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Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 30, 2013 in Star Wars 
We know a lot about the development of The Empire Strikes Back, especially given the wealth of documentaries out there that cover all of the Star Wars films, and the original costume for Boba Fett was always something neat to see. Anything new that adds to the collection of media out there about the making of these movies is a wonderful thing, so I’m very glad that this full video was released on YouTube. It’s a screentest for Boba Fett’s costume, showing off the details and design of the suit so that it could be approved later. In the video they explain all of Fett’s features and even mention that they want to change the color scheme to “blue and green” which is a nice little note. Check out this piece of Star Wars history below! Read more…
Tags: Boba Fett, Star Wars
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 30, 2013 in Animation, Cinema 
Apparently, the narrative that Pixar has been doing too many sequels is stronger than I thought. While I never had too much of an issue with Pixar’s sequels, I won’t deny that I prefer more original stories. You have to have those original stories to make sequels, anyway! But Pixar has heard your calls and have said their new plan is to release an original film every year, and a sequel every other year. Seems pretty solid, right? If you hadn’t said anything I may have thought that was already the plan. But so far we only know one upcoming original Pixar film, Lee Unkrich’s Día de los Muertos-inspired movie. Hopefully we’ll hear more about these original projects soon! Read more…
Tags: Pixar
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 29, 2013 in Videogames 
Conan O’Brien has been checking out video games more and more recently, and while he doesn’t seem to understand them all that well, his outside perspective is both hilarious and refreshing. In this video he visits E3 and takes a look at both the PS4 and Xbox One. Perhaps the most telling thing is that he immediately tunes out all of the gritty, violent shooters and action games, and finds true happiness with Mario Kart 8 (and Bayonetta). He also makes a quick stop to talk with the voice of Mario, Charles Martinet, which is simultaneously funny and depressing. Watch the whole video below. Read more…
Tags: Conan, E3 2013
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 29, 2013 in Animation, Cinema 
When you think of big-budget superhero movies, which unused characters do you think are really dying for good adaption? Dr. Strange? The Flash? What about… Captain Planet? No? Please come back and watch a Captain Planet movie, Sony Pictures exclaims as the crowds run away. Yes, apparently the cartoon superhero is looking to make a comeback, and he was on top of the list of “unused superheroes.” Is there any way to make this film without embracing the cheesy, kitschy, and oh-so-90s stylings? I suppose there’s an opportunity to make a comedy out of this, but a) that’s already been done by Funny or Die, and b) do you really think they’d go that route? Read more…
Tags: captain planet
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 28, 2013 in Cinema 
At first I hadn’t been too excited for Ridley Scott’s next film, The Counselor. The one sentence blurb didn’t catch my eye (a counselor gets in deep with the drug trade and meets strange people), so I wasn’t really paying attention. That is, until the casting and scripting news arrived. Penned by No Country for Old Men writer Cormac McCarthy, and starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, and Penélope Cruz, it looks to be a hard-R return for Scott, and I really can’t wait to see it later this year. The Counselor arrives in theaters October 25th. Trailer after the break. Read more…
Tags: Ridley Scott, The Counselor
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 28, 2013 in Animation 
Those wonderful Mickey Mouse animated shorts are still happening – and the latest one has just arrived. This one is called “No Service” and features Mickey and Donald has they attempt to battle a “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule with their limited collection of clothing. It’s a surprisingly self-aware cartoon, subtly mocking that neither character has ever been completely clothed. I’m both surprised and glad Disney signed off on this, because it’s a great little short. I hope we see many more like this in the future! Watch it below. Read more…
Tags: Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 27, 2013 in Videogames 
Katamari Damacy became a cult classic for good reason: it was an original gameplay concept based on a simple mechanic and a surreal style. Creator Keita Takahashi has since become disillusioned with making games and, after the similarly bizarre non-game Noby Noby Boy (which is more of a toy), he left Namco Bandai to do things like make playgrounds. But alongside Wild Rumpus and Venus Patrol, he’s working on a new indie game called Tenya Wanya Teens, though you’re more likely to find it at indie development gatherings, or perhaps an art installation. Read more…
Tags: Katamari Damacy
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 27, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is already out on Blu-ray — in fact, I’m looking at my girlfriend’s classy box containing all three films on the shelf. But there was an ad included, mentioning the ability to later buy collectibles that would be included in an upcoming “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” of the trilogy. If this Polish Batman site is to be believed, these are the first images of what’s in the box. We don’t know what is on the nine discs besides the movies, but it looks like there’s at least an art book and a lithograph of some sort. There are toy models of significant vehicles from the series, though I’d argue that their coloring is off. And damn, look at what I assume are individual cases for each movie! There’s some amazing stylized art there, such as the Scarecrow’s mask being mixed with a straight jacket, or Bane’s mask and prison bars. It’s just a shame that Warner Brothers didn’t put this out before people bought the first trilogy set! Read more…
Tags: Batman, Batman Begins, Blu-Ray, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 26, 2013 in Fandom, Videogames 
I love vintage travel posters. I also love Pokemon. So how would it look if vintage travel posters tried to entice travelers into visiting locations in Kanto, the region of Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow? Something like this, I’d imagine. A storefront called Little Pixel Posters has designed such posters, and I want to decorate a room with some of these. It’s a shame you can’t actually visit, but with the way vintage travel posters inspire the imagination for a given city or country, this is the next best thing. Well, besides playing the games and exploring the region virtually. That’s always good too. Read more…
Tags: Nintendo, Pokémon
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 26, 2013 in Videogames 
As Konami continues rereleasing various Metal Gear Solid collections, there’s often one sticking point: the first Metal Gear Solid. It’s not the first game in the series — Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake saw release on the MSX — but it’s arguably the most iconic entry, and it’s only available today in its PS1 form, and only digitally on PS3. So it’s no surprise to hear that Kojima is considering remaking the game. Read more…
Tags: Konami, Metal Gear Solid
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 25, 2013 in Cinema 
On July 19, Edgar Wright is putting out a third film starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost called The World’s End. You may have heard some people calling it the third film in Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy” or “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy,” with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz being the first two films. Of course, despite featuring the same two main actors (and a slew of the same supporting actors), none of the films have any narrative connection. So why are the films a “trilogy” and what does ice cream have to do with it? Read more…
Tags: The World's End
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 25, 2013 in Videogames 
I never got to play a Suda51 game before, so I’ve been checking out Killer7, and it’s delightfully bizarre. Later this summer, Killer Is Dead, the third game in the unique director’s loose “assassin” trilogy, will release, and unlike what I’ve seen of Suda51’s last few games, it’s just as crazy. Supposedly it’s drawing inspiration from James Bond, what Suda51 calls a “Dark Side 007,” but all I see is a guy with a robot arm slicing up robots and then fighting a near-naked dude. The action is stylish and looks fun, so I can’t wait to see this come out on August 27 in the US! Read more…
Tags: Suda51
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 24, 2013 in Videogames 
If you want a great way to show off your Oculus Rift, look no further. User Arpvidz on YouTube has been testing out a lot of software for the Oculus Rift, but none impressed him (or I) as much as Titans of Space – a virtual tour through our solar system and space. They take advantage of the 3D in the Rift excellently, and make the planets and stars suitably huge (and even then, obviously, not to scale!) which leaves Arpvidz speechless. While you can download the demo here and try it out, you’ll need an Oculus Rift to take full advantage of it. Although you could try the eye-crossing trick on the YouTube video below! Read more…
Tags: oculus rift
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 24, 2013 in Cinema 
It can almost become a game to watch out for new short films online. Which one will garner enough attention to get picked up by a big movie studio? Or will they try to Kickstart it? Dr. Easy is a new sci-fi short film by Warp Films, Film4, and Shynola — it’s a prologue to what they hope will be a full adaption of the book The Red Men by Mattew De Abaitua. It’s a great look into what they could do, and I hope someone takes notice. Click through to watch the film. Read more…
Tags: Short Films
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 23, 2013 in Videogames 
I’ve been very interested in Chris Roberts’ Star Citizen game, and they’ve been hard at work on the game. Their latest update included a new trailer, set in the style of a fake luxury car commercial, but for a new space vehicle called the 300 Series. This line of ships is available to players to purchase in advance of the game, so you have a ship ready to roll once it arrives. I hope they do more faux commercials like this as the game continues to form. Check out more details about the game here, and then watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Star Citizen
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 23, 2013 in Anime, Cinema 
Ever wanted to see a live-action version of Gatchaman, the popular Japanese anime (also known as G-Force, or Battle of the Planets here in the US). Gatchaman will finally gracing the big screen – but only in Japan for now. This live-action adaption from Japanese director Toya Sato (who previously did the Kaji live-action adaptions) looks to be taking itself pretty seriously here. While it has the typical lower-budget look of many Japanese anime adaptions, in many ways it’s kind of charming. The film will arrives in Japanese theaters August 24th. Perhaps it will make its way overseas eventually, but for now, check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Gatchaman
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 22, 2013 in Design, Hobbies and Collections 
