Silent Hill Revelation 3D Interviews & Review

Tis the season for spooky..which means I am working overtime for Dread Central these days! I didn't want you to think I was avoiding you..it's just that daddy has another family in LA and they demand his attention from time to time. I wonder if there's a little Golden Book for that?

I stayed up into the wee hours to crank out my Silent Hill Revelation 3D interviews and a review that sums up my major disappointment in a flurry of curse words, Bay Watch comparisons and a nod to Hellboy 2. Having loved the first movie so much, writing this review felt a bit like slaying a horde of demons that had taken residence in my brain. I just can't understand how people that claim to love the first film could make something so completely bad. It boggles the mind.

At any rate, I know a lot of you are Silent Hill fans too, so be sure to READ THE INTERVIEWS (or Part 1 of the interview series where I talk to Director Michael J. Bassett), then DIVE INTO THE REVIEW..in that order, for maximum enjoyment. It also lays out the order of my experience, so you could see how my excitement was pumped up by the director and cast....annnnd then smashed upon the rocks below later that evening. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Read all my Silent Hill Revelation interviews, up now on Dread Central!
Part 2 with Adelaide Clemens
Part 3 with Kit Harington

Quick Note: I'll be leading a Q&A with Larry Fessenden and Glenn McQuaid at a screening of I Sell the Dead tonight in Rahway, NJ, so come join us!

2013 Marvel Movies Taking Shape

Raise your hand if you are still crazy happy we got an Avengers movie this year that blew minds!! Disney/ Marvel plans to keep that momentum going into "Phase 2" in 2013 and has solidified that lineup with some minor detail changes...

IRON MAN 3 will now be available in 3D – previously announced 5/3/13 wide playdate is unchanged (Marvel)

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is final title of previous “Thor 2” and will now be available in 3D – previously announced 11/8/13 wide playdate is unchanged (Marvel)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER is final title of previous “Captain America 2” – previously announced 4/4/14 wide playdate is unchanged (Marvel)

Celebrate Frankenweenie's Birth with New Clips

HAPPY TIM BURTON DAY!!! Friends are saying Frankenweenie is the best movie Burton has done in year. Better than the somewhat depressing Alice in Wonderland. More fun than The Corpse Bride. High praise all around! To celebrate, we've got new clips to put you in a stop-motiony mood!

First up is a little featurette on bringing the puppets of Frankenweenie to life...

Dredd Gears Up for Friday's Release

This Friday, a gentleman named Karl Urban will put on a helmet and vows he will NEVER TAKE IT OFF. Whilst in this helmet, he will only answer to the name Judge Dredd, will only appear in 3D and will not be doing any lines from Star Trek...so don't ask. To build your excitement for this latest comic book to film release, the powers that be have sent over a little featurette...

Gear up with this NEW featurette from DREDD 3D as stars Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, writer Alex Garland and series creator John Wagner give a behind-the-scenes look at the tools and arsenal outfitting the infamous Mega City One lawman -- just in time for its release this FRIDAY!

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (3D)

I'd just finished watching the entire first season of "Once Upon a Time" where all your childhood fairy tales are re-imagined with fantastic results when along comes Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters...complete with Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton looking all bad ass and blood thirsty. SOLD! There doesn't seem to be an official synopsis yet, but IMDB says: "15 years after their traumatic gingerbread-house incident, siblings Hansel and Gretel have become a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world." Skint info, yes, but I'm sure enough to wet your appetites...and plenty more to come, surely, before the January 2013 release...provided we survive the alien invasion in December. There's always that to think about.

Here's the trailer...

Silent Hill : Revelation 3D

If you are a long time reader, you'll already know I'm the worst gamer in the world..or rather...a recovered gamer. I used to spend days on a game, learning the ins and outs and exploring ever facet before completion. One day it occurred to me that this was time I would never get back, and so now when a game comes my way, it sadly sits beneath my PS3...unopened and unloved...waiting for an 8 hour block of my time I will never have free. Even though I have practically recovered fully from the siren song of new games, there are more than a couple that are close to my heart. One of them is Silent Hill.

