FILM NEWS: The Villains of Sherlock Holmes & Mission Impossible 4, Aliens Prequel Plot, Bateman & Reynolds Switch Bodies, Hangover 2 Plot, and more

• Looks like Noomi Rapace has been initiated into official American stardom. Not only will she star opposite Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker & The Town) in the re-imagining of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, but she scored the lead in the Sherlock Holmes sequel. A role she turned down, however, was the new recruit in Mission Impossible 4—fortunately for Paul Patton (Deja Vu), who was ultimately cast. Also joining Tom Cruise's new team, playing the resident wise-cracker I'm sure, is Josh Holloway ("Lost"). As for the villain, it's rumored that Rapace isn't the only one getting famous off the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hype machine. Her co-star Michael Nyqvist (right) will play the charming, calculating villain who engages in a brutal fight with Ethan Hunt in the end. And playing Moriarity, the main villain in Sherlock Holmes 2, will be the dashing, penny-pinching gent Jared Harris (left), who has been charming us on "Mad Men" for the last two seasons.

• Everybody's super-hyped that Zack Snyder has finally been chosen as the new Superman director. But I 1) wonder if he can erase the memory of Watchmen bombing, 2) am surprisingly not too keen on Christopher Nolan producing and adding his dark Batman vibe to it—I like my Clark Kent bumbling, not brooding—and 3) would rather hear the news of who's been cast as Superman. It's too bad Jon Hamm is 10 years too old.

• OMG! Will Smith might be the president in the Independence Day sequel. Of course.

• Speaking of Sir Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. is interested in starring in The $40,000 Man, it's a recession-friendly version of "The Six Million Dollar Man," where a legendary astronaut is rebuilt by the government after a horrible accident. The catch is that they don't use the most hi-tech equipment. Think JVC instead of Sony.

• I'm a little worried about Steven Spielberg. First Indiana Jones 4 bombs, then he spends years working on Tintin (?), and now he's doing Robopocalypse, a sci-fi action film that sounds exactly like The Terminator. He can't possibly be running out of money. Right?

• Angelina Jolie is set to make her directorial debut. She's chosen Zana Marjanovic (Snow) to star in a drama about "a Bosnian woman who is in love with a Serbian man amidst the war."

• The Affleck brothers and Matt Damon want to make a 70s-set baseball film together called The Trade. Apparently, in 1973 New York Yankee teammates Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich decided to trade wives. *eyeroll* Originally, the plan was for Ben and Matt to play the leads and for Ben to direct, but now it looks like the brothers will write the film and maybe (just maybe) give Matt the option of directing for the first time. Stop for a second. Kudos to Matt for branching out and everything—maybe he'll get some pointers from Clint Eastwood—but why are two Red Sox fans being allowed to make a film about Yankee players? Isn't there some sort of law against that? I mean, in 2007 the man admitted to owning a "Jesus Hates the Yankees" t-shirt in Entertainment Weekly. Blasphemy!

• When I first heard that Mickey Rourke was doing the film Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, I thought it sounded incredibly stupid. Then I heard Michael Shannon ("Boardwalk Empire"), Benicio Del Toro, and James Franco have been cast, so now I'm in. Yes, I'm that easy. The film is "based on the true story of Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski, a man who for more than 40 years led a double life as both a professional assassin and a doting husband and father in suburban New Jersey." *shaking head* Seriously, who buys Mickey Rourke as a suburban family man? Granted, it's New Jersey, but still. No matter how he's dressed or groomed, he always looks like an escape prisoner from Riker's Island.

• I'm so glad Emma Stone beat out Hilary Duff to play Gwen Stacy in Spiderman (Mary Jane is taking a backseat in this version). I don't have anything against Hilary Duff. I've loved her since Casper Meets Wendy, but she's no superhero girlfriend. She just doesn't have enough spunk. Stone is also rumored to be up for the female lead in the "21 Jump Street" film adaptation. I wonder if her former Superbad co-star Jonah Hill is the one who suggested her?

• Ridley Scott is looking to direct a two-part prequel to the Aliens saga. Normally, that wouldn't be newsworthy. Aliens is awesome. When it shows up in theaters, you watch it, whether the original cast is in it or not, and whether the plot makes sense or not. But this time the plot intrigues me. Scott says it might run along the lines of: "Were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?" Now that's interesting. Can you imagine an "Alien" being the next step up from a nuclear warhead? And if it was a planet-cleanup technique, are we the ones who send it as like a vicious version of Wall-E, or did something else send it before they land and commandeer our planet? So many possibilities. Rumored to be starring in the prequels are Noomi Rapace, Carey Mulligan (Wall Street 2), or Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans). I'm not even going to comment on the hilarity of Mulligan trying to fill Sigourney Weaver's shoes.

• Why did I just know after hearing that the Battleship board game movie was in production that Liam Neeson would get cast? After starring in A-Team, he was bound to get a truckload of army-related roles thrown at him. He's just so convincing as a leader in war. In Battleship, he'll play a navy admiral, father of Brooklyn Decker, and Taylor Kitsch's future father-in-law. Alexander Skarsgaard ("True Blood") is playing Kitsch's brother and Rihanna will play a weapons analyst...hopefully one without a Caribbean accent.

• Will Ferrell is really putting himself out there. He's teaming up with Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal for a Spanish-language comedy called Casa de mi padre (House of My Father). In the dramatic telenovela-style story, he'll play Luna's brother, and Bernal will be a friend of the family.

• Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds are teaming up for the body-switching film The Change-Up. Reynolds takes over Bateman's family life and Bateman takes over Reynolds' responsiblity-less slacker lifestyle. Olivia Wilde plays the person who causes the body-switch and Leslie Mann, veteran body-switching actress, will play Bateman's wife. I'm assuming they're both supposed to have a revelation at the end of this, Freaky Friday-style. Bateman will probably learn to appreciate his family and Reynolds will probably realize what he's missing out on. Despite its predictability, it's always great to see these two make fools of themselves. P.S. Who do you think is getting the better deal on that bodyswitch? *wink wink*

• The plot of The Hangover 2 will be about the guys going to Thailand and Ed Helms' character waking up after having had sex with a local transsexual prostitute, and trying to figure out what happened.

