Quantcast
Channel: Forces of Geek
Viewing all 17882 articles
Browse latest View live

TV Rewind: BBC’s ‘Threads’ Still Packs A Devastating Punch

0
0

“In nuclear war, all men are cremated equal.”  – Dexter Gordon

In this day and age of gore porn, where hack ‘em, slash ‘em pics can rule the roost at the top of the box office, where movies like Martyrs can make critics’ lists and when Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Salò can find its way to a Criterion Collection release, it’s difficult to find a film that can still shock.

Today’s audience needs more than the usual stabbing to even register an eyebrow raise. The bar has been raised for contemporary audiences, and it takes more than the average machete slicer to get the heart racing anymore.

With that in mind, it still easy to say without exaggeration that 1984’s Threads is perhaps one of the most devastating films ever made.

Note: As a tried and true fan of horror, I noticed that Threads was a title that has often come up on many types “Most” lists, (ex: “Most Gruesome,” “Most Devastating”) made by fans and critics alike, albeit mostly British. Virtually unheard of in the US, it was difficult to find a Region 1 DVD for curious American viewers like myself. But after seeing the title mentioned enough times with the likes of Audition and Irreversible, I knew I needed to see this for myself. It can be found it here.

 

Written by Barry Hines and directed by Mick Jackson (yes, of The Bodyguard and Volcano fame), the BBC aired this made-for-television-docudrama in 1984, thus emotionally scarring an entire generation with its tale of nuclear woe.

To be clear: This wasn’t a theatrical title. This was a TV movie that anyone could watch. And everyone did.

Families, kids and teens alike all sat down in front of the telly to witness the horror of nuclear fallout as the story of Threads showed the true-to-live devastation of a nuclear war.

No adorable characters. No happy endings. No humor. No music. Just death, destruction, devastation and the ultimate demise of humanity as a whole.

Imagine The Day After with zero chill.

The story follows Ruth and Jimmy, a youngish couple from Sheffield forced to get married when Ruth finds herself in a family way. As they work out the particulars of where to live and what color to paint the new flat, the threat of nuclear war lingers in the background on the radio, the television and all newspapers.

The drama is slow to unfold in the beginning. The typescript that appears throughout the drama acts as a countdown clock to confusion, as well as the bearer of bad news.

When the bomb does hit Sheffield, it hits the viewer as well. Everything is destroyed. And in great, agonizing detail.

Children and their parents seeking protection in their homes are eradicated by the nuclear blast. Charred bodies litter the streets. Audiences watch in horror as pets slowly die of heat and radiation poisoning while their owners die in the streets and under makeshift shelters. People roam the streets in shock as their carry their dead children while others look for their missing family members or limbs.

Nothing is sacred in Threads. Nothing is safe. There is no escape.

As the program continues, it becomes obvious that those who died early were the lucky ones.

The viewer follows Ruth, who miraculously survives the nuclear blast with her parents and grannie by hiding in the basement. But when Gran dies of radiation poisoning (as do most of the survivors of the former city of Sheffield) and the family take her upstairs to dispose of the body, Ruth makes a run for it, a final mad dash to find Jimmy in hopes that he might still be alive (Spoiler: He’s not).

Sadly, that’s just the beginning of Ruth’s horribly decade-long descent into terror. Other highlights include:

  • Roaming hospitals filled with debris that use no anesthetic or medicine. Only hand saws and cotton.
  • Returning to her home to find her parents were killed by looters.
  • Giving birth on a pile of rubble and having to bite the umbilical cord herself.
  • Ripping apart a dead sheep and eating the raw, infected meat.
  • Selling herself for dead rats to make supper.
  • Going blind because of the fallout

 Threads does an admirable job of introducing characters just long enough for the audience to later recognize their corpse or the diseased husk at a further point in the story. Every player is a victim. Every person will eventually die. Some will die fast. Some will die slow. Others will be killed for food or for shelter or for fear of the unknown. Those who survive will live out their days in horrible conditions, fending off attackers and risking their lives for crusts of bread or a bed.

In the end, no one gets out unscathed from Threads. Not the main characters and not the viewers.

Now in modern times, when threat of nuclear war lingers on the fringes of news telecasts between Oscar fuck-ups and celebrities squabbles on Twitter, perhaps it is time for Threads to re-emerge to utterly destroy a new generation of viewers.

 

 


SyFy Channel Reboots and Announces New Series

0
0

In advance of its 25th anniversary this September, SYFY has announced a strategic point of view focused on a renewed commitment to the genre and fandom at large. This includes an all-new look and feel, an expansion of its news division SYFY WIRE, and high profile additions to the network’s ambitious original programming slate.

“I can think of no better occasion than SYFY’s 25th anniversary to get back to our roots, double down on premium original programming, and put fans at the center of everything we do,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “As the only television network dedicated to the genre 24/7, we’re building the ultimate universe for this passionate community to call home.”

Debuting on June 19, SYFY’s updated visual identity includes a new logo, typeface and look across all linear, digital, social and experiential platforms. “This is a wholesale change, top to bottom, of the way we express ourselves,” said Alexandra Shapiro, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Our new branding is designed for the digital age and tailored to the consumption patterns of our audience, allowing us to celebrate and engage with fans on every consumer touchpoint.”

Additionally, SYFY is scaling and expanding its editorial division SYFY WIRE to infuse breaking genre news, in-depth analysis and thought-provoking original content across its entire ecosystem. Through SYFY WIRE’s website (http://syfywire.com) and on air via future program development, programming integrations and regular interstitials and lower thirds, SYFY WIRE will cover the latest and greatest in genre TV, film, books, comics, gaming and technology.

On the programming front, SYFY’s original development filter will encompass science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and superheroes/comics, reflecting the rich depth of the genre. As part of this, SYFY today announced two new high profile series pickups. The highly anticipated Superman prequel KRYPTON and the graphic novel adaptation HAPPY!, starring Christopher Meloni will join the network’s acclaimed originals slate including THE EXPANSE, THE MAGICIANS, 12 MONKEYS and CHANNEL ZERO.

 

KRYPTON

Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, KRYPTON follows Superman’s grandfather (Cameron Cuffe, “The Halcyon”) — whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos. Based on DC characters, KRYPTON is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and is executive produced by David S. Goyer (“Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “The Dark Knight” trilogy) through his Phantom Four banner. Damian Kindler (“Sleepy Hollow”) will serve as executive producer and showrunner.

In addition to Cuffe, KRYPTON stars Georgina Campbell (“Broadchurch”), Elliot Cowan (“Da Vinci’s Demons”), Ann Ogbomo (“World War Z”), Rasmus Hardiker (“Your Highness”), Wallis Day (“Will”), Aaron Pierre (“Tennison”) with Ian McElhinney (“Game of Thrones”).

The pilot teleplay was written by Goyer and Kindler, from a story by Ian Goldberg (“Once Upon a Time,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) & Goyer, with Colm McCarthy (“She Who Brings Gifts,” “Peaky Blinders”) serving as director and co-executive producer. KRYPTON is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC.

 

HAPPY!

Universal Cable Productions’ HAPPY! is based on New York Times best-selling author Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name. The series follows Nick Sax (Christopher Meloni, “Law & Order: SVU”) – an intoxicated, corrupt ex-cop turned hit man – who is adrift in a world of casual murder, soulless sex and betrayal. After a hit gone wrong, his inebriated life is forever changed by a tiny, relentlessly positive, imaginary blue winged horse named “Happy” (Bobby Moynihan, “Saturday Night Live”).

Executive producers Grant Morrison (“Batman,” “The Invisibles”) and Brian Taylor (“Crank,” “Gamer”) co-wrote the pilot teleplay. Neal Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Toby Jaffe of Original Film (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise), Meloni and showrunner Patrick Macmanus will also executive produce. Taylor directed the pilot.

 

NIGHTFLYERS

SYFY and Universal Cable Productions are developing a supernatural thriller based on author George R.R. Martin’s (“Game of Thrones”) epic novel NIGHTFLYERS. Set in the future on the eve of Earth’s destruction, a crew of explorers journey on the most advanced ship in the galaxy, The Nightflyer, to intercept a mysterious alien spacecraft that might hold the key to their survival. As the crew nears their destination, they discover that the ship’s artificial intelligence and never-seen captain may be steering them into deadly and unspeakable horrors deep in the dark reaches of space.

NIGHTFLYERS is being developed with executive producers Gene Klein (“Suits”), David Bartis (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”) and Doug Liman (“Suits”) of Hypnotic; Alison Rosenzweig (“Jacob’s Ladder,” “Windtalkers”) and Michael Gaeta (“Jacob’s Ladder”) of Gaeta Rosenzweig Films; Lloyd Ivan Miller and Alice P. Neuhauser of Lloyd Ivan Miller Productions and Jeff Buhler (“Jacob’s Ladder”), who will write the adaptation. Robert Jaffe (“Nightflyers (1987)”) will produce.

NIGHTFLYERS joins previously announced high-profile projects in development at SYFY including BRAVE NEW WORLD, a scripted series based on one of the most influential genre novels of all time, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television; HYPERION, based on Dan Simmons’ Hugo Award-winning bestselling novel, which is being developed with Oscar-nominated producer Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper”), Oscar-winning producer Graham King (“The Departed,” “Argo”) and Todd Phillips (“The Hangover,” “Old School”); and STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, based on the groundbreaking science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. BRAVE NEW WORLD and HYPERION are from Universal Cable Productions, while STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND is a co-production between Paramount Television and Universal Cable Productions.

KRYPTON and HAPPY! will join a rich 2017-18 lineup of original scripted series on SYFY, including sci-fi drama THE EXPANSE and fantasy series THE MAGICIANS, both greenlit for third seasons for 2018; time travel thriller 12 MONKEYS, greenlit for third and fourth seasons for 2017 and 2018; KILLJOYS, which returns for its third season in Summer 2017; and the CHANNEL ZERO horror anthology, which will return in October 2017 for its second installment.

The Video Game Hall of Fame 2017

0
0

I first wrote about the Video Game Hall of Fame a few years ago when it announced it’s first six inductees. The inaugural 2015 class included Pong, Pac-Man, Tetris, Doom, World Of Warcraft and Super Mario Bros.

In 2016 the Strong Museum Of Play – located in New York – welcomed six more into the fold including Grand Theft Auto 3, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, The Sims, Sonic The Hedgehog and Space Invaders.

This month, it initiated just four games from a list of twelve finalists into the class of 2017. The ones who didn’t quite make the list were Final Fantasy VII, Microsoft Windows Solitaire, Mortal Kombat, Myst, Portal, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider and Wii Sports. Personally, I’m a little sad that some of these didn’t make the final cut but looking at the four that won I find it hard to stay disappointed.

The winning quartet was devised of Donkey Kong, Halo: Combat Evolved, Pokémon Red and Green and Street Fighter 2.

As I missed out on last years entries, I’m going to take a look at the inductees of both 2016 and 2017 and consider whether they deserve their esteemed accolades.

 

Space Invaders

This game caused mass hysteria in the late seventies and it even spawned an urban legend which claimed the game had caused a 100 Yen coin shortage in Japan. Of course, it turned out to be false but the point is, people believed it because Space Invaders was everywhere after its release in 1978, it literally invaded space in arcades everywhere and in Japan, there were entire arcades dedicated to Space Invader cabinets.

Without Space Invaders, many of the industries best games designers might have taken very different career paths as Shigeru Miyamoto, John Romero and John Carmack have all cited it as being the first to piqued their interest in games, not to mention the game paved the way for the entire shooting genre to come.

