Archives for January, 2013
If you haven’t read comic books in a long time you’re missing some of the best storytelling happening in print today. Sure there are still kids books as there should be, but the average comic book reader is an adult these days and modern writers keep that in mind when telling stories. Besides, if you’re a fan of the super hero movies, reading these books will tell you where all of those great characters come from! If you’re an invested current reader then this article is preaching to the choir. It may help both groups of people though to see a complete list of all of the new comics hitting store shelves (many of which are also hitting digital outlets such as Comixology).
So if you’re a current reader why not pick out something from the list below and that you haven’t read? If you’re lapsed or new, here’s your chance to grab a comic and give it a go. Here’s the list:
Marvel Comics
ALL NEW X-MEN #3 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW – $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #4 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW -$3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #698 3RD PTG RIVERA VAR – $3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699.1 2ND PTG CASELLI VAR – $2.99
AVENGERS #4 NOW2 – $3.99
AVENGERS #4 KEOWN VAR NOW2 – $9.99
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15.1 2ND PTG RIVERA VAR – $2.99
DAREDEVIL #21 2ND PTG RIVERA VAR – $2.99
DARK AVENGERS #186 – $2.99
HAWKEYE #7 – $2.99
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #648 NOW – $2.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS FEBRUARY 2013- $1.25 or FREE w/ purchase of Previews
PUNISHER NIGHTMARE #5 (OF 5) – $2.99
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #4 (OF 5) – $2.99
SILVER SURFER BY STAN LEE AND MOEBIUS #1 – $7.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2 NOW – $3.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2 MCGUINNESS VAR NOW – $24.99
THOR GOD OF THUNDER #3 2ND PTG RIBIC VAR NOW – $3.99
THUNDERBOLTS #1 2ND PTG DILLON VAR NOW – $2.99
THUNDERBOLTS #2 2ND PTG DILLON VAR NOW – $2.99
X-MEN LEGACY #5 – $2.99
X-TREME X-MEN #9 – $2.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ORIGIN STORY YR HC 2ND ED – $8.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA DOUBLE SIDED DOG TAG – $15.00
CAPTAIN AMERICA JOINS MIGHTY AVENGERS HC 2ND ED – $8.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA SHIELD CUFFLINKS – $24.00
DARK AVENGERS END IS BEGINNING TP – $19.99
MARVEL SELECT RHINO Action Figure – $24.99
PUNISHER DOUBLE SIDED DOG TAG – $15.00
PUNISHER SKULL CUFFLINKS – $28.00
SPIDER-MAN HEAD CUFFLINKS – $24.00
X-MEN MUTANT MASSACRE TP NEW PTG – $34.99
X-WOMEN TP – $24.99
DC
ALL STAR WESTERN #16 – $2.99
AQUAMAN #16 – $2.99
AQUAMAN #16 VAR ED – $7.99
ARROW #3 – $2.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #1 – $4.99
BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #12 – $3.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #7 – $2.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #7 VAR ED – $7.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #16 – $2.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #16 VAR ED – $7.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN DOLLAR BILL #1 – $3.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #5 (OF 6) – $3.99
FLASH #16 – $2.99
FLASH #16 VAR ED – $7.99
FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #16 – $2.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #1 (RISE) – $4.99
HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6) – $2.99
I VAMPIRE #16 – $2.99
INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #1 – $3.99
JOE KUBERT PRESENTS #4 (OF 6) – $4.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #16 – $2.99
LOT 13 #4 (OF 5) – $2.99
