I confess that of the 16.2 zillion reruns I caught as a kid, the 1950s’The Lone Ranger isn’t one I particularly took to— I was more of a Zorro girl— but plenty of nerds grew up with Kemo Sabe and Tonto, whether as a new radio/television series or in rerun form, and I was certainly interested in Johnny Depp’s take on the character (I haven’t reached critical mass on Depp flicks, apparently).
Comedy studio Pixels Per Second recently launched this awesome parody trailer for a Super Mario Bros. movie. No, not that one (which…okay, which really never should have been), but a better one. Think Super Mario Bros. as an indie flick about a down-on-his-luck guy who find the spark he needs to become a hero. And maybe takes a few drugs on the way. Hit the jump for the video! Read more…
The Britain (and world at large) of the Harry Potter series has a lot of rebuilding to do after Voldemort’s defeat. How can the Ministry of Magic reclaim its good name? What can the leaders of both the Muggle and magical governments do to prevent the same thing from happening again? Those questions and more drove the creation of Post-Conflict Potter, an article by Foreign Policy magazine, wherein real experts on foreign policy suggest the ways that post-Potter Britain could fix itself. Honestly, I loved the Harry Potter books, but my larger questions about how the magical society presented in the books could even function put kind of a damper on Rowling’s otherwise meticulous world-building. Post-Conflict Potter is a great read that helps address some of those very questions. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Aug 13, 2011 in Television
Sometimes by boss sends me links via email with a request to feature them on the site. Normally they’re self-explanatory — here’s a cool Star Wars case mod someone made, or here’s a neat artist — but sometimes they’re mystifying even to me. Take the Thunderbirds Lab, for example. It’s a website for a pharmaceutical group that lets you take some Thunderbirds-inspired tests, play a game or two, and create a neat custom Thunderbirds badge for yourself. Of course, it’s also nearly 100% in Japanese, which made the process a little more difficult for me, admittedly. But if you speak Japanese, you’ll be in puppet heaven, and you may be able to fumble your way through (as I did) even if you don’t. Thunderbirds are go! Read more…
Err, you know what I mean. Another science show. It’s totally different than the other one; this one deals with horrific experiments, fringe science, and … okay, okay, I get it. But this one’s about real science! That’s right, Fringe‘s John Noble will be hosting a new show on the Science channel called Dark Matters, dealing with the dark side of science using real historical examples. The first six episode descriptions read like Fringe summaries, which is, of course, wildly appropriate. Expect to see body transplants, reanimation, and more, with Noble’s trademark mug to guide you through the creepiness. Who could ask for anything more? Read more…
In celebration of the its 15th anniversary and upcoming Blu-ray release, Aniplex has decided to simulcast the entire four episode OVA, Rurouni Kenshin – Trust & Betrayal for both North American and Japanese audiences. The events being hosted at NicoNico on August, 19th at 10:00 PM PST, and you will need an account to view the stream, so if you haven’t already signed up for one, you’ll need to. If you’ve already signed up for an account on their Japanese website, you should be able to use the same login to access the English site. If you’re a fan of the series but haven’t seen the OVAs, you’ll definitely want to. This particular OVA serves as a prequel to the manga and animated series, however it takes itself much more seriously and is geared towards a mature audience. Trust & Betrayal also features a gorgeous soundtrack by Taku Iwasaki, and is easily one of my favorite animated scores of all time. For a summary and additional info, click here.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Aug 11, 2011 in Videogames
It looks like BioWare wants to reward players for pre-ordering their upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic with early access and a in-game item. From what it looks like, you’ll be allowed to keep your character along with any items and experience you acquire when the game officially launches in November. Unfortunately, there’s no details in regards when that early access period will actually start. I imagine BioWare will e-mail you directly once you’ve entered your pre-order code. The free item included in both limited and standard editions of the game will allow you to change the color of your lightsaber or blaster bolts. I suppose that’s kind of awesome if you want your character to stand out in a crowd. I’m not really fond of paying a monthly subscription for a game, but I suppose I could deal with it as long as its better than Star Wars Galaxies — I’m sure if anyone could manage that, it’d be BioWare. Let’s just hope they’ll leave our shoulder pads alone.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Aug 10, 2011 in Television
