Author: Scott Alminiana

I'm a geek who steals peaches in a can that were put there by a man in a factory downtown!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Klown

by Scott Alminiana

Klown (Klovn: The Movie) is a Danish movie that follows the exploits of mild-mannered Frank and his friend Casper during a weekend canoe trip. The movie is based on the Danish series Klovn that followed Frank and Casper from one misadventure to the next. Real-life comedians  Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen played pseudo-versions of themselves. The series was similar in theme to Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.  Prior to seeing the movie I had never heard of Klovn, but you don’t need to have any knowledge of the series to enjoy the movie.

The plot of the movie is simple, Frank’s girlfriend Mia thinks that Frank lacks fatherhood potential. So to prove his worth as a father Frank ‘kidnaps’ Mia’s 12-year-old nephew Bo and takes him along on his and Casper’s  annual weekend canoe trip. Or as Casper continuously refers to it, the “Tour de Pussy.” The movie follows them from one disaster to the next on their trip and each one being funnier and more crude than the last. This isn’t a comedy for the faint of heart. You’ve been warned.

Frank Hvam is hilarious as the well-intentioned but idiotic Frank, who despite his best efforts only makes things worse with each passing moment. Casper Christensen is equally hilarious as the sex-driven Casper. His main objective on the trip being to get as much (for lack of a better word) pussy any and every way he can. He sees the “Tour de Pussy” as his excuse to do what he wants without his wife being any the wiser. Marcuz Jess Petersen plays young Bo, the poor child who is stuck with Frank and Casper for the duration of the trip. I’ve got to give this kid credit for keeping a straight face here. He plays Bo as sheepish and aloof and his presence in the movie makes for an interesting mix with Frank and Casper.

The movie was directed by Mikkel Nørgaard, who also co-wrote the script with Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen. These guys know comedy and do it well. Having now seen this movie I’d love to go back and watch their series Klovn. For fans of crude comedies like The Hangover you will find this to be right up your ally, but this will also appeal to fans shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm. Just be warned that this is some crude humor, but it’s some damn funny humor.

Drafthouse Films will be releasing Klown in limited release and Video on Demand on July 27th. Do yourselves a favor and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

 

Red band Trailer:

Green band Trailer:

Is Anne Hathaway Interested In A ‘Catwoman’ Movie?

by Scott Alminiana

So by now most of us have seen the awesomeness that is The Dark Knight Rises as well as Anne Hathaway’s brilliant portrayal of Selina Kyle. If you haven’t seen it yet then you are sorely missing out! Hathaway’s take on Catwoman is has got to be hands down the best version of the character to ever be seen on film, sorry Lee Meriwether and Michelle Pfeiffer you were both good but you weren’t the Catwoman comic fans know and love.

In an interview with Digital Spy, when asked if she would be open to returning to the character (perhaps in a solo film) Hathaway said,  “I think it would be lovely to see more of her but only if it’s with the right people,”  “She lives in this Gotham City and so it would have to be established by the people who have made this Gotham City. For me, at least.”

So what do you think, would you like to see more of Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman on the big screen? I know I would, especially if Christopher Nolan had a hand in it. There’s no way it could be worse than 2004 Halle Berry Catwoman, right?

Jessica Biel Bails On ‘The Wolverine’! Svetlana Khodchenkova Steps Into The Role!

by Scott Alminiana

Last week we reported that Jessica Biel had been added to the cast of The Wolverine and would be playing Viper. Talks have since broken down and Ms. Biel will not be in the movie, but that hasn’t stopped Fox from moving on and finding a new actress for the role.

Twitchfilm is reporting that Fox is in talks with actress Svetlana Khodchenkova to take over the role. Khodchenkova is a relatively unknown actress to people state-side, she was most recently seen in last year’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The movie is scheduled to begin shooting next month in Sydney, Australia.

Hugh Jackman will once again don the claws as Wolverine and James Mangold is directing. The Wolverine claws its way into theaters July 26, 2013.

SDCC 2012: One Geek’s Journey Through The Madness Of Comic-Con (Part II)

by Scott Alminiana

When last we left I had managed to make it through Preview Night and Day one of SDCC and had seen Shawn battle to the death with a Power Ranger. If you haven’t read Part I yet check it out here. That was only half the story though, I now bring you Part II of my journey through Comic-Con.

Day Two: One of my buddies lives in San Diego and he was gracious enough to let me crash on his couch for the duration of SDCC. This was great because it meant I didn’t have to spend money on a hotel room but it did have one major draw back. Since parking downtown can be a nightmare I decided that I would take the trolley and save myself the hassle (and some money) of finding parking. I parked at Qualcomm stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers and got on the trolley only to find it packed. Not only was it packed but it got worse with every stop. We were like sardines in a can. Personal space was non existent.

When I finally made it to the convention and made it off the massively over-crowded trolley I decided to go get in line for some panels.  Being a huge fan of Community I wanted to see their panel which was scheduled for 10 am in Ballroom 20. Being that I’m a newbie to the whole thing I foolishly thought getting in line at 9 am would be plenty early to guarantee that I got in. Oh how I couldn’t be more wrong. The line weaved it’s way from the inside of the convention, outside and down some stairs and back up to some tents. After 30 minutes of waiting it was pretty apparent that I wouldn’t be seeing the Greendale gang that day so I abandoned my plans and headed back to the Geekscape booth to form a new battle strategy. It was during this time that my efforts to try and get a Court of Owls mask from the DC booth comes into play. It’s a long story in it’s own right, check out the story of that here.

After a quick lunch consisting of greasy pizza in the Gaslamp it was off to the Marvel: Ultimate Comics panel. It was a good panel, the panellists (Marvel EIC Axel Alonso, Editors Sana Amanat and CB Cebulski, writers Sam Humphries and Nathan Edmonson, and artist David Marquez) talked about some of the big things that are coming to the Ultimate universe in the form of the ‘Divided We Fall’ event that is spanning the books.  They also announced a new mini series Ultimate Comics Iron Man: Demon In The Armor that will be debut in October and written by Nathan Edmonson with art by  Matteo Buffagni. They also showed the cover to issue #1 of the series before opening the floor to questions. Most of the questions were fairly standard and forgettable but there was one question that stood out above the rest. A kid who looked to be maybe 17 and was your stereotypical nerd asked this question (this is almost verbatim), “I know you can’t confirm it but if you were going to how would you, even though I know you can’t confirm it, how would you do an ultimate version of Anti-Venom? How would you?” The panel tells him that they don’t have any plans for the character but don’t want to discuss their take on the character because it would then pigeon-hole them if they did. The fanboy did not like this answer and quickly fired back with “…well I’m JUST sayin’…” at which time Axel Alonso jumped in and asked him, “well if how would you write the ultimate version of Anti-Venom?” You could immediately hear a collective grown from the audience as soon as Alonso asked that question. Fanboy’s explanation was painful and went something like this, “well I think he should get hit by something like radioactive and then he’d have radioactive poison running through his body!” Yeah, the kid just basically described Venom, good job. Axel Alonso told him he deserved a free tshirt for his pitch and gave him one, I think they just wanted Anti-Venom boy to go away…and so did I.

Once that panel ended I hit the floor again to take in the sights. I actually ran into a guy I used to work with years ago, SDCC has that way of bringing people together. Spent the rest of the day wandering around and checking things out and just taking in all the sights. Earlier in the day I had managed to score a wrist band to see the new Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 at a theater in the Gaslamp at 7 pm. Not wanting to get shut out of yet another free event I made sure to get there early and get in line. Luckily since I had a wrist band this proved not to be a problem and was able to get in. Check out the Geekscape reveiw of it here to see what we thought of it. Getting out of the theater and getting our bags, which we had to check in prior to the screening proved more difficult than getting in. People were freaking out and loosing their minds trying to get their stuff back. As usual chaos rained supreme amongst the nerds. Once that was all said and done with it was time to call it a night and get a fresh start for Saturday.

