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Sneak Peak: Insight Editions' THE ART OF 'HOME'

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On March 27, 2015, DreamWorks Animation brings an entirely new alien race to earth in the 3D comedy adventure HOME.


Packed with concept art, character backgrounds, design inspirations, and interviews with key animation talent, The Art of HOME (Insight Editions / $45.00 / February 2015) by Ramin Zahed gives readers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the upcoming movie was brought to life with the imagination and expertise of DreamWorks Animation’s talented creative team.

HOME invites audiences on an unpredictable and exhilarating road trip around the world, rich with famous landmarks and cityscapes that have been given a wacky alien makeover,” said HOME producer Suzanne Buirgy. “Building on the incredible work of DreamWorks Animation’s talented artists, The Art of HOME is an essential companion to the film with its in-depth exploration of the unique world we call home.”

Based on the best-selling book The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, HOME is guaranteed to delight moviegoers of all ages. When Oh, a loveable misfit from another planet, lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people, he forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl named Tip who is on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures with Tip, Oh comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And as he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word HOME.

The Art of HOME includes three main parts:
  • “THE BOOV” introduces the alien race looking for a new planet to call home
  • “THE HUMANS AND THEIR WORLD” explores the humans and the Earth they are trying to save.
  • “THE GORG” delves into how the designers conceptualized the main antagonist and the design of their spaceship.

Featuring a foreword by actor Jim Parsons, preface by director Tim Johnson, and afterword by Adam Rex, The Art of HOME is a must-have for families, movie fans, and animation lovers everywhere.

After the jump check out a first look at this beautiful new book.

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Among The Panels: STAR WARS #1, CONAN RED SONJA #1, A VOICE IN THE DARK: GET YOUR GUN #2 & More!

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A world of four color magic arrives every Wednesday.

Stories and adventures of heroes and villains, good versus evil.

Tales that entertain and excite by talented writers and artists.

Here are my thoughts Among The Panels.


Star Wars #1

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: John Cassaday

Publisher: Marvel
 Comics
Price: $4.99


I was lucky enough to grow up with a father who had a huge love for Sci-fi and Fantasy.

He would take me to all of the really terrible, but great, movies and tell me what books he thought I would like.

I will always remember sitting in the theatre and watching him cry to the opening credits of The Lord of the Rings.

I asked him why he cried and he just looked at me and said “I have been waiting 20 years to see it and it was exactly what I wanted.”  He was also very passionate about Star Wars and he was so proud to take me to see the re-released versions when they came back to theaters.

Those moments hold a very special place for me and they have influenced the way I absorb media.

Even though I love the original Star Wars movies I never branched out to read any of the Expanded Universe that so many others love. I was also indifferent by the announcement that only the movies were cannon and all other stories written were moved to the fan fiction category. I was, however, excited to see a re-launch of the comic series under Marvel’s watchful eye because it meant that I had an easy jumping on point. Star Wars #1 is exactly what it sounds like.

The story takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Our rebel team land on a planet that houses the Empire's biggest weapons factory. The team springs into action and sets the factory to overload but in true movie fashion, just as they are about to escape Darth Vader shows up and soon thereafter calamity ensues. The issue ends with a spectacular cliffhanger that leaves the book ready to explode.

The Good: Seeing all the familiar faces and supremely iconic vehicles made me feel right at home. The art of John Cassaday was a great mix of comic book styles and realistic character models that didn’t detract from how we already know these characters to look like. The pacing of the book was also spot-on; I didn’t find myself falling out of the story at all and after all is said and done, who doesn’t love seeing someone get his hand cut off by a light saber?

The Not So Good: The writing didn’t leave a mark on me even in the slightest. It wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t great. The story takes place in a time period where I, as the reader, know that the peril they are in isn’t real. I know they live to see the next movie. I think that’s one of the hardest things to pull off with a title like this, along with trying to please a fan base that is known to not be so forgiving.

The Verdict: A strong effort from everyone involved and I think a great start to a giant series of books coming soon out of the Marvel camp. I just hope that the story gets more compelling and goes in a way that will make me wonder what’s going to happen next instead of me already knowing that they end up fine in the end.

