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14th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest)

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Bored of the same ol same ol mainstream movies? Well you’re in luck, the San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest) is back for the 14th year! Starting tomorrow, February 9th and running two weeks until February 23rd, the IndieFest boasts over 70 indie films and events at the Roxie Theater and surrounding venues. This isn’t your normal film festival with a ridiculous amount of dance parties, roller disco, live shows, Anti-Valentine’s Day sing-a-long, and so much more.

4:44 Last Day On Earth

Let’s start off with some notable films at the festival. Though being set in San Francisco, the film festival opens and closes with some tributes to New York. The opening night film is Abel Ferarra‘s 4:44 Last Day On Earth – a look into a couple’s last few hours starring Willem Dafoe and Shanyn Leigh. To close out the festival is a kickstarter project called Girl Walk // All Day – a tribute not only to sunny New York but to mashup artist Girl Talk. You can see this movie in its entirety online but you can’t experience it like you would at IndieFest…we’ll talk about that more in the Special Events section.

Bullhead

IndieFest has plenty of award-winning films too. Belgium’s Bullhead (“Rundskop”) is nominated for an Oscar under the Foreign Language category. It’s a literal and metaphorical story of raising animals and injecting them with hormones…it grabs you by the balls. Snowtown won the Cannes Jury Prize and takes you into a world of violence, addiction, and abuse. Finisterrae – a surreal movie about two ghosts wandering around Catalunya trying to find a body – won the Tiger Award at the 2011 Rotterdam International Film Festival.

The Color Wheel

The top two films on Indiewire’s list of best undistributed films will both be playing at this year’s IndieFest. The Color Wheel is a black and white road trip between two siblings who can’t stand each other and Green is about two women who mistreat each other due to jealousy and paranoia highlighting the female psyche. It also won the SXSW audience award.

If you’re into local film making, the IndieFest always champions its own and this year is no different with films by local filmmakers and talent. California 90240, In Organic We Trust, Juko’s Time Machine, Mother Country, and the shorts Street by Street and Skater 26 are all homegrown.

Special Programs

Love Bites: 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long

If you didn’t notice, Valentine’s Day falls between the 9th and 23rd (it’s the 14th if you didn’t know) so the IndieFest is hosting a Valentine’s Day (or anti-Valentine’s Day program) with the films I Like You and Girlfriend, an international Love shorts program called The Languages of Love and the annual 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long this year donned Love Bites.

There’s also the 9th annual Big Lebwoski party, Roller Disco party, Opening Night Spinal Tap tribute party, and special B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls benefit show

The FP Dance Dance Revolution Throwdown!

with a screening of Skater 26. If that’s not enough, there’s a Dance Dance Revolution party to coincide with The FP – a crazy film where fights are settled on the dance floor … of “Beat-Beat Revelation.”

Another event not to miss is the FREE screening and panel discussion of Default – a film that’s definitely in the now discussing the aftermath of the mortgage bubble burst and rise of the Occupy movement.

Girl Walk // All Day

As mentioned earlier, the film festival will close with Girl Walk // All Day. This film is an upbeat dance party all in itself and if you’ve ever listened to Girl Talk, you know what I mean. Separating itself from other film festivals, IndieFest is combining the screening with…you guessed it…a dance party at Public Works! So why sit and watch people dancing on film when you can dance along while watching the show. I can’t imagine watching this movie any other way and it’s sure to be another memorable close of a fantastic festival.

You can purchase tickets to all the films now! One interesting side note of the festival is that you have no idea if the film is showing at The Roxie or the Little Roxie (right next door). The organizers did this on purpose to make sure as many people as possible got to see the films that they want to see. They are going to keep an eye on presales to determine which film will be shown in which theater right before each screening. What does that mean? It means to buy your tickets early to make sure you get to see the movies that you want to see!

14th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest)

This post is part of our IndieFest coverage
For the 14th year in a row, SF IndieFest presents an awesome abundance of awesomeness with a mightily monstrous mix of maverick movies and mayhem.Visit SF INDIEFEST’s Official Website

Tags: 4:44 Last Day On Earth, Abel Ferarra, Bullhead, California 90240, Default, Finisterrae, Girl Talk, Girl Walk // All Day, Girlfriend, Green, I Like You, In Organic We Trust, IndieFest, Juko's Time Machine, Mother Country, Rundskop, San Francisco Independent Film Festival, sfindie, Shanyn Leigh, Skater 26, Snowtown, Street by Street, The Color Wheel, The FP, The Languages of Love, Willem Dafoe
Posted in 14th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Film Festivals and Conventions | No Comments »

MVFF 2011 Review: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Martha Marcy May Marlene is getting a limited release so you can still catch advance screenings around the country: Martha Marcy May Marlene Advance Screenings

“Martha, where have you been?” Martha Marcy May Marlene is stunning. I went in knowing very little about this film and was delighted to be shown an original work of art from writer/director Sean Durkin. I loved so much about it, that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why the movie is so wonderful. Don’t be afraid of the multiple “M” title, even if you can’t remember the exact title…go see it. Just tell the guy at the box office that you want to see MMMM. As in, mmmm mmmm, that was good!

The most noteworthy part of this film is the amazing script and lead actress who brought it to life. Martha (Elizabeth Olsen – yes, Mary Kate and Ashley’s little sister) is a young girl who found her way into a small cult. Very early on in the film we see her run away and try to escape. The movie follows the next two weeks of her trying to assimilate back into the real world. She’s taken in by her sister (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy) after a confused call from a pay phone. The only thing more gripping than Olsen’s performance and the story of MMMM is the directing. Durkin did a remarkable job building tension and an eerie feeling for the audience to empathize with.

The beautiful Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) with her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson)

From slow, very slow, transitions to deep character closeups to eye-opening lush forests and scenery…this is a film lover’s dream. The settings are there, the cinematography is there, the directing, acting, story, score, everything is in place. The whole cast is wonderful. Even the small roles were paramount and acted out terrifically. Louisa Krause plays Zoe, Marcy May’s cult friend who is both her bestie and creepy enemy at the same time. Both are controlled by the mysterious cult leader Patrick (John Hawkes) who can lie with his eyes but still convey truth with his words. The script is so lifelike that you can only assume that Durkin himself went through some of these traumatic experiences, but he claims it’s all fiction.

The captivating word-abusing Patrick (John Hawkes)

“But if you’re going to live here, you’re going to need to be a part of this.” You can easily see how someone can be attracted by the cult lifestyle and then suffer through paranoia as they break free. They say the first 2 weeks are the hardest after you escape and the movie depicts that to a t. Everything feels so real that you sometimes think you’re watching a documentary or dramatization of actual events. However, if you’re not hooked by this concept, the movie will progress slowly for you as it contains a lot of build and understanding via flashbacks and comparisons.

Love? Control? Right? Wrong?

Martha Marcy May Marlene uses flashbacks so we can see the whole process of how someone is seduced into the cult and how recursive and controlling it can be. You see both the bright and dark sides of the wayward community through loving song and harsh anguish. I loved that the movie never judges. It leaves that to the audience to determine which life is right and whether some aspects of one are better than the other. On the other side, you see the abundant and wasteful life of Martha’s real sister and husband who play the “normal” couple.

Can you see it in her eyes?

I highly recommend watching this film if you want to see something different and original. If you want to see a proper film that draws you into the material rather than blasting it in your face. If you want to see what acting is supposed to be and how a director should shoot a film. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Durkin and Olsen as this should be a launching pad for both of their careers. It’s refreshing to know that quality films can and still are being made. The movie leaves you unknowing how to feel and it does this very well.

