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Oh, you kids today, with your role models. You can have your Tiger Woods. You can have your Justin Bieber. You can have your Robert Downey Jr. For when I was a kid -- well, a big kid -- we had a real hero, and his name was Snake Plissken.
Perhaps you've heard of him? Perhaps you've heard he was dead.
I read online last week that John Carpenter was now actively involved in this so-called reboot of the entire Escape from New York franchise, and -- as much as I can appreciate a good reboot -- I really don't want to have anything to do with it. Sure, maybe with Carpenter's involvement and blessing it'll be less of a toot and more of a hoot, but I'll take the old flick for good measure. And you can leave that sequel -- Escape from L.A. -- on the trash heap where it belongs, thank you very much.
However, what I wouldn't give to have an extra couple hundred dollars sitting around because I now know without great certainty what I'd be spending it on: Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale action figure / national monument is due to be shipping this January / February. The low, low price of $159.99 (gasp) is all you need to have this bad boy on display in your home. On the couch. As a dining table centerpiece. Wherever. It's Snake, so it's completely usable in any fashion.
Link to Sideshow Collectibles
And -- in the words of the best action hero ever -- "Get a new President."
Perhaps you've heard of him? Perhaps you've heard he was dead.
I read online last week that John Carpenter was now actively involved in this so-called reboot of the entire Escape from New York franchise, and -- as much as I can appreciate a good reboot -- I really don't want to have anything to do with it. Sure, maybe with Carpenter's involvement and blessing it'll be less of a toot and more of a hoot, but I'll take the old flick for good measure. And you can leave that sequel -- Escape from L.A. -- on the trash heap where it belongs, thank you very much.
However, what I wouldn't give to have an extra couple hundred dollars sitting around because I now know without great certainty what I'd be spending it on: Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale action figure / national monument is due to be shipping this January / February. The low, low price of $159.99 (gasp) is all you need to have this bad boy on display in your home. On the couch. As a dining table centerpiece. Wherever. It's Snake, so it's completely usable in any fashion.
Link to Sideshow Collectibles
And -- in the words of the best action hero ever -- "Get a new President."
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Hey, peeps! We made it to Friday, so all us can thank our lucky stars! You know how exciting it can be to finally see another work week come to an end, and those are sentiments certainly not lost on the time travel SciFi short ReCURSION.
I just learned about this from a follower on Twitter. It's a little over twenty minutes, and it's easily one of the better made shorts I've seen in this new year. It helps to kinda/sorta think of it as 'The Time Travelling Best Man's Groom' as a subordinate title.
Enjoy ... and have a great weekend!
I just learned about this from a follower on Twitter. It's a little over twenty minutes, and it's easily one of the better made shorts I've seen in this new year. It helps to kinda/sorta think of it as 'The Time Travelling Best Man's Groom' as a subordinate title.
Enjoy ... and have a great weekend!
- Published on
Confession time: I was one of the long-time Star Wars comics book readers who was honestly dreading the move from Dark Horse to Marvel. (Bear with me, peeps: that’s NOT what this review is going to be about … I’m just owning up is all.) You hang your hat as long as one does with a particular publisher, and you think that means something in today’s world of business. However, I think those of us who follow the trades knew that – once George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney – a change was like a disturbance in the Force: bound to happen, and we’ll just have to see what comes of it all.
Well, the day is finally here. As a Star Wars fan – and as someone who read ALL of Marvel’s original run on the space-faring property back in those original days – I was just excited as the next bloke for the time to arrive when the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker and his cohorts would continue again. They are, they will, and the future looks good.
Reviewed: Marvel's Star Wars #1
Well, the day is finally here. As a Star Wars fan – and as someone who read ALL of Marvel’s original run on the space-faring property back in those original days – I was just excited as the next bloke for the time to arrive when the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker and his cohorts would continue again. They are, they will, and the future looks good.
Reviewed: Marvel's Star Wars #1
- Published on
For what it's worth, you young pups can have your Avatars. I'll happily leave you to them ... especially when terrific old school properties keep getting a chance to share the limelight with new merchandise.
One of my most favorite websites/webstores ever, Things From Another Planet hit my mailbox today with their weekly newsblast (you really should sign up for it if you're anything near a geek or nerd like I am), and right there at the top of the list was this baby: the Universal Monsters Metaluna Mutant Bust Bank (see picture above if you're not already salivating at the prospect). It's available for purchase today in either the black'n'white model or the color (or is that Technicolor?) version, and the more mature SciFi dogs out there would do well to check 'em out today while supplies last. You know you want to.
Link for Black'n'White Bust Bank
Link for Color Bust Bank
One of my most favorite websites/webstores ever, Things From Another Planet hit my mailbox today with their weekly newsblast (you really should sign up for it if you're anything near a geek or nerd like I am), and right there at the top of the list was this baby: the Universal Monsters Metaluna Mutant Bust Bank (see picture above if you're not already salivating at the prospect). It's available for purchase today in either the black'n'white model or the color (or is that Technicolor?) version, and the more mature SciFi dogs out there would do well to check 'em out today while supplies last. You know you want to.
Link for Black'n'White Bust Bank
Link for Color Bust Bank
- Published on
Disclosure time: I've never been one for electronic games. Mostly, I suspect that's because I've never been any good at them. So far as my old brain knows, it takes far too much concentration for me to maintain the immersion into an entirely fictional existence ... and when you have trouble staying focused in reality I suppose one's usefulness in the pseudo-reality of the game environment just doesn't take hold.
However, I do remember being as jazzed about the games of the household computers early days as was any newcomer. Many of these were relatively low-brow knock-offs of what amounted to the arcade style machines of my youth, and it was pretty freakin' cool to learn you could play these at home (for a price, naturally) instead of plunking down a quarter in a machine wherein all your friends could watch you die a slow death.
As home computing and gaming systems continued to evolve into the CGI era, these quaint games of yesterday -- ones going under such titles as 'Zaxxon' and 'StarBlade' and 'Space Station Oblivion' -- quickly disappeared. Sadly, even the floppys (old-style discs, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term) eventually were about as useful as a beverage coaster as our desktop PCs grew too big for the britches and could no longer understand much less operate the outdated code.
Well, kiddies, get ready for a real blast from the past!
Space.com recently announced that many of these games are now available for play online. In fact, the article boasts that over 2,400 of them have recently become housed on the net ... and they're just waiting for your undivided attention.
So if any of you young Turks who are tired with capturing the flag in Halo want to go back in time and take a real good hard cold look at the kind of cutting-edge tension that blew grandpa's mind, you'd do well to click on over and check out what the future looked like in only two and three color graphics.
However, I do remember being as jazzed about the games of the household computers early days as was any newcomer. Many of these were relatively low-brow knock-offs of what amounted to the arcade style machines of my youth, and it was pretty freakin' cool to learn you could play these at home (for a price, naturally) instead of plunking down a quarter in a machine wherein all your friends could watch you die a slow death.
As home computing and gaming systems continued to evolve into the CGI era, these quaint games of yesterday -- ones going under such titles as 'Zaxxon' and 'StarBlade' and 'Space Station Oblivion' -- quickly disappeared. Sadly, even the floppys (old-style discs, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term) eventually were about as useful as a beverage coaster as our desktop PCs grew too big for the britches and could no longer understand much less operate the outdated code.
Well, kiddies, get ready for a real blast from the past!
Space.com recently announced that many of these games are now available for play online. In fact, the article boasts that over 2,400 of them have recently become housed on the net ... and they're just waiting for your undivided attention.
So if any of you young Turks who are tired with capturing the flag in Halo want to go back in time and take a real good hard cold look at the kind of cutting-edge tension that blew grandpa's mind, you'd do well to click on over and check out what the future looked like in only two and three color graphics.
- Published on
Unlike many of the old school, die-hard Star Wars fans, I've pretty much forgiven George Lucas for the shortcomings of the Prequel Trilogy (JarJar Binks notwithstanding).
My particular take on the whole shebang is that, "This is, after all, his creation, and he should be allowed to do what he wants with it." If that means Han Solo never shot first, then so be it. But he did. Shoot first, George. Mark my words. I was there. I saw it. In theatres. Back in 1977. Han Solo shot first. Shot Greedo dead in his chair. And it made thematic, dramatic, and narrative sense. What you did? That flick of his head to miss being shot? That's just plain stupid. But I forgive you for it.