Score: 3.5 out of 5


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IMAGE COMICS Launches IMAGE DIRECT, Mail-Order Subscription Service

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Customers can now opt to purchase 12-issue subscriptions to their favorite Image comics and have them mailed to their door

Image Comics is pleased to announce Image Direct, a newly launched mail-order subscription service that allows fans to purchase 12-issue subscriptions to their favorite Image comics and have them delivered straight to their doorstep. Image Direct serves continental U.S. customers only. Subscribe here: http://subscriptions.imagecomics.com/.

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Dale Cooper, Laura Palmer, Audrey Horne and Bobby Briggs Are Headed Back To TWIN PEAKS

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Earlier this week, Showtime Network President David Nevins was joined onstage during his presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour by Kyle MacLachlan who stepped out onstage in the black suit of Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking a trademark cup of coffee.


MacLachlan was officially the first actor to be announced to be returning to Showtime's new Twin Peaks series which will air next year during the 25th anniversary of the cult series.

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SCENES OF SPIRITS: Top 10 Séances From Classic Cinema

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Attempts to contact the spirit world are nothing new - you can trace them back to ancient times - but the idea of a formal séance (led by a medium, at a round table, holding hands, in a dark room with a few flickering candles for ambience) only became popular in late Victorian times.

Séances remained popular up to World War I and through the 1920s as families tried to contact the souls of fallen soldiers.


It's not unusual for people to attempt séances today.

In movies, séance sequences are inherently suspenseful.  There is always some preparation, some buildup, some burning question needing to be answered.

Even if the ghosts are fake, which often happens in film as in real life, you feel the suspense before someone tricks or attacks the séance participants.

Psychiclibrary.com claims that an effective séance requires at least three willing participants.  Dark rooms and lit candles help to attract spirits, as do light-colored tablecloths.  Outside noises, such as electronic devices, will scare most spirits away.  Linked hands help to channel the participants' energies.  Chants help to focus the energies so that spirits will hear when called.  After the ceremony, a simple "thank you" to the spirit will help send it on its way.

Nearly all of this is borne out in cinematic séance sequences.

So here are my picks for the top 10 séance sequences in classic horror films up to 1982.  Some are serious, some are funny, and all are worth watching.

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Emily Blunt Might Play Chris Hemsworth's Nemesis In THE HUNTSMAN

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Written by Christopher M.

Emily Blunt is returning to the world of fairy tales as The Wrap reports she is in negotiations to play the new villain in Unversal's sequel to Snow White And The Huntsman, titled The Huntsman.

Blunt has previously been involved with genre in films such as Gulliver's Travels and Disney's musical Into The Woods. We don't often see the actress portray villains so this could be an interesting character for Emily.

The Wrap also adds that director Frank Darabont (Godzilla, The Mist, The Walking Dead) has exited the project this week citing creative differences.

A shame, since we loved what Frank did with both The Walking Dead and The Mist. He also penned the recent draft of the script which had previous worked done by Craig Mazin and Evan Spiliotopoulos

Having both Chris Hemsworth and now possibly Emily Blunt attached as the film's leads it shouldn't be hard to find a new director for the sequel.

The sequel is said to be focusing on Chris Hemsworth's character Eric, and likely won't see the return of Kristen Stewart in any major way while Charlize Theron is expected to reprise her role.

Blunt's character is said to be the evil Snow Queen, sister to Charlize Theron's Ravenna, who was killed in the last film.

The Snow Queen is looking to avenge Raveena's death, while Hemsworth's Eric The Huntsman is on a mission to find the magic mirror which has been stolen.

The Huntsman's release date has been scheduled for April 22, 2016 which suggests production will begin extremely soon.

This along with last summer's Edge of Tomorrow could help boost Emily's status as an action star seeing her moving into more adventure focused roles in the future.

