Two photos from Jonathan Liebesman’s alien-invasion feature Battle: Los Angeles have hit the web. The above pic is a shot of a mushroom cloud explosion on a freeway (said to be a bus after being blown to smithereens by malicious extraterrestrials). The bottom is that of actor Aaron Eckhart (Dark Knight, Black Dahlia) as a Marine staff sergeant ready to get some payback for the U.S. of fucking A.

The film’s synopsis reads:

When unknown forces put the City of angels under attack, it’s up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to come to the rescue. As the invasion hits the streets of L.A., the Marines become our first and last line of defense against a highly powerful enemy. Bridget Moynahan (I, Robot), Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar) and Michael Peña (World Trade Center) co-star alongside an ensemble cast including Ramon Rodriguez and Ne-Yo.

Battle: Los Angeles, described as Independence Day meets Black Hawk Down, takes its name from a supposed massive UFO sighting in Santa Monica, California said to have taken place on Feb. 25, 1942 just weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. According to UFO enthusiasts, the alien ship was attacked by the U.S. military under the belief that it was Japanese aircraft. I’m not sure if this plays a part in the film, but you can read more about it here.

Liebesman’s previous efforts include Darkness Falls and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, two highly enjoyable and stupidly underrated horror flicks. Battle: Los Angeles is reportedly due in theaters in 2011. I’ll letcha know if that changes.

On Jan. 8, we will finally face the Daybreakers at the local movie theater. But, until then, it doesn’t hurt to know what we’re up against. Lionsgate has released the following clips to scare you off. But, I think they will just whet your appetite.

The film’s synopsis reads:

Two-time Academy Award nominee® Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a researcher in the year 2019, in which an unknown plague has transformed the world’s population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out.

The Daybreakers is directed by Peter and Michael Spierig and stars Ethan Hawke (Gattica), Willem Dafoe,(Anti-Christ) Sam Neil (Jurassic Park), and Isabel Lucas (Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen).

It’s the beginning of the end.

So says the latest one-minute promo for the sixth and final season of ABC’s innovative sci-fi drama “Lost.” As with previous TV spots, new footage is  not revealed in the latest promo. Regardless, the spot will definitely push “Lost” fan’s buttons (get it? push buttons? Ah, never mind).

Check it out:

“Lost” returns on Feb. 2, 2010.

BUY: DISTRICT 9

Aliens come down to earth and get treated like black people in director Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi-actioner District 9. Produced by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong), the film is set in Johannesburg, South Africa and follows the transfer of alien inhabitants from the government established refugee camp known as District 9 to the much larger District 10.

Wikus van de Merwe is the government official assigned to help a privately funded military group relocate the aliens (dismissively referred to as “prawns” by humans). Things get complicated, however, when Merwe is exposed to alien matter that corrupts his own genetic makeup.

Inspired by events that took place during the apartheid era in South Africa, District 9 spins a smart and engaging story without sacrificing the action and suspense sci-fi fans love. The effects are convincing and, along with the film’s docu-drama angle, make the film feel and look believable (Warning: if you’re like me, you may want to have a puke bucket next to your La-Z-Boy. The shaky-cam can be pretty brutal at times).

The 2-disc edition includes director commentary, deleted scenes, and the following featurettes: “The Alien Agenda: Filmmaker’s Log, a Three-Part Documentary,” “Metamorphosis: the Transformation of Wikus,” “Innovation: Acting and Improvisation,” “Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9,” and “Alien Generation: Visual Effects.”

The Blu-ray disc edition includes the same bonus material plus “Joburg From Above: Satellite and Schematics of the World of District 9 – Interactive Map.”

RENT: PARANORMAL ENTITY

Erin Marie Hogan

Paranormal Entity tells the story of a man who is sentence to prison for the murder of his sister. The man’s family, however, knows that something paranormal is to blame for the tragedy … and they’ve found footage to prove it. Yes, the movie is a knockoff of Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster hit Paranormal Activity, but could it be much worse? Probably. I haven’t yet seen the flick. But, I will rent it based on the comments posted by Dustin Demoss on Amazon.com.

Demoss writes:

The story/style is nearly identitical to that of Activity, however, I did find the story to be slightly more interesting…with the inclusion of why an entity exists…and at least they try to go to a motel. I didn’t find the acting to be as “real” as Activity, but the dialogue was much less annoying…continual arguing in Activity was pretty grueling. And as an added bonus you’re not stuck looking at an ugly chick.

Paranormal Entity is produced and distributed by The Asylum Home Entertainment and stars the very attractive Erin Marie Hogan.

BURY: CAPTIVE

Captive stars former Playboy model and Baywatch star Erika Eleniak as a woman who goes ape-shit after her husband is murdered. Placed in a loony bin, she must battle the advances of perverted orderlies and yada, yada, yada. This flick was produced in 1998 and, boy, does it suck donkey dicks.

