'Harry Potter' Fans Weigh In On Harry And Hermione Topless Kiss

"Awkward," "creepy," "disturbing."

Those were among the words "Harry Potter" fans used to describe the rather unexpected and altogether hallucinatory kiss between Harry and Hermione in "Deathly Hallows."

Streaming out of a midnight screening at an IMAX theater in New York City, with lightning-bolt scars drawn on their foreheads and clutching wands, "Potter"-ites were still reeling from that onscreen smooch.

"They're totally topless and it's really creepy," Emma Larson told MTV News.

That sentiment is not far from how Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, was feeling when she found out exactly what was in store for her scripted kiss.

"It was only the day before that they said, 'Oh, by the way, we hope it's all right, but we want you to be topless, and we're going to cover you in silver paint,' " the actress told us earlier this week. "It was awkward enough as it was without the silver paint and the strapless bra, but whatever. It works."

Others also agreed that it works. Itamar Lilienthal certainly did, calling the lip-locking "very erotic." Admitted Dustin Atlas, "I was a little jealous."

Some, however, were not digging the twist, which had Harry and Hermione swapping spit as part of their friend's jealous hallucination. "It was a little awkward," Jane Howe said. "It was not a natural kiss, and they were naked, which added a whole other aspect to it."

"It actually made me more uncomfortable," Chris McMahon said.

Many fans were simply unprepared to see Hermione showing affection to anyone other than Ron. But for some, the kiss was a chance to see, at long last, Harry and Hermione together, at least for a few seconds.

"That was pretty intense," said Hillary Brens. "I think a lot of fans wanting that relationship to happen — they finally got it."

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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Emma Watson ‘Very Proud’ Of ‘Deathly Hallows - Part 1′

After 'Deathly Hallows - Part 1,' What's Next For Daniel Radcliffe?

Following the exhaustive international "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" press tour, Daniel Radcliffe might have the chance to sneak a few Z's.

Or not. The kid has a jam-packed schedule of projects lined up that will keep him busy for the next few years. That means even after the "Potter" franchise is done, you'll have the chance to see Radcliffe on stage and screen for a long time to come.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2"
The franchise isn't done, remember? Production wrapped up this past summer, and the film is set to hit theaters in July. Will it be in 3-D? What will Radcliffe look like as a 40-something adult in the film's much-discussed epilogue? These are just a few of the questions we have about the upcoming installment.

"Woman in Black"
The 21-year-old took a 10-day break from "Woman in Black" to promote "Deathly Hallows - Part 1," but he'll soon be headed back to the set for another four weeks of filming. Based on a 1983 thriller by Susan Hill, the supernatural thriller follows Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) as a lawyer who travels to sort out a recently deceased client's affairs, encountering dark secrets and haunting presences when he arrives. Radcliffe told us he's been loving the production, which is just a fraction of the size of a "Potter" film. "It's faster," he said. "I'm loving it. It's very, very exciting.

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
Radcliffe made his Broadway debut in 2008's "Equus." He's heading back to the Great White Way in February for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." He'll play J. Pierrepont Finch, a young New York City window washer who climbs the corporate ranks until his own profit-at-any-cost ideas threaten to bring everything crashing down. Previews are set to begin on February 26 at the Al Hirschfeld Theater, with the musical opening on March 27.

"All Quiet on the Western Front"
The Brit has already lined up another big-screen literary adaptation, though this one has nothing to do with witches, wizards or ghosts. In "All Quiet on the Western Front," Radcliffe will play Paul Baumer, a German soldier sent to fight in the trenches during World War I. The shoot is expected to kick off in spring 2012.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Footage Leaks Online

'Harry Potter And Deathly Hallows - Part 1': The Reviews Are In!

When it comes to matters of box-office bucks, a film like "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" is pretty much critic-proof. Its opening gross is usually insulated from critics tapping away at keyboards far removed from theaters where fans tote broomsticks and battle with faux-magical wands in the aisles.

Just try keeping those cosplayers at home. But, regardless of critical opinion — which just so happens to be largely positive — "Deathly Hallows" is shaping up to have one of the biggest openings ever. Prognosticators are eyeing a debut in the range of $130 million, good for the top "Potter" opening in franchise history and fifth place on the all-time list. And, as fans rush out to the multiplex in the opening hours in much the same way that Twilighters do, "Part 1" has a shot at besting "New Moon" and its $72.7 million first-day gross last year.

But should you brave the long lines and the frenetic energy of "Potter" obsessives? Do yourself a favor and check out what the critics are saying before you begin drawing a Harry-esque lightning bolt on your forehead.

The Story

" 'Deathly Hallows' is immensely satisfying. Nonetheless, things are gloomier than ever before: Harry, Hermione and Ron (Rupert Grint) are adrift; their anchor, Hogwarts, is no longer a safe haven. 'I must be the one to kill Harry Potter,' says the evil Voldemort, at the beginning of the film, setting the stage for the ultimate standoff. Dark forces amass against Harry and his allies, the Order of the Phoenix, who assemble for a thrilling skyborne escape early in the film. The fearless trio invades the Ministry of Magic in amusingly frumpy grown-up disguise, searches for Horcruxes (pieces of Voldemort's soul, to be used against him), spends a little too much time camping, and leaves you wishing 'Part II' were coming next week, not next summer." — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times

What If You Haven't Read the Books?

"Though I've seen all the films, there were times when I had no idea what they were talking about. Indeed, there are times when Hermione has to explain to Harry. My cluelessness didn't bother me, because the film depends more on mood and character than many of the others, and key actions seem to be alarmingly taking place off-screen." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Comparison to Earlier "Potter" Flicks

"Not that 'Deathly Hallows' is grim, exactly. But it is, to an unusual and somewhat risky degree, sadder and slower than the earlier films. It is also much less of a showcase (or bank vault, as the case may be) for the middle and senior generations of British actors. Many of the familiar faces show up — including Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange, and, of course, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape — but they move along after a scene or two. ... The movie, in other words, belongs solidly to Mr. Radcliffe, Mr. Grint and Ms. Watson, who have grown into nimble actors, capable of nuances of feeling that would do their elders proud. One of the great pleasures of this penultimate 'Potter' movie is the anticipation of stellar post-'Potter' careers for all three of them." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The Dissenters

"The decision by David Heyman (who has produced all the films), Steve Kloves (who's scripted all but one) and David Yates (who will have directed the last four of the eight) to cut the final book into two features — whatever its sense as a business strategy — meant slowing the story down just as it should rev up. Instead of scooting like a Golden Snitch during a Quidditch championship, 'DH1' is struck with a long spell of aimlessness, and the viewer with the curse of ennui." — Richard Corliss, Time

The Final Word

"Ultimately, this movie's not for Muggles like me — it's for the millions and millions of Harry Potter fans who, quibbles aside, will welcome its arrival as a blessed event. It's evidence of how happily critic-proof these movies are that even the Warner Bros. logo — rendered in what looked to be rusting iron — was applauded when it appeared on the screen. After the movie, as the credits began to roll (to Alexandre Desplat's conventional but nonetheless transporting score), the girl on my left — perhaps 15 or 16 — whispered tearfully to her companion: ' So good. God, I can't wait for July.' That's all the critical analysis this movie needs." — Dana Stevens, Slate

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Footage Leaks Online

Emma Watson 'Very Proud' Of 'Deathly Hallows - Part 1'

The three main "Harry Potter" stars — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint — have all grown up since we first laid eyes on them in "The Sorcerer's Stone." But even more amazing is a look back at the massive endeavor the cast, crew and studio undertook, bringing one of the world's most popular book series to life and doing so with the same actors over eight films.

When MTV News caught up with the lovely Emma Watson as she promoted "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1," we asked if she feels a sense of completion, having fulfilled the role of Hermione from beginning to end.

"I think 'Part 2' will be completion," she said. "I feel very proud of this movie, which is really nice. It's really a pleasure to promote it when I'm genuinely like, 'Wasn't it great?' I'm really genuinely excited."

Watson also pointed out that, in the seventh film, she and her co-stars are given the responsibility of carrying most of the film on their shoulders.

"I think it's really lovely that David [Yates] and Steve Kloves the script writer and everyone decided, 'Right, I think these guys are old enough now to carry this movie alone,' " she said. "And they really put that faith in us and gave us the space to really show what we can do. It's really fun that it's about the three of us. It's kind of like a road movie — without the car.

"The story started with us, and I think it's right that it should end with us," she said.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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Tom Felton Teases ‘Powerful Scenes’ In ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’

'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 1': Early Reviews Are In!

Three previous "Harry Potter" films have opened during the third weekend in November. "The Sorcerer's Stone" debuted to $90.3 million in 2001, followed a year later by "The Chamber of Secrets" with $88.4 million and then 2005's "The Goblet of Fire" with $102 million.Where will the first part of "The Deathly Hallows" land when it arrives Friday? Showings are already selling out at a rapid pace, according to MovieTickets.com, accounting for 92 percent of all sales. But if the penultimate boy wizard flick is going to top "The Goblet Fire," it'll have to do so without the added benefit of premium 3-D ticket prices, as Warner Bros. canceled the postproduction conversion last month.

