Filed under: Action & Adventure, Paramount, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Images

We've been waiting for months to see what director Jon Favreau had up his sleeve regarding the new live-action look of Iron Man. Finally, while set pictures have been leaking online left and right, the first crystal clear image of the Iron Man suit (created by Stan Winston) has been revealed to IGN. Now, I'm far from a huge Iron Man fan, so I can't really say whether this suit is exactly what the fans would have wanted. But, it does look pretty cool -- all Iron and stuff. Granted, I'm not sure how in the world one is supposed to move in that suit ... but that's what special effects are for, right?

With production currently in full swing, Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), a wealthy industrialist who's forced to create an indestructible suit of armor in order to keep him alive following a life-threatening accident. From there, he uses the suit to fight crime (as well as land cute girls like Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts). Also starring in the pic are a bald Jeff Bridges (as Obadiah Stane) and Terrence Howard (as that pimp, Jim Rhodes). Iron Man will kick off next summer's slate of blockbusters, when Paramount releases it on May 2, 2008. So, Iron Man fanatics, what do you think about the suit? Is it too clunky? Right on target? You be the judge.

Filed under: Fandom, Exhibition, DIY/Filmmaking, Other Festivals, Gen Art

The greatest thing about the Gen Art Film Festival is its simplicity. 7 nights. 7 premieres. 7 parties. That's it. That's all you need to know. The films are chosen for you; there's no giant slate to flip through and -- perhaps this is the best part -- all of the movies are screened in one venue. Of course, you do need to be in New York City in order to take full advantage of the fest; however, for the first time in its history, the Gen Art Film Festival will be heading to Chicago later this summer where they'll showcase five different films, as well as host five different parties.

Tonight, Gen Art kicks things off with Gary Walkow's Crashing, starring Campbell Scott, Isabella Miko and Lizzy Caplan. Story revolves around a writer whose wife kicks him out of their house, forcing him to crash with two sexy college students. Gosh, what a predicament! Other films screening include: When A Man Falls in the Forest, The Signal (yay!), Sharkwater, Chalk, You Are Here and He Was A Quiet Man. Cinematical will be on hand for a few of these nights, providing you with extensive coverage of the films, the stars and ... um, the open bar. That's right, each film is followed by a swanky after party at some of New York's finest hot spots (not that I'm, like, cool enough to know what's hot and what's not). Tickets are still available through the festival's website, so feel free to head on over there after you're done reading. I'll see you at the after party -- first drink is on me. Oh wait, they're free. Even better.

Filed under: Drama, Deals, Mystery & Suspense, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand

It's been a few months since we first told you about the latest amnesia flick to hit Hollywood, Open Grave. It's okay if you don't remember (zing!); seems a bunch of these crop up each year. Variety tells us that Nala Films has brought Eduardo Rodriguez onboard to helm the pic, which marks his second feature directorial effort after also helming the Robert Rodriguez-penned Curandero back in 2005; he scored that gig, as well as a three-picture deal with Dimension, with only one short film (Daughter) under his belt. See kids, dreams can come true! (And if you've seen his short, then my previous sentence might have made you chuckle just a bit.) Nala Films will produce along with Jon Shestack Prods.; currently, no cast has been announced.

Story centers on a man who wakes up in a pit full of dead bodies with no idea who he is or how he he got there. When a group of fellow amnesiacs rescue him, he must figure out if one of them is the killer ... or, could it be that he is the killer all along??? The plot is very similar to that of the previously released 2006 pic Unknown. In that film, a group of guys wake up trapped in a warehouse, beaten and bloody, with no idea who they are, how they got there or if one of them is responsible for keeping them captive. Both premises are very intriguing, though Unknown failed to fully capitalize on its fantastic set-up. As I've said before, it all comes down to script and execution. Seeing as the film will forever be compared to Christopher Nolan's Memento, here's hoping screenwriters Eddie and Chris Borey came up with a unique approach; one that will immediately rise it above the other half-assed amnesia flicks churned out each year.