the movierats.com

Comingsoon Reports:

“Rick Yune has been cast as the antagonist in Ninja Assassin, the Wachowskis-produced action film James McTeigue is directing for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter. Joel Silver is producing via Dark Castle, while Grant Hill is producing. Yune joins the previously-announced Naomie Harris as the female lead and the newly-added Ben Miles. The martial arts extravaganza stars Korean actor-singer Rain, who also appears in the siblings’ Speed Racer, as a man brought up in an orphanage functioning as a ninja farm. The man turns his back on his tradition to make his way in the modern world, which brings him into conflict with a ninja (Yune) from the clan. “Not to give too much away, (but) my character stays within what he was brought up with, and they go up against each other,” Yune said. “I’m not a heavy. The characters are ninjas, they are assassins, and there’s this mix of morality the Wachowskis are exploring.”

Cinematical Reports:

“It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about the promised sequel to Neil Marshall’s The Descent, and fans of the film who rolled their eyes at the initial announcement may have gotten their hopes up. But no: the sequel is still going forward with Descent editor Jon Harris making his directorial debut, and James Watkins (My Little Eye), who had nothing to do with the first film, writing the screenplay. The new info is that Shauna McDonald and Natalie Mendoza, who played protagonists Sarah and Juno, will reprise their roles in the sequel. The cast will also have some Y chromosomes this time around, in the form of Gavan O’Herlihy, Joshua Dallas and Douglas Hodge.”

I have heard a lot of good things about the original descent film but I still have not gotten the chance to see it. I don’t get why it needs a sequel. It was well enough recieved and did well in the box office I suppose and I feel that it should just be left alone. I guess I should actually see the film to give my full opinion.- Movie Rat Mike

Yahoo Reports:

With “Iron Man” set to explode this weekend, the next question for producer Marvel Entertainment is: What now? Marvel likely won’t be releasing any movies in 2009, as the studio would have to be in pre-production now to make a summer date but isn’t, mainly because of fears that Hollywood’s actors will go out on strike in the summer. The studio’s next project is expected to be announced on an earnings call Monday, with “Avengers,” “Ant Man” and “Thor” the favorites. (”Captain America” is a prime property but is perceived as a tough sale overseas.) Some question whether the Marvel characters waiting in the wings have the appeal of previously licensed characters like “Spider-Man” and “The X-Men.” But Marvel president David Maisel said the key ingredient to make a film successful isn’t “more well-known or less well-known characters but tender-loving care.”

Well, for a while now “Marvel” has been doing terrible superhero films like “Ghost Rider” and “The Fantastic 4″ films and I have been looking down at them for a while now. Now, with “Iron Man” I am hoping that they are going to handle these future films like that one. I think that it is more interesting to do more less known characters. I mean everyone knows “Batman” everyone know “Spider-man” but some may not know of “Ant-Man”. I really like the suggestions that they announced and hope thay give it the same care as “Iron Man”- Movie Rat Mike

Well, when they released the teaser trailer for the new Will Smith superhero comedy “Hancock” I just thought it looked okay. I was never really excited for it and I just did not get why people were getting excited about it. Well, they have just released the new (And long) trailer for the film and I have gotta say…I am friggin excited for this film now. It looks VERY funny and I was just completely blown away. Check it out.- Movie Rat Mike

/film Reports:

“At the Hollywood premiere of Iron Man, Viacom/CBS Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone and Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey told Entertainment Tonight that if the movie does as well as expected, Paramount will greenlight a sequel for the same week in 2010. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader already holds claim to the “first weekend of the summer” (May 7, 2010), but Iron Man 2 could easily open a week earlier on Friday, April 30th 2010 if all goes well.”