"The Deathly Hallows, Part 1" will have to rely instead on the seemingly limitless enthusiasm of its fan community and the positive buzz from critics. We know the fans will come out in droves. And thus far, reviews have been largely positive (81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes as of press time). Here's what some of those early critics are saying.

The Story

"Professor Dumbledore is no more and Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his growing army of Death Eaters have gone on a rampage to destroy the Order of the Phoenix as well as rid the world of 'Muggles' (i.e., non-wizards). Part of that plan involves taking over the Ministry of Magic, forcing Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley (Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes containing Voldemort's soul in order to defeat the evil wizard and his Death Eaters." — Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net

The Performances

"[W]hen 'Deathly Hallows' settles in for real, character development, it absolutely soars. In the film's more intimate moments it becomes about three kids whom you've seen grow up on screen stepping into their own as adults. Those scenes anchor this movie and ask more of its actors than any Harry Potter movie ever has before. For the first time, they're old enough and adult enough to handle it. All three, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have grown into full-fledged actors perfectly capable of carrying even the most emotional scene." — Josh Tyler, Cinema Blend

The Direction

"[David] Yates achieves his most resonant effects not with wizards' duels or Harry's painful visions (of which there are plenty to go around), but with lingering silences and moments of privileged intimacy; one standout passage, in which the titular Deathly Hallows are explained, makes extended use of animation that's quite unlike anything else in the films so far. Yates is destined to be the filmmaker most associated with the franchise by virtue of having helmed more installments than anyone else, and if his work has never quite reclaimed the poetic heights of Alfonso Cuarón's 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,' he has guided at least three of four films with a gravely elegant hand." — Justin Chang, Variety

The Dissenters

"The final book has been split into two films, the last part due next year from the same director, whose previous two 'Potter' films have been outstanding. The problems here are largely dramatic — the film has no satisfying arc of story, no sense of light and dark. It's necessarily a bridging film, but it never solves the technical problems of pace and exposition. It substitutes action for drama: Never has it been necessary to have a car chase, but this one does. At 146 minutes, it is a long time to sit through something so gloomy, as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and pals watch their world collapsing." — Paul Byrnes, The Sydney Morning Herald

The Question of Splitting the Book

"Perhaps the most pertinent question surrounding the way in which J.K. Rowling's exceptionally intricate epic is being concluded onscreen is whether dividing the final book into two films was justified artistically or only financially. ... More than even the most faithful of the earlier episodes, this film feels devoted above all to reproducing the novel onscreen as closely as possible, an impulse that drags it toward ponderousness at times and rather sorely tests the abilities of the young actors to hold the screen entirely on their own, without being propped up by the ever-fabulous array of character actors the series offers. ... [But] it seems reasonable enough to say why not do it all, shoot the works, show every scene millions of readers want to see, give every character his or her proper curtain call, be expansive rather than constrained? In this case, probably better a bit too much — even a dull scene here and there — than not enough." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Footage Leaks Online

Exclusive: Swedish House Mafia Unveil New 'Take One' Trailer

In September, MTV News was among the first to bring you a trailer for "Take One," a film by music-video director/ editor Christian Larson documenting the two-year rise of Swedish House Mafia from a trio of successful music producers (in their own right) to a global super-brand under the SHM banner.

Now, in an exclusive treat just for you, MTV News has a brand-new trailer for the documentary, which will be packaged with the "Until One" deluxe book set November 30; the film's digital release is forthcoming.

The new clip begins in 2009 with the three Swedes — Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello and Axwell — in a hotel room listening to an early version of the '09 WMC conference anthem "Leave the World Behind," their hit collaboration with Dutch producer Laidback Luke and Deborah Cox. The gents were particularly excited to unleash the song upon their legions of fans at WMC in Miami.

"It goes like this!" Ingrosso exclaims as the song ramps up. "They'll go crazy!"The majority of the trailer is an explosive montage of the many electric performances fans will get to see in the film, including WMC '09, their 2009 show at the U.K.'s Brixton Academy and their dramatic WMC 2010 set. A shot of Steve Angello's now-infamous encounter with Paris Hilton is also thrown in for good measure.

Fans are also gifted a revealing glimpse of the Mafia's recording process. Axwell, Angello and Ingrosso are seen in the lab tinkering with "Leave the World Behind," and the entire process of recording their hit "One" is documented.

As most Swedish House Mafia fans are aware, the three members of the holy trinity of house are close. In fact, Angello and Ingrosso, who are childhood besties, recently celebrated 10 years of recording together. But as with any familial relationship, there are periods of disagreement, and the film documents a dramatic period of time, after the big Brixton show, when the three members decide to take some time away from the group and concentrate on their solo careers.

When we caught up with the film's director in September, he elaborated on this portion of the film. "Love, in any friendship, includes conflict," Larson said. "Yeah, there are some moments of that in the film, you know, where they go off on each other. In any friendship, there is tension. But I think it's important. That tension means something for their creativity. It's important that it's not smooth all of the time."

Indeed, the trio would return to one another and record "One," which they go on to debut to more than 100,000 screaming fans at Ultra Music Fest 2010 in a particularly cinematic fashion, also documented in "Take One."

Swedish House Mafia have released the soundtrack of "Take One," a greatest-hits collection titled Until One, made up of solo material and the group's two new hits, "One" (featuring vocals by Pharrell Williams) and "Miami 2 Ibiza" (with bars by British rapper Tinie Tempah). "Take One" will be packaged with the "Until One" deluxe book set November 30; the film's digital release is on the horizon.

What do you think of the "Take One" trailer? Share your reviews in the comments!

‘Green Lantern’ Trailer Teaser Surfaces

'Cowboys & Aliens' Trailer: The Five Coolest Moments

Jon Favreau gives good trailer. Look no further than the first "Iron Man" footage, which in the span of two minutes managed to transform a C-list Marvel Comics superhero into the star of one of the most anticipated movies of 2008.

The director once again finds himself with a lesser-known comic book property in "Cowboys & Aliens," and he once again delivers one heck of a trailer. Here are our picks for the five coolest moments:

Daniel Craig's Cuff
Craig's Jake Lonergan wakes up in the late-19th-century Wild West looking seriously confused and sporting an anachronistic metallic cuff on his wrist. How'd he get it? What is its function? We soon learn that it's some sort of high-tech weapon that can take out some nasty alien invaders.

Humans vs. Aliens
Make no mistake: Craig's cuff isn't some cheese-tastic weapon out of Will Smith's "Wild Wild West." The tone of "Cowboys & Aliens" is dark, humanity-in-peril stuff. The trailer delivers an awesome WTF moment when the cuff comes to life and unleashes some sort of pulse that takes out an alien craft. Kudos to Favreau for giving us a quick glimpse of that alien ship — small, winged, glowing with lights — and the sort of explosion-heavy battle that will be the lifeblood of this movie.

Humans vs. Humans
At least to begin, though, "Cowboys & Aliens" isn't just about frontiersmen fighting extraterrestrials. The trailer's first moments show us Craig in far more brutal form than in his James Bond flicks. He's got no problem attacking people, blowing them away with a shotgun, and then stealing one of their hats, just 'cause he'll look cool in it. Coldblooded! Note to aliens: You might not want to mess with this dude.

Harrison Ford Goes Bad
Even if this trailer doesn't erase the memory of "Morning Glory," it certainly gives us a taste of a Harrison Ford we haven't seen in far too long. Here, he's grizzled and nasty, and we dig it. "I want that man," he spits. "You give him to me now, or I'm gonna take him."

Olivia Wilde Remembers
Perhaps the most compelling bit of plot exposition in the film — aside from, of course, the arrival of those alien crafts — is a moment when Olivia Wilde saunters into a saloon to chat with Craig. "Do I know you?" he asks. "You don't remember anything?" she responds. No, he does not. Apparently, he's a wanted man with a $1,000 bounty on his head for being a "scourge à the territories." So what happened? Why doesn't he remember anything? And how is all of this connected to that mysterious cuff? The trailer hints at all of this during Wilde and Craig's conversation, delivering no solid answers but getting us seriously excited about the film's July 29, 2011, release date.

Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows' Footage Leaks Online

Three more days was apparently too long for some "Harry Potter" fans to wait. According to TorrentFreak.com, the first 36 minutes of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" leaked online on Tuesday morning, with thousands of fans scrambling to get their hands on the footage before it disappeared.

The movie, which officially opens on Friday, is the first half of the two-part finale of the series, and TorrentFreak reported that even before the leak, it was the most searched for film on a number of torrent sites. While many movies, especially the "Potter" films, eventually find their way online to the torrent sites, where fans can download them for free, the leak of a highly anticipated film like "Potter" is a major concern for studio Warner Bros.

"This constitutes a serious breach of copyright violation and theft of Warner Bros. property," the studio told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. "We are working actively to restrict and/or remove copies that may be available. Also, we are vigorously investigating this matter and will prosecute those involved to the full extent of the law."

The source of the leak was unknown at press time. Last year's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and was on the list of the most-pirated movies of the year, with more than 8 million illegal downloads.

You can understand why Potter fanatics are so excited about the penultimate film, especially since star Daniel Radcliffe recently told MTV News that "Potter" author J.K. Rowling sent him a text message after last week's London premiere assuring him that she was not going to write any more books in the series.

