One of the most highly-anticipated films of 2012 now won't be seen until 2013. Warner Bros. announcing that they're delaying the release of the sci-fi epic "Gravity", which stars George Clooney and Sandra Bullock (now you know why it was one of the most highly-anticipated films of 2012).

The studio held rough-cut test screenings recently that were originally called "successful". Could it be that this wasn't the case? "Gravity" was schedule to come-out Thanksgiving week - a very attractive time for films with Academy Award expectations, and word was that WB was gearing-up for an Oscar campaign for Bullock. The spin right now is that more time than expected is needed to complete the very complicated special effects for the sci-fi spectacular. Let's hope that's the reason but with 6 months still to go before the original Nov. 21 release date you do have to wonder.

Vampires are more popular than ever right now in the entertainment world, thanks to "The Twilight Saga" and TV shows such as "True Blood" and "The Vampires Diaries". Hard to imagine that they were also big 40-years ago, on daytime TV of all places.

But that was the case. And now Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have teamed-up, for the 8th time, to bring the daytime soap opera , "Dark Shadows" (1966-71) to the big-screen.

Depp plays Barnabas Collins, who was a member of the richest family in Maine back in the late 1700's. He's cursed by a witch who loved him, because he loved someone else. She turns him into a vampire and locks him in a coffin. We flash forward to 1972 and the coffin is discovered by some construction workers who open it (big mistake) allowing Barnabas to return to what's left of his family and try to restore them to glory in a town that's been taken-over by an evil woman named Angelique (played by Eva Green), who just happens to be the same witch who cursed Barnabas nearly 200 years earlier. He's looking for revenge, he's looking for love and he's looking for blood.

"Dark Shadows" starts with a good set-up, laying-out the plot in soap opera fashion. It grabbed my interest from the opening shot. But one of the big problems with the film is that it's extremely inconsistent. An engaging scene is followed by one that just loses you and any momentum the story had. And this happens over and over. 

Also, this movie is being sold in the trailers and commercials as a comedy - but it just isn't. All the attempts at humor fall flat, including trying to get laughs out of the fact that this is a vampire from the 1700's is now living in 1972. He's amazed by a McDonald's sign, baffled by a lava lamp. Please, that's the best the writers could do?

The strength of "Dark Shadows" comes from what Tim Burton always provides: a great look and feel. You could tell this was a Burton film even if you didn't know (and Depp and Burton's wife - Helena Bonham Carter weren't in it). The sets and costumes are fantastic and even the make-up is well done.

The cast does a nice job of playing this is soap opera style - delivering dialogue that is sometimes sharp, other times intentionally bland and almost always over-the-top. Michelle Pfeiffer is a good choice to play the matriarch of the Collins Family. She has some good early scenes with Depp, who is classic Depp here again. But seeing him play yet another "wacky character" is getting kind of old.

"Dark Shadows" is rated PG-13 for some language, adult content and violence. There are more sexual references than you might expect from a PG-13 film, probably because sex was a big part of daytime dramas. It's appropriate for kids 12 and up, but most of them will likely not be interested. This movie was made for fans of Depp and Burton and fans of the original show, which had a huge cult following. I'm not really sure how those fans will like it. There were certainly a lot of them at the screening I attended, but I didn't hear too much from them during or after the movie. Regular movie goers will likely be split down the middle, which was exactly the way I felt leaving the theater.

On The Official LCJ Report Card, "Dark Shadows" gets a C.

At times it tries too hard, especially over-doing the fact that it's set in the early 70's (including a weird Alice Cooper cameo). The editing is a little rough and it's not a bit scary. In fact this is probably the dullest vampire movie ever made. But with a solid cast, a director who's a visual master and a great soundtrack "Dark Shadows" is not a complete wash-out.

I just wish it had a little more bite.

On The Official LCJ Report Card, "Dark Shadows" gets an    .

Here's the second of my three-part look at what this summer has to offer. Several of these June and July releases will help determine whether or not Summer '12 becomes the biggest of all-time:

JUNE (pt. 2)

22 - "Brave" Starring the voices of Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly. Pixar's 13th animated film is the first with a female lead character (and third to be rated PG). Is 13 a lucky number? Preview Grade: B-; Opening Weekend Prediction: $65M; Total Gross Prediction: $215M

29 - "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum. The sequel to 2009's hit brings in two new big names and loses a few others (Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller). PG: B; OWP: $55M; TGP: $150M

29 - "People Like Us" Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer. Touchstone's new drama about a long-lost sister hopes to be this summer's "The Help" for the studio. PG: B-; OWP: $20M; TGP: $65M

