Two more actors have been added to the already star studded cast of Marvel Studio’s latest comic adapted film, Thor.

Irish actors Stuart Townsend (Battle in Seattle) and Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone) play two of the warriors three, Asgardian warriors that fight alongside Thor.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor also stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore and Stellan Skarsgard.

Thor begins filming in early January 2010, and you can expect to see it in theaters mid 2011.

‘The Road’: Hear How Director John Hillcoat Stayed True to McCarthy’s Novel

It’s easy for films based on novels to get off topic, and often you’ll hear that the book is far better than the movie. So for director John Hollcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road, he kept McCarthy on hand to make sure the film’s focus didn’t deviate too far from the novel. To prevent the film from getting swept up in action, explosions and cannibalism and to put the foccuss back on the characters and their journey, McCarthy demanded four lines of dialogue remain in the film.

“…Just those four lines. Nothing else. He didn’t miss any of it.” Said director John Hillcoat “It’s been great, because he could see the more you focus on that other stuff [post apocalyptic doom, explosions and cannibalism] the more unbalanced it becomes, and it becomes something else…”

Find out what McCarthy insisted on keeping in the film here.

Shyama gets warm welcome at the Kolkata Film Festival

The film features leading dancers, singers and musicians from Santiniketan. Kaberi Chatterjee dances the title role of Shyama, whose songs are performed by Manini Mukhopadhyay Bagchi. TS Vasunni dances the role of Bojroshen, sung by Jayanta Chatterjee. The production design and costumes are based on Kaberi’s research. So far, Shyama is available in Bengali, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish.

Keith Jardine stars as Stone in Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment's UNRIVALED.

More ‘Unrivaled’ Videos

Al Sapienza talks ‘Unrivaled’ Actor Al Sapienza (Saw V) sits down to talk about his character Sergio, and what his inspiration is while playing a gangster.

Unrivaled – Directing A Chase Scene Follow director Warren P. Sonoda as he directs an on foot chase scene.

Unrivaled – Hit and Run Go behind the scenes of UNRIVALED with actor Steven Yaffee to watch stunt performer Neil Davison and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson prepare for a hit and run.

Nicholas Campbell talks ‘Unrivaled’ Movieset takes you behind the scenes of UNRIVALED to hear what actor Nicholas Campbell has to say about the film. Over the span of making a cappuccino, Campbell talks about the inspiration for his character.

Unrivaled – Fight Choreography Featurette While filming a fight scene, director Warren P. Sonoda and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson talk about what goes into capturing a good fight on film.

Disaster films are pretty sketchy when it comes to quality. They usually have bad B-movie acting, over the top special effects, and impossible plotlines. Usually they are reserved for the summer blockbuster season as well, a time when every kid on the continent shuts off his or her brain. Last week, the master, if you can even call him that, of disaster, Roland Emmerich (the man behind “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow”) unleashed his ultimate destruction that is “2012.”

Whereas Emmerich has established himself as the man that destroys beloved landmarks (i.e. Statue of Liberty and the White House) he always was reserved when it came to the annihilation of mankind. The alien ship gets destroyed before the race is wiped out, and we now know there is escape from the cooling effects of global warming.

Finally he has thrown any inhibition aside and actually has taken all hope from the majority humanity. The film is brutal in its display of this, but hope exists for the select few. Finally we have a somewhat fearless filmmaker not afraid to kill everyone.

Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson) in Columbia Pictures' 2012

Ok, sarcasm aside, “2012” is simply a journey movie, spurred on by the onset of the apocalypse. John Cusack plays Jackson Curtis, a failed author and father, as a man simply trying to stay connected to the last bit of his family life he has. His wife (played by Amanda Peet) has divorced and remarried a doctor. His kids distance themselves from him to a point, with his son basically disowning him. So much for a happy setup. Anyhow, apparently the world is ending, due to a heating up of the core. It’s been happening for a few years, but on the year that the Mayan’s predicted the earth to end, lets just say, *stuff* will hit the fan. The rest of the movie is Cusack running away from one disaster after another.

I never said that Emmerich builds films upon substance. The whole 2012 apocalypse myth is built upon the Mayan calendar, which ends on Dec. 21 of that year. Last time I checked they met their apocalypse quite a bit sooner (a little dark comedy never hurt anyone). The plot here is also utterly inconceivable and completely improbably. Cusack runs from every single catastrophe that hits America during the apocalypse. Coincidence? I vote for the poor screenwriting tactic of piling one climax on top of another until the film becomes two and a half hours long. Yes that’s right; this is an epic scale movie in every sense of the term (except for the whole poetry part). I probably should stop bashing the film, because I’m beginning to like it less and less the more I continue.

Director Roland Emmerich on the set of Columbia Pictures' 2012.

I enjoyed myself watching “2012.” It is a good escape movie for some gorgeous special effects and explosions. It even beats “Transformers 2” in that category. Some of the camera work here is top notch as well, even without the aid of computer graphics. Beyond that, the special effects look impressive. When the earth blows up, I believe that the earth is blowing up.

Danny Glover stars as President Thomas Wilson in Columbia Pictures' 2012

To the acting, I have to say it isn’t terrible. The person I came to my breaking point watching was the new husband of Peet’s character and Oliver Plath. Plath should never be allowed to be unlikeable, and here he was beyond unlikeable. I guess he fulfilled the role to that point because he is supposed to be the emotionless logical leader. The supporting roles all deserve a bravo as well. Danny Glover plays the President. I can’t even back that up because that is awesome enough.

Woody Harrelson stars as Charlie Frostin in Columbia Pictures' 2012.

The man who stole the show for me was Woody Harrelson. His trip through “Zombieland” last month was a hoot, and here he plays a conspiracy freak radio broadcaster, preaching the apocalyptic cover-up. Hilarious. The acting does seem terrible at times because of the sham of an edit that was cut during action scenes. One shot will feature incredible CG destruction spliced with a screaming reaction close up of a character. Copy + Paste for the duration of the scene, and you get a very laughable final edit of the epic scenes.

Overall, “2012” is a pure popcorn cinema piece. Don’t expect to suddenly become enlightened with a way to accept the apocalypse, but simply enjoy yourself. Why else go to the theaters if you can’t sit back and enjoy the experience?

Grade: B-

More 2012 – Behind the Scenes video

Ever wonder what it would look like to shoot a car off of a giant potato gun?

More ‘2012′ Videos

2012 Clip – It’s not just California Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) narrowly saves the lives of his family in time to escape before California’s destruction.

2012 – Behind the Scenes Ever wonder what it would look like to shoot a car off of a giant potato gun?

2012 – Behind the Scenes Go behind the scenes of 2012 to watch the cast and crew hard at work.

2012 Clip – The end of the world my friend Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) seeks out Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson) for information about the end of the world.

‘2012′ News

• Columbia Pictures Unveils Exclusive 2010 Two-Minute Scene
• Roland Emmerich “2012″ Q & A

Dean Cain stars as Wyatt Hart in CIRCLE OF PAIN.

Watch the interview after the break …

{ed note: i noticed this notable list on Dean Cain’s bio – what a player}

Dean was also busy with his personal life as well. Having had a long list of romances which included Brooke Sheilds, Ami Dolenz, Pamala Anderson, and Gabrielle Reece; Dean began dating country singer/newcomer Mindy McCready in 1997.

More from Circle of Pain

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Kodi Smit-McPhee and Viggo Mortensen star in John Hillcoat's The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulizter Prize winning novel.

Round up after the break …

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present day. It tells the story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium’, a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr Nick, in which he won immortality.

Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the property of Mr Nick. Valentina is now rapidly approaching this ‘coming of age’ milestone and Dr Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate. Mr Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager.

Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr Parnassus promises his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man that helps him win. In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles – and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all…

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The Crazies

David Dutton is sheriff of Ogden Marsh, a picture-perfect American town with happy, law-abiding citizens. But one night, one of them comes to a school baseball game with a loaded shotgun, ready to kill. Another man burns down his own house…after locking his wife and young son in a closet inside.

Within days, the town has transformed into a sickening asylum; people who days ago lived quiet, unremarkable lives have now become depraved, blood-thirsty killers, hiding in the darkness with guns and knives. Sheriff Dutton tries to make sense of what’s happening as the horrific, nonsensical violence escalates. Something is infecting the citizens of Ogden Marsh…with insanity. Now complete anarchy reigns as one by one the townsfolk succumb to an unknown toxin and turn sadistically violent.

In an effort to keep the madness contained, the government uses deadly force to close off all access and won’t let anyone in or out – even those uninfected.

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The Road

Academy Award nominee Viggo Mortensen, Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and 12-year-old Kodi Smit McPhee star in the big-screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Road – the story of a man (Mortensen) and his young son (Smit-McPhee) traveling through a desperate, post-apocalyptic world.

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Ever since the release of the Blu Ray format, I have always been a tad skeptical about actually needing a format upgrade. It seems like yesterday picking up my first player and watching a DVD for the first time. I was in love. The picture quality was far superior to VHS, the special features were a nice addition, especially the directors commentary and thoughts on scenes etc. When Blu Ray and HDVD formats were released, confusion, irritation, and skepticism were my initial feelings. To me it was a rehash of the Beta/VHS argument, and really, did we need to upgrade the still fresh DVD format already? Thankfully, Lionsgate has answered “yes” with the release of Stargate: 15th Anniversary Edition.

From startup, you are treated to a nice DTS sound reel which grants you a “told you so” look to anyone that would ever doubt why you would spend more than $500 on a home theater system, and it doesn’t stop there, this is a 7.1 DTS-MA recording. It sounds amazing, taking advantage of almost every bell and whistle of your equipment. Visually, they have remastered the picture to glorious 1080p. It almost looks like a brand new movie, with aged special effects being the only real indicator of its age. This is the way ALL Blu Ray movies need to be. I hate replacing a DVD with a Blu Ray, only to have marginal if any difference in the picture quality. The remaster does not disappoint.

This is the first pairing of Director Roland Emmerich/Writer Dean Devlin, the same duo that brought forth hits like “Independence Day” and “Godzilla”. Based on those pictures, you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into when you press play. You should have popcorn handy, and a killer home theater system. You can leave your thinking caps on the hanger, as these movies are no-brainer fun. The mass appeal of watching stuff get blown up, and underdogs winning is the meal ticket for these two, and they know it. A fun fact is that this is the very first major motion picture to have a website created by Devlin himself.

Stargate is a would-be epic borrowing from many other sci fi movies. A relic discovered in Egypt in the 1920’s is actually a portal to an alternate universe. James Spader plays Egyplologist (read: nerd) whose unorthodox philosophies on Egyptian studies has led to skepticism and dismissal by his peers, making him a prime candidate for viewing classified military artifacts. Paralleling him is Kurt Russel as the grizzly, flat-topped Colonel Jack O’Neil (read: jock) reluctantly recruited for a top secret mission whilst grieving the loss of his young son. The two are introduced as Spader quickly figures out how everything works and eventually activates the artifact. With what seems to be about an hour planning, they head in with a handful of expendable troops and a bomb. God Bless America. On the other side, they discover a parallel Egypt on another planet and quickly discover a colony of humans. Spader is introduced to the village hottie, and Russel befriends a would-be replacement son. They discover that the colony is ruled by an nefarious space alien posing as the Egyptian God, Ra (Jaye Davidson). Of course he is corrupt and rules with an iron fist, and has a bevy of brutish guards and loin clothed servant children on his team. Wars and explosions ensue.

Again, you know what you’re getting yourself into. This movie touches on elements that are popular amongst the sci-fi crowd. Namely cool looking ships, pew pew lasers, and the nerd getting the girl. Funny how nerds have to go to another planet to get a girlfriend. “Let’s go home!”… “No, I’m stayin’!”.

A scene from Uwe Boll's 'The Final Storm'

‘The Final Storm‘ tells the story of a family coming to terms with the end of the world.  Having seen biblical rain, dying animals and a blood red moon, Tom and Gillian knew that something wasn’t right, but things turn out far worse then they could have ever imagined when a soft-spoken and sickly stranger named Silas stumbles onto their farm and warns them of the end of days.

As Silas slowly reveals his true colors with his murderous past, and lust for Gillian, the tension between him and Tom builds until an explosive showdown occurs, with Tom defending his family, and fighting for their survival, and perhaps the survival of all mankind.

More videos, stills and news from Uwe Boll’s  ‘Final Storm’

Top Ten John Hughes Film

Everyone loves at least one John Hughes movie! It’s a fact I looked it up. With John Hughes you can pretty much re-arrange his classic films in any order because fans celebrate his entire catalog.

I happen to love almost every John Hughes movie (he wrote the story for Drillbit Taylor… Seth you could have saved this couldn’t you?) Anyway, let us celebrate ten films from Mr. Hughes that no matter what time they’re on, or at what point in the film we enter upon, we will watch (again) till the end.

10) Sixteen Candles

Before you ask, yes, you can borrow my underpants.

9) Weird Science

It’s 2009 and there still isn’t an app for making a babe-servant?! Damn it!

8) Some Kind of Wonderful

There might be some middle ground between empty handed and diamond earrings worth exploring?

7) The Great Outdoors

How many people have now dressed in the same outfits in order to chase a bat out of their cabin?

6) Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Shower ring salesmen everywhere begin to diversify their pitch based on Candy’s expertise.

5) Uncle Buck

Always show the appliance who’s boss!

4) The Breakfast Club

If you haven’t seen this movie, you better see it quick before Family Guy spoofs every single scene.

3) National Lampoon’s Vacation

Rusty can really pound’em back.

2) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Technology may have very well taken away future generations ability to create a “Ferris Day Day Off”?.

1) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation, the gift that keeps on giving year after year! A perfect comedy.

John Hughes 1950 – 2009 RIP.

TAYLOR LAUTNER BRINGS AN EXCLUSIVE NEVER BEFORE SEEN CLIP FROM ‘THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON’ TO PREMIERE ‘THE JAY LENO SHOW’ ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Taylor Lautner stars as Jacob Black in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

BURBANK, Calif. – November 13, 2009 – On Monday, November 16, fans of “Twilight” will get a double treat when Taylor Lautner brings a never before seen clip from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” to premiere on “The Jay Leno Show” (Monday-Friday, 10-11 p.m. ET).

The exclusive clip will feature Lautner and co-star Kristen Stewart.

This is all … well that and a clip with Lautner and Stewart to satiate your unquenchable appetite for Twilight.

Jacob (Taylor Lautner) transforms to protect Bella (Kristen Stewart) from Paul (Alex Meraz) and the wolf pack in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON.

OK … a bit more Taylor Lautner from Fandango:

WHIPPED TO RIPPED – In honor of Taylor Lautner’s amazing 30-pound weight gain to portray New Moon’s werewolf Jacob Black, we’ve corralled the top big-screen stars who went from whipped to ripped–abs, biceps and bods, that is. Check out the results of our recent survey on who tops the list.

NEW MOON CAST TOUR – Pattinson, Stewart and Lautner were all in Hollywood along with performances by Death Cab for Cutie, Sea Wolf and Anya Marina!

Part of MovieSet’s Remembering John Hughes special series

“DVD Viewpoint” Review of ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ By Bradley Carver
for MovieSet.com

Rarely have any movies touched base with who teenagers really are as the movies directed by John Hughes. They capture the innocent spirit that has been lost in the films of today. ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ is a documentary by a group of inspiring young directors that pays homage to John hughes, and attempts to figure out why John Hughes faded from the spotlight.

