Thompson on Hollywood

'Hero Whisperer' Joss Whedon and The Tension Within Him and His 'Avengers'

Box Office

Would the "The Avengers" be earning its rave reviews without writer-director Joss Whedon? The multi-franchise-tentpole-orgy could have gone in countless different directions. (Robert Downey Jr. confides to Collider, "I think it is just a really good story that could have been done a hundred ways wrong," and credits it success to Whedon.) As Variety calls "The Avengers" "escapism of a sophisticated order" and ThePlaylist declares it "thrilling, hilarious and brilliantly executed," clearly Whedon took a stance and delivered.

By Sophia Savage
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April 30, 2012 2:23 PM
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Spurlock's 'Comic-Con Episode IV' Goes on Tour to Support Theatrical/VOD Release

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No rest for the weary for Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"). He's hitting the road with his latest doc, "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" with a multi-city, live road show designed to create a Comic-Con-like experience.

By Sophia Savage
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February 24, 2012 8:00 AM
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First Look at Prometheus: Scott's Sci-Fi Thriller with Alien DNA, Fassbender, Theron, Rapace, Elba, Pearce & Wilson

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Ridley Scott's 3-D sci-fi thriller "Prometheus" is shrouded in mystery. Now EW offers a first look at the "Aliens"-related VFX space epic set for June 2012 release starring Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Patrick Wilson, Guy Pearce. Need we say more? We got our first peak at Comic-Con (the fest's prime asset). Fassbender told us that he plays an android based on the physicality of diver Greg Louganis. "There’s definitely a link to 'Alien,' there’s creatures in it that you’ll recognize,” he said at Comic-Con. Theron added that "people should really let go of the idea that it’s an Alien film.” Want more images? Here. At Comic-Con, Fox and Scott downplayed the sci-fi space thriller's relationship to Scott's original film and the kick-ass James Cameron sequel "Aliens." But Scott admits that this movie is grown from the same DNA. The movie is a further exploration of that future world produced with the scale and scope that new technology makes possible. And its ultimate goal is "to scare the living shit out of you," Scott said via satellite from Iceland.

By Sophia Savage
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November 23, 2011 4:30 PM
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Cowboys & Aliens Early Review Roundup: Favreau, Writers Talk Genre Clash

In the days leading up to the Cowboys & Aliens world premiere July 23 at Comic-Con in San Diego, director Jon Favreau was anxious. He was telling anyone who would listen just how brave this mash-up of the sci-fi and western genres really is. In his Thursday Q & A with Guillermo Del Toro in Hall H, Favreau said, "Everyone agrees it's either going to be terrible or awesome... This movie was not the safe move. I was in a position to do something different. As movie budgets get higher they all become the same. If you take risks, when it pays off it's wonderful. If you can take failure it's ok." Favreau also refused to make the movie in 3-D, thankfully.

By Anne Thompson
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July 27, 2011 6:29 AM
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Soderbergh's Tyranny of Narrative, Haywire at SDCC, Can Carano Hold a Candle to Action Star Jolie?

Steven Soderbergh presented footage from Haywire at Comic-Con. It was well-received. In ThePlaylist's interview with the director, he admits they weren't sure if Comic-Con was the right fit for the film, but "ultimately we decided, yeah, this is our take on the action film and we should show it off.” It was a good call, because the movie features an ass-kicking (and hot) female MMA champion, Gina Carano, muscle-boy Channing Tatum and newfound heartthrob and serious thesp Michael Fassbender (Carano and Tatum joined Soderbergh on stage for the panel). Why wouldn't it play well at Comic-Con?

By Sophia Savage
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July 26, 2011 5:45 AM
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Comic-Con Exclusive: Gale Anne Hurd Talks Walking Dead, Comic Book Movies, Girls Gone Genre

There's a reason Gale Anne Hurd turned from producing movies like The Terminator, Aliens and The Punisher to cable series like The Walking Dead. HBO, AMC, FX, Showtime, USA and other cable networks are where the smart writing, production values and character development are. And Comic-Con demonstrated without a doubt that the organizers have to rethink who gets to go into Hall H.

By Anne Thompson
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July 25, 2011 8:29 AM
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Comic-Con Costume Photo Gallery

While covering Comic-Con is a logistical nightmare, the folks who go there to pursue their muses are having a fab time. Herewith a sampling of costumes caught on the fly as I went about my chores. I particularly admired some of the folks coming out of a panel on Steampunk. Photo gallery is below.

By Anne Thompson
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July 25, 2011 5:29 AM
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Andy Serkis Talks Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Tintin, Hobbit

The king of performance capture actors pretended to be a fan in Hall H at Comic-Con Friday, asking Steven Spielberg a question about Daniel Craig meeting Clint Eastwood on the set of The Adventures of Tintin wearing just a leotard. (Here's a full report on Spielberg and Jackson talking Tintin.) Bill Desowitz (Immersed in Movies) talked to Andy Serkis afterward:Few in Hall H recognized Serkis because film fans don't know what the Brit actor looks like--the man who performed not only The Lord of the Rings' Gollum, but King Kong. Serkis is pivotal in the evolution of performance capture.

By Bill Desowitz
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July 25, 2011 1:14 AM
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Francis Coppola Wants Movies to Be More Theatrical--As In Live UPDATED Video

Always the influential pioneer when it comes to moviemaking--Francis Ford Coppola came back from the ardors of filming Apocalypse Now and said, "there has to be a better way of doing this"--Coppola returned to Comic-Con for the first time since Dracula with another horror flick, Twixt. But this one was a self-financed indie project, digitally shot and edited on locations near his Napa Valley winery. And while the veteran director won a standing ovation in Hall H, by the end of his presentation there were far more empty seats than at the beginning.

By Anne Thompson
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July 24, 2011 2:28 AM
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Comic-Con: Snow White and The Huntsman Details Arrive, Dueling Theron and Stewart, Gritty Images

We've been tracking the dueling Snow Whites and herewith share more details on Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman revealed by the filmmakers and cast at Comic-Con, along with some pre-production images and footage.