Tag: Pacific Rim

Geekscape At LA Comic Con 2019: The ‘Kaiju VS Giant Robots’ Panel!

by Jonathan

We love Kaiju! We love Giant Robots! So of course we’re talking about them! Just like our favorite genre movies, our LA Comic Con panel gets another sequel as we return to the con to talk Kaiju vs Giant Robots! This time we’ve teamed up with Geekscape favorite Matt Weinhold and the Monster Party podcast! We discuss everything from Godzilla to Power Rangers to more deep cut properties like Daimajin and Battle of the Planets! Enjoy!

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LA Comic Con 2018! The Kaiju VS Giant Robots Panel!

by Jonathan

We love Giant Robots and Kaiju monsters! Even more, we love talking about them! And this past weekend, at Los Angeles Comic Con, Geekscape hosted a panel talking all about these larger than life passions of ours! Couldn’t make it? All good! Now you can listen in to a panel of expert pros and fans alike as we talk some serious deep cuts! From Voltron to Godzilla to Pacific Rim… and including all of the really obscure and hard to find movies, comics, TV shows and art inbetween, we hope you enjoy this dive into Kaiju VS Giant Robots!

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‘Pacific Rim: Maelstrom’ News: John Boyega Set Photos & Zhang Jin Casted!

by The_acz

For those chomping at the bit for its release, We’ve gotten a handful of new news to help tide you over for the long awaited sequel to the 2013 film Pacific Rim, Pacific Rim Maelstrom.

Yesterday, The Daily Telegraph reported that Star Wars star John Boyega was on set during the films shooting all the way in Sydney Australia. The images aren’t groundbreaking, but they are pretty cool as one of them has Boyega running through what looks like a run down town.

pacific-rim-boyega

In other news, Chinese actor Zhang Jin has joined the fight amongst other Chinese stars including Wesley Wong, Qian Yong Chen, and others. Jin has been in numerous Chinese films such as The Grandmaster, IP Man 3, and more! Pacific Rim Maelstrom will be directed by Steven S. DeKnight and is on track to be released on February 23rd, 2018 (although we would be fine if you decided to release it earlier. Nudge nudge.).

zhang-jin

 

‘Pacific Rim 2’ Is Happening, with ‘Spartacus’ Creator as Director

by Eric Francisco

Contrary to previous reports, the apocalypse hasn’t been canceled.

According to Deadline, Legendary Pictures has not only given the green light for Pacific Rim 2, a sequel to Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 mecha movie but it’s also signed on Steven S. DeKnight to direct with a script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus, Doctor Strange). DeKnight is best known for creating Spartacus which aired on Starz from 2010 until 2013. He recently produced Marvel’s Daredevil for Netflix.

The news that there’s a Pacific Rim 2 at all is news to fans of the original film. The original film underperformed at the domestic box office but smashed records overseas, but it wasn’t enough for Warner Bros. and Legendary to immediately pursue a sequel. There were additional reports of Legendary shifting focus to build a monster movie universe involving King Kong and Godzilla, which would have somehow left Pacific Rim out of the equation. But it doesn’t matter now, because Pacific Rim 2 is on the way.

A cast has not yet been announced.

Geekscape Interviews: Joshua Fialkov, Author of ‘Pacific Rim: Tales of the Drift’ on Love and Mechs

by Eric Francisco

Pacific Rim rocked. In a better world it would have been a cultural phenomenon, but as it stands it’s one of those things that was too cool for the rest of the world to get (although China loved the shit out of it).

No self-respecting geek should pass up Pacific Rim, and Joshua Fialkov, the multi-time Harvey Award nominee, is relishing his chance to write the new Pacific Rim comic series Tales from the Drift, out now on Legendary’s comic imprint.

Over a week ago, I had the chance to catch up with Joshua about his influences, Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham’s input, and one strange element he’s adding to the Pacific Rim mythos: Love.

What excites you about Pacific Rim personally?

Fialkov: I love it for a bunch of reasons. The main thing is I’m 36 years old, and it hit so many of the “love buttons” from my childhood. I loved Godzilla as a kid, I loved Ultraman as a kid, I loved manga and anime. I grew up with as much of that stuff as I did American comics, if not more.

I did too.

Fialkov: The one that I always remember is there was an anime and a manga series called Gunbuster. Remember that thing?

Yeah, actually.

Fialkov: It’s like a battle school and they’re training, it’s about teenage girls training to operate these fighting… essentially they’re like little versions of the Jaegers. So, I love all the stuff. What it does for beyond that is it hits all those buttons and it mashes them up into something wholly original and wholly different, while at the same time it’s also providing commentary on our world. What I like about it and what I tried to bring in for the comic book was the idea of humanity, of humanism. Because Pacific Rim is really a story, about what mankind can do as a species.

Contrary to what people will say, contrary to politics and to wisdom, it’s really a story about how we as a species can team up and make something greater than ourselves. And it’s done both literally, in terms of everyone building the Jaegers, but then even specifically when you have the two pilots drifting together. When they’re interfacing, they’re creating something bigger and better than themselves. Something that neither of them could do individually that they actually need each other to do. And that speaks to the very core of who we are as people.

Because the truth is, none of us are an island. Everyone needs the people around them. And all of us, whether we want to admit it or not, none of us want to be alone.

Even Batman needs help sometimes, right?

Fialkov: That’s true, and sure, he gets a lot of Robins killed, but you know, can you blame him?

Of course.

Fialkov: It really is right, that type of humanity is the thing that really stuck with me, and it’s also what so much of what Tales from the Drift is about because you have as sort of the central conflict, you have these two Jaeger pilots who are in love, and they have become a unit. They are in love in a way that no one in the real world can actually be. They know every single thing about each other. So I thought the idea of telling a story that starts with we see where we’re going, we see that eventually they’re going to become this well oiled machine, but when they first meet they just absolutely hate each other.

And getting to play out those two things, getting to play out how they made the moves to get to the point where they don’t just love each other, they trust each other implicitly seemed like such a fun thing to do. You’re really telling the story of a romantic comedy, you’re just dressing it up in the clothes of giant robots and giant monsters.

I would certainly watch more romantic comedies if they all had giant monsters and giant robots.

Fialkov: Right?

You’re saying something big about the story right now. What can you tell me about your comic, especially since this isn’t the first time Pacific Rim is hitting comic book shelves. You’re talking about love. What can you elaborate about that?

Fialkov: Even though there have been other comics, everything that we do is designed so you can read it entirely on it’s own. So if you haven’t seen the movie, though it’d be weird that you’re reading this, but if you haven’t seen the movie and you’re interested in just seeing what Pacific Rim is all about you can just pick up the comic.

If you have seen the movie, or if you have read the other comics or the other books, they’re all built to be part of one kind of bigger story so they enhance each other and they make each other. They tell parts, we tell parts of the story that are in the movie and in the other comics and in the other books, but we’re telling them not only in a different medium, but in a different way.

So, just as an example, so our story is very specifically about two pilots, Duke and Kaori who are pilots of Tacit Ronin which we saw for twenty seconds, ten seconds maybe, in the movie. And Tacit Ronin is by far my favorite of all of the Jaegers. It’s named after Ronin, it’s Japanese built, and it looks a bit like a samurai. It’s neutral pose is sort of like the dueling samurai position where the samurai grabs his sword.

There’s another Japanese Jaeger named Coyote Tango. Does it show up?

Joshua Fialkov: Coyote Tango does I believe show up in issue 3 or 4. More Jaegers show up. We get to see a whole bunch of them. And Tacit Ronin, we’re seeing Tacit Ronin at the top of our story at sort of the peak of its skills. But unfortunately as the Kaiju are getting more advanced and as the Kaiju are developing, it’s just kind of not enough.

So this is a prequel?

Fialkov: Yes, it takes place before the movie. So we get to follow this love story of two pilots who are now deeply in love and how their love is the thing that either saves or dooms them in the process of fighting this gigantic monster. And like I said, what I’m proudest of really is that it’s very much a story about the people inside the Jaeger, while still having literally eleven pages of monster fighting.

It’s interesting that you’re introducing love, because love happened in Pacific Rim but in a drastically different way. Mako and Raleigh loved each other but not in the traditional movie sensibility. What made you want to insert unambiguous “I love you” into Pacific Rim?

Fialkov: Part of it is that it comes from a story that Guillermo and [screenwriter] Travis Beacham, part of it is that it comes from a story that they really wanted to tell. But then the other side of it is, like you said, we see in the movie two core relationships. We see two brothers at the beginning, we see Raleigh and his brother, and their understanding of each other is because they’ve been together their whole lives. They’ve had this entire life together that has made them easy to become a pair.