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ORIGIN OF HE MAN #1 – $2.99
RED LANTERNS #16 (RISE) – $2.99
RED LANTERNS #16 VAR ED (RISE) – $7.99
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #16 – $2.99
SUPERMAN #16 – $2.99
SUPERMAN #16 VAR ED – $7.99
SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES #9 – $2.99
TALON #4 – $2.99
TEEN TITANS #16 (DOTF) – $2.99
TEEN TITANS #16 VAR ED (DOTF) – $7.99
UNWRITTEN #45 – $2.99
AQUAMAN HC VOL 01 THE TRENCH (N52)- $22.99
BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) – $22.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT GOLDEN DAWN TP -$14.99
DC COMICS GREEN LANTERN ARTFX STATUE NEW 52 VER – $39.99
DC COMICS SUPERMAN ARTFX STATUE NEW 52 VER – $39.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 02 THE VILLAINS JOURNEY – $24.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 01 ORIGIN (N52) – $16.99
AVATAR Comics
CROSSED BADLANDS #22 – $3.99
Broadsword Comics
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #78 (MR) – $2.95
BOOM/Ka-Boom COMICS
ADVENTURE TIME #12 – $3.99
DEATHMATCH #2 – $3.99
DarkHorse Comics
ANGEL & FAITH #18 – $2.99
CRIMINAL MACABRE FINAL NIGHT 30 DAYS XOVER #2 – $3.99
DRAGON AGE HC VOL 02 THOSE WHO SPEAK – $14.99
EMILY & THE STRANGERS #1 (OF 3) – $3.99
ORCHID #12 – $2.99
RIPD CITY O/T DAMNED #3 (OF 4)- $3.50
STAR WARS AGENT O/T EMPIRE HARD TARGETS #4 (OF 5) – $2.99
STAR WARS LONG TIME AGO OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 – $24.99
STAR WARS LONG TIME AGO OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 – $24.99
STAR WARS LONG TIME AGO OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 – $24.99
STAR WARS OMNIBUS INFINITIES TP – $24.99
SUNDAY FUNNIES COLLECTED VOL 01 – $30.00
SUNDAY FUNNIES COLLECTED VOL 02 – $30.00
Diamond Comic Distributor
PREVIEWS #293 FEB 2013 – $4.50
Dynamic Forces (Dynamite)
DAMSELS #5 – $3.99
DARK SHADOWS #13 – $3.99
ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD HC VOL 03 – $24.99
ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #32 – $3.99
SHADOW #9 – $3.99
IDW
DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #1 – $3.99
DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #1 (OF 12) 1/10 – $7.99
MARS ATTACKS ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS (ONE SHOT)$3.99
Image
ACTIVITY #11 – $3.50
DARKNESS #110 – $2.99
HACK SLASH #23 – $3.50
INVINCIBLE #100 CHROMIUM ED – $9.99
INVINCIBLE #100 – $3.99
MACGYVER FUGITIVE GAUNTLET #4 (OF 5)- $3.50
MARA #2 (OF 6)- $2.99
MIND THE GAP #7 – $2.99
NOWHERE MEN #3 – $2.99
SPAWN #227 – $2.99
ONI Press
COURTNEY CRUMRIN ONGOING #9 – $3.99
SIXTH GUN #28 – $3.99
Zenescope Ent.
GFT SLEEPY HOLLOW #4 – $2.99
LEGEND OF ZELDA HYRULE HISTORIA HC – $34.99
LEGEND ZELDA HYRULE HISTORIA HC LTD COLL ED – $69.99
RESURRECTION TP VOL 01 DELUXE ED – $24.99
SW DARTH VADER ARTFX+ STATUE EP VI VER – $49.99
WALKING DEAD T-Shirt ‘RICK’ Med & LG – $24.99
POWER GRID (‘Resource Management’ Board Game)- $44.99
STAR TREK Heroclix ‘Tactis 2’ $4.99/booster (RESTOCK!)
Related Reading:
There’s a link at the top of our page you may not have clicked called “CineGeek TV”. On the page that follows the link you’ll find that we are posting CineGeek projects including our documentary series called Con Trek and Culture Smash specials but there you’ll also find that we have begun curating for you some of the what the internet has to offer as far as original genre content. We kick the whole process off by bringing you the entire first season of the Bryan Singer produced sci-fi series called H+. There are 39 episodes of the first season with each episode being under ten minutes. If you’re a fan of mysterious genre shows such as LOST this is a must see. Productions values are very high for internet TV and the execution of the story is pretty great.
