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An Elegant Plea for Space Exploration
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 6, 2011 in Science
The amazing video below (which is from The Sagan Series) uses audio from the Carl Sagan audio book The Pale Blue Dot and is a wonderful argument for a return to the moon: Don’t Worry, Jonathan Frakes Didn’t Like the Enterprise Finale Either
Posted by Michael Sacco on Nov 6, 2011 in Star Trek, Television
The finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, the last Trek show to grace the small screen, is…let’s say unpopular. It essentially undid the entire series in one fell swoop and took away what wind remained in the show’s sails by having Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis, aka Riker and Troi, as guest stars. Turns out Frakes wasn’t a fan of the move either, saying that it felt like a sort of middle finger to Enterprise lead actor Scott Bakula. In fact, Frakes calls the entire experience an “unpleasant memory.” Blastr‘s got the whole story. Frakes comes across as a pretty okay guy in these quotes, but then again, any good Starfleet officer would. Read more… Accidental Beta Leak Has Massive Effect
Posted by Michael Sacco on Nov 5, 2011 in Videogames
Man, this kind of thing could only happen nowadays, in the era of always-on broadband internet and complex gaming infrastructure. Somehow, an internal beta client for BioWare’s much-anticipated console RPG/shooter Mass Effect 3 was accidentally released to the public on Xbox Live. And it’s not just the multiplayer, which was slated to have a public beta in January — it’s the singleplayer campaign too. BioWare appears to have taken down the download page from XBL, but there are already videos of the highly-unfinished singleplayer campaign and its companion multiplayer mode as well. In the videos, you can see options for a few different singleplayer modes, such as “Action Mode,” “RPG Mode,” and “Story Mode,” which BioWare says are some sort of variable difficulty level to make sure everyone gets the play experience that suits them best. Hey, I’m trying to avoid spoilers for the game, so congratulations to those who got the chance to download the beta before it disappeared. Enjoy it in my stead. Read more… Bond 23 is Go, and Its Name Is…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Nov 4, 2011 in Cinema
Skyfall? Sounds kind of … video game-y, doesn’t it? But that’s its name, Daniel Craig is back, Sam Mendes is directing, two lovely new Bond Girls are joining the ranks, and Javier Bardem is the bad guy. This one is reportedly unrelated to the plot arc from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace (thankfully), instead dealing with the relationship between Bond and M. It seems like everything is in its right place — good thing MGM’s financial problems didn’t kill the series for good, especially since the last two films were so excellent. Who’s pumped for Craig vs. Bardem, man? Can’t wait for November 9th, 2012. Read more… Garrett Hedlund May Ride Another Glowing Motorcycle
Garrett Hedlund’s made a name for himself based on his starring role in Disney’s highly successful TRON: Legacy, but it looks like he might start getting typecast. No, not based on the role he played, but on the vehicle he drove! He might be trading in his lightcycle for a Neo-Tokyo motorcycle, according to reports, as he’s been offered the lead role in…oh, no. Not this again. The live-action Akira remake? Wasn’t this thing dead in the water, like, months ago? Why do the Warners want to throw so much money at this project? Oh well. At least Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter got offered parts as well. Maybe they can class up the joint. Read more… I’d Walk 500 Miles For a Doctor Who Wrap Party
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 3, 2011 in Dr. Who
The other day I mentioned that several videos from the Davies & Tennant Doctor Who wrap party recently hit the net, one of which featured a quirky little musical number by series stars David Tennant, Catherine Tate, and John Barrowman. I thought to save the second video for later, as the first was pretty lengthy and you have to admit that it’s kinda hard to top Barrowman’s freakishly good voice. This second video is also musical in nature as it features the cast and crew dancing and lip-syncing to the 80’s hit “I’m gonna be (500 miles” by the Proclaimers. Some of you may have caught the episode of Graham Norton — he’s sort of like a British Conan O’Brien, albeit a tad cruder — where Tennant met the band for the first time. Being a huge fan, Tennant had jumped when asked by their producers to star in one of the band’s music videos, only to discover they weren’t present during his shoot. After meeting them during the filming of Norton’s talk show, I imagine they must have hit it off, otherwise I’m sure they wouldn’t have been part of the video above. Pretty neat how it everything worked out. Prep For Nyan-TARDIS
