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By Michael Lopez

Who says summer is the only time for blockbusters? This season we're seeing massive hits like The Hunger Games and highly anticipated sequels like American Reunion. Set to arrive this Friday, Reunion promises a ton of raunchy fun, as writer/directors Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz told us at a recent press event.

"We were enormous fans of the American Pie franchise," Hurwitz explained. "We were in college when the first movie came out and watched it over and over again. It was so much fun to put our spin on it."

Hayden and Jon are certainly no strangers to R-Rated humor. The guys famously penned all three Harold and Kumar movies. And for Reunion, they took over the director’s seat from another famous filmmaking duo, Paul and Chris Weitz.

"We talked to Chris and Paul before taking on the project," Schlossberg said. "Their biggest advice to us was to make your own movie. They understood that we were huge fans and I think they really liked the final cut."

For the latest installment, all of the original characters get back together for more hi-jinx during their high school reunion. And both Jon and Hayden made sure every familiar face from the franchise gets a moment in the spotlight.

"Because we loved these characters so much, we wanted to give everyone something to do," Hurwitz said. "We didn't just want to bring people in randomly. We wanted everyone in this movie to have a moment to shine."

And for the record, if you feel any minor character (like "The Shermanator") doesn't get enough screen time, the guys promise you’ll see a lot more of them in the Reunion DVD cut.

"There were a lot of deleted scenes," Schlossberg said. "When you have this many storylines, the challenge is packing them all into one movie. We shot a lot of extra footage that’ll make it into the extended cut."

But for now, the theatrical release certainly covers all the bases. And those hoping to see more of Seann William Scott's "Stifler" character are in for a treat.

"Stifler was such a fun character write," Jon added. "We kind of made him the underdog here. It's going to be fun because the audience actually starts to root for him after a while."

You can see Stifler, The Shermanator, and all the rest of your raunchy faves when American Reunion arrives in theaters this Friday!

Are you looking forward to American Reunion? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Pie, American Reunion, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Movies & CineMás, Seann William Scott, Tr3s Exclusives

By Horacio Garcia

The story is simple and well threaded: an elite unit of the Indonesian police infiltrates in the wee hours of the night into a huge dilapidated building in the heart of Jakarta to apprehend the powerful drug lord that rules over it. The cover of the unit is blown by a chance encounter with one of the dealers and from that point on the movie is a blood-fest of swirling kicks and flying bullets.

You might say; "Ok, what’s new with that?" Well, nothing, but on the other hand, this movie stands apart from the rest with its great pace, unabashed violence and the carefully choreographed and edited fighting scenes. The Raid is an incredible visual movie that sometimes reminds the viewer of the best of a John Woo or an Ang Lee in the artistry with which the combat is staged but maintains a down-to-earth violence that you can only find in Hong Kong movies from the 80's.

Curiously, the director of the movies is not Indonesian and not even Asian. His name is Gareth Evans and he is of all things a Welshman. Evans used to be a documentary filmmaker and the story of how he got to be known as the biggest promoter of the Indonesian martial art of Silat is funny enough.

While filming a documentary about Silat at the Tiga Berantai academy in Jakarta he met the young nephew of the school’s Master, named Uwais Qorni, a former B-league soccer player whose team had gone bankrupt. The charisma and good looks of the young man, nicknamed Iko, impressed Evans so much that he proposed to sign a contract with him to star in a low budget action movie based on the Silat fighting style. The result was the unexpected blockbuster Merantau and the birth of the action star named Iko Uwais.

The success of Merantau brought money for a second film and the result is The Raid (in Indonesian: Serbuan Maut) that for copyright issues is exhibited in the United States with the surname Redemption. The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival to wide praise by public and critics alike and an American remake is already on the way with Evans as Executive Producer. There is also talk of making it into a trilogy with Merantau and a third movie yet to be filmed.

The most impressive in The Raid: Redemption is the remarkable technical proficiency of Director Evans's team that manages to shot and edit one violent confrontation after another into a well-paced adventure in which the viewer is never sure whether the hero is going to come out alive, a feeling I had not experienced since Die Hard I and I really hope Evans will become the new John McTiernan (the Director of Predator and the Die Hard series).

Kudos also to Yayan Ruhian, the costar of Merantau, who along with Iko Uwais is the choreographer of the fights that have nothing to envy to the best of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Violent martial arts movie fans: here is candy for your eyes, enjoy it.

Tags blogger: Horacio Garcia, Gareth Evans, Iko Uwais, The Raid: Redemption

By Ikam Acosta

Not sure if this is a good thing, but Adam Sandler seems to have made out like a bandit at this year's infamous Razzie Awards. Known for celebrating the worst movies of the industry, the Golden Raspberry Awards, more commonly known as the Razzies, present awards for the year's worst films.

