Ghost in the Shell Releases Full Trailer

In trailer news, the live-action adaptation of cyberpunk anime Ghost in the Shell has gotten its first full-length trailer. The two-minute teaser included footage of the Major and her cohorts raiding an underground crime den, the other members of her elite cyborg police squad, and the first glimpse at the enigmatic villain. The trailer also hinted at some of the film’s major plot points. Apparently, the Major’s cyborg body is a recent development in this continuity, with the government replacing her physical body after a mission goes wrong. The Major herself only recalls “fragments” of her past, unsure of how she originally became part machine. If the trailer’s final shots are any indication, the villain appears to have the answer. “They did not save your life,” he tells her, “They stole it.” This is a significant departure from Mamoru Oshii’s source material. Originally, the Major had chosen a cybernetic body when she was a small child, considering it a part of what made her her. By making it the result of a fatal accident, this new tweak removes that agency from her and potentially puts her at odds with the government that employs her. This could all pan out in a very novel and interesting way when the film actually hits theaters, but nothing has been particularly encouraging about this project or other previous Hollywood attempts to adapt anime. Foul or fair, the Major shoots her way into theaters next month on March 31.

New Trailer for Power Rangers Actually Looks Kind of Fun

Saban Entertainment and Lionsgate have released another trailer for the upcoming reboot of Power Rangers. Set in fictional Angel Grove, California, the popular children’s series follows a group of teenagers who encounter the ancient being Zordon and are given powers to defend the earth from alien threats. The movie’s first trailer debuted to mixed reactions, as it seemed to be falling into the usual “gritty-reboot” tropes of muted color schemes and over-serious gravitas. Old school fans were also less than impressed with some of the redesigns of the characters and Megazords from the original series. I still don’t know anyone who thinks Alpha’s new look is a good idea. But latest trailer looks to address some of those concerns, really playing up the more campy and fun elements that first made the show such a hit (and some Mid-career Kanye). We get to see the rangers joke around with one another, some sassy one-liners from Alpha, and we even hear the Red Ranger Jason get to say the trademark “It’s Morphin’ Time!” phrase. It’s not a perfect fix (I’m still not sold on the Zords' new designs), but the film is starting to look more like a traditional Power Ranger property. Here’s hoping they stick that landing.

My Favorite Bits of News From San Diego Comic-Con

There was plenty of good nerdy news to choose from today, but these particular tidbits hit all the right buttons and stood out to me:


1. According to Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, DC Comics is wrapping up a crossover Justice League/JLA/Justice League Dark story arc called Trinity War. He also hinted that things will not end well for Earth's greatest heroes, particularly everyone's favorite Big Blue Boy Scout .

2. The good folks at Mondo revealed a line of limited edition posters and vinyl covers inspired by the cinematic works of Studio Ghibli.

Here's a sample...stop drooling.

3. Creators of that underrated critical darling of a show Orphan Black, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett announced that Season 1 DVDs of the series hit shelves this week.

4. And last but not least, Avatar creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko finally ante'd up and gave Legend of Korra fans the information they'd been waiting for - a September 2013 release - and almost 150 seconds of hysteria-inducing new footage. Enjoy: