Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/To the Calendar! Comic-Con 2009 Schedule Releasedhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/to-the-calendar-comic-con-2009-schedule-released/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/to-the-calendar-comic-con-2009-schedule-released/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/to-the-calendar-comic-con-2009-schedule-released/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Cinematical will be hitting Comic-Con 2009 in San Diego again this year, bringing you the sights, highlights, and lowlights of the four-day geek mecca. A mecca that now officially has a schedule. Since cloning machines still haven't been invented, if anyone manages to do that in in the next couple of weeks please let us know. We're going to need to be at multiple locations during multiple simultaneous times.

But, that just about sums up the entirety of Comic-Con: dashing from panel to panel, catching a glimpse of the millions of costumes, stopping by booths, hitting parties, and then repeating. You can check out the full schedule right here (eventually -- it's Thursday only for now), and we'll be posting some of what's on our Cinematical Must See list as we work our way through the schedule with a highlighter, but here's a couple of standouts for Thursday:

  • 11:00-12:30 Disney: 3D Panel- Walt Disney Pictures presents key filmmakers, select cast members and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Disney's A Christmas Carol, Alice In Wonderland and Tron. Special guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey, Steve Lisberger, and moderator Patton Oswalt. Hall H
  • 12:45-2:00 20th Century Fox and James Cameron present Avatar- In this first public screening of footage in 3D from his much-anticipated action/adventure/fantasy, James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and cast members take you to a spectacular new world beyond imagination. Conceived 14 years ago and over four years in the making, Avatar breaks new ground in delivering a fully immersive, emotional story and reinvents the movie-going experience. Hall H

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]]>Comic BookComicBookcomiccon09ComicsFandomfeaturedGeekKevin KellyThu, 09 Jul 2009 16:40:00 ESTTop 10 Stormtrooper Crossovershttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/top-10-stormtrooper-crossovers/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/top-10-stormtrooper-crossovers/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/top-10-stormtrooper-crossovers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



San Diego ComicCon is almost upon us, and you know what that means -- stormtrooper costumes. Lots and lots of them. The white-armored villains have become so prevalent at every geek gathering that they hardly attract much notice, so they've had to get creative. Nowadays, you see Imperial Stormtroopers breaking rank and adding all kinds of weird and wonderful things to their standard issue armor, and becoming something weirdly meta in the process. Some of them, like the Elvis Stormtrooper, have become con celebrities in their own right (he's even got his own website, where he's reached a Kirk Lazarus level of crossover) and you can barely escape a con without a photo of them.

Galactic Binder has collected ten of the best stormtrooper crossovers they've seen. Seeing so many gathered in one place suggests that costumed Stormtroopers are becoming so ubiquitous that they'll soon attract as little attention as a plain Stormtrooper. Hell, maybe ordinary troopers will become so rare that spotting one will be like seeing a unicorn in the wild ...

So, check out the gallery below, and tell us your favorite. I'll echo Galactic Binder and give a special gold star to the samurai stormtrooper for going full circle by referencing Kurosawa.

Gallery: Imperial Stormtrooper Crossovers



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]]>DragonConImperial StormtroopersImperialStormtroopersSan Diego ComicConSanDiegoComicconStar WarsStarWarsStormtrooper crossoversStormtrooperCrossoversWonderConElisabeth RappeWed, 17 Jun 2009 19:02:00 ESTThe Geek Beat: Why Can't Geek Girls Be ... Girls?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/16/the-geek-beat-why-cant-geek-girls-be-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/16/the-geek-beat-why-cant-geek-girls-be-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/16/the-geek-beat-why-cant-geek-girls-be-girls/#commentsFiled under: , ,



I know, it's another "girl power" piece on Cinematical, but where there is ranting, the Geek Beat must weigh in.

Last Friday, you may have come across the LA Times "Girl's Guide to ComicCon." You may also have come across the ranting it inspired on Gawker's Jezebel and io9. Now this list ... it was cheesy, I'll grant you. The LA Times (or more accurately, Zap2It) suggested that girls might really like ComicCon because there might be beefcakes there. They hinted at panels for Twilight, The Prince of Persia, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and so on. Yes, there were some insulting comments suggesting women wanted nothing more than to gawk at Jake Gyllenhaal's abdominal muscles ... but it didn't bother me. In fact, it bothered me so little that I did a goofy piece for my other gig at MTV that echoed and quoted it.

Did I betray the geek sisterhood? When I saw the furious headlines, I suffered a real moment of salted slug stomach, and decided I must have. Perhaps it's out of a feeling of self-defense, or maybe I'm just contrarian, but once the cold sweat passed ... I realized I hadn't felt that way when I wrote the MTV piece. I saw it (and its LA Times original) as retaliation against years of booth babes and "Hot Chicks of ComicCon" lists, a bit of tit for tat. I see nothing wrong with encouraging girls to gawk at Nathan Fillion or Jake Gyllenhaal because the boys have been doing it at con for years.