DREDD is Coming For You

On days when I am not too busy, I like to clear my mind of all disturbances, annoyances and horrible movies I would be better off forgetting. The original Judge Dredd movie is one of those items. Now, I imagine Karl Urban putting a giant sized hand cannon up to the head of that film and pulling the trigger until the clip is empty. It is therapeutic.

The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called "Judges" who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge - a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of "Slo-Mo" experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.

During a routine day on the job, Dredd is assigned to train and evaluate Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities thanks to a genetic mutation. A heinous crime calls them to a neighborhood where fellow Judges rarely dare to venture- a 200 story vertical slum controlled by prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and her ruthless clan. When they capture one of the clan's inner circle, Ma-Ma overtakes the compound's control center and wages a dirty, vicious war against the Judges that proves she will stop at nothing to protect her empire. With the body count climbing and no way out, Dredd and Anderson must confront the odds and engage in the relentless battle for their survival.

The endlessly inventive mind of writer Alex Garland and director Pete Travis bring DREDD to life as a futuristic neo-noir action film. Filmed in 3D with stunning slow motion photography sequences, the film returns the celebrated character to the dark, visceral incarnation from John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra's revered comic strip.



DREDD will open on Friday, September 21st, 2012.


CLICK HERE to pre-order the awesome, colossal Judge Dredd comic diorama from Pop Culture Shock Collectibles!

How To Marvel Party

Marvel brings together a group of 6 incredible superheroes to fight the battle mere mortals never could. In honor of the upcoming mega-movie, The Avengers ™, I wanted to share some tips on how to throw a celebration worthy of these classic caped crusaders—and take a party from blah to BLAMO!

· Invitations: Start your party off right with the perfect invitation. You can make your own postcard invitations with cardboard cut-outs of bright blue painted stars, and include the details about your party in a thin black marker. Decorate the front of each with classic comic book words like POW!, ZAP! And WAM!

· Décor: The Avengers bring together 6 epic superheroes. Create your own easy decorations with cardboard cutouts of spiders and paint them black, neon green head’s of The Hulk and classic American flags for Captain America and, throughout the party, use bold colored streamers, which will add some mystery to the room.

· Centerpieces: Choose your favorite Avenger and decorate the table around that character. Use lots of primary colors, since comic strips are usually blue, yellow and red. Print outs of comic book pages covered in contact paper make great placemats. Blanket your tables with these to tie the décor together and include stars, spiders and Hawkeye cut-outs on wooden sticks around the table with silver confetti.

· Music: Keep the music simple but fun. “Live to Rise,” the original song written for and appearing in the film is the first single from the Marvel Music/Hollywood Records release Avengers Assemble. The epic and cinematic video, featuring a searing live performance with film footage, was directed by Robert Hales (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janet Jackson, Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake). Check out “Live To Rise”...

· Menu: Mini snacks such as cut-out tea-sandwiches make great finger food. Look for cookie cutters in shields, stars and spiders to create these treats. For Incredible Hulk themed beverages, create trays of green ice cubes by freezing water with green food color, and WOW! guests as their clear citrusy beverages transform color before their very eyes.

· Party Favors: As a parting gift, place a few Avenger designed cookies in a cellophane bag and close with a gold twist-tie – your guests can enjoy the party for days to follow with these treats!”

RECIPE

To celebrate the launch of the Avengers™ movie, in theatres May 4, Ms. Ricky Eisen, Founder and President of Events and Celebrations by Between the Bread, one of Manhattan’s most renowned and prestigious catering companies, and Cookie Panache, an e-commerce website offering hand decorated cookie gifts, is Sharing Her Tips On How to Decorate Superhero Cookies:

1. Whip up a batch of your favorite sugar cookie recipe and use a cookie cutter to make character cookies. They make Superhero cookie cutters in the shape of many Avengers heroes. You can also use any oval shaped cookie cutter and instead fill in the details with your decorating. Once your cookies are baked and cooled, you are ready to begin decorating.

