Angelina Jolie stars as CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who swore an oath to duty, honor and loyalty – a loyalty that’s seriously tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. So she goes on the run, using all those CIA skills and experience as a covert operative to elude capture.

What do you think of the poster? She’s got the steely stare down pat, doesn’t she? Oh, those lips!

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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The Plot: Newly arrived at Terminal Island, a prison for the most nonredeemable of convicts, Carl “Luke” Lucas must prove his mettle in a race to the death.

Since Jason Statham drove off with Tyrese Gibson, the producers are seeking an actor to wear the Frankenstein mask, as well as the female villain who dreamed up the Death Race concept as the new reality show craze. They’re also looking for people to play inmates named Big Bill, Gunner, Rocco and Jesus Luna.

So … if you fit the bill, go ahead and get in touch with them.

By the way, here’s how the numbers went down in the original 1973 movie, “Death Race 2000,” which starred Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine:

• Man: 10 points
• Woman: 20 points
• Teenager: 40 points
• Kids under 12: 70 points
• People over 75: 100 points

Image: Amazon.com

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I’m thinking it must have some pretty good stunts, and it’s written by one of my favorite screenwriters, J. Michael Straczynski (“Babylon 5”), which makes it ripe for a TV series!

It also looks like the kind of movie that’s going to make me want to go home and do a couple of sit-ups – until the feeling quickly passes.

“Ninja Assassin” tells the story of a young ninja named Raizo (Rain), who’s one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a boy, he was transformed into a trained killer by a secret society known as the Ozunu Clan. Their existence is considered a myth. 

But Raizo is haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, so he vanishes and waits, preparing to exact his revenge.

In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) stumbles on a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Despite the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into classified files to learn the truth behind the murders.

Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, and the two must trust each other in order to survive.

“Ninja Assassin” is rated R for strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language. Watch the clips after the jump.

Pain breeds weakness:

Live without one of your senses:

They’re already there:

Brothers battle:

Highway showdown:

Final fight:

Ninja fight:

Ninja Assassin Trailer:

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Robert Schwentke is directing the film, based on a miniseries from Wildstorm/DC Comics. Bruce Willis is already on board to play a former black ops agent (is it just me, or does he always play these types of characters?), now retired and dealing with younger, more high-tech assassins who show up to kill him.

Here’s the rundown on the other characters:

• Julian McMahon: a Vice President with a dark side who’s at the center of a shadow conspiracy
• Ernest Borgnine: the keeper of the CIA’s darkest records (in real life, I imagine he holds some dark secrets about Hollywood)
• Richard Dreyfuss: a wealthy man who builds a fortune out of lucrative government contracts.
• Brian Cox: a former Cold War spy and nemesis of Willis’ character

Also on board are Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John C. Reilly and Mary Louise Parker.

You might have seen McMahon in FX’s “Nip/Tuck.” His star is rising fast.

Image: INF; Source: HeatVisionBlog

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“

The latest word is that Johnny Depp is in talks to sign, replacing Sam Worthington, who replaced Tom Cruise. If it’s a go, Depp will play an American tourist who’s used by an Interpol agent to flush out a criminal with whom she once had an affair.

The agent will be played by Angelina Jolie, which would make for an awesome pairing with Depp. I’m trying to think if they’ve ever done a movie, and nothing comes to mind. If not, it’s time!

For more on Angelina Jolie, check out Pitt Watch; for more on Tom Cruise, visit TomKatCrazy. 

Any thoughts on this pairing?

Image: Newscom

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“Sherlock Holmes” opens in theaters Dec. 25, 2009, and follows the adventures of the famed detective (Downey, Jr.) and his partner John Watson (Law).

Sherlock Holmes 101: He’s a fictional character of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, created by British author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes is a brilliant London-based "consulting detective", known for his intellectual prowess, skillful use of observation, deductive reasoning, and forensic skills to solve difficult cases. In short, he’s the forerunner of all the cop shows on TV now and in the past.

Check out all of Film Gecko’s coverage of “Sherlock Holmes,” and see what you think of the new trailer.

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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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It’s the documentary about Michael Jackson’s big concert tour, which abruptly screamed to a halt upon his death. Fortunately, there’s plenty of film of the rehearsals and his creative process putting the tour together. 

Check out the official site, the trailer, and all of Film Gecko’s coverage.

Also released today are several films in limited release, including:

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” – Sequel to “The Boondock Saints” about  bloody murders in the underworld of Boston. Stars Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Clifton Collins (read my interview with Collins here).

“Gentlemen Broncos” – Offbeat story about a home-schooled kid who gets ripped off by a legendary fantasy novelist. Stars Michael Angarano and Jennifer Coolidge.

“The House of the Devil” – The title says it all. Stars Jocelin Donahue and Tom Noonan.

“How to Seduce Difficult Women” – Do men need to be reminded how to seduce women? Yeah, maybe.

“Labor Day” – A documentary about how Election Day was turned into Labor Day. Appearances by Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Ted Koppel and others.

“Looking for Palladin” – A comedy about an arrogant Hollywood talent agent (David Moscow) who’s sent to  Guatemala to find Oscar winning actor Jack Palladin (Ben Gazzara).

“Skin” – Story about a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners. Stars Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and Alice Krige.

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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It’s easy to forget that this great archive of classic movies is available on TCM 24/7. Check their schedule for all the great scary movies. A few coming up this week:

Tuesday, Oct. 27: 

8 p.m. – Poltergeist (1982). Evil spirits abduct a suburban family’s daughter. Craig T. Nelson.

12 a.m. – The Haunting (1963). Psychic investigators move into a haunted house. Julie Harris.

2 a.m. – Village of the Damned (1960). Residents of a British village give birth to emotionless, super-powered offspring. George Sanders.

Friday, Oct. 30:

11:15 a.m. – The Walking Dead (1936). A framed man comes back from the dead seeking revenge. Boris Karloff.

6:45 p.m. – Isle of the Dead (1945). Quarantined residents of a Balkans island fear that one of their numbers is a vampire. Boris Karloff.

8 p.m. – Gaslight (1944). A newlywed fears she’s going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion. Ingrid Bergman

12 a.m. – Psycho (1960). A woman on the run gets mixed up with a repressed young man and his violent “mother.” Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh.

Image: Warner Archives

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Now they might be teaming again, because rumor has it they’re in talks to star in a remake of the 1949 classic “The Third Man.”

Here’s the plot: After arriving in post-WWII Vienna, Holly Martins learns that his friend Harry Lime, who invited him, was involved in a car accident. When Martin starts investigating the death, he finds out more than he bargained for.

“Eastern Promises” writer Steven Knight is rumored to be writing the film, but no director is attached yet.

In the original, Joseph Cotten played Holly, and Orson Welles played Harry. No word on which character DiCaprio and Maguire would play, but it sounds like a great crime thriller ripe for a remake.

Image: NBC Universal

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