Posts Tagged ‘Comic-Con’

Comic-Con 2011 Review: Griff the Invisible

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Griff the InvisibleSurprisingly, 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.

Griff the Invisible

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.
Griff the 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.
Griff the Invisible

You can't see him in this universe. :P


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

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Comic-Con 2011 Review: Drive

Friday, July 29th, 2011

DriveDrive 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.

Drive

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.
Drive

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.
Drive

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.



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

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Comic-Con 2011 Review: 30 Minutes or Less

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

30 Minutes or Less30 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.

30 Minutes or Less

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.
30 Minutes or Less

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.
30 Minutes or Less

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.”

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

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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.

Prometheus

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!

In Time

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
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

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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.

FilmDistrict Panel

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

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

Carey Mulligan stars in Drive

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

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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.

The Devil's Double

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.
The Devil's Double

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.
The Devil's Double

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!

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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





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

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Q&A with TRON: Legacy Director Joseph Kosinski from San Francisco’s Tron Night!

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Tron NightAcross the world, Disney presented Tron Night the same way 20th Century Fox did for Avatar last year. Fans were treated to 23+ minutes of the film in an exclusive sneak peek before the December 17th theatrical release date. Before our screening in San Francisco started, we were surprised with a special guest…the director of Tron: Legacy, Joseph Kosinski!


First, he thanked everyone for coming out since he knew there were other things worth doing that night (The San Francisco Giants were playing at home for the 2nd game of the World Series). Someone abruptly yelled, “What’s the score!” and Joseph got to announce to the audience that the Giants were leading 1 – 0 making the audience cheer (they took all our cell phones so no one could check the score). That wasn’t the last time the audience would be cheering. The reason why he was in San Francisco was because he’s putting the final touches on the soundtrack of the movie up at Skywalker Ranch about an hour away.


He continued to do a short Q&A for the audience. I tried writing down as much as I could so here are some bullet points of the answers he gave:

  • Bit is hidden in the movie, you have to look for him.
  • Jeff Bridges plays 2 major roles: Kevin Flynn and Flynn’s Avatar
  • Kosinski stated that he has a background in design and loved the fact that he was able to design from scratch with Tron: Legacy
  • Someone asked what the difference between this film and the original would be? The crowd groaned and Joesph answered, “Everything”.
  • In an answer to a question about Syd Mead’s involvement in Tron: Legacy, Kosinski answered that Syd was kind of the original creative genius so he has a huge influence. He did get Syd to come by the studio.
  • They totally rebuilt a working Flynn’s Arcade from scratch and Kosinski mentioned that he always had to pull Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges from playing Tron and Battlezone
  • Someone asked, “Is there life after de-rezzing?” Joseph replied, “That’s a good question…kind of a philosophical question. You’ll have to wait and watch the movie to see if it answers it”
  • They built 20+ physical sets and had real illuminated suits (in reply to how much was virtual and how much was real)
  • Someone noted that Pacman was in the original and asked if there would be other video game icons in the film. Joseph said there are easter eggs in the movie.
  • When asked about the pressure of making a Tron sequel, Joseph Kosinski said that any director feels pressure when their movie is coming out and he just tried his best. The 1st Tron set the bar so high so everyone just tried their best.
  • The score was recorded with a full orchestra in London. The music is all done now and they’re doing sound design and mixing at Skywalker ranch.
  • There are lots of tie-ins with the viral marketing and the movie as well as the video game. He’s glad you like the viral marketing and said it’s been a lot of fun.
  • The game is done by Propaganda Studios up in Vancouver. They talked to them very early in the processes. All of the models in the movie are high res digital and they gave all the assets to the game studio so he called it was a real nice tight marriage.
  • When asked about 3D, Joesph said that the movie was always thought to be 3D from the first conception so it’s a true 3D movie. Even the first visual effect test they did for Comic Con was done with a 3D camera.
  • On the first title, tr2n instead of Tron: Legacy, Kosinski said that it was just a working title he came up with. He then said that this is not a true sequel, anyone who’s not a fan can walk into it and enjoy so Tron: Legacy is a better suited name than tr2n.



