Welcome and thank you for dropping by. Babylon 5
brought many of us together -- and it
remains with us, despite the fact that is no longer in production. The good
thing is that the internet gives a LOT of ways to stay in touch. Don't be shy.
Join in the discussion today or drop by my blog! You can also find me on
FaceBook and Twitter.
If you have questions or items for the news, drop me a line at sgbruckner@aol.com.
Again, WELCOME!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012
THE RIVER
Two-hour series premiere! When a legendary TV explorer goes missing in the Amazon, his wife, his son and a film crew set out to find him. From executive producers Steven Spielberg and Paranormal Activity's Oren Peli, this new horror series is mostly filmed from the camera's point of view. The series stars Leslie Hope, Bruce Greenwood and Paul Blackthorne.
UNFORGETTABLE
On Tuesday's Unforgettable, Poppy Montgomery's Carrie will use her powers for good when she celebrates five months on the job at Queens Homicide.
But while using her photographic memory to buy lunch for her colleagues to mark the milestone, Carrie gets a very Scream-like phone call from what she thinks is one of her cohorts looking to properly welcome her to the unit.
In the clip, exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, Carrie learns very quickly that her colleagues' initiation isn't nearly as dark as the actual caller -- a suspected serial killer who apparently likes to give the powers that be a 16-minute warning before he strikes again.
Unforgettable airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS.
GOLDEN BOY
CBS has found one of its golden boys. Pushing Daisies co-star Chi McBride has been cast in the ensemble drama about the making of a man that tracks one cop's meteoric rise from officer to detective to police commissioner. McBride will play the gruff Detective Don Owen in the project, which some have dubbed The Good Wife with a young cop. Owen becomes the new partner to a young, ambitious police officer who rises quickly through the departmental ranks -- maybe too quickly -- after breaking up a major drug ring and becoming a hero.
Nicholas Wootton, who got his start as a young writer on NYPD Blue, will pen the project and executive produce alongside Greg Berlanti for Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Melissa Kellner Berman will co-executive produce with Richard Shepard directing the pilot.
McBride, repped by UTA and The Collective, most recently appeared on Suits, Hawthorne and How I Met Your Mother. His series credits include Human Target, Boston Public and Pushing Daisies.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Columbia Pictures has revealed the new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man!
The July 3 release stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
SCIENCE FICTION NEWS STORIES:
Need to catch up on the news from this week or last, be sure to check out the
News Archive. It will
bring you up to date for all that has been going on in the world of science
fiction.
ON THE TUBE TONIGHT
8:00pm on CBS NCIS Episode: Life Before His Eyes NEW S09, E14
Gibbs questions the choices he has made during the course of his life when a man pulls a gun on him at a diner.
9:00pm on ABC The River Episode: Magus; Marbeley PREMIERE NEW
Six months after adventurer Dr. Emmet Cole goes missing in the Amazon, his location beacon sends out a signal; Emmet's wife, Tess, along with her son and Emmet's film crew, embark on a journey to find him; a crew member goes missing.
9:00pm on CBS NCIS: Los Angeles Episode: Partners NEW S03, E14
When a diplomatic service van transporting an unidentified package is hijacked, the team must determine what was stolen and by whom; as Sam and Callen celebrate five years as partners, they face a challenging assignment.
9:00pm on The CW Ringer Episode: What Are You Doing Here, Ho-Bag? NEW S01, E12
When Juliet's mother, Catherine (Andrea Roth), visits, she wreaks havoc on Bridget and Andrew's relationship; Bridget thinks she's discovered the key to learning more about her sister.
9:00pm on Syfy Quantum of Solace(2008)
James Bond's hunt for those responsible for Vesper Lynd's death leads him to a ruthless businessman who is plotting to seize control of a valuable resource.
Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini
10:00pm on CBS Unforgettable Episode: Carrie's Caller NEW S01, E14
A serial killer who knows about Carrie's memory mocks the Queens PD as he continues to target victims.
10:00pm on USA White Collar Episode: Pulling Strings NEW S03, E14
Neal works with Sara to find a missing Stradivarius.
ARMAGEDDON EXPO
Schedule permitting (as with all conventions), J. Michael Straczynski will be at Armageddon Expo in Australia & New Zealand in October with Pat Tallman, Bruce Boxleitner and Mira Furlan.
BABYLON 5 SIGHTING
Did you see Bruce Boxleitner as the father of the bride in the latest Fancy Feast ads?
ACROSS TIME AND SPACE: THE CHRONOLOGIES OF BABYLON 5
Authorized by J. Michael Straczynski
LAST CHANCE EVER FOR THE CHRONOLOGY BOOK
Time has run out for "Across Time and Space: The Chronologies of Babylon 5". On February 29 the white and green editions of the book will be retired, forever, and will never be available again, in any form...including data crystal.
* Contains two complete chronologies: Terry Jones' Babylon 5 Historical Database (parts of which were previously published in the now-defunct Official Babylon 5 magazine) and I. Marc Carlson's "Time Line of the Babylon 5/Crusade Universe."
* Together these two documents are the only sources that give you a complete picture of the Babylon 5 universe.
* Contains important Babylon 5 canon buried in the novels, comic books and short stories.
* Up to the minute -- includes The Lost Tales.
* Includes information that has not been published in a decade from out-of-print publications such as the Official B5 magazine.
* The ultimate Babylon 5 reference because it weaves the entire B5 universe into a cohesive narrative.
* Includes data from all televised episodes of Crusade and some that weren't even produced.
* Includes an introduction by Fiona Avery, reference editor for Babylon 5 and Crusade (and writer of 4 Crusade episodes).
For more information or to order, to go http://www.cafepress.com/b5books.
NEWS FROM J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
On JMS' facebook page (Fans of JMS), a comment asked:
Hey JMS, I saw the game in my shelf and remembered that a few years back Jerry Bruckheimer supposedly asked you to write a script for Shattered Union. How did that go? J. MIchael Straczynski Finished it, they're deciding what to do with it. Meanwhile, they turned around and made a deal for me to write another screenplay for them, Vanishing Point, which just went in to them before Christmas.
CITY OF DREAMS
You've heard rumors of the City of Dreams. It's existence has been officially denied, although unconfirmed reports have placed it beneath the ruins of Machu Pichu in South America. Others say it's in Arkham, Massachusetts, or hidden in a secret network of tunnels under Moscow.
But we're here to tell you the truth. Do you want to know where the City of Dreams is?
J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5, teams with Seeing Ear Theatre to bring you an exclusive, all-new audio drama anthology series featuring tales of dreamers, madmen and fanatics.
This was originally planned to be a 13 episode series but due to time and budget constraints, the series was canceled (in fact, the whole radio series department at SciFi was canceled) after only 8 were produced. You can still find the City of Dreams web site...
Something unusual is waiting for you in the intersection of a conversation between God and a man asked to build a second ark...what it will carry, and where it all goes, is not what you may be expecting.
Adapted for audio by J. Michael Straczynski, with a cast featuring Tim Curry, Kevin Conway, Alissa Hunniutt, Dan Seckel, Ean Sheehy and Kevin Townley.
NEW THEATER RELEASES
SAFE
Release date: March 2, 2012
Official website: http://www.safethefilm.com/
Cast: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, James Hong, Reggie Lee, Robert John Burke
A second-rate cage fighter on the mixed martial arts circuit, Luke Wright lives a numbing life of
routine beatings and chump change...until the day he blows a rigged fight. Wanting to make an
example of him, the Russian Mafia murders his family and banishes him from his life forever,
leaving Luke to wander the streets of New York destitute, haunted by guilt, and tormented by
the knowledge that he will always be watched, and anyone he develops a relationship with will also
be killed.
But when he witnesses a frightened twelve-year-old Chinese girl, Mei, being pursued by the same
gangsters who killed his wife, Luke impulsively jumps to action...and straight into the heart of
a deadly high-stakes war. Mei, he discovers, is no ordinary girl, but an orphaned math prodigy
forced to work for the Triads as a "counter." He discovers she holds in her memory a priceless
numerical code that the Triads, the Russian mob and a corrupt faction of the NYPD will kill for.
Realizing he's the only person Mei can trust, Luke tears a swath through the city's brutal underworld
to save an innocent girl's life...and perhaps even redeem his own.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Opens in theaters February 3, 2012
WhatDidTheySee.com is now live! The NEW
mysterious site invites users to take a look inside Eel Marsh House and discover the answer
to "What did they see?" Visitors have only a partially obscured view, just enough to see
through the doorway and into this young girl's room. By using motion recognition with the
computer's webcam, visitors to the site can shift their perspective within the room by simply
moving right & left in front of their own computer to see what lurks behind the door and in
the shadows. No matter how scared you get, expect to receive your own customized photo,
compliments of THE WOMAN IN BLACK!
For more information on new releases, go to New
Releases.
Here is a quote from J. Michael Straczynski about emotions. I had this theory that the more important and intimate the emotion, the
fewer words are required to express it.
First it's in dating: "Will you go out with me?" Six words.
"Honey, I care for you." Five words.
"You matter to me." Four words.
"I love you." Three words.
"Marry me." Two words.
But what's left? What's the one most important and intimate word you can ever
say to somebody? It's "goodbye."
While Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar), Rick Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Tim Choate (Zathras)
and Jeff Conoway (Zach Allen) are no longer with us, we will not forget their
wonderful personalities and talent -- as well as their significant
contributions to the BABYLON 5 universe. Be sure to visit In Memory Of for more
information about memorial efforts. Until we met again, in a place where
no shadows fall.
