It’s been nearly ten years since Middle Earth unfurled across the screen, and in that time, the Lord of the Rings films have cemented their place in cinematic history. The actors have aged, technology has evolved, and the influence of Peter Jackson’s trilogy is evidenced in all the three-plus-hour epics we’ve seen over the past decade.

Jackson slips back into this world seamlessly, elevating the grandeur but also reigning it in; instead of army battles and global chaos pitting kings against wizards and demons, this is a merrier tale of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and a band of dwarves hunting a lost treasure guarded by the fierce dragon Smaug.

Smaug, we’re told (and cleverly not shown until the very end) attacked the thriving dwarf city of Erebor years ago, evicting dwarven kind from their homeland (writing that I’m starting to wonder if there’s a parable here, big noses and all…) and forcing them to have it out with every other race in Middle Earth, from the orcs at Moria (the chief of whom kills the leader dwarf, Thorin’s, grandfather and becomes the main antagonist) to the elves at, uh, Elvania (the elves chose not to help the dwarves in the battle against Smaug).

Well, if the Wachowski Siblings ever wash out of the movies, they can always turn to knitwear. Their inimitable line of deconstructed post-Apocalyptic Steampunk sweaters, wraps and bodysuits made a big impression in its debut—1999’s The Matrix—and continues strong in their brand new Cloud Atlas collection. Fans will find the irregularly rustic stitches, bold asymmetry, and moody hand-dyed Neo-Gothic palette they love, cast in intriguing new shapes. Tom Hanks’ hooded cape and Susan Sarandon’s stone- and macrame-ornamented dress with matching fingerless wristlets are particularly arresting.

Which is to say that Art Direction is as important in the epic, sweeping, wildly ambitious Cloud Atlas as it has always been in the Wachowski oeuvre, as obsessively thorough and as effectively world-making. The movie is based on a 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell, a book so bulky and complex it took several years for the movie’s three directors—the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer of Run Lola Run—to work out the script and logistics.

A little while ago we showed you a long form debut trailer for the film Cloud Atlas, directed by the Wachowski’s and Tom Tykwer. The film looks stunning and has an incredibly talented cast, but the story looks to be rather complex and even in over five minutes of trailer time many were left confused.

Thankfully the theatrical trailer has finally made its way to the internet, which attempts to sell a more wide audience on a story that has layers on top of layers on top of layers. The new trailer has been essentially cut in half from the previous internet clip, but it still manages to shove in a few new stellar shots to intrigue those who already caught the first preview.

Of course losing two and a half minutes of time means certain elements will be lost on the general public. Few people will probably be able to tell the basic narrative structure, which the long form preview only just barely was able to convey. Also potentially under sold in this version is just how many good actors are in this movie, I mean Hugh Grant and Hugo Weaving are barely even in the trailer at all.

Still, it is smart to get a more digestible version of the trailer out there, and you can check it out after the jump.

After watching this five-minute long trailer the question still lingers, what is Cloud Atlas? We do know that it is the new film from co-directors Lana & Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, and it is based on the novel by David Mitchell. Other than that, the whole thing still seems undefined, unless of course you read the book.

Mayhaps the official synopsis can help shed some light on the this very interesting looking new film:

“Cloud Atlas” explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.

So it is sort of like The Fountain, but just much more broad in scope, and make no mistake, the trailer promises some incredible scope. We mentioned yesterday when discussing the Life of Pi trailer that 2012 is shaping up to be an incredible year. Having a film like this blind side us the very next day seems to cement that point.

Check out the absolutely stunning trailer after the jump, and you can find out for yourself exactly what Cloud Atlas is October 26th.

It’s not a secret that The Hobbit is one of the most anticipated films coming out this year. While we wait for it to be relased Peter Jackson and company have been kind enough to share some making of and behind the scenes videos with us.

A new one has arrived and it’s pretty cool. This one is a tour of the New Zealand sets where the movie is being made and shows some of the actors at work.

This is another in a series of videos that helps people understand all that goes into the making of giant spectacles like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Let’s hope it helps build the appreciation for all the work that goes into them and all the people, especially those not in the spotlight, who do that work.

Check out the video after the break.

Lists are fun. Lists are, at least in some cases, easy to create. In this case, the list in question for today is The Five Best Movies Adapted From Comics.

I know what you’re thinking. Why five? Well, it sorta works with the word “Flickcast” and we’re fans of alliteration around here, so that’s one reason. Of course, it also means I only need to come up with five items to fill the list, so that might have something to do with it too. I’ll never tell.

I’m also in the process of preparing a list of the worst movies adapted from comics as well because what’s a “best” list without a “worst” list, right? Right.

However, in this case, we’re talking best. And do we have a lot of great “best” ones to choose from. That’s not a question, we do.

The ones I’ve chosen are not only great examples of comic book adaptations done right, they’re also great movies too. From a clever screenplay to expert direction, exciting visuals, to compelling characters and performances, these five films deliver on many levels and also manage to demonstrate a real love for their source material.

Okay, enough setup. On with the listing of the things.

Up yours, Snow White! Fans of dwarves and fantasy alike will be pleased to see the latest photo from Peter Jackson The Hobbit, featuring all 13 dwarves doin’ their dwarf thing.

From the left, they’re Jed Brophy as “Nori,” Dean O’Gorman as “Fili,” Mark Hadlow as “Dori,” James Nesbitt as “Bofur,” Peter Hambleton as “Gloin,” Graham McTavish as “Dwalin,” Richard Armitage as “Thorin Oakenshield,” Ken Stott as “Balin,” John Callen as “Oin,” Stephen Hunter as “Bombur,” William Kircher as “Bifur,” Adam Brown as “Ori,” and Aidan Turner as “Kili.” [Not pictured: Wilford Brimley as “Groin,” Brian Cox as “Drunky,” and Rip Torn as “Farty.”]

