New York magazine film critic David Edelstein is public enemy number one after publishing the first negative review of the much-anticipated and lauded The Dark Knight. Batman fans and fellow critics are firing back, saying he just didn’t “get” the film. Edelstein gave the film a negative review due to violence and “morbid” factors that seem related to Ledger’s untimely death:

The momentum doesn’t carry through, though. The Dark Knight is all fits and starts—fitfully suspenseful, fitfully scary, one jerky episode after another with jolts of brutality to keep you revved up. When Burton’s Batman came out, some prominent critics griped that the film was too violent for kids. Wait’ll they get a load of this.

[NY Magazine]

Many of the latest superhero movies are not for kids. The films are a darker take on the masked hero genre and are aimed at an adult audience.

It is unfair of me to judge the sole negative review of the film based on the trailers I’ve seen. Of course it seems “dark” and “morbid,” but I think that’s the point.

Those who have seen The Dark Knight and feel differently about their beloved Batman 2.0 have answered the call with their support. Even fellow critics have called the review “complete bulls##t.”

The so-called critic chimes on the morbid elements of the film, calling it “noisy, jumbled, and sadistic.” This isn’t just a matter of complaining about a critic who didn’t like a film that I loved, this guy really doesn’t get the movie. It seems like he’s just attacking its more brilliant aspects just to spite its otherwise perfect rating.

[First Showing]

Time and Rolling Stone are just a few of the major outlets that heap praises on the film. It had a 100% aggregate rating on Rotten Tomatoes until Edelstein’s negative review pushed it down to a 94%.

Edelstein seems to think that the role was a negative outlet for Heath Ledger as the Joker and lef to the unstable mental state which contributed to his death. As Slash Film points out, that may have been what ruined the movie for Edelstein and should not be something you’re thinking about while watching it:

David found Heath Ledger’s performance “painful to watch”, calling it “rave and rage and purge acting”.

“Scarier than what the Joker does to anyone onscreen is what Ledger must have been doing to himself”.

Oh C’mon… Yes, Heath Ledger’s death was tragic, but if you are thinking about his tragic personal life while watching this performance - Trust me, you aren’t watching the movie right.

[Slash Film]

The film is sure to be a huge hit at the box office. It opens in the US on Friday and advance ticket sales have been massive. Given all the other rave reviews there probably won’t be many more contrarians like Edelstein.

Photos are stills from The Dark Knight, thanks to AllMoviePhoto.

Anne Hathaway is stunning. Could she look any more statuesque? I would have been worried that she would have been washed out in white - here at the premiere of Get Smart in Rome, but she looks simply amazing. I’d almost say Hepburn-esque! LOVE the broached waistline, adore the layer skirt and admire the simple hair that lets us focus on the gown.

Get Smart starring >Steve Carell, Dwayne Johnson, and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 opened here in the U.S. on June 20th with $39.2 million making it the Number One movie that weekend.

Red carpet photos thanks to WENN

Just when I thought Eddie Murphy’s head couldn’t get any bigger, there’s a giant traveling Eddie Murphy head to publicize a movie about little people living inside Eddie Murphy’s (comparatively giant) head.

Across the nation, visitors to the traveling head, which weighs in at almost three tons and has been crossing the nation since June 13th, will have the opportunity to take photos inside of Dave’s ear (mirroring the image in the film’s current poster), then upload them onto the movie’s website. Using selected photos from the website, Twentieth Century Fox will create a mosaic version of the Meet Dave poster, which it will place in theaters across the country – where moviegoers can learn if they’ve made it into Dave’s Head.

[20th Century Fox via Comingsoon.net]

Now if only Hancock thought about this kind of promotional vehicle then I would be there!

According to ET Online and the movie’s co-star Gabrielle Union, “We play two-inch-tall people who have arrived to Earth in a vessel shaped as our captain, played by Eddie Murphy. So, there’s us little people inside a big Eddie.”

Amazingly enough Gabriel didn’t misspeak. According to the movie description that’s exactly what the film is about:

In the film, opening in theaters everywhere on July 11, Dave Ming Chang (Eddie Murphy), newly arrived in New York City, may be the ultimate fish out of water. There’s something about him that’s not quite right – for starters, he seems remarkably out of place and uncomfortable in his own body. And for good reason: “Dave” is not a man at all, but a ship made in the image of its miniature-sized captain. It’s Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave. .

