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By Ikam Acosta

Naomi Watts will be starring on the silver screen as Britain's Princess Diana in a new film documenting the last few years of Lady Di's life. Production on the fill will start in Britain later in the year.

While the shocking automobile accident that brought upon Lady Di's death has been featured in many television movies, Caught In Flight will be the first big screen movie made about Princess Diana's unfortunate fate. Naomi Watts feels proud to have been chosen for this role, and stated,

"It was such an honor to be able to play this iconic role. Princess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen."

Caught In Flight will focus on the last two years of Diana's life, particularly her two-year secret affair with Hasnat Khan, a heart surgeon, and her subsequent divorce from Prince Charles. According to British film studio Ecosse Films, the movie chronicles

"how finding true personal happiness for the first time allowed her to achieve defining success evolving into a major international campaigner and humanitarian."

Princess Diana was 36 years old when the tragic accident happened, adding to the "outpouring of worldwide grief." Oliver Hirschbiegel, director of Downfall, a movie chronicling Adolf Hitler's last days, will be directing this film.

What secrets would you like to see exposed in a movie about the Princess of Wales?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Movies & CineMás, Naomi Watts, Princess Diana

By Michael Lopez

A picture is worth a thousand words and the recent Sylvester Stallone/Arnold Schwarzenegger snap that's been circulating on the web brings one particular palabra to our minds – Machismo! The aging action stars were seen posing together on gurneys as they both prepped for shoulder surgery.

Now in their 60’s, Arnold and Sly have put their bodies through the ringer for their stunt-heavy movies. And, according to Schwarzenegger, it was pure coincidence that brought them together in the ER.

"After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting The Expendables 2 and The Last Stand, it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder,” he told fans on his blog. “Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery. Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot The Tomb."

Indeed, the two will be appearing in quite a few movies together in the near future. But for now, it's probably best they get some R & R. Let's hope the guys can find a good helper to nurse them back to fighting shape.

Are you excited to see Arnold and Sly team up on the big screen? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Movies & CineMás, Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables 2, The Tomb

By Michael Lopez

There was nothing entertaining about the Chilean earthquake of 2010. Registering an 8.8 on the Richter Scale, it ravaged the country and wound up killing over 500 citizens. But that hasn't stopped Hollywood from wanting to turn it into a disaster flick, which will appropriately be titled Aftershock.

Written by horror maestro Eli Roth (who created the Hostel series), Aftershock follows a group of Chilean inmates who escape from an asylum after the quake. Mixing elements of horror, comedy, and action, it's already got Nicolas Martinez, Ariel Levy, and Miguel Asensio attached as leads.

Interestingly, Roth will also be acting in the film and, according to Hispanically Speaking, Selena Gomez even filmed a cameo. Up-and-coming Chilean moviemaker Nicolas Lopez will be listed as a co-screenwriter and he told DIY that it’s something he’s very proud of.

"I was a fan of [Eli's work] and I love that we're mixing our sensibility," he said. "People will be shocked when they see this movie. It's nothing that you could expect. I want this to be my Robocop."

You can judge for yourself, when Aftershock hits theaters later this year.

Are you planning on watching Aftershock? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Aftershock, Blogger: Michael Lopez, chile, earthquake, Eli Roth, Hostel, Movies & CineMás, Nicolas Lopez, Selena Gomez

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to find movies that can be described as "timeless" these days. As fun as films like Cars 2 are, they still have plenty of dated references tying into trends like James Bond, Blue Collar Comedy, and the Daytona 500. But Lady and the Tramp literally transcends every decade and is getting a special re-release on Blu-Ray DVD this week.

Loaded with tons of extra features, the Tramp Blu-Ray contains deleted scenes, making-of documentaries, and (our personal favorite) a new Español audio track. That's right, now you have the ability to hear Jock, Beaver, and those dastardly Siamese cats speaking in a Spanish tongue.

The deleted scenes are a real treat too as they shed light on some forgotten subplots from the 1955 film. One such moment includes the introduction of a Russian wolfhound named Boris. Added as a possible romantic interest for Lady, Boris could’ve created an interesting love triangle between the two main characters.

Other extras include a long lost song and an interesting documentary about Tramp mastermind, Walt Disney. Narrated by his daughter Diane, the Walt feature offers some very interesting tidbits (including the fact that Tramp was in production at the same time as Disneyland park).

But of course, the true selling point here is the movie. A bona-fide classic, Tramp’s got fantastic songs, crisp animation, and a wonderful romantic storyline. It's also got that legendary scene of the two dogs dining out over spaghetti and meatballs.