BABYLON 5 BIRTHDAYS
Michael Beck - February 4
Ardwight Chamberlain - February 16
Karen Harrell - February 21
John Iacovelli - February 25
Bill Mumy - February 1
Matt Plummer - February 26
Majel Barrett Roddenberry - February 23 - she is greatly missed
John Schuck - February 4
Myriam Sirois – February 2
Have I missed anyone? If you know the birthday of someone connected with
Babylon 5, pass the information along. We want to include everyone in our
Happy Birthday Wishes.
HARLAN ELLISON BOOKS ON SALE
These four volumes, designed to bring Ellison's writing to a new generation of readers while collecting rare works for his long-time fans, gather classic stories, entertaining essays, unpublished teleplays, and the author's never-before-reprinted second novel from 1960. The Brain Movies series gathers Ellison's screenplays into collections reprinted from the author's own file copies. See how Ellison originally imagined the many television episodes that were mangled after they left his typewriter en route to the small screen. Enjoy unprecedented access to Ellison's writing process by studying his handwritten annotations or comparing outlines to finished scripts. Experience undiluted Ellison in the theater of your own mind, where no network executive, scissor-happy censor, or unimaginative director can come between you and the storyteller.
For a more complete description of these books, go to www.harlanbooks.com
CAPTAIN POWER RETURNS About The Series
In the year 2147 humanity has been nearly wiped out after the Metal Wars, where machine fought man - and
machine won. Out of the Ashes of defeat came Jonathan Power (Tim Dunigan) and his masters of combat, humanity's
only hope against Lord Dread (David Hemblen) and his Bio Dread Empire. Guided by his father's credo, "...to
protect and preserve all life," they became known as CAPTAIN POWER AND THE SOLDIERS OF THE FUTURE. Also
starring Jessica Steen and Peter Macneill.
HISTORY AND LEGACY
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future launched the careers of such CG FX pioneers as Rob Coleman (STAR WARS EPISODES 1-3, MEN IN BLACK, DRAGONHEART), Paul Griffin (THE LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG, PAN'S LABYRINTH), and Ron Thornton (BABYLON 5, STAR TREK, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER). The show's original writing staff included such visionary science fiction writers as J. Michael Straczysnki (BABYLON 5, THOR, CHANGELING), Marc Scott Zicree (THE TWILIGHT ZONE, STAR TREK, SLIDERS) and Michael Reaves (STAR TREK, BATMAN, TRANSFORMERS).
The show was created by Gary Goddard (TERMINATOR 2:3D, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, SKELETON WARRIORS), creator of such groundbreaking attractions as JURASSIC PARK: THE RIDE, STAR TREK THE EXPERIENCE and The AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SPIDERMAN. Now just in time for the show's 25th anniversary creator Gary Goddard revisits his creation by releasing the complete series for the first time ever on DVD. Featuring over 6 hours of all new content including the world premiere documentary film OUT OF THE ASHES THE MAKING OF CAPTAIN POWER, produced and directed by Roger Lay, Jr. (RAY BRADBURY'S CHRYSALIS, TOY MASTERS, RAY ROMANO: 95 MILES TO GO).
Many here will recall that 'Al' was originally a radio drama consisting of 20
5-minute episodes that was produced but never aired for the CBC.
BABYLON 5 PRESENCE ON FACEBOOK
I know a lot of you are already on FaceBook. However, I don't know if you knew
how many other Babylon 5 folks have taken the plunge and opened FaceBook
accounts. In fact, Pat Tallman has reopened her Fan Club using FaceBook at the
site. For a peek, go to
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45593318387. Claudia Christian has
been really active -- sharing pictures of her recent trips and letting us know
about upcoming convention activities. J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) has a
FaceBook page as well as a new "Fans of J. Michael Straczynski" page. So check
it out!
ON-LINE INTERVIEWS
Marc N. Kleinhenz has begun a series of interviews of the cast of BABYLON 5,
one of the landmark television shows in American history. Look back with them
as they discuss their characters, their emotional evolution, and their
participation in television history.
NEW VENTURE
I am starting up a new site over at Word Press. Not much there as yet, but I
will post important items there just to get started. The URL is http://thezocalo.wordpress.com. Check
it out if you have a second.
