30 ERROL MORRIS Films and Interviews You Can Watch For Free

April 25, 2014, 5:00 pm

≪ Previous: My Geek Gateway Drug: Impel Marvel Universe Trading Cards

I became a huge fan of Errol Morris' documentaries after watching the 1988 film The Thin Blue Line about the wrongful conviction of Randall Dale Adams. Adams was sentenced to death for the murder of police officer Robert W. Wood and served more than 12 years before his sentence was overturned in 1989 thanks to this documentary.

After seeing the film, I devoured his first documentary, Gates of Heaven which was a story about a pet cemetery run by Floyd "Mac" McClure (and subsequently by John "Cal" Harberts that is so weird and interesting and moving that Werner Hertzog told Morris that if the film was completed he would eat his shoe...and since it was, Hertzog did, in fact, eat his shoe.

Of course Morris has gone on to make some incredible films including A Brief History of Time with Stephen Hawking, Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. about an electric chair technician, holocaust denier, and practitioner of a "death row shakedown" as well as the 2003 Oscar winning documentary The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara not to mention a plethora of interviews and short films that will make you feel incredibly cerebral.

If you are hankering to lock yourself in a room and watch some seriously good stuff click HERE for the links.

To get you started I posted Gates of Heaven after the break.

You're in for a riveting weekend.

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Win DEVIL'S DUE on Blu-ray!

April 25, 2014, 7:00 pm

≫ Next: MUSIC VIDEO MONDAY: It Takes Two- Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

≪ Previous: 30 ERROL MORRIS Films and Interviews You Can Watch For Free

EVEN TRUE LOVE CANNOT ESCAPE PURE EVIL

After a mysterious night on their honeymoon, Zach and Samantha McCall (Zach Gilford, Allison Miller) find themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything on video for posterity, Zach begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially attribute to nerves, but it soon becomes evident the disturbing changes to Samantha’s body and mind have a much more sinister origin. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, part of the quartet of filmmakers known as Radio Silence (V/H/S), and produced by John Davis (Chronicle), Devil’s Due utilizes a found footage-style of storytelling to deliver an emotional, character-driven thriller that showcases supernatural scares, and disquieting dread.

In celebration of Devil’s Due Blu-ray and DVD’s release, our friends at Fox have prepared a look at the film’s stars.

Zach Gilford – Zach

Zach Gilford is the handsome boy next door best known for playing Matt Saracen on NBC’s popular TV show, Friday Night Lights. Most of his roles had set him in a good guy persona, and he hopes to one day land a role outside that category. This summer, he will appear alongside his real-life wife Kiele Sanchez in The Purge: Anarchy. In Devil’s Due, Gilford plays Zach, a newlywed who is determined to videotape his new wife’s pregnancy and, later, figure out who and what is behind her abnormal symptoms.

Allison Miller – Samantha

Allison Miller is best known for playing Princess Michelle Benjamin on the television drama series Kings. Miller is a talented young actress and can apparently sing really well! She is married to comedian and actor Adam Nee and is set to appear in a romantic comedy alongside Katey Segal, Brittany Snow, and James Wolk called There’s Always Woodstock. Allison Miller plays Samantha McCall, wife to Zach Gilford’s character in Devil’s Due. Samantha deals with a very emotional and horrific pregnancy after a cult performs a ritual on her and her husband while they are on their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

Devil’s Due will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD Combo Pack on April 29, 2014 from Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment and thanks to Fox, we're giving away a copy on Blu-ray!

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MUSIC VIDEO MONDAY: It Takes Two- Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

April 28, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: 'CURIOUS ALICE' A 1971 Anti-Drug PSA That Was Obviously Concocted By People On Drugs...Like the Really Powerful Stuff

≪ Previous: Win DEVIL'S DUE on Blu-ray!

Upon hearing the news of DJ E-Z Rock's (Rodney "Skip" Bryce) death today it seems only appropriate that I load up their 1988 hit song, It Takes Two, on my iPod, put it on repeat and jam it up hard. In fact, I think everyone should do the same.

Also, screw going to work today, we should all just stay home, drink a bunch of wine coolers and reminisce about all the cool things we did while listening to this song...I'll go first, I was 14, stole my mom's Ford Tempo and almost ran it off a cliff while singing along to the song. No one was hurt, but I did poop a little in my pants...maybe I shouldn't have said that...and maybe I shouldn't have broken into my stash of Zima that I was keeping in case of a pandemic...crap.