We’ll be scouring the web and putting more great content on this page either via direct embeds or links so keep an eye out for more. Let us do the work for you! If you know of a web based series that we should consider for the page drop it in the comments below and we’ll take a look. in the meantime head on over and get caught up on H+!
Written by the Shire Collective (Peter Archer, Scott Francis, and Jeff Gerke)
Trying to cash in on the Hobbit craze from Peter Jackson’s first movie into the franchise last month, Writer’s Digest Books releases The Unofficial Hobbit Handbook. The book’s claim that the lifestyles of hobbits and the adventures of its more famous representatives can teach us humans in this age of modern man about how to live life. The hobbits are simple folk, after all, and we can stand to be reminded to enjoy the “smaller” things in life.
The problem with this book is that it doesn’t know what it wants to be. At the beginning and various middle parts, it is very much the life-guide book it professes to be. The book celebrates the hobbits’ cultural love for food and friendship, teaching how to be a good host. It professes how hobbits value their work and responsibility but also take time to enjoy their leisure.
However the book also tries to switch into a reference guide, explaining in layman’s terms the different races, cultures, monsters, and magic of Middle Earth. At times, it even tries to halfway academically explore the adventures of Bilbo and Frodo, comparing them to Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey and exploring them as coming-of-age tales.
This split focus then splits the dedication to each focus, lessening each. More importantly, it loses the audience that gets hooked on a single focus. Personally, I prefer the reference guide portions, explaining in simple language the various creatures in Tolkien’s works and the way magic works. Tolkien’s verbosity does occasionally leave one wanting some simpler explanation. What I don’t want or need is to be explained to that The Hobbit is a tale about growing up or that the One Ring is a parable of power and responsibility. I got that from the stories themselves (and from Spider-Man).
With that said, the life lessons from the book do convey from the lives of hobbits are good ones. Valuing relationships over material gains, and staying open to always making friends, things like these are good to keep in mind. The book even compares these to modern day, equating to hobbits’ nature of making friends to an overflowing list of Facebook friends, or even using five-toed shoes to mimic a hobbit’s barefoot lifestyle.
The question is: does anyone need this supplemental book to teach these lessons, or don’t they get them anyway from the actual books or their film adaptations? I’ve got to go with the latter, and while the book has some occasional good zingers, the writing isn’t entertaining enough to rehash what I’d rather re-experience from rereading The Hobbit, which is only slightly longer and much more fun.
4/10
Related Reading:
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law
Steven Soderbergh has a very definitive style that works for some people and not for others. This movie didn’t do particularly well in theaters but that’s not necessarily a statement on the quality of the movie. It is a statement on how divisive the director’s approach to storytelling can be.
The Movie
This film tells the story of what would happen if an epidemic took hold of the entire planet and rapidly began killing off people. The film follows several characters as they deal with different aspects of the epidemic from Laurence Fishburne at the top of the food chain making global decisions via the CDC to Matt Damon’s character left to by the death of his wife to try and protect his daughter both from the disease and from looters in their crime riddled community. In between there’s Jude Law playing a journalist convinced there’s a government conspiracy and Kate Winslet playing a field rep for the CDC. Soderbergh tends to do very indie looking talkie films and this is one of those. If you cross Full Frontal with Traffic you get close to the style of this film. I’ve always thought the Ocean’s movies were an anomaly in Soderbergh’s filmography (even though the first one is pretty great). So in the first act of this film there’s a lot of talking and exposition from each of the individual storylines that do eventually intersect. Initially the sheer number of characters might seem overwhelming story wise but the stories are so well rendered that it all does make sense and the stories begin to all come together to tell a single larger story.
Contagion is a lengthy film but it’s extremely well-acted and the story becomes more and more taught as it progresses. There’s a truly unique atmosphere throughout this film that’s just not common to this sort of story. In a way it almost feels documentary like which makes the proceedings even more impactful. When people die it truly feels like a loss. Damon, Paltrow, Winslet, and the rest of the cast all get great moments to shine. This film is an ensemble cast without a doubt. They craft a story that’s dramatic, slow but precisely paced, and it washes over you leading up to a shocking ending that literally takes your breath away. Along with the obvious overall story of the disease there’s another story being told in the film. What would humanity become if the entire planet were plunged into tragedy? Contagion doesn’t just ask the question it also answers it.
