Wolverine, Star Trek setting blistering pre-sales pace
Information from Movietickets.com seems to indicate a lot of pre-release interest in the upcoming films “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and “Star Trek.”
As of Wednesday, MovieTickets.com is reporting that “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is currently outpacing ticket sales for “Iron Man” 3-to-1 at the same point in the sales cycle (nine days prior to the film’s release).
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” releases Friday, May 1, 2009. “Iron Man” released in 2008 on Friday, May 2.
“Star Trek” is moving at even a faster pace. Despite releasing a week later, “Star Trek” has already sold 25% more advance tickets at MovieTickets.com than “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
- Matt Price
Retro Thursday: Turmoil abounds in The Resistance
Since “The Resistance,” written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, was just released as a graphic novel by IDW, I thought I’d reprint my 2002 column talking about the series, first released by WildStorm.
—
In New York in 2280, unlicensed births are illegal, the city is in turmoil, and a civil war is being covered up by the government. This is the world of “The Resistance,” a new WildStorm title written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.
The artist on the book is Juan Santacruz.
Most of New York is covered in water, and skyscrapers leap 500 stories into the air.
In “The Resistance,” a disaster in 2030 caused nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s plants to die, leading to an ecological imbalance.
Species of animals are extinct. Oxygen production declined and brought about the need for artificial respiration farms. These vast factories manufacture breathable air for a dying world.
One hundred years of food riots, famine, war and chaos followed.
As “The Resistance” begins, the year is 2280. Food is Earth’s most precious commodity, and the planet is under the watchful eye of the Global Control Commission.
Since humanity does not have enough food to support itself, only those capable of financially supporting children and contributing to the global economy are allowed to reproduce.
Unauthorized free-births began calling themselves Strayz as they had strayed from the commission’s view of what was good for humanity.
These Strayz, born with a death sentence, formed small cells of Resistance fighters. They seek the overthrow of the commission and the exposure of the greatest conspiracy in human history.
“The Resistance” has the feel of a sci-fi blockbuster, Gray said on www.dccomics.com, the Web site of DC Comics, of which WildStorm is an imprint.
“‘The Resistance’ is meant to be fun – a big summer popcorn movie. So, if you want to kick back and be taken to another world, then ‘ Resistance’ is your kind of book.”
“The Resistance” is a fast-paced thriller with high-speed action and constantly shifting alliances and plans.
Palmiotti said in “The Resistance,” he and Gray are able to test the boundaries.
“In ‘ Resistance,’ we get to go crazy, open up our minds and blow off steam. We can do all sorts of extreme action sequences, poke fun at the world and work outside of reality. ‘ Resistance’ is like going to the amusement park with a free pass to all the rides.”
“The Resistance” bears some similarities to a superhero team, with a rotating cast of members.
Some members of ‘The Resistance’ will be rotating here and there, some will be shot and killed, and some will go through changes,” Palmiotti said at dccomics.com. “At its core, we follow four basic characters and a few supporting ones, as well. Think ‘X-Men’ without the mutant capabilities, blasting their way out of every situation, having to be smarter and more resourceful than everyone around them.”
- By Matthew Price
From The Oklahoman, Nov. 15, 2002
Wolverine Wednesday: Wolverine miniseries
Wolverine, by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller
One of my favorite Wolverine stories is the four-issue miniseries in which Claremont and Miller explored the character of Wolverine more concretely than anyone before.
Wolverine’s girlfriend Mariko is coerced into marrying a boor of a businessman by her father, seeking more power for his clan. Her husband beats her; Wolverine wants to retaliate, but doesn’t at Mariko’s request. He does, however, find himself ambushed by Shingen, Mariko’s father, and very nearly killed. The warrior Yukio nurses Wolverine back to health, but also harbors a dark secret.
Wolverine’s battle between his animal nature and his honor drive this tale, which is probably both the best-written and best-drawn Wolverine story. It’s available now as a premiere hardcover from Marvel.
- Matt Price
Movie review: Earth
A polar bear puts its paws up against a window in "Earth." BBC WORLDWIDE PHOTO
The first documentary from Disney’s Disneynature imprint follows three animal families as they cross the globe seeking food and safety.
Titled “Earth,” the documentary is ostensibly a year in the life of planet Earth. With spectacular vistas and panoramic views, the film delivers. But the focus is on specific animals facing threats – a polar bear family facing a shrinking ice cap, an elephant and her calf seeking water, and a humpback whale and its calf migrating 4,000 miles seeking food.
The film was made by the same filmmakers who made the Discovery Channel “Planet Earth” miniseries, and viewers will notice some footage has been recycled from that miniseries. Still, its big-screen presentation offers a new perspective.
James Earl Jones narrates the tale, and keeps audiences engaged, though nothing in the script is as magnificent as the images on the screen.
For a G-rated film, it’s unflinching – not all of the film’s “stars” survive, and predator facing off with prey is presented in a straightforward fashion. The film does, thankfully, cut away from what would be more gruesome moments.
There’s perhaps more anthropomorphizing than you’d get in a standard nature documentary – using the terms “dad” and “mom” for animal parents, for example – but for the most part the filmmakers are simply showing nature as it is. Viewers will be caught up in the stories of these animals while growing to appreciate the world in which they live.
