Movie Interview: Andrea Romano on Justice League-Crisis on Two Earths

To save our world and all those like it, Superman, Batman and their caped colleagues must go toe-to-toe with their evil mirror images in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Check out an interview with director Andrea Romano!
 

The stars come out for Andrea Romano.
 
You need a voice echoing the All-American trust of Superman? Romano gets Mark Harmon for his maiden voyage in animation. You’re seeking a subtly evil performance as the intelligent-bordering-on-insane Owlman? James Woods is willing to do it from a little booth in Rhode Island.
 
Whatever the role, no matter the production, actors push aside their Oscars, Emmys and Tonys to step behind the microphone and “play” with Romano.
 
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is the seventh entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies, and each has featured all-star casts with Romano at the reigns. From Neil Patrick Harris, Brooke Shields and Alfred Molina to Virginia Madsen, Nathan Fillion and Kyra Sedgwick (to name but a few), Romano’s casts are packed with the faces normally reserved for lead roles in feature films and primetime television series.
 
In addition to Harmon (NCIS) as Superman and Woods (Mississippi Burning) as Owlman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths features the voices of Chris Noth  (Law & Order, Sex and the City) as Lex Luthor, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as Batman, Gina Torres (Firefly/Serenity) as Superwoman and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as President Wilson.
 
Romano has been one of the driving forces in animation voiceovers for more than a quarter century, amassing a list of credits that range from dramatic (Batman: The Animated Series) to silly (Animaniacs) to hip (The Boondocks) and timeless (Smurfs). The six-time Emmy Award winner (and 20-time nominee) has not only set the standard by which industry veterans measure the art, but she has become a household name to animation fans across the globe, regularly drawing standing ovations and endless applause during her annual Con appearances.
 
Warner Home Video will distribute the full-length animated Justice League: Crisis on Two Earthson February 23 as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, as well as single disc DVD, and On Demand and Download.
 
Romano found time in her busier-than-you’d-ever-believe schedule to discuss the cast of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. The questions are simple, but the answers are pure Andrea Romano. Take a read …
 

Andrea Romano and William Baldwin.  

 QUESTION:
James Woods has quite the resume, including plenty of animation experience. How is it that you had not worked with him until now?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
I’ve been a huge fan of James Woods and wanted to work with him for years. We actually had a Justice League production about five years ago that we had him booked for, and then the plug got pulled on the project. I’ve been waiting for something else for him ever since – and then Owlman came along, a perfect role for him.
 
We had to record him long distance, and his performance was very, very subtle – so much so that I was worried that it wasn’t going to play when it came back with animation. But it was perfect. It was subtle and nuanced and scary without being broad in any way, and it was wonderful to see such a subtle performance work in a big action piece. I can’t wait to meet him in person.
 
 
QUESTION:
On the flipside, the star of one of primetime’s top rated series – Mark Harmon of NCIS – had never previously done animation. How did he do?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
I fell in love with Mark Harmon. I have admired his work for many years, but he had not done this kind of work before, and so you always run the risk of several different situations occurring when you bring in someone who is new to animation. But Mark Harmon completely put himself in my hands, and totally let me show him how this work is done. I certainly didn’t have to teach him acting, but he was completely agreeable to trying options, had ideas of his own, and had complete trust in my process. So it was a terrific experience for both of us. I think he’s a wonderful Superman. Although he’s older in years than how we typically portray Superman, his voice with the model was right on.

QUESTION:
Gina Torres is another Joss Whedon alum making an appearance in the Timmverse. What made her right for Superwoman?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Gina over the years, and she is as beautiful to work with as she is visually. What makes this particular performance so great is that she plays a truly evil character and, if you didn’t know her personally, you’d think that was what she was like in real-life. She wore this role like a glove.
 
We recorded Gina separately from James Woods, and their characters are love interests. Without the benefit of being in the same room, let alone the same coast, Gina brought an energy that matched his perfectly. She’s such an instinctual actress. And especially for Superwoman, Gina really put herself into the role. She is sexy. She doesn’t have to play sexy – she IS sexy.
 
One of the interesting things about Gina’s performance is that when she first recorded, she had a cold and it manifested itself as kind of deeper and textured. But when she came in for ADR, she was perfectly healthy, and much more pure and clear – so we had to make a little bit of an adjustment to make sure she didn’t sound too sweet.
 
 
QUESTION:
Did William Baldwin have any trouble mastering Batman?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
I thought he did great – I love the texture of his voice. The performance is spot-on. The only issue was that William hasn’t done a lot of voiceover work in this genre. We do a lot of impact sounds that come with this kind of an action piece, and being the method actor he is, he insisted on actually striking his own body physically when he had to do “umphs” and “ohs” and impacts. By the time he was done, he must’ve been bruised. We were a little worried for him. When we brought him back in for ADR, we asked him to please not hit himself, and we showed him how to do those grunts and ughs  In this film, Batman wasn’t a big role, but it’s an important role, and I think William really filled it well. Someday I’m going to get all the Baldwins in the same room.

Owlman and Superwoman

QUESTION:
Chris Noth is another animation novice. Did he enjoy his time as a “good” Lex Luthor?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
Chris Noth thought he was going to be playing the evil Lex, and I think he was disappointed he didn’t get to play a villain. Still, he came through and gave a really good performance. What was funny was that at the end of the entire recording process, Chris was our absolute last session of ADR – on a late Friday afternoon. To celebrate, they brought in a tray of Cosmos, and our own Susan Chieco had a very “Sex in the City” moment of walking a Cosmo in to Chris Noth. He cheered up considerably at that point.
 
 
QUESTION:
How did you end up promoting Bruce Davison to President?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
I met Bruce at a wedding about 20 years ago and have admired his acting for so long anyway. It was another one of those perfect matches of voice and character. We had this nice role of the President that needed some gravitas to it and, at the same time, this particular President was a bit of a coward. Bruce was able to give us both of those aspects in just the right doses.
 
QUESTION:
In your opinion, what will win the Academy Award for Best Animated Film?
 
ANDREA ROMANO:
“Up” was my favorite movie of the year. Think about it: I’m a voice director, and I was captivated by the first 10 minutes of the film – which has no voice, and yet it’s some of the best storytelling I’ve ever seen in a live-action or animated film. You really run through the gamut of emotions. I also thought the kid was charming, and Ed Asner was so wonderful. Plus, who doesn’t like looking at a huge collection of balloons, and a house that can fly?
 

For more information, images and updates, please visit the film’s official website at www.JUSTICELEAGUECRISIS.com.

Pre-Order Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths on Blu-ray or DVD at Amazon.com now

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more Comics news and everything geek pop culture.

Blu-ray News: Beauty & The Beast Diamond Edition coming to Blu-ray on 10/5!

A Beloved Fairy Tale Is Restored To All New Heights On Blu-ray™!

Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition

On Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack – October 5, 2010
And Standard Definition DVD - November 23, 2010

Burbank, Calif., March 29, 2010 – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the Blu-ray high-definition debut of Disney’s animated masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast on October 5, 2010.  

Disney’s most requested film, Beauty and the Beast, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def as the second installment to the company’s new Diamond Collection. The Blu-ray transformation reveals the magic, music and majesty of the film as never before experienced with state-of-the-art picture restoration, pristine 7.1 Digital Surround Sound and hours of additional viewing experiences that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks, immersive games and more.

The first of only two animated films ever to be nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture (the second is 2009’s Up), Beauty and the Beast earned six Academy Award® nominations and won two Oscars® in 1992 for Best Original Song (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Best Original Score.

Unavailable in any form since 2003, Beauty and the Beast will be released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, arriving on a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD) October 5, followed seven weeks later with the release of a 2-Disc standard definition DVD on November 23.


The Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack has a U.S. suggested retail price of $39.99 and the 2-Disc DVD set has a U.S. suggested retail price of $29.99.

Film Synopsis:

Set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Beauty and the Beast follows the fantastic adventures of Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.

Film Accolades:

Beauty and the Beast received two Academy Awards® for music in 1992, three Golden Globes® for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song in 1992, and two Grammy Awards in 1993. Listed as number seven on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Animated Films, Beauty and the Beast helped define Disney animation for a new generation as the second film in the “Disney Animation Renaissance” (1989-1999) which launched with The Little Mermaid and revitalized animated features by captivating mature audiences while still delighting young viewers.

Beauty and the Beast features a cast of top vocal talent. Veteran stage actress and singer Paige O’Hara is the voice of Belle, one of Disney’s most beloved and independent heroines, and Robby Benson (TV’s “American Dreams”) delivers a powerful portrayal of the Beast. Three-time Oscar®-nominated screen star (The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946, and Gaslight in 1945) and six-time Golden Globe® award winner (TV’s “Murder, She Wrote” in 1992, 1990, 1987 and 1985, The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, and The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946), Angela Lansbury gives a bubbly performance as Mrs. Potts. The late Jerry Orbach (TV’s “Law and Order,” “House of Mouse”) shines as the voice of Lumiere, the passionate candelabra, and David Ogden-Stiers (TV’s “M*A*S*H,” Lilo & Stitch) is Cogsworth, the tightly-wound mantel clock who functions as the head of the household.  

Beauty and the Beast was also the first Disney animated film to inspire a Broadway stage production by the same name. Highlighting the film’s music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, seven new songs were written for the stage musical. Beauty… was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1994 and ran on Broadway for 5,464 performances until 2007, becoming Broadway's sixth-longest running production in history.  

Blu-ray News: James and the Giant Peach: Special Edition Combo Pack Set to Release

 

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH: SPECIAL EDITION releases on Blu-ray August 3, 2010!

In an all-new special edition from Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of Alice In Wonderland, comes the astounding film that captured the hearts of fans and critics all across the world. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, Burton, Denise Di Novi and director Henry Selick combine a fascinating mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects to create a world beyond your imagination in James and the Giant Peach: Special Edition for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.

After the daring rescue of a spider, a young boy named James gains possession of some magic crocodile tongues.  When James spills them in the garden, out sprouts an enormous peach!  Climbing inside, he meets an astonishing cast of characters and embarks on a magical odyssey full of thrills and adventure.  Voiced by an all-star cast, including legendary actors Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow and Jane Leeves, and featuring the celebrated music of Randy Newman, this classic story is delicious entertainment for the whole family!
 
Blu-ray Bonus Features
 
• Spike the Aunts Interactive Game – New BD Exclusive! Inspired by the game that plays after the end movie credits, try your hand at spiking the evil aunts with the rhino and ring up major points!
 
• Production Featurette – A look at the making of the film.
 
• “Good News” Music Video performed by Randy Newman
 
• Still Frame Gallery
 
• Original Theatrical Trailer


Can't wait until it's released?  Pre-order James and the Giant Peach: Special Edition from Amazon on Blu-ray/DVD combo today!

Keep coming back to ComicsOnline for more movie news and everything geek pop culture!

Blu-ray/DVD News: Transformers: Dark of the Moon comes home September 30th

Check out the press release for the upcoming Blu-ray/DVD release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STEVEN SPIELBERG, PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ $1 BILLION GLOBAL HIT BLASTS OFF 
ON BLU-RAY AND DVD

“The Best Action Movie Ever”* Prepares for Launch on 
TRANSFORMERS FRIDAY, September 30

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (September 9, 2011) – Spectacular action, stunning visual effects, non-stop thrills and fan-favorite characters including OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE and Sam Witwicky rocketed Transformers: Dark of the Moon into the stratosphere, with the latest installment of the wildly popular TRANSFORMERS franchise surpassing its predecessors to earn over $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office.  From Paramount Pictures in association with Hasbro, the breathtaking film redefines the scale, scope and emotional impact of what a blockbuster can be with the ongoing epic story of the mighty AUTOBOTS in a thrill-packed adventure that the whole family can enjoy.  Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, the film will debut in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo with a digital copy and on standard DVD on Friday, September 30, 2011, followed by a deluxe Blu-ray and DVD release, including a Blu-ray 3D, in the coming months. 

“For fans who can’t wait, the Blu-ray release in September will deliver an awesome ride with the movie in stunning 1080p high definition and a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack that was personally overseen by our phenomenal supervising sound mixer just for the 
Blu-ray,” said director Michael Bay.  “As you know, we put a lot of effort into the 3D experience for the theatrical release and I want to make sure we get it right for home viewing—and that process takes time.  So stay tuned for an even more incredible release that will include the film on Blu-ray 3D and loads of bonus features.”

From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, in association with Hasbro, Transformers: Dark of the Moon explodes with high-octane action when a mysterious event from Earth’s past erupts into the present day threatening to bring a war to Earth so big that the TRANSFORMERS alone will not be able to save us.  Stars Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Josh Duhamel (Life As We Know It), Tyrese Gibson (Four Brothers) and John Turturro (The Good Shepherd) have returned along with a host of new stars including Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Frances McDormand (Fargo) and John Malkovich (Beowulf).  The film also features the voices of Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”) and Hugo Weaving (Captain America: The First Avenger) and introduces newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Disc Specifications

The Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 7.1 Dolby TrueHD and—in a first for Paramount Home Entertainment—English 5.1 Discrete Dolby Digital and English 2.0 Discrete Surround Dolby Digital tracks, each of which was individually mastered to ensure optimal sound for the home entertainment experience.  The disc additionally features French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. 

The DVD in the Combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Discrete Surround, French 5.1 Surround, Spanish 5.1 Surround and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The digital copy is presented in English 2.0 Stereo with no subtitles.

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Discrete Surround, French 5.1 Surround, Spanish 5.1 Surround and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Epic Marketing Support

The Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray and DVD debut will be supported by a massive marketing and promotional campaign befitting the mega-hit status of the franchise.  In addition to a multi-million dollar advertising blitz spanning television, print, radio and online, a stellar array of allies has joined forces with Paramount Home Entertainment to transmit the AUTOBOTS’ message to all inhabitants of the globe.

Hasbro will host a “Roll Out In PRIME Style” sweepstakes in the U.S. giving entrants the chance to “Win a Ride to School” with the AUTOBOTS!  The grand prize winner will be picked up by BUMBLEBEE and transported to school where OPTIMUS PRIME will be waiting with TRANSFORMERS toys and products in his trailer.  Details are available at www.TransformersPrimeStyle.com.

Also in the U.S., Hostess will feature TRANSFORMERS images on millions of packages and will have thousands of displays in grocery and convenience stores across the country.  The company will also host a branded “Transform Your Treat” sweepstakes that gives consumers the chance to win a variety of valuable prizes.  Additionally, Hostess will offer consumers a $4 rebate on the purchase of Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray or DVD with purchase of two (2) Hostess products (additional details available at http://www.hostesscakes.com).  Energizer will offer coupons good for $5 off the Transformers: Dark of the MoonBlu-ray or DVD at retailers throughout the U.S. via special displays and packaging.

In Canada, 250,000 Kernels Popcorn Shakers have been outfitted with Transformers: Dark of the Moon promotional branding in support of a consumer sweepstakes tied to the home entertainment release. The Popcorn Shakers will be available at major retailers across the country.

Synopsis

A mysterious event from Earth’s past threatens to ignite a war so big that the TRANSFORMERS™ alone will not be able to save the planet. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the AUTOBOTS™ must fight against the darkness to defend our world from the DECEPTICONS’™ all-consuming evil in the smash hit from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg.

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.  Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Paramount Home Entertainment   

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

...

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CC2010: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!

CC2010: Green Latern Panel Coverage from WB

Warner Bros has released a great video with Green Lantern highlights from Comic-Con 2010:




Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more Green Lantern and Comic-Con coverage!

Comic-Con 2010 News: Like predecessor, Tron: Legacy to push tech limits, says director

 

 

Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski is trying to bottle the same magic with his sequel that Steven Lisberger managed to capture with the original twenty-seven years ago. Kosinski said in Thursday morning’s Comic-Con panel in the cavernous Hall H that the mission of the new film is to “push the boundaries” of the current level of film-making technology much like Tron did in 1982. This includes shooting in true 3-D, using the same techniques exploited to such success by James Cameron and Avatar.

“This will not be a conversion,” Kosinski stated emphatically. To prove his point, eight minutes of the film were shown to the audience.

In the footage, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), son of the original film’s main protagonist Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is captured by a Recognizer (the iconic flying arch-like craft) and brought to an area for processing “rogue” programs. He is suited up in techie glowing armor and bestowed a disc by four form-fitted lovelies, upon which all of his experience and identity is stored, and sent to the “games.” On his way out he asks one of the lovelies, “What do I do now?”

“Survive,” she intones dramatically, with a hint of electronic distortion modulating her voice. What follows is a dizzying montage of footage from the film showing among other things the familiar light cycle races and battles with the Frisbee-like discs, sublime visuals made more spectacular by 3D effect.

The footage also confirms a dual role for Jeff Bridges, playing both the elder Flynn and Clu 2.0, a younger, more menacing version of himself that harkens back to the Flynn of the original. Bruce Boxleitner also reprises his role from the first film. Garrett Hedlund (Eragon), Olivia Wilde (House M.D.), and Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) round out the cast. All were on hand, along with Kosinski, producer Sean Bailey and Tron creator Steven Lisberger. The panel was moderated by comedian Patton Oswalt.

During the discussion, Kosinski also hinted at surprises in the film when discussing the cast, which suggests the possibility that other actors from the original may reprise their roles, like Cindy Morgan or David Warner.

Later, Kosinski announced to the attendees that technicians from Skywalker Sound were on hand to record crowd sounds and proceeded to direct the room in several choruses of cheers and chants that, he said, were likely to wind up in the final sound mix of the film. Needless to say, the audience acquitted themselves well and were thereafter treated to a new trailer as a reward.

The original Tron was, at best, an ingenuous attempt to bridge pop culture and the then-burgeoning world of computer technology and video games and at worst a silly fantasy bearing no resemblance to its purported subject matter. But none of that seems to have mattered to the hundreds on hand for the presentation. Surveying the crowd, it would be fair to say that many weren’t even alive when the first film was released, yet they embraced news of the sequel with all the enthusiasm and none of the vapors of a vapid Twilight crowd. Whether that enthusiasm translates into box office gold will have to wait until the film releases on December 17th, 2010.

Keep coming back to ComicsOnline for all of your San Diego Comic-con 2010 updates!

Comic-Con 2010: First Twilight Superfan Camps Out for Panel

Hang in there, kid. It's going to be a rough month...





Pictures courtesy of Charles McMillan.

Culture News: ‘Coraline’ Author Neil Gaiman speaks at UCLA Live Feb. 4

 

Often dubbed “the coolest man in literature” Neil Gaiman brings his unique personality to UCLA Live’s Royce Hall for an evening of pop-culture spoken word and fan interaction. Long beloved by comic book fans for his stunning, mythological series Sandman published by DC Comics, Gaiman’s prolific 20-year career includes a bevy of comics, critically acclaimed novels, journalism and an award-winning website. Click for more details on how to get tickets.

Two Gaiman-penned novels, Stardust (2007) and Coraline (2009) have been made into popular films, vaunting the author into increased fanboy limelight. His New York Times bestseller The Graveyard Book received the Newbery Medal.
 
Named in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers, Gaiman is also the author of the novels Neverwhere, Anansi Boys, the Hugo-and Nebula-winning American Gods and several collections of short fiction. Originally from England, he now lives in Minneapolis.
 
Something of an uberblogger, Gaiman is known for embracing and interacting with his core audience via his own website (www.neilgaiman.com) and social networks like Twitter, including a recently announced project with BBC Audiobooks America  to create a new audiobook drafted solely through Twitter posts instigated by an 140-character opening line written by Gaiman.
 
Fans and followers of this pop-culture icon have a unique opportunity to hear from the Gaiman live and in person.
 
Ticket Information
Single tickets for the performance on THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4 at 8 p.m. are currently available for $24, $36 and $48 ($15 UCLA students).
 
Theycan be purchased online at www.UCLALive.org, by phone at 310-825-2101, in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office at the southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Student rush tickets, subject to availability, are offered at the same price to all students with a valid ID one hour prior to show time.

 

 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more gaming news and everything geek pop culture.
 

Iron Man 2 Motorcycle Suit Replica for Sale!

If you have an extra $1100 burning a hole in your pocket, check out the latest, greatest creation from UD Replicas - the badass red motorcycle suit from Iron Man 2!  Check out more information and pictures below.

UD Replicas Officially Unveils ‘Leather-as-Metal’ Motorcycle Suit

Produced Under License With Marvel, amazing replica of Tony Stark’s Mark V Suitcase Suit from Iron Man 2!

Building an extraordinary collection of handcrafted, high-end leather motorcycle suits that replicate the on-screen designs worn by cinematic Super Heroes, UD Replicas today announced that it is taking orders for its all-new replica of the Mark V Suitcase Suit from IRON MAN 2.

Meticulously designed and hand crafted by UD Replicas, with creative guidance from Marvel, the IRON MAN 2 Mark V Motorcycle Suit includes an intricately detailed jacket that recreates the metallic angles and deep colors of the original – in form-molded leather that boasts a remarkable texture and dimensionality.

The complete IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit includes jacket, pants, boots and gloves and retails for $1,099.00 in the U.S. and Canada. Orders will be accepted beginning July 1 until September 15 exclusively at www.UDReplicas.com. UD Replicas offers a three-month payment option for full four-piece orders, and suits are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2011.

“We’ve replicated the visual effect of Iron Man’s armor,” explains David Pea, owner of UD Replicas, which spent four months researching and designing the IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit. “From the neck down, every single detail is form-molded leather, and has presented us with a fantastic creative challenge. It’s important for us to get the details exactly right, because the Iron Man suit is such an iconic design.”

Each IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit from UD Replicas takes several days to produce, and incorporates a chest arc reactor made of highly reflective, light-sensitive material that glows when light hits it. The IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit also incorporates removable CE-approved body armor; gloves with built-in, anti-skid Kevlar in the leather lining of the palms.

The leather work is finished in the candy-apple red featured in the original on-screen suit, with a translucent, pearl metallic finish.  The silver accents are metallic silver chrome with a translucent finish.

The IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit, along with UD Replicas’ X2 Wolverine Motorcycle Suit, will be displayed at booth 2913 during San Diego International Comic-Con from July 21 to July 25.

Full information on ordering the IRON MAN 2 Motorcycle Suit, as well as photos and video of UD Replicas’ remarkable creations, can be found online at www.udreplicas.com.

Keep coming back to ComicsOnline for more news and everything geek pop culture!

Magazine Review: Thor - Official Movie Special

by Elizabeth Madsen, Reviews

Perhaps it wasn’t much of a question that Thor would be so successful with Kenneth Branagh at the directing wheel, but to have a magazine created based solely on this movie definitely shows how good it is. Aimed at all ages, this magazine serves as an introduction into the beautiful branch of Thor’s place in the Marvel Universe. Whether or not you’ve been a fan of Thor since the beginning, joined our Norse god along the way, or if you’re new to the hero, this magazine will tell you what you need to know about both the movie and the comic books to enjoy his story.

 

The magazine starts off with short character biographies, introducing us to the main heroes and villains. Although brief, each bio gives enough information to get a good feel for each person, their role, and a bit of how they fit into the universe. It’s a quick recap for anyone whose knowledge of Thor has gotten rusty, and a great introduction for anyone who has already seen the movie (or who is getting ready to).

Interviews and articles fill several pages with insight into each of the characters and what the actors brought to their role. Jaime Alexander, who plays Sif, was quite the comic book lover while growing up, and she jumped at the chance to be able to play a superhero. Tom Hiddleston, as Loki, researched his character in both the comic book history and in Norse mythology. Who knew! Kenneth Branagh himself also answers some questions about what it was like to work on the movie and what he hoped to bring to the Marvel universe with his vision of the worlds and costuming.

 

For those who haven’t followed Thor in comic books much or at all are also in luck! Provided in this issue is a timeline of significant events that have happened since Thor’s introduction into the Marvel Universe in August 1962. You can meet the various aliases Thor has gone by, some of his friends he met along the way, and some of the momentous battles with enemies Hercules, the fire demon Surtur, and the one started by Loki that ultimately led to the formation of the Avengers.

 

Scattered throughout the magazine is several beautiful images of the concept art that helped form the realms of Asgard and Jotunheim, as well as the looks of the characters. There are the occasional storyboards as well, showing how some of the more intense scenes were captured before filming even began. Alongside the concept art are several still images from the movie itself of the main heroes and villains.

A wide variety of puzzles offer some additional entertainment. A word search that is surprisingly harder than I had anticipated, a crossword puzzle and some trivia that require a near thorough read-through of the magazine to know every answer, a quiz to find out which of our Asgardian heroes you’re most like, and so many more, which are fun and actually provide a challenge.

 

To top things off is a brief account of about the first two-thirds of the film, accompanied by photos. It’s located near the back, and gives a spoiler warning in case you haven’t seen the movie yet, you can skip right past it and not have to worry about how the film is going to end.

 

Overall, this magazine was very enjoyable. Aimed at all ages, but entertaining for everyone, there is hardly a dull moment while scouring all 96 pages for tidbits of information you may not have even realized you wanted to know. Between the interviews, articles, puzzles, comics, and artwork, you can lose yourself in the world of Asgard and follow along with Thor without ever having to have picked up one of the comics, or even see the movie.

ComicsOnline gives the Thor magazine 5 warriors of Asgard out of 5.

Purchase your copy of the Thor magazine on amazon.com!

And be sure to keep ComicsOnline at the top of your favorites for all the latest in Geek Pop Culture!

Movie News: "Batman: Under the Red Hood" is available everywhere today, July 27. New Clip!

 

"Batman: Under the Red Hood" is available everywhere today, July 27.

The eighth entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated
Original PG-13 Movies is being distributed by Warner Home Video. The
film screened to a packed house of 4,250 fans at the recently
concluded Comic-Con International in San Diego.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Animation, "Batman: Under the Red Hood" is available as a Special
Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2-disc DVD, as well as being available
on single disc DVD, On Demand and for Download.

Below you will find an official clip from "Batman: Under the
Red Hood."
 

 

Movie News: After Dark Films News

Movie News: After Dark Originals Announces Next Original Title - Fertile Ground

AFTER DARK FILMS ANNOUNCES NEXT ORIGINAL TITLE

FIFTH TITLE, FERTILE GROUND, IS ROOTED IN FEAR AND GHOSTLY FANTASY



Los Angeles, CA (August 20, 2010) — After Dark Films CEO Courtney Solomon continues the momentum of After Dark Originals “A New Brand of Fear” with his announcement of the bone-chilling 5th film, Fertile Ground. Writer/Director Adam Gierasch (Autopsy, Night of the Demons)co-wrote this film together with Jace Anderson. The film stars Leisha Hailey (The L Word) and Gale Harold (Queer as Folk, Desperate Housewives).

Emily and Nate Weaver leave the city for the rural comfort of Nate’s ancestral home in thecountry. Once there, Emily is plagued by horrifying visions and haunted by the ghosts inhabiting their isolated new home. When Nate’s behavior undergoes a strange and fearful metamorphous, Emily fears she might be the latest target in a murderous tradition.
Producer Solomon states, “Leisha Hailey is completely convincing as a woman in peril. As the plot thickens, twists and surprises unfold that keep the viewer engaged and in constant suspense.”

Fertile Ground was shot in Iowa, the home state of Executive Producer Stephanie Caleb. Release date for Fertile Ground and all eight Originals is scheduled for January 2011. The series was developed in partnership with Lionsgate.

After Dark Films made an unprecedented commitment to the production of eight original horror films this year under the After Dark Originals “A New Brand of Fear” label, continuing the Company’s mantra of supporting up and coming feature directors. The creation of the Originals slate is just another example of the Company’s commitment to the independent film industry.

Unlike After Dark’s acquisitions slate Horrorfest® – 8 Films to Die For®, After Dark Originals are wholly financed and produced by After Dark Films. The ADO slate runs the gamut of the genre, from paranormal phenomena, black magic, and vengeful ghosts to psychological trauma, murderous psychopaths, vampires and the undead. After Dark polled its fans and is delivering the kinds of movies they asked for!

For more After Dark Originals films go to www.afterdarkoriginals.com.

Keep ComicsOnline.com at the top of your favorites for more news and reviews.

Movie News: Back To the Future Bonus Clips Online!

Great Scott!

