Disney owns Marvel

Oh, go google it if you want a hard link, it's been reported fucking everywhere already. This is what happens when news breaks while I'm at work...

Anyway, title says it all. The Disney Corporation owns Marvel; as in Marvel Comics, Marvel Films, etc. Which overall means that instead of Marvel producing it's own films starring 3rd and 4th tier properties while it waits for Spider-Man, The X-Men and The Fantastic Four's prior contracts with other studios to expire; Disney will be doing that instead.

No need to worry - yet - about editorial issues in the books; comic book publishers make so little money in and of themselves as to not even EXIST for the companies that own them. DC Comics just KILLED Bruce Wayne, made Dick Grayson the new Batman, yanked Damian Wayne (Batman's son, Ra's Al Ghul's grandson, loooong story) out of continuity-limbo to be the new Robin, and has Bruce set up to "return" as one of the "zombie" Black Lanterns. Think Warners cares how that might reflect on their all-important "Batman" movie franchise? Hell no! They know that at this point only dedicated longtime fans are reading DC Comics right now, and they're all gonna see the movies anyway. As far as the media companies who own comic publishers are concerned, all that "wing" of the company does is hold onto licensed properties until they need to make movies out of them.

Don't expect to see Marvel rides/characters at Disney World just yet - those rights are probably still under contract to Universal Studios. But you can bet there's a legal team who's job it is to wriggle out of that ASAP. I look forward to the day I can have my picture taken with Moon Knight in front of The Jungle Cruise.

The big, super-awesome-mega-happy-good film geek angle on this is, of course, that about 98% of the Marvel Universe is now either under the direct control or at least in grasping-distance of John Lassetter and the boys from Pixar (who along with Steve Jobs are effectively running Disney right now.) Show of hands of anyone who thinks there's ANY Marvel property that would not be done either best or better-than-before by Team Pixar? Didn't think so.

Escape to the Movies: "Halloween II"

It's ALMOST worth it just for the goofiest celebrity-cameo of the year and a well-deserved swipe taken at some tragically-memorable dialogue from "Halloween: Ressurection."

Ted Kennedy: 1932-2009

MSNBC is just this moment reporting that Senator Ted Kennedy, last of "the" Kennedy Brothers, has died.

I'm here in MA right now... and somehow that still just feels strange to say. For whatever else he might have been, few figures have ever loomed over American political life for as long and in so many different forms.

This will DOMINATE the news for at least the next few weeks, and probably more considering how much his name will be invoked in the Health Care debate. But for now... wow. It's surreal, and also hugely tragic. Here was one of those figures who goes beyond politics and parties... I don't care who you are or how you vote: If you know thing-one about the last several decades of American politics, you know that a Titan has died this day.

Germany's CINEMAXX To Deploy REALD Technology

Large Volume Pact to Bring RealD 3D Experience to CinemaxX Theatres Across Germany and Denmark

(Emphasis is mine)

Global 3D cinema leader, RealD, and major German cinema circuit, CinemaxX, have partnered to equip CinemaxX theatres across Germany and Denmark with RealD 3D. This multi-screen pact builds on RealD’s extraordinary momentum that saw 400% growth across Europe in the first half of 2009, cementing RealD as the territory’s preferred 3D provider.

The multi-year agreement kicks off with 30 CinemaxX screens in Germany and Denmark immediately upgraded to RealD 3D in time for the highly anticipated September release of Disney●Pixar’s Up. An additional 30 RealD 3D equipped screens will be added across the CinemaxX circuit by the end of the year, with an ongoing rollout of more RealD 3D enabled screens through 2010.

“We’re pleased to welcome CinemaxX to the RealD 3D platform,” stated Bob Mayson, managing director of RealD Europe. “This partnership will assure moviegoers across the CinemaxX circuit will experience the extraordinary line-up of movies this year and for years to come in crisp, clear, fully immersive RealD 3D.”

“We’re excited to partner with RealD to equip our circuit with the best 3D cinema technology available,” said Christian Gisy, CEO of CinemaxX AG. “RealD 3D will give CinemaxX audiences an unmatched 3D entertainment experience in time for this year’s top films.”

Real D’s new generation 3D technology is deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform with over 8,700 screens under contract and over 3,200 screens installed in more than 45 countries with over 300 exhibition partners. The leading 3D provider around the world, RealD 3D is the market leading 3D cinema platform in territories including North America, Latin America, Australia and Europe, having notched 100% growth to its global install base in the first half of 2009 alone. A bright spot for the entertainment industry, RealD 3D is driving box office to the tune of three to four times per screen revenue of the same film on 2D screens.

About CinemaxX
CinemaxX AG is the most well-known operator of multiplex cinemas in Germany. In total, the company has 36 cinemas with 303 screens and capacity for around 88,000 people in Germany and Denmark. Due to their architectural design, CinemaxX multiplex cinemas occupy a unique position in the German cinema landscape and also offer exemplary standards of comfort and quality - including refined picture and sound quality, extra large screens, modern comfortable seats in air-conditioned cinema halls and an excellent ambience. For more information, please visit www.cinemaxx.de.

