Category: News

Win a Copy of Vinyl: The Complete First Season

vinyl-sd-slipcase-3d-e1464213714252-5994127HBO launched their version of drama within the music business with the hard charging Vinyl, set during the 1970s when music was raw and the types of music were splintering into smaller subsets every year. The series won acclaim and is coming out on Blu-ray June 7. HBO Entertainment has provided us with a copy to give away.

All you need to do is tell us what the 1970s music scene means to you. Tell us by 11:59 p.m., Monday June 6, 2016. Contest is open to United States and Canada readers only. The decision of ComicMix‘s judges will be final.

Vinyl, created by Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee Mick Jagger (Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown), Academy Award® winner and Emmy® winner Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Boardwalk Empire) and acclaimed author Rich Cohen and Academy Award® nominee and multiple Emmy® winner Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire), is set to make its Home Entertainment debut on Digital HD on May 23, 2016 and on Blu-ray with Digital HD and DVD with Digital HD June 7, 2016. Regarded as “the first new must-see series of 2016” (New York Magazine) and “crazy brilliant” (San Francisco Chronicle), the hit new drama series explores the drug- and sex-fueled music business of the 1970s New York at the dawn of punk, disco and hip-hop. Vinyl: The Complete First Season includes ‘Making Vinyl: Recreating the 70s’ featurette and Inside the Episode briefs. Exclusive to DVD and Blu-ray are audio commentaries by Terence Winter, Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, and where available, the Digital HD will include ‘Behind the Groove’ pieces.

Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale, two-time Emmy® winner, Boardwalk Empire), the founder and president of American Century Records, is trying to save his company and soul without destroying everyone in his path. With his passion for music and discovering talent gone by the wayside, and American Century on the precipice of being sold, he has a life-altering event that reignites his love of music, but severely damages his personal life. The drama features an amazing all-star cast including SAG Award nominee Olivia Wilde (Doll and Em), and multiple Emmy® winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond). Scorsese, Jagger and Winter executive produce along with Victoria Pearman, Rick Yorn, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, John Melfi, Allen Coulter and George Mastras. Executive music producer, Mick Jagger. Winter serves as showrunner.

Clone Wars, Rebels and more in LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens

lswtfa_boxart3-300x425-3948125Details about upcoming DLC for the already hotly awaited LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens will make fans of the franchise’s various animated series very happy.  Lego announced that available DLC character packs will include characters from Star Wars: Rebels and Clone Wars, as well as characters from the upcoming series Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, premiering June 20th on Disney XD.

The new Star Wars game takes a page from the LEGO Marvel’s Avengers game by offering a season pass packed tighter than a smuggler’s storage bay, offering extra levels for the main characters of the game, as well as sets of characters from other trilogies and the animated series.

The Season Pass features three brand new Level Packs that extend the LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens adventure with exciting new content not seen in the movie. Each add-on pack will allow players to experience key events from the film in different ways, including Poe Dameron’s journey back to the Resistance base after crash landing on Jakku, the assault on Maz Kanata’s castle through the eyes of Kylo Ren and the collapse of Starkiller Base from the perspective of two Resistance pilots. The Season Pass will also include five (5) Character Packs featuring well-known Star Wars heroes, villains and Droids.

The LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Season Pass will be available for $9.99 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Steam (Windows PC). Players can also purchase each DLC Pack individually for $2.99 each. As an added bonus, Season Pass holders will gain exclusive access to The Jedi Character Pack, which will be available at launch on June 28, 2016.

The level packs are:

Poe’s Quest for Survival Level Pack

  • A whole new adventure following Poe Dameron’s journey back to the Resistance base. After his daring escape from the First Order that left him stranded on Jakku, Poe must search for BB-8 and locate a ship to escape the desert planet in an effort to find his way home.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Naka Lit, Ohn Gos, Poe Dameron (Jakku), Strus Clan Leader, Strus Clan Raider, Strus Clan Speeder (Full-size Vehicle), Strus Clan Speeder (Microfighter Vehicle)

First Order Siege of Takodana Level Pack

  • Experience the thrilling assault on Maz Kanata’s castle in a new way. Storm the shores of Takodana with Kylo Ren and the First Order in a quest to capture Rey and BB-8 to crush the Resistance forever.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Jashco Phurus, Rosser Weno, Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, Thromba, Laparo, Jakku Freighter (Full-size Vehicle), Jakku Freighter (Microfighter Vehicle)

