Super Duper Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide! Books For Alls The Geeks.

We here at All Things Fangirl always try to have some kind of Holiday Gift Guide every year, so this time around, we're suggesting a slew of fun books for all of the geeks in your life. Barnes and Noble sent me an email saying they are staying open super late, so if one of these strikes your fancy, just give em a call and see if they carry it!

For the Steampunk Geek

Steampunk: An Illustrated History of Fantastical Fiction, Fanciful Film and other Victorian Visions

This gorgeous hardcover encyclopedia of all things Steampunk is a fantastic buy not only for folks with a pre-existing love of Steampunk, but for any good geek. Though I have never cosplayed or own anything steampunk, I dig the aesthetic whenever it shows itself in pop culture, and thanks to this book, I now have an understanding of why it exists, where it came from, and how I can further get my fix. It even points out certain properties that were Steampunk before Steampunk was a thing (like Myst?!) The book is 192 pages filled with beautiful illustrations and detailed history - there's even a complete primer in Victorian Science Fiction like HG Wells, Jules Verne and Poe, and sections on Steampunk influences like Philip K Dick, Miyazaki, Alan Moore and Alexander McQueen.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Comedy Geek

The Douche Journals: Volume One
This novelty book based on the world of New Girl is an account of all of the douchey things Schmidt did from 2005 to 2010 that required him to put money in the douche jar. The book is more or less a series of ridiculous quotes, when and why Schmidt said it, and how much money he had to put in the jar as a result. The book is actually pretty hilarious and can be appreciated from whatever page you randomly turn to, making it the perfect coffee table book for a self professed New Girl fan. Some examples - "God, I wish I had the wrists for a Livestrong bracelet"/The Mall/$20 "If a pony only doing one trick has become synonymous with failure, perhaps we as a society have become too demanding of our ponies."/Strip Club/unfair criticism of Kandy/$18 "I mean, come on, I shouldn't have to drive to Alhambra to find artisanal gherkins"/dinner table/gherkinless meal/$11 and the list goes on and on and on, 230 pages worth.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

WAY more after the jump!





For The History Geek

The Onion Book of Known Knowledge
This year, The Onion released their own version of an encyclopedia and it's every bit as strange and wonderful as you'd expect. For the most part, the information is accurate, just jazzed up a bit. The section on Mark Twain is a pretty good bio that happens to also be written IN the style of Twain himself. Most of the time, the embellishments are obvious, so as not to confuse, but still give a good chuckle. Obviously Jesse James didn't create a successful bandit consulting firm after retiring from banditry, but reading about how he did sure is fun. Favorite entries include ones like "Jennifer: perfectly nice girl with a lot going for her, but at the end of the day she's just no Caroline, is she?" or "Rooibos: South African red tea, but you already knew that," but perhaps the best one is for the Republican Party. Which I'll leave to you to read on your own :). A must for any intellectual looking for something useful *and* hilarious.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Culinary Geek

Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
Simply put, if you know someone who likes to cook, buy them this cookbook. Unless this person already has it. Which is very possible. It may have only just been released but it's the SMITTEN FREAKING KITCHEN COOKBOOK. Most young, aspiring foodies nowadays who know their way around a kitchen have cooked at least one of Smitten Kitchen's fantastic recipes and this book compiles the best of them, divided into any and all courses and occasions. (Personally, I highly recommend the apple cake. Turned out exceptionally and is insanely easy.)

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the TV Geek

Inside HBO's Game of Thrones
Ever get a little confused while watching Game of Thrones? Well fret no further!! This beautiful companion book to the first two seasons is filled with photos, concept art, history, interviews, an extensive foreward by George R.R. Martin, family trees, detailed explanations of the production design and much much more. Perfect for anyone determined to know more about Game of Thrones than anyone ever.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

Buffy: The Making of a Slayer
A full retrospective on the show that comes with both a 176 page book covering all seven seasons, featuring behind the scenes photos never seen and tidbits never heard, *and* 13 replicas of spells and propecies used in the series. The perfect gift for that best friend that watched Buffy with you every week in middle/high school. It may be expensive, but it's also THE BEST, and frankly, we all need to be reminded from time to time how amazing Buffy is, cause, come on.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

Firefly: A Celebration
Like the Buffy book, but for the Browncoats in your life! This book actually combines Titan's three previous massive Firefly guides into one glorious hardcover nomnom, and also includes 9 frameable cast photos and a prop banknote! 550 pages of pure awesome.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Comic Geek

Chicks Dig Comics: A Celebration of Comic Books by the Women who Love Them
Remember my review of Whedonistas: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women who Love Them? This is like that, but for comic books, and it is fantastic. Many of the writers are actually members of ATFG's very own Fangirl Academy! A great gift for any Fangirl (as is Geek Girls Unite, btw), to turn them on to new projects, remind them why they fell in love with comics in the first place, and bring them closer to the Fangirl community.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Tolkein Geek

The Unofficial Hobbit Handbook
Unofficial maybe but DAMN is this thorough. And pretty funny. I have no idea if the list of what a Hobbit would most likely keep in his pantry is accurate or not, but it doesn't much matter. If you ever wanted to be a Hobbit, or just really like The Hobbit, you'll get a huge kick out of this book.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Aspiring Geek

The Geek Handbook
A super fan book that actually may make you feel like a better, more well rounded geek. It opens with our history as a people, then goes into a section after my own heart: know your geek! This book divides us into tabletop, history, sci-fi, sports, music, comic book, gamer, automotive, anime, food and tech, as a base with which to grow from. I would argue that film, television and cosplay should all be entries as well, but hey, can't win em all. There are plenty of cheeky sections like hairstyling tips (i.e. the Tony Stark and the Rogue), and a list of the 12 types of people you'll find at a Dungeons and Dragons game, but there's also incredibly helpful information, like fairly helpful social tips if that's something you struggle with, suggestions for geek-related activities, a list of properties that changed the landscape of geekdom forever, web comic recommendations, the worst moments in comic history, and even a guide to help you sort through your swag. There's even a section on geek to geek etiquette that proposes we don't question each other's credentials or judge each other, both very hot button issues, and a section on geek dating, fetishes and weddings . Overall, the book is great fun, an easy read, and oddly helpful.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

For the Film Geek

If You Like...Quentin Tarantino
Last year, we reviewed the first in the If You Like...series, If You Like The Sopranos, and recommended it over on Film.com. Since then, they've published a slew of other options, including our recommendation this year, If You Like Quentin Tarantino, perfect timing what with Django Unchained hitting theaters and all! Tarantino is a master of film. Not only in making them, but watching them, dissecting them and homaging them. This book goes film by film and details the inspiration for each, providing numerous fantastic suggestions. He even appropriately divides Kill Bill 1 & 2, giving each its own section, one focused on Japanese action cinema/exploitation, the other on kung fu & italian horror. While any film fan as hardcore as Tarantino himself may very well have already seen every movie in this book, it never hurts to have a reference guide around the house.

Buy Belated on Amazon!

The Great Showdowns
Just do it!

Buy Belated on Amazon!

Silhouettes from Popular Culture
Similar to Scott C's The Great Showdowns, Silhouettes from Popular Culture emerged from Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. Another popular artist, Olly Moss, has been adored on this circuit for years, and then in 2011 he was given his own solo show, called Paper Cuts. The entire show was laser cut silhouettes of Moss' drawings of pop culture icons, and all of the originals got snatched up within a couple hours. This is partly why this mini coffee table book is so coveted - Moss' favorites of the 300 he has created all compiled for you viewing pleasure. In the same way that The Great Showdowns encouraged trying to guess which Showdown was from what movie, so too does Silhouettes from Popular Culture, no index to be found. An awesome gift for any film fanatic. Added bonus: a forward by director Duncan Jones!

Buy Belated on Amazon!

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Top 5 Soundtracks of 2012

Rad about the full top ten over on Film.com! We highly recommend it. The phrase "hand jobs for everyone" may or may not have been used."

Later this Awards Season, we'll have the Academy and numerous other awards bodies talking to us about the best scores of the year, (link to eligible scores), but what about the best soundtracks of the year? No love for music supervisors from the movie hemisphere? Sure, the Grammys honor such folk, but coming from a completely different perspective, TV soundtracks are eligible, and the films are honored in most cases an entire year after the typical film awards season. So we took it upon ourselves to honor our favorite soundtracks of 2012. 

5. On The Road

A wonderful compilation of that strange and beautiful musical era in american history that bridged the gab between swing and modern jazz where bebop and soul vocals ruled the youth scene, and paved the way for the massive radical change to come. Beat era jazz rose to popularity in the early 50s and its proto-hippie fans could all be found jamming to upcoming entry "Not Fade Away'"s soundtrack 10-15 years later. But before we ever got there, we were toe tapping to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and slow dancing to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday. "On The Road" perfectly encapsulates a time rarely depicted on screen and the corresponding tunes are not to be missed. Oh and Gustavo Santaolalla's score will force you to get up and bop around - money back guarantee! 

Favorite Track: Yip Roc Heresy by Slim Gaillard

4. This is 40

While some have joked that this soundtrack is humorously better built for those in their 60s than their 40s, truly anyone can appreciate the old school folksy jams Judd Apatow so regularly leans towards, in this case specifically courtesy of legendary rockers Graham Parker & The Rumour, a central part of the film. Aside from that bands' reunion, the soundtrack showcases original tunes from the likes of Fiona Apple. Norah Jones and Lindsey Buckingham and features oldies but goodies from Ryan Adams, Wilco, Loudon Wainwright (duh), Jon Brion, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, and The Avett Brothers. Wondering why you aren't listening to this right now? Us too.

Favorite Track: Wilco's reworked I Got You (At The End of the Century)

3. Lawless

If "The Hunger Games" is for the kiddies then consider "Lawless" for the grown men who speak unintelligibly while wearing sexy vests and the grown women who get nekkid with them. Hmm. That's how we all remember "Lawless", right? Anyhoo. This song listing shows off how well the new can blend with the old, used "as a way of stretching time…" according to music supervisor and composer, Nick Cave, with rousing bluegrass covers of punk songs from The Bootleggers (Cave and Warren Ellis featuring plenty of Emmylou Harris), Ralph Stanley and Willie Nelson, along with a gorgeous score also from Cave & Ellis. One of the most inventive soundtracks of the year, that you can't help but sing along to, whether you know the songs or not. If you loved the "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack, you'll flip for this. 

Favorite Track: White Light / White Heat by the Velvet Underground, covered by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley

2. Not Fade Away

While none of these songs were written *for* the film, unlike our #1 choice, "Not Fade Away" features the best compilation of the year, providing a freakishly accurate soundtrack to the lives of anyone who came of age in the late 60s and provides a lesson in the importance of the British Invasion on America to anyone who didn't. Rather than going for the obvious, music supervisor Steven Van Zandt (Springstein's longtime guitarist and "Sopranos" actor) delves into the obscure yet recognizable, going for options that are specific and meaningful to those who lived through this time, rather than a skewed version of what we today think music was back then. For example, while the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and the Sex Pistols all appear on the soundtrack, its with songs like Tell Me, She Belongs To Me, T.B. Sheets and Road Runner as opposed to their more well known tunes. Artists like Bo Diddley, Small Faces, The Rascals and Lead Billy balance out  the soundtrack, all artists that influence the in-film band, The Twylight Zones, and as an added bonus, a tune Van Zandt wrote for Norweigan girl band Cocktail Slippers, appears, as performed by The Twylight Zones (as do many other songs recorded by the band) and is so good, it'll make you mad it wasn't written for the film and is thus ineligible for Oscar. 

Favorite Track: Go Now by The Moody Blues

1. The Hunger Games

Our favorite compilation of music written for a film, "The Hunger Games" is to bluegrass/americana what the "Twilight" soundtracks have been for emo: the best of its genre, aimed to introduce the tween set to a stronger level music. The way Twilight took tweens' interest in emo and used it to introduce them to Muse and Florence and the Machine, "The Hunger Games" rode the wave of pop country and newgrass as emerging genres to introduce tweens to The Civil Wars through their stunning song written in collaboration with Taylor Swift, the Punch Brothers, Low Anthem and the Secret Sisters, just to name a few. Each song is inspired by a different aspect of the film and book and is the perfect example of what a soundtrack should aspire to be. Unfortunately, due to Academy rules, the exceptional Safe & Sound is ineligible for a nomination, but on the plus side, this may be the year we can say The Arcade Fire became Oscar nominated.

Favorite Track: Aside from the obvious Safe & Sound? Secret Sisters' Tomorrow Will Be Kinder and Run Daddy Run from Miranda Lambert with Pistol Annies. 

11-6:

The Master, Searching for Sugarman, Perks of Being A Wallflower, Les Miserables, Django Unchained and Moonrise Kingdom. Read about them here. 

Other 2012 soundtrack (and score) recommendations:

Holy Motors 3! 12! MERDE! LISTEN FOREVER TO THIS

The Comedy (hat tip: @davidehrlich)

Beasts of the Southern Wild (by the soon to be oscar nominated Behn Zeitlin & Dan Romer) 

Anna Karenina (by the very likely to be oscar nominated Dario Marianelli) 

Life of Pi (by the maybe oscar nominated Mychael Danna) 

Paranorman (by Jon Brion) 

Ruby Sparks (by Nick Urata of Devotchka)

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Les Miserables Prize Pack Giveaway!

Okay this might be our most exciting contest yet, mostly because if you read below, you'll notice the word SOUNDTRACK as a prize. I repeat: SOUNDTRACK. To Les Miserables. As I noted in my top ten Soundtracks of 2012 post for Film.com, all you have to do is skip past the Javert songs like you would with any other Les Mis recording, and you're all set! Best singing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs-in-your-car-aide ever! 

Let's get specific. Here's what you can win:

One (1) Winner will receive:

·         $25 Fandango Gift Card

·         T-Shirt

·         Journal

·         Soundtrack

All you have to enter is enter our super easy rafflecopter! Contest ends Monday, December 31st.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the official website

Like Les Misérables on Facebook

Follow @LesMiserables on Twitter #LesMis

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Check out & share the Les Misérables Infographic     

About the FilmRelease Date:                         December 25, 2012Genre:                                     Musical EpicStudio:                                    Universal PicturesStarring:                                 Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron CohenDirected By:                           Tom Hooper (“The Kings Speech”)Written By:                            Based on the Original Stage Musical: Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables Based on the novel by Victor Hugo
Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King’s Speech’s Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. With international superstars and beloved songs—including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own”—Les Misérables, the show of shows, is now reborn as the cinematic musical experience of a lifetime.

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Our 8 Most Anticipated Movies of December 2012

Read my complete December preview at Film.com

8. Monsters Inc 3D (Dec 19)

In anticipation of next year's "Monster's University" and also in anticipation of knowing that having money is awesome, Disney-Pixar is re-releasing the 2002 classic "Monsters Inc" in 3D. The movie regrettably lost the Best Animated Film Oscar to "Shrek", but where is "Shrek'"s re-release in 3D, huh? HUH? The big question here is will this experiment in nostalgia meets modern technology lean more towards "The Lion King"'s thirty million dollar opening weekend success, or audiences' less than enthusiastic response to "Finding Nemo" returning to theaters?

7. Promised Land (Dec 28 NY, LA. wide Jan 4)

So remember that one time Matt Damon and John Krasinski got together to write a movie about fraking and had good friend Gus Van Sant pop in to direct it? It's safe to say many of us are a little befuddled yet excited by this partnership of two well known Hollywood cute-faces coming together to bring awareness to an issue through their art. The film, which also stars Frances McDormand, Rosemarie Dewitt and is-suddenly-in-everything Scoot McNairy, is about a natural gas company salesman (Damon) having his eyes opened about the dangers of fraking thanks to a small town resident (Krasinski). 

6. Quartet (Dec 28 limited)

Dustin Huffman's directorial debut which has been popping up at film fests all throughout the fall is about a quartet of former opera singers reuniting at a home for retired musicians. One of them, played by Maggie Smith, natch, got all diva on the other three years ago, which means wackiness is afoot! The film has gotten exclusively glowing reviews, and should appeal to anyone who fell for earlier 2012 release "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", a category that most certainly includes one Miss Me. Anything with Maggie Smith has to be the best. It's rule number one.

5. This is 40 (Dec 21)

The quasi sequel to "Knocked Up", focusing on the best part of that film, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's characters! The film takes a comedic (yet heartfelt, it's a Judd Apatow flick after all) look at married life in your early 40s and brings back not only Rudd and Mann but fittingly hilarious Apatow offspring Maude and Iris. Filling out the cast will be everyone funny ever, from Melissa McCarthy to Jason Segel to Albert Brooks to Chris O'Down to Lena Dunham…the list goes on and on. Early word is positive, despite minor complaints that the movie is too long, but again, it's a Judd Apatow flick, what do you expect?

4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Dec 14)

THIS IS HAPPENING. Almost 10 years after "Return of the King" marked the first ever epic fantasy film to take home Best Picture at the Oscars, the start of a new Tolkien trilogy begins with this first installment of "The Hobbit", starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo and the returning Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis and Gandalf and Gollum, respectively. There is tons of controversy surrounding the film, whether in the form of animal cruelty, 48 fps, or the fact that that there will be roughly 8000 different ways of viewing it in theaters (okay more like 5-10), but at the end of the day, it's Peter Jackson returning to Middle Earth and so the movie's gotta rule at least a little bit. 

3. Django Unchained (Dec 25)

Tarantino follows up the impeccable "Inglorious Bastards" with this freed slave takes revenge tale starring Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz and perhaps most excitingly, Leonardo DiCaprio exploring the scenery chewing side of the acting world. It has all of the hallmarks of classic Tarantino - violence, coarse language, smarts, quirks, great music and an array of interesting characters. The film hasn't screened yet, so there isn't much concrete Oscar buzz to speak of, but if it's as good as we all hope it will be….dark horse?

2. Les Miserables (Dec 25)

The current Oscar frontrunner for Best Picture, this adaptation of the musical from director Tom Hooper is almost perfect. The Best Supporting Actress win is Anne Hathaway's to lose for her gut wrenching portrayal of Fantine, and expect Hugh Jackman to be nominated for his first Oscar for holding. down. the. fort. as "yeah i sing for most of the movie, so what?!" badass Jean Valjean. When your weakest link not only has an Oscar, but was nominated two additional times, (here's looking at you, Russell Crowe), you know you've got something special on your hands. Don't be surprised when the heaving sobs come on - you're not the only one, and yes, it's fine to sing during the finale - if you can even manage to hold out until then. Plus, the film is peppered with nods to mega fans of the original London production in the form of visuals and actors, and Hooper's annoying tendency to shoot from the worst and/or closest angle possible seems as though it is starting to be curbed! Sort of! 

1. Zero Dark Thirty (Dec 19 NY, LA. Wide Jan 11)

Otherwise known as "Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Ladin movie"  or "In which Jessica Chastain battles Jennifer Lawrence for a Best Actress Oscar" or "yeah, pundits, you totes forgot about this one, didn't you?!!?!!" The film, which doesn't open wide until next year, is a dramatization of the Navy SEAL Team 6 taking out Bin Laden, an event that took the world by storm in 2011. The action drama also features Joel Edgerton, Taylor Kinney, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt and a host of others. Early screenings immediately reminded Oscar talking heads that the film not only exists, but has a damn good chance at a Best Pic nod. 

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Dear Fangirl Who Doesn't Like Twilight - Is Breaking Dawn Part Two Worth Seeing?

For the fifth time, I, someone who thinks the Twilight series is horribly written shlock with the worst role model on the face of a planet for a protagonist, went and saw a Twilight movie with a group of friends opening weekend. We drank, we laughed, we clapped, we whispered "what?!" and "really." and "are you serious?" to each other at least fifteen times, and all in all had a great afternoon. I feel rather conflicted about contributing to Breaking Dawn Part Two's opening weekend haul, but at the same time, I had a truly fantastic Sunday. So perhaps in an attempt to vindicate myself, I decided to write up a little something explaining why the film might be worth seeing. If you have seen the film, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, don't feel compelled to pay for it, but maybe judge me a little less. Hooray! So here we go.  The 10 things you and your friends can giggle about during/after Breaking Dawn Part Two that make it *maybe* worth $11.75, maybe.

Lee Pace
For some reason, Julliard trained amaze balls Lee Pace is in this movie, and he steals every scene he is in and makes me giggle in my ladyparts. He is scrufftastic and sexy and falls in love with a blond vampire because she is a little bit sassy and that's about it. But he elevates the material and sort of a little tiny bit legitimizes the whole thing. Note: This is the only *actually* good thing about the movie on this list.

Open Defiance Of Cinematic Rules
There is a voiceover that begins about a third of the way through, completely out of nowhere. Isn't this a direct affront to rule #1 of screenwriting? I mean, there's not even a diary introduced to justify this thing, it just happens because without it, we wouldn't know what's going on, because either the story is that stupid, or the filmmakers assume the Twilight audience is that stupid. Whatever the reason, you gotta kinda admire a film that simply doesn't give a shit.

The Irish Vampire Clan
They have one line between the three of them. The chick has red hair. The dude is wearing a golf hat hat. They might even be wearing green, and even if they weren't, they might as well have been. We applauded wildly for these guys in the closing credits.

what?!

CGI Baby Face
Oh uncanny valley, you've gotten so darn adorbz

Joe Anderson & His Fingerless Gloves
Why is he in this? What was the purpose of his character? This is an actual question to ponder and giggle about! You may also find yourself chuckling over his fingerless gloves, because it's such an obvious "let's show who this character is by his costume" rookie move, cause it actually says roughly nothing about his character. Literally everything about him was pointless. That said, I like Joe Anderson? So I like seeing his face in things? So there's that?


Yes, Jacob Takes His Shirt Off
You really thought you could get through a Twilight movie without this happening? You're silly.

The Amazons

really.

Speaking of poor costume design...so there are these two "Amazon" vampires. I assume that means they live in the Amazon? But are still wearing their skimpy impractical Amazon garb when they run on over to Forks, Washington? No attempt to blend in whatsoever there? And do people really dress like that in the Amazon right now? Like, why? I asked why a lot during this movie. In case you haven't been able to tell. By my repeating the word why over and over again.

Michael Sheen's Cackle
He cackles. It's awesome. And according to Jen Yamato's Moviefone interview with Bill Condon, the cackle that made it in the movie is the toned down version. Badass, Michael Sheen. Badass.

ALL OF THE BEHEADING
I don't want to spoil it too much for those of you who haven't seen the movie, but that final fight was hilariously awesome even before the...

are you serious?

Final Reveal
Bwhahaha. Zomg Twilight, OF COURSE this is what your climactic ending is. OF COURSE IT IS. The audience reaction was worth the price of admission alone.

And that about does it. I think I'm done thinking about Twilight now. Forever?!?!?! Go watch Buffy. Muse out!

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Anna Karenina Giveaway WHAAAAAT??

You guys I love giveaways so much. Especially giveaways for adaptations of epic Russian novels. Because, you know, why the hell not!

This time on All Things Fangirl gives shit away, we are focusing on Joe Wright's Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightly and Jude Law. What we is giving away??

TWO people get:

·         Copy of the book (movie tie-in edition)

·         Official Soundtrack

·         Votivo Candle with Bookmark

Woot!

You know the rules! Do the rafflecopter boogie and you could be a winner. Contest ends when the film is released on November 30th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Date:                         November 30, 2012
Genre:                                      Drama
Studio:                                     Focus Features
Starring:                                  Keira Knightley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jude Law, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Kelly Macdonald, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Williams, and Emily Watson
Directed By:                           Joe Wright (“Pride & Prejudice”, “Atonement”)
Written By:                            Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”)

Anna Karenina is acclaimed director Joe Wright’s bold, theatrical new vision of the epic story of love, stirringly adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s great novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film marks the third collaboration of the director with Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley and Academy Award-nominated producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster, following their award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.

Visit the official website

Like Anna Karenina on Facebook                   

Watch the trailer on YouTube          

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AFI Fest Wrap Up: The Movies I Can't Stop Thinking About

Although the line up we caught at this year’s AFI Fest presented by Audi didn’t quite match up with the stellar picks from last year, the 2012 slate was still mighty impressive, and furthermore, boasted some of the strangest festival fare seen all year. This includes two films made up entirely of actual found footage from other films, a surrealist comedy, a meta documentary production of a Shakespeare history, a movie about people who pay to be infected with celebrities diseases and “John Dies at the End.” If nothing else, these films sure are memorable. Here are the most fangirl relevant films from AFI 2012 that I simply can’t get out of my head. For the complete list, head on over to Film.com!

 “Antiviral”

Why we can’t stop thinking about it: It must be in the genes.

Turns out creepiness runs in the family! Brandon Cronenberg, son of David, made a huge impact at AFI this year, leaping out of the gate with his original body horror slash science fiction flick, “Antiviral.” The movie depicts a world where plebeians want so badly to be close to their favorite celebrities that they pay good money to be injected with diseased cells harnessed from their very bodies. The cells range from temporary maladies like the flu to more permanent options like herpes, and celebrity cells are additionally used to create colorless edible blobs fans can chow down on. And this is only the set up.

It turns out that Syd (an increasingly promising Caleb Landry Jones) an employee of one of the top clinics that provides these viruses to the public, regularly injects himself in order to cultivate viruses of his own to sell on the black market. Eventually, he finds himself smack in the middle of a relentless murder mystery that excites and disgusts right up until the appropriately disturbing final shot. With his first outing, Cronenberg proves himself in spades. Not only is the premise inventive and the story involving, but he shows a very deft hand when it comes to pacing, imagery, world building and invoking visceral reactions. He never shies away from the grotesque.

Stand-out moment: The skin-crawling final scene.

 “Room 237″

Why we can’t stop thinking about it: It’s a new way of connecting with the films we love.

“Room 237″ is a documentary, sure, but unlike any documentary you’ve ever seen before, a running theme at AFI 2012. Using only five voiceovers recorded for the film, set against repurposed stock footage and film clips, “Room 237″ delves into the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Each interviewee is convinced his theory is correct, and often two of them will use identical evidence to support completely different conclusions.

The theories for the most part are completely absurd, and the passion with which these people believe them adds largely to the entertainment factor. The AFI audience actually applauded when one of them concluded his argument as to how “The Shining” proves Kubrick shot the moon landing — not because the theory was sound, but because the undeniable proof we were being presented with so obviously had no grounding in reality.

“Room 237″ demonstrates a totally different way of connecting fan to film, what Chuck Klosterman calls “Immersion Criticism,” a type of examination that can only be undertaken after multiple viewings of a movie, and only if that movie is made by someone who could conceivably have ulterior motives and play with secret meanings and hidden clues, i.e. a Stanley Kubrick or a David Lynch. Ultimately, the film succeeds not because it tells us anything about “The Shining,” but because it is both highly entertaining and a solid commentary on this connection — how film fans can project themselves into the meaning of a film they love. These people LOVE “The Shining” and are now a part of its history. As crazy as that might be, it’s still kind of sweet.

Stand-out moment: As per the instruction of major “The Shining” theorist Kevin McLeod (aka Mstrmnd), we witness footage of “The Shining” playing forwards and backwards simultaneously and superimposed. (He who declined to be interviewed for the film.) While this method still proves nothing about the movie, it’s really cool to see the twins murder overlaid on Jack’s face, where it looks like he is wearing perfectly applied twin-blood clown-makeup.

 “Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen”

Why we can’t stop thinking about it: It’s what “The Clock” would be if it had a love story narrative.

Hungarian director Gyorgy Palfi’s movie is yet another AFI 2012 film made up of entirely found footage, this time from hundreds of movies and even some TV shows over the course of cinematic history. Three years, four editors, 500 movies from across the world and only the most emotive of film scores and songs are the ingredients in this examination of the tropes, themes, cliches and patterns of the love story.

Statistically, the films shown are roughly 20% Hungarian, 20% Asian and 60% American and European, and it can be watched in a variety of ways. How many films can you name? Could you describe every moment of the narrative? Which movie appears the most? It’s a feast for the movie lover’s senses. As an added treat, the end credits list every movie used and every score used, in order; one can only imagine the eventual Blu-ray release that tells you what’s on screen as you watch. However, a release seems somewhat implausible because the film could only use these movies and music for educational purposes, but fingers crossed there is a way somehow someday that we can all enjoy this 90 minutes of straight smiling soon.

Stand-out moment: Playing on its own examination of themes and patterns, after showing multiple clips demonstrating going back in time, most famously Superman making the Earth rotate in the other direction, the film replays about a minute or so, clip for clip, until the gentlemen universally decided to go the other way and win the ladies back. Nice one, “Final Cut.”

 “Wrong”

Why We Can’t Stop Thinking About it: It’s absurdist surrealism at its most accessible.

On the surface, “Wrong” is about a man named Dolph (Jack Plotnick) trying to find his lost dog, but from the moment his alarm clock turns from 7:59 to 7:60, you know you’re in for something very out of the ordinary. When all the rules of sense, logic and storytelling go out the window, it may be frustrating for some but delightfully addicting for others. After all, it was written and directed by Quentin Dupieux, who made an entire film about a sentient tire.

Dolph is only slightly bewildered by the mounting absurdities of his life. Although the whole film is a nonsensical delight, perhaps the single best part of it is William Fichtner giving the performance of his career as Master Chang.

Stand-out moment: Jack calls Jesus Organic Pizza and has a long conversation with the delivery girl about the pizza joint’s logo.

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Non Habebis Meum Sanguinem

Roger Ma, author of The Zombie Combat Manual, is out with a new book to help you fight another undead deadly foe. Like Ma's previous manual, The Vampire Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead is another helpful survival guide that's especially essential for every Buffy-loving, Edward Cullen-wary fangirl.

The Vampire Combat Manual offers pictured combat tutorials and individual testimonials, while also addressing common myths and misconceptions about vampires and classifying the different types of vampires.

Ma's new manual is a great reference book to keep all year round but makes for a particularly great read around Halloween. The Vampire Combat Manual may prove to be your best weapon against those bloodsuckers during this spooky season (after a stake of course).

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New York Comic Con: Your Guide to Saturday and Sunday

Look! We're alive! And even though we forgot to post our NYCC preview before NYCC started, we're here to give you our recommendations for Saturday and Sunday. That's something, right? Catch the rest of our preview over on Film.com here. Oh and to see anything Live Streaming, give a click here. Make sure to come back Monday when we will have a bunch of wrap up goodness for you, including plenty of photos from the floor and beyond. Happy Con-ing!

Saturday, October 13th

11:00am-12:00pm/Variant Stage

Kill Shakespeare: The Live Stage Reading

It was only a matter of time before someone took Kill Shakespeare to the next level in live performance, considering the comic is based on Shakespeare and all. This event, presented in conjunction wit the Vampire Cowboys Theater Company, should make for a very cool experience, featuring projections of images from the comic, and live music and sound effects, to accompany the actors.

11:15am-12:15am/1A21

Once More With Feeling: 15 Years of  Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Not to be confused with the 15th Anniversary panel that happened at Comic-Con this year, this Buffy panel is much more focused on the Season 9 comic, featuring a slew of writers and artists who have worked on the awesome series. But hey, we know a few Buffy actors of yore are attending the Con (here's looking at you, Nicholas Brendan), and the blurb does mention special guests…..

12:15pm-2:00pm

SAGA Signing: Brian J Vaughan & Fiona Staples/Image Booth #1229

Brian K Vaughan, the genius behind Y: The Last Man who also wrote plenty of your favorite episodes of Lost is signing his new acclaimed series, Saga. Pick up volume one at the booth and receive an exclusive bookplate for all your signing pleasure!!! This is a huge deal because Vaughan *never* signs. Some of us here at Film.com have been trying to get his signature for six years. If you're in a similar boat, make sure to beeline for Image first thing Saturday for details on attended this ticketed signing.

12:15pm-1:15pm

The Big Quiz Thing/Variant Stage

The greatest trivia show in the history, of, well, ever. Don't miss this awesomely fun interactive trivia spectacular, where every round of questions is themed towards pop culture and geekery. 

12:15-1:15/IGN Theater

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 - LIVE STREAM

DCU films are always wonderful, and when combined with the work of Frank Miller? A must. Plus, as always, aside from special footage to go along with the discussion, there will be exclusive DCU prizes.

1:30pm-2:00pm/IGN Theater - LIVE STREAM

The Conjuring

Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville. Based on a true story, “The Conjuring” tells the horrifying tale of how world renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives. 

Warner Brothers makes their first appearance at New York Comic Con since Watchmen with this horror movie from Saw mastermind James Wan. Fittingly, a Watchmen cast member has also come back, Nite Owl himself, Patrick Wilson, and other special guests.

1:45pm-2:45pm/1E13

Person of Interest Special Video Presentation and Q&A

A look at the upcoming season of this surprise hit show, plus a Q&A with lots of awesome folks, including Jonathan Nolan, Taraji P Henson, and most importantly, Michael Emerson, who is the greatest always.

2:15pm-2:45pm/IGN Theater

The Bay - LIVE STREAM

From Oscar®-winning* director Barry Levinson, Roadside Attractions, and the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, comes this nerve-shredding tale of a small town plunged into absolute terror. The authorities believed they had buried the truth about the tragedy that claimed over 700 human lives. Now, three years later, a reporter has emerged with footage revealing the cover-up and an unimaginable killer: a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Told from the perspective of those who were there and saw what happened, The Bay unfolds over 24 hours though people’s iPhones, Androids, 911 calls, web cams, and whatever else could be used to document the nightmare in Claridge, Maryland. 

Gotta love it when the indies and the legends start making their way towards New York Comic Con, and with "The Bay", we get both in one! Here, Chris Hardwick sits down with the one the only Barry Levinson to talk about his indie eco thriller The Bay, starring new genre sweetheart Kristen Connolly. 

3:00pm-3:30pm/IGN

Beautiful Creatures - LIVE STREAM

Alcon Entertainment’s “Beautiful Creatures” is a supernatural love story set in the South which tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a young man longing to escape his small town, and Lena (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town. The film is based on the first novel in the best-selling series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 

Providing a brief break from the horror is this look at  the adaptation of a beloved YA series, Beautiful Creatures, featuring a Q&A with stars Emmy Rossum, Zoey Deutch and more.

3:45pm-4:15pm

Carrie - LIVE STREAM

A reimagining of the classic Stephen King horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. 

Chloe Moretz, Julianna Moore and Kimberly Pierce in person, plus the first footage of this remake seen anywhere? Oh hell yes. 

4:00pm-5:00pm/1A23

Vertigo-Fables: 10th Anniversary!

Fables has been around for 10 years?! Holy wow. If you read the comic, do not miss this chance to reminisce with creator Bill Willingham and take a look at the future of the wonderful comic series. If you don't read Fables, change that immediately. 

4:15pm-4:45pm/IGN Theater

Evil Dead - LIVE STREAM

In the much anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film, five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up long-dormant demons that possess each of those friends in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

Word through the grapevine is this footage is under no circumstances to be missed.  Plus, Bruce Campbell on stage is always a good thing, and you're not completely obsessed with "Suburgatory'"s Jane Levy now, the lead of this remake, it's only a matter of time. 

4:30pm-5:15pm/1A10

Adult Swim: Childrens Hospital/NTSF:SD:SUV

If you're not into horror and fear you may not be able to handle the intensity of the Carrie/Evil Dead/Walking Dead triple combo knock out, then make your way over to this sure to be hilarious Adult Swim panel, featuring show creators Paul Scheer, Rob Corddry and more.

5:00pm-6:00pm/IGN

AMC's The Walking Dead Panel Event - LIVE STREAM

Returning for their third year in order to promote their third season are the cast and showrunners of The Walking Dead, featuring a clip from Sunday's premiere. Chrid Hardwick moderates Glen Mazzara, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggss, MICHONNE FINALLY Danai Gurira, the Governer David Morrissey, and the returning Michael Rooker.

5:45pm-6:45pm

Jane Espenson, Brad Bell, Sean Hemeon Signing/Autograph Table 5

The Husbands team will be on hand to sign! Word on the street is they will have something very special available to sign, that may or may not be announced at their Friday panel…

6:15pm-7:15pm/IGN Theater

Firefly 10th Anniversary Special Event - First Look - LIVE STREAM

While obviously this panel cannot capture the magic of the Comic-Con reunion, this room will still be filled with Browncoats aplenty getting a sneak peek at the Science Channel's soon to be aired reunion special, complete with special guests and giveaways. 

7:45pm-8:45pm/Variant Stage

Cinefantastique Presents "Can You Survive a Zombie Apocalypse?"

One of a geek's favorite questions and one I've indulged in at many a post-Comic Con bar chat. Let's find out once and for all what the definitive best weapon to have in the zombie apocalypse is, because, no, I reject "bike" as an answer.

Sunday, October 14th

10:30am-11:30am

Jane Espenson, Brad Bell, Sean Hemeon Signing/Autograph Table 5

Your second chance to meet the minds behind Husbands!

11:00am-12:00pm/1E13

666 Park Avenue Special Video Presentation and Q&A

Watch some of new hit 666 Park Avenue and then have a chat with pretty much every single cast member. Part of WBTV's impressive showing this year.

11:00am-12:00pm/IGN Theater

Arrow Special Video Presentation and Q&A - LIVE STREAM

Fittingly, the comic book based WBTV show gets the giant room today, providing a look at the show and Q&A with the three leads, Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, and Willa Holland.

12:00pm-12:45pm/Unbound Stage

Geek Geek Revolution: The Sequel

WOOHOO! If you miss the first go round, there is another one on Sunday eagerly awaiting your attendance! This time, contestants include Anton Strout, Andrea Cremer, Beth Revis and Myke Cole. Games rule. So excited.

12:00pm-1:00pm/1E07

The Following Pilot Screening and Q&A

Yeah. You want to see this. It's great and isn't premiering until January. Get on board now! Oh and if James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore and Natalie Zea on a panel aren't enough for you, there will also be a Kevin Bacon.

12:15pm-2:00pm/IGN Theater

Spider-Man's IGN Theater Birthday Celebration

Curious about the train wreck that is Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, but don't want to spend over $200 to see if it really is that bad? Well, just head to the IGN Theater on Sunday to see a snippet of the show! There will also be a screening of an Ultimate Spider-Man episode, and a tutorial on how to move like Spider-Man. If you are five years old, you don't want to miss this.

1:00pm-3:00pm

SAGA Signing: Brian J Vaughan & Fiona Staples/Image Booth #1229

ANOTHER CHANCE THANK EVERYTHING SEE YOU THERE

1:30pm-2:00pm/Variant Stage

Central Park Zoo's Wildlife Theater

Central Park Zoo’s Wildlife Theater performs an expert from their interactive program Cool Rainforest Connections. The audience will meet the zoo’s superhero Captain Cocoa and our monkey puppet Tammy the Tamarin. Children in the audience will be invited to become Captain Cocoa’s sidekicks on the mission to save the Rainforest! This program uses games, humor and superheroes to entertain and teach about the Rainforest and how we can all make a difference. After the program visit our table for more fun activities and arts and crafts about the Rainforest.

What?! Why?! Okay! ANIMALS!

3:00pm-3:45pm/Unbound Stage

From Leia to Buffy: Creating Strong Female characters in Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The co-authors of "Mothership", Martin Leicht and Isla Neal, discuss their own heroine, Elvie Nara, as well other strong women in sci-fi/fantasy Always a worthy discussion to be had. And a chance to argue about why Revolution's Charlie does not count! 

3:30pm-5:00pm

Robert Kirkman Signing/Image Booth #1229

Your last chance! 

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"My Problem With Looper's Logic" or "Does This Mean I Don't Like Looper?!?!"

Thursday night, I found myself at a midnight showing of Looper at the Arclight in Hollywood. Before I jump into my thoughts on the movie aka the point of this article, I do want to mention that Looper now holds the title for Best Midnight Showing Director Introduction. See, Rian Johnson showed up in full Arclight employee garb, introduced himself simply as "Rian" and did nothing but say what the Arclight employees always say before a movie starts. As he was speaking, I thought to myself, wait a second, I know that guy, thinking he was just an Arclight dude who has been around forever, not putting two and two together that he looked familiar because I've been hearing him talk at conventions all year. Because he's Rian Johnson. But someone in our group quickly figured it out and we began uncontrollably snickering, causing Johnson to ask towards the end of his speil - "What's so funny?" It was a perfect moment, and set a nice tone going into the film.

But now to get some things off my chest after the jump. Spoilers ahead!





I really liked Looper. I was engaged from start to finish. I loved the new take on the rules of time travel/solving the paradox of time travel. I loved the world building. I loved the sound. I loved the music. I loved the performances. I loved that the marketing made us *think* we were being spoiled, when in fact what the movie is truly about was never even hinted at. I could go on. I was totally on board as the film hurdled toward its conclusion, eagerly anticipating what was sure to be an intense and satisfying ending. I, unlike many of my cohorts out there from what I hear, absolutely loved the little kid. Unsettling yet adorable, I was both terrified of and horribly concerned for him. He worked for me. But as the end unfolded, specifically when Young Joe launches into his speech about seeing what was about to happen, calling it a "loop" and then deciding to end it by killing himself, I found myself becoming increasingly disappointed. I found myself questioning the film's logic, allowing it to pull me completely outside of the film. This questioning, according to Da7e on last week's Operation Kino, means I wasn't on board with the film to begin with, and was perhaps waiting for the other logic shoe to drop, but I don't know if I'm positive about that.

See, I was totally enraptured by the time travel logic that the film had set up before the end. I liked this new conceit of if you travel within your own timeline, the universe deals with the paradox by actively changing your memory. That is *cool* - it hasn't been done! When Old Joe says not to worry about the time travel logic, I thought, okay, I won't! Because I had accepted what was presented and was excited to see where it went. The problem arose when the film out of nowhere decided that the logic it had spent 90 minutes setting up was in fact not correct, and this is just another take on the old "time is a loop" scenario. And worse yet, that scenario doesn't even make sense. Does it make sense that Marty McFly would start disappearing in a photo, but still exist in real life? No. But the time travel logic worked, so I went along with it. With Looper, we are asked to accept the fact that the Rainmaker exists because Old Joe kills his mother, and that the only way to end it is for Young Joe to kill himself, thus killing Old Joe as well. But after being told specifically that time travel *doesn't* work as a loop in this universe, how then can I turn around and accept that it is during the climax of the film? No, of course I'm going to then ask, but in timeline one young Old Joe kills old old joe, so how exactly does the Rainmaker become the Rainmaker? If he is destined to in any timeline, then Young Joe killing himself doesn't really help matters much, does it? To make matters worse, any article I read wherein someone asks Johnson about this, his response is always something along the lines of, it's time travel, you're mean to just go along with the magical logic!

But this doesn't work for me. Time travel can't be both a loop and not a loop.

The question Da7e presents is - did this lapse in storytelling coherency stop me from loving the movie, or is it bothering me only because I wasn't loving the movie before that point in the film? I really couldn't say. I've been on the fence about films before that were then saved by their endings, and have loved movies before that I then only liked after witnessing its lackluster conclusion.

Would I still recommend the movie to people? Yes. But less because "IT'S FUCKING AWESOME!" and more, "Let me know when you've seen it so we can talk about it." Does what bothered me bother anyone else? Or is the problem most people have with the film simply the second (or third? how do we calculate this?) act shift, which I don't mind at all?

In any event, I'm really sick of being so underwhelmed with movies this year. Bah.

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