THE FORCE AWAKENS, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, DEADPOOL, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, ASH VS. EVIL DEAD, BILL MURRAY, CONAN O’BRIEN…ALL OF THIS AND MORE FROM GEEK CHRISTMAS IN SAN DIEGO, CA!
Article by Adam Mast
Photos by Christian Navarrete, Jeff Sanders, and John Pugh
Another amazing Comic-Con has come to a close, and while I could have done without the excessive line-waiting (we literally had to wait in unofficial lines in an effort to get into the official lines) and a completely aggravating (and unnecessary) wristband policy, the incredible movie presentations more than made up for the red tape.
Admittedly, it should also be noted that we made a lot of great new friends in line, so it wasn’t all bad. Chatting with like-minded individuals is always one of the more memorable aspects of the Comic-Con experience, and since we camped out for three consecutive nights outside the San Diego Convention Center, there was certainly no shortage of new friend-making.
Big time props to Christian Navarrete, Jeff Sanders, and John Pugh for all their help this year and much thanks to the generous folks at Comic-Con International for continuing to have us back.
As expected, there was a lot to see at Comic-Con 2015, so let’s jump right into several noteworthy highlights.
BEST SIZZLE REELS/TRAILERS:
“THE HATEFUL EIGHT” (The Weinstein Company)
Love Quentin Tarantino or hate him (for the record, I’m a huge fan), no one can deny this man’s pure love of the cinematic experience. In this day and age of digital movie making, not many filmmakers would go out of their way to insure that their latest film is viewable in 70 mm, but that’s exactly what Tarantino is doing.
The auteur behind PULP FICTION and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS will offer up THE HATEFUL EIGHT in glorious 70 mm for two weeks only, starting on Christmas Day. That’s right! It’s going to be a Tarantino Christmas!
Tarantino was not only on hand to talk about THE HATEFUL EIGHT but also to show off some footage. First, though, this gifted storyteller gave us a look at a reel featuring the great Samuel L. Jackson. In this amusing trailer, Jackson went into detail about this special upcoming 70 mm release and how Tarantino was inspired to go this route because of his love for old school 70 mm motion picture events like BEN HUR.
After the Jackson-fronted reel came to an end, Tarantino went on to present eight whopping minutes of footage from THE HATEFUL EIGHT (actually, it was more like seven minutes, but eight minutes sounds cooler for obvious reasons). The footage opens with an epic shot of a stagecoach making its way across a snow-covered landscape.
This was followed by an introduction to each key character in THE HATEFUL EIGHT, a rag tag team of bounty hunters who seek refuge in a cabin in the middle of nowhere during one hell of a storm. Beyond that, this outstanding sizzle reel gave viewers a taste of the film’s rather serious—and bleak—tone, but it was complemented by bursts of Tarantino’s trademark humor.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT features a stellar cast, including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Walter Goggins, Tim Roth, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Madson. The entire ensemble looks fantastic, but based on this reel, Leigh looks to be the standout. A moment in which Leigh takes an elbow to the face from Russell after popping off at him was both brutal and strangely hilarious. No, I don’t condone abuse in any shape or form, but in the context of the movie, this particular moment serves a distinct purpose.
This gripping footage was accompanied by an appropriate temp score. To be more precise, it was Ennio Morricone’s brilliant main theme from John Carpenter’s THE THING, which was perfectly fitting because this score gives viewers a chilly sense of isolation. The temp score seemed even more appropriate at the end of the panel when Tarantino revealed that Morricone would be scoring THE HATEFUL EIGHT. This will be this iconic composer’s first Western score in 40 years! How cool is that?
THE HATEFUL EIGHT sizzle reel smacked of vintage Tarantino, and if getting to experience eight minutes of footage wasn’t cool enough, we were also treated to a Q & A with the cast! Kurt Russell was there, and he was quick to talk up Tarantino in a big way (the two also worked together on DEATH PROOF). In fact, the entire cast talked about what a thrill it was to work on THE HATEFUL EIGHT, but perhaps the highest praise came from veteran actor Bruce Dern, who said: “Quentin has the greatest attention to detail as any director who ever lived. If he had a rival it would only be Luchino Visconti.”
High praise in deed.
