Naomi Watts Joins 'Divergent' Sequels 'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant'

Naomi Watts has done blockbusters before; let's not forget she was the apple of King Kong's eye in Peter Jackon's hit film, and she's even scared up a franchise in The Ring. And while she's been in a little bit of a slump lately, a good way to bounce back is by taking one of the more complex roles in the next three Divergent sequels.

Watts has signed on to play Evelyn in the next three Divergent movies, Insurgent and the two-part finale, Allegiant. Robert Schwentke is directing with Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, and most of the previous cast returning. Evelyn is the leader of the Factionless, those who for various reasons didn't make the cut in their chosen factions or were abandoned by them. She's also the mother of Tobias "Four" Eaton (James) and a woman with her own desire for power.

Insurgent opens  March 20, 2015. [THR]

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Box Office: 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' Webs $92M Debut, $369M Worldwide

1. The Amazing Spider-Man 2- $92M
The official start of the summer Hollywood blockbuster season began this weekend with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and in true tentpole fashion it takes the top spot with $92M. Sony REALLY loves this weekend as this is the third Spidey film to open on the date, with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man debuting at $114M in 2002 and 2007's Spider-Man 3 with $151M, both records. So this latest incarnation falls short by comparison to those films, but overseas it has done gangbusters with $277M for $369M worldwide. Not too bad as that's roughly half the final tally for 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man. In other words, Sony is probably very happy right now despite the film's mixed reviews (we were split on it here too), and this should bode well for the Venom and Sinister Six spinoffs on the way.
2. The Other Woman- $14.2M/$47.3M
3. Heaven Is for Real- $8.7M/$65.6M
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- $7.7M/$237.1M
5. Rio 2- $7.6M/$106.4M
6. Brick Mansions- $3.5M/$15.4M
7. Divergent- $2.1M/$142.6M
8. The Quiet Ones- $2M/$6.7M
9. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $1.73M/$51.5M
10. God's Not Dead- $1.72M/$55.5M

There really isn't anything else of note this week. The Elizabeth Banks comedy Walk of Shame, which was unceremoniously dropped into 38 sites over the weekend, predictably did terrible with only $38K total. That's $745 per site on average, and one wonders why Focus Features bothered to release it at all after giving it no help whatsoever.

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Box Office: Race for Number 1 Tight between 'Winter Soldier' and 'Rio'2

NOTE: Alignment may change first thing Monday morning

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- $41.3M/$159M
I don't think anyone's surprised that Steve Rodgers latest foray to the big screen has sat atop the box office for two weeks now. So what might surprise them? That Rio came close!

2. Rio 2- $$39M
With Cap's very adult themes and the almost enthusiastic response to the first movie (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway) It was pretty much a given that this film would be at #2 or even in the top spot!

3. Oculus- $12M
Chack this one up to two things, poor planning and Captain America. Had this been released in February I think you would have had a hit on your hands. Still after you see Cap for the twelfth time give it a look see!

4. Draft Day- $9M
Kevin Coster's, Draft Day, which has been maligned and cringed at since the beginning of it's inception has stayed true to form and rounds out your list

5. Divergent- $7.5M/$124M (wait, 125 million, domestic!)

6. Noah- $7.6M/$84M

7. God's Not Dead- $4.485M/$40.7M

8. The Grandbudapest Hotel- $4M/$40M

9. Muppets Most Wanted-$2.1M/45M

10. Mr. Peabody and Sherman- $1.8M$105M

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Box Office: 'Captain America 2' Busts April Records with $96M, Over $300M Worldwide

