Comic-Con San Diego

• Audience Erupts Over IRON MAN 2 Footage At Comic Con

  Published on: July 25, 2009

  The crowd literally went mad as some very exclusive footage from Iron Man 2 was shown for the first time to this patient and loving audience this afternoon on day three of this four-day annual event called Comic-Con here in San Diego, CA.

   

                

  Most of the members of the audience in Hall H had been in their seats since early morning waiting calmly and applauding supportively at the reels and presentations of the earlier films including Solomon Kane, Extract, Zombieland and 2012. Hall H is the largest venue at Comic-Con and pretty much the epicenter for all of the film presentations with a maximum capacity of 6,500 people. Needless to say the hall was filled to capacity and lines of people snaked outside the building with thousands more waiting to get in! There is no overflow here, you are either in or you are out. And if you don't get here early, you are out. As in outside!

  Even members of the press, such as myself, have to be in line early if we want to get in. I was outside and in line at about 10 AM to make sure I was inside for the 4 PM presentation. I was so lucky I managed to get in just as the LOST panel was let out and several thousand LOST fans came streaming out and ran for their computers. Luckily TV folk and film folk don't always cross over!

  

  The panel actually started on time but started in a rather lack-luster fashion. They brought out Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Pictures, who said a few words, and then they brought out the director and the leader of team 'Iron Man': Jon Favreau. The applause and support by the crowd was tremendous. He walked out carrying a Flip camera and recorded the applause and flashes from the thousands of blinking cameras that were snapping almost simultaneously. The room looked like it was transformed into one giant light show. Not wishing to waste any time, they immediately launched into a trailer for the upcoming Iron Man 2.

  The footage they showed was introduced by a cheesy sounding, 50's b-movie voice with awkward lettering and graphics introducing us to the upcoming ACTION and ADVENTURE of IRON MAN 2, coming out next summer. The preview was about 45 seconds long and pathetic. There audible gasps and hisses from parts of the assembled masses. There really wasn't any of the coolness or wow factor that these folks are used to. I immediately picked up my pad and started to scribble my notes of shock and wonder and promptly gave the presentation a D- for effort and creativity and an F for wasting my time.

  However, as the lights came up whom do we see standing on stage between Kevin and Jon? None other than a very dapper and handsomely coiffed Robert Downey Jr.. He was stylishly dressed in a blue, pin-stripe suit with a white shirt and a blue tie with red and yellow swirls. Very classic, yet a bold choice of colors. He was certainly channeling his character Mr. Stark.

  We were then treated to what was clearly a staged argument where Robert Downey Jr. berated Favreau and Feige for giving the audience such a poor presentation and Favreau tried to make up the same excuses we typically hear used by directors "we're aren't ready,” and “the footage isn't done yet,” or the classic “it's too soon to show anything..." the audience loved the banter as Downey yelled at them and exclaimed that the audience seated in Hall H deserved more and that he had seen more in the trailer during shooting! Now let’s see some real footage!

  With that fun, yet clearly staged exchange over, the lights went down again and the 'real' presentation began with an extended first-look at Iron Man 2. The sequences were terrific and starts off with Downey's character seated in his Iron Man suit with the helmet off, inside the donut of the iconic 'Randy's Donuts' in West Los Angeles, eating a donut. At this point Samuel Jackson's character, Nick Fury, calls for him to come down. We are then treated to an exchange between the two inside the donut shop and then to Tony Stark testifying in front of a Senate sub-committee lead by a Senator Stern (expertly played by Gary Shandling). The audience roared at his appearance and seemed to really enjoy seeing him play such an unlikeable character.

  There were flight sequences and weapons seen but the moment everyone was waiting for was of course the appearance and introduction of Ivan Vanko/ Whiplash played by the Academy Award nominated actor- Mickey Rourke.

  His appearance on screen again elicited cheers and acclaim from the audience. These fans were clearly soaking it all in and loving every frame. There were also sequences of a bad-ass Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow in full fighting mode, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell and Gwyneth Paltrow all made appearances in the extended preview clip for Iron Man 2.

  After the lights came up the audience was treated to Don Cheadle, Sam Worthington, and Scarlett Johansson joining the rest on the stage. At this point the audience stood up and all of Hall H was on its feet applauding, cheering and snapping photos. There was so much light in that room it felt like a disco ball had exploded!

  While discussing the movie, Jon excused the fact that Mickey Rourke was not able to make it to Comic-Con as much as he wished he could, but he was working on another project and hopes to make it down next time. So serious was Mickey Rourke about learning the Russian accent for his part in this movie that when he learned his character, Ivan Vanko, had been in a Russian prison, he went to Russia and to a Russian prison. Jon Favreau joked about the way he learned about his was by watching TMZ and hearing that Mickey Rourke was in a Russian prison... for research, not by getting arrested!

  The scenes shown for Iron Man 2 further confirmed that the sequel will only be better than, stronger than and more amazing than the first, it will  Hall H awarded the cast and crew of Iron Man 2 with thunderous applause and for that the presentation reel was played a second time. As well, Don Cheadle asked it to be played again as he was not out on stage the first time it ran. Thanks Don!

  There was a short Q&A with questions fielded from the audience that were softballs at best and ludicrous at worst. I thought they pre-screened these people!

  Paramount certainly knows how to put on a show and based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction by the over 6,500 people in the audience at Hall H this afternoon, Iron Man 2 will not only be a hit next summer, it will do even better than the first and probably set a new standard for summer-time blockbusters. Personally I can't wait for May 7, 2010.

