New Podcast: Issue 80: Iron Man 3–This is Getting Expensive
It has been a year since Avengers blew us all away with it’s action, effects, and wit. Finally last Friday (in the US) the armored Avenger has returned for his fourth big-screen outing. Iron Man films have always been accompanied by toys and collectibles, but after Avengers made more than a billion dollars, Iron Man 3 has more than ever before. There are, of course, the Hasbro figures, but also the Micro Muggs, Superhero Squad, Kotobukiya Statues, Sideshow Life-Sized Figures, and the Hot Toys, oh lord, the Hot Toys.
On this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast, Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie give their reactions to the film. They also look at the collectibles and discuss exactly how many suits of armor is too many.
And we want you on a future Marvelicious Toys podcast. We want your thoughts on Iron Man 3, as well as on high-end Marvel statue collecting for a future show! Leave us a voicemail at 803-MARVEL4 or send an MP3 to show@marvelicious.com so we can record your thoughts!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT080.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Iron Man 3
The Avengers broke box office records taking in more at the US box office in the opening weekend than any other film. With such popularity the world was primed for a follow-up. Now, almost one year to the day later, Marvel Studios’ next film Iron Man 3 has been delivered, and came in second only to The Avengers in its opening weekend. The new film features a Tony Stark solo mission against his comic book nemesis The Mandarin in a storyline taken from the Warren Ellis Extremis comic arc. But without Jon Favreau directing and without a Hulk can the armored Avenger still shine? Listen to Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPAVENGERS07.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 391: Into the Void with Tim Lebbon
Tomorrow a new era in Star Wars Expanded Universe novels beings with the release of Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void. Written by Tim Lebbon and based on the Dark Horse comic series Dawn of the Jedi this book tells of Force users twenty-five thousand years before the battle of Yavin. It’s the first Star Wars novel set so early in the timeline, and also the first Star Wars novel by Lebbon. On this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast Arnie talks to Tim about the process of writing this novel and the themes throughout.
Also on this week’s show, Berent went to Disneyland and talked to artist Mike Kungl who was revealing new works. He talks about his upcoming prints from Acme Archives, works Lucasfilm rejected, and his latest Jabba art piece. Listen to find out about them and find out how to win one of Kungl’s Rebel Alliance–Defend and Protect prints!
With a Free Comic Book Day report from St. Louis, a con report from the UK, May the Fourth sales, and reports of Endor AT-AT spottings, it’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast.
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN391.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Movie Review: The Place Beyond The Pines
The Place Beyond The Pines
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writers: Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio, Darius Marder
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen, Ray Liotta
Studio: Hunting Lane Films
Release Date: March 29, 2013
The Place Beyond The Pines is a multigenerational saga like the Godfather. Characters will die. Others will rise to power. Some will fall from grace. However, unlike the Godfather saga, these characters are working class. Ordinary cops and bank robbers replace the glamorized mafia and FBI stings. Despite the lack of gangster fantasies, the film provides grounded, well developed characters that make for an emotional drama.
Luke (Gosling) quits his job as a stunt motorcyclist for a traveling carnival when he discovers he has a son in one of the towns his work brings him to annually. He turns to robbing banks when he is unable to find steady work to support his child. As he is pursued by police, a brief encounter with rookie cop Avery (Cooper) will change the course of Luke’s, Avery’s, and both of their sons’ lives.
Luke may seem threatening with his body covered in crude tattoos and his love for high speed motorcycling but Gosling is convincing that his character is kinder than he appears. There is a touching moment when Luke tells the mother of his child, Romina (Mendes), that he wants to be the first to feed their son ice cream to lessen the pain of being an absent father. The hurt and despair Luke feels for not being able to provide for his son is heartbreaking and lets the viewer sympathize with the character. When Luke turns violent and resorts to robbing banks to give his son a future, the tendency is to mourn rather than to harshly condemn his decision.
The film becomes a tense police drama as Avery’s path crosses with Luke in a high speed chase after Luke robs a bank. Cooper convinces us that Avery may have the book smarts to enforce justice, but not the street smarts to stay clean of corruption. The sleazy police workings are felt immediately as Liotta, playing corrupt cop Deluca, is introduced. His reassuring words and smile only heighten his threatening presence.