And then on the other side you have Mako and Raleigh learning to fight together, and both of them are sort of desperate for this thing to work. They are literally the last hope, they have no choice but to find a way to make it work.

What’s different about our story and what’s sort of fun to explore is this idea that these two people when they met, when they got together, the last people they wanted to match with, the last person they wanted to have a high drift compatibility score with was each other. So we get to see them really resist, and really not want it to work even though everyone around them is telling them “You idiots, this is the thing that’s supposed to work.” So I think that story is really fun and it’s really powerful.

And, again it’s fun because you’re taking those romantic comedy tropes and you’re playing it against the big giant epic scale of a giant genre story.

How much input did Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham have? Did they have any suggestions, or were they totally hands-off allowing you to do what you want?

Fialkov: Like I said, it came from a story the two of them put together. Travis wrote it from conversations with Guillermo, and then once I was brought in it was a very open conversation. I got to sit down with Guillermo and talk about what his vision was and what he wanted to accomplish with the story. He reads every script, he sees every page of art. He’s hands-on, but hands on in the very best way. You’re getting it straight from the horse’s mouth, as they say.

So what were some of your own personal influences? What got you into comic book writing, and what’s it like to be tackling something as big as Pacific Rim?

Fialkov: I got into comics very specifically to tell incredibly personal stories. It was a way to really do what we’re doing in Pacific Rim which is to tell genre stories, stories that are dressed up in the clothes of genre, but are really about people, about people and how they cope.

So this is my sixteenth or fifteenth year writing comic books, it’s been a really long time, and the bulk of what I do are books. Like, I do a book called The Bunker at Oni Press. Also coming up on Wednesday I have a new volume of a book I do called Exodus: The Life After, which is a big crazy adventure story set in the afterlife for suicides. The main character is a guy who woke up one morning in the afterlife for suicides, has no memory of committing suicide, and then goes on this epic adventure with Ernest Hemingway and an assorted cast of weirdos as he tries to figure out who he is and how he got there.

And there’s two trade paperbacks of The Life After out, and then I have a third book that I’m doing right now. It’s a book called King which I’m doing with Jet City which is an imprint of Amazon. It’s a post-apocalyptic adventure book about after every possible apocalypse that has ever happened, there is one man left on Earth, and all he wants to do is get to work to get paid. It’s literally a story of the worst commute ever.

People really don’t know if Pacific Rim 2 is coming. That’s still very much up in the air, and I read conflicting reports every day. So with the fate of Pacific Rim up in the air, what was like to contribute to a story that you don’t know is going to be built upon tomorrow?

Fialkov: I mean, I know that everybody and Legendary loves Pacific Rim. They all believe in it, they care about it. This is their baby. I know that it’s something that, there will be Pacific Rim stuff for years to come. I don’t know anything about the movie or anything about that stuff. Working on it has been really rewarding, again because the difference between this and any, I mean I’ve written He-Man comics, I’ve written Doctor Who comics, I’ve written Spider-Man, I’ve written all these different characters, but you never really get to work with the person who created the character.

Getting to work in this universe with Guillermo and with Travis has really been probably the most rewarding part because you’re getting it, like I said, straight from the horse’s mouth and you’re getting their full vision for what the world’s going to be. And these guys have such a crystal clear vision for the story they’re telling and what the universe is. I’m’ like everyone else, I can’t wait to see what they do next.

What else can you tell me about the book that we don’t know yet? Is there anything that you’re adding into the Pacific Rim mythos that might be included into Pacific Rim 2?

Fialkov: There’s some stuff, I don’t want to spoil it. A lot of it is in future issues. I do want to say, our artists are Marcos Marz who is pencils and ink, and the colorist is Marcelo Maiolo and the two of them are doing career defining work. It is so gorgeous and so cool. Guillermo hand-picked Marcos to be the artist. They’re both just doing brilliant work. And getting to work on it, just as much a fan as you are, I’m as much of a fan. So getting to add to the history of the universe, getting to add to the story of what comes next is such a huge huge huge gift for me.

Pacific Rim: Tales of the Drift is out now on comic store shelves.

Heck Yes! Legendary’s ‘Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift’ Debuts Tomorrow!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’ve been eagerly awaiting this one since it was first announced back in March, and my excitement for the project skyrocketed when I had an opportunity to chat with the book’s writer, Joshua Fialkov back at this year’s Emerald City Comic-Con. Based on his enthusiam for the franchise, I’m pretty sure that we’re in for a real treat with the Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift comic book.

Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift is set to be a four-issue monthly series, (though I sure hope that it sells enough to warrant more). Presented by Pacific Rim director Guillermo Del Toro, and with a story by Pacific Rim creator Travis Beacham (who we had on Geekscape way back when), Tales From The Drift is written by (the afformentioned) Fialkov (The Bunker, I, Vampire, Elk’s Run) and features artwork by Marcos Marz (Batman Confidential, Blackest Night: JSA).

We may not know exactly what’s happening with the Pacific Rim film sequel (but we sure hope that it’s still in the works)… or the animated series, actually, so I suppose that this will have to tide us over for the time being.

The first issue of Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift hits comic book stores tomorrow, so be sure to head out and pick up a copy, and let us know what you think!

Not quite sold yet? Take a look at the preview pages below, and you surely will be!

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‘Pacific Rim 2’ Has Been Delayed Indefinitely

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Man, this is not Guillermo Del Toro’s year.

First, the master filmmaker’s collaboration with master gamemaker Hideo Kojima, a reboot of the once lauded Silent Hill series was shuddered after Konami kind of went crazy, and now it looks like the sequel to 2013’s fantastic and original monsters fightin’ robots flick Pacific Rim has been delayed indefinitely and may not happen at all.

May not happen at all. Damn it.

THR broke the news earlier today and while not many details were provided, basically Pacific Rim was  “one of those films that grosses a lot ($411 million worldwide) while being so costly that a follow-up isn’t a sure thing.”

Damn it. With a new comic book and animated series also in the works (read my interview with the writer of the new Pacific Rim comic, Joshua Fialkov here), it may be hard to see what the future of the franchise sits, but I certainly hope that Universal comes to its senses and that Pacific Rim 2 doesn’t get lost in the drift.

In any case, I’m beyond excited for Del Toro’s upcoming Crimson Peak.

If Pacific Rim 2 still happens, what do you hope to see in the sequel?

SDCC 2015: Legendary’s Booth Once Again Steals The Show With Awesome Giveaways & An Incredible Lineup!

by Derek Kraneveldt

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since 2014’s Comic-Con International. Last year was my second incredible adventure through San Diego, which featured the opportunity to see plenty of old friends, make a whole bunch of new ones, and work my way through a myriad of unbelievable experiences, including the always show-stopping Legendary Entertainment booth, which gave me my very, very first experience with virtual reality, and also introduced me (in person) to one of my favourite directors of all time, Guillermo Del Toro.

During booth setup on Tuesday, I wondered just what Legendary could have in store for attendees this year. Gone were the impressive yet gigantic Oculus Rift-equipped Jaeger Pilot seats, and gone was the SDCC highlight Crimson Peak Gothic Gallery. In fact, during setup, Legendary’s area appeared decidedly more spacious, aside from an beyond-impressive, life-sized Orgrim Doomhammer.

It turns out that the company needed all of that extra space, as this year’s convention appears bigger than ever for the industry giant, and also includes a partnership and giveaway that (I believe) is unparalleled in Comic-Con history.

During the company’s preview night event on Wednesday, which we were lucky enough to attend, Legendary representatives spoke at length about the fact that, while a film studio at its core (and an impressive comic book company to boot), they’re also an experience company, and creating market defining experiences is extremely important to the company and its future. As such, the company decided to release its stellar Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot experience, along with two new VR experiences (one for Warcraft, and one for Crimson Peak), to the masses with the help of Google and its Cardboard viewer.

Cardboard

Legendary and Google have partnered up to give away 50,000 Cardboard viewers (the new design, too) during the course of the convention, and if yesterday (Thursday) was any indication, these things are hot. The lineup to grab a Legendary-logoed cardboard viewer was longer than the lineup for many of the actors around the show floor. Apparently, people are dying to get their hands on these things. Learn more about the partnership via the video below, and if you have a Cardboard viewer (or would just like to pan the camera around these experiences) head to legendary.com/vr.

https://youtu.be/G8vZXau9nFg

There was far more to see at the Legendary booth than just VR, however. As I mentioned above, the company also officially revealed the film’s version of Orgrim Doomhammer for the horde, but also brought us over to the nearby Weta booth to unveil the Alliance’s King Llane.