FILM: New Actors in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Here are the new faces of the next film:

Bryce Dallas Howard will take over as Victoria. Xavier Samuels will play Riley Biers, who was turned by Victoria to build an army. Jodelle Ferland will play Bree, a newborn vampire who was turned by Riley.

Jack Huston will play Royce King, Rosalie's former fiance, and Sabrina Frank will play Vera, Rosalie's best friend when she was human.

Julia Jones will play Leah Clearwater, the only female werewolf, and BooBoo Stewart will play Seth Clearwater, a future member of Jacob's spinoff wolf pack.

Catalina Sandino Moreno will play Maria, the vampire who turned Jasper and tried to create an army of vampires to take over territories in the past. Kirsten Prout will play Lucy and Leah Gibson will play Nettie, vampires that Jasper killed in the past for turning on Maria.

TRAILER: "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Teaser

Twilight lovers don't need a trailer to get amped for the next film in the saga. But for you non-book readers and non-Robert Pattinson lovers, you might be curious as to what it has to offer.

First up, there's a new director. Why is that important? David Slade is known for two things: the horror comic adaptation 30 Days of Night, which features a more vicious breed of vampire, and the indie thriller Hard Candy, which has a whole different level of creepiness. You can already tell by the trailer that the film is going to be a lot less glossy and color-rich, and a lot more cryptic and heart-thumping.

This time the plot revolves around two threats to Bella's well-being. Not only does she have to fend off Victoria, who is still out to get her, but she also has to avoid the wrath of the Volturi, who demand for her to be turned into a vampire as previously promised. Victoria is building a young army of savage vamps, so the werewolves and the vamps have to train together in order to prepare for battle. Expect a lot of Jacob vs. Edward moments, plenty of Jacob begging Bella to change her mind, a throwdown of maximum proportions, and, best of all, a kiss between Bella and Jacob.

Dakota Fanning returns as a representative for the Volturi, Bryce Dallas Howard takes over for Rachel Lefevre as Victoria, and newcomer Xavier Samuel plays Victoria's most trusted minion Riley.

I didn't realize the film was coming out so soon (this summer, woa!), but so far I'm unimpressed with the trailer. Maybe if they incorporate some training and battle scenes, and tease the Bella-Jacob kiss, I think I might be more amped for it.


Release Date: June 30

FILM TOPIC: The ending of Robert Pattinson's "Remember Me"

I often use MovieSpoiler.com to find out the ending of films I don't think are worth paying for or are too scary to watch. But every now and then, when I read an awesome ending, I decide to watch the film. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way. Does knowing the ending of a film dissuade you from wanting to see it? I mean, everybody knows the ending to iconic films like Titanic, Star Wars, and Psycho, but they're still watched generation after generation.

This weekend, Perez Hilton revealed the ending to Robert Pattinson's latest indie Remember Me. The film is being promoted as a drama about young lovers "whose newfound relationship is threatened as they try to cope with their respective family tragedies." However, the trailer (and the movie itself) never indicates that the film is set in 2001. While normally that wouldn't be a big deal, it's actually a major plot detail, considering the tragic ending. According to Perez:

"In the final moments of the film, Robert Pattinson's character has a fight with his girlfriend, played by Emilie de Ravin. He leaves to go to his father's office and when he arrives, he rides the elevator up to the 92nd-floor. As he waits for his father, he looks out the window and helplessly watches American Airlines Flight 11 hit the building, and dies in what is now known as 9/11."

Now tell me, don't you really want to see it now? I know, I know. 9/11 films don't have the greatest track record in theaters (or even on DVD). But as twists go, that's pretty epic. Since the film hits theaters March 12, I wonder how it will affect attendance.

Were you interested in seeing it before? Are you more interested in seeing it now or less?

CAST WHO?: Taylor Lautner's love interest in "Northern Lights"

I enjoyed a good chuckle when I read that Tom Cruise tapped Taylor Lautner to play his son in the thriller Northern Lights. On what planet do they look related? Whatevs. Lautner's character is an aerobatics pilot, "who faces off with his controlling, billionaire father and falls in love with a gifted, female pilot."

Let's get to casting his romantic interest. So since we're going for fantasy, let's pretend in an alternate universe Megan Fox would be interested in him. Oh god! Why did I put that out in the ether? Hey maybe we can squeeze a bad girl out of the super sweet Carey Mulligan (An Education). Or give Kristin Kreuk a shot at erasing Street Fighter from our memories? Eh. Amanda Bynes and Hayden Panettiere have recently whored themselves out in Maxim and I Love You, Beth Cooper, respectively (but not, if you know what I mean). Maybe that'll get them an audition. His fellow Twilighter Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) has been getting a lot of press, but I think there might be a height requirement to be a pilot and she's only 5'1". Please god, don't pick Blake Lively. Please. There's just no way that'll be believable. She's beautiful, but she doesn't look like she can work a blender, let alone be a gifted pilot. (Oh and if this were a guy, would they be calling him a "gifted" pilot? I don't think so. Super condescending.) Hmm, maybe if Lindsay Lohan agrees to pretend Scientology "saved" her Tom Cruise'll give it to her. *Sigh* All joking aside, I want a fresh face or at least a relatively fresh one. Any ideas?

FILM REVIEW: The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Pros & Cons

I saw New Moon before Thanksgiving, and considering that a majority of the planet had already seen it, giving it an incredible opening weekend, I figured a review wasn't really necessary. But I was curious to see if everyone agreed that Chris Weitz's remodel was not only warranted, but successful. Here are the pros and cons of his incarnation:

PROS
• Kristen Stewart's Acting: We're stuck in Bella's head a lot in the second book, and if you don't even like Bella, that can be kind of annoying to watch for 2hrs. But I think—after getting "constructive" criticism from millions of people, including spoof comedians, who found her hair-fluffing, overzealous panting, and lip-biting annoying—that Stewart successfully toned down the melodramatic acting. That's especially impressive since Bella needed to convincingly lose her marbles for the first half of the film. Perhaps you didn't agree with how she handled the rejection, but you definitely bought it.

