FILM: The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer (News)

With it being more than six months since the debut of the teaser trailer and less than that until the release of the movie, that means we are past the halfway point for the upcoming THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and Sony has decided to treat fans with the first full-length trailer of the movie.

With director Marc Webb (500 DAYS OF SUMMER), THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN brings a return to the early days of the character with Andrew Garfield (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as Peter Parker, Emma Stone (EASY A) as Gwen Stacy, Denis Leary (RESCUE ME) as George Stacy and Rhys Ifans (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1) as Dr. Curt Connors.


THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN swings into theaters on July 3, 2012.

TV: NBC Has a Wonder Woman After All (News)

After spending the last six years on TV winning over geek hearts as the sassy no-nonsense reporter Lois Lane on SMALLVILLE, Erica Durance has found her way onto our TV sets yet again and this time aimed to take those hearts throbbing into overdrive by slipping on the silver bracelets of Wonder Woman for an episode of HARRY'S LAW.

The episode that aired on January 11th on NBC, starred Durance as a psychologically damaged woman who takes on the persona of the popular DC Comics character to exact vigilante-style justice.

Since the last Wonder Woman project (the failed Adrianne Palicki NBC tv pilot) went nowhere, I thought it was only fair to share the image of another gorgeous and talented actress donning the star-spangled outfit. Erica Durance crush renewed.

Watch a clip of Erica's appearance on HARRY'S LAW last month on Hulu.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Adventure Time #1 (Review)

Writer: Ryan North & Aaron Renier
Artist: Shelli Paroline & Aaron Renier
Cover: Shelli Paroline

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99

Now that I am entering the second month of being back to reviewing comic books, the wave of returning titles and familiar characters bring a level of comfort reading issues but it thrills me that for the sixth week of 2012 it is a sixth different book to find its way to the top of my stack.

BOOM! Studios is not a stranger to being a part of my comic pick but this time around a newcomer title came along with it in ADVENTURE TIME #1. From their KABOOM! line, the comic book is based off the hit animated series on Cartoon Network.

An interesting choice for writer of the title is Ryan North, who is probably best known for being the creator of the webcomic, DINOSAUR COMICS. Given the sometimes bizarre stories Adventure Time can devolve into it might be the perfect choice after reading the first issue and finding an almost seamless feeling for the characters and the world in the comic book compared to the one I have watched on TV.

In the issue, Finn and Jake between exchanging battle burns take on the Lich, who is determined to destroy everything on the planet using the bag of holding he escaped from. Throw in a Jake Suit appearance, a beheading, and meeting a princess (a desert one, not dessert) and quickly the main story of the issue pretty much had everything you could expect from an episode of the show.

Sometimes it is the little things and the attention to detail that really throw a scene over the top. When the Lich takes on the Ice King, the Ice King was in the middle of writing fan fiction of 'Fiona & Cake Meets Finn & Jake' that is just so zany insane funny to include that I loved it.

The art by Shelli Paroline is fantastic, easily capturing and recreating the spirit of the animated series within the pages of the comic book. All of the characters mirror the show and the expressions of Finn's angry face and Jake's flexibility bring that sense of familiarity any fan of the show would have with the characters and their personalities.

A quick note on the back story written and illustrated by Aaron Renier - it brings it just as well as the main story and the ability of a short against a longer story that is continuing next issue is that the punch line gets to be included, which increases the amount of funny for the book. Involving Princess Bubblegum, Tree Trunks and Cinnamon Bun's birthday party, the story takes an unexpected turn that you would only expect to happen in the world of Adventure Time.

If continuing issues follow the trend of this first issue then I have no doubt that ADVENTURE TIME will be just as good in quality as the show it was born from. Any fan of fun should like the book, and definitely fans of the show or all-ages titles would be smart to pick it up and give it a read and prepare to laugh. I cannot wait to see what will happen next time.

Look to buy the ADVENTURE TIME #1 digital comic on Comixology for $3.99 or Graphicly for $1.99

FILM: Super Bowl XLVI Ad Spots (News)

While Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on the 5th ended up having another memorable game involving the New York Giants and New England Patriots, the excitement for the game has grown to epic proportions including the commercials aired around the game.

