I know what you're thinking -- "Well, that's just silly. Why would I want to watch the opening credits of a film?" Well, because these opening credits were designed by Danny Yount. I'm willing to bet you've watched and marveled over his work before. He did the opening credits for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Six Feet Under, and the closing credits of Iron Man. His latest masterpiece is RocknRolla, and he's put it up online for you to enjoy on his official site. As far as I'm concerned, Yount is resurrecting a lost art, a care that used to be lavished on movie titles in the glorious golden days of Hitchcock. Watch it, enjoy, and wish that more movie productions would take the time and trouble to hire an artist like him.

[via the brilliant Mr. Beaks on Ain't It Cool News]

Empire Online has an exclusive new tv spot for RocknRolla -- you would swear you were watching the beginning of Snatch with this bit, but even if it is the typical Guy Ritchie, I'm ok with that. There are movies that I demand innovation in, and then there are comfort films where I know I'm going to have a good time. RocknRolla looks like it may fit that. And frankly, it looks a bit sexier than any of Guy Ritchie's previous outings. I love the little moment between Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler at the end of this one. (Is it that easy to get into Butler's place?)

But remember, readers, this movie is very English and therefore you probably won't understand any of it. I know I don't -- what with their teatime biscuits, bangers and mash, toad-in-a-hole, and warm beer. It's just such an alien culture. We know there's no gangsters there, just jolly chimney sweeps and flying nannies. And we all know Scotsmen only wear kilts and blue paint -- I don't know what this Butler's playing at.

RocknRolla (may) open in a theatre near you on October 31st. I've also embedded the American trailer below, seeing as it hit the wires while I was scribbling notes at the panel. Not that you'll understand such a European thing, anyway.

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.

The story behind my RocknRolla coverage could actually be a Guy Ritchie film -- you'd have to add a few car chases and shoot-outs, but I think the framework is there. Due to the insanity of Hall H, I decided I would sit through the next three panels in order to be guaranteed a seat at RocknRolla. My phone rings. "RocknRolla press. Here's the room. You've got five minutes." I grab my tape recorder, and phone, and I run. I run up the escalator, yoga and stomach crunches actually paying off as I arrive with only the minor warnings of a heart attack.

And once I get in, what befalls me? Only an entire slew of strange technical difficulties -- my tape recorder refused to record, as did my cell phone, and my cell phone camera decided to take half the photo in blinding white, half in black. Naturally, everything worked outside the room, so go figure, and thank goodness for good old fashioned pen and paper, eh? There must have been something on my face -- shock, fear, or the paleness of impending death / bad coverage because Gerard Butler took one look at me, and stuck his tongue out in a "Total insanity, right?!" face. (At least, that's how I interpreted it. I hope he wasn't commenting on my appearance or broken tape recorder.)

After the trailer comes the first poster for Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla. It originated on Film1 (Erik posted some cool posters from them yesterday), and was then sent to me by one of the delightful chicks at Gerard Butler GALS. They will be my new best friends if they keep this up.

Compared to the trailer, it's a pretty subdued affair. It's a little bit Smokin' Aces, and a little bit The Boondock Saints, but stylish and badass all on its own. Despite Gerard Butler's torso being so prominent in the trailer, it seems Warner Bros found it a distraction when it came to the poster. They decided to let another actor show off his six-pack, but I think they should have let Tom Wilkinson show off his bald pate instead.

RocknRolla comes to American theatres October 31st. But if you're going to San Diego ComicCon, the rumor is that you'll get a footage fix before then. I'll be there front and center. I need a fix to tide me over until fall.

To be honest, these aren't exactly new glimpses at RocknRolla. These appeared in Empire's June 2008 preview issue, and were scanned in by Gerard Butler's fansites. I'm not ashamed to say I visit his sites once and awhile, as they do snag cool scoops like this. (And he's so pretty to look at!) But I find reposting photos like these, and last week's Game photo, to be problematic. They are really the domain of the magazines who publish them, and I'm not sure they want to share. I also figure that as devoted Butler fans buy the magazines, they should have the "exclusive" scan of them. Ultimately, this makes me lax in my online reporting, but I know the Butler fans are slightly upset that their galleries are being raided in this fashion, so I try not to be one of those pirates. But, as they are spreading across the Internet in rapid fashion, I shall now lay claim to bringing them to Cinematical. More photos are after the jump.