Last week's Cloud Atlas trailer created lots of buzz around the internet--partly because it was 17 hours long--and now the official website for the film has gone live. The site features scrolling images of the movie's various characters.

Cloud Atlas is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by David Mitchell. It tells numerous intertwining story lines over the span of centuries, exploring how one person's actions can impact the lives of others.

Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski siblings direct an epic cast of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, Keith David, Ben Whishaw, and Hugo Weaving (The Hobbit).

Cloud Atlas premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival, with a wide release on October 26.

The third in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has an apt name, we will give it that. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days finds our book series’ hero Greg (Zachary Gordon) finishing middle school and readying for a summer of sitting inside playing video games.

Unfortunately his father (Steve Zahn) has other ideas. Summer is the opportune time for father-son bonding.

Dog Days is slightly more true to the book series than last year’s incarnation, Rodrick Rules. The latest film is based on the third and fourth book in the Jeff Kinney series and is the first to be released in the summer. The first two were modest successes with March releases. How will it do in the… well, dog days of summer?

With a lack of family film fare out there, the film should do quite well. It is squarely geared at the family audience, and kids will adore it while parents won’t mind it. The feel of the book series is maintained, as seen by the cartoon's dominance of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days poster.

Gordon has grown up as an actor and it shows as his smart-alecky self is tempered in the third installment in the Wimpy Kid franchise. We adore Zahn, particularly opposite Christian Bale in Rescue Dawn, but as the rest of the cast seems to have grown up, his character is not as fully drawn.

This film feels less like a sitcom than the previous two and that is a very good thing. The thing about family films is one -- as an adult -- can enter the theater with the lowest of expectations and be pleasantly surprised. That is certainly the case with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.

Whereas the latest Wimpy Kid film is nice in its showing the doldrums that can be summer vacation when expectations don’t meet reality, the snap that was present in the dialogue in the first two films is missing here. New writers were brought on board, and perhaps that would explain the difference. Or, it could be that our latest film in the series is based on two books and the story feels scant because filmmakers were trying to take on too much.

Either way, our review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is mixed. In some ways it improves the series, and in other ways, Dog Days is weaker.

But, let’s be clear on one thing: Kids who adore the Wimpy Kid series, will adore it.

Some buzz has been building about the host of next year's Oscars, with . Reportedly, outgoing Academy president has attempted to hire Jimmy Fallon and Lorne Michaels to host and produce the 2013 awards before newly-elected president Hawk Koch begins his tenure.

No deal went through, however, and Oscar airer ABC may be hesitant to place the direct rival to their own Jimmy Kimmel in such a high-profile ratings-grabbing position.

Fallon may be a welcome change from the last few years of Oscar hosts, which included the disastrous pairing of Anne Hathaway and James Franco, and this year's incredibly safe panic-grab of Billy Crystal.

Unlike other recent emcees, Fallon is a professional host and comedian, with an extremely enthusiastic and wide-eyed energy that could be perfect for a cultural event like the Oscars that has been treated with a bit too much gravitas of late. He has live television experience with his time on Saturday Night Live, and pairing him with producer Lorne Michaels could inject just the right spirit into the proceedings.

Michaels, after all, has been at the helm of television's second biggest institution, SNL for the better part of its 37-year existence, not to mention producing countless movies such as Mean Girls and MacGruber. It only seems natural to let him take a stab at TV's first biggest institution.

Granted, Fallon may not be for everyone. He can come off as nervous and fidgety, and personally, I think his interview skills are terrible. That said, he does his fairly-excellent writing staff justice with his peppy and charming monologue delivery, and his sketches (especially of the musical variety) are incredibly on-point.

What do you think? Would Jimmy Fallon make a good Oscar host?

The first weekend of August finds three new films hitting theaters. There’s a sci-fi remake that doesn’t feel at all like the original, Total Recall, and a romantic comedy that is unlike any rom-com in recent memory -- Celeste and Jesse Forever -- plus an iconic children’s series welcomes its third film incarnation with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.

