Sequels are common space these days. It seems that every other film that comes out is a bloody sequel, some more warranted than others. This Summer will see the release of the follow up to the 2009 film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. “In this sequel , the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats within the government that jeopardise their very existence”. Out June 29th the film is shaping up to be the big summer blockbuster, with the first making over 300 million Dollars worldwide Paramount are sure to be hoping this will equal or surpass its predecessor. Peep the trailer after the cut.

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I’m slightly annoyed that they have decided to swiftly remove Marlon Wayans and his character from this new movie. His character obviously brought some light hearted comedy to the last film but at the same time allowed a wider audience to see Wayans as an actor and a more serious actor at that. Here’s hoping he can delve further into mainstream box office blockbusters.

Starring | Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Ray Park, RZA, Joseph Mazzello, Elodie Yung, and Walton Goggins.

Director | Jon Chu.

Love him or hate him, it’s hard not to admire Sacha Baron Cohen’s bravery when it comes to his particular brand of comedy. For new flick The Dictator, he has reunited with director Larry Charles, who was also behind the camera on Borat and Bruno. The latest trailer showcases some new footage and seems a tad more scripted than Cohen’s past comedic efforts, but the results still look hilarious. Check it out after the jump.

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The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

The Dictator will be ruling UK cinemas from May 18.

Starring | Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Jason Mantzoukas, Anna Faris, Fred Malamed, Rock Kolhi, Megan Fox and John C. Reilly.

What did you think of the trailer?

While Jaden and Willow Smith’s careers have prospered on our TV and Cinema screens respectively in the last couple of years, Will Smith has enjoyed a noticeable absence off it; indeed, the last time we saw him was in 2007’s Hancock. In 2013, he’s teaming up with M. Night Shyamalan and his son Jaden for the futuristic After Earth. Before that though, he’s back saving the world – for what seems like the umpteenth time – as he dons the shades, suit and tie for the third film in the Men in Black franchise. Check out the new trailer and synopsis after the jump.

Whilst 1997’s Men in Black is still a great watch today, you wouldn’t mind too much if 2002’s Men in Black II was neuralized from your memories. Whether you’re hyped for this film or not, one thing is for certain; Josh Brolin does a great Tommy Lee Jones impression. Men in Black III hits cinemas on May 25th, likely to be accompanied by yet another Will Smith track. Perhaps this time, Willow and Jaden might even feature!

Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back… in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

Source: ComicBookMovie.com

Starring | Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger, Bill Hader and Alice Eve.

Director | Barry Sonnenfeld

No, that is not a typo; in case you hadn’t heard, ‘Marvel’s Avengers Assemble’ is the new UK title for the eagerly anticipated superhero team-up, set to hit cinemas on April 26. New footage has been revealed today via the second full trailer, and it does not disappoint. Have a gander after the jump.

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‘Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins’.

Starring | Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson.

Director | Joss Whedon                                                Certificate | TBC                              Run Time | TBC

Here’s a fun fact for you: The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the highest grossing motion picture trilogy worldwide of all time at $2.91 billion. That is not a typo. 9 years on from The Return of the King – this bagged 11 Oscars, another record – director Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey takes place 60 years before The Fellowship of the Ring, and will follow the journey of Bilbo Baggins in his quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Many characters from the celebrated trilogy will be making a return, most notably Ian McKellen as the wise wizard Gandalf the Grey, and Cate Blanchett as Galandriel. New additions to the cast include Sherlock Holmes alumni Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug, and Martin Freeman as the titular character, Bilbo Baggins. Take a look at the new trailer below.

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I don’t know about you, but I got a little bit of nostalgia watching that! The visual and tonal similarities between this and the trilogy are evident, and seeing all these fantastic characters in Middle Earth once again is enough to whet one’s appetite. The trailer itself is low on action, focusing more on the aforementioned back-story, although we do get brief glimpses of epic battles and a fleeting look at fan-favourite Gollum. All things considered, there’s a good chance that Peter Jackson’s prequel will stand just as tall as The Lord of the Rings trilogy when it is released on December 14, 2012.

Are you excited for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? Let me know on Twitter @awarmann.

Even though the film is still a good 6 months away from release, anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s conclusion to his Batman trilogy, entitled The Dark Knight Rises, is already at a fever pitch. The marketing machine has been working hard recently; A couple of weeks ago we had an awesome theatrical poster released (see above), and the first six minutes have been shown in US IMAX theatres. Incidentally, I will finally be watching that prologue later this week when it hits the UK, so make sure you head to Yin & Yang for my thoughts. There have also been leaked bootleg copies of a new trailer that have made the rounds on the internet this past week. Today Warner Bros. officially released that trailer online, and you can watch it in all its HD glory below.

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Even though the trailer ultimately affords us brief glimpses of the film, which is currently in post-production, The Dark Knight Rises looks every bit the epic conclusion it claims to be. Tom Hardy is a smart casting as the formidable Bane, who will surely test Batman physically as well as mentally. Fans of the comic books are no doubt aware that Bane actually broke the Batman’s back in the Knightfall saga, and there has already been much speculation as to whether Bane will do the unthinkable again. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until next summer to find out when The Dark Knight Rises hits cinemas on July 20, 2012.

