Author: Robert Greenberger

‘Iron Man’ Offers 8 Store Exclusive Editions

  • News
  • October 1, 2008

Before rushing to the store today to pick up Iron Man in standard or Blu-ray, you might want to consider the various variant exclusive editions that were also released today.

Not one or two but eight different editions were hitting stores today.  Here’s what you can find and where you can find them:

Circuit City – Access to exclusive Marvel Digital Comics featuring the artwork of Adi Granov.

Best Buy – Custom Lithograph created by Marvel artist Gerald Parel.

Target – Target Deluxe Edition includes exclusive Mark III mask packaging. Available on both the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition and 2-Disc Blu-ray.

Costco – Giftset includes the Ultimate 2 Disc Edition DVD and 3 Iron Man Bobbleheads, with all 3 Iron Man suits from the film. Giftset includes the “Battle Damaged Mark II".

Walmart – Two exclusive SKUs. Ultimate 2 Disc Edition packed with an exclusive comic book chronicling the Nick Fury story. The single disc giftset is packed with the 1st episode of the new Iron Man animated series.

Kmart & Sears – Save $5 on the Ultimate 2 Disc edition with any $25 Craftsman purchase.

Trans World – FYE and Suncoast Exclusive Steelbook Package available on the Ultimate 2- disc Edition.

Borders – On pack collectible book featuring original sketches by Bob Layton and the top 24 comic cover of Iron Man.
 

sarah-michelle-gellar-9672977

Sarah Michelle Gellar Heads Back to TV

  • News
  • September 30, 2008

sarah-michelle-gellar-9672977Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to appear in the ensemble drama The Wonderful Maladys for HBO.  Written by Charles Rudolph, he said he had the Buffy actress in mind for the series which will be set in New York City.

The half-hour series would involve, according to Variety, about “dysfunctional lives of three adult siblings who lost their parents at a young age.”

Gellar and Randolph would both serve as executive producers and the writer described his leading lady’s character as having "a kind of zealous immaturity — like a drug addict with a to-do list."

"We’re on a fast track," Brillstein Entertainment Partners CEO Jon Liebman told the trade.

The return to television for Gellar is no doubt bittersweet considering her tepid film career since her signature series ended.

The writer’s credits include The Life of David Gale and The Interpreter.
 

‘War Heroes’ Optioned by Columbia

  • News
  • September 29, 2008

After weeks of Mark Millar talking up Hollywood optioning War Heroes, Variety reports this morning that Sony has picked up the Millar and Tony Harris Image series. Michael De Luca, formerly head of New Line Cinema, will produce for Columbia Pictures.

A screenwriter is now being sought for the series, which is “revolve around an experimental military program that gives ordinary soldiers superpowers. When a small group of recruits break off to use these powers for a criminal enterprise, a hero rises from their ranks to prevent catastrophic results.”

The comic book has received critical praise and strong sales since its June debut.

Millar has suddenly become a hot Hollywood property after years of yearning to be a player. Wanted, which produced for Image with artist J.G. ones was a summer hit, earning $293 million and Universal has recently confirmed work on a sequel has begun.

His Kick-Ass, with John Romita, Jr., has become a major event for Marvel’s Icon imprint and production on the film version, starring Aaron Johnson and Nicholas Cage, began this month for a 2009 release.

Harris is represented in Hollywood with New Line Cinema slowly developing his Ex Machina, written by Brian K. Vaughn and published by WildStorm.
 

Del Rey Manga and Cartoon Network Team-Up

  • Uncategorized
  • September 29, 2008

ben10-7202580Del Rey Manga has partnered with Cartoon Network Enterprises to form a new Manga publishing imprint.  The deal will debut original Manga based on two current Cartoon Network series, Bakugan Battle Brawlers and Ben 10 Alien Force (already in comic form via DC Comics).  The first titles will feature color stills from Bakugan Battle Brawlers: The Battle Begins, will be published on December 2008, and followed by a second volume in March 2009. Ben 10 Alien Force: Ben 10 Returns will be released in April 2009.  Original black and white Manga-style graphic novels based on Bakugan and Ben 10 Alien Force are slated for release in summer and fall 2009, respectively. Creative talent was not announced.

