The Laughing Man - A Joker Fan Film That Will Blow You Away!!!

We live in a golden age of comic book based Fan Films... the work that people like Bat In the Sun and others have done over the past 5-7 years is often BETTER than the work turned out by regular studios. So when I come across a Fan Film that is getting a lot of buzz, I am not skeptical... as a matter of fact, I am INTRIGUED. Intrigued way more than I am for more studio fare. Give me a Super Power Beat Down over another mediocre mainstream project EVERY SINGLE TIME! A pair of Mexican brothers, Diego and Julio Hallivis, are hoping to join the club of people who got it more than right with their comic fan film "The Laughing Man".

It is a dark take on the creation of the Joker... and it draws inspiration from everyone from JD Salinger (his short story The Laughing Man features a character that cuts has a damaged face) to Scott Snyder (the Batman author featured a simiar Joker in his Death of the Family storyline) along the way. With only one full movie credit under their belt, they deliver an amazing take on one of the most complex characters in comic book history.

They get one hell of a performance from actor Zach Avery, who portrays the Laughing Man, and absolutely kills it (both figuratively and literally). In an ironic twist of fate, Avery had an unaccredited role in David Ayers film Fury... and Ayers currently has the Suicide Squad out in theaters featuring his own Laughing Man Jared Leto as the Joker. We also get an appearnace from another Suicide Squader.. Harley Quinn also makes an appearance!

The short fan film was added to Youtube on August 2 and is setting the Internet ON FIRE! I for one can't wait to see what the Brothers Hallivis has in store from us in the future.

Don't believe us? Take a look for yourself!  

'Spawn: The Recall' - More Proof That Fan Films Can Be Totally Amazing

I love a good fan film, and I hate when people talk shit about them as not real movies. They are a painstaking process, the same as making a regular movie. And they have the added pressure of portraying a character that is beloved, or at the very least well known. There have been many good ones, but so far one of the best that I have seen has to be 'Spawn: The Recall' by Michael Paris. The film is a nice length (7 minutes), and features one of the best portrayals of Spawn I have ever seen. The face looks amazing, especially the eyes. The effects are great, and I think Mr. Paris accomplished in 7 short minutes what no one else has with this particular character. I hope you enjoy it after the jump...



 

5,428 Days Later - The Phantom Menace Inspired Fan Film That Will Make You Smile Whether You Are A Prequel Apologist Or Not

5, 428 Days Later is a fan film that laments the creation of the first Star Wars prequel and how it has affected the lives of one particular person in general. Imagine if one lonely storm trooper wanted to whitewash the memory of The Phantom Menace from his memory. He would just destroy his copy of the VHS, and all would be past... right? Wrong... so wrong. Watch our down on his luck trooper struggle with trying to rid himself from the burden of the movie that he wished never happened... and all the hi jinks and creepiness that accompanies him on his adventures. Hello Greedo has constructed a cool one, so click here to check out more of the things the gang has done. Great music choices (very spooky), cool shots, and an interesting tie in to Star Wars - Yup, a perfect recipe for a cool fan film. Enjoy it in full after the jump...



Stay tuned during the credits of the clip for some behind the scenes shots!

Batman vs The Terminator - A Fan Film For The Ages !!!

Mash-ups can be tedious at times... just cause you have two really cool characters, doesn't really mean they will necessarily work well together. Even if they seem like a born match. Usually the best mash-ups are the ones you don't really see coming... the ones you DON'T think would work so effectively. That is the case with this crazy ass fan film I found over at Comic Alliance called Batman vs The Terminator... yup, that is correct: The Caped Crusader taking on the most dangerous machines of all time. Yup, that is something I can definitely say I never thought I would see mashed up and something that was happily created by Tony Guerrero (writer) and Mitchell Hammond (animator). This is pretty fantastic, a true labor of love by two guys who really wanted to get their vision out into the world. They have a cool blog where they documented the process. I hope to see more than just this 5 minute clip in the future. But for now, this will have to do. Check it out, with the full size movie poster, after the jump...



Here is the poster:

Here is the full film:

'Judge Minty' - A Judge Dredd Fan Film That Will Blow Your Mind...

I am a huge Judge Dredd fan... have been since the days of the 2000 A.D. comic and the abomination that was the Sylvester Stallone film. Like O.G., triple O.G. status. I really liked the Karl urban vehicle last year as well... even if no one else went to go see it in the theaters. So when I came across a fantastic fan film that featured 27 minutes of Mega City madness over on Bloody Pit of Rod, I just knew I would have to post it here on CCD for all my fellow Dredders... This movie is excellent, and is done with the full permission of the rights owners... which is really rare when it comes to fan films. There is a whole blog that is dedicated to the main of the film, and you can find it here. But if you are a fan of the character like I am, you will love what they do with it. Check out the full feature embedded after the jump...



   

Superman/Doomsday - Fan Film

I know of Mike D's love for fan made superhero movie but this is one I hope is as new to him as it was to me. Instead of taking fresh actors to act a story on the cheap, these creators have stolen clips and music and sound effects and explosions from dozens of films to create a totally new live action Superman adventure. It may not be as polished as your normal Charman Toilet Paper commercial but it's riveting to watch how they manipulated the film clips they had to tell a fresh story of death of redemption. And all it about 30 mins of your time to watch. I thought it was fascinating and I have no idea why DC doesn't just throw a ton of money at these filmmakers and sharpen the effects and redo it mostly shot for shot. It's better than the last Superman Returns, that's for sure. This would be the kind of assignment I would give a high school communications class to do. Check 'em out after the jump....

Still Don't Think They Can Make A Wonder Woman Film or TV Show? Check This Out...

I am one of the people who don't really care if they ever make a Wonder Woman movie or TV show. The character has not always resonated with me, and I am not exactly sure why. The only DC character I truly hate is Superman, and that is because he has to much potential power and strength to overcome ANY THREAT HE IS PRESENTED WITH. That makes me hate the story before it starts. But even with my hating of Supes, I have enjoyed some of his story arcs. But I love all the rest of the DCU, and Wonder woman ends up being an afterthought for me when I am faced with the plethora of characters I love so much more. Batman is tops for me but Blue Beetle, Flash, Hawkman, Shazam, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, and Red Tornado are just some of my personal faves. So every time I hear about a Wonder Woman movie or TV show I'm just like "meh". But I may have had a change of heart with two recent things I have been exposed to. 1) Gina Carano in Haywire proved to me that I can watch a woman in the lead role as an ass kicker and take them seriously. I love her in that flick. 2) Arrow on The CW Network. What a great show, and proof that all you need is writers who know and love the source material and a cast that can execute the comic book roles. So when I came across this insane fan made trailer from director Jesse V. Johnson featuring Nina Bergman as Wonder Woman kicking major Nazi ass... well, yup I think I can dig on this a bit.  Bergman is amazing as Diana, and I like the stripped down feel of the film. Check it out after the jump, it is fantastic...



Wonder Woman Fan Film from Jesse V. Johnson on Vimeo.
    

Sonic the Hedgehog Fan Film by Blue Core Studios

There are fan films... and then there are FAN FILMS! You know what i mean. A regular fan film will be 2-3 minutes in length and may feature a cool moment when you see flashes of brilliance from the person who put it together. But when dealing with a FAN FILM! you are automatically thrust into a uber realistic movie experience that is usually quite long in length and features outstanding effects and looks fucking great. There is a big difference. These are life changing, since you probably will never get a big budget version of these films. But since they are so good, you don't really need a studio version. Case in point: Blue Core Studios and their Sonic the Hedgehog fan film. 18 minutes long. A digital Sonic with wisecracks to spare. Killer action. robots. spaceships. This is fucking great. By far the best way to spend 20 minutes today (and if you have more time, watch their epic Mega Man video there as well). Enjoy the work after the jump... and try to not hearken back to the Sega Genesis days of your youth to hard while at your cubicle!!!!

Kingdom Come Fan Trailer In Production

Kingdom Come is my favorite comic book miniseries/graphic novel of all time. I know how much Mike D loves his fan movies so when I discovered this was in production I knew I had to post it here at CCD. It's very hard to replicate comic book stories in live action and I appreciate the skill of the cosplayer who brings life to these larger than life characters. Remember this is all done on the cheap and looks better than it has any right to.

Click after the jump to read and see more...

Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics under their Elseworlds imprint. It was written by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea. This Elseworlds story is set in a future that deals with a growing conflict between "traditional" superheroes, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League, and a growing population of largely amoral and dangerously irresponsible new vigilantes, in many cases the offspring of the traditional heroes. Between these two groups is Batman and his assembled team, who attempt to contain the escalating disaster, foil the machinations of Lex Luthor, and prevent a world-ending superhuman war.

Here are some stills from the proposed fan film:

When I used to drive to and from work I would listen to this abridged version of the Kingdom Come audiobook. It has full sound effects, music and some cool voice acting. Kingdom Come is the Holy Grail of animated movies for me and I wish DC had this one in the pipeline. But it has to be done right or you should never bother. It's the best of the DC Universe in a story that pushes the characters into new and exciting directions. Very satisfying to an old time fanboy like me.

You can read the state of the production by following the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/kingdomcomefanfilm#!/kingdomcomefanfilm

Gotham High: Please Make This Fan Edited Movie A Reality ASAP

Gotham City and it's inhabitants make for a great backstory... and all adults have had a childhood. Instead of wondering where to take the next Batman movie, why not take a look back at where some of these characters came from? The gang from Movie Trailer Clips decided to grab some of the most memorable moments of the past high school movies (10 Things I Hate About You, Bronson, Breakfast Club, Powder, princess Diaries, etc )that we all love and mold them into a faux trailer for Gotham High, which tells the story of teen girl Harley and her quest for love at the roughest school in the city. The gang is all here, with all the former cast members from Batman movies portrayed by roles they occupied long ago (Heath ledger/Joker from 10 Things I Hate About You, Tom Hardy/Bane from Bronson, etc) and you gotta love the made up cameos by characters like Powder appearing as Mr. Freeze. Great stuff. Check out the full clip after the jump. If I was her I would go with Anne Hathaway. She ended up pretty hot and lesbians are all the rage these days...

'Backyard Blockbusters' - A Documentary About Fan Films... Jackpot!!!

Have you ever seen Batman: City of Scars? Or the movie where Batman takes on Predator? How about the awesome Superman Classics animated shorts, or the crazy Hulk vs Supes fight footage? How about that crazy Ash vs. Freddy vs Leatherface fight movie? If you have seen any of these things, chances are you DID NOT see them on a big screen in a movie theater. Nope, you were watching a Fan Film, or a film made on a modest budget by regular folks who just love a particular property. Some of these are awful, but some are quite fantastic (any of the ones I named above are must sees). At any rate, there is no denying that Fan Films are becoming much more common place, so it is perfect timing for a behind the scenes documentary about the phenomenon. Check out the trailer for 'Backyard Blockbuster' after the jump and tell us what your favorite Fan Film is in the comment section below...

'Batman: Dark Knightfall' - A Stop Motion Fan Film Using Batman Toys!!!

And people say toys are for kids and that they are good for nothing!!!! This is an amazing stop motion fan film created by Derek Kwok & Henri Wong of Parabucks Co that was made in its entirety using Batman action figures. The action is quite good when you consider that it is done with the limitations that toys present. This is a lot of fun for Dark Knight fans like myself that go crazy over all things Batman. Check out the full video after the jump....

'Popeye The Sailor': A Fan Film By Michael Valentine

The more fan films I watch, the more I realize that we are in the golden age of fan films. Cameras and production cost have increased in quality while decreasing in price, and people are taking to these fan films to develop their skills since they can disseminate them on the Internet and create a buzz. The other day I posted the excellent 'Y; The Last Man' fan film that I thought I was the best I have ever seen... but this selection is more of the garden variety type that we have become accustom to. It's kind of short (2:30 minutes) but stylistically looks wonderful... it is the Batman Begins of Popeye lore, gritty remake styling and all. I also love that director Michael Valentine stepped in front of the camera to play the Sailor Man himself. I also like that he keeps the pipe in his mouth the whole entire fight sequence. That is pretty cool. Enjoy the full fan film after the jump...

