“Thor,” an almost $450 million worldwide box office hit earlier this year, introduced audiences to one of the players in Marvel Studios’ grand, forthcoming ”Avengers” saga. And that’s part of the problem, honestly. However admirably ambitious the creation of a unified superhero universe spanning multiple movies, certain entries, like this one, play like little more than origin story pattycake – wan set-up for something of later, actual consequence. On the verge of ascending to the throne of Asgard, headstrong Norse God Thor (Chris Hemsworth) flips out over some nasty ice giant interlopers who are vanquished in fairly short order, and decides to seek revenge, against the counsel of his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins),…

The revenge thriller “Hanna” – which plays as sort of like a cross between “The Professional” and “Run Lola Run,” with a pinch of “The Bourne Identity” — courses with an unflagging, forward-leaning vigor. It’s a smart, stylish, interesting and fun piece of pop entertainment, powered by strong performances and all wrapped up in an offbeat but engaging fairytale motif that gives the material a little extra zesty kick. Opening in the snowy wilds of Finland, the story centers on 16-year-old Hanna Heller (Saoirse Ronan), who has the intelligence, strength, stamina and lethal combat skill set of a soldier the opposite gender and twice her age, all thanks to her father Erik…

Check out the movie trailer for the horror film “Zyzzyx Road” by director John Penney and starring Leo Grillo, Katherine Heigl and Tom Sizemore. Synopsis: Grant is an accountant with a bad marriage and a daughter whom he loves. He takes to the road to service his accounts in Las Vegas. While there he meets seductive Marissa. They have a week-long affair which culminates in the arrival of Marissa’s ex-boyfriend, Joey. Joey attempts to kill the lovers, but Grant gets the upper hand. Grant and Marissa then drive Joey’s body to Zyzzyx Road and Grant buries Joey in the desert there. But in the morning the body is missing and…

Burbank, CA – September 27, 2007 – Windchill Films, an affiliate of Snowfall Films, today announced its latest sci-fi horror feature film “Portal” has been named an Official Selection for Best Picture at both the upcoming Shockerfest International Film Festival and the Horror Fest – UK. “Positively chilling,” said PORTAL Executive Producer James Thorpe. “A twisted mix of “Rosemary’s Baby” meets “Memento” inside “The Twilight Zone,” PORTAL is that truly unique project producers’ dream of — a compelling fear-driven mystery with an eerie sci-fi element, executed with a highly-stylized European sensibility. When I heard that Andy Strahorn, DP of Lionsgate’s Aussie film “The Undead” agreed to come on board, I…