NEW DVDS OF INTEREST
5 STAR DAY
Synopsis:
Four People. One Horoscope. Infinite Possibilities. Jake Gibson's (Cam Gigandet) horoscope forecasts a perfect FIVE STAR DAY the morning of his birthday. Little does he realize that what's foretold to be a flawless day, unfolds to be far less than stellar when Jake's world is turned upside down as all that could go wrong...does. Determined that Astrology has no legitimacy, Jake embarks on a journey to test the theory of Astrology by finding the three people born the same time and place as himself - Sarah Reynolds (Jena Malone), Yvette Montgomery (Brooklyn Sudano) and Wesley Henderson (Max Hartman). The journey quickly uproots Jake from the small college town of Berkeley, California to downtown Chicago where he sets out to find and interview Sarah, Yvette and Wesley to see if their birthdays proved to be as disappointing as his own. Jake's pursuit in finding his three Astrological matches (or Zodiac twins) will not only test his convictions... Written by FSD
Video clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1688903961/
Review:
How many of you read your horoscope each day? Do you believe what you read? Do you think there is any way people sharing the same sign can share some common characteristics? Jake Gibson sets out to find out. He finds three people who share the same birthday as he does and he tries to interview them on their birthday. It is an interesting premise and one that proves interesting to follow through to the end. In the process of completing his research, he finds himself and happiness.
FINAL DESTINATION 5
Release date: January 17, 2012
Synopsis:
Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and in Final Destination 5 it strikes again. During the bus ride to a corporate retreat, Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) has a premonition in which he and most of his friends — as well as numerous others — die in a horrific bridge collapse. When his vision ends, events begin to mirror what he had seen, and he frantically ushers as many of his colleagues — including his friend, Peter (Miles Fisher), and girlfriend, Molly (Emma Bell) — away from the disaster before Death can claim them. But these unsuspecting souls were never supposed to survive, and in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated group tries to discover a way to escape Death’s sinister agenda.
Review:
I have not seen any of the previous FINAL DESTINATION movies, but this is is extremely well done
in my opinion. You are introduced to the principal actors within the first few minutes and you see all of them struggle when eight survive a freak accident and death delightfully played by Tony Todd comes to reclaim them one by one. "Death hates to be cheated," and that theme resonates throughout the movie as freak accidents befall each of the people who survived the collapse of a bridge early on in the movie. There are a number of twists as well. Some of the incidents are set up very well -- you anticipate the demise of the person and it comes in a totally different way!
JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM
Release date: February 28, 2012
BURBANK, CA (Dec 13, 2011) – Earth’s greatest super heroes face foes on all fronts – using a plan initiated from within – in the all-new Justice League: Doom, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives February 28, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Both the Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and DVD will include an UltraViiolet™ Digital Copy. Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.”
Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Tim Daly (Private Practice), the reigning voices of Green Lantern and Superman, respectively, join a group of eight actors reprising their famed Justice League cartoon roles. Fillion made his debut as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan in the recent Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, and took his initial DC Universe bow as the voice of Steve Trevor in the 2008 hit Wonder Woman. Daly originated his role as Superman’s voice in the landmark cartoon, Superman: The Animated Series. He has reprised the role in two DC Universe films: the 2009 extravaganza Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and the 2010 thriller Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
The grand reunion of actors who provided the voices of the Justice League for the cartoon of the same name and its follow-up, Justice League Unlimited, includes Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) as Flash, Susan Eisenberg (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) as Wonder Woman and Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson (A Different World, Transformers: Animated) joins the cast as Cyborg.
The Justice League faces two sets of villainous teams in the film – The Royal Flush Gang and a sextet of notable evildoers. The latter group includes three voice acting alumni of the Justice League animated series: Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld) as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (Angel) as Mirror Master. Also opposing our heroes are Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) as Bane, Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) as Metallo, and Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate SG-1) as Cheetah.
David Kaufman (Danny Phantom) also reprises his Justice League role of Jimmy Olsen.
The film is executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One), and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One), who is also credited as producer alongside Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series). Justice League: Doom is the final DC Universe script from the late Dwayne McDuffie (All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths), who passed away in February 2011. Casting and dialogue direction is once again in the capable hands of Andrea Romano (Batman: Year One, Justice League).
“Justice League: Doom has all the classic ingredients of a great super hero film – a cavalcade of dynamic villains, internal strife amongst our heroes, treacherous twists and turns, and a cast that brings together some of today’s popular primetime television actors with many of the fans’ favorite voices from the original series,” said Hersin Magante, Warner Home Video Marketing Director, Family & Animation. “I think fans will embrace Dwayne’s McDuffie’s final script, particularly as it has been nuanced by Bruce Timm and the Warner Bros. Animation team. Warner Home Video is proud to distribute Justice League: Doom as the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie.”
DOLPHIN TALE Dolphin Tale is a 2011 family drama film directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay by Karen Janszen and Noam Dromi and a book of the same name. It stars Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, and Morgan Freeman.
The book and film are "inspired by the amazing true story of Winter", a bottlenose dolphin that was rescued in December 2005 off the Florida coast and taken in by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It lost its tail after becoming tangled in as rope attached to a crab trap and had to be fitted with a prosthetic one.
