Netflix Looking to Expand Online Rentals

An interesting little item at Product-Reviews.net reveals that Netflix is exploring the acquisition of content licenses to combat about the only crack in the company's armor. DVD sales are dipping and that could lead to a big drop in DVD rentals. And you know which company would be harmed by sluggish DVD rentals.

The thought process behind the content licenses is that Netflix could be moving toward a future in online movie pimping, which would be a natural fit for the name of the company, don't you think? According to Product-Reviews, Netflix rents about 500,000,000 movies a year, but if DVD rentals do indeed topple, rolling out a back-up plan that would be cheaper for the company and the consumer might overtake the existing model in no time.

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Michael Bay Announces 'Transformers 3' for 2011

Get ready for three times the explosions, three times the music video direction, three times the Bayhem: Transformers 3 will be in theaters on July 1, 2011, according to a report this afternoon at the official website of director Michael Bay.

Bay had at first insisted that Paramount give him a breather before going back to the world of the big-ass alien robots, saying 2012 would be less problematic. But he is already meeting with ILM and Hasbro to incorporate more Transformers and - if possible - even less story. Ehren Kruger is on board, at least in the development stage, as the screenwriter. It is very hard to argue with any movie that makes $800 million around the world, which puts Transformers 2 at number three for the year in terms of global box office, although it won the US war pretty easily. Behind Harry Potter and Ice Age when you add in the foreign markets, Transformers' $832 million is still almost twice as much as the year's fourth-biggest film around the world, Angels & Demons. Because of that, Paramount is striking while the iron is hot and keeping Transformers on the same schedule that produced hits separated by only two years.

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Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' Headed for IMAX

Not exactly out of left field, Christopher Nolan's Inception has been officially added to the 2010 release schedule at IMAX. The film will open in standard theaters and on the steroid screen on July 16th.

I suppose Nolan's new sci-fi film might have a place in IMAX, but I'm certainly not 100% sold that it's ideal. With a Transformers movie or even Harry Potter, you can see in your mind's eye that there's enough spectacle involved to use the IMAX technology. And Nolan's film, which stars Leo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken watanabe, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, and others, has a hefty price tag that leads to a quick assumption of tons of effects. So maybe when we see more footage, this will make perfect sense.

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First Look at the Reconfigured 'A-Team'

Coming Soon has our first look at the new cast of The A-Team, and now more than ever, I think director Joe Carnahan and the producers have done a great job picking the players. See for yourself: The first that stands out is obviously Liam Neeson's new hairdo. He's going Full Peppard. Well, OK, 3/4 Peppard; he's still missing the leather gloves. I like it. It might be a bit too much of a hat tip, but they more than make up for it with Rampage Jackson, who unlike Mr. T doesn't appear to have any trouble going through the airport metal detectors. You know Rampage retired from UFC fighting? I guess he really thinks the acting thing is going to pan out. Sharlto Copley from District 9 was already a sly little casting move as Howling Mad Murdock, and seeing him with the full team underscores what could be the best decision they've made here. Bradley Cooper...looks handsome in his suit. I guess that's the goal, right? The movie comes out next June, and one picture in, I'd have to say they're on the right track.

Michael Moore Offering Free 'Capitalism' Screenings

Tonight, Michael Moore is presenting free and benefit screenings of his new film Capitalism: A Love Story in selected cities across the country. The movie opens nationwide tomorrow, his biggest theater count ever, after setting a 2009 standard for per-screen averages last weekend in New York and Los Angeles.

Below is part of a letter from Michael Moore, as well as the cities and theaters showcasing the film this evening:

"To kick off the national release of "Capitalism: A Love Story," I've asked the studio to offer a number of screenings in the nation's hardest hit cities -- the ones with the highest unemployment rates and highest foreclosure rates -- where those who've lost their jobs or who are in foreclosure (or have already been evicted) may attend my film free of charge. They've agreed, and so tonight (Thursday), the night before our opening day, ten cities will grant you free admission if you have fallen on hard times. The list of theaters and cities is below. You don't need to bring any "proof" of your situation -- just show up -- it's the honor system, no questions asked." "Of course, a free movie ain't much when what you really need is a job or a place to live. And that's not going to change until the party that controls both the Congress and the White House wakes up and realizes the American people put them in charge to fix the mess created by the previous administration. For that to happen requires the active involvement of each of us. And, as I show in this movie, it's going to also require us to challenge some fundamental assumptions about an economic system that currently allows the wealthiest ONE PERCENT in this country to have more financial wealth than the bottom 95% combined. That concentration of money and power in the hands of so few people is, I believe, at the core of so many of our problems." "So, if you're going through tough times and you live in one of the areas below, please be my guest tonight, on the eve of my new film's opening. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis."

Get more information about the film and the screenings at MichaelMoore.com. Now, here's where you can check it out tonight:

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