Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope (TIFF Review)

Many thanks to our friends Luisa and Reid for the tickets to last night's world premiere of Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Directed by Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), this documentary focuses on the hugely successful annual comics convention in San Diego and is backed by Spurlock, producer Thomas Tull, comic book icon Stan Lee, Writer/producer Joss Whedon, and film guru Harry Knowles.

Jeff and I both LOVED this film. If you have any grain of geek in your soul (whether or not you read comics), you HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Some fun costumes in the line-up outside:

I'm pretty sure Superman (below) is the same fellow who appeared in the documentary:

One of the reasons I loved this film so much: instead of just doing an overview of the event, it zoomed in on half a dozen fans. Two were aspiring artists who hoped to catch the attention of comic publishers at the event. There was an aspiring costume designer who was preparing for the big Masquerade event and hoped to someday work in the movie industry. Chuck Rozanski, the founder of Mile High Comics, worried about finances and considering selling some of his most beloved comics at the event to help keep his business going. A young fannish couple who had met at last year's Comic-Con, where the girl had no idea that her boyfriend was going to propose to her.

As the documentary progresses, you can't help but start caring for these real-life characters and feeling their disappointments and joys. Creative types will especially identify with the two artists who put themselves through the wringer re: blunt critiques at the event as they try to get the attention of the industry pros.

There are also interviews with geeky celebrities like  Eli Roth, Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Seth Green, and Guillermo del Toro. This was also the first time I had heard Harry Knowles speak. My friend Allison is a big fan of Ain't It Cool News and I've checked in from time to time, but after seeing Harry in the documentary and especially after reading his overview of the event on his blog, his geeknerdy enthusiasm has made me a solid fan.

I bawled and laughed during the proposal, which took place during a Kevin Smith panel discussion. :-) And I got to see the wonderfully geeky Lord of the Rings engagement ring that James Darling had custom-made for his girlfriend, Se Young Kang. The couple flew in from Santa Barbara for the premiere:

Also very cool to see/hear other cast members and others involved in the movie, including the legendary STAN LEE (!), Morgan Spurlock, Chuck Rozanski and Harry Knowles. Great Q&A session with the audience after the film, though I was disappointed that Harry wasn't up on stage; apparently there was no way to get his wheelchair up on stage. He also wasn't able to attend the after-party for the film either, because the elevator wasn't working. :-(

Harry's response on his blog, though, is part of what has converted me into an Ain't It Cool Fan: instead of sulking, he went and celebrated with other friends and focused on positivestuff.

Something else I enjoyed: at the end of the movie, we're updated about the cast. Like Holly Conrad, the cosplay costumer who created an amazing Mass Effect 2 (an RPH) costume display for the Comic-Con Masquerade with the help of her friends. You can see the video she put together to apply for the documentary casting call here:

Here she is, posing in the lobby of the Scotiabank Theatre after the premiere:

Anyway, if you ever get an opportunity to see Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope, DO.

And if you're a fan of Comic-Con, you may be interested in the just-released book. Here's an interview with Morgan Spurlock about the book and movie on The Daily:

Related links:

Harry Knowles on his TIFF Comic-Con: Episode IV experience