Author: Jason Zingale (Page 96 of 154)

The best Comic-Con ever?

July 9, 2007 /

It’s certainly shaping up that way, if the programming schedule is any indication. Of course, with absolutely no presence of “Indy 4” or “The Dark Knight” at the event, we’ll have to cross our fingers and hope that a few surprises are in store.

Much like Mr. Harris, I too will be journeying to the West Coast this month to attend the 38th Annual Comic-Con, the largest celebration for all things comic books, movies and TV, taking place July 26-29th at the San Diego Convention Center. The full programing schedule has just been released and can be viewed here, but since there’s way too much for one person to cover, I’ll only be blogging on the biggest movie-related panels.

Check back here all weekend long as I report on first-look exclusives, interviews and announcements from all of 2008’s biggest movies, and continue reading after the jump to see the panels I’ll be covering:

THURSDAY:

DVD Sneak Peek 2007

Bill Hunt and Todd Doogan of The Digital Bits.com, along with DVD producers Charles de Lauzirika (Blade Runner: The Final Cut; Twin Peaks: The Complete Series), Robert Meyer Burnett (Shoot ‘Em Up, Valkyrie), and Javier Soto (Hellboy 2), offer exclusive sneak peeks of great upcoming DVD and high-def special editions in the works for release later this year. Exclusive footage from Blade Runner and Twin Peaks will be shown. Q&A will follow if time permits.

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Nickelodeon Movies present a bold new vision for the future of adventure. Be here for a one-of-a-kind presentation put together just for the fans at Comic-Con as you get a look at such highly anticipated films as Beowulf, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust, Hot Rod, Iron Man, and the next installments of Indiana Jones and Star Trek, plus a few surprises. Appearing in person: JJ Abrams, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary, and SNL’s Andy Samberg.

Lionsgate: Good Luck Chuck, The Eye, Saw IV

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Lionsgate’s biggest upcoming releases. First up, Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four), Dane Cook (Employee of the Month), Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury), and director Mark Helfrich take you behind the scenes of Good Luck Chuck. Then Jessica is joined by directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud (Them) for a haunting glimpse into The Eye. Horror master Clive Barker and the cast of Midnight Meat Train take you on a terror trip through hell. Finally, director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Saw III), Tobin Bell (Saw I, II and III) and the filmmakers of Saw IV invite you to play a game in the cruel and deadly world of Jigsaw.

Fanboys

Fanboys is an uproarious comedy that follows a group of young friends on a cross-country quest to break into Skywalker Ranch and see Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace before it is released. Fanboys is a Weinstein Company presentation being released in theaters by MGM on January 18, 2008. Stars Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury), Sam Huntington (Superman Returns), Chris Marquette (Joan of Arcadia), and Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) join writer/director Kyle Newman and producers Matt Perniciaro and Dana Brunetti for a Q&A session.

FRIDAY:

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. presents a sneak peek at some of its upcoming major film releases!

The Invasion is a nightmarish journey into a world where the only way to stay alive is to stay awake. The mysterious crash of the space shuttle leads to the terrifying discovery that there is something alien within the wreckage. Those who come in contact with it are changing in ominous and inexplicable ways. Producer Joel Silver appears in person.

In the supernatural thriller One Missed Call, people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Stars Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossamon will be on stage to introduce film footage and answer questions.

In Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale stars as Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, whose investigation of the continent’s first murder draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer. Star Kate Beckinsale appears in-person.

From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure Speed Racer. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski Brothers’ films.

In the all-new action comedy Get Smart, Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS.

In Trick ‘R Treat, the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety – human and otherwise – try to survive the scariest night of the year. Mike Dougherty appears in-person to discuss his directorial debut produced by Bryan Singer.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was originally published by DC comics as a 12-issue comic book series between 1986 and 1987, before subsequently being collected into a trade paperback. It is the only graphic novel to win the prestigious Hugo Award or to be named among Time magazine’s “100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present.” Director Zack Snyder will appear in-person to discuss the upcoming film and answer questions.

New Line Cinema

A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Shoot ‘Em Up, and star Clive Owen, along with director Michael Davis, will be there to discuss the film! Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema’s upcoming films, including The Golden Compass.

