Looking Forward to The Secret Saturdays

Next Friday evening will be the debut of this great monster movie/Johnny Quest mash-up called The Secret Saturdays on Cartoon Network. The show is the creation of Jay Stephens, a guy who has come up with comic books Jetcat and The Land of Nod then went on to make the animated series Tutenstien.

I'm looking forward to this show as from what I have read and seen, it looks like a show that has parts of shows like the aforementioned Quest show and bits of Scooby-Doo along with the great parts of classic monster movies and a smidge of superheroics. Without giving too much away, it is the story of a family of three scientific adventures who are fighting against an evil, egocentric villain while trying to discover more about a species called Cryptids.

To find out more and to play a great online 2-d scroller game, go to the Cartoon Network website. The Secret Saturdays will premeire October 3rd at 8PM EST.

Sphere: Related Content

New 2-Disc set for "Superman: Doomsday" in November

Shocker, Warner Brothers/DC decided to do the same crap that all of the other movie houses are doing and issue amopre extensive version of a previously released DVD. This one is for Superman: Doomsday which was released over a year agoto fair reviews.

This new version includes a second disc with all sorts of extras and docs. there will be a Blu-Ray format release to coincide with this new 2-Disc set. Both versions will be released on November 25th. More info can be had at Worldfinestonline.com.

Shown below is the front and back cover to the 2-Disc release:

Sphere: Related Content

Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine for Wii/DS - When Will It be Out?

A nice surprise that I received in my inbox was a short message from the Wife. While receiving messages from her are always a treat, this one was especially nice since it had a URL for the aforementioned Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine for the Wii. A press release from the developers (Destineer Studios) and its synication partners (United Media) was sent out in early March of this year and somehow I missed it. This is nothing new for long-time readers but this game should have been on my Pop Culture radar as it would definitely be something that I would be interested in picking up being a big fan of the Cooking Mama series.

Although, after viewing the trailer and doing some quick research, I do have a few doubts about the actual viability of the game. First, the release date was supposed to be this summer, which ends in less than one week for those of you who use the Mayan Calendar. Second, the trailer has zero demo screens or even game play screen shots - not a good sign for a game to be released in less than six months. Third, the trailer used the old Wii box design - another knock on the possible timeliness of the release. And more important, the site hasn't been updated since the press release.

Individually, these factors might not seem too bad but all together, it spells not only a slight delay but a very lengthy one. As everyone kows, nothing kills the gamer buzz on a game if the developers fail to deliver on the expected release date and that even includes the non-hardcore Wii gamers. Unless the game blatantly rips off the Cooking Mama gaming engine or goes for the $19.99 el cheapo route, I would be more than surprised if the game is actually released prior to Christmas 2008.

Sphere: Related Content

Would you like to watch the Watchmen?

Just a quick weekend post but it's all about the upcoming Watchmen movie. First, Steve over at KFR posted a link to the new Watchmen trailer at Apple's website. The 2+ minute trailer is both thrilling to see these characters come to cinematic life yet the look of the "Batman & Robin"-style costumes still makes me more than a little hesitant about how faithful the adaptation will be.

Then, Entertainment Weekly has a great article (which you can read online here) about the movie and the development hell that it went through to get to the point where it is today. Here's the cover to said EW:

Lastly, in the same EW issue, there is a link to download what is being called a "motion comic" for the first chapter of the Watchmen mini-series. I have watched the comic and for what it is, it's a great companion piece to the movie. Hearing the narration and having a score behind the comic does give the show more depth than I thought it would. I can definitely see this being on the eventual double DVD disc release near the end of 2009. To download the 24+ minute chapter, you need to have iTunes installed and click here.

Sphere: Related Content

"Wolverine & The X-Men" trailer online - Now without zero Foo

Here's the updated and "official" trailer for the new animated Wolverine & the X-Men series. There are a couple new scenes with more fanboy eye candy (meaning the introduction of more superheroes) but it still looks off to me. Maybe it's the fact that Logan is front and center on a team where he's more of an hot-headed anti-hero. Or maybe it's the fact that Professor X and Jean Grey are taken out of the series entirely. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the fact that Cyclops wears a friggin bolero jacket and looks awful. Oh well, at least the trailer gets rid of the Foo Fighters song that the original trailer obviously did not get approval for and was not really appropriate in the first place.

Check it out for yourself below and make your own decision. Then, post that opinion in the comments. I dare you.

