Let’s talk about the Two-Disc Special Edition DVD. This has a bunch of bonus features: 

• Trailers: Night At The Museum 2, The Marine 2, Family Guy Presents: Something Something Something Dark Side, X Men Trilogy Blu-ray Trailer, and Sons Of Anarchy Season 1
• Commentary by Director Gavin Hood
• Commentary by Producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter
• The Roots of Wolverine: A Conversation with Stan Lee and Len Wein
• Wolverine Unleashed: The Complete Origins
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes
• Anti Smoking PSA

Disc 2: Digital Copy

When I saw this movie in theaters, people were actually getting up and walking out, but I didn’t think it was that bad. Not the best movie I’ve ever seen, but still not that bad.

More after the jump…

The movie takes us back to the childhood of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). We know him from the first three “X-Men” movies, but he had a wild and interesting life before he showed up in those. Even as young Jimmy Logan in 1845, he had those spiky hands, only the spikes were crude, bony-looking things then, emerging whenever Jimmy got angry. His heritage included some daddy issues, and a half-brother named Victor Creed a.k.a. Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), complete with fangs and all.

A series of quick scenes shows the non-aging brothers fighting through several wars, including the Civil War, World War Two, and Viet Nam. We also learn that the evil Stryker (Danny Huston) is building an army of mutants called Team X. But after a particularly gruesome incident in Africa, Jimmy walks out on the group, and ends up as a woodcutter in Canada with a hot schoolteacher girlfriend (Lynn Collins).

After a devastating tragedy, Stryker convinces Jimmy to undergo a procedure that will make him indestructible. It’s an agonizing operation that injects a substance called adamantium into his skeleton. And presto-chango, he’s “Wolverine,” his once bony spikes now shiny, titanium-looking weapons of mass destruction. And Victor comes back into his life, as well.

Here’s the thing about “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”: It’s not a bad movie, and Hugh Jackman and his awesome muscles are not hard to look at. But the writing is cheesy, and they could have done more with the various characters who show up in this movie, including card-shark Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), The Blob (Kevin Durand), John Wraith (Will.i.am), and Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds). I mean, I get that the movie is called “Wolverine,” but most of these characters are only in the movie for a few minutes, if that.

If you’re a fan of the X-Men characters and movies, you should check this out, especially now that it’s on Blu-ray and DVD.

Note to Parents: There’s lots of action and fighting and explosions, including one awesome scene with an exploding helicopter. Oh, and Hugh Jackman gets naked from a distance in a couple of scenes. But overall, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a PG-13 movie about a mutant superhero.

Image: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, TM and Copyright 20th Century Fox Film Corp., 2009

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One hopeful who’s read for the part and is ready and willing to slap that big A on his forehead is Ryan McPartlin, best known as “Captain Awesome” on NBC’s ‘Chuck.’

McPartlin told Moviehole, “It is in the casting process and like many other actors, I read for it, so we’ll wait and see what happens. Regardless, I’m pretty psyched to be Captain Awesome for the time being.”

Well, he is darn awesome on ‘Chuck,’ though I can see him as Captain America, too.

Other names being bandied about include Chad Michael Murray, Alexander Skarsgaard (Eric on ‘True Blood’ – can’t really see it), Jensen Ackles, Matt Damon, Cam Gigandet, Chris Pine, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bruce Campbell.

Hopefully, we’ll know who scores the big role in the next few weeks.

Image: © NBC Universal, Inc.

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According to Columbia Pictures, “No offers have been made, nor have any business discussions been made with Lerman.”

Oops. At this point, the studio is looking at all actors who could fit the bill of a high school teen and is compiling a list. Lerman is on that list, but he’s not THE one yet. Then again, he DOES look like McGuire, so there’s that. 

I’m guessing Lerman is getting some media training from his publicist.

Image: Bauer-Griffin; Source: Hollywood Reporter

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So how will Webb, known mainly for directing “Summer,” as well as several music videos (Green Day and 3 Doors Down, among them), fare after Sam Raimi’s work on the previous three “Spider-Man” movies? Webb has an interesting take on it.

“This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity,” said Webb. “Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”

Good answer! Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, added, "I’m excited that Sony has chosen a director with a real penchant and understanding for the character. This is a brave, bold direction for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see what Marc comes up with next.”

Hmmm … I wonder if “brave, bold direction” could be translated as “What the heck is Marvel doing hiring a romantic comedy director to helm “Spider-Man”?

But hey, I’m excited to see where it goes, because I feel like the franchise needs a serious reboot. Something bold and brave!

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment; Source: Coming Soon

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Warner Bros.’ "Green Lantern" is on track with Martin Campbell directing, and now the film has a villain in Peter Sarsgaard. Most recently, he starred with Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (see image below). That was a more serious film!

Ryan Reynolds is starring as Hal Jordan, the test pilot who finds a downed spacecraft with a dying alien who passes him a powerful ring, introducing Jordan to an interstellar police force known as the Green Lanterns.

Sarsgaard will play Dr. Hector Hammond, the pathologist son of a senator who’s a big disappointment to his dad. He becomes infused with psychic powers when he discovers a meteor and, well, it doesn’t go well – at least not for his enemies.

Blake Lively has already been cast as Reynolds’ love interest, Carol Ferris. The “Green Lantern” characters were created by John Broome and Gil Kane in the early 1960s.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter; Image: Sony Pictures Classics

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While the details are still in top secret mode, Singer reveals that the story will delve into the formation of X-Men, how they began, and the relationship between a young Xavier and Magneto.

