Archive for category Comic Con 2009

Garrett Hedlund from Tron Legacy

I have to say that the biggest disappointment yesterday was the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus Panel, where Terry Gilliam failed to engage the crowd on a personal and artistic level. It feels weird to say that, yes, but his aloof commentary, which hit a low when he indicated that he was only going to show the “boring bits” of the movie created a chill in the room.

For confirmation of this feeling, I noted the mild response to the footage he unveiled featuring the late Heath Ledger. And the people streaming out of the room.

In happier news, I’d say the other movie (aside from Avatar) which captivated the audiences I sat with yesterday had to be Tron Legacy. The presentation was a legacy in and of itself, with original Tron director Steven Lisberger joining Legacy filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, Olivia Wilde, and Garrett Hedlund for the talk. Oh, and Jeff Bridges was there, too!

Disney is in marketing overdrive, too, for the film. Collectable tokens for Flynn’s Arcade were handed out; a viral site popped up online sometime yesterday with decodable directions to a Friday night meet-up, which resulted in a walk over to the aforementioned arcade, a party space outfitted in ’80s splendor which will be open for the rest of the weekend. An associate of mine posted some footage from the arcade.

Speaking of parties, Michelle and I headed over to an early evening party with Entertainment Weekly, where it was a treat to meet some of our editorial heroes. Across the Hard Rock Café’s deck, Lionsgate held court, with Tim Burton, Alison Lohman, Tobin Bell, Ludacris, Amber Valletta, Terry Crews, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter in attendance.

We then mall-walked over to the IGN/MySpace/Jennifer’s Body event, where a flash of bulbs greeted Megan Fox and Diablo Cody, who quickly vanished after the red carpet.

It was a blur of A-listers and otherwise, a premiere ending to the first day of the Con.

Evil Spiderman

When I first entered the convention center on Thursday, I overheard someone say, “Wow, this is like Nerds Gone Wild.” I would go a step further and say that Comic-Con is more like fans gone wild.  Walking through the halls, everyone was dressed in costume.  I saw a group of spartans, evil Spiderman, multiple Luke Skywalkers, and even a beer-drinking Bender.  And in every panel and press room, it was echoed, “we are here for the fans.”

My favorite part of the day was Entertainment Weekly‘s “Wonder Women: Female Power Icons in Pop Culture” panel that honored actresses who broke the mold for typical female characters, featuring Eliza Dushku, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Mitchell and Sigourney Weaver.  Benjamin Svetkey, editor-at-large for EW, asked some tough but insightful questions about the constant challenge women face in finding good roles in the Hollywood films.

Sigourney Weaver

When asked why it was so hard for Hollywood to create strong and powerful women characters,  Sigourney Weaver said, “The challenge, that some writers take on very well, is to not try and write a woman action hero. Joss Whedon and James Cameron did not try to create a woman action hero, they were creating a character with a certain drive and veracity. It’s about character.  I was not playing a woman, I was playing a person. And there is a hero in each of us… ”

Elizabeth also mentioned that she feels enormously lucky because she has played some of her best roles after the age of 30. “I was described as sexy for the first time ever after the age of 38. That was kind of nice.”

Later in the day, I went to the Dexter panel with Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, and the newly cast John Lithgow, along with creators and producers.  They didn’t give much away for what we can expect for next season, but Michael hinted that Dexter’s lack of sleep and new responsibilities may make it hard for him to keep up with his… extracurricular activities.  Lithgow teased that he was the only person on set that actually knew what to expect this season because the producers told him the story for up to 12 episodes to entice him into taking the role.  He promised not to share any of the story with anyone but Julie Benz joked, “I’m going to get you drunk tonight.”

Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, and Kellan Lutz at the WIRED Cafe

There was also plenty of celeb spotting throughout the day.  At the WIRED cafe at the Omni Hotel I spotted Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, and Kellan Lutz jamming to the tunes of Mia Moretti, Katy Perry’s DJ.  Paul Bettany was also there, being interviewed for his new film Legion.

On the way out, I had my own fan moment when I saw James Callis (Gaius Baltar) walking down the street.  I was so excited and surprised, I didn’t get my camera out in time to take a picture.  But it reminded me, this is what Comic-Con is all about.

Avatar toys on the exhibition floor

James Cameron just announced that 15 minutes of Avatar footage will be screened worldwide in IMAX, 3D, and traditional theaters on August 21st. For free. It was the final point in a panel that left mouths agape and created a sensation that might have reverberated into space.

Cameron came off like a Dad-next-door for the hour-long presentation, half of which was comprised of amazing footage from the movie, which provided narrative insights as it took us into a world which draws inspiration from classic sci-fi, anime, and MMORPGs. (Also, Sam Worthington and Stephen Lang‘s characters are steeped in the sweat of 80s cinematic tough guys.)

I have to say, quite simply, that there’s no movie that looks like Avatar. Sigourney Weaver‘s claim in the press about Cameron creating his own world, from creating his own flora and fauna, certainly rings true in the footage we saw. I think Cameron’s on some sort of “first people” platform here, a futuristic look at what happens when a militaristic society tries to control the natural world.

I’m primed.

Real quickly, since my battery is about to die:  Zoe Saldana is the new queen of Comic-Con. Sorry Rosario Dawson.

Peter Facinelli, Kristen Stewart in 'New Moon'

A semi-shirtless Robert Pattinson and totally shirtless Taylor Lautner is more than enough to cause temporary ear damage. For a moment there, it felt as though the New Moon panel might suffer from a lack of footage, but Chris Weitz and company made the crowd wait until the end of the presentation for Bella’s fountain-crossing rescue of a sorrowful Edward, who is about to step into the sunlight. This scene was preceded by a brief sequence involving Bella on one of Jacob’s motorcycles and extended Q&A with the cast and director Chris Weitz.

More interesting to me than Taylor Lautner’s exercise regimen and Kristen Stewart’s perfect imitation of Shane from “The L Word” was Chris Weitz’s recounting of his experience working on The Golden Compass with New Line compared to New Moon and Summit. You might remember that New Line did a major Compass re-edit, one that didn’t satisfy Weitz, general audiences, or critics. He related how those events soured his feelings on moviemaking and went on to assert that his work on New Moon and relationship with the cast, crew, and studio has reinvigorated him. Burn!

Also, it’s pretty charming to see how Robert Pattinson has acknowledged how he is a supporting player here, and he seems more than willing to take a backseat for Taylor Lautner for the sequel. Pattinson is much more articulate this year compared to last. I kinda preferred him as the 2008 cad.

– arno

A scene from 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'

The mishmash of 3-D footage we just saw in the hour before the New Moon panel didn’t amount to much until a reel from The Final Destination put a bloody cap on the presentation. The filmmakers and some of the cast from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs came and went in a flash, with a 3-D trailer that finally drew my attention to the movie. Interestingly enough, Andy Samberg got a better reception than Anna Faris. Then *poof* and they were gone.

Joe Dante just premiered 2 different sequences from The Hole, which is still without a studio — I thought he make a distributor announcement here.   At first, the reaction was minimal until a 5-minute clip in 2-D elicited screams and laughs from the crowd. I think it looks like a potentially worthwhile examination of childhood fear.

But really this brief presentation was about The Final Destination, which might have shown too much before its August 28th release. All I remember from the barrage of carnage was a young man’s back being pressed and separated through a chain-link fence (very Ghost Ship), a stray racing car tire obliterating a young gal’s head (you’ve seen this teased in the trailer), as well as Nick Zano’s character’s vision of his death. I’m still waiting for more from that car-wash scene. This really could be better than Final Destination 2.

Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson at the New Moon panel

I kicked off my morning at the press conference for New Moon featuring Kristen Stewart (sporting her Joan Jett hairstyle), Taylor Lautner, and Robert Pattinson.

I had to fight my way through a line that was at least a mile long (no joke) of fans wearing Team Edward and Team Jacob crowns sponsored by Burger King.

Taylor noted that sometimes he gets nervous when he thinks about the fans’ expectations. “I don’t want to disappoint them which is why I worked so hard,  both emotionally and physically, to prepare and take on this role,” Lautner said.

Just this morning, Kristen, Taylor, and Robert had their first look at the footage that will be shown to the fans this afternoon.  Robert assured, “I don’t think the fans will be disappointed.”

Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge

10:30 AM:

Disney’s 3D presentation will begin in Hall H in 30 minutes. I’ve got a pair of low-budget sunglasses for the day and my fingers are crossed for full-on Miyazaki/Ponyo glory. I’ll be here all day, updating as battery life allows.

Meanwhile, Jon is drifting towards Hall H as well to bring you views from this panel.

Michelle, currently, is OMGing at the New Moon press day, so she should have some ace photos of Kristen, Jacob, and, of course, Robert.

And we, like you, are dying to see Fear Net’s first videos.

10:45 AM:

Oh yes, if you haven’t heard about or seen the Hall H lines, I’d estimate the assembled crowd at roughly 10,000 people, most of them in New Moon/Burger King crowns and other Twilight gear. This phenomenon is even bigger than last year.

11:45 AM:

Robert Zemeckis just unveiled a Scrooge-meets-Jacob Marley scene from A Christmas Carol, followed by a few other flashes from the movie. It was exquisite and scary, and somehow funny too. Kids are gonna cry, for sure, maybe worse than when they see Where the Wild Things Are.

12:05 PM: Tim Burton premiered a teaser trailer from Alice in Wonderland. Twice. And now a young girl is asking him what his “favoritest” movie is that he’s directed. And his answer (“Maybe Scissorhands”) was so sincere. I heart Comic-Con.

Tyrese Gibson signs a Mayhem! comic for a young fan

Seasoned TV editor Michelle Bryant (who just celebrated one year as part of IMDb) and I checked out Preview Night tonight; it was Michelle’s first venture onto the main floor of the San Diego Convention Center, and it was my third year wading up and down the aisles. We checked out the major film and TV studio displays, picked up some schwag, created the nickname “Hugh Waxman” and caught a glimpse of Tyrese Gibson hawking his Mayhem! comic — “no photo unless you buy the comic,” said his handlers, but Michelle raised her voice an octave and earned this photo for her charm.

Other highlights: A potential hint that the Emily the Strange movie might be in actual-real development, and the first of many fanboy-friendly TV promotions.

We came back to the hotel to discover some minor technical issues that have prevented us from uploading photos to the blog, but we’ll come at you early on Thursday with an extended preview-night gallery, as well as the first glimpses of what our superfriends at Fear Net have captured on video! We’re primed for Thursday, the first full day of Comic-Con 2009, and hope you like what you read and see here.

With Comic-Con 2009 just days away as of this writing, I assert if there’s one thing I’ve learned from covering the event over the last two years, it’s to take the proceedings one day at a time. (Also, pack your own lunch instead of shelling out for skating-rink-style slices of pizza and knots of pretzels.) With this in mind, I offer a preview of what I’ll be focusing on this coming Thursday, the first full day of the Con.

Jacob Lautner in "New Moon"

Hollywood’s love of 3D technology almost takes center stage today — we’ll get to New Moon in a second — with a morning presentation from Disney on three of their upcoming showstoppers: A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton‘s Alice in Wonderland, and the as-yet-officially-titled Tron sequel. Disney’s been shelling out the marketing and publicity dollars for Christmas, but attendees are primed for Tim Burton’s first Comic-Con appearance, as well as any bits of info on the whereabouts of Kevin Flynn. But Jim Carrey‘s going to show up, right? I say yes, and I will bet my lock of Robert Pattinson‘s hair that Johnny Depp will create a frenzy on this day, first for Alice and then later in the afternoon for a look at Terry Gilliam‘s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus.

Next, a clutch of studios offer a second 3D showcase: Sony’s so far underwhelming Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Final Destination‘s apparently final stop, and a look at Gremlins director Joe Dante‘s displaced-family thriller, The Hole, which “has yet to land a distributor” according to the production. I feel like we can expect a studio and release date to be announced on this day.

