WEEK IN GEEK: Comic-Con News • 'Firefly' Reunion • 'Wolverine' • 'Skyfall' • 'Thrones' • 'Walking Dead' • 'Fantastic Four'

Firefly had its long awaited reunion at Comic-Con yesterday, much to the delight of the thousands of rabid Browncoats in attendance. Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive photo shoot with the cast and creator Joss Whedon, CinemaBlend posted a great live blog of the panel, and Collider has a nice wrap up and video of the emotional question that had the crowd on their feet cheering, and brought both Joss Whedon on Nathan Fillion to tears. Science Channel was on hand to cover the event and will air a Firefly Reunion Special on November 11th.
(EW, CinemaBlend, Collider)

Although Jessica Biel is reportedly set for the female lead opposite Hugh Jackman in The Wolverine as Viper, she held firm at Comic-Con while promoting Total Recall that "It's a little bit too soon for that kind of an announcement," in an interview with Hitfix.
(Deadline, Hitfix)

Game of Thrones will feature 14 new characters next season, and HBO released a video introduction to all the actors joining the cast, which includes Diana Rigg, most famous for her role as Emma Peel in The Avengers (as in the 1960s British spy television show). Season Three will be based on George R.R. Martin's massive A Storm of Swords novel, an adaptation that will run the course of two entire seasons. The hit show is set to return to HBO on March 31, 2013.

(Entertainment Weekly).

Sony released their first official picture of Ben Whishaw as Q from the upcoming 23rd James Bond film Skyfall starring Daniel Craig. CinemaBlend also has a detailed description of the new IMAX trailer that screened at Comic-Con this week.
(NRS, CinemaBlend)

AMC released a trailer for The Walking Dead 's upcoming third season following its Comic-Con presentation, and has confirmed its season premiere for Sunday, October 14, at 9pm. The sixteen episodes will be split into two parts, with the show returning on February 13, 2013 for the remaining eight episodes
(AMC).

Following his inadvertent loose lips slip last week of the super secret identity of the villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Star Trek 2, Karl Urban revealed to Ain't It Cool News exactly how director J.J. Abrams reprimanded the actor, and what he is is to do if asked anything further regarding the sequel while promoting Dredd at Comic-Con.
(SFX, Ain't It Cool News)

Here is a hot trailers and clips Comic-Con roundup from Oz The Great And Powerful, Frankenweenie, Dexter, and Dredd.
(NerdyRottenScoundrel)

20th Century Fox is fast tracking their reboot of The Fantastic Four, setting both a director and screenwriter this week. Chronicle helmer Josh Trank has been confirmed to direct the reboot of the Marvel Comics super team. The now done deal follows the rumors regarding Trank inheriting the franchise that started hot on the heels of the success of his found footage 'teens with superpowers who go bad' hit for the studio. In addition, Fox has tapped Jeremy Slater to pen the script.
(CinemaBlend, The Hollywood Reporter).

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Home Video Review - CHRONICLE ★★★☆☆

**This review ran originally on February 3, 2012 for the theatrical run, and is being re-posted for today's release on Blu-ray and DVD**

Peter Parker learned through tragedy that “with great power comes great responsibility,” and only through that realization was Spider-Man born. In Chronicle, we learn what happens when super powered high schoolers do not have a life changing epiphany that inspires them to devote their lives to costumed heroics.

Director Josh Trank, in his directorial debut (and also co-wrote the screenplay), effectively adapts the waning POV 'found footage' style of film making to the superhero genre, and borrows familiar themes and imagery from Carrie, Cloverfield, District 9, and Akira.

With the studios pumping out tent pole superhero films more than ever, (Batman, Spider-Man, and The Avengers are all on deck for this summer), the time has never been better to sample a different spin on the genre. Chronicle offers just that, and it's even better when it's a job done well.

The film takes place in a Seattle, where the high school teens can be pretty cruel, especially to an introvert like Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan). He is not only a social pariah obsessed with capturing every moment of the day with his video camera, but finds himself burdened with an abusive father and dying bedridden mother.

During a house party, Andrew is recruited by his estranged cousin Matt (Alex Russell), and Steve (Michael B. Jordan), the popular jock who has it all, to record their underground discovery of a creepy glowing structure. Waking up the next morning, the trio discover they have gained telekinetic abilities as simple result of their close encounter with the object.

Personally I am fine with using scant literal logic to explain off what bestows super powers on mere mortals. A gamma ray overdose makes Bruce Banner Hulk out? Fine. Exposure to cosmic rays gives the Fantastic Four fantastic abilities? Sure. A lightning charged chemical lab bath bestows Barry Allen with super speed to become The Flash? Got it. Here, a mysterious underground crystal of unknown origins suddenly enables these teens to move objects with their minds. Just ignore the fact that they should maybe worry about radiation poisoning first, but that would be a whole different movie altogether.

The fun begins when the boys veer off the path of the Hero’s Journey because they are far more interested in utilizing their powers for pranks and hijinks rather than acts of valor. But when one incident takes things too far, it’s not hard to figure out where the film is headed, and which of the three will snap first when things inevitably go downhill when push comes to shove.

The film hits a high point when flight is added to their checklist of powers. An truly inspired flying sequence hits all the right marks for showing the audience both the thrill and inherent danger of taking to the clouds. It is here that the POV camera truly finds it’s calling. When controlled by Andrew’s mind, it is allowed to float around in the air and releases the film from the limited shooting style of an off-screen character holding the all too familiar shaky camera.

As Andrew’s demons begin to consume him, his powers also corrupt him, and the film turns to the dark side, complete with an explosive FX laden third act that echoes a heavy influence from Akira. Warner Bros. should take note how this climax was done extremely well with clever shooting on a shoestring budget, and be grateful they put their pricey adaptation of the iconic Japanese manga on the back burner.

The brisk 84 minute running time leaves little room for excessive expository chat between the characters, and quickly takes the audience right to the heart of the story, which works well here. The three leads all do all they can with their roles. Dane DeHaan has the standout part as Andrew, who has the most to work with. You certainly believe him as he breaks down under the weight of the circumstances he’s dealt with.

While the found footage genre is getting stale, Chronicle successfully plays around with the shooting concept enough so not to keep it to the standard issue we are accustomed to seeing. While the budget is low (the calling card of this type of movie), every once in a while much like Cloverfield, the film writes an occasional check to the FX house and wows you with impressive sequences.

Chronicle is easily a solid alternative to the current slew of superhero blockbusters where fancy costumes are a given, and the good guys must take on their arch enemies for the greater good of mankind. While setting up a welcome opportunity for sequels, the self contained story it presents will either satisfy you for keeping it to the point, or wishing it addressed the bigger picture.

The Chronicle publicity team at 20th Century Fox sends mysterious "flying people" soaring high over NYC...

REVIEW RATING: ★★★☆☆

Directed By: Josh Trank

Starring: Dane DeHann, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Rated: PG-13