I absolutley LOVED “Iron Man”. It is indeed the best superhero movie since 2005’s “Batman Begins”. If you have seen the film then you should know exactley why this film needs a sequel. Robert Downey Jr. was excellent and I would love to see him reprise his role as Tony Stark. So lets do this let’s see this puppy get greenlit.- Movie Rat Mike

Okay, i’ll bite. When the first “High School Musical” TV movie came out I was actually very happy that the Disney channel had finally done an above average film. The thing that annoyed me was all the unecessary hype that surrounded it. The they released the very dull sequel which I was hopikng it was over. Well, now they are releasing the third installment in theatres and this is good and bad. The good news is that it WILL make a lot of money there is no doubt about that. But it is just getting annoying and it needs to stop. Cinematical gives us the scoop on the plot.- Movie Rat Mike

“This one hits the big screen on October 24th, and it marks the return of all your favorite High School Musical-ers like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. From the official synopsis: “High School Musical 3: Senior Year finds high school seniors Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) facing the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges.”

It has been about a month since we updated and I feel very bad about all this. It’s just I have just not been interested in blogging for a while. I also have a lot of other stuff going on on my plate so I really wish to apologize and hope that we can start fresh so…yes I am so sorry- Movie Rat Mike

I have really been waiting to see some images of this film and I am VERY happy that they look great. Thank you Cinematical for posting up two new character shots from the new film “The Spirit”. I simply just love how these pictures look. They have great colors, a very stylized look, and I digging the costumes. I am really excited to see the trailer now. Check out these new pictures.- Movie Rat Mike

Variety Reports:

Natalie Portman is attached as the lead in a new film version of “Wuthering Heights.” U.K. production company Ecosse Films, whose projects include “Mrs. Brown,” “Becoming Jane” and the upcoming “Brideshead Revisited,” is backing the pic. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales.Olivia Hetreed (”Girl With a Pearl Earring”) wrote the script. Up next for Portman is a turn opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire in Jim Sheridan’s “Brothers.” The most recent bigscreen adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic matched Ralph Fiennes with Juliette Binoche, but the Paramount release grossed just $624,643 in 1989.The definitive film take remains William Wyler’s 1939 version starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, which earned eight Oscar noms.

A new trailer has been released by Columbia of the new Anna Faris comedy “House Bunny”. I know a lot of people who will go nuts about this film because a lot of people I hang out with love movies like “Legally Blonde” and various teen comedies that resemble this. And good for them. I like to see them excited for something. This is not my kind of movie though. I don’t know. but I have never been able to get into these types of movies. I simply just never had. But what do you think of it. Do you think it has potential.- Movie Rat Mike

Now a new “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” poster was released todsy but it was later shown that it was simply an exact copy of the “Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade” teaser poster just with an alternate Jones and other minor details. But here is the thing. Even though it is a fake I really like this. I would even like to buy this poster. It really does bring me back to classic Indiana Jones and that is just what I want this new film to do. So in that sense this is why I really love this poster and I think it is a shame this could not be a studio release. Check out the fake and the Indy 3 poster to compare. Movie Rat Mike

Now Compare

Variety Reports:

“Universal Pictures Intl. has acquired the overseas distribution rights to “This Side of the Truth,” a comedy written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson. Gervais stars as a storyteller who lives in a world where nobody lies; he patents the fib and uses it to become a star. Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K. star; Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman and Jonah Hill have supporting roles. Pic marks Gervais’ feature film debut after creating hit series “The Office” and “Extras.”

YES! finally something to help me cope with the “Day The Earth Stood Still” Re-make news. Ever since Ricky Gervais announced that he was doing this film I was just so pumped to see it. I absolutley love everything about it. It has a very fun and original story that sounds hilarious. It has one heck of a cast. And Ricky Gervais…Nuff said. I am so glad that they will be releasing this film internationally now. Ricky Gervais is simply comedic gold and I am so glad that the world will be able to see him now. A toast to Universal.- Movie Rat Mike

