FRANKENSTORM Knocks Out FOG!
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BOOK NEWS: Filmation Studios Co-Founder Lou Scheimer Autobiography Arrives Next Week!
New autobiography of Lou Scheimer, co-founder of Filmation Studios, debuts November 7
On November 7, TwoMorrows Publishing releases LOU SCHEIMER: CREATING THE FILMATION GENERATION, the new autobiography of the co-founder of the renowned Filmation animation studio. Hailed as one of the fathers of Saturday morning television, Scheimer devoted over 25 years to providing animated excitement for TV and film. Always at the forefront, Filmation created the first DC Comics cartoons with Superman, Batman, and Aquaman, ruled the song charts with The Archies, kept Trekkie hope alive with the Emmy-winning Star Trek: The Animated Series, taught morals with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and swung into high adventure with Tarzan, The Lone Ranger, and Zorro.
Forays into live-action included Shazam! and The Secrets of Isis, plus ground-breaking special effects work on Jason of Star Command and others. And in the 1980s, Filmation single-handedly caused the syndication explosion with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its successors. Now, with best-selling co-author Andy Mangels, Lou Scheimer tells his entire story, including how his father decked Adolf Hitler, memories of the comic books of the Golden Age, schooling with Andy Warhol, and what it meant to lead the last all-American animation company through nearly thirty years of innovation and fun. Profusely illustrated with photos, model sheets, storyboards, presentation art, looks at rare and unproduced series, and more — plus hundreds of tales about Filmation’s past, and rare Filmation-related art by Bruce Timm, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Phil Jimenez, Frank Cho, Gene Ha, and Mike McKone — this book shows the Filmation Generation the story behind the stories.
After the jump check out a sneak preview of this book!
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Celebrate Halloween With UPSIDE DOWN: A VAMPIRE TALE
Jess Smart Smiley is the author of the new book Upside Down: A Vampire Tale, now available from our friends at Top Shelf Productions.
Harold is a friendly young vampire who lives in a piano and LOVES candy. Pretty normal, huh? ...until he sets out for a dentist appointment that turns into the biggest adventure of his life! Now he'll face bats, witches, magic spells, vampire frogs, mad scientists, and so much more! It's a wild magical romp for all ages, just in time for Halloween.
I was able to briefly read this 144 page book last night and thought it was sweet and charming with bold, clean art that pops off the page utilizing just two colors (black and green). I'm looking forward to reading it again a bit more closely, but I'm even more excited that this is "Book 1" in a series. Smart Smiley is a talented cartoonist and this book deserves a wide audience.
After the jump check out some activity pages that could easily be printed out at work and distributed, saving you some cash (or candy for yourself).
Save me a Kit Kat.
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HISTORIGEEK: Trick or Treat
A time when there are still a few of us who open our homes to an assortment of neighborhood ghosts and goblins, and engage in a bit of nostalgia for a tradition that is rapidly fading away.
For those of us who still give handouts, the question that comes out every year is “How much candy should I give the little goblins?”
Well fear no more, for the Forces of Geek proudly presents the following scoring sheet to determine the proper candy distribution. Check it out after the jump and just add up all the points and see which category each trick-or-treater falls under.
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Smallville: Random, Awesome and WTF?! - S8E19: Stiletto
It’s been a long time since we’ve had Lois wandering around in a tight leather outfit, and the writers clearly recognize that fact, so enter Stiletto, Lois’s crimefighting alter ego.
Start placing bets now on how fast this goes downhill.
Well, as downhill as it can get with Lois wearing tight leather…
The Random:
1. As bad as the turnover is in the hospital, on account of the patients dying at an alarming clip, their ER service is certainly mighty speedy. I had internal bleeding and had to wait five hours to be seen. Chloe gets punched and she’s seen as if it was a gunshot wound.
2. So, that’s where Jimmy’s been, slinging suds at a club where a certain individual has aspirations to become a true crime boss—welcome to Smallville, Bruno Manheim. But I don’t think you and Intergang with their Kryptonite laced money will necessarily survive the experience. By the way, did they ever get an actual divorce? Jimmy and Chloe, not Bruno and Intergang, that is. Chloe mentioned it, but we never saw it.
3. The entire bit about message boards on the Internet taking things too far and getting into arguments about the love lives of heroes is so dead on, it’s ridiculous.
Start placing bets now on how fast this goes downhill.
Well, as downhill as it can get with Lois wearing tight leather…
The Random:
1. As bad as the turnover is in the hospital, on account of the patients dying at an alarming clip, their ER service is certainly mighty speedy. I had internal bleeding and had to wait five hours to be seen. Chloe gets punched and she’s seen as if it was a gunshot wound.
2. So, that’s where Jimmy’s been, slinging suds at a club where a certain individual has aspirations to become a true crime boss—welcome to Smallville, Bruno Manheim. But I don’t think you and Intergang with their Kryptonite laced money will necessarily survive the experience. By the way, did they ever get an actual divorce? Jimmy and Chloe, not Bruno and Intergang, that is. Chloe mentioned it, but we never saw it.
3. The entire bit about message boards on the Internet taking things too far and getting into arguments about the love lives of heroes is so dead on, it’s ridiculous.
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“You think this is funny, you should see the fifty page thread
about two guys named Hal and Kyle… |
The Awesome:
1. One of the best things about Lois is that she’s never been much for being a damsel in distress like Lana and as misguided as it may be, her attempt at being a superhero, costume and all, reminds us why she’s so much fun to have around.
2. Clark and Lois’ reaction to one another once the cat’s out of the bag on Stiletto’s identity is great, especially Lois’ attempt to affect a British accent to try and throw him off. The real irony is that Clark recognizes her through the mask yet one day he’ll don a pair of GLASSES and fool everyone.
3. It’s fun to see Clark play up getting shot and Lois fawning all over him after the Manheim incident, bringing him coffee and donuts. It’s a great moment shared between the two of them and shows Clark to be a hero with or without his powers. Plus this begins the role of Lois as a confident to the Red Blue Blur, complete with a reference to Superman: The Movie, “Can you read my mind?”
1. One of the best things about Lois is that she’s never been much for being a damsel in distress like Lana and as misguided as it may be, her attempt at being a superhero, costume and all, reminds us why she’s so much fun to have around.
2. Clark and Lois’ reaction to one another once the cat’s out of the bag on Stiletto’s identity is great, especially Lois’ attempt to affect a British accent to try and throw him off. The real irony is that Clark recognizes her through the mask yet one day he’ll don a pair of GLASSES and fool everyone.
3. It’s fun to see Clark play up getting shot and Lois fawning all over him after the Manheim incident, bringing him coffee and donuts. It’s a great moment shared between the two of them and shows Clark to be a hero with or without his powers. Plus this begins the role of Lois as a confident to the Red Blue Blur, complete with a reference to Superman: The Movie, “Can you read my mind?”
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Now THAT’S a hero I can support.
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The WTF?!:
1. Does Chloe really, honestly and truly, not see how much of a problem it is for her to be harboring Davis not only knowing what’s he done, but what he was created to do and that she’ll have to be lying to everyone, including Clark, throughout? For real? Then again, she was carrying a laptop full of sensitive information through the mean streets of Metropolis, so I guess so.
2. How exactly is Lois so hard up for getting a story at The Daily Planet? Like a half an hour ago she was embedded during a coup in Mexico City, and now she can’t even get a byline? How the hell does that place work?
3. Lois, with pretty much zero training, leaps down like two stories through a skylight and kicks through a bad guy without so much as getting scratch. And then to top it off, Jimmy beats up Bruno. All thanks to counterfeit money inexplicably laced with Kryptonite because, why? That’ll make it look greener..?
