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Friday, December 31, 2010

KUNG FU PANDA: THE KABOOM OF DOOM TV Teaser

We are starting to see some more marketing muscle for KUNG FU PANDA: THE KABOOM OF DOOM but certainly nothing in your face yet. The first teaser was just barely a teaser - but the staring contest was very cool.

Here's the storyline:
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five – Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. But Po’s new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. It is up to Po and The Furious Five to journey across China to face this threat and vanquish it. But how can Po stop a weapon that can stop kung fu? He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Voice Cast:
Jack Black ... Po (voice)
Angelina Jolie ... Tigress (voice)
Seth Rogen ... Mantis (voice)
Gary Oldman ... Lord Shen (voice)
Dustin Hoffman ... Shifu (voice)
Jackie Chan ... Monkey (voice)
Jean-Claude Van Damme ... Master Croc (voice)
Lucy Liu ... Viper (voice)
David Cross ... Crane (voice)
James Woods ... Master Skunkman (voice)
Michelle Yeoh ... The Soothsayer (voice)
Victor Garber ... Master Thundering Rhino (voice)
James Hong ... Mr. Ping (voice)

So now we have some actual footage - have a look:



KUNG FU PANDA: THE KABOOM OF DOOM will be released May 27, 2011

Hoping for more of the magic!!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Must See: New Photo Of Tomar-Re From GREEN LANTERN

We all saw Tomar-Re briefly in the trailer (at the 1:30 mark) so of course we have been anxious to see him with a closer front-on shot. And we've GOT IT!

Click on the image to enlarge.

Here is some more info on the character:
Tomar was a scientist on the planet Xudar before joining the Green Lantern Corps (For those new to the comic, that is the same corps that Ryan Reynolds joins). He became a pivotal member of the Corps, training new members, like Arisia, and serving in the Honor Guard. He investigated reports of abuses of power by Sinestro on Korugar. He was close friends with Abin Sur, Green Lantern of neighboring sector 2814. He was also the first Lantern to meet Sur's replacement, Hal Jordan, and the two got along equally well. In the Post-Crisis timeline, that friendship is deepened further in that the rookie Jordan met him soon after being recruited. Jordan was brought to him by his power ring to help with his difficulties with handling the weapon and Tomar-Re not only guided the Terran to GLC headquarters for the optional training program, but also provided valuable emotional support during this difficult time.

Tomar's most famous mission while serving in the Corps dealt with the planet Krypton. Krypton, a planet in sector 2813, was growing increasingly unstable. It was due to explode, caused by internal pressures deep inside the planet's core. Tomar-Re sought to use a rare compound called stellarium to absorb some of the tectonic pressure, thus saving the Kryptonians. He gathered the compound, and was en route to Krypton when a yellow solar flare blinded him, and forced him to drop the stellarium. He quickly recovered, but discovered he was blind. He gathered what little stellarium he could without his sight, and proceeded towards Krypton. He was closing in when his vision started to clear. The first thing he saw upon his sight returning was Krypton exploding. The Guardians recovered Tomar and brought him back to Oa, where he healed and rested.


He later grew to an honored senior member of the Corps, but his later career was not without cost. The most difficult moment was during the Nekron crisis when the death god used the spirit of Tomar-Re's deceased father to attempt to sway the Lantern to surrender. Although tempted, Tomar kept to his oath and destroyed his father's spirit to continue the battle, much to his personal anguish.


Tomar was retired when the Anti-Monitor sought to conquer the multiverse. He still served alongside the Corps, including John Stewart, who had become the GL for 2814. The war against the Anti-Monitor would be Tomar's final fight, as he was killed by the villain known as Goldface. Before his death, Tomar-Re selected Stewart to be his replacement, thus forcing John's ring to go to Jordan, who had resigned from the Corps, and returning him to the organization (Green Lantern vol. 2, #198).

Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Greg Berlanti
Studio: Warner Bros Pictures
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard

GREEN LANTERN opens in 3D on June 17, 2011. Can't wait for this one. Looks pretty good.

Source: ComicBookOnline

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Must See: Brand New International Posters For THE GREEN HORNET!!

Check out the new international posters for Seth Rogen's THE GREEN HORNET - not bad! I am beginning to come around a bit to the movie after all. I like the comic color and lighting in these shots - especially the green jacket Rogen is wearing and Christoph Waltz's leather.

You can see that the first four posters all join together and don't really stop! You can just keep adding them one after the other :-)

Could it be that I will be blown away by THE GREEN HORNET? I am opening my mind to it. I don't want any expectations though, that way the possibilities will be greater for my enjoyment :-)

Here is the movie's storyline:
Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene – until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves – protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets.The Green Hornet and Kato quickly start making a name for themselves, and with the help of Britt’s new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they begin hunting down the man who controls LA’s gritty underworld: Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). But Chudnofsky has plans of his own: to swat down The Green Hornet once and for all.

Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz
Director: Michel Gondry

THE GREEN HORNET opens in 3D theaters in North America January 14, 2011.

What do you think? Is THE GREEN HORNET on your must see list in 2011?

Source: Collider

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Got NVIDIA's 3D Vision? Check Out 3DVisionLive For 3D Streaming!!

Awesome! If you would like some more 3D content to enjoy at home on your NVIDIA 3D Vision powered computer, check out their new streaming site 3DVisionLive!

To ensure you have the latest drivers to play the content be sure to drop here. Once set up, it is glorious to behold! Watch anything from MUMMIES 3D: SECRETS OF THE PHARAOHS to the RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE trailer - all in S3D.

