Late last week, a new well-edited, well-scored Twilight trailer arrived online and folks went nutty for it. Having been away in the middle of the woods for the past few days, I just checked it out a few minutes ago for the first time, and I'll say they definitely did a bang-up job teasing in the adolescent boys looking for a little fight in their vampire flicks. Yeah, there's a love story somewhere inside this 90210-with-fangs, but it sure as heck doesn't drown our latest piece of sizzle. (Note: We were just told Twilight will have a final run time of 120 minutes and will be rated PG-13.)

Look, whether you want to admit it or not, young females and their moms are the predominant audience for Twilight. They're buying the books, they're running the giant Twilight fan sites and it's their opinion that really matters. (Note: I'm aware there are male fans of Twilight -- and more power to them -- but understand I'm just pointing out the fact that they're in the minority here.) So I'm wondering a few things after checking out the latest trailer -- like, did it bring in any new fans, male or female? Was Twilight's core female audience turned off by the new trailer because it didn't feature more of the love story? Did the score make it seem too creepy and horror movie-ish? Is that the tone you want?

This puppy gets two polls below (feel free to watch the trailer again after the jump), and don't be afraid to spill your feeling over into the comments section.

(We first saw it back at Sundance, but the indie drama Good Dick is opening this weekend in limited release. So here's a reprint of our review from last January.)


By: Scott Weinberg

Yes, the title of the movie is "Good Dick," no, there's no character named Dick in the film, and yes, I definitely think that the flick's eventual distributor will change it to something a little less, well, tacky. But I believe a brave distributor will come along and show this fine little film some love -- despite its frequent proclivity for very frank and seriously explicit sex talk. Fortunately, the film comes from a very sincere and heartfelt place, which makes the few "uncomfortable" moments perfectly acceptable ... and frequently quite fascinating.

Jason Ritter and fantastic newcomer Marianna Palka star as a pair of unnamed twenty-somethings who don't "meet cute," don't fall madly in love, and don't really get along all that well -- yet they still make for one of the most fascinating on-screen movie couples in quite some time. "He" is a homeless video store clerk who has a desperate yearning for some romantic contact. "She" is a seriously unhappy young woman who seems to have a strong affection for hardcore pornography. "He," for some strange-yet-sweet reason, can see through her powerfully unpleasant exterior -- and he seems to be well and truly smitten with this dysfunctional female. "She" claims to have no affection whatsoever for her new sorta-boyfriend, but she also welcomes him into her apartment (and bed) time and time again. Oh, but she won't get physical. At all.

(We first caught Joe Swanberg's "Nights and Weekends" at Austin's SXSW Film Festival, but since it's opening in limited release this weekend, we're reprinting our review from last March.)

By: Erik Davis

Nights and Weekends marks writer-director Joe Swanberg's fourth consecutive film at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and it's quite possibly his strongest work yet. Here, Swanberg co-directs and stars alongside girl-next-door-with-an-edge Greta Gerwig – and the two play a couple struggling through the highs and lows of a long distance relationship. What we see is what we don't see, if that makes any sense, as Swanberg and Gerwig consciously chose not to hand this one to the audience on a silver platter. Case in point: There's really no narrative at all. One would think a film with no narrative would be the equivalent of recording you and your significant other watching TV on a Friday night – cuddled up, chitter chatter with a pause for a snack here and there.

On the surface, Nights and Weekends is just that – a regular night (or nights) with regular people who talk just like us or them or your friend with the huge crush on that guy we all kinda know. But look a little deeper and Nights and Weekends is so much more than "just another 'Mumblecore' flick about confusing relationships and missed opportunities." Swanberg and Gerwig do a tremendous job tapping into everything we love about our relationships, as well as everything we hate – and they do this with moments, glances, kisses and tears. No score. No set pieces. No set up and payoff. In an interview the morning after the film's world premiere, Swanberg told me that's exactly how he remembers his own life: as random scenes, conversations or smiles – a mixed fruit basket of love, lust, fear and disappointment.

A long time passed since 10 Things I Hate About You hit the big screen. Julia Stiles got Bourne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become a powerhouse on the indie scene, and Heath Ledger ... we know what became of him. I'm guessing that his death and reminiscing moments about his work is what inspired this next piece of news: Ace Showbiz reports that ABC Family is going to make the Shakespeare-inspired film into a television series, with the film's director, Gil Junger, signed on to helm the pilot. In it, Kate and Bianca Stratford will face "their new high school environment." I don't know if that means freshman hitting the big leagues, or the girls moving to a new zip code, but I can only hope that they come up with a new love interest for Kate. There's only one Patrick Verona.

Hater has been on a long road to production, but it looks like the time is finally here. Almost a year ago, Guillermo del Toro had signed on to direct the adaptation of David Moody's novel. But then the Hobbit swept him away and left Hater director-less. Have no fear, Moody fans, the pic is back on track. Variety reports that the director of The Orphanage, Juan Antonio Bayona, will helm the feature when it kicks into gear next year. So, if you liked the one-two producer-director punch of del Toro and Bayona, this should be a treat!

Hit the jump for a few exhibition news bits for the next few months.