Continue reading The Geek Beat: Why Can't Geek Girls Be ... Girls?

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]]>comicconfeaturedThe Geek BeatTheGeekBeatElisabeth RappeTue, 16 Jun 2009 14:02:00 ESTPeter Jackson Heading to Comic-Conhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/08/peter-jackson-heading-to-comic-con/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/08/peter-jackson-heading-to-comic-con/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/08/peter-jackson-heading-to-comic-con/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Peter JacksonIs it really so that one of the biggest geeks in the world has never attended Comic-Con? We have to cut Peter Jackson some slack, of course, since he's from New Zealand and has been so obsessed with making movies that his schedule hasn't permitted him to attend in the past. He will be making the trip this year, though, in support of District 9, which he produced.

Jackson will participate in a panel discussion on Friday, July 24, along with the film's director, Neill Blomkamp, and star Sharlto Copley. And if you said, 'Blom who? Sharlto what?' that's probably a good reason for Jackson to make the trip: he's the kind of marquee attraction that can draw attention to a film without other widely-recognizable names attached. The trailer for District 9 looks pretty darn good. William Goss described the premise as: "What if aliens landed in South Africa and were cooped up there for a bit too long?" In the teaser, one of the aliens says, "We mean you no harm. We just want to go home," which gave me visions of Predator crossed with E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. And to tie the film back into Comic-Con, a mysterious, pervasive anti-alien marketing campaign appeared at last year's con, as Elisabeth Rappe reported.

In a prepared statement, Jackson said: "After all these years, I'm thrilled that I finally have the opportunity to visit San Diego for Comic-Con ... I know that those who visit us on July 24th in Hall H will be in for quite a ride." District 9 hits theaters nationwide on August 14, so Jackson's appearance, no doubt with an extended clip from the film, should boost awareness. Not to mention thrill just about every fan boy in attendance!

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]]>comic-condistrict 9District9neill blomkampNeillBlomkamppeter jacksonPeterJacksonPeter MartinMon, 08 Jun 2009 18:02:00 ESTNew York Comic Con in 90 Secondshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/08/new-york-comic-con-in-90-seconds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/08/new-york-comic-con-in-90-seconds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/08/new-york-comic-con-in-90-seconds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Pictured: On the floor at NYCC (courtesy of Getty Images)

It's not quite as massive as San Diego Comic Con, but New York Comic Con is definitely its own animal, and the convention took over Manhattan this weekend with its comics, costumes and characters. For your convenience, here's a brief roundup of all the movie-related stuff at this year's NYCC:

News

  • McG did not deny nor confirm that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton would play a part in the new Terminator film, teasing "Perhaps by not answering your question, there's a small answer within." He also noted that since the T800 plays a big role in the film, they're trying to use visual effects to include Arnold in some capacity. On the Christian Bale tirade, McG joked: "You only got to hear the most explosive parts, but that remix is pretty hot." [More at Coming Soon]
  • io9 reports that at the Radical Studios panel, Barry Levine said that Joseph Kosinski will return to San Diego Comic Con with a full trailer for the Tron sequel. [io9]

  • Watchmen's Dave Gibbons addressed questions about the film's altered ending (""The outcome is exactly the same as the graphic novel, but the MacGuffin, the gimmick, is a little different."), and whether or not he thinks a prequel or sequel is a smart idea ("If you try to add anything to Watchmen, you're not enriching it, you're diluting it. Sure, you can tell another adventure of Batman or Spider-Man, but ("Watchmen") is like a complete story ... leave well enough alone.") [More at Coming Soon]
Check out the scene from NYCC 2009 in the gallery below ...

Gallery: 2009 New York Comic Con



Much more after the jump ...

Continue reading New York Comic Con in 90 Seconds

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]]>cinematicalnew york comic conNewYorkComicConscott pilgrimScottPilgrimterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationthorwatchmenErik DavisSun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:00 ESTFan Rant: The Post Comic Con Bitchinghttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/02/fan-rant-the-post-comic-con-bitching/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/02/fan-rant-the-post-comic-con-bitching/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/02/fan-rant-the-post-comic-con-bitching/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The dust has barely settled in San Diego (they're probably still trying to clean up that convention center as we speak), and already, the bitching begins. The Hollywood Reporter has written a delightful piece of snark in which the big studios whine that they're spending too much time and money on us geeks. Apparently, it just doesn't pay to court us because the movies cheered in Hall H (Grindhouse, Snakes on a Plane, and Speed Racer to name a few) just don't do all that well. What a waste of free t-shirts and pins!