Tarantino was asked plenty of questions from the crowd. One of the more memorable questions came from a young girl dressed as “The Bride” from KILL BILL (the majority of the panel agreed that this young girl had the coolest parents ever). The youngster asked if there might be a KILL BILL sequel, to which Tarantino replied it could happen in the future but that there’s nothing absolutely concrete at this point.
Tarantino was also asked if he was really going to stop making movies after his tenth film (THE HATEFUL EIGHT is, fittingly, his eighth movie). He said he’d make that decision when he gets there. He implied that he’d like to go out on top and leave audiences wanting more, but he also suggested that there’s always the possibility that he might have more stories to tell, so 10 movies could potentially swell to 15.
Finally, being the huge proponent of film that he is (he even purchased the New Beverly Theater in Hollywood so that he could turn it into a “film only” location), Tarantino discussed his desire to continue shooting on film. He even went on to say that if the landscape goes entirely digital, perhaps he’ll go to TV and make a miniseries instead.
An insightful panel to say the least and to top it off, “The Hateful Eight” sizzle reel was probably my favorite film footage from Comic-Con 2015.
“STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” (Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Pictures)
In all honesty, I don’t think there was a panel I was more excited about than this one. Funny enough, after Disney and Marvel announced that they wouldn’t be attending the Con this year, I thought Lucasfilm would be a no-show as well. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
A couple of weeks before the Con, though, Lucasfilm dropped the disappointing news that they wouldn’t be premiering the new EPISODE VII trailer, nor would there be any new footage showcased. Disheartening to say the least. Still, the studio promised appearances by J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Lawrence Kasdan, and “special guests,” and they weren’t kidding. Those “special guests” included stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Issac, and Adam Driver. But it was the one, two, three punch of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and “surprise SURPRISE guest” Harrison Ford (Ford was a no show at STAR WARS Fan Celebration earlier this year because he was recovering from injuries sustained in a terrifying plane accident) that truly left attendees speechless.
I have to tell you, seeing Luke, Leia, and Han on stage together was a thrill of a lifetime for this STAR WARS fan. It really was an amazing sight. What’s more, a generally grizzled Ford looked incredibly happy to be there. He even smiled a lot more than usual.
As previously mentioned, there was no new trailer—Abrams said fans can expect one in the fall—and no new footage from the film, but Lucasfilm did bring something that was in some ways even better: a three-minute behind-the-scenes reel. Pure magic, I tell you. Rather than try and describe it, you can click here to see it for yourself.
Watch the STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Comic-Con 2015 B-T-S Reel:
Abrams also brought along one of the practical creatures from the film, a part-puppet, part-animatronic marvel that I won’t soon forget. The stunning creation walked the length of the stage to the delight of the packed Hall H crowd.
Having said all of this, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the way Lucasfilm opened the panel. They should have gone big. Something like stormtroopers entering from the back of the stage, a light saber fight, something of that nature. Instead, it was a very low key opening. Moderator Chris Hardwick simply entered the stage and introduced Abrams, Kennedy, and Kasdan. But what Lucasfilm lacked in sheer presentation showmanship, they more than made up for by way of a special surprise at the end of the panel.
All 6,500 attendees were walked to an outdoor venue across the street from the convention center and invited to attend a live STAR WARS concert presented by the San Diego Symphony. The concert was preceded by a live message from the legendary John Williams, who’s currently busy scoring THE FORCE AWAKENS. Adding to the overall coolness of the evening, attendees also received light sabers. In the end, Lucasfilm offered up a “Star Wars” presentation for the ages.
“SUICIDE SQUAD” (Warner Brothers)
All eyes were on BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, but in my humble opinion, SUICIDE SQUAD walked away with the WB/DC presentation. Seriously! Consider me officially excited for this one.
Director David Ayer hit the stage, and his use of the word “shit” was only rivaled by the DEADPOOL cast’s use of the “F” word. Ayer was visibly excited to be on hand to talk about his DC villain-on-a mission movie, SUICIDE SQUAD, but it should also be noted that this guy is as intimidating as…well…shit! Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be on this man’s bad side.
Ayer brought along his stellar cast: Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Adam Beach, Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, etc. Pretty much everyone was there, save for star Jared Leto. While it was disappointing that the Joker himself opted to not attend, we got a glimpse of him in what was one of the very best sizzle reels of the Con this year.