• Taylor Lautner's Transformation: In the first film, we witness two people fall in love and form an unbreakable bond. Lautner had the daunting task of convincing non-readers that Jacob's affections for Bella were not only warranted, but were worthy of being reciprocated. I think the series of false-starts—from the post-movie declaration of affections to the pre-Volturi near-kiss—provided the perfect amount of sexual tension to represent his unrequited love. While reading, I got the feeling that Bella was sort of stringing Jacob along until Edward returned. He was her temporary fix until she could get her hands on a more potent drug. Watching the film made that even more obvious as we got to see her use him to build a dangerous means to summon the Edward-phantom that would warn her against recklessness. You were either on Team Edward, hoping she'd use Jacob more, or on Team Jacob, wishing he'd see right through her manipulation (or that she'd see he was the better choice). I actually I listened to the second book on tape, and listening to Jacob whine about his affections for Bella was soooo annoying. But watching it and seeing his desperation and longing for her, really convinced me of his affections. I don't know if it was the added muscles or his deep, dark eyes, but Taylor did a great job of expressing exactly the kind of protective and passionate character that Jacob was written to be.

• Cinematography: It was incredible, from the simple scenes in the woods to the suspenseful drowning scene to the slow-motion, red-cloaks square rescue. Whereas the first film introduced you to the vampires with gray tones, this film introduced us to the wolves with warm tones, bringing a town that is inhabited by the undead to life.

• Emily's Scarring: I was really concerned about the CGI, in regards to the wolves, but I completely forgot about Emily's face. The wolves looked great. I expected something a little less normal-looking, but they were very well-designed. It wasn't until I realized they were going to introduce Sam's fiancee that I remembered she was supposed to represent a cautionary-tale for Bella if she should ever consider being with Jacob. I imagined her scars to be deep and jarring enough to give you pause, but I was glad half her face wasn't gone. Her scars are deep enough for you to understand why Sam feels so remorseful all the time, but not so deep that they're distracting. Well done.

• The Volturi Showdown: Oh I can't wait for the battles to begin in the upcoming films! Jane (Dakota Fanning) and Alec (Cameron Bright) were so convincingly evil in this film that I'm excited for their future encounters with the Cullen's. And just as a side note on the book itself, after seeing the fight in the Volturi lair, I realized how illogical it was for Emmett not to have gone with Alice. Especially, since she just stood there in a chokehold. I mean, maybe she saw the future was peachy, but most of those body-slams could've been avoided.

• Slow-Motion Fight Scenes: I'm not sure if Chris Weitz is big on slow motion or if he thinks it adds to the suspense, but either way I'm happy he used it during the wolf hunts. I hate when I can never actually see a fight happen. It could've all just looked like a whirlwind of red hair and brown fur, so I'm glad they slowed it down so we could actually see the wolves accost Laurent and nearly catch Victoria. It kind of looked like a violent ballet.

• The Marble Gods: One of the coolest parts about watching a book you've already read is being reminded of cool things you forgot. Stephenie Meyer's vampires are like porcelain dolls. They crack like marble. So cool to actually see that illustrated when Edward's head was slammed into the ground.

• Mike aka Bella's Human Stalker: I hate that putz Mik, but he had me dying laughing in this film. It wasn't anything he said. I just didn't realize that his spaztastic puke session would be that amusing to watch. But maybe it was more so because he was trying to brush Jacob off and have a date with Bella, even going so far as to ask if he was old enough to see an R-rated film. lol He wasn't. Priceless.

• Jacob's Hair: Give a raise to whoever upgraded Jacob's wig from $2-hooker to Rodeo Drive-quality. Very much appreciated.

• Bella's Dad Charlie: Fantastic job with the father-daughter relationship. It was the right amount of awkwardness, teasing, and reprimands.

• Minimal Gore: Also, I'd like to high-five whoever decided not to show the tourists getting slaughtered in the Volturi lair, especially after showing us that there were two children among them.


CONS
• The Volturi Trio: I was really afraid James was going to be a joke in the last film, and he turned out to be surprisingly terrifying. Aro (Michael Sheen), however, sort of behaved like Mr. Burns from "The Simpsons." Sure, Mr. Burns is creepy and kind of gross, but he doesn't scare me. I guess Aro isn't really that terrifying in the books, but I didn't expect him to be...weird. And as for his two associates, they seemed kind of ill and bored by the humans, when I thought they were supposed to be angered and intimidating. Was that just me?

• Revealing the Powers: I almost forgot that werewolves block Alice's power. While I'm glad they touched on that a bit, I wish they would've emphasized it more for the non-readers. My friend totally didn't get that Alice wasn't just repulsed by the werewolf smell and his overall presence, and that it was actually a legitimate hindrance to be around him. I hope in the future they'll be a little bit more verbal about what all the other vamps can do. Oh and I hope they emphasize how bonded the wolves are mentally.

• Werewolf Smell: I thought Alice would be a little more repulsed than she was. It looked like she just smelled a rotten egg or bad milk, not like she was ready to gag. Maybe the repetition of it in the book made it seem like it was worse than it actually was.

• Alice and Bella's Friendship: I know, and the readers know, that Bella and Alice are besties, but moviegoers don't. For them, I feel like the die-hard friendship, complete with numerous unreceived emails and a post-suicide-attempt visit, came out of left field. But I guess more time has to be spent on the romances and not the friendships.

• Bella's Attraction towards Edward: In my review of the first one, I expressed disappointment of how they didn't show how solid his skin was and how he was supposed to restrain her for every kiss. While they did do both this time, they didn't really explain why he was restraining her or why the bday present she wanted was a kiss. It makes sense for him to be craving her, but there was no explanation as to why she would be craving him. It's not like he's Dracula. He isn't seducing her. So they should've thrown in a quick line about self-control or something.

• Glitter Effect: The stripper skin remained. What are you going to do right? Gotta keep it consistent.

It's difficult to determine whether Chris Weitz did a better job than Catherine Hardwicke, since he had a bigger budget, more support from the studio, and the benefit of learning from her mistakes. But considering the visual quality of the films that both have produced in the past, I doubt she could've created a more beautifully illustrated, epic love triangle than him. But that's just me. What do you think?

