So yeah…this is actually happening. Stan Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger are working on an animated Governator television series as well as a comic book! After watching this trailer/test footage looking video I can’t help but express complete astonishment. It’s really one of those things you have to experience for yourself.

Play Along: How many summer blockbuster movie references are there? I counted Iron Man, Transformers, Terminator, The Dark Knight, and The Matrix

-Reid Ackerman

I originally posted this around this time last year, but since I’m going to be bringing this article series back (and actually write more of them), I thought I’d repost it for anyone who didn’t get a chance to read it the first time around. I’ve also updated some things a bit where they were outdated. Enjoy!

If I Ran Hollywood… is a series of articles in which I take on the role of Producer and not only cast an adaptation of my favorite comic/geek-related properties, but also choose a director, and write out a rough outline of what I think the story should be. Of course I know that even in a perfect world the odds of the stars aligning for any of my “dream projects” to come to fruition are slim to none, making this less “If I Ran Hollywood…” and more “If I Ruled Hollywood With An Iron Fist Of Doom…”, but I digress.

Reboots seem to be all the rage in Hollywood at the moment, so for my first outing I’m going to take a swing at one of my favorite Marvel Comics characters, Daredevil. The 2003 film (from writer/director Mark Steven Johnson) was, in my opinion, one of the biggest disappointments to come out of this new age of comic book movies. Some will without a doubt argue that the Director’s Cut was vastly improved, but I would argue that while I agree it was better, it still wasn’t necessarily good, and it still wasn’t what I want from a Daredevil film.

Daredevil is a character that, if done right, could easily be one of the more accessible superheroes for mainstream audiences. I think that if The Dark Knight did anything, it proved that audiences are extremely interested in street level heroes. Daredevil is definitely at his best when he’s taking down Hell’s Kitchen’s organized criminal element, rather than groups like The Hand who work just fine in the funnybooks, but I just don’t think they’re as easy to swallow on film. Plus, while he technically has superpowers, they don’t have to be a focus at all and can be kept purposefully vague. The fact that Matt Murdock is a blind superhero who has the power to kinda sorta see, isn’t what makes the character interesting. Instead, the focus should be on his inner battle with trying to keep his faith in the the court system, but ultimately wanting justice whether it comes from the sound of a judge’s gavel or at the hands of his vigilante alter-ego. At the end of the day, Daredevil should be a crime story. Period.

THE DIRECTOR

My first instinct for the director’s chair would be Martin Scorcese. Between the mob stuff and the boxing stuff (Battlin’ Jack Murdock flashbacks), he seems like a perfect choice, and it goes without saying he has the talent. But since I didn’t cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Matt Murdock (even though that wouldn’t be the end of the world by any stretch), lets just assume Scorcese wouldn’t be available. He’s almost so perfect it takes out a bit of the fun. So with that in mind, my pick for the filmmaker to bring Daredevil to the big screen would be…

David Fincher (The Social Network, Fight Club, and Seven)

It wasn’t long ago that the director of Fight Club was on the short list for Spider-Man’s theatrical debut (a job that eventually went to Sam Raimi), and while I don’t think that would have necessarily been a good fit, I think Fincher’s gothic-noir style would be great to bring dirty, gritty life to Daredevil. Plus, what’s a hero without a hometown to protect? I can already picture Fincher’s Hell’s Kitchen in all its glory, and I can get why Matt Murdock would feel the need to throw on red tights, grab a billy club, and do whatever it took to protect it from it’s more unsavory elements.

Daredevil isn’t all rooftops and back alleys, however, so he’d have to be able to make the courtroom drama just as exciting as The Man Without Fear’s nightlife exploits. Matt Murdock is a lawyer at the end of the day, and all the best Daredevil stories found a perfect balance between court cases and pounding faces (Yeah, I rhymed. What of it?). But after his work on The Social Network, Fincher proved that he can make a court case just as compelling as his action, and that’s exactly the kind of tight rope act the director of Daredevil needs to be able to pull of.

THE CAST

Matt Murdock aka Daredevil – Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica and Law&Order: UK)

Every once in a while an actor or actress comes along that is absolutely born to play a particular role. For Daredevil, I believe that actor is Jamie Bamber. Anyone who has seen him as Lee Adama on Battlestar Galactica knows he can already run the gamut from action hero to legal defender through the course of the series. He’s a capable actor who I believe could bring a level of believability and respectability back to the character of Matt Murdock. Its important the audience sympathizes with Matt, and Affleck just couldn’t do it for me (now rather that was Affleck or the script is another story entirely… but regardless, it didn’t work). Daredevil doesn’t kill, that the Punisher’s MO. That was a huge mistake the first film made because I can’t genuinely like a character that is a murderer. At the end of the day, Matt needs to believe in the justice system, not take it into his own hands. That just makes me Judge Dredd, not Daredevil. Many fans have made exclamations of Michael C. Hall (Dexter) or Misha Collins (Supernatural) for the role, and while I genuinely like both actors, I just don’t see either of them as a great Daredevil. For my money, Bamber is pitch perfect.

Franklin “Foggy” Nelson – Patton Oswalt (Big Fan and The King of Queens)

The strongest part of 2003’s Daredevil was easily Jon Favreau as Foggy, so it is unfortunate that in order for a clean break from the ham and cheese of the original film, we really need to recast everyone. Of course, I’m pretty sure Favreau is far too busy counting his Iron Man money to be upset about missing out on playing Foggy Nelson again, so no worries. This brings us to Patton Oswalt, who really has the perfect personality to pull off the character. Foggy is Matt’s anchor to humanity and best friend. He has to be there to point out when/if Matt is taking his exploits as Daredevil too far, regardless of whether he wants to hear it or not. Beyond that, he should also be a subtle means of comic relief in an otherwise dark film. I think Oswalt has proven himself recently with his roles in Big Fan and even Dollhouse that he has the chops to pull off the role perfectly. And best of all? He’s one of us! Total comic book nerd who I truly believe, if a producer offered him the role, he’d never think twice. Besides, who wouldn’t want to be Patton Oswalt’s best friend? (rhetorical. seriously, don’t answer just so you can be “that guy”)

Karen Page – January Jones (Mad Men)

I know that Elektra seems to be the fan favorite for Matt’s love interest, but I gotta be honest, I never really got it. While I can understand the appeal of the a romance between two equals, there’s just something much more interesting about Matt trying to maintain a romantic relationship with someone who isn’t related to all that superhero business. For me, Karen Page was the love of Matt’s life and losing her was always much more tragic. Sure, it was sad when Elekra died, but they both knew it was a possibility because of the life they’ve chosen to lead. I think January Jones will be great to take the role of Karen Page from what most actresses would keep firmly in two-dimensions to a full, well-rounded character. She did the same for Betty Draper on Mad Men, a character who could easily have become a parody of a 60s housewife. Not to mention the simple fact that January’s Betty looks like Tim Sale’s Karen Page from Daredevil: Yellow come to life. As for the darker aspects of the character? I don’t care what continuity says, my Karen Page was never addicted to heroin nor a porn star, and I’m not remotely interested in her ever doing either.

Ben Urich – Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars)

I know that this isn’t a conventional choice as he doesn’t particularly resemble the character, but there’s just something about Enrico Colantoni (and especially his portrayal of Keith Mars) that just screams “Ben Urich” to me. When most people do fancasts (which I know is what this whole article essentially is) they seem to focus on outward appearance. This is how you see a TON of wrestlers cast as comic characters, or in the case of Ben Urich: David Caruso. I mean, not for nothing, but the character deserves better than that people… what did he ever do to you? For me, Ben Urich is the best investigative journalist in New York, but he’s not successful because he’s cursed with a moral code. Even though he has every reason in the world to print a story that could make him famous, he won’t do it if it could destroy the life of a good person. This is ultimately the dilemma he’s faced with when he figures out that the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen is also Daredevil. Urich is doomed to be down on his luck, and Colantoni is the first face that comes to mind.

Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin – Ray Winstone (The Departed and Indiana Jones 4)

Remember when I said people get too wrapped up in physical appearances when casting comic characters? Well, the Kingpin is no exception. The problem, of course, is that Wilson Fisk is a very recognizable character and there really isn’t anyone that fits the bill physically. No one is that big (and before you say it: No, Butterbean cannot play The Kingpin). I think that’s ultimately why the producers went with Michael Clark Duncan, he’s the losest thing they could get to the physical stature and presence needed to pull off the role as its presented in the funnybooks. But here’s the thing: It’s COMIC BOOKS. Its not supposed to be realistic, that why we read them. The Kingpin doesn’t exist, and the best thing you can do is cast someone who can play both respected business man and ruthless mob boss. If he can play the character larger than life, then he will BE larger than life. This brought me to Ray Winstone who has proven that he can play a gangster with ease, and I think his graduation to Kingpin would be a non-issue.

Leland Owlsley aka The Owl – Jack Nicholson (Lots of stuff. He’s Jack Nicholson!)

Leland Owlsley has been (mostly) portrayed as a bit of a joke. From inception, he was essentially a knock-off of another bird fixated villain from Gotham City. So in order to quell that comparison for the film, I thought it would be more interesting if The Owl had the “Kingpin of crime” title at the beginning of the film, eventually losing his role to his right hand man, Wilson Fisk. For the role of a cocky, been there done that Godfather-type, I personally feel that Jack Nicholson fits the role nicely. Plus, I really dig the idea of him being referred to as an “old bird”. He’d just need to play it straight and not try to ham it up like he did as the Joker (Which as long as nobody actually tells Jack that Daredevil is a comic book, he shouldn’t be wiser…).

Mary Walker aka Typhoid Mary – Angela Bettis (May and 2002’s Carrie)

Another character that I think would benefit from a bit of change would be Typhoid Mary. Her character could be super cheesy if done improperly, so the first change would be that Mary Walker is The Owl’s daughter. I know I know, cry sacrilege all you want, but at least hear me out. I see Mary as the daughter of a crime boss who is mousy and constantly talked down to and mistreated. Her “Typhoid” personality comes as a way of coping with a total lack of confidence, while her “Bloody” personality first arrives when she is nearly raped by one of her father’s henchmen. She’s broken for sure, and when I think broken, I think Angela Bettis. Her roles in May and Carrie are exactly what I’ve envision for Mary. She’s a talented actress who not only deserves the exposure, but would be able to believably play all three of Mary’s personalities.

Battlin’ Jack Murdock – Ray Liotta (Goodfellas and Narc)

Jack Murdock would only be in flashbacks of course, but its an important role nevertheless. I like Ray Liotta, and I think he’d be pretty believable as an aging boxer and father. Plus, he looks like he could be one half of Bamber… kind of.

THE PITCH

Movie 1

As the film opens, Daredevil has been around for a few months, just long enough to have become a nuisance to Leland Owlsley, the man running the biggest crime organization in Hell’s Kitchen. Wilson Fisk is his right hand man, mostly due to the fact that he is in a relationship with Owl’s daughter Mary, but Fisk is secretly leading a rival crime family. His plan is to eventually overpower and betray Owlsley and combine the two mobs of Hell’s Kitchen and setting himself up as the Kingpin of the whole shebang (SPOILER! He succeeds…).

Matt Murdock and Foggy have just opened their Nelson and Murdock legal firm after leaving the giant firm they had worked at since graduating law school. Needless to say they’re struggling, taking any case they can. They’re also very unorganized, their office still looking like they just moved in. Karen Page comes by looking for secretarial work, and they explain to her that as much as they want and desperately need a secretary, they just can’t afford it. Karen offers to work for free until they can pay her, she believes that she can improve their business just by keeping them organized and answering their phone. She begins working for them, and of course, her and Matt spark up a relationship much to Foggy’s chagrin who had called “dibs”.

Ben Urich is a reporter for the Daily Bugle. He has an assistant who he usually sticks with whatever stories he doesn’t want. His assistant, a wannabe reporter, keeps telling him that this Daredevil could be the story of his career, but Urich doesn’t buy it. Instead Urich writes a story about Leland Owlsley which he isn’t too happy about. Owl orders his men to teach Urich a lesson. They corner him in an alley and beat him up. Daredevil shows up and saves him. Suddenly, Urich doesn’t think a story about Hell’s Kitchen’s guardian would be too bad an idea. So he begins to investigate Daredevil, and try to figure out his identity.

Mary Walker, Leland Owlsely’s daughter, has had enough abuse (mental and physical) at her father’s hand, and Typhoid Mary is born. Typhoid Mary becomes a vigilante in her own right, going out at night and breaking up some of her father’s shady dealings. At first, Daredevil sees her as an ally, even teaming up with her a couple times. This changes however when one of Owl’s thugs attempts to rape Mary, and Bloody Mary is born. Bloody Mary brutally kills the thug, and goes out on patrol with Daredevil as Typhoid Mary. The two put a stop to a big drug exchange, but Mary doesn’t stop there. She begins slaughtering the men one by one. Daredevil stops her, but she gets away.

Through a bit of good detective work and crazyrandomhappenstance, Ben Urich discovers that the struggling blind lawyer, Matt Murdock, and Daredevil are one in the same. He struggles with the information because he know what would happen to Matt’s life if he wrote the story. He decides to meet with Matt and come clean. Matt thinks he wants money, but in reality, Urich just wants to thank him for everything he’s done for the city and for saving his life. Matt simply smiles and says “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”. They understand each other. Urich shreds the file he had on Daredevil, but his assistant takes the shredded paper.

With Bloody Mary on the loose, Fisk decides that the time is now to enact his takeover. He shows up with his gang to the Owl’s office for a showdown, but is surprised to find that Mary has beaten him there. The Owl is dead. Long live The Kingpin.

Daredevil finds Mary on a roof, covered in her father’s blood. She wants him to get her help. Just so happens that he knows a great lawyer that would be able to get her an insanity plea no problem if she turned herself in.

Urich’s assistant storms into the editor’s office of the Daily Bugle’s competitor and throws down a painstakingly taped together file that reads: Daredevil.

After the very public trial of Mary Walker, who is now in a mental hospital, business is booming at Nelson and Murdock. Karen gets her first paycheck (with back pay of course), and everything is awesome.

The film ends on a close up of a newspaper headline at a news stand: DAREDEVIL IS BLIND LAWYER FROM HELL’S KITCHEN

(NOTE: I did not bother casting anything from the next two films because they’re a lot more vague than my take on the first movie.)

Movie 2

This film will show the rise of Wilson Fisk as the “Kingpin of Crime”. As Daredevil, Matt will be trying his best to foil Fisk’s plans, but fails at every turn. His outting as Daredevil by the press is taking a tole on his personal life, both his new romance with Karen and his longtime friendship with Foggy. But through it all, the situation should make both relationships stronger. Kingpin hires the Enforcers to take out Daredevil, and fail several times. Eventually Kingpin comes up with a “better idea” and asks Matt to meet him. There he finds the bodies of the Enforcers and the police show up and find him. He’s been set-up. Daredevil escapes, but the police show up at his apartment and arrest him later. Before the trial, Ben Urich is trying to find out information on the murders and questions the morgue tech. The morgue guy mentions that all three men were killed exactly the same way: precise hit to a particular artery near the heart. Morgue tech – “The guy would have to be a perfect shot. Pop! Pop! Pop! Bullseye..”. Matt Murdock is found guilty and goes to prison.

Movie 3

Matt is in prison, but with the help of Urich and Foggy, tries to build a case to prove his innocence. Kingpin gets wind of Matt’s plans, and knowing that he will eventually succeed, rehires Bullseye after he used him off camera in the last film. Bullseye must commit a crime, get caught, convicted, and then kill Matt Murdock from within prison. Of course he fails to kill Matt, after a standoff between the two during a prison riot that Bullseye started as a distraction. Foggy and Urich prove Matt’s innocence and he is released. Everything is back to normal and Matt vows to put his Daredevil alter ego away for good so he can focus on his career and his relationship with Karen. But since nothing can be happy for Matt, Bullseye escapes and takes Karen hostage, demanding that Matt show up in costume to face him. They fight, Daredevil wins, but with his last bit of strength, Bullseye throws Daredevil’s billy club and hits Karen. She dies in his arms. While Matt grieves, Bullseye takes this opportunity to escape. Matt decides to go after the man responsible for all of this: Wilson Fisk. Foggy tries to stop him, it isn’t what Karen would have wanted, but Matt refuses to listen to reason. He fights his way into Fisk’s office. Fisk – “Are you here to kill me?” Daredevil – “No. I’m here to tell you that I’m not going away. Not now. Not ever.”. We then see Matt, Foggy, and Urich at Karen’s funeral. They ask Matt about what he’s going to do now, is he going to stop being Daredevil? Matt – “Before, I wouldn’t do what was needed to get justice. I didn’t want to put my loved ones in harm’s way. But now, I’ll never stop. I’m a Man Without Fear…”

So ends my Daredevil trilogy.

So ends my very first If I Ran Hollywood article! I really hope you guys liked this and will want to read more of them. I put a lot of research into these so I doubt I can get them done more than once a month, but as soon as I finish them, I’ll post it!

Scott Carelli is a podcaster and aspiring writer. Look for more of his articles coming soon to Geekshow Entertainment. Until then, you can follow him on Twitter.

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Back again with another commentary with John Pavlich on his Sofadogs site. This time with the sequel that many say surpasses the original (and I would wholeheartedly agree from a fun-factor), Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn. So cut off your hand,  strap on your chainsaw, and go to town on some deadites with us HERE!

Scott Carelli returns as the Sofa Dogs podcast continues its month-long tribute to classic Horror movies, in preparation for Halloween. In this episode, we follow up our previous commentary for The Evil Dead, with the “splatstick” sequel, Evil Dead 2. Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash, perpetually tormented by demonic spirits at a remote cabin in the woods.

Please join Scott and I as we discuss Sam Raimi’s love for a certain Oldsmobile, stop-motion animation, comically large jewelry and a famous soft drink that may be the key to this film’s success. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

I’m a little late with getting the word out on this one, but I figure better late then never right? Right? Well, once again I’ve joined John Pavlich for a commentary on his Sofadogs site, this time sitting down with Sam Raimi’s “ultimate experience in grueling terror”, The Evil Dead. We’ll also be covering the sequel later this month as well, but for now, pop in the DVD (or Blu-Ray) and listen along HERE!

As the podcast continues this month-long tribute to Halloween and the Horror genre, Scott Carelli joins in on a commentary for Sam Raimi’s feature directorial debut, The Evil Dead. In it, a group of college friends drive out to a remote cabin in the woods. Hoping to relax and enjoy some good times, they soon uncover an ancient book and an ominous tape recording that unwittingly unleashes some dark and deadly spirits. Demonic possessions and mutilating of flesh is the order of the day for most of the running time. Boasting inventive effects and camera techniques, it’s the American classic that would ignite the careers of Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi, forever changing the landscape of low budget, independent Horror cinema.

Please join Scott and I as we talk about building tension, sound editing, the charm of Campbell, the Criterion Company and the debates of taste and restraint in storytelling. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

Hey geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to make you aware of a commentary I did recently with John Pavlich for his Sofadogs site, this time for the John Landis classic, An American Werewolf in London. If things go well, it should be the first of many commentaries I’ll be a part of this month. So stay tuned. So grab your copy of the DVD (or Blu-ray, if that’s how you roll) and check out the commentary HERE!

For the entire month of October, the Sofa Dogs podcast will be paying tribute to some beloved Horror films! Scott Carelli joins the show to kick things off with the classic from John Landis, An American Werewolf in London. Two buddies are backpacking through the England countryside, when they’re attacked by a wild animal and one of the friends is brutally murdered. The lone survivor, David wakes up in a London hospital to visions of his dead friend urging him to kill himself, or he will become a werewolf!

Please join Scott and I as we discuss the werewolf genre, John Landis and the fascinating marriage between Horror and Comedy. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

By John Layman and Rob Guillory

From writer John Layman (Marvel Zombies vs. the Army of Darkness) and artist Rob Guillory (Popgun Anthology).

Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he’s a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn’t mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit, and why. He’s been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases.

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(Click the the image below for a preview of the ENTIRE FIRST ISSUE!!)

Hey geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you know that I had the opportunity to record a commentary for my favorite film of last year, (500) Days of Summer, with John Pavlich on his Sofadogs site. You can download it on iTunes, or listen to it HERE!

Returning to movie commentaries on the podcast, Scott Carelli joins me for a look at the 2009 film, (500) Days of Summer. Directed by Marc Webb (of My Chemical Romance music videos fame), the story concerns a young man who falls in love with a girl who doesn’t seem to feel the same way. Tom has feelings for Summer, but she tries to keep things casual. As we see the ins and outs of their relationship, Summer begins drifting away while Tom discovers who he truly is and what it means to be in love.

Please join Scott and I as we talk about mixed messages, running into your ex, commitment issues and the differences between friends and lovers. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

Hey geeks, Scott here.

The third and final part of my latest stint as co-host of Couch Surfing with John Pavlich is now available on his site Sofa Dogs. Go check out the episode HERE!

Sofa Dogs Podcast #183 – Couch Surfing Ep. 36c : Trifecta! (Part 3 of 3)

The conclusion to this massive, three-part episode is finally here! Scott Carelli chats about the Murmur Podcast and Watchmen on Blu-ray.

00:01:55 – John and Scott sing the praises of iFanboy, but express concern and disappointment for Murmur.com.

00:08:36 – In addition to a subjective drop in quality content, Murmur’s technical issues with the site itself are also discussed.

00:19:51 – Do Blu-ray discs really make your wallet cry? We say, “not so much”.

00:22:00 – John finally saw Watchmen. Specifically, the Director’s Cut on Blu-ray.

00:24:49 – John and Scott defend the casting of Malin Akerman as Laurie Jupiter.

00:30:58 – John drools over Watchmen’s technical achievements.

00:36:10 – A sex scene in a film that’s actually important to the story and characters! Also, Watchmen’s soundtrack is mentioned.

00:39:39 – John closes out the show by reading the first new iTunes review for the podcast in over a year. The best part? It’s a five-star write up.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Danny DeVito, Jed Whedon & The Willing, Garbage, Zero 7, Neil Patrick Harris & Matthew Morrison, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Heavens, Tyler Bates, Tears For Fears, Brian Eno, Tall Tree 6ft Man and I Monster.

A prequel to Edgar Wright’s live action film currently in theaters (GO SEE IT NOW!!), Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation shows a flashback to Scott’s High School years and his romance with future Sex Bob-omb drummer Kim Pine. It also features the character Lisa Miller,  my favorite character from the graphic novel series who was tragically left out of the film (though not without good reason). Enjoy the 4-minute short below:

By Bryan Lee O’Malley

Scott Pilgrim is 23 years old, lives in a cold, unnamed Canadian town, plays bass in a band called Sex Bob-Omb and has a very cute 17-year-old Chinese-Canadian girlfriend, Knives Chau. His “precious little life” is amiably unstructured, and he drifts, happily unemployed, between band practice and time spent with Knives. His relationship with Knives is chaste—walks, chats and hugs—although Knives is getting bigger ideas. “We haven’t even held hands,” Scott explains. “It’s just nice, you know.” But then he starts having dreams about Ramona Flowers, a mysterious, equally cute and perfectly legal hipster chick on Rollerblades who delivers books for Amazon.ca. Ramona is anything but simple, and O’Malley’s tale of adorable slackers in love is transformed into a wildly magically manga–kung fu fantasy adventure. We meet the first of Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends, Matthew Patel, who challenges Scott and his band to a supernatural martial arts duel right out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. O’Malley has crafted a delightfully hybrid comics love story. It’s an alt-lit, rock ‘n’ roll graphic novel with wonderful manga-influenced drawing and a comically mystical plot that manages to capture both the genuine intimacies and serial dishonesties of young love.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Vol. 2)

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Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness (Vol. 3)

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Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (Vol. 5)

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Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour (Vol. 6)

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Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you know that I once again had the opportunity to co-host on the latest episode of Couch Surfing with John Pavlich on his site Sofa Dogs. You can check out the episode HERE!

Sofa Dogs Podcast #181 – Couch Surfing Ep. 36a: Trifecta! (Part 1 of 3)

Scott Carelli stops by to partake in a chat about Possession, Mystery Team and My Bloody Valentine 3D. This episode is so massive, it had to be broken up into three sections!

The Mystery Team, Childish Bambino (Donald Glover), Michael Jackson, Andreas Alfredsson & Christian Sandquist & The Stiff Twins, Stars, Dario Marianelli, Jamin Winans, The Ting Tings, Kasabian, Kate Nash, Angels & Airwaves, A Perfect Circle, John Carpenter & Alan Howarth and Donovan.

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

I had the opportunity to guest host on the most recent episode of Couch Surfing for John Pavlich’s Sofa Dogs. You can check it out HERE!

Sofa Dogs Podcast #179 – Couch Surfing Ep. 35: Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

Scott Carelli returns to talk comics, get political and answer listener mail.

00:01:57 – We discuss the idea of smoking in bars, and those who would prefer shipping smokers off to a leper colony, and then setting the colony on fire.

00:14:29 – Common sense does not prevail, causing John to lose a friend in the Geek Community. Scott relates to the situation with a story about the polarizing power of writer, J. Michael Straczynski.

00:19:34 – Can you recognize something as bad and still like it, or vice versa? When does that become too personal?

00:31:25 – John makes a joking reference to Gore Verbinski’s American remake of The Ring. This results in discussion about the works of Ehren Kruger and the development of Scream 4.

00:34:32 – We cover the good, the bad and the ugly that is three seasons of AMC’s, Breaking Bad. We also show some love for Rian Johnson.

00:45:28 – Catching up on listener mail, our good friend Marshal talks the Ginger Snaps trilogy, Slither and The Descent.

00:55:43 – Longtime fan Brian sends in his first letter, discussing The Dark Knight’s snub from the Oscars, as well as some less than glowing opinions on the works of Joss Whedon. We share our favorite seasons and episodes of Angel, and talk about Joss making The Avengers.

01:11:57 – Hayden asks about John’s potential participation in the returning audio series, Geek By Night. Consulting the magic 8-ball, (SPOILER ALERT!) “Don’t count on it”.

01:15:53 – Jason closes out the emails and the show by thanking us for previously mentioning Spaced on Hulu.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

David Klein & Scott Schiaffo, The Dandy Warhols, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Solomon Burke & The Blind Boys Of Alabama, BoDeans, The House Of Love, Stockton, The Submarines, SoHo, TV On The Radio, Portishead, Star Ghost Dog, She Wants Revenge, Lush, Heavens, Say Hi To Your Mom, David Bowie and Faithless.

By Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra

This deluxe edition hardcover collects the first 10 issues of the award winning series by writer Brian K. Vaughan (Runaways, Lost) and Pia Guerra (Doctor Who: The Forgotten).

Yorick Brown is an escape artist; has a fabulous girlfriend who’s traveling in Australia; and possesses a genetic make-up that’s allowed him to survive a plague that killed every male being on the planet except for him and his pet monkey. Yorick is the last man on earth, and in the resulting chaos, he must find a way to help save the human race. At least that’s what the (now all-female) government thinks. Yorick would prefer to find his girlfriend, but it’s hard to get a flight halfway around the world when almost all the pilots and mechanics are gone.  Furthermore, the entire social fabric has gone to hell, with gun-wielding wives of Republican representatives insisting on getting their husbands’ seats and tribes of latter-day Amazons claiming males were meant to die. Meanwhile, who are the mysterious Israeli soldiers who seem so gratified by the situation, and why is Yorick’s sister so intent on joining the Amazons? With clean lines and muted colors, Guerra and Marz n invoke a frighteningly believable future; their vision of the surprise and horror to come is so beautifully ordinary, it’s entirely convincing-and addictive.

From In Stock Trades:

SRP: $29.99
IST price: $18.89
Discount: 37%

(Click the the image below for a PDF of the ENTIRE FIRST ISSUE!!)

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you know that I recorded yet another commentary with John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs. We finish up or discussion of the Scream trilogy with 2000’s Scream 3. Lots of stuff to talk about in this one, so make sure you check it out!

From Sofa Dogs:

The nineties ended, and so did the Scream franchise (until just now). Off the success of the previous entries, Dimension Films demanded a complete trilogy. Wes Craven and his cast were brought back yet again, with at least one key participant in a severely reduced capacity. Equally as important, original author Kevin Williamson was missing this time out, having been replaced by Ehren Kruger. The results were a mixed bag of rampant cameos, Hollywood in-jokes and some occasional thrills.

Sidney Prescott has changed her name and disappeared, now working as a crisis counselor by phone. Meanwhile, Stab 3 is steamrolling into production on a big movie set. Surprise, surprise, the cast members in said picture start getting themselves killed. Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley play Scooby-Doo on the studio back lot, discovering that the killer is leaving behind pictures of Sid’s Mother, forcing the young heroine out of hiding as she is continually haunted by her past.

Please join Scott Carelli and I as we discuss Directors-for-hire, arbitrary hallucinations and dream sequences, ridiculous, obvious red herrings and how Scream 3 plays more like one of the Stab movies than a legitimate entry into this once fresh and creative series. Hopefully, the upcoming fourth film will get things back on track. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

Hey Geeks. Scott here.

Just wanted to let you know that John and I got together to record another fan commentary, a follow-up to our last one, this time focusing on Scream 2. This is a lot of fun, so make sure you check it out here and let me know what you thought.

From Sofadogs:

Scream hit the cinemas during Christmas of 1996, and made Teen Slashers popular and profitable again. Barely a year later, the sequel was released, cementing Kevin Williamson as a hot ticket in both television and films dealing with American youth. Scream 2 takes place a couple of years after the events of the first film. Sidney Prescott is alive and well at a fancy college, and even has a strapping, new boyfriend. Unfortunately for Sid and her friends, more killings are happening, and she must continue to pay for the mysterious sins of her dead Mother.

Deputy Dewey and Gale Weathers are on the case! As the body count rises, our heroes try to find the culprit (or culprits), as well as the connection between Sidney and all this bloodshed. Please join Scott Carelli and I as we talk about the Young & Hot Hollywood of ‘97, some thin plot developments, character motivations and the great scene thievery of Timothy Olyphant and Laurie Metcalf. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you know that I recorded a fan commentary with John Pavlich of Sofadogs fame. This one is for a personal favorite, the 1996 modern classic, Scream. Check it out here and let me know what you think.

From Sofadogs:

Back in the mid-to-late 90s’, a young writer burst onto the scene with a big, self aware love letter to the slasher genre. Respected horror master Wes Craven signed on to direct and Scream was born, thus revitalizing and innovating the teen scare flick onward. In a quaint, sleepy town, a masked psycho is terrorizing the teens of Woodsboro.

Using horror films of old as a modus operandi, the killer rattles young victims by phone before brutally slaughtering them. Specifically, the mysterious “Ghostface” preys on innocent high schooler, Sidney Prescott, whose Mother was raped and murdered only a year prior. Is the past trauma connected to these new murders? Who’s the killer and why?

Please join Scott Carelli and I as we take a look back at one of the most iconic slasher films of our adolescence. In this commentary, we discuss Kevin Williamson’s writing style and characters, Wes Craven’s directorial choices and the state of the horror genre at the time. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

Neil Patrick Harris was recently interviewed by MTV and dropped some info on the sequel to 2008’s internet sensation Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. According to the star of the Joss Whedon masterminded webseries, the sequel (which was announced last year) could be a full length feature film to be released in theaters, rather than online.

Because it will be released to a wider audience, its been said that the film will somehow not rely on the original webseries. But what does that mean exactly? While you would just assume that the film would continue with Doctor Horrible’s recent induction into the Evil League of Evil, without making much of a reference to Penny or the story of the original; its been widely speculated that they may actually remake the webseries as either the first act of the film (via Evil Dead 2) or bulletpoints within flashback sequences (which I would prefer).

The question of budget is also raised. NPH stated that giving Doctor Horrible a studio backed $80 million budget would kind of defeat the purpose of the whole thing, so would it be independently financed by Whedon? I think a self-financed theatrical sequel could be a perfect fit with Paramount’s new microbudget program.

What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments section below!

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you all know that I had the pleasure of recording another co-hosting stint on Couch Surfing for John Pavlich’s Sofa Dogs a while back, and the first part of that episode has been posted. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out HERE!

Sofa Dogs Podcast #167 – Couch Surfing Ep. 33a: Critical Mass (Part 1 of 2)

Part one of this two-part episode finds John and Scott ranting and raving about everything from geek culture, to obsessive behavior, to the joys of Netflix Streaming.

00:03:35 – John feels that Whedonesque is not being realized to its fullest potential, and worries that he’s missing out on several news items, at the discretion of some questionable moderation. (UPDATE: The concerns of this issue have since died down considerably, making much of this rant more obsolete than before.)

00:24:11 – Yes, the rant was that long. This leads to another rant, one that’s been discussed before. The Cult of Whedon, and how in some cases, the more overzealous contributors can ruin it for other fans. There is also more talk about the ups and downs of Dollhouse.

00:37:24 – Scott and John share their thoughts on Seasons 1 and 2 of Felicia Day’s award-winning web series, The Guild. Spoilers abound, so beware. The idea of online gaming and the fantasy genre are also discussed.

00:50:57 – When writing creepy, stalker humor, how far is too far?

01:00:52 – Felicia Day has a Celebrity Music Playlist on Canadian iTunes, proving once again that Canada rocks!

01:04:24 – Scott checked out Big Fan through Netflix Watch Instantly. The Wrestler and Patton Oswalt’s star power are also mentioned.

01:15:32 – Scott also watched the off-the-wall “comedy”, Good Dick.

01:23:02 – Finally, Scott closes out the show by discussing the film, World’s Greatest Dad.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Kevin Smith, Vampire Weekend, The Submarines, L7, Black Sabbath, Air, Cassettes Won’t Listen, Stereophonics, Headlights, Joshua Radin, Paul Minor, David Guetta & Akon, Metric, The Smiths, Why?, FC Kahuna, Stars, U2, The Weepies, Hem, Belle & Sebastian, Grandaddy and Regina Spektor.

“There’s really no reason why these guys are not in SAG,” Aronofsky told Newsday. “They’re in front of a camera performing and doing stunts, and they should have that protection. They should have health insurance and they should be protected.”

Aronofsky came to this decision during the filming and promoting of The Wrestler and learned of the harsh, unpredictable professional lives that pro wrestlers have to deal with in order to make it in the business, including deals that exclude all pensions and health care.

What do you guys think? Whatever your personal opinions abut professional wrestling, do you think these guys should be considered members of the Screen Actors Guild? Isn’t what you see on WWE more of a live performance than a sporting event?

In an interview with IESB Evan Rachel Wood confirms that she has been cast as Mary Jane Watson in the forthcoming Spider-Man musical. Wood also confirms that rehearsals are set to start in June of 2009, for an opening in mid 2010.

Now the only question is who is going to play Peter Parker. It has long been rumored that Jim Sturgess, Wood’s Across the Universe co-star, is up for the role. In the interview Wood says that they are trying to convince him.

Already announced is that the music and lyrics are being written by Julie Taymor with Bono and the Edge of U2.

Amazon.com Video Games (Starting at 3am EST for most of these)

Animal Crossing City Folk w/ WiiSpeak bundle (Wii) – $39.95
Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway (Xbox 360/PS3) – $17.95
Dead Space (Xbox 360/PS3) – $29.95
Fallout 3 (Xbox 360/PS3) – $39.95 [Friday Only]
Fallout 3 (PC) – $29.95 [Friday Only]
Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360/PS3) – $49.95 [Friday Only]
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) – $14.95
Far Cry 2 (Xbox 360) – $49.95 [Friday Only]
Far Cry 2 (PC) – $29.95
Guild Wars Eye of the North (PC) – $9.95
Heavenly Sword (PS3) – $19.95
Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360) – $18.95
Left 4 Dead (PC) – $19.95
LEGO Batman (Xbox 360/Wii) – $29.95
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PS3) – $39.95
Pure (Xbox 360/PS3) – $29.95
Resident Evil 4 (Wii) – $9.95
Resistance: Fall Of Man (PS3) – $14.95
Soulcalibur IV (PS3) – $39.95 [Friday Only]
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) – $39.95
The Last Remnant (Xbox 360)- $39.95
Too Human (Xbox 360) – $19.95
Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii) – $29.95
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller – $29.95

Amazon Movies (From 5am to 2pm EST)

DVD New Releases Under $10, Blu-ray Hits Under $15, Entourage Seasons 1-3 at $9.99 Each

Walmart.com

Xbox 360 Thanksgiving Bundle – From $288

• Your choice of Xbox 360 console
• Additional wireless controller
• 1-yr Xbox LIVE Gold Subscription
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DeepDiscount.com

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Chosen Collection – $81.59

…adding more as I find them and get them typed up

In a move toward Hollywood’s second strike in a year, the Screen Actors Guild will seek a strike authorization from its 120,000 members.

“Our leadership was optimistic that federal mediation would help to move our negotiations forward, but despite the Guild’s extraordinary efforts to reach agreement, the mediation was adjourned shortly before 1:00 a.m. today,” SAG said. “Management continues to insist on terms we cannot responsibly accept on behalf of our members.”

The Alliance of Motion Pictures blasted back at SAG late Saturday morning by asserting the guild’s out of touch with the industry’s concerns and noting that it’s the only Hollywood union that hasn’t closed a master contract deal this year.

“Now, SAG is bizarrely asking its members to bail out the failed negotiating strategy with a strike vote – at a time of historic economic crisis,” the AMPTP said. “The tone deafness of SAG is stunning.”

SAG national exec director Doug Allen told Daily Variety that it’s the companies are out of step. “It’s ironic that they would use the word ‘tone deaf’ when they’ve been tone deaf when it comes to listening to the concerns of working actors,” he added.

No timetable’s been set for the authorization vote but SAG could be on strike on primetime and features as early as the Jan. 11 Golden Globes. SAG would need at leaset three weeks to conduct the strike authorization vote but it said Saturday it would launch a “full-scale education campaign” in support of a “yes” vote.

For SAG to strike, the authorization must receive support from 75% of members who vote on the referendum. SAG’s strategy of holding out for a better deal received backing of 87% of slightly over 10,000 members voting in a September postcard poll — which the AMPTP derided as meaningless — but it’s uncertain if SAG members would offer the same level of support amid a worsening economy.

SAG last struck in 2000, when it stayed out for six months against the ad industry.

SAG had sought the mediation on Oct. 19, rather than seeking a strike authorization at that point. SAG said Saturday that seeking a strike authorization is the only way it can force the companies to revise the terms of the deal.

“We have already made difficult decisions and sacrifices in an attempt to reach agreement,” the guild said. “Now it’s time for SAG members to stand united and empower the national negotiating committee to bargain with the strength of a possible work stoppage behind them.”

The cratering of the SAG-AMPTP mediation comes a year after Gonzalez tried unsuccessfully to prevent the WGA strike. That work stoppage hit the TV business hard while studio features were largely unscathed due to having stockpiled plenty of scripts.

Should SAG strike, the studios will be somewhat more vulnerable since they have been planning to ramp up production at the start of next year.

As with the SAG negotiations during April through July, the key issue keeping both sides far apart during the mediation remained compensating actors for new-media work and re-use on the Web. SAG’s “threshold” issues — announced two months ago — include new-media jurisdiction for all productions, rather than the $15,000-per-minute budget threshold the majors propose; securing residual fees for made-for-Internet productions when those productions are reused on new-media platforms; and continuing force majeure protections for actors, which the majors have sought to eliminate.

For its part, the AMPTP’s contended repeatedly that it won’t change the final offer to SAG — issued June 30 as SAG’s master contract expired — and stressed that the offer’s terms are similar to those in this year’s deals with the WGA, DGA, AFTRA, IATSE and casting directors.

The AMPTP’s estimated that its three-year offer to SAG would result in $250 million in pay increases to thesps over the life of the deal. A calculator on its Web site said Saturday that SAG members have lost out on $33 million in pay gains since the expiration.

The collapse of talks comes on the heels of the companies reaching a three-year deal with IATSE three days ago. At that point, the AMPTP said that all six labor agreements would keep the industry at work, allow producers to experiment with new media, and give everyone in the industry a stake in the success of new and emerging markets.

SAG derided that assertion Saturday and pointed the WGA’s recent accusation — denied by the AMPTP — that the companies aren’t living up to terms of the WGA deal.

“We remain committed to avoiding a strike but now more than ever we cannot allow our employers to experiment with our careers,” the guild said. “The WGA has already learned that the new media terms they agreed to with the AMPTP are not being honored. We cannot allow our employers to undermine the futures of our members and their families.”

The final decision on striking would rest with the national board, where control shifted to a less assertive coalition in September elections and away from the more aggressive Membership First faction. The moderates campaigned during the summer on the platform that Membership First had bungled the negotiations by alienating AFTRA, which ratified its primetime deal in July.

From Variety

Personally, I’ve always cheered for the series to make it. It makes a very intricate story, which would be be played out visually. A movie would cut out far too much, so television would be the best way to go. The series is quite violent at times, with a healthy dose of sexual material, and political intrigue. So really, HBO is the best that the series can hope for. George tells the fans on his “Not a Blog” that the script for the pilot is “very faithful”.

Universal Studios Hollywood and Singapore will be launching a theme park attraction based on Michael Bay’s Transformers. Planned for an early 2011 debut, the ride will use High Definition 3D footage, along with practical special effects and robotics  that will “transform perceptions of theme park experiences”. The attraction will replace the former Backdraft special effects show and special effects stages in the lower lot. No word on if the storyline will tie into Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or a possible third Transformers film. All we know is that the ride will “place humans in the middle of a war between the Autobots and Decepticons”.

The official press release claims that Universal was collaborating with director Michael Bay on the attraction, but apparently Bay has yet to approve the concept. Michael Bay writes on his official website:

“They had me in a press release saying I supported it – but Universal has a long way to go in my mind. I don’t support it – I’m not involved and not sure the story of the ride works, and I know Optimus is not going to just show up to be directed by some new people that have never worked with him. I hate when people bullsh*t a quote from me that I never said. I’ll keep you informed. Maybe the guy making the rides at Universal will direct Transformers 3????“

He doesn’t sound very happy.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen comes to theaters June 26, 2009.

Well, big changes are in store for Black20, and net_work may be headed for bigger things.

The following video is a sort of “greatest hits” promotional reel that the Black20 crew have created to showcase net_work, as they try to get the series on TV.

Check it out (and pay extra attention to the stylish t-shirt being worn by Mike at 1:51):

Original directors Bond and choreographer Hinton Battle are lined up to co-direct the film version. Carmody says he hopes to shoot the film in the spring of next year in Toronto with some of the original cast. However, he adds, serious rights issues still need to be resolved.

Featuring songs such as “What the F**k Was That?” and “Do the Necronomicon”, the stage version also featured a blood-soaked front row section known as the “splatter zone”.

The 3-D version will provide similar results, without the mess.