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Comic-Con 09 Wrap Up

THURSDAY
I missed the Alice in Wonderland panel with Tim Burton because of those damn twilighters but I made it into Avatar. Cameron showed about 25 minutes of footage in real 3D. It was incredible. The animation really captured the actor's nuances and the level of detail was astounding. Everything in it was alive and moving. Then came Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus panel. Gilliam was joined by Verne Troyer and introduced some amazing footage that showcased his trademark visual style. Ledger is fantastic as always and is joined by Johhny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer as Parnassus, and Tom Waits as the devil! Up next was Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass, based on Mark Millar's comic. This was the first time any footage had been shown and it was spectacular. Nicolas Cage shoots a little girl. It completely surprised me and was hilarious, action-packed, and well...kick ass. It's a love letter to comics and comic book fans and I can't wait for this movie. I left hall H to go to the screening of Green Lantern: First Flight, but didn't make it in. Luckily it came out today anyways.

FRIDAY
First up was the massive WB panel which started with Where The Wild Things Are. The kid who plays Max introduced a featurette which was followed by some full scenes from the movie. It looks absolutely gorgeous. This is everything I want this film to be. I loved the book as a kid and to see it come to life in such a creative way is heartwarming. Spike Jonze and the Jim Henson company have truly made something special. Then came The Hughes Brothers with The Book of Eli panel with surprise guests Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington! The trailer was cool with Denzel doing martial arts in a post-apocalyptic world. Then came the Nightmare on Elm Street remake with Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy. Looks very mediocre. I miss Robert. Then Richard Kelly's The Box panel where he was joined by Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. They showed an extended trailer that looked so awesome. Then Kelly gave away a replica of the box signed by him and the cast to a lucky fan who found a poster under their seat. Then the Jonah Hex panel with Josh Brolin and Megan Fox. All questions go to Fox. Footage features crazy western action. Malkovich is the bad guy. Somebody shouts Goonies and Brolin jokes that this is an older version of his Goonies character. He's really funny and super nice. Then Robert Downey Jr. came out of nowhere and introduced the Sherlock Holmes extended clip. Really funny and great action. Guy Ritchie does a buddy cop movie with excellent results. He was then joined by Rachel McAdams and Joel Silver. Then came Disney's Animation Panel with Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements, John Musker, and Hayao Miyazaki(!). John Lasseter hosted the panel, and Patton Oswalt moderated. Miyazaki got a standing ovation and charmed the crowd even as he spoke through his translator. Just being in the same room with him was so cool. They showed (deep breath) the whole Toy Story 2 opening in 3D, the trailer for the Toy Story double feature in 3D, a specially made clip from Toy Story 3 featuring the debut of Michael Keaton as Ken, a scene from Beauty and the Beast in 3D, a clip and an entire musical sequence from the Princess and the Frog, and a jaw-dropping clip from Ponyo. Then the 9 panel with director Shane Acker, producer Tim Burton, Elijah Wood, and Jennifer Connelly. Footage looked great. Surprisingly no Labyrinth questions. Later came the Entertainment Weekly Visionaries panel where filmmakers James Cameron and Peter Jackson discussed 3D, digital effects, and how they have managed their film careers. Really smart guys who love playing with new toys.

SATURDAY
Over sleep, run to the hall H line for Lost, but don't get in. Make it to the Oni booth for the Bryan Lee O'Malley signing. He's super cool, compliments my Scorsese shirt, and signs my vol. 1 of Scott Pilgrim. Head back to to the hall H line, don't make Zombieland or Iron Man 2 but get in for the legendary Kevin Smith panel. He is on his A game and brings down the room. After that we leave to get on the shuttle for the Robot Chicken Party. There's pizza, roller skating, exclusive merch, dancing stormtroopers, and other craziness.

