This is awesome.

Recently, 480 "Star Wars" fans went into their little creative caves and made 15-second clips of different parts of "Empire Strikes Back," the second installment in the series.

Then somebody cut it all together to form a complete shot-by-shot remake of this writer's personal favorite "Star Wars" installment of all time.

And the presentation is all over the map, with people using everything from puppets, to acting, to CGI.

It ranges from the ludicrous:

To the cartoonish:

 To the puppetish: 

To the extremely well-crafted:

Geeks and nongeeks alike don't want to miss this.

See the whole video here: 

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New York Comic Con isn't just about the comics and TV panels. One of the best parts of the four-day event is seeing the cosplayers.

Head straight to the cosplay »

Dressing like your favorite character from comics, video games, anime, movies, or television is a favorite tradition of the Con — one that presents a unique opportunity to let your freak flag fly in a welcoming and safe environment.

Cosplay, if you don’t already know, is the combination of the words "costume" and "play." The term was likely coined at the 1984 World-Con science fiction convention, where a Japanese reporter was blown away by the attendee’s outfits and returned home not knowing what to call the elaborate display.

So far this weekend, we’ve seen a seven-foot-tall, life-like Groot just begging to be hugged, video game villains that still give us nightmares, and a mashup of Thor and Ronald McDonald the internet has coined McThor.

We rounded up photos of the best cosplay we saw at the ninth annual New York Comic Con. We’ll continue to update this post as the weekend continues.

See any great cosplay? Email us at mrobinson[at]businessinsider.com and kacuna[at]businessinsider.com.

What better way to kick off the Con than with Batman? Larry Smith was first in line for the unveiling of the new Batman Limited Edition Forever Stamps Thursday morning.

Smith told us this is his third or fourth version of the Batman Beyond costume. You can check out more of his work here.

There are always plenty of Batmen at the Con, and swarms came out for the Dark Knight's 75th anniversary. 1960s Batgirl and Batman show off how they pack a punch.

The Caped Crusader's nothing without his villains and this Harley Quinn was among Friday's best.

Recent alum Bill Hader is returning to host "Saturday Night Live" this weekend.

Ahead of his homecoming, the comedian-turned-movie actor appeared on "Conan" to promote his new film "The Skeleton Twins," co-starring fellow SNL alum, Kristen Wiig.

While on the show, Hader showed off his spot-on impressions of his former SNL co-stars.

Of Kristen Wiig, he says, she "is always cold.  And she's always like, 'Are you going to that thing? You gonna go to that thing?''"

"Jason Sudeikis is always chewing gum," says Hader. "He's like, 'Hey buddy, how ya doing?'"

"He sent me a very sweet text after he saw 'Skeleton Twins.' So sweet, a long text about how much he loved the movie. But I could not read it without thinking about him chewing gum. Like, 'Ya did good, buddy. Great performance. Olivia and I loved it.'"

Hader says Fred Armisen talks with his hands and talks about Portland all the time.

"Oh I love Portland, I fly over there, I have my apartment, I have my records, I go across the street and have my coffee, fly back."

Hader wasn't even safe from himself. He did an impression of Armisen doing an impression of him.

"I'm always getting into some hugely popular band, I'm like, 'Yeah, I just started getting really into Bruce Springsteen." 

After Conan marveled at Hader's ability to do voices and impressions, Hader said that it originates from his family. "My mom, dad, grandparents, we all do voices. They're at home watching this right now, going, "Theeeere's Billy! He's on Conan!"

Watch Hader's interview with Conan below and hear his full, funny impressions below:

Now check out what to expect from Hader on "SNL" this weekend from these promos:

SEE ALSO: Kristen Wiig And Bill Hader's Awkward Interview With Local News Anchor Who Didn't See Their Movie

MORE: How Dan Aykroyd Predicted Bill Hader's Entire SNL Career After 3 Episodes

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New York Comic Con goers got an exclusive first look at PlayStation's first original series, "Powers," an adaption of the popular graphic novel that will be coming to PlayStation Network this December.

The series, which stars comedian Eddie Izzard, Susan Heyward, Olesya Rulin, and Noah Taylor among others, focuses on two homicide detectives that are assigned to investigate cases involving people with extraordinary abilities known as "powers."

The show will be available for download and to stream on PlayStation devices starting this winter. Those who have a PlayStation Plus membership can view the whole series for free, although Sony hasn't said how much it will cost for non-PlayStation Plus members. 

