The Flickcast

New ‘Fringe’ Promo Shows They Aren’t Afraid of Fridays

Posted on December 17, 2010

Fringe is a show we watch and enjoy around The Flickcast offices. We like it and hope it lasts for along time. Sadly, at least on the surface, Fox’s decision to move the show to Friday night seems like a bad one considering most people “in the know” refer to that as the “time slot of death.”

However, it seems that the creators of the show know full well what they’re in for an have decided to confront their potential time slot problems head on with a new promo that directly addresses the problem. Watching this video makes me even more glad to be a fan of this show. It’s just really clever and, as always, Walter is awesome.

Will the move to Friday end up being the death of Fringe? I sincerely hope not. Hey, it hasn’t hurt Smallville. Maybe by helping spread the word about this promo and how great the show is we can continue to watch Fringe for years to come? Let’s hope so.

Check out the promo after the jump and see what all the fuss is about. Fringe returns to Fox (On Friday nights) starting January 21st.

Film Review: ‘The Fighter’

Posted on December 17, 2010

The Fighter is the perfect award season movie. It’s based on a true story, it showcases some great acting, and it’s uplifting. It’s the type of movie that allows you to leave the theater happy and proud. How many times does that happen?

Director David O. Russell managed to bring a magnificent cast to this story about a working class boxer who is making one last push for a title. Mark Wahlberg plays Mickey Ward, a welterweight whose career has been horribly mismanaged by his overbearing mother Alice (played by Melissa Leo).

In fact, his entire boxing career has been a family affair. His seven sisters frequently offer up unwanted opinions. What a treat they are, swilling beer in their acid washed jeans and sporting amazing bang claws on the top of the heads. They steadfastly stand behind anything their mother says.

His half-brother Dickey is Mickey’s trainer, whenever he is not passed out in a crack flophouse. Dickey just floats about, showing up whenever it is convenient. Poor Dad is too beaten down by Alice to speak up.

The family completely enables Dickey. Everyone knows what is going on with him, but no one dares to acknowledge it. After all, he’s the apple of their eye, because long ago, when Dicky was boxing, he knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard. Dickey has been the pride of Lowell ever since. There is a documentary crew from HBO following Dicky around. He thinks it is for his comeback. It’s really to show the chronic effects of crack use.

Mirimax & Weinstein Co. Team Up To Produce Sequels & TV Spinoffs

Posted on December 17, 2010

Film buffs and those who follow “the biz” remember how epic of a breakup the Weinsteins and Disney’s Mirimax was back in 2005. The brothers Weinstein had become some of the biggest movers and shakers in Hollywood, helping directors like Tarantino, Smith, and countless others become household names. Then, due to a creative dispute, the Weinsteins left the clutches of the mouse to create TWC.

Now, after almost 6 years of separation, the two entities are teaming up once again. This time, to have another swing at some of the instant classics that Bob and Harvey Weinstein helped come into existence.

The two companies are forming a partnership in order to bring sequels and TV spinoffs to films like Rounders, Bad Santa, Copland, Clerks, and dozens others. Let’s hope they continue to produce movies that, at least for the most part, try to push the envelope a bit and are not just status quo.

Click through for the full press release.

John’s Last Minute Geek Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 17, 2010

Holiday shopping is hard. There is so much going on like catching up on all the hottest games that came out in November that sometimes you just don’t have time to go out, brave the malls and deal with lunatic people who would gladly trample each other to save seventeen cents on an outdated plasma TV. But, you still have to buy gifts for the loved ones in your family. And with each item, we have included a helpful link to purchase the item without ever having to leave the comfort of your home.

Hardware

It couldn’t be Christmas without a big and expensive gift for “Santa” to put under the tree. Now, while you most likely have one for yourself, your best gaming friend may not be as hardcore as you are and isn’t going through his XBox 360 dashboard using Minority Report type controls of the Kinect.

Like we talked about in our review, the Kinect is fun and a great addition to any XBox 360 household. Just make sure that the person you are buying it for has enough room in their living space for it to work properly.