The Best Fan Film I Have Ever Seen- 'Y: The Last Man' by Christian Cardona

I am constantly watching fan films on the Net, and if you are going to partake in that experience you have to be willing to put up with a few things. First of, the production value is usual shit... these guys are working on a hair of a shoestring budget. Second, the fighting/action scenes tend to be low rent. These aren't professional stuntmen for chrissakes. And finally they tend to be a bit short (usually under 5 minutes) because they can't afford longer productions. Well prepared to throw those three principles completely out the window when you watch the best fan film I have ever seen in my life. Y: The Last Man is a comic series created by Brian K Vaughn and Pia Guerra that has been kicking around Hollywood as both a movie & TV show idea. Some say the best place for it would be HBO, so that the story would have time to play out. But either way, this is a good holdover... that is for sure. The book is about a man and his monkey who survive a plague that wipes out all of the males in the world completely out. No one else with a Y chromozone except Yorick and his pet monkey. Amiss a world of chicks. Dangerous chicks. This is a high production fab film that totals over 20 minutes and is fucking incredible! Watch the full movie after the jump....

Incredible work from director Christian Cardona. And yup, that is video vixen Vida Guerra up in there as Roxy!

'Batman: Nightwing' - A Fan Film by Jeremy Le & Dan Shepherd

I am on a crazy Batman high right now, so when I saw this awesome Batman fan film called 'Batman: Nightwing' I had to share it with my fellow CCDers. I think this one is extremely well done, and I love the interaction of Nightwing & Red Hood... two former prodigies of Batman still always looking for his approval.  The action is also well done, considering that the film apparently only was funded by a few hundred bucks. Click here to see their Youtube page & click after the jump to see the full video...

'Deadpool: A Typical Tuesday' - A Fan Film by Bean Dip Productions

Deadpool is probably the most popular character in the Marvel Universe right now, eclipsing the usual fan faves like Wolverine & Captain America over the past few years. Who would have ever thought that Rob Liefield would have ever been able to contribute something so great to the world of comics? The Merc With A Mouth is a definite property that needs to see a big screen film, as proof by the excellent cameo by Ryan Reynolds in the Wolverine: Origins movie (the parts before they took away Ryan Reynolds mouth!!!!). So enter Bean Dip Productions, who decided to craft a fan film entitled 'Deadpool: A Typical Tuesday' that shows just how awesome the character could be if he had his own feature. This one is spectacular, especially if you love some sarcasm on the side with your superhero adventures! Enjoy the full video after the jump...

'SubWars' by Sean Soong

I love me a good fan film, especially an animated one. Sub Wars is just that. Sean Soong takes a packed Tokyo train and uses it for the setting of an old man Jedi who wants to teach some of these rude people some manners. The results are not very Jedi like... watch the full video after the jump. Gosh, this dude looks a lot like Obi Wan Kenobi, no?

'Punisher: 1979-1982' - Four Fan Films by Blinky Productions

I came across the Blinky Productions Youtube page while looking for some of the best fan films I could find. What my man Chris Notarile is able to accomplish with a micro budget and using realistic city locations is no less than absolutely stunning. This guy crafts awesome stories to go along with slick visuals that take some of the most familiar comic book characters and flip them into interesting situations. His work is great. You can check out his Blinky Productions website by clicking here. After the jump you can find his four chapter Punisher series, Punisher 1979-1982. This series takes a look at the early years of Frank Castle's development into Marvel's favorite vigilante. You will enjoy this, trust me...

'Batman: The Kill' - A Fan Film by Super Group Productions

Batman is long been the key characters that seem to fall into Fan Films. I don't know exactly why this is, but boy am I glad that people keep putting Mr. Wayne into these cool ass features. Take 'The Kill' from Super Groups Productions for example... no Joker or Penguin here. This one features some hard hitting villains like Mr.Zsaz, Black Mask, Hugo Strange, and the Scarecrow plaguing the Bat, and it is so well done it will it will be a good holdover until Nolan's last chapter comes out this summer. Click after the jump to see the full film...

'Static Shock: Blackout' - A Fan Film

Fan Films come, fan films go. Especially comic book fan films. There have been some great ones, like the Batman films for Bat In The Sun productions. And there have been some crappy ones... way to many. But with $5,000 bucks and a dream, college kids from Carnegie Melon, The Art Institute, Syracuse, and The University of Central Florida decided to make a fan film dedicated to Static Shock. Static is a important character in the DC universe, created by legend Dwayne McDuffie (Rest In Peace) to help bring more racial equality to characters in the mostly white DC world. This fan film is a love letter to that character, and it is just as much fun as the 52 episodes of the cartoon based on the Static Shock brand. Enjoy the clip after the jump...