"Basically, it amounted to the fact that she felt I had been very good in this 'Harry Potter' film, and as a reward for that, she wasn't going to [write] any more 'Harry Potter' [books]," Radcliffe said.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Tom Felton Teases ‘Powerful Scenes’ In ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’

Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Still Hoping For Fourth 'Beverly Hills Cop'

Eddie Murphy and director Brett Ratner have been hanging out on Manhattan's Upper West Side recently, shooting exteriors outside the Trump International Hotel for their upcoming comedy, "Tower Heist."

During their downtime on the long-delayed film — when they're not enjoying some seriously fancy craft services courtesy of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose acclaimed restaurant resides on Trump's ground floor — Ratner and Murphy have been discussing another long-in-the-works project: a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" flick.

"Oh yeah, believe me, I'm all over it," Ratner told MTV News when asked if the duo chat about a new "BHC" film. "I am all over it."

Word of the project first dropped in the spring of 2008, with the primary motivator seemingly Murphy's desire to rescue the integrity of the franchise after a third installment that was, in the star's own words, "horrible."

But with an itch to resurrect a dormant franchise comes the pressure of creating a worthy successor rather than another stinker. And, as Ratner told us, Murphy is proceeding cautiously.

"He's sensitive about it," Ratner explained. "He made two great ones. The third one didn't really work. It's an important film for him. It's a character that's iconic. I don't think he goes anywhere in the world where someone — they're not going, 'Yo, Eddie Murphy,' they're like, 'Yo, Axel Foley!'

"It's his Clark Kent. His Darth Vader. His albatross," the director added. "He wants to go out with a bang."

But it is going to happen, right?

"It could. Hopefully he'll have a great experience with me on 'Tower Heist,' " Ratner said. "I'm happy he selected me as the guy to do it, but it's not an easy process and it's not going to be anytime soon."

Would you be excited about a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" film? Tell us in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist."

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'Megamind' Halts 'Unstoppable' At Weekend Box-Office

The animated superhero comedy "Megamind" was strong enough to fend off the debut of the train thriller "Unstoppable." The film, which features voiceover performances from funny guys and gals such as Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, took the weekend box-office crown for the second week in a row. The movie raked in $30 million, which shoots the flick's total estimated tally to over $89 million since its debut last week.

Denzel Washington and Chris Pine's action flick "Unstoppable," finished up its debut weekend on screens in second place. The locomotive-bound blood-pumper about a runaway train that houses deadly cargo, landed in theaters with an estimated $23.5 million.

Zach Galifianakis and Robert Downey Jr.'s laugh-scoring vehicle "Due Date" remained a top-five pick among moviegoers. Audiences plunked down $15.5 million over the weekend to catch the duo's madcap, cross-country odyssey to deliver Downey's character in time for the birth of his child. The weekend number bumps the movie's total haul to an estimated $59 million.

The alien-invasion flick "Skyline" landed in theaters in fourth place. The sci-fi thriller, which revolves around how the planet deals with some unwelcome, otherworldly guests who descend from the sky in crazy-looking contraptions, captured $11.7 million during its debut weekend on screens. The movie stars Eric Balfour, Scotty Thompson and Donald Faison as friends in Los Angeles dealing with the extraterrestrial drama.

Rachel McAdams' turn as a career-minded young upstart in the rom-com "Morning Glory" opened in fifth place. The flick, which follows McAdams as she spars with cantankerous news veteran (Harrison Ford) and his daffy co-anchor (Diane Keaton) on a struggling morning show, picked up $9.6 million since hitting theaters on Wednesday.

Check out everything we've got on "Megamind,""Unstoppable" and "Due Date."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'Green Lantern' Trailer Teaser Surfaces

The countdown to the "Green Lantern" is closing in on a notable milestone: the premiere of the film's trailer.

The trailer for the 2011 release is slated to drop next week, but "Entertainment Tonight" recently previewed the clip, which gives fans a glimpse of a muscle-bound Ryan Reynolds all suited up in the emerald uniform.

The show's teaser shows Reynolds whipping out of his Hal Jordan street clothes and into his superhero garb in a flash, dashing about in his underwear, wielding his super-powerful ring, dropping in on foes and interacting with his co-star "Gossip Girl" Blake Lively.

The preview also shows Reynolds' "Green Lantern" costume in action, a sartorial choice that divided fans who wondered if the look was too much of a departure from the superhero's classic crime-fighting apparel. However, the film's star welcomed the dialogue kicked up by the suit's revamp.

"There has to be a little healthy debate about it," Reynolds told MTV News at Comic-Con in July. "I mean, that's important. If it were just slanted one way or the other, I don't think it would be that satisfying."

The trailer isn't the first time fans have gotten a chance to check out advance footage of the flick. Comic-Con attendees also previewed some of the Lantern's aerial swoops, checked out a glimpse of Peter Sarsgaard's turn as villain Hector Hammond and got a taste of Tomar-Re.

"The tone is light," director Martin Campbell explained of the film. "It has a lot of humor, but I think the relationships between all the characters are very real. We try to keep the action very real. ... It's my first superhero movie — unless you count James Bond."

Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'Unstoppable': The Reviews Are In!

Together Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott can reliably be expected to deliver hyperkinetic action sequences and box-office openings in the low $20 million range. Except for the $18 million "Crimson Tide" debuted to in 1995, this pair's flicks haven't plunged beneath the $20 million mark, nor have they floated past $24 million.

"Unstoppable," the duo's fifth collaboration, is likely to open within that familiar range, though its stellar reviews might lift the action flick's opening. Here's what critics are saying:

The Story

"Cinematic narrative doesn't get any simpler than that, and Scott wisely keeps the premise pure, ratcheting up the tension and raising the emotional stakes without cluttering up the story's sleek lines. A young, inexperienced railroad conductor named Will (Chris Pine) is on his first shift with veteran train operator Frank (Denzel Washington) on the same day that a train carrying tons of hazardous materials has been sent hurtling down its tracks without a conductor or functioning brakes. With the help of a coolheaded train executive named Connie (Rosario Dawson), who keeps in near constant contact with the men, Will and Frank narrowly escape colliding with what she calls 'a missile the size of the Chrysler Building.' Out of harm's way, their next priority is to chase the errant locomotive down and stop it before it hits a dangerous S-curve and crashes in the middle of a busy Pennsylvania city." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

The Performances

"Mr. Washington has never been more likable, or convincingly heroic. Sometimes he's simultaneously intense and self-effacing, proof of his own expertise in the tricky profession of being a star. 'Unstoppable' will be a turning point in Mr. Pine's career; he gives a star performance that is notable for its subtlety, simplicity and unforced strength. Thanks to the bond between them, the movie more than gets away with conversational interludes in which Will and Frank discuss life and love." — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal

The Look

"Mr. Scott is partial to blunt, rapid cuts; whipping pans; and saturated colors. He likes twirling the camera around characters, like a sugared-up tot running 360s on a playground, a hyperactive visual style that can turn the screen into a blur of pulsating color. Here, working with the cinematographer Ben Seresin and some ace sound technicians, he creates an unexpectedly rich world of chugging, rushing trains slicing across equally beautiful industrial and natural landscapes. There is something mesmerizing about these trains and the men who run them, something nostalgic too, because they seem like history machines, summoning up a past lived and also imagined, as in, for starters, 'The Great Train Robbery' (1903), 'North by Northwest' (1959) and 'Speed' (1994)." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

The Dissenters

"An action thriller seriously devoid of action or thrills, the curiously sluggish 'Unstoppable' is the slowest, talkiest movie you'll ever see about a runaway freight train loaded with toxic chemicals. The actors get a lot more to do in the admittedly brisk second half of 'Unstoppable,' but the filmmakers come up with a surprisingly small number of cliffhanger scenarios involving the speeding locomotive: 1985's 'Runaway Train,' although a dramatically different picture, did infinitely more exciting things with its premise. 'Unstoppable' picks up some speed as it hurtles toward its predictable conclusion, but the acceleration comes too late. No matter how many times Scott has his cameras circle his actors to lend the film a sense of barreling motion, you rarely feel as if this train has even left the station." — Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

The Final Word

"Director Tony Scott may have missed his mark by a bit on his last cinematic train ride with 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,' but he hits his target dead-on in 'Unstoppable.' The best blue collar action movie in who knows how long, this tense, narrowly focused thriller about a runaway freight train has a lean and pure simplicity to it that is satisfying in and of itself. But in its incidental portrait of discontented and discounted working stiffs who live marginal lives on society's sidings and are angry to varying degrees, the film carries an unexpected weight and could connect with Middle American audiences in a big way." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

Check out everything we've got on "Unstoppable."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Rosario Dawson Wanted ‘Unstoppable’ Character To Be ‘Composed’

Rosario Dawson Wanted 'Unstoppable' Character To Be 'Composed'

Like her "Unstoppable" co-stars Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson put in serious time and research to prepare for her role in the Tony Scott thriller about a runaway train. Dawson says she had the opportunity to meet with a real-life inspiration for her character: a female rail-yard manager.

"We had a great opportunity, we found this amazing woman, Mary Alexander," Dawson recently told MTV News. Dawson said she got to pick Alexander's brain, and peppered her with questions about proper rail-yard vernacular, protocol and technical terminology.

In the film, opening Friday, Dawson plays Connie, a headstrong rail-yard manager who, along with Pine and Washington's characters, goes up against her corporate bosses in an attempt to stop a train loaded with explosive chemicals from careening into a small town.

