THOR: THE DARK WORLD Hammers The Box Office !

Can Marvel do no wrong? Seriously. They are kings of the box office, they have a recently renewed TV series with AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and just signed a deal with Netflix to have four of their characters (Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones) with separate series culminating in a crossover series entitled THE DEFENDERS, all of which is based in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD continues in the Marvel tradition of kick ass action, great storytelling, compelling characters all in a solid 3D conversion (haven't seen it yet, but my assumption based on previous productions). Of course being a follow up to THE AVENGERS doesn't hurt as IRON MAN 3 can attest with it's $1.2 billion take (that's fifth best EVER). So we'll see where Thor 2 goes. It has already hit $140 million worldwide with only one day reporting in North America. My projection is $90 million for the weekend domestically.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

For all of our THOR 2 coverage, click here. And here's the link for all of our Marvel coverage!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is now playing!

Marvel Update: New Images For THOR: THE DARK WORLD And THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, ANT-MAN Changes Release Date

Ready for some Marvel news? You should be 'cause any Marvel news is of course 3D news! We've got new images for THOR: THE DARK WORLD and THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 - ok, it's a new poster for THOR 2 but the post's title would have been too long so...

But I digress. First up is that poster. LOKI. Looking gothic, regal, crazy and formidable all at once. Asgard has seen better days! The flying objects look fascinating with two very different and distinct shapes. OF COURSE there's sparks. That's a no-brainer these days, but I like the message getting across here:  Tom Hiddleston has definitely arrived as an actor and Loki is his main vehicle. Perhaps even rivaling Chris Hemsworth's Thor? Perhaps indeed. 

The image for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 leaves much to be desired for me. In fact it wouldn't mean all that much without the tagline that director Marc Webb added to the tweet that revealed it:

“This is what happens when you try to give Electro a ticket.” - @MarcW #AmazingSpiderMan2 #ThroughTheWebb

Suddenly it takes on new meaning and I like the humor. Electro was my second fav villain for Spidey after The Lizard. Yes, I wasn't all that enthusiastic about Green Goblin. So, that's an "ok" reveal Marc :-)

Finally, the braintrust at Marvel are doing something very interesting. Something either very smart or something very stupid. They're putting director Edgar Wright's ANT-MAN up against BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN! Marvel has moved ANT-MAN from a November 6, 2015 date to the July 31, 2015 date which is of course in harm's way with the aforementioned DC Comics juggernaut opening on July 17. Is this a sacrifice play to lessen the box office of the mighty tandem that will eventually anchor JUSTICE LEAGUE? Or do they want to take advantage of the superhero media coverage that will be amped up during that period and boost ANT-MAN's box office sky high? Both?

Regardless, it's an interesting move. It could backfire but I doubt it. Don't forget that Marvel also has THE AVENGERS 2: AGE OF ULTRON opening in the summer of 2015 as well. It's a summer to remember absolutely.

Watch: New Behind The Scenes Featurette for THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Check the new behind the scenes (BTS) featurette for THOR: THE DARK WORLD! The clips include some BTS shots but not the quantity or duration I would prefer. Undoubtedly there are more coming though and this is a good appetizer! Packed with segments from key cast interviews that will surely be included in the boxed disc releases for home entertainment next year, it shows off the impact that the scale of the movie is having on the stars. Or it's pure marketing fluff. :-) I'm leaning more towards the epic scale knowing how Marvel justly treats it's properties.

It's also interesting to see how Tom Hiddleston's character Loki has evolved into arguably the most popular in the franchise, and that's an impressive feat given the movie titles all have THOR in them! His appearance at Comic-con this year has helped seal that deal I think.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD opens on November 8.

MARVEL UPDATE: Malekith Has Been Cast In THOR: THE DARK WORLD And More Details About GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

After Mads Mikkelsen had to step away from the role of Malekith The Accursed (very sad about that - very big fan of his work), Marvel went after non other than Doctor Who - Christopher Eccleston for the role.

According to Deadline, Eccleston has signed on so it's a done deal. Malekith often aligns with Loki so it'll be interesting to see two super villains in tandem against Thor.

