The Flickcast

Marvel Comics On Sale This Week

Posted on November 2, 2009

PSYLOCKE1 As we do each week, here’s the list of all the Marvel comics on sale this week. We’re sure you know that new comics come out on Wednesday and some of the ones we’re excited about this week include the new Astonishing X-Men #32, Captain America Reborn #4, Psylocke #1 and The Torch #3.

And, as we do each week, be sure and check out some of the great art from a few of these upcoming comics after the jump.

Comics On-Sale:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #610

ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS PROLOGUE

ASTONISHING X-MEN #32

ASTONISHING X-MEN #32 SHS VARIANT

BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #1

BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #1 LAND VARIANT

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7.5 Million DVD Copies of ‘Transformers 2’ Sold

Posted on November 2, 2009

Optimus Prime I have made no secret about the fact I think both Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen were awful. The scripts were weak, or practically non-existent in the case of the sequel, and editing so bad it was difficult at times to see what was going. Case in point, director Michael Bay kept the fight scenes moving at rapid pace then would cut to a slow motion shot of Shau Lebouf shouting “Optimus!” or Megan Fox running away. Now, as much as I can appreciate Fox’s particular “assets” moving in slow-mo, it would have been better to slow down the scenes I was really interested in, robots fighting.

Be that as it may, I have defended Bay in the sense he knows how to appeal to the masses and can make a profitable film. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen took in approximately $823 million dollars worldwide and that figure is set to grow even larger based on record setting DVD sales:

“Paramount Home Video sold 7.5 million DVD/Blu-ray copies of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in its first week of release including 1.2 million Blu-ray’s, making it the year’s highest selling HD title. To put that in perspective, “Twilight” was the years biggest selling title and has sold 8 million copies since March 21st.”

If my math is correct that’s about another $150 million in the bank (using an average DVD price of $20). Not a bad week at all to be Paramount or Michael Bay. Bravo, Mr. Bay!

I may not like your take on one of my favorite childhood toys but I can’t argue with your success. You’re like the McDonalds of filmmaking. The food may not necessarily be a healthy choice, but we all keep coming back for more.

New ‘Star Trek’ Deleted Scene Starring Diora Baird

Posted on November 2, 2009

Just after one of the first deleted scenes from the upcoming DVD release of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek last week, there is a brand new scene to keep us entertained until the November 17 release date. This one may not involve Klingons, but it most certainly has two much better things: Diora Baird and, well, Diora Baird as an Orion Slave girl.

In the scene, Chris Pine shows off Kirk’s racial insensitivity by confusing one Orion girl for another, proving that while he may be one of the most important people in Star Trek lore, he really isn’t that bright.

Check out the deleted scene after the jump, starring Pine and the lovely Diora Baird, who got to go through the hours-long makeup process, only to have one of her two scenes cut from the film entirely.

Star Trek hits DVD and Blu-Ray shelves on November 17th nationwide.

Joss Whedon Offers To Buy ‘Terminator’ Franchise

Posted on November 2, 2009

whedon-terminator That Joss Whedon is a funny guy and one heck of a writer. His shows, including Firefly, Buffy, Angel and Dollhouse, are among the most favored by fans and, of course, we love his work here at The Flickcast. Now, with the Terminator franchise apparently up for sale (again) Whedon has made a modest proposal of his own to buy the entire thing in an open letter to those selling the franchise.

Among the items covered in this open letter are how much he offers for the franchise and what he would do with it if he got it. Its a funny and, in some cases, inspirational attempt at humor from a man who knows how to bring the funny.

Although, maybe he’s serious and thinks he would do a good job with the franchise? And, thinking about it a bit more myself, I think he would do a great job with Terminator also. Interesting thoughts indeed.

Take a look at the full text of the letter after the jump, courtesy of the fine folks at Whedonesque. Once you read it, give us your thoughts on the idea.

‘Sherlock’ Now Sponsoring ‘Family Guy’ Episode

Posted on November 2, 2009

Brian Writing It looks like the Family Guy special which was suppose to promote Windows 7 has found a new sponsor since Microsoft backed out late last week. Warner Bros. Pictures stepped up and took the opportunity to pitch director Guy Ritchie’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. It would have been way funnier if Apple took the spot but this should be pretty cool too.

Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show is still set to air on November 8 with sneak peeks of the Sherlock Holmes film set to come out Christmas Day. The original concept for the show was to feature Windows 7 promotion spots instead of commercials. However, there’s been no word on how tightly integrated the Holmes content will be by comparison. Hopefully Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane will somehow tie-in the new material for the show itself as originally intended.

