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Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 30, 2013 in Cinema 
Where to go now that the Harry Potter films are finished? There’s a gap that studios are trying to fill with other book-to-film adaptations like Percy Jackson. Cue a press release from Disney: they’ll be adapting Eoin Cofler’s Artemis Fowl series — specifically the first two books — into a movie. The first book’s story involves the titular character, a genius, billionaire, and criminal, kidnapping a fairy and dealing with the results. The script is coming from Michael Goldenberg, who also wrote the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; he managed to take the slowest and most bloated Harry Potter book and turn it into a solid film, so that’s a good sign. Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal will executive produce the film. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 29, 2013 in Videogames 
I’ve been very excited for Hideki Kamiya’s upcoming Wii U game, The Wonderful 101 (even more so than for Pikmin, but don’t tell anyone I said that). Perhaps it’s the slight dash of Viewtifulness pervading the whole experience along with the action. This new gameplay trailer also gives a look at how much variety there will be in the game – I like the look of the various robot enemies you’ll be facing. Check out the full video below to get a better idea of how it’ll all play out. The Wonderful 101 will arrive September 15th in the US. Read more…
Tags: Nintendo, Wii U, wonderful 101
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 29, 2013 in Star Wars, Television 
While many were unhappy about the cancellation of animated The Clone Wars TV series, it seemed an inevitability with Disney’s purchase of Star Wars. However, the same crew behind the popular show will be returning to create a new animated show, called Star Wars: Rebels. As you might guess, it’s set between episode III and IV, and will focus on the birth of the Rebel Alliance. Dave Filoni, an animator for the series, took to the stage at Star Wars Celebration Europe to debut new concept art for Rebels, as well as drop a few story details. It will focus on a teenage main character, who also has a ship called Ghost. They also mentioned that they’re learning a lot from Ralph McQuarrie’s original concept art, which is good news for the artist in me. Check out more images below. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Star Wars: Rebels
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 28, 2013 in Videogames 
I love seeing creative and unique new games that come out of the indie game movement. Some are hit, some are miss – some aim so high that there’s no way they can meet expectations, but yet you still admire them for trying something new. Shelter is a recently Greenlit game that is a bit smaller in scope: you play as a mother badger taking care of her cubs, as you explore a wild and dangerous world. You must forage for food and escape danger, all while doing your best to protect your children. The game will arrive late this summer on Steam. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has a great writeup of a playthrough, or you can watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 28, 2013 in Star Wars 
He’d implied as much earlier, but now we have official confirmation from Kathleen Kennedy: John Williams will score and compose for Star Wars episodes VII, VIII, and IX. At Star Wars Celebration in Europe, Kennedy opened the show with a panel (hosted by Warwick Davis), in which she confirmed the composer would return. Williams also appeared in a short video, in which he expresses his joy at coming back, and then sings the praises of J.J. Abrams. I wonder if that’s some damage control going on? Kennedy also mentioned that real locations in combination with CG would be a priority, rather than total green screen. They’re certainly saying all the right things, so far! Read more…
Tags: Episode VII, John Williams
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 27, 2013 in Cinema 
I really am starting to wonder what Christopher Nolan has in store for Interstellar, his upcoming sci-fi film. We still don’t know many story details, aside from that it may incorporate both space travel and time travel. And: the absolutely massive, stacked cast. Just look at this list: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine, Ellen Burstyn, Timothee Chalamet, Mackenzie Foy, Bill Irwin, and John freaking Lithgow. Not only that, the two latest additions over the past week were Topher Grace and Wes Bentley. Holy. Crap. Will there even be any extras in this movie? Or will every part be played by a recognizable actor?! We’re a little over a year away now, as Interstellar will arrive November 7th, 2014. Read more…
Tags: Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 27, 2013 in Television 
We last heard about Game of Thrones casting news with Pedro Pascal, who will be the Red Viper. Next up? Indira Varma, an excellent actress (perhaps most well known as Niobe on Rome), who will be playing Ellaria Sand, the Red Viper’s paramour. We’ll leave the descriptions at a face-value level, so as not to spoil anything for viewers (although, fellow book readers, the cast continues to be wonderfully on-the-nose, eh?). While season 3 was arguably the best Game of Thrones season yet, season 4 will have just as many shocking and exciting scenes – if not more! I can’t wait to see the reactions. Also, a deleted scene from season 3 was shown at Comic-Con featuring Tywin and Pycelle, and I’ve included it below the break. Don’t watch it unless you’ve seen season 3, though! Read more…
Tags: Game of Thrones
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2013 in Cinema, Videogames 