"To do that and know it was a woman who went through it, I was like, 'How did you work your way up? What did that feel like?' " she recalled asking Alexander. "You get those obvious clichéd things about a woman working in a men's industry, but you also get this [explanation]: 'Listen, this is a high-stakes situation, this doesn't happen every day but when it does, you want capable people to be there.'

"To be someone composed and a leader in that, that's what I wanted Connie to be," Dawson added. "Not just a cool, spunky woman or a bitchy aggressive woman, but just the right person for the job."

Check out everything we've got on "Unstoppable."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Selita Ebanks ‘Humbled’ By Response To Kanye West’s ‘Runaway’

'Skyline': The Early Reviews Are In

An alien-invasion flick likely will top the box office this weekend ... but, no, it's not called "Skyline." Rather, it seems that "Megamind," the animated tale of a big-brained baddie with a secretly soft heart, is going to reign supreme for the second week in a row.

"Skyline," meanwhile, will compete for ticket buyers' bucks with Denzel Washington's runaway-train action movie, "Unstoppable," which also opens this weekend. "Skyline" leapt out of Comic-Con with a surprising buzz — a film no one had really heard about that, after the convention, was firmly on the fanboy radar. Universal has since taken a gamble and declined to screen the movie for the media, choosing to let the fans themselves decide if the flick is a worthy addition to the alien-invasion genre. A few critics, though, managed to sneak into advance screenings. The reviews, thus far, are decidedly mixed. Check out what they had to say and judge for yourself.

The Story

"Jarrod (Eric Balfour) and his girlfriend Elaine (Scotty Thompson) visit Los Angeles to stay with his successful best friend Terry (Donald Faison) in a luxurious high-rise apartment. Beams of light strike down on the city, vast alien machines and creatures appear, and Jarrod — who has just learned that Elaine is pregnant — decides that his family will survive." — Kim Newman, Empire Online

The Visuals

"There's no denying that the aliens themselves are impressive creations: first as they descend from the sky in giant, bio-mechanic ships that emit an oddly beautiful blue light to lure their prey outside before vacuuming them off the face of the Earth; later as they break off into smaller life-forms (some resemble floating octopi, while others are hammer-headed juggernauts that hulk and pounce) to hunt down the few remaining survivors who've managed to resist the hypnotizing glow. What [directors Colin and Greg Strause] have achieved effects-wise, from the home base of their Los Angeles studio Hydraulx, is truly stellar given the budget; these are, for the most part, top-notch visuals to rival those of any big-studio film." — Chris Eggertsen, Bloody Disgusting

The Thrills

"The survivors of those first abductions bicker [about] whether to hunker down or make a break for it. Time passes through time-lapse photography as they hide out. They watch a lot of what transpires through a spotting scope through the windows of Terry's penthouse. That's indicative of why 'Skyline' is an epic fail of a monster movie. There's no urgency, no close-contact immediacy to it. The group starts as a sextet, shrinks to a quartet, adds a couple of people, loses a couple more. And we don't care for an instant about any of them, don't identify with them and don't try to reason their way out of this hopeless mess with them. That neck-up style of acting so suited to TV doesn't work in a movie where you're dealing with the unfathomable. The characters, like the viewer, are simply bystanders — observers of a special effects battle between Stealth fighter bombers and Predator drones and alien squid ships and their offspring. Thus, 'Skyline' plays like an effects guru's resume reel, not a movie." — Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The Comparison to Other Alien Flicks

"Beyond the dazzling 'first contact' sequences seen in the trailers, 'Skyline' is a spasmodic and incoherent shambles hampered by an astoundingly stupid screenplay. Burdened also by unspeakably bad Syfy channel dialogue and dreadful acting, it culminates in a risible finish that, incredibly, seems to be setting up a sequel. Sci-fi fans transfixed by the brilliant blue light from the invading spaceships in those tantalizing trailers should swarm multiplexes on opening but business will drop off steeply once it becomes clear that 'Skyline' is neither a clever 'District 9' twin nor even a cut-rate 'War of the Worlds'/'Independence Day' mash-up. It's a wannabe epic, but make no mistake: this is strictly B-movie fare, punched up by some occasionally inspired imagery." — Megan Lehmann, The Hollywood Reporter

The Low Down

"'Skyline,' for all its 'let's put on a show' low-budget gumption, doesn't have the storytelling skills or the basic narrative fundamentals to make any of the flashy mayhem (or mundane human drama) compelling in the slightest. Instead, computer-generated doo-dads zip across the screen without much dazzle, employing the workmanlike sizzle of a top-shelf video game. For all its sizzle, it doesn't mean a damn thing." — Drew Taylor, The Playlist

Check out everything we've got on "Skyline."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Star Wars’ Series To Be Re-Released In 3-D

Christina Aguilera And Cher Go 'Toe-To-Toe' In 'Burlesque'

Cher is about to school Christina Aguilera in the art of being a superstar in their splashy new musical "Burlesque." In fact, starring alongside Cher has taught Aguilera to amp up her dancing game. And Cher said her character ends up owing a lot to Aguilera's in the flick, out later this month.

"I own this club, and we're not doing well even though it's a fabulous place because of the economy, and Christina comes out of nowhere," Cher told MTV News on Monday night at the Glamour Women of the Year event. "[She's] this little girl that just bothers me. All she does is keep and needling me, needling me, and then I make a decision to kind of step aside and make her into this star."

The Oscar-winning actress also wants everyone to know that, although Aguilera is new to the world of acting, she really can dish it out with the best of them. "The scenes that she and I had together, I really enjoyed, and I really believe that she's got definite chops," she said. "We worked well together. I enjoyed all of it, and she was toe-to-toe with me the whole time. But everybody's good. Stanley Tucci's in it and Peter Gallagher and Kristen Bell and Julianne Hough, and so everyone's really good in it."

Someone who is also singing Aguilera's praises is Robin Antin, Pussycat Dolls mastermind and sister of the film's director, Steven Antin. "She's doing really well," Robin said. "She's very talented, and it's great when you have a director like my brother, Steve. ... He truly is one of the best directors. That's what a good director is: It's to get your actress, whether they've had experience or not, to be great.

"It's a great opportunity for her, and she's really talented, obviously," she continued. "She came and was a guest in the Pussycat Dolls, and that's how that really happened; that's how my brother met Christina. ... I think the movie's going to be very cool."

Check out everything we've got on "Burlesque."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Hangover 2′ Director Addresses Mel Gibson Switch

'Harry Potter' Screenwriter Says It's 'My Fault' If Fans Hate 'Deathly Hallows'

Steve Kloves, who penned the scripts for seven of the eight "Harry Potter" films, rarely gives interviews. He has popped up at just one red-carpet premiere for the boy-wizard franchise. He's a guy, in other words, who likes to stay in the background. But he'll take responsibility for one thing: If fans hate "Deathly Hallows," it's all his fault.

"If people like a 'Harry Potter' movie, it's because of the book," he told the Los Angeles Times. "But if they don't like it, then it's my fault."

That might be overstating the case just a bit, though Kloves certainly has his fair share of haters within the "Potter" fan community. But there's a reason Warner Bros. turned to him again and again to adapt J.K. Rowling's novels for the big screen: one heck of a track record. His "Potter" screenplays (all but 2007's "Order of the Phoenix") have provided the backbone for $4.7 billion in worldwide box-office receipts and counting.

Yet the self-deprecating scribe gives much of the credit to Rowling, with whom he's struck up a deep creative friendship. "The single greatest thing I take from the experience of the past 10 years is becoming friends with Jo," Kloves said. "That's a separate thing from all of this now, separate from 'Potter,' and it's become a very important part of my life. I used to say she's the coolest chick on the face of the planet. You read that first book and you thought, 'Angela Lansbury wrote this book,' then you meet her and she knows all of your music references and she's funny. The first thing you pick up sitting down with her though is the intelligence. We had to make movies as smart as her books and as smart as her."

Leave it to others in the "Potter" brain trust to argue that Kloves bears as much responsibility for the franchise's success as anyone. "I think it's a really terrific partnership of two really fabulous writers," "Deathly Hallows" director David Yates said. "There is also a kind of delicacy and poignancy that he finds in some moments. He's a real observer of small human touches."

It's Harry Potter Week at MTV News! Join us Monday night at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com as we live-stream from the red-carpet premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" and talk with all the "Potter" stars. And stick with us for interviews, photos, videos and much more about your favorite boy wizard before "Deathly Hallows - Part 1" hits theaters November 19.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Tom Felton Teases ‘Powerful Scenes’ In ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’

'Harry Potter' Actor Tom Felton Recalls Draco Malfoy's Best Moments

Dino De Laurentiis, the Oscar-winning Italian producer of films including "Serpico," "Death Wish" and "Red Dragon," died in Los Angeles on Thursday (November 11) at the age of 91.

The prolific De Laurentiis began his career in the 1940s and produced more than 500 films over the next seven decades. Following World War II, he produced two Federico Fellini films, "La Strada," which won a Foreign Language Oscar, and "Nights of Cabiria." He went on to produce high-profile projects on both sides of the Atlantic, notably Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda's "War and Peace," Anthony Perkins' "This Angry Age" and Kirk Douglas' "Ulysses." He also had a taste for the lowbrow genre flick, producing films like 1961's "Goliath and the Vampires" and 1968's "Barbarella."