Video after the break.

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'CURIOUS ALICE' A 1971 Anti-Drug PSA That Was Obviously Concocted By People On Drugs...Like the Really Powerful Stuff

April 28, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Watch The First Episode of Showtime's PENNY DREADFUL Right Now!

≪ Previous: MUSIC VIDEO MONDAY: It Takes Two- Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Here's an incredibly fucked up anti-drug PSA/short freak-out film that was most definitely created by people who used drugs on a daily (if not hourly) basis.

Below are the basic plot points (via YouTube):

This drug abuse educational film portrays an animated fantasy based upon the characters in "Alice in Wonderland." The film shows Alice as she toured a strange land where everyone had chosen to use drugs, forcing Alice to ponder whether drugs were the right choice for her. The "Mad Hatter" character represents Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), the "Dormouse" represents sleeping pills, and the "King of Hearts" represents heroin. Ultimately, Alice concluded that drug abuse is senseless.

Granted, that summery might have seemed tame enough, but think of it like the first couple of minutes after placing an acid blot under your tongue, sure everything seems fine at first but then a dragon comes through the living room asking if you have any chips and you're completely out of Doritos.

So watch the "Tripping Balls" PSA after the break...and try not to do it while high, the experience will harm you both physically and mentally.

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Watch The First Episode of Showtime's PENNY DREADFUL Right Now!

April 28, 2014, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Time Enough At Last: Book Reviews For The Geeky Reader

≪ Previous: 'CURIOUS ALICE' A 1971 Anti-Drug PSA That Was Obviously Concocted By People On Drugs...Like the Really Powerful Stuff

It might say May 11th on the image above, but thanks to our friends at Showtime, we're able to give you a first look at the pilot for Penny Dreadful right here!

Some of literature's most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama.

Starring Josh Hartnett, Eva Green, Billie Piper, Rory Kinnear, Timothy Dalton, Reeve Carney, Harry Treadaway Helen McCrory and Simon Russell Beale, Penny Dreadful is the creation of writer John Logan who executive produces the series with Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris.

Check out the pilot after the jump, and let's hope it's better than The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the movie, not the comic)...

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Time Enough At Last: Book Reviews For The Geeky Reader

April 28, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Top Ten ROAD TRIP MOVIES That You Absolutely Need To See or...See Again...Or Bitch About Because Your Favorite Isn't Included On It

≪ Previous: Watch The First Episode of Showtime's PENNY DREADFUL Right Now!

By Stefan Blitz

I managed to sneak a few hours of reading in at the library at FOG! HQ, and I was not disappointed in the least. Like good ol' Henry Bemis pictured above, there's nothing more satisfying than to be surrounded by stacks of books.

Check out which titles I read most recently and be sure to support your local bookstore!

Felix The Cat Paintings by Don Oriolo
Edited by Craig Yoe
Published by IDW Publishing

Like the beautiful Uncle Scrooge masterpieces by the legendary Carl Barks, Don Oriolo's Felix The Cat paintings are both deceptively simple and at the same time breathtaking. It might be easy to dismiss the fine work within this latest opus by Yoe! Books as just paintings of a cartoon character, but the strength of Oriolo's work is the verisimilitude of Felix's world. To modern audiences, Felix The Cat might be little more than a visual icon, but in the paintings within, he's a versatile muse. The book also features essays by such luminaries as Jerry Beck, Mark Evanier, David Gerstein, and Paul Castiglia and an introduction by Craig Yoe. Highly recommended.

Wanna Cook?: The Complete Unofficial Companion to Breaking Bad
By Ensley F. Guddey & K. Dale Koontz
Published by ECW Press

Thankfully I watched the entire series in a two week binge before I got my hands on this excellent compendium of all things Walter White, because there's no question I'd have skipped around for spoilers, trivia and observations. Wanna Cook? is an excellent epilogue to the series and does a fantastic job as a companion and it's insights are really well executed; so much so in fact that it's made me want to dive in again and rewatch the entire series.

Wanna Cook? succeeds in no small part by being not only an excellent guide to fans of the show, but also a well-researched, authoritative and most importantly, entertaining re-examination of one of the best shows in the history of television.

