If you love Firefly and the movie Serenity, this comic is for you.  If you’re not initiated to that series, you most likely will not get this at all.

Written by Mark Bourne, with artwork by Mike Russell (@culturepulp) and Bill Mudron, this will give you Serenity fans plenty of LOLs.  Enjoy after the jump (click each panel to enlarge):

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything about the upcoming film Iron Sky. An “alt-history” high concept comedy about Nazi’s living on the moon. The last time we heard anything there were only concept pictures and a concept teaser trailer.

The geek in me leaped for joy when I learned that Pre-Production has started on the film, and we can all glimpse the first look at the Nazi Moon Troopers.  Iron Sky is set to be released some time in 2011.  For more information, check out the Official Iron Sky Website.

[Source: io9]

Iron Sky: Marketing

4 Photos

Iron Sky: Behind the Scenes

12 Photos

DreadCentral and Home Media Magazine teamed up for the first annual Reaper Awards last night.  A handful of judges from the Horror Community chose nominees from 13 categories based on two qualities: The film itself and the Home Video presentation.  The winners were decided by votes from the public via the Reaper Awards website.

The winners of the 2009 Reaper Awards are as follows:

*Best in Show – Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment

*Best DTV Release – Alien Raiders, Warner Home Video

*Best Packaging – Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment

*Best Boxed Set or TV Series – Dexter: The Complete Third Season, Paramount Home Entertainment/CBS/Showtime

*Best Re-release – Friday the 13th: Deluxe Editions (Parts 1-6), Paramount Home Entertainment

*Best Blu-ray Disc – Ghostbusters, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

*Best Indie/Foreign – [REC], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

*Best Theatrical – The Last House on the Left (2009), Universal Studios Home Entertainment

*Best Zombie – Quarantine, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

*Best Slasher (tie): Laid to Rest, Anchor Bay Entertainment; The Last House on the Left (1972), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/MGM

* Best Ghost Story – The Haunting in Connecticut, Lionsgate 

*Best Vampire/Werewolf – Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

*Best Re-mastering – Hellraiser, Anchor Bay Entertainment

*Lifetime Achievement – Michael Felsher, Red Shirt Pictures

It’s awesome seeing Alien Raiders on the list, that’s one of the flicks I voted for.  I don’t agree with the full list, but it’s great to see all these flicks given their due.   

[Source: DreadCentral and Home Media Magazine ]

District 9

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Nathalie Boltt, William Allen Young

Plot Synopsis:

N/A.  Go in fresh on this one.

Review:

District 9 is the kick in the pants that this summer needed.  I absolutely loved it.  Finally an event film/special effects extravaganza that is entertaining, stunning to look at, action packed, and thought provoking.  In fact, District 9 makes all the other “Summer Event” movies look like a total joke.

This is another film that the less you know, the better.  I’m going to keep this review short.

In short: See District 9 ASAP and in a Theater.

District 9 is an astounding Science Fiction/Action film that succeeds on a visceral level as well as a social commentary.  The script is smart and doesn’t pull punches.  It’s brave, humorous, tense, emotional and unpredictable.  I haven’t felt this sense of discovery in a long time and hope that District 9‘s success shows Hollywood that a Special Effects and Action fueled movie can be also be smart.

I’m not going to give away any plot in this review.  District 9 works if you go in totally fresh, knowing as little as possible.  I applaud the marketing team on this one.  The trailer sucks you in, but doesn’t spoil anything at all.  I think more movie marketing needs to operate this way.

District 9s budget was $30 million.  This is staggering because, I think these special effects look better than any movie I’ve seen this year.  The aliens look real.  This is a huge pay-off because you get 100% emotionally invested in these creatures and their struggle.  Also, the space craft and weapons are 100% believable.

Finally, Sharlto Copley is a revelation.  This is his first feature film role, his only other acting role was in the short film Alive in Joburg, which District 9 was based on.  He is simply stunning to watch.

District 9 is my favorite film of 2009 and has skyrocketed to my top 10 of all time.  Neill Blomkamp is a name to watch, he could be the next James Cameron, Stephen Speilberg or Ridley Scott.  It is the best Science Fiction film I’ve seen in the past 10 years, maybe even 20.  Go see it.  Now.

*I know this was a pretty vague review.  For more in depth discussion, hit me up via email.  If you’ve seen it and want to continue this conversation just drop me a line!

Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.

Timecrimes

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Directed By: Nacho Vigalondo

Starring: Karra Elejalde, Candela Fernández, Nacho Vigalondo

Plot Synopsis:

Lauded short film director Nacho Vigalondo makes his feature debut with this tense, unstoppable vision of science and natural law gone awry.

Hector (Karra Elejalde) is relaxing on a lawn chair outside of his new country home, surveying the nearby hillside through a pair of binoculars, when he catches sight of what appears to be a nude woman amidst the trees. Hiking up to investigate, he is attacked by a sinister figure whose head is wrapped in a grotesque, pink bandage.

