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Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 30, 2014 in Animation, Cinema, Comic Books 
Pretty much no one liked the version of Deadpool that appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Since having their hopes dashed with that film, fans have wished for a Deadpool movie that is accurate to the fourth-wall breaking comic book. Fox was experimenting with the idea, but with not much happening recently, the project seems to be dead. But wait: director Tim Miller’s fabled test footage (animated in CG by Blur Studio) has surfaced, and it’s surprisingly great. Ryan Reynolds returns as Deadpool, but he’s much more fun to watch, cracking jokes and illustrating his enemy’s upcoming death. Can we please have a movie like this? I don’t care if it’s tied into X-Men, I just think it would be fun to watch. Maybe the renewed interest in this test footage will give the project a boost? Read more…
Tags: Deadpool, Fox, X-Men
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 29, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
I’m honestly surprised that Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller finally got around to making Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. It took so long for them to make it I was certain the momentum had died. But it’s finally coming out on August 22, and from looking around LA, the marketing is building up too. Shown off last weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, this red band trailer has got it all: cars, swords, guns, naked women, and one-liners. Oh, and all that sexy black-and-white violence they couldn’t show in a regular trailer. Read more…
Tags: Sin City
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 29, 2014 in Cinema 
Sigh. Even when I heard that The Hobbit would be stretched out and expanded to two, then three films, I held out hope that it would capture my heart the way The Lord of the Rings films did. (After all, I actually liked the original book better than The Lord of the Rings books!) But the first two films have shown just how detrimental many modern filmmaking trends are. The story meanders, the visuals are compromised with excessive CG, and everything feels like a videogame — all setpieces and not enough to justify them. Oh well, let’s return to Middle-earth on the big screen one more time with this trailer for the final film, which has been retitled from The Hobbit: There and Back Again to the much more epic The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Hey Hollywood? Not everything in fantasy needs to set up massive battles to compete with The Lord of the Rings! And I doubt The Hobbit will somehow out-do the Battle of Helm’s Deep! Read more…
Tags: Peter Jackson, The Hobbit
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 28, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Things are still looking rosy over in Mavel-land! At their panel at Comic-Con, they teased the next few film they have lined up, namely Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man. They showed footage for both as well, but Ant-Man’s footage was concept footage as opposed to Ultron’s mostly-finished clips. Also released was some cool concept art for both films, one a piecemeal poster featuring the Avengers fighting a crowd of Ultron bots, the other featuring… ants! Check them out below. Lastly, James Gunn came out and announced that he’ll be directing Guardians of the Galaxy 2, scheduled for July 28th, 2017. The whole cast will be returning, too. Nice! Read more…
Tags: ant-man, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel, San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 28, 2014 in Cinema 
Legendary Pictures confirmed at Comic-con that yes: Godzilla is back with Gareth Edwards directing. And for the sequel, he’ll be bringing some friends as well. The studio explicitly mentioned King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan on their Twitter account, although they didn’t specify if they’d all feature in the next film or be spread out over later sequels. They also teased several other monster from Toho may arrive in other “franchise installments” as well. Legendary also revealed (in partnership with Universal) a new King Kong film, Skull Island, which is set for November 4th 2016, and will focus on the titular island. Hey guys, now that you have that link, can we get a Godzilla vs. King Kong movie? Oh, and Pacific Rim is under your umbrella too, so toss some more kaiju and a Jaeger in there too. Thank me later. Read more…
Tags: Gareth Edwards, Godzilla, King Kong, San Diego Comic-Con 2014, Toho
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 27, 2014 in Television 
It’s time for casting again as Game of Thrones circles around for its fifth season. The cast list is ever-growing: Alexander Siddig will play Doran Martell, DeOBia Oparei will play Areo Hotah, the High Sparrow will be played by Jonathan Pryce, and for the Sand Snakes Nymeria, Tyene, and Obara: Jessica Henwick, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, and Keisha Castle-Hughes (respectively). I’ve included the rest below, but you might notice something: there are plenty more characters introduced in this segment of the story! Are they being cut entirely (more and more likely), or have they not finished the casting yet? Also included below: a blooper video from season 4! Read more…
Tags: Game of Thrones
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 27, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
After all this time, it looks like Marvel may have finally found their Doctor Strange. But I don’t think anyone was expecting an actor like Joaquin Phoenix to be the name that would eventually rise to the top. In fact, he wasn’t mentioned at all during the entire rumor phase. Someone of Phoenix’s caliber would be a welcome addition to the Marvel stable, and I imagine they’re hoping his skill and star-power would help open up the magical universe of Marvel. While he hasn’t accepted the offer, he is in talks, and there have been several sightings of Phoenix picking up Doctor Strange comic books. I think it could be a surprising but great fit! Read more…
Tags: Doctor Strange, Marvel
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2014 in Star Wars, Television 
Star Wars Rebels is making a big splash at SDCC! The entire first hour of the series premiered there, and excited fans got to watch it all. For those of us at home, however, Disney has released two new clips that give us a better look at the characters and world of the series. It definitely feels more homey now that it’s set closer to the original trilogy, but maybe I’m just happy to see Stormtroopers and TIE Fighters again. The Inquisitor’s lightsaber is as little silly with the spinning action, but I’ll let it slide for now. Check out the two clips below (and a new trailer)! Read more…
Tags: Star Wars: Rebels
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2014 in Videogames 
Despite Microsoft’s original content being shuttered, a few things escaped the flames, mainly Halo: Nightfall. It’s produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions and 343 Industries. It stars Mike Colter, and will be the lead-in to Halo 5: Guardians. Taking place on a fragment of the original Halo ring that has collided with a colony planet, Colter will play Locke (an ONI agent) as he encounters an ancient artifact. Evil, horror, strange biological attacks, you get the gist. It’ll be more Halo, but in a live-action format. The trailer looks cool enough! Check it out below. Read more…
Tags: Halo, San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 25, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Are you ready for a grungy, stubbly Batman? With SDCC in full swing, it’s time to promote everything! A new photograph was tweeted out by set photographer Clay Enos of Ben Affleck in the new Batman outfit, looking as gruff and grim as ever — complete with pronounced, dimpled chin! The costume’s cowl and cape is also on display at SDCC, so check below the break for some images of that too! Overall it seems like people seem to like that costume, but the jury is still out on the person wearing it. We’ll see, eh? Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is coming May 6th, 2016… that’s a long ways away! Read more…
Tags: Batman v. Superman, San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 25, 2014 in Cinema, Videogames 
Legendary Pictures’ booth at SDCC is all about Guillermo del Toro. On one side is a section devoted to his upcoming haunted house film, Crimson Peak, and on the other, they’ve got a big Pacific Rim section. Featuring what, you might ask? An Oculus Rift experience! You can put on the headset and see through the eyes of a Jaeger pilot right alongside Charlie Hunnam as Raleigh. It’s non-interactive, so you’re just along for the ride, but you can look in every direction and watch the action happen as if you were really there. This uses the new DK2 Rifts, which are being sent out to developers as we speak, so we should see more Rift content in the near future! Read more…
Tags: oculus rift, Pacific Rim, San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2014 in Videogames 
Back in 2010, when the Tomb Raider franchise wasn’t doing so hot, Square Enix put out Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a twin-stick co-op game. Though not bearing the Tomb Raider name, it was very well-received and quite fun. There’s a new sequel coming out, this time with four-player co-op; the two new characters are the Egyptian gods Isis and Horus, which seems a bit over-powered, but I’ll go with it. We now know that this game is coming out December 9 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It’s looking good, but I’ll be honest: I completely missed this announcement during the chaos of E3 2014. So join me in watching the trailer below, because I’m sure many others also missed it. Read more…
