I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

Hello, blog-readers! It has been far too long.

To make a long story short, the summer got very interesting after July 16, with trips to California and Philadelphia. . . I won't go into specifics, but just this: if you are about to meet your idol, try not to shake so much beforehand, so that after you've shook his hand, you can at least remember something you told him.

Moving on.

To celebrate my sixtieth post -- and a celebration for my returning to the Movie Experiment -- allow me to share with you all the first-ever trailer for the Green Lantern!!!!!!! Starring People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, Ryan Reynolds!!!!!!!!!

Check back later for some updates, including:

This Year's Oscars coverage, including Best Picture contenders

The Tourist

Blog-postings aimed at individual topics and actors, including: Natalie Portman, Tom Hardy, The Great Gatsby, Rooney Mara, Cowboys & Aliens, and more!

--Claire

Tomorrow Is It!

I'm seeing Inception tomorrow at 2:45 p.m., catching the last matinee showing.

And I'm so excited!

What previews will I see beforehand? Trust me, I'll let you all know!

So. . . since I don't know anything about this movie, here is a list of questions that I'm hoping it will answer (and I'm sure they'll be answered, but still): Answers I'm Dying To Know:

1. What role does Ken Watanabe play? Marion Cotillard?

2. How does Leonardo DiCaprio know Ellen Page? She's like 20, he's like 35. Are they coworkers? Friends? Relatives? Because I cannot accept the possibility that they date.

3. Why are they all in suits?

4. Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt a bad guy? (I shudder to think!)

5. What does Inception mean, anyway?

6. Is Leonardo DiCaprio a bad guy? (Because that would be interesting.)

7. Why are the buildings collapsing?

8. What is it all about, anyway?

And here is something else that I find WAY interesting:

August 16, 2009: Go to see (500) Days Of Summer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt

July 16, 2010: Go to see Inception, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Um, is this not abso-freakin'-lutely the craziest thing ever? If Inception is good (which, how can it NOT be?) then I am proclaiming JGL to be the next big summer star.

AND one more thing:

Inception

The Dark Knight

The Prestige

Memento

Following

All Christopher Nolan movies, all 3 syllables! Cool, right? And those are like, 5 out of 7 films of his (Insomnia and Batman Begins).

Can't wait! This has been by far, one of the longest weeks of my life.

Casting News

Not really, but whatever. (I am honestly too excited for Inception this Friday to write a respectable posting. . .)

So Edward Norton won't be the new Hulk. Guess who might be?

Mark Ruffalo!

I was once going to devote an entire posting on how much I love Mark Ruffalo and how universally likeable the guy is. I don't know why I never did it. Maybe I will now?

I think I would see him as the Hulk. I think it's a little too soon, but if push comes to shove I might go see Mr. Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (that is the guy's name, right?). What do you guys think?

In other casting news, Tom Cruise (or his people, at least) have confirmed that he's up to playing Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible IV.

Um, is Tom Cruise even relevant anymore? How many people went and saw Knight & Day? Am I the only one who thinks it's time he tried a different profession? And he can keep it in Hollywood, too -- I think it's about time the man tried directing something. Enough with being on camera; I'd like to see him off it.

So that's my casting news. And Spencer Pratt somehow wound up near the Inception premiere last night while The Hills after-party was going on. . . I can't wait!!!

Question of the night: Should I see the midnight viewing of Inception, or wait like most normal people and see it as regularly scheduled, on Friday? Thoughts?!

Edward Norton. . .

So they've made an announcement that Edward Norton will not be playing the Hulk in the Avengers movie. You know, the one with everybody.

Frankly this kind of annoys me. Like, you sign up to play a pretty popular/at least, well-known superhero in comic-book world and then you drop him like a hot potato. Maybe I'm taking this too far, but Ed Norton is letting me down! And I like him!

So who's going to play the Hulk? Definitely not Eric Bana. I swear, if they ask him -- or, dreadfully, he says yes -- then it only proves that something is wrong with our planet.

I mean, it was one thing to have Maggie Gyllenhaal to play Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight when Katie Holmes played her in Batman Begins. The news of the casting aggravated me, yes, but once I saw the movie I was like, Okay. This'll work. She's not Batman; she's a love interest. Fine.

But Norton is the Hulk! (Frankly, I can't remember if that movie got any good reviews, but Norton's a fine actor and I personally like it when "serious" thespians take on roles that usually go to less-than-serious actors.) He redefined the role! The role, the character, of a man who turns into a green giant could be cliche, stupid, and altogether campy, but somehow he pulled it off. I took it seriously.

So what does this mean for the Hulk franchise? EW.com is compiling a list of "potential" Hulks -- I didn't click on the link, but beside the headline is a small picture of Matthew Fox. I don't know. Maybe.

How does anyone else feel about this? I think Sam Worthington would make a good Hulk -- but he's been in so many big budget movies (so quickly for his career, too) that I think it would be more beneficial for his career if he started doing more indie films. Anyway.

So, any more Hulk potentials? Joss Whedon is writing the Avengers movie -- maybe if he handpicks someone I'll feel better. Because I trust Mr. Whedon (see: Firefly, Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog).

The Hills series finale tonight! Inception is only a few days away! Can't wait!

Summertime Movies!

Well, folks, I picked up the newspaper today and read yet another thing about Inception. So this means absolutely NO Entertainment Weekly for actual movie business-related posts.

I know, I'm sad, too. But by now I am forming a very general (I repeat, it's very loose, but still) idea about what the movie is about, and although I still don't know I really need to watch what websites I go to.

So, here's my idea: Summer is the best time for movies. Why?

Because they're on all the time. And I'm not just talking pay-for-theater-movies. I am talking about regular TV.

When I was younger one summer I started writing this letter to a friend I had lost touch with, telling her all about the movies I got to see. There were like 30 of them and it was all in the summer! I am telling you, summer has got to be the best season ever.

So how many movies do you think you have seen so far, blog-readers? And these can be movies you've already seen. If you ask me, I'm going to say around 30 -- 40?

Emmys!

So, I think I'll do my commentary by category. First up: Outstanding Drama Series!

