‘Rise of the Guardians’ Trailer: Childhood Legends Prepare for Battle

So today I am going to be blogging about something that is not superheroes or science-fiction, but still enters into the realm of the fantastic. In Dreamworks’ Rise of the Guardians we get a new spin on the classic figures that shaped our childhood, such as Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Jack Frost. That new take involves these “guardians” of childhood dreams banding together to stop an evil spirit called “Pitch” from taking over the world. 

While it sounds a bit on the silly side, today’s trailer for Rise of the Guardians actually looks rather epic and visually splendorous. 

Based on the children’s books by William Joyce (who also co-wrote the script with Robots and Oz: The Great and Powerful scribe David Lindsay-Abaire), this film certainly offers a creative and original look at some very familiar childhood figures (gotta love Santa’s “Naughty” and “Nice” arm tattoos). The voice cast is also pretty well stacked, including Chris Pine (Star Trek) as Jack Frost, Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) as Bunnymund, Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) as Tooth, Jude Law as the villain, Pitch, and Alec Baldwin as the voice of Santa (heard narrating the trailer).

That we will get some action and adventure as well can only be taken as a plus, and the Kung Fu Panda films have proven that Dreamworks Animation is adept at mixing thrilling moments with kid-friendly fun. The only real question I personally have, is: How will kids be able to see this movie without finding out that these characters aren’t in fact, well, real? Let’s hope that the studio doesn’t end up getting a lot of angry responses from parents upset that this film which seeks to honor childhood belief actually ends up spoiling it.

Rise of the Guardians will be in 3D theaters on November 21, 2012.

‘Three Stooges’ Online Trailer Is Nonstop Comic Mayhem

The Farrelly Brothers’ long-gestating film adaptation of The Three Stooges has always been considered an iffy proposition – even when it was originally set to feature an A-list cast with big names like Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro all lined up to portray the new incarnations of those famously dim-witted, comically-violent siblings. 


Moviegoers weren’t exactly blown away by the official Three Stooges trailer, mostly due to ill-conceived elements like an appearance by Snooki from Jersey Shore. It would appear that the Three Stooges marketing team has taken those criticisms to heart, seeing how the film’s new online trailer throws out the pop-cult gags (like swimsuit supermodel Kate Upton’s cameo as a sexy nun) and instead features nothing but nonstop Stooges slapstick madness. 

Check out the official synopsis for The Three Stooges, followed by the second trailer:

Left on a nun’s doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woo-wooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure. Out to save their childhood home, only The Three Stooges could become embroiled in an oddball murder plot…while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show.

Three Stooges stars comedic actors Chris Diamantopoulos (American Dad!), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), and Will Sasso (MADtv) as the titular trio that is Moe, Larry, and Curly, respectively. As you can see from the new trailer, they’ve certainly got the looks and mannerisms of the original Stooges down quite pat. Whether or not the new Stooges also possess their predecessors’ sense of comedic timing and charming screen presence… well, that matter is up for debate (though we’re guessing most people’s answer is “no”).

While the Farrellys appear to have done a solid job of imitating the original Stooges’ brand of humor (right down to the elaborate cartoon sound effects), it doesn’t seem that they’ve proven so successful at integrating that old-fashioned comedy style into a modern setting. It’s partly for that reason that one has to wonder if the Three Stoogescan manage to please either newcomers or fans of the original comedy team.

The Three Stooges opens in theaters around the U.S. on April 13th, 2012 – so we’ll get a definite answer to that question soon enough. 

‘The Avengers’ Trailer: Superheroes, Mad Gods & Alien Armadas

Believe it or not, just over two months are now left in the countdown to the release of Marvel’s The Avengers. The comic book movie studio has been especially busy cranking up the buzz surrounding its estimated $300 million superhero juggernaut over the last week, to help heighten anticipation for today’s unveiling of a second official trailer.


The new Avengers trailer is now online and unlike previous trailers, it basically dives head-first into the plot of the film. While a good deal of the mystery surrounding Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his powerful alien army remains in place, the stakes have now been made clear and the stage is set for Earth’s most powerful superheroes to unite in its defense.


Without further ado, I present the epic second official trailer for The Avengers:

Overall, there’s a lot to admire in this new Avengers footage as far as sheer action spectacle and the scale of everything is concerned. Between sequences of Hulk rescuing a downed Iron Man and vast alien vessels laying ruin to metropolitan landscapes (among other noteworthy moments) it looks like Marvel’s money has been well spent. More so, this is the first trailer to suggest that The Avengers may truly be worth the price of admission for either a 3D and/or IMAX screening, based on some of the more elaborate shots and action sequences teased here.


Rather than divulge the secrets of Loki’s forces just yet, this new Avengers trailer instead highlights the clashing of personalities and difficult team dynamic between the various members of the Avengers Initiative. Chalk up another early point for writer/director Joss Whedon, as he appears to have recognized that the conflicts between the various superheroes who make up The Avengers are (in many respects) just as important as the exterior ones they’re working against.


As for all those brief scenes where the Avengers are (literally) at each other’s throats? Well, don’t forget Tom Hiddleston’s promise that Loki will be up to more mind games in The Avengers. Should be fun to see how that plays out, to say the least…


The Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, and Stellan Skarsgård as Professor Erik Selvig.


Look for The Avengers to arrive in 2D and 3D theaters around the U.S. on May 4th, 2012.


Also, based on the trailers out there, which summer superhero film looks better to you dear readers: The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises or The Amazing Spider-Man?