The Flickcast

DC New 52 Report Card #1: Action, Detective Comics, Green Arrow & More

Posted on September 13, 2011

The first week of DC Comics New 52 has past. Following the release of Justice League #1, last Wednesday DC released its first week of full comic releases of the new relaunch. Excitement has never been higher for DC Comics, and one single question has been asked by comic fans, new and old, everywhere.

Are the books any good?

That’s what the DC Comics ‘New 52’ report card is here to answer! Each and every week, I will read and review each and every book of the ‘New 52.’ Letting you, the reader, know exactly which ones to buy, which ones you should avoid, and which ones you should give to your friend that has never read comics before.

So let’s get started. This week’s books are Action Comics, Animal Man, Batgirl, Batwing, Detective Comics, Green Arrow. All books will be graded on a scale of A to F. Check in tomorrow morning for our second half of last week’s comics. Withoutt further adieu, let’s get started with our first book: Action Comics #1.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is the One for ‘Highlander’ Reboot

Posted on September 13, 2011

You know how we generally feel about reboots and remakes around here. I’ll spare you the long version and just say we’re not usually a fan of them. Naturally, when we heard about a remake of the semi-classsic 1986 sci-fi fantasy film Highlander, we were skeptical to say the least.

However, a new development may just change our attitude. According to the distributor of the new film, as reported by Deadline, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is the pick to take the helm of the reboot. Here’s the statement (at least part of it) telling us just that:

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo will direct Summit Entertainment’s re-imagination of the cult film Highlander co-financed by RCR Media Group. Summit’s HIGHLANDER is written by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. Neal H. Mortiz and Peter Davis will produce the project along with Enrique López Lavigne and Belen Atienza. Production on the film is slated to begin spring of 2012.

In HIGHLANDER, after centuries of dueling to survive against others like him, Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his kind, a murderously brutal barbarian, who lusts for the Prize.

In case you can’t figure out why we many be giving this one the benefit of the doubt (at least for now), you need to keep in mind that Fresnadillo directed 28 Weeks Later, which is very good, as well as the recent Intruders, which is getting great buzz and premiering at the Toronto Film Festival.

First Red-Band Trailer for Action Explosion ‘The Raid’ Hits the Web

Posted on September 13, 2011

Leave it to folks from Indonesia to put together one of the best action trailers we’ve seen so far this year. That’s exactly what we get with the red band trailer for The Raid, a new action flick from Welsh director Gareth Evans.

The premise is pretty simple, but when it comes to a “nonstop thrill ride” like this one you only need the visuals to get you where you’re going. For those who still need more, here’s the synopsis.

Deep in the heart of Jakarta’s slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world’s most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it.

But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building’s lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission.

The film stars up-and-coming young Indonesian martial arts star Iko Uwais and should hit US theaters later this year. Check out the action-packed trailer after the jump.

‘The Descent’ Director Neil Marshall to Direct ‘Game of Thrones’

Posted on September 13, 2011

As if we didn’t get enough amazingness in the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the folks at the network feel like they need to bring in a few surprises before they start shooting season two, as they have already announced a few special directors tasked with taking on the new episodes.

It looks like director Neil Marshall, who’s no stranger to armor and action from directing Doomsday, will be taking on an episode or two of season 2. From Deadline:

Feature director Neil Marshall (The Descent) is set to direct an episode from the second season of HBO’s fantasy seriesGame of Thrones. This marks the TV debut of Marshall, who a huge fan of the adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s books.

Other directors tapped for Season 2 of Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones include top TV helmers Alan Taylor, who worked on the series’ freshman season, and David Nutter as well as Alik Sakharov and David Petrarca (Boardwalk Empire).

There is still no word on what stories from R.R. Martin’s Song of Fire & Ice will be adapted for this season, but you can certainly expect to see some of your favorite actors (mostly just Dinklage) return for the next batch of episodes.

