George Romero is back, and he’s bringing his swarms of the undead with him in the latest, thrilling installment of his …OF THE DEAD series. SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD made its Video On Demand debut on April 30th, and you can check it out right now on Amazon, Playstation Marketplace, and Xbox Live. You can also check the film out this Friday, May 28th, as it breaks its way into movie theaters.

In honor of the film’s release, we have a few, special prizes to give away, not the least of which is the poster you see right here:

Pretty creepy, right? That would look nice hanging on your wall, wouldn’t it? Well, how about this? Picture that same poster, but with the Grandfather of the Zombie’s autograph displayed ever so nicely on it. How’s that sit with you?

For this contest, we’re making things relatively simple. All you have to do is let us know in the comments section below which of the Romero …OF THE DEAD films is your favorite and why. Now, this item is going to be hot, so we’re looking for more than just, “I like DAWN OF THE DEAD, because I like the mall.” We want a full-fledged review from you, letting us know precisely why the Romero, zombie film you have chosen is your favorite. We’ll be picking from our favorite and letting the winner know via email.

But, this signed poster isn’t all we’re giving away. We are also handing out to a second prize winner a special issue of “The Walking Dead” comic book signed by Romero and “The Walking Dead” illustrator Charlie Adler. A third prize winner will get an unsigned SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD poster.

So, what are you waiting for. Get to writing. And, as soon as you’re done with your little, mini-review, be sure to check out SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD when it hits theaters this Friday, May 28th.

A special thank you to Magnet Releasing for the prizes. Be sure to check out the Facebook page for their upcoming [REC]2 by clicking on this link.

Good luck!

Look at Dren in that picture up there.  Isn’t she cute?  All little and not unlike a hairless cat that can climb on the ceiling.  Too bad she grows up to be a monster.  Wanna see that?  Good, because, if you’re one of our lucky winners, you’ll be able to check out SPLICE a full, three days before it hits theaters.  That’s right.  We have passes to hand out for a screening on Tuesday, June 1st.

First and foremost, this is a St. Louis screening. If you will not be in St. Louis on the evening of June 1st , please do not enter this contest.

Here’s all you have to do.  SPLICE is a film that is being praised for its wonderful, creature effects and the look of the monster.  We want to know what your favorite, movie, creature effects are.  Let us know in the comments section below which movie has the best movie monster in terms of the design and execution of the monster at hand.  It can be practical or CG, your choice.  We’ll pick the winners from the best entries, so don’t just give us a movie title.  Let us know what makes your movie and your creature one of the best.

And, if you’re not one of the lucky winners, be sure to check out SPLICE when it hits theaters on June 4th.

The four-quel.  The quadrilogy.  The final chapter in the epic, SHREK saga that has spanned nine years and has garnered billions of dollars for DreamWorks.  If you’re going to build your latest film as the last of the series (we’ll get into why this act was pointless in a bit), you had better have a nice send-off, a conclusion that give some sense of finality.  And, if you’re making a SHREK film, whether that film is the first, second, third, or last, you had better have a nice mixture of comedy and adventure.  SHREK FOREVER AFTER lands on only one side of this figurative coin, but it lands on that side awfully hard.

When we last left Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), he and Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) had just had triplets and all was grand in the land.  But, if Hollywood sequels tell us anything, nothing is “happily ever after…”  Those three, little dots after that saying are long years of typical, family strife and the nearly unbearable tedium that comes with normalcy.  This is something Shrek is tired of, and years after thinking his life is perfect, he begins having what all ogres at his age have (or, at least I hear), a mid-life crisis.

After a particularly gruesome, first birthday party for his children, Shrek runs away from his family, seeking some sense of who he was before Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy), Fiona, and the life he has come to lead fell into his lap.  Enter Rumpelstiltskin, a wish-granter, who makes Shrek a deal.  Give a day, get a day.  In essence, Shrek will be able to lead the life he once had for one day, but he has to give a day in return.  Needless to say, and, because Rumpelstiltskin is such an evil, little guy, things go hairy, and Shrek ends up in a world where, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE style, he never existed.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER is a better film than SHREK THE THIRD, and, when you look at the team behind that third entry (it’s co-directors and twelve, yes, 12! screenwriters), it’s a wonder any, cohesive film came out of it at all.  Some would even say that film ended up being a huge mess, and, thankfully, the team behind SHREK FOREVER AFTER is new to the table.  This fourth film is filled with a nice sense of adventure.  The years the animators behind this series have had working on it pay off.  The beautiful animation is old-hat for them, and all that is left to worry about is the story, the tone, and the characters.

