There are multiple ways one could be familiar with the team of heroic soldiers known as G.I. Joe. Originally introduced as action figures in 1964, they became popular enough to spawn multiple other forms of revenue for Hasbro, including a plethora of comic books and that ridiculous movie from 2009 starring Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller (which is actually getting a sequel soon). However, it seems as though the majority of people nowadays get their familiarity of G.I. Joe from the animated series, made infamous by video clips on YouTube that overdub scenes from the program with other, even more hilarious dialogue.

That isn’t to say that “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” isn’t already hilariously entertaining. Believe it or not, it’s loads of fun—more fun than that aforementioned live-action movie. It was already the second G.I. Joe animated series when it debuted on television in 1989; the original began in 1985 but was taken off in the advent of the direct-to-video G.I. Joe: The Movie in 1987. The new series began with a five-part miniseries titled ‘Operation Dragonfire,” which is as outlandish as it sounds. Cobra Commander, the evil leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, has somehow been reduced from a human to an actual saint. The comically Russian Baroness and her equally stereotypically Australian henchman, Major Bludd, want to use the ancient power of Dragonfire to resurrect Cobra Commander as human once again, as well as to construct the most powerful weapons in the world. After all, that’s what evil organizations do best.

Naturally, this is a job for the heroes of G.I. Joe. This includes Scoop, a Cobra spy recruited by the bad guys after being told that a team of G.I. Joes was responsible for his parents’ death. Naturally, our friend Scoop learns the truth by the end, and while it’s exactly what you know it will be—after all, G.I. Joes don’t kill families! —the moment of revelation is still pretty great. My favorite piece of dialogue in “Operation Dragonfire,” which I think sums up the entire tone of the series, was when Scoop exclaims, “That guy’s awesome!” in reaction to one of the Joe’s exploits. Another soldier replies, “Of course he is. He’s a G.I. Joe.”  Every part of this series was designed to be as totally “awesome” as an animated series based on a line of toys in 1989 could possibly be, and I mean that in the best way. It’s cheeky and funny and full of great, colorful character design. The animation isn’t the highest quality when compared to modern-day animated programs, but it doesn’t keep you from noticing the creativity and effort put into it. After all, anything goes in G.I. Joe, as long as it is “awesome.” Indeed, the absurdly over-the-top heroism and bravura of G.I. Joe is so cartoonish that the only medium that could truly embody it would be animation; hence why the attempt at a moody live-action film fell so flat and barely captured an iota of this series’ fun.

After the five parts of “Operation Dragonfire” begin all nineteen episodes of season one of the actual series “A Real American Hero.” Those are entertaining too, though it’s hard to follow what amounts to a movie-length adventure as complicatedly silly as the Dragonfire escapade. Nonetheless, there are plenty of comic book-style gunfights, soldier bravado, and evil Cobra plots to keep one occupied for hours. It’s no surprise that the series has taken on such a cult following, leading to multiple new G.I. Joe programs currently still airing. Yet I doubt any of them can embody what I imagine are Chuck Norris’s wildest fantasies as well as “A Real American Hero.” In an era where shadowy cinematography and angst-ridden back-stories are considered the only way to retell the stories of our favorite childhood heroes, it’s nice to see something that still captures the more innocent impulses of being young, where kicking the bad guys butts is less of a dramatic handwringer and more of a wild ride.

There are no DVD SPECIAL FEATURES, but with nine hours of G.I. Joe action spread out over four discs, do you really need any? The show doesn’t need further delving into or explanation—it’s G.I. Joe. And therefore, awesome.

"G.I. Joe: Series 2, Season 1" is on sale January 10, 2012 and is rated G. Animation. Directed by John Grusd, Jim Duffy, Chuck Patton. Written by Phil Harnage, David Carren, J. Larry Carroll et. al.. Starring Chris Latta, Maurice LaMarche, Ted Harrison.

G.I. Joe: Series 2, Season 1

The ‘Vow’ co-stars were shooting a scene where Rachel’s character – who has lost her memory – sees her husband, played by Channing, naked and the actor decided to play a practical joke on Rachel by having the props department make a huge prosthetic penis for him to wear.

Rachel told Stella magazine: “Channing got the props department to make a prosthetic member. Literally a fake penis. I didn’t know what to do. I thought, ‘Is this the real deal?’ It was very realistic. It was ridiculous, the scale of it.” Rachel, 33 – who lives in Toronto – is currently dating British actor and her ‘Midnight In Paris’ co-star Michael Sheen and admitted they have to make a huge effort to make their long-distance relationship work.

She explained: “Michael and I never spend more than three weeks apart – we rack up a lot of air miles – but you have to be quite adaptable in this business whether you are in a relationship or not. Trying to establish roots somewhere is a bit of a joke.”

Channing Tatum plays penis prank on Rachel McAdams

Olivia Munn is the latest who has stripped for the anti-fur campaign organised by Peta – also known as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Past celebrities to have bared all for the organisation include Simon Cowell, Eva Mendes and Pamela Anderson with the group also being one of the highest profile pro-vegetarian organizations in the world.

Anderson's shoot was particularly noteworthy, with the former 'Baywatch' star and glamour model stripping down to just a blue bikini and reclining with lines drawn over body like cut up meat. Khloe Kardashian too turned heads with her campaign against fur, with hair styled in a massive lion's mess striking against her nude frame. Munn too is campaigning against fur, sat down with her feet next to a rabbit and the slogan reading, "I'd Rather Go Naked Then Wear Fur." The 31 year-old actress best known for appearing in 'I Don't Know How She Does It,' and in the campaign she commented "When you think about even that little tiny trim of fur on your gloves or on your collar – that is still coming from an animal that had to endure so much pain just for you. There's nothing good about pretending like you don't know."

Munn's next film will be 'Magic Mike' alongside Channing Tatum, out later this year.

Olivia Munn – Olivia Munn Bares All For Peta Campaign

The next logical step was for stars and fans alike to take to Twitter and praise some nominees, bash the Academy for forgetting others (Channing Tatum, robbed again!), and cast their votes for this year's winners. Despite all the anger and awe that the nominations inspired, a sense of camaraderie between fans, haters and celebs became evident.

