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You think your city's leadership is bad? Just look at these 10 stand-out examples of terrible mayors and awful city leaders from science fiction and urban fantasy. They steal, they kill, they won't give the people air! More »
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City Of Ember was one of the best science fiction movies of 2008, with terrific performances and incredible production design. So why is it getting such a cruddy DVD? More »
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Why are kids' movies the only ones allowed to deal with real grown-up issues? City Of Ember, opening today, reminded me of the allegory-rich Wall-E. Not least because it talked about issues like scarce resources and the cushiony softness of propaganda. It's such a relief, after watching a thousand allegedly "grown-up" action-adventure movies, to watch a film that actually talks to me like I'm 12, instead of four. Spoilers ahead. More »
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If you're a fan of the underground world of young adult scifi that is Jeanne Duprau's City Of Ember, then you're aware there's a sequel to this novel called The People of Sparks. So in a press conference for the movie adaptation Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan answered who might be coming back, and what were the chances for an Ember 2. And Murray has a very complicated scientific explanation of his character's future. Spoilers for the film below. More »
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This clip shows the moment where City Of Ember takes a sudden sharp left turn, and becomes a very different movie than you were expecting. It's totally demented and awesome, and a bit spoilery. I was excited that IGN posted this scene, however, because there's a bit more to Ember than you might have heard. In particular, the film has one important character who hasn't been mentioned anywhere, and he makes his big appearance here. [IGN] More »
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This morning's spoilers include our first look at Amy Acker in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse — and it's not the same old Fred. Plus, we read some script pages from Sarah Connor Chronicles and Smallville, including a crucial turning point for Chloe and Jimmy. Some Doctor Who commentary tracks let you know a bit about what to expect from the Christmas special and the specials appearing in 2009. Director Gil Kenan explains the meaning, and aesthetic, behind City Of Ember. Plus there are killer spoilers for Fringe, Chuck and Heroes. Spoilers can be killers, but they also bring life. More »
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Iron Man director Jon Favreau gave a lot of insight into what comic-book villains and storylines you might see in the second chapter of the Tony Stark saga. And they're not necessarily the ones you'd expect. Meanwhile, we have a sneak peek at next week's Heroes, plus a glimpse of next spring's "Fugitives" storyline. There are some no-duh spoilers for Terminator Salvation, plus some interesting tidbits about Blindness, City Of Ember, Splinter and The Burrowers. We also have a bunch of looks ahead on Smallville, plus spoilers and pics for Lost, Dollhouse, Chuck and Battlestar Galactica. Spoilers are electric! More »
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Producer of The City of Ember Tom Hanks gives us all an inside peek into the underground city that was filmed where the Titanic (not James Cameron's movie, the actual ship) was built. Almost the entire underground world was constructed on this gigantic set, including Ember's shops, salons and mysterious tunnels. More »
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This morning's spoilers include some new hints for Day The Earth Stood Still, City Of Ember and Repo! The Genetic Opera. Also, you may be surprised at who's coming back on Lost — and how they're coming back. A new leak includes the weirdest idea about that Battlestar cliffhanger yet. Plus there are new hints about Heroes, Smallville, Knight Rider, Clone Wars, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Chuck, Eleventh Hour, and Stargate Atlantis. Don't fear the spoilers! More »
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There's a whole weekend's worth of spoilers to share with you today — including the dirt on some more Transformers 2 filming, and a new clip from the post-apocalyptic film City Of Ember. We have the craziest Doctor Who rumor you've heard in ages, and there are some more shocking set reports from Lost. And we've read some script pages from Sarah Connor, Chuck and Knight Rider. And there are wild new spoilers and vids from Smallville, Heroes, Fringe, Eleventh Hour and Stargate Atlantis. Start your week in the spoiler zone! More »
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The one remaining obstacle in keeping us from eagerly anticipating any potential Ghostbusters 3 - the question mark over Bill Murray's involvement - seems have been removed by the announcement at a recent press conference that he's over his 'Busterphobia so much that he's even whistling Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song on his way to work these days. But what brought on this newfound enthusiasm? Here's a clue: It's not the unfinished script to the third movie. More »
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Curious as to how Bill Murray will rule the underground city? Check out these new clips from The City Of Ember that hit the internet this week, and see for yourself. This adaptation of Jeanne Duprau's novel follows a group of teens as they try to discover the secrets behind the ancient underground city before all of the lights go out and the citizens are forced to live in darkness, forever. Clearly Murray is going to be the highlight of this film. More »
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Still more Transformers 2 spoilers include your first look at Ratchet, video of stuff blowing up (update: now more watchable!) and a crazy new rumor about Optimus Prime. We also have major spillage from City Of Ember and Repo! The Genetic Opera. There are small but significant disclosures about Battlestar Galactica, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Adventures, Fringe, Eleventh Hour, Lost and Smallville. And another huge bunch of weird plot twists on Heroes, the show that says "Hey, look! Weird plot twists!" Spoilers are your story insurance policy. More »