What's up with snubbing Grey's Anatomy? The two-hour finale is one of the finest two hours of television I have ever seen. Months later and still, just thinking about it gives me shivers. Still, I'm glad to see Lost is there -- it's got my vote! I think it's going to win. And really, what a bittersweet way to end the six-season long show.

As for actor and actress, still no Grey's, but I would've bet a nickel for Timothy Olyphant's name on the list for Justified. So many people liked him in that! But MATTHEW FOX -- again, I'm rooting for Lost all the way. Actress. . . don't really care, I don't watch any of those shows.

Supporting Actor and Actress -- so glad to see more Lost action, but again, I don't watch any of the Supporting Actress shows! If anything, I'd put my money on Elisabeth Moss or Christine Baranski. . . I don't know. Moving on.

Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress: I'm saying it right now. John Lithgow and Elizabeth Mitchell. Since I (regrettably) tuned in to some of Lost's final episodes I know what's going on with Mitchell's Juliet (don't know about the actual finale, though) and from what I've heard about Lithgow's character on Dexter (nothing good. . . about his character, but plenty of rave reviews) I'm putting my money on those two.

Normally in the Outstanding Comedy 30 Rock takes everything, and so I'm wondering if Glee is up to the challenge this year. Modern Family might have a chance, but still, my money is on 30 Rock. Glee is too much a dramady.

That being said, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin for Outstanding Actor; Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris for Supporting. I'm so glad to not see Jeremy Piven in this category; I used to think if he never won, it'd go to NPH. So I'm hoping it's his year!

Now, the Guest categories. . . I'm going to go with an SNL here, either Tina Fey or Betty White, probably Betty White. And I am ecstatic to see Mike O'Malley on the list (as Kurt's surprisingly understanding father in being okay with his son's sexuality) but again, Glee isn't straightforwardly funny! It has its deep and emotional moments too. Still, I'm rooting wholeheartedly for Mike O'Malley because he makes the show great.

The whole reality stuff I don't honestly care about, but it'd be nice to see Top Chef win something. I also really like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, so as long as either one of those two win, I'll be okay.

But best music! I've never watched the version of Batman, but it's there for a reason, right? Ramin Djawadi has composed for Iron Man, I believe, and also Prison Break (which I loved) but to be honest (and I know I might be ruffling more than just a couple of feathers here. . .) I'm rooting for my man Michael Giacchino. I mean, just listen to this video! (And I mean all the way through.)

Any thoughts? Any more serious snubs left off? I know Entertainment Weekly is upset with the absence of Vanessa L. Williams of Ugly Betty and Courteney Cox of Cougar Town. I think I would have liked to see someone from Chuck, but most of my distress is from no Grey's Anatomy. Unless it premiered too late/early to be considered for nomination, since that can happen sometimes.

So sound off, please!

Mark Your Calendars: August 29

Ladies and gentlemen, yet another important announcement: Emmy nominations are out! (But you've probably already read them already. Still.)

Though the Academy Awards come first in my book, the Emmy Awards are still a big deal. Despite the fact that this post is not about movies, I say you should still read on, because these nominations celebrate the best of the best in shows and miniseries. Here is the list:

Outstanding Drama Series

Lost

Breaking Bad

Dexter

Mad Men

True Blood

The Good Wife

Outstanding Actress in a Drama

Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SUV)

Glenn Close (Damages)

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

January Jones (Mad Men)

Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Hugh Laurie (House)

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

Matthew Fox (Lost)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)

Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)

Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)

Rose Byrne (Damages)

Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

John Slattery (Mad Men)

Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)

Martin Short (Damages)

Terry O'Quinn (Lost)

Michael Emerson (Lost)

Andre Braugher (Men Of A Certain Age)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama

Beau Bridges (The Closer)

Ted Danson (Damages)

John Lithgow (Dexter)

Alan Cumming (The Good Wife)

Dylan Baker (The Good Wife)

Robert Morse (Mad Men)

Gregory Itzin (24)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama

Mary Kay Place (Big Love)

Sissy Spacek (Big Love)

Shirley Jones (The Closer)

Lily Tomlin (Damages)

Ann-Margaret (Law & Order: SUV)

Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

Outstanding Comedy

Glee

Modern Family

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Nurse Jackie

30 Rock

The Office

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy

Lea Michele (Glee)

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Matthew Morrison (Glee)

Steve Carrell (The Office)

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Kristin Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Chris Colfer (Glee)

Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy

Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory)

Kristin Chenoweth (Glee)

Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)

Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live)

Betty White (Saturday Night Live)

Elaine Stritch (30 Rock)

Jane Lynch (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy

Mike O'Malley (Glee)

Neil Patrick Harris (Glee)

Fred Willard (Modern Family)

Eli Wallach (Modern Family)

Jon Hamm (30 Rock)

Will Arnett (30 Rock)

Outstanding Reality Show Host

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)

Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)

Tom Bergeron (Dancing With The Stars)

Heidi Klum (Project Runway)

Jeff Probst (Survivor)

Outstanding Reality Show Competition

Project Runway

Top Chef

The Amazing Race

Dancing With The Stars

American Idol

Outstanding Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow

Dirty Jobs

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Mythbusters

Undercover Boss

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Colbert Report

Real Time with Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

The Pacific (HBO)

Return to Cranford (PBS)

Outstanding TV Movie

Endgame (PBS)

Georgia O'Keefe (Lifetime)

Moonshot (History)

The Special Relationship (HBO)

Temple Grandin (HBO)

You Don't Know Jack (HBO)

Outstanding Music Composition in a Drama

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter, Michael Jelenic, James Tucker)

FlashForward (Ramin Djawadi)

Lost (Michael Giacchino)

Psych (Adam Cohen, John Robert Wood)

24 (Sean P. Callery)

I included the last above category (music) just because I am a music nerd. Of course, there are plenty of other categories I did not include, like best directing, cinematography, hairstyling and makeup. . . but these few kind of round everything together that most viewers find the most important.

My thoughts will be in the next posting, since frankly, I think these are a lot of words to process in just one post!

Going Crazy

So paranoid! Literally, I am scared of seeing anything when an Internet site loads. There are ads everywhere -- not to mention the fact that I gravitate towards entertainment-related sites.