KingLlane

Llane was unveiled by Warcraft director Duncan Jones, and WETA founder (yep, WETA’s freaking founder) Richard Taylor. Following the unveiling, Taylor, Jones, and press members returned to Legendary’s booth to chat about what we just saw. Here’s Richard talking about the amount of work that went into this portable Doomhammer.

https://youtu.be/sf40gbOBga0

And here’s Duncan Jones talking about the prospect of magic in Warcraft‘s world, and also whether or not gamers would see any noticeable easter eggs in the upcoming film.

https://youtu.be/s3L3-AP5R-A

Overall, it was another amazing preview night from Legendary Entertainment. The company really is a juggernaut in the film industry, and always manages to somehow get me interested in properties that I didn’t know that I had interest in, for instance, the upcoming Straight Outta Compton.

Of course, those weren’t all of the revelations that Legendary had in store for us. Also announced were three incredible looking Mondo prints that will be available at Mondo’s booth this Saturday (pictured below), and yesterday, a Warcraft prequel graphic novel from Legendary Comics was debuted.

An exciting night, an incredible way to kick off Comic-Con, and an incredible preview of what Legendary Entertainment has in store for us this year. I can’t freaking wait for Crimson Peak, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. As always, thanks for those at Legendary for hosting an amazing night!

Legendary’s booth #3920, which is right across from #3919 (us). Be sure to go and give them a visit (after saying hi to us, of course), and check out Orgrim for yourself!

Mondo

‘Warcraft’, ‘Pacific Rim 2’ Get New Release Dates!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Dang.

Two films that I was really looking forward to have just received delays. Sure, they’re small delays, but delays nonetheless.

Warcraft, which was initially slated for March 2016, has received a new date of June 10th 2016. This puts it into the busy Summer movie season (showing confidence for the film, right?), and also pushes it away from the sure-to-be-a-blockbuster Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Pacific Rim 2 was originally set to release in April of 2017, and will also get a push to the Summer, hitting theatres on August 4th, 2017.

At least each push is only a few months, right? Are one are you most looking forward to? Sound out below!

Alliance

ECCC 2015: Joshua Fialkov Talks ‘Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

This past weekend at Seattle’s Emerald City Comicon, I had the opportunity to have a fantastic conversation with the writer of the just-announced Pacific Rim comic series, Tales From The Drift. Joshua Fialkov is best known for series like Echoes, Elk’s Run, I, Vampire, The Bunker, and The Life After. As a huge fan of Pacific Rim and the world that Guillermo Del Toro, Travis Beacham, and cast/crew have created, I was already looking forward to the new series. After talking with Joshua, my anticipation has skyrocketed, and the November release can’t come soon enough.

Read on for our conversation, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for the book!

Derek: Why don’t you start off by telling me a little bit about Tales From The Drift. Obviously the book was just announced, and it’s pretty freaking exciting.

Joshua: It is very exciting. I’m a huge Pacific Rim nerd. I love it, and when I went in for the meeting – I haven’t told this to anyone yet so you’re actually getting original material here– when I went in for the meeting at Legendary I didn’t know what I was going in for, but the first words out of my mouth when I sat down were “If you guys want to do more Pacific Rim comics, I’ll do it for toys.”

D: And now that’s how they’re paying you, right?

J: Nah, they are actually paying me money. I did get some toys. Not all the toys though. I still want more toys. If I do more I’m going to work that in. I want the 18-inch ones because oh-my-god they’re so cool.

But yeah, it’s set in the world of Pacific Rim. It’s very much it’s own story though, so if you just want to read an awesome story about robots fighting giant monsters you can totally go there. Also it shines new light on what you’ve seen in the movies. There might even be hints for things to come. It’s set after Tales From Year Zero but before the events of the movie.

D: So it sounds like you’re a huge fan of the film. Of course, it didn’t perform as well around here as many of us were hoping, what do you think about that?

J: I think that eventually it did [alright]. That’s the thing about great stuff. It always finds an audience, even if it didn’t at the time. That’s the great thing about Legendary is that they really believe in their work. They believe in what they’re doing and they stand behind it.

D: On that note, how does it feel to work with Legendary Comics as opposed to your traditional publishers?

J: Between the two Bobs (Napton and Schreck), like that’s 25 years of publishing experience right there, maybe even each. They have a ton of experience in comics, like Bob [Napton]’s been in comics since Image formed, and Schreck worked at Dark Horse and helped found Oni, so you definitely have these guys that really know the business and how this stuff works, so that side of it’s kind of covered. Creatively, they’re super great to work with. They love their properties, and they understand them, and they understand what’s cool about them. You get to just tell these stories that are compelling and fun and you don’t have to worry about approval or crossing over with other people’s stories because it’s one world, there’s one guy on top of that world and that guy is involved and loves everything that he’s working on. Guillermo [Del Toro] has so much passion for the franchise that he’s heavily involved and wants to make sure everything helps craft it into the property he always wanted it to be.

D: Have you been working directly with Travis [Beacham] and Guillermo in developing the book?

J: The story was actually written by Travis, and then we sat down with Guillermo and had a long conversation about the look and the feel and some of the specifics. It’s incredible, because that guy, for all the things he’s working on, had minutia level of detail of the franchise and of what he’s doing and what his plans are. It’s actually been great because you’re talking to the guy who decides as opposed to the committee who decides or the random people who don’t really have an opinion. It’s literally the guy who loves it more than anything on Earth that tells you what you need to know.

D: Stepping back a bit, I know that you loved the film, but what were your impressions of Tales From Year Zero?

J: That’s a weird question. What do you want from me? [raises voice] I though it was delightful. No, it was really good. One of the things that we talked about and one of the reasons I think they hired me is that I’ve done tons of “tie-in media”, but the stuff that I do tends not to feel like tie-in media. I really focus on how to make the story as compelling, and as important as possible. Part of doing that is about raising the stakes and part of doing that is about making the characters compelling enough to stand on their own. One of the things that we talked about, and one of the things that was important to me is that you don’t need to know anything about Pacific Rim to enjoy the comic, especially if you like giant robots or giant monsters.

D: Will we see Stacker Pentecost in the book? And how many times will he cancel the apocalypse?

J: [laughs] We did cancel the apocalypse. It was coming and I said “No, we’re good. Don’t worry about it, maybe later.” No, you might. There’ll be multiple characters from the movie showing up.

D: Obviously you’ve got quite the varied bibliography. After dealing with things like tumours, schizophrenics, murder mysteries, vampires, and more, how do you transition to writing giant robots versus monsters?

J: It’s actually all the same. It sounds funny, but it’s all about– and one of the reasons that I like Pacific Rim so much is that I tend to write about the damage that we do to ourselves. So much of the technology side of Pacific Rim is about that, right. Whether it’s literally within the drift, where you’re your own worst enemy, which we all are so it’s not science-fiction but truth, to even the ecological stuff. All those things have a grounding that’s very human and very real so it’s not that different, but you also get that part where the giant monsters fight the robots.

D: So Tales From The Drift is a standalone four issues. Is open to more afterwards?

J: I hope so. I’d love to continue.

D: And what do you hope to see from Pacific Rim 2?

J: I know like, a teeny-tiny amount about Pacific Rim 2, and it’s awesome. I think again, that Guillermo knows the story that he wants to tell, and it’s going to be so awesome.

Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift will launch as a four-issue monthly series this November. Presented by Pacific Rim director Guillermo Del Toro, and with a story by Pacific Rim creator Travis Beacham, Tales From The Drift is written by Joshua Fialkov (The Bunker, I, Vampire, Elk’s Run) and features artwork by Marcos Marz (Batman Confidential, Blackest Night: JSA). The book will also feature Jaegers never before seen in combat, squaring off against all-new Kaiju creatures. Legendary Comics has debuted two preview pages from the upcoming book, and the both look gorgeous. Take a look below!

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Legendary Comics Announces ‘Pacific Rim’ Comic Series, Two New Properties!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Hot on the heels of announcing graphic novels based on Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat and Krampus, Legendary Comics today announced three new titles; a continuation of 2013’s Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero, and two entirely new IP’s.

