So it’s not just me, then? Even George Takei thinks whitewashing the cast of Akira for the planned US live-action remake is a bad idea? That’s what he tells The Advocate in a recent interview, saying that the film is destined to flop just like The Last Airbender did if it ignores the importance of Japanese culture and history in the story and use all white actors. Takei, a longtime human rights advocate, is probably right; not only would closely following the original film’s Asian characters show respect for the property, it would also do what an all-American cast couldn’t — attract the original film’s fans along with the summer popcorn crowd. Read more…
Well, specifically, Ian Holm is back as Bilbo in The Hobbit. Not for the whole movie, of course! That’s Martin Freeman’s job. But old-Bilbo will be there for bookend sequences, apparently reading his book to Frodo as a way of introducing/closing the story. Peter Jackson was happy to confirm this recently, a move that I’m sure will delight fans of the original trilogy. Heck, I’m all for it, so long as there are no weird, jarring mean-face Bilbo scenes to serve as reminders of what Peter Jackson used to do before Lord of the Rings. Read more…
The Crow is a pretty beloved genre film, not only due to the tragic death of its young star Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee) during filming, but also because, hey, it’s a good movie. And like any good movie made in the last thirty years, Hollywood is about to remake it. Or are they? Relativity Media is supposed to handle distribution of the remake, with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) directing and Bradley Cooper stated to be in the running for the lead, but they appear to have hit a snag. Miramax has filed a lawsuit claiming that they control the film’s distribution rights, a claim that Relativity Media calls “absurd.” Relativity says Miramax is just trying to sabotage production of the film and create bad press. I don’t know. Would that be so bad? Do we really need another Crow? Read more…
Of all of Marvel’s film projects, Thor has stood out as the wildcard. Iron Man grounded itself very firmly in reality (with a dash of science fiction, of course), The Hulk was more a psychodrama than a comic book movie, and Captain America is surrounded by something we can all dig — killing Nazis. Thor, on the other hand, represents the more Jack Kirby side of the Marvel universe; the powerful cosmic forces that exist unbeknownst to the general Earth public. It would’ve been easy to go full cheese mode for this one (hi, Green Lantern), but it looks like director Kenneth Branagh centered the film around the very Shakespearean politics of the god of thunder and his relatives instead. And, according to its 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its Australian premiere, it looks like it worked. You’re up, Cap.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 21, 2011 in Television
For those of us still waiting for our favorite Trek series to begin streaming this June, Shatner’s TekWar hit Netflix this week. I honestly don’t think it’ll fill the void, but you’re more than welcome to give the series a try. I love Bill Shatner, but sometimes I find myself asking why they let that man direct anything, let alone publish novels. Like The Final Frontier, I’ve found that TekWar serves as a prime example of why the man should never step behind the camera. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 21, 2011 in Tech, Videogames
There are plenty of musical genres out there, but none of them so in sync with geek culture as that of chip music. The genre, known for its low-bit sound with roots in the early home computer and gaming scenes, has developed a tight knit scene of artists and fans that span the globe. The idea of creating something beautifully complex out of a set of limitations drives these artists to craft innovative works that inspire their peers. While the internet allows for these artists to communicate and share their creations freely, they’ve been known to congregate on occasion. One such meeting will be taking place next month at the annual New York Blip Festival on May 19th through 21st. The three day event will feature live performances from a number of scene artists, showcasing some of the best talent the scene has to offer. For more information on how to attend, including the complete list of acts set to perform, check out the official website for more information. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 20, 2011 in Television
I knew the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones, based on the best-selling fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin, would be a hit, but I’m not sure anyone was expecting HBO to announce plans to renew the series for a second season — at least, not so soon. The first episode aired last weekend opposite the NBA playoffs, yet still managed to snag solid ratings with 2.2 million households tuning in for the debut airing. The re-airings that evening captured an additional 1.2 million viewers on top of that. It’s no surprise that HBO would be pleased with the performance, not to mention all the praise the series has garnered in the press. Still, renewing it after only one episode? That’s a lot of confidence, espeically when most shows end up having to wait on pins and needles for that kind of good news. If the series turns out to be as good as the novel, I’m sure the investment will pay off.
While there’s plenty of Star Trek-themed paraphernalia to choose from these days, I haven’t found much in the way of clothes — at least, clothes that I’d find fashionable enough to wear out. Sure, I’m not afraid to admit that I own a replica of Kirk’s tunic from the 2010 film, and one of those nifty Original Series-themed bathrobes, but they’re both a tad costumey. However, on occasion, I come across something that catches my eye like this nifty design by TeeFury artist comic_city. It’d simplistic, yet bold and practically guarantees you a grin from any trekker passing by. Like all TeeFury products, the design will only be available for the next 24 hours and will only cost you $10 plus shipping, so pick yours up today.
We can’t really call it a trailer, but this video’s the latest in a series of teasers for the upcoming Persona 4 anime. Fans of the series have been freaking out since plans for an anime adatption were recently announced, and I really can’t blame them. So far, it’s looking pretty fantastic. Unlike the Persona: Trinity Soul anime which was loosely based on the world of Persona 3, this one will feature the main characters from the fourth installment of the series. It’s probably safe to assume that it’ll follow the plot of Persona 4, so those of us who haven’t already played it may be in luck. If not, you’ll have a nice excuse to pick up a copy. The series is set to air later this fall.Read more…
With San Diego Comic-Con is right around the corner, plenty of retailers are starting to ready their exclusives for this years show. Last week, Sideshow Collectibles unveiled their exclusives for the event, some of which look mighty fine. There’s a G.I Joe 12 inch Cobra Ninja Viper figure, AvP Predator replica mask set featuring three three separate sculpts from the series, a Star Wars Clone Commander 12 inch figure, and finally an Iron Man 2 bust set that feature replicas of the helmets used in the recent film.
Posted by Linda Yau on Apr 18, 2011 in Comic Books
In a time before the iPad, or the streaming wonders of the internet and back in the late 90’s, there was Mixxzine later to be known as Tokyopop. At the end of last week, news broke out regarding about Tokyopop closing shop on American soil. This probably is a shock to many fans, and there are still questions about what would inevitably happen to their unfinished licenses. Things have not been looking great for Tokoyopop this year, so take this closure with a grain of salt. Consider the good and the influence that this company had generated for the field of manga and graphic novels. Read more…
As you can see from all of the nin-dogs surrounding Kakashi, dogs are known as “man’s best friend” — and as such they’re very well represented in anime and manga from Japan. Here’s a list of some of our all time favorites: Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 17, 2011 in Comic Books
I love charts. Specifically, I love charts about stuff so nerdy that I feel the urge to buy them in poster form. This is one such chart, “The Illustrious Omnibus of Superpowers,” created by Pop Chart Labs. Contained therein you’ll find handy taxonomy for all types of superhero powers, from projecting glue to affecting probability. 200 superheroes and villains are on the chart, a considerable effort, and it’s certainly nice to look at it. If you don’t want to use the site’s magnifier to look at small portions of it, you can always buy it in poster form and hang it on your wall for those moments when you can’t remember who that one guy was who could emit a beam that only melts metal. Read more…
Wait! Don’t go! I know what you’re thinking. “I don’t want to smell like Cheetos and Mountain Dew and body odor!” But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s RPG perfume oil collection. There’s a selection of race-, class-, and alignment-themed scents. Shroud yourself in mystic spices and exotic incense with the Mage scent, or exude holy calm with the Paladin scent’s warm vanilla and frankincense. You can even forewarn your love interest that today’s not the day with the Evil scent. I’ve bought from Black Phoenix before, and the scents really are top-notch, and a bottle lasts for a good long time. They even change a little depending on your skin chemistry. Plus it helps you roll for initiative at the bar. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 16, 2011 in Videogames
I have fond memories of my little handheld electronic games I got for cheap at Radio Shack when I was a kid, back in the days when games for my “real” handheld game system were prohibitively expensive. Hippopotam– clearly a person (or persons) who knows that the very mention of the phrase “Plane & Tank” is enough to send me into a nostalgia seizure — has digitized classic handheld games like the above Plane & Tank, Game & Watch favorites like Legend of Zelda, and even Casio’s Castle Adventure and made them fully playable with mouse or keyboard controls. It’s like going back in time. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 16, 2011 in Star Wars
