Hey folks, Harry here - on the way to the gym, but got our first reader report from Day One of Comic Con - keep these up folks, you help us to spread the cool around the world - your words give others a sensation of experience, jealousy and community. Here's FreeScreeningWhore...
Hey there, I'm the guy that sent in the "The Year One" review a coupla weeks back. I've been attending Comic-Con for the last nine years or so, and I know that with the sheer amount of programming and exhibitions, it's possible to have a shitty convention-going day. This is why a day such as I just had is rare, incredible, and aint-it-cool publish-worthy. (It culminated in one of the geeky-coolest encounters ever.) Today has been (likely out of sheer luck) one of the greatest Comic-Con days I've ever encountered. After my lady and I picked up our badges, the day started off well, by successfully obtaining her ticket to the Tori Amos signing on Saturday (despite the books needing to be purchased not arriving due to a huge highway meat truck accident.) We then got in line for the first big panel in Hall H, from 20th Century Fox. We made it in (a miracle in itself) just in time to see Keanu and the Director talk about "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The footage they showed looked really great, the best of which being an extra shot of Gort (the Director finally admitting he's in the movie) standing in front a bunch of humans, zappin' his laser eye. Gort was HUGE, easily two or three times taller than the humans standing around him. (Shot was very reminiscent of that new poster.) Director guy said that the technology would be more biological than mechanical, and that WETA was doing the effects. Cool. (Also, they gave us a shirt that said "Klaatu Barada Nikto." Nice) Then they start talking about Max Payne, and this Director was a lot more laid back, probably because he is fat and happy. The Max Payne footage was great, very much like the games. (definitely saw some graffiti of that drug logo. Can't remember the name, starts with a "v") Mila Kunis seemed uncomfortable. The panel ended with some sweet super-duper-digital-something slow motion footage, and everyone's heart was a-twitter. Fun. Then they bring out a surprise guest, goddamn Wolverine. He shows us some sweet footage of his new movie, which he claims he just finished shooting but somehow he has a beard. Maybe Wolverine gets more manly in this one by doing the full beard. I don't know, but everyone in the audience goes apeshit when they show GAMBIT, throwing cards and bein' a badass. Even Wolverine notices, because when the footage stops, he's like "Bet you all were glad to see Gambit there!" So that rocked; then we decide to sit in on the Red Sonja panel a bit later. No footage cause they haven't filmed. Rodriguez did this hilarious impression of Danny Trejo leaving him phone messages five times a day "Robert, when we makin' Machete???" I hope someone recorded that, 'cause I can't remember it all. Rose McGowan was dressed like Poison Ivy and talked all smart-ass, even when some REALLY stereotypically nerdy guys started asking her questions. These panels were all fine and good, but then the day shifted into high gear. We got ALL of our Star Trek swag in one swoop. With some cheating and trading, we got all four of the posters. (Kirk, Nero, Spock, and Uhura.) Paramount was also handing out scratcher cards that had an "Enterprise Construction Crew Position" on it. There were 8 total, and you had to get 8 people, one with each, to get a nice Trek laptop bag with the insignia embroidered on it. I was standing by as some guy had all 8 tickets, but not 8 people for them. The employees bitched, so seven of us random guys stepped up saying things like "Hey man, I made it!" Feigning familiarity to get in on it. We all ended up with bags, everyone was happy. Then came the kicker. The moment I knew couldn't be topped, so I just left the con after. I came out from the Paramount booth, and directly across is a booth that has an elevated, second-story platform for autograph signings. I look up, and there's that guy who's playing Rorschach in Watchmen. He's having his picture taken on the balcony, away from the signing. I tell my lady to snap some shots, she does. Then I pause, and realize, the fates have aligned me and Rorschach perfectly. He's up there, I'm down here. I couldn't resist. I yell "Rorschach! Save us!" He looks down at me, smiles, and whispers, "No." Best Comic-con day ever. -FreeScreeningWhore