Review:
Looking for a good movie to watch with the family -- the entire family? Here's one for you. You need not worry about violence, language, adult situations -- something that is hard to avoid these days. Here's a movie that looks at a number of "big" issues -- the environment, wildlife preservation, soldiers returning from war, family ties. They are all brought together by a dolphin, Winter and an 11-year old boy, Sawyer. Morgan Freeman channeled a bit of his "Lucius Fox" character from "The Dark Knight" as he portrays Cameron McCarthy, a specialist in prosthetics. While
the plot is not too unusual, the story is engaging and uplifting.
SYNOPSIS: Idris Elba (The Wire) expands his gritty role as John
Luther, a near-genius detective struggling with his own demons. Devastated by
his wife's brutal murder, Luther returns to policing in the newly created
Serious and Serial unit, prepared to solve some of London's most brutal
murders. A highly acclaimed psychological crime drama, crackling with energy
and snappy dialogue. Seen on BBC America.
The dark psychological drama starring Emmy nominee Idris Elba (The Wire, American Gangster) as John Luther,
the near-genius detective struggling with his own demons, returns with two
distinctive, thrilling crime stories. Crackling with energy and
beautifully shot this series sees Luther take bigger risks and face even
darker challenges. Who is John Luther? Clip http://youtu.be/wz23Wyzwukc See You
in the Morning Clip http://youtu.be/lNSvspCTs0U
Review:
Like so many BBC series, LUTHER is absolutely riveting. The story revolves
around a series of murders where the police are taunted at each step of the
way. The murderer plays to the street cameras and the police are helpless as
they watch women being murdered before their eyes. This only deepens Luther's
desire to catch the villain. When his partner is actually captured by the
murderer, the stakes are raised even higher. Will they catch the guy before he
kills a bus load of children? The writing is done so well, you can't help but
be on the edge of your seat as each kernel of the story is unfolded. Given the
subject matter, this is not a DVD for anyone under age, but if you are looking
for a good who-done-it, Luther is a very
good choice. PS: Don't feel that you will be confused by the fact that
this is the second season of the series. If you watched season one, you may
know a bit more about the characters, but you won't need that to enjoy the
drama.
CATWOMAN Catwoman animated short premiere
is centerpiece of DC Universe Animated Panel at New York Comic Con. Eliza
Dushku reprises Batman: Year One role as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in
15-minute short; Animation guru Bruce Timm, nine-time Emmy-winning dialogue
director Andrea Romano and fan favorite voice of Batman Kevin Conroy to also
discuss upcoming Justice League: Doom. Warner Home Video will
present the world premiere of Catwoman, the latest addition to the DC
Showcase Animated Shorts series, as part of its DC Universe Animated panel on
Friday, October 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the IGN Theater at New York Comic
Con. Catwoman is included in the October 18 Blu-ray/DVD release of
Batman: Year One, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe
Animated Original Movies. The panel includes animation legend Bruce Timm,
nine-time Emmy Award-winning dialogue director Andrea Romano, and the fan
favorite voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy. The panelists will discuss the Catwoman
short, the upcoming release of Batman: Year One, and next spring's
release of Justice League: Doom. The world premiere of the
Justice League: Doom trailer is another New York Comic Con exclusive to
be unveiled during the panel. Catwoman/Selina Kyle is voiced by Eliza
Dushku, well known for her television roles in Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, Tru Calling and Dollhouse. The 15-minute short is
penned by respected comics/animation writer Paul Dini. The short finds
Catwoman posing as an entertainer in a strip club to get close to black
market diamond smuggler Rough Cut who doesn't take kindly to Catwoman's
interference in his business, leading to an all-out battle through the streets
of Gotham City. When Alan Burnett and I first started discussing the
idea of a Catwoman short, we both agreed that we wanted to make the story and
the settings as adult as we could, Dini explains. The world of burlesque
has returned in a big way to the contemporary consciousness, and that proved
to be a very natural setting for this Catwoman story. At the time I wrote the
initial screenplay, I didn't know the short would be paired up with Batman:
Year One, but the steamy setting that Selina inhabits in that book also proved
to be ideal for the short.
For the short, Dini created the character
Rough Cut, a villain whose smuggling interests beyond diamonds catches
Catwoman's attention.
I liked the idea of a villain who was obsessed
with diamonds, but as this story takes place in the down and dirty side of
Gotham, I felt the bad guy couldn't be too glamorous, Dini says. I came
up with the name Rough Cut both to describe the man and the kinds of crude,
unfinished diamonds he pedals. There's always a market for industrial diamonds,
but lately Rough Cut has been feeling the economic pinch, so he's smuggling
more precious cargo. That's what brings Catwoman into the picture.