Total Recall: Colin Farrell swings into action in director Les Wiseman’s vision of the classic short story. Gone are visions of Mars and campiness and in its place is a riveting, fast-passed thriller that is sure to please fans of Philip K. Dick’s prose. Check out our Total Recall review for more.

 

Total Recall Movie Trailer

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days: Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid series welcomes its third film in the franchise to theaters. As we state in our Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days review, the film is better than the second, but not quite as good as the first.

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days Trailer

Celeste and Jesse Forever: Rashida Jones co-wrote and stars with Andy Samberg in this romantic comedy that is as truthful about the complexities of relationship as any in recent memory. As reported in our Celeste and Jesse Forever review, Samberg shows his dramatic muscle while still bringing the comedy.

 

Celeste and Jesse Forever Trailer

I have to admit something deeply personal to you fine readers. I used to hate Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Well, hate's a strong word--more like "find overwhelmingly, cloyingly, insurmountably annoying."

But after leaving the cutesy trying-so-so-hard-to-be-charming rom-com realm for the action/thriller genre, I've totally come around on JGL. Homeboy's a solid actor. He was definitely one of the best elements of The Dark Knight Rises, and now I'm really excited to see him as a young Bruce Willis in Looper.

Check out a new Looper international "quad" poster that shows off a bit of Gordon-Levitt's aping skills:

Paul Dano, Jeff Daniels, and Emily Blunt (The Five-Year Engagement) round out the cast. The Brothers Bloom director wrote and directed the film.

Looper will be the star of the Toronto International Film Festival, premiering on September 6. It will hit theaters September 28.

Boy, Alice has had a real hard time of it. I feel bad. Check out this new featurette for Resident Evil: Retribution, which takes us through Alice's entire history from the first film up through now:

 

Resident Evil: Retribution Alice Featurette

Alice is played by Milla Jovovich, who reprises the role for the fifth time. Sienna Guillory, Kevin Durand, and Michelle Rodriguez (Machete Kills) also star.

The new film finds Alice once again battling the Umbrella Corporation in order to hunt down those responsible for the outbreak. When she reaches a life-changing revelation, however, she may finally discover the truth.

Resident Evil: Retribution premieres September 14. Take a look at the Resident Evil: Retribution trailer for a preview of the new film.

Christian Bale has barely waited for The Dark Knight Rises to earn $300 million before hopping onto another production. The actor is in negotiations to star in The Creed of Violence (not to be confused with Assassin's Creed).

The film is an adaptation of the Boston Teran novel of the same name. It follows a criminal named Rawbone in the early 1900's whose weapons sale to Mexico is intercepted at the border by the Bureau of Investigation. There, he is offered immunity if he helps to expose the Mexican crime ring.

Todd Field is writing the script, with Universal Pictures to distribute. Filming is set to begin early 2013.

After The Dark Knight Rises passed the $300 million mark early last week, Batman has now won the box office for the third straight weekend, continuing its quest to catch The Avengers in total domestic sales by adding $36.4 million in earnings since Friday. Check out our The Dark Knight Rises quotes page for some insight into the film's success.

Coming in second, Total Recall saw a somewhat disappointing opening weekend. The sci-fi remake starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel earned $26 million in its first three days in theaters.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days came in third with a total gross of $14.7 million. The third film in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series opened on Friday, giving families an option in a weekend dominated by action.

Ice Age: Continental Drift fell from 2nd to 4th, adding $8.4 million this weekend. The Watch rounds out the top 5 with $6.35 million, dropping from 3rd place last weekend.

Box Office Top 10:

1. The Dark Knight Rises, $36.4 million

2. Total Recall, $26 million

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, $14.7 million
4. Ice Age: Continental Drift, $8.4 million
5. The Watch, $6.4 million

6. Ted, $5.5 million
7. Step Up Revolution, $5.3 million
8. The Amazing Spider-Man, $4.3 million
9. Brave, $2.9 million
10. Magic Mike, $1.4 million

The new poster for The Master looks like it should be the wallpaper in a creepy 1970's-kitsch Belgian hostel. The free breakfast? It's not waffles like you were hoping, it's DIY toast and jam! Blech. Take a look:

The mosaic poster features stars Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Adams will also play Lois Lane in the upcoming Man of Steel, while Hoffman will star as Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The Master is Paul Thomas Anderson's first film since his 2007 Oscar contender There Will Be Blood, and only his sixth film total. It follows a charismatic post-WWII cult leader and his former-drifter protege.

