Behind The Scenes: The Dark Knight Returns

Well, last year DC Animation tackled Frank Miller's Batman - Year One and now they're undertaking probably the most beloved comic in fandom, The Dark Knight Returns (hmmmmm...it's a toss up between this and Watchmen).  Honestly, I kinda hated the Year One adaptation but that also stems from my lukewarm reaction to the original book.  But I LOVE The Dark Knight Returns.  LOVE IT.  And I want to love this new film.  I dig that they're breaking it up into two parts (Part 1 to be released this fall and Part 2 will be out early next year).  But what's really exciting is the casting of Buck Banzai himself, Peter Weller as Old Man Bruce Wayne.  That is perfect.  My only wish is that both parts were coming out together cuz it's gonna be hard to wait for that climactic super hero showdown in Part 2.

Anyway, this below behind the scenes video comes from this week's DVD release of Superman vs The Elite.  Just glimpses of the animation, but it looks pretty pretty pretty good.

--Brad

Hi Ho Silver!

The Lone Ranger & Tonto by David Palumbo

Currently, Disney's new Lone Ranger is filming in New Mexico under the direction of Gore Verbinski and starring The Social Network's Armie Hammer as the masked vigilante and Johnny Depp as the reliable sidekick Tonto.  Depp has been trying to get this film off the ground for a good while now and after some serious financial backandforth between Verbinski and Disney, the budget has been settled and 2013 will give us the first Summer Blockbuster Western since 1999's Wild Wild West...uh...the less said about that the better.  

Now I hope the film has ditched the rumored werewolf plot, but I'm guessing there will be some serious Pirates of the Caribbean supernatural hokum at play somewhere in the narrative.  And if that's how we gotta play to get kids psyched about Cowboys & Indians again than I'm all for it.  Please, America, bring The Western back to its former glroy.  I've been doing my part with my recent string of Western reviews for cineAWESOME! and after 2010's $100 million True Grit take I think we're more open to the oater than ever.

Anywho, Geek Tyrant via CBM posted the below videos depicting The Lone Ranger's trusted stead Silver practicing the film's big stunt sequences.  The production Silvers are being trained by veteran Hollywood horseman Rex Peterson, who worked on Appaloosa, Hidalgo, The Ring, The Three Amigos, and Leonard Part 6.  

I love this stuff.

Well, however this venture turns out it's gotta be better than 1981's The Legend of the Lone Ranger...

--Brad

Darth Maul Retruns in Clone Wars

It finally happened.  After the brief tease in last season's Savage Opress storyline, the once thought dead Sith Lord, Darth Maul has returned to the Star Wars universe.  And he's voiced by my least favorite aspect of Frank Darabont's The Mist, Sam Witwer.  Seriously, how was I supposed to buy that guy as a military man with those set of eyebrows?  But after watching the below trailer and behind the scenes clip...he seems to be a fine vocal fit.

Of course, as the wife just said, Darth Maul was the least crappy thing about a really crappy movie.  Am I excited?  Yes.  Cuz The Clone Wars is the best bit of Star Wars scripting since Empire Strikes Back.

More Star Wars: The Clone Wars Videos

Sideshow Collectibles has already started selling their Clone Wars Darth Maul with Mechanical Legs statue!  That's right, he's a cyborg.  And his dual lightsaber is all crooked now.  All this puppy will cost you is $349.99.

--Brad

Ghost Rider 2: Behind The Cage

February can't get here fast enough, as far as ITMOD is concerned.  We've been waiting on Ghost Rider 2 for a year now, and we're just as surprised as you are.  Seriously, who would have thought we would be anticipating a sequel to that original dreck, but once the CRANK boys got on board so did Matt & I.  What's next?  GI Joe Anticipation?  Uh...Hell Yes!

Anyway, here's a fun little Behind The Scenes video that actually contains a good chunk of the footage I saw at last year's Comic Con.  But it's still pretty darn nifty.

--Brad