Pop Culture Beast

Movie Trailer: Jennifer's Body

2009-07-15T11:15:00.001-07:00

Delightfully 80's looking. Diablo Cody is 2 for 2 for me so far with Juno and United States of Tara. Let's hope this is a threepeat.

Jennifer's Body hits theaters on September 18.

Tron Reboot Episode 2

2009-07-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

The hilarity continues! I really can't wait for more from these guys.

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

This review will be different. Everyone who knows me knows that I am extremely anti-spoilers. I hate them and I do my best not to be the source of them. That said, I can't really do this review without spoiling this movie. I won't be telling you what happens, but in order to accurately voice my frustration, I have to tell you something that doesn't. So the entirety of this review will be behind the Rawr!, click if you like. But bare in mind that you will learn what you WON'T be seeing in this movie.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth entry in the franchise and may just be the most anticipated film of the summer, if not the year. The film is finally here after a nine month delay. Was it worth the wait?

Well, Kind of.

The story revolves around Dumbledore tracking down elusive memories about the origins of Tom Riddle, the boy who would grow up to be Lord Voldemort. That, however, takes a backseat to the seemingly endless longing stares and snogging sessions between characters.

HP6 is more about the budding love lives of the characters than anything else.

Let me cover the positive before I get to the negative.

The film looks beautiful. It's a gorgeously shot film from beginning to end. It's visually stunning in every way you can think of. I know a lot of people were worried about David Yates handling of this series and he has done a stellar job so far.

The cast is marvelous as well. The kids just get better with each role, especially Emma Watson who has really grown as an actress from each film to the next. Rupert Grint is at his charming best but, as usual, there is not near enough of him. He seems to be delegated to the background, even when he is being prominantly featured. He is one of the best things about this franchise and it just seems like the producers don't know how to properly utilize him or his character. Odd, considering it's all right there in front of them in the books.

Other characters like Luna Lovegood, who is one of my favorites, and Neville Longbottom, are barely more than extras and completely wasted.

Another underused highlight is Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix Lestrange. She is delightfully evil in this part and she is barely used.

That seems to be the theme of the film really. Underusing some great characters and delivering a woefully underwhelming movie.

What we have is a beautifully shot, wonderfully acted film that is stunning to look at but in the end goes absolutely nowhere.

It's a slow boil to zero payoff. It felt like the movie was written only as a way to get to the big event of the movie (most of you know what that event is, however, I won't reveal it here). Nothing else happens. Not a thing worth mentioning. You get the feeling that what we are watching is going to lead up to something. People who read the book certainly know that something major is going to happen but it never does.

This movie has absolutely no climax.

This is the spoiler part I was referring to so skip ahead if you want.

In the book, we are witness to a major attack on Hogwarts. An epic battle where everyone is thrust into the war. Students and teachers alike are fighting to save the school. This gives so many people their shining moments. This shows that Dumbldore's Army is capable of fighting the Death Eaters and that Harry has tought them well. This is a HUGE moment in the book. It leads up to the major event.

This battle does NOT happen in the movie. There is no battle for Hogwarts. In fact, there is no battle whatsoever. The school is invaded by Death Eaters but they do nothing except break some glasses and witness said major event. There is absolutely NO point in them even being there.

The problem is this takes away a huge chunk of the emotional impact of the events that follow. Granted, the aftermath of this event is very emotional and touching, but it's just not as powerful as it should be.

That is the major flaw of this film. It lacks the power of the book. It's enjoyable enough but overall it just feels like a step towards the next film instead of a launching pad. We should be jumping out of our chairs with excitement for the next films. Instead, I just feel like shrugging my shoulders and I feel like it's only because this movie has not a shred of real excitement to it.

It has laughs and it has some tears. There are glimpses of greatness but it is nowhere near the film it should have been. In fact it is barely a glimmer what it could have been.

I really can't believe that J.K. Rowling approved the script this way and don't understand how Warner Bros. thought it was okay to release a movie with such a weak ending.

There is absolutely no pay off whatsoever and it's rather frustrating. Half-Blood Prince is a giant missed opportunity. What could have been the best film of the franchise, one that ends with an amazing sequence of events, the kind of jump out of your seat thrills, instead goes out with a whimper and leaves us kind of indifferent as to wanting more.

Should you see this movie? Absolutely. See it because you love the characters and the story (even though it's barely advanced in this film). It's not a bad film it's just a bit of a let down. Especially in terms of what they chose to omit.

This might go down for me as the biggest disappointment of the year.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is in theaters officially tomorrow, but, there are some showings starting tonight.

Comic-Con Schedule - Sunday!

2009-07-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

The last day of Comic-Con is usually pretty light on panels. It's mostly stuff for the kids, and for the most part that remains true this year. There are a few TV panels people may be interested in checking out though.