1. Does Chloe really, honestly and truly, not see how much of a problem it is for her to be harboring Davis not only knowing what’s he done, but what he was created to do and that she’ll have to be lying to everyone, including Clark, throughout? For real? Then again, she was carrying a laptop full of sensitive information through the mean streets of Metropolis, so I guess so.
2. How exactly is Lois so hard up for getting a story at The Daily Planet? Like a half an hour ago she was embedded during a coup in Mexico City, and now she can’t even get a byline? How the hell does that place work?
3. Lois, with pretty much zero training, leaps down like two stories through a skylight and kicks through a bad guy without so much as getting scratch. And then to top it off, Jimmy beats up Bruno. All thanks to counterfeit money inexplicably laced with Kryptonite because, why? That’ll make it look greener..?
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Hey, Kryptonite has been used for everything else on this show, so why not?
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Mix Tapes From The Midwest: Let's Have a Party, There's a Full Moon in the Sky
I was going to do a playlist of Halloween songs, anyway, and I was thrilled when I found out this particular column would actually be published on Halloween!
So come on, boys and ghouls, don your masks, set the jack o'lanterns flickering, and dance with me 'til the light of dawn sends you skulking back to your coffins.
Side A
1. Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)
This song ain't about those sexless, bloodless Twilight-style vampires you hear so much about these days, oh no. This is a song full of dark glamour, for the dangerous criminal vampires, the sexy, deadly sort. It starts out with a soft yet eerie shrieking sound, and then the sensual slither of the bass line comes throbbing in. All of it, from Johnette Napolitano's powerful voice, to the musical interlude offset with slurping and cackling and howling sounds, will make you wish you were a vampire, too. It can be your soundtrack to stalking the heady nighttime streets of the French Quarter, searching for your next victim. I got the ways and means to New Orleans. I'm going down by the river, where it's warm and green. I'm going to have a drink, and walk around - I got a lot to think about. Oh, yeah.
2. The Birthday Party - Release the Bats
Rowr, bite! There are so many Nick Cave songs, from his days with The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds years, and Grinderman, that would fit on a Halloween mix, but I chose this one because it's another perfect vampire song. It's got those pounding drums, that sexy bass line, that screaming guitar noise, and Nick's voice shrieking and moaning. Pull out your best post-punk/goth club dance moves for this one - twitch like a re-animated corpse while your (black) hair hangs in front of your eyes. My baby is alright. She doesn't mind a bit of dirt. She says "horror vampire bat bite." She says "horror vampire, how I wish those bats would bite."
3. The Gun Club - Death Party
Poor old Jeffrey Lee was so haunted and full of demons, but his pain sure made for some great music. This tune takes country, punk, goth, and blues and mashes them together, while Jeffrey Lee yowls his demons out of his throat and into your speakers. The bass is slinky (what's with all these songs and their killer bass lines, eh?); the guitar solo that starts around 3:32 is like country-blues on drugs, and by the end, the whole thing has degenerated into raw, chaotic noise. I'd love to be at this party.
4. The Flametrick Subs - Creepy Dead Folk
And now we have some fine fine psychobilly from Austin, TX, backed up by the devilish chants of Satan's Cheerleaders. (Be satanic! Be! be! satanic!) This is a fun, danceable number about being chased by zombies. There's even a line about dead Buddy Holly getting on stage and singing 'Peggy Sue.' I dare you not to smile (devilishly, of course) at that imagery.
5. The Cramps - Wilder Wilder Faster Faster
I like to imagine that Lux Interior's afterlife is full of the types of things he describes in this song. Sexy monsters and dirty deeds! The underbelly and the Devil's seed! It would only be appropriate. I chose this track for this mix because it is the ultimate expression of what The Cramps were about. It features Poison Ivy's signature guitar sound - a sort of psychobilly/surf style - and Lux acts as the deranged carnival barker, shouting out all the thrills and chills you'll find in his collection of X-rated B-movies - Dairyland contraband! Look, ma - no head, no hands!
6. Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Old Spur Line
As someone said on the YouTube page for this tune - the Shack*Shakers don't play murder ballads, they play murder boogies. They hijack rockabilly and bluegrass and use them to tell eerie tales about the dark side of the Dirty South. This tune cautions you to stay away from that old, disused part of the railroad tracks; from the hopped-up rockabilly at the beginning to the spooky banjo fade-out, the hair on the back of your neck will be standing on end. Two railroads diverged in a yellow wildwood. It's raining meat, poppin' dents in your hood. It's a mortal coil of blackjack vines, blurred around the egdes hangs a red-soaked sky. Dryrotted, wooden teeth-like ties, suckin' up the muck in the trenches down the side. Don't ye go pokin' down that crooked Old Spur Line. Tread ye not down the dirty rotten Old Spur Line.
7. Slim Cessna's Auto Club - Pine Box
I'm not even entirely sure I know what this song is about, but that doesn't much matter. It is (and most Slim Cessna songs are) the wild and weird psalms of a dark religion. The noise will move your sinning hands and feet, and then drop you into the deeps of Munly's dirge-singing (Munly, who is pretty much a ghoul), and then it will lift you again into a sunny gospel sound.
8. Tom Waits - Murder In the Red Barn
For this mix, I tried to stick with songs that are fun, and to not verge too far into gloomy murder ballad territory. This one is a bit slower and quieter than most of the others, but still, in my opinion, fun. I think this version - which is the first complete take of this song - may be a little spookier than the cut that ended up on Bone Machine. It's got off-kilter percussion, steel guitar and banjo, and Tom sounds like he's singing through a megaphone. It perfectly encapsulates the creepy, rural feel of the lyrics. 'Cause there's nothin' strange about an axe with bloodstains in the barn. There's always some killin' you got to do around the farm.
9. Puerto Muerto - Hangman's Song
This one comes with a bit of a warning, not so much for the song itself as for the content of the video - there are many disturbing images in it, including old photographs of people being executed by hanging, which can be upsetting, so proceed with caution. The song, which was used in the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, is a bit sadder than any of the other songs on this mix, but it had to be included. As a bonus, since it has an apocalyptic theme, you can listen to it not only on Halloween, but also in mid-December this year! Armageddon time is coming soon. The fires will turn us all into dust. And we will be judged one last time. You, your son, and me.
10. The Pogues - Worms
It was necessary to include a version of this song, otherwise known as "The Hearse Song," because it is my favorite spooky song from childhood. This version, which is probably the shortest version of this song I've ever heard, is simply a deep, bellowing voice, and a droning accordion. It is almost like a sea shanty, which suits the lyrics. Be merry, my friends. Be merry.
Side B
1. Big D and the Kids Table - Salem Girls
If you never thought ska could sound spine-chilling, this song will prove you wrong. Of course, it's not simply straight-ahead ska-punk. It includes spoken lines from The Crucible, eerie chanted incantations, howling wind sounds, diabolical laughter, and even a cello. Whether or not you have made contact with the Devil, this song will make you feel pretty damn witchy.
2. Groovie Ghoulies - Graveyard Girlfriend
This is just a fun punk tune (with elements of early rock'n'roll) about hanging out with your sweetie in the cemetery. I've always wondered, though - is it about dating a gal who's already dead, or having a girlfriend who likes to spend time amongst tombstones? One day I'll lay next to you in a beautiful coffin built for two. You're my graveyard girlfriend.
3. Apocalypse Hoboken - Sweet Transvestite
I'm convinced that all outcast kids of any stripe go through a period of time when they're really into Rocky Horror - I was certainly no exception. It gives us weirdos something to belong to, and teaches us that it's okay to be boys who want to wear fishnets or girls who want to slick our hair back; it tells us that it's alright to give ourselves over to absolute pleasure. And of course, no Halloween playlist would be complete without a Rocky Horror song. This cover is from The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show (which is a kick-ass compilation of different punk bands doing their takes on songs from Rocky Horror). No one can touch Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, but Todd Pot is a close second. His voice has the right mix of sneering swagger and raw sexuality. So come up to the lab. And see what's on the slab. I see you shiver with antici..........
