LA TIMES: 'Spider-Man 4' aiming for May 2011 release

Peter Parker is swinging back into the muliplex—but not for a while.

“Spider-Man” producer Laura Ziskin said the fourth installment in the web-slinging superhero series is tentatively scheduled to arrive in May 2011.

In remarks Thursday to theater owners from California and Nevada, Ziskin said there was no finished screenplay, but that she and Sony Pictures were hopeful “Spider-Man 4” could be ready in three years’ time.

The first three movies comprise one of the most successful franchises in modern Hollywood history, grossing a combined $2.5 billion worldwide. Neither star Tobey Maguire nor director Sam Raimi is yet committed to work on the next installment. But Sony has paid Marvel to renew its rights.

Before she tackles the next “Spider-Man,” Ziskin is producing a one-hour fundraiser for cancer research that will be shown commercial-free on ABC, NBC and CBS on Sept. 5.

Ziskin, a cancer survivor, showed the several hundred exhibitors a new theatrical public service announcement directed by David Fincher (“Fight Club”) that promotes Ziskin’s cancer cause, Stand Up to Cancer.

--John Horn

My Dark Knight Blog is Updated!

My blog devoted exclusively to the upcoming film The Dark Knight has been updated with an interview with director Christopher Nolan, cast interviews, and 13 clips from the movie!

The Dark Knight Blog

NOTE: My blog is best viewed if you're logged off your Yahoo account.

-Andres

Summer Movie Guide - Parts 3 & 4!

Here are the final 2 parts of The Critic Corner's Summer Movie Guide!

For the first time ever I am joined by Ernest and Alex for the "epic" coverage of the movies for the months of July and August! Also, check out The Summer Season So Far podcast!

Click below to download/stream the podcasts! NOTE: This link also contains Parts 1 & 2 of the Summer Movie Guide and my conversation with Alex about the Shyamalan films.

Summer Movie Guide & The Summer Season So Far

Traitor Trailer

This was brought up on the Summer Movie Guide so figured I'd finally post this one up.

-Andres

WALL-E (Review Date: June 28, 2008)

Download my review for WALL-E here or just click on image above!

The Dark Knight TV Spots 1-9 and 3 Trailers

See You at the Oscars, Batman - err, Joker!

Last year I threw my vote in for an Oscar nod to Heath Ledger after watching snippets of his stunning portrayal of The Joker in the trailer and prologue to Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight.

His tragic and early death fueled speculation about his final performance. Some, including Ledger, blamed lack of sleep on the intensity the role of The Joker required. Well, reviews are trickling in from early screening of the film. Here's what one reviewer had to say about Ledger's performance compared to Jack Nicolson's portrayal in Batman:

"Nicholson's Joker was campy and clever. Ledger's Joker is an all-out terror, definitely funny but with a lunatic moral mission to drag all of Gotham, the city Batman thanklessly protects, down to his own dim assessment of humanity."

This guy, among other reviewers of the film, only embolden my premature Oscar nomination for Ledger. Come July 18, Ledger will deliver a performance we won't forget anytime soon making this the most memorable film of the year and arguably the best of 2008!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but here are my picks for Oscar nominations:

- Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
- Best Make up
- Best Cinematography

On July 18, I'll concur whether or not The Dark Knight will be nominated for Best Director and/or Best Picture of the year! Yep, I'm that serious!

-Andres

Union VS Union

SAG says studios offered more to sister union

REPORT: The Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday accused major Hollywood studios of offering a contract deal worth less than an agreement approved by the leaders of a smaller actors union.

SAG executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press the offer to the guild was worth tens of millions of dollars less than the tentative contract reached with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The deal with the federation was reached during a temporary halt in the talks between SAG and the studios.

"When we came back to the table, what they offered us, then and since, is tens of millions of dollars less than the AFTRA deal itself," Allen said. "It's obvious that they are trying to get us to bargain up to a deal they already know is unacceptable."

SAG declined to immediately provide details on the differences in the offers.

Months ago, the guild had vowed to gain a better contract than its sister union in areas such as residual payments for DVD appearances, mileage reimbursement and fees for Internet content.

Jesse Hiestand, a spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, declined to comment on the bargaining position of studios.

"We are approaching the conclusion of the process," he said. "The bargaining continues."

SAG is urging the 70,000 members of AFTRA to vote against the tentative contract deal reached May 28 because its terms would handcuff ongoing negotiations between SAG and the studios.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Get Smart (Review Date: June 22, 2008)

My review for Get Smart is out!

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Full Trailer Debut!

Blog Update - 6/20/08

For questions, comments, inquiries, and suggestions, or to simply be added to the mailing list for the latest updates, write to:

thecriticcorner@gmx.com

Thanks for reading!

-Andres

The Incredible Hulk (Review Date: June 17, 2008)

My review for The Incredible Hulk is out!

Death Race Trailer Debut!

REUTERS: Talk of the Town: Hulk a hit

The Dark Knight Updates!