I'm not going to sit here and insist that ComicCon can make or break a movie. I think we all know there are movies that have benefited from the buzz that begins in San Diego -- people wouldn't be whispering ominously about Star Trek skipping it otherwise. Look at X-Men Origins: Wolverine -- a film that people had been pretty skeptical about is now being raved about from one corner of the Internet to the other. Look at The Spirit. The bad buzz that began at con will stick to the film until its Christmas release. But I also know that those of us who live and work on the Internet can become deluded as to what the offline world is buzzing about. I will fully expect people to comment on my "Who watches the Watchmen?" shirt when I wear it around Colorado, and no one will, because it's so far off the radar for most people.

Continue reading Fan Rant: The Post Comic Con Bitching

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]]>San Diego ComicConSanDiegoComicconElisabeth RappeSat, 02 Aug 2008 17:03:00 ESTThe Rocchi Review -- With Alex Billington of FirstShowing.nethttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/01/the-rocchi-review-with-alex-billington-of-firstshowing-net/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/01/the-rocchi-review-with-alex-billington-of-firstshowing-net/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/01/the-rocchi-review-with-alex-billington-of-firstshowing-net/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Things get a little lively on The Rocchi Review this week, as we look at Comic-Con's biggest surprises and let-downs with Alex BIlington of First Showing. But there's plenty else going on, too -- from all the reasons James and Alex are dreading The Spirit to the question of if Comic-Con is selling sexiness or sexism, as well as what recent films in development are earning enthusiasm or scorn, and a brief argument about entertainment journalism vs. 'entertaining' journalism. ... Cinematical's podcast is now available through iTunes; you can subscribe at this link. Also, you can listen directly here at Cinematical by clicking below:



As ever, you can download the entire podcast right here -- and those of you with RSS Podcast readers can find all of Cinematical's podcast content at this link.

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]]>Marvin the MartianMarvinTheMartianRed SonjaRedSonjaThe SpiritTheSpiritTron 2Tron2WatchmenJames RocchiFri, 01 Aug 2008 21:02:00 ESTElisabeth's Favorite Moments of SDCC 08http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/31/elisabeths-favorite-moments-of-sdcc-08/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/31/elisabeths-favorite-moments-of-sdcc-08/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/31/elisabeths-favorite-moments-of-sdcc-08/#commentsFiled under: , ,



How fast time flies! A week ago today, we were all hitting the convention floor, and having to battle for seats to the Masters of Web panel. I can't believe it's all over -- and I can't believe I haven't recovered. The bright-eyed Lara Croft you saw only days ago is barely recognizable in the physical wreck that I am now. Despite the toll it takes every year, I'm always sorry when it ends. I miss San Diego, the ocean, the fabulous tacos at the Tin Fish, and the surprises around every corner. But most of all, I miss meeting up with my friends after a long day of panels, enjoying my well-earned dinner, and showing off my swag. While I'm happy to be home in my own bed, and snuggling with my pug, I can't help but miss the thrills of con. So, it's my turn to recap my favorite moments of the con, and hope that those of you who were there have recovered enough to share yours, too.

-- The Watchmen panel. Maybe the Q&A wasn't all that great (no fault of those onstage), but the footage was just so cool. There is a lot of film footage trotted out at SDCC, and while much of it is cool, very little is jaw-dropping. 300 was probably the last time I was truly impressed with what I saw in Hall H, Watchmen may have topped it. (It's even convinced my mom to read the graphic novel! Let's all cheer!)

-- The Owl Ship. The floor displays this year were pretty tame, but this would take the cake in any given year. Whenever I doubt that anyone at SDCC has read a comic book, something like the Owl Ship lands and sends everyone into a nerdy tizzy. At any given time, you could find a crowd exclaiming over it, not because it was from a movie, but because it was from a comic book. Amazing.

Continue reading Elisabeth's Favorite Moments of SDCC 08

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]]>GameHugh JackmanHughJackmanNathan FillionNathanFillionOwl ShipOwlShipRocknRollaSan Diego ComicCon 2008SanDiegoComiccon2008SDCC 08Sdcc08WatchmenX-Men Origins WolverineX-menOriginsWolverineElisabeth RappeThu, 31 Jul 2008 21:03:00 ESTSDCC 08: How to Kill 'The Punisher' Without Using Bulletshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/30/sdcc-08-how-to-kill-the-punisher-without-using-bullets/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/30/sdcc-08-how-to-kill-the-punisher-without-using-bullets/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/30/sdcc-08-how-to-kill-the-punisher-without-using-bullets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The RocknRolla adventure, unfortunately, kept me away from the Punisher: War Zone party and panel, which I had every intention of attending and covering for all of you. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing, since the talk of the convention wasn't the panel or its footage, but of director Lexi Alexander's departure from the project. Obviously the news surprised me, although the timing did not. It was obvious from the scheduling that Lionsgate was trying to bury the panel -- if a studio is trying to sell their new comic book movie, they generally don't schedule a panel at 8:00pm when the geeks are out feasting and drinking. They put it at 2:00pm in Hall H and give us a free t-shirt.