If you haven't got 3D Vision yet, what's taking you so long? :-) The 3D gaming alone is worth it! Buy it here.

Monday, December 27, 2010

First Official Photo: THE THREE MUSKETEERS

We have already seen shots of Mads Mikkelsen and Logan Lerman in an unofficial capacity, so there is no great reveal here on Lerman's costume; however, we do see what Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans, those playing the actual three musketeers, will look like!

Gorgeous set locations obviously!

Here is the storyline:
The hot-headed young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson) in this reboot of Alexandre Dumas’ story. They must stop the evil Richlieu (Christoph Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Milla Jovovich). The action adventure is given a state of the art update in 3-D.

The more I see of this production the more amped I get. Should be fun.


Saturday, December 25, 2010

And Now Bryan Singer Announces He Will Shoot With The RED EPIC for JACK THE GIANT KILLER!!

As my friend Mark (an avid RedUser reader) said to me - "Someday an EPIC may shoot a 2D movie!" LOL!!

Very true. But for now, yet another high profile director and project is turning to the RED EPIC.

Director Bryan Singer said this personally on the RedUser Forums:
"I'm very much looking forward to using the EPIC Red for my next movie "Jack the Giant Killer" which will be shot in, what else, 3D. The camera's incredibly compact size and extraordinary resolution are ideal for the 3D format. But more importantly "Jack the Giant Killer" is my first movie set in a time before electricity. The EPIC's extraordinary exposure latitude will allow me to more effectively explore the use of natural light."

Really looking forward to this project too! Singer has been developing it for awhile. The storyline will probably be close to this: The wizard Pendragon kidnaps Princess Elaine to expand his reach and power. Jack, travels to find and rescue her from the giant that Pendragon had kidnap her - and succeeds in killing it. Seeing the strength in Jack, the King asks him to protect her on a journey, but someone she is taken once again. In the end, Pendragon himself transforms into a giant to have at Jack.

Should be a blast. Congratulations to the RED team! More when I get it!!


Friday, December 24, 2010

UNDERWORLD 4 Will Shoot With RED EPICS

Another one! THE HOBBIT, SPIDER-MAN, ALIEN Prequels and now UNDERWORLD 4!! All shot in stereoscopic 3D. All shot with RED EPICs. Impressive start for this new 5K camera isn't it?

Clearly there is good competition for the existing offerings from the Pace FUSION system as well as 3ality Digital. Healthy times indeed for the 3D industry!

James McQuaide, SVP Production, Lakeshore Entertainment stated:
"We could not be more pleased to be able to continue with UNDERWORLD 4 a relationship we began with RED more than 3 years ago when we purchased two RED Ones (serial numbers "N" and "T") to shoot a picture called GAMER.
In the years since, we've used those two cameras on pretty much every show we've produced - we are just finishing-up the DI on LINCOLN LAWYER and it looks spectacular. With the EPIC, RED has clearly elevated their game into the stratosphere - all the tapeless workflow efficiencies are still present but the image quality is now every bit as staggering as the rumors we've all heard. And being an S3D show, that we can put two EPICs on an Atom rig and hand-hold a shot, frees us to both practically and creatively shoot the picture exactly as we want. I Know it's been said before but, plain-and-simple, for both film-makers and ultimately the audience, the Epic is a game-changer."

The news came via Jarred Land on the RedUser Forums... Thanks Mark!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

TRON: LEGACY Advanced Review - 8 Stars

There are no spoilers in this review, but you are open to discuss anything you wish in the comments section.

Click on the images to enlarge.

I just revamped my Star Analysis movie review categories
to include stereoscopic 3D and some other minor tweaks and here is the final result that I will be using to review future S3D movies.

TRON: LEGACY delivered on my "Most Anticipated Movie of 2010" from my list of last February. If you haven't seen this movie, do it. If AVATAR was the first bleep on the live action 3D radar screen (quite a massive blip!), then TRON: LEGACY would be the second. Massive tent poles like these will ensure the continued growth of 3D until ubiquity.

Fine 3D conversions and animations certainly play a key role in the success that S3D has been enjoying, especially ALICE IN WONDERLAND, TOY STORY 3 and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. But live action 3D is the crown. We need these projects and we have been getting them steadily. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, THE HOBBIT, TINTIN, the Marvel and DC comic universes all are apart of the future.

Stereoscopic 3D (10 stars):
TRON: LEGACY proudly joins this list with the best S3D visuals since AVATAR. In many ways it is superior to AVATAR - next generation technology was used and the geometry of The Grid allowed for outrageously wonderful 3D shots. I have the same urge to go back to see LEGACY many times, just as I did for AVATAR. When that happens, its magic. The Vince Pace / James Cameron FUSION 3D camera system was used with some small additional post production work done by Prime Focus as is customary in most live action 3D productions.

Story (7 stars):
It could have been much better thought out. Right from the moment that I heard (in the trailers) Bruce Boxleitner say that he got paged from a number that was disconnected 20 years ago I had issues. Phone companies reuse phone numbers after a small waiting period. This little fact bothered me quite a bit. The story itself was not fully fleshed out and is more skeletal than anything else. It picks you up and delivers you, but not in the ride that you would have expected with such a tentpole. The story has ties to past atrocities and some will say even STAR WARS. It may cause some cringing because of those similarities. I cringed. Still, in the end I was smiling.

