Disney XD’s upcoming TRON animated series TRON: Uprising, won’t be airing until June 7th, but for those of you who don’t want to wait, you can catch the entire first episode online. Although it’s not a live-action sequel, the animated series seems promising enough. It certainly has everything you’d expect from a TRON series, from Light Cycles and Identity Discs to spandex outfits, so its about as close as you’ll get to a sequel — at least, for the time being. They even managed to snag decent stars for the voice cast, including Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, and Pee-wee Herman himself, Paul Reubens.
Earlier today, Collider posted the latest teaser for Hasbro’s Star Trek Kre-O playsets to be released next year. No doubt, their release will be timed to help promote the release of J.J. Abram’s Star Trek 2, set to hit theaters in May 2013. While this new teaser pic is far more detailed than the concept image that had been floating around the next since February (see below), I can’t help but feel that Kirk’s chiseled jaw actually resembles a young Shatner more than Pine. Obviously that’s not suppose to be the case as the figures are wearing the sporty active wear uniforms seen in the recent film. Nevertheless, these are looking better and better and I can’t wait to see what they come up with when the sets are ready for store shelves next year.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on May 10, 2012 in Comic Books
I’ve always been a proponent of digital comics, so I’m pleased whenever a major publisher decides to embrace the new medium. Don’t get me wrong, I love mom & pop comic shops as well, but I’ll be perfectly honest — I have enough clutter as it is. I’d just rather keep my comic collection both clutter-free and portable at the same time. As if they read my mind, Marvel Comics recently launched their brand new digital comic store. I know what you’re saying, “Didn’t they already launch one of these last year?” Well, they did, but this one’s better, and here’s why:
Square Enix’s latest set of downloadable content for Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set for release on May 15th. The long awaited Lightening chapter is said to be included, along with a 16 piece costume set for your moogle, Serah’s stylish White Mage outfit, as well as Noel’s matching Black Mage set. They’ll also be releasing the Snow & Valfodr arena battle on the same day. Like with the previous arena battles, gamers will have a chance to capture and use Snow or Valfodr as in place of their usual monster slot during battles. Although the news was leaked by Playstation Taiwan along with price points for each item, the North American prices will likely differ slightly, so I didn’t bother listing them for you. That said, I imagine the prices will be on par with the previous DLC sets that’ve been released thus far.
It’s true, production on Star Trek 2 has finally wrapped, and while I think the film would have fit nicely under my tree this holiday season, we’re all stuck waiting for its May 2013 release date. I can’t imagine what kind of schedule allowed for the film to be shot in just under four months, but Abrams managed to pull it off. Ironic, considering the length of time it took to get the ball rolling on the sequel in the first place. It’s killing me that they plan to spend an entire year on post-production work, but I’m sure it’ll pay off in the end. After all, it’s not like it’ll take them the whole year just to add a few lens flares — right? Read more…
It’s a question I’ve wrestled with all day. Do I spend the extra cash to witness Whedon’s superhero extravaganza, The Avengers in 3D, iMAX or just settle for the normal 2D experience. After a bit of research, it seems apparent that the film was shot with only 2D cameras, with no iMAX or 3D cameras in sight. This means any 3D or iMAX versions of the film were converted entirely in post. Generally speaking, these conversions are never perfect, and should be treated as such — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be good either. Read more…
When Darth Maul made his debut in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, I had high hopes for the character. He certainly seemed menacing enough for a Sith, and wielding a dual-bladed lightsaber made him slightly more endearing, at least as far as a villain could go. But, those hopes were dashed the moment he met his maker at the hands of Obi-wan having only uttered five lines, at most, during the course of the film. That being the case, I found him incredibly one-dimensional — his one saving grace being his fantastic look. Hence why every collectible statue I’ve seen so far has looked amazing, and Sideshow Collectibles’ latest offering is no exception.
I’m not entirely sure I’m responsible enough to own any real firearms, but I think I could settle for LEGO replicas. Introducing LEGO Heavy Weapons: Build Working Replicas of Four of the World’s Most Impressive Guns. Its17-year-oldauthor, Jack Streat, delivers a complete guide to building 1:1 scale replicas of several well-known firearms, such as a SPAS shotgun, or Desert Eagle handgun with realistic built-in blow-back. Despite the subtitle’s claim of allowing you to build “working” replicas, I seriously doubt you’ll ever get one of these to fire live ammunition. At least, I hope so. Also, isn’t it terrifying to know there’s a 17-year-old kid out there who can design a replica AKS-74U assault rifle using LEGO bricks?
