Google+ meet your new best friend—the Verizon Coinstar mashup. Coinstar of course owns Redbox, you’re favorite grocery store DVD distributor. The two together are offering…something. They’re not Neflix—the other convenient way to watch movies. Thus far, they really haven’t promised much of anything.

The announcement may be sort of a premature statement as shown by the lack of news. But two things are clear: the merger will happen and it will offer streaming. It sounds more like a pain than a blessing. The Verizon/Coinstar merge is likely based on a point system. Without knowing what that means, it sounds both tricky and difficult. Groan. Right? Twelve easy steps to watch one Ron Schneider movie. Lucky us.

So where does the problem lie? Well, Netflix found out last year that breaking up the streaming and DVDs is a big no-no. Amazon and iTunes charge too much, but you can grab episodes of television shows and movies pretty easily. Where else is there to go with this merge? Yes, both companies are big deals, and credit where credit is due. However, just because they are good in their respective fields does not mean coming together to produce something no one was looking for is a good idea.

Unless they’re going to produce something mind blowingly new, I have a feeling they’re kicking a dead horse.

Our newest writer, Nick Rapp, has something to say about Anne Hathaway’s Cat Woman....

It’s been a long time since the news was announced that Anne Hathaway would play Cat Woman in the upcoming Nolan film, The Dark Knight Rises. Well, I’m still not happy about it. Christopher Nolan has brought integrity to the super hero movie genre with The Dark Knight. It wasn’t just a good super hero movie, but a terrific movie altogether. I felt a similar excitement upon watching Heath Ledger perform his villain as I did with Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men -  a Best Picture winner. The addition of Anne Hathaway scraps this integrity.

It was not typical Anne Hathaway in her performance in One Day. She attempted a British accent and just did not deliver. The world of acting is too competitive for that to be okay. If Rooney Mara can master a Swedish accent, then an Oscar nominated actress [Rachel Getting Married (whiney, in my opinion)] should certainly be able to pull off British. But integrity isn’t the only reason Hathaway doesn’t fit Nolan’s Cat Woman. Let’s talk about type.

When you think “Anne Hathaway,” what’s the first thing that comes into your mind, other than the frustration that she’ll be Selina Kyle? I think of Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted. I think of a sympathetic, and nerdy character who is always the reacher in romantic comedies, and despite her good looks, never the settler. What with her whiney voice and teenage angst, she does the reacher well! But Selina Kyle is no reacher. And there are plenty of women in Hollywood that fit Selina far better. Olivia Wilde for her slinkiness, and confident sex appeal. Rooney Mara for her attitude and capabilities for depth. And Scarlett Johansson for her sultry voice.

Love and Other Drugs was a good example of Anne Hathaway venturing to be received as an actress who could convey heartbreaking realities of life – you can’t change disease. Some might argue for Rachel Getting Married, but I still think it was just adolescent whining. Maybe Cat Woman is Hathaway’s attempt to further tread down the path of fulfilling character work. Alas, it’s hard to escape your type. As much as she might like to grow, her essence will not falter, and her voice will not change. I can only hope Nolan keeps her from using it to whine, and hell, I might even enjoy it.

Last month, I wrote an article about Fox News attacking The Muppets for discriminating against oil companies and big business. Yes, it was ridiculous and a sad attack at puppets.

Now, well over a month later, the Muppets have ended their legendary silence. Kermit and Miss Piggy have responded. Check out the video.

Good stuff indeed. And, oddly enough, true to character. Kermit tries to be the level-headed one, discussing, humorously nonetheless, how it was a ridiculous claim. About them wasting essentially wasting gas using the Rolls-Royce in the film. Good form, Kermit. What a classy guy.

Miss Piggy on the other hand attacks Fox News. “It’s almost as laughable as accusing fox news of being, uh, news,” she claims, which was met with both laughs and claps. Then she goes on the say that if they’re taking her seriously there’s a real issue there.

Regardless of yours, mine or their opinions of the television network, there was no reason to bring the lovable Muppets—who made a great movie by the way—into their political discussion.

Maybe now I’m looking a little too deeply into this…

Some of the nominations were deserved for sure. I, as I’m sure many others, would have been incensed if Rooney Mara did not receive a nomination for her downright outstanding performance in Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I would have also felt similarly if Terrence Malick as well as his film, Tree of Life, were not recognized for the Best Director and Best Picture categories, respectively, the way they were during this year’s Golden Globes. I was also pleasantly surprised by the Academy’s decision to nominate Mellisa McCarthy for her supporting role in Bridesmaids, not that this was my favorite movie this year (not by far) but it does not go unnoticed that they are breaking ground by nominating a television actress for her role in a comedic film, especially an actress who does not fit the typical Hollywood standards in terms of looks.

But, those expected and deserved nominations aside, I still cannot get over some of things the Academy decided to pass on. For example, this year, the Academy decided to nominate only nine films (of the slotted ten) for the Best Picture category, probably coming off the heals of the criticism they received for nominating a movie like The Blind Side two years before. So they only nominate nine films– The Help, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and even War Horse being among these nine. And in doing so, they chose to overlook The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, We Need to Talk About Kevin and Drive? Or they just didn’t think that any of these films could even be considered in the same category as The Help? I mean, come on! The Oscars are supposed to be the definitive of the best films each year, right? Well then, we must be seeing different movies under the same name.