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• Comic-Con Begins - Twilight/ New Moon Fans Camp Out

  Published on: July 22, 2009

  I arrived in San Diego this afternoon expecting to see the usual pre-convention planning and preparation as exhibitors scrurry to complete their booths and set up their stalls for the onslaught of the preview night fans. Little did I know what was in store for me! Welcome to Comic-Con 2009!

  

  This year pre-view night was so busy that by 2 PM there were already attendees lined up and they waited FOUR HOURS in line to be the first to get into the San Diego Convention Center so they could start to wait in line again for Comic-Con toy exclusives, poster signings and merchandise sales.Once the doors opened the aisles were so jammed with fans it was impossible to navigate and difficult to stop and look around! And this was only preview night. What on earth will Saturday be like? Typically in year's past, Thursday has been the slowest of the days with it building in size, attendance and magnitude as it went on. Saturday has historically been the biggest and craziest day, but given in insance preview night crowds, I can hardly wait to see what Thursday and Friday will be like, much less Saturday!

  Comic-Con celebrates its 40th birthday this year with 2009 making it the biggest and best attended Comic-Con in history!

  It all started in 1970 with a one-day minicon (think of it as "Comic-Con Zero") at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The first guests were Forrest J Ackerman (Famous Monsters of Filmland's famous editor) and Mike Royer, best known for his work inking Jack Kirby's "Fourth World" books. That one-day event tested the waters -— and raised funds —- for the first ever San Diego Comic-Con (then called "San Diego's West Coast Comic-Con") in August of the same year, which featured comics legend Jack Kirby and science fiction authors Ray Bradbury and A. E. van Vogt. And the rest, as they say, is history -— including Kirby, Bradbury, and Ackerman going on to become three of Comic-Con's favorite guests over the years (both Ray and Forry were present again in 2008).

  That first show and its logo set the groundwork for what would become, over the next 39 years, the country's leading comics and popular arts convention. From the very beginning the event has focused on "comic art, films, and science fiction."

  In 2008, for the first time in its history, Comic-Con sold out in advance. That's right—the show saw record attendance, with every membership—both four days and single days—all sold before the Convention Center doors even opened. And once again, they've sold out in advance. No memberships are sold at the door.

  If you don't already have tickets, DO NOT COME TO SAN DIEGO. You will be disappointed and be turned away.

  

  TENT CITY at COMIC-CON 2009
  

   

  But there were some very brave and well organized fans that traveled from far and wide to make it to San Diego and stake their place in line to be among the first to get in to Hall H on Thursday morning. I spoke with some who had flown in from Texas, driven in from Phoenix, AZ, Riverside, CA, Bakersfield, Los Angeles and all over California. Who are these fans and what had they come to see?

  NEW MOON. That's right, Twilight fans, in anticipation of the New Moon presentation tomorrow at 1 PM in Hall H, 1,000's have already camped out and have been in place since 9 PM on Tuesday the July 21st! Hall H, for those who have not made it down to Comic-Con in San Diego, is the epi-center for all things holy at Comic-Con and where all the studios roll out their trailers, clips, special sneak peeks and bring out the casts of their movies to meet and greet the fans.

  

                                                  MEGA TWILIGHT FANS

  So high is the anticipation that the campers have come out in full force bringing tents, inflatable beds, chairs, computers (free wifi is being provided this year by the Convention Center), coolers and food. They are well prepared and psyched to be here! It was a party-like atmosphere with the campers sharing food, water and watching each other's belongings while taking bathroom breaks or running out to get more Starbucks.

  

  I spoke with Aura Reynolds and her daughter Rebecca who were the very first in line with their group of die-hard fans to get into Hall H. They were ecstatic to be first in line and were really looking forward to seeing the cast and especially Robert Pattinson.They had arrived at 9 PM the night before and were thrilled to be assured admittance. They brought with them a tent, pillows, blankets and lots of snacks. Their husbands and boyfriends were not to be found as they all preferred to stay back at the hotel and sleep in the comfy bed instead.

   

  

  Annie To of Torrance, CA was the first in line for her Comic-Con 2009 badge. She arrived at 1:30 PM and was still all smiles with only 12 hours left to go from the time this photo was snapped till the doors open at 9 AM Thursday morning for badge distribution.

  The age range found in line is also something truly remarkable. I met grandmothers who were waiting with their daughters and granddaughters! This was a three-generational span of love for Twilight. I don't know if there is another series of books or movies that can count on such a loyal and passionate following.

  I will be here for the next Four Days covering all the angels of Comic-Con and bringing you the news, the photos and the scoops only a die-hard movie fan and Comic-Con geek such as myself can dig up. 

  Check out the photo gallery on the Comic-Con sitelet and watch for special video coverage as well of the 'New Moon' Press conference happening Thursday morning. I'll be blogging about it and Twittering about it while I am there. Watch for the photos and video to follow shortly thereafter.

  Thanks to all the terrific Twilighters in line at Hall H this evening for talking to me and for sharing their passion and love for New Moon with everyone at MovieSet.com.

  I'll see you in line at the concession stand or in this case... in line for Hall H!

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• del Toro to announce 'Hobbit' lead, Jack Black rumored contender

  Published on: July 17, 2009

  By Quinn Bender
  movieset.com

  

  The Los Angeles Times has it on good authority that director Guillermo del Toro will drop in to the San Diego Comic-Con to announce the leading man for his highly anticipated adaptation of JRR Tolkien's, The Hobbit.
  
  Rumor has it the leading candidates to play the famous Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, have been whittled down to four: David Tennant, who'll be at the conference to promote his television series Doctor Who, James McAvoy and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. Out of left field comes the fourth  contender, Jack Black, the rollicking funny man known for quizzical stares and bad music.

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