'The Avengers' New Stills and Trailer

Apple has a gallery of stills, most of which I haven't seen -- and the trailer.

Russian Poster for 'The Rum Diary' Sells Relationship

Interesting how connecting with another person is featured in this poster. Wouldn't have expected that in a Russian one sheet. Don't know why, just surprises me.

By contrast, to introduce us to the concept, and to make things clear, booze was featured in the first domestic poster (along with some conceptual reading):

Then, to further clarify what we'd be in for, addiction, debauchery, and collapse was front and center in the second poster (no reading required, just look at the picture, put two and two together):

Then, to reel us back in, (in case we were too turned off by the subject matter and highfalutin conceptual stuff), the star, Johnny Depp, is the main selling point of the latest poster (no booze, no reading, just a pretty face):

But, only in the Russian poster is any kind of relationship with another person featured. U.S. posters don't even hint that other people are in the movie. Curious. Really. Says something about US us.

John Wayne Auction Nets $5.4 Million

In news you can use... From CBS:

(CBS/AP) 

LOS ANGELES — Organizers say a two-day auction of more than 700 costumes, scripts, awards and memorabilia from the estate of film star John Wayne brought in $5.4 million.

Heritage Auctions said Friday that the auction included items such as Wayne's last driver's license ($89,625), a holster and gun belt from the film "El Dorado" ($77,675), and an eye patch he wore as the iconic Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 movie, "True Grit" ($47,800).

Good to see as a portion of the proceeds go to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. I can understand props bringing in big bucks, like the beret he wore in 'The Green Berets' netting nearly $180,000. People loved his movies. But, almost $90,000 for his driver's license...

'Ides of March' Review

From Christopher Orr's slash-and-burn of "Clooney's Silly, Tedious 'Ides of March'":

It takes a certain degree of nerve to title a film The Ides of March—not merely because it invites Shakespearian comparisons but, more particularly, because the word that most commonly precedes the calendric phrase in the English-speaking world is "beware."

Really, can't argue. Why that title? Box office killer.

'The Raven' Trailer

Glossy, seems superficial at first, then gets under your skin. Hackneyed premise comes across fresh.

Apple has it in hi-def.