The Flickcast

Box Office: Telekenetic ‘Chronicle’ Rules the Weekend

Posted on February 6, 2012

January and February are habitually known as the dumping ground for studios to test out their films that they have less faith in than their major tentpole or franchise films. That certainly doesn’t seem to be the case this weekend, as 2 very different genre film topping the box office.

First, a second generation sci-fi writer, Max Landis’ Chronicle about 3 friends that develop superpowers and figure out which side, good or evil, they want to fight for. The film, which got an 85% on RottenTomatoes, managed to pull in an estimated $22 million this weekend, which is nearly double what the production budget of the film was. Easily, a success.

Marvel to Debut ‘The Avengers’ Prelude on Sunday for Free

Posted on February 3, 2012

As its done in the past with other big screen adaptations of its comics, Marvel has gone ahead and put together a comic book prelude for The Avengers for fans to enjoy. This one, called “Fury’s Big Week,” will be eight issues with the first released for free on Marvel’s comics app this Sunday.

Yes, you read that right. It’s going to be free. That’s nice. Too bad the rest of the issues won’t be. Oh well.

Here’s the scoop from the official press release:

“We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Marvel Studios to create an exciting story set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sets the stage perfectly for the most anticipated film of the summer,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor in Chief. “Now, for the first time. you’ll find out just what happened to some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the road to Marvel’s The Avengers.”

What is the Avengers Initiative? And what are the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury? The answers arrive in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week and the first issue is free this Sunday only on the Marvel Comics app!

Check out some preview pages for the comic after the break.

Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Tax on Violent Video Games

Posted on February 3, 2012

Before I go on, let’s get one thing stright: I don’t know if there’s a link between violent video games and actual violence in real life. And neither does anyone else.

That’s the point. Nobody knows for sure. So when someone decides that violent video games are a problem and “something needs to be done,” I feel compelled to bring it to your attention — especially when the method in question is so lame in concept as to be laughable.

Here’s the deal: An Oklahoma Democratic lawmaker named Will Fourkiller (ironic?) has proposed a tax be applied to all games that receive an ESRB rating. In addition, Mr. Fourkiller also proposes T-Rated games have a tax added to their cost since some include “simulated gambling.”

Are you with me so far? Good. To rationalize his proposal, Mr. Fourkiller refers to a crime in which a man killed a police officer and stole his car after playing Grand Theft Auto.

”Not everybody is going to react the same, but I believe after hours and hours of watching the screen, playing the video game, being that person and taking on that role, people get desensitized,” Mr. Fourkiller said.

Avid Releases Editing App for iPad

Posted on February 3, 2012

Back in the early days of non-linear video editing Avid was the king. Their software was used in pretty much every situation and they dominated the post-production landscape for film and TV.

Then, Apple came out with Final Cut Pro and things changed. Plus, Avid ended up having some issues of its own which hindered it further.

Now, with Apple having issues with Final Cut Pro X, Avid has released its first application to compete with Apple’s iMovie mobile. The app is called Avid Studio for the iPad and is currently available in the App Store for an introductory price of $4.99. After 30 days it will increase to $8.

With this app just being released, its too early to tell if it will knock Apple’s iMovie off its perch as the iOS editing app du jour. However, it does have some nice features and a few iMovie doesn’t have, so chances are people will at least give it a chance — especially at that low price point.

Darren Aronofsky Sets Sights On Liam Neeson & Russell Crowe for Biblical Epic

Posted on February 3, 2012

Following his success with Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky has made the ambitious decision to have a biblical epic as his follow up film. The film is Noah, which will center on the biblical tale of Noah’s Ark. Due to his estimated $130 million budget, Aronofsky is looking to find a bankable star to get backing on his passion project.

Originally, He wanted Christian Bale to star, but Bale passed. Aronofsky looked at Michael Fassbender as a good replacement, but Fassbender claimed to be too busy. Now Deadline is reporting that Darren has finally found his Noah, and it is Gladiator star Russell Crowe. Even though no deal has been officially signed, an agreement with Crowe is said to be in place. With Crowe seemingly in place, Aronofsky is now searching for the villain of the film and has his sights set on Liam Neeson. The villain will argue against Noah’s faith as he builds a massive ship to weather the impending flood.

Paramount and New Regency want to start shooting Noah this summer for a 2013 release.

Aronofsky has already told his version of the story of the Bible’s Noah through a graphic novel with artist Nico Henrichon. The story is not a direct interpretation of the original biblical tale but a more fantastical vision of the story. Aronofsky has been dreaming of bringing this story to life since he was 13 years old.

Now John Logan is re-writing the film’s script and various studios are getting interested in co-financing the ambitious project. For a sneak peak at the graphic novel, see the video after the jump. Pardon the French.

Film Review: ‘Chronicle’

Posted on February 3, 2012

Note: If you have any interest at all in seeing this film, I firmly advise that you go in completely cold and don’t read this until after you’ve seen it.

I don’t know if Chronicle is the first found-footage superhero film, but I’m certain it’s the best—and will remain so for a very long time. I had no idea what the film was about, and when it opened with a shot of a gloomy teenager filming the door to his bedroom while his drunk father angrily shouts to let him in, I groaned.

Goddammit, another one of those movies. When the kid said he was going to start filming everything, I groaned again. Dying mother? Ugh. Ugly kid clad in black? Blarg. By the time the kid started filming his cousin driving him to school and brought up Schopenhauer, I was about ready to check out.

Then it took a turn from the typical High-School-Sucks Movie into Horror, and I started to get interested. Then it took another turn into the Jackass realm. And just when I thought it would settle on Superhero Film, it just lingered on having a lot of fun with superpowers. But the best twists are saved until the end. Needless to say, when one character threw a baseball at another and it stopped dead in midair, I was hooked.

Ed Harris to Join Michael Bay’s ‘Pain and Gain’

Posted on February 3, 2012

Ed Harris is currently in talks to join Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain. Michael Bay has been developing Pain and Gain for a few years now and it seems he is finally getting it off the ground.

Pain and Gain is being described as “Michael Bay’s Fargo“. The story centers on a group of bumbling bodybuilders in Miami who plot to kidnap and rob a wealthy businessman. Unfortunately, the crime goes awry. The wealthy businessman is left for dead, but returns to exact revenge on the bodybuilding thugs with the help of a private investigator.

According to Vulture, even though no formal offer has been made, Harris is very likely to sign on to play the private investigator.

Pain and Gain has been put on hold repeatedly because of Bay’s prior commitments to the Transformers franchise. Both Paramount and Spielberg want Bay to return for a fourth Transformers film. It’s believed that they could offer help with getting Pain and Gain off the ground if he does return to the franchise.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is also set to star in Bay’s Pain and Gain. During a press junket for Journey 2 , Johnson stated that Pain and Gain was “on the right track.”

Book Review: ‘Kill Marry Fuc’ by Sarah Huber

Posted on February 2, 2012

Pretty much every guy has questioned their friends on who they would rather sleep with between Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Just the same, every girl has probably questioned her friends if they’d rather marry Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Matt Damon.

But what about those times where you can’t say “I’d sleep with all of them” and had to decide to actually marry a hot mess like Spears, Lohan or Hilton instead of just kicking them to the hoe-side curb they deserve to be on? Or, what about choosing between killing off Batman, Superman or Spider-Man? Kill/Marry/Fuc by Sarah Huber combines all three.

The way it works, turn to a random page and you have decide one person / object / concept /etc. that you’d want to marry, one you’d want to kill and one you’d want to get down with. Some of these are easy decisions, but others really make you think. That’s right. A book about hooking up, marrying and killing really starts turning the gears for some people.

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