The news, announced this weekend at the NY Anime Festival, was the biggest Manga announcement over the three day event.  Del Rey also confirmed new titles in their relationship with Kodansha including:

Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture by Masayuki Ishikawa – Fall 2009
This quirky series is based on a serial running in Kodansha’s Evening magazine. The anime version, has spawned the usual merchandising bonanza and won both the Grand Prize in the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize awards and Kodansha Manga Award in 2008.

Del Rey Manga Editor Trisha Narwani noted, "A lot of publishers like to brag that what they’re bringing is unique, but this one really is. It’s about an agriculture student who can see very cute bacteria and germs.”

Amefurashi by Atsushi Suzumi – July 2009
This new series is about a cute, powerful and of course temperamental rain goddess and the human boy who must try to appease her moods to save his village.

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles Character Guide 2 by CLAMP – Summer 2009
The character guide should make following this series, covering volumes 8-14, easier.

Maid War Chronicles by RAN – May 2009
"For this one, this one, the title says it all," said Narwani. Artist of Mao-Chan’s adventure is about "fighting maids who must fight to win back their master’s kingdom."
 

Review ‘Pathology’ DVD

  • News
  • September 29, 2008

pathology-3543402There has to be a certain detachment when it comes to slicing open a human body.  After all, it looks just like your own body and once you cut into the skin, you get to the inner mechanics and it can either be fascinating or repulsive.  The art of pathology requires that emotional detachment while at the same time can remain fascinating as one tries to determine the cause of death.

While a fascinating premise for a character study, 20th-Century Fox’s Pathology used it more as a backdrop for a thriller that failed to thrill.  The movie opened last spring to middling reviews and was immediately rejected by the movie going audience, vanishing after 21 days and earning a meager $109,045 at the box office.The movie, starring Milo Ventimiglia, was released on DVD this past week by 20th and it can be a diverting experience.  Unless, of course, you like characterization.  Milo’s Ted Grey has been invited to join a prestigious Pathology program in some nameless city.  Being the newcomer, he’s easily dismissed or razzed by the team already in place, being tutored by the somewhat observant, somewhat creepy John de Lancie.

The quartet of residents is all attractive white folk who harbor a secret.  To unleash their emotions and experience something, they have formed a club to play a secret game.  Targeting and killing people then challenging one another to determine how the death was actually caused.  Jake Gallo (Michael Weston) is the ringleader and sees the brilliant Grey as a rival so seduces him to play along. At first, Grey is justifiably repulsed at the notion but is brought into the circle and commits murders, slowly losing himself in the process.

Things begin to get out of hand when Grey begins sleeping with Gallo’s girl friend, fellow club member Juliette Bath (Lauren Lee Smith) and Grey’s life begins to spiral beyond his control.  He’s killing people, doing drugs, cheating on his girl friend Gwen (Alyssa Milano) and no longer recognizable.

(more…)

‘Eagle Eye’ Captures Box Office Crown

  • News
  • September 28, 2008

Shia LaBeouf is the new man of action as his Eagle Eye narrowly exceeded estimates and took in $29.2 million at the box office according to Box Office Mojo.  The movie averaged well over $8000 per screen and despite tepid reviews, brought in audiences.

“Eagle Eye jumpstarted the fall box office, and we couldn’t be happier," said DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan, adding the movie drew men and women in roughly equal numbers. The conceit of the film is intriguing to all. Between GPS, employee codes, bank PIN numbers, this could conceivably be within the realm of possibility within a few years."

Among other opening films this weekend, the drama Nights in Rodanthe, reunited Diane Lane and Richard Gere used up a lot of tissues and took in $13,570,000. The indie film Fireproof opened to just $6,514,000, running on fewer screens, but averaging nearly $7000 per screen, much better than Rodanthe.  Spike Lee’s Righteous Kill had a poor opening with just $3.8 million earned.

Films in their sophomore week saw reasonable drops with Samuel L. Jackson’s Lakeview Terrace losing 53.3% of the crowd and brining in $7 million, good for third place. Ricky Gervais’ Ghost Town has been a disappointment, though, with just $9,239,000 to show after two weeks in theaters.

