Win WELL GO USA Blu-ray Prize Package!

July 9, 2014, 7:00 pm

≫ Next: THROWBACK THURSDAY: Star Trek the Animated Series' PSA on Keeping Space Beautiful...Or Something Like That

≪ Previous: Kickstarter Korner - THE CHRONICLES OF FARO

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Thanks to our friends at Well Go USA, we've got a fantastic prize package containing three of their newest releases for Forces of Geek readers!

The Chef The Actor And The Scoundrel 

World War II:  a cholera epidemic ravages the streets of Beijing. A crack team of Chinese intelligence agents kidnap a Japanese general and biochemist who may hold the antidote. When trickery and torture fail, the covert squad smuggles their victims into a restaurant and launches the oddest of interrogations – staging a Chinese Opera and posing as fellow guests, designed to entice, confuse, and ultimately trick their captives into revealing the truth before time runs out.

Rigor Mortis

A washed-up actor, desperate and suicidal, moves into a haunted apartment building where supernatural creatures, ghost hunters, taoist exorcists, and the souls of the undead are among his neighbors.

Kid Cannabis 

Kid Cannabis is the true story of Nate Norman (Jonathan Daniel Brown, Project X), an Idaho teen dropout who builds a multimillion-dollar marijuana ring by partnering with his best friend (Kenny Wormald, Footloose) and their pals to run drugs across the Canadian border.

Bankrolled by a deadly-serious dope czar (Ron Perlman, Sons of Anarchy) and supplied by an ex-government grower (John C. McGinley, Scrubs), Nate's pursuit of the high life - complete with girls, guns, and vicious rival dealers - may leave this ex-pizza boy in way over his head.

And we're giving away three sets!


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THROWBACK THURSDAY: Star Trek the Animated Series' PSA on Keeping Space Beautiful...Or Something Like That

July 10, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Here's IAN MCKELLEN Jamming With the Fleshtones in '87...Because That's What Magneto Liked To Do

≪ Previous: Win WELL GO USA Blu-ray Prize Package!

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Even in space pollution blows and thanks to those fucking Romulans there's a bunch of "space matter" hurling toward the Enterprise at Warp 6....what will the crew do?

Apparently talk about it (I don't know why they don't just blow it up considering Kirk issues a Red Alert) but the real message in this early 70s cartoon is...Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute...or was that a different PSA?

Whatever, watch Kirk and Spock talk about garbage after the break.

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Here's IAN MCKELLEN Jamming With the Fleshtones in '87...Because That's What Magneto Liked To Do

July 10, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS: OMFG The Internet Is Down!!!!

≪ Previous: THROWBACK THURSDAY: Star Trek the Animated Series' PSA on Keeping Space Beautiful...Or Something Like That

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Back in the mid-80s Andy Warhol had a bizarre but brilliant talk show on MTV called 15 Minutes (how appropriate) which introduced new musical acts as well as had interviews with interesting people. The show might have lasted a mere two years but it helped to introduce MTV addicts, like myself, to cool bands that we would have otherwise never gotten to know.

Of course, in this particular clip it isn't so much the band that is cause for celebration (the garage/punk band The Fleshtones) as it is one young Ian McKellen spouting a Shakespearean Sonnet while the band plays behind him.

Yep, once upon a time MTV was pretty damn cool....much like Sir Ian McKellen.

Video after the break.

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FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS: OMFG The Internet Is Down!!!!

July 10, 2014, 11:00 am

≫ Next: TYRANT, FARGO and Drawing the Villain's Black Hat Cheaply

≪ Previous: Here's IAN MCKELLEN Jamming With the Fleshtones in '87...Because That's What Magneto Liked To Do

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A couple of weeks ago I lost my internet for five days and reverted back to a primal state where I grunted like an animal, built a nest from the innards of my faux goose down pillow and watched movies (gasp) from actual DVDs. By the time RCN came to fix the issue (something with our lines) I was a complete shell of a human being who resorted to having deep, meaningful conversations with my husband as a way to pass the time...it was horrible.

Afterward, when the internet was back on and I was able to visit all the sites that made life worth living (Reddit, Feedly, YouTube, Instagram) I realized that perhaps I have an internet addiction problem and maybe I should see someone for it...but lets face it, that would require going outside...and no one wants that.

If you too have trouble dealing with a world that isn't online, take a look a Julian Smith's hilarious comedy sketch, Wifi, after the break, it'll help explain the panic addicts like myself feel whenever the internet goes down.

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TYRANT, FARGO and Drawing the Villain's Black Hat Cheaply

July 10, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: ARCHIE Announces DARK CIRCLE COMICS

≪ Previous: FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS: OMFG The Internet Is Down!!!!

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The new FX series Tyrant introduces the lead character’s brother, the crown prince of a fake Middle Eastern dictatorship that feels like an Iran/Saudi Arabia mashup, by showing him raping a a commoner’s wife.

Jamal Al Fayeed attacks the woman as her husband and young children are forced to sit outside their apartment’s front door, listening to her attacker’s grunts and their mother’s stifled yelps of pain.

And that’s just one of three scenes of Jamal abusing a woman.

In the first episode of another FX series, Fargo, an asshole bully of a character, Sam Hess, is rolled out to use by his casual taunt of lead character Lester Nygard, calling him “Lester Niggered.” Hess does this in front of his own goober-headed, chip-off-the-old-rotten-block sons.

Of course, each of these actions by these characters are repulsive, horrific and evil. Of course we’re immediately supposed to dislike these men, see them as awful people, and cheer if any comeuppance befalls them.

Look at them: rapist and racist. These are the guys it’s OK to hate.

However, it also made me wonder: Why exactly did either show have to immediately throw out sexual assault and racial bigotry, from the get-go, to establish these characters?

I just don’t know that, in 2014, rape and racism should be go-to items in the instant-characterization bag of tricks.

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ARCHIE Announces DARK CIRCLE COMICS

July 10, 2014, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: The Unessential Essential Betty Boop

≪ Previous: TYRANT, FARGO and Drawing the Villain's Black Hat Cheaply

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Archie rebrands superhero imprint, plans slate of ‘cinematic’ and ‘literary’ titles  in the vein of hit AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE series

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The Unessential Essential Betty Boop

July 10, 2014, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Sneak Peek: Jeffrey Brown's 'GOODNIGHT DARTH VADER'

≪ Previous: ARCHIE Announces DARK CIRCLE COMICS

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The contents of the fourth and final volume of Betty Boop cartoons from Olive Films have been announced for September release.  To say this collection has been a fiasco is succinct and apt. You can read about why on my site here.

Along with the criminal issue of aspect ratio distortion, the selection in what amounts to a "best of" collection, or rather, ESSENTIAL collection, is baffling.

Paramount provided Olive Films with an incomplete and inaccurate list of Betty films still under copyright, and we have such a misguided selection of Betty Boop shorts as a result. Knowledgeable folk tried to get involved, but for a small outfit, Olive is notorious for ignoring free advice and coming off as completely incompetent. (See the Jerry Lewis releases sourced from faded material, or the wrong aspect ratio on Nick Ray's JOHNNY GUITAR.)

The sad part is that it left several dozen Bettys, copyrighted or not, in limbo. There is some killer news on the horizon with regards to the Fleischer library, but that can't be revealed for quite some time. (Be assured Olive Films will have nothing to do with it.)

In the meantime, have a look at the evolution of Betty in five cartoons that weren't deemed "essential" enough, despite showing the evolution of the character.

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Sneak Peek: Jeffrey Brown's 'GOODNIGHT DARTH VADER'

July 10, 2014, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Reunite In BLENDED on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD 8/26

≪ Previous: The Unessential Essential Betty Boop

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One of the cooler debuts coming next week at San Diego Comic Con is Jeffrey Brown's latest Star Wars book, Goodnight Darth Vader published by Chronicle Books.

Brown's previous two Star Wars titles for Chronicle both made The New York Times Bestseller's List, Darth Vader and Son and Vader's Little Princess. 

Goodnight Darth Vader reimagines the father/child relationships between Star Wars character Darth Vader and his twins Luke and Leia.  And, while the books were originally geared towards adults, feedback proved that the books were finding a family audience prompting Brown to take a different approach to the series with the third installment; “Why not make it a bedtime story that everyone can enjoy?”

Check out a first look after the jump!

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Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Reunite In BLENDED on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD 8/26

July 10, 2014, 7:00 pm

≫ Next: DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (review)

≪ Previous: Sneak Peek: Jeffrey Brown's 'GOODNIGHT DARTH VADER'

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Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD include Adam and Drew: Back Together Again, Bella Thorne’s Makeover, Deleted Scenes and more!