4. Misfits - Return of the Fly
Man, Glenn Danzig was so awesome when he was a tiny goth-punk, and the Misfits were so great with Danzig, when they were sloppy and fun horror-movie fans. Now, Danzig is a muscled meathead, and the Misfits sans Danzig are too poppy and polished. Ah well, at least these guys left us an extensive catalog of B-movie-inspired songs for our Halloween parties, right? Return of the fly, you guinea pig. Human hands and feet, yeah, you guinea pig.
5. The Damned - Nasty
Only pop music can save us now! But, seriously - back in the early days of punk and goth, there was a lot of crossover between the two. The Damned were a prime example of that crossover - they had the energy and sound of punk, but they often had goth imagery in their lyrics, and Dave Vanian sported a pale, makeup-wearing vampiric look. In fact, as time went out, The Damned grew further away from punk and veered more into goth territory. This track, which was originally released in 1984, has that punk sound (although it also features a blistering guitar solo; that was another thing about the early days of punk - you could have musical prowess without being accused of being a sell-out!), and is another ode to the wonders of B-movie horror. The axe is sharp and the blade is keen. Creature feature spirits crawl the screen. Shadows fall in all this gloom - you're not so safe in the safety of your room.
6. T.S.O.L. - Code Blue
FYI: the lyrics to this song are decidedly not safe for work. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, here is a classic SoCal punk band with their classic song about necrophilia. I mean, he doesn't even care how she died. How romantic!
7. Alice Cooper - Cold Ethyl
Here, Alice Cooper, the classic rocker that punks and metalheads alike adore, brings us another uptempo number about necrophilia. You know, the feminist in me makes me think I should hate this song, and the previous one - like, what, women who are alive complain so much that you'd rather fool around with dead ones? good riddance! - but really, both songs are so goofy that they just make me laugh. A number of years ago, a boy put this song on a mix for me. When he handed me the tape, he said, "these songs describe how I feel about you." When I saw that this song was on it, I thought, "so...he wants to have sex with my corpse?" He was a weird dude. Whatever, this song is still great. One thing I miss is cold Ethyl and her skeleton kiss. We met last night, making love by the refrigerator light.
8. Oingo Boingo - No One Lives Forever
Oingo Boingo were a great Halloween band. In fact, they always played shows on Halloween - the video I included for this song is from one of them, in 1987. Watch Danny Elfman, with his devilish grin and his shock of red hair, dance around the stage. I Imagine that Oingo Boingo is one of the bands that plays the parties in Hades. And when it's all been said and done, better that you had some fun instead of hiding in a shell. Why make your life a living hell? So have a toast, and down the cup, and drink to bones that turn to dust.
9. World/Inferno Friendship Society - Pumpkin Time
No one ever really talks about Oingo Boingo's influence on World/Inferno, but I think it's quite obvious, especially on older recordings. From the style of Jack Terricloth's vocals (which are often reminiscent of Danny Elfman's), to the sound of the horn section and keyboards, to the fact that, they, too, always do their biggest show of the year on Halloween... And this is the song for their Halloween (or, Hallowmas) show - a gospel/swing number about summoning the Great Pumpkin. Down by the pumpkin patch, it gets so cold, it gets so queer, while I'm sitting here waiting for you and you and you to be sincere. I need you to come out to the fields at night, I need you to to plant your candied corn. You got to dance around naked by the light of the full moon, for me to get good and born.
10. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put A Spell On You
I'm closing out this installment of my column with Screamin' Jay Hawkins doing "I Put A Spell On You." Many people have done great versions of this song, but Screamin' Jay is a wild man... In his version, Screamin' Jay is the voudou priest, hollering about how he put a spell on you, because you're his. And by the end of it, you will be.
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Letters To Hollywood: Keep The Children Scared
Why don’t you make disturbing films for kids like you use to?
Dear Reader, you remember your youth right?
You’re sprightly, innocent, full of vigor until the day you watch the film that's a little bit too disturbing for your white picket fence brain.
You feel sick and tingly, excited and vulnerable, confused but aware.
You know everything now. You didn't before.
You realise there is a darkness within the world, and it can be harnessed and explored through the medium of film and animatronic manipulation.
I am of course, talking about these.
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| The Skekis |
The Skekis were the arch nemesis of the Gelfling from the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal, directed and concieved by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and marketed as a "family film."
How ridiculous. I am sure my mother never sat down to watch this battered VHS, and if she had she would have found it lacking. It is a film aimed squarely at the fertile imagination of the youth who are tired of the safety net of The Never Ending Story and the comfort of The Last Navigator.
Kids who want a fully realised mythological world full of innocence continually crushed by horrifically sinewy vultures, as they remove the life force of the cutest breed of podlings I ever did see.
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| The Podlings, a pure innocent race whose essence was sucked out of them by the Skeksis in upsetting manners, turning them into vegetable slaves. |
The flamboyantly angular Skesis, designed by Brian Froud, are supposed to be a mix of reptile, bird and dragon and they were the most disturbing creature my 7 year old brain had ever witnessed.
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| Original sketches by Froud. But at what point did he say, "they really need ruffles." |
In this clip we watch the Skeksis having some chow, and despite the dated nature of the film and the fact they hadn't worked out how to make it look like they knew how to swallow, the general air of freakiness still resides.
I used to fast forward through this scene.
The digetic noise of lip smacking gluttony combined with the primitive nature of their boney claw like fingers terrified me. The attention to detail on the creatures hands, beaks and movements, so you can literally see how they operate, made them far more real then I was able to deal with. I couldn't 100% trust that the bad guys didn't know I was watching them and, later on, might find me and eat me.
I had quite the imagination/mental problem.
I had quite the imagination/mental problem.
But I still relish the memories of abject terror.
Although the Skeksis were dark in tone and design, they were beautiful in their bizarreness, and a brilliant feat of imagination. They were a wonderful example for kids of what your imagination could construct, and along with "The Nothing" in The Never Ending Story were a joy to have nightmares about.
Although the Skeksis were dark in tone and design, they were beautiful in their bizarreness, and a brilliant feat of imagination. They were a wonderful example for kids of what your imagination could construct, and along with "The Nothing" in The Never Ending Story were a joy to have nightmares about.
Although The Nothing did look quite lame once it finally out of it's cave and fought Atreyu.
You're like, "oh, its a dog."
The olden day non CGI nature of these monsters, ye olde animatronic puppets, was what made them so jarringly upsetting as a youngster. They looked tactile.
Nowadays, their influence is clear in the innovative creature creation work of people like Guillermo Del Toro.
Nowadays, their influence is clear in the innovative creature creation work of people like Guillermo Del Toro.
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| The Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth |
Although Pan's is not a film for children, and if you saw it as a child then shame on your parents and their excellent taste, his other films (Hellboy une and deux) were marketed at pretty much anyone and they had some excellent beasts in.
The Angel of Death, who pops up at the end of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, springs to mind. It is a wonderfully dark creation with it's receding gum line, skeletal body and ominous wingspan. Plus no eyes.
The Angel of Death, who pops up at the end of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, springs to mind. It is a wonderfully dark creation with it's receding gum line, skeletal body and ominous wingspan. Plus no eyes.
He ends you, and he has no eyes.
The Angel is close to the bone when it comes to oftoo scary to be birthed by the imagination and given human form for small children to see, but I think that's fine.
We need more of that Hollywood. We need less of the films about teenage girls being stabbed or Bieber achieving stuff, and more fucked up puppets.
I know we have dark fantasy films coming out of our earholes nowaways, but all The Lord of the Rings will not compensate for the fact that The Dark Crystal has an air of oddness and surrealism aimed squarely at the kids but without all the fancy effects of motion capture and CGI.