Fans can see the film in theaters beginning September 14. Until then, check out The Master trailer to get pumped!

Two of the finest actors of their generation, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, portray a married couple seeking to rekindle the spark in Hope Springs. The Oscar winners are talking about their collaboration and why they believe people will see the film as a mirror to their own lives, or at least people they know.

“I think audiences will recognize these people. They may recognize themselves in some part of this marriage. They may recognize their brother-in-law,” Streep said and laughed.

Streep expected greatness when working with Jones and was not disappointed in the experience. She believes that it is his performance that truly makes this journey to saving a marriage work.

“I really think he is so transparent so what you see is both a person who is defensive and the reasons for it,” Streep said. “You see both why Kay is frustrated and why she loves him. That’s apparent from the very beginning. You don’t really doubt that… ever. That is due to Tommy.”

Jones dove into the part of a man who may have hit cruise control in his marriage some years ago and when confronted with the possibility of losing his wife, gives in to her request to attend a marriage counseling retreat. “He’s a pretty complacent fellow,” Jones said.

“My character didn’t want to go to any kind of therapy. At first he scoffed and then he found himself alone for a few minutes and, of course, realizes he’s objectively dependent on his wife, so he does go, with a grudge and a resentment -- based on a fear of intimacy.”

The actor reported that is exactly why Hope Springs has such a strong hilarity factor. “That’s funny, it’s essentially comic,” Jones added. “This guy hates the idea of therapy and when it starts to work, he doesn’t even realize it.”

Streep doesn’t believe that Hope Springs delves into stereotypes, but reported that certain things about marriage and therapy are simply facts.

“I think, generally, women are more interested in spelunking around inside a relationship and finding out what makes it work and trying to make it better,” Streep said. “My character wants more engagement. She wants to feel connected and to feel intimately involved with him and to feel that he’s intimately interested in her.”

When she was a girl, one of her favorite things to do was to race home from school and open up the Ladies' Home Journal. “I used to read this column that asked, ‘Can this marriage be saved?’” she said and laughed.

“Girls are interested in that stuff. As a general rule, guys are not that interested in going there. Part of the drama of Hope Springs is that part of the conflict is that she wants to go [to therapy] and he doesn’t.”

Streep shares that when the magic of therapy begins to take hold, the dissatisfaction with therapy switches partners in the marriage. “But once they’re there, things are presented that make her uncomfortable that she didn’t anticipate,” she said.

In the end, Streep feels that what transpires onscreen is something that is universal to millions of couples. The work it takes to maintain a relationship over decades is explored with romantic and comic flair in Hope Springs.

“It’s all the things that are so hard to do,” Streep said of what comes out of their onscreen therapy with Dr. Feld (Steve Carell). “They’re tiny, but so meaningful in life and making and keeping a connection.”

As for working with Carell, both actors believe he is one of our best and illustrates that point throughout the film.

“He holds back and knows when to sit. He has beautiful timing as an actor,” Streep said. “He’s a sensitive soul and has a natural grace to him, even when he’s playing his outrageous character on The Office.”

“He’s a thoughtful actor,” Jones added. “He played it very, very well.”

Is there anything Daniel Day-Lewis can't do? Besides skee ball of course (I've heard he's a notoriously disastrous skee baller). The revered actor will portray our 16th President in the upcoming film Lincoln, and the first official photo has finally been released via Entertainment Weekly. It's pretty uncanny:

For comparison, grab a penny. Pretty close, right?

Like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter only factually accurate, the new film tells the story of Honest Abe--this one focusing on the last few months of his life. Sally Field plays Mary Todd Lincoln, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises) as their son Robert.

James Spader, Hal Holbrook, and Tommy Lee Jones also star.

Steven Spielberg directs the screenplay from John Logan (Skyfall), Tony Kushner, and Paul Webb. Lincoln opens in select theaters November 9, with a wide release on November 16.

