Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies: Top 50 Ranked

Vertigo

FROM FILM.COM

Hurricane Sandy and outrageous "Star Wars: Episode VII" news aside, today is actually Halloween, so if you're safe and dry, you probably have a need for some scary movies to fill out your spooky programming for tonight.

And this All Hallows' Eve may be the best in a long while to take a look back at the films of Alfred Hithcock. Th Master of Suspense has a film about his life coming out, a fantastic Blu-ray set, and the top spot on Sight & Sound list, so it's appropriate that the folks over at Film.com have ranked the top 50 movies Hitchcock ever directed.

Head over to Film.com to see which films were ranked the best and which should make an appearance during your Halloween movie marathon.

Tags Alfred Hitchcock



'Django Unchained' Photos Reveal New Characters

Walton Goggins

Aside from the rock star director and the kickass plot, the supporting cast of "Django Unchained," Quentin Tarantino's latest genre mash-up, has always had us over-the-top excited. It's a who's-who of amazing character actors, but one of the casting choices had our interest piqued.

Walton Goggins has always made whatever he shows up in better. From "The Shield" to "Justified," Goggins is the acting equivalent of bacon. That's why we're so pumped to see him finally showing up in the latest round of photos, released over at The Quentin Tarantino Archives.

Check them out after the jump!

We're also afforded a brand new look at Don Johnson's Big Daddy, which is pretty much exactly what you imagine it will be.

Click the image below to see the rest.

Django

"Django Unchained" opens on Christmas Day.

Tags Django Unchained, quentin tarantino, walton goggins



'Star Wars': 15 Insane Fan Moments To Prep For 'Episode VII'

Wookie the Chew

"Star Wars" has always had one of the most dedicated fanbases in all of geekdom. There are tomes of fan fics, hours of homemade movies, and galleries of art to prove that, but the news of "Episode VII" has once again brought them out in full Force.

We've been covering all of the news surrounding "Episode VII" on MTV News and over here on MTV Movies Blog, but let's use this wondrous occasion to look back at some of the wildest fan creations in recent years.

Click past the jump to see everything from a galaxy far away.

Wall-E-D2 and EVE-3PO
The Worth1000 user DaemonDCLXVI created this Pixar-"Star Wars" mash-up long before the Disney buy.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tom Cruise Ready To Accept A Fifth 'Mission: Impossible'

Reacher

If "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" made your heart pump like you were climbing the Burj Khalifa freestyle, you have something in common with Tom Cruise and we have some good news for you.

Cruise already seem raring to go on a fifth "Mission: Impossible" movie. The successful action series made a serious comeback with the fourth installment directed by animation-wiz Brad Bird, and now the star tells Total Film that he's already working on some concepts for a fifth adventure for Ethan Hunt.

"We're already working on different images," Cruise said. "Talking conceptually. I love traveling around promoting different movies because I'm always looking at different places, and I always walk around to see the city. I look at architecture, subways... coming up with different sequences."

It's never been more clear than in "Ghost Protocol" that Cruise loves making these movies, and he says that as long as people are enjoying them, he wants to keep making them and, presumably, doing insane stunts to please all of us.

"I'll make as many as people want to see," he said. "Because they're very challenging and so much fun to make."

Would you like to see Cruise come back for a "Mission: Impossible 5"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags mission: impossible, tom cruise



'Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters' Go For The Gore In New Red Band Trailer

Hansel

No matter your initial thoughts or skepticism about "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters," the early promotion and teaser trailers have done a good job in selling the film's bottom line, which seems to be a blend of fantasy, action and a little camp thrown in for good measure.

Monday's premiere of the film's red band trailer further sells that point in emphasizing the fact that the heroic siblings we all know from the classic fairy tale have grown up to be relentless, kick-ass witch assassins. Take Jeremy Renner's voiceover as Hansel for instance, he starts things off by bragging about their chosen profession and then playfully throws it in the audience's face, "We kill witches. What do you do?"

The joy of the red band trailer is of course in the restricted moments, which in the case of the "Witch Hunters" involves a lot of blood and guts. We get to see the effectiveness of Hansel and Gretel's messier witch traps, like what happens when a witch on a broomstick flies into a complicated web-like arrangement of trip wires, along with the gory intimidation of the film's chief villain, the evil sorceress Muriel (played by Famke Janssen). It's not all blood and gore however, there's also a hint of nudity in a romancey-type scene, for those who like that sort of thing.

Other new things learned from this new two-minute tease are more specifics about the film's plot, in that it seems that Hansel and Gretel's witch hunting has finally caught up with them and they have become the hunted by a gang of particularly devious and possibly demonic types.

Check out the trailer and new poster over at IGN.

Tags Famke Janssen, Gemma Arterton, Hansel and Gretel:, Jeremy Renner



'Stoker' Poster And Featurette Tease A Truly Freaky Movie

Kidman

In the few pieces of video we've seen released around Chan-Wook Park's English-language debut, "Stoker," the only solid pieces of information we've been able to extract haven't been that insightful.

We know that Nicole Kidman is in it. Mia Wasikowska is there too, along with Matthew Goode. There's a plot involving murder and a traitorous brother-in-law, and it all looks creepy as hell.

Now a new featurette and poster for "Stoker" have only reinforced those ideas, especially the fact that this all looks creepy as hell.

Check them out after the jump!

(via ComingSoon and Empire)

Monday, October 29, 2012

'Cloud Atlas' Swept Away By 'Argo' At Box Office

Cloud Atlas

FROM MTV NEWS

Four new films, including the star-packed "Cloud Atlas," couldn't withstand the positive buzz around Ben Affleck and his newest film "Argo." After two weekends in second place, the international thriller clinched the top spot at the box office with a modest $12.4 million, adding to a now $60.8 million total.

"Cloud Atlas," the ambitious film from the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, disappointed with a $9.4 million take, only good enough for a third place finish, behind the persistent "Hotel Transylvania," which added $9.5 million to its impressive $130.4 million total.

The two other debuts, "Fun Size" and "Chasing Mavericks," fell completely flat. The Victoria Justice vehicle managed to pull in just over $4 million, and the Gerard Butler surfing movie managed just over $2 million.