Ayer looks to be doing something quite different with the DC universe here, and I, for one, am incredibly excited. This movie looks to be edgy, and I’m positively giddy at the idea of an all-star villain movie. The setup in this picture was giving me an ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK vibe, and I liked it!
Robbie’s work as Harley Quinn looks positively hypnotic, and while I’m still not entirely sold on the Joker’s overall look in this picture, I’m digging the hell out of Leto’s performance.
[Sidenote: The sizzle reel we were treated to was created exclusively for the Comic-Con crowd, but some asshole in the audience decided to bootleg it. WB and Ayer were incredibly upset by the leak, but they decided to make the footage officially available to the public in HD. While I don’t condone the actions of the idiot who decided to betray the studio’s trust—quite frankly, I hope he or she is brought to justice—I’m happy that WB counterattacked by simply making the reel available. Now we can all watch it over and over!Watch the SUICIDE SQUAD sizzle reel:
“DEADPOOL” (20th Century Fox)
20th Century Fox closed out the movie portion of Comic-Con’s massive Hall H lineup in a time slot usually held by Marvel Studios. With the showcasing of iconic superhero properties like THE FANTASTIC FOUR and X-MEN: APOCALYPSE—both of which included footage and cast appearances—it was clear that Fox was out to dominate the Con.
While a couple of the studio’s bigger title spotlights didn’t quite live up to the hype, there is absolutely no question that the DEADPOOL sizzle reel was the ultimate fan favorite at Comic-Con this year.
The panel included stars Ryan Reynolds, T.J. Miller, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, and director Tim Miller. While the majority of the Hall H movie festivities proved to be family accessible, the DEADPOOL panel was—as is the movie itself—a decidedly R-rated affair. The cast and crew playfully took potshots at each other, and it was a hilarious sight to see. When Ryan Reynolds wasn’t accusing director Miller of being a big cry baby on set, co-star T.J. Miller and panel moderator Chris Hardwick were engaging in off-color quips about the mating habits of horses. It was R-rated comedy at its very finest.
Before unveiling the sizzle reel, Reynolds was quick to point out how grateful he was that that infamous DEADPOOL test footage leaked online early last year. It was because of that reel and the enthusiastic response it garnered from fans, that Fox decided to greenlight the project.
And with that, attendees were treated to an extended peek at DEADPOOL. This lesser known—but no less grand—superhero property weaves its tale around a wisecracking crime fighter who loves to sarcastically badger his opponents before bringing them to justice. But DEADPOOL has no problem cutting himself down to size either. At one point in the clip, he likens his own facial deformity to a testicle with teeth. Hilarious!
While irreverent humor looks to be plentiful in DEADPOOL, so does the stylized action. There are plenty of high-octane chases, combat sequences, and gobs of cartoony violence to speak of, and it all looks to be handled with the utmost precision by Tim Miller. The DEADPOOL sizzle reel even offered up a surprising bit of drama revolving around DEADPOOL’s origin. In short, this obscure Marvel property looks to have a little bit of everything.
The DEADPOOL footage was so popular that it garnered a frenzied standing ovation, forcing spirited moderator Chris Hardwick to insist that the studio replay the footage, which they did. The second showing proved to draw an even more enthusiastic response than the first.
With its irreverent shock to the system, Fox’s DEADPOOL sizzle reel appeared to wake up an exhausted Comic-Con crowd in a big way. It received the same kind of rapturous response that the KICK-ASS presentation received a few years back. While that Matthew Vaughn-directed movie ended up only being a moderate hit at the box office, the inclusion of star Ryan Reynolds, a feverishly high-energy tone, and an undeniable sarcastic sense of humor should elevate DEADPOOL to larger-than-life status when it hits theaters next February.
[Special side note: While it is true that Marvel didn’t host a presentation this year, it should be mentioned that at the end of the 20th Century Fox presentation, Stan Lee, whose DEADPOOL cameo is his strongest Marvel movie appearance yet, walked out on stage and proceeded to round up the casts of THE FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, and DEADPOOL and had them all pose for the world’s biggest Marvel super hero photo. What’s more, Channing Tatum—soon to appear in GAMBIT—took the picture! Lee then ended the presentation with a prophetic statement: “This is how you end a panel!”So yeah, in the end, Marvel was very well-represented at Comic-Con 2015.