If you’re a fan of Syfy’s Eureka, you’re probably already sulking about this, but it wouldn’t be fair to ignore this piece of sad news. Syfy announced this week that they’ve reversed — yes, read that again, reversed — their decision to renew the series for another season. Last week the network announced plans to renew the series with six more episodes, and had even denied rumors that pegged those episodes as being the end of the series. To add insult to injury, the fifth season of the show hasn’t even aired yet and will finish filming later this week. Naturally the writers will be forced to rewrite what has now become the series finally before it they shoot this Thursday. Read more…
I never had a chance to see it person, but Odaiba’s full-scale Gundam statue had served as a magnet for giant robot enthusiasts and tourism from around the globe. I had hoped to catch a glimpse of the statue after it had moved to Shizuoka, but the statue was dismantled at end of March. Given the recent drop in tourism, I’ve wondered if we’d ever have another chance to see the statue again. It doesn’t look likely, but Sunrise Studios recently announced plans to display at least a portion of the statue in Odaiba later this month. Starting Sunday, August 21st, visitors to Odaiba island’s Shiokaze Park can pay 500 yen to gain admission to the event between the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM. No word on which parts of the statue will be on display but guessing by the image on the official site, I assume it’ll be the head. Sure, it’s not the full statue, but it’s still a piece of history and definitely worth checking out.
He’s done it again. Check out one of the latest sets of Star Wars customs from Sillof’s Workshop. This time the theme’s centered around 1940s pulp sci-fi. He does a fantastic job of capturing that retro aesthetic made popular by serials like Buck Rodgers and Flash Gordon. Come to think of it, I’m sure if Star Wars had been filmed in the late ’30s or early ’40s, Buster Crabbe would have been cast as a dashing and slightly cut Luke Skywalker. I’m not sure I’d want to sit through a trilogy of him dressed in tanned tights, but I suppose it wouldn’t look as gaudy if it were in black and white. Any way, check out the rest of these fantastic figures at Sillof’s official website. I just wish he’d strike a deal with Lucas Arts to manufacture them. Who wouldn’t totally buy these?
Oh Flash Gordon, all the bad acting in the world couldn’t stop my love for you. No, it’s not quite as timeless as the 1936 classic, and it might be plagued by its camp, but that’s really why we loved it, isn’t it? The costumes and sets were so over-the-top that one can’t help but be entertained by what was obviously a clear attempt by director Mike Hodges to pay homage to everything remotely related to the franchise, no matter how absurd it may seem. Add to that the fact that the film’s entire score is performed by Queen, and its easy to overlook most fans gripes. The film finally made its way to Blu-ray last year, and while I’m not sure what kind of high-definition experience you could possibly expect for something shot in 1980, it’s still a must have for any collector or fan. Amazon is currently selling it for 46% off, so head over and pick your copy up today.
The results for tonight’s Teen Choice Awards— established by Fox in ’99 —will make most full-grown geeks eyes’ roll: the befanged stars of The Vampire Diaries and Twilight took home awards, as did the wizards of Harry Potter and the awfully attractive and talented “outcasts” of Glee.
But maybe instead of rolling our eyes, we should consider opening them. Read more…
Everybody cue the banana jokes: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the prequel to/reboot of 1968’s Charlton Heston flick Planet of the Apeshandily beat out its competition at the box office this weekend. But there’s another, possibly more interesting story at work here than the tale of how humanity doomed itself by making super-intelligent simians: the tale of actor Andy Serkis, who has single-handedly become the go-to guy for awesome motion-capture CG acting. Read more…
Marion Cotillard was long ago confirmed as having been cast in The Dark Knight Returns, the third film in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy, but her character didn’t appear to be anyone particularly special; not with the name “Miranda Tate.” But there were rumors that perhaps her real role in the film was being obfuscated and that she was actually playing Talia Al Ghul, daughter of the main villain from Batman Begins. Well, those rumors may be right, if this set photo from the movie’s Chicago filming session has anything to say about it. I don’t think just anybody walks around in clothes like that, and certainly not with armed guards. At least, you could extrapolate that, anyway. Me, I’m far too busy just enjoying the feeling the merest glance at Miss Cotillard gives me.
