Hulk vs. Thor

A clip from January's Hulk vs. DVD, which pits the Green Goliath separately against Wolverine and Thor. Here's Hulk dropping into Thor's homeland, Asgard:

Animation Round-Up

• Star Wars: Clone Wars, which debuted in theatres hasn't gotten the greatest reviews nor is it doing much box office, but, it still sets the stage for the upcoming animated series of the same name, scheduled to debut on Cartoon Network Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. ET with a special one-hour presentation.



• Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a new animated series geared towards a younger audience will debut on Cartoon Network in November 2008. The series, with an animation style reminiscent of Golden Age Batman artist Dick Sprang (which also looks similar to the main title animation of the Batman 60s TV series), features the Caped Crusader teaming up with a different hero from the DC Universe in each episode, including many heroes never before seen in animated form -- such as the new Blue Beetle, featured prominently in the trailer. You can see a list of the planned guest stars here.
  

The Wonder Woman animated movie, next in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie series, debuts on DVD in February 2009, featuring the voice of Keri Russell. Based on an original story, the script is co-written by Gail Simone, currently writing the character's comic series. It will be released in rated and unrated version and is expected to be pretty violent. See the trailer at the above link.

• More DC Universe Animated Movies are in the works, though what's after Wonder Woman is still unconfirmed. More Batman is definite, and rumors include Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (presumably based on the the Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuiness story arc of the same name) and Green Lantern. Still being discussed is Justice League: Worlds Collide, a Bruce Timm-verse movie that bridges the gap between the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. an online Plastic Man series is also supposedly in development. Nothing has been offically announced.
  



• Marvel Animated Features -- Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, featuring the children of the Avengers, as mentored by Tony (Iron Man) Stark was released on DVD on September 2. Up next is Hulk Vs., two shorts featuring the Green Goliath separately fighting Wolverine and Thor, due January. Upcoming releases include Thor: Tales of Asgard and Planet Hulk.
  



• Wolverine And The X-Men is set for a January 2009 debut, alongside Iron Man: Armored Adventures (which features Tony Stark becoming Iron Man as a teenager), on the Nicktoons Network.
  
  

Shedding light on the Dark Knight

The Dark Knight opens in less than three weeks, and the full-court marketing press is on. Among the coolest promotions is from Comcast. For those with Comcast's digital cable, you can see trailers, mini documentaries, special "newscasts" and even one of the six animated segments from Batman: Gotham Knight, the animated DVD feature due out July 8, through On Demand (check "Movies & Special Events').

But even if you don't have digital cable, you can still see some of the Comcast goodies. Just go to the dedicated mini-site for some of the same documentaries and trailers.

Elsewhere are actor, writer and director interviews that help set the stage for the sequel. Most notably, you can read these interviews with star Christian Bale, co-star Aaron Eckhart, director Christoher Nolan and writers, David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan.

You can see five minutes from another segment of Batman: Gotham Knights here.

Finally, here's an early mainstream review (from Rolling Stone) that will make you just want July 18 to get here quicker!

Kevin Conroy is THE voice of Batman

There’s an emotional place I go to – Bruce (Timm) says he see it in me in the booth. It’s much more a psychology than just producing the sound. Batman is very complex. The Bruce Wayne voice is the real put-on. This is a guy who saw his parents murdered in front of him, and nobody would be normal and together after that. He feels like a freak inside. So to do the voice, you have to take on all that drama.

Kevin Conroy talks about voicing the animated Batman since 1992, and again for the upcoming Batman: Gotham Knight animated movie on DVD July 8.

"Batman: Gotham Knight" animated DVD trailer

Here's the trailer for the Batman:Gotham Knight animated DVD that comes out on July 8, only 10 days before The Dark Knight hits theatres. This release consists of six vignettes designed tobridge the gap between the two Nolan Batman movies. Each short story is done in a different anime style and are written by comics pros and otherscreen writers. Long-time Batman voice Kevin Conroy reprises his lead role here, which you can hear in the trailer. Most misgivings about this being "too anime" will go away after watching the trailer.

At this site, you can read an early review of the release.

UPDATED: Sneak peek at Batman anime DVD

Before the Bat-sequel, The Dark Knight hits theatres on July 18, Warner Bros., will release on July 8 Batman: Gotham Knight, a series of 6 related animated shorts that bridge the gap between Batman Begins and the new movie. Each short is directed by an established anime director, who bring their own look to the character and his world. Villians featured in the shorts include Deadshot, Scarecrow and Killer Croc. You can see pics of each of them here.