“KRAMPUS” (Legendary Pictures)
Michael Dougherty, creator of the outstanding Halloween horror anthology TRICK ‘R TREAT, returns with the Christmas horror tale, KRAMPUS. Dougherty was on hand to talk about his upcoming film. He even brought along a sizzle reel to share with attendees.
In the horror/comedy KRAMPUS, a demonic creature sets out to punish those who have been naughty during one terrifying Christmas season. The movie stars Adam Scott and Toni Collette, but its the youthful cast and special make-up effects that look to dominate what I suspect will be a yuletide classic for years to come.
This thing has Amblin written all over it, and I can’t wait to see it! Meshing horror and comedy can be tricky business, but clearly, Dougherty knows what he’s doing. If KRAMPUS is half as good as the creepy cool sizzle reel made it look, we’re in for one hell of a cinematic treat this holiday season.
“BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE” (Warner Brothers)
There were a lot of film presentations to get excited about at the Con this year, and with movies like THE FORCE AWAKENS, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, SUICIDE SQUAD, WARCRAFT, and DEADPOOL in the line-up, the honor of “most anticipated presentation” was certainly a debatable one.
Having said that, the weeks leading up to Comic-Con 2015 prompted a whole lot of DC talk and there’s no doubt that Zack Snyder’s BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is a movie on everyone’s minds. Me? I’m rather indifferent to all of this updated SUPERMAN chatter as the old school movie lover in me will always be smitten to Richard Donner’s SUPERMAN from 1978. Not that I’m beyond getting a little jazzed about BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. I certainly want the movie to be good and this much buzzed about panel certainly elevated my expectations. Not in a monumental way, mind you but I’m certainly more excited for this flick than I was a few months ago.
MAN OF STEEL had its issues and I still don’t feel like SUPERMAN as a character entirely fits into the cinematic landscape Zack Snyder has fashioned for him. SUPERMAN is a more idealistic property and what makes him so human is that he was brought up by good people in Martha and Jonathan Kent. The reason Kal-El never thought to take over the world with his God-like powers is because his human parents taught him respect. He is a beaming reflection of the best of mankind. He is the very personification of humanity.
Snyder’s vision finds the MAN OF STEEL in a more current and cynical landscape. One where mankind fears Superman because everyone fears what they don’t understand. In a way, Snyder’s interpretation of this iconic superhero is a polar opposite. It should be noted though that there have been many incarnations of SUPERMAN and while Snyder’s take is probably more miss than hit for me, it’s all subjective.
I can say that by throwing the Batman into the mix in this highly anticipated sequel, the darker tone feels, somehow, more digestible than it did the first time around. Translation: In some ways, this looks like it’s more of a BATMAN movie with Superman in it as opposed to the other way around.
I’m also very intrigued at the notion that Snyder and crew are using the destruction caused in the first picture as a reason for the Batman to have a legitimate beef with Superman. I’m a bit concerned that BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE will be congested. With the inclusion of Wonder Woman and rumored appearances by other superheroes, this film does risk the danger of feeling like a set-up piece rather than being its own thing. Still, we can all hope for the best.
Snyder was on hand during this epic panel and he brought along cast members Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, and Holly Hunter. Affleck told a funny story about bumping into Christian Bale in a Halloween store. It seems that both men were looking for costumes for their sons. Affleck pulled Bale to the side and asked him if he had any advice when it comes to playing one of the most iconic superheroes of all time to which Bale replied: “Make sure you can piss in that suit!” This story brought the house down, but not as much as the trailer for the movie did.
Watch the latest BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE trailer:
I’ve heard complaints about Jared Leto’s casting and subsequent look as the Joker in SUICIDE SQUAD but I feel like those complaints should be geared towards the casting of Jesse Eisenberg as
Lex Luthor. I’m a fan of Eisenberg and quite frankly, when I heard he was playing Luthor in this picture, I was completely behind the casting choice. Watching him in this trailer though, I was left feeling rather disappointed with this characterization. I know it hardly seems fair to pass judgment after only a few seconds of trailer time, but at a glance, I’m not feeling it. Here’s hoping this incarnation of Luthor is more of the bigger-than-life mastermind we expect and less of the scrawny weasel this clip makes him out to be.