Pacific Rim: Tales From The Drift will launch as a four-issue monthly series this November. Presented by Pacific Rim director Guillermo Del Toro, and with a story by Pacific Rim creator Travis Beacham (who we had on Geekscape way back when), Tales From The Drift is written by Joshua Fialkov (The Bunker, I, Vampire, Elk’s Run) and features artwork by Marcos Marz (Batman Confidential, Blackest Night: JSA). More info on the book is still to come, but Tales From The Drift is said to feature Jaegers never before seen in combat, squaring off against all-new Kaiju creatures. Take a look at two preview pages below, and read on for the new IP’s!

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Next up is espionage thriller Black Bag. This one’s about a suburban wife-turned-covert government assassin comes from writer Chris Roberson, creator of the breakout comic iZombie (you know, the one that just got a fantastic series), and features art from fast-rising talent JB Bastos, known for his standout work on Lion Forge’s Night Trap. Black Bag will run for six issues, and is set to debut this Fall. Unlike Tales From The Drift, this one’s already got a synopsis, which is as follows:

A suburban housewife with a criminal past and a thirst for adrenaline is about to get a top-secret side job: carrying out the government’s most dangerous missions.

Renear is tired of playing by the rules. A valedictorian and top athlete in her younger years, she’s sacrificed a promising career to tie the knot and play house… isn’t there more to life than this? Of course there is – if you’re willing to take the shot.

It’s time the world found out what she is truly capable of.

Here’s a gorgeous preview page:

black bag

Finally, it’s Cops for Criminals, a daring new crime-thriller series about a federal agent forced to find true justice in the criminal underworld. This one’s got some all-star talent attached as it’s written by Steven Grant (Punisher War Journal, Avengers, Hulk, X) with art from Pete Woods (Deadpool, Robin, Catwoman). Here’s the synopsis:

When a federal agent becomes a victim of the system he has sworn to uphold, he finds true justice in the criminal underworld.

 

Agent Woods was one of the best – but everything changed when he was wrongfully convicted and labeled a traitor. After serving his time, this ex-convict is cut loose onto the lawless streets to fight corruption on both sides of the law. Even criminals need a code – and every code needs an enforcer.

And a preview page:

Cops for Criminals

Which books will you be adding to your pull list? For me? Easy. All of them!

36 Great Halloween Marathon-Worthy Movies (That Aren’t Horror)

by Eric Francisco

I don’t even need to describe how popular it is to watch horror movies during this time of year, do I? You do it. Your friends do it. You probably do it with your friends. You might even do it with your parents if they’re cool. I need to work on phrasing, but especially in the Age of the Binge-Watch, Halloween movie marathons are a popular modern ritual.

Although it makes all the sense in the world to indulge in horror movies during the one month you’re pretty much obligated to, there’s no reason you can’t change things up a little bit. There exists countless horror-ish films that would be perfect for a Halloween binge-watch to throw in between A Nightmare on Elm Street and pretty much any Stanley Kubrick movie. From dark genre movies, visceral documentaries, to grim comedies, here’s a fun list of movies to select from if you don’t feel like watching the later Friday the 13th movies for the bazillionth time.

Also, I chose not to include some of the more obvious choices. The idea is to change things up a bit more. So no matter how much you love them, I have not included Van Helsing, nor American Psycho, or Ghostbusters, Shaun of the Dead, Freddy vs. Jason, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Zombieland, or even Hocus Pocus. You probably already watch Hocus Pocus anyway.

You don’t need to watch everything here. Take one or two to spruce up your Halloween marathon. You might be pleasantly surprised.

This is also by all means not a complete list. These are just suggestions.

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The Crow (1994, dir. Alex Proyas)

An amazing film was created for almost $15 million in 1994. $8 million was added for tragic reasons. On Devil’s Night in Detroit, rock star Eric Draven and his fiance Shelly are murdered. One year later, Eric rises from the grave for revenge.

Although kind of an obvious choice given its grim aesthetic, this film is largely undiscussed during Halloween, and that baffles me. It came at the right time: smack dab in the grungy 90’s, when comic books started overcompensating for their campy roots. The Crow is rightfully celebrated for being a weird, stylish gothic action film. Eric Draven is such a cool character, I mean just fucking look at him. It’s no wonder Sting modeled a look right after him in WCW (and has kept that look ever since). Have you ever listened to the soundtrack? Listen to it. It’s a great collection of grunge-gothic rock from the only decade that kind of music could ever exist.

Sadly, the film’s production was troubled; the death of its star, Brandon Lee, was killed under freaky circumstances during filming. It’s far more haunting when you consider his father, the legendary Bruce Lee, also passed away during production of The Game of Death. Although incredibly unfortunate, it has made this awesome, kick-ass movie otherworldly.

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Gojira (1954, dir. Ishiro Honda)

Casual filmgoers scoff at Godzilla movies. It’s the bad special effects and awful dubbing which relegate the films to the schlock B-movie category. Well if they ever do that to Gojira, those people are idiots and they can go fuck themselves. Gojira is superbly grim, and nothing like the silliness (and, let’s be honest, total awesomeness) that followed. Coming almost ten years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II, Gojira remains a visual poem to the dangers of nuclear war. The attraction might be a gigantic lizard terrorizing Japan, but at its heart Gojira is very human, as the people who can stop the monster struggle with their own inner demons and ask questions no one is willing to answer. The black and white cinematography add to Godzilla’s mystique and his grotesque form is made stranger with the less you see. You can pick a later Godzilla movie and laugh and cheer at the G-man. You watch this one, however, and you’re terrified but awe-struck by his destructive elegance.

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13 Assassins (2010, dir. Takashi Miike)

One of the most thrilling samurai epics in recent film history, horror master Takashi Miike explores other genre territory but brings along the tools he knows best in 13 Assassins. A lord with unlimited power wreaks havoc at will, and so a gang of samurai band together to put an end to his madness. Although very much a samurai film, Miike’s signature gore and macabre visuals are in full display; vivid red blood pours out of a man’s belly from ritual suicide, a woman in ghostly white geisha make-up is left without limbs, a monster of a ruler target practices his archery against children. It may not be a horror film, but it can be pretty damn close. Watch for the climactic showdown. It’s a whopping 50 minutes.

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The Animatrix (2003, dir. various)

I love The Matrix. Even if Reloaded and Revolutions aren’t well-favored by most, its ambition and imagination still exceeds even some of the more revered films out there. I could put the entire trilogy on this list, but you’ve already seen them and you’re probably one of the many who hate the sequels. But I also don’t need to, because The Animatrix exists and believe it or not, it’s pretty fucking terrifying. This anthology brings together some of the biggest names in anime, and serves as a wonderful exercise on the auteur theory. Each short is wildly different from the next, and its scope is boundless despite being no more than maybe ten minutes each. My personal favorite is “A Detective Story” (pictured) but you absolutely need to watch “The Second Renaissance.” In fact, I’ll allow you to skip most of the film if you must (although you shouldn’t), but “The Second Renaissance” is mandatory viewing.

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Dredd (2012, dir. Pete Travis)

I liked Dredd but I didn’t love it. Still, as a throwback to super violent 80s/90s action movies (and a dash of sci-fi), with modern special effects, grungy locales, and an antagonist straight out of a prog-rock album, it’s worth watching. Especially on Halloween, if you find yourself tired of helpless teenagers, it will be refreshing to watch someone totally capable of kicking ass. I’m hoping for a sequel that far exceeds the quality of its predecessor, but until then, Dredd isn’t a bad choice.

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Room 237 (2012, dir. Rodney Ascher)

If The Shining isn’t a part of your Halloween marathon, you’re a complete failure. It truly is one of the best films, period, we’re not even talking horror. However, a fantastic companion piece is the documentary Room 237 that delves into some of the most bizarre critical theories about this wonderful, weird movie. Turn off the lights and turn up the volume. Some of the revelations — whether you agree or not — can be just as terrifying.

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Bunraku (2010, dir. Guy Mosche)

No one watched Bunraku. No one. Which is why you should at least check it out, especially this time of year. Costumes and intricate sets galore in this weird, all substance and no style, wacky mish-mosh of jidaigeki and westerns all made by a guy who played a lot of Nintendo growing up. The setting is a total novelty, a vaudeville romp with costumes you’d love to wear to a party. I don’t think it’s particularly good, but I love it. Woody Harrelson plays a mentor figure of sorts, and Ron Perlman plays the villain. You should be sold now.