I tried to get the YouTube version embedded up in here, but it looks like it's been yanked down -- which means you're better off going through the official Twilight website, which will direct you to the appropriate social networking site. Because what's more social than sitting in a quiet movie theater for two hours?

I tried to check out the trailer for myself, but between the always-twitchy MySpace and the various "blockers" I have installed on my browser ... it just didn't happen. So I'll leave it to those hardcore fans who already love the film (despite the fact that it doesn't open until the end of next month) to tell me how this new promo clip rates on the omg-O-meter. Also available at the official site is your chance to win an autographed Twilight baseball, which seems kinda silly because they should be giving away bats.

(Actually, skip the MySpaz site altogether. Watch the trailer in wonderfully diminutive "widget" style right here.)

Sorry for tricking you, but I just used that headline to grab your attention. I haven't even seen Twilight yet. But if you're someone who's in the market for a film based on an award-winning book about a dark-yet-poignant romance between two young people -- one of whom happens to be a vampire -- then I have a movie that's NOT called Twilight that I want you to check out. You'll have to (gasp) brave some subtitles to earn your rewards, but Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In is one fantastic film. Either you know that already, you've heard it already, or you'll find out in a few months time: It's awesome.

Anyway, Magnet / Magnolia has just announced an official release pattern for the brilliant Swedish film, and I'll give you the full calendar after the jump, but I will say this: There's good news afoot if you happen to live in or around New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia (hooray!), Seattle, Denver, Nashville, Santa Fe, Hartford ... Oh hell, just click on in and check the big list. (And thanks to Fangoria for the heads-up.)

As much as I hate to contribute to "overhype," some films just deserve the praise. Like this one. As far as Twilight goes, well, if it's half as good as LTROI, then it will be a VERY good film. (Again, I'm not comparing -- merely piggy-backing on a popular title in the hopes of shedding some light on a much smaller one. Movie geeks are clever that way.)

**Update: Added NY and LA info

I think I may have heard just a little buzz regarding this Twilight movie. Apparently it's based on the first book in a somewhat popular series that deals with young lovers and vampirism -- OK, I'm kidding. You can't work in the movie-news biz without knowing that Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight is one of the most hotly-anticipated films of late 2008. The project may be supported by only a few demographic groups (mainly young women and their moms, I believe), but those fans have been powerfully vocal in their excitement for this movie. Which is how it should be, if you ask me.

Twilight hits the screens on November 21, and each new bit of news has the loyal fans squeeing with delight. And so we're all very happy to give those fans their first peek at the final one-sheet. I've cropped a small section up there in the top right, but for the whole dang poster you'll have to enter ... beneath the jump! (In other words, just click on "continue reading," and maybe be prepared to change your desktop wallpaper.)

Here's something trivial about me that you might not know: Yes, horror movies are my first passion. Gory, scary, shriek-filled horror movies. But (not very far behind) in second place is ... animation. My parents made sure I got to see the classic Looney Tunes, the hilarious Rocky & Bullwinkle stuff, and all the annual treats involving the Peanuts gang and/or The Grinch. But when a new Disney flick hit the theaters, hoo boy was that a big-time family treat in my household. I had no idea that Snow White was so old or that 101 Dalmatians had been released long before I was born; these were NEW movies to my sister and me -- and we devoured 'em like starving little monkeys.

Despite the fact that it had kind of a "girly" title, Sleeping Beauty was always a favorite with my family. My mother loved the songs, my sister adored the silly little fairy godmothers, my dad appreciated the art design (whatever that meant), and I went loony for the big dragon battle at the end. Plus we all agreed that Maleficent was the coolest Disney villainess since at least Cruella De Vil.

Like I said, I love the Disney Classics, which is why I'm pretty geeked up for the new Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition, which hits stores next week. "But Scott," you're probably thinking, "didn't Disney release a two-disc Special Edition of this film on September 9, 2003??" And if you're not thinking that, then don't worry -- because I was. But of course this new set has enough to make it worthy of a fresh investment -- especially if you'd like to see this brilliant piece of animated entertainment in full-bore BLU-RAY AMAZINGNESS.

Anyway, enough blather. After the jump we have a breakdown on the new features AND a bunch of video treats...

I'm finally writing a post here that my sister will read. You see, she adores Russell Brand almost as much as Brand adores Cinematical and Scott Weinberg (see image above as proof of this fact). Maybe even more, because unlike most Americans, she was avidly following his British career via his podcast and BBC America. There have been many humbling moments in my Cinematical salad days, but none quite so humiliating as when I told her Brand was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. "I know. I followed the filming on his podcast." At least Weinberg promptly humiliated her by getting all cozy with her favorite Englishman.

As my sister wasn't one of the casting directors for Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Brand had to make an audition tape to convince them of his weirdly-coiffed worthiness. In honor of its DVD release, MTV has the exclusive, and I've embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. And if you're like my sibling and can't get enough, I've also included the karaoke version of his in-film music video, Infant Sorrow.

5-1 my sister writes "I've already seen both of those videos" in the comments. Hopefully, you'll be more appreciative.