With Star Wars Celebration VI around the corner, you’ll want to start the celebration right! With that in mind, ThinkGeek has stocked a new line of Star Wars-themed ice cube molds. The designs include Darth Vader’s mask, Millennium Falcon, and a X-Wing starfighter. Unfortunately, none of them beat Han Solo frozen in carbonite, but I don’t think anyone would object to some iced Vader with their tea or vodka. Of course, you can also use the molds for other means, such as chocolate, or Jello. Millennium Falcon Jello shots? Yes, please. The molds are also incredibly affordable at just ~$10 a piece.
I’ve always wanted to take a trip to Disneyworld, but given my close proximity to Anaheim’s Disneyland resorts and inability to schedule a proper vacation, I’ve had to settle for the California equivalent over the years. Of course, it’s not really equivalent in any way shape or form, but I digress. Those of you planning on attending the California theme park this summer will want to stop by Downtown Disney — a shopping arcade located outside of the park itself — and admire some of the new Star Wars-inspired art now on display. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on May 3, 2012 in Cinema, Horror
I know we’ve been posting quite a few trailers lately, but this latest featurette for Tim Burton’s big screen adaption of Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is definitely worth watching. So far, the trailers for the film have featured plenty of special effects, and fast cuts of the film’s over-the-top action sequences, but until now, we really haven’t had a close look at the actual fights between Lincoln and the vampires. This small featurette gives us a glimpse at some of the axe-play you can expect from the film, as well as plenty of never-before-seen footage from the upcoming film without really spoiling anything.
It should come as no surprise at this point, but Bioware and Dark Horse have announced an upcoming digital comic based on the hit title, Dragon Age: Origins. Titled Dragon Age: Those Who Speak, the three part series will focus on the characters of Alistair, Verric and Isabella, as they investigate the death of Alistair’s father. As a bit of a spoiler for anyone who has yet to play the game, Alistair is apparently crowned King at the end of the game, with the comic taking place during his reign. The first issue of the digital comic will be available on August 22nd.
Being the fanboys that we are, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t take a moment acknowledge the untimely passing of Joel Goldsmith. Joel was an Emmy-nominated composer who scored a number of our favorite films and television shows. His credits include several Stargate television properties, Sanctuary, the live-action adaptation of Witchblade, along with a few Sci-Fi cult-classics from the late-70s and early 80s, such as Moon 44 and LaserBlast. Read more…
Finally a reason to go to Canada! I’m kidding, I’m sure there’s plenty of reasons — maple syrup, for instance — but Star Wars fans have something to add to that list. Star Wars Identities attempts to bring you into the Star Wars universe as you’ve never experienced it before. With over 200 props, costumes, models and works of art from the series, the exhibition offers a unique look at the Star Wars Galaxy as we’ve come to know it.
Here’s the latest trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. As reported earlier, fans attending The Avengers this week will be treated to it in theaters, but we figured you’d want to catch it sooner rather than later. It may reveal a tad more about the plot, such as the reason for Batman’s absence from Gotham, and along with an extended look at Catwoman’s role in the film. Unlike previous trailers, Bane’s dialog is actually intelligible, so that leads me to believe Tom Hardy had some additional ADR work in recent months — probably for the best. Oh and we finally get a look at Nolan’s take on the Batwing. Like the rest of the vehicles to appear in previous films, it’s a bit rugged, for lack of a better term, and not quite as whimsical as the design from Burton’s films.
Here’s a few bits of Doctor Who news from the past week. Producer Steven Moffat recently stated that contrary to popular belief, The Doctor isn’t the main character of the show. Instead he believes that while The Doctor is certainly the hero, the main characters are, in actuality, his companions. With the impending exit of Amy and Rory next season, one story will be coming to an end, with Jenna Louise Coleman’s story about to begin. Sadly, he hasn’t given any further details regarding her upcoming role as the Doctor’s new companion.
