The Green Hornet (December 2010)

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What's up?
Based on the iconic radio serial, comic book and television show of the same name, chronicling the adventures of Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), a debonair newspaper publisher by day and a crime-fighting masked hero at night, along with his sidekick, Kato (Jay Chou). Hong Kong multi-hyphenate Stephen Chow was supposed to star, produce and/or direct it at some point but the man fell out with the project. Darn.
Any good?
It probably would've been the bomb if Stephen Chow had taken it as his own. We can imagine "CJ7" meets "Dark Knight". You can read that he's apparently decided to do a superhero spoof with Jack Black instead! In any case, Seth Rogen ("Superbad", "Zack And Miri Make A Porno") is the last guy you'd expect to play a superhero, so we're obliged to watch this movie even if it's just to see how much weight he has lost. Oh and Gay Chou fans will eat this up no matter what I write, right?
Anything else you can tell us?
It kept moving dates. At the time of writing, it's now head-to-head with a "Tron Legacy", if you've ever seen the 1982 original I did. Oh you didn't? Go see it.

The Expendables (August 2010)

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What's up?
A US $70 mil blockbuster movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Jet-Li and Jason Statham? That reads like a who's who of the action movie genre. Plus, there's Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis as well. Nobody even cares what the plot is. We're watching it.
Any good?
Don't you get it? It's like when Pacino and Deniro are paired in "Heat" and "Righteous Kill". We just have to watch it. We'll even sit for two hours watching them eat their breakfast cereal, as long as one of them kills another with a milk carton at the end.
Anything else you can tell us?
Yes – Stallone can't be stopped. He's now making a "Rambo V" just because "Rocky" had six films. Someone get him 500 gallons more of those age-defying face cream products, quick. He's running the risk of looking like Skeletor before the premiere.

Iron Man 2 (April 2010)

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What's up?
"Iron Man 2" was the only superhero movie last year that can hold a candle to "The Dark Knight". It's got Robert Downey Jr. returning as Tony Stark and we hear that it's set six months after the events in the first movie where we will explore how revealing his identity has affected Tony Stark, who takes to the bottle.
Any good?
Why not? Don Cheadle ("Traitor", "Hotel Rwanda") replaces Terrence Howard as Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine in the first movie. We have Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko a.k.a. Whiplash. And of course, little miss Scarlett Johansson was in one of the first few released stills from the movie as Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow, dressed in skin-tight stuff, as any self-respecting comic book character would. Out tongues haven't been this wet for a movie since she kissed (?) Bill Murray in "Lost In Translation". Bring it on!
Anything else you can tell us?
The Favreau-Downey Jr partnership is going places. You can read that they've only just completed "Iron Man 2" and already the director has signed on to direct the resurgent actor in a western called "Cowboy Aliens".

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (June 2010)

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What's up?
"Sweet Valley High" meets "Underworld" again as this earth-shattering indie blockbuster franchise returns to suck more box office blood. By this time next year, we would've seen "New Moon" (or done a few re-reads) and known a bit more about who really wins in the epic Jacob vs. Edward battle for beautiful Bella's proverbial heart.
Any good?
The official synopsis released by Summit Entertainment reads: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death.
Anything else you can tell us?
Movie will be helmed by David Slade ("Hard Candy") who already had some vampire-directing experience from "30 Days Of Night". Rachelle Lefevre, who played Victoria in the previous two instalments, will not be returning due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, Bryce Dallas Howard (the chick who played Peter Parker's new love interest Gwen Stacy in "Spider-Man 3") will play her.

Inception (July 2010)

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What's up?
At one time thought to be the new Batman movie kept under wraps by director Christopher Nolan, the rumour has now been dispelled after the release of a mind-bending trailer with Matrix-like moments of reality distortion. He also wrote the script but cryptically described the movie to the press as a contemporary sci-fi action thriller "set within the architecture of the mind." Sounds like he's going back to "Memento" days.
Any good?
It stars an embarrassment of highly rated actors who always pick good movies to star in. There's the enigmatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt who's all grown up now after "The Third Rock From The Sun". There's French Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, whom you might remember recently from "Public Enemies" opposite Johnny Depp or from as far back as "La Vie En Rose" at GSC's French Festival two years ago. There's the amazing Ellen Page from "Juno" and of course we all know that Leo DiCaprio is leading the cast.
Anything else you can tell us?
The official Warner Bros US site (www.inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com) shows nothing but a spinning top, as in gasing berpusing. The mystery is just killing me.