Even Albert Brooks, who many felt was a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor, tweeted that he was "robbed," and was quickly consoled by funnyman Patton Oswalt, who was apparently ready to provide a shoulder to cry on for any slighted stars. "Join me for a drink at The Drawing Room, @AlbertBrooks?" tweeted the comic. "Me and Serkis have been here since 6am."

Click here for a full list of this year's nominees and check out some of our favorite reactions below:

"Where the f- were the nominations for NEW YEAR'S EVE? How long is the Academy gonna shut out Ashton Kutcher?" – Doug Benson

"OMG!!! 11 #AcademyAwardNominations! Thank you so much to @TheAcademy for recognizing all of our hard work!" – Chloe Grace Moretz

"Y U NO LIKE FASSBENDER OSCARS?!?!?!?" – Phoebe Kingsak

"And to the Academy: 'You don't like me. You really don’t like me.'" – Albert Brooks

"My friend Melissa was just nominated for an Oscar!!!!! Holy s**t!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm crying!" – Christina Applegate

"I'm happy/sad for Glenn Close. There was always someone who gets luckier than her & this year is Streep vs. Williams.." – Fauzan Dwi Raharjo

"Wow. Pretty incredible day so far." – Jonah Hill

"@JonahHill HOLY MOTHER – CONGRATS, Academy-award nominee!" – Elizabeth Banks

"I love funny girls: Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig #Bridesmaids screenplay nom #Oscars!!!" – Nia Vardalos

"Say this out loud "'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' was nominated for three Academy Awards.'" – Doug Foote

"Really disappointed that Alan Rickman wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor (HP7)." – Isha

"Fassbender may have got snubbed by the fogey contingent of the Academy, but his wang will have the last laugh." – UncleGrambo

"It's mind-blowing to me that @jonahhill now gets to put "oscar nominee" on the poster of his future stoner comedies." – Claire McCleskey

"The #oscars – when the world's most popular people have their own popularity contest." – John Fugelsang

Check out our Oscar Nominees gallery:

Stars and Fans Take to Twitter to Weigh in on Oscar Nominations

She may make most men a bit nervous, but Gina Carano has everyone talking.

.Gina Carano attends the Cinema Society screening of 'Haywire' at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on January 18, 2012 in New York City. ….

Making her Hollywood debut in Haywire this weekend, Carano has been spotted promoting the film this past week. Wednesday night, Carano even shared the red carpet with Gossip Girl star Blake Lively for the New York screening.

Haywire director Steven Soderbergh had been watching the fighter for years, finally designing the lead role to showcase Carano's skills.

Captured by her mix of ferocity and femininity, Soderbergh told Sports Illustrated that he "started thinking how I could build something around her and that's when I started thinking about putting her in a very male-dominated world to navigate through physically and philosophically."

"[Hers] was a type of fighting that I'd never watched before and I thought Gina was extraordinary."

Even her heavyweight co-stars are impressed with Careno.

Speaking with E! Online at the Golden Globes, Ewan McGregor was impressed with Carano, despite accidentally punching her in the head.

"I had a series of three punches, but the third one…for one reason or another I connected really hard on the side of her head," McGregor said. "She was the one who got straight up and said, 'Are you OK?' She was asking me if I was OK! But she was right because I almost broke my friggin' hand!"

Rising to fame as the first prominent woman in mixed martial arts, Carano isn't sure if she's ready to say goodbye to Hollywood just yet.

Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, Steven Soderbergh, Gina Carano and Ewan McGregor at the premiere of "Haywire". (Los Angeles, CA)

"It was really fun to creatively express myself in a sport and a passion that I love, without having to try and hurt someone,"Carano said in an interview with USA Today. Though, "The poor stunt guy that I ended up having this reshoot with ended up getting a little bit bloody…He was a good sport about it."

And speculation is rising that she may be the one to bring Wonder Woman to life.

Sports Illustrated says that, "Dependent on how audiences receive Carano in Haywire(and the reviews have been largely positive), there's also another iconic role in the wings that some will say she was born to play. Hollywood hasn't given up on its dream to breathe life into Wonder Woman on the big screen."

Haywire opens January 20th and also stars Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, and Michael Douglas. The film centers around a Black Ops private contractor who is double-crossed.

Martial arts expert Gina Carano makes debut in 'Haywire'

As Sundance kicks into high gear up in Park City, Utah, unveiling a slate of films that will surely find their way to Austin screens in the coming months, there are new films coming to the city now for your enjoyment. This weekend, be sure to check out an action thriller starring a tough Texas woman and a fascinating documentary about an Austinite's quest to get to outer space.

This Weekend at the Drafthouse

Indie maverick Steven Soderbergh recently terrified audiences with his shockingly realistic epidemic thriller Contagion, and already he's back with another thriller, this time of the action variety. Haywire is an action film built around a star: MMA fighter and Dallas native Gina Carano, playing Mallory Kane, a black ops operative looking to get out of the game but finding it hard after being double-crossed during a mission.

The plot isn't so important as the real success of the film is Soderbergh's precise action photography and non-intrusive, yet exciting, editing. It's a novel exercise to be sure, but it's an independent action film that deftly shows up most of the big boys at just a fraction of the budget. Rounding out the stellar cast are Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor. Haywire opens Friday at the Alamo Drafthouse's South Lamar location.

Also opening Friday at Alamo South Lamar is Man on a Mission: Richard Garriott's Road to the Stars, a documentary about video game designer legend and Austinite Richard Garriott's goal to become the first second-generation astronaut. The film chronicles Garriott's life as he builds his fortune then uses $30 million of it to accomplish his dreams.

Unprecedented footage of secret training in Russia, a launch in Kazakhstan and the fiery return to Earth is included. Man on a Mission is not just the story of one man's dream, its about mankind's drive to explore the furthest reaches of space and beyond at all costs and by any means necessary.

Beyond the Weekend

The Alamo Drafthouse's Terror Tuesday series frequently wallows in splatter, cheap thrills and other-worldly monsters. Every now and then, though, the series' programmer Zack Carlson puts a certifiable classic on the schedule. Next Tuesday (1/24), audiences will be treated to a rare screening of a 35mm print of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.