And that’s not all. Where were Ryan Gosling and Albert Brooks’ nominations for their roles in Drive? And perhaps most frustrating of all, where was Tilda Swinton’s more-than-deserved Best Actress nomination for her amazing performance in We Need to Talk About Kevin?

And I’m not a crazy feminist here, but in a sea of male Best Director nominees, it would have not only been nice, but also much deserved to see Lynne Ramsay nominated for her film We Need to Talk About Kevin. Or, if that’s too risque for you, what about David Fincher? Did he really not deserve to be recognized for his take on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

Yes, I admit I had high hopes–perhaps even too high of hopes seeing as I was also gunning for an unexpected Elizabeth Olsen Best Actress nomination for her breakout role in Martha Marcy May Marlene– but the Academy proved just how remiss they are with the films and performances they decided to leave out. Instead, the Academy went the safe route. A Best Film category filled with movies made by Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, and Martin Scorsese? How unoriginal.

What does this mean? Nothing, really. I will continue watching the Oscars, and continue hoping that one year, just one year they will get it right. But, sadly, this year ain’t that year.

Fools as in people who went into UK theaters, sat down to watch a movie, and after ten minutes realized there is no sound. Not due to any defect with the quality or the theater itself. It’s 100% because they were sitting down in a theater playing The Artist—the soon-to-be Academy Award winning film. You know? The silent one. The one recreating the early motion picture style in the year 2011. The one that clearly had no dialogue.

Oh, man. People. They are the worse AND the best. This is right up there with those Einsteins who thought Drive was Fast and the Furious 9.

And I think what blows my mind the most is that they demanded a refund. Because of their own mistake! Whoa! That’s like going to a restaurant, reading the menu, ordering something from the menu, getting the EXACT thing you ordered, but sending it back because it confuses you. As in you weren’t prepared enough so someone else should have to correct it. Personally, I would be too embarrassed to ask for a refund. Stupid me! But, no, stupid them.

The Odeon Theaters gave them their money back! They claim it has to do with their “within the first ten minutes policy” which is probably true. But these people are now global news because of poor planning and research.

On a completely different note, The Artist was recently named the Producers Guild’s Best Picture, so it’s not struggling too badly. You don’t have to feel sorry for it. Feel sorry for those who don’t think too darn good.

Putting aside any personal issues with the actress (Dissing her ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ writers and bad-mouthing ‘Knocked Up’ for being sexist), I really didn’t have anything against her. I think she is a really capable actress who deserved her Emmy win for Best Supporting Actress in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and I think she is quite beautiful. That being said, it seems that after the hilarious Judd Apatow film ‘Knocked Up,’ Heigl decided to hop into a bulldozer and absolutely destroy her career.

Let’s take a look at her post-‘Knocked Up’ roster via Rotten Tomatoes, though this isn’t an exact measurement of “bulldozing” her career, shall we?

’27 Dresses’ – 41%

‘The Ugly Truth’ – 13%

‘Killers’ – 11%

‘Life As We Know It’ – 28%

‘New Year’s Eve’ – 7%

You know you’re in trouble when your best film in 4 years is ’27 Dresses.’ Yet somehow, Katherine Heigl still finds work! Like I said before, I do think the woman has talent, just not for picking movies. After all of these disasters has no one thought to sit her down and give her a good slapping? Maybe I’m being too harsh, I just think it’s sad that someone with such talent is putting it to so much waste!

And it doesn’t look like her career is going to get any better in the future. ‘One For The Money’ looks absolutely dreadful; it’s being released in January, and has some early negative buzz surrounding it.

So I ask you Banters, is there any hope for Katherine Heigl’s career? I long for the days when she used to have me at the edge of my seat while watching ‘Greys Anatomy’ or crying from laughter in ‘Knocked Up.’ Please Katherine, ditch the rom-coms and actually read a script before accepting the role!

As a conscientious objector of present day remakes, I have made my feelings clear on this creative-lackluster as well as classic-ruining time in Hollywood. To be fair, some of these remakes turn out alright, good even. Craig Gillespie’s remake of Fright Night, which debuted this summer, was not only very enjoyable, but also presented something new– Colin Farrell as an evil vampire?! Uh, yes please.

But, let’s be real, these good remakes are few and far between, so much so that I will remain skeptical until proven wrong. So when Deadline reported that this Police Academy reboot, which has supposedly been in talks for the last two years, is officially on New Line’s upcoming film roster, it only makes sense that this news would make me shudder.

And what makes this news even more shudder worthy (as if attempting to remake a hilarious classic isn’t bad enough– what’s next? Vacation?! God, I hope not), is that Deadline is also reporting that the one and only Scott Zabielski is set to direct the remake.

Oh, you don’t know who Scott Zabielski is? Well, this is not surprising as this will be his first feature film. And no, he’s not really big on the small screen either. In fact, the only thing he has ever directed is the television show Tosh. O. And no, I haven’t heard of that either.

