“Catches thieves just like flies.”

That’s how one of the most anticipated panels and presentations this year at WonderCon 2012 opened, spoken by the Sony Pictures Panel moderator in a room brimming with people, young and old. The quote pertains to the Spider-Man reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man helmed by director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer), and distributed by Sony Films.

It is a complete re-imagining of the Spider-Man movie franchise, because Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) plays Peter Parker, Martin Sheen plays Uncle Ben, and MJ is not the love interest. In fact, Emma Stone (The Help) plays Gwen Stacy, Peter’s love interest, who as it turns out, is wildly different than MJ. More importantly, the driving motivator differs from the emotional catalyst put forth by the Raimi trilogy. In all, this story takes a different approach to telling the story of what compels Peter to try to make the world a little bit safer and better.

At WonderCon 2012 in Anaheim, California on Saturday, actress Emma Stone (The Help) and director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) appeared in front of a Ballroom full of fans to discuss their upcoming Spider-Man reboot The Amazing Spider-Man, which stars Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger. 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick had a chance to speak with both Emma Stone, and Marc Webb before their panel on Saturday about the upcoming film. Webb discussed why his movie will be different than other Spider-man films, and what exactly the teased "Untold Story" really is, while Stone talked about playing the iconic role of Gwen Stacey. 

The first official clip from The Amazing Spider-Man has appeared online, more than four months before the 3D reboot (get your Rogue 3D Eyewear right here, everybody) actually arrives at a theater near you.

In the theatrical trailer released earlier this month, Andrew Garield's Peter Parker claimed that he climbed all twenty stories of fire escape to the window of Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone, saying, "Your doorman's intimidating."  Seemed like the sort of cute, sarcastic bit of quippery that we expect from our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, right?  Nah, apparently he really did have some trouble with the doorman, who gives Pete some guff in this quick clip that clocks in at less than a minute.

Opening in theaters on November 11th is a new science fiction film from acclaimed Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves) called Melancholia. The film features an Oscar worthy performance by actress Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man), as well as an impressive supporting cast that includes Kiefer Sutherland (TV's 24), Charlotte Gainsbourg (I'm Not There), Alexander Skarsgard (TV's True Blood), Stellan Skarsgard (Thor), John Hurt (Alien), Charlotte Rampling (Swimming Pool), Jesper Christensen (Quantum of Solace), and Udo Kier (Armageddon). 

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Kirsten Dunst about her work in Melancholia. The talented actress spoke about the new film, its abstract story, working with Lars von Trier, her character's strength, her own acting process, and how director Paul Thomas Anderson helped her get the role.

To comic book fans Ioan Gruffudd may be best known as the man who portrayed Marvel’s elastic hero Mr. Fantastic in 20^th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four franchise, but the classically trained Welsh actor also has a very impressive resume of non-superhero work to his credit. Gruffudd first gained attention for playing the title role on the A&E television series Hornblower, and eventually went on to appear in such assorted films as Black Hawk Down, King Arthur, The TV Set, Amazing Grace, W., Horrible Bosses, and Sanctum.

Gruffudd currently stars opposite Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Sarah Michelle Gellar on the popular new CW series Ringer. On the series he plays Andrew Martin, a man who unbeknownst to himself, is secretly married to the identical twin sister of his own wife, who took her place after she mysteriously disappeared. The classically trained actor now returns to the big screen once again with a pivotal supporting role in the new dramatic ensemble film Fireflies in the Garden, which opens in theaters on October 14^th.

Ryan Reynolds stars in the new film as Michael, a successful writer with a troubled childhood and a failing marriage, who returns home to face his demons and attend his baby sister’s college graduation. Upon arrival, his mother (Julia Roberts) is killed in a car accident and Michael must now deal with the aftermath that includes confronting his abusive father (Willem Dafoe), reuniting with his estranged aunt (Emily Watson), and forgiving his recovering alcoholic wife (Carrie Anne-Moss). Meanwhile, Michael discovers that his mother was having an affair with a co-worker of his father’s (Gruffudd), a college professor whose class she was taking. Eventually, Michael must come to terms with his childhood, his family and his own life before ha can move on.

Legendary visual effects designer John Dykstra is best known for his work on Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the two films that began those beloved franchises, respectively. But Dykstra has also worked on several films adapted from comic books including Batman Forever and Batman and Robin with director Joel Schumacher, as well as Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 with director Sam Raimi. Not to mention his work on other popular films such as Caddyshack, Stuart Little, Hancock, Inglorious Basterds, and the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. So it only makes sense that when 20^th Century Fox decided to make a prequel to their ridiculously popular X-Men franchise, X-Men: First Class … they called him.

The film, which was released this summer to rave reviews has gone on to earn over $352 million worldwide and was released on Blu-ray and DVD last week Friday. I recently had a chance to briefly speak with John Dykstra about X-Men: First Class, his history with super hero related films, the challenges of making this movie, and collaborating with director Matthew Vaughn and producer Bryan Singer. Here is what he had to say:

Sam Raimi has not directed a feature since 2009's spookablast ride Drag Me to Hell.  Had some still fairly mysterious circumstances not scuttled the project at Sony, this summer would've seen the fourth Spider-Man film directed by Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker.  Instead, we'll be getting the Raimi-less reboot The Amazing Spider-Man next summer and right now, the director is reuniting with his Harry Osborn James Franco.  The actor will be Franco-fying the lead role in Oz The Great and Powerful, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz chronicling how a scamming illusionist ends up the man behind the curtain in Oz.  Disney announced today that production on the film is officially underway in the brand new Raleigh Studios in Michigan.

Way back when Warner Bros first announced that the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the adaptation of JK Rowling's final novel, would be divided into two separate films, many Potter-philes decried the move as a cheap ploy to continue making money hand over fist on one of the most profitable properties of all time.  Now, though, both critics and audiences seem most appreciative that the series has been drawn out and done justice.  Not only that, Warners has indeed had an unprecedented commercial success, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 earning a staggering estimated $168.5 million since Friday.  That massive haul gives the final Potter film the domestic title of highest-grossing opening weekend of all time, among a few other records, as well.

With the exception of two official images of Andrew Garfield in costume released when the film was in production, most information regarding The Amazing Spider-Man has come from tiny leaks, set photos, and good old extrapolation.  With Comic-Con rolling around next week, though, it looks like Sony Pictures is ready to start putting their 3D reboot of the Webhead on display.  It's long been rumored that a teaser would debut at Comic-Con, and SuperHeroHype reports that a trailer will be attached to select prints of Captain America: The First Avenger, which hits theaters on Friday.  Coincidentally, Friday is the day of The Amazing Spider-Man's Comic-Con panel. 

Netflix's streaming Watch Instantly service is fast becoming America's favorite way to watch movies. The library of available titles is so vast and mutable that you, the avid instant watcher, could no doubt use a guide as you navigate the streaming frontier.

Luckily for you, we'll be here every Tuesday to update you on the latest titles available for instant-watching, as well as bringing attention some gems and even some enjoyable calamities out there in the instantly watchable wilds.