Blog Posts by Matt McDaniel

Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in 'The Lone Ranger' (Photo: Walt Disney Pictures)

"There come a time, Kemosabe, when good man must wear mask."

The first trailer was just released for "The Lone Ranger," the big-budget cinematic adaptation of the classic Western hero with the white hat and black mask. And the footage gives the first snippet of how Johnny Depp sounds as the Ranger's faithful Native American companion, Tonto.

Richard Jenkins, Amy Acker and Bradley Whitford in 'The Cabin in the Woods' (Photo: Lionsgate)

The last place you'd expect to find the Oscar-nominated star of the acclaimed independent drama "The Visitor" is in a horror movie about a group of college students being terrorized by a redneck zombie torture family.  But that's just one of the many surprises in "The Cabin in the Woods," the twisted take on the horror genre from producer Joss Whedon ("The Avengers") and director Drew Goddard (the writer of "Cloverfield").

In "Cabin," Richard Jenkins teams up with Bradley Whitford (Emmy winner for "The West Wing"), and the role they play in how five young people become hunted by an undead clan is the central mystery of the film. So if you haven't seen it, check out "The Cabin in the Woods" now on DVD, Blu-ray, or digital download.  And if you have watched it already, read this spoiler-filled conversation I had with Richard Jenkins.  He revealed how he got involved in this unlikely project, his main worry when the film was shelved for years, and how Joss Whedon's shoes ended up stained with blood.

[Related: 'The Cabin in the Woods' on DVD/Blu-ray]

(Photo: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Pictures)For two decades actor Clark Gregg had been working steadily in movies and TV with acclaimed directors like David Mamet, Bryan Singer, Paul Thomas Anderson and Steven Spielberg. But it was his sharply understated turn as Phil Coulson, Agent of S.H.E.I.L.D., in 2008's "Iron Man" that finally thrust Gregg into the spotlight.

By reprising the role of Coulson in "Iron Man 2" and "Thor," Gregg became an integral part of the cinematic Marvel Universe. And when the different comic-book heroes needed to come together in "The Avengers," [SPOILER ALERT] it was Coulson's shocking death that made the team put aside their difference to fight as a unit.

With "Marvel's The Avengers" out now on DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray, I spoke to Clark Gregg about the thrill of joining the film's all-star cast, and the pain of knowing it was Coulson's last hurrah.  Gregg also discussed the possibility of returning to Marvel behind the camera and -- as the real-life husband of actress Jennifer Grey -- how Marvel fanatics compare to "Dirty Dancing" devotees.

Jennifer Lawrence and Max Thieriot in 'House at the End of the Street' (Photo: Relativity Media)

Okay, maybe there is something Jennifer Lawrence can't do.

On Monday, Yahoo! Movies premiered a music video from this weekend's new release "House at the End of the Street" which featured the character Elissa, played by Jennifer Lawrence, singing a tune and strumming a guitar.  We even wrote a blog post about it -- 'Jennifer Lawrence can do anything, even sing.' Many other news outlets and blogs picked up the video and the story. But as often the case in Hollywood, looks -- and sounds -- can be deceiving.

Berenice Marlohe, Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris (Photo: Columbia Pictures/MGM Studios)

When Daniel Craig took on the role of Bond, James Bond, in "Casino Royale," he radically redefined the character of 007. Craig's Bond was tough and smooth in equal measure, looking just as comfortable in a gunfight as in formal wear.  So isn't it time for Bond girls to also be both strong and stylish?

In this exclusive look at the making of "Skyfall," the upcoming 23rd Bond film, you see that new Bond girls Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe look to be up to that challenge.  Harris -- who can be seen driving, shooting, and sultrily shaving Bond's face in the video -- says, "I don't think it's enough to just look pretty anymore. That may well have been true in the past, but certainly not now."

Gollum in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Who's ready to venture back to Middle-Earth?

Nine years after "The Return of the King" closed out the epic "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy -- and won 11 Oscars -- director Peter Jackson is bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's earlier book, "The Hobbit," to the big screen.  And in the just-released trailer for the first installment of this new trilogy, entitled "An Unexpected Journey," we see a host of new characters along with some familiar faces. And, most notably, it shows the return of Gollum.

Watch the latest trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey':

Once again played by Andy Serkis via performance capture technology, Gollum is seen in the trailer making a wager with the young Bilbo Baggins (played by "Sherlock" star Martin Freeman, taking on the role originated by Ian Holm in the first trilogy).  In the story, Bilbo gets lost in the caves where Gollum resides.  Gollum agrees to help him find his way out, but only if Bilbo can beat him in a game of riddles. "If Baggins loses," Gollum