Fleeing in terror, he takes refuge in a laboratory atop the hill, where a lone attendant (director Nacho Vigalondo) ushers him in to a peculiar scientific contraption. He emerges what seems to be moments later, only to find that he has traveled back hours in time, setting in motion a brain-twisting, horrifying chain of events. [Trailer Addict]

Review:

Timecrimes is one of those films that is best viewed when you don’t know anything about the film.  Avoid the trailer on this one! All I knew was that it was a mystery, thriller involving some sort of time travel.  If you go into the film like this, you’ll have a blast with this mind bending puzzle of a thriller.

Ultra low budget movies are hit or miss.  Timecrimes is one of the few micro budget movies that works on almost every level.  This is Science Fiction without the special effects, and that’s what gives Timecrimes a huge amount of charm.

The plot is basically a thriller and mystery.  As you discover things along with the main character, you get sucked into the story.  It’s a lot of fun seeing the puzzle pieces being put together in front of you.

That’s pretty much all I want to say about this.  See it.  You’ll love it.

In fact, Timecrimes would make for an excellent Double Feature evening with [REC].  Both films are under 90 minutes and never dull.

“Eli’s iPod has run out of juice and to the right is the road that leads into Carnagie’s (Oldman) town. Eli makes the decision to go in to town, power up his iPod and refill his canteen.”

According to one of the Director’s (Allen Hughes) of the upcoming post-apocalyptic film The Book of Eli, the catalyst for the plot of the movie hinges on Denzel Washington’s characters need to recharge his iPod and refill his canteen.  That’s what brings him to Gary Oldman’s town and where the plot thickens. [USA Today]

Is it just me or is that just stupid.  The world has pretty much ended.  We’re in post-apocalyptic Earth.  And someone’s iPod is still relevant? Worth risking one’s life for?

Anyway, this will be the third post-apocalyptic science fiction film this year (well, technically not since it releases in January of 2010, but still).  Geez.  I’m exhausted already.

The official synopsis is:

“A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.”

The Book of Eli, will be relased on January 15, 2010.

[Source: io9]

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There are Nazis on the Moon. This is the teaser trailer for the still-in-production Nazi Space Invasion Opus: Iron Sky.  When I found out about this project, I was immediately hooked.

Plot Synopsis:

Towards the end of World War II the staff of SS officer Hans Kammler made a significant breakthrough in anti-gravity.

From a secret base built in the Antarctic, the first Nazi spaceships were launched in late ‘45 to found the military base Schwarze Sonne (Black Sun) on the dark side of the Moon. This base was to build a powerful invasion fleet and return to take over the Earth once the time was right.

Now it’s 2018, the Nazi invasion is on its way and the world is goose-stepping towards its doom.

Here is the gallery.  So far only a few posters and concept art.

Iron Sky: Marketing

4 Photos

Iron Sky: Behind the Scenes

12 Photos

[Source: Film School Rejects]

FINALLY. We have the first trailer for John Hillcoat’s The Road. They’re playing up the action and intensity here. Don’t be fooled by the tone on display here, I’m sure this still is going to be faithful to Cormac McCarthy’s bleak and deliberately paced novel.

Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other. [Excerpt from Cormac McCarthy's Novel, The Road]

Plot Synopsis:

The Road tells the story of a man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit McPhee) traveling through a desperate, post-apocalyptic world. The film co-stars Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce.

Watch the trailer in High Definition on Yahoo. The Road will hit theaters on October 16th, 2009.

[Source: First Showing, SlashFilm]

Star Trek

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Directed By: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy

Plot Synopsis:

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before! [Paramount]

Review:

Star Trek has been something I’ve known my whole life.  At a very young age, I used to watch the original episodes with my grandpa whenever I visited (which was often since we lived next door).  In 1987, when I was 9 years old, my Dad and I got hooked on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  This was a fond Dad/Son time we’d share, staying up late to catch the new TNG episode after the late night news (since it began in syndication).  I’ve seen/own every Star Trek film (the good and the bad) and while I’ve never considered myself a Trekkie/Trekker (or whatever), I’ve always considered myself a fan of the Star Trek Universe (with the exception of the spin-off shows: Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise).

With all that said, J. J. Abrams Star Trek is the shot of Romulan Ale the Star Trek Universe needed after 2 lack luster feature films in the Star Trek franchise.

Now, there are people who absolutely HATE some of the Star Trek feature films.  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier was clunky, poorly plotted film directed by William Shatner, although it did have some great character moments between Kirk, McCoy and Spock.  Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis were the last two feature films (featuring The Next Generation cast) and they didn’t feel cinematic.  They felt like longer TV episodes and didn’t do anything to further the series.  Some felt Star Trek: Nemesis officially killed the Star Trek Franchise.  While I feel like those 3 least-liked films were not the best, I still enjoy them for what they are and I enjoy spending time with the characters.