Jason Allemann has been making some crazy stuff – and all out of LEGO. His latest piece combines cool looks along with some clever functionality: a Steampunk Walking Ship, a boat made for land. Using a remote control and LEGO motors, it crawls its way across the ground ready to deliver or unload cargo. Jason says it’s inspired by Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest, and I can definitely see the resemblance. In the YouTube video, he also provides instructions on how to make the contraption yourself – provided you have the right parts. Check it out below! Read more…
Tags: Lego
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 22, 2013 in Videogames 
It seems like Valve’s Team Fortress 2 characters will jump into any and every game they can. Every other week there’s a new cross-promotion or new hat in TF2, all to promote new games on Steam. I can appreciate Valve throwing their weight around for smaller games that need attention. Surgeon Simulator, on the other hand, has plenty of attention, but this is just a match made in heaven. You can now play as the Medic operating on the Heavy in a new update for the game, and struggle to fit his new heart into his chest cavity. Much crossover fanart and YouTube videos have lead to this point, and it is beautiful. Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Surgeon Simulator 2013, Team Fortress
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 21, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Hold your tears, Marvel fans, Robert Downey Jr. has signed a new contract with Disney to continue playing Iron Man. The big twist? He’s only signing on for Avengers 2 and 3. Two films, that’s it. So Iron Man 4 will, for now, remain absent of RDJ. Perhaps War Machine will become the focus there? At the very least we’ll see the original Iron Man in the next two team-up films, and perhaps there are some secret cameos signed in there (but we won’t hear about those, obviously). So you’ll have Iron Man around until 2018. How does that sound? Read more…
Tags: Marvel, The Avengers
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 21, 2013 in Cinema 
The long and lengthy development time for the LEGO Movie at first seemed to spell trouble, but then we received a flurry of casting news and it seemed the whole project fell into place. Now, the first trailer for the film has arrived. Taking advantage of Warner Bros. large catalog of licenses, Batman, TMNT, and more all show up in the movie. Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt, Allison Brie, Nick Offerman, and Will Arnett as freaking Batman are just some of the names that show up here. It looks like a solid family movie, and best of all? It’s made with CGI, stop-motion LEGOs, and digital manipulation. And it visually, it looks stunning. Check the trailer out below. Read more…
Tags: Lego, The LEGO Movie
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 20, 2013 in Videogames 
As much as Microsoft tried to impress with the Xbox One at last week’s E3, they and all the developers working on games for the system couldn’t shake one thing: the shadow of the console’s DRM and online policies. Microsoft hoped to steer the conversation away after Sony showed them up with their support of used games and no online requirements, but very little they said was positive in the eyes of gamers. It’s likely that shareholders also weren’t happy with Microsoft’s stock dropping while Sony’s rose. Microsoft’s narrative even suffered after Jimmy Fallon got a big applause from his audience for mentioning that the PS4 supported used games. Well, it’s finally happened. After all that, Microsoft has blinked. Read more…
Tags: Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 20, 2013 in Dr. Who, Television 
Christmas may have come early for fans of classic Doctor Who. In the 70s, the BBC began a shortsighted policy of wiping old tapes for new use. Since all of the serials featuring the First and Second Doctors were in black-and-white, which was considered to have little potential for sales now that color TV was ubiquitous (and a home video market didn’t exist), they were some of the first episodes on the chopping block. (Even some Third Doctor material was wiped, though missing episodes were recovered, even if some were only found in black-and-white.) As a result, these early episodes are only extant thanks to private collectors or copies sent to other countries; anything not found has been reconstructed by fans based on telesnaps, fan-recorded audio, and other materials. Experts like Ian Levine believe that there will never be less than 106 missing episodes, mainly centered on the Second Doctor. And yet, there are now rumors that a whopping 90 episodes have been recovered. Read more…
Tags: BBC, Doctor Who
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 19, 2013 in Videogames 
Capcom’s Ace Attorney series has supposedly seen diminishing returns in the West, with the sequel to Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth never getting a translation. The series jumps to 3DS for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and it’s getting an English localization, so that’s good news for fans. However, the trade-off is that it will be a digital-only release, a move that will help meet an exact level of demand and cut costs for physical copies and distribution. But according to Capcom’s Christian Svensson, a physical release is still possible, with enough fan support. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Capcom, Phoenix Wright
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 19, 2013 in Animation 
It might not be the next Disney Renaissance, but after a new dark age in the 00s, Disney has been putting out several solid films in a row. The Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph have all done well, so it’s natural to anticipate Disney’s adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen, which they’re calling Frozen. The original title suggests a dark fairy tale, and even the changed name conjures up images of frozen wastelands and endless snow. And then, Disney puts out this teaser. Read more…
Tags: Disney
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