● Frickin’ A Bryce! Whyyyyyy????!!!! Okay, so I didn’t DESPISE the first Twilight movie. I thought it was worth watching once, but that’s it. However, this whole phenomenon is getting ridiculous. In my first video blog, re-capping the events that occurred at San Diego Comic-Con last week, I discussed how the presence of the Twilight panel (and the thousands of screaming 12 year-olds that followed) DO NOT have a rightful place at this event because it completely undermines its legitimacy. It turned an event that exhibits quality comic-books, films and TV shows, into a Jonas Brothers concert, filled with metal-mouthed tween girls, shrieking at the sight at the extremely average, Robert Pattinson.

Now that we’re off the main page, I feel the urge to scream too….FUCK Twilight!!! That whole book series and now ensuing film series is consensually mocked among Comic-Con regulars, because of the complete lack of substance to the entire franchise. It’s like Kevin Federline being nominated for a Grammy. With that out of my system, I have the unfortunate task of  reporting that the beautiful and talented Bryce Dallas Howard (Lady in the Water, Terminator Salvation) has just hopped aboard the third film, Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Entertainment Weekly has the scoop that Ms. Howard will be taking over the role of Victoria, previously played by Rachelle Lefevre in the first two films. Howard is at the perfect prime acting age of 28 and has unlimited beauty and talent. The fact that she is settling for a role that could easily have been filled by a no-name (cough Raclelle Lefevre) is, to me, unsettling. She is Ron Howard’s daughter for Christ sakes! She could easily find work in a quality thriller or period piece, continuing to legitimize her acting portfolio, but the movie gods say, “nay.” (Huge disappointing sigh).

● Up next we have something a little more encouraging. I posted footage of Sly Stallone’s upcoming action-extravaganza, The Expendables, way back in April. For those who don’t know, The Expendables has the greatest action cast ever assembled. The cast is as follows: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, JET LI, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Terry Crews, with Charisma Carpenter and Brittany Murphy providing the limited estrogen.

We now have our first still image of Rourke and Stallone in action, where Rourke’s character “Tool” is giving Sly’s character “Barney Ross” a tattoo. Check out the image below thanks to Empire.

The film’s premise is very simple: a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. Sounds good to me. The Expendables is currently in post-production and will be coming out next April.

● Lastly, it looks as though Bardem is out and Brolin is in. Also back in April, I posted news that director Oliver Stone was putting the finishing touches on a script for a sequel to Wall Street; then tentatively titled Wall Street 2, now has been given the official title of Money Never Sleeps. Michael Douglas is set to reprise his role as corporate kingpin Gordon Gekko. Shia LaBeouf is set to play a young trader in the sequel, which is set 20 years after the first installment, which came out in 1987.

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) was originally set to play the film’s main villain, but now it seems like he’s ditching the role and a No Country co-star will be taking his place. It was reported yesterday via SlashFilm via NikkiFinke that the white-hot Josh Brolin is indeed in “serious talks” to play a conniving hedge fund manager. I honestly would have been absolutely fine with either actor, so this is not an upgrade nor a downgrade in my opinion. Money Never Sleeps is currently in pre-production and will open next year.

What Do You Think? Discuss.