Although it’s a brisk and flawed 99 minutes, most blockbuster-seeking audiences will feel fulfilled with Wrath of the Titans.

The sequel to the mediocre 2010 remake of the treasured Clash of the Titans, actually improves on just about every level. Epic action sequences showcasing the power of the gods to mythological creatures ruthlessly attacking mankind is choreographed seamlessly via top-notch CGI. And more importantly, the lens captures everything in a comfortable manner for the viewer to take in.

Now while the delivery, or articulation, of the story is barely passable, you’ll at least understand what is going on and why characters are doing what they do. But perhaps it is a bit too chatty in the first-half. It would have been nice, and definitely more emotional, if the filmmakers extended this by 15-20 minutes in order to project a more engaging storyline through the dialogue; because unless Liam Neeson (Zeus) and/or Ralph Fiennes (Hades) – who have extended roles in this installment – are talking, the dialogue streamed through a mumbling Sam Worthington (reprising the Perseus character) and out-of-place Rosamund Pike (Andromeda) comes across very “rough draft” like.

In addition to giving the god characters more things to do in this piece – mainly through a brooding Edgar Ramirez (the god of war, Ares) – this script does inject subtle amounts of comedy through another demi-god in Toby Kebbell (son of Poseidon). Kebbell brings a charming “Captain Jack Sparrow” like presence that although used sparingly, balances out the tone of this fantasy/action saga. Playing along nicely with those elements are the massive set pieces – mainly CGI – that provide that escapism feeling. In Clash of the Titans, the atmosphere seemed too cardboard and uniform. This time around, every encounter the small contingent of humans and/or demi-gods come face-to-face with, feels as if one is entering a new realm of sorts; and these said realms portray an attitude of something between The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings trilogies.

Since this story follows both the human and gods’ perspective, multiple environments are explored and each viewpoint if you will includes a steady dose of unique action. But again, as stated, there is some crappy storytelling still taking place within the dialoge.

Without giving too much away, the gist of the plot is preventing the resurrection of the gods’ father/creator, Kronos. The monstrous Titan has been held captive by Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. However, the world has stopped praying to the gods, and because of this act, they begin to lose their powers and can no longer keep their angry daddy – who is about the size of a mountain – contained. So it falls on Perseus, now a father himself, to rekindle his raging spirit to assist the gods in taking down a nemesis that will devour all the lands.

For all the fanboys, and girls, out there…this fantasy tale delivers the goods with regards to the climatic ending battle. Remember how a couple of the X-Men sequels kind of took away the focus of displaying the respective characters superpowers? Or how in Lord of the Rings, we all kind of wanted to see what would happen if Sauron actually came to life and battled it out with the fellowship? Well, this is your wet-dream scenario. It’s not perfect experience, but it is very generous one that should please you.

Overall, Wrath of the Titans trumps the remake of Clash of the Titans. Though the script fails to capture and project the richness of the storyline, the supporting players along with just enough eye-gasmic action sequences – which benefit from the scope of the 3D gimmick – answer your movie-going prayers for a sequel production that does not go all to hell.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

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The official UK trailer for Wrath of the Titans has appeared online and, just like the title suggests, it’s full of mythological Greek monster and raging Titans. The action looks more intense compared to the first film, but whether the second outing is an improvement overall remains to be seen.

Watch the below:

A decade after defeating the Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington) cannot ignore his true calling when Hades (Ralph Fiennes), along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus (Liam Neeson). The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) directs, and the movie will be released March 30th.

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January and February are usually filled with awards and low-budget movies, but we only have to wait until March before the big films return. This year we have John Carter, The Hunger Games, and Wrath of the Titans, and Warner Bros. has started promoting the latter early with new TV spots containing lots of new footage.

You can watch both TV spots via the embed below:

A decade after defeating the Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington) cannot ignore his true calling when Hades (Ralph Fiennes), along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus (Liam Neeson). The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) directs, and the movie opens on March 30th.

