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Deliver Us From Evil Exclusive: Joel McHale is Ready For Action

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Audiences will get to see a different side Joel McHale when the horror-thriller Deliver Us From Evil premieres July 2. He plays the police partner of Eric Bana, and the two are hot on the trail trying to solve a series of crimes that clearly have a possession element to them.

We caught up with McHale for an exclusive video interview where the star of Community and Talk Soup talked about the pressures of taking a role that was written for him specifically by director Scott Derrickson. The fact that it is an action movie from Jerry Bruckheimer that involved him training for a knife fight wasn't too much pressure, either!

“There’s a side of me that wanted to show that he made the right choice,” McHale said of Derrickson. “I hopefully filled up the character for him. It was insanely flattering. It’s not what I planned on when I got here 14 years ago.”  

McHale, whose making his first foray into drama, teased in the Deliver Us From Evil trailer, joins another comic who does drama quite well -- Robin Williams -- in the upcoming film Merry Friggin’ Christmas. McHale, dishes what it meant to him to come so far as to appear with one of his idols.

“If you had said to me when I got here to L.A. that you are going to do a movie where you play Robin Williams’ son, I would say, ‘You have made some mistake,’” McHale admitted. “He’s a tremendous human being and one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”

Deliver Us From Evil Poster
The official poster for Deliver Us From Evil. Eric Bana stars as a NYPD detective hot on the trail of the... devil!

Horrible Bosses 2 Teaser Trailer: That Was Embarrassing!

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The boys who gave us those unforgettable Horrible Bosses quotes are back and believe it or not, they got some more bad bosses!

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema has released the Horrible Bosses 2 teaser trailer and although there are some new bosses -- such as Christoph Waltz and Chris Pine -- the highlight has to be the return of Kevin Spacey and an out-of-control Jennifer Aniston.

Also back is Jamie Foxx, who is helping the boys this time out with a kidnapping. Wonder who is getting kidnapped? Perhaps it’s Waltz, or Pine, or maybe it is both!

Horrible Bosses 2 lands November 26 and we’ve also got our hands on several new stills from the highly anticipated comedy sequel in the slideshow below!

And while we wait for the raucous comedy, watch Horrible Bosses online and get ready for  the big sequel. 

Chris Pine Lectures
Chris Pine is a Horrible Boss! Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman and Charlie Day are back for more abuse.

Deliver Us From Evil Review: Horror Meets CSI

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Deliver Us From Evil arrives in theaters this July 4 weekend as the most unlikely of combinations.

It is producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s first horror film. The movie is based on the true story of an NYPD detective investigating crimes that appear to be demonic in influence. It is also an exorcism-horror movie from the director (Scott Derrickson) of Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Eric Bana in Deliver Us From Evil

Immediately you get the sense that Deliver Us From Evil feels like a Bruckheimer project. In fact, the detective and crime investigation elements feel like CSI -- the CBS hit show he produces. Yet, its horror and supernatural aspects are pure Derrickson.

Eric Bana is Ralph Sarchie, and the real life guy’s book is what this film gets its largest inspiration from. Sarchie was also a major consultant on the film’s set. He’s married (his wife Jen is played by Olivia Munn) and has a little girl. He works the toughest streets in one of the toughest cities in America. The horrors he sees are terrifying, but man-made.

And that is where the film seeks to split. He meets a priest (Edgar Ramirez) that is trying to help a woman in his charge whom Sarchie arrested for throwing her young child into the lion’s den at a local zoo. Ramirez’s Mendoza is the opposite on the faith spectrum as Sarchie is. The cop has lost his way from the Catholic church after years of working the streets.

Yet Mendoza starts to get his attention with the concept of primary versus secondary evil. The latter is what man does to man. The former is what demons compel man to do. And there is a huge difference, and it appears that Sarchie’s case is rooted in the overtaking of the city by a demonic power that the two of them must join forces to eradicate.

On paper that is a fantastic idea. But, unfortunately, we felt too many times this film could not decide whether it was a police procedural or a battle against the devil movie. Sure, it can be both. It’s just Deliver Us From Evil is too often on one side or the other of that coin, and never right in the sweet spot of the two.