The movie loses some focus as it turns to examine the sons of Avery and Luke. Their fathers are more interesting, complex characters. These sons are forced into a rote tale of peer pressure. Two-thirds of the film I was engaged in examining characters that were well rounded and storytelling filled with emotion and tension. The third act is underwhelming as tough questions stop being asked and the film becomes an after school special.
Like the Godfather trilogy, The Place Beyond The Pines is hampered by a weak final third. The first two acts are filled with sorrow and tension that grip the viewer. The story may be multigenerational, but the children are never allowed to mature like the adult characters that held the viewer’s attention for most of the running time; making this film a mild recommend.
New Podcast: Return of the Living Dead by John Russo
Return of the Living Dead is best known for being a 1985 horror-comedy film that is both a sequel to and a spoof of George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead. However, few know of the messy history behind the film, and that it originally started off as a novel written by Night of the Living Dead co-writer John Russo and released in 1977. A straight follow-up to Romero’s original film, Russo’s novel bears little resemblance to the film that would follow 8 years later. But now as part of Now Playing’s Return of the Living Dead bonus retrospective series Stuart in LA reads and reviews the original novel and tells how this book became the 1985 cult classic!
After you listen to his review, head to NowPlayingPodcast.com and find out how to hear their Return of the Living Dead movie review series, only available until June 30, 2013!
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN066-ROTLD.MP3
Category: Arts & Literature
Return of the Living Dead by John Russo
Return of the Living Dead is best known for being a 1985 horror-comedy film that is both a sequel to and a spoof of George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead. However, few know of the messy history behind the film, and that it originally started off as a novel written by Night of the Living Dead co-writer John Russo and released in 1977. A straight follow-up to Romero’s original film, Russo’s novel bears little resemblance to the film that would follow 8 years later. But now as part of Now Playing’s Return of the Living Dead bonus retrospective series Stuart in LA reads and reviews the original novel and tells how this book became the 1985 cult classic!
After you listen to his review, head to NowPlayingPodcast.com and find out how to hear their Return of the Living Dead movie review series, only available until June 30, 2013!
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: Issue 79: C2E2 2013
The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, more commonly called C2E2 convention, happened at Chicago’s McCormick Place last weekend. It was the fourth C2E2 convention and thousands of people filled the show floor looking for comics, toys, autographs, collectibles, and a great time with friends. Marjorie and Arnie were at the con and you can hear their report on the toys and art they found at the show. Joined by Marvel collectors Sarah and Chris, they look at secondary market prices for Marvel Universe figures, discuss the new toys shown at the Diamond Select booth, and discuss new information revealed by Kotobukiya at the con.
Back in the studio with Justin, the Marvelicious hosts look at some hard to find figures that are hitting stores and online at bargain prices, and not one, not two, but four new Hot Toys Iron Man figures. All this and a disco cup on this week’s Marvelicious toys podcast!
And we still want your thoughts on high-end Marvel statue collecting for a future show! Leave us a voicemail at 803-MARVEL4 or send an MP3 to show@marvelicious.com so we can record your thoughts on Sideshow, Bowen, Koto, Diamond, and others!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT079.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Superman III
1983 was a banner year for computing. Microsoft Windows was announced, Lotus spreadsheets were released and the first IBM clone PC was sold by Compaq. And Gus Gorman builds a supercomputer that becomes self-aware, turns humans into cyborg slaves, and tries to kill Superman! This third installment in the Superman film series, this one directed entirely by Richard Lester, relied more on laughs than action, with comedian Richard Pryor taking a co-starring role. How does the mix of comedy, action, and inner conflict work in this Superman film? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSUPES04.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
DOUBLE FEATURES: Silent Running & Oblivion
Welcome to Double Features, my monthly column dedicated to reviewing a current theatrical release in tandem with a similar classic movie available on DVD. April finds me wondering if Oblivion, Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi effort, shares some DNA with Silent Running, a 1972 cult item that also features a lone astronaut going rogue to protect Earth’s diminishing natural resources from a destructive enemy.