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Top Ten ROAD TRIP MOVIES That You Absolutely Need To See or...See Again...Or Bitch About Because Your Favorite Isn't Included On It

April 28, 2014, 3:45 pm

≫ Next: That Time of The Week - DVD/Blu-ray Releases From 4/15 & 4/22

≪ Previous: Time Enough At Last: Book Reviews For The Geeky Reader

We are at that peculiar season, right before the heat of summer takes hold and makes the idea of traveling on a dusty black-top about as attractive as boiling your nether regions in hot oil, where every time you start up your car there's just a little bit of rebelliousness that rises up from the depths of your soul and says "Buddy, let's see where this tank of gas will take us".

And sometimes that pull is a little too strong to be ignored.

For some of us the desire to hit the open road is one that we act upon as soon as we can wrangle a few days off of work, for others, we have to tamper down that West/East/North/Southward Ho mentality until the cash flow problem can be solved enough to warrant the gas prices. Either way, there's nothing stopping us from enjoying a few hours of living vicariously through the cinematic versions of road trips that somehow become cathartic experiences that changes a person forever.

Right?

And after the break are my top ten choices.

(Note: My original list had about 50 movies on it and yes, films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Vacation, Easy Rider, Cannonball Run, The Road Warrior, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Thelma and Louise and a myriad others graced that list (Hell, even Beavis and Butt-head Do America was on it) but the ones that I have ultimately chosen are those that perhaps got lost in the shuffle or are simply my favorites. Movie lists are subjective. Feel free to add your own in the comments).

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That Time of The Week - DVD/Blu-ray Releases From 4/15 & 4/22

April 28, 2014, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: The Pull List: STAR WARS DARK TIMES V.7, SIDEKICK V. 1 & SECRET AVENGERS V.3

≪ Previous: Top Ten ROAD TRIP MOVIES That You Absolutely Need To See or...See Again...Or Bitch About Because Your Favorite Isn't Included On It

Lots of stuff in this one; both good and bad.

But, if you like giant monsters, ex-nuns, sketch comedy, daydreamers, buddy cops, Jack The Ripper, time traveling heroes, bitter gamers, stop motion animation and Charlie Sheen, then we've got something for you.

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It's that time of the week.

Zero Charisma

New Video Group / Released 4/8/14

As the strict Game Master of a fantasy role-playing game, Scott (Sam Eldson) leads his friends in a weekly quest through mysterious lands from the safety of his grandmother s kitchen. But his mastery of his own domain starts to slip along with everything else in his life when cool new guy Miles (Garrett Graham) joins the game, quickly winning over the group with his confident charm. When Scott is finally dethroned by an unexpected coup, he realizes he must roll the dice and risk everything to expose Miles as the fraud he believes him to be. A darkly comedic fable of epic proportions, Zero Charisma is an ode to nerds from every realm.

Last Word: Sometimes a movie floats to the surface of your periphery and it seems like a great way to kill the hour and a half before Sleepy Hollow comes on. You know, one of those movies you expect to be pleasant, non-threatening and easily digested like a Hot Pocket. Then you watch it and everything changes. Things you thought you had buried deep inside you come crawling up from the depths of your memories, calling out in the dry raspy voice of a dessicated vampire, "Remember me, Elizabeth...we used to wear a cape when no one was looking". Things that are hard to forget. Yeah, Zero Charisma is one of those movies.

At first, the premise seems to be rather innocuous: "An overgrown nerd who serves as Game Master of a fantasy board game finds his role as leader of the misfits put into jeopardy when a new initiate enters the group." Nothing too revealing in that statement right? Nothing that would lead you to think that in a short 86 minutes all those deep seeded hurts and fears that were once right on your nerdy kid surface would come oozing back out again (Not that you ever thought that could happen. I mean you've grown up and are so far removed from that era of smelling like a can of spray cheese and grilled onions, that a mere movie couldn't remind you of how horrible it was back then). But I'm getting ahead of myself here.