Look, let’s face it. I don’t think any of us were really expecting a lot out of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The series, which started off with a perfectly fine sci-fi film, suffered from a few too many sequels, and Tim Burton’s bizarre (obviously) 2001 remake certainly wasn’t a critical success, even if it did make a bunch of money. And yet, here we are, ten years later, with a prequel/reboot to the series released in theaters. But here’s the really shocking thing: it’s apparently pretty good. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, and review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes places it at a very healthy 80%. Don’t believe the action-packed trailer that makes it look like there’s some ape war, though — it’s a thriller, not an action movie. Damn you marketers all to hell! Read more…
Zack Snyder and his team have been hard at work filming the new Superman film The Man of Steel recently, and star Henry Cavill has been spotted on set in his new superhuman physique and trademark Supes hair. But until today, we didn’t know what he’d look like in the suit! To that end, Warner Bros has released this promotional shot of Cavill in full Man of Steel getup, replete with long cape, comic-styled boots, and (apparently) no red undies this time! The colors in the photo seem oddly washed-out, but I suppose you can probably blame Zack Snyder for that; look at 300. I personally love the suit, but if you’re worried, don’t be — don’t forget that Christopher Nolan of Batman Begins and Inception fame helped pre-produce the film. Maybe we’ll finally get the Superman movie we deserve! Read more…
I love Star Wars as much as anyone, but I’ve never really given much thought to the actual work that went into building its universe. I know the films like the back of my hand, but I really couldn’t tell you how to construct your own droid or build a sand palace. I simply wouldn’t know where to start. That’s where a copy of Star Wars: The Blueprints comes in hand. Literally 336 pages of content with over 500 photos, and illustrations detailing over 250 designs unique to the Star Wars universe. With a limited run of only 5000 copies at $500 a pop — the first 125 actually come signed and hand-numbered for $1000 each — I probably won’t be able to score a copy for myself but serious collectors will want to take note. The book itself comes hand-crafted with a special dyed-cloth case, along with the certificate of authenticity included as well. I can’t imagine many of you wanting invest in a copy, but if you’re crazy enough to buy one, here’s a link to the order form.
I love my iPhone, but I really wish it had a notch for a phone charm. I suppose a charm might not be the manliest thing, but it always helped me keep track of it whenever I’d have to rummage through my pockets. These days, I go for the next best thing, swapping out cases. I’m not sure how many different iPhone cases I own at this point, but sometimes I just come across one that I absolutely must have, like this sweet little case from the guys at Lootiful. The iPWN! 4 case is a slick little nod to the original GameBoy. It’s made from a thin but durable polycarbonate material that weighs less than an ounce, and the best part? Easy button access. That has to be my number one gripe about any case for the iPhone 4 and they’ve got it covered.