So what about the footage? How was it? If you’ve been going to different events (like Comic-Con) showing scenes, you’ve seen most of it. The scenes shown for Tron Night were: Scene 20 Sam’s Apartment, Scene 27 Recognizer Capture, Scene 32 Disc Wars (with the sexiest programs I’ve ever seen), Scene 52 Escape Route (where we first see Olivia Wilde’s Quorra), and Scene 56 The Safehouse (where we get the reunion between Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and his father Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges)) followed by a montage. Everything looked beautiful but I was underwhelmed by the 3D. I think I’d rather see this film in 2D because the visual effects are just so detailed and the 3D just seemed to get in the way for me…if at all, it really doesn’t come off the screen and make you feel immersed quite like Avatar did.


You can see a lot of the footage in this small music video of Daft Punk’s “Derezzed:




The sound, on the other hand, took my breath away. It literally stole the show. I almost want to watch the movie with my eyes closed because you can really feel what’s going on. The soundtrack was done by Daft Punk and you could really hear their influence in some of the tense scenes (like entering the arena for the Disc Wars). Other than the 3D, Tron Night did its job and is making me want to see Tron: Legacy even more! I can’t wait for December! Oh, and did somebody say Lightships!?

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Comic-Con Preview: SUPER

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Little has been known about this film but now we finally have some ideas. James Gunn brought us the first trailer and clip ever shown to the public at Comic-Con. The one thing I already knew about this film was the great ensemble: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Nathan Fillion, and even Kevin Bacon! From the footage, it looked like a low-budget Kick-Ass to me. The script was written before Kick-Ass was ever made and the film makers themselves referred to it as a low-budget Watchmen. However…there’s a lot more to it.

SUPER Comic-Con Panel

Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, and Nathan Fillion


SUPER follows Rainn Wilson who has been picked on and walked over by others and looses his wife to another man. So, like any logical man would do, he turns himself into a super hero to win his wife back. Not so fast, don’t think he has good intentions…this movie is a dark, gritty, gruesome film which looks hilarious and twisted at the same time. It does look like it has low production but it also looks like it’s going to surprise us with a few shocking scenes. Rainn holds nothing back…he even hits a girl.
SUPER Comic-Con Panel
James Gunn said that this is the first movie which he feels he made for himself. More tidbits of information we gathered was that Ellen Page plays Rainn’s kid sidekick and has her way with Rainn at some point of the film. Liv Tyler plays a drug addict and Nathan Fillion plays The Holy Avenger who has churisma…a mix of charisma and the church.


I’m really looking forward to this movies because I love indie films…but I don’t think this is going to have a wide appeal especially after the lower results than what was expected from Kick-Ass. But hey, with James Gunn and this cast, it’s sure to be loved by the fans.
SUPER Comic-Con Panel

James Gunn, Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Nathan Fillion, and Michael Rooker

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

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Summit’s RED and Lionsgate’s The Expendables

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

RED – Comes out October 15th


REDLionsgate presented their newest adaptation of a graphic novel called RED. RED stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous and it looks hilarious. It’s a group of great actors who look like they’re just having a fun time on camera. It stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, and Richard Dreyfuss. Isn’t that an amazing cast? Bruce Willis commented that, “I think 75 movie stars are in RED” so look out for a bunch of cameos. Warren Ellis, who wrote the original graphic novel story, said that the studio bought the rights to do an adaptation, not a translation so he told them to go have fun with it. His role was to stay out of the way and collect his check. Cully Hamner, who did the graphic novel’s illustrations, said that the movie was made broader for the audiences which makes sense for a movie. However, when he visited the set, he saw a bunch of the RED books laying around so for him that showed high respect.