The trailer, which was shown for the first time at Comic Con, is largely narrated by Sharito Copley, who plays Detective Christian Walker. The clip focuses on the dynamic between Walker and Detective Deena Pilgrim, played by Susan Hayward. Here's the trailer: 

(Note: this trailer contains mature language)

But those who attended the panel got a look at another bonus scene that won't be shown anywhere else until the show debuts. During the scene, Walker tells Pilgrim about a sexual experience he had with a woman — and how it resulted in her obtaining some powers of her own. Pilgrim simply rolls her eyes in response, further illustrating the dynamic we can expect between the two when the show premiers. 

"Powers" co-creator Brian Michael Bendis, who authored the graphic novels, emphasized that show will stray from the graphic novel in a few ways. 

"What Mike and I always wanted from the 'Powers' TV show wasn't a word-to-word adaption," Bendis said on stage in reference to "Powers" co-creator Michael Avon Oeming. "We wanted the show to be its own entity."

While the show will follow storylines from the graphic novel series, the plot will start later in the series. One of the younger characters in the show, Calista Secor (Olesya Rulin), will start out at an older age in the first episode that she is in the graphic novels.

The creators essentially cherry-picked stories from the series that they thought would be a great fit for the television adaptation.

Eddie Izzard, who plays the character Wolfe, talked about what to expect when you first see him on the show.

"He is dark, and he does seem to have more powers than anyone seems to have," Izzard said. "But he is charming, and the point where we meet him he is f----d up as hell."

The "Powers" television show has been 14 years in the making. FX announced plans to create an adaptation of the graphic novel series in 2012, but cancelled after shooting the pilot episode. 

SEE ALSO: Photos Of The Best Cosplay From New York Comic Con 2014

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There are so many exciting new movies lined up for the end of 2014, but before you check them out, you should crack open the book version. 

We've compiled a list of all of the books being adapted into movies out this fall. Each cast is packed with Hollywood power players from Ben Affleck to Jennifer Lawrence, and many of the films are already generating Oscar buzz. 

You'll find thrillers, period pieces, dramadies, and even some true stories for your reading and viewing pleasure. 

"This Is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper

Release date: September 19

In this dramatic comedy, four grown siblings must sit Shiva for one week as per the request of their deceased father. While back together in their childhood home, the week loses control as the family encounters a slew of past and present characters, challenges, and well, life. 

The cast includes Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll, Rose Byrne, Kathryn Hahn, and Connie Britton.

Buy the book

"A Walk Among The Tombstones" by Lawrence Block

Release Date: September 19

A ruthless drug leader recruits former NYPD detective and recovering alcoholic, Matt Scudder, to find the monsters behind the brutal kidnap and murder of his wife. Scudder works outside of the law investigating the grisly murders targeting NYC's worst drug criminals. 

This crime thriller stars: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, Boyd Holbrook, David Harbour, and Sebastian Roché.

Buy the book

"Hector And The Search For Happiness" by Francois Lelord

Release Date: September 26

Tired of his routine boring life, a quirky psychiatrist, Hector, courageously sets out for a global adventure in hopes of uncovering the secret to true happiness. 

The dramedy stars: Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, and Stellan Skarsgård.

Buy the book

Marvel showed off the first footage for its upcoming "Daredevil" show at New York Comic Con Friday to much enthusiasm.

The show will be streamed exclusively on Netflix in 2015.

During the panel, Marvel television president Jeph Loeb took fan questions under the condition the questions "pertain to 'Daredevil or someone that's up here on the stage thing.'

One fan asked lead actor Charlie Cox ("Boardwalk Empire") how it feels transitioning from an HBO show to a show like this on Netflix.

Cox said while reading the scripts for "Daredevil" there was one thing that stuck out in particular about how a Netflix series differs from regular TV.

"What we're going to be doing which is interesting is that because there isn't a week inbetween you don't have to ... you have to spend less time reminding audiences what happened," said Cox.

The actor added that if an episode ends on a cliffhanger it doesn't matter because on Netflix fans can just hit the play button and continue watching.

"Which is great because it means we get to spend more time on the real story," Cox told the crowd. "The other thing is when you watch a show you're all fans ... you remember what happened. So you're like 'Ah, we know this. Why do we have to be told this again?' So, I think, more than anything else, it's going to feel like a 13-hour movie."

Netflix's head of original content Cindy Holland has previously discussed the freedom that comes with doing a show on Netflix. Cox echoed that sentiment during the panel.

"One of the reasons I think that 'Daredevil' works so well on the Netflix platform is because as a character he [Daredevil] kind of does super slightly odd moves and so we're able to do that on Netflix," said Cox.

"You can make it a little bit darker and really give the fans who love that series ... what they want so much," he added.