Tags: square enix, Tomb Raider
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2014 in Comic Books, Videogames 
When Sunsoft released Batman on NES — perhaps the only truly good Batman game until Batman: Arkham Asylum — they obviously had to work within the limits of the hardware. Though Batman normally wore varying shades of blue, gray, and black, he was rendered in a bright purple. As they’ve done with previous licensed NES games, collectible company NECA is releasing an action figure of this Batman, complete with mock videogame box. The figure will only receive one production run, so I’d pay attention to NECA for your first chance to preorder this purple Batman. Something about this makes me really happy that someone is reviving these weird color palette versions of popular characters. Read more…
Tags: Batman, NES, Toys
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2014 in Videogames 
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call is coming out September 16 in North America and September 19 in Europe, which is right around the corner. To help promote this music-focused game, Square Enix is holding a contest for musicians to arrange and perform Final Fantasy‘s Main Theme that has appeared in almost every Final Fantasy game. If you’re selected by original Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, you’ll win a grand prize: a round trip for two to a Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy concert, a limited edition Nintendo 3DS LL released for Curtain Call, the official soundtracks of all fourteen main Final Fantasy games, a collector’s edition copy of Curtain Call (signed by Uematsu), and a Final Fantasy Static Arts mini figure. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Final Fantasy, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 23, 2014 in Videogames 
I just don’t “get” League of Legends. I understand why it’s popular and that it can be both fun and competitive, but every time I sat down to play it, nothing clicked with me (which isn’t the game’s fault). But what I can get is why this video, “A New Dawn,” is awesome. Riot Games released this cool trailer for League of Legends; the game has been playable since 2009, so this is likely just to draw more attention to the game. It also serves the function of letting players watch several characters duke it out in fancy graphics instead of the in-game engine. Look, I couldn’t tell you why Fox Girl is fighting Axe Man or what any of their special attacks are. But I can safely say that it’s well-animated and offers a cool fight scene, regardless of your investment in the game. Why not take a moment to watch it? Read more…
Tags: League of Legends
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 22, 2014 in Anime 
After ten months, the guys at Moon Animate Make-Up! have finished reanimating a whole episode of Sailor Moon. The project incorporated 250 artists, but instead of going for coherency, they had each artist animate their part in their own unique style. The result is this mish-mash of styles not unlike Star Wars Uncut. Since Sailor Moon Crystal (now airing) doesn’t always have the best animation or relies on CG, perhaps this will be preferable? With a cartoony look, many of the characters are much more emotive than the source material, sometimes ridiculously so. Read more…
Tags: Sailor Moon
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 22, 2014 in Cinema, Star Wars 
The contest to be in Star Wars Episode VII — a fundraiser for the Force for Change charity — is still continuing, with people from around the world sending in a ton of entries. J.J. Abrams is reminding fans to get their entries in, but what’s more important immediately are the teases Abrams has had in his clips: trickles of information to whet your appetite for Star Wars. The latest is an X-Wing from the movie, and it’s looking good. There’s now one big engine on each wing that looks like it splits with the wings, while the design is sleeker. And unlike the prequels, this ship looks worn down and used, like it actually exists in the world. Good news, right? Read more…
Tags: J.J. Abrams, Star Wars, x-wing
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 21, 2014 in Star Wars 
Tread lightly, spoiler-avoiders! You may want to avoid this story. Badass Digest and Devin Farci recently posted a set of rumors about the plot setup for Star Wars Episode VII… and it sounds pretty solid. Farci doesn’t stick his neck out for anything other than the most reliable tidbits, so I’m inclined to believe this over other leaks. The basic gist? John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, the two main characters, discover a severed hand clutching a lightsaber. They realize it’s a “Jedi relic” and decide to return it. They then encounter Han Solo, Chewbacca, and others on their journey to return the saber, during which they discover a shocking fact: this is Luke’s lightsaber. So begins the hunt for Skywalker! Farci goes into extra detail there, so check it out if you want more. Read more…
