New Trailer: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The official trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is out and once again, director Peter Jackson doesn't disappoint.  Some people might think the decision to turn a novel into film series may be financial but when the subject is J.R.R. Tolkien and the director is Jackson, the end result is amazing to watch.  I think my jaw dropped when I saw the crowd scenes, with each film, the battles, the visuals, the world built by Jackson and his crew just gets better and better.  Everyone's favorite elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is back again with new character Tauriel (Evangaline Lilly) and of course, let's not forget Smaug the Dragon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) who makes his presence known.  But the glue that holds it all together? That would be Martin Freeman's Bilbo, the hobbit who found his courage again.  Is it December yet? 

Around the World in Posters: Gravity, Catching Fire, The Hobbit and more!

Richard Curtis' new love story About Time involves time travel.  I guessed that actually when I saw Rachel McAdams.  Either that or this film is about amnesia!

And the award for the poster most vying for an Oscar nomination goes to... The Butler.

 Ari Folman's The Congress looks seriously trippy as is evidenced in this French poster for the film. Can't wait to see this.  

I must say this is my favorite new poster artwork in a while for the indie Fruitvale Station that's winning raves wherever it goes.  Beautiful, quiet and poignant.  

Posters of The Hobbit, Gravity and Catching Fire after the cut...

10 films still in the race for Best Visual Effects

10 movies are still in the hunt for the Best Visual Effects Academy Award nomination and the list is down below.  The superhero films (Batman, Spiderman, The Avengers) all made the cut as did four book adaptations including Life of Pi and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

• The Amazing Spider-Man
• Cloud Atlas
• The Dark Knight Rises
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• John Carter
• Life of Pi
• Marvel's The Avengers
• Prometheus
• Skyfall
• Snow White and the Huntsman

But only five films can be nominated and it's very likely going to be Life of Pi, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and possibly a surprise nominee in either John Carter and Prometheus. Sadly, the praise for Cloud Altas and The Dark Knight Rises in the technical categories seems a bit muted now but I hope to see it recognized in some way or the other.

Around the World in Posters: Les Miserables, Lone Ranger, Hitchcock, Gangster Squad and more!

The cast of Les Miserables - Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

I spot Sonic the Hedgehog among the characters for Disney's Wreck-It Ralph.  This was truly the only game I ever excelled at.  

Denzel's back in another thriller with Robert Zemeckis' Flight.

The UK Quad poster for Great Expectations with Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Levine and Holliday Grainger.

New Hitchcock poster featuring the rest of the cast, Helen Mirren as his wife Alma, Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh and Jessica Biel as Vera Miles. 

Hey, I didn't know Bilbo Baggins had a lightsaber.  New banner from The Hobbit.

The teaser poster for the new project by Edgar Wright, The World's End, the epic pub crawl film which will obviously have Wright regulars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Gangster Squad poster with a dreamy Ryan Gosling.  Can't get enough of dreamy Ryan Gosling posters.  

Teaser poster for the new Jack Reacher film with Tom Cruise.  Too simple and not too exciting.

And finally, my favorite of the bunch, the poster for The Lone Ranger with Armie Hammer as the masked hero and Johnny Depp as his sidekick.  Great design on this one.

Around the World in Posters: Anna Karenina, Oz: The Great and Powerful, The Hobbit and more!

(Poster: Glamour Magazine)

A epic poster for Joe Wright's Anna Karenina featuring Keira Knightley, Aaron Johnson and Jude Law.  Time for a re-read!

(Poster: Entertainment Weekly)

First poster from Sam Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful.  I'm really liking the look of the world of Oz. 

(Posters: Mondo)

 These limited editions posters by Mondo of ParaNorman are so creative and unique.  

(Poster: Mondo)

 There are so many official posters of The Dark Knight out there but I gotta say this one made by Jock is by far my favorite.  I would love to have this framed on my wall.  

 Will Ferrell and Zach G face off against each other for The Campaign in these posters from Yahoo Movies.

(Poster: Empire)

 I don't know how good the film will be but I'm liking the creepy/eerie look of the poster in the dinosaur profile.

(Poster: Peter Jackson Facebook)

 First poster for the lucky fans over at Comic Con to grab via Peter Jackson who unveiled it on his Facebook page.  

(Poster: Collider)

 This one is super adorable.  Who doesn't like Paddington Bear? 

(Poster: Yahoo)

 Total Recall with Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba and Colin Farrell all of whom I didn't know were still acting.  

(Poster: Imp Awards)

Seriously, does the world really need another Smurfs movie?  I'm only plugging this poster since it features my birthday.  

(Poster: IMP Awards)

The French poster of Fernando Meirelles' 360 with Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins and Rachel Weisz. Very circular.

New photos from USA Today's 2012 Preview

The first week of the new year has yielded so many new looks to some anticipated movies of 2012.  Thanks to USA Today and the preview guide for 2012, we have some new photos from The Avengers, The Bourne Legacy and more.

Thor meets Captain America in The Avengers.

First look at Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy.

Who are these adorable redheaded moppets with Merida from Brave?

I spy The Hobbit's feet.

Noomi Rapace in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

It's Daniel. Daniel Craig in Skyfall, the next James Bond film.

Charlize Theron reigns as Queen in Snow White and the Hunstsman.

New Posters: 21 Jump Street, Mirror Mirror, Prometheus and more!

A slimmed down Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum go back to school in 21 Jump Street.

Not to be confused with Spielberg's Lincoln biopic, here comes Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

An all British star cast for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

A portrait of The Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen).

The IMAX poster of John Carter.  Those are some scary looking white apes!

Two new posters for Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror.  I prefer the second one.

The new poster for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The very curious poster for Ridley Scott's Aliens prequel Prometheus.

Cool new poster for Dreamworks' next original animation feature, Rise of the Guardians.  No, there are no owls in this one.

Finally, the sequel to Clash of the Titans, it's Wrath of the Titans.