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The new City of Ember poster is out and I can't help but wonder if those two crazy kids ever bumped into Fraser and company from Journey To The Center Of The Earth on their subterranean journey? Also, I did not know the little girl could walk on air. The full poster image is below. More »
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To create our most concentrated dose of spoilers yet, we've culled through news stories and interviews about Star Trek, Highlander, Descent 2 and Dragonball. We've dug up revealing new images about Fringe, City Of Ember, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Sarah Jane Adventures, Smallville and Heroes. We've pored over Lost set reports from Hawaii. We watched Chuck teasers. We read up on Next Avengers and Star Wars: Clone Wars. We even read a spoilery poem about Transformers: Animated. We scoured the entire Internet, and then squeezed it all down into one little vial of super-strong spoilers. Watch out! More »
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The city of Ember may not have any views of the outside world, but it has some lovely vistas nonetheless — just look at this underground river and the system of bridges and walkways it supports. Too bad the post-apocalyptic underground city is doomed because its power source is finally going out. Click through for a few more pics of the expansive underground world of Ember, plus City Of Ember director Gil Kenan's thoughts on the adapted screenplay and whether he's going to go all Shyamalan on us. More »
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There's usually a 10-year lag between what's popular in science fiction writing and what's popular in films, and the steampunk craze is no exception. Authors and artists have been steaming things up for decades, creating breathtaking clockwork worlds, industrial-era alien planets, alternate nineteenth centuries, and retro-analog mechanisms. Now Hollywood's finally caught in the gears of steampunk too: A whole slate of new projects coming out over the next several years are trying to get all steamy in the look-and-feel department. But will they succeed? Below, we rate seven upcoming flicks for steaminess using our special brass mechanism that's covered in cool knobs and cranks. More »
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Can't wait for the movie of City Of Ember to hit theaters in a few months? Dying for a dystopian story about tweens or teens discovering that adults are lying to them about everything? You're in luck! As we mentioned before, young adult novels are full of future dystopias. And two new dystopian YA books are coming out soon: Resistance by Gemma Malley, and Cyberia by Chris Lynch. More »
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Going to the San Diego Comic-Con next month? You're not the only ones - we'll be there for the whole five-day geek bacchanalia - but if you're wondering what the most ridiculous mode of transport you could take to get there would be, movie producers Walden Media have that covered: They're recreating the mythical city from their latest movie, City of Ember, on a train traveling to the con. More »
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This morning, we're celebrating the return of our previously dead mascot, The Spoiler — a superhero whose only superpower is spoiling other people's plots. She revealed her true identity in yesterday's Robin #174, and we won't give it away here. But yay. To celebrate, we're posting another batch of spoilers from Ron Moore's new virtual-reality-addicted astronauts program Virtuality — including the pilot's big twist ending. Plus there are new photos from City Of Ember and the new Tekken movie. Also, minor spoilers for Get Smart and X-Files 2. And a few tidbits about Doctor Who and Stargate Atlantis, plus some Heroes rumors. We'll keep spreading spoilers in The Spoiler's glorious name. More »
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Here's the first trailer from October's City Of Ember, a kids' movie set in a postapocalyptic underground city whose power generator is running out of juice. Our first glimpse includes the corrupt mayor (Bill Murray) trying to rally the town. Everything depends on two crafty kids, who follow a path of clues down ancient tunnels and passages. Learn more about the challenges that meet the kids below (including minor spoilers). More »
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Will City Of Ember be the first post-apocalyptic movie aimed at kids? Based on Jeanne DuPrau's young adult novel, Ember features two kids discovering there's a world outside the dying underground city that they've lived in for the past 250 years. And director Gil Kenan (Monster House) sees it as a visual, epic teen adventure movie. But is it really the first ruined-world movie aimed at kids, as post-apocalyptic blog Quiet Earth claims? The Boston Globe's Josh Glenn says no, there have been plenty of others. Click through to vote for the greatest. More »
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We only have a few precious spoilers for you this morning, but they do include an alleged first look at the mighty leonine heads of the Thundercats, from their CGI movie, which IMDB says is coming in 2010. Also, there's a new plot synopsis of the City Of Ember movie, starring Bill Murray and coming Oct. 10. Also, there are some more unreliable Doctor Who spoilers, and a new Lost clip. And you'll never guess who showed up at that funeral home on Lost! Click through to be spoiled. More »
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Why do so many adventure movies seem to have the same story? A lot of the blame goes to the Hero's Journey, a cookie-cutter spiritual-ish adventure recipe concocted by Joseph Campbell in 1949. Star Wars and many fantasy sagas famously follow this treasure map step by step, but how do other science fiction stories measure up? We score scifi stories on our "Hero's Journey" checklist, after the jump. More »
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Bill Murray cackles like a cartoon villain in this first glimpse of tween post-apocalyptic flick City of Ember, out next fall. He plays the corrupt mayor of an underground city who tries to prevent our two teen heroes from discovering how to get back above ground now that the city's power generator is failing. The young-adult dystopia genre may be new to movies, but it's booming in novels. A rundown of junior end-of-days books after the jump. More »
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