Dreamworks has released the first trailer for their latest CG-animated epic Rise of the Guardians, based on the upcoming books by William Joyce, who also happens to be a writer from the latest Oscar-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

The film looks to be another top notched animated action adventure in vain of Dreamworks’ recent How To Train Your Dragon, this time teaming up Santa Claus (named North), the Easter Bunny (named Bunnymund), The Sandman, Jack Frost, and the Tooth Fairy (named Tooth) to fight evil, coming off as a family version of The Expendables. Rise of the Guardians features the voices of Chris Pine, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, and Hugh Jackman.

Check it out below:

When an evil spirit hatches a plot to take over the world, the immortal Guardians join forces to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imagination of children all over the world.

Rise of the Guardians hits theatres on November 21, 2012.

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Thanks to The Playlist, we now know who Steven Soderbergh has in mind for his next film, The Side Effects – and the director didn’t have to look very far to find his cast. The film, written by Soderbergh mainstay Scott Z. Burns (The Informant!, Contagion), has attracted some talent the director has worked with before. Hit the jump to find out who, and to see what this project is all about.

Formerly known as The Bitter Pill, The Side Effects, according to writer Burns, centers around “people and their moods. It’s about how we as a society can’t tolerate sadness and what that makes us vulnerable to.” Sounds very atmospheric, and The Playlist says the script is akin to something along the lines of Fatal Attraction. Blake Lively (Green Lantern) has locked down the lead role of a woman taking prescription pills to deal with her husband’s upcoming release from prison, and Channing Tatum is playing her husband. Jude Law will play Lively’s psychiatrist.

Tatum worked with Soderbergh on both Haywire (out in theaters this month) and the upcoming stripper drama Magic Mike, and Law collaborated with the director on Contagion last year. Lively is the wild card, and after a solid performance in Ben Affleck’s The Town, it will be interesting to see how she handles such a high profile leading role.

Soderbergh decided to take on this project after The Man From U.N.C.L.E. fell through at Warner Bros., and financing and distribution for The Bitter Pill is still up in the air at this point. Summit was supposed to be involved, but now that they’re being sold to Lionsgate, they’ve dropped out. But it’s a Soderbergh film, so I don’t imagine it’ll languish for long. We’ll keep you updated on further developments.

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Thanks to a more compelling villain, better pacing, and more action, Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a big improvement over the first film in this series. With more serious end of the year fare taking over the box office for the remainder of the year, the latest adventure of the world’s most famous detective provides a solid mystery, great banter, and the same loveable characters that made the first film in this series so entertaining.

The relationship between Holmes and Watson is one of the most fascinating elements in this franchise. It’s not breaking new ground or anything – Holmes takes issue with Watson’s new bride-to-be, realizing it could be the end of their adventures together – but this subplot is so well-handled that it feels fresh. Much of the conflict goes unspoken between the two friends, each coming to grips with the inevitability that one day; their partnership will come to an end. This kind of communication could be interpreted as homoeroticism by some, but I choose to read it just as two friends who have worked together through countless adventures and have a detailed understanding of the other’s methods. Holmes legitimately cares for Watson far more than he lets on, as revealed in his first meeting with Moriarty in which he asks for Watson and his new bride to be excluded from their deadly game of wits. Watson cares as well, evidenced in the story he writes about his friend. It’s a Wyatt Earp/Doc Holliday dynamic, and one that is rarely explored as interestingly on screen.

Noomi Rapace, who brought an intense physicality and commitment to the role of Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, falls flat here, essentially playing the Penelope Cruz role in Pirates of the Caribbean 4. For the most part, her character Sim is an inactive observer, serving no other purpose than to lead our main characters to the MacGuffin (her brother, an anarchist who is the final piece in Moriarty’s puzzle). Rachel McAdams reprises her role from the first film, but she’s not nearly as involved this time around. It’s a shame; Irene Adler is a far more compelling character than Rapace’s Sim. As the femme fatale in the first film, Irene was just clever enough to provide problems for Holmes, and seeing him flustered and distracted by her was a welcome obstacle on the way to accomplishing his larger goals. Much of the first film hints at Irene’s relationship with Moriarty, and as an audience, we wonder how she became involved with him and what role she plays in his grand plans. I was hoping we’d get even more of this type of interaction, but…let’s just say that doesn’t quite happen in A Game of Shadows.

