Cowboys & Aliens is this year’s Independence Day or Iron Man; it’s a slam-bang ride that puts summer movies back on the map. Well, at least for this year. Jon Favreau (who directed Iron Man, aptly enough) knows how to craft an adrenaline rush without making it overkill. There’s just enough information about characters to make them more than redshirts waiting to die, or meaningless background noise. Viewers will care about the good guys, boo the bad guys…because Cowboys & Aliens pulls at the same strings the old-fashioned Westerns used to do. This is a well crafted popcorn fest of the highest order, with everyone from cinematographer to special effects tech to Extra Number Three giving it their all.

As to the story, it’s simple enough. Aliens have landed on planet Earth, and taken up residence in a remote part of Arizona in 1873. Meanwhile, back in town, Jake Lonergan, a man with no memory of his past, crosses paths with a powerful rancher’s son who has spent all his free time making trouble for the poor townspeople. As the two clash, the aliens show themselves, and it’s time to lay down their differences or get wiped off the planet. Implausible? No more so than The Three Stooges as cowboys, or Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. Cowboys & Aliens plays it straight, and it’s a testament to the screenwriter — and to Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, the writers of the original graphic novel — that the story comes across so successfully.

The success of this genre melding is also thanks to the starpower involved. Favreau had the good sense to cast big stars whose talent lies in their ability to take larger than life characters and make them believable. Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace, Defiance) plays Jake, the cowboy with a memory problem that can still sling lead with the best of them. As with his Bond films, this hard-edged character has a hidden humanity that comes to the surface when the chips are down. Harrison Ford (seriously, if you need me to mention his movies, you’ve lived under a rock the past several decades) plays badass rancher Woodrow Dolarhyde, one of those Wild West bigwigs that just as soon shoot you as come up with a way around you. How Jake and Woodrow come together to battle the outer-space bad guys plays out well, with plenty of understandable bumps along the road.  Other standouts include Olivia Wilde (Tron: Legacy) as the mysterious Ella, a woman who has experience with these aliens, and Adam Beach (Smoke Signals, Law & Order: SVU) as Dolarhyde’s hired hand Nat.

Cowboys & Aliens makes the most of the Western genre by casting several well-known character actors that give a familiar feel to the proceedings. Buck Taylor (Gunsmoke), Clancy Brown (Highlander), Chris Browning (3:10 To Yuma), Sam Rockwell (Galaxy Quest), and Keith Carradine (Deadwood, Southern Comfort) all have parts to play, and their genre cred, along with the ease in which they’re able to inhabit their characters, gives Cowboys & Aliens a touch of genre class.

The most astonishing thing about this film is how it blends the Western and Science Fiction genres together so well. The scenes in the small western town feel like a straight-up western, and when you see the aliens, it feels like a sci-fi joint. And when the two combine? Well, I can’t put a name to it, but all I know is that I was too busy enjoying the story and the gorgeous location shots to try to piece out if I found the tale credible or not. Any movie that keeps me so enraptured has done their job well.

Cowboys, indians, aliens…it’s like a Saturday morning matinee lover’s wet dream. Add some popular actors to the mix, and it’s a sure-fire way to spend an enjoyable few hours at the local multiplex. Like you want to stay outside in the 100 degree heat? Better to sit inside and watch the hotness from a safe distance.

Today at Comic-Con saw less news, but much more high-profile announcements. Most of the action took place in Hall H, which was bogged down with some serious line management problems, but we’ve got it all summed up right here for you.

The first big presentation of the day was from Warner Bros. First, the first footage from Green Lantern was screened. Although nothing spectacular, the fans enjoyed it overall, but were disappointed with the lack of Reynolds in the suit. This only confirms the fact that the suit is a work-in-progress. Still, I am looking forward to this film and hope that it can be a simple, fun superhero origin story, which we haven’t seen a lot of recently. Also, I’m looking forward to the more fantastical elements of the hero. Producer Donald DeLine said that many other Green Lanterns are featured and that the movie is part space opera, which is a good sign that they’re not ignoring that area of the Green Lantern mythos. And although the Green Lantern announcements are cool, DC has really not stepped up their game to challenge Marvel’s cinematic dominance. Geoff Johns is now in charge of their creative decisions moving forward, which is a great move, but the company has not centralized their film properties as Marvel has to such enormous success. Also, there was no word on Batman, which was a huge missed opportunity. Still, I’m hoping that after Green Lantern DC gets their act together and makes something great, maybe a Justice League movie? (Although I’m torn on whether or not Chris Nolan’s Batman should be a part of anything like that.) After a short Harry Potter trailer and panel, Zack Snyder came onstage for Sucker Punch. This new movie is based on his idea and stars an ensemble cast of women who are breaking out of a mental institution and includes Carla Gugino, Jamie Chung, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone and Emily Browning. I’m not sure what to think about this movie, but the footage got a fantastic reception and it sounds truly unique. Hopefully the trailer gets released online soon so we all can see it.

Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, has had an enormous 360 when it comes to the public’s view. After a period of resenting the fact that such a movie was being remade, it seems like every detractor has been shut up by footage from the upcoming movie. I know I wasn’t too excited for this, but now its definitely on my radar. Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), from what I can tell, is doing a fantastic job helming the movie. He talked about how Steven Spielberg gave him tips for interacting with young actors, and that is what has me most excited for this film. Both Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Grace Moretz ((500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass) have a lot of potential to give amazing performances and I hope they both pull it off. Check out this trailer for the film:

At this point, Hall H screeched to a halt after a fight broke out. It’s still unclear what actually happened, but the prevailing rumor is that someone asked another guy to move and when he didn’t, he stabbed him in the face with a pen. That’s speculation, but the scene was pretty grisly with blood everywhere and the victim being taken out on a stretcher, all with 8 or 9 cops in the vicinity.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost then introduced their new film, Paul. In the movie, the duo travel to Comic-Con and then embark on a road trip to Roswell, New Mexico. On the way they meet an alien named Paul, who is voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul is directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and the supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman, and Jeffrey Tambor. I am really looking forward to this movie as Pegg and Frost are consistently hilarious and the story is pretty original. Paul is not your typical alien – he basically thinks of himself as an everyday Joe. Road trips are always pretty fun so having one with this trio of comedians and an alien should be awesome.

Once again Jon Favreau showed his skill at captivating the geek demographic by creating huge anticipation for Cowboys & Aliens, his new movie starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, and Sam Rockwell. Although the idea is great, it takes skill to blend such two very different genres, but Favreau is going for a very Western feel. After explaining that he is trying to emulate the Sergio Leone/John Ford films of the 40s and 50s, while using practical effects from the 80s as well as CGI for the aliens, he decided to just screen some early footage. Although the crew has only been shooting for three weeks, attendees were very impressed by the scene. In a surprise appearance, Harrison Ford was brought on stage in handcuffs by two security guards. It was his first appearance at the convention and the crowd went nuts. This a natural reaction, of course, to the man who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones, as well as many other awesome characters. I hope Favreau can really nail the Western feel and deliver a really fun, interesting film due out next summer, July 29th.

Now the presentation you’ve all been waiting for: Marvel. What Marvel is doing with their properties on film is incredible. By going independent and forming Marvel Studios where writers can collaborate and come up with great, interlocking stories for all of their superheroes, the company shows that it knows what its doing. Hopefully the result will be incredible, but there are a lot of moving parts, and all of them must come together perfectly. Captain America was first, as a short teaser showed Chris Evans in full costume throwing the iconic shield at the camera. After some discussion, the filmmakers actually had some footage to show which involved Hugo Weaving as Red Skull searching for an artifact that has something to do with Odin. I really like the Indiana Jones/World War II period piece vibe I’m getting for this movie. I hope Joe Johnston can create a very good atmosphere and seeing Cap killing Nazis is going to be sweet. Next up was Thor, which is much farther into production. A lot of footage was shown, and I can’t wait to see the trailer. Apparently the costumes are not nearly as cheesy as they looked in the first images we were shown. Reactions were very positive, which is a relief. Finally, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige brought on The Avengers. After years of rumors, this movie is finally actually happening. The final lineup was announced: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Donald Blake/Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk (see the full cast in the photo from the event). It’s going to be insane seeing so many heroes on screen at the same time. I hope Joss Whedon can bring together all of this madness and deliver an amazing film.

Behold the cast of "The Avengers"

Well that was a very big day at Comic-Con, and while we knew most of this going in, it was still awesome to see all of these projects materializing before our eyes. Its going to hard, but we can’t fuel the hype too much. I’m looking forward to all of these films as much as anyone, but I’m not going to let the anticipation ruin my enjoyment of the movies as movies.