After the panel, Netflix and Marvel released the first images from the series out next year. The first is above. Here's the other one of Cox in the first Daredevil suit below:

SEE ALSO: Why "The Walking Dead" casts so many actors from HBO's hit show "The Wire"

AND: PlayStation teases footage for its first original show and it looks awesome

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We’re learning a lot about Batman at New York Comic Con. 

George Clooney apologized Thursday to fans for his role in 1997’s “Batman & Robin.” Friday during a panel for “Birdman,” Michael Keaton recalled his first experience with Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman script.  

Though the movie went on to become a big success, Keaton says when he first read the script, he wasn’t sure Burton’s version of the Caped Crusader could be adapted to the big screen. 

“When Tim called and I took the first ... the original Batman script home and I read it and I thought, ‘Oh, this is interesting. And I, unlike Ed[ward Norton], was mostly unfamiliar with any of the superhero books and wasn’t really that big of a comic book reader," recalled Keaton.

"So I went and read it and I thought, ‘Oh, well this is never … I mean not the way I see this movie," he added. "I can’t imagine anyone making this movie the way I see the character, but I sure am glad to read it."

Keaton continued.

‘I blew threw it and then I met Tim the next day ... He says, ‘What do you think?’ I go ‘All right. You want me to tell you what do I think?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ … And I start to go down the list and I say it’s this, it’s this, he’s this, he’s this, and this.’" 

Keaton said he couldn't really read Burton's expressions. 

“Tim used to have that really long, great hair," said Keaton. "And all I remember is him … we were sitting in a window and he was just going …” 

Keaton started bobbing his head back and forth for the crowd.

“His hair was going up and down," Keaton continued. "He just kept nodding. And I go, 'Is he nodding because he agrees with me or is he just nodding you know ... I don't know why he was nodding."

Keaton described the director as smiling and getting uneasy and "kind of looking excited" before finally going, "‘Okay ... They’re not gonna make that are they?’ and he says, ‘I don’t know. Let’s find out.’”

Of course, Warner Bros. gave the film the green light.

"Batman" ended up making $411 million worldwide on an estimated $35 million budget. Burton and Keaton returned for 1992 sequel "Batman Returns" which made under $270 million at theaters.

SEE ALSO: George Clooney apologizes to fans for his "Batman" movie

AND: 'Daredevil' actor points out the one clear advantage Netflix has over TVhttp://www.businessinsider.com/daredevil-netflix-panel-nycc-2014-2014-10

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How much money a movie makes at the box office isn't always an indicator of whether it will become a classic.

Some of Hollywood's greatest films were financial flops that took years before they were fully embraced by audiences.

From arguably the greatest film ever made, "Citizen Kane," to the cult hit "The Big Lebowski," these are the classic films that bombed at theaters.

"Donnie Darko" (2001)

"Donnie Darko" may have helped launch the career of Jake Gyllenhaal, but it was a huge flop when it came out in theaters.

The indie film, which cost an estimated $6 million to make, debuted to $110,494. It didn't help that the film — which features a plane crash — opened not long after the Sept. 11 attacks. The movie wasn't released internationally for another year.

Theatrically, "Donnie Darko" went on to make $1.2 million. After its DVD release in 2002, it started playing as a midnight movie for over two years at New York's Pioneer Theater and became enough of a cult classic to release a "director's cut."

"Fight Club" (1999)

When "Fight Club" first hit theaters in 1999, it didn't just perform poorly — the film made just $37 million domestically— but also received mixed reviews.

Entertainment Weekly gave it a "D" calling it a "dumb and brutal shock show" while according to the film's commentary Rosie O'Donnell hated it so much that she went as far to ruin the film's twist ending on national television.

It wasn't until the DVD release that the film took off (it sold over 6 million copies) allowing a wider audience to catch the hidden details that made it a dark classic.

"Office Space" (1999)

1999's "Office Space" may have understood office life, but it failed to understand the box office.

After weak reviews and a poor marketing campaign, the film failed to reach an audience making only $10.8 million in theaters.

Director Mike Judge chalked it up to the movie being a tough sell.

"Office Space isn't like American Pie," Judge told Entertainment Weekly. "It doesn't have the kind of jokes you put in a 15-second television spot of somebody getting hit on the head with a frying pan. It's sly. And let me tell you, sly is hard to sell."

The film eventually found its niche on DVD becoming a top rental, and was later ranked fifth by EW in its list of the greatest comedies of the last 25 years.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead!

Season 5 of "The Walking Dead" premieres Sunday, Oct. 12 on AMC at 9 p.m. 

The last time we saw Rick, Carl, and the rest of the gang, they were reunited at the mysterious Terminus before getting trapped in a boxcar. 