Dushku was very happy to return to her Batman: Year One role, having already
taken equity in the part of Catwoman/ Selina Kyle. Dushku has definitely found
a clear understanding of her character's emotional make-up. A lot of
people are familiar with the characters I've played these strong and
vicious women who are, very deep down inside, really wounded women with an
entirely unexpected side, so there's nothing black and white about them,
Dushku says. I think people identify with the characters I play because even
though they do terrible things, there's a humanity there. They've got lots
of layers. They're not just good or evil. Selina is a prostitute, and
she's abrasive and in your face, but she also has this maternal, protective,
loyal quality to her. Her relationship with Holly is a perfect example it
shows a side you might not expect.
BATMAN: YEAR ONE Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC Comics titles from
12-time Eisner Award winner Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli.
The film depicts young Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham City in his first
attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante. The playboy billionaire
chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a
young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside
the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman,
and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham.
Primetime television stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie
(Southland, The O.C.), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and
Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) provide the core voices for Batman: Year
One. Three-time Emmy Award winner Cranston gives voice to young Jim Gordon,
while McKenzie makes his animated voiceover debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Fanboy favorites Dushku and Sackhoff fill the roles of Selina Kyle/Catwoman
and Detective Sarah Essen, respectively. Alex Rocco (The Godfather) is the
voice of crime lord Carmine Falcone. Animation master Bruce Timm is
executive producer of Batman: Year One. Directors are Lauren Montgomery
(Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu (All-Star Superman) from a script
penned by Academy Award nominee Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist,
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse). Here is a new clip just received from the
WB: BatmanYearOne.wmv
For information on more DVDs coming out soon, go to New DVD
Releases.
Here's a treat for you old movie buffs! The official CITIZEN KANE Facebook page
http://on.fb.me/KANE70 to Watch the FIRST
10 MINS. of the Orson Welles' classic. CITIZEN KANE – the 70th Anniversary
Edition is now available for the first time on Blu-ray and For DOWNLOAD
including on iTunes with Extras: http://bit.ly/CitizenK_70.
THE HOUR Synopsis: Romola
Garai, Dominic West and Ben Whishaw star in The Hour, a thrilling
six-part drama set in 1950s London when the BBC is about to launch an entirely
new way of presenting the news. The dynamic Bel (Garai) is chosen to produce
the new program, to be called ?The Hour,? with handsome and well connected
Hector (West) set to become the anchor, much to the annoyance of Freddie
(Whishaw), a brilliant and outspoken journalist, whose passion continually
lands him in trouble. Over the six episodes, the interplay of intense
ambitions between our rising news team play out against the backdrop of a
mysterious murder and Freddie's controversial and dangerous investigation.
Review:
Like so many BBC series, THE HOUR exemplifies entertainment at its finest. The
stories are finely crafted with intricite dialogue and pacing. While only six
episodes, the tension builds from the start. The cast is excellent. While set
in 1956, you get a true idea of what it is like to put a news broadcast
together. It takes you back to the 1950s when the news consisted of Cold
War-era England, the Suez crisis, and the world wide speculation of JFK as a
vice presidential candidate in the US. A side benefit for anyone that has
only watched the series on BBC America. The DVD has the full episodes -- not
the cut to fit 60-minutes as seen on the tube.
V: THE COMPLETE SECOND
SEASON Release date: October 18, 2011
Synopsis: Earthlings, prepare
for the return of the Visitors! Queen Anna and her alien followers hatch their
secret plan as Warner Home Video (WHV) releases V:
The Complete Second Season on DVD and Blu-ray on October 18. Known
for its stunning special effects, the sci-fi series' second season is filled
with hovering spaceships and jaw-dropping moments of the Visitors morphing
into reptilian forms. In addition to all 10 episodes, the two-disc set Blu-ray
includes an extra hour of bonus content including two behind-the-scenes
featurettes: "The Arc of the Story: Mining the Human Emotion" and "A Visual
Masterpiece for the Small Screen." Described as "darker, funnier, faster
than last season" by Entertainment Weekly Online, V's surprising second season
reveals Queen Anna's (Morena Baccarin - Firefly, Serenity) master plan toclaim
Earth as her own. Meanwhile, FBI Counterterrorism Agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth
Mitchell-Lost), conflicted Visitor Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut - Ladder 49,
Boyz n the Hood), disillusioned priest Father Jack Landry (Joel Gretsch - The
4400) and others join an underground unit of resistence fighters called the
Fifth Column that are attempting to put a stop to the Visitors before it's too
late. Season Two also stars Logan Juffman (America), Laura Vandervoort
(Smallville), Charles Mesure (Xena: Warrior Princess) and Scott Wolf
(Everwood).
DOCTOR WHO: SERIES SIX,
PART 1 Release date: July 19, 2011
Synopsis: Matt Smith
and Karen Gillan make their triumphant return as the Doctor and his companion
in an all-new series of Doctor Who! The new series will split in two
parts, with DVD/Blu-ray release dates in July and in early November, closely
following their premiere runs on BBC America, and then a complete series gift
set just in time for the holidays. In Part 1, the Doctor, Amy and Rory find
themselves in Sixties America, battling the invasion the world forgot, then
journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard a pirate ship, to solve the mystery of
the Siren. In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets
an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the
near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape. And
waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon's Run, and
the Doctor's darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time
Lord's soul? Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is
going to die...