War Movie Mondays: ‘Crimson Tide’

Posted on September 12, 2011

This week’s pick is the post Cold War thriller Crimson Tide which stars Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman as U.S. Submariners who clash over their orders to launch nuclear weapons in this Tony Scott action classic. Crimson Tide begins during a period of political unrest in post Soviet Russia when military forces crush a rebellion in neighboring Chechnya.

Violence begins to spread throughout other republics and ultra nationalists headed by a man named Radchenko criticizes American, British, and French involvement which cuts off aid to Russia as a protest of its hostilities towards its neighboring country. Radchenko’s forces seize a Russian ICBM missile complex and threaten to launch nuclear weapons if either the U.S. or its allies move in to stop him.

After several years of peace, the Cold War begins to heat up once again.

TV RECAP: ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry VS. Michael J. Fox’

Posted on September 12, 2011

Over the weekend, I rewatched the 1967 Bedazzled, which, if you’re unfamiliar, features Dudley Moore and Peter Cook retelling the story of Faust, or at least using it as a springboard for a series of satirical skits. The movie itself isn’t really laugh-out-loud funny, but, as satire, it’s one of the best takes on the 1960s that aims and strikes at so any targets, it’s at once counter-cultural and conservative.

Cook’s generally regarded as the finest British satirist of the latter half of the 20^th Century, and after the film, I hopped onto YouTube to look up an old episode of the British Whose Line Is It Anyway? where Cook guest starred. Cook isn’t bad in it, but improv and satire are two distinct types of comedy, and Cook, being out of his element, plays it a bit too broad, trying to get laughs from funny voices and silly expressions.

It’s a trend you see when an older comic is asked to partake in something new that they’re not used to and is something I see now and then in Curb. It’s also the first thought that occurred to me when, tonight, Larry was paired with the overly effeminate son of his girlfriend.

Tech Review: ‘Snowball USB Mic’ from Blue Microphones

Posted on September 12, 2011

Let’s face it, we are on the cusp of the podcast generation. Nine out of ten average internet users either listen to daily podcasts if not record one themselves. That means that prosumer audio tools need to be simpler and more cost effective than ever.

Nobody who records a podcast, voiceover, or even voicechats online with friends or family wants to lug around an expensive XLR or headset mic place to place so that they can sound good. That’s where Blue Microphones’ Snowball USB microphone comes in handy.

This simple, science fiction-looking USB mic isn’t your normal USB mic. The #1-selling wired condenser mic out there, the Snowball has a high-quality dual capsule design that enables recording in three settings: cardioid, cardioid w/pad, and omni-directional.

For those who aren’t in it for the high-tech lingo and want simplicity, you can expect nothing simpler than the fact that the mic is plug-and-play for both Mac and PC, so even your grandparents could use this guy with ease and no concern of “drivers” or annoying instructions.

Comic Reviews: ‘Atomic Robo & the Ghost of Station X’ #1

Posted on September 12, 2011

Atomic Robo is back! One of the best books on the stands returns for its sixth volume, and if the story, art, and adventure is still this good the sixth time out, then I want Atomic Robo to continue for 60 volumes!

Created by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, Atomic Robo is the story of an atomic powered robot that was built by Nikola Tesla in 1923 that is dedicated to adventure, fighting, and SCIENCE! In this issue, a bunch of astronauts are trapped on a space station and only have hours to live. So NASA calls on the only people they know that can save them, Atomic Robo and his group of action scientists from Tesladyne Industries.

The issue itself is a lot fun. Which is surprising since most of the issue is a long conversation between Robo and his team as they debate the best course of action to rescue the astronauts. Scientific terms, fringe science, and humor are mixed into the writing in just the right amounts by Brian Clevinger making the issue feel fun and full of energy, and not decompressed. Clevinger makes perfect use of the ticking clock. As the pages turn, we see Robo race against time in his gambit to rescue the astronauts.

The art is fun and bursting with energy. Simple lines and rounded edges are employed by Scott Wegener in an art style that pops. Pages and panel compositions are designed in a way to always give the sense of movement, energy, and fun.

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