2. You can make your own royal icing (See: How to Make Your Own Royal Icing included below) or use store-bought. Color with food coloring to achieve the various colors you want for decorating. We recommend green (for the Hulk), yellow, blue, black, white, and brown. Place each color in a piping bag.

3. Begin by outlining the cookie in your base color. (If you were starting with The Hulk, outline the entire shape in green. Color in your outline with green icing and cover the entire cookie. (You can actually use a paintbrush to “paint” your cookie.) Give the base a few minutes to dry and choose your next color. For The Hulk’s hair, outline his hairline in black and proceed to fill in with black icing. You can continue to draw features in and watch your character come to life.

How to Make Your Own Royal Icing

• 3 egg whites, at room temperature. We prefer dehydrated egg whites, available at most supermarkets.
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• food coloring (optional)

Mix above ingredients with a little warm water until smooth. Add food coloring.

Dragon Takes On Men in Black 3

Hot Toys aren't the only 12 inch action figure slingers out there! Dragon is back on the scene and is looking to re-make a name for themselves with a trio of new 12 inch action figures for Men in Black 3. So far, we have seen Agent K (2012), Agent K (1969) and Agent J 1:6th scale New Generation Life Action Figures! There are said to be around 30 points of articulation. Plenty of accessories will be packed in including the Noisy Cricket, Neuralizer, assorted guns and gadgets and Frank the Pug!













It is also worth mentioning that Enterbay ALSO have a MIB3 1:6th license, so prepare for a 12 inch action figure WAAAARRR!!! I suppose which ever Sideshow Collectibles carries will be the winner in the US, as that is the only way you'll be able to get your hands on these suckers short of importing them.

The Avengers Collector's Edition RealD 3D Glasses

The Avengers are set to add to your growing 3D glasses collection with shades you can wear to your local conventions and make all the nerds seem almost life like! (wokka)

To celebrate the May 4th release of the summer's most anticipated film - Marvel's THE AVENGERS – RealD & Marvel have teamed to release a set of four character themed RealD 3D glasses.

Featuring designs for Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America, beginning in the month of April fans at will be able to collect these limited edition RealD 3D glasses at special events, fan screenings and via upcoming online giveaways. Collector's Edition Marvel’s THE AVENGERS RealD 3D glasses will also be available at select AMC Theatres, National Amusement Theatres and independent theatres throughout the U.S. beginning as early as midnight on May 3rd.

For more information and to start your collection Like/Follow www.twitter.com/RealD3D www.facebook.com/RealD3D

John Carter Reviewed

There is no doubt that Disney makes an animated feature like no other, but their live action endeavors tend to be hit or miss. On one hand, we have the Pirates of the Caribbean movies...which are a guilty pleasure of mine even when they make little sense. On the other, we have films like Condorman, Race to Witch Mountain and to a lesser degree (but relevant to this review), Tron: Legacy. While many seemed to like the revitalization and to an extent, re-imagination of Tron, many more seemed to find it long winded, over complicated and fantastically nonsensical. Now, Disney continues this unfortunate tradition with John Carter.

John is a tormented man digging into rock in the hopes of finding his fortune in gold as the denizens of the old west call him mad. A run in with government men who seem to want him for military talents he had long forsaken drives him to a chance encounter with an alien visitor and blamo, our broody hero is off to Mars. There he finds his Earthling physiology allows him to jump farther, punch harder and be more bare-chestier than any red-orange skinned Martian could ever hope to be. Without giving too much of the story away, John is taken in by native 4 armed aliens who treat him like a pet/weapon until a Martian princess literally falls into his lap. The princess is running from a forced marriage to an evil blue ray powered overlord and wants John to help lead her people to victory. Meanwhile, the very aliens responsible for John’s trip to Mars are pulling the strings behind the scenes to steer the future of the planet in their desired direction. Confused yet? Try it in 3D.