Kevin Costner is in negotiations to join the new film Jack Ryan, alongside Chris Pine as the title hero. The Bull Durham actor will play Ryan's CIA mentor.

Jack Ryan, directed by Kenneth Branagh, reboots the Tom Clancy-based franchise about the character, which included The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears.

In addition to Jack Ryan, Costner is in talks to star in Three Days to Kill. The film follows an assassin who takes one last job after finding out he's dying. He can also be seen in the upcoming Superman movie Man of Steel, where he plays Jonathan Kent, adoptive father of Clark.

It seems like there's a new Catching Fire casting announcement pretty much daily at this point. Now, get ready to have your mind blown: We have a new Catching Fire casting announcement!

Actress Meta Golding has signed on to play Enobaria in The Hunger Games sequel. The character is a pointy-toothed former District 2 tribute who won The Hunger Games by biting another tribute's throat out.

Catching Fire stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and is based on Suzanne Collins' second Hunger Games novel. Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone, and Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master) also star.

Golding is known for guest roles on CSI, Lie to Me, House, and many other TV shows. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will hit theaters November 22, 2013.

A new trailer for Judd Apatow's latest film, This is Forty, has dropped courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. Check it out:

 

This is 40 Trailer

The spin-off (or "sort-of sequel") of Knocked Up stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their characters Pete and Debbie. This time, the focus is on them and their "normal" family, as Debbie turns forty years old. Melissa McCarthy, Megan Fox, John Lithgow, and Albert Brooks also star.

Rudd, a favorite of Apatow's, is set to appear next month in the highly-anticipated adaptation, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and is preparing to reprise his role as Brian Fantana in the Apatow-produced Anchorman 2. Check out some Anchorman quotes for some of the best moments from the first film.

This is 40 is written, directed, and produced by Apatow (the first time he's done all three since 2009's Funny People). It hits theaters December 21.

Robert Pattinson stars as Eric Packer in David Cronenberg's new film Cosmopolis. The film premiered at Cannes in May in advance of its wide release in the fall. Check out two new stills:

Based on a novel by Don DeLillo, Cosmopolis follows millionaire Packer as he rides in a limo through heavy Manhattan traffic on his way to get a haircut, only to see his surreal world crumble around him.

Sarah Gadon, Jay Baruschel, Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, and Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution) also star.

Cosmopolis will hit theaters on August 17.

Julianne Hough has signed on to star in the upcoming film Time and a Half, written by Diablo Cody. Cody, who broke into Hollywood with her 2007 indie comedy Juno, will be making her directorial debut with an untitled project that will also star Hough.

Hough will play a recent college grad who runs into a one-night stand from her past. The only problem? He's also her sister's ex-boyfriend. The writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Ol Parker, will direct.

A dancer, singer, and two-time Dancing with the Stars champion, Hough has started to make a name for herself as an actress. She appeared earlier this year in the jukebox musical Rock of Ages. She will also appear in the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation, Safe Haven.

Jeremy Renner clearly does not shy away from challenges. The actor is meeting Movie Fanatic to talk about stepping into a franchise that could not have been more identified with another actor. Now that The Bourne Legacy is about to hit theaters, Renner tells us what it was like to step into the lead for one of Hollywood’s most successful series. What was it like to step into a series that began with Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity?

Renner talks about the pressures, if any, he felt headlining his first action film after his stellar work on the highly successful Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Avengers.

Movie Fanatic: You haven’t had to carry a film like this before, was it ever too much?

Jeremy Renner: It’s like running downhill, I suppose. That’s what it felt like. My personal workload, I felt, was minimal compared to the entire process of filmmaking. For me, it was about getting enough sleep and being physically adept enough to be able to perform when I needed to perform. There was fighting, training, stretching, or whatever I had to do to get through the day. The treats were the moments like I had with Edward (Norton) and Rachel (Weisz). Those were the little treats along the way that kept me going through the really physical part of the movie.

Movie Fanatic: So, did you talk to Matt Damon before shooting started?

Jeremy Renner: No, we didn’t reach out to each other, at all. We never spoke creatively about it. I’ve known him for years, but I inadvertently ran into him before we started. We had a good time at a birthday party, and that was about it.