In the 1970s, De Laurentiis set up shop in New York and worked on films including "Serpico," starring Al Pacino, "Death Wish," with Charles Bronson, and "Three Days of the Condor," featuring Robert Redford. Later he produced David Lynch's "Blue Velvet," as well as four movies in the Hannibal Lecter series: "Manhunter" (1986), "Hannibal" (2000), "Red Dragon" (2002) and "Hannibal Rising" (2007), which was his final film.

His storied career was marked by 38 Oscar nominations and two wins, one for Best Foreign Language Film for "La Strada" in 1957, the other the honorary Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2001.

In his personal life, De Laurentiis was married to actress Silvana Mangano, the star of "Riso Amaro," one of his first films, from 1949 to 1989, when Mangano passed away. They had four children together: Veronica, Raffaella, who is also a film producer, Federico, who died in a plane crash in 1981, and Francesca.

De Laurentiis was later married to American film producer Martha Schumacher, with whom he had two daughters, Carolyna and Dina. In addition to his second wife and five children, he is survived by his granddaughter, celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.

Dino De Laurentiis, Oscar-Winning Film Producer, Dies At 91

Dino De Laurentiis, Oscar-Winning Film Producer, Dies At 91

Dino De Laurentiis, the Oscar-winning Italian producer of films including "Serpico," "Death Wish" and "Red Dragon," died in Los Angeles on Thursday (November 11) at the age of 91.

The prolific De Laurentiis began his career in the 1940s and produced more than 500 films over the next seven decades. Following World War II, he produced two Federico Fellini films, "La Strada," which won a Foreign Language Oscar, and "Nights of Cabiria." He went on to produce high-profile projects on both sides of the Atlantic, notably Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda's "War and Peace," Anthony Perkins' "This Angry Age" and Kirk Douglas' "Ulysses." He also had a taste for the lowbrow genre flick, producing films like 1961's "Goliath and the Vampires" and 1968's "Barbarella."

In the 1970s, De Laurentiis set up shop in New York and worked on films including "Serpico," starring Al Pacino, "Death Wish," with Charles Bronson, and "Three Days of the Condor," featuring Robert Redford. Later he produced David Lynch's "Blue Velvet," as well as four movies in the Hannibal Lecter series: "Manhunter" (1986), "Hannibal" (2000), "Red Dragon" (2002) and "Hannibal Rising" (2007), which was his final film.

His storied career was marked by 38 Oscar nominations and two wins, one for Best Foreign Language Film for "La Strada" in 1957, the other the honorary Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2001.

In his personal life, De Laurentiis was married to actress Silvana Mangano, the star of "Riso Amaro," one of his first films, from 1949 to 1989, when Mangano passed away. They had four children together: Veronica, Raffaella, who is also a film producer, Federico, who died in a plane crash in 1981, and Francesca.

De Laurentiis was later married to American film producer Martha Schumacher, with whom he had two daughters, Carolyna and Dina. In addition to his second wife and five children, he is survived by his granddaughter, celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.

Lindsay Lohan’s ‘Inferno’ Role: Adult-Film Stars Weigh In

Rachel McAdams Unsure About Doing 'Sherlock Holmes 2'

Production on "Sherlock Holmes 2" has been under way in the U.K. since last month. Robert Downey Jr.'s back in the title role, and Jude Law reprises his role as Sherlock's there-in-a-pinch sidekick, Watson. Rachel McAdams, however, hasn't been spotted on set at all.

While rumors have been swirling that McAdams will pop back up, the actress has now been replaced by "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" star Noomi Rapace in the sequel's lead female role. Last spring, producer Joel Silver said McAdams will reprise her role, albeit in a less prominent capacity.

Robert Downey Jr. Calls ‘Due Date’ Director His ‘Soul Mate’

'Three Stooges' Film Is 'Dead' For Jim Carrey

Thirteen years after the Farrelly brothers first began making plans to bring the Three Stooges to the big screen, the project seemed finally to have escaped development hell: Sean Penn had signed on to play Larry, Jim Carrey was eyeing the role of Curly and Benicio del Toro was lined up to become Moe.

Then things began to fall apart. Penn dropped out amid rumors that marital woes had compelled the actor to take a break from Hollywood. And Carrey, who had been packing on the pounds to play the portly Curly, abandoned the film. Now Carrey has told MTV News exactly why he opted out and speculated that the film will never actually shift into production.

"I think it's dead," he said when asked if "The Three Stooges" would ever hit the big screen. He quickly added, "It's dead at least with me."

The reason for stepping away from the slapstick trio, the comedian explained, was a simple matter of feeling physically incapable of gaining the necessary weight. "For me, I don't really want to do anything halfway, and I don't feel like a fat suit does it," he said. "I started experimenting with it a little bit, and I gained 35, 40 pounds. I wanted to gain another 30, 40. When you're [Robert] De Niro in your 20s or early 30s, you can kind of come back from that. It's a tough thing to come back from when you're upwards of 30. Your body can't carry it or you can have a cardiac arrest."

And then, of course, there was the prospect of taking part in the physical comedy the role would entail, an experience he speculated might become reminiscent of an Oscar-winning film about torture in a Turkish prison.

"Put that with Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro slapping me in the head all day long, and someone will lose an eye. It won't be good," he said. "It'll be like 'Midnight Express.' It'll be awful."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Lindsay Lohan’s ‘Inferno’ Role: Adult-Film Stars Weigh In

Tom Felton Teases 'Powerful Scenes' In 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows'

The last time we checked in with Tom Felton, he was fresh off his MTV Movie Award win for Best Villain — including an awkward interruption courtesy of Mark Wahlberg — and celebrating the opening of Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. Since then, he's been hard at work filming a couple of new projects as well as starting up the intense promo campaign for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."

When MTV News caught up with the man behind lovable/loathable villain Draco Malfoy, we went straight for the news: How much of Draco will we see in this first "Deathly Hallows" installment?

"It's a bit hard for me to say, as I haven't actually seen the film myself," he admitted. "So the last thing I want to do is give false hope to any Draco fans out there, but I'm pretty sure there's going to be some stuff with the Malfoy Manor.

"You actually see where Draco and his family live, which is hugely exciting. They're a very extravagant family," Felton continued. "[There are] very powerful scenes that happen there, so depending on where the cut is, which I'm very excited to find out as well. I'm excited to see how much Draco we see in the first one."

The plucky 23-year-old said that, although he has the opportunity to screen the film ahead of its world premiere in London next week, he prefers to avoid early viewings to add to the excitement. So what does he think of what he has seen?

"Again, it's hard for me to say, because some of my scenes are supposed to be in the middle, so I don't know whether they're going to be brought over to the second or brought over to the first [film], and the last thing I want to do is talk about the second one," he said.

Of the footage he has been privy to, however, Felton complimented the darker sides he's seen of his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

"There's some great stuff I've seen between Dan, Rupert and Emma; it has a really different vibe to what they've had before," he said. "This whole perfect friendship thing kinda goes out the window, and some of the stuff they shot looks fantastic. Rupert, especially, I'm not used to him looking so mean or so angry. I only saw a snippet, but it looked fantastic, so I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship plays out."

How do you think the relationships will play out? Tell us in the comments!

It's Harry Potter Week at MTV News! Stick with us all week for interviews, photos, videos and much more about your favorite boy wizard before "Deathly Hallows: Part 1" hits theaters November 19.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Rhys Ifans Up For ‘Spider-Man’ Villain

Brad Pitt's 'Megamind' Character No 'Cardboard Hero,' Director Says

"Megamind," DreamWorks' latest animated comedy, hits theaters on Friday, with a star-studded Hollywood cast that includes Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller and Brad Pitt. And while funnymen Ferrell and Stiller are no strangers to comedic work, A-list actor Pitt is a bit of a newbie to the genre.

The film tells the story of a super-villain named Megamind, voiced by Ferrell, who has repeatedly attempted — and failed — to conquer Metro City. Instead, the town's studly hero Metro Man (Pitt) has managed to defeat him every time.

Although Pitt has played a multifaceted range of characters onscreen, until the role of Metro Man came along, he had yet to add an animated hero to his résumé. When MTV News caught up with "Megamind" director Tom McGrath and executive producer Stiller, the two men explained what made the part appealing to Pitt.

"He loved the idea. He loved the character and playing that kind of character that has a couple levels to him," McGrath said. "You know, he's not just the cardboard hero, he's got another layer to him — not to give anything away — and he's funny."

Pitt's reputation as one of the most attractive men in the movie business certainly was not a consideration when the decision was made to cast him in the animated flick. Stiller said he thought he would actually be doing Pitt a favor by offering him this kind of role.

"We wanted to give him a break. We felt like he could use a boost right now in his career," Stiller joked. "We figured things aren't really popping with the on-camera work, maybe the voice thing will get him something. So I'm hoping he'll owe us for this one."

What do you think of Brad Pitt flexing his comedic chops in an animated flick? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Megamind."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Megamind’: The Reviews Are In

Harrison Ford Is 'Looking Forward' To 'Indiana Jones 5'

Both Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf have dropped tidbits to the press about plans for a fifth "Indiana Jones" film, following the $786 million success of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in 2008.