Head over to MTV News for your full box office breakdown.

Tags Argo, chasing mavericks, Cloud Atlas, Fun Size



'Cloud Atlas': What Did You Think?

Cloud

Were you among the dozens that made it out to see "Cloud Atlas" this weekend?

All joking about box office totals aside, there has been a serious conversation about "Cloud Atlas" among hardcore movie geeks since its debut on Friday. Have the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer struck out with their uber-ambitious project, or were they just ahead of their time?

Those who actually made it to the theater, or the very least the critics, seem to be split on that notion, but we want to know what you thought. How will "Cloud Atlas" be viewed a few years from now? Did it not get the attention it deserved? Let us know in the poll after the jump!

Have something else to say about "Cloud Atlas"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags Cloud Atlas, Polls



Robert Downey Jr. Surprises In New 'Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2' Ad

Robert Downey Jr.

"Surprise," the new live-action ad for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2," turned out to be appropriately titled. The commercial features a series of gamers thinking they've just earned the upper-hand in an online firefight, only to be sneaked up on by another player.

One of the those gamers ends up being Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr.

"Guess who brought a jet to a gun fight," he quips in the most Downey-esque way.

Check out the ad after the jump!

The cameo actually makes sense considering that it was directed by Downey chum and "Sherlock Holmes" director, Guy Ritchie.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops 2" hits Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on November 13.

What did you think of the "Call of Duty" ad? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags guy ritchie, robert downey jr.



Saturday, October 27, 2012

'Bond 24' Brings Back 'Skyfall' Writer, Will Open In Fall 2014

Skyfall

We're still two week away from "Skyfall" coming ashore stateside, but the early rave reviews about the newest James Bond adventure have already left diehard fans clamoring for word about "Bond 24."

But now, thanks to a report from the Daily Mail, you not only have "Skyfall" to look forward to, but a Bond 24 written solely by John Logan and probably hitting theaters in November 2014.

We previously knew that Daniel Craig has signed up for "Bond 24" and "25," taking his total number of movies as 007 to five, and that director Sam Mendes would be unlikely to return, but signing up the co-writer of "Skyfall" for a solo screenwriting job and setting a solid release window for two years from now give us the clearest picture yet for the future of Bond.

Though it's no surprise that producer Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would want to recreate the magic of "Skyfall," considering the rave reviews it's earned so far, and bringing Logan back is the natural first step, but in doing so, they're leaving behind Robert Wade and Neal Pruvis, who have written for the series since "The World Is Not Enough." Logan is a three-time Academy Award nominee, who is getting most of the credit for "Skyfall"'s smart script.

"Bond 24" will likely go into production next year to prepare for the November 2014 release window.

"Skyfall" opens in the US on November 9 and should be seen by anyone who likes James Bond and good movies in general.

Are you glad to hear that planning for "Bond 24" is underway? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags bond 24, daniel craig, james bond, John Logan, Skyfall



Wally Pfister Wants Christian Bale For Directorial Debut

Christian Bale

Wally Pfister has some big plans for his upcoming directorial debut. After starting talks with Johnny Depp earlier this week to headline the movie, he's admitted that he's hoping Christian Bale will also star in the film.

The Los Angeles Times has the news, saying that Bale has "been in Pfister's sights." Considering Pfister is something of Christopher Nolan's protégé, with Nolan even executive producing "Transcendence" with his wife/partner Emma Thomas, it would make sense that Pfister would have a shot getting Bale on board.

The movie is going to shoot in Los Angeles this winter, and will apparently have three leads. Actors like Noomi Rapace, James McAvoy, Tobey Maguire and Christoph Waltz are all reportedly up for roles. According to Comic Book Movie, the film will follow "a man who creates a computer that develops a malevolent awareness." Depp will play "a husband who gets sucked into the computer." The project is supposed to have a very Nolan sensibility.

As for Depp, Pfister has nothing but kind words to say about the actor. 'I'm thrilled and feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Johnny. He is a creative and intelligent artist whom I feel will bring great depth to the character and the overall narrative," he told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week.

Who would you want to see the third lead in this movie be? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Tags christian bale, johnny depp, transcendence, Wally Pfister



See Every James Bond Sexual Encounter In Dailies!

James Bond

This wonderfully detailed infographic charts every sexual conquest by James Bond on the big screen, including where it took place. Very cool, if not kinda creep.

Also, RZA will eff you up and so will Dorothy in today's Dailies!

» This old joke synopsis for "The Wizard of Oz" popped up again, but is still funny. [Twitter]

Friday, October 26, 2012

'The Exorcist' Is Even More Hilarious As An 80s Sitcom

Exorcist

Halloween is typically all about the screams when it comes to watching movies, but shouldn't there be some room for a laugh or two? That's why the folks over at Film School Rejects re-edited one of the scariest movies of all time, "The Exorcist," into a friendly, funnier 1980s sitcom.

There's a laugh track, fluffy opening credits, and hilarious green vomit. It has all the hallmarks of classic family-friendly comedy'with some possession as an added bonus.

Check out the video after the jump!

(via Screen Crush)

Tags The Exorcist



Korean Old Man Halle Berry Wins 'Cloud Atlas' Transformation Contest

The obvious talking point when it comes to "Cloud Atlas" is the many transformations the actors make to fit within the interweaving stories on the screen. Some are less extensive than others, but some change Halle Berry into an old Korean man.

That transformation in particular earned the highest marks from her co-star, Jim Sturgess, when MTV spoke with the cast.

"I think Halle had some of the biggest transformations. She played an older person, she played a man that was Korean. I remember having to have a conversation with her while we were shooting that scene," Jim Sturgess said.

"It was the most surreal kind of messed-up moment. We were talking about her kid and how she's integrating into German schools, but she was dressed as this bizarre-looking Korean man with rotting teeth. It tripped my head up. I had to go sit in a corner for five minutes and get my head together."

