'Metallo' Hearts "Smallville" - April 16

The Vancouver-lensed "Smallville" episode "Upgrade" (#9.18) , written by Andrew Landis/Julia Swift, directed by Mike Rohl, airs Friday, April 16 on the CW, featuring the return of actor Brian Austin Green ("90210") as 'Metallo'.

'Metallo' is the DC Comics super-villain with a 'kryptonite'-infused heart.

"...'Zod' (Callum Blue) continues to pose as 'The Blur' and asks 'Lois' (Erica Durance) to investigate a secret lab, controlled by 'Tess'' (Cassidy Freeman). An explosion rocks the lab, with Lois rescued by 'John Corben' (Green) who was a subject of multiple experiments.

"While investigating the explosion, 'Clark' (Tom Welling) is exposed to red 'kryptonite', taking Zod to the 'Fortress' (of Solitude). Tess turns to 'Chloe' (Allison Mack) for help and they send in Corben to stop Clark from revealing all his secrets."

Green previously portrayed 'John Corben', aka Metallo in two episodes of the ninth season of "Smallville", debuting in the episode "Savior".

Corben is a war time reporter, who meets 'Lois Lane' and expresses his distaste for vigilantes, particularly 'The Blur" (Clark Kent).

In the following episode "Metallo", Corben is hit by a truck and wakes up with bionic additions, including a kryptonite powered matrix that replaces his heart while powering up his body.

Corben breaks out of the hospital, surging with his new implanted heart, to search for The Blur, that he blames for his sister's murder.

Corben kidnaps Lois, but Clark confronts him, trying to disable his cybernetics. When that fails, Clark heats a lead door from a nearby boiler and fixes it to Corbens chest, covering his radiating heart.

When Corben attempts to pry away the plate, he rips out his heart and dies.

Later, 'Tess Mercer' reveals she has both the kryptonite core and Corben.

Tess asks a scientist if Corben can be revived, who replies that since 'Metallo' is more machine than man, he has simply gone 'offline'...

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek 'Metallo'...

"Eastern Promises 2" Makes The Cut

According to reports, producer Paul Webster is developing a Focus Features sequel to Canadian director David Cronenberg's 2007 thriller "Eastern Promises", with actors Viggo Mortensen reprising his role as Russian gangster 'Nikolai Luzhin' and Vincent Cassel as his mob boss friend 'Kiril'.

Cronenberg will direct the new film from a screenplay by Steve Knight, the writer of the first film, exploring government agent Nikolai's further infiltration of the Russian underworld.

The original film, lensed in England, produced by Webster and Canada's Robert Lantos, follows a British midwife's interactions with Russian gangsters in London.

The thriller received three Golden Globe Award nominations, with Mortensen also nominated for an Oscar for 'Best Actor'.

Domestic box office for the film was $17,266,000, with foreign earnings of $38,839,902, totaling a worldwide theatrical take of $56,105,902.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Eastern Promises"...

"Iron Man" Perfume: He Who Smelt It Dealt It

Diesel is making-over their 'Only the Brave' bottle, containing men's fragrance, with a limited edition, clenching metal-clad hand and Diesel logo 'repulsor ray' depicting Marvel Comics "Iron Man", to coincide with the May 7 release of Paramount's upcoming comic book adaptation "Iron Man 2":

Take A Look @ "Scott Pilgrim vs The World"

Sneak Peek the new teaser trailer supporting the Toronto-lensed comic book adaptation, "Scott Pilgrim vs The World", described as "...an epic of epic epicness..."

"...Meet charming and jobless 'Scott Pilgrim' (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for totally average garage band 'Sex Bob-omb', the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally. The only catch to winning 'Ramona Flowers' (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him.

Scott has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It’s getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart’s ass—and now is back in town—to the teenage distraction he’s trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn’t been easy.
He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes control her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor. As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues’ gallery from her past—from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsome identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over..."

"Scott Pilgrim" is directed by Edgar Wright, written by Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright, based on the Oni Press Comic Book Series by Bryan Lee O’Malley.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Scott Pilgrim"...

Sneak Peek "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Sneak Peek a new international trailer for Disney's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", directed by Jon Turteltaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

The fantasy film stars Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel and Monica Bellucci.

"Apprentice" is a live action 're-imagining' of the 'Sorcerer's Apprentice' segment appearing in Disney's 1940 feature length cartoon "Fantasia", adapting the 1890's symphonic poem by Paul Dukas and 1797 ballad by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Set for release July 16, 2010, premise of the film follows an average college student (Baruchel) reluctantly recruited to work for a 'sorcerer' (Cage), who gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic, preparing him for battle against the 'forces of darkness' in modern day Manhattan.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" & "Fantasia"...

