Entertainment Weekly's Comic-Con Sneak Peek

Source: First Showing + EW

In addition to that badass new cover photo featuring Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Entertainment Weekly's latest issue includes a brief Comic-Con Sneak Peek with a few more new photos from some movies that will be present at the Con. Obviously all the studios are keeping their big reveals a secret until they can debut them next week in San Diego, but the magazine does have a few cool new photos from movies like Iron Man 2, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Zombieland, Kick-Ass, Shane Acker's 9, and Pandorum.


"Ryan Reynolds? John, what the fuck are you talking about?"


"We're in the middle of a Zombie epidemic, this is hardly the time to be digging up your ex-wife's grave."


"Someone forgot their flu shot this morning."


"This is an interstellar spaceship, what do you mean you don't have a pilot's license?"


"Ever since Daniel had to wear a burn-suit, his brother took the whole superhero thing, a little too seriously."

Even if you're not going to be at the San Diego Comic-Con in person, there will still be a lot of exciting announcements and great coverage from everyone all around the web (including FS). You can find the complete line-up of movie presentations right here or head over to Entertainment Weekly for more photos or visit the official Comic-Con website. I'm personally the most excited for the line-up on Thursday, which includes presentations on Tron 2, James Cameron's Avatar, Kick-Ass, and a screening of District 9 at night. That will definitely be a great day! Our coverage kicks off on Wednesday night next week, so stay tuned!

Why MAFIA II may end up being the GTA IV killer

As a fan of the GTA series, I love the idea of free-roaming games where you can basically do whatever the hell you want. GTA IV was, and still is, the best free-roaming game out there. Liberty City is just massive. To walk it would take hours - just as it would in real life. There's just so many hours of crazy fun, with so much to do.

But there's a new contender on the block... Mafia II.

Now the first Mafia game was quite good, and was very well received critically, but the sequel is about to drop, and Gamespot have just posted an amazing 15 minute walkthrough for one of the critical missions. This just blew me away (pun intended as you'll see).

There's a reason why these types of video games get Hollywood execs nervous. Why go out and deal with crowds, ticket prices, parking, etc, when you can be in your own movie at home - and believe me when I say - games are becoming more and more like interactive movies, where you are the main protagonist. It's an industry that turns over billions more annually than Hollywood - and it's games like this, that are the reason why.

Now some parts of this video have been censored, and for the purpose of time, the walkthrough has been clipped in some scenes, but if you're debating whether or not to buy an X-Box 360 or a PS3 console, then this should close the deal. And I suggest you watch it in HD.

Enjoy.

Fan Art: Ryan Reynolds as The Green Lantern

Source: /Film

Last week it was confirmed that Ryan Reynolds had been cast as the title character in Martin Campbell’s big screen adaptation of The Green Lantern. /Film reader movie boy sent over this FAN MADE PHOTO, which was created by Josh MC, showing what Reynolds could look like in the black and green tights. I repeat, this is NOT real. The movie has not yet started production. Check out the full photo after the jump.


"The Dark who?"

Star-Studded Line-Up for Rodriguez's 'Machete'!

Source: Bloody-Disgusting


"I guess it's painful having a face that's half human, half beef jerky."

We just got a monster tip that comes from one of regular scoopers who enjoys remaining anonymous. While we was dead-on with his insider info on Alien and Predators, he was off on announcing that Neil Marshall would direct Predators (although it's a known fact that he was in close negotiations). This afternoon I got a phone call from our good pal who tells us he has the names of the first four individuals cast in Robert Rodriguez's Machete feature film! Read on for the skinny.

What we learned is the following:

Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis are teaming up to begin filming Machete on July 29th. They are co-directors.

-DANNY TREJO is returning (obviously) as "Machete", the madman bent on revenge.

-MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ ("Lost", Fast & Furious, Avatar) is said to be playing "Luz".

-JONAH HILL, the comedian who has starred in such films as Superbad and the forthcoming Adam Sandler comedy Funny People, will play "Julio".

-Lastly, a legend of our time, ROBERT DE NIRO, will take on the role of "Senator McLaughlin".



Machete (Trejo) is a Mexican ex-Federale with a gift for wielding a blade, who hides out as a day laborer, who is double-crossed by a corrupt state senator (De Niro). The film was teased as a faux trailer that was directed by Robert Rodriguez in Dimension Films' Grindhouse, which featured a full-length film from both Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

Obviously, keep this sucker filed under rumor until confirmed.