Day Three: Saturday at SDCC is the craziest day out of all. Everyone know this but knowing it and seeing it are two different things. After once again dealing with a crammed trolley ride to the convention I met up with a friend and we went and sat in on the comiXology panel. It was an interesting panel. It’s crazy to think that digital comics have only been around for a few years and has come so far. I like the idea of digital comics and know that it will play a big part in the future of comics but my sticking point on them has always been the price. If I’m going to pay $3.99 for a comic I’d rather have a hard copy of it. If they lowered the price on digital versions I’d buy them in a heartbeat. I love the push that Marvel is doing by giving you a free digital copy with some of their books. That’s a cool cross promotion and a smart move.

After that panel we went across the street and checked out the Batmobiles that were on display. It was awesome! Then we ran into Wil Wheaton at Starbucks before meeting up with Eric, who was in line for Hall H. We spent the rest of the day hanging out in line and relaxing, while holding on to hope that we would get into Hall H to see the Marvel panel. Sadly we did not get to see that but we did get to see a bunch of those crazy bible-thumpers try and convert people that were in line. Can I just say that I absolutly hate those guys, super fucking annoying. On the plus side though, we did manage to get an awesome picture of the Jesus guy   standing next to the booty ring toss van. Anal play and God together at last! Thus endeth my Saturday at SDCC.

Day Four: Waking up on the final day of SDCC was a sad event. I was exhausted but also was sad to know that it Comic-Con was coming to an end and I’d have to wait another year to do it all over again. The trolley ride proved to be far less stressful than the prior two days and I even managed to find a seat. My first stop once I got to the convention was the Marvel booth. I had finally caved and decided to pre-order the ‘Phase One’ 10-disc blu-ray set. Once that was purchased I met up with my buddy at the Oni Press booth where they were selling advanced copies of Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life in color! I bought a copy of the ‘Evil Edition’ which features Matthew Patel on the cover. I then got in line and was able to get Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley to sign it. After that I made a few more purchases and then decided to go check out the Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man panel. It was a mostly lackluster panel but they did briefly discuss Alpha, who is going to be Spider-Man’s new teenage sidekick and how he’s connected to Peter Parker. Look for Alpha to debut in issue #692.

The last panel of the day in Hall H was the Sons of Anarchy panel which I was lucky enough to get into. I’m a big SOA fan and can thank my brother for getting me hooked on that show. The entire cast was present and they showed fans the opening scene to the first episode of the upcoming season. During the panel, we found out that Ron Pearlman is the worst member of the cast when it comes to riding a motorcycle. Fans gave Pearlman a giant round of applause when his Make-a-Wish appearance as Hellboy was brought up. The entire panel was a fun time with the cast-members swearing like sailors…or to be more accurate, members of a motorcylce club. The ladies in the audience lost their minds a few times, especially over Charlie Hunnam (Jax) and Theo Rossi (Juice).

After that panel let out it was time to call it a day and make my way back to Qualcomm stadium to fetch my car and hit the road. All in all I had a blast at SDCC 2012 and it wouldn’t have been possible without Mr. Jonathan London and Geekscape. So a very big thank you to Jonathan and Geekscape for letting me experience the madness that is San Diego Comic-Con!!! Until next year….

SDCC 2012: One Geek’s Journey Through The Madness Of Comic-Con (Part I)

by Scott Alminiana

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 is now over and I’ve been trying to get back to some semblance of a life, which has proved to be mildly difficult to do. See, this was only my second time ever going to SDCC. My first time was back in 2010 when I went for a single day. This time I was able to get my geek on for the entirety of SDCC thanks to Geekscape. Let me just say that going from one day to every day is a giant leap. To say that my ass was beat by Sunday would be an understatement. Regardless, it was still one hell of a ride. I’ve decided to just break down my experience into one article as opposed to doing multiple articles. It’s mainly due to the fact that some of the panels I went to were more entertaining than others and therefore

Preview Night: Myself and Shawn Madden arrived into the heart of Whale’s Vagina at around 2 pm. We made our way over to the Hyatt where Shawn was staying with Mr. London and Geekscape’s own Rarity cosplaying brony, Shane O’hare. Once the luggage was dropped off I headed over to the convention center to pick up my badge. Seeing as it was only 3 pm and the floor didn’t open until 6 pm, Shawn and I decided to head into the Gaslamp District and grab some lunch and check things out. Lionsgate was going to show a free screening of Dredd later that night so we went by the theater to see if there was a line forming yet. There wasn’t so we went to TGIFriday’s for happy hour. After some much needed 1/2 priced appetizers and a long island iced tea (I was on vacation, don’t judge me) we headed back by the theater and found that there was a line forming but it was still early so we weren’t too worried. We killed some time until 6 pm rolled around, at which point I headed back to the convention center to check out Preview night while Shawn decided he would go grab us a prime spot in the line for the movie.

Upon setting foot on the convention floor my first thought was “where the hell is the Geekscape booth?” I knew it was booth #3919 but I had no idea where that was. Luckily, SDCC has giant banners hanging above the aisles letting you know what aisle number you’re on. Unlucky for me though was the fact that the floor was packed with people trying to get their hands on all the exclusives available. It was mass chaos on the floor with people pushing and shoving trying to get around, it was a nightmare. After what seemed like an eternity I finally found my way to Geekscape’s home for the duration of SDCC met some of the other writers for the site. It was good to finally put faces to names for the first time and after pleasantries had been made I decided to leave the madness of Preview Night behind me and head back to the theater to meet up with Shawn. It was 7:30 pm by the time I got there and a small but decent sized line had started to form. We had a good place in line for the movie…or so I thought.

Lionsgate had been advertising this free screening of Dredd all over twitter for at least a week but what they failed to advertise was the fact that it was  press screening of the movie and that seating was super limited. This was a fact no one in line knew until about 9:30 that night when a second line started forming next to the one we were waiting in. To say that the whole thing was a giant clusterfuck and was horrible organized would be a huge understatement. Needless to say, after they let in every member of the press only about 20 people from our line were let in. Yeah, we waited for about 3 and a half hours only to not get into the movie. Sucks to be us. After we let our geek rage subside we decided to call it a night and get some rest for day one of SDCC.

Day One: First stop was booth 1515 to pick up a 50 Shades of Grey button for a friend back east. Why they were giving out 50 Shades buttons at SDCC I have no idea but picked one up I did *Yoda voice*. After that I did some wandering around the floor and took buku photos of everything. Then I made my way to the Geekscape booth to say my hellos and meet up with Eric Diaz and our friend Noah. While waiting in the booth I  did manage to snap a pic of Katniss Everdeen as she attempted to assassinate Jonathan. Luckily for Jonathan’s sake, brony extraordinaire Shane O’Hare was close by and able to use his magical pony powers to defeat Katniss and save Jonathan’s life. True story. 

Most of my day was spent wandering around the convention floor and taking a shit load of pictures like a Japanese tourist at Disneyland. I even made an impulse buy that I am in no way shape or form ashamed of despite the fact that perhaps I should be. What was that impulse buy you ask? It was a Wampa hat of course! You know, because every person really needs their own Wampa hat. All I’ve got to say about this is that I think I look absolutely fabulous in it and that it will keep my noggin warm the next time I find myself on the frozen tundra of Hoth. 

There was a press conference for Disney that afternoon that I was fortunate enough to attend. It consisted of 3 seperate Q&A press conferences for Frankenweenie, Oz: The Great and Powerful, and Wreck-It Ralph. First up was Frankenweenie with Tim Burton there to answer questions about his latest stop-motion movie. Burton said that this movie was something that was very near and dear to his heart and he was very glad to be able to return to it and expand on his original idea.  When asked what it was like to walk out onto the stage at Hall H and feel the love from the huge crowd, “It’s amazing you know, I wish my family treated me that way. I walk in the door and no one says anything, so it’s nice for a change to get that sorta thing (laughs). I remember coming here back in the late 70’s when it was at the Holiday Inn. It’s amazing what it’s turned into.”