 

Sonic The Hedgehog

It always amuses me that a super fast blue hedgehog with running shoes became a gaming icon (then again, it’s no less weird than a fat Italian plumber I guess). Back in the day, Sonic was my 16-bit King, I was firmly in the Sega camp during the Sega-Nintendo war of the 1990s. In my spare time, I would practice drawing him, adorning my bedroom walls with his image.

I preferred the second installment but the first game in the Sonic franchise was designed for fast gameplay and introduced a revolutionary technique from the game’s programmer, Yuji Naka which enabled Sonic’s sprite to roll along curved scenery, meaning Sonic’s speed if handled well enough, would allow you to glide through each stage unhindered by the level design.

This game was so fast paced at the time that my 7 year old mind was blown and I remember it taking a while for my eyes to adjust to the speed.

 

The Legend Of Zelda

This game holds so much personal significance, it was the first action adventure game world I threw myself into and it transformed the way I saw games. I realised that games were not merely vessels of entertainment but could improve and imprint onto my own life.

This particular game got me through a difficult time during my formative years and I found strength in the Triforce – which I now have inscribed onto my wedding ring. I love the music of the game so much that I also walked down the aisle to “The Legend of Zelda Theme” by the composer, Kenji Kondo.

The original game had a lasting effect on puzzle games and the action adventure role playing genre. Some 31 years later, with the recent release and subsequent success of Breath of the Wild the franchise is still going strong and proves just how important this game is. It’s one I hope is still around if I ever have kids of my own.

 

The Oregon Trail

Many were surprised at the induction of this game in to the Hall of Fame, however I welcomed it especially as it’s the first educational game to make the honorific list. It helped to revolutionise educational software and it’s success meant that schools began purchasing computers and teaching children how to use them.

The game itself taught young people about the harsh reality of pioneer life in the 19th-century. It took history, a school subject that many children find boring and made it engaging and fun.

There were two computers in my primary school (elementary) and those of us who finished our work first were rewarded with some computer time where we played text-based games like ArcVenture: The Romans which was similar to The Oregon Trail but with less dysentery and dead oxen.

 

The Sims

Everyone’s favourite “Playing God Simulator” is a fine addition to the Hall of Fame. Anyone who owned a PC in the 1990s will more than likely have owned a copy of this game. For me, hours of precious homework and revision time was lost to The Sims.

Whether your play style was to obsessively re-create your own friends and family, design amazingly detailed homes or push the limits of your Sims and watch them wet themselves, drown in the pool or burn to death there’s no doubt that hours of your life have been consumed by this game, it’s sequels and add-ons.

 

Grand Theft Auto 3

The first in the series to utilise a 3D game engine that positioned the camera closer to the player, GTA3 was a monumental feat from Rockstar Games. They converted each element of the previous  2D games into 3D which even included the sound and in-game radio stations as well as introducing 8000 lines of unique dialogue.

Executive producer of Rockstar, Sam Houser has even described the game as a cross between a gangster film and an RPG citing both the film Goodfellas and The Legend of Zelda game series as influences.

The games vast open world and tongue in cheek humour made this game hugely popular and although sand-box open world games already existed, this was the first to achieve such widespread, mainstream success. The emphasis on mature content also spawned important conversations about video game ratings and proved to the world that games aren’t “just for kids”.

 

Donkey Kong

There would be no Mario without Donkey Kong but that’s not the only reason to induct DK into the Hall of Fame and to assume it is would be an insult to Donkey Kong himself. It helped launch Shigeru Miyamoto’s career and as of its release in 1981 was Nintendo’s most profitable game.

The game itself was simple, colourful and just as addictive as other arcade games of its time, albeit a tad more difficult to master. If you’ve ever played it you’ll know that it requires both patience and perfect timing ability. It is also one of the earliest platform genre games and was one of the first to utilise jumping. If that’s not enough to warrant its accolades, it was also one of the first games to have stages.

Despite being the antagonist in the original game, Donkey Kong later became a protagonist in his own game series and has since become one of Nintendo’s most recognisable characters.

 

Halo: Combat Evolved

My very first original Xbox game will always hold a special place in my heart. To play a successful shooter back in the day, you needed to own a PC but this game proved that consoles had the processing power and could be just as effective.

In my opinion, Halo took multiplayer gaming to new heights with its system link feature which meant my friends and I could link up 4 Xbox consoles and have awesome 16-player games. I regularly attended Halo LAN parties during college and to this day I still miss being able to play shooters that can support localised 4-player split screen.

I salute Bungee for bringing us Master Chief, Cortana and even the Flood.

 

Pokémon Red and Green

There’s no doubting the significance of these two games first released in Japan on the Game Boy in 1996. The Pokémon franchise has endured for over 20 years and is an international cultural phenomenon to be reckoned with.

With over 295 million copies of the game sold (and that doesn’t even include the spin-offs) and a whopping 21.5 billion trading cards sold worldwide, not to mention 17 films and over 800 TV episodes as well as Pokemon Go, it remains the highest grossing entertainment media franchise to date.

 

Street Fighter 2

Capcom’s favourite child Street Fighter 2 was released in 1991 and it undoubtedly inspired an entire gaming genre. It’s still one of the best selling arcade games and paved the way for 1v1 fighting games.

There aren’t many 80s or 90s kids around today that don’t have fond memories of Street Fighter 2 tournaments between their friends…or in my case memories of being beaten consistently by certain button bashing friends who utilised the Hadouken fire ball move repeatedly.

 

There’s no doubt that these iconic games have exerted influence on the design and development of other games and each entry has certainly permeated popular culture. With geographical reach and worldwide notoriety, they take their places deservedly…even if they did beat Final Fantasy VII, Resident Evil and Tomb Raider (don’t worry guys, there’s always next year).

What culturally important games do you think deserve entry into the Video Game Hall of Fame? Let us know in the comments section or better yet nominate a game for next year on The Strong National Museum of Play’s website.

New in Previews From Diamond Select: Marvel, DC, TMNT and Alien: Covenant!

0
0

April showers bring May powers, as a slew of super-hero merchandise from DST soars into this month’s Previews catalog! The super swag includes Marvel Select action figures, Marvel Gallery and DC Gallery PVC dioramas, DC Animated busts, Marvel Premier and Milestones statues, and the first-ever DC Comics Vinimates! Plus, new items from Ghostbusters, Alien: Covenant, Elf, Back to the Future and TMNT!

Read on for details, reserve your favorites at your local comic shop, or order online at shop.diamondselecttoys.com!

 

Batman Animated Series Penguin Resin Bust

A Diamond Select Toys release! The fowl felon has arrived in the Batman Animated bust series! Oswald Coblepot, the Penguin, is captured in his classic animated appearance, as he appeared on Batman: The Animated Series. Measuring approximately 6 inches tall, the Penguin perches on a pedestal base inspired by the show’s art-deco architecture, holding his ever-present umbrella. This piece is limited to only 3,000 made, and comes packaged in a full-color, hand-numbered box with a hand-numbered certificate of authenticity. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #MAY172501, SRP: $59.99)

 

DC Gallery Batman New Adventures Nightwing PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! Robin sets off on a new adventure! As seen in the follow-up to Batman: The Animated Series, titled The New Batman Adventures, Dick Grayson has grown up and changed his look, becoming Nightwing! This PVC Diorama depicts Nightwing crouched atop a smokestack, preparing to pounce on an unsuspecting thug. This approximately 12-inch PVC diorama features detailed sculpting and exacting paint applications, and comes packaged in a full-color window box. In scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #MAY172499, SRP: $45.00)

 

Justice League Animated Doomsday Resin Bust

A Diamond Select Toys release! Doomsday is here! The massive Superman villain is muscling into DST’s line of busts based on the DC Animated Universe, and he is guaranteed to dominate your Justice League collection! Measuring just under 7 inches tall, this resin bust of Doomsday is balanced on a pedestal base inspired by the League’s Watchtower satellite. This piece is limited to only 3,000 made, and comes packaged in a full-color, hand-numbered box with a hand-numbered certificate of authenticity. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #MAY172500, SRP: $59.99)

 

Marvel Gallery Spider-Woman PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! Another wall-crawler joins the Marvel Gallery PVC line! Jessica Drew, the original Spider-Woman, has been an Avenger and explored the Spider-Verse, and now she’s the latest 9-inch scale PVC Diorama in the Marvel Gallery line. Measuring approximately 8 inches tall, Spider-Woman takes aim with her bio-electric blasts atop a web-pattern diorama base, and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Alejandro Pereira! (Item #MAY172529, SRP: $45.00)

 

Marvel Gallery Netflix TV Elektra PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Netflix series of Marvel Gallery PVC dioramas continues with the assassin Elektra! Based on her appearance in Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix, this PVC figure of Elodie Yung as Elektra stands atop a pedestal inspired by a New York City rooftop, uniting it thematically with the other Netflix releases. Measuring approximately 10 inches tall, this diorama features detailed sculpting, exacting paint applications, and an authentic likeness. Packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #MAY172530, SRP: $45.00)

 

Marvel Gallery Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Movie PVC Dioramas

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Marvel Gallery line is blasting off into outer space! Three new PVC Dioramas capture the space-faring cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the latest blockbuster entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Star-Lord with his jet-pack, Gamora with Rocket, and Drax with Groot each measure approximately 9-11 inches tall with highly detailed sculpting and paint applications. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Rocco Tartamella!

  • Drax and Groot PVC Diorama (Item #MAY172524, SRP: $45.00)
  • Gamora and Rocket PVC Diorama (Item #MAY172525, SRP: $45.00)
  • Starlord PVC Diorama (Item #MAY172526, SRP: $45.00)

 

Marvel Milestones Civil War Movie Captain America Resin Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! Another Milestone has been met! The second half of DST’s Marvel Milestones statue set based on Captain America: Civil War is here, and it’s Captain America himself! Raising his shield to deflect a blast of energy, Captain America can stand alone, or pair with the Marvel Milestones Iron Man statue to form a larger scene – face them back to back for a team-up, or face-to-face for all-out Civil War! This approximately 16.75” resin statue is limited to only 1,000 pieces, and comes packaged in a full-color box with a certificate of authenticity. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! (Item #MAY172528, SRP: $199.99)

 

Marvel Milestones Doctor Strange Movie Resin Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! By the Vishanti! Doctor Stephen Strange has cemented his space in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now he has teleported into the Marvel Milestones statue line! Leaping from a portal, Doctor Strange casts spells with both hands in this dynamic statue featuring detailed paintwork as well as translucent sculpted effects. This approximately 14.5” resin statue is limited to only 1,000 pieces, and comes packaged in a full-color box with a certificate of authenticity. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! (Item #MAY172527, SRP: $225.00)

 

Marvel Premier Collection Spider-Gwen Masked Resin Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Spider-Woman of Earth-65 is taking the Marvel Universe by storm, whether she’s fighting alongside other spider-heroes against the Inheritors, or playing with the Mary Janes in a battle of the bands! This 12-inch scale masked variant of our “Spider-Gwen” statue shows her alighting on a pillar, preparing to shoot a webline while balanced on one foot. Sculpted by Clayburn Moore, this resin statue is limited to an edition of 1,000 pieces, and comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color window box. (Item #MAY172532, SRP: $150.00)

 

Marvel Select Spider-Gwen Action Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release! From the other side of the Spider-Verse comes the rockin’est Spider-hero in town! Mary Janes drummer and protector of New York City Gwen Stacy is the latest Marvel Select action figure from DST, and she’s sure to be one of our best sellers! The approximately 6.75-inch action figure comes with interchangeable raised and lowered hoods, various interchangeable hands, and a sculpted diorama base depicting a fallen robot! Packaged in the display-ready Select packaging with side-panel artwork. Sculpted by Jean St. Jean! (Item #MAY172533, SRP: $24.99)

 

Marvel Select Netflix TV Daredevil Action Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Daredevil of Hell’s Kitchen is now the first-ever Marvel Select action figure to be based on the Netflix TV universe! Capturing Daredevil’s costume as it appears at the beginning of Season 2, and featuring the likeness of actor Charlie Cox, this 7-inch action figure features approximately 16 points of articulation and a pair of billy clubs, as well as a sculpted diorama base depicting the elevator from the season premiere! Packaged in the display-ready Select packaging with side-panel artwork. Sculpted by Gentle Giant! (Item #MAY172531, SRP: $24.99)

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classic Minimates 2-Packs Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! The TMNT are travelling through time, and going back to where it all began! This all-new assortment of Minimates captures the Turtles as they appeared in their hit 1990s animated series, with classic, instantly recognizable looks! Donatello takes on Shredder, Leonardo takes on Bebop, and Casey Jones and April O’Neil each take on a Foot Soldier. Each 2-inch Minimates mini-figure features 14 points of articulation and fully interchangeable parts and accessories. Each 2-pack comes packaged on a full-color blister card. (Item #MAY172502, SRP: $9.99/ea.)