Escape from Starkiller Base Level Pack

  • After crash landing on the surface of Starkiller Base, join the battle from the perspective of two Resistance pilots. With the help of a loyal astromech droid, outmaneuver the First Order to escape the planet before it explodes.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: C’ai Threnalli, Colonel Datoo, Lieutenant Rodinon, Lt Wright, R3-Z3, Assault Walker (Full-size Vehicle), Assault Walker (Microfighter Vehicle)

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The season pass will also feature five character packs:

The Jedi Character Pack – Season Pass Exclusive / Available June 28, 2016

  • Features powerful members of the Jedi Order. Available exclusively to Season Pass owners.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Jedi Interceptor (Full-size Vehicle), Jedi Interceptor (Microfighter Vehicle)

The Prequel Trilogy Character Pack

  • Play as select characters from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Anakin Skywalker (Damaged), Captain Panaka, Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Jar Jar Binks, Padmé Naberrie, Watto, Zam Wesell, Naboo Starfighter (Full-size Vehicle), Naboo Starfighter (Microfighter Vehicle)

The Freemaker Adventures Character Pack

  • Showcases the galaxy’s bravest family of scavengers from the upcoming LEGO animated series, debuting June 20th on Disney XD.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Baash (Iktotchi), Graballa the Hutt, Kordi Freemaker, Naare, Raam (Iktotchi), Roger (Battle Droid), Rowan Freemaker, Zander Freemaker, Star Scavenger (Full-size Vehicle), Star Scavenger (Microfighter Vehicle)

Star Wars: Rebels Character Pack

  • Play as the crew of the Ghost from the popular Disney XD animated series.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Ahsoka Tano, Chopper, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, Seventh Sister Inquisitor, Zeb Orrelios, Ghost (Full-size Vehicle), Ghost (Microfighter Vehicle)

The Clone Wars Character Pack

  • Exciting characters from the acclaimed animated series.
  • Playable characters and vehicles include: Asajj Ventress, Aurra Sing, Barriss Offee, Cad Bane, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Hondo Ohnaka, Savage Opress, Republic Gunship (Full-size Vehicle), Republic Gunship (Microfighter Vehicle)

In addition, people who buy the Deluxe edition of the game will receive early access to a sixth character featuring characters from The Empire Strikes Back, better known as “that really old movie on the snow planetwith the walking thingies” by a young super-hero from Queens (who, coincidentally, also got his own free DLC pack for Marvel’s Avengers this week).

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on June 28, 2016. For the timing and release of all other DLC content, keep an eye on the LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels for details.

Lucifer Rises to Home Video Shelves on August 23

BURBANK, CA (May 25, 2016) – Just in time for the second season, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you the “hottest” new series with the release of Lucifer: The Complete First Season lucifer-s1-dvd2-e1464214648770-3933503on Blu-rayTM & DVD on August 23, 2016. Lucifer delivers over 8 million Total Viewers weekly, and is the #3 scripted series on FOX with Households and Total Viewers*.  Fans will feel the burn as they binge on all 13 devilishly delightful episodes from the first season, and indulge in the gripping extras including the 2015 Comic-Con panel, featurettes, character profiles, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

*Source: Nielsen National TV View L+7 US AA%; excluding repeats, specials, sports, movies, and <5 TCs; Season To-Date = 9/21/15-3/20/16

Lucifer: The Complete First Season, on DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, will be available at all major retailers, and is priced to own at $39.99 SRP. Lucifer: The Complete First Season comes to Blu-rayTM courtesy of Warner Archive, and will include all bonus features on the DVD. The Blu-ray releases will also be available starting August 23, 2016 at Amazon.com and all online retailers.

Based on the character from DC Entertainment’s Vertigo comic, Lucifer is bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, and has resigned his throne and retired to the City of Angels where he is indulging in a few of his favorite things — wine, women and song.  When a beautiful pop star is brutally murdered before his eyes, he feels something awaken deep within him – for the first time in roughly 10 billion years. Is he actually capable of feelings for a human being? The very thought disturbs him — as well as his best friend and confidante, Mazikeen (aka Maze), a fierce demon in the form of a beautiful young woman. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective Chloe Decker, who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer. As they work together to solve the murder, Lucifer is struck by Chloe’s inherent goodness. Used to dealing with the absolute worst of humanity, he begins to wonder if there’s hope yet. Maybe everyone’s got a chance for redemption.  Even the Devil.