So we’ve got several story lines going on at once here…

1. The 4 armed, green Tharks’ leader, Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Dafoe), looks to lead his horde to victory against rival hordes, with the help of John Carter, but signs of mercy in his heart (hearts?) may be his undoing.
2. The Martian princess Dejah Thoris (who is also a scientist and very competent warrior…which is of course the triple threat on Mars) seeks to harness the mysterious blue wave to empower her people against red caped marauders and their amorous leader who would marry her, if she doesn’t behead him first.
3. Failing that, Dejah would recruit John Carter to her cause…or unravel the alien powers he possesses to empower her people…or utilize his alien technology to empower her people…or all three. She’s easy. Not like that.
4. Would be world conqueror Sab Than wants to conquer Mars, natch’ …with the help of an alien being (Mark Strong as Matai Shang) who has his own agenda. Getting hitched to Dejah is part of that plan, and a bonus, to be sure. She has fantastic Martian cleavage.
5. The aliens seem to want Sab to gain control of the planet, but remark that any Martian with a brain, hands to work and the will to crush their enemies under his boot heel will do…so..there’s that. They aren’t the nicest of folks and they have all the time in the world to get what they want.
6. Meanwhile, John Carter doesn’t want a part in any of it. Like any good broody hero, he has a dark past filled with love and loss. Now all he seems good for is bearing his chest and glistening in the mid day sun…OH..and JUMPING!
   

This parade of tired scifi soap opera themes made me long for a viewing of Flash Gordon, where the aliens may look cheesy but you get to have FUN!! Couldn’t we have some FUN in this Disney film? Two plus hours of scowling and grunting and characters pleading with other characters to do..something. Any time we leave the green skinned Tharks behind, you’ll beg for their return as you quickly realize they provide the only moments of levity, action or emotional weight in this dreary, over complicated, would-be epic.

Another problem I had with John Carter is more the fault of being exposed to subject matter like this all my life. In truth, John Carter of Mars is a story that came before them all, but therein lies the catch. After countless forms of media have borrowed from the source material, you can be sure you’ve seen it all already. Sure, we are now getting it in the highest definition possible, but when the 3D is nothing to shout about and the writing is headache inducing, all we have to fall back on is lovely costuming, excellent scenery and air ships ripped right from Final Fantasy. The more I talk about this film, the more it sounds like Tron: Legacy doesn’t it? Perhaps I am making too many excuses for the film’s shoddy execution. After all, Lord of the Rings had just as much dust piled atop its legendary pages when it came to the big screen and yet I loved all three installments.

There seems to be something essential missing in John Carter. Through scenes of nearly super human battle with aliens that should be blowing my mind, oddly, I find what is lost is humanity. I feel no connection or chemistry between John Carter and his inevitable love interest, Dejah. In fact, I feel no connection between John Carter and any creature in this film, save for the giant, eight legged Flash Dog! This seems to be the only character Carter is willing to show genuine affection toward. To make matters worse, with nothing substantial to chew on, acting performances go flat across the board. Taylor Kitsch furrows his brow for the entirety of this film. Scowling does not convey emotion for me. Lynn Collins does manage to throw a coy look now and then, but defaults to a look of stern resolution or an equally intense scowl far too often. All in my party agreed the stand out of the film was James Purefoy as Kantos Kan, who is the only character allowed to smile and even remotely goof around in a scene! As I write this, I’m not even 100% sure I’m naming the right character, as I swear he was just as stone faced and/or scowly as everyone else in the rest of the film. Point of fact, we counted only 2..maybe three small jokes in the entirety of the film, one of which is used to the point of no longer being funny. This is a film in dire need of an Indiana Jones. Where’s the sense of adventure??!!

John Carter is a film devoid of happiness. It’s like Disney re-making Dune without the hope of a brighter future. The Tharks war, knock each other around and even torture the weakest among them. The red caped Martians War with the blue caped Martians while the sneaky, god-like (though still mortal) uber aliens plot against them all. And then there’s John…who just wants to sit and brood with his gold. Two hours of this mess. This is certainly not a Disney movie for children and if you are the least bit tired, this tedious film isn’t for you either. You've already seen everything this film has to offer in the endless stills, clips and trailers released. Save some cash and spare yourself the pain of sitting through the rest.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Cast & Crew Interviews & REVIEW!

