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Wil Wheaton Will Narrate Ernie Cline's ARMADA

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Ernie Cline, author of Ready Player One, will reunite with actor Wil Wheaton who will narrate the audio book of Cline's upcoming book, Armada.

Zack Lightman is daydreaming through another dull math class when the high-tech dropship lands in his school's courtyard--and when the men in the dark suits and sunglasses leap out of the ship and start calling his name, he's sure he's still dreaming.
But the dream is all too real; the people of Earth need him. As Zack soon discovers, the video game he's been playing obsessively for years isn't just a game; it's part of a massive, top-secret government training program, designed to teach gamers the skills they'll need to defend Earth from an impending alien invasion. And now . . . that invasion is coming.

Wheaton previously performed the audio book for Ready Player One.

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THE CONNECTION (review)

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Review by Sharon Knolle
Produced by Alain Goldman
Written by Audrey Diwan and Cédric Jimenez
Directed by Cédric Jimenez
Starring Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Céline Sallette,
Mélanie Doutey, Guillaume Gouix, Benoît Magimel


The Connection continues the drug trade drama of '70s crime classic The French Connection, focusing on the French counterpart of the notorious heroin ring.

Set in Marseilles, the film takes place after the events of The French Connection. While it's not on par with William Friedkin's gritty Oscar-winning film, it's a tense, stylish policier that stands on its own merit.

The film focuses on magistrate Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin), and his six-year attempt to take down seemingly untouchable drug lord Gaetan Zampa (Gilles Lellouche).

Much like Gene Hackman's dogged cop Popeye Doyle, Michel becomes obsessed with his target, to the exclusion of all else.

Everyone is well aware that Zampa is the man behind the heroin trade, but everyone is too scared – or too well paid – to challenge his rule, until the fearless Michel.

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Cosplay for Business & Pleasure

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Making outfits, props, accessories, and costumes to wear for yourself is one thing; it’s time consuming, difficult and frustrating at times. But there is a huge pay off in the enjoyment you get out of the finished article and there is also a lot of fun to be had in the creative process.

It doesn’t always go as planned and can take a lot longer than you had hoped, but the compromises you make along the way are part of the learning curve and challenge your creativity. Your next project will always be better than the last for this reason, which always feels like a great achievement, but can also make you feel a little embarrassed about things you have made in the past. This is just a sign of your progress though, and you should be proud!

Back then you thought you’d nailed it… Now, not so much.

Making things for other people however has another feeling about it altogether.

You still have the fun of creating, but there is more pressure to get right first time to save time and effort, and of course you want the person to be happy with your finished product. It’s hard to create something specific to someone else’s vision sometimes, it can be difficult for them to communicate exactly what they want for their custom piece, and even harder for you to make the presumption of what people want generally for pre-made stock items.

So the challenges in making things for others are definitely greater, which in turn intensifies the feeling of accomplishment when you get it right.

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IT FOLLOWS Creeps on to Digital HD July 3rd and BD & DVD July 14th!

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The critically acclaimed breakout movie of the year, It Follows arrives on Blu-ray and DVD July 14th from Anchor Bay Entertainment, RADiUS and DIMENSION. Dubbed “the best horror film in over a decade”, It Followsis directed by David Robert Mitchell (The Myth of the American Sleepover), and stars Maika Monroe (upcoming Independence Day 2, The Guest), Keir Gilchrist (It’s Kind of a Funny Story, “United States of Tara”), Daniel Zovatto (Beneath, Innocence, Laggies) and Jake Weary (Altitude, Fred).

One of the highest grossing independent films of the year so far, It Follows is credited with ushering in a new era of indie film success, appealing to horror genre fans, art house cinema aficionados and the general movie-going audience. With spectacular cinematography and a powerful score, the film is destined to become a cult classic.

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Win THE AMAZING BULK on DVD!

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One of the most talked about cult Superhero movie mockbusters ever made! Henry Howard is an ambitious young scientist who takes an experimental serum for building muscle mass and is transformed into the Bulk, sending him on a bizarre and destructive rampage of revenge from which he may never return, in a world that does not understand him and wants to destroy him.


And we're giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header "AMAZING BULK" to geekcontest @ gmail dot com, and answer the following question:


What superhero would you like to see The Amazing Bulk team up with and why?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on June 14th, 2015.

Enzo Castellari’s KEOMA: The Last Great Spaghetti Western

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By Generoso Fierro

By 1976, the mania surrounding the spaghetti western had all but died out. Due to the success of the Godfather films, Italian crime dramas were all the rage and the few westerns that were being produced in Europe fell more into the comedic realm than the dramatic one due to the success of the Terence Hill/Bud Spencer films that became extremely popular in the early part of the decade.

Even veteran directors like Enzo Castellari, who had directed several superb spaghetti westerns, including Johnny Hamlet, had moved on to Italian crime dramas, as did the genre’s biggest star, Franco Nero, of Django fame.