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DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (review)

July 11, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: ANIMATION GEEK: The Closer- A Little Bit of Baseball Wrapped Up In A Whole Lot Of Nostalgia

≪ Previous: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Reunite In BLENDED on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD 8/26

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Review by Benn Robbins

Produced by Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, 

Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Written by Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Based on Characters created by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Premise suggested by Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Directed by Matt Reeves

Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, 

Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, 

Judy Greer, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Given the current state of Hollywood and their current ongoing disease of only bankrolling remakes/reboots or sequels of established franchises, it is refreshing to see something new from something old.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a fine sequel to the already "soft" re-booted series Planet of the Apes, which began with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes staring James Franco, Andy Serkis and John Lithgow.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes picks up 10 years after the "Great Simian Flu" wiped out most of humanity.

Shown through a title sequence montage, the plague started with "patient zero" a.k.a the ill fated Dr. Franklin from RotPotA.

Caesar and the other apes that escaped at the end of the previous film have now become a huge colony and are encamped deep in the Northern California woods. Caesar has a son and is teaching him the ways of adulthood. During a hunting expedition the group of Chimps meet up with a small band of humans on a scouting research mission led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke, Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby).

When one of the skittish humans accidentally shoots an ape, all hell brakes loose and they barely escape with their lives.

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ANIMATION GEEK: The Closer- A Little Bit of Baseball Wrapped Up In A Whole Lot Of Nostalgia

July 11, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: LEPRECHAUN Complete Box Set Available on Blu-Ray and DVD September 30th; ncludes Upcoming LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS

≪ Previous: DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (review)

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Mike Edel grew up in the short summers of Alberta, Canada where he spent most of his youth traveling the long roads with his dad for his brother's baseball games. Those days stuck with Edel and inspired him to write a song called The Closer which was then animated into this little slice of baseball heaven.

If the sound of bats cracking against a fastball is your idea of a symphony then check out this folk-song animated ode to hot dusty days spent at a ball field.

Video after the break.

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LEPRECHAUN Complete Box Set Available on Blu-Ray and DVD September 30th; ncludes Upcoming LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS

July 11, 2014, 10:00 am

≫ Next: WTF FRIDAY: Japanese Doctor Who Is Exactly What You'd Expect It To Be

≪ Previous: ANIMATION GEEK: The Closer- A Little Bit of Baseball Wrapped Up In A Whole Lot Of Nostalgia

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Starring WWE Superstar Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl, The Film Arrives On Digital HD   And Video On Demand August 26th From Lionsgate Home Entertainment Available on Blu-ray and DVD On September 30th

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WTF FRIDAY: Japanese Doctor Who Is Exactly What You'd Expect It To Be

July 11, 2014, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Syfy Greenlights Pilot of 'THE MAGICIANS'

≪ Previous: LEPRECHAUN Complete Box Set Available on Blu-Ray and DVD September 30th; ncludes Upcoming LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS

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Leave it to the Japanese to create a Doctor Who parody that embraces all the WTF your brain can possibly stand. This, my friends, is why the internet was created.

Video after the break.

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Syfy Greenlights Pilot of 'THE MAGICIANS'

July 11, 2014, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES: Shame- Watch A Racist William Shatner Be A Huge Dick In This 1962 Roger Corman Flick

≪ Previous: WTF FRIDAY: Japanese Doctor Who Is Exactly What You'd Expect It To Be

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ADAPTATION OF LEV GROSSMAN’S BEST-SELLING FANTASY SERIES TO BE PRODUCED BY UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS

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LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES: Shame- Watch A Racist William Shatner Be A Huge Dick In This 1962 Roger Corman Flick

July 11, 2014, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Dream Jobs of a Young Geek

≪ Previous: Syfy Greenlights Pilot of 'THE MAGICIANS'

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Wanna see a movie that will make you feel uncomfortable, not just because the subject matter is deeply offensive but because beloved sci-fi/comedy/TJ Hooker actor William Shatner plays a huge racist asshole who turns an entire Southern town into one gigantic fuck fest for the African-Americans living in it?

Then have I got you covered with the movie Shame (also known as The Intruder, The Stranger and my personal favorite, I Hate Your Guts!).