Warner Bros. Video

First up, 300 creator Frank Miller, director Zack Snyder, stars including Lena Headey and David Wenham, producers Mark Canton and Gianni Nunnari, and other special guests are on hand to discuss the groundbreaking film and its highly anticipated July 31 DVD release. Be the first to see a clip not included in the theatrical release! Then it’s the 25th Anniversary Blade Runner “Final Cut.” Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Hannibal) has created a new, definitive version of this landmark film, with scenes and special effects that have never been shown before. Catch this first preview of the new version by the legendary director of the final, authoritative. and best presentation of one of the most acclaimed science fiction films of the 20th century. This presentation will feature unseen clips from the new cut as well as a look behind the scenes that will be featured on the upcoming DVD box set. The panel includes Ridley Scott, Sean Young, Joanna Cassidy, Joe Turkel, James Hong, Syd Mead (designer/futurist), Mark Stetson (FX), and DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika.

Star Wars at 30 Years

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars saga, and its indelible influence on popular culture. We’ve got 30 years of great memories thanks to the galaxy far, far away, but there are also great things to come, too. Join Lucasfilm’s Steve Sansweet for a little Star Wars nostalgia, a review of the 30th anniversary year so far, and a look at what’s new and what’s coming for Star Wars.

Kevin Smith

He’s back, and this time not even traffic can stop him! Comic-Con favorite Kevin Smith holds court in another of his no-holds-barred Q&A sessions, talking about just anything he damn well pleases.

SATURDAY:

The Simpsons

Having just aired its 400th episode, The Simpsons has now released its first feature film. Join members of the team responsible for both and find out how they did it, including Matt Groening (creator and executive producer), Al Jean (executive producer/head writer), David Mirkin (former executive producer), Matt Selman (executive producer), Michael Price (co-executive producer), David Silverman (director of The Simpsons Movie), Matt Warburton (supervising producer), Don Payne (consulting producer), and Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson). Moderated by Bill Morrison.

Rogue/Focus

Rogue Pictures invites you to preview a few of their upcoming releases, including Balls of Fury (with appearances by Robert Ben Garant, Tom Lennon and Dan Fogler), The Strangers (with appearances by Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman and writer/director Bryan Bertino), and Doomsday (with appearances by Rhona Mitra and Neil Marshall), plus other surprise appearances and announcements!

Disney

Disney and Disney-Pixar showcase two upcoming films with this exclusive Comic-Con presentation!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media present never-before-seen footage and a Q&A panel with the filmmakers of the second installment of the epic fantasy adventure series! Be sure to collect the exclusive Prince Caspian Comic-Con poster, designed by fans on Narnia.com, and selected by director Andrew Adamson!

WALL-E – From Academy Award–winning director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), WALL-E is the story of one robot’s comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy. Meet director Andrew Stanton and sound designer Ben Burtt (Star Wars) as they present a first look at Disney-Pixar’s next animated adventure!

Universal

Universal Pictures’ presentation features a cast and filmmaker panel from one of its most exciting titles for 2008: Marvel’s new take on cherished superhero icon The Incredible Hulk. In person: stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt; director Louis Leterrier; and producers Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd, and Kevin Feige.

Sony/Screen Gems

This panel showcases three great new films from Screen Gems and Sony! First up, it’s zombie action at it’s finest with Resident Evil: Extinction – See the world premiere of the new trailer and meet the stars of this third and final installment of the Resident Evil saga, based on the wildly popular video game series. Alice (Milla Jovovich), now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L. J. (Mike Epps), along with new survivors, including Claire Redfield (Ali Larter). On stage in person to take your questions will be Milla Jovovich, in her first ever Comic-con appearance, along with co-stars Oded Fehr and Ali Larter. Resident Evil: Extinction is in theaters everywhere September 21.

30 Days of Night – Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s vampire noir epic horror/thriller reaches the big screen under the banner of Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures. On hand to show clips and answer questions will be director David Slade, producer Rob Tapert, creators Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, and stars Josh Hartnett (Sin City) and Danny Huston (Children of Men).