Driven by an impossibly intense performance by Michael Rooker, Henry is a based on the real life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, who was convicted of 189 murders and was ultimately jailed and prosecuted in Williamson County, Texas. It's a chilling, daring film that remains the definitive serial killer horror movie.

What to watch: Texans fight their way out of betrayal and into space on Austin screens

I was asking other people here if they could take you, and they all seem to think there's no way, even if you had your hands tied behind your back.Well, I have very strong legs, I have to say.

You could squeeze them with your thighs.I got that going for me! And I've been lucky that no one's head has popped off yet! [Laughs.]

That could be a good technique in bed, too. The way you do that to Michael Fassbender, it's very sexual.By the way, I should clarify — Shame was not out at this point. He had not shot Shame and I did not know about it [when we were shooting]. Had I known, I don't think I could have handled this! [Laughs.] He invited me to the premiere, or a screening of it, and I was like, "No, Michael!" I mean, he's beautiful, but I don't need to see, I don't want to see … that! [Gives a sudden flurry of defensive hand gestures.]

What was your first day on set with him like?This wasn't in the script originally, but he kissed me! Michael came up to me, and he said, "If we're pretending to be husband and wife [for our cover in an operation], I should kiss you." And I was like, "Are you kidding?" This is my first day of filming, this is my first kiss of my entire career, and I was like, "I've never had a kiss on camera before!" My whole mouth, my face was completely shaking, and I was going, "Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god!" But it was nice. It was nice just to be present with him, and he was so genuine, and so beautiful.

And then of course you have this knockout fight with him.Michael's crazy. We were brutal to each other. He was slamming me into the wall. He slammed my head so hard, I lost it for a second — I went white. And at one point, our knees clashed, he got a limp. And this was the first fight scene we did for the film.

You also get some tender moments with Channing Tatum — before you beat him up as well. You get all the guys!I know! [Giggles.] I was like, "Oh my gosh! I get to kiss Michael Fassbender and Channing Tatum?" Channing's a married man, so I respect that. But I consider myself very lucky. It's not a bad thing, right?

Did you have any favorite action films growing up? Did you look up to Ripley or Sarah Connor?I didn't really watch action films growing up! I grew up on stuff like Anne of Green Gables — that was more when I was in elementary school. It was all I ever watched. My friends would come over and be like, "No, Gina, not again!" And Pride and Prejudice. Did you watch those?

You mean the Colin Firth-as-Darcy Pride and Prejudice series on the BBC?Yes! I had those on replay. I wore those VHS cassettes out! I loved that story.

Every girl does. Maybe you'll get to act with him someday — if you want to continue acting.Oh my god — I would love to. Everyone expects me to play it cool, and be like, "Oh no, I'm fine." But I can't fight forever. So I'm going to go for it. Why not?

People have suggested you play Wonder Woman.I know! We even had a Wonder Woman reference in the film — did you catch it? One of the cops said something to me like, "Oh, chill out, Wonder Woman." And I thought that was so funny. I said to Steven, "You know there's a little rumor about me and Wonder Woman." And he said mischievously, "Oh, that's interesting."

MMA Fighter Gina Carano on Haywire, Kissing Michael Fassbender, and Playing Wonder Woman

Here's another reason to be jealous of Blake Lively! Not only does she have Ryan Reynolds as her hot new boyfriend, but she'll reportedly be starring in Steven Soderbergh's new film with some hot male leads.

OK! GALLERY: BLAKE LIVELY & RYAN REYNOLD'S BOSTON SLEEPOVER

The Playlist reports that Steven has set his sights on a lead cast for his upcoming pyschological thriller, The Side Effects.

The deals aren't official yet, but Blake will reportedly play Emily Hawkins, a woman who uses prescription medication to deal with anxiety due to the impending release of her husband (Channing Tatum) from prison.

Yup, that's right. She'll be playing Channing's wife!

But Blake gets even luckier.

Playing the role of Emily's psychiatrist will reportedly be Jude Law.

OK! NEWS: PHOTO — BLAKE LIVELY & RYAN REYNOLDS CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING TOGETHER!

This will be Channing's third film in a row with Steven (following Haywire and Magic Mike), while Jude recently worked with him on 2011's Contagion.

Shooting for The Side Effects is set to begin in April.

Do you like the rumored casting?

Blake Lively to Score More Hot Co-Stars: Channing Tatum & Jude Law!

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Ironically, Carano had just lost a major fight when she got the call from Soderbergh.

"I was actually training for one of the toughest fights of my life against [mixed martial arts fighter] Cyborg," she told her co-star, McGregor, in an interview for Vegas Magazine. "It was the first major female-headlined fight ever, a huge, huge deal. And I lost in like five minutes. I was devastated and had a black eye. I hopped in my car from San Jose, where the fight was, and drove all the way to San Diego. I was going to hide out there for a month. When one door closes, another one opens, though: In that same week, my agent called me saying Steven Soderbergh wanted to meet me."

Already an expert at kicking and punching, Carano looks like a natural in the film. She did, however, get coaching from ex-Israeli special ops fighter Aaron Cohen, especially for the shooting sequences.

The opposite of Carano's Cyborg fight pretty much happens in the first five minutes of "Haywire." You can watch Carano obliterate Channing Tatum in the sneak peek below.

Gina Carano Turns Heads in Movie Debut "Haywire" [PHOTOS & VIDEO]

As I have already mentioned comedy movie have been a little below par this year – we really have had no laugh out loud, side splitting film.

And it is a comedy movie that is the #1 on FemaleFirst's Worst Movies of 2011 countdown in the form of The Dilemma.

I have to admit I was looking forward to seeing Ron Howard tackle a comedy movie as it is not a genre that he really dabbles with – and now we see why.

The movie follows best friends and business partners Ronny Valentine (Vince Vaughn) & Nick Brannen (Kevin James) who are on the cusp on a big deal.

But that is put in jeopardy when Ronny discovers that Nick's wife is having an affair and he doesn't know how to break the new to his friend.

The be all and end all of it is this… The Dilemma is simply void of any humour – something I find is rather necessary in a comedy movie.

The film is more concerned with slap stick comedy; falling out of trees and so one, rather than delivering a clever and witty script.

This is a major shame as the comic talents of both Vince Vaughn and Kevin James are wasted because of this -we really have come to expect better from both of them.