JULY

3 - "The Amazing Spider-Man" Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dennis Leary. Is a reboot of the successful "Spider-Man" franchise too soon? I think so, but this should still do pretty well. PG: B; OWP: $80M; TGP: $250M

13 - "Ice Age: Continental Drift" Starring the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lopez. Lopez and Wanda Sykes join the cast in the fourth enstallment. The plot seems a little simple, but families are likely to flock to it, because they love these characters. PG: B-; OWP: $70M; TGP: $175M

20 - "The Dark Knight Rises" Starring Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy. Director Christopher Nolan's third Batman movie has all the hype to do HUGE at the box office, and be a critical success as well. But can it take down "The Avengers? PG: B+; OWP: $185M; TGP: $460M

27 - "Step Up Revolution" Starring...a bunch of unknowns. Do we really need a fourth "Step Up" movie? I barely got throguh the third one, with so much in-your-face 3D. I hope that's not the case again this time, but I'm probably wrong. PG: C; OWP: $15M; TGP: $45M

Now that it's officially the Summer Movie Season and that "The Avengers" has broken the "Highest Grossing Opening Weekend Record" with $200.3M in its first 3 days, here are my predictions for the 10 movies that will top the box office this summer (many of them likely for the year):

1. "Marvel's The Avengers" - $475M

2. "The Dark Knight Rises" - $460M

3. "The Amazing Spider-Man" - $250M

4. "Men in Black 3" - $225M

5. "Brave" - $215M

6. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" - $200M

7. "Snow White and the Huntsman" - $180M

8. "Ice Age: Continental Drift" - $175M

9. "Prometheus" - $165M

10. "G.I. Joe: Retaliaton" - $150M

It's the big screen event diehard superhero comic book and film fans have been waiting for: an "Avengers" movie. And it's finally here. After "Iron Man" became a box office hit and re-launched Robert Downey, Jr.'s career, Marvel Studios released "The Incredible Hulk" (starring Edward Norton) and "Iron Man 2", and then followed with last summer's "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger". And now all these iconic characters have come together to save the world in "Marvel's The Avengers", the first film of the 2012 Summer Movie Season. And what a way to start it off!

Samuel L. Jackson first appeared as Nick Fury, the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D, our country's top-secret defense unit, at the end of "Iron Man" asking Tony Stark to become part of The Avengers Initiative. In "The Avengers" we see that project come together. But Fury needs to assemble this team sooner than he expected because the evil god Loki, Thor's half-brother (and the villain in "Thor"), has escaped his world and come to earth. Loki has an army and a plan to either kill or make slaves of all humans. Early in the film he steals a weapon that Shield was working-on that will give him the power, literally, to destroy everything in his path.

So it's up to The Avengers to join forces (and egos) to try to take Loki down. The six very different members include Downey Jr.'s Iron Man (who isn't big on the idea of this project at the start), Chris Hemsworth's Thor (who feels guilty because it's his brother causing all the trouble), Chris Evans' Captain America (who's still trying to adjust to the modern world), Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow (who debuted in "Iron Man 2"), Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye (he and his bow and arrows had a small role in "Thor"), and Bruce Banner (a.k.a. The Hulk), played by Mark Ruffalo. He's the third actor to play this role in the past decade (Eric Bana starred in 2003's "Hulk" and then Norton in 2008).

This might sound like way too simple of a plot-line: Six superheroes comes together to battle one evil mega-villain and his army. And on the surface, it is. And that's what makes "The Avengers" even more of an amazing accomplishment because it turns this very simple story into a wildly entertaining film.

First of all, the movie is  jammed with action. Many of the early fight scenes involve the Avengers fighting amongst themselves, as they test each other to see who's worthy. The last half-hour is practically one non-stop battle sequence, but it's staged with a nice pace that keeps it interesting and not (like in so many other action films) mind-numbing. In fact all of the action scenes are a lot of fun. And the script is filled with touches of humor - clever dialogue and funny moments that help balance-out all the action. 

Downey, Jr. is spot-on as usual as the sharp, sarcastic Stark. Ruffalo is a good choice as The Hulk. He brings his own unique style to the character and, some will argue, steals the movie.  Johansson and Renner are solid. The Chrises are also good, though Evans stands-out a little more than Hemsworth. But the strongest performance for me comes from Jackson, who can deliver effective dialogue, shoot a weapon and make you laugh. He's the ideal choice to play the role of a non-superhero leader of a group of superheroes.

"The Avengers" is close to two-and-a-half hours long. The first half, while the team is coming together, is dominated by Loki. Tom Hiddleston does a nice job. The character works well within the storyline and his interactions, one at a time with each of the Avengers, are a strong element of the film. Most of the special effects are impressive, though a few do look a little cheesy (especially on Asgard - Thor and Loki's planet).

