MOVIE NEWS NOV. 12TH: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, MERLIN, G.I. JOE & MORE

10 Must-Watch Movies That Influenced Scott Pilgrim

www.kotaku.com.au: In celebration of today’s Scott Pilgrim DVD/Blu-ray release, guest editor Edgar Wright is posting all day at io9. First up: his detailed list, given to io9 exclusively, of the top 10 DVDs that influenced Scott Pilgrim.

1. Flash Gordon

Some people seem to be down on the 1980 Flash Gordon, but personally I love it. I think it’s really colourful, it’s really fun. The design in it is amazing. The effects are maybe-not-kinda-great by 2010 standards, but it’s just a bit of a blast. The score is incredible by Queen. The script is really funny, which was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr, who did the Batman TV series. I think you can have all colours of the spectrum. You can have The Dark Knight, on one side and you can have Batman the TV series on the other. Flash Gordon is just a hoot. I find it really funny to watch. There’s the sound effects from Flash Gordon that appears in Scott Pilgrim at a crucial point. Even Scott Pilgrim’s t-shirts, his ringer tees, are a little bit like Flash Gordon.

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Which of these 6 women will star in The Dark Knight Rises?

blastr.com: Christopher Nolan is reportedly lining up six actresses whom he’ll meet with about two roles in The Dark Knight Rises. One of the parts is a love interest for Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), while the other is a villain. But in typical Nolan fashion, the characters’ identities are being kept a secret.

According to Deadline, Nolan is going to meet with Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts, Blake Lively, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley. It’s not clear whether he has any particular actress in mind for the romantic role or the villain.

Unless Nolan is delving really deep into Bat-history, this would seem to narrow the villain down to three choices: Catwoman, Talia al Ghul and Poison Ivy. Of course, the first two could also be love interests as well, although that doesn’t seem to be the direction that the filmmaker is taking. And Poison Ivy, frankly, is too fantastical for the Nolan films.

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Big-Screen Merlin in the Works

www.hollywoodreporter.com: Legendary wizard Merlin is being conjured up for the big screen.

Working Title is developing a take on the magician, having picked up a pitch from author-screenwriter Jay Basu that brings Merlin into a contemporary setting.

Other details are being kept under a cloak of invisibility.

The figure of Merlin, who figures prominently in the legend of King Arthur, has been an influential force in pop culture. Characters from Gandalf to Obi-Wan Kenobi to Albus Dumbledore owe their creation to him.

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Viacom COO Touts ‘TMNT’ and ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Zoolander’ Sequels for Not-Too-Distant Future

www.hollywoodreporter.com: On the company’s earnings call today, Viacom COO Tom Dooley noted a few projects that the company is looking to produce for release beyond next September.

The other projects Dooley mentioned were a second G.I. Joe movie that Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are writing and the Jack Ryan reboot that Jack Bender is directing.

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First Trailer For The Upcoming Sci-Fi Film Battle: Los Angeles

www.comicbookmovie.com: The first trailer is now online for the upcoming alien invasion movie, Battle: Los Angeles. Film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman and stars Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez.

‘Season of the Witch’ Trailer #2 Promises (Silly) Supernatural Action

screenrant.com: Nicolas Cage so rarely makes throwaway action films that it’s a wonder the Oscar-winner’s latest flick, the supernatural adventure Season of the Witch, has had its release delayed for this long.

Yes, we kid, but there’s a new trailer for Mr. Cage’s medieval horror actioner — which finally hits theaters early next year — and it features lots of cheap CGI, uninspired action, and a lame, Jaws-inspired one-liner that, sadly, isn’t as funny as one might hope.

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I agree that Rachel Weisz would be good for Selena or Talia for the new love interest or villain in the Dark Knight Rises. But I still would like to see Harley, we haven’t had the chance to see her in the previous movies. What did you think of that?

What do you think of the sequels for G.I. Joe, TMNT and Zoolander? What did you think of the trailer for Battle: Los Angeles? It was quite interesting, something to look forward to.

What did you think of today’s movie news? Join us in the forum for discussions!