Acting (7.5 Stars):
Sub par. We all know Bridges can deliver the goods with true grit, but something was missing. Hedlund was ok. Not great. Olivia Wilde carried the movie for the most part - she was an amazing casting choice. I will say I enjoyed Michael Sheen channeling Ziggy Stardust tremendously, unfortunately it was too brief.

Character Development (6 Stars):
Almost absent. The most disappointing element to the movie for me. Not enough visual storytelling as the director seemed to be taking the easy way out of telling the audience what to believe rather than showing them. TRON: LEGACY is a visual masterpiece but it could have been even better had they worked in visual character development WITH the spectacle. A wasted opportunity.

Suspension of Disbelief (9 Stars):
Well done! It all felt very authentic because of the wonderful level of CGI and stereoscopic work that was achieved. That is a not a trivial thing to accomplish either as you have to get audiences to forget the fact that these characters are inside a virtual game world. My hat is tipped.

Directing (7 Stars):
For a first directorial effort, Joseph Kosinski hit a home run I believe. It could have been a spectacular flame out but in true Disney magic all is good. Again, there are flaws but this is a massive production - items slipped through the cracks. I believe Disney should have hired someone with a little more tentpole pedigree than Kosinski but it certainly was not a failure. I will say that he needs to focus more on his character development for future projects.

Sound / Score (9.5 Stars):
Wow. Stunning score wasn't it? Daft Punk smacked us in the head over and over again with riveting audio moments that truly matched perfectly with LEGACY's taste and tempo. Well done.

Cinematography (8.5 Stars):
Claudio Miranda (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) did a wonderful job. Of course many of the shots were green screened and the work must have been staggering. Again, my hat is tipped.

Special Effects / Stunts (9 Stars):
Digital Domain, Mr. X, Prime Focus and Quantum Creation FX (specialty costumes and lighting effects) all worked on the movie with the lions share going to Digital Domain. What can I say? Go see the movie and you will see the magic that was achieved. In my opinion you NEED to see this in the theater at least once. Home theater will then trigger awe inspiring memories for you later :-)

**The system I used to derive my star ratings is not all that complex but should cover the bases. Essentially I assigned a weight to each classification that I deem important for a GOOD movie. So I am saying that a good story is over 3 times more important than good 3D. Of course bad 3D can ruin a movie and for that reason I will allow NEGATIVE scores (ratings that will reflect unprofessional finished work - like the 3D CLASH OF THE TITANS).

Note that each category gains its star rating via the success factor column: A success score of 100% earns a 10 star nod. The Stars Rating is merely used to generate the total star rating (after weight considerations) for the entire movie.

Like to see some other categories included in future reviews? Let me know what you think is important to you in the comments!

Special thanks to Empire Theatres for the IMAX screening.

JILLIAN'S TRAVELS: AFRICA Coming Soon on 3D Blu-Ray

Looking for more 3D content for your new S3DHD TV system? More and more content is becoming available and it is my pleasure to introduce you to JILLIAN'S TRAVELS: AFRICA...

Stereoscopic 3D production company, Digital Revolution Studios (DRS), in partnership with Wild Eyes Productions (WEP) and Executive Producer, Eric Ustian, will release several original 3D productions in the start of the New Year. The newly founded company, 3D Safari, is a strategic partnership designed to produce a series of 3D safari adventures for distribution into the home market.

"Jillian's Travels: Africa" is a 60-minute special that brings children and families on the journey of a lifetime. Viewers trek into the heart of Africa, and are immersed in a world where wild animals seem close enough to touch. Jillian and her 10-year-old brother, Jack, turn this educational program into a fun and entertaining adventure for kids of all ages. Wild animals in their native environments are just more fun and interesting in high quality state-of-the-art 3D! Enjoy creeping crocodiles, wandering wildebeests, lions, jaguars, and more -- without the $20,000 price tag of going on an African Safari!

The production was filmed in several of the most beautiful and exotic locations within Africa's large continent, in high definition, native-stereoscopic 3D. Jillian's Travels will be offered on Blu-Ray in both 3D and 2D, as well as a 2D Digital Copy. This high quality 3D adventure show will be followed by a series of episodes featuring journeys throughout different countries around the world. DRS' CEO, Gina Light Tanner, states, "Our highly skilled crew of 3D filmmakers faced new challenges filming in the rough terrain and conditions of Africa. The results are breathtaking."

About Wild Eyes Productions:
Wild Eyes specializes in the production of documentary, feature film and television programming. Their goal is to explore unique perspectives; in America's backyard, overseas or on the front lines of today's conflicts. The Wild Eyes team has worked in over 50 countries on 6 continents, and they have produced programming for Discovery, National Geographic, The History Channel, A & E and many more. From politics and revolution, to crime and punishment, science and technology, or culture and art; Wild Eyes strives to present every story with intelligence, humor, compassion, and an even-hand. Our mission is to help viewers see the world...with new eyes. For more information, please visit www.WildEyesProductions.com

About Digital Revolution Studios:
Digital Revolution Studios is a full service stereoscopic 3D production company founded to meet the increasing demand for high quality stereoscopic 3D content. DRS is on the forefront of all aspects of stereoscopic 3D live action capture and 2D to 3D conversion, visual effects and cutting edge post-production techniques. Founded by the Visual Effects Editor of AVATAR, Craig Tanner and 3D Producer Gina Light Tanner, DRS has assembled a team of highly skilled and award-winning industry professionals with a combined experience of over 60 years as leaders in stereoscopic 3D technology and production. Digital Revolution Studios specializes in creating beautifully realistic high quality stereoscopic 3D content, from concept and creation to distribution. For more information, please visit: www.DigitalRevolutionStudios.com

The movie's producer has promised me their trailer as soon as possible so stay tuned.