 

Back to the Future 2 Movie Vinimates Vinyl Figures

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Great Scott! Marty McFly and Doc Brown have just jumped forward in time again, and they’re getting new outfits to blend in to 2017! These 4-inch vinyl figures based on the second film in the Back to the Future film trilogy are sculpted in a block-figure style, striking poses straight from the movie poster, and feature articulated necks for further customization. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box.

  • Future Doc Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172513, SRP: $9.99)
  • Future Marty Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172514, SRP: $9.99)

 

Ghostbusters Movie Vinimates Vinyl Figures Series 3

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Anyone seen a ghost? The Ghostbusters Vinimates line continues with three new 4-inch vinyl figures, featuring the creatures of the classic 1984 movie! Blocky renditions of Mr. Stay-Puft, Slimer and Gozer will expand your Vinimates collection and give the Boys in Beige someone to battle! Sculpted in poses straight from the movie, Mr. Stay-Puft and Gozer each feature articulated necks for further customization. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box.

  • Mr. Stay-Puft Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172515, SRP: $9.99)
  • Slimer Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172516, SRP: $9.99)
  • Gozer Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172517, SRP: $9.99)

 

Alien: Covenant Movie Vinimates Xenomorph Vinyl Figure

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Witness the creation of fear! As the whole world braces itself for Alien: Covenant, DST prepares to unleash the top-secret new Xenomorph on their Vinimates vinyl figure line! This 4-inch vinyl figure is based on the new creature design in the new prequel film, and features an articulated neck for further posing options. Packaged in a full-color window box.  Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172518, SRP: $9.99)

DC Comics Vinimates Vinyl Figures Series 1

A Diamond Select Toys Release! The DC Comics Universe is teaming up with the Vinimates vinyl figure line! This new line of comic-based Vinimates kicks off with three figures – Batman, Green Lantern and Harley Quinn! Each blocky 4-inch PVC figure strikes a distinctive pose from the comics. Each figure comes packaged in a full-color window box.

  • Batman Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172519, SRP: $9.99)
  • Green Lantern Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172520, SRP: $9.99)
  • Harley Quinn Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172521, SRP: $9.99)

 

Elf  Movie Vinimates Vinyl Figures

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Christmas is coming, so put an Elf Vinimate on your shelf! Based on the classic comedy Elf, these 4-inch vinyl figures of Buddy and Jovie each strike a pose from the film, and feature articulated necks for further posing options. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box.

  • Buddy Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172522, SRP: $9.99)
  • Jovie Vinyl Figure (Item #MAY172523, SRP: $9.99)

 

Find your nearest comic shop at comicshoplocator.com!

Graphic Breakdown: Werewolf Queen, Chaykin’s Hysteria and The Forging of an Event

0
0

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s the Friday Edition. Let’s get started!

The Howling: Revenge of the Werewolf Queen #1
Written by Micky Neilson
Illustrated by Jason Johnson
Published by Space Goat Publishing

You know that they are really pushing it with the nostalgia when you get a comic book based on The Howling. Now, I loved the original Joe Dante version. The following sequels were all pretty terrible.

Thankfully, this isn’t. Unnecessary maybe. It does have some entertainment value however.

This picks up directly after the events in the first Howling film.

A recap is provided and it is very helpful.

This issue focuses on the events following Karen White’s transformation into a werewolf on live television.

People in the comic are told it was a fake and the survivors from that event must come to terms with what they saw.

The writing is very good. Neilson catches you right up with a recap but keeps the momentum flowing forward. The art is a bit stiff and clunky but I liked it enough.

A decent comic book overall. Better than most. …especially that godawful The Lost Boys comic. Still, what’s next? A Goonies comic?? Wait…

RATING: B

 

Catalyst Prime: The Event 
Written by Christopher Priest and Joseph Phillip Illidge  
Illustrated by Marco Turini and Will Rosado
Published by Lion Forge

This is quite a comic book. It’s intelligent beyond belief and I’m impressed it actually got made. Of course, one of the writers Is Christopher Priest so I expect nothing less. This is a good start to a new comic book line and a good jumping on point.

The book concerns five astronauts trying to save the world from a big asteroid. It seems like a simple concern and a spin on the Fantastic Four concept. It’s anything but that.

The writers mess with time the way Priest usually does with a comic. We jump to a week before the event. Then we jump to  a week after.

The whole comic book follows suit from there.

The writing is slick and the art is well done. The introduction “One year after the Event” is a fairly great way to start the comic. The art reminds me of Alex Maleev a bit…and I love Maleev. This could be a company that takes off  á la Valiant. Pick it up. It all starts here!

RATING: B+

 

Noble #1 
Written by Brandon Thomas
Illustrated by Roger Robinson
Published by Lion Forge

This is another great start to a new series over at Lion Forge. This book features a brand new character and he’s pretty damn cool.

This book takes place one year after tinge “Event” and astronaut David Powell has returned!

While he tries to piece his life together, David has to go on the run. He also has these strange new abilities.

The writing is top notch. Thomas gets us right into the head of the characters within a few panels. Following an emotional opening scene, the issue then becomes action packed and doesn’t let up for the rest of the issue. It’s thrilling.

The art is a bit clunky but it’s not bad at all. The issue as a whole is a strong start to a good story.

I’ll be reading this every month for sure.

RATING: B+

 

Ab Irato #1
Written and Illustrated by Thierry Labrosse
Published by Lion Forge

This is an out of nowhere surprise. I really enjoyed this book. The art is some of the best I’ve seen this year. Passion oozes from every page and I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book.

In the future, all of the rich people have access to a vaccine that allows them to live hundreds of years. Our hero Riel meets another heroine, Neve who join up with a band of rebels to fight against the rich people.

The story here is nicely written. The art is just pure excellence. The whole thing has a frantic quality that adds intensity. It actually feels scary and more real than I was expecting. Pick up this book for a story with great characters and a fast paced storyline.

RATING: A

 

The Divided States of Hysteria #1-3
Written and Illustrated by Howard Chaykin
Published by Image Comics

Last but certainly not least is this long awaited book from Howard Chaykin.

Chaykin is one of the best the industry has ever had. Classic cool characters. Hard boiled dialogue. Dynamic and excellent visuals. And characters you love to hate.

He’s one of the few elder statesmen in comics that still has balls.

This is Chaykin’s take on terrorism. A dirty bomb destroys what we once knew of New York. Then, a second American Civil War occurs. So, a team is contracted to bring the bombers to justice and quell the outrage in the country.

I have to say Chaykin isn’t afraid to push it and here he REALLY pushes it. Good for him.

This is the book Chaykin claims may get him arrested. He probably won’t, but it’s a book with its fingers on the pulse of the country. It may shock some, I think. It’s an important book however.

Maybe the most important book of Chaykin’s stellar career. Tops.

RATING: A

BoxLunch Partners with Dr. Seuss to Launch an Exclusive “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” Collection & $20,000 Grant Contest in Celebration of Graduation Season

0
0

In celebration of graduation season, philanthropic retailer BoxLunch teams up with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to launch an exclusive merchandise collection and $20,000 grant contest inspired by “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” Often gifted to graduates during this time of year, Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” guides readers through the journey of life and its challenges as well.

BoxLunch channels the adventurous spirit of this timeless tale with an assortment of apparel, bags and Funko Pop! collectibles featuring signature colors, characters and imagery from the Dr. Seuss library. Artwork from “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” can be seen across a range of BoxLunch-only items for men, women, children and babies including graphic tees, a tank top and a onesie. Dr. Seuss’s iconic Cat in the Hat makes a cameo in the line-up with an exclusive series of embroidered logo t-shirts and a snapback cap. Striking yet sophisticated, a four-pack of women’s bags – two backpacks, a tote and handbag – present several unique patterns inspired by the Dr. Seuss stories. An expansive offering of Funko Pop! collectibles rounds out the merchandise collection with additional Dr. Seuss personalities such as Horton, Sam I Am, Sam’s Friend, Fox in Socks, Thing 1 and Thing 2 as well as a BoxLunch-exclusive Cat In the Hat figure. “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” merchandise retails from $9.90 to $69.90 at BoxLunch stores and www.boxlunch.com. For every $10 spent in-store or online, BoxLunch helps provide a meal to a person in need through their partnership with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity.

In conjunction with the release of the “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” collection, BoxLunch will also launch an educational grant contest for recent college graduates that give back to their community. From May 15 to June 15, outstanding individuals who have pursued higher education can be nominated at www.boxlunch.com/ohtheplaces for a chance to win $5,000 to pay tuition, student loans, books and other related fees. In addition to choosing three nominees from the entry pool, BoxLunch will also select one of its retail store employees to receive a grant for their own academic aspirations.

 

Shop the “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” collection now at www.boxlunch.com
and learn more about the grant contest at www.boxlunch.com/ohtheplaces.

Games People Still Play

0
0

The other week I was feeling a little nostalgic about some tabletop RPGs I played back in the 80s. Seems these days it’s all Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder with some new games entering the field such as Fantasy AGE, Bluerose, and others.

But what about those older games? Whatever happened to them?

It turns out old games never truly die. The gaming community is huge and there is still lots of room for games of the past to still get their time at the table. Here are four that I thought might have been long forgotten but which, in reality, are still being enjoyed by players–young and old. Some of these have even had new editions put out within the past ten years.

 

Traveller

Traveller was first released by the Game Designers Workshop in 1977.

The theme involved mostly space opera with a good mix of hard science fiction, it was pretty much the only science fiction-based game with wide distribution in the late 70s.

Its universe was rich and dynamic and while the gameplay could get a little bogged down in math and details, once you got the hang of it, adventure flowed free and fun. Like most RPGs, it depends a lot on the gamemaster to keep things going.

A unique and entertaining aspect of the game is the character generation. You can play any number of types of player from merchant or space marine to navy engineer or asteroid miner. Your career features heavily in character creation and you can go through several cycles of career tours. The more tours of duty, the greater the rewards–but also the greater risk of death or severe injury.

It’s the only system I can think of where you can die in the game before you even start.

Features like ship design and a system in which material rewards (money, tech, ships) replaces experience makes for a different kind of gameplay. There have been a number of different editions over the decades.

These days, Traveller5 and Mongoose Traveller 2nd edition are considered the most current. Traveller5 has a more retro feel to it which I like. The Mongoose Publishing editions promise more expansion. Both are available at DriveThru RPG, and older editions (including a GURPS edition) can usually be found on eBay.