SUNDAY
Hit the floor and pick up some cool Trek swag (including a tribble) then head to ballroom 20. The American Dad panel has showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman and stars Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schall, and Dee Bradley Baker. They announce an epic Christmas episode that involves the rapture and heavy metal music. Then proceed to do a live table read of the first act, show the animatic of the second act, and then show the fully animated third act! After that it was Mystery Team panel with the guys from comedy troupe Derrick Comedy, writers/stars Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, producer Meggie McFadden, and director/editor Dan Eckman. They show a new short film featuring the Mystery Team characters that is crazy funny. Their Q&A is of course priceless. Then the Paper Heart panel with Charlyne Yi. Great clips and really funny Q&A. Looks like a sweet film that's also really funny. Go back to the floor for more swag and purchases. Meet all the guys from Derrick Comedy at their booth, they take a picture with me and all sign a poster of Mystery Team for me. They couldn't have been nicer and now I like them even more. It was a great con, had a lot of fun, and a big goofy smile on my face the whole time. My favorites were Avatar, Where The Wild Things Are, and Kick-Ass.

Fun with Photoshop

Click the shark for a big version.

Go See MOON

Currently in limited release. It's smart sci-fi that's also heartbreaking drama. Sam Rockwell gives an amazing Oscar-worthy performance and the score by Clint Mansell is emotionally devastating. The less you know about the plot the better. It will easily make my top ten list this year.

LOST Meets FULL HOUSE

LOST Season Finale Tonight!

The two hour fifth-season finale, entitled The Incident, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack's decision to put a plan in action in order to set things right on the island is met with some strong resistance by those close to him, and Locke assigns Ben a difficult task. Fan favorites Rose and Bernard return and the guest star list also shows there will be appearances of young Kate, young Juliet, young Sawyer, and young Tom. I'm interested to see how Tom's backstory fits into the puzzle. I also hope they finish the time travel stuff before they get themselves into a paradox. It was written by showrunners Damon Lindelof/Carlton Cuse and directed by Jack Bender. There will also be a Lost recap episode at 8/7c.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG Trailer

Disney returns to classic animation with this New Orleans musical tale. It was written and directed by acclaimed animation duo John Musker & Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and scored by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman. It stars the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos (a Brazilian!), Oprah Winfrey, Keith David, Jim Cummings, John Goodman, Jenifer Lewis, and Terrence Howard. I'm so glad John Lasseter (who produced) convinced Disney to return to their roots and hopefully the film will be a big success. Also, I believe this is the first time Disney is doing an indie film style release strategy. It will open in limited release on November 25th, then wide on December 11th.

New LOST Tonight

A new episode, entitled Follow The Leader, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack and Kate find themselves at odds over the direction to take to save their fellow island survivors, Locke further solidifies his stance as leader of The Others, and Sawyer and Juliet come under scrutiny from the Dharma Initiative. It was written by Paul Zbyszewski/Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams.

Coppola's TETRO Trailer

Francis Ford Coppola returned to directing after a ten year break with the overlooked 2007 indie Youth Without Youth and now he's back with another indie, also his first original screenplay since The Conversation. I love Coppola's return to his roots and hopefully Lucas will follow his lead. If Coppola wasn't enough, the casting of eccentric actor Vincent Gallo and the amazing black and white cinematography make this a must see. It will be released June 11th.

New LOST Tonight

A new episode (the 100th!), entitled The Variable, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. The time of reckoning has begun when Daniel Faraday comes clean regarding what he knows about the island. It was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowitz and directed by Paul Edwards. I'm so glad to see more Faraday! This could be my favorite episode since The Constant.

CHUCK & HEROES Season Finales Tonight

The season finale of Chuck, entitled Chuck vs. The Ring, airs tonight at 8/7c on NBC. I thought the first season of Chuck was alright but I really enjoyed the second season. The show does have its problems, the humor is hit or miss and it doesn't get geek culture as well as other shows (like The Big Bang Theory or The IT Crowd), but the drama is always solid and it's a fun show. Plus you can always count on 'Browncoat' favorite Adam Baldwin and a pack of geek-friendly guest stars (including Tony Hale, Chevy Chase, and Scott Bakula) to entertain. It hasn't been picked up for a third season so this could be the final episode if NBC is dumb enough to cancel it, even though they've kept the vastly inferior Heroes around. In the season two finale, Ellie and Awesome's wedding day arrives but Chuck must save his sister from evil Fulcrum forces and Ted Roark (Chevy Chase). Plus the return of Jeffster!