Sphere: Related Content

Your Random Facts for May 7

Trying to see through last night's funk that was Game 1 of the Cavs versus the Celts, here are your facts for today:

• Want to major in the GTA4 lifestyle? Go to SDSU and pledge Theta Chi.
• Marvel movies that are coming up - Iron Man 2 in April 2010, Thor in June 2010, First Avenger: Captain America in May 2011 and The Avengers in July 2011 so says Reuters.
• Lastly, there are no decent regular CDs released this week but if you're in the mood for some good music, you might want to check out Snack Time by the Barenaked Ladies. From what I've heard, it's really an all-ages listen.

Sphere: Related Content

The Other Side of Harvey Dent from "The Dark Knight"

Editor's Note - It appears that the image has been removed from its source. If anyone has another copy, please let the link in the comments. Thx, Mgmt

Yes, this is the other side of scarred District Attorney Harvey Dent, otherwise known as Two Face from this summer's The Dark Knight movie. As you can see, this is definitely not your older brother's (or Joel Schumaker's) version from 12 years ago. But as is the case with much of Christopher Nolan's take on DC's Batmythos, the more realistic, the better.

The image above was posted originally on the supreme comic industry gossip site, Lying In the Gutters, but said image was removed by the columnist (Rich Johnson) due to a request by Warner Brothers. Fortunately, I found this image on a Batman board (1966 Batman Board).

But is everything as it seems? It may not be, according to Batman-On-Film.com:

It's real, however it's one of the very early concept designs (remember what I reported to you regarding the look of The Joker before that was public knowledge? This image of Two Face is from around the same period of early design tests). Just like the early concept design of The Joker largely informed the final look, it wasn't dead on (i.e. They decided to retain the purple suit rather than the raggedy, pieced together costume, etc), but certain elements carried through to the final screen version (The “Cut Smile“).

In the case of this particular design, it's closer to what you'll see than that early Joker design was, but it's not a good representation of what it looks like on camera (and, as I alluded to above, it's not *exactly* what the screen look is). It's not really what you'll see in the movie, but the general idea is still very much intact.

I don't mean to be overly cryptic, but I know that a lot of people are trying to retain the surprise of the Two-Face look, and this concept art doesn't properly represent what Aaron looks like onscreen.”

My take? I'm a fan of Christopher Nolan in general and of Batman Begins in particular and I like the look as it is. It stays true to the overall tone of Batman Begins without going all the way into the horror disfigurement. And let's be honest - when someone, even a well-to-do District Attorney, get acid thrown in the face, that person will not walk away looking like Tommy Lee Jones with green skin on one side of their face.

Sphere: Related Content

New Dark Knight Trailer hits the Web

The one bummer about living in a Podunk town is not getting a hit of some great pop culture exploits. One of these is the whole hyper-viral Dark Knight campaign. I would've loved to take part in this treasure hunt-style zaniness that Warner Brothers is crafting. But thanks to the latest advances in technology, anyone with an Internet connection can at least experience the same thrill of seeing the new trailer (albeit filtered through a crappy phone camera). Click on the image of the Joker to see the trailer in its entirety.

Sphere: Related Content

Paramount bumps release date for Iron Man

Maybe in an effort to get as much money as possible as the first entrant into this summer of Superhero Blockbuster/Tentpole movies, Paramount has slightly bumped the release date for Iron Man from May 2nd to the night of May Day otherwise known as May 1st. So, while there will be reviews for this film by that night on the blogosphere, come back here on Friday night for the Fanatical Review of Iron Man.

Sphere: Related Content

"The Spirit" Teaser trailer online

Here's the first teaser trailer for the Frank Miller-helmed The Spirit:

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

My random thoughts from the minute plus glimpse - Don't look like the Will Eisner's Spirit that I've read; color scheme looks off; While hard-boiled is an element in the comic book version, it's over-the-top here; If I didn't know any better (read non-comic reader), I would've said that this CGI/Green Screen-centric pic looks like a sequel to Sin City and that's not a compliment. Overall, I have a feeling that this movie will fall into this year's superhero cinematic reject pile with the likes of Wanted, the new Hulk movie and Speed Racer.

Sphere: Related Content

Iron Man MySpace Exclusive

The press machine continues for Shellhead's new movie with this little exclusive MySpace snipet. I'm usually of the mindset that anything is too hyped, I tend to not only ignore it but look down my nose upon said material as a piece of mainstream bastardization. and yet, I still crave more and more of this movie. Damn you, Farveau. Damn you bloody good.