About RealD
RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and realistic digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s new generation technology, deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform, provides a stunningly lifelike viewing experience. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provicder of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing , and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D visualization technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more. www.realD.com

Awesome news to hear more conversions taking place. Timing couldn't be better for CinemaxX as AVATAR is ramping up and 2010 promises to be a huge year for 3D. I would love to check out a CinemaxX theater as they seem to be a hugher end venue for movies - I love theaters like that.

New AVATAR BTS Photo: Cameron Directing Worthington

Jim here. Got a great behind the scenes look at Cameron directing Worthington in what looks to be one of their transporter ships. Personally I love seeing these shots - I like seeing where scenes come from on a human creative level and this helps bring it home for me.

I would bet that this scene takes place immediately before Jake rolls out on Pandora for the first time in his wheelchair (as seen in the teaser trailer). If you have a look at what Jake is holding - it is his breathing mask that he wears when in the atmosphere of Pandora.

The photo is from Empire who will have more shots in the upcoming issues.

Wayfare Breathes Life Into 3D Underwater Survival Drama SANCTUM

Jim here. SANCTUM promises to be a very intriguing project. Just after the low budget and Peter Jackson produced DISTRICT 9 was released to much acclaim we learn that SANCTUM has gotten $30 million financing from Wayfare Entertainment. James Cameron will executive produce.

The underwater survival drama will be using the FUSION 3D camera system (photos) invented by Vince Pace and James Cameron. Wise move. There is no one better in the world in underwater 3D. Expect the production to begin shooting in Australia in Q4 this year with Vince Pace most likely as DP (I have an email into Vince inquiring about this).

Another similarity with DISTRICT 9 is that the relatively unknown Alister Grierson (KOKODA) will direct the movie under the guidance and technology of an industry power player. Obviously the intent is to duplicate the overwhelming success.

Andrew Wight (GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS, ALIENS OF THE DEEP) co-wrote and will produce. John Garvin co-wrote as well.

From Variety: "Sanctum" is a fictional drama inspired by Wight's near-death experience when he led an expedition of 15 divers into a remote underwater cave system below Australia's Nullarbor Plain, and then watched a freak storm collapse the cave entrance. It became a two-day battle to survive until all 15 were rescued, an ordeal recounted in the 1989 docu "Nullarbor Dreaming."

In "Sanctum," a hard-edged father and his teen son lead a diving team, and the true character of the divers surfaces when they are faced with adversity."

As one who was nearly killed in that cave collapse, I thought there was great stuff in how people react in crisis, and become heroes or cowards," Wight told Daily Variety. "Jim and I spoke about all this while working on these 3-D adventure projects, and we had a burning desire to make a gritty film about what it's like to be on an expedition and have it all go horribly wrong. We wanted to show that the 3-D equipment and technology can be used to tell a story in a modest budget independent film."

We can expect more such ventures from Cameron. He obviously is taking a strong approach to ensuring their is plenty of 3D movies in the pipeline for distributors to make the call to changeover to digital 3D. This is yet another underwater 3D drama from Cameron/Pace with the other being his THE DIVE project which he will be directing. I have to say that I would not want these films under anyone else's influence - the man knows submerged filmmaking.

THE B-LIST: TIME IS ON MY SIDE

Well, I’m really trying to get back in the swing of things around here, but I still need a little more time so I can finally finish up that review of Gymkata that I promised a short… oh, three months ago. What can I say, time flies when you’re not having fun. So fast, in fact, that I find myself having just completed The Coming Home Network’s guide to reading the Bible and the Catechism in a year. That went much quicker than I thought it would.

You know, one of the tricky things you can’t help but notice the first time you try to make your way through the entirety of scripture is the non-linear arrangement of the books. Every thing seems fine until around the middle of the Old Testament, and then, bam, the timeline starts to jump all over the place. Now, this is simply a result of having the various books of the Bible arranged by category, and some of the categories arranged by length, but the decision to have it this way can really throw a first timer who picks up the Bible and tries to read it straight through, front to back. And yet, even so, once the last word of the last page has been reached, it all manages to come together and you realize you’ve just experienced an engrossing story covering the entire history of salvation from the first spark of life to the final curtain call of the known universe.

That is, if you actually finish it.

Let’s face it, next to the sheer bulk of the material, it’s probably the arrangement of scripture that prevents most people from reading it all the way through. Just when you get a good head of steam going with Genesis and Exodus, you run smack dab into the stone wall of laws that is Leviticus. And by the time you get near the end of the Old Testament you start to wonder if you can possibly handle one more chapter of some prophet frothing at the mouth about the wrath of God descending upon the Jews.

If you’ve had that problem with reading the Bible from start to finish, or are worried that you might, then… don’t read it from start to finish. As ardent movie freaks can tell you, there are any number of ways to approach a narrative. Even low budget oddball movies like you find around here can give you a few good tips to carry with you when you start reading the Bible. If you don’t believe me, then just take a look at the following short list.