"We must treat these dog characters with the same respect we show human characters," Disney famously says during a Tramp DVD doc. "No condescension, no looking down, no breaking character for the sake of a gag."

After watching the film again, it's clear he held true to his word.

Fun for audiences of all ages, Lady and the Tramp is a great piece of animation history. And with all of those bonus goodies (and some very engaging Español voices), we think it makes a great addition to any home DVD collection.

What's your favorite animated Disney film? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Disney, DVDs, Lady and the Tramp, Movies & CineMás, Walt Disney

By Horacio Garcia

The assault of 3D technology to revamp classic action movies and especially kid's movies finally reached the Star Wars saga.

George Lucas is a methodical man, always covering his financial back so is not a surprise that after taking a big risk with the production of Red Tails (he put 60 million out of his own pocket…), Lucas is putting out there his biggest hit of all times for a new generation to see at the movie theater and especially for their parents to have an excuse to watch it again.

Yes, The Phantom Menace is the least loved of the series; yes, almost everybody hates Jar Jar Binks but I don't think any of the 50 or a hundred million fans (only in the USA) will miss it.

Truth is, besides all the complaining about the second series, the new movies were incorporated into the saga's pantheon because the original movies were as simple as the new ones. There is no doubt in my mind that is the original series were made today, it’d look very much like Phantom Menace (with the honorable exception of Empire Strikes Back, a dark, sober production with some of the best performances of the original three).

I really don’t know where the haters of Jar Jar Binks were when C3PO appeared for the first time because if that British-accented golden butler is not the most annoying character in the history of filmmaking it certainly must be in the top five.

We all know the flaws in Phantom Menace: weak dialogues, poor actor's direction (never George Lucas's strongest skill) the fact that the hero is 12, and of course; Jar Jar. They are all still there, but the reality is that Star Wars (any of them) is perfect for 3D.

On the onslaught of 3D adaptations that we have experienced lately some are more suited for the treatment than others. I just went to see Beauty and the Beast and before that, The Lion King, both with the new 3D make up and I must say that while The Lion is perfect for the technique, Beauty doesn’t gain that much. There are a couple of scenes that benefit a lot form it (especially when Belle and the Beast are dancing and the "camera" zooms down from the chandelier) but classic Walt Disney drawing is very good in itself and needs little help.

On the other hand The Phantom Menace is completely populated with perfect 3D scenes; from the first fight with the droids inside the Federation of Commerce Starship to the Victory Celebration at the very end. It really is a pleasure watching the blaster shots (that's the lasers for those who don't know Han Solo’s favorite weapon) coming straight at you from the screen. As the fellow movie goers in the row right below mine (ages 7 through 10) said: "Awesome!"

I have to agree with them; watching Star Wars on 3D is awesome, and this one is the least loved of the six! I just can't wait for the Empire to come back striking.

Tags blogger: Horacio Garcia, Ewan McGregor, George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

By Astrid Rivera

Get ready Costa Rica, the Smiths are coming to town! Will Smith and son, Jaden Smith are headed to the tropical paradise to begin filming their newest joint movie adventure, entitled After Earth.

The arrival of the Smiths in the northern region of the country has sparked tons of media attention and curiosity about the film itself. So far the controversial director M. Night Shyamalan has yet to release any details about the the film, except for a basic premise. A thousand years after the end of the world, a father and son (played by Will and Jaden) crash-land on a abandoned planet and must find a way to survive. The focus seems to be more on Jaden's character, suggesting that this could be a more coming-of-age story.

Shyamalan spent more than a year in preparation and is extremely excited to finally start production. The director tweeted,

"Crew leaving for Costa Rica already. A year and half of writing and prep is coming to an end. #After Earth will begin shooting on Feb. 6th."

Other actors set to star in the film are Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo and Hunger Games actress Isabelle Fuhrman. The local Costa Rican media is dying to capture a shot of the ongoing production but so far that task is impossible as the crew is shooting in a top secret location that is literally in the middle of nowhere.

So I guess we'll all have to wait until 2013 to find out what Shyamalan has in store for us. Hopefully this film will be more like the Sixth Sense or Signs and not like some of his flops (aka The Last Airbender, The Happening, Lady In The Water, etc). But the Smiths don't attach their name to just any project so there is still hope for this SciFi adventure.

Do you plan on watching After Earth? Sound off in the comments or at MTV3.

Tags After Earth, Astrid Rivera, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jaden Smith, M. Night Shyamalan, Movies, Sophie Okonedo, Will Smith, Zoe Kravitz

By Michael Lopez

Harry Potter fans are in for quite a jolt with this week's Woman In Black release. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the boy wizard in eight films, is all grown up and showing a dark, mature edge Hogwarts fans may not be used to. But ultimately it pays off, with Black turning out to be a very capable and creepy thriller.

Produced by Hammer Films (which specialized in British horror flicks from the 60's and 70's), Black definitely takes its cues from the classic haunted house genre. But it also punches things up with a modern twist, treating audiences to a scream-inducing villain comparable to specters from The Ring and The Grudge.

Most importantly, Black feels like a breath of fresh air in the unimaginative horror genre. With remakes like The Thing and endless Paranormal Activity sequels flooding theaters, it's nice to have a group of personalities built up entirely from scratch. Audiences meet Radcliffe's Arthur Kipps character without any background knowledge and soon find themselves drawn into his dark and dreary world.

As the story begins, we find out that Kipps is a widowed father who's been asked by his law firm to manage the affairs of a recently deceased client. Little does he know that this client had a gruesome past and a supernatural curse brought on the by the death of a child.

As Kipps uncovers more shady details at his client’s dilapidated mansion, the strange occurrences increase. First kids in the town start dying, then the mansion takes on a life of its own, and finally, our hero is forced to come face-to-face with The Woman In Black!

What does this Woman want and how can she be stopped? You won't get any spoilers here. But trust us when we say, it's a pretty awesome payoff (if you can uncover your eyes long enough to see it). Though there is a bit of a slow build up, Black more than makes up for it in its final hour. The mystery is compelling, Radcliffe's performance is top notch, and yes, it'll get you jumping out of your seat on more than one occasion.

Bottom line: Don't be frightened by The Woman In Black’s PG-13 rating. This film is far creepier than the gore fests we've seen in theaters recently. Director James Watkins has done a phenomenal job of pacing out the frights and providing a solid story for serious horror fans. And beyond that, it's a fantastic showcase for the talents of Daniel Radcliffe. If he wants a future in scary movies, Black is a great way to start.

Are you planning on watching The Woman In Black this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Daniel Radcliffe, Hammer Films, Harry Potter, James Watkins, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, The Woman In Black, Woman In Black

By Michael Lopez

It looks like there are a lot of sequels in store for Michelle Rodriguez in the coming months. Not only is she set to appear in Resident Evil 5 later this year, she also may be on board for the next Fast & Furious movie. At least, that's what she's telling FEARnet.com.

"Fast and Furious is pretty much what I've got my sights set on for the next year," she told an interviewer. "And if [Resident Evil 5] does well, maybe I'll pop back in for another one."

Clearly Rodriguez' continued film appearances prove she can cheat death many times over. Her Resident character, Rain Ocampo, famously turned into a zombie in the first film and in Fast & Furious, she was taken out in a horrific car crash.

But hey, this is Hollywood right? If a movie franchise is successful enough, they can bring anyone back. And Michelle, openly honest as ever, offered up her reasoning behind that.

"Right now Hollywood is a giant factory of remakes because everyone is pussying out and they don't want to try anything new," she went on to say. "The money situation in the States isn't so keen right now. Our dollar is shitty, so I can understand why the studios are doing the guaranteed hit-off movies. I'm banking on that and I'm proud to be part of franchises that want me back."

Do you think Hollywood is cranking out too many sequels? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Fast & Furious, Fast Six, Michelle Rodriguez, Movies & CineMás, Resident Evil, Sequels

By Michael Lopez

If you're hoping to catch Mel Gibson on the big screen in the near future, you're in for a bit of a disappointment. The controversial star's new film, Get The Gringo, will be skipping theaters entirely and going straight to Video On Demand.

Described as a gritty R-Rated action film, Gringo reportedly takes place in a Mexican jail. Gibson plays an American who winds up behind bars after a violent border chase. Mel financed and co-wrote the film himself, but had a tough time finding distribution after his recent drunken antics.

Nevertheless, Gringo will live on in the VOD world and eventually on DVD. The movie will be available for purchase on cable outlets like DirecTV starting in early May, with a Blu-Ray release planned later in the summer.

Although we're happy to see Gibson giving work to Mexican actors, we think Gringo may be a tough sell. Especially when you consider his one-time tirade toward the Latino community.

Would you see Mel Gibson's Gringo movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Get The Gringo, Mel Gibson, Movies & CineMás, popnews, Video On Demand, VOD

'Man On A Ledge' Falls Flat

By Michael Lopez

Though it's got a fantastic cast and a storyline with a lot of potential, this past weekend's Man On A Ledge failed to get us jumping out of our seats. Perhaps it's the movie's clichéd heist sequences, or the cheesy "twists" we could see a mile away. Whatever the reason, this is one Ledge you'll want to step away from.