There is simply no chemistry between the four leading characters not to mention that the plot is just a waffling and confused mess.

Howard seems to have tired to include too many strands in the film – bromance, romance, slap stick as well as a stab at some dark humour which never really works out.

One thing I will say is Channing Tatum is great as Zip – the slightly crazed and yet emotional love interest of Geneva.

Sadly these are characters that you do not care about and that makes the 1hr 50 min watch more than a little painful.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

Worst Movies of 2011 – 1- The Dilemma – Female First

Well, for diehard fantasy fans, comic-book buffs and science-fiction enthusiasts, 2012 promises 12 months of pure pleasure.

For other moviegoers, it could be a bit more problematic.

There's still some sorting out to do — like finding definite dates (and names) for "Untitled David Chase Project" and "Untitled Osama bin Laden Project." And other interesting movies are sure to be added. But so far, the big-deal dramas seem to be hiding.

Still there are already some unusual trends.

Like several adult-child/impossible-parent stories, done as comedies and dramas. A few fairy tales turned into action pictures. Way too many Channing Tatum movies. And old hits, rereleased with new 3-D, to get you to pay up a second time.

Still, forewarned is forearmed — so here's what lies ahead…

JANUARY

The first month of the year always plays like the last month of the old one, as films that had only one-week, Oscar-qualifying runs ("Rampart," "We Need to Talk About Kevin," "Coriolanus") get real openings, and others go into wider release. A moviegoer could have a satisfying month just catching up.

Katherine Heigl as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum in "One for the Money."

Interested in new pleasures? "Red Tails" tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, with the terrific Terrence Howard. Director Steven Soderbergh does a stripped-down spy tale in "Haywire," and "One for the Money" stars Katherine Heigl as Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. And here comes "Beauty and the Beast" again — this time, yes, with those funny glasses and an extra dimension.

FEBRUARY

Typically one of the worst months of the year, as an Oscar-distracted Hollywood starts randomly throwing things into theaters.

How random? How about that least-loved "Star Wars" episode, "The Phantom Menace," now in 3-D? (Great — even more Jar Jar.) Or a "Ghost Rider" sequel. Or something called "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds." (If he really wants to do a good deed, he could start by leaving his name out of his titles.)

In any case, it's probably best just to focus on offerings like "The Woman in Black," with Daniel Radcliffe in his first post-Potter film as a haunted lawyer. And "This Is Not a Film," a genuinely heroic act from banned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

MARCH

A month often aimed at vacationing students of all ages.

So for the youngest, there's "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," a CGI 'toon that could recapture the charm of the same studio's "Horton Hears a Who." For older fantasy fans, there's the teens-vs.-teens adventure "The Hunger Games," and "John Carter," which finally brings Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian adventures to the screen.

Adult drama lovers, meanwhile, can look forward to "Being Flynn," with Robert De Niro as a scarily awful parent, and "The Raven" with John Cusack as a mystery-solving Edgar Allen Poe.

Both are probably better bets than Gerard Butler as a soccer-mom-chasing lothario in "Playing the Field," Jonah Hill in "21 Jump Street" and Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen in "Snow White."

Or "Wrath of the Titans" and the return of those angry Greeks — this time, let's hope, with something better than ViewMaster effects.

APRIL

Traditionally, another rotten month, as studios try to clear their shelves before the summer.

So now we get an "American Pie" sequel, "American Reunion." And a fifth "Scary Movie" farce. And some very peculiar casting. I mean, Sean Hayes as Larry in "The Three Stooges"? Zac Efron as a haunted war vet in "The Lucky One"? Shia LaBeouf in a bootlegging comedy called "Wettest County"?

More interesting choices include "Seeking a Friend at the End of the World," an offbeat apocalyptic romance with Steve Carell. And I'm looking forward to Sylvester Stallone's "Bullet to the Head" and a rereleased "Titanic" — only because action auteur Walter Hill is directing the first one, and perfectionist James Cameron will get the 3-D in the second absolutely right.

MAY

Summer's here, at least at the box office, and if you have any doubt, just look at this four-week lineup:

Week One: "Marvel's The Avengers," with Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and other superheroes finally teaming up for their own all-star movie.

Week Two: Tim Burton and Johnny Depp joining for a revamp of TV's "Dark Shadows," campy fave of Baby Boomer monster fans.

Week Three: "Battleship," the ballyhooed — and definitely peculiar — reworking of the rainy-day game as a Navy-vs.-aliens epic.

Week Four: "Men in Black 3," with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones back for a time-travel tale that sends Smith into the '60s.

Not a fanboy of any kind? Check out "What to Expect When You're Expecting," with the famous guide now turned into a Cameron Diaz comedy, or "The Dictator" with the non-PC Sacha Baron Cohen as a farcical tyrant.

And no true movie fan will want to miss "Moonrise Kingdom," which reteams singular director Wes Anderson with longtime collaborator Bill Murray — and adds Tilda Swinton to make it even more interesting.

John SchwartzmanAndrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man.

JUNE

Another crowded month, with some face-offs. Into the new fairy-tale-as-action-movie fad? Then contrast-and-compare "Snow White and the Huntsman" to "Jack the Giant Killer." Need a cartoon for the kiddies? Take your pick – with "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" landing the zoo critters in a circus, and "Brave," set in auld Scotland.

There are some one-of-a-kind attractions, too. Like "Rock of Ages," the mullet-and-power-ballad Broadway hit, now with Tom Cruise. Or the twisted, if self-explanatory, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." And sure to be astounding is Ridley Scott's sci-fi "Prometheus," with Charlize Theron, a story from one of the "Lost" scribes and, it's rumored, just a hint of "Alien."

JULY

So, yeah, there's a Ben Stiller comedy ("Neighborhood Watch") another self-promoting Tyler Perry movie ("Tyler Perry's The Matchmaker") and further who-asked-for-'em sequels to "Ice Age" and "Step Up." Oh, and "Ted," a twisted comedy with Mark Wahlberg and a talking teddy bear that sounds like "The Beaver," only less so.

But basically this month divides into two.

The first half is ruled by "The Amazing Spider-Man" which tries to erase bad memories of the last sequel by starting things all over with Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and 3-D.