Berry, on the other hand, had a hard time recognizing Ben Whishaw on the set of the film's most futuristic story, and Hanks recalled not knowing about his role at all. "I didn't recognize Ben Whishaw when he was in the hut scene [with us]," she said. "And he was in the whole scene."

"How about that? So Ben Whishaw, who is in a third of the movie, I didn't know he was in that scene until I saw the movie in Toronto," Hanks said. "Who was he? I didn't know he was there that day."

"Cloud Atlas" opens today in theaters. Go see it.

What do you think is the most shocking transformation in "Cloud Atlas"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags Ben Whishaw, Cloud Atlas, halle berry, jim sturgess, tom hanks



Twi-Fight Saga Rages Into Round Two

First, there were 64 vampire, werewolf, and human combatants in the Twi-Fight Saga, the ultimate "Twilight" character tournament, but after one brutal round of eliminations, that number stands at 32.

If we're being honest, all of that voting was all just to get to the meat of the competition. While no upsets shocked the thousands of voters already participating in the Twi-Fight, some close calls proved that no one is safe'especially Bella, who never seems to be safe.

Round two will be open for voting until Monday, October 29, so vote now and keep coming back to see where your favorite stands.

Tags twi-fight



Thursday, October 25, 2012

'Wreck-It Ralph' Featurettes Go Behind The Screen

Wreck-It Ralph

We're a little more than a week away from Disney's journey into the heart of video games, "Wreck-It Ralph," and if the early reactions to the animated movie are any indication, it's time to get excited.

Two new featurettes take a look behind the scenes of the movie, speaking with the cast and the director. They're a cool insight into the world behind the movie and the thought that went into them.

Check out the featurettes after the jump!

'Mass Effect' Movie Is One Step Closer To Actually Happening

Mass Effect

With the recent news of "Metal Gear Solid" and Michael Fassbender's looking-like-it-will-happen take on "Assassin's Creed," we could be entering into a new era of video game adaptations. Now another piece of news is sure to get gamers pumped for big screen potential.

Variety is reporting that the "Mass Effect" adaptation, being produced by Legendary Entertainment has brought on a new writer to take a crack at scripting the sci-fi epic. Morgan Davis Foehl will write a second version, after Mark Protosevich, who wrote "Thor and "I Am Legend," made a first attempt.

While Foehl has never had a script produced, he has previously landed on the Black List, the highly regarded list of unproduced scripts. Foehl apparently has experience writing sci-fi, especially with an espionage twist.

For those unfamiliar with the series, "Mass Effect" is a massively popular franchise of sci-fi shooters. It tells the story of Commander Shepard, a military officer who must combat the Reapers, an ancient race of alien beings that bring a wave of destruction to the galaxy every 50 thousand years.

We'll have to wait a little while longer before we get any solid update on a potential "Mass Effect" film. For now, just keep your fingers crossed and hope that we may finally get a series of good video game adaptations. Yes, we're looking in your direction "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time."

What do you want to see in a "Mass Effect" movie? Do you think it's a good idea? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags Mass Effect



Ryan Gosling Dashes Away From 'Logan's Run'

Gosling

Breakups are never easy. That's why we're hoping that Ryan Gosling leaving Warner Bros' adaptation of "Logan's Run" doesn't mean the end of his collaborations with director Nicolas Winding Refn.

Variety's Justin Kroll tweeted out yesterday that the star had severed ties to the sci-fi film.

"Rough news for those LOGAN'S RUN fans, I can confirm Ryan Gosling is no longer attached to the project," he wrote.

"Logan's Run" was set to be the third collaboration for Gosling and Refn, who had previously worked on "Drive" and the yet-to-be-released "Only God Forgives." For a while, the two were looking like best buds, set on making visual, violent films together forever, but that sadly seems like it's not the case.

While Kroll's tweet didn't precede a full article on the news, The Playlist had a number of well-reasoned theories for why Gosling walked away. As this would be a rather high-profile adaptation for Warner Bros., Gosling may not be the bankable star all the girls on tumblr assume he is. He has yet to lead a tentpole film and hasn't proven himself as a big box office draw.

Gosling's directorial debut, "How to Catch a Monster," may be the most realistic explanation. Since he is just beginning to get that production off the ground, Gosling will be finding himself very busy for the next year or so.

As disappointing as the "Logan's Run" news may be for "Drive" fans, there is still "Only God Forgives" to look forward to. That film should pop up sometime next year, perhaps during the spring film festivals.

Tags Drive, Logan's Run, Nicolas Winding Refn, Only God Forgives, Ryan Gosling



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Deep Diving With Tony Stark And The 'Iron Man 3' Trailer

If you've been watching the "Iron Man 3" trailer non-stop like we have, you probably noticed that there are some serious talking points in just the short teaser. There's the new suit, Ben Kingsley doing some weird voice for the Mandarin, and Tony Stark's rad house getting blown up.

With so much to talk about, MTV News' Josh Horowitz and MTV Splashpage's Josh Wigler took it upon themselves to do a trailer commentary, breaking down all of the juiciest parts of the preview.

Watch it all in the video above.

"Iron Man 3" opens on May 3.

Tags iron man 3, robert downey jr.



'Cloud Atlas' Cast Try To Sum Up Movie In One Sentence

"Cloud Atlas" isn't a movie with a strong elevator pitch. It's not "this one things meets something else." There's a lot going on, that's for sure, but the people involved in making the movie have to know how to explain what the hell is going on, right?

Well, maybe.

MTV News headed out to the press day for "Cloud Atlas" to see if the cast could summarize the movie in one sentence. Tom Hanks probably wins for the most creative answers, while Susan Sarandon pulled the best quote from the trailer.

See how each cast member did in the video above!

"Cloud Atlas" opens in theaters on Friday, October 26.

Tags Cloud Atlas, halle berry, Susan Sarandon, tom hanks



The Ten Most Creative Deaths In Horror Movies

Death Proof Kill

FROM FILM.COM

With Halloween only a week away, it's time to start breaking out the horror movie collection, but it shouldn't just be any horror movie. It's got to have some punch to it. It has to shock, and often that surprise comes from a gruesome kill that we haven't seen before.

