Though everyone seemed to be dragging today (except Stan Lee; where does he get that energy?), it was a great day at the con.  Hey, sure heading outside in the rain….  Here’s a taste of what you may have missed!

* Cool independent comics:
- The cool pulp-novel feel of Hard-Boiled Horror.  Horror with a noir feel, especially when it’s this beautifully illustrated, is a cool new twist I’m eager to see more of.
- Digital Pimp Online  (not just because of the cool name, but it don’t hurt) and their comic that resonated with me, “Joe Loves Crappy Movies”
- Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes (because I’m on a bit of monkey love after Rise, and the drawings in this comic are amazing)
- The God Machine, for it’s eerie, lovely graphics
- The Hero Business, because it’s hilarious.
- Imperium Comics, because “Trailer Park of Terror” is my favorite title of the day, and the pencil-work and colors are awesome.
- Black Label Comics, because anyone who does a Hunginn & Muninn comic (based on the two ravens of Odin,,,that transform into human form by night)?  I’m in.
- And the adorable Shilong Pang, a webcomic that makes me wish I’d found it sooner.

* Hometown Boys Make Good:  Comics you need to get your paws on to 1) support our Baltimore peeps, and 2) feed an obsession you didn’t know you had….
- i taste sound: these twisted little bastards have my heart.  Not just because they had the coolest stickers at the con, but because I love a good pun.  Especially if it’s dirty and/or twisted.  Win!
- Heritage Comics HSQ: Because I love superheroes, but I love superheroes with a positive message even more.  And they’re drawn very well, and the guys are from Baltimore.  Niiiiice.

Panel News: random quotes and thoughts rattling around in my tin-can brain….

* Comics Jukebox: All Ages Comics in the Digital Age: The speakers let loose on their thoughts about digital media and comics, along with the possibilities for publishers and creators.  The big question?  “How can the internet help to let people be seen when there’s so much thrown in people’s faces?”  Scott Gallagher echoed Kevin Maguire’s comment yesterday; “(illustrations) look better on the iPad!”
- Everyone seems to be wondering what “the” format will be.  Lord knows you don’t want to be stuck with Betamax.  But the panelists seemed to agree that ePub was a great format to try to get in on…IF there was a way to make it friendlier to illustrated materials (perhaps an update or three?)
- The margins are closing in terms of the money to be made by artists/writers on printed issues vs. digital media. It’s comic stores + publishers + printing, or Apple (or whomever sends out the app) + comiXology.  So it looks like it’s up to individual creators to take their pick, or do both.
- Archie comics has been doing this a lot longer than the rest of the folks, and has special app-only content.  So folks wanting to see Little Jinx?  There’s an app for that.
- Sites/apps to check out: comiXology, iVerse, Comics Jukebox  and the Archie Comic Lab (for fans) and Kickstarter for artists and writers.

* Going Digital: Day and Date, and What You Need To Know: A discussion about the decision Marvel and DC Comics made to make their content available to digital readers the same day it’s available to hard-copy readers.  The panel was led by John D. Roberts, a co-founder of comiXology, but that didn’t stop the panelists from giving their true opinions. (Though most were all for a new medium to play with….)
- The best part of going digital to creators was the idea that there would no longer be  “running out” problems.  You know, when you go to a shop and they’re sold out?  Not anymore; you can buy a copy anytime.  Which will also be good for fans trying to catch up, and readers who want to start at the beginning.
- Artists and writers were both interested to see how this new format would affect their creativity.  Though I worry about the disappearance of two-page “splash” pages, the idea that artists could create even more detailed work that could be zoomed in on is pretty damn cool.
- As far as comic book shops going out of business with this?  Not likely.  The good retailers who know what they’re doing will know how to push social aspects of their shops (always a big selling point in comic book stores), and people who read comics online will want a trade hardcover of something they’re truly in love with.  In fact, I’d bet this push will get more readers to try comics in general.  After all, no tell-tale signs of nerdom to be found…it’s all tastefully hidden away in your iPad.  (Unlike my office, which looks like Nerd Wonderland.)
- Though there’s a worry that print media may go the way of the dodo, I think it’s here to stay. I’d rather have someone sign my most cherished hard-cover issue than my eReader or Droid.

