Hungry for some Hunger Games Footage?
Posted by Gia Manry on Aug 29, 2011 in Cinema
It’s Time To Play the Music! It’s Time to OK Go!
Posted by Gia Manry on Aug 29, 2011 in Cinema
As Kermit the Frog has said oh so many times…it’s the Muppet Show! Read more…
Avengers, Assemble On this Promotional Art
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 27, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
Marvel is just about to wrap up filming for The Avengers, so that means that soon we’ll be in the middle of an advertising blitz that can only accompany the biggest blockbuster in recent memory. Teasers, stills, TV spots. And, of course, tie-ins! In this case, we’re talking about a comic that sheds some more light on the Avengers team members, for which Disney and Marvel released this promotional image of the team (mostly) assembled. Maria Hill and Agent Coulson unfortunately don’t make an appearance here, but we do get a pretty good look at the Hulk, minus the strangely bushy eyebrows that plagued his Comic-Com poster appearance. Is it just me, or does Black Widow look really surprised to be in this shot? Read more…
Michael Fassbender is: Dragneto
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 26, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
I saw and thoroughly enjoyed Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class this summer, with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Xavier and Magneto (respectively) proving highlights of the experience. But, you know, no movie is perfect. There’s always something missing, something just a little bit off. And, thanks to this deleted scene, I finally understand what was missing from First Class: Magneto in drag. Watch the clip; you kind of had to be there. Read more…
Ridley Scott Set to Ruin His Blade Runner Legacy
Posted by Michael Pinto on Aug 19, 2011 in Cinema
Ridley Scott is not just a brilliant director but a great storyteller — and to me that’s why him trying to make a new Blade Runner film is a waste of time. What made Blade Runner so brilliant was that Scott made it in the early 80s when everyone’s idea of science fiction was Star Wars. While Alien was a bleak film, it still had that off in the distant future feeling to it — on the other hand Blade Runner seemed like something that could take in your lifetime. And the film drove home that point by making use of 40s film noir and punk rock. Read more…
The Lone Ranger Leaves Us In The Dust
I confess that of the 16.2 zillion reruns I caught as a kid, the 1950s’The Lone Ranger isn’t one I particularly took to— I was more of a Zorro girl— but plenty of nerds grew up with Kemo Sabe and Tonto, whether as a new radio/television series or in rerun form, and I was certainly interested in Johnny Depp’s take on the character (I haven’t reached critical mass on Depp flicks, apparently).
Unfortunately, production on the flick has just been shut down. Read more…
The Super Mario Movie, As It Should Have Been
Posted by Gia Manry on Aug 15, 2011 in Cinema, Videogames
Comedy studio Pixels Per Second recently launched this awesome parody trailer for a Super Mario Bros. movie. No, not that one (which…okay, which really never should have been), but a better one. Think Super Mario Bros. as an indie flick about a down-on-his-luck guy who find the spark he needs to become a hero. And maybe takes a few drugs on the way. Hit the jump for the video! Read more…
Rebuilding a Post-Potter World
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 14, 2011 in Cinema
The Britain (and world at large) of the Harry Potter series has a lot of rebuilding to do after Voldemort’s defeat. How can the Ministry of Magic reclaim its good name? What can the leaders of both the Muggle and magical governments do to prevent the same thing from happening again? Those questions and more drove the creation of Post-Conflict Potter, an article by Foreign Policy magazine, wherein real experts on foreign policy suggest the ways that post-Potter Britain could fix itself. Honestly, I loved the Harry Potter books, but my larger questions about how the magical society presented in the books could even function put kind of a damper on Rowling’s otherwise meticulous world-building. Post-Conflict Potter is a great read that helps address some of those very questions. Read more…
Flash Gordon Gives us Camp on the Cheap
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Aug 9, 2011 in Cinema
Oh Flash Gordon, all the bad acting in the world couldn’t stop my love for you. No, it’s not quite as timeless as the 1936 classic, and it might be plagued by its camp, but that’s really why we loved it, isn’t it? The costumes and sets were so over-the-top that one can’t help but be entertained by what was obviously a clear attempt by director Mike Hodges to pay homage to everything remotely related to the franchise, no matter how absurd it may seem. Add to that the fact that the film’s entire score is performed by Queen, and its easy to overlook most fans gripes. The film finally made its way to Blu-ray last year, and while I’m not sure what kind of high-definition experience you could possibly expect for something shot in 1980, it’s still a must have for any collector or fan. Amazon is currently selling it for 46% off, so head over and pick your copy up today.
Teens Go Geek at 2011 Choice Awards; Let’s Talk About the Future
The results for tonight’s Teen Choice Awards— established by Fox in ’99 —will make most full-grown geeks eyes’ roll: the befanged stars of The Vampire Diaries and Twilight took home awards, as did the wizards of Harry Potter and the awfully attractive and talented “outcasts” of Glee.