While there’s not that much new in “Earth,” it is a stunning film to look at, with eye-catching photography throughout. The ecological message is present but not heavy-handed, and could serve as a way to begin a dialogue with younger viewers about the Earth and its denizens.
- Matthew Price
MOVIE REVIEW
“Earth”
G - 1:36 - 3 stars
Directors: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield.
LEGO, Rock Band to join forces
According to a press release from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, two popular video game franchises will merge to form “LEGO Rock Band.”
The game is currently in development by TT Games in partnership with Harmonix, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Gamers will be able to create their own LEGO Rock Band style, customizing their minifigure avatars, band and entourage, including roadies, managers and crew. LEGO Rock Band will support Rock Band instruments, as well as other music game controllers.
Songs will include:
Blur: “Song 2″
Carl Douglas: “Kung Fu Fighting”
Europe: “The Final Countdown”
Good Charlotte: “Boys and Girls”
Pink: “So What”
- Matt Price
Modern sexual thriller has Ali Larter “Obsessed”
Ali Larter plays a temp who gets between a man and wife in “Obsessed,” a modern take on sexual thrillers that will open in theaters Friday.
In a recent phone interview with The Oklahoman, Larter said she really likes watching this type of movie, and it was even more exciting to take on the role.
“I love getting to play these women, these kind of irrational, complex, delusional characters,” Larter said. “They’re so much fun to sink your teeth into.”
Larter co-stars with Idris Elba (“The Office”) and Beyonce Knowles (“Dreamgirls”). They play Derek and Sharon Charles, a married couple who Larter’s character, Lisa Sheridan, attempts to come between.
“This movie is colorblind,” Larter said. “Not once is race mentioned. We’re trying to do a modern take on this genre, and that’s part of it. Also, we’re taking it, and we’re putting it into the office situation. This is an imaginary office romance that has disastrous consequences.”
Larter said the film also looks at how changing technology has changed office relationships and romances.
“We’re now in this modern age of technology where you can e-mail, you can i-chat, and at what level do you cross the line?” Larter asked. “You can have a different level of intimacy with people at the office that you’ve never had before. So … you’d like to tap into that fear that people may be feeling.”
Larter’s no stranger to fisticuffs, having thrown down on “Heroes” and in the “Resident Evil” film franchise. In this movie, she gets to battle with Knowles.
“That was one of the draws to it,” Larter said. “We didn’t want to fall into cliche catfights, which is like scratching and pulling each others’ hair, but we wanted to get into it and have fun! … I always end up getting into some kind of spat in the roles that I play. The roles that I’ve gotten to play, sometimes they get physical, and I try to have fun in whatever I do.”
- by Matthew Price
From Tuesday’s The Oklahoman
Want to help Len Wein?
“Wolverine” co-creator Len Wein recently lost his home in a fire. While he is fortunately fine, he lost most of his belongings in the fire. Mark Evanier is spearheading a drive to help Len Wein re-create his files of comic books that Wein created.
More info, from http://www.povonline.com/weinproject.htm
On April 6, 2009, a fire destroyed most of the home he was sharing with his wife Chris and their son Michael. As Len tells us, Chris was out when it happened. The men were home and asleep. He awoke to find the world in flames around him and he managed to get himself out and to save Michael, as well. Sadly, their beloved dog Sheba perished that day.
So did Len’s collection of books and toys and games and artwork and those things we accumulate that help define and enrich our lives. You have stuff. He had stuff. Insurance will fix the house but many things, including his comics, were not covered. Some of us thought it would be grand if his friends and fans pitched in to help him recreate those shelves of the comic books he’s worked on.
Here’s the plan: We’ve compiled a list of the comics Len needs to reacquire. We’re updating it from time to time as comics are pledged or received. You can view or download it from the link at the top of this page.
If you have some comics for the well-regarded creator, there’s even more info on how to help at the site.
It’s Captain America week at Marvel.com
Marvel.com has announced it is “Captain America Week” at the web site, and art debuts and creator interviews are scheduled.
Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and writer Ed Brubaker go in depth about what’s next for the Sentinel of Liberty at http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.7688
Noted in the story is that classic Marvel artist Gene Colan joins Brubaker for issue #601 of “Captain America.” That’s certainly good news for longtime Cap fans!
- Matt Price
Entertainment Insider: 17 Again, Festival of the Arts, Norman Music Festival
The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett, George Lang, Matt Price and Heather Warlick-Moore talk about the OKC arts festival, the Norman Music Festival and Zac Efron’s “17 Again.”
Godfather 2 still tops GameFly list; Wolverine gaining
The following are the GameFly Top 10 Lists for the week ending April 20, 2009. The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choices from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles. Source: www.gamefly.com.
“Godfather 2″ and “Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena” maintain their 1-2 positions on the chart. Coming up strong is “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” in the No. 3 position.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1 Godfather 2 PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Electronic Arts
2 Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Atari
3 X-Men Origins: Wolverine PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2 Action Adventure Activision
4 Wheelman PS3, Xbox 360 Racing Ubisoft
5 Ninja Blade Xbox 360 Fighting Microsoft
6 Resident Evil 5 PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Capcom
7 Wanted: Weapons of Fate PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter WB Games
8 Halo Wars Xbox 360 Strategy/Sim Microsoft
9 Prototype PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
10 Left 4 Dead Xbox 360 Shooter Electronic Arts
More top 10 lists after the break.
(more…)