However, this morning The Verge reports that Lucas is now claiming (again contradicting things he's said previously) that he had intended all along to film Episode VII and have it in theatres this upcoming May, 2015. Realizing how much of his life he'd have to set aside in order to complete this third trilogy, he apparently jumped at the chance to sell the entire kit and kaboodle once Walt Disney showed up with his checkbook.
So now after insisting for years that he'd never intended a third trilogy while having previously said his story was (originally) plotted out as three trilogies he's going on record apparently "to clarify" that there were three trilogies all along.
I guess it's best just to consider this report in The Verge as "George Lucas: The Special Edition." In other words, blame Greedo.
My particular take on the whole shebang is that, "This is, after all, his creation, and he should be allowed to do what he wants with it." If that means Han Solo never shot first, then so be it. But he did. Shoot first, George. Mark my words. I was there. I saw it. In theatres. Back in 1977. Han Solo shot first. Shot Greedo dead in his chair. And it made thematic, dramatic, and narrative sense. What you did? That flick of his head to miss being shot? That's just plain stupid. But I forgive you for it.
However, this morning The Verge reports that Lucas is now claiming (again contradicting things he's said previously) that he had intended all along to film Episode VII and have it in theatres this upcoming May, 2015. Realizing how much of his life he'd have to set aside in order to complete this third trilogy, he apparently jumped at the chance to sell the entire kit and kaboodle once Walt Disney showed up with his checkbook.
So now after insisting for years that he'd never intended a third trilogy while having previously said his story was (originally) plotted out as three trilogies he's going on record apparently "to clarify" that there were three trilogies all along.
I guess it's best just to consider this report in The Verge as "George Lucas: The Special Edition." In other words, blame Greedo.
- Published on
Well, well, well ... that didn't take long.
I've mentioned in chatrooms and talkback boards everywhere that I'm struggling to get into Star Wars: Rebels. It isn't as if I don't appreciate another journey into the Star Wars universe because I entirely do. I think what it is mostly is that Rebels thus far hasn't really had the depth of storytelling that even The Clone Wars had in its first season. Granted, even TCW had some duds early on, but the program always tried to minimally dish out some great eye candy for those of us who are captivated by quality visuals.
By comparison, Rebels has been fairly flat in that department. The premiere movie had some solid work, but since then the show appears to have fallen a bit into a groove that suggests nostalgia for the Original Trilogy is enough to sustain it. I suspect the same nostalgia is why Rebels relies to heavily on adopting musical cues from the first trilogy's score in order to align itself with such greatness.
And now -- after going back to the well by having an appearance by Darth Vader, everyone's favorite robotic duo of C-3PO and R2-D2, and (most recently) bringing back Frank Oz to voice an angelic appearance of Jedi Master Yoda -- it's been reported by Cosmic Booknews that Billy Dee Williams will be back to voice Lando Calrissian for the January 19th episode, "Idiot's Array."
I can appreciate going back to the well in order to help give Rebels a healthy dose of continuity magic: I think it's grand that the Mouse House is working hard at showing this animated property is truly meant to be part and parcel of the Original Trilogy's greater story. But -- at some point -- I truly hope the showrunners amp up their storytelling for this generation of heroes so that they get the opportunity to stand on their own instead of playing in the shadow of something greater.
Anyone else feeling the same?
Billy Dee Williams Returning For Star Wars Rebels / Cosmic BookNews
I've mentioned in chatrooms and talkback boards everywhere that I'm struggling to get into Star Wars: Rebels. It isn't as if I don't appreciate another journey into the Star Wars universe because I entirely do. I think what it is mostly is that Rebels thus far hasn't really had the depth of storytelling that even The Clone Wars had in its first season. Granted, even TCW had some duds early on, but the program always tried to minimally dish out some great eye candy for those of us who are captivated by quality visuals.
By comparison, Rebels has been fairly flat in that department. The premiere movie had some solid work, but since then the show appears to have fallen a bit into a groove that suggests nostalgia for the Original Trilogy is enough to sustain it. I suspect the same nostalgia is why Rebels relies to heavily on adopting musical cues from the first trilogy's score in order to align itself with such greatness.
