Be afraid. Be very afraid.

It's release day. And after a slew of disappointing reviews, Superman Returns is released upon the world in a frenzy. I couldn't leave my house without seeing a banner with Routh and Spacey's mug on it. This was the year Superman returned to the theater... but he didn't exactly bring the best quality of cinema along with him. Yes, I admit, I liked the majority of Superman Returns, but the film desperately needed pep and zest. It feel bland -- unnatural. I couldn't entirely buy Routh as the Man of Steel.

I digress, though. The majority did like the film and they do want a sequel. Yet I wait around like a moron for an announcement that this is moving forward with the same cast. I fear that day will never come. And Brandon Routh seems to think along the same line. In a recent interview with Collider, he's still unsure if he's shooting the film this year or next year.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Cloverfield Files

Cloverfield worked for me. It didn’t work for many. It certainly didn’t work for the puke on some theater floors, but it worked for me. I wasn’t floored by the monster (which looked like a bad photoshop of different species bunched together). I think the film still held it together with charisma and excitement.

Cloverfield is out on DVD today and as promised Cloverfield Files has launched. It’s a bunch of mini featurettes with promotion for the DVD. Oh, they also make you play a short little game before watching the video. I’d recommend the Military Involvement mini-sode. It's interesting.

Yes, I failed them all twice. I’m ashamed of myself really.

The Rumor Bin - April 22nd

- Hollywood Elsewhere has what they are calling the first review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It reads more like a comment card snatched from a bag, honestly.

- Chris Carter briefly hints at a third film for the X-Files, spilling that the second would have to be an absolute box-office smash for the studio to briefly consider finishing off the franchise. Way to keep the hope alive, Chris.

- Bloody Disgusting had the chance to take a look at the new Jason Voorhees. Maybe this won’t be such a bad film after all.

- Joel Silver has a sequel in mind for Speed Racer. Bit quick, dontcha think?

- Virginia Madsen has joined the cast of “Amelia”, the bio-pic about Amelia Earhart that has Hilary Swank and Richard Gere already lined up to star. Ron Bass wrote the screenplay (loved Rain Man) and shooting will begin at the end of this month in Canada and South Africa.

Outlander One Sheet

Can someone tell me the point of this film? If you can, e-mail it to me.

[EDIT - As I've previously stated, I have no interest in this film, but for those of you that have their interests peaked at the thought of this can find more information here. And yes, I do know the plot, I just chose not to clutter the post.]

Frank Is Hard Boiled

While I haven’t dared myself to read Hard Boiled by Frank Miller, most people who have the courage tell me it’s another brilliant piece of work before Miller’s Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder days (the now, or more appropriately, the present). Seeing how I’m one of the very few who believe The Spirit will turn out to be an excellent cheese fest full with over the top dialogue and classic Spirit actions, Miller taking on another project doesn’t phase me.

But if the Spirit tanks, who would put this bloody film on screen? It's been described as one of the most graphic comics ever. I doubt any studio would really take it on to be honest.

And what of Ronin? A film that’s still stewing in development anguish. I don’t see anyone actively pursuing Hard Boiled any time soon, but I leave you with Miller’s comment:

We’re talking about it. I’ve got a really unusual way I want to do it . I’m in love with directing. I’ve found a way to expand my career. Comics and directing are really two sides of the same coin. That’s what Robert Rodriguez taught me… good drama is good drama.

Nana Visitor Is A Mom

This has to be a bloody mess. The Friday The 13th remake, of course. It’s the normal reaction to groan whenever a remake from a timeless classic is being written, but this time it doesn’t sound that bad. It will definitely have an R-rating. It will definitely have the classic style and gory kills we’re all used to. That doesn’t seem bad whatsoever, and I’m all game for their next casting announcement.

Nana Visitor (“Deep Space Nine”) will play Mrs. Vorhees. Nana is apparently deep into production already with her going in for a mold cast of her head. Don’t worry, it won’t be long before she’s decapitated in all the right ways.

You can listen to the audio that Visitor revealed the announcement on here. It starts around the 6:10 mark.

Michael Bay's Whip

Michael Bay has access to the internet. Kill me. Kill me now. I won’t bash Bay as I normally would, because I’ll be honest, I liked Transformers. I wasn’t blown away by the mess they called a third act, but I still enjoyed every second in the theater and the film seemed much more like a starting point for a massive franchise, with the sequel delving into more of the history.

Maybe that’s incorrect as Michael Bay has struck another blow to fan community by bluntly revealing that everything you’ve read is absolutely positively fake. Isn’t the entire purpose of this shtick the production crew is putting on meant to confuse us fans and make us believe it’s true -- then let us walk into the theater genuinely surprised? If Bay keeps denying the rumors that the casting breakdowns and the Constructicon rumors are false, then we’re all going to start wising up. And sooner or later, we’ll find the real casting breakdowns.

Then again, my super duper secret sources have told me Michael Bay is actually a robot. But he wants to keep that a surprise until opening day.

Three New Tropic Thunder Stills

Bloodgood And The Terminator

While We Are Marshall was criticized, pillaged and raped -- I liked it. It’s never nice to start out the first post on a site with proclaiming your enjoyment of an average film, but I strongly believe there’s a serious and raw filmmaker within Joseph McGinty (alias “McG”) that’s waiting to burst out from under the Charlie‘s Angel‘s persona.

I can dream, can’t I?

Joseph’s newest addition to his already plush work of film -- Terminator IV -- has added a brand new cast member - Moon Bloodgood - and fantastic news, she plays a hard-nosed fighter pilot for The Resistance and still holds remorse and sorrow for surviving the nuclear holocaust while others didn’t. You may not know her by name, but the woman had a lead role in Journeyman, a television series I was quite fond of. She’s in a bit of a role reversal here, funnily enough. Her character in Journeyman sends the title character back in time for specific reasons, and in this role she’s actually in the future.

Although somewhat of an unknown, Goodblood should make a worthy addition to the already impressive cast of Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin and Sam Worthington.