The series stars Tom Ellis (Rush, Merlin), Lauren German (Chicago Fire), DB Woodside (Suits, 24), Lesley-Ann Brandt (The Librarians), Kevin Alejandro (Southland, True Blood), Scarlett Estevez (Daddy’s Home), Kevin Rankin (Dallas Buyers Club) and Rachael Harris (The Hangover). Based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for Vertigo from DC Entertainment, Lucifer is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television. Tom Kapinos (Californication) developed the series and serves as executive consultant.  Returning for a second season on FOX, the series is executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean films), Jonathan Littman (The Amazing Race, CSI franchise), Joe Henderson (White Collar, Almost Human), Ildy Modrovich (CSI: Miami, Californication) and Len Wiseman (Underworld films).

 

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Lucifer: 2015 Comic-Con Panel
  • Character Profile: Amenadiel
  • Character Profile: Linda
  • Character Profile: Chloe Decker
  • Character Profile: Dan
  • Devilish Duo
  • Lucifer Morningstar
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel

13 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

  1. Pilot
  2. Lucifer, Stay. Good Devil.
  3. The Would-Be Prince of Darkness
  4. Manly Whatnots
  5. Sweet Kicks
  6. Favorite Son
  7. Wingman
  8. Et Tu, Doctor?
  9. A Priest Walks into a Bar
  10. Pops
  11. St. Lucifer
  12. #TeamLucifer
  13. Take Me Back To Hell

DIGITAL HD

Lucifer: The Complete First Season  is also currently available to own on Digital HD. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital HD is available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others.

DVD BASICS
Street Date: August 23, 2016
Price: $39.99 SRP
Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx 560 min
Enhanced Content: Approx 30 min
3 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – Eng SDH and French

Gotham Season 2 Coming to Blu-ray August 16

gotham-s2-bd1-e1464214110948-5681161BURBANK, CA (May 24, 2016) – Building on the momentum of its wildly successful first season, Gotham turned up the heat with a villain-centric second season that has elevated the series to No. 2 among Fox shows*. Fans have the chance to prepare for this fall’s suspenseful third season with the August 16, 2016 release of Gotham: The Complete Second Season on Blu-rayTM including Digital HD and DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE).

*Source: Nielsen National TV View L+7 Men 12-17 US AA%; excluding repeats, specials, sports, and <2 TCs; Season To-Date = 9/21/15-2/7/16

The WBHE release of the Gotham: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray including Digital HD ($54.97 SRP) and DVD ($49.99 SRP) includes all 22 episodes of the series’ thrilling second, as well as fascinating featurettes, Gotham’s 2015 Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes and a gag reel.  Gotham: The Complete Second Season is also available to own on Digital HD via purchase from digital retailers.

Darkness saturates Gotham in its triumphant second season as the city’s villains continue to rise from the shadows, each more ambitious and depraved than the last. As Penguin continues to solidify his control over Gotham’s underworld, the battle for power in the city has become a game of interesting alliances on both sides of the law – with detectives Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock at the forefront of the fight against crime in the dangerously corrupt city. Season Two witnesses Gordon’s moral compass wavering as he confronts Gotham City’s most notorious criminals while simultaneously attempting to gain the trust of young Bruce Wayne, a boy now clearly on the path toward the man he is destined to be. And all the while, Gotham follows the intriguing origin stories and evolution of some of the city’s most infamous personalities, including Edward Nygma/The Riddler, Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Hugo Strange and Mr. Freeze.

“We are thrilled to release Gotham: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray and DVD so fans can catch up and relive the exciting and unexpected twists ahead of the highly-anticipated third season,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “The Blu-ray release offers Gotham fans the ultimate viewing experience with superior picture, optimal sound quality and an array of special bonus content, making this release a must-own DC title.”