Back to the Future celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a brand new release of the famous trilogy on Blu-ray and DVD! Check out all of these new interviews with the cast and crew:

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Michael J. Fox
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox talks about how has this film changed his life.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Challenges
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Robert Zemeckis talks about the biggest challenge he faced making Back to the Future.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD  Press Conference - Cast Favorite Quotes
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd discuss their favorite quotes in the films.

Back to the Future25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Huey Lewis
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Huey Lewis talks about making The Power of Love for the film.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Michael and Lea
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson talk about how their children reacted to seeing the films.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray &  DVD Press Conference - Michael & Lea II
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson discuss how proud they are to be associated with Back to the Future.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Robert Zemeckis
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Robert Zemeckis talks about the phenomenon of Back to the Future and its enduring appeal.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Cast Props
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Bob Gale talk about the film's props that are in their personal collections.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference - Fondest Memories
At the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Press Conference on October 25, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, Mary Steenburgen and Neil Canton talk about their fondest memories from making Back to the Future.
 

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray & DVD Special Feature-The Physics of Back to the Future

Is time travel really possible? With the internet wondering if the image of a woman allegedly on a cell phone from a 1932 film  starring Charlie Chaplin is proof of our ability to jump through time, check out this video clip where physicist Dr. Michio Kaku talks about time travel in “The Physics of Back to the Future, " a new bonus feature on the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray & DVD.

...

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more Back to the Future news and reviews and for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Batman: Year One - Trailer Now Online!

Check out the new trailer (courtesy of MTV) for the next DC Universe Animated Movie: Batman: Year One, available to own on October 18th.

 

Check back to ComicsOnline.com for more Batman: Year One coverage and for everything geek pop culture!
 

Movie News: Brand New Superhero Trainer Game from KICK-ASS! In Theaters April 16th!

Check out the brand new game on the official Kick-Ass site called Superhero Trainer! The exciting new game gives you a chance to roof jump with Kick-Ass, do target practice with Hit Girl and much more!
 

Superhero Trainer Game:
Do you have what it takes to become a real-life superhero like Kick-Ass, Red Mist, Big Daddy and Hit-Girl?
 
Prove it.
 
Visit www.kickass-themovie.com/superherotrainertoday and register as the next real-life superhero!
 
Sharpen your superhero skills in four exclusive mini-games – Target Practice, Rooftop Jumping, Weapons Class and Burning Rubber – and locate hidden items by exploring the rooms of Kick-Ass’ real-life superheroes.
 
Make it onto the leader-board for a chance to win one of 25 Kick-Ass prize packs!

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

 

Movie News: Captain America Trailer Hits the Web!

Check out the first official footage for the upcoming Captain America movie:

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Get Morphed Into a Na'vi at The Grove in Honor of the DVD & Blu-ray Release of AVATAR!!

AVATAR INNOVATIVE DIGITAL EXHIBITION LAUNCHES WITH HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE

Interactive Facial Recognition Technology Morphs Shoppers’ faces into Na’vis in real time
 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: Green Hornet Trailer!

Those of you looking forward to this film adaptation only have to wait about seven more months!  The Green Hornet, starring funnyman Seth Rogan as Britt Reid and Asian pop star and martial artist Jay Chou as Kato (originally played by Bruce Lee in the '60s) is set to hit theaters in January 2011.  They've finally given us a trailer to drool over and of course, it looks badass - let's hope the rest of the movie is just as awesome.  Check it out below!




Keep coming back to ComicsOnline for more upcoming movie news and everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Green Lantern - Emerald Knights Cast Announcement

 Check out the WB press release regarding the fantastic casting for the upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie - Green Lantern: Emerald Knights!

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATHAN FILLION, ELISABETH MOSS LEAD
STELLAR VOICECAST FOR
GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS

ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE
COMING JUNE 7, 2011 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

BURBANK, CA, (February 8, 2011) – Primetime television stars Nathan
Fillion (Castle) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) lead a diverse array of
performers as the voices behind Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the
next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated
Original Movies. Building up to the release of the highly anticipated
live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17, Green Lantern:
Emerald Knights arrives on Blu-Ray™, DVD, On Demand and for Download
June 7 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Animation.

Fillion provides the voice of the animated film’s central character
Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern assigned to Sector 2814 (which
includes Earth). Fillion has starred in several primetime television
series including Desperate Housewives, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza
Place and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also developed a popular
cult following as a pair of Joss Whedon’s heroic captains: Capt. Mal
Reynolds in the space-western series Firefly and follow-up film,
Serenity; and Captain Hammer in Whedon’s internet sensation Dr.
Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  Fillion returns to the DC Universe after
his successful turn as Steve Trevor in the animated film Wonder Woman,
and has performed voice work on Justice League, Robot Chicken, The
Venture Bros., and several Halo video games.

Moss gives voice to Arisia, a young recruit forced into her first
mission on just her third day as a Green Lantern. Prior to starring as
the ever-evolving Peggy Olson in AMC’s ground-breaking series Mad Men,
Moss was featured on The West Wing, Invasion and Picket Fences. Moss
has been active in voiceovers for animation with previous roles in
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and It’s Spring
Training, Charlie Brown!.

The voice cast for the animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also
features actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins (Sons of Anarchy, The
Henry Rollins Show) as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films)
as Sinestro, legendary professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (They
Live) as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Abin Sur, Kelly Hu
(The Vampire Diaries) as Laira and Wade Williams (Prison Break) as
Deegan. Radio Hall of Fame commentator/talk show host Michael Jackson
voices the esteemed Guardian, Ganthet.

Bruce Timm is executive producer of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.
Directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva and Christopher Berkeley.

The full-length animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights complements
the Warner Bros. theatrical release of the highly anticipated
live-action major motion picture, Green Lantern. Green Lantern:
Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™
Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, as well as single disc DVD.
The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

 

...

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more news on Green Lantern: Emerald Knights and for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Green Lantern - Trailer

Check out the new Green Lantern movie trailer by clicking the image below:

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more Green Lantern news!

Movie News: Green Lantern Teaser Posters Revealed!

Check out the four new teaser posters for the upcoming Green Lantern film below:  


 

 

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more Green Lantern news!

Movie News: Iron Man 2 Comes Home Sept 28th!

THE YEAR’S BIGGEST ACTION HERO BLASTS ONTO
BLU-RAY AND DVD, EXPLODING WITH HOURS OF
EXCITING BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE
 
Robert Downey Jr. Returns in the $300+ Million Domestic Box Office Smash Hit, Zooming onto a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD on September 28, 2010
 
 

                        HOLLYWOOD, Calif.(July 13, 2010) – The billionaire Super Hero in the iron suit is back in Marvel Studios’ and Paramount Pictures’ thrilling sensation IRON MAN 2, debuting on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download September 28, 2010.  Packed with fantastic battles, stunning visual effects and an all-star cast, the new blockbuster adventure will be available to own as a three-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with digital copy, as a limited edition two-disc DVD with digital copy, or as a single disc DVD.  In this highly-anticipated sequel, Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes, Tropic Thunder) reprises his role as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in a thrill-a-minute story filled with explosive action, new suits and powerful new villains.  The phenomenal cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man), Don Cheadle (Oceans series), Scarlett Johansson (He’s Just Not That Into You) as the seductive Black Widow, Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) as the vengeful Whiplash, as well as Sam Rockwell (Charlie’s Angels) and Samuel L. Jackson (The Other Guys).                   
To date, with over $300 million at the domestic box office, IRON MAN 2 has delighted audiences with its combination of high-intensity action, intelligence and humor.  The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes fully loaded with immersive and interactive bonus materials including an in-depth, feature-length documentary of the making of the film, revealing featurettes about Nick Fury, Black Widow and War Machine, a look inside the creation of Stark Expo, deleted scenes and an exclusive peek inside the Marvel Super Hero Universe through the S.H.I.E.L.D. Data Vault.
IRON MAN 2 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack
The Iron Man 2 Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and Brazilian Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles.  The DVDis presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc 1 (Blu-ray):
·         Feature film with optional commentary by Jon Favreau (HD)
·         S.H.I.E.L.D. Data Vault (HD)—Extend your knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with high-level clearance into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s digital data vault. Interact with select scenes from the movie that include new layers of graphics and insider information. View case files, dossiers, S.H.I.E.L.D. training films, tech details and more.
·         Previsualization and Animatics (HD)
 
Disc 2 (Blu-ray):
·         Ultimate Iron Man: The Making of Iron Man 2 (HD)

• Rebuilding the Suit—An all-encompassing look at the beginning stages of this mammoth blockbuster.
• A Return to Action—From Marvel Studios to the streets of Monaco, Jon Favreau takes viewers through the trials and triumphs of continuing Iron Man’s story.
• Expanding the Universe—From the amazing sets of Stark Expo to Tony Stark’s home and beyond, the Marvel Universe continues to unfold into new and exciting places.
• Building a Legacy—From filming to editing, scoring and visual effects, Favreau and his team face the challenges of bringing the sequel to the big screen.

·         Featurettes (HD)

• Creating Stark Expo—A look at how the sets and computer-generated elements combine to create the massive set piece.
• Practical Meets Digital—How the “practical” props inform the “digital” work that ultimately brings our hero to life on screen.
• Illustrated Origin: Nick Fury—A comprehensive journey into creating one of the most mysterious and influential heroes in the Marvel Universe.
• Illustrated Origin: Black Widow—An exciting look at the new femme fatale introduced in Iron Man 2.
• Illustrated Origin: War Machine—A look at the introduction of the character and how his friendship with Tony Stark resonates with fans.
• Working with DJ AM—Jon Favreau remembers working with Adam Goldstein.

·         Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Jon Favreau (HD)

• Alternate Opening
• Coulson at the Senate
• The Sub-Orbital Jet
• Tony’s Workshop (extended)
• Natalie Wears the Gauntlet
• Flying Party Girl
• Mark II Security
• Element Rediscovered (extended)

·         Concept Art Gallery
·         Theatrical Trailers (HD)
·         Music Video: AC/DC “Shoot To Thrill”
 
Disc 3 (DVD):
·         Feature Film
·         Digital Copy
 
IRON MAN 2 Two-Disc DVD
The Iron Man 2 DVDis presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The disc breakdown is as follows:
Disc 1:
·         Feature film with optional commentary by Jon Favreau
 
Disc 2:
·         Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Jon Favreau

• Alternate Opening
• Coulson at the Senate
• Natalie Wears the Gauntlet
• Element Rediscovered (extended)

·         Featurettes

• Creating Stark Expo
• Practical Meets Digital

·         Music Video: AC/DC “Shoot To Thrill”
·         Digital Copy
 
The single-disc DVD includes the feature film with commentary by Jon Favreau.

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more news on Iron Man 2!

Movie News: Jackass 3D Trailer is Up and in Your Face!

Movie News: Justice League: Doom - Press Release and Cover Art

Check out the new press release for the upcoming DC Universe Animated release- Justice League: Doom!

Movie News: Justice League: Doom Cast Announcement and New Images

Check out the new press release for the new DC Universe Animated Original Movie: Justice League: Doom:

Primetime Television Stars

Nathan Fillion & Tim Daly

join heroic cast of

Justice League: Doom

Warner Home Video to distribute

DC Universe Animated Original Movie in early 2012;

Eight Justice League TV series alums featured in voice cast

Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion and Tim Daly, the reigning voices of Green Lantern and Superman, respectively, join an exciting group of actors reprising their famed cartoon roles in Justice League: Doom, an all-new entry in the popular series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies due in early 2012 from Warner Home Video.

Justice League: Doomfinds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.”

Fillion, the star of ABC’s hit TV drama Castle, made his debut as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan in the recent Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Fillion made his initial DCU bow as the voice of Steve Trevor in the 2008 hit Wonder Woman.

Currently headlining the cast of ABC’s popular Private Practice, Daly originated the title character’s voice in the landmark cartoon, Superman: The Animated Series. He has reprised the role in two DCU films: the 2009 extravaganza Superman/Batman: Public Enemiesand the 2010 thriller Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.

In addition to current primetime stars Fillion and Daly, the cast is a grand reunion of the original group of actors who provided the voices of the Justice Leaguefor the cartoon of the same name and its follow-up, Justice League Unlimited. Reprising their roles are Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) as Flash, Susan Eisenberg (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) as Wonder Woman and Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson (A Different World, Transformers: Animated) joins the cast as Cyborg.

The Justice League faces two sets of villainous teams in the film – The Royal Flush Gang and a sextet of notable evildoers. The latter group includes three voice acting alumni of the Justice Leagueanimated series: Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld)as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (Angel) as Mirror Master. Also opposing our heroes are Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) as Bane, Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) as Metallo, and Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate SG-1) as Cheetah.

David Kaufman (Danny Phantom) also reprises his Justice League role of Jimmy Olsen.

The film is executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One), and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One), who is also credited as producer alongside Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series). Justice League: Doomis the final script from the late Dwayne McDuffie (All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths). Casting and dialogue direction is once again in the capable hands of Andrea Romano (Batman: Year One, SpongeBob SquarePants).

Warner Home Video will premiere the Justice League: Doomtrailer during its presentation at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the IGN Theater. Also premiering during that session will be the Catwomananimated short that is attached to Batman: Year One, the next DC UniverseAnimated Movie (streeting October 18).

...

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline.com for more Justice League: Doom news and for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: KICK-ASS LIVE STREAM from the KICK-ASS Hollywood Premiere!

Check out new footage taken from the Kick-Ass Hollywood Premiere!

Reviews have been glowing and people across the country are waiting anxiously to see it; certainly proving that KICK-ASS is one of the most anticipated releases of 2010! Only three more days to go so get your tickets now for Friday. If you really can’t wait, check your local theater listings to get tickets for the 10PM and midnight showings on Thursday, April 15^th!

Live TV : Ustream

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: Last Harry Potter film to show in IMAX 3D at AMC Chesterfield 14!

For those who live in St. Louis, are waiting anxiously for midnight on July 15th, catching up on the previous Harry Potter films or continually watching the previews for the last, epic conclusion of the series on YouTube (me times four - yay!), here's something awesome - AMC Chesterfield 14 will be showing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on their massive new IMAX screen, in glorious 3D!  I have chills just thinking about it! 

Check out what they're saying below:

 

AMC THEATRES^® BRINGS THE IMAX EXPERIENCE^®
TO AMC CHESTERFIELD 14

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience Opens July 15

 

AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, announced today that guests visiting AMC Chesterfield 14 can now enjoy The IMAX Experience from IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX; TSX: IMX), when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experienceopens July 15.

The IMAX Experience combines crystal-clear images, powerful digital sound and customized theatre geometryto create a uniquely immersive movie experience. The IMAX^® theatre at this location has been custom-designed for use in a multiplex theatre. To maximize the field of view in the modified auditorium, the screen was replaced with a larger, slightly curved and specially treated IMAX screen positioned closer to the audience.

IMAX’s digital projection system combines two digital projectors with IMAX’s proprietary image enhancer and custom lenses to create an image with greater clarity, brightness and contrast. The images on screen are complemented by IMAX’s latest sound system, which features its proprietary loudspeaker technology and uncompressed digital sound. This sound system has ten times more dynamic range, cuts down on distortion and provides a sound quality that feels more immersive, especially with the added acoustic paneling that absorbs sound and removes echo.

The addition of IMAX at AMC Chesterfield 14 builds upon decades of AMC offering the best and broadest menu of entertainment choices for guests seeking an unparalleled experience. Guests at AMC Chesterfield 14 will take in the world’s most immersive cinematic experience when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience opens on July 15. The movie has been digitally re-mastered into IMAX’s format exclusively for presentation in the IMAX auditorium. In addition to IMAX-formatted movies, AMC delivers other types of entertainment to guests, including live and pre-recorded alternative content events.

The IMAXtheatre at AMC Chesterfield 14 will feature Hollywood’s biggest movies that have been digitally re-mastered into IMAX’s format.

Other upcoming Hollywood movies to be released in IMAX format include: REEL STEEL (Oct. 07), PUSS and BOOTS (Nov. 04), HAPPY FEET 2 (Nov. 18), MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Dec. 16) and THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (Dec. 28).

Combining IMAX’s revolutionary digital projection system, customized theatre geometry, specially designed screen and powerful digital audiosystem with AMC’s guest service and innovative products and amenities will make AMC Showplace New Lenox 14 a premier destination for entertainment. The new IMAX theatre maximizes the experience for guests so they feel as if they are IN the movie they are watching.

The opening of the IMAX theatre at AMC Chesterfield 14 is part of a joint-venture agreement by AMC and IMAX to install more than 115 IMAX digital projection systems at AMC locations in major U.S. markets and Canada.

Keep coming back to ComicsOnline for new movie release news and everything geek pop culture!

 

Movie News: Losers Take All

ALEX STEYERMARK TO DIRECT KYLE GALLNER AND STELLAR CAST IN LOSERS TAKE ALL

FROM THE PRODUCER OF THE BREAKFAST CLUB AND JUNEBUG

Alex Steyermark, director of Prey for Rock & Roll and One Last Thing will direct Kyle Gallner of recent A Nightmare On Elm Street fame as well as "Warehouse 13" star Allison Scagliotti and Tania Raymonde of "Lost" in the upcoming film LOSERS TAKE ALL.  The picture began principal photography earlier this week in and around Memphis, Tennessee.  The cast also includes Alexia Rasmussen (Listen to Your Heart), Aaron Himelstein ("Joan of Arcadia," The Informers), Billy Kay (Yelling to the Sky), Adam Herschman (Soul Men, Accepted) and newcomer Peter Brensinger.   
 
LOSERS TAKE ALL, set in the world of mid-1980's American independent rock music, follows a fictional punk/pop band "The Fingers" as they stumble, stagger and strum their way in what everyone thinks is the opposite direction of success--commercial or otherwise.  But they are in the right place at the right time and the public is eager to embrace the D.I.Y. sounds of the underground, whether those in the underground-"The Fingers" included-like it or not. It's a raucous love letter to an era when for most bands, life meant touring around the country in a cramped van, sleeping on the floors of strangers, selling your records after each show, and where fans were earned through powerful live shows at small clubs, reviews in 'zines, and do-it-yourself promotions.  
 
Top-Forty musician Marshall Crenshaw, who co-penned the Golden Globe and Grammy nominated title track to the hit comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, will work with the actors to put together a band whose sound recalls the Indie/Punk/D.I.Y. days of 1980's college radio.  This past winter, he and Memphis' own Scott Bomar produced and recorded original songs for the film at Bomar's Electrophonic Recording with local Memphis musicians.   
 
LOSERS TAKE ALLwas written by Andrew Pope and Winn Coslick, from a story by Roger Rawlings and Ed Bradin. The film will be produced by Mike S. Ryan (Life During Wartime, Junebug, Palindromes), Andrew Pope and Winn Coslick. The Executive Producers are Andrew Meyer (The Breakfast Club, Fried Green Tomatoes) and Roger Rawlings.

Movie News: MPI Provides a Glimpse Into the World of "Dungeons & Dragons" Fanatics with the Acclaimed Doc, THE DUNGEON MASTERS

 

 

A Rare Glimpse Into the World of Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics and the Powerful and Poignant Effect the Role-Playing Game Has Had on Them Comes to DVD From FilmBuff on August 3, 2010
 
Some board games are merely played. Others are lived. Among the latter, none is more obsessed over than Dungeons & Dragons, the enduringly popular fantasy role-playing board game in which a roll of the oddly angled dice can alter a character’s life. But for some dedicated players, the game has altered their actual lives. Three such fanatics are profiled in THE DUNGEON MASTERS, an eye-opening film from the critically acclaimed director, Keven McAllester (You’re Gonna Miss Me) coming to DVD from FilmBuff and MPI Media Group on August 3, 2010, with an SRP of $19.98.
 
What the hit comedy feature Role Models did for live-action role-playing game enthusiasts, THE DUNGEON MASTERS does for devoted table-top players. Dungeons & Dragons is no mere game to Richard, Scott and Elizabeth, the people at the center of this entertaining and ultimately moving documentary. Against the backdrop of crumbling middle-class America, these three struggling adults devote their lives to Dungeons & Dragons, the storied role-playing game introduced in 1974. One player is a sanitation worker who lures friends into a “Sphere of Annihilation.” Another is an evil “drow-elf” displaced by Hurricane Katrina. And one is a failed supervillain who starts a cable access show involvin! g ninjas, puppets and a cooking segment.
 
But the baroque fantasies of these three clash with their mundane real lives, and they gradually come to realize that the game’s imaginary triumphs can’t completely mask the very real disappointments of life. The beauty of Keven McAlester’s film is in revealing his subjects’ real-life heroism: summoning the courage to face hardships head on. Along the way, THE DUNGEON MASTERS reimagines the themes of classic heroic cinema, creating an intimate portrait of struggles and triumphs.
 
The Austin Chronicle’s Richard Whittaker said of THE DUNGEON MASTERS: “McAlester’s film cuts with sensitivity through the nerdy facade to the dedication its subjects show to their hobby in the toughest of times.” Kevin Kelly of Indiewire called it “a well-crafted film that … gives you an unflinching look at three people who have made gaming one of their creative outlets.”
 
Since its debut in the 1970s, the role-playing board game Dungeons and Dragons has sold more than 20 million copies. It has spawned two feature films and dozens of books; all told, sales of the game and related books, DVDs and equipment have surpassed $1 billion.
 
THE DUNGEON MASTERS was an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the South by Southwest Film Festival.
 
About MPI Media Group
The MPI Media Group is a leading producer, distributor and licensor of films, home entertainment, historical footage and more. Founded in 1976, Chicago-based MPI Media Group remains one of the largest independent entertainment companies producing and distributing a compelling slate of the world’s most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs. MPI’s wholly owned subsidiaries include MPI Home Entertainment, Dark Sky Films, and the WPA Film Library. www.mpimediagroup.com
 

Movie News: New IRON MAN 2 Trailer!

Check out the latest trailer from what is sure to be the hottest movie of the year!

This new trailer shows off more of Don Cheadle as War Machine as well as Black Widow, Whiplash and more.  May 7th can't get here any sooner.
 

 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more Movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: New KICK-ASS Redband Trailer, MySpace Experience Page, and More!

Lionsgate has offered up another sweet new Red Band trailer for what is sure to be one of the hottest movies of the the year, Kick-Ass! Check out the new trailer along with a new behind the scenes documentary courtesy of EmpireOnline!

 

Check out the brand new behind-the-scenes mini documentary from the upcoming KICK-ASS film.Go on-set to get a glimpse into how the characters interact with each other off screen and what Matthew Vaughn himself has to say about casting the role of Kick-Ass! Make sure to watch all the behind the scenes fun from this highly anticipated film on Empire Online.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=27045 CTRL + Click to follow link">http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=27045

Also check out the “Become A Superhero” KICK-ASS Contest on http://www.iwillkickass.com/. Created your own superhero and go vote for the best one! The winning superhero gets the ultimate prize of having their own cameo in KICK-ASS 2, The Comic!
 

iwillkickass.com Become a Superhero Contest trailer!

New Redband Trailer!

Official Website:
http://kickass-themovie.com/
 
Kick-Ass Become a Superhero Contest:
http://www.iwillkickass.com/
 
Follow Kick-Ass on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/kickass  
http://www.facebook.com/redmist
http://www.facebook.com/bigdaddy
http://www.facebook.com/hitgirl 
 
Kick-Ass on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/kickassmovie
 
Kick-Ass on YouTube:
Youtube.com/lionsgatelive
 
Follow Kick-Ass on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Lionsgatemovies

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

 

Movie News: New Red-band KICK-ASS Final Trailer Available Now!

Lionsgate has offered up the final Red-band trailer for what is sure to be one of the hottest movies of the the year, Kick-Ass! What are you waiting for, check it out!

 

Check out the final Red-band trailer from the upcoming KICK-ASS film.

KICK-ASS Hits Theaters April 16, 2010!
 
Official Website:
http://kickass-themovie.com/
 
MySpace Kick-Ass Experience Page:
 http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark
 
Kick-Ass Become a Superhero Contest:
http://www.iwillkickass.com/
 
Follow Kick-Ass on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/kickass  
http://www.facebook.com/redmist
http://www.facebook.com/bigdaddy
http://www.facebook.com/hitgirl 
 
Kick-Ass on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/kickassmovie
 
Kick-Ass on YouTube:
Youtube.com/lionsgatelive
 
Follow Kick-Ass on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Lionsgatemovies


Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: New Thor Pictures and Captain America Concept Art!

The first full pictures of Thor has just hit the web over at Collider, along with several amazing pieces of concept art for the costume design of Captain America!

Check them out:

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline.com for more news on Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger!

Movie News: Next DC Universe Release will be Batman/Superman: Apocalypse

The Superman Homepage recently announced the next Direct-To-DVD venture from DC Universe will be Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. The story is based on the Superman/Batman story arc "The Supergirl from Krypton", which was written by Jeff Loeb and featured art by Michael Turner. 

This release will also feature a Green Arrow Short film which is being written by friend of ComicsOnline: Greg Weisman (Spectacular Spider-Man).

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more information on Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and everything geek pop culture!

 

Movie News: Paramount Announces "UNTITLED Les Grossman Project"

 

 

Paramount Announces “UNTITLED Les Grossman Project”
After Landmark 2010 MTV Movie Awards
 

 

Paramount Pictures and MTV Films announced today that they are set to develop a movie around mega-producer Les Grossman. The announcement comes on the heels of Grossman’s groundbreaking and visionary production of the soon-to-be Emmy® award-winning 2010 MTV Movie Awards Sunday night. Tom Cruise, along with Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld of Red Hour Films will produce and have secured the life rights to Grossman.            

Grossman, best known as a mega producer, has most recently mentored talents such as Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. In 2008, Grossman was introduced to the masses by Stiller in the comedy “Tropic Thunder” where the famed producer had a cameo playing himself.

Said Ben Stiller: “Les Grossman's life story is an inspiring tale of the classic human struggle to achieve greatness against all odds. He has assured me he plans to quote, ‘F**king  kill the sh*t out of this movie and make Citizen f**king Kane look like a piece of crap home movie by the time we are done.’ I am honored to be working with him.”    

When asked what the screenplay was about Grossman responded: “To quote my great friend Kirk Lazarus, ‘I don’t read the script, the script reads me.’”

Adam Goodman, Paramount Film Group President said, "Everything I learned in this business, I've learned from Les. I started out as his assistant, and from the first day he threw his desk at me when I got his lunch order wrong, I have loved him like a father.  I am forever grateful to Ben and Stuart Cornfeld and their ability to secure his highly-coveted life rights,"

Tom Cruise is said to be in talks to portray Grossman in the film.

Michael Bacall (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) will write the script. He is repped by WME.

WME also reps Ben Stiller and Red Hour Films.

 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time arrives Sept 14th on Blu-ray & DVD!

 

Unlock the Secrets, Explore the Mystery 

From the Producer of Pirates Of The Caribbean,

Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films Presents

PRINCE OF PERSIA:
The Sands of Time

 

Starring Academy Award® Nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, Academy
Award® Winner Sir Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina and Gemma Arterton

On Disney Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download Tuesday September 14

The mystery and legends of an ancient time will be experienced like never before when Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time arrives on 3-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), 1-Disc Blu-ray and 1- Disc DVD on September 14, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.  
 

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is the perfect film to experience the cinematic magic of Blu-ray – the pristine 1080p picture and DTS-HD Master Audio sound quality enhance the explosive action and special effects – and contains more bonus features than the DVD.

Academy Award® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (2005, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Brokeback Mountain), Academy Award® winner Sir Ben Kingsley (1982, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Gandhi), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, The Da Vinci Code) and Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans, Quantum of Solace) lead the international cast in this epic action-adventure film filled with spectacular visual effects, exotic locales and breathtaking action.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, National Treasure) and directed by Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time boasts a sandstorm of bonus features that bring viewers deep into the mystical lands of Persia and unlock the secrets behind the scenes of this imaginative and entertaining adventure.  The combo-pack exclusive ―Sands of Time‖ feature gives fans control of the Dagger of Time, allowing them to rewind time and uncover behind the scenes magic in over 40 spellbinding segments.
 
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is available in a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack
(Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), 1-Disc Blu-ray, and 1-Disc DVD and Movie Download.