Next up was the press conference for Oz: The Great and Powerful. It featured director Sam Raimi and stars Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams. Let me just say that I’m usually not one to get star-struck but when I saw these two beautiful women walk on stage I instantly fell in love twice. My jaw damn near hit the floor but being as I was about 10 feet from them I had to forcibly keep my jaw closed and make sure I didn’t start drooling. Yeah, they are that gorgeous in the real world. This was a good press conference in which some good questions were asked. When asked what it was like to step into the world of a beloved classic Rami had one of the single greatest responses I’ve heard. “We all love The Wizard of Oz movie but we were careful to respect it. But really ours is a different story, it’s a story that leads up to The Wizard of Oz. It’s a story about how the wizard came from Kansas to the land of Oz and how a slightly selfish became a slightly more selfless man. And its the story of how he became the Wizard. It’s a fantastic story that answers that question… It’s not really a remaking The Wizard of Oz, so it’s not really something we had a problem we had to deal with.”

The final panel of the day was for Wreck-It Ralph and was just a lot of fun. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman were in attendance and both of them just hilarious. Naturally video games were a hot topic through out this press conference. When asked what their favourite games were growing up Reilly’s answer was “I am dating myself by saying this but I was the test audience for Space Invaders. I spent a lot of money on Space Invaders.” Silverman loved Pitfall, Joust, and was big on Centipede. Everyone was eager to know how hard it was to get video game companies to license out their characters and as it turns out most of them were all too eager to let their characters be used in the movie. Wreck-It Ralph just reminds me so much of my youth and I can’t wait for this one to come out.

My first day at SDCC may have been over but the was just beginning. Thursday night was the Geekscape party that we co-hosted along with Stan Lee’s Comikaze, I’d tell you all  about it but then Jonathan would have to kill me. All I can say is that I saw a Predator crumping, Dark Helmet win the costume contest, and that I saw Geekscape’s own Shawn Madden get in a break-dance battle with the red Power Ranger. I’m not making that up, that really happened!

Come back tomorrow for part II and find out where my journey through SDCC lead me next.

‘John Carter’ Director Andrew Stanton To Direct ‘Finding Nemo’ Sequel

by Scott Alminiana

Andrew Stanton’s first live-action movie John Carter may have been a gigantic flop for Disney but that doesn’t seem to be stopping Stanton from getting work. Deadline is reporting that Stanton has officially come on-board as the director for the sequel to Finding Nemo. Pixar won’t confirm this of course but his working on the sequel makes complete sense. He did after all win not one but two Oscars for Pixar with Finding Nemo and Wall-E.

The sequel is in development so no other details are known at this time but supposedly Disney is also open to the giving him another crack at directing a live-action movie. Sure, John Carter was a $200 million dollar loss for the studio but that’s not Andrew Stanton’s fault. I thought it was a great movie but was just marketed wrong. I look forward to seeing more from him.

Joe Cornish To Direct ‘Rust’

by Scott Alminiana

Joe Cornish has signed on to direct Rust for 20th Century Fox. Aline Brosh McKenna wrote the script, which is based on the graphic novel, written by Royden Lepp.

Rust is a high-octane adventure set in the prairie lands of an unknown time. Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family’s small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet’s past may be the key to their survival.

Cornish made his feature film debut with the great Attack The Block. He also co-wrote The Adventures of Tintin with Edgar Wright, as well as the upcoming Marvel movie Ant-Man.

New Trailer For David Cronenberg’s ‘Cosmopolis’

by Scott Alminiana

David Cronenberg, the man who brought us such great movies as The Fly, Eastern Promises, and A History of Violence  is back with his latest movie Cosmopolis. It stars Robert Pattison (sorry ladies, he doesn’t sparkle in this one…but he does take his shirt off), Juliette Binoche, Jay Baruchel, and Paul Giamatti. It’s based on the Don DeLillo novel. It opens in theaters on August 17th. 

Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager’s day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart.

 

‘Dark Knight Rises’ IMAX Screenings To Include Exclusive Poster

by Scott Alminiana

Good news for anyone seeing the 12:01 a.m. showing of The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX on July 20. You will be getting this awesome exclusive poster. For those of us not seeing it in IMAX, well we can just be even more extremely envious of those who. It’s the poster fans deserve, but not the one we need right now…or is it?

Source: Heat Vision

Lionsgate To Release ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay’ In Two Parts

by Scott Alminiana

In a move that will shock no one, Lionsgate announced today that they will release the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy in two-parts. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will be released on November 21, 2014 and Mockingjay Part 2 will arrive on November 20, 2015. With the first sequel, Catching Fire getting ready to start shooting this fall and set for release on November 22, 2013, it means that for the next three years we will get a new Hunger Games movie just in time for Thanksgiving. Hmm, I wonder if Lionsgate’s decision to make Novemeber the release date for all of the sequels has anything to do with cornucopias and Thanksgiving? I’ll let you ponder that one.

As for Hollywood’s new trend of splitting the final book in a series into two-parts (Harry Potter and Twilight and now Hunger Games) I’m not sure if I like it or not. Is it studios wanting to do the books justice or is just a cash-grab? I’d like to think it’s the studios trying to do the books and fans the justice they need/want/deserve, but I’m inclined to think of it as just another way for Hollywood to get fans to fork up more money. I guess as long as the two-part trend keeps making studios money and fans keep enjoying the final movies then we should just get used to it.

Hunger Games and Thanksgiving go hand in hand…because people are hungry! Get it?!

‘MIB 3’ Screenwriter Hired To Write ‘Ghostbusters 3’

by Scott Alminiana

Sony Pictures refuses to let the idea of Ghostbusters 3 fade away. They have now hired the screenwriter of Men In Black 3, Etan Cohen to rewrite the script. Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky were the last guys to take a crack at writing it but as we reported last week, Bill Murray didn’t feel the scripts were good enough.

Other than writing Men In Black 3, Cohen has written Idiocracy and Tropic Thunder. He will make his feature directorial debut with Paramount’s horror-comedy Boy Scouts vs. Zombies.

Sure, he’s (co)written some funny movies but is he the man that will finally write a great script for Ghostbusters 3? It’s been speculated for quite sometime that the threequel would see the original Ghostbusters  (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray) pass the torch to a new generation of Ghostbusters. Is that really a movie anyone wants to see though? I grew up with the first two movies and love them, I just watched Ghostbusters 2 last night actually, but it’s been twenty-three years since the last one came out. I think a third movie just couldn’t possibly live up to the first two. I think Sony just needs to let this one go.

Source: Variety 

Source: EW

 

The Geekscape Guide To Surviving Comic-Con 2012

by Scott Alminiana

Comic-Con 2012 is only a few short  days away and we thought it was the perfect time to give you some tips on how to successfully survive it. These are essentials to help you wander and enjoy the craziness that is San Diego Comic-Con! Just writing this is making me that much more excited for Comic-Con. This is comparable to the feeling I used to get as a kid when I would anxiously await Christmas. Sorry I digress, without further udo I present to you the Geekscape Guide To Surviving Comic-Con 2012:

Snacks and Water: This is a must have for anyone who is going…especially if you plan on going to Hall H, in which case you will probably want to double the amount of snacks and water you bring. Having snacks and water is important because 1) the food and drinks there aren’t cheap at Comic-Con, plus there’s that whole waiting in line for them part and 2) waiting in line for food/drinks cuts into the time you could be at panels…or more likely, in line for those panels.

Comfortable Shoes: Nothing is worse than when you’ve been walking all day and your feet are just killing you. That’s where comfortable shoes come in. I’m going to be wearing my Nike Free’s, they are like walking on a cloud. No seriously they are that comfortable. Get yourselves some comfortable shoes, no one wants to see you walking around barefoot like those girls you see in Vegas after a night of clubbing. Ewww no thank you.