Tags: Episode VII
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 21, 2014 in Hobbies and Collections 
Hot Toys is at it again with more amazingly detailed figures, and Guardians of the Galaxy are the ones getting the special treatment. Rocket Raccoon and Groot are the two figures now up for pre-order, and they look pretty cool. Groot runs $200, and Rocket is $160. That seems a little odd, given how small Rocket is. If you’re going to get both, though, there is a $360 duo pack, which includes bonus items such as an angry hed for Groot and alternate hands. Pre-order Groot here, Rocket here, and the duo here. They’re planned to ship in March next year. More images below! Read more…
Tags: Guardians of the Galaxy, Hot Toys
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 20, 2014 in Animation, Anime 
Studio Ghibli’s latest film, When Marnie Was There, has arrived in Japanese cinemas. Sadly, folks in the west will have to wait a little longer for the film, but until then, we can watch the latest trailer that features much more footage from Hiromasa Yonebayashi (who previously directed The Secret World of Arrietty). This is his second film, so I’m eagerly awaiting impressions from Japan to hear if the film is good. With Miyazaki now out of the picture (kind of), where Ghibli goes from here will be fascinating to watch. Can they cultivate the same creativity and passion Miyazaki previously delivered? It remains to be seen… but When Marnie Was There does look fascinating. Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Studio Ghibli
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 20, 2014 in Cinema, Videogames 
After all this time, Space Invaders is finally getting adapted. Yup, Warner Bros. and producers Akiva Goldsman, Joby Harold, and Tory Tunnell will produce a Space Invaders film, presumably having only the barest resemblance to the original game. It’s not like there’s a rich lore to dig into anyway! Then again, good movies have been made out of stranger things… take Pirates of the Caribbean for example! That was pretty good (the first movie, at least). I don’t know: I think I’ve become too cynical to be interested or excited for this. I think I’ll just ignore it and if it ends up good, then I can bother with it. That’s way more sensible, right? Read more…
Tags: Space Invaders
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 19, 2014 in Star Wars 
Star Wars Rebels just got way more exciting: Jason Isaacs will be playing the villain in the show: The Inquisitor. This had been rumored for a long time, but now we’ve got official confirmation. He’ll be playing a cold, analytical character who “doesn’t get angry,” says Pablo Hidalgo. “We all took care to make sure our villains have real presence and our heroes just can’t walk all over him. This isn’t like cartoons I grew up with in the 80s where you’d have the villain lose every week and yet every week we’d have to believe he’s some sort of threat.” Sounds pretty cool, I hope they can deliver on that promise! Check out the announcement video below. Read more…
Tags: Star Wars: Rebels
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 19, 2014 in Hobbies and Collections 
LEGO is going all-out at this year’s Comic-con, debuting plenty of exclusives for the event. The large sets will be Rocket Racoon’s Warbird, a mini Ghost ship from Star Wars Rebels, and a classic-style Batmobile. They’ll also be debuting figures of The Collector from Guardians of the Galaxy, a unique Unikitty from The LEGO Movie, Bard from The Hobbit, and a DC figure (not yet shown as of this writing). In addition, some new sets will be shown off at the show, such as a new LEGO Movie set. There are also rumors about a new UCS set showing up here (either a Batmobile or the Slave I) but nothing confirmed yet. LEGO will also have several professional builds to show off of Smaug, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and Groot! Check out images of everything below! Read more…
Tags: Lego, San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 18, 2014 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Episode VII’s cast continues to grow, even as they are filming! Christina Chong, whom you may have caught in 24: Live Another Day most recently, will be joining the cast of the next Star Wars film. Latino Review broke the news. Hopefully we’ll get official confirmation soon. Score another for a diverse cast! Since the initial casting announcement, almost every new character announced for Star Wars has been female. It’s great to see an increase in women in space, and I hope we’ll also see this continue with other films in the future. I wonder what kind of part she’ll be playing? Read more…
Tags: Episode VII
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