Deliver Us From Evil Joel McHale Eric Bana

Derrickson wields his camera heavily. He was aided by one of the greatest rain storm seasons in New York City history. It certainly added to the tone. It’s dark -- I mean, there doesn’t appear to even be windows in Sarchie’s police office! But that is clearly by choice and for this film, it works.

The director, as we learned form our Deliver Us From Evil WonderCon cast and filmmaker chat, was brought on later in the process. His stamp is all over this and his re-writes were clearly needed. The remnants of what came before are probably the police investigation elements that remind us of that certain aforementioned TV hit.

But, in that vein, our Deliver Us From Evil review has to point out that Bana’s partner Butler is played by Joel McHale. He delivers a performance that is astounding. Yes, he’s funny. But he can tackle a knife fight and patrol New York’s evil streets with the best of them. We hope McHale is given more chances to stretch his talents.

Fans of horror might be a little disappointed in Deliver Us From Evil. But, remember, this film is the most unlikely of combinations of police investigation tale, horror, family drama and morality lesson. 

Deliver Us From Evil Poster
The official poster for Deliver Us From Evil. Eric Bana stars as a NYPD detective hot on the trail of the... devil!

Enchanted Sequel Is Moving Forward!

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In a surprise move, yet not really if you think about how wildly popular the movie is, Disney’s Enchanted has had its sequel green lit. Enchanted stars Amy Adams as a classic Disney princess who gets sucked into the “real” world of New York City.

Enchanted Star Amy Adams

The film is incredibly beloved, and given its $340.5 million global box office gross, it’s kind of a surprise that it took seven years for Enchanted 2 to even show forward movement.

Simply revisiting these Enchanted quotes, it’s easy to see why the film is so adored. It is charming, romantic and hilarious.

Disney has signed screenwriters J. David Stern and David N. Weiss (Shrek 2, The Smurfs) to pen the screenplay and no word on whether Adams will return in the lead role or if the story will employ a new princess to tackle New York or some other great city.

If you watch Enchanted online, you’ll spot another who would eventually make more Disney magic -- Frozen Let it Go singer Idina Menzel!

Stay tuned as details on this emerge! 

The Expendables 3: Rated PG-13?

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Given all the violent mayhem that is The Expendables and The Expendables 2, it is not surprising that those two movies earned an R-rating from the MPAA. Sylvester Stallone has said that he hoped The Expendables 3 would earn a PG-13 in order to get more people in the seats.

He has gotten his wish as the third chapter in the aging action heroes who get back in action series was tapped with a PG-13 rating from the MPAA for “violence, including intense sustained gun battles and fight scenes, and for language.”

As seen in The Expendables 3 trailer, the film has added Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes and Mel Gibson, but it appears to have subtracted a bit of the bloody violence that earned previous films an R.

We’ll see if this does translate into more dollars at the box office with a wider audience being able to see the action flick. Given how well the previous two movies have done, we wonder if this move is brilliant on Stallone’s part, or just greedy. Honestly, we would not bet against Sly... like ever.

Watch The Expendables online and get ready for the sequel’s big arrival at the end of the summer on August 15.

Arnold and Sly Take a Walk
Arnold and Sly, together again! This time out, Arnie's role is much bigger.

Foxcatcher Teaser Trailer: Channing Tatum, Oscar Nominee?

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The Foxcatcher teaser trailer has arrived (fresh off those new Foxcatcher stills) and in a mere few minutes, it shows why Bennett Miller’s stunning true story has serious Oscar buzz surrounding it coming out of Cannes.

Channing Tatum stars as Mark Schultz, the Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler who decides to train with the eccentric multimillionaire and wrestling aficionado John du Pont (yes, of the du Pont fortune). What begins as a collective passion for winning turns into a dramatic and psychotic obsession that goes way beyond the desire for scoring a gold medal in the Seoul Olympics.

It will end in murder. 

The first Foxcatcher teaser trailer had us enthralled and we can see why the words Channing Tatum Oscar nominee were some of the exaltations that came out of the Cannes Film Festival.

Foxcatcher is from Miller -- a man who knows something about the true sports story (Moneyball) -- and also stars Mark Ruffalo as Tatum’s brother, a fellow wrestler who questions du Pont’s motivations from the beginning. 