The documentary focuses on John’s major, and most memorable works which includes, ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, ‘Pretty In Pink’, and ‘Weird Science’.

Director John Hughes

The group of directors travel a great distance in hope of finding The man who, perhaps unknowingly, has impacted so many lives with his movies. Along their way they discuss what makes him, and his work so great, and include interviews with actors and actressess from his films. They even talk with local teenagers about John’s films. All in all everyone seemed to agree that John Hughes was missed, and that the world could use more movies like his.

I have to say that I agree as well. Movies such as the ones John Hughes directed are far better remembered than the ones of today, because people found a unique familiarity in them that has been lost, but one that is most urgently needed in the world today.

Ticket Stubs review of ‘The Box‘ by Austin Lugar
for MovieSet.com

If I write this review, two things will happen. One: someone somewhere in the world who I probably know will roll their eyes at this introduction. Two: I will receive one million dollars courtesy of MovieSet.com. Now this could all be a bluff, an empty box if you will. Nothing may happen, but there’s still that thought in the back of your head that it could. It seems like a short puzzle, but curiosity will still remain after a decision is made. Is this really the end of the line? What poor souls have to have to be the ones to roll their eyes? Who is making this offer? Surely not MovieSet; I’m sure they doubt my employment with every review I turn in.

Cameron Diaz stars as Norma Lewis in Warner Bros. Pictures', Radar Pictures' and Media Rights Capital's thriller THE BOX.

For the one of you who is confused, I’m talking about Richard Kelly’s latest mind-melter, The Box. In this film, the stakes are slightly raised with having a random person die instead of having to endure the uncomfortableness of suffering through a mediocre joke. However, the questions remain the same. The moral puzzle can only last so long, but Kelly creates a fun atmosphere by using those remaining questions to create this crazy-awesome sci-fi tale. Viewers of Donnie Darko know that Kelly is not interested in conventional tales. They also know he’s into water movement and this movie has both of those quirks.

In the same vein as a show like LOST, The Box toys with its supernatural quandaries in an addicting fashion. Not all of the solutions are extremely satisfying, but the film surprised me how often it made me reexamine the ethics of the initial premise. It’s not often you see such an interesting examination of altruism in today’s society, even if the film is set in the 1970s. Especially an examination that involves…nope, I’m not going to spoil it.

The film is not perfect, but if you embrace the madness of the plot it’s worth your time. Everyone involves seems to be entirely with it. James Marsden, Cameron Diaz, and Frank Langella all admirably ground the movie with their believable performances of the characters’ struggles. Yes even Diaz, who I sincerely believe can not read, delivers a performance that is not distracting and—dare I say!—competent. Not since Being John Malkovich have I been able to look at her and say “That wasn’t bad.” So clearly she needs to stick with movies where she cannot comprehend the plot.

James Marsden stars as Arthur Lewis in Warner Bros. Pictures', Radar Pictures' and Media Rights Capital's thriller THE BOX.

Proper writing structure suggests that I return to the gimmick in the first paragraph as a bookend, but that premise was questioning whether or not I write a review. I wrote it. Clearly, this is the final paragraph. So instead of professionally concluding a review, I’ll just provide this link to a brilliant parody of The Box. Enjoy: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/44b3d8f432/the-button

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Scene Selection review of ’The Men Who Stare At Goats‘ by Alex Kartman
for MovieSet.com

George Clooney is blossoming into a great comedic actor (not including the dismal Batman and Robin, because that’s only funny because of how awful it is). His five most recent films, including two yet to be released, all are comedies in one form or another: “Leatherheads,” “Burn After Reading,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Up in the Air,” (not a total comedy, but he maintains his charm and whit in the trailers), and this past weekend’s “The Men Who Stare at Goats.” What is so amazing about Clooney is that three of the films are releasing between now and Christmas. Talk about a guy committed to acting. The flip side is that he had no other films released this year.

Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) and Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) in Overture Films’ THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS.

Anyways, back to getting on track instead of going on an awards season schedule rant; “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is based on a shockingly true story from the book by the same title. If you have yet to see a trailer or hear anything about the film, I would be surprised. Trailers and promotion littered television and the Internet over the past few weeks. The journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) embarks to tell the story of psychic warriors, as trained by the United States Army. Lyn Cassady (Clooney) is his connection to it all, sharing stories, techniques, and first hand encounters in the Iraq War. The title comes from a technique of killing goats by staring at them, but Cassady’s powers transcend far deeper into the human psyche, dealing with statistics and trances. That’s a very abstract plotline, that barely encompasses the friendship that wraps the story up, but I always intend to avoid spoilers.

Acting wise though, the two leads are brilliant. Clooney steals the show easily, even if he is the supporting character. He has perfected the paranoid spy, the role he previously played in “Burn After Reading,” but this time he has a meatier character with an even more absurd background. McGregor doesn’t completely have a believable American accent, but his character’s problems and plotline shadow that. At times the character is inconsistent, one moment acting childish and unintelligent and the next moment breeding his mind to be a “Jedi warrior.” The supporting cast excels also, mainly with Jeff Bridges returning to a different version of the Dude. He is a hippie Bill Django, enlisted into researching peaceful and psychic warfare. As the founder of the New Earth Army, he is hilarious at times as the baked Django, whose visions always are questionable. Also making praise worthy appearances are Kevin Spacey and Stephen Lang as two of the Jedi recruits and trainees.

Jeff Bridges stars as Bill Django in Overture Films’ THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS.

One of the key things this film does is use other films as a jumping off point. There are references galore, the main one being a “Star Wars” reference. That in itself is so hilarious with McGregor being in the film. The friend I saw this with managed to make this a prequel to “Lost” through a minor character. (I say minor in terms of screen time) What these references and connections show is that culture and film build on what exists, making new entities that connect to everything else. It becomes increasingly more difficult to have seen every reference that the filmmakers put into a film. This film literate culture is fertile for great films like this one and I am excited for the future, especially if Hollywood recognizes that the public does not need to be spoon-fed every single studio film. I apologize for this weeks rant.

The film is not a laugh out loud comedy by any means. It has its hilarious moments, but it focuses more on a story than on jokes and slapstick. Clooney subtly brings in humor without going over the top, while Bridges goes all out most of the time. It is discouraging that the trailer gave away some of the best setups and comedy. The current trend of how much trailers spoil is irritating to the point that you really need to refrain from seeing any trailers to enjoy every film to the fullest.

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” is not a film for everyone, especially those wanting action, rolling on the floor hysteria, and a popcorn flick. It does provide a tight, neatly wrapped narrative that entertains throughout the feature.

Grade: A-

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Part of MovieSet’s Remembering John Hughes special series

By KL Hedberg
for MovieSet.com

Filming began in 2006. On August 6th of this year, my generation and those that have followed, lost a legendary storyteller. John Hughes sudden death at 59 was like losing a family member for many of us who saw his films as a mirror of our teenage years. I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, the setting for many Hughes films. I can remember fellow classmates trying to be extras when he posted open calls for his films. The excitement of Hollywood coming to the Midwest was more than we could bear. When the films were then released in theatres, we would try to spot our friends or classmates in the scenes. There really wasn’t a need to seek anyone out in particular as each character was our classmate or friend. We saw ourselves in each cast member. We saw our parents, grandparents, friends, those we aspired to be and those we mocked due to painful insecurities. This year was my 25th high school reunion. Instead of attending the event, I chose to watch “Sixteen Candles”. That was the high school time I chose to remember. (In case you wonder who I most relate to in his films, think Joan Cusack’s character in “Sixteen Candles”.)