The season finale of Heroes, entitled An Invisible Thread, airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC. Except for a few bright spots like Bryan Fuller's episode and guest star Zeljko Ivanek, the show has gotten pretty bad and I keep watching in the hope that it will return to its former glory. This episode has been getting terrible reviews and NBC should really let Bryan Fuller run the show next season if they want to salvage it. In the season three finale, Nathan faces off against Sylar to keep him from meeting the President (guest star Michael Dorn). Sylar has his own plans for his new partner. Meanwhile, Hiro learns that there are repercussions to regaining his ability. Elsewhere, Matt is forced to go to extraordinary lengths to protect his future with his family.

Soderbergh Casts Demetri Martin in MONEYBALL

Lately there has been a growing trend of casting comedians in dramatic films whether it's Todd Barry and Judah Friedlander in Aronofsky's The Wrestler, Patton Oswalt and a whole crew of comedians in Soderbergh's The Informant, or Demetri Martin in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock. Now Martin has lined up another big role alongside Brad Pitt in Steven Soderbergh's "Moneyball," the adaptation of the Michael Lewis book about ballplayer-turned-Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane (Pitt) and his attempt to field a competitive team on a slim payroll. Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a Harvard grad who turned down Wall Street jobs to use his statistical skills to change baseball scouting tactics. His system, known as "Earned Run Value," allowed Beane to evaluate valuable players he could hire at low cost. Also joining the cast is a group of actual baseball players: former Oakland A's team members David Justice and Scott Hatteberg have signed on to play themselves in the picture, while Daryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra are among those who will be seen on camera being interviewed about their experiences with Beane when he was drafted by the New York Mets before becoming a baseball scout. Oscar-winning screenwriter Steve Zaillian is doing a rewrite on a script originated by Stan Chervin. I think Martin is one of funniest comedians working today (watch his show on Comedy Central for proof) and I'm excited to see him transition to movies. Taking Woodstock will be released on Aug. 14th and Moneyball begins shooting in June.

First Photo of ROBIN HOOD

The first image from Ridley Scott's upcoming Robin Hood film has been released. They have decided to go with a more modern style which producer Brian Grazer says "looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood." Nobody does period epics like Scott and while I haven't seen the BBC series I am glad to see the character back in a big way. Joining Crowe is Cate Blanchett as Maid Marion, Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Eleanor, Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey, Oscar Issac as King John, Léa Seydoux as French Princess Isabella, William Hurt as Earl of Pembroke, Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet, Kevin Durand as Little John, and Alan Doyle as Allan Adayle. The Sheriff of Nottingham has not been announced but how awesome would it be if they got Alan Rickman to reprise his role?

New LOST Tonight

A new episode, entitled Some Like It Hoth, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Ben is abducted from the infirmary, arousing concern that hostiles have gotten into the Dharma village again. Meanwhile, Hurley and a reluctant Miles team up to deliver a package to a Dharma bigwig. It was written by Melinda Hsu Taylor/Greggory Nations and directed by Jack Bender. Looks like we will finally learn some more about the elusive Miles and is that not the best episode title ever?

New INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Footage

So apparently Quentin Tarantino did a guest spot on American Idol last night (to help publicity I assume) but the good news is a new behind the scenes clip from his latest flick was released. It also shows some new clips from the film including the first look at Mike Myer's character General Fenech. It looks like it could be his most violent film and continues in the same 70s approach as Death Proof. It seems that Brad Pitt is having the most fun he's had since Burn After Reading and the war genre could certainly use a fresh take. The Nazi-killin starts on August 21st.

DEPARTURES Gets A Limited Release

One of the biggest surprises at this year's Oscars was best foreign film going to Japan's Departures instead of the favored Waltz with Bashir. Now Regent Releasing is giving the film a limited release on May 29th. The film follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left without a job. He answers a classified ad entitled “Departures” thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial. It looks like a charming Jim Jarmusch-style movie with dry humor, charming characters, and emotional moments. Once you've seen Up, seek it out along with The Brothers Bloom this May. Check out the trailer below.