Gotham: The Complete Second Season features a star-studded cast including Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.) as Jim Gordon, Donal Logue (Vikings, Sons of Anarchy) as Detective Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz (Touch) as the young Bruce Wayne, Morena Baccarin (Homeland, Firefly) as Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Sean Pertwee (Elementary, Event Horizon) as Alfred Pennyworth, Robin Lord Taylor (The Walking Dead, Another Earth) as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin, Erin Richards (Open Grave, Breaking In) as Barbara Kean, Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle, Cory Michael Smith (Carol) as Edward Nygma, James Frain (True Blood, Orphan Black) as Theo Galavan, Jessica Lucas (Gracepoint, Pompeii) as Tabitha Galavan, Chris Chalk (The Newsroom, Homeland) as Lucius Fox, Drew Powell (The Mentalist, Ray Donovan) as Butch Gilzean, Nicholas D’Agosto (Election, Heroes) as ADA Harvey Dent, and Michael Chiklis (The Shield, The Commish) as Captain Nathaniel Barnes.  The series also features guest stars Jada Pinkett Smith (HawthoRNe, The Matrix films) as Fish Mooney, Nathan Darrow (House of Cards) as Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, BD Wong (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Oz) as Professor Hugo Strange, Cameron Monaghan (Shameless, The Giver) as Jerome Valeska, Natalie Alyn Lind (The Goldbergs) as Silver St. Cloud, Richard Kind (Inside Out, Mad About You) as Mayor Aubrey James, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman films, Batman Returns) as Elijah Van Dahl, Melinda Clarke (The O.C.) as Grace Van Dahl, Michelle Veintimlla (The Good Wife) as Bridgit Pike/aka Firefly, and Carol Kane (Young Frankenstein) as Gertrud Kapelput.  Based on the characters from DC Comics, Gotham is executive produced by Bruno Heller (The Mentalist, Rome), Danny Cannon (Nikita, CSI series) and John Stephens (Gossip Girl) and produced by Warner Bros. Television.

BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES 

  • Gotham: 2015 Comic-Con Panel: Warner Bros. Television Presents a Night of DC Entertainment at Comic-Con 2015: Gotham
  • Gotham by Noir Light: Gotham is deeply cast into the film noir technique and edgy attitude. The camera’s lens is able to pick up on the subtlety for the fans to enjoy a modern update to an age old tradition, of how to paint with shadow and light.
  • Alfred: Batman’s Greatest Ally: This story is about Gotham’s take on the father/son bond between Bruce Wayne and his butler Alfred. The depth of the mythology from the comic books comes to life on the series. Poignant and powerful.
  • Cold Hearted – The Tale of Victor Fries: The mix of cold blood and a warm heart. We examine the humanistic melt-down of Victor Fries in pursuit of a cure for his love, Nora.
  • Character featurettes

22 One-Hour Episodes 

  1. Damned If  You Do
  2. Knock Knock
  3. The Last Laugh
  4. Strike Force
  5. Scarification
  6. By Fire
  7. Mommy’s Little Monster
  8. Tonight’s The Night
  9. A Bitter Pill to Swallow
  10. The Son of Gotham
  11. Worse Than A Crime…
  12. Mr. Freeze
  13. A Dead Man Feels No Cold
  14. This Ball of Mud and Meanness
  15. Mad Grey Dawn
  16. Prisoners
  17. Into the Woods
  18. Pinewood
  19. Azrael
  20. Unleashed
  21. A Legion of Horribles
  22. Transference

DIGITAL HD

The second season of Gotham is also currently available to own on Digital HD. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital HD is available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital HD copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage through participating UltraViolet retail services including CinemaNow, Vudu and Flixster Video.

BASICS 

Street Date: August 16, 2016
Running Time: Feature: 968 min
Enhanced Content: Approx. 93 min.
Price: $49.99 SRP

DVD Standard Features
6 DVD-9s
Language: English (5.1)
Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, French
Presented in 16×9 Widescreen Format

Blu-ray Features
Price: $54.97
4-Disc Elite (4 BD-50s)
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English, Castilian Spanish 2.0
Subtitles: ESDH, Latin Spanish, French
Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Box Office Democracy: The Angry Birds Movie

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Last month I started hearing some buzz that The Angry Birds Movie was the next Lego Movie, a license that everyone thought would make a garbage movie that instead made for a critical darling and a smash hit (if animated movies aren’t your thing, Iron Man was the same scenario way back when). I didn’t think it was possible because the trailer was so insufferable it became my least favorite part of seeing any kids’ movie the last few months, but I went in to the movie with my eyes open. The Angry Birds Movie is so bad that I want to believe all the good things I heard were part of some sort of insidious astroturfing campaign to buoy a terrible movie. It almost certainly isn’t true, but it’s vastly preferable to believing that actual people enjoyed this lazy tie-in movie that missed its moment by almost half a decade.

