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By Ikam Acosta

Ben Kingsley is considering a villain role in the next Iron Man movie, but it is still unsure whether he will play the primary villain or whether the villain he will be portraying is the same character that appears in the classic comic book story.

Rumor has it that Kingsley is negotiating to play the Mandarin, a classic Iron Man villain. However, the character has to be modified to be appropriate for today's silver screen. The Mandarin was originally conceived to be a Chinese ruler who worked with the communists, an appropriate character for 1963. However, today is a different era, and with China being one of the world's biggest film markets, the 1963 portrayal of the Mandarin might not be considered screen-friendly.

Some insiders are also saying that the Mandarin's character traits might be reconfigured to include more modern elements, such as nanobots. The villain's traits might be merged with a nano technological virus, as seen in a story titled 'Extremis,' but that is still in the works.

Another element that might be changed in the Mandarin character is the source of his power. In the comics, his power source was from 10 alien rings. Since Green Lantern's character from rival comic company DC Comics had an alien ring as a power source, Marvel might want to switch this up as well.

Are you excited to see Ben Kingsley play an Iron Man villain?

Tags ben kingsley, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, DC Comics, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Mandarin, Marvel Comics

By Ikam Acosta

Angelina Jolie's upcoming film, Maleficent, has finally received a US release date. The Walt Disney live action interpretation of the animated classic Sleeping Beauty will be released on March 14, 2014.

Jolie will be playing the evil fairy, Maleficent, in the Disney film. Maleficent will explore "the origins of the evil fairy Maleficent and what led her to curse Princess Aurora in Disney's animated classic Sleeping Beauty."

Angelina is excited to play Maleficent. Jolie stated,

"It's really a great script. I'm having a lot of fun. I've already got my horns fitted. My kids are very happy. It sounds really crazy to say that there will be something that's good for young girls in this, because it sounds like you're saying they should be a villain. [Maleficent] is actually a great person. But she's not perfect. She's far from perfect."

Princess Aurora will reportedly be played by Ellie Fanning, but that role is still up in the air.

Do you think Angelina Jolie will make a convincing evil fairy?

Tags Angelina Jolie, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Disney, Ellie Fanning, Maleficent, Movies & CineMás, Princess Aurora

By Michael Lopez

Have you seen The Hunger Games yet? If not, you're part of a select few. The action epic has now earned over $300 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.

One of Games’ most impressive feats was staying at #1 for three weeks in a row. For the past two weekends, Katniss and company have bested highly-touted releases like Wrath of the Titans and American Reunion.

In the past three days alone Games has grossed over $33 million, making it the highest earner of 2012. And in less than a month, it has become the 37th biggest movie of all time, right behind Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

So how far will the Games go? There’s a very good chance it could remain the box office champ this week too (though The Three Stooges movie is building momentum). But if it wants to beat Avatar as the highest-grossing movie of all time, it'll need another $2.5 billion in the bank.

Are you a fan of The Hunger Games? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Reunion, Avatar, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Hot Stuff, Movies & CineMás, The Hunger Games, The Three Stooges

By Michael Lopez

Yes, we know that most of our reviews are centered around the latest CGI spectacle to hit the IMAX screen. But every now and then, it's important for film fans to dig into the cinema spectacles of yesteryear. Chinatown is a perfect example of one of those titles and it certainly doesn't disappoint with its newly-restored Blu-Ray edition.

Released this past week, the Chinatown Blu-Ray comes chock full of amazing extras. Not only do the special features give you insight into the movie, they offer a snapshot of the 1930's era when the film was set.

Clocking in at one hour and 17 minutes, Chinatown’s "Water and Power" documentary is truly fascinating. The movie based much of its storyline on the real water systems of L.A. (and the corruption of the people who ran them). The doc details all of the historical facts and how they tied in to the movie's "fictional" screenplay.

Another great feature of the disc is the "Chinatown: An Appreciation" segment. Though this movie was made over 35 years ago, it influenced generations of filmmakers (many of whom run Hollywood today). Directors like Steven Soderbergh and David Fincher contribute heavily to this piece.

Fans curious to see what the Chinatown stars are up to today will definitely enjoy the 30-minute "Chinatown: The Beginning and The End" featurette. Leading man Jack Nicholson provides tons of insight from the set, as does director Roman Polanski.