After this hodgepodge, I expect the air in Hall H to grow Northwest cool and damp, while the feeling of a sorta sexy evil begins to lick at the squealing crowd of 6,000+ fans. It’ll almost be time for an exclusive look at the Edward-Bella-Jacob love triangle in The Twilight Saga: New Moon. But first? Footage from Astro Boy (hmm, this year’s Speed Racer?) and Sorority Row (definitely this year’s Prom Night). I have to say I was at the Twilight panel last year, and though I don’t connect with the folklore, I love this phenomenon for many different reasons. Anything that gets people reading reawakens my inner librarian, and any creation that inspires people to go to the movies in groups — teens, their friends, and their parents — can’t be anything but true entertainment. And the whole phenomenon makes me realize how snooty and sexist many top websites are, as they dismiss Stephenie Meyer‘s work and its intergeneration of followers.

I’m also curious to see if Taylor Lautner surpasses Robert Pattinson in popularity, if only for a day?

If this first 24 hours isn’t all ready feverish enough, James Cameron will vie to become the King of the Con with an in-depth look at his December release, Avatar. Exactly how much material we’ll see is unknown, as is whether or not Cameron truly will connect with the amassed crowd. I suggest pulling a Jon Favreau and filming the audience with one of your creations, J.C. Undoubtedly, we’ll see the filmmaker’s cuddlier side when he and Peter Jackson discuss the future of 3D together.

The rest of the day hosts primo opportunities for a trio of cool-looking smaller films to generate some mainstream hype: Pandorum looks like the nastiest space nightmare since the Reavers sequences in Serenity; Kick-Ass reminds us all that Comic-Con (still) is all about comics; cult director Chan-wook Park just might achieve commercial success with his Focus Features-backed latest, Thirst.

Two awesome-sounding events happen this evening: a “zombie walk” Sony is curating to hype Zombieland, and a screening of Michael Dougherty‘s formerly hyped horror film, Trick R Treat, which is currently rocking a 9.4 rating on IMDb and still is only getting a DVD release this October.

Wait — crud — I just remembered that Thirst will also screen this evening. Jeez, I might vault my plus-sized self into a pedicab and have a surfer kid cycle me back to the hotel.

The Vampire Diaries

Comic-Con starts next week and I’m excited to attend along with Jon and Arno.  While they’re fighting their way into see previews of the highly anticipated Avatar and New Moon, I’ll be putting my focus on everything TV-related.   This will be my first year at Comic-Con, and I am ready to wave my nerd flag!

Although the event officially starts on July 23rd, Wednesday is preview night.  There will be screenings of Fox’s “Human Target” and CW’s “The Vampire Diaries,” but I plan to check out ABC’s remake of “V” starring Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Scott Wolf, and Joel Gretsch.   Word on the street is there will also be a screening of Twilight with the cast in attendance, so I will be on the look-out for Edward and Bella.

On Thursday, I definitely want to check out the “Battlestar Galactica” Retrospective with Richard Hatch, the Emmy-nominated “Robot Chicken” with “Titan Maximum,” as well as Entertainment Weekly‘s Wonder Women: Female Power Icons in Pop Culture panel with Sigourney Weaver (Avatar), Elizabeth Mitchell (“Lost“) and Zoe Saldana (Avatar).  There will also be a panel for “Dexter” with Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz and Jennifer Carpenter. It will be interesting to see how married life is treating our favorite serial killer.

I will try to keep my frakkin’ cool on Friday at the panel for “Caprica“/Battlestar Galactica: The Plan with executive producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, and Jane Espenson, and two generations of Adamas–Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama)  and Esai Morales (Joseph Adama).   So say we all!  I also plan to check out panels for “Bones” (with showrunner Hart Hanson and stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel), “Dollhouse” (with  creator Joss Whedon and star/producer Eliza Dushku, and AMC’s new show “The Prisoner,” starring Jim Caviezel.  Friday is officially “Star Wars Day” so… like Yoda I plan to talk all day.

Saturday will be a big day for TV. There are back-to-back events scheduled for all the top shows including “Chuck,” “Lost,” “Family Guy,” and “True Blood.”  Plus, “Futurama” will reveal if they are really coming back again or if that’s just a tease.

Make sure to check back next week as we will be updating the blog and posting pictures from all the events.   Wish me luck!

- Michelle