The tone is certainly there.  While it will never rival the first film in terms of comedic value, and most definitely comes nowhere near the hilarity of SHREK 2, SHREK FOREVER AFTER is a film that never ceases to make you laugh.  The story they have put before themselves gives the screenwriters plenty of opportunity to alter the most beloved character so that Fiona is a warrior ogre leading a revolution against the ruling Rumpelstiltskin, the Gingerbread Man has become a gladiator-style fighter who take out animal crackers like it’s nothing, and Donkey has been turned into essentially a car radio for a group of witches.  Ever wonder what happened to Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas)?  Let’s just say he’s let himself go.  The opportunities have been seized for the characters, but, aside from the world-turned-on-its-ear gimmick, there is enough self-referential material and slightly adult humor to entertain you all.

Where SHREK FOREVER AFTER fails, and it fails mightily, is in the department of placement and this idea that it is the final film of the series.  There is really no need for it.  Don’t expect some big revelations that change your outlook on the franchise, and don’t expect the world to end, either.  When all is said and done, this is just another film in a series of four films that could just as easily tag on a fifth, sixth, or even seventh film if the DreamWorks Animation so chooses.

To that end, and despite the sense of adventure the film has in droves, there is really nothing special about SHREK FOREVER AFTER.  Sure, it has that gimmick going for its comedy, and the thought of a fat Puss in Boots looking nonchalantly at a mouse who is stealing his milk is sure to be remembered.  But the feeling that you got from SHREK and most certainly SHREK 2 that you are watching something other than just, another film is completely gone.  The feeling you get is more along the lines of an expanded, TV special.  It garners a Summer release only because Shrek is such a staple to DreamWorks Animation, and the thought of releasing an entry of this franchise anywhere but in the middle of May would be ludicrous.  Fine.  But, if you’re going back to the drawing board after SHREK THE THIRD to deliver a film that pulls back in all the people who walked away from the franchise after that debacle, you had better have something special to deliver.  SHREK FOREVER AFTER just isn’t it.

As with the animators behind the characters, the voices have become something along the lines of old-hat, as well, and there is very little to be said for the main cast here.  What can be analyzed is the idea behind the casting of some ancillary characters.  The world of animated film has become ensconced with half-baked premises, clunky animation, and a huge list of A-level talent behind the voices.  Not so much with SHREK FOREVER AFTER.  In fact, the most inspired choice in voice for the film is in Rumpelstiltskin.  Walt Dohrn isn’t, exactly, a household name.  He’s done more writing work than voice work, but the voice he puts behind this film’s antagonist is brilliant, both quirky and malevolent but with a playfulness we probably wouldn’t have gotten from a name.  He gives the Rumpelstiltskin character a life it may not have had otherwise.

There’s nothing magical about SHREK FOREVER AFTER.  There’s nothing breathtaking.  In years to come, if this does prove to be the final film in the franchise, it won’t be remembered as fondly as the first, two films.  It will, however, be remembered as a minor bounce-back from the travesty that was SHREK THE THIRD, not precisely what the crew behind this film were going for, I’m sure.  But, if they wanted SHREK FOREVER AFTER to be remembered, the same level of care they put into the comedy and the adventure of the piece would have been copied over to making it something special.  As it is, it’s just another SHREK movie, and, funny or not, you can’t help but get the sense that, much like the movie’s protagonist, we will soon be in a world where it doesn’t feel like SHREK FOREVER AFTER ever even existed.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Carrie and the girls are back, and six years after the HBO series finished its run, the films keep on coming.  With SEX AND THE CITY 2, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda find themselves trekking from the bustling streets of New York to the arid beauty of Morocco.  Luckily, for a few of you, you will be able to see this movie a full, three days before it hits theaters on May 27th.

First and foremost, this is a St. Louis screening. If you will not be in St. Louis on the evening of May 24th , please do not enter this contest.

Here’s all you have to do.  We know, if you’re interested in seeing the movie, then, surely, you were a fan of the series, and here’s your chance to prove it.  We want to know what your favorite episode of the six-year run of the “Sex and the City” series was.  Send us a comment below with the title and basic synopsis of your favorite episode.  We’ll be picking the winners at random and contacting you via email.

And, if you’re not one of the lucky winners, be sure to check out SEX AND THE CITY 2 when it hits theaters on Thursday, May 27th across the nation.

Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, and the rest of the gang are back, and this time, it’s the last time.  SHREK FOREVER AFTER is being billed as the final adventure for the team we’ve grown to love, and you could see this adventure play out a full six days before its May 21st release.  That’s right.  We have passes for a screening this coming Saturday morning, May 15th, at Ronnie’s 20.

First and foremost, this is a St. Louis screening. If you will not be in St. Louis on the morning of May 15th , please do not enter this contest.

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us who your favorite SHREK character is and why.  That’s it.  It could be Donkey.  It could be Puss in Boots.  It could be a new character like Rumpelstiltskin.  It could even be Lord Farquaad if you’re into short guys.  Just tell us which character appeals to you the most and why that is.  We’ll be sifting through the best answers and choosing the winners from there.

And, if you’re not one of the lucky ones, be sure to check out SHREK FOREVER AFTER when it hits theaters on May 21st.

With $140 million dollars, an untested director at the helm of his first, tent pole picture, and a star who was trying to reestablish his place in the business, 2008′s IRON MAN was a gamble that paid off well.  Financially and critically, it became one of the glowing successes in the comic-book-to-film world that keeps that aspect of the movie business such a lucrative well to go back to.

Now, a mere two years later, IRON MAN 2 has an established director at the helm, a much beloved star taking on the role that brought him back into the fold, and an estimated $200 million at its whim.  The goal was to make a whiz-bang follow-up that topped its predecessor both in terms of explosive entertainment as well as intriguing drama from its story.  So, the question is asked, does IRON MAN 2 top the first film?  The short answer is a simple “No.”  The longer answer, one that draws out both the pros and cons of this follow-up, follows.

Taking place six months after Robert Downey, Jr.’s Tony Stark announced to the world he is Iron Man, the world of IRON MAN 2 has become a peaceful one.  No one in their right mind would dare stand up to the awesome force of the Iron Man suit.  Leave it up to the United States government, then, to do just that.  They want the suit for themselves, and Stark, as hard-headed as he is genius, convinces them that not only is he the only one in the world with the skills to wear the suit, it is simply impossible for the bad guys of the world to create their own.

Enter Ivan Vanko, played with an odd sense of bulky cool by Mickey Rourke, the son of a man who once worked with Stark’s father, Howard.  Vanko, who has just recently watched his impoverished father pass, uses his own brains and undeniable sense of vengeance to do precisely what Stark claims can’t be done.  He creates a suit of his own, complete with electric whips, and sets out on his tour of revenge.

This premise is simple enough, and, were a one-track narrative all we would have to contend with, IRON MAN 2 may have only been around 30 minutes long.  Nonetheless, we can’t have one of the biggest films of the year come in at under feature length, so, naturally, more story-lines must be piled on.  Surprisingly, Jon Favreau, taking directing duties once again, does an immaculate job bouncing around the varying plot points, even if they oftentimes feel lifted from completely different films.

There’s the garish Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell who brings an extreme level of temerity to the role, one of Stark’s rivals and one who would do anything to make a name for himself.  There’s Stark’s assistant, Pepper Potts, played once again by Gwyneth Paltrow, who is (still) getting fed up with Stark’s flamboyant antics.  Don Cheadle, stepping in for the departing Terrence Howard, plays James Rhodes acts as window dressing until the point comes where he gets to don his own version of the Iron Man suit.  There’s even the return of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Samuel L. Jackson as the group’s leader, Nick Fury.  All of these story-lines play out right alongside each other, but none of them seem to really converge.  At least they probably didn’t appear to on paper.  Justin Theroux’s screenplay doesn’t do what Favreau does with it justice, and you begin to wonder why no rewrites were attempted.  In this day and age where films, particularly big budget films such as this, have nearly half a dozen, different writers credited, it is a pleasant surprise to see only one name pop up in the opening credits.  Nontheless, one can’t help but wonder what a fresh pair of eyes might have done with the film’s structure.