And making the most of two-dimensions two weeks later is the enormously anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises," which promises an IMAX-sized conclusion to Christopher Nolan's terrific trilogy.

AUGUST

A strange sort of early Halloween, as at least five movies — "Warm Bodies," "The Apparition," "Sinister," "7500" and "The Possession" — bring on a heroic zombie, a spooky flight, a curse and a couple of hauntings. All that's missing is the jack-o-lantern.

And the rest of the month follows their move toward genre, with new spy Jeremy Renner coming into "The Bourne Legacy," and the Jennifer Garner fantasy, "The Odd Life of Timothy Green."

Worst dumb idea? Could be remaking "Total Recall," minus Arnold Schwarzenegger. Best dumb idea? Might be another gleefully stupid "The Expendables" with Schwarzenegger — and Stallone, plus old Chuck Norris himself.

SEPTEMBER

Another, perpetually awful movie month, padded out with sequels nobody asked for (yet another "Resident Evil" splatterfest), rereleased hits ("Finding Nemo," in 3-D of course) and second-tier comic-book heroes ("Dredd," which at least can't be worse than the first, catastrophic "Judge Dredd").

Two glimmers of hope remain, however.

One is "Argo," a true-life thriller set during the Iranian hostage crisis, directed by star Ben Affleck — who, so far, is two-for-two in his filmmaking career. And the second is "Savages," a drug-cartel movie from Oliver Stone, who returns to bloody screen violence — and reunites John Travolta and Uma Thurman.

OCTOBER

Is 3-D really enough of a reason to reboot "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Halloween"? Again? Apparently, although neither promises anything truly new — just like yet another Robert De Niro comedy about a bickering family ("The Big Wedding"), and one more Liam Neeson-gets-ticked-off thriller ("Taken 2")

What does sound like it has potential, however, is Tim Burton's feature-length expansion of his early monster cartoon "Frankenweenie." And "The Gangster Squad" promises plenty of retro thrills, with Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling as L.A. lawmen and Sean Penn at his most feral as the corrupt and corrupting Mickey Cohen.

NOVEMBER

What did we do to deserve this? Don't know, but this month features two meddlesome ladies cracking wise — Barbra Streisand, as an impossible momma in "My Mother's Curse," and Bette Midler as a pushy grandma in "Parental Guidance." Eeyore himself couldn't do such braying.

There are a couple of less predictable options, too — like the outer-space drama "Gravity," with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock on a troubled mission, or "47 Ronin," a samurai epic with Keanu Reeves.

But the month really comes down to two very different blockbusters — "Skyfall," with the return (at last) of James Bond, and "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part II" with Edward and Bella facing their most dangerous challenge yet. Besides parenthood, that is.

DECEMBER

At this stage, only the biggest films have claimed one of these coveted, pre-Oscar dates. But so far, there's something for almost everyone.

Warner Bros. Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby."

Among the holiday presents for fans? A brand-new Quentin Tarantino (an all-star, spaghetti-Western mashup, "Django Unchained") and a new-but-still-familiar Peter Jackson (the Middle Earth adventure, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey").

Plus Judd Apatow checks in on the Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann unhappily marrieds from "Knocked Up" in "This is 40." And Ang Lee presents himself with a new challenge with "The Life of Pi," the story of a boy, a lifeboat — and a Bengal tiger.

That one's in 3-D — as is "The Great Gatsby," oddly enough, with the often-frenetic Baz Luhrmann directing Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic. And epic in every way should be Steven Spielberg's long-in-development "Lincoln," with Daniel Day-Lewis fighting his wife, his Cabinet and the Confederacy.

But not vampires. That's another movie.

Movies in 2012: Superheroes gone wild

Channing Tatum is a "great stripper", according to his wife.

Actress Jenna Dewan insists her hunky spouse hasn't forgotten any of the moves he mastered during a brief stint working in the profession and has learned a few new racy routines since he started shooting 'Magic Mike', in which he plays an erotic dancer.

Speaking at the premiere of 'Haywire' in Los Angeles on Wednesday, she said: "He's amazing. He's a great stripper! I should ask for more [private dances]!

"I didn't show him any routines, but I would definitely watch his and give my critiques and suggestions."

The 31-year-old brunette beauty met Channing when the pair filmed 'Step Up' together in 2006.

The 31-year-old actor has never been secretive about his former life and has always maintained he doesn't regret the sexy job.

He previously said: "I wanted to tell people. I'm not ashamed of it. I don't regret one thing. I'm not a person who hides (expletive)."

In Steven Soderbergh's latest movie 'Magic Mike' Channing plays the titular stripper who teaches new guy Alex Pettyfer how to work the audience at the Xquisite club which is owned by Matthew McConaughey's character Dallas.

Jenna Dewan: Channing Tatum is a 'great stripper'

The Sunrise Theater's SunFlix Series launches its December movie lineup with a drama that features a stellar cast, "The Son of No One."

This crime thriller is about a young cop who is threatened by old secrets when he is assigned to a precinct in the neighborhood where he grew up.

The film stars Channing Tatum, Katie Holmes, Tracy Morgan, Ray Liotta, Al Pacino and Juliette Binoche. The film was selected to close the 2011 Sundance Film Festival last January.

"The Son of No One" will be shown Dec. 8, 10 and 11 with shows weekdays and Saturday at 7:30 (no Saturday matinee), Sunday at 2:30 and 7:30. The film is R and runs for 95 minutes.

The following plot summary is taken from Metacritic: In this searing police thriller, Jonathan is a second-generation cop who gets in over his head when he's assigned to reopen a double homicide cold case in his Queens neighborhood. An anonymous source feeding new information on the long-unsolved murders to a local reporter leads to evidence suggesting a possible cover-up by the former lead detective who was on the investigation. As Jonathan digs deeper into the assignment, a dark secret about the case emerges, which threatens to destroy his life and his family.

The historic Sunrise Theater, located at 250 NW Broad St. in Southern Pines, is nonprofit. Ticket prices are $7 for all shows. Refreshments, including beer and wine, are available.

For more information, contact the theater at (910) 692-3611 or go to www.sunrisetheater.com.

Sunrise Theater Presents 'The Son of No One'

The X Factor Grand Finals is on 8TV tomorrow night at 10.30pm and so is the 60th Annual Miss Universe Pageant 2011 on ntv7 at midnight.

