IRON MAN 2 news: DON CHEADLE to REPLACE TERRENCE HOWARD as RHODES

source: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Don Cheadle is stepping in to replace Terrence Howard in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Studios' sequel to its summer blockbuster. In the movie, Howard played Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark/Iron Man's best friend and future armor-clad hero War Machine.

Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor, who is shooting Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke.

Rhodes is expected to play a larger part in the sequel, which is rumored to go beyond high-tech villains. Justin Theroux is writing the screenplay. Jon Favreau is returning as director, and Robert Downey Jr. is expected back as billionaire industrialist Stark/Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow also is expected to be back as Stark's assistant, Pepper Potts.

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WWWHHAAAAATT?????!!!!!!
ok, Don Cheadle is a cool actor. I wouldve rooted for him to have been the one to play Rhodes in the first Iron Man movie, BUT we've accepted Terrence Howard ALREADY to play the role! It should be a closed book and a permanent thing for Howard to BE Rhodes (at least for THIS line of Favreau-Downey series) It's annoying how these little changes occur! Dammit it disrupts what should be a smooth continuity between film series. Taking DARK KNIGHT for instance; althought I loved Maggie Gyllenhall as Rachel Dawes, I frown upon the disruption of continuity between Batman Begins and Dark Knight. It just makes the series a bit less perfect. No more Norton for Bruce Banner, no more Thomas Jane for Frank Castle...NOW, there's no more Terrence Howard for Rhodes?!!! blatzing!

Body of Lies

Body of Lies
8.2 of 10
by Mark Earl Yap
Radioactive Culture

I haven't been to the theaters since The Dark Knight. That's almost three months of no new movies for me. So I went out today to watch Body of Lies. The movie was okay, I enjoyed it. But it was a step down from DiCaprio's last movies (The Departed and Blood Diamond). He did act well though, and so did the rest of the cast.

What I like about the film is the realism. This is no James Bond type of spy movie, ladies and gents, because it showcases that spycraft is a grim and an unethical business, where people are using people like dispensable tools. A good example of this is when they [DiCaprio and Crowe] made a fake terrorist group, involving a poor innocent soul in the process, just to lure out Al Salim, a leader of a jihadist group.

The movie is also non-West-centric. Unlike other spy movies, A CIA agent isn't the be all, know all, charismatic persona in this film. Although most of them are arrogant enough to think that they are. Especially Russell Crowe's character. While DiCaprio's character is an intelligent and skilled agent, he's also not the hot shit in here as he had failed numerous times. His paramour is also a local clinic nurse, covered from head to toe with a medical apron, instead of some hot blond girl in a stupendous evening gown or sweat drenched tank top (to my dismay).

All in all, the film is worth watching. It's not that great but it's enjoyable and will kick some serious sense into some viewers. Especially to those who don't know about middle-east politics, or the nature of spycraft beyond Bond films. Though I wouldn't recommend the film if you're Euro-centric cause you'd probably hate it.

Brandon Routh still flying around the new SUPERMAN movie project

DC Comics President talks about the SUPERMAN reboot and other upcoming DC comics movies
Latino Review's Kellvin Chavez was able to talk with DC Comics President Paul Levitz, who revealed that despite the overhaul of the Superman movie franchise with a planned reboot, apparently, Brandon Routh is still going to be involved in the said reboot and will reprise his role as Superman.

Levitz also mentions that the Green Lantern movie is going along well, even moving faster than the Supermax project. They are currently waiting for Chris Nolan to sign the deal with the next Batman, and that they want him to commit to a July 2011 release. If that happens then the following superhero films will be released: Green Lantern for Summer 2010, Batman 3 for Summer 2011, and the New Superman reboot for Summer 2012. [READ FULL INTERVIEW BY CLICKING HERE]

In my opinion, Brandon Routh has to watch more repetitions of the latest John Rambo movie, has to eat more pork barbecue and Red Horse (Filipino Beer), and has to listen to more Hatebreed or classic Metallica albums...before he could play a real SUPERMAN, and shed off the lousy wussy excuse of a superhero that him and Bryan Singer created.