It’s true, he does. At least, that’s probably what you should tell your kids if you catch them thinking he’s cool. If you’ve found yourself wondering how to introduce your kids to the holy trilogy and its prequels, the guys at Asylum are here to help. Their PSA highlights just how difficult it can be to raise a kid in a post-Special Edition world. Important issues are covered such Han’s trigger finger, Anakin’s appearance in Return of the Jedi, and Vader’s identity — Revenge of the Sith kind of ruined that, didn’t it? Just do me a favor and don’t dress up like Jar Jar to scare you kids. Those scars could last forever.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Aug 3, 2011 in Comic Books
This morning in a USA Today exclusive, Marvel revealed the identity of Parker’s replacement for the Ultimate Spider-Man series, Miles Morales. If some of you recall, Marvel decided to kill off Peter Parker in their ‘Ultimate‘ universe with their recent “Death of Spider-man” story arc leaving the role vacant in their alternate universe. Unfortunately not much is known about Morales apart from being of Spanish and African decent. However, the article contained a bit of trivia that caught my eye — the choice was inspired by Donald Glover’s #donald4spiderman twitter campaign. While he didn’t land the role in the upcoming reboot, Donald managed to catch author Brian Bendis’ attention. After seeing Glover wearing the costume during an episode of Community, he immediately thought “I’d like to read that book.” Awesome, right? I’m a huge fan of Glover, so I’m curious as to what he thinks about it all. For those who care, Parker can still be found alive and well in the latest issues of Amazing Spider-Man. Miles will have his official debut in Ultimate Fallout #4 which hits stores tomorrow, August 3rd.
It’s a scary prospect for fans, but it looks as though Torchwood may be coming to an end sooner than we thought. No, the fate of the show won’t be determined by its ratings, or contractual disputes, but rather the whim of series creator Russell T. Davies. Recently, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht stated that their development deal wouldn’t guarantee a fifth season and that ultimately it would be up to Davies himself as to whether he intends to continue with production after Miracle Day concludes later this year. Davies has previously stated that he may move on having recently grown tired of Science Fiction in general. While I feel its safe to say that Doctor Who will continue regardless of his involvement, the same can’t be said of Torchwood — a property that he himself created. I had really hoped that moving production of the series stateside would lead to great things, but I have to admit that as a recent fan of the show, it feels as though the carpet is being pulled out from under my feet. I would hope that many of you feel the same way, and thankfully this isn’t set in stone. The fate of the series remains to be seen. If the end is near, at least we’ll see it coming.
Square-Enix has finally announced the release date for the iOS port of their SRPG cult-classic, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. Based on the 2007 re-release, the port will contain animated cut-scenes and enhanced gameplay. The English release will also include voice acting, however Japanese gamers will not be so lucky. In addition, the game will make use of the retina display and will feature high resolution visuals than its PSP predecessor. There’s a catch, though — the game will lack the online Multiplayer modes available on PSP, and may not include the sound effects for spells. On the other hand, the slow-down experienced when casting spells has been greatly reduced. If I recall, that was the one major gripe everyone had with it. Set to release this Thursday, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions will retail for $15.99, making it one of the most expensive games on the app story to date. I’d complain but it’s probably worth the price they’re asking. Unfortunately, it won’t be a universal app either. Apple’s iPad users will have to wait an additional month for their exclusive version.
Earlier this year Deep Silver decided to release a trailer for the upcoming title Dead Island that critics hailed as both stunningly visceral and emotionally-engaging. The artistic nature of the trailer had many of us excited about a game that we all thought would take the survival-horror genre in a bold new direction. Unfortunately, what many of us had the chance to finally play at E3 and, more recently, San Diego’s Comic-Con hardly seemed bold, or new. Instead, we were treated to what amounted to little more than a clone of Valve’s Left-4-Dead franchise — albeit a shiny one. Initially this bothered me, but now I wonder, is that really such a bad thing?
Looks awesome, doesn’t it? It’s not exactly everyday wear, but Hasbro’s Dark of the Moon Robo Power Cine-Mask — yeah, the name is a bit of a mouthful — is the coolest pair of 3d theater glasses we’ve seen yet. The mask actually contains the same RealD technology you’d find at theaters nationwide, so it won’t work with your home theater system, or that fancy new 3D LED you’ve been saving up for, but on the other hand, it’ll only set you back $10. Another catch is that the mask is actually designed for children ages 6 and up, so I’m not exactly sure it’ll fit just anyone. If you’re curious there’s a matching Bumblebee mask similar to the Optimus Prime one pictured here. Finally, Hasbro has also decided to throw in a set of standard red/blue stereoscopic glasses in case you need them for whatever reason. For $10, it’s a neat novelty at the least. Check Hasbro’s official website for more info.
