Comic-Con: Best and Worst from San Diego

Now that we are back home from all the insanity that is known as Comic-Con we have begun to reflect on the best (and unfortunately worst) parts the SDCC. Overall the trip was a success. We were able to cover pretty much everything that we had set out to see. Like most trips, ours hit a few speed bumps along the way, but it gave us knowledge for next year, so the 2010 Comic-Con will be even better than this year! Continue reading for our recap on the best and worst of the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con.

The Best:

James Cameron’s Avatar Panel

One of the most highly anticipated panels for this years convention featured Titanic director James Cameron who brought 24 minutes of his new film Avatar to share with all of Hall H. What made this one of the best parts of Comic-Con was that, until this point, nobody had seen any footage, and really had no idea what the movie was about. So to treat fans to an exclusive look (which was breathtaking) really made this one of the best panels at the convention.

Gary Oldman announcing Batman 3 would begin shooting next year

Actor Gary Oldman made this surprising annoucnement during the panel for his movie The Book of Eli. Oldman stated that director Christopher Nolan would be shooting the movie next year for a possible 2011 release. That is the definition of insider news at its best.

Johnny Depp Surprising Fans

During the 3D Disney panel director Tim Burton brought on stage “a special friend” who turned out to be none other than Johnny Depp. The actor made a surprise visit to promote him and Burton’s latest collaboration Alice in Wonderland.

Warner Brothers Presentation

Friday morning at the convention featured several different Warner Brothers movies. These included The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington, Nightmare on Elm Street, Jonah Hex, Where the Wild Things Are, The Box with Cameron Diaz, and Sherlock Holmes. The energy during these panels were amazing. You could tell the actors really wanted to be there and that they actually appreciated the fans. Most notably was Denzel Washington and Josh Brolin who kept the pace going by being humorous and witty. Another highlight from the WB panel was that everyone in attendance  (which was over 6000 people) received a ticket to go to the convention floor for a free goody bag. This bag consisted of a couple shirts, key chains, and other free swag that fans enjoyed. Kudos to the WB!

Tron 2 Viral Campaign

Tron 2, which is a sequel from the 1980′s movie Tron, invaded San Diego with a viral marketing campaign. Viral marketing is when the studios promote a movie through unique and unusual methods. The marketing is typically not a direct advertisement for the movie but instead a promotion for some aspect of it. You can read a more in-depth look at the viral marketing for Tron here. What made this marketing campaign so enjoyable was Flynn’s Arcade which was constructed in the middle of downtown San Diego. Flynn’s Arcade was the home of the Tron video game which was available to play as were many other 1980′s video games like Pac-Man and Gallaga. Every ten minutes or so the wall behind the Tron game would open, music would play, and fans could walk through a hall featuring cocept art and the motorcycle from the movie. As you left the arcade you received a commemorative t-shirt for free!

Robert Downey Jr.

The actor was in town for both Sherlock Holmes (great footage) and Iron Man 2 (we didn’t get into that panel so I am not talking about it.) RDJ is a master at engaging an audience. He is so charismatic and confident it is exciting to just hear him speak. I really enjoyed that after the Jonah Hex panel ended Downey Jr just walked on stage. He didn’t have (or need) a formal introduction, he just walked out with the house lights still up. It reminded me of a what U2 used to do during shows. The band would walk onto stage unsuspecting and begin playing with the lights up. Downey Jr is a total rock star so it worked perfectly.

San Diego Night Life

The Gaslamp district is where it is at. Every night convention goers would flock to this hot spot which housed the best in restaurants, bars, and shops. Be prepared to spend $10 on a beer but if you are looking for a spot to hang at night this is the place to be.

The Worst:

Lines, Lines, and even more Lines

This may be just stating the obvious but it is still a valid complaint. Everywhere you go you must stand in line. Want a cup of coffee? Get ready for the Starbucks line that flows out the doors and down the street. Need to use the bathroom? Even the men’s restroom has a wait. Trying to catch the elevator to your hotel floor? You could probably get there faster taking twelve flights of stairs instead. I understand that this is just part of the insanity, but it still is very frustrating.

Twilight Ruined Comic-Con

I read this on a sign somebody had written in disgust of the numerous Twilight fans which mobbed the convention to see Robert Pattinson and company Thursday afternoon. I do not believe Twilight ruined Comic-Con, however it sure did mess it up for many folks. Let me explain: On Thursday the mess known as the line for Hall H ( “H” stands for Hell, I believe) was already 1500 people deep by 6 am. The first panel that morning was for Disney. The second panel was for Summit Entertainment which featured Twilight: New Moon. Since Hall H is not cleared after each panel many of the Twilight fans filled the hall early making it impossible for other convention goers to check out the Disney panel.

The Convention Floor

This may be the hub for everything Comic-Con but with the shoulder to shoulder traffic and long lines it becomes absolutely overwhelming to stay on the floor for an extended amount of time. It is near impossible to enjoy the experience of walking around or just browsing the different booths. You have to have a plan of action. Know what you want or you may not make it out alive. Seriously.

Only in San Diego does water cost more than Soda

After standing in a long line (big surprise) for a concession stand I went to purchase a personal size pizza and a water. I was surprised to find that water would cost me more than a can of soda. You have to love capitalism. $2.75 for a can of Coke. $3.25 for a bottle of water. If you can spend less than $15 on a crappy lunch your doing good.

Q & A Sessions

Every panel features the opportunity for fans to stand at the microphone and ask their favorite celebrity a question pertaining to the panel or footage seen. This is a great chance to hear some questions answered by actors like Robert Downey Jr, Megan Fox, and Denzel Washington. However after sitting in Hall H all day we began to see the same people continue to take the mic and ask stupid questions. During the Jonah Hex panel every guy who asked a question all directed their questions to Megan Fox about how hot she was. Yes, Megan Fox is gorgeous. We all know that. She knows that. Ask something about the movie, not about the woman you will never have a chance with. Oddly enough it was the younger fans who asked the hard hitting questions. That and Firstshowing.net’s Bob $tencil repeatedly took the mic and entertained the audience which was a highlight in Hall H. Overall, the Q & A session became a forum for people to ask terrible questions and waste everyone’s time.

And that concludes my list of the Best and Worst from the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. If you were in attendance what would you add to this list? Leave your feedback below!