TV-to-Film Adaptations

With State of Play (based on the BBC series) coming out this week and Hannah Montana currently #1 at the box office, I've been thinking about TV transitions. Studios have long mined the tube for ideas hoping to recapture some of that magic on the big screen but for every Mission Impossible there is a Wild Wild West lurking around the corner. Movies that use the same crew tend to be successful (Serenity, Borat) while movies that are made years after are hit or miss. So how do you stay true to the show without just making a 2 hour episode? (I'm looking at you Simpsons Movie) The best ones expand the universe of the show and do things they couldn't do in the series, using the medium to its full advantage. A bigger budget and the freedom of new settings offer countless opportunities to explore the characters we love. A great adaptation can even surpass its predecessor, I know I can't think of The Addams Family without conjuring up images of Raul Julia and a bald Christopher Loyd. Having said that, TV has come a long way especially in the last decade. With shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Battlestar Galactica, TV has proved it can do things that film simply cannot. Clearly some stories belong on the small screen. So what should be adapted and what should be left alone? I think if there is something to add to the narrative and talented people behind it, I'm willing to give it a chance.

New LOST Tonight

A new episode, entitled Dead Is Dead, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. To atone for sins of the past, Ben must attempt to summon the smoke monster in order to be judged. It was written by Brian K. Vaughan(!)/Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams. Also the new quirky cop show THE UNUSUALS, which stars LOST's Michael, premieres right after.

New DOLLHOUSE Tonight

This show has been getting progessively better, especially with the Whedon-scripted episode with Patton Oswalt. A new episode, entitled Needs, airs tonight at 9/8c on FOX. When Echo, Sierra and Victor awaken in the Dollhouse with most of their original personalities and memories intact, Echo leads the charge to free the Actives from their apparent captivity and escape the Dollhouse forever. Meanwhile, Ballard discovers the Dollhouse is closer than he thinks. It was written by Tracy Bellomo and directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá. 'The Awakening' theory sounds good but I'm guessing they all get wiped at the end in order for the premise to continue. Hopefully the dolls will retain something from it and the writers will keep bringing non-mission stories to the show.

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled Whatever Happened Happened, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Kate goes to extreme measures to save Ben's life when Jack refuses to help. Meanwhile, Kate begins to tell the truth about the lie in order to protect Aaron. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Bobby Roth.

Forrest Gump in 1 Minute

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Trailer

The absolutely wonderful trailer for Spike Jonze's adaptation, which is perfectly set to Arcade Fire's 'Wake Up.'

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled Namaste, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. When some old friends drop in unannounced, Sawyer is forced to further perpetuate his lie in order to protect them. It was written by Paul Zbyszewski/Brian K. Vaughan(!) and directed by Jack Bender.

WHERE THE WILDS THINGS ARE Poster!

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled LaFleur, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Sawyer perpetuates a lie with some of the other island survivors in order to protect themselves from mistakes of the past. It was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff/Kyle Pennington and directed by Mark Goldman.

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Locke's fateful mission as Jeremy Bentham is revealed. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Jack Bender.

Oscars!

The 81st Annual Academy Awards air live tonight at 5p/8e on ABC. Hugh Jackman hosts.

Here are my picks:

(these are who I want to win not who I think will win)

Best Motion Picture of the Year

"Slumdog Millionaire" Christian Colson, Producer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Meryl Streep in "Doubt" 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Best Achievement in Directing

"Slumdog Millionaire" Danny Boyle

Best Original Screenplay

"WALL-E" Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Jim Reardon

Best Adapted screenplay

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Screenplay by Eric Roth

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

"WALL-E" Andrew Stanton

Best Achievement in Art Direction

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt

Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Best Achievement in Cinematography

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Claudio Miranda

Best Achievement in Costume Design

"Australia" Catherine Martin

Best Documentary Feature

"Encounters at the End of the World" Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser

Best Achievement in Film Editing

"Slumdog Millionaire" Chris Dickens

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

"Waltz with Bashir" A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production - Israel

Best Achievement in Makeup

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Greg Cannom

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Alexandre Desplat

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

"O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire"

Music and Lyrics by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best Animated Short Film

"Presto" Doug Sweetland

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

"WALL-E" Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

"Wanted" Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, and Petr Forejt

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, and Craig Barron

Farewell LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN

The final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien airs tonight at 12:35/11:35c on NBC. The White Stripes will be reunited to perform. This is one of my favorite shows and I had the pleasure of seeing it when he came to San Francisco. Also, I still have the VHS tape I made with 8 hours worth of Conan. The end marks a new beginning and I'm looking forward to what he will do with the Tonight Show in June.