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- $96.2M
Marvel's license to print money continues with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which broke all domestic April records with a $96M debut, surpassing Fast Five's $86M. Like all of the studio's films since The Avengers, it was leaps and abounds above its predecessor, scoring 47% more than Captain America: The First Avenger, and securing Marvel's position as Hollywood's top dog for comic book films. Sorry, Warner Bros., but you may want to consider moving that Batman vs. Superman release date in 2016 to avoid the freight train of Captain America 3.
2. Noah- $17M/$72.3M
As Captain America soared, Noah sunk to the bottom of the sea. The Russell Crowe-led Biblical action flick dropped 61% in its second week, but at $178M worldwide it's doing pretty well.
3. Divergent- $13M/$114M
4. God's Not Dead- $7.7M/$32.5M
The incredible run of faith-based drama God's Not Dead continues. The film expanded to 1700 theaters and slipped only 12% in week three.
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $6.3M/$33.3M
Entering the top five is Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, which was in more than 1260 theaters and dropped only 26%.
6. Muppets Most Wanted- $6.2M/$42.1M
7. Mr. Peabody & Sherman- $5.3M/$102.2M
Dreamworks' Mr. Peabody & Sherman has surprisingly surpassed the $100M mark domestically, but has double that when the international haul is factored in.
8. Sabotage- $1.9M/$8.7M
9. Need for Speed- $1.83M/$40.8M
10. Non-Stop- $1.82M/$88.1M

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Box Office: 'Noah' Sails Easily to #1; 'Captain America 2' Earns $75M Overseas

1. Noah- $44M
So much for those who thought Darren Aronofsky's big Hollywood production of Noah would flop after all the negative press. The film starring Russell Crowe as the ark-building animal tamer opened to a sizable $44M, plus another $51M internationally. The $95M debut puts a big dent in the $130M+ budget, and should also quiet the religious purists hoping it would fall short of Son of God, which currently stands at $57M after five weeks of release.
2. Divergent- $26.5M/$95.2M
The 51% slide of Divergent in its second week isn't so bad, and is actually pretty good for the sci-fi genre. The point is that Lionsgate should now feel fully confident in moving ahead with the sequel and wrapping up the entire trilogy.
3. Muppets Most Wanted- $11.3M/$33.2M
Slipping only 33% from last week, Muppets Most Wanted has bounced back well from a mediocre opening weekend.  It's still not likely to come close to matching the haul of the first film, though. 
4. Mr. Peabody & Sherman- $9.5M/$94.9M
5. God's Not Dead- $9M/$22M
The people who were openly bashing and rooting for the failure of Noah ended up at God's Not Dead, which has maintained an incredible hold in its second week. The faith-based drama stars Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo, and could end up as one of the year's great success stories. The timing couldn't have been better considering all of the religious fervor surrounding movies of late, and it'll be interesting to see just how long this lasts.
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $8.8M/$24.4M
Adding an additional 673 theaters didn't slow down Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, which jumped 30% and managed an astounding $9K per site average.
7. Sabotage- $5.3M
Is Sabotage the last gasp of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a top name star? The David Ayer-directed action flick, which boasts a pretty solid cast surrounding the Governator, is one of the lowest grossing debuts in Schwarzenegger's career. Somehow it managed to do worse than The Last Stand, which nobody saw and fewer liked. One would think audiences would turn out to see the follow-up film from Ayer, who last directed End of Watch to great critical and box office success. To me, that means people aren't turning out specifically because of Schwarzenegger, which is sad because this is a different sort of movie for him. Unfortunately, it was marketed as a brainless shoot 'em up and only fans of those flicks turned out.
8. Need for Speed- $4.33M/$37.7M
9. 300: Rise of an Empire- $4.3M/$101.1M
10. Non-Stop- $4M/$85.1M

In other news, Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier opened in a few markets internationally, earning a whopping $75M. That bodes well for its domestic release next week, one that Marvel is expecting to far surpass Captain America: The First Avenger's final tally of $370M. If the trend following The Avengers continues upwards, it should squash those numbers easily.

The Raid 2, only the most anticipated sequel ever for a film few actually saw, opened in only seven locations and racked up a solid $177K. The roll out expands next week and goes semi-wide on April 11th.

The Diego Luna-directed, Michael Pena-starring biopic Cesar Chavez hit 664 theaters and earned $3M, a middling number for a film with middling reviews.