Malekith is one evil character. Here are his abilities as per Wikipedia:
Malekith has all the normal attributes of a member of the race of dark elves, although his abilities are as a result of above-average development. He possesses superhuman intellect, strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. As a dark elf, Malekith also has the ability to manipulate the forces of magic for a variety of effects, including teleportation, energy projection, physical malleability, flight (by transforming into mist), illusion casting, and the ability to change the shape and appearance of other beings or objects. Malekith has a vulnerability to iron, which disrupts or cancels his magical spells.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is slated for November 8, 2013.

Source: Deadline



*** AND ***

Apparently Chris McCoy has been tapped to rewrite Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. The thrice appointed Black List director will empirically inject his own brand of comedy into what has already been written for the feature by Nicole Perlman (CHALLENGER) and maintain what we have come to expect and love from a Marvel tentpole.

Remember that we are in the post AVENGERS era now and entering Marvel's phase two which will ultimately lead up to THE AVENGERS 2. The big question for me is whether Marvel will bite the bullet and introduce Thanos (the guy at the end of THE AVENGERS credit scene) in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY or wait and have him devastate in THE AVENGERS 2.

You're witnessing art in motion here guys! The creatives at Marvel have been waiting forever to get these titles on the big screen and they are literally exploding with enthusiasm. Can't wait to see the results if THE AVENGERS are any indication of things to come!

Here's what to expect for characters in the movie:
The character lineup will include Drax the Destroyer, a human resurrected as a green warrior with the sole purpose of killing Thanos (the villain in the Avengers final-scene tease); Groot, a giant tree-man; Star-Lord, a gun-toting half-human/half-alien intergalactic vigilante; Rocket Raccoon, a genetically engineered animal with a knack for guns and explosives; and Gamora, the last survivor of her species who was saved by Thanos to be his assassin but now battles him.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is slated for an August 1, 2014 release.

Source: THR

Rumor Confirmed! 10 Disc AVENGERS ASSEMBLED Blu-ray Collectors Set Being Prepped!

Remember that rumor about a 10 disc blu-ray collection for THE AVENGERS that was being bounced around a couple of weeks ago? DONE DEAL.

According to Amazon, the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition Six-Movie Collector's Set) will have the most recent 6 movies from Marvel and 3 of those movies will also have the 3D discs for those of you with 3D TVs at home. Namely, THOR, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and THE AVENGERS.

Here's what's included in the limited edition collection:


• Marvel’s The Avengers (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Thor (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Iron Man 2 (Blu-ray)
• The Incredible Hulk (Blu-ray)
• Iron Man (Blu-ray)
• Bonus Disc - “The Phase One Archives” (Blu-ray)
• Collectible packaging with exclusive memorabilia from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The AVENGERS ASSEMBLED 10 disc set does not have pricing yet, but I will let you know when that drops on July 15.

via /Film

Must Watch: Thor Vs. Iron Man In The Next Clip From THE AVENGERS!

If you're sold on THE AVENGERS already this clip probably isn't for you. Seriously, the spoilers are adding up and I seem to be echoing this everyday. Still, if you live under a rock and you need to be brought up to speed on some cool aggression then by all means!

I can't wait to see this all in glorious 3D! After seeing the IMAX trailer in 3D for THE AVENGERS there is so much to look forward to.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.




THE AVENGERS opens May 4 - just over a couple weeks away!

Via Bleeding Cool

Must Watch: Battle Weary Thor And Captain America Are Tested In A New Clip!!

Finally we have something more to see from the Marvel marketing machine for THE AVENGERS! Just kidding. Here's your daily dose and it does not disappoint!

Check out Thor and Captain America fighting the alien invasion and clearly getting very battle weary. Looks like one segment of an epic battle guys. More scene spoilers though - be careful!!

Here's the movie's official storyline:
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

Check it out:



Expect more soon!!

THE AVENGERS open May 4.

3D Geek Alert: Authentic Marvel Movie Memorabilia Up For Auction!!

Oh man I want to bid on some of these things! The set used THOR hammer Mjölnir - are you kidding me? What is that worth? Well as of now it's $3k+ and likely to climb nicely. You can check out the items for sale and bid too right here at Profiles In History.

Everything from a Pair of director’s chair backs "Captain America" and "Steve Rogers" (currently $225) to the original full-scale screen-used Mark II "Autopsy" suit from Iron Man 2 (currently $60k). Heck they even have Hugo Weaving's screen-worn Red Skull prosthetic makeup appliance!