Sandler managed to score 10 awards this year, a Razzies all-time high, or low, depending on how you look at it. He took the lead in every single categories, a first for the actor and the awards show. Sandler won both Best Actor and Best Actress for his Jack And Jill film, where he plays a double role as a man and his meddling twin sister.

Razzies founder John Wilson said,

"He didn't play triplets, but he couldn't have won more awards if he had."

Wow. That's um, good, I guess. Jack And Jill is the only movie in the Razzie's 32 year history to have won every single prize.

No need to ponder why Jack And Jill did so horribly. Wilson shared,

"Adam Sandler has a pretty much basic attitude of, 'No matter how dumb I make it, my fans are going to pay to see it.' I guess it's more about the complete lack of any genuine effort or concern or pride. An attitude of this is good enough, but when you consider what they're charging for movie tickets today, it wasn't good enough. It was good enough to get our attention. If you work with the attitude that you're just going to be good enough, then you're probably good enough for the Razzies."

The Golden Raspberry Awards took place on April Fools, an unusual time to have them, according to the Razzie founder himself. This is the first year the Razzies have not taken place the night before the Oscars, but I don't think this social experiment will stick. Wilson stated,

"I think our members prefer the faux glamor of having it be Oscar eve."

What do you think was the worst movie of the year?

Tags Adam Sandler, Award Shows, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Golden Raspberry Awards, John Wilson, Movies & CineMás, Razzies

By Ikam Acosta

Ashton Kutcher will be playing Apple mogul Steve Jobs in an independent film called Jobs, scheduled to begin filming in May of this year.

Recent pictures of Kutcher show an incredible resemblance to pictures of Steve Jobs when he was younger, complete with long hair and scruffy beard. Jobs will be directed by Joshua Michael Stern. The film will be developed from a script written by Matt Whiteley. It will examine the time around the life of Steve Jobs when he grew from Northern California hippie to computer innovator and Apple entrepreneur.

Jobs will be the first film based on the life of Steve Jobs since the death of the Apple co-founder back in October of 2011. There is another Jobs film in the works based on Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography, backed by Sony Pictures, but the Kutcher film is set to be released first at this time.

Do you think Ashton Kutcher will make a good Steve Jobs?

Tags Apple, Ashton Kutcher, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Movies & CineMás, Steve Jobs

By Horacio Garcia

Even for people who doesn't follow hockey, there is something evident about the game: is the only team sport in which brawls are allowed and even welcome. They go so far as to have designated guys in the team who are there just to beat the members of the other team to pulp and stop them from beating the members of your own team. They are rightfully called "enforcers" (a sort of bar bouncer on skates) and Goon is the story of one of them.

Based on the biography of legendary NHL enforcer Dough Smith, Goon is a pretty violent, very foul-mouthed but surprisingly sweet proposition that will enrage the softer souls but will delight hockey fans and teenage boys with its mix of slap stick comedy, screwball romance and slippery fight scenes.

The story co-written by Jay Baruchel, who also stars in the movie, is quite simple. Dough Glatt (Seann William Scott) the black sheep of a family of doctors, works as a bouncer in a bar and dreams of the success enjoyed by his hero -legendary hockey enforcer Ross “the Boss” Rhea (a really great Liev Shreiber sporting a outrageous moustache). One day, while watching a minor league hockey game with his friend Pat (Baruchel himself in his most foul mouthed character to date), lady fortune knocks at his door.

Pat taunts the visitor team in so such an insulting way that one of the players climbs into the stands and attacks him, prompting Dough to swiftly knock him out cold with a couple of well-placed punches.

Next day and to his surprise, Dough receives a call from the coach of his hometown team who offers him the enforcer job. The problem is that Dough simply cannot skate, so at first he is not very enthusiastic about the job but after Pat brainwashes him he gathers his resolve and starts his career as a professional "goon".

Dough aggressiveness and singular capacity to withstand punches to the head makes him famous in the low level circuit where he earns the nickname "The Thug". Not a lot of time passes before he is hired by the Halifax Highlanders (he still sucks as a skater but at least he can punch people without falling) with a very specific mission: to protect their promising Xavier Laflamme (Mark Andre Grondin) who's never been the same after Dough's idol "The Boss" Rhea hit him in the back of the head and caused him a concussion. So Dough ends up as Laflamme official bodyguard on the ice as well as his roommate.

Meantime, Dough meets and starts courting Eva (Allison Pill), a sometimes hockey groupie -and who already has a boyfriend- while he approaches his moment of truth: the face off with Ross "The Boss" Rhea.

Not for the faint of heart or the delicate of ears; Goon is the kind of movie that will appeal to every boy ages 6 through 18 and especially to the crowd that grew up watching the American Pie series.