It’s only fitting that the wonderful documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, would get DLC, just like a real video game, right? Ok, ok, it’s technically a special edition, but if you’re like me and own it on Steam as well, then you can now purchase DLC that will upgrade it to the “special edition.” This includes over 100 minutes of new short films, epilogues on what happened to the developers, and new commentaries from the director and Team Meat. If you prefer the feel of a real disc, a full special edition box set is on the way in early August, which you can preorder here. If you haven’t seen this amazing documentary yet – do it! Read more…
Tags: documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2013 in Cinema 
47 Ronin has had a very long and troubled filming. A multitude of factors coalesced into a pile of mismanagement, resulting in a long, rough process belabored with reshoots and kicking the original director out. Yes, it was a bit of a mess. Thankfully, not much of that mess seems to be up on screen – unless you’re looking for it. Keanu Reeve’s character has been pushed to the forefront and has taken on the role of the main character, and more supernatural elements have been incorporated into the story. Will the final film impress? Or will the seams be obvious? I’d love for it to be good, but forgive me if I’m a bit sceptical. Watch the trailer after the break. Read more…
Tags: 47 Ronin, Keanu Reeves
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 25, 2013 in Animation, Anime, Cinema 
Okay, so Japan’s CG isn’t quite on Hollywood’s level. But this trailer for Space Pirate Captain Harlock looks pretty awesome, possibly because of its $30 million budget, the highest ever for Toei Animation. I’ve never seen the original anime of the same name, but I have always loved the look of the titular character (designed by Leiji Matsumoto). So for me, this trailer hits all the important bits — namely, Harlock looking bad-ass and piloting his giant, bad-ass ship the Arcadia. The movie opens in Japan on September 7, and while a US release hasn’t been announced, GFM Films (located in London) is working on a dub. Read more…
Tags: Captain Harlock
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 25, 2013 in Fandom, Videogames 
Sometimes fans do crazy things. This time, it concerns Kanye “Yeezus” West. They’re making Kanye Quest 3030, a PC game made in RPG Maker VX that sends Kanye West through a wormhole to a future ruled by Lil B, The Based God, another rapper. To get back, Kanye West must fight and team up with clones of other rappers like 2Pac, Jay Z, Eminem, and more. Battles play out in RPG style, with rappers dissing each other to do damage. It’s as ridiculous older fan-RPG Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, but I’d imagine this one depends more on a love of hip-hop. Still, it’s worth checking out the trailer below, or grabbing the free PC download here. Read more…
Tags: Music, RPG
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2013 in Comic Books, Videogames 
Despite selling over three million copies, March’s Tomb Raider prequel-reboot still failed to meet publisher Square Enix’s (apparently astronomical) sales expectations. However, that doesn’t mean the game is a failure, at least if this news is to be believed. Dark Horse is working on a new Tomb Raider comic that serves as a canonical sequel to the recent game’s origin story. Writer Gail Simone noted that the story occurs a few week’s after the game ends, but most interestingly will lead “directly” into a sequel. Read more…
Tags: square enix, Tomb Raider
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2013 in Anime, Cinema 
I remember everyone clamoring for a Persona 3 anime after the game came out. I’d have to imagine all those fans were disappointed by Persona: Trinity Soul, which was actually a sequel (though now considered non-canon) with none of the likable characters from the game. But hey, Persona 4: The Animation did well enough, so now Persona 3 is getting an anime adaptation, starting with Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth. The first actual trailer has been released, and it’s looking great! Read more…
Tags: Atlus, Persona 3
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2013 in Cinema 
Pacific Rim is one of the best summer movies this year, and it’s sadly underperforming from poor marketing. (When Grown Ups 2 beats your film, you’ve got a problem.) It hasn’t earned back enough money yet, which is generally a poor sign for those who want a sequel, but it hasn’t opened in markets like Japan yet, so there’s still hope for more international revenue to roll in. Despite this, apparently director/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and co-writer Travis Beacham have been given the go-ahead to start writing Pacific Rim 2! Del Toro is even dropping hints about where the sequel may go. It goes without saying, but spoilers follow! Read more…
Tags: guillermo del toro, Pacific Rim, Robots
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2013 in Animation, Anime, Cinema 
Though Ghibli has put out two films in the past few years, but while both were written by Hayao Miyazaki, neither were directed by him. His first film since 2008’s Ponyo is Kaze Tachinu, or The Wind Rises. It’s based on a manga that Miyazaki made in 2009, which is loosely based on Tatsuo Hori’s short ’30s novel The Wind Has Risen. It tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the man designed the Mitsubishi A6M Zero plane, one of the top fighters in World War II. But from watching this four-minute trailer, the movie seems to prioritize the joy of flight over pro-war statements. Read more…
Tags: Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jul 22, 2013 in Television 