“Don’t You Forget About Me” sets out to find the reclusive John Hughes shortly before we lost him. Four filmmakers pursue their quest to find Hughes in order to convey to him what he means to them and all of us. Fans of Hughes will revel in the nostalgia of film clips, music and interviews they have assembled. You can’t help but tear up when you see Jake Ryan kiss Samantha Baker over her birthday cake or see Annie Potts and Molly Ringwald slow dance while “Cherish” plays in the background. Interviews with cast members, filmmakers, co-workers, students and film critics are too few in this film. I could have used less time with the four filmmakers and more in-depth conversation with those who thought they knew him best or wished they still had contact with him. Comments from Roger Ebert were especially poignant.

Don't You Forget About Me - Film Team

Hughes chose to remove himself from the chaos of Hollywood and retreated back to his Midwest roots over a decade ago. He chose to live a reclusive life surrounded by his family, a life that many will never understand. Interviews with Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Andrew McCarthy and current filmmakers Kevin Smith and Jason Reitman convey sadness at the loss of Hughes not only as a filmmaker, but for some as a friend. Many send him a message through the screen in hopes of conveying to him the importance he has held in their lives. Current teens state that they have seen films like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” repeatedly and that it is more meaningful today than upon its release. These teens state that no one makes films of this caliber anymore. They can’t relate to today’s characters like they can the cast of “The Breakfast Club”. His characters were authentic. They were bullies, jocks, beauty queens and misfits. They were us.

In the final scenes of the film, we see the four filmmakers quest take them to Hughes hometown. I have real difficulties with this scene. If these four people knew Hughes and heard the messages in his films, they would have respected the fact that he stepped out of the limelight. He had his reasons. Reasons we may never know. Let’s remember him for all he gave us, not for what we selfishly missed when he left the industry. We and generations to come will never forget the genius of John Hughes. His body of work will serve as window into the hearts and souls of teenagers everywhere. This film serves as a reminder that we will never see the likes of him again and along with him we have all lost a part of our innocence.

Green Zone

Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer (Matt Damon) to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons on Mass Destruction in an unstable region.

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Despicable Me

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me. Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

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Lovely Bones

Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.

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To help you survive, here are two new Twilight New Moon video clips – What do we do with you now? featuring Bella and the Volturi and What did you do to him? with Jacob transforming.

Michael Sheen stars as Aro in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON.

Watch them both after the jump …

In What do we do with you now? Aro (Michael Sheen) and the Volturi decides Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) fate, while Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Alice (Ashley Greene) try to defend her.

In What did you do to him? Jacob (Taylor Lautner) transforms to protect Bella (Kristen Stewart) from Paul (Alex Meraz) and the wolf pack.

Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in James Cameron's AVATAR.

The Avatar trailers have been released like movies on their own with line-ups, reviews and anticipation as the renegade filmmaker waited for the technology catch up with his vision as he worked to push the boundaries of how films are made in the digital age.

Now you can explore the back story with an Avatar featurette. You’ll hear director James Cameron and actors Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, Matt Gerald, Zoe Saldana and Dileep Rao talk about AVATAR.

Video after the break …

In case you aren’t paying attention, here’s the synopsis for Avatar:

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery, as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. The film was first conceived by Cameron 14 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not yet exist. Now, after four years of actual production work, AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film, disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.

A few other interesting Avatar news bites.

• Will James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ be the Most Expensive Movie Ever?
• Interview with Pascal Blanche, Art Director of ‘Avatar: The Game’
• ‘Avatar’ Preview – “Scene Selection Review”
• Attack of ‘Avatar’ – MovieSet alum riffs on this Coming Attraction

Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) and Mrs. Fox (voiced by Meryl Streep) in FANTASTIC MR. FOX.

Check out the bundle of behind the scenes videos of Fantastic Mr. Fox including interviews and “making of” featurettes featuring director/writer Wes Anderson (Royal Tennenbaums, Life Aquatic, Darjeeling Express, etc.) plus many interesting actors along with multiple trailers and complete clips.

Writer/director Wes Anderson on the set of FANTASTIC MR. FOX.

Videos after the jump …

Bill Murray talks ‘Fatastic Mr. Fox’

Bill Murray talks about Wes Anderson’s attention to detail, what sets Wes apart, the film’s craftsmanship and how much he enjoyed the project.

Jason Schwartzman talks ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’
Actor Jason Schwartzman talks about the film’s premise, Wes’s accomplishment, Mr. Fox and what makes him fantastic.

Wes Anderson talks ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’
Director/writer/producer Wes Anderson talks about filming in stop motion, working with George Clooney and Meryl Streep, the difficulties of working in stop motion and the look of the film.

Bill Murray talks ‘Fatastic Mr. Fox’
Bill Murray talks about Wes Anderson’s attention to detail, what sets Wes apart, the film’s craftsmanship and how much he enjoyed the project.

Featurette – Fantastic Mr. Fox
Actor Jason Schwartzman narrates as you’re taken on a visual tour of the long and arduous process of creating the stop motion film FANTASTIC MR. FOX.

When a movie is based on real life events, it’s interesting to see how closely the characters resemble their real life counterparts. In the case of Sandra Bullock sassy Southern lady and Tim McGraw’s easy-going husband in ‘The Blind Side‘ the filmmakers seem to copied the Touhys – the family who befriended Michael Oher – very closely rather than re-invent the characters for Hollywood.

Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) in Alcon Entertainment's drama THE BLIND SIDE.

More from ‘The Blind Side’

• ‘The Blind Side‘ videos, stills and news
• “I’m a Democrat” ~ Sandra Bullock and Kathy Bates in ‘The Blind Side’
• New Trailer for Michael Oher Story, ‘The Blind Side’ starring Sandra Bullock
• MovieSet Spotlight: ‘The Blind Side’ starring Sandra Bullock in a football story

Heath Herring stars as Colin 'The Brick' Wahle in CIRCLE OF PAIN.

Next up from the set of ‘Circle of Pain,’ Director Daniel Zirilli sits down with MMA fighters Roger Huerta and Heath Herring and talks about making the jump from working with musicians – to working with fighters – and getting the best out of his actors.

These three have been working on upcoming action/drama Circle of Pain. The story goes that following an in-ring accident, Dalton Hunt retired from the world of mixed martial arts at the top of his game. Unable to outrun his guilt, he lost his family, his title, and his way. But when a crooked promoter lures him back into a fight against the current undefeated champ, Colin ‘The Brick’ Wahle, Dalton must enlist the aid of an enigmatic trainer to turn him back into a warrior so he can stand tall and do battle once again.

More Circle of Pain:

MovieSet Sitelet: Circle of Pain (videos, stills and more)

Production Site – My Own Worst Enemy Productions

Plot Summary:

This unpredictable story follows an agitated fast-food employee, Joe, who’s reached his breaking point from being harassed and tormented by his boss. Finally on the last day of summer, Joe snaps and decides to take revenge on his boss but his plans are disrupted when a quick glance from a beautiful girl catches his attention leading him to kidnapping her instead, changing both their lives forever.

Be sure to check out more Last Day of Summer videos and stills from the production.

MovieSet.com, the leading behind-the-scenes web site, announces the launch of an online User Generated Video contest where one lucky fan will win the role of a lifetime in an upcoming MMA movie production.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 9, 2009 – MovieSet.com, the leading behind-the-scenes web site, announces the launch of the ‘MMA Movie Star Video Contest’ an online User Generated Video contest where one lucky fan will win the role of a lifetime. The contest is being co-sponsored by DEATH WARRIOR, an action packed film that features some of the world’s greatest Mixed Martial Arts Champions including, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad “Sugar” Evans, Georges “Rush” St-Pierre and Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine. The producers of DEATH WARRIOR are looking for a new action star to appear in their next MMA film alongside these champions.

Skilled fans can go to www.MovieSet.com to contend. Videos will be judged by other fans online and by a panel of celebrity judges. Aside from the walk-on role, the winner will fly to the location of filming, spend a day on set and get a chance to mingle with the cast and filmmakers and witness firsthand how a major motion picture is made.

via MovieSet.com Gives One Skilled Fan The Role of a Lifetime.