Synopsis:
In the spirit of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films transport you to the mystical lands of Persia for this wildly entertaining, epic action-adventure.  It‘s a race against time when a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly teams up with a rival princess (Gemma Arterton) to safeguard a magical dagger that gives its possessor the power to reverse time and rule the world.  Filled with death-defying escapes and unexpected twists at every turn – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fun-filled adventure that will keep your pulse pounding long after the credits end.

DVD Bonus Feature:

 An Unseen World: Making Prince of Persia – A look behind the scenes on
the set of the film.
 
1-Disc Blu-ray Bonus Feature: All of above DVD bonus plus Deleted Scene – The Banquet: Garsiv Presents Heads 3-Disc Combo Pack Bonus Features: All of the above DVD and Blu-ray bonus features plus CineExplore: The Sands of Time – Take control of the dagger and use it to unlock secrets behind your favorite scenes! Turn back time and uncover over 40 spellbinding segments – including “Walking Up Walls”, “Filming in Morocco”, and “Ostrich Jockey Tryouts”- with this exclusive interactive feature. Blu-ray puts you in control! Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time STREET DATE: September 14, 2010 Suggested retail price: 1-Disc DVD - US: $29.99 Canada: $35.99 1-Disc Blu-ray Disc - US: $39.99 Canada: $44.99 3-Disc BD Combo Pack – US: $44.99 Canada: $51.99 Feature run time: Approx. 116 minutes Rated: US ‘PG-13‘; Canada: ‘PG‘ Aspect ratio: 1 Disc DVD: 480i / Widescreen 2.40:1 Blu-ray Disc: 1080p High Definition Widescreen Sound: 1 Disc DVD: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French, Spanish, English 2.0 DVS Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish Blu-ray Disc: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48kHz/24-bit), English 2.0 DVS, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Pre-Order Prince of Persia on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now.

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.

Movie News: Principal Photography for Death Race 2 begins!

Principal photography for the upcoming Death Race 2 began February 13th in South Africa - see below for more details!




One Race, Three Days and 20,000 Rounds of Ammo

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DEATH RACE 2 BEGINS IN SOUTH AFRICA


Universal City, California, March 1, 2010 – Start your engines…and load your weapons. The explosive, all-new high-octane Death Race 2 began principal photography on February 13, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. The spectacular prequel to Paul W.S. Anderson’s audacious re-imagining of the Roger Corman cult classic stars Luke Goss (Hellboy 2: The Golden Army), Ving Rhames (Con Air, Pulp Fiction), Sean Bean (National Treasure, Lord of the Rings trilogy), Danny Trejo (Planet Terror, “Burn Notice”), Frederick Koehler (“Oz,” “Touching Evil”) and Lauren Cohan (“Supernatural”) and promises even more outrageously outfitted muscle cars and death-defying stunts in a deadly driving competition. Director Roel Reiné (The Marine 2, The Lost Tribe) takes the helm of the adrenaline-fueled chronicle of Frankenstein, the greatest Death Race driver of all time, in an all-out thrill ride through a dystopian future.

The screenplay is by Tony Giglio (Chaos), from a story by Paul W.S. Anderson. A top-flight production team has also been assembled, including director of photography John McKay, production designer Johnny Breedt, editor Josh Galvin and costume designer Moira Meyer.

The latest in the hugely successful line of DVD Originals™ from Universal Studios Home Entertainment Productions, Death Race 2 is produced by Paul W.S. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt and executive produced by Paula Wagner and Mike Elliott. Death Race 2 is an official South African/German Co-Production, produced in South Africa by Universal Pictures Productions GmbH and Moonlighting Death Race Films C.C. and co-produced by Genevieve Hofmeyr and Ralph Tuebben.

Since its introduction in 2005, Universal’s extensive DVD Originals™ slate of new live-action and animated content has dominated sales charts, scored impressive ratings on television network and cable outlets, performed successfully in multi-international markets and helped to shape the made-for-DVD arena. The high profile string of hits includes multiple installments of the powerhouse Bring It On and American Pie franchises as well as the epic saga Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior and most recently the explosive action release, Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball.

Death Race 2 takes place in the very near future, as the United States economy begins to decline and violent crime starts to spiral out of control. To contain the growing criminal population, a vast network of for-profit, private prisons springs up, creating a lawless subculture ruled by gangs, cold-blooded killers and sociopaths. The worst of these prisons is Terminal Island. Convicted cop-killer Carl Lucas arrives on the Island to serve his life sentence just as ruthlessly ambitious television personality September Jones launches the ultimate reality show, Death Race. A brutal prison yard demolition derby that pits prisoners against each other in steel reinforced, heavily armed vehicles, Death Race offers the winner the ultimate prize: freedom — if he can survive to enjoy it. When Lucas signs up to be a driver, the stage is set for the birth of a legendary racer.


Wanna gear up for this sequel?  Buy the original Death Race on Blu-ray or DVD at Amazon now!

Keep comin' back to ComicsOnline for more movie news and everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Ralph Bakshi's animated "Lord of the Rings - Remastered Deluxe Edition" coming April 6 to Blu-Ray and DVD

Holy Crap!  Not only do the Blu-ray versions of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings drop on April 6th, We also get Ralph Bakshi’s original animated classic The Lord of the Rings in hi-def as well.  Read more for the details.

 

One Ring To Rule Them All…
 
Ralph Bakshi’s Animated Classic The Lord of the Rings Returns in a Newly Remastered Deluxe Edition on April 6.
 
WarnerHomeVideo Distributes Heralded Animated Film
as Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and DVD with All-New Extra Content
 
Combo Pack features Blu-Ray, DVD and Bonus Digital Copy
 

 

BURBANK, CA (January 27, 2010)–Journey back into the world of Hobbits, Humans, Elves and Dwarves in the all-new The Lord of the Rings Remastered Deluxe Edition coming April 6, 2010 from Warner Home Video.  This original animated classic from acclaimed director Ralph Bakshi and Academy Award Winning producer, Saul Zaentz, has been remastered with pristine New Dolby 5.1 audio and picture quality and will be distributed as a single disc DVD and Blu-ray combo which features a Blu-ray, DVD and bonus digital copy.  The film will also be available for Digital Download. This film is rated PG.
 
One of the great visionary animation directors of the modern era, Bakshi went to artistic extremes to meticulously bring the legendary world of J.R.R. Tolkien to animated life – adding yet another stunning title to the director’s canon of ground-breaking films. Bakshi’s animation accomplishments include Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, American Pop, Wizards and Cool World.
 
All the magical adventure of the fantasy classic comes to life in Bakshi’s brilliantly animated tale of the enchanted land of Middle-earth – and the brave band of Hobbits, heroes and Wizards who set out to protect it. When a dangerous and powerful gold ring falls into his hands, a courageous Hobbit named Frodo embarks on an epic adventure. Along with the mighty Wizard Gandalf and some daring Elves, he defends his homeland from the Dark Power  who would destroy it. Set in a mystical age of magic, monsters and unlikely heroes on incredible journeys, The Lord of the Rings will cast its spell over the entire family!
 
The deluxe edition also features a never-before-seen, 30-minute in-depth interview  with legendary director Ralph Bakshi entitled Forging Through The Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for The Lord Of The Rings.  This special feature explores his concept for creating an illustrated film, his pioneering rotoscoping process, and inspirations for his visual storytelling.
 
“The Lord of the Rings is a timeless classic that continues to be a favorite for generation after generation,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands Marketing.“The theatrical release in 1978 had a domestic total gross of nearly $90 million at the box office and shipped 1.1 million net videos. We are looking forward to offering this remastered deluxe edition to the fansfor their library collections and providing endless enjoyment for years to come.”
 
 
With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
 
For more information on this and other titles distributed by Warner Home Video, visit www.whvdirect.com.

Pre-Order The Lord of the Rings (1978 Animated Movie) on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now

 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.
 

Movie News: Repo Men Contest - Repo Men: Hunt

The Repo Men are coming. Do YOU have the chops to join their ranks?

Starting 2/25/2010 four Runners, with a $7500 bounty on their heads, kicked off a first of its kind event to find out what it’s like to be hunted - and you can be the hunter. Universal Pictures has announced the launch of the nationwide REPO MEN - HUNT, sending runners on the loose in America! 

The Union is offering a select group of men and women the opportunity to join an exclusive force of repo experts. The Repo Men use the internet, their wits and any legal means necessary to find any person in possession of an artificial organ (artiforg). Any Repo Man returning an artiforg to The Union will receive a $7500 gratuity for every artiforg returned. 

Do you have what it take to rip a mans heart out? To prove it click here: http://www.wire.com/repomen/, for your chance to escape your everyday life, and join the elite group known as the REPO MEN. See press release below for full details.

Universal City, CA, February 25, 2010 - What does it take to disappear in America in 2010? Starting today, four contestants in a first-of-it’s-kind event will find out. Universal Pictures, in conjunction with Wired magazine and Lone Star Games, announced today that four runners - with a $7500 bounty on each of their heads - have been selected to drop everything and go on the lam for an entire month. Their pursuers? Anyone in America. 

The contest is inspired by Universal Pictures’ futuristic action-thriller Repo Men (www.repomenarecoming.com), opening March 19, and Wired’s December 2009 feature story, “Gone.” For the Wired story, reporter Evan Ratliff attempted to live under a new identity - and elude a nationwide citizen manhunt - for a month (www.wired.com/vanish/2009/11/ff_vanish2), Ratliff made it 25 days before being caught by a team of Facebook hackers, Twitter xxxsleuths, and New Orleans pizzeria owners. We will soon find out if four new people, scattered in cities across the country, can do even better. 

                                     

To succeed, the contest Runners must outwit a legion of self - deputized pursuers known as the Repo Men, named after the occupations of the films lead characters. Starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, Repo Men is set in the near future where artificial organs, called artiforgs, are available on layaway, Artiforg recipients who fall behind on their payments will have their organs tracked and repossessed by the repo men, with no concern for patients’ comfort or survival. 

“Just as Jude Law’s character, Remy, tries to vanish from the men chasing him, Universal’s partnership with Wired creates a real - world experience to showcase the challenges of vanishing in a digital world,” said Doug Neil, senior vice president of digital marketing, Universal Pictures. “We can’t wait to see how far our contestants get.”

“We are always searching for innovative ways to bring the magazine to life” said Wired vice president and publisher Howard Mittman. “This contest gives the Wired community a chance to interact with emerging technologies that challenge privacy in the digital age, a subject we explore often within our pages.” 

                               

Readers over the age of 18 can sign up at www.wired.com/repomen to become Repo Men, unlock the clues and track down the Runners. Whoever is able to locate a Runner in person, take his or her photo and say a code word will win $7500. Any Runner who lasts a month without being caught stands to gain up to $10,000. The Runners will be operating under a series of constraints and challenges, and Runners and Repo Men alike are forbidden from breaking the law. Clues will be hidden at every turn.

                                

“Our Runners are out there hiding among 300 million people,” said Lone Shark president Mile Selinker. “Of course, that’s 300 million people who might turn them in…” 

The contest begins 2/25/2010 and continues until 12:01 A.M. on March 25, or when the Repo Men capture all the runners - whichever comes first. The Hunts Runners include Ciji, who has spent hours imagining hoe she’d disguise herself; Usman, whose whereabouts shift with Heisenbergian uncertainty; Alex, a self-described “smart, sassy, athletic girl who loves adventure”, and Will, a former Army soldier who trained NATO forces in SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist and Escape) school.

                                 

Let the hunt begin!

  View and download Runner dossiers at: http://www.specialopsmedia.com/assets/Universal/RepoMenHuntDossiers.zip


                                       
About The Union

At the Union, we pride ourselves on providing the world’s most cutting - edge technology in organ replacement. Artiforgs (short for artificial organs), were originally developed to extend the lives of soldiers wounded in combat. We’ve taken this once exclusive military technology and made it accessible to the general public. Thanks to our team of skilled scientists and technicians, you too can extend and enhance your life by purchasing your very own artiforg.

To learn more about the one stop shop for all your artiforg needs, please go to http://www.theunioncares.com. The website will guide you through their complete catalog of artiforg offerings, as well as an overview of financing and payment plans*. 

Don’t delay - the key to extending and enhancing your life is just a few steps away…

Or if you’re interested in joining The Union team, please consider applying for a position directly on the website. The Union is currently looking for skilled and licensed technicians with the following skills to join our team of Repo Men:
5+ years experience in the military, law enforcement or security work.
Must excel in hand to hand combat.
Profanely in one or more of the following: mixed martial arts, karate, kung fu, judo, jujitsu, kickboxing
Adept at handling both tasers and scalpels.

*Financing Terms and Conditions: Action will be taken after the sixth day of the fourth month of non-payment. Repo Men will retrieve the property at your own expense.

About the movie: REPO MEN

In the futuristic action-thriller Repo Men, humans have extended and improved our lives through highly sophisticated and expensive mechanical organs created by a company called The Union. The dark side of these medical breakthroughs is that if you don’t pay your bill, The Union sends its highly skilled repo men to take back its property…with no concern for your comfort or survival.  

Jude Law plays Remy, one of the best organ repo men in the business. When he suffers a cardiac failure on the job, he awakens to find himself fitted with the company’s top-of-the-line heart-replacement…as well as a hefty debt. But a side effect of the procedure is that his heart’s no longer in the job. When he can’t make the payments, The Union sends its toughest enforcer, Remy’s former partner Jake (Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker), to track him down.  

Now that the hunter has become the hunted, Remy joins Beth (Alice Braga), another debtor who teaches him how to vanish from the system. And as he and Jake embark on a chase across a landscape populated by maniacal friends and foes, one man will become a reluctant champion for thousands on the run.  

REPO MEN are the best in the business...Consider them your final notice. Payment due on March 19, 2010

 
Keep ComicsOnline.com at the top of your favorites for more news, reviews, and contests,

Movie News: Simon Bisley Poster For Centurion Released

 In anticipation of the nationwide theatrical release of Neil Marshall’s latest thriller, Centurion, Magnolia Pictures has tapped renowned British comics artist Simon Bisley to create a one of a kind poster featuring the film’s main characters played by Michael Fassbender and Olga Kurylenko.

 This is the first time Bisley has created a piece of art for a motion picture.  He is best known for his 1990s work on ABC Warriors, Lobo and Sláine; his style, reliant on paints, acrylics, inks and multiple mediums, and takes inspiration from rock album covers and graffiti, as well as traditional comics art. 
 
Centurion, a gripping survival thriller set in early AD Britain, finds Quintus, the sole survivor of a savage raid on a Roman frontier fort, joining General Virilus’ legendary Ninth Legion to march north and wipe out the terrifying tribes known as the Picts.  When the Legion is attacked and Virilus seized, Quintus struggles to survive behind enemy lines with a small band of soldiers in a race to save their general and evade capture, torture and certain death.

Centurionstars Fassbender, Dominic West, Kurylenko, David Morrissey, Noel Clarke, Riz Ahmed, JJ Field, Liam Cunningham and Imogen Poots.

Magnolia Pictures will release Centurion on August 27, 2010; the film is also currently available VOD, VUDU, Playstation Network, Xbox Marketplace and Amazon.

Movie News: Source Code - Trailer and Official Movie Description

Check out the Official Movie Description and New Trailer for the upcoming action-thriller Source Code!

Official Movie Description:

When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he’s part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.  In an assignment unlike any he’s ever known, he learns he’s part of a government experiment called the “Source Code,” a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack.

Filled with mind-boggling twists and heart-pounding suspense, Source Code is a smart action-thriller directed by Duncan Jones (Moon) also starring Michelle Monaghan (Eagle Eye, Due Date), Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air, The Departed), and Jeffrey Wright (Quantum of Solace, Syriana).

U.S. Release via Summit Entertainment, April 1, 2011. Rated PG-13.

Check out the awesome NEW trailer for Source Code!

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Spider-Man 4 becomes The Amazing Spider-Man!

Check out the new Press Release for the upcoming feature

The Amazing Spider-Man:

“THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN™”

TO BE RELEASED JULY 3, 2012

 

CULVER CITY, Calif., February 14, 2011 – Columbia Pictures announced today that the title of the next Spider-Man film will be The Amazing Spider-Man.

The studio simultaneously released a photo of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, the first shot of Garfield in the famous full mask and suit.

The film, which is now in production and is being shot entirely in 3D, will be released on July 3, 2012.  The film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field.  The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.  Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the Marvel Entertainment production for Columbia Pictures.  The executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Michael Grillo.  The film’s official website is http://www.TheAmazingSpiderMan-movie.com.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation.  SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 140 countries.  Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

 

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel's strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

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Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more Amazing Spider-Man news and for everything geek pop culture!

Movie News: Survival of the Dead opens in Theaters May 28

Survival of the Dead premiered April 30th on VOD, Amazon, Playstation Marketplace, Xbox Live, and will open in theaters on May 28th. And for updates on the release of [REC] 2, the sequel to the Spanish cult horror film [REC], follow them at http://www.facebook.com/rec2movie

Movie News: Time Traveler’s Wife available on Blu-ray, DVD and Download 2/9!

Who says we here at ComicsOnline don't get a little sappy from time to time?  Prepare yourselves for an amazing love story transcending time. The Time Traveler's Wife is arriving Feb 9th on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download. Check out the details along with a few clips from the film!

 

Synopsis
Lose yourself in timeless love with this gloriously romantic story of the journey of two hearts. Artist Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams of The Notebook) shares a deep emotional bond with Henry De Tamble (Eric Bana of The Other Boleyn Girl), a handsome librarian who travels involuntarily through time. Knowing they can be separated without warning, Clare and Henry treasure the moments they have together, imbuing them with the yearning and passion of two people imprisoned by time…and set free by love. Based on the #1 bestseller, The Time Traveler’s Wife weaves together destiny and devotion, past and future to turn an extraordinary love into an extraordinary love story. http://www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com/dvd/index.html

My Type

 

First Time We Met

 

Buy The Time Traveler's Wife on Blu-ray or DVD at Amazon.com now

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Movie News: WHV Previews "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths"

To save our world and all those like it, Superman, Batman and their caped colleagues must go toe-to-toe with their evil mirror images in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Check out a brand new clip from this much anticipated release.

 

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from
award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League)
rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting
parallel worlds with uniquely similar super heroes and villains. Bruce
Timm (Superman Doomsday, Green Lantern) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

The movie features an all-star voice cast led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as
Superman, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as Owlman, Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Law & Order) as Lex Luthor, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as Batman, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as Superwoman and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.

Warner Home Video will distribute the full-length animated Justice
League: Crisis on Two Earths on February 23 as a Special Edition
2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, as well as single disc DVD,
and On Demand and Download.
 

 

Movie News: WHV releases first official images from "The Spectre"

Warner Bros. is including a new Spectre animated short in the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD animated feature Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.  Check out some of the first official images of this included animated short.
 

From the creative forces behind the DC Universe animated original
PG-13 movies, DC Showcase puts the spotlight on favorite characters
from throughout the annals of DC Comics in fascinating, short-form
tales sure to entertain longtime and new fans alike.

The Spectre focuses on a detective story with an ethereal twist,
featuring the otherworldly character originally introduced by DC
Comics in 1940. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night)
and directed by Joaquim Dos Santos (G.I Joe: Resolute). The voice cast
is led by Gary Cole (Entourage) as the title character and Alyssa
Milano (Charmed) as Aimee Brenner.

The Spectre will be distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as
part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.

DC Showcase is a co-production from Warner Premiere, Warner Bros.
Animation, Warner Home Video and DC Comics. Bruce Timm is Executive
Producer. Future DC Showcase titles include Jonah Hex (written by Joe
Lansdale).


Pre-Order Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Now from Amazon.com


Keep visiting ComicsOnline.com for more movie news and everything geek pop culture.
 

Movie News: Warner Home Video offers new clip from Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

To save our world and all those like it, Superman, Batman and their caped colleagues must go toe-to-toe with their evil mirror images in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Check out a brand new clip from this much anticipated release.

 

The scene basically sets up the film's primary conflict with Lex Luthor (voiced by Chris Noth) explaining the plight of his Earth, and attempting to recruit the Justice League to join the battle against the Crime Syndicate.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League) rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting parallel worlds with uniquely similar super heroes and villains. Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday, Green Lantern) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video
as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def , as
well as single disc DVD, On Demand and Download.
 

 

Movie News: Warner Home Video releases first official clip from Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

To save our world and all those like it, Superman, Batman and their caped colleagues must go toe-to-toe with their evil mirror images in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Check out the first video clip from this much anticpated release!

 

 

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from
award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League)
rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting
parallel worlds with uniquely similar super heroes and villains. Bruce
Timm (Superman Doomsday, Green Lantern) is executive producer. Lauren
Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a “good” Lex Luthor arrives
from an alternate universe to recruit the Justice League to help save
his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters
with virtually identical super powers to the Justice League. What
ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that
threatens both planets and, through a diabolical plan launched by
Owlman, puts the balance of all existence in peril.

The movie features an all-star voice cast led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as
Superman, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as Owlman, Chris Noth
(Sex and the City, Law & Order) as Lex Luthor, William Baldwin (Dirty
Sexy Money) as Batman, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as Super Woman
and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.  

 

NYCC 2010: All-Star Superman and Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam Panel

Warner Brothers Home Video and NYCC put on a presentation of their next two upcoming projects Superman/Shazam Return of Black Adam and All Star Superman. The event was Moderated by Gary Miereanu. Our guests were Executive Producer Bruce Timm (everything DC Animated) and Writer Michael Jelenic (Wonder Woman, Batman Brave and the Bold, and the forthcoming Thundercats).

The panel opened up and we were shown clips from both All Star Superman and from Superman/Shazam. Casting was discussed from both projects. Superman/Shazam features the voice talents of Jerry O'Connell(Defenders, Stand By Me, Sliders) as Captain Marvel, Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam, George Newbern reprises his role as Superman and James Garner is the voice of the Wizard Shazam!.

The following Clips contain descriptions of what was shown and should be considered to be Spoiler-ish. You've been warned. :)

The clips:
Clip 1 Superman/Shazam
Superman protecting Billy Batson who has not yet become Captain Marvel from Black Adam. At first the two seem evenly matched and almost identical until the two combatants demonstrate what separates them.

Clip 2 Superman/Shazam
Billy meets the Wizard Shazam at The Rock of Eternity.

Clip 3 Superman/Shazam
Billy versus Black Adam and discovers his abilities and has a few moments of discovery with humorous results.

Clip 4 The first 5 and a half minutes of All Star Superman
A quick recap of how Superman came to be played against a space craft entering the sun's obit hurling towards disaster. The Daily Planet is shown as a "female" character stares out a window as a window washer cleans, while Lois types away that Superman saves the crew of the doomed space vessel. Another reporter comments that, the event has not yet happened and Lois says she always write her Superman stories before they happen and they always turn out right. Lois comments that she needs the size of the Sun. The female looking out the window is revealed to be Jimmy Olsen in drag which leads the male reporter to ask if he's working under cover to which Jimmy says "No" seeming confused by the question.

We see a character who we come to see is Lex Luthor in some kind of simulator suit. A General come out and tells Luthor that this isn't why they let him out of Jail. Luthor seems to be having two separate conversations which will make more sense momentarily.

On the ship one of the researchers suddenly mutates and becomes a monstrous figure determined to sabotage the craft. The lines the creatures speaks are the lines Lex Spoke that didn't make sense with the General. The suit Lex is wearing is a control device for this monster that Lex is using to manipulate things to his benefit for an environmental claim Lex made almost two years earlier. Superman shows up and pulls the Monster off the craft as the two hurdle toward the Sun. The researchers are beginning to succomb to the temperatures on the craft and Superman extends his personal force field to pull the craft back away from the Sun.

Clip 5 was Superman dealing with Atlas and Samson who are competing with Superman for the heart of Lois Lane. Pretty fun and a little romantic.

Clip 6 was a scene involving Lex and Clark Kent in a prison with the Parasite and things go horribly wrong.

Clip 7 was of Superman and an army of droids preparing for what Superman expects to be his final mission.

The production of the films looks great. Bruce Timm spoke about the challenges of bringing Frank Quietly art to animation. Said when it's done wrong the characters end up looking like bags of potatoes.

Credited Sam Liu for his way of thinking about the shots and angles used. Timm said he likes what Sam does even thought at times he thinks he's over analyzing it.

They talked about how James Garner was brought in to play The Wizard and Timm said his car has a MAVROCK license plate. A Nod to two of his most iconic roles as Maverick and Rockford.

Fans asked lots of questions with multiple fans claiming they came other countries and learned English through the DC Animated cartoons. Another fan said that she loved the features for Superman Batman Apocalypse and Kingdom Come which had a few people scratching their heads since Kingdom Come has not and looks like it'll never be produced.

Fans wanted to know how Bruce Timm felt about Batman Beyond now being used in the comic continuity. He said it was nice but that he had nothing to do with it.. Reiterated that they'd like to visit that world at some point perhaps as part of something else.

Seemed Annoyed by another question about Teen Titans The Judas Contract. Said he'd answer it since he feels he has the answer memorized now from repeating it. (I asked him about this in the private press room only 40 minutes earlier.)

A fan said he had a request and awkwardly eventually said he wanted Deathstroke Vs. Nightwing in some format. (I agree personally) Bruce kind of scratched his head at this one and seemed confused by the request. I think it was probably more about not knowing where that would fit in with the currently known projects.

All in all the upcoming DC Animated projects look great.

 

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more DC Animated coverage, all your New York Comic Con coverage, and everything geek pop culture!

Press Release: DC Showcase Coming to Blu-ray/DVD on Nov 9th!

Ryan Reynolds is GREEN LANTERN!

Toy News: Prince of Persia dolls by Tonner

In honor of the recent release of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the movie based on the best-selling video game of the same name, popular doll company Tonner has two new releases: Prince Dastan and Princess Tamina. Finely detailed to look startlingly like their movie counterparts, the prince and princess both come with intricately designed outfits and accessories modeled extremely well to match those in the movie.

 

As stated by Tonner in their e-mailed bulletin, Dastan, standing at an astonishing 17.5” and priced at $209.99, comes clothed in a cotton shirt, twill pants, cotton scarf, faux leather boots and belt with working buckles, cloak with metal detailing; completed by armbands, socks, headwrap, and dagger.

 

Princess Tamina, coming in at 16" and priced at $179.99, comes swathed in a brocade tunic, metallic slippers, necklace accessory, and flowing harem pants, designed after one of her more popular outfits seen in the film.
 
These dolls are limited, only 1,000 of Dastan and 500 of Tamina, so be sure to place your orders quickly so you can have yours assured when these dolls are officially released sometime this month!
 
Buy the Tonner release of Prince Dastan and Princess Tamina from the official Tonner website!
 
And be sure to keep ComicsOnline at the top of your favorites for more toy updates and all the latest in geek pop culture!

WonderCon 2011: Green Lantern Movie Panel

Ryan "Mr. Hottie" Reynolds at the Green Lantern Panel (nickname provided by a screaming fan).

WonderCon attendees were treated to a special preview footage from the upcoming Green Lantern feature film.

Footage included:
-Abin Sur fight- Giving a brief look at Abin Sur and the events that would ultimately lead to his crash on Earth.

-Hal Jordan learning to use his Power Battery- Hal is told to recite the oath (which he points out that “everybody knows” and proceeds to string together a hilarious oath.
-Hal flying to OA- Hal flies past a couple of astronauts and lands on OA and is met by Tomar Re.

-Sinestro addresses the Corps- The entity known as Parallax has attacked the Corps and several members have died. Sinestro rallies the Lanterns to strike back against this new menace.

Geoff Johns at the Green Lantern movie panel

-When a fan asked about playing which hero he enjoyed playing more, he responded, “Deadpool is not a hero…he’s an asshole”. He also remarked that when and if Deadpool is made into his own movie it “would be done right…hard “R” rating.”

-Day one on GL: Ryan was 120 feet in the air doing flying stunts.

-Motion capture suits in New Orleans in August are not fun (extremely hot).

-Blake Lively went back and forth between Gossip Girl set and Green Lantern set (leaving GG at 1am to get to GL by 6a.) She also brings brownies to the set. Ryan was not happy since he couldn’t eat them due to his diet for the movie.

Blake Lively at the Green Lantern movie panel at WonderCon

-Blake said that she wants the Star Sapphire costume to have more material if they did do that in a future installment…but the crowd (and Ryan) severely disapproved of that comment.

