Who likes cars? I don’t. But I know lots of people that do. I did like David Cronenberg’s Crash but that turned the term ‘auto erotica’ into a whole new genre. Any-hoo, Universal have ‘pimped their ride’ for the fifth time with Fast Five – the latest installment in their ‘crimes n’ fast cars’ saga. Vin Diesel returns and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson joins the cast too. Take a look at the staring competition going off between them in this first look official image. Who wins?

Justin Lin is directing again and Universal bumped The Thing prequel to make way for this title in the April 29th slot in the US and we Brits will see it from 10th June, 2011. Lin told US Today all about the joy of casting Johnson:

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“People thought it would be impossible to get Dwayne. But he didn’t show up looking to cash a paycheck. That’s pretty amazing, for a star like him to join the fifth part of a franchise. That says a lot about him and the fans.”
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So what’s it all about, I hear you ask? Turns out – according to USA Today – Johnson’s character is a copper tracking down the petrol heads and he rolls around town in what has been described as “a 10-ton armored military vehicle that looks like a Humvee on steroids.” Clearly he can afford a gas guzzler. But what about the environment, dudes? Why not go electric?

Apparently the marketing machine is in full swing, as in the last 48 hours we’ve seen countless images and now a script review for the Tim Burton directed Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Mia Wasikowska.

Lets start with the script review, I’m not going to post the whole thing here, but for the benefit of the article I’ll summarise:
The script isn’t exactly an adaptation of the original story by Lewis Carroll, as it is an extension of it. Alice went to Wonderland as a child, and she’s now almost grown. She’s 17, and she’s back for more, but doesn’t remember her times there earlier. She’s about to be engaged, maybe. A rich suitor wants to marry her, and the opening scenes of the movie are of her engagement party. But she, of course, gets distracted by a white rabbit.

The White Rabbit (who will be played by Michael Sheen), goes after Alice (played by In Treatment’s Mia Wasikowska) because of an omen that she is the one to slay the Jabberwock, who guards the Red Queen’s empire. But when she arrives, she has no knowledge of this, or of Wonderland at all. She meets Tweedledee and Tweedledum and the Dormouse, the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), the Catepillar (Alan Rickman), and of course the March Hare (Noah Taylor) and the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp).

The good White Queen (Anne Hathaway), of who these were all loyal subjects, has been banished by the bad Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). She is much larger than everyone else and surrounds herself in a court full of people with enormous lips, or noses, or ears, as well as the Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover), her most trusted aide.

There’s also an odd love story that develops between Alice and the Hatter. I don’t know why this is necessary, maybe to juxtapose the love she doesn’t have in the real world, but it seems misplaced. Despite “Sexiest Man Alive” claims, Depp has never gone the romantic lead route. Especially lately, he plays dark, creepy, complicated men that aren’t interested in getting the girl at the end, so it’s an interesting way for the movie to go.

Sounds pretty good to me, I can’t pretend I’m not a little disappointed that they won’t be telling the classic story but at the same time I can understand why. The original story by Lewis Carrol has been done so many times, that there’s no way the story would ever be “fresh”, a sequel on the other hand, done correctly could be timeless.

We’ve teamed up with Dreamworks to giveaway four tickets to an exclusive screening of I Am Number Four in central London on 2nd February. The film is released 23rd February in UK cinemas nationwide. Starring Alex Pettyfer and Glee star Dianna Agron, the action-adventure spectacular is based on the New York Times bestseller and brought to the screen by producer Michael Bay.

To be in with a chance of bagging a ticket, answer the simple question below:

1. Who directed I Am Number Four?

This competition is now closed.

Synopsis:

From director D.J. Caruso and starring Alex Pettyfer – (Tormented, Strombreaker and Beastly), Dianna Agron – (Glee and TV Show Heroes) and Teresa Palmer (Sorcerer’s Apprentice and December Boys). Three are dead. He is Number Four. D.J. Caruso (“Eagle Eye,” “Disturbia”) helms an action-packed thriller about an extraordinary young man, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

UK Release: 23rd February

• Competition open to UK residents only.
• Offer is not-transferable and no cash equivalent will be given.
• Travel to and from London not included.
• Accommodation is not included.

Competition closes 31 January, 2011 and open to UK entrants only (sorry).