Here’s the thing: if you are really going to attempt to make a better remake than the original, then shouldn’t you get the very best talent on board? With this news, it almost seems like New Line has thrown in the towel even before production has begun. And so, I will have to keep asking: Is nothing sacred anymore?

Here’s a look at the 5 nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film for 2011:

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Michel Hazanavicious, The Artist

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Out of the nominees I’d say Scorsese, Payne, and Hazanavicious were definitely predictable. ‘The Artist’ has been raved about for being so unique (black and white, silent film), ‘Hugo’ is receiving a lot of praise for being such a change of form for Scorsese, and ‘The Descendants’ has been labeled by many as the best film of the year (I’ve seen it and while it wasn’t my favorite film of 2011, I definitely loved it).

Although Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’ has received a lot of positive buzz some don’t believe it is one of the top 5 films. I personally have not seen the film so I can’t really pass judgment, but I have been hearing some pretty fantastic things about this underrated film.
A welcome surprise for me was the inclusion of David Fincher for ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’, which was somewhat absent from the SAG and Golden Globe Awards but seems to be picking up some more steam (at the box office and with award shows). This was definitely one of my favorite films of the year and even if it doesn’t get the win Fincher deserves the recognition for making such a faithful and fresh adaptation.

It seems many people think Nicolas Winding Refn and Steven Spielberg were robbed for ‘Drive’ and ‘War Horse’ respectively.

If I had to take a guess, I would go with Michel Hazanavicious for ‘The Artist.’ I haven’t seen this movie yet but it takes a really talented director to make a black and white silent film enjoyable in 2011. Kudos to him!

Congrats to all the nominees! The winner will be announced at the 64^th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 28^th, 2012 in Hollywood.

Who do you think was the best director of 2011 Banters?

Raise your hand if you’d watch Justin Timberlake in anything?

If you raised you’re hand for the first question, John himself is right there with you naming Timberlake as the number one person he’d like to see in his biographical film. If you raised your hand for number two, you’re a liar. Where were you for In Time?

Again, yes, John has got a sweet tooth himself for Justin to play him. There is no final script yet and John’s not necessarily ready to look into casting until everything else is where he wants it. Most likely that place is colorful and strange and beautiful, much like his music. Apparently it’s super visual, and he wants it to be sing-a-long-esque. But, you know, more artsy and also successful and, of course, a greatest hits package for everyone of all ages. Okay.

The real winner here is that Timberlake has already played John! Winner winner winner. Jackpot! Watch that here. You’ll enjoy it. And it’s a great song. Which of course is the whole draw to this thing.

Elton’s John music, regardless of how crazy his antics—ridiculous glasses, going bankrupt—has always been universal. At least for as long as I’ve been on this planet (which is still definitely shorter than John’s music.)

This would be great casting, but seems as though Timberlake may pass solely for the reason everyone else thinks it could work: been there, done that. As we all know, he’s focusing on something he hasn’t perfected quite like music. Right, acting? Right. So maybe this is a natural hybrid of sorts for him to make the world love him again. Oh, wait a minute, we all do anyway. Even if it’s in Bad Teacher. We’re crazy.

I personally loved the film and our very own Alia Haddad gave it a glowing review, so here are 5 reasons why you should check out ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ in theaters:

5. The Opening Credits: This is by far the best opening credits sequence I’ve seen in a long time. It’s like watching the opening to a Bond film on crack! Not to mention the ‘Immigrant Song’ cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O is dynamite.

4. The Ending: For those of you that have read the books, don’t worry about being bored! While director David Fincher managed to create a very faithful adaptation to the book, there is a major alteration in the film’s ending making it a great surprise for all audiences.

3. It’s Rated R: Director David Fincher had stated he wanted to create a franchise for adults, and he definitely has accomplished that. This film is extremely dark and gruesome, and deserves its R rating from the MPAA. Fear not this is not a ‘Saw’ film, but the realism in its brutality will shock you. Sometimes it’s good to see a true rated R film, and in this case the R should stand for REAL, because this film is just that.

2. The Plot: Similar to number 3, this plot is not for kids. It’s totally complex and complicated, but in a great way! This is the type of film that keeps you guessing and engrosses you even if you have already read the books. I knew everything that was going to happen but I still was totally absorbed into this world. A true testament to director Fincher, screenwriter Steve Zaillian, and most importantly, author Stieg Larsson.

1. Rooney Mara: Ladies and gentleman, believe what you have heard, Rooney Mara is electric in this performance. If you have seen the original Swedish films you probably thought Noomi Rapace was the only Lisbeth Salander possible, think again. Mara owns this role, making her tough on the outside but still vulnerable on the inside. Lisbeth Salander is one of the best female characters in the last decade, and Mara commits to the role 100%. See the movie just for her performance.

Overall, while ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ was not a bomb at the box office, it did under-perform. I think that is a real pity because it was a wonderful adaptation of a beloved book franchise, not to mention a fantastic stand alone film for those unfamiliar with the books. Now that all of your holiday shopping and returns are completed, I recommend you head to a theater as soon as possible and check this baby out, you won’t regret it!