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Another big trailer debut today, this time for Wrath of the Titans. With the sequel set for release in just over three months on March 30, 2012 i’ve been wondering when Warner Bros. would start the promotional run, but it starts now.

While technically a teaser this trailer is big on special effects and money-shots, and with The Kraken being a challenge for Perseus in Clash of the Titans they’ve gone all out with the Titans in this one. Also, Sam Worthington has hair.

Watch below:

A decade after defeating the Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington) cannot ignore his true calling when Hades (Ralph Fiennes), along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus (Liam Neeson). The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) directs. What do you think? Could it be better than the first one?

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Johnny English Reborn is the 101 minute sequel to 2003′s Johnny English, where Rowan Atkinson – of Mr. Bean fame – does his best Peter Seller’s impression (Inspector Clouseau from the hilarious Pink Panther films).  Call it a James Bond spoof or a campy British spy-comedy; there is an audience for this type of product.  And Rowan Atkinson does bring in some of his silent sitcom character traits (Mr. Bean) that help put him on the map.

The story for this sequel follows a pattern that Ace Ventura 2 instilled.  Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson), the once heralded agent for British intelligence, has been kicking it at a monastery trying to find himself.  After the first 10 minutes attempt to amuse people with Atkinson’s physical brand of comedy – specifically his quirky mannerisms, as he maneuvers around the secluded temple – he is summoned back to his agency that shunned him just five years ago after a botched mission.  He is paired with a young prodigy, Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya); and under the supervision of Pegasus (Gillian Anderson sighting), they try to thwart an attempt on the Chinese prime minister’s life.

If one doesn’t like Atkinson’s brand of humor – or the British comedic style in general – but do enjoy these types of spoofs, go hunt down Steve Carell in Get Smart.  Even better, dig up the classic Pink Panther flicks (not the Steve Martin remakes), for that is what this yearns to be.  Granted, it’s tough to inject decent comedic moments in a spy-mystery satire.  With the screenplay going through the motions of any 1990′s James Bond feature (facility containing gadgets, mission control meetings, and tongue-in-cheek combat scenes), the laughs are few and far between.  That’s not to say they aren’t trying, it’s just that not even half of the obvious gags will register with an audience outside of the die-hard Atkinson loyal.

For whatever it’s worth though, this screenplay moves along smoothly and places the characters in an assortment of settings.  And all the performers seem into this (save for Gillian Anderson who has nothing but question marks all over her face).  Plus, Atkinson and director Oliver Parker do click just enough times in placing the titular character in sequences where even cynics will be unable to contain their audible arousal.  Atkinson is just too talented not to eventually deliver, despite multiple duds in an ever-changing landscape of environments this tale unfolds in (shanty hotel, high-speed chase involving wheelchairs, patent ritzy casino, an undercover golfing mission, etc.).  It’s the Scary Movie version of Bond flicks that garners some appeal thanks to Atkinson putting his own personal spin on the recycled shenanigans.

All that being said, it by no means re-events the wheel with regards to this type of farce.

Overall, Johnny English Reborn is consequently more of the same.  There are a handful of laughs to be had in this spy-spoofer.  And it’s at least better than Jackie Chan’s The Tuxedo.  Furthermore, if one enjoys “getting kicked in the groin” jokes, this may be their paradise.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5

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Earlier this week it was reported that Hayley Atwell (Captain America), Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans), and Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day) were in contention to play the female lead in Christopher McQuarrie‘s One Shot, an adaptation of Lee Child‘s bestselling crime novel.

Well Deadline has word that Pike is now in negotiations, and the actress will star opposite Tom Cruise in the film.

Cruise is playing Jack Reacher, a retired military policeman who wanders the country with only his passport, bankbook, toothbrush and the clothes on his back. He finds his way into scrapes, taking the side of the underdog. In One Shot, Reacher investigates a case in which a lone sniper murders five victims before being captured. Reacher discovers it’s more than a simple open-and-shut case. Pike will play Helen Rodin, a local defense attorney defending the man arrested for the shootings. She works with Reacher to bring the true culprits to justice.

