Author: Chris Ullrich

New ‘Iron Man’ Trailer Premieres

New ‘Iron Man’ Trailer Premieres

Earlier in the week I told you that a brand new trailer for Iron Man would premiere during ABC’s Lost this week. In case you missed it or, for some reason don’t happen to watch Lost, here you go:

This latest trailer provided a first look at many elements of Iron Man, including Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, much more of Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark and some new armor test sequences as Stark is trying out his jet boots and learning to fly.

Since seeing the first footage of Iron Man at Comic-Con last July, I’ve always been pretty sure Robert Downey, Jr. was going to be a great Tony Stark. Now, after watching this new trailer where we get to see a lot more of him in action, I’m convinced. Robert Downey, Jr. is Tony Stark.

 

 

Frank Miller on ‘The Spirit’, Actors and Movies

Frank Miller on ‘The Spirit’, Actors and Movies

Over at the official site for Frank Miller’s upcoming film The Spirit, the director has posted a new entry on the site’s production blog. Among the topics Miller discusses in the entry are more details about the film itself, the filmmaking process and his feelings towards actors.

At the blog, Miller describes the filmmaking process as "fun, thrilling and glamours as all hell. It’s also as hard a line of work as you can find." He also counts himself lucky to be working on the film and with so many talented actors, referring to himself as "one lucky S.O.B." He also goes on to thank "all the people who dragged me into this crazy business."

Having worked on a few film sets in my time as well I can tell you Miller’s observations about the process are pretty much spot-on. Making movies is often grueling, arduous, time-consuming, soul-sucking work that demands more of you than you ever thought you could give. Still, it can sure be fun much of the time.

There’s a saying in Hollywood that i’ve alway thought was appropriate: "The worst day on a movie set is still better than the best day working at a bank." I’m sure Miller would agree.

The Spirit hits theaters January 19th, 2009.

 

 

Spielberg Says ‘No’ to ‘Indy 4’ Digital Projection?

Spielberg Says ‘No’ to ‘Indy 4’ Digital Projection?

I don’t always believe many of the "rumors" circulating around the Internets. The web is a big place and people sometimes exaggerate, or perhaps even fabricate, in order to get some kind of "scoop" or exclusive "insight" for their websites.

That said, I am inclined to believe the following rumor which has recently surfaced, courtesy of tipster ‘Ohio Munson’ at JoBlo: Steven Spielberg won’t be allowing any theaters to show Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull using digital projection. It will only be available on film.

Think about that for a minute and then I’ll tell you why I’m inclined to believe this one. Spielberg is an old-school kind of filmmaker and has never really embraced his buddy George Lucas’ love for all-things digital. In fact, he vehemently resisted Lucas’ attempts to persuade him to shoot Indy 4 digitally.

Since he’s Steven Spielberg and is working with Lucas, a devout technophile, the director could have had the most advanced digital camera system in the world at his disposal for Indy 4 and yet, he still went with film.

He’s also, by his own admission, one of the few directors out there still cutting negative during post-production — something that, with digital post and non-linear editing systems like AVID and Final Cut Pro being the "standard’ these days, is almost never done.

Given his feelings regarding digital and his prior decisions, I feel he will stick with film for the theatrical release of Indy 4. Film is an aesthetic and creative choice he believes in, likes to works with, and, when playing at your local theater, will want his movie to be shown on. It’s really that simple.

If true, is this a bad decision on Spielberg’s part?

Top Cow and Virgin Comics Announce First Crossover

Top Cow and Virgin Comics Announce First Crossover

Top Cow Productions and Virgin Comics today anounced the first-ever crossover comic book featuring the top female characters from both companies. Sara Pezzini, the main character of Top Cow’s Witchblade and wielder of the mystical weapon, will cross paths with Tara Mehta, the supernatural force created by the Gods in the Virgin series Devi.

“The crossover seemed like a perfect connection,” said Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. “It was a natural fit to have the Witchblade and Devi meet each other. And to have writer Ron Marz at the helm for us was by far the logical choice.”

Virgin Comics Gotham Chopra was equally as enthusiastic about the new venture.

“Simply put, this was a no-brainer for us to do,” said Chopra, "Not only are we at Virgin huge fans of Witchblade, but the whole team behind it at Top Cow. I know our guys—Samit Basu and Mukesh Singh—are both going to bring their A game to make sure that Devi holds her own against Sara.”

Top Cow will publish part one of the story, called Witchblade/Devi #1, in April. Virgin Comics will then follow up with part two, called Devi/Witchblade #1, in May.

Marko Djurdjevic Joins Marvel’s ‘Thor’ as Guest Artist

Marko Djurdjevic Joins Marvel’s ‘Thor’ as Guest Artist

According to Marvel Comics, acclaimed cover artist Marko Djurdjevic is joining the hit-comic series Thor as a "special guest artist’ for a two-issue arc that promises to, as Marvel puts it: "turn the God of Thunder’s world on its head!"

And as if that were’t enough, Djurdjevic and regular series artist Olivier Coipel have also teamed-up to create a special variant cover for the issue which, according to Marvel, "you need to see the results of this superstar jam to believe it!" The team-up cover is also available as a poster.

