Posted by Tim Sheehy on Feb 6, 2012 in
Cinema,
Hobbies and Collections 
I think its safe to call The Princess Bride a timeless classic. I’ve always been fond of it, and I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone who felt otherwise. That said, I never thought I’d ever see any merchandise based off the film, or book for that matter, and certainly not a collectible figure. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Factory Entertainment from delivering. Introducing their 1/5th scale Dread Pirate Roberts. This 15″ statue features the Man in Black as he appears during his infamous duel atop the “Cliffs of Insanity.” It actually has a companion piece featuring Inigo Montoya which you can view below. The two statues are designed to attach to each other, allowing you to capture the scene properly.
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Tags: The Princess Bride, Toys
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Feb 1, 2012 in
Cinema,
Uncategorized 
Last year we heard about MGM’s plans to reboot the Robocop franchise. While I wasn’t adverse to the idea, I truly hoped they would just craft a new sequel. It might not have worked out so well for Singer’s Superman Returns, but the original Robocop was quite good for its time, claymation aside. That said, I can’t fault director José Padilha for wanting to place his own stamp on the iconic series. Now it seems he’s found just the man to make that happen. Read more…
Tags: MGM, Robocop
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jan 31, 2012 in
Cinema,
Hobbies and Collections 
Here’s a quick teaser for Lego’s Lord of the Rings product line. Why does Lego taunt me with such awesomeness? They knew I outgrew my building phase years ago, yet they’ve waited until now to land this epic license. While I’m sure I won’t have nearly as much fun as I would have if I were still eight years old, I’ll definitely consider picking one up when they hit stores, and judging by how great the characters look, I’m sure they won’t disappoint. I do wonder if this also means we’ll be seeing some Hobbit-themed sets this holiday season. Be sure to visit the official site for more info on the upcoming sets. Read more…
Tags: Lego, Lord of the Rings
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jan 26, 2012 in
Cinema 
If you happen to be living in New Zealand, and want a chance to be an extra in Peter Jackson’s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Hobbit, then you’re in luck. The production recently placed an ad on Trademe.co.nz, looking for extras for a variety of roles. Large men, & women with “character faces,” and by that, I assume they mean “leathery,” or men & women under 5′4″ & 5′, respectively. I imagine they’ll be cast as hobbits. They’re also looking for people with slim builds between 5′5″ & 6′4″ to play elves. Finally, they’ll take any men with large biceps of any height. Again, it’s just work as an extra, but you have to admit that of all the films to be cast in, you could do worse. If its something you just have to do, keep in mind that you’ll have to be a resident of New Zealand, or obtain a valid work permit before they’ll even consider you for a part. For more info, check out the job listing here.
Tags: The Hobbit, Weta
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 21, 2012 in
Cinema 
I’ve been fascinated by the digital vs. film argument that’s been going on for a bit now. 24 frames per second or 48? Texture and grain or crisp and clean? Have we been too accustomed to film to appreciate digital cinematography? I personally love the look of traditional film, but it’s a very nerdy subject to be sure, as many people hardly can tell the difference (or don’t care). Yet, I still am incredibly interested in the topic – and so are Chris Kenneally and Keanu Reeves who are creating a documentary about the different perspectives in the film industry relating to digital and film cinema. Click through for the trailer, featuring interviews with George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese and more. Read more…
Tags: documentary, Keanu Reeves
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 21, 2012 in
Cinema 
The third Riddick film has had some hard times. Financial problems and, you know, not having a studio supporting you can definitely negatively affect things when you’re trying to make a movie. Vin Diesel is certainly persistent though, and working with writer and director David Twohy they’re struggling to get this film off the ground. We heard production would start up again, sometime back in November, but I still had my doubts. Now it looks like things really are happening, as Vin Diesel posted an image on Facebook of him in full costume. Read more…
Tags: Riddick, Vin Diesel
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 20, 2012 in
Cinema 
Looking for a little action? A new trailer was released recently to promote a documentary from D & E Entertainment focusing on the life of Bruce Lee. It features many interviews with the man himself, as well as many people who knew him. It’s getting a limited release on February 9th and 15th only, in select theaters, so if you’re interested in catching it, I recommend checking the full listing of showings here. Click through for the trailer! Read more…
Tags: Bruce Lee, documentary
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 17, 2012 in
Cinema 
Since the late 70s Ryuichi Sakamoto has been a musical powerhouse of J-pop and numerous film soundtracks. He got his start playing the keyboards with the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) from 1978 until the group broke up in 1983. After that he went solo and also produced records for quite a few other artists in addition to working on movie scores. One of his first soundtracks was for the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. Of course as an anime fanboy my favorite from the 80s was the soundtrack to the 1987 film Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. Read more…
Tags: J-pop, Japan, Soundtrack
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jan 12, 2012 in
Cinema 
I’ve never been big on owning box sets while a franchise is still on-going, but in this instance, I might make an exception. It’s true that James Bond has always remained a controversial character, and while he’s often described as misogynistic, sexist, and even a tad juvenile, he remains one of the most iconic heroes to ever grace the silver screen. For the first time ever, all twenty two 007 films will be made available for Blu-ray, nine of which have never been released in high definition — that is, until now.
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Tags: Blu-Ray, James Bond
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jan 9, 2012 in
Cinema,
Comic Books 
Like many of you, I had my reservations about Spielberg and Moffat’s The Adventures of Tintin. Based on Georges Remi’s classic comics, the film served as an attempt to revive the series with state-of-the-art 3D animation. After having the pleasure of seeing the film in theaters, those reservations were laid to rest. While the 3D animation may initially appeal to kids, the films plot, littered with a healthy dose of violence and alcoholism, befits a more mature audience — especially those of us who grew up with the comics. Back in November, Weta released a hardcover coffee table art book giving fans a glimpse at the creative process behind the film. Now they’re taking it a step further with its digital release.
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Tags: Apple, iOS, Tintin, Weta
