I got to the convention center early today to get into the first big movie event of the con. The movie events take place in the huge hall H, which holds 6,500 people. The first event started at 11:00, but you had to be there at 4:00am to get into one of the first rows. I arrived around 10:00 and got decent seats for the first event, but people who arrived half an hour after me couldn’t get in at all.
I took some more shots of costumed visitors while waiting in line.
Rebel scum! They were right in front of me in the line. You can tell they haven’t had their morning coffee yet.
The young Ms. Incredible.
Weird box people. Nobody knew what they were about.
The first event was a promotion for a few new WB movies: V for Vendetta, the new Harry Potter, Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride, and The Fountain.
My main reason for coming was V for Vendetta, which is the terrible movie being made by the Fucking Wachowski Brothers, based on my favorite graphic novel (or is Watchmen my favorite? I can never decide) by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. It stars Natalie Portman, of whom I could get not a single decent picture, and Hugo “Missster Annnderson” Weaving, who wasn't here today.
Check out Natalie Portman’s hair - she shaved it for the movie.
They showed the trailer for the movie (looked OK, I guess, but way too many digital effects – typical Wachowski) and then they brought in the panelists: Star Natalie Portman, producer Joel Silver, who Alan Moore tells us is a stinking liar, I say is a standard Hollywood
Silver talked a bit about how excited he was to in this "project" and how much he loved the book and blah blah Hollywood crap blah blah, and then they opened the panel for questions. Almost all questions were from weirdo fanboys to Natalie Portman, of course. They asked some odd questions like “what’s the different between playing a character inspired by a comic book and a character inspired by a novel?” and “I heard you talk about Israel and Judaism, and that caused me to start researching that subject and now I’m this whole metaphysical journey”. People were groaning in embarrassment, and the metaphysical guy was booed away by the audience. Natalie Portman was very nice to all of them, tried to be sweet to the more nervous ones, and asked people to direct some questions to the other panel members (nobody did anyway). She was even sweet to the guy who confused her with someone else and asked a question about a movie she wasn’t in. We laughed our asses off and he almost cried.
People did ask some interesting questions on how a certain US administration compares with the government in the book, and how come author Alan Moore wants nothing to do with the movie. Too bad the producers couldn’t give them good answers.
A fun time was had.
And I got to see Natalie Fucking Portman!
Next was The Corpse Bride. This is another stop motion animation movie from Burton, a bit like The Nightmare before Christmas, but they promissed there will only be four songs in it. I have very high hopes for this one.
Go watch the trailer.
Tim Burton was “unable” to come, but he sent a short video of himself saying hello and come watch my movie, as well as two nice people from the production team.
Another bad image taken from a great distance. My mini-tripod doesn't work that well when I forget it at home. Have to get in early tomorrow so I can get decent seats!
Then came The Fountain. It’s some sort of epic story about love and eternity, with Hugh Jackman, who sent a "Hi there!" video from Australia, (where he is now filming X-3), and Rachel"God Damn!" Weisz. Writer/director Darren Aronofsky was there with Wiesz to talk about the movie and take some questions. I’ve never heard of the movie, but many people showed up today especially to see Aronofsky.
I don't want to sound too shallow, and I actually have some expectations from this movie, and Rachel, if a Google search for the least-read reference to you lead you here, I want you to know I think you're a fine actress, honest, but really, who cares? Good times!
Mom, you don't have to click any of those links. I'm sorry if you already did, but I have an audience to please, and it turns out they're not into the fine arts. Well, maybe that depends on how you define "fine".
That ended the WB event and I went back to the floor to get some shopping done.
Oh look! It’s Andy Runton, creator of Owly, the most charming comic book in all history. Andy is a grade-A nice guy, and Owly is, is, is… Well it’s the only comic I ever got Marina to like. I think that says a lot.
Damn. Another victim of Stragers Who Can’t Hold A Camera.
Holly shit! This Hellboy was unbelievable. The mask, the glove, the gun, the tail - wow. Chick In Tight Black certainly approves.
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I was in the autograph area when this woman started screaming behind me. It was Margot Kidder, Louis Lane from the Superman movies, shrieking with excitement at the sight of Porno Star Superman here. He was kinda cool in a way, and I was pretty excited too, but nobody ran to me and asked for my autograph.
Wilma! I mean, uh, Erin Gray! She’s like 97 years old now, but she’s still OK, in a way.
You need to read this South Park script. Start where is says “[Playground]”. Go on, I’ll wait.
On to the Battlestar Galactica meeting. While I was waiting for it to start, I hung out in a panel on horror movies and censorship. That’s John Landis in the middle, bad mouthing the MPAA and the White House. Pretty much everyone who was talking about movies had something nice to say about them.
Everybody’s excited about one thing. More to say on that tomorrow.
Finally, the Battlestar Galactica cast. Well, most of it.
Sadly, Tricia Helfer wasn’t there, but Grace Park was there to represent the Cylon Empire. When she came in, the event host asked her where the other Sharons were, and she replied that there are another three backstage. Someone from the audience asked if he could have one, and everyone laughed. Yay.
The crowd went pretty wild when Grace Park came out. I think she was OK with that.
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On her left, Apollo is telling Baltar he has something on his face.
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Writers/creators/gods Ron Moore and David Eick. They made TV watchable again.
And Madam The Gods Talk to Me Cause I'm The Smug Ass President.
Halfway through the event, Katee Sackhoff finally showed up. How Starbuck of her.
The cast all seemed like best buddies and made the event lots of fun for everyone.
They were talking about differences between the classic and the new show, and Jamie Bamber (Apollo) said that the “action” between Apollo and Starbuck isn’t one of the changes in the new series, because it was bound to happen in the original series if they’d only let it run a little longer. Everybody liked that one. Yay.
After the event I saw Richard Hatch, the original Apollo, in the signing area. He’s also doing Tom Zarek in the new season.
An Obi Wan sadwich! I love the beer belly look on the bike trooper.
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Funny story about this elf. I was trying to get a picture of all the Jedis and geeks at the Penny Arcade booth, and the elf happened to turn around and see me with the camera in my hand. She thought I wanted to take her pictuer and immediately assumed the position. It just seemed rude not to take the picture. I love Comic Con.
My favorite South Park line.
That’s pretty much it for today. So much to see, so many places to go, so little time to write and select pictures and stuff. I’m completely beat.
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