There’s a persistent problem among mediocre children’s movies of either severely lacking in plot or feeling like the three acts are completely separate entities with no connective tissue.  Angry Birds dodges those particular critiques, but does so by throwing just so much plot at the screen and hoping anything sticks. There’s an anger management class, there’s an invasion of pigs, there’s the search to find a legendary hero, there’s even some light municipal corruption. Because of all this, there’s almost no way to figure out what the thematic message of the film is. I’m not sure if a kid watching this movie is supposed to be wary of outsiders or appreciating the value of being angry. There’s even a compelling case to be made for both believing in and not believing in the value of idols. It’s all over the map. What it does do effectively is deliver a ton of crude jokes, and judging from the reactions of the kids in my screening the more a joke could relate to poop or pee, the more laughs it would get from this crowd.

While a lot of this must have gone over the heads of the target audience, there was a fair amount of dark content in this movie that was rather striking. The movie is, ultimately, about this gang of pigs coming to this island full of birds and stealing all their eggs. Eggs are only treated as a foodstuff by the pigs and are expressly considered as unborn children by the birds so it’s a little strange to have a children’s movie be about fetal cannibalism. There’s also a joke where the main character calls a background character a pedophile for his tendency to offer hugs to people. This is a character who runs a business as a “hug trader” which, while it would be strange in the real world, doesn’t seem out of whack with the other things on this idyllic island full of birds that only feel happy. The Angry Birds Movie is an easy-going kids movie 90% of the time, but there’s a dark cynicism underneath that I found unappealing and grating.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this film is that the climax of the film is just a film adaptation of the gameplay of the mobile game. The birds set up a slingshot and fire themselves at the pig city and wreck the place. All the birds that are from the game have their powers regardless of if they’ve done anything suggesting they had those powers before, and this goes on and on. It doesn’t feel faithful to the rest of the film in any particular way, but rather feels like either someone at the studio or someone at Rovio Entertainment insisted it had to be in there or audiences would feel cheated or wouldn’t recognize it as an adaptation of the game or some nonsense. It didn’t fell necessary, it wasn’t visually interesting or funny, and it didn’t advance the plot— it just made me groan and roll my eyes.

It’s a shame that The Angry Birds Movie came out so close on the tail of Norm of the North, because it puts such a damper on my ability to really tear in to it. While Angry Birds is a bad movie at least it’s a movie, at least it has a story, at least it has a coherent style. My entire calibration system for bad animated movies might still be out of whack, because as little as I liked Angry Birds I appreciated the little things it did right, like the one joke that made me laugh or the more interesting soundtrack choices. It’s certainly damning with faint praise to say that Angry Birds is definitely not the worst movie I’ve seen all year— but it’s head and shoulders above the bottom, a triumphant sort-of bad.

REVIEW: Red’s Planet

Red’s Planet Book 1
By Eddie Pittman
Amulet, 192 pages, $19.95/9.95

Red's PlanetBeauty is in the eye of the beholder but there appear to some things that are universally acclaimed, so science fiction is rife with aliens that like to collect things. Add to the growing list the Aquilari, who ply the spaceways in their flying saucer, scooping up rare and fascinating artifacts. Their most recent acquisition is a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500, refurbished into a rural Georgia police car. When the aliens gather it, they did not stop to inspect the contents so they were in for a surprise when out pops a 10-year red-headed girl.

This human, known only as Red, is the focal point of the web comic turned graphic novel Red’s Planet from Disney animator Eddie Pittman (Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, Phineas & Ferb). Launched in 2011 when his own daughter was 10, Pittman has found a wonderful premise for an all ages book with warmth and humor, even if the latter is a little overly familiar.

When space pirates attack the ship, the crew abandon it, leaving a robot similar to the Fantastic Four’s H.E.R.B.I.E. to manage things. The ship crash lands on an planet capable of sustaining all manner of living beings and Red finds herself a stranger in a strange land. The robot does something to allow her to communicate with all the lifeforms since they can all talk to one another and then the search for survival begins.

