Director Paul Greengrass of the shaky-cam school of shooting pieces together a story that was advertised to be Jason Bourne goes to war. Instead you see a politically charged war thriller, challenging the value of truth.

The story simply follows a WMD squad at the beginning of the Iraq War. Matt Damon stars as Miller, the leader of the squad. Instead of following the realism and grittiness of war, the film veers toward action and unraveling a political conspiracy that muddles the reason for a war in the country. Damon searches for truth and trust to figure out just what is happening.

You will leave wondering why do we wage war in the modern world? Since World War II, every single conflict we enter grows more morally and politically vague. Vietnam, the Gulf War and now the Iraq War further political agendas for leaders and politicians. To see “Green Zone” you begin to understand why America quickly becomes divided over conflicts like this. No one can agree on anything, or attempt to understand the culture. I had the impression that the Iraq War was overly compared to the Vietnam War, but after thinking more about it, this film confirms that history has a way of echoing through modern events.

Along with the historical context, “Green Zone” can be harkened to classics including “Apocalypse Now,” which both have a man entrusted to carry out military orders without question. Through experience and confusion both main characters seek inward to figure out truth and righteousness. In the end do either find peace? No, but they begin to understand why the situation evolves and devolves.

For a story about a current war, you would expect a great deal of true or realistic situations. The filmmakers decided to raise the bar and rewrite history while it’s still happening. The key plot point of the film hinges on this new alternate history raising the question, how soon is too soon to completely disregard fact? “The Patriot” probably is the most atrocious criminal in butchering history by having its climactic battle crown the opposite victor. Will we see World War II films with Hitler as the good guy who is defending Germany next? Or a Vietnam film taking place in space? Hollywood will continue to preach falsity to audiences, but the line has to be drawn for when it becomes too audacious.

Matt Damon seems rather realistic for his character though. Instead of the invincible and programmed Jason Bourne, he plays a flawed militant who is not the most politically savvy fighter. He follows orders and executes them with great efficiency, but he shows that not all soldiers are reprogrammed human combatants. He has a brain that questions why the intelligence is always wrong. In a military system, questioning leadership certainly is a bold step into a world of trouble. Damon’s character pushes how far he can fight authority, and you learn that no matter how justified your actions are, there is a higher authority to stop you in your tracks. That’s how the American bureaucracy operates, to the ill fate of justice.

The final aspect that “Green Zone” highlights is the effect of media on modern warfare. In Vietnam America witnessed the power of news on public opinion, but in “Green Zone” you see that media’s power has overtaken decision making. Lawmakers make decisions based on how the public will perceive it through the media. They fight certain battles in order to give the evening news a great story. Television is the ultimate enemy and comrade in this fight.

“Green Zone” isn’t a perfect thriller. It bogs itself down with political agendas and statements against the government, but shrouded behind this fog of opinions is a fun thriller along the narrow alleys of Baghdad.

Before knowing anything about The Wild Hunt, before reading the synopsis, I watched the trailer. I laughed at first as I was reminded of Role Models, a hilarious take on medieval role playing, then it took a menacing twist and I laughed no more. I can’t think of a similar plot to this, for me it seems original and I am immediately drawn in. A make-believe battle rages between the Celts and Vikings, the wood elves and a shaman and in the heat of the moment someone breaks character—unforgivable in this fantasy world. Looking for his girlfriend Evelyn (Kaniehtiio Horn), Erik (Ricky Mabe) enters the live action role playing game, but his refusal to play along does much more than bruise egos.

Trailer and clips for you. Prepare to be all ‘what, what whaaaaat?’

The Wild Hunt trailer

Clip description: Erik (Ricky Mabe) gets accosted by guys with foam weapons when he tries to talk to his girlfriend Evelyn (Kaneihtiio Horn)

Clip description: King Argyle (Nicolas Wright) is challenged for his kingship

more The Wild Hunt pics

Salt trailer

Clip description: Interview with Angelina Jolie on the set of Salt

Clip description: Behind-the-scenes with Direcctor Phillip Noyce, featuring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor

more Salt videos

more Salt pics

Remy (Jude Law) is a highly skilled repo man, until he suffers cardiac arrest and wakes up with a new heart and a huge debt. He can’t make the payments and you guessed it, the hunter becomes the hunted. He loses his right to life, though gains a romantic interest it seems (Alice Braga). Both now on the run, they join thousands of others in the fight against The Union.

I find it hard to believe we’re supposed to feel bad for the guy after his long career as a mass murderer … oh wait, love Dexter. Repo Men is in theaters March 19th, 2010. Trailer and clips for you below.