Have a Plan of Action: There is a ton of shit to do and see at Comic-Con, so figure out what you want to do. Prioritize. If there’s a certain panel you want to see then you’d best figure out when/where it is and get there early. A big part of Comic-Con is the waiting in lines for the shit you want to see. So be prepared to wait. Also you should have a back up plan just in-case you can’t get into the panel you want to see. 

 Have Cash Handy: Sure, most everything takes plastic now-a-days but for those unforeseen events. I knew a guy once who went to Vegas for the weekend and the bank put a hold on his funds due to “suspicious activity” once he was there and wouldn’t you know it, he couldn’t get the hold lifted due to it being the weekend. Needless to say his weekend was ruined and his good time was not so good. Don’t be that guy at Comic-Con. Wouldn’t you hate to see that exclusive action figure get away from you because you didn’t have cash on you?

A Pack of Gum: Just because you’re a geek/nerd doesn’t mean you don’t care about having bad breath. I’m sure that artist and that hot Slave Leia you talk to will appreciate it. This is actually a good segway into the next item on the list…

Deodorant: That same artist and hot Slave Leia will also especially appreciate your not reeking of B.O. Anyone who has been to Comic-Con before knows that a big problem with having that many geeks in place is the massive stench of B.O. wafting through the air. Bantha fodder consisting of a dead Tauntaun carcass has a more pleasant odor. Do your part to help fight the plight of body odor. Just because you’re a geek/nerd doesn’t make it okay to smell bad. I’m actually contemplating bring a can of Axe body spray just to spray anyone who smells bad. Yeah, Axe is for douches but if you get sprayed with it it’s your own damn fault.

Phone Charger: This just goes without saying. Need I even give an explanation? I made the dumb move of forgetting my charger the first year I went and my phone died on me half-way through the day. There are a lot of memories that will forever remain only in my brain due to my blunder. You can bet your ass I wont make that mistake this time.

Emergen-C and Hand Sanitizer: Lots of people in one place equals buku germs. Take an Emergen-C first thing in the morning and the hand sanitizer as needed. You can thank me later.

Pain Meds: That much insanity in one place for five days is bound to give you a headache eventually. Now you’ll have something to fight your aches and pains with. Ta-da!

The Blood of Your First Born Child: …because something’s at Comic-Con are just worth it. Shhhh don’t ask, you’re better off not knowing.

Pace Yourself: This is maybe the most important thing on the list. Just know that you won’t be able to do it all. So pace yourself and don’t try to do it all. Remember, you’ve gotta make it to the finish line and that’s a five day trip.

Teaser Trailer For Season 5 Of ‘Sons Of Anarchy’

by Scott Alminiana

On September 5th, SAMCRO will be riding back onto television screens everywhere. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen this season. Last season was insane! I’m a huge fan of the show and always look forward to it’s return. It’s going to be a long wait between now and then, but here’s a teaser trailer for season 5 to whet your appetite.

And don’t forget about the Sons of Anarchy panel at this years Comic-Con:

Sunday, July 15
2:45-3:45 Sons of Anarchy— Get an inside look into the world of FX’s highest-rated series ever, with creator Kurt Sutter (The Shield) and stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi,Ryan Hurst, and Dayton Callie. Hall H

UPDATE: Castings News For ‘The Wolverine’

by Scott Alminiana

Update: Casting news is just pouring in now! Heat Vision is reporting that not only is Will Yun Lee been cast but Brian Tee (“Grim,” “Burn Notice,” The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) has also been cast.

Tee is playing Noburo Mori, a corrupt minister of justice who is about to marry the daughter of a yakuza crime lord (the daughter is Wolverine’s love interest).

Update: Deadline is reporting that Will Yun Lee (Total Recall, “Hawai 5-0,” Elektra) has been cast as Harada in The Wolverine. In the comics, Kenuichio Harada is also known as the Silver Samurai. Does this mean that we will get to see Silver Samurai and his badass armor? I can only hope!

 

Superherohype is reporting that sources inside the production of The Wolverine have told them that casting  is starting to come together on the movie.  So far four new cast members have been added to the cast with more to come:

Hiroyuki Sanada (“Lost,” Rush Hour 3, The Last Samurai) is set to play Shingen; veteran actor Hal Yamanouchi (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Push, Sinbad of the Seven Seas) plays Yashida; and new discoveries Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima will star as Mariko and Yukio, respectively.

The Wolverine is set for release on July 26, 2013  and is being directed by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Knight and Day, Walk the Line) from a script by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Jack Reacher). Hugh Jackman will once again don the claws as Logan aka Weapon X aka Wolverine. The story is reported to be heavily inspired by the Chris Claremont and Frank Miller four-issue mini-series from 1982. Filming is set to take place in Australia and Japan. 

I’m really hoping that this movie is decent and can make me forgot the abomination that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I still have nightmares about how crappy that thing was. Here’s to hoping that Fox can follow-up the awesomeness that was X-Men: First Class and with The Wolverine and give Logan the kind of movie we know he deserves.

New Images from ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ Shows First Look At A Fan Favorite!

by Scott Alminiana

EW has just released ‘The Scroll’ from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which contains 10 images from the film that fit together to make a scrolling banner. One of these images features Beorn in his bear form as he talks to Gandalf. Here are the images from ‘The Scroll’ along with all of them together. If you click the scroll banner you can check out the hi-res scroll that allows you to magnify the images.

 

Check Out The First Poster For Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Pacific Rim’!

by Scott Alminiana

Here’s the first poster for Pacific Rim, Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming movie. Warner Bros has released this exclusively for Comic-Con. The first footage of the movie will be shown on Saturday July 14th from 2:30-5:00 in Hall H during the Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures panel.

From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure “Pacific Rim.”

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end.  To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge.  But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.  On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past.  Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Oscar® nominee Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) is directing “Pacific Rim” from a script by Travis Beacham (“Clash of the Titans”).  Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Mary Parent are producing, with Callum Greene serving as executive producer.

The film stars Charlie Hunnam (TV’s “Sons of Anarchy”), Idris Elba (“Thor”), Rinko Kikuchi (“The Brothers Bloom”), Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses”), and Ron Perlman (the “Hellboy” films).  The ensemble cast also includes Max Martini, Robert Kazinsky, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Diego Klattenhoff, and Brad William Henke.

Del Toro’s behind-the-scenes team includes Academy Award®-winning director of photography Guillermo Navarro, production designer Andrew Neskoromny, editor Peter Amundson, and costume designer Kate Hawley.

Slated for release in Summer 2013, “Pacific Rim” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.  The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Get These Awesome Posters Just In Time For Comic-Con!!!

by Scott Alminiana

Well folks, Comic-Con ’12 is fast approaching. It’s just 5 loooong days away! Here’s something awesome to help hold you over until it arrives.

Andrew Heath is a graphic designer and he has some awesome prints available in honor of this years Comic-Con. The Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 print is a limit edition run of only 15. It is 18″x24,” hand numbered and signed and goes for $50. The rest are either $10 or $20. They are available for purchase here. What do you think, do you want them as badly as I do?

First Trailer For Tom Cruise’s ‘Jack Reacher’

by Scott Alminiana

Check out the first trailer for the new Tom Cruise flick Jack Reacher, in which Cruise plays a 6’5, 250 pound bad ass. Okay not really, but apparently that’s how the character is written in Lee Child novels. Fans of the novels will probably be up in arms over the diminutive Tom Cruise, whose only 5’7 (hey lil fella) playing the character. Having no knowledge of the character, I could care less about the change. I think the movie looks cool.

A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. Based on a book in Lee Child’s crime series.

