FILM: Dark Knight Teaser Trailer

Oh, I'm as psyched as you are! Check out this quick glimpse of Heath Ledger's Joker.

FILM: Box Office Results - 8/13/07

Despite its bad reviews, Rush Hour 3 debuted at #1 with $49 mil. And ironically, the well-reviewed magic movie Stardust came in at #4 with $9 mil. However, all became right with the world when Daddy Day Camp came in at #10 with close to $5 mil. Unsurprisingly pathetic. And like I said it would, Skinwalkers bombed like William Hung on "American Idol," making less than a million dollars. For an indie, 2 Days in Paris did relatively well with $173,000, and Rocket Science made $58,000.

Bourne Ultimatum, The Simpsons, and Hairspray are still in the top 5. Underdog didn't suffer beneath the wait of criticisms, staying strong in the top 10 at #6. And No Reservations is finally picking up steam falling to #9, but grossing $32 mil so far, which is reasonable for a romantic drama. This weekend there will be a definite box office shake up when the Seth Rogen-masterminded, teen comedy Superbad and the scifi thriller Invasion hits theaters. Either The Simpsons or Hairspray will have to forfeit their place in the top 5.

FILM: New to the Box Office - 8/10/07

STARDUST

Alright, alright, enough with the Michelle-Pfeiffer's-still-hot-at-50 crap! Let's focus on the movie. Okay so a star falls out of the sky and when it makes impact with the Earth it turns into...Claire Danes. Apparently gutting her like a fish and ripping her heart out will give Pfeiffer's wicked witch character back her youth. Why are witches always vain? Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the most vapid of them all? Charlie Cox (Casanova) plays Danes' knight-in-shining-rags who protects her at every cost and of course falls madly in love with her--despite the fact that he begins the film doting on Sienna Miller. From the trailer, you can tell Cox is really good at interchanging between bumbling idiot to brave swordsman. Ricky Gervais ("Extras") is the actual comic relief. And somehow Robert Deniro factors himself into this peculiar equation as a pirate captain to a flying ship. Let's see. Magic + Pirates + Witches + Romance + Heroism = the perfect topping to a summer full of fun blockbusters.

RUSH HOUR 3

One really loud obnoxious black man and one really heroic Asian guy go to Paris, and even in the city of love they can't go five seconds without getting in trouble. Apparently the Chinese triad is "vacationing" in Paris--offing French secret policemen left and right. Piggybacking on all the slapstick fun are Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand), Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine) as the kingpin, Roselyn Sanchez ("Without a Trace"), and newcomers French Noemie Lenoir, as a valuable informant, and Chinese Jingchu Zhang, who'll join in on the action. It should have a lot of laughs mixed with insane action.


DADDY DAY CAMP

I thought the first film, Daddy Day Care, was pretty funny. But not funny enough for a sequel. I get it. Kids say and do the darndest things, but not for 2hrs. Maybe the newest generation will find it quite enjoyable, because a tall fat guy getting hit in the head and a kid spontaneously puking on an adult is too overdone for any teenager. And of course they also diminshed the sequel's credibility by switching out the original main characters, Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin, for two other black and fat guys, replacing them with Cuba Gooding Jr--who has hit a new low--and Paul Rae (Air Buddies).


SKINWALKERS

There was a time when Jason Behr ("Roswell") had potential. That was five years ago. Now he's getting parts like Buffy's boyfriend in The Grudge and C-grade horror flicks about warring werewolf clans called skinwalkers who want to abduct a 13-year-old boy who's about to go through puberty in the most mystical way possible. This poor kid is the deciding factor on whether or not these werewolves survive. Apparently, there's a gene that separates humans from animals and skinwalkers are born without it. The good skinwalkers want to end the curse and make sure the boy never tastes blood, and the bad skinwalkers want to feast on the flesh of all mankind. The boy has until the rise of the red moon to decide, and chances are his non-skinwalker mom might have to kill him. Despite all the mysticism, there's a lot of gunslinging and explosions. It's not hard to imagine that this isn't exactly worthy of a place in your DVD collection, but if you're feening for some blood lust this could be your ticket.


2 DAYS IN PARIS

Juliette Delpy (Before Sunset) and Adam Goldberg (Deja Vu) play a couple who vacation in Paris. Delpy, being the Parisian-native, visits her parents and runs into a truckload of ex-lovers, making Goldberg the insecure, jealous, muttering boyfriend. By the trailer I can tell there'll be a lot of French-hateration as well as plenty of signature Goldberg humor.


ROCKET SCIENCE

It's your usual coming-of-age story about a geeky kid, Reece Thompson ("Three Moons Over Milford"), who's learning about girls and trying to master socializing, while also trying to survive his screwy family and a bully of an older brother. If anything it could be Thompson's stepping stone into better roles.

MUSIC: J.Lo's double single release

Jennifer Lopez is back in a big way. Not only did her indie El Cantante
re-solidify her place as a respected Latina actress in Hollywood, but she's just released 2 new singles to the airwaves.