Sphere: Related Content

New HULK Video Game Trailer Online

Here's a first look of SEGA's new HULK video game. I'm not digging it as much as the new Iron Man (or even the Lego Batman) game but it still could be a keeper. See for yourself:

Sphere: Related Content

"Zack and Miri" make a website

Yesterday, the website for Kevin Smith's latest venture, Zack And Miri Make a Porno, went live. Nothing other than a nice flash slideshow and an excerpt from Entertainment Weekly hyping the script is on the main page. But never fear; I'm sure that it will be chockful of stuff once the release date closes in (aside from what the director may say). And just remember kiddies, this movie has nothing to do with The Asknewiverse. So, just because Jeff Anderson and Jason Mewes appear on said flick does not mean that their characters are any way, shape or form related to Randal Graves or Jay respectively.

PS. Sorry for lack of items today but it is vacation time and those damn time management skills are on holiday as well which means posting may be on the light side until next week. Cheers!

Sphere: Related Content

Grudge Match - Weinsteins versus Star Wars "Fanboys"

Who has the power in movie today - the film houses or the ticket buyers? That argument kinda played out this weekend as a grassroots campaign to boycott the Weinstein Brothers' spoof "Superhero Movie" was held this weekend (Friday to be more specific) by a group of Star Wars fans angry about the post-production re-edit of "Fanboys", a movie about a group of friends storming LucasFilms' Skywalker Ranch to see Episode I.

So, who wons? Well, if you go by just the sheer numbers, you would have that the ticket buyers won the battle since the movie only took in $9.5 million in the opening week versus the predicted $14-19 million range. But I think that the real reason that the movie underperformed was crystallized by the "Joe Loves Crappy Movies" webstrip:



However, if you read between the lines (minimal turnout claimed by Weinstein; an over-staffed security force by the protesters), the Weinsteins might win the war since you figure in that they have the power to shelf "Fanboys" indefinitely which really is a posing proposition for both sides. But for me, I'm coming out a winner since I found a new webstrip that I didn't know about but that I'm really digging. Thanks, Harv.

If you want to learn more on the protest, you can hit the Stop Darth Weinstein website.

Sphere: Related Content

"Brooklyn's Finest" writer isn't an Overnight sensation

Yahoo! Movies has a great article on Michael Martin, the new screenwriter of the upcoming Antoine Fuqua-directed "Brooklyn's Finest" and possibly the new writer of New Jack 2. What's surprising about the story is that he's still at his old job even after he sold his first screenplay. It's obvious that he's hasn't become the next Troy Duffy.

For those of you who may not recognize Duffy's name, he sold a screenplay to Miramax and turned that deal into becoming a director of the movie he wrote plus got his band to score the movie. There was also talk of Duffy going in 50/50 ownership with one of Miramax's heads, Harvey Weinstein, in purchasing the bar where he was tending bar. Until his ego went unchecked and he blew it all away.

The movie finally was released with a significantly reduced budget. And there was a documentary crew to catch all of the highs and lows of this epic instant success turned into career flame-out. The movie was Boondock Saints. The documentary was Overnight.

If I would have to pick one to watch, I would go for Overnight every time. Not only is it a great snapshot of the time where the "Indie Movie" scene was blowing up to mainstream success and that you get to see a ton of flannel but it a great character study on how someone should not act once they make it "big" in Hollywood. Success can certain happen overnight but it can be taken away just as quickly.

Sphere: Related Content

IndianaJonesShop.com Opens on Tuesday

Not Sure if this is an April's Fool joke but it appears that the official online shop for the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is going to be online on April 1 wiht a special 10% off everthing in the store.

I don't know about you but I might be tempted to pick up the new theatrical poster for me and a couple of figures for the kids. Very tempted, I must say.

Sphere: Related Content

NYCC blowing up with Miller and Mendes on "The Spirit" panel

Next month's New York Comic-Con just getting bigger and bigger. The latest news is the announcement of "The Spirit" movie panel with none other than the comic book icon Frank Miller and comic book movie veteran Eva Mendes. There will be other suits also on the panel, which will be moderated by former Rolling Stone reporter, now current MTV old man Kurt Loder, plus a clip from the movie will be previewed by those in attendance. More information can be found in the press release below:

New York Comic Con (NYCC) today announced Lionsgate will be at its 2008 event promoting THE SPIRIT, based on the classic comic book series created by Will Eisner and written for the screen and directed by Frank Miller.

