rd Century, is by Alex Garland, focusing on the 'Sandman' enforcer known as 'Logan 5, who chases down anyone seeking to escape a state-sanctioned death once they reach the age of 30.

Everything goes fine for Logan, until the day he turns 30.

The original story was previously adapted into a 1976 feature starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, a spin-off TV series and a comic book series from Marvel and Bluewater Publishing.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Logan's Run"...

Universal Fleshing Out The "Daughter Of Smoke & Bone"

In another move by the studios to target young teenage girls looking for 'forbidden romance' (usually with vampires, werewolves, demons, angels), Universal Pictures, the home of the most famous monsters in filmland, reports it has acquired worldwide rights to the young adult fantasy novel "Daughter of Smoke & Bone" by author Laini Taylor, the first in a trilogy.

"...around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

"Meet 'Karou'. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real. She's prone to disappearing on mysterious 'errands'. She speaks many languages--not all of them human. And her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

"When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted 'Akiva'--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself ?..."

The second book in the trilogy will be published September 2012.

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Sacha Rules As "The Dictator"

Sneak Peek the new trailer supporting Paramount Pictures upcoming comedy feature "The Dictator", directed by Larry Charles ("Borat"), starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly and J.B. Smoove.

Cohen's fourth film "...tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed..."

Inspired by the novel "Zabibah and the King" by the late Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein, "The Dictator" follows Cohen's character, as a dictator of a middle eastern country, who is secretly replaced by a lookalike goat herder, so he can attempt to rebuild a new life on the run in New York City.

"The Dictator" opens May 11, 2012.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Dictator"...

Baruchel Punks For "The Rebel Kind"

VancouverFilm.Net reports that actor Jay Baruchel is attached to star in "The Rebel Kind", based on a memoir by author John Armstrong, aka 'Buck Cherry', frontman of the 1980's Vancouver-based band, "The Modernettes."

The film intends to chronicle the beginnings of Vancouver's emerging 'punk rock' scene.

Reg Harkema, who adapted the screenplay will direct for producers Patrick Carroll, Andria Spring and Kevin Eastwood.

"The Rebel Kind" plans to shoot in Vancouver Fall 2012.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Modernettes"...

Frears Takes Another Shot @ "The Hit"

According to reports director Stephen Frears ("Prick Up Your Ears") , screenwriter Peter Prince and producer Jeremy Thomas will reunite to remake their 1984 crime feature "The Hit", with a considerably bigger budget than the original.

Although the original film was located primarily in a remote Spanish village, Frears intends to shoot his remake in Mexico and the US.

Premise follows ruthless London gangster 'Willie Parker' (Terrence Stamp) who gives evidence against his criminal compatriots in return for a very generous offer from police.

Ten years later, Parker lives in comfortable retirement in Spain until four Spanish youths kidnap him and deliver him to two hitmen hired by the kingpin that Parker helped put away.

'Braddock' (John Hurt) is a world weary veteran, while 'Myron' (Tim Roth) is his hot-tempered apprentice. Parker quickly adopts a carefree demeanor, claiming that he's had ten years to accept death as a simple part of life.

He follows the hitmen to a safe house, where they are surprised to find 'Harry' (Bill Hunter), an Australian gangster, squatting there with his young Spanish girlfriend 'Maggie' (Laura del Sol).

The group then heads to Paris, where the kingpin that Parker testified against is waiting for his arrival...

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Hit"...