A record 15.7 million people tuned in for the season 4 finale earlier this year. Expect Season 5 to set another record this weekend.

Not caught up with the show? Here's what you should know about the new season before its return.

There will be 16 episodes.

Once again, the series will be split in two halves. 

The first eight episodes will premiere Sunday, Oct. 12 with the final episode airing Nov. 30. After that, fans will have to wait through the winter for the series to return in 2015.  

The first six minutes of the season premiere are supposed to be excellent.

Don't tune in late to season 5.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Cinemablend was told by multiple people on the cast and crew the first six minutes of the season premiere will be "seriously intense."

Lead actor Andrew Lincoln said he was shocked that some of the stuff they filmed even made it to screen.

"All of us were just dumbstruck and said, ‘We’re not going to be able to show this. We’re not going to be able to show this.’” said Lincoln.

The zombies will look even grislier.

Special effects makeup artist Greg Nicotero is going to make the walkers look even more decayed this season. 

"Greg is introducing a new state of decay to the walkers," showrunner Scott Gimple told CinemaBlend. "He does walkers without noses and it doesn’t look fake."

We interviewed Robert Kirkman – the creator of "The Walking Dead" – at New York Comic Con 2014.

Produced by Matthew Stuart and Alana Kakoyiannis. Special thanks to Kirsten Acuna.

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When there's a successful company that claims to be led by a kid, it often seems disingenuous. An 8-year-old may have come up with an idea for a business, but it's most likely mom or dad doing most of the work.

But 14-year-old Noah Cahoon, CEO of the toy company Paper Box Pilots, is not merely a PR prop for his dad Brian's business. They're a father-son duo from Salt Lake City learning how to operate a small business together, with Brian letting Noah have the final say in the direction of the company.

The Cahoons appear on the latest sixth-season episode of ABC's hit pitch show "Shark Tank," when Noah, who was age 13 at the time of filming, makes a deal with investor Kevin O'Leary, a.k.a. "Mr. Wonderful," without the advice of his dad.

Brian is a senior sales consultant at Oracle who had previously set aside his dream of starting a business when he started a family.

"When Noah was born, I was getting my MBA. I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but when I brought home that little guy — it's a feeling of responsibility that you have to be careful. And I never got the chance to take that risk," he tells the investors.

Brian and Noah used to make designs for airplanes they made out of empty cardboard boxes when Noah was little. Last year Noah, an Eagle Scout, decided that they could not only start printing out designs for his 6-year-old brother Milo, but they could start selling those designs to retailers.

Brian had an opportunity to become the entrepreneur he always wanted to be while giving his ambitious son a business education before he even entered high school.

He tells the Sharks that he wants to teach Noah that there's not a single path in life and that he doesn't need to pursue a career where his main goal is to rise up a corporate ladder.

Brian tells the investors he treats Noah as a real CEO. In the first eight months of Paper Box Pilots they've made just $7,500 in sales from their online shop and small independent retailers, but the Cahoons say that Noah has been involved in every sale and every design and production decision.

"What a great education," investor Lori Greiner says.

The Cahoons come to the Sharks looking for $35,000 in return for 25% equity and a partnership with a Shark who can mentor them to accelerated growth.

Investors Mark Cuban and Greiner both express admiration for the father-son team, but Cuban thinks the toy industry is not his forte and Greiner thinks the business isn't scalable.

O'Leary, however, does know the toy industry. He struck gold when he sold children's software maker The Learning Company to Mattel in 1999 for nearly $4 billion.

He thinks that he can use his industry connections to make Paper Box Pilots ride an anti-technology trend in toys and take off. He offers $35,000 for a full half of the company, as long as the Cahoons start offering pre-made toy boxes in addition to the decal kits they built the business on.

Investor Robert Herjavec makes the same offer as O'Leary, with the suggestion that he has a perfect way to package the toys to make a ton of money. Investor Barbara Corcoran then says that as long as the Cahoons start making more girl-friendly toys, she's offering $35,000 for a 35% stake because "it sounds cool!" Herjavec ups his deal to $50,000 for 50% equity with the extra selling point that he's "the fun Shark!"

The Sharks look to the Cahoons to make a decision. Brian asks for a little more direction from the investors, but Corcoran stops him, warning that it's dangerous to push when you've been given a rock-solid offer — or in this case three of them.

"All I can say," Brian tells Noah, "is you're the CEO, and it's ultimately your decision." Noah gets nervous and asks his dad under his breath which investor he should pick, but all Brian offers is: "Who do you think would be the best mentor?"

Noah decides to hand over 50% of his company to O'Leary so that he can take his entrepreneurial education to the next level with O'Leary as his guide and his father by his side.