Toy Fair wasn't the only thing going on this week! Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance hits theaters tomorrow, giving the world of super hero films its darkest defender yet. We sat down with the actors and crew who lit a fire under the old GR's tired, boney ass and turned him into the relentless demon we knew he could be! Can't say anything more about the film until midnight tonight, but over on Dread Central, we've got the interviews posted right now.

CLICK HERE to hear from Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor!

CLICK HERE to read Idris Elba's thoughts on his role in the film!

CLICK HERE to read about how Johnny Witworth unleashes his inner demon!

CLICK HERE to hear from Nicolas Cage on what makes Johnny Blaze tick!

and now...CLICK HERE for the REVIEW!

Toy Fair 2012 : JAKKS Pacific : Men in Black 3

Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones return as Agents J and K in the third installment of the sci-fi action comedy blockbuster series, Men In Black. Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific has the worldwide master toy license for the third movie and products will hit shelves in Spring of 2012 to coincide with the film's May 25, 2012 worldwide release.

Collect your favorite heroes and villains from the upcoming movie with the MIB3 4” Figures with Small Accessory. Watch as each accessory transforms into something unexpected for added play value. Agent J comes with a ring accessory that transforms into a Sonic Drifter. Agent K comes with a ring accessory that transforms into an Alien Orbiter. (SRP $8.99) Enrich your role-play experience with the MIB3 4” Figures with Large Accessory. Agent J comes with a Neuralyzer that transforms into a Hover Cannon. Agent K's Noise Cricket transforms into a Cosmic Hopper! (srp $14.99)

Who is everyone’s favorite four-legged MIB agent? Frank the Pug! Now you can have your very own wise-cracking partner with the Frank the Pug 6” Talking Plush. Complete with fun phrases straight from the movies, this soft plush comes wearing his signature suit and tie. The perfect companion for all agents trying to protect the earth from the scum of the universe! (srp $11.99-$14.99) Ages 4+











Creative Designs International, a division of JAKKS Pacific, has creative fun and interactive role play toys for increased aspirational play. Squeeze the gross MIB3 Alien Slime Figures and watch the slime ooze out! Slime goes back inside the figure for storage. (SRP $4.99) Zap evil villains with the MIB3 Mini Blaster. Features lights and sounds that are activated when you press the trigger (srp $4.99)

Pick up your very own MIB3 Electronic Neuralyzer, just like the one you see in the movie! Press buttons to activate different light and sound features, including Will Smith’s voice. (SRP $9.99) Everything you need to become an MIB secret agent! The MIB3 Secret Agent Role-Play Set includes toy gun with light and sound features, dark shades to disguise your identity and an ID badge to get into off-limit rooms! (srp $14.99)

Keep in touch with your fellow agents with the MIB3 Walkie-Talkie Communicators. These high-tech, stylish and hands-free walkie-talkie communicators will make you feel like you just stepped out of the movie! (SRP $14.99) The big bad gun from the new movie! The MIB3 Light and Sound Atomizer features electronic blasting sounds, pulsing lights and rotating gun barrel to scare off any evil villains! (srp $24.99) Ages 5+

CLICK HERE for more images of JAKKS Men in Black 3 toys!

It's Toy Fair Time!
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Neil Patrick Harris Hearts Halloween

With "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas coming out this weekend, we thought we'd present further evidence that Neil Patrick Harris is awesome. Observe...





The image comes from Lisa Fabio (extreme Disney enthusiast and excellent artist) on her Facebook! She writes "Peter Pan hat created for David Burtka for Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka's Halloween party!"

Thanks for sharing Lisa!!