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled 316, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. The members of Oceanic 6 discover how to get back to the island, but not all of them want to return. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Stephen Williams. R.I.P Charlotte.

SIMPSONS Goes HD

The first hi-def episode, entitled Take My Life Please, airs tonight at 8/7c on FOX. They also created a new opening sequence to mark the occasion. Viva la HD!

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled This Place Is Death, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Locke takes on the burden to stop the island's increasingly violent shifts through time. Meanwhile, Ben hits a roadblock in his attempt to reunite the Oceanic 6 and bring them back to the island. It was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowtiz and directed by Paul Edwards. More Faraday and Charlotte please!

MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY Trailer

Check out the trailer for this indie from SF.

New LOST Tonight

A new episode, entitled The Little Prince, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Kate discovers that someone knows the secret of Aaron's true parental lineage. Meanwhile, the dramatic shifts through time are placing the lives of the remaining island survivors in extreme peril. It was written by Brian K. Vaughn(!)/Melinda Hsu Taylor and directed by Stephen Williams.

New SHERLOCK HOLMES Photo

After making the pretty entertaining RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie and Joel Silver are teaming up again for a new take on Sherlock Holmes. Robert Downey Jr. is Holmes, Jude Law is Dr. Watson, and Rachel McAdams is Irene Adler. It's also being shot by one of my favorite cinematographers Philippe Rousselot (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A River Runs Through It, Constantine). I'm looking forward to this one and hopefully a new series of Sherlock films.

HEROES Returns Tonight

The first new episode after the break, entitled A Clear and Present Danger, airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC. This season has had its problems but I'm hoping the 'fugitives' storyline and the return of writer Bryan Fuller will get the show back on track. It's followed by the fifth-season premiere of Medium at 10/9c.

New LOST Tonight

An all-new episode, entitled Jughead, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Desmond goes in search of a woman who could be the key to helping Faraday stop the island's time shifting, Locke discovers the identity of the unknown forces who have been attacking the survivors. It was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff/Paul Zbyszewski and directed by Rod Holcomb.

Andy Richter Comes to DVD

One of the best cancelled shows, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, finally comes out on DVD March 24th! If you're a fan, creator Victor Fresco has a new similarly-themed show called Better Off Ted (which also co-stars Jonathan Slavin) coming to ABC. Now if only they could release Andy Barker P.I. on DVD as well.

LOST Returns Tonight

It's finally back! The two hour fifth-season premiere, entitled Because You Left/The Lie, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack and Ben try to reunite the Oceanic 6 for a return to the island to save the remaining survivors, while those survivors feel the effects of the island's move. Later, they come under attack by unknown forces. Meanwhile, Hurley and Sayid are on the run from police; and Kate gets some shocking advice from an old friend to ensure that "the lie" remains safe. Because You Left was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Stephen Williams. The Lie was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowitz and directed by Jack Bender. There will be a recap episode at 8/7c as well.

My New Favorite Color is Blu

I finally upgraded to hi-def when I got a Blu-ray player on black friday. I'm glad the hi-def war is over because watching movies in high definition is cinematic bliss. After extensive research I went with the Sony S350. It's pretty amazing and if you can find one at a good price I highly recommend it. Now for some nerd talk: it offers full 1080p, 24p true cinema output, profile 2.0, decodes PCM, DolbyTrueHD, and DTS-HD audio. The best looking discs I have watched so far are Transformers, I Robot, and Wall-E (coincidentally all robot movies). I haven't gotten through all my discs yet. I'm most looking forward to checking out Sleeping Beauty to see traditional animation in HD.