We need more of that Hollywood. We need less of the films about teenage girls being stabbed or Bieber achieving stuff, and more fucked up puppets.
I know we have dark fantasy films coming out of our earholes nowaways, but all The Lord of the Rings will not compensate for the fact that The Dark Crystal has an air of oddness and surrealism aimed squarely at the kids but without all the fancy effects of motion capture and CGI.
The lack of CGI in movies such as Crystal, Hellboys and Pan's makes the bad guys feel that bit more realistic, visceral and constructed with the upmost care and attention.
You can see the sketch work and intricate detail the concept artist poured their heart into.
You can believe that tiny bit more in the vision of the director.
You are less removed from the world you have been placed into for 90 minutes.
You can't spot where something has been falsely inserted, where the joins and seams are, and as a child it was always nice to be encouraged to access another world with everything you had.
At least for a little while.
You can see the sketch work and intricate detail the concept artist poured their heart into.
You can believe that tiny bit more in the vision of the director.
You are less removed from the world you have been placed into for 90 minutes.
You can't spot where something has been falsely inserted, where the joins and seams are, and as a child it was always nice to be encouraged to access another world with everything you had.
At least for a little while.
Although The Dark Crystal bombed theatrically it has since been embraced by adults with fond memories, and the Japanese. It was released at the same time as E.T (ouch,) but still became the highest grossing film in Japan until Titanic took it's spot fifteen years ago. Sadly plans to make a sequel have been indefinitely shelved but there is the Del Toro/Henson company Pinocchio collaboration to look forward to. Let's hope it is as twisted and dark as possible.
If not for me, then for my inner child.
Love Ellen x
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in defense of Disney Buying Lucasfilm
As I type this, Twitter is all a flutter with smarmy comments and end-of-the-world scenarios not involving Sandy.The $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney came out of nowhere to many, as did the announcement to fast-track a new trilogy set after the original classics.
And while the initial blast of news hit most of us (including critic, and Disney historian, Leonard Maltin) by surprise, I don't think it should be felt as a disturbance in the Force. I actually got a good feeling about this.
Some reasoning after the jump...
• Disney has had a fantastic relationship with George Lucas for years, championing some of their most popular theme park attractions.
This symbiotic relationship has kept Indiana Jones and Star Wars in the public eye since Star Tours opened for flights to Endor in 1986.
This symbiotic relationship has kept Indiana Jones and Star Wars in the public eye since Star Tours opened for flights to Endor in 1986.
• It's time, really, for George to retire.
He knows it. Deep down, the fans know it.
Disney as a company has the infrastructure to develop and nurture the brands under Lucasfilm. Quite possibly better than George was doing himself, in fact. Just look at what the studio accomplished with The Muppets last year.
He knows it. Deep down, the fans know it.
Disney as a company has the infrastructure to develop and nurture the brands under Lucasfilm. Quite possibly better than George was doing himself, in fact. Just look at what the studio accomplished with The Muppets last year.
• We may actually get a sequel or a reboot to Willow, or other under-developed Lucasfilm properties. This is either a good or bad thing, depending on your camp.
• Although buying Marvel payed off big with Avengers, Disney has taken hits this year with big budget bombs John Carter and Frankenweenie.
Rebooting the Star Wars franchise is a sure thing for Disney, with plenty of opportunities to wet appetites leading up to 2015.
Just, please Disney, not in the form of new Ewok made for television movies or Wookie Christmas specials.
Rebooting the Star Wars franchise is a sure thing for Disney, with plenty of opportunities to wet appetites leading up to 2015.
Just, please Disney, not in the form of new Ewok made for television movies or Wookie Christmas specials.
• Disney Interactive has lost over a billion dollars.
Pirates of the Caribbean and Club Penguin just are not cutting it and Epic Mickey didn't bring in the big dollars.
Expect big things in interactive gaming and social media from the Lucasfilm acquisition.
Also, don't be surprised to see your favorite droids, darths and bounty hunters alongside other Disney characters in the interactive products. Kingdom Hearts made this mainstream for Disney purists to accept and Disney has already merchandised the hell out of Star Wars crossovers in their theme parks and stores.
They already announced a Cars/Star Wars crossover line in August.
Pirates of the Caribbean and Club Penguin just are not cutting it and Epic Mickey didn't bring in the big dollars.
Expect big things in interactive gaming and social media from the Lucasfilm acquisition.
Also, don't be surprised to see your favorite droids, darths and bounty hunters alongside other Disney characters in the interactive products. Kingdom Hearts made this mainstream for Disney purists to accept and Disney has already merchandised the hell out of Star Wars crossovers in their theme parks and stores.
They already announced a Cars/Star Wars crossover line in August.
• George wants his legacy preserved for future generations, but Disney is very good at preserving their IP in original form and making it available to the public.
Their animated classics on Blu-ray have rivaled The Criterion Collection for cinephile aesthetic, going back to the original aspect ratios, soundtracks and title cards.
Unless there's a provision in the contract that hasn't been reported yet, perhaps in our lifetime we'll see those original versions of the original Star Wars trilogy available to the public and restored.
Their animated classics on Blu-ray have rivaled The Criterion Collection for cinephile aesthetic, going back to the original aspect ratios, soundtracks and title cards.
Unless there's a provision in the contract that hasn't been reported yet, perhaps in our lifetime we'll see those original versions of the original Star Wars trilogy available to the public and restored.
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Contest! Win YOU ARE NOT SO SMART by David McRaney
You Are Not So Smart is a book about all the wonderful ways you delude yourself every day.
You could use a healthy dose of humility, and inside this book you’ll find new entries on topics like priming, expectation, confabulation, apophenia, normalcy bias, the fundamental attribution error, and many more along with expanded chapters on topics from the blog.With each new subject you will start to see how unaware of how unaware you are. You will soon realize you are not so smart, and thanks to a plethora of cognitive biases, faulty heuristics and common fallacies, you are probably deluding yourself minute by minute just to cope with reality. That’s ok though. We’re all in this together, and these are our shared mental stumbling blocks.
And we're giving away a copy of this great book!
To enter, please send an email with the subject header "NOT SO SMART" to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:
Author David McRaney produced this television show focusing on the music of the Deep South?
Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).
Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 18th, 2012.
For more details, visit http://youarenotsosmart.com/
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Comic News: Alert: Ditko’s GORGO Surfaces!
No One Is Safe From GORGO's Grasp!
This January, the world is set to come under vicious attack. As ocean waters tremble and churn, undersea volcanoes violently erupt, and the giant lizard monster Gorgo rises once again to terrorize a woefully unprepared populace!
IDW Publishing and Yoe Books are thrilled to announce DITKO MONSTERS: GORGO! The first in a series, to be followed by DITKO MONSTERS: KONGA!, this volume collects the complete run of Ditko’s Gorgo: over 200 pages of explosive, destructive Gorgo action. This hardcover volume is absolutely packed with towering monster art by the inimitable comics legend STEVE DITKO!
Drawn at the same time Ditko was doing landmark work on Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, Gorgo was ripped from the reels of its cinematic origins and thrust into the pulpy comics spotlight. Seemingly unstoppable, Gorgo takes all comers as he stomps across the globe in adventures penned by fan-favorite writer Joe Gill with book design and an introduction by Eisner Award-winner, Craig Yoe.
“This is the third Ditko book I've had the great pleasure to produce, the first two were The Art of Ditko and The Creativity of Ditko,” says Yoe. “As proud of I am of those, this one may be the most F-U-N fun yet, because it's all about a ginormous, scaly-skinned, dinosaur-like, anti-social, city-smashing MONSTER. Ditko obviously had a blast doing these mad-cool comics, smashingly putting the "GO" in Gorgo!”
A bona fide art legend, a vicious monster laying waste to highly populated urban areas, and an oversized, full-color hardback? Ladies and gentlemonsters, DITKO MONSTERS: GORGO! has it all!