In the first movie, we never saw Moriarty’s face because the filmmakers weren’t sure who would play him in the sequel (Brad Pitt was rumored at one point, due to his previous working relationship with Guy Ritchie). Here, Jared Harris from “Mad Men” steps out of the shadows and plays a terrific Moriarty, the perfect antithesis of Holmes and a truly worthy adversary. While Lord Blackwood’s satanic magic was spooky in its own right, I never got the feeling that Holmes was stumped by him. The same cannot be said here, as Moriarty puts Holmes’ back against the wall at every turn. Harris as Moriarty is the best part of this film; he does a great job making the audience believe he’s actually smarter than Holmes, which gives the hero an underdog status that we haven’t seen from him yet. The filmmakers know that if it was too easy for Holmes, the audience would lose interest, so bringing on his arch nemesis this early in the game is a wise move.

The pacing is great; with Ritchie and his writers doling out action sequences or intellectual reveals every few minutes to keep us entertained along the way. There’s even a bit of subversion of expectations as Holmes goes into his patented slow motion fight mode and is interrupted by Rapace’s character hurling a knife into Holmes’ opponent. The setup without the payoff works as a comedic moment, a more involved rehashing of Spielberg’s iconic scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark in which Indiana Jones, exasperated, pulls out his gun and simply shoots a swordsman. There are big action set pieces that work well, too – a train sequence in which an attempt is made on Watson’s life, and an excellent woods escape that uses speed ramping that should make Zack Snyder stop what he’s doing and come take a look.

Prolific composer Hans Zimmer also returns, continuing his storied career with another solid score. His work here sounds like the jangly theme song for “Dexter” (especially in the gypsy-heavy sequences) blended with his score for Rob Marshall’s Pirates 4. I found it odd how much Zimmer uses those gypsy-inspired sections throughout the film even though the corresponding characters are so bland on screen. This isn’t close to Zimmer’s best work – not even his best work this year, since that honor belongs to Rango – but for a big studio sequel, it gets the job done.

With an increase in humor, a better mystery, and a more intricate villain, A Game of Shadows improves on the first film in nearly every way. It’s fun to watch Downey and Law build these characters and banter with each other, and even more fun to watch the character of Sherlock Holmes face an opponent who is his intellectual equal (or who may be even better than he is). Looking to the future, my only concern is with the ending; while the first film ended with a clear direction for a sequel, I can’t help but wonder where the series can go from here. That’s the problem with bringing in a story’s most famous villain in the second movie, an issue Christopher Nolan faces as he wraps up his Batman trilogy. We’ll see how both of those series handle that pressure in the coming months and years; we don’t have much longer to wait for The Dark Knight Rises, and it’ll probably take a couple of years before we see another Sherlock Holmes because of Downey’s commitments to Marvel (Iron Man 3, an Avengers sequel, etc). But even if we have to wait a few years, I’m still looking forward to seeing more adventures of Holmes and Watson on the big screen. Until next time…

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GK Films has released a new trailer for Martin Scorsese’s 3D family adventure Hugo. It’s a bit odd saying the words “Martin Scorsese” and “3D” in the same sentence, but with “family adventure” thrown in the mix, it causes one to scratch his or her head, wondering if it’s just a big prank.

Alas, it is as real as it gets, and from the looks of the new trailer, it looks surprisingly intriguing. But who can complain with a cast consisting of Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), and Asa Butterfield (The Boy in The Striped Pajamas).

Check out the trailer below:

‘Hugo’ tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key. Based on Brian Selznick’s award winning and imaginative New York Times bestseller, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” this magical tale is Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D.