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The Act of Killing (2013, dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)

Nothing is more terrifying than real people doing evil things. No amount of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krugers can match up to war criminals, corrupt dictators, serial killers, sex criminals, and racists. Enter The Act of Killing, the Oscar-nominated documentary on the 1965-1966 mass killings of suspected communists in Indonesia. 500,000 people were horrifically murdered for even remotely being associated with communism, and these acts and the people who committed them are celebrated in Indonesia today as something of a folk tale. Tons of people who worked on this movie withheld their identities for fear that they will be killed by these monsters who are still alive today. A powerful examination on the human condition and a surreal peek inside the mind of a mass murderer, it is an audacious work of filmmaking and far more paralyzing than any horror movie. Make this movie the last to watch for the day. If you’re still human, you don’t want to go on.

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Man of Tai Chi (2013, dir. Keanu Reeves)

Probably the least qualified to be on this list, Man of Tai Chi makes it because Keanu Reeves as a kung-fu villain is too good to pass up. Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut is one hell of a action film with excellent choreography and enough of a creepy, sterile setting that feels like it came from a totally different movie. Dramatic lighting, bad ass fights, and exotic locales makes this worth watching if you’re tired of cabins in woods.

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Detention (2010, dir. Joseph Kahn)

I’m kind of breaking my own rules here because Detention is technically a horror movie, but way, way, way more people need to see this kintetic teen rollick. A true groundbreaker in genre filmmaking, Detention‘s plot is kind of hard to sum up, but it involves a horror slasher come to life, high school, time travel, a bear, UFOs, and a super meta examination of modern teen movies. Joseph Kahn’s ADD-filled tribute to 90s culture is like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the click-bait crowd, but that crowd is a little too stupid to appreciate this awesome, kick-ass flick. And you’re not stupid, so watch Detention.

If there is ONLY one movie to take from this list, make it Detention.

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Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013, dir. Isaac Florentine)

Ninjas are a popular costume for people like that asshole Jake who is going out with your ex-girlfriend. So cleanse your palette and watch real ninjas like Scott Adkins and Kane Kosugi kick total ass that douchebags like Jake can’t because he’s a douchebag. Ninja: Shadow of a Tear gets bonus points because Scott gets his ninja costume FROM A GRAVE. So that’s kinda Halloween.

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Super (2010, dir. James Gunn)

James Gunn went from indie rock filmmaker to Super Bowl halftime after this year’s Guardians of the Galaxy, so if you’re unfamiliar with his work the time to check him out was six months ago. He has a more Halloween-appropriate comedy/horror flick in Slither but since the goal of this list is to branch out, Super is appropriate. It is strictly a superhero movie, but it contains such dark humor you’re left laughing uncomfortably. “You can’t walk anymore!” yells Ellen Page in a superhero costume to a criminal she crippled. When it’s not making you laugh, it can be just as dark as a Stanley Kubrick movie.

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993, dir. Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm)

Heads up: There are three Batman films on this list, but don’t worry: none of them are helmed by Christopher Nolan, or even Tim Burton (and Joel Schumacher). Originally planned as a direct-to-video release, it strangely got a total theatrical release and consequently bombed due to short notice. But who cares, because this is arguably one of the best Batman movies period. A strange vigilante has shown up taking out criminals and the police mistake him for Batman. Batman then tries to clear his name while finding out who is the strange new crime fighter. Dark, smart, and beautifully animated, it’s appropriate being the film coming from the best cartoons ever made.

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Batman (1966, dir. Leslie H. Martinson)

Because there really are some days you can’t get rid of a bomb. Here’s a tip: Don’t be a loser and watch The Dark Knight for the umpteenth time. The pro-Men’s Rights guy that you argue with on Facebook sometimes is watching The Dark Knight. Don’t be that guy. Indulge on the utter nonsense that was the 1966 Batman, arguably the best Batman we’ve ever had.

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Batman: Under the Red Hood  (2010, dir. Brandon Vietti)

Batman: Under the Red Hood just might be one of my favorite Batman movies. This tight, emotionally-wrenching animated film about Batman crossing paths with the Red Hood is super fitting for Halloween. While legendary Kevin Conroy does not voice the Dark Knight, Bruce Greenwood does an excellent job, as does the rest of the cast of this great piece of animation. John DiMaggio exceeds as the Joker, which is shocking because I never thought his deep, scruffy voice would ever fit the clown prince. Just look at that image above. You can tell you’re not in for your usual after-school cartoon.

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Dogma (1999, dir. Kevin Smith)

I’ll try to defend Kevin Smith as much as possible, but even I can only go so long. While Tusk and Red State may be actual horror movies, Dogma is the one with actual devils and supernatural beings. Two exiled angels attempt to re-enter heaven thanks to a holy loophole, and doing so can unmake the very fabric of reality. It’s got demonic shit monsters, evil hockey players, the thirteenth apostle, and a truckload of dick, weed, and fart jokes. Watch Dogma and indulge on irreverent comedy back when Smith made sense.

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Drive (2011, dir. Nicholas Winding Refln)

Drive was a festival darling when it first came out, and since then it has kind of lopsided in its relevancy. People just kind of stopped talking about it. It’s become something of a new Donnie Darko: a dark, gritty movie that seemed cool but is now almost something of a joke. I say almost because once in awhile, when the stars align right, you can still see the kick-ass B-movie, pseudo-horror action noir that everyone else saw that summer in 2011, and not the movie your jerk roommate won’t shut up about. The amazing 80s-centric techno soundtrack is a standout. “Nightcall” by Kavinsky could have opened an 80s horror movie.

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Masked Rider The First (2005, dir. Takao Nagaishi)

Even some hardcore genre film fans barely watch tokusatsu, so introduce yourself with this kind of bad, kind of awesome package of B-movie sci-fi/superhero with a touch of horror. Kamen Rider has been a staple of Japanese sci-fi for almost forty years, and this film reboots the jump-kicking grasshopper into a darker hero. There are much better Kamen Rider movies and shows to watch — Ryuki, Kabuto, W, Gaim — but I suspect there’s a chance most of you don’t even know what I’m talking about. So start with, appropriately titled, The First.

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Lo (2009, dir. Travis Betz)

Just look at that motherfucker. I’m once again breaking my rules because Lo is still considered kind of a horror movie, but it’s less that and more of an experimental film examining love and loss. Justin has lost his girlfriend, so he summons a demon and tasks him to find her in Hell. Lo is a total dick and a riot, and solid reason why you should watch this, at least if you’re stoned. It might be a little too out there for some people, and it can be eye-rollingly arthouse — some of it takes place on a stage — but there’s enough weirdness to make it a refreshing piece to any Halloween binge-watch.

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Following (1998, dir. Christopher Nolan)

When I think Christopher Nolan, I want to think the guy who made Inception and Memento. I hate thinking about the guy that made The Dark Knight Rises. I’m so stoked for Interstellar because Nolan is a masterful, visual storyteller who belongs in cinema, I just hate he had to waste a solid nine years doing Batman. Check out Following to see the sensei when he was a journeyman, and you’ll see he had talent all along. His first film is an claustrophobic noir thriller excellent for this time of year.

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Hellboy and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, or pretty much anything from Guillermo Del Toro (2004 and 2008, dir. Guillermo del Toro)

Ron Perlman plays the candy-bar eating, TV-watching demon who fights and investigates paranormal threats in service to a dedicated government agency. The film adaptations are smart, funny, imaginative, utterly strange, and everything you would want in a dark fantasy blockbuster. The creatures and set designs are signature del Toro, and while you could also watch his other work — The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labyrinth — it’s the Hellboy movies where you’ll have the most fun.

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Knights of Badassdom, (2013, dir. Joe Lynch)

Wikipedia classifies Knights of Badassdom as a comedy-horror, and while it’s not entirely wrong it’s definitely far more comedic than horror. In fact, I’d call it comedic dark fantasy. Best friends participate in a LARP (live-action role play, aka something I’m dying to do) and accidentally summon a succubus and it terrorizes the whole park. The production of the film had some trouble; filming started in 2010 but wasn’t officially released until 2013. It stars, among others, the now A-list Peter Dinklage, who has become a household name in Game of Thrones. But before that, the dude was drunkenly swinging rubber swords in what I think is a rather fun, pretty dumb little movie.

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Men in Black (1997, dir. Barry Sonnenfeld)

A lot of Will Smith movies are actually watchable on Halloween. I Am Legend stands out, and if I wanted to I’d say Independence Day but we all know when to watch that. But I often forget how good Men in Black is. The sequels have diminished the series, but the first film stands as a tight, fun, wacky sci-fi movie that totally gives the middle finger to paranoid conspiracy theorists who have always feared nameless government agents. The cockroach monster is remarkably terrifying in design.