Gone was Nero’s cowboy hat in favor of his Borsalino; that is until Keoma.

There is a real reverence for all westerns in Keoma, which was written and directed by Castellari and released in 1976. I say “all westerns” because the film is packed with many of the standard motifs of fellow Italian western directors, Corbucci and Leone but also Sam Peckinpah and even John Ford.

I guess if this was to be Castellari’s last western, he was going to put all of it out on the table.

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MAD MEN Finale: Don Shouldn’t Have Had A Happy Ending

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The overarching theme of Mad Men has been that people don’t change.

Characters, and most notably Don, make the same mistakes over and over again.

 Don is locked in a cycle of imploding marriages, drinking himself to near-death and alienating his friends and family. In the finale Matthew Weiner appears to hold true to this belief about human nature, where Don hits rock bottom yet again, and once again goes back to advertising.

But Weiner is trying to have his cake and eat it too.

In the final shot of Don appears to be at peace. The implication is that the idea for the Coca-Cola ad is so brilliant that it some how acts as a catharsis.

Or, that the self-realization he had from the group therapy session solved his crisis, allowing him to once again think up great ideas.

Here’s the problem: Don will be miserable as long as he’s in advertising. Any connection between the Coca-Cola ad bringing him happiness rings hollow for what the show has always been about.


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First Look: THE LEAGUE OF REGRETTABLE SUPERHEROES

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With the recent surge of caped crusaders flying, swinging, and leaping from comic book pages to the big and small screens, a revival of the classic superhero is clearly under way. But for every Batman, Green Arrow, or Flash, there’s a slew of forgotten superheroes who failed to become household names.

Jon Morris, cartoonist and graphic designer, began cataloguing the often-strange history of comics in the 1990s on his blog Gone & Forgotten. In 2001, his work was featured on a popular This American Life episode about failed superheroes. Now, The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half-Baked Heroes from Comic Book History (Quirk Books; June 2, 2015; $24.95) will guide readers through comic book history’s top 100 mighta-beens, oddballs, and freaks of the past eighty years. Visually stunning from cover to cover, the book is divided into three eras, all of which feature dazzling comic art from the period:

  • The Golden Age (1938–1949): Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 launched the superhero phenomenon. Comics publishers filled stands everywhere with primary-colored heroes to capitalize on the popular genre. Their experiments included some epic failures, including Atoman, Doctor Hormone, The Eye, Lady Satan, and many more!
  • The Silver Age (1950–1969): After a brief dip in popularity (due mostly to the oversaturated market), superheroes came back with a BANG! The high-camp spirit of the ’60s and the beginnings of a new technological age changed how superhero stories were told. With newfound energy and wit, masked heroes such as Bee-Man, Captain Science, Spyman, and Pow-Girl tried to reach a younger, hipper audience. 
  • The Modern Age (1970–Present): Beginning in the ’70s, comics shifted toward darker, more serious storylines, creating a “grim and gritty” universe. Ridiculous new superheroes like Brother Voodoo, Man-Wolf, The Outsiders, and Squirrel Girl attempted to address real-world issues, including drug abuse and civil rights, solidifying a new trope in comics—though their tenures were short-lived.

Each section includes a treasure trove of entertaining (though flawed) superheroes, complete with backstories, gorgeous vintage art, and witty commentary from Morris. Die-hard comics fans, superhero movie lovers, and pop culture fanatics will gush over this comprehensive tome.

After the jump, check out an exclusive excerpt from the book which includes the introduction and a profile of a hero from each heroic age.


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BATMAN: EARTH ONE Vol. 1 & 2 (review)

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Review by Clay N Ferno

Shortly before The Dark Knight Rises closed the chapter on director Christopher Nolans' cinematic take on Batman, DC Comics released the hardcover original graphic novel Batman: Earth One (2012) written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Gary Frank.

Johns, protege to Superman: The Movie’s Richard Donner, became famous for his Green Lantern, JSA and The Flash runs before becoming DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer. The Blackest Night scribe also is the link between comics and movies across the lot at Warner Bros., consulting on everything from Green Lantern to Batman v. Superman and down to the successful Flash and Arrow programs on CW.

Gary Frank, artist for Batman: Earth One drew an uncanny Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman in 2009’s pre-FlashpointSuperman: Secret Origin. While many artists have taken on the iconic DC heroes, Frank’s style rises to the top as a modern master.

Batman: Earth One Volume 2 featuring the same creative team was released earlier this month.

Batman: Earth One Volumes 1& 2 are out of the current DC continuities as we know it, are perhaps meant as chain bookstore (mass market) sellers but the two great hardcovers make great gifts for Batman fans of varied interest levels. Everyone from the enthusiastic FOG! crowd to yourmore causal The Dark Knight Trilogy or Gotham tv series fans will get lost in this version of the Caped Crusader.