Tags Allison Pill, blogger: Horacio Garcia, Dough Smith, Goon, Jay Baruchel, Liev Shreiber, Seann William Scott

By Ikam Acosta

A screen-to-stage version of The Bodyguard will premiere in the Adelphi Theater in the fall. Tony award-winning Broadway sensation Heather Headley will play Whitney Houston's role, as the singing diva Rachel Marron.

The Bodyguard musical, directed by Thea Sharrock, has been in the works for some time. While the production is set to open just nine months after Houston's untimely death last February, The Bodyguard producer, Michael Harrison, says he has been working on it for some time.

Harrison explained,

"I don't know, I guess some people may say that we're cashing in on Whitney's death- but I've been working on this for six years. We were all incredibly shocked by her death, especially after all the time been working on this, listening to the songs and hearing that voice. Heather is a massive Whitney fan, too. It's been very strange and very sad."

Whitney's family is invited to attend the musical on opening night, November 6. The Bodyguard was a successful acting role for Whitney, marking her acting debut. From there came her hit song "I Will Always Love You," which went straight to the top of the charts for some time.

The score will include all of the songs in the Bodyguard film, along with other Whitney songs that have become hits. Some of the songs featured in the musical include, "One Moment In Time," "Saving All My Love," "How Will I Know," "I'm Your Baby Tonight," and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," among others. "I Have Nothing" and "Run To You" will also be included in the stage production of the romantic thriller.

Will you go see 'The Bodyguard' musical if you are in town?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Heather Headley, Música, Michael Harrison, Movies & CineMás, Musical Theater, The Bodyguard, Thea Sharrock, Whitney Houston

By Ikam Acosta

Will Twilight's favorite couple, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, appear in another hot Hollywood role together? We have reason to think so! Stewart and Pattinson have been talking about the new Twilight-inspired erotic trilogy Fifty Shades Of Grey.

The new steamy trilogy seems to be all the rage. Kristen said,

"It's funny- I heard about it yesterday. Rob [Pattinson] and Wyck [Godrey], our producer, were talking about it."

The couple from Fifty Shades Of Grey would be a more sexed up version of Twilight's Edward and Bella roles we are so used to seeing Kristen and Robert in.

The best-selling erotic trilogy is about a wealthy entrepreneur named Christian Grey who seduces a younger college student, Anastasia Steele, into a "dominant/submissive love affair."

Before Twilight fans run off and buy tickets for this steamy spin-off, don't get too excited, nothing is set in stone yet. Some might not want to see the Edward and Bella-like characters dive into the seedy world of scandalous sex, a far departure from their sparkly vampire roles.

Or then again, some might want to see all that. After all, even Twilight audiences do have to grow up some time. All we know is that when Kristen was asked whether she would read the Fifty Shades Of Grey series, she simply gave a

"Hell, yeah!"

Would you like to see Robert and Kristen in these more adult roles, or do you think the Twilight-inspired trilogy should have completely different characters?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Celebrity Couples, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Kristen Stewart, Movies & CineMás, Robert-Pattinson, Twilight

By Michael Lopez

We've got to hand it to director Tarsem Singh. Going from the violent Immortals movie to a family-friendly flick like Mirror Mirror illustrates some major versatility. And Singh executes this live action fairy tale with a lot of flair, thanks to engaging performances, amazing set pieces and some very enchanting dwarves.

Clearly everyone is familiar with the legend of Snow White. And this year the popular princess is getting two big screen makeovers, with this film and May's action epic, Snow White and the Huntsman. Mirror is definitely the more lighthearted of the two and that works in its favor.

In Mirror, we get a lot of the classic themes that fans of the Disney cartoon will love. There's a wicked stepmother, seven scene-stealing dwarves, and a magic Mirror capable of inflicting dark curses. But to its credit, Mirror Mirror adds plenty of new elements to the mix, including a sword-slinging Snow White and a much more charismatic Prince Charming.

A clear standout in this movie is (as expected) Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen. Never playing it too over the top, Roberts injects just the right amount of nastiness to make things fun. Likewise, the revamped dwarves keep things very entertaining. These little troublemakers aren't the "Hi-Ho" Disney miners you remember, but rather a ragtag bunch of thieves who have great onscreen chemistry.

Interestingly, the least charismatic person is Snow White herself. Actress Lily Collins isn't quite as convincing as her co-stars and the character seems to lack depth (especially for a leading lady). But her shortcomings are easy to overlook, especially when you're getting lost in Tarsem's crisp visuals.

Perhaps the best thing about Mirror Mirror is that it can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The humor is clean, yet still very funny and the fantasy elements are continuously breathtaking. There are even hints of action and romance thrown in to keep things well rounded. It may not be the fairest movie of them all, but Mirror Mirror comes pretty darn close.

