by Matt Raub, Feb 11 2011 // 4:30 PM
Welcome to another edition of On the Radar where we delve into all corners of the entertainment, tech and geek Internets for news, views and whatnot that may have escaped our regular coverage during the week. Let is know if we missed something interesting.
Let’s get started!
• In case you were under a rock and missed the Super Bowl on Sunday, Apple has all of your favorite trailers from the telecast in glorious HD.
• Russell Brand is back in action, this time with a remake of the classic film Arthur. We can buy Luis Guzman as Robin, but Jennifer Garner being seductive? No way.
• Detroit is taking a page from their fictional history and trying to raise money to put a RoboCop statue in the center of town. That should stop all the crime.
• Amber Heard is in talks to play Ren Sonja in the upcoming remake. She already has the red hair and Amazonian body down, so she sounds like a fit!
• Now that he has that political mid-life crisis out of the way, Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to get back into acting. Do we smell a sequel to Jingle All The Way?
• Alex Borstein has returned to play Ms. Swan to bring us a Black Swan spoof. Totally topical, right?
• For the diehard film fanatic: 100 of the greatest Noir posters ever created.
• Supercut of the Week: Because Valentines’ Day is coming up, we bring you the Epic TV Kisses Supercut.
Posted in: Movies · News · On The Radar · TV
Tagged: Alex Borstein, amber heard, Apple, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arthur, Jennifer Garner, Luis Guzman, Noir, Red Sonja, Robocop, Russell Brand, Super Bowl, TV
by Sebastian Suchecki, Feb 7 2011 // 12:30 PM
Last night’s Super Bowl brought in a few pretty great commercials, but two that stood out above the rest were the first trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger, and the brand new J.J. Abrams sci-fi thriller Super 8. On both counts, we got some of the very first footage of the film, getting us even more excited for it.
Written and directed by Abrams, the film’s plot has been kept pretty close to chest until now. From what we’ve gathered, a group of kids in 1979 catch something inexplicable emerge from a train wreck on their home video camera.
The big deal here is that this is the first joint venture between Abrams and master of extraterrestrial cinema, Steven Spielberg, who brings his experience and belief in unknown casting to the project.
Now, we get the first glimpse at this new film, and you will too, right after the jump.
Super 8 is set to hit theaters on June 10th.
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Posted in: Abrams · Action · Movies · News · Sci-Fi · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Cloverfield, J.J Abrams, Lost, Steven Spielberg, Super 8, Super Bowl, Trailers
by Matt Raub, Feb 7 2011 // 7:30 AM
While it may be the ultimate night of TV for sports fans everywhere, the Super Bowl is also the biggest time of the year for great commercials and movie trailers. Some of the biggest upcoming films of the year get seen first during this night, and last night brought us some doozies.
Up first, of course, is the very first footage and trailer for Captain America: The First Avengers. In this 30 second spot, we get some great moments to look forward to, such as Cap (Chris Evans) in full costume, a glimpse at the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), some Stanley Tucci, and some great action shots.
The film is set to release on July 22nd and also stars Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky.
Check out the trailer after the jump. Now that we’ve seen the trailer, what do we think? Sound off in the comments.
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Posted in: Comics · Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · News · Paramount · Sci-Fi · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Captain America, Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Marvel Studios, Sebastian Stan, Stanley Tucci, Super Bowl, Tommy Lee Jones
by Shannon Hood, Feb 8 2010 // 8:00 AM

I swear I heard my keyboard purr when I typed that headline. Those of us who cover weekly box office totals have been in a rut for seven weeks, and like it or loathe it, Dear John gives us something new to talk about.
Despite tepid reviews, Dear John shocked prognosticators by soundly beating Avatar this weekend. Dear John hauled in $32 Million to win the weekend over Avatar, which made an additional $23.6 Million.
I didn’t see Dear John, but I do find it interesting that everyone continues to underestimate the female ticket draw. The book by Nicholas Sparks was very popular, and currently boasts a 4.5 reader’s rating on Barnes and Noble’s web site. Didn’t Hollywood learn anything from New Moon? Rabid female book fans = box office gold.
Side note, I was shocked to receive an email from my very own parents, who have not seen a movie in the theater in over 5 years, sharing that they saw a matinee of Avatar in 3D and loved it. I quote, “We both wanted to live in that forest.” Um, what?
This coming from a couple who still enjoys dial-up internet. They voluntarily donned 3D glasses because they felt that this movie just had to be seen. I only mention this because this is precisely why the movie has made so much money. There are people going to see it that don’t ever go to movies, and that is quite a feat.
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Box Office · Movies · News
Tagged: Amanda Seyfried, Avatar, Box Office, Channing Tatum, Dear John, James Cameron, Movies, Sam Worthington, Super Bowl
by Sebastian Suchecki, Feb 4 2010 // 3:00 PM
While more than half of the people gearing up for this weekend’s Super Bowl XLIV will be more excited for the commercials, we unfortunately won’t be getting as many movie trailers as we are hoping to see. It’s been reported that Paramount, Disney, and Universal are the only studios buying time to promote their upcoming films during Sunday’s broadcast.
During the last two Super Bowl games, studios amped up their marketing and promoted 9 films over the course of the game, while we’ll only be seeing ads for 7 films this Sunday. Paramount will be buying ads to promote Shutter Island, and The Last Airbender, leaving Iron Man 2 out in the cold.
Disney, who promoted films like Up and Race to Witch Mountain last year will be focusing more on Toy Story 3, Alice In Wonderland, and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Meanwhile, Universal will be setting up promotion for The Wolfman, Robin Hood, and their 3D animated pic Despicable Me.
While it’s still mostly speculation that these films will get Super Bowl spots, it’s been confirmed that Overture bought time to promote The Crazies and Sony bought time for Bounty Hunter. Warner Bros and Fox will sit this one out, as they have since 2008.
Though we may be getting less movie trailers than previous games, this will be a big year for commercials. There are more than 60 spots that have been slotted for this year’s game, where last year’s telecast fell just short. This Sunday will be an entertaining show, for sports fans and entertainment fans alike.
Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Box Office · Business · Disney · News · Paramount · TV · Universal Pictures
Tagged: Alice in Wonderland, Bounty Hunter, Despicable Me, Disney, Iron Man 2, Paramount, Prince of Persia, Robin Hood, Shutter Island, Super Bowl, The Crazies, The Last Airbender, The Wolfman, Toy Story 3, Universal
by Sebastian Suchecki, Jan 20 2010 // 1:00 PM
As if the geek community (myself included) wasn’t excited enough when Adidas announced their line of Star Wars themed clothes last month, but the clothing company just amped up their marketing with a sexy new commercial, which should get plenty of people ready.
The commerical, which suspiciously aired just in time for the Super Bowl in a few weeks, shows off plenty of the new articles of clothing, including the X-Wing shoes and Darth Vader hoodie.
The clothes are certainly worth a purchase from any true fan of Lucas’ universe, regardless of age. Check out Adidas’ official site for the line, and be sure to get even more excited by watching the new commercial after the jump.
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Posted in: Clothing · Marketing · Movies · News · Sci-Fi · Star Wars · Video
Tagged: Adidas, Commercial, Darth Vader, George Lucas, Star Wars, Super Bowl