-Blake was determined to be a brunette for the film, because her bodyguard (who never really talked in much detail before) insisted that if she was playing Carol, she had to be brunette or else her life would be in danger (from raging fans).

-A fan asked about how much of Ryan’s lines were adlibbed, and Ryan responded that they made sure to maintain the integrity of the character of Hal Jordan and didn’t just throw in one-liners just because they could. He did state that you do need to have some humor but it would make sense with Jordan. (Geoff Johns did add that he enjoyed Ryan’s improvisation).

-Fan question to Ryan: Who would you like to see as The Flash? Bradley Cooper.

-Johns said that maybe they could have Ryan do both GL and Flash and have them team up (jokingly). Ryan was not too thrilled about the double duty idea.

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for WonderCon 2011 news and everything geek pop culture!

 

Blu-Ray Review Last Holiday

What happens when rap artists stop rapping and start acting? Well if you’re Queen Latifah and L L Cool J, you’ve become accomplished actors and together star in the romantic comedy Last Holiday

Last Holiday stars Queen Latifah (Beauty Shop) as Georgia Bird, a mild mannered cookware representative at a local New Orleans department store. Also in New Orleans is Rochelle (Jane Adams - Orange County), teenage neighbor Darius (Jascha Washington - Big Mama’s House 2) and her secret crush, Sean Matthews (LL Cool J - Rollerball). After hitting her head and getting a CAT Scan, she’s informed that she has an incurable condition and has three weeks to live. Two predictable events occur, Georgia cuts loose, and the problem is misdiagnosed. The rest is a pleasant surprise, while staying in an extravagant, winter resort. She meets the owner of the department store, Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton - Leverage), his mistress Ms Burns (Alicia Witt - Law and Order: Criminal Intent), her district's Senator Dillings (Giancarlo Esposito - Racing Daylight) and the staff of the hotel, including Chef Didier (Gerard Depardieu - Green Card).

Last Holiday Special Memoirs :

Last Holiday: Packing Light
Last HolidayLast Look
Last Holiday: 23 Years In The Making
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
1080p High Definition, 5.1Dolby True HD

Last Holiday is a flick whose theme has been done over and over. What makes this one different is it isn’t the typical slapstick comedy, but a true feel good, warm and fuzzy, happy ending, romance. No pratfalls, just a well written script, and some great acting.

ComicsOnline gives Last Holiday 3 ½ faulty CAT Scans out of 5.

 

Blu-Ray Review: Child's Play

There was Talking Tina, then the marionette in Poltergeist, and Fats the ventriloquist dummy, but no doll can wreck havoc like Chucky.

Serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) bonds with a good guy doll, with the help of voodoo, while evading arrest. Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks - 7th Heaven), buys the doll from a vagrant, for her son, Andy (Alex Vincent) for his birthday. Andy starts doing and saying un-childlike things and blaming his new buddy Chucky. After the murder of friend Maggie (Dinah Manoff - Grease) while babysitting, police detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon - Fright Night), who was chasing Charles Lee Ray the night of his transformation, takes an interest in the family. No one believes Andy until they’re attacked by Good Guy Chucky/Charles Lee Ray, then an all out doll hunt ensues.

I used to wonder why this flick creeped me out, until last Thanksgiving when a Twilight Zone marathon showed the Talking Tina episode. That one got to me when I was a young lad, and Child’s Play has the same effect. I just hope that when they remake Child‘s play in 2010 they don‘t use a Bratz doll. That would be scary.

Bonus Features include:

- Audio commentaries with Catherine Hicks, Alex Vincent, Chucky designer Kevin Yagher, and producer David Kirchner with screenwriter Don Mancini.

- Scene specific Chucky commentaries.

- The Evil Comes in Small Packages 3 Featurettes: "The Birth of Chucky," "Creating the Horror" and "Unleashed."

- "Chucky: Building the Nightmare."

- Monster Convention Featurettes.

- "Introducing Chucky: The Making of Child’s Play Vintage" Featurette.

- Photo Gallery.

Child's Play suits the Blu-Ray format well, giving brilliance to the colors and depth and menace to the darks. But what I really like about this issuance is that the second disc is a standard DVD, vice the digital copy that is released with some releases. I like this idea because the digital copy limits the format to computers and digital players whereas a DVD copy can be played on DVD players, computers, and Blu Ray players. More versatile and convenient, and even if you don’t have a Blu-Ray player at this time, you won’t have to re-buy the new format when you do.

ComicsOnline gives Child's Play on Blu-Ray 3 ½ homicidal children’s toys out of 5

Blu-Ray Review: Fast & Furious

The original cast is back with a fourth installment of nitrous-fueled mayhem in this Universal release. This latest effort comprises the most direct sequel to 2001's The Fast and the Furious and is most similar to the first except for being even faster and more furious as indicated by jettisoning of the slow, mild articles and conjunctions from the original title in favor of a quick, angry ampersand. Director Justin Lin (Better Luck Tomorrow, Annapolis) finished shooting the previous installment (F and F: Tokyo Drift) and was able to bring back leads Vin Diesel (Iron Giant, Chronicles of Riddick) and Paul Walker (Into the Blue, Flags of Our Fathers) to glower ominously at each other while secretly admiring each other's mad skillz at driving way too fast in inappropriate settings. Michelle Rodriguez (Lost, Girlfight) and Jordana Brewster (Chuck) also return as Letty and Mia, the respective tuff grrl love interests.

Diesel is Dom Toretto, gravelly-voiced street racer With A Code and Walker is edgy, square-jawed Brian O'Conner, a federal agent who Plays By His Own Rules and infiltrated Toretto's circle in the first movie (only to let him go when he realized they were Not So Different). The movie opens with Dom and Letty and their gang attempting to relieve a multi-unit fuel tanker of its cargo along a winding mountain road without ever slowing down. Thereafter, the plot revolves around Letty's fate and Dom's attempt to infiltrate the gang of a shady drug dealer who pissed him off personally. Alternatively, for those of a more art house frame of mind, the film could be viewed as a psychological portrait of a federal agent completely losing touch with reality and what his job description actually is. In any case, fortune smiles upon Dom and Brian as the drug ring in question recruits new hires based on their ability to drive real fast in inappropriate settings, leading to a GPS-assisted chase through the streets of LA that is the movie's real set piece.

A traditional review is pointless as all candidate viewers know whether they will like a movie such as this sight unseen. Consider the following list of key words with which this movie should be tagged: bicep, boob, booty, shorts, shiny, fast, cars, things, getting, blowed, up, real, good. If any or all of those perk up your personal search engine, then drive at high speed to your preferred video outlet (don't forget to drift around the corners) as this is the car porn actioner for you.

Highlights:
Include a tanker truck driver jumping the hell out of his rig at high speed while trying to shield his iguana with his body and a thug getting contemptuously called a slang term for female anatomy for being unmanly enough to die after being pinned between an SUV and a hurtling supercharged Gran Torino.

Extras:
Are generous. All the usual features (commentary, making-of shorts) are there, and the director and cast members do not mail in a desultory or irrelevant voice-overs as sometimes happens. There is lots of additional behind-the-scenes content and even technical specs accessible through the U-Control feature. Vin Diesel contributes a short film called Los Bandoleros which he wrote and directed during down time while they were shooting the main film which shows some of what went on with the characters in the years since the original. Also available is a mini-game allowing you to design your own muscle cars using the models and options seen in the film. The Mash-up feature is worth a try as it allows you to select various clips from the film and smash cut them together to make a 70 second music video/trailer much like what you would see in previews in the theater and suspiciously similar to the experience of watching the film itself. The Blu-Ray is being sold as a 2-disc special edition, the second disc of which is a copy of the movie formatted to be viewable on Mac or PC. The main feature and most extras are in the usual 2.4:1 widescreen aspect ratio with 1080p HD and 480p standard definition video and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio with DTS HD 5.1 audio tracks available in English, Spanish and French and subtitles (for the main feature) available in all three languages.

ComicsOnline gives Fast & Furious 3 out of 5 vehicular manslaughter charges leveled for innocent pedestrians killed by stubbly federal agents gone rogue.

PG-13 107 min.

Blu-Ray Review: Misery

“I’m your number one fan” shouldn’t make you cringe in fear, but for romance novelist Paul Sheldon those five words send waves of terror down his spine. Misery, based on the Stephen King novel and named for Paul’s’ recurring character Misery Chastaine and not his state throughout the movie, is a study in fanaticism.

Upon the completion of his latest novel in the Misery Chastaine series, Paul Sheldon (James Caan - The Godfather) returns to New York from the lodge where he was writing, but drives off the road when a blizzard hits. He wakes up in a strange house, in a wheelchair, with a broken leg, being taken care of by nurse and number one fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates - Dolores Claiborne). Annie realizes who she has and asks to read the manuscript to the new book, but becomes enraged when she finds out what he has done to her favorite character, Misery. What follows is a pattern of anger and cajoling to return Misery to her former glory, coupled with Pauls attempts to escape, which culminate in that famous punishment scene.

Stephen King has once again introduced us to a new type of horror except this time the monster is one of us, a little more unbalanced than most of us, but one of us none-the-less. He created an idyllic setting for someone to recuperate in only to have it go from heaven to hell at the mood of the captor. The film follows the book as well as possible, though the punishment scene in the book was more extreme, it’s hard to decide which is more disturbing, or put in Paul’s place, more desirable.

Disc 1 Blu-Ray contains:

Full Length Feature Film Misery in 1080P High Definition

Lossless Audio

Smart Menu Technology

Disc 2 DVD contains:

Full Length Feature Film Misery with 5.1 Dolby

Special Features for Misery are:

- Audio Commentary by Director Rob Reiner

- Audio Commentary by Screenwriter William  Goldman

- "Misery Loves Company" Featurette

- "Marc Shaiman’s Musical Misery Tour" Featurette

- "Diagnosing Annie Wilkes" Featurette

- "Advice for the Stalked" Featurette

- "Profile of a Stalker" Featurette

- "Celebrity Stalkers" Featurette

- "Anti-Stalking Laws" Featurette

Misery is not one of my favorite Stephen King films, but it is a good movie. The fact that it’s now in High Definition has enhanced the experience, and sharpened the suspense. I enjoy the convenience of having a Blu-Ray and standard DVD in one package. Pick this set up to enjoy a crystal clear, suspense filled experience.

ComicsOnline gives Misery 3½ out of 5 ankle braces.

Blu-Ray Review: Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Edition

Blu-Ray Review: Race to Witch Mountain

Dwayne Johnson (Doom, The Rundown) stars in Race to Witch Mountain, a "re-imagining" of 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain, Disney's first adaptation of the 1968 novel by Alexander Key, who made a career out of paranormal YA stories a generation before it was hip.  Although details of characterization and plot may change with each transition, some points are invariant throughout, most notably alliteratively-named siblings with psychic powers, at least one reliable adult to help the twins against a much better connected heavy who represents the dark side of humanity, and of course the eponymous mountain itself. 

Alexander Ludwig and AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia) are the alien twins, this time named Seth and Sarah, slightly older than usual at around 15, who appear in Johnson's cab shortly after crashing their flying saucer in the desert close to Las Vegas.  Johnson's character Jack Bruno has problems of his own, having recently pulled prison time for crimes committed while working for the mob.  He'd like to go straight ferrying tourists and convention shlubs around the strip, but as Sonny Corleone would have said, they... keep... pulling him... back... IN!  This checkered past and one scene with a punching bag in his seedy motel room is what explains his soon to be demonstrated expertise at stunt driving and ability to quickly dispatch any terrestrial opponent.  That and he's- you know- The Rock.

Evil Government Agent Burke (Ciaran Hinds, There Will be Blood) is on their tail immediately in any well-equipped EGA's obligatory fleet of black SUVs, which do not fare well against Sarah's telekinesis and Seth's ability to alter the density of his body.  Just what the kids needed Jack for at all is never revealed, as Sarah at various times takes over the gas pedal and steering wheel from the back seat, and apparently knows how to drive primitive earth vehicles just fine.  However, he comes in handy when the kids grab the doohickey they are meant to retrieve and are immediately attacked by a battlesuited counterpart of Burke from their homeworld who wants to destroy said doohickey and all who know what it contains.

Numerous cameos and visual jokes referencing the other versions appear; look for the actors who portrayed the original Tony and Tia as helpful inhabitants of a diner in a familiar small town.  Andy Fickman (The Game Plan, next year's Jonny Quest) obviously directed with a lot of love and respect for the original, so it's a pity the result didn't turn out better.  There is some wit, especially in depictions of a UFO convention that coincidentally is being held while all of this is going on, and plenty of action, but it never coalesces into anything beyond a servicable kids' film.  The effects are so-so, the explanation of the importance of the doohickey is underwhelming, too many of the jokes fall flat, and dramatic tension is impossible with the kids' vague powers being capable or incapable of anything as the plot requires.

Highlights: mainly boil down to chuckles here and there upon recognizing one of the sight gags about Witch Mountain history and ufology in general, which are funny if you get them.

Extras: Modest but interesting selection includes blooper reel, a deleted scenes section where the director takes the time to explain why these particular segments ended up "on the cutting room floor", which is informative but also disappointing as they seemed to have taken the "Race to..." title change too seriously, as most of the changes come down to pacing concerns and would probably have improved the finished product in terms of content.  Also included is a much-needed "Which Mountain?" guided tour of the in-jokes in the film, some of which are screamingly obscure or difficult to notice.

Presentation: The Race to Witch Mountain combo pack comprises three discs, a Blu-ray, a DVD, and a digital copy for your laptop or what have you.  The Blu-ray is in 1080p Hi-Def and all are in Dolby 5.1 HDS digital audio with second audio tracks in Spanish and French and subtitles (including the Extras material) in all three languages.

Due to thwarted nostalgia, ComicsOnline gives Race to Witch Mountain 3 out of 5 coded references to a movie and a time 35 years gone.

Rated PG.  99 min.

Blu-Ray Review: Red Riding Hood: Alternate Cut

by Erin Hatch, Editor-At-Large

Now you can get your copy of Red Riding Hood: Alternate Cut available on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Download combo pack!

I was prepared to write a truly scathing review of Red Riding Hood. Honestly, I wanted to relish this, to really tear into it, to say that it was total dreck and that watching the film was a pain in the neck and a waste of my time, so it should be taken as an enormous complement when I say that I am a little bit disappointed that this movie wasn't as horrible as I expected it to be. In fact, there were several moments that I thought were actually good. I'll admit, I might have pre-drank a little too much, and thus enjoyed the movie more than I would have sober.

 

Not that Red Riding Hood isn't bad. It is, it totally is. The acting is horrible. Outright horrible. I would say laughably bad, but there is nothing funny about how bad the acting is in this film. There are maybe two performances in the entire film that aren't horrible, and one of those is Gary Oldman, who I am being very generous to because he at least seems to be having fun with his horrible role. The other worthwhile performance comes from Kacey Rohl, and is limited to one scene in which her character (a friend of the owner of the titular Riding Hood) relishes the downfall of her companion after she is accused of witchcraft.

The story is an adaptation for the classic fairy tale to bring it into the Twilight age, which means, aside from the fact that almost no one bothers acting in the film, that there is a romance shoehorned into the story, as well as a huge romantic rivalry and a healthy dose of teenage angst. And a few scenes of passionate love-making between the protagonist and the object of her affections, tailored down to PG-13 sensibilities. Also, there is a huge musical/dance sequence that makes no sense and is generally absurd, despite the fact that the music is fairly catchy, if completely out of place for a pseudo-medieval village in the middle of nowhere. Maybe it is just the fact that the acting in Red Riding Hood makes the cast of Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace look like seasoned professionals at the top of their craft, but I never felt any dramatic tension between any of the characters in the romance plot, and very little tension in the werewolf plot, even though it occupies the rest of the film.

The film looks cool, at least - some of the time. Kind of. Actually, most of the visuals are bland, and some try so hard to look cool and edgy and hip that they fall flat, but there are a few really cool moments in the film. The use of color (especially red) is striking in many cases, and there were a few specific shots in the film that I found particularly appealing. All in all, the interesting ideas in the design and production of the film fail to make up for the blandness that surrounds them.

Given that this is the special Alternate Cut release of the film, I felt that I should go back through and watch it a second time before finishing this review, just so that I could be sure that I noted all the differences between the two versions. Here goes.

(2 Hours Drunker)

Ok, I am back, and I didn't notice one difference between the two cuts of the film. MAYBE the lovemaking scene at the end is slightly less PG13. According to the box, the PROVOCATIVE ALTERNATE ENDING is the draw for the different cut, but really, the scene is still only marginally more steamy, and the plot and dialogue stay exactly the same. I would guess that the run times differ by maybe thirty seconds, at most.

Special Features:
-Secrets Behind The Red Cloak: A picture in picture commentary featuring director Catherine Hardwicke, actors Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons, along with story boards and concept art.

-The Reinvention of Red Riding Hood: A discussion with the cast and crew over the Red Riding Hood fairy tale and the adaptation of the themes of the story on its journey to the big screen.

-Red Riding Hood: Red's Men: A look at the two male leads: Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons. I am pretty baffled about the reason for this feature. Perhaps they are trying to build the reputation of the two leading men? Are they some kind of teen idols? I am not the target demographic for this feature. (Thought: If these two boys are as important as the special features and box art say they are, why did Gary Oldman get top billing?)

-Red Riding Hood: Making of the Score: The score of Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite aspects of the film, so looking at the creative process behind the music was fun.

-Before the Fur... Making of the CGI Wolf: A series of shots tracing the development of the CGI Wolf from in one of the combat scenes in one of his first appearances. It doesn't go into too much detail, but it is an interesting look at the process.

-Casting Tapes: Is it sad that some of the casting tapes have better acting than in the finished film? I mean, once Amanda Seyfried and Shiloh Fernandez are out of costume and dressed in their civilian clothes they suddenly act... natural! As if they actually mean what they are saying! On the other hand, this feature pretty much just lets you see scenes from the movie played over again, except without any of the visual style that made the film interesting.

- Rehearsals: Similar to the casting videos, these videos of rehearsals feature rough versions of scenes with the actors in rehearsal clothes, and show how the scenes came together. Unlike the Casting tapes, which seemed to focus on more intimate scenes, these videos seem to focus on scenes that required a lot of choreography among several actors: the dance sequence and wolf attack sequences, for example. They're fun to watch, especially in how they establish what the rough draft of these sequences looked like, and give a hint into the thought being put into what was happening behind the camera.

-Red Riding Hood in 73 seconds: A version of the film in which everything except the key plot points are skimmed over. (And nothing of value is lost.)

- Deleted Scenes: Not a huge amount of cut content, but a few interesting scenes that didn't make it to the final film, or the alternate cut.

- Gag Reel: Maybe this wasn't the best of all films, but at least the cast and crew seemed to have fun making it, as this feature demonstrates.

- Music Videos: "The Wolf" and "Just A Fragment of You." Basically samples from the excellent score set to video snippets from the film. Nothing spectacular, but the music is good.

There are a lot of special features here. Perhaps an excessive amount of special features. Some of them are cool, and I am sure fans of the film will get a kick out of every second of video available to them, but did I really need to watch the casting videos? Really?

Overall:
Really, the thing that keeps me from hating the film is the same thing that keeps me from liking it: this is a movie targeted thoroughly to the Twilight demographic, and I do not speak the same language or think the same thoughts as them. I realized this after watching the special features and noticed that the Blu-ray includes more than a few samples of rehearsals for the theoretically titillating and yet totally PG-13 make-outs that populate the film. Even without the justification of different target audiences, I found certain parts of Red Riding Hood to be genuinely interesting visually, and the score was great (even though the one medieval rave scene was... obnoxious). Unfortunately, those interesting aspects of the film are hidden in a dramatically flat story that has such bad acting that even the recognizable actors in the film, who have been great in past performances, have at best written in their performances. The special features may not be particularly special, but there are a lot of them, which should please fans.

So, is Red Riding Hood any good? I guess that depends on whether you are a teenage girl.  That said, even if you are a teenage girl, you will probably take issue with some of the poor acting and less than stellar writing. Probably. Still, the film has some redeeming moments, but not quite enough to justify sitting through the rest of this mess.

ComicsOnline gives Red Riding Hood on Blu-ray - 2.5 out of 5 silver plated werewolf killing press-on fingernails.

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Blu-Ray Review: Splice

Man has always been wondering how the human body has worked since the beginning of time, and inevitably followed with how to take control of life itself. In the past 60 years technologies have been invented that have edged us ever closer to those goals.  In 1987 the Human Genome Project was created to map the nucleotides in a human haploid genome reference group. In 1997, scientists famously cloned a sheep named Dolly. In 2000, scientists cloned a rhesus monkey. In 2001, a bull was cloned. In 2003, the announcement was made that the Genome was mapped. In 2009, scientists cloned a camel. These days scientists are moving closer and closer to being able to clone, and/or genetically engineer a human. In Splice, we see a film about what just might happen in the case that we do make that final leap into cloning.

Special Features:

“A Director’s Playground: Vincenzo Natali on the Set”: This is a featurette about the making of the film with a focus on the director.

1080p Video

5.1 DTS-HD Audio

Overall:

Splice is an entertaining suspense film that theorizes the road that we are going down with genetic engineering. The guess is an entertaining romp, but falls a little flat. The acting is on par with anything Adrien Brody does, and keeps the viewer watching. It seems that the science is a little flawed. Thee two leads seemed a little careless for the jobs that they are doing, and this impacted the film for me. This film is definitely for a specific audience and might not be for everyone. It is still an enjoyable take on the future and a entertaining cautionary tale about human cloning.

ComicsOnline gives Splice on Blu-ray 3 new proteins out of 5.

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Blu-Ray Review: The Blair Witch Project

                          

When you think of the great hoaxes in history some just automatically come to mind. Orson Wells broadcast of War of the Worlds, The death of Paul McCartney, and now The Blair Witch Project. From the SciFi Channel’s documentary about the legend of the Blair Witch, and the mystery behind the finding of the tape after the crew disappeared, to the sequestering of the actors until after the movies premiere, added to the mystique of this movie’s release.
 
The Blair Witch Projectis the mocumentary of three film students, Heather Donahue (Heather Donahue – Morgue), Josh Leonard (Joshua Leonard – Hatchet), and Mike Williams (Michael C. Williams – The Midnight Drive-in Presents: Stay Out of the Woods), who are doing a documentary about their search for the urban legend The Blair Witch. After shooting the footage and completing interviews, the trio heads for home. The problem is they can’t find their way out the woods, almost like they are being held against their will. Trails run in circles, maps disappear, and the infighting begins. There’s only one way for this to end, or is there.
 
The Blair Witch Projecttakes a unique look at the situation by taking away the omniscient viewer and forcing us to be an active participant. We view the movie from one of the three participants’ views with the use of video cameras. This movie helped set the stage for the likes of Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, and Diary of the Dead. Another marketing plan that helped promote the movie was an entire back story about the Blair Witch and the making of the documentary on the SciFi channel.
 
Special Features:

• Director and Producer Commentary
• Never Before Seen Alternate Endings
• Discovered Footage (Theories of the Blair Witch)
• Curse of the Blair Witch
• The Blair Witch Legacy
• Theatrical Teasers and Trailer
• 1080PHigh Definition
• Theatrical Full Screen Presentation
• English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio™
• English and Spanish Subtitles
• English SDH

 
For all the hype and uniqueness of this film, The Blair Witch Project is mediocre. The implied horror doesn’t materialize until the very end, and the lead-up is frustrating. The breakdown of the unit is interesting and I was conflicted at the end. On one hand I enjoyed the single person shooter view using the cameras and it lent a feeling of being there. On the other hand, I find myself yelling at the screen “You’re running for your life, drop the damn camera”. I can’t hate this movie, but I can’t love it either.
 
ComicsOnline gives The Blair Witch Project 3 urban legends out of 5.
 
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Blu-Ray Review: The Hannibal Lecter Collection

The Hannibal Lecter Collection assembles the first three appearances of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Manhunter, The Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal.

Manhunter centers on F.B.I. agent and profiler Will Graham (William Peterson - C.S.I.) who has been brought in to profile a serial killer dubbed “The Tooth Fairy” (Tom Noonan - Knockaround Guys). The murders happen in various parts of the country but there is a common M.O., the female victims are savagely bitten by the same teeth and they occur in a lunar cycle. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox - X2) is introduced in the minor role of consultant on this case. Will is also the one that caught Lecter and has the physical and emotional scars to prove it. Will Graham puts himself in his subjects’ frame of mind, and this case weighs heavy on him. It seems he’s the best at what he does and he caught the good doctor, retired and now is submerged in the Tooth Fairy case. This case isn’t as simple as it could be, and Lecter takes great delight in toying with Will and dragging him further into the case. Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina - Law and Order) as the F.B.I. supervisor, tabloid reporter Freddy Lounds (Stephen Lang - Fire Down Below), Reba McClane (Joan Allen - Face Off) as someone’s love interest, and Wills’ wife Molly (Kim Greist - Throw Mama from the Train) round out the cast.

I like this movie for several reasons. One is the look and feel of the film. Being made in the 80s’ and produced and written by Michael Mann there is a remarkable resemblance to Miami Vice, including thin ties, mullets, and that blue light that is used at night. Also, this doesn’t have the standard dark, ominous feel of most serial killer flicks. This one is brightly lit with modern architecture, so the suspense is disguised. But there’s no hiding the menace emitted from the “Tooth Fairy” Francis Dollarhyde when he’s on screen, whether he’s going about his daily routine or going off on a rant as he tortures someone.

ComicsOnline gives Manhunter 4 profilers out of 5

Next in the collection is the award winning Silence of the Lambs. This movie introduces us to the psychopathic evil that is Hannibal Lecter.
The sequel to The Red Dragon/ Manhunter gives us more of Hannibal Lecter's history

There’s another serial killer on the loose who is kidnapping young, overweight women, skinning them and dumping them in the river. He has been dubbed “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine - Monk), and F.B.I. cadet Clarice Starling (Jodi Foster - Maverick) has been brought in to assist with the case and act as go between with the agency and Dr. Lecter (Anthony Hopkins - Dracula). Lecter's role has been expanded in this flick as it seems that he has direct knowledge of the identity of this killer. Things heat up when Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith - Grey’s Anatomy), daughter of Senator Ruth Martin (Diane Baker - The Cable Guy), is taken. And the pressure is increased to get to Lecter for the identity of ‘Bill’.
But of course nothing comes easy where Hannibal Lecter is concerned. The more information he’s given on the case, the more he toys with Clarice and the more cryptic and confusing the clues to the identity of “Buffalo Bill” become. It culminates when prison director Dr. Chilton (Anthony Heald - Accepted) arranges a transfer for Lecter in exchange for information on the senator's daughter's whereabouts to further his career, but is played by Lecter for his own gains.

This is a good movie mainly because it is follows the book closely, but it also crafts a villain that is completely unaffected by the evils that he commits. He knows what he does is wrong to society, but he considers himself above society’s rules. Sounds like a cultured version of Batman's Joker to me. But this is a well crafted story that creates situations and characters that make us feel something towards them. And that is what throws us off balance, sometimes you feel the victim doesn’t deserve to be saved. And when Dr. Lecter is treated badly you feel sympathy for him.

ComicsOnline gives Silence of the Lambs 4 trainees out of 5.

The last movie in this collection is Hannibal. Taking place several years after Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter follows Agent Starling's (Julianne Moore - Boogie Nights) waning career, and Hannibal Lecter's start of a career as a museum curator in Italy. While Clarice's career is being deliberately destroyed to draw Dr. Lecter out of hiding by F.B.I. Agent Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta - Smokin’ Aces), who is also working for mutilated survivor Mason Verger (Gary Oldman - Dracula, The Dark Knight). Mason wants revenge and has used his fortune to get assistance from people in important places, like the F.B.I., and to offer rewards for the capture of the doctor.
While this is happening in the states Inspector Renaldo Pazzi (Giancarlo Giannini - Quantum of Solace) of the Italian police has discovered that Hannibal Lecter is in his city and trying to gain employment. He also realizes that there is a substantial reward out for his capture.
Plans and intrigue follow but as we know any plans to do with Hannibal Lecter rarely go off flawlessly, and a trail of bodies is left in the wake of Lecter as he flees to rescue Clarice. Once in the states everyone has a plan. Some work, some don’t, but be assured that there are many twists and surprises left,

This is another movie that follows the book and that is the reason I don’t like this movie. Don’t get me wrong, this is a well written, finely crafted movie but the problem for me is the book. The book and the movie change pacing about halfway through, and the actions of characters seem to change also. I found it disconcerting and unsatisfying. That being said I watched Hannibal a second time and disassociated the characters from the franchise, and this is an intriguing movie on its own merits. A story that spans two countries and affects countless lives is surprisingly easy to follow.

