by Joe Gillis, Mar 31 2011 // 2:30 PM
This week on The Flickcast Chris and Matt have no guest and have to go it alone. Fortunately, that’s just what these two rogue adventurers love to do.
So, with that in mind, the discussion turns to topics including Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch, Green Lantern casting news and controversy, Natalie Portman’s, um, acting in Your Highness, AMC vs. Matt Weiner for the fate of Mad Men season five and the latest costume and potential fate of the new Wonder Woman TV series.
And for a third week running, no Charlie Sheen. We know you appreciate it. Gifts of cake are always appreciated.
Of course, your hosts also made some picks this week including Matt’s pick of Repo! A Genetic Opera (yep, you read that right) and Chris’ pick of the sadly short-lived Aaron Sorkin series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques, offers of sponsorship or whatever, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter, at Facebook and MySpace or via email.
Posted in: News · Podcasts
Tagged: Abbie Cornish, Adrianne Palicki, AMC, Carla Gugino, David E. Kelly, Emily Browning, Green Lantern, Jamie Chung, Mad Men, Michael Clarke Duncan, Natalie Portman, Podcasts, Repo! A Genetic Rock Opera, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Sucker Punch, Wonder Woman, Your Highness, Zack Snyder
by Chris Ullrich, Mar 31 2011 // 1:00 PM
Not sure how this one got past us as it combines at least three of our favorite things (comics, coffee and sitting on our asses). Maybe its because a lot of the team has been going to Coffee Bean lately? Anyway, let’s get on with it.
Customers at Starbucks stores nationwide can get a bit more with their coffee these days thanks to a new deal announced last week between the company and online publishers like Marvel Digital Comics. Marvel currently offers more than 9,000 comics online, all of which will be available for free on the Starbucks Digital Network, a portal available at 6,800 U.S. Starbucks locations.
Before you get too excited, comics at Starbucks will be available to view, not download. What did you expect?
Don’t like comics but still want to read and sip a giant Frappuccino? Starbucks will also be adding finance news from The Economist, sports news from ESPN Inside Rumor Central, and media jobs search help from Mediabistro.
“Today we’re broadening the offering and will continue to develop the network’s channels with a spectrum of new content,” said Stephen Gillett, Starbucks chief information officer and executive vice president of Digital Ventures, in a statement.
Posted in: Comics · Marvel · Mobile · News · Tech
Tagged: ESPN, Marvel, Marvel Digital Comics, Mediabistro, Starbucks, The Economist, The Internets
by Matt Raub, Mar 31 2011 // 11:30 AM
Where do you go when most good science fiction stories have already been told on TV? In the last decade or so, we’ve had successful reboots and remakes of already wildly popular sci-fi dramas such as Battlestar Galactica and V. Is there still room on TV for original science fiction programming?
That’s exactly what TNT is hoping to find out with their new summer drama, Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood. Here’s a brief synopsis.
FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.
So it’s got some elements of our favorite series such as Battlestar and V. Maybe it can actually hold up, especially since most original dramas on TNT seem to have legs from birth.
Be sure to check out a new in-depth look at the series after the jump, catch up on the story with TNT’s original web comic, and get ready for the series premiere on Sunday, June 19th at 9/8C.
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Posted in: Action · Drama · News · Sci-Fi · TNT · Trailers · TV · Video
Tagged: Battlestar Galactica, Falling Skies, Moon Bloodgoo, Noah Wyle, TNT, V
by Sebastian Suchecki, Mar 31 2011 // 10:00 AM
Yesterday, we brought you the first full batch of clips from next weekend’s Your Highness, the stoner road comedy set in Medieval Times starring Danny McBride and James Franco. The clips were so good, we wanted to bring you more.
In this newest batch we have for you, you’ll get a little bit of Natalie Portman being bad ass, Justin Theroux being sinister, and Danny McBride trying to pull off a terrible British accent.
The film that first comes to mind when looking at clips and trailer for Your Highness is easily Cheech & Chong’s The Corsican Brothers. McBride and Franco have developed a modern-day Cheech & Chong personas, with very little changing other than the contemporary references.
Another great element in what we can see from these clips is that Portman is acting like she’s in a completely different film. This could either help or hurt her role. If the character never breaks from the stoic, hard-assed maiden to McBride and Franco’s cartoonish antics, it could most certainly help the film’s tone.
Check out the three new clips after the jump, and be sure to go see Your Highness in theaters on April 8th.
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Posted in: Action · Comedy · Fantasy · Movies · News · Video
Tagged: Cheech & Chong, Danny McBride, James Franco, Justin Theroux, Natalie Portman, Sony, Your Highness, Zooey Deschenel
by Matt Raub, Mar 31 2011 // 9:00 AM
Just yesterday, we brought you news that Michael Clarke Duncan has been recruited to voice the Green Lantern Corps drill instructor Kilowog, despite IMDb stating that the role has already been filled by 24 star Dennis Haysbert.