FILM: The New Actors in Twilight Saga: New Moon

There are a ton of new actors that'll appear in New Moon. Check out the members of Jacob's wolf pack and of the Volturi:


THE WOLF PACK

Sam Uley: Wolf-pack leader

(Chaske Spencer)

Emily: Sam's fiancee

(Tinsel Korey)

Quil: the last of Jacob's best friends to learn of his wolf heritage

(Tyson Houseman)

Paul: the most volatile member
(Alex Meraz)

 Embry: Jake's right hand man

(Kiowa Gordon)

Jared: the jokester

(Bronson Pelletier)

THE VOLTURI

Aro: the leader of the ancient Italian vampire coven

(Michael Sheen)

Caius: one of the leaders

(Jamie Campbell Bower)

Marcus: one of the leaders

(Christopher Heyerdahl)

Jane: a guard who has the ability to torture people with illusions of pain.

(Dakota Fanning)

Alec: Jane's brother who can block the others' senses

(Cameron Bright)

Demetri: a member with unparalleled tracking abilities, speed, and strength.

(Charlie Bewley)

Felix: an enforcer

(Daniel Cudmore)

Heidi: a provider of food to the vampires

(Noot Seear)

Gianna: a human who works for the vampires

(Justine Wachsberger)

TV RECAP: CW's "Vampire Diaries" - Season 1 - Episode 1

I actually saw this new series the night it premiered, but I wanted to wait till the initial effect had worn off before I commented. After careful contemplation (lol), I've decided that I like it. Four days and 1 VMA scandal later, it's still stuck in my mind. Allow me to elaborate on why I think it has the potential to keep viewers interested:

1. It's not a full-blown adaptation. Thank god! I know that a lot of people are big fans of L.J. Smith's novel version, but I personally couldn't get through it. It has nothing to do with the writing. It was actually way more bearable than Twilight. The problem was the lead character, Elena. Instead of the awkward loner-type that Twilight-lovers are accustomed to, or the girly-yet-badass character that Buffy-lovers worship, or the overly curious and caring type that True Blood-lovers tune in for every week, readers are subjected to a popular girl whose sole agenda is to bag Stefan, the hottest guy in school, who just so happens to be a vampire, before her frenemy Caroline does. She sounded like a bitch. Why would I give a crap about her? And, since Elena is believed to be a doppelganger of Stefan's true love from the 1800s, the vampire who selfishly sired both him and his brother Damon for some sick-and-twisted eternal love triangle, she continued to lose cool points as the book progressed. Unfortunately, I stopped reading once Damon revealed himself to his brother, which was basically the end of the first episode. They did a great job of summing up everything you need to know to understand the history of these three people who seem to have intertwined fates.

2. The characters aren't boring (unlike on "Melrose Place"). Since Elena (Nina Dobrev from "Degrassi: The Next Generation") is supposed to be the object of not two, but three guys' obsessions, she has to be off-the-charts awesome. And, I'd say, she passes for interesting. For starters, her parents died in a car accident that she survived. That's pretty peculiar. (I always pray that these vampire-loving girls have some sort of dormant superpower.) She watches over her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, yes, that McQueen), who has a drug addiction and a seemingly unhealthy attachment to her ex-boyfriend Matt's (Zach Roerig from "Friday Night Lights") slutty sister Vicki (Kayla Ewell from "The Bold and the Beautiful"). All in all, I'm glad she isn't as vapid as her original persona dictated.

Elena's guys:

Stefan (Paul Wesley from ABC Family's miniseries "Fallen") doesn't brood (as much as most vampires). He behaves like a pretty normal teenager: flirting with girls, going to parties, and disrespecting obnoxious teachers who insensitively suggest that a student should "get over" their parents dying since it's been four months. (Asshole!) But he does have those signature deep, dark eyes, and keeps randomly appearing at her side. Honestly though, if he weren't hot, she would've maced him by now. lol


Damon (Ian Somerhalder from "Lost") is as psycho as you'd think he'd be. See, from what I read, it seems he was somewhat neglected as a child. His father favored Stefan, so he's always resented him for that. Then when he met Elena's doppelganger Katherine, he decided he'd steal her away from Stefan. He thought she was an extraordinary creature and that they were destined to be together, because they had the same dark nature, despite the fact that he was human. He was also interested in the power that comes along with living eternally and shedding the weaknesses of humanity. (He has some serious daddy issues.) So when the time came for Katherine to choose between them, she chose both, hoping they could live in harmony. It was like he wasn't enough to please her. Hating herself for coming between them, she committed suicide, and Damon vowed to make Stefan pay for it. So his basic agenda is to take Elena away from him and win "Katherine's heart" once and for all. Oh and he seems pretty eager to kill a whole lot of people in the process. Since he hasn't abstained from feeding off humans like Stefan did, he has way more powers. So far it seems he can create this hazy, disorienting fog and turn into a crow, and he's very strong and very fast. So fast that he took Stefan's ring off his finger without him noticing it. Why does that matter? That ring is the only thing that keeps them alive in sunlight.


Matt. Poor, poor Matt. lol He's been dating Elena for the longest—so long that it's as though no other girl at school exists, which sucks since Elena's bff Bonnie (Katerina Graham) is very sweet to him. Matt is your quintessential boy-next-door with the budding high school sports career. He's cute, caring, and protective. What's not to like? Well, apparently everything, since Elena pretty much said she only dated him because it seemed like the logical step once they became friends. While normally I would agree with that, she made it seem completely illogical. Passion is what should drive a relationship, not tolerance. Some would say that's why Twilight's Bella should be with Edward and not Jacob. If Matt had heard that statement, I'm sure he would've shattered into a million pieces. He seems extremely sensitive. So sensitive, in fact, that instead of shunning Stefan from their inner circle, he introduced himself and addressed his jealousy solely to Elena when he privately confronted her about pretending she didn't want a relationship. Wow! That's really mature. If this were "The O.C." or "90210," someone would've gotten punched in the face. Then again, it was just the first episode, and I'm sure he can't be patient forever. There are too many hormones running through him like a freight train.