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Mortal Kombat (1995, dir. Kevin Droney)

You’ve just heard the gong and now the music is playing in your head. Based on the video games that have freaking zombie ninjas, Mortal Kombat is probably one of the best film adaptations of a video game, period. While still reeking of B-movie mediocrity, its top-notch fight choreography, practical dark fantasy sets, and 90s camp make Mortal Kombat a total winner for Halloween marathons. It even includes a totally awesome fight scene with Reptile, who has nothing but a coding joke in the first game.

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Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue (2009, dir. Andrew Monument)

This gripping documentary traces the history and evolution of the American horror film as a genre and reflection of the cultural psyche. Tightly edited and chillingly narrated by Lance Henriksen (Admiral Hackett in Mass Effect), it’s an educating and entertaining college course condensed into ninety minutes.

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Oldboy (2003, dir. Park Chan-wook)

I don’t even know where to begin. Easily in my personal top five, this psychological thriller is a testament to what is possible in cinema. Five-star acting, expert directing and storytelling, haunting cinematography, and a hypnotic soundtrack, Oldboy is a great movie to watch any day of the week all-year long. If you haven’t seen this movie, you’re a failure, but you can redeem yourself if you watch it the one month where you’re allowed to see something fucked up. You won’t see the ending coming.

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Pacific Rim (2013, dir. Guillermo del Toro)

I already listed “anything by Guillermo del Toro,” but I need to single out Pacific Rim. I cannot talk about this movie enough. Legitimately one of the best and most imaginative sci-fi movies ever, the film acts as both a loving tribute to kaiju movies, tokusatsu, and anime, and as a flag-planter embarking on its own legacy. Featuring one the most beautiful, haunting, and utterly elegiac sequences in cinema — a child runs alone from the gigantic monster chasing her — is a poignant, truly scary picture of destruction and innocence. Also it’s wonderfully light and funny, a welcome feeling from the summer that brought us the stupidly dark Man of Steel. Pacific Rim is everything you want in a big blockbuster and why you should still go to the theaters. Gigantic kaiju monsters and robots are perfect on Halloween, and this is kaiju at its best. Anyone that looked at this movie, saw giant robots fighting, and scoffed at the notion can rightfully go fuck themselves. Those people lack imagination and should not be bothered with.

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Road to Perdition (2002, dir. Sam Mendes)

Breathtaking cinematography, top-notch directing, cool characters, and a gritty aesthetic make Road to Perdition far different than anything you can watch on Halloween. Tom Hanks plays an ex-mobster and father who seeks vengeance for the death of his family. The creepy assassin played by Jude Law is a woefully underrated movie villain.

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Soylent Green (1973, dir. Richard Fleischer)

The ending line to this dystopian sci-fi movie is one of the most iconic lines in movie history. And while it’s pretty much a spoiler, it’s still worth watching. You knew Darth Vader was Luke’s father anyway, and you still watched Star Wars. So check out Charlton Heston get freaked the fuck out over what soylent green actually is. It’s a horrific revelation — so, great for Halloween.

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Super 8 (2011, dir. J.J. Abrams)

I envy J.J. Abrams. That dude grew up watching Steven Spielberg and Star Wars and what is he doing now? Having movies produced by Steven f’n Spielberg and doing Star Wars 7. Super 8 has been appropriately described as Cloverfield meets Stand By Me. A group of kids making a movie in a small-town in 1979 America witness a dangerous entity unleashed from a train accident. It’s both sci-fi and coming-of-age, so check it out when you’re gorging on candy corns.

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Princess (2006, dir. Anders Morgenthaler)

A missionary comes home after his sister, a prominent adult films star, dies of drug abuse. With her 5-year-old daughter left behind, he adopts her and sets out on a vengeful quest to destroy all remaining pornographic materials of his departed sister. The animation — which given the premise, makes the juxtaposition that much stronger — is slightly low-quality, but the storytelling is gripping. Feel free to categorize this under “totally fucked up movies” to watch with bros. It truly is a totally fucked up movie, and on a subversive level not even The Human Centipede can match. Trust me.

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Throne of Blood (1957, dir. Akira Kurosawa)

Almost any film adaptation of Macbeth is fitting for Halloween. Witches and demons are everywhere, and on a meta-level the superstition of even naming the play has existed for centuries. Kurosawa’s adaptation of the Scottish play and morphing it into feudal Japan is a haunting, terrifying ride of using evil to rise to power. Toshiro Mifune is always a treat to watch — the man was almost Obi-Wan — and to watch him totally get fucked up is a cinematic thrill. Lady Asaji Washizu — aka Lady Macbeth, portrayed by Isuzu Yamada — has one of the eeriest scenes ever filmed.

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V For Vendetta (2006, dir. James McTeigue)

The use of the Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of millennial, post-9/11 rebellion never ceases to amaze me. I’m excited to read the eventual, inevitable book about the phenomenon. But regardless of your feelings of Anonymous, V For Vendetta remains a powerful piece of dark dystopia with one of the most enigmatic characters ever in fiction. I actually liked the changes made to V in the film, seeing him goof off and cook eggs makes an excellent, fun character. Still rather smart after all these years, its grim and stylish swagger makes V For Vendetta a refreshing Halloween marathon movie. Be honest: If you see V show up in your home, you’d shit your pants.

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Watchmen (2009, dir. Zack Snyder)

One day I’ll live in a world where Watchmen is a far more appreciated film than it is right now. But today is not that day. It is still the best film adaptation we could have ever gotten, and it’s an achievement it even exists. The origin of Doctor Manhattan remains one of the most beautifully-shot and chilling sequences in modern filmmaking today. If you can, watch the Ultimate Cut; it is combined with the animated horror short, Tales of the Black Freighter, which solidifies Watchmen a worthy entry into any Halloween binge. Just make it the last one, the Ultimate Cut is almost four hours long.

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Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2009, dir. Frank H. Woodward)

H.P. Lovecraft is horror. His influences knows no bounds. From Guillermo del Toro to Neil Gaiman to even freaking Pirates of the Caribbean, the man established so much of what we know as horror today. This appropriately eerie documentary on the man himself is chilling, haunting, and incredibly informative.

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Rear Window (1954, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Alfred Hitchcock rightfully holds the championship title of the “Master of Suspense.” Plenty of his movies set the bar for what we consider horror today, even if the majority of his films more correctly can be considered suspense thrillers. Yet movies like Psycho and The Birds have influenced generations of horror filmmakers, and no one could teach this kung-fu better than ol’ Al. For this year’s Halloween, if you haven’t already, check out one suspense thriller that is just two steps away from being proper horror: the classic Rear Window. The showdown with the film’s antagonist — a true son of a bitch that could have been a horror movie slasher in a parallel universe — is shot and edited wonderfully that is as terrifying as any top-tier slasher. Any horror fan can watch Psycho. True horror fans will see the terror in Rear Window. 

Know of any other non-horror horror movies to watch? Comment below! I’m sure I left out a couple dozen.

SDCC 2014: The Legendary Booth Wows Us Again With The ‘Crimson Peak Gothic Gallery’ And ‘Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

San Diego Comic-Con is a blast, isn’t it?

We’re in the midst of the convention’s second full day, and after checking out most of the floor and a lot of the offsite events (look for more on those later), the Legendary Entertainment booth is without a doubt one of the coolest experiences of the con (just like last year).

This year, instead of a gigantic warehouse, Legendary is showing off its talent by creating a mind-blowing experience in a tiny space. This consists of two events: the Crimson Peak Gothic Gallery and Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot.

The Crimson Peak Gothic Gallery is a physical experience handcrafted by Guillermo del Toro himself, fans will get a glimpse behind the curtain of Crimson Peak and an early tease of the ultimate haunted house. Designed in the look of one of the sets of the movie, the Gothic Gallery is a living breathing gallery of curiosities that includes props, costumes, and an atmospheric soundscape designed by Academy Award®Winner Randy Thom.

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I had the amazing opportunity to be taken through the gallery by Guillermo Del Toro himself, and hearing him describe the art,  intricacies, and incredible design of the Gothic Gallery and the film’s mansion and props made me incredibly excited for a movie that we still don’t know a lot about. Del Toro wrote Crimson Peak over eight years ago, and after speaking with Del Toro about the film, I’m beyond sure that it will be worth the wait. He did say that we’ll see a teaser at the Legendary Entertainment panel on Saturday, so hopefully it’ll release online afterwards!

Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot is the next evolution of the thrilling universe Legendary is creating with director Guillermo del Toro. Created by the leading pioneers of virtual reality, Oculus VR, the attraction delivers a new benchmark in virtual reality experiences as fans will step into a fully-realized Jaeger Combat Simulator and experience what it feels like to pilot a 250-story robot. Created with original film assets from Industrial Light & Magic and developed within Unreal Engine 4, Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot provides a thrilling first-person battle between Gipsy Danger and the kaiju codenamed Knifehead.

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Jaeger Pilot was my first Oculus Rift experience, and it was freaking incredible. I’d seen countless videos of people freaking out on the roller coaster and other demos, but I had no idea just how truly immersive VR could be until I stepped inside a Jaeger. This was an experience that I could do again and again (and again), and not tire of. It’s tough to describe the feeling, but after removing the Oculus headset it was crystal clear to me that VR is the future of interactive entertainment. With the Jaeger Pilot experience being so cool, so early on, I cannot wait to see what VR develops into.

The Legendary booth is #3920, and is right next to Geekscape. Here’s how you can get into the booth yourself:

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Guillermo Del Toro Announces A Trifecta Of ‘Pacific Rim’ Projects, Including ‘Pacific Rim 2’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’ve heard rumours for what seems like forever, and based on the first film’s performance we weren’t sure that it would ever happen, but Guillermo Del Toro himself has just announced that Pacific Rim 2 is officially in production.

Del Toro is working with The Avengers writer Zak Penn and Pacific Rim creator Travis Beacham on the project, but another film isn’t all that Legendary has in store for us. We’ll also be getting a Pacific Rim animated series, and the comic book series that began with movie tie-in Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero will also continue.

Speaking to Buzzfeed, Del Toro said that “The characters I love will return. Raleigh, Mako, Newt, Gottlieb and who knows, maybe even Hannibal Chau – but we are taking them into a fresh territory that will display amazing sights and battles. The first film set the stage and now we’re ready to have a blast.”

As a huge fan of the first film, I’d be happy to see anything new from this universe. A new film, an animated series, and a comic book series? I’m on board for everything.

Take a look at Del Toro’s announcement below, and let us know if you’re excited! Pacific Rim 2 will hit theatres on April 7th, 2017.

It’s ‘Pacific Rim’ Vs. ‘Godzilla’ In An Awesome Fan-Made Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Godzilla would eat Gipsy Danger’s nuclear core right up, but this mashup was simply too cool not to share.

Even during my first watch of Godzilla on Thursday night, I had thoughts about how the monster would fit into the world of last year’s Pacific Rim. MOVIECLIPS Trailers took it one step (or a lot of steps) further, and actually mixed the two into a cool trailer.

It’s a neat watch, and it’s definitely thought-provoking too. What kind of Jaeger would we need to take on Legendary’s Godzilla? What category would Godzilla rank?

Have you seen Godzilla already? How did it stack up to Pacific Rim? Sound out below!

Geekscape 318: Wrapping Up 2013 At The Movies With Jon Schnepp!

by Jonathan

On the final day of 2013, Jon Schnepp joins me to talk about our favorite movies of 2013… and some of our not so favourites! Will ’12 Years a Slave’ be a shoe in at the Oscars or ‘American Hustle’? Will people forget movies like ‘Gravity’ or ‘Prisoners’? What about ‘Her’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’? As great as ‘Pacific Rim’ was… is it as much geek fun as ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘Thor 2’? Really, this is a super long episode because there’s just so much to talk about! As great as movies were in 2013, we help you navigate your thoughts, our thoughts and everybody’s thoughts!

Subscribe to the Geekscape podcast on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:21:58 — 46.9MB)

Comikaze 2013: The Giant Kaiju Monsters VS Men In Suits Attack Japan Panel!

by Jonathan

Everyone loves Godzilla, Power Rangers, Ultra-Man, Rodan, Kamen Rider and Giant Robots! And recently, Hollywood has gotten in on the act with Kaiju and Giant Robot films like Pacific Rim and next summer’s Godzilla film. Are these Japanese mainstays the next big thing in American pop-culture (or is it just another Hollywood trend)? I’m joined by working Hollywood professionals like F.J. DeSanto (Cyborg 009), Tommy Yune (Robotech), George Krstic (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Gregory Snegoff (Robotech) for an in-depth discussion on the past, present, future and Americanization of Kaiju and Japanese Men in Suit properties. These properties have long since taken over Japan. Are we next!?!

Subscribe to the Geekscape podcast on iTunes!

And listen to the full conversation here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:39 — 59.1MB)

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Pacific Rim’ Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack!

by S.J. Borger

Guillermo Del Toro’s summer blockbuster robot vs monsters movie, Pacific Rim, has been released on Blu-Ray/DVD.

pacific-rim-blu-ray-box-art

The movie is available as a Blu-ray 3D combo pack, a Blu-ray combo pack and a two-disc DVD pack. All three offer the theatrical release of the film (the Blu-ray 3d option offers the theatrical release in 3D) and the Ultraviolet for downloading and streaming the film to various devices.

The blu-ray packs come with numerous special features (a whole separate disc of them, in fact), including a audio commentary by Guillermo Del Toro, the Director’s notebook, a in-depth look at drift space, the digital art of Pacific Rim, focus points, deleted scenes and a blooper reel.

Those who saw the movie in the theaters won’t see anything new when viewing the theatrical release: the film is still a loud, brawling tween boy’s dream, impossibly large monsters bashing against robots who differ from the Transformers only in that they lack the Transformer’s finesse and subtlety. While it certainly doesn’t hold up to a in-depth analysis, it’s fun, with effects and a soundtrack/score that drive the movie forward towards its (predictable) end.

The special features are entertaining and interesting for fans of the film; they are the cherry on top of the sundae–provided you like ice cream.

Pacific Rim is available on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack for $44.95, on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and on 2-disc DVD Special Edition for $28.98.

Geekscape Score: 3.5/5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqb11Neq6tM

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Pacific Rim’

by Dennis Finocchiaro

Pacific Rim could go either way for viewers, depending on the person’s movie-persona. So while I really enjoyed the film, I could also see why some people absolutely loathed the thing.

If you enjoy a movie with an interesting and dynamic plot, good acting and an exciting storyline (which I always enjoy) Pacific Rim was well worth purchasing. The special effects were awesome, and I can only imagine how they would have looked in theaters (if I’d only made it to see this film). The creatures were so realistic on the Blu-Ray that I have to assume they looked breathtaking on the big screen. The robots were completely believable as well, and overall, the substantial special effects made this movie even better.

pacific-rim3

If, however, you wanted to see an action-packed fight-filled adventure, then sure, there were some slower moments. The film often focused on the human element in a situation involving alien attack, in much the same way The Walking Dead does so in a zombie apocalypse.

The main character, Raleigh Becket, played by Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), is part of a pair of brothers who run one of the giant robots. He must overcome his brother’s death after an alien attack, and does so by joining the crews that are building giant walls around cities for protection. Eventually, his old boss wants him back in the robot (called Jaeger) program, and of course he meets a possible romantic interest, played by Rinko Kikuchi (The Brothers Bloom); she wants to pilot a Jaeget to take vengeance for her parents’ death.

Meanwhile, a side story is that of the company’s two scientists, played by Rick Moranis Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Burn Gorman (Torchwood, The Dark Knight Rises), an odd-couple pairing who bring some light-hearted comedy into the story. Gorman’s character is focused on the math side of things, and Day’s is more about the aliens, and the two give the storyline a bit of much-needed humor.

My favourite scene was the almost-expected cameo (considering this is a Guillermo del Toro film) by Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Alien Resurrection) as the one-eyed illegal alien parts dealer Hannibal Chow.

As a fan of Guillermo Del Toro’s films, I didn’t really see his personal touch on the much as much as I expected to. I wanted more of a Pan’s Labyrinth or even a Hellboy feel, but it came up a bit short in that area.

Overall, I really did enjoy the film, and give it 3/5 stars. Pacific Rim is available now on Amazon.

Let us know what you thought of the film. Did you love it, hate it, or not really care either way?

PacificRimNew08

Honest Trailers Takes On ‘Pacific Rim’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Screen Junkies Honest Trailers has to be one of my favourite series on YouTube, and now they’ve taken on one of my favourite films of the Summer, Pacific Rim.

It sure points out some (a lot of) glaring issues that the film may have had, but it also points out just how awesome it was.

Take a look at the latest instalment of Honest Trailers below, and let us know what you thought of Pacific Rim!