[From 20th Century Fox via Comingsoon.net]

A: “Something not quite right about?” You mean besides the concept of this movie? and “He seems remarkably out of place and uncomfortable?” You mean more than I am reading about this movie description or watching the trailer?

B: …so Gabrielle DID answer the question correctly? Ouch. Sorry, Gab. It just didn’t seem like it was an actual plot they would develop since Murphy’s last space adventure: The Adventures of Pluto Nash was as successful as The Golden Girls spin off: The Golden Palace.

I don’t think I’m ever gonna “meet Dave”, but if you’re considering it, let this trailer forewarn you:

Rumors have abounded since Friends ended its successful ten year run in 2004 that the cast would make a movie. Every so often one of the cast members would admit they’ve been talking about it, but there was always one holdout, who no one would ever name. Sometimes they’d claim it was one of the guys, though it was often rumored to be Jennifer Aniston.

Supposedly they’re really going to make the film now, inspired by the success (and I’m guessing the money) of the recent Sex & the City film.

The highly anticipated film production of TV series Friends has finally been given the go-ahead, MailOnline has learned. The actors have been inspired by the recent success of Sex And The City, which recently hit cinemas worldwide. A source said: ‘Jennifer, Courteney and the rest of the cast are keen to reprise their roles, under the right circumstances.

‘The box office success of Sex And The City has really got their wheels spinning about how a Friends film could be just as big, if done right. Timing and the script are really important, but now that Courteney and Jen both have production companies, they can potentially get very involved in those decisions.’

While Cox, 44, LeBlanc, 40, Perry, 39, Kudrow, 45 and Schwimmer, 41, were believed to be keen on the reunion, Aniston, 39, is believed to have dragged her heels. Now, however, she is keen to move ahead with the project, which will be produced by Warner Bros. ‘She says she and Courteney have already talked this summer about what they want out of a Friends movie, and if deals can be made with them, everything else can fall into place rather quickly.

[From the Daily Mail]

It sounds like things are as close to happening as they’ve ever been. But when the same rumor has been floating around for four years, it’s hard to tell when/if it’s actually become legitimate. Even though Jennifer Aniston is probably the biggest star from the show, I think all of them could benefit from a successful film. The Daily Mail pointed out that Aniston has had a few okay movies, but she’s still much better known for her personal life than her great movie career. And I’m pretty sure that at this point, Matt LeBlanc should take whatever he can get.

It seemed like there was a bit of a Friends backlash right after the series finale. Suddenly everyone was claiming they never found it funny. Television comedies have really moved in a different direction since then. There are very few traditional sitcoms left on the air – and almost none of them are filmed in front of a live audience anymore. It’ll be interesting to see if people still find the show’s brand of humor funny. Something tells me that no matter what, it won’t compare to the financial success of the Sex & the City film.

Update by Celebitchy: A representative for Warner Brothers has denied that there’s a Friends movie in the works, saying “(There’s) no truth in the story.” Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry’s spokespeople have also denied that there’s a Friends movie being planned. [Details From SFGate]

I love me some Will Smith. I also love me some Will Smith movies. (Well, except for Hitch. Okay, Hitch and The Legend of Bagger Vance. Okay, Hitch, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Wild Wild West. My point is, I still watch Fresh Prince, okay?!) Anyhoo I’m sort of gagging over his new film Hancock. I mean have you seen the trailers? Now THOSE are some special effects! But what isn’t having a special effect on me is the suit he wore to the Los Angeles premiere of the film. I mean did he keep that from the costume department of Bagger Vance? Where’s his caddy then? I don’t care what they say plaid is not rad. Especially full body plaid. Which leads me to Thomas Jane.

Really, Thomas Jane? Really? Were your overalls dirty so you decided to come to a Hollywood premiere dressed like a trucker? I get that it’s not your movie and I get that you don’t even have a cameo in it, but seriously is it too hard to tuck in a shirt and perhaps shave? I hope this lackadaisical attitude doesn’t rear it’s ugly head in his upcoming film Mutant Chronicles. (Which by the way BETTER be minimally enjoyable… unlike The Mist.) Speaking of mist, thank you Charlize Theron for finally laying off the spray tanning. You look lovely. I don’t get what black nail polish has to do with anything, but I’m gonna look beyond that because your make up looks fresh and appropriate and that necklace is perfect. I’m borderline on that gown, but I love the color and I get what you’re going for…unlike Valerie Bertinelli. This worries me. Valerie Bertinelli looks like Barbra Streisand’s Mini-Me. Why is she wearing a drape? I mean seriously! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “Clothing should be draped, not drapes.” This tells me she does not believe in her Jenny Craig’d fabulous body which really breaks my heart, because she looks amazing. I’m just sayin’ I would think if she just lost 40 pounds and is a spokesperson for a weight loss program AND she’s back on red carpets that she would be showin’ it all off to get some new fabulous jobs… aw, well. Maybe she’s just taking it one day at a time…And that’s just what Lisa Raye should be doing. I love the new hair (I actually have that same hair in a box in my closet), but what is up with that hot tranny mess of an ensemble? (Minus the sandals of course: LOVING THEM!) It’s part bridesmaid, part summer teen and part tablecloth all in one!