It's in my blood, or something.

But still, with the time coming to a very close end (almost just one week away) I think I might stay away from my normal haunts: People, EW, and imdb.com. It just seems safer that way.

However! Still stick around, keep checking daily for updates/humorous anecdotes/irrelevant ramblings about whatever's on my mind. Just because I'm avoiding Inception news does not mean I'm going to avoid blogging! Good night!

Isn't This Cool?

Blue and Orange!

I found a small article in (you guessed it) Entertainment Weekly (the actual magazine this time, not the website) which discussed Hollywood's liking towards orange and blue movie posters. You think every Jennifer Aniston rom-com DVD looks the same, wait till you see some of these pictures!

EW mentioned a lot of them -- Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Iron Man 2, The Last Airbender, GI Joe, Inception (which I did not know), The Taking of Pelham 123, Jonah Hex, Legion, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. A lot, right?

What, you don't believe me? Just look at the pictures below, my friends.

Upon reading this, I was like, What?! So I did some snooping myself. And I came up with more movies!

Isn't that really cool? (And I like to think 500 Days Of Summer counts, but you tell me if you don't think it does.)

In addition to movies, there are some video games that display the orange-blue color scheme, including the first two Mass Effect games:

Apparently it all started after The Bourne Identity. Charles Reimers spoke to Entertainment Weekly exclusively, saying "Orange and blue are complementary colors, so just by nature they give you that jolt that you need. The studio's always saying 'Make it pop' and those two are the big favorites."

Huh! I guess it works for me, since I have truthfully seen the majority of those movies. I wonder if it's another marketing ploy that they all happen to be relatively big-budget, "major" movies -- and have the orange and blue!

Anyway, the next time you find yourself at a movie theater or a Blockbusters, look out for the blue and orange! Can anyone find other movies not mentioned above? I've already got a few I can add: The Dark Knight, Dragonball: Evolution, Into The Blue, Watchmen, Slumdog Millionaire, the first Iron Man, City Of Ember, and Australia.

**And don't you dare say I have too much time on my hands. It's summer! I've got all day!**

Paranormal Activity 2! (and I did NOT disappear)

Despite not posting since July 3, blog-readers, I am still here, just back from a quick and relaxed vacation at the beach. It seems that no matter where I am I always get in a movie or two, and Ocean City was no exception: Anchorman and Starsky & Hutch, back to back!

While summer is an excellent way to see light, irreverent and often stupid movies (right now I am actually watching the epitome of these three adjectives, All About Steve...don't ask) it is also the perfect season for trailers to upcoming movies in the fall and winter, where movie moods darken as quickly as the weather. Case in point: Paranormal Activity 2.

I did not see the first movie--and, if I remember correctly, had troubles just watching the trailer--but I did see the preview for the sequel and I must say, I am intrigued. Probably not enough to see it in the theaters or at home, but still, nonetheless, intrigued.

WATCH: On the actual movie's website (look for: pots and pans in the kitchen; the chair rocking in the baby's room; and the shot of Katie (the character from the first movie) in the baby's room (as in, what's missing that, according to the mirror, shouldn't be?))

Finally, after all that, keep watching until the very very end, where the screen stops after the trailer is over and the shot is of the baby's room. What's written on the mirror?

Apparently it's a message that reads, What's happening to Hunter? This is either implying that Hunter is the baby, or the dog/someone else. I also read on other websites that there's another version of the trailer with the words Hunter does not exist or something like that written on the floor (not in the mirror's reflection, but the actual floor) however I haven't come across that one yet.

Still! Scary, right? I predict that this trailer will be in front of Inception, as well as Super 8, J.J. Abrams' new super-secret project (a la Cloverfield.)

Any thoughts? Is anyone going to see Paranormal Activity 2 in theaters? I know I won't!

50th Posting!

I'm celebrating my 50th post (which I guess isn't that big of an accomplishment, but still) today, blog-readers! Woo-hoo!

So in the spirit of celebration, of course I needed to do something about it. I wandered over to my favorite, always-reliable website, EW.com, and found a perfect (headline-wise, at least) link to provide you guys with, so you can celebrate with me! But naturally, I had to read it first.

Well, I clicked on the link, and I spotted two pictures first, right off the bat: Toy Story 3's Woody (hatless, at that!) and the gun-toting Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio himself, all suited up for Inception.

I really don't want to read the rest of the article, especially given what it's generally about (the 2011 Oscar race so far) because I'm afraid it might give away details of Inception (like, Best Picture? Best Actor? Best EVERYTHING??) but if you blog-readers want to go ahead and read it, be my guest!

The 2011 Oscar Race So Far | Entertainment Weekly

Happy 4th of July Weekend, everybody! Party safe!

Counting Down The Days. . .

Inception is almost here. Today marks the two-week point. I've been racking my brain for ways to celebrate but so far, I've come up with nothing. Ideas?

Check back later tonight, I might figure something out if I'm away from my computer.

-Claire

It's Picture Day!

Major-ish depressing news today, blog-readers (and I found this out on People.com, which somehow makes it worse):

Andrew Garfield is the new Peter Parker. You may have heard that they're looking to "reboot" the series for the fourth movie, helmed by (500) Days Of Summer director Marc Webb. Only instead of making it continue after the third, they're placing Peter Parker in high school.

This sounds awesome, first of all, but it'll sound only awesome-er if they get the right guy to play Spidey. Let's remember, everyone, that they're looking for someone for a high school Peter Parker. Here are the rumored actors, followed by Andrew Garfield (pictures).

Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper)

Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Alright, Journey To The Center Of The Earth)

Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass)

Honestly, I don't think these guys photograph well. All three of them are attractive, and while two (Johnson and Bell) are British, I might've seen them as Spidey. They're young and have already established themselves (kinda) in Hollywood.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to the newest Spider-Man, the relatively unknown and too-old-to-be-even-considered-for-this-part Andrew Garfield!!!!

(Seriously, he's like, 26.)

