Kansas City Comic Con To Highlight 40th Anniversary of “Superman the Movie” with VIP Ticket Package

2018 marks the 40th Anniversary for one of the most popular and influential films of all time, “Superman the Movie.”

To help celebrate the event this year’s Kansas City Comic Con is bringing six of the film’s stars to Kansas City to help commemorate the milestone. While all of the guests will be available during the convention to meet fans and sign autographs, KCCC is offering an amazing “You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly” VIP ticket package, which includes the following:

*VIP Reserved Seating for BOTH the film panel at the convention AND at a screening of “Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut,” which will be held at the Alamo Drafthouse.

*A set of six special 11″x 14″ 40th Anniversary Prints (unsigned) featuring attending cast members Margot Kidder, Sarah Douglas, Jack O’ Halloran, Aaron Smolinski, Jeff East and Diane Sherry Case.

*A special 11″x 14″ 40th Anniversary Print featuring, and pre-signed by, Valerie Perrine, who will not be attending the convention.

*Priority line where VIP ticket holders can also have one item of their choice signed by any (or all) of the attending cast members.

*A professionally shot Group Photo opportunity with all of the attending cast members on site.

*Cool swag bag filled with free Superman and Superhero-related merchandise! Bag merchandise will vary and will include items from show sponsors, including Hallmark, Mezco Toys, Coolwaters Productions, Gentle Giant, DC Comics and Factory Entertainment.

*40th Anniversary poster featuring original and exclusive artwork from Capedwonder.com

For more information or to purchase your VIP Package ticket, click here.

The Kansas City Comic Con runs from Friday, November 10 through Sunday, November 12 at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

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Film Review “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavilll and Amy Adams
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 153 Minutes
Warner Bros. Pictures

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Over the past decade, Marvel has slowly built one of the most highly anticipated cinematic franchises, with each installment garnishing rave reviews and even more acclaim from fans. Through 12 movies, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has meticulously and carefully put all the pieces together, to where millions will turn out this summer and understand nearly every second of “Captain America: Civil War”. Marvel has taken a lot of time and patience to get that point. Warner Bros. and DC apparently don’t have time for that.

Set 18 months after the events of “Man of Steel”, “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” obviously introduces us to Bruce Wayne (Affleck). His backstory is ubiquitous, so we gloss over his tragic past in a quick sequence of shots and voice over narration on the opening credits. But the draw is when we watch the fight between Superman (Cavill) and General Zod (Michael Shannon) from the end of “Man of Steel”. While people flee from the chaos, Bruce runs into the clouds of debris and crumbling buildings, highlighting why he’s a superhero, even when he’s not the Dark Knight.

The scene is captivating and eerily reminiscent of 9/11, and that’s what it’s supposed to tell us about Batman’s mind set. It also seems to acknowledge many fan concerns from “Man of Steel” about the loss of life during the Superman/Zod beatdown. There’s a lot less careless disregard for civilians in “Batman V. Superman”, but that’s because much of the movie is spent building up to the fight between Batman and Superman. But that’s because it’s what people want to see, obviously. So does the build-up make sense? Kind of. Does it pay off? Sort of.

Since DC is playing catch-up, I believe it’s fair to compare “Batman V. Superman” to the “Avengers”. While Marvel clearly has room to breathe and enjoy what is has, DC appears breathless as it rushes through characters, plots, and ideas. While I did say that Batman’s origins are omnipresent, where Batman is at in his his life is a bit of a mystery. He’s in his 40’s and seemingly has a lot more downtime than previous incantations of Bruce Wayne. But rarely do we truly understand his distrust of Superman, more than we’re just supposed to go along with it. He also seems to have some skeletons in the closet we’re not being told about.

Then there’s the iconic Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). When he arrives on scene, it’s clear he’s a billionaire playboy, but there are implications that he may just be a sociopath that inherited his father’s money. It’s uncertain whether he’s a genius or someone who’s trying to make too many bizarre religious connections to Superman. His infatuation with Superman, and to some extent Batman, is also never really explained. It’s merely implied that he has some extreme personality disorders.

Because so much of the plot is rushed and skipped over, we’re left having to digest CGI spectacles, and badly worded metaphors uttered by Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler (Jeremy Irons) or Lois Lane, Superman’s squeeze (Adams). There’s too much information, but also too much time spent on inconsequential scenes, like Batman’s bizarre nightmare and Superman’s heart-to-heart on a random snowy mountain with his dead Earth father. “Batman V. Superman” doesn’t feel like a stand-alone movie, more than it just feels like a really long and unnecessary teaser for a “Justice League” movie.

If that’s the case, then the “Justice League” movie better be fantastic because we’ve really had to go through a lot of trouble to get one. That’s not to say “Batman V. Superman” isn’t a decent movie with some good ideas. The casting of Affleck, as well as his performance, is enough to forgive him for “Daredevil”. His portrayal of an aging Batman, focused on his legacy, could create some interesting plot points for later DC films, if they do it right. We also get more of Superman, carried over from “Man of Steel”, as a conflicted man dealing with his powers and who he should be for the people of Earth. While some people don’t like that Superman, I find that Superman more interesting and relatable.