But on the red carpet for the "Morning Glory" premiere this weekend in New York City, Ford told reporters there are currently no plans whatsoever for "Indiana Jones 5."

Yet Ford told MTV News just the opposite before the premiere, informing us that Indy creator George Lucas has the project lined up and the 68-year-old actor can't wait for the chance to crack the archeologist's whip once again.

"It's on George's plate, and I'm hoping he's working hard at it, because I'd look forward to doing it again if the three of us could get together — George, [director] Steven Spielberg, myself — I'd love to do another," he said.

While he expressed enthusiasm for the project, Ford stopped short of doling out further details, saying only, "I'm not at liberty to tell you what I know and what I don't know."

This past summer, LaBeouf went into a touch more detail about the production, though he didn't address rumors that the story would take Ford and LaBeouf to the Bermuda Triangle.

"I got called into Steven's office, and he pitched a little bit to me and it sounds crazy," LaBeouf said. "It sounds really cool."

Almost two decades passed between the premiere of "The Last Crusade" in 1989 and the debut of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in '08. So how much time is going to pass before fans get a chance to buy tickets for a fifth franchise installment?

"No timeline. While I'm alive, I hope," Ford laughed. "It'll be better for everybody."

Do you want Harrison and Shia to team up for another "Indiana Jones" installment? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Morning Glory."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Kanye West’s ‘Runaway’ Film To Premiere On MTV

'Megamind': The Reviews Are In

It's been quite a year for DreamWorks Animation's computer-generated goofiness. March brought "How to Train Your Dragon" and almost $500 million in worldwide box-office receipts. Two months later, what has been billed as the final installment in the "Shrek" franchise swept across the globe and made off with $737.4 million in booty. This weekend, "Megamind" is aiming to keep that string of DreamWorks hits going.

It's got the firepower, with Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt's names splashed across marketing material. And it's expected to land somewhere in the $50 million to $60 million range over its first weekend. That'd be more than "Dragon," which delivered voice talent with considerably less star wattage than "Megamind," but not nearly as much as "Shrek Forever After," which has become one of the most enduring animated franchises of the new millennium.

As a point of comparison between these three flicks, "Dragon" received near universal acclaim (98% on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator), while "Shrek" was saddled with decidedly mixed praise (58 percent on RT). "Megamind" falls somewhere in the middle (64 percent at the moment), and will likely also fall somewhere in the middle when the weekend box-office tally is finalized. Here's what the critics are saying.

Story
"Megamind [Ferrell] and Metro Man (Pitt) were born on a faraway, doomed planet and sent to Earth by their respective sets of parents, Superman-style. But Metro Man winds up in a loving home in Metro City, while Megamind's capsule lands in prison. That kind of environment is difficult to overcome. For years their lives play out with predictability. The hapless Megamind, with the help of his evil fish Minion [David Cross], kidnaps bored TV reporter Roxanne Ritchi [Tina Fey], Metro Man saves her, repeat, repeat, repeat. Until one day, when Megamind, in a development that surprises him as much as anyone, does the unthinkable: He wins.

He vanquishes Metro Man, leaving Metro City helpless and at his disposal. Sounds ideal for a villain, sure, but it proves to be a hollow victory, as Megamind discovers that he lost his sense of purpose when he lost his enemy. A plan to create a new hero goes awry, creating, from Roxanne's sad-sack cameraman Hal (Jonah Hill), a villain more evil, or at least crankier, than Megamind ever was. Now Megamind must team with Roxanne to save the city he had so much fun trying to destroy." — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic

The Performances
"After playing well-meaning blowhards like Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby, Will Ferrell feels like a natural fit for the arrogant, misguided Megamind, and he does a terrific job not only capturing a supervillain's prototypical penchant for melodrama, but offering an underlying vulnerability that makes him not only funny, but sympathetic to the audience. ... Meanwhile, as Roxanne Ritchi, Fey not only offers a perfect Lois Lane for the Lex Luthor-esque Megamind and Superman-esque Metro Man to battle over, but gives female viewers a character with enough substance, depth, intelligence and independence to hold her own against her male counterparts. ... At the same time, Pitt is also perfectly cast as the polished protector whose indulgence in the public's hero worship seems at least as dangerous as Megamind's malevolent schemes, and he effectively downplays the earnest heroics of comic book counterparts like Superman in lieu of something more smug and self-satisfied." — Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical

The 3-D
"[T]he director goes the extra mile with the film's visual aspects, notably — and perhaps especially — with the 3-D. Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to the dimensional work here is that, after a certain point, you tend to forget that you're watching a 3-D movie, so gracefully are the perspectives integrated into the compositions and movements. Wearing the glasses still darkens the image by at least 25%, but the images burst out nonetheless, and there is particularly adroit use of an invisible car, the outline of which just barely registers when it figures in the action. Overall, the film stands as one of the best arguments in favor of 3-D among the many examples that have surfaced over the past couple of years in that it feels like mature, restrained, even natural use of the technique." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

The Dissenters
" 'Megamind' is a dispiriting return to the tired, star-driven, pop-culture-ridden formula that DreamWorks Animation ran into the ground before its best feature in years, this spring's 'How to Train Your Dragon.' Now, with Tom McGrath ('Madagascar') at the helm of 'Megamind,' it's back to the same old Shrek — er, dreck." — Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The Final Word
"Directed by Tom 'Madagascar' McGrath, and written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, 'Megamind' is a smart, funny and original treat. Sweet enough to deliver a message about creating your own destiny, but with just enough sour grapes not to cloy, the movie delivers pure pleasure from start to finish. It's also beautifully animated, with great sensitivity to detail. Check out the faintest flush of pink, for instance, in Megamind's oversize ears. For once, the 3-D gimmick seems justified, with eye-popping scenery and action." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post

Check out everything we've got on "Megamind."

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Jonah Hill Says ‘21 Jump Street’ Will Be His Next Movie

Miley Cyrus' 'The Big Bang' Video Might Become Movie

Car crashes. Sexy make-out scenes. Ghostly visions. To sum it up, Miley Cyrus and Kevin Zegers got our hearts racing when they appeared as lovers in Rock Mafia's video for their retro-tinged track "The Big Bang." And, when MTV News spoke with Tim James, who sings the vocals on the track that his team, Rock Mafia, helped create, he teased there might be a bigger plan in the works.

"They're actually talking about a movie. I'm excited about that too," James dished. "There's a couple of producers putting together story lines and stuff. That's really exciting."

And, he says there's talk of Miley and Kevin starring.

As for the idea that Rock Mafia score the flick — that is, if Hollywood Crush can help broker the deal — James exclaimed, "Now you're really talking! Now you're making my day!"

Miley herself offered to appear in the video, which has fans' tongues wagging, for the production team who worked with her on "Can't Be Tamed," "Who Owns My Heart" and "See You Again."

"The whole idea was to do something different," James explained. "[The director] had such a cool vision for it ... the vision was to let it fly, let the chemistry speak for itself. When we were watching them shoot it, we were like, 'Wow, this is going to be really cool.'

"Kevin and [Miley] both brought their real acting game to it. ... The chemistry is not by accident. You can feel it, and it's intense," he continued. "I'm really proud of both of them."

And, he's just as proud of the song itself. "I wish they grew on trees," he joked. "I wish I had 100 of them like it. It's really a special record. We wanted to do something that was classic, that felt like an old vinyl from the '70s that nobody ever heard. It was an experiment in that aesthetic."

As for working with Miley, James has one thing he wants everyone to know: "There's nothing manufactured with that girl!"

"It's weird 'cause [the Miley in the video] is like the Miley that I'm used to hanging out with," he said. "So, it's cool that this [video] can give her a good look that I think has been underused.

"I'm stoked for her. She comes by the studio a lot and just jams with us — that's my favorite. She's so dope. People need to know it. What she can do is cool, so I'm really excited to let people see her artistic side. As she keeps growing, she's going to do cool stuff. She really is her own person."

Would you see a movie based on the "Big Bang" video? Tell us in the comments below!

For young Hollywood news, fashion and updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Justin Bieber Announces Movie Title: ‘Never Say Never’

'Spider-Man' Musical May Miss Opening Preview Date

Some musical projects are just cursed. Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy . The Beach Boys' Smile . And now the beleaguered Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" — with music by Bono and the Edge of U2 — seems like the next candidate for that list. The latest setback: It will likely miss its first preview performance on November 14 because of concerns raised by the New York State Department of Labor.

According to the New York Times , inspectors from the DOL visited the production on Wednesday (November 3) but were only shown a handful of the two dozen aerial stunts and maneuvers that are executed over the course of the show. One of those stunts — which launches an actor from the back of the stage and over the audience — has already injured two performers, one of whom broke both of his wrists after crashing onto the stage.

Because the DOL must approve all of the stunts before the show is allowed to be shown to the public, the inspectors will have to schedule another visit. That visit is not likely to occur by the show's first scheduled preview.

"We made it clear that we need to see every maneuver before they are legally allowed to hold their first performance," explained Department of Labor spokesman Leo Rosales. "This is a unique production, with an unprecedented amount of activity going on directly above audiences, so we want to see each one of those activities demonstrated."