Repo Men trailer

Set in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, it revolves around a man who struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before said ticker is repossessed

Clip description: Jake (Forest Whitaker) catches Remy (Jude Law) off guard while he’s talking to Frank (Liev Schreiber)

Clip description: Remy (Jude Law) listens to Frank (Liev Schreiber) selling a customer an artificial pancreas

more Repo Men videos

more Repo Men pics

Tron Legacy synopsis

After being transported into the surreal landscape of a mainframe computer to destroy an intruder (Tron), a programmer finds himself allied with the leader of a rebellion against a corrupt cyber-entity. ‘Tron Legacy’ is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. – In Theaters December 17th, 2010.

Olivia Wilde is HAWT! I hope she’s as sassy in this movie as she was in The O.C. Garrett Hedlund played Jack Mercer in Four Brothers, one of the most badass movies ever. I have high hopes for this boy. Enough from me, prepare to be overwhelmed…

Basically, to keep Bourne Director Paul Greengrass happy and secure him for another Bourne, Universal allowed him this project. Greengrass is known as a costly director, often having a creative streak during shooting and blowing out the budget on set and in the editing room. The Bourne Supremacy followed that road, though was a smash hit. Green Zone, however, is not looking as promising after release date delays and a massive budget blowout.

Green Zone is based on the book ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone’, written by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Set in the early days of the Iraq War, we follow Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) and his team as they search for weapons of mass destruction. Rather than finding what they set out to, the team discover a cover-up that alters their mission.

The Iraq War is an immensely controversial and touchy subject that divides us all and no movie about the subject has been a financial hit. The fact that it looks very Bourne-like (you’ll notice the hand-held being put to good use) may help it’s chances in theaters and Matt Damon can do no wrong as an actor. Also, plenty of explosions and gun fire if you’re that way inclined. Here’s the trailer and some clips for you. More videos and pics on the MovieSet Green Zone sitelet

Clip description: Roy Miller (Matt Damon) fights to stay alive until the cavalry can arrive

Clip description: Wilkins (Jerry Della Salla) tries to stop Miller (Matt Damon) from doing something stupid

more Green Zone videos

more Green Zone photos

Martin Scorsese. American legend. Extraordinary filmmaker. You cannot even begin to discuss the history of American cinema without this single man as a key player. His journey has been a long one since his 1970s beginnings. Only two weeks ago I highlighted one of his milestones, but lets bring things up to speed with his newest work “Shutter Island.”

Scorsese amazes me on how versatile he truly can be. Gangster pics, music documentaries, comedy, biopic and thrillers are a few of the broad genre’s he has covered at one point in time. Returning to the thrillers with “Shutter Island” it feels outside of even this man’s realm of film.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshall chasing a case in the illustrious prison/psychiatric ward known as Shutter Island. Mark Ruffalo joins him as his new partner Chuck. The two delve deeper into a missing person case and find that Shutter Island is much darker and ominous than the façade reveals.

A dark past haunts the grounds, and Teddy himself. All characters come to a head in a truly mind bending climax. Sorry for being so vague, but it’s a thriller. Deal with it. Actually go see it.

It is a very well constructed story, with great acting all around. The supporting cast really does shine around Leo. Jackie Earle Haley of “Watchman” fame even carries a single scene character. His single scene performance might be one to remember. Leo as usual proves his evolution beyond his boyish charms and characters of old.

His chilling last line of the film might seem a tad cliché, but I don’t care. It pulled my heartstrings, leaving my head spinning at who this character was, and where he evolves.

This is the point where I have to shut my mouth to avoid any spoilers (or further spoilers) because to really deal with the character here, you have to talk about it after already seeing the film. Simply put, he is a World War II veteran dealing with all sorts of post-traumatic stresses; not a healthy mindset for a copper.

Scorsese’s direction is true to form, with great camera work, and even better editing. The flashes and psychological style of the film’s editing grew on me. I found certain shots and flashes to be extremely effective in building confusion and uneasiness, especially one scene involving a water glass. The period nature of the film, taking place in 1950s Boston harbor, is well designed, with a fell evoking the time.

The film does lose its momentum and manages to fall flat in several spots. The beginning set up feels very dragged out, especially since the trailer only takes 30 seconds to establish the same plot line.

Scorsese’s use of flashbacks has bothered me in the past with “Gangs of New York” and again he overuses them. This time they are very stylized, and nightmarish, but they interrupt scenes at strange times. The dialogue pulls the movie down too. It isn’t the dialogue itself, but the use of constant talking scenes to push the plot forward feels drawn out and poorly written. Action should drive a movie like this, not talking heads.