First off, in “I appreciate your honesty Miss Sue” Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) talks with Miss Sue (Kathy Bates) about tutoring Michael – the man-child who needs to step up his grades in order to qualify for a football scholarship.

‘The Blind Side‘ depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. – In Theaters November 20th, 2009.

Here’s a collection of behind the scenes shots featuring various college coaches coming to recruit Michael at the Touhy’s home:

Check out more videos, stills and news from ‘The Blind Side’

Via The Twilight Saga: New Moon – TV Trailer

More ‘The Twilight saga: New Moon’ videos, stills and news

Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey) and Prescious (Gabourey Sidibe) in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE.

MovieSet has followed this film since Cannes (see Precious coverage from Cannes) and posted a round up of interviews:

• Mariah Carey talks ‘Precious’
• Tyler Perry talks ‘Precious’
• Mo-Nique talks ‘Precious’
• Gabourey Sidibe talks ‘Precious’
• Lee Daniels talks ‘Precious’

In this clip, Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey talks about getting involved with the film, the films message and what she thinks audiences should expect.

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination. – In Theaters November 6th, 2009.

More: ‘Precious’ Videos, stills, news, etc.

Kristen Stewart as Bella rushes into the Volturi's palace

The stunt coordinator, director, producer and writer all contribute to the segment in explaining how to go from vision to movie reality. So, sit back and see the necks snap and back break as the cast and crew take you behind the scenes with Aro, Felix, Jane, Caius and the rest of the Volturi as they destroy the set with action and stunts.

More ‘The Twilight saga: New Moon’ videos, stills and news

‘How to Train your Dragon‘ centers around a Viking teenager named Hiccup, who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. The teen’s smarts and offbeat sense of humor don’t sit too well with his tribe or its chief…who just happens to be Hiccup’s father.

However, when Hiccup is included in Dragon Training with the other Viking teens, he sees his chance to prove he has what it takes to be a fighter. But when he encounters (and ultimately befriends) an injured dragon, his world is flipped upside down, and what started out as Hiccup’s one shot to prove himself turns into an opportunity to set a new course for the future of the entire tribe.

Trailer – How to Train Your Dragon on MovieSet – A comedy adventure set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons.

More from ‘How to Train your Dragon‘ including videos, pictures and news

Angelina Jolie stars in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Salt‘ a contemporary espionage thriller. Before becoming a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. She will prove loyal to these when a defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA. – In Theaters July 23rd, 2010.

Trailer – Salt – Salt Videos – MovieSet

Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative, she must elude capture and protect her husband or the world’s most powerful forces will erase any trace of her existence.

More Salt, please

In all regards, you should not watch ‘Antichrist‘. My position as a reviewer is to guide you into seeing or not seeing a film by providing my own opinions. Throughout this review, I shall remark a lot of the achievements of this film, but I warn you this is not a recommendation.

So why shouldn’t you see a film that I will label as technically good? When you look as Lars Von Trier’s canon, there are a variety of films designed to make you feel uneasy. His greatest films in my mind (Dogville, Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves) are films that I have no interest in experiencing for a second time. Von Trier has the uncanny ability to delve in to the dark parts of the human psyche and create remarkable works of art from it. With those films, the audience also takes part in his characters’ downward spirals but it is appreciated because these characters are worth caring about and he is a very competent director. Now with Antichrist, he may have crossed the line into pure misery.

Charlotte Gainsbourg & Willem Dafoe in 'Antichrist'

Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg play a nameless couple whose child is killed in the opening scene of the film. What follows is a demented journey of grief and pain, which is more frightening than insightful. Their destruction plays like a feature version of Un Chien Andalou equipped with images that are forever scared in my brain. Dafoe and Gainsbourg act through this expertly with unflinching and raw decisions. In fact everything about this film is done expertly. Von Trier experiments and succeeds with his lighting techniques that I’ve never seen done before. The film is shot like a work of art, but more in the vein of Hieronymus Bosch than Monet. (Yes I only know who Bosch is because I read Michael Connelly. Don’t judge me.

Why I don’t rank Antichrist as highly as the rest of Von Trier’s work? For the art overpowers the characters and the story. Everything felt like a device to put the audience on the same level von Trier is on. I embrace film because of its unique way to tell a story. When storytelling is compromised I tend to lose respect for the filmmaker, which is what has happened to me towards Stanley Kubrick, David Fincher, and David Lynch. (Eat it up film nerds!). The reason people seem to be attracted towards Antichrist is its use of compromise. Much in the same vein as Salo, people comment on seeing this film as an achievement in tolerance. They made it through and were able to blog about it. However this does not compare as effective as Requiem For a Dream or even Cries and Whispers because for me the experience of Antichrist isn’t worth it.

More ‘Antichrist’ videos, stills and news

More Antichrist on Dailies blog

Ringo Duran (Hector Echavarria) and Gregor Popoff (Forrest Griffin) in Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment's UNRIVALED.

Forrest also discusses his acting abilities, the importance of reading the script, the choice of names for character and answers the question: “Which is more difficult: Fighting or Acting?”

Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest MMA world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

More ‘Unrivaled’ Videos

Al Sapienza talks ‘Unrivaled’ Actor Al Sapienza (Saw V) sits down to talk about his character Sergio, and what his inspiration is while playing a gangster.

Unrivaled – Directing A Chase Scene Follow director Warren P. Sonoda as he directs an on foot chase scene.

Unrivaled – Hit and Run Go behind the scenes of UNRIVALED with actor Steven Yaffee to watch stunt performer Neil Davison and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson prepare for a hit and run.

Nicholas Campbell talks ‘Unrivaled’ Movieset takes you behind the scenes of UNRIVALED to hear what actor Nicholas Campbell has to say about the film. Over the span of making a cappuccino, Campbell talks about the inspiration for his character.

Unrivaled – Fight Choreography Featurette While filming a fight scene, director Warren P. Sonoda and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson talk about what goes into capturing a good fight on film.

Congrats to our Twi-Hard: Tell your Story contest winners!

Another excited bunch of Twi-hards are the newest winners in MovieSet’s fan sweepstakes. Thanks to all who entered and while some are surely disappointed, join us in saying “lucky you” to these three ecstatic Twilight enthusiasts.

Grand Prize Winner: 1 Flip UltraHD Camcorder + 1 New Moon photo signed by start Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart

Pauline R. from Massapequa, NY

Thank you so much for picking me as the grand prize winner for this contest!
When I found out I won, I screamed on the top of my lungs and started crying hysterical because I am so happy. I am completely obsessed with the twilight saga. I read the books four times each, soon going on five. I always talk about twilight and the amazing cast all the time to my friends and family. Also, every day I come home from school, I quickly jump to the computer and spend over an hour looking up new twilight information. My mom recently yelled at me saying that I do not have a life and I cannot stay up on the computer any longer, even though I was entering twilight contests. I am so glad I did not listen to her because I would not have this great opportunity for winning the grand prize. Thank you once again, Movieset.com, for making today the best day of my life!

1st Prize: 1 signed Robert Pattinson shirtless photo + 4 movie passes

Katie H.
North Easton, MA

O my god thank you thank you thank you sooo much!!!!!!!! ive been entering and entering and o my god i can’t even think strait right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!!!!!!!!!! When do I get my prize!!!!!!!!!!
Twilight is like my life my friends are always making fun of me because of it and now I get to rub it in their faces!!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2nd Prize: 1 signed Taylor Lautner shirtless photo + 4 movie passes

Iris G.
Dunlap, TN

That is totally awsome! I didn’t think i would win! I absolutely love the twilight saga and was actually supposed to play the role of Tonya in the movie but i didn’t have the money to make it down for the shooting, so they had to pick someone else. I’m so excited i won! I’ve had quiet a few twilight experiences myself. People often call me a mix between Bella because i’m clumbsy and Tonya because i’m not afraid to fight for someone i care about.

