The Flickcast

‘Super 8′ Gets A Super Bowl Trailer

Posted on February 7, 2011

Last night’s Super Bowl brought in a few pretty great commercials, but two that stood out above the rest were the first trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger, and the brand new J.J. Abrams sci-fi thriller Super 8. On both counts, we got some of the very first footage of the film, getting us even more excited for it.

Written and directed by Abrams, the film’s plot has been kept pretty close to chest until now. From what we’ve gathered, a group of kids in 1979 catch something inexplicable emerge from a train wreck on their home video camera.

The big deal here is that this is the first joint venture between Abrams and master of extraterrestrial cinema, Steven Spielberg, who brings his experience and belief in unknown casting to the project.

Now, we get the first glimpse at this new film, and you will too, right after the jump.

Super 8 is set to hit theaters on June 10th.

Film Review: ‘Enter the Void’

Posted on February 7, 2011

Thanks to Netflix Watch Instantly, a lot of us are getting to catch some movies that didn’t make it to our cineplexes the first time around. Last week I had the opportunity to watch Dogtooth, an independent film that had run the festival circuit with lots of word of mouth, but I never got to see it in my hometown.

The film has been officially nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film, and I must say that this is a very bold, unexpected choice for the normally stodgy academy voters. I have decided to refrain from actually reviewing Dogtooth, because I have no idea how to do so. It defies genre and logic, yet it is very interesting. Check it out, if you are so inclined.

This week I saw another film I had been hearing about for ages: Enter the Void. When I was at Fantastic Fest last fall, the single screening of this film sold out in mere moments. Following the screening, viewers were giddy, touting the film as a visual masterpiece that had to be seen on the big screen.

I, for one, am very glad that I didn’t see the film on the big screen. I had a great deal of concern over the strobe-light effects that were reported to be pervasive in the film. My fears were not unwarranted. In the comfort of my basement, I broke the film up into two viewings, which worked well for me. I am not sure that I could have sat through the entire running time in a theater.

For the uninitiated, Enter the Void is the latest film offering from controversial filmmaker Gaspar Noé. His 20o2 film Irreversible is considered one of the most disturbing movies ever made, thanks to a punishing and prolongated rape scene.

Enter the Void is already a cult classic, and deservedly so. Noé offers up one of the most innovative and visually compelling films you are likely to ever see. There is no doubt that the man is a mad genius of sorts. Based on technical merit alone, any cinephile worth their salt needs to watch this. It will be discussed for decades.

Some Verizon iPhones Out for Delivery Today

Posted on February 7, 2011

I know, reading that headline you may be skeptical because you haven’t received your iPhone 4 notification of shipment yet from Big Red. However, as I got mine last Friday night, I can assure you that Verizon is indeed sending out the iPhone 4 a little earlier than they originally let on. Actually, several days early.

In fact, the news for those of us who stayed awake until midnight West Coast time to order is even better than that. According to an update at Fedex, my particular iPhone 4 is actually on a truck and out for delivery today. See, miracles do happen.

Of course I realize that the iPhone from Verizon is exactly like the iPhone from AT&T and isn’t exactly revolutionary, more like evolutionary. Also, I realize it will actually have some subtle, but potentially problematic, differences from the AT&T version. However, that doesn’t stop me from being pretty excited about the prospect of the best smartphone on the best wireless network.

So, once it arrives in my hands expect a full report and maybe even one or two unboxing photos. In the meantime, if you’ve ordered yours via the Verizon pre-order, don’t lose hope. Your shiny new goodness is probably on the way very soon too.

Director Shawn Levy to Go On a ‘Fantastic Voyage’

Posted on February 7, 2011

Having just watched the classic original recently this story is of particular interest to me. Following the trend of remaking classic films, next up from Fox and James Cameron is the reboot/remake of 1966 sci-fi adventure Fantastic Voyage, which was based on the novel by acclaimed author Isaac Asimov.

This project has been in the works for some time with several directors, including Darren Aronofsky, Timur Bekmambetoiv, Johnathan Mostow and Louis Leterrier, circling but with no final selection. That is, until now. Today, Fox and Cameron announced their choice to take on directing duties for the remake is Night at the Museum and Date Night helmer Shawn Levy.

The new film, a re-imagining of the original about a team of scientists shrunk to microscopic size inside a submarine and injected into a man to try to save his life, will be a big 3D release for the studio. The script was written by Shane Salerno and Laeta Kalogridis.