This is particularly felt throughout IRON MAN 2′s mid-section.  All of the different plot lines have been established.  Some work better than others on their own.  Rourke’s Vanko and Rockwell’s Hammer share many scenes together, and these scenes are both undoubtedly well-crafted both on the page and on screen.  The actors bounce off one another brilliantly, almost as if a Vanko & Hammer buddy cop movie might be in the works.  A subplot involving Stark and how he viewed his father brings a serious depth to the character, and Downey, perfect as always, pulls the more dramatic moments off without effort.

Other story-lines like Stark slowly being poisoned by the arc reactor that is keeping him alive seem unnecessary and thrown in just to give a sense of danger when the villains aren’t at the front and center.  There is a long stretch in the film where Iron Man has no true villain to take on, and the greatness of Downey and Rourke can’t make up for the lack of connection between Vanko and Stark.  Scarlett Johansson plays a double agent, but her character is never fleshed out as much as it should have been.  She does get one incredibly well-shot action scene near the end of the film, but it makes you wish there was more to care about than how well she can flip a guy over her shoulder.

In fact, most of the action in IRON MAN 2 comes off a little flimsier than it probably should.  Much of this may have to do with Favreau’s growing usage of CGI.  In the first film, it seemed to be utilized only as a last resort.  The things that couldn’t be pulled off practically weren’t.  Here, it feels more like a crutch, especially a scene near the middle where Stark and Rhodes do battle in their own, respective suits.  The weight of the action feels lost in the plasticity of it all, and, when the Iron Man suit touches down on the ground after flying through the sky, the familiar, metallic clank that comes with it seems out of place.  In the first film, we didn’t need that sound to convince us how heavy this suit was.  We knew that already.  Here, it feels thrown in as a persuasion.

Regardless, much of the action, whether it feels real or not, is head and shoulders above much of what goes for action these days.  Favreau’s direction pulls back much of the time, allowing you to gaze at all that is taking place.  There are never moments in the film where Robot A is fighting Robot B and you can’t tell one from the other.  This sense of place and composition is much needed in the world of action films, and Favreau delivers with faultless precision.

There’s nothing in the way of acting in IRON MAN 2 that leaves you wanting more, either.  Everyone involved in the film does an impeccable job with Downey leading the pack.  Once again, he proves just how quickly he can turn the cool into serious drama and right back again, all the while not more than a line or two away from having you laughing out loud.

The only other note that needs set with the cast here is in Cheadle and the replacement of Terrance Howard.  It was a series of unfortunate events that took one out and put the other in, and, as solid as Cheadle is in the role, he just doesn’t feel right.  He and Downey don’t have the same chemistry as Howard had with Downey.  The two truly felt like old, college buddies who are now on opposite sides of conformity.  Both slipped into each other’s wheelhouse, and it felt natural.  With Cheadle, though, it feels like precisely what it is, someone stepping into another man’s friendship.

When all is said and done, though, IRON MAN 2 still comes off as a highly enjoyable ride, a comic book movie that may not live up to its source material or its previous, franchise entry, but one that keeps butts firmly in seats and eyes firmly fixed to the screen.  It doesn’t commit any cardinal sins that many sequels of the same nature fall to, and it doesn’t even allow the buildup of THE AVENGERS film to get in its way.  It’s evident, but it’s not distracting in the least.  With great power comes great responsibility, both for a super hero as well as for a film director.  Favreau has clinched that great power, and, though it isn’t the perfect or awesome effort that it could have been, IRON MAN 2 proves he certainly has the responsibility.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Summer movie season is upon us with a couple of dozen heavy hitters just waiting to blow your movie geek mind.  Of course, we, here at We Are Movie Geeks, love you, and we want your Summer movie season to begin a few days early.  That’s why we are giving away passes for a screening of IRON MAN 2 three days before the film’s release.  The screening is at Chesterfield Galaxy 14 (yes, the Mega Screen) on Tuesday, May 4th at 7PM.  Check below on how to get your passes.

