Will Smith’s After Earth Misses Box Office #1

Columbia Pictures

Even from the trailer, I wasn’t too impressed.

In the latest sci-fi apocalyptic film from Hollywood, Will Smith and his son Jaden get split-face poster time for After Earth

Reaction on the film is harsh too. In the comments below The Hollywood Reporter’s piece on the disappointing opening for the movie, people are going after Jaden and what they see as Will’s “fading movie star power”. You have people tired of Will “shoving his kids down [their] throats”. I can understand that, but  Jaden wants to act (and sing…or rap and date a Kardashian) by his own choice. I think that has little to do with the movie’s performance. Yes, misleading your audience (billing this a Will Smith movie when actually Jaden’s billed at the top) does damage, but the plot and how it was sold is a bigger issue to me.

Freedom Fighter says, “Will Smith sort of pioneered the wise ass cracking black guy in a big budget film with a diverse cast. While that was fun and fresh back in the 90s, it’s old and stale today. Unfortunately for Will, that’s the only schtick he’s good at. Add to that fact, After Earth lacks any diversity what-so-ever, it shouldn’t take a genius to figure out this movie has little appeal and was destined to flop royally.”

I have to disagree. Did he not see Seven Pounds? There wasn’t much funny in that movie. Same goes for I Am Legend. I think the bigger issue is the marketing of After Earth and the lofty, sci-fi approach that wasn’t totally action-based but had a nondescript storyline too. Only when we got closer to the release date did the true plot unfold (which happens with many movies in this genre), and do we really care enough about sci-fi movies in this style anymore?

THR.com

Disney Pixar Announces: Finding Dory!

Disney Pixar

Since it’s the second day of the month, I’m thinking this isn’t an april Fools joke.

Both Disney Pixar and Ellen DeGeneres herself have taken to social media to officially announce that everyone’s favorite funny Blue Regal Tang with short-term memory loss is getting her own movie. Ellen simply added along with the above graphic, “it’s happening.” But she added more detail in an official statement:

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time. I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating Toy Story 16. But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is — it’s got a lot more Dory.”

If you’re still skeptical, the official Facebook page was created March 11th, so this definitely isn’t a cruel joke for Dory fans. The movie is set to take place a year after Nemo was found, and will have both old and new characters.

 Finding Dory is set to hit theaters November 2015.

*Update: Ellen used her first day back on her daytime talkshow to share the news too! Watch her announcement after the jump:

Trailer: The Hangover Part III

Warner Bros.

It’s official. The third installment of The Hangover is very much a thing. After releasing teaser poster yesterday, Warner Bros. released the theatrical trailer for the end of “the trilogy of mayhem and bad decisions”. Todd Phillips is on board as director and Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis reprise their roles.  From the poster, I’m sure Mr. Chow once again has a lot to do with whatever the plot is. In the trailer, we get a look at the dopeness that is John Goodman, as what looks to be a drug lord of some sort… or at least he could be. Plus there’s a gross (but funny, if that’s your style of comedy) scene between Galifianakis’ character Alan and whomever Melissa McCarthy is playing in this movie.

Peep the poster and the theatrical trailer below! The Hangover Part III hits theaters Memorial Day 2013.

New Iron Man 3 Trailer Arrives

Marvel

Marvel promised the latest Iron Man trailer would be out by today, thanks to a bootlegger in a Mexican theatre, fans got an advance screening yesterday. Today, Marvel has officially released the new trailer, and we get a better look at the army of Iron Men that will likely help Tony Stark save the world and his beloved Ms. Potts. Plus, Don Cheadle’s character James Rhodes rocks a Captain America-inspired Iron Man suit as War Machine.

Watch the new theatrical trailer below! Iron Man 3 hits US theaters May 3rd.

Latest Iron Man 3 Poster Arrives, New Trailer Announced

As we get closer to the May 3rd release of Iron Man 3, we’ll be seeing more promo gear. Mostly TV spots and posters. The latest features an army of Iron Man copies/drones rising out to create some cool action scenes. In the meantime, Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark stares pensively off to the right(ish) side. This is said to be the final poster for the film and the final trailer is coming March 5th.

It does the job, I guess, but the Photoshop work is odd. Doesn’t it look like RDJ’s head is thrown onto Iron Man’s body? See for yourself:

/Film

2013 Oscar Winners

The Oscars

The 85th Academy Awards (rebranded officially as the Oscars this year and from now on) last night were humorous and pretty sassy (see: Ben Affleck’s snipe at host Seth MacFarlane’s Gigli reference) and surprisingly full of stunning musical numbers (Adele singing “Skyfall” and hitting that majestic note at the end, J. Hud nailing “You’re Gonna Love Me”). But it’s an award show after all, and there were winners. “Argo”, “Les Mis”, and “Life of Pi” were big winners.

See the winners of the televised categories below:

Kerry Washington Joins Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and More as an Oscar Presenter

ABC

The list of presenters gets longer as we get nearer to the Academy Awards this Sunday. Kerry Washington, Jane Fonda, Kristen Stewart have just been added to an already interesting list of presenters. No word on what particular categories they will present, but it’s safe to say most could be making appearances on behalf of upcoming projects (Kerry, for instance  has a comedy coming out in May). Plus, it never hurts to make an appearance at a heavily watched event attended by many industry peers. Robert Downey, Jr., Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, and Mark Ruffalo are some of the others set to appear.

The Oscars air February 24th on ABC at 8:30pm.

EW

Trailer: Tyler Perry Presents ‘Peeples’

Lionsgate

There’s been some buzz about the latest Tyler Perry film since his lackluster turn in Alex Cross, and we have it by way of Peeples. Although Perry isn’t in the film, he is one of the producers. The comedy stars Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson (Pineapple Express, Darryl in The Office). In it, Kerry’s Grace Peeples heads to her highly esteemed family’s reunion in the Hampton’s. Things get zany when her boyfriend Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the event to win over her family and propose to Grace. David Alan Grier dons a salt-and-pepper hairdo and facial hair for his part as Mr. Peeples.

While it looks like the comedy could get a bit corny, it looks like a decent family film. Plus we get to see Oliva Pope do comedy. Peeples hits theaters May 10th.

Watch the trailer here and get a look at another promo poster below!

Disney’s 2013 Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Film Hits Web

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Disney short films are always a treat, and this is no exception. Disney Animation Studios released the full version of their Osar-nominated (under the Best Animated Short category) “Paperman” to the web today. Set in mid-20th century NYC, it’s the start of what could be a love story.  I especially like the music in this; it’s sweet and helps push the storyline without becoming whimsical. It stays in the character of the story.  Plus, the pairing of Disney’s traditional 2D animation with CG elements in the background, cars, and props is engaging too.

Watch “Paperman” after the jump:

Teaser Trailer for ‘After Earth’ Starring Will Smith & Son Jaden Arrives

Colombia Pictures

Set for release in summer 2013, the international teaser trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth starring Will Smith and his actor/rapper (but better actor) son Jaden has surfaced. Think of After Earth as a very futuristic version of I Am Legend except (from the trailer) it’s just the father-son duo’s characters Cypher and Kitai Raige, respectively. Also, they have very interesting accents, and seem to have come from another planet and have crashed on Earth for some reason. I have some other plot theories from the trailer (shouldn’t the names at least be a clue?), but I’ll keep them to myself.

After seeing Prometheus, which is absolutely the worst movie I have ever seen, I’m a little hesitant to watch another sci-fi movie. But you can’t really go wrong with Will Smith. Decide for yourself and watch the trailer after the jump.