Um. Am I the only one who thinks this is really, really wrong? This is what People has to say about it and this is what Entertainment Weekly has to say about it. Like, I understand that Tobey Maguire was 27 when he starred in the first Spider-Man movie. However! He actually pulled off the geeky superhero look. Am I just not getting it? Was the Peter Parker in the original comic books not as geeky as we think he was? I mean, I guess it would explain why all these teen heartthrobs were rumored for Peter Parker.

Anyway, so that's that. Moving on for more pictures. . .

Entertainment Weekly has a link to some pictures of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the upcoming fourth movie of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Check 'em out! Doesn't really give us much, but hey! It's still good ol' Cap'n Jack!

Well, blog-readers? What do you have to say about: Andrew Garfield being the new Spider-Man; or Johnny Depp pictures in Pirates? I think it's kind of interesting we saw Andrew Garfield in the trailer for Never Let Me Go, a trailer yours truly supplied to you all just Wednesday. . . .

Trailers! 3.0

Here it is, blog-readers, the day you (maybe mostly me) have all been waiting for:

TRAILERS 3.0!

Just like the previous installments, I highly recommend clicking on the title of the trailer in order to view it, then go 'BACK' and reading my commentary on it. Enjoy!

To start things off, how about The Green Hornet first?

The Green Hornet: This movie really excites me. Previously I called it "awesome"----and I am sticking to that. I like how I don't really know much about the Green Hornet history-wise, but maybe that'll help them attract a larger audience. The only thing I could've used more of is Seth Rogen in his superhero costume, rather than the big cars, explosions, and guns. Although those are requirements of a good action movie, right? Here's hoping the Green Hornet delivers!

Never Let Me Go: This is a movie adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's highly acclaimed novel of the same name. Based on the trailer, I am going to assume it'll be one of two types of movies: either a shoe-in for some early Oscar predictions/nominations -- or one of those cheesy movies made entirely for the purpose of getting award recognition, and we all know how those turn out. Of course, there is a lot of mystery surrounding the plot of this (just read its synopsis on Barnes & Noble) but the part where the guy is screaming at the car. . . I don't know, blog-readers. Could go either way.

The Social Network: Now, onto lighter fare! Although based on the many voice-overs in this teaser, I'm not really sure I'm in the right to call it "light." Still, I like Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake (as an actor) but found it a little hard to follow all the voices while simultaneously reading the words. After a second viewing, however, it was much easier. My question is, who decided to make a movie on Facebook rather than Myspace? Wasn't the latter bigger and more popular, and didn't it come first? Just wondering.

Conviction: Okay, if it has Hilary Swank in it, it's sure to be worthy of something, right? I'm a fan of Sam Rockwell but will probably skip this one, unless I watch it for free. Trial movies are touchy things, in my opinion. I must really care about the trial if I'm going to see it. Anyway, the only way this will ever go anywhere is if it's favored by the critics. One to watch for, at least.

Somewhere: This is a movie that I am seeing, period. While I haven't seen any of Coppola's later films, I was really blown away by the originality of this trailer. There are only like, five lines of dialogue and the rest you must visualize in order to understand the story. A simple story, true---but one that looks like a winner. Paired with the Strokes' tender "I'll Try Anything Once," the only way this movie will suck is if it, well, sucks. Because the trailer certainly does not.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Wow, I can't believe it's here. I remember reading this book late late at night, even after waiting for it at Borders at midnight. Harry and his friends are back in their second to last outing (since it's going to be split in two parts). Honestly, there's not much I can say---other than I might actually see this in the theater. But having part one in November, then part two all the way next July? That seems kind of mean.

Well, gang? Thoughts? I know this round of movies is a bit deeper/darker than my last, but you can't deny it -- these movies all look fairly promising.

So! Of these six, which excites you the most? Least? Sound off!

Haven't I Heard This Before?

So sorry I haven't posted anything lately guys!

Basically all I've been thinking about these past few days is how much awesome Trailers 3.0 is going to be, which is why I think I may have procrastinated in getting this one up. I have a list tttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssss long of previews I think you are going to like, and I can't wait to share them with you!

Until then, this posting is going to be music related. Read on!

I would like you to watch (mainly listen though) these few videos, right in order as they are presented, and see if you can figure out what makes them all similar.

Okay, now this:

(wait till the end for the relevance for this one. . .)

And last but not least. . .

(basically, relevance at the beginning. . . but feel free to keep watching Sam Worthington-awesomeness!)

Thoughts, anyone?

I first realized something was "up" when I watched the Conviction trailer and thought to myself, I've heard that music somewhere.

After a surprisingly satisfyingly conclusive Google search, I realized the song was originally composed by a man, Steve Jablonsky, and the song is called My Name Is Lincoln, used for the 2005 movie The Island, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, directed by Michael Bay (Transformers. . .).

Well.

I also distinctly remembered hearing a song like that to Avatar, and turns out I was right! It was a little harder finding a legit Avatar trailer, but I did, thus my proof: Yes, blog-readers, you are not the only ones who may be experiencing deja entendu (that's a real thing). As in:

Two (and possibly others) major Hollywood movies have used the same music originally written for one major Hollywood movie! In the words of Kenan Thompson's Deandre Cole: What up with that?!

What do you think? Did the directors figure audiences would remember the tune and say, "Since it was used in The Island, a film I liked, I think I'm going to go see Avatar/Conviction" (chrono order and all. . .)?

If that were so, then that's some seriously flawed thinking, because I saw The Island and I don't remember liking it. I might have, but I was younger and probably distracted by Mr. McGregor (he is the main character, after all). So what gives?

This brings me to another music-film related bit, even more trivia you can use to impress your friends with tomorrow. Check out this trailer for Joe Wright's acclaimed, award-winning film Atonement (or just listen)

(You should see this film. As in, watch the entire trailer.)

Further research indicates that the score to this fine film was composed by Dario Marianelli, the same guy who did Wright's other fabulous and award-winning movie Pride & Prejudice. Only problem?

Half of the music in the trailer above was not written by Mr. Marianelli!

If you listen to the trailer (and I implore you, please do) note that the beginning stuff (soft piano, slowly meshing with a typewriter) is indeed Dario Marianelli work, but then. . .