First and foremost,  this is a St. Louis screening.  If you will not be in St. Louis on May 4th, please do not enter this contest.

Here’s all you have to do, and, be warned, we want real, “Iron Man” fans in on this one.  The second IRON MAN film deals with Whiplash, Justin Hammer, Black Widow, and War Machine, but there are so many more lines of story any future, IRON MAN films can take.  We want you to give us your best.  Go back through your old “Iron Man” comics.  I know your mother didn’t throw them ALL out.  Give us your ideas for where a third film in the series could go.  Throw these in the comments section below, and we’ll be picking the best for the tickets.

And, if you aren’t one of the lucky winners, be sure to check out IRON MAN 2 in theaters and IMAX on May 7th.

Hard to believe the last film of the inital trilogy, SCREAM 3, came out over a decade ago now.  The horror genre has changed quite a bit since, and Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson and crew seem to want to take another stab at it.  Yes, that was a pun.  No, it wasn’t funny in the slightest.

Of course, if they want to bring about another, fresh take on the genre that had, in 1996, become quite the parody of itself, they’ll have to do better than this first teaser poster released for SCREAM 4.  I don’t think I was really expecting much out of a teaser poster for a film that hasn’t even begun shooting yet.

Here you go, nonetheless, courtesy of EW:

Also in the article that introduced this new poster is a little interview with Craven where he discusses the origin of this new film a little on what we might expect out of it.  In a nutshell, we can expect the three, lead characters (Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette) to be integrated well into a story that follows a new set of characters.  The new film does take place in Woodsboro, though, this time around, it is being shot in Michigan.  The film is going to touch heavily on the direction the horror genre has taken in the last 10 years, with films like SAW and HOSTEL becoming the norm and with more and more remakes being made.

Time will tell, of course, if SCREAM 4 is going to be worthwhile.  It’s always a good thing whenever Craven steps behind the camera on a new, horror film, regardless of how awful that film may be (CURSED is not easily excused).

Yes, I know we are few and far between.  Some of us still look forward to the latest installment of the SAW franchise, even if the series’ best days are behind it.  However, this latest news may bring a glimmer of hope for those of us who are still waiting for the ultimate SAW film.  Latino Review is reporting Cary Elwes, last seen in the first, SAW film, has signed to reprise his role as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in this year’s SAW VII 3-D.

The Dr. Gordon character has been rumored and wishfully thought to be returning to the SAW series ever since 2005′s SAW II hit theaters.  Many believed his return would be the “big twist” in the last, couple of films.  However, it appears his return won’t be a twist at all, but part of a much bigger storyline.

Here, also, is the official synopsis for the upcoming film:

As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.

SAW VII 3-D is to be directed by Kevin Greutert, who directed SAW VI.  Elwes joins a cast that includes Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, and Sean Patrick Flanery.  It his theaters on October 22nd.

“Kitty!”

That was the last word of PIXAR’s first MONSTERS, INC. as Sully (voiced by John Goodman) peaked back into Boo’s room to see if she remembered him.  She did, and so do we, and, now, nine years after the film’s release, PIXAR is remembering them, as well.  As reported on The Hollywood Reporter, PIXAR and Disney announced MONSTERS, INC. 2 (tentative title) will be released to theaters on November 16th, 2012.  Both Goodman and Billy Crystal are expected to return.

This will make MONSTERS, INC. the third film from PIXAR to be sequelized with TOY STORY 3 hitting theaters this coming Summer and CARS 2 coming Summer, 2011.  PIXAR is building their release schedules up, as well, getting away from the one-film-a -year structure they’ve been on for some time.  Also set to be released in 2012 is BRAVE.

While the idea of pumping out sequels to past treasures from PIXAR seems like a quick way to make some easy cash, I have learned my lesson never to count the animated studio out.  I remember not being particularly excited for UP, and that ended up being one of the best films PIXAR had to date.  TOY STORY 2 is also a fair indicator they know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to revisiting already established characters.