No surprise that YouTube has some liveplay casts. This is the one I’ve been watching a lot lately. It’s a little slow going at first as the characters introduce themselves, but once the story starts, the adventure moves right along.

 

Gamma World

The 80s were a special time. Nuclear annihilation was always just around the corner. Not for the first time, granted. That threat goes back to the 50s.

In the late 70s t0 80s, Gamma World decided that a radiated, mutant-laden post-apocalyptic landscape would make for a fun adventure setting. Woot! We’re all mutants!

Over the years, that would change a bit. Later editions featured settings following alien invasions, nanotechnology run amok, and… well, basically mankind dabbling in that which they were not meant to.

Gamma World was first distributed by TSR in 1978 and got some pretty wide play. It didn’t have the same wealth of resources as the D&D line at first, but over the years has seen seven editions–with the most recent coming out in 2010.

The PDFs for sixth and seventh edition are available at DriveThru RPG.  Older editions are available on eBay, but run a bit in cost.

Gamma World was a pretty easy game to create your own scenarios in, and Dragon Magazine helped fill in some of the gaps. Over the years there has been a steady, if smallish, series of supplementary materials popping up from Wizards of the Coast. Post-apocalyptic settings have never really gone out of style–just the manner has changed. Walk a ruined Earth with Gamma World.

YouTube has a good series of live play using the most recent editions. You can skip over the character creation episode if you want to dive right in and get a feel for the game. If you find yourself interested, you can always go back.

 

Boot Hill

Role-playing in the Old Wild West? Why not? I’m actually surprised I don’t see this setting used more often, although “gunslinger” classes have been cropping up in D&D and Pathfinder.

Still, while it’s not my “go to” genre for play, there was something fun in mixing things up a bit and starting the adventure in a saloon instead of a tavern and facing down no-good varmints instead of no-good goblins. Train and stagecoach robbers. Cattle rustlers. Killers coming to town. Showdowns at high noon.

Boot Hill, like Gamma World, was distributed by TSR around 1975, but didn’t have as many resources as the golden-haired child of D&D.

It went through three editions over the years, but never quite got widespread traction. Part of it was because the gunfights got deadly pretty quick, but then again the flow was pretty quick so setting up new games or scenarios was not too difficult.

Like Gamma World, it was pretty easy to set up your own scenarios. Dragon Magazine also featured occasional adventures. Character creation was easier than Gamma World. Overall, it was a fairly easy game for pick-up play, but also quite easy to turn into a full-fledged campaign with story arcs and recurring villains. .

Copies of the rules on eBay can be a little pricey, but some of the modules are fairly reasonable. If you don’t already have a fondness for the game, or are entirely new to the concept, you can watch some pretty good gameplay on YouTube. Here’s one I liked:

I’m going to skip over talking about Top Secret (spies!), Recon (Vietnam war), Star Frontiers (Traveller clone), and Buck Rogers in the XXVth Century (more space opera). All were distributed by TSR and SSI and while some people still play these games as well (some more than others), I’d like to move away from TSR-related titles for the last entry.

What I will take another look at, though, is another fantasy RPG. While D&D and Pathfinder have been around for ages and pretty much dominate the tabletop RPG world, there are still new games coming out in the genre. I looked for some of the other fantasy games I knew were around when I started gaming in the late 70s. There doesn’t seem like there’s much going on with Runequest (1978) these days despite some new material from Mongoose Publishing within the past ten years. Nor is there much happening with Stormbringer (1981), Thieve’s World (1981), or Fantasy Trip (1977).

What does seem to still be getting a lot of gameplay is Tunnels & Trolls (1975).

 

Tunnels & Trolls

I wrote about this game a while back when it’s latest edition, dT&T (deluxe Tunnels & Trolls) came out in 2015. I first came across this game around 1981 and it had already gone into its fifth edition.

Upgrades wouldn’t happen again until around 2005, but all throughout that time the game has had its devoted followers.

Where D&D and Pathfinder might be considered heroic or high fantasy, Tunnels & Trolls had a more low fantasy feel where you could be as likely to play a monster character as a classic fantasy race, and where armor may be less gleaming plate mail as it is a shirt of brass rings.

That is part of its charm, I think. Don’t get me wrong… this isn’t D&D-lite. Tunnels & Trolls offers just as fully rich a roleplaying and storytelling experience as any other game. The game mechanics are a bit more streamlined than others. It doesn’t suffer from creeping-featuritis and top-heavy rules. It’s easily customizable and ultimately flexible.

Uniquely, too, are its options for solo play. Back in the day–back before the Internet helping people find each other and hyper-realistic computer games, there was a demand for solo pen-and-paper RPG adventures. There are some thirty or more official solo modules available, plus a bunch of homebrews. Many of these are readily available eBay or DriveThruRPG.

Curious? Check out some of the gameplay from fans on YouTube…

I take great comfort in knowing games have such a long life. Sure, many times it’s just small groups of devoted fans, but they’re the ones that keep the games alive, and they’re the reason new fans come along. While you may be hard pressed to find a Traveller or Boot Hill game being run at your local gaming convention or game store, they’re being played in homes, dorm rooms, library back rooms, and gaming clubs.

Works for me.

 

Pilot Error: More Shitcoms – Laugh Tracks Mixed With Tears

0
0

Time for more Shitcoms.

Lets start with the 1989 (this is important damn it) “supernatural comedy” Shivers. Why is the 1989 important? Because the internet is full of morons. See in 1998 there was a DRAMA series pilot also called Shivers that was not picked up… and people can’t seem to comprehend that that pilot and this one are NOT THE SAME DAMN THING. THIS one is from 1989 despite the internet labeling it as 1998. Geeze.

Anyway, this Shivers (1989) was made for CBS and stars Lesley-Anne Down (perennial soap opera actress) and Mark Lindsay Chapman (Dr. Anton Arcane from the Swamp Thing TV series) leading a family of misfit ghosts as they attempt to adjust to “life” with the new owners of their home, a bland father and his two equally boring children.

Benign ghosts that try to scare off and then befriend the humans in their old home you say? Why yes, this did come out less than a year after Beetlejuice. Not a cash in I am sure… Shenanigans take place and how the hell anyone thought this could be an ongoing series just shows that cocaine was indeed a hell of a drug.

Courtney Gains (werido Klopek from The Burbs’) is one of the ghosts and plays his part as if this were a cartoon whereas the other ghosts act as if they are in a period drama. The living characters are all dull as you expect and have no personalities at all. Besides being painfully unfunny the fact that various members of the cast seem to think they are in a different kind of show this is an excruciating 22 minutes.

Life On Parole is the 2003 pilot for FOX starring David Herman, Jon Polito and Ana Ortiz as parole officers and the odd people that they have to deal with day in and day out. This is all complicated when main character Dave finds his heart is too big and he lets one of his parolees sleep on his couch (2 months and counting), he also has to train the new girl and deals with idiots as “clients”.

Here is the thing… while I don’t think this pilot works (I can see why it was not picked up) some of the wordplay and character interactions DO work. There was some potential here with maybe one more re-write on the plot (the weakest parts are the parts that move the plot along) it may have gelled.

I wonder if FOX regrets passing on this as it was produced by some nobody named Judd Apatow. Filmed as a single camera comedy with no laugh track it was actually kind of funny and with a little work could have been something.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5lip87

Sick In The Head was another Judd Apatow production that was not picked up and man this one is BAD. Trio aired this years ago as a “Brilliant But Canceled” special (and now Trio does not even exist any longer).  Apparently Trio and I have different ideas of what “Brilliant” means as I found this pilot to be tedious and not the least bit funny. Critics and I have a differing meaning as well since many TV critics hail this terrible piece of crap as some unsung classic. What are they seeing that I am not?

The plot is about a fresh out of college shrink that gets too close to his patients and finds himself always on the edge. Nothing funny whatsoever happens in this. NOTHING! Did I miss some kind of Tim and Eric kind of so unfunny that it becomes funny thing?

A very young David Krumholtz is our main character and he delivers his lines like he is rehearsing, rather then filming. Amy Poehler is simply GRATING and she is trying so hard to be “wacky” that even Jim Carrey might ask her to tone it down a little.

I can’t find the pilot online and my copy is buried somewhere so here is a small clip to show you just how NOT FUCKING FUNNY THIS IS.

http://public.splitsider.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/SH0.mp4?_=1

Some Guys comes to us from that awkward period in the late 90’s when every network was chasing Friends (god only knows why as Friends was the most insipid sitcom out there until Big Bang Theory reared up).

Samantha Mathis, Julie Bowen and John DiMaggio (yeah, Bender in a live action role) head up the cast of this sitcom pilot so obscure it does not even have an IMDB listing. Until I uploaded this pilot (see below) NO ONE had heard of this. For good reason, it’s awful.

I mean it when I saw this is a COMPLETE Friends knock off (cash in?). The set is similar, the character dynamics are similar, the delivery is similar… this almost a clone of friends with a cast change. Also, it’s just as brutally unfunny as Friends is so it has that going for it.

Mathis is giving this tripe her all… Bowen is quite good as the dyke now swimming up current since she now dates guys (she uses the term dyke to describe herself in the show, I am not being homophobic) and DiMaggio is weird here. He uses this thick Brooklyn accent that is honestly distracting. I had seen him in some of his early live action work (he did a full season of Chicago Hope) but it always takes me a while to reconcile that this huge surfer looking dude is Bender.

Why has no one heard of this? I have no idea. Honestly I have seen WAY worse (Super Nerds was a much harder sit). It always strikes me as odd when one of these emerges with no IMDB listing even. There are some solid names here and yet… no one want to takes credit (blame?) for this.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5lixp3


What’s New on Digital HD

0
0

Available Now

Risk

How much of your own life are you willing to risk?

Laura Poitras, Academy Award winning director of CitizenFour, returns with her most personal and intimate film to date. Filmed over six years, Risk is a complex and volatile character study that collides with a high stakes election year and it’s controversial aftermath.

Cornered in a tiny building for half a decade, Julian Assange is undeterred even as the legal jeopardy he faces threatens to undermine the organization he leads and fracture the movement he inspired. Capturing this story with unprecedented access, Poitras finds herself caught between the motives and contradictions of Assange and his inner circle.

In a new world order where a single keystroke can alter history, Risk is a portrait of power, betrayal, truth, and sacrifice. Executive Produced by Sam Esmail, creator of Mr. Robot.

 

Available May 16

Logan

Touting an R-rating, allowing fans to finally see Logan’s legendary berserk rage unleashed, director James Mangold brings a visceral and gritty realism to the story, based on one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters. In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Sir Patrick Stewart) in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant (Dafne Keen) arrives, being pursued by dark forces.  Also stars Stephen Merchant and Boyd Holbrook.

 

The Shack

Based on The New York Times best-selling novel, written for the screen by John Fusco and Andrew Lanham & Destin Cretton, and directed by Stuart Hazeldine, The Shack takes us on a father’s transformative spiritual journey. After a family tragedy, Mack (Sam Worthington) spirals into a crisis of faith and questions God’s existence and life’s purpose. Mack is unable to move on, until he gets a mysterious invitation to an abandoned shack. There, God reveals Himself in the form of three strangers led by Papa (Octavia Spencer). Mack’s journey will transform audiences of all ages, in this movie that you will want to watch over and over.  Also stars Tim McGraw.

 

 

Sorry Ridley, Deckard Is A Human

0
0

With the recent release of the awe-inspiring new trailer for Blade Runner: 2049, people are once again questioning Rick Deckard’s humanity. Harrison Ford’s Deckard, the protagonist from 1982’s Blade Runner, is returning in the upcoming sequel. It’s unclear what his role will be, but he comes across as a potential mentor and partner of Ryan Gosling’s character. Many, many would-be conspiracy theorists like to claim Deckard was not a human, but a Replicant, in the original film.