* CBLDF: The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund needs your money.  Plain and simple.  But they didn’t do a hard sell, they just laid out the history of censorship in America, along with a few of their current/recent cases.  Check out Diana v. Florida and judge for yourself.  And it’s not just happening to stores and creators; a guy just got busted for bringing Manga over the border to Canada.  CANADA.  With everyone carting some sort of tech around with ‘em every day, the next person the CBLDF helps could be you.  Yeah I bought the t-shirt.  “I Read Banned Comics” — like I could pass that up?  That it’s in the Watchmen colors of black-n-yellow?  Bonus.

As for Stan Lee?  Yeah, I saw him.  And he was AMAZING.  But all the photos I took ended up craptastic.  I blame my (cheap) horrible camera.  Trust me though, a good time was had by all.

Check out my Twitter feed if you’re feeling a need for more (or if you want more pictures….)  Monday Rewind will be on hiatus tomorrow, but for now?  Enjoy  the teaser for Frank Miller’s new graphic novel Holy Terror, which is slated for release on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  As always, Miller delivers.

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Phew!  It was a long, fun day at Baltimore Comic-Con, but I’ll keep this quick so I can get to the best tidbits from the con.  Despite the big guns in comics (Marvel, DC, Indigo, Dark Horse) and movies (WB/CW, Universal, Fox, etc.) not having Dealer’s Room presence, there was plenty to see and do!

Comics I wanna see on the big screen (or just get my paws on Right Now):

* Sandshark Studios had a new offering with a name that’s totally cool: Adam And Eve Bizarre Love Triangle In The Zombie Apocalypse Volume 1: Post Armageddon Underground Bunker Blues.  Try saying that five times fast.  And after (pawing) looking at the dealer’s copy, it’s just as cool as it sounds.

* Kill Shakespeare.  No, it’s not the latest arthouse film or a sign I’ve lost my marbles, but a groovy new series.  Shakespeare’s characters exist, and they’re looking for a wizard…named Will.  Cool?  Absolutely.

* The Field on the Edge of the Woods.  Oooh, spooky.  But I can’t seem to be scared; I’m too busy staring at the gorgeous pencil work.  It has a bit of Song of Ice and Fire to it (a bad place beyond a great wall), but there’s a definite modern, funky twist to it.

* The hilarious Girls With Slingshots, the drop-dead gorgeousness of Vampire, PA,  and the very cool storyline (a suicidal immortal!) of The Last Mortal from ubercool Top Cow.

Panel Tidbits:

* Spotlight on Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis & Kevin Maguire: hilarious, informative and the first time these three have ever been in a panel together (who knew?)  They discussed their work on Justice League, Metal Men and anything else that popped into their heads.
- On their work on the 80’s Justice League: “Never a time when I didn’t think the book would be ripped away from us.”
- “‘Til Moving Day, it wasn’t a conscious decision to add humor.”
- DC “never let off the idea of taking the humor out of it”, and was afraid they’d “spoil” Wonder Woman, and thought “humor was off-genre”.
- Who came up with “Bwah-ha-ha”?  Although they could find out by tracking down notes and drawings from that time, Keith Giffen spoke for ‘em all; “I don’t give a damn!”
- Kevin Maguire is a fan of digital artistry, and thinks in some instances comics look better on the digital page than the printed one (depending on paper stock used in printing).

* Marvel Panel: How does Marvel take to artists changing around character personalities and such?  Apparently Marvel is pretty flexible with their artists, but expect them to “put the toys back where you found them.  Everybody knows that.”
- What should you read?  “Anything Jeff Parker writes”.  “Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimates and S.H.I.E.L.D”.  “FF, X Force, Daredevil” (don’t let Ben Affleck turn you away from it.  Trust me.)

* Legendary Panel: the comics, not the movies (though they will be getting more out to fans at New York Comic-Con).
- About Frank Miller’s (300, Sin City) Holy Terror, ten years in the making?  Could be good; Editor-in-Chief Bob Schreck calls it “Frank’s version of Inglorious Basterds”.  It’s due out the third week of Septmber, and already has people clamoring for it (as you’d expect from this massive talent).
- On comics vs. movies: “The main goal for Legendary is to make good books.”  So don’t think comics are a secondary to the movie division.  It ain’t.
- On embracing or passing on digital comics: “if you don’t accept change it runs you over and leaves you for dead.”

* DC’s New 52 Panel : this was the panel that tore folks from the costume contest (though there were definitely enough fans in there so that the cheering and applause definitely carried through the walls….) But that’s no surprise; re-numbering 52 DC titles so they’e back at Issue #1?  After this panel, this is one fangirl who had her reservations (Swamp Thing!), but will head out to grab up the new Swampy #1
- “DC…is taking action to make sure comics still exist.”
- “We are not here to see you stories we don’t believe in….DC is just now allowing us to take these characters where we’ve always wanted to.”
- As far as dropping it all on us in September?  Not so fast, there’s “so much more going on outside of September!”  Unfortunately, they couldn’t give more specifics.  Guess we’ll have to wait for the New York Comic-Con to get those details, since the reveal will be in “2 to 3 months”.

* Top Cow Panel: Yeah, there will be changes in Witchblade, but not anything crazy.  But Velocity will appear in Artifacts.  Yes, you fans can squee now.

* Costume Contest: yeah, I missed most of it so I could snag some quality info on the New 52.  But pictures?  Pictures I’ve got, from beginning of the day to end.  Enjoy!

But why cover comic book awards, you ask? Well, because comic books (aka Graphic Novels) are awesome. Because the award ceremony will be here in Baltimore during the Baltimore Comic Con. And because there are so many movies being made from online and print comics nowadays. So, herewith:

BEST LETTERER

____ Scott Brown, BOX 13, http://www.comixology.com and Red 5 Comics
____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Dustin Harbin, CASANOVA, Icon Comics
____ Troy Peteri, WITCHBLADE, Top Cow
____ Robbie Robbins, LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM # 1, IDW
____ John Workman, THOR, Marvel Comics

BEST COLORIST

____ Veronica Gandini, MICE TEMPLAR: VOLUME 10, Image Comics
____ Laura Martin, THE STAND, Marvel Comics
____ Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Dave Stewart, BPRD, Dark Horse Comics
____ Jose Villarrubia, CUBA : MY REVOLUTION, Vertigo/DC Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

____ CUL DE SAC, Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
____ DOONESBURY, Garry Trudeau, Universal Press Syndicate
____ MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
____ NON SEQUITUR, Wiley Miller, Universal Press Syndicate
____ TOM THE DANCING BUG, Ruben Bolling, Universal Press Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK

____ GUNS OF SHADOW VALLEY, David Wachter and James Andrew Clark,

http://www.gunsofshadowvalley.com/

____ GUTTERS, Lar deSouza, Ed Ryzowski and Ryan Sohmer,

http://www.the-gutters.com

____ HARK! A VAGRANT, Kate Beaton, http://harkavagrant.com/
____ LA MORTE SISTERS, created Tony Trov, Johnny Zito and Christine Larsen,
http://www.LaMorteSisters.com/
____ PVP, Scott Kurtz, http://www.pvponline.com/

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

____ AX: ALTERNATE MANGA, edited by Sean Michael Wilson and Mitsuhiro Asakawa, Top Shelf
____ BLACKSAD, Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, Dark Horse Comics
____ IT WAS THE WAR OF THE TRENCHES, Jacques Tardi, Fantagraphics
____ THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI, Matz and Luc Jacamon, Archaia Entertainment
____ TORPEDO VOLUME 2, Jordi Bernet, IDW