Whatever the case may be in regard to Eisenberg, I have a feeling that Affleck is going to win over a lot of the naysayers here. He looks positively awesome in a way I wasn’t prepared for and based off this 3 minute trailer, coupled with his exceptional work on GONE BABY GONE, THE TOWN, and ARGO, I’m positively ecstatic that Affleck in on board to co-write and direct THE BATMAN.
BEST STUDIO SHOWMANSHIP:
“WARNER BROTHERS“
While THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and PAN footage had nothing on SUICIDE SQUAD and BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, these respective sizzle reels were still a thrill to watch because Warner Brothers dominated in the showmanship department. This studio is always known for dazzling Comic-Con attendees with their gloriously bombastic presentations and this year was no different. The pristine picture quality and heart thumping sound system proved to make for a breathtaking cinematic experience, but the addition of multiple screens along each side of massive Hall H fittingly took this presentation over the top in all the right ways. Partaking of the SUICIDE SQUAD and BATMAN V SUPERMAN sizzle reels in such fashion was simply the icing on the proverbial cake. Add to this the exceptional moderating skills of Aisha Tyler and you have what emerged as a near perfect studio presentation. Seriously, Tyler was great! She was warm and genuine, and at one point, she was so overwhelmed with excitement in regard to the footage and talent in her presence, that she was nearly brought to tears. In short: Aisha Tyler is a nerd and we love her for it! There is no doubt that Warner Brothers towered above the other studios in terms of pure presentation showmanship, and they’ve done it for three straight years!
Watch the extended THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E Comic-Con 2015 reel;
Watch the new PAN Trailer;
BEST FIRST TIMER:
“BILL MURRAY“
Open Road opened the Con with a big surprise! That surprise came in the form of Bill Murray’s first ever Comic-Con appearance, and the iconic funny man made the most of it. To the delight of many a Con attendee, Murray entered from the back of the massive Hall H crowd and made his way to the stage to promote the upcoming Barry Levinson-directed comedy, ROCK THE KASBAH. In the film, Murray plays Richie Vance — a has-been rock musician manager who discovers a potential star while on a USO tour in Afghanistan.
Murray worked the room like the seasoned pro that he is. He wasn’t only funny though. When fielding questions from an eager crowd, his answers were both thoughtful and sincere. A highlight came in the form of an attendee decked out in GHOSTBUSTERS memorabilia. The thrilled fan asked Murray if there was a single role throughout his career that he was most fond of playing, to which the GHOSTBUSTERS star replied: “I seem to recall being involved in a movie where I once saved New York City.”
Murray’s response was met with resounding approval by the packed crowd.
Part of me was bummed that director Barry Levinson and co-star Kate Hudson didn’t make the trek to San Diego for this panel, but it was an absolute joy seeing Bill Murray in the flesh. What a class act this guy is. He even mingled with fans before exiting the ballroom. In short, Comic-Con 2015 could not have opened in stronger fashion.
Watch the ROCK THE KASBAH trailer:
PANELS WE’RE SORRY WE MISSED:
“ASH VS. EVIL DEAD“
Damn you “Star Wars”! Why did your panel have to be scheduled at the same time as the ASH VS. EVIL DEAD presentation. Comic-Con attendees are often forced to make tough choices and this year, the worst bit of crossover programming came in the form of ASH VS. EVIL DEAD and THE FORCE AWAKENS. Of course, I went with STAR WARS but I was none too pleased to miss a presentation featuring everyone’s favorite Deadite slaughtering smart-ass, Ash. Bruce Campbell is a cult icon of the highest order. His work in THE EVIL DEAD franchise and BUBBA HO-TEP is the stuff of legend. When it was reported last year that THE EVIL DEAD creator Sam Raimi would forego a long awaited follow-up to ARMY OF DARKNESS (which might still be in the cards) to, instead, focus on an EVIL DEAD t.v. series, fans weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Well, if the buzz generated by this panel is any indication, you can expect a whole lot of Ash-kicking entertainment. Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi were on hand for the panel and they even presented a sizzle reel. A sizzle reel I’m happy to report is available to you, the fine public. I’m still incredibly bummed that I missed this panel, but oh so happy that this footage is available for our viewing pleasure.