Here’s some more info on the Thor comic, and Djurdjevic’s involvement, from the official press release:

Thor’s world has been rocked by the machinations of others, but will the return of his father set him on a path of no return? And what of Loki’s machinations with the deadly Dr. Doom? If you haven’t checked out one of 2007’s most critically-acclaimed new series, then don’t miss Thor #7, kicking off a series of events that promise to shatter the status quo!

 

THOR #7 (DEC072216)

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Art and Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

50/50 Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL & MARKO DJURDJEVIC

Rated T+…$2.99

FOC—2/28/08, On-Sale—3/19/08

 

THOR BY COIPEL & DJURDJEVIC POSTER (DEC072283)

24×36 Color Poster…$7.99

IN STORES NOW!

New ‘Starship Troopers 3’ Trailer Hits the Net

New ‘Starship Troopers 3’ Trailer Hits the Net

Whatever your feelings about the first two Starship Troopers movies, the powers-that-be have decided you really want a third one. So, they’ve gone ahead and made it. And now, thanks to the power of the Internets, I can show you the new trailer for the third film right here:

 

 

This direct-to-DVD sequel known as Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, brings back Casper Van Dien from the first film as Johnny Rico and features the super-hot Jolene Blaylock as pilot Lola Beck and Boris Kodjoe as Dix Hauzer. The story centers around Johnny Rico, now a General and even more of a take-charge badass, who must go back into the field for one last fight agains the evil Bugs.

Look for the film on the shelves of your local DVD store later this year.

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Pic Surfaces

New ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Pic Surfaces

 Previously, I brought you some cool set photos and the first pic from the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. With that first pic we got a look at Wolverine himself showing off some extra-cool six-taloned action. He looked a bit angry and ready to strike at the people responsible for putting him in what appeared to be a very small cage.

Big mistake on their part. You don’t try to cage Wolverine. Jeez people, didn’t you get the memo?

This latest pic, featured over at Empire Online, carries on the tradition and provides yet-another look at our hero and his famous talons. This time, though, we see in a cool low-angle shot, talons at the ready, about to take care of business.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine concerns, of course, the origin of Wolverine and how he came to be the cigar-chomping, talon-weilding, reluctant hero he is today. The film features Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds and Dominic Monaghan and hits theaters next Summer.

Director Mostow to Bring ‘The Megas’ Comic to Big Screen

Director Mostow to Bring ‘The Megas’ Comic to Big Screen

According to the Hollywood Reporter, one of Terminator 3 Director Jonathan Mostow’s next feature film projects will be based on his own comic book, The Megas, which hits stands this Wednesday. The comic, published by Virgin Comics, is set in a future where the American Revolution resulted in the continuation of the monarchy and not a democracy.

The story, co-written by Mostow and John Harrison, centers on Royal Investigator James Madison who is forced to make a choice between covering up a murder-suicide that could rock the establishment or doing the right thing and exposing the crimes, and the monarchy, for all of its evil deeds.

According to Mostow, he had the story in his head for many years but was just looking for a way to do it, finally finding that way with comics. "I thought it had potential as a movie or a TV series, but I wanted to explore it creatively first," Mostow said in the article. "This seemed like the best way to explore it."

Issue #1 of The Megas is at your local comics shop this week.

Teaser for Neil Gaiman’s ‘Coraline’ Hits the Net

Teaser for Neil Gaiman’s ‘Coraline’ Hits the Net

A teaser has hit the ‘Net for Neil Gaimain’s Coraline, the animated feature film written and directed by Henry Selik and based on the Gaiman short story.

The film, which tells the story of  a young, bored girl named Coraline Jones who discovers that a bricked-up wall behind a door in her house leads to another, better life with a new mother and father. Once there, she realizes this new life isn’t as great as it seemed and she must then struggle to return to her former life before its too late and her "real" parents meet a horrible fate.

Coraline features the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David and Ian McShane.

 

 

Coraline is set to hit theaters February 9th, 2009.

 

(via The Beat)

 

Dimension Films Locks Up ‘Locke & Key’

Dimension Films Locks Up ‘Locke & Key’

According to Variety, Dimension Films has just snapped up the rights to Joe Hill’s graphic novel Locke & Key — which, conicidentially, ComicMix’s own Van Jensen recently reviewed right here. Dimension bought film and TV rights to the graphic novel from IDW Publishing and will develop it as a potential franchise under the guidence of producer John Davis.

In case you’re not familiar, Locke & Key’s story concerns three children who move to Keyhouse, a mansion in New England that’s full of magic and secrets. Once they begin to explore the house, the kids soon discover doors that transport them to different places and give them powers. Of course, there’s also danger because behind one door is an evil creature that really wants to be let out.

Dimension chief Harvery Weinstein was particularly happy about his company’s latest acquisition. "I love what Joe wrote," said Weinstein in the Variety article. "There are fun elements that horror fans love, and it feels like a franchise where you can feel satisfied with each film, but there is a door left open for the next one."

IDW released the first issue of Locke & Key last Wednesday, with the second one set to follow on March 5th.