DITKO MONSTERS: GORGO! (FC, 224 pages, $34.99) is in stores 1/30/13.
Diamond code: NOV120414
Craig Yoe is available for convention appearances and interviews with the press in regards to this and his other books. Find Yoe Books' online at http://yoebooks.com and http://www.youtube.com/theyoetube.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing. com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.
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HAPPY BELATED HALLOWEEN...After Being Bitch-Slapped By Sandy
Well, I survived my relationship with that Bitch hurricane and am happy to report that power has been restored to most of my town (which means I can spend the next few days catching up on all the shows I missed while I lived as if I were Amish for three days).
And, although I missed Halloween again this year due to yet another weather-related disaster (last year was Snowpocalypse), I have come to realize that the most important thing in life is not the glorious warmth of heat blowing from a vent in your wall, but a substantial amount of beer and several fully-charged computers loaded up with porn to watch while hanging out in your basement hoping to survive the night.
And, speaking of porn, perhaps next year you could indulge your neighborhood with some sexually explicit pumpkins that you carved from a lovely kit called Pornkins. Not only will you be able to light up the dark night of suburbia with fall fruit carved into scenes like "Back It Up", but will also educate the neighborhood children on what to expect after their future spouse reads something called 50 Shades of Grey.
Happy Belated Halloween!
Source: Incredible Things
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Welcome To My Queue: A Dozen Reviews To Tide You Over
Fire up those queues and shopping carts.
After the jump check out reviews for:
- Magic Mike
- American Horror Story: The Complete First Season
- Moonrise Kingdom
- Prometheus
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
- Safety Not Guaranteed
- Iron Sky
- Chernobyl Diaries
- Castle: The Complete Fourth Season
- Pete's Dragon
- The Campaign
- Bait 3D
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| Warner Bros. / Released 10/23/12 on Blu-ray Combo, DVD, & digital download |
Somehow Channing Tatum has become a charismatic actor.
In the last few years he's shown he's capable of handing romance, action, drama and comedy. And now, with Magic Mike, Tatum delivers one of his best performances yet.
As Mike, Tatum is a bit of a dreamer; spending his days doing construction, his nights as a male stripper, putting away cash to start his own business building one of a kind furniture. Mike is a simple guy, who longs to be deep, but most of his relationships are superficial.
Mike meets The Kid (Adam, played by Alex Pettyfer), taking him under his wing as the latest stripper at Tampa's Club Xquisite. There, he joins fellow performers Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash and Adam Rodriguez. Matthew McConaughey as the club's owner Dallas, delivers the best performance of his career; he's funny, he's charismatic, but there's something going on behind his eyes – he's taking everything in, working the room with a bit of an almost psychotic energy.
Mike finds himself attracted to Adam's sister, Brooke (Cody Horn, delivering a performance that feels like it was delivered via teleprompter). Director Steven Soderbergh's cautionary tale plays a bit like Boogie Nights–Light, as Adam finds himself deep in a world of dancing, partying, picking up women, making easy money, ego, and taking and dealing drugs. Suddenly Mike becomes self aware, realizing how much of Adam's failures he sees within himself.
But, Soderbergh never lets the darkness permeate the film, and Magic Mike is heavy on charm, and has more depth than it deserves to. Channing anchors the film and really delivers the internal struggles, sadness, and self-awareness of the ridiculousness around him without it feeling forced or overdone. Pettyfer delivers an understated performance and I wouldn't be surprised to see McConaughey's name mentioned often come awards season.
Extras are very light with only extended dance sequences, a brief behind-the-scenes and a play all feature for the dance numbers. A Soderbergh/Channing commentary is notably absent.
Magic Mike continues Soderbergh's reign as one of the most diverse filmmakers working today and despite the marketing of the film as the "male stripper movie," it's sharp, funny and well executed. Highly recommended.
Prometheus
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| 20th Century Fox / Released October 9, 2012 |
Ridley Scott's return to science fiction was this not a prequel, but sharing the same airspace as his seminal film, Alien. Rarely does a filmmaker return to his high profile earlier work and find success (Lucas, Spielberg, et. al) and despite my apathy after seeing the film in it's initial release, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the experience worked so much better when revisited.
I think the initial disappointment stems from the film's approach in relation to the other films in the series, while they can be easily defined by genre (Alien is a Haunted House picture, Aliens is a war/action film, etc.), Prometheus instead focuses on a number of ideas; the universe, the human race and theology. The cast is uniformly great with particularly strong performances from Noomi Rapace, Logan-Marshall Green, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron and in particular, Michael Fassbender as replicant/android David. The film is visually stunning, and there are enough ideas in this film to fuel a lifetime of discussion. The unfortunate part is that the ideas aren't as well explored, thought out or as well structured to satisfy a linear narrative. Extras include commentaries, deleted/alternate scenes, and viral marketing videos.
Prometheus is an interesting, although frustrating film, but without a doubt one of the most interesting and best produced discs of the year. Highly recommended.
Iron Sky
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| Entertainment One / Released October 2, 2012 |
Although it doesn't work all of the time, Iron Sky, which focuses on a secret Nazi base on the moon attacking the Earth is more entertaining than it deserves to be. There's a Palin-esque President in power, who sends a new mission to the moon (hoping it will cinch her a second term). In addition, she's put an African American male model on the team (he's not an astronaut, but very marketable). When the landing team discovers the Nazi base on the dark side of the moon, the model, James Washington, is captured and interrogated by a mad Nazi scientist and his betrothed daughter, who becomes smitten with Washington. The solution? The scientist injects Washington with a serum to turn him into a true Aryan (that's right, whiteface). From there, it's back to Earth to set the plan in motion and overtake the planet under Aryan rule.
Depending if you're smiling after reading that will likely determine if you'd enjoy the film. Then understand that it never reaches the fun that you've imagined in your head. It's a great looking film and there are moments of absurd inventiveness and innovation, but overall, it just doesn't work. The biggest problem is that it seems that the filmmakers set out to make a "cult film", and that never seems to work. A cult film has to be discovered and embraced, not constructed and marketed as such. Extras include commentary, featurettes and trailers.
If you do like the concept, it's well worth a rental and if you're one of those, "it's so bad, it's good" it might disappoint. It's not that bad and it's not that good. Just a wasted execution of what could have been a fun concept.
Chernobyl Diaries
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| Warner Bros. / Released 10/16/ 12 on Blu-ray Combo, DVD, & digital download |
One of the laziest and most redundant films of recent memory. A group of friends traveling in the former Soviet Union get a local who gives them a tour of the remains of Chernobyl. Bypassing military and entering the former town, the group soon finds themselves being hunted off by something that's still lurking on the grounds.
The problem is there's nothing new or suspenseful within. It's just another standard issue horror film with forgettable characters and a predictable execution with an ending reminiscent of more than a half dozen more memorable films from the last several years. Extras include a viral video, a fake commercial and a deleted scene.
The Chernobyl Diaries is handsomely produced, but the shocks aren't shocking, the scares not scary and the film not worth seeing.
American Horror Story: The Complete First Season
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| 20th Century Fox / Released September 25, 2012 |
I tried watching American Horror Story when it aired. Several times. Yet for some reason I couldn't get past the opening half of the pilot. Finally, I sat down and tore through this in two days, and am convinced; not only is American Horror Story one of the most interesting, creative and disturbing series that I've seen in some time, but also feel that it's eventual influence on television will be akin to Twin Peaks. With a large ensemble cast including Jessica Lange, Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, and Taissa Farmiga among others, American Horror Story plays with the conventions of serialized television, linear storytelling and the ghost/haunted house genre.