A 10-minute sneak peek of the DVD was included with the recently released Justice League: New Frontier DVD You can a portion of that video at the official site for the DVD. or you can watch the whole thing here:

"New Frontier "comic special to Join DVD release

As if the release of Justice League: The New Frontier as a direct-to-DVD animated movie of February 26 weren't cool enough, creator Darwyn Cooke is releasing a 48-page Justice League: New Frontier special a week later, featuring three untold tales set during the time period of the orignal story. As Cooke told Newsarama:

The special will be a special in that old school way. It will have a small connecting story and the conceit is that these are untold events that the government classified back in the early sixties. There are three stories in the special. The main story is something I call Chapter X, and it is the story behind the big Batman/Superman fight hoax referred to in New Frontier. In the book we only deal with that event as a squib in a magazine article along with on shot of them brawling. This 22 page story will tell about what leads up to the two fighting, and how they choose to resolve it. A host of our Frontier cast are in this story, from King Faraday and the Suicide Squad through to Wonder Woman and Hourman. We also get to meet the New Frontier Alfred .... J. Bone and I are tackling Wonder Woman, Black Canary and old school chauvinism in an New Frontier parody along the lines of the old Kurtzman/Wood Mad satires. The director of the NFDVD is a talented young man named David Bullock. He and I are tackling a short that features Robin and Kid Flash up against Red saboteurs.

An animated adaptation of one of the best comic stories in years, and now a comic follow-up. Comics CAN still be good! For more inforamtion on DC's New Frontier-related offerings, click here.

Justice League: New Frontier will premiere at the WonderCon in San Francisco on Feburary 22-24, and arrive in stories on Feburary 26. The New Frontier comic special hits shops on March 5.

New trailer for Justice League: The New Frontier

Beatles Remastered "Help!" hits this week

Apparently it didn't come out last week like it was supposed to, but the remastred Help! hits DVD this week. Director Richard Lester notes the direction they decided on for the new film - and why:

"We didn't want to repeat A Hard Day's Night. The next logical step would have been to show them in their real lives. But by that point their real lives were X-rated, or what would have been considered X-rated at that time. So the only thing left was to have them become the passive recipients of an outside threat."

The merits of the story can be debated, but the quality of the music of the film cannot. With the enhanced audio of this release, Help is indeed on the way.

Diane, I’m Holding in My Hand a Small Box of Chocolate Bunnies

This week, I bought Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition, the DVD collection that includes the entire 1990-91 David Lynch series, including all 29 episodes, the pilot and the international movie version of the pilot, as well as several special features.

Simply stated, this is one of the best DVD purchases I have ever made. I don’t often feel the need to buy TV series on DVD, but this is one of the few exceptions that justified the price. I loved Twin Peaks when it first aired in 1990, stuck with it when it went off track for several episodes and lamented when its brilliant series finale would have no follow-up. It’s influence on TV can still be felt today on shows like Lost and Heroes.

The complete series has been previously released on VHS, and recently the first and second seasons have been released on DVD, but this is the first set to include both versions of the pilot and the new extras that make this set worth buying.

Having just purchased it, I haven’t had a chance to watch all 10 discs yet, but what I have seen so far is reason enough to highly recommend this set. I watched all of Disc 1, which is both versions of the pilot. The DVD gives you the option of watching either version, or just watching the alternate ending of the international version, since ¾ths of the movie is the same. Much of the footage of the international version ending shows up in episode 2 of the series.

I also watched Disc 10, which is where most of the special features can be found. First up is "A Slice of Lynch," a recent conversation with Lynch and Kyle MacLachlan (FBI special Agent Dale Cooper), Madchen Amick (Shelly Johnson) and production associate John Wentworth. This is the only extra that includes Lynch, and its very enjoyable, and well worth watching, as they discuss their own personal memories and demonstrate their ongoing affection for the show and each other. And may I add, Madchen Amick, more than 15 years later, is still hot.

Other features discuss the pilot, the first season, the music of the show and the second season. together nearly two hours of behind-scenes fascinating info about the show. Mark Frost tells most of the tale, aided by writers, directors and cast members (Sheryl Lee, who played Laura Palmer and cousin Maddie, also still hot). The music section is highlighted by distinctive composer Angelo Badalamenti, discussing how he created he music of the series while he plays it on camera. He shares an awesome anecdote about Paul McCartney that basically captures the coolness of it all. Singer Julee Cruise talks about working with Lynch and Badalamenti. A video for her song, "Falling" from the show is included among the extras as well.