Jack Reacher stars Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, and Robert Duvall. It is written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. It opens December 21st.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: “The Amazing Spider-Man”

by Scott Alminiana

The Amazing Spider-Man swings it’s way into theaters today and it’s a ride you’ve got to take. Before I begin let me just say something though, we at Geekscape are big on doing our best to keep our reviews as spoiler free as possible. And that sometimes includes being vague on the plot of the movie because let’s face it, movies are just plain more enjoyable when you don’t know the (entire) story going into it.

Now, if you’ve seen the trailers for The Amazing Spider-Man then you obviously know the basic plot and big action beats of the movie… Or do you? Don’t take that last sentence as something negative because it’s not. The exact same thing could actually be said about The Avengers trailer and movie. What made Avengers so enjoyable (other than the awesome action scenes) was the characters. The difference between that movie and this one is that Spider-man is so great and enjoyable due to not just its characters, but the character relationships. We care what happens in this movie because we care about the characters. That is a major, major credit to director Marc Webb, whom also directed the indie-darling (500) Days of Summer. As he showed with (500) Days, director Marc Webb knows how to get that extra bit of magic out of his lead actors and he knows how to get us invested in the characters. He has proven himself to be fully capable of being the man for the job. Well done, sir. James Vanderbilt wrote the screenplay for this and it is yet another fine piece of writing from him. He previously wrote Zodiac and has also written the screenplay for the upcoming Robocop reboot. Here he has written characters that are fun and relatable and feel like real people. You won’t find his take on Peter Parker moping around and sobbing all emo-like for half the movie, sure he does cry but at least we actually get why he’s crying. The story may not be anything new or ground-breaking but I don’t think that’s something anyone was looking for going into this reboot. What we get is an updated take on the Spider-Man origin story that takes its inspiration from Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man and some amazingly shot action scenes.

Making Webb’s job that much easier is a terrific cast. Every actor in this movie shines in their roles. Andrew Garfield is perfectly cast as Peter Parker. Unlike the Raimi trilogy, in which I was never able to connect to Toby Maguire’s Peter Parker, I had no problem relating to this Peter Parker. There’s a reason Spider-Man is Marvel’s most popular and widely-known character, it’s because he is relatable to so many people on so many levels. Andrew Garfield feels like any other high school kid, albeit a genius level high school kid. He is awkward and shy around cute girls. That’s something we geeks (or at least this geek) can relate to for sure. And this spidey is funny, something that was sorely missing in the previous movies. He’s a wise-cracking smartass from Queens! Garfield just knocks it out of the park. Then there’s Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, oh Emma Stone how I love you so. There I said it. It’s tough not to find yourself falling for her as Gwen Stacy. She is sweet and smart, who ever said a blonde couldn’t be smart? Take that stereotypes! She and Garfield have terrific chemistry in this and really sell the audience on the relationship between Peter and Gwen. Rhys Ifans as Curt Conners/The Lizard and while he isn’t given too much to do character-wise he does work wonders with what he’s given. It’s hard to imagine that this is the guy who once played Hugh Grant’s wacky room-mate in the rom-com Notting Hill. He is creepy as all get out in some parts of this and gives a good take on the old Jekyll and Hyde concept. Dennis Leary plays Captain Stacy, Gwen’s father, and while his sceen-time is limited he gets some of the movies funnier lines. Rounding out the cast is Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Mighty fine actors for some mighty important roles. They are both perfect but sadly underused in the movie. That is really one of my only gripes with this movie, I would have liked to see more of Uncle Ben and Aunt May, but that’s just goes to credit how great Martin Sheen and Sally Field are in this. Every one of these actors in this cast just give a great performance be their part big or small. My only other gripe is that we never get to hear Uncle Ben utter Spider-Man’s famous motto “with great power comes great responsibility,” guess we’ll have to wait for the sequel to hear that one.

The special effects and action scenes in this will be something that people will be ranting and raving about. The Lizard special effects aside (and those weren’t even very bad), the rest of the special effects were amazing. You will see and believe that a man can crawl up the side of buildings and swing through the streets of New York City. I hate 3D and saw this in 2D, but The Amazing Spider-Man makes me want to go back and see this again in 3D. Yeah, it looked that good. This is a movie that looks great and works due to it’s ability to make us connect with the characters on screen. It is clear when watching this that it is just the tip of the iceberg and only the beginning of a much larger story that is being set up for the sequels. After you see this movie you will forget all about the Sam Raimi movies. The Amazing Spider-Man is here and it’s a very welcome return of old web-head. This is a damn fine movie and a treat for all, but don’t take my word for it. You’ve got to see it for yourself. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Oh and be sure to stay during the credits, there’s a mid-credit scene.

Score: 4.5/5

Awesome ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Viral Campaign Reveals More Plot Points

by Scott Alminiana

With the release of The Dark Knight Rises fast approaching, Warner Bros. has been hard at work with their viral marketing campaign. There are three different batches of viral pieces  on the web that we’ve managed to get our hands on. Be warned that there may be some potential spoilers and/or plot points here, but at this point it’s hard to tell what those might be. Just don’t say that we didn’t warn you…

The first one is from DewGothamCity and shows a GCPD performance reveiw of Officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The review shows that Blake is quite the officer and seems likely to move up the ladder quickly. Here’s what is written in the ‘comments’ section of his review:

“Officer Blake shows great dedication and tenacity. He made an impact in his assigned beat by building effective associations within the local community. High marks for skills and conduct. Needs minor improvement in his relationships with fellow officers. His thoroughness tends to make him judgmental of colleagues’ performances and leads him to question authority. Officer Blake has made a request to be transferred to Narrows Division. Given his success in his previous detail, transfer should be granted. Need more officers like him.”

This second piece is an email exchange between some reporters at the Gotham Observer. The emails are in regards to John Daggett, who from the sounds of it is a rather shady board member of Wayne Enterprises.  The emails goes on to mention Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), Deputy Commissioner (Matthew Modine), and a series of penthouse burglaries. Hmmm, I wonder who that would be in reference to?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 1:22 PM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece
Just caught wind of another penthouse burglary. That’s five for the week. A couple of watches and a box of jewelry were stolen. Whoever did it must be coming out of thin air because literally no one has seen this person in action…at all. I got Gerald headed downtown now. Dep. Comm Foley’s doing a press conderence at City Hall. The Mayor wants to launch a task force. I guess all of these fat cats get to go cry to the Mayor when somebody steals from them.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 1:15 PM
To: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Let me kick it up the food chain to Gene and discuss it with him. But Mike, I have to say I’m with Terry on this one. I’d definitely start looking for a replacement. What about Congressmen Gilly wanting to rename the Central Library after this Miranda Tate lady who just got on the board of Wayne Enterprises? The Rogues appealing the NFF’s salary cap penalties?

From: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 12:57 PM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

My feelings is, unless you have a full confession from Daggett himself, stay away from this. Calling this guy litigious is putting it lightly. Two years ago, Becker, Barton & McReynolds commissioned a gold bust of the guy to thank him for all the billable hours.Mike, I hear what you’re saying about Daggett’s place at Wayne E, but the paper can’t take a hit like we’re going to if we move further down this path. He’ll throw everything at us.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 12:46 PM
To: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Terry?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 11:28 AM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Right now, the former Mali Minister of Communications, who says the US is well aware of Daggett’s use of mercenaries to take over the mines by force. We’ve got five or six government officials speaking anonymously.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 11:02 AM
To: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Who do you have that is speaking on the record?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 10:41 AM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Paul was covering several reports of destruction at a number of construction companies around the city. The companies are claiming that their sites, headquarters, warehouses, and depots are being sabotaged. GPD haven’t been able to trackdown the perpetrators. In fact, there’s no trace of them. GPD won’t confirm it officially, but they do believe something’s up. Paul did some digging and determined that every construction company in the area has been attacked except for John Daggett’s outfit. So Daggett naturally became the focus. Paul’s got a number of sources- speaking anonymously and off the record- about shady business dealings such as Daggett’s acquisition of African diamond mines. I feel it’s relevant because, let’s be honest, the guy is in position of power at Wayne Enterprises and therefore has a lot influence in the city.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 10:22 AM
To: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Terry, cc’, just gt a call from John Daggett’s attorney. He’s in full attack mode, claiming libel, threatening action. Says the issue at hand is the following: a story on Daggett mentions Daggett hiring mercenaries to stage cups in West Africa to secure mining rights. His attorney said the claims are unsubstantiated accusations perpetrated by his rivals to taint his company’s reputation.What’s the verall angle of the piece?

