The Flickcast

Apple Details Differences Between GSM and CDMA iPhone

Posted on February 18, 2011

In a recent support article, Apple detailed the differences between the GSM and CDMA iPhone when it comes to voice calling and other associated features. Among other things revealed that may be disturbing to Verizon iPhone users, the document confirms the Verizon iPhone is not capable of handling a conference call with more than two people.

In addition, the CDMA iPhone is unable to put calls on hold due to the way the network works. In the less negative category, the Verizon iPhone can use a manual method to toggle call forwarding, call waiting and caller ID instead of using the settings found in iOS itself.

If you’ve ever used a CDMA device, you’re probably already familiar with these features and/or limitations. For potential AT&T switchers, these differences may or may not be any kind of deal breaker. Still, more info is always good when making decisions and it’s nice that Apple took the time to do this.

TV RECAP: ‘The Office: Threat Level Midnight’

Posted on February 18, 2011

It’s nice to see that among the bevy of Michael send-offs, that The Office took a slight detour to give thanks to the rest of its fantastic cast. “Threat Level Midnight” is a self-indulgent love-letter to the cast that’s very generous with its humor and divvies up the best lines evenly among the current cast and even takes time to fondly remember some of the former performers, including a great cameo from Jan and creepily carnal lines from Pam’s mom and Karen (though the most disturbing one is Goldenface’s “I’m going to dig up Scarn’s dead wife and have sex all over her”).

Michael’s screenplay was first introduced wayyyy back in season 2, when the gang discovered it in Michael’s office and shut down work for the day to hold a reading in the conference room (the episode also had one of the best Michael-defining jokes of the series when it was discovered that Scarn’s bumbling sidekick was originally named “Dwight” until Michael did a search-and-replace to rename the character.

Unfortunately for the real Dwight, it didn’t pick up Michael’s misspelled “Dwigt”–it loses something in the explanation, but trust me, it was funny). I didn’t think there’d ever be more than a passing reference to it, if were ever brought up again, and that it’d go down as one of those things best left to the imagination, kind of like The Office’s own “Rules of Calvinball,” but run with it they did.

Shane Black Directing ‘Iron Man 3′

Posted on February 18, 2011

We’ve had rumors, of course, as we always do. First it was Jon Favreau who was going to come back for Iron Man 3. Then, he officially stepped away. After that, other directors were supposedly in the running.

But now, it seems, the decision has been made and the man in charge of Iron Man 3 is writer/director Shane Black. According to reports, Black is currently in those “final negotiations” but, of course, everyone in and around Marvel is not letting anything out just yet.

I know what you might be thinking: why Shane Black? The writer of Lethal Weapon 1 and 2? What does he know about comic book action movies? However, Black directing Iron Man 3 isn’t as crazy an idea as it might seem to some.

He’s had a long relationship with Robert Downey, Jr. after working with him in the underrated Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang which, among other things, helped to revitalized Downey, Jr.’s career. He’s also been around and worked with many of the biggest action directions of all time such as Richard Donner, Renny Harlin and Tony Scott, so some of that has got to rub off.

Besides, what did Favreau really know about big budget comic book action movies when he took on the original Iron Man? Not that much but it seemed to turn out pretty well. I, for one, am going to give Shane Black a chance. Maybe you should too.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Cast in ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’

Posted on February 18, 2011

She already won the hearts of geeks everywhere with her portrayal of Ramona Flowers in Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Now, she’s targeting the rapidly growing horror audience with the upcoming film adaptation of the novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Winstead will the joining the film as Lincoln’s wife, who fights alongside the former president as he takes on the legion of the dead. Not long ago it was announced that the titular role of Lincoln was to be played by Kinsey’s Benjamin Walker. From THR:

Timur Bekmambetov is directing Vampire Hunter, based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith. It’s Bekmambetov’s first movie since the 2008 hit Wanted, and tells the story of how Lincoln fought vampires during the Civil War. Dominic Cooper and Anthony Mackie also star in Vampire Hunter.