The film stars Sam Eidson as Scott, an overly demanding man-boy who lives at home with his grandmother and spends all of his time designing quests for his gaming buddies (who are seemingly stuck in the same exact head-space as Scott). When one of the players leaves the game to save his marriage, Scott finds a replacement in Hipster Geek Miles (Garrett Graham) a guy who is the epitome of what nerd culture has become in the last decade or so. Whereas Scott is your stereotypical dork immersed in a culture that leaves little chance at a life outside it (which seems to be of his own choosing), Miles is the suave and charismatic dabbler who thinks that it would be fun to go full-nerd for a while. Miles can speak the lingo like a champ (He works for a Geek website called GeekChic), provide nerd answers to nerd questions (Which is faster? the Enterprise or the Millennium Falcon?) and acts like "one of the boys", but there is still a level of disconnect between him and the rest of the nerd herd here...he's cool and they are not.

As Miles begins seducing Scott's small circle of friends away from him (most of whom are in fear of Scott on some level- the man is a maniac when it comes to his game), Scott begins to lose his grip on his own life. Who he is as a human being is literally lived behind the Game Master's cardboard barricade and once that has been threatened, Scott goes a bit manic. Of course, it's difficult to go in depth into Scott's psyche without giving away too much. This movie is expertly crafted on Sam Eidson's performance of Scott and his ability to create a protagonist that is so unlikeable, yet has such a vulnerability, that it is hard not to root for him even though he is a huge dick (and, I expect, that a lot of that rooting has to do with a certain familiarity that people will see in Scott, be that of a personal nature or someone they used to pal around with back in the day). It is difficult not to fall in love with Scott, even though you hate him too.

There is a particular moment in the film after Scott has a complete meltdown during a game (which takes place at Miles' hip pad- again, evidence that the game is being co-opted by him) and is caught cheating in order to bring Miles down a peg. As each and everyone of his friends (including his best mench Wayne- played fantastically by Brock England) turn from him to bathe in the glory of Nerd King Miles, a deeply hurt and rage-filled Scott tells each of his former buddies, "When he (Miles) is done with his experiment, don't even think of coming back to me." It is here that you realize what the movie really is about and why it can affect you in the way that it does. If you happen to have come of age during the '70s/early '80s, nerd culture was not the super-cute darling that it is today. Kids got beat up for liking comic books, or RPGs, or actively participating in an activity that was deemed beneath the mainstream. You were called out for being a dork often (if not daily) and learned quickly to disconnect from a whole lotta people. Those who were like you, you clung to. They became your touchstone. You could talk about your passions openly, search out information on favorite comic artists, movies and books together (remember, this was before the Internet) and simply be yourself.

You were, on some level Scott. And then, all of a sudden, the things you loved the most were, in a way, taken from you (maybe not intentionally but it still felt like that) by a new culture, one that claimed fandom, but who didn't have to pay their dues like you did. It became easy to find out the minor characters of DC and Marvel, easy to search out archaic facts about The Last Starfighter, easy to do/find/participate in anything. Your nemesis became like Miles. They might have liked the stuff you did, but you weren't ever going to be invited to the party. And yes, that metaphorical party I just mentioned was, in fact in the movie and filled to the brim with all the Hipster Nerds who are just a bit too cool. Now, like most movie formulas you'd expect that there would be a confrontation between the Hero (Scott) and the Villain (Miles) and it would unfurl in a way that would redeem the Hero in the eyes of those who witness his epic battle. And you wouldn't be wrong, there is. But this movie is steeped in a bit more realism than you'd expect and the battle doesn't go as planned (does it ever in reality?). But that's not the point.

The point comes after the battle, after everything is over and the Hero doesn't learn his lesson, doesn't see the silver lining, doesn't exactly grow as a human being...because it's rare that we actually do any of these things and that's what makes Zero Charisma an incredibly moving, difficult and yes, even sappy film. Sometimes we step in a lot of shit but the beauty part comes from scraping it off your shoe and moving on. And maybe, even staring a new game. (– Elizabeth Weitz)

Philomena

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 4/15/14

When she fell pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench) was sent to the convent to be looked after as a fallen woman. She cared for her baby for three years until the Church took him from her and sold him, like countless others, to America for adoption. Coerced into signing a document promising never to attempt to see her child again, she nonetheless spent the next fifty years secretly searching for him, unaware that he was searching for her from across the Atlantic. Extras include commentary, featurettes and a Q & A with Steve Coogan.