At 1:20, it becomes a new theme, a very light and plain sad piano melody as poor Keira Knightley witnesses her beloved James McAvoy be wrongly apprehended by the police for a terrible deed he did not commit. Drama ensues, naturally.

There are some strings and crashes in the middle (which I'm not sure about) but at about 2:12 there are new strings and a new theme that is terribly, terribly heart-wrenching and emotionally driven. These two spots, 1:20 and 2:12, are not Dario Marianelli, but have instead been composed by a company called X-Ray Dog. The music at 1:20 is called "Breathing Space" and at 2:12, "The Vision." All supplied by X-Ray Dog, and never once mentioned on the soundtrack.

What is X-Ray Dog, you ask?

Simple. According to watching the video under their "About" page, I infer that X-Ray Dog is the in-between source of music available to directors when their hired composer has not yet completed the entire score. You have a trailer done and want people to see it, but don't have music ready for it yet. Go, X-Ray Dog, go!

(I only infer this because nowhere does it say that music by X-Ray Dog is used by directors for the purpose of fitting suitable music into their trailers. But honestly, what other explanation makes sense other than mine?)

In addition to Atonement, music from X-Ray Dog has also been used in films like Harry Potter, Iron Man, Prince Of Persia, Robin Hood, Alice In Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring. Interesting, no?

I'm looking for thoughts here, people. Should the film industry continue to use other people's music in trailers unrelated to their own movie? I mean, it's kind of leading folks on, isn't it? Like, one of my favorite composers is Hans Zimmer, whom I wrote about some posts back. If I watched a trailer to a film that I know he did the music for, and I liked the music, I would assume that the music was his. But then say it wasn't. Wouldn't you be upset? I know I would.

Leading movie-goers on is everywhere, though. Check out this trailer for The Informant!. I watched it last night:

(POSSIBLE SPOILER? BELOW)

At 0:45 Damon raises his arm and says, "Good morning, Liz Taylor, secretary" but in the actual movie, he's in a completely different suit when he says it. Leading us on.

Well, I think I've gone on enough. Thoughts on any of this? Did anyone even understand what I was talking about? Did anyone even like any of the music I mentioned? I want comments! Trailers 3.0 on Wednesday! It's the end of June, Inception here we come!

The Pitfalls of Page 14

I should've made a bet on the next Entertainment Weekly cover. . .

Oh well.

NOT! Because unlike all the other 9 billion American girls here in the States (or however many there are, whatever) my world does not revolve around these actors, nor will it probably ever.

Anyway, so I'm looking at the other articles offered in this issue, and after my traditional gasp/hiss "Yessss" (I do this for every EW, no matter who's on the cover) I see this written (I believed I mentioned this in my last blog, no?)

THE BIG BUZZ ON 'INCEPTION'

In fact, in the picture above, it is right on Pattinson's blue shoulder, right below the white caption that reads "WHY 'TOY STORY 3' MAKES GROWN MEN CRY".

So of course, I need to seriously make sure I don't accidentally turn to this page. Because I am not only a fast reader, but I'm a skimmer also, and like it or not, I usually pick out the important words in any news article pretty quickly.

So I look at the table of contents, skim for the word Inception, give the people around me my trademark Inception gasp (highly dramatic, very sudden and alarming) and tell myself: SKIP PAGE 14.

Well. Entertainment Weekly is not a fan of page numbers, at least in the very beginning. I turn the pages very carefully in the opening stages of reading the magazine, glancing both at the top and bottom corners to make sure if I'm on page 9 or 10 or so. It's not till I get to page 14 that I realize I'm on page 14, so I quickly, melodramatically turn the page, look up at the ceiling, and tell myself, "It's all right, I didn't see anything."

But! The story's not over yet, folks. In addition to page 14, page 15 is also filled with Inception notes, as well as Christopher Nolan's track record of how much his films have grossed from the box office. So no page 15 either.

Kind of reminds me of when I got an Entertainment Weekly with LOST on the cover. I am not a Lost hater by any means. I watched about five episodes of season 6--without watching anything previously--then changed my mind, and as of now I'm HOOKED on the series (season 2!) But anyway, this specific issue featuring LOST was literally first page to last page filled with nothing but LOST. Like, everything.

Anyway, so magazine story done. Moving on.

Beware of entering movie-theaters, blog-readers. Just yesterday I saw Toy Story 3 with a friend and walked in the place like it was no big deal.

Suddenly I am bombarded with various posters and advertisements for Inception all around me! And, what's more, I learned something I did not previously know! I could've cried right there, as I was buying my ticket. I will spare you guys, but let me tell you -- I thought I was coming down the wire, to be honest. I mean, it makes sense that I should see these posters in the theater, but I guess since I know absolutely nothing more about Inception, it didn't occur to me to figure it'd be marketed heavily. In hindsight, I should've realized this, since this is Christopher Nolan we're talking about.

But seeing the posters made me so much more excited for July 16th. Leonardo DiCaprio! Joseph Gordon-Levitt! Cillian Murphy! I mean, I just cannot wait.

Anyway, so that's it for today's post. Nothing really movie news-related, although you guys might like this piece of info, or maybe this one too.

Happy Friday!

(Oh: and did I mention that Inception is going to be in IMAX theaters? Who's up for some major dizziness and headache action? I am!)

Harry Potter glasses, Trolls, and Everything In Between

Greetings, blog-readers! I can assure you there will be a Trailers 3.0 sometime in the upcoming week -- so be on the lookout -- but until then, read on!

Anyway, so like the title says: Guess who has Harry Potter glasses?

Am I the only one who thinks this is hilarious? I am not going to disclose who I know that uses these glasses, but I think that's just cute. Moving on.

So, as you may have heard, they're making a Smurfs movie. Yikes, right?

What's even more distressing? inconceivable? is that they're also making a Troll doll movie. Am I the only one who wants to find "they" and lock them up in a 24-hour guarded prison cell so they'll never see the light of day? Like, do people actually think Americans want to see a movie based on those creepy little dolls? I mean, this is coming from a girl who never had a Furby (or if I did, I blocked it out so immensely I don't recall ever having one) so maybe I don't see the excitement in news like this, but come on. Tell me you don't want to see this movie made.