ComicsOnline gives Hannibal 3½ government conspiracies out of 5.

There are no special features on this Blu-Ray set, but you do get three movies in the high definition format. The first three movies in the Hannibal Lecter saga are worth having collected together and in the vivid, crisp Blu-Ray format.

ComicsOnline gives the Hannibal Lecter Collection 4 psychotic madmen out of 5.

Blu-Ray Review: Wrong Side of Town

 

Good ol’ fashioned ass whoopery.

 

The Movie

Bobby Kalinowsky (Rob Van Dam) is as all American good ol’ boy that apparently doesn’t get out much.  When a new neighbor invites him and his wife Dawn out for a night on the town, they find themselves in a club owned by crime lord Seth Bordas (Jerry Katz).  Seth’s coked-out brother Ethan attempts to rape Dawn but Bobby intervenes and Ethan ends up dead.  Seth wants Bobby captured despite his innocence and puts a 100K bounty on his head.  This causes every type of criminal jackass in the city to go after him.

Seth, as well as every other punk in the city, doesn’t find out until it’s too late that Bobby was previously a Navy Seal.  In movie terms, this means that he is a killing machine capable of unleashing ungodly amounts of whoop ass.  Even after he’s shot twice, he manages to ignore the massive amounts pain a bullet wound causes and run around fighting the rest of the night.  Despite the film's repeated mentioning of his killer/war hero status, we really don’t get to see Bobby doing any of the aforementioned killing until the last 15 minutes of the film.  Even then, it’s nothing impressive.  Furthermore, we aren’t even shown details on what happened during his military career or what war he was a hero in. 

Despite the amount of trouble that Bobby finds himself in, he doesn’t seem to care.  He’s either nonchalant or cocky toward every person that’s out to kill him.  Even when surrounded by twelve dudes bent on destroying him, he doesn’t show any worry.  When he finally seeks out his old war buddy B.R (Dave Batista) for help in stopping Seth, I found myself wondering why.  When B.R initially refuses to help, I expected it to happen.  That’s sad, because Batista is easily the best part of the movie and looks much more like the trained killer than Rob Van Dam’s character ever did.

When Bobby finally makes his way home, he finds his wife tied up and his daughter kidnapped by Seth’s goons.  This sets him off and I watch the montage as he gears up and hops on his motorcycle.  At this point, the film finally picks up and works hard to cram the bulk of the action in its last 20 minutes.  Bobby finally unleashes the fury on Seth and B.R. shows up to take down his toughest henchman.  They make nice and the credits roll. Isn’t bromance grand?

Highlights

Starting out, Wrong Side of Town has an impressive intro with some very cool animation ala James Bond that looks like it sucked up most of the production value for the film.  It really set me up for the movie and I was excited to see the rest after it.  The soundtrack is another part of Wrong Side of Town that really shines.  Containing songs from bands like 7 Days Away and IWILLATTACK, the action-heavy moments are really pushed by the addition of some great alternative tracks.

Van Dam’s overly cocky demeanor doesn’t work well here and I felt myself laughing at parts that weren’t meant to be funny.  He does a poor job of showing off any real emotion despite the other characters around him acting appropriately for each situation.  He’s clearly not a leading actor and I’m wondering why he wasn’t chosen as one of Seth’s cronies instead.  The few fights he finds himself in are quick and dirty and don’t show off his abilities as a wrestler or an action star.  There are several other WWE stars that I would have preferred to see instead, which brings us to…

The real treat in Wrong Side of Town is B.R. (Batista) showing up to even the score.  His fight scene with the Kali fighter (Marrese Crump) is the best scene in the whole film.  The movie putters along slowly until you see B.R for the first time and it finally starts to take off.  His gruff attitude and bad-ass demeanor toward Bobby as well as Seth’s goons is far more enjoyable to watch than Van Dam’s.  He clearly fits the action star persona better and it shows.

Special Features

Wrong Side of Town on Blu-ray comes as a single disc collection with the following:

• Set life with Rob Van Dam featurette
• Interviews with the stars featurette
• Stunts with Rob Van Dam featurette
• Kali Training Video with David Bautista, Marrese Crump and Oscar Lugo
• Trailer Gallery
• 1080P high def, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

The Kali training video with David Bautista, Marrese Crump and Oscar Lugo is one of the better special features this Blu-ray disc offers.  It runs like a music video and shows off some of the fight choreography with Bautista and the stunt coordinator Crump as they perform the knife fight scene at the end of the film.  It’s worth multiple watches since that scene is the best the movie offers.

The Set Life featurette runs about two minutes with Rob Van Dam talking about his day to day and wearing the clothing the costume designers set out for him.  The interviews with the stars featurette is also short but gives more details on all the WWE stars involved in the film.  It’s surprising how intelligent they sound when they’re NOT trying to act.  The Stunts with RVD featurette is another short one providing details on the some of the more painful looking stuff Rob Van Dam went through.  

Overall

Wrong Side of Town isn’t a bad film, but it’s not good either.  Rob Van Dam sucks as a leading man and the film packs its best sequences at the very end.  There are a good lot of special features here, but they’re all too short.  Hardcore fans of the WWE universe will love Wrong Side of Town, but it’s only worth a rental for the rest of us.

ComicsOnline gives Wrong Side of Town on Blu-ray 2.5 out of 5 bullet wounds.

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Blu-Ray Review: Wrong Turn

You’re on your way to an important meeting, and the road is blocked by an accident with a truck carrying hazardous material. What do you do? Look for a different route, of course.

Wrong Turn tells the story of six young people who get lost and stranded on a backwoods road. Chris Flynn (Desmond Harrington - Dexter) is on his way to an interview and takes a shortcut to avoid the traffic backup due to an accident, when he runs into five people stranded by flat tires. Chris, along with Jesse Burlingame (Eliza Dushku - Dollhouse), Carly (Emmanuelle Chriqui - Entourage), and Scott (Jeremy Sisto  - Law and Order) and go to call for help, leaving Francine (Lindy Booth - Dawn of the Dead) and Evan (Kevin Zegers - Zoom) to watch the cars and stuff. Also in the woods are the inbred, cannibal brothers known as Three Fingers (Julian Richings - Kingdom Hospital), Saw Tooth (Garry Robbins - The Love Guru), and One Eye (Ted Clark - Cleopatra 2525) who decide these kids are dinner.

Isolation, inbreeding and mutations have been staples in horror, but Wrong Turn is compelling to watch. First, the brothers are not pretty, and have limited education and verbal skills, but what they lack in smarts they make up for in their stalking and hunting skills. So you know it’s coming but you don’t know when or where. Also, the forest adds to the creep factor as well as adding perilous places to run, hide, and fight. The escape from the fire tower into the treetops is frighteningly well done.

Special Features include:

- Commentary by director Rob Schmidt and cast Desmond Harrington and Eliza Dushku

- Deleted Scenes

- Four Featurettes: The Making of Wrong Turn
                              Eliza Dushku: Babe in the Woods
                              Stan Winston
                              Fresh Meat: The Wounds of Wrong Turn

- Original Theatrical Trailer

Wrong Turn is a fresh take on the wilderness survival horror genre. Not only are there good guys to root for, but the bad guys have personalities that give you more reason to hope for their demise. And on Blu-Ray the scenery is magnificent, the action is spectacular, and the gore pops. Stan Winston's effects and make-up doesn’t hurt either,

ComicsOnline gives Wrong Turn 4 barbwire garrotes out of 5

Blu-Ray Review: Wrong Turn 2: Dead End Unrated

If Wrong Turn is a lesson in map reading, then Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is a lesson in planning. The second movie in the series has the cast and crew of a survival reality show, being shot in the brothers' forest, using their skills to fight for their lives. And the brothers have family.

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End has six contestants vying for the $100,000 prize; actress Kimberly (Singer and correspondent Kimberly Caldwell), skateboarder Jonesy (Steve Braun - Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle), vixen Elena (Crystal Lowe - Black Christmas), artist Nina (Erica Leerhsen - Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2), ex-NFL hopeful Jake (Texas Battle - Final Destination 3), ex-army officer Amber (Daniella Alonso - The Hills Have Eyes II), and when Kimberly is a no-show (guess who gets it before the beginning credits are finished), the writer/director Michael (Matthew Currie Holmes - The Fog) gets girlfriend and show producer Mara (Aleska Palladino - Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) to round out the cast. Retired Colonel Dale Murphy (Singer Henry Rollins of the Henry Rollins Show) is the show's host and knows a thing or two about survival.
Joining Three Finger (Jeff Scrutton) is the family patriarch (Wayne Robson - Survival of the Dead), Pa (Ken Kirzinger), Ma (Ashlea Earl), Brother (Clint Carleton - Watchmen), and Sister (Rorelee Tio - Scary Movie 4) who torment the contestants and protect their family. Besides being completely comfortable in the woods, the mutants are almost indestructible. Stab them with a knife, they take it out and keep it. Hit them with a car, and they shake a bit to put joints in place and straighten out their spine. But what makes them dangerous is their family unit. Indestructible and protective make for some very mean mutants. Look at what Sister does when she catches Brother ogling Elena.

The thing that impressed me with this film is that for being a “Part 2”, it’s surprisingly good. A lot of sophomore attempts succumb to attempts at humor or campiness. Wrong Turn 2 picks the plot line of the first film and adds another dimension of special effects and tension. The detail and color saturation of Blu-Ray doesn’t hurt either.

Special Features include:

- "More Blood, More Guts: The Making of Wrong Turn 2"

- "Making Gore Look Good"

- On Location with P-Nut

- Audio commentaries with the cast and crew

I was surprised by Wrong Turn 2. I thought that the Henry Rollins military character would be played campy and serve as comedy chum for the cannibals. Instead this movie was a serious sequel and not just a parody of the first. The cast is young, but took their parts seriously. The effects used new technology and pushed the limit, but not to far. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is not only a good sequel, but is a good movie.

ComicsOnline gives Wrong Turn 2: Dead End 4 human meals out of 5

Blu-Ray Review: Zodiac - 2 Disc Directors Cut

In the late 1960s and 1970s there was a series of murders, in San Francisco, by an unknown assailant known only as the Zodiac killer. This man held the city in terror for the better part of a decade, taunted the police and San Francisco Chronicle with letters about the heinous crimes, and he was never brought to justice.

So what makes Zodiac interesting is that it’s not a police story. Instead Zodiac has a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal - Donnie Darko) who starts investigating the string of murders. Also involved with the unofficial investigations are Chronicle reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man), police inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo - Blindness), and a host of others including handwriting experts, police investigators and a ‘lost’ witness. Roberts’s wife Melanie (Chloe Sevigny - American Psycho) plays a major part in the story.

Special Features - Disc 1

Commentary with Director David Fincher
Commentary with Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy

Special Features in HD - Disc 2

Zodiac Deciphered: A behind the scenes documentary on the making of Zodiac
The Visual Effects of Zodiac
Previsualization: Split-screen comparisons between animatics and finished film for the three murder scenes.
This is the Zodiac speaking: A feature length documentary covering every aspect of the investigation, including interviews with the original investigators and surviving victims.
His Name was Arthur Leigh Allen: The truth about the prime suspect in the Zodiac case from people who knew him and the police who investigated him.

1080p High Definition, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
Subtitles in English, English SDN, French, Spanish

This may not be an action packed, gore fest, but Zodiac is a compelling drama in the vein of Erin Brockovich. If there’s a genre for investigative thriller, then Zodiac is one of the best.

ComicsOnline gives Zodiac Director's Cut on Blu-ray 4 serial killers out of 5.
 

Blu-ray & DVD Review: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

We've got Blu-ray and DVD versions of this monstrous new release to review side-by-side. First: let's see what they have in common...

The Feature
When the world as we know it is under attack by monsters...who you gonna call? HELLBOY! Hellboy II: The Golden Army is now available on DVD and Blu-ray! Hellboy II is brought to you from the director of the award winning film Pan's Labyrinth and the hit movie...Hellboy! (bet you didn't see that coming).

For years the US Government has been tracking and stopping creatures from taking the lives of normal humans. In order to save humanity they have assembled the best: The B.P.R.D. (The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense). The team consists of Hellboy (demon), Abe Sapien (water breather), and Liz (a pyrokinetic). Together these three are the last line of defense against the mystic and unknown.

The film begins with a Young Hellboy hearing a bedtime story from his father, Professor Bruttenholm. The story involved an ancient race at war with the humans. In order to stop the humans, the King of the Elves orders a unstoppable mechanical army is created. Peace is decreed and life moves on...until NOW.

Prince Nuada of the Elves disagrees with his father's decision to make peace with the humans and sets out to destroy the surface world. Now the BPRD must rush to stop Nuada from gaining control of the ancient army before its too late.

After revealing himself to the world, Hellboy comes to the realization that things wont ever be the same again. The team is now aided by a new government agent, Dr. Johann Krauss (played by Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane!) as well as Prince Nuada's twin sister, Princess Nuala.

Special Features
 

DVD Extras -Hellboy: In Service of the Demon - an extensive, 2 hour look at the creation of Hellboy II -Director's Notebook -Production Workshop Puppet Theatre -Image Galleries -Deleted Scenes (with optional Director's commentary) -Troll Market Tour with Director Guillermo del Toro -Commentary with Guillermo del Toro and more! -Digital Copy (a free digital copy of the film that is able to be transferred to your computer or iPod)

Blu-ray Extras -Hellboy: In Service of the Demon - an extensive, 2 hour look at the creation of Hellboy II -Director's Notebook -Production Workshop Puppet Theatre -Image Galleries -Deleted Scenes (with optional Director's commentary) -Troll Market Tour with Director Guillermo del Toro -Commentary with Guillermo del Toro and more! -Digital Copy (a free digital copy of the film that is able to be transferred to your computer or iPod) -U-Control Concept Art Gallery (see concept art while watching the movie) -U-Control Director's Notebook (access del Toro's production notebook as you watch the film and view exclusive interviews, sketches, and notes.) -U-Control Set Visits (view alternate takes during the tour and get cast interviews) -BD Live: Comic Book Builder (Want to play Mike Mignola or Guillermo del Toro and write your own Hellboy adventure? Now you have the tools with this Blu-ray Disc and your internet-connected Blu-ray player!) -BD Live: More! Sure, we missed the live interactive virtual screening with Guillermo del Toro, but you know they'll add additional content to the BD Live site relating to Hellboy II as time goes on! That's the bonus glory of Blu-ray: since the extra Extras are in the form of downloadable content via BD Live, there is no set stopping point for all the new special features that you can receive. Blu-ray is unlimited Bonus Features!

Clearly once you consider the above added to the obvious higher definition video and sound that can only be found on Blu-ray, it's kind of a no-brainer. You're at ComicsOnline: you already love comics. If you love comics, you're gonna love Hellboy. If you love Hellboy, you're gonna want it with all the highest definition and most special features that you can possibly get. You gotta get Hellboy II: The Golden Army on Blu-ray this holiday season!

ComicsOnline gives Hellboy II: The Golden Army on DVD 4 out of 5 invincible mechanized warriors.

ComicsOnline gives Hellboy II: The Golden Army on Blu-ray 4.5 out of 5 frighteningly detailed fairies bent on consuming our yummy teeth.

Blu-ray & DVD Review: Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

When Ice Age came out in 2002, I was a huge fan of the film. It had three excellent comediens as the main voices (Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo), witty and fast paced dialogue, and a sweet story at its gooey, family-friendly center. It was no surprise that Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox decided to continue the series after its worldwide success, and, four years later, the sequel made over $650 million dollars. The third movie, released this year, surpassed even that high mark at over $850 million dollars, so to say this series is popular would be an understatement. It has just the right blend of comedy for the adults and for the kiddies, plus the 3D animation in Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is simply stunning. Now it has officially come on out on DVD and Blu-ray, and the question is: Is the movie worth buying for your home entertainment? The answer is yes... if you're already a fan of the series.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs reintroduces us to the lives of our favorite ice age creatures: Manny (Romano) the mammoth, Diego (Leary) the sabretooth tiger, and Sid (Leguizamo) the sloth. Manny and his new wife, Ellie (Queen Latifah), are expecting their first child, and everyone in the herd is trying to deal with it in their own way. Manny is constantly panicking and trying to make everything perfect for his child, including making a lovely little playground that is off limits until the baby is born. Diego is having a midlife crisis since he's lost some of his edge, and he doesn't want to end up that aging, single 'Uncle' of Manny's child. Early in the film he decides to leave the herd and try to get back to his roots, which makes Sid question if he should start a family of his own. Sid finds three eggs abandoned in an ice cavern under the ground and takes them. When three giant reptiles are born and treat Sid like their mommy, he is delighted, until their real mother, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, comes to claim them!

Apparently when the dinosaurs were all wiped out, a world of them was kept alive underneath the ground of the ice age. Sid is taken back along with the children, and it is up to Manny, Diego, Ellie, and Ellie's brothers Crash and Eddie (Seann William Scott and Josh Peck) to save him. They find this underground world where even the mammoths are tiny in comparison, and they meet a strange weasel named Buck (Simon Pegg) who agrees to help them. He's quite mad, and obsessed with finding an albino dinosaur he's named Rudy. This wild adventure brings the herd together again and teaches them how to appreciate one another all over again. It's a cute and charming movie for a family to watch together, and Simon Pegg is an absolutely hilarous addition. We also see the weird adorable squirrel Scrat find love and then lose it all over an acorn.

Honestly, the sequels have never been as good to me as the first one, but they still are charming enough to entertain and amuse as you watch them. A lot of people were a little annoyed at the use of dinosaurs in the film as an eye-catching device, but it's all about extending your imagination and accepting this is an animated film with open doors. They're allowed to be creative, although it did honestly shatter some of the more clever and realistic aspects of the ice age setting. There was also too much Scrat in this movie; a breakout random character from the first film, his obsession with finding the acorn is much more amusing as a few clips per movie. It gets a little old after the fifth time, especially when you just want to go back to the original story and not be distracted.

Now there are various versions of this film that was released on DVD, including a two-disc pack with special Scrat shorts, a regular one disc copy with the film and extras, and a three-disc BD, DVD, and digital copy pack. Visually this movie could not be better. It is one of the best animated films out there, with excellent and detailed CGI. While it was 3D in the theaters and 2D on DVD, the transfer looks perfect and I often found myself just gaping at the beauty of its animation. I received the two-disc pack with the special Scrat shorts, a general film commentary, a featurette from Fox about making an Ice Age scene, a focus on Buck as the new character in the series, and some other behind-the-scenes clips. The commentary is interesting from a production point of view since all the people on it are from Blue Sky, but it won't be very interesting for anyone that isn't into the process of animation. The extras are informative and amusing enough, plus on the two-disc there are some little games for kids to play.

Scrat Pack DVD Extras:
Disc One:
    •    Filmmaker Commentary
Disc Two: 
    •    Two Scrat Shorts
        o    Gone Nutty – Scrat’s Missing Adventure
        o    No Time For Nuts
    •    The Sabre-Toothed Squirrel: Natures Nutty Buddy
    •    Scrat: From Head To Toe – learn how to draw Scrat tutorial
    •    Scrat: “Breaking Story”
    •    Scrat: “News Report”
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: Making A Scene
    •    Buck…Easel to Weasel
    •    Falling for Scratte
    •    Unearthing the Lost World
    •    Walk The Dinosaur Music Video
    •    Activities
        o    Scrat Pinball
        o    Eggshell
        o    Bubble Trouble

Blu-ray Extras:
We also viewed the 3-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy edition and it is packed with extras as we have come to expect with Blu-ray in general and particularly with these multi-disc editions.

Disc One:
    •    Blu-ray Disc Feature Film
    •    Ice Age Story Maker
    •    Filmmaker Commentary
    •    Evolution Expedition
    •    Buck…Easel to Weasel
    •    Falling for Scratte
    •    Unearthing the Lost World
    •    Two Unfinished Deleted Scenes
    •    Walk The Dinosaur Music Video
    •    Two Scrat Shorts
        o    Gone Nutty – Scrat’s Missing Adventure
        o    No Time For Nuts
    •    The Sabre-Toothed Squirrel: Natures Nutty Buddy
    •    Scrat: From Head To Toe – learn how to draw Scrat tutorial
    •    Scrat: “Breaking Story”
    •    Scrat: “News Report”
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with John Leguizamo
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with Ray Romano
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with Queen Latifah
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: Making A Scene
    •    Fox Movie Channel Presents: Making A Scene (Ice Age 2)

Disc Two:
•    Digital Copy
Disc Three:
•    Standard DVD Feature Film

Overall if you enjoy animated movies, like the series, and/or have a child at home, this film is certainly worth taking a look at. Personally I found the story kind of bland and the dinosaurs distracting, plus the moral of the story, the concept that 'family isn't just blood,' has been overdone at this point. The first movie had a lot of bite to it, a unique bromance with ice age animals, and the longer the series goes on, the more it caters to a young audience only. Buck was a fantastic addition to the character list however, as Simon Pegg was completely hilarious. Sometimes it feels like they downplay characters that deserve better character arcs, such as Diego or Ellie, and center too much on Manny and Sid. Still, if you've already seen the film and are a fan, this is worth the buy. The two-disc set in particular is probably worth more overall with the specific extras and DVD-ROM games. Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.

ComicsOnline gives Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3.5 out of 5 one-eyed weasels.

Blu-ray & DVD Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Maybe it was a San Diego City Schools thing, but ComicsOnline Editor-in-Chief Kevin Gaussoin reports that years earlier, he had nearly the same experience in school.

When I was a child I was always an accelerated reader, and every year in elementary school, I was placed in the accelerated reader group in my classes. Every year they seemed to pick the same books. Now needless to say I loved these books so much that I enjoyed the chance to read them at every chance I got, during each school year and between. These books were The Chronicles of Narnia, not one book, but all seven every year in publishing order. These books influenced my child hood, and made me want for a secret passage way to a secret land somewhere in the back of my closet. I looked for those for most of my childhood. Now that I am grown up, Disney Films and Walden Media are making these childhood fantasies of mine, and millions of other children come to life in a series of live action films. The latest one to be released on DVD is The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and it has been released in a three-disc edition with the digital download taking up the third disc.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the second story in the adventures of Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy Pevensie. This time when they return to Narnia, even though it has only been one year for them, it has been 1300 years since their 13 year reign as the kings and queens of Narnia. Since their reign, the Telmarines have conquered Narnia, and seemingly wiped out the inhabitants of Narnia. Prince Caspian Escapes from his uncle, Miraz, who wants to usurp the Telmarine Throne. As he assumes that he is being captured, Caspian blows Queen Susan’s magical horn, calling the old kings and queens back to Narnia. The Pevensies arrive back in Narnia, and come to find that Cair Paravel , their old castle, was destroyed some time ago, but the treasure vault where their weapons are stored is still intact and unmolested. They then come across Trumpkin, a dwarf on the side of Prince Caspian who is gagged and about to be drowned by two Telmarine Soldiers. As soon as they prove that they are the kings and queens of old to Trumpkin, they take off to find Caspian to help him regain the throne. This is only a short segment of the film, but I will let you see the movie to learn the rest of the plot.

Bonus Features

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has a ton of special features on the discs, most of them are located on disc two. On the first disc, aside from the movie is a commentary track with the director and actors. On the second disc are all the rest of the features. The disc has a feature about the making of the new movie, and talk a little about the last film. Next is a feature about the sets of Prince Caspian. Following that is a feature on the filming of the bridge sequence in Bovec, Slovenia. They also have something on the previsualization of the movie, and “Talking Animals And Walking Trees: The Magical World Of Narnia” where they discuss the creation of all the Narnians that must be created digitally. There are ten deleted scenes and a gag reel called ”The Bloopers Of Narnia”. They have a feature on how the duel was created and filmed. And finally two features on the lead dwarves of the film Trumpkin and Nikabrik, the men playing them, and the process of creating them.

The Blu-ray features include all of the above, but in 1080p resolution HD video. Beside the now-standard 1080p video and audio that is better than you can possibly get on DVD. In this instance, we're talking a respectable 5.1 Dolby Digital on the Blu-ray Special Features, and an awesome 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, meaning you're getting 24 bit sound at 48KHz, meaning you get awesome clarity out of all 8 speakers in your home theatre (You do have 8 speakers, don't you? If not, get the same 7.1 surround sound system that we use for reviews at ComicsOnline!).

Perhaps the most important Blu-ray Bonus Feature on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is that because this is a Disney Blu-ray disc, you get access to the Prince Caspian BD-Live site and all the online Bonus Features that are available now or will become available in the future. With a DVD version, what you get the day you buy it is all the Bonus Content you're ever going to get, but with Blu-ray, especially from advanced studios like Disney, more live content can continue to be published indefinitely.

This Blu-ray release also has another exclusive Bonus Feature that you will not find on the DVD release: Circle Vision Interactive: Creating the Castle Raid.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a great DVD set of a great recent movie. It even feels like the world of Narnia should. This is destined to become a classic on the order of The Lord of the Rings. The DVD has a wealth of special features, and last quite a few hours. This set is really worth the money that it costs, and if you feel the extra features disc and digital copy disc are unnecessary for you or your family, there is also a Single-Disc Edition. The only downside is the fact that at times the font on the bonus disc menus on the DVD version is a little unreadable, especially the first time that you look at the menu. But, all in all I would recommend The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian to anyone who loves fantasy, grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, or just has kids. This movie is for everyone.

ComicsOnline gives The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 3-Disc Collector's Edition on DVD 4 Reepicheeps out of 5.

ComicsOnline gives The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 3-Disc Collector's Edition on Blu-ray 4.5 victorious battles out of 5.
 

Blu-ray & DVD Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2-Disc Criterion Edition)

"I was born under unusual circumstances"

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the tale of a man who is born old, resembling something that got cut from an Aphex Twin music video for being too unsettling, and grows to become Tyler Durden before dying of old age as a baby. The movie is executed beautifully with such stunning directing, acting and effects that you’ll quickly forget you’re re-watching Forrest Gump with better CGI. This is one of those movies that you know will be remembered and referenced for decades. For generations to come, the first of your friends to go bald and the last of your remaining friends who has control over his bowel movements will be referred to as “Benjamin Button”.

Extras
This really is a monumental film and the meat of the accompanying bonus features is the four part “making of” featurette that covers the filmmaking journey from concept to final product. This section is really what you’re paying for with the extra disc in the special edition. If you’re really interested in how Benjamin Button was made or into filmmaking in general, it’s definitely worth picking up. Aside from the “making of” extras, the special edition includes director’s commentary, featurettes on the art direction and still galleries.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:

• The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
• •Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
• •Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
• •Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
• •Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
• Audio Commentary by director David Fincher

Overall
Everyone really should see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The bonus features are on a person-by-person basis, you’ll know prior to watching the movie if you’re the kind of person that wants to see what made this cinematic achievement come to life. Personally, I thought the movie was amazing, but with the main feature being close to three hours, I felt like I could do without the detail of how it was made.

ComicsOnline gives The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Two-Disc Special Edition) 4 ½ out of 5 Weekly World News Babies.

Blu-ray & DVD Review: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder is an action movie set in the Vietnam war set within a comedy of the same name. Whether you're talking about the comedy or the war drama within, Tropic Thunder is an all-star extravaganza that satires stardom, war movies, and really all of Hollywood.

Ben Stiller (producer of The Ruins) stars as Tugg Speedman as who in turn stars as Four Leaf Tayback. Speedman is the ultimate action hero whose fame has seen better days.

Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda) stars as Jeff Portnoy who in turn stars as Fats. Portnoy is a heroin addict whose fame is largely based on movies featuring himself playing multiple roles in fat suits.

Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) stars as Kirk Lazarus who in turn stars as Lincoln Osiris. Lazarus is an extreme method actor from Australia who underwent a controversial procedure to dye his skin so he could get into the role of a black man.

Brandon T. Jackson (The Day the Earth Stood Still) stars as Alpa Chino who in turn stars as Motown. Alpa Chino is not to be confused with Al Pachino, but instead he's a hip hop huckster trying all the while to pimp his signature products: Bust a Nut energy bars and Booty Sweat energy drink.

Jay Baruchel (Almost Famous) stars as Kevin Sandusky who in turn stars as Brooklyn. He's more or less the everyman.

Matthew McConaughey (Dazed and Confused) stars as Rick Peck who represents Tugg Speedman and through his dedication to his client, saves the lives of the actors by coming through on his promise that he'll get Speedman his DVR (don't worry, in a comedy like this, this "spoiler" is irrelavant).

Nick Nolte (The Spiderwick Chronicles) stars as Four Leaf Tayback, the writer of the book behind the Screenplay of the movie within the movie. As "the Milli Vanilli of patriots," he is actually one of the most believable characters.

Possibly the most shocking slash thrilling starring rold is Tom Cruise (Top Gun) who stars as slimy movie mogul Les Grossman.

Highlights:
-The opening fake credits featuring trailers for films supposedly done by the actors. Ever wanted to see Spider-Man make out with Iron Man? I didn't think I did either, but if you watch Tropic Thunder for no other reason, watch it for the fake!trailer for Satan's Alley, which depicts the forbidden love between Robert Downey Jr's charater's character, a catholic monk, and another friar played by Tobey Maguire. Brokeback Marvel was so hilarious, you may find yourself in tears.

-Character actor Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel) from Undeclared and Knocked Up was a highlight for us, as he seemed to be the most normal guy stuck with all the crazy people.

-Tom Cruise dancing in a fat suit during the credits. Dancing in his underwear in Risky Business has now been eclipsed after all these years by the spectacle that is his Tropic Thunder role.
 

Blu-ray Extras: -Filmmaker and Cast Commentaries -Before the Thunder (HD) -The Hot LZ (HD) -Blowing S#%t Up! (HD) -Designing the Thunder (HD) -The Cast of Tropic Thunder -Rain of Madness - The Mocumentary about the making of the movie within the movie. -Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD) -Alternate Ending (HD) -Full Mags (HD) -MTV Movie Awards - Tropic Thunder -Dispatches from the Edge of Madness (BD Live) -Additional Full Mags (BD Live) -Video Rehearsals (BD Live)

DVD Extras: -Filmmaker and Cast Commentaries -Before the Thunder Featurette -The Hot LZ -Blowing S#%t Up -Designing the Thunder -The Cast of Tropic Thunder -Rain of Madness -Dispatches from the Edge of Madness -Deleted and Extended Scenes -Alternate Ending -MTV Movie Awards -Video Rehearsals

The Extras are really complete, and you never really know if you're watching the real actor or the actor in the film. It's a bizarre feeling, but damn funny.

ComicsOnline gives Tropic Thunder on Blu-ray 4 out of 5 all-star wacky predicaments in HD.



 

Blu-ray Review: $5 A Day

 

I think my estimates are off. 

 

 

The Flick

Flynn (Alessandro Nivola) has had one hell of a day.  He not only loses his job as a health inspector, but gets dumped by his girlfriend (Amanda Peet) and receives a letter from his estranged father Nat (Christopher Walken), with a plane ticket to Atlantic City asking him to come visit.  Soon after arrival, Nat reveals that he has a brain tumor and is dying soon.  He wants Flynn to drive him to New Mexico for an experimental treatment that could reverse his current situation. Nat has a plan to go the entire trip on $5 a day.



Christopher Walken as the oddball Nat is incredible to watch here.  He plays such a good con man that even I was jealous of his abilities.   He manages to steal every scene he’s in with hilarious results.  The way he tries to steal and talk his way into getting a place to stay or a free meal is incredible to watch.  Alessandro Nivola as Flynn is the more stable of the duo and tries to remain the voice of reason throughout. It works for most of the film until he warms up to Nat and they become a good team.  Although Sharon Stone as Dolores Jones is plastered all over the box art, her role is a minimal one and her character is an annoying one.  Her one saving grace is the small scene she has with Walken before bed time.



Despite this film being labeled as a comedy, $5 A Day tackles some very serious issues that have developed between Nat and Flynn over the years.  In the beginning of the film, Flynn absolutely hates Nat.  Flynn was sent to jail after attempting to steal a car for Nat.  With a felony on his record, Flynn’s life has been a nightmare ever since.  Flynn coming to drive Nat to treatment leads him back to the pain he’s dealt with all this time.  Watching them slowly open up to each other and their differences as the film progresses is another great reason this film excels.

Audio/Video

Although this film is presented 1080p high-definition 1.85:1 Widescreen, it doesn’t really look it.  The entire film features a heavy dose of graininess throughout that really doesn’t represent the standard quality I’m used to with Blu-ray films.  The sound is presented in a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  It’s a very dialogue heavy film that won’t work your speakers over, but it does a fair job nonetheless.  Hearing the banter between Nat and Flynn will certainly put a smile on your face.



Special Features

$5 A Day on Blu-ray comes as a single disc collection in a non-recycled case with the following extras presented in 480i standard definition:

• Interviews with the director and cast members
• Still Galleries
• Official Trailer

All the interviews combined run about 35 minutes with director Nigel Cole stealing the bulk of the time from the other interviewees.  He offers plenty of insight on how they filmed the movie along with his experience with each of the actors.  The cast offers some small snippets on how it felt to complete the entire film in 23 days.  The Still Galleries consist of production stills, a photo gallery of shots from the film and shots of the cast and crew.  The production stills are worth a look, but after watching the feature, the photo gallery and cast and crew pics don’t really offer anything new.



Overall

The picture quality doesn’t stand up to many other Blu-ray releases, but if you’re a fan of Christopher Walken, you’ll find comedic gold in this release.  For the rest of us, you’ll find a great, fun film that has a little something for everyone.

ComicsOnline gives $5 A Day on Blu-ray 4 out of 5 pink Cruisers.

Buy $5 A Day on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now.

 
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Blu-ray Review: 12 Monkeys

From the space between the past and the future, buried somewhere flush against both madness and sanity, comes the time traveling story about potentially crazy people. We all want the future to be perfect.  Flying cars, moving platforms, and robot servants will make life good.  In the past the idealized future job has been to simply sit around all day and maybe push a button or two.  Anyone who has worked in an office or cubicle can tell you that can be boring and tedious work, and definitely not the job of the future.  Didn’t you get the memo?  As much as I dreamed of a future with an Astro of my own, there are those who had a decidedly different outtake on what the future would look like.

12 Monkeys, although set in the past, starts in the future.  In 1996, a virus developed for chemical warfare was released into the general population and wiped out about five billion people.  About thirty years later, the remaining populus has sheltered themselves in underground habitats leaving the world above to the animals.  James Cole (Bruce Willis) is a prisoner in an underground jail, and is selected to be a volunteer.  He is sent back in time several times by the scientists to find the origin of the virus that nearly eliminated the human race.  A group called the Twelve Monkeys has left signs all over the city of origin stating “12 Monkeys; We Did It.”

Throughout the film, Cole is troubled with recurring dreams involving a chase and a shooting in an airport.  In the future Time travel is not a perfected art, and Cole finds himself only six years off of his mark the first trip back, ending up in 1990.  He is arrested almost immediately, and a short time after put in the care of a mental hospital.  There he meets Jeffery Goines (Brad Pitt) who did so dang well in this roll it’s really difficult to believe that this pretty boy could ever be sane again.] with whom he confides in his knowledge about the future and the inevitable fall of the human race.

Encountering the same characters through his travels, Cole spends the first half of the film attempting to convince others that he has indeed come from the future, and a wonderfully crazy bit when he's convinced that the future is all in his head.  Cole chases the clues from the future about the twelve monkeys around town, and watches as the people around him create those clues themselves.  The film builds to a beautifully shot crescendo ending that had been hinted at through the story, and will make viewers want to watch it all over again.

Terry Gilliam takes the audience not only on a ride through the future-past, but through your own inner psyche as well.  There is never a date captioned on the screen to let the viewers know when they are watching, allowing those with more susceptible minds to be dragged into the madness along with Cole.  Can he really travel through time? Is the future as bleak as he makes it sound? Or is it all just in his head?  Does he have a one-way ticket to crazy town?  If so he has invited you to be his guest of honor.

Special Features

12 Monkeys Blu-Ray includes Feature Commentary with Director Terry Gilliam and Producer Charles Roven, a 12 Monkeys Archives, and The Hampster Factor, a documentary filmed durring the filming of the film.

Overall

12 Monkeys has been a favorite film of mine sense the first time I saw it in theatres.  I grew up with a father who strongly believed that anything any member of Monty Python touched was gold, and can say from a strong, lifelong fan point that this Blu-Ray is worth picking up.  The sound is crisp and the images are restored and remastered beautifully.  Plus if you have not seen the Hampster Effect documentary before, it is defenently worth a watch. 

Comics Online gives 12 Monkeys 4.5 out of 5 Teeth with Built in Tracking Devices.

 

Blu-ray Review: 2001 Maniacs

                                                                           The South Will Rise Again!

Come visit the quaint southern town of Pleasant Valley, Georgia, population 2001. And if you’re there for the Gus n’ Glory Jamboree. Have some BBQ, partake in some games, and enjoy that southern hospitality. You’ll have a knee slappin’, rib splittin’ time. Really.
 
In 2001 Maniacs, it seems that at some point during the civil war, the town of Pleasant Valley was attacked by the northern army, burned to the ground and the inhabitants slaughtered. All 2001 of them. And periodically Mayor Buckman (Robert Englund – Nightmare on Elm Street), Granny Boone (Lin Shaye – There’s Something About Mary), Hucklebilly (Ryan Fleming – A Lure), Milk Maiden (Christa Campbell – Day of the Dead), Peaches, Harper and the rest come back once a year to partake in some good old fashioned human BBQ and to take some northern lives. The people killed in the Pleasant Valley can only find peace when they have killed 2001 Yankees. This year they manage to trap college students Anderson Lee (Jay Gillespie – WTC View), Joey (Marla Malcolm – Blood Car), Nelson (Dylan Edington – Close to Home), Corey (Matthew Carey – Self Medicated), Kat (Gina Marie Heekin – Little Athens), and Ricky (Brian Gross – Sorority Boys) who were headed to Florida for spring break. Also attending the festivities are Malcolm (Mushond Lee – Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle), and Leah (Bianca Smith – debut). During the Guts n’ Glory Jubilee the townsfolk have invented some unusual forms of confederate retribution. Think horses, bells, dental devices, and a cotton gin to name a few.
 
2001 Maniacshas every aspect that makes a great cult horror movie, everything that can be criticized is done in this film. From overacting, cheesy effects, stereotypes, and campy dialogue with twisted humor, to the gratuitous nudity, and gallons of blood spilled. Couple all this with a little known cast headed up by veterans Robert Englund and Lin Shaye.
 
Special Features:

• Director and Producer Commentary.
• Audio Commentary with Tim Sullivan and Actor Robert Englund.
• “Inside the Asylum” Making of Featurette
• Deleted/Extended Scenes, Outtakes, and Alternate Opening with John Landis
• 1080P High Definition
• Widescreen Presentation
• English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™
• English and Spanish Subtitles
• English SDH

 
2001 Maniacsis another in a long line of classic horror that is being re mastered for the Blu-ray format, and the upgrade is much deserved. While I didn’t discern a big improvement in the sound, mainly because there isn’t a great amount of incidental music, I did see an improved image clarity, and saturation of color. The amount and quality of the extras makes this format desirable.
 
ComicsOnline gives 2001 Maniacs on Blu-ray 4 ½ down south, home cooked meals out of 5
 
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Blu-ray Review: A Scanner Darkly

What does a scanner see? Into the head? Down into the heart? Does it see into me, into us? Clearly or darkly? I hope it sees clearly, because I can't any longer see into myself. I see only murk. I hope for everyone's sake the scanners do better. Because if the scanner sees only darkly, the way I do, then I'm cursed and cursed again. I'll only wind up dead this way, knowing very little, and getting that little fragment wrong too.

Philip K. Dick's 1977 science fiction novel is about a near future where police narcotics agents in Anaheim, California, wear scramble suits that conceal their true identities by shifting through millions of partial images of other people. These narcs are devoted to finding the source of the new drug known as "D" or "Death", little red pills whose chemical origin is from little blue flowers that grow on other continents.

Keanu Reeves (The Matrix: Reloaded, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) plays Robert Arctor who is one such agent, unbeknownst to his paranoid and drug using friends like James Barris (Robert Downey Jr - Iron Man, Tropic Thunder), Ernie Luckman (Woody Harrelson - Zombieland, 2012) and Donna Hawthorne (Winona Ryder - Star Trek, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee).

A Scanner Darkly looks at the tragedy of drug addiction and shows the journey toward the sad end that awaits all who do not escape it. It shows the ugliness of the system from grower to end user and the authorities who try to stop it or perpetuate it.

The rotoscoped nature of A Scanner Darkly takes what could easily be technologically outstripped in a short amount of time and makes it immediately timeless. The art is more than a posterized filter and decades better than  Lord of the Rings. The characters are still very much the actors, but the art is just off enough to keep up a feeling of unease and surreality. I really wish more films were created this way.

With animated nudity and constant drug use/references, A Scanner Darkly is not for kids or adults who might be offended by such things, but it is a film whose execution perfectly suits its source material. It is at once literate and scientific, but also bat-shit crazy. It looks at reality through the lenses of these drugged characters and questions not only their reality but our own. It asks us briefly what it is we want, the idyllic white picket fence life or one where things are dirty and surprising and new. It's a cautionary tragedy that also gives hope.

If I'd known it was harmless I would have killed it myself!

Extras:

There are only three extras on the disc, which is surprising for a Blu-ray release. They are an entertaining commentary with Director Richard Linklater, Keanu Reeves, Philip K. Dick's daughter and a PKD expert; the movie trailer; and a solid documentary featurette on the animation process. The documentary gives a little window into the world of the talented artists that brought this film to painted life while admitting that it took twice the nine months they had budgeted.

So there is no sheep here, is there?
 

A Scanner Darkly on Blu-ray really cemented my perception that Keanu really has a soothing speaking voice and needs to do more voice work. This film is not only for fans of the four principle actors though - even though they give appropriately animated performances, this work stands apart from star power and brings a solid old school sci-fi tale to our home theaters in 1080p and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

ComicsOnline gives A Scanner Darkly on Blu-ray 4 out of 5 little blue flowers.

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Blu-ray Review: After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 1: The Gravedancers and Wicked Little Things

Dead kids…are…creepy.

The Flicks
 

The Gravedancers

After an old friend dies in a car accident, Harris (Dominic Purcell, Prison Break), Kira (Josie Maran, Van Helsing), and Sid (Marcus Thomas, You Kill Me) reunite to mourn the death in the only way they know how: getting shwasted, reading demonic incantations, and dancing on graves.  Not content with stomping around on any old grave, they pick the graves of an ax murderer, a child pyromaniac, and a serial rapist.  Obviously not happy with the living performing Irish Jigs on their foreheads, the three ghosts come back and show the ones responsible that you don’t mess with the dead. At their wits end, they all turn to the same paranormal investigator who, in a rush against time, attempts to save them all from the returned spirits.

When the film originally released in 2007, there was a lot of talk about the amazing creature designs used and after the ghosts start revealing their true forms, I can see why.  Their gruesome faces remained in my brain long after the film was over.  I particularly liked the design of the Emma ghost.  One of the scariest scenes in the film occurs when Harris wakes up to Emma lying in the bed next to him. With that said, the film is a little slow to get started, but once the ghosts make their presence known, it gets good and stays that way.

My only real complaint about The Gravedancers is the inclusion of Marcus Thomas as Sid Vance.  The rest of the cast does a great job of pulling off their roles, but Sid’s character is so annoying and overacted by Marcus that it grated on my nerves every time he spoke. It makes it slightly better knowing that he was the one to read the incantation and unleash the ghosts in the first place.  The inclusion of Dominic Purcell as Harris was an odd choice, but he ended up being one of the better characters in the film, remaining stoic when the other characters started freaking out. 
 

Wicked Little Things

When Karen Tunny (Lori Heuring, Mulholland Drive) loses her husband, she inherits his family’s vacation home up in the mountains.  Looking for the chance to grieve and escape her busy life, she takes her two daughters Sarah (Scout Taylor-Compton, Halloween) and Emma (Chloe Moretz, Kick-Ass) with her to settle down in the new home.  Unbeknownst to her, the new house rests near an abandoned mine where a group of young children were buried alive in the early 1900’s.  The spirits of those trapped children rise every night to feast off the living.  When Emma befriends Mary, one of the spirits, Karen mistakes it for a make believe friend.  When Emma goes to the mine one night to play with Mary, Karen and Sarah must chase her down. 

The spirits of the children are by far the scariest villains I have ever seen in a horror film. These four foot tall monsters carry pickaxes and sledgehammers which they use to mutilate someone before they devour their insides. Awesome.  Now I’m going to have to explain why I piss my pants every time I see my cousins.

Wicked Little Things isn’t without its problems though.  There’s quite a few bad horror clichés contained in this one.  There’s a truck that won’t start, a little girl whose friends with a ghost, a car that gets stuck in the mud, and a crazy man that no one listens to but really should.

Lori Heuring puts on a believable performance as the concerned mother while Scout Taylor-Compton does the standard teenager part well.  Chloe Moretz is always great and after delivering awesome performances in Kick-Ass and Let Me In, it’s nice to see her in anything. The real surprise here is the inclusion of Ben Cross as the crazy Aaron Hanks.  His character is odd enough to freak you out, but he’s smart enough to survive as long as he has on the mountain. 
 

Audio and Video

Despite cramming both films on one Blu-ray, they feature the same 1080p High Def widescreen presentation.  Lionsgate has done a great job with this collection, offering solid blacks with very little grain.  The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides excellent booms and screams that you’d expect with films like these.  Dialogue is sometimes overpowered by the ambient track, but it doesn’t happen often enough to lessen the experience.
 

Special Features and Packaging

After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 1: The Gravedancers and Wicked Little Thingson Blu-ray comes as a single-disc collection in a standard recycle case with the following extras:

Gravedancers:

• Audio Commentary with director Mike Mendez and composer Joseph Bishara
• “A Grave Undertaking” making of featurette
• “Making the Ghosts” featurette
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary
• Storyboard galleries
• Original trailer with optional commentary

The commentary is actually worth a listen.  It’s clear that director Mike Mendez enjoyed putting this movie together and his enthusiasm comes through in spades. He gives great detail on everything from creature design to how he felt about the actors.  The “Grave Undertaking” is a short behind the scenes featurette with a lot of cast interview bits thrown in.  Most of the deleted scenes are caps on the ends of other used scenes, but there a couple of extra bits with Vincent and Frances that are worth watching. 

The storyboard galleries are just that.  The making of the ghosts featurette runs about 12 minutes and is probably the coolest feature on the disc, since the creatures are by far the coolest part of the film.  Starting from early Photoshop drawings to clay and molds, it’s awesome to see how these super creepy beings came to life.

Wicked Little Things:

• Audio commentary with Director J.S. Cardone and Actress Lori Heuring

The commentary track offers some insight.  J.S. Cardone has a lot to say about filming children, the aspect of them killing the way they did, and how much fun they had “eating” the dead.  Lori is pretty quiet throughout but chimes in on a scene every now and then.  It’s all pretty informative and entertaining. 
 

Overall

The first volume in the After Dark collection on Blu-ray offers some pretty good scares in the form of awesome creature design in Gravedancers and overly creepy children in Wicked Little Things.  There’s a little predictability and plenty of horror film clichés used throughout, but this volume is certainly worth adding to your collection.

ComicsOnline gives After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 1: The Gravedancers and Wicked Little Things on Blu-ray  3.5 out of 5 creepy little children.

 

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Blu-ray Review: After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 2: Borderland and Crazy Eights

Chop, chop, chop and never stop…

The Flicks

Borderland

When three close friends decide to take a trip south of border to celebrate their high school graduation, they find more than a party waiting for them. They have the Mexican vacation of their lives until the boys decide to do some ‘shrooms and ultimately get separated. 

These acts contribute to two of the ongoing horror film stereotypes: don’t run off by yourself and never ever do drugs.  Your mom would be proud.  It’s at that point in the film where things go from bad to worse for the trio.  Phil (Rider Strong, Boy Meets World) gets taken by a group of cult followers to be made as a sacrifice to their god Chango.  Ed (Brian Presley, End Game) and Henry (Jake Muxworthy, Born Killers) attempt to get help from the police with no avail.  Unfortunately, the few people they DO end up getting help from meet unfortunate ends themselves, or are traumatized beyond comprehension.  It isn’t until they find Ulises, (Damian Alcazar, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) a former officer who lost a partner to the same cult, that they are able to locate where Phil is and rush to try and save his life.

Borderlandoriginally released back in 2007 and was based on actual events that occurred in a 1989 Mexico case involving satanic cult killings.  For those a little squeamish, be aware that Borderland uses heavy amounts of gore and dismemberment throughout.  Expect to see hacked limbs, buckets of blood, and gruesome torture scenes. In fact, that’s how this film gets by on telling most of its story.  It sets up a scene and follows it with the aforementioned blood and gore.  There’s little guesswork to what is going to happen once the boys are separated.

Seeing Rider Strong appear in another feature length film was one of the few saving graces of this film.  He makes Phil’s imprisonment and torture feel more human than you’d expect from other actors in a role like this.  The appearance of Sean Astin as the hick-like Randall was also a pleasant surprise.  He plays an evil character that has a level of ferocity you wouldn’t expect from Samwise Gamgee.

Crazy Eights

When a mutual childhood pal dies, six long separated friends return home to get his affairs in order.  In the will they discover a diary containing his last request: that they return to a long since forgotten time capsule that he’s dug back up.  The chest they find contains a number of items from their youth along with some skeletal remains they’ve long since forgotten. Shortly after, they find themselves trapped in the orphanage they grew up in while a vengeful ghost takes them through the harsh memories of their past. 

Crazy Eightsgathers a cast of well known actors including Traci Lords (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Dina Meyer (Saw II, III, and IV) and George Newbern (Nip/Tuck)  and places their characters in a situation they can’t control where emotions begin to run high when people start dying.  They begin to

Audio and Video

Both films feature the same 1080p High Def widescreen presentation and look pretty solid throughout.  Borderland features a more thorough color palette when compared to the dark hospital look used in the Crazy Eights. The copious amounts of blood used in the former looks amazing in hi-def and there’s very little grain throughout.  The blacks are also very solid.  Even though there are two films crammed on one Blu-ray, Lionsgate did an excellent job of making them look great. The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for both films is as equally good as the video presentation.  Crazy Eights uses a lot more subtlety in its soundtrack while Borderland dishes out the booms more often.

Special Features and Packaging

After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 2: Borderland and Crazy Eightson Blu-ray comes as a single-disc collection in a standard recycle case with the following extras:

Borderland:

• “Rituales de Sangre – The True Story Behind the Cult Murder Investigation” featurette
• Audio commentary with director Zev Berman, Biran Presley, an Scott Kevan
• “Inside Zev’s Head: A Filmmaker’s Diary featurette
• “Miss Horrorfest Contest” webisodes

The “inside Zev’s Head” featurette is a day by day on the set with director Zev Berman and his thoughts and plan for shooting this film.  It’s obvious that Berman put a lot of effort in trying to bring this story to the big screen. The commentary is of the same nature with Berman leading the show and the other contributing in small doses. The “Rituales” featurette tells the real story of the Matamoros cult killings that the film was based on. It runs about a half an hour and is narrated by George Gavito, the Deputy Sherriff of Brownsville Texas. It contains a lot of pictures and video from the original investigation.  It’s all pretty gruesome and graphic, but it’s nothing compared to what you’ve already seen in the feature film. 

Crazy Eights:

• “Miss Horrorfest Contest” webisodes

The Miss Horrorfest Contest webisodes are the same for either movie and pit eight girls against each other in a reality show where they compete in a number of odd tasks in haunted locations.  The four winners of the show got to go to finals in New York where one was crowned Miss Horrorfest 2007.  It’s really just a collection of short clips that don’t really offer anything more than a bunch of hot girls dressed up like girls do on Halloween, except less fun.

Overall

Borderlandis certainly the most violent of the films in the After Dark Blu-ray collection, but the true story behind it makes it worth the watch alone.  Top the collection off with the amazing cast of Crazy Eights and fans of the rest of the series will find plenty to like here.

ComicsOnline gives After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 2: Borderland and Crazy Eights on Blu-ray  

 

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Blu-ray Review: After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 3: The Broken and Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations

You can always go back.

The Flicks

The Broken

After seeing her double driving her car one afternoon, Gina McVey’s (Lena Hedey, 300) seemingly perfect life takes a detour toward crazy.  She pursues the doppelganger back to her apartment where she finds a picture of her and her dad.  Panicked, she leaves in the same vehicle and gets in a massive car accident.  Upon recovery she believes that someone is trying to replace her.  As she investigates, she discovers there’s more to her reflection than she bargained for. 

The Brokenis a far departure from the other seven films included in the complete After Dark Horrorfest on Blu-ray.  There’s a lot more subtlety and atmosphere that builds upon itself to tell its story rather than the gore soaked methods used by the other films.  That doesn’t make it better or worse, just different. With that said, it’s also a tad bit slower.  It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes of the film that it started revealing the events the story was building on, and although it’s an incredibly cool idea, it’s not fully realized.  You learn what happens and that’s it. There’s no explanation and there’s so much more that could have been done.

Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations

Sam Reide, (Chris Carmack, The O.C) has an incredible ability to travel back in time.  Rather than use it to place huge bets on the outcome of football games, he uses his awesome powers to assist the police in solving crimes, for free.  When his murdered ex girlfriend’s sister reveals some new evidence in the case, Sam decides to go back in time to find out who was really responsible and prevent the murder. His interference causes far worse implications and he must travel back in time further to fix it.  With each new jump he makes, the repercussions get more severe, causing him to become a suspect in the murders he’s trying to prevent.

Named for a term in chaos theory about subtle changes in one place having a profound effect in another (metaphorically, changing one stroke of a butterfly’s wings may cause severe atmospheric changes elsewhere), Butterfly Effect 3 has Sam making changes in each jump that greatly affect the outcome in “real” life, which is an interesting concept.  How often have we wished to go back in time and change just ONE little harmless thing?  Unfortunately, Sam’s changes become more dangerous each time.

With Sam bouncing in and out of everyone’s life like he does, it gets rather creepy.  He hides in people’s closets and in the shadows waiting for a “killer” to show up.  With each new jump in time, Sam keeps finding himself closer and closer to each murder and his behavior becomes more erratic and volatile.  Watching him unravel this way is one of the better aspects of the film.  He knows he’s losing this battle, but he struggles to keep fighting regardless.  The only one who remains a constant in his life is his sister Jenna, (Rachel Miner, Californication) who knows of Sam’s abilities. 

The film sets itself up and slowly begins to spiral out of control until its shocking finale.  This one is hard to predict which makes it much more exciting when the killer is finally revealed.  The decisions that Sam must make to counteract it are heartbreaking.  There’s a resolution here, but it’s not a happy one.  Regardless, Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations delivers a short but great ride through time.

Audio and Video

Both films feature the same 1080p High Def widescreen presentation and Lionsgate has done a fantastic job keep the heavily used dark tones incredibly crisp.  The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 on both films is at times over powering, but I’d rather it be louder than the other way around. With that said, The Broken uses a lot of sound effects to produce the bulk of its “scare” moments.  For the most part it works but occasionally it’s forced.  Regardless, both films have decent soundtracks.  

Special Features and Packaging

After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 3: The Broken andButterfly Effect 3: Revelations on Blu-ray comes as a single-disc collection in a standard recycle case with the following extras:

• Miss Horrorfest Contest Webisodes

The Horrorfest webisodes are just a bunch of short clips from the many girls submitting videos for the title.  It’s a lot of scantily clad women in black leather and fangs trying their best to look like professional actors.  It’s all laughably bad, but the ladies are hot and that’s at least worth a look.