Red, who hates the nickname, doesn’t miss Earth having grown up in a group foster home and hating it, so uses her pluck to forge ahead while the other lifeforms bicker amongst themselves or go their own way. In time, though, one cute little bugger named Tawee becomes Red’s constant companion and he’s carrying some egg-shaped artifact from the ship and it periodically glows, portending…something. In time, they find a resident, a grumpy Hawaiian-shirt wearing lion-like guy going by the name Goose. He just wants to be left alone, admitting this was not his native world and was stationed there for a reason.
Across the 192-pages, lots of threads are introduced with very little resolved by book’s end. The web comic was envisioned as a 300-page work but I suspect it has grown in size since then. This is the latest in a series of young adult graphic novels that offers annual installments (the second book is already promised for 2017). If I were a parent, I’d expect something resembling a complete story for my $20.

Pittman’s artwork and color and storytelling are all top-notch, which is not at all a surprise. Red is fun and the aliens diverse if all a little too human in their interactions. This is a fine introductory chapter promising lots of action and content in the next book.

Star Trek Beyond’s New Trailer and IMAX Premier at San Diego

stbteaserclouds1-sht-e1463835571314-5145239HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 20, 2016) – Paramount Pictures, Skydance, Bad Robot and director Justin Lin today announced that the world premiere of Star Trek Beyond will play in the immersive IMAX® format at Comic-Con International: San Diego, in partnership with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and IMAX Corporation, on Wednesday, July 20, at the Embarcadero Marina Park South.

The red carpet event at San Diego Comic-Con, which marks the first-ever open-air IMAX world premiere, will feature special appearances by Lin and the Star Trek Beyond filmmakers and cast, as well as a live concert performance of Academy Award®-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s film score by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Lin made the announcement at the STAR TREK FAN EVENT, where all fans in attendance were invited.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the premiere of the film together with the fans at Comic-Con and excited for everyone there to experience Michael Giacchino’s incredible score played live,” said Lin.

Added David Glanzer, spokesperson for Comic-Con International: “We are both privileged and excited that Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Bad Robot have chosen to honor fans by having the world premiere of the next chapter of Star Trek at Comic-Con this summer.”

“What better way to show appreciation for the constant support of IMAX fans worldwide than by partnering with our friends at Paramount, Skydance, Bad Robot and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on this ultimate Comic-Con world premiere,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment.

As a special event for this year’s Comic-Con attendees, fans will have the chance to attend the world premiere of Star Trek Beyond. Details about ticket distribution will be announced prior to the 2016 convention.

Star Trek Beyond, the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In “Beyond,” the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

From Paramount Pictures and Skydance, Star Trek Beyond is a Bad Robot, Sneaky Shark, Perfect Storm Entertainment production. The film stars John Cho, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin and Idris Elba. Directed by Justin Lin, the third film in the franchise series is produced by J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, Lindsey Weber, and Justin Lin; and executive produced by Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Tommy Harper. Based upon “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry, the screenplay is written by Simon Pegg & Doug Jung.

The IMAX® release of Star Trek Beyond will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Star Trek Beyond opens in theaters and IMAX® beginning July 22, 2016.

Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood go Into the Forest

Into the ForestDirecTV and A24 will release the near-future drama Into the Forest, starring Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael Eklund and Wendy Crewson this summer. DirectTv will have an exclusive window starting June 23 while the theatrical run begins July 29. Into the Forest follows the story of two sisters (Page and Wood) who struggle to survive in a remote country house after a continent-wide power outage. 
—————-
INTO THE FOREST
—————-
Release: Available exclusively on DirecTV June 23, opens in theaters July 29
Director: Patricia Rozema
Written by: Patricia Rozema (screenplay), Jean Hegland (novel)
Cast: Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael Eklund, and Wendy Crewson
Produced by: Niv Fichman, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Ellen Page
Runtime: 101 minutes
Rating: R
Synopsis:
Set in the near future, this riveting and suspenseful apocalyptic drama follows two sisters, Nell (Ellen Page) and Eva (Evan Rachel Wood) who live in the Pacific Northwest with their kindly father, Robert. Nell is focused on her studies and Eva is training to be a dancer, but their peaceful lives are disrupted one day by what turns out to be a continent-wide blackout. Whereas at first the family bond together and try to make the most of their difficult circumstances, as time gone on, the challenges become more serious.   In the wake of a shocking and violent confrontation that Robert has with a menacing passerby, the sisters must work together in order to survive in their increasingly treacherous new world. 

Supergirl Flies To Archie’s House

supergirl

If you are one of the confused masses who have been wondering why Supergirl was on CBS and not on the CW, stop wondering. Everybody decided the CBS thing was a mistake, and Supergirl will be joining Arrow, The Flash and probably Legends of Tomorrow on the mini-network next season. Which is this fall. Still confused? Hey, Jake, it’s Chinatown.

Aside from her DC comrades, Supergirl won’t be alone.  She will be joining Archie, Veronica, Jughead, Kevin and Betty in a new series, Riverdale, which is based upon the current crop of rebooted Archie titles. Yep, the CW is the official comics network.

In addition to their four-color roots, Supergirl and Riverdale have something in common with Arrow and the rest. All are produced by Greg Berlanti, a man so successful he could get a show based upon a can of singing worms on the CW. It should be noted that CBS owns a piece of the CW, and Warner Bros. – owner of Supergirl, Green Arrow, The Flash, and the sundry Legends of Tomorrow – owns the rest, outside of a sliver owned by WGN. Unless WGN sold off to finance their own new superstation shows.

It should also be noted that Supergirl was CBS’s #1 rated new series for the last season, although its audience share has dropped off noticeably. However, it’s big on DVRs, where people zip through the commercials. The show had one of the highest license fees for a new program, so, in addition to moving to the CW, Supergirl is also moving production from Los Angeles to Vancouver, a less expensive venue and the home to the other DC teevee shows. So I guess everybody is happy.

The episode where The Flash visited Supergirl and friends did quite well, and the move (both to the CW and to Vancouver) should make future ratings-boosting crossovers more available,

No word yet on when the new season starts.

 

 

Warner Animation Unveils Batman: The Killing Joke Details

killing-joke-e1463086199742-2625111BURBANK, CA (May 12, 2016) – Delve into the demented history of the Dark Knight’s arch nemesis – The Joker – as he sets out to prove insanity is only a horrifying moment away for anyone in the latest DC Universe Original Movie, Batman: The Killing Joke. Based on one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, this R-rated, feature-length animated film brings together some of the key creative team behind Batman: The Animated Series with executive producer Bruce Timm at the helm and Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill returning to their seminal roles as Batman and The Joker, respectively. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, Batman: The Killing Joke arrives August 2, 2016 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-Ray™ Deluxe Edition, Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD.

Batman: The Killing Joke will be available on Blu-rayTM Deluxe Edition for $29.96 SRP, Blu-rayTM Combo Pack for $24.98 SRP, and DVD for $19.98 SRP.  The Blu-rayTM Combo Pack includes a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet. The Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition will include all components of the Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack, along with an exclusive figurine of The Joker in a numbered, limited edition gift set.

Fans can also own Batman: The Killing Joke on Digital HD on July 26, 2016 via purchase from digital retailers.

Based on the acclaimed graphic novel of the same name, Batman: The Killing Joke takes a journey into the dark psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime – from his humble beginnings as a struggling comedian to his fateful encounter with Batman that changes both of their lives forever. Years later, and now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker devises a plan to prove that one bad day can make anyone as insane as he is – setting his sights on Commissioner Gordon. It’s up to the Dark Knight to put a stop to The Joker’s latest scheme and save one of Gotham City’s finest. Following a gripping prologue introducing Barbara Gordon’s heroic adventures alongside Batman as Batgirl, Batman: The Killing Joke stays true to the authentic tale that has held fans’ imaginations for nearly three decades – spotlighting the birth of a Super-Villain, the fortitude of a Super Hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless.

Published by DC Comics in 1988, the two-time Eisner Award winning Batman: The Killing Joke graphic novel has maintained an unparalleled popularity throughout its 28 years of existence – as evidenced by its recent ranking as the best-selling graphic novel of 2015.

“Batman: The Killing Joke presents one of the most compelling stories in the annals of Batman’s adventures: the evolution of The Joker from normalcy to criminal insanity. This was a very challenging story to tell because of the intense, often disturbing storyline, but we are extremely pleased with how true to the graphic novel we have been in this original film.” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is proud to release Batman: The Killing Joke as an authentic representation of its revered story for both longtime fans and new fans alike.”