Pike has most recently starred in Made in Dagenham, Surrogates, and An Education, and will be seen next March as Andromeda in Wrath of the Titans.

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Today Warner Bros. announced that principal photography has officially begun on Clash of the Titans 2 (expected to be titled Wrath of the Titans, but the studio hasn’t made it official).

In a press release they included a plot synopsis of the movie and a list of both returning and new cast members, which surprisingly doesn’t include Gemma Arterton (Io). The actress is currently filming Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters so her role in Titans may be small, or maybe she isn’t returning at all.

Anyhow, you can read the plot details below:

Returning to star in the film are Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) as Perseus, and Academy Award® nominees Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient,” the “Harry Potter” films) as Hades and Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List,” “Unknown”) as Zeus.

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus—the demigod son of Zeus—is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld.

Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Joining Worthington, Fiennes and Neeson in the international cast are Danny Huston (“Robin Hood”), reprising his role as Poseidon, god of the sea; Edgar Ramírez (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” TV miniseries “Carlos”) as the traitorous god of war, Ares; Bill Nighy (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1″) as Hephaestus, whose twisted, lame figure belies his Olympian origins; Toby Kebbell (“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”) as Agenor, imprisoned thief and son of Poseidon who joins Perseus on his journey to Tartarus; and Rosamund Pike (“Barney’s Version”) as Andromeda, the princess whose life Perseus once saved, and who now, as a queen, follows Perseus into battle.

Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) is directing, and filming will take place in studios outside London. The production will later shoot on location in Surrey, South Wales and in the Spanish Canary Islands on the island of Tenerife. The film is currently scheduled for release in March 2012.

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Rosamund Pike, who was last week said to be in contention for a role in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, has joined Wrath of the Titans. Pike will play Andromeda, a character played by Alexa Davalos in Clash of the Titans last year. Deadline says Davalos was unavailable for the sequel, although the role is said to be a major one so it could be the case that Warner Bros. wanted a bigger name.

Pike’s casting suggests she will be out of the running for Superman, but a large role in Wrath of the Titans will see the actress return to big budget fare. Since starring in Die Another Day Pike has had several supporting roles over the years in movies such asAn Education and Barney’s Version.

Wrath of the Titans will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) and will see the return of Sam Worthington as Perseus and Gemma Arterton as Io. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes will also return as Zeus and Hades.

Not a lot is known about the storyline, although Neeson confirmed that the film will under-go a “whole revamping”. Dan Mazeau (worked on The Flash script for Warner Bros.) and David Johnson (Red Riding Hood) have been working alongside Green Lantern writer Greg Berlanti on the script, so it should be an improvement on the first film.

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…but not for the role of Lois Lane. Variety reports that the three actresses are the front-runners to star opposite Henry Cavill as Superman, but no details have been revealed as to which character they would play.

The switching of love interests seems to be a way of keeping things fresh. Marc Webb and Sony decided to do away with Mary Jane in the Spider-Man reboot and made Gwen Stacy the lead female character instead. Seems Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. are doing something similar.

Alice Eve was previously up for the role of Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class , and will be seen in The Raven with John Cusack later this year.

Diane Kruger is probably best known for playing Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, and for her appearence in the National Treasure films.

Rosamund Pike starred in Die Another Day and has had several supporting roles over the years in An Education and Barney’s Version.

I’m not too familiar with Superman’s non-Lois Lane love interests. Do any comic fans remember a blonde female who these actresses could be screen-testing for?

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What better way to start off 2011 than with one of the most offensive movies I’ve seen in the past decade? The tagline for this film is “five stories that will mess you up for life,” and though they’re being a bit cocky assuming anyone will remember this film for the rest of his or her life, it’s definitely representative of the extremely bizarre subject matter featured throughout.