As I look at it now it looks like this entire red carpet is a mess. Does Justine Bateman think she’s still on the set of Satisfaction? Has Kevin James gone Gangsta Rapper on us? Is Minnie Driver about to break into a routine from Flashdance? Did Queen Latifah just happen to be doing her cardio down Hollywood Boulevard and made a wrong turn and ended up on the red carpet? Does Amanda Peet not realize her makeup is that of a cracked out rocker on a 10 day binge? Has Virginia Madsen FINALLY proved to us once and for all what really IS black and white and red all over?

(Sigh, I am exhausted)`

Special thanks go out to Jason Bateman for being the real hero of the red carpet of a superhero movie. He looks like a true star at an actual premiere for one of the summer’s hottest films. Thank you Jason…and I miss Arrested Development more than you will ever know. (Is it true there’s rumored to be an A.D. movie in ‘09? Please say yes, PLEASE!)

The world premiere of Mamma Mia! held at the Odeon Leicester Square in London, England was a huge success with hundreds of fans all the way from Waterloo to the celebs spending tons of Money, Money, Money on their wardrobe, hair and jewelery. Meryl Streep can do no wrong in her acting career. On the red carpet however, she’s made bigger mistakes than Barbara Walters letting Rosie O’Donnell leave The View.

My first thought is: “Didn’t her stylist see Madonna’s Nothing Really Matters Video? WTF? It’s been done!” My second thought is: “Damn, those Christian Louboutin shoes are kickin’! ‘Atta Girl!”

Amanda Seyfried looks like a barmaid who had to work late on St. Patrick’s Day.

Judging by Colin Firth’s wife Livia Giuggioli’s dress, she really isn’t that happy to be there or that busy of a bee. I mean if she were, she wouldn’t have to advertise it.

Christine Baranski looks lovely, dignified and uber classy. LOVE the color, LOVE the couture trojan feel (yes, I just said Couture Trojan), and any amateur would have paired this sheath with silver shoes, but Ms. Baranksi took the high road with the Midas touch.

Pierce Brosnan looks completely dashing. I’m not digging the busy floral print on wife Keely Shaye-Smith’s dress. She runs the risk of having Colin Firth’s wife trying to pollinate her at the after party.

Mamma Mia opens nationwide in the US on July 18th and Knowing Me, Knowing You, we’ll both be there.

Here’s the trailer:

Thanks to WENN for these pics.

Batman: the Dark Knight hasn’t premiered yet and Heath Ledger’s performance is already garnering high praise. The word Oscar was thrown into the ring by Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers.

It’s typical of Ledger’s total commitment to films as diverse as Brokeback Mountain and I’m Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked. If there’s a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976’s Network, sign me up. Ledger’s Joker has no gray areas — he’s all rampaging id.

[Rolling Stone]

In fact the entire movie review is about Ledger, not the main character Batman. Bale’s portrayal of the black masked hero has taken a back seat to the pure brilliance and flat out talent that Heath radiates in the new thriller. Former “Batman” movies were, in my opinion, cheesy at best. Gotham city was a playground for neon encrusted villains who turned a superhero thriller into a hokey dramedy. There is reportedly nothing funny about the darker and deeper version that Christopher Nolan has brought to life. The new addition to the superhero hype has fast become one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.

Christian Bale, who plays Batman, spoke with Parade about his work with Heath. He sang his co-star’s praises and hopes that Heath’s work as the Joker will be celebrated and be given the respect it deserves.

“I hope in a small way that The Dark Knight can be a celebration of his work,” he says. “Not like the hideous circus after he died, which I felt was an invasion of a private life. This movie is not a personal home video. This is what he did. I hope people will embrace that in the correct fashion.”