It’s a shame this film was so heavily overlooked in theaters because it’s easily one of the best of its kind. Yes it’s probably too long but there’s so much story here and so many characters I can easily see the first cut being substantially longer. For Soderbergh fans this film is one of the best in his filmography right behind Traffic, Out of Sight, and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.
8.5/10
The Video
The 1080p presentation here does a great job of representing the source material. The film was shot digitally and it features a lot different color pallets throughout the film that all look great. Even with yellow tinting skin tones still come off fairly natural in the film. Black levels still look deep and dark and whites don’t bloom too much. The film is compressed to a 25 GB blu-ray which makes the film feature the digital grain that’s common with digitally shot features but said grain actually makes the film feel even more like a documentary. It’s a little more crushed that it should be but overall it comes off pretty good.
7.5/10
The Audio
The DTS HD audio is solid throughout the film with ambient audio in the rear speakers, the techno soundtrack igniting the base, and dialogue clean and clear in the center channel. Now this is a talkie film so there’s not a lot of whiz bang but the audio does feel immersive which should be the end goal of the whole presentation.
8/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features
The packaging is basic stuff and it features that ugly yellow tint that plays heavily in the movie. So yeah it is run of the mill but at least someone was paying attention to the color pallet. As far as bonus features there’s a PSA about spreading viruses, a brief factual discussion on the possibilities of a global epidemic, and another extremely short EPK presentation of the actors talking about their investigations into what a real contagion would be like. Wow these are poor bonus features for such a great film. There’s really not much more to be said than that.
1/10
Contagion is a groundbreaking and frightening film that’s flawlessly directed and acted. It’s a little long but other than that this film is outstanding. It’s too bad the blu-ray presentation feels so bargain basement.
Overall (Not an Average) 6/10
The Review
The Movie 8.5/10
The Video 7.5/10
The Audio 8/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features 1/10
Overall (Not an Average) 6/10
So in our poll we asked you what film you think will win best picture at the Academy Awards. By an overwhelming margin you guys picked Argo! 33% of you agree that Argo will win the big prize followed not closely by Les Miserables at 20%. The other contenders were Amour, Zero Dark Thirty, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Lincoln, and Silver Linings Playbook (Seriously?). So now we just have to wait and see who takes the prize!
Now we have a new poll and of course it has to do with Star Wars. It has been announced this week that JJ Abrams will direct Star Wars 7. So the question follows; who will direct Star Wars 8? So who should it be? We have a list of both fan favorites and rumored contenders for you to pick from and of course if we missed anyone add them in the comments. Hit up the poll which is probably annoying you as a pop up at this very moment!
INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 is the sequel to 2010’s hit film that captivated horror movie audiences worldwide. Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye and Ty Simpkins return to reprise their roles in the film, directed by James Wan from a script by Leigh Whannell, who also wrote the first film.
FilmDistrict is looking for the biggest Insidiousfan ever with a chance to win a walk-on role in INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the team behind the original Insidious and Saw films. The lucky winner, to be personally selected by Wan, Whannell, and producer Jason Blum, will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to Los Angeles where he/she will get a walk-on role in the movie, filming now and due for release in theatres this summer.
HOW TO ENTER: Fans can enter by logging on to www.insidiouscastingcall.com, starting Tuesday, January 22nd and uploading a video to the Official Insidious: Chapter 2 YouTube or Facebook Page that tells James why he/she is the biggest Insidious fan and deserves to be cast alongside stars Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne in the sequel. The contest closes on February 4th, 2013.
The filmmakers have recorded a personal video explaining the contest for fans:
Winners will be announced on February 8th on the Official Insidious: Chapter 2 Facebook Page
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This week we cover a lot of ground including beer made with bull balls to The Last Stand and the rest of the box office. Also we talk TV including The Following, and a Zombieland TV series on Amazon Prime.