New Screenwriter Hired for 'World War Z'

Source: First Showing + Fangoria

Not sure how many of you have read Max Brooks' 'The Zombie Survival Guide', and 'World War Z', but if you are a Zombie fan, and haven't read them yet, do yourself a favor and grab them. They won't disappoint.


"Max Brooks says: Autograph? Do I look like a Zombie, motherfucker?"

Now this is a bit strange. Fangoria reports today that the World War Z adaptation in the works over at Paramount is being revised by a different screenwriter. Originally, it was J. Michael Straczynski who had been adapting Max Brooks' book, but now it's Matthew Michael Carnahan, a "specialist in political thrillers" whose past credits include State of Play and The Kingdom. “He’s one of Hollywood's hot A-list writers, so if they went after him and paid him a mountain of gold, it definitely shows their confidence in this project,” Brooks said. We know Marc Forster is directing, but we didn't know there were problems with the script?


"Available from all good 'Undead' booksellers."

Brooks adds: “They say it’s a positive move because they’re very excited, but the truth is, it’s also positive because they just paid him a buttload of money, and [with] the money they paid him, the money they paid Straczynski and they money they’ve paid me, they’ve really dug themselves a deep hole, so they better make this thing!" I'm right there with him - they better make this thing! There seems to be something going on behind-the-scenes here - because when we reported that Forster was attached to direct last year, they were preparing to start production this year. So what happened? Why do they need an entirely new writer?


"Concept art for the film. Massive Zombie hordes... oh, my."

Straczynski has openly talked about his script quite a bit, with this update in December being the most recent. From the way he describes his version of Max Brooks' book, it sounds like it will be a very political movie that involves the government, which might explain why Matthew Michael Carnahan is actually good fit for this. I'm still curious to see if there is more to this story than we're hearing. We'll keep you updated on the development of World War Z, a project I am still very much looking forward to one day seeing.

From Fangoria: On FANGORIA RADIO last week, guest Max Brooks dropped a scoop about a new writer taking on the film version of his best-selling undead-epic novel WORLD WAR Z. The movie is being developed by Paramount and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Production, and was previously being scripted by CHANGELING and BABYLON 5’s J. Michael Straczynski.

Now taking on the adaptation reins is Matthew Michael Carnahan, a specialist in political thrillers whose credits include STATE OF PLAY and THE KINGDOM. “He’s one of Hollywood’s hot A-list writers, so if they went after him and paid him a mountain of gold, it definitely shows their confidence in this project,” Brooks said on the show. “They say it’s a positive move because they’re very excited, but the truth is, it’s also positive because they just paid him a buttload of money, and [with] the money they paid him, the money they paid Straczynski and they money they’ve paid me, they’ve really dug themselves a deep hole, so they better make this thing!” We’ll keep you posted on any further WORLD WAR Z news we hear.

First 'Official' Look at Iron Man 2

Source: EW

Entertainment Weekly's second annual Comic-Con preview issue features Iron Man 2 on the cover, and inside it’s packed with exclusive first looks at highly anticipated TV shows, comic books, and movies.



The first Iron Man blasted Robert Downey Jr. back to stardom, and the superhero franchise is readying to return to the big screen on May 7, 2010. Iron Man will battle new villain Mickey Rourke, size up Scarlett Johansson (exclusive photo of ScarJo as Black Widow, after the jump!), and, hopefully, prove that the success of the first movie wasn’t a fluke. Downey knows the movie isn't an underdog this time around. "There are a lot more invisible eyes on us now," he says.

When Marvel Studios first announced the sequel, no one was sure what the movie would be about. Downey, director Jon Favreau, screenwriter Justin Theroux, and the rest of the creative team struck upon the idea of introducing two very different foes for Stark. On one side is Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), a fast-talking weapons manufacturer who fancies himself the next Tony Stark; on the other, Vanko, who, while incarcerated in a Russian prison, creates his own battle-suit, which shoots devastating, whip-like beams. Hammer and Whiplash join forces to take down Downey’s character, Tony Stark. Rourke, for his part, wanted to instill some lightness into the role of the heavy. "I told Favreau, 'I don't want to just play him as a one-dimensional p----,'" he says. "He let me have a cockatoo, who I talk to and get drunk with while I’m making my suit."

Just as the deals were being hammered out, Terrence Howard -- who had played Stark’s best friend -- fell out of the sequel in a public salary dispute. The role was re-cast, with Don Cheadle stepping in. "We had to make some tough deals," says Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. "When they got public, you go, 'That sucks. Okay, you want a peek behind the curtain? Here you are!'" Says Cheadle, "Terrence and I couldn’t be more different. We address it head-on in the movie in one exchange. We're not trying to fool people." (Cheadle admits he didn’t know much about Marvel’s superhero before the first movie came out: "I always thought Iron Man was a robot.")


"Since when did A-Listers have to crawl on their hands and knees?"

Adding more flesh and blood to the new movie, Scarlett Johansson joined the cast as Stark’s mysterious new assistant, Natasha, who has an alter ego of her own, Black Widow. That introduction inevitably sparks romantic tension between Stark and former assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), who’s been promoted to CEO of Stark Industries. "The men want it to be, like, 'Ooh, the girls are fighting over Tony,' but it's not as standard as that," says Paltrow. "There's a weird male catfight fantasy. Downey agrees. He believes what differentiates the franchise from other superhero series can be summarized as follows: "We're horny. Not, like, can't-bring-your-kids horny, but just…horny."

The question remains whether Iron Man 2 will soar like the first film or show signs of rust when it hits theaters. "People are going to be more critical," says Downey. "That’s their prerogative….In a way, there's no way to win, except to win. Big."

For more on Iron Man, as well as a first look at the hottest movies and TV shows heading to Comic-Con, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday July 17.

Watchmen Director's Cut Theatrical Re-Release Theater List

Source: Official Watchmen Site + First Showing


"Yeah, baby, Ackerman in BluRay."

Back in June it was confirmed that the extended Director's Cut of Zack Snyder's Watchmen would still be hitting movie theaters starting on Friday, July 17th, which is tomorrow. Unfortunately, it would only show in four theaters located in Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis, and New York City. For anyone living in those cities, great news, for everyone else, well, the Blu-Ray hits shelves next Tuesday.

Here are the theaters (and links to buy tickets) for this weekend:

Mann Chinese 6 in Los Angeles
Landmark Sunshine 5 in New York
Carmike Apple Valley 15 in Minneapolis
Rave Hickory Creek 16 in Dallas


"Are you kidding? These guys haven't seen a woman in years, of course they enjoy your foot in their asses."

I hope you take this opportunity to see Watchmen one more time in theaters, especially since word is the Director's Cut is actually a huge improvement over the original cut. I've been dying to see this one more time and I'm quite excited. Plus it's the best way to honor Zack and everything he was able to pull off with this. Otherwise, at least pick up the Blu-Ray on Tuesday!

Aussie Revenge Thriller 'The Horseman ' is a Winner

As some of you may or may not know - I'm Australian, so I'm always going to be partial to any new Aussie horror films that come out. We have a small industry in comparison to the States, and unfortunately we have a habit of churning out a lot of uninteresting crap every year, but occasionally, we hit the mark, especially with horror films. Australia does do good genre films, and there's such a great wealth of untapped talent over there, it's always wonderful to see a newcomer break through.

David Harley from Bloody-Disgusting recently got a hold of Writer/Director - Steven Kastrissios' new revenge thriller,'The Horseman' - and he bloody loved it. Read on, Tarsonites.

Is it mere coincidence that I just watched Paul Schrader’s Hardcore? The story, which has George C. Scott running all over L.A. with a private detective (Peter Boyle) and porn “actress” looking for his missing daughter who got lost on a trip to California and is later found in a porno, seems to have influenced the setup of Steven Kastrissios’ The Horseman, a gritty Australian revenge film that knocked me flat on my ass this year at SXSW.



However, instead of a man looking for his daughter, The Horseman has Christian (Peter Marshall) looking for his daughter’s killers. While grieving her death, Christian receives a porn video in the mail, showing his daughter being gang-banged while appearing to be drugged out of her mind. He finds the address for the distributor, gathers his tools – he’s an exterminator – and hits the road to maim and murder everyone that had anything to do with her death and seedy lifestyle.

This guy doesn’t take revenge the typical way, though; shootings aren’t elaborate enough for Christian. Instead, he opts for penis torture. We’re talking fishing hooks, drill bits, bicycle pumps, the works. It makes Hostel II’s infamous scene seem G-rated in comparison – and that one had me holding onto my manhood the first time I saw it – without ever really showing anything. The act of implying these cringe-and-shriek-worthy acts is a testament to the film’s power over its audience and the physically draining journey it takes them on.


"Masturbating in front of tool-sets. It's a male thing."

While he’s on his travels, he picks up Alice (Caroline Marohasy), a young hitchhiker who he develops a father-daughter relationship with. This never bogs down the story or brings it to a total standstill like a lesser film would. What’s most intriguing about the interaction between the two characters can be summed up in this moment that takes place in a motel, where Christian shoots her this look that makes one think he might be having some “impure” thoughts about Alice and you’re left wondering during the rest of the film if he’ll eventually cross the line or stay focused on his revenge scheme. It doesn’t end up rearing its head again but Kastrissios commented that the original cut was an hour longer during his Q&A. It featured some more character development and exposition, and I wonder if this was a subplot that was explored more there.


