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CCI 2018: Amazon Prime Video Announced Its Lineup For Comic-Con 2018

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Amazon Prime Video  announced its lineup for the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International. It includes two panels featuring the creators and cast from some of Amazon’s most popular and anticipated series including Carlton Cuse, showrunner and Executive Producer of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Ben Edlund creator of The Tick; Sam Esmail director of Homecoming; Neil Gaiman creator, writer, and showrunner of Good Omens; Gale Anne Hurd Executive Producer of Lore; and Naren Shankar showrunner of The Expanse. In addition, a second panel with The Man in the High Castle Executive Producers Isa Dick Hackett and Daniel Percival will be held and cast from the series will be in attendance including Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell, Jason O’Mara, and Stephen Root.

Amazon will host an unforgettable experience for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan to the west of the convention center – starting at the corner of MLK & 1st and extending to the back adjacent parking lot. The entire area will be converted into a vast Jack Ryan immersive experience that plucks people from the streets of San Diego and transports them into the heart of the Middle East.

“We’re thrilled to bring such a diverse group of creators to SDCC and give fans an exclusive sneak peek at what’s to come for these highly-anticipated shows,” said Mike Benson, Head of Marketing, Amazon Studios. “Our activation for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is our most ambitious to date and will be one of the must-see events of Comic-Con.”

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Fan Experience

At the Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan fan experience, Comic-Con attendees will step into the world of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and be thrust into a dangerous field assignment that turns them into unexpected heroes. Visitors will complete the Jack Ryan Training Field by infiltrating, fighting and evading the enemy to gain full field clearance. They will then use that training to help Jack Ryan himself in Dark Ops, a groundbreaking escape room that recreates the pilot episode of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Attendees can also explore the Middle Eastern bazaar which has assignments to be completed at every turn, watch a live leaderboard and pick up some iconic Jack Ryan swag.

The Jack Ryan Training Field is a hyper-reality virtual reality spy experience where participants can prove they have what it takes to be a hero. Heroes in training will go through a series of thrilling true-to-life experiences including rappelling from a helicopter, traversing between dangerous high rise buildings, and zip-lining to ground level. Created with MediaMonks, the Jack RyanTraining Field stands over 30 feet tall and uses the latest Optitrack 4D and Oculus Rift technology to make visitors physically feel as if they were thrust into the action.

Dark Ops is a first of its kind escape room, created by AKQA and Unit 9, which lets participants live the first episode of Jack Ryan. Participants will be tasked with offering remote assistance to Jack Ryan in Dark Ops, where teams of rookie analysts will have to dig deep to uncover a plot of double-crossing, top secret information and an extremist plot set to be put in motion at any minute.

The Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan fan experience will take place Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22 at the park located at the corner of 1st street and Martin Luther King Promenade – directly across from the San Diego Convention Center. It will be open daily from 9 am to 7 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday.

San Diego Comic-Con Panels

In addition to the experience, creators and talent from some of Amazon’s biggest series will be attending panels to discuss their shows. Fans will be treated to never-before-seen clips, and for one series, Amazon will debut an entire episode exclusively to SDCC attendees. Below are the details for Prime Video panels during San Diego Comic-Con:

Friday, July 20 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm, Room: Ballroom 20

Prime Video brings together six exciting creators to share insights and behind-the-scenes looks into their highly-anticipated upcoming Prime Original series. Featured panelists include: Carlton Cuse (Lost), Executive Producer of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, premiering August 31; The Tick creator Ben Edlund (Gotham); Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) director of Homecoming; world-renowned author Neil Gaiman (American Gods), creator-writer-showrunner of Good OmensLore Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead); and Naren Shankar (Almost Human) showrunner of The Expanse.

Saturday, July 21 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm, Room: 6A

The Man in the High Castle returns to SDCC to preview its upcoming third season on Prime Video. This engaging panel will feature cast and creator discussion, exclusive sneak peeks, and audience Q&A. Panelists will include Alexa Davalos (Mob City), Rufus Sewell (Victoria), Jason O’Mara (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Stephen Root (Dallas & Robo) along with Executive Producers Isa Dick Hackett (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams) and Dan Percival (Strike Back).

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Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

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Director: Adhik Ravichandran 

Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran

Genre: Action / Crime Drama

Rating: 4.5/5


“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.

“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.

While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.

The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.

“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.

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Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

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In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!

When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting.  And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!

Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home. 

Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence. 

Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.

The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!

However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene. 

Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes. 

My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues. 

I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.

Presence is available to stream.

Three and a half stars.

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Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

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Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan


Overview

Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.

Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.

Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.

The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.

The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.


Rating: 9/10

Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.


Pros

  • Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
  • Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
  • Rich mythological lore
  • Epic fight choreography

Cons

  • Sparse episode release
  • Story pacing can be uneven at times

Final Verdict 9/10

If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.

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