GREEN LANTERN Available in
Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Release date: October 14, 2011
Product Description
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite force of protectors for
peace and justice has existed for centuries. They are the Green Lantern Corps.
When a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the Universe, their fate
and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of the Corps' newest recruit, the first
human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Bringing the popular
superhero to the big screen for the first time, Green Lantern also stars Blake
Lively (Gossip Girl), Peter Sarsgaard (Orphan), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes),
Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett* and Academy Award winner Tim
Robbins**.
THE
VAMPIRE DIARIES: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Release Date: August 30,
2011
Synopsis: They're back – and they're not alone. The seductive
characters of The Vampire Diaries return for a stunning 5-Disc 22-Episode
Season Two. This time Elena, Stefan, Damon and the other residents of Mystic
Falls are joined by sinister new blood. Released from the tomb, Katherine
unleashes her personal brand of evil in a diabolical plot. The Originals –
the world's oldest and most dangerous vampires – hunt for Elena, who
discovers she has a terrifying connection to their world. And now bloodsuckers
aren't the only monsters in town. On moonlit nights, werewolves roam in
search of victims…including vampires, who succumb to a single werewolf bite.
The Vampire Diaries: unending suspense, undying romance. Special
Features: Into Mystic Falls: Bringing Vampire Lore and the High School
Experience from Page to Screen When Vampires Don't Suck!: The Popularity
of Vampires and the Fans Who Love Them The Vampire Diaries: A New Breed of
Vampires -- Casting the Series The Vampire Diaries: Vampires 101 – The
Rules of the Vampire Creators/Director Pilot Commentary Unaired
Scenes The Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth Webisodes Second Bite: Gag
Reel Downloadable Audiobook of the Bestselling Novel The Vampire Diaries:
The Awakening by L.J. Smith
Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song
Release date: September 6, 2011
Synopsis:
It's a modern and enchanting twist on an enduring classic! Katie (Lucy Hale
of Pretty Little Liars) dreams of being a recording artist but is continually
thwarted by her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle) and stepsister (Megan Park of The
Secret Life of the American Teenager). When Katie falls hard for Luke (Freddie
Stroma), the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his
attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie's
amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up
for her dreams before her stepmother forces Katie to sing Luke into the arms
of her wicked stepsister.
Special Features:
Spotlighting Lucy Hale: Our New Cinderella
A Cinderella Story: Meet Prince Charming
A Cinderella Story: Make'em Move
Flippin' On Set
Lucy Hale "Bless Myself" Music Video
In the Recording Studio with Lucy Hale
Review:
Here is a film that you could watch with your teenage children. The story is an
old (very old) one, but with a new look. Can Katie break out on her own
despite the plans of her cruel stepmother and step sister to steal her songs
and voice? You are rooting for her to stand up to her stepmother and tell Luke
she's really the voice behind her step sister. The songs and dance numbers are
great. Missi Pyle is wonderful as the evil stepmother. A good way to spend
some quality time as a family.
FRINGE: THE COMPLETE THIRD
SEASON Release date: September 6, 2011
Synopsis: Immersive.
Compelling. Hypnotic. Brilliantly imaginative. Endlessly thrilling. Pick your
term. The mystery of the universes deepens in the critically acclaimed
22-episode third season of television's most exciting sci-fi. The Fringe
team escapes from the parallel universe – except for Olivia, trapped in the
other world and replaced in ours by her double, who turns Peter and Olivia's
tentative relationship into a love affair. Then Olivia returns, bonds of trust
fray, ever more bizarre and terrifying phenomena occur and secrets that
stretch back to 1985 threaten to destroy our universe. Or theirs. “Fringe
continues its hot streak known as Season 3. It's been firing on all cylinders
all season� (Andrew Hanson, LATimes.com).
Review:
FRINGE has been one of my favorite shows from the very beginning. Following the
complex story line has been fun and constantly keeps you guessing. The third
season has been full of twists and turns -- with the cast going between
parallel worlds. This season, the relationship between Peter and Olivia heats
up, creating even more plot twists for the coming year. The actors,
Joshua Jackson, Anne Torv and John Noble are amazing. Even if you haven't
followed the series from the start, I don't think it would be hard to follow
the story. You see each character struggle with their own demons and this
propels you into "what can happen next?" What happened to Peter? Will he
return? These are only a few questions fans are waiting to hear answers to in
the coming season.