And don’t forget to stay tuned to www.movieset.com/contests for upcoming sweepstakes for your chance to win great movie prizes!

Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) and Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) in Alcon Entertainment's drama THE BLIND SIDE.

‘The Blind Side’ depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential.

At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome.

As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

Check out more videos, stills and news from ‘The Blind Side’

Writer/Director John Lee Hancock on Sandra Bullock in ‘The Blind Side’

Director John Lee Hancock on the set of Alcon Entertainment's drama THE BLIND SIDE.

If there is a single genre of films I have not viewed enough of, it would definitely be documentary. I have seen enough to know which are good and which are bad, and it helps to have a film class with a music documentary filmmaker this semester.

All of the back story aside, I viewed “Michael Jackson’s This is It” this past weekend, and was blown away.
In the past I brought up themes of nostalgia, especially with the re-releases of “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2,” but the Michael Jackson concert/ rehearsal/ documentary film brings back the glory of his greatest hits. I was thrown into the past, remember the time I first saw the music video to “Thriller” or singing “Heal the World” as a preschooler. The film delivers both these hits, and many more, only leaving out very few chart toppers.

Essentially “This is It” is a glorified concert film, but it expands much further into the development, the grit, and the endurance necessary to put a production on stage. The feature charts the entire planning and production of the concert up until Jackson’s death. The beauty of the film is that never does it glorify his death. That fact seems to be a side note for viewers to already know while watching it. The film jumps right into Jackson’s announcement for a 50-performance engagement at London’s O2 Arena, and immediately charts several rehearsals to put together the tour’s catalogue. It is very intriguing to show the progression of each song, with some regular practices and other cuts of dress rehearsals full of special effects. Spliced between songs are snippets of special features content, ranging from green screen filming to dance try-outs to costume design. I found these to be the more interesting parts of the film, with the massive scale of the production and all of the elements being created.

Certain things wowed me with the film, starting with some amazing editing and shooting through the opening sequences. The press conference announcement segment is cut rapidly and has the same pacing that “District 9” had earlier this year. The frantic chaos set the pace for how high energy the performances to come would be. As a performer, Jackson definitely still has all the talent of old. His dancing was clean and articulate, with some new style thrown in. His voice sounded crisp, and not feeble, as his appearance sometimes would project. The man, no matter personal affairs and such, still had the charisma and power to sell out arenas and bring crowds to their feet.

Other intriguing parts are certain behind the scenes looks. The best for me was an innovative feature. Behind the stage there was a giant screen, which would have 3D projections. The concert creators, and the director Kenny Ortega, filmed in front of monstrous green screens, to create new footage for “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Beat It.” I loved the “Smooth Criminal” content, not only because it’s my favorite tune of his, but also because of the brilliant film noir short film that Ortega made to play on the screen. All of the footage was shot with 3D cameras for the audience to experience in 3D. Now watching a movie with 3D glasses is somewhat annoying, so maybe it wouldn’t have transferred to a concert very well, but it shows how much Jackson still pushed the boundaries.

The film allows you to get completely lost in the music and the concert experience. Even pulling away from the performance feels natural and enlightening. There is never a dull beat throughout the film, and I even found myself grooving along to the songs. The film opens with some of his lesser-known hits, but just wait till the film hits stride and the mega-hits start rolling. I believe that this concert could have rivaled U2 for production value, and it just reminds me even more that I will never be able to see new material from the King of Pop. Take the chance to experience the last material of Jackson’s career, and once again get lost in the music that defined cool.

Grade: A

More This Is It videos, news and stills

In this featurette, you’ll hear from wolf pack animators, wolf pack actors Taylor Lautner, Alex Meraz and Chaske Spencer, as well as Kristen Stewart and director Chris Weitz.

Meet the WolfPack:

Alex Meraz as Paul, Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley, Bronson Pelletier as Jared and Kiowa Gordon as Embry Call are the Quileute Wolf Pack in Summit Entertainment's THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON.

More Twilight:

New ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ Clip – Vampires Vs. Werewolves

New Stills for ‘New Moon’

More Twilight

Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the greatest MMA world title-holder during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the rewards great…But should he lose, it will cost him his life.

More ‘Unrivaled’ Videos

Al Sapienza talks ‘Unrivaled’ Actor Al Sapienza (Saw V) sits down to talk about his character Sergio, and what his inspiration is while playing a gangster.

Unrivaled – Directing A Chase Scene Follow director Warren P. Sonoda as he directs an on foot chase scene.

Unrivaled – Hit and Run Go behind the scenes of UNRIVALED with actor Steven Yaffee to watch stunt performer Neil Davison and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson prepare for a hit and run.

Nicholas Campbell talks ‘Unrivaled’ Movieset takes you behind the scenes of UNRIVALED to hear what actor Nicholas Campbell has to say about the film. Over the span of making a cappuccino, Campbell talks about the inspiration for his character.

Unrivaled – Fight Choreography Featurette While filming a fight scene, director Warren P. Sonoda and Stunt Coordinator Eric Bryson talk about what goes into capturing a good fight on film.

Synopsis: Following an in-ring accident, Dalton Hunt retired from the world of mixed martial arts at the top of his game. Unable to outrun his guilt, he lost his family, his title, and his way. But when a crooked promoter lures him back into a fight against the current undefeated champ, Colin ‘The Brick’ Wahle, Dalton must enlist the aid of an enigmatic trainer to turn him back into a warrior so he can stand tall and do battle once again.

Bronner (Yves Edwards), Dexter (Carlo Prater) and Kwan (Miguel Torres) in CIRCLE OF PAIN.

BTW, Did you know you can win a chance to be in a forthcoming MMA movie? Yup, just enter the MMA Movie Star video contest.

Check out the “Circle of Pain” page for more news and stills.

As we wrap Halloween Movie Month at MovieSet.com, I decided to check out a scary movie. No I didn’t go out and see Saw VI, Cirque de Freak or the horrifying looking Couples Retreat. I decided to check out the latest Coen Brothers’ creation: A Serious Man.

Writer/director Ethan Coen and actor Aaron Wolff on the set of writer/directors Joel & Ethan Coen’s A SERIOUS MAN, a Focus Features release.

Now I’m sure all of you’re are screaming at your computer screens in protest demanding that I rightfully categorize it as a drama or even a drama-edy not a horror film. Now let’s just look at what constitutes a horror movie.

To me the effective horror movies are ones where bad things are happening to relatively good people. What’s creepier than a seemingly unstoppable larger-than-life force that is out to get you? In the case of A Serious Man, that force is God or just terrible luck. Much like the biblical Job, Larry Gopnik is having everything that could go wrong occur in a very short amount of time. On every front he is hit: from a marital, financial, professional and religious standpoint. This predicament is scarier than any Michael Myers or Vince Vaughn for this is something completely intangible.

Throughout all of this, Larry keeps insisting to anyone who would listen that he hasn’t done anything wrong. Yet he hasn’t really done anything great as well. Is doing nothing wrong, something wrong? This is one of many paradoxes examined in the film. No easy solutions are given no matter how desperately the characters want them. Larry and his family are devout members of the Jewish community during the 1960s so everyone around him keeps telling him to turn to the rabbis for advice. However all he receives are empty parables and a prescription to continue to have faith in God.

Richard Kind stars as Uncle Arthur in writer/directors Joel & Ethan Coen’s A SERIOUS MAN, a Focus Features release.

From that description, I seem to be accidentally inferring that the Coens are saying that religion is unsatisfying. I do not believe that for the simple reason of I don’t know yet. This is my first review for this site where I am not 100% certain on my interpretations of the directors’ intentions. I apologize for having only seen this film once. This is not an act of mental laziness on my part because so much of the film is up to interpretation. Interpretations that I feel will change as time goes by for me, much like theories about real life.