One of the scenes from the new trailer shows Bruce Willis walking out of a speeding car straight up and shooting…it looked awesome! Totally unbelievable, but awesome! The tone of this film is just a fun time…they want you to laugh from beginning to end. Bruce Willis kept saying that it was like recess…just going out and playing with your friends. From the footage I’ve seen so far though, it looks like John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman steal the show. John Malkovich’s mannerisms and Morgan Freeman’s blue suit look laugh out loud funny (that’s lol in internet lingo). Along with the comedy comes a lot of action, it’s more modern mixed martial arts so it’s faster and looks cooler. You can check out this feature trailer for RED which came out today!






The Expendables – Comes out August 13th (advance screening list)


The ExpendablesThe Expendables is Sylvester Stallone’s idea of going out with a bang. He admitted that he messed up with Rocky V so he made Rocky Balboa to end it right. That worked, so he thought he’d end off Rambo too…and that worked. So now he’s just greedy and going for the big finale with The Expendables…and when I say big, I mean big! This movie stars almost all of the top action heroes you can think of: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Mikey Rourke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone himself. As you can see, this is a man’s man movie full of manly men. Testosterone to the max…no estrogen allowed…at least for the panel at Comic-Con. Terry Crews said that it’s the “Manliest movie ever made.”


This is a classic action film the way it used to be done with very little special effects and cgi. These actors are really going at it with each other! During the film, they made a crude documentary for Sylvester Stallone to show how it was writing, directing, and acting in an action movie like this. You start seeing the constant visits that the stars took to the hospitals because of all the real stunts they were doing themselves. Many of the cast thanked Sly for inviting them to work on this project like Terry, Dolph, and Bruce. When Steve Austin heard about the movie while he was in Texas, he heard that all of the expendables were already cast. However, Steve and Sly had a meeting in LA and Stallone offered him the role of the bad guy in the film and Steve took it on the spot.


The Expendables was shot in Brazil and from the sounds of it, they got a lot with many things that they couldn’t do in the US. As Stallone put it, you can injure people and even kill them and the people of Brazil are like hey, take a monkey…lol. They had around 70 bodyguards for the cast and crew, 1/2 of them were heavy duty cops because it was pretty dangerous in Brazil. You would see carjackings and murders on the way to the set. But, they could also blow up huge amounts of real estate and the people there loved it!


Other actors were also thought about and talked to by Stallone like Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris but because of availability conflicts and other problems, they couldn’t be in it but I still think the cast that they assembled is quite amazing. Sly said that he loves directing more than acting and that he’s going to leave the action roles to the young bloods so this very well might be his finale…and it looks like it’s going to be a great one. Here’s a featurette for The Expendables which focuses on the stars:


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

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Comic-Con: Preview Night

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Comic-Con 2010 Convention Floor

Comic-Con 2010 Convention Floor

Welcome to the first advancescreenings.com post from Comic-Con 2010. Wednesday is preview night and I had no idea what that meant. This is my first Comic-Con so I’m really excited to see what everything is about. As I entered the convention floor, I was overwhelmed. This thing is massive! Basically, Comic-Con is an international convention of all things comics…from the history of comic books to the new media that the industry is seeking into including movies, television, and video games.


Preview night is for those eager beavers who show up a day early to check out the booths across the convention floor. It’s supposedly a smaller crowd and there are a couple of exclusives that people line up for. I’m amazed at the lines here at Comic-Con…they’re endless. They wrap around booths so you have no idea where they begin or end and in most cases, have no idea what people are even in line for. Amazingly, the people are quite civilized and there isn’t much pushing and shoving which you would expect. People don’t cut, find the end of the line, and if it’s capped…it’s capped and that’s it. I was impressed with that.

Toy Story 3...in legos!


But let’s remember what I’m actually here for…the movie news! This was just preview night, the press conferences and panels start tomorrow. We’re beginning with the movie I’m most excited about this year now that Inception has been released: Disney’s TRON: Legacy. I’ll keep you all posted and remember you can follow me on twitter @matthewfong for the latest updates!