DAY FOUR Sunday, July 26:

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con in the 2000s
10:00-11:00 Kids' Graphic Novels
10:00-11:00 The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel
10:00-11:00 The Spectacular Spider-Man

10:00-11:00 Phineas & Ferb— Hey kids, whatcha doin’? Going to the Phineas and Ferb panel, that’s what! Creators Dan Povenmire (Family Guy) and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Rocko’s Modern Life) plus the voice of Phineas, Vincent Martella (Everybody Hates Chris) and other surprise guests from the show are on hand to tell you everything that’s happening behind the scenes of Disney Channel and Disney XD’s #1 animated series. You’ll get to see sneak peeks of new episodes, new songs, plus prizes, giveaways, and juggling chainsaws (okay, maybe not that last one). Room 6DE

10:00-11:00 Nick Jr. Presents: Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and Wonder Pets!— Calling all Nick Jr. fans! This is the screening for you with not one, but two never-before-seen episodes! First, catch a brand new Ni Hao, Kai-Lan as the gang heads to China on an eye-popping, jaw-dropping adventure full of exciting new experiences. Then watch the Wonder Pets! team as they go on a mission to rescue Ming-Ming from a pair of enchanted shoes! Room 7AB

10:00-5:00 San Diego International Children's Film Festival
10:00-11:00 How-To Session: Anson Jew

10:00-11:00 Dr. Who— Actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn, and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC America's Doctor Who—television's longest-running sci-fi series—with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

10:00-11:00 Christian Comics Meeting
10:00-11:00 Dynamic Anatomy: Manga Style!
10:00-11:00 BOOM!: The Muppet Show
10:30-11:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen

10:30-11:30 Smallville Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con favorite Smallville returns, as showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson join cast members Allison Mack (The Ant Bully), Erica Durance (House of the Dead), Cassidy Freeman (Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee), Justin Hartley (Gemini Division) and new series star Callum Blue (The Tudors), who will be playing the villainous Zod, to talk about the year ahead, answer fan questions and give an exclusive sneak peek at clips from season nine. Award-winning comic book writer, Emmy-nominated film and television writer/producer, and Smallville alum Jeph Loeb (Heroes) will moderate the session. From Tollin/Robbins Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Smallville will air Fridays at 8:00 PM this fall on The CW, premiering September 25. Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Hi Def August 25. Room 6BCF

10:30-11:30 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd—LIVE!
10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #13: Cold War Comics

11:00-12:00 Emily the Strange— Fiends, strangers, and oddballs, lend Emily your ears! She'll give them right back after this panel! Fans of underground icon Emily the Strange won't want to miss this eclectic panel featuring Emily creator Rob Reger, Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, artist Buzz Parker, and writer Jessica Gruner as they discuss what the future holds for Emily. Get a first look at the new Dark Horse comic series, the new series of Emily novels from HarperCollins, The Art of Emily book, an update on the progress of the Emily movie, and more! All attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a prize package including a complete library of Emily books from Dark Horse and other great stuff from Cosmic Debris! Room 2

11:00-12:30 Secret Origin of Good Readers
11:00-12:00 CMX: Bringing Manga to You!

11:00-12:00 Women of Marvel— One of the most talked about panels from last year is back! Forget Storm and She-Hulk, meet the real Ms. Marvels of the comic world! Women from every discipline in the creative process at Marvel will be on hand to talk about what it's like working as a woman in comics today and how you can join them. Say goodbye to the so-called "Boy's Club," these ladies are busting down the four-color ceiling! Guests include New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu (Dark Wolverine), Christina Strain (World War Hulk), Colleen Coover (Marvel Adventures), Sonia Oback (X-Force), Emily Warren (Secret Invasion), and more! Room 7AB

11:00-12:00 How-To Session: Charles Vess
11:00-12:00 How to Draw Star Wars for Kids
11:00-12:00 Keenspot
11:15-12:30 Cartoon Voices II

11:15-12:15 Nickelodeon Presents: SpongeBob, Fairly OddParents, and The Penguins of Madagascar— You won't want to miss this screening of your favorite Nickelodeon shows, including a never-before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, as Plankton tries yet again to bring down the Krusty Krab. Then be the first to watch Timmy and his fairies in a brand new Fairly OddParents episode. But wait, there's more! You'll also catch the gang from The Penguins of Madagascar on one of their latest adventures in the Central Park Zoo. Room 6DE

11:15-12:15 American Dad— Showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman and stars Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schall, and Dee Bradley Baker are back to regale the fans with an insider's look at how an episode of the hilarious Fox animated comedy is made, from table read to animatic to color. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind Comic-Con event. Ballroom 20