While all of the documentaries are worth watching, particularly fascinating is the section on Season 2, where the show lost its way. Pressured by ABC to solve the mystery of "who killed Laura Palmer" early on, the show floundered for several episodes as creators Lynch and Frost focused on other projects and outside writers and directors took the show in directions that focused on weirdness for weirdness sake vs., superior storytelling with a Lynchian touch. Schedule shuffling and Gulf War pre-emptions also affected the show’s ratings, dooming the show that had once been the highlight of the ABC schedule. Lynch and Frost returned to get the series back on track for the final episodes of the season, but the damage had been done. Despite a compelling Season 2 cliffhanger finale, there would be no third season, and Twin Peaks ended, precious potential wasted.

As a fan, I also admit Season 2 went horribly wrong, starting off by solving the murder of Laura Palmer (the behind scenes take on this revelation is fascinating to watch, particularly regarding the actor involved). Lynch and Frost knew from the beginning who the murderer was, but none of the cast did – and they even shot alternate scenes with suspects to keep them guessing. The Windom Earl arc that concluded the series was at least as compelling as the Laura Palmer mystery, but by then it was too late. Too much extraneous silliness had derailed the series, trying the patience of even the most die-hard fan (myself included).

After watching just about all of the special features of Disc 10 (don’t miss the Saturday Night Live sketches with Kyle MacLachlan – hilariously spot on), I began watching the series itself, anxious to revisit the series after watching all of the discussions about it. In addition to the pilot, I have seen the first 2 episodes, and am a fan all over again. What stands out for me this time around is how Michael Ontkean as Sheriff Harry S. Truman anchors the series. He is us, fascinated, supportive and confused by Agent Cooper, as he takes the weirdness that this murder has brought to his town completely in stride. In the second episode, he tells Cooper that he may have to take up medicine because he feels like Dr. Watson. A perfect comparison, even as he sells himself short. Cooper could never get through this mystery on his own. Truman is his anchor, and together they navigate the mysteries they uncover, finding just as many questions as they do answers. Re-focus on Truman as the main character and the show is fascinating in a completely different way.

A great collection for a great show. Do yourself a favor and re-acquaint yourself with the series and the story behind its rise and fall.

Star Trek: The Next Generation -- Complete Series on DVD

Hey, it's only $440. Make it so!

Superman/Doomsday review

Superman/Doomsday is the movie that Superman Returns should have been -- a movie that ignores all that went before and gives a completely fresh take, one complete with not one, but two, incredible Superman fight scenes -- yes he punches the bad guy! It’s violent, it’s funny, its dramatic, it’s romantic – exactly what every REAL superhero movie should have, something seen in live action recently only with X2, Batman Begins and the first two Spider-Man movies. This is the best feature-length Superman movie since Christopher Reeve first donned the cape in 1978.

Superman/Doomsday, the first of DC’s new animated direct-to-video projects based on actual comics’ storylines, hits stores this week, and man was I ready for it. I recently re-read the trilogy of trade paperbacks on which this was based, not that I needed a new re-read to familiarize myself with the biggest Superman story since his debut in 1938, but I wanted to get myself psyched for this animated adaptation. I was not disappointed in the re-read, and in fact like some parts of it even more. And I was certainly not disappointed in the new animated version.

There have been complaints about this movie, most before anyone had even seen it, so let’s get those out of the way. The complaints have been the following 1) it doesn’t follow the original comics’ storyline; 2) it doesn’t have the voice cast of the recent Superman/Justice League (Unlimited) animated series, and 3) what’s with the lines on Superman’s face. My responses are as follows: 1) so what? 2) it shouldn’t; and 3) who cares?

Seriously, there’s no way to get everything in from the original storyline and do you really want everything? I know what it really boils down to -- why didn’t it have the 4 pretender Supermen that appeared in Superman’s absence. While that would have been cool to see, it’s just too much for an animated feature, and I think their solution paid sufficient homage to that part of the original storyline, while not directly following it. There are plenty of other aspects of that story – Luthor’s appearance/status, the role of the JLA and Supergirl, that were a significant part of the comic story, but really had no place in this stand-alone movie.

The voice cast was different because this is a different version in a different world, one we haven’t seen before, one in which Superman is the only hero (hence no JLA); every character (except Superman and Doomsday) look completely different than how they were previously portrayed, and had different voices. It makes sense for this version. That leads to the complaint about the lines in Superman's face. Except for those pronounced cheekbones, Superman did look pretty much the way he did in the previous animated series, making the one addition to the look stand out more. If they had used a different model, that particular feature would not have stood out so much. A minor quibble for a Superman who’s supposed to have been around for awhile in this version. But Luthor, Lois, Perry, Jimmy and Ma Kent all looked and sounded different than their previous animated incarnations, as they should have.

Now the movie itself. No spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen it. It’s divided into three acts, just like the comics: Superman vs. Doomsday, world without a Superman; and Superman returns (is that a spoiler, I don’t think so, did you expect him to STAY dead?!) As I mentioned earlier, the first and third acts have tremendous fight scenes. Superman cutting loose like you’ve never seen before in any animated or live-action version. And boy, does the man like his heat vision. it’s rated PG-13, so there are a few things that might seem out of place in a Superman cartoon – bloody violence, implied sex, drinking and mild swearing, not to mention actual death. But, it’s handled well, nothing a kid wouldn’t see in any PG or PG-13 live-action movie.

There’s a different take on Luthor here, one that makes him more reptilian than we’ve seen previously, and the classic Lois/Superman/Clark triangle is handled extremely well here, in a way that doesn’t insult the intelligence of an investigative reporter confronted with a pair of glasses.

I started off this review by saying it ignores everything that happened previously, but that’s not completely true. There are a few visual touches that honor previous versions, like the robot from the 1940s Fleischer cartoons, the Brainiac head from the Superman animated series, as well as other little touches that evoke the movies, Smallville and the comics on which the story is based.

The movie’s not perfect, but if you want to see Superman cut loose, a truly evil Luthor and a mature look at the Superman/Lois relationship, you will like this. No fanboy nitpicking allowed.

The DVD includes a couple of cool special features worth mentioning – a 40+ minute documentary on the original storyline interviewing most of the original creators and a 10+ minute feature on the next DC animated DVD project, Justice League; The New Frontier, which includes more than what was previously seen online. There’s also a feature-length commentary, but I haven’t gotten to that yet. Both the comics documentary and The New Frontier featurette are very enjoyable and worth watching at least once, if you are at all interested in those things, which of course I am. As much as I enjoyed Superman/Doomsday, I am looking forward to The New Frontier even more.

I loved it. My complaints are so minor, they’re not even worth mentioning. I need to watch it again. Highly recommended!

Remastered Beatles' "Help!" due in October

From Billboard:

The Beatles' second film, 1965's Help!, will be released in a
double-DVD edition Oct. 30 via Apple Corps Ltd and EMI Music. The movie was released on DVD in 1997 and again in 2000, but has been off the market ever since due to rights issues.

The first disc of "Help!" boasts a digitally restored version of the film plus a new 5.1 audio soundtrack, with songs like "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket To Ride," "The Night Before," "Another Girl" and "You're Going To Lose That Girl." Disc two offers a 30-minute documentary about the making of the movie, a missing scene, a featurette on the restoration process, interviews with cast and crew, three theatrical trailers and vintage radio advertisements.

See the Beatles perform "You're Gonna Lose That Girl" from the film here.

Justice League: The New Frontier

As I wrote earlier, Superman/Doomsday, out Sept. 18 is the first in the new DVD line of DC animated movies. The second, due in spring 2008, is Justice League: The New Frontier, based on writer artist Darwyn Cooke's homage to the dawn of the Silver Age of comics in the late 1950s, The New Frontier. The comic is about the beginning of a new age of heroes that leads ot the formation of the Justice League of America.

Here's the preview of the film that was shown during the premiere of Superman/Doomsday at the San Diego Comic-Con.

Doomsday is coming

On Tuesday, September 18, the first of DC's new series of animated movie DVDs hits stores, Superman/Doomsday (see trailer at this link), based on the best-selling Death and Return of Superman storylines.

It debuted to great response at its San Diego Comic-Con premiere. Read an early review here.

And so, you don't forget when it comes out, check this out:

It Shall Be Mine!

Good Day for Mignola fans

Today, two animated projects based on the work of comics writer/artist Mike Mignola hit DVD:

• Hellboy: Sword of Storms, which first aired on Cartoon Network and features some of the voice cast from the Hellboy movie. A follow-up is in the works;

• The Amazing Screw-On Head, which first aired on Sci-Fi.

Mignola talks about e feels abotut the animated versions of his comics creations here.

Trailer for animated Iron Man

The direct-to-DVD animated movie The Invincible Iron Man, hits stores on January 23. It's from the same team that created the two Ultimate Avengers DVD movies, and stars the same voice actor playing Tony Stark/Iron Man.

Here's the trailer.