Here’s hoping Warner Bros. has watched Family Guy and understands what they’re in for. I’m all for covering stories but the last think anyone needs is yet another update about this special episode. I would hazard a guess and say at this stage this is a done deal. Oh no, I didn’t just jinx myself by saying that did I?

Weekend Box Office: Michael Jackson Was King

Posted on November 2, 2009

this_is_it_movie_poster_michael_jackson The real story from the box office this weekend is the non-story of This Is It. Sure, it won the weekend with $21.3 million, but there were some crazy estimates thrown around last week. I know I wasn’t the only person entertaining the notion that this movie would open above $70 million, especially after seeing all the hysterics from frenzied fans on opening day and sold out venues.

So, I have been scratching my head trying to figure out why the movie was a relative dud here in the U.S. Worldwide, it was a smashing success and made over $100 million. Although, I heard more than one estimate say that it could open in the $200-250 million range, and it made less than half that.

Do you think that because Michael Jackson lived here in the States, and we were exposed to more of the controversial aspects of his life? Perhaps fans in Japan, Germany and Australia had a more pristine memory of the King of Pop. At any rate, I was pretty blown away by the movie’s fairly low numbers. This was supposed to be one of the biggest events of the year.

Paranormal Activity enjoyed Halloween weekend, and took in another $16.5 million. It only dropped 22% from last weekend. It stands at a cumulative total of $84.8 million and is all but guaranteed to pass $100 million during its domestic run.

‘The Fourth Kind’ Abduction Featurette and Genre Picks

Posted on November 2, 2009

If you have been eagerly anticipating Friday’s release of The Fourth Kind, here is a creepy little featurette from Universal and Yahoo Movies to prime you for the movie — which you can watch after the jump. It’s no spoiler to note that the plot of the movie has to do with missing people in Alaska, and possible alien abduction. This featurette provides a back-story, so to speak, about the four different kinds of alien encounters.

Still can’t sate your appetite for alien abduction? If so, take a look at these other genre titles while you are biding your time. And, look for our review of The Fourth Kind on Friday.

• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) – Arguably the best known in the genre. This movie terrified me when I saw it as a child. Steven Speilberg’s follow up to Jaws racked up several oscar nominations and won for best cinematography.

John William’s chilling musical score remains iconic to this day. Teri Garr and Richard Dreyfuss enjoyed career boosts from their roles, and Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Millennium) even makes an appearance.

• Fire in the Sky (1993) – Laugh if you will, but this film that starred D.B. Sweeney was based on a true story, and it has a serious faction of fans. Over the years I’ve heard several people who are alien junkies insist this is one of the most horrifying depictions of abduction. Based on a logger’s disappearance in the woods in 1975, and his unexplained reappearance, this film has a cult-like following.

• Communion (1989) – Based on the terrifying book by Whitley Strieber. In my humble opinion, the book was much better, but Christopher Walken is always a plus. Not the best movie in the group, but no alien abduction list is complete without it.

TV RECAP: ‘Flash Forward: Scary Monsters and Super Creeps’

Posted on November 2, 2009

Dominic-in-Flash-Forward-1 This week we meet Dominic Monaghan’s character of Simon, but we do not get anything more than a tease on how he and Simco killed 20 million people in their experiment with the blackout. So that mystery is extended, but at least we know who is responsible and how they got it. Also, Mark (Joseph Fiennes) meets the man who will replace him in the bed of his wife (Sonya Walger), and she finds out that Mark was drinking in his flash forward. All this and more in another innocuous episode of Flash Forward.

We open on a train ride coming from somewhere and going to Los Angeles. Here we have Monaghan’s character seducing a woman by explaining quantum physics, achieving something in three minutes the Big Bang Theory has been trying to do for however long that show has been on.

Following the last episode, Agent Janis Hawk survives her gun fight, but in having been wounded in her pelvis will never be allowed to bear children. So, this raises the question of how she will be pregnant come April 29, 2010.

The over coming thread throughout this episode is now that we know the future: will it actually happen? It seems like this episode seems to suggest no, not exactly. With Janis now not being able to give birth, and Simco’s super weird kid trailing the Benford’s super weird kid to their house, causing Simco and Olivia to finally realize their flash forwards was kind of ridiculous but creepy-cool. Creepy cool in a way that The Shining is creepy cool and those two kids are straight up creepy, with their chant over that doll of the Benford’s kid.

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