Now it’s no doubt that Hugo is a dramatic departure from the usual violent and gritty films Scorsese’s become iconic for, such as GoodFellas and Shutter Island. But, with that being said, the trailer manages to capture a mysterious and emotionally engaging adventure with adult elements, contrary to the first trailer’s whimsical “kiddie” feeling.

It may be hard to wrap your head around, but it looks like Scorsese is managing quite well in new territory, which promises us a feel good mystery/adventure film that is geared for all ages. The only quip I have, which is obvious, is Scorsese’s attempt at using 3D elements. It just doesn’t feel like this is the type of film that warrants the need for the technology (then again most modern films don’t) and, again, it just doesn’t feel right for the director. Scepticisms are no doubt abundant, but we’ll know soon enough if Scorsese can pull it off when the film releases.

Hugo is released on 2D/3D screens across the US from November 23rd and the UK from December 2nd.

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Warner Bros. has released the second official trailer for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and it’s more action-packed than the first.

With the shock of seeing Robert Downey Jr. in drag out of the way our attention can return to the many slow-mo shots and explosions, along with the return of Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler and more of Professor Moriarty. Still no glimpse of Stephen Fry though.

Watch the new trailer below:

In A Game of Shadows Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his longtime trusted associate, Doctor Watson (Jude Law), take on their arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), with the help of Holmes’s older brother Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) and a gypsy called Sim (Noomi Rapace).

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows will be released December 16, 2011.

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Contagion doesn’t feature insane killers, demons, or haunted houses, but it’s one of the most effective horror films of the year. Walking out of the theater, my audience warily eyed each other, making sure not to touch anyone or anything as we went our separate ways. Steven Soderbergh continues to prove himself as one of the finest directors of ensemble casts working behind the camera today, and his controlled direction coupled with a fascinating script by Scott Z. Burns makes for a hell of a movie. It’s unsettling, but it’s also exceptionally crafted and well-acted, so I have no qualms about recommending it for everyone.

Before the movie came out, many (myself included) wondered what the point of Contagion was: doesn’t it look too similar to every other outbreak movie of the past twenty years? But this film reminded me that the devil is in the details: it’s not only about the subject matter, but how the story is executed, and I’m glad I checked it out. Soderbergh adds all kinds of touches that make the movie stand out, from his shallow focus compositions to an excellent montage showing the spread of the deadly disease across the world. There’s a detached quality here, and the director does a good job of keeping the audience at arm’s length throughout the movie and not falling into the trap of making the movie about any one character over another; the main characters are the disease and the fear it inspires.

The acting is fantastic from everyone involved. Matt Damon sells his character’s emotional breakdowns, Kate Winslet makes a big impact with a smaller part, Laurence Fishburne does some of his best work in years, and Jude Law is fantastic as a renegade blogger searching for the truth. Even Gwyneth Paltrow (who dies in the trailer) does well with the small screen time she has. Tiny performances by Elliot Gould, Demetri Martin, Enrico Colantoni, Bryan Cranston, and John Hawkes didn’t disappoint, but the standout actress for me (as much as I love Kate Winslet) has to be Jennifer Ehle, who is not a big name yet but certainly should be after this movie. She evokes a young Meryl Streep not only in appearance but in quality in her role as a doctor on a quest to discover the cure for the disease.

Marion Cotillard’s character is the weak link here, but that’s no fault of hers. The script seems to forget about her since she disappears for a huge chunk of the movie – close to 40 minutes, I’d wager – and then when she returns, her motivations have completely changed with a pitiful implication of why we’re supposed to empathize with her climactic decision. This is a script flaw more than an acting complaint, so I just want to reiterate that I had no issues with Cotillard’s performance. Because there are so many characters introduced, and because Soderbergh keeps the audience from fully engaging with any of them (except for maybe Matt Damon and his daughter), this problem feels particularly egregious. But I’ll also reiterate: just because we don’t get to truly know any of these people, that doesn’t mean that Contagion is not a captivating thriller.