What good is a horror movie if it doesn't have some creative kills? The answer: not that great. Film.com has rounded up some of the most surprising and unique deaths to grace the silver screen in the horror genre to make sure that your Halloween scary movie marathon has the punch that it needs.

Head over to Film.com to see their breakdown of the best.

Tags film.com



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

'Django Unchained' Trailer Suits Up For A Shootout

Django Unchained

It has taken a few trailers to come to this conclusion, but we feel fairly confident saying that "Django Unchained" is going to be a violent movie.

Obviously, we have Exhibit A: Quentin Tarantino. There was ever little doubt that the master of genre mashup knows how to punch up his films with some gore, but "Django Unchained" had yet to show its more gruesome side.

That is until Exhibit B, a new international trailer (via The Playlist), show up online today. The preview takes a closer look at the massive shootout at the end of the film, something we've only just started to see in more recent trailers.

When you watch the trailer, notice how the bullets hit. There are explosions. Awesome explosions of fun.

'Skyfall' Red Carpet Premiere Live Stream

Skyfall

So we already know that "Skyfall" is an incredible movie. The early reviews have been raves, and the bad taste of "Quantum of Solace' seems to have been finally fixed. Now it's time to sit back, bask in the awesomeness of 007, and enjoy the moment.

A great way to do that would be to check out this livestream from the red carpet world premiere in London at Royal Albert Hall.

Check it out after the jump!

"Skyfall" opens in the US on November 9 and on IMAX screens the day before.

Tags james bond, Skyfall



See All Of The 'Cloud Atlas' Transformations In This New Featurette

Cloud Atlas

As the raves roll in for "Cloud Atlas," the latest effort from the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, it may all seem a bit overwhelming if you haven't seen the multi-storied mash-up of races and genders. It's all a little confusing to the common outsider. What does appeal to everyone, however, is seeing Halle Berry as an Asian man. That's something just about everyone would be interested in seeing.

In the latest behind-the-scenes featurette for "Cloud Atlas," the actors at the center of this craziness share their experiences on set and how playing multiple actors shaped the making of the film.

It's a fascinating watch even if you have no interest in seeing the film. There's certainly something unique and different going on here that is hard to ignore.

Check out the featurette after the jump!

(via Screen Crush)

Monday, October 22, 2012

'Paranormal Activity 4': What Did You Think?

Paranormal

For the fourth year in a row, you've sat in a dark theater for 90 minutes, waited for something to happen, and maybe screamed when it did. The "Paranormal Activity" series isn't big on innovation, but it keeps the audiences coming back every year.

Did you venture out to your local multiplex to brave the latest entry? If so, we want to know what you thought.

Did "Paranormal Activity 4" scare you as much as the first three? Is the series running out of gas, or is this the best one yet? Let us know in the poll after the jump!

Got something else on your mind? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags Paranormal Activity 4



'Paranormal Activity' Takes Possession Of The Box Office Again

Paranormal

FROM MTV NEWS

Most of the activity at the box office this weekend was strictly of the paranormal variety. "Paranormal Activity 4," the yearly, automatic profit-turner, won out the weekend, taking in $30.2 million in its big debut weekend.

While this was the lowest opening for a "Paranormal Activity" since the first micro-budget phenomenon, a budget of roughly $5 million makes "Paranormal 4" an easy success story.

Ben Affleck's "Argo" managed to perform well in week two, adding $16.6 million to its total, which sits currently at $43.2 million.

In less fortunate box office news, Tyler Perry didn't quite make the jump to drama like he was hoping. "Alex Cross" came in at a disappointing fifth place, earning only $11 million.

Head over to MTV News for your full box office report.

Tags Alex Cross, Argo, Box Office, Paranormal Activity 4



The Twi-Fight Is On! Vote Now

The Twi-Fight, the ultimate battle to decide which "Twilight Saga" character rules them all, has officially begun over at Twilight.MTV.com. You can now check out the bracket to see which characters will go head-to-head in a voter-controlled death match.

Head over to the bracket to start voting on all of Round 1. There are already some upsets in the works, so if you don't vote now, your favorite character may not make it past his or her opening bout.

The schedule for the Twi-Fight tournament is as follows:

» Round 1: Monday, October 22, through Thursday, October 25
» Round 2: Thursday, October 25, through Monday, October 29
» Sweet 16: Monday, October 29, through Thursday, November 1
» Elite Eight: Thursday, November 1, through Monday, November 5
» Final Four: Monday, November 5, through Thursday, November 8
» Championship Round: Top two announced Thursday, November 8, with voting concluding Monday, November 12

Who are you cheering for in the Twi-Fight? Make your voice her below, on Twitter, and by voting in the tournament!

Tags the twi-fight saga, Twilight



Saturday, October 20, 2012

David Fincher's 'Halo 4' Trailer Explains Master Chief's Backstory

Halo Master Chief

David Fincher is getting some serious love from the video game community following the launch of his epic "Halo 4" trailer, "Scanned," which debuted last night on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

Longtime fans of the "Halo" franchise will have a lot more to chew on here than newcomers. This trailer details the backstory of Master Chief, whose actual name is John. We see everything from his childhood on Eridanus II to him being kidnapped in the middle of the night and being swapped with a cheap clone to the augmentation surgery that results in him having superhuman strength and speed. The trailer then ends with Chief facing off against the new, "ancient" enemies, known as the Prometheans, that fans will meet in "Halo 4."

It's interesting that 343 Industries decided to tease "Halo 4" with the backstory of its iconic main character, since it hasn't been touched on in any previous games. This isn't the first time the tie-in marketing for "Halo 4" is looking back, as the "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn" live action webseries is examining the backstory of another character from the game, Thomas Lasky.

Fincher either is a big "Halo" geek or had some serious help for this trailer, considering it's one of the most in-depth looks at the series' mythology that we've seen recreated by Microsoft. It looks great, too, though we can't help but have a soft spot for the gorgeous "Halo 3" and "Halo 3: ODST" commercials that "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders created.

"Halo 4" hits store shelves on November 6.