Oh, and one other thing.

So I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly and check online there almost daily for any movie news (and the site is where I get most of my stuff and post it on here). So lately they've been giving "snippets" of an "upcoming interview" featuring the Twilight gang, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.

Now, here's the thing: each "snippet" of the interview only consists of just a few questions and so far, doesn't seem to be that big of a deal (aka a cover story). HOWEVER:

<-- July 08 <-- Nov 08<-- Dec 08 <-- Feb 09<-- Aug 09 <-- Nov 09

Dec 2009

So, based on the above evidence, I'm thinking my next EW (which I normally receive Fridays or Saturdays) is going to feature one, two, or all three of the saga stars on the front cover. "Awesome!" (she says sarcastically.) "Because I have no idea who these people are, and I care about them even more!"

. . .

Is it unreasonable of me to ask for no more Twilight cover stories? Or am I just asking for too much?

YES

Here it is, blog-readers, the much-anticipated (at least, in my opinion) trailer of Seth Rogen's new film, The Green Hornet. See if you can watch below:

(But if it doesn't, just click here to go to the site.)

What do you think? Thoughts? My one word: awesome. I don't think it's by any means on the same level as Iron Man or Batman Begins, especially since its release date is in January.

However, Seth Rogen as a superhero is something the world has been waiting to see. And having Christoph Waltz as a bad guy is just a spectacular plus, too. Who cares if the man has already played another bad guy?

I will admit, I'm getting a bit tired of seeing Cameron Diaz in everything lately (um, let's see: Knight & Day, Shrek Forever After, and the recently announced Bad Teacher with ex Justin Timberlake) but with Tom Wilkinson and Admiral Adama (oh, sorry, Edward James Olmos) also in it, I'm thinking I'm gonna go see this movie.

Thoughts? I'm thinking a new Trailers 3.0 coming up soon! Keep posted!

-Claire

UPDATE: Upon further examination I have found the video does not extend all the way, like my past videos from Youtube. Very annoying, I know, so if you want to watch the trailer with a few bits missing, go ahead. However, I recommend just clicking the link to the Huff Post site, where you can not only watch it in HD, but also in full-length, normal video-viewing view. Thanks!

Who Are Your Favorite Fathers?

In honor of Father's Day, I have compiled a list of movies and characters who, in my humble opinion, exemplify what makes a great film father:

Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird

Prof Henry Jones in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness

Marlin in Finding Nemo

Lord Henry Dashwood in What A Girl Wants

Tom Baker in Cheaper By The Dozen

Ray Ferrier in War Of The Worlds

Upon further browsing on the Internet (because, let's face it, the list above could use more fathers, and it basically came together from the top of my head) I have found a few more worthy-of-mention fathers:

Mrs. Doubtfire/Daniel Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire

Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation

George Banks in Father Of The Bride

Sam Dawson in I Am Sam

Ted Kramer in Kramer Vs. Kramer

Gil Buckman in Parenthood

What do you think, blog-readers? I'm positive I have left other great movie dads off the list, but I think the combination of my list plus the fathers I looked up are a good bunch of caring dads. Care to add any more?

Happy Father's Day!

News That Makes Me Cry

Not literally -- although sort of.

Everyone knows who Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Dear John, Fighting) and Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Notebook, Sherlock Holmes) are, right? I'm not really a fan of Tatum but I've liked a lot of McAdams' work.

Anyway, so get this: they've signed on to star in a movie together called The Vow, based on a true story surrounding the marriage of two newlyweds. Basically, it's about this:

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993, two months after their marriage, when their Ford Escort was hit from behind by a fast-moving truck. A massive head injury left Krickitt in a coma for weeks. When she finally emerged from the coma, she recognized her parents and everyone else-but she didn't know Kim. She had no idea who he was. The "Krickitt" Kim had married essentially died in the accident. The Vow is the true tale of the reconstruction of two lives and a marriage after an event so shattering that most others would have parted ways long ago. Though it was not easy, and it tested every fiber of who they were, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again.

Pretty emotional, right? And since both actors have been in Nicholas Sparks movies (him Dear John; her The Notebook) I'm thinking 1) a lot of women are going to see this film, which means I think it will make a lot at the box office, and 2) expect a lot of tears.

But back to the posting title. Doesn't that make you want to cry? No? Okay. Try this description of a movie (that I actually saw, and while I did cry through all of it it was not all that great):

"A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life."

Doesn't reading that make you want to cry? Just bawl your eyes out? I'm doing all that I can not to cry right now, since I have company over.

Anyhew, so what are your thoughts, blog-readers? Am I the only one who thinks they should change the names, Krickitt and Kim? I mean, how much sense does it make that Kim is the guy and Krickitt is the woman? Sound off!

Oh, and the description above is from P.S. I Love You, an awful movie (even though it has Gerard Butler and the Denny guy from Grey's Anatomy).

News That Makes Me Laugh

So today I have two bits of movie news, courtesy of EW.com -- that "Nicolas Cage could return in 'Ghost Rider' sequel" and that "William Shatner to direct himself in documentary about himself."

What, don't believe me? Here's the link.

So, first, Ghost Rider. Have you guys seen it? Because I saw it in my living room, and let me tell you, it was insufferable. A terrible film, by my standards (this is from the chick who liked The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Superstar). Sure, it had Nic Cage and Eva Mendes, but it was still terrible.

When I heard that there could be a SEQUEL to this awful movie, I was like, "What?!" How stupid a decision is that one? Who's going to go see it? Even more, who's going to spend money to see it? Am I right here? I mean, I'll go see the Smurfs movie before a sequel to Gay Rider (I know, terrible joke. . . )

Second bit of news: The Shatner to direct himself? Kind of interesting, although reading the headline kind of made me chuckle. Something about imagining William Shatner directing himself on a movie about himself. . . I don't know. Kind of funny.

Anyway, and before you do ANYTHING after reading this post, please go watch this trailer. I've seen it four times already, and cannot stop thinking about it. It's called Somewhere.

Have a good one, blog-readers!

One Month for Inception!