Last Word: Based on a true story, Philomena, tells the story of Philomena Lee’s search for the long lost son she gave birth to out of wedlock in the fifties. Flashbacks reveal that she was “taken in” by the Church, but in exchange for shelter she’s forced into hard labor and has limited time with her son before he’s sold to an American family against her will. After fifty years of silence, Philomena’s (Dame Judy Dench) story is brought to Martin Sixsmith (Steven Coogan) a cynical and fallen journalist whose only current interest involves being gruff and regaining credibility in the news world. In an attempt to revamp his career, Martin reluctantly agrees to write Philomena’s story as a human-interest piece.

While the performances of Philomena are wonderful, I found the structure of the film, alongside an unimpressive score, rather distracting at times. The flashbacks are overly dramatic (borderline intrusive) and were quite lengthy for a ninety-minute feature. With a campy, PBS-special-like melody accompanying those flashbacks, I was taken out of the story – which is actually complex and enjoyable. The search for Philomena’s son surprisingly avoids trite moments of realization and mushy emotionality – spoiler: No. It’s not Coogan. That would’ve been barf. Instead, the journey is delightfully mysterious.

Philomena is a female lead to be admired and watched closely. Her giddy love of romance novels (and spoiling the books from start to end) has that adorable, head-shaking, lovability that comes with elderly folks. She’s chaste and conservative, but has a hilarious potty mouth and awareness, that accentuates her status as a wise old woman who has observed and experienced a lot of pain. But instead of a depressive and complaining attitude, she’s compassionate and smiley to all. There is no room for grudges.

However, alongside that youthful exuberance, is palpable guilt, which is heart breaking in quiet moments. But nothing deters Philomena’s eternal optimism. In contrast, Coogan expertly delivers his disdain for such sentimentality. Having been a political advisor for so long, Martin is tired and jaded. His demeanor is always abrupt and condescending. But of course Philomena is never shy in telling him to be more polite. The villain in Philomena is the Church. And it’s easy to despise their cruelty, but Coogan and Dench’s characters challenge viewers to face the difficult task of forgiving and being positive regardless of past wrongdoings. And Philomena’s positivity cannot be trumped by Martin’s negativity. In a powerful scene where Coogan has just exploded, Dench calmly says, “I don’t want to hate people. I don’t want to be like you.”

Coogen shouts back, “I’m angry!”

And she breathes, “It must be exhausting.” It’s a phenomenal statement. (– Caitlyn Thompson)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

20th Century Fox / Released 4/15/14

With sweeping cinematography and stellar performances The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, tells the story of a timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams and when a negative goes missing must embark on an incredible true-life adventure. With stand-out performances from Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott and Shirley MacLaine, the The Secret Life of Walter Mitty's extras include more than an hour of behind-the-scenes special features, including deleted, extended and alternative scenes, featurettes that dive into filming in Iceland and Walter Mitty history, a gallery of exclusive reference photography, and music video "Stay Alive" by José González, and more.

Last Word: Mitty (Stiller) works at LIFE Magazine in the mundane but important position as the print publication's archivist, made even more important as the cancellation of the magazine has become imminent.

Kristen Wiig co-stars as love interest Cheryl Melhoff and the two sparkle on screen in this romantic delve into daydreams. Adam Scott plays the villainous Ted Hendricks, Mitty's new boss at LIFE and Sean Penn plays Sean O’Connell, LIFE’s on assignment globetrotting cover photographer.

Kathryn Hahn and Shirley MacLaine play Walter’s performance artist sister and widowed mother, respectively. MacLaine’s matriarchal role serves as encouragement to Walter, and reminds him of the potential he could have reached, had his father not died forcing Walter to start working so hard as a teenager at Papa John’s. Hahn’s Odessa serves as a balance to Walter’s id as well, choosing art and fantasy over being a serious worker bee.

Beautiful and epic shots of Greenland, a volcanic explosion, the Afghan mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush all prove to Walter that there is a bigger world out there by taking risks and making tough choices. (– Clay N Ferno)

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The Pull List: STAR WARS DARK TIMES V.7, SIDEKICK V. 1 & SECRET AVENGERS V.3

April 28, 2014, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Library Tats, Landmarks of Dark Fantasy, Literally Best Colbert Moments & More!