More on the suit:
Original full-scale screen-used Mark II “Autopsy” suit from Iron Man 2. Mark II “Autopsy” suit, appropriated from the military by Don Cheadle “Rhodey,” who proceeded to disassemble it (performing an “autopsy”) for examination of the technology in order to construct War Machine. Constructed by the visionary artists of Legacy Studios, this 75 in. tall figure is handcrafted of vacuum metalized fiberglass resin. It features intricate wire loom, metal hoses and cables, and discrete electronics detailing as well as faux actuators, pistons, and other suspension devices in the exposed joints and limbs. The figure was designed to lie down for the autopsy scene and has a number of armor plates removed to expose the suit’s inner circuitry. The removed sections include two leg greaves, right hip plate, right bicep plate, right shoulder plate, head plate, and most notably a removable main breastplate that reveals the inner cavity and bracing elements. An impressive and iconic figure from this groundbreaking film. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Ahhh... to have some disposable cash right now! But hey if you have to ask how much it costs...

Let me know if any of you bid or win an item! Would love to know about the experience. Good luck!

Source: THR

MUST WATCH: New Trailer For THE AVENGERS!!

As promised, here is the new trailer for THE AVENGERS and it does not disappoint! Be prepared for a few surprises...

Here's a quick synopsis about what you are about to see:
Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his alien army.

Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Zak Penn
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johannson and Samuel L. Jackson
Release: May 4, 2012

I won't talk about the trailer until after the embed because I don't want to give anything away... ENJOY!




Talk about a few surprises! I would never have guessed that The Hulk would be saving Iron Man's life - at least not in this movie. Those two characters have had a rocky history in the Marvel comics, in fact Tony Stark went so far as to design a suit meant for battling Hulk called the Hulkbuster (I have a review of that armor through my Sideshow Collectible found here).

And that airborne serpent - very interesting! Have to love the group shot with the pan around too! Bring on May 4th!!

WOW! New Footage In Russian Trailer For THE AVENGERS!!

Definitely take the time to watch this trailer guys! Very cool new footage for THE AVENGERS. I like what I see of Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye too.

"Marvel's The Avengers" is the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon "Marvel's The Avengers" is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effectswhen "Marvel's The Avengers" assemble in summer 2012.

Thanks for the link boffo3D!



You WILL see THE AVENGERS in my 2012 Most Anticipated List Of 3D Movies coming soon! :-)

Check Out New Banners For THE AVENGERS!

Well it certainly is a 'Marvel'ous day for super hero pics and posters!

Check out the new character banners for THE AVENGERS!

Be sure to click to enlarge...

Here's the storyline:
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

More as I get it!

MUST WATCH: First Trailer For THE AVENGERS!!

Oh yeah! Perfect trailer!! Man I love the marketing team at Marvel. They push just the right buttons don't they?

Love the new footage too. We see Hawkeye with is very cool bow, interesting dynamics between Captain America and Iron Man (we all knew that was going to happen right?), glimpses of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and so on. You get the idea!

Have a look at this!



Kind of silly question, but are you amped about THE AVENGERS or what?? :-) Release date is May 4, 2012.

New Images For Marvel's THE AVENGERS!

Click to enlarge...

We have six new images from Joss Whedon's THE AVENGERS for you!

Here's the synopsis:
Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers” is the super hero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Marvel’s The Avengers” brings together the mightiest super hero characters as they all assemble together on screen for the first time.

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
Chris Evans as Captain America
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes
Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill
Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson
Stellan Skarsgård as Professor Erik Selvig

The promo quality is improving as the marketing folks for Marvel start to edge closer to releasing a full trailer. That day is coming I assure you! Great to see Nick Fury getting down and dirty...

In the meantime, have a look at the new shots - ENJOY! THE AVENGERS assemble May 4, 2012.

Source: SuperHeroHype

New AVENGERS Photos Featuring The Hunk Hulk's Mark Ruffalo!!

I must say I can't stand whoever creates some of these characters shots - Mark Ruffalo's in particular. Sure he is in character but break this divergence gently to audiences, don't shove it down our throats like this image does. Then of course why not give all this to Entertainment Weekly who will further deface them with their watermarks! Anyway, you can view EW's photoshop mess by clicking the link.