3D Pioneer Chris Condon Has Passed

A sad day in the 3D industry, especially with the early pioneers. Entrepreneur, inventor and DP Chris Condon (Christo Dimitri Koudounis) passed away December 19 from complications due to a stroke. He was 87.

Condon developed 3D camera lenses such as 35mm and 70mm reflex motion widescreens and it should be pointed out that his designs were the first to allow single camera 3D capture whereas other solutions required two.

He received the first lifetime achievement award from the International 3D Society this past October.

Jim Chabin, president of the Society: "He was 3D before 3D was cool. A lot of people feel he paved the way for 3D now. He loved the new 3D movies."

Condon was Director of Photography for JAWS 3D and was co-producer and cinematographer for the softcore porn THE STEWARDESSES which grossed $27m off a budget of $100,000 back in 1969.

RIP Chris.

TRON: LEGACY 1/6 Scale Light Cycle Being Developed By Hot Toys!

Hot Toys is developing a sure fire hit within the movie collectibles world with its "TRON: LEGACY: 1/6 Scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure With Light Cycle". And yes, it does light up!

Click images to enlarge.

Here's the official announcement:
~ Movie Masterpiece Series ~
Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle from the TRON: Legacy movie. The set is specially equipped with the Light Cycle with LED light-up function, together with the highly detailed Sam Flynn collectible which is specially crafted based on the image of Garrett Hedlund in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted heads and light-up Tron Warrior suit.

The 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle specially features:
- Two (2) newly sculpted heads with authentic likeness of Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn in the movie TRON: Legacy, including one with undetachable helmet
- Approximately 42 (L) x 16 (W) x 18 (H) cm (Light Cycle with Sam Flynn Collectible)
- Body with partial movability
- Highly detailed hair sculpture
- Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture
- One (1) pair of gloved palms for driving the Light Cycle
- Three (3) pieces of legs including:
- One (1) pair of bending legs for riding position (left leg is interchangeable)
- One (1) extra piece of interchangeable straight left leg for breaking position
- Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume:
- One (1) one-piece undetachable black-color Tron Warrior suit with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated) with data disc at the back
- One (1) pair of undetachable black-color boots

Accessories:
- One (1) black-color helmet
- One (1) 1/6th scale Light Cycle with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated)

Artists:
- Head Sculpted by Jeon Young Tae
- Head Painted by JC. Hong
- Head Art Directed by Kojun

Technical Support:
- Light Cycle Technical Supported by Wing Chow and Eddie Lo, Soritis Limited

*Product shown is not final, pending licensor approval
**Battery included for Collectible Figure, button cells are required
***Battery not included for Light Cycle, 3A batteries are required

Additional images can be found here. Look for this very cool release sometime between April and September 2011! Stay tuned for more collectible news when I get it :-)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

MUST WATCH: Teaser Clip With ICE AGE's Scrat - CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP

Man I love Scrat! He is the flag-bearer for modern animation comedy if you ask me. You are going to love this teaser preview of the short entitled: SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP. Want to see the whole animated stereoscopic short? It will be pre-rolling in front of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS when it opens Christmas day.

I have a sinking feeling about GULLIVER'S TRAVELS however. Nothing in the trailers is really appealing to me. This short may be the best part of going to see the Jack Black comedy.

Here's the official outline for the short:
The special holiday treat sees Scrat still scrambling after the cursed acorn he’s been craving since the first Ice Age film. Only this time, the chase has world-changing consequences. Forget what you’ve learned in geology about the continents forming as a result of massive tectonic shifts and volcanic eruptions tearing land masses apart. SCRAT’S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP reveals that these seismic… crack-ups… came about from Scrat’s nutty misadventures.

Check out the clip!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS Surpasses $1 Billion In Sales Worldwide!!

Over 600 Million Hours Logged Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Call of Duty: Black Ops continues to set sell-through records crossing the $1 billion mark in sales worldwide since its launch in November, according to internal Activision estimates.

In its first five days alone, the game sold more than $650 million worldwide, outpacing theatrical box office, book and video game sales records for five-day worldwide sell through in dollars, according to internal Activision estimates and boxofficemojo.com. The game exceeded Activision's previous five-day worldwide record of $550 million set by last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare® 2.

To date, more than 600 million hours have been logged playing Call of Duty: Black Ops since the game launched on November 9, 2010. According to Microsoft, the average player logs on more than once a day and plays for more than one hour each time. Over half of that time is spent playing online with and against friends, illustrating the unique social characteristics of the game.

"In all of entertainment, only Call of Duty and "Avatar" have ever achieved the billion dollar revenue milestone this quickly," said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. "This is a tribute to the global appeal of the Call of Duty franchise, the exceptional talent at Treyarch and the hundreds of extraordinary people across our many Call of Duty studios including Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer that work tirelessly on the franchise. Our ability to provide the most compelling, immersive entertainment experience, and enhance it with regular, recurring content that delivers hundreds of hours of audience value, has allowed Call of Duty to continue to set sales and usage records."

Kotick continued, "This extraordinary milestone was achieved because of the tens of millions of passionate Call of Duty players around the world. Global audiences have logged billions of hours online with Call of Duty games on Xbox LIVE, the Playstation Network and on personal computers. This unique level of community engagement has enabled Call of Duty to become one of the world's most engaged online communities."