Don’t let the G rating, Joan Baez folk songs, or soft-focus opening shots of bunnies and flowers mislead you. Silent Running – the directorial debut of special effects wiz Douglas Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey) – is a somber, adult look at future environmental crisis set entirely aboard a greenhouse space station orbiting a deforested Earth. Bruce Dern goes from docile hippie to psychotic eco-warrior when soulless corporate bosses order him to nuke the last living plant and animal specimens and return to a barren planet sustained by their synthetic amenities. We should be on the oppressed gardener’s side, but his insurrection grows too bloody and paranoid for even the most militant animal activist or macrobiotic foodie to endorse.
Perhaps the only empathetic “characters” in Silent Running are a trio of service robots nicknamed Huey, Dewey, and Louie – reprogrammed to be green-thumbed companions after Dern offs his snide human co-workers. Trumbell’s ingenious miniature droid suits are customized to fit double-amputee actors, who bring a humanizing motion to the walking appliances that’s cute even when they’re digging graves. This is the rare environmental message movie that actually celebrates the machine as nature’s ultimate salvation – a techie’s vision of utopia. It remains progressive today, even if much of the rest of Silent Running suffers from outdated concepts and a meandering plot.
Tom Cruise might hold Bruce Dern’s same custodial occupation on the wasteland of Oblivion, but he’s not going to settle for socializing with a bunch of spherical drones – he wants a hot wife! And not that redheaded nag from his arranged marriage (Andrea Riseborough)… anyone who’s seen Total Recall knows she has ulterior motives for pressing him to spurn Earth for a Saturn moon. No, Cruise dreams of Olga Kurylenko – an enigmatic woman who beckons from repressed memories long before they’re reunited at his secret log cabin tucked inside the last green valley.
The starkest contrast between Silent Running and Oblivion is that Cruise is less preoccupied with rescuing the planet’s ravaged flora and fauna than piecing together his former identity. It’s a self-obsessed journey told largely in cryptic exchanges with coy characters like Morgan Freeman. The mystery unfolds in your head, but never your heart. And once this stooge has finally figured out he’s supposed to be acting like Tom Cruise in a big-budget Hollywood fantasy, many will have grown impatient for some explosions and requisite action.
At best, Silent Running and Oblivion are gentle genre exercises I can only MILDLY RECOMMEND to hardcore science fiction fans thirsting for simple, self-contained stories. Their appeal lies primarily in their visuals. This is a Double Feature that’s easily wiped from the mind, clones of more iconic movies.
New Podcast: Episode 390: C2E2 with Jeffrey Brown
This past weekend was the C2E2 convention in Chicago, Illinois. In its fourth year, C2E2 has grown to fill an entire hall at McCormick Place. With no major stars like Val Kilmer and John Cusack to headline, the star wattage was a little bit dimmer, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t tons to do at the con. On this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast, hosts Arnie, Marjorie, and Johnathan are joined by Chris, Sarah, and Yakface.com’s Jayson live on the C2E2 floor! Listen as they run down their impressions of the convention, with tons of Star Wars collecting! From vintage finds to modern, high end and low end, plus custom items like coffee mugs and art, they discuss it all. Also this week, Arnie sits down with Darth Vader and Son author Jeffrey Brown to talk about that book, the recently released follow-up Vader’s Little Princess, and his upcoming Scholastic book Jedi Academy.With news from Sunday’s vintage toy auction, special collectibles for May the 4th, it’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN390.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Former Marvel Exclusive Figures Now At HasbroToyShop.com
Some of the hardest to find figures in Hasbro’s Marvel Universe toy line are now available at a bargain price through Hasbro’s own HasbroToyShop.com web site.
These figures, Nick Fury, X-Force Archangel, and the unmasked Dr. Victor von Doom figures, were formerly only available to subscribers of Marvel Comics Digital Comics Unlimited service, a program that allowed comics fans access to thousands of comics for reading on the web. This service cost about $60 per year, which is a bargain for comics fans but a high price for action figure collectors who wanted the figure but not the digital comics.
More, this Digital Comics Unlimited service was only available to United States citizens with a credit card in order to pay. Due to the high cost and limited availability of these figures, each has sold for well over $100 each on eBay.
But this past week Hasbro Marvel Universe figure collectors have rejoiced as all three of these exclusive figures have shown up for sale on Hasbro’s online sales site HasbroToyShop.com at $14.99 each, limit 2 per person.