BC Film/TV Sector Stays Strong

The British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts reports that film and television production spending in the province in 2009 was $1.3 billion, an increase of more than $100 million over 2008.

According to BC Film Commission data released, a total of 239 productions were shot in BC in 2009:

-84 foreign productions, including 37 feature films, 14 television series, 24 television projects and nine animated series/projects.

-155 domestic productions including 19 feature films, 34 television series, 90 television projects and 12 animated series/projects.

While expenditures increased $100 million in 2009, there was a decrease in the total number of projects, from 239 compared to 260 in 2008.

The majority of activity was in foreign feature film production, which totalled $641 million in 2009, an increase of nearly $200 million over 2008.

Domestic production spending in BC decreased to $217 million in 2009.

Some examples of film and television productions lensed in British Columbia in 2009 include "The Twilight Saga: New Moon", "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse", "The A-Team", "Tron: Legacy", "Stargate Universe", "Caprica", "Fringe"and "Smallville".

To support the continued growth of this industry, 'Budget 2010' includes the following enhancements to film, television and digital media tax incentives:

-Production Services Tax Credit on labour costs for foreign productions increased to 33 per cent from 25 per cent.

-Digital Animation or Visual Effects tax credit bonus increased to 17.5 per cent from 15 per cent.

-Qualified BC labour expenditures cap increased to 60 per cent from 48 per cent of production costs.

-New BC Interactive Digital Media tax credit for interactive game development of 17.5 per cent of qualifying BC labour costs...

Icahn Issues Open Letter to CEO of Lionsgate

Private investor, 'corporate raider', Carl C. Icahn has issued the following letter to Jon Feltheimer, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Lionsgate Entertainment Corp., in response to Lionsgate's announcement that its board of directors had rejected the Icahn Group's previously announced offer to purchase up to all of Lionsgate's outstanding common shares for $6.00 in cash per share:

"...Attention: Jon Feltheimer, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Jon,

I found several aspects of your statement yesterday of great concern.

To say that you have exhibited a "patient, disciplined strategy of building a strong and diversified company step by step over the past 10 years" is absurd.

In actuality, most of the stock's appreciation during the decade was the result of one transaction – the acquisition of Artisan.

In the press release announcing that acquisition, Artisan CEO Amir Malin stated, "We enter 2004 with our strongest theatrical slate ever." After the acquisition, Lions Gate's stock reached a high of $11.40 on November 10, 2004. But when the pipeline acquired from Artisan ran out, for several years the stock went nowhere, and then in September of 2008 it began its precipitous decline to a low of $4.85 on February 4, 2010. I believe the stock would have continued declining if I had not acquired 1,236,938 shares between February 5, 2010 and February 11, 2010 and then announced a tender offer on February 16, 2010.

You claim that I offer no "meaningful vision", thereby implying that you have one. I cannot help but wonder why your "vision" – if so "meaningful" – never translated into shareholder value?

I believe that one of my strongest traits as an investor is that I don't personally claim to be a visionary in regard to any particular industry. I believe in finding strong managers and holding them accountable. If the stock price of a company remains stagnant for years, as it has with Lions Gate, then clearly something is wrong.

I suggest that your directors have failed shareholders. They have never taken a long hard look at this "meaningful vision" you claim to possess and have not been willing to hold you accountable for it. Instead, they have rewarded you and the rest of management with bonuses, options and golden parachutes while your shareholders have watched their stock decline.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, hand-picked boards let self-proclaimed "visionary" CEOs chase their vision indefinitely, even when years pass and their vision is clearly a delusion.

To make matters worse, I continue to fear (as I have previously expressed) that the current board will allow you to borrow billions to pursue your new "vision" of library consolidation, exhibited by your interest in acquiring MGM and Miramax. This is simply another delusion in my opinion, as library values are currently in a secular decline, never to return to cash flows seen during the heyday of DVD sales.

I believe that you are, as you should be, frustrated by the five-year stagnation of Lions Gate. But more importantly, I am fearful that you have determined to "swing for the fences" using excessive debt and risking the shareholders' equity.

The road to bankruptcy is littered with companies whose CEOs – under the banner of "vision" – have been permitted by lax board oversight to gamble their companies into oblivion.

Sincerely yours,

Carl C. Icahn..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Carl Icahn...

3D "Kitty Galore" Opens Wide July 30

Sneak Peek new posters supporting the Vancouver-lensed 3D fantasy adventure, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore".