Captive is dated, beyond cheesy, and completely devoid of Eleniak nudity. If you’re an Eleniak fan, watch Under Siege, Chasers or just dust the dried up cum balls away from your old Playboys instead. If you’re a fan of women in mental wards, grab yourself a copy of Clint Eastwood’s The Changeling.

A trailer for director Adam Green’s (Hatchet) survival-frightener Frozen has hit the web. The flick stars Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead), and Shawn Ashmore (The Ruins).

The synopsis reads:

A typical day on the slopes turns into a chilling nightmare for three snowboarders when they get stranded on the chairlift before their last run. As the ski patrol switches off the night lights, they realize with growing panic that they’ve been left behind dangling high off the ground with no way down. With the resort closed until the following weekend and frostbite and hypothermia already setting in, the trio is forced to take desperate measures to escape off the mountain before they freeze to death. Once they make their move, they discover with horror that they have much more to fear than just the frigid cold. As they combat unexpected obstacles, they start to question if their will to survive is strong enough to overcome the worst ways to die.

Only white people would consider getting stuck on a ski lift as life-threatening. You honkies should try catching Frozen at the Magic Johnson theater opening weekend. Then we’ll talk “worst ways to die.”

Regardless, the trailer does look good. Check it out:

Like every executive at Fox, I still don’t understand why chronic masturbators moviegoers gave Jennifer’s Body the cold shoulder when it hit theaters back in September. Sure, it’s cheaper to just stay home and jerk off to nude Lindsay Lohan pics online. But, c’mon! If we don’t support movies starring hot chicks in skimpy outfits at the box office, then Hollywood starlets will stop getting naked and start looking like Charlize Theron in every movie since Monster.

Jennifer’s Body arrives on DVD and Blu-ray disc on Dec. 29. But, you can have a taste of the BTS action here:

Kids today have it easy. A simple click of the mouse and they can spy nude photos of their favorite tabloid stars. Things were a lot harder in my day. If I wanted to see Lindsay Lohan’s mouth-watering jugs back in 2007, I had no choice but to buy a ticket  to see the psychological-snoozer I Know Who Killed Me.

These days, however, Lohan can be seen showing off her goodies in numerous magazines. The following shots are outtakes form Muse magazine:

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If you work at an office, you probably spend a good part of your day daydreaming about what your life would be like in a galaxy far, far away (or at least a cubicle far, far away). You probably also spend a lot of time talking about the weather with your dull and dimwitted coworkers. Well, now you can do both!

Star Wars Weather allows you to compare your weather conditions to that of planets in the Star Wars universe. There is, unfortunately, no live forecast by Oola or any other hot Star Wars chick. But, hey, it’ll kill a couple of minutes from your dreadful day.

To further help you waste time at work, check out these classic funny ads for Disney/MGM’s Star Wars Weekends. Laugh you will:

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They may not look like models for Abercrombie and Fitch, but zombies continue to be popular among horror fans. As is with all genres, some prefer a little comedy mixed in their zombie flicks (i.e. Zombieland) while others like it strictly gruesome. I like ’em bloody, but peppered with dark, but subtle, humor. That’s why I’m looking forward to Portrait of a Zombie, an indie-horror from Ireland.

The synopsis reads:

Zombies roam the streets of Dublin. An American Documentary crew come to Ireland to make a documentary about the Murphy Family, whose eldest son Billy has turned, but the family still choose to care for him, much to the chagrin of the neighbors and the local crime boss. The Documentary crew soon become enthralled in the proceedings as Billy’s story unfolds.

Another docu-inspired horror flick ala Paranormal Activity would normally make my beautiful baby blue eyes roll, but that’s changed since I recently caught a screening of the brutally awesome documentary-crew-captures-terrifying-shit chiller entitled Undocumented. Now, I’m willing to give these flicks a chance. Besides, the trailer looks pretty damn cool.

Check it out:

Portrait of a Zombie does not have a U.S. distributor yet.

Actress Brittany Murphy was pronounced dead today by the Los Angeles coroner’s office. The 32-year-old suffered cardiac arrest this morning at her home and could not be revived. She was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

(UPDATE: Read about Murphy’s last completed movie before her death here)

TMZ was first to break the news:

A 911 call was made at 8 a.m. from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack, the Los Angeles City Fire Department tells TMZ. We’re told Murphy was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her time of death was listed as 10:04 a.m.

Drugs are rumored to have played  a part in Murphy’s death. The star, best known for her performances in 8 Mile and Clueless, is said to have been riding the dope train for many years. The LA coroner’s office has said it will perform an autopsy on Murphy’s body despite protest from her husband, who believes it’s perfectly natural for a healthy 32-year-old to drop dead.

"Can we snort this dog? It's white."

Murphy’s horror credits include: Sin City, Don’t Say a Word, Deadline, The Prophecy 2, and the-yet-to-be-released Something Wicked. Murphy also provided the voice Luanne on Fox TV’s “King of the Hill.”