I’m sure by now you’ve all come across Nyan Cat while browsing through one or more of your favorite net-haunts. For whatever reason its just one of those polarizing subjects where people either find it incredibly annoying or incredibly adorable with nobody falling in between. If you’re one of the latter, you’ll probably dig this awesome Doctor Who x Nyan Cat crossover shirt recently featured on Ript Apparel. Seeing as Ript designs are only available for a day before they’re taken down, you might think you’ve missed your chance to pick one up, but fear not! Brenda, the lovely artist responsible, also sells some of these designs as shirts through RedBubble. Sure it costs a bit more at $24 a pop, but at least you won’t have to worry about missing out. She also has some nifty Supernatural-inspired designs available for order. If you want to see more of her work, check out her Tumblr, or check out her Etsy store for anything else she might have on sale. Ever Want to be a Red Shirt? Here’s Your Chance
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 2, 2011 in Comic Books, Star Trek
That’s right, here’s your chance to be featured as an expendable away-team member. Comic publisher IDW and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund have teamed up to offer us a chance of a lifetime. The prize? One lucky fan, along with his or her favorite comic retailer, will be featured as a random “Red Shirt” on a special limited-edition variant cover for an upcoming issue of IDW’s Star Trek on-going series set in the Abramsverse — they’re calling it that, right? The Abramsverse? Not really fond of that name. Any way, starting Wednesday, November 2nd, you can enter by simply writing 300 words or less on why your local retailer is the best, then e-mailing your entry to contest@IDWPublishing.com with the subject line, “Save my Retailer.” Give Your Smartphone a Proper Gamepad
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 2, 2011 in Tech, Videogames
If you’re like me, and I imagine many of you are, you’ve loaded your smartphone with games. It’s a bit ironic, really. We spend hundreds of dollars on dedicated gaming handhelds and for whatever reason, some of us find our phones more appealing. There was a time when I might have scoffed at the notion that my phone would replace my DSi or PSP, but that’s simply no longer the case. While I can still count on a deep, involved, experience with one of those $30 to $40 titles, more often than not, I’ll pick up my phone for a quick game of whatever cheap thrill the app store has to offer. With hundreds of apps available for almost too reasonable price, determining which system gets my attention for the evening can be an easy decision. So, why not try to improve that experience? That’s where the iControlpad comes in. Does Independance Day Deserve a Sequel?
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 1, 2011 in Cinema
It looks as though Fox may finally be ready to move on their plans to produce two back-to-back sequels for their 1996 sci-fi hit, Independence Day. It’s no secret that Sony’s been eyeing the project since earlier this year, but with the scripts finally penned, and Roland Emmerich’s schedule free and clear for the foreseeable future — his latest film, Anonymous hit theaters last weekend — its looking more and more likely. Will Smith hasn’t committed to reprising his role as Captain Steven Hiller, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility. Smith’s reportedly asking for $50 million, and budgetary concerns may prevent that. However, judging by the runaway success of the first film, Fox might justify cutting a big enough check. Either way, the show will go on, with or without him. Of course, that begs the question, do we even need Will Smith, or these sequels for that matter? Weta’s Dalek Goes on Discount
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 1, 2011 in Dr. Who
This is shaping up to be a good week for fans of Davies’ Whoneverse. In addition to the hilarious wrap party videos that recent hit the net, Weta Workshop has decided to discount several pieces from their Doctor Who product line. The first is this killer replica of a Dalek as originally designed for the series one episode “Dalek,” featuring Christopher Eccleston. While Christopher’s time as the Doctor was short lived, that episode remains memorable as the first appearance of the Daleks since Davies had revived the series and paved the way for their eventual return in future seasons. The prop measures roughly a foot in height and normally retails for $225. If you order from Weta’s online shop before November 4th, you can save 50% and pick one up for only $112.50. Not too bad if you ask me. Barrowman, Tennant and Tate Sing Their Goodbyes
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 31, 2011 in Dr. Who