Directed by: Jee-woon Kim
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Luis Guzman, Forest Whitaker
There are many fans of old school action films who yearn for an action hero that’s a guys guy, not a metro sexual overly young guy who uses more hair product than most women. We’re talking someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Clint Eastwood, and even Bruce Willis. There are current actors that could and do pull it off such as Daniel Craig, but more often than not we’re getting Twilight rejects in PG-13 films with no heart for the action genre. This is why films like The Expendables and its sequel are popular. No they aren’t setting box office records but they are successful in the genre in which they reside. As a fan of real action films you can easily start to feel like only these old school actors are capable of bringing us an old school guys action movie. The fans were all looking to the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to film, a man that could bring us the movies we once loved.
The Movie
The Last Stand is the first in a trio of films from the one time blockbuster star as he returns to film after finishing his rocky trip into politics. I was excited to see him back on the big screen. Even at 65 years old he’s still a burly dude that seems like he can pull off some properly executed action. There are problems with The Last Stand though. The first problem is that the marketing for the film was poorly handled. This should have been promoted as Arnie’s big return to what he’s once did best. That approach was used a bit for Expendables 2 but honestly that wasn’t a Schwarzenegger film. He was great in it but his role wasn’t huge. So the marketing was botched.
Maybe Arnold decided to do this film because at first blush the script feels like a truly old school action film, and it is. The unfortunate thing about the script and the movie that was made from it is that it was just a little too full of plot holes and dumb decisions. When you look back at a movie like Commando it was dumb yes but it was dumb fun. The story was a simple one of revenge and rescue. The story was streamlined and fast paced enough that you just soaked in the fun and were able fairly easily suspend disbelief. It still works even now. The Last stand though is a little slower in its first act so you are given time to settle into the story and invest in the characters. Twists that are supposed to be twists become obvious way to early and some characters just seem irritating, mostly Johnny Knoxville’s character. Luis Guzman on the other hand was great to see back in a role that he played a lot in old school action films. If the film had just featured Arnold and Luis it probably would have been much better.
Arnold plays a hardened L.A. cop who moved to a tiny town in Arizona to become Sheriff after some terrible events in California. When a notorious Mexican gangster steals a prototype hot rod and decides to drive to Mexico right through Arnold’s little town he has to gather his buddies and stop the gangster. This guy could have escaped the United States in a huge number of more simple and effective means but his ego forces him to try and make a run for it in this car. Forest Whitaker plays a throw away role of an FBI agent who is chasing the gangster.
Some of the action is well shot here by director Jee-woon Kim who is probably most notable for directing the original and awesome Tale of Two Sisters. The drama and non-action scenes don’t flow well though and the film just lacks some energy in spite of Arnold being great on screen. Even the stupid one liners that are generally acceptably stupid just aren’t effective or even humorous. This script needed work and it needed a director that could execute something more fun and exciting. It’s funny that in the 80’s Sylvester Stallone sort of always trailed Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action star but now toward the end of their careers Stallone’s work at least seems to have more heart and passion behind it. Schwarzenegger still has the passion to carry a film and that was great to see. I just hope he gets something worth his charisma before he just fades from view.
4/10
Related Reading:
Written by: Timothy Zahn
Published by: Random House Digital, Inc.
So your in hock to one of the galaxy’s most notorious gangster and the fortune you just earned rescuing a princess and helping a farm boy blow up a planet busting space station has just been ripped off by pirates and the only job on the table is completely out of your wheelhouse and while it packs a hell of a payoff it sounds as impossible as it sounds dangerous. What do you do? If your Han Solo you call a few friends.
The Book:
The Death Star has been destroyed and Han Solo has received his award but before he can pay off Jabba the smuggler is ripped off by pirates. So instead of trying to hook back up with the rebellion he’s hustling any kind of work he can find on the backwater world Wukkar when an furtive man half covered in synthetic flesh approaches Han and Chewie with an odd proposition, he’s not turned away out of hand like he would be in better times. Eanjer, that’s the man half covered in synthetic flesh’s name, has been robbed. Not only robbed but his family has been murdered and he’s been grievously injured, hence the yards of synthetic flesh. Eanjer wants his 160 million credits back and he’s willing to share it equally with whoever can help him get it back. I’m not sure what the $US to Star Wars credit exchange rate is but that should be plenty to pay off Jabba even if it gets split several different ways.