Watch the ASH VS EVIL DEAD Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unnLg1TPCYM
“KEVIN SMITH“
Our team member (and budding filmmaker Christian Navarrete) is a proud Kevin Smith fan. Has been for years. It’s all over his work in all the best ways. Suffice it to say, Christian was positively giddy at the idea of attending Smith’s extended Hall H panel, as were the rest of us. Smith’s infamous Q & A’s are legendary and this one would be extra special because the CLERKS director planned to share footage from his upcoming film, YOGA HOSERS. Sadly though, Smith had the unfortunate and daunting task of following Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS panel. On any given year, following STAR WARS would have been a good thing. It would insure that Smith would have a packed house to work his magic on. The problem is, immediately following THE FORCE AWAKENS panel, Abrams and crew took nearly the entire 6,500-strong crowd to an outdoor venue behind the San Diego Convention Center, and treated them to a live STAR WARS concert performed by the San Diego Symphony. Smith took it in stride though. He even joked that he came close to cancelling his own panel so that he could attend the concert himself. Ultimately, he did host a panel in front of a crowd of about two thousand attendees. While our crew was unhappy to miss out on An Evening With Kevin Smith, that STAR WARS concert proved to be pretty bad ass. Plus, we got free light sabers!
Side note: J.J. Abrams was mortified when he found out he inadvertently sabotaged Smith’s panel. The two filmmakers are friends and Abrams was quick to apologize for the unfortunate mishap. Being the class act that he is, Smith shrugged the whole thing off. At the very least, it’s safe to say this incident will serve as great material for Smith’s comedy act for years to come.
“CONAN O’BRIEN“
There was no actual Conan O’Brien panel at Comic-Con but the late night talk show personality did host his t.v. show from San Diego, CA for an entire week during the Con this year. Unfortunately, tickets were very hard to come by and in many cases, the tapings were taking place during some of the Con’s bigger panels therefore, we simply didn’t have an opportunity to go and see him. Having said that, the legendary ginger was on hand to moderate Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES: THE MOCKINGJAY PART 2 panel, so we were privy to at least a partial Conan O’Brien fix. He killed it too. His interaction with THE HUNGER GAMES cast was funny, charming, and easygoing. In fact, it could be argued that, in many ways, O’Brien actually upstaged the guests on the panel. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to interpretation, but for me personally? I thought he was terrific!
BEST COMEBACK:
M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN’S “THE VISIT“
Jeff, Christian, and John were rather shocked that I walked up to director M. Night Shyamalan following a special advanced screening of his September release, THE VISIT and told him I thought it was his most entertaining film since UNBREAKABLE. They thought the filmmaker might take offense and consider what I was saying to be a back handed compliment. Upon retrospect, I sort of understand why they might think that, but quite frankly, it’s the truth. THE VISIT is Shyamalan’s most entertaining movie since UNBREAKABLE. And it should be noted that I liked SIGNS and, with certain reservations, THE VILLAGE.
We’re embargoed from reviewing THE VISIT in full as it’s still a couple of months away from release. What I can tell you is that the film centers around a woman who sends her children to spend some time with her estranged parents in an effort to allow them to get to bond with the grandparents that they’ve never known. That’s the set up. Once these lively children make it out to grandma and grandpa’s house…Well…Let’s just say that from that point, things get a little…weird.
Shyamalan’s last few efforts have left a bit to be desired prompting some fans to question what happened to this guy? With THE VISIT, I get the sense that Shyamalan decided perhaps it was time to get back to the basics. The end result is a smaller but effective effort that uses its creepy hook as a means to delve into what the story is truly about.
THE VISIT is every bit as dramatic and funny as it is creepy and off kilter. A hell of a cast too! Watch for a full review in September.
Click here for a little taste of M. Night Shyamalan’s comeback.
BEST COMIC-CON PANEL MODERATOR:
“CHRIS HARDWICK“
Chris Hardwick is the greatest moderator to ever grace the halls of Comic-Con International!! That is all.
As usual, the pros greatly outweighed the cons at Comic-Con this year, and I have no doubt that we’ll be back in the trenches next year to do it all over again.
If you’re interested in attending Comic-Con, it’s always good to plan ahead. Badges sell out months in advance.
For detailed information on how to purchase passes for Comic-Con 2016, CLICK HERE.
