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Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 10, 2015 in Cinema 
Experience all the sexual tension you could possibly desire between Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt in this new Jurassic World clip!
What, did you want more a little more than that? Well, they do talk about dinosaurs a bit in this clip too — the raptors that Pratt’s character trains, the cages the park uses to keep them penned in, and about genetically modified dinosaurs that will almost certainly escape at one point in the film. Someone will probably get eaten! This is definitely an interesting clip to use as your “first look” at Jurassic World outside of a heavily edited trailer, as it lacks any CGI spectacle or dangerous thrills. I’m not sure what to think of Jurassic World, but I suppose I’m still going to see it just to find out how it turns out! Read more…
Tags: Jurassic Park, Jurassic World
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 10, 2015 in Videogames 
There had been rumors of Lego jumping on the toys-to-life bandwagon for the past few months, and now it has come to fruition: LEGO Dimensions. It’s a new video game from Warner Bros. and Travelers Tales (who’ve made all the previous Lego games) and you’ll be be able to buy Lego toys that will scan into the game on a portal via NFC. The portal and game starting pack (which includes Wyldstyle, Gandalf, and Batman with a Batmobile) will run you $99 and after that you can pick up Fun Packs ($15 for a figure and vehicle), Team Packs ($25 for 2 figures and 2 vehicles), or Level Packs ($30 for 1 figure, 2 vehicles/weapons, and 1 new level). Some of the brands involved are The LEGO Movie (obviously), Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, Back to the Future, The Wizard of Oz, and Ninjago, with more on the way. No matter what you’re into, there will probably be a Lego version for you to spend ridiculous amounts of money on. Read more…
Tags: Lego, Lego Dimensions, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 9, 2015 in Cinema, Videogames 
Five Nights at Freddy’s is actually a pretty cool game, where you run a faux-Chuck E. Cheese at night while avoiding murderous animatronic animals. I’m not sure if it’s cool enough to necessitate a third game in the series, but at least it’s popular on YouTube. Apparently Warner Bros. also thinks it’s cool, because they’ve picked up the rights and plan on adapting it into a feature film. Personally, I’d think that a movie would lose some of the horror, since you lose the player’s agency, but from what I can tell, there actually seems to be a rich mythos below the surface, so it’s not like they’ll lack for material. Read more…
Tags: Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 9, 2015 in Videogames 
Funny enough, I’ve been watching my girlfriend play Deus Ex: Human Revolution lately. It’s been pretty cool, and now Square Enix has announced a sequel: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. It occurs two years later in 2029, so still well before the original Deus Ex. Eidos Montreal is returning to make this one, so let’s hope they don’t outsource the boss fights this time. There’s no release date announced, but the game is set to release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check the trailer and tell yourself “Yes, I did ask for this!” Read more…
Tags: Deus Ex, PS4, square enix, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 8, 2015 in Videogames 
Yo-kai Watch, a Pokemon-like game about collecting weird creatures, did really well when it was released in Japan, blowing up into a massive sensation and getting things like anime adaptations. Now Nintendo has announced that Level-5’s RPG is coming to the West. It hasn’t specified which game is getting released — the second game even had two versions, like Pokemon — or when it’s releasing. But it’s still cool news, and it seems that they’re really making a push for the brand. Viz is releasing the manga adaptation later this year, and Level-5 made a big toy deal for 2016 with Hasbro. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this blow up with kids and some adults. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Level-5, Nintendo, Yo-kai Watch
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 8, 2015 in Animation, Comic Books 