More Disney Heading Back to Theaters in 3D

On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Lion King 3D – which will cross the $80 million mark at the domestic box office today – The Walt Disney Studios has announced limited theatrical engagements for four of its classic films for the first time in 3D. The following titles from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be released in 2012 and 2013:

· Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012

· Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012

· Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)

· The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013


“Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”

Originally released in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is a classic “tale as old as time” that follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, earning an additional five Oscar® nominations and winning two. It has grossed $380.4 million worldwide.

First released in 2003, Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo takes audiences into a whole new world in this undersea adventure about family, courage and challenges. When Marlin, an overly cautious clownfish living in the Great Barrier Reef, helplessly watches his son get scooped up by a diver, he must put aside his fears of the ocean and leave the safety of his coral enclave to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a forgetful but relentlessly optimistic fish, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero in a seemingly impossible land-and-sea rescue.Finding Nemo won an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three others. With a total of $867.6 million worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2003.

In 2001, Disney•Pixar released Monsters, Inc. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.Monsters, Inc. shattered every DVD-era home entertainment sales record when 11 million DVD/VHS copies were sold during its first week of release. It won an Academy Award® for Best Song and has grossed $526.9 million worldwide.

Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid, stars Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true and save her father’s beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula. One of the most celebrated animated films of all time, The Little Mermaid was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning two. It has grossed $228.9 million worldwide.

A Closer Look at the Amazing Spider-Man's Incredibly Complicated Outfit

July 3, 2012 will see the return of your favorite web head, RE-BOOTED for another attempt at a long lasting franchise for one of the most iconic super heroes the world has ever known. I don't think it is too dramatic to say we are all wishing as hard as we can that this series borrows straight from comic story lines, boasts amazing writing and avoids any sort of musical interludes. Sony kicks things off with a slow roll out of images, first revealing the "real world" recreation of Spidey's blues and reds, now made hi-tech as if they allow him to break the sound barrier without splitting a seam and survive a shark bite simultaneously.












The Amazing Spider-Man's new suit actually reminds me of some incredibly expensive basketball sneakers I've seen in the past...or maybe even the basketball itself. When people talk about the over-complication of a super hero suit, I bet they never imagined the many layers that make up this insane Franken-suit which I believe was originally created to give the Jamaican Bobsledding Team a considerable edge at the next Winter Olympics. Now, one would argue that when you take in the entirety of the suit, it isn't that bad..and when we see the man in action we won't care what the hell he is wearing. My answer to this would be..Sony put up pics of the suit in super hi-rez, so obviously someone is very proud of the work that went into it and we should take this opportunity to peek into every nook and cranny. As a Frat boy would say... "He was askin' for it!" Behold, the many universes folded into the Amazing Spider-Man super suit. Try not to go mad as you travel down to his gooey nougat center! I personally don't care that the tribal spidey-symbol flanked in red directs the viewer's eye directly to his junk. If the writing is solid, the action is expertly planned out and the story doesn't dwell too heavily in the soap opera-esque moments that often mire a Spider-Man epic, I'll be a plump kid in a candy store once again. As a bonus, the super close ups provide us with a nice look at Spidey's old school mechanical web shooters! I'm also hoping my Cosplayer friends will be able to use these shots to start their own movie accurate costumes far ahead of the film's release. This raises the biggest question I have for the film makers right now. If Peter Parker doesn't want anyone to know his super alter ego....then WHO THE HELL MADE THIS PSYCHOTIC COSTUME??!! The last one was hard enough to swallow, but this one is INSANE. Suspension of disbelief in over-drive. Nuff said.

Gantz on DVD and Blu-ray this August

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, will delight sci-fi, action and anime/manga fans across North America with the release of GANTZ on DVD (SRP $24.92) and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack(SRP $29.99) on August 30th. The film, which is unrated, features both English and Japanese dialogue options and a bonus disc with an exclusive director’s interview and film trailers.

To celebrate the film’s release, a special screening of GANTZ is scheduled for Friday, August 26th at 7:00pm in San Francisco at NEW PEOPLE’s Cinema as part of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival. The film will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Get a great deal by purchasing a ticket bundle that also includes the brand-new DVD or Blu-ray plus a poster. Tickets and more information are available at http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films.

