The Syfy Channel ran Alice last month, which won’t actually be available on DVD until March, but was a wonderful interpretation of the book from the same folks who did Tin Man last year. But there is a computer variation of the namesake I wanted to mention here. It comes in the form of the A. L. I. C. E. Artificial Intelligence Foundation which uses an artificial James T. Kirk to drive its point home, as well as the Alice Programming Initiative which allows students to learn basic 3D graphics object-oriented programming while creating their own home-made videos.
Sac Anime happens from the 8th to the 10th in Sacramento, CA. The musical guests include The Slants and Voltaire, and there are many more guests in many other categories.
Animé Los Angeles 6 also happens this same weekend. They have some great Guests of Honor and some good events set up for the convention.
For the weekend Media Con, there is the Twighlight Con in Miami, FL. It runs from the 8th to the 10th, and the estrogen levels should be intense.
This week sees the Palm Springs International Film Festival kick off, running from the 5th (today) to the 16th. While one of the more interesting segments is the G’Day USA: A Showcase of New Australian Cinema, it doesn’t have any actual genre entries. For that, Air Doll is one of the better choices. I think Hipsters about do-wap singers in 1955 Russia would make a great double feature with Howl about the US 1957 obscenity trial and counter-culture creation by Ginsberg.
Coming out this Friday is Daybreakers, in which most of the human race has been turned into vampires with the remaining humans sufficient to supply their blood needs for a matter of weeks only. With an all star cast that includes Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, and Isabel Lucas, this film has the potential to be something special. Also this week, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus hits screens everywhere, ending its limited release run.
For a small but immediate chunk of Neil Gaiman goodness, go watch his new (short) movie Statuesque at Pink is the New Blog. It stars Bill Nighy and Amanda Palmer, runs about 8 minutes long, and does an amazing job of storytelling with no dialog.
2010 has some very interesting movies scheduled to make the theaters. Other films coming out in January include Legion, The Book of Eli, Tooth Fairy, and When in Rome. February has the sequel District 13: Ultimatum, as well as Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and The Wolfman.
It isn’t coming up until March of 2010, but one of the films I am looking forward to this year is Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack and Chevy Chase. Nothing profound on this one, just silly fun.
The latest season of one of my favorite TV shows gets released this Tuesday: Chuck, season 2. If you thought season one was somewhat amusing, brace yourself for the next great sequence! Here is a hint; watch for some world class actors reprising their best roles here, including such masterpieces as Die Hard and The Whole 9 Yards.
In the American Animation collection for the 5th, the prime choice is Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, yet another exquisitely silly cartoon! For Japanese anime, Night Head Genesis the complete collection tells a story of psychic power and rebellion.
Then there is a Japanese Live Action film, called Akiballion: Battlemaids of Akihabara. Hard though it may be to believe, these three women battle the very Forces of Nature to protect the Geek part of town!
Which should get everyone ready for Wake Up Callz, where an evil orbital device does its best to steal Earths dreams.
Someone cobbled together an animation of what the CERN black hole might look like should this impossible event come to pass. Thanks to the Brain Release valve team for this one. And a nice Firefly music video Nathan Fillion tweeted this week…