Well, I love animation but recently nothing, except Pixar, has wowed me. So does this new movie “Space Chimps” from Fox and Stars animation wow me…Well, not really. I thought the idea of an animated film about chimps in a nasa project would be a good idea for an animated film but in this trailer I found all the jokes unfunny. The animation is not really that good. I still love the story though but to me it feels like it will be this years hoodwinked. I do however like the work of Patrick Warburton who plays the captain ape in this film and he seems like he will do good. But, hey thats just one guys opinion. What do you guys think of this new trailer for “Space Chimps”.- Movie Rat Mike

The Hollywood Reporter Reports:

“After a bidding war among four studios, Universal has picked up “Earth vs. Moon,” a pitch from scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, for Scott Stuber to produce. The deal was in the mid- to high-six figures. The plot details for what is being described as a sci-fi epic are being kept under wraps. The acquisition marks the first for Stuber since the departure of partner Mary Parent, who last month became chairman of MGM’s motion picture group. Stuber is production on “The Wolf Man,” starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins and being directed by Joe Johnston.”

Huh, I really like when I hear studios fighting over a project. It usually means that itis very unique or profitable. I am very interested in the film just by the title “Earth Vs. Moon” it really just makes your mind jump with all the possibilities that may happen or what it could be about. What do you think. Do you think it could be ineresting.- Movie Rat Mike

Moviehole Reports:

“It would appear things aren’t going so well for the film, being as Uncapie was so distraught over the script he threw it against the wall while reading it. You can check out the whole story here. Here are some highlights: A robot is in the film but its nothing like “Gort.” It’s called the “Totem” and apparently walks around on all fours, shoots a death-ray and stands upright like a totem pole when its finished. (LAME) The immortal words, “Klaatu Barada Nicto” are never uttered. Ever”

I…I…just don’t know what to say. This is very terrible news. I am a huge fan of the original film. I absolutley love the film and when they said that they were going to make a re-make of the film I was thrilled not upset. And thought it was one of those films that would translate well into modern times. The thing that makes me most mad about this is that they are taking every thing I love about the original and tearing it to shreds. This movie deserves a worthwhile re-make but these changes just make me wonder WHY? I know re-makes are not usually good but they had a chance with this one and I guess they are just going to let it pass by.- Movie Rat Mike

Slashfilm has been given to new images for the film “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull”. And even though every little bit of news excites me for this movie. I just am starting to get sick of Shia LaBeouf character Mutt Williams he seems to be the center of all this more than…um…let’s see…who is bigger than Shia in “Indy 4″. I really like Shia as an actor but lets focus elsewhere for this film. Buy, some of these are some pretty good pictures if you love Shia if you are looking for more in depth pics those I am sorry to disappoint you but this is all thats getting released at the moment.- Movie Rat Mike

Cinematical has posted three new posters for the new war comedy film “Tropic Thunder”. Now when I saw the trailer for this film I was not that impressed at all by the film. But I do seriously love the cast of the film. Sure, these are just character posters but that is the one thing I love about the movie so far. You can see the posters below.- Movie Rat Mike

IMDB Synopsis: Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Comingsoon Reports:

“MTV says that former “Daily Show” correspondent Rob Corddry has snagged the role of press secretary Ari Fleischer in Oliver Stone’s upcoming presidential biopic, W. Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, Thandie Newton and Ioan Gruffudd were previously cast as George W., George Sr., Laura, and Barbara Bush, as well as Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair, respectively.”

HorrorMovies.ca Reports:

“LionsGate / Maple Pictures emailed me last night to let me know that Midnight Meat Train will not get a theatrical release. It will be going straight to DVD despite all the fan buzz and hype for its release. This is despite earlier reports that it would be in theatres this May. Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura makes his North American debut with Meat Train, Kitamura’s previous credits include Versus, Godzilla Final Wars, & Azumi. “

Well, this sucks. I have not seen a good old fashion slasher film in forever and it seem like we were due for a new one. Well, at least the movies being made. But I will only be able to view it on the small screen. It does make me think about the film more. Like the quality of the film. From what I had seen it it seemed very good. I am still probably going to pick it up but now I am a little nervous.- Movie Rat Mike