What did you think of Fincher's take on the "Halo" universe? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Tags david fincher, Halo



How Was Christopher Nolan Involved In The Development Of 'Skyfall'?

Nolan

For having nothing to do with movie, Christopher Nolan's name has popped up a surprising number of times in early "Skyfall" reviews. A few critics have cited "The Dark Knight" when praising "Skyfall" and its serious handling of an iconic character.

In their review, The Playlist even went as far as to say that Nolan would never have to direct a Bond film, something he has previously express interest in doing, because Sam Mendes essentially made a Nolan-directed Bond film.

As it turns out, that's kind of what Mendes was going for. He told The Playlist that Nolan's "Dark Knight" films "directly inspired" his approach to "Skyfall."

"In terms of what [Nolan] achieved, specifically 'The Dark Knight,' the second movie, what it achieved, which is something exceptional," Mendes said. "It was a game changer for everybody."

Mendes continued by saying that "The Dark Knight" proved that a big movie could also be a deep one. "We're now in an industry where movies are very small or very big and there's almost nothing in the middle," he continued. "And it would be a tragedy if all the serious movies were very small and all the popcorn movies were very big and have nothing to say. And what Nolan proved was that you can make a huge movie that is thrilling and entertaining and has a lot to say about the world we live in, even if, in the case with 'The Dark Knight,' it's not even set in our world. If felt like a movie that was about our world post-9/11 and played on our fears and discussed our fears and why they existed and I thought that was incredibly brave and interesting. That did help give me the confidence to take this movie in directions that, without 'The Dark Knight,' might not have been possible. Because also, people go, 'Wow, that's pretty dark,' but then you can point to 'Dark Knight' and go 'Look at that ' that's a darker movie, and it took in a gazillion dollars!' That's very helpful. There's also that thing ' it's clearly possible to make a dark movie that people want to see."

Do you want to see a Christopher Nolan-direct James Bond movie? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags christopher nolan, james bond, sam mendes, Skyfall



Learn How Quentin Tarantino Makes His Characters Cool

Pulp Fiction

One thing you'll always hear about Tarantino films is that they're just cool. But what makes them so cool? A new video essay from Press Play gets to the bottom of the mystery.

Also, Nic Cage is "Left Behind" and Michael Jackson is "Bad" in today's Dailies!

» A look at what makes Quentin Tarantino characters cool. [Press Play]

Friday, October 19, 2012

'Machete Kills' In 2013 With First Image

Machete

Machete is officially set to kill in 2013. The former Mexican federale will return next year in "Machete Kills," Robert Rodriguez's follow-up to the original, which was based on a fake trailer he made for "Grindhouse."

Open Road Films just picked up the North American distribution rights to the sequel, and the first image from the movie hit the web shortly after the announcement to celebrate.

See the full image after the jump!

The photo features Danny Trejo back as Machete, a pissed off killing machine who has a way with the ladies. We also see Amber Heard as Miss San Antonio, apparently one of the film's many femme fatales.

James Bond Infographic Averages Girls, Guns, And Martinis

Skyfall

By Colin Greten

The highly anticipated 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise, "Skyfall," does not premiere until November 9th; however, dedicated Bond fans have been rewarded with a new chart from The Economist providing statistics on who is the most Bond of the six actors who have played the iconic role.

What are Bond's three favorite things? Bond is driven by sexy women, alcohol and killing as many helpless henchmen as possible. The handy chart gives the average kills, martinis, and conquest per film for each Bond actor.

When looking at the chart it would appear that Pierce Brosnan would be the most violent of all the Bonds, with a lot more kills than any of the others. Daniel Craig (currently Bond) has averaged an incredible amount of martinis in his two films, perhaps a result of the slightly darker nature of the newest films.

The biggest surprise is George Lazenby, who despite only playing Bond once, has the most conquests of all. He may not have been a popular or very successful Bond, but the women in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" did not seem to mind. Sean Connery, whom many consider to be the best 007, is right in the middle with a sold number of kills and slightly more sex than drinking. Meanwhile, Timothy Dalton can be seen as the most tame Bond overall, with the lowest combination of the three categories.

Bond

Who is the most Bond of all these actors? It is up for interpretation despite Brosnan having a daunting overall average in the three combined categories. This graph does not include "Skyfall" data, and perhaps we will see more killing and conquests from Craig in his third installment, or maybe he'll stick to his martinis, as it has served him pretty well so far.

"Skyfall" opens on November 9.

Tags james bond, Skyfall



Daniel Radcliffe Fills Us In On 'The F Word'

Have you ever noticed how you never see Daniel Radcliffe acting in a contemporary setting unless he has a wand at the ready? With "The Woman in Black" and "Kill Your Darlings" as his only non-Potter roles thus far, the currently filming "F Word" came as a relief to Radcliffe.

MTV News' Josh Horowitz visited with Radcliffe on the set of "The F Word" to talk about his latest project and finally acting like a normal 21st century dude.

"Other than 'Potter,' I've not been [a film set] closer than the 1940s really. It's definitely nice to be doing something contemporary," he said. "I feel like I can be much more myself in this film. Not to say I'm not acting, but it's definitely a lot closer to the person I am and it's fun to be able to improvise in a modern idiom."

"The F Word" tells the story of a young man with an all-too-common problem. ""It's a romantic comedy about being stuck in the friend zone," Radcliffe said. "My character, Wallace, meets Zoe Kazan's character, Chantry, at the beginning of the movie. There's an instant connection, but he finds out she has a boyfriend so they embark on this friendship where he's kind of secretly pining for her all the time but trying to ignore that. She is possibly developing feelings for him as well but it's much more ambiguous from her end."

"The F Word" should be hitting theaters sometime in 2013.

Are you excited to finally see Daniel Radcliffe in the present? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags daniel radcliffe, the f word



Thursday, October 18, 2012

'Paranormal Activity 4' Clip: Stay Out Of The Garage

Paranormal Activity

We are just hours away from the premiere of "Paranormal Activity 4," the latest entry into the annual found footage scream-a-thon. To prep for the scary event, take a look at the latest offering from the film, a clip hosted over at iTunes.