My final problem is the entire last section of the film. I should call it the final act, but it lingers entirely too long to be a proper third act. The climactic reveal lasts too long, around ten minutes. Then the film continues to roll after all is seen, just in case the two hours of sitting there didn’t feel like enough.

I don’t hate the film. I like it quite a bit for the psychology and themes that it raises. I can’t consider this Scorsese’s best though. I can’t deny that it is popular. It raked in the most for a Scorsese opening ever: $41 million. I would recommend it for a matinee or DVD rental. It is clear why the film got bumped to after award season, to make room for more eligible films.

The trailer presents the original mix of dark comedy and corporate thriller, but I’m dubious Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is going to carry the same spark as it’s predecessor. Shia does, however, clean up nicely in a tailored suit. In theaters April 23rd, 2010.

The Ghost Writer trailer

Clip description: Amelia Bly (Kim Cattrall) watches as The Ghost (Ewan McGregor) begins Adam Lang’s (Pierce Brosnan) memoirs.

Clip description: Things get more mysterious for The Ghost (Ewan McGregor) after a walk with Adam Lang’s wife Ruth (Olivia Williams).

More clips from The Ghost Writer

More photos from The Ghost Writer

These gritty, dark, good guys/bad guys type movies are usually okay by me. Director Antoine Fuqua brought us Training Day which I quite enjoyed and the desperation of the characters is definitely captured from what I can tell judging by the trailer and clips. I just think this movie will be compared to so many other epics from this genre and not measure up. *cough* … The Departed.

Brooklyn’s Finest trailer

Clip description: Tango (Don Cheadle) tries to keep Caz (Wesley Snipes) from making a big mistake.

More Brooklyn’s Finest clips

Clip description: Wesley Snipes talks about the film, his character’s relationship with Don Cheadle’s character, Tango and Director Antoine Fuqua’s intensity.

More Brooklyn’s Finest interviews

more Brooklyn’s Finest photos

In a nutshell, you have a sickeningly perfect American town where nothing bad ever happens and everybody gets along. Imagine the townsfolk’s shock when a guy shows up carrying a shotgun to a baseball game. It’s all downhill from here as one-by-one people become infected with the crazies and the town goes to hell. Oh, wait! The military arrive to save the day! … by quarantining the entire town and shooting people. Typical. We follow the still sane people as they become trapped and fight for survival (sounds a little Shaun of the Dead).

I apologize for the tongue-in-cheek trailer review, but it’s my only way to cope with what I just witnessed. I’ll allow points for using Gary Jules’ version of Mad World, which I loved in Donnie Darko.

Here’s the trailer. I’m going to put some clips up for you as well, but I’m not going to watch them okay. Don’t judge me.

Clip description: Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell) and David Dutton’s (Timothy Olyphant) quarrel over staying in town.

Clip description: Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell) is traumatically separated from her husband David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) due to possible infection.

Clip description: David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant), Deputy Russell Clank (Joe Anderson), Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell) and Becca Darling (Danielle Panabaker) find themselves trapped in a deadly car wash.

More clips from The Crazies here if you dare! Mwwwaahahahaha … laaaaame.

If you’re strange and you actually enjoy looking at pictures like this, you can find more on The Crazies stills page

Synopsis

It’s 1954, an up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital. He’s been pushing for an assignment on the island for personal reasons, but before long he wonders whether he hasn’t been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical treatments range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister. Teddy’s shrewd investigating skills soon provide a promising lead, but the hospital refuses him access to records he suspects would break the case wide open. As a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland, more dangerous criminals “escape” in the confusion, and the puzzling, improbable clues multiply, Teddy begins to doubt everything – his memory, his partner, even his own sanity.

Check out Leo’s interview some behind the scenes footage below.

Clip description: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio talks about the appeal of his character Teddy Daniels, the twists in the story, the cast, working with director Martin Scorsese, the story, wanting to work with Mark Ruffalo, the location and the viewers journey.

Clip description: An inside look at molding the environment on set to fit the scene.