"Safe to assume this year's family BBQ was a disaster."

In an age of over-choreographed fight sequences, The Horseman’s realistic, but sloppy, fights are like a breath of fresh air. Christian is new at this whole revenge thing and instead of having him be well-versed in kung-fu or the art of street fighting, he’s out there throwing his fists around fairly amateurishly in the beginning and just generally making a mess of things. This is the first film in a really long time that warrants the raw and gritty feel it’s going for and the nature of these fight scenes really solidify the film as a great throwback to the grimy revenge films of the 70s, more so than either of the Grindhouse full-length features.

Peter Marshall’s performance as Christian also deserves a lot of praise. His character does a lot of depraved things over the course of the film and even as he spirals out of control, he never makes you turn on him. You’re there with him the whole way as he searches for answers, crosses the line more than a few times and searches for redemption. His whole character arc is laid out for you, which is impressive considering how little exposition is actually given, and almost everything he does seems plausible and real. This isn’t a character with healing powers (superhuman strength during a few parts perhaps); he’s just a normal, everyday guy that’s maybe in over his head. He struggles towards the third act, cuts and bruises in tow, and by the end of the film, he makes Paul Kersey look like Adam West’s Batman.


"Spot of fishing, anyone?"

The Horseman is an exceptional entry in the revenge genre, filled with seat-squirming scenes and an identifiable anti-hero that never delves into self-parody or comic book character status. Between this and Greg McLean’s work, Australia seems to have made quite a mark this decade with their inspired genre films.

Check out the official website for lots more info.

'The Gate: Monstrous Special Edition' Coming to DVD!

Source: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

If only Lionsgate could bring us Blu-rays, they'd be on my best friend list. Today Lionsgate Home Entertainment hit us up with the breaking news that The Gate debuts in a Special Edition DVD on October 6 from Lionsgate. Starring Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), Kelly Rowan (TV's "The O.C.") and Jennifer Irwin (HBO's "Eastbound & Down"), the film is a terrifying tale about three children who accidently open a gate to hell which releases demons from an ancient civilization. The Gate: Monstrous Special Edition is loaded with new special features, including audio commentary with the director, interviews with the cast and crew, a stills gallery and the original theatrical trailer.



They are here and they want to meet the neighbors. After an old tree is removed from the ground, three teenagers come across a special rock with a beautiful crystalline center in their backyard. The rock enthralls them and they dig up the family's lawn in a search for more of the precious stones. However, instead of stones, they find the Gate: a hidden underground chamber that holds the secret of centuries and the vengeance of eternity. Their actions inadvertently liberate a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from the hole and what follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth. Pricing: DVD $19.98

'Trick 'r Treat' DVD/Blu-ray Art Revealed, Special Screening!

Source: Ain't It Cool

A word of advice to all Comic Con attendees regarding Thursday: pace yourself. For reasons that have nothing to do with the fans and everything to do with taking advantage of the Friday news cycle, most of the big ticket presentations at this year's soiree have been crammed into Day One. So do whatever you've got to do to make sure you've still got something left in the tank for 10:00 PM, because you cannot afford to miss the big screening/panel for one of the best horror films in recent memory.



Michael Dougherty's supremely entertaining TRICK 'R TREAT may seem like a throwback to the anthology horror style of classics like CREEPSHOW and the Amicus TALES FROM THE CRYPT, but it's a little more cohesive than those films. I love it. And I'm really excited for the film to screen in the convention center's massive Ballroom 20 late at night with the lights out and the volume jacked up, because I can pretty much guarantee that everyone in that room is going to walk out with a new holiday classic to place alongside Carpenter's HALLOWEEN and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

The Comic Con schedule has the presentation/screening listed for 9:30 PM, so while I'm being told it definitely starts at 10 PM, you might want to get there on the early side just in case. The post-film panel, which is being moderated by Gunnery Sergeant Harry Knowles (one of five AICN-ers who'll be at Comic Con this year - collect them all!!!), will include Dougherty, Anna Paquin, Brian Cox and Tahmoh Pinikett. Paquin will certainly attract the TRUE BLOOD horde, so, again, GET THERE EARLY!

Also on Thursday, from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, there will be an autograph signing at the WB booth.

The DVD/BD will hit stores this October (exact street date TBD). The first image above will be on the cardboard cover, while the spooky second pic will be on the actual case.