In the clip, Alex, the film's young protagonist/filmer-of-everything, has an unfortunate run-in with a demon while investigating a noise she heard her in garage. The scare leads to a thrilling sequence and one of the movie's best moments.

Check out the clip after the jump!

(embed via ComingSoon)

What did you think of the "Paranormal Activity 4" clip? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags clips, Paranormal Activity 4



The Twi-Fight Saga: Who Is The Best 'Twilight' Character?

Twi-fight

There has been so much talk of "Edward versus Jacob" over the years. Don't you think its time that the two competitors for Bella's love finally just duke it out to decide who's better?

That's exactly what MTV's "Twi-fight Saga" is here to finally decide. Which character from the "The Twilight Saga" trumps all others? It's up to you to choice the ultimate victor.

Starting Monday, October 22, you will be able to vote in a 64-person bracket-style tournament over at Twilight.MTV.com. With each round, the field will grow smaller and smaller until we have the final showdown to decide which character rules them all.

Click past the jump for a full schedule!

The full Twi-Fight Saga schedule is as follows:

» Round 1: Monday, October 22, through Thursday, October 25
» Round 2: Thursday, October 25, through Monday, October 29
» Sweet 16: Monday, October 29, through Thursday, November 1
» Elite Eight: Thursday, November 1, through Monday, November 5
» Final Four: Monday, November 5, through Thursday, November 8
» Championship Round: Top two announced Thursday, November 8, with voting concluding Monday, November 12

Who do you want to see take the crown during MTV's "The Twi-Fight Saga"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags the twi-fight saga, Twilight



Jack Now Slays Giants, Instead Of Killing Them

Jack the Giant Slayer

We'll be meeting Jack the giant killer three weeks earlier than we had previously expected, but he won't be a "killer" anymore.

Warner Bros. has changed the film's name from "Jack the Giant Killer" to "Jack the Giant Slayer," supposedly because this movie is going to be a little more family friendly than we had previously expected. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, saying that the film will be moved up to March 1, 2013 from its previous March 22 release slot.

The move is apparently so the flick can take the recently-vacated spot of "Elysium." That movie was moved back to August 9 earlier this week, which bumped "RoboCop" back to February 7, 2014. Do you guys love Hollywood's game of musical chairs as much as we do?

This likely won't have too much of an impact on "Jack the Giant Slayer" as the three week change doesn't really effect the time the movie is coming out. We're a bit more concerned about the "family friendly" aspect of this project, though. We were all for an edgier take on the classic fairytale, but we guess the trailer already set us up for a lighter take on the story.

Back when it was still called "Jack the Giant Killer," the movie was moved from its planned June 15, 2012 release date back to March 22. At the time, it was said that the nine-month change was to give the studio more time to iron out the film's special effects.

Directed by Bryan Singer, "Jack the Giant Slayer" stars Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and Ewan McGregor. It is based on the English folktale "Jack and the Beanstalk."

What do you think of this title change? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter.

Tags jack the giant slayer, Jack the Giant-Killer



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Damon Lindelof And Brad Bird's Mysterious '1952' Finally Uncovered?

1952

For those of you intrigued by the mysterious upcoming partnership between Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird titled "1952," we have got the mother load of information for you. We have known nothing about the movie other than the fact that both of those talents will be working about it up until this point, but now an vague tease of the film's plot has hit the web.

"It will be set largely in the present day and it is about aliens making contact here on Earth," Vulture writes. "Our spies tell us that Bird and Lindelof want to recapture the spirit of 1977's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' right down to centering it around a man in his late forties, à la Richard Dreyfuss's Roy Neary."

As the outlet points out, the alien connection to the year 1952 could be the "Washington flap," when seven UFOs allegedly appeared on radar at National Airport.

If you're intrigued by this concept, then Lindelof and Bird want to grab you early. Like J.J. Abrams' "Cloverfield," Lindelof and Bird plan to have early marketing campaigns that hype the mystery of "1952." That will involve a scavenger hunt, apparently, which seems to be every movie studio's new way for getting fans engaged with viral marketing.

"The idea is to stage a treasure hunt for intrigued moviegoers that will gradually reveal clues about and build intrigue for the film right up until its release, and which may or may not be related to the contents of the box [that inspired Lindelof in this project]," Vulture writes.

The plan is to get "1952" into production next year.

What do you think of these new details surrounding this Bird/Lindelof collaboration? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Tags 1952, brad bird, damon lindelof



Javier Bardem Pays Homage To Classic Bond Villains In 'Skyfall'

Javier Bardem has created another classic villain with his character in "Skyfall," Raoul Silva, who's as unique as Anton Chigurh, but in a completely different way.

When we spoke with Bardem during the press day for "Skyfall," he admitted that while Silva was fleshed out on the page, director Sam Mendes gave him a single word to help develop him.

"[Silva] was open to different interpretations. It was Sam's idea for the word 'uncomfortableness' that made the imagination be triggered in me," Bardem said. "From that word and from that key point came the look and the behavior and the tone and all that."

Bardem said that that kind of character development can only come out of having a good director. "That's the fun part of it, knowing that nothing is written in stone, so you can really play with it and try different things on set," he said. "For that, you need a director that allows you to do that, and Sam is an amazing director."

Part of Bardem's job as the villain of "Skyfall" was to honor the 50 years of bad guys. "We knew that this is the movie that celebrates 50 years, so we knew in some way, there must be something classic about the Bond villain to do this little and humble homage," Bardem said. "From that, we can also start to add some flavor to Silva that will remind us what Bond villains used to be in the early times."

"Skyfall" opens on November 9.

Tags james bond, Javier Bardem, Skyfall



'Paranormal Activity': Ten Lessons We've Learned

PA4

By Jessica Marshall

Like that fly you just can't seem to swat, that pesky terrifying demon from the "Paranormal Activity" movies is back for more subtle, found-footage style torture in the suburbs. Guess we're left with no choice but to turn off the all the lights, fire up our night-vision cameras, and let the jump-scares ensue as we watch the new installment, "Paranormal Activity 4," hitting theaters this week.

Wait no, hold on a minute. Didn't we learn anything from the last three films?