The Marvel collecting podcast Marvelicious Toys contacted Hasbro for information on why these figures have been made available. Hasbro Public Relations Representative Joe Moscone told Marvelicious, “One figure was offered each year and only in that year. Now that the digital comic offer has passed, Hasbro has the great fortune of being able to offer a small number of these limited edition figures to our fans and collectors.”
This left a question as to the fourth exclusive figure in this line. Originally promoted at San Diego Comic Con in 2012 Hasbro and Marvel were supposed to offer an exclusive Old Man Logan figure, based on the Mark Millar Wolverine comics. While Hasbro gave a small number of these figures to the press at New York Comic Con in October, 2012 both Hasbro and Marvel have been quiet about a wider release of this figure. With Marvel rebranding their Digital Comics Unlimited service to just Marvel Unlimited, some have wondered if this figure will see release at all.
When asked about Old Man Logan, Moscone replied “We will not be offering the Old Man Logan figure for sale [through HasbroToyShop.com], but stay tuned for news from Marvel on this figure in the coming months.”
As of this writing the X-Force Archangel and unmasked Victor von Doom figures have sold out, but the Nick Fury figure remains in stock at HasbroToyShop.com.
For collectors still after the Doom and Archangel figures, the online availability of these figures has not caused much of a drop in aftermarket prices. A check on eBay shows sellers listing Archangel for $70 and higher, while Doom figures start around $40.00 Knowing HasbroToyShop may put more back in stock later due to additional inventory or returned sales, Marvelicious Toys recommends you follow them on Facebook and Twitter and they will post if these toys are again available. Marvelicious Toys’ social media outlets were among the first to report when these figures were made available at HasbroToyShop.
You can hear the Marvelicious Toys podcast hosts Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie discuss toys, statues, games, and other collectibles based on Marvel Comics and movies every Wednesday at MarveliciousToys.com
New Podcast: Drag Me to Hell
After a series of blockbuster, large-scale films director Sam Raimi returned to his horror roots with Drag Me to Hell. While there is no cabin, no necronomicon, and no deadites, this film feels very much like an Evil Dead movie with geysers of blood and a main character put through physical and psychological torment. Now as a bonus review, Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart are dragged to hell to face the Lamia. Does this film have the impact of Raimi’s earlier, more raw horror films? Listen to find out, then DONATE to Now Playing before June 30, 2013 to hear our Spring Donation Drive bonus reviews of all the Evil Dead films as well!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPP038.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Bryan Singer Confirms Several New Mutants in X-Men: Days of Future Past
If you’re excited about 2014’s X-Men film X-Men: Days of Future Past then you should follow Bryan Singer on Twitter. With his Twitter feed @BryanSinger the returning X-Men director has tricked out early casting announcements and photos from the set. But this morning Singer may have given our biggest piece of information yet–a list of several new mutant heroes appearing in the upcoming film.
With a tweet titled “Every mutant needs a place to sit” Singer posted a rapid-fire video of chairs on the set, the backs silk-screened with the name of a film character.
Do not read any further if you wish to avoid spoilers
The Marvel Comics characters shown on the chair backs are:
- Logan (aka Wolverine)
- Xavier (Professor X)
- Magneto
- Storm
- Bishop
- Kitty Pryde
- Bobby “Iceman” Drake
- Peter “Colossus” Rasputin
- Blink
- James “Warpath” Proudstar
While Colossus had brief scenes in the second and third X-Men films, this is the first cinematic appearance of Blink, Warpath, and Bishop.
The full video can be seen on vine.co
You can hear Now Playing Podcast’s reviews of Singer’s previous X-Men films in the archives section of NowPlayingPodcast.com and join us later this summer as we review the next X-Men film–The Wolverine!
You can also hear us in a few weeks as we review Singer’s last superhero movie, 2006’s Superman Returns as part of the NowPlayingPodcast.com Superman retrospective series
And for all things Marvel Comics, Marvel Movies, and Marvel collecting join us every Wednesday on the Marvelicious Toys podcast.
New Podcast: Issue 78: Is That Iron Man In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?
