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Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 24, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
I’m sure most of you have heard the news by now: Ben Affleck will play Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. Henry Cavill will duke it out with Affleck and then presumably become fast friends who fight evil together. Now, a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth has been happening over this choice, and this is the internet, so we need to make an extra big deal out of it. People are crying foul, and most especially, bring up Affleck’s previous comic book endeavor, Daredevil. Yes, Daredevil sucked. It was also made by a completely different team of people at a completely different point in time. Affleck is an acclaimed director now with two Oscars. I’m not saying I have the utmost faith in Zack Snyder (I don’t), but this silly collection of overbearing complaints and petitions to change actors is getting ridiculous. This is just a movie. Read more…
Tags: Batman, Man of Steel
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 23, 2013 in Cinema, Hobbies and Collections 
Yes, the Brotherhood Workshop is at it again! They have LEGO-fied another movie trailer, and it’s more Lord of the Rings. This time it’s the recent trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which they have spent two months making. There’s a great mix of LEGO and visual effects here, but mostly it’s just fun to see little LEGO figures waddle across large landscapes. That, and that LEGO Smaug is pretty freaking awesome. If only the official LEGO model would be so detailed and impressive! Watch the video below and then grab you minifigures and reenact it yourself. Read more…
Tags: Lego, The Hobbit
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 17, 2013 in Cinema, Fandom 
This video calls itself 8-bit, but trust me, this is way closer to 16-bit than 8. Now with that out of the way, feel free to check out this cool video from CineFix that takes the world of Blade Runner and transposes it into a video game. Well, a video game with lots of dialogue. There’s not a lot of action, instead it adapts iconic scenes from the film into simple vignettes made from pixels. I’d be interested in seeing some of these scenes laid out as hi-res wallpapers, too. Check out the video below! Read more…
Tags: Blade Runner
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 9, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Thor is back for phase two of the Marvel cinematic universe, and they’ve brought a new trailer to show for it. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original Thor movie, but I felt its best moment were when Chris Hemsworth got to really throw himself into the silly Norse side of the character (“Get me a horse!”). At the least, it seems The Dark World takes place in in Asgard mostly, so we get to see more of the fantastical and Norse-inspired side of things. Also, Christopher Eccleston is the villain, but you can barely see him in this trailer. Given that he seems to be the most interesting new actor in this deal, I’m very keen on seeing how his role plays out. Check out the trailer below and play Where’s Waldo, but with Eccleston. Read more…
Tags: thor, Thor: The Dark World
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 7, 2013 in Cinema 
Disney’s 2011 Muppets reboot was surprisingly great, so here comes the sequel: Muppets Most Wanted, on track for release on March 21, 2014. The new film prominently stars Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey, alongside the usual cast, of course. In fact, lots of people are returning, including the director, producers, cinematographer, composer, and co-writer. The only major creative force not returning besides the actors is Jason Segel, who also co-wrote The Muppets. The previous film was a passion project for Segel, and you can tell from how enthusiastic he was about the whole thing. Since he declined to work on the sequel, here’s hoping that the rest of the crew can keep the spirit. But enough of that, check out the teaser! Read more…
Tags: Disney, The Muppets
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 4, 2013 in Cinema 
Ender’s Game has had its fair share of controversy hovering around the film, especially with Orson Scott Card’s disappointing remarks. I can’t really fault the crews or special effects teams who have poured tons of work into this movie though, so it’s quite the quandary. Still, the marketing team is doing their best to overcome the bad press, but their latest poster (and supposedly the final one) misses the mark a bit. “This is not a game” running right above the title “Ender’s Game” doesn’t exactly flow well. I imagine most readers of Fanboy have read Ender’s Game, so you can recognize the irony of the catchline. Read more…
Tags: Ender's Game
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 1, 2013 in Cinema 
One of the major influences on Pacific Rim is that Japanese concept of giant monsters coming from the ocean to attack the city, something exemplified in Godzilla and later riffed on in media such as Neon Genesis Evangelion. How fitting is it then to see someone cut a Pacific Rim trailer in the vein of old Toho kaiju film trailers? The trailer even includes some of Godzilla’s classic score, which fits really well. If the effects were worse and the colors a bit more washed out, this would be spot-on, but it still works wonderfully as it is. What is it that makes big Japanese text tossed on top of images of monsters so cool? Read more…
Tags: Godzilla, Pacific Rim
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 31, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
It’s always cool to see a movie early, so here’s something you might be interested in. Kick-Ass 2 has a few early screenings on Wednesday, August 14, as part of a Fan First screening program. Moviegoers in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas can go to Fandango and buy tickets now. Fans will get special bonuses too, such as free snacks, a limited edition poster, and a free download of the song “No Strings” by Chloe Howl. Tickets are $25, and the way these things work, I’d imagine the tickets will go fast. So if you’re going to see Kick-Ass 2 and you live in or near one of those major cities, you might as well see it early and tell your friends! Read more…