Full disclosure: I had never even heard of this movie before I received an invite to a screening of it, but after checking out the cast and realizing this was Christopher Landon’s directorial debut (screenwriter of Disturbia, which I liked a lot), I figured I’d check it out. I didn’t read a plot summary or anything, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And I’m warning you right now: if you’re even remotely offended by “taboo” content, stay the eff away from Burning Palms.

The film inexplicably presents its five Los Angeles-set storylines as if they are framed in a comic book, with page-turning transitions and artwork between each part of the anthology. This made little sense to me; it appeared Landon was just ripping of Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat (review, podcast), which put the same stylistic effect to good use by having each of the stories overlap, providing a unity to the film that Burning Palms sorely lacks. Each story supposedly deals with stereotypes of five different areas of L.A. (Santa Monica, West Hollywood, etc.), but with as messed up as this film is, I’m not entirely sure what Landon is trying to say about each of these areas. Is Sherman Oaks a hotbed for rapists? Does Santa Monica regularly house sadistic daughters with Oedipal complexes toward their fathers? If there’s a legitimate point to this film, then I missed it. I was distracted by how “in your face” the story was at all times, all but begging us to be offended by its crassness and politically incorrect content.

This is one of the worst movies I’ve seen in the past 10 years that features relatively known actors. From an actor’s standpoint, I can see why they’d want to be in a movie like this: it provides them an opportunity to act in a way that would rarely be acceptable in a mainstream Hollywood film. So I don’t really blame them for being in this movie, but Chris Landon just takes this story past the point of entertainment and to another level entirely. Watching this film is a miserable experience, and almost all of the characters are despicable. Even the ones we’re supposed to care about are incredibly annoying – Rosamund Pike’s jealous fiancée character, Jamie Chung’s regretful schoolgirl, Paz Vegas’ mistreated maid. It’s hard to find three characters (out of about twenty) that are in any way tolerable, so perhaps relatability is this film’s greatest weakness.

I wish I could just sit here and type out everything that happened in Burning Palms so you could read it in incredulity, wondering if I’m joking. The problem is I can’t even recommend this movie to people I know who enjoy messed up movies; it’s just kind of terrible, even if it has subversive subject matter. I will give away the plot for the final story in the film, so if you plan on seeing this (again, an act I wouldn’t encourage) then stop reading for the next two paragraphs.

Spoiler Alert

The final storyline begins in an apartment decorated for Christmas, with Christmas music playing in the background. One of the first images we see is Zoe Saldana, face down on the floor of her living room, being raped by a guy named Robert, dressed in a hoodie and a white mask (played by Nick Stahl from Sin City and Terminator 3). He leaves, and she slowly recovers. The next morning, she finds his wallet under her couch and tracks the guy down at the pizza joint where he works. She confronts him and says she’ll give him the wallet back if he meets her at another pizza place later that night for dinner. He’s shocked by this, and tries to just get her to leave him alone, but eventually reluctantly agrees.

They meet for dinner and she talks him up as if it’s a date, going so far as to ask him back to her apartment. Naturally, Robert is taken aback: he just wants his wallet back and nothing to do with this scenario anymore. She’s getting kind of creepy. After she reveals that the wallet is actually back at her place, they go there, play a board game (!), and as tensions rise – this whole time we think she might be planning some massive act of revenge – she begs him to rape her again. What. The. Eff. And he does. And she starts crying because she doesn’t want him to leave. But he gets his wallet and leaves. Close up of the mask on the middle of the living room floor. End of movie.

End of Spoilers

So if you happened to read that last section, you’ll have an idea of what kind of messed up stuff you’ll experience if you ever see this film. And trust me, that’s only part of it; the entire movie has a similar tone. Normally I’d say writer/directors should be rewarded for going outside the norm and trying something different, but I can’t in good conscience recommend this to anyone. I respect the filmmakers for their efforts – it’s hard to get any movie made these days, let alone one like this – but I don’t condone what they’ve done with Burning Palms. Until next time…

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