Unfortunately, the biggest proponent of this view is the director, Ridley Scott, himself. The goober has pulled an anti-Christopher Nolan and decided to explain his interpretation of the film. And while he’s certainly entitled to do that, I’ve just as entitled to say that he’s wrong. I’m a millennial after all, and I feel entitled to everything. Scott, whose filmic track record is as spotty as an alcoholic’s liver, retroactively makes his film worse by “making” Deckard a Replicant.

Everybody Else Associated With The Film Disagrees

Maybe this alone should be enough to make my point, but literally nobody else agrees with Ridley Scott. I don’t mean your college roommate, I mean the guy that played Deckard (Harrison Ford), the guys that wrote the screenplay (David Peoples and Hampton Fancher), and even the guy that wrote the freaking book the novel is based on (Philip K. Dick) all saw Deckard as human. There have been interviews to that point, and generally speaking, most people involved with the film agreed that the film needed a “human center.”

Harrison Ford definitely wanted to play the character as a human, believing that propelled the plot along better. In Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Deckard is explicitly human. And the original screenplay writers say they wrote Deckard to be human.

Given the weight of all these people, it’s hard to take seriously Ridley Scott’s claim – well after the fact – that Deckard was always supposed to be a Replicant. Very clearly, most everybody else thought the movie made more sense with a human in there.

Having A Robot Blade Runner Doesn’t Make A Lot Of Plot-Sense

Beyond my issues with the unicorn scene, there’s not a lot of in-movie reasons for Deckard to be a Replicant. If he is a Replicant built to kill other Replicants, why would you give him such a sad, crappy disposition? Would that make him more likely to kill Replicants? His backstory should be as straightforward as, “Replicants killed my wife. I hate Replicants.” Giving him a bunch of moral ambiguity and a complicated personality is what leads him to question so much about his existence and the nature of Replicants. If they want him to just kill robots and go home, they could have made him a lot more straightforwardly.

Additionally, if Tyrell Corporation wants to test whether or not Rachael can pass a Turing test, why in the hell would they use a robot? It makes no sense to test the humanity of a robot by seeing how human they seem… to a robot. Presumably they would have created Deckard, so why use him to test Rachael? All this would do is cause him to question his legitimacy, further muddying his effectiveness in their eyes. In fact, that entire scene sparks all those questions in Deckard’s mind. How stupid would it be for Tyrell to set up a pointless Turing test only for Deckard to suddenly question his humanity? That’s quite the goof.

Why would you need a human-looking robot anyway? If it’s entire job is to hunt down Replicants, just program it to be entirely unfeeling, make it a perfect shot with a right hook that punches a hole in all robots, and send it on its way. Emotions are of no use to a pre-programmed assassin.

Generally speaking, having Deckard be a Replicant retroactively makes Tyrell the stupidest corporation ever, and the Blade Runners the worst-run crime fighting organization on the planet. The plot devolves into questionable nonsense if Deckard becomes a Replicant.

The Unicorn Isn’t In The Original, Is Flawed

The single biggest scene that theorists point to for proof, is the bit with the origami unicorn. The gist is that Deckard has a dream about unicorns, and the next day Gaff (another Blade Runner) leaves a little origami unicorn outside his door. The implication being that Gaff could have accessed Deckard’s dreams because Deckard is a robot.

Well, first off, that scene is only in the Director’s Cut. So for the “true version” that scene doesn’t exist at all. It was snuck back in once Ridley got to do whatever he wanted. Additionally, the scene wasn’t in the original screenplay. But even when the screenwriter, Hampton Fancher, saw the scene, he didn’t think it made Deckard a Replicant.

When I saw the unicorn in the director’s cut, I, I thought of it as a symbol. And that’s the beauty of something that’s good, I guess. You know, you could– It’s ambiguous. And my interpretation had nothing to do with: “Oh, that shows that Deckard’s a Replicant.” I don’t think that anything should show that Deckard’s a Replicant. If you think that, you’re already wrong. You know? I mean, it says, it’s just the question mark is what’s interesting.

He liked the ambiguity it presented, but nothing about it confirmed for him that Deckard was supposed to be a Replicant. If anything, it shows that humans and robots are more similar than we know (we have similar dreams), but again it sort of goes against a sensible plot to have Deckard confirmed as a Replicant.

Certainly, it can create confusion and a sense of panic for Deckard, but it doesn’t mean he’s definitely a Replicant and Gaff is just playing mind games with him (which, again, wouldn’t exactly be helpful if you’ve built this robot exclusively to hunt other robots).

It Breaks The Moral Of The Films

The trailer for the new film seems to hint at a possible twist where Officer K (Ryan Gosling) could be a Replicant. He’s told that he’s “special” which in a world full of robots could imply that he was made differently or something. Maybe he’s the only robot that can truly love, or maybe his heart is made out of a bologna sandwhich. Either way, this would make it less likely that Deckard is a Replicant. Surely not every main character could be a robot. Otherwise Blade Runner could succumb to the same problems as Westworld where the twist every couple of episodes is that surprise, yet another person is actually a robot. If everybody is a robot, then who is the audience supposed to connect to?

This is ultimately my biggest issue with Ridley Scott and his claim that Deckard is a Replicant. If he is, then what the hell is the point of the movie? If virtually nobody onscreen is human (not Deckard, Priss, Roy, Rachael), then how is the audience supposed to sort through the questions about what defines humanity? That’s like asking, “What is being a dad all about?” and then having an all-female movie exclusively about moms. Sure, there could still be some insight there – maybe you can guess what a dad should do based on the holes in some character’s life – but really wouldn’t it make sense to use a few different dads as well? It’s hard to see what you’re trying to prove if there aren’t any examples of the thing you want to show.

In the original books, the issue isn’t so much whether or not the Voight-Kampf test sucks at detecting robots, but rather whether it’s too good and could accidentally implicate a human with a lower-than-normal amount of empathy. Deckard is very clearly a human, but what he struggles with is where the line between robot and humanity blurs when it comes to people with mental issues or just sort of a lack of empathy generally. Is that where our humanity lies or is it something deeper? What does separate us from the robots? Deckard himself struggles with empathy (though he can always pass a Voight-Kampf test), and finds himself attached to things that aren’t real like robotic pets.

If everybody onscreen is a robot, then the movie basically just asks the audience to compare themselves to a bunch of robots that are played by humans. Of course those robots are going to see human-like, because they’re played by actual humans trying to be human. If there’s no distinction between what a human character and a robot character are like – or if we have to wonder who is who – then we have no real comparisons and the moral will likely fall flat. By having Deckard be a human who struggles with his own identity amongst such human-like robots, we are able to suss out the key differences between humans and robots.

Is our ability to empathize with animals enough, or is there something deeper that makes us truly human? That’s what Blade Runner explores. It’s much more than just, “Oooooh, is he, like, a robot?!”

 

 

‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In: The Complete Series’ Arrives on DVD In Time For It’s 50th Anniversary

0
0

Named by TV Guide as one of the “50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time,” “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” was also one of the most groundbreaking. A fast moving barrage of rapid-fire one-liners, on-going sketches, musical numbers and hilarious social and political satire, it was an instant hit following its NBC prime-time debut in 1968. Hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, the unique variety series – a psychedelic take-off of a ’60s-style happening – perfectly captured the spirit of an era, launched the careers of many a comic actor and writer and fed a new generation’s conversations with hip catchphrases like “Sock it to me!,” “You bet your sweet bippy!,” and “Here come da judge!” “Laugh In” would go on to become one of the most popular shows in the history of television.

Never before available in its entirety on any format, beginning May 9, ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES will be offered as a deluxe 38-disc collector’s set from Time Life and Proven Entertainment with David DiVona. Featuring all 140 original broadcast episodes plus the pilot, hours of specially-produced extras and featurettes, a bonus disc featuring hours of specially-produced extras, a 32-page collectible memory book featuring “liner notes” from producer/creator George Schlatter and more, ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES will be available to pre-order exclusively at TimeLife.com/LaughIn for $250.

 

“‘Laugh-In’ was a free fall of television without a net. It was dangerous.
It was controversial. It was totally unpredictable and always funny.”
George Schlatter

 
“Laugh-In” originally aired as a one-time special on September 9, 1967, and was such a success that it was brought back as a series, replacing “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” on Mondays at 8pm. With seasoned comedy team Rowan and Martin presiding over the zippy hour-long variety show which capably mixed sketch comedy and sight gags with trenchant political commentary, the comic regulars resonated loudly and hilariously – Goldie Hawn’s giggly blonde, Lily Tomlin’s snorting telephone operator, Judy Carne’s “Sock-It-To-Me” girl, Jo Anne Worley’s anti-chicken-joke militant, Ruth Buzzi’s perpetually-frustrated spinster and Arte Johnson’s “verrry interesting” German soldier, to name a few. And over the next six seasons, from 1968-1973, the off-the-wall NBC staple would become a pop culture phenomenon and the #1 rated show during the 1968-69 and 1969-70 television seasons.

The pioneering series — which would go onto to capture 6 Emmy Awards (for Outstanding Variety Series, 1971) and 31 nominations, as well as 2 Golden Globe Awards, including “Best TV Show” (1969) — can also be remembered by the seemingly endless parade of guest stars who flocked to the red-hot variety show for memorable appearances and cameos including Tim Conway, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds, Liberace, Raquel Welch, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jonathan Winters, Carol Channing, The Monkees, Sonny and Cher, Barbara Feldon, Bobby Darin, Andy Griffith, Diana Ross, James Garner, Michael Landon, Buddy Hackett, Steve Lawrence, Jack Lemmon, Kirk Douglas, Robert Goulet, Flip Wilson, Don Rickles, John Wayne, a ukulele-strumming Tiny Tim and many more. The series’ most famous single moment, however, came in 1968 when presidential candidate Richard Nixon surprised viewers with a brief appearance in which he deadpanned “Sock it to me?,” before capturing the White House.

Initially, exclusively available online at TimeLife.com/LaughIn, ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES commemorates the influential program’s landmark 50th anniversary with a handsomely-packaged DVD set from the TV DVD archivists at Time Life. Across 38 discs and 150+ hours of transformative entertainment, fans of classic TV, comedy and variety will be treated to the series in its entirety for the very first time: all 140 episodes, complete and uncut and remastered from the original broadcast elements for optimal viewing. 89 of the episodes (63%) have never before been released on any format, making this eagerly-anticipated completist’s set a valuable – and highly entertaining – collection.


Also included in the collection is the rare pilot episode, a collectible 32-page memory book loaded with archival photos, show images, classic jokes and one-liners, “liner notes” from creator/producer George Schlatter and an exclusive bonus DVD.

The collection includes more than 6 hours of exclusive bonus features including the complete 25th Anniversary Cast Reunion and interviews with Lily Tomlin and George Schlatter that are only available in this complete collection.

Other exclusive bonus features include:

  • Interviews with Dick Martin, Ruth Buzzi, Gary Owens, Arte Johnson, Alan Sues
  • The Laugh-In Pilot Episode
  • Still Laugh-In: A Tribute to George Schlatter
  • Laugh-In Bloopers
  • How We Won the Emmys
  • …and more!

With the combined efforts and input from one of the most talented ensemble casts and the largest, most creative groups of writers, editors, composers, directors, scenic and costume designers ever assembled, “Laugh-In” became an instant classic, transforming pop culture and the medium of television. And today, 50 years after the show first aired, it remains one of the most memorable and beloved shows in TV history.