"Paranormal Activity 4" picks up 5 years after "Paranormal Activity 2" ended, when the (spoiler!) demonically possessed Katie steals her nephew Hunter and murders his parents before disappearing. As "PA 4" picks up, they've turned up living in a house in a new neighborhood. After Katie is admitted to the hospital, the family next door generously takes in Hunter (whose name is now mysteriously Robbie). But their act of kindness is repaid with terror, as paranormal activity that matches the silent but deadly MO of "Toby" (as the demon is nicknamed in "Paranormal Activity 3") begins to unfold. The audience is given a glimpse into these occurrences through the laptop, Microsoft Kinect, and other a/v tech of the family's teen daughter, Alice.

While we have a sneaking suspicion that "Paranormal Activity" movies tend not to have happy endings, we nonetheless have a little advice for the new subjects of Toby's torture. Let's hope they can take a few hints. Here are 10 things we've learned from the first three "Paranormal Activity" movies:

It's never just the wind.
Those creaky noises, sudden breezes and mysteriously misplaced objects in Katie, Kristi and Julie's houses were never the result of Mother Nature's tender caress. They were always the result of malevolent demonic activity plaguing them. We don't think this demon has changed his haunting tactics and style. He seems too old-school for that.

That's not a trick of the light.
Moving shadows, flickering lights and power surges caught on videotape cannot be explained away innocently. Especially at night.

Pay attention to your kids' imaginary friends.
The precocious young Kristi befriends an imaginary friend named "Toby" in "Paranormal Activity 3." Her mom, Julie, and her sister, Katie, think it's a harmless phase. Until Toby starts trying to kill them. If they'd listened to Kristi and the reports of her misadventures with Toby, maybe things may have turned out less deadly.

Haunted houses aren't always old and decrepit.
It doesn't have to be 100 years old, creaky and cobwebby for the "PA" demon to take up residence. In fact, the stealth approach afforded by a more modern establishment probably works more toward its advantage anyway.

Always watch the tapes.
If you're going to go through the trouble of setting up a video camera to catch supernatural activity, you should be watching the tapes. Micah (PA 1), Dan (PA 2) and Dennis (PA 3) got a little lazy in their review of footage and missed some major proof that should have saved their lives...by sending them running for the hills, far far away from that crazy, cursed family. Maybe this time around, with more advanced and accessible technology in the form of a laptop and a Kinect, Alice won't be so remiss?

Demons love kitchens.
At least, this one does. In each movie, there's at least one scene in which the nice, neat and quiet kitchen explodes. You know it's coming, but it will get you every time. Let's hope Alice's family isn't too attached to hanging out in the kitchen.

Don't taunt the demon.
When you discover that a demon is terrorizing you and your loved ones, don't get all indignant and try to tease it. That didn't work out so well for Micah.

Animals, teens, concerned friends and cleaning ladies are always right.
If one of these characters has a bad feeling about what's going on in the house, do not dismiss it. Martine the cleaning lady, Abby the dog and Ali the teen stepdaughter from PA 2 and Randy the AV nerd from PA 3 smelled the evil and weren't shy about it. The only reason they're all still alive is that they listened to their instincts. The main focus of this next installment is a teen, so intuition should already on her side, according to this logic.
Passing a demonic curse onto another family member doesn't solve your problems.

Does this ever work? Nope. It just backfires. Don't even think about trying it, new family.

Don't try to make a sex tape.
There are many reasons not to do this, but in the context of the "Paranormal Activity" universe, it doesn't "behoove" anyone involved. It just behooves their dust-covered floors.

Tags Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 4



Tuesday, October 16, 2012

'Carrie' Remake Teaser: Someone Should Inform The Fire Department

Carrie

The first teaser for Kimberly Pierce's "Carrie" starring Chloe Moretz debuted over at Yahoo! Movies today, and for a remake of a fairly modern classic, this movie has our attention.

The preview is straight forward but haunting. We begin hovering over Carrie White's town as the high school blazes below, presumably sometime after the infamous prom. A series of dialogue snippets entertain us as well move down to street level and see the full extent of Carrie's destruction.

We end squarely on a bloody Moretz and the feeling that we'll need to see this when it hits theaters on March 15.

Check out the trailer after the jump!

What did you think of the "Carrie" teaser? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags carrie, chloe moretz, Trailers



Bruce Campbell Thinks 'Evil Dead' Could Have 'Ratings Problems Out The Butt'

One thing the makers of the "Evil Dead" remake have wanted to make clear in its debut during New York Comic-Con is that this is no pulled-punches, PG-13 redo of the Sam Raimi-Bruce Campbell classic. This thing has gore to spare.

When MTV News spoke with Campbell and the new lead, Jane Levy from TV's "Suburgatory," the blood and guts were not far from their mind. "We're going to have ratings problems out the butt," Campbell said. "We have a screening coming up later this month, and I'm like, 'Good luck, Chuck!' "

Levy appeared to share Campbell's concerns about the MPAA' s eventual decree. "I think it's going to be worse than an R," she said. "There's a lot of blood. There's so much blood that the blood got stuck in my ear and I had a terrible ear infection when I was there and couldn't hear for three weeks."

How much blood is there? Suffice it to say that Levy is still cleaning blood out of her ears. "This is really gross, but, I cleaned my ear three weeks ago ' and I clean my ears every week ' but there's still, and I'm not even kidding, there's still red coming out of my ears," she said. "That's not a joke. It's really kind of scary."

That kind of hygiene problems come with the territory according to Campbell, who warned the young stars before shooting. "I sent them an email before they started shooting. 'Don't party. You're going to need all the strength you got. Be ready and be physically able,'" he recalled. "When we were casting in the audition room, I surprised a few actors by saying, 'Are you ready for special FX make-up? Have you ever had special FX make-up? Are you ready for that?' And they're like, 'Oh yeah, sure. It's like riding a horse. It'll be easy.' "

"Evil Dead" opens on April 12.