The novel by Seth Grahame-Smith was written as Lincoln’s “secret diary” that was discovered decades later, and plays in with actual historical events to add authenticity. Fox is currently working on pre-production of the film and should have a shoot date set by the end of the month with a release date sure to follow.

New ‘Dead Island’ Game Trailer Makes You Believe In Zombies Again

Posted on February 18, 2011

Back in 2007, developer Techland and publisher Deep Silver announced a new game called Dead Island. Since that time, except for a few tidbits including that the game will involve zombies and be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows platforms, we’ve heard pretty much nothing.

That is, until now. And what did we get after all this waiting? Well, we got a pretty amazing trailer for a game that if it delivers on the promise of the game, could turn out to be the best zombie game of all time.

Yes, the trailer is that good. Now before you get too excited I need to tell you this trailer really isn’t exactly a trailer, at least as they are usually presented.

It is however, still pretty amazing and well worth the time to watch. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of trailers in my time and this is probably in he top three of all time for any kind of entertainment: movies, games, TV, whatever.

Okay, enough talk. Check out the trailer after the jump. Dead Island is expected to be released later this year.

Chris Evans To Play Captain America In Upcoming Video Game

Posted on February 18, 2011

We’ve already seen him don the giant “A” and wield the shield in the trailer for the upcoming film. But now, Chris Evans is getting to stretch his acting chops into the world of video games as he voices his character in the upcoming release from SEGA: Captain America: Super Soldier.

No other voice talent has been announced for the game but with Evans leading the charge, you can expect SEGA to probably pull in his fellow cast members too. From the press release we know the game takes place around the time of World War II, in tandem with the film’s plot. Here’s the official synopsis:

In Captain America: Super Soldier, players become Captain America as he faces the Red Skull and his Hydra army in an epic third-person action adventure set in the darkest days of World War II. Wielding Captain America’s legendary shield, gamers will engage in free-flowing combat and acrobatic platforming to infiltrate a mysterious castle overtaken by Hydra forces, where they’ll battle a host of nefarious enemies serving the Red Skull, including the infamous Iron Cross, Baron Strucker and Madame Hydra. Players must defeat the evil scientist Arnim Zola and his wartime experiments, combining powerful melee combos and shield attacks to devastating effect.

The game is set for release later this year, closer to the time Captain America: First Avenger hits theaters. It will be available for all major gaming consoles.

New ‘Thor’ Trailer Arrives, Gives Us a Better Look at the Bad Guys

Posted on February 18, 2011

Okay, this is starting to look really good. I’m talking about, of course, Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming big screen adaptation of the Marvel comic Thor.

The studio has released a new trailer for the film and posted it over at Yahoo Movies. But because we like you and want to make it easier for you to find as much of the cool stuff as possible, we’ve gone ahead and put it up right here for you.

In this new trailer we get a much better look at the bad guys of the film, including Thor’s brother Loki and the giant mechanical being “The Destroyer”, as well as a big helping of the humor we can expect. Fortunately, the film looks pretty funny. . . in addition to its awesome visuals of epic battle scenes, explosions and the like.

Check out the full trailer after the jump. Thor hits theaters on May 6th. I’ll be there on day one, how about you?

New Poster for ‘Apollo 18′ Arrives

Posted on February 17, 2011

Sci-fi movies are more popular than ever these days. People are also always on the lookout for the next big thing done well, but for a price.

The new film Apollo 18 looks to be a project that can fulfill both of those requirements, and perhaps more. Here’s the official synopsis to help peak your interest:

Officially, Apollo 17, launched December 17th, 1972 was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later, in December of 1973, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense.

What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it’s the real reason we’ve never gone back to the moon.

This movie combines at least two of the things I love: space and monsters. How could I not be interested? How about you?

Check out the full poster after the jump. Apollo 18 arrives in theaters on April 22nd.