"Black Beauty"...The Green Hornet car

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.
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Comic Con 2010 Preview!

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

advancescreenings.com is heading to San Diego for the 2010 Comic-Con! The movie schedule this year looks intense so we should have tons of stories and previews for you in the next couple of weeks. You can find the full Comic-Con schedule here. Let us know if there’s something you want us to cover in particular on Facebook or comment below! Here’s a list of panels we plan on attending:




Thursday
11:15-12:45 Walt Disney Pictures: TRON: Legacy— Returning for an unprecedented third year to the fans and convention that started it all, Walt Disney Pictures is pleased to present a special insider look at the upcoming TRON: Legacy. Panelists include filmmakers and talent from the film: director Joe Kosinski, producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger, and cast members Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, and Bruce Boxleitner. The discussion, moderated by Patton Oswalt, is set to include exclusive glimpses of the film, as well as a Q&A involving all panel participants, along with special surprise guests.


1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Battle: Los Angeles and Salt— Two great new films from Sony Pictures Entertainment are showcased in this Hall H presentation!

Battle: Los Angeles — When unknown forces suddenly and mercilessly attack the City of Angels out of nowhere, it’s up to a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers to meet the threat. As the invasion hits the streets of LA, these Marines become our first and last line of defense in an intense battle against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. Appearing in person are Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, Neal Moritz, and director Jonathan Liebesman.


SaltSalt — Opening in theaters everywhere tomorrow, Columbia Pictures brings an exclusive and surprising look at Salt to Comic-Con today, featuring some very special guests. As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, but her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”



2:15-3:15 Summit Entertainment: RED— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage from RED. They used to be the CIA’s top agents — but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren star in RED, an explosive action-comedy based on the cult DC Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis. Join him, director Robert Schwentke, and the film’s stars as they share footage from the film and debut the final trailer before it’s ever in theaters.


The Expendables4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Prepare to have your ass kicked by The Expendables, the biggest action movie this summer! Lionsgate presents exclusive scenes and the inside scoop on every punch, kick, and bloodied lip from the most iconic cast of heroes and villains ever assembled, including the director, writer, and star Sylvester Stallone (Rambo), along with Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned), Randy Couture (Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior), and Terry Crews (Gamer).


Scott Pilgrim vs. the World6:00-7:00 Universal: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World— Genre-bending filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), graphic novel author Bryan Lee O’Malley, and the cast of Universal Pictures’ Scott Pilgrim vs. the World provide a sneak peek of summer 2010′s epic of epic epicness. Joining Wright will be our hero, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera of Superbad); Scott’s two current girlfriends, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of The Thing) and Knives Chau (Ellen Wong of Unnatural History); his band, SEX BOB-OMB: Kim Pine (Alison Pill of Milk) and Stephen Stills (Mark Webber of Broken Flowers); SEX BOB-OMB super-fan Young Neil (Johnny Simmons of Jennifer’s Body); Scott’s awesome roommate, Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin of Igby Goes Down); and four of Ramona’s seven evil exes: Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha of Fair Game), Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh of Superman Returns), Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman of Funny People) and Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman of Parenthood); plus Scott’s younger sister, Stacey Pilgrim (Anna Kendrick of Up in the Air), and the obnoxious Julie Powers (Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Recreation). Q&A to follow.




Friday
11:15-11:45 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D— A vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby in the newest film shot in 3D from the writer and director of My Bloody Valentine 3D, starring Nicolas Cage, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, and Amber Heard. Join the cast and filmmakers as they showcase never-before-seen footage of this high-octane, blood-spattered road trip through hell!