The Mill Valley Film Festival is a celebration of the best in independent and world cinema. MVFF brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience amazing new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco, California’s Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious noncompetitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children’s films – something for every filmgoer.
Visit the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Official Website

Tags: Elizabeth Olsen, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Louisa Krause, Martha Marcy May Marlene, MVFF, Sarah Paulson, Sean Durkin, The 34th Mill Valley Film Festival
Posted in Reviews, The 34th Mill Valley Film Festival | No Comments »

MVFF 2011 Review: Pina

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Pina Unusual. Curious. Spectacle. I could be describing the German choreographer Philippina “Pina” Bausch or the German 3D documentary about her, Pina. Originally set to be a documentary about Pina involving her, the work turned into a memorial for her after her unexpected quick death during preparations for the film. What resulted is a beautiful documentary to commemorate this woman who had a huge impact on so many others lives. It’s a work of love…as dancing is supposed to be. The movie begins on a powerful number with a timidly-filled room but then turns into a deeper understanding of dance.

The movie exhibits four major pieces that Pina developed: Le sacre du printemps, Café Mueller, Kontakthof and Vollmond. Each is very distinct and can be interpreted in a bountiful amount of ways leaving the audience to to experience a performance unlike any other, even if they went to see the actual dances in Germany. Throughout the set pieces are interviews with the various dancers allowing them to pay tribute to their beloved teacher and friend. They recount past memories of Pina and paint you a picture of who she actually was and why they did so much for her/with her. Many of the dancers are international so they speak in their native tongue in accents with accompanying subtitles.

The dancers of Pina

Many of the dancers also have their own small dance routines that they perform out of the theater and in various outside settings around Wuppertal, Germany. Some of the backdrops are immersible and perfect backgrounds for the dances but some of the dances are just plain weird. It definitely takes an open mind to understand or even accept what is going on. The music is all scattered allowing different types of dances and emotions. From classical to rap to rock to whatever you can think of. It’s great because you are bound to listen to a song you enjoy and be exposed to new ones you’ve never heard of before.

Tanztheater Wuppertal performing Vollmond

The whole movie is connected through some sort of “seasonal trail” involving all of the dancers parading in a conga line. It’s a great piece to come back to and see the various people, sizes, shapes, ages, etc of the people involved. There’s an amazing piece (I think it was Kontakthof) where three sets of dancers (the troupe, an older version and younger version) do the same exact dance and director Wim Wenders edits it in a way that they are all together. You can see how dance spans multiple generations and mean so much to different people. I’ve also said 3D is great for animation and dancing and having 3D present in a documentary genre which isn’t at all about action was refreshing. It didn’t add too much to the experience but it was a creative way to experience this art form. I’m sure Pina would’ve loved this doc and you could tell all the dancers loved making it for her.

Tags: Philippina Bausch, Pina, Tanztheater Wuppertal, Wim Wenders
Posted in Reviews, The 34th Mill Valley Film Festival | No Comments »

MVFF 2011 Review: The Artist (Closing Night Film and Audience Favorite)

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

The Artist was a wonderful choice for the Mill Valley Film Festival to pick as their closing night film (it also won the Audience Favorite Award at MVFF). Fresh from winning both Best Actor and the prestigious Palm Dog Award at Cannes earlier this year, The Artist takes us back to the silent era of Hollywood in 1927 when the Hollywood sign still read, “HOLLYWOODLAND.” It’s a black and white romantic comedy which mimics silent films with current day technology and antics. It was a real treat to watch but also a bit disturbing as the movie is blatantly cliche and trite but has such a warm and good feelings attached with it.

Jean Dujardin stars as George Valentin in this meta film about film making. It begins in the classic La Reina theater to a packed house watching the movie that we’re also watching. At first, you might struggle to figure out what’s actually happening but with the blocks of text between the characters impeccable expressions, you easily start to follow this cute and delightful storyline. George Valentin is a huge movie star that can do no wrong. He’s at the top of his game and full of himself for it. Happen chance leads him to meet Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) a nobody who lands on the cover of Variety after a candid kiss for the cameras. She finds her way onto a studio lot and the chemistry the two have is glaring.

Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo in The Artist

As the movie trots on, you witness the decline of silent films and in turn the decline of Valentin’s career. As sound is introduced to film, he’s speechless! As Valentin’s career diminishes, Peppy Miller’s career rises and the relationship between these two gets even more estranged. The acting that the two stars delivered was great to see. It’s a lot harder to convey so much emotion without any words. They had to let their acting do all the talking. You can easily see why Jean Dujardin won best actor. And for Uggy (the dog in the movie) who stole the show with each of his (or her?) cute trained scenes, you can see why he (or she?) won the coveted Palm Dog Award as well.

I bet this was the expression on the producer's face when The Artist wrapped too!

Don’t be afraid of a black and white silent film…there are a few well known faces to keep you company like John Goodman, Malcolm McDowell and James Cromwell. The music alone should make you want to see this film as it’s pitch perfect to what’s happening on screen. Ludovic Bource did an incredible job with the score which is paramount to films that this movie is paying homage to. It just keeps going, changing and impacting the movie with every scene like one fluid song. I couldn’t quite tell if writer/director Michel Hazanavicius was imitating or playing respect to countless scenes from other works…he kind of went overboard. If only the 2nd act was a bit tighter and shorter, this would be a must see that could convert some new fans to silent film. Give it a try, you’re almost guaranteed to leave with a smile.

Tags: Audience Favorite Award, Bérénice Bejo, Best Actor, Cannes, Closing Night Film, James Cromwell, John Goodman, Malcolm McDowel, MVFF, Palm Dog Award, The 34th Mill Valley Film Festival, The Artist, Uggy
Posted in Reviews, The 34th Mill Valley Film Festival | No Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Griff the Invisible

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Surprisingly, my favorite film that I screened at Comic-Con this year was a little known Australian film called Griff the Invisible. Starring Ryan Kwanten, who you might know as Jason Stackhouse from True Blood, Griff the Invisible is not your ordinary superhero movie. It’s a refreshing, original and zany love story centered around a delirious boy-man who lives in a dream world trapped in the real world. With a stumbled beginning, you have to work your way to get through to the end of this movie but it is delightfully well worth it. There’s so much underlying heart in this story that it packs more emotion and understanding than you would have ever thought.

Griff (Ryan Kwanten) is an office worker by day, superhero by night. He’s incredibly anti-social and gets picked on at work. However, when he puts on the muscles of his crime-fighting suit, he’s not to be messed with. Another one, right? Not quite. Griff has a brother, Tim (Patrick Brammall), who moves closer to take care of him. You see, Griff has pulled this superhero routine before and it has gotten him into trouble so Tim made Griff promise him that he wouldn’t do it again. Tim introduces Griff to his new girlfriend Melody (Maeve Dermody) that he met at a Chinese restaurant. Funny story, really. Anyway, this is where the whole story flips and the audience realizes, as the characters do on screen, that Melody and Griff are a perfect match…not Melody and Tim.

Tim (Patrick Brammall) and Griff (Ryan Kwanten) in Griff the Invisible

Meanwhile, you follow along with Griff and his crazy imagination as they figure out how to protect his neighborhood and seek revenge against Tony (Toby Schmitz), Griff’s office bully. Ryan does a phenomenal job playing the role of a guy you wouldn’t notice at a bus stop. Using little to no words, his acting still gets you into his head. You also get glimpses into Melody’s quirky life and fall in love with her before even Griff can. Melody does and says some of the most off the wall things like, “surveyed people about street surveys”, “protested a protest”, and “Have you ever googled google?” She becomes the writer’s voice as she lays out what Griff is going through to the audience in layman’s terms. Melody lays it all out as she understands Griff more than anybody because she feels like she is a Griff…like she is invisible.

Maeve Dermody and Ryan Kwanten in Griff the Invisible

The movie has all the arcs and roller coaster events that you would expect from a superhero origin story. Griff the Invisible, however, masks it all behind a whimsical story of the real human character. The movie plays on the idea that there’s a lot more fantasy and mystery in the everyday so a supernatural background or outrageous hyperbole isn’t needed. Just the understanding of the human mind and ordinary relationships. Well maybe not quite ordinary as Melody and Griff are pretty extraordinary, but their connection is ordinary and they are both real people that the audience can relate to or empathize with. That’s what I loved about this movie…it doesn’t try to be something made up while still being about make believe. It’s a touching and brilliant premise.

You can't see him in this universe.

I left the theater smiling as the story finally worked its way into my thoughts. This is one of those films which you have to let break your perceptions. If you only take the movie for face value, you may not enjoy it. But if you give it a chance, you will first be awkwardly laughing and then gleefully cheering as the plot plays out. You’ll feel for Griff in a soft part of your heart and get angered at every character on screen that doesn’t understand him. Griff the Invisible is all about the underdog of society being let free to live his life. People may not understand it, but ignorance is bliss and there’s nothing like a healthy (or wacky) imagination. That goes both for the character and movie: Griff the Invisible.

Comic-Con is the leading comic book convention in the world. Over the years, it has become a platform for movie studios to debut exclusive information and footage from their upcoming films.
Visit Comic-Con’s Official Website

Tags: Comic-Con, Griff the Invisible, Maeve Dermody, Patrick Brammall, Ryan Kwanten
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | 3 Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Fright Night

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Fright Night is yet another remake of a Hollywood classic. However, writer Marti Noxon modernized the story and added just enough new elements to make it her own and produce something fresh. Just like the original 1985 film of the same name, Fright Night forgot to frighten but it offered up a funny, well-crafted, character-rich vampire tale…without the sparkles. This version kept many of the same plot points and intricate relationships which makes this story so enthralling. They added 3D, of course, which love it or hate it, seems to be on every upcoming horror film slated. Still, the heart of Fright Night was kept intact and the addition of a star-studded cast didn’t hurt.

Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) lives with his mom (Toni Collette) in a suburban development just outside of Vegas. Charley has a ridiculously cute girlfriend (Imogen Poots) and an annoying old buddy named Ed…”Evil” Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who can’t take a hint to get lost. Ed has been noticing that kids from school have been vanishing…but not just kids, their families too. He believes that Charley’s next door neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) is actually a vampire. “Jerry!? That’s a terrible vampire name!”

Christopher Mintz-Plasse in Fright Night

The performances all around were wonderful in Fright Night. Christopher Mintz-Plasse was hilarious as “Evil” Ed and I enjoyed every single scene he was in. There was no way he was going to compete with Stephen Geoffreys’s 1985 Ed so he spun the character and took a new angle on it. David Tennant stole the show as the glamorized Peter Vincent, a self proclaimed vampire hunter who has a resident show in Las Vegas (think: Cris Angel). At first, you won’t even recognize Tennant but you sure will recognize his comedy! I would watch the movie again just for Christpher Mintz-Plasse and David Tennant. Colin Farrell plays a great vampire and will pull in the Twilight tween crowd as well as the True Blood women but still pull off a convincing demented blood sucker.

Colin Farrell is too sexy to be alive in Fright Night

There’s one long car chase scene that we mentioned in our Comic-Con panel post which is amazing. The cinematography and angles that they used were quite stunning and a departure from the rest of the movie which is mainly shots of the characters and a focus on dialogue. Fright Night traded in the animatronics for computer generated effects and 3D. You better get used to 3D because it’s here to stay…especially with horror films. I think every upcoming horror flick is scheduled to be released this way. Fright Night uses it for the redundant gimmicks of shoving something in the audience’s face. The technology was so seldom utilized that they could have flashed “Put on your 3D glasses on now” messages like they used to years ago or on TV. The best 3D effects were the completely computer generated fire effect where the embers flew around and also the effect when a vampire blows up in sunlight…those parts looked really cool!

David Tennant is about to gain a lot of new fans from Fright Night...he's the best thing about this remake

If you’re a fan of the original, you won’t be disappointed but don’t expect much newness. In terms of remakes, this one was really well done and had a satisfying mix of new and old. Fans are going to notice tidbits from the original as well as a cameo from one of the original cast members. In terms of a quality movie on its own, this Fright Night has pieces of a great entertaining movie but all together doesn’t add up to much more than a Friday night rental. If you’re a fan of any of the cast, then you should definitely go see it because their performances were killer. If you’re looking for a scary movie, this one isn’t it…Fright Night a comedic action horror sans much horror. If you’re a vampire fan, you must be having the time of your life because there are just so many movies and shows for you…this is another good addition to satisfy your vamp addiction.

As an added bonus, you might be able to spot me in this “Fan Frenzy Fright Night” video from Comic-Con

Tags: Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Fright Night, Imogen Poots, Marti Noxon, Toni Collette
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | 3 Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Drive

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Drive has so much going for it, it’s hard not to love. It’s an exceptional piece of film making by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive won Best Director at Cannes earlier this year). Ryan Gosling stars in the film and gives a performance I honestly didn’t expect from him – it was spectacular and unlike anything you’ve seen him do before. The movie is tense and calculated bringing you into the story and immersing you into this world that you don’t want to leave. When the credits rolled, I wanted more! The movie is cut beautifully but the cinematography is only a piece of this contemporary masterpiece. Drive will be shown in film classes across the world because it offers such quality and poise.

Simply put, Drive is about a driver (Ryan Gosling). By day, he drives cars in movies…doing the stunts. At night, he moonlights as a getaway driver. He doesn’t carry a gun, he won’t assist in any crimes – just tell him where to take you and he’ll give you exactly 5 minutes to do whatever you need and then drive you out of there. He seems like a good caring guy as he assists his neighbor (Carey Mulligan) but it’s not long before you can tell there’s something hidden in his character. He’s a soft spoken dude with a toothpick in his mouth and only speaks when needed. There’s a lot of silence in this film as it’s not bogged down by unnecessary dialogue. Instead, it features characters of action…and boy, is there a lot of action.

Ryan Gosling and Bryan Cranston in Drive

You will never look at Albert Brooks the same way again. He is a monster! An articulate, calm monster. Ron Perlman, on the other hand, is a hot-headed bad guy you would never want to cross. At the end of the film, I was scared of Brooks more than Perlman. Nicolas Winding Refn described his movie as a fairy tale set in LA. Ryan is the Knight, Carey is the Princess, Ron is the Dragon and Brooks is the Evil King. Carrey Mulligan is super cute as the confused dame dealing with her real life while wanting to fall for the fairy tale. I absolutely loved the way they shot their relationship…it was so innocent yet taboo at the same time, I didn’t know what to think. Bryan Cranston keeps popping up in great roles in great movies and continues to show his talent in this movie.

Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in Drive

The music in this film is magnificent. The songs are totally in sync with what’s happening on screen. Refn wanted to use 80s European techno to give the entire movie a different feel and it does quite that. From the movie’s opening with bright pink lettering and a heavy electronic track, it sets the mood for an interesting take on a car-centric action movie. With tracks such as College’s A Real Hero, Chromatics’ Tick of The Clock (which you can hear in Drive’s Red Band Trailer embedded below) and Kavinsky’s Nightcall, you will be surrounded with big bass and chilling lyrics that you will be bobbing your head to. YouTube them now! For me, this movie has the best soundtrack since The Chemical Brother’s Hanna and Basement Jaxx’s Attack the Block.