“I want to go to there” to quote the great Liz Lemon that’s exactly how I feel after watching the trailer for Michel Gondry’s blockbuster. I don’t want to run this point through the ground but Michel Gondry (director of such art house classics as Human Nature, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind) doesn’t make blockbusters and after watching this trailer you can’t help but feel like you’re seeing a bizarro Iron Man (directed by regular Jon Favreau). I hope that this film just proves how great a director Gondry really is, able to give us beautiful artsy films as well as this mainstream production, a much more difficult task than one might think. Then there’s our star Seth Rogen, who looks very comfortable in this role (which I found surprising) even delivering a very Seth Rogen line such as “I want you to take my hand. I want you to come with me on this adventure.” which could have come from any Seth Rogen film to date (Pineapple Exress, Knocked Up, Observe and Report). We don’t see enough of Christoph Waltz’ character and we probably see all we need to see of Cameron Diaz who looks like she’s impersonating Gwyneth Paltrow from the Iron Man series… oh well, you can’t have it all. Anyway, I cannot wait to see The Green Hornet when it’s released in theaters January 14, 2011! Enjoy the trailer-

Twice the iron men, twice the Tony Stark narcissism, twice the villainous rage and even twice the smoking hot red-heads; this film couldn’t be more aptly named.   Jetting into 3000+ movie theatres to kick start the summer movie season, is Iron Man 2.  No doubt this film will open huge – audience polls nationwide rank it as one of the top 3 most anticipated films of Summer 2010 (anybody else miffed that “Tron: Legacy” was pushed to December?)  It has the effects, the action, and the running time (just over 2 hours), to give you exactly what is displayed on that cineplex ticket in your hand – Iron Man 2.

I was a comic book fan in the 80’s and 90’s, and although the Iron Man series  wasn’t on my weekly allowance busting trip to the comic store, I still knew of the character and that stoked my interest in seeing the first Iron Man movie.  The film was smart, witty, had an edge, and made me regret having never committed to reading the series in my youth.  Iron Man 2 doesn’t deliver the same payoff.  The film starts strong and ends with a blast but loses itself in between.  Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.: Chaplin, Weird Science) is just as witty as you’d expect him to be and Downey delivers yet again in the role, but his character gets twisted in the script.  Tony gets a heart (no, not a real one), and even experiences human frailty which you might say is the natural evolution of his character, but it plays on screen as an attempt to fill time and not a natural progression of the psyche of Tony Stark as we know him.

IM2 picks up where IM1 left off, Tony has just revealed he’s Iron Man and his press conference is being beamed about 6000 miles to Moscow where a physicist Ivan Vanko sits in his dark and tattered apartment watching and fuming.  Turns out he has a deep seeded hatred for the Stark family, having knowledge that Tony’s father, Howard, sold out his own father that helped develop that super cool ARC energy source that keeps Tony alive.   Ivan (Mickey Rourke: Angel Heart, The Wrestler), using the original ARC schematic, builds what can only be described as light saber whips wrapped in a an energy ribbon.  He sets his sights on the United States, and finding Tony to enact the revenge his recently penniless dead father deserves.   Ivan’s character is somewhat of a visual misnomer.  He appears within a dreary shanty-town in Moscow, yet his abode contains some pretty high-tech equipment and his wardrobe is straight out of this month’s Vanity Fair.  From his D&G signature glasses, to his retro new century hair (where do you go in the slum streets of Moscow to find a colorist that good?), Vanko seems more like a spin on the real life art and style of Mickey Rourke, and less like a character from the comic series.  With the help of an unscrupulous defense contractor Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell: Galaxy Quest, The Green Mile), Ivan builds an army of Iron Men to help him dispatch of the Stark legacy once and for all.  Secretly placed within Stark Industries is the new red-head on the block Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson: The Horse Whisperer, Vicky Cristina Barcelona).  Unfortunately her character, as both Stark employee and S.H.I.E.L.D. undercover agent, isn’t given enough film time.  Scarlett is an amazing talent and shines in every moment on screen; even her fight sequences leave you wanting to see more of her.  Her playful interactions with Tony evoke that same spark you saw in the original film when Tony and Pepper were close, only this time it looks steamier – more intense.

The supporting cast returns and in the case of Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow: Shakespeare In Love, Shallow Hal), are given more room to grow around Tony’s ever increasing ego.  Screenwriter Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder) crosses that flirtatious line that you loved so much in the first film.  The chemistry between Tony & Pepper has always been undeniable, but it was kept at bay for the sake of Stark Industries business and to keep the audience wondering when, and if, they would eventually fall into the relationship you so desperately want to see them in.  This time around, you find out.  It’s important to note that even the filmmakers must have questioned this aspect of the story line.  If you’ve seen the early teasers and trailers for IM2, you might remember a bit where Iron Man is diving in to a celebration below.  Just before he leaps, he asks for a kiss, which Pepper is more than happy to lay on the facemask as she tosses it off the plane for Tony to catch.  That scene was pulled from the film just prior to release.  It’s replaced by Tony merely jumping and that was a good decision.  The love side of Tony and Pepper’s relationship is a line that should not be crossed, but inevitably happens in the third act of the film which is the payoff we all wanted, but still feels contrived when it’s delivered.  Tony’s personal driver Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau: Daredevil) is back too.  Not content to be a mere butler, this time Hogan becomes a fist swinging heavyweight.  Favreau should stick with being behind the camera, and away from being an actor.  His role seemed larger because he was the films’ Director, not because his character needed this level of growth. .