Now we’re getting word that yet another credit is wrong in the database, as Geoffrey Rush has been announced to voice Tomar-Re in the film and not the credited John Larroquette. Obviously, a few things don’t make sense here.
One: why would a site like IMDb, which is known for its infallible accreditation records, get both of these so very wrong. And two: why are we just getting word about castmembers being picked up for this film when it’s set to hit theaters in just over 2 months?
We’re hoping this was some kind of clerical error on the site, and not an actual re-casting in which we lost Larroquette and Haysbert for Rush and Clarke Duncan. Though, that wouldn’t be the worst trade in the world.
Already in the Green Lantern Corps (we hope for good) are Ryan Reynolds as the titular Lantern, Hal Jordan, Mark Strong as the purple-headed villain Sinestro, and Temuera “Boba Fett” Morrison as Abin Sur.
Green Lantern is set to hit theaters on June 17th.
Posted in: Action · Casting · Comics · DC · DC Entertainment · Movies · News · Sci-Fi · Warner Bros
Tagged: Dennis Haysbert, Geoffrey Rush, Green Lantern, John Larroquette, Mark Strong, Michael Clarke Duncan, Ryan Reynolds, Temuera Morrison
by Joe Gillis, Mar 31 2011 // 8:00 AM
It’s nice to see talented actors who deserve recognition and more work get both. One such actor is Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, who currently stars in the AMC TV series Breaking Bad as a High School science teacher who decides cooking meth is a better way to make ends meet.
Now, Cranston is poised to further expand the diversity of his work and is all but cast as the bad guy in the Len Wiseman directed remake of Total Recall. Colin Farrell is starring in the sci-fi action movie, which is a retelling of the film made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990 original.
In case you’re not familiar with it, Total Recall centers on a man haunted by a recurring dream of a visit to Mars. As he investigates, he remembers being a secret agent who fought against the evil administrator of Mars.
The new version is said to be closer to Philip K. Dick’s short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale on which both movies are based. Cranston is perfect for the bad guy and will do a terrific job in the film.
Posted in: Casting · Movies · News · Sci-Fi
Tagged: AMC, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston, Casting, Colin Farrell, Len Wiseman, Movies, Phillip K. Dick, Sci-Fi, Total Recall
by Chris Ullrich, Mar 31 2011 // 7:00 AM
As the release of Kenneth Branagh’s Thor draws near we can expect the usual deluge of marketing materials to bombard us and try to influence us to see the movie. Not that we really need help in that department.
We’re gonna see it. Duh.
Still, seeing more of the movie before it comes out is cool. Fortunately, Paramount keeps releasing more videos. Case in point is this latest featuring Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and a taser.
Plus, it helps give us more insight into the story and, in particular, the sequence where Thor crashes to earth and is discovered by Portman and pals. And yes, it is pretty cool.
So, to experience this new video, be sure to click through to watch it.
Thor hits theaters on may 6th. As if you didn’t already know that.
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Posted in: Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · News · Paramount · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Anthony Hopkins, Chris Hemsworth, Kenneth Branagh, marvel comics, Marvel Studios, Natalie Portman, The Avengers, Thor
by Chris Ullrich, Mar 30 2011 // 3:00 PM
Movies, TV shows, comics, everything is better with a trailer to promote it. So, with that in mind, we bring you a trailer for Marvel’s upcoming comic book series Fear Itself, written by Matt Fraction with art by Stuart Immonen.
Make no mistake, folks, this looks pretty cool. Plus, it just might give you some insight into upcoming Marvel movies and other projects. Pay close attention.
Before the video, here’s the official word from marvel:
Iron Breaks. Soldiers Fall. Gods Die.
Get your first look at the official trailer to FEAR ITSELF #1 right here! Comic luminaries Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen deliver the most anticipated event of 2011, as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man and the rest of Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves embroiled in a war against the God of Fear…and at the center of a secret that will rock the Marvel Universe.
Check out the trailer after the break. Fear Itself hits comic book store shelves on April 6th.
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Posted in: Comics · Marvel · Marvel Studios · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: 'Fear Itself', Captain America, Iron Man, Marvel, marvel comics, Matt Fraction, Spider-Man, Stuart Immonen, The Avengers, Thor, Wolverine
by Chris Ullrich, Mar 30 2011 // 1:45 PM
With all the ways in which consumers can get video content to their televisions, its sometimes difficult to figure out what way is the best. From Netflix to Google TV to Amazon, Apple TV and more the number of choices has grown a great deal over the last few years.
Now, another player in the race for your living room is upping its game. Roku, which has only been available online, has announced that its media streaming box, the Roku XD model, will be available nationwide at all Best Buy locations. This is a big move fore the company and one that they obviously hope will lead to increased sales.