And it’s going to be split several different ways because master smugglers they may be Han and Chewie are not thieves. Not that they are above that sort of thing under the right circumstances, it’s just not their area of expertise. That’s not that big of an impediment because they have friends. Well maybe they’re not all friends, but they get along well enough to work together. Han is adamant though that there is one acquaintance that will not be involved. It seems there is a little bad blood over a card game and a certain ship between Han and the one man who would be the perfect front man for the job, I’m trying not to spoil anything but if you’ve looked at the cover of the book you know who I’m talking about. The team Han and Chewie bring together has to be top notch, because the target isn’t just some local gangster but the local representative of the galaxy wide criminal organization Black Sun. And it wouldn’t be much of a Star Wars story if there wasn’t some Imperials sniffing around the periphery.
Many of the typical Star Wars tropes are missing, there are no space battles, no Jedi, although a diminutive light saber does make an appearance, but somehow Zahn manages to infuse the story with the proper Star Warsyness. Han is Han, Chewie is Chewie, and Lando is Lando, yeah I know I didn’t mention him by name earlier but I give up, he’s on the cover. There is a nice mixture of new characters and characters from the expanded universe as well. If your a fan of the expanded universe there are some nice little nuggets thrown in for you, but you don’t have to have read any of the expanded universe books to appreciate the story, though it might be a little confusing if you haven’t at least watched Star Wars. Zahn crafts a layered caper walking the line between giving you too much information and withholding so much information every solution comes across as dues ex machina. Like any good caper tale there are some twists that are satisfying and entertaining without being incredulous. It’s not perfect, the novel seems to lose a little steam in the middle and some of the complications come across as filler. These are minor quibbles though. Scoundrels is the most fun I’ve has in the Star Wars universe in a long long time.
I love the cover, the sight of Han, Chewie and Lando standing in front of a line up style backdrop with noirish lighting perfectly captures the tone of the book. The Kindle formatted ebook comes with a handy time-line that places the expanded universe books in relation to each other and the movies. While its not really necessary for this story, which nestles neatly between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back if your interested in diving into the expanded universe it’s great tool to consult before you start buying books. If you are interested in reading more expanded universe stuff the Kindle ebook has another bonus for you. There are previews for ten expanded universe novels at the back of the book. If your still sitting on the fence at this point Zahn wrote a novella featuring Lando working another caper immediately prior to the events in Scoundrels called Winner Lose All which will introduce you to the idea of a caper story in the Star Wars universe for a smaller investment of time and money. Of course I recommend you just go ahead and pick them both up.
8/10
We love to make bets here at CineGeek so along with our regular Fantasy Film Ball we also take bets on which films and filmmakers will win the statues at the Academy Awards. we recently held our bidding for the nominees on our weekly podcast and these are the results:
Visual Effects
Alan – Marvel’s The Avengers;Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
Niko – Life of Pi; Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott
Stephen – Life of Pi; Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott
Mike – Marvel’s The Avengers; Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
Film Editing
Alan – Zero Dark Thirty; Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg
Niko – Argo; William Goldenberg
Stephen – Lincoln; Michael Kahn
Mike – Lincoln; Michael Kahn
Sound Editing
Alan – Argo; Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
Niko – Skyfall; Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
Stephen – Skyfall; Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
Mike – Django Unchained; Wylie Stateman
Sound Mixing
Alan – Les Misérables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
Niko – Les Misérables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
Stephen – Les Misérables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
Mike – Les Misérables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
Cinematography
Alan - Life of Pi; Claudio Miranda
Niko – Skyfall; Roger Deakins
Stephen – Lincoln; Janusz Kaminski
Mike – Django Unchained; Robert Richardson
Production Design
Alan – Les Misérables; Eve Stewart (Production Design); Anna Lynch-Robinson (Set Decoration)
Niko – Lincoln; Rick Carter (Production Design); Jim Erickson (Set Decoration)
Stephen – Les Misérables; Eve Stewart (Production Design); Anna Lynch-Robinson (Set Decoration)
Mike – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Dan Hennah (Production Design); Ra Vincent and Simon Bright (Set Decoration)