Shrek Forever After @ Shrek Goes Fourth (June 2010)

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What's up?
Slap me twice and call me Flubber Fred – it's that green guy again. I remember when the last "Shrek 3" was out and this guy wrote to Cinema Online demanding for the green Alice band ear-toy after failing to get a job at McDonald's when they discovered he only wanted to sign up just to get the toy? That's right. Shrek season returns and the announced synopsis says that he's going to be tricked by a Beatle named Rumpelstiltskin.
Any good?
All the usual suspects are back (Eddie Donkey, Cameron Fiona and Puss Banderas), even John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad. Most fans of the franchise seem to think that Shrek has had one too many adventures already but the green ogre does guarantee a certain box office finesse. You'll have to endure it.
Anything else you can tell us?
What else could you do but get your green ears stocked up?

Robin Hood (May 2010)

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What's up?
I guess it's time for another Robin Hood movie since it's been that long since Kevin Costner last arrowed people to the soundtrack of Bryan Adams in 1991's "Prince Of Thieves". Luckily it's not a comedy like 1993's "Men In Tights" but we suspect it's a rather serious drama with crowd fave Russell Crowe in it, looking fit again after his fat role in "State Of Play". We also know that Cate Blanchett plays Maid Marian.
Any good?
It better be! The project took over Pembrokeshire beach in Wales with a cast and crew of over 800, plus 130 horses. We don't know if this is more "Gladiator" or more "Elizabeth". No trailer in sight and there's just one or two movie stills released by the studio. However, it's always good to expect this "Gladiator" reunion of Crowe and director Ridley Scott should be something special.
Anything else you can tell us?
We know Kevin Durand's in it, playing Little John.

Sex And The City 2 (May 2010)

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What's up?
Chris Noth will reprise his role as Mr. Big in "Sex And The City 2", while Evan Handler and David Eigenger are returning as well. The trio joins foursome Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon in this sequel, to be directed by Michael Patrick King. It also has been revealed that Samantha's on hormones, possibly signaling that her character is dealing with menopause. The film reportedly starts shooting in early September for a May 28, 2010 release.
Any good?
Not sure. We just want to be invited to the Malaysian premiere where there might be free gifts and champagne, like last year.
Anything else you can tell us?
Oh, just the usual – you might find scenes cut if the censors don't fancy the foursome's antics again.

Jonah Hex (June 2010)

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What's up?
After the success that is "Transformers" and "Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen", it hardly strikes anyone as a surprise that every fanboy's fantasy babe at the moment is the luscious Megan Fox. Double that up with one of DC Comics lesser known characters and you have yet another superhero actioner who wants to break out into a franchise the size of "Spider-Man". Who's Jonah Hex anyway, you ask? Well, he's sort of like the American Civil War's Two-Face. He's a bounty hunter with a severely disfigured face. For those who couldn't care less who he is, you read it here first that Megan Fox will play a gun-slinging whore. Say no more, say no more.
Any good?
Don't know - but that Josh Brolin ("Old Country For Old Men", "The Dead Girl") is a pretty rugged Viggo Mortensen type of actor and Jonah Hex sounds just like the sort of guy he can pull off. The movie is also directed by animation helmer of movies like "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo".
Anything else you can tell us?
John Malkovich is the villain.

The Kung Fu Kid (June 2010)

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What's up?
Outrageous! Is this a blockbuster? Who knows? Well, Jackie Chan does. Every Jackie Chan movie does good business and there isn't a single cinema tauke this side of the Forbidden Kingdom who doesn't know it. Problem is, this time he's in a "Karate Kid" remake, with him playing Mr. Miyagi and producer Will Smith's son Jaden as Daniel Larusso. Movie enthusiasts and the media has not responded kindly to this project, due to fond memories of the cult classic.
Any good?
Too late to do anything about it, even if it's not. The whole Smith family is in Beijing right now. Hopefully they're not trying to learn the catch-the-fly-with-your-chopstick trick.
Anything else you can tell us?
The plot reads like this: Jaden Smith plays Dre, a skateboarding video game buff who is forced to move to China after his single mother (Taraji P. Henson) is forced to transfer to the China for work. Of course, unable to speak Chinese, Dre finds it hard to settle in, and gets beat up by the local bully. Jackie Chan plays Mr. Han, a maintenance man who spots Dre's black-eye and offers to teach him both martial arts and Chinese.