In this Amazing interview from 1959 Rod Serling talks about his upcoming show “The Twilight Zone”. He also addresses a number of issues that he encountered as a television writer from getting censored when tackling social issues like racism or dealing with sponsors: Read more…
Tags: Twilight Zone
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 22, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Yes, by now you’ve heard the screaming of the fans – Superman and Batman will star in a film together. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel sequel will include the Dark Knight himself, and will be loosely inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. It’s planned to arrive in summer 2015, Henry Cavill is confirmed to return, and (as expected) Zack Snyder will direct. However, with all this commotion and excitement, people have one question: who will be Batman? Not to be too presumptuous, but I have a few suggestions of my own below. Read more…
Tags: Batman, Man of Steel, Superman
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 22, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Surprise, comic book fans! The Thanos tease at the end of Avengers was nothing more but a clever ruse. While Thanos is clearly being set up for the long haul (and is confirmed to show up in Guardians of the Galaxy), for now, the sequel to Avengers will instead focus on Ultron, the insane, powerful robot with daddy issues. But you already know all about the title now. The real question is: how will this line up with Ant-Man (the creator of Ultron)? Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man film is currently part of Marvel’s “phase 3,” which will take place after Avengers 2, so they way I see it, there are three options. One, they create a brand new origin for him. Two, they don’t give him an origin, and reveal it later in Ant-Man. Or three, they move Ant-Man up into Avengers (or at least Hank Pym). Which will it be? Read more…
Tags: Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Avengers
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 21, 2013 in Cinema 
Comic-Con week is always so exciting, isn’t it? While there are tons of big-name events focusing on The Walking Dead or Amazing Spider-Man 2, the smaller stuff is great too, especially when it’s a labor of love like Riddick. Vin Diesel has struggled to get this movie made, taking pay cuts and planning hard, and now we’ve got our first red-band trailer. So far, Riddick (the third film in the series) is looking like it’s leaning a bit closer to Pitch Black than the second film. Ready for some unhinged violence? You’ll get it. Read more…
Tags: Riddick, Vin Diesel
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 21, 2013 in Television 
After the (opinion warning!) terrible ending to season 3, I lost a lot of hope in The Walking Dead. Especially given that the show can’t seem to keep a showrunner for longer than a season, it made me really hesitant to get back into it. However, the new trailer from Comic-Con for season 4 looks pretty good. It gives us a better look at a more diverse cast, and hints that a lot will be happening in the first few episodes. There aren’t any explicit spoilers about who lives or dies but it is very easy to see some hints towards who may bite it next, so if you want to keep that a surprise, avoid this for now. Otherwise, check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: AMC, The Walking Dead
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 20, 2013 in Cinema 
Man, are you excited for a Robocop remake? It’s even sort of timely now! Well, maybe my excitement for a lot of these big-budget remakes is pretty low, but I can always have a bit of fun with a good viral website – especially one as silly as this. To promote the upcoming Robocop remake, a marketing website for OmniCorp now exists – full to the brim with happy, smiling people standing next to terrifying killing machines. Check out the full site, there’s plenty there to look at. Also, is 2027 the new default “near future” date? Because I see it popping up more and more. I’m not sure if I want killer robots by then. Read more…
Tags: Robocop
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 20, 2013 in Videogames 
The Strider series is back! After many rumors and murmurings of a new Strider game, Capcom has announced a new title in the series, simply titled Strider. This sequel to Capcom’s highly-regarded assassin platforming games will reportedly be an open world game, allowing you traverse where you please. The developers are Double Helix, and the game will arrive on PC, PS3, PS4, 360, and Xbox One in 2014. No Wii U version was listed, which had some internet denizens upset, but with Wii U sales being so low, it’s honestly not a big surprise. Check out the trailer below – the game looks good! Read more…
Tags: Capcom, strider
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jul 19, 2013 in Star Trek 
The result would be Starcher Trek! See the video below: Read more…
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 19, 2013 in Uncategorized 
What a ridiculous amount of begging and pleading that has gone on over the last few years. Fans have been clamoring for Earthbound on Virtual Console and each time Nintendo would come back with a canned response. Now, after all this time, fans have finally gotten their wish: Earthbound is available on the Wii U Virtual Console, right now. VC purchases don’t move across devices though, so don’t expect to be playing this on your 3DS or Wii. It’s $10, and comes with the original players guide that you can use on the gamepad. Now that we’ve overcome this hurdle, what about Mother 3? Read more…
Tags: Earthbound, Nintendo, Wii U
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