For new trailers and Gotham City news go to: http://360.yahoo.com/kav_2324
-Andres

Punisher: War Zone Teaser Debut!

Babylon A.D. Trailer Debut!

Star Wars Clone Wars Latest Trailer!

Curse of Bond strikes again as Daniel Craig slices tip of his finger off during filming

By Colin Fernandez

REPORT: The curse of James Bond has struck again - after 007 actor Daniel Craig sliced off the tip of one of his fingers filming an action sequence.

Craig, 39, was taken to hospital today while the 22nd Bond movie, 'Quantum of Solace' was being shot at Pinewood Studios.

It is the second time in two weeks that Craig has been injured during filming. A week ago his face was cut and required eight stitches.

But after the injury to his hand in the morning he was back on set to resume filming in the afternoon.

'There was quite a lot of blood and it was decided he needed to go to hospital for emergency treatment,' explained a member of the Bond production team.

'Some people are beginning to believe the film is jinxed.'

A spokesman for production company Eon said that the actor was taken to see a doctor as 'a precaution'.

The accident is the latest in a spate of mishaps that have plagued the latest Bond film.

At the weekend a fire broke out and caused severe damage on an outdoor Bond set at Pinewood.

The 007 studio at Pinewood had been open for only a year after it had to be rebuilt after a previous fire destroyed a giant replica of Venice during filming of the last Bond film, 'Casino Royale.'

Two stunt men were hurt in separate car accidents while filming Quantum of Solace on location at in northern Italy in April.

British engineer Fraser Dunn, 29, was left fighting for his life after he crashed a £134,000 Aston Martin DBS into the water at Lake Garda in northern Italy.

During the same shoot an unnamed Greek stuntman suffered serious head injuries in a car crash.

The 'Curse of Bond' has struck Halle Berry in 2002 during the making of Die Another Day as Bond - played at the time by Pierce Brosnan - was filmed firing at a helicopter.

In 1997, during the filming of Tomorrow Never Dies, Pierce Brosnan was left scarred after he was hit hit by fragments of a bullet.

And In 1967 during You Only Live Twice with Sean Connery a stuntman lost both his legs in the rotor blades of a helicopter.

X-Files 2: I Want To Believe Trailer Debut!

REUTERS: Talk of the Town: Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda (Review Date: June 8, 2008)

My review for Kung Fu Panda is out!

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Teaser Debut

First Clip from Twilight!

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VARIETY: Tom Cruise Dons His Eye Patch and Starts Shooting Again

REPORT: Tom Cruise is going back to work. No, not on a new film: He’s going to shoot the three final scenes on “Valkyrie,” the movie that began production one year ago in Germany.

Much has been made of Cruise’s decision to make this film. Some gurus claim that film-goers don’t want to see Tom Terrific with an eye patch playing a Nazi, albeit one who tries to assassinate Hitler. No, Tom does not speak with a faux German accent in the movie, but there are random other accents around, including British.

Although the film has yet to be completed, several people I trust have seen “Valkyrie” and testify that it’s a superb thriller. “Bryan Singer is back in form,” says one source, referring to the “Valkyrie” director whose last film was “Superman Returns.”

Cruise will be shooting three scenes in North Africa within the next three weeks. In one, his character, Col. Claus Von Stauffenberg, is badly injured but survives, a key moment in the film’s first act.

Valkyrie has another mark against it -- two changes in its release date. The film is now scheduled for release Feb. 13. That could be a triple advantage, or whammy. It’s Friday the 13th, Valentines Day and Presidents’ Day weekend. That’s Cruise’s chosen release date through his United Artist label, and there’s no way he’s changing it again.

BOX OFFICE: Women on Top of Indy (No Pun Intended)

Sex and the City took the Friday box office by storm opening with $26.9 million easily topping Indiana Jones 4's $12.2 million for Friday. Early figures show that Sex and the City is secured to be not only the #1 movie this weekend but also the highest opening for a R-rated comedy ever at $55.7 million.

Indy 4 is estimated to have dropped 54.1% to return $46 million in its second weekend out. The Strangers starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman opened in 3rd place behind Indy at $20.7 million doing much better than expected.

Iron Man continues to do strong business. It took fourth place after 4 weeks in the theatres adding another $14 million for a total of $276.6 million. Yes, I believe it will beat out Spiderman 3's total! Prince Caspian fell to 5th place returning $13 million for a new total of $115.6 million. This movie is officially a bomb in my books as I don't expect it to pay itself off.

-Andres

AP: Large fire devours movie sets at Universal Studios

REPORT: A large fire tore through a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," the King Kong exhibit and thousands of videos and reels in a vault.

The blaze broke out on a sound stage at the theme park in a set featuring New York brownstones facades around 4:30 a.m. at the 400-acre property, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. The fire was contained to the lot but still burning several hours later.

Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 videos and reels were in the video vault, but there are duplicates stored in a different location, said Ron Meyer, NBC Universal president and chief operating officer. Firefighters managed to recover hundreds of those titles from the vault.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE