On November 1st, one of the biggest sports days of the year (with key NFL match-ups + Game 4 of the World Series), the Avatar trailer will get the world’s biggest live viewing when it debuts on the world’s largest video display - Cowboy Stadium’s Diamond Vision Screen – while millions of football fans watch it at home.

This Sunday, Fox Sports will transport their audience to America’s No. 1 NFL pre-game show to Arlington, Texas and the new Cowboys Stadium, where the three minute and thirty second trailer will play live from the enormous Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision screen.  The crowd attending the Cowboys-Seattle Seahawks game will experience the Avatar trailer live just minutes prior to the kickoff between the Cowboys and Seahawks, on the enormous high-definition screen that hangs above the Cowboys Stadium playing field. At the same time, millions of others watching Fox NFL Sunday will see the trailer on-air – making it the largest live motion picture trailer viewing in history.

In addition, throughout the day ninety-second Avatar commercial spots will air on all regional games carried on the Fox affiliates, the national game on Fox and the World Series on Fox.

In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t been tuned in, Avatar is the new live action sci-fi thriller from James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of Titanic. With a new generation of special effects, Avatar promises to take us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he leads an epic battle to save a civilization. 

Avatar opens in theaters everywhere December 18th. 

The New York Post posted an interview with MUSE front man Matthew Bellamy. In the interview, he is asked if he would ever consider scoring a film, to which he replied;
“Me personally, yes, I’d be interested in (working on a film score). Not in the Muse style. Picking a film that the music would work. I’ve been offered to do some work on a remake of Clash of the Titans. It’ll be really sort of mental music for a film like that. Totally different to Muse.”.

While it’s not set in stone, it’s still nice to hear that the filmmakers are looking for great musicians for the job. Matthew Bellamy previously scored the end credits of the box office flop THE INTERNATIONAL, now on DVD.

It’s not snowing yet, but no matter - there are plenty of good reasons to visit Aspen this month.

Usually noted for it’s world-class ski resorts, upscale shopping and A-list celebrity sightings, Aspen just added another good reason to head for the hills (if you want to get technical - mountains) - the 31st annual Aspen Filmfest 2009. The festival runs from September 30th through October 4th at the Wheeler Opera House and Isis Theatre in Aspen and at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale. The five-days will be packed with several award winning international narrative and documentary features, as well as previews of eagerly anticipated new films.

Receiving the New Directions Award is director Jason Reitman (Juno and Thank You For Smoking) who in his brief, young career has skyrocketed to success. Aspen Filmfest will screen Mr. Reitman’s latest film Up in the Air starring George Clooney.

Some don’t miss pics:
Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story, in which Moore explores capitalism and the American dream.

More than a Game, in which director Kristopher Belman (in attendance) captures the meteoric rise of basketball icon LeBron James and teammates during the run-up to their National High School Championships.

For My Father - Dir: Dror Zahavi

Precious: based on the novel Push by Sapphire - Dir: Lee Daniels

And don’t miss your chance to give a thumbs up/thumbs down to film critics during a special presentation entitled: CRITICS’ CHOICE: Clips and Conversation with Film Critics Mark Olsen and John Powers.

Tickets for Aspen Filmfest go on sale Monday, September 21st and the guide is currently available online at www.aspenfilm.org. 

Titanic director James Cameron never does anything in a small way and his new movie, Avatar doesn’t deviate from that equation. 

August 21st. I think that all sci-fi fans will want to put that date on their calendar. And now I’ll tell you why….. On August 21st, global audiences will get their first look at the new film from the writer/director of Titanic as 20th Century Fox and James Cameron announce Avatar Day! On that date Twentieth Century Fox and Cameron debut the film’s trailer everywhere – while select cinemas and IMAX®  theaters will screen extended footage prepared by the renowned filmmaker for this global “Avatar Day” event.

The worldwide trailer launch will be presented in all formats, including IMAX® 3-D, IMAX® 2-D, digital 3-D, digital 2-D, and 35mm 2-D. The trailer will also be available online. 

The extended look at Avatar will unspool only on August 21st – and only in 3-D – in select theaters and IMAX®.  Details on locations and reserving tickets for this extraordinary and unprecedented experience will be announced soon. Stay tuned to PopSyndicate for more details!

And if that’s not enough - in addition on the 21st, Ubisoft® will unveil the trailer for their videogame James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game, and Mattel will reveal the action figures for the film’s Avatar and alien Na’vi characters.

Avatar opens in theaters everywhere December 18, 2009. My calendar is cleared! How about yours?

Anyone in the San Francisco area on August 15th better keep an eye on PopSyndicate Movies this week!

VIZ Pictures and NEW PEOPLE J-Pop Center have given me tickets to the US premiere of 20TH CENTURY BOYS on august 15th at the brand new VIZ Cinema in San Francisco. Look for a giveaway later this week!

After nearly a month of delays, The Coverage of ANIME EXPO is here!!! First up, a look at Eva 1.0

When I saw the news of the premiere of the English dub for EVANGELION 1.0 I was excited to say the least. You see, calling me a big fan of the original anime series would be a little but of an understatement. Although I came onboard a little late in the game (I didn’t actually finish the series until my sophomore year in high school), when I did I came on BIG. The series, which revolves around a young boy named Shinji Ikari who is chosen to become a pilot of a giant humanoid robot called an EVANGELION, EVA unit for short; caught my by surprise. I am not the biggest fan of shows like Gundam or Robotech. I feel that they are too action oriented for my tastes. I enjoy a balance of drama with my giant robots. Evangelion walks that line (almost) to perfection. I was blown away by the series, so when I heard that they were going to do an animated film reboot I cried out with joy.

I can’t really talk about the film without talking about the series because… well… It’s a reboot, one that stays fairly close to the story of the original. The film is the first part of 4, which will each roughly retell 6-8 episodes of the original series (with added plot points of course). EVA 1.0 does not see many plot changes. It is stays very close to the original series, so much so in fact that it feels like one is just watching a condensed version of said show. The plot changes are very few and far between. Sometimes it seems as if they have just taken entire scenes from the anime series, polished them to today’s standards, and cropped them to cinema standard. It’s like watching the first 6 episodes of the series again.

This is not to say that it’s not a good movie, It is an amazing movie. It’s just that like I said, it’s like watching the series again. They have gotten many of the voice actors to reprise their parts, all but two or three have returned. The most noticeable replacement is of one of the title characters, Rei Ayanami. Newcomer Brina Palencia takes the role of the anti social, blue haired eva pilot and I couldn’t be happier. She brings a fresh take to the character. She takes what the original actress brought to the stage, and completely ups the ante. The cold, quiet, and reclusive personality is conveyed in such a realistic manner. Her vocal presence could very well send chills down spines.

Fanboys may be mixed on this one. On one hand, it’s an amazing retelling of the series, bringing a cinematic feel to a story that deserves to be portrayed with the visual style of a Hollywood picture. On the other hand, it feels like watching the show over again. The new elements don’t really stick out enough to really notice. For anyone looking to dive into the world of Evangelion though, this is the perfect chance to jump in. Watching four films would be tons easier then sitting through a 26 episode series.

Final Verdict: Catch on Blu Ray, Don’t go out of your way to se this in theaters unless you are a huge fanboy or happen to live close to a showing (Anyone headed to San Diego Comic Con will have many chances to see this in a theater, Since you will be so close, I recommend you do).

7/10

Ethan Rogers takes a look at the recent Sundance Festival hit, 500 Days of Summer.

A couple years back a film was released. Everyone was calling the film Juno “The next Little Miss Sunshine”. When juno was released, it was so much better then that. It was a film with heart, a film that could make you laugh yet in the same 90 minutes feel undoubtedly sad.

This year, a film is being released called (500) Days of Summer, and while some people may call it “The next Julio”, it is really so much more then that,

The film follows the story of a man who, like in many cliché love stories; falls deeply in love with a woman by the name of Summer. The only problem is… she doesn’t feel the same about him. While any other romantic comedy would be completely ruined by the above comment, 500 days of Summer does not. The film is so much more then a romantic comedy. It’s truly a roller coaster of emotions, and while that may sound very cheesy, believe me it’s true!

I have yet to even touch on the acting and this review is almost over! Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel shine as the two main characters. Joseph plays a totally realistic male lead. He is the everyman, He is not afraid to throw punches yet he knows he probably couldn’t win a fight.

Zooey… oh Zooey is something wonderful. She has a natural beauty about her. She, like Joseph, is a perfect image of a true life female. She has her flaws, but over all she is such a beauty. I can see why he fell for her!

In closing, I should remind the reading public. 500 days of summer is not a love story, it’s a story about love, and an amazing one at that.

8.5/10

Can you remember what historical event took place 30 years ago in May of 1979? You may recall John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous (second) Bed-In to promote peace. Or perhaps the launch of the Apollo 10. But for hamburger lovers, there’s a much more important event to commemorate - the 30th Anniversary of the Happy Meal. 

McDonald’s and the soon-to-be released movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian come together to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Happy Meal. Two separate Dallas events will commemorate the anniversary with a Happy Meal toy giveaway (and more!).

Ronald McDonald will present McDonald’s breakfast and distribute the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal toys to Museum of Nature and Science sleepover families a full week before the toys are available in stores. Families sleeping over will get the museum experience under the cover of night including: scavenger hunt, real-life museum characters, hands on activities, electric light show and more. 

Two days later, Ronald McDonald joins KHKS-FM KissKrew at the McDonald’s Happy Meal store. The public is invited to meet and greet Ronald and pick up the new Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal toys before they are released in stores. KHKS-FM will be on-site pumping up the crowd and giving away lots of great prizes. The first 100 patrons to pick up their Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal Toys will also receive a special McDonald’s offer.

WHAT: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Museum of Nature & Science Sleepover Breakfast & Ronald McDonald Meet N’ Greet

WHO:   20th Century Fox, Museum of Nature and Science, McDonald’s, KHKS-FM & KDMX-FM

WHERE:     Two Different Locations. Two Separate Events
          Museum of Nature and Science Sleepover, 1318 S. Second Ave in Fair Park, Dallas, TX
          McDonald’s Happy Meal Store, 13105 Montfort Dr., Dallas, TX 75240

WHEN:     Museum of Nature and Science Sleepover Breakfast
          Saturday, May 16, 2009 – 7:30AM

          Ronald McDonald Meet n’ Greet at Happy Meal Store
          Monday, May 18, 2009 – 5:00PM-6:00PM

20th Century Fox presents Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - opening in theaters everywhere May 22. Check it out at:
http://www.nightatthemuseummovie.com/

I know happiness is a state of mind. But you can achieve that feeling of contentment sooner with a visit to the Museum of Nature and Science or an outing to the Happy Meal Store. I’m already salivating.

Can you remember what historical event took place 30 years ago in May of 1969? You may recall John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous (second) Bed-In to promote peace. Or perhaps the launch of the Apollo 10. But for hamburger lovers, there’s a much more important event to commemorate - the 30th Anniversary of the Happy Meal. 

McDonald’s and the soon-to-be released movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian come together to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Happy Meal. Two separate Dallas events will commemorate the anniversary with Happy Meal toy giveaway.

Ronald McDonald will present McDonald’s breakfast and distribute the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal toys to Museum of Nature and Science sleepover families a full week before the toys are available in stores. Families sleeping over will get the museum experience under the cover of night including: scavenger hunt, real-life museum characters, hands on activities, electric light show and more. 

Two days later, Ronald McDonald joins KHKS-FM KissKrew at the McDonald’s Happy Meal store. The public is invited to meet and greet Ronald and pick up the new Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal toys before they are released in stores. KHKS-FM will be on-site pumping up the crowd and giving away lots of great prizes. The first 100 patrons to pick up their Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Happy Meal Toys will also receive a special McDonald’s offer.

WHAT: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Museum of Nature & Science Sleepover Breakfast & Ronald McDonald Meet N’ Greet

WHO: 20th Century Fox, Museum of Nature and Science, McDonald’s, KHKS-FM & KDMX-FM

WHERE: Two Different Locations. Two Separate Events
      Museum of Nature and Science Sleepover, 1318 S. Second Ave in Fair Park, Dallas, TX
      McDonald’s Happy Meal Store, 13105 Montfort Dr., Dallas, TX 75240

WHEN: Museum of Nature and Science Sleepover Breakfast
      Saturday, May 16, 2009 – 7:30AM
      Ronald McDonald Meet n’ Greet at Happy Meal Store
      Monday, May 18, 2009 – 5:00PM-6:00PM

20th Century Fox presents Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - opening in theaters everywhere May 22. Check it out at:
http://www.nightatthemuseummovie.com/

I know happiness is a state of mind. But you can achieve that feeling of contentment sooner with a visit to the Museum of Nature and Science or an outing to the Happy Meal Store. I’m already salivating.

As far as holidays go, we usually equate the month of November with Thanksgiving. But this year, there’s another reason to celebrate – and this one won’t add 10 lbs. to your waistline.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 5th through Sunday, November 8th for the 22nd annual VideoFest, presented by the Video Association of Dallas at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station in Dallas. 

The VideoFest (aka Dallas Video Festival) is the oldest and largest video festival in the United States and continues to garner critical and popular acclaim (and not just from me!).

For over twenty years the Dallas Video Festival (now renamed VideoFest) has pursued the best in independent, alternative and non-commercial media; presenting hard-to-find works rarely seen on television, in movie theaters, or elsewhere, despite their artistic excellence and cultural and social relevance. This is a showcase of experimental animation, fascinating video art, intriguing documentaries, captivating shorts; all designed to knock your socks off.

So don’t expect to run into Jennifer Aniston promoting her new flick, but what you will run into will fascinate and inspire.

Stay tuned for more details! Or call 214-428-4700. 

(disclaimer/disclosure – Susan Kandell’s award winning documentary ¡Salsa Caliente! premiered at the Dallas Video Festival in 2001 and until recently Susan was a member of the Dallas Video Association Board of Directors – so she’s a tad biased)