[From Parade Magazine via People.com]

Judging from the trailers and reviews for the film, his performance will speak for itself. When I first heard Heath was cast as the Joker, I immediately thought “Really? That scrawny pretty man is going to be the ham sandwich-crazy Joker?” I stand corrected.

The Dark Knight is out in the US on July 18.

Here are two trailers:

The Love Guru stinks on a level previously untouched by anything other than I Know Who Killed Me. Everyone is slamming the movie – in fact it’s received some of the harshest, most vivid criticism I’ve read in years. The film came in fifth on its opening weekend at the box office – and even that was surprising. The film was released right after a scathing Entertainment Weekly story about what a jerk Mike Myers is.

On top of that, the film had already been harshly criticized and boycotted by Hindus. Now Catholics are jumping on the bandwagon, calling the film morally offensive. I can’t help but agree that it’s offensive – if for no other reason than it apparently sucks worse than anything. Ever.

A leading Catholic group has come to the aid of America’s Hindus who are boycotting Mike Myers’ new film The Love Guru - because religious officials have found the film to be “morally offensive.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Usccb) has slapped the comedy with its highest classification.

Hindu leader Rajan Zed, who has been leading the outcry about the new film, is thrilled that other religious officials are taking his concerns seriously - branding the new ‘O’ rating the Catholics have given the movie a “remarkable interfaith gesture”.

Rajan Zed says, “We are thankful to the Conference of Catholic Bishops for having a feel for the pain of the Hindu and spiritual community by categorizing The Love Guru as morally offensive.” Zed called for a full Hindu boycott of the film because it allegedly uses Hindu concepts and Hindu terms frivolously. He asked other religious groups to lend their support.

He adds, “Today it is Hinduism, tomorrow Hollywood might attempt to denigrate another religion.” Prominent Jewish Rabbi, Elizabeth W. Beyer of Nevada, has already called for a boycott of The Love Guru because the film “lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life and Hindu philosophy.”

[From WENN via IMDB]

Part of the Catholic’s issue with the film is that it’s “vulgar and tasteless” (but to be fair, a lot of things are) and that it “wallows in endless penis jokes and fairly yucky potty humor.” I didn’t know bishops were supposed to say “yucky.” But if it’s so bad that you’re resorting to speaking like a three-year-old, that really says something for just how crappy this film really is.

After reading about what a jerk Mike Myers is, I’m really happy that his movie is doing so poorly. Egos like his are beyond ridiculous. That whole thing about him making an intern at Conan O’Brien’s show go out and get him raspberry seltzer – and then making the guy go out again because it wasn’t the brand Myers likes – really made me wish plagues and boils on him. Or at least a lack of financial success. So one of my dreams is coming true.

Oooo, it seems Mike Myers happy-go-lucky reputation has caught up to his ego. “The Love Guru” is opening in theaters and is reportedly painful to watch. Critics are unapologetically ripping the movie apart with bad reviews. Despite a decent level of star power present in the film, you can’t buy class. To add insult to injury the notoriously funny Myers is said to be a demanding diva. After making an appearance on Conan O’Brien’s show the workers backstage felt the wrath of his “crazy” requests.

The comic made an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” Wednesday to promote ‘‘The Love Guru,’ but he drove backstage staffers bonkers while he waited to go on. ‘He sent a team of interns on a wild goose chase for Silk nondairy creamer, Twizzlers and raspberry seltzer,’ said our witness. ‘Then he sent one of the interns back out to get him a new drink when he realized his seltzer was not the brand he requested.’”

[New York Post]

The casting for the film was even all about Mike and his demands. In order to score a role in the film you had to either be a good friend or have a friend that is tight with Myers. Jessica Alba and Ben Kingsley were both cast thanks to a “mutual friend.” Justin Timberlake and Verne Troyer had worked with the “Austin Powers’ creator before. Del Close was a former teacher (who was mentioned in the interview done with Sports Illustrated for some unknown reason being that passed away 1999. Thanks guys!). He also sent out the script to some Hollywood BFF’s to score some more star power.

Myers: “It was the same with Austin Powers. I sent a script out to Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, John Travolta and Gwyneth Paltrow and they all said yes and all arrived on the same day. It was an embarrassment of riches.”

[Sports Illustrated]

Hmmmm. Other than Danny DeVito and Spielberg, the set could have collapsed and I wouldn’t miss any of them. Although there would probably be a Scientology uprising at the loss of their commander and his lieutenant. Who would Xenu phone home to?