The celebrity-laden cast is led by Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise) as they reprise their seminal roles as the voices of Batman/Bruce Wayne and The Joker, respectively. The cast also features Tara Strong (Teen Titans; Batman: Arkham games), as Barbara Gordon and Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, RoboCop) as Commissioner Gordon.

Batman: The Killing Joke is directed by Sam Liu (Justice League vs. Teen Titans) from a script by Eisner Award-winning writer Brian Azzarello. Bruce Timm and Sam Register are executive producers, and Alan Burnett is co-producer. Benjamin Melniker & Michael Uslan are executive producers.

Batman: The Killing Joke – Enhanced Content

DVD

  • An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie.

Blu-ray™ Combo Pack

  • An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie..
  • Featurette – “Batman: The Killing Joke – Madness Set To Music” – Jim Gordon must bear witness to the most disturbing images any father could imagine while a maniac entices his break from sanity in song. This documentary looks at the step-by-process of one of the most crucial scenes in Batman: The Killing Joke, including the methodology James Tucker used as he storyboarded Brian Bolland’s stunning work for the screen; Dynamic Music Partners composers/lyricists’ creative merging of original music with the poetic words from the graphic novel to provoke the desired feelings and emotions for this critical scene; and actor Mark Hamill’s physical, devoted performance to capturing the world¹s most notorious Super-Villain in song.
  • Featurette – “Many Shades of Joker: The Tale of The Killing Joke” – Brian Bolland’s artwork is instantly recognizable to comic book enthusiasts all over the world. Known for his amazing cover art, it was a rare inclusion into the body of a graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke, that helped the perennial story of Batman and The Joker remain a fan favorite for decades to come.  Combined with the graphic novel’s original script – which is more than just the telling of a story, but an intricate map explaining every stop along the way to the end of a fantastic journey – this documentary reveals the artistic process behind The Killing Joke’s distinct style.  We’ll learn how artists and writers excelled at conveying story and human emotion one panel at a time, mesmerizing readers with unforgettable stories and humanized depictions of heroes and villains. And why after nearly 30 years in print, Batman: The Killing Joke is more thought provoking than ever, as its socio-economic themes are relatable to generation after generation.
  • From the DC Comics Vault– Two 22-minute episodes:
  1. The New Batman Adventures – “Old Wounds”
  2. Batman: The Animated Series – “Christmas with The Joker”

Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition

  • Exclusive Limited Edition The Joker Figurine
  • An exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie..
  • Featurette – “Batman: The Killing Joke – Madness Set To Music” – Jim Gordon must bear witness to the most disturbing images any father could imagine while a maniac entices his break from sanity in song. This documentary looks at the step-by-process of one of the most crucial scenes in Batman: The Killing Joke, including the methodology James Tucker used as he storyboarded Brian Bolland’s stunning work for the screen; Dynamic Music Partners composers/lyricists’ creative merging of original music with the poetic words from the graphic novel to provoke the desired feelings and emotions for this critical scene; and actor Mark Hamill’s physical, devoted performance to capturing the world¹s most notorious Super-Villain in song.
  • Featurette – “Many Shades of Joker: The Tale of The Killing Joke” – Brian Bolland’s artwork is instantly recognizable to comic book enthusiasts all over the world. Known for his amazing cover art, it was a rare inclusion into the body of a graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke, that helped the perennial story of Batman and The Joker remain a fan favorite for decades to come.  Combined with the graphic novel’s original script – which is more than just the telling of a story, but an intricate map explaining every stop along the way to the end of a fantastic journey – this documentary reveals the artistic process behind The Killing Joke’s distinct style.  We’ll learn how artists and writers excelled at conveying story and human emotion one panel at a time, mesmerizing readers with unforgettable stories and humanized depictions of heroes and villains. And why after nearly 30 years in print, Batman: The Killing Joke is more thought provoking than ever, as its socio-economic themes are relatable to generation after generation.
  • From the DC Comics Vault– Two 22-minute episodes:
  1. The New Batman Adventures – “Old Wounds”
  2. Batman: The Animated Series – “Christmas with The Joker”

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