Animated Feature Film
Alan – Brave; Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Niko – Brave; Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Stephen – Brave; Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Mike – Wreck-It Ralph; Rich Moore
Writing Original Screenplay
Alan – Moonrise Kingdom; Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Niko – Moonrise Kingdom; Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Stephen – Django Unchained; Written by Quentin Tarantino
Mike – Django Unchained; Written by Quentin Tarantino
Writing Adapted Screenplay
Alan – Argo; Written by Chris Terrio
Niko – Life of Pi; Written by David Magee
Stephen – Life of Pi; Written by David Magee
Mike – Beasts of the Southern Wild; Screenplay by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
Foreign Language Film
Alan – Amour; Austria
Niko – Amour; Austria
Stephen – Amour; Austria
Mike – Amour; Austria
Directing
Alan – Silver Linings Playbook; David O. Russell
Niko – Lincoln; Steven Spielberg
Stephen – Lincoln; Steven Spielberg
Mike – Lincoln; Steven Spielberg
Actress in a Supporting Role
Alan – Anne Hathaway; Les Misérables
Niko – Anne Hathaway; Les Misérables
Stephen – Anne Hathaway; Les Misérables
Mike – Anne Hathaway; Les Misérables
Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan – Alan Arkin; Argo
Niko – Alan Arkin; Argo
Stephen – Christoph Waltz; Django Unchained
Mike – Tommy Lee Jones; Lincoln
Actress in a Leading Role
Alan – Jessica Chastain; Zero Dark Thirty
Niko – Jessica Chastain; Zero Dark Thirty
Stephen – Jessica Chastain; Zero Dark Thirty
Mike - Jennifer Lawrence; Silver Linings Playbook
Actor in a Leading Role
Alan – Hugh Jackman; Les Misérables
Niko – Daniel Day-Lewis; Lincoln
Stephen – Daniel Day-Lewis; Lincoln
Mike – Joaquin Phoenix; The Master
Best Picture
Alan – Les Misérables; Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, Producers
Niko – Argo; Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers
Stephen – Argo; Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers
Mike – Lincoln; Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Music Original Song
Alan – “Suddenly” from Les Misérables; Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyric by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil
Niko – “Skyfall” from Skyfall; Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
Stephen – “Skyfall” from Skyfall; Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
Mike – “Suddenly” from Les Misérables; Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyric by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil
We’ll see who wins when the awards air in February!
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The weekly tease is short but really sweet this week! We’ve got a teaser trailer for the sequel to the cult hit The Last Exorcism and the first images from the hotly anticipated Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Without further delay, scroll on down and take a look!
The Last Exorcism II
Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can’t remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning. Here’s the latest trailer:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Some contributors here were shocked at the popularity of Hunger Games last spring when the movie premiered. Well it was big, and now the second book is well on its way to the silver screen. We have some first look images from the film right here!
The film begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
![ID_D02_00985_R[1]](http://cinegeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ID_D02_00985_R1.jpg)
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It’s that time of year again, the Oscars have been announced and we are ready to make our picks and complain about the films and creators that didn’t get the attention they so deserved (Ben Affleck). Tangents are afoot including but not limited to fantasy film ball, box office, oh and some how twitter became cliter or clitter? Sounds like another typical episode of the show!
Related Reading:
Maybe I’m wrong but it seemed like the new Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Last Stand would have easily owned this poll, so we purposefully left that option out of our poll. It was more interesting to see what films our readers were into outside of that retro film. We could be wrong about that assumption though; and that will be demonstrated this weekend by the box office when Arnie’s movie opens wide. Bruce Willis, Ryan Gosling, The Rock, and Sylvester Stallone also have action flicks hitting theaters in the upcoming months too though. Which films did you tell us you were most excited about? Here are the results:
A Good Day to Die Hard 57.14%
Gangster Squad 14.29%
GI Joe: Retaliation 14.29%
Snitch 7.14%
Bullet to the Head 7.14%
So it’s not much of a shocker that Bruce Willis’ next installment in the Die Hard series is top of the list but we would have expected Stallone’s actioner to have done a little better and maybe GI Joe too. The hype around the GI Joe movie was sort of crushed when the studio delayed the film last summer for re-shoots to bring one character back from the dead, sort of, and to do a 3D conversion. The numbers don’t lie, interest has dropped off substantially.