On Christmas Day, don’t miss Christmas Special: An Audience With Michael Buble over TV1 (2pm) — the Canadian crooner belts out hit tunes, including Feeling Good and Cry Me A River, taken from his albums. If you plan to go out, set your Astro recorder at 3.30pm for Star World Music Specials: Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas To You Special (Astro Channel 711). In the live performance, Mariah sings hit songs from her Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You. Don’t miss her rousing duet with her mother Patricia, who was formerly an opera singer, in O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus.

TODAY Martha Bakes (ntv7, 1pm)

Baking 101! Martha Bakes fulfills Martha Stewart’s long-time dream of creating a visual teaching course that features the best of the best in home baking. Based on her many years of experimenting, teaching and research, the show delivers a thoughtfully edited collection of Martha’s personal favourites, from savouries to sweets. This episode covers the ever popular pound cake. Martha begins with a recipe’s basic foundation and then explores how the addition of certain ingredients or the use of a new technique will result in not one, but multiple, creations. TOMORROW

(CHRISTMAS EVE) She’s The Man (ntv7, 11am)

When her brother decides to ditch school for a couple of weeks in London, Viola heads over to his elite boarding school, disguises herself as him, and proceeds to fall for one of her soccer teammates. A romantic comedy that will have you in stitches. Starring Amanda Bynes, Laura Ramsey and Channing Tatum. Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas (TV2, 10.30am)

An anthology-style video starting with Donald Duck: Stuck On Christmas, with Huey, Dewey and Louie reliving Christmas ad infinitum. Next is A Very Goofy Christmas, where Goofy tries to overcome his son’s scepticism about Santa Claus. Finally, Mickey & Minnie’s Gift Of The Magic recreates the classic tale of ironic Christmas selflessness. The stories are linked through narration. Phineas and Ferb — Christmas Vacation, (Cartoon Network, 6.15pm)

It’s Christmas Eve and Phineas and Ferb are out to turn the city of Danville into a giant shimmering Thank You card to Santa Claus. Meanwhile, Dr Doofenshmirtz develops a Naughty-inator and suddenly, the Tri-state area is clouded in naughtiness and kids’ letters to Santa are returned unanswered. Phineas and Ferb must devise a way to spread holiday cheer while Mom and Dad go to the airport to fetch Grandpa and Grandma Fletcher who have just arrived from England. Gotta Catch Santa Claus (Cartoon Network, 8pm) Twelve-year-old Trevor, believes in his heart that Santa Claus is out there. Trevor doesn’t care what the other kids think until his best friend asks him “How can you believe in something you can’t see?” Trevor sets off on a mission to catch Santa Claus, prove his existence and put everyone’s doubts to rest once and for all. But Santa has a cold-hearted nemesis, Le Freeze, out to stop him as well. Will Santa be able to make it through another Christmas? You’ve Gotta Catch Santa this holiday season to find out! Conman in Tokyo (8TV, 8.30pm) Funny man Nick Cheung Ka-Fai and heartthrob Louis Koo Tin-Lok team up with producer Wong Jing in this action-comedy. Cheung plays a gambler with a giant ego who seeks out a legendary but retired gambler, played by Koo. Christy Chung Lai-Tai demonstrates superior comedic acting skills as Cheung’s girlfriend while bad guy Ben Lam Kwok-Bun gets particularly nasty with beautiful Athena Chu Yun. A Christmas Kiss (ntv7, 10pm)

Wendy Walton takes a job as assistant to Priscilla Hall, the most prestigious designer in the city. Hall works Walton around the clock, which is how Walton finds herself trapped in an elevator one night with a handsome stranger. Walton and the mystery man share an impulsive kiss before the doors open and she runs out, leaving him behind.

The next day at work, Walton answers the door, only to find the handsome gentleman before her. With the holidays approaching, Walton and Adam start to spend time together… but she has a secret. A Christmas romance about how one kiss can change everything. Starring Elisabeth Rohm, Laura Breckenridge, and Brendan Fehr. The X Factor Grand Finals (8TV, 10.30pm)

Reality show The X-Factor will soon find its finalist. Who will win the grand prize of US$5 million (RM15m), the largest prize in television history? Join the controversial ex-American Idol judge Simon Cowell, singer and also ex-American Idol judge Paula Abdul, the bombshell of girl group Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger, popular music producer L.A. Reid and celebrity guests to witness the crowning of the first X-Factor US winner in this two-hour final. 2011 60th Annual Miss Universe Pageant (ntv7, midnight)

The pageant, for the first time in its 60-year history was held in Brazil. The pageant featured more than 80 delegates from around the world, competing in one of the planet’s most popular beauty pageants. From the long gown to the swimsuit competition and the Question and Answer segment, only one can bear the title of Miss Universe. SUNDAY (CHRISTMAS DAY)

Phineas and Ferb’s Family Christmas Special (Cartoon Network, 10am & 7pm)

To cool off from the sweltering summer heat, the boys decide to put on a traditional family Christmas special featuring their friends and family and a few guests. It’s a musical variety show with three new songs — Isabella’s Let It Snow, a Buford and Baljeet rendition of Good King Wenceslas, and the whole gang ending on We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Meanwhile, confused by the airing of a Christmas special in summer, Doofenshmirtz jumps to the only logical conclusion… it must be Christmas. Mickey Twice Upon A Christmas (TV2, 10.03am)

This sequel to the Christmas eve Mickey film on TV2 is about Mickey and the gang going on a holiday adventure, and for the first time ever, they are all computer animated. Casper’s Haunted Christmas (ntv7, 11am)

Kibosh, the King of Ghosts, decrees that Casper must scare someone before Christmas Day or he will be banished to The Dark. To make sure this happens, he confiscates the Ghostly Trio’s Scare licences and flings them over to Kriss, Massachusetts, where they meet the Jollimore Family. When Casper’s good behaviour keeps showing, the Ghostly Trio call in Casper’s look-alike cousin Spooky to do the job.

