Review: Griff The Invisible

Sure, it’s fun watching the DC and Marvel men run around with their massive biceps, annihilating villains with otherworldly powers and weapons, but it’s Hollywood’s obsession with the surreal that makes a more modest superhero production like Griff the Invisible all the more appealing. No, Griff doesn’t fly, crush monsters or become invisible for that matter, but the guy is able to use his lack of extraordinary abilities to more impressively sway us with the ordinary.

Griff’s (Ryan Kwanten) got it rough. Not only is he stuck at a desk all day, but he’s also the office recluse. When he’s not hiding out in his cubicle or getting picked on by office bully, Tony (Toby Schmitz), Griff’s at home monitoring his high tech computer system and radars, keeping an eye on the area for any criminal activity. Why? Because when Griff’s not at work, he’s the superhero Griff the Invisible.

Well, actually, he’s not invisible just yet, but he does have a slew of the traditional superhero goodies like a killer costume and some wicked battle skills. Problem is, his identity isn’t really a secret. His brother, Tim (Patrick Brammall), knows what he’s up to and, thanks to the problems Griff’s moonlighting habits caused in the past, he doesn’t think it’s a particularly healthy side job. However, in Tim’s effort to nudge Griff in a more “normal” direction, he winds up introducing him to one of few people who not only accepts Griff for who he is, but encourages it, Melody (Maeve Dermody).

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SDCC 2011: All Good Things Must Come To An End … With A Giveaway!

I can’t believe it, but this is officially it; my coverage of San Diego Comic Con 2011 has come to a close. For five incredibly long days, the experience went by in a flash. The action was non-stop from the moment I touched down in San Diego and while it was extremely exhausting and probably one of the most trying working experiences I’ve ever gone through, it was beyond worth it.

So, what’d you think? Did you like my coverage choices? Were the formats I chose to report in effective? Do let me know because I’m thrilled to say, it looks as though I’ll be returning to Comic Con next year!

I do know I learned quite a few things for myself while out west. First off, I need to pack more food than a box of granola bars, or at least make time to pick up some items at a local supermarket. Between running around collecting coverage and then writing it up, there’s little to no time to grab a bite. Second, if I want to cover a panel, I’ve either got to get on line at about 5am or hunt down a press pass. I arrived for The Walking Dead panel over three hours early and the line to get into Ballroom 20 was already about 10,000 people long!

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SDCC 2011: Saturday Wrap Up And Photos

I can’t believe it, but I’ve reached the finish line. Saturday at San Diego Comic Con 2011 has come to a close. While I’m certainly looking forward to a long day’s rest and not having to lug my hefty laptop around everywhere I go, my coverage schedule wrapping up is a bit sad. At least it all ended on a high note.

Today was another non-stop adventure beginning with Summit Entertainment’s The Darkest Hour presentation. Unlike the big panels in Hall H, this was far more intimate, Summit inviting a group of reporters to a suite in the Hard Rock Hotel to check out some concept art, stills and the film’s trailer. Cast members Emile Hirsch, Max Minghella and Joel Kinnaman were in the house as producers Timur Bekmambetov and Tom Jacobson walked us through the event.

With a little time to kill before The Vampire Diaries press room, I hit the convention center floor to check out the action and snap a few photos one last time. However, some of my favorite images come from the point during which I made my way from the floor to the press room, the photos of the Game of Thrones house banners hanging in the second floor halls.

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SDCC 2011: Interview With Griff The Invisible Director Leon Ford

Who wants to grow up? There’s so much fun to be had as a kid with games, toys and imagination, it’s a wonder that more folks out there aren’t like Griff of Leon Ford’s Griff the Invisible. Okay, perhaps Griff is a bit of an extreme, but the concept of holding onto a childhood dream is something just about everyone can relate to to a degree.

A bit of a recluse, Griff (Ryan Kwanten) hides in his office cubicle during the day, but, at night, he heads home to man his computer station, monitoring the local area for crime. When something pops up on his radar, he suits up and hits the streets to save the innocent. Griff’s brother, Tim (Patrick Brammall) knows of his secret identity and insists Griff ditch the late night gig. It isn’t until Griff meets Melody (Maeve Dermody) that he finally has someone to share the crime-fighting part of his life with, whether or not it’s all one big delusion.

With Griff the Invisible’s August 19th US release right around the corner, Ford came to San Diego Comic Con to let Griff meet the masses. The film screened a few times at the Gaslamp 15 and, just before one of the final sessions, Ford took the time to sit down and talk about the process of making Griff from beginning to end. He touches upon what sparked the idea, finding his leading man and so much more. He even reveals the status of his upcoming project, a feature length version of the short film “The Mechanicals,” which is expected to go into production in the near future.

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