"Do it Well"

First up is this very old school--with a big band in the background--beat that's got her rhyming faster than usual--which should make for interesting performances--and has reawakened her Jenny from the block status.


"Hold it, don't drop it"


This one has the same production, but it's more vocal-driven. It almost sounds like an Amerie-throw away.

Perhaps being married to Marc Anthony and going back in time for her film has made J.Lo go old school.

FILM: Box Office Results - 8/6/07

Andy Samberg must be so embarassed. Underdog came in at #3 with $12 mil making Hot Rod--at #9--it's bitch. They weren't exactly competing for the same fans, but grossing $5 mil out of the gate is pathetic. At least they did better than Bratz, which came in at #10 with $4 mil. I guess there weren't enough preteens with low self esteem to take this into the top 5. Of course, Bourne Ultimatum--which got good reviews all around--came in at #1 with $70 mil.

It's a shame word didn't get out to the rest of the public that Becoming Jane was a pretty decent period piece and James McAvoy was an incredible sight to behold, since it only made a million dollars. El Cantante, the Hispanic indie masterminded by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, surprisingly came in at #12 with $3 mil despite bad reviews regarding production and directing. Lopez, however, was congratulated on making a successful comeback. The Ten was only released in 25 theaters, making $117,000.

The Simpsons is still going strong at #2, amounting to $128 mil; Chuck and Larry are at #4 and Hairspray's at #5. Despite No Reservations' poor entry last week, it's at #7 behind Harry Potter, still hanging in there. Ratatouille finally dropped out of the top 10 with $188 mil. Transformers is teetering dangerously close to the edge at #8. But that's okay since it's almost up to $300 mil.

Next week the Comic Con-appreciated Stardust premieres and Rush Hour 3 hits theaters, which should make for an interesting box office shuffle. And if kids really do love watching other kids have unlimited freedom, then the sequel Daddy Day Camp should do quite well.

FILM: Kevin Bacon's Comeback

Death Sentence

Alright, so I love Footloose. But to be honest, it's the only movie I've ever enjoyed Kevin Bacon in. I even thought his skit on "Will and Grace" was annoying. So after watching this trailer today--before enjoying Bourne Ultimatum--I was shocked to discover how pumped I was to see Kevin go from clean cut family man to vengeance-seeking bad ass. Turns out his character's son, a hockey star in the making, was a victim of a gang initiation during a convenience store robbery. When justice was not served to the teenage murderer, Bacon's character decides to retaliate on his own. It's basically a visual manifestation of the psychological deterioration of a broken man. But to be perfectly honest, I love it cause the stunts are insane. After he kills his son's murderer, the gang targets his wife and youngest son. So what does he do? Forfeits his soul to take theirs to hell. Drops one of those sons of bitches off the top floor of a parking complex. Revenge scenarios are one of the easiest plots to sell. You've got everyone rooting for the good guy and gunning for the bad guys to be buried ASAP. I'm in.
Release Date: Aug. 31

FILM: Ang Lee's return inspires a generation

Lust Caution

It's been two years since Ang Lee released Brokeback Mountain and he hasn't quite gotten tired of the romance genre...and boy does he know how to make it interesting. Lust Caution is about a girl who agrees to take out a target by seducing him and puts more than her life in danger. I can guarantee that it'll get good reviews, but I'm not quite sure if the Academy will be as generous as before.
Release Date: Sept. 28

It seems like love is in the air...

Hottest State

Written and directed by Ethan Hawke, this is a romantic drama about two people trying to make it in Hollywood against all odds while trying to make their relationship work. Mark Webber (Snow Day) is an actor in the making--ushered along by Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) and Catalino Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace). It could be a very brief achievement for Hawke and maybe an extended one for Webber.
Release Date: Aug. 24

FILM: New to the Box Office - 8/3/07

BOURNE ULTIMATUM

All week newspapers and blogs have been comparing Jason Bourne to the new James Bond, trying to determine who's more bad ass. I think the fact that Bourne doesn't have a theme song or a signature drink makes him the more masculine choice--if that's the defining factor. But overall, Bourne's ambition is more courageous and relatable than Bond's "save the world" agenda. Not to mention, Matt Damon is certainly hotter than Daniel Craig. In this "last" installment to the Bourne trilogies, Jason forgoes the defense tactic and goes completely on the offensive in that "I'm stalking you" (and not in a hot way) manner. Although I'm sure Joan Allen (The Upside of Anger), the bitch who heads the agency that "made" him, doesn't mind. Julia Stiles takes a break from making movies nobody watches and acts as Bourne's new sidekick--by default of course. She's the gov't snitch who provides all the intel. By far the coolest addition to the cast is Edgar Ramirez, who I believe plays an agent who has to track Bourne. He was in Domino as the sexy Choco. He's a lot more clean cut in this film, but that doesn't stunt the fire in this 30-year-old Venezuelan's eyes. Head to theaters for what's sure to be one of the coolest action films of the summer.