Is this movie goofy, silly and at times a little overly-dramatic? Of course...but who cares! It's exciting and engaging, with the best score and costume design of any movie so far this year.

"The Avengers" is rated PG-13 for all of the action/violence. It's appropriate for kids 11and up, who will love all the action. Parents, if you're going to take younger kids to this, and I know you are, please keep them quiet during the film. Of course Marvel fans (both comics and films) will not be disappointed either. And, as usual, there's a few extra to keep an eye out for: the regular cameo by the great Stan Lee and not one, but two surprises during the credits.

On The Official LCJ Report Card, "Marvel's The Avengers" gets an A-. It may just be the greatest modern-era superhero movie of them all.

Up-coming Marvel projects include next year's "Iron Man 3" and "Thor 2", "Captain America 2" in late 2014 and an untitled project for May 2014. Could that be a second "Avengers"? Considering the killing this one will do at the box office it's a lock that we will see a second "Avengers". It's just a question of when.

The Academy Awards are staying in Hollywood! In fact they're going to be held in the same building, with a new name. The Kodak Theatre is now The Dolby Theatre and the Academy has signed a 20-year deal to keep The Oscars right where they are. The Dolby company outbid 10 others for the naming rights to the theater, where the show has been held since 2002. President Tom Sherak is glad that they're staying "where the Academy and motion picture industry are rooted."

Personally, I'm also happy that the Oscars will remain in Hollywood. Having been there the last two years for Oscar Week and experiencing just how incredible the atmosphere is I wasn't happy about the talk that there might be a change. H-wood is where the movie magic is made (at least most of it). A move to LA would have taken away a lot of what makes The Oscars a worldwide phenomenon.

Dolby is famous for their audio, so I would except that the sound in the auditorium next Feb. will be better than ever.

A few months ago Paramount and Nick announced that there will be a "SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2", but it won't be released until late 2014. Well, even though we have to wait two and a half years for SpongeBob's return to the big screen, a teaser poster has already been released for the film.

The movie will be released in both 2D and 3D. The poster's only clue to the plot is that there will be "a new adventure". The studio logos are Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' 100th Anniversary logo, but there isn't one for Paramount Animation. Since this is Paramount Animation's first project, maybe they're don't have a logo yet. Here's a link for a closer look at "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2" teaser poster.

Another new teaser poster just out (and it seems legit) is for "The Muppets 2". This sequel to the 2011 Disney comedy that under-performed domestically at the box office has a 2013 release date. Jason Segal has said no to both starring and making a cameo appearance in "The Muppets 2", but that could change. Here's "The Muppets 2" teaser poster.

It's considered a busy year when a movie studio is able to release two animated movies. So what are we going to call 2013 for the Weinstein Company now that it's been announced that the studio will be releasing four, yes FOUR animated films next year.

We already knew about "Escape From Planet Earth", a CGI comedy due out next February, which includes the voice work of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Park and Jessica Alba. It's about an astronaut (Scorch Supernova) who gets into trouble when he responds to an SOS call from a mysterious planet.

But we can now add to that list:

- "Leo the Lion" - Aug. 30 - about a young vegetarian lion

- "The Trick or Treaters" - Oct. 25 - a Halloween tale about a young orphan girl

- "Santapprentice" - Dec. 6 - a Christmas story about a young orphan boy who is chosen to replace Santa

How is TWC putting-out so many animated films in such a short period of time? Empireonline.com reminds us:

Way back in the summer of 2007, The Weinstein Company announced a new deal between itself, The Gotham Group ("The Spiderwick Chronicles") and the Chungcheongnam-do Government of South Korea, to develop a new slate of animated movies. These would appear to be the result.

Four animated films from the same studio in one year will be amazing, as long as they're good. Let's hope this isn't a case of quantity over quality.

Veteran Aardman Animation animator Ian Whitlock talks with Jackson about the studio's latest film: "The Pirates! Band of Misfits".

"Chimpanzee", the newest Disneynature documentary,  has made over $10-million it's opening weekend.  That's a new record for the franchise.

For the makers of "Chimpanzee" this was the toughest project they ever worked on. To find out why, and much more about the film, listen to my interview with co-director Alastair Fothergill.

Why the early success at the box office? Certainly the marketing of the film as been solid. It doesn't hurt when your star is a cute, little chimp named Oscar. Using Tim Allen as narrator let's people know that this is going to be more fun than your typical nature documentary. And having chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall helping to promote the movie is also a bonus.

The Disney Movie Studio may be having problems finding blockbuster hits (which forced chairman Rich Ross to resign), but there's no denying that their Earth Day nature film division is alive and well.