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Webcomic 'LOOKING FOR GROUP' Comes To Print From Dynamite Entertainment

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Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Looking For Group, the hilarious fantasy-themed webcomic with a readership of millions, will be released as an ongoing comic book series, representing all strips from the very beginning. Written by Ryan Sohmer and illustrated by Lar deSouza, Hawk, Ryan Dunlavey, and Ed Ryzowski, the upcoming Looking For Group series includes bonus stories from the Non-Playable Character and Tiny Dick Adventures spin-off series. The debut issue will be released in April 2015, featuring brand new cover editions by industry veteran Ty Templeton (Batman '66 Meets The Green Hornet) and Becky Dreisdadt.


Looking For Group follows the adventures of Cale'Anon the elf and Richard the undead warlock, as well as their companions, through Fantasy, Pop Culture, and Gaming tropes, set in a reality and time unlike our own. It's a place where the eating of small children is not necessarily frowned upon; where beings of extraordinary power can destroy entire villages with only "because I could" as an excuse; where magic and adventure are as commonplace as setting fire to, and then reanimating, a chipmunk into a skeletal minion (it happens more than you'd think); and an epic journey can begin by an accident of fate.

Ryan Sohmer, the writer and co-creator of Looking For Group, says, "We are really excited to present Looking For Group in a new format to a whole new audience in comic shops across North America, right from the start. Putting it all together, it's been great to go back and re-live our particular brand of hilarious immolation. Everyone at Dynamite has been great to work with, especially once they stopped screaming!"

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X-FILES TV Reboot Will Star David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson

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Fox chairman and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman have revealed that they are in talks with series creator Chris Carter to revive The X-Files,the cult series that originally aired on the network from 1993 to 2002. Also expected are original series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson to reprise their roles as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Whether or not the series would return to the schedule permanently or as a special presentation (similar to last year's 24: Live Another Day has yet to be determined).

Carter, Duchovny and Anderson have all publicly expressed their interest, so it's likely just a matter of scheduling and determining a direction for the reboot.

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Oscar Book Titles, Zuckerberg's Book Club, Common Names & More!

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (review)

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Review by Guy Benoit
Produced by Sina Sayyah, 
Justin Begnaud, Elijah Wood
Written and Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
Starring Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, 
Marshall Manesh, Dominic Rains



It’s perverse that Jim Jarmusch would so recently produce Only Lovers Left Alive, his vampire flick, simply because A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night seems to answer the question, “Imagine if Jim Jarmusch directed a vampire flick?”

While Ana Lily Amirpour’s wonderful A Girl Walks Home At Night takes some obvious stylistic notes from Strangers In Paradise and Down By Law, it’s a powerful and original work.

Examining the relationship between a sad sack n’er do well who lives in Bad City, Iran, and a gliding vampire woman who feeds primarily on the men of that same city, it’s moody, elegant and, unlike Jarmusch’s cranky rumination, authentically frightening.

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CANDY CIGARETTES: The Novelty Gateway Confectionery

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By Elizabeth Weitz

While this post is going to be all about the candy cigarette, the idea of it came from a conversation I had with my mother this weekend over a news report that a mother and father were being investigated by Child Protective Services, all because they let their two kids walk home from school...alone. That very incident sparked something within my dear old mom, leading to a diatribe of volcanic vitriol (I'll spare you the insults lobbed at the parents of today) and reminding me how lucky I was to be one of the last generations who grew-up as free-range children.

And at the end of her embittered soliloquy, my mother said something that brought me to evolution of this post: "...and furthermore, no one batted an eye when I made you run into the Plaid Pantry to get me a pack of cigarettes and besides, you were able to get a handful of candy ones for you, so win-win!"

Oh yes, I do remember them mom, I remember them well.


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THE LAST TIME I SAW RICHARD: A Film Short That Will Wig You Out

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By Elizabeth Weitz

I don't know what is in the water in Australia but I hope filmmakers like Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) and Nicholas Verso (who penned and directed this brilliant short film about two boys -Jonah and Richard- bonding over their shared internal and exterior horrors while at a mental hospital in 1995) keep drinking it by the boatload.