Hasbro’s Marvel Universe line was an in for many Marvel collectors, at the more affordable and shelf-friendly 3.75-inch scale, but news of Marvel Universe figures had been scarce. Fear not, true collectors! On this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast Marjorie, Arnie, and Justin run down a new wave of figures just put up for pre-order including Mysterio and Elektra! Plus some of the hardest to find Marvel Universe figures, the Marvel DCU mail-away figures, have been going up for sale for $15 each online! Listen to find out all the details!
Also on this week’s show, we run down several new Iron Man collectibles. From the 86Hero iPhone 5 Iron Man case to the Nendoroid Iron Man Mark VII to the three new Iron Man armors coming from Hot Toys. And a spatula! All this and more on this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
(Note: This episode was recorded before Sideshow Collectibles put up the Red Snapper armor for pre-order yesterday. You can check it out at sideshowcollectibles.com
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT078.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Superman II
How much would you give up for the woman you love? For Superman the cost of love is his every power as he chooses to relinquish all that makes him super to live a mortal life with Lois Lane. But without Superman what can stop the three Kryptonian criminals Non, Ursa, and their leader General Zod from ruling the Earth? All of this, plus Lex Luthor, is in 1980’s Superman II. But do Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob kneel before Zod? Listen to Now Playing to find out as we review both the Richard Donner and Richard Lester cuts of Superman II!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSUPES03.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 389: A Blueprint for Adventure
When the book Star Wars: The Blueprints by J. W. Rinzler was released in 2011 few could argue that it was not an impressive collection of schematics and a wealth of information about the construction of some of the most iconic creations in movie history. But also, few could afford the massive book. Now the book has been rereleased in a more shelf-friendly size and at a more affordable price. Listen to find out how this new release compares to the original, and if you should pick this up.
With Steve reviewing the Star Wars Steelbook releases and Johnathan discussing his latest Star Wars display, it’s all in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
And be sure to look for Arnie, Marjorie, and Johnathan this weekend at C2E2! Stop them and get a free convention exclusive Star Wars Action News badge with a code that can be redeemed for an exclusive T-Shirt design! All thanks to our awesome graphic designer Chris!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN389.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
TV REVIEW: Hannibal
Hannibal
Creator: Brian Fuller
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, Lara Jean Chorostecki
Network: NBC
Airs: Thursdays, 10pm Eastern /9pm Central
Cinema’s most notorious cannibal has returned to public life as the unlikely star of a one hour NBC crime drama. Hannibal, set before the events of Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, finds a middle-aged Lecter assisting the FBI on grisly manhunts while masquerading as a Baltimore psychiatrist with a fridge full of secrets. Any movie fan would naturally be concerned that TV censorship and commercial interruptions inhibit Hannibal even more than his signature straitjacket and facial restraints. Yet the horror icon remains menacing and seductive in his new serialized incarnation, bringing a potent flavor to introductory episodes “Aperitif” and “Amuse Bouche” that masks the blandness of formulaic forensic shows.
If nothing else, series creator Bryan Fuller (Heroes) has found the perfect actor for the pivotal title role. Dane Mads Mikkelson avoids Anthony Hopkins comparisons by drawing more on the sinister minimalism of his James Bond villain from Casino Royale. This Hannibal is trying to pass himself off as a boring suit, so he can’t risk the theatricality of those purring taunts and unblinking stares that caged Hannibal used to intimidate his interrogators. Lecter lives out his double life wearing an unwavering poker face, but subtle gestures and asides help Mikkelson retain the dark humor and refinement that has always made this beast relatable. A dinner of exquisite looking mystery meat, or a courtesy call placed to a fellow serial killer, play like private jokes between the viewer and this strangely admirable enigma.
Dr. Lecter hungers for an equal to sniff out his true nature, which makes his relationship with tortured FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) the crux of the show. Graham’s heightened intuition helps him process crime scene clues through the eyes of the most depraved psychopaths – he’s a great investigator but an unstable lawman. Lecter is brought in to help Will develop coping skills and process his recent first kill, but the shrink uses the sessions instead to insinuate his macabre world view inside Will’s fevered brain. Dancy’s jittery performance is a nice contrast with Mikkelson’s calculating stoicism, even when the storylines push Graham’s emotional state to campy extremes.
