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This past weekend saw mermaids of a darker origin hit the big screen in the lackluster sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (read Jeremy's review right here), but now it sounds like the mythical beings of the sea will have another story coming to theaters. Variety reports Country Strong director Shana Feste is set to write and direct a feature film based on Carolyn Turgeon's novel Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale. The novel itself is actually a dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, so I wouldn't count on any musical numbers or talking crabs in the familiar mermaid story this time. The darker take on the classic tale goes as follows: When two women from two decidedly different worlds fall for the same prince, what else can ensue but heartache and misery? After rescuing a human from the sea, mermaid Princess Lenia falls...

Well it's official... another Hollywood trend has snowballed to the point where it is getting out of hand. In the past week or so we've had three announcements about upcoming live action adaptations of popular fairy tales. First we heard that Joe Wright (Atonement) was developing a live action remake of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid [1], and then just a couple days ago Paramount picked up a pitch for an action-adventure film based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame [2]. Now Elizabeth Banks has signed on to star in a romantic comedy about Peter Pan's diminutive fairy Tinker Bell. According to Variety [3], the movie is called simply Tink, and it "plays with the mischievous nature" of the character. The project will be produced by Adam Shankman (Hairspray, Bedtime Stories), Jennifer Gibgot and McG (Charlie's Angels, Terminator Salvation), with the script being written by Elizabeth Wright Shapiro. Although it seems like...

Films like Ponyo are a nostalgic treat. It's an odd feeling to experience but it was a joyous occasion to not have to sit through another over-polished DreamWorks or Pixar production. There is no doubt that both companies have achieved a mammoth amount of success and critical hit after critical hit (specifically Pixar). They look great and more importantly, the content always walks the line of child amusement and grown-up jokes which directly leads to their success (most of the time). They surely deserve it (most of the time). Still, when a hand-drawn feature hits mainstream theaters in the good ol' U.S. of A., it's a double-take. Especially when it's about a goldfish with a human face that wants to become human after liking the blood of a young Japanese boy. Strange? You bet. Delightful with a colorful charm and whimsy? Yes, it's that too.

Ponyo, the latest from anime king Hayao Miyazaki,...