What do you think?  Is MONSTERS, INC. a good idea?  What other, PIXAR films would you like to see be turned into a franchise?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

New Line Cinema’s job in getting an ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake of the ground and into theaters has been an up and down struggle for some time now.  Now, it appears, the studio is going with someone who has a little bit of recent luck in the remake department.  Hollywood Insider is reporting THE CRAZIES’ director, Breck Eisner, is in negotiations to take the helm.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Eisner definitely has the job, nor does it mean we’re going to be seeing an ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake in theaters in the very near future.  With the way directors come and go on projects these days, Eisner could be onto something entirely different by the time you finish reading this article.

However, it does raise some interesting questions about the new film.  Not that it means a whole lot, but Eisner has previously worked with Matthew McConaughey on SAHARA and Timothy Olyphant on THE CRAZIES.  While many would groan at the former sporting the Snake Plissken eyepatch, putting Olyphant in the role might not be the worst decision known to man.  Until recently, Gerard Butler was attached in the role, so, whoever ends up starring in the film actually has more than just Kurt Russell’s shoes to fill.

What is your choice?  Is Breck Eisner a good pick to take on the remake of a John Carpenter classic?  Who should take on the role of Snake Plissken in the upcoming film?  Let us know by shooting us a comment below.

The immersion into beauty on display in Disneynature’s second release, OCEANS, is staggering and absolutely undeniable.  Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud stunned audience with equal amounts of ingenuity in 2001 with WINGED MIGRATION in which they took that audience and transported them into the skies above.  The oceans below are filled with similar wonderments, and the film, though maybe not as groundbreaking as their first collaboration nor as structured as EARTH, Disneynature’s first film, is a masterpiece of visual imagery.  It is a film that shows you things you never thought you would see right alongside things you never even knew existed.

Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, OCEANS takes us to the five oceans that make up 71% of the planet’s surface.  Each of these are home to lifeforms both strange and familiar.  Whether we are witnessing creatures that we’ve seen a dozen times like the great blue whale or the penguins of the Arctic or those we never even knew roamed the oceans like the silky and colorful blanket octopus, we know Perrin and Cluzaud are going to show us something breathtaking.  This they do, time and time again.

But what makes OCEANS more than your standard, television program about life in the deep blue sea, beautiful photography aside, is the abundance with which the directors present their subjects.  The film becomes an onslaught of life, lush with the animals and plant life that make up the ecosystems just under the surface of the water.  However, Perrin and Cluzaud never lose us with nonstop movement between different places in the world, and we begin to see the connections that run from scene to scene.  And they do this all in under 90 minutes, a grand achievement in its own right.  Piling this number of varying scenes together in under an hour and a half must have taken an extraordinary amount of care in the editing room, never mind allowing each scene to breath and live on its own.

One scene in particular showing life along a coral reef at night is ten minutes of sheer brilliance.  It brings on some genuine laughs, as well, as the creatures we watch (some of the stranger ones, at that) seem to go about their daily routine, one crab even taking some time out to clean a bit of house.  Another scene featuring baby green turtles and their trek to the sea is motivating and almost sad to watch, as well, as we watch as dozens of them race towards the water, hungry gulls circling overhead.

The narration by Brosnan doesn’t offer much other than giving us the names of some of the more unfamiliar fish and crustaceans we might not know about.  Brosnan’s narration really comes home, though, late in the film when the subject of pollution and the veins they create into the oceans is broached.  Perrin and Cluzaud, not shying away nor interfering with the way of the world, illicit a sense of disgust and heartbreak as we watch a seal nudging at and puzzling over a rusty shopping cart.  It’s a moment that makes you frown at your fellow man, and more of it may have helped the case OCEANS makes against such pollution.

From there, we move to the arctic where we watch as glaciers and icebergs are breaking apart, the polar bears who use them as home falling into the ocean.  The pains of pollution and global warming are made all the more apparent by the images the directors give us, but it seems to come at an odd time in the film, almost like trying to learn a lesson just after a particularly fun recess.