Available Exclusively Online at TimeLife.com/LaughIn

 

‘Psych: The Movie’ To Premiere on USA Network This December

0
0

USA Network and Universal Cable Productions (UCP) have an early holiday present for fans of their hit series Psych. Fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend, Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill), will team up once again, returning to USA for the holidays, when the two-hour Psych: The Movie premieres in December 2017. Psych creator Steve Franks co-wrote the movie with Roday and will also direct the special.

Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), Juliet (Maggie Lawson), Henry (Corbin Bernsen) and Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) will also return for the movie, which picks up three years after the series finale. The ambitious friends — along with some returning fan-favorite characters — come together during the holidays after a mystery assailant targets one of their own. A comedic thrill ride follows, as the wild and unpredictable Psych team pursues the bad guys, justice …and food!

Psych is a beloved part of our USA family, and what better time to reunite with family than the holidays.” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Steve and James have taken the unique brand of comedy that the series honed over eight seasons and packed it in to a two-hour movie that successfully rekindles one of the greatest bro-mances in television history.”

Psych has an absolutely phenomenal and constantly refreshing fan base. We couldn’t be more thrilled to gift our Psych-os this holiday season with Psych: The Movie,” said Jeff Wachtel, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, and President, Universal Cable Productions. “Steve, James, Dulé and the rest of the gang are all returning for a delightful holiday movie that will not – nay, dare not – disappoint!”

Psych: The Movie is executive produced by Franks, Roday and Hill, along with Chris Henze and Kelly Kulchak via Tagline Pictures. The special is from Universal Cable Productions in association with Tagline. Psych: The Movie goes into production on May 24.

After eight seasons and 121 episodes, Psych packed up its pineapples and said farewell in March 2014. During its final season, Psych was cable’s #1 original series in its timeslot among P18-49, P25-54 and P18-34, averaging over 3 million viewers P2+. Over the series’ full run (2006-2014), Psych averaged over 4.5 million viewers (4.541MM P2+).

How ‘Tomb Raider’ Continues To Thrive

0
0

She arrived way back in the mid-90’s and now nearly 21 years later following her first appearance on gaming consoles around the world the tomb raiding heroine Lara Croft is still as popular as ever.

The gaming industry has evolved significantly over the past 2 decades and there’s only a true handful of franchises in the game-based arena that have managed to evolve along with it.

The creative minds behind the world of ‘Tomb Raider’ have constantly strived to find new and exciting ways in which gamers can interact with their leading lady as well as improving all aspects of gameplay, graphics, and storytelling.

All this has meant that Miss Croft has continued to be a prominent figure in the gaming world.

As the industry evolved it bought forth numerous new gaming methods, platforms and devices to the market meaning that the number of gamers out there now is bigger than ever thanks to faster and more convenient ways to play.

As a result, many popular game series have had to develop their predominantly console-based gaming output to include more accessible gaming choices, especially for the mobile gaming market.

There have been 18 different ‘Tomb Raider’ games including sequels, remakes and reboots available on various consoles, platforms and other gaming devices.

Aside from the main series of games there was a direct ‘Lara Croft’-based spin-off released in 2010 entitled ‘Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light’ which concentrated more on cooperative gameplay instead of the typical third-person shooter we had been used to up to that point.

2014 saw the first release of Lara on mobile devices with the endless runner game ‘Lara Croft: Relic Run’ and more recently we’ve enjoyed classic console-styled action from Lara in ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’, released 20 years after the original.

Lara Croft herself has become an iconic gaming figure and in 2001 she made her big screen debut in director Simon West’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’.

The feature adaptation starred the Oscar-winning Angelina Jolie who embodied everything we had come to love about the character and due to the film’s success an action-packed follow-up swiftly followed a couple of years later with ‘Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life’.

The movie franchise alone managed to pull in more than $430 billion and next year we’ll see the release of a ‘Tomb Raider’ movie reboot with ‘Jason Bourne’ and ‘Ex Machina’ star Alicia Vikander filling in for Jolie.

The franchise continues to thrive whether it’s on the gaming circuit, in the movie world or through the various branded merchandise and other gaming spin-offs, such as this TombRaiderSlot.net option.

It’s a highly marketable franchise which has often been met with a certain level of mixed responses mostly due to the overly sexualised way in which our leading heroine has been portrayed in the marketing of the games themselves.

However, others see her as a strong, independent female figure to be admired. Either way she herself has become a pixelated legend and there still appears to be plenty of life in the old girl yet.

‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season’ Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD August 15, 2017

0
0

Their time is now! Just before their third season premiere on The CW, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray and DVD on August 15, 2017. Fans can zoom through 17 exhilarating episodes from the second season, plus exciting special features including the show’s 2016 Comic-Con Panel, crossover featurette, gag-reel and deleted scenes. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is The CW’s #4 show among Total Viewers, with over 3.2 million viewers tuning in weekly. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray, which includes a Digital Copy.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow amps up the firepower for Season Two of the Super Hero team-up series by enlisting both a league and a legion of new characters to join the legendary crew of the Waverider.  Charged with protecting the timeline from temporal aberrations – changes to history that spawn potentially catastrophic consequences – the Legends reassemble with the addition of historian Nate Heywood (aka Citizen Steel) and Justice Society of America member Amaya Jiwe (aka Vixen).  And yet, for every force of good, there is an opposing force of darkness.  In Season Two, the Legends of Tomorrow face off against the first ever team of DC Super-Villains: the Legion of Doom, including Malcolm Merlyn, Damien Darhk, Captain Cold and the Reverse Flash.  After saving the world from Vandal Savage and the corrupt Time Masters, the Legends of Tomorrow are now charged with protecting time (past, present and future) itself, taking them across history and up against the power of the Spear of Destiny – a threat unlike any humanity has ever known.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has captivated audiences through its incredible action and impressive special effects,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHEG Senior Vice President, TV Marketing. “We’re thrilled to release the complete second season on Blu-ray and DVD to give fans even more of the excitement and adventure that they crave from this series.”

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The 3-disc Blu-ray will feature a high-definition Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of all 17 episodes from season two.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow stars Victor Garber (The Flash, Titanic), Brandon Routh (Arrow, Superman Returns), Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who), Caity Lotz (Arrow, Mad Men), Franz Drameh (The Flash, Edge of Tomorrow), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (The Originals), Matt Letscher (The Flash), with Nick Zano (The Final Destination) and Dominic Purcell (Prison Break, The Flash). Based on the characters from DC, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Blindspot, Riverdale), Marc Guggenheim (Arrow), Andrew Kreisberg (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Phil Klemmer (Chuck, Political Animals), Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Blindspot, Supergirl, Riverdale) and Chris Fedak (Chuck, Forever).

 

BLU-RAY & DVD FEATURES

  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: 2016 Comic-Con Panel
  • Allied: The Invasion Complex (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag-Reel

 

A Very Special Summer for Music

0
0

Whether its the retro-cool factor or collector’s choice, you can’t deny the shelf-worthy appeal of physical music recordings.

True audiophiles and die-hard music geeks suffered for more than a decade over closing record stores and decreasing selection of physical recordings. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, digital media sales are up 78%, while physical LPs, CDs and even the occationally offered Cassettes are down 22%.  2016 marked the end of a 25 year reign of CDs as the most popular music physical format, in part due to the rise of vinyl, increasing 16-times its popularity in just nine years.

Looking at the glass half full, recorded music sales are up (including revennue from paid music subscriptions like Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited). Although more fans are turning to those services for their listening, the total revenue for all recorded music sales increased to a five-year high of $7.57 billion. That was the largest annual increase in more than 20 years. That’s good for the music industry.

For Gen X, and those that want to be a part of it, this summer brings a lollapalooza of Special Edition physical music releases for your top shelf. Heck, you might even dust this shelf, the releases are that good.

Start saving up. The following are just a few of the most anticipated…

 

Prince

PURPLE RAIN
available June 23rd in four editions

  • Remastered and Expanded as 3CD/1DVD set
  • Remastered and Expanded as 2CD set
  • New Vinyl Pressing on 180 Gram of Remastered Mix
  • Limited Edition Picture Disc

Start drooling purple saliva, beautiful ones.  This is the true, expanded, deluxe edition of Purple Rain in its intended soundtrack/concept album glory. The original album appears on the disc one of both CD sets (and a new vinyl pressing), which was remastered by Paisley Park, overseen by Prince from the original tapes. That 3 disc set comes with a whole disc of Edits and Extended Mixes, as well as a collection of tracks “From the Vault” previously unreleased. The DVD includes a concert film recorded in Syracuse on March 30, 1985 with remastered audio.

 

The Beatles

SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
available May 26th in four editions

  • Single CD new stereo mix
  • Two CD or 2LP vinyl packages
  • Super Deluxe six-box set

This 50th Anniversary celebration of the fab four fave marks the first ever expanded edition of their albums. They’ve gone all out, as all three deluxe editions of the release will have previously unreleased complete takes of all 13 album tracks. The Two Disc CD has a previously unreleased instrumental take of “Penny Lane” and two unreleased takes of “Strawberry Fields Forever.” The super deluxe box set has 33 more recordings from the Sgt. Pepper sessions, most of which have never been released. A fourth disc has unreleased mono mixes of several songs and a direct transfer of the album’s original mono mix. On discs five and six, you get surround-sound audio on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as extras like a hardcover book.

 

Radiohead

OKNOTOK 1997-2017

available June 23rd in three editions

  • Remastered and Expanded as 2CD set
  • Remastered and Expanded as 3LP vinyl set
  • Boxed Edition for fans (releasing in July)

Now that Radiohead’s back catalogue is with XL Recordings, you can expect a lot of special edition remasters with each coming 20th Anniversary. Collectors of previous deluxe editions from Capitol/EMI will be happy to know that this version comes with the unreleased original studio recordings of three tracks: “I Promise,” “Lift,” and “Man Of War,” previously available only as bootlegs. The mysterious boxed edition includes the album on vinyl, a hardcover art book, a book of Yorke’s notes, a sketchbook of Donwood and Yorke’s “preparatory work”, and an audio cassette (!) of OK Computer demos and session recordings.

 

The Cars

CANDY- O
PANORAMA

available July 28th in two editions

  • Remastered and Expanded as 1CD set
  • Remastered and Expanded as 2LP vinyl set

Previously issued (sort of) in the Elektra Years box set last year, these two are reissued with all of the extra audio releases and remastered sound (supervised by Ric Ocasek no less). This new July release of Candy-O comes with seven bonus tracks: ‘Northern Studios’ versions of four songs (including previously unissued song They Won’t See You), two monitor mixes and a B-side. The expanded Panorama has four bonus tracks in total, with three songs – “Shooting For You,” “Be My Baby” and “The Edge” previously unreleased. The fourth and final bonus cut is the B-side, “Don’t Go To Pieces”.

 

Peter Gabriel

BIRDY
PASSION

available July 28th on multi LP 45 RPM editions

Arguably, two of the most daring film scores from the 80s came from Peter Gabriel.  On Birdy, a soundtrack to the Alan Parker film of the same name, he reimagined themes from his past solo albums instrumentally. It was also the first time Gabriel worked with Daniel Lanois, who would go on to co-produce So and Us. For his incredibly progressive world-music inspired Passion he took his score from the Martin Scorsese film The Last Temptation of Christ back into the studio for a more cohesive album. Both albums have been remastered on audiophile quality 45 RPM vinyl pressings. Each of these pressings were half-speed remastered, in the same process Gabriel’s studio albums had been rereleased previously.