You will never look at Albert Brooks the same way again.

You haven’t seen Ryan Gosling until you’ve seen Ryan Gosling’s face covered in blood. I forgot to mention that this movie is amazingly violent too! There’s so much you don’t expect from this film so it results in unprecedented cinematic experience. There’s nothing supernatural or absurd about the story so it still feels very real but totally separated from the real world so it feels like a dream. As Refn wanted, it’s a modern day fairy tale with interesting characters and a gripping premise. The movie is cut so purposefully that every frame is utilized to its maximum potential. While watching, you will just be in awe of what’s presented for you. Even though Drive doesn’t have a lot of dialogue and lets the movie speak for itself, I think that it is such a well made film that film lovers and blockbuster fans alike will enjoy it. Trust me, give it a chance and enjoy the drive.

Tags: A Real Hero, Albert Brooks, Attack the Block, Basement Jaxx, Bryan Cranston, Carrey Mulligan, Chromatics, College, Comic-Con, Drive, Hanna, Kavinsky, Nicolas Winding Refn, Nightcall, Ron Perlman, Ryan Gosling, soundtrack, The CHemical Brothers, Tick of the Clock
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | 2 Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: 30 Minutes or Less

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

30 Minutes or Less is a fast-paced double buddy action comedy involving a bomb vest, bank robbery and combination tanning salon/prostitution ring. Clocking in a run time of only 83 minutes, it’s a quick joyride of a movie but it’s actually not as funny as you think. Starring comedians Danny McBride, Nick Swardson and Aziz Ansari alongside the talented Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Peña and directed by the guy who brought us Zombieland, Ruben Fleischer, you’d think the audience would be rolling around on the floor laughing nonstop through the on screen escapades but instead it was just “ok” with laughs scattered around. The Comic-Con panel was actually a lot funnier than the entire movie.

Jesse Eisenberg is Nick, a pizza delivery boy who drives a beat-up mustang. The movie explodes with him speeding through stop signs and drifting in order to make his 30 minute deadline. Believe it or not, Jesse is actually a really good driver and does all his own stunts and moves. On his last delivery of the night, he’s jumped by two monkeys, Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson). Dwayne is the spoiled brat of The Major (Fred Ward) who after retiring from the Marines, struck it big by winning 10 million dollars from the Michigan Lottery. Dwayne is the kind of guy who sleeps in late, not because he’s lazy, but because he has “too many big dreams”. He’s just waiting for his inheritance to start a tanning salon that doubles as a prostitution ring. Brilliant, right? Dwayne and Travis strap a bomb onto Nick and the movie switches gears. Now Nick must rob a bank for $100 grand or explode.

Could you imagine being robbed by these guys?

The premise is funny, the characters are great and the movie is upbeat but for some reason, it just doesn’t “deliver”. Nick Swardson and Aziz Ansari are two of my favorite contemporary comedians and they’re hilarious in the film but only for bits and pieces. This is the kind of movie where you get blasts of laughter and then silence until the next big joke. Aziz has his hilarious trail off moments where he just keeps talking and talking and it keeps getting funnier and funnier. During the Comic-Con panel, they noted that there was a lot of improv in the movie. I can’t wait for the DVD to see all of the alternative takes and moments that didn’t make the final cut. Nick Swardson’s character, Travis, had some hysterical racist jokes that were told so dry (but spot on for the character) that many audience members missed them. The comedic surprise of the movie came from Michal Pena who is a newcomer to comedy (this is his 2nd feature after Observe and Report) but gave an unexpected performance as the satanic hispanic.

Michael Peña almost steals the show as the satanic hispanic

Aziz played Chet, Nick’s friend who assists him as Cruz in the bank robbery. Together, they’re the first buddy couple in 30 Minutes or Less and they work great together. They had not met before this film but hit it off right away and had great chemistry on screen. They have a love hate relationship as they keep messing up each other’s lives. Not to mention that Nick is in love with Chet’s twin sister, the ridiculously hot Dilshad Vadsaria. Dwayne and Travis make up the other buddy couple as the misguided criminals who try to think as millionaires. Travis is the actual brains of the operation (even though he’s not smart at all) but acts as the lackey to Dwayne who just thinks for himself. It’s almost like watching Dumb & Dumber with these two. Danny McBride and Nick Swardson also never met before the shooting of this movie but I think we’re going to see more from them together in the future.

I wouldn't trust Nick Swardson with a real flamethrower but hey, that's just me

The action was actually better than the comedy in this one as the car chases were really well done. They decided to use real cars and stunt drivers rather than computer generated effects and I think it payed off for them. I just wish the comedy was up to that level as I expected more from this group. 30 Minutes or Less is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, nudity and some violence. It’s not vulgar and there’s not much cursing but there is violence, guns and a flamethrower, yes a real flamethrower. There is also some nudity from a strip club visit but stay after the credits for a local ad from http://www.majortan.com/

. The movie isn’t bad, it’s just not as good as it could have been. “They blew it.” “And that’s what she said.”

Tags: 30 Minutes or Less, Aziz Ansari, Comic-Con, Danny McBride, Dilshad Vadsaria, Fred Ward, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Peña, Nick Swardson, Ruben Fleischer
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Cowboys & Aliens

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Cowboys & Aliens is a strong western with sci-fi thrown in the appropriate spots. It has all the great elements of each genre mashed up into an entertaining movie with action, adventure and lots of laughs. It’s fun and gripping but not as amazing as one would hope…it’s good, not great. The story is pretty straight forward and you get what you would expect from a title of Cowboys & Aliens…it’s the simple folk of a small western town up against technologically advanced aliens. Don’t worry, there is more to that premise later on in the story with some awesome twists but I won’t spoil it for you. All you need to know is: No, it doesn’t suck and Yes, you should go see it if you’re the least interested in what it has to offer.

Daniel Craig is a bad ass right from the very beginning. The movie starts off as a true western coming across a man stranded in the wilderness alone. Three men on horses discover him and the action explodes right away with a scene that gets cheers from the audience. Jon Favreau, director of Cowboys & Aliens, does the smart move of first capturing the interest of western fans with the slow mysterious beginning and then keeping the action fans with a fast-paced beat em up scene that allows the audience to think, “ok, maybe this will be good!” Craig’s character doesn’t know who he is or what’s going on…he just discovers there’s a weird iron gadget on his wrist and quickly learns it can do some startling things. Throughout the movie, he has flashbacks slowly remembering what has happened to him and what he must do.

shit.

We then join the rest of this spectacular cast in a classic one road western town. It would be a ghost town if it wasn’t for the cattle of our other big star, Harrison Ford. Ford plays a rugged cowboy who demands respect. It’s a treat to see him in another movie that can actually utilize his talent but I wish he had more screen time and paramount scenes. Other than a few good lines, he didn’t have a big enough screen presence. Joining these two are Paul Dano playing Ford’s son, Sam Rockwell who is the towns Doc and barkeep, Noah Ringer who is our kid star and Olivia Wilde, a hot dame in a dress with a gun holster. For me, Paul Dano is the standout of the supporting cast. Hopefully this role will launch him into stardom as he’s done his fair share of great smaller indie flicks.

Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde...on horses

You may say the story is cliche and/or exploiting fans from each genre but it just takes the elements people love from westerns and sci-fis and puts them together. There are actually a lot of similarities in each of the genre’s arcs so nothing seemed out of place. There’s a clear purpose, drive and motivation of the group of cowboys that the movie follows and explains why there are aliens terrorizing these simple people. The juxtaposition is great and the writers played with the concept throughout the film. There’s one early scene where you see the cowboy’s lights via flames on torches and then the alien’s lights via their spaceships. How can cowboys with guns and horses battle aliens with superior technology? Don’t worry, you’ll see.

Cowboys & Aliens. Nuff Said.

This isn’t another wait until the last 5 minutes to see the alien type film. It’s not long after the movie starts that you see the first alien act and not much longer after that until you see the actual alien. And these aliens look great! They’re not your common creatures and they bring something new to the table. The movie doesn’t go too in depth to their background or side of the story, but it gives you enough to understand what they’re doing there and what they want. There are some great surprises to keep you engaged in the story as the cowboys uncover the mysteries of what’s happening. Again, Cowboys & Aliens is a straightforward western with sci-fi elements thrown in the right spots. It’s not a game changer and won’t blow your mind, but for the typical moviegoer and sci-fi fan, it’s a fun action-packed western that you won’t fall asleep to and for the western lover, it’s a sci-fi flick you can follow and won’t roll your eyes at! It’s the best of both worlds filed with remarkable talent and a smart script.

Tags: Adam Beach, Cowboys & Aliens, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Jon Favreau, Noah Ringer, Olivia Wilde, Paul Dano, Sam Rockwell
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | 2 Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Fright Night Panel

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Director Craig Gillespie and Writer Marti Noxon of Fright Night

Director Craig Gillespie read the script cold. Didn’t watch the original during pre production and only weeks before shooting did he watch Fright Night to pay homage to it.

Writer Marti Noxon said that the original had such a good balance and interesting relationships that could be commented on 20 years later. Missed the viscouness and sexuality.

Anton Yelchin (Charley Brewster)

Anton Yelchin (Charley Brewster) – making of what really makes this guy who he is. So well written and well structured…the relationships are so complex but entertaining.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Evil” Ed Thompson) thought the original Evil Ed was wonderful and didn’t want to compete with that so he went a completely different angle.

Colin Farrell (Jerry Dandrige)

Colin Farrell (Jerry Dandrige) is a fan of the original and thought there was enough of a homage to the original as well as a new direction where the story was contemporzied in an interesting way.

The “car chase” footage they showed grabbed the entire Hall H audience making them want to see more! There will be a fan appreciation screening tonight…so maybe we’ll have a review for you soon

Tags: Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Colin Farrell, Fright Night, Marti Noxon
Posted in Comic-Con 2011 | No Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Captain America: The First Avenger Have you heard about the star spangled man? Chris Evans is Captain America and Marvel has worked its magic once again to produce a great, fun comic book adaptation. As they gear up for their epic Avengers movie next summer, Marvel keeps treating audiences to the origin stories of the Avenger’s members. This time we follow scrawny Steve Rogers as he gets transformed into America’s greatest weapon against The Third Reich and other enemies of the country. It’s jam packed with action, adventure, amazement and of course…American propaganda! It’s not much of a surprise with what you get but it’s a great addition on the road to Avengers.

Captain America: The First Avenger is about determination. Steve is just a little scrappy guy who wants to enlist in the United States Army to do his part. He doesn’t have anything to prove per say and doesn’t really want to kill anybody…he just doesn’t like bullies. The army doesn’t let him in until a mysterious German doctor from Queens played by Stanley Tucci gives him a chance. This scientist, Dr. Abraham Erskine, is in fact the lead of an experiment to make a super soldier…one guess on who that super solider will be.

Let's here it for the little guys!

The pace of the movie is great as it goes from the computer generated 90 pound asthmatic Steve to the tall chiseled Captain America. Once the transformation happens, you may think he gets thrown right into action kicking ass and taking names but in fact, he goes on tour for the American propaganda machine. It’s bright, campy and ridiculous…really fun. You get to see Evan’s charm here.

Chris Evans...for the ladeis

One thing that I didn’t expect at all were the amazing side characters and supporting cast. Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, etc etc. While the focus is obviously on the Captain, these side characters add a lot of personality and relief to the main story. Tommy Lee Jones was the standout for me delivering his perfect stubborn command-giving performance. Hayley Atwell was cute then fiesty making the obvious romcom element enjoyable.

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell)

Hugo Weaving plays our enemy: Red Skull. While Adolph Hitler uses fantasy to inspire, Johann Schmidt (Red Skull) believes in the fantasy. He tries to harness the power of a paranormal cube to takeover the world! He actually is injected with the same stuff that made Captain America but it makes good great and bad even worse. So who will prevail in this battle between good vs evil? Or is it America vs evil?

Red Skull and his wicked whip!

The 3D was bearable in this one. It was actually cool to see Captain America’s shield flying at you. The visuals were pretty interesting as a mix of live-action and rocketeer/captain tomorrow type CG. The shield fighting was exactly what you’d imagine and I think they put in the perfect amount…not too much or too little. This is yet another comic book origin story but it didn’t fail to entertain. It did lull a bit in the end of this 2 hour 4 minute picture but for the most part, I liked it.

Captain America plotting with his team

Tags: Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Tommy Lee Jones
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | No Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 20th Century Fox Panel (Prometheus & In Time)

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Prometheus
The footage they showed looked amazing. The set designs on the ship and actor’s presence in wide shots already look immense. This is definitely a big event film that the studio and Ridley Scott is fully behind. They’re filming at remote locations in Iceland among other picturesque spots. The movie should come out some time next year.

Sir Ridley Scott phones in from Iceland to writer Damon Lindelof and star Charlize Theron

Here are some bullet points from the exclusive first look:

Ridley Scott is back to Sci-Fi
has the original dna of alien
simpler thinking, simple screenplay, great dialogue so there’s an amazing cast
Sir Ridley Scott: “What I want to do is scare the living shit out of you”
The movie is in 3D
There is not as much CG, they actually built sets
There may be two robots!
Charlize Theron definitely does naked push-ups in the movie (joke, when you see the trailer, you’ll get it)

In Time
In Time is an action/thriller in a world where everyone lives to 25 and then is genetically engineered to only have 1 more year. After that, they must buy or steal time to live. The world currency is now time so to purchase anything, travel anywhere or do almost anything, you must pay with the last years, months, days and minutes of your life! The main character (Justin Timberlake) is given over a century of time and is wrongly accused of murdering his donor…now he’s on the run!

Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. The stars of In Time.

child of Gattaca (one of my favorite movies)
The good news: you stop aging at 25. The bad news: you’re genetically engineered to live only 1 more year so you have to buy time/steal time
“body clock” – the invention that killed inventions because the poor can’t innovate and the rich have no incentive
to do it because they can just wait 100 years
poor die and the rich don’t live
Justin Timberlake is wrongly accused of murder
Olivia Wilde is Justin Timberlake’s mother

Tags: 20th Century Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, Comic-Con, Damon Lindelof, In Time, Justin Timberlake, Prometheus
Posted in Comic-Con 2011 | No Comments »

Comic-Con 2011 FilmDistrict Panel (Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and Drive)

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

FilmDistrict decided to do something new for Comic-Con 2011 and present two of their upcoming movies together…a film mashup. They showcased Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (which was shown here last year) and Drive (which got a lot of good buzz at Cannes this year).

Each visionary filmmaker(Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn) loved each other’s films. Nicolas Winding Refn said that Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark combines poetry and cinema and commercialism. It’s very rare for people to take chances with genre films because they’re so formulaic but [the movie] is fun.

Filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn

It’s great listening to amazing filmmakers talk because they give you little tidbits of inspiration and a glimpse into the way they think. Nicolas Winding Refn said, “Directing is very easy guys, it’s just about inspiring everyone to do their best and then put your name on it.” Guillermo del Toro noted that, “context is very inportant because every story has already been told so when I see a film, I see the filmmaker’s voice and the context.”

The director of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Troy Nixey preferred small creatures instead of the studio’s suggestion of bigger monsters. Small things are inherently scary because they can disappear at anytime behind a bookshelf or something and you don’t know where they are. They’re assholes. Guillermo added, “yeah, they’re little fuckers that don’t give up. There’s something scary about small creatures that aren’t scared of you.”

Guy Pearce is the element of frustration for the audience just like his daughter in the movie. He's the character which doesn't believe in the creatures that go bump in the night.

Nicolas Winding Refn doesn’t have a long attention span so he’s a huge fan of the 90 minute film. After reading Brothers Grimm to his daughter, he wanted to make a fairtale in LA. In Drive, Ryan is the Knight, Carey is the Princess, Ron is the Dragon and Brooks is the Evil King. They showed a clip from Drive where Ryan Gosling literally stomped a dude head’s in…I can’t wait to see this movie! The panel also added that there is nudity and car chases. Go see this movie.

Carey Mulligan stars in Drive

Tags: Carey Mulligan, Comic-Con, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Drive, Guillermo del Toro, Guy Pearce, Nicolas Winding Refn
Posted in Comic-Con 2011 | No Comments »

Comic-Con Review: The Devil’s Double

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Uday is Saddam Hussein’s son. He’s an insane psychotic prick. He doesn’t care about anyone or anything other than a four letter word that starts with the letter “c”…we’ll just refer to that word as women. He has everything he wants at his fingertips, can control anybody at a whim and gets away with anything in his daddy’s country. Latif Yahia looks like Uday and that alone ruins his life. Uday decides he wants a body double like his father so he picks Latif to play the part and Latif can’t do a thing about it.

The Devil’s Double is the agonizing story of Latif and his forced hand to live the life of a madman. It begins with his recruitment to a Face/Off-like transformation to his realization of how sadistic his counterpart is to betrayal and revenge. As you can see, the movie goes through a lot and it is pretty length running about 2 hours long. Halfway to three quarters of the way through, I thought the movie tried to go through too much but then you realize that they had to show all of the build up and scenarios Latif endures to understand the decisions he later makes. Even so, the story jumps around a lot and is sometimes hard to follow.

Domic Cooper as Uday...or is it Latif!?

Dominic Cooper does an amazing job playing both Uday and Latif. Uday is a childish ass livng in the lap of luxury under the shadow of his father and older brother. He’s a momma’s boy who doesn’t have a care in the world and does whatever he damn well pleases. Cooper plays this role stupendously allowing us into the mind of this crazed lunatic. It was a joy watching him and I wish more of the movie was focused on his antics. As Latif, Cooper is a straight man with no emotions, yet every action Latif makes is emotional. He’s a honorable dude but the story made him too one-dimensional. Obviously, Uday and Latif are Ying and Yang – Good vs Evil but Uday’s character was multifaceted and fun while Latif was dull and boring.

Latif! Show some excitement!

The movie was filmed in a way that it felt like most of the scenes were disconnected. A scene would end and you’d jump to a whole other event. There could have been better story transitions. Some scenes are extremely gruesome which didn’t quite fit with the rest of the movie. The scenes were really cool and shocking but they felt like they came out of nowhere. They were fun to watch if you’re into gore. I did like how the showed old tv news footage of President Bush (senior) and the conflicts in Kuwait as the movie progressed. I really enjoy when movies fabricate the past but put it against a real historic timeline.

Guns and women...what more can you ask for?

Many of the plot twist and turns were predictable and typical of movies like this. I really wanted the movie to go off on different tangents and have fun with the over-the-top story lines rather than try to incorporate every piece of Latif’s progression. It was great to see the Middle East showcased on the big screen and get a glimpse into that side of the world. Very interesting to see attractive scantily clad women next to men with big guns clothed head to toe in uniforms. I would recommend this movie to anyone fascinated by the extravagant lifestyles of the Middle East or any moustache enthusiast. The moustaches in this movie are crazy!

Tags: Comic-Con, Dominic Cooper, Saddam Hussein, The Devil's Double
Posted in Comic-Con 2011, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Comic-Con 2011 Movie Preview and Screening List

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Comic book fans across the world are about to invade the San Diego Convention Center once again for Comic-Con International 2011. As the convention keeps getting bigger and bigger making everyone in the entertainment industry notice, this year’s schedule seems to have lost that big movie buzz that the Con was getting famous (and severely overcrowded) for. Sadly, there is a lot less programming for movies and a stronger focus on TV this time around. The largest notable absence is Marvel/Disney/Pixar who decided to pull out of the festivities and host their own convention a month later called D23 in Anaheim, CA. Warner Brothers is also a no-show on the movie side but has a huge slate for television. No worries though, other studios have promised to show a lot of exclusive footage and have many surprises in store!

Since this is advancescreenings.com, we’ll first list all of the free movie screenings that we know about. How do you get passes? Many passes have already been giving out from various websites for the Captain America and Attack the Block screenings, however, you’ll be able to snag tickets around the convention floor as well as around the Gaslamp district. For the Cowboys & Aliens screening, there will be golden bricks hidden around the area which could win you tickets to the World Premiere at the San Diego Civic Theater! Other screenings are pretty open so just follow the links provided for more information! We’ll be updating this page with more screenings as we hear about them.

The Devil’s Double
Wednesday, July 20th 9:00pm
(source: Gofobo)
Captain America: The First Avenger
Thursday, July 21st 10:00am
(source: Gofobo)
Drive
Thursday, July 21st 7:00pm
(source: Gofobo)
Attack the Block
Thursday, July 21st 10:00pm
(source: Collider)
Chillerama
Friday, July 22nd 7:00pm
(source: Fangoria)
30 Minutes or Less
Friday, July 22nd 8:00pm
(source: Collider)
Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2
Friday, July 22nd 9:45pm
(source: Fangoria)
Fright Night
Friday, July 22nd 11:30pm
(source: FilmMetro)
Griff the Impossible
Saturday, July 23rd 7:00pm
(source: The Hollywood Reporter)
Cowboys & Aliens
Saturday, July 23rd 7:00pm
(source: Collider)
Recreator
Saturday, July 23rd 11:30pm
(source: Facebook)

Know of a screening that we’re missing? E-mail us at comiccon@advancescreenings.com! There are always surprise screenings that no one knows about so keep your eyes open for passes around the convention center and gaslamp district!

And now for the highlighted movie panels on this year’s Comic-Con program:

Thursday, July 21

11:15-12:15 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek at the highly anticipated next chapter of The Twilight Saga. This is a must see for fans interested in the story’s final chapters. You’ll see exclusive footage from The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1 and be treated to a filmmaker and cast Q&A session providing details on the first half of the epic two-part finale.

Hall H

12:45-1:15 Animation Showcase

Sony Pictures Animation plunges Hall H into a 3D animation universe with previews of upcoming films with Aardman, the home studio of Wallace and Gromit, as they make their first trip across the pond to Comic-Con to present a first look at two of their upcoming animated feature films:

Arthur Christmas — The 3D, CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas, an Aardman production for Sony Pictures Animation, at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child’s question: “So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?” The answer: Santa’s exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic — a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. Producer Peter Lord and co-writer Peter Baynham discuss the animated film.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits — In the 3D, stop motion-animated The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Hugh Grant, stars in his first animated role as the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain — a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award. It’s a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. Along the way they battle a diabolical queen (Imelda Staunton) and team up with a haplessly smitten young scientist (David Tennant), but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure! Director/producer Peter Lord will be live on stage to talk about the movie.