Korean-based Stereo Pictures is converting Canadian director Brad Peyton's Disney release in 3D, to be 'unleashed' for a July 30 release.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore", a Warners, Village Roadshow production, is a sequel to the 2001 feature "Cats & Dogs". The new movie filmed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the PNE Amusement park.

Starring Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer, "Kitty Galore" was produced by Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance in association with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen.

Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, following the continuing story of "...the great battle between cats and dogs for control of the Earth...".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"...

"Call Girl" Shacks Up With Showcase

'Everyone’s favourite call girl' returns to Canada's Showcase Television with a second season of "Secret Diary of a Call Girl".

"...The life of 'Belle' (Billie Piper) is further complicated by a bubbly but clingy young call-girl-in-training named 'Bambi' (Ashley Madekwe) who she takes under her wing. While her best friend 'Ben' (Iddo Goldberg), the only person who knows about her secret life, settles into domestic bliss, Belle throws herself into her work. When she meets 'Alex' (Callum Blue), a handsome doctor who she mistakes for a client in a hotel bar, Belle becomes conflicted with the most difficult question of all – can she keep having sex for money while falling

in love?..."

"Call Girl" is inspired by the book “Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl” and by interviews with escorts.

"...Belle is 26. She charges men £300 an hour to spend time with her. Sometimes she goes for dinner with them; sometimes it’s the theatre, occasionally a holiday. But mostly she has sex with them. She is an independent, witty, arrogant young woman who feels more comfortable in the company of men than women. She loves her job. Not all of the time but most of the time. She’s made a choice in her life that she is happy with. But throughout the series this choice is tested.."

"Secret Diary of a Call Girl" airs Wednesdays at 10 PM beginning April 14, with full episodes available online @ Showcase.Ca

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Secret Diary Of A Call Girl"...

Butch Cassidy Slaps Leather In "Blackthorn"

According to reports, actor Sam Shepard will star in "Blackthorn", a sequel to the Oscar-winning 1969 feature "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", now prepping for an April start in Bolivia.

Shepard will portray real-life killer, bank robber, 'Robert LeRoy Parker' aka 'Butch Cassidy', leader of the Old West, 'Hole in the Wall Gang'.

Oscar winning Spanish film-maker Mateo Gil ("The Sea Inside") has written and will direct the sequel, featuring Cassidy in his later years, committing one last heist.

The original film, starring actor Paul Newman as Cassidy, ended with Cassidy and partner 'The Sundance Kid', gunned down by soldiers, after a botched bank robbery, near St. Vincente, Bolivia in 1908.

"Blackthorn" will reportedly show an older Cassidy who survived the shootout and lived incognito in Bolivia before planning one more, big caper.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"...

"Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Vol 1"

"Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Vol 1" is written/illustrated by comics great Bob Montana, co-creator of 'America's Typical Teen-Ager', whose quest for girls, made him 'The Mirth of A Nation'.

"...Long before Archie Andrews had to finally choose between Betty and Veronica, cartoonist and Archie co-creator Bob Montana guided Archie and his gang into a series of outlandish antics and gags on a daily basis for nearly 30 years.

"Starting with these very first strips from 1946-1948, Montana's brilliant storytelling and animated flair for humor comes to life in strips that have never been reprinted before.

"Fans can marvel at the laughable love triangle, sexy women, bumbling sidekicks and overbearing educators, and rediscover, or discover for the first time, the genius of Bob Montana..."

Click the images to enlarge...

"You Really Got Me- The Story Of The Kinks" - May 18

Voiceprint and MVD Visual report that the new DVD, "You Really Got Me - The Story of The Kinks" will be released in North America, May 18, including rarely seen Kinks' performances from the 1960's to the 1990's, with commentary from band members Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory.

Performances include "You Really Got Me", "'Til The End Of The Day", "Waterloo Sunset", "Days", "Celluloid Heroes", as well as Dave Davies hit single "Death Of A Clown".

"...Of all the British bands that broke through commercially in America who were part of the 'British Invasion' of the sixties, one band stood head and shoulders above all the others as being quintessentially English... the Kinks. Led by Ray Davies and his younger brother Dave Davies, the Kinks burst onto the music scene in 1964 with their ground breaking hit single 'You Really Got Me'. This was the band's third single and it reached number one in the UK singles chart and made the American top ten. Along with the Davies brothers the band was made up of bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory. Originally, like many other aspiring band of the early sixties the Kinks were a rhythm and blues band. Once the band broke through with 'You Really Got Me' they were off and running and further hit singles followed with 'All Day And All Of The Night', 'Tired Of Waiting For You', 'Set Me Free' and 'A Well Respected Man', all of which were written by Ray Davies..."

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