Cliff Martinez adds an eerie electronic-based score punctuated with grating feedback noises, subtly adding to the horrific atmosphere Soderbergh creates. Martinez has been doing some good work this year with this and the scores for Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive (one of my favorite films of 2011) and the Matthew McConaughey flick The Lincoln Lawyer (which I still haven’t seen).

The escalating panic and hysteria that Contagion depicts are perhaps the scariest moments in the film; it’s easy to assume this movie’s cynical view of the world is pretty realistic if such a situation were to occur. The involvement of the internet in breaking news and Jude Law’s character becoming a prophet for people is not outside the realm of believability, nor are the looting, violence, and destruction presented. Burns’ script is captivating, frightening, and well-constructed, and Soderbergh’s take on the material is a perfect visual partnership with the script’s tone. Contagion is not anything that I plan on revisiting any time soon, but that’s not because I didn’t like it: it’s just because everything it suggests is too unnervingly realistic. And that unsettling feeling is the film’s greatest success. Until next time…

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Paramount Picture have released the first trailer for Martin Scorsese’s upcoming 3D family adventure Hugo (formally The Invention of Hugo Cabret). It looks to be new territory for the director, who has directed serious thrillers such as The Departed and Shutter Island over recent years.

The film, based on Brian Selznick’s bestselling children’s book, stars Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Helen McCrory, Ray Winstone, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and Michael Stuhlbarg.

You can watch the trailer below:

‘Hugo’ tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key. Based on Brian Selznick’s award winning and imaginative New York Times bestseller, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” this magical tale is Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D.

Hugo is released on 2D/3D screens across the US from November 23rd and the UK from December 2nd.

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Warner Bros. have released the first trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s virus thriller Contagion, which stars Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Laurence Fishburne.

In a bold movie the studio has decided to show the death a character played by one of the main players mentioned above, but as the trailer progresses you understand that the death is actually pretty important to the story and they couldn’t really skip around it.

Watch below:

The movie follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.

Contagion will be released September 9, 2011 in the US and October 21 in the UK.

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Warner Bros. have released the first official trailer for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows.

As with most sequels it’s more of the same, just with bigger action and the comedy is turned up a notch (Sherlock Holmes appears in drag). The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo actress Noomi Rapace looks set to be a great addition to the sequel, although i’m disappointed with the lack of Stephen Fry.

Watch below:

If the trailer music sounds familiar it’s because the marketing department have used the same music they used in the trailer for the first film. I suppose there’s no need to try out new stuff if the music already works.

In A Game of Shadows Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his longtime trusted associate, Doctor Watson (Jude Law), take on their arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), with the help of Holmes’s older brother Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) and a gypsy called Sim (Noomi Rapace).

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The first trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is expected to hit any day now, and in preparation USA Today posted our first official look at Jared Harris as villain Professor Moriarty. Warner Bros. have also released plot details for the sequel.

Here’s the full synopsis:

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.

When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by one Professor Moriarty.

Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen’s club, where he and his brother, Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) are toasting Dr. Watson on his last night of bachelorhood. It is there that Holmes encounters Sim (Noomi Rapace), a Gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince’s murder makes her the killer’s next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him.

The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland. But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.

Filmmaker Guy Ritchie returns to direct “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” the follow-up to the smash hit “Sherlock Holmes.” The sequel also reunites producers Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. Bruce Berman serves as executive producer, with Steve Clark-Hall co-producing.

Jared Harris (TV’s “Mad Men,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) joins the cast as the notorious Professor Moriarty. Also joining the cast, in her first English-speaking role, is Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, who gained international attention in the Swedish film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Stephen Fry (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) plays Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother.

Additional cast members returning from the first film include Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; Kelly Reilly as Watson’s bride, Mary Morstan; and Geraldine James as Holmes’s long-suffering landlady, Mrs. Hudson. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is written by Michele Mulroney & Kieran Mulroney. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and appear in stories and novels by him.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Wigram Productions, a Guy Ritchie Film, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

The film will be distributed worldwide beginning December 16, 2011, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

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