Now, this movie could be terrible. This movie could be pure awesome. I don't know, I'm certainly not going to judge it or Alexander's direction at this stage. But it frustrates me to see any movie this badly handled, its chances of being successful destroyed before it even gets to a theatrical trailer. I just don't understand how or why it happens when the ultimate goal of a movie (from the studio perspective, anyway) is to turn a profit.

This whole debacle has made me a very sad panda. First, for Alexander, who I admire purely from a feminist standpoint. Female directors are too far and few between, and it was exciting to see one not only directing an action movie, but one based on a comic book. I wanted her to succeed in a big way -- and I hope that whatever happens with this film, she has a solid career kicking cinematic ass. At least some studio people are in her corner -- according to MTV Movies, producer Deborah Del Prete says she and Alexander are working together on an adaptation of a little-known British fantasy novel. (I hate teases like that.) So at least she's not persona non grata yet, which is a relief. We need chicks like her in the business.

And I especially feel for Ray Stevenson, who I had the privilege to meet on Thursday afternoon. (See the photo above -- oh, for the days when you could be photographed next to the celebrity in question!) Like a lot of people, I know him mostly as Titus Pullo from HBO's brilliant series Rome. If you haven't seen this series, dear readers, you need to finish this post and then hit your preferred rental outlet. You will love it, and you will love Stevenson in it. You will not doubt that he is capable of being an excellent Punisher.

I've been rooting for this movie to make it largely because Stevenson deserves a bigger career -- and having met him now, it really does break my heart that this movie is getting the run-around. He was so friendly and enthusiastic, and really wants to do justice to the character. (Oh yeah, and he was incredibly handsome. Damn. They make such nice men in the UK.) I haven't attended a lot of promotional signings, but often they are dull and duty-bound affairs. Stevenson and Tim Bradstreet seemed happy to be there meeting everyone. And if they were pulling off that level of enthusiasm despite the Alexander news, then they really deserve a round of applause.

And so, Lionsgate, from one girl who willingly queued to meet your new Punisher, who did it as a fan and not a member of the press, I beg you to do right by this film. It's obvious that all involved worked hard on it and care about it, and they deserve to have their faith rewarded. Don't hack at it, slap a heavy metal soundtrack on it, and shove it out into theatres. Do whatever it takes to make a good film. Your profit margin will thank you, fans of the character will worship you, and you can take your place in the comic book franchise world.

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]]>Lexi AlexanderLexiAlexanderLionsgatePunisher War ZonePunisherWarZoneRay StevensonRayStevensonSDCC 08Sdcc08Elisabeth RappeWed, 30 Jul 2008 08:02:00 ESTCinematical's 2008 Comic Con Awards!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/cinematicals-2008-comic-con-awards/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/cinematicals-2008-comic-con-awards/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/cinematicals-2008-comic-con-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



I'm sure Scott and Elisabeth will chime in at some point within the next week with their favorite and not-so-favorite moments from this year's San Diego Comic Con, and so I thought I'd get the ball rolling with something a little different. Welcome to our first annual Comic Con awards! Pretty self-explanatory; we hand out awards in several different film-related categories, offer up an explanation for our choice and then attend a swanky, imaginary after party. Here goes ...

Most Buzzed-About Footage

Tron 2 -- Out of all the footage that screened during Comic Con, it was that damn Tron 2 teaser thrown in during the Escape to Witch Mountain panel that took everyone by surprise. However, after it screened, it was all anyone was talking about -- so much so that it was the first question three different complete strangers asked me whilst talking about The Con: "Did you see the Tron 2 footage? How awesome was that?" (Shhh ... leaked footage)

Biggest Surprise

Fanboys -- When it takes two years for a film to arrive in theaters, that's usually not a good sign of things to come. When, throughout those two years, the film's director is replaced by some hack, the script is re-written to wipe out a crucial plot element and thousands of fans stage a boycott of The Weinstein Co. (said film's distributor) ... well, that can't be a good thing either. So then it was definitely a big surprise to watch the final cut of Fanboys at Comic Con and walk away with giant smiles on our faces. From my mini-review: "I will say, though, that this is not just a film for Star Wars fans -- it's a film for any geeky dude or dudette who's ever horsed around with their friends, gone on a nutty adventure and inserted random movie quotes into every other line of dialogue." The film should hit theaters on September 19th (hopefully in a wide release). Read Scott's full review.

Continue reading Cinematical's 2008 Comic Con Awards!