23 Movies We Want at Comic-Con: San Diego Becomes Blockbuster Central

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Comic-Con is fast approaching and the annual pop culture fest in San Diego has traditionally sent expectations for certain films into the stratosphere. Remember last year when Zack Snyder announced that Batman would be in the Man of Steel sequel?!

No official announcements have been made, other than Mark Ruffalo saying that Avengers: Age of Ultron will be there.

But, we have 23 suggestions of films we would like to be adequately teased when the convention opens July 23 and runs through July 27. 

Several on our list have roots in pop culture history that are legendary -- just watch The Terminator online and you can see why we think Terminator: Genesis and its star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, will be there.

And watch The Avengers online and you can see why we're truly excited to get the scoop on the 2015 sequel from Joss Whedon and his cast of superheroes.  

Click through and see what 23 movies we want to see in San Diego at Comic-Con 2014!

Star Wars: Episode VII
I mean, come on! With no news from Disney and Lucasfilm at last year's event, this year's WonderCon and even CinemaCon, they have to be at Comic-Con 2014! And, we wouldn't be surprised if there was some footage. Commence. Cheering. Now.

Maleficent Becomes Angelina Jolie's Highest Grossing Movie

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Considering Maleficent achieved the highest opening weekend debut ever ($69.4 million) for Angelina Jolie, it’s not surprising that with the news it passed the $600 million worldwide gross mark, the Sleeping Beauty villain origins story has become Jolie’s highest grossing film in her entire career.

Angelina Jolie Maleficent Photo

The blockbuster news for Maleficent was released by Walt Disney Studios today and it also contained this little nugget of information: The film was the 20th release in the lauded studio’s history to achieve that mark.

The news gets even better as the box office receipts now put Maleficent in fourth place of the highest grossing movies of 2014.

What are the other three movies that have made more money this year than the film that gave us those Maleficent quotes?

Why, those would be X-Men: Days of Future Past with $713.9 million, Captain America: The Winter Soldier with $711.2 million and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with $703.7 million. And yes, that means two of the top four films profit-wise are from Disney.

Angelina Jolie Summons Her Powers
Angelina Jolie is a woman on a mission in Maleficent.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Watch Three Prequel Movies Now!

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We learned from that first Dawn of the Planet of the Apes trailer that the action picks up 10 years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Humans have been practically wiped off the planet from the so-called Simian Flu and apes have formed communities where they are thriving.

But, what happened in that decade between the two movies? 

Fox has released a trio of short films entitled Before the Dawn of the Apes. First, we look at Year 1, then Year 5, and then Year 10 takes us right up to when Dawn of the Planet of the Apes begins.

We cannot recommend these stunning short films enough, and you can watch them below in the slideshow!

Before the Dawn: Year 1
The Simian Flu has just started, how do humans respond?

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes lands in theaters July 11 and features Gary Oldman as the leader of a band of survivors. Among them is Jason Clarke and Keri Russell, and the married couple strike a relationship with a group of apes, led by Andy Serkis’ Caesar.

Clarke and Russell believe that what the apes want is what humans want: To raise their families and try to survive in this world turned upside down.

Oldman... he wants all the apes dead.

Watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes online, and then you might want to watch those three short films again, and get ready for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on July 11!

Apes with Shotguns!
You know, humans pretty much should throw in the towel when the apes master the art of shooting a shotgun!

Hercules Motion Poster: Dwayne Johnson Battles a Beast

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We've got our hands on a pretty cool poster for Hercules that literally comes alive. 

Dwayne Johnson stars as the title character and as seen in the Hercules trailer, one of the things that shows the audience that he is Hercules, is that iconic battle with a lion-like beast from the legend of old.

And the "live" poster, as the studio is calling it, shows that moment in full high-definition color!

Johnson is clearly quite proud of this particular film. He has been sharing Hercules set photos and videos from the moment he got fitted for that first costume. And we have to say, if there was one actor who was born to be the demi-god, it is Johnson. 

Hercules lands in theaters July 25 and is one of our July must-see movies!

Hercules Poster
The first Hercules poster! Dwayne Johnson so looks the part, no?

Tammy Exclusive: Mark Duplass Shares Melissa McCarthy Magic

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We caught up with our old friend Mark Duplass for an exclusive chat about his time making Tammy. Duplass had the pleasure of appearing as Bobby, one of star Melissa McCarthy’s first true love interests in the comedy that the star co-wrote with her husband Ben Falcone, who is also making his directorial debut.

Tammy Melissa McCarthy Mark Duplass

Duplass gave us his thoughts on why he thinks audiences so identify with McCarthy that it has her on a career trajectory that is rarely seen in Hollywood. The writer-director-actor-producer also chimed in as to what most impressed him with Falcone as a first-time director and Duplass has worked with many. Turns out there was a quality that Falcone has that is priceless when it comes to a newbie helmer.

And given that Duplass writes, directs, stars and works in TV and in film, we wondered how creativity calls him and how he decides what to do next.

Movie Fanatic: You had a front row seat to the magic of Melissa McCarthy. What do you think it is about her that audiences love her, people want to work with her and she’s truly having a huge Hollywood moment of late?

Mark Duplass: It is the lack of sarcasm and cynicism and a big heart in her humor is a big connection point with people, either consciously or unconsciously. What it is for me, I laugh my ass off in Dodgeball and I enjoy those things. But, they are built on making fun of people and tearing people down and they’re a little mean. When Melissa sort of brings to life a character like Tammy, who is pretty much the easiest person in the world to make fun of, she loves that character. I think that makes a big difference.

Movie Fanatic: You mention the heart in the film, which was evident even from that first Tammy movie trailer, and I think a lot of that comes from the relationship she has with your character. What about that relationship did you see in Melissa and Ben’s script that you wanted to play this guy?

Mark Duplass: The character of Bobby on the page was pretty simple and that relationship was one that we hoped would work. But, once we got into a conversation about it, we really wanted to work hard at making it a credible and interesting relationship. I think there was a responsibility to bring something to one of Melissa’s first onscreen love interests, to do something interesting with it. We talked a lot about how Tammy is insane. She is totally screwed up. She thinks she’s smarter than she is. What is it going to be that is going to bring Bobby to her? Bobby’s got his (expletive) together. We distilled it and we thought that at the end of the day, it’s the thing that is special about Melissa -- and Ben too -- which is when you have someone that doesn’t have an ounce of cynicism in their body, you can’t help but fall in love with them.

Mark Duplass Melissa McCarthy Tammy

Movie Fanatic: As someone who has written and directed, 1) what was your takeaway from working with Ben Falcone and 2) what most impressed you?

Mark Duplass: The big thing for me when I’m working with a first time director, which I’ve done a lot as an actor and as a producer, is do they have the confidence to admit what’s best? And that is so crucial. They need to make things a conversation. The biggest problem I have with most first-time directors -- myself included -- is being overly confident and shouting out marching orders so that people will know what you’re doing. Ben did a great job of admitting he didn’t know when he didn’t know and talking with everyone about what’s going to make this scene the best. Not only does that make him easy and fun, but ultimately it makes a better movie.

Movie Fanatic: How nice was it to reunite with Susan Sarandon after Jeff, Who Lives at Home?

Mark Duplass: Awesome! It’s so fun just to be with her in this movie. Melissa and Ben called me at a certain point and asked me about my experience working with Susan, and I had nothing but amazing things to say about her. I immediately called Susan and said, “You have to do this. They are the nicest people in the world. I can guarantee you this, even if the movie sucks, you will have a beautiful, fun few months with these guys. You got to do it.”

Movie Fanatic: We’ve talked many times. You write, direct, act, produce -- work in TV and film. How do you know what to do next and how does that creativity call you?

Mark Duplass: It’s interesting you ask that because I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and I do have two kids and I have not enough space in my life for all the projects I want to do. That is new for me because my whole life I’ve been struggling as an artist, just trying to get something made. So, my instinct is that now that I’m at a place in my life where I can make stuff with people who want to make it with me, I feel that I’m at the buffet for the first time. I just want to eat the (expletive) out of everything. If you eat too much, you’ll throw up [laughs]. That’s what this new phase of my life is all about. I’m trying to be more selective, but at the same time, I feel creatively fertile right now, and trying to strike that balance is interesting and it’s a new conflict for me. 

Melissa McCarthy "Flies" over Water!
Melissa McCarthy will do anything to get away from her life, including ride a jet ski she is clearly not prepared for.

