"Donovan's Echo"- Can His Past Save Our Future ?

From Canadian distributor Union Pictures, Sneak Peek the Vancouver-lensed mystery suspense feature "Donovan's Echo" directed by Jim Cliffe, opening in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and other select Canadian theatres, February 24th, 2012.

"Donovan's Echo" stars Danny Glover ("Predator 2"), Bruce Greenwood ("Star Trek"), Natasha Calis, Sonja Bennett, David Lewis, Ian Tracey ("Intelligence") and Lanette Ware :

"...'Donovan' (Danny Glover) returns home to discover that tragic events from his past are possibly repeating. Plagued by 'déjà vu', he is convinced his young neighbour and her mother are doomed to die on the anniversary of his wife and daughter’s deaths.

"Struggling to unlock the pattern, Donovan tries to solicit the help of his brother-in-law, police 'Sergeant Finnley' (Bruce Greenwood). When his facts don’t add up, Donovan’s sanity is questioned. Is he losing his mind, or running out of time ?..."

Screenplay is by Cliffe and Melodie Krieger, for producers Trent Carlson, Andria Spring and executive producers Mary Anne Waterhouse and Greenwood.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Donovan's Echo"...

"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within"- February 14, 2012

"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within", the 2010 sequel to the 2007 Brazilian action feature "The Elite Squad", produced and directed by José Padilha, will be available from VVS Films, on Blu-ray and DVD, February 14, 2012.

The sequel is a continuation of the semi-fictional account of the 'BOPE' (Portuguese: 'Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais'), aka the 'Special Police Operations Battalion' of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police, with a focus on the relationship between law enforcement and politics :

"...set thirteen years after the events of the first film, 'The Enemy Within' focuses on former captain and now 'Lt. Col. Roberto Nascimento', who, after a disastrous 'BOPE' operation during a prison riot, gets caught in a bloody political dispute that involves not only the 'Public Safety Department', the State governor and State Military Police, but also paramilitary groups known as 'milícias'.

"Nascimento also has family issues, with his now adolescent son gradually moving away from him due to his job and the influence of his stepfather, 'Diogo Fraga'..."

Cast includes Wagner Moura, Irandhir Santos, André Ramiro, Maria Ribeiro, Sandro Rocha, Milhem Cortaz, Tainá Müller, Seu Jorge, André Mattos and Emilio Neto Orciollo Valmir.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Elite Squad: The Enemy Within"...

We're Off To See The "Wizard World Toronto Comic Con" - April 14-15, 2012

Celebrities attending the 2012 "Wizard World Toronto Comic Con", April 14-15 @ the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto, will include Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula, Paul Wesley, WWE Superstar Edge and Amy Acker among numerous additional headliners TBA.

Bakula ("Star Trek: Enterprise"), and Acker ("Angel") will appear both days, while Wesley ("The Vampire Diaries"), Ryan ("Star Trek: Voyager") and Edge are scheduled to attend Saturday only.

"Toronto and the entire region have embraced 'Wizard World Toronto Comic Con' over the past two years," said John Macaluso, Wizard World Board of Directors, "and we're excited to bring a first-class event to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

"From well-known, relevant stars like Paul Wesley and Jeri Ryan, classic and cult actors/actresses, to an outstanding collection of big-time artists and a unique array of exhibitors and vendors, there's something here for everyone."

The event, produced by Wizard World, Inc., brings fans, celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video games, television, sci-fi, original art, collectibles, contests and a whole lot more.

Comics creators attending this year include Mike Deodato Jr. ("Amazing Spider-Man"), Jock ("Detective Comics"), John McCrea ("Hitman"), Javi Fernandez ("Captain America: First Vengeance"), Dale Keown ("Hulk"), Tyler Kirkham ("Green Lantern Corps"), Marcus To ("The Huntress"), Ken Lashley ("Batwing"), David Mack ("Daredevil"), Greg Tocchini ("Batman and Robin"), Michael Golden ("Batman"), Greg Horn ("Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark"), and Arthur Suydam ("Marvel Zombies").

Celebrity guests will also include Colin Ferguson ("Eureka"), Sean Maher ("Serenity"), Jeremy Bulloch ("Star Wars: Episode III, V, VI), Sam Witwer ("Smallville"), Sam Huntington ("Superman Returns"), Meaghan Rath ("Being Human") and Catherine Mary Stewart ("The Last Starfighter").

"...attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villain, superhero or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in costume contests.

"Event-goers may also try their hand at interactive product exhibits and shop for collectible comics, movie and television memorabilia, toys and games at scores of dealer booths..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek The "Wizard World Toronto Comic Con"...

"iBroadcast.TV" Official Launch Party- February 3, 2012

Tammy Manor, Director, Community Development for Sam Rahimi's "iBroadcast.TV", hosted an Official Launch Party @ Hackernest Toronto, Friday, February 3, 2012.