11:30-12:30 Newspaper Editorial Cartoonists
11:30-12:30 Spotlight on David Petersen
11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #14: Changing Identity of the Superhero

11:45-12:45 Supernatural Screening and Q&A— Supernatural stars Misha Collins (24) and Jim Beaver (Deadwood), creator/executive producer Eric Kripke (Boogeyman), and executive producers Ben Edlund (Angel) and Sera Gamble (Eyes) present an exclusive sneak peek at footage from the highly anticipated fifth season premiere of this thrill-ride series. They'll also answer questions and show a portion of the special features from the upcoming fourth season DVD release. Produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Supernatural airs Thursdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT on The CW, premiering September 10. Supernatural: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def September 1. Room 6BCF

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Bill Willingham
12:00-1:00 IDW: Making Old-School Comic Strips New Again
12:00-1:00 Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: World Premiere!
12:00-1:00 How-To Session: Benton Jew

12:00-2:00 Browncoats Fan Group Meeting— Fans of Firefly and Serenity are welcome to join the California Browncoats. Get the scoop on upcoming 'verse-related and 'verse-friendly events and products that you'll really love, learn about Waterkeeper Alliance, the charity the group is supporting this year. Drop by any time to join the fun and find out what the Browncoats are up to, but those arriving by 12:20 can enter to play Serenity Spin—put your 'verse-related trivia to the test to win shiny prizes! Room 24A

12:00-1:00 How to Draw Monsters
12:00-2:00 Asian Ball-Jointed Doll Collectors
12:30-1:30 Secret Origin of Good Readers Breakouts
12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam

12:30-2:30 Zoinks! Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins— Come join everyone's favorite Great Dane as Warner Premiere & Cartoon Network present Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins. The all-new, live-action/CGI film reveals the origins of the Mystery Inc. gang on their first mission together. Be the first to witness the film, then stay for a fun-filled panel featuring director Brian Levant (Beethoven, Snow Dogs), producer Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn, Skinwalkers), and the all-new live-action cast: Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson VP) as Fred, Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma, and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Also expected to attend is Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, who provides the voice of Scooby-Doo for Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins, which will premiere on Cartoon Network and be distributed by Warner Home Video in fall 2009. Room 6DE

12:30-1:30 25 Years of Usagi Yojimbo: Spotlight on Stan Sakai
12:30-1:00 Roadside Attractions: Mystery Team
12:45-1:45 Marvel: The Next Generation of Marvel Video Games: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Super Hero Squad, and Iron Man 2
1:00-2:00 Business of Cartoon Voices
1:00-2:00 It Was 30 Years Ago Today: The Kicks and Kitsch of the Year Sci-Fi Struck Back (or: It Was No 1982)

1:00-2:00 Ghost Whisperer Season Five: Everything New Is New Again— The cast and executive producers present an exclusive first look at video clips from the new season of Ghost Whisperer, along with hints and revelations about the game-changing addition of Melinda and Jim's new baby. Find out how the new character will bring new powers, new challenges, and new rules to the show, and how he will open doors to a whole new paranormal dimension—a dimension that will pit Melinda and her friends and family against entities darker and more dangerous than any she's ever faced, thrusting her into a battle between forces of good and evil, forces that she never knew existed. Featuring cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Christoph Sanders, Jamie Kennedy, and Camryn Manheim and executive producers Ian Sander, Kim Moses, and P. K. Simonds. Room 6BCF

1:00-2:00 comiXology
1:00-2:00 How-To Session: Scott Brick

1:00-1:30 Overture Pictures: Paper Heart— Despite professing a belief that she's incapable of love, comedian and actress Charlyne Yi finds herself falling for "Michael Cera," played by Michael Cera, in this intoxicating mix of documentary, improvisation, and romance. Charlyne Yi, producer/co-writer Nick Jasenovec, and co-star Jake Johnson will be onstage to show clips and pursue the ultimate question: Does true love really exist? Ballroom 20

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #15: Comics in Museums
1:00-2:00 Manga Art for Kids
1:30-2:30 Comics and Graphic Novels for All Ages

1:30-2:30 Master of Monsters— Author August Ragone (Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters) presents a visual tribute to Japan's "Master of Monsters," Eiji Tsuburaya, the man who created the analog special effects for Godzilla and invented the kaiju eiga (giant monster movie) genre. Much like Derek Meddings (Thunderbirds), Tsuburaya and his team build elaborate miniature city and landscapes, which were summarily destroyed in pyrotechnical conflagrations or by men in monster suits. See over a hundred rare, behind-the-scenes photographs from some of his major films, such as Rodan, The Mysterians, Mothra, and The War of the Gargantuas, all in one big presentation! Room 8

1:30-2:00 Image: Alien Trespass
2:00-3:00 Sunday Conversation with Dan DiDio
2:00-3:00 The Strand Prophecy
2:00-3:00 Art of Pixar's Cars
2:00-3:00 Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Panel and Q&A
2:00-3:00 Star Wars Trivia Game Show
2:00-3:00 How-To Session: Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
2:00-3:00 Kids Write!