And now -- after going back to the well by having an appearance by Darth Vader, everyone's favorite robotic duo of C-3PO and R2-D2, and (most recently) bringing back Frank Oz to voice an angelic appearance of Jedi Master Yoda -- it's been reported by Cosmic Booknews that Billy Dee Williams will be back to voice Lando Calrissian for the January 19th episode, "Idiot's Array."
I can appreciate going back to the well in order to help give Rebels a healthy dose of continuity magic: I think it's grand that the Mouse House is working hard at showing this animated property is truly meant to be part and parcel of the Original Trilogy's greater story. But -- at some point -- I truly hope the showrunners amp up their storytelling for this generation of heroes so that they get the opportunity to stand on their own instead of playing in the shadow of something greater.
Anyone else feeling the same?
Billy Dee Williams Returning For Star Wars Rebels / Cosmic BookNews
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Who doesn't appreciate a good Apocalypse every now and then, eh?
It looks like the CW wants to hop aboard the End Times wagon. The Messengers is set to premiere on Friday, April 10th on the network; and -- if the preview is any indication -- quite a bit of it looks derivative of all of the many Biblically-themed End-of-the-World programs that have come before. However, there's also a hint of SciFi in there, so I'm throwing it up here for good measure.
Remember: don't shoot the messenger. (wink wink)
It looks like the CW wants to hop aboard the End Times wagon. The Messengers is set to premiere on Friday, April 10th on the network; and -- if the preview is any indication -- quite a bit of it looks derivative of all of the many Biblically-themed End-of-the-World programs that have come before. However, there's also a hint of SciFi in there, so I'm throwing it up here for good measure.
Remember: don't shoot the messenger. (wink wink)
- Published on
Seriously, you have to give a hand to the CW. Since they emerged as the victor when the WB Network and the UPN shacked up together, they're made an honest attempt to capitalize on the demographic left out in the cold after the Sci-Fi Channel changed its name and incorporated Professional Wrestling into its Syfy line-up. Though I've yet to really investigate Arrow as fully as I did Smallville, I am enjoying the sacharrin goodness that is The Flash.
Now, there's even more to get excited about as the CW is soon launching iZombie into existence. It's set to premiere on Tuesday, March 17 (following The Flash); and it looks as if some smarmy forensic lab tech might just become a modern day private investigator.
Until it gets too smarmy, count me in ... brains and all.
Now, there's even more to get excited about as the CW is soon launching iZombie into existence. It's set to premiere on Tuesday, March 17 (following The Flash); and it looks as if some smarmy forensic lab tech might just become a modern day private investigator.
Until it gets too smarmy, count me in ... brains and all.
- Published on
One might expect more Science Fiction projects coming from a network that was originally founded on the premise of delivering ... well ... Science Fiction to interested parties. Alas, maybe Syfy was never what it believes it was cracked up to be.
However, Deadline today is reporting that Syfy has announced 51st State being "in development." The SciFi drama hails from Craig Borten, and a review of his profile on IMDB.com shows ... well ... absolutely nothing in the SciFi arena. As a matter of fact, it only shows a single completed entry, that being as an apparent co-writer of the AIDS-themed drama, Dallas Buyers Club. The premise of said 51st State indicates that the United States has purchased Greenland and turned it into a massive island penitentiary (I'm thinking of Escape from New York for some reason now); and Uncle Sam then reneges on granting said inmates provisional freedoms, which leads to a revolt.
Hmm. How 'bout that?
Again, one would think that a network seriously dedicated to SciFi might actually seek out and explore properties from folks with some experience in that genre ... but it is what it is.
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em ...
However, Deadline today is reporting that Syfy has announced 51st State being "in development." The SciFi drama hails from Craig Borten, and a review of his profile on IMDB.com shows ... well ... absolutely nothing in the SciFi arena. As a matter of fact, it only shows a single completed entry, that being as an apparent co-writer of the AIDS-themed drama, Dallas Buyers Club. The premise of said 51st State indicates that the United States has purchased Greenland and turned it into a massive island penitentiary (I'm thinking of Escape from New York for some reason now); and Uncle Sam then reneges on granting said inmates provisional freedoms, which leads to a revolt.
Hmm. How 'bout that?
Again, one would think that a network seriously dedicated to SciFi might actually seek out and explore properties from folks with some experience in that genre ... but it is what it is.
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em ...