Author: Chris Ullrich

Brand New ‘10,000 B.C.’ Trailer Hits the Net

10000bcsabertooth-7833048I’m not sure what you think of director Roland Emmerich’s previous films such as Independence Day, Stargate, The Day After Tomorrow or Godzilla, but I enjoyed them all. Well, at least the first two. But no matter your feelings about the director’s earlier work, you gotta admit that his latest effort, the prehistoric adventure 10,000 B.C., looks pretty darn interesting — judging by what we’ve seen so far.

Fortunately, you’ll get another chance to find out if Emmerich’s latest is for you because there’s a new, just-released trailer for the film over at Yahoo movies. Chock full of action, explosions and plenty of giant CGI creatures, this movie looks like a great ride and this trailer only serves to peak my interest in the film even further.

The film, which features Omar Shariff as well as a cast of relative unknowns including Steve Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis and Tim Barlow, tells the epic story of D’Leh (Straight) a young mammoth hunter and his journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe. Along the way he faces many challenges and pitfalls until finally, his very life is at stake during a massive fight to determine not only his future, but the future of everything he’s ever known.

10,000 B.C. hits theaters November 30th.

NBC Universal Will Stream ‘Classic’ Shows Online

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

Recently, NBC Universal announced it will offer full episodes of “classic, fan-favorite series” as streaming videos on four of its network websites beginning later this month. Some of the "classic" TV shows that you’ll be able to get at the various sites include: Swamp Thing, The Crow, the ’70s version of Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, featuring Gil Gerard as Buck and Twiki the robot, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery, William Shatner’s Tek War and Tremors.

According to NBC Universal, you can find the various shows at the following sites:
 
NBC.com: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Emergency, Miami Vice and Night Gallery
 
SciFi.com: Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Night Gallery and Tek War
 
ChillerTV.com: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Crow, Night Gallery, Swamp Thing and Tremors
 
SleuthChannel.com: A-Team, Kojak, Miami Vice, Night Gallery and Simon & Simon
 
What, no Man From U.N.C.L.E or orignal Star Trek? Where’s the love, NBC?

Universal Goes Blu-Ray

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

As we reported previously, Toshiba decided to end HD-DVD so the format conflict between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD is over with Blu-Ray coming out on top. Now, with HD-DVD not an option, Universal has decided to throw its hat completely into the Blu-Ray ring and release all of its High-Def content exclusively in the format.

This announcement leaves Paramount and Dreamworks as the only major players still releasing content on HD-DVD. On switching completely to Blu-Ray, Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Home Entertainment and Universal Digital, had this to say about the company’s decision:

"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray. The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for high-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."

So, what does this mean for current and soon-to-be-released Universal titles already in the HD-DVD format? Who knows. Still, after this announcement, how soon will it be before Paramount drops HD-DVD as well? Nobody in Hollywood likes to hang out with a "loser" so I’ll bet its just a matter of days, not weeks, before we get the announcement. Of course, if we do, we’ll bring you all the details right here at ComicMix.

 

WGA Strike Cost to Los Angeles: $2.5 Billion

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

Today, the Hollywood Reporter has a story highlighting the economic effects the recently settled WGA strike has had on the local Los Angeles economy. Citing an Economic Forcast Report set to be released today by Jack Kyser, noted LA Economist and head of the LA Economic Development Corp, the article paints a somewhat grim picture of the post-strike LA economic situation.

Among the points made by Keyser in the 71-page report is that the strike, which started November 5 and was settled earlier this month, has already cost LA an estimated $2.5 billion in lost revenue. That figure includes lost wages from TV shows that were canceled and films that were put on hold as well as losses by a vast array of support services from, according to the article, "limo drivers to florists."

Kyser also suggested in the report that the cancellation of the Golden Globes alone resulted in a $60 million loss to the LA economy. In addition, other factors will contribute to the economic situation in LA including, according to the article, that leaders of the Screen Actors Guild are "talking tough," so there is growing concern they will go on strike after the union’s labor contract with the studios expires on June 30.

 

 
 

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‘300’ Leads Saturn Award Nominees

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  • February 20, 2008
Today, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films announced its nominees for the 34th Annual Saturn Awards. Topping the list with 10 nominations is Zack Snyder’s 300 with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix following a close second with 9. Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is in the third spot with 8 nominations. 
 
Some of the other films being honored with nominations include The Golden Compass, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Spider-Man 3, which all recieved 4. Also in contention for the coveted Saturn award are The Bourne Ultimatum, Eastern Promises, Enchanted, Grindhouse, Stephen King’s The Mist, No Country for Old Men, Stardust and There Will Be Blood, all of which received 3 nominations. 
 
Turning to the smaller screen, Lost found itself with 7 nominations while Dexter slashed its way to 5 and Heroes stood tall with 4. The Academy also announced two special awards that would be given at the ceremony this year:
 
Director Guillermo del Toro will receive the coveted George Pal Memorial Award and author Tim Lucas will be given a Special Achievement Award for his 2007 book: Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark.
 
This year’s awards show will take place on Tuesday, June 24, in Universal City, California. For the complete list of nominees and more info, head on over to the Saturn Awards official site.

Zack Snyder Thanks Fans With New ‘Watchmen’ Pic

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

Recently, Watchmen Exec. Producer herb Gaines posted his thoughts on the film at its official site now that principal photography on the film is baically complete. Now, the film’s director, Zack Snyder, has followed suit and has posted some thoughts and reflections of his own.