≪ Previous: That Time of The Week - DVD/Blu-ray Releases From 4/15 & 4/22

graph·ic nov·el
noun
1. a novel in comic-strip format.

I read them all. The good and the bad, so you don't have to.

Welcome to The Pull List.

And, as always...Spoilers ahead!

Star Wars Dark Times Volume 7: A Spark Remains
Writer: Randy Stradley
Artist: Douglas Wheatley
Colorist: Dan Jackson
Letters: Michael Heisler
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $19.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014

The recent announcement of Lucasfilm’s decision to forgo the Expanded Universe as a part of the canonical story of Star Wars is a day that most hardcore fans feared.

While some don’t care, most are outraged and have issued the usual threats of swearing off things that took place in a galaxy far, far away. What’s the point of engaging in the novels, comics and video games that explore this cherished fiction within fiction?

Because nothing’s changed. Good storytelling is still good storytelling no matter if it “counts” or not.

Randy Stradley’s latest entry into the Dark Times series, A Spark Remains, chronicles an intricate plan to kill Darth Vader.

Yes, this has been done before, but Stradley goes down a different path.

Instead of a particular group of individuals gunning for the Sith Lord, we are treated to a hodgepodge assembly of characters of different professions and backgrounds. Vader’s relentless pursuit of the Jedi who escaped Order 66 has destroyed many lives. The somber tone of those plotting his demise came across extremely well because you could tell they were tired of surviving and wanted to live, even if their time was limited.

Over the years, Dark Horse Comics has done a phenomenal job of maintaining, and sometimes enhancing, the mystique of Darth Vader. Sometimes, they do too good of a job because we often revel in his immorality instead of despising him for it. It’s almost impossible to present a tame Darth Vader so Stradley only included him in moments where he was absolutely needed in order to prevent that bad-ass cool factor from diluting the gravity of a perilous situation that Jedi Dass Jennir and company face.

The ending won’t blow your mind, but it does go in a different direction which was a welcomed change.

Overall, the story reads better as one collected work because the various subplots don’t get lost in the shuffle like they do when waiting a month or longer for the next single issue. Now, Expanded Universe tales have been rebranded Star Wars Legends. I think this presents an opportunity for fans to read up on stories they’ve heard of but have never actually read.

Dark Times covers a series of events that shape and mold whom the most beloved characters in the original Star Wars trilogy ultimately become.

Score: 7/10

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Library Tats, Landmarks of Dark Fantasy, Literally Best Colbert Moments & More!

April 28, 2014, 7:00 pm

≫ Next: ANIMATION GEEK: High Tea- Even Zombies Need A Chance To Be Civilized

≪ Previous: The Pull List: STAR WARS DARK TIMES V.7, SIDEKICK V. 1 & SECRET AVENGERS V.3

Asking the Wrong Questions

The new Hugo nominations are out and here is why it is once again a sorry state of affairs.

Dark Fantasy Landmarks

IO9 presents the great landmarks in the history of dark fantasy beginning farther back than you think.

Amazon Biz Lagging

In the states and locations where Amazon is now required to charge sales tax, business has been declining for the online juggernaut.

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ANIMATION GEEK: High Tea- Even Zombies Need A Chance To Be Civilized

April 29, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: The Total WTF and NSFW Amazon Purchase You Will Possibly Ever Make

≪ Previous: Library Tats, Landmarks of Dark Fantasy, Literally Best Colbert Moments & More!

In this incredibly delightful animated short by Tammy Chang (which is a fourth-year project at CalArts) a group of friends get together for high tea, which, would normally be a boring premise, but in this case those friends are now zombies and, even though it is apparent that they aren't running on all cylinders due to putrefaction, they still have an innate need to observe this get-together.

Of course, being zombies, things kind of get out of hand.

Zombie tea parties...now that would be an interesting shindig.

Video after the break.

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The Total WTF and NSFW Amazon Purchase You Will Possibly Ever Make

April 29, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: STAR WARS EPISODE VII: Who's In and Who's Out?

≪ Previous: ANIMATION GEEK: High Tea- Even Zombies Need A Chance To Be Civilized

I am always looking at ways to incorporate a bit of absurdity into my get-togethers so as to keep people coming back to my house and raising my self-esteem. And to be honest with you, I'm running out of ideas,.