In addition, the San Francisco theatrical premiere of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer will also take place during the J-Pop Summit Festival on both Saturday, August 27th and Sunday August 28th. The film will also be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Complete details on the J-Pop Summit are available at: www.J-Pop.com.

GANTZ is based on a hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City). The film tells the story of two childhood friends that are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.

“GANTZ first thrilled domestic audiences when we presented the film theatrically in a special one-night-only premiere at over 300 movie theatres nationally earlier this year that was attended by thousands of people across North America,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “Anticipation has risen steadily since then and fans now have the exclusive opportunity to own the film on DVD and Blu-ray with our release on August 30th. GANTZ features two of the biggest stars in Japanese cinema and remains true to the innovative storyline from the original manga series. Fans won’t want to miss this exciting release and stay tuned for news coming soon on the upcoming release of the film’s action-packed sequel, GANTZ II: Perfect Answer!”

SDCC: The Condensed San Diego Comic Con Part 1

As we fill up the Flickr and begin gathering toy stories for Cool Toy Review, I wanted to give you a run down of what the 2011 San Diego Comic Con was like.

Day 1: Preview Night - For me this is preview afternoon into evening. My plane touched down at 11:30 and by 12:30 I was in the show ready to run through it like a psychopath with an R2-D2 Droid camera phone at the ready. The objective is to give you at home an overview of the show, reveal new movie posters, booth displays and then hunt down the coolest toys as a sneak preview of what's to come, coverage wise. Responses to my flurry of tweets ranged from Brian of Horror Movie A Day telling me he is unfollowing me til after the show is done with to requests for pics of Minimates and Marvel figures. I was working my typing thumbs and hunting down things to shoot so fast I was covered in sweat. KW of Dread Central said he was waiting for my little (twitter) bird to off himself to avoid further torture. As it was, I had to reload several posts as there would always be two birds loading and two birds who died in transit, represented by upside down birds as if they'd keeled over from the stress. All this tweeting and picture taking is done in a sort of video game setting with fork lifts going forward and back, whipping around corners and beeping frantically at those walking by in a daze. Its a wonder that no one gets knocked on their ass at the very least. Highlights of my shooting include the giant alien device of "Men in Black 3", the "Ghostrider 2" bike, hunting down evidence of Conan's new project "The Flaming C", NECA's Evil Dead 2 figures, Diamond Select's "Alice: The Madness Returns" video game action figure line and an excellent Mohawk Storm statue at Sideshow! The day of shooting ends abruptly around 6, shortly after the throng of exclusives hunters hit the show floor. I'm off to an Activision preview event to meet up with the Dread Central crew, Joe Lynch of the new movie "Knights of Badassdom" (which seems to be about larping and demons!!) and a little console time with Prototype 2 and Spider-Man: Edge of Time which look mind blowing, as you would expect!
























Day 2: I was going to run over to the show before it opened to get in some quality time with the little plastic people, but not having slept the night before had taken its toll and at the very least, I needed a full 6 hours rest and some time to post the awesome things I shot the day before. This meant my day would begin off-site at the Pacific Gasslamp to meet up with the actors and creator of the indie film hit "Bellflower", a story of bromance, failed romance and a car called Medusa, built to survive the oncoming apocalypse. It seemed I was the first to arrive as all the doors were locked and two of the actors were waiting outside. When we finally entered we were greeted with a 2 flight walk up; a special torture first thing in the morning. As I caught my breathe and looked out over the balcony I was joined by Jessie Wiseman who plays Millie in the film. We shared a moment of mutual revulsion at the creepiness of the ultra realistic Smurfs in the film to come. It was the texture of their skin that bothered her the most. I suspected they would be sticky to the touch and maybe secrete an enzyme that puts the victim in a hallucinatory state so they can eat him while still alive. I'd definitely watch that movie. I do hope Neil Patrick Harris doesn't get eaten though. The interview itself flew by with topics ranging from the drama of Shakespeare to the question of whose actor hair would win in a fight and then the obvious conversation closer...Robocop. Look for that vid as soon as I'm not hopped up on Dayquil to fight off my post SDCC plague!

