The Flickcast

New Contact Trailer for ‘Aliens: Colonial Marines’ on XBox 360 and PS3

Posted on February 1, 2012

Since its announcement last June, gamers have been awaiting the arrival of the latest Alien franchise title. With the lackluster response from the most recent Aliens vs. Predator title, it looks like it is up to Aleins: Colonial Marines to pick up the pieces of the franchise and put them back in the right places.

SEGA makes an odd choice of making this trailer fully cinematic while the previous one released featured in game footage. The reason behind that is the game has a look and feel that we have experienced many times before with FPS Marines versus Aliens gameplay. If they focus too much on this in the trailer instead of building on the possible story points like the chaotic nature of a full battalion of marines taking on an infestation, the game could potentially just feel like one of those “been there, played that” scenarios.

In terms of scale, Aliens: Colonial Marines may be the largest single player battle gamers have had the opportunity to encounter. Expect lots of grizzly cut scenes with dozens of different marines acting as cannon fodder to the xenomorph menace.

For now, check out the trailer after the jump. Stick to the Flickcast for more on Aliens: Colonial Marines coming to the PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 scheduled for Fall of 2012.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘In Time’

Posted on January 31, 2012

In case you missed it in theatres (and chances are you did), the sci-fi thriller In Time, starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, comes to Blu-Ray and DVD* today.

The first thing you might notice about In Time is how good-looking it is. Of course, being an Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, Lord of War) joint, the film is stylish and immaculate, but that’s not what I mean. I am referring to the film’s entire cast being comprised of gorgeous young actors. With the exception of two young children, every character in the film is 25 years old.

No matter how many years they have behind them, everyone from grandmothers to mob heavies are played by actors in their mid-twenties to early-thirties. Combine that with Hollywood’s natural trend towards beauty, and the effect creates what can only be described as a “model” future.

You see, in In Time‘s vision of the future, genetics have been altered to give everyone’s life a predetermined length. At 25 years old, bodies stop aging but start counting down. Everyone gets a year, but time can be earned, traded, gambled, or stolen. It is, in fact, the only currency humanity has left.

Trade Paperback Tuesday: ‘Batman: The Black Mirror’

Posted on January 31, 2012

Everyone knows that Wednesday is new comic book day. While picking up your new issues consider looking at some of the trade paperbacks and hard covers of past issues and story lines. But which ones should you choose?

That’s why every Tuesday, The Flickcast will recommend a collection of comics that are just as good, if not better, than the issues you are currently buying. Books that deserve to be read, and bought the next time you walk into your local comic book store.

As we end the first month on the New Year, I thought it would be nice to pick up and read the best comic series published last year. Batman: The Black Mirror is a Batman story at its best. Mystery, murder, and clues mixed in with a personal and scary story from Commissioner Gordon’s past. In fact, The Black Mirror is one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, and it doesn’t even star Bruce Wayne. It stars Dick Grayson.

After the Final Crisis, when everyone thought Bruce Wayne was dead, Dick Grayson took up the cowl and became Batman. Bruce finally returned and decided to travel the world creating Batman Incorporated, a corporation of Batmen dedicated to protecting people. He left Dick Grayson in charge of Gotham City, and even let him continue to be Batman as Gotham will always need a Batman.

First Red Band Trailer For Bobcat Goldthwait’s Violent ‘God Bless America’ Hits the Web

Posted on January 31, 2012

For those of you who are currently asking yourself “what every happened to that weird guy from the Police Academy movies?”, you’re missing out on quite a bit. Over the past few years, Bobcat Goldthwait has been taking the world of indie dark comedy by storm. Back in 2009, he wrote and directed the ultra dark comedy World’s Greatest Dad starring Robin Williams which opened the indie audience up to his “unique” style of storytelling.

Now, Bobcat is doing it again with Joel Murray in God Bless America. Here’s the synopsis for you to whet your beak.

Loveless, jobless and possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America. With nothing left to lose, Frank takes his gun and decides to off the stupidest, cruelest and most repellent members of society with an unusual accomplice: 16-year-old Roxy, who shares his sense of rage and disenfranchisement. From stand-up comedian and director Bobcat Goldthwait comes a scathing and hilarious attack on all that is sacred in the United States of America.