I've done a bit of retouch to show the characters shots with a bit more flair in the first shot, but it is still desiring so much more.

Click images to enlarge.

On the plus side, EW has provided some behind the scenes shots too - still scourged by their watermark (which I promptly tried to get around).

On with the content. Yes Ruffalo is in character here (lower left in first photo) as Dr. Bruce Banner which is a bit of a surprise as traditionally Banner is presented as a mild and reserved physicist as the alter ego to the rampaging Hulk. Perhaps Marvel felt that personality wasn't appealing enough in the first couple of theatrical tries at THE HULK and wanted to reinvent the wheel a bit here. Whatever the reason, we are being introduced to it through this one photo and it WILL cause controversy. Clearly Dr. Banner is pushing his presence.

ET talks about how the Marvel characters are not getting along in the movie - "Egos, tempers, uneasy alliances and bad attitudes are threatening the group, and failure would be catastrophic." The trailer for THE AVENGERS hinted at this and it will certainly make an interesting backdrop to the action to say the least. "Just because they’re super heroes doesn’t mean they’re super friends," says Renner.

Joss Whedon is also taking a page from IRON MAN productions as he rewrites dialogue on the fly while shooting. "There is a weird element of: they handed me one of the biggest movies of all time, and I'm making it up as I go."

Here's the synopsis:
Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers” is the super hero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Marvel’s The Avengers” brings together the mightiest super hero characters as they all assemble together on screen for the first time.

Here's the main cast:
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
Chris Evans as Captain America
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes
Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill
Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson
Stellan Skarsgård as Professor Erik Selvig

For all our coverage for THE AVENGERS click here. Look for this mammoth movie in theaters May 4, 2012 - they don't come any bigger than this one folks!

Two THOR Featurettes Now Online: BUILDING (And Blowing Up) THE SMALL TOWN

Two very cool, yet brief behind the scenes clips show us the creation and destruction of that small desert town that was used in THOR. I am always intrigued with the magic that goes on behind the camera and the extent at which a director will go to get the right shot. That includes the whole circle of life for a town!

If you have seen THOR then you know what happens to much of the town and why they had to build it from scratch. I won't go into detail but feel free to discuss in the comments. Obviously, as seen in the second clip, devastation is around the corner...

I wish the featurettes were longer but I am sure they meant to just whet our appetites for the Blu-ray disc release today. Have a look...





Source: TrailerAddict via /Film

THE AVENGERS Update!! Video Clip Bridging THE HULK Over To The Team!

Are you ready for this thing? THE AVENGERS release is going to be massive next year and we are starting to see official marketing get underway. With this update we have new poster art and a couple of fairly amazing video clips.

With a line up of Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlet Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Hiddleston and Cobie Smulders we should be seeing some unforgettable action on screen!

The poster artwork is from Russia and has almost all the main characters in dynamic poses for the shot, however Fury is noticeably absent from the first one. I think many people are going to be surprised with Nick Fury as I believe that he will be getting a much more active role in THE AVENGERS as compared to the earlier movies for the others (except THE HULK where he did not have an appearance - more on that in a moment). To the uninitiated it may seem like Fury is more of a pencil pushing bureaucrat with connections than an action hero, but trust me he is going to be getting wet in this thing. If he doesn't I will be sorely disappointed.

For a reminder Nick Fury was a WWII war hero and now a modern super spy who does in fact act as a liaison between government agencies and the super heroes. But he has his secrets too! I don't want to go into them as it may spoil the surprise for many to read it before the movie opens. It is available to you to read on the net though and I fully recommend catching up through this page if you so desire. I am not saying that everything that happens in the comic universe will happen in the live action, but you can believe that Marvel will base a good portion of his character on it.

So lets get to the clips!

Remember I mentioned that S.H.I.E.L.D. was not involved in THE HULK movie? That was more or less a hole that needed to be filled and this first clip addresses that need. The Hulk needed to bridged over into The Avengers - have a watch! This was also shown at Comic-Con and is now available online. Very cool clip...



How awesome is that??

The second clip is designed to amp up everyone's excitement level through the use of all of the characters in various spoken, comic and live action scenes. And as director Joss Whedon aptly points out - this cast is his "dream team". Have a look...



Look for THE AVENGERS on May 4, 2012. Who won't be... I mean, really?