But maybe instead of rolling our eyes, we should consider opening them. Read more…
Planet of the Apes Wins; CG Andy Serkis Can’t Lose
Posted by Gia Manry on Aug 8, 2011 in Cinema
Everybody cue the banana jokes: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the prequel to/reboot of 1968’s Charlton Heston flick Planet of the Apes handily beat out its competition at the box office this weekend. But there’s another, possibly more interesting story at work here than the tale of how humanity doomed itself by making super-intelligent simians: the tale of actor Andy Serkis, who has single-handedly become the go-to guy for awesome motion-capture CG acting. Read more…
Nice Coat
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 7, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
Marion Cotillard was long ago confirmed as having been cast in The Dark Knight Returns, the third film in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy, but her character didn’t appear to be anyone particularly special; not with the name “Miranda Tate.” But there were rumors that perhaps her real role in the film was being obfuscated and that she was actually playing Talia Al Ghul, daughter of the main villain from Batman Begins. Well, those rumors may be right, if this set photo from the movie’s Chicago filming session has anything to say about it. I don’t think just anybody walks around in clothes like that, and certainly not with armed guards. At least, you could extrapolate that, anyway. Me, I’m far too busy just enjoying the feeling the merest glance at Miss Cotillard gives me.
Rise of the Review Scores of the Planet of the Apes
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 6, 2011 in Cinema
Look, let’s face it. I don’t think any of us were really expecting a lot out of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The series, which started off with a perfectly fine sci-fi film, suffered from a few too many sequels, and Tim Burton’s bizarre (obviously) 2001 remake certainly wasn’t a critical success, even if it did make a bunch of money. And yet, here we are, ten years later, with a prequel/reboot to the series released in theaters. But here’s the really shocking thing: it’s apparently pretty good. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, and review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes places it at a very healthy 80%. Don’t believe the action-packed trailer that makes it look like there’s some ape war, though — it’s a thriller, not an action movie. Damn you marketers all to hell! Read more…
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Your New Man of Steel
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 5, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
Zack Snyder and his team have been hard at work filming the new Superman film The Man of Steel recently, and star Henry Cavill has been spotted on set in his new superhuman physique and trademark Supes hair. But until today, we didn’t know what he’d look like in the suit! To that end, Warner Bros has released this promotional shot of Cavill in full Man of Steel getup, replete with long cape, comic-styled boots, and (apparently) no red undies this time! The colors in the photo seem oddly washed-out, but I suppose you can probably blame Zack Snyder for that; look at 300. I personally love the suit, but if you’re worried, don’t be — don’t forget that Christopher Nolan of Batman Begins and Inception fame helped pre-produce the film. Maybe we’ll finally get the Superman movie we deserve! Read more…
This Cine-Mask is More Than Meets the Eye
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Aug 1, 2011 in Cinema
Looks awesome, doesn’t it? It’s not exactly everyday wear, but Hasbro’s Dark of the Moon Robo Power Cine-Mask — yeah, the name is a bit of a mouthful — is the coolest pair of 3d theater glasses we’ve seen yet. The mask actually contains the same RealD technology you’d find at theaters nationwide, so it won’t work with your home theater system, or that fancy new 3D LED you’ve been saving up for, but on the other hand, it’ll only set you back $10. Another catch is that the mask is actually designed for children ages 6 and up, so I’m not exactly sure it’ll fit just anyone. If you’re curious there’s a matching Bumblebee mask similar to the Optimus Prime one pictured here. Finally, Hasbro has also decided to throw in a set of standard red/blue stereoscopic glasses in case you need them for whatever reason. For $10, it’s a neat novelty at the least. Check Hasbro’s official website for more info.
Get Ready for a (Sort of) Entirely New Ghost Rider
Posted by Michael Sacco on Jul 30, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
If you’re a fan of good comic-book cinema, then, well, you probably aren’t a very big fan of Ghost Rider. You may or may not tangentially aware, then, that there’s a new Ghost Rider movie coming from Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine, the creators of the ridiculously over-the-top Crank. Titled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, it’s said to be a new take on the character, far different from the first film, despite starring the perpetually financially-troubled star of the first film, Nicolas Cage. “We didn’t really consider the first film at all while making this,” Taylor said in an interview with Collider. Let’s hope so! Ghost Rider’s appearance in the upcoming console fighting game Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is no doubt tied to the resurfacing of the film franchise (if you can call it that), so perhaps that can drum up some good will from the public at large. And at least we know that a film by Taylor and Neveldine will be completely insane, if nothing else. Read more…
Who Would You Want to See in Whedon’s Avengers
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jul 26, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
As any fanboy can tell you, it’s always fun to speculate about the future of our favorite franchises. Today, I’ve decided to take a look at Marvel’s — specifically The Avengers. I’m sure some of you are probably wondering why I’d even bother when they haven’t even released the first film. That’s true, they haven’t. On the other hand, Marvel’s shown that they often plan their films well in advance. This is fairly evident when you look at 2008’s Iron Man, and The Incredible Hulk. Obviously we wouldn’t be able to nail down a plot for the film — that much will remain up in the air. Instead I wonder if we’ll be seeing any cameos from the Marvel’s universe. With an estimated budget of $150,000,000, there’s a chance we’ll get one. Here’s a quick list of candidates we’d like to see.
The Muppets Take On the Superheroes
Posted by Gia Manry on Jul 25, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
The first trailer for Jim Hensons’ Muppets return ot the big screen— which starts out looking like a romantic comedy before revealing the inclusion of the cloth characters — was pretty cute. But it doesn’t compare in the least to the newest trailer, in which the Muppets take on superheroes in a big way…especially Green Lantern (and a little bit of Batman, if you squint).
But that’s just the above trailer. Hit the jump to see who the Muppets will challenge next…in poster form! Read more…
Hold Onto Your Butts! Jurassic Park 4 is On the Way
Posted by Michael Sacco on Jul 23, 2011 in Cinema
Steven Spielberg is responsible for many great films in the past few decades, but my generation probably has a standout favorite among them: the film adaptation of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park. We got a sequel in 1997’s The Lost World, which was a box office success, if not a critical one. The Rocketeer‘s Joe Johnston then brought us the troubled Jurassic Park III, which is most people’s least favorite entry into the series. But there’s good news for series fans — Spielberg himself announced at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend that he’s developing a fourth film for the series himself, and it could be coming in as few as two years. “We have a story,” he says. “We have a writer who is writing the treatment and hopefully we are going to make Jurassic Park 4 in all of our foreseeable futures, hopefully in the next two or three years.” The sooner the better, Steve! Do you think this one will have dinosaurs in it? I’m hopeful. Read more…
Me and My First Michael Bay Movie: Transformers 3
Posted by Gia Manry on Jul 19, 2011 in Cinema
On the night that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 opened, several cohorts and I picked our way through the be-spectacled and be-robed fans lining up for back-to-back showings of Part 1 and 2 and made our way into another theater in the back of the megaplex. We settled in, watched some previews, and then sat through a film that was actively painful to watch.
Its name…was Transformers 3. Read more…
Before He Can Rise, Batman Must Fall
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jul 19, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
Those of you who waded through lines last weekend to catch the final installment of Harry Potter were treated to several nifty little teasers. While we’re still waiting for Marvel to officially post their teaser for The Avengers — though, I’m sure we’ll probably get a decent leak later this week with Comic-Con happening — Warner Brothers have posted the teaser for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises on Facebook. Although it’s brief enough, the final film in the series looks as though it’ll focus heavily on Batman’s battle with Bane in a scene that’s very reminiscent of the graphic novel Batman:Knightfall — not to spoil the film or anything. That said, I’m really looking to seeing how Nolan intends on wrapping the series up, and I have to admit that I’m a little sad that it’s over so soon. At least we can all rest assured knowing that Joel Schumacher won’t ever touch our beloved franchise ever again.
Harry Potter Takes On Batman, Wins
Posted by Gia Manry on Jul 18, 2011 in Cinema
Yes, Virginia: the Harry Potter movies are over. But they went out with a bang— Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 broke the record previously held by The Dark Knight by earning $168.5 million in the U.S. The BBC also notes that the film broke four of the five records smashed by its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, earning £23 million (about US$37 million) in its country of origin. Read more…
I Gotta Get Me One of Those
Posted by Michael Sacco on Jul 17, 2011 in Cinema, Comic Books
Yeah, popular fanboy media is filled with awesome cars, like the DeLorean from Back to the Future, or KITT from Knight Rider, or the ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters, but what car is more desirable than the Batmobile? And what sounds cooler than driving the Batman Returns Batmobile with an actual turbine engine? Nothing. And that’s why Casey Putsch, head of Putsch Racing, a high-end auto restoration team, built one using the turbine engine from a drone helicopter. If that sounds incredible and one-of-a-kind, you’re damn right, but you have to see it to believe it. Check out the video after the cut.
Total Reboot
Posted by Michael Sacco on Jul 16, 2011 in Cinema
Man, I know I say this a lot, but on the list of movies that desperately needed gritty reboots, was Total Recall really one of them? Whether it was or not, we now have our first promotional image for the film, which is being directed by Underworld veteran Len Wiseman. In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, Colin Farrell says the film will be “less jokey” than the original. I’m not saying the original was a cinema classic or anything, but the weird tone it took certainly helped define it (well, that, and that mutant prostitute). Removing that aspect for the reboot seems, like the thought of a reboot itself, rather worrisome. Read more…