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]]>cinematicals comic con awardsCinematicalsComicConAwardsg.i.joesummit entertainmentSummitEntertainmentterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationthe spiritthe wrath of con partyTheSpiritTheWrathOfConPartytron 2Tron2twilightErik DavisTue, 29 Jul 2008 22:02:00 ESTSDCC '08: Hi-Res 'Bitch Slap' Posters!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/sdcc-08-hi-res-bitch-slap-posters/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/sdcc-08-hi-res-bitch-slap-posters/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/29/sdcc-08-hi-res-bitch-slap-posters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Above: Cinematical's Erik Davis poses with the three female stars of Bitch Slap. (And yes, that is a Flux Capacitor on my t-shirt ...)

They didn't have a panel or a party, but the folks behind the upcoming Bitch Slap were everywhere, literally. I, personally, ran into these girls on several different occasions, and in a building packed with thousands of people, it's pretty damn rare to stumble across the same person twice. Heck, because of their sly guerilla-marketing techniques, we'll also be giving them a special Comic Con award later on, but in the meantime make sure you check out the hi-res versions of the Bitch Slap Comic Con character posters in the gallery below.

You've probably seen these bad boys hanging around on other sites, but Cinematical is the first to have them in sparkling hi-res. In case you forgot about our previous post on the film (where we debuted the poster and several images), Bitch Slap is described as a "post-modern, thinking man's throwback to the "B" Movie/Exploitation films of the 1950's - 70's as well as a loving, sly parody of the same," and it stars Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, as well as Julia Voth, America Olivo and Erin Cummings.

Check out the gallery below, and for more on Bitch Slap feel free to head to the film's official website.

Gallery: SDCC: Hi-Res Bitch Slap Posters

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]]>bitch slapbitch slap comic con postersBitchSlapBitchSlapComicConPosterscinematicalcomic conComicConErik DavisTue, 29 Jul 2008 18:32:00 ESTSDCC Review: Pineapple Expresshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-review-pineapple-express/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-review-pineapple-express/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-review-pineapple-express/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



I won't get into the precise reasons, but my friends always seem to think I'm going to LOVE the next big "pot comedy." They chuckle and assume such silly things despite the fact that the only real pothead comedies that I truly enjoy are Up in Smoke, Next Movie, and a large portion of the Harold & Kumar misadventures. Frankly I'm of the opinion that most pot comedies feel like they were written by someone very stoned, and let's just say that writers don't always do their best work when they're extra-baked. (They might THINK their stuff is hilarious, but usually it's not. That's just the weed talking.) Oh, you'll definitely find a few cannabis-caked giggles in Half-Baked, Grandma's Boy, and Smiley Face -- just not enough to sustain a whole movie, if it's me you're asking.

So it is with much pleasure, enthusiasm, and recently-applied Visine that I offer you Pineapple Express, which just may be the Casablanca of Pot Comedies. Or perhaps it's more like When Ultra-High Harry Met Super-Stoned Sally, but either way Pineapple Express showcases some of the funniest "weed culture" insights since the arrival of Richard Linklater's fantastic Dazed & Confused -- which I wouldn't call a full-bore "pot comedy," but it sure isn't shy about passing those joints around. Best of all, while Pineapple Express will absolutely appeal to both the casual and committed pot-smokers, it's also just a very funny buddy comedy / action flick parody that comes bearing the very unique stamp of director David Gordon Green.

Continue reading SDCC Review: Pineapple Express

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]]>comic conComicCondavid gordon greenDavidGordonGreenfeaturedjames francoJamesFrancojudd apatowJuddApatowpineapple expressPineappleExpresssan diegoSanDiegoseth rogenSethRogenScott WeinbergMon, 28 Jul 2008 21:03:00 ESTSDCC '08: The All-Star 'Celebrities Tolerate Weinberg' Gallery!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-the-all-star-celebrities-tolerate-weinberg-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-the-all-star-celebrities-tolerate-weinberg-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-the-all-star-celebrities-tolerate-weinberg-gallery/#commentsFiled under: ,



I don't ask for autographs, I don't send fan letters, and I certainly don't wait around in front of hotels or press lines -- but I do get to attend some verrrrry geeky movie events, I do have a few very cool friends, and (get this) I'm a pretty friendly and sincere guy. So sometimes I get cool snapshots. Call it a hobby inspired by the time I did a (very brief) Sundance interview with the monolithic James Woods and walked away without a photo with one of my actor-heroes. (Despite the fact that I had a perfectly good camera in my pocket.) Plus I work for a cool movie blog, which means I can get photos like these and actually call it ... work! (muffled giggles)

My gracious thanks to everyone in and behind the photos. And my apologies to everyone else for my always looking so bald, sweaty, and tired. (You only see pictures of me when I'm exhausted. Plus I'm just plain old goofy looking, so save your comments.)