Tags: kick-ass 2
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 30, 2013 in Cinema 
Where to go now that the Harry Potter films are finished? There’s a gap that studios are trying to fill with other book-to-film adaptations like Percy Jackson. Cue a press release from Disney: they’ll be adapting Eoin Cofler’s Artemis Fowl series — specifically the first two books — into a movie. The first book’s story involves the titular character, a genius, billionaire, and criminal, kidnapping a fairy and dealing with the results. The script is coming from Michael Goldenberg, who also wrote the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; he managed to take the slowest and most bloated Harry Potter book and turn it into a solid film, so that’s a good sign. Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal will executive produce the film. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 27, 2013 in Cinema 
I really am starting to wonder what Christopher Nolan has in store for Interstellar, his upcoming sci-fi film. We still don’t know many story details, aside from that it may incorporate both space travel and time travel. And: the absolutely massive, stacked cast. Just look at this list: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine, Ellen Burstyn, Timothee Chalamet, Mackenzie Foy, Bill Irwin, and John freaking Lithgow. Not only that, the two latest additions over the past week were Topher Grace and Wes Bentley. Holy. Crap. Will there even be any extras in this movie? Or will every part be played by a recognizable actor?! We’re a little over a year away now, as Interstellar will arrive November 7th, 2014. Read more…
Tags: Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2013 in Cinema, Videogames 
It’s only fitting that the wonderful documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, would get DLC, just like a real video game, right? Ok, ok, it’s technically a special edition, but if you’re like me and own it on Steam as well, then you can now purchase DLC that will upgrade it to the “special edition.” This includes over 100 minutes of new short films, epilogues on what happened to the developers, and new commentaries from the director and Team Meat. If you prefer the feel of a real disc, a full special edition box set is on the way in early August, which you can preorder here. If you haven’t seen this amazing documentary yet – do it! Read more…
Tags: documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2013 in Cinema 
47 Ronin has had a very long and troubled filming. A multitude of factors coalesced into a pile of mismanagement, resulting in a long, rough process belabored with reshoots and kicking the original director out. Yes, it was a bit of a mess. Thankfully, not much of that mess seems to be up on screen – unless you’re looking for it. Keanu Reeve’s character has been pushed to the forefront and has taken on the role of the main character, and more supernatural elements have been incorporated into the story. Will the final film impress? Or will the seams be obvious? I’d love for it to be good, but forgive me if I’m a bit sceptical. Watch the trailer after the break. Read more…
Tags: 47 Ronin, Keanu Reeves
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 25, 2013 in Animation, Anime, Cinema 
Okay, so Japan’s CG isn’t quite on Hollywood’s level. But this trailer for Space Pirate Captain Harlock looks pretty awesome, possibly because of its $30 million budget, the highest ever for Toei Animation. I’ve never seen the original anime of the same name, but I have always loved the look of the titular character (designed by Leiji Matsumoto). So for me, this trailer hits all the important bits — namely, Harlock looking bad-ass and piloting his giant, bad-ass ship the Arcadia. The movie opens in Japan on September 7, and while a US release hasn’t been announced, GFM Films (located in London) is working on a dub. Read more…
Tags: Captain Harlock
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2013 in Anime, Cinema 
I remember everyone clamoring for a Persona 3 anime after the game came out. I’d have to imagine all those fans were disappointed by Persona: Trinity Soul, which was actually a sequel (though now considered non-canon) with none of the likable characters from the game. But hey, Persona 4: The Animation did well enough, so now Persona 3 is getting an anime adaptation, starting with Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth. The first actual trailer has been released, and it’s looking great! Read more…
Tags: Atlus, Persona 3
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2013 in Cinema 
Pacific Rim is one of the best summer movies this year, and it’s sadly underperforming from poor marketing. (When Grown Ups 2 beats your film, you’ve got a problem.) It hasn’t earned back enough money yet, which is generally a poor sign for those who want a sequel, but it hasn’t opened in markets like Japan yet, so there’s still hope for more international revenue to roll in. Despite this, apparently director/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and co-writer Travis Beacham have been given the go-ahead to start writing Pacific Rim 2! Del Toro is even dropping hints about where the sequel may go. It goes without saying, but spoilers follow! Read more…
Tags: guillermo del toro, Pacific Rim, Robots
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2013 in Animation, Anime, Cinema 
Though Ghibli has put out two films in the past few years, but while both were written by Hayao Miyazaki, neither were directed by him. His first film since 2008’s Ponyo is Kaze Tachinu, or The Wind Rises. It’s based on a manga that Miyazaki made in 2009, which is loosely based on Tatsuo Hori’s short ’30s novel The Wind Has Risen. It tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the man designed the Mitsubishi A6M Zero plane, one of the top fighters in World War II. But from watching this four-minute trailer, the movie seems to prioritize the joy of flight over pro-war statements. Read more…