SUPER INGGO AT ANG SUPER TROPA - The Super Inggo series returns as an animated series

SUPER INGGO AT ANG SUPER TROPA looks interesting
source: Philippine Entertainment Portal

Okay, I admit I have not watched an episode of Super Inggo. But I can only comment that despite many criticisms saying this show is a rip-off of "Sky High" or Harry Potter series, I can still see some effort of originality on this series. It also seems obvious that its cast are a young force not to be reckoned with. Well, the show may look like its over but it will actually return as an animated series.

Super Inggo at ang Super Tropa is the first collaborative project between ABS-CBN TV Production, represented by business unit head and Vice President for TV Production Enrico Santos, and the newly formed ABS-CBN Animation Department, led by business unit head Guia Jose.

Guia was part of the creative team of Optifex International, then working on projects such as the Flinstones, the Jetsons, Yogi's Treasure Hunt, the Snorks and many others. She trained at the Hanna-Barbera Studios in Burbank in 1987, and Tokyo Movie Shinsha in Tokyo in 1985 and 1986. She has worked with various reputable animation companies like TMS Philippines as head of operations, Optifex International as head of color key and mark up, Asianimation as production manager, PASI as Animation Checker and Star Animation (RNI) as managing director.
"Everything that the public loved in Super Inggo—the drama, adventure, fun—will still be here," says business unit head Enrico Santos. "But in a new, more dynamic enviroment."

This weekly anime series is a product of numerous months of hard work and dedication from around 100 people. It usually takes 18 weeks for one episode to be completed and the show is a 30-minute per episode, weekly.

The show also takes pride as one of the most successful synergized projects of ABS-CBN having its own, among others, mobile interactive games, international sales, records, and licensed products. Super Inggo at ang Super Tropa will air soon on ABS-CBN. [read full story here]

Cronenberg & Denzel take on Ludlum's "Matarese Circle"

David Cronenberg is in negotiations to direct political thriller "The Matarese Circle" for MGM.
Denzel Washington is attached to star in the film, which is based on a Robert Ludlum novel.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, book revolves around two men — one American, one Soviet — who must cooperate in order to foil a sinister plot to topple the world’s governments.
Writing partners Michael Brandt and Derek Haas ("3:10 to Yuma") penned the adaptation.

read full story here

CAPTAIN AMERICA Synopsis Revealed [news]

Production Weekly, the online publication that rounds up summaries of all Hollywood movies in production, have posted a new summary for 'First Avenger: Captain America'.

Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy's earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment… Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the 'Super-Soldier Serum' and bombarded by 'vita-rays.' Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and leader of the Avengers.

That pretty much sounds like it could have been drawn from the comics, so no major spoilers there.

Source: Production Weekly

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

HELLBOY 2: GRAND-SLAM ACTION FANTASY
By Reymundo Salao

This is going to be a spoiler review. But up front, I’m gonna say that this movie is indeed a Freakin AWESOME, and ultimately enjoyable. But if you’ve already seen this movie or if you’re not convinced yet, just read on and I will point out some details that might encourage you to watch it. Actually this movie is long overdue, and was originally released the week before The Dark Knight was released, so putting on a spoiler-free review would be pointless at this point. And let’s jump to the review proper…

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is the sequel to Guillermo Del Toro’s mildly successful HELLBOY movie which is an adaptation of the Dark Horse comicbook series by Mike Mignola. Just as much as I loved the first movie, this new one really gives me the cinematic orgasm that makes you wanna pay twice and watch it again. There are only four big movies that I was anticipating this year. 2 of them (John Rambo and The Drak Knight) have caught up to my expectations and pleased me immensely. I am glad that Hellboy 2 did MORE than my expectations. It blew me away with a hell of an enjoyable time.


Its creature features are all positively farout interesting, each and every one of the creatures here seem to serve a very important purpose and never just mere eye candy CGI material. Even the tiniest monster here is never one-dimensional. When you get to the scene where Hellboy kills the plant god; that was such a surreal and lovely moment. A sort of magical sadness that only directors like Guillermo Del Toro can deliver. Never has any other movie given such sympathetic weight to monster characters like the Plant God. And on that moment after you see Hellboy killing it, you will feel the heavy guilt he carries.