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has been something of a boondoggle from the start. Production has been shut down twice due to budget concerns, and an original launch date of February 2010 had to be scrapped when funds dried up. All told, the musical is said to have cost a cool $60 million — more than twice the previous record for the most expensive Broadway show ever produced.

Are you planning on seeing the "Spider-Man" musical? Let us know in the comments!

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Rhys Ifans Up For ‘Spider-Man’ Villain

Justin Bieber Says 3-D Movie Is 'Really Inspiring'

"Real World: San Diego" alum Jamie Chung is trading her small-screen stardom for big-screen cred. Having survived her San Diego season and the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II," her latest role will have her traveling to Bangkok to be a part of "Hangover 2."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chung is set to play Stu's (Ed Helms) fiancée. Despite the fact that it looked like Stu would end up with Heather Graham's character at the end of "Hangover," Graham will not reprise her role for the sequel.

Jamie's acting credits include roles in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," "Sorority Row," "Grown Ups," Zack Snyder's upcoming fantasy "Sucker Punch," and the thriller "Premium Rush," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The major plot details for "Hangover 2" are under wraps, of course, but we do know that Liam Neeson will appear in a brief cameo and all the guys — Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha — will journey from L.A. to Thailand. And Ken Jeong will be back as crazy Mr. Chow, though he has no idea how.

"No comment!" he told MTV News recently. "I'm just happy that I'm in it. For me, this is not predestined to happen so I'm just so happy I'm involved in any moment. Anything Todd asked me to do, I would do. Anything."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Real World: San Diego’ Alum Jamie Chung Joins ‘Hangover 2′ Cast

'Real World: San Diego' Alum Jamie Chung Joins 'Hangover 2' Cast

"Real World: San Diego" alum Jamie Chung is trading her small-screen stardom for big-screen cred. Having survived her San Diego season and the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II," her latest role will have her traveling to Bangkok to be a part of "Hangover 2."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chung is set to play Stu's (Ed Helms) fiancée. Despite the fact that it looked like Stu would end up with Heather Graham's character at the end of "Hangover," Graham will not reprise her role for the sequel.

Jamie's acting credits include roles in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," "Sorority Row," "Grown Ups," Zack Snyder's upcoming fantasy "Sucker Punch," and the thriller "Premium Rush," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The major plot details for "Hangover 2" are under wraps, of course, but we do know that Liam Neeson will appear in a brief cameo and all the guys — Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha — will journey from L.A. to Thailand. And Ken Jeong will be back as crazy Mr. Chow, though he has no idea how.

"No comment!" he told MTV News recently. "I'm just happy that I'm in it. For me, this is not predestined to happen so I'm just so happy I'm involved in any moment. Anything Todd asked me to do, I would do. Anything."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Hangover 2′ Director Addresses Mel Gibson Switch

Robert Downey Jr. Calls 'Due Date' Director His 'Soul Mate'

Jon Favreau, Guy Ritchie, Oliver Stone — these are just some of the acclaimed directors that Robert Downey Jr. has collaborated with over the course of his lengthy career. But after 40 years in the business, RDJ says he finally met his filmmaking soul mate in the form of "Due Date" director Todd Phillips.

When the "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes" star spoke with MTV News on the "Due Date" red carpet in New York City on Monday about his work on the new film, he showered Phillips with praise. "What happened was that I found my soul mate in the artistry of Todd Phillips," he declared. "He's a genius."

Downey suggested, however, that his respect for Phillips might not have been apparent had you seen the two on the set of "Due Date." The actor admitted that he and Phillips often got at each other's throats, but thankfully, that was all just part of the process.

"We would get together and have heated arguments," revealed Downey. "If we had taped them, you would have thought that we'd never speak to each other again."

But the by-product of these conflicts, said Downey, was the creation of some fully formed characters — namely, his role as the expectant father Peter and Zach Galifianakis' Ethan, an aspiring actor. "We made a character for [Galifianakis]," Downey explained, referring to his collaboration with Phillips. "We made him, we built him! Plus, he's a genius."

Indeed, these occasionally heated creative conversations existed only between Downey and Phillips, as Galifianakis told MTV — jokingly, we hope! — that he was never invited to participate in the collaboration process.

"These two differ. I wasn't allowed to talk," the comic actor said in his signature deadpan voice. "I would say something, and have you ever seen two people roll their eyes at the exact same time? That's what would happen."

Check out everything we've got on "Due Date."

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Are Robert Downey Jr. And Zach Galifianakis A Good ‘Due Date’ Duo?

'Hangover 2' Director 'Surprised' At Mel Gibson Cameo Reaction

Mel Gibson won't be nursing any hangovers in Thailand anytime soon, at least not in the currently shooting sequel to "The Hangover." While he was slated to make a cameo as a tattoo artist in "The Hangover 2," Gibson's role was ultimately scrapped due to lack of support from the film's cast and crew.

Director Todd Phillips was an advocate of Gibson's involvement in the movie and although the troubled actor is no longer appearing in the Bangkok-set follow-up, Phillips maintains that he's OK with how the situation turned out. In fact, he's surprised by the public's reaction.

"Honestly, I was surprised," Phillips recently told MTV News. "Regret is the wrong word, but I was surprised in some way by the reaction. I think in that community in Hollywood, we've often seen — and I certainly have empathy for people that have struggled, whether it's alcohol addiction in [Gibson's] case or whatever it may be, there is empathy. I was a little bit surprised by people, and I'm not even talking about our family, the 'Hangover' family. I'm talking about the outside world's sort of lack of empathy."

Phillips said that if he has any regrets about the situation, it's his failure to grasp that there are more eyes on "The Hangover 2" now as a result of the massive success of the first film.

"I've always made comedies, and I think comedies in general tend to fly under the radar," he explained. "So maybe [I regret] not realizing that we're not making a movie that's going to fly under the radar, that three months before we even start shooting it, people are going to weigh in with opinions and tell us how it's not going to be funny or how this isn't a good idea, you know what I mean? When it's like, 'Hey, give us a shot to make the movie, then weigh in.' "

Even without Gibson, Phillips said the movie's story line remains unchanged. And that is because as cameos go, there's a big difference between the part Gibson would have played — taken over now by Liam Neeson — and the guest turn delivered by heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in the first "Hangover."

"It's essentially the same part, because Mel was never playing Mel in the movie in the way that Mike Tyson was playing Mike Tyson," he said. "It was very different. [Gibson] was coming in to add a little bit of weight to the situation that unfolds in Bangkok, so we just needed an actor that brings weight. I think Mel and Liam, and there are probably four other guys in that age range that sort of bring that gravitas."

Do you think Mel Gibson's cameo should have been scrapped? Tell us in the comments.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Hangover 2′ Director Addresses Mel Gibson Switch

Halloween Preview: Exorcisms, Anthony Hopkins And 'The Rite'

Halloween is almost upon us. What better time to plunge into a world of demon possession, exorcisms and the unsettling feeling that something very freaky is taking place?

That's what "The Rite" is dialing up for audiences come January 28, and MTV News has an exclusive look at the production with a photo of stars Anthony Hopkins and Colin O'Donoghue exorcising a supernatural force.

Yet this is a film that takes a rather agnostic stance on the entire concept, as O'Donoghue told us. "It's more of a psychological drama, more so than horror," he said. "The point of the film is to explore the idea of whether it's a psychological illness or a true possession, trying to take as unbiased a position as possible.

(Check out an exclusive photo from "The Rite")

"There are some moments that will make you jump," he added. "People are bound to be a little freaked out by it."

The 29-year-old Ireland native, who plays a seminary student thrust into the world of the Vatican's exorcism school, is playing his highest-profile role to date. And when O'Donoghue found out he'd be going toe-to-toe with Hopkins — who plays a Roman Catholic priest with rather atypical methods — he was more than a little unsettled.

"To be honest, I freaked out a little bit," he laughed.

Yet O'Donoghue said that Hopkins immediately made him feel comfortable. "He mentored me when I was struggling to get where I wanted to be in the scene," O'Donoghue said. "He was really patient and we'd run lines together. He'd say, 'At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to let it go and the scene will actually work.' "

The actor also attended actual exorcisms with the assistance of Matt Baglio, who wrote the book on which the movie is based. "The idea of going to them was more frightening than actually being in them," O'Donoghue said. "[Matt] had been to the exorcism school and he knew some exorcists who were willing to let me in, as long as it was okay with the people who were being blessed. Some people were and one woman wasn't and she wanted to close the door. It's a different experience than you expect it to be. It's like going to a therapist. It was fascinating to watch."

Check out everything we've got on "The Rite."

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‘Captain America’ Shows Off His Shield In First-Look Photo

Jonah Hill Says '21 Jump Street' Will Be His Next Movie

Jonah Hill is a busy, busy man. The comedian is currently in the midst of shooting "The Sitter," an R-rated comedy from director David Gordon Green about the misadventures of three kids and their filthy-mouthed babysitter, played by Hill. But there's much more on the "Superbad" actor's plate in the near future, starting, thankfully, with "21 Jump Street."

"That should be shooting early next year," Hill told MTV News of his planned remake of the 1980s cop series. "It will be my next movie. I won't do another movie before that movie as of right now."

Hill's "21 Jump Street" revival has been in development for more than two years now, but according to the actor and screenwriter, production should be kicking off soon — and in case you were wondering, he still has a role for former "21 Jump Street" star Johnny Depp if the actor wants it.