Join us in our next poll and pick the film you believe will be the best picture in the upcoming Oscar ceremony!
Remember the cult comic book series set in a post apocalyptic world following a spicy young girl who finds herself in constant predicaments where she must kick much ass? Well the creator or the original Tank Girl Alan Martin has partnered with new artist Warwick Johnson Cadwell to bring our precocious heroine back to the pages of comics.
Solid State Tank Girl is a four issue story featuring Tank Girl doing epic battle with an Anti-Tank Girl! The limited series hits store shelves on May 15th courtesy of Titan Comics! The story goes like this:
Tank Girl, Jet Girl, Booga and Barney are back and on a mission to save their favourite little radio store. Things are going according to plan, too, but somewhere along the line Booga manages to electronically summon the gang’s evil counterparts, fronted by the darkest bitch on the planet – ANTI-TANK GIRL! The fight is to the death, as each gang member draws on their deepest, most screwed-up powers to eliminate their own personal nemesis. Things are about to get very dark, very bloody… and very stupid!
The new series will be on store shelves on on digital devices via Comixology!
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today its partnership with the ultimate film discussion website, Home Theater Forum, for a one-of-a-kind campaign, VOICE YOUR CHOICE, allowing film enthusiasts to decide which classic films they would like to see digitally restored and transferred to Blu-ray for the very first time. The program celebrates Fox’s most notable films from the 1930’s thru the 1960’s featuring performances by famous actors such as Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, John Wayne and more. Throughout the campaign, fans will also have the opportunity to write in and submit additional titles. Voting begins today at www.hometheaterforum.com and at www.foxconnect.com.
In addition to VOICE YOUR CHOICE, beginning this month Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will celebrate their extensive collection of classic movies by releasing at least one title on Blu-ray per month under the banner “20th Century Fox Studio Classics.” Drawing from Twentieth Century Fox’s rich catalog all releases will be Academy® award-winning or nominated movies from the 1920’s thru the 1960’s.
This is a pretty great way for FOX to get fans involved with blu-ray from the company and it’ll help keep the company from wasting money guessing what fans will buy on the format. This sort of crowd sourcing is the way of the future for all forms of media and this should be an interesting experiment for the company.
VOICE YOUR CHOICE titles are as follows:
1930 Jesse James Call of the Wild
The Little Princess Steamboat Round the Bend
Swanee River
1940 The Return of Frank James
That Night in Rio Pin Up Girl
The Black Swan The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
My Gal Sal Kiss of Death
To the Shores of Tripoli Captain From Castile
My Friend Flicka The Blue Bird
Crash Drive A Letter to Three Wives
Hello, Frisco, Hello Mother Wore Tights
1950 Don’t Bother to Knock Cheaper by the Dozen
Carmen Jones On the Riviera
Anastasia Black Widow
Broken Lance The True Story of Jesse James
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? The Tall Men
Desk Set The Best of Everything
The River’s Edge The Bravados
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
1960 From the Terrace Morituri
Two for the Road North to Alaska
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Bandolero!
Let’s Make Love Do Not Disturb
The Agony and the Ecstasy Back Door to Hell
How to Steal a Million Bedazzled (1968)
The Undefeated The 300 Spartans
Can-Can
20th Century Fox Studio Classics titles and release dates for the first quarter of 2013 are as follows:
1/15 Titanic (1953)
How Green Was My Valley
Wild River
Gentlemen’s Agreement
2/5 Laura
3/26 Panic in the Streets
4/2 Hello, Dolly!
5/7 Viva Zapata!