Love and sex is the focus of the series and the various ways that it is used to manipulate, hurt, comfort, and entice the characters is a combination of kink, jealousy, fetish, obsession, and delusion. Extras include several featurettes and a commentary on the pilot episode. American Horror Story creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have created a finite show (the second season features an entirely new story with much of the original cast) that might be one of the most disturbing and violent series ever to air on television.
And it's awesome.
Highest recommendation.
Bait 3D
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released September 18, 2012 |
I love giant animal movies. They are without a doubt one of the most entertaining genres ever committed to film, which is why the premise of "sharks in a supermarket" might have been the greatest idea since dipping chocolate into peanut butter.
Bait takes that premise and wastes it. Part of the problem is logic. We see a shark attack in the opening scene and the film picks up a few later where our cast of characters are all set up with their own subplots (shoplifter, girl seeing her ex with her new boyfriend, a thug with a heart of gold pulling a heist to get his brother out of trouble with some criminals) all in a supermarket when a tsunami hits, descimating the town and filling the underground market and garage full of ocean water.
And sharks.
The cast does their best with a lukewarm script constructed by six writers and the only recognizable face is "whatever happened to" Julian McMahon, who delivers the film's strongest performance. Bait is frustrating because it sets up a really fun premise and once the sharks find themselves lurking under the aisles, it never really lives up to it's full potential. Extras only include a set of storyboards. Bait is mildly entertaining, but for true fans of the giant animals run amok genre, you might be disappointed.
The Campaign
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| Warner Bros. / Released 10/30/12 on Blu-ray Combo, DVD, & digital download |
Will Ferrell plays an incumbent Democratic politician and Zach Galifianakis plays his political rival, a big money funded Republican, who run against one another for a congressional seat. The film, though mildly successful at portraying the manipulation, spin doctoring and marketing of candidates is really nothing more than a vehicle for both comedians to dish out the same tired schtick that stopped being funny more than a few films back.
If you've seen any film featuring two characters attempting to outwit one another by performing unrealistic, outlandish stunts, you've pretty much seen The Campaign. The supporting cast is solid, albeit unspectacular, with Dylan McDermott, Jason Sudekis, Jack McBrayer, John Goodman, Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow pretty much delivering what you expect. Extras are slight with alternate/deleted scenes and a gag reel. The Campaign falters with a subject rich for smart comedy and biting observation, instead we get the dumb comedy that isn't nearly as funny or clever as it thinks that it is.
Pete's Dragon: 35th Anniversary Edition
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| Disney / Released October 16, 2012 |
It's truly a testament to the power of cinema that when I first saw Pete's Dragon way back in 1977 I bought it. Revisiting the film in for the first time in 35 years, I know why I was charmed, but certainly understand why it isn't a bigger part of the Disney brand. First, it's set in the backwoods of Maine at the beginnings of the 20th century, and focuses on Pete, a young orphan. He befriends a giant animated dragon, Elliot, who can turn invisible and who is being pursued by a hillbilly gang led by Shelley Winters. Pete fortunately befriends a lighthouse keeper and her father (Helen Reddy and Mickey Rooney), who provide a home for Pete. Along the way, Jim Dale and Red Buttons show up as snake-oil salesmen who want Elliot, well, basically for his parts.
If this wasn't nonsensical enough, there are songs. Lots of songs. Too many songs.
Pete's Dragon might be entertaining for the younger set, but to revisit it as an adult bordered on torture. Although beautifully animated, Elliott is a clod of a character; a slapsticky, klutzy oaf, which makes him mildly amusing, but not necessarily super-likable. Picture and sound are good and extras include a featurette, a deleted sequence, a deleted song and trailers. Pete's Dragon is another casualty to the sweet mistress of nostalgia. Good for the kids before they get cynical.
Moonrise Kingdom
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| Universal / Released October 16, 2012 |
Finally Wes Anderson has delivered a movie that actually borders on being a parody of a Wes Anderson film. This time the auteur tackles young love, and like most of his work, it's cold and distant. Set in 1965 on a fictional New England island, orphan and loyal scout Sam runs off with the love of his life, Suzy.
They are both twelve years old.
Now, like all Wes Anderson movies, Moonrise Kingdom has it's charms, but there's a coldness that permeates his work. These characters are in love because we are told that, in no way is there a genuine emotion. The cast, of course, it top rate and includes Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton as Suzy's parents, Edward Norton as a scout leader, Bruce Willis as the island's sheriff, Bob Balaban as the film's narrator and Harvey Keitel as Norton's scout superior. Anderson's good luck charm, Jason Schwartzman, appears in a small role.
There are very few filmmakers that have such a defined vision that a single frame of film could be instantly recognized as an example of his work; Wes Anderson is such a director. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, his aesthetic has become more finely tuned, and his interest in storytelling has become more technical and less organic. Moonrise Kingdom is the result of that evolution.
It's entertaining, but not particularly whimsical or memorable like his earlier films, in particular Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. In fact, the film takes one of cinema's funniest actors, Bill Murray, and puts him in a joyless role; not dramatic mind you, just joyless. Extras include three brief featurettes. Moonrise Kingdom is a must see for fans of Anderson and is certainly worth a rental, but it pales in comparison to Anderson's earlier work.
Castle: The Complete Fourth Season
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| Disney / Released September 18, 2012 |
Like James Garner's Jim Rockford and Tom Selleck's Thomas Magnum before him, Nathan Fillion's Richard Castle has become heir apparent to the self-aware, charismatic television alpha male.
In the fourth season of this highly entertaining series, author Castle and his partner NYPD detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) team up to solve a number of cases while engaging in banter that would make Nick and Nora Charles jealous. Like many television series, there's a palpable chemistry between the leads and in the case of these two characters, there's the challenge of getting them together. This dramatic (and sexual tension) certainly weighs heavy across this season's twenty three episodes, but it in no way affects some of television's sharpest writing. Between Beckett's emotional baggage and Castle's Peter Pan complex there is enough friction to keep things going for some time. Extras include commentary tracks, deleted scenes, featurettes and a blooper reel.
Four seasons in, Castle isn't quite as fresh as it once was, but it certainly is more comfortable than ever. Highly entertaining and recommended.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
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| 20th Century Fox / Released October 23, 2012 |
Probably not the most accurate historical record, but pretty entertaining nevertheless, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter reimagines the sixteenth president as a bit of a superhero. Complete with a secret origin set in tragedy, Lincoln finds himself driven to fight the forces of evil. As the film peels back our recorded history, revelations about the truth present themselves. That, as President, Lincoln looked to abolish slavery to cut off the vampire's food supply and end their feeding. Director Timur Bekmambetov is one of cinema's strongest visual stylists and this film does not disappoint in that respect.
Although Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is strong in the action department, it's weakness is not to play the more absurd moments with a bit more humor. Benjamin Walker as Lincoln comes across as stiff and doesn't have the screen presence to infuse the role with any wit or sparkle. Extras include featurette, a feature length making of documentary, a music video, a trailer and commentary.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is moderately entertaining, but it stumbles unexpectedly as it's criminally dull and humorless. Mildly recommended.
Safety Not Guaranteed
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| Sony / Released October 30, 2012 |
With a strong cast anchored by Mark Duplass, Audrey Plaza and Jake M. Johnson, Safety Not Guaranteed is a charming and unique film that deserves to find a wide audience on DVD and Blu-ray.
A classified ad looking for a time travel companion entices a Seattle magazine to investigate, revealing a paranoid supermarket employee who has uncovered the secret of time travel. Audrey Plaza plays a writer from the magazine who investigates with her editor Johnson. Befriending Duplass while investigating the story, Plaza opens up emotionally, sharing with him her own past and essentially compromising herself in the process.
It's very hard to articulate what makes this film unique without revealing too much, but Safety Not Guaranteed is smart, charming with well developed characters. Extras include a brief featurette and a very brief behind the scenes look at the story that inspired the film.