Lastly is a handwritten letter from Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) to Bruce Wayne concerning the state of Wayne Enterprises. In the letter Lucius references the concerns of the board members regarding the budget of the R&D department.  The letter also mentions John Daggett and how he may be trying to gather support from other board members that could result in a potential power struggle. Here’s a transcript of the difficult to read handwritten letter as well as Bruce’s very simple reply to Lucius:

Dear Bruce,

I hope this letter finds you well.  Although I would have liked to have had this conversation with you personally, Alfred tells me I am better off writing as you are not receiving any visitors at the moment.  That being the case, I’ll do my best to detail what I feel is becoming a situation within the company.

It’s a given that in the current economic climate our investors have become increasingly concerned about how their money is being spent.  As such, our own profitability is being judged and analyzed, particularly by the Board itself.  In the past, we haven’t given them any reason to worry as both our earnings and spending have been consistent.  This allowed us the autonomy to dedicate resources to Wayne philanthropic programs as well as our own R&D endeavors.  But over the past five quarters, our earnings have been on the downtrend.  Meanwhile, our R&D spending has been on an astronomical uptrend.  And as the black grows fainter around the entire company, I am being put into a position where I have to answer certain questions, particularly about your energy project.

No one is going to dispute the fact that innovation is key to our growth and success.  It’s a mainstay of our business, which is all the more reason why the Board has begun to scrutinize our R&D budget and set their sights on your machine.  Since they don’t know exactly what you’re up to, all they understand is a vast amount of capital is being spent on something they now deem as fruitless – quest for clean energy.  Herein lies the problem.

The last time we spoke, you expressed your reluctance to move the project forward and initiate the next phase of trials.  I understand your argument as to why.  But if you want the company to continue to fund your efforts, I think it is time we give the Board more than just the overview they already have, enlightening them on what this project will mean to Gotham if you are successful.  On a personal note, I’d also like to let them know that with age, Bruce Wayne has decided to fill his father’s shoes, using Wayne Enterprises and all its resources to readily and reliably support our city.

Nothing bad can come from this, Bruce.  But if you decide not to address the issue at hand, I am not sure how long I can keep the Board at bay.  Making matters more difficult is your absence.  I am assuming you have your reasons for it and it is not my job to question those, but I fear that if you are going to drop off the radar for an extended period of time, we may risk another Bill Earle situation.  I can see a couple [of] Board Members already maneuvering to build influence around the table, most notably John Daggett, who I feel is the last person we want to engage in a power struggle.

When I agreed to take on this role I knew full well what the job and our agreement entailed.  I am also well aware of your preferred ways of handling all matters relating to Wayne Enterprises However, I must tell you that we are quickly approaching a set of circumstances that will unfortunately call for a change if we do not address the Board.  Change in most instances is not a bad thing, but in this regard I am worried.  I’m sure you consider my pessimism to be just another part of my charm.  That may be the case, but let’s remember: you didn’t hire me for my charm.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With luck it will be in person.

Regards,

Lucius Fox

 

Lucius,

Tell the board that as of today the program is shut down. As we discussed before, there is too much at stake and the risk is too great. That is my only concern.

-Bruce.

 

Comic Con 2012: Sunday Panel Highlights

by Scott Alminiana

Comic-Con has now announced their entire schedule of panels. Over the past few days, we here at Geekscape have given you our highlights for each day (Preview night & Thursday, Friday, Saturday) of Comic-Con 2012. Here’s some of the highlights for the final day of Comic-Con, it’s always such a bittersweet day *sheds a tear*

10:00-11:00 DC Comics: Young Justice

 They may be young-but they’re still heroes! Find out what’s happening for The Legion of Super-Heroes, Teen Titans, Blue Beetle, and more as more DC Comics-The New 52 unfolds in this panel featuring Tony Bedard (Blue Beetle), Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes), and Scott Lobdell (Teen Titans, Red Hood and the Outlaws). – Room 6DE

10:00-11:00 Fringe Screening and Q&A

Fringe returns to Comic-Con for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Series stars Anna Torv (The Pacific), Josh Jackson (Dawson’s Creek), Lance Reddick (Lost), Blair Brown (Altered States), Jasika Nicole (Take the Lead), and John Noble (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), along with executive producer J. H. Wyman (Keen Eddie), offer a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Don’t miss the discussion about the climactic conclusion of this critically acclaimed thriller. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX.Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 4.  – Hall H

11:00-12:00 Digital Comics Price Fight

Every one is talking about what the “right” price is for digital comics. Should it be full price for same day as print, or should every comic be 99 cents a la iTunes? The conversation has been heated online and today it jumps into the physical realm! Join legendary comic writer Mark Waid, webcomics innovator and PvP creator Scott Kurtz, IDW Publishing’s ePublishing director Jeff Webber, and Top Shelf Productions’ director of digital Chris Ross for a lively discussion on the price of digital comics. Moderating this fight is comiXology’s Chip Mosher. – Room 7AB

11:15-12:15 Marvel: Women of Marvel

From Ms. Marvel to the X-Men, from tumblr to Twitter, women in comics has been one of the most talked-about topics in comics for the last year. Join the conversation as women from every discipline in the creative process at Marvel discuss what it’s like working as a woman in comics today and what it means for the future of the industry. These ladies are smashing through the four-color ceiling! Panelists include editors Jeanine Schaefer and Sana Amanat. – Room 5AB

11:15-12:15 Supernatural Screening and Q&A

Series stars Jared Padalecki(Friday the 13th [2009]) and Jensen Ackles (My Bloody Valentine 3D), recurring guest stars Misha Collins (Ringer), Jim Beaver (Justified), and Mark A. Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica), executive producer Jeremy Carver (U.S. version of Being Human), and consulting producer Ben Edlund (The Tick) return to Hall H to answer questions from the audience about what’s in store for the eighth season of this thrill-ride series. Fans will also see an exclusive video presentation featuring series highlights, as well as a portion of the special features from the upcoming Supernatural: The Complete Seventh Season DVD and Blu-ray release, in stores September 18. The eighth season ofSupernatural will premiere in October on its new night, Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW. The series is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. -Hall H

12:00-1:00 Reinventing the Graphic Novel for the iPad

With its ability to blend together games, comics, literature, film, and mobile services into new hybrid experiences, the iPad is creating vast opportunities for storytellers and audiences alike. Daniel Burwen, creative director for Cognito Comics and gaming industry veteran (EA, Activision), explores how the traditional forms of games and comics overlap in the tablet space, forming new ways of storytelling. Get an inside look at the development of the award-winning CIA: Operation Ajax and how it is redefining the digital graphic novel by using a real-time 3D game engine to create an unparalleled interactive experience while honoring the legacy of the printed page. – Room 24ABC

12:30-1:30 Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man

There’s no turning back for Spider-Man! The Lizard is back, and only Spider-Man has a chance of curing him! Find out all the details on what’s going on with your favorite wall-crawler on the eve of his 50th Anniversary in August. That’s right, Marvel’s editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and others will be taking any and all questions from you, the fans! With earth-shattering announcements that will change the life of Peter Parker for another 50 years, this is one panel that no Spidey fan can miss! – Room 6DE