Until I saw the greatest item to ever sold on Amazon, The Infant Circumcision Trainer:

So it looks like, I'm throwing a Mohel Party!

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STAR WARS EPISODE VII: Who's In and Who's Out?

April 29, 2014, 12:01 pm

≫ Next: A Good Reason To Stop All the Bullying...You A$$holes

≪ Previous: The Total WTF and NSFW Amazon Purchase You Will Possibly Ever Make

The casting news has finally been made official, as the announcement has been made via Facebook:

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer.

Let's take a look who's in and who doesn't appear to be coming back after the jump.

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A Good Reason To Stop All the Bullying...You A$$holes

April 29, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: 25 Things You Didn't Know About MEAN GIRLS

≪ Previous: STAR WARS EPISODE VII: Who's In and Who's Out?

I grew up before all the anti-bullying task forces so, as you can surmise, my childhood was filled with a lot of harassment and emotional scarring that no PC salve will ever be able to heal. And while I like to think that all that trauma brought me to where I am today (as a Managing Editor for a kick-ass website and loads of hate email) I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if the Middle School principal was more obliged to help me out after someone cut up all my gym clothes rather than say "Well, that happens...try to be more friendly".

But today is today and thanks to PSAs like VH1's Revenge of the Nerds, I have faith that maybe some of the assholes between the ages of 12-18 might take a moment before giving the smart kid with glasses a swirly and think about his future employment opportunities, because there's a good chance they might be working for the person they Atomic Wedgied.

And trust me, that person remembers it.

So if you thought constantly berating a kid until they developed an ulcer was a fun way to pass the time, wait until they do the same to your paycheck.

Payback is a bitch.

PSA after the break.

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25 Things You Didn't Know About MEAN GIRLS

April 29, 2014, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: ALL THE EMAIL ADDRESSES YOU WISH YOU HAD: An Art Project With Severe Nostalgic Twangs

≪ Previous: A Good Reason To Stop All the Bullying...You A$$holes

When Mean Girls debuted on April 30, 2004, Lindsay Lohan was fresh off her Freaky Friday hit and we barely knew who Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried were.

Now they're much bigger box-office draws than Lohan. A lot has changed in 10 years but not the movie's cult status, which only seems to grow.

In celebration of the film's 10th anniversary, here's some behind-the-scenes secrets you probably didn't know, including the ever-changing cast lineup.

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ALL THE EMAIL ADDRESSES YOU WISH YOU HAD: An Art Project With Severe Nostalgic Twangs

April 29, 2014, 5:00 pm

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Rohitash Roa is what we call a multimedia artist, from his stint as a creative director at SyFy and making award-winning animations, to illustrating children's books and dabbling in what he calls TrashArt (turning discarded junk into pieces of art), Roa is someone to keep an eye on.

And in one of his works, an old Rolodex becomes a portal into Pop Culture's most sacred wish, to have the email addresses of all your favorite characters. And while there are the more mainstream characters like Saul Goodman:

And Darth Vader:

It is the the email addresses for characters born before the advent of the internet and who, well lets just admit it, would be more coveted by people who remember when TVs weighed 700 pounds and required a picture tube to work.

Yeah, I'm talking about us old people.

If you were born before 1976 and are interested in how to contact Edna Garrett or Benson Dubois, check out the pics after the break and, if you are young and looking to test your pop culture triva, go ahead and have a bit of fun.

But I warn you, email addresses are sacred things, don't overdo it with the spam. I'm quite sure Morris Buttermaker would not like it (yeah, you're gonna so Google that name aren't you?)

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FOG! Chats THE MACHINE With Black Canary, CAITY LOTZ

April 29, 2014, 7:00 pm

≫ Next: FOR GOD AND FRISKIES! Clothe Your Feline In Battle Armor

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Interview by Stefan Blitz

Caity Lotz isn't feeling very well.

We spoke the day after she returned to her home in Los Angeles after spending the past several months in Vancouver, British Columbia where she played Sara Lance aka The Black Canary on the CW's hit series, Arrow. And she came back with a bad cold.