Picture note by JayBird: Here’s Mike Myers at the premiere of ‘The Love Guru’ held at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on June 11th. I was really confused about what he was doing with Mariska Hargitay. Apparently there’s some joke in the movie about her name – I think it’s that it’s magical or something. But there’s no way in hell I’d subject myself to watching it in order to find out. Images thanks to WENN.

USA Today has an interview with Angelina Jolie that she gave while in Cannes in advance of the release of her film Wanted with James McEvoy. She talks about a lot of the same topics she’s covered in other interviews promoting the film, particularly a recent very candid interview with MTV News. She discusses doing action movies vs. more emotional cerebral films, making time for all her children and balancing work and home life, and her ideas on justice as it relates to the character she plays in the film. She also talks about the new temporary tattoos that were added for the movie that fit with the ones she already had.

On the addition of new tattoos to complement her current ones

There was another part of herself that she was able to include in Fox — her many tattoos. “Instead of taking mine away, which we have to do in every film, we ended up leaving mine and adding more.” Those temporary additions are on full display in one scene, where Fox emerges from a steaming bath and walks by stunned onlookers — again, not caring what they see.

“We tried to focus (the fake tattoos) on themes that would be related to this sense of justice. I have ‘Strength of Will’ in one language, and we added it in four other languages on my arm.” “Know Your Rights” is printed in English on the back of her neck, and again in Latin as well. “From Churchill’s speech ‘We have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,’ I had ‘Toil’ and ‘Tears’ here and here,” she says, pointing to the undersides of her upper arms.

[From USA Today]

On action roles vs. more emotional, dramatic roles

Wanted, Jolie says, is her break from more earnest performances as the wife of slain journalist Daniel Pearl in A Mighty Heart, an isolated housewife in the CIA drama The Good Shepherd and the mother of a missing boy in Changeling, which comes out Oct. 24 and could fuel Oscar talk.

She was happy to get back to an over-the-top action flick. As her manager, Geyer Kosinski, put it: “It’s what people want to see her doing. She said, ‘At some point, I have to get back to (sex) and killing.’ ”

Jolie says: “I’ve been so lucky in my career that I’ve been able to do a kind of Mr. & Mrs. Smith thing that’s really cool, and I’m made up to be as pretty as I can be. But I can also do a film like Changeling or A Mighty Heart, where it’s removed from that.

On balancing her work and home life and getting help from Brad

She declined to confirm her due date, but she has very clear ideas about what the days and months leading up to the birth will be like.

“We’ve made a point to, both of us, not be working,” she says. “So we’ll be home together with the kids,” Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh, who just turned 2.

“At the same time we’re expecting two, we have four, so my focus now is on the four we have. And these are some big times for them, big moments in their lives. So every day is just about making sure that their schooling is going right and their manners are intact and we’re disciplining properly and we’re spending enough time with them individually, so they seem special. That’s a lot of balance when you have a lot of children.”

As for how Pitt is handling it all, she says, “I’m very lucky — I’m with a man who makes me feel very sexy pregnant and loves children. In the last few months it’s hard for me to pick up the other kids, so he’s there to help lift them up to me and things like that. He’s an extremely hands-on dad with all the kids and really, really supportive. Any woman knows that when you’re pregnant, if you have a partner who is embracing it with you and excited with you, it makes all the difference. I’m very lucky to have him.”

Angelina said in this interview as well as her Entertainment Weekly interview that she cut a lot of lines for her character, an assassin who goes by the single name “Fox,” because she envisioned her as the strong silent type.

Apart from a report that Angelina had given birth which was discredited by several news outlets, there have been no new stories about Angelina in a couple of weeks. Brad went to a Radiohead concert with Ed Norton in Italy on Wednesday but Angelina has not been seen. There is speculation that Angelina has already given birth and that her camp tried to retract a hasty confirmation that her twins had been born, saying it was spread by someone posing as her assistant, in order to secure some much-needed privacy for the family. Other gossip outlets say she’s on bed rest until the twins are born. Paparazzi have stormed the small French town in which they’re staying on a 1,000 acre 35-bedroom leased estate, but so far no one has secured a photo of any members of the famous family.

Here are stills from Wanted, which is out in the US on June 27 and is getting very good advance reviews. Thanks to All Movie Photo for these pictures.