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Box Office: 'Divergent' Opens to Strong $56M; 'Muppets Most Wanted' Not So Much

1. Divergent- $56M
On first glance, the $56M debut of Divergent may seem underwhelming, until you consider that it's more than the opening weekends of the last four YA adaptations outside of The Hunger Games movies. For comparison's sake, the film doesn't come close to matching The Hunger Games' $152M debut, but that was never going to be the case. Shailene Woodley, as great an actress as she is, doesn't enter in on quite the same upswing as Jennifer Lawrence, and these adaptations now come with a certain stigma that wasn't present before. Now it's going to be about managing expectations for the future. The sequel, Insurgent, has already been green lit with a brand new director, which should please the audiences that gave Divergent an 'A' Cinemascore.
2. Muppets Most Wanted- $16.5M
Muppets Most Wanted begins with catchy musical number openly proclaiming the sequel won't be as good as the original, and it turns out it won't make as much money, either. The film opened to only $16.5M, disappointing but not totally unexpected. 2011's The Muppets rode in on a wave of nostalgia and genuine excitement for the return of Jim Henson's popular creations, but the sequel has always felt a little desperate and unnecessary. The soft opening weekend probably wasn't helped by the continued strong performances by Mr. Peabody & Sherman and The LEGO Movie. This may be the last we see of Kermit and the gang on the big screen. Maybe a new weekly TV series would work?
3. Mr. Peabody & Sherman- $11.7M/$81M
4. 300: Rise of an Empire- $8.6M/$93.7M
5. God's Not Dead- $8.5M
Christian-themed dramas continue to do big business in the specialty market, with the mostly unheard of God's Not Dead opening to $8.5M in 780 screens. It's only in movies like this that guys like Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo can be box office giants. Anyway, this looks to be doing roughly the same business as prior religious hits like Fireproof and Courageous. Maybe this bodes well for Darren Aronofsky's Noah, which opens next week? Eh, probably not. Different audiences, I think.
6. Need for Speed- $7.7M/$30.4M
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel- $6.7M/$12.9M
8. Non-Stop- $6.3M/$78.6M
9. The LEGO Movie- $4.1M/$243.3M
10. Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club- $3.1M/$12.9M

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Cinema Royale #55- Divergent; Muppets Most Wanted; Jason Bateman

On a very special episode of Cinema Royale, Jason Bateman calls in to talk about his raunchy, R-rated directorial debut, Bad Words.

Does Shailene Woodley and Divergent have what it takes to join The Hunger Games as the next great YA adaptation? We'll take a look at the futuristic action film and what it means for Woodley, Kate Winslet, and the rest of the phenomenal cast. Plus, we'll join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Tina Fey, and the rest of the gang for Muppets Most Wanted!

All this plus the latest news, DVD releases, and more!

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Review: 'Divergent' Starring Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, and Theo James

The spine of nearly every popular young adult novel is the idea of personal identity; that journey of self-discovery in which the protagonist, usually a teenaged girl, finds her inner strength while saving the world. This typically means bucking the societal norms of some dystopian future, and if there's a cute boy to make out with then even better! Veronica Roth's Divergent, the first of her best-selling trilogy (aren't they all best-selling trilogies, though?) takes an overly simplistic, somewhat absurd approach to the theme of self-discovery but benefits by fully developing the world in which that idea is explored. However, it's that world which is left sorely lacking as the transition is made to the big screen, leaving the rest wide open to some harsh scrutiny.

Blandly directed by Neil Burger and based off a photo-copied script by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, the world of Divergent is so bereft of stakes, momentum, and originality it becomes as taxing as the aptitude tests suffered by the lead character. In a future version of Chicago (an element hidden in the novels but freely revealed in the film, for simplicity's sake), humanity has been divided up into five ideological factions in the wake of a post-apocalyptic event. A somewhat muted Shailene Woodley plays Beatrice Prior, born into the faction known as Abnegation, noted for being selfless and extremely dull. The other factions are Candor (honesty); Amity (um, they're kinda friendly); Erudite (intelligence); and Dauntless, known for their bravery. At the age of 16, everyone must take an aptitude test to help decide which faction to choose. The system, installed mysteriously by the government, comes back inconclusive for Beatrice. Turns out she's a "divergent", someone with many attributes and thus unfit for any single faction. But Beatrice has always had her eye on the Dauntless because they run around, climb stuff, wear tight clothes, and get tattoos, so when the time comes to choose, that's where she goes.