George Lucas is (and has never been) never shy about the whole merchandising thing when it comes to Star Wars, but sometimes it just goes way over the top. This 80s Underoos commercial is definitely one of those times. It gets even weirder, though — as io9 points out, the C3P0 dancer is actually Erika Eleniak, aka the stripper from Under Siege. Try to be comfortable with that juxtaposition. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 15, 2011 in Videogames
Might and Magic is a pretty old franchise in video game terms, and it only makes sense that current franchise owner Ubisoft would want to inject some new life into it. That new life comes in the form of Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes HD, the high-def remake of last year’s critically-acclaimed Nintendo DS title from Capybara Games. The first thing veteran MM players will notice (besides the unique puzzle/strategy gameplay, of course) is the distinctive Saturday morning cartoon art style, with hand-drawn environments and characters. It even ties into the Heroes of Might and Magic storyline, yet still remains accessible to players new to the franchise. If the sound of a different studio getting their hands on your treasured IP makes you nervous, well, just keep two things in mind: first, Clash of Heroes is a legitimately good game, a charming and engrossing single- and multi-player experience. Second, the Clone Wars cartoon was several leagues better than the actual Star Wars prequel trilogy. Clash of Heroes is available now on PSN and Xbox Live for $14.99. Read more…
Posted by Michael Sacco on Apr 15, 2011 in Television
If you’re a genre reader, you’ve probably read Neil Gaiman’s work, whether Good Omens, his fan-favorite book with Terry Pratchett, or his recently-a-motion-picture kids’ tale Coraline. And if you’re a fan, as most of his readers are, then the news that HBO is in talks to pick up his bestselling novel American Gods to produce as a TV series will likely excite you to the very core. The source material — a battle between the old gods from various countries and faiths and the new “American gods” of technology, consumption, and celebrity — is perfect for HBO, and even better for a TV show. No worrying about it fitting in a single film or even miniseries. As long as it can avoid the fate of a certain other fantastical HBO show, anyway. Read more…
We really weren’t sure what would happen to our favorite spy after MGM filed for bankruptcy back in November. Thankfully, it seems our worries can be put to rest. Sony Pictures has struck a deal with MGM to co-finance, theatrically market and distribute the Bond films — that is, both Bond 23 and 24, assuming everything goes accordingly. It’s safe to assume production will likely move ahead as soon as possible.Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 14, 2011 in Videogames
Those of you who’ve haven’t had a chance to experience Gearbox Software’s Borderlandsmight be in luck. For a limited time, all Borderlands content is on sale for 75% off via Steam. That means you can pick up the Game of the Year Edition which includes the original game along with all the downloadable content for only $7.50. If you already own a copy of the game, and just want to buy the DLC separately, each pack will only cost you $2.49 — an amazing bargain. There have been some amazing deals on Steam lately but this one definitely takes the cake and trust me, it’s worth every penny.
It’s been nearly two years, but fans of Peter David’s on-going series Star Trek: New Frontier may finally get their hands on his latest novel in the series. The book, entitled Blind Man’s Bluff, had originally been announced back in 2009 and initially scheduled for publication around June of 2010. By January, the book had been removed from the schedule entirely sparking fears that the series may have been cancelled entirely before being rescheduled for January 2011. Delayed yet again, the book is currently scheduled for release at the end of April and this time, it looks like it’s happening.
Like many of you, I had some fond memories of the X-Men animated series which aired on Fox during the mid-’90s. It wasn’t nearly as good as Batman: the Animated Series, but at the time there really wasn’t much on the air in the way of comic-based cartoons. With the announcement of the upcoming X-Men anime which will be airing in Japan, I made the mistake of watching a few of these “classic” episodes. Read more…
As some of you may be aware, Hot Toys is known for their stunningly detailed collectibles. True to form, their upcoming 1/6th scale Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow is no exception. The figure is the latest addition to the Movie Masterpiece Deluxe line — each one bearing a striking resemblance to the actors that portray the characters they’re based on. As you can see here, they’ve done an amazing job of capturing Johnny Depp’s visage.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 12, 2011 in Dr. Who, Lost
Dr.Who Lost crossover t-shirt
I can’t really say this would make for an awesome t-shirt but I really can’t pass up a chance to comment on this nifty work by artist and designer FFTKrazee. A clever little crossover between two of our fanboy favorites, Lost and Dr. Who, the design depicts Desmond, Faraday leaning up against a DHARMA-brand TARDIS. I never really thought about it until someone mentioned it in the comments for the shirt, but Jeremy Davies always looked like a sad Keanu Reeves. Read more…