Sources: THR | SpiderMedia | Movies.com via /Film

SPOILER WARNING: Watch Captain America And Thor Battle Together PLUS Thor Flip A Car Over With Mjolnir!!!!

Ok - this is somewhat spoilerish so if you want a pristine viewing experience of next year's THE AVENGERS then don't watch the clip below. It is certainly special effects spoilerish!

CBM found these fan spy clips of the street set location for THE AVENGERS - check out all the material they have on their report.

Here's Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) deep in fisticuffs:




And here's Thor flipping a car with his hammer, Mjolnir:



As if we needed further anticipation for this movie! WOW. If that doesn't get you riled up to see this 2012 mega-movie, what will? Can't wait...

THOR 2 Has Eyes On Director Brian Kirk!

Well the first thing that honestly struck me was Brian Kirk's last name and the character that Chris Hemsworth played in JJ Abrams' STAR TREK (George Kirk - Jim's father). Yes, I am a trekkie. But I digress.

Back to THOR 2! Looks like Brian Kirk is being courted to helm the sequel to the $450m hit of this year. You will know Kirk from his fine work directing HBO's GAME OF THRONES (one of only a handful of shows I take time to watch). The ensemble cast and exceptional character work displayed therein undoubtedly steered Kirk's career toward Aasgard.

Don Payne is returning to script the THOR sequel. This is all good news! Would have been perfect to have Kenneth Branagh return to direct the second iteration but I think this will all work out.

Marvel has slated THOR 2 for a July 26, 2013 release. Everything that Marvel touches these days is pure gold. Keep the magic alive guys!

Source: Variety

MUST SEE: Teaser For THE AVENGERS!!

If you haven't seen CAPTAIN AMERICA yet (hey - get on that!), then you have probably not seen the teaser that is being presented after the movie in theaters for THE AVENGERS. That alone is worth at least $10 to me :-)

Now this clip is NOT the full version, rather it is a teaser-of-the-teaser. Again, for the full meal deal you have to see it after CAPTAIN AMERICA.

That being said, the clip will certainly give you a taste of what is to come with THE AVENGERS and believe you me, this is the event movie of 2012. Forget THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (ok, don't forget it, but it's going to be a heckuva summer).

The scenes with Chris Evans are when he is suddenly awaken to find himself in modern day NYC! There is PLENTY more in the theatrical teaser.

So what do you think? Have you seen the teaser in theaters?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST PLACE AVENGER! **AND** A New Assembled AVENGERS Poster!!

Harry Potter and company could not hold Marvel's latest Avenger from capping a solid weekend and first place at the box office! In fact, CAPTAIN AMERICA is having the best weekend yet for a superhero this summer with an estimated $65.8m take. HP took in a respectable $48.1m.

However THOR may have something to say about Cap taking first as it took in $65.7m! One would have to look at those tight numbers and think that is a very respectable neighborhood to be in for future releases of first time properties. Of course the expectation is that THE AVENGERS will easily top those figures next year. Marvel seems to have captured the imaginations of the audience with their stock of heroes as opposed to DC whose GREEN LANTERN did not perform to expectation. That being said, who would deny the upcoming THE DARK KNIGHT RISES it's day? No one. I do think Warner Bros. needs to pay attention to what Marvel is doing though - it's working.

I was on record as saying CAPTAIN AMERICA was my choice this summer as the best. Well after seeing it I was not disappointed! But I will say this, I was more surprised with the craftsmanship of THOR than I was of the assumed performance of Cap. These two properties are neck and neck in my books.

The 3D was comparable to the Norse God epic (though I enjoyed THOR's 3D slightly more). Certainly nothing overtly wrong with the stereo. Cap's 3D was tastefully done to the point where you forgot it was there in many cases, but then the audience was reminded during one particular seen involving the shield. Won't tell you when - but when it happens you will know!

In other words, SEE THIS MOVIE! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Suspension of disbelief was at times hard to secure with those huge advancements in HYDRA technology - and even the US technology. This was set during the 1940's so I was having a hard time with it, but the feelings only lasted moments and then we were back into fight scenes and interesting character dynamics. Definitely worth the money to see this in 3D!

**AND** Check out the new AVENGERS poster from Marvel! They are all assembled AND Hulk is there! CLICK for larger image...