At NYCC, production partners Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment will present an exclusive first look at THE SPIRIT on Saturday, April 19 in New York Comic Con's IGN Theater, featuring the world premiere of the film’s teaser trailer. Mr. Miller and Ms. Mendes will be on hand to speak about their respective roles in the upcoming film, which is produced by Deborah Del Prete, Gigi Pritzker and Michael Uslan. Co-CEO of Odd Lot Entertainment Deborah Del Prete and Michael Uslan, President of Comic Book Movies, will also be speaking. MTV News Correspondent Kurt Loder will moderate the panel and the teaser trailer will debut to a global audience on MTV.com later that night in high definition, and on MTV the week of April 21. NYCC will also feature the debut of the film’s first teaser poster, which Mr. Miller and Ms. Mendes will sign in a formal autograph session scheduled for 5:00pm.

New York Comic Con is the second largest popular culture event in the United States and features guests including Neil Gaiman, Mike Mignola, Grant Morrison, and T.M.Revolution.

Frank Miller is an American writer, artist, and director best known for his film noir-style comic book stories. He is one of today’s most widely-recognized and influential graphic novelists. His works include The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and 300. Eva Mendes can be seen in films including Training Day, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Hitch, We Own The Night, Ghost Rider, and this fall’s The Women. She plays Sand Saref in the new film. THE SPIRIT, which debuted in 1940, chronicles the adventures of a masked vigilante working on behalf of the police and is still regarded today for its deep and diverse narratives spanning film noir and crime drama as well as adventure, mystery, horror, comedy and romance.

"New York Comic Con welcomes the legendary Frank Miller with open arms, and we're delighted to have an actress of Ms. Mendes's caliber join us," Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "It is a true honor to have them with us, and we earnestly thank all our friends at Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment who are making this spectacular event possible."

Sphere: Related Content

"Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow" trailer now online

Marvel and Lions Gate have released the trailer for the next Direct-to-DVD video, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow. The movie follows the offspring of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes (mentored by Tony Stark) as they avenge their parents by taking on the mechanized evil of Ultron. Here's the trailer:



These Direct-to-DVD have been somewhat inconsistant from being quite decent (the sublime Doctor Strange and the first Ultimate Avengers movies) to the so-so (Iron Man was ehh) to the awful (Ultimate Avengers 2 was just laughable). Jusging by this trailer, this one has the potential to be, at least, similar to the great Teen Titans series but we'll have to wait until this summer to find out if those first impressions are good ones.

Sphere: Related Content

Dark Knight back on the Viral Campaign

After making some changes to their decidedly viral marketing promotion due to Heath Ledger's passing, it appears that the Ad team who is running the Warner Brothers has decided to go for a different tact than the "Why Be So Serious?" one of late last year, according to SlashFilm. This new initiative has a a couple of vans tooling around the country in efforts to campaign Harvey Dent for District Attorney while having some Dent "protesters" with slogans like "Dent is Two-Faced", "Your Future Decided by a Coin Flip" and "Change We Can't Believe In!"; all phrases are in reference to the eventual turn of Dent to the double head coin-flipping villain Two-Face.

I am a real big fan of this type of viral advertising. My own brush with one was with the first X-Men film. FOX had mutant protesters outside Clinton's Re-Election celebration in downtown DC and had some cameramen take some footage of it for some sort of publicity. I tried to get closer and talk with the protesters but security wasn't having any of it. Totally bummer because I wanted to find out how to get involved with that stuff because it looked like a blast. Just like this one does. Man, to be young and willing to work for nothing...

Sphere: Related Content

The A-Team Movie Gets a Date

EOnline (through Yahoo!) is reporting that the hazy details for the new A-Team movie are coming into focus. According to industry trade Variety, the release date for this 80's gem of a TV show is June 12, 2009 with John Singelton tapped to be the director and the guys who wrote the 3:10 To Yuma remake named as screenwriters. And while there is no cast named, Woody Harrelson is the director's choice to be Murdoch while Ice Cube has stated previously that he would be down with playing B.A. Baracus; Mohawk (and probably chain) in all. Here's to hoping that the movie will be as fun as the first Charlie's Angels movie and nothing like the lameness that was the Dukes of Hazard.

Sphere: Related Content