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JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Comes to DVD and Digital on 7/28!

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Epic, Decades-Spanning Anime Series filled with Mystery, Action, Comedy, Horror & Supernatural

Delve into the mysterious trek of the Joestar family from the very beginning of the popular manga tale when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases the DVD and digital anime anthology, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Complete First Season, on July 28, 2015.

Featuring all 26 episodes on three DVDs, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Complete First Season ($49.45 SRP) follows the enthralling, decades-spanning story of wealthy, young Jonathan Joestar and his adoptive brother Dio Brando, the latter of whom uses a mysterious stone mask to become a powerful vampire and further aid his attempt to gain control of the Joestar fortune. The first season covers two distinct arcs set 50 years apart – “Phantom Blood” depicts the battle between Jonathan and Dio, while the future “Battle Tendency” focuses on Jonathan’s grandson Joseph’s pursuit of the mask’s creators, the Pillar Men.

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KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (Digital Download Review)

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Review by Stefan Blitz

The spy movie genre of late has gotten pretty grim.

From the gritted teeth of Jason Bourne or 007 to the polite office politics of George Smiley to revenge obsessed Bryan Mills, being a secret agent doesn't seem like much fun.

Unless, you're a Kingsman.

In one of cinema's most unique partnerships, comic book writer Mark Millar has teamed up with director Matthew Vaughn and screenwriter Jane Goldman for the second time to adapt one of Millar's properties to the silver screen.

The first collaboration, 2010's Kick-Ass, pondered what being a superhero would be like for the average teenager in the real world.  Now the attention has turned to gentlemen spy.

Scottish Millar is a bit of a P.T. Barnum of comics, playing the press with exaggerated hints of news.  But there's a catch.

He delivers.

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So Excited, So Scared: The Saved By the Bell Retrospective (book review)

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Review by Elizabeth Weitz
So Excited, So Scared: The Saved By the Bell Retrospective 
Written by Stuart Millard

Mention Saved By the Bell to anyone in the Gen-X generation and you will immediately be besieged by various dialog quotes, memories of Kelly Kapowski’s half shirts or Zack Morris’ huge obnoxious phone…you know, things that are super important to a group of former Latchkey Kids who grew up with the electronic babysitter known as TV.

And in Stuart Milliard’s book So Excited, So Scared: The Saved By the Bell Retrospective, those kids (or, stunted adults of which I count myself a part of, if you prefer) are treated to a conversational tome which not only looks at the history of the show, but also acts as an in depth analysis of the show’s individual episodes (some of which are far more interesting than the episode itself), SBtB: The College Years (a weirder, more surreal version of teen soap fav Beverly Hills 90210- which interestingly, Ms. Thiessen would eventually land a spot on), SBtB: The New Class (a show which lasted almost twice as long as the original but left no indelible mark on society) and all of the juicy gossip surrounding the show(s) that one could hope to sink their teeth into.

While all that might be enough to get you to part with some of your money, what really sets Milliard’s book apart from most other Tell-All/Cerebral Pop Culture Exposes is the style in which it is written.

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Paging Dr. Mario: Healthcare in Video Games

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Growing up I rarely visited hospitals and for that reason (as well as playing a lot of survival horror games!) they have a surreal, other-worldly quality to them.

My experience of hospitals comes entirely from TV shows like House or as with everything in my life, video games.

Even when relatives were ill, I somehow maintained a distant relationship with hospitals. I saw them as boring places that smelt funny and I remember a time when my nan had to stay in one for a few days so naturally, I gave her my Gameboy so that she could play Tetris and keep herself entertained.

So, you can imagine how weird it was for me when earlier this year I visited hospital more times than I have in my entire life. My husband was rushed to hospital and admitted several times with kidney stones and in recent months I've also undergone various tests and scans with cancer scares. Although my medical situation is now under control and my husband is fully recovered, hospitals, doctors, surgery and medical terminology have recently dominated my every thought.

With that introduction, you can probably guess what this post is going to be about...


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Play These Boardgames Right Now, Part 1: Cooperative Games

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Here’s the bottom line: if you’re not playing some of the boardgames that are part of the current table top gaming renaissance, then you should be. Whether you’ve liked the traditional boardgames of yesteryear or not, the games I’m suggesting to you here are in a completely different category. A lot of people who never cared for Parcheesi or Monopoly are avid and enthusiastic members of the new and geeky tabletop subcultures that have been growing throughout America and Western Europe.

Here are some games that are super fun and that you should be playing right now. Because these games can vary so much in the way they play and the kind of fun they provide, I am going to break up this list into three posts, each describing a different kind of game and providing some descriptions of some examples.

The first kind of game is, in my mind, the most fun, and it is called the cooperative game.

