What is it with shows that have fantastic first seasons, then quickly go downhill?  Case in point, Heroes.

NBC has finally pulled the plug and cancelled it’s now much maligned show about “regular people with extraordinary abilities” after a disastrous fourth season that saw it’s ratings sink to an all time low. 

A fanboy favorite that quickly became a major hit for the network  four years ago, viewers seemed to become more and more frustrated and dissatisfied with the show’s direction (a trend that seemed to start with the oddly anti-climatic season finale at the end of season one).

Word is NBC has no interest in producing a two hour movie or mini-series to wrap up loose plot threads for Heroes remaining fans.

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There’s a new hunk on the block and he’s neither human (Jason Stackhouse, Lafayette) or vampire (Bill, Eric). 

The trailer was shown towards the end of the season finale of The Vampire Diaries (which totally delivered the goods, in case you were wondering).

The new season of True Blood starts June 13th on HBO.

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So get your minds out of the gutter.

The long awaited and much talked about teaser trailer for JJ Abram’s Super 8 was shown prior to a screening of Iron Man 2 and some thoughtful person was kind enough to film it and put it up on YouTube.

Don’t know how long this will stay up for, but what the hell…

The movie was first rumoured to be a follow-up to Abram’s monster movie Cloverfield (and it may still turn out to be a prequel of sorts).

Must admit I am intrigued.  You?

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If you didn’t see Tuesday night’s episode of LOST, I won’t spoil it for you here (if your not a fan skip this post) but you should watch ASAP as info about it is making it’s way online and some sites aren’t exactly subtle in their hints about what went down.

Anyway, word is that the series finale, airing Sunday May 23rd is now going to be a two and a half hour “event”.  Why?  Apparently, producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindolf convinced ABC (and their overlords at Disney) that there’s too much crucial information that must be given to fit into two hours.

Either that, or the network plans on milking the finale for all it’s worth with even more commercials than they can fit into a two hour period.

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Last week, director Bill Condon (Gods & Monsters, Dreamgirls) signed on to direct the fourth film in the Twilight Saga.  Summit Entrtainment is still apparently hemming and hawing whether or not to split Breaking Dawn into two separate films.

Realizing the level of fan based insanity scrutiny that comes with signing onto a project such as this, Bill posted the following message to his Facebook this weekend.

“Greetings Twihards, Twifans, Twilight Moms, Team Edward, Team Jacob and Team Switzerland,

I just want to say hello to all of you and let you know that I’m stoked to be getting underway on the adventure of making BREAKING DAWN. As you’ve probably heard, I’ve been given a very warm welcome by Stephenie and Team Summit – who are super-focused, as you know, on getting these movies right.

I’ve read BREAKING DAWN twice, rewatched Catherine’s and Chris’s movies 2-3 times each, have all four CDs playing in my car, and have Catherine’s notebook, Mark Cotta Vaz’s companion books, and even Volume 1 of the graphic novel here on my desk – a corner of my office is starting to look like Hot Topic. I realize that this barely qualifies me for ‘newborn’ status in the universe you’ve been living inside for a few years now, but a guy’s gotta start somewhere.

I’m a huge admirer of the already-iconic Kristen, Robert, and Taylor, and wanted to be the one to work with them as they face the challenges of bringing your beloved characters to the end of their journeys. Really, what could be more fun than that?

The wonderful world that Stephenie has created has obviously struck a chord with you, and I don’t think it’s difficult to see why. For me, her characters are simultaneously timeless, yet very modern. Rooted in a beautiful, real landscape with a great sense of place, Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of the Forks/La Push menagerie, experience emotions that are primal, and universal: desire, despair, jealousy – and it all comes to fruition in BREAKING DAWN. This is a final chapter in the best sense; not just wide in scope and scale, but emotionally charged and intense throughout.”

Bill promises that there won’t be any musical numbers, so that’s a step in the right direction.  Here’s hoping that sense of optimism in his message lasts til Breaking Dawn opens in theatres.

Oh yeah.  Haters to the left.

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Summit Entertainment’s going for epic.

They had me with “Army of vampires”.   

Am officially looking forward to seeing this now (along with hoardes of screaming teenagers) at the end of June.

Haters to the left.

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About five months ago or so, a YouTube video called Panic Attack went viral.  In it, an army of alien robots attack a city in Uruguay.  The short went viral, and the filmmaker got a call from Hollywood.  He signed a deal and is now helming a $30 million dollar original picture.  All from a short made for about $600.

Tres cool.

Now comes Attack of the Pixels, from filmmaker Patrick Jean which answers the question, what would happen if video game characters from the 80′s attacked New York City?

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Some fictional characters just don’t age as well as others.

Just when Captain America was sounding like it was going to lose some of it’s camp value, comes word via The Hollywood Reporter that Sebastian Stan (Kings, Gossip Girl, Hot Tub Time Machine) has been cast in the role of Bucky Barnes.

Who, you ask?

In the comics, “Bucky Barnes” was Robin to Captain America’s Batman, so to speak.

Originating during WWII, the comics portrayed Bucky as a war orphan too young to join the army, but who became Captain America’s sidekick when he discoverd the hero’s true identity.  The character was killed off in the final WWII adventure, but was ressurected in 2005 as a covert assassin re-named Winter Solider.

No word which version of Bucky Barnes (here’s hoping they tweak the name) producers are going with, but Stan has been signed on to be in six films.  Early confidence in a property is always a good sign.

Just as long as we don’t end up with another Batman & Robin or Batman Forever (shudder).

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Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay, House) is leaving his psotion as Associate Director of Public Engagement to return to acting.

Penn left the profession about a year ago to join the Obama administration which co-incided with his character’s suicide on House.  At the time, Penn said it seemed like the time to go and do something differrent, even though the money in public service isn’t as good as in acting.

Guess it wasn’t good enough.

First up for Penn,  reprising his Kumar character for A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, which is supposed to be going into production for a release date later this year. 

You just know there’s going to be an inapproprate scene involving Santa and the elves…

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Let’s face it, we like Angelina Jolie the best when she’s shooting bad guys and being a total hard ass (Gone in 60 Seconds, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Mr & Mrs Smith, Wanted).

Opening Labour Day weekend, Salt revolves around a CIA operative (Jolie) who’s accused of being a double agent and plotting to kill the president.  Car chases, fights, explosions, and general mayhem ensue.  Looks amazing.

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