Watch more behind the scenes videos

Photos from Shutter Island

Synopsis: Aaron and Kris are neighbors and friends, bachelors who have shared some good parties and bad hangovers. Letting himself into Kris’ condo one morning after, Aaron is greeted by Aaron’s limp body, hung by the neck. A typed note jutting from Kris’ shirt pocket describes the events that have led to this decision. But as proof that Kris genuinely valued their friendship, Kris has left a parting gift – cash – for Aaron. The end of the note implores Aaron to take it, remember Kris well, and get out. The police don’t care, the girl Kris left at the alter does, and a very dead Kris has now vividly worked his way into Aaron and ‘his’ girl’s dreams. Let’s hope the solution takes shape before Kris does…

More from ‘The Two-Roomer’

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

This top six list attempts to combine six Halloween movies I’ve enjoyed and recommend, with six fireworks tales I’ve experienced and would not recommend.

6) The Shining

My first attempt at lighting a Screecheroo was unsuccessful because the wick burned down but didn’t light the firework. I decided cracking the little tube in half, pouring the powder out into a pile, and then lighting that was a clever way to salvage the situation. BOOM! I’ll just say don’t sit looking over the pile when you light it.

5) Poltergeist

My second Screecheroo incident involved my Steve Nash soccer skills and an unprepared friend. After successfully lighting the firework, it began to spin, hiss, glow a bluey-white, and then flare into a huge ball of light. It was at that moment I decided to kick it. Boy, did it fly off my foot! Streaked through the air, leaving a blue trail, and pegged my friend square in the beans. It wasn’t as bad as in Extract, but it stung.

4) The Return of the Living Dead

The next three experiences all involve the roman candles I had bought called ‘Cave of Pearls’. Firstly, if you choose to hold them when they fire, don’t hold them straight in front of yourself because when they backfire you take it straight in the gut. This caused the first burn of the night in my shirt.

3) The Howling

Now, once I perfected how to hold and fire my roman candles it seemed logical to wage a roman candle war on the school field with some older high school kids. That’s how you get multiple burns in your clothing…hopefully only your clothing.

2) Pet Cemetery

The last thing I’ll say about my roman candle experience is that shooting at your enemies house seems like a bad-ass act of aggression, and at first the glowing balls of light bouncing down the roof is kinda cool but then the dried leaves in the eves trough start to smoke and then you see flames and then… well you run.

1) Friday The 13th

Please remember if you get bored with your fireworks you can always hammer them down, then tape them up with electrical tape, add a wick and pretend you’ve made a bomb. I don’t recall it really working that well but, oh and if you light ladyfingers or mighty-mites don’t throw the match accidentally while continuing to hold the firecracker…it hurts…or so my friend Sans Pinkie McGee says.

Happy Halloween!

Plot: When his only child, twenty-four year-old Emma, is murdered on the steps of his home, everyone assumes that he was the target. But he soon suspects otherwise, and embarks on a mission to find out about his daughter’s secret life and her killing. His investigation leads him into a dangerous, looking glass world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder.

Synopsis: “Edge of Darkness” is an emotionally charged thriller set at the intersection of politics and big business. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a veteran homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and a single father. When his only child, twenty-four year-old Emma (Bojana Novakovic), is murdered on the steps of his home, everyone assumes that he was the target. But he soon suspects otherwise, and embarks on a mission to find out about his daughter’s secret life and her killing. His investigation leads him into a dangerous, looking glass world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder – and to shadowy government operative Darius Jedburgh (Ray Winstone), who has been sent in to clean up the evidence. Craven’s solitary search for answers about his daughter’s death transforms into an odyssey of emotional discovery and redemption. – In Theaters January 29th, 2010.

Matt Damon in The Informant

Matt Damon, star of The Bourne Trilogy, is starring as Mark Whitacre in the upcoming Dark Comedy/Thriller The Informant.

Jonathan Decarlo @ Examiner points out:

“Not only did Whitacre suffer from manic depressive disorder while working with the FBI, but he also implicated himself as a corporate swindler during said informing and spent close to eight and a half years in a prison “camp” for multiple counts of fraud. It’s not rocket science why this story was made into a movie at this point in our political and financial climate.”

Mark Whitacre circa 2008

Totally bemused by this piece of info, I had to check Mark Whitacre’s Wikipedia entry. Sure enough, with dozens of citations and 2 books written about him (The Informant being the basis for the movie), this true story stands up on its own, albeit crazy, legs.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh (who also did “Sex, Lies, and Videotape“, directed the Ocean’s Trilogy, and recently, “The Girlfriend Experience“) The Informant is based on a true story; Mark Whitacre, vice president of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), becomes the star witness and primary informant for an FBI investigation into ADM’s agriculture related price fixing.

Damon’s character, both naive and ambitious, really looks in over his head in this brand new trailer.

Check out more from The Informant-  including still pictures, videos, news and more before it arrives in theaters on Oct. 9, 2009.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve at least seen the ubiquitous TV commercials touting the 3D powered thrills with escalators, car crashes and other in-your-face ways to meet your demise.