Tags: Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 22, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Yes, by now you’ve heard the screaming of the fans – Superman and Batman will star in a film together. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel sequel will include the Dark Knight himself, and will be loosely inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. It’s planned to arrive in summer 2015, Henry Cavill is confirmed to return, and (as expected) Zack Snyder will direct. However, with all this commotion and excitement, people have one question: who will be Batman? Not to be too presumptuous, but I have a few suggestions of my own below. Read more…
Tags: Batman, Man of Steel, Superman
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 22, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Surprise, comic book fans! The Thanos tease at the end of Avengers was nothing more but a clever ruse. While Thanos is clearly being set up for the long haul (and is confirmed to show up in Guardians of the Galaxy), for now, the sequel to Avengers will instead focus on Ultron, the insane, powerful robot with daddy issues. But you already know all about the title now. The real question is: how will this line up with Ant-Man (the creator of Ultron)? Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man film is currently part of Marvel’s “phase 3,” which will take place after Avengers 2, so they way I see it, there are three options. One, they create a brand new origin for him. Two, they don’t give him an origin, and reveal it later in Ant-Man. Or three, they move Ant-Man up into Avengers (or at least Hank Pym). Which will it be? Read more…
Tags: Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Avengers
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 21, 2013 in Cinema 
Comic-Con week is always so exciting, isn’t it? While there are tons of big-name events focusing on The Walking Dead or Amazing Spider-Man 2, the smaller stuff is great too, especially when it’s a labor of love like Riddick. Vin Diesel has struggled to get this movie made, taking pay cuts and planning hard, and now we’ve got our first red-band trailer. So far, Riddick (the third film in the series) is looking like it’s leaning a bit closer to Pitch Black than the second film. Ready for some unhinged violence? You’ll get it. Read more…
Tags: Riddick, Vin Diesel
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 20, 2013 in Cinema 
Man, are you excited for a Robocop remake? It’s even sort of timely now! Well, maybe my excitement for a lot of these big-budget remakes is pretty low, but I can always have a bit of fun with a good viral website – especially one as silly as this. To promote the upcoming Robocop remake, a marketing website for OmniCorp now exists – full to the brim with happy, smiling people standing next to terrifying killing machines. Check out the full site, there’s plenty there to look at. Also, is 2027 the new default “near future” date? Because I see it popping up more and more. I’m not sure if I want killer robots by then. Read more…
Tags: Robocop
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 19, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 doesn’t open until May 2nd next year, but that doesn’t stop the marketing machine at San Diego Comic-Con. At their panel they’ll apparently be dropping more news about Jamie Foxx as Electro later. If you’re at SDCC, you’re probably struggling to get to the panel yourself. But the rest of us at home can just enjoy this footage without the crowds. After watching this clip, though, it’s not really doing much to get me excited. Spider-Man is one of my favorite superheroes, but I haven’t really enjoyed the Mark Webb reboot. Perhaps I’ve become cold and cynical. I do appreciate that Andrew Garfield is a bit more cheeky, though! Check out the video below. Read more…
Tags: San Diego Comic-Con 2013, The Amazing Spider-Man
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 18, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
When looking at the comics that made the medium more respected in the 80s and 90s, one of the most notable titles was Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, a complete reinterpretation of an ancient DC comic book. I’ve only read the first volume, but I loved the dark, dreamy atmosphere. So I think it’s a little strange that Diane Nelson, the current president of DC, says her first choice for a new movie was a Sandman adaptation, saying “it could be as rich as the Harry Potter universe.” Read more…
Tags: DC Comics, sandman, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 17, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes is one of the best newspaper comics ever, up there with the likes of Peanuts. The Kickstarter-funded documentary Dear Mr. Watterson examines the comic with the help of fellow comic creators and notable fans, including Seth Green and Foxtrot‘s Bill Amend. And now, you’ll be able to see it in theaters come November 15! Check out the latest trailer and then look for more updates on the website. Read more…
Tags: Calvin & Hobbes, Kickstarter
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 17, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
[Note: This article vaguely references spoilers if you still haven’t seen Man of Steel.] I’ll admit to enjoying Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, though I still prefer the first two Superman films by Richard Donner. But the climax of the film felt like the still-in-the-works “DC Cinematic Universe” had blown its load before its actual creation; by comparison, the Marvel Cinematic Universe didn’t trash New York City until the sixth film, keeping its origin-story threats small yet reasonably formidable. The long-running How It Should Have Ended (HISHE) YouTube series took special note of Man of Steel‘s ending, and they’ve crafted a more sensible ending for the film. Sure, it would be anticlimatic, and it doesn’t adequately establish Superman’s desire for peace before violence, but considering how much destruction there was in the finale, this may have been preferable for the inhabitants of Metropolis. Read more…
Tags: DC Comics, Man of Steel, Superman, Warner Brothers
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