Hall H

1:15-1:45 A One on One with Pee-wee Herman
Beloved pop culture icon, Pee-wee Herman, takes the stage at Comic-Con to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, and talk about his Emmy nominated HBO special, The Pee-wee Herman Show On Broadway. Pee-wee will debut a clip from The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway, as well as answer questions from the audience and talk about what it’s like to be embraced by the fans, his love for social media, the upcoming The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway DVD release, and what it feels like to go toe-to-toe against Bette Midler and Lady Gaga for an Emmy.

Hall H

2:00-3:00 Napoleon Dynamite

Original cast members from the hit indie film including Jon Heder, Tina Majorino, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Diedrich Bader and executive producer Mike Scully (The Simpsons) present a new series following your favorite awkward teenager like you’ve never seen him before — animated! Join us for a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage of the newest member of FOX’s Animation Domination lineup and a “sweet” Q&A session.

Room 7AB

2:00-3:00 FilmDistrict Studio Panel

FilmDistrict, the new studio that brought you Insidious, celebrates two upcoming features: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a Guillermo Del Toro production starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce, and Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman, and Christina Hendricks. Exclusive footage will be presented and a Q&A will be held for both films.

Hall H

2:00-3:00 Warner Premiere: H+ and Mortal Kombat: Legacy

From producer Bryan Singer (X-Men, X2, X-Men: First Class, Superman Returns) comes a Comic-Con exclusive first look at H+, the forthcoming Warner Premiere/Dolphin Entertainment web series directed by Stewart Hendler (Sorority Row) and written and created by John Cabrera and Cosimo De Tommaso. H+ takes place in a near-future world where a tiny and stunning new piece of technology lies at the center of a dark and epic mystery. Then, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, a hit web series with over 35 million views, takes the stage for a panel discussion with director Kevin Tancharoen (Mortal Kombat: Rebirth), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager), Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight), Darren Shahlavi (Sanctuary), Peter Shinkoda (Falling Skies), and Matt Mullins (Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight). Fans will see — for the first time — the long-awaited final Mortal Kombat: Legacy episode!

Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

3:15-4:30 20th Century Fox

At past Comic-Cons, 20th Century Fox has previewed Independence Day, X2, Avatar, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. You won’t want to miss the excitement this year, as Fox presents first-looks at some of its most-anticipated pictures of 2011 and 2012.

Hall H

4:00-5:00 Masters of the Web

Some of the most prominent and influential film pundits on the web discuss the film industry, writing for film online, film fandom, and a whole lot more. Panelists include Peter Sciretta (Slashfilm.com), Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood), Jen Yamato (Movieline.Com), Scott Beggs (FilmSchoolRejects.Com), Sasha Perl-Raver (Movieweb.com), Vic Holtreman (Screenrant.Com), Jenna Busch (Moviefone), and Mike Sampson (JoBlo.Com), hosted by John Campea (AMC Theatres).

Room 5AB

4:45-5:45 Robert Rodriguez’s Quick Draw Productions

Be the first to get a sneak peek at Robert Rodriguez‘s upcoming films. Robert presents Quick Draw’s new slate featuring special guest collaborators. He will also show exclusive material from his latest top-secret project.

Hall H

6:00-7:00 Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries: A discussion with Jon
Favreau and Guillermo del Toro on the Future of Pop Culture
EW moderates an in-depth conversation with Jon Favreau (Cowboys & Aliens) and Guillermo del Toro (Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark), two filmmakers at the forefront of bringing geek culture to the masses and making blockbuster art out of pulp fiction. They will discuss their inspirations, their current work, and how they strive to put a personal stamp on blockbuster entertainment. Plus: How is new technology changing the way stories are produced and viewed? And what do they think the pop culture universe will look like a decade from now? Moderated by Jeff “Doc” Jensen.

Hall H

8:30-10:00 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Sing along with your fellow fans at this screening of the original three acts of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog hosted by the California Browncoats, complete with callbacks! Dr. Horrible stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly), and Felicia Day (The Guild) and was written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon (Dollhouse), Zack Whedon (Fringe), and Maurissa Tancharoen (Dollhouse).

Room 6BCF

Friday, July 22

10:15-11:15 Epix Pictures: The Captains
William Shatner is joined by fellow Star Trek captain Avery Brooks to present a preview of the EPIX Pictures original documentary produced and directed by Shatner, in which he travels the world to interview all the actors who’ve played Starfleet captains. This lively discussion and Q&A session is moderated by Comic-Con fave Kevin Smith.

Room 6BCF

11:00-12:00 Paramount: The Adventures of Tin-Tin

Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Capt. Haddock’s ancestor and go off on a treasure hunt.

Hall H

11:45-12:45 Nickelodeon & DreamWorks Animation: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness

The bodacity continues as Po the panda punches his way onto a new animated series. Executive producer Peter Hastings and supervising producers Randy Dormans band Gabe Swarr present an exclusive sneak peek into the new series by Nickelodeon and Dreamworks. This panel will also include select moments with voice cast members Mick Wingert (Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special), James Hong (Kung Fu Panda 2), Kevin Michael Richardson (Penguins of Madagascar), and John DiMaggio (Penguins of Madagascar), followed by a screening. Moderated by Megan Casey, executive in charge for Nickelodeon.

Room 6A

12:15-1:15 Relativity Media: Raven and Haywire

Two fantastic films from Relativity Media debut in this Hall H presentation.

Raven — The film is a gritty thriller in which Edgar Allan Poe joins forces with a young Baltimore detective to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis for a string of brutal murders. Raven stars John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe, Luke Evans, and Alice Eve and is directed by James McTeigue.

Haywire — An electrifying tale of espionage and betrayal. A female covert ops specialist who works in the deadly world of international operatives strikes back after discovering she’s been double-crossed by someone close to her in the agency. Mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano makes her feature film — and Comic-Con — debut, starring and performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Also appearing is director Stephen Soderbergh.

Hall H

12:45-1:45 Legendary Pictures: Preproduction Preview

Legendary Pictures holds its first-ever Comic-Con panel and shares an early look at some of the movies on the company’s upcoming film slate. Fans will be able to access Legendary’s plans, garner sneak peeks at their movies in preproduction, and hear from filmmakers and cast members from the upcoming Pacific Rim, Seventh Son, Paradise Lost, and Mass Effect. Panel participants include Jeff Bridges, Bradley Cooper, Guillermo del Toro, Ben Barnes, Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Alicia Vikander, Alex Proyas, Sergei Bodrov, Travis Beacham, Mark Protosevich, and Casey Hudson.

Room 6BCF

1:30-2:30 Screen Gems: Underworld Awakening and Attack the Block

Screen Gems presents two big new movie previews to Comic-Con fans!

Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrior Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find that humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Appearing in person are Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, Len Wiseman (producer and director of Underworld and Underworld: Evolution), and directors Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein.

It’s the inner city vs. outer space from the producers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Attack the Block follows a gang of tough inner-city kids who try to defend their turf against an invasion of savage alien creatures, turning a South London apartment complex into an extraterrestrial warzone. This is the film you’ve been hearing about since its debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin where it won the Midnight Screening Audience Award. Funny, frightening, surprising, wildly entertaining and winning rave reviews across the country. Appearing in person will be John Boyega (Moses), director Joe Cornish, and producer Edgar Wright.