"Call of Duty continues to rewrite not just the record books, but also the rules of interactive entertainment," says Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "Even more remarkable than the number of units sold is the number of hours people are playing the game together online which are unprecedented. Call of Duty is more than a game, it's a true community."

Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Language. For additional information about the game, visit www.callofduty.com/blackops.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

*All references cited are sourced according to www.boxofficemojo.com or www.guinnessworldrecords.com

That's a lot of playing time guys! I have the game and it is outrageously good in 3D. If you haven't seen it yet - give it a shot!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Holy Facehugger!! H.R. Giger And Ridley Scott Together Again For ALIEN PREQUELS??

I don't know if things could get much better than this, but the rumor of the day is that H.R. Giger (yes, the guy who designed the first ALIEN xenomorph) is attached to help Ridley Scott yet again with the creation of creatures for his two ALIEN prequels!

Apparently the wife of Giger spilled the beans. No need to go into details about those creatures! They are forever part of Hollywood's legacy of scaring the heck out of people.

My opinion is Giger will assist in the design and creation of the 'space jockey' lifeforms which are supposed to be superior to even the 'alien' creatures. For more info on what the story may be about (read SPOILERS), click here.

Sources: Glanz and Gloria | /Film

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Principal Large Format Creates Unique Three-day Training Programme For ‘Advanced 3D’

Principal Large Format creates unique three-day training programme for ‘Advanced 3D’.

Principal Large Format (PLF) is delighted to announce that it will lead a three-day training course on 3D for cinema and television next January in London. Titled ‘Advanced 3D – The National Stereoscopic 3D Training Programme’, the course is being presented by PLF in association with Talking Point and funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2 and by Sky.

And the first word goes to Brian Lenz – Sky’s Director of TV Product Development, who explains: “With the rapid growth of 3D gaming, cinema and the exciting launch of 3D TV, spearheaded by Sky, there are a wide range of creative and commercial opportunities. However, to position the UK as a true centre of 3D excellence, it’s essential that programme makers invest themselves in the art of 3D, so that we create world leading content. That’s why we’re supporting valuable training programmes such as this.”

The course will have two sites tailored to the differing activities and their expected attendance levels. Part 1 (Tuesday 25th January) will be held at BAFTA for a maximum of 220 attendees. The day will cover everything delegates need to know to decide if a particular project is right for 3D – whether it be a feature film, a commercial, a high-end documentary or an ‘as live’ concert performance. And, if it is right, which 3D rig you should use and the impact that your decisions have on design, post production, budget and schedule. Attendees will be also treated to networking drinks as well as a 3D screening at the end of the day.

Part 2 (Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th January) will be held at Twickenham Studios Stage 1 for a maximum of 35 attendees, all of whom will have to have attended the opening day’s sessions at BAFTA. The Twickenham sessions will provide an intensive, hands-on, practical guide to 3D movie-making, using all the major 3D rigs as well as monitoring, recording and post-production tools. 3D equipment will be provided by On Sight, SGO Mistika, Telegenic and Mytherapy. And again, networking drinks and 3D screenings will take place on both days.

Pre-registering attendees will be given handouts, a reading list and other recommendations before the course, while all three days will feature 3D screenings and guest speakers, with refreshments available throughout and plenty of opportunities for networking.

PLF founder Phil Streather (pictured) is one of the 3D world’s leading lights whose production credits include Bugs! in IMAX 3D, The London Eye 4D Experience for Merlin Entertainments, Carmen in 3D for RealD and Royal Opera House and Meerkats 3D with Oxford Scientific for National Geographic and Sky.

Streather says that the two-stage nature of the Advanced 3D course is one of the things that makes it unique.
“On the first day at BAFTA the sessions will take place in a 3D cinema as a stand-alone module, and we expect to host a broad range of broadcast, movie and advertising industry professionals to discuss everything from lens choices to budget implications. Then, on days two and three, we will take a smaller group of DoPs, First ACs, VFX Supers, Editors, Directors and Producers to apply some of the insights gained on the first day to real-world 3D content production.”

Having previously run 3D master classes at NAB Las Vegas, IBC Amsterdam, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and many other events and locations, Streather feels that PLF is well-placed to give a balanced overview of current technologies and approaches to 3D production.

“I have a very practical and clean approach to 3D training,”
says Streather. “Clear definitions of terms, such as convergence, parallax and depth budget, are combined with hands on experience. I then explore 3D style and storytelling through the screening and analysis of a diverse selection of 3D material. Stereography is a craft science that every head of department involved in 3D production should now become versed. Advanced 3D is proud to take its place in this important learning process.”

Skillset’s Director of Film, Neil Peplow says
“3D training is at the top of the agenda for the UK Film Skills Strategy and Skillset is incredibly excited to be funding Advanced 3D alongside Sky. Principal Large Format’s pioneering training programme, delivered by top industry practitioners, will present a necessary and rich overview of 3D. Industry professionals working in the UK Film industry attending these courses will undoubtedly gain a deep, practical understanding of the economical and technological impact of 3D.”