And how about the film itself? Restored with a 1080p AVC-encoded transfer, the Blu-Ray visuals are amazing, especially when you consider this movie's more than three decades old. The audio is fantastic too, capitalizing on the Dolby True HD format.

Chinatown’s presentation is flawless as well, with a gripping story that sucks you in for all of its 130 minutes. Nicholson brought his A-game to this flick, earning a 1974 Academy Award nomination for his role as private eye Jake Gittes. 70's screen siren Faye Dunaway does a fantastic job too, as does resident "bad guy" John Huston. Chinatown even had the foresight to add a strong Latino to its cast, namely Perry Lopez as Lt. Lou Escobar.

The story earned an Oscar for Best Screenplay and it's easy to see why. With its film noir style and well thought out plot twists, it offered a film formula that would later be used by names like M. Night Shyamalan and Christopher Nolan.

But best of all, Chinatown is a lot of fun and truly captivating in its new Blu-Ray package. There's a reason the American Film Institute added it to the Top 100 Movie list. Pop it in the DVD and you won't be disappointed!

What's your favorite old school movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Chinatown, David Fincher, DVDs, Faye Dunaway, Jack Nicholson, John Huston, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Perry Lopez, Roman Polanski, Steven Soderbergh

By Michael Lopez

As expected, American Reunion went on to earn millions at the box office this weekend. And one character that probably surprised audiences was band camper Dania Ramirez. Adding a bit of Latin flair to the cast, the Dominican-born actress proved herself to be quite the comedienne. And she recently gave us the lowdown on her role.

"The funnest part about making American Reunion was the whole 'anything goes' attitude" she told us. "We held nothing back for this sequel."

And Ramirez wasn’t afraid to embrace her "nerdy" side for the role. In the movie she plays Selena, a former heavyset band girl who blossoms into a gorgeous romantic lead. And though it may be hard to believe, Dania confessed that she was also somewhat of a late bloomer in high school.

"In high school, you’re really getting to know yourself," she said. "I went through some awkward stages, so there were things about Selena I could definitely relate to."

For many, coming in for the fourth film in a beloved series could be seen as a challenge. Not Ramirez. As the most prominent new character of the bunch, she fit in seamlessly.

"For some reason, I'm always the new girl in a franchise," she said. "I came in for part three of X-Men, I did season two of Heroes and I was there for The Sopranos' last season, so I'm kind of used to being the new kid."

Indeed, Dania explained how she used to feel like the "new kid" in the states, having moved to the U.S. at age 10. But in the entertainment world, her fresh face has served her well. Not only did Ramirez nab a role in Reunion, she'll be seen in this summer's Premium Rush and the Marc Cherry pilot Devious Maids.

"Devious Maids is incredible," she told us. "We've had so much positive feedback on the pilot. And Premium Rush is going to be a great action film. I’m playing this badass New Yorker bike rider alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt!"

Beyond that, she is also producing her own project called Runaway Love with her fiancée Bev Land. We couldn't be more excited for Dania's success and even got her to dish out a little advice for young Latinos looking to break into the acting game.

"I would tell anyone trying to break into the business not to give up," she said. "People may shut the door in your face 10,000 times, but keep trying and you will find that one person who opens it."

You can watch Ramirez deliver big screen LOLs right now in American Reunion.

Did you watch American Reunion this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Reunion, Bev Land, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dania Ramirez, Devious Maids, Exclusive Entrevistas, Movies & CineMás, Premium Rush, Runaway Love, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to argue with the success of the American Pie franchise. The last three theatrical releases earned tons of cash at the box office, so it comes as no surprise that a Reunion was next on the list. And though this latest sequel feels a tad unnecessary, it’s got plenty of raunchy humor that fans of the series will love.

Picking up thirteen years after graduation, American Reunion literally assembles the entire gang from the first film. Level-headed Jim (Jason Biggs), suave Mr. Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), Oz the ladies' man (Chris Klein) and all the rest are back in action and dishing out their trademark jokes. And, as expected, Stifler the scene stealer returns in fine form.

Though a lot of the main actors have been off the big screen for a while, they fall back into their characters seamlessly. The only lead who seems to be lacking this time out is Pie vet Tara Reid. Her character doesn't have much to do in Reunion, which actually works out better considering her mediocre acting abilities.