Superbad – Producer Judd Apatow follows his hit comedy Knocked Up with this highly anticipated look at the lives of several misfit guys on the eternal quest to find the right girl and prove that they’re not just bad, they’re Superbad. Apatow discusses the outrageous comedy audiences have come to expect from him. Joining Apatow will be his Superbad entourage, including Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, director Greg Mottola, screenwriter and star Seth Rogen, screenwriter Evan Goldberg, producer Shauna Robertson, and possibly even Bill Hader, if he will only listen to reason.

Comic-Con, External Movies, Movies

Famous last words

July 8, 2007 /

It’s probably been said more than a few times on this blog, but I can’t help myself: “Entourage” is having one of its best seasons ever. While last week’s episode was a little lacking in the story department, it still managed to entertain with hilarious subplots highlighting Drama’s shitty luck and his brother’s comparably better fortune. This week delivered a much more balanced half hour, including continued progress on the whole “Medellin” arc, a comedic night out with the guys, and one of the most over-the-top guest spots in the history of the series.

I’d like to begin by saying that Harvey is fucking crazy. The parallels to the Weinstein brother of the same name were obvious enough when his character was introduced in the second season’s Sundance episode, but it’s become all the more evident in these past few shows. After discovering that “Medellin” was accepted into Cannes, Eric schedules a dinner with Harvey to inform him that they’ll no loner be selling him the movie. Suffice to say, Eric is mighty scared, but he refuses to show it in front of the guys. Nevertheless, that impression of Turtle’s was dead-on.

In fact, Eric’s debating whether or not he should even tell him the news when he arrives at the restaurant to find Harvey already freaking about something. First, it’s the sight of a former employee who screwed him over, and then (after joining Vince and the rest of the guys for drinks) it’s a waiter who refuses to deny that he ordered a cranberry vodka. In the end, as a red-faced Harvey is literally dragged out of the joint, Drama decides to break the news. Harvey’s response? “I’ll eat you alive!”

Before all hell broke loose, the vibe at the bar was pretty laid back. In an attempt to schmooze the Mayor of Beverly Hills (Stephen Tobolowsky) into annexing his building so that he may lay claim to the posh zip code, Drama takes him out with Vince and Turtle to help the guy get laid… without paying for it, of course. When they arrive, Drama manages to find a girl for the Mayor without Vince’s help, but when one of the bodyguard’s informs him that the beautiful she is actually a he, Drama does his best to persuade the Mayor into stepping away. The Mayor won’t have it, though, and decides that transsexual or not, he’s taking her back to his house for a little fun. Of course, part of the date is caught on tape and posted on the internet by morning (which features the Mayor and his gal pal getting into his car), and though the Mayor openly claims that he has nothing to hide, the girl reveals that she most certainly does.

And though Harvey’s hilarious outburst and the aforementioned disturbing scene would have taken the cake any other week, the sheer fact that Ari hasn’t had much to do this season made his appearance tonight all that more memorable. After meeting with M. Night Shyamalan at a cemetery to pick up his latest script (which, by the way, Ari mentions is weird, even for him), he promises to have it read by the next morning with plenty of feedback. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out quite as planned, and after attending an engagement dinner with Mrs. Ari, temporarily losing the script when the valet returns the wrong car, retrieving said car from a man whose marriage he probably ruined along the way, and then getting pulled over by the police for going 140 mph, Ari finishes the script before his scheduled meeting with M. Night only to discover that the obsessive nut changed the whole third act… and wants him to read it (right then and there) all over again. Shyamalan’s caricature of himself was classic, but the look on Ari’s sleep-depraved face was the single best shot of the night.

Entourage, External TV, TV

The summer of threequels isn’t over just yet

July 3, 2007 /

Allow me to quote Paul Rudd in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” when I say, “Y’know, I always thought that Matt Damon was a bit of a Streisand, but he’s rocking the shit in this one!”

After playing the Bond-like protagonist in the first two films, Damon returns for his final performance as Jason Bourne in the third chapter of the supercharged action series. The film hits theaters at the beginning of August, but we haven’t had the chance to see a full trailer until today. From the few minutes highlighted in the trailer, I think it’s safe to say that the movie promises to deliver the same level of action that made “The Bourne Identity” the official blueprints for every other action flick that followed. Paul Greengrass returns to direct, Julia Stiles switches sides as Bourne’s right-hand lady, and David Strathairn steps in as the new evil government agent.

Check it out and then come back to let us know what you think.