Elena's friends:
• Caroline (Candice Accola) is the resident bitch. She's no Naomi ("90210") or even Blair ("Gossip Girl"), because she has this air about her that would suggest she's totally innocent. Maybe it's the blonde hair or maybe it's the fact that her ever-increasing jealousy of Elena—in a totally Marsha-Marsha-Marsha fashion—is understandable when, not one but, three of the hottest guys in town are after her. But from the last scene she was in, it would seem that she'll regret wishing for attention when Damon takes an interest in her. However, I think she'd jump at the chance to become a vamp, since she's so hellbent on being eternally adored.

• Bonnie is actually one of the most interesting characters, because in the book she kept having psychic premonitions, but she wasn't aware that she was having them. It's like we're watching her come into her powers.

• Tyler (Michael Trevino from "90210") is the resident "bad boy," who uses and abuses girls. In the pilot, he tried to rape Vicki in the woods, despite the fact that they'd been having consensual sex all summer. Apparently, drunk Tyler is even more of a douche than sober Tyler. After Jeremy comes to her rescue, she walks off into the woods to get away from them both. Vicki took pity on and advantage of Jeremy after his parents died. Scoring drugs from him in exchange for sex, and now he's addicted to both so he can numb the pain. If it wasn't for Tyler, Damon couldn't have attacked Vicki in the woods and she wouldn't have told her brother that a vampire bit her. That could stir up some trouble. Or, if Stefan's lucky, they'll just chalk it up to the drugs and alcohol in her system. Fingers crossed.

3. Production doesn't look like it was worth $5 (unlike Twilight). Vamping-out is always crucial to a vampire series's credibility. "True Blood" got railroaded for having teeth protrude with a sound effect that was akin to clicking a retractable pen. But the fans forgave the series, since it made up for it by being too funny and too suspenseful to hate. I actually like the way they vamp-out in this series. The veins around Stefan's eyes pulsate and his pupils seem to get darker. Creepy and awesome.

4. The tone wasn't over-the-top. A lot of fantasy shows run the risk of being kitschy, but since this was created by the writers and producers behind Scream and "Dawson's Creek," it had the perfect mixture of real drama and the supernatural.

While I do seem to love it so far, I still have a few concerns:

1. Why did they add the human "nephew" character Zach (Chris William Martin), who watches over Stefan's house? In the book, it was some old lady. I don't think either are necessary. I guess I'm just afraid Damon's going to kill him. lol

2. I think it's lame that they'd change her middle-aged Aunt Jenna to a young college student who has no time to actually watch over her. They probably lowered her age so that she can later get paired off with one of the other characters. Hopefully, not Stefan's nephew, or even worse Damon.

3. I really like that Damon is so blase about how much pain he's about to inflict on Stefan. It makes me like him a lot...almost as much as I love Chuck ("Gossip Girl"). I was especially amused by how he mocked Stefan's failed attempt to attack him with a sound effect that sounded like a cat getting run over. Beyond funny. So, next week when he goes all uber psycho on him, tempting him like he's working for the devil, I'm afraid he might turn me off. I like relaxed and vindictive Damon. I don't want him to become a caricature of a bad guy, all huffy-and-puffy like he's trying to blow someone's house down.

Next week Damon introduces himself to Elena and tells her a little too much about Stefan, while Stefan figures out a way to keep Vicki quiet...without sucking the life out of her.

FILM: Funny People at #1, Twilight's Upgrade, and more

• Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen's Funny People stole the top spot from Harry Potter with a modest $23 mil. Even though it had mixed reviews, I'm still seeing it this Wednesday. You really can't go wrong with an Apatow film. Meanwhile, the kids were still digging both Potter, which has reached a resounding $659 mil worldwide after only 3 weeks, and G-Force, which came in right after it at #3 with a depressingly high $66 mil. Seriously kids? Hamsters? Unfortunately, because of the two, Aliens in the Attic had a truly disappointing open at #5 with $7.8 mil. The only other adult-oriented film in the top 5 is the rom-com The Ugly Truth, which slid down to #4 with $54 mil. Can you believe that Gerard Butler had to re-audition as an American, in order to convince the director that he shouldn't play his character as a Scottsman? After seeing the film and laughing my ass off, I'm glad he stuck to his guns. There's no way a Scottsman would've done or said half the things his character did. Another film I'd recommend seeing is the dramatic romance Adam with Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. It opened in 4 theaters with $66,000. The critics loved the deadpan humor and quirky endearing qualities of a troubled yet charming character. Retiring from the top 10 are Public Enemies with a sizable $93 mil, and Bruno with a $119 mil, which is less than half of what Borat made. And 0n the verge of being retired from the top 10 is the formidable Transformers sequel with $806 mil worldwide. Not bad at all.

• It seems as the Twilight saga progresses, there are more and more efforts to legitimize the film's worth. A majority of Hollywood and viewers thought the first film was a joke, whether due to the acting or the directing, but I'm truly surprised at what lengths the studio will go in order to silence the snickering. At first, replacing Catherine Hardwicke with Chris Weitz (Golden Compass) as director seemed like a no-brainer, especially since she okayed the addition of crappy dialogue and presented the laughable, stripper-like glitter effect on Edward's skin. But then they went above-and-beyond by threatening to nix Taylor Lautner as Jacob if he didn't beef up, selected respected actors like Dakota Fanning to portray future characters, and most recently recast a formidable future enemy. The controversy regarding the replacement of Rachelle Lefevre as the vengeance-seeking Victoria with Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village and Lady in the Water) has become a heated discussion on the net. Was it fair to nix Lefevre because she wouldn't have been available for 10 days to shoot due to a previous commitment to another film? And even more importantly, will it make a difference? I, personally, think that the amount of rage that Victoria possesses can't really be expressed by someone who looks as innocent and harmless as Howard. We've already been witness to Lefevre's fury and expecting Howard to deliver the same or even better will be a hard sell. Replacing actors half way through a saga is never a good idea in my opinion.