Her new film, the science fiction thriller The Machine, has already won the Raindance Award from the British Independent Film Awards (Caity had also received a nomination as Most Promising Newcomer)

In The Machine, Britain is in a Cold War with a new enemy, the Ministry of Defense is on the brink of developing a game-changing weapon. Lead scientist Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) provides the answer with his creation, ‘The Machine’- an android with unrivaled physical and processing skills. When a programming glitch causes an early prototype to destroy his lab, McCarthy enlists artificial intelligence expert Ava (Caity Lotz) to help him harness the full potential of a truly conscious fighting machine (also played by Caity).

Caity took some time to speak with FOG! despite feeling awful.

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FOR GOD AND FRISKIES! Clothe Your Feline In Battle Armor

April 30, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Make Your High-Fives Truly Epic With the Fiesta Five

≪ Previous: FOG! Chats THE MACHINE With Black Canary, CAITY LOTZ

Cats are the soldiers of the animal world (I'm not sure that statement is 100% true but I'm going to say it anyway) and thus should be properly attired for war. And thanks to Etsy owner, schnabuble, your kitteh will be protected from the vicious swipes of enemies via some heavy-duty-adornments.

According to schnabuble the armor is:

100% wearable, flexible, and comfortable, the Cat Battle Armor is a for-reals armor harness for your kitty. Completely hand-made from durable veg-tan leather, this is no mere costume piece. Your cat will become an unstoppable force for slaughter in this fully articulated suit, shielding him/her from foes while allowing unimpeded movement across the battlefield or living room floor. The imposing torso section features several riveted, articulated plates and a terrifying rack of dorsal spines. Your cat's hindquarters are sheathed beneath exquisitely arrayed overlapping scales stitched to a soft leather backing, adorned with nickel silver dome rivets. Midnight black scales and plates are finished with a glossy protective coat and seamlessly join together like the petals of a deadly flower. Adjustable at the collar with elastic and two nickel silver buckles, and at the belly with grommeted corset-style lacing for a secure, comfortable fit.

And it looks good while standing among the bones of your vanquished enemies...or balls of unwound string.

So for the grace of Cthulhu, or whatever mythical creature you pray to, arm your warriors to defend your land from stink bugs, spiders and other such monsters...you know, if you have $500 and a real desire to re-enact Game of Thrones in your home.

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Make Your High-Fives Truly Epic With the Fiesta Five

April 30, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: MATH GEEK: Film Noir-ish Animation 'The Case of the Missing Fractals' Turns Math Into A Who-Dunnit

≪ Previous: FOR GOD AND FRISKIES! Clothe Your Feline In Battle Armor

There comes a time in everyone's life when something epic occurs and it cannot be celebrated with a simple hug, a slap on the back, or a knowing nod. No, in those instances what you need is an epic high-five, so amazing that people everywhere will speak about it for years to come.

Introducing a confetti-filled Fiesta Five that will say to the world "What just happened was so fucking awesome that small pieces of paper should come shooting out of my hand upon impact".

And for $9.95 you can.

From Fiesta Five:

The Fiesta-Five is a new product that lets you blast confetti from your hands whenever you give a high-five. It's reload-able and shoots biodegradable confetti, adding color and noise to this classic celebration. It's high-fives on steroids! Perfect and customizable for sporting & promo events, parties, and weddings.

So spread some confetti-love when you finish your final, complete a work project on time or when you see someone fall in a puddle of mud...because life is too short to not celebrate the truly epic things in life.

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MATH GEEK: Film Noir-ish Animation 'The Case of the Missing Fractals' Turns Math Into A Who-Dunnit

April 30, 2014, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Watch The Original THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Trilogy!

≪ Previous: Make Your High-Fives Truly Epic With the Fiesta Five

I like Math and I like film noir, put them together and what you have is a scintillating animation by Alex Rosenthal, George Zaidan and TED-Ed that hopes to introduce the concept of fractals to people in a way that is more, well, interesting.

Here's the plot description (From YouTube):

A bump on the head, a mysterious femme fatale and a strange encounter on a windswept peak all add up to a heck of a night for Manny Brot, Private Eye. Watch as he tries his hand at saving the dame and getting the cash! Shudder at the mind-bending geometric riddles! Thrill to the stunning solution of The Case of the Missing Fractals.

If only all math lessons could be so awesome.

Afterward, if you'd like to go a bit deeper into fractals, click HERE for some serious TedEd lessons. Go on, it's a good way to impress people with your mad noggin skills.

Video after the break,

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