The Coen Brothers’ Burn After Reading did well, with $6,514,000 added to their totals, which now stands at $45,540,000.

September tends to be a mixed bag of releases as the shift in content goes from light to serious as witnessed by Rodanthe’s romance and Lakview’s drama.  MGM’s Igor, for kids, has chugged along, in sixth place this weekend with $5.5 million.

Believe it or not, some theaters are still showing The Dark Knight and after 11 weeks in play, it has earned $524,465,000.

‘Green Lantern’ Film Edges Towards Spring Start

  • Uncategorized
  • September 28, 2008

hal-jordan-1181904Producer Donald De Line told Alex Billington at First Showing that the Green Lantern movie should begin principal photography in the spring.  The screenplay, by Michael Green, Greg Berlanti, and Marc Guggenheim, has garnered positive reviews across the net although the final version, submitted to Warner Bros. recently has not been leaked to date.

DeLine did say, "it’s coming together and I’m excited about it. Hopefully we’ll make it to start gate. We’re really close – really close."

The film, which still lacks a cast although Berlanti remains on board to direct, will feature Hal Jordan, the Silver Age incarnation of the character first created in 1940 by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger.

"The structure adheres closely to what I call – the ‘superhero origin movie paradigm,’” DeLine continued. “In Green Lantern’s case, Hal Jordan has to overcome his selfishness and self pity over the death of his father Martin Jordan which takes place early in the script. Hal Jordan for the first 20 pages or so is a prick. The story follows the Green Lantern origin closely and cinematically speaking – it works."

If production begins in early 2009, the film will most likely receive a summer 2010 release. While rumors abound as to who may play Jordan, David Boreanez, widely reported to be up for the role, apparently is no longer a consideration as the producers search for a 27-30 year old to play the pilot turned hero.

 

Rachel McAdams Courts ‘Sherlock Holmes’

  • News
  • September 28, 2008

Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey, Jr. as the eternal detective, is rounding out the cast.  Esarrlier this week, Jude Law was confirmed as Doctor Watson and Mark Strong will play Blackwood, the antagonist.  Rachel McAdams was announced as joining the cast. Guy Ritchie will direct this original story based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal character for Warner Bros. The story is actually an adaptation of a comic book Holmes adventure that producer Lionel Wigram penned as an example on how to handle the character today.

McAdams will portray Irene Adler, first seen in 1891’s "A Scandal in Bohemia”.

‘Hellboy II’ gets 3-Disc Treatment

  • News
  • September 27, 2008

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced a November 11 street date for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Mike Mignola’s character will receive the full treatment, as a three disc special edition will contain the movie, which earned over $75 million domestically, and a ton of special features. The Blu-ray edition will be a mere two disc affair.

According to Universal’s release: “With bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains than ever before, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is available in multiple home entertainment versions. In standard definition DVD, fans can purchase either a widescreen or full frame single disc version for $29.98 SRP.  For a limited time only, fans can take home a widescreen 3-disc special edition DVD  ($34.98 SRP) or 2-disc Blu-ray Hi-Def ($39.98 SRP), featuring a digital copy of the film and hours of additional in-depth bonus features that take fans deep inside the movie’s extraordinary creative process – all encased in 3-D packaging. Just in time for the holidays, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is also available in a limited edition collector’s set featuring all of the bonus features of the 3-disc special edition plus a collectible Golden Army statuette, limited edition poster, director’s production journal and certificate of authenticity.  This set is priced for collecting and gift giving at $64.98 SRP for standard definition DVD and $69.98 SRP for Blu-ray Hi-Def. “ (more…)

‘True Blood’ ups 4 to Regular Roles

  • News
  • September 27, 2008

With True Blood earning good ratings and second season order, the producers are expanding the cast with the addition of four new regulars.

Mehcad Brooks, Todd Lowe, Deborah Ann Woll, and Michelle Forbes have already appeared as occasional participants this season and the quartet has been upgraded to series regulars.

Brooks will debut as Benedict "Eggs" Talley, a mellow, guitar-strumming refugee from a hard life in the season finale later this fall.

Forbes is best known for her work on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Ensign Ro and as Admiral Cain in the revamped Battlestar Galactica.
 

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