The decision to switch factions is apparently a really big deal, the kind that breaks up entire families, but we are never really clued in why. The structure and rules of this society are poorly explained and full of logic gaps. A tension between the factions exists because the plot demands it be so, but the flimsy explanations for it leave much to be desired. Kate Winslet rocks a mean suit (it's all she does) as Jeanine, an Erudite leader fomenting hatred against Abnegation and specifically Beatrice's family. She's also on the hunt for divergents, presumed to be dangerous because they think for themselves or something. It's worth noting that, despite the separation into factions, each person can still think and act of their own accord. It's frowned upon but it happens, and that fact makes the whole divergent thing in desperate need of clarification.

Re-christened "Tris" after joining Dauntless, the majority of the film is how she acclimates to her new group. Becoming an official member of Dauntless is no picnic, requiring weeks of combat and mental training. Coming from Abnegation, she's nicknamed "Stiff" and must prove her mettle in any number of crazy tasks. With the exception of best friend Christina (Zoe Kravitz), the douche bag Peter (Miles Teller, Woodley's The Spectacular Nowco-star), and hunky trainer, Four (Theo James), most of the other initiates might as well not exist. It proceeds pretty much as one would expect it to with little in the way of surprises. Tris starts off lousy, and then goes through a quick montage where she starts improving her scores. Meanwhile, theoretical sparks fly between her and Four, who helps Tris hide her divergence while keeping his own secrets close to the vest.

While every adaptation should stand on its own, it's tough to look at the changes made and not get a little frustrated. Roth offers some good ideas to work with that may connect with younger audiences, namely how making those first adult decisions can be an alienating experience, judged by family and friends alike. Forging one's own destiny, even if it leads far from those held dear, is a rite of passage most teens can relate to. But the film removes any complexity, especially in Tris' relationships with her parents and Four. A big part of her character is the conflicted feelings she feels over leaving Abnegation, and the fear she has of losing her parents' love. It comes back up towards the big finale but without the proper context. Her budding love affair with Four could have been ported over from somewhere else and nobody would notice.

At 140 whopping minutes the pace is sluggish at best, only ramping up towards the end as a sinister plot comes to a head in a hail of gun fire. Woodley is no action star, and lacks the physical presence of Jennifer Lawrence, but she makes Tris' transformation from uncertain girl to confident leader believable and at times enjoyable. Even if her performance is a tad reserved it fits with her character's humble origins. If there's a reason to anticipate further sequels, it's her. While James' booming voice will have women swooning and guys jealous, that's pretty much all he has to offer as a romantic lead. Winslet rarely signs on for blockbusters like this, and hopefully the one-dimensional character she was given will remind her why.

Ironically, Divergent is meant to celebrate individuality yet there's nothing special about it to separate from the rest of the YA pack.

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Shailene Woodley is Dauntless in New 'Divergent' Clip

In just a few short days we'll know if Divergent is the next The Hunger Games, or if it's the next City of Bones. One major thing working in its favor is Shailene Woodley, who seems poised to be the next Jennifer Lawrence if everything goes to plan. Their paths have followed a similar route, starting off in acclaimed dramas before jumping into blockbuster franchises. And speaking of jumping, that's exactly what Woodley does in the latest Divergent clip.

In the adaptation of Veronica Roth's hugely popular YA books, humanity has been divided up into five ideological factions as a way of maintaining the peace. Woodley plays "Tris" Prior, who joins the aggressive and fearless Dauntless clan as a means of hiding her true nature. She's what's known as Divergent, someone who doesn't fit in any category and is considered uncontrollable. In this clip we see Tris proving her Dauntless mettle by blindly leaping off a ledge, only to land safely and into the arms of Four (Theo James), and you can probably guess how things will go between them.

Directed by Neil Burger, Divergent opens March 21st.