Safety Not Guaranteed is clever, smart, and witty and is likely to rank among my top ten of the year. Highest recommendation.
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JAMES BOND TAKES ON JAMES BOND While James Bond Tries to Kill The Other James Bond: It's A Deathmatch!
Regardless of which actor portrayed your favorite Bond, this little Mash-up featuring every variation of 007 through the ages kicking each others ass, will surely tickle your Thunderball in all the right ways with its giant Goldfinger.
And if it doesn't, well you're just an Octopussy.
God, I'm hilarious.
Source: I Watch Stuff
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Smallville: Random, Awesome and WTF?! - S8E20: Beast
Clark is more than a bit upset when he realizes something about Davis.
He ain’t that dead after all. And if that perturbs him, then he’s going to love Chloe’s role in all of it.
Either way, Green Arrow tries to convince Clark that killing Doomsday is the only way to go.
Clark, the dude may be onto something here, you know…
The Random:
1. Oliver and Jimmy have a little moment, and it’s weird seeing Jimmy as such a junkie, but even cooler seeing Ollie trying to be there for a buddy. Some battles just can’t be punched or heat visioned away.
2. You’d think the fact that Doomsday busted his way out of his grave after being killed would be enough to convince Clark that maybe a stern talking to isn’t quite going to cut it, yet Ollie stills needs to remind him of it. Repeatedly.
3. If Clark would only finally learn to use his super hearing to tell if people were lying, he’d be able to spend a lot less time running around chasing false leads and, well, being duped all the damn time.
He ain’t that dead after all. And if that perturbs him, then he’s going to love Chloe’s role in all of it.
Either way, Green Arrow tries to convince Clark that killing Doomsday is the only way to go.
Clark, the dude may be onto something here, you know…
The Random:
1. Oliver and Jimmy have a little moment, and it’s weird seeing Jimmy as such a junkie, but even cooler seeing Ollie trying to be there for a buddy. Some battles just can’t be punched or heat visioned away.
2. You’d think the fact that Doomsday busted his way out of his grave after being killed would be enough to convince Clark that maybe a stern talking to isn’t quite going to cut it, yet Ollie stills needs to remind him of it. Repeatedly.
3. If Clark would only finally learn to use his super hearing to tell if people were lying, he’d be able to spend a lot less time running around chasing false leads and, well, being duped all the damn time.
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Clark, this is what Davis wants to do to you…
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The Awesome:
1. After only a brief appearance, Dr. Hamilton is back on the show, and with Chloe recruiting him to help her with her little houseguest problem, it looks like he’s poised to play a bigger role on the show just like in the comics.
2. His whole not killing creed isn’t always easy to swallow, especially when faced with something like Doomsday which clearly needs to be stopped for the good of the world, but credit Clark with at least trying to exhaust every option and coming up with a plan to send Davis into the Phantom Zone.
3. Ollie steps up as a different kind of hero, not as Green Arrow, just as Oliver Queen, and he gives a drug addled Jimmy a shot at rebuilding his life with a new job at Queen Industries. Well played, Ollie.
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Thankfully, Clark’s immune to Jedi Mind Tricks.
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The WTF?!:
1. Oh, goody. Davis has prepared a romantic evening with flowers and candles for Chloe, who is still only minutes from the dissolution of her marriage and is actively harboring perhaps the most dangerous criminal in the history of the planet. And she's the smart one. Holy crap. When Chloe’s pulling a Lana, there’s a great disturbance in the Force. Luckily, it’s all just a dream, but still, clearly she’s gotta realize this is some crazy level crap going on right here, right?
2. Remember not too long ago when the Talon was jumping with customers? Now it’s not. But Chloe lives there. And there’s a monster in the basement. And she still doesn’t have a job. But the espresso machine still works, and there always appear to be fresh pastries. Who the hell runs this joint?
3. Ollie asks the million dollar question to Chloe: How did you expect this to end? And he’s right because with all that she’s been through, all that’s she done on this show, her entire lack of intelligence right now is beyond the pale. I mean, she’s even gone as far as to stop Clark from sending Davis into the Zone and ending it. Everything that happens from here, blondie? It’s on you.
1. Oh, goody. Davis has prepared a romantic evening with flowers and candles for Chloe, who is still only minutes from the dissolution of her marriage and is actively harboring perhaps the most dangerous criminal in the history of the planet. And she's the smart one. Holy crap. When Chloe’s pulling a Lana, there’s a great disturbance in the Force. Luckily, it’s all just a dream, but still, clearly she’s gotta realize this is some crazy level crap going on right here, right?
2. Remember not too long ago when the Talon was jumping with customers? Now it’s not. But Chloe lives there. And there’s a monster in the basement. And she still doesn’t have a job. But the espresso machine still works, and there always appear to be fresh pastries. Who the hell runs this joint?
3. Ollie asks the million dollar question to Chloe: How did you expect this to end? And he’s right because with all that she’s been through, all that’s she done on this show, her entire lack of intelligence right now is beyond the pale. I mean, she’s even gone as far as to stop Clark from sending Davis into the Zone and ending it. Everything that happens from here, blondie? It’s on you.
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Unnatural Born Killers
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MAKE YOUR CASE FOR A RAISE In A Pair of Blood-Splattered Shoes
Corporate life is a drag. You have to wear conservative suits, deal with stupid memos and have to spend hours listening to your co-workers talk about their weekend plans in minute detail.
I mean sometimes it just makes a girl want to murder everyone, am I right?
Well, you can either act on your impulse to butcher your fellow employees with a stapler or, you can take a deep breath and slip on a pair of Blood-Splattered pumps that will not only add a bit of color to your somber wardrobe but also act as a warning signal to those who annoy you that you are on the verge of snapping.
They also work wonders on bosses who will probably give you that raise you've asked for simply because they don't wish to end up hog-tied on their desk with a motivational poster stuck up their anus.
Although, let's be honest here, there's a good chance that if you do invoke that particular scene, they would give you the raise anyway, simply because most managers LIKE that kind of thing.
Source: Geek Alerts
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Don't Hate The Player
No, I don't mean the gaming protagonists, I'm talking about us; the motley crew of snipers, lone-wolfs, wasteland wanderers, adventurers, horde killers and plastic instrument bashers.
Here's just a selection of gaming personas I've come across in my gaming life.
SGT. IN CHARGE
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| Hey! Listen! |
One who uses team mates as a means to an end.
Often bossy and taking on the mantle of team leader without being asked (they don't need to be asked, they're natural born leaders) they're also the first to quit if the game starts lagging or taking too long to load.
For all their flaws, this gamer is determined to win, find yourself on a team with them and you're probably on the winning side.
That and a clear leader is always better than a bunch of people all shouting contradictory tactics and plans down the headset at you.
Just don't tell them their tactic is all wrong lest you face a tirade of insults about you being a "n00b".
As an individual who likes the sound of their own voice and believes they know best, it's sometimes best to follow or get out of the way.
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| Legitimate Strategy? |
Being impatient, stubborn and sore losers these individuals can be demanding but despite everything they're determination to win ensures the team benefits.
Oh and if you don't like bad language, perhaps it'd be better to mute this player.
Unscrupulous and hypocritical at times, these are the players who don't mind bending the rules a little now and again.
Likely to criticise others for camping at spawn points but often found taking advantage of a similar situation if it arises.
FICKLE JACKS
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the jack of all trades, master of none types.
Not because they're not team players but because they're easily bored and will happily flit from game to game. They have a stack of unfinished titles bigger than their arm and enjoy socialising through a headset.
The Jack will be pretty decent at whatever game they play but in no way are they an expert in any particular game.
They play for fun and like their gaming to be enjoyable. They'll avoid angry players and prefer team games as opposed to free-for-alls.
Amicable though they are, they do have some flaws - they're a little bit flaky. If they get bored, they'll move on or worse they'll just start disrupting the flow.