2:00-3:00 Muggles, Wizards, Tentpoles, and Fans in the World of Harry Potter— Back for its second year! Panel members Leslie Combemale (ArtInsights Gallery, official/exclusive HP art supplier), Henry Jenkins (USC, author of Convergence Culture), Melissa Anelli (webmaster, The Leaky Cauldron, author of Harry: A History), Gwendolyn Grace (president emeritus, HP Educational Fanon), Lev Grossman (Time magazine book reviewer, author of The Magicians), and Heidi Tandy (webmaster, Fiction Alley) duel over the latest Harry Potter issues. With the release of Half-Blood Prince, what does the future look like for Harry Potter fandom? Moderated by Potter Headmaster Eric Bowling. Room 32AB

2:15-3:45 BBC America: Being Human/Torchwood— You won't want to miss these special back-to-back panels on Being Human and Torchwood! Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner appear on stage to give an inside look at BBC America's U.S. premier sci-fi drama about the lives of three twentysomethings and their secret double-lives—as a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost. Following that, Torchwood actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner, and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Ballroom 20

2:30-3:30 The Cultural Shift
2:30-5:00 Comic-Con 2009 Masquerade Playback
2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #16: The Culture of Popular Things: Ethnographic Examinations of Comic-Con 2009

2:45-3:45 Kamen Rider Dragon Knight— Meet the cast of TheCW4Kids new action-packed, monster-clobbering masked-heroes series Kamen Rider Dragon Knight. Stars Stephen Lunsford (Kit), Matt Mullins (Len), and Yvonne Arias (Maya) will answer all your Kamen Rider questions! Plus, fans will get to view never-before-seen footage from future KRDK episodes! Lucky attendees will get the chance to win prizes from Bandai's KRDK toy line and more! Room 6DE

3:00-4:00 Kids' Graphic Novels from Papercutz
3:00-4:00 Making Webcomics
3:00-4:00 Comic-Con Talkback
3:00-4:30 Starship Smackdown XIII: Ultimate Editiom
3:00-4:00 How to Toon: Kids Cartooning Class
3:00-4:00 Full-time Creative Work on a Part-time Schedule
3:15-4:15 Army of Two: The 40th Day: Bridging Video Games with Comics
3:30-4:30 Grandville and the Anthropomorphic Comic Tradition
3:30-4:30 501st Costuming: Dressing to Serve the Empire!

4:00-5:00 Buffy the Musical— Let's end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Fandom Charities Inc. and Whedonopolis.com present a screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More With Feeling" as Comic-Con 2009's big closing event! Many say this is the finest, funniest, most ingenious episode ever to come out of the Buffy-verse. But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! This episode was made for talkin'—back, that is—and singing and shouting and dancing in the aisles, with or without your dry cleaning! Audience participation: it isn't just for Rocky Horror and mob riots anymore. For more details on the screening visit www.whedonopolis.com, then show up for music, singing, surprises and dancing crazy! Ballroom 20

Comic-Con Schedule - Saturday!

2009-07-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

There have been changes made to Thursdays Schedule so have a look at that post here.

Here is the schedule for Saturday's programing!

DAY THREE: Saturday, July 25

10:00am-11:00am: "Chuck"
An exclusive retrospective highlight reel and discussion of the third season of the upcoming series. Ballroom 20

11:00am-12:00pm: "Lost"
Cast and crew appear to preview and discuss the final season. Hall H.

11:15am-12:00pm: "Family Guy"
A sneak peek at the animated comedy's Empire Strikes Back parody and discussion of the show's making. Ballroom 20.

1:30-2:30pm: "Extract"
Mike Judge previews his new film and discusses it with Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis and Kristen Wiig. Hall H.

2:45-3:45pm: "V"
A special screening of the pilot episode of the upcoming re-imagining of the groundbreaking miniseries. Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Morena Baccarin and Scott Wolf will talk about the show. Ballroom 20.

2:45-3:45pm: Sony Pictures
Footage from and Q&A sessions for "Zombieland" and "2012". Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Roland Emmerich appear on stage. Hall H.

3:15-4:15pm: "Heroes"
Exclusive First Look at "Redemption" and Q&A with Tim Kring and cast members. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront.

3:30-4:30pm: "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day"
Troy Duffy and the cast for a panel discussion about the new film and the world premiere of the trailer. Room 6DE.

4:00-5:00pm: "Fringe"
Anna Torv, Josh Jackson. John Noble, Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci appear to preview the second season and give a Q&A session. Ballroom 20.