WICKED, WICKED (1973)

Remember those scenes in Brian DePalma films and the Woodstock documentary  where the screen splits and you can see two things going on at once? Ever wondered what a whole movie filmed in that manner would be like. Probably not, right? But writer/director Richard L. Bare did, and so gave to the world Wicked, Wicked, the only movie ever filmed in Duo-Vision! This is the touching story of a guy who hangs out inside the walls of a hotel and occasionally dons a monster mask so he can come out and kill some of the blonde female guests. It’s equal parts melodrama and camp, but it’s also an interesting experiment in storytelling as one side of the screen follows the main narrative while the other often shows flashbacks, internal monologues, and just plain weird stuff meant to provide subtext to the story. In a sense, this split-screen technique is the same logic applied to most scripture reading programs, as well as the lectionary used by most high-worship churches. It’s one thing to try and trudge through those rampaging prophets on their own, but place them alongside the goings-on in Kings and Chronicles and they start to seem a bit less maniacal. In fact, by the time God’s children crap all over his generosity for the hundredth time, there’s a good chance you might start to feel the prophets weren’t frothing enough.

THE KILLING (1956)

Before Stanly Kubrick was KUBRICK, he made this little low budget (A $320,000 Kubrick film!) semi-noir flick about a crime caper which goes horribly wrong for the five men involved. Besides simply being a good movie, the film flawlessly uses flashbacks to revisit pivotal scenes, but each time from the POV of a different character, bringing more depth to the story and characters each time it does so. (Sound familiar, Reservoir Dog fans? Hey, Tarantino’s talented, but he didn’t invent the wheel, you know.) This is a good technique to keep in mind when you’re reading the gospels. They give you the same story four times in a role, sometimes with entire scenes being replayed, but each narrator brings a slightly different perspective. Mark serves up the basics, Matthew points out things of interest to the Jews, Luke does the same for Gentiles, and John wraps the whole thing up from the viewpoint of an already established community of Christians. And just like in The Killing, once you’re done, you have a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the complexity of the overall story that you couldn’t have gotten from just a single straight-ahead narrative.

SLACKER (1991)

Richard Linklater’s $23,000 opus begins with a man stepping off a bus and getting in a taxi. After a brief interchange between the man and the driver, the camera leaves them and follows some other people travelling in the opposite direction. A few minutes later it leaves them and wanders off with someone else. That scenario repeats itself on and on for another 90 minutes. Slacker has no plot, no recurring characters, and no big set pieces. What it does have, however, is an amazing sense of a certain people at a certain time in a certain place. If you weren’t part of Generation-X at the start of the 90s (lucky you), then watch Slacker and you will know, you will “feel” what it was like to be one of the aimless. The Wisdom books of the Bible (Proverbs, Sirach, Wisdom, etc.) are kind of like that. They don’t give you any plot to advance, any characters to follow, or even any heavy theology to digest. The verses of Wisdom literature are concerned rather with the mundane, the simple daily activities of human existence. No plagues or world ending floods, just tips on going about your routine. So when you’re done reading them, you don’t really have a story to remember, but you do have a sense of the mindset and considerations of a child of God interacting with the rest of the world in the public and private places where life is carried out.

THE CIRCLE (2005)

If all that sounds too confusing, and you really just want something a little more linear, then The Circle is an absolute must-see. The movie begins simple enough with a woman arriving at a hotel room to confront the man hired to kill her husband. From there, it follows her efforts to save her spouse as she makes her way to the parking lot, into a car for a drive across town, through myriad passageways into an underground club, on to her apartment, and finally back to the hotel room where it all started. The catch is that the movie unfolds in real time and the camera never shuts off. In a exercise of technical brilliance, the entire film takes place in one single take, sticking with the woman despite the myriad locations AND the inclusion of a flashback. So if you love true independent filmmaking and enjoy the subtle performances one finds in a David Lynch movie (that’s a joke, folks), then give The Circle a look. Even if the story gets too weird for you, watching the criminally under-appreciated Angela Bettis maintain the emotional level her character requires for a straight 100 minutes is by itself worth the price of rental. I bring this last movie up because, although the Bible isn’t arranged chronologically, that doesn’t mean you can’t read it that way. In fact, in a couple of weeks, I plan to start doing just that. After scrounging around the Catholic Answers forums and a few websites, I’ve managed to come up with a list which comes pretty close to arranging scripture in a linear fashion. I say “pretty close” because some things like the Psalms are just to difficult to place time wise with pinpoint accuracy. Still, it’s pretty darn close. If you’re interested, you can take a peek at the reading order HERE.

As you can see, you don’t have to let the non-linear structure of the Bible hamper you from reading it. Just like in the movies, there are plenty of ways to approach it that can be both entertaining and meaningful. So give it a try, the only thing it’ll cost you is time.