Nonetheless, the beauty and magnificence of our world is captured from beginning to end with OCEANS.  The technical achievement here is unquestionable.  Whether it is a man swimming right alongside a great white shark, massive whale resting in the water completely upside down, or two converging armies of crabs that turn into a moving floor of shells and legs, OCEANS is a film that takes your breath away with its own beauty and magnificence.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

At least, that’s the word from Platinum Dunes producer Brad Fuller via his Twitter page.  When a fan asked how the proposed sequel to 2009′s FRIDAY THE 13th reboot, Fuller simply replied, “it is dead – not happening.”  Simple enough response, but then the quest of “why” comes into the picture.

The 2009 film raked in over $91 million worldwide against a $19-million budget.  A sequel seemed inevitable after its $40.5-million opening weekend.  This time last year, plans for the sequel were well underway.

This is also interesting news when you consider it comes just eight days before Platinum Dunes drops the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET remake in our laps.  You would have thought the decision to announce the F13 sequel dead in the water would have come at a later date, and even from something a little more formal than a Twitter reply.  Seems like a Fuller faux pas, in my opinion.

The story behind this decision is certain to come out at some point.  At this point, though, it’s all speculation and rumor.

Martin Lawrence.  That’s who.  And why shouldn’t he?  Per his contract (at least with 2003′s BAD BOYS II), he made just as much as Will Smith, and making as much as Will Smith on anything is enough to put a smile on your face.

Lawrence recently sat down with MTV to talk about his newest movie, DEATH AT A FUNERAL, when the subject of a BAD BOYS III was brought up.

It’s real realistic.  We’ve talked about ‘Bad Boys 3.’

The “we” there being Lawrence, Smith, and director Michael Bay, all of whom Lawrence confirms would be up for returning for a third outing.  The fourth piece of this puzzle, though, is producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who hasn’t collaborated with Bay since BAD BOYS II.

Of course, I remember how long it felt between 1995′s BAD BOYS and its sequel.  The eight-year jump from a second to a third film is fast approaching, and, with Bay handling TRANSFORMERS 3 at the moment, a third BAD BOYS films won’t be happening before 2011.  However, with Lawrence just turning 45 and Smith turning 42 this year, the duo are anything but getting too old for this shit.

Because it’s been a few months since we’ve talked about AVATAR, let’s get into some business with the planned sequel.  In promotion for the film’s release on DVD (it comes out tomorrow, April 22nd), director James Cameron sat down with LA Times’ Hero Complex to divulge a few tidbits on the film’s follow-up.

Here’s what he had to say:

Part of my focus in the second film is in creating a different environment – a different setting within Pandora. And I’m going to be focusing on the ocean on Pandora, which will be equally rich and diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it just won’t be a rain forest.

While many of us believed the first AVATAR was weak on story, the level of thought that went into the world of Pandora and the creatures and plant life that inhabited it were undeniable.  With Cameron an avid, deep sea enthusiast, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of strange lifeforms he is going to come up with for an oceanic adventure with the Na’vi.

Cameron also makes mention of a proposed third film in the AVATAR series, with each film expanding on Alpha Centauri AB system.

1, 2, Freddy’s coming for you, but he may be invading your nightmare a few days earlier than you anticipated.  We have passes to give out for the April 28th screening in St. Louis of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.  That’s two days before the film’s wide release.

First and foremost,  this is a St. Louis screening.  If you will not be in St. Louis on April 28th, please do not enter this contest.

Here’s all you have to do.  As many of you know, the Freddy Krueger character was established and made into an icon with one Robert Englund donning the hat, red and green sweater, and razor-sharp claws.  For this new version, the reins have been handed over to Jackie Earle Haley, who many know as Rorschach from WATCHMEN.  What we want to know is who is your choice?  Robert Englund or Jackie Earle Haley?  Leave a comment in the comments section below explaining who you think will do a better job as Freddy when the dust has settled.

We’ll be picking the best answers from the entries and notifying you by email.  And, if you’re not one of the lucky ones, be sure to check out A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET when it hits theaters on April 30th.