4:00-5:00pm: "Iron Man 2"
Q&A panel with many of the cast and crew and a first screening of footage. Hall H.

5:15-6:45pm: Kevin Smith
The filmmaker's annual panel where he talks his new comedy "A Couple of Dicks". Hall H.

6:30-7:30pm: "Black Dynamite"
Q&A panel with Scott Sanders, Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Room 5AB.

7:30-10:00pm: Torchwood/Doctor Who Screenings
Screening of the final episode of "Torchwood: Children of Earth" and the 'Planet of the Dead' special of "Doctor Who". Room 6DE.

8:00-9:00pm: "Weeds"
Q&A and interview with series creator Jenji Kohan along with actors Hunter Parrish and Justin Kirk. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront.

8:30pm-12:15am: "Watchmen: Director's Cut" Screening
Zack Snyder and Jackie Earle Haley discuss the upcoming DVD release, Snyder will host a BD Live Community event—providing a real-time, in-person director's commentary for Comic-Con attendees. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will appear to promote the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" video game. Room 6BCF.

10:00pm-12:00am: "Give 'Em Hell Malone"
An exclusive early screening of the upcoming noir-action film with Thomas Jane and director Russell Mulcahy answering questions. Room 6DE.

Source

Movie Poster & Trailer: Brothers

2009-07-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Jim Sheridan (In America) brings us his latest film, Brothers, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, and Toby Maguire. The story revolves around a man who helps his brothers family cope after he goes missing, and is presumed dead, in Afghanistan.

Click the Rawr! for the trailer which is a rollercoaster in itself. I'm really looking forward to the film.

Brothers hits theaters on December 4.

Comic-Con Schedule - Friday!

2009-07-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the list for Friday's events for this years San Diego Comic-Con!

This years event runs from July 23 - July 26.

DAY TWO: Friday, July 24

An update to Thursday's schedule has moved the panel for the "Twilight" sequel up a few hours to 1:45pm, with Fox's "Avatar" taking place afterwards at 3pm.

10:00am-12:30pm: Warner Bros. Pictures
Footage and panels for "Where The Wild Things Are," "The Book of Eli," "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "The Box," "Jonah Hex" and "Sherlock Holmes". Hall H

10:30-11:30am: Coraline
Henry Selick & Neil Gaiman Q&A session about the upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release. Room 6A

10:30-11:30am: Stargate Universe
Cast and Crew Q&A session and footage from the upcoming spin-off series. Ballroom 20

11:30am-12:30pm: The Prisoner
Jim Caviezel, Jamie Campbell-Bower, Lennie James and crew do a Q&A session and an official sneak preview of the six-part mini-series remake of the classic 60's cult series.

12:45-2:15pm: Disney Animation
Footage and panels for "The Princess and the Frog," "Toy Story 3," "Ponyo," "Prep & Landing," and the 3D re-releases of "Toy Story 1 & 2" and "Beauty and the Beast". John Lasseter hosts the panel and legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki appears. Hall H.

1:45-2:45pm: Shorts
Robert Rodriguez sits down for a Q&A and talks his upcoming family film. Room 6DE

2:15-3:00pm: 24
Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Anil Kapoor and Katee Sackhoff along with the showrunners will do a panel and show a sneak peek at the Season 8 premiere episode. Ballroom 20

2:30-3:30pm: 9
Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov and Shane Acker will do a Q&A session and show footage from the animated fantasy epic. Hall H

3:45-5:00pm: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Footage and Q&A session for apocalyptic horror thriller "Legion" and alien invasion dark comedy/thriller "District 9". Paul Bettany, Peter Jackson, Tyrese Gibson, Adrianne Palicki, Neill Blomkamp and Doug Jones will be in attendance. Hall H.

4:00-5:15pm: Dollhouse
Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku do a no-holds-barred Q & A about the upcoming second season and screen the never-before-seen "Epitaph One" episode. Ballroom 20

4:45-5:45pm: The Mighty Boosh
Creators/stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher, and Dave Brown give a Q&A about the British cult comedy. Room 6A

6:30-7:30pm: Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries
A discussion with iconic filmmakers James Cameron (Avatar) and Peter Jackson (District 9) on the Future of Film. Hall H

Source

MTV Unplugged - Silversun Pickups

2009-07-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Silversun Pickups - New Music - More Music Videos

Click the RAWR for 5 more great songs from one of my favorite bands right now, Silversun Pickups.

Silversun Pickups - New Music - More Music Videos

Gratz To Our Winners!!

2009-07-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Congrats to our two winners of the Snoopy T-Shirts: Jinny and Vanessa!

Keep watching Pop Culture Beast as we hope to be able to have more contests soon!

Your shirts will be sent out next week!

Tron Reboot

2009-07-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Still laughing.

Comic-Con Schedule - Thursday!

2009-07-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

The Comic-Con folks have announced the schedule for day one, Thursday, July 23, and it is jam packed with big movies like Astro Boy, Tron 2, Trick R Treat, and more.

Unfortunately, we are probably only going to make one day of the event this year and it will probably be Saturday or Sunday. We will still do our best to bring you the news that comes out of the con as we hear of it.

Click the Rawr! for the Thursday goodies!

DAY ONE: Thursday, July 23

10:00-11:00am: Masters of the Web
Web-heads Robert Sanchez, Ryan Rotten, Mike Sampson, Jeremy Smith, Brad Miska, Drew McWeeny, Devin Faraci, Paul Christensen, Wilson Morales, Vic Holtreman, and George Roush give a fiery debate on the film news world. Brandon Routh and Sam Huntington will show off "Dead of Night". Room 32AB.

10:15-11:15am: "Astro Boy"
Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell Q&A, along with exclusive debut footage. Room 6BCF

10:30-11:30am: TheOneRing.net presents "The Hobbit"
The site's staff talk early stuff, potential behind-the-scenes footage and/or guest. Room 7AB

11:00am-12:30pm: Disney Pictures 3D Panel
3D Footage from Disney’s "A Christmas Carol," "Alice In Wonderland" and "TR2N". Guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey and Steve Lisberger. Hall H

12:00-1:00pm: "Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey"
Several cast members and crew will show off clips and discuss the 3D, CGI Large Format film featuring animated sequences with actual space imagery.

12:45pm-1:45pm: 3D Showcase
An extended 3D clip from "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," Joe Dante discusses his new project "The Hole", and Craig Perry introduces a clip from "The Final Destination". Hall H

1:45-2:45pm: Summit Entertainment
Footage from "Astro Boy", "Sorority Row" and "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". Various cast members (to be confirmed) will appear. Hall H.

2:00-3:00pm: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
Footage from the animated family comedy. Q&A with Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg. Room 6BCF.

3:00-4:15pm: "Avatar"
The first public screening of footage in 3D. James Cameron, Jon Landau, Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana will appear for a Q&A. Hall H.

4:30-5:15pm: "The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus"
Footage from and Q&A session with Terry Gilliam about the fantasy film starring the late Heath Ledger. Hall H.

5:15-5:45pm: "Pandorum"
Ben Foster, Cung Le and Antje Traue appear to hype the sci-fi horror thriller. Hall H.

5:45-6:30pm: "Kick-Ass"
Director Matthew Vaughn, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and a surprise guest will give a Q&A and present world premiere footage. Hall H

6:30-7:00pm: "Thirst"
Rare U.S. appearance by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook to promote the vampire melodrama. Hall H

8:00-9:30pm: "Green Lantern: First Flight"
World Premiere screening of the DC animated title. Ballroom 20

9:30pm-12:00am: "Trick 'r Treat"
Michael Dougherty's darkly comic Halloween-set horror flick screens. Dougherty, Anna Paquin, Tahmoh Penikett and Brian Cox on a panel moderated by Harry Knowles. Ballroom 20.

Source

Still Time To Win A Snoopy Shirt!

2009-07-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

You still have a few hours to enter the contest to win one of two Snoopy Shirt (Not necessarily one pictured). Entries must be in by 12:00 a.m. TONIGHT

We have one shirt for men and one shirt for the ladies.

If you want to win please email garon@popculturebeast.com with the answer to this trivia question:

What was the name of the place where Charlie Brown got Snoopy?

I will pick the winner at random from those who send in the correct answer.

Please include your Name, Address, and whether you want the male or female shirt. There are only TWO shirt s available to win. You can enter ONE time for each shirt style, so twice total.

Unfortunately, we only have one size as well.

Entries MUST be received by Friday, July 10 @ 12:01 A.M. The winners will be chosen and notified later that day.

Good Luck!!!

Dollhouse - Epitaph One clip

2009-07-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Check out this clip from the much discussed un-aired episode from Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. The episode, "Epitaph One," is available exclusively on the upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release of the shows First Season.

Dollhouse arrives on DVD/Blu-ray on July 28.

Fans heading to Comic-Con this year can preorder a special limited edition set of the show for pick up at the convention. The set includes a letter from Joss himself.

Dollhouse's second season will begin on Fox on Septeber 25.

Movie Trailer: District 9

2009-07-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we brought you the new poster for the upcoming film District 9 and today we have the brand new trailer.

It does look fantastic.

August 14! Mark your calendars.

Multiple Peaks at Melrose Place

2009-07-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I was hooked on this show back when it first aired. This new incarnation has me curious, especially since Sydney is back!

Melrose Place is back Tuesdays this fall on The CW.

Click the Rawr! for a lot more peaks.

Jay Brannan's In Living Cover available NOW!

2009-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Jay Brannan's stunning new EP, In Living Cover, is now available at iTunes and Amazon.

We recently reviewed the album and have not stopped listening to it.

Do yourselves a favor and pick it up. Honestly, you should get all of his albums.

Support great music and a brilliant artist!

Movie Poster: District 9

2009-07-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

This movie intrigues me. I don't know what it is about but it has Peter Jackson involved and aliens so I am in.

District 9 hits theaters on August 14.

Ally McBeal FINALLY Coming to DVD!!

2009-07-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite shows, Ally McBeal, is finally coming to DVD and it seems Fox is doing something a little bit different. They're apparently releasing the Complete Series at the same time as the First Season.

Amazon currently has pre-orders up for both of them ($25.99 for Season One, and $129.99 for the Complete Series) with a release date of October 6.

I can't wait to get my hands on this.

This may be my most anticipated DVD release of the year.

Contest: Win a Snoopy T-Shirt!

2009-07-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Snoopy is probably America's favorite cartoon dog and in honor of the new series of clothing out there, we're giving away two brand new Snoopy shirts!

We have one shirt for men and one shirt for the ladies.

If you want to win please email garon@popculturebeast.com with the answer to this trivia question:

What was the name of the place where Charlie Brown got Snoopy?

I will pick the winner at random from those who send in the correct answer. Please include your Name, Address, and whether you want the male or female shirt. There are only TWO shirt s available to win. You can enter ONE time for each shirt style, so twice total.

Entries MUST be received by Friday, July 10 @ 12:01 A.M. The winners will be chosen and notified later that day.

Good Luck!!!

Daria Coming To DVD!!!

2009-07-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

YES!

Source

Music Review: Jay Brannan - In Living Cover

2009-07-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Jay Brannan is back with a 9 track EP, In Living Cover, which I have been mistakenly calling In Living Color for the past month.

Anyway, loyal readers of the site will know that we named Jay's previous album goddamned the best album of 2008. I am pleased to say that this EP is just as good.

This time, Jay has given the fans something they have been asking for. In Living Cover features seven cover songs and two originals. Every single cover takes the songs to a new level. Jay has a gift to infuse every song of his with such emotion that it is impossible not to be captivated by what you are hearing. That gift is on full display here as he tackles, and in most cases, surpasses the original songs.

He's included fan favorites like Jann Adren's "Good Mother," and Terra Naomi's, "Say It's Possible" plus 2 original tracks, "Beautifully" and "Drowning."

"Beautifully" is my favorite song on the album but honestly, the entire thing is perfect. Jay Brannan has crafted yet another brilliant album for us. His voice and his guitar playing are top notch and he delivers a gorgeous disc that is wrought with emotion.

He takes amazing songs like "The Freshmen" and "Zombie" and makes them his own. Particularly "Zombie" which was a harder song when performed by The Cranberries. Here Jay tones it down and it sounds more like a plea for action rather than the political insistence of the original. It's his passion for the music that just oozes from everything he does. We get Jay's haunting voice, his guitar, and a violin and the effect is mesmerizing.

He even takes on the greats like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. They should both be proud of his interpretations here. They're fantastic.

I had only just heard of him a few months before goddamned was released and in that short time he has become my favorite male artist.

I just can't get enough of his music and In Living Cover is no exception.

Jay is going on a tour to support the release so be sure to check him out. Tour dates are below! We'll have a review of his Los Angeles stop in a few weeks.

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and pick up In Living Cover and his debut goddamned. Both are prime examples of a brilliant singer/songwriter at work.

In Living Cover hits iTunes on July 7, but oddly enough it looks to be available on Amazon now.

'In Living Cover' Tracklist:

1. Beautifully (Jay Brannan original)
2. Say It's Possible (Terra Naomi)
3. All I Want (Joni Mitchell)
4. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob Dylan)
5. The Freshmen (The Verve Pipe)
6. Good Mother (Jann Arden)
7. Both Hands (Ani DiFranco)
8. Zombie (The Cranberries)
9. Drowning (Jay Brannan original)

That's not all we have for you. How about some tour dates:

July 8 New York, NY Joe's Pub (all ages)
July 9 Annaplis, MD Ram's Head On Stage (21+)
July 10 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live (Upstairs)
July 11 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's (early show)
July 13 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
July 14 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern (18+)
July 15 Columbus, OH The Basement
July 17 Houston, TX House of Blues
July 18 Austin, TX Stubb's Jr.
July 19 Dallas, TX The Loft
July 21 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy Theatre
July 24 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill (21+)
July 25 Portland, OR Doug Fir (early show)
July 26 Seattle, WA Crocodile (early show)
July 29 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
July 30 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club (18+)
Sept 7 Köln, DE Stadtgarten
Sept 8 Frankfurt am Main, DE Nachtleben
Sept 9 München, DE 59:1
Sept 11 Berlin, DE Frannz Club
Sept 12 Hamburg, DE Knust
Sept 14 Milano, IT La Casa 139
Sept 15 Roma, IT Circolo degli Artisti

Do The Right Thing Now on Blu-ray!

2009-07-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Spike Lee fans can rejoice because Do The Right Thing is now available in a features packed 20th Anniversary Blu-ray. We've got our copy to review and I am looking forward to watching it. I've never seen this movie and do not consider myself a fan of Lee's so I'm curious to see how I'll like this.

We'll have a review up next week but you can get your copy of Do The Right Thing now!

Maxwell Summer 09 Tour - Baby Making Ensues

2009-07-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

PCB and I were lucky enough to attend the Las Vegas show of Maxwell's Summer 09 Tour, where he graced the audience with songs from his previous 3 albums and a couple from his new upcoming album BLACKsummers'night due out in July 7, 2009 (That's next week y'know.)

While Maxwell and his crew took about an hour to take to the stage, it was definitely worth the wait. I had seen him back in '98 or '99 when he toured for his second album Embrya, and you could tell, he has made a drastic improvement in his stage performance.

Maxwell looked comfortable, had fun with the audience, and was a class act (Dedicating Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" to the late and great Michael Jackson).Unfortunately as long as it took Maxwell to get on the stage, he quickly left. He sang for about 60-75 minutes with one encore. Missing from this set list was a crowd favorite "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever," and people began to leave early. Either to miss the traffic or just go to the "after party" that frankly, at the Palms in Vegas was going to be filled with D* Bags covered in Axe Body Spray or Abercrombie and Fitch's date rape cologne.

Maxwell did perform Pretty Wings and a couple songs from his new album, including "Stop The World." Which in his own words is his version of "Knockin Boots but the titles nicer." I think this album will stray form his previous 3 in the sense his sound is more mature, a little rough around the edges yet still holding on to what we all love Maxwell for: creating great songs about life and love. And that's fine by me.

I recommend picking up his new album in stores on Tuesday and seeing him tour if you can. I would definitely recommend picking up his previous 3 albums and his Unplugged if you can't make his show.

For a listing of his next performances check out his Myspace Page @ http://www.myspace.com/maxwell

Movie Trailer: The Informant

2009-07-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

This supposedly has a ton of comedians in it. I only noticed Joel McHale though. Looks pretty good though.

DVD Review: Rob Thomas: Something To Be Tour - Live at Red Rocks

2009-06-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Rob Thomas releases his brand new solo album, Cradlesong, today along with a great concert DVD taken from his tour stop at Red Rocks. This show was originally broadcast for the PBS series Soundstage but this release features seven additional songs not included in the original broadcast.

The 18 song collection features songs from Thomas' solo album as well as from Matchbox Twenty plus a cover of a David Bowie classic. The show was captured in high definition, which is probably why it looks so great on the PS3, and is presented in 5.1 Surround Sound

It's a great show that I am mad I missed. Thomas has a truly unique voice both vocally and lyrically. He really is a great songwriter and performer. I really enjoyed every song presented here.

It's funny, I was watching Real Time with Bill Maher earlier and he was interviewing Billy Bob Thornton who was saying that there are not many people that our generation can say will be recognized as legends 50-100 years from now. That we can't say we have our own Beatles or our own Michael Jackson. It may be a bit premature to call Rob Thomas a legend but he certainly has the chops to be so.

Live at Red Rocks is a great showcase for Rob Thomas' talents as a musician and as a singer and he proves again why he ranks among my favorites performing today. He has such a great emotional connection with his words and songs. It's on perfect display here with this release. He does it all during this show. We have performances with the full band, Thomas alone on a piano, and an acoustic set.

This is definitely a purchase for any fans of Rob Thomas or Matchbox Twenty. If you can't make it to see him on his upcoming tour, this is the next best thing.

Rob Thomas: Something To Be Tour - Live at Red Rocks is available now.

Set List:

1. Something To Be
2. Fallin’ To Pieces
3. If You’re Gone
4. When The Heartache Ends*
5. Ever The Same
6. Not Just A Woman*
7. 3AM
8. You Won’t Be Mine*
9. The Difference*
10. Bent
11. Problem Girl*
12. Let’s Dance
13. Lonely No More
14. I Am An Illusion
15. Now Comes the Night*
16. Smooth
17. You Know Me*
18. This Is How A Heart Breaks

* = songs not originally broadcast on PBS.