 

U2

THE JOSHUA TREE

available June 2nd in five editions

  • Single CD
  • 2CD Edition
  • 2LP Vinyl Edition
  • 4CD Box Set
  • Super Deluxe Edition 7LP Box Set

In case you have some money left over from grabbing tickets for the 30th Anniversary Joshua Tree tour this summer, there are some incredible collector’s editions of U2’s coveted release. Much like past deluxe treatments of their albums, these are extensive editions from Island Records. This hasn’t been called a “remaster,” but it does come with tons of previously unreleased material, and beautiful artwork to the degree of each edition you land. If you go Super Deluxe, you get 7 pieces of original, live and unreleased recordings on 12′ 180gsm vinyl.

 


‘The Godfather’ Returns To The Big Screen

0
0

It’s an epic saga that redefined American cinema and remains one of the greatest films ever made. On June 4 and June 7, Fathom Events and the TCM Big Screen Classics series commemorate the 45th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather by bringing the milestone film back to movie theaters nationwide for two days only.

The iconic story of a New York mafia family’s rise to power, The Godfather won the Academy Award for Best Picture, was the highest grossing film of 1972 and is widely considered to be one of the most influential films in cinematic history.

Ranked second on the list of greatest American films by the American Film Institute, behind only Citizen Kane, The Godfather will be presented with specially produced commentary by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Ben Mankiewicz before and after the feature.

Tickets for The Godfather can be purchased online by visiting FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 700 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Screenings will occur on Sunday, June 4, 2017; 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time) and Wednesday, June 7, 2017; 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time) and is presented by Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Paramount Pictures.

Welcome To The Planet: Cybernetic Eyes, Green Lantern Rings, Utility Belts and More!

0
0

Cave Carson and Harley Quinn thrive in their own psychedelic world crafting some creatively brilliant stories.

Green Arrow escalates in creativity too in some of the best issues the character has had to date while Justice League and Odyssey Of The Amazons just continue being… published…

Batwoman tries to rise above the constrictions imposed upon her by her past while the Green Lanterns fail to make the grade for their futures.

Super Sons and Injustice 2 continue to excel is quality, both in writing and art and I hope they continue to do so.

This is my look into the DC Universe this week.

 

Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye #8
‘Rest In Peace, Michael Pembrook’
Written by Jon Rivera & Gerard Way
Pencils Michael Avon Oeming
Inks Michael Avon Oeming
Cover by Michael Avon Oeming & Nick Filardi

Cave has recovered and thanks the rag tag band of heroes for their aid and apologises for getting them hurled through alternate realities chasing the EBX monsters.

The team head out to find Cave’s mentor Professor Bartow in hopes of finding a way to defeat their enemies. Somehow the mutants discover their whereabouts and attack while Cave experiences an excruciating link to his missing cybernetic eye and it leads Team Cave to a new path across the multiverse…

The title continues to impress on both the art and writing sides and shows no signs of slowing down.

I am curious as to how this will continue, the story has more twists and turns than the Might Mole’s subterranean tunnels.

The character relationships are fun, especially Chloe and Cave. Wild Dog’s cutting humour and one liners have me wishing he gets a title of his own again. There hasn’t been an issue yet that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Green Arrow #23
‘The Rise Of Star City’ – Part Three
Written by Benjamin Percy
Pencils Juan E. Ferreyra
Inks Juan E. Ferreyra
Cover by Juan E. Ferreyra

As Black Canary & Victoria Much turn detective with the Queen family history to discover the truth, Emi seeks answers of her own with Arsenal at the water treatment plant.

Ollie races to the Ranier forest and discovers his new base has been burnt to the ground with a devastating casualty.

Distracted by rage, Ollie is caught in a fight to the death that ends with a betrayal and the destruction of a famous monument, can things get any worse for Team Arrow & Star City?

The Rise of Star City feels like it has been building up for years, not in a bad way, but in terms of escalation.

Everything that has been set up over the past twenty plus issues is coming together, if you go back and read through some of the back issues you’ll see the hints were always there but we didn’t even notice. Percy has really outdone himself with this run and Ferreyra also has delivered some truly stunning artwork.

I really enjoy the fact this story thrives on his vigilante status and that he had a strong supporting cast.

 

Green Lanterns #23
‘Lost In Space’ – Part Two
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils Eduardo Pansica
Inks Julio Ferreira
Cover by Mike McKone & Jason Wright

Guy Gardner is a hard taskmaster and Jessica finds it more than a little difficult to keep up with her drill sergeant, while Simon is faced with the cunning training of Kyle Rayner.

If they fail they will lose their status as Lanterns of 2814 and the duo face their toughest challenges separately.

Kyle outsmarts Simon and shatters his confidence while Jessica is pushed so far there may be no going back – ever.

An unexpectedly enjoyable issue. From last issues set up, it was already clear both Baz and Cruz were going to fail so it was no surprise they struggled with the strict training regime.

I actually enjoyed Guy and Kyle more for their differing styles of training and the comedy element that introduced. The story is dependent on the Hal Jordan title for foreshadowing and that’s a bit of an annoyance, but nevertheless Humphries and Pansica do their best to introduce some much needed layers to their side of the story.

 

Odyssey Of The Amazons #5
‘Odyssey Of The Amazons’ – Part Five
Written by Kevin Grevioux
Pencils Ryan Benjamin
Inks Richard Friend & Don Ho
Cover by Ryan Benjamin

The imprisoned Amazons and Valkyries at the Jotun camp hatch an escape plan while the Jotun Queen seeks out the demon Surtr to aid her cause.

As the rescue team of warrior women intervene with deadly force all side suffer terrible loss until the Jotun Queen reveals she has already created a master race of women – The Amatuns.

Could this be the end of both the Norse and Greek warrior women’s tale?

Another predictable end, but we are now nearing the end of the story so the conflict between Amazon, Norse, Jotun and Amatun promises to deliver an epic conclusion.

I liked the scenes with the captive women refusing to give up and concocting an ambitious escape plan but to be honest this story still feels needlessly overlong.

I look forward to the conclusion and to see what, if any, after effects it has for Wonder Woman and the Amazons.

 

Super Sons #4
‘Son Day, Bloody Son Day!’
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils Jorge Jimenez
Inks Jorge Jimenez
Cover by Jorge Jimenez & Alejandro Sanchez

Jon and Damian are captive of Kid Amazo and while he is distracted by their arguing he reveals he has been plotting to destroy the Justice League.

Damian reveals he had activated a signal in one of Kid Amazo’s robot and help was on the way.

It isn’t Superman or Batman that arrives, but Lex Luthor, and he isn’t happy.

Superboy and Robin grab the civilians as Luthor and Kid Amazo duke it out, however the Amazo doppelgangers overpower ‘Superman’ and Kid Amazo puts his final plan into action.

Merging into a monstrous Amazo creature he attacks but an unexpected ally arrives to turn the tide.

The danger isn’t over as the two children arrive at the Kent farm to be greeted by a very angry Lois Lane and Alfred Pennyworth.

Can anyone say… grounded?

The first arc has been quite a ride hasn’t it? I really enjoy the dynamic between Jon and Damian, their constant sparring and personality clashes are the absolute strength of the book. Not only that but they are extremely young and going toe to toe with more mature foes. I am not sure about Kid Amazo, he was innovative but I hope we see fewer ‘kid’ foes in the future.

Jorge Jimenez crafts an absolutely stunning issue, and the balance between comedy, action and drama is played out with a burst of energy that I feel is unequaled by any other DC book.

 

Batwoman #3
‘The Many Arms Of Death’ Part Three: If I Had A Heart
Written by Marguerite Bennett & James Tynion IV

Pencils Steve Epting
Inks Steve Epting
Cover by Steve Epting

Batwoman’s identified the cancer spreading through the lawless nation of Coryana.

Kate can’t hope to fight this plague of villainy without the aid of those she despises the most. Will the worst of Coryana’s criminal scum join forces with Batwoman or will a deadly bombing plot come to pass?

As each issue passes the title gets stronger and stronger.  This is grea,t but the build up is slow and for a late starter in Rebirth, I feel we aren’t there yet.

I wish Kate was as strong a character as she was before the relaunch. I appreciate the exploration of her past and relating it to the story in the present day and as I said it’s going from strength to strength.

I just wish it would get there faster.

 

Harley Quinn #20
‘A Blast From The Future’ Part One
Written by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti & Paul Dini
Pencils Bret Blevins, Joseph Michael Linsner & John Timms
Inks J. Bone, Joseph Michael Linsner & John Timms
Cover by Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair

Bat Fan has been aiming to travel back in time to change the past… but the change she needs to make? Kill Harley Quinn or let all existence blink out.

Harley Sinn crawls out of the woodwork with bad news for Harley and in the meantime Bat Fan teleports into the Batcave and uses the tech there to hunt down the clown princess.

Their meeting is far from pleasant and the fate lies in only one winner.

In the backup story “Harley Loves Joker: Part Four”, Harley and Joker’s pear shaped robbery forces them to hide out in a low-rent motel… That would be bad enough but the room proves a tight squeeze with Bart, Lou and a gang of thugs joining them to hide from the Caped Crusader.

The Bat Fan story has been brewing away slowly in cut scenes for a few issues now and it finally comes the fore. Harley Quinn is a fun book that doesn’t shy away from comedy or over the top violence, in much the same fashion as Deadpool – though she is far less off the wall than the Merc With a Mouth.

Here there is more story to play with and the scenes in the Batcave were all about the quirky fun. It’s unlikely Harley will meet her end, but it will be an entertaining journey and that makes the book a really fun read.

 

Justice League #21
‘Endless’ Part Two
Written by Bryan Hitch
Pencils Bryan Hitch
Inks Daniel Henriques & Bryan Hitch
Cover by Bryan Hitch & Alex Sinclair

The big explosion sends the Flash back in time to the beginning of his encounter with the creature outside the laboratory.

Realising he can stop everything from happening Flash confides in Batman and soon they set a plan in motion to change all the things that went wrong.

First, to make sure that the civilians including the spike/hammer wielders family are safe away from potential the blast radius.

Confronting the scientist he finally reveals the hammer is part of alien technology that Argus provided for them to experiment.

The laboratory discovered its energy potential and decided to monetise its power. This time however the creature that attack the Justice League is the change they make – this time they allow it to win its fight against them and the outcome is very different…

Aside from the ending foreshadowing a big finish to this series of storylines ‘Endless’ ends up being a disappointing two-parter overall. It is a shame as the first part was full of promise and was had some very creative storytelling. The second part herein played the story out but it was predictable, and dare I say it, boring. I know it is filler before this dig event begins, but even a two-parter or ‘done in one’ shouldn’t feel that way.

 

Injustice 2 #2
Things Go Boom’

Written by Tom Taylor
Pencils Bruno Redondo
Inks Juan Albarran
Cover by Jim Lee, Alex Sinclair & Scott Williams

The Batman takes control of the entire Suicide Squad, including the reserve members Amanda Waller had captive and reveals he is now their leader.

He activates the bombs in several of the weaker villains to thin out their number and escorts the other to safety ready for their first mission.

The real Batman arrives to rescue Harley Quinn but his doppelganger bests him in combat and the horde of villains escapes.

Later an injured Bruce finds he was rescued by Batgirl, Lucius Fox and the now returned Black Canary and Green Arrow.

The niceties have to wait as Dan Turpin calls with shocking news, the prison holding Superman has lost power and without it the city will be overrun with villains and a very angry, repowered Man of Steel!

Injustice 2 is a book that shouldn’t work, tie in rarely do but as a continuation of both the first game and its own tie in Tom Taylor takes everything that was built upon that admittedly also superb book and doubles the thrill factor.