Overall

Both films hinge themselves on the plot twists at the very end and both of them do it very well.  The Broken offers a more subtle experience that will leave you wanting more, but overall these two films are some of the better ones in this series and this volume should definitely find its way into your collection.

ComicsOnline gives After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 3: The Broken andButterfly Effect 3: Revelations on Blu-ray  3.5 out of 5 shattered mirrors.

 

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Blu-ray Review: After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 4: The Graves and Zombies of Mass Destruction

Frida! She’s like a Cheetah!

The Flicks

The Graves

Megan and Abby Graves, two close but completely different sisters, are spending a final weekend together before Megan heads off to college.  Instead of choosing some awesome place like a beach somewhere or Las Vegas, they choose the middle of nowhere in an Arizona desert.  After a diner waitress convinces them to visit the town’s only attraction: an abandoned mining town called Skull City (no really, Skull City!), all hell breaks loose (literally) when they are chased by a determined killer. 

The Graves sets itself up like most slasher films where a couple of teenagers find themselves out of their element or in some strange location and are chased by a crazed person looking to decorate their walls with some new entrails.  It puts a different spin on this formula by adding a much better motive behind the killings.  The mining town rests on the lair of a hell bound evil spirit that forces the townspeople to kill outsiders in order to feed it with their souls or else be killed themselves.  When Megan and Abby become the next targets, they must adopt the same attitude as the locals in order to survive. It sounds awesome, but the film ends up being another example of a great concept executed poorly.

Despite the inclusion of Candyman star Tony Todd as Reverend Abraham Stockton, it really feels like he just phoned it in here.  I know he fits the creepy persona to a T, but when he delivers his lines in such a manner that he’s repeating himself on screen, I question the need for a big name like his.  The scene at the end in the church where he preaches is particularly awful.  I’m guessing director Brian Pulido was afraid to tell him to do another take since his 6’5” frame probably scared the crap out of him.  The rest of the cast offers better performances, if only slightly.  Expect to see a lot of awkward moments and stuttered dialogue.  Zombies of Mass Destruction did great things without a big name cast, why couldn’t The Graves?

Zombies of Mass Destruction

The second addition to the disk, Zombies of Mass Destruction is the superior of the two films in every way.  When the small island town of Port Gamble falls prey to an outbreak of the undead variety, the residents start looking for answers.  Convinced that it’s an act of terrorism, the still-living locals start blaming every non-white, non-Christian in the vicinity.  One of these unlucky few is an Iranian (Not Iraqi!) girl name Frida (Janette Armand), who is captured shortly after the insanity starts by Joe Miller (Russell Hodgkinson, Big Fish).  He begins torturing her to admit that she’s the cause of the outbreak until his son Brian Miller (Andrew Hyde) intervenes. 

Meanwhile, gay partners Tom (Doug Fahl) and Lance (Cooper Hopkins) are planning to come out to Tom’s mom over dinner until she turns brain muncher.  They escape to the town’s church where Reverend Haggis (Bill Johns) believes that he foresaw this apocalypse coming and that it’s caused by the non-believers and consequently, gay people.  He plans to use a device the church created long ago to remove the homosexuality (and life) from Lance and in doing so stop the onslaught of undead. 

Offering an odd blend of humor and horror along with a story focusing less on the undead and more on how humanity falls apart when the end comes is how ZOMD really shines.  Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead or the comic of the same name will really love the premise here.  It’s exciting to see the heightened emotion and change in personalities as good people go bad in the face of their own doom.  Despite the studio labeling this as a “zomedy,” there’s less humor than you’d expect, but the small amount included doesn’t feel tacked on.  The inclusion of the “Frida” song in the beginning and at the credits is quite catchy and is silly enough to bring a smile to your face after hearing it.  ZOMD is a great albeit simple zombie film.

Audio and Video

Both films feature the same 1080p High Def widescreen presentation but only one of them really shows the level of quality expected on Blu-ray.  Zombies of Mass Destruction looks very crisp, with a great mix of bright colors early on when showing off the quaint community of Port Gamble but switches to the darker tones and solid blacks as the dead start walking.  It’s a great transfer and should look good on whatever high def setup you own.  With that said, The Graveslooks nothing like its better half on the disc.  It looks crisp in some areas and looks like it was shot with a small handheld camera in others.  On top of that, the special effects look incredibly poor and stand out far too much.  In one scene Megan bites the nose off an attacker and the effect looks absolutely ridiculous. 

Both of the films also use an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, but again, The Graves offers the weaker performance of the two.  Much like the video quality, the audio also bounces between great sounding moments to others with very poor audio. On the other hand, ZOMD, offers a pretty solid track throughout with the groans and moans of the undead sounding appropriate.  The young cast does a great job of sounding like true professionals and they really make this quirky film even more enjoyable. Also, make sure you rock out to the included “Frida” song during the credits earlier. It’s awesome.

Special Features and Packaging

After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 4: The Graves andZombies of Mass Destruction on Blu-ray comes as a single-disc collection in a standard recycle case with the following extras:

The Graves:

• Two audio commentary tracks with 1) Brian Pulido and with 2) Francisa Pulido and Adam Goldfine. 
• “The Graves: Behind the Screams” featurette
• “Sound Designing The Graves” featurette
• Plan to Actual
• Spot the Gnome
• Auditions
• “Vampires Don’t Exist” Music Video by Calabrese
• Producer’s Trailer

Both sets of commentary are worth a listen for different reasons. Brian Pulido talks a lot about his contributions to the writing portion of the film while the other two cover how set design and scenes were set up.  “Sound designing” explains how the mixing was done using actors’ dialogue and lots of synthesizing. “Behind the Screams” is your basic behind the scenes feature and runs about 20 minutes.  It’s introduced by director Brian Pulido and features a lot of details from the design crew who put it all together.  It made me appreciate the film more, despite how bad it turned out.

The plan to actual features early shots of the scenes with director Brian Pulido walking the actors through them followed by the actual scenes used in the movie.  Spot the Gnome is a little game with “Boris”, a garden gnome that Brian Pulido puts in all his movies. The music video is the full version of the song used in the beginning of the film.  The auditions are just that and feature most of the actors present throughout the film.

Zombies of Mass Destruction:

• “Making of Zombies of Mass Destruction” featurette

The ZOMD featurette runs about five minutes and provides some extra details from the directors’ point of view.  It’s a shame that more attention wasn’t given to this film since it’s the better of the two on the disc. 

Overall

The Gravesoffers a great concept, but runs it into the ground with poor acting and stunts. What could have been an awesome in the hands of a better director turns out to be the worst film in the collection.  On the other hand, ZOMD manages to provide a fresh take on the zombie genre with memorable characters and a story that ends appropriately. It’s the real reason to own this volume and is well worth the small price tag.

ComicsOnline gives After Dark Horrorfest Double Feature to Die For Vol 4: The Graves and Zombies of Mass Destruction on Blu-ray 4 out of 5 zombicidal maniacs.

 

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Blu-ray Review: Alice

Blu-ray Review: All-Star Superman

On February 14th, I was lucky enough to attend the premiere of All-Star Superman; the latest feature from Warner Animation. It seemed fitting that on the day of love we would be watching a film about one of the greatest romances ever told. Lois and Superman’s relationship has endured for over 70 years. So, in a theater in the heart of NYC, I sat down to meet some of the folks behind the latest film of the Man of Steel. Now you can own All-Star Superman on Blu-ray!

“When adapting someone else’s material, you hope to do it justice. You want the creators to be pleased and not look at it and feel betrayed.” says Dwayne McDuffie, the writer of this animated film. McDuffie, a comic book veteran, has written extensively for both Marvel and DC Comics for over twenty years. He soon made the transition to animation when he began to write for the Justice League animated series. McDuffie soon became a staple in animated TV shows and features as he began to churn out more and more well-received scripts. No stranger to having a comic be translated to animation, McDuffie was heavily involved in the animated series Static Shock based on characters he created during his reign at Milestone Comics; a line of comics he produced focused on multi racial characters in the mid 90‘s. “All-Star Superman is probably one of my favorite Superman stories, so when I heard they had decided to adapt it I fought very hard for it.” he says with a smile. Still, hard choices had to be made he explained when I asked him what had to be cut from the final film. “It would be great to see a Jimmy Olsen story or see the funny Bizarro visuals from the book but remember we only had seventy five minutes so we had to stick to the story of the overall arc of Superman’s emotional journey of his last adventure.” Amusingly enough, it was one small scene that McDuffie regretted the most having to cut. “In the book there’s this beautiful moment when Superman, having his own personal problems, talks a teenager out of killing herself and to me that is the essence of Superman not flying or hitting things but to inspire us to be better.” As for the future of more DC adaptations, McDuffie remarks “I wish I could tell you about my next project with Warner Animation but they would kill me. I will say though that I am working on another DC project that will be announced before the summer.” As a fan I just had to ask if there was any possibility of seeing any Milestone characters making the leap to animated features. “God I hope so, who knows maybe I will get lucky. The problem is as much as I love my characters, the issue with these features is that they have to sell at Walmart. Which means everyone has to know who they are and my characters are just not at that level. Still, I keep pushing for Static since he had his own animated series for a while, so lets see if they take the chance.”

Voice director Andrea Romano had her own challenges on the project. “I prefer to do an ensemble recording where I have all the actors in one room to record and play off each other, but unfortunately that did not happen here.” She states with her ever-perky smile. Romano has become a staple in animation having a career spaning 20 years working on projects we all grew up on: Smurfs, Batman: The Animated Series, Ducktails, Tiny Toons and many more. Romano is adored by comic fans for showing a great respect for the source material and having the uncanny ability to match a voice to these iconic characters. “They are all hard to cast.” she says “Every fan has their own opinion on what Superman’s or Lex Luthor's voice sounds like.” She tells me. “I actually have to separate myself because since I have cast these characters so many times its easy to not question your previous choices. So what I do is, I separate myself from my experience and personal preferences. I have to forget all of that baggage and look it with fresh eyes” she states. “The big issue you have to deal with when it comes to casting stage actors is availability. You have to work around TV schedules, appearances, ect. So most times you wind up having to record them separately.” I then asked her about working with an actress who had never done voice over work, and asked what kind of challenges she faced. “It's funny. The actors who have a more difficult time adjusting to voice over work tend to be film actors because they rely on subtlety and body language for most of their performances. TV and Stage actors transition better because they are used to putting more power in their performances and voices. Christina was wonderful. I was so surprised at how good she was considering she had never done any voice over work. Its amazing that you really can't tell that she was not in the same room as the other actors. It was a pleasure working with her. One thing she did that really impressed me was when three days after she got married here in NYC, she got on a plane and came to Los Angeles to do a recording session and that really showed commitment.” As for dream actors that she is still trying to get for a role in future projects she told me “Jon Hamm definitely. I think he is wonderful. He is such a good actor that can not only do serious dramatic roles but also has a great talent for comedy.”

Christina Hendricks is a star to look out for. Most geeks know her from Firefly, where she played con artist Saffron who seduced Captain Malcolm Reynolds. But to the rest of the world, she is Joan; the seductive office manager of Sterling Cooper from the critically acclaimed AMC series Mad Men. As I saw Ms.Hendricks arrive I heard gasps from my fellow reporters. She is so stunning, Esquire actually named her the most beautiful woman in the world, and I have to agree. “Superman II was the first movie I saw,” She says with that unmistakable smile that lights up a room. “That and Clash of The Titans. I saw it in a drive-in theater. I remember just watching it and being amazed. That’s why when I was offered the role I jumped at the chance.” When asked about her experience doing her first voice over role Christina answered, “I was a little nervous but Andrea was amazing. She had me do lines in so many different ways because she saw the entire project as a whole in her mind, so she would help me adjust a line in certain ways in case the actor I was working against later on was recording she had the options to match the tone of the piece exactly.” As for her favorite part of being Lois Lane, Christina smiled and said “Well it was really great playing Lois, my husband would text me 'I love you Lois Lane'. It was so sweet, but it was a lot of fun seeing the finished film tonight. My favorite part of the film was Lois getting superpowers.” And with that she was rushed off to be interviewed by other reporters.

I quickly got my seat as the film began.

Now, if you haven’t read Grant Morrison and Frank Quitley’s All-Star Superman, then I highly suggest you go out and by a copy. The basic plot is this: Luthor, having realized that Superman will outlive him, tricks the man of steel into flying to close too the sun. This causes the cells in his body to overload. Since his cells absorb sunlight which in turn gives him power now that they have too much solar energy they are beginning to burst, slowly killing Superman as well as quadrupling his abilities. The story deals with the Last Son of Krypton’s final days on earth. Superman decides to put his affairs in order and do all he can for his adopted world while he still has time.

My initial opinion of the film is that its good. Not as good as the Batman: Under The Red Hood feature that Warner put out a few years ago, but it was a more superior film than a few of their last projects. The main problem is that most of the action from the book is cut. Instead of focusing on the different aspects of Superman and his universe, the book instead focuses on the overall arc of the main story: Superman having to face his own inevitable end. Which is completely understandable since they only have seventy five minutes to tell the story. Still, the film makes the audience feel like they are missing out on the entire story. There are plot threads that had me wondering why they were included. For example, in the middle of the film Superman states that he has to fly to a galaxy far away to give the bottled city of Kandor a new home. The film practically stops because suddenly we are thrown months into the future. We never know what kind of adventure Kal-El had or what became of the galaxy Kandor. There are a lot of aspects of the story I wish would have been included; the most important aspect in my opinion was the Superboy story toward the end of the series. I don’t know why this storyline was omitted and yet the arrival of the Kryptonian couple who shuns the man of steel is. Still, for all of its flaws it is still one of the most superior tales of the Last Son of Krypton that most of the public has ever seen.

The voice cast really helps elevate the film. Andrea Romano, as always, has done a wonderful job finding new voices to familiar iconic characters. Christina Hendricks was wonderful as Lois Lane, providing strength and conviction in the famous reporters voice. I have to say James Denton was perfect as Superman. His performance really brought Kal-El to life and was excellent in epic scenes like the fight with Solaris. But my personal favorite moments were the intimate scenes with Lois in the fortress. Denton showed a gentle and almost child-like wonder in his performance as the first superhero. Anthony LaPaglia on the other hand was a tour de force as the evil criminal genius Lex Luthor. LaPaglia’s voice still gives me chills as Luthor who has become a more sinister and deadly version of himself. Other notable cast members included Ed Asner as Perry White, Matthew Gubler as Jimmy Olsen and my personal favorite Linda Cardellini as Nasthalthia
Luthor.

I also have to give praise to the animators on the project who managed to translate Frank Quitley’s unique style to the animated world. Quitley is one of those few artists who’s style seems to go against the oversaturated pop art most modern comics tend to emulate. His style is almost the complete opposite of that. While most artists are trying to draw every character as a ideal representation of modern beauty, Quitley embraces his own view of loveliness with no apologies, seeing the magnificence in the most unlikely places. I was actually stunned at how faithful they were to the comics. One of the best moments that illustrates this is when Superman disguised as Clark Kent interviews Luthor in jail and accidentally runs into the deadly super villain, The Parasite. The Parasite then goes berserk when he senses the enhanced powers of the Man of Steel. It was taken straight from the page and the little tweaks that were made actually complimented the original source material. For example, when we first see the fortress of solitude it is exactly as how it was portrayed in the comics. The attention to detail was amazing.

Special Features:

-The Creative Flow: Incubating with Writer Grant Morrison- Detailed look at Grant Morrison's original sketches and ideas

-Filmmaker Commentary with Producer Bruce Timm and Writer Grant Morrison

-All-Star Superman Digital Comic Plus: Superman Now - How Grant Morrison revamped the Man of Steel for contemporary audiences.

-Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Preview - Nathan Fillion steps into the role of Hal Jordan in this highly anticipated Green Lantern story. Similar in style to Batman: Gotham Knights, Emerald Knights will feature several GL characters in their own solo adventures, with ties back to an overarching story line. Fans are excited to get Nathan's take on Jordan, as many of us considered him to be a perfect choice for a live-action version of the character when the Theatrical Green Lantern film was announced. This great sneak preview gives viewers a glimpse at the new release, and the scope of the villain that the Corps must face.

-Bruce Timm Presents:Two Bonus Cartoons

-1080 Video

-English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

-DVD Copy of All-Star Superman

-Digital Copy of All-Star Superman

Overall:

In the end, I recommend that any geek have a copy of this film on their shelf. It will be a classic, and as always, Warner Animation has put out a superior product. It is a true testament to Grant Morrison's masterpiece, and fans will consider this a fantastic adaptation of one of the greatest Superman stories of the last decade.

ComicsOnline gives All-Star Superman 5 out of 5 Blu-rays of Steel.

Get your copy of All-Star Superman at Amazon.

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Blu-ray Review: An American Werewolf in London

David regains consciousness in the hospital to the care of Nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter - Child’s Play 2), who also takes him home for further recovery when he is discharged from the hospital and has no where to go at the time. David begins having strange cravings and visits from Jack, who tries to convince David to kill himself so he can move on. To make matters worse, David begins waking up in strange places naked, and Jack's visits are accompanied by other apparitions that aren’t happy with him.

An American Werewolf in London is an excellent movie that mixes an appropriate style of comedy to compliment the horror, but what would you expect from John Landis (Animal House). Add the cutting edge special effects that still hold up today, and you have fun flick with a pleasant mix of laughs and gasps.

Special Features are:
Blu-ray Exclusive-
-BD Live Access
-1080p Video
-English DTS-HD Audio 5.1
-"I Walked With A Werewolf"- Academy Award-winning make-up artist Rick Baker reflects on the movie.
-"Beware The Moon"- New feature length retrospective documentary with the cast and crew.

Additional Features-
-Making An American Werewolf in London
-An Interview with Director John Landis
-Casting of The Hand
-Outtakes
-Storyboards
-Photograph Montage
-Feature Commentary
-D-Box Motion Enabled

Overall:
This is one of my top ten movies of all time. It has everything from humor, scares great special effects, and I have been on the moors, so there are pleasant reminisces from the pub and the locals. And Blu-Ray just enhances the experience with the Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, and the high definition makes this excellent film crisp and clear. The transformation scene and Jacks apparition in high definition is ghastly fun.

ComicsOnline gives An American Werewolf in London 5 superstitions based on facts out of 5.

Blu-ray Review: Army of Darkness: Screwhead Edition

"Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick!"

The first time I was introduced to the Evil Dead series of movies was when I was ten years old. I was visiting my friend Tony and he wanted to watch some movie called Army of Darkness, which to me, being ten, sounded amazing. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I quickly learned that this would also make my top ten list for movies and 15 years later it is still in my top ten. Now this cult classic from Director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) just got even better as Army of Darkness: Screwhead Edition  is now available for the first time ever in high definition on Blu-ray!

Taking place moments after the events of Evil Dead II, Ash (Bruce Campbell) finds himself lost in time and stuck in the Dark Ages. Armed with his trusty shotgun, a new mechanical hand, and his 1977 Oldsmobile, he must find a way home and stop an army of Deadites! After a case of mistaken identity is resolved, Ash is dispatched on a quest to retrieve the Necronomicon, aka the Book of the Dead, which will then be able to send him home. During his travels he encounters an evil version of himself whom he kills and buries in the forest. Ash finally finds the book but soon learns that his task is a lot more difficult than it would seem, and he accidentally unleashes an Army of Darkness, lead by the newly resurrected Evil Ash! Can Ash help his new medieval friends stop the army of the dead or is it too late?

Special Features
-Blu-ray Exclusive Feature- Production Photos
-HD Feature- Creating the Deadites: Explore the groundbreaking visuals effects work that created the ghastly legions of undead
-Standard Def Feature: Alternate Ending.
-1080p Video
-DTS 5.1 Audio

Overall:
Without any doubt, this is the definitive "B" Movie. Bruce Campbell shines as the anti-hero Ash as he is forced to deal with a world unfamilar to him. Sam Raimi has continued to use Bruce in all three of the live action Spider-Man films and there are rumors that Campbell will have an even bigger role in the upcoming 4th film. Raimi has also indicated that he wants to start working on the next installment in the Evil Dead series in the near future.

While Army of Darkness can be viewed as a standalone feature, not requiring viewing Evil Dead or Evil Dead II, it certainly does help and add a better level of understanding and humor if you have watched the prior films in the series. If you haven't seen the Alternate Ending that Sam and Bruce had originally intended, make sure you check it out as it is vastly different than the S-Mart ending that was included in the theatrical release.

ComicsOnline gives Army of Darkness: Screwhead Edition 5 out of 5 Deadites.

Blu-ray Review: Austin Powers Collection

YEAH BABY!

When evil rears its head there is only one man who is brave enough, sexy enough, and shagadelic enough who can stop it. That man: Austin Powers. The hit trilogy of films starring former Saturday Night Live alumnus Mike Myers has made his Blu-ray debut with the Austin Powers Collection! Now you can relive all the of the hilarious movies in high definition.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
1960 was a time where people were experimenting heavily with sex and drugs. It was a time were you could get away with pretty much anything...except EVIL! The notorious Dr. Evil (also played by Myers) is out to control the world but he keeps getting stopped by the British spy known as Austin Powers. Evil narrowly escapes capture and cryogenically freezes himself until the 1990's where he can pursue his goal once more. Austin volunteers to be frozen until Evil returns. Austin is unfrozen when it becomes clear that Dr Evil has begun plans to take over the world and maybe build a giant freakin' "laser". Austin must now team up with a new female British Agent (as played by Elizabeth Hurley). Together they must stop Dr Evil and his henchmen at all costs!

Special Features:
-1080p High Definition Video
-Commentary with Mike Myers and Director Jay Roach
-Deleted Scenes including two Alternate Endings
-Theatrical Trailer

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
"Are you hungry? Would you like a hot pocket? An Eggo? They are quite tasty."

Thanks to the unprecedented success of video distribution sales, Austin Powers returns in a hilarious sequel! When Dr Evil returns and hatches a new plan to take over the world, Austin Powers must use all his skills to stop him. Dr. Evil determines that to take over the world he must travel back in time to the year 1969 and steal Austin Power's Mojo! With the help from Secret Agent Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham) the two must now face the forces of Evil, and his new clone MINI-ME and the unstoppable force known as "Fat Bastard".

Special Features:
-1080p High Definition Video
-Commentary with Mike Myers and Director Jay Roach and Co-Writer Michael McCullers
-20 Minutes of Deleted Scenes
-Behind the Scenes Featurette Gallery
-Comedy Central Canned Ham: The Dr Evil Story
-4 Music Videos
-Theatrical Trailers

Austin Powers: GOLDMEMBER

When his father is captured by Dr Evil, Austin Powers must travel back in time to the year 1975 to save him. Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) joins the cast as Power's father! Beyonce Knowles joins as the super sexy Foxxy Cleopatra! Now can these two super sexy heroes save Mr Powers and stop Evil? Also: a startling revelation is made and one or more people we know might have a closer connection than we might think! Now watch as the origins of both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil are revealed.

This film also features an amazing opening sequence starring many well known actors in the roles of our beloved heroes and villains! Don't miss this final installment in the Austin Powers Saga.

Special Features:
-1080p High Definition Video
-Commentary with Mike Myers and Director Jay Roach
-Deleted/Alternate Scenes
-Documentary Gallery: "MI-6: International Men of Mystery", "Fashion vs Fiction", "Disco Fever" and "English, English"
-The World of Austin Powers Featurette Gallery
-4 Music Videos
-Theatrical trailers

Overall
This collection features some great extras that are a must for any Austin Powers fan. Needless to say, these films are extremely funny. If you missed any of them now is definitely the time to pick them up. They have never looked this good. These films really demonstrate how much of a comedic genius Mike Myers can be, and Blu-ray is the best format to see them in, with the best sound and highest available video resolution, 1080p.

ComicsOnline gives The Austin Powers Collection on Blu-ray 4.5 out of 5 Shagadellic moments!
 

Blu-ray Review: Avatar

 

Welcome back to Pandora.
 

Overview

James Cameron doesn’t know how to do anything small and his previous successes as well as the new wrecking ball of cash that is Avatar have proven that.  Avatar was the highest grossing film of all time and as of this date, Avatar on Blu-ray is the highest selling Blu-ray of all time. While not 3D, 20^th Century Fox brings us a sweet looking movie in this collection. The story of Jake Sully isn’t an original one, but I guarantee you’ll not find a better looking one.  

Since the majority of you have already seen this film in the theatres, I’ll spare my thoughts on the movie itself in this review and focus primarily on what the Blu-ray offers.  If you’re interested in what I thought of the theatrical version of the film, read my full review here.

Audio/Video

Despite the all-too familiar story that Avatar offers, the video quality on this Blu-ray disc is unmatched.  Offering the best special effects seen to date, the transfer here will NOT disappoint you. Featuring a 1.78: 1 ratio, this film looks stunning in high def and will easily call you back for multiple viewings.  The mix of the extreme color palettes from the jungles of Pandora and the dull palettes of the human world really look amazing.  All of this makes Avatar the best looking film I’ve seen on Blu-ray this year. 

The heavy use of computer generated special effects here plagues this disc in a similar fashion to other recent special effects laden films like G.I Joe.  When scenes involve static backdrops or human actors along with the special effects, it creates a layered effect that makes the computer generated object look less realistic.  I didn’t notice it in the theatrical version, but it shows up on the Blu-ray and the standard DVD versions.  This small issue doesn’t prevent this film from being the best looking thing out there.

The audio is presented in 5.1 DTS HD and makes James Horner’s original score sound just as amazing as it did in the theatre.  The thumps of the incredible fight scene at the end all the way to the near quiet sounds of the forest make this one of the best sounding tracks on Blu.  It easily matches the stuff found in Disney’s masterpieces as well as Warner.  There’s enough pounding of the bass to put your speakers to the test and piss off the neighbors. Awesome.

Special Features

Avataron Blu-ray comes as a dual Blu-ray and DVD disc collection with absolutely NO special features whatsoever.  Choosing to release this on Earth Day less than three months after it left the theatres feels like a rushed affair, and considering that this is the highest grossing film of all time, not having any special features feels like a kick in the crotch.  Consumers will definitely be upset after purchasing this knowing that it’s getting a double dip later this year with proper extras.  Regardless of this, the picture and sound are so amazing, I’ll forgive it just this once.

Overall

Avatar is a testament to how far we’ve come with movie technology.  It had the best looking special effects I’d ever seen when I saw it months ago in the theater and it has the best looking high def presentation I’ve ever seen on Blu-ray.  Despite the lack of extra features, Avatar on Blu-ray is a great film that all audiences will love.

ComicsOnline gives Avatar on Blu-ray 4.5 out of 5 Navi.

Buy Avatar on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now.

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Blu-ray Review: Back to the Future- 25th Anniversary Trilogy

On November 5, 1955, lightning struck the Hill Valley Clock Tower. In 1985, the Hill Valley Preservation Society successfully launched a campaign to restore this landmark to its former glory. Today is November 5, 2010, exactly fifty-five years since the momentous lightning strike, and to commemorate this historic event we are now revealing the newly discovered contents of an unearthed time capsule, buried by the students of Hill Valley High School in 1985. The contents of this time capsule will shock and amaze even the most seasoned of readers. A box containing a type of disc called a "blu-ray" (apparently whoever designed this box was extremely lazy and failed to check their spelling of the word "blue") was discovered containing digitally restored footage, audio, and many new special features. The contents of this "blu-ray" disc has been disclosed to the public, and now you can learn more about the adventures of the illustrious Doctor Emmett Brown and his pupil, Marty McFly in the new Back to the Future Trilogy: 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Set!

Since everyone and their mom (pun intended) knows the story of the Back to the Future, here is a brief recap of the series just to help fill in the gaps:

Crazy doctor + cool kid + awesome car + time travel = Back to the Future. While helping his friend Doctor Emmett Brown with an experiment in time travel, Marty is accidentally thrown back in time to 1955! While in 1955, Marty unknowingly changes his own history, causing his mother and father never to fall in love. With some help from the 1955 version of Doc Brown, Marty must race against the clock to find a way home and fix his own history!