If you’ve watched any of Levy’s other movies you can see his talent but, for the most part, they’ve been comedies. His choice as director of this kind of huge budget sci-fi epic that will, undoubtedly, be mostly CG is an interesting one. Good thing James Cameron will be around if things take a turn for the worse once this thing gets going.

Look for Shawn Levy’s Fantastic Voyage to hit theaters sometime in 2013.

First Trailer For ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’

Posted on February 7, 2011

While it may be the ultimate night of TV for sports fans everywhere, the Super Bowl is also the biggest time of the year for great commercials and movie trailers. Some of the biggest upcoming films of the year get seen first during this night, and last night brought us some doozies.

Up first, of course, is the very first footage and trailer for Captain America: The First Avengers. In this 30 second spot, we get some great moments to look forward to, such as Cap (Chris Evans) in full costume, a glimpse at the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), some Stanley Tucci, and some great action shots.

The film is set to release on July 22nd and also stars Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky.

Check out the trailer after the jump. Now that we’ve seen the trailer, what do we think? Sound off in the comments.

TV RECAP: ‘Parks and Recreation: Time Capsule’

Posted on February 4, 2011

In an effort to bite off even more than I can chew (and since we don’t have, like, a bajillion articles published on Friday anyway), I’ve decided to take a swing at covering Parks and Recreation, a little gem of a show I’ve gotten into the past week while cooped up inside the apartment thanks to the Great Chicago Blizzard of ’11. (It even made me miss a screening of Sanctum because the city shut down. Really. Though early reports of the film say I didn’t miss much.)

One of the things that got me to check out the show, other than ennui, was the stellar reviews it’d been getting and my general desire to fill the void The Office’s lackluster season has left. Hey, they had a good run and some pretty good episodes so far, but Parks and Rec has been batting a 1,000 since its second season, which is right around when The Office started to come into its own. (And in case you’re wondering, the spate of Office comparisons are because Parks and Rec was created by two Office alums, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur.)

One of the things I admire about the show, beside its daringness to showcase an overtly Libertarian character in Ron “F*cking” Swanson and the adorable pluckiness of Amy Peohler, is the light contempt it has for the general public of the little backwards town of Pawnee. Coming from a small town myself and having lived in an even pettier one that offered hours upon hours of small-town self-righteousness just a local access channel away, it’s nice to see someone satirize this comic gold mine. It always is the same, lonely people who take themselves way too seriously over a trivial point of local government, and the subtle touch of reducing the populace’s rhetorical skills to simple chanting is a nice touch.

First Poster for ‘Captain America’ Arrives

Posted on February 4, 2011

It’s starting to look a lot like Avengers around here as the first poster for Captain America has now arrived. In it we get a good look at Cap himself (as played by Chris Evans) as well as some clues to what we can expect from the film.

Obviously, at least from the poster, we can expect Cap to engage in some battles that result in him getting quite dirty. In addition, it seems he’s out to avenge something or someone in the movie. Perhaps that’s why he’s called the “First Avenger”? I bet that’s a good guess.

Still, Evans looks pretty cool in the poster and from the overall look I feel safe to say that the film, and the character, are in good hands with Joe Johnston. Check out the full poster after the jump. Look for Captain America: The First Avenger in theaters on July 22nd. That date can’t get here fast enough.

Ok, what do you guys think of the poster? Does it work for you or not? Sound off in the comments.

Amy Smart’s Shamelessness, More Captain America Pics, Baby Darth Vader & More Are All On The Radar

Posted on February 4, 2011

Welcome to another edition of On the Radar where we delve into all corners of the entertainment, tech and geek Internets for news, views and whatnot that may have escaped our regular coverage during the week. Let is know if we missed something interesting.

Let’s get started!

• If you’re not watching Showtime’s Shameless, you should be. And if you need an excuse, how about Amy Smart guest starring as a sexy best friend?

• Set phasers to Feng shui! Turn your bland room into a new world with these killer Star Trek wall decals. Who needs a date when you have a full-sized Commander Uhura wall sticker?

• James Cameron says that Tom Cruise is still a potential star for his upcoming adaptation of the HP Lovecraft book At The Mountains of Madness. No, the irony is not lost on us.

• Reality can be pretty bleak sometimes. The one thing that could splice it up? 80’s and 90’s-era video game characters running amok.

• His mask may not have rubber wings, but here are a ton of new pictures of Chris Evans as Cap in Captain America: The First Avenger.

• Stephen King has had a pretty big week, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving us 10 things he knows about The Stand coming to theaters.