In Case You Missed It – October 2013

by MCDave

Now, that’s more like it! October offers a wide variety of strong DVD and Video-On-Demand selections (click here to view my September picks). And just in case you happened to miss any of these movies during their theatrical runs, now’s your chance to make amends. So do the right thing!

#1. The Conjuring

The-Conjuring

Just in time for the holiday season (I’m talking about Halloween, not Christmas), James Wan’s horror throwback, The Conjuring, receives its DVD release. Real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) attempt to help a desperate family being terrorized by a demonic presence in their new home. The story is strong, the scares are plentiful and the terror is authentic. James Wan delivers one of the finest gore-free horror films in recent memory. Turn the lights off and sit back and enjoy The Conjuring the way it’s meant to be seen. (October 22nd)

#2. The Way, Way Back

THE WAY, WAY BACK

So you loved Little Miss Sunshine and you’re dying to see Steve Carell in more of a “bad guy” role? Whether you answered “yes” or not, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s The Way, Way, Back should be on your October “To-Do List”. The heartfelt and forthright coming-of-age tale delivers on both laughs and sincerity. Sam Rockwell shines brightest as Owen, an immature water-park owner who takes a teenage boy under his wing. The Way, Way Back is a suitable movie for just about any situation and it’s certainly one you won’t want to miss. (October 22nd)

#3. This Is the End

this is the end

What could be better than an apocalyptic comedy starring most of the funniest actors, comedians and entertainers floating around Hollywood? Almost nothing! My third recommendation of the month is the hysterical and crowd-pleasing raunchy comedy This Is the End. Follow along as childhood friends Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen attempt to rekindle a seemingly lost relationship all while trying to withstand the end of the world at James Franco’s house. It’s a no-brainer that This Is the End brings a healthy dose of laughs and outlandishness, but the icing on the cake is a stellar finale. (October 1st)

Honorable Mention: Since I wasn’t blown away by many of the other October DVD releases that I’ve seen, my secondary selections are filled with features I’m interested in checking out myself. One of the biggest Summer blockbusters makes its way to DVD. Pacific Rim (10/15) was an out-of-nowhere critical success and a film I plan on renting ASAP. For fans of romantic comedies, the third installment of Richard Linklater’s acclaimed indie trilogy, Before Midnight (10/22), is one I look forward to seeing. Finally, Joss Whedon enamored audiences with his superhero spectacle The Avengers. Now, he dabbles in Shakespeare. One indie release I wasn’t able to catch in theatres but intend to watch immediately is Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing (10/8).

Hilarious ‘Pacific Rim’ Blooper Reel Now Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The Pacific Rim Blu-Ray is now less than a week away from release (I hope you’re picking it up), and a fantastic blooper reel from the set has leaked online.

It clocks in at a cool four minutes, and certainly does a good job of showing just how fun the production of Pacific Rim was. I really can’t wait to pick up the Blu-Ray and find out what other goodies are in store. It was one of the best moviegoing experiences that I had this year, and I can’t wait to jump back into that world.

Take a look at the reel below, and let us know what you think! The Pacific Rim Blu-Ray hits stores on October 15th!

 

Looking for more Pacific Rim? Screenwriter Travis Beacham was a guest on the show earlier this Summer!

Awesome ‘Pacific Rim’ Visual Effects Video Released Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Now that the Summer movie season is officially over, it’s pretty safe to say that Pacific Rim was one of my most enjoyable moviegoing experiences all year. It may not have broken the box office records that it could have, and it may never get a sequel since apparently nobody saw it, but Pacific Rim was a hell of a lot of fun.

Of course, the film also had some of the best visual effects that I’ve ever seen. I still recall my first time viewing the movie, and at multiple points throughout thinking “how the hell did they make this?” It’s that incredible.

Mirada Studios was in charge of creating the film’s two-minute prologue, and they’ve released a cool new video demonstrating some jarring before and after shots. It’s a fantastic watch for fans of the film or visual effects in general, and I simply had to share! Take a look at the video below, and be sure to let us know what you thought of Pacific Rim!

Wow: Watch An Awesome New Clip From ‘Pacific Rim’

by Derek Kraneveldt

To excite you for your midnight showing later tonight (you have purchased your tickets, right?), Warner Bros. has just released an awesome new clip for Pacific Rim.

The video, which is nearly three minutes in length, shows a stunning extended look at the Jaeger Gypsy Danger. The clip is made up of a series of long takes, which literally had me saying ‘wow’ at multiple points throughout.

I won’t spoil it for you. This thing is beautiful. Watch the new clip below, and let us know if you’re excited! Pacific Rim hits theatres tonight, and seeing as it’s one of the few original films this Summer, it definitely deserves your cash.

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.

Head Behind The Scenes Of ‘Pacific Rim’ With A 14-Minute Featurette!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Four. More. Days.

Pacific Rim is finally just around the corner, and Warner Bros. has just debuted a fantastic new behind-the-scenes featurette for the film. A multitude of cast and crew members are interviewed during the video, including Ron Perlman, Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, and more.

You must know by now just how excited we are for Pacific Rim. We even had a fantastic opportunity to sit down with Pacific Rim screenwriter Travis Beacham, both on the show, and in a private interview. Pacific Rim is set to be one of the surprise hits of the Summer, and if all of the early buzz has been any indication, this is one film that you need to see in the biggest theatre that you possibly can.

Take a look at the featurette below, and let us know just how excited you are for the movie!

http://youtu.be/agMns56lPcE

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.

‘Pacific Rim: The Video Game’ Gets A New Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Back in June, the first trailer for a Pacific Rim mobile game debuted online. Today, Jukes Interactive released a teaser for an Xbox 360 version. I had no idea that Pacific Rim: The Video Game was anything but a mobile title, but apparently the game is set to hit both PS3 and Xbox 360 on July 12th!

Like most licensed games, Pacific Rim: The Video Game isn’t looking so hot at this point. I hope that the title has a lot of personality, because the graphics are terrible.

Take a look at the teaser below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up!

‘Pacific Rim’ Gets Two New TV Spots, Plus Twitter Buzz!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Just one more week of waiting until Pacific Rim finally hits theatres, and Warner Bros. has just released another two TV spots for the film. Just like the rest of the world, I really can’t wait to get in line for this one.

The spots are titled “Classified” and ” Fight Critics”. Each features some new footage, and does a damn good job of further exciting me for the picture. Take a look at each new preview below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/6vii5wpspGE

http://youtu.be/wTyqmlIWoxY

After Pacific Rim’s world premiere just a few days ago, Twitter buzz for the film has been very steady. The bulk of it seems extremely positive, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Check out some prominent quotes about the movie below, and be sure to let us know how excited you are. Pacific Rim hits theatres next Friday, July 12th.

Sounds pretty good, huh?

Watch The Final, Human-Filled Trailer For ‘Pacific Rim’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Pacific Rim hits theatres in just over a week, and Warner Bros. is certainly giving this original film the marketing push that it deserves. A multitude of new posters and clips have been released in recent days, and the studio has just debut a fantatic, epic final trailer for the feature.

You know full well how excited we are for Pacific Rim to release, so we won’t waste any more time telling you how incredible it looks. Watch the final trailer below, watch last week’s Geekscape featuring Pacific Rim creator Travis Beacham, and let us know how excited you are!

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.

‘Pacific Rim’ Gets Two New Posters, And A New Clip!

by Derek Kraneveldt

The Pacific Rim marketing just keeps coming! Less than one day after two new character posters were revealed for the film, Warner Bros. has released another two posters, plus a new clip to further excite you for the coming epic.

The first poster features Australian Jaeger Striker Eureka, while the second spotlights ‘Category 4’ Kaiju Leatherback. The new clip look similar to footage we’ve seen in the recent trailers, but looks like the setup for an intense battle.

Take a look at everything below, and let us know what you think! Pacific Rim hits theatres on July 12th! The movie’s screenwriter, Travis Beacham, was just a guest on Geekscape!

Leatherback

Striker

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.

Two New ‘Pacific Rim’ Posters Unveiled

by Derek Kraneveldt

Pacific Rim hits theatres in less than two weeks, and Warner Bros. has definitely begun a heavy marketing push for the film. Yesterday, four fantastic new clips were released, and the studio has just unveiled two new character posters.

One image features the monstrous ‘Category 4’ Kaiju Otachi, while the other spotlights American Jaeger Gipsy Danger. The two are set to face-off in the feature, which should definitely make for an interesting matchup.

Take a look at the new posters below, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for the movie! Looking for more Pacific Rim? Screenwriter Travis Beacham was just a guest on Geekscape!

Otachi

GipsyDanger

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.