Here’s a variety pack of stills and videos to give you a flavor of the horror in store – just bring your own depth perception.

KRISTA ALLEN as Samantha in 'The Final Destination'

Ever wonder how movie makers create such big explosions? Check out this ‘The Final Destination’ behind the scenes footage to catch, car explosions, flaming stuntmen and green screens galore!

Check out all the tricks used to convincingly kill people in these behind the scenes clips of ‘The Final Destination’.

The Final Destination Trailer – Directed by David R. Ellis (Snakes on a Plane, Final Destination 2), The Final Destination stars: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb and Mykelti Williamson.

Synopsis:
On what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, Nick O’Bannon has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, sending flaming debris into the stands, brutally killing his friends and causing the upper deck of the stands to collapse on him. When he comes out of this grisly nightmare Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori, and their friends, Janet and Hunt, to leave… escaping seconds before Nick’s frightening vision becomes a terrible reality. Thinking they’ve cheated death, the group has a new lease on life, but unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it is only the beginning. As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one—in increasingly gruesome ways—Nick must figure out how to cheat death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination. The film marks the latest in the highly popular “Final Destination” series, and its first 3D installment, giving horror fans an especially visceral thrill ride.

More from ‘The Final Destination’

• Summary
• Cast & Crew
• Videos
• Stills
• News

Here’s the synopsis:

“For Whom He Tolls” is the story of a young girl named Kayla, played by Lena Clark (Chrome Angels, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell) who comes back home to take care of her mentally ailing Memah, played by Gina Brazell. With the help of a mysterious new neighbor, played by Lije Sarki (The Last Ride, Alphonso Bow, Rolling) and an at-home nurse played by Angela Ware (Friday Night Lights), they try to mend their relationship and find peace in a small east Texas farm house while dealing with eerie visions of a Man in a Suit, played by George Wilson (The Great Debaters).

Here’s a photo of the filmmakers on set:

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” and Thriller helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. With wild stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters.His 1982 album “Thriller” remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 26 million copies.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Per Jackson’s Wiki page: Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer experienced health concerns from the early 1990s until his death, as well as conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and the sales of over 750 million albums worldwide. Cited as one of the world’s most famous men, Jackson’s highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.

nducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, Jackson has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world. He broke down racial barriers, transformed the art of the music video and paved the way for modern pop music in his own country.

Michael Jackson is a part of North American culture. RIP.

Director David Whitney on location in Pakistan for the feature film 'Kandahar Break'

With four wounded and production terminated just six days before wrap, filmmaker David Whitney may have stretched his vision for authenticity too far, when Taliban soldiers opened fire on four crew members near the set of Kandahar Break, smack on the Afghan/Pakistan border.

In this exclusive video interview with MovieSet.com, Whitney retells the astonishing behind-the-scenes story and explains why he deemed it necessary to film an anti-Taliban feature deep within Taliban territory.

Watch the complete interview with Kandahar Break filmmaker David Whitney at hear about his experiences.

MovieSet got our hands on some advance stills from the production so you can see this Swedish actor (that’s right Dolph only acts Russian) in action – both in-front of, and behind, the camera.

Here’s the synopsis:

There were those who called him Icarus. Everyone else knew him as a divorced father working for an investment company. But they didn’t know his other side—his dark side. Because Icarus (Dolph Lundgren) was at his best when he was killing people. For years, he’d worked as a sleeper agent in America—but when the Soviet Empire collapsed, he found himself in a foreign country with no one to trust. Determined to break from his dark past, he started over with a new identity. But you can only escape your past for so long.

When a sudden mishap in Hong Kong blows Icarus’ identity, past and present collide—and the assassin realizes he is now the target. The people that want him dead will stop at nothing to get to him. And that means going after what he cares about most—his wife and daughter. Fighting for his life, Icarus is forced to face the demons of his past to protect the loved ones in his present. He must fight to save the only thing he’s ever done right in his life. He needs to uncover who is after him and protect his family — before it’s too late.

Note: Icarus is not to be confused with the 1965 film Incubus starring William Shatner speaking Esperanto.

Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world’s most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing — even murder — to continue financing terror and war.

Directed by Tom Twkwer, the thriller The International opens today in theaters. On MovieSet’s online presence for the film we now have 13 videos that you can watch including interviews with the director, producers Charles Roven, Richard Suckle and Lloyd Phillips, and with the film’s two leads. There are also six clips from the movie as well as the trailer to feast your eyes on.