Fees for Advanced 3D are £250 (plus VAT) for Day One only and £750 (plus VAT) for all three days; with the registration deadline being Friday 14th January. More information is available from Helen Johnson at +44 7968 381288 or helen@talkingpoint.uk.net or Phil Streather at phil@plf.cc

Principal Large Format (PLF) was founded in 1998 by present CEO Phil Streather.
PLF is a production company dedicated to developing and producing award winning 3D Giant Screen (IMAX) features, 3D Theatrical Documentary features and 3D TV.
www.plf.cc

For further information, please contact:

Phil Streather
CEO
Tel: +44 (0) 1373 813 301

Press contact:
Katinka Allender
PR Consultant
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 571402
Email: katinka@k-communciations.com

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, with responsibility for 60 per cent of the UK Creative Industries. This comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion and textiles. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenges by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
www.skillset.org

A Bigger Future 2 is the second phase of ‘A Bigger Future’, the UK film skills strategy developed by Skillset and the UK Film Council and funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund. The Skillset Film Skills Fund is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council and the film industry through the Skills Investment Fund.
www.abiggerfuture2.co.uk

Talking Point is an established provider of training programmes and consultancy for the film and television industries. Run by Helen Johnson, recent programmes include Weapons on Set (with the Production Guild) and Behind the Lens (with the Christine Blundell Make Up Academy and British Society of Cinematographers)
www.talkingpoint.uk.net

Friday, December 17, 2010

REACTION: TRON LEGACY - What Did You Think?

I know what I think! How about you? Now that TRON: LEGACY has now been released I am anxious to hear your thoughts on it. Post them below and I (and others I am sure) will debate it out with you!! :-)

HAVE AT IT!

More EPIC News! Red Epic Cameras To Be Used For Ridley Scott's ALIEN Prequels!

Wow. The RED EPIC digital camera has come a long way in the past couple of months! How is this for a lineup of blockbuster movies that will be utilizing the camera:

- THE HOBBIT - Peter Jackson
- SPIDER-MAN - Marc Webb

And now...
- ALIEN PREQUELS - Ridley Scott!

According to Jim Jannard, founder of RED, this is what cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (ON STRANGER TIDES, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, EAGLE EYE, CRIMSON TIDE) said recently: "In my opinion, the new Red Epic camera is about to revolutionize all spectrums of the film industry. I am going to use Epics in my new project directed by Ridley Scott. I am amazed with the quality of the image and the fact that you can shoot 5k at 120fps without compromising resolution, and most of all the size of the camera. Combined with the Element Technica Atom 3d rig, we will be able to shoot a 3d movie with the flexibility of a conventional cinema camera. I don't see anything that comes close to it at the moment. I can't even imagine the potential Epic will have on the big blockbuster industry as well as independent cinema."

That, my friends, is a resounding endorsement! We are seeing another mini revolution taking place here within the 3D industry - RED EPICS!! More when I get it... Thanks Mark!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

GRAVITY Attracts Clooney!

Yes! Finally we have some rather solid casting news for the long awaited and much anticipated Alfonso Cuaron science fiction thriller GRAVITY.

George Clooney has reportedly signed (via THR) on as the important first act character that survives an outer space tragedy along with the major star of the film, Sandra Bullock. It seems Bullock will carry the second and third acts by herself.

Warner Bros is looking to start production in the spring.

Here is the supposed storyline
(via Scriptshadow - SPOILER ALERT): The script follows Ryan Stone, an engineer whose career path unexpectedly puts her on a space shuttle, doing repairs. (In a more recent draft, she’s working on repairing the Hubble.) She’s paired with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski. But things go very wrong. The Russians just blew up something that “creates a chain reaction of spraying debris that hits multiple satellites, which also end up exploding, and all of a sudden thousands of pieces of debris are heading straight towards the space shuttle.” Cutting forward a bit, that debris destroys the shuttle and eventually leaves Ryan alone, trying to make her way to the International Space Station and rescue.

Everything that can go wrong does go wrong as the movie becomes a series of near death experiences. Ryan must jump from point to point – whether it be to a vessel, a station, or an oxygen tank – and survive long enough to make the journey to the next point after that (and so on). Each destination is accompanied by dangerous debris, dropping oxygen, and the strong chance that whatever she’s trying to get to might not be there. Think Apollo 13, but with the odds stacked 1 million times higher against you, if that’s possible.


GRAVITY is rumored to have a MASSIVE opening scene that has Cuaron capturing a 20 minute shot! Amazing if this turns out to be true. Remember watching CHILDREN OF MEN and that scene where Clive Owen is searching for the baby and mother in that ravaged apartment building? ONE shot.

Single shot scenes really bring you into the action!
Combine that with immersive 3D in space and you have a sure winner. Can't wait! Huge anticipation for this movie guys!!


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

New TV Spot And Website For THE GREEN HORNET!!

Like funny commercials about funny movies? How about if you're hungry too? :-) If yes, then you'll love this one featuring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou in Black Beauty going to Carl's Jr. - have a look...



Got the official website for THE GREEN HORNET for you right here. Check it out! There are prizes to be won, so go ahead and click that button. NO! Not that one!! :-)

Source: /Film

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Exclusive: PassmoreLab Teams with Teen Rockers ‘Cherri Bomb’ to Shoot 3D Rock Video

EXCLUSIVE: PassmoreLab is working with teen rock band Cherri Bomb in making a 3D music video for their single RUN YOU DOWN.

Here's an early look at the official press release
(emphasis is mine):


Production Starts in the California Desert in January


Los Angeles, CA (Dec 16, 2010) – Teen rock sensations Cherri Bomb are going from the sweaty stages of the Sunset Strip to the sweeping sands of the Salton Sea to make their first 3D video, it was announced today in a joint statement by San Diego-based 3D Production Studio PassmoreLab and Madhouse Music Productions.

“Run You Down”, is the second single off the album “ Perfectly Legitimate Use of Volume” and will be the band’s first video in 3D.