So here are some of the films that grabbed some of that valuable ad time to show off new trailers.

JOHN CARTER out on March 9, 2012.


THE HUNGER GAMES out on March 23, 2012.

THE AVENGERS out on May 4, 2012.

FILM: Lockout Trailer (News)

Looking for a sleeper movie hit? Well there might just be one to be found in EuropaCorp's upcoming release, LOCKOUT.

It takes place in space. A space prison to be exact. The story has an anti-hero put against impossible odds to save the girl. And it contains a solid cast.

Directed by the team of James Mather & Stephen St. Leger (PREY ALONE), LOCKOUT stars Guy Pearce (THE KING'S SPEECH) and Maggie Grace (THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1) in the lead roles of wrongly convicted former government agent and the President of the United States' daughter he needs to rescue from the violent inmates of a space prison.


LOCKOUT busts out into theaters on April 13, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - The Amazing Spider-Man #679 (Review)

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Cover: Mike Del Mundo

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

A new month brings a new regime to the top of my reading stack as Marvel makes its triumphant return with the release of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679.

Now this is an achievement in itself due to my less than satisfactory opinion on the direction taken with 616 Spider-Man for a long time, highlighted by the dreaded 'One More Day' storyline.So the fact that I made it my choice for the week gives an indication to just how great this issue was.

While I did not struggle in making the pick, there were a few other stalwarts this week that I enjoyed immensely. I am of course talking about another book from Marvel, UNCANNY X-FORCE #21, where I loved Psylocke going against her brother and attempting to save Fantomex, and from DC there was JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #6, an epilogue issue that had Batman giving Booster Gold a pep talk in being a leader and the official announcement of the team by the U.N.

But neither gave me as much joy as this week's THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN written by long-time ongoing writer Dan Slott. While this was one of the few Spider-Man issues I have read that he had written, I am not a stranger to Slott's work and in fact one of my favorite books while it was being made was his rendition of She-Hulk more than a half decade ago that should have been read by a lot more people it was so good.

This issue continues on from the previous where Peter having stepped through a friend's time gate to see "tomorrow" only to find New York demolished on the other side waiting for him is continuing his slightly manic patrol through the city trying to do everything he can for that future not to happen before time is up.

Throw in cameos by the Silver Sable and Mary Jane Watson and you have a fun, excitement-filled story where you totally feel like you are in the shoes of Spider-Man, not knowing what needs to be done but trying to get it done anyway.

The art by Humberto Ramos adds to the mix of silliness and tension that goes on through the pages, giving Peter/Spider-Man a sense of mobility that gives the flexibility between the ominous deadline and the strange side adventures he has like capturing an escaped tiger. It all just fits so well. The dynamic use of panels contributes a lot to illustrating Peter's near manic state and takes you this place and that without feeling overwhelmed about it.

I have certainly regained an interest in 616 Spider-Man and plan on continuing to read Amazing. Funny how my dissatisfaction with the direction taken with Ultimate Spider-Man would send me back to the original incarnation after having stopped reading in a similar way but so far I am glad this happened. This two part story just shows how much you can do with a superhero story without having to rely on a trademark super-villain or rival. Superman writers should take a cue from this book.

Look to buy the THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679 digital comic on Comixology for $3.99

GAMING: Resident Evil 6 Trailer (News)

Coming in November is the next installment of the horror survival game series from Capcom called RESIDENT EVIL 6.

The third-person shooter will bring together the series two most popular male leads for the first time, Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield.


Synopsis:

It has been ten years since the incident at Raccoon City and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place. Raccoon City survivor and personal friend of the President, Leon S. Kennedy, arrives to find the President transformed beyond recognition by a bioterrorist attack. Leon is forced to make the hardest decision he has ever made.

At the same, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance Member, Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack.

RESIDENT EVIL 6 will be released on XBOX 360, PS3 & Wii in Fall/Winter 2012.