Movies, Trailers

Snap, crackle and sizzle

July 1, 2007 /

If there’s one thing “Entourage” is notorious for, it’s setting up potentially earth-shattering events and then brushing them off as if they never happened. The latest offender occurred as a result of last week’s episode, when Eric and Vince came to a standstill on their decisions about Walsh’s early cut of “Medellin.” Everyone (including myself and pinch blogger Jamey Codding) seemed to think this meant the two friends would finally clash, but it never quite came to fruition.

It’s the day after, and Eric’s opinions on Walsh’s cut haven’t changed one bit. He’s got a few changes he’d like to discuss with the director, but when he goes to see him at his post-production hideout, Walsh doesn’t take too kindly to Eric’s notes. It’s not that Eric thinks the film is bad (he does think it’s too long), but rather that it still needs some serious molding, especially after an editor shows him a slick trailer for the film that would surely get people to theaters. When Walsh informs Eric that he’s already submitted the film to Cannes (the French Sundance), however, Eric gets paranoid about the possibility of it getting rejected and turns to Ari for help.

Ari suggests he go see big-time producer Harvey about the possibility of buying the rights to the film (who would refuse to release Walsh’s cut of the film in theaters and re-edit the film to their liking), and despite their differences in the past, Harvey offers Eric $25 million for the film. When Eric tells Vince the good news, he gets a little of his own: the film was accepted into Cannes, and Vince thinks they’ve got a shot at s much better deal if they bring the film to the festival on their own. Boy is Harvey going to be pissed.

Speaking of Vince, he spent of the episode doing what he does best: being a celebrity. After a happenchance run-in with some hot chick on the road, Vince joins her to go chill at Dennis Hopper’s place where the man himself chats about his time on the set of “Apocalypse Now” and turns on Vince to betting on soccer matches. After nearly losing $100,000 to an 11th-hour missed penalty kick by Rudd van Nistelrooy (a match which couldn’t have conceivably aired any later than 2006, since van Nistelrooy no longer plays for Manchester United), Vince dodges a bullet when the guy who was supposed to place the bets fails to do so in favor of some much needed rest.

And while Eric is busy trying to save his ass, and Vince is off betting money he doesn’t have, Turtle joins Drama for a promising double date with two older (but supposedly sexy) women friends of his. When they arrive at Donna Davine’s place, however, Turtle discovers that the friend in question is Marjorie, a chubby and overly spunky gal who he most certainly doesn’t want to bang. He agrees to take one for the team, though, and comes out on top in the end. Just as the quartet prepares to split up and have a little fun, Donna (the good-looking one) decides she’d rather be with Turtle, leaving Drama to fend for himself against “the best rimjob in town.” Everybody now: “Ewwwwww!”

Entourage, External TV, TV

Jessica Biel dresses down for GQ

June 30, 2007 /

Jessica Biel recently met up with GQ’s Adam Stein to discuss her new role alongside comic heavyweight Adam Sandler, the difficulties of landing a good role with a less-than-impressive resume, and her recent crowning as one of the sexiest women alive. Oh yeah, and they found some time to play a few carnival games along the way.

Of course, as Stein is quick to point out, most American males aren’t very familiar with Biel’s body of work, but rather the actress’ body itself, and as his friend Taj so brilliantly puts it, “I’m obsessed with a girl I’ve never seen move.” Then again, aren’t we all, which makes her most recent gig in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” all the more important. Sure, the sexy cover girl can be found in yet another drool-inducing photo shoot in this month’s issue of GQ (see below), but it takes a lot more than good looks to make it in Hollywood these days, and Biel hopes that her appearance in the summer comedy is just the thing she needs to help her rise to the top.

She’s certainly in good hands with co-stars like Sandler and Kevin James, but Biel wasn’t about to take her role lightly:

“It was a little bit intimidating,” she says. “I really admire Adam and Kevin, but then, I didn’t try to equal them or one-up them, and the character I created didn’t have to be that. She’s the straight woman, but very fun and very cool and just—attainable. That’s the kind of part that I’d like to play more. I mean, a vampire hunter? Is that really attainable? I’d just like to play something a little more quirky, interesting, outrageous. And uninhibited.”

Click here to read the full interview and check out the new photo shoot.

Actresses, Movie Comedies

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