The all-girl band, currently in the studio working on their first studio album and are eager to get to work on the 3D visuals of the song, which was written by Noah Lifschey and Ana Lovelis. Production begins in January in southeastern California’s Salton Sea.

"I love this band and I like the idea that they will have a hot 3D video before they are even signed to a record deal,”
said Greg Passmore, president of PassmoreLab and director of the video. “The Salton Sea location is the perfect backdrop for the betrayal and redemption of the song, and the girls are going to look great against it.”

With an average age of just 13 years old, Cherri Bomb is being touted as “Rock’s New Generation” and has already created quite a buzz in the music industry, performing at the Sunset Strip Music Festival, opening for Filter, touring with the Smashing Pumpkins and also appearing on NBC’s Nightly News, ABC ’s “The Red Carpet” and Fox’s “Good Day LA”. They are managed by renowned drummer turned manager Samantha Maloney (Hole, Motley Crue, The Crystal Method, Billy Ray Cyrus) head of Superior Artist Management, and were just signed to Creative Artist Agency.

“Every teenager in the country is home rocking out on guitar hero with dreams of rock stardom,” said Samantha Maloney, “This video will give them the chance feel like they are inside the experience.”

The band also just added an upcoming show with Camp Freddy during their 4th annual Xmas Residency on December 17th at the world-famous Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. Camp Freddy is made up of ex-members of Jane's Addiction, Guns ‘N Roses and The Cult, and always features guest performances from a wide variety of respected musicians. This will be the first time Cherri Bomb has played with them.

“We are very excited to work with PassmoreLab,” smiles Maloney. “Their indie-studio feel is a perfect fit for us…and now I have a reason to buy the fancy Gucci 3D glasses!”

Always on the cutting-edge of music, art and technology, PassmoreLab produced all 3D aspects of Slash’s 3D music video “By the Sword” with Andrew Stockdale; New York garage-glam phenoms Semi Precious Weapons on the award-winning “Magnetic Baby”; punk-rockers Osaka Popstar & the American Legends of Punk on “Wicked World”; Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar on “Loud”; and LA art noir group Miss Derringer on “Black Tears”. PassmoreLab also opened the rock-and-roll archives of famed photographer Bob Gruen to produce the first-ever 3D conversions of images from the Rock, Punk, and New Wave eras.

“It’s a rare opportunity to work with an up-and-coming band that has already arrived in many ways,” says Steve Glum, PassmoreLab’s head of Branding & Distribution. “And help establish them in the visual medium of 3D rock videos.”

Cherri Bomb’s “Run You Down” 3D music video will be available across multiple 3D distribution channels in March 2011.

About PassmoreLab
Passmorelab, the San Diego-based multi-media 3D production studio, has the world’s largest library of 3D content available for licensing. The studio custom-designs and builds its own RED camera 3D rigs for both conventional and rugged film productions. Passmorelab’s proprietary technology for state-of-the-art 3D post production is known in the industry for quick turnaround times and competitive costs. Additional offices in Russia and the Philippines. More at www.passmorelab.com. Inquiries: Steve Glum, steve@passmorelab.com

About Cherri Bomb
Cherri Bomb is a teenage all-girl rock band with a uniquely-explosive rock sound inspiring new waves of fans of all ages around the world. Dubbed “Rock’s New Generation”, the band consists of members Julia Pierce on Lead Guitar and Vocals; Nia Lovelis on Drums and Vocals; Miranda Miller on Keyboards, Guitar and Vocals; and Rena Lovelis on Bass and Vocals. More at www.cherribombband.com.

George Stewart Joins MasterImage 3D as Director of Digital Cinema

I have some industry personnel news for you from MasterImage 3D (emphasis is mine) who continues to grow worldwide and with exceptional talent:

Cinema Industry Veteran Hails from Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios and AMC Entertainment

Hollywood, CA (December 14, 2010) – 3D technology company MasterImage 3D announced today that veteran cinema industry sales and marketing executive George Stewart has joined the company as director of digital cinema. In this role Stewart will drive MasterImage’s digital 3D systems and brand in the worldwide theatrical marketplace.

Stewart brings twenty years of expertise to MasterImage’s sales and marketing efforts. She joins the company most recently from AMC Entertainment, where she was Vice President of Distributor Relations. Prior to that she was Group Marketing/Sales Director for the Nielsen Company, where she successfully developed and integrated new products, services and strategic partnerships. At The Los Angeles Times, Stewart oversaw the Creative Advertising Group generating record-high revenue and sponsorship through promotions, creative and event programs. She also held senior-level roles at Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros., supervising film and marketing sales and overseeing financials for Warner Bros. Television.

“George’s career has been marked by results,” said Peter Koplik, MasterImage President of Digital Cinema. “She has built a legacy of leading highly productive teams, driving market share, and building brands to support revenue goals. Her experience, skill in cultivating long term relationships and knowledge of the cinema industry is going to be invaluable to us as MasterImage continues to expand our reach.”

About MasterImage 3D LLC
MasterImage 3D LLC is a 3D technology company that provides pioneering solutions for theaters, mobile devices and gaming. With digital 3D cinema systems installed in 42 countries, MasterImage 3D is a fast-growing digital 3D cinema system supplier, offering audiences the clearest, sharpest 3D experience while providing exhibitors with a compelling ownership-based pricing model. The company’s auto-stereoscopic display technology enabled one of the world’s first glasses-free 3D mobile phones and its 3D camera ASIC empowers consumers to create and share 3D content. Founded in 2004, the company is privately held and headquartered in Hollywood, with offices in the UK, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing.

