In this bonus episode, Rodrigo and Stephen review the Batman: Gotham Knight DVD from Warner Video.
Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins) Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries Batman s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them leaving some fearful of his power. The sharp storytelling complemented by stylish art from some of the world s most visionary animators masterfully depicts the blurred lines of Batman as man myth and legend.
Sony Pictures Imageworks has announced it will be the driving force behind the live action 3D adaptation of one of my favorite cartoons from my youth. G-Force (Gatchaman, Battle of the Planets) will have its 2D footage converted into 3D during the action sequences.
Lawrence Kasdan, the guy responsible for Return of the Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, has been hired to adapt Robotech for the live action flick starring Tobey Maguire.
A sprawling sci-fi epic, “Robotech” takes place at a time when Earth has developed giant robots from the technology on an alien spacecraft that crashed on a South Pacific isle. Mankind is forced to use the technology to fend off three successive waves of alien invasions. The first invasion centers on a battle with a race of giant warriors who seek to retrieve their flagship’s energy source known as “protoculture,” and the planet’s hope for survival ends up in the hands of two young pilots.
Wicked cool giant robots battling aliens from another world in a live action format could really really rock if done right, otherwise it could devolve into another Robot Jox.
Hollywood tradition dictates that an Academy Award nomination begets lucrative offer after offer, and the nominee usually reaps the immediate seven-figure benefits. But sometimes, boyhood dreams take precedence.
Buoyed by his Oscar nod for scripting “A History of Violence,” Josh Olson has become one of the most sought-after writers in Hollywood. But amidst the offers following his nomination came the opportunity to pen a chapter of “Batman Gotham Knight” – and that was an offer simply too tempting to resist. The result is an impressive opening segment to the film that not only arrests the imagination with visually stunning perspectives of Batman, but sets the thematic tone for the entire six-chapter film.
DC Universe original animated movies are created by a unique collaboration between four diverse units within the Warner Bros. family – Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video, Warner Bros Animation and, the source of the characters and many of the stories, DC Comics. Leading the charge for the latter group is Gregory Noveck, Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs for the iconic comics company, and credited as Executive in Charge of Production for DC Comics on all of the DC Universe films.
Want a nice, frank conversation? Corner Greg Rucka and pick a subject. He is anything but restrained, speaking freely and constantly exuding the kind of creative flashpoint from which arises his fascinating array of benchmark characters.
Raised on California’s Central Coast, and schooled at Vassar College and USC, Rucka brings a street sensibility to his work – which has ranged from nearly a dozen novels and several short stories to a daunting list of comics, non-fiction essays and, now, a segment of the highly-anticipated animated film, “Batman Gotham Knight.”
Kevin Conroy had studied for and starred on the stage, advanced his career through soap operas, and was featured in television series like “Dynasty” and “Tour of Duty.” He had no idea that stepping into a sound booth in 1991 to audition for his first cartoon voiceover role would forever cement his place in the annals of animation and help to extend the Batman legacy to untold legions of fans.
Conroy quickly became the Batman voice by which all others are judged – and rarely assessed as an equal. He has cast a loud shadow in voicing the Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne for 17 years, beginning with “Batman: The Animated Series” and continuing through 16 films, video games and animated series (covering more than 220 episodes). He reprises the role in triumphant fashion in “Batman Gotham Knight,” the highly-anticipated third film in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies.
“Batman Gotham Knight” will arrive July 8, 2008 on DVD and Blu-Ray disc, and will also be available that day On Demand via digital cable and for download through broadband sites. The film is produced as a collaboration between DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation. The film will receive its world premiere at Wizard World Chicago in late June.
From his home in New York City, Conroy spoke at length about the film, his ongoing relationship with the character, and the surprising manner in which he first approached and procured the role of Batman.
Since that YouTube link we posted a while back no longer working, Warner Bros. was kind enough to provide a higher resolution version for us to use, which coincidentally also happens to be a YouTube video.
Friday, February 29th, 2008--by Stephen Schleicher
If you were expecting to sit in front of your television this Saturday with your jammies on, munching a bowl of super-sugar-snaps, while watching the brand new Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, you might want to sleep in. Marvel and Sony have announced they will be bumping the show from its March 1 debut to March 8.
While it may sound like a bad thing, come next weekend, you’ll be able to watch a full hour of The Spectacular Spider-Man as two shows will air back-to-back beginning at 10AM EST.
The big question on everyone’s mind is, “What happens after this season?” Warner Bros. has announced it will be shutting down the Kids WB and handing the CW animation block over to 4Kids Entertainment.
Friday, February 29th, 2008--by Stephen Schleicher
It’s being reported that young thespian Freddie Highmore will be providing the voice of Astro Boy in the upcoming CGI movie.
Set in futuristic Metro City, Imagi’s “Astro Boy” tells the story of a young robot created by a scientist to replace the son he lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving father’s expectations, Astro Boy embarks on a journey of discovery before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with his creator.
If you aren’t familiar with Highmore, you might want to head down to your local theater and check out the Spiderwick Chronicles.
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Astro Boy for years. On the one hand, I love the early AB series from the 60s, but hate the reboot stuff that came out a few years ago.
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008--by Stephen Schleicher
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo DiCaprio and Warner Bros. are teaming up to bring Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira to the screen as a live action adaptation. No word if DiCaprio will be screaming Kanada! or not, but as one would expect with the translation, things are going to be changed, for what I fear will be the worst.
The new story moves the action to “New Manhattan,” a city rebuilt by Japanese money.
Yikes! There’s a red flag right there.
On the plus side, the film will mark the directorial debut of Ruairi Robinson, who has been hired to direct what looks to be a two-part feature. Robinson is the genius mind behind the OSCAR nominated short subject animated film “Fifty Percent Grey”.
The film is scheduled to hit theaters next year (2009).
I have a feeling this subject is going to be even touchier than the speculation that surrounded the cast of the now defunct JLA movie, so let the battle begin in the comment section, or over in the Major Spoilers Movie Forum.
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007--by Stephen Schleicher
FUNimation has announced Witchblade Anime Volume 1 DVD debuted at the number one position as the best-selling anime to date in 2007. This is according to Nielsen VideoScan following the September 25 release.
From the renowned anime studio GONZO, Witchblade is the saga of a woman who must bear the burden of a terrible force of destruction known as the Witchblade. Based on the comic book series from Top Cow Productions, the anime series goes into the future to tell the tale of a new bearer of the Witchblade and the conspiracy that surrounds her burden. Witchblade is the first U.S. comic book property to be made into an anime.
Witchblade Volume 2 is set to arrive November 6 with exclusive covers from Top Cow Productions artists.
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007--by Stephen Schleicher
FUNimation has announced a distribution deal with Bigger Picture to digitally distribute Japanese films to the US market.
FUNimation will release the Yoji Yamada period drama “Love and Honor,” the SF toon “Vexille,” the kiddy toon “One Piece” and the period epic “The Blue Wolf: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea” using the digital delivery technology developed by AccessIT to securely send the pics to theaters across the U.S.
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