A quick look at the website shows that they're taking Corcoran's advice and have started marketing more to girls, though they still have yet to release pre-made toys. O'Leary will likely take care of that.

You can watch the full episode on ABC.com.

SEE ALSO: The 'Shark Tank' Entrepreneurs Who Lost Out On $250,000 Prove Why 'Perfect Is The Enemy Of Good'

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Select New York Comic Con fans were in for a treat Sunday morning.

Marvel showed off a ton of footage for "Avengers: Age of Ultron," Marvel's new "Guardians of the Galaxy" cartoon, ABC's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." spinoff, "Agent Carter," and the first teaser trailer for new superhero movie "Ant-Man," at a private Unlimited Plus members-only event.

The panel was led by Marvel studio's executive editorial director Ryan Penagos. 

I showed #Avengers#AgeOfUltron, #AntMan, #AgentCarter, & #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy toon videos at the #MarvelNYCC#MarvelUnlimited Plus panel

— Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) October 12, 2014

Here's the scene:

#MarvelUnlimited#private event lead by the coolest guy I know @AgentMpic.twitter.com/brcj9xOzIl

— Ali Abouomar (@xpressingit) October 12, 2014

And here's how the "Ant-Man" trailer was described according to Stitch Kingdom:

In the Ant-Man scene, we hear the voice of Hank Pym as he introduced himself to a tiny armored Scott Lang as Ant-Man running through the streets. Pym introduces Lang to a relatively large fly that Pym is able to call on to take him where he needs to go. 

Fans loved it.

#antman teaser! Totally amazing. My mouth :o :o :o #nycc

— Stitch Kingdom (@stitchkingdom) October 12, 2014

That #AntMan teaser though! OUTSTANDING. @Marvel#NYCC2014

— BraD. (@TheRonyn) October 12, 2014

That was amazing #NYCC#MarvelUnlimited@Marvel

— Nine Panel (@NinePanel) October 12, 2014

"Ant-Man" will be in theaters next summer.

From what we've read, the "Avengers" sequel footage sounds like a clip and trailer that first debuted earlier this year at San Diego Comic Con.

It also sounds amazing.

I'm a grown woman and I'm not afraid to admit that the Avengers 2 footage made me a little misty eyed. It was that good. #MarvelNYCC

— Level 7 Access (@Level7AccessPod) October 12, 2014

SEE ALSO: Photos of the best cosplay from NYCC

AND: "Daredevil" actor points out the one clear advantage Netflix has over TV

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"Foxcatcher" is only the third feature from director Bennett Miller, but considering his previous two films ("Capote" and "Moneyball") both garnered Oscar nominations, anticipation for his latest take on a true story has been sky high. Fans of the director can rest assured: "Foxcatcher" is a fascinating film made all the more absorbing through its rich, vivid characters and efficient storytelling. 

We are introduced to wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) a few years after his glory days winning Olympic gold along with his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Dave is now happily married with children, but Mark mopes through life in the shadow of his more successful brother, giving half-hearted motivational speeches to rooms full of bored children. When eccentric millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell) calls Mark out of the blue and offers to help train him for the 1988 Seoul Olympic games at his lavish estate, there's no reason for him not to accept.

"Foxcatcher" portrays the man in a way that sheds light on the factors that lead to the big, newsworthy event. By the time we meet Du Pont's disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave), we start to see the anguish that lead to Du Pont's mental state. His insistence on being referred to as the "golden eagle" and his absurd patriotic rants start to make sense after we learn of his sad upbringing. As his interactions with Mark grow increasingly troublesome, he becomes more and more sinister and threatening. 

Less is more in the world of "Foxcatcher," and silence pervades. The film opens with what feels like fifteen minutes of virtually no words, and the score is used so sparingly that afterwards I questioned whether or it even had one.

This isn't a bad thing, and an early training scene featuring Mark and David wrestling one another encapsulates all we need to know about their relationship without any words in a matter of minutes. This is courtesy of the fantastically rich screenplay, Bennett Miller's impeccable direction, and the exceptional work from the cast.

Steve Carell is almost unrecognizable as Du Pont; a giant prosthetic nose, false teeth and pale skin give him an unsettling and imposing air. The film truly belongs to him and is essentially a detailed character study of an individual that is certainly ripe for analysis. Du Pont speaks in a dry, stilted bursts and while his looniness is often played for laughs, there's an inherent fear established due to the fact that the film presents a ripped-from-the-headlines story that audiences are likely familiar with.

"Foxcatcher" is billed as a true-crime drama, and although I personally wasn't aware of the events depicted, it's easy to see that Du Pont is unstable and something horrific is to come. 