Hmmm, I wonder who they’ll find to play a young Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, and whether they’ll have a role in this new film. Not likely, unless they use a major time jump sequence.

So you might be wondering about the status of “X-Men Origins: Magneto,” the previously proposed film to bulk up the franchise.

“This story would probably utilize some of the Magneto story because it deals with a young Magneto,” Singer says. “So it might supersede that because this would explore that relationship between a young energetic professor and a disenfranchised victim of the Holocaust.”

Of the supposed studio fiasco about his X3 exit, he describes it as “comical and exaggerated.” He also says that “Jack the Giant Killer” will likely be his next project. And it might be in 3D, because he found “Avatar” inspiring.

Image: Amazon.com

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So goes the plot of “Kick-Ass,” the high-octane movie from director Matthew Vaughn. But even though Kick-Ass (Dave’s new superhero name) has no powers, he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloë Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage).

“Kick-Ass” hits theaters April 16, 2010, and looks like it could be either really lame or really funny, sort of along the lines of “Napoleon Dynamite” (if I may be so bold as to draw that comparison). Here’s the teaser trailer…

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But what about the villains we already know and love? Like Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin? Ok, sure he “died” at the end of the first “Spider-Man” movie, but he managed to appear in the two sequels as an apparition in a mirror, seen by his son, Harry.

While Dafoe says that “no one’s called” to ask if he’d be in the upcoming “Spider-Man 4,” he’s not ruling out the idea.

“I think it’s possible,” he said in a recent MTV interview. “But I haven’t heard anything.”

There’s also the fact that Harry — played by James Franco — is probably out of the picture after his death in “Spider-Man 3.” But like Dafoe says, anything is possible.

Check out all the “Spider-Man” coverage on Superhero Profiles!

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment; All rights reserved.

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The movie tells the story of an elite military unit of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, who take on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.

Directed by Stephen Sommers, it stars Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayons, Dennis Quaid, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Check out the trailer and the G.I. Joe Faceoff Game on Facebook.

THE GIVEAWAY: I have one prize pack ($80+ value) that includes the following:

• Two-disc Special Edition DVD
• Night Raven Jet with Air Viper (Toy)
• M.A.R.S. Troopers (Action Figures)
• Poster

HOW TO ENTER: U.S. residents only, please. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. Be sure to include a valid email address. A winner will be drawn randomly. I’ll email the winner for their mailing address after the contest ends. Good luck!

Images: Paramount Home Entertainment

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Movie: Astro Boy * Official Site * Film Gecko links * Trailer	In Theaters: Oct. 23, 2009
Runtime: 94 minutes	Directed by: David Bowers
MPAA Rating: PG for some action and peril, and brief mild language	Gecko Rating:

“Astro Boy” is one of those movies that’s cute, but that you’ll probably forget about a day or two after you see it. It’s also a little violent and sad for a kids’ movie. Not as sad as “Up” or “Marley and Me,” but still sad in its own way.

The concept began as a Japanese manga series and TV show first broadcast in Japan from 1963 to 1966, and follows the adventures of the title character, Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore). He starts out as a real boy named Toby who lives in the thriving metropolis of the floating Metro City with his scientist dad, Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage).

But when Toby tags along during a presentation to the war-mongering President Stone (Donald Sutherland), he ends up getting killed in a freak lab accident involving a giant robot (kind of intense for little kids right off the bat).

More after the jump…

So Toby’s genius scientist-dad decides to re-create his son in the form of a robot who looks and sounds just like his son, and even has his son’s memories. Except when all is said and done, Tenma decides that he doesn’t want a robot for a son.

So he rejects Toby, who then runs away and falls in with a group of misfit orphans on the over-polluted Earth, including black-and-purple-haired Cora (Kristen Bell) and Zane (Moises Arias), who live with Ham Egg (Nathan Lane), their seemingly kind adoptive father who runs a Coliseum-like show where robots battle to the death.

But in order to make the war robot he wants, the President needs the blue energy inside Astro Boy, so the military goes on the hunt for him. Meanwhile, Toby is hiding his true identity from the orphans, because he knows they’ll reject him if they knew the truth. 

I get what they’re trying to do here. The original “Astro Boy” tackled some heavy issues like war, pollution, death, and parental rejection. But it doesn’t really work as a cute kids’ movie, which based on the trailers, is what this movie purported to be. 

It’s CG-animated, which you’d think would be targeted towards kids ages six to nine, but it’s too dark, violent and sad for those ages. And yet my older kids weren’t the least bit interested in seeing it because it’s “a kids’ movie.”

The storyline and characters are also fairly predictable – outcast kid who realizes his true powers and becomes a hero, geeky but kind-hearted orphans, power-hungry President, cute robot sidekick (Astro Boy adopts a little trashcan-dog), giant but helpful robot … I’m not really sure what ages this movie is appropriate for. Maybe older kids familiar with the original Manga series. But then, they’ll probably just go back to the original manga series, rather than see this movie.

As for the violence, the story includes plenty of weapons-based explosions and disasters, the killing of Toby, and several robots destroyed throughout the movie, including those in the battle-to-the-death scenes in the Coliseum.

For all of these reasons, I can’t really recommend “Astro Boy” for kids. I will say this, though: I really liked the CG animation, which does a good job of picking up all the little emotions and details of the characters. And things end well, so at least it’s not like the horrible “Marley and Me” ending, with everyone in the theater sobbing their hearts out. 

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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