Check out more of my picks for best geeky holiday gift ideas after the jump!

‘Stargate Universe’ Canceled by SyFy

Posted on December 17, 2010

Sad news to report: The Stargate saga is coming to an end on Syfy — at least for the time being. Late yesterday the network announced that the upcoming 10 episode of season two of Stargate Universe, which will air in the Spring, will be the last.

The Stargate franchise — consisting of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe — has aired on Syfy since 2002. This cancellation follows that of another high profile sci-fi show, the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica.

All is not lost though as Syfy’s slate of returning series includes Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven. These shows will be joined next year by new series Being Human, which launches on January 17, Alphas and the Battlestar Galactica prequel movie and de facto backdoor pilot Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome.

While it’s a shame to see Stargate Universe get the axe it is pretty understandable. After all, the show’s rating were pretty low, even for a show on SyFy. So it stands to reason that SyFy decided to pull the plug on what must have been a rather expensive show to produce.

Don’t worry, I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of the Stargate franchise on SyFy. Expect another series at some point.

Trailer For the Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Limitless’ Hits The Web

Posted on December 17, 2010

Much like many fans, we were sorta disappointed when Bradley Cooper was passed over for the lead in Warner Bros’ Green Lantern flick. Sure, we may still get Cooper in a DC comics adaptation as he’s being courted to play the lead in David Goyer’s Flash. But in the meantime, we get a brand new film with Cooper showing off some more-than-normal abilities in Limitless.

Here’s the official breakdown:

Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in Limitless, a paranoia-fueled action thriller about an unpublished writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret smart drug that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life in this darkly comic and provocative film.

So not only does this have Bradley Cooper as the super genius protagonist, but De Niro, Pushing Daisies’ Anna Friel, and even A.J. from Empire Records! Be sure to check out the full trailer after the jump, and catch Limitless in theaters on March 18th.

Film Review: ‘Tron Legacy’

Posted on December 17, 2010

Note: This review may contain spoilers. You have been warned.

I have a caveat. It’s nearly impossible for me to write about Tron Legacy (directed by Joseph Kosinski) without the veil of nostalgia clouding my eyes. I was nine years old when the original Tron came out and a few years later my brother watched it on constant rotation at our house.

I have very fond memories of Tron that are directly tied to my siblings – and I happen to love how the animation looks even after two decades – so it is difficult for me to be objective in regards to it’s predecessor.

We are introduced to Sam Flynn as a young boy. His father, Flynn (played by a digitally re-constructed, be-mulleted, 1982-era Jeff Bridges…more on that later), is tucking him in for the night and telling him about Tron and the digital universe known as The Grid…he tells it kind of like a bed-time story, but it’s much creepier (see Digital Bridges, Uncanny Valley).

Sam’s room is full of Tron video game paraphernalia – action figures, posters, etc. – and when Kevin says goodnight to leave for work, it is apparent that the boy desperately wants more his father’s attention.

‘Doctor Who: The Mazes of Time’ Game Now Available for Apple’s iPad and iPhone

Posted on December 16, 2010

Do you happen to be a fan of the BBC’s long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who? Do you also use an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch? If so, this post is directed right at you. Today, the BBC announced the release of a brand new game for Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch that takes you into the world of Doctor Who.

The action puzzle adventure game, called Doctor Who: The Mazes of Time, features the Doctor and his companion Amy Pond traveling through time and space to defeat infamous enemies, solve devious puzzles and restore peace. It featuring all manner of well-known baddies including Weeping Angels, Daleks, Cybermen and Silurians and allows users to play as both the Doctor and Amy Pond, utilizing their unique skills and abilities to solve challenges.

“Coming to the App Store is a landmark moment for the Doctor Who franchise,” said Robert Nashak, Executive Vice President, Digital Entertainment, BBC Worldwide. “We look forward to bringing users, and fans of the show, an exciting and interactive experience that they will enjoy.”

The Doctor Who: The Mazes of Time App is available for $3.99 (iPhone and iPod touch) or $4.99 (iPad) from the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and also via iTunes.

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