• While Courtney Cox is set to star in her very own ABC comedy series called "Cougars," another "Friends" graduate, Jennifer Anniston, has just signed on for a cougar-themed rom-com called Pumas. It's about two women in their 30s who go on the hunt for some young blood while on a French skiing vacation. According to the press release, the experience "challenges their romantic expectations." How exactly? They discover something that Demi Moore already has: young men can actually maintain a steady monogamous relationship? I think the clincher will be whoever ends up as her co-star. Fingers crossed for a heavyweight like Drew Barrymore, although I think she's above such low-brow rom-coms, but it's the only way to attract a major box office result.

• Ever since I heard that the producers of "Dexter" gave it an expiration date, the sudden flurry of films Michael C. Hall has signed on for makes perfect sense. First I saw him in the trailer for Gerard Butler's upcoming action thriller Gamer, and now I'm hearing that he's signed on for the indie drama adaptation East Fifth Bliss. He'll play a guy who begins an "awkward relationship with the 18-year-old daughter of a former high school classmate." Plus, he just wrapped the comedy Peep World, where four siblings try deal with their youngest sibling's recently published tell-all about their family secrets. Sounds like we won't be seeing the last of Hall even if his serial killer alter ego gets the ax.

VIDEO: Beyonce's "Sweet Dream"

Aside from the bizarre, gold body armor at the end, the video isn't half bad. The beat is what's interesting. It starts off sounding—maybe because of the current musical climate—like a "Beat It" homage, while also sounding similar to another song she's recorded...that I can't quite remember the name of.

The lyrical content also had me hooked. I feel like it's perfect for Twilight. lol Is it just me?

"You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare / Either way, I don't want to wake."

Does that not sound like something Bella would say? lol

Oh and I can't finish this post without commenting on the odd dance style that she's adopted here. I feel like in certain areas the reel is being rewinded or fast-forwarded to seem faster than she can actually dance, and in other areas she just has a more violent rhythm that's like girly crunk. Maybe it's just me. Either way, I like it. It's a nice break from the "sexual" gyrations of Ciara. Check it out:

BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO: Twilight's New Moon

You get to actually see him shoot the scene in the teaser trailer where he jumps over the porch railing and runs before turning into the wolf. He really could've broken his foot so many times in that take. lol

TRAILER: Twilight: New Moon

The debut of the New Moon trailer was even more major than the MTV Movie Awards last night. My main interest was in what the wolves would look like and...not bad. I forgot that they aren't werewolves so they're actually going to look like wolves. It made me slightly disappointed, but since there was a shot of the beefed up Jacob I was appeased. I mean, for continuity purposes not because I'm hot for teenagers. lol

See for yourself:

BUZZ: MTV Movie Award Winners & Weekend Box Office (5/29)

I was going to do an overview of the MTV Movie Awards, but after seeing that Twilight and High School Musical 3 were the big winners, I lost all respect for it. lol On what planet does Catherine Hardwicke deserve a Best Movie Award over Slumdog Millionaire and Dark Knight? Kristen Stewart for Best Female Performance? Really? The sputtering, nervous tick, and spontaneous bursts of psychotic fear--that was the best performance? She managed to beat: Angelina Jolie (Wanted), Anne Hathaway (Bride Wars), Kate Winslet (The Reader), and Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Really? Alright, maybe it's plausible that every teenager that voted would create this Twilight landslide. They are a rabid fan base. However, I'm still a little skeptical and I wouldn't be surprised if the award show is just a marketing tool and they bought all of those awards. Either way, it's un-f*cking believable.


As for the weekend box office, I think it's needless to say that so far Up is set for the Animated Oscar. I thought it was hilarious when I got a sneak peak at this year's NYC Comic Con, and I can't wait to see it. Apparently, the feeling was mutual among the critics and the multitude that helped it amass $68 mil in it's first weekend. In taking the #1 spot, it put the Night at the Museum sequel at #2 with a whopping $105 mil in its second week. Drag Me to Hell, the sole horror flick in the top 10, debuted this weekend at #3 with a meager $16.6 mil. The critics loved Sam Raimi's (Spiderman) mixture of suspense and humor, but perhaps Alison Lohman (Flicka) and Justin Long (Live Free or Die Hard) weren't big enough draws. Terminator Salvation took a bit of a hit, dropping to #4 in its second week and only reaching $90 mil, which is hardly a bite out of its $200 mil budget. Hopefully, it'll break even before another blockbuster hits theaters. Star Trek, on the other hand, has been in theaters for a month now. It sits at #5 with $301 mil worldwide, and looks to be ready for a sequel due to critics' approval.

Angels and Demons steadies itself at #6 after three weeks with a $104 mil. Fans of the first film and critics weren't as bowled over by the sequel as expected. There's much less scandal surrounding it, which can't be good for the $150 mil budget. Unsurprisingly, Dance Flick has only grossed $19 mil in its second week and has already dropped to #7. Meanwhile, another X-Men: Wolverine is sure to be greenlit now that its made $316 mil worldwide in its 5th week despite critics' disapproval. And even I wasn't interested in yet another Matthew McConaughey rom-com, so it wasn't a bit surprising that Ghosts of Girlfriends Past only grossed about $50 mil during its stint in the top 10. Its meager success can be attributed to the fact that it's the only rom-com in theaters at the moment. The big surprise hit of the Spring-to-Summer season was definitely Obsessed. Even though the critics agreed with me in dubbing it crap, it rounds out the top 10, leaving with a respectable $67 mil after 6 weeks. Exiting the top 10 were 17 Again with $97 mil and Monsters vs. Aliens with $346 mil worldwide.

This weekend, Up and Night at the Museum will go toe-to-toe with Will Ferrell's Land of the Lost, the much-talked about Hangover will add a little adult humor to the top 10, and the indie dramedies Away We Go and My Life in Ruins will give chick-flick lovers a few more options.