"Hopefully, he does it. It would be awesome if he did it," Hill said, before offering a direct message to Depp himself: "Just do it, dude. Don't be an a--hole. Just be in the movie."

Hill's kidding, of course, and while he certainly has his fingers crossed on the Depp front, he also has "some cool, fun stuff planned" whether or not the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star appears in the film. But while the Depp campaign is well-documented, Hill was considerably less vocal about recent rumors of his "Superbad" co-star Emma Stone appearing in the film.

"I can't say anything to the negative or the positive of that," he said of Stone's possible casting, adding: "I think we'll have some cool casting announcements to make very, very soon."

Even as Hill puts the wheels in motion on "21 Jump Street," he has a potential role in Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux's developing "Zoolander" sequel to look forward to as well. As a longtime "Zoolander" fan who says he can quote every single line from the original film, Hill is understandably flattered that he's being sought after for the sequel.

"If Ben Stiller wants me to be in 'Zoolander,' I just say, 'Thanks for wanting me to be in the movie,' " he said. "I talked with Ben and Justin, and they had an idea of who they wanted me to play, and I kind of riffed on that idea and gave them some other ideas. I'd love to be a part of it whenever they get it together."

That's not to say there aren't some nerves involved in making "Zoolander 2," and Hill said he doesn't feel he could ever live up to the evil comedic genius represented by Mugatu, played in the first film by Will Ferrell.

"Mugatu, those are some pretty big shoes to fill that I could never fill," Hill said. "But I think I read that he's in [the sequel] as well. Thank God, because I'd beat myself up — I'd never be as funny as Mugatu!"

Between "The Sitter," "21 Jump Street" and "Zoolander 2," Hill has no shortage of projects to juggle — but wait, there's more! He recently wrapped filming on "Moneyball" opposite Brad Pitt, and he's supplying his voice to a new Fox cartoon series called "Allen Gregory" as well. The animated adventures don't end there, either, as Hill is developing a computer-animated comedy called "Sausage Party" alongside collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

"It's a 3-D animated movie," Hill said of the "Sausage Party" premise. "Imagine if 'Shrek' was R-rated, a very hard and aggressive R. It takes place in a supermarket. I don't know if I'm giving away too much, but that's something we're working on. It's pretty hysterical!"

Which one of Hill's projects are you most looking forward to? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Check out everything we've got on "21 Jump Street" and "Moneyball."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Rhys Ifans Up For ‘Spider-Man’ Villain

'Saw 3D': The Reviews Are In!

"Saw 3D" has nowhere to go but up. Last October, "Saw VI" managed to trap just $14 million over its opening weekend, fewer dollars than the original flick's debut weekend and about half as much as each of the previous four films in the series managed to gross.

"Saw 3D," by contrast, is expected to open somewhere in the low-to-mid $20 million range and top "Paranormal Activity 2" for the #1 spot at the box office. Mind you, that'll be in large part to its inflated ticket price, not an outpouring of critical praise — reviews are decidedly mixed.

The Story
"This time the game revolves around slimy self-help guru Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery), a Jigsaw survivor who has grown rich off his story and parading around fellow victims. Naturally, he's abducted and thrown into another series of morality tests in order to save his wife and fellow cohorts. Meanwhile, the sadistic Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) also plots revenge against Jigsaw's widow (Betsy Russell), who has been locked away in protective custody ever since trying to kill him at the end of 'Saw VI.' And yes, the fate of Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes, in a brief role) is finally revealed in the film's worst-kept secret.

But even though it's no longer a surprise, it's still great to have everyone's favorite Dread Pirate Roberts thrown back into the bloody fray." — Andrew Kasch, Dread Central

The Comparison to The Others"There is tension in the movie (and good thing), and it is grueling (not a good thing). While the script is tight, the direction is not. And it pains me to say so, because Kevin Greutert, who edited the first five chapters of the 'Saw' story and directed the sixth, is such a nice person ... But I can't candy-coat it: Greutert's two 'Saw's, along with (another nice person) David Hackl's, are by far the weakest in the franchise. Talking scenes go on for far too long (allowing one to see how poor some of the acting is), and there isn't much art to the set pieces. Visually-gifted storytellers James Wan ('Saw 1') and Darren Lynn Bousman ('Saws 2', '3', and '4') really set the bar."— Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com

The Traps
"How are the traps this time out? Decent, but again, a step down from 'Saw VI.' One, involving having to physically pull a key from a very difficult place, is pretty effective. Another, involving crossing an area where the floor is almost completely gone, adds a nice bit of adventure to the vibe (and gave me flashbacks to Flanery's days as Indiana Jones). But at the same time, there's nothing truly memorable in the way 'Saw III''s rack or 'Saw VI''s carousal were. One exception: The best trap here is probably the one involving a car and a neat/twisted domino effect caused when it falls from a jack. By the way, I know this is nothing new in this series, but watching 'Saw 3D,' I kept thinking how Jigsaw must have both the brilliance and bank account of Tony Stark, considering how elaborate, specific and complicated these traps are.' — Eric Goldman, IGN

The 3-D
"I'm sort of on the fence. It's technically great — this movie opens things up a bit (an outside trap, several exterior shots) and even the traps themselves are larger, so if any of the movies HAD to be in 3-D, it would be this one. And it was SHOT in 3-D (not a convert) so it automatically looks better than most of what we're seeing. But I'm not sure it's the right fit for this particular franchise — it felt sort of weird to have characters throwing things at you, as if they were sort of having fun too. Not that I always want a grim-fest, but it feels a bit campy at times. You may disagree, but I've always felt the series is much more intelligent than its given credit for, however this stuff gives it a slightly goofy tone, like a 'Final Destination' movie more than 'Saw' one." — BC, Bloody Disgusting

The Final Word
"Jigsaw's signature fiendish traps became the focus of the franchise at some point — you can rewatch the first 'Saw' and see how NOT the focus they were — and that means the films get less titillating as the traps get less inventive ... If we ever thought there was any profundity to Jigsaw's philosophy, surely we long ago realized it was B.S. It seems like we're watching now just because, well, we've watched this much, so we might as well finish. What reward is there for us? We can say we watched all seven of them. Jigsaw would be proud." — Eric D. Snider, Cinematical

Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington Teases ‘Saw 3D’ Role

'Saw 3D' Director Takes Us Inside Series' Scariest Traps

Despite the seemingly endless number of tortuous traps, mutilated body parts and unceremonious deaths, the "Saw" franchise will meet its end with the opening of the final chapter, "Saw 3D" — or so we've been told.

Nevertheless, because the films are always shrouded in secrecy, MTV News sought out director Kevin Greutert to find out a few behind-the-scenes tidbits about the latest installment, beginning with the grisly details about that table-saw trap that opens the film.

"The trap that opens the movie ... was probably the most ambitious 'Saw' trap," Greutert said, referring to the two guys and a girl harnessed on all sides of a scary table saw and a cement-cutting gasoline-powered saw ready to hack them all to bits. "The idea is that it's a love-triangle soap opera played out in 60 seconds. Essentially, the jigsaw puppet Billy appears, announces both to them and to the huge crowd that starts gathering around them that they have 60 seconds to either kill one of the two dudes by pushing the saw into the other guy or letting the center saw cut in half the woman that they've both been toyed with by for however long.

"That's all well and good on paper, but as it turns out, this device was actually really difficult to build. ... You could position the things so that the blade would conceivably miss all three of the [actors]. This is kind of a good example of what happens on almost every 'Saw' trap," he explained. "Because they're very well-designed machines, but you really have to be very careful when you're conceiving and designing these things that there aren't loopholes for getting out. We have to do a lot of duct-taping on the set just to make sure that all the issues have been addressed."

Greutert said the duct-tape solution has come in handy over the years, making what looks absolutely terrifying onscreen a lot less scary on set.

"The machinery often doesn't work at all, and it's all just done with smoke and mirrors, really. In 'Saw VI,' there was a machine; Peter Outerbridge's character William and then his janitor wake up in these two traps, they have gas masks over their faces that are monitoring their breath, and then these big, metal wedges that are clamping them over the sides," Greutert recalled. "And it looked fantastic, but really, to operate the thing, we just had prop guys with metal rods that are just kind of pushing things into them. There were no working motors of any kind on the trap. It was all just kind of jerry-rigged, and so often it's like that. If the camera pans to the right just a little bit, you'll see a bunch of stage hands just physically turning gears with their fingers."

Movie magic aside, "Saw 3D" was not without a few actually frightening moments. "There's a character who is tied down with barbed wire underneath a car that's raised up on some very frail jack stands," Greutert described about one particular trap. "The car motor is running, and it's a big '70s-era El Camino, and the rear tire is inches above this person's head. When I looked at it on the set before we brought the actress in, I just said, 'How are we ever going to get this person to lie under that while we start the car and let the engine shake it on the jack stands?' I was assured that it was safe, but I wouldn't have done it for all the tea in China, to be honest," Greutert admitted. "And this girl, she agreed that it was really terrifying, but she did it, and more power to her. She screamed her head off, and I don't think they were fake screams."

Check out everything we've got on "Saw 3D."

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Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington Teases ‘Saw 3D’ Role