Is Gareth Edwards Directing Boba Fett Stand-Alone Movie?

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We were thrilled when Godzilla director Gareth Edwards was tapped to helm one of the Star Wars stand-alone movies that will arrive in the years in between Episode VII, VIII and IX. But, we were curious as to which one it would be.

Boba Fett Return of the Jedi

We had heard about three possible “origins” or even solo story movies for Han Solo, Yoda and Boba Fett.

Now, from what was recently discovered in an IMDB page, it appears that Edwards will in fact be bringing the Boba Fett story to life as his stand-alone film.

Josh Trank was recently announced as director for another (and Rian Johnson for Star Wars: Episode VIII), and we’ll leave that conjecture for another day. But, having Edwards helm the Boba Fett story, we think, is a perfect fit.

This is a director that keenly knows how to have enormous (heck, Godzilla has to be the biggest) set pieces cook with action, heart and characters that we care about (Bryan Cranston’s Godzilla character was brilliant).

Here’s hoping that IMDB is right and that Edwards is the man bringing back Boba Fett!

Fett is one of our favorites, but here are a few of our not-so favorites from the Star Wars universe!

Ani Skywalker
Maybe it was how it was written. Perhaps, it was how it was played by Jake Lloyd... and maybe it was both. But young Anakin Skywalker, known as Ani, was just plain awful. .. and annoying!

Sin City A Dame to Kill For Clip: Jessica Alba Goes Crazy

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We've got our first clip from Sin CIty: A Dame to Klil For and it features Jessica Alba talking to herself in the mirror. She's having issues with the loss of Bruce Willis' character, which is understandable. 

Alba is going a little batty and perhaps, for her character, crazy is a good thing. After a few dramatic moments, Mickey Rourke makes his presence felt and gets a view of Alba that we have not seen before in Sin CIty.

The clip arrives just a day after we got our first look at another who is returning in the sequel, as that Rosario Dawson photo premiered -- along with our first look at Jamie Chung. 

Check out the Sin CIty: A Dame to Kill For trailer and it's easy to see that this next chapter in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's saga is even more visually arresting than the first.

And to get ready for the big sequel that's landing August 22, watch Sin CIty online

The Quad Poster
The "quad" poster has debuted for Sin CIty: A Dame to Kill For.

Batman v. Superman Dawn of Justice: First Look at Henry Cavill as Superman!

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We got our first look at Henry Cavill as Clark Kent just a few days ago, and now Warner Bros has set off some real fireworks for the Fourth of July as we have our first glance at Cavill in his Superman costume from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice!

Zack Snyder talked to USA Today about his currently filming sequel to Man of Steel, and along with the informative chat, he delivered the fantastic photo you can see below in our Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice photo slideshow.

Snyder tells the paper that Kent is working closely with Lois Lane (Amy Adams, who returns) at the Daily Planet and the film truly gives us the first look at Cavill’s dual characters living life in Metropolis.

Oh yes, there are those other cats roaming around -- like Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. Snyder promises that those characters will give his sequel to Man of Steel a “thicker, denser and more epic” feel.

Speaking of Affleck as The Bat, Snyder promises his older and crankier superhero will prove to be fun for the audience. "It's cooler to see a crusty old Batman beating the snot out of guys," Snyder said.

Look for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice in theaters May 6, 2016, and until then watch Man of Steel online for more Cavill as the man from Krypton! 

First Look at Henry Cavill as Superman
It's our first look at Henry Cavill in his Superman costume. It is me, or does he look more badass than ever!

The Purge: Anarchy Debuts Purger Character Posters!

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Those masks seen when you watch The Purge online were pretty scary.

Yet, they appear to be nothing compared to the horror that is struck by the masks we've seen in The Purge: Anarchy trailer for the sequel that arrives July 18. 

Universal clearly knows who they are marketing this picture to as they have revealed five character posters that each get the spotlight. 

Each mask features a letter and they all spell out the yearly cleanse of society that the new American government in this horror movie series calls "The Purge."

The first The Purge was a surprise hit and rightfully so -- what an original concept. One night a year, for 12 hours, all crime is legal, including murder. What happened after the Purge was put into place? Why... all violent crime drastically went down. 