Channing Tatum is great as Mark, the oblivious lunk caught in Du Pont's depraved world, and as the situation gets more complicated, his performance becomes more layered and meaningful. His relationship with Du Pont gets weirder as the film progresses but the audience is left in the dark to a certain extent; we only know what's essential, and nothing more. It's a quiet, nuanced performance and is easily the best of his career.

Ruffalo is equally good as his brother Dave, and they both really thrive when they're on screen together; the tension between them is palpable. Carell's performance is a game-changer for the comic actor and he proves that he can more than pull his weight when it comes to drama. While there are certainly comedic elements to the role, he somehow manages to make Du Pont equally terrifying as he is pathetically funny. 

These three lead performances help make "Foxcatcher" incredibly compelling. The film examines very basic questions of human psychology in a way that very few artists have pulled off. What we're left with is a gripping and thought-provoking work that is sure to stick with you. 

SEE ALSO: "Birdman" is the best movie of the year

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"Birdman" could have easily fallen victim to its own gimmicks and wild ambitions. For starters, it's an incredibly self-aware film that stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up actor best known for portraying a superhero, which sounds a bit too on-the-nose on paper for the "Batman" star.

The film is shot in such a way that it's meant to appear as one continuous shot, and the score is essentially just one really long drum solo. Additionally, the film's full title is "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," which reeks of pretension but actually makes perfect sense by the end credits. In the hands of a less assured director, "Birdman" would surely fail, but with Alejandro González Iñárritu at the helm, the movie is pure cinematic bliss. 

We first meet Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton) as he levitates (yes, levitates) in his dressing room with only the gruff voice that exists within his head to keep him company. Thompson is a movie star who seems to have vanished from the public eye since the wildly popular "Birdman" series was released some years ago. In an attempt to win back his spotlight or just prove something to himself, he stages an elaborate Broadway production based on a Raymond Carver short story that he plans to produce, direct, and star in. 

Keaton's performance is bold, unapologetic and, best of all, just plain entertaining. The role is quite complex, as Thompson seems to fade in and out of reality. His "Birdman" character seems to have crossed over into his real life and manifests itself in stressful moments. It's an alter ego of sorts; Birdman's voice acts as an entirely unique personality that exists within him. Is Thompson schizophrenic, or is Birdman simply a manifestation of the mind caused by Thompson's overwhelming audacity?

Besides Keaton, the supporting cast is arguably the film's next greatest asset. Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis and Naomi Watts all turn in terrific performances, but Edward Norton steals the show. Norton's take on an over-the-top method stage actor is a breath of fresh air and probably the best performance of his career. The playful exchanges between him and Keaton as they rehearse had me and the audience in stitches.

During the press conference following the screening, I asked Norton if he had any particular inspiration for the character, to which he replied, "I basically just looked four feet to my left at Alejandro...I'm wearing his scarf in the movie, I'm wearing his jacket, everything I say in the movie I've heard him say or I know he wants to say."  

This led Iñárritu to interject with his favorite on-set moment which occurred during the scene where Norton questions Keaton's direction choices: "I was explaining to Edward how the movement of the camera works and everything and he began to question me about it ... so suddenly he was basically directing me saying what the actor was saying and I was looking at the page saying 'oh my god this is a mirror in a mirror in a mirror.'"

Some of the film's best moments are when it leaves our world and veers off into the weird and wild unknown. The scenes that feature Keaton battling the voices in his head are full of magical realism. At one point, Iñárritu chooses to break the fourth wall and create a diegetic moment in which the film's drummer actually appears on screen. This interruption could have taken the viewer out of the film, but in context it works and adds to the meticulously orchestrated madness. 

The camerawork throughout the film is breathtaking. Every sequence drips with chaos and energy, as the camera forces its way into the action. The smooth, sprawling transitions from one scene to the next are visually impressive and fit the tone set by the frenetic score. These elements combine to form a style that is unique and a technical marvel.

In addition to the chaotic structure, the sharp, funny, and occasionally revelatory dialogue keeps the film moving fast. We learn what we know about Thompson and those who inhabit his life through meaningful exchanges, which is how filmmaking is supposed to work but has become rare and worthy of praise in a market saturated with big budget blockbusters and their sequels.

"Birdman" is very much about these topics without ever explicitly stating it; it's about as meta as it gets and functions as a send-up of the very idea of criticism. In the bottom right corner of the mirror in Thompson's dressing room, there is a note visible throughout the film that says, "A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing," which would be the film's thesis, if it had one. At the press conference, Iñárritu further commented on this notion by stating that "the film is what it is" and no amount of criticism can change that. At times, the film plays like catharsis for the director, and while that's true to an extent, there's much more to it than that. 

In the case of "Birdman," this critic can't recommend it enough.

SEE ALSO: Steve Carell And Channing Tatum Give Their Best Performances Yet In Thought-Provoking 'Foxcatcher'

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If you keep tabs on Taylor Swift's social media presence, beware: Swift is watching you, too. 

In an interview with BBC America, the pop icon admits that when she was determining which fans to invite to her secret "1989" listening session at her home, she spent a lot of time "looking at the internet."

She picked 89 fans to come to her Rhode Island home last weekend and listen to her play new album "1989" in full. Fans took to Instagram post-show to showcase the selfies they got with the star and gush about how great the evening was (homemade cookies were all the rage!)

But how did she pick the fans?

"I would go online and I would look at their Instagram pages, or their Twitter or their Tumblr or whatever and I just kind of watched them for months and months," Swift said to BBC.

Months!

Watch the entire interview here:

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“Gone Girl” has only been out for two weeks and the R-rated movie from director David Fincher has already made more than $140 million worldwide.

Several new releases were no match for the Ben Affleck film which pits him as a husband who may have murdered his wife (Rosamund Pike) who goes missing on the couple’s fifth year wedding anniversary.

The movie made $26.8 million in its second weekend at the box office, a very strong hold for a film that debuted to $38 million.

“Gone Girl” cost an estimated $61 million to make and has made just about as much overseas as it has domestically.

Fincher’s buzzed-about film went up against movies including Robert Downey Jr.’s “The Judge,” Disney’s adaptation of child book “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” and “Dracula Untold.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise was “The Judge” over at Warner Bros. A $13.3 million opening weekend is the lowest Stark’s had since “Zodiac” which debuted to $13.4 million seven years ago. The movie cost a reported $50 million to make.

SEE ALSO: Ben Affleck refused to wear a Yankees hat in "Gone Girl"

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"You know, what's her name was in it": A phrase known all too well by most of us when trying to remember an actor's or actress' name.

You may be so successful as to remember the correct talent, but are you pronouncing their name correctly? 

Produced by: Justin Gmoser; Narrated by: Alana Kakoyiannis; Additional research by: Kirsten Acuna.

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Warning: There are major spoilers ahead. 

"The Walking Dead" returned to AMC Sunday night in excellent fashion.

Creator Robert Kirkman promised the first six minutes of the premiere would be brutal and the show delivered.

Last warning to head back before spoilers.

At the episode's start, we see Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Glenn (Steven Yeun), and Bob (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) ripped from the train car they were locked inside at the end of season four and dragged into a slaughter house to be killed, cleaned, and torn apart for eating.

You read that right. As many predicted, season 5 introduced audiences to cannibals.

The four are lined up over a trough with others as they are violently hit with baseball bats one by one before their throats are sliced to drain.

The scene was the most terrifyingly brutal opening for the show yet and a difficult one to watch (especially if you had recently eaten dinner).

On aftershow "The Talking Dead," the episode's director Greg Nicotero broke down the making of the scene saying it was actually inspired by a famous scene from 1979's "Alien" where a chestburster alien pops out of Kane's (John Hurt's) chest.

"[Director] Ridley Scott they had blood tubes hooked up and nobody knew what was going to happen," said Nicotero. "When they rolled six cameras and Veronica Cartwright gets hit with all the blood, all those reactions were real."

Similarly, Nicotero says when filming the trough scene for the premiere episode, the scene was kept under wraps from the actors. 

"Steven, Andy, Norman, Lawrence, none of those guys really knew what it was going to look like and what was going to happen," explained Nicotero. "So when the guys were struggling and they came up and slit the throat and we sprayed the blood they all reacted. It was like, all of a sudden they heard the blood hitting the trough and starting to wash down in front of them."

"When I yelled cut, they went 'Oh my God,'" he added. "It was shocking."

As brutal as the scene looked on screen, Nicotero who also serves as the show's executive producer and special effects makeup artist said the scene was a blast to prep and film. 

"As ridiculous as it sounds, we had a great time shooting that scene. It was really fun to do," said Nicotero.

He explained the intricate preparation that was involved in making the scene look so lifelike. Again, like "Alien," a lot of practical effects were used. 

"We came up with this ingenious rig," explained Nicotero. "We just put a tube around the actors' necks with a feed tube up the back that we would pump the blood through."

"Usually we'll put a prosthetic over the top to mask it but in this instance we had the visual effects team erased the tube. So you had practical blood squirting out of a tube and then visual effects would erase the tube. We were able to use real blood [as opposed to CG]. I mean, real movie fake blood."