The film drags at various points especially as you watch Tony deal with his own mortality.  It wastes solid screen time as Tony prances about as a drunken buffoon in an Iron Man suit at his own birthday party and made worse when watching Justin Hammer whine about how inventive Tony is and how mediocre his company has become as a result.  If the CEO’s of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are anything like this character, the state of national defense in the United States is in really big trouble.  I can’t get over how this film has twice the iron and twice the action of the original but you leave feeling half as fulfilled as with IM1.  The flight sequences are amazingly imaginative and the digital effects are top notch, but it’s not enough to save the film.

If 2+ hours of high flying action aren’t enough for you, stick around until the credits end – you’ll get a nice sneak peek at the next Marvel comic book/movie franchise.

“Iron Man 2 (2010)” is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action, sci fi action, violence and some language.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

A few days ago, Latino Review’s El Mayimbe suspected that Harrison Ford would be joining Cowboys & Aliens. That rumor has now been confirmed.

Cowboys & Aliens is Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s next project. The movie is based on a graphic novel series in which aliens attempt to conquer the Wild West. Cowboys and Apache Indians must put aside their differences in order to defend earth. You can read the first issue here.

The movie is moving forward based on a script by Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and Lost co-creator Damon Lindelhof. The current cast includes Daniel Craig in the lead, Zeke Jackson, and Olivia Wilde as Ella.

Earlier today, Favreau confirmed the rumor, saying:

Please stop asking if Harrison Ford is in Cowboys & Aliens. Okay? He is. Please don’t tell anybody.

Harrison Ford is my all-time favorite actor. Han Solo and Indiana Jones are among the greatest characters in all of movies. That being said, his recent roles haven’t had the same effect. Hopefully, C&A can give Ford another gritty hero to play and, although the actor is quickly approaching his 70th birthday, I think he still has a lot more in him.

Iron Man 2 is easily one of the most-anticipated movies of this summer, and there has been a lot of hype around the movie. We’ve waded through dozens of redundant image sets to bring you 50 high-resolution images from the film.

Check them out below and click for full resolution:

Here are some posters for the movie:

Iron Man 2 stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, and Sam Rockwell and hits theaters May 7th.

Images courtesy of FilmOFilia, Collider, ComicBookMovie and CinemaBlend.

And now for a special bonus – a new 2-minute clip from the film:

Marvel Studios and Columbia Records have come together in an interesting bit of Hollywood synergy by scoring practically all of this year’s Iron Man 2 to songs by AC/DC.

The hugely anticipated superhero action flick will reportedly feature up to 15 cuts from the Australian hard-rockers, with a full release entitled AC/DC: Iron Man 2 to hit stores this April.

The film will be the sequel to 2008′s multi-million dollar juggernaut, Iron Man, Marvel Studios’ most successful film yet. The film’s opening scene featured AC/DC hit, Back In Black, and director Jon Favreau wanted to take the energy and attitude of that scene and extend it throughout the sequel.

A sneak peak of the merging of AC/DC’s music and film can be viewed online now with a new video for the band’s classic Shoot To Thrill, which features new footage from the movie.

Marvel Studios’ Chief Operating Officer, Tim Connors, had this to say about the pairing:

“Music is an integral part of the Tony Stark and Iron Man experience, and we are pleased that Columbia and AC/DC are taking part in the franchise’s phenomenon. Through this relationship, the band is delivering fans supercharged Iron Man branded music through all our combined consumer touch points, from the movie to retail outlets and even virally with the debut of the new video.”

AC/DC: Iron Man 2 will be released on April 19. Here’s a look at the track listing:

1. Shoot to Thrill
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll Damnation
3. Guns for Hire
4. Cold Hearted Man
5. Back in Black
6. Thunderstruck
7. If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
8. Evil Walks
9. T.N.T.
10. Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be
11. Have a Drink on Me
12. The Razor’s Edge
13. Let There Be Rock
14. War Machine
15. Highway to Hell

Iron Man 2 will begin rocking (and rocketing) through box offices May 7, 2010.

Entertainment Tonight has posted one of their typically superficial, bare bones set visits, this time of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2, in which their reporters interview Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and the Black Widow herself, Scarlett Johansson.

Most of the footage revolves around the race track sequence we’ve seen a dozen set pictures of already, in which Tony Stark first encounters Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash.

Also investigated is Downey’s workout routine, just in case you want to have a rock-solid Tony Stark set of abs by the time this movie is released on May 7th, 2010.

Check out the footage below, and let us know what you think in the comments!