There are times I just miss David Tennant. His time on Doctor Who just never seemed long enough, and while I like Matt Smith just fine, he’s still not the Doctor many of us grew to love. Here’s one of the recently released videos from the Tennant & Davies wrap party a few years back. It’s a cute little musical number about former show-runners Davies and Gardner, featuring John Barrowman, Cathrine Tate and David Tennant. If you’ve never heard Barrowman sing, you’re in for a bit of a treat. David’s immaculate as always, but personally, I could do without Cathrine Tate. Then again, I think that was the whole point of her being on the show in the first place. Regardless, it was a fantastic way to say thank for everything Davies and Gardner did for the series, don’t you think? The Best Batsuit Hollywood Never Made
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 31, 2011 in Comic Books
Check out this stunning take on the Dark Knight’s Batsuit. This custom suit, recently posted on TheEffectsLab.com’s forum, and designed by X Workz studios, borrows its design from Rocksteady’s Arkham series of games. The recently released Batman: Arkham City has been receiving rave reviews and has been one of the most anticipated titles of the year. While Arkham City has a very gritty and dark atmosphere, the character designs don’t stray too far from the comics. It’s a stark contrast to Nolan’s films, all of which might come across as trying too hard, or two little depending on who you ask, but I digress. This is some incredibly impressive work. If you’d like to get in touch with the designer, you can e-mail them or check the original post for more photos and information. Mark Hamill Sends Out the Clown, For Real This Time
Posted by Michael Sacco on Oct 30, 2011 in Animation, Comic Books
Mark Hamill may have gotten famous portraying Luke Skywalker, but his acting career never quite took off afterward. Hamill found another route to the hearts and minds of a new generation, though — portraying the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series. Say what you want about Nicholson’s or Ledger’s or even Romero’s Joker, but TAS Joker is the defining Joker for most people my age, and at the very least the very first voice that comes to mind when someone says “The Joker.” Now, Hamill’s ready to say goodbye to the role after his performance as the Clown Prince of Crime in the recently-released video game Batman: Arkham City. For those who’ve been following along at home, Hamill also said this after he wrapped up Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009, but he ended up sticking around for the sequel after its developers promised him that this Joker role would be something special. Everyone give Joker a nice buzzer handshake on his way out. Read more… A Beetlejuice Sequel?
Posted by Michael Sacco on Oct 29, 2011 in Cinema
I’m not really sure where this lies on the good news-bad news spectrum, but: a) apparently someone wants to make a new Beetlejuice movie, b) it’s a sequel, not a reboot, and c) they want Michael Keaton to come back for the role. Allegedly, screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith and producer pal David Katzenberg have received Tim Burton’s blessing to make a new film starring our garish ghoul friend, but securing Keaton might be a different beast entirely. Grahame-Smith says that their idea is definitely worth Keaton’s time, but man, Michael Keaton ain’t exactly getting any younger. But hey, I think we can all agree on one thing: thank heaven it’s not a remake/reboot. Read more… Ray Bradbury: A Rediscovered Interview
Posted by Michael Pinto on Oct 28, 2011 in Fandom, Pulp Fiction
The public television show Day at Night ran in the 70s and featured in depth interviews with a wide range of people from nuclear physicist Edward Teller to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. This wonderful interview with science fiction author Ray Bradbury is from 1974 and he goes into wonderful detail on what inspired him: Read more… Way Too Cute for the Warehouse
Posted by Michael Sacco on Oct 28, 2011 in Television
She’s Warehouse 13‘s most junior officer, so it only makes sense that tough-gal techie Claudia would also get the most adorable maquette. This particular maquette is “Animated” Claudia, meaning (of course) that she’s a little less…realistic than you might find in other statuettes. Thankfully, she’s got a meticulously sculpted rendition of her most iconic outfit, including some very, err, well-fitting jeans. She’s even got a Tesla in her pocket (no, she is not happy to see you). This limited-edition agent is a Quantum Mechanix exclusive — just make sure you put her somewhere nice instead of in, I don’t know, a warehouse? Read more… Sorry Mario; The Wedding is in Another Castle
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 27, 2011 in Design, Videogames
Here’s some of the coolest wedding invitations I’ve ever seen. Artist and graphic designer Larry Quach recently crafted these one-of-a-kind invitations for his friend’s wedding. Seeing as the entire wedding was Super Mario Brothers-themed, he went out of his way to include everything from the actual invitations to the party favors and even threw together a custom seating chart for the occasion. I’m incredibly impressed with the amount of work that must have went into it, but Larry did a bang up job, and it really shows. Nothing Says Scoundrel Like Medicom’s Han Solo