The movie actually starts out interesting enough, with the mysterious Nick Cassidy (played by Avatar’s Sam Worthington) checking into a hotel, then throwing open the window to face his uncertain future. Why would this well-dressed, healthy-looking "businessman" want to take a swan dive from a twelve-story building? Soon the flashbacks fill in the clues.

The problem is, the clues aren't that compelling. We eventually find out that Cassidy is an escaped fugitive who's been framed for a crime he didn't commit. But rather than end it all over a trial gone bad, this innocent anti-hero is using the Ledge as a decoy for a much grander scheme.

Soon we're following the lives of Nick's devoted younger brother and his sexy Latina girlfriend (played by Tr3s fave Genesis Rodriguez), as well as a ruthless businessman played by Ed Harris. Ledge makes use of familiar stars Elizabeth Banks and Edward Burns too, as police officers trying to convince Cassidy not to jump.

But unfortunately, each character comes off paper-thin. Rodriguez falls prey to numerous Latin stereotypes (though we do get to see her in some skimpy lingerie), Harris plays his bad guy way too over-the-top, and Banks' hung over NYPD negotiator follows beats we've seen in way too many cop movies.

Venezuelan native Pablo Fenjves is credited as the Ledge's screenwriter and, though we love supporting Latino talent, we think he should've gone back to the editing room. The film's dialogue is dull, the entire backstory feels jumbled, and as far as climactic finales go, this one falls extremely flat.

Bottom line: Man On A Ledge feels like it "almost" could have been a classic. There are a lot of elements it has in its favor, but ultimately, none of them connect. Perhaps the studio rushed it to theaters before it was fully fleshed out, perhaps budget constraints hurt the final product, or perhaps everyone involved just made a stinker of a movie.

Did you watch Man On A Ledge this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

A pretty good Saturday night movie

By Horacio Garcia

The latest addition of the year to a really long list that exploits our instinctive fear of heights (consider we just had Tower Heist and Mission Impossible…) is a thriller by Sam Worthington who seems to be living in a trailer behind the studio, given the many projects he's gotten into.

Worthington right now is developing the Avatar and the Clash of the Titans series at the same time while manages to throw a couple of thrillers in the pot. The man's on fire.

Man on a Ledge is directed by Asger Leth, a somewhat well-known documentary maker who uses his experience shooting real people with mixed results; on one side the premise is great and the cast includes some of the best secondary actors there are, with Ed Harris and Edward Burns at the head of the ensemble.  On the flipside, after the first hour the plot that even with the mystery element included had been relatively straightforward becomes very convoluted and the movie loses traction.

The film begins when Nick Cassidy (Worthington) steps out the window of the 24th floor of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan. Suicide by jumping, once a popular New York feature (after the stock market collapse in 1929, local papers would keep the record of how many people were jumping daily) has disappeared do to the installation of secure windows, so the makers of the movie should first of all thank the Roosevelt Hotel for keeping Big Apple traditions alive.

In any case, fast enough and thanks to a series of flash backs and cuts-away, we learn that Nick was framed by a bad millionaire named David Englander (played by Ed Harris as professionally as ever) and accused of stealing 40 million dollars in diamonds and he's out to get some payback. Nick's plan includes that his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) and Joey’s very hot girlfriend Angie (Miami's own Genesis Rodriguez, whom we know from all those telenovelas like Doña Barbara or Prisionera…) actually steal the diamonds from Englander to prove Nick innocent.

The plan also includes that Nick gives Joey and Angie enough time to do their thing; enters Elizabeth Banks as police negotiator Lydia Mercer, whose record dealing with suicide individuals is not very good so Nick knows she is going to be extra careful.

Man on a Ledge could’ve been one of the best thrillers of the year and truth is that the solid cast saves it from being actually bad, but some patches of clumsy writing take away some of its thunder. Ed Harris and Jamie Bell get especially crappy lines and Genesis’s character is too stereotypical the hot Latina (the heist includes that she has to strip down to underwear at one point which is not bad, by the way, but feels a little unnecessary).

Bottom line: Despite these problems, Man on a Ledge manages to deliver enough gut wrenching moments and that's what is supposed to do. All things considered, is a pretty good Saturday night movie.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Ed Harris, Elizabeth Banks, Genesis Rodriguez, Man on a Ledge, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Pablo Fenjves, Sam Worthington