Do not take my indecisions as a strike against the film (or hopefully not me). A Serious Man is a film I call “intellectually arousing.” I never want a film to be disposable. You can determine a film’s impact by how long you think about it afterwards. This is a film that academically satisfies its viewers, but on a surface level it is flawlessly entertaining. This is the genius of the Coen Brothers. Thanks the Roger Deakins the shots are always astounding and the actors, especially Michael Stuhlbarg as Larry, know how to sell the comedy and tragedy of the situation. This is exactly the kind of film I latch onto and adore. So check it out as, at the very least, an unconventional Halloween viewing.

Here’s a clip:

Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) explains his marital situation to his sexy neighbor Mrs. Samsky (Amy Landecker) in A SERIOUS MAN.

Synopsis: The story follows an ordinary mans search for clarity in a universe where Jefferson Airplane is on the radio and F-Troop is on TV. It is 1967, and Larry Gopnik, a physics professor at a quiet midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife Judith that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love with one of his more pompous colleagues, Sy Ableman, who seems to her a more substantial person than the feckless Larry.

Larry’s unemployable brother Arthur is sleeping on the couch, his son Danny is a discipline problem and a shirker at Hebrew school, and his daughter Sarah is filching money from his wallet in order to save up for a nose job. While his wife and Sy Ableman blithely make new domestic arrangements, and his brother becomes more and more of a burden, an anonymous hostile letter-writer is trying to sabotage Larry’s chances for tenure at the university. Also, a graduate student seems to be trying to bribe him for a passing grade while at the same time threatening to sue him for defamation. Plus, the beautiful woman next door torments him by sunbathing nude. Struggling for equilibrium, Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis. Can anyone help him cope with his afflictions and become a righteous person; a mensch, a serious man?

In Theaters October 9th, 2009.

Cast & Crew
Videos (10 videos)
Stills (21 photos)
(2 articles)News

Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson stars as Reg in CIRCLE OF PAIN.

Check out this awesome new MMA-powered movie from Director Daniel Zirilli, ‘Circle of Pain.’

They just finished shooting in Austin, Texas and are posting a collection of behind the scenes stuff from the set of ‘Circle Of Pain’.

Fresh off his performance in Blood and Bone with Michael Jai White UFC’s Ultimate Fighter contestant Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Ferguson stars as Reg.

BTW, Did you know you can win a chance to be in a forthcoming MMA movie? Yup, just enter the MMA Movie Star video contest.

CoP also stars Tony Schiena as Dalton and Heath “The Texas Crazy Horse” Herring as Colin. Also starring Bai Ling (Crank: High Voltage), Dean Cain (TV’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), street-fighter Kimbo Slice, and Louis Herthum (I Love You Phillip Morris).

You’ll see video, news and stills at ‘Circle of Pain’ page.

Synopsis: Following an in-ring accident, Dalton Hunt retired from the world of mixed martial arts at the top of his game. Unable to outrun his guilt, he lost his family, his title, and his way. But when a crooked promoter lures him back into a fight against the current undefeated champ, Colin ‘The Brick’ Wahle, Dalton must enlist the aid of an enigmatic trainer to turn him back into a warrior so he can stand tall and do battle once again.

Check out our “Circle of Pain” page for more news and stills.

Lucky for you, Alliance has released a great selection of films that can entertain fans of any genre. Keep your eyes open for Coraline, Nothing Like the Holidays, Away We Go, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Easy Virtue, Sin Nombre and 17 Again.

Coraline

Coraline DVD

If you’re looking for a good family film to watch over Halloween, then pick up Coraline on DVD or Blu-Ray to delight and frighten you in standard 2-D, or eye-popping 3-D.  Coraline tells the story of a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life.

On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life – only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her phony parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her real family.

Directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), Coraline stars the voice talent of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Keith David and Robert Bailey Jr.

Nothing Like the Holidays

Nothing Like the Holidays DVD

If you’re thinking ahead to Christmas, then why not pick up a new holiday comedy to add to your collection. Nothing Like the Holidays follows a Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago who face what may be their last Christmas together.

It’s Christmas time and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents’ to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother’s safe return from combat overseas.

In the course of the eventful week, traditions are celebrated, secretes revealed and major life decisions made when Mrs. Rodriguez announces to her children she is leaving their father Eduardo. The shockwaves from this familial upheaval prompts the Rodriguezes to reevaluate the past and rethink the future.

Directed by Alfredo De Villa, Nothing Like the Holidays stars John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Freddy Rodríguez, Vanessa Ferlito, Alfred Molina and Luis Guzmán. Pick up the DVD for special features including Nothing Like a Family : Cast Reunion, Audio commentary with Freddy Rodriguez, Alfredo De Villa and Robert Teitel, Picture in Picture Video Documentary and Bloopers.

Away We Go

Away We Go DVD

With a hilarious cast including The Office’s John Krasinski and SNL’s Maya Rudolph, you are assured to get a good laugh out of director Sam Mendes’ (American Beauty) Away We Go.

The film follows longtime couple Burt and Verona as they travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family after they find out that Burt’s parents are moving away from Colorado – thereby eliminating the expectant couple’s main reason for living there.

The couple embarks on an ambitious itinerary to evaluate cities  and visit friends and family who just might help them discover “home” on their own terms for the first time.

Staring along side Krasinski and Rudolph are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels and Catherine O’Hara. Get ready for extra laughs with the DVD’s special features including Deleted Scenes, The Making of Away We Go, Feautre Commentary and more!

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past DVD

Sure you’ve seen Charles Dickinson’s A Christmas Carol re-used in a hundred different ways, but you’ve never seen it like this! From director Mark Waters (Mean Girls) comes the romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, a film that proves you can’t always run from your past. Celebrity photographer Connor Mead loves freedom, fun and women…in that order.

A committed bachelor who thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for his kid brother Paul and a house full of well-wishers on the eve of Paul’s wedding.

Just when it looks like Connor may single-handedly ruin the wedding, he is visited by the ghosts of his former jilted girlfriends, who take him on a revealing and hilarious odyssey through his failed relationships – past, present and future. Together they attempt to find out what turned Connor into such an insensitive jerk and whether there is still hope for him to find true love.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Lacey Chabert, Emma Stone and Michael Douglas.

Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue DVD

In Easy Virtue, we find that the twenties have roared, and the thirties have yet to swing. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However when the couple returns to the family home, his mother Mrs Whittaker has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter-in-law. Larita tries her best to fit in but fails to tiptoe through the minefield laid by her mother-in-law.

Larita quickly realizes Mrs Whittaker’s game and sees that she must fight back if she’s not going to lose John. A battle of wits ensues and sparks soon fly. Mrs Whittaker manipulates every situation to undermine her, while Larita remains frustratingly calm and engineers sassy ounter attacks. Before long, Mrs Whittaker’s manipulation starts to work on John and Larita feels their love is in danger of slipping away.

In a grand finale, where the secrets from Larita’s past are revealed, she finally makes a break for freedom from the suffocating house.

John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) and Larita Whittaker (Jessica Biel) in Easy Virtue

Written and directed by Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Deser), this comedic romantic period piece stars Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth.

Sin Nombre

Sin Nombre DVD

If your looking for a more serious and somber film, than look no further than writer/director Cary Fukunaga’s award winning Sin Nombre based on the filmmaker’s firsthand experiences with Central American immigrants seeking the promise of the US.

The film tells the story of Sayra, a teenager living in Honduras, and hungering for a brighter future. A reunion with her long-estranged father gives Sayra her only real option – emigrating with her father and her uncle into Mexico and then the United States, where her father now has a new family.

Meanwhile, Casper, a.k.a. Willy, is a teenager living in Tapachula, Mexico, and facing an uncertain future as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang brotherhood. Casper must navigate the psychological gauntlet of his violent existence and the physical one of the unforgiving Mara when Sayra bravely allies herself with him as a train they board journeys through the Mexican countryside towards the hope of new lives.