Tags bruce campbell, evil dead, jane levy, nycc



'Elysium' And 'RoboCop' Release Dates Delayed Six Months

Elysium

Bad news, Neill Blomkamp fans: We're going to have to wait even longer to find out what all the fuss is about in "Elysium."

Sony Pictures has pushed back the science fiction movie from its planned March 1, 2013 release date to a late summer August 9 debut, Entertainment Weekly reports. This isn't that surprising, as we haven't seen much from the project and it's planned release was only five and a half months away.

By opening in August, "Elysium" will be opening itself up to a wider audience and hopefully will be able to capitalize on summer box office revenues. But August has been a tricky release slot in previous years, so the film could also get lost at the end of the blockbuster season.

This news has ripple effects on another movie in Sony's line-up. "RoboCop" will now be moved from its planned August 9 release date to February 7, 2014 -- a big jump, considering the Jose Padilha-directed remake has been getting some buzz, both positive and negative, thanks to its great casting and intriguing set photos.

In other news, Sony has announced that "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" will come out on September 27, 2013. That time slot has proved to be great for animated films this year, with movies like "Paranorman" and "Hotel Transylvania" doing well in their August/September release dates.

What do you think of these delays for "Elysium" and "RoboCop"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Tags Elysium, matt damon, neill blomkamp, robocop



Monday, October 15, 2012

'Argo': What Did You Think?

Argo

After this weekend's "Argo," there's little doubt that we are now living in the age of "Ben Affleck: Director of Films." Critics heaped praise onto "Argo," his most recent directorial effort about the hostage crisis in Iran in the early 80s.

Though, "Argo" couldn't quite overcome that other hostage drama that partially takes place in Istanbul, "Taken 2" with Liam Neeson, it did manage to find audiences and secure a respectable $20 million opening weekend.

But we want to know what you thought of "Argo." Vote in our poll below and have your voice heard.

Liam Neeson Beats Up The Weekend Box Office Again

Taken

FROM MTV NEWS

Liam Neeson once again used his specific set of skills on audiences this past weekend, once again taking the box office with "Taken 2." The sequel added $22.5 million to its total, breaking that sum to $86.8 million.

Two of the weekend's debuts, "Argo" and "Sinister," still managed to perform strongly despite opposition from Neeson and "Taken 2." Ben Affleck's hostage thriller, came in a relatively close second with $20.1 million, while Ethan Hawke's horror movie collected $18.2 million in its opening weekend.

Kevin James' MMA film, "Here Comes The Boom," underwhelmed with $12 million

Head over to MTV News for your full box office recap.

Tags Argo, Box Office, sinister, Taken 2



Watch An Early 'Looper' Proof Of Concept Trailer Made From Other Movies

Looper

It's not easy getting any movie made these days, but making an ambitious R-rated sci-fi movie that isn't based on a previous property, like "Looper" for example, is damn near impossible.

When director Rian Johnson finished the screenplay for "Looper," he created a proof of concept trailer that would help explain the look and feel of the movie and prove that it could be marketable to the producers who could someday fund the movie.

That trailer made its way online last week and should be interesting to anyone who saw and enjoyed "Looper."

You can check out the trailer and read Johnson's explanation of it after the jump!

The proof of concept video slices together footage from other movies like "Seven" and "Blade Runner" and features a voiceover from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Ben Affleck May 'Live By Night' For Next Directorial Effort

Affleck

With yet another rousing success as a director about to enter theaters, Ben Affleck the filmmaker has never found himself in a better position. Just one day before his best film to date, "Argo," opens in theaters, word has come down the line about what may be Affleck's next gig as a director.

According to Deadline, Affleck is in talks to direct an adaptation of the recently published Dennis Lehane novel, "Live By Night."

Learn more about the project after the jump!

Though Affleck has a number of other projects in the works as a director, Deadline claims that it is Lehane's novel that has his interest now. Affleck began his career as a director helming another Lehane adaptation, "Gone Baby Gone."

"Live By Night" is the second book of a proposed trilogy. The series' first installment, "The Given Day," was originally optioned by Sam Raimi, but that project didn't go very far.

Amazon Book Description:

Prohibition has given rise to an endless network of underground distilleries, speakeasies, gangsters, and corrupt cops. Joe Coughlin, the youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, has long since turned his back on his strict and proper upbringing. Now having graduated from a childhood of petty theft to a career in the pay of the city's most fearsome mobsters, Joe enjoys the spoils, thrills, and notoriety of being an outlaw.

But life on the dark side carries a heavy price. In a time when ruthless men of ambition, armed with cash, illegal booze, and guns, battle for control, no one'neither family nor friend, enemy nor lover'can be trusted. Beyond money and power, even the threat of prison, one fate seems most likely for men like Joe: an early death. But until that day, he and his friends are determined to live life to the hilt.



Ridley Scott Gives 'Prometheus 2' And 'Blade Runner 2' Updates

Prometheus

Just in the time for the Blu-ray release of "Prometheus," director Ridley Scott spoke with Metro U.K. about his two proposed sci-fi sequels, a follow-up to his "Alien" prequel and the long-rumored second "Blade Runner."

The filmmaker spoke candidly about the possibilities for the sequels, even openly talking about where a sequel to "Prometheus" would take us.

" 'Prometheus' evolved into a whole other universe," Scott said.

Read more of Scott's comments after the jump!

It pleases us to no end that a "Prometheus" sequel would follow the further adventures of Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw and Michael Fassbender's head.

"You've got a person with a head in a bag that functions and has an IQ of 350," Scott said. "It can explain to her how to put the head back on the body and she's gonna think about that long and hard because, once the head is back on his body, he's dangerous. They're going off to paradise but it could be the most savage, horrible place. Who are the Engineers?"

As for the "Blade Runner" follow-up, Scott talked about it as a certainty with Harrison Ford's involvement being the major question mark.

"It's not a rumor ' it's happening," he said. "With Harrison Ford? I don't know yet. Is he too old? Well, he was a Nexus-6 so we don't know how long he can live [laughs]. And that's all I'm going to say at this stage."

Would you like to see sequels to "Prometheus" and "Blade Runner"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Tags blade runner 2, prometheus, Prometheus 2, ridley scott