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Review: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Theatrical Reviews », 20th Century Fox », Family Films », Summer Movies »



Pixar and everything else - them's the breaks when it comes to judging computer-animated fare these days. Although Pixar has rightfully earned themselves the lead among studios, and by a significant margin, it's all too easy to then marginalize the performance of others.

DreamWorks has certainly raised their game beyond pure pop-culture recitation with the inventive and entertaining likes of Over the Hedge, Kung Fu Panda, and Monsters vs. Aliens (and Aardman or no, I'd even include the winning Flushed Away among their finer efforts). For every Open Season, Sony has given us a Monster House (okay, so that's just one-for-one at the moment). And every time that Fox bequeaths to unwilling audiences something like Space Chimps or Everyone's Hero, Blue Sky has nothing to do with it.

Fox/Blue Sky, however, is the precise pairing that gives us the visually engaging and moderately amusing outings like Robots, Horton Hears a Who!, and the Ice Age films, with the latest of which -- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs -- falling right in line with that modest-yet-reliable tradition.

'Tintin' Sets a Release Date

Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Foreign Language », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », Sony », Family Films », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Steven Spielberg », Peter Jackson », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Daniel Craig »

Steven Spielberg's The Adventues of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn started filming with so little fanfare that I've nearly forgotten all about it ... but I doubt you diehard Herge fans have. Now you'll have a date to circle on the calender as Variety reports that Tintin will be hitting theaters on December 23, 2011, pitting it against Warner Bros Happy Feet 2 and Disney / PIXAR's The Bear and the Bow. (It may be two years away, but you can offer your box office predictions now if you like!)

At least, that's when it'll be hitting theaters on this side of the pond. Paramount and Sony plan to release the film in Europe first, as befitting its heritage and fanbase. There's no specific dates set, but they're eying a fall dates of late October and early November depending on what part of Europe you're in. If you're very wealthy, you could hop on a plane and catch it a few weeks early.

Variety also reports that the film will be released in 3-D. I guess that's a sign I've lost track of this project as I wasn't aware that was ever in doubt, but apparently the two studios have been debating that the past few months. Now after viewing dailies, they've decided that 3-D "would offer the best rendition" for the film ... and frankly the recent ginormous 3-D successes like Monsters Vs. Aliens probably helped convince them of that.

So, there you are, Tintin fans: December 23, 2011 in 3-D. Excited?

Seth Rogen Will Alienate in 'Paul'

Filed under: Comedy », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Universal », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek »

Seth RogenHe was a monster; now he'll play an alien. Seth Rogen, who voiced the part of a translucent blue Jello-thing in Monsters vs. Aliens, will take on the challenge of voicing the titular character in Greg Mottola's Paul, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. According to Variety, Paul is an escaped alien that science fiction fanatics Pegg and Frost discover in the legendary Area 51.

The article specifies that Rogen will only provide the voice, so I imagine the alien will be a CGI creature, but wouldn't it be fun if Roger played the part in person, and then the special effects people alienated his face and body, converting him into a bizarre, weird alien? (Just a thought.) Also joining the cast are some familiar -- perhaps too familiar -- comic personalities: Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Jane Lynch.

Paul is a road trip movie, so it's likely that Bateman and friends will be playing cameos. I am excited that Pegg and Frost will be teaming up for the first time since Hot Fuzz, in a movie based on a script they wrote together. And Superbad proved that Mottola could spin comedy gold out of a very good script. I'm just hoping that the end result fully reflects the deft, fresh, satiric vision of Pegg and Frost, and that Paul will be a fitting counterpart to the brilliance that was Spaced, their British TV series. Maybe Rogen will be the cherry on top.

Cinematical Seven: Most Pointlessly Disgusting Scenes

Filed under: Comedy », Documentary », Horror », Sony », Universal », 20th Century Fox », Fox Searchlight », Cinematical Seven », Remakes and Sequels », Fox Atomic », Picturehouse »



I can think of at least three movies in the coming two weeks that feature scenes that are strikingly out of tone with the film they're a respective part of and yet seemingly included as a means of getting people to tell their loved ones how ridiculous Bit X in Movie Y is. And so today's Cinematical Seven list will be an arbitrary, far from ultimate compilation of the most distractingly disgusting and supremely superfluous parts in recent movies. Sure, most of these are comedies, and yes, most of them seem to have been released from the year 2000 on, and as always, we welcome your comments below. Just make sure they're not too gross.

(Speaking of which, NSFW clips follow after the jump.)

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are Tintin's Thomson and Thompson

Filed under: Animation », Casting », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »



When you've had trouble getting financing, had to move to a new company, and lost your lead actor, things don't bode well. So, how do you increase confidence in a film about Tintin? You grab Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, naturally. Ohhhh yes, folks!

Variety has confirmed that Pegg and Frost have been cast as Thomson and Thompson -- the mustachioed and bumbling detectives. While they might not be completely identical like the almost-matching men from the comic, I would love to see Simon and Nick dressed up as the pair. This whole deal might be performance capture, but maybe, just maybe, some promo material could be live action? Or maybe a brief live-action short to accompany the film? Please? (If you haven't already guessed, I'm a rabid fan of Hot Fuzz.)

Production is supposed to start in a month, but we're still without our star -- the one who will have to fill Thomas Sangster's shoes. With Pegg and Frost attached, along with Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock, who could hold their own? Freddie Highmore?

Geeky: New 'Star Trek' Trailer and Flash 'Terminator: Salvation' Poster!

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Images », Trailers and Clips », Posters »



A new trailer for J.J. Abrams' Star Trek has just debuted over at AICN, but be warned that it's exactly like the other trailer save for one particular scene that comes right at the end. Yup, I won't tell you exactly what happens, but one look at the image above and you can imagine what you'll see. This particular scene was part of the four Cinematical screened last week, and it takes place on the icy planet where Kirk (Chris Pine) gets sent to. It's there where he meets an older version of Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) and a younger version of Scotty (Simon Pegg). Check out the trailer over at AICN. Star Trek hits theaters on May 8.

Also, a brand new motion poster for Terminator: Salvation just arrived online (check it out at this link). Really digging these flash posters -- this particular one begins on an overhead shot of Los Angeles before slowly transforming into the face of our favorite robot via explosions and fire. Oh, and don't forget that memorable score. Sweet. Terminator Salvation hits theaters on May 22.

Full 'Star Trek' Trailer Arrives Online!

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Remakes and Sequels », Trailers and Clips »



Well, we all kinda expected this, didn't we? The brand new full-length trailer for Star Trek debuted in front of Quantum of Solace this weekend, and since Paramount wanted to wait until Monday to bring it online, a whole host of folks have recorded it inside the theater and posted the trailer to YouTube. I'm sure the studio will make sure these trailers are removed from YouTube shortly, so either get your good look in now or wait until Monday, when the trailer will arrive via the film's official website.

Based on what we see here, though, the flick definitely looks enticing. My favorite part wasn't the opening with young Kirk or the ridiculous-looking action sequences, but when Simon Pegg (as Scotty) says something like, "I like this ship - it's exciting!" We get a little dialogue from the new Spock and Kirk, so I'm curious to hear what you fans think of the new look and sounds of Star Trek? Of course we'll have a more thorough discussion when a better version of this trailer hits on Monday, but feel free to throw in your two cents below.

Star Trek hits theaters on May 8, 2009.



Gallery: Star Trek

Geek Daily: The 'Ghostbusters' Are Back, Warner Bros Takes a 'Headshot", & More

Filed under: Action », Deals », Paramount », Warner Brothers », Fandom », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »



There's a lot of little stuff scattered online today, so I'm combining it all into one post for your easy reading. And the art above? A Halloween treat that's tastier than a mini-Snickers, longer lasting, and a lot less damaging to your waistline. (Substitute the mini-Snickers for your trick-or-treat of choice -- oh, those were the days!)

The news of a third Ghostbusters film has many (including myself) a little nervous. You want to see them return, but you don't want to see the Ghostbusters nuke the fridge alongside Indiana Jones, the Skywalker clan, and John McClane. But there's one way to get a fix without seeing your childhood heroes abused onscreen -- and that's in a comic book. And the Ghostbusters have one, a mini series courtesy of IDW. It hits shelves today, and MTV's Splash Page has a six page preview. It looks like a hell of a lot of fun -- and I really hope my shop has a copy left for me. My childhood obsession (and crush on Venkman) is flooding back already.

Now on to the rest of the news:

Variety reports that Warner Bros has optioned Alexis Nolent's French series Headshot (Du plomb dans la tête) This is the third book of Nolent's (who publishes under the name Matz) to be optioned -- James Mangold has Cyclops in development with Warners, and David Fincher has The Killer over at Paramount. Headshot tells the story of an unlikely alliance between a hitman and a cop, after both men see their partner die. Seeking revenge, they discover they share an enemy, and have more in common than they realized. I hope they both have similar dorky hobbies and problematic children rather than some dark and twisted background, but it's probably the latter. It hasn't been published stateside, but if you're fluent in French, there's a preview here.



Cinematical Quick Chat With Toby Young

Filed under: Comedy », MGM », Interviews »



In a true example of life imitating art, British author Toby Young managed to offend an Oscar-nominated director, a few producers and even the leading lady on the set of the movie adaptation of his novel How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.

But Young -- who can't help but laugh when rehashing outlandish stories about hiring a stripper for the office on Take Your Daughter to Work Day and, ultimately, being tossed aside after Vanity Fair was no longer amused with him -- still maintains that he's actually a very charming guy.

Young talked to us about getting kicked off the movie based on the book he wrote about his life, who he'd cast to play himself if he could choose anyone and why Kirsten Dunst thinks he's a demented stalker.

Discuss: Should 'Spaced' Hit the Big Screen?

Filed under: RumorMonger », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek »



Just like films that keep us guessing in exasperation (I'm looking at you, Mr. Richard 'Before Sunset' Linklater!), television shows often tap into the curious determination of fandom. But often it's after a myriad of seasons and at least a few years worth of investment into a group of characters. But then there are shows that inspire rabid fandom without many years on the little screen, and not because of fan loyalty to a certain star, or director (like, say, Joss Whedon's Firefly). I'm talking about Spaced.

The show only has 14 episodes, dating all the way back to 1999, and yet it's become a huge phenomenon recently. Why? Because it's just that good. Centered on the idea that two almost-strangers decide to pretend that they're a couple to secure a new apartment, Spaced is a cornucopia of geek fandom, weirdness, and laughs. And intermingled in the buzz that the show has captured recently, there's been talk of a continuation. But the big question is: Will it continue on the boob tube, or on the big screen?
 

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