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 27, 2011 in Hobbies and Collections, Star Wars
Check out that scowl. Here’s a look at Medicom’s Han Solo Ultimate Unison collectible figure. At just under a foot tall — 30 centimeters to be exact — this posable figure comes complete with everything you need to re-enact your favorite scenes from the films. Well, almost everything. He’s got his blaster, the removable camo jacket from Return of the Jedi and even his breathing apparatus from the asteroid sequence in Empire Strikes Back. He even comes with interchangeable hands. Unfortunately, the scowl has to stay. At least they did a fantastic job of capturing Harrison Ford’s handsome visage — even if he looks a little like Vigo the Carpathian. I just wish they had spent as much time touching up the rest of his skin to match, after all, the list price is set at ¥25,800, or $340 USD. For that price, you’d think they’d throw in a Wookie while they’re at it. Assuming you have the credits to afford one, you can pre-order it at AmiAmi, but don’t worry, you have plenty of time. The figure won’t be shipping until June 2012. Read more… Missed Star Blazers on Syfy? Catch it on Netflix
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 26, 2011 in Animation, Television
It’s been tough times for Netflix. Between the whole Qwikster debacle, price changes, and inability to renew their contract with Starz, many subscribers have decided to move on to greener pastures. Those who’ve stayed are banking on Netflix to provide fresh content despite the recent setbacks. Fortunately for us, they’re trying. Bloodrayne Filmed On a First Draft? Yikes
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Oct 26, 2011 in Cinema, Videogames
Somehow, I’m not surprised. The other day, I made reference to Uwe Boll and his knack for ruining films while discussing George Lucas’ recent Star Wars edits. In all fairness, Lucas really shouldn’t be compared to Boll, a one-time recipient of the Razzies’ “Worst Career Achievement” award. As much as I take issue with Lucas, I don’t believe anyone has ever started a serious petition to have to him retire. In this amazing clip, we hear from Guinevere Turner, the writer who had the unfortunate experience of having worked with Boll on the first live-action adaptation of Majesco’s BloodRyane franchise. According to Turner, the film went into production with a first draft, of which only twenty percent ended up on screen. Not surprising considering the film, with an estimated budget of twenty-five million, only managed a meager three and a half million at the box office. Everyone’s the Doctor This Halloween
It’s true. Recently, ThinkGeek updated their catalog with a few Doctor Who cosplay goodies — officially licensed replicas of both Tennant’s overcoat and Smith’s pleated plaid jacket. It wasn’t long before both items sold out completely, and while you can still put an order with them, you can forget about getting it in time for Halloween. Fortunately, there’s still a chance. You can order the items directly from the manufacturer, instead. Abbyshot.com not only carries the Coat and Jacket, but will even throw in a free bow tie for ordering it directly. Read more… Get Ready for Jar Jar in 3D
Earlier today, LucasFilm released the official trailer for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D. I’d post it here, but 20th Century Fox has spent most of the day removing it from YouTube. Besides, you’re not missing out on much since it only displays in 2D. That said, I’m not sure how many of you are really looking forward to seeing it again in 3D, especially given Lucas’ penchant for altering his films. Arguably, I don’t think The Phantom Menace could get any worse, but if anyone were to find a way, it’d be him — or Uwe Boll. Still, there still seems to be a market for these 3D conversions, so I’m sure there are some of you out there who just can’t wait. I’m skeptical, and just curious enough to give it a chance myself, and if the film ends looking good enough, I’m sure I’ll see the rest when they eventually hit the original saga. Sorry, I just don’t have any love of Anakin. If you still want to see the trailer, click here. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D opens nationwide on February 10th. Knowledge Navigator Implications: Apple Further Explores the Future in 1988 with Ray Bradbury and Friends
Posted by Michael Pinto on Oct 24, 2011 in Tech
Many of us know about the 1988 video by Apple called Knowledge Navigator — well here’s the follow up video! This nice snapshot of history includes interviews clips from Alvin Toffler, Ray Bradbury, Steve Wozniak and Alan Kay (who really envisioned the iPad in the 60s): Read more… |
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