12:30-1:30 BBC America’s Doctor Who

The Doctor and the Ponds land in San Diego. BBC America’s Doctor Who stars Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvilljoin award-winning lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat (Sherlock) and award-winning executive producer Caroline Skinner (The Fades) for a Comic-Con panel and Q&A. As fans eagerly await the new season’s premiere, BBC America is making sure Steven Moffat brings new footage to reveal on the big screens in Hall H. Ahead of the new season, BBC America will premiere new Doctor Who specials-The Science of Doctor Who, The Women of Doctor Who, The Timey-Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who, and The Destinations of Doctor Who-as part of the Supernatural Saturday programming block starting Saturday, August 4 at 9pm/8c. For those new to Who, the previous two seasons from Steven Moffat are available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download. – Hall H

1:00-2:00 Image Comics’s 20th Anniversary

Twenty years ago, a group of young artists left their work-for-hire jobs to create Image Comics, a publisher dedicated to creators’ individual visions and a champion of creative ownership. Image Comics partners and some of the original founders now come together to talk about what Image Comics has meant for the present and future of comics. Panelists: Marc Silvestri, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, Erik Larsen, and Robert Kirkman. Moderated by Eric Stephenson. – Room 6A

1:00-2:00 DC Nation Screening and Q&A

The Nation is coming to San Diego! DC Nation — a one-hour action and comedy programming block on Cartoon Network starring some of the most beloved and legendary heroes of the DC Universe — will be making its very first appearance at Comic-Con. In addition to exclusive video content for fan-favorite series Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice, the panel will also be presenting sneak peeks of two highly anticipated series that will be coming soon toDC Nation: Beware The Batman and Teen Titans Go! Bringing you all this superhero goodness is a panel featuring top animation producers Glen Murakami (Teen Titans),Mitch Watson (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated), Michael Jelenic (ThunderCats),Aaron Horvath (MAD), and Jeff Prezenkowski, director of series and shorts at Warner Bros. Animation. From superheroes to sidekicks, the DC Nation panel will have something for everyone. DC Nation airs Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 ET/PT on Cartoon Network. – Room 6BCF

1:00-2:00 Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Warren Spector (Disney Epic Mickey), Marv Wolfman (Crisis on Infinite Earths), and Peter David (The Incredible Hulk) discuss the highly anticipated Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two video game set for release November 18. The panel will explore how the team mapped out the story for this innovative new title, as well as unveil the first details surrounding the Disney Epic Mickey 2 graphic novel, releasing exclusively in Europe in conjunction with the game’s arrival in stores. The panel will also present a special never-before-seen sequence from the upcoming release. Additionally, Becky Cline (director, archives for The Walt Disney Company) will be on hand to discuss the reemergence and historical significance of Walt Disney’s very first cartoon star, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, who is prominently featured in the game. Join Warren, Marv, Peter, and Becky for this session. – Room 25ABC

1:45-2:45 The Cleveland Show

See the world premiere screening of “Menace II Secret Society,” the season 4 premiere episode of The Cleveland Show, featuring unbelievable guest voices followed by a Q&A with panelists Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry, Kevin Michael Richardson (Thundercats, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Transformers Prime), Reagan Gomez, and Rich Appel.        – Hall H

2:00-3:00 Max Brooks: Zombie Survival 101

Max Brooks, screenwriter and author of bestselling books The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, is the world’s leading authority on the defense against a ghoulish uprising! Renowned for his campus and convention lectures nationwide, Brooks comes to San Diego Comic-Con to share his insight into the rotting minds of the undead, reveal how the Zombie Survival Guide came into existence, and field questions from zombie-phobic fans! You dare not miss this lecture — your very life may depend on it! – Room 7AB

2:15-3:15 It’s Christmas in July! Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants

Dust off your knitted sweater, fill your mug with nog and come along for some good ol’ fashioned Christmas cheer as panelists take you through a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming SpongeBob stop-motion special. Creative director Vince Waller and screen novelties directors Seamus Walsh and Mark Caballero present a sneak peek at the Christmas special. The panel will also include a sing-along and Q&A with the voice cast, including Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (voice of Patrick), and Mr. Lawrence (writer and voice of Plankton). Moderated by Claudia Spinelli, executive in charge for Nickelodeon. – Room 6A

2:15-3:15 Buffy Turns 20: Celebrating 20 Years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Once upon a time, Buffy Summers became the Slayer, the Chosen One who proved a young heroine could battle the forces of darkness instead of playing damsel in distress. Stars from the hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Nicholas Brendon, Clare Kramer) join forces with Dark Horse editor Scott Allie, writer/producerJane Espenson, illustrator Georges Jentry, and the original Buffy herself (Kristy Swanson, star of the 1992 motion picture), not to mention a surprise guest or two, to celebrate 20 years of slayage.  – Room 6BCF

2:30-3:30 Comic-Con How-To: Drawing with Jim Lee

Scott Brick interviews Jim Lee, artist and co-publisher of DC Comics, as Jim draws for an hour. See how he does it on the big screen!  – Room 2

2:30-5:00 Comic-Con Masquerade Replay

Saturday night’s impressive costuming event is reviewed and a big-screen video of the entire show is presented for those who missed it or who simply want a second look. Hosted by Masquerade director Martin Jaquish and Masquerade assistant John Ruff. (Sorry, we cannot sell copies of the show.) – Room 8

2:45-3:45 Sons of Anarchy

Get an inside look into the world of FX’s highest-rated series ever, with creator Kurt Sutter (The Shield) and stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan,Theo Rossi, Ryan Hurst, and Dayton Callie.  – Hall H

3:00-4:00 Axe Cop

Ethan Nicolle (Bearmageddon, Chumble Spuzz) discusses the growing world of Axe Cop, including the new President of the World miniseries from Dark Horse comics and his involvement the TV show in production at FOX. With a possible appearance in person or digitally from his brother/co-creator Malachai Nicolle plus possible surprise guests. – Room 6DE

3:30-4:30 Buffy the Musical “Once More with Feeling”

Let’s end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Fandom Charities Inc. and Whedonopolis.com present a screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode “Once More With Feeling”! Many say this is the finest, funniest, most ingenious episode ever to come out of the Buffyverse. But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! This episode was made for talkin’-back, that is — and singing and shouting and dancing in the aisles, with or without your dry cleaning! Audience participation: It isn’t just forRocky Horror and mob riots anymore. – Room 6BCF

Source: Comic Con

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe #1’

by Scott Alminiana

By the power of Grayskull! This year July 4th isn’t just Independence Day, it’s also the day that we return to Eternia! That’s right kiddies, ‘He-Man and The Masters of The Universe’ hits shelves this Wednesday and we’ve got your first look at it! It’s written by James Robinson with art by Philip Tan.

Also, if you haven’t already checked out the digital exclusive comic featuring Sir Lazer Lot you might want to. Just sayin’…

• HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE return to comics in an all-new miniseries!
• SKELETOR strikes with his master plan to rule ETERNIA!
• Can ADAM and the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE remember what ETERNIA was like in time to save it?

Source: DC Comics

He Has An Army. We Have Details On ‘The Avengers’ Blu-ray Bonus Features.

by Scott Alminiana

So by now you all know that The Avengers is coming out on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on September 25th. If you didn’t know that, where have you been? Anyway, we now have the details of what will be on the home release. To go along with the release Marvel is releasing a  new app called “The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App.”

“By downloading this onto a secondary device, consumers will be able to gain unprecedented access to exclusive content building up to the home entertainment release on September 25. Pieces will be unleashed bi-weekly in July and August and weekly in September leading up to a full immersive experience accompanying the film on Blu-ray. Content includes special access to the S.H.I.E.L.D. database, becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, invitations to “special missions” either remotely or in the field, links to character profiles, stories and scenes, interactive Marvel digital reader comic books and more. App owners will receive push notifications whenever new content is uploaded and available for their viewing.”

PACKAGING & BONUS FEATURES:

4-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D+Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy+Digital Download of the “Inspired By” album)
Bonus Includes:
-Second Screen
-Assembling the Ultimate Team
-A Visual Journey
-Gag Reel
-Deleted Scenes
-Audio Commentary—With Joss Whedon
-Soundgarden Music Video—“Live to Rise”
-And more!