You can check out the first four minutes of "The Walking Dead" season 5, which were revealed at New York Comic Con, below.

SEE ALSO: Why "The Walking Dead" casts so many actors from HBO's hit show "The Wire"

AND: Why "The Walking Dead" doesn't use the word zombie

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This past weekend at New York Comic Con, we saw every superhero, princess, video game character, and bad guy in the book. Roughly 150,000 people attended, many of whom dressed in costume.

The best cosplays not only portray a character, but add something to it. They combine wit, creativity, and style to put a unique spin on a face that fans know and love. It's a difficult balance to strike, but leave it to the Con crowd to rise to the occasion.

We ranked the six most original cosplays below. For a look at the best overall, click here.

6. A gender-bending Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" seemed to be in his natural habitat outside the Javits Center.

5. These Tetris pieces gave us an idea of what the upcoming movie may be like. Their costumes are made of cardboard, wrapping paper, and duct tape, and had shelves built into the extra blocks, to hold cell phones and snacks.

4. In need of a miracle? Look no further than the Church of Oprah. The cosplayer just kept yelling, "Praise be to Almighty Oprah!"

3. Some of the best cosplay riffs on recent pop culture. This costume plays on the Nicki Minaj and Sir Mix-A-Lot lyric, "My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hon." There were fresh hot dog buns in the basket.

2. The lyric pops up in this "Wedpool" cosplay, too. It's a spin on the "Deadpool Kills Deadpool" story arc in the comics. Note the Beyoncé reference as well.

1. McThor, a mash-up between Ronald McDonald and Thor, threw down his nugget hammer of justice at the Con.

SEE ALSO: Photos Of The Best Cosplay At New York Comic Con

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It was clear at New York Comic Con last weekend that "Guardians of the Galaxy" had taken over. We saw Gamora, Rocket, and plenty of Groots— both potted and soaring over seven feet tall.

But the real star was none other than Star-Lord. John Koch, who cosplayed as Chris Pratt's character Peter Quill, became a sensation over the last few days at the Con — known for dancing his way through the Javits Center.

This is what Koch looked like on Sunday. He posed making an obscene gesture from a memorable scene in the movie. From the idential facial hair and dark features to the sarcastic expression, the resemblance is uncanny.

For comparison, this is what Chris Pratt looks like in the movie "Guardians of the Galaxy." Pratt lost 60 pounds for the role, thanks to a rigorous six months of P90X, running, swimming, boxing, and kickboxing.

When we asked Koch how he pulled his costume together, he said, "My mom and dad played a big role in that they gave me Chris Pratt's face. And I have to thank Chris Pratt's parents who gave him my face."

He does appear to be Pratt's doppelganger.

Even his Instagram profile quotes Andy Dwyer, Pratt's character on the NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation." Koch says he was a big fan of Pratt from the show, and when he heard he was cast in "Guardians of the Galaxy," he knew he had to cosplay as Star-Lord.

To complete the Peter Quill look, Koch wore a red leather jacket, jeans, a gray t-shirt, and silver spraypainted Nerf guns. But what's Star-Lord without his beloved Walkman? Koch says he bought the old-school device on eBay for about $10 and made an "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" mixtape with all the songs from the movie's soundtrack.

Here's a closer look at the tape.

Pretty spot on job.

Then the "pelvic sorcery" (as Gamora might say) began. He shook and shimmied down the main concourse, on the showroom floor, and in the outdoor tunnel where all the professional photographers gather. 

Koch says he was typically listening to "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone in his headphones, the song Pratt's character grooves to in the movie's opening sequence.

What followed was a social media explosion. People on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr spoke of sightings of the "dancing Star-Lord." 

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Star Lord supplies the soundtrack for NYCC! #nycc #cosplay #guardiansofthegalaxy #awesomemixvol1 #starlord Cosplay by @its_just_koch

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Saw a guy dressed as Star Lord dancing down the main aisle and now I have "Come and Get Your Love" in my head. Thanks, James Gunn.

— Thomas Zahler (@loveandcapes) October 10, 2014

Whoever produces red leather jackets is making a ton of cash. So many #Starlord cosplayers! pic.twitter.com/AhMUPQPWWf

— Geeks OUT (@GeeksOUT) October 10, 2014 

The weekend culminated in a dance-off against a fellow Peter Quill. A friend blasted the soundtrack through a portable speaker and it was on.

Koch had all the signature dance moves down from the film's opening.

And in a tie, "Star-Lord" was declared the winner.

See Also: Photos Of The Best Cosplay At New York Comic Con »

NOW WATCH: There's A Good Reason 'The Walking Dead' Creator Doesn't Use The Word Zombie

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