Get More: MTV Shows

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*CLOSED* 'Divergent' Advance Screening Opportunity

We are pleased to be offering you a chance to attend a free advance screening of Divergent, the thrilling new film starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. Based on the best-selling Veronica Roth novels, Divergent takes place in a future when humanity has been divided into different factions. Woodley plays Beatrice "Tris" Prior, a dangerous "divergent" who doesn't fit in any category.

The screening takes place on Tuesday March 18th at 7:00pm at Regal Majestic in Silver Spring. To qualify, you MUST be a fan of Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook,so if you haven't "Liked" us yet please go there and do so now. To win, simply email punchdrunkcritics@yahoo.com with the name of the faction you would create.  Winners will be contacted on Sunday, March 16th with a pass good for you and one guest.

Divergent opens March 21st. Good luck!

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Join the Beautiful Resistance in New 'Divergent' Clip

One after another we've seen YA adaptations flop in the wake of Twilight and The Hunger Games, but there's a chance Divergent may be one of the few that succeeds. Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and friggin' Kate Winslet (!!!), the adaptation of Veronica Roth's first novel is set in a future when humanity has been divided up into five ideological factions. Woodley plays Beatrice "Tris" Prior, who is labeled a "divergent", and thus doesn't fit in any category, making her dangerous to some in power.

A new clip from the film has been released and it's perhaps a bit spoilery to those unfamiliar with the book, as it shows a key confrontation in the story. So those who want to go in completely cold may want to skip out on this one. Included is a spot introducing us to James' character, Four, the chief love interest and a member of the rebellious Dauntless faction.

Directed by Neil Burger, Divergent opens March 21st.

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IMAX Releases Stylish Illustrated 'Divergent' Poster

While many may knock IMAX for their franchising efforts, they've been doing some bang-up work with the Fanfix poster series, providing some of the most colorful and creative one-sheets around. Last year they treated us to gorgeous posters for Pacific Rim and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and now they show us the view from a Dauntless perspective in this new poster for Divergent.

Award-winning artist Victo Ngai provides this gorgeous image of Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) doing what the Dauntless faction does, living free and risking everything.

“I wanted to capture the scene of Tris and Four jumping off a moving train," Ngai says, "as it not only represents the courage required to become a Dauntless, it also symbolized the leap from their old faction and life, a decision they cannot go back on.”

The poster will be available to fans attending the first IMAX screenings of Divergent on March 20th. The film hits theaters on March 21st, directed by Neil Burger. 

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'Divergent' Sequel 'Insurgent' Lands Robert Schwentke as Director

When Gary Ross left The Hunger Games and passed the reins over to Francis Lawrence, many were worried there would be a drop in quality. But it turns out that Catching Fire was actually an improvement, and the franchise is now considered to be in good hands for the long haul. The same situation could be happening for Divergent, which doesn't open for a month but already has seen Neil Burger decide not to return for the sequel, Insurgent. With pre-production set to begin soon, Summit Entertainment has found Burger's replacement.

Summit has announced Red and RIPD director Robert Schwentke for Insurgent, based on the second book in Veronica Roth's YA trilogy. Akiva Goldsman is penning the script based on an initial screenplay by Brian Duffield, and of course Shailene Woodley is expected to return as Beatrice "Tris" Prior. Schwentke is picking up on a production that has been operating on a condensed time frame. Burger's continued efforts to finish up Divergent is starting to bleed over into Insurgent's pre-production, meaning Schwentke is going to need to jump right in as soon as possible.

Schwentke probably doesn't seem like the most obvious choice for a film like this but I would point to German thriller Tattoo and Flightplan as examples of his greater range.  Insurgent is scheduled to be released on March 20th 2015, and if it does well maybe Schwentke will be back for Allegiant in 2016.

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Fear Wakes Up Shailene Woodley in New 'Divergent' Trailer

It's going to be a huge year for The Spectacular Now duo of Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller. While both are embarking on other, more mature efforts individually (White Bird in a Blizzard, Whiplash, The Fault in Our Stars), the duo is set to reunite (although not as romantic leads) in Divergent, another YA adaptation hoping to make a splash where so many have failed. Yesterday a brief 15-second teaser preview was released, and now the full trailer is here, along with the final teaser.

This is really Woodley's show, as she plays Beatrice "Tris" Prior, a young 16-year-old girl in a future where society has been divided up into five ideological factions: Candor, Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, and Dauntless. But when the time comes for Tris to decide which group she belongs in, it's discovered that she is a powerful Divergent and doesn't fit into any faction, making her a target.

Directed by Neil Burger and co-starring Theo James, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Zoe Kravitz, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Ashley Judd, Ansel Elgort, and Mekhi Phifer, Divergent opens March 21st, followed by the sequel Insurgent on March 20th 2015. Check out the footage below, followed by some new images.




Divergent: Final Teaser by Dread Central

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Shailene Woodley's Attacked by Birds in New 'Divergent' Sneak Peek

Ahhhh, the trailer tease! Something I loathe with a passion but they've become a regular, annoying presence in my chosen field. Later tonight there will be a new teaser for Divergent, Shailene Woodley's first big franchise (since she won't be in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or anything) in what many are thinking could be the next 'Hunger Games'. But before that footage hits, we've been treated to a 15-second teaser preview, showing off some new footage of Woodley being dive-bombed by birds like her name was Tippi Hedren.

Divergent is directed by Neil Burger and co-stars Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort, and Jai Courtney. Check out the synopsis and footage below, and look for the film to hit theaters on March 21st.

PLOT: Divergent is a thrilling action-adventure set in a future world where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities. Tris Prior (Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late. Divergent is based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth. 

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Travis' Most Anticipated 2014 Movies: January to March

The book on 2013 is now closed, and I for one thought it was an incredible year. It was so good, with early and late season films ending up on my "Best of" list, that it will be tough for 2014 to live up. There's bound to be some let-down, and with 2015 already looking like the "Year of the Blockbuster", we may see 2014 be like the forgotten middle child or something. But there are still a lot of movies that I'm looking forward to, and I've decided to break them down by season, giving you my top 10 for each. Bear in mind this doesn't necessarily mean I think these movies will be good, just that I'm looking forward to them for one reason or another. And no, they don't all spring from the pages of some comic book. I make no promises about the summer, though.

Raze- January 10th
Director: Josh C. Waller
Cast: Zoe Bell, Rachel Nichols, Tracie Thoms, Doug Jones

Dude, it's Zoe Bell. Okay, those who know me understand that's more than enough reason to get excited over Raze, which pits the insanely-tough Bell against Rachel Nichols and dozens of other beauties in an exploitative, grindhouse-style flick that's a little bit Fight Club, a little bit Quentin Tarantino.

The Monuments Men- February 7th
 Director: George Clooney
Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin

Ever since his directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, I've been impressed every single time George Clooney has stepped behind the camera. Not only is he always able to snag a great cast, but he manages to make big social or political points while telling an entertaining story. The Monuments Men may be his most ambitious film yet, and while the delay has me somewhat concerned, I trust he'll be able to nail the difficult balance of drama and humor.

Robocop- February 12th
Director: Jose Padilha
Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Abbie Cornish, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Michael K. Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jackie Earle Haley

Here's one I'm looking forward to even though it might be atrocious. The darkly satirical films of Paul Verhoeven have been popular targets for remake of late, and after that awful first trailer it looked like Robocop may turn out like Total Recall and totally miss the point. But the most recent footage, backed by Samuel L. Jackson's boisterous boasts about the future of our country's war on terror have renewed my faith, and I'm starting to warm up to Joel Kinnaman as the robotic defender of justice.  Honestly, I could care less about the sleeker suit or that you can see Kinnaman's eyes or whatever the latest complaints are. All that matters is that he's believable both as an ass-kicker and a family man, which shouldn't be too tough to pull off.

300: Rise of an Empire- March 7th
Director: Noam Murro
Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Jack O'Connell, Lena Headey,  Rodrigo Santoro

Against my better judgement I'm surprisingly excited for 300: Rise of an Empire. Sure, Zack Snyder has moved on to helm the Man of Steel's next killing spree, handing the reins to the totally unproven Noam Murro. But the Smart People director seems to have captured the visual style and bloody swords 'n sandals action that made the first film a smash. Even if it lacks the same level of star power without Gerard Butler, it's more than made up for by the chance to watch Eva Green as she makes a bid for world domination. Yes, she can lead me into impending doom anytime.