J. J. Abrams Star Trek is a fresh start.  A new beginning.  However, because of an ingenious plot device, it doesn’t discount Star Trek Canon.  Star Trek catapults the more thought provoking aspects of the Star Trek Universe (such as exploring the new Socialist-like government system, commentary of race relations and predjudice, space exploration and science), strips it down and focuses on character, action and humor.  J. J. Abrams has given us a sort of “origin story’ and succeeds in bringing new people into the Star Trek universe without alienating the long time Star Trek fans.  If you think about it, this is a major feat.  One of the most divisive properties in the last 40 years has opened it’s closed doors and can finally usher in a whole new generation of fans.

Hands down, this is the best looking Star Trek film ever.  You could take any of the space scenes, frame them and have some sweet artwork for your walls.  Colors are vibrant, the ships are massive and have scale, ILM was the main effects house used and the effects are near flawless.  Forget the shoddy CG work from Wolverine, the bar for Summer Movie special effects has been set through the roof.

Screen writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Mission Impossible III and Transformers) have been given a lot of shit based on their past efforts.  Here, they’ve turned in their best work to date.  Think about it.  They had to take 40 years of plot and character, backtrack to the beginning and create a fresh take on this world and characters.  Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman may not have given us anything super intellecual here plot-wise, but they were able to weave a story that doesn’t discount any previous Star Trek mythology or canon.  It’s all here, it makes sense.  If you’re a Star Trek super geek, you may have some things to nitpick about and some plot-holes to uncover.  But, this is the most taut and fun Star Trek film in the series.  I dare you to look back at all the previous films and have as much fun as you’ll have with the new Star Trek.

Like I’ve said, Star Trek has always been about characters.  Here, casting is pitch perfect.  Everyone brings their game and knocks all the characters out of the park.  Chris Pine as Kirk is great.  He brings the arrogance of young Kirk to life and, yeah, Kirk can be a dick! But, Chris Pine is able to present the arrogant Kirk with a tinge of endearment.  You do get the sense that Kirk will become a great captain.  Zachary Quinto as Spock is jaw dropping.  First off, the similarity to him and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock is staggering.  Quinto brings us the confilicted young Spock with an amazing subtlety.  He’s tough and cool, yet beneath the surface you can sense the internal struggle of Spock.

The supporting cast here is so good, I could keep writing and bore you all to tears.  Let me just say that everyone avoids the feared Saturday Night Live impersonation here.  These are fleshed out characters, which embody the spirit of the classic crew with a fresh, yet logical spin.  Most notable are Simon Pegg as Scotty and Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.

Star Trek is a perfectly paced Science Fiction/Action film that is respectful of the source material and one of the best Science Fiction films I’ve seen in recent memory.  This is the first film in a long time where I’ve wanted to immediately stay in my seat and watch again.  I’d go back to the theater to see this in a heart beat (and probably will) and I can’t wait to own the Blu-ray so I could revisit the film again.  This is the most accessable Star Trek film and that is a good thing.  I really have nothing bad to say about J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek.  Could I nitpick? Probably.  Does that take away any enjoyment of the film?  No.

Why are you still reading this? Get out and see Star Trek in the theater.  It’ll be the most fun you’ll have in the theater this year.

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content[See Full Rating]

Over the weekend I was monitoring the Twitter-verse and many of the critics and filmmakers I follow were bragging about seeing/or were on their way to seeing Star Trek.  Unlike another tent-pole release (ahem) Paramount is letting critics and the press see the film a week (even 2 weeks) before the release this weekend (May 8, 2009).

Early reviews are geek-tastic, gushing, somersaulting, drooling and geek-gasming.  And these reviews are from professional critics.

Here’s a sampling from RottenTomatoes.  I’m sure there may be a few critics that will shit in the soup and spoil the 100% rating.  But, overall, I’ve heard nothing but great things.

“Paced at warp speed with spectacular action sequences rendered brilliantly and with a cast so expert that all the familiar characters are instantly identifiable, the film gives Paramount Pictures a new lease of life on its franchise.” Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter

“Revitalizing the stagnant franchise, the gifted, visionary Abrams has performed a magical act, a movie that stands on its own merits and will recruit new fans, a work that will please the old trekkies and one that points to potent direction in the future.” Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

“It’s been a long time since the hope and optimism of Gene Roddenberry’s vision have seemed this bright, this alive. This is exactly the Star Trek movie this fading franchise needed.” Joshua Tyler, CinemaBlend.com

“A new mission worth taking, a spirited, energetic new beginning to a series long assumed dead.” Moriarty, Ain’t It Cool Movie Reviews

“The most exhilarating Trek to date marks a new future for Kirk and co. If this can boldly go on to seek out ideas to match its speed and style, a franchise is reborn.” Colin Kennedy, Empire Magazine

So, I’m assuming it’s safe to say: “YES! Spend your hard earned dollars this weekend on Star Trek!”

Forget Wolverine.  Summer officially begins on May 8th.