Biggs' Jim character seems like the one the writers had the most fun with. The opening sequence alone has tons of references to his old misadventures and there is one particular scene where Jason literally goes "balls out" for a laugh. You'll definitely admire his bravery when it's all said and done.

Other moments hark back to those hilarious exchanges between Jim and his dad (played by Eugene Levy). This time out, Mr. Levenstein has found himself a widower and is learning to get back into the dating scene with the help of his encouraging son. Just like the other Pies, moments like these have a ton of heart, proving Reunion is much more than a bunch of sex jokes.

But this movie definitely lives up to its R-Rating, with sexy new characters who mirror your favorites from earlier films. In between Stifler's antics and the shenanigans of the "MILF" guys, fans are in for quite a few raunchy LOLs. And though American Reunion may not feel very original, it capitalizes on many of the franchise’s strengths and will keep hardcore fans laughing.

Bottom line: It's no surprise that Universal put the Harold and Kumar creators at the helm of American Reunion. Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz have built a career on delivering raunchy fun and they certainly continue the tradition here. Though Reunion may not break new ground creatively, it delivers consistent laughs and does a great job of adapting the American Pie crew to modern times.

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

Tags American Pie, American Reunion, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Eugene Levy, Hayden Schlossberg, Jason Biggs, Jon Hurwitz, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Tara Reid

By Ikam Acosta

Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks album is going to be made into a feature film.

How does an album become a feature film? Just look at Green Day's American Idiot, turned into a Broadway musical. Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira, of RT Features, are going to turn the Blood On The Tracks songs into a film narrative.

Teixeira said,

"As longtime admirers of one of the greatest albums in the history of music, we feel privileged to be making this film. Our goal is to work with a filmmaker who can create a classic drama with characters and an environment that capture the feelings that the album inspires in all fans."

Blood On The Tracks is Dylan's fifteenth studio album, and contains the songs "Tangled Up In Blue," "If You See Her, Say Hello," "Buckets Of Rain," "Shelter From The Storm," and "Idiot Wind," among others. The album was released in 1975 and went platinum on the Billboard 200 Charts.

While Dylan denies his Blood On The Tracks songs are autobiographical, son and Wallflowers singer Jakob Dylan begs to differ. Jakob claimed that listening to that album was like listening to his "parents talking."

Apparently, Dylan wrote the album after separating from his first wife, Sara Lownds. Bob Dylan claims the songs were actually claimed by Anton Chekhov's short stories. Go see the film and judge for yourself.

Do you think Blood On The Tracks will make a good soundtrack for a film?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Blood On The Tracks, Bob Dylan, Celebrities, Green Day, Jakob Dylan, Música, Movies & CineMás, Rodrigo Teixteira

By Horacio Garcia

Here is a crazy idea: let's take some live salmon from the Highlands in Scotland and let's import them into Yemen, then we'll  breed them for a while and they'll be ready to be catch by the fly fishers that will pour in from all over the world. Say what!?

For such ridiculous idea you'll need someone with a lot of money and nothing to do, like let's say, a Yemeni aheik; then some help from the British government and finally but not the least important: you'll need an expert on salmon.

So when Sheik Muhammad sends out his forceful assistant, an unflappable young woman named Harriet Chetwode Talbot, with the mission of making possible his impossible dream of bringing salmon fly fishing to the Yemen she goes straight to Britain's foremost expert in salmons: Alfred Jones.

And Fred refuses any involvement in such an outlandish project: "is theoretically possible in the same sense that a manned mission to Mars is theoretically possible" he tells her. But then, the powers that are intervene in the form of Press Secretary Bridget Maxwell, a bureaucrat who sees a great opportunity for good publicity in the Middle East -paid by somebody else.

The cast was very carefully selected with Emily Blunt as Harriet and Ewan McGregor as Fred. Is a shame that Ms. Blunt only made one film in Hollywood last year (The Adjustment Bureau) because she is absolutely ravishing as the willful and enthusiastic Harriet. On the other hand McGregor, playing the programed office drone that slowly melts under the double influence of the tropical sun and the pretty girl is simply perfect and the film carries ahead flawlessly thanks to the easy chemistry of the pair.

The supporting characters are played equally well; Kristin Scott Thomas, pushing all her powerful personality into a reckless government official in search for a feel-good story to put on her resume, steals every scene in which she appears, and the excellent Egyptian actor Amr Waked provides a most convincing sheik in love with fishing.