Veronica Mars- March 14th
Director: Rob Thomas
Cast: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Chris Lowell, Ryan Hansen, Krysten Ritter, Percy Daggs III, Tina Majorino, Francis Capra, Ken Marino, Enrico Colantoni

I don't think anybody could have predicted Veronica Mars would make it to the big screen. Not even the most loyal marshmallow could have forseen the Kickstarter juggernaut it would become that got us to this point, but since I'm one of those who happily donated some cash you best believe I'm happy about it! Of course there are some concerns that what worked on TV won't fly as a movie, but as long as Kristen Bell is back as Veronica, and you've got Logan, Weevil, and good ol' Keith Mars joining her, there's every reason to believe fans of the show will leave happy.

Blood Ties- March 21st
Director: Guillaume Canet
Cast: Clive Owen, Zoe Saldana, Billy Crudup, Mila Kunis, James Caan, Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts

So what if the response out of Cannes was mixed on Guillaume Canet's Blood Ties? I've never been let down by Canet, who directed the excellent crime thriller Tell No One, nor co-writer James Gray. The sprawling 1970s crime tale actually reads like something closer to Gray's sensibilities, with Clive Owen and Billy Crudup as brothers on opposing sides of the law. It's territory Gray has tackled plenty of times before in Little Odessa, We Own the Night, and The Yards, but he's never had a cast that stretches this deep. The combination of Canet and Gray's talents with an incredible amount of star wattage is too tantalizing to resist.

Nymphomaniac Part One- March 21st
Director: Lars von Trier
Cast: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgard, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Stacy Martin, Udo Kier

Maybe it makes me a dirty old man but I'm hella excited for Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, and yep, it has everything to do with seeing how far he's going to push the envelope. The trailers and clips we've seen up to this point have suggested a depraved corunucopia of fornication, with von Trier seemingly hitting on every sexual sub-group he can find. Now that the film is out in Europe we've started to hear some advance word, and it sounds like there's some sort of method to his madness, which pretty much sums up every film he's made. I think mainly it'll be interesting to see how our country deals with the in-your-face material. We had a hard enough time handling a couple of lesbian sex scenes in Blue is the Warmest Color. What are people going to think about a film that goes well above and beyond that?

Divergent- March 21st
Director: Neil Burger
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz

What do I know about Divergent? Not a lot, really. It's about humans divided into ideological factions or something, but I don't know why that's cool or anything. What I do know is that it stars Shailene Woodley, and so far she's batting 1.000 in making movies that speak directly to me, and the chance to see her rejoin The Spectacular Now's Miles Teller is simply too good. How is he not the love interest here, too? Fire the casting director, post haste! I don't know if this will be "the next Hunger Games" or "the next Mortal Instruments", but Divergent has my attention.

Noah- March 28th
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman

All of the sudden it's like everybody wants to make a Biblical epic. Okay, cool, but the one that should be the most impressive is Darren Aronofsky's big budget Noah, which he's been consumed with trying to adapt for quite a long time. Frankly, I'm less interested in the familiar tale of the guy charged by God to build a giant floating zoo to spare himself from a watery death, and more interested in Aronofsky's specific take, which has already ruffled the feathers of a few religious groups. Ruffle away, my friend.

The Raid 2- March 28th
Director: Gareth Evans
Cast: Iko Uwais

It's only been out for a couple of years and already The Raid: Redemption is a stone cold classic, and one of the few martial arts movies from overseas that have made a genuine impact on our shores. If you saw it, then you know already know it reaches incredible levels of violence at a pace so furious it's hard to stop and catch a breath. The sequel, believe it or not, promises to be even bigger with director Gareth Evans taking the action topside and onto the street where all types of new, vicious threats await. I can't wait!