Then of course, there’s Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), whose appearance was ruined by the theatrical trailers, which is really a shame because her appearance at the end isn’t a complete surprise. Despite that, the attending audience still went nuts as she hacked a few limbs off Doomsday; another character spoiled by the trailer. I do hope that Zack Snyder doesn’t use “Wonder Woman” much like he used the ladies of “Sucker Punch” or we’ll be in for more masturbatory nerd fan service with a really exciting character that’s more than just simple eye candy.

It’s hard to predict where “Batman V. Superman” will fall in the inevitable grand scheme of things. Looking in the crystal ball, there are some interesting directors and writers attached to future DC projects, such as Patty Jenkins, the director of “Monster” and James Wan director of “The Conjuring”. While Jenkins gets to handle the origins of Wonder Woman and Wan gets the handle the origins of Aquaman, it looks like Snyder will still be the man at the helm when it comes to the “Justice League” movie. If “Batman V. Superman” and “Man of Steel” are any sign, DC might want to find someone else, and fast.

 

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Win Tickets to the Kansas City Premiere of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”

Hey Kansas City! Are you ready for a “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” advance screening giveaway? We have tickets to the Kansas City screening Tuesday, March 22 in IMAX at AMC Barrywoods. To enter for a chance to win, simply go to www.wbtickets.com and enter the code BvSMediaMikes. You have from now until Sunday, March 20 to enter. Five winners will be chosen via a random drawing Monday, March 21. Each winner will receive two tickets. ‪#‎WhoWillWin ‪#‎BvS
Good luck!
SCREENING INFORMATION
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
7:00 p.m.
AMC Barrywoods, Kansas City, Missouri

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Book Review “Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman”

Author: Daniel Wallace
Hardcover: 184 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: June 18, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw “Man of Steel”, I spent the 2.5 hours in awe of what a visual film it was. I love Zack Snyder’s style and I think it was very clear and sharp in this film.  Insight Editions has always been consistent with releasing great Art of and Visual Companion books. This book is a bit of both and continues the excellent trend.  It is pretty awesome and definitely will leave any fan satisfied.  It doesn’t deliver any new or hidden secrets of the film but it does represent the visual aspect quite well. If you are a fan of Superman, this would be highly recommended but be warned be sure to see the film first cause it is chock filled of visual spoilers.

Official Premise: In Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) and producer Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy) have delivered a stunning new vision of Superman that is both fresh and familiar. Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman explores the remarkable creative process behind the movie and showcases the exceptional concept art that shaped its unique visual style. From the stark alien vistas of Krypton to the down-to-earth warmth of Smallville, this book uncovers the intensive world-building process that makes Superman’s universe both thrilling and believable. Also featuring in-depth interviews with the cast and crew, and candid on-set photography, Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman is the ultimate insider’s look at one of the most electrifying movies in recent memory.

“Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman” starts off looking into the “Modern-Day Mythmaking” of the film including a look at the new suit. There is a big section on the film’s casting, which was critical (and successful) aspect of this reboot. Then from there we get to take a trip to Krypton and see the marvels that Snyder gave us that has never been shown before on that planet. Lastly we get to go to Earth and visit Metropolis and Smallville. The only aspect missing that I would have liked to see is chapter on the “Tornado” scene. The author, Daniel Wallace, is a comic book expert and self-labeled geek (like us all). He is no stranger to comics with having authored “DC Comics Year by Year” and “The Marvel Encyclopedia”.  We also get a great foreword by Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”) and an awesome intro by director Zack Snyder.  There was a lot of love given to this project to satisfy fans and it is shown in this book.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Superman: Unbound”

Actors: Matt Bomer, Stana Katic, Molly C. Quinn, Alexander Gould
Directors: James Tucker
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Running Time: 75 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Superman: Unbound” is the latest in the line of DCU Animated Original Movies. This film is based on Geoff Johns/Gary Frank’s kick ass graphic novel “Superman: Brainiac” from 2008. This film includes the fantastic voice talents of Matt Bomer (“White Collar”) as Superman and John Noble (“Fringe”) as the villainous Brainiac. I am also a HUGE fan of ABC’s hit series “Castle” and we get a nice little reunion here with Stana Katic as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn as Supergirl. The action is epic and the story is well done thanks to a stellar script form Bob Goodman (“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns). Brainiac is one hell of a kick ass villain and he really gets his day to shine here. My only complaint is that I wished it was longer than 75 minutes. Be sure to stay through the first half of the credits 😉 But still another fine fine installment from Warner’s DCU Animated division for sure. Next up for them is “Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox”, which drops on July 30th. If you are a Superman fan and counting down the days (like myself) till “Man of Steel” next month, this is a great way to get your fix. Can’t wait!