These games work differently from other games in that the players aren’t competing against each other. The players cooperate during game play against some element of the game itself, and their ability to work together as a group usually dictates whether or not they will, all together, win or lose.

Here are some examples of excellent cooperative games:

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TOP CARTOONS OF 1947

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Well, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve arrived at 1947 in our ongoing series here, and the Hollywood cartoon is still in peak form. Studios like Warner Bros. and MGM are consistently turning out excellent films, and Disney is keeping things afloat with some high-quality short films and the feature cartoon Fun and Fancy Free, which includes the classic Mickey and the Beanstalk sequence, along with the forgettable Bongo segment.

Even frequently derided studios like Terrytoons and Columbia/Screen Gems have some interesting releases this year thanks to newly arrived talent like Jim Tyer at Terrytoons (whose zany, erratic animation served as a saving grace to a great many Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle cartoons) and Bob Clampett at Columbia (who very briefly served as a story editor / creative consultant, giving way to unusually inspired, if not wholly successful, shorts like Cockatoos for Two and Up n’ Atom).

In regards to new stars, Warner Bros. debuted some of my favorite minor characters in the Looney Tunes stable: the Goofy Gophers (who showed up in the appropriately titled The Goofy Gophers, directed by Arthur Davis) and Charlie Dog (who debuted in Chuck Jones’ Little Orphan Airedale, although a precursor to the character appeared in the 1941 Bob Clampett short Porky’s Pooch). The studio also launched one of the most famous cartoon series ever by pairing Tweety and Sylvester in Tweetie Pie, for which Friz Freleng won the Academy Award. Other studios didn’t have as much luck with new characters and series this year; the only one I could dig up was Buzzy Crow, a Rochester approximation who appeared in this year’s enjoyable The Stupidstitious Cat over at Famous Studios.

On this list, you’ll find the usual suspects (Warner Bros. and MGM), along with a Disney cartoon, a post-apocalyptic stop-motion short and an abstract piece.

Take a look:


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Win a Copy of Quirk Books' THE LEAGUE OF REGRETTABLE SUPERHEROES by Jon Morris

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For every superhero hitting the big time with a blockbuster movie, there are countless failures, also-rans, and D-listers. The League of Regrettable Superheroes affectionately presents one hundred of the strangest superheroes ever to see print—from Atoman to Zippo—complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary.

Drawing on the entire history of the medium, the book celebrates characters that haven’t seen the light of day in decades, like Natureboy, Dr. Hormone, Thunder Bunny, and more. It’s a must-read for comics fans of all ages!
And we're giving away three copies!

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TOMORROWLAND (review)

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Review by Caitlyn Thompson
Produced by Brad Bird, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Chernov
Screenplay by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird
Story by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird, Jeff Jensen
Directed by Brad Bird
Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, 
Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw,
Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer


Tomorrowland is an odd compilation of a weak feel-good action-adventure fairy-tale with a whimsical post-apocalyptic quality told in a visually pleasing way.

Odd, yes?

The premise: young brilliant minds are recruited to an amazing world where positivity reigns and fuels innovation.

Problem is, we don’t see the utopia for more than five minutes…how are we supposed to be allured?

While I enjoyed the high-energy production, once I left the theater I couldn’t remember what the film was about.

Did anything really happen?

I understand the message loud and clear: humanity is pessimistic and destroying itself from the inside so be positive, be creative, or the world might end.

A good message for a film, but poorly executed.

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INFOGRAPHIC - Murderers of Marvel

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Who is the deadliest character in the Marvel Universe? Wolverine? The Hulk? Deadpool?

Our friends at MorphCostumes decided to settle the argument once and for all, pitting characters against one another in imaginary fights to the death.

They combed the comic archives and ranked the deadliest Marvel characters, based on the number of people they’ve killed.

From dangerous and deadly to downright lethal, here are the biggest killers in the main Marvel universe!

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An Open Letter to McDonalds

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By Erin Maxwell

Dear McDonald's,

Thank you for updating the Hamburglar to a good looking, probably deeply embarrassed actor who now wishes he never left this job at Applebee’s.

I am sorry about all the backlash you have recently experienced. It appears people don’t take too kindly to updating beloved childhood figures that taught them how to steal meat products.

However, please don’t let overwhelming public opinion sway you in any way.


As a nudge of encouragement, here are few ideas to help you update your other meal-time characters:

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First Look: CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA #3

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On Sale 5/27!

It’s the night before Halloween, the night before Sabrina’s sixteenth birthday, the night of the blood-moon and the lunar eclipse, and Sabrina has made her decision: She will go into the woods of Greendale as a half-witch and emerge…on the other side of a frightful ritual…as a fully baptized member of the Church of Night. But there will be a cost, and his name is Harvey. And unbeknownst to Sabrina and her aunts, there is a serpent in the garden, their great enemy Madam Satan, who is conspiring against them... 

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