Where the first The Purge showed how it changed the lives of the uber-wealthy, in The Purge: Anarchy, the world greatly expands and we head out into the streets of Los Angeles to see how average citizens deal with the yearly horror that masks itself as a crime cleaner. 

P is for Purge
The Purge: Anarchy shows off one of its Purgers.

Deliver Us From Evil Exclusive: Jerry Bruckheimer on True Tale That "Scared Me"

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Deliver Us From Evil producer Jerry Bruckheimer is no stranger to enormous Hollywood blockbusters. Just watch Armageddon online and you’ll see one of his. But with Deliver Us From Evil, the film is truly Bruckheimer’s first foray into horror.

We caught up with Bruckheimer for an exclusive video interview to talk about Deliver Us From Evil and what compelled him about the real-life story of NYPD officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) who investigates a series of crimes that seem to be demon possession based.

“I love things that are true,” Bruckheimer said. “When you sit with Ralph and you hear his story, it scared me.”

Bruckheimer also dished what it was about his background working in advertising on Madison Avenue earlier in his career that primed him for the world of cinematic storytelling. 

The super producer also dished of all his many awards and accolades, which one is dearest to his heart. His answer, frankly, is pretty cool!

Check out Deliver Us From Evil, in theaters now, and be sure to check out our Jerry Bruckheimer exclusive video interview where he updates us onBeverly Hills Cop 4 and Top Gun 2.

Deliver Us From Evil Poster
The official poster for Deliver Us From Evil. Eric Bana stars as a NYPD detective hot on the trail of the... devil!

23 Best Musician Moments in Movies: Acting in Tune!

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There's an old joke in Hollywood that all movie stars want to be music stars and that all musicians want to be movie stars. There is a long list of musicians who have taken roles in movies, and more often than not, it does not work out so well. 

But, when it does work -- it sings like crazy.

We looked over Hollywood history and found 23 moments in the movies where musicians took a chance on an acting role and scored.

Who could forget a certain country superstar and his sublime turn that can be seen when you watch The Blind Side online

And watch The Fighter online and there's someone who has successfully lost his musician moniker and become one of the most bankable movie stars on the planet. 

It's hard to remember when this Parents Just Don't Understand musician wasn't a huge movie star, but when you watch Independence Day online, you'll see the moment that he arrived.

Click through and see our 23 best musician moments in the movies to see which singers truly sang onscreen!

Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter
We adored Mark Wahlberg in Three Kings and dozens of other movies. But, it was his title role in The Fighter that truly knocked us out.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes TV Trailer: That's a Lot More Than 80!

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The latest, and final, TV trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has landed and in it, star Gary Oldman lets his true feelings about the apes be known. 

Jason Clarke has encountered the apes, and when he returns to the human base camp, Oldman asks him how many apes he saw in their stronghold. He replies, "80 or 90." 

When the apes show up to make their presence felt, the doors to the human compound open and Oldman can't believe his eyes. 

This last TV spot also lets us know how the critics feel about the film, with many calling it a "masterpiece."

This teaser also arrives just days after we got those three thrilling Dawn of the Planet of the Apes prequel short films that are must-sees before you take in one of our summer movie must-sees

Apes with Shotguns!
You know, humans pretty much should throw in the towel when the apes master the art of shooting a shotgun!

Begin Again Review: Can a Song Save Your Life?

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There was something truly magical about Once, and the writer-director (John Carney) who gave us that musical love letter is back with Begin Again, a love letter to music.

Begin Again Mark Ruffalo And Keira Knightley

Mark Ruffalo plays Dan, a washed-up music exec who is being pushed out of the company he founded. He's a divorced, single father whose triumphs appear to all be behind him. He is the definition of falling towards rock bottom and then…

One night he happens in to a local New York City watering hole and hears an angel.

Keira Knightley is Greta, a singer-songwriter who traveled to New York City from her native London with her boyfriend (Adam Levine in a stunning movie debut -- speaking of, check out our 23 best musician movie moments!) to pursue a career in the music business.

Levine’s Dave finds immediate success and Greta gets left behind as fame and fortune and all that accompanies it engulf her former lover.