Hall H

2:45-3:45 DreamWorks: Fright Night

Colin Farrell (The Way Back), Anton
Yelchin (Star Trek), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Imogen Poots (Jane Eyre), Dave Franco (Charlie St. Cloud), director Craig Gillespie (Lars
and the Real Girl), and
screenwriter Marti Noxon (I Am Number Four) take the dais to
give fans a taste of the horrific fun to come in DreamWorks Pictures’ 3D
reimagining of the classic horror film.

Hall H

4:00-6:30 Sony

Sony returns to Hall H with a stellar lineup of films and talent, including:

Ghost Rider-Spirit of Vengeance — After blazing a trail around the globe in the worldwide hit Ghost Rider, Nicolas Cage returns as Johnny Blaze in Columbia Pictures’ Ghost Rider-Spirit of Vengeance. Still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter, Blaze is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect to save a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider again, but it is the only way to protect the boy — and possibly rid himself of his curse forever. Live on stage: directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank) and stars Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, and Johnny Whitworth.

30 Minutes or Less — From Ruben Fleischer, the director of Zombieland, comes the action comedy 30 Minutes or Less. In the movie, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg of The Social Network and Zombieland) is a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wannabe criminal masterminds (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson). The duo kidnap Nick and force him to rob a bank. With only a few hours to pull off the impossible task, Nick enlists the help of his ex-best friend, Chet (Aziz Ansari). As the clock ticks, the two must deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship. Talent in attendance includes director Ruben Fleischer and stars Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, and Michael Peña.

Total Recall — Welcome to Rekall, the company that with one little implant can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell), the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his ordinary existence. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. With the line between fantasy and reality blurred and the fate of his world hanging in the balance, Quaid goes on the run to discover his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. Based on Philip K. Dick’s classic story “I Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” this new take on some of his most visionary ideas is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, and John Cho, all of whom will be appearing.

The Amazing Spider-Man — The Amazing Spider-Man is back on the big screen, shot in 3D for the first time, and will be swinging into your neighborhood on July 3, 2012. Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, and Martin Sheen, as well as Sally Field, and directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man‘s new creative team will be taking a whole new direction in the unfolding saga of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Appearing in person are producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, director Marc Webb, and our own Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy — Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

Hall H

6:45-7:45 RiffTrax Live
Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett (RiffTrax.com, Mystery Science Theater 3000) return to Comic-Con to perform another live, hilarious riff to a classic short! Join the riffers for fun, laughs, and the latest news about their upcoming Jack the Giant Killer live show, a one-night event playing in select movie theaters nationwide in August. RiffTrax.com is the site where MST3K-style humor meets mainstream movies, TV shows, and vintage shorts. At RiffTrax they don’t make movies, they make them funny!

Room 6DE

6:45-7:30 At the Drive-In

Come with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when one of the few places you could see some offbeat genre films and a slew of trailers was at your local Drive-In. We’re trying something new at Comic-Con this year by giving some up and coming genre filmmakers an evening berth to preview their upcoming films. Moderated by writer/director Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise). As San Diego gets darker tonight, so will Hall H as we welcome our first guests to the Virtual Drive-In:

Grave Encounters — Locked in an actual abandoned mental hospital, the crew of a ghost-hunting reality show find themselves trapped in a psychotically endless and deadly labyrinth. Written and directed by The Vicious Brothers, Grave Encounters, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, takes the found footage horror genre to a terrifying new level. Appearing on stage: The Vicious Brothers.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil –Tucker and Dale are two best friends on vacation at their dilapidated mountain house, who are mistaken for murderous backwoods hillbillies by a group of obnoxious, preppy college kids. When one of the students gets separated from her friends, the boys try to lend a hand, but as the misunderstanding grows, so does the body count. Tucker & Dale Vs Evil has been a hit on the festival circuit, debuting at Sundance, and winning the Midnight Audience Award at SXSW, the Jury Prize for First Feature at Fantasia, the Best Director award at Fantaspoa, and the Best Motion Picture Award at Sitges. Confirmed panelists include Eli Craig, Alan Tudyk, and Tyler Labine.

Hall H

Saturday, July 23

11:45-12:45 TWIXT: Francis Ford Coppola and Dan Deacon

Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and acclaimed musician Dan Deacon present sequences from Coppola’s latest film, TWIXT, and involve the audience in a dress rehearsal of the completely unique and innovative way they plan on performing it. Plus a Q&A session.

Hall H

1:00-2:00 Relativity Media: Immortals

Visionary director Tarsem Singh transports viewers in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance, and destiny in this stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion and his murderous Heraklion (Mickey Rourke) rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion’s brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle Phaedra, her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Stars Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz will participate in this panel alongside producers Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton.

Hall H

2:15-3:15 IndieVest Pictures: Knights of Badassdom

In this humorous fantasy adventure from IndieVest Pictures, Joe (Ryan Kwanten) is a heavy metal rocker who’s just gone through a painful breakup with his girlfriend, Beth (Margarita Levieva). His concerned roommates (Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage) kidnap him to their LARP (Live Action Role Playing) gathering, where he enters a realm of fantasy escapism in which pretend knights, elves, and barbarians clash with foam weaponry on a mock battlefield. When Joe’s “sorcerer” roommate (Zahn) inadvertently summons a deadly succubus that takes Beth’s seductive form, bloody reality crashes down on their fantasy world. Once LARPers start to turn up dead, the make-believe wizards and warriors must become the real-life heroes they have been pretending to be in order to conquer the evil that has been unleashed. The panel will include a Comic-Con exclusive trailer and a discussion/Q&A with stars Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s True Blood, Red Hill), Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Station Agent), Steve Zahn, pending availability (HBO’s Tremé, Saving Silverman), Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity, The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Danny Pudi (NBC’s Community), Jimmi Simpson, pending availability (A&E’s Breakout Kings, Date Night), Margarita Levieva (The Lincoln Lawyer, Adventureland). and director Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2). Knights of Badassdom will be released in Spring 2012.

Hall H

3:00-4:00 Dark Horse: Joss Whedon

Long before signing on to helm one of the most anticipated superhero films in history, Joss Whedon rewarded fans the world over with some of the most compelling characters and plot lines in the history of comics, television, and movies. Here’s your chance to find out what he has in store for us next, including a sneak peek at the brand-new Angel & Faith and Buffy Season 9 comics, plus exciting news about Buffy digital comics!

Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

3:30-4:15 Universal Pictures: Snow White and the Huntsmen

Universal Pictures is bringing the stars and filmmakers of its epic action-adventure film based on the script Snow White and the Huntsman to Comic-Con. Scheduled to appear to discuss their roles in this breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale are Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Oscar winner Charlize Theron (Prometheus), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides). Director Rupert Sanders (Halo 3 campaign) and other filmmakers will also be on hand to reveal exclusive footage. Q&A session to follow.

Hall H

5:45-7:30 An Early Evening with Kevin Smith

You know Comic-Con is over for the night on Saturday when the fat man sings. Kevin Smith takes to the Hall H stage for his annual Q&A. Fair warning: he works bluer than Doctor Manhattan (though, unlike Doctor Manhattan, Smith will wear clothes for this performance).

Hall H

Tags: 30 Minutes or Less, Attack the Block, Captain America, Captain America: The First Avenger, Comic Con Screening, Comic-Con, Comic-Con Screenings, Cowboys & Aliens, Drive, Fright Nighte, Griff the Impossible, Recreator, The Devil's Double
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