I’ve always wanted to post one of these Schwarzenegger montages, but I never really had the chance. Of course, using the “top 100 quotes” will probably be a bit of an overkill, but that’s okay. I’ll probably have to move on to Jason Statham quotes next, but let’s be honest, none of his one-liners have ever been as campy or, by virtue of that fact, entertaining. On the bright side, now that Schwarzenegger’s making his return feature films, someone might decide to film another 80s action flick — oh wait, they have. The Expendables 2 will hit theaters August 16th. Let’s hope they release another awful set of promotional posters for that one.
Forget trying to stitch together the perfect panorama using Microsoft’s Photosynth — in theory, it’s a neat idea but in practice, not really. Instead, try something new. Introducing Dot, the first panoramic video lens for your iPhone 4 and 4s. So, how does it work exactly? You just snap it on over your phone’s camera, download the app and begin shooting 360° videos on the spot. Not only that, but the app also allows you to control the direction of the camera yourself or swap over to a panoramic widescreen mode. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 25, 2012 in Comic Books
Those of you planning on seeing The Avengers in theaters this May are in for another small treat. It was recently revealed that a brand new trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises will be attached to the film. I’m not usually excited about new trailers, as they often delay the start of a film by up to fifteen minutes, not to mention having to put up with comments from everyone else in the audience, but the previous trailers for this film have me craving a bit more. Perhaps its because so little about the film has actually been revealed through them. Sure there’s plenty of information out there to fill the holes, but if you’ve been avoiding that, then maybe this trailer will have you just as excited. Read more…
Here’s an exciting bit of breaking news for Resident Evil fans. Series creator, and grandfather of the survival horror genre, Shinji Mikami announced a new horror game this morning. Codenamed “Zwei,” the game is to be developed by Mikami’s new studio, Tango Gameworks. Those of you who may recall, his last entry in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil 4, has been the most successful and critically acclaimed to date. If you’re wondering why he’s no longer with the company, Mikami had been transferred to Capcom’s Clover studio prior to its dissolution following the release of the not-so-successful cult-favorite God Hand. He then worked briefly for Platinum Games, the studio responsible for Bayonetta and Vanquish, before leaving to create Tango Gameworks. There’s no other details to note, other than the game is in the early stages of development and that his studio was acquired by Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks back in 2010. For the sake of the genre, let’s hope his latest foray into the world of survival horror is as successful as his last.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 24, 2012 in Dr. Who, Fandom
No, it isn’t a Doctor Who x Space Jam mash-up — I’d kill to hear one — instead, it’s the latest Doctor Who-themed shirt to hit TeeFury. With the team’s name emblazoned across the chest and a spiffy silhouette of what appears to be a sonic screwdriver-wielding David Tennant in place of the usual NBA logo, nobody will question your loyalty to our favorite team. Like most every shirt featured on TeeFury, it’ll only be available for the rest of the day and comes in both men and women’s sizes for only $10 plus shipping.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 24, 2012 in Videogames
It’s either insane, or absolutely brilliant. Valve has always taken an unconventional approach to game development, but I’ve never known how unconventional — at least, until now. Recently a copy of their employee handbook leaked online, and while I can’t imagine they were pleased about it happening, what’s done is done. The 56 page 2012 New Employee Handbook details the companies internal practices, internal structure (or lack thereof) and comes littered with hilarious diagrams and in-jokes many of which relate to the various games they’ve released over the years.
Just the other week, I mentioned the unabridged 20th anniversary recording of Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire — the novel often heralded for having launched Star Wars’ expanded universe. It was first novel in its trilogy, set five years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Although was LucasBooks was nice enough to publish the 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire late last year, there are currently no plans to do the same for either of its sequels Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. Thankfully, not all is lost! Read more…
Having read all George Martin’s on-going saga A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as having seen every episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones to date, I feel one aspect that remains consistently featured throughout would be the food. Martin often takes his time writing detailed descriptions of Westerosi cuisine, from their aromas to the taste itself. So, naturally Bantam has decided to use those descriptions to help craft A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook, in what I can only guess as being a sad attempt to cash in on the Game of Thrones-craze. That said, I really wouldn’t mind taking a look at some of the recipes included in the book. Martin certainly makes them sound appetizing enough when you’re reading his novels, so I would hope the authors & chefs involved could succeed in capturing the taste. A Feast of Ice and Fire should hit shelves May 29th and will retail for $35.