I had a bit of time between gigs and running back to the show seemed futile, so I decided to hunt down some food when amid a crowd of fans came the beating of drums and from their center, a unicorn head popped up! This was revealed to be Lady Rainicorn from Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time", whom I followed to a pizza place decked out with AT trappings. I was given a coin for a free piece of pizza and soda and joined the fans on line to enter. Even in the heat and intense sun, this group never hesitated to sing their favorite songs from the show and express their undying love for Beemo (the sentient video game console). When we finally got in..a little scorched by the sun..we all got the foods promised and a little stuffed Jake with an SDCC 2011 stamped on his butt. Oh yea..and the pizza was goooood. Oddly my young line partners were adverse to sitting directly on the pavement across the street, opting for hovering above it in a sort of "cat ready to pounce pose" or maybe "monkeys grooming each other". I asked what germs they feared they might pick up from over touching of their butts, which launched into a conversation of causes for touching one's own but. Sometimes, you are just too damn sexy for your own good.

After some toy interviewing and more pictures where ever I could squeeze in on the show floor, I had to head out to a "Final Destination 5" happy hour and 3D film preview. When I asked a security person where petco park was, they pointed waaaaay off into the distance. With a sigh, I was off. This would be a re-occurring theme of the show, having to run from one end to another in 10 minute's time. After the third time, you don't care that you look like a sweaty mess when you arrive. The "Final Destination 5" footage was beautiful and gut wrenching all at once; like a series of Wile E Coyote calamities taking place as a suspension bridge crumbles, sending its living contents to their doom. This is the most excellent use of 3D in a horror movie that I've seen in a very long time. You may find yourself ducking to avoid the flying guts! I met up with Arlen Escarpeta (who enjoys a particularly juicy demise in this scene) to shoot the shit and had to bum him out by saying there were no new Ninja Turtles things to check out on the floor of the show. Major downer when we don't have any TMNT to look forward to. I'd also promised producer Craig Perry that I would catch up with him after seeing the fottage but my time was short so this one is for you Craig. HOLY SHIT!! I think that says it all. I was also briefly interviewed by Spike TV so let me know if you see me on there! The hostess seemed convinced I would relish the idea of being bathed in blood so we had a bit of a debate on the topic.

Next stop was the FEARnet party and sneak preview of their newest shows "Psychovlle" and "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil". "Psychoville" looks exceptionally fun with the sensibilities of UK hit Little Brittain and a story that seems to revolve around a sadistic party clown who seems confused that the parents who hire him don't want him to use the hooks and saws as part of his act. Go figure. After agreeing that we need to book an interview with Rob Lowe, the new master of horror, we were off to our own Dread Central/Magnet party! We did a quick red carpet with the creators and actors of "Tucker and Dale VS Evil" which stars Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk (Wash from Firefly!) in a tale of two friends trying to decompress at their woodland vacation home when they are set upon by over-privileged teens who think T&D are the a-typical horror movie rednecks and proceed to off themselves while trying to battle them. It's hysterical and wrong in all the right ways. There were several celebs hitting the carpet that night including the boys from the "Falling Skies" TV series and Stephen Lunsford of "Private Practice" and the upcoming film "Beneath the Darkness". In the spirit of SDCC, Stephen showed up dressed as Nathan Drake from Uncharted! We also caught up with Rob Hall, creator of "Chrome Skull: Laid to Rest 2". The sequel looks to be more viscious and blood soaked than the first instalment! My apologies to Rob that I couldn't see it AT SDCC, but watching movies while at the show just assures me a place to nod off half way through. At SDCC, If I'm not running or drinking, I'm sleeping. I can't help it. Lights go off, my brain says sleep mode.


I'm going to split this into 2 parts so it's not too incredibly long...and so I can get back to posting all the coverage I shot and recorded at the show! Stay tuned for more.