Reprising their roles from the Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy are Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, and Orlando Bloom. Martin Freeman (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) will star as Bilbo Baggins.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release December 14^th, 2012; The Hobbit: There and Back Again December 13^th, 2013.

Click through for a larger version of the pic.

When asked about his role in Jaws 4: The Revenge, Michael Caine once said, “I never saw it—but I saw the house it paid for, and it’s fantastic!” I suspect John Turturro’s been saying something similar for the past four years whenever he’s asked about the Transformers movies. Now we can add John Malkovich and Frances McDormand to that group. And maybe Alan Tudyk.

The plot is as labyrinthine as it is unnecessary. Back in the early 1960s, a ship from war-torn Cybertron (if the Transformers spend all their time fighting, how did they ever evolve?) crashed on the moon. Among the cargo were several “Pillars” that have some sort of significance to the war.

Also, a big, tough Autobot named Sentinal Prime. The White House gets wise to this, and thus we have the impetus for the moon landing (apparently, many historical events were due to Transformers; they don’t get around to revealing that car in which Kennedy was shot was an Autobot, but there may be a fourth film).

Fast-forward to the present day, where the Autobots are now working for the Feds to preserve humanity (how did we ever get along without them?). While on a mission to Chernobyl, Optimus Prime discovers some remnant of the Pillars and decides that it’s high time to revive Sentinal. Also, the Pillars are somehow able to teleport things, which means that it can be used to bring an army of invading Decepticons to earth (according to Frances McDormand, National Intelligence Director).

Sometimes the anticipation and enthusiasm for a movie can be enhanced by a series of great trailers. Unfortunately, anticipation and enthusiasm an also be killed by bad trailers or ones that just don’t resonate with the audience. Green Lantern is a recent example of this.

Fortunately, we don’t have that problem with the latest trailer for Marvel’s upcoming Summer action blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger. In it we get a better look at the man who is to become Cap and we also get some wise, sage advise from Stanley Tucci’s Dr. Erskine as he tells our hero that “Whatever happens, stay who you are.”

Good advice and a great trailer. This movie continues to look amazing and I can’t wait for it to be released. I’ll be in line before day one if possible.

Check out the trailer after the break. Captain America: The First Avenger hits theaters on July 22nd.

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!

• We finally get the first sounds of Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull in a new teaser for Captain America: The First Avenger. Funny…he sounds a lot like Megatron.

• It looks like the lawsuit against Warner Bros for use of Mike Tyson’s tattoo on Ed Helms in The Hangover Part II may force them to CG the tattoo out of the DVD’s. This seems like a completely reasonable use of that $400 million the film made in the box office.

• Dark animated film 9 director Shane Acker is planning on a big-screen adaptation of Thomas The Tank Engine. Our hope is that Tim Burton also produces this film and Thomas is now a train…from hell!

• Ever want to know what Raiders of the Lost Ark would be like with Tom Selleck and Sean Young? Here you go, but we warn you: the mustache did not help him in the audition.

• Before we ever get the inevitable leaked pilot, we’ve got a whopping 7 second teaser from the failed NBC Wonder Woman series. Who knew you could sum up the entire reason why it failed in 7 seconds?

• In hoping to leave the kids table and join the big boys, Nintendo has teamed with Ubisoft to work on a new raunchy game for the WiiU, titled Killer Freaks from Outer Space. We’re totally sold.

Ok fans, here’s the one you’ve been waiting for. The first official full trailer for Captain America has arrived (via ET) and lo it is good.

In it we get a real feel for the story and see all our favorite characters in their full glory. From the scrawny Steve Rogers and Dr. Erskine to the Red Skull, Tony Stark’s dad and the man himself, Captain America, all the characters look awesome and just as they should.

We also get a look at some of the great action scenes from the film and from the trailer we can see that director Joe Johnston and his team have gone to great lengths to make this one a worthy successor to the first two Iron Man films. Kudos to them.

In short, the movie looks great and all of us here at The Flickcast are counting the days until this movie arrives. In case you’re wondering, the number of days is 121.

Click through to check out the trailer. Captain America hits theaters on July 22nd.

By now, fans of Captain America have seen the official Super Bowl trailer of the upcoming comic-based flick and even caught a glimpse of the official movie poster, but one thing I’ve been curious about is how the movie would portray  the hero’s loyal side-kick, ‘Bucky.’ In a recent interview with director Joe Johnston over at the L.A. Times, it turns out that James “Bucky” Barnes, played by actor Sebastian Stan  (“Gossip Girl,” “Kings”), will have a decidedly darker personality than fans of the comic may be used to.

In the interview, Johnston comments on how Bucky’s personality will receive a Hollywood update:

“Sebastian brought something really interesting and slightly on the dark side and really compelling to watch — when he’s on camera, you’re fascinated by watching him. You know, he was originally up for the lead, for the Steve Rogers role, but he didn’t have quite the same earnest, I-want-to-fight-for-my-country aura that Chris has for this role. Sebastian has a little bit of the bad boy, he’s a little bit of the James Dean type and that goes somewhat counter to the general perception of Steve Rogers. He wasn’t quite right for Captain America,  but I think he’s perfect for Bucky because, really, he can have a little bit of that dark side.”

Certainly an interesting development and somewhat understandable as the boy-wonder-esque sidekick character is unlikely to be received so readily by an audience in 2011. And it certainly seems that the writing team on ‘Captain America,’ including Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Joss Whedon, didn’t merely go part-way when putting their own spin on the duo’s partnership. Instead, they practically reinvented it.