Gallery: SDCC '08: Celebrities Tolerate Weinberg

Zack Gunn is fun!OZYMANHATTANOMGWhedon!Hail to the King

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]]>billy crudupBillyCrudupbruce campbellBruceCampbellcelebrities tolerate weinbergCelebritiesTolerateWeinbergcomic con 08ComicCon08derek mearsDerekMearsfrank darabontFrankDarabontjames gunnJamesGunnjennifer connellyJenniferConnellyjohn fallonJohnFallonjoss whedonJossWhedonkiefer sutherlandKieferSutherlandmatthew goodeMatthewGoodesan diegoSanDiegozack snyderZackSnyderScott WeinbergMon, 28 Jul 2008 18:32:00 ESTSDCC: James Gunn to Invade Xbox, Reality TV, and Ben Stillerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-james-gunn-to-invade-xbox-reality-tv-and-ben-stiller/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-james-gunn-to-invade-xbox-reality-tv-and-ben-stiller/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-james-gunn-to-invade-xbox-reality-tv-and-ben-stiller/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

From Troma to indie superheroes to to cartoon adaptations to big-time monster-fests, James Gunn is a filmmaker I like to keep an eye on from time to time. I find his Slither to be a supremely entertaining mixture of comedy and horror, his The Specials a very funny little comedy (at least a whole lot funnier than the similar Mystery Men), and his Tromeo & Juliet the finest thing ever produced by Lloyd Kaufman's Troma team. And while director Zack Snyder did a great job on the Dawn of the Dead remake, let's not forget who penned the adaptation: Gunn did it. Basically, if I had the skills required to write and direct movies, they'd probably look a lot like James Gunn's flicks -- only with more nudity. (Oh, and check out LolliLove some time. Funny little film.)

So when we got a late call during Comic-Con asking us if we'd like to do a brief sit-down with Jimmy Gunn, I said "Heck, yeah. That guy's a nut." (That was literally what I said. Ask Erik.) And since I'd actually met James once before, it was much more laid-back than your typical interview. James Gunn is sort of like a grown-up child, which I mean as a compliment, and that always makes an interview a bit more entertaining. Plus he has great taste in schlock.

Continue reading SDCC: James Gunn to Invade Xbox, Reality TV, and Ben Stiller

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]]>andrew douglasAndrewDouglasdavid sladeDavidSladehumanzeejames gunnjames wanJamesGunnJamesWanmarcus nispelMarcusNispelscream queensScreamQueensslitherxbox 360 comedy shortsXbox360ComedyShortsScott WeinbergMon, 28 Jul 2008 13:32:00 ESTNews Round-Up for Monday, July 28http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/news-round-up-for-monday-july-28/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/news-round-up-for-monday-july-28/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/news-round-up-for-monday-july-28/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Q. Why is Cinematical not posting as much as it usually does? What's going on with the site? Did everyone go on vacation at the same time? Will things return to normal anytime soon? Can you tell us anything?

A. "We're still operating, we're undergoing an editorial readjustment, things will be back to normal on August 1st."

Here's a round up of news for today:

  • The Wolverine Comic Con trailer has leaked online, and you can watch it in two parts -- one here, one here. I missed this footage when it premiered, and have to say that I love what I see. Hopefully Fox will put it online soon.
  • Speaking of trailers, Oliver Stone's W now has a teaser thingy online over at Moviefone. And, honestly, it doesn't look too bad. Definitely teases; definitely has me interested. You?
  • Shia LaBeouf took one step closer to becoming a "normal" celebrity after he crashed his car and was arrested for suspicion of DUI early Sunday morning.
  • Wes Craven admits to talking to Bob Weinstein about doing another Scream movie. Fans everywhere scream, "F*ck no, dude! Leave it alone!"
  • A collection of 20 Heath Ledger as the Joker t-shirts and where you can buy them.
  • Following a $75 million take this past weekend, The Dark Knight has now grossed $355 million worldwide. Also of note: Step Brothers took home $30 million and The X-Files: I Want to Believe managed $10.2 million.
  • Ridley Scott's revisionist Robin Hood tale, Nottingham, has been delayed indefinitely. The Hollywood Reporter cites "script concerns, location logistics and the current labor unrest all played a role in the decision." Production was supposed to begin next month, and will now most likely be pushed back to next year.
  • Vampires are hot these days, and Family Guy writer David A. Goodman has just been brought on to adapt Blatant Comics' Last Blood, about "the human survivors of a zombie massacre who find themselves protected by a band of vampires who need their blood to survive." Nice.
More coming later ...