Sayra (Paulina Gaitan) and El Casper (Édgar Flores) in Sin Nombre

Sin Nombre has won several awards including the Directing Award and the Excellence in Cinematography Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.  The film stars Paulina Gaytan, Edgar M. Flores, Guillermo Villegas, Gerardo Taracena, Kristyan A. Ferrer and Diana Garcia. Check out the DVD for Deleted Scenes, Feature Commentary with writer/director Cary Fukunaga and producer Amy Kaufman and more.

17 Again

If you enjoyed Tom Hanks in Big, get ready for the reverse with Zac Efron in 17 Again. Directed by Burr Steers, 17 Again asks the question: what would you do if you got a second shot at life? Class of 1989, Mike O’Donnell is a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlett and the baby he just learned they are expecting.

Almost 20 years later, Mike’s glory days are decidedly behind him. His marriage to Scarlett has fallen apart, he has been passed over for a promotion at work, his teenage kids think he is a loser, and he has been reduced to crashing with his high school nerd-turned-techno-billionaire best friend Ned. But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17. Unfortunately, Mike may look 17 again, but his thirty something outlook is totally uncool in the class of 2009. And in trying to recapture his best years, Mike could lose the best things that ever happened to him.

17 Again boasts a star-studded cast including Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon and Michelle Trachtenberg,

Here’s a guide for assembling your Forks-worthy outfit for haunting your town.

PS If you costume turns out great, submit to Strutta’s Halloween Costume contest and join Hugh Hefner with a Playboy Bunny, Ghostbuster and three variations of Johnny Depp characters among others …

Twilight’s Edward & Bella

Dressing up as Twilight’s Bella and Edward is possibly one of the easiest and most recognizable costumes to pull off.  Your own wardrobe should suffice, but where you’re going to need to spend your moola is on white face paint and hair products.

First up, to disguise yourself as a successful Edward you’ll need 3 main articles of clothing: grey-blue jeans, navy collard or un-collard shirt and a grey pea coat. Now its time to break out the white face paint and hair gel.

Good luck with this, I suggest you look long and hard at pictures of Robert Pattinson before attempting to reconstruct it on your own head. Don’t be afraid to get into character at parties! Stick to dark corners that are ideal for teenage brooding and when speaking to others, never raise your voice above an evocative whisper.

Hair: Robert Pattinson/ Edward Cullen is known for those tousled up-brushed locks. To create this look, you will need to cover your hair in gel or mousse. Mess your hair and comb the front up and out. Allow the mouse to set and give your hair a once over spritz with hair spray. check out some of Roberts other looks over at coolmenshair.com

Wanna be Bellla? Bella can be as equally easy to dress up as with clothes from your own wardrobe. First of all you’ll need a pair of skinny jeans (brown corduroy or otherwise), a zip up jacket hoodie and a non descript t-shirt or tank-top. Bella isn’t as pale as Edward so go light, not white. Keep your hair straight at the top, but wavy at the bottom. A thin brown headband is optional, but don’t forget to bring along a tube of chap stick as the most crucial part of this costume is a bitten bottom lip (thanks KStew).

More Costume ideas on MovieSet.com

PS If you costume turns out great, submit to Strutta’s Halloween Costume contest and join Hugh Hefner with a Playboy Bunny, Ghostbuster and three variations of Johnny Depp characters among others …

Watchmen’s Rorschach

Maybe you’d want to go as the anti-hero from Watchmen, Rorschach. All you’ll need is a couple pieces of clothing and the the mask.

Image from GreatWhiteSnark.com

The hardest thing about this costume will be getting the mask right. It has this special inkblot-looking design to it, and is pretty much the main focus of this costume (everything else is pretty standard clothing.) You can order the mask online from a hobby store or from eBay (although they probably won’t ship in time for Halloween…) or try to do it yourself (all it takes is patience.)

For this costume, you will need:

• A small-brimmed brown fedora hat
• Brown overcoat/trench coat
• Purple pinstriped pants
• Purple ribbon (band) for hat
• Brown or black loafer shoes
• Purple joker gloves or brown leather gloves, but purple is more suitable
• White, beige, or lemon color scarf (no fringe)
• Watchmen Rorschach costume mask (This can be made by using white thin fabric, cheesecloth, or bed sheet material along with a black marker.)

Putting it together can be a pretty daunting task, and since I’m no expert on this particular costume, I suggest that if you run into problems, just Google it. I found this particularly helpful forum thread on WatchmenComicMovie.com that gives you some tips for your costume.

Zombieland’s Tallahassee + other Zombie costumes

Zombie costumes are a staple of this holiday. It’s one of the classic “easy costumes”, just like putting a sheet over your head and calling yourself a ghost. But if done right, being a zombie or zombie killer can be damn frightening!

You’ll want as much fake blood and make-up you can get your hands on! When doing scars for your costume, remember to put the scars on first, and then apply the make-up. Doing this will blend the scars with your face and body parts.

Oh, and don’t be afraid to rip up some of that old clothing. =D

If you want to be on the other side of things, and be a zombie hunter, then that’s doable as well! Here’s what you’ll need to dress up as Tallahassee, the ultimate zombie-killer from the movie Zombieland:

• The hat. This is the most important part of the costume. Any similar-looking hat will do, but if you want the real deal, check out Real Deal Brazil’s Recycled Tarp Hats (which is what Woody Harrelson actually used in the movie.)
• The shades. You can get the shades at pretty much any drugstore sunglasses tree.
• The necklaces. Wood beads, chains, metal or fake-bone pendants. Any kind of dollar store or cheap jewelery story should be good for this.
• Leathers. If you really need to, you could probably pull this off with a jean jacket, but if you wanna go more authentic looking, look for heavy leather (but look for jackets with not too much sheen, and more motorcycle-style than bomber.)
• V-neck T. Maroon is what you should aim for, but any dark V-neck T should do.
• Belt. Something with a big metal buckle.
• Jeans. Keep these simple: no designer holes, etc. Just simple Levi’s work best. To add some more feel, rub your hands in charcoal and then rub them on your jeans.
• Weapon. Get some kind of holster, or, if that’s not doable, just walk around with some kind of toy gun.
• Boots. Cowboy, not biker, style.
• Additional fun props: Jack Daniels bottle, box of Hostess Twinkies, banjo, long-handled pruning shears.

Alright, that should be enough to get you going. Happy Halloween!~

More Costume ideas on MovieSet.com

In the film, Frost plays Dr. Dave, a member of a band of rogue deejays who captivated British radio listeners in the ’60s, playing the music that defined a generation and boldly defying the government that tried to shut them down.

Nick Frost stars as 'Doctor' Dave in Richard Curtis' rock and roll comedy PIRATE RADIO, a Focus Features release.

“…It was good for me that I didn’t have the safety harness of being with my two best friends,” notes Frost, referring to Pegg and Wright. “And, I really had to pinch myself knowing that I have an acting face off with Bill Nighy and Philip Seymour Hoffman almost every day….”

via Nick Frost flys solo for ‘Pirate Radio’ – Pirate Radio News – MovieSet.

More about ‘Pirate Radio‘ AKA The Boat that Rocked

In this clip, Dave (Nick Frost) gives a toast to Charlotte (Emma Thompson) and her son Carl (Tom Sturridge):

In the late 1960s, American radio stations blasted rock and roll 24 hours a day. But in the home country of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the only way 25 million people could hear their music was to tune in…to a boat.

Celebrated filmmaker Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Love Actually) brings the incredible story of a band of rogue deejays who captivated British radio listeners in the ’60s, playing the music that defined a generation and boldly defying the government that tried to shut them down. – In Theaters November 13th, 2009.

Even more Pirate Radio videos, clips, stills, etc.