Alongside kegs of beer and an open bar, the media event offered a Demo and Interactive Broadcast, followed by HD streaming of the party online @ ibroadcast.tv/

"...to thank those who have built this great community, you're all invited to raise a glass with us as we unveil the next generation of iBTV, drop a few hints about what the future has in store, and groove to the beats of the incredibly talented DJ 2 Creamz and DJ Mendez of Ottawa who believe, as we do, that community broadcasting is the way of the future..."

Event sponsors included Jutta Gabriel - Germany and Troy Oakley - Enigma Photography.

Click the images to enlarge...

"The Double" On Blu-ray and DVD - January 31, 2012

The 2011 spy thriller, "The Double", from VVS Films, will be released on a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack, On Demand and Digital Download, January 31, 2012, in both English and French.

From a screenplay by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the co-writers of "Wanted" and "3:10 To Yuma", "The Double" is Brandt's directorial debut.

Cast includes Richard Gere, Martin Sheen, Topher Grace and Odette Yustman-Annabel :

"...when a US Senator is killed, the evidence points to a Soviet assassin code-named 'Cassius', who was long-thought to be dead.

"'Paul Shepherdson' (Gere), a retired CIA operative is paired with FBI Agent 'Ben Geary' (Grace), to stop Cassius before he finds his next target..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Double"...

2012: Enter The "Dragon Lady"

In celebration of the Chinese 'Year Of The Dragon', Sneak Peek creator Milton Caniff's 'Dragon Lady' character from the classic action adventure newspaper comic strip "Terry and the Pirates".

The character was based on a real woman pirate from the South China Sea named 'Lai Choi San'.

Inspired by movie characters played by actress Anna May Wong, the 'Dragon Lady' term has since been applied to powerful Asian women.

Caniff's 'Dragon Lady', aka 'Madam Deal', debuted in in the first "Terry and The Pirates" Sunday strip story (1934), as a beautiful, yet cold seductress, who unexpectedly fell in love with 'Pat Ryan'. In the years leading up to World War II, she organized the resistance against the Japanese invasion of China.

During the 1940's, actress Agnes Moorehead played the character on radio and in the "Terry and the Pirates" film serial (1940), the part was played by Sheila Darcy.

Click the images to enlarge...

"Coriolanus" Opens in Canada January 20, 2012

D Films reports that actor/director Ralph Fiennes’ feature film "Coriolanus" will open theatrically in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, January 20th, 2012 with further expansion across Canada TBA:

"...a feared and revered military commander courts tragedy when he enters the political arena in "Coriolanus', a driving action/drama that marks the directorial debut of the film’s star, two time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes.

"Updating William Shakespeare’s late-period tragedy of ancient Roman setting to the 21st Century of guerrilla insurgencies, instant polling and 24-hour news networks, Fiennes delivers a trenchant tale of honor, power, politics and pride.

"'Caius Martius 'Coriolanus' (Fiennes), a Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother 'Volumnia' (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of 'Consul', he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office.

"When the public refuse to support him, Coriolanus' anger prompts a riot which culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy 'Tullus Aufidius' (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Coriolanus"...

"Tyrannosaur" Opens in Toronto- January 27, 2012

D Films reports that actor Paddy Considine’s award-winning first feature directorial debut, "Tyrannosaur", winner of three 2011 British Independent Film Awards, including Best British Independent Film, Best Debut Director and Best Actress (Olivia Colman), will open theatrically in Toronto, January 27th, 2012 :

"...'Joseph' (Peter Mullan) is a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As his life spirals into turmoil a chance of redemption appears in the form of 'Hannah' (Olivia Colman), a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own..."

"Tyrannosaur" was also the winner of the 2011 Sundance World Cinema Awards for Best Director and Best Acting for both Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Tyrannosaur"...

Kinosmith Presents "The Divide" - January 20, 2012

Kinosmith presents director Xavier Gens' post-apocalyptic thriller, "The Divide", opening in Toronto, Friday, January 20, 2012 @ the Scotiabank Theatre .

The Canadian co-production starring Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Eklund, and Rosanna Arquette was shot in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The theatrical cut, running close to 2 hours, contains 13 minutes of additional footage not included in the version that screened at festivals in 2011 :

"...nine strangers—all tenants of a New York high rise apartment—escape a nuclear attack by hiding out in the building’s bunker-like basement. Trapped for days underground with no hope for rescue, and only unspeakable horrors awaiting them on the other side of the bunker door, the group begins to descend into madness, each turning on one another.

"As supplies dwindle, and tensions flare, each act against one another becomes more depraved than the next. While everyone in the bunker allows themselves to be overcome by desperation and lose their humanity, one survivor holds onto a thin chance for escape even with no promise of salvation on the outside..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Divide"...