BEST INKER

____ Damian Couceiro, HAWKS OF OUTREMER, BOOM! Studios
____ Steve Ellis, BOX 13, http://www.comixology.com & Red 5 Comics
____ Gabriel Hardman, AGENTS OF ATLAS, Marvel Comics
____ Mark Morales, THOR, Marvel Comics
____ Sal Regla, MAGDALENA, Top Cow

BEST NEW SERIES

____ AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque,
Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHOES, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
____ GUTTERS, Lar deSouza, Ed Ryzoski and Ryan Sohmer,

http://www.the-gutters.com

____ KILL SHAKESPEARE, Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, IDW
____ SIXTH GUN, Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, Oni Press
____ THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee, Marvel Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT

____ Barry Deutsch, HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD, Amulet Books
____ Comfort Love and Adam Withers, RAINBOW IN THE DARK,

http://www.RainbowintheDarkComic.com

____ Chris Samnee, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics
____ Scott Snyder, AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Nick Spencer, MORNING GLORIES, Image Comics

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS

____ Matt Groening, THE SIMPSONS FUTURAMA CROSSOVER CRISIS, Abrams ComicArts
____ Roger Langridge, THE MUPPET SHOW, BOOM! Studios
____ Ryan Sohmer, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Shannon Wheeler, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER, BOOM! Studios
____ Thom Zahler, LOVE AND CAPES, IDW

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS

____ AMULET # 3: THE CLOUD SEARCHER, Kazu Kibuishi, Scholastic Graphix
____ JINGLE BELLE, Paul Dini, http://www.jinglebelle.com/
____ MEANWHILE: PICK ANY PATH. 3856 STORY POSSIBILITIES, Jason Shiga, Amulet Books
____ READING WITH PICTURES, Josh Elder, Executive Editor, Reading With Pictures
____ SMILE, Raina Telgemeier, Scholastic Graphix
____ TINY TITANS, Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, DC Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

____ ART IN TIME, edited Dan Nadel, Abrams ComicArts
____ BEASTS OF BURDEN: ANIMAL RITES, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, Dark Horse Comics
____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ, Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, Marvel Comics
____ TUMOR, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon, Archaia

BEST ANTHOLOGY

____ BLAB WORLD #1, Monte Beauchamp and Bill North, Last Gasp
____ CBGB, edited by Ian Brill, BOOM! Studios
____ POPGUN # 4, edited by D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
____ READING WITH PICTURES, Josh Elder, Executive Editor, Reading With Pictures
____ STRANGE TALES, VOLUME II # 1, edited by Jody LeHeup, Marvel Comics
____ UNIQUES TALES, edited by Comfort Love and Adam Withers, http://www.uniquescomic.com

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

____ THE DARKNESS, Garth Ennis, Marc Silvestri and Batt, Image Comics
____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ JET SCOTT, Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Stark, Dark Horse Comics
____ LI’L ABNER: THE COMPLETE DAILIES AND COLOR SUNDAYS, edited by Bruce Canwell, IDW
____ SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI, Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neil, DC Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Jenny Frison, ANGEL, IDW
____ Marcos Martin, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, Marvel Comics
____ Mike Mignola, HELLBOY, Dark Horse Comics
____ Frank Quitely, BATMAN AND ROBIN, DC Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

____ 75 YEARS OF DC COMICS: THE ART OF MODERN MYTH-MAKING, Paul Levitz, Taschen Books
____ THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ: THE SECRETS OF LIFE AND DEATH,
edited by Todd Hignite, Abrams ComicArts
____ JERRY ROBINSON: AMBASSADOR OF COMICS, N. C. Christopher Couch, Abrams ComicArts
____ ODDLY COMPELLING ART OF DENIS KITCHEN, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein,
edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
____ PORTRAIT OF A SEQUENTIAL ARTIST, directed by Andrew D. Cook, Montilla Presentations

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

____ DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARITIST’S EDITION,
designed by Randall Dahlk & edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
____ ODDLY COMPELLING ART OF DENIS KITCHEN Kitchen, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein,
edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
____ RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, Darwyn Cooke, IDW
____ SHAZAM! THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE WORLD’S MIGHTIEST MORTAL, Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear,
Abrams ComicArts
____ WEDNESDAY COMICS HARDCOVER EDITION, edited by Mark Chiarello, DC Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – ORIGINAL

____ DUNCAN, THE WONDER DOG, Adam Hines, AdHouse Books
____ MARKET DAY, James Sturm, Drawn and Quarterly
____ SCOTT PILGRM VOLUME 6: SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Oni Press
____ WILSON, Dan Clowes, Drawn and Quarterly
____ X’ED OUT, Charles Burns, Pantheon

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

____ CHEW, John Layman and Rob Guillory, Image Comics
____ DAYTRIPPER, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHO, Terry Moore, Abstract Studio
____ FANTASTIC FOUR, Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham, Marvel Comics
____ LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM # 1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
____ LOVE AND ROCKETS: VOLUME 3, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Fantagraphics

BEST WRITER

____ Cullen Bunn, SIXTH GUN, Oni Press
____ Joshua Hale Fialkov, ECHOES, Top Cow
____ Roger Langridge, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics
____ Ryan Sohmer, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Mark Waid, IRREDEEMABLE, BOOM! Studios

BEST ARTIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Dean Haspiel, CUBA : MY REVOLUTION, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Brian Hurtt, SIXTH GUN, Oni Press
____ Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, http://www.the-gutters.com
____ Chris Samnee, THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER, Marvel Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

____ Darwyn Cooke, RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT, IDW
____ Jaime Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS, Fantagraphics
____ Jeff Lemire, SWEET TOOTH, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ Bryan Lee O’Malley, SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, Oni Press
____ Jeff Smith, RASL, Cartoon Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE or STORY

____ ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY # 20: LINT, Chris Ware, Drawn and Quarterly
____ DAYTRIPPER, Fabio Moon and Gabiel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
____ ECHOES # 1, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
____ LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM #1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
____ LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES, VOLUME 3, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Fantagraphics
____ POPGUN # 4, edited by D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
____ WILSON, Daniel Clowes, Drawn and Quarterly

 

Although all nominees are amazing, I’m particularly excited to see that Locke & Key, Mice Templar, The Stand and American Vampire all scored noms.

For futher information, go to The Harvey Awards Web site, or to the Baltimore Comic-Con Web site for info on the awards ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS to all nominees, and we’ll see you at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Okay, this is starting to get confusing. Reports began swirling about a month ago that Batman Begins an d The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan was being brought in as a producer to oversee the next Superman film, and both movie and comic fans alike rejoiced. Shortly after, DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson outright rejected the rumors, leaving those fans feeling slightly cheated. It seemed like such a great idea that the man who wrangled the Batman franchise into one of the most lucrative and acclaimed series in history would step in to aid with the “Big Blue boyscout.”

Luckily, Nelson’s statements were apparently just meant as misdirection, as Nolan himself opened up to the LA Times about his involvement and the high hopes and plans he, his screenwriter brother Jonathan, and his producer wife Emma Thomas have for Superman.

“It’s very exciting, we have a fantastic story. And we feel we can do it right. We know the milieu, if you will, we know the genre and how to get it done right…[it] is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get Emma and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way. We’re approaching it in a not dissimilar way [to the Batman films] in terms of trying to find an incredible story in a way that audiences can engage with it the way they engage with contemporary action films.”

The best guess as far as who will helm the project seems to be that Begins writer and Dark Knight co-plotter David Goyer will handle the script, with his sights set on also directing. This will leave brothers Chris and Jonathan free to tackle the third Batman picture, on which Chris claims Jonah is now “doing the hand work.”

Christopher spoke a little about the approach they are taking for the next installment:

“The key thing that makes the third film an great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story…I’m very excited about the end of the film, the conclusion, and what we’ve done with the characters. My brother has come up with some pretty exciting stuff. Unlike the comics, these thing don’t go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful. Viewing it as an ending, that sets you very much on the right track about the appropriate conclusion and the essence of what tale we’re telling.”

So there you have it, straight from the horse’s mouth. Nolan will be overseeing Superman while working on Batman. Pretty exciting stuff for fans. So we want to hear your thoughts. How do you feel about Nolan taking the reins as DC’s golden boy?

Good morning all. Welcome back to the Atomic DVD Shelf.

Last week we kicked off the column with a look at Halo:Legends, Black Dynamite and more. If you missed it, check it out. This week, there’s an even greater number of new films, and overall the quality is better.

There are some definite disappointments here and a few that never stood the chance of being good, but amidst that, there’s more than a few gems hiding out in this week’s lot. Let’s begin shall we?

The Box

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★★½☆☆ 

When I reviewed this one for AP back in the fall, I was accused of giving away the film’s secret; whether or not Cameron Diaz and James Marsden pushed the button. Well, it’s no secret to tell you that this concept, which drove the short story it was based off, isn’t the big revelation The Box has in store. We know from the beginning what will happen and in the first 30 minutes that question is answered. Unfortunately, all of the  best bits are in that first hour and tied to the very basic premise. Once the button is pushed (gasp!) Kelly’s story spirals out into insanity. This one feels like a real missed opportunity, and it’s going to infuriate some and intrigue a few who will pursue it begrudgingly. I gave it a passing grade back then because I liked more  than I disliked. However, now that its hit dvd, I’ve got no real desire to revisit it.  For those that refuse to give up on Richard Kelly and think Donnie Darko was more than a fluke, there a few good special features provided for your diligence.

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★½☆☆☆ 

I’m a pretty forgiving guy when it comes to fantasy adventure films. Especially ones aimed for the family audience; for my taste, there simply aren’t enough good ones. So it  takes a lot for me to admit when one falls flat. However, that’s exactly what happens with Cirque Du Freak. The story is tragically thin and relatively lame and John C. Reilly, usually so good, is horribly miscast. There are a ton of cameos in the film, which is apparently based off a reasonably popular children’s book series. All of them are wasted and fail to generate any interest. There’s not a single character to root for, and not one supernatural ability that makes sense or causes us to consider what we ourselves would do if we had it. The plot details are also suspect; there’s an ancient clan of bloodsucking beings called Vampinese? Really, Vampinese? Yes, really. The best I can muster for this is that it isn’t as bad as Twilight.

Check out Marco’s AP review of the movie over here.

Crude

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Joe Berlinger’s Crude is a captivating, frustrating and sometimes legitimately sad documentary. I bow to Berlinger’s ability to be both even handed and indicting while evoking imagery that is haunting and sickening. The sequences that show the Amazon forests of Ecuador reduced to sludgy waste by corporate drilling will stick with you even you don’t happen to be an environmentalist. The rest of the picture follows a court battle between the Ecuadorians who have filed a lawsuit against Chevron for the hazardous by-product of their oil drilling. It isn’t the destruction of nature alone they are arguing against; it’s the fact that the water they drank and bathed in was contaminated by oil spillage. This legal stand-off is still going on today and Berlinger’s camera is privy to both sides. Get ready for a pensive but provocative look at a people trying to make their voice heard in the shadow of a giant.

Sorority Row

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Sorority Row is exactly 10 years too late to be worth regarding. Back in 1999, it still would have come off as late to the party, following up Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and even Urban Legends. This movie, whose best feature is a haggard Carrie Fisher as an axe toting sorority mother, is a hodgepodge concoction of all those other flicks. It throws in a few 80′s sensibilities, but mostly any signs of intelligence or individuality have been drained from it. It could have been much worse than it is, though. The proof of that is in last week’s Cabin Fever 2 which featured flesh eating viruses at the Prom and was far more indigestible than this. Here, the directors are at least sensible enough to keep it to a college campus with the tried and true slasher. There’s something to be said for tradition sometimes. Watchable, especially if you are a horror fan with a free Red Box rental.

The Informant!

Nate’s review:

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

AP rating:

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

I love this movie and it’s mostly thanks to a really versatile and nuanced performance by Matt Damon. It isn’t just that Damon disappears completely into the role of Mark Whitacre, a hapless biochemist who wants to help the FBI blow the lid on the shady company he works for.  No, it’s as much what Damon does with Whitacre once he’s nailed all the character quirks and banal personality traits. He subtly and perfectly calibrates the change this man goes through over the course of the film. And if you think this is a stuffy affair concerned only with attacking big business, you’d be wrong. It’s really funny, with a nice dose of honest-to-goodness sarcasm floating right there on top. The supporting cast is also off-kilter but really effective. I enjoyed Scott Bakula’s agent the best of the second tier players. This is Soderbergh in a lighter tone, but not so light that we’re talking Ocean’s Eleven. If you ask me, it’s his best work since Traffic. Well worth seeing.

Read Marco’s take right here and John’s here.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

I’ve given myself over to the fact we will probably never see a live action Justice League film in my lifetime. I had hope when George Miller was linked to the project, but these days it’s probably better off that the idea is languishing in development hell somewhere. Until then, the comic-collecting 8 yr old inside will have to make due with DC’s direct-to-dvd animated features. That, as it turns out, isn’t such a bad thing. The last Justice League movie was actually a lot of fun, with clear, crisp animation that brought back fond memories of Fleischer’s Superman shorts and the 1990′s Batman animated series. Crisis on Two Earths is just about as good as the first one, this time focusing on the crime fighters tussle with warriors from an alternate dimension.The villains there are Batman and Superman, and their greatest weapon against their counterparts is the fact they will do what the originals cannot; kill. Perfectly fun, with a less violent story than the previous outing. If you’re a DC fan, a comic fan, or even a passing fan of any of the heroes featured, give this one a whirl. Among the really good special features is an absolute gem; a short animated film about The Spectre! Easily the best bit on the disc.

Nate’s Pick of the Week: The Damned United

Nate’s rating:

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

This isn’t strictly speaking, just a sports/soccer/football movie. Granted, the football scenes are realized in a wonderfully kinetic and gritty style, but they are not the lifeblood of this picture or it’s focus. That’s for the best, because without the centerpiece being the sport or the team or the formula, Damned United is freed up to just be a damned good movie. Michael Sheen goes ahead and gives another really strong performance as Brian Clough and Timothy Spall as his assistant and Colm Meany as his rival ground and support him. There’s a ton of ego flying around on the field and when Clough and Taylor start to turn on one another, United is nothing less than riveting.

Thanks again for joining us as we pick through the cinema jungle of home entertainment. Next week, we get to go Where the Wild Things Are, and visit Ponyo, Cold Souls, and Alice.

Once again Entertainment Weekly scoops up brand new pictures, these particular couple coming from the most recent comic book adaptation from Warner Bros Pictures called The Losers. The World War II based DC comic film stars Zoe Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans and many others. The story is about members of a CIA black ops team, after being betrayed and left for dead, rooting out those who targeted them for assassination. Poised to be released on April 9th, 2010, the feature is knee deep in filming. Take a look below at a couple of the set pics:

Comic books have been integrated into our worldwide society for years now. When the comic strip was born with “Tintin”, the blossoming of Japanese manga (with works such as “Astro Boy’”) to the birth of the superhero with “Superman”, we cannot deny the impact they have played on our lives. The storytelling, illustrations and engaging characters that continue to draw us back have kept this medium afloat for decades.

The surprising in adaptations (good and bad?)

During the past twenty years Hollywood has ushered in a new wave of cinema in the form of comic book adaptations. Is that necessarily bad? Each person has a different point of view depending on their take of a single character. From the Reeves’ versions of Kal-El, the Burton-ized style of “Batman” and the burst of big time mainstream blockbuster with Bryan Singer’s “X-Men”, comic book adaptations have become quite the norm in this generation’s set of movies. Within the past ten years, studios have been churning out loads of comic book and graphic novel adaptations, trying to get their share of the cultural movie phenomenon before it burns out.

There are very popular properties like “Superman” and “Batman” that have shared their ups (“The Dark Knight”) and downs (“Superman Returns”). New ones not expected to be popular like “Iron Man”, and ones that completely divide the masses like “Watchmen”. Still, with careful marketing (for the most part) and the always intriguing lore of the superhero, audiences keep coming. The real question now is, what will be next?

Many have argued that comic book adaptations might have reached their peak. The source material that studios and production companies latch onto are becoming less and less recognizable to general audiences, thus increasing the risk of box office failure. There are exceptions, the main one being Jon Farveau’s ‘Iron Man’, but for every ‘Iron Man’ there are dozens of ‘Elektra(s)’ and ‘League(s) of Extraordinary Gentleman’.

“Watchmen”, the epitome of graphic novels and comics, was the latest big screen adaptation. Its complex story line veers away from the ‘normal’ superhero tale and caught a nice portion of the general audience off guard when they flocked to local movie theaters to check out the feature. Not dripping with the typical action that a comic book adaptation entails, quite a few left disappointed and ripped the film to shreds. This contributed to a quick box office decline during the time of its domestic release.

The disappointing and somewhat flat out bad

Just this morning Marvel Enterprises and Walt Disney Studios merged to form a super mutant of sorts, seemingly ready to take on the competition with DC/Warner Bros. It could quite possibly be awhile before comic book adaptations will loose their box office appeal. Just because a giant studio teams up with a comic company does not automatically mean box office gold. For the past several years, Warner Bros has had to deal with DC (from the fluctuation of the Justice League movie to the disaster that was Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns”) nor does Marvel spew out one hit after another. Case in point, the lackluster performance of “Punisher: War Zone”, the sequel to the somewhat decent film “The Punisher”.

Even adaptations of Japanese manga are already experiencing bouts of box office uncertainty. The Americanized version of the hit Shonen classic “Dragonball Z” was a mega disaster. Its impossible to predict if the upcoming “Astro Boy” will turn a satisfactory profit, despite the action, title, and pre-sold potential. Until audiences turn out in droves, you will never be certain that you have a hit on your hands.

Am I trying to warn production companies and studios about the risk of continuing on with comic book adaptations? Yes and no. Although most comic book adaptations manage to turn a profit, will the solidified fan base of nerds (including myself) help boost ticket sales? If it doesn’t, will studios still push to bring on as many comic book films as possible? At this point studios seem to be getting overly confident with being able to turn any sort of published illustrated graphic material into a blockbuster hit, and therein lies their potential downfall. Given the lesser known material, bigger budgets, and over confidence from these companies, audience acceptance may wane no matter how much flesh and action is on display. Given the lack of imagination inherent in this material, the life expectancy of comic books should flatline within the next five years.

Bill Birch, actor turned writer who’s been on a number of television shows, is making his mark with the DC comic book adaptation of Shazam! Better known as Captain Marvel, this DC comic book character is a radio news reporter turned superhero when he utters the words ‘shazam’, the name of the wizard who granted him the larger than life powers. It is pretty ironic enough that Birch would be attached to this, his name very similar to Captain Marvel’s alter ego named Billy Batson.

Geoff Johns is also co-writing along with Birch with the new script. Attached to direct is Peter Segal with Michael Ewing producing. Currently there has been no casting announcements to the project, with the utter obviousness of the script still in development. When more information follows on this and other comic book adaptations, keep on here to find it all out.