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]]>cinematicallast bloodLastBloodnottinghamscream 4Scream4shia labeouf duiShiaLabeoufDuithe dark knightTheDarkKnightwolverine trailerWolverineTrailerErik DavisMon, 28 Jul 2008 12:02:00 ESTSDCC '08: Being Lara Crofthttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-being-lara-croft/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-being-lara-croft/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/28/sdcc-08-being-lara-croft/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Above: Cinematical's Comic Con team: Scott Weinberg, Elisabeth Rappe and Erik Davis

As we sat at a rather tame (but fun!) Masters of Web party, Erik Davis kept showing me the comments that were being left on his hotties of con post -- a category that I honestly don't feel I belong in! But I appreciate the compliments of my bosses and our readers, so thanks! Amidst the post-con stupor that is hanging over San Diego today, I thought I'd give you a little insight as to what it's like to hit the floor in costume. If you've been to con, you've probably taken a photo with someone like me, or at least wondered how or why we do it.

Frankly, I can't even explain the why. I like making costumes, I like wearing them, and I like having my obsessive attention to detail appreciated by others. But I still experience a level of total embarrassment upon walking out of my hotel room. Hell, I even experience it as I strap on my guns. I can't believe I'm doing this. Last year, it clung throughout the two days I spent in costume because the responses to Croft and Queen Gorgo were so tepid -- but this year it vanished as soon as I walked in and was mobbed. (Ok, it didn't entirely vanish -- meeting the lovely Lena Headey while dressed this way was pretty cringe-worthy. I wouldn't exactly want to meet Hugh Jackman or Gerard Butler while sporting those implants, either.)

Continue reading SDCC '08: Being Lara Croft

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]]>ComicCon 2008Comiccon2008costumeselisabeth rappeElisabethRappeLara CroftLaraCroftSDCC 2008Sdcc2008Elisabeth RappeMon, 28 Jul 2008 11:03:00 ESTSDCC '08 Panel: 'Terminator: Salvation'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-panel-terminator-salvation/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-panel-terminator-salvation/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-panel-terminator-salvation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



This was one of the panels I was most looking forward to because I desperately wanted to walk away from it with even more good vibes than I already had. Though I still chuckled every time someone prefaced a question with "This is for McG ...," the guy definitely "brought it" to Comic Con. You could tell this dude really wanted to sell the audience; he wanted to sell them on another Terminator flick, he wanted to sell them on it being directed by a dude named McG and he wanted to bottle up his enormous energy and sell that too. The guy was amped up to a level just beneath "Okay this is uncomfortable," and the panel audience was virtually high-fiving him the entire time.

The Footage

I wasn't sure what we'd be seeing as far as footage from the film went, since they were still right in the middle of shooting and, well, you wouldn't expect anything too polished. But to my surprise they managed to throw together an enticing little two-or-so-minute teaser that was gritty, grimy, familiar and --pardon the language -- pretty f**king rad. I was too engulfed to write down every second of the thing, but it basically consisted of a number of quick snippets of gunfire, Anton Yelchin (as a young Kyle Reese) saying stuff like, "Come with me if you want to live," a little of Sam Worthington (who seems like the kind of guy that'd clock you for staring at him for more than three seconds), Moon Bloodgood (hot name for a hottie actress), Common (who I assume plays the obligatory post-apocalyptic black dude) and, of course, those T-600 robots (the film takes place in 2018, 11 years before Arnold's T-800 existed).

Gallery of panel below; more after the jump ...

Gallery: SDCC: 'Terminator Salvation' Panel

Continue reading SDCC '08 Panel: 'Terminator: Salvation'

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]]>anton yelchinAntonYelchinchristian baleChristianBalecinematicalcomic conComicConmcgmoon bloodgoodMoonBloodgoodsam worthingtonSamWorthingtonsan diego comic conSanDiegoComicCont-600terminator salvationterminator salvation trailerTerminatorSalvationTerminatorSalvationTrailerErik DavisSun, 27 Jul 2008 23:03:00 ESTSDCC Bites: Parties, Pixar and Everything In Betweenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-bites-parties-pixar-and-everything-in-between/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-bites-parties-pixar-and-everything-in-between/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-bites-parties-pixar-and-everything-in-between/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Our Comic Con came to a sweet finish last night at the Wrath of Con mega party hosted by folks like IESB, Bloody-Dee and Lakeshore. The roof at the Hard Rock Hotel here in San Diego was packed with writers, celebrities, dancers, rock stars and girls with tape on their boobs. It was a pretty fun night, and since the Crank 2 trailer screened at one point, the whole thing is a write off! While our tired Cinematical crew travels home today, here's a bunch of stuff to keep you busy till we come back tomorrow with the remainder of our coverage, including a very cool interview with James Gunn and our annual "Celebrities Love Weinberg" gallery.

