In Contention

Tag: Comic-Con

  • Zack Snyder at odds with WB over ‘Watchmen’ running time

    Billy Crudup in WatchmenVariety’s Anne Thompson is hitting the turf as always, this time down in San Diego for the annual Comic-Con International.

    She snagged “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder for some quick dishing prior to today’s Warner Bros. panel in Hall H (probably the most anticipated panel of the weekend).  She pressed Snyder about running time concerns, content issues and what seems to be an ambivalence on the part of the studio to give this prestige product the breathing space it deserves.

    Here’s the bit about running time:

    Zack Snyder is currently battling with Warners over the ultimate running time of the movie, which is three hours. He’s trying to cut it down, but doesn’t want to lose a character like Hollis, [SPOILER OMITTED]. “”I’m not ready for that yet. If Dark Knight got two and a half hours, Watchmen should get fifteen minutes more,” he pleads. “I’m trying to be reasonable.”

    And on content concerns:

    But the studio still thinks Watchmen is too “too long, too sexy, and too violent,” says Snyder. For him, “that’s a reason to go. That’s the why. If you take that out you take out the why.” Otherwise it’ll just be another “watered down version of Watchmen, and then you might as well make another superhero movie. There’s a million characters out there you could do instead.”

    I think it has been rather clear from the start that Snyder has been aware of the importance of a project like this in the eyes of the fans.  I first crossed paths with him at last year’s Con, and the guy has a solid head on his shoulders.  He understands both the burden and the potential of the adaptation and, what’s more, he keeps a light skip in his step about it all.  He knows…he just seems to be saying, “Look, get out of my way and I’ll do this thing justice.”

    Anyway, it’s a really solid interview from Thompson.  There’s plenty to chew on, from costume designs on the film to the maturation of comic books.  Give it a read here.

  • This I like…

    San Diego Comic-ConIf you anticipate any sort of Comic-Con coverage fatigue in the next few days, I’d like to point you to our friends John Campea and Doug Nagy over at The Movie Blog.

    The boys say they’re going to be covering the festivities from an on-the-ground perspective, rather than flooding the readership with “boring Round Table interviews and that sort of stuff that every other website on the planet is going to be covering the exact same thing on.” Video journals, audio podcasts, plenty of images and video from the Con, etc.

    It’ll definitely be the first place I’ll be checking every day for news a views out of the festivities.

  • Comic-Con…here we go

    San Diego Comic-ConTomorrow night, the entertainment press will descend upon San Diego for preview night at this year’s annual Comic-Con International. My feelings on this glut-fest are well documented, but even with that in mind, there is simply little to pique my interest as a comic fan.

    Friday’s Warner Bros. panel may have some interesting additives for “Watchmen” (which already launched a trailer last week) and “Terminator: Salvation” (ditto).

    Lionsgate’s “Spirit” presentation can’t possibly offer much more than we’ve already seen in a blanket advertising campaign. And Frank Miller doesn’t exactly dig the festivities in any case.

    Fox’s Thursday presentation offers nothing worth a second glance (though I have an odd interest in “Max Payne”), while Saturday’s offering of a “Pineapple Express” panel is evidence of the Con’s loss of perspective. Not that I’m not interested in the film, mind you, but the studios sank their fangs into the demographic by pushing anything passably Con-worthy on the event years ago, increasingly sucking it dry of life. It all makes me sad.

    But there’s nothing wrong with a giant room full of comics and action figures, not to mention Lou Ferrigno peddling photos for $20 a pop!

    There will be a “Tropic Thunder” screening tomorrow night, while the aforementioned “Pineapple Express” will go before a few critics and journos as well. Be on the look-out for knee-jerk reactions.

    For me, the parties have become the only reason to bother with the convention in recent years. With that in mind, I’ll be heading down Saturday for the Wrath of Con shin-dig — the party of the week. Maybe I’ll corner David Goyer and settle this Two-Face thing once and for all.

  • ‘Watchmen’ series on iTunes

    Watchmen available on iTunes

    It looks like the “Watchmen” marketing plan is kicking into high gear. The trailer landed last week and is attached to prints of “The Dark Knight.” Meanwhile, the panel with Zack Snyder and company is one of the most anticipated Hall H gatherings of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

    Well now it looks like WB and Detective Comics have transferred the Alan Moore graphic novel to an animated endeavor, currently available on iTunes. The animation is really simple — just frames from the book set to motion — and it’s a great primer for anyone who hasn’t read “the ‘Citizen Kane’ of comic books” yet.

    And the first episode is FREE! Can’t beat that. Go check out your iTunes store now!

  • Miller on Comic-Con

    Variety’s Anne Thompson interviewed “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke and “The Spirit” helmer Frank Miller for her latest column in the build-up to this year’s San Diego Comic Convention.  But Miller pegged this overblown, over-infested blight when he offered:

    It’s now turned into Disneyland, a multimedia congress astonishing in its scale.

    No doubt.  And sad, too.

  • Favreau returns

    Jon FavreauSo according to Deadline Hollywood Daily, Jon Favreau is officially directing “Iron Man 2.”

    While I may not have been as gung-ho for “Iron Man” as most, I’m more than glad to see him come back. The first film, to me, felt like a good movie begging for a great sequel, and I think the same could be said of Favreau as a director. He’s been improving from picture to picture and I think “Iron Man 2” could be the moment where he really comes into his own as a filmmaker.

    With “Iron Man” currently the highest grossing film of the year (probably just for a few more days until “Crystal Skull” finally overtakes it) and Robert Downey Jr. undeniably becoming the A-lister we all knew he could (and should) be, it was simply ignorant of Marvel to think they could get away with anyone but Favreau in the director’s chair.

    I’m wondering when Marvel will start moving the pieces more definitively in place for the rest of the inevitable “Avengers” flick. Edgar Wright is the only confirmed director (for “Ant-Man,” which he’ll go into post-“Scott Pilgrim,” and which I’d guess Marvel will want to throw into “The Avengers” just for gluttony’s sake).  But for anything beyond “Iron Man 2,” I think we’ll be hearing announcements in the coming months, specifically at Comic-Con.

    On a side note, it looks like “The Incredible Hulk” will narrowly sneak past “Hulk” at the box office some time this month. I’m guessing that’s probably not good enough for another sequel

  • Things I care about at this year’s Comic-Con: part two

    Disney doesn’t seem to have a whole lot to offer at this year’s exhibition, though everyone will certainly be greatly anticipating any goodies from the upcoming Pixar effort “Up,” announced today as part of the proceedings.  From the press release:

    From the inventive storytellers that have taken you into the worlds of space, toys and superheroes, comes the extraordinary adventure that will take you to a lost world where anything can happen, and everything will. Meet director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) as he presents the first-ever look at Disney•Pixar’s new animated 3-D adventure comedy, UP in Hall H on Saturday, July 26th 3:00 – 3:30 PM.