In Back to the Future Part II, Marty and Doc continue their adventures through time by traveling to the future to the distant year 2015 to save Marty's future son! Marty soon finds the future full of temptations and decides to purchase a Almanac full of future sports scores. Doc refuses to alter the future any further and discards the book, only to have it (and the time machine) discovered by Future Biff. Doc and Marty return to the present (1985) only to find that things have been drastically altered. Now the guys must find a way to restore the timeline or else they will be stuck in a bleak, altered history where Biff rules Hill Valley with an iron grip.

Following the revelations at the end of Back to the Future Part II, Marty must travel back in time to the old west to save Doc Brown from impending doom in Back to the Future Part III, the final installment of the Back to the Future series. Marty finds Doc alive and well in 1885, working as a blacksmith and inventor. He convinces Doc to help him return to the future to avoid certain death at the hands of Mad Dog Tannen. Things don't go exactly as planned and once again Marty and Doc are stranded in time. Will they be able to find a way to escape the wild wild west preventing Doc's untimely demise (Hint: It involves a train... that can fly... and time travel... and has the power to create an animated spinoff series)?

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

Special features:
This new 25th Anniversary Edition of BTTF is packed with special features that will keep you entertained for hours. Highlights include: Story boards of the alternate Nuclear Test Site Ending, Feature Commentaries with Bob Gale and Neil Canton, look at a Hoverboard Test, 16 Deleted Scenes, and the "Tales from The Future" Documentary series. Check out the complete list of features below:

(* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy)

• 1080p Video
• 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
• U-Control (BD-exclusive):
  • Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each "set up" showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the "payoff" is shown to complete the correlation.
  • Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
  • Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies
• Q&A commentaries with director Robert Zemeckis and producer Bob Gale
• Feature commentaries with producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
• Back to the Future Night: hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future (new, BD-exclusive)
• Tales from the Future: new six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg*
  • In the Beginning...: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.
  • Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.
  • Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.
  • Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.
  • Third Time's the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown's love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.
  • The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film's cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.
• The Physics of Back to the Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*
• Nuclear test site ending storyboard sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*
• Sixteen deleted scenes
• Michael J. Fox Q&A
• Archival featurettes:
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
  • The Making of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic first look at the making of all three films.
  • The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
• Behind-the-scenes:
  • Outtakes
  • Original makeup tests
  • Production design
  • Storyboarding
  • Designing the DeLorean
  • Designing time travel
  • Hoverboard test
  • Designing Hill Valley
  • Designing the campaign
• Back to the Future: The Ride
• Music Videos:
  • Huey Lewis and the News "Power of Love"
  • ZZ Top "DoubleBack"
• Photo galleries, including production art, additional storyboards, photographs, marketing materials and character portraits
• Theatrical trailers
• BD-Live
• My Scenes
• pocket BLU: USHE's pocket BLU app uses iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Blackberry, Android, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray player and offers advanced features such as:
  • Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live functions with ease.
  • Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.
  • Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there's a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
  • Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
  • Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray player with your device's easy and intuitive keyboard

Overall:
The Back to the Future Trilogy is truly a timeless masterpiece. You can really watch these movies countless times without them ever getting old. While the original movie remains the most quoteable of the series, these movies were a benchmark for children of the 80's. The story arcs of both Marty and Doc and how they grow through each movie follow a predictable (yet enjoyable) narrative that is worth following through to the end, resulting in a satisfying and fufilling conclusion to the series that many other trilogies seem to miss out on (Here's looking at you Mr. Lucas.... two times over...). It's so easy to get attached to Marty, Jennifer, Doc, and even Biff because they are all so relatable and by the time all three movies are said and done with, become such timeless characters that you'll want to watch it again, sharing it with anyone and everyone you know.

The team involved in putting this set together really went above and beyond to make sure that we would be getting the best release possible. The remastered sound and restored video make the trilogy feel better than ever. The colors are bright and vivid. The audio is crisp and clean. When you watch this release in 1080p, you too will be yelling "Great Scott"!

If you know someone that has never seen these movies then you owe it to them to go out and buy this set right now spending a day along with a huge bag of popcorn showing them what could argubly be called the greatest Sci-Fi trilogy ever made.

ComicsOnline gives the Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray 5 out of 5 times I will be extremely angry if I don't have a hoverboard of my own in 5 years.

Get your copy of the Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray at Amazon.

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Blu-ray Review: Bam Margera Presents: Where the #$&% is Santa?

As Christmas is upon us and many are feeling some negative aspects of the economy. Have you been to the mall and noticed the population of Santa's village is a little lean this year. I don't mean to say that they've lost weight individually, but that there are fewer elves, and... Hey, where's the man himself?
 

Where the #$&% is Santa?

...is the latest chunk of joyous lowbrow entertainment from the infamous Bam Margera, the actor, writer, stuntman, prankster, and all-around hijinks-leader behind MTV's Viva La Bam. Of course, you may also know Bam from his prominent roles in Johnny Knoxville's Jackass MTV show and series of theatrical releases, and true hardcore fans will remember him way back to CKY.

Or maybe you just liked to play as him in Tony Hawk Pro Skater IV. I know I did.

With a disc like this, there's not a lot to review. Bam's antics tend to polarize viewers into the mostly-teen group who love everything he does and the older crowd who are annoyed by the juvenile behavior of a guy old enough to know better. There is naturally a third group. These people fall into the group of Bam viewers who recognize that he's a young at heart clown who entertains his audience in the way they've become accustomed to seeing him: full of $#!7 and doing stupid stunts in ridiculous situations. It's the lowest of the low lowbrow slapstick comedy.

Where the #$&% is Santa? is no different. The cast has changed somewhat, but it's not far from his other scripted adventures. This time it's Christmas, and our hero Bam wants to give his new wife Missy who already has everything. Hey the girl has Bam, so what more could she want? Oh, Santa Claus himself! So naturally Bam and his crew head off to Finland in search of Saint Nick but along the way they encounter many hilarious adventures and in getting through them, they discover the true meaning of Christmas... or do they?

Maybe in the making of this they do find the true meaning of Christmas: Every celebrity must have a Christmas special! And Bam is no exception, cause here it is!

One of the coolest things about this release is that both the DVD and Blu-ray versions are the same price on Amazon, so if you're a Bam fan with a Blu-ray player, there's no reason to dumb down your collection to save a couple bucks. With Blu-ray you get a disc fully of Bam at 1080p with the obligatory howls of pain coming at you in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

Special Features

Where the #$&% is Santa? has over 20 minutes of outtakes and bonus footage and what you were certainly looking for: a "Naughty Photo Gallery of Santa's Sexy Helpers." Seriously.

ComicsOnline gives Bam Margera Presents: Where the #$&% is Santa? on Blu-ray 2.5 out of 5 international journeys to kidnap Santa.
 

Blu-ray Review: Batman Under the Red Hood

“You really think I would stir up so much trouble and not make sure you knew it was me?”
 

The Flick

Based on pieces from the comic storylines of Batman: Under the Hood and Batman: A Death in the Family, Under the Red Hood begins with the latter and has Batman racing to save Robin from the clutches of The Joker.  Months later, a new criminal “The Red Hood” (Jensen Ackles) begins taking over control of Gotham’s drug ring from the control of Black Mask (Wade Williams).  Batman (Bruce Greenwood) and Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) join forces in an attempt to capture this new foe.  What they aren’t prepared for is that this new foe knows all of their moves and operates beyond the strict rules they follow.  Batman soon discovers his enemy’s true identity and is forced to make a choice concerning The Joker (John DiMaggio) that challenges his beliefs as a hero. 



Fans of the original comic story arc that this was based on won’t find many surprises here.  Judd Winnick, the same author who brought Jason Todd (Robin) back from the dead in the original comic, returned to pen the script for this one.  The dynamic he created between Batman, Robin and the Joker is one of the best the comic series has ever seen.  There are small changes to the original story that allowed for better continuity in the Batman Universe.  What was done originally has been done better here. 

Audio/Video

Batman Under the Red Hoodon Blu-ray features a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack.  Voices are super crisp and will definitely work the center speaker.  With an A-list of voice actors attached, this is one of the better presentations offered by the DC universe.  The rest of the track is solid and filled with some great moments.  Overall the track is a great compliment to the amazing voice work, but it won’t wake the neighbors. 



Presented in 1080P 16X9 1.85:1 High Def ratio, the style used throughout is very similar to the same that Bruce Timm used long ago in the amazing Batman: The Animated Series.  Batman has a very square jaw with many of the other characters sharing angular facial features and broad frames.  It works well here and the additional use of computer generated images for some of the background pieces and vehicles make Under the Red Hood a very good looking high def experience.

Special Features and Packaging

Batman Under the Red Hoodon Blu-ray comes as a single disc collection with a foil slip cover containing the feature along with the following:

• DC Showcase– Jonah Hex- 12 minutes long
  An awesome animated short featuring comic book hero (antihero?) Jonah Hex and his search for a dead guy named Red.  This is definitely worth watching.
• Robin: The Story of Dick Grayson– 24 minutes long – This delves into the history behind the character and how this “first Robin” came to be.  Very cool for any fan of Grayson.
  Robin’s Requiem: The Tale of Jason Todd – 21 minutes long – another short documentary of the hard-to-like “second Robin” and how he was killed off by the writers via a 1-900 number where fans voted on whether he should live or die.  This featurette is exclusive to the Blu-ray disc.
• A First Look at Superman/Batman Apocalypse – 12 minutes long – an exciting sneak peek at the upcoming DC animated feature film, with a great look at Superman’s cousin Kara.
• Bonus Episodes
  22+/- minutes long each – Four episodes handpicked from Bruce Timm’s animation featuring Batman, including episodes from Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures:
  - Robin’s Reckoning, Part 1
  - Robin’s Reckoning, Part 2
  - Mad Love
  - The Laughing Fish
• Trailers
  - Jonah Hex Motion Comic
  - The Lord of the Rings, animated
  - Legend of the Guardians
  - Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
  - Batman: Gotham Knight
  - Superman: Doomsday

There’s a ton of stuff here that fans Batman and Bruce Timm’s original series will love. 


 
Overall

DC Universe and Andrea Romano keep pumping out hits and this is no exception.  Batman Under the Red Hood takes a few of the best stories in the Batman Universe and

ComicsOnline gives Batman Under the Red Hood on Blu-ray 4.5 out of 5 crowbars to the dome.

Buy Batman Under the Red Hood on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now.
 
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For more information, visit the official website www.batmanredhood.com.

Blu-ray Review: Batman: Year One

Written by Kroze Kresky, Media Editor

For the past several years, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros Animation have been hard at work bringing to life several of the most famous and popular storylines in comic book history, pumping out several entries a year. From Darwin Cook's Justice League: The New Frontier to the most recent Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, these direct to home release full length features haven't skimped out on quality or talent. Bruce Timm who has been famous for such comic book animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Batman Beyond has been heading up these animated movie projects since the start and his magic touch has always shined through. Now the creative team of Timm and co. have dipped into one of the most defining comic books of recent years, Batman: Year One, adapting it into a full on animated feature.

 

Batman: Year One is a retelling of Batman's origins as Bruce Wayne (Ben McKenzie from The OC) comes into adapting the Batman persona and mindset in order to bring the city of Gotham back into order from the chaos it is currently drowning in. After leaving Gotham for many years to train, the prodigal son returns home only to find things have gotten worse... the mob rules the entire city. The Mayor and the police force have all been compromised by crime families and there is no telling who can and who can't be trusted. At the same time, Jim Gordon (voiced by Bryan Cranston of TV's Breaking Bad) moves to Gotham  with his wife after he has been transferred into Gotham City's police branch only to find out how corrupt the system has become.

Along the way, Bruce ends up inspiring Selina Kyle (Eliza Dushku from Dollhouse) into jumping on the masked vigilante bandwagon as she takes on the persona of Catwoman, a master thief out to steal anything she can get her hands on and make a name for herself but overall her plot doesn't really add anything into the main story.

The story jumps back and forth between the tales of Jim and Bruce as we watch these two begin their uphill battle against cleaning up Gotham as each of their stories parallels each other until these two forces meet up and form the relationship that would resonate in Gotham City and the entire DC universe for years to come. Between the two, Jim's plot becomes far more compelling and ends up being more relatable to follow as opposed to either the massive amounts of brooding or fight scenes that come from Bruce's half of the story. Extra props goes to Katee Sackoff (Battlestar Galactica) in her role as Detective Sarah Essen in which her relationship with Jim Gordon is very believable and perhaps is the best aspect of the entire film.

Sadly Ben McKenzie seems a bit lacking in his role of Bruce Wayne. When delivering the more introspective lines, he comes off as a bit too mechanical and without any emotion to it but yet just like how Bruce Wayne puts on the Batman persona and becomes a completely different person, Ben excels at sounding like a younger Batman at times almost channeling Kevin Conroy a bit during the more intense scenes.

The animation as always with the DC releases is top notch and evokes a style very much akin to the original Batman: The Animated Series with its dark and muted tones but yet follows the designs of the original Batman: Year One comic, staying faithful to the original source material.

Speaking about staying true to the source, the entire Year One comic has been adapted almost panel for panel in one of the most true to the comic movies I have ever seen. Every expense is taken to ensure that Year One is accurate and keeps to Frank Miller's original vision.

Lauren Montgomery deserves a lot of credit here as once again her work on these direct to video movie releases continue to impress in terms of animation quality and direction. Batman: Year One feels like it could be a theatrical release with no additions made to it.

Special Features:

Along with Year One, this release also features a 15 minute Catwoman short with Eliza Dushku reprising her role as Selina Kyle as she hunts down a crime ring who has been smuggling something into Gotham... the question is what. This short provides us with a lot more meat and characterization to Selina than the main movie and makes her a bit more likable to audiences. The Catwoman short also features some amazing and intense action fight sequences to contrast the lack of action in the main feature. With being so bite sized, The Catwoman makes for easy repeated viewings and continues to stay enjoyable!

Other Features include:

•Sneak Peek at Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie- The next DC Universe animated project features the last script written by the late Dwayne McDuffie and is an adaptation of the comic book story: Tower of Babel. This story will feature the returning cast of the Justice League Animated Series, as well as the addition of Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan!

•DC Showcase Animated Original Short – “Catwoman”: This all-new entry to the growing canon of DC Universe animated shorts features the first first solo tale centered around Catwoman. The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Catwoman is voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling).

•Featurette –“Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots”: “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman's life. Frank Miller's next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary uncovers the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.

•Featurette –“Conversations with DC Comics”: The Batman creative team at DC
Entertainment discusses the personal influence of “Batman: Year One” on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors and artists of the Batman lore, focusing their dialogue on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

•Audio Commentary with Alan Burnett, Sam Liu, Mike Carlin and Andrea Romano

•“Batman: Year One, Chapter 1” Digital Comic Book

•Two bonus episodes from “Batman: The Animated Series,” handpicked by Bruce Timm

•Standard and high definition versions of the feature film

•Digital copy on disc of the feature film compatible with iTunes and Windows

Overall

Batman: Year One is another standout title for Warner Bros Animation and continues the legacy started way back in Batman: The Animated Series. The casting is top notch and the animation quality is nothing short of amazing. Bruce Timm and company have once again knocked it out of the park and it excites me to know that they will be doing the same to The Dark Knight Returns next year!

ComicsOnline gives Batman: Year One 4 out of 5 limp bodies pummeled by the goddamn Batman!

Get your copy of Batman: Year One at Amazon.

Drive your Batmobile back to ComicsOnline.com for more Batman coverage and for everything geek pop culture!

 

Blu-ray Review: Beatdown

 

Prepare to get…wait for it… Beatdown!

 

 

The Flick

 When Brandon’s (Rudy Youngblood) brother Frankie gets in over his head with a local mobster and ends up dead, Brandon is left with a week to cancel out his 60k debt.  He returns back to his small hometown where his father (Danny Trejo) lives to devise a plan to pay back the debt.  He sets Brandon up with a job at a local construction site where he meets Todd (Jeff Gibbs) who introduces him to an underground fight club scene in the area.  There he meets Drake Colby (Michael Bisping) who begins setting up betting on fights for him in order to the money needed for his debts.  Brandon’s success creates a new perspective on life and with it, he comes up with a new plan to get back at the mobster that placed him in this predicament in the first place.

Being an MMA fan, I really appreciate the attention to detail that Tapout and Lionsgate used throughout this film.  The montage scene about 40 minutes into the film actually shows off Brandon performing some of the standard exercises you’ll find in an MMA fighters workout. This realistic approach to on-screen training is something that is usually given a backseat or made unbelievable in other fight movies. During the actual fights, you’ll see Brandon follow the number one rule in MMA fighting, protect the face.  Doing this ultimately allows him to win against the others that don’t. On the flip side, the fighters tend to roll out of the mount positions a little too easily.

The greatest addition here is the inclusion of Danny Trejo as Brandon’s father.  He adds what little comedy there is to this fight heavy flick while providing some small emotional background for the main character.  The conflict between the two is the only bit of drama that this film really offers. In addition to Trejo, casting Susie Abromeit as Brandon’s love interest Erin was also an excellent choice.  She’s otherwise unknown but fits the eye candy quota very nicely and does an excellent job bringing her own drama to the screen.  The rest of the supporting cast also does a good job of bringing this unlikely story to life.  

Audio/Video

The 1080p widescreen presentation that Beatdown offers is incredibly crisp.  The colors are very solid and stand out quite well against an otherwise dark palette.  The blood used throughout the movie looks particularly stellar and very realistic.  They also use the an effect similar to ramping to speed up some of the scenes.  It works when it’s used and isn’t oo overbearing.  Occasionally the picture quality suffers from some minor graininess, but it doesn’t distract from the rest of the feature.  

If there’s one thing the Tapout films do consistently well, it’s adding incredible soundtracks to their movie releases.  Beatdown features songs from Freakhouse, Parker Theory, Tommy Fields, Ill Mass and much more. Most of the stuff is great hard rock that will certainly get your blood pumping.  The montage I mentioned earlier runs along Eyesore by Janus and is particularly awesome.  These hard rock and rap tracks coupled with the heavy amount of fight scenes throughout the film will give your speakers a workout regardless of your setup.   

Special Features

Beatdownon Blu-ray comes as a single disc collection with the following extras:

• Commentary track with director Mike Gunther, actors Rudy Youngblood, Susie Abromeit and Editor Dave Macomber
• Behind the scenes with interviews
• Six Days on the Set with Michael Bisping featurette
• Choreographing the Beatdowns featurette
• Beatdown Contest Winner featurette
• Official Trailer and also from Lionsgate Trailers

The behind the scenes interviews lasts about seven minutes and has Rudy Youngblood, Danny Trejo, Eric Balfour and Susie Abromeit taking a minute or so to talk about how it felt to play their role in the film.  The comments are pretty general and don’t really capture interest.  The director Mike Gunther and Joe Passarelli drop by and tell us about working in Austin, TX as opposed to Los Angeles or New York.  Aside from the surprising fact that this movie was shot in eleven days, there’s not much to this feature.  The Six Days on the Set with Michael Bisping featurette has the MMA fighter talking his way through the scenes he films – he’s very funny and seems to take great joy in mocking the movie business – good-naturedly, of course.  He seems to be enjoying himself in this new environment and gets along well with the other actors and fighters in the film.

The Choreographing the Beatdownsfeaturette has Gunther, Bisping and Youngblood providing more commentary on the movie and the fight scenes.  It could have been the most interesting feature on this disc, but sadly it’s way too short and altogether lacking to really be worth more than a single viewing.  This Beatdown Contest Winnerfeaturette hasKevin Mattson repeatedly telling the viewer how grateful he is to have this “opportunity of a lifetime.”  Finally, the TapouT Promos feature the “future of MMA” – essentially, a bunch of pint-sized kids attempting to beat the crap out of each other.

Overall

Lionsgate has been doing a great job bringing your favorite MMA fighters to the small screen with the Tapout series of films.  Beatdown is another fine addition that offers a high quality transfer mixed with bone-crunching fight scenes, awesome music and better than average acting.

ComicsOnline gives Beatdown on Blu-ray 4 out of 5 bloody fences.
 

Buy Beatdown on Blu-ray at Amazon.com now.

Keep it here at ComicsOnline.com for more movie reviews and Everything Geek Pop Culture.

Blu-ray Review: Bedtime Stories 3-Disc Edition

Blu-ray Review: Benny & Joon

Thanks for the couch. Um... Mike made me sleep under the sink.

By Caleb Paullus

Not being a Johnny Depp fan - oh who am I kidding, Depp is a dreamboat, even when he is portraying an eccentric cinemaphile in this romantic comedy film. Benny & Joon, originally released in 1993, is now digitally remastered in high resolution blu-ray glory! You can see every beautiful pore on Johnny Depp's gorgeous face. I know what you are thinking, "Caleb has a boy-crush on Johnny Depp". No that's not the case, I'm actually the one that got a restraining order placed on him before he got one on me.

Benny & Joon is a cute story about an auto-shop owner, Benjamin "Benny" Pearl and his "eccentric" (though it seems a little more like mentally instable) sister, Juniper "Joon". Benjamin lives a simple life of fixing cars and playing poker with his pals. His sister Joon enjoys painting and scaring away the housekeepers. In a game of chance, Benny gets stuck taking his friend's very eccentric cousin, Sam, into his care. What follows is a series of eye-opening experiences for both Benny & Joon where they learn about themselves and fall in love (not with each other, get your mind out of the gutter). If Joon can get set her issues aside and accept Sam's love, perhaps there is hope for a somewhat normal, happy life.

Highlights
- Johnny Depp
- Johnny Depp
- Did I mention Johnny Depp?

Special Features

- Audio Commentary
The audio commentary is pretty boring and not worth the listen.
- Deleted Footage
The deleted footage isn't that spectacular and doesn't add much value to the movie itself.
- Music Video
SO GOOD. I would walk 500 miles to view it again. Check out the lead singer's odd looking bulge.
- Costume and Make-up Test/ Stunt Reel
This is so boring to watch (I mean the parts that aren't screen tests of Johnny Depp). This really isn't needed on the disc at all, either.

Overview
If you are a fan of romantic comedies, or just a fan of watching Johnny Depp on screen, this is definitely a movie you need to see. It's a little slow to start, but chock full of laughs throughout the whole film. It's a refreshing take on the genre because the main characters have issues that are deeper than hangups on old flames and such. Depp's portrayal of Sam is enjoyable and enticing to watch. The soundtrack is full of some great hits that will definitely bring you back (to where? No clue but I was brought back, too). With a star-studded cast and a great story, there isn't much more to say other than get your loved one, cozy up on the couch and get ready for a real feel-good film.

ComicsOnline give Benny & Joon 3.5 out of 5 twisted raisins!




Buy Benny & Joon on Blu-ray today!

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Blu-ray Review: Bolt

"Super Rhino" (4:27) an animated short featuring the ever-enthusiastically entertaining hamster-in-a-ball: Rhino!

Deleted Scenes:

-"Dog Fight in Vegas"

-"River Sequence"-"In Session with John Travolta & Miley Cyrus"

"I Thought I Lost You" music video

Bolt's Be-Awesome Mission video game. This is why we spend a little more and get the PS3. REAL CONTROLLERS FTW!

"A New Breed of Directors: A Filmmakers' Journey" Super-directors made a super team.

"Act, Speak! The Voices of Bolt" concentrates on the voice actors behind Bolt including Travolta and Travolta-fan Susie Essman (Comedy Central's Roast of Bob Saget), the voice of Mittens.

Bolt Art Galleries

"Creating the World of Bolt" shows how they brought Pixaresque modern 3D animated characters into landscapes with backdrops that hearken back to Disney's older matte paintings.

Digital Copy disc

DVD of the feature with most of the bonus features but all in standard-def.

Overview:
After the mind-blowing intro sequence set within the "fake" world of the Bolt TV show, the rest of the movie simply cannot compete. I would watch a "Bolt 2" set within the confines of the TV show any day, but Bolt itself does not feel like it has the legs of Pinocchio or even Lilo & Stitch.

ComicsOnline gives Bolt 3 out of 5 cross-country trips in a hamster ball.

But you know what's the best way to see the the best version of this movie? Okay, we concede that cocktails might help, but that won't work for the majority of the target audience... That's right, if you get it for free. It's true. And the valid request posted in the forum linked there will get the Blu-ray + DVD edition. Who is our Rhino-like fanboy?

Blu-ray Review: Book of Eli

 

In a world where there is no hope, water is gold, roads are a death wish and Eli walks alone. Eli is a man who has survived thirty years after the final war. He survives in a world where there is no law, no guidance and no commodities as we know them. However, Eli holds the key to a better world and a mission that is only guided by faith. The Book of Eli is now available for you to own on Blu-ray and DVD!

 

Denzel Washington plays Eli, a man that is walking cross country to find a place where his greatest treasure, a book, can rebuild a society. After thirty years of walking in a wasteland of a country, Eli hasn’t found it - but he hasn’t given up either. He encounters a town where a warlord named Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman, is in search of the book that Eli is trying to protect. Carnegie doesn’t know that Eli has it, but he is impressed by “the walker's” fighting abilities. Carnegie tries to recruit him, but Eli will not get distracted from his mission for anything or anyone. That is until he meets Solara, played by Mila Kunis, the step daughter of Carnegie, and unknown to Eli, the future of humanity. It is a futuristic, post-apocalyptic western, where there is little to no technology and cannibalism is a way of life.

The Hughes Brothers direct this slow starting movie. It is a movie that should have contained more substance and fewer details. The plot becomes cumbersome after the first hour and it is difficult for the audience to follow all of what the writers wanted to achieve with Eli's mission.. The Blu-ray aspects of this movie are amazing. The visualization and imagery of this movie is incredibly detailed and the best thing about this film. The story could have been written better, showing more of the life of Eli - however, the plot twist at the end was completely and utterly unexpected. The action sequences are well done in a modern-western sort of way. This movie was made for Blu-ray. Denzel’s acting was on spot, as well as Oldman’s, and Kunis did a good job in a very different role than what she has done of late.

The more we start loving Blu-ray, the more the intricate the special features get. In this disc, we have the picture-in-picture feature.  However, instead of only talking, they have little comparisons of storyboard to film and how scenes were shot, among other things. They also explore life after an apocalypse and what we might do - a small but unique featurette. Besides the additional scenes, there is an animated short of the background life of Carnegie called, “A Lost Tale: Billy”.

All in all, the movie was okay, great for Blu-ray but not for theaters. It is a slow start with a plot twist at the end that is out of the blue, but still fits perfectly at the same time. The acting is good, but the directing is mediocre at best.

ComicsOnline gives The Book of Eli 3 out of 5 cannibals.

Purchase The Book of Eli on Amazon by clicking here.

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Blu-ray Review: Boondock Saints

"For Thee, my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti." -McManus prayer

I didn't first see Boondock Saints until 2005, due in no small part to its extremely constrained US theatrical realease when it first premiered in 1999. It seems that some people were hypersensitive about public gunplay after Columbine, which was a shame, as this was a truly exciting film that later became a cult classic on video and DVD. Now that Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is in post-production, devine provenance has delivered the original cult classic in the format it was always been fortold in the scriptures: 1080p High Definition graphics and lossless Dolby Digital 5.1 True-HD sound.

Story:
In South Boston, Irish Catholic fraternal twin brothers Connor McManus (Sean Patrick Flanery, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) and Murphy McManus (Norman Reedus, Blade II) are in their local pub with all the other regulars for St. Patrick's Day when their tourette's-having beloved bartender intimates that he's losing the bar, being forced out by the Russian mob in a few short days. The mob enforcers show up in the middle of their St Pat's celebration instead and tell everyone to get out immediately. The brothers immediately show their likability by warmly inviting the mobsters to drink with them instead, as "Everyone is Irish on St Patty's Day!" The Russians start a fight instead, and they are humiliated by the brothers.

This sets in motion events that escalate the rest of the movie, leading a couple of hard working meat packing boys to become vigilantes, ridding their beloved city of the mob, bit by bit until the mob springs from jail and hires the fabled "Il Duce" (Billy Connolly, X-Files: I Want to Believe), the assassin who cannot be stopped. Except... well, I'm getting ahead of myself.

The movie also features a parallel story of the cocky closeted FBI agent (Willem Dafoe, Spider-Man) who is tracking down the people leaving so many dead mobsters in thier wake. In the end will he capture them or join them?

Extras:
-Extended Director's Cut of the Film