Before winning an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire, writer Simon Beaufoy used to do these almost theatrical little comedies like The Full Monty or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, always telling the tales of small English people overcoming impossible obstacles.  Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is exactly that kind of movie and is a pleasure to see director Lasse Halstrom back with a solid romantic comedy worthy of his Chocolat fame (and a real relief after the sugary crap named Dear John).

With all the conceivable twists that a romantic comedy can afford, including the fact that one of the main characters is married and the other has a boyfriend in the army, and with the addition of Islamic terrorists, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen makes a very nice treat in that classical British way they've been producing since Oscar Wilde.

Tags Amr Waked, blogger: Horacio Garcia, Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

By Ikam Acosta

Attention conspiracy buffs, you're about to be in for a treat. Savages is a new action thriller in the works by Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone. What happens when you put some California stoners up against the Mexican Baja Cartel?

Savages is about a Buddhist called Ben, played by Aaron Johnson, and his BFF, ex-Navy SEAL Chon, played by Taylor Kitsch. They decide to become pot farmers, growing some of the best marijuana ever developed. Ben and Chon share a unique friendship with Ophelia, played by Blake Lively, and life seems ideal in their quaint little town.

The Laguna Beach entrepreneurs are doing well, until the Mexican drug cartel gets wind of their lucrative business and decide to put a wrench in their operation. What a buzzkill. Ophelia gets kidnapped and held until the boys decide to cooperate. After all, the cartel is not one to ask politely if they can play in your clubhouse, they're more likely to tear down your tree.

Savages is based on Don Winslow's best selling crime thriller Topping New York Time's Top 10 Books of 2010 by the same name. The film features an all-star cast, including Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Benicio Del Toro, and Aaron Johnson, to name a few. Savages is a fast-paced thriller by Universal pictures that will leave you at the edge of your seat.

Catch a glimpse of the trailer on MTV Tr3s and let us know what you think. I personally can't wait to see all these wonderful stars in action in one film. Not to mention I love fast paced thrillers. Sign me up.

Are you excited to see Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro play drug kingpins on the big screen?

Tags Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, Blake Lively, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Don Winslow, John Travolta, Movies & CineMás, Oliver Stone, Salma Hayek, Taylor Kitsch, Uma Thurman

By Michael Lopez

R-Rated comedy fans are in for a big treat this week. In just one day they'll be able to see Jim, Stifler and Stifler's Mom light up the screen again in American Reunion. Several of the movie's leads spoke to us at a recent junket about why the franchise is so beloved.

"[Writer/directors] Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz came in and did such justice to these characters," Jason Biggs told us. "This feels very much like the first film."

Indeed, when we spoke to Hayden and Jon it was clear they were big fans of the American Pie franchise. And 13 years after the original movie came out, the demand for more seems to be greater than ever. At least that's how star Eugene Levy sees it.

"American Pie was a really smart movie," he told us. "It wasn't just a series of sex jokes. The characters were great and that's what kept the franchise going. That’s why I'm back for number four."

Co-star Eddie Kaye Thomas wasn't afraid to address Reunion’s sexy nature. In fact, he jokingly explained how the four Pie movies may be this generation's "greatest" high school film franchise.

"If you ask me, I think we're way cooler than High School Musical," he laughingly said. "And we've got more nudity than Project X!"

But what the American Pie movies are most famous for, is heart. There is a lot of camaraderie between Biggs, Thomas, Levy and the gang, both onscreen and off. Though, as expected, there is one particular character who is destined to steal the show.

"Yea, I know everybody loves Stifler," actor Seann William Scott told us. "He's kind of like the voice for that guy who had an awesome time in high school. Only now in the new movie, he doesn't quite know what to do with himself. He’s much more human now."

Having seen the film, we can vouch for the "new and improved" Stifler. Yes, he's evolved, but he's still eager to pull out a raunchy joke when the moment calls for it!

You can see just how far Seann takes his antics when American Reunion arrives this Friday in theaters.

Who's your favorite character from the American Pie series? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Pie, American Reunion, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Eugene Levy, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hayden Schlossberg, Jason Biggs, Jon Hurwitz, Movies & CineMás, Seann William Scott, Tr3s Exclusives