Bottom line: Yes, we know that Snow White and the Huntsman has the brutality and the Twilight stars. But Mirror Mirror clearly has the charm and that's something that won us over quick! This is a lighthearted romp with plenty of laugh out loud moments (thanks to seven pesky dwarves). It's also a beloved story that has transcended generations. See this movie and you'll understand why.

Check out these clips from the movie!

Are you planning on watching Mirror Mirror this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Mirror Mirror, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Snow White, Tarsem Singh

By Michael Lopez

Four months after their triumphant return to the big screen, the Muppets are still more popular than ever. Jim Henson's charismatic creations recently got their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and are now prepping for a big release on Blu-Ray.

That's right, The Muppets DVD is one of the most jam-packed discs we've seen so far. Outside of the director's commentary and eight deleted scenes, Kermit and company filmed new faux trailers, created their own Blu-Ray "intermission," and threw in a ton of bloopers for the die-hard fans.

And just to prove their excitement over the release, Kermit the Frog and new Muppet Walter kicked off a national press tour. They recently popped into MTV Studios, where Walter dropped tidbits about a new sequence featuring bad guy Tex Richman (played by Chris Cooper).

"You’ll get to see [Tex’s] whole big music video," he said. "In the final cut of the film, you just see a couple of minutes. But on the DVD, you get the whole shebang!"

Kermit spoke to the press too, pitching the idea of a Muppets sequel and a possible new series. But for the time being, the Muppets DVD is more than capable of satisfying your Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal fix.

We, for one, were thrilled to hear Jason Segel's participation in the audio commentary. Not only did he star in the film, he helped write it and provides some very interesting insights into his creative process.

But by far our favorite extras are the deleted scenes. As you may recall, we were thrilled when we heard that Danny Trejo filmed a part in the movie. But sadly, his Muppets moment wound up on the cutting room floor.

Not anymore. On the new Blu-Ray, Danny’s back in action in a hilarious cameo. Other axed celebs like Billy Crystal and Kathy Griffin also pop back in thanks to newly restored footage.

And perhaps the biggest bonus is the inclusion of the full Muppets soundtrack! This movie had some amazing musical sequences (one of which won an Academy Award) and they sound just as good coming out of your iPod or stereo.

Fun for young kids (and the young at heart), The Muppets is a great DVD to add to the home library!

Were you a fan of the Muppets movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Billy Crystal, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Chris Cooper, Danny Trejo, DVDs, Jason Segel, Kathy Griffin, Kermit the Frog, Movies & CineMás, The Muppets

By Ikam Acosta

Chris Moore, producer of American Pie reunion film, American Reunion, ticked off some fans by complaining about his movie's box office revenues and saying the fans were "jaded."

Moore initially posted a rant about getting people into the theaters to see the film and getting these same people to bring their friends. After receiving some feedback from the fans, Moore apparently did not like their suggestions.

The producer posted,

"I been reading your comments, Most of you are so jaded. Bl** jobs and free beer. F*** you. We made a funny heartfelt movie and it delivers. Isn't that enough? More ads, really? There are almost 6 million liking this [movie on Facebook]. hell if each of you went to the movie at 7 bones apiece that is $42 mil. Imagine if you brought a friend. All my jaded bastard friends here in Hollywood get jacked about $30 mil openings now. We want to break $50."

Way to motivate the fans to see your film, Chris. Bravo. Needless to say, the fans were not pleased. Some called his film "childish bs" while others called him a "d*****bag." In short, his reactions to the fans' advice was not well-received. Because of his less than warm reception, he fired back, rambling even more about the fans' comments.

Moore ranted, no offense to teenage girls, about their prominence at the box office and about how the only films that make money now are teenage girl-friendly films like Twilight and Hunger Games. I guess he saw the error in his ways throughout the course of the night's ramblings, because he issued an almost-apology within one of his posts.

His apology consisted of trying to sound hip and trendy while admitting his loss of identity with the fans by showing his age. Moore said,

"On my last trip thru the facebook I was warned that it is not for long posts like this and was showing my age. Well yes I am middle aged and the father of three kids and I use facebook to reach people and push projects. I only push things I really know. And I ramble on. So I apologize for taking up too many posts of notifications this Tuesday night. Just trust me this movie will make you laugh. And then tell a friend. good night all."

So, in short, he pretty much offended his fans but still wants them to watch the movie. And bring a friend. When questioned about his approach, he said,

"I did not in any way mean that to be mean-spirited. I really just wanted to talk to the fans directly, and the way things- particularly in the film business and the media business- are marketed, it's very difficult to get a direct conversation with [them]. The truth of the matter is, I am very proud of the movie."

Are you excited to witness an 'American Reunion'?

Tags American Pie, American Reunion, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Chris Moore, Facebook, Movies & CineMás