FILM NEWS: New Moon Changes, Clooney Spy Flick, Christensen as a Magician, and more

• Apparently, they've tweaked New Moon for the big screen. Bella's supposedly more daredevilish in the film than she is in the book. Her reason for recklessness was to lure Edward back, so in order to justify Robert Pattinson's multiple appearances as an apparition, they've amped up her wild side. So expect the cliff dive and more. Also, I believe in the book we are told that the werewolves/shapeshifters murder Laurent, the evil vampire henchman of Victoria, but it isn't described. In the film, however, we will be shown an action-packed scene where they destroy him. Lastly, in the book Edward swears he'll turn Bella if she marries him, but they'll be a different ultimatum in the film. Hmmm, I wonder if it'll be to stay far-far-far away from Jacob. That would surely amp up the tension between them for the third film. And I also wonder if this'll change future scenes since their marriage is the climax of the saga. What do you think?

• It seems George Clooney figured out a way to work from home. His next film is set in Italy, where he'll play an assassin with one last job in the adaptation of Martin Booth's novel A Very Private Gentleman. His character normally avoids social interaction, but for this last assignment he infiltrates a small town, makes friends, and falls in love, which will obviously complicate his mission in the end.

• Hayden Christensen has yet to find a project big enough to launch him into the Hollywood stratosphere. His potrayal of young Anakin did him no favors as most Star Wars aficionados were displeased with the first three episodes. But hopefully his next project, Mandrake the Magician, will finally get him the accolades he's been working so hard for. The title character is an underground magician and escapologist, who does insane tricks like escaping from an SUV that drops out of a plane during the Burning Man festival. The CIA is so impressed with his skills that they hire him to help one of their deep cover agents escape from a maximum security prison in 24 hours. Unfortunately, it's all a trap. The prisoner is actually a double agent who then invites him to join his crime ring. If he doesn't, not only will the CIA be on his tail, but so will the kingpin's goons.

• George Clooney and Ewan McGregor are starring in the comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats, where "a down-on-his-luck reporter (McGregor) gets more than he bargains for when he meets a special forces agent (Clooney) who reveals the existence of a secret, psychic military unit whose goal is to use paranormal powers to end war as we know it." I wonder if it'll get campy.

• On what planet does the Comedy Central comedian Carlos Mencia have the acting chops to go toe-to-toe with Forest Whitaker and America Ferrara? Alright so maybe I could've started this blurb off by asking, "On what planet is Forest Whitaker funny enough to go toe-to-toe with Carlos Mencia and America Ferrara?" Either way, it's an odd trio, and the casting isn't even finished yet. The comedy is about two overprotective dads who have to put aside their differences to plan their children's wedding in less than two weeks. So they still have the groom and the wives to cast. Who would you cast to round out the hilarity?

• Rita Wilson is writing (and hoping to star in) a comedy called Terms of Embarrassment, where a middle-aged couple end up attending the same college as their son. It'd be pretty hilarious if she and her husband Tom Hanks starred alongside their son Colin. It would also be beneficial to Colin, who really needs to start cashing-in on the family legacy if he ever intends on making it before his geriatric years.

• While we're on the subject of plots-wtih-potential-to-be-hilarious, there's an untitled comedy about a rich couple who lose their money on Wall Street and are forced to move in with their loser son. Again, perfect vehicle for the Hanks family. lol

• Check out the first look of M. Night Shymalan's The Last Airbender. It's actually looking kind of good.

BUZZ: Westwick in "Wuthering Heights," Pattinson & Jackman, 2 Jekyll & Hydes, and more

• If you liked the ensemble cast feel of He's Just Not that Into You, then you'll love Valentine's Day (some of you probably for the first time, lol). Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper and Ashton Kutcher signed up for "five slightly interconnecting stories playing out during a Valentine's Day in Los Angeles. Roberts plays an army officer on leave from Iraq on a flight to Los Angeles. Cooper, on the same flight, is a gay man whose lover is a closeted football player. Kutcher is an owner of a flower shop who proposes to his girlfriend (Alba), only to realize he is in love with his close friend (Garner) who discovers her boyfriend is married. MacLaine plays Roberts' mother, a happy retiree who reveals to her husband a long-ago affair. Hathaway is an assistant working at the biggest talent agency in town and dating a mailroom assistant. And Biel is a publicist unlucky in love who has no date on Valentine's Day." Hopefully it'll be more Love Actually and less HJNTIY, so people will like it more.

• Ed Westwick ("Gossip Girl") and Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) just scored the lead roles in Peter Webber's (Girl wtih a Pearl Earring) adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The project used to have Natalie Portman attached, but I guess the producers needed to cut the budget, and a TV actor and a Bond girl was all they could afford. Lucky them.

• Robert Pattinson scored a legitimately major gig. Let's be honest, Twilight is sort of a big joke in Hollywood, so the fact that he scored a gig with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz for the period drama Unbound Captives is his first step in being taken seriously. It's "about a woman (Weisz) whose husband is killed and her two children kidnapped by a Comanche war party in 1859. She is rescued by a frontiersman (Jackman), while Pattinson will play the son."

• The producers of Martin Scorsese's Frank Sinatra biopic want Johnny Depp to play old blue eyes, which is certainly an Oscar bait role. But as usual Scorsese would prefer to work with Leonardo DiCaprio. I dunno. Neither of them scream Jersey crooner, but I think Depp is a closer match. Luckily, they're not looking for someone who can sing, so we don't have to worry about either of them butchering "New York, New York."

• Let's see. Would I rather watch a Jekyll and Hyde adaptation starring Keanu Reeves or one with Forest Whitaker and 50 Cent? Hmm. Such a hard decision. It's like Sophie's Choice.

• Paul Walker might star in the thriller Protection, which "is about a twenty-one-year-old daughter of a Mexican judge who's targeted by mob types after she sees them kill her father and other family members. The pair must stay on the run through dodgy places on both sides of the border, while an agent tries to protect her and the bad guy is hot on her trail." I don't know why they always hire him to make scared/exasperated/determined faces. Can't he just relax for once. lol Before he starts on that project, he'll star in the bank robbing film called Takers with Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen. That should be a change of pace.