That fateful night that Knightley is singing in that bar, well, she was coaxed onto the stage by a friend and it changed everything -- for all of our characters.

It takes some doing, but Ruffalo convinces her that she truly has something special. She is a singer-songwriter the likes of which we haven’t seen in a decade, and through the songs we hear her perform, he is dead-on. That’s the thing about Begin Again, like Once, the soundtrack is sublime. It is a must have, and we mean immediately.

There is also a touching subplot where Ruffalo tries to re-connect with his ex-wife (Catherine Keener) and his teenage daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). Everything this movie does works, and on many levels.

Begin Again touches your heart while it enlightens your ears and mind. You would be hard-pressed to find a better movie about musicians than this one and it will stick with you long after the final credits roll.

Begin Again Keira Knightley Adam Levine

As much as Begin Again makes us believe in the music industry again (what with all those manufactured pop stars ruling the charts), it also is simultaneously one life-affirming tale as well. Like a comedy that makes you laugh out loud, Begin Again causes you to grin profusely, so much so that your cheeks may hurt by its conclusion.

Also what is so fantastic about writer-director Carney’s film is that it never takes the safe or predictable route. It is engrained in a reality that we wish more films would embody. Just when you think you know where the story will go, it turns in another -- even more beautiful -- direction.

One last thing our Begin Again review has to point out is the title is perfect. The film was originally called Can a Song Save Your Life? That is a fitting title, but given what all of the characters go through on this melodic journey, the title Begin Again reflects that hopeful belief that in this life, we all can have a chance at redemption and a life worthy of our promise. 

Mark Ruffalo Guides Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley is just the singer-songwriter that Mark Ruffalo needs to save his career.

Weekend Movie Preview: July 4, 2014

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The weekend movie preview for this Fourth of July weekend has something for everyone and a few of these flicks should set off some fireworks. 

We've got Melissa McCarthy heading out on a comic road trip in Tammy, Eric Bana is fighting demons in Deliver Us From Evil, the kids (and their parents!) will adore the little alien in Earth to Echo, and Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley make beautiful music in Begin Again.

Let's break it down...

Tammy: McCarthy stars in her first truly headlining role as the title character, and to say she's not having a good time when we meet her is an understatement. She loses her job. Her husband is cheating and her car dies! Reluctantly, she agrees to take her grandmother (Susan Sarandon) with her on a road trip so she can get out of town and, frankly, grandma's car is the only one she has access to. 

The cast is fantastic and they do the best they can with a pretty formulaic comedy. It's a good fit for McCarthy, our Tammy review reported, but we hope that she and writer-director husband Ben Falcone try to push the comedic envelope more in their next feature.

Deliver Us From Evil: Bana stars as the real life NYPD officer Ralph Sarchie. Sarchie worked with a priest (played by Edgar Ramirez in the movie) to try to solve a series of brutal crimes that appeared to be demonic possession based.

Our Deliver Us From Evil review pointed out that the film never quite melds the worlds of cop drama and exorcism horror movie, but it still is a pretty good thrill ride with a stellar cast, including Joel McHale playing against type!

Earth to Echo: This film, that clearly is inspired by E.T., totally surprised us with how good it is and its ability to tell a story we feel we know in a whole new light. It's a point-of-view film where what we see is what is filmed by a group of boys who are determined to make their last few days together special. See, they all have to move away because a freeway is getting built in their neighborhood.

What they find is an alien lost from home, whom they must help find his way to his ship and avoid capture by the government. Yeah, it sounds familiar, but it is told in such a fresh way, our Earth to Echo review reported, that both kids and parents should love this ride. And that alien is so darn cute!

Begin Again: The writer-director of Once is back, and once again, he has delivered a tale based in music that hits all the right notes and is an emotional treasure. Ruffalo is a washed-up music exec. Knightley is a singer-songwriter mending a broken heart. Together they make an album and the film scores on so many levels. For more, check out our Begin Again review and prepare to fall in love with this gem.

Feel like catching a movie at home this weekend?

We have several new digital download options for every interest. Watch 300: Rise of an Empire online and the action movie fans will get their fix. Watch The Grand Budapest Hotel online and you'll see a future Oscar nominee. And you can't lose with one of the best movies of the year on so many levels when you watch The LEGO Movie online.

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