Creepy, heartbreaking and visually stunning, The Last Time I Saw Richard is what great film making looks, sounds and should be like...you know, if you are interesting in watching something that has won SHORT OF THE WEEK 2015, VIMEO STAFF PICK 2015, AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY CINEMA TELEVISION ARTS AWARDS 2014 – Best Short Film Winner, AUSTRALIAN WRITERS GUILD AWARDS 2013 – Best Short Film (Nominee), BLUE MOUNTAINS FILM FESTIVAL 2013 – Silver Yowie Winner, IRIS PRIZE FESTIVAL 2013 – Jury Mention, AN JOSE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2013 – Audience Favourite and is being turned into a full feature.

Yeah, I thought so.

Video after the break

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'Sweet Valley High' Forever!

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Welcome to the twenty-seventh installment of Flashback to the Present and I’ll be your contributing writer, Brandy Batz.

You see, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Knauf is detained, off getting the $150 bucks he owes me for losing at the chinchilla races.

Technically, I’m holding his crappy computer hostage while he gets my cash – so by default I’LL be the one writing this week’s article.

So I sit here, dear readers, in a donut shop off the interstate when I spy with my little eye a pastel colored book adorned with two majestic twins.  My heart sings as I read the title blasting at me like a symphony.

What roadside donut eater was enjoying this "oh so magnificent" classic piece of 1983 fiction?

Oh yes dear readers, I thumbed that copy of Sweet Valley High and I just so happen to have the perfect subject for Mr. Knauf’s little article:

Francine Pascal’s, Sweet Valley High: Double Love.


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DEADPOOL Begins Production In March

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Written by Christopher M.

Canadian news outlet Global has confirmed that Fox's X-Men spin-off Deadpool will indeed begin production in March. First-time director Tim Miller is helming the project with a revised script from writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

The film has Ryan Reynolds finally playing as the wildly popular and insane mutant mercenary. It will spend two months shooting in location at North Shore Studios in Vancouver. It should be a comfortable shoot for the actor since Vancouver is his hometown. North Shore was the studio space for Fox's X-Files.

Ryan also shot Blade Trinity in Vancouver, but it's expected this production will go a lot smoother.

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The Pull List: JUPITER'S LEGACY #5, STAR WARS #1, S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 & More!

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Check out what I checked out this week.

Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.

Welcome to The Pull List.

And, as always...Spoilers ahead!


Jupiter’s Legacy #5
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colorist: Peter Doherty
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $4.99

March 5, 2014 was the last time Jupiter’s Legacy entered the weekly Wednesday stratosphere. A delay of this length is annoying and could lose consumer confidence.

However, even if you don’t remember what happened in the last issue, you know it was good, really good.

This is a credit to the talented duo of Millar and Quitely who spare no creative expense in creating a story that is memorable on a multitude of levels.

The last issue moved ahead in time after Jupiter was killed which allowed Walter and Brandon to rule the country and cause super heroes and villains to go into hiding.

Chloe, Hutch and their eight-year-old son, Jason, have gone in hiding and are trying to live a normal life. Jason has the same powers as his grandfather and has an affinity for saving lives. This has drawn the attention of hero hunter, Barnabas Wolfe.

Millar sets things into motion all while allowing the reader to experience things vicariously through Jason. He and the reader are thinking the same thing: people need saving. Walter and Brandon are ruining society, it’s time to stop hiding and fight back. You want this so bad, but the safe bet of hiding in plain sight is undeniably the smarter play, until the choice is taken away. Barnabas is an effective villain because he relishes his role which comes across so poignantly that you will be itching for Jason to get his way.

Quitely doesn’t just draw pictures, he orchestrates a concerto of illustrations that makes every page come alive. Facial expressions and body language present an honesty where the context is clear without a single word being uttered such as when Jason, with a blissful smile on his face, sneaks up to the moon only to be in for a rude awakening when his mother is waiting for him on the rock with her arms folded.

The coloring of Peter Doherty has been an essential part of this visual endeavor. Instead of making the artwork simply pop, the use of softer colors makes the detail in the depictions standout more which gives the reader a greater appreciation of everything on the page from a brick wall being thrown to items that don’t normally warrant any attention such as wrinkles in a shirt.