MGM and their financial woes are creating havoc on some of our favorite and most anticipated franchises.  While pre-production on THE HOBBIT seems to be moving on ungreased tracks, not a whole lot of pessimistic news had come our way on the 007 front.  That is, until today.

EON Productions released a statement today saying production on BOND 23, previously set for release in 2012, had been halted until MGM can get their house in order.  EON and related producers, including Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, cited MGM’s uncertain future and their failure to finalize a deal selling off property rights as the cause for the suspension.  No planned start or release dates were given.

Of course, optimism has to be glanced at, at least.  The Bond franchise is anything but dead, and, I’m sure, someone, even if it isn’t MGM backing it, will pull a BOND 23 out of their hats at some point down the road.  It’s just that it IS down the road at this point in time, and the parties involved, both behind and in front of the camera, are in question.  When we last heard, Sam Mendes was attached to direct from a screenplay by Peter Morgan, and Daniel Craig was without a doubt returning for a third venture.  All of this is in question now, and we could be looking at yet another possible reboot on the franchise if deals cannot be met.  That’s an idea I wouldn’t mind flashing a license to kill at.

Oh, to be a fan of the STAR WARS franchise this week, especially if you are lucky enough to a resident of Los Angeles.  Not only has it been announced the Arclight in Hollywood will be hosting a special screening of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK on May 19th complete with Harrison Ford Q&A, but word on the STAR WARS series on Blu-Ray is beginning to rear its glorious head, as well.  IGN is reporting Steve Sansweet, Director of Fan Relations for Lucasfilm, was on hand at the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo (C2E2).  He had this to say about STAR WARS in hi-def:

We have been at work for a couple of years working on—I won’t call it the Ultimate Set because we keep finding stuff—but, a very full set of all six movies on Blu-ray with lots of extra material. We’re finding all kinds of scenes from dailies that have never been seen before. Beyond all of those things that you know about… there are some real treasures.

While Sansweet didn’t have an exact date to announce on when ravenous fanboys (myself included) could get their hands on these, he did say we won’t be waiting too long.

Which brings up an interesting question.  Which scene from all six STAR WARS films are you most looking forward to in beautiful HD?  Let us know by shooting us a comment below.

What a strange choice Marvel Studios has made today, but one that is sure to have comic book fans frothing at the mouth.  They have selected a man who is known more for his TV series writing than for his feature film directing, a man who only has one feature film under his belt.  Said feature film, for all intents and purposes was a financial dud, at that.

According to Deadline, final negotiations are underway to bring Joss Whedon in as director of the THE AVENGERS film, the film that will be the culmination of IRON MAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, CAPTAIN AMERICA, and THOR.  This could be considered quite the coup by people who were adament that Jon Favreau would be the perfect choice, or even any of the other directors behind these singular films before they all joined forces Voltron-style to take out the competition a the box office.

Whether the fanboy anxiety for this film can hold steady until THE AVENGERS comes out in May of 2012 is anyone’s guess.  It seems ages ago that THE INCREDIBLE HULK came out, and neither CAPTAIN AMERICA nor THOR have had their own chance at doing one-on-one battle for moviegoers dollars.  While Whedon is someone who I am sure will do absolute justice to the property he has been given, it is quite the odd choice given his history.  We shall see.

THE LOSERS aren’t dead, and they aren’t going down without a fight, either.  You can watch this fight when the film hits theaters on April 23rd, or you can be one of the lucky ones to see the film three days early.  We have passes to give away for the April 20th screening at Ronnie’s 20 Cine.

First and foremost,  this is a St. Louis screening.  If you will not be in St. Louis on February 23th, please do not enter this contest.

Here’s what you got to do:

• THE LOSERS is about a group of 6 Black Ops members who seek revenge against those who turned on them.
• The picture above shows three of these people.
• Send me an email at kirk@wearemoviegeeks.com telling me who isn’t shown in the picture.
• Hint #1: The people shown are Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, and Idris Elba.
• Hint #2: The film’s IMDB page should help.

That’s all you got to do.  Send me those emails, and I’ll be selecting the winners at random from the correct answers.

And, if you’re not one of the lucky winners, be sure to check out THE LOSERS when it hits theaters on April 23rd.