Marvel has put out plenty of cartoons with their popular characters, but none of them have been tied into the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet. But since it’s already expanded to TV and Netflix, who’s to say they shouldn’t try cartoons as well? At Emerald City Comic Con, a fan asked Marvel VP of Animation Development and Production Cort Lane whether any of their cartoons would ever tie into the MCU. Lane replied, “I can’t announce anything, but things are in the works.” Obviously that’s little to go on, but hey, it could be cool if they put some more care into the project than their current kid-targeted shows. Something more along the lines of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes than Avengers Assemble would be fun. Read more…
Tags: Marvel
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 7, 2015 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Let’s put aside for the moment that you still can’t buy the original, unaltered versions of the classic Star Wars movies. The movies were also traditionally tied to home video, with no way to legally buy them on digital platforms in an increasingly digital world. That changes on April 10, when The Star Wars Digital Movie Collection is released on digital platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, and Xbox Video. You can get all six movies for $99.99, or individual movies for $19.99 each. Each movie includes bonus features, and on some platforms, additional bonuses like an R2-D2 avatar accessory. Sadly, these are still the Lucas-modified versions, but hey, at least you can get Star Wars on your iPad now. Read more…
Tags: Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 7, 2015 in Television 
I finally got around to watching Twin Peaks because of the announcement of a continuation on Showtime. Now that project is in jeopardy, as David Lynch has announced he will not direct the series. According to his tweets, Showtime wasn’t offering enough money to do the series the way he felt it should be directed. Showtime hasn’t closed the door yet, releasing a statement that they would still like to work something out with Lynch. There’s no word on what this means for the scripts, which were to be cowritten with co-creator Mark Frost, nor whether Frost or the actors will remain without Lynch’s involvement. Since I’ve fallen in love with the town of Twin Peaks and its characters, I hope these issues are worked out so that Lynch can return to his show. Read more…
Tags: David Lynch, Twin Peaks
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 6, 2015 in Cinema 
By now almost everyone who has seen a movie has heard the iconic THX “Deep Note” noise, even if they don’t know its name. The sound’s been parodied and imitated in pop culture many times, so changing it seems tantamount to heresy. But here we are! Dr. James “Andy” Moorer, who created the original sound (it first premiered with Return of the Jedi in 1983!), is back to update it for 7.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos presentations. Try listening to the new version below and see what you think! Does it still feel like an epic intro as the film is about to start? Read more…
Tags: THX
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 6, 2015 in Videogames 
Crawl is a pretty great indie title that’s best described as a multiplayer dungeon crawler — but one player plays as the hero, and the rest as enemies that spawn in each room. Whichever enemy succeeds in killing the player gets the role next. It’s great for couch play with friends, and a new update will add even more fun in the form of Gabe Newell. Yes, the Valve co-founder and gaming icon will be added as an enemy boss soon. And man, the animations look great! Check out a gif below and then check out the game here. Read more…
Tags: Crawl, Gabe Newell
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 5, 2015 in Television 
George R.R. Martin is certainly keeping himself in the news these days: the author is developing a new TV series at HBO titled Captain Cosmos. He revealed this is a recent interview with EW (in which he also promises The Winds of Winter by 2016 and teases a new twist), and provided a rough description for the show: “At the dawn of the age of TV in 1949, a visionary young writer creates a science fiction series that tells stories no one else will dare to tell.” This definitely has echoes of The Twilight Zone, which is a show that GRRM worked on previously (the 1985 revival, that is). I’m curious whether this’ll be an episodic series or still feature an over-arching plot. Stay tuned!