But this time, its not just kind words from Snyder, he’s also included a bonus gift for fans as well — a brand new pic directly from the film itself. This new pic will show, as Snyder says in his post: "How it looks when it all comes together." Sadly, the pic doesn’t reveal the look of Ozymandias, Nite Owl, Doctor Manhattan or really, much detail about the film at all.

However, it does give us Rorschach setting fire to a guy, which is pretty darn cool and will certainly whet the appetite of Watchmen fans everywhere. Heck, it did for me. Come on Zack, how about some more? Soon.

Check out a much larger version of the new pic after the jump.

Watchmen hits theaters March 6, 2009

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Mike Richardson Announced as Stumptown Fest Guest of Honor

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  • February 20, 2008

The Stumptown Comics Fest, an annual celebration of comics and cartooning art in Portland, Oregon, recently announced that it has chosen Dark Horse Comics founder and head-honch Mike Richardson to be its special Guest of Honor at this year’s event.

Festival organizers chose the accomplished (and extremely tall) Richardson for many reasons, some of which are detailed in the events official press release announcing Richardson’s selection:

Under his direction, Dark Horse has gone from a tiny startup during the black-and-white boom of the ‘80s to the biggest independent comics publisher in the nation, featuring such talents as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and the late comics legend Will Eisner, and revolutionizing the industry’s approach to licensed properties through innovative Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Conan, and Aliens/Predator stories.

The Fifth Annual fest will be held on April 26th-27th, 2008, at the Doubletree Hotel Lloyd Center in Portland. To find out more info on the Stumptown Comic Fest, a great event showcasing some exceptional art and artists, check out its official site. 

Marvel Drops 14 New ‘Iron Man’ Movie Wallpapers

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

Usually, I don’t get very excited when Marvel, or any other company for that matter, releases a set of wallpapers for an upcoming movie. I don’t really use them on my computer so they aren’t all that important to me.

However, in this case I’ll make an exception. A jet-boot using, intelligent armor wearing, energy ray throwing, ex-alchoholic leader of the Avengers exception. This is Iron Man, after all.

The latest set of Wallpapers feature all your favorite Iron Man cast members, some in new scenes, including Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, Gwynneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as Jim Rhodes and Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stain (aka Iron Monger).

There’s even a couple of Iron Man himself in action and one of director Jon Favreau as well, just to round out your collection. Go get ’em.

Iron Man hits theaters May 2nd, 2008.

Top Cow and Myspace Comics Announce ‘Pilot Season’ Winners

  • News
  • February 20, 2008

velocitycyblade-6505422Recently, Top Cow Productions and MySpace Comic Books announced the winners of their Pilot Season contest, the first annual event which encouraged established comic book writers to create a pilot for a potential series using characters already well-known by comic fans. During the contest, five potential winners were submitted and the MySpace Comic Book community was told to "Take Control" and vote to determine which two charactes would get their own series in 2008.

The winning titles chosen by over four million voting fans were Velocity and Cyblade, two of the dynamic female characters from Marc Silvestri’s Cyberforce. Both new series are slated to debut in the fall of 2008, just in time for Cyberforce’s 17th anniversary.
 
The new Velocity series will be written by Joe Casey, whose previous credits include The Last Defenders and Youngblood, with art by an as-yet undetermined artist. When told of his new gig, Casey was, as you might expect, excited.
 
"I couldn’t believe the voting topped four million votes," said Casey. "Better than a New Hampshire primary! If only that many folks would buy the comics…! In any case, the Pilot issue was only the beginning of what we’re going to make sure is a wild ride when the new series hits in the fall."
 
The other winning series featuring the character Cyblade will be written by Joshua Hale Fialkov of Marvel Comics Presents and Punks The Comic Book and Rick Mays, writer of Kabuki and Gen 13. Flalkov was also very excited about his latest project and eager to get started.
 
"I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for the book, and I’m positive they won’t be disappointed with where the series goes," said Fialkov. "It’s going to be balls-to-the-wall explodo, and I’m psyched to be along for the ride."
 
For more on the contest and the winning series, head on over to the Pilot Season official site.
 

Marvel Earnings Report Reveals Upcoming Project Details

  • News
  • February 19, 2008

Marvel has released its quarterly company earnings report and according to Comics2Film, many interesting things were revealed in the report, besides how much money Marvel made or didn’t make. According to the site, the report also gives clues about Marvel’s slate of live-action films as well as several new animated titles including a World War Hulk direct-to-video feature and Super Hero Squad TV series.

The Planet Hulk film, planned for a February 2010 release, is being produced by Marvel’s animation partner Lionsgate and joins a roster of upcoming films which already includes Hulk Vs., Next Avengers and Thor: Son of Asgard. However, according to the report, Marvel isn’t just working on direct-to-video animated films, they are also planing several animated TV projects as well.
 
The company is developing a large roster of animated TV series such as Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes, Spectacular Spider-Man, Wolverine and the X-Men, Iron Man: The Animated Series, Hulk: The Animated Series. They are also working on a show called Super Hero Squad, which is a version of the well-known heroes geared towards a much younger audience. 
 
Finally, the report may also reveal that Matthew Vaughn, who was attached as writer and director of the live-action Thor feature, may have left the project because now its listed as "writer engaged" instead of "writer and director engaged." So, some interesting bits of into there. Who knew you could get so much great stuff from an earnings report? I’ll have to pay attention to those more often I guess.
 
Of course, if the Vaughn info turns out to be true, we’ll bring you all the details right here at ComicMix.

 

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