When am I gonna learn how to punch?

AICN is posting a nutty rumor today with regards to the new Justice League flick. Remember how director George Miller had said recently during the AFI Awards that when it goes before cameras, Justice League would have a different name? Well, according to a tipster, that name may have already been leaked by Batman. No, not the rumored-to-be-playing-Batman, Armie Hammer, but the other Batman, Christian Bale. Here's what they claim: "Christian Bale was on Nova (FM) today in an interview (pre-recorded I assume) for "Yuma" and said he has "nothing to do with AMERICAN HEROES, and their Batman will be different to our Batman." Wait, so are they calling it American Heroes? WTF? Personally, not only do I think it's a horrible title, but there's no way Warner Bros. will go with a title that could potentially hinder box office sales worldwide. This is the same issue G.I. Joe was having; how they're apparently going out of their way to include a wide array of characters from different countries in order to make it less American and more world-friendly. I doubt this is the title, but if it was, what do you think?

Remember that Karate Kid remake? The one that was supposedly being handled by Will Smith, starring his son Jaden? Well, MoviesOnline claims that according to "production notes," Will Smith will indeed direct the Karate Kid remake and son Jaden will indeed star. Yes, Will Smith will make his feature directorial debut with a remake of a film that no one in their right mind wanted remade in the first place. Why, Will? Why? Can't you just get jiggy with something else and save us the pain? Additionally, Moviehole reports that actor Stephen Chow has confirmed internet rumors that he is considering playing Mr. Miyagi in the remake. According to Chow, he'd love to take on the role, but it depends on whether his schedule can handle it. I can't even think of something funny to write here. I'm at a loss. A loss. My childhood is officially lost. [via The Movie Blog]

Finally, new photos from this month's Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem have arrived online, and they appear to show the Predators' home planet. Ya know, in case you were wondering if the Predator's had TIVO and/or watched American Idol in their spare time. Alongside the home planet pic, Yahoo also has a bunch more for you peruse through. There's a shot of an Alien. And a Predator. And both. And they're fighting each other. What's this film about again?

If only Akeelah and the Bee had existed when I was in the third grade. While most kids had their feel-good, underdog movies about basketball and little league, there wasn't much to encourage and inspire those of us who were physically inept and a little bit brainy (aside from some R-rated sex comedies celebrating super-nerds). The best thing about Akeelah is not that it merely empowers smart kids, though; it is that, unlike the majority of sports films, the film doesn't suggest that spelling has some kind of transcendental importance. It has its own equivalent of the big game, a national bee held in Washington, D.C., but the film is more concerned with the process of getting there, and it treats the finale like a pageant rather than a competition. While most underdogs seem to climax at the end of their films, the underdog of Akeelah and the Bee simply makes passage to the next part of her life.

Akeelah (superbly played by Keke Palmer) is an underdog both because, at 11-years-old she is on the younger side of spelling bee contestants, and also because she comes from a very poor district in South Los Angeles.  Although she is shy and often embarrassed about being the smartest kid in class, she is convinced by her principal, Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) to participate in their school's first spelling bee. She wins the simple event and is offered coaching by Welch's friend Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), a strict older man who begins their first session together by denying Akeelah the use of "ghetto talk." He then proceeds to teach her linguistics and literature, subjects that Akeelah initially thinks are a waste of time when she should be studying actual, specific words. Like an academic version of The Karate Kid, the film treats Larabee as a literary Mr. Miyagi, building up the girl's strengths without her first realizing it.