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Shailene Woodley and Theo James Share Tattoos in First 'Divergent' Clip

Yesterday saw the release of the first poster for The Fault in Our Stars, an adaptation of John Green's tearjerker in which Shailene Woodley plays half of a cancer-stricken young couple. The book was a smash, and the film is already being eyed as one of 2014's biggest hits, and considering the work she's done on other adaptations such as The Descendants and The Spectacular Now, let's just say Woodley knows how to pick 'em. The same can be said for Divergent, perhaps the only YA adaptation that can measure up against The Hunger Games.

The first clip from Neil Burger-directed film has been released, and it's all about the tattoos.Tattoos are everything in the world created by author Veronica Roth, representing the various virtues (or fears) of the bearer. In Divegent, humanity has been broken up into five ideological factions, with Beatrice "Tris" Prior (Woodley) discovering she doesn't fit into any one category. Romance is in the air with this clip, and how could their not be considering all the bare skin being flashed by her and hunky love interest Tobias, played by rising star Theo James.

Divergent opens next year on March 21st.


Divergent-Clip #1 "Tattoos" (HD) Kate Winslet, Shailene Woodley by trailersspaintv

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New Full Trailer and Poster for 'Divergent' Starring Shailene Woodley

As it stands right now there is only one champion lording over the YA adaptation realm, and that's The Hunger Games, which has the sequel Catching Fire arriving next week. Many contenders have come and gone, including Beautiful Creatures, The Host, and The Mortal Instruments, but the one some believe has the best chance of making some noise is Divergent, based on the extremely popular novels by Veronica Roth. The two series share more than just similar dystopian tones, they both feature strong female lead characters thrust into battles neither wants. Can Divergent appeal to more than just the novels' hardcore fanbase when so many other attempts have failed?

A new, fuller trailer for the film has been released and it gives us a much richer look at what director Neil Burger has in store. Shailene Woodley stars as Beatris "Tris" Prior, a girl in a future version of Chicago where humanity has been divided into ideological factions. Tris is a powerful "divergent", and doesn't fit into any category, thus making her extremely dangerous. The footage finally moves beyond Tris' training and into the meat of the plot, which has Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews, the film's primary villain who wants to destroy all divergents.

Visually there's no doubt the film has the goods, but what do fans of the books think? Be sure to let us know your thoughts. Divergent stars Theo James, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller, and opens March 21st 2014. 

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New Posters for 'Anchorman 2', 'About Last Night', 'Divergent', and 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit'

An epic-sized sequel like Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues deserves a marketing push that's kind of a big deal. Four new larger-than-life character posters have been released featuring everybody's favorite Channel 4 News Team: Ron Burgundy, Brian Fantana, Champ Kind, and Brick Tamland. What? No Harrison Ford as Mack Harken? Gotta get on that, Paramount! Anchorman 2 goes live on December 20th.

I don't know if calling these new one-sheets for About Last Night characters is totally accurate, but they sure are clever. Um, and a little plucky. Starring Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy, and Joy Bryant, the Steve Pink-directed comedy is a remake of the 1986 rom-com about two couples trying to turn their flings into mature relationships and not having a lot of luck. If that "wingman" image of Hart and Ealy doesn't make you want to see this then nothing will. About Last Night opens next Valentine's Day.

It's nothing but character posters today as Summit Entertainment has released a new one for Divergent. We've seen two similar ones featuring stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James, and now it's Maggie Q's turn. She plays Tori, a member of the Dauntless faction and the one who discovers Tris (Woodley) is a powerful Divergent and doesn't fit into any faction. Directed by Neil Burger, Divergent arrives next year on March 21st.

Left twisting in the wind for a few weeks while Paramount decided what to do with Martin Scorsese's delayed The Wolf of Wall Street, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit was finally bumped from next month to January 17th 2014. Should we be worried about the studio's willingness to drop the Tom Clancy property into the cinematic waste bin? Or will its obvious star power and franchise cred boost it to greater heights with less competition? Those are the questions, but in the meantime a new poster has been issued. Starring Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, and Kenneth Branagh (who also directs), the film has Jack Ryan attempting to stop an act of economic terrorism perpetrated by the Russians. Oh, that Putin. Such a cut up.

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