I'm not really sure how to celebrate. However, this is very exciting, how close it's getting to July 16th!

Movie Map!

Sometimes you find the strangest of things on the Internet,

But since I'm going to be (maybe) Internet-less the next four days--spending a few days in upstate New York with my grandparents!--I figure, I need something for my blog-readers to keep interested in! So even though this isn't movie news, I still think it's kind of cool.

Check it out!

Oh, and while you're at it: Remember how I said I'm going to be following The Tourist?

. . . That's all I'll say!!

What makes that picture different from any others I've shared is that it's a still frame, meaning we'll probably end up seeing a scene like that in the movie (unless they cut it out due to editing). So! Brainstorming time! Jolie looks poised and confident; Depp has a look that, to me, says, "How did I end up on this boat with this woman who might be leading me to sudden but inevitable death? Gee, I'm one lucky guy!"

So what could be going on in this scene? Hmm?

Oh, and while you're at it (2x): Check out this trailer (even though it's not a movie): BOARDWALK EMPIRE

Looks pretty cool, except after watching it I kind of wish it has a name cooler than Boardwalk Empire. . . but maybe that's just me.

Adios!

All-Nighter, Folks!

Well, not really. But I'm in my favorite pajamas (actually, they're the only ones I have suited for summer) watching one of my favorite movies (Never Been Kissed) and life seems pretty good!

Okay. So last post I promised I'd have something movie-related news-wise, and I think I do. Check this link out.

Personally, I think the directing aspect of Hollywood is a lot more mysterious than I previously gave it credit for. I recently read an article about the director of the remade Karate Kid movie, about what he had to do to set himself above the other director who wanted to helm the movie. Instead of walking in with a pitch for the studio execs, he came in with a homemade replica of Jackie Chan's outdoor karate dojo-place. Needless to say, the execs were impressed, and thus, he got the job.

This article reminds me a lot of that story. Let me get this straight: Not only is Sam Raimi considered for Oz, but so is Guillermo del Toro, Adam Shankman, AND Timur Bekmambetov? Geez!

Oh, but it gets better. So remember hearing waaaay back when, when Guy Richie was making his Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law? Apparently so is Sasha Baren Cohen (and I think Will Ferrell may be attached). More similarities! Because in addition to Oz, The Great And Powerful, there's going to also be:

1. Surrender Dorothy

2. Oz

3. Untitled, darker Wizard of Oz project

4. Film adaptation of musical Wicked

Like, really? Is all this really necessary? Raise your hand if you're not even a fan of the original Wizard of Oz! (Like me.) I mean, remakes are one thing. Sure, I like a good 80's movie as much as the next person.

But I'm not a fan of the Oz world. The munchkins scared me and I couldn't get past the flying monkeys, or the fact that the witch freaking melts (spoiler alert....sorry). Now, I know those are part of the plot of the movie.

But a yellow brick road isn't enough for me. Frankly, the setting spooks me. If I were Raimi, I'd stick to the World of Warcraft movie, even though we all know what might happen if he starts spending too much money (a la Peter Jackson, anyone?).

Thoughts?

My 3rd Post...

But this is really cool.

Remember that Ryan Reynolds movie I talked about like a month ago? Buried? It has a wicked cool poster that I would have as my desktop if it weren't for, you know, Inception.

So the one above is cool . . . I guess. But the link is even better. Just check it out!

Oh! And if you want to get your Leonard DiCaprio fix before Inception (because who doesn't?) Shutter Island came to DVD this Tuesday! Although I would seriously read the book first, because it will change your life.

Now I'm seriously done! Our next Netflix movie is The Brothers Bloom! Tomorrow I'll return with some actual movie-related news!

Ohmygosh

Just 36 days until Inception?! You know what that means!

Three men + the 3 in "36" + 3 syllables to Inception = 9 = my lucky number = How can this NOT be a good movie!

Death At A Funeral!

Yes, my faithful blog-readers, my Netflix movie choice finally came in Tuesday. And you know what I did?

I watched it!

Of course, there was a problem (because let's face it: nothing is ever easy. Family pictures, finding professors, even getting something to eat when you have no car and your parents do the stupidest of things, like put bread in the freaking freezer. But that's another story. Gist of this: nothing is ever easy).

So what was the problem watching Death At A Funeral, you ask?

Okay. So the disc says, "Full Screen This Side/Wide Screen This Side." My television is more of a wider-screen, so naturally I want to watch the movie in wide screen. So I put it in.

Nothing happens.

Literally. I make sure I put it in right, and I did. So I sit there, give it five minutes. Nothing.

Then I flip it around, because I'm certain it must be the wrong side. (My logic isn't entirely correct, because if I inserted the "wrong side" then the full screen side of a Netflix DVD is screwed up, and I like to think they wouldn't send us a fully-functioning DVD.)

Well. Full-screen it is. I was right, so I flip it again and try to play it.

I get through 15 seconds of lag. That's it. You know what lag is? Has anyone ever played the massively popular online computer game, World of Warcraft? There's a city called Ironforge which everyone calls Lagforge because, no matter the power of your computer, it lags. As in, freezes and plays every so often. Like listening to a song with continuous pauses. SO ANNOYING.

It seemed as though the movie gods weren't listening to my pleas. But I got over it, put the DVD in on the full-screen, went to the couch, and enjoyed a good 90 minute movie.

I have seen it once more since Tuesday, and I have to confess: By myself, DaaF was a movie that should've been funnier, the kind of movie that makes you smile, chuckle, and get really excited that it's going to be funny (because it's obvious where they're going with the joke or scene) but then fails to actually reach the peak of hilarity. I enjoyed it, nonetheless, but would've liked it funnier.

When I watched it the second time, with other people, everything changed! It was laugh-out-loud funny! I almost had tears in my eyes, and this is coming from the person who saw it just two days ago, so you'd think watching the same movie would be like reading old news. But yet I enjoyed it even more!

I think it deserves a spot on my list of movies to see before you die. In fact, I ought to actually make that list and post it. Because I am no movie-expert (I wish) but I happen to think I have good taste in movies. If I share mine, will you blog-readers share me yours? In comments?