The culling of the Suicide Squad had me wide eyed as it played out. Of course we are treated to the first ‘mirror match’ but it doesn’t feel cheap at all in fact it all works towards the set up of forging new alliances. Redondo art escalates too but perhaps that’s because of the action scenes, I don’t care it looks fantastic.

 

Great Hera! We’ve Got ‘Wonder Woman’ Passes For Boston and Hartford Cinegeeks!

0
0

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior.  Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat.  Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

And we’re giving away passes to screenings in Boston and Hartford!

BOSTON
For your chance to download passes to the advance screening of WONDER WOMAN on Tuesday, May 30 at 7pm at Regal Fenway in Boston, click here: http://www.wbtickets.com/Rfcic82733

HARTFORD
For your chance to download passes to the advance screening of WONDER WOMAN on Wednesday, May 31 at 7pm at Bow Tie Palace in Hartford, click here: http://www.wbtickets.com/eisXx68227

Remember seating is first come, first served and not guaranteed so arrive early!

Wonder Woman is in theaters June 2 

 

Graphic Breakdown: “The Best Issue DC Has Put Out This Year By Far!”

0
0

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s been a fine week of comic book reading!

Let’s take a look at some books hitting stands this week!

 

The Flash #22
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Howard Porter

Oh my god!!! This issue was incredible!! I just finished reading it and I’m over the moon about this Rebirth storyline! You need this issue! It’s the best issue DC has put out this year by far!

This is the final part of the excellent storyline “The Button.” The Flash and Batman travel through time here trying to figure out what the deal is with the smiley face button.

Their quest leads to them following the Reverse Flash to his seeming death. Then Jay Garrick appears and plays a small but key part. Then the last four pages happened.

My god, those last four pages.

Williamson and Porter kill it here. This is a great lead in to November’s “The Doomsday Clock” storyline.

Kudos to DC for making an exciting comic book storyline in the mainstream. This has a lot of build up and they delivered. This actually gave me chills. Certifiable chills. I’ve never been so excited about reading comics as I have right at this moment.

RATING: A+

 

Aquaman #23
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Scot Eaton

This was awesome! Aquaman is back fighting for his life and it’s thrilling! Dan Abnett makes this first chapter of the “Crown of Atlantis” storyline something truly exciting and it’s something we haven’t seen before!

The people of Atlantis have had it with Aquaman and his antics!

They decide it’s time to get rid of the guy! So Aquaman fights back to keep on being King! I loved it. It was a dark issue.

The pacing is nice and tense. Abnett knows his stuff here and just goes for it. Eaton does a nice job on the art too.

It’s a good start for a new storyline!

Pick it up! Well worth your time!

RATING: A-

 

Batman #23
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mitch Gerards

Man, the Tom King written Batman series has been a real slog. King just has a one dimensional take on the character. That may work for a single issue but the entirety of his run feels pretty soulless.

This issue is a little better than most, just because of the Mitch Gerads artwork.

This issue is the long awaited issue where Swamp Thing stars. It has the nine panel Watchmen grid. It’s basically an entire issue of just banter between Batman and Swamp Thing.

There is a “humorous” Kite Man section that’s a real groaner. Not to worry.

There’s PLENTY more groaners where that comes from in this issue.

Again, The art by by Mitch Gerads is best part of the issue. Maybe in two issues with the new Riddler/Joker storyline King will get his act together. I’m not so sure at this point though.

Next issue is an aftermath of the Bane storyline…to which I say “ugh.”

RATING: C+

 

The Wild Storm #4
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt

This reimagining of the Wildstorm Universe is truly great. Ellis has taken characters that were almost ready for the garbage bin and spun them into gold.

It’s super cool to watch and this issue continues the awesomeness.

I.O. Gets tipped off of an undercover action team that has appeared. Angela Spica is on the run. And Mr. Henry Bendix is starting to take notice of all this. It’s all leading into something big.

This is one of the more interesting reads of the year. Ellis again writes strong scenes and events that are slightly skewed and warped. It’s refreshing rather than weird.

The art by Davis-Hunt is top notch. He can really do the big action scenes well.

He also makes the character moments stunning too. He reminds me of Frank Quietly and Chris Burham…both can do the same thing. It’s incredibly dynamic.

This is one of the best reads of the new year! Recommended.

RATING: A

 

Astro City #44
Written by Kurt Busiek
Illustrated by Rick Leonardi

This is my favorite issue of the week! I just loved it.

Busiek’s story is called “The Cat Who Walked Through Walls.” This is something that put a smile on my face.

The lead character is none other than a cat. We get to see this superhero world from Nightingale’s and Sunhawk’s cat.

Busiek’s strength as a writer is that when he gives us a new perspective on a familiar tale. He does that here in spades. It’s creatively excellent for sure.

When you put Rick Leonardi on a title, I jump for joy. He’s a great artist. I love him. He’s been excellent in the industry for over thirty years. His line drawing is just classic.

Pick this up. It’s a quality read.

RATING: A

 

Superman #23
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Illustrated by Doug Mahnke

Another chapter of the Black Dawn storyline is upon us. It’s a pretty nutty storyline. There is a mysterious villain behind Superman’s defeat and they make themselves known(you should know who it is if you preview upcoming issues)

All of this, and Superboy starts to wonder about his father’s ideals. Tomasi and Gleason know these characters inside and out. They have it down. This issue is primarily action but they infuse it with character moments as well.

The opening slugfest is great as is the last “revelation” of the issue.

I love Mahnke. He is one of the best artists at action and expression. Here he shines. Pick it up. Things are heating up and you don’t want to miss it!

RATING: A-

 

Trinity #9
Written and Illustrated by Francis Manapul

I wish Francis Manapul would let somebody else handle the writing duties on this title. I love his art. It’s his words that don’t resonate with me.

Sometimes, they don’t even register.

The Justice League is trapped in the Watchtower!

It’s a death defying adventure as they try to find out why and get out of these hijinks! They also need to find out who is responsible.

None of this is very compelling.

The story is bland and not very good. The art is, of course, very nice. I appreciate that Manapul colors his art now as well. That’s something, right?

RATING: C

 

 

Nightwing #21
Written by Michael McMillan
Illustrated by Christian Duce

What?! Tim Seeley is not the writer of this issue? Maybe it’ll be halfway decent, I thought to myself. Hey! The Flash guest stars too! This is looking good!

It’s definitely a slight improvement of the previous issues.

Nightwing and the Flash team up to fight against the villainous Timebomb.

To be honest, Timebomb is a little goofy. McMillan isn’t a top shelf writer either. Still, the comic is better than we have been used to.

I like Christian Duce’s art. He’s been making the rounds recently and he’s fairly decent. Not a bad issue overall. Maybe this title can turn around now?

RATING: B-

 

Lucifer #18
Written by Richard Kadrey
Illustrated by Lee Garbett

Lucifer is one of those take it or leave it books.

The stories are always pretty good but if I didn’t read them I’d be okay in life.

This issue continues on that trend.

Forces are gathering against Lucifer forcing him to get protective of his domain on Earth. So he must take drastic steps to protect himself.

Those steps are the most interesting part of the issue and kudos to Kadrey for making it interesting.

The art is very good and has a great dark quality to it.

Pick it up if you’re into the series.

RATING: B

 

Justice League/Power Rangers #4
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Stephen Byrne

I am not a fan of this series. It’s just not my cup of tea. It might be yours. I just might be told old for this.

It’s not badly written. Just not for me.

Tom Taylor does a decent enough job. The art by Byrne is really good! I enjoyed that very much.

But hey! If you like the Justice League and you like the Power Rangers and have been dying to see them together…well this one is for you!!

RATING: B-

 

 

 

Teen Titans #8
Written by Ben Percy
Illustrated by Khoi Pham

I normally hate this series but this issue was pretty good actually. It’s part two of the Lazarus Contract.

The storyline starts off in Titans #11 very strong and picks up here. It’s a good second part.

The Titans and the Teen Titans team up!

Both teams are being hunted by Deathstroke, the worlds deadliest assassin! It’s damn exciting! Secrets come forth! Betrayals are revealed! It’s a good comic book.

Percy’s writing kind of bored me to be honest but here he does very well. The layouts and art here keep the energy high. This storyline is very good.

Hopefully this book benefits and they keep it up past this event.

RATING: B

 

Disney’s ‘Bambi’ Signature Collection on Digital HD and Blu-ray May 23rd

0
0

Walt Disney Studios has announced the addition of “Bambi,” the endearing, timeless tale of a wide-eyed fawn, to the celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection.

“Bambi,” which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Collection on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on May 23, and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on June 6.  The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of “Bambi;” deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that “Bambi” had on the Studio, other films and artists; and much, much more. Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyrus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette.

Designed to bring together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling, it is only fitting that the Tribeca Film Festival serves as the setting for this year’s announcement of upcoming additions to the Walt Disney Signature Collection. This collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, one of the great visionaries of the 20th century. This summer, “Bambi” will take its place in the collection alongside three other great achievements in storytelling, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Pinocchio.”

“Bambi” was released in 1942 during World War II and took over five years to make due to its exquisite hand-drawn artwork and attention to detail. Beloved by generations, “Bambi” holds the No. 3 spot on the American Film Institute’s “10 Top 10,” honoring the 10 greatest animated films of all time. The timeless tale features an adorable young deer named Bambi who explores the wonders and challenges of the woods with his playful pal Thumper, the lovable skunk Flower, and wise Friend Owl – and ultimately fulfills his destiny as prince of the forest.

BONUS MATERIAL (BLU-RAY & DIGITAL* HD) INCLUDES:       

BRAND NEW:

  • THE BAMBI EFFECT – “Bambi” was full of innovations for its time. Let’s take a look at how those past innovations affected future Disney animated titles all the way up to today.
  • STUDIO STORIES: “BAMBI” – Recordings of Walt Disney. Listen in on intimate moments where he discusses the challenges, pitfalls and triumphs during the production of “Bambi.”
  • DELETED SCENE: BAMBI’S ICE AND SNOW – Bambi coaxes Thumper and his brothers and sisters to come play on the ice during the first snow.
  • DELETED SCENE: THE GRASSHOPPER – A grasshopper confronts Bambi and Thumper and finds himself in quite a predicament.
  • BAMBI FAWN FACTS – Think you know everything there is to know about Bambi and his forest companions? Well, it’s time to discover some fun real-life facts about the creatures that live in the forest he calls home.
  • OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT: “AFRICA BEFORE DARK” – Oswald Short.
  • CELEBRATING TYRUS WONG (DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE) – A heartfelt look at the man who played a key role in the success of “Bambi.” Much like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, Tyrus Wong had a unique signature style all to his own. The soft water-colored backgrounds and beautiful palettes in “Bambi” were inspired by Tyrus’ concept art paintings.

CLASSIC:

  • DELETED SCENES – Two Leaves, Bambi Stuck on a Reed, Winter Grass, Twitterpated
  • THE MAKING OF BAMBI: A PRINCE IS BORN
    • STORY: TELLING THE TALE
    • CHARACTERS: DRAWN TO NATURE
    • ACTORS: GIVING VOICE TO ANIMALS
    • ART DESIGN: IMPRESSIONS OF THE FOREST
    • MUSIC: NATURE’S SYMPHONY
    • HISTORY: BACK TO THE BEGINNING
  • TRICK OF THE TRADE (Excerpt)
  • INSIDE THE DISNEY ARCHIVES
  • THE OLD MILL: ANIMATED SHORT
  • ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
  • THE GOLDEN AGE

 

For more details visit Movies.Disney.com/Bambi

 

Viewing all 17882 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images