For more information, visit
www.MasterImage3D.com.

MasterImage is a sponsor of MarketSaw


Monday, December 13, 2010

New Images Of Judge DREDD's Helmet!!

Super cool shot of Judge Dredd's helmet from the upcoming Karl Urban comic book adaptation DREDD.

These shots (via Bleeding Cool) are from the sculpting artist Edmund Woodward who is working on the production. The link above has a few more mockup shots as well.

You can check out all of our DREDD coverage right here, including the first shot of Urban as Judge Dredd. More when I get it!


Watch: PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Trailer

Got the new trailer for ON STRANGER TIDES for you! Looks like some impressive action though I don't know if I am sold on Penelope Cruz yet. We'll see. Rush and Depp are no-brainers.

The mermaids and zombies are intriguing! Must. Learn. More.

Of course there is the standard Captain Jack humor interjected throughout!

The movie was shot in native 3D so I expect it to be GORGEOUS - especially with all those exotic shooting locations.

Storyline:
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D. In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Director: Rob Marshall
Writer: Ted Elliott
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz
Release: May 20, 2011



Thanks for the heads up Tim! Stay tuned...

Sunday, December 12, 2010

High Resolution Stereoscopic-3D Is Entering UNCHARTED Territory!

Hey folks, Adam Loncar here. We've got thrilling news to share with you because legendary developer Naughty Dog has finally announced the long awaited Uncharted 3! The award winning franchise is entering 3D territory for the first time.

Here is the official press release (emphasis is mine):

Clandestine organizations, remote locations and ancient secrets

Drake is back on a high stakes expedition to the heart of the Arabian Desert

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is pleased to unveil the latest installment in the multimillion-selling action adventure franchise, UNCHARTED. Developed exclusively for PlayStation®3 by the team at Naughty Dog Inc., UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception blurs the entertainment boundaries, delivering the cinematic scale, adrenalin rushes, thrills and mystery that are the UNCHARTED trademark; together with its unique and enhanced multiplayer experience.

Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike will relish the opportunity to catapult themselves headlong into a real adventure, in a search for the fabled "Atlantis of the Sands." The journey propels fortune hunter Nathan Drake on a daring trek into the heart of the Arabian Desert, a journey that pits him and his mentor Victor Sullivan against the occult treachery of a shadowy clandestine organization and its ruthless leader. When the terrible secrets of this lost city are unearthed, Drake's quest descends into a desperate bid for survival that strains the limits of his endurance and forces him to confront his deepest fears.

Key Features:

* Bigger set pieces and more explosive adventure, driven by Naughty Dog's signature storytelling and cinematic presentation.
* Competitive and co-op multiplayer return with brand new experiences and massively expanded feature sets. The UNCHARTED universe provides online players with a unique Action Adventure multiplayer experience, bringing the cinematic elements of the single-player campaign into multiplayer.
* Nathan Drake can now take on opponents in more ways than before: hand-to-hand combat with multiple opponents, contextual melee attacks, and new stealth options. UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception also features expanded and diverse traversal moves with deep gunplay.
* Naughty Dog introduces new physics, visuals, and environmental effects. UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception features new innovations in sand, fire, smoke, and water dynamics and effects. UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception will be playable in Stereoscopic 3D.

With its award-winning storytelling, blockbuster cinematic action sequences, immersive high resolution 3D and stunning environmental detail and effects, UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception is the chance to lose yourself in the world of Nathan Drake - and to experience the true power of PlayStation 3.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, PSP TM (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Since the launch of PlayStation 3 in November 2006, 41.6 million units have been sold globally and continue to be sold at a record level. Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 147.6 million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the end of 2004, over 64.2 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, more than 57.4 million accounts have registered to PlayStation Network, the free-to-access interactive environment, and over 1.1 billion items have been downloaded.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at http://www.playstation.com

PlayStation, the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 and PSP are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

The Uncharted games are truly interactive cinematic experiences. I can't wait for the upcoming Uncharted movie, written and directed by David O. Russell, which will more than likely be a proper 3D movie. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will be released Fall 2011 only on Playstation 3. Mark my words - it will be STUNNING.

Oh, and catch the Spike Video Game Awards on December 11 at 8pm EST for the first footage of the game and many other titles. Exciting stuff!


Saturday, December 11, 2010

AVATAR Goes 3D on UK's Sky Movies HD Christmas Eve!

James Cameron's AVATAR will make its world premiere on S3DHD television in the UK on Christmas Eve at 8pm says Sky.

John Cassy, Sky 3D’s channel director, stated:
"Confirming Avatar in our Christmas line up for Sky 3D is a huge honour and fantastic news for customers. We hope 3D will bring people together to enjoy a whole new television experience over this festive and special time of year."

Great to see!! Wish it was over in North America, but hey congratulations to the Brits! Enjoy. Thanks for the heads up Ian!


MUST WATCH: The THOR Trailer!!

We just saw a new image of THOR and now comes the first official trailer! And it looks darn good. Out of all the avengers, Thor was the one I was most worried about as Marvel has to introduce mythology into the modern 'Tony Stark' world.

To me, it seems like they may have succeeded. I still can't point my finger and say 'YES!', but I can say I am not disappointed. Yet.

So check out the trailer:


What do you think? After seeing this trailer and the possibilities of CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE HULK and IRON MAN joining forces in THE AVENGERS - are you amped up about what lies in store in the coming years?

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Editor-in-Chief
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