Last night I turned to Xbox Live to check out Shane Carruth‘s Upstream Color for the first time. While not quite as impenetrable after one viewing as its predecessor, 2004′s Primer, Upstream still demands the utmost attention of its viewers in exchange for the slightest hint of clarity. The dialogue is sparse, the setting is ever-changing, the editing is heavily dependent on juxtaposition as a way of creating meaning, and the sound design/foley work is turned up to “11″ at times. Whereas Primer played more to the intellect behind making time travel a reality, Upstream is an extremely visceral experience that is more interested, or at least more successful, in eliciting an emotional response than explaining how a rare organism can be harvested, used as a method of mind control, and ultimately link humans to pigs. The exact degree to which it succeeds will vary from viewer to viewer but it’s ultimately an experience I recommend taking in.

Of course a movie like Upstream lends itself to more than a few lines of my humble analysis, but that’s not actually why we’re here. In this week’s Top 5 you can check out the first trailer and poster for Alfonso Cuaron‘s Gravity, a generous number of set pics from director Jonathan Liebesman‘s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, Steve’s exclusive phone interview with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the first trailer for Ender’s Game, and a look at Iron Man by the Numbers. A brief recap and link to each will greet you after the jump.

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for director Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity and it looks incredible.   The story centers on an astronaut (Sandra Bullock) who is stranded alone in space following a catastrophic event aboard a spacecraft.  George Clooney also stars, but Bullock is rumored to spend the majority of the screentime in the film utterly alone.  The pic was originally slated to open last year, but was subsequently pushed back so that more time could be spent on the visual effects.  Based on the trailer, the time was well spent.  Gravity looks like it could be one of the year’s best films.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  Gravity opens in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D October 4th.

The networks are gearing up to announce their fall schedules next week at the upfronts, but this week we’re starting to learn which pilots have been picked up to series.  We saw Fox’s orders last night, and here’s a look at some of the series moving ahead at NBC:

• Believe – Kyle MacLachlan, Johnny Sequoyah, and Delroy Lindo star in this supernatural drama series that follows the unlikely friendship between a gifted young girl and a man recently released from prison.  Alfonso Cuaron, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, and Mark Friedman will executive produce, and Cuaron directed the pilot.
• Crisis – Gillian Anderson, Dermot Mulroney, and Rachel Taylor star in this drama series about Washington’s government being pulled into an international conspiracy.  Rand Ravich and Far Shariat (Life) will executive produce.  Phillip Noyce directed the pilot.
• About a Boy – David Walton, Minnie Driver, and Al Madrigal star in this comedy series adaptation of the Nick Hornby book and subsequent 2002 film.  Jason Katims (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights) will executive produce, and Jon Favreau directed the pilot.
• Sean Saves the World – Sean Hayes, Linda Lavin, and Thomas Lennon star in this multi-camera sitcom about a man trying to parent his teenage daughter and appease his boss.  Victor Fresco (Better Off Ted) and Todd Milliner (Hot in Cleveland) will executive produce.

Hit the jump for news regarding the other two comedy pilots order to series, as well as full synopses for all six shows.

The first poster for one of the most anticipated films of the year has arrive.  We got our first incredibly brief look at footage from director Alfonso Cuaron’s long-awaited sci-fi film Gravity last night ahead of the trailer debut on Thursday, and this first poster does a magnificent job of teasing the vast and dangerous nature of space in the film.  The story centers on an astronaut (Sandra Bullock) who is stranded alone in space following a catastrophic event aboard a spacecraft.  George Clooney also stars, but Bullock is rumored to spend the majority of the screentime in the film utterly alone.  The pic was originally slated to open last year, but was subsequently pushed back so that more time could be spent on the visual effects.  With a master like Curaron at the helm, this is sure to be unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Hit the jump to take a look at the poster, and check back here tomorrow to watch the first trailer.  Gravity opens on October 4th in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D.

Want a little tease of footage from children of Men-director Alfonso Cuaron’s highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi drama, Gravity?  Well, you got it!  The visual effects-heavy 3D film stars Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) as an astronaut stranded alone in space following a catastrophic event onboard a spacecraft.  George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven), as glimpsed in this teaser, has a supporting role.  Further details are under wraps, but the film is said to have an unbroken 17-minute opening shot and will feature plenty of mind-bending effects.  Warner Bros. recently announced that the film will open on October 4th of this year.  Hit the jump to check out a brief bit of footage and be sure to return on Thursday when the first trailer hits. 

Finally!  After being pulled from the 2012 schedule altogether last summer and moved to an unspecified 2013 date, Warner Bros. has at last announced a firm release date for director Alfonso Cuaron’s highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi drama Gravity.  The visual effects-heavy 3D film stars Sandra Bullock as an astronaut stranded alone in space following a catastrophic event onboard a spacecraft.  Further details are under wraps, but the film is said to have an unbroken 17-minute opening shot, plenty of mind-bending effects, and a supporting turn from George Clooney.

On the crowded October date, the film will face off against the Vince Vaughn comedy The Delivery Man, the Liam Hemsworth/Gary Oldman thriller Paranoia, the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and the sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.  Here’s hoping we see a trailer soon.  Hit the jump to read a synopsis for the film.

Visionary director Alfonso Cuarón was supposed to have a new film come out this year (his first since Children of Men), but Warner Bros. pushed the ridiculously enticing Gravity to 2013 to allow for more post-production work on the effects heavy sci-fi feature.  As such, we likely won’t be seeing a new Cuarón property until awards season of next year, but the director isn’t content to just sit idle in the meantime.  The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director has committed to produce and direct a new supernatural TV series for NBC alongside the unendingly prolific J.J. Abrams.  Hit the jump for more details on the project.

The most successful film franchise of all time will be available on home video in one nifty box set early next week with the release of the Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection, and a devoted fan has put together a rather impressive video retrospective to mark the occasion.  Titled “Mischief Managed,” the video goes through all eight film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s wondrous series, with scenes accompanied by the franchise’s various scores.  It’s a great watch for Harry Potter fans, but it’s also interesting to see the different directors’ visions back-to-back.  The story gets dark quite fast, but it’s neat to see it progress from the colorful, faithful touch of Chris Columbus on the first two films, to Alfonso Cuaron’s inventive and playful twist on Azkaban, to the bombastic Britishness of Mike Newell’s Goblet of Fire, and finally David Yates’ grounded yet haunting stamp on the final four films.

Hit the jump to watch the fan-made video retrospective.  The Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection will be available on September 7th.

A new clip from the upcoming Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection Blu-ray and DVD has made it online, featuring Daniel Radcliff (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron) and director Alfonso Cuarón discussing the third film the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which Cuarón took over after original director Chris Columbus stepped down.  The clip is part of an epic collection that will span 31 discs, available September 7th.  However, if you want a piece of it immediately, your orders have to be in by Harry’s birthday (meaning today): July 31st.

The film discussed in the clip is a polarizing one for fans, some of whom (myself included) see it as an artistic achievement, and though it is long, it’s exceptionally engaging.  Others simply find it just long, too artsy, and very dark (especially compared to the first two films in the series).  To see the video and learn more behind-the-scenes info about the film and the upcoming collection, hit the jump.  Also, get the scoop on the all-new Harry Potter Reading Club.

Many people (myself included) were counting director Alfonso Cuaron’s ambitious sci-fi pic Gravity as one of their most anticipated films of 2012.  Well, now we’re all gonna have to wait a little longer, as Warner Bros. has lifted the film off of its November release date and set it for sometime in 2013.  This is a big bummer, but the film most likely has some insane visual effects work to finish in post-production.  Sandra Bullock stars as an astronaut stranded in space, and she’s apparently the only actor onscreen for the majority of the film.  Though I’m sad to have to wait, I’m confident that the move was made in the film’s best interest.  I’d rather have the Gravity Cuaron intends to release rather than a rushed version.  It’s also entirely possible that Warner Bros. just felt that their slate was too crowded to premiered Gravity.  In addition to The Hobbit, they have Argo, Gangster Squad, and The Great Gatsby all opening this fall.

Hit the jump for more, including new dates for Gangster Squad and Beautiful Creatures.

With Gary Ross’ non-return to direct the follow up of his blockbuster film, The Hunger Games, Lionsgate turned to a wish-list of directors that included David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.  While those names were merely placeholders for a director with an arrow’s chance in Panem at getting the job (something we waxed poetic about in our recent podcast), two more names have cropped up that seem to have a bit more validity to them.  Reportedly, some conversations have already taken place with directors Bennett Miller (Moneyball) and Francis Lawrence (Constantine) to helm the sequel, Catching Fire.  Hit the jump for more on these potential candidates.

Well this took a little longer than expected.  Following Sunday’s news that Gary Ross will not be returning to direct the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, the first “shortlist” story has now surfaced online.  Lionsgate has to begin filming Catching Fire by August in order to have Jennifer Lawrence wrapped in time to be on the set for Fox’s X-Men: First Class sequel in January (there’s also that November 2013 release date for Catching Fire that’s looming).

Given the short prep time, I assumed the studio would be going for a journeyman director to get in and get things done quickly and succinctly.  Thankfully, it appears that’s not the case as the studio has shortlisted a few creatively exciting choices for Ross’ replacement: David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuaron, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.  Hit the jump for more.

Alfonso Cuaron crafted some remarkable unbroken shots in Children of Men, and it was previously rumored that he would be upping his game for his new movie, Gravity.  Back in 2010, we reported that the movie would open with a single, 20-minute shot.  Today, we’ve learned that while the opening scene will be an unbroken 17-minute shot (way to slack off, Cuaron).  Additionally, long takes will run throughout the film.

Hit the jump for more.  The sci-fi drama stars Sandra Bullock as an astronaut who fights to return home after her space station suffers a catastrophe.  Gravity opens in 3D on November 21st.

A curious little project has come to our attention, and it’s quite exciting. A number of international directors are coming together to helm segments of an animated folk tale anthology called Tales from the Hanging Head. Filmmaker Sara Driver spilled the details on the project, revealing that she’ll be directing a story alongside Alfonso Cuaron, Michel Gondry, Marjane Satrapi, and Emir Kusturica. It’s a series of folk tales for children, linked together by the common thread of metamorphosis. Hit the jump for more.

Alfonso Cuaron’s upcoming sci-fi film Gravity has already made some bold moves.  The film reportedly has little dialogue, long takes, and now Sandra Bullock says the actors won’t be wearing make-up.  That may not seem like a big deal, but imagine your face blown up to the size of a movie screen and then projected in 3D.  Of course, it’s not a totally bizarre choice since the movie takes place in outer space and centers on an astronaut (Bullock) who’s struggling to find a way home after her space station is damaged.  Putting on eye-shadow and lipstick probably isn’t “Priority #1″ in that situation.

Hit the jump for what Bullock had to say about filming as well as her elaboration on why co-star George Clooney doesn’t plan on doing another 3D movie after this one.  Gravity opens November 21st.