Show On Cruel Stage Concert Live (Malaysian TV premiere) (8TV, 3pm)

Show Luo, who continues to be busy on both sides of the entertainment world, wins the hearts of his music fans once again. Catch his Show On Cruel Stage Concert Live, featuring songs from his first five studio albums. It also includes dance performances with guest Rainie Yang as well as Show’s performance of tracks by Cantopop artist Alex To and Aaron Kwok.

The Emperor’s Club (ntv7, 3.30pm)

William Hundert, played by Kevin Kline, is a passionate Classics professor enthusiastic about the start of the school year. His class turns out to be a strict yet inspiring experience for the new students arriving at St Benedict’s Academy. They include laid-back Louis Masoudi, the introverted Martin Blythe, and the studious Deepak Mehta, all highly intelligent students. Hundert inspires his students to study hard in order to become one of the three contestants for The Emperor’s Club and be crowned “Mr Julius Caesar”. A very inspirational movie. Starring also Emile Hirsch, Embeth Davidtz, and Rob Morrow. Ninja (8TV, 10.30pm)

Fear not the weapon but the hand that wields it. Follow westerner Casey, who while studying ninjitsu in Japan, is asked by his sensei to protect the weapons of the last Koga ninja which are kept in a chest in New York. Casey must infiltrate the underground headquarters of the Black Ring and face the evil duo, Masazka and Mr Temple. Starring Scott Adkins, Mika Hijii and Tsuyoshi Ihara.

Velveteen Rabbit (ntv7, 11pm)

A lonely boy stumbles across toy rabbit while exploring the attic of his grandmother’s home. The rabbit and the other toys are his only form of escapism. The Velveteen Rabbit’s companionship with the boy lasts until the boy falls ill with scarlet fever. The boy is sent away to recover and while away, the doctor orders that all the toys the boy has played with, including the Rabbit, be burnt. As the bonfire is prepared, the Rabbit cries a real tear. This tear brings forth the Nursery Magic Fairy. She tells the Rabbit that he was only real to the boy, and then brings him to the woods… Starring Jane Seymour, Tom Skerritt and Ellen Burstyn. A Very Glee Christmas (Starworld, 4.25pm) While Finn tries to bring a little holiday cheer to McKinley High, Artie discovers that Brittany still believes in Santa. MONDAY

MTV Movie Awards 2011 (8TV, 12.30am)

Experience the MTV madness firsthand from LA’s Gibson Ampitheatre, with host Jason Sudeikis. Check out the insane fashion, the beautiful stage, the speech that charmed the crowd and more. With categories like Best Kiss, Best Fight and this year’s brand new Best Line from a Movie, catch Hollywood’s most outrageous awards ceremony. Spectacle Elvis Costello With…

An exciting new music talk series hosted by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Elvis Costello. Conceived to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting artistes and personalities of our time, the show fuses the best of talk and music television. In this episode, Elvis Costello will be interviewing the 42nd President of the United States in an unprecedented and revealing chat about President Bill Clinton’s early career aspirations as a jazz saxophonist. The astonishing degree to which music shaped him as a man, a politician and a President. The discussion covers the importance of music education, with observations on Elvis Presley, John Coltrane, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Nina Simone and N.W.A.. Tricky King (8TV, 2pm) Get ready to laugh your guts out as Ohmygod, a mild-mannered office worker, falls foul of his boss who employs the king of tricks. Ohmygod ends up being shunned by his dream girl, Dkny, and fired from his job. Ohmygod then seeks the help of the tricky king. Video Game Awards 2011 (8TV, 12.15am) Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the 2011 Video Game Awards pays tribute to the outstanding achievements of games, designers, animation, breakthrough technology, music and performances of the past year in the industry. The awards also provide a glimpse at the future of gaming, including exclusive sneak peeks and world premiere footage of Batman: Arkham City, Resistance 3, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! (Cartoon Network, 8pm) The gang’s vacation to Paris is derailed when Shaggy and Scooby miss their connection and accidentally end up halfway around the world. The excitement in the City of Lights turns to horror in the Himalayas when Shaggy and Scooby come face to face with a terror — the legendary Abominable Snowmonster! The gang hightails it through ancient monasteries to crack the mystery behind the chilling creature before it has a chance to put them on ice, forever!

Weekend watch: Very merry line-up

16 December 2011 Rachel McAdams is in talks to star in 'Passion'.The 33-year-old actress may be starring alongside her fellow 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' beauty Noomi Rapace in the project, a remake of the French psycho-drama 'Crime d'Amour'.Brian de Palma is directing the project, and is eyeing a start of March 5 in Berlin, according to blog Thompson on Hollywood.The movie – originally starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier – tells the tale of an older ex ecutive who takes revenge on her protege.Discussing the project, De Palma said he couldn't "wait" to get started.He said: “Not since 'Dressed to Kill' have I had a chance to combine eroticism, suspense, mystery and murder into one spell-binding cinematic experience. I can’t wait."Rachel – who rose to fame after starring as bully Regina George in cult teen comedy 'Mean Girls' alongside Lindsay Lohan – this year starred in critically acclaimed Woody Allen movie 'Midnight in Paris' and will next year be seen in 'The Vow' with Channing Tatum.

© 2011 NZCity, Bang Showbiz

Rachel  McAdams to star in Passion?

Both on something of a hot streak, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine star here as top-drawer CIA agents who turn out to both be dating the same girl! And it’s Reece Witherspoon, striking a blow for feminism! Gozoinks!!!

These apparently elite ‘intelligence’ agents then use taxpayers' resources to try and take the other out in what I guess is supposed to be a knockabout romp. (Why they couldn't just call 'shotgun' over it is beyond me.) Well, others may find it enjoyable, but with each onscreen explosion I just see funds wasted that could have been used for eight maths teachers for underprivileged kids. Best avoided, I say. (Release date: February 17)

Hmm, there's yet more CIA operatives battling each other in Safe House, this time played by Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington. What, can’t these guys so much as go to the toilet without first ordering a drone attack on a colleague? This thankfully concentrates on the wham-bang side of things, and featuring at least a couple of plot twists looks well equipped to keep the audience on its toes. (Release date: February 24)

But anyway, to move on from all that clichéd nonsense let’s move on with Haywire, in which a black ops super soldier seeks payback after being betrayed and set up during a mission. Hrm.