The Roku box has been doing pretty well as an online-only option (selling over 1 Million units) so getting into stores and in front of more potential buyers has got to help sales. However, as with any device of this type, content will be king. The convenience of being able to stream Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, Hulu and more using one box may appeal to many. Plus, the price of $79.99 is also pretty good.
However, for those who already have other hardware options to stream content (an XBox 360 or PS3 for example) this device may be a non-issue. Plus, there’s no way to get anything on this device from iTunes so that may also eliminate some potential users who prefer to stick with Apple’s offerings.
Still, competition is a good thing and the more players in this space, the better. Good luck Roku.
Check out the full press release from Roku after the jump.
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Posted in: Hulu · Movies · News · Tech · TV
Tagged: Amazon, Apple TV, Google TV, Hardware, Hulu, Hulu Plus, iTunes, Netflix, Netflix Instant, Roku
by Chris Ullrich, Mar 30 2011 // 12:28 PM
A few weeks ago pictures surfaced of star Andrianne Palicki in her Wonder Woman costume for David E. Kelly’s upcoming TV series for NBC. Unfortunately, the costume was met with, shall we say, resistance by many fans and caused a public outcry online for it to be changed.
Well, apparently NBC and Kelly listened because now that new pics have come out, the costume is different. Unfortunately, it isn’t a whole lot better this time around.
The new pics were taken last night during filming of the show on the famous Hollywood Boulevard. The show closed the historic street between Orange and Highland for filming that will conclude on Thursday. So, if you’re in Hollywood, watch out for more traffic.
In the action scene, series star Palicki, in full Wonder Woman gear, chases a bad guy down the street. Fortunately, no news of wardrobe malfunctions or anything like that have been reported. However, we’ve still got two more nights to go, so anything’s possible.
Click through for a bigger look at the new costume and Wonder Woman in action. David E. Kelly’s Wonder Woman hits NBC in the Fall.
Like the revised costume or do you think this show is destined to fail? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Posted in: Comics · DC · NBC · News · TV
Tagged: Adrianne Palicki, David E. Kelly, NBC, TV, Wonder Woman
by Joe Gillis, Mar 30 2011 // 11:00 AM
Sadly, we were not that impressed when we saw the first trailer for MTV’s upcoming Teen Wolf series. To us, it just seems a bit too much Twilight and not much substance.
Fortunately, with a new trailer out now from the network, it seems we may have to re-think our opinion — at least a little. In the new trailer, we still get the requisite shirtlessness and hormone-fueled teen angst, but it does look less and less like Twilight.
With it’s grittier look and tone this version of Teen Wolf seems intended not just for the younger MTV audience but perhaps for more mature viewers as well. For more, here’s the official synopsis from MTV:
Scott was just a regular guy until one bite changed his life forever. Now he struggles to understand who he is and what he might become. Is he more wolf than human – or is it the other way around? Whichever it is, it’s not going to be easy. Scott will try to control his urges, but mostly he’s scared that it’s his urges that could end up controlling him.
TEEN WOLF is the story of Scott as he tries to walk the line between what he wants and what he can’t help from wanting. Will the bite end up being a gift? Or will it be a curse? And what will it all mean for his relationship with Allison – the girl he can’t get enough of? Only time will tell if he should embrace his newfound powers, or if he should fear them.
Check out the trailer after the jump. Teen Wolf premieres Sunday, June 5, right after the 2011 MTV Movie awards.
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Posted in: MTV · News · Trailers · TV · Video
Tagged: Horror, Jeff Davis, Michael J Fox, MTV, Russell Mulcahy, Teen Wolf, Tyler Hoechlin, Tyler Posey
by Matt Raub, Mar 30 2011 // 10:00 AM
We’re about a month away from the biggest comic book movie season ever, which means it’s time for some juicy news bits to float on by. There’s some great stuff about the upcoming Green Lantern film, which has already come out.
With two more of the four Avengers prequels (which already include Iron Man 2 and Incredible Hulk) hitting theaters this summer, questions about crossover are bound to come up. The Howard Stark cameo was already slightly spoiled in last week’s Captain America: The First Avenger trailer, but who will be the big reveal in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor?
Well, it looks like Cinema Blend has broke the spoilerific (take the hint! walk away now if you don’t want this ruined.) news that we will, in fact, be getting a Jeremy Renner cameo as Hawkeye in the upcoming flick. Cinema Blend’s got the report.
The scene we saw featured Renner as Hawkeye, working with the infamous Agent Coulson, played as he was in the Iron Man movies, by Clark Gregg. The scene features Hawkeye using his famous bow and arrow and he has multiple lines, so while we’re talking about something a little more than a momentary cameo, there’s no way to know if his involvement will go any further than that one scene.
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Posted in: Action · Comics · Drama · Iron Man 2 · Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · News · Sci-Fi
Tagged: Captain America: The First Avenger, Clark Gregg, Hulk, Iron Man, Jeremy Renner, Kenneth Brannagh, Thor