The tooth fairies are also a memorable group of creatures in this movie that gives a dose of terrifying horror. The prologue storytelling scene where we see the story of how the Golden Army came to be: THAT was a very unexpected style of art to be used to tell the story. Magnificent. And talking about creatures, The Troll Market scene stands out as one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. Never has such a multi-creature fantasy sequence that had a vision like this since The Cantina Scene in the 1977 Star Wars: A New Hope. Sure there's a sequence like this on Men-in-Black, but while that one reeks of "commercial fantasy spectacle" Hellboy 2's sequences have the aroma of genuine and sincere strangeness; one that will probably ferment well and will never be forgettable. Don’t get me started on Johann Kraus, his addition to the Hellboy cast of heroes was very impressive. This character never ceased to make me grin throughout all his scenes. And on the scene where he possesses one of the Golden Armies, I felt like standing up in a childlike hooray.


The beer scene between Abe and Hellboy was precious. It made Abe a more relatable and charming character. My only complaint is that the closing cheerfulness of the ending kinda disregarded the loss of Abe Sapien's love interest. A few more minutes of sympathizing with Abe should have been appropriate. What I also frowned upon is the lack of explanation or justification as to why Abe gave the crown piece to Nuada, even though the motive was aimed at Abe’s love for Nuala; still, they could have posed a more convincing situation why Abe will just simply and easily submit to Nuada’s will and abandon his own code of ethics.

The writing was simply on target, with enough wit to send you chuckling through most scenes of the movie. When Hellboy finds out that he's going to be a father, he says "I'm going to be Father" not "going to be A Father" I'm assuming that this is in reference to the character of Professor Broom, Hellboy's beloved surrogate father. From the first movie and the first part of the second movie, you see the close relationship between Broom and Hellboy. Hellboy loved his father so much and respected the values he has taught him, so much so that he turned his back away from his demonic destiny as the Anung Un Rama (Beast of Apocalypse). On the simple line Hellboy delivered, he was not only referring to being just a father, he was referring to becoming the person he once loved and respected; his surrogate father Professor Broom.


There are vague hints on the movie for a sequel. The Angel of Death scene reminds us that Hellboy is the Beast of Apocalypse, one who is prophesized to bring forth the end of the world. I am sure that this storyline detail will be expanded on a sequel. Most especially because Hellboy’s life is about to become far more complicated when his twin children will be born.

The cast did marvelously. Ron Pearlman, Selma Blair, and Doug Jones all did great as expected. Anna Walton as Nuala and Luke Goss as Nuada were impressive as the twin elf royalties. Jeffrey Tambor’s brief appearances also stand out. Seth McFarlane as Johann Kraus gave many of the film’s quirkily comedic scenes.


Guillermo Del Toro's creative signature style can really be seen in the movie; its creatures, its setting, and its world has the tone of Del Toro's style. Creatures like the Tooth Fairies, the Golden Army; they all look like they were designed by Del Toro. Del Toro's style blends perfectly well with Mike Mignola's creation. Their creative chemistry is as perfectly matched as Frank Miller and Bob Kane on Batman.

HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY is truly the year’s most enjoyable movie. Superior both as a crowd-pleasing movie and a critic-pleasing movie. It’s movies like this; with its monsters and its thrills that you really wanna watch on the big silver screen. I, for one, will be paying to watch it again this weekend. See you there.

.MOV film fest movies are showing this week at Robinsons Movieworld Iloilo

.MOV (pronounced "dot-mov"), the first digital filmfest in the Philippines which jump started the digital revolution in the country back in 2002, will have its third edition in Robinsons Galleria Cinema and also here in our very own Iloilo Robinsons Movieworld from October 1 to October 7, 2008.

The 3rd .MOV International Digital Film Festival, headed by festival director Khavn De La Cruz has six major sections consisting of foreign and local full-length and short films, tributes, workshops, film concerts, and after parties. The motto for this year's festival is "Blind The Eye Of The Storm"--losing sight of the limits and controls that plague cinema, so that we can stare at our infinite possibilities as a culture. You can scroll down to see the schedule.