But wait, this time it’s a female black ops super soldier! Given that the central role is played by real-life MMA fighter Gina Carano there’s bound to be a decent amount of proper ass-kicking, but director Steven Soderbergh has also somehow managed to rope in Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas and even Michael Douglas for the ride. And with that, we suddenly have a movie on our hands… (Release date: January 20)

Hugo is something of a bold leap for legendary director Martin Scorsese, who is best known for tales from the wrong side of the tracks. Here he’s created a family adventure specifically shot to make best use of 3D, and if this is an indication of what top tier directors can do with the extra dimension then bring it on, as this immediately seems beguiling and bewitching.

Set in 1930s Paris, this is the tale of an orphan living in the walls of a train station who then finds himself wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father. The stellar cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Sir Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee, and by the looks of its trailer Hugo should be a joy, one arriving just in time to bring us some Christmas spirit. (Release date: December 2)

Let’s end in a suitably heartbreaking way with Like Crazy, which stars Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones as two young lovers having to deal with premature separation. If anyone who’s had a long-distance relationship isn't moved by this trailer, then… Well, no wonder it didn’t work out then, you HEARTLESS BEAST. Anyway, this looks rather beautiful. (Release date: February 3)

• You can find trailers for the latest movies, including these and more, in our film trailers section.
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The STV Trailer Park: with This Means War, Safe House, Haywire, Hugo and Like Crazy

Jamie Linden-directed comedy

We never thought it would happen.

But it did this weekend.

Kevin Bacon saw the remake of "Footloose."

The original Ren tweeted a pic of his ticket stub to his WhoSay page yesterday after seeing the flick in Boston.

READ: Julianne Hough Dishes on Boyfriend Ryan Seacrest Reax to Footloose

"F-Loose!" Bacon wrote on Twitter. "Just saw it. Congrats to Craig, Kenny, Julianne, Dennis, Andie, Miles, and the rest of the cast. U guys rocked it!"

Story: 'Footloose' remake does Kevin Bacon proud

Kenny Wormald, aka the new Ren, tweeted back, "Thank you!!! @kevinbacon — your my favorite Ren."

Story: Readers on remakes: Hands off the classics, Hollywood!

Costar Julianne Hough tweeted, "82 and sunny in LA just when I thought it couldn't get any better! Thank you so much! :)"

Funny enough, Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick told me just a week ago that they had no plans to see "Footloose" 2.0.

Story: 5 ways new 'Footloose' could out-dance original

"No, I don't think so," "The Closer" star said at the Environmental Media Awards. "It's not on our list."

VIDEO: Channing Tatum's wife visits set of his male stripper movie

Earlier that same day, Bacon tweeted, "Just saw a TV ad for FLoose. Marketing a remake by putting down the orig? A bit lame dont ya think?"

Bacon was asked to be in the new movie, but he politely declined the offer.

"Kevin was wise in saying no to it," director Craig Brewer told me shortly before the movie opened Oct. 14. "I think he had the right reason for it. I think that he knew it would cheapen it somehow because if suddenly he showed up winking at the camera, it would have taken some of the teeth out of the narrative."

PHOTOS: Footloose: Then & Now

Do you think Bacon really liked the remake? Tell us on Facebook.

© 2011 E! Entertainment Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Kevin Bacon sees 'Footloose' remake

EXCLUSIVE: The director Bennett Miller is known for generating Oscar heat for his performers: Philip Seymour Hoffman won a best actor statuette for “Capote,” and Brad Pitt is attracting that kind of talk for “Moneyball.”

Can the director make the same magic happen for (the to-date Oscar-free) Channing Tatum?

He might have his chance. The “G.I. Joe” and "Step Up" star is in talks to star alongside Steve Carell in Miller’s next film, the John du Pont story “Foxcatcher,” said two studio executives who’d been briefed on the project but asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to talk about it publicly.

In the film, Carell is set to play du Pont, the heir to the du Pont chemical fortune who, in an apparent fit of paranoid schizophrenia, infamously shot and killed the Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in 1996 at a Pennsylvania facility du Pont had built (the titular Foxcatcher). He was jailed for the crime, and died in prison in 2010.

Tatum would play Schultz, a seven-time world and Olympic champion who left behind a wife and two young children when he was fatally shot at the age of 36. The role is in a sense a more prestige spin on physical-centric parts Tatum has been known for in movies such as "Fighting" and "The Eagle.” (Tatum is next set to star in the exotic-dancing tale "Magic Mike," based on his own background, as well as the reboot of undercover-cop TV series "21 Jump Street.")

The "Foxcatcher" situation was described by the executives as being in the talks stage, with no deal in place. Tatum’s representative and a producer on the film did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Miller is known for choosing projects carefully–he waited five years between "Capote" and "Moneyball," but hopes to begin shooting "Foxcatcher" in the first part of 2012. He has been developing the film, which is being financed and produced independently and does not yet have theatrical distribution, for several years.

The movie has a shiny pedigree: one producer, Anthony Bregman, was behind "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and the writers, E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, penned "Capote.”

RELATED:

Channing Tatum's voyage of discovery

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Photo: Channing Tatum in February 2011. Credit: Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times

Channing Tatum, Steve Carell costar and …Oscar contender?

Anchor Bay Films has acquired U.S. rights to Jamie Linden’s Ten Year, an ensemble comedy set at a 10-year high school reunion that debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Anchor Bay is planning a spring release for the movie, which stars Lynn Collins, Rosario Dawson, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Brian Geraghty, Ari Graynor, Oscar Issac, Ron Livingston, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, Max Minghella, Aubrey Plaza, Scott Porter, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum.  

It was produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Tatum and his Iron Horse Entertainment partner Reid Carolin. 
It was executive produced by Eric Gores, Scott Lumpkin and Frank Mancuso, Jr. with financing from Gores and Mancuso’s Boss Media.

Paradigm repped Linden, with the Paradigm Motion Picture Finance Group repping Gores, Mancuso and Boss Media and negotiating the deal with Anchor Bay.

The acquisition was announced Wednesday by Anchor Bay Entertainment president Bill Clark and Kevin Kasha, executive vp, acquisitions and co-productions, Anchor Bay Films.

Anchor Bay Acquires Channing Tatum's High School Reunion Comedy 'Ten Year'