NEW SATIRES FROM TYE
Tye
Bourdony has been doing satires for a number of years. This month's SciFi
magazine features one of them. I will start posting more of Tye's work here
for you to enjoy! By the way, congrats Tye on the SciFi feature. To see
more of Tye's work, go to http://www.thelightersideofscifi.com
BABYLON 5 MUSIC VIDEOS AND TRIBUTES
I found a touching tribute to Johnny Sekka this
morning. Johnny was Dr. Kyle in "The Gathering" - the original pilot for
Babylon 5. I met Johnny at a convention once. He was an awesome personality. He
had vast experience in theater and a resonent voice that was hard to forget.
Johnny died in 2006 of lung cancer.
I found this message on the Babylon 5 moderated
newsgroup this morning and just had to post it so that others might enjoy the
marvelous music videos created by John Hudgens.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ As some of you may know, I was hired by Joe
Straczynski back in the day to create Babylon 5 music videos for him to use at
science fiction conventions, and later to promote the show to networks. Eight
were produced over the run of the series, not including the memorial videos I
did later for Rick Biggs and Andreas Katsulas.
For the longest time, the only way to see these was if Joe or I showed
them at a convention, but now, after numerous requests from fans over
the years, Joe has given me permission me to post these online.
- This is the extended version that I did for Andreas' widow ater the
original cut was released on the net. It's never been seen online
until now.
For those of you who've never seen these, I hope you enjoy them - and
for those that have (and emailed me many times over the years about
releasing them), I hope they're as good as you remember. Working with
Joe on these videos was one of the highlights of my career, and I'll
be forever grateful to him for the doors these have opened for me. I'm
proud to have them on my resume.
John Hudgens
www.zteamproductions.com
Farpoint 2012
Date: February 17-19, 2012
Place: Crowne Plaza Baltimore North, Timonium, MD
Guests: Kate Veronon, Michael Hogan, Kristin Bauer
For more information, go to http://www.farpointcon.com.
Megacon 2012
Feb. 17th - 19th, 2012
Orange County Convention Center Hall D
9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
Advanced Purchase (online, by phone, or by mail)-- 1-Day $24.49; 3-Days $58
At the Door -- 1-Day $25; 3-Day $60 Guests: Tim Russ, Ethan
Phillips, Valerie Perrine For more information, go to http://www.megaconvention.com/.
Steel City Con
March 2-4, 2012
Place: Monroeville, PA (Near Pittsburgh)
Guests: Christopher Knight (Brady Bunch), Billy Dee and Corey Dee Williams (Star Wars), and more
For more information, go to http://www.steelcitycon.com.
Comic-Con 2012
Date: July 12-15, 2012
Place: San Diego Convention Center
Guest list too numerous to list.
For more information, go to http://www.comic-con.org
Shoreleave 34
Date: August 3-5, 2012
Place: Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD (near Baltimore)
Guests: Joe Flanigan, Connor Trinneer, Michael Shanks, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Davi, Wil Wheaton,
Kavan Smith, Colin Ferguson, Saul Rubinek, Ryan Robbins and Robin Dunn
For more information, go to http://www.shore-leave.com.
Worldcon 70
Date: August 30-September 3, 2012
Place: Hyatt Regency Chicago
Guests: Mike Resnick, Story Musgrave, Rowena Morrill, Jane Frank, Peggy Rae Sapienza,
John Scalzi
For more information, go to http://www.chicon.org
Dragon*Con
Date: August 31-September 3, 2012
Place: Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia
For more information, go to http://www.dragoncon.org.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS! Creation Entertainment has a large
number of conventions planned for the next several months. They include stars
from TWILIGHT, SUPERNATURAL, STARGATE, FARSCAPE, XENA, SERENITY, STAR TREK,
etc. Check out their calendar to see if one will be in your neighborhood soon.
Don't miss their Videos
page as well. It is full of some priceless video from a number of
conventions.
Be sure to visit the referenced sites to see if there have been changes in
dates/guests attending. Visit our Convention
Calendar for a full listing of upcoming conventions.
BACK ISSUES OF THE ZOCALO TODAY
The front page of the The Zocalo Today changes daily, so be sure to
check the back issues to make sure that you
haven't missed anything IMPORTANT! I don't want the front page getting too long
so I shift information periodically into the archives. So if you aren't a
regular visitor to The Zocalo Today, be sure to check out the back issues.
Just use the button above!
Take care and I look forward to hearing from you. Sandra Bruckner (sgbruckner@aol.com)
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net
Copyright - SBruckner, 1999-2011
GOLDEN BOY
8:00pm on CBS
HARLAN ELLISON BOOKS ON SALE
5 STAR DAY
FINAL DESTINATION 5
JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM
LUTHER 2
CATWOMAN
V: THE COMPLETE SECOND
SEASON
DOCTOR WHO: SERIES SIX,
PART 1
GREEN LANTERN Available in
Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy
THE
VAMPIRE DIARIES: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
FRINGE: THE COMPLETE THIRD
SEASON