• Alright, this looks rather promising. Lindsay Lohan is starring in a fantasy comedy called The Other Side with Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dave Matthews and Alanis Morissette. It's about "a grad student who must spend the summer working at a scientific institute on a remote island. She discovers an eccentric community of characters who are hiding a secret about a tragedy that took place many years before." It...could be funny. Or in great Lohan fashion, it could suck. Hopefully, this won't put a wrench in Ribisi's career. By the time it's released, he'll have appeared in Public Enemies and Avatar, so hopefully that'll be enough to make sure it doesn't go straight-to-DVD.

• Jean Claude van Damme and Vinnie Jones (Snatch) will play rival assassins who team up in the action thriller Weapon. "Jones will play a master sharpshooter while Van Damme's character is skilled with a knife. The two join forces to take down the head of a drug cartel who is backed by the DEA." Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction) is directing. Ever since van Damme made an unexpected comeback with the self-depracating crime comedy JCVD in 2008, he's successfully reintegrated himself into the action scene.

• Philip K. Dick's novel Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said is being adapted. It's the story of a futuristic, dystopian world where a celebrity who wakes up after an assassination attempt realizes that no one has ever heard of him. Sounds more like a fantasy to me. A world where a celebrity can be forgotten. Wow! They should pick someone who can play obnoxious and outrageously offended. Maybe someone like Chris Evans, who played a publicity-obessed Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four.

• In Dermot Mulroney's (Wedding Date) directorial debut, a family dramedy called Keep It Together, "an idealistic young newlywed who is also a marriage counselor returns from her honeymoon only to learn that her parents, whom she saw as the model for a happy marriage, are getting a divorce." Ouch! Hmm, who should this unlucky girl be played by?

MUSIC: Robert Pattinson Singing His Song "Let Me Sign" from "Twilight"

I'm always amazed by how un-British British people sound when they sing. That aside, Rob actually sounds really good. I imagine he looks funny when he sings too. I'm just picturing John Mayer-type facial expressions. lol Now if only I could understand what he was saying without having to read the lyrics below:



Lyrics:
She was standing there by
The broken tree
Her hands are all twisted
She's pointing at me
I was damned by light comin'
Out of her eyes, she
Spoke with a voice that
Disrupted the sky
She said walk on over here
To the bitter shade
I will wrap you in my arms
And you'll know you've been saved
Let me sign
Let me sign

BUZZ: Drew Barrymore & Justin Long, Caius cast for "Twilight," and more

• Former lovers Justin Long (He's Just Not That Into You) and Drew Barrymore will take their relationship to new awkward levels when they pair up for a rom-com called Going the Distance. They'll explore the age-old practice of desperately maintaining a long-distance relationship. What are the chances this film will end with them meeting somewhere in the middle, hopelessly devoted to making it work? Big sigh now. Magic.

• In what world does Nicholas Sparks, famed writer of the very much-loved The Notebook, cook up a novel and a movie specifically for Miley Cyrus? Oh yeah! This one. It's called The Last Song and it's about a rebellious teenager who spends the summer reconnecting with her estranged father. It's time to ditch Disney to get deep.

• I'm not quite sure what book I was reading or if I was even paying attention when I was reading it, but I could've sworn most of the Volturi of the Twilight saga were older vampires. Yet somehow 20-year-old, boyish-looking, Brit Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney Todd) scored the role of Caius, the leader of the ravenous Volturi coven. He looks twelve. I'm flumoxed. If I were Edward, I wouldn't be afraid of him either.

• David Cronenberg is supposedly amped to write a sequel to Eastern Promises, but there's no word on whether Viggo Mortensen or Naomi Watts are interested in reprising their roles. I'd love it, but after reading a very intense interview of Mortensen about his process of capturing the character's vibe, I don't think he'd take a sequel lightly. He's of the Christian Bale school of acting, treating a character like a part of his soul and not a note in his checkbook.

• Ever since Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia) dropped out of the lead role in Sucker Punch, Zack Snyder has been scrambling to find her replacement. It's obvious he's looking for someone who appears innocent, since he just nabbed Emily Browning (The Uninvited and Lemony Snicket) to take her place.

• Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder) and James Franco (Pineapple Express) want to bring their brand of funny to period pieces. In Your Highness, McBride plays a lazy, obnoxious prince who has to go on a journey with his heroic brother (Franco) to save his father's kingdom. It has to be funny because Franco dropped out of Christopher Nolan's (The Dark Knight) new sci-fi thriller Inception in order to do this. No worries though, Nolan's still got Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, and Ellen Page on his roster.

• Ok, wow! I was on the verge of ignoring a news brief about a remake of the Clash of the Titans, because....well, I like to read my mythology not watch it...unless of course Hercules, Xena, or Cupid are involved. Anyway, it wasn't until I saw the name Sam Worthington attached to it that I stopped to keep reading. Sam Worthington!...as in the guy who was handpicked by McG to play the first human-looking machine in Terminator Salvation opposite Christian Bale—the same guy James Cameron tapped for the lead role in his adventure flick Avatar. Chances are I'm not the only one who will put aside my indifference for mythological adventures and grab a ticket to see him play Perseus, who's on a quest to save a princess and defeat Hades. I think by the time that that film comes out he'll be at a point in his career where he can do no wrong.

TV: Cast of CW's "Vampire Diaries"

The core cast of the CW's Twilight-clone "Vampire Diaries" has been chosen. Bulgarian actress Nina Dobrev (MTV's The American Mall and "Degrassi: The Next Generation") will be caught in between two vampire brothers played by Ian Somerhalder ("Lost") and Paul Wesley (ABC Family's "Fallen" and "Everwood"). Somerhalder will be the "Chuck" of the series, evil with the ability to be good, and Wesley will be the 200-year-old version of the quintessential boy-next-door. To make matters worse, the brothers already had a long-standing rivalry prior to meeting this new girl, since they were involved in a different love triangle during the Renaissance.

Is it just me or are these guys kind of old to be in a teen soapdrama? Either way, the CW is hoping avid Twilight lovers will perceive Wesley as the next brooding Robert Pattinson. There was no forewarning as to how majorly loved Pattinson would eventually be, so it's not as if it isn't possible.


Also cast were Kayla Ewell ("The Bold and the Beautiful") and the super hot up-and-comer Zach Roerig (Cash on "Friday Night Lights").