Official Premise: Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 release “Superman: Brainiac,” Superman: Unbound” finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth’s customs and managing Lois Lane’s expectations for their relationship. Personal issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the destruction of Krypton – Brainiac – begins his descent upon Earth. Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting planets – including Supergirl’s home city of Kandor – and now the all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his newly-arrived cousin.

Warner delivered a very impressive Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack. They covered all the options like they usually do. I already see a repeat viewing of this film in the coming weeks, most likely with the UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer is flawless and the animation really shines alongside it. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers the action very well and compliments this fine voice cast. The special features are ace and include over four and half hours of content. There are two great featurettes included. The first, “Kandor: History of the Bottle City”, which gives nice background on the shrunken city. Next is “Brainiac: Technology and Terror”, which looks into the villain and his story. There is an audio commentary with Mike Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker, which is worth a listen for hardcore DC fans. There is a short digital comic excerpt from the original graphic novel “Superman: Brainiac” by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. I would have loved to this complete. Lastly and my favorite is four bonus episodes from “Superman: The Animated Series” including “The Last Son of Krypton, Part 1”; “New Kids in Town”; and “Little Girl Lost, Parts 1 & 2”, which were all picked by producer Alan Burnett.

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All-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie "Superman: Unbound" Coming May 7, 2013

WHITE COLLAR STAR MATT BOMER DONS THE ICONIC ‘S’

SHIELD OPPOSITE FRINGE’S JOHN NOBLE AS BRAINIAC IN

ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND

Coming MAY 7, 2013

FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

 Castle Duo of Stana Katic & Molly Quinn Voice Lois Lane & Supergirl on

Blu-rayTM Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand & For Digital Download

BURBANK, CA (February 21, 2012) – A destructive force is devastating planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in its sights – and even Superman may not be capable of halting the terror in SUPERMAN: UNBOUND, the next entry in the 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 May 7, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Digital Download. The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack will include UltraViolet™*.

Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 release “Superman: Brainiac,” SUPERMAN: UNBOUND finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth’s customs and managing Lois Lane’s expectations for their relationship. Personal issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the destruction of Krypton – Brainiac – begins his descent upon Earth. Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting planets – including Supergirl’s home city of Kandor – and now the all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his newly-arrived cousin.

The film’s stellar voicecast is led by Matt Bomer (White Collar) as Superman, John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings films) as Brainiac, Stana Katic (Castle) as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn (Castle) as Supergirl. Additional voices in the cast include Golden Globe Award winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Wade Williams (The Dark Knight Rises) as Perry White, Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Office Space) as Steve Lombard, Stephen Root (Boardwalk Empire, Justified) as Zor-El, and Alexander Gould (Weeds) as Jimmy Olsen.

Supervising Producer James Tucker (Justice League, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) also directs the film from a script by Bob Goodman (Warehouse 13, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).

“SUPERMAN: UNBOUND adds an all-new chapter to the growing legacy of animated films featuring the Man of Steel and his epic challenges to maintain peace on Earth,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Matt Bomer’s voice epitomizes the All-American hero that is Superman, and John Noble counters that tone with a commanding, chilling delivery for Brainiac. A superhero is only as good as the depths of his opposition, and Noble brings out the best in his villainous portrayal of Brainiac.”

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has over 4 1/2 hours of exciting content, including:

  • Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
  • UltraViolet™*
  • Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
  • Featurette – “Kandor: History of the Bottle City” – An all-new featurette. Kandor: a peaceful scientific community dedicated toward the preservation of all that is good on Krypton, the home world of Superman.  That is, until the city was ripped from its world and placed into a small glass bottle!  This is the short story highlighting the shrunken city of Kandor.  Its history just as fascinating as it is unique, here is how it ties in directly with the Man of Tomorrow.
  • Featurette – “Brainiac: Technology and Terror” – An all-new featurette.  Mostly machine, but part sentient being, Brainiac steals cities and destroys worlds.  Is he the most vile of Superman’s villainous foes?  Experience the Brainiac mythology and find out why Superman barely stands a chance!
  • Audio Commentary – Featuring members of the creative team: Mike Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker.
  • Four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series (“The Last Son of Krypton, Part 1”; “New Kids in Town”; and “Little Girl Lost, Parts 1 & 2”), all handpicked by producer Alan Burnett.
  • Digital Comic – Excerpt from the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.

* Spuerman: Unbound  UltraViolet offer is a limited time offer.  Restrictions and limitations apply.  Go to ultraviolet.flixster .com/info for details.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

About DC Entertainment:

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s13)

About Warner Bros. Animation

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Young Justice: Invasion, as well as the forthcoming Beware The Batman, Teen Titans Go! and The Tom and Jerry Show for Cartoon Network. WBA also produces series and additional original content — including animated shorts — for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block. In addition to TV programming, WBA produces theatrically released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters, rendered in stereoscopic 3D. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

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