12:00-1:00 Skyline— Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, and Rogue Pictures present an exclusive look at the sci-fi thriller Skyline, directed and produced by the Brothers Strause (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem), whose company Hydraulx has provided visual effects for Avatar, Iron Man 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and 300. In Skyline, strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame, where an extraterrestrial force proceeds to swallow the entire human population off the face of the earth. Colin and Greg Strause unveil an exclusive Comic-Con trailer and scenes from Skyline, along with stars Donald Faison (Scrubs), Eric Balfour (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 24), David Zayas (The Expendables, Dexter), Scottie Thompson (Star Trek), and Brittany Daniel (Club Dread). HitFix’s Drew McWeeny moderates.


1:00-2:00 Super— Writer/director James Gunn (Slither), stars Rainn Wilson (The Office), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), and producers Ted Hope (Adventureland) and Miranda Bailey (The Squid and the Whale) reveal footage from their latest feature production Super, including the first peek at Rainn and Ellen Page’s costume design. Super is a hyper-real and shockingly funny look at the extremely violent antics of a down-on-his-luck man as he attempts to win his wife back from a glamorous drug dealer by teaming up with a psychopathic teen to become costumed crimefighters.


2:15-3:45 Miramax Films: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark— Producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and director Troy Nixey present a first look at their new film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a hair-raising, spine-chilling tale of horror about a little girl (Bailee Madison) who is sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes) in the old mansion they are renovating, only to unwittingly unleash malevolent creatures bent on destroying all of them.


4:00-6:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: The Other Guys, The Green Hornet, and Priest— Two more sneak peeks at upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment!

The Other GuysThe Other Guys–NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes — they’re “the Other Guys.” But every cop has his day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff? Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, and co-writer/director Adam McKay will be appearing in person.


The Green Hornet–Director Michel Gondry, who makes movies with a special, personal signature, is taking on The Green Hornet — and he’s doing it in 3D. Comic-Con audiences, prepare yourselves. In The Green Hornet, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of L.A.’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene — until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. To get close to the criminals, they come up with the perfect cover: they’ll pose as criminals themselves. Protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets. Confirmed to appear in person to unveil this early look at The Green Hornet in 3D are the Hornet himself, Seth Rogen, director Michel Gondry, writer Evan Goldberg, producer Neal Moritz, and actor Christoph Waltz.


Priest (3D) — A western-infused post-apocalyptic thriller, set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills. Stars Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Cam Gigandet, Stephen Moyer, and director Scott Stewart will be onstage to unveil the first 3D look at Priest.





Saturday
11:45-1:15 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows— Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!

Green Lantern– Get a first look at the upcoming sci-fi action adventure Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell. Green Lantern is an epic adventure that crosses galaxies to bring to life the legendary Silver Age superhero Hal Jordan, who is chosen by the ring itself to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps and take on the vast and powerful Parallax as it threatens to destroy the world. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Dr. Hector Hammond, and Mark Strong as Sinestro.


Sucker Punch — Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Jon Hamm.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don’t miss it!



1:30-2:30 Overture: Let Me In— The cast and filmmakers of Let Me In, a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), give the Hall H audience a sneak peek at this highly anticipated film. Let Me In is an astonishing coming-of-age story involving a young girl (Kick Ass’s Chloe Moretz) and an alienated boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) unlike any you have seen. Based on the bestselling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the highly acclaimed film of the same name, Let Me In takes audiences straight to the troubled heart of adolescent longing and loneliness. Academy Award-nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) also stars in this exhilarating reboot of the beloved original.


4:00-4:45 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Afterlife— In a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series and this time will be shot in 3D using the same state-of-the-art cameras created for Avatar. Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson, along with the film’s stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, will be on hand to show you some stunning 3D sequences and answer your questions.


4:45-5:45 Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens— Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.

Paul — Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who’s who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet), and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.


Cowboys & Aliens — Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what’s happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow.



6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger— Producer Kevin Feige and special guests give you an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.




As you can see, that’s a lot of panels! I’m sure there will be tons of exclusive news and announcements so make sure to visit advancescreenings.com throughout next weekend and you can also follow me on twitter for real-time updates!

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