HOT ROD

Needless to say, this movie about a guy who wants to prove to his step father that he has balls by jumping over 15 school buses hasn't been getting a lot of good buzz. I mean, there isn't exactly a Knocked Up-type fan club. But a female critic from the Los Angeles Times did say: "Chock-full of references to bad teen movies from the '80s and saturated with sarcasm, Hot Rod is a cheekily fun sendup of Gen X iconography," sooo...she must really like Andy Samberg ("SNL"). You'll have to in order to watch this movie. Mr. Moviefone told Z100 listeners this morning that they'd have to be high and chomping down on some serious munchies in order to endure this flick. With Will Arnett (Blades of Glory) playing shot gun yet again and Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) playing the love interest, you'd expect at least one or two big laughs. The trailer shows a lot of slapstick-driven stunts, but I'd hate to think we were a nation of people who laugh when someone falls down (even though we are). It shoots for Napoleon Dynamite-Talladega Nights humor, but ends up looking like a made-for-MTV teen flick.

BECOMING JANE

I know what you're thinking: "GOD! Another Jane Austen movie?!" Technically, it's her biopic dating back to before she wrote all of those ridiculously long and somewhat tedious tales of frigid women who ultimately fall in love with men they initially loathed with every fiber of their being. Now you'll meet her muse, the Irishman she fell in love with (James McAvoy, King of Scotland), despite her efforts to not follow the tradition of being signed up for marital slavery. Anne Hathaway seems to be a perfect incarnation of the wise lady and the film should be chocked full of anticipation and romantic gestures. So if you're looking for a little less wam-bam-thank-you-Bourne, cuddle up with a BFF and live vicariously through Jane.

EL CANTANTE

If you're up for a romantic biopic that's infused with the beautiful music of my Latino people, then you'll probably enjoy this intense love story about how music and drugs tested the bond between the famous salsa singer Hector Lavoe and his wife Puchi. Many critics are disappointed by the directing, but thoroughly impressed by Marc Anthony's musical performances when channeling Lavoe. Other critics credit the return of a Jennifer Lopez with talent, a throwback to her Selena and Out of Sight days.

BRATZ

Um, so like the Bratz dolls have totally come to life and they're like totally going to high school and this super bitch is totally trying to make them split up and join opposing cliques. But there's no way Sasha, Jade, Yasmin, and Chloe are going to let that happen. Girl power to the max! *Clears throat* You might lose brain cells just by watching the trailer. I fear for the welfare of my unborn children if this is the best that girls can do. Cute boy alert! (Let's be honest. It's the only reason teenagers with a GPA over 3.0 watch.) Ian Nelson ("7th Heaven") and Stephen Lunsford ("Unfabulous") are the resident hotties in this flick. So if you really don't have anything to do and heckling in a theater full of preteens is your idea of a Friday night, splurge.


THE TEN

Paul Rudd is like the wise sensei of the Frat Pack. So naturally he would be the narrator to this comedic indie about the ten commandments and how our generation is breaking them. It's an ensemble cast full of stars--like Jessica Alba, Winona Ryder, Adam Brody, Famke Janssen, Liev Schrieber--and nobodies. Besides the repetitive mention of male genitalia, it should make for a few good laughs...if you remember what the ten commandments are. Hmm I wonder which one Winona breaks?


UNDERDOG

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! It's a movie about a dog that can fly and speak and lift heavy objects after a scientific experiment gone wrong. So he decides to put all of that together and become...a superhero. Does it surprise you that Underdog was cooked up in the 60s...probably in a meth lab. Little boys and overgrown men who wish their dogs would do more than just roll over or eat their weight in bacon will probably love this movie.

VIDEOS: Eve & Sean Paul, Maroon 5, Justin & 50 Cent, and Nelly Furtado

Eve & Sean Paul "Give it to You"

It's so weird that they actually look good together. Makes for a very nice summer love song.


Maroon 5 "Wake up Call"


I see Adam is covertly auditioning for bad boy parts in this literal lyric-to-visual video. Could it be...the new Bonnie and Clyde?


Nelly Furtado "Do It"

Nelly's having a little fun...probably, hoping teens'll use her song to do the same this summer.

MUSIC: Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am going solo

"I Got it from my Mama"

This actually isn't Black Eyed Peas' beat master Will.i.am's first solo outing. By the end of the year he will have released his third album, Songs about Girls, during the group's hiatus, joining Fergie on the self-promotion kick. He's been really hot in the music business lately. In the past he's collaborated with artists like Justin Timberlake, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Carlos Santana, Pussycat Dolls, John Legend, Ciara, and of course Fergie. And now he's rumored to be hooking artists up with a little of that Black magic, from Michael Jackson, Mariah, Whitney Houston, Amerie, Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna, Hilary Duff, Common, and even Macy Gray. In his single, "I Got It From My Mama," he basically adds on to the whole "My Humps" phenomenon by...appreciating a woman's figure and the gifts she was given at birth. The video is a veritable Victoria's Secret commercial slash Miami beach ad. Expect a lot more women-worshiping on the album.