Read more…
Tags: George R.R. Martin, HBO
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 5, 2015 in Television 
Finally! ABC is reportedly starting up a new Muppets TV show, with the pilot filming as soon as this month. Bill Prady and Bob Kushell will write and executive produce a new show currently under the working title “Muppets 2015.” The rumored synopsis is that the series will feature the Muppets working on a late-night show, and focus on the behind-the-scenes work they do to make it happen. You might be worried to hear that Big Bang Theory co-creator Prady is working on this, but he actually has done plenty of work for several of the Muppets shows over the years and also tried in 2007 to get a Muppets TV series off the ground. This sounds like a smart, self-aware way to reboot the show, so I hope it works out! Read more…
Tags: The Muppets
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 4, 2015 in Cinema, Hobbies and Collections 
Why does Fox want to make a Play-Doh movie, you may ask? Because there is nothing left on this hellscape. The Hollywood wells have run dry. Fox executives have been eyeing The LEGO Movie ravenously like wild dogs, and hope to take a similar approach to a Play-Doh film. All joking aside, while this does seem like another cynical attempt to exploit our collective childhood memories, at least Fox is talking with Paul Feig to direct the movie. At least! Hasbro really wants to turn their properties into big-budget blockbusters, but after Battleship… well, who knows if it’ll work? Read more…
Tags: Hasbro, Play-Doh
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 4, 2015 in Television 
If you’re painfully waiting for the new A Song of Ice and Fire book, the Winds of Winter, author George R.R. Martin is here to ease your pain ever so slightly. Martin has taken to often posting a few chapters while he spends much time writing the next book, as a way to placate the masses. And hey, it’s nice to get updates on the story so far. This new excerpt is an “Alayne” chapter, so if you haven’t read all the current books and don’t know who that is, proceed no further! Martin says he has canceled several convention appearances to work on the book in hopes of finishing it… sooner or later. The fifth season of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones begins April 12th. Read more…
Tags: A Song of Ice and Fire, Fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 3, 2015 in Animation, Cinema 
Winnie the Pooh is one of the most iconic bears out there, so it’s no surprise that this is happening finally, but here we are all the same: Disney is planning a live-action Winnie the Pooh film and has signed on Alex Ross Perry (fresh off his hit Sundance indie film Listen Up Philip) to script the film. This seems to be a consistent strategy from Disney: nab a young, up-and-coming director to pilot a big picture, with the hopes it’ll help cross the gap between blockbuster and indie film, kids and adults. We have yet to see the fruits of this experiment (Pete’s Dragon is coming up too) so it remains to be see if this plan pans out. Read more…
Tags: Winnie the Pooh
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 3, 2015 in Cinema 
Here’s some news that had to be double-checked several times — because everyone thought this was an April Fools joke. Yes, a new Toho Godzilla film is on the way, which is news enough on its own right. But here’s the kicker: Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno will be writing the script for it. Not only that, but live-action Attack on Titan director Shinji Higuchi will supervise the special effects. Together, the two will co-direct the film. This isn’t actually that surprising, as Anno has been making moves towards live-action for a long time, and Higuchi did SFX for several Gamera films in the 90s. No fooling! Read more…
Tags: Godzilla, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 2, 2015 in Television 
That X-Files continuation was already off to a good start, by securing the creator and two main actors. Of course, there was a lot more to the original series than just them. David Duchovny confirmed on The Late Show with David Letterman that two more actors are confirmed to return. Mitch Pileggi will return as as FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner, while William B. Davis will return as The Smoking Man. Cool! Annabeth Gish (Monica Reyes) and Robert Patrick (John Doggett) are also rumored to be involved, but no deals are currently in place. Maybe Fox knows what they’re doing with this? Read more…
Tags: The X-Files
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 2, 2015 in Videogames 
It seems that 2015 is truly the Year of the Amiibo for Nintendo. While many games were shown off on their latest Nintendo direct, many of the major ones had corresponding amiibo announcements. Let’s start with Super Smash Bros. news first though. The Mewtwo DLC is pretty much ready and will be released on April 23 for $3.99, or $5.99 for both systems. Those who earned the character for free via the Club Nintendo promotion will get him on April 15. Lucas (from Mother 3 and Brawl) was announced as the second DLC character, due sometime in June. Future characters may be influenced by your votes on the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot that just launched on smashbros.com. And if you want to spend more of your money, there will be new Mii costumes available. The cost of the costumes seems reasonable at $0.75 each, or $1.15 each for both systems. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Amiibo, fire emblem, Nintendo, Nintendo Direct, Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 1, 2015 in Videogames 