What did you think of the trailer? Will Batman meet his end at the hands of Bane, or will he save Gotham? Sound off in the comments below or let me know your thoughts on Twitter – @awarmann.

2007’s Ghost Rider made over $228 million worldwide, but many critics and fans alike disliked the movie. Although the special effects were fantastic for the most part, the poor acting and script really hurt the film. The sequel, which sees Nicolas Cage reprise his role as the cursed anti-hero, has been steadily gaining buzz over the past few months. The first trailer was unveiled back in August, and a new trailer has just surfaced online today. Check it out after the jump.

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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was recently screened at the annual Butt-Numb-A-Thon to negative reviews, but after viewing that trailer, I am willing to give it a chance. Once again promising explosive action, if – and it’s a big if – everything else can come together, this could be a film worth seeing. Check out the synopsis below and make sure you head back to Yin & Yang for our review when it hits cinemas.

Set several years after the first film finds Johnny Blaze in self-imposed exile from the world. Blaze has become a tormented soul, convinced that his powers are a curse. Former stuntman Blaze is then approached by Moreau, a member of the monastic order of Michael, the warrior angel. Moreau seeks a protector for a mother and son duo who are being pursued by a figure named Roarke – a fellow with a detailed knowledge of the Ghost Rider and his different identities over the centuries.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance stars Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba & Johnny Whitworth and rides into cinemas February 17, 2012.

Earlier today the first official trailer for the highly anticipated ‘The Avengers‘ hit the net. In case you’re not clued up on what The Avengers is all about, have a quick gander at the synopsis: ‘Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins’. Hit the jump to check it out!

Check out the trailer below.

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Well, that was impressive! Avengers will undoubtedly be one of, if not the biggest, film of next summer. I have to say, Marvel were very smart to produce 4 (5 if you count Iron Man 2) separate films on the main heroes.If you’ve watched closely, and stayed after the credits, you’ll know that the films have linked themselves together, uniting their universes. It will be interesting to see how the heroes interact with each other – by the looks of things, it seems that sparks are likely to fly.

What did you think of the trailer? The Avengers is currently scheduled to hit cinemas May 4, 2012.

Starring| Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston.

I have been careful not to include any spoilers in this review. However, if you wish to know absolutely nothing about this film, skip to ‘Any Last Words?’ at the bottom of this page. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is not your typical spy film. You won’t find Gary Oldman’s George Smiley engaging in fisticuffs with evil men, or saying a cool line after offing a villain. Action has been replaced with words – a lot of words – resulting in an absorbing, if at times slow-paced, whodunnit of a film which unfolds in meticulous fashion.

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The synopsis is as follows: Set in the 1970’s during the Cold War, George Smiley is called out of retirement amidst fears that the British Secret Service, aka ‘The Circus’, has been infiltrated by a Soviet mole. The story is very intelligent, adapted from John Le Carré’s novel of the same name. Having not read the novel before watching the film, I found myself in the unenviable position of not fully understanding all the subtleties which I am sure were there. It’s not so much that it will stop you enjoying the film, but it is present enough that you notice.

Additionally, the story plays out in a confusing manner – whilst the flashbacks would have almost certainly made sense in the book, here they feel out of place. This can lead to the audience struggling to keep up with what’s going on, which is particularly frustrating in a film such as this. However, to the film’s credit, it concludes in such a way that even if you had no idea what was happening up to that moment, you are satisfied by the payoff.

That Gary Oldman has not won an Oscar to date is a crime against film. If you don’t agree, have a look at his filmography and watch some of his past works. In a film brimming with exceptional actors, from Colin Firth’s Bill Haydon to Benedict Cumberbatch as Smiley’s right hand man Peter Guillam, Oldman steals the show with an Oscar-worthy turn as the retired agent tasked with finding the mole. The intricacies of his performance alone demand a second viewing. It is a testament to just how good the acting is that you’ll still be engrossed even when you’re lost.

Any Last Words?

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is likely not going to have people flocking to the cinemas. However, there’s a lot to love – the story draws you in, and the star studded cast are excellent. It’s such a shame that, particularly for those who have not read the book, the structure of the film prevents the viewer from appreciating it that much more.

Just seen the trailer for ‘Demons Never Die‘ a horror flick produced by Idris Elba and debut delivery in terms of writing and direction from Arjun Rose. As a fan of blood and guts, I was eager to watch the trailer but if I am honest it doesn’t particularly excite me very much. I think the trailer does look good but I thought some scenes weren’t compelling enough and the screaming was slightly excessive. However it’s not everyday we get a horror film written, directed, produced and performed by UK talent so I hope it will be a great film.

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Launching on 28th October, the film stars Tulisa Contostavlos, Reggie Yates, Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) and Robert Sheehan (misfits). Watch the trailer below, what do you think?