Dystopian tales are a dime a dozen lately, but the carefully crafted nature of this book commands your attention from the moment you read and examine the very first panel. The delays with this series haven’t gone unnoticed, and next year's upcoming Book Two won't be solicited until the notoriously slow perfectionist Quitely finishes up his work (There will be a prequel series by Millar and artist Wilfredo Torres in the meantime). This is a top notch series and it would be a shame it if fell into the void of the forgotten.

Score: 5 out of 5


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Win ONCE UPON A TIME IN SHANGHAI on Blu-ray!

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Everyone wants to make their fortune in Shanghai, and Ma Yongzhen (Philip Ng) dreams of making an honest living – not with his fists. But the town is torn apart by rival gangs, and when Boss Long Qi (Andy On) learns of Ma’s formidable martial arts skills, takes him into the family.

Opposed to drug trafficking and leaking government secrets, Qi makes powerful enemies. And soon, Ma won’t have a choice. Fight, or lose everything - including his friend (Sammo Hung) and his love, Tie Ju (Michelle Hu).

From Director Wong Ching Po (REVENGE, A LOVE STORY) and Action Director Yuen Wo Ping (THE GRANDMASTERS, KILL BILL Vol. 1 & 2, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) comes a modern action fable featuring martial arts star Philip Ng.


And we're giving away three copies!

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Will Female Stormtroopers Appear in STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS?

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Written by Christopher M.

BBC's Lizo Mzimba is reporting that unknown British actress Amybeth Hargreaves will be playing a female Stormtrooper in Star Wars The Force Awakens. His source being Spotlight UK a casting website.




There had been rumors that Gwendoline Christie could be playing a Stormtrooper but we really haven't learned if there will be indeed women in the ranks. It's starting to look like race or gender isn't an issue with the Empire's recruiting policies.

This could also mean we'll be seeing more women in the film than we previously thought.

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STONE AGE SMACKDOWN Brings The WWE To Bedrock

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Starring WWE Superstars John Cena and Vince McMahon
Available for the First Time on Blu-Ray Combo, DVD and Digital HD
Available early through EST March 3, 2015


The Flintstones join forces with WWE and go back to the Stone Age in the all-new animated film, The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown, co-produced by WWE Studios and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Timed to debut leading into WrestleMania 31, this all-new original movie is available on DVD, Blu-ray Combo, and Digital HD for the first time on March 17, 2015. Rated the #2 greatest cartoon of all time by TV Guide, the Flintstones’ return to the center ring will be sure to deliver high-octane action for fans of all ages. The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown will be available on Blu-ray Combo, DVD and Digital HD for $24.98 / $19.98 / $19.99 SRP.  Additionally, The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown will be available early through EST for download on March 3, 2015.


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Five Strangest “CHARLIE'S ANGELS” Guest Stars

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Oh, '70s TV: An odd combination of rising stars, flash-in-the-pan faces we never saw again and an endless parade of faded celebrities from the past, all there to swallow their dignity and collect a paycheck.

Who knew we'd be watching this show 30+ years later, thanks to (in my case) TiVo Actor Wishlists that steer you to these unlikely guest spots.


Here are some very strange pop culture moments as these actors --- known for far different fare -- met the Angels.


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The Art of the Perfect Locker Note

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By Elizabeth Weitz

A few years ago I wrote a piece on the mythos of the locker note that was well received by all of those who live in my house, namely myself and my cat MiMi. But time does an interesting thing when you start re-reading all those lovely writings you did, it reminds you of all the things you left out of it...things that five years later will piss you off to no end and will bug you until you revisit them in another post to rectify the gaping holes within the original.

And the hole I want to fill is namely the art of folding the locker note, an art I'm not sure has survived the technological advancements of the last fifteen years or so, but one that could see a resurgence if the plethora of stone-washed jeans and over-alls I've been seeing in stores are the start of an 80s/90s re-do.

Yeah, over-alls are back and I'm not ashamed to say that I bought 2 pairs and now wear them with my old Doc Martins like the old days:


But I digress.

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