If you haven’t purchased a PS4 yet for Bloodborne, here’s something that may entice you. When Batman: Arkham Knight comes out on June 23, you’ll have the option of getting a jet black PS4 bundle with the game for $400. But if you toss in a bit extra, you can have this cool steel grey limited edition bundle for $450. I already own a system, so I’m not biting, but otherwise, I’d be very tempted. I guess I’ll just stick with the somewhat less expensive limited edition. Read more…
Tags: Batman: Arkham Knight, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 1, 2015 in Comic Books, Television 
Hey CW, I get the impression that you’re still feeling out where your Arrow/Flash spin-off is going to go, since it will have a bunch of superheroes in it. But can you give us a name to use other than “that Arrow/Flash spin-off with all the other superheroes”? Ah well, let’s talk about the new heroes added to the show. Ciara Renée has been cast as Hawkgirl, who learns that she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior who grows wings when she manifests her powers. In addition, Arthur Darvill (Rory on Doctor Who) has been cast as another time-traveller, Rip Hunter, who’s a bit more obscure. This all sounds good, but as I said before, we just need to know what this spin-off actually is! Read more…
Tags: DC Comics, Flash, Green Arrow
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 31, 2015 in Animation, Cinema, Comic Books 
While Batman is much more popular these days as a dark, gritty superhero, fans have slowly become more accepting of the classic 60s TV series. The recent resurgence last year — including a DVD/Blu-ray release — has raised interest, and in addition to comics, there will be a movie based on the campy universe. Adam West (Batman) made the announcement at Mad Monster Party, revealing that he and Burt Ward (Robin) would be voicing their characters in a feature-length animated movie. It’s due out for the TV series’s 50th anniversary in 2016, likely direct-to-video, making this the much more interesting of two Batman movies that year. Sorry, Batman v. Superman, but after Man of Steel, I’d rather concentrate my excitement on this strong counterpoint to the Batman mythos. Read more…
Tags: Adam West, Batman, DC Comics, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 31, 2015 in Videogames 
Microsoft and 343 Industries are starting their marketing push for this fall’s Halo 5: Guardians. It’s due out on October 27, 2015, which means we’ll probably be seeing a lot more at this year’s E3. But for now, we’ve got what is frankly a really cool ad, with new character Spartan Locke hunting down Master Chief and confronting him about consequences. But then, there’s a second ad where Master Chief confronts Locke! I’d assume we’ll get to play as both characters a la Halo 2 (my personal favorite in the series). I wonder what twists we’ll see? Read more…
Tags: Halo, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 30, 2015 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Hugh Jackman has started up the rumor mill — through his own Instagram account, no less. He recently posted an image of his hands and the Wolverine claws with the caption “WOLVERINE… ONE LAST TIME.” Would X-Men: Apocalypse be the last film he’ll play Wolverine in? He hasn’t even been confirmed for it and was assumed to not be in it. Instead, it’s most likely the upcoming The Wolverine film that Fox has slated for 2017 that he’s referring to. Still, would he stop being Wolverine? He said as recently as February that “I said to my wife, ‘The moral is that I should never stop playing Wolverine. I’ve got to find a way to keep playing him until I die.’ I know that someday they’ll recast the role with another actor… I’d be happy if the role was eventually recast. It would mean that it had become iconic.” Maybe… he’s just just making a play while negotiating his contract? Or perhaps he changed his mind and is finally finished. Read more…
Tags: The Wolverine, Wolverine
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 30, 2015 in Cinema 
If you have missed the hubbub around The Leviathan, you could easily be forgiven, as progress on the project has happened so fast it surprised many. A week ago director Ruairi Robinson posted his proof-of-concept teaser on Vimeo and YouTube, garnering lots of attention and praise (I’ve embedded it below in case you haven’t caught it yet). He even had a script ready written by Jim Uhls (the scribe behind Fight Club) to make the project more enticing. Then, Simon Kinberg and Neill Blomkamp jumped on to produce and executive produce, respectively, and now Fox has officially picked it up. It’s a really fascinating premise, so I hope the full movie will come out… and be good! Read more…
Tags: Leviathan, Ruairi Robinson
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