Anyway, the scenes were well-shot, the acting and writing was believable, and even though the movie borderlines on unsafely ridiculous, I highly recommend it. Claire gives it a: 8.5 out of 10.

So! This post leads me to my question of the night for you blog-readers! What movies have you watched that you "watch" differently with different audiences? Do you cry in front of Forrest Gump when you're around only specific people? Do you make fun of the "period" movies like Pride & Prejudice or The Queen Victoria when you're around your friends--but when you watch them in secret, think they are respectable pieces of film art and should be more enjoyed by broader audiences? Are you like me, in that you are seriously glad to have watched Superbad with your brother, and not with your parents like you had originally planned?

I want opinions! Friday is just around the corner! The hot cast of TrueBlood is on my Entertainment Weekly magazine this weekend!

See what I'm doing? Three random !'s!

Which One to Pick?

This is a short blog, but it's a question that has boggled me for what seems like eternity.

What movie do you pick to watch when three of your favorites are on at the same time?

This happened to me just a few weeks ago. They were all on movie channels, so no commercials, either, which made the pick harder. And these are movies that (in my opinion) must be watched with 100% attention, because watching them with little "breaks" in between or even skipping scenes is just not done.

So, surfing the TV one day, I found these three on: Shakespeare In Love, Memento, and The Spirit.

I know I have discussed the last two in past blog posts, mentioned how great they were (and for The Spirit, how good bad it was) but I'm not sure I've talked about my love for Shakespeare In Love. In fact, I think I'm going to talk about it a little more in my next post.

Anyway, so three of my favorites. Which one do I choose?

Guess!

So, blog-readers, has this kind of thing ever happened to you? It could be movies or TV shows. And don't you hate it when it happens, because you wish you could watch all three of them at the same time?

Can't wait to read comments! Glee season finale on tonight!! A little less than 40 days until Inception!!!

-Claire

Wow! So Many Headlines!

After last night's MTV Movie Awards, you'd think all the headlines entertainment/movie-related would be lame, having to do with some scandalous happening at the awards show or just fluff that no one cares about.

Wrong!

In addition to the traditional surprises (Bullock & Johansson Share Jaw-dropping Liplock At MTV Movie Awards) and obvious (It's Raining F-Bombs At MTV Movie Awards) here are a few other headlines I read that made me go, "Man! I've gotta read this!"

(And to make this easy on you blog-readers, the headlines are the links themselves, so all you have to do is point and click. Versus me, who had to click, then click again. Long story.)

- "Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds to reunite on new action comedy"

- "Is Jamie Bell Set As Spider Man?"

- "Van Sant Actually Wanted to Direct Breaking Dawn"

- "Guillermo del Toro Admits: 'I am No Longer an Official Voice for The Hobbit'"

So what do you think? They're all pretty random, but all-in-all, a great day for me! (And for those of you who are wondering, all those headlines came from imdb.com.)

Please read them, comment on what you think. Some are only a few sentences long, while others are quite interesting. And for those who are thinking, "Wow, this chick is so lame, four headlines and she freaks out?" Please understand, that I get a lot of my information from various websites throughout the day. Imdb.com has never reported 4 consecutive headlines of interest to me before, that I can remember. So: Ha!

Oh, and if you want to hear some great music while surfing the Web (because let's face it, that's the best way to do it) listen to this video and minimize this window!

-Claire!

And I almost forgot: Here's a treat for you H.P. fans who didn't watch the MTV Movie Awards (cough....like me.....cough):

Make way for Part One!

Unnecessary Sequels

You know you're having a great Friday night when you're actually enjoying a Spelling Bee, am I right?? (Total sarcasm, by the way. But there just aren't any good movies on, so what else am I supposed to watch? Oh, and it's the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which makes it even better. Not.)

Anyway, so as you may have heard, Sex And The City 2 came out whenever (frankly, it's "whenever" because I don't really care) and Sarah Jessica Parker, the movie's star, says she wouldn't mind doing a third movie.

Okay. So I have never watched the show, but honestly: how long are American people going to care about four women who shop around and sleep around? To me, the commercials feature only that, which frankly, looks a little degrading to women. But that's another story.

The real problem comes with the content. Sequels to movies are different territory than just making a first. I mean, just today there was a headline that read: Christopher Nolan Will Never Bring Back The Joker In His Batman Movies. No matter what happens in the movies or in real life, sequels and trilogies and even sagas are a dangerous matter. Audiences have to be willing to watch another installment of the same world. The story must be interesting. Has anyone seen Zoolander, the crazy comedy with Ben Stiller as a male model who gets brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia? (I know, even writing it just makes me feel silly.) Well, for a while it looked like there would be a Zoolander 2. Even a Ron Burgundy 2.

And don't get me started on those Shrek movies. The first one was good, the second was all right. But the third was a little pointless and the fourth looks plain irrelevant. Seriously, a lot needs to be thought of when planning sequels. We need to like the characters, the setting, the general world.

What makes me annoyed the most are the movies where it's clear no sequel was ever intended, yet they make one anyway. Like Hitman or Ocean's 11 or Inside Man or The Lost Boys or all those Psycho movies. All of these movies (and a ton more, I'm sure) were great as one. Singular. As in, not plural.

And though Hitman 2 and Inside Man 2 haven't exactly come out yet, I'm not really sure how much they'll matter, since a few years have spanned since the first ones, and as they say, the sequel is never as good at the first one.

What are my blog-readers thoughts on this? Would you watch a sequel to your favorite movie of all time (that does not need a sequel)? Personally I would not watch Pride & Prejudice 2. There is a fine line between movies with good everything and movies that audiences want to revisit with new stories and sometimes, I think Hollywood suits forget that.

Oh, and if you would like to laugh:

Anyone heard of the awesome buddy-show Psych? They have an entire episode devoted to the world of Spelling Bee, and the episode's title is (wait for it....wait for it...)

Spellingg Bee! (But I couldn't find it anywhere to watch online...so you'll just have to trust me on this one.) Awesome, isn't it? Now you'll always hesitate when you write 'spelling'! I know I do!

Have a great weekend, everyone!