Movie Fanatic: We can see it in The Bourne Legacy trailer, those scenes in Alaska look absolutely chilly and chilling. How'd you handle that cold?

Jeremy Renner: You don’t ask for that sort of physical torture [laughs]. We weren’t shooting in the Rockies and pretending it was summer. It was cold as it was supposed to be. The only thing that was really challenging was that I’m supposed to be a tough guy and to be able to go, “Yeah, it’s not cold.” I’m freezing! I can’t be freezing! It wasn’t easy, but it was beautiful and it became a character in itself.

Movie Fanatic: So, did your director commiserate with you and walk around half-naked like you do?

Jeremy Renner: You never saw him! He was wrapped… he had batteries in his gloves! He had heated underwear. How dare he ask me to jump in the water naked!

Movie Fanatic: Was the training for the action sequences much different than the work you did to prepare for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Avengers?

Jeremy Renner: I was lucky enough to have Mission and Avengers, same guys I worked with on those came onto Bourne, and so I had a running start with that. If anything, it might have been a little easier even though what was required of me was a lot more.

Movie Fanatic: How do you see the difference between your agent and Jason Bourne?

Jeremy Renner: The differences are, which were very exciting to me, is that it is a new palette of colors and a new canvas to paint upon. His circumstance is being willing, and I feel connected to that idea of wanting to belong to something -- a sense of purpose as a man on the planet. That is what I initially felt connected to: A guy that really wanted to belong, whether it is the military, or then signing up for a program that makes you feel like you are doing some good on the planet.

Movie Fanatic: Was there one challenge bigger than any other diving into The Bourne Legacy?

Jeremy Renner: Not getting hurt. Pretty much, I could not get injured. I wanted to do as much as I possibly could because of the responsibility of the authenticity of the three films prior. It would do a great injustice to this film if I could not perform what was required. I like those physical challenges. Outside of that, it’s a job from page one to 120 -- and tremendous cast and directors and writing. It’s exciting to go to work.

Movie Fanatic: Did you get hurt at all?

Jeremy Renner: I hurt my feelings [laughs]. I got banged up a little bit. If you don’t get banged up, you’re not working hard enough in my mind.

Movie Fanatic: You up for another? Will Damon return?

Jeremy Renner: As far as the future, I’m excited that the architects and creators behind this whole thing have cleverly left it wide open for fans like myself wondering what the heck is going to happen next.

Disney Head Bob Iger announced that Joss Whedon will return to write and direct The Avengers 2, according to Variety.

With the immense success of The Avengers, earning nearly $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales, it's no surprise that Whedon is returning for the sequel. At this year's Comic-Con, however, Whedon said that he was unsure if he would be helming Avengers 2, so the official news lets fans exhale.

The Avengers 2 is still some ways away, but with Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2 in the works, fans will be seeing a lot of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the coming years. And if you want to see your favorite heroes every day, use one of the Avengers wallpapers as your desktop image..

With the frequency of Catching Fire casting news, I should really just create a template. Today, Bruno Gunn joins the Catching Fire cast.

Gunn can be recognized from Bad Teacher, and for guest spots on TV shows such as Sons of Anarchy and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He will portray Brutus, a former career tribute from District 2.

He joins Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is gearing up for production (hence the myriad casting announcements). It has a release date set for November 22, 2013.

The Loft looks like the thriller version of 1998's Very Bad Things. Check out the slightly-NSFW trailer:

 

The Loft Trailer

A remake of the Belgian film Loft, brought to English-speaking audiences by the original director, Erik Van Looy, The Loft stars Karl Urban and James Marsden as two of a group of five friends who share a loft as a place to discreetly bring their mistresses. When a dead woman shows up in the bed, they all suspect each other as the culprit.

Urban is involved in a lot of remakes this year, as he will appear in the upcoming film Dredd (though, technically, it's not a Judge Dredd remake). Check out this Dredd red band clip for a look.

Marsden, meanwhile, can be seen in the recent The Bachelorette red band trailer.

The Loft does not yet have a release date, though it is expected for late 2012/early 2013.