2-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD)
Bonus Includes:
-Same as the 4-Disc Combo Pack above

1-Disc DVD
Bonus Includes:
-Assembling the Ultimate Team
-Audio Commentary—With Joss Whedon

High-Definition & Standard Definition Digital
Bonus Includes:
-Second Screen
-Assembling the Ultimate Team
-A Visual Journey
-Gag Reel
-Deleted Scenes
-Soundgarden Music Video—“Live to Rise”
-And more!

 

Source: Marvel

“The Amazing Spider-Man” Opens Bigger Than “The Avengers” Overseas?!

by Scott Alminiana

The Amazing Spider-Man doesn’t open for another two days, but it has already opened in 13 international markets such as Asia, Korea, Japan and India, collecting a combined total of $50.2 million. Believe it or not, the film actually opened to better numbers in some places than the juggernaut that is The Avengers did.

In Korea, Spider-Man grossed $13.4 million, which is 10% more than Avengers and is the third biggest opening for a Hollywood film in Korea. In India it grossed $6 million, making it the biggest opening ever for a Hollywood film. Oh and did I mentioned that it earned 74% more than Avengers?! In Japan it made $11.4 million and taking in 84% of the entire box office for the weekend.

These are awesome totals and great news for Sony’s relaunch of Marvel’s most popular character. In a few short days we will see how the wall-crawler will fare state-side.

Source: Deadline

Check Out The Second Trailer For Tim Burton’s ‘Frankenweenie’

by Scott Alminiana

Here’s the latest trailer for Frankenweenie. This trailer shows a little more of the story. I for one am looking forward to this, I love stop-motion animation. The voice-cast is made up of Tim Burton main-stays and includes Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Landau.  It comes alive in theaters October 5th.

Entire ‘Community’ Cast Coming Back For Season Four!

by Scott Alminiana

Good news Community fans, Deadline has confirmed that the entire cast of NBC’s cult (but ratings starved) comedy series will be returning for season four. This follows last month’s semi-shocking news that creator/showrunner Dan Harmon was replaced with new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port.

I’ve got to wonder if Harmon’s being let go was  how they got Chevy Chase to come back for season four. For those who aren’t fans of the show and who may not be aware, Chase and Harmon had a very nasty feud that started when Chase walking off set during shooting. It then escalated when Dan Harmon gave a “fuck you, Chevy” speach at the wrap party, in front of Chase’s wife and daughter. Chevy Chase then left Harmon a veeeeery nasty voice mail (you can listen here), which Harmon later played for fans at his monthly show at Meltdown comics. To say the whole thing was handled poorly is a drastic understatement. But that’s all a thing of the past now, let’s look forward to season four!

In other Community News, there will be a Community panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. It will take place on Friday, July 13 at 10 a.m. in Ballroom 20. Cast-members Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown and Gillian Jacobs will be in attendance. Jim Rash, Donald Glover and Ken Jeong are all currently working on other projects and won’t be able to make it. It’s still unclear whether or not Chevy Chase will be there. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Annie’s Boobs and/or Magnitude will make a special appearance. Pop pop!

#sixseasonsandamovie

‘The Human Fly’ To Get His Own Movie!

by Scott Alminiana

Deadline is reporting that The Human Fly movie is in development.

Now, I’ll be honest with you on this one…up until last night (literally) I had no idea who The Human Fly was. I was having dinner with some friends and they mentioned an issue of Spider-Man where he fought The Human Fly, to which I replied “huh, who?” Of course this naturally led to me being schooled in who The Human Fly was, which I will now share with you.

There have actually been two Human Fly’s in Marvel. One was a super-villain, the one that fought Spidey, and the other one was a hero, he’s the one who’s getting the movie. Now, the heroic Human Fly was based on real-life stuntman Joe Ramacieri and he was the world’s first real-life super hero! Let me clarify that a little, he really wasn’t a super hero, he was a dude that dressed up as a super hero in the 70’s and did insane stunts like ride on the back of jet planes and such. Here check this video out:

Okay, so he wasn’t a good stuntman! But apparently he was popular enough for him to become a charcter in Marvel Comics and to get his own series. From 1977-1979 The Human Fly, dubbed  “The Wildest Super-Hero Ever — Because He’s Real!” ran for 19 issues.

The movie isn’t associated with Marvel and is being executed produced by Eisenberg-Fisher Productions, which is based on the Paramount lot. It will be directed by Steven Goldman. Tony Babinski, Cirque Du Soleil’s in-house historian, wrote the Montreal-based screenplay. So, what do you guys think? Will see a Human Fly movie? I know I will…but only if he’s a terrible stuntman in the movie, like Rod Kimble in Hot Rod.

 

 

Lobo Creator Roger Slifer In Critical Condition After Hit-And-Run Incident

by Scott Alminiana

Roger Slifer, co-creator of the DC comics character Lobo, is reported to be in critical condition after he was the victim of a hit-and-run. The incident occurred late Friday, between 11 PM and 1 AM in Santa Monica, at the intersection of Colorado and 4th/5th. We have received a flyer that was found at the scene and if/when we find out more information we will update you. If anyone has any other information regarding this horrible incident please report it to authorities. Writer Flint Dille has also released 3updates with the information he has been able to gather:

Update #1: “Okay, here’s what I know. We had originally thought of keeping this quiet, because Roger is a fairly private guy, but as word is out and time might be of the essence if we’re going to find the hit-and-run driver, I’ll post what I know.

Roger is in Ronald Reagan Hospital at UCLA (I have not been in to see him, but his friends Will and Barry have). He is in intensive care. The nurse on duty could only tell me that he was in critical condition with a brain injury. Will and Barry said that he was unresponsive, but was heavily medicated since they had to do some brain surgery. I think the truth is that nobody knows what will happen. Prayers would be a good thing.

On the criminal front, it would be a very good thing to find the driver, not only for reasons of justice, but also insurance. We have no idea what Roger Slifer’s insurance situation is, but we suspect that it would be extremely helpful for medical bills.

The problem at the moment is that the Santa Monica Police do not seem to be making as much progress as they should. Some phone calls might be helpful. I’ll put everything I know in the next entry.“

Update #1: “Everything here has been related to me by Roger’s friends Barry and Will. My apologies if I’ve gotten anything wrong. I’ll update.

There is a Social Worker involved. Her name is Darlene Read (sp?) (310) 262=9752. She was the one who first contacted Roger’s friends Barry and Will after going through Roger’s phone (Roger apparently has been unconscious since he was hit). She claimed that there was a description of the car, but nobody now has reiterated that. Will called her a few times but she seems to have a lot of meetings.

Will and Barry chased down the cameras around the accident sight. The mall and other locations seemed to be willing to turn over the video to the police, but who knows how long they keep the video?

They were given the names of two police officers. Investigator Jason Olson (310) 458-2201. The other one’s name is Chris Dason (?), who apparently is out of town for a month. His number is 310 458-8954.

Investigator Olson has not returned Will’s call.

Will and Barry put flyers on the corners near where the accident happened, but returned to find that they had all been taken down. While they were putting up new ones, some fellow named Elliot rolled up on a Segway. he claimed to be from the Santa Monica Business Development Organization and that putting up hit and run flyers was against the law and that he would take them down. Apparently, the woman who is runs this organization is Paulita Elliot. Her number is 310 458-6249.

Meanwhile, a friend tried to get into Rogers apartment to see if he had any medicines, etc. or if he could find out who his doctor was, but the manager said he would not open the apartment unless the police came. He also wanted to know where the rent was.

That’s what I know now.“

Update #3: “I posted the phone numbers because I think that it is probably important that they receive a lot of calls. Roger is an important guy in comics and animation world. We want this to be as high profile as possible.

It probably wouldn’t be a bad thing to blog this.

Update: Will spoke to Paulita Elliot and she is willing to let the flyers up until next week.“