Daily Call Sheet: Oscar Trailer, Duke as Dirty Harry, More Stupid Studio Moves Against Netflix

‘SCORPION KING 3’ ON BLU-RAY AND DVD JAN 10

In a dangerous, action-packed battle to regain his glory and reclaim the empire, Mathayus’s journey is steeped in intrigue, sorcery and romance, fueling this new film that spawned from the billion-dollar The Mummy film franchise. The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption tops the series once again, featuring even more of the heart-stopping action, mind-bending stunts and astonishing plot twists that have earned the series millions of fans the world over. The film’s spectacular fight scenes, choreographed by renowned stunt experts Kawee “Seng” Sirikanerut (Ongbok, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Civilization) and Supoj “Jimmy” Khaowwong (Batman Begins), are showcased within enchanting ancient palaces, against a backdrop of breathtaking desert vistas.

The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption stars Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy,” Hellboy II: The Golden Army) as Horus, the powerful King of Egypt and Billy Zane (The Roommate, Titanic) as the villainous Talus. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film also stars Victor Webster (“Castle,” Surrogates) as Mathayus and UFC star Kimbo Slice (Locked Down), Bostin Christopher (Unbreakable); six-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista (House of the Rising Sun), and Temeura Morrison (Green Lantern, Stars Wars: Episode 3 — Revenge of the Sith), Selina Lo (Shanghai) and Krystal Vee (Streetfighter: The Legend of Chin-Li).

Clips here, here, here, and here.

UNSEEN SCENES: DELETED SEQUENCE FROM JOHN WAYNE’S ‘MCQ’

John Wayne, along with Paul Newman and Frank Sinatra, turned down the role of “Dirty” Harry Callahan that made Clint Eastwood a superstar, and in the hopes of making up for it, Duke starred in two urban actioners, “McQ” (1974) and “Brannigan” (1975), the latter of which I still remember seeing in a theatre with my dad.

It’s a testament to Wayne’s starpower that both films remain so watchable. The scripts are only okay (though memorable moments abound) and the star is obviously a little long in the tooth to be playing an active duty police officer. But watchable they are.

THE TRAILER FOR THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the trailer for the 84th Academy Awards in conjunction with Funny Or Die. The trailer features host Billy Crystal and cameo appearances by Robin Williams, Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox, William Fichtner and Vinnie Jones.

“We wanted to try something a little bit different this year instead of a traditional, clip-based piece,” said Academy Chief Marketing Officer Christina Kounelias. “The trailer has a fun twist that conveys how excited everyone is to have Billy back.”

HBO AND WARNERS GETS STUPID WITH NETFLIX: WON’T STREAM, WON’T SELL DVDS

Childish:

[I]n the past Netflix was able to buy HBO DVDs directly from the company, and in bulk, at a discounted rate. But, starting in 2012, that is no longer an option. To stock new HBO shows – such as Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones, which are soon being released on disc – Netflix will have to buy them from a third party at a higher rate.

So, basically, the consumer won’t notice. They can add those shows to their Netflix queue and they’ll arrive when they arrive because Netflix will need to buy them at any cost. The only real people who’ll notice are the accountants at Netflix who’ll have to pay a little more. The important news here is the symbolic line in the sand HBO is drawing with Netflix. HBO knows Netflix wants their content and Netflix has been very wary that HBO is becoming an important competitor. It seems it’s now official.

Do you think the HBO shows are that important? Do you stream them on HBO Go, watch them on DVR or not at all? Is Netflix suffering without HBO?

Of course, HBO has every right to do this but it’s counter-productive. Netflix helps to spread their brand and can work like a giant commercial for their original programming. Throw Streaming a few seasons and if people get addicted they will either subscribe to HBO in order to avoid waiting another year or so to see the latest seasons, or they will run out and buy the DVD sets that aren’t streaming.

Hollywood always fights the future, and the end result is always the same. They discover the future opens entirely new markets to them but that during the fight they lost a ton of money they could’ve made by not playing defense.

In related news: Warner Bros. Doubles Delay on Netflix, Redbox DVD Rentals to 56 Days

Oh noes, now we have to wait two months to see bad movies.

MATTHEW VAUGHN IN TALKS WITH POTENTIAL ‘KICK-ASS 2′ WRITER/DIRECTOR

Love the original.

AMANDA SEYFRIED IS RELUCTANT PORN SUPERSTAR ‘LOVELACE,’ NOW SHOOTING

I’m tired of watching women debase themselves onscreen and even more tired of women debasing themselves on screen to portray women debasing themselves onscreen.

Now that “progressive” women act exactly like the debauched fantasies of men they used to call sexist pigs, no one is happier than sexist pigs.

“Take off your clothes, feminist, it’s art.”

“Liberated” suckers.

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LAST NIGHT’S SCREENING

The Closer: We’re in the middle of season five and enjoyed what you might call a reverse sucker punch last night. *spoilers coming*. The entire episodes revolves around our protagonist, Brenda Leigh (Kyra Sedgwick), fighting a Texas police officer over which one will win the right to prosecute a serial killer. Much is made of the Texas death penalty, none of it good, and for about a half-hour you sit there rolling your eyes at the all-too obvious political subtext and outright Texas-bashing.

In the end, Brenda wins the day and this awful killer is saved from those crude Texans by liberal California justice. Then, in a very satisfying and realistic twist, Brenda gets a look at photograph after photograph of the murderer’s innocent young victims. Immediately, she sees the light and ships the scumbag off to Texas for the justice he deserves.

Love this show.

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SCOTTDS’ EPIC LINKTACULAR

KLAVAN: THIS EPIC DORITOS COMMERCIAL DESERVES YOUR VOTE

VAN HALEN TO KICK OFF TOUR, ALBUM IN FEBRUARYEARLY RAVE

SHERLOCK HOLMES’ STAR BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH CAST AS ‘STAR TREK’ SEQUEL VILLAIN

MARTIN FREEMAN IS BILBO BAGGINS IN A NEW PHOTO FROM ‘THE HOBBIT

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? ABC PICKS UP PRESIDENTIAL RACE DRAMA PILOT FROM CREATOR ROLAND EMMERICH

CW GREENLIGHTS MYSTERY SERIES ‘CULT’ FROM ‘FARSCAPE’ CREATOR ROCKNE S. O’BANNON

ANOTHER FILM CRITIC BITES THE DUST

FOR YOU SCREENWRITERS: YOUR 2012 WRITING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

FIRST LOOK: JEREMY RENNER AS AARON CROSS IN ‘THE BOURNE LEGACY’

13 ‘SIMPSONS’ JOKES THAT ACTUALLY CAME TRUE

‘AMERICAN HORROR STORY’ SEASON 2 DETAILS REVEALED: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

BELA LUGOSI AND HIS STEAMER TRUNK

WHAT WERE THE 15 BIGGEST FLOPS OF 2011?

10 UNFORGETTABLE TEASER TRAILERS

CREATIVITY AND THE RISK OF RESENTING YOUR AUDIENCE

THE 10 MOST INTENSE COUNTDOWNS IN MOVIES

THE BIG BAD SWAP: THE PROBLEM OF REPLACED MUSIC

THE STORY OF DAVID LYNCH AND HIS UNPRODUCED SCRIPT ‘RONNIE ROCKET

THE ALLURE OF HORRIBLE PROTAGONISTS

5 TV SHOWS THAT DIDN’T GET THE CHANCE THEY DESERVED

HOLLYWOOD AND THE YEAR THAT WAS: 1976

10 AWESOME POP CULTURE ANIMAL SIDEKICKS

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CLASSIC PICK FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

TCM:

8:00 PM EST: City Lights (1931) — In this silent film, the Little Tramp tries to help a blind flower seller to see again. Dir: Charles Chaplin Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee. BW-87 mins, TV-G.

If the closing scene doesn’t get you, you’re a sociopath.

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Please send comments, suggestions and tips to jnolte@breitbart.com or Twitter @NolteNC.

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