Basically, think of James Gunn’s Super meets Falling Down with a middle-American twist. Take a look at the über violent trailer after the jump, and catch the flick on VOD April 6 and theaters on May 11.

20th Century Fox Takes Viral Marketing to the Next Level to Promote ‘Chronicle’

Posted on January 31, 2012

First, Chronicle‘s trailer goes viral, attracting over 8 million views on Youtube. Then they try to capture lightning in a bottle by releasing “flying men” in NYC. That’s right, taking a page straight out of the marketing of Skyline, the studio sent out a few cameramen with Thinkmodo to make the people of New York City experience what it would be like to see some flying heroes in action.

Attaching a camera to a few custom RC planes shaped like people may not sound like a whole lot of fun, but it certainly looked cool. We’ve got to hand it to the marketing team for Chronicle. Between the trailer and this plan, they seem to know exactly who their audience is, and how it is to reach out to them.

To that point, Fox hosted a contest yesterday for a college to get a special screening of the film before it hits theaters. For those that don’t go to one of the lucky schools, here’s a little something to tide you over until opening day. Youtube sensation DeStorm, along with MysteryGuitarMan, has made a video answering Fox’s question, “What would YOU do with telekinesis?” See DeStorm’s answer HERE.

Chronicle, the found footage thriller about a trio of high school students who gain super powers, opens in theatres everywhere February 3rd. Check out the “viral” campaign to convince New Yorkers that men can fly after the jump.

Dream Cast: Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’

Posted on January 30, 2012

Now that Marvel has its own movie studio, it’s time for the House of Ideas to try out some fresh ones on the big screen. Sure, we all know the Iron Man and Thor sequels will make a billion dollars, but Marvel needs to think long term and use this opportunity to branch out.

Black Panther has never ranked in readership with Marvel’s flagship titles, but the movie-going audience is more diverse. A superhero film featuring a strong black cast could bring in a whole new audience to comic book movies. And the hardcore fans will always be along for the ride so long as the movie stays true to the source material.

Of course, in order to do that, the studio has to nail the casting.

Monday Picks: John Carpenter’s ‘Assault on Precinct 13’

Posted on January 30, 2012

This week’s pick is the John Carpenter exploitation classic Assault on Precinct 13 that stars Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, and Carpenter regular Charles Cyphers. Before Carpenter hit it big two years later in 1978 with the critically acclaimed financial blockbuster Halloween, his first commercial attempt came with Assault on Precinct 13.

Carpenter was a graduate of USC film school and had recently shot the now cult classic Dark Star which failed to give the young idealistic filmmaker the big break he was hoping for. Carpenter went looking for financial backers and found the CKK Corporation of Philadelphia, PA who gave Carpenter carte blanche to make whatever kind of film he wanted.

Carpenter hoped to make a Howard Hawks inspired western much like El Dorado or Rio Lobo. Due to funds in the range of only one hundred thousand dollars, Carpenter changed his mind and decided to make an action exploitation film instead.

Check This Out: The ‘Doctor Who’ Fan Orchestra #3 – ‘Rose’s Theme, Doomsday’

Posted on January 30, 2012

For nearly 50 years Doctor Who has captured the imaginations of countless minds, from the very young, to the very young at heart. The internet age has allowed that active fan base to accomplish some pretty incredible things, including the ambitious Doctor Who Fan Orchestra which takes individual YouTube submissions of each instrument and re-builds themes from the show.

From the video’s description:

The Doctor Who Fan Orchestra invites musical fans of Doctor Who to take part in an online collaborative celebration of Murray Gold’s music. Participants submitted recordings for this work from November 2011 to January 2012.

This final mix includes a total of 177 submissions from 154 individual participants, ranging in age from 11 to 57, and who are located in at least 18 different countries across the world, including: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Russia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Israel, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.

The end result is incredible, a near flawless performance of two classic early run Murray Gold themes. The video itself is a collage of individual performances that is almost as interesting as the music they are playing. To see the pieces fit together in an intricate, 21st century weave of YouTube videos highlights this magnificent piece.

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