If you're thinking "I don't know anyone like that" ever played an FPS and there's some dude/dame chucking grenades at a wall for no reason? Or perhaps you're bombing around a race course at 90mph and some fool is running the course in reverse? Yep, that's them.
If they're not stimulated enough by their other players or find a game unchallenging/too challenging, they'll leave a matchmaking session in search of a friendlier one where they can feel comfortable with their mediocre skill set.
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| This is my pile of shame - games I haven't completed yet because I'm easily distracted. |
During a game these players are wildly indecisive and will spend far longer than they ought to deciding on a loadout or vehicle or armour to choose, holding up the entire game.
They'll also change their gaming style, which can make them difficult to work out, making them a worthy opponent.
From holding back in a defensible position to ambush an enemy to running out in the open guns blazin' you can guarantee a game with this player will always be interesting and varied... until they get bored and wander off of course.
THE ANTI-SOCIALITE
Another unique gamer type is the anti-socialite, the lone wolf.
Opting for games where stealth and patience are needed the lone wolves are careful, meticulous, patient and efficient.
They'll be skilled at whatever game they happen to be playing, knowing maps and item locations.
These players are the perfectionists of the gaming world and will most likely complete their games but rarely step outside of their comfort zones. They're analytical and as such are quite critical of their own abilities, often seeing room for improvement even if they're top of a leader board.
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| Pfft... who needs team mates? |
However, they're passionate about gaming and unlike the easily angered, these individuals will persevere even when they're taking a beating.
They are self disciplined, serious and extremely goal directed. A reliable team member but if you want conversation this player isn't for you.
They'll turn off their mics and wait calmly for their victims.
THE GLORY HUNTER
The complete antithesis of the anti-socialite is the attention seeking glory hunter.
These gamers are the ones who won't shut the hell up about their last achievement. They'll turn any situation in their favour and if you don't congratulate them, then expect even more stories about their conquests and previous wins until you do.
Or.. you just mute them.
If you're too polite to mute them, then well done, you!
Although they are the most talkative and if you're a good player than expect a post-game message asking you to be in their clan or join their party. Lucky you (!)
They egotistically stress about how others view them and as such will often vocialise excuses as to why the game failed them, rather than vice versa. This doesn't make them bad gamers though, let's face it, they may gloat but they know what they're doing and gloat for a reason.
If, on the other hand, you manage to defeat a Glory Hunter, the sheer wealth of smug arrogance that fills you can make it all worth while.
If you find one of these types on your team and can put up with their chattiness, in the times they're not gloating, these players are optimistic, will very rarely be mean to anyone, are easily led and generally quite pleasant.
Strangely enough the Glory Hunter is often a kid, so I tend to forgive their incessant ramblings and constant seeking of approval.
Bless 'em... they'll grow up soon enough and realise that no-one really cares.
THE JESTER
These eccentric players will be the ones amusing others with ridiculous banter, putting on silly voices and ultimately lifting the mood.
They are straightforward gamers who play by the rules and come off as incredibly charming and everyone seems to like them. Extremely honest about their abilities, these players don't care what others think of them and are happy to just play the game. They're also fair and won't boot players for accidental betrayals and if you offend them they'll take the high road and ignore you.
Not easily riled by the rage quitters or easily angered types either.
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| Check out this fan-made construct of my production company logo! |
For them, gaming is an escape.
It's entertainment and if they're not being entertained they step up to provide it for others, whether in terms of a new level mods or friendly banter. These types can often be found tirelessly creating works of genuine art in titles such as Minecraft and Trials HD, etc.
Having said all that, no one likes someone overly happy all the time and on occasion a joke or two can really put you up the wrong way, twisting something previously fun into something downright irritating.
So, these are the backbone gaming types, the unavoidable categories we find ourselves in.
Sure, most of us have a handful of qualities from each type but ultimately one defines us better than the others.
The only question that remains is: which are you?
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SNOOP LION AND ELI ROTH Team Up To Make A Weird-Ass Version of Sesame Street In the La-La-La Music Video
I don't quite know what's happening here other than there are a bunch of children telling Snoop Lion that a) They liked him better as Dogg b)Asking if he knows J. Lo and c) Surrounded by Hootchie Mamas.
Then there's some other weird stuff like anamorphic fruit smoking blunts, Snoop Lion in a coffin, kids dressed as jungle animals and other random sights that can only be explained if you are very, very high.
This episode of Huh? brought to you by the letters W, T and F.
Source: Vulture
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STAR WARS EPISODE VII? Why Not!
My first reaction to announcement of Star Wars Episode VII, was an intense feeling of dread -- like a great disturbance in the force.After the craptacular Prequels, I couldn't stand the Star Wars brand being tarnished anymore.
But the more I think about it, if there are good stories in the Star Wars universe that remain untold, why not tell them?
The only reason I can think of against making more Star Wars movies is that the brand will lose its uniqueness. Lucas largely preserved the the Star Wars mystique by making almost no live action spinoffs -- the last was Ewoks: The Battle for Endor in 1985.
While the Star Wars universe had been expanding in books, comics and video games since 1983, there was a near two decade gap between Return of the Jedi and Phantom Menace, which is what made the release of Phantom such a huge event and then disappointment.
There is precedent with what Disney will do with Star Wars.
Look at Star Trek.
The Next Generation resulted in three decades of new Star Trek adventures. Of course not all of it was great, but for Trek geeks there was way more upside than downside in continuing to tell stories in the Star Trek universe.
And with the success of the reboot, it's clear that Star Trek will continue to be with us for a very long time.
Who doesn't like that?
I'm starting to think that Lucas was wrong to make so few live action Star Wars movies (or TV shows).
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| Although "wrong" can be a subjective term... |
Some of the stories in the books, comics and video games are actually really good -- a lot better than the Prequels. Told as movies, with a more competent director than the last four Star Wars movies had, they'd probably be pretty entertaining.
Maybe the best argument I can make for more Star Wars are Ralph McQuarrie's illustrations. Only a fraction of his vision of the Star Wars universe has actually been realized.
His paintings of Coruscant remain more intriguing and stimulating to the imagination than anything visualized in the Prequels. I want to see all of the different places he depicted on Coruscant brought to life.
The only other downsides I can think of, are 1) Star Wars Wars: Episode VII won't open with the 20th Century Fox Fanfare; and 2) It seems highly questionable if John Williams will compose the music.
A Star Wars movie without John Williams is probably the closest will get it to sacrilege with Star Wars: Episode VII -- midi-chlorians and Jar Jar Binks have set a basement 10 floors under hell.
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Watch This! UNLOCKED – EPISODE 2: We Can Be Heroes (10G)
It's moving day! Zoey and Pip move into their new abode and Alex and John attempt to help. Meanwhile, an internet crisis sends Anton into a state of insanity. BB might just have a plan to help them all. Things are about to get a bit fantastical.Check it out after the jump!
For Unlocked related sexiness and to keep up to date with the 'Mints, head to www.cheesemint.com.
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Contest! Win BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE Blu-ray!
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) have spent so much time forming their rock band, The Wyld Stallyns, that they're flunking history. Whoa, duuuude! And when Ted's dad threatens to send him away to military school, Bill and Ted realize it could mean the most heinous end of The Stallyns! Luckily, a guardian angel from the future, Rufus (Carlin), has come to them with a most bodacious solution: a time-traversing phone booth to take them into the past to learn about the world from some of history's most influential personalities. Their journey through time turns out to be a blast...but will they learn enough to pass their class?
And we're giving away a copy of the new Blu-ray. Whoa.
To enter, please send an email with the subject header "WYLD STALLYNS" to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:
Where in California do Bill S. Preston, Esquire and Ted "Theodore" Logan reside?
Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).
Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 18th, 2012.
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