The story is basically this: Shatner plays a guy named Cramer who comes to a small Southern town in order to whip up all the white people into a violent racial frenzy when the school decides to integrate. He also manages to turn wives against their husbands and daughters against their fathers using just his dick.

Also, there's this:

Feel weird yet?

Well, you will.

Click HERE to see the movie.

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Dream Jobs of a Young Geek

July 11, 2014, 3:02 pm

≫ Next: Double Feature Movie Show: SIXTIES BRITISH SPIES

≪ Previous: LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES: Shame- Watch A Racist William Shatner Be A Huge Dick In This 1962 Roger Corman Flick

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I remember as a kid whenever the teacher would go around the room, asking us what we wanted to be when we grew up, there came a moment when she would inevitably pause.

She would gird herself, and almost always take a deep breath before going on.

That moment always came as she landed on me.

While other kids wanted to be doctors, lawyers and garbage men, I knew I wanted more. More from life and, apparently, more from reality. I would look my teachers (or whoever, really) directly in the eye and, straight faced, rattle of completely fictional jobs. This wasn’t done ironically, either. It would be a long time before I grew into being a hipster and at the time, I was just being completely earnest.

So what were these fictional jobs and why did I choose them? Well, let’s see what young Chris wanted to be when he grew up…

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Double Feature Movie Show: SIXTIES BRITISH SPIES

July 11, 2014, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: IDW Publishing Launches WATCHMEN ARTIFACT EDITION at SDCC

≪ Previous: Dream Jobs of a Young Geek

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American independence is a pretty big deal, I guess.

Last Friday was July 4th, so I thought I would write about some British spies.

Hey, we won our independence from England, so it kinda ties in, right?

The 60s were the height of the spy boom. Everybody wanted to know more about spies. After the Cuban Missile Crisis the Cold War really heated up and every country was spying on every other country. The public wanted to know more about these people…even if it was completely made up.

And, of course, it all was. Governments wouldn’t want the people knowing how spies really worked.

Two literary spies were huge throughout the 60s. They both showed a different side of spying. One of them became an international superstar.

Guess which one.


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IDW Publishing Launches WATCHMEN ARTIFACT EDITION at SDCC

July 11, 2014, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Kickstart THE FROSTLINGS!

≪ Previous: Double Feature Movie Show: SIXTIES BRITISH SPIES

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An Evening With Dave Gibbons, With Ultra-Limited Version Of Book, Also Unveiled

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Kickstart THE FROSTLINGS!

July 11, 2014, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Win a NICKELODEON Anniversary Prize Pack!

≪ Previous: IDW Publishing Launches WATCHMEN ARTIFACT EDITION at SDCC

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Every once in a while, a Kickstarter pitch arrives in my inbox that simply cannot be ignored and Patrick and Shelly Block's Frostlings is one of those projects.

Described as, "(an) EPIC Graphic Novel on a Tiny Scale- a Hand-Painted Fantasy World of Swords & Magic mixed with Steam Punk Science on a 200+ page Quest!," Frostlings is an original creation by the Blocks,  who have spent the last 25 years producing Uncle Scrooge and other Duck comics for Disney.

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Win a NICKELODEON Anniversary Prize Pack!

July 11, 2014, 7:15 pm

≫ Next: LA BARE (review)

≪ Previous: Kickstart THE FROSTLINGS!

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Believe it or not, Nickelodeon is celebrating it's 35th Anniversary this year.

From it's early days playing Dobie Gillis and Patty Duke to You Can't Do That on Television and Double Dare and Hey Dude to Drake & Josh and iCarly and Big Time Rush, Nickelodeon has been a leader in programming for younger viewers.

And to celebrate the awesomeness that is Nick, we've teamed up with our friends at TV Store Online for a giveaway that could only get better with a bucket of slime!

This prize includes shirts from two favorite series that have been a part of the Nick family for years.

Power Rangers Faces 119 Heroes Adult White T-Shirt

Got a favorite Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger?  Guess what, they made it to this shirt!  100% Cotton, standard fit and a perfect top to wear while fighting kaiju's!


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Master Splinter's School of Ninjutsu Black Adult T-shirt

New York's finest Dojo ever run by a mutated rat and training ground for the four most excellent pizza loving ninjas ever, this must have shirt definitely help spread the word about Master Splinter's Dojo for the teenage mutated ninjas in your life.  100% Cotton, standard fit and can be worn on the street or the rooftops or even the sewers!


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