  • Disney debuted a teaser thingy for Pixar's Up, which will hit theaters next summer.
  • The Terminator: Salvation panel was a blast, McG came out pumped and the extended trailer looked awesome. We'll have more from the panel and our interviews, but a couple things: The next trailer will debut with Quantum of Solace, it's not a definite PG-13 at this time (they have the studio's blessing should it turn into an R-rated affair), the film will end on a cliffhanger, the Con poster is to the right and a model of the T-600 is above, and, finally, watching Yelchin (as a young Kyle Reese) say "Come with me if you want to live" in the trailer gave me goosebumps.
  • AICN tells us that Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander has been booted from the film. She didn't show here at Con because she was on her "honeymoon," and she's wrapped up in a non-disclosure which means she ain't talking either. Why can't anyone make a Punisher flick without f**king it up? Is it really that hard to get one right?
  • John Campea interviewing the girls from Bitch Slap in their hotel room ... in bed with them ... has to go down as THE interview at Con. Special Cinematical props go out to the entire team from Bitch Slap for marketing the hell out of their film at Con, guerilla-style throughout the entire weekend.
  • Sam Raimi told the audience during his Drag Me to Hell panel that he's considering an Evil Dead 4.
  • EW has a whole slew of photos from Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
  • Watchmen website now online. I'll be reading this as soon as I get home.
  • Moviefone has some great preview and wrap up posts, along with even more galleries.
  • Francis Lawrence making prequel to I Am Legend starring Will Smith.
  • Who's buying this Heath Ledger as the Joker bobblehead doll?
  • Finally, IGN has debuted a red band trailer for Quarantine.
We love you, we miss you and we'll be home soon. Leave the light on ...

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]]>bitch slapBitchSlapcinematicalcomic conComicConpunisher war zonePunisherWarZonequarantineterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationunderworld rise of the lycansUnderworldRiseOfTheLycanswatchmenErik DavisSun, 27 Jul 2008 12:02:00 ESTSDCC '08: Hottest of Comic Con Gallery!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-08-hottest-of-comic-con-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-08-hottest-of-comic-con-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-08-hottest-of-comic-con-gallery/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Above: Our favorite Rotten Tomato Jen Yamato shows us why it's totally hot to be a little on the plump side.

Yes, as we do every year, it is now time to stare at a group of people who are much hotter than us even when they're dressed up as complete lunatics. I was telling Mr. Weinberg this afternoon how Comic Con is the strangest entity in that on one half of the street you have a massive amount of hardcore geeks dressed in the most peculiar costumes resembling their favorite comic book/movie/cartoon/whatever heroes. Then, on the other side of the street, you have these swanky Hollywood parties where you need to have an agent or manager and your own TV show to even be considered for the guest list. It's an odd scene, I'll say, but that doesn't mean we've had a bad time. Quite the contrary, actually, as we've met and reunited with some of our favorite people in the world over the weekend.

What does this have to do with Con hotties, Erik? And will you please shut up for five seconds so we can see your damn photos and move on with our boring lives?

Everything! And of course! Enjoy!

Below: Cinematical's Elisabeth Rappe gets down with her bad Tomb Raider self ...


Gallery: Hottest of 2008 Comic Con!

Robert Rordriguez and Rose McGowanLena Headey

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]]>cinematicalcomic con hottest photosComicConHottestPhotosjen yamatoJenYamatorotten tomatoesRottenTomatoesErik DavisSat, 26 Jul 2008 23:02:00 ESTSDCC Review: The Midnight Meat Trainhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-review-the-midnight-meat-train/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-review-the-midnight-meat-train/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/26/sdcc-review-the-midnight-meat-train/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Easily the best Clive Barker adaptation since the first Hellraiser film, Ryuhei Kitamura's The Midnight Meat Train is so absolutely a "horror fans only" experience that I'm not surprised that Lionsgate wants to give it only a cursory theatrical release before dumping it into DVD. I do not mean that as a knock on the film. As a matter of fact, this is certainly one of the most effective horror films of the year -- but man, oh man... it would be a really tough sell on 1,200 screens. It's kind of an unfair catch-22 where certain horror movies are concerned: if you "go dark," dabble in grimness, and don't cater to the under-18 crowd, then there's a good chance your "hardcore" horror movie will debut on DVD (at best) or, like The Mist and The Ruins, arrive in theaters very quietly.

But let's hear it for the filmmakers who still insist on pushing the envelope, giving the horror fans something dark and challenging, and focusing more on mood, atmosphere, and scares more than in catering to the widest audience possible. Frankly, if The Midnight Meat Train hits only 100 screens (which is Lionsgate's current plan), I'd take that as a compliment paid to the movie: This is not a mainstream horror flick. If all you know of horror films is stuff like Prom Night, consider yourself warned.

Continue reading SDCC Review: The Midnight Meat Train

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]]>bradley cooperBradleyCooperclive barkerCliveBarkercooldarkgoryjeff buhlerJeffBuhlerleslie bibbLeslieBibbmidnight meat trainMidnightMeatTrainroger bartRogerBartryuhei kitamuraRyuheiKitamurasicktwistedvinnie jonesVinnieJonesScott WeinbergSat, 26 Jul 2008 21:03:00 EST