Fans of Red Dragon and Manhunter recognize Will Graham as Lector’s eventual captor, but Hannibal has changed enough about the set-up to make that future uncertain. Like JJ Abrams’ Star Trek or A&E’s Bates Motel, the project isn’t a slave to the source material and many canonical elements have been tweaked successfully. Will Graham looks more damaged and socially awkward here than in the movies because he has a house full of stray dogs rather than a stabilizing wife and son. Turning sleazy male reporter Freddie Lounds into a scheming female blogger not only contemporizes the character, it gives Lector a tempting new target. As long as the show runners respect the source material, I think defying expectations is a great way of keeping fans interested. Right now I don’t care if this Lecter ever ends up behind bars.
Still, not everything about Hannibal feels like a fresh reinvention. Laurence Fishburne makes for a credible Jack Crawford, but he leads a stock crime fighting unit transplanted from a lesser procedural (annoying Asian scientist, dour bearded white dude, sexy lady shrink, etc.). And the overwrought cases, which include a deer hunter skewering women on a wall of antlers and a pharmacist growing a mushroom garden out of comatose diabetics, create the bogus impression that every murderer on the East Coast is some aspiring performance artist using cannibalism to redress childhood hurt. If this is what we’re going to get week after week, it’s going to diminishes Lecter’s reputation as a unique monster.
Hannibal has impressive production values, and its queasy corpse imagery and violent standoffs don’t feel compromised by broadcast television standards. Yet I can’t help feeling like the show would play better on a network that doesn’t require it to make room for 17 minutes of commercials. Graham resembles a psychic more than a cop when ads don’t give us enough time to covet the clues, and he has to make improbable deductions to compress the plot.
Despite its flaws, Hannibal promises to be a worthy new chapter for the serial killer if it can maintain the Lecter/Graham dialectic. I’m just afraid the show will get lost in America’s overcrowded DVR and wind up cancelled before its audience can find it. I definitely RECOMMEND streaming both episodes over at NBC.com sooner than later, and look forward to tasting the remaining 11 courses of Season One.
New Podcast: New Avengers: Breakout Prose Novel by Alisa Kwitney
Continuing the look at the new series of Marvel Comics prose novels that adapt popular comic arcs into novel form Arnie is back this week to review New Avengers: Breakout by Alisa Kwitney. The original story was told by Brian Michael Bendis in the 2005 New Avengers comics. This novel changes the story considerably making two characters not in Bendis’ comics– Hawkeye and the Black Widow — the main characters. Listen to Arnie’s review to find out if these reviews are for better or for worse.
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN065-MarvelProseNewAvengersBreakout.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
New Avengers: Breakout Prose Novel by Alisa Kwitney
Continuing the look at the new series of Marvel Comics prose novels that adapt popular comic arcs into novel form Arnie is back this week to review New Avengers: Breakout by Alisa Kwitney. The original story was told by Brian Michael Bendis in the 2005 New Avengers comics. This novel changes the story considerably making two characters not in Bendis’ comics– Hawkeye and the Black Widow — the main characters. Listen to Arnie’s review to find out if these reviews are for better or for worse.
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: Superman
In 1978 director Richard Donner and a team of cutting-edge optical effects artists made audiences believe a man could fly. Perhaps even more impressive, though, is that stars Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, and Marlon Brando were able to bring such performances that adults and children watched a man convincingly and unironically wear a blue spandex unitard. But when Superman took to the screen there was no unintentional laughter, just a generation held in thrall as they watched the first big-budget superhero film–a movie to which all superhero films to this day are still compared. Do Now Playing movie reviews Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart still believe the film flies as high? Listen to this week’s podcast to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSUPES02.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 388: Animated Ewok Attack
Correction/Clarification: We have received definitive information that the Disney Build-A-Droid is not at Downtown Disneyland, only Downtown Disneyworld. At Disneyland the Build-A-Droid is available in-park only. We’re sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
Star Wars fandom in early 2013 is full of highs and lows. While Hasbro idles, awaiting the release of new product later this year, and Disney continues to restructure their new purchase by closing LucasArts, other Star Wars licensees continue on! On this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast, Marjorie and Arnie look at a couple of Star Wars collectible makers that offer exciting new products in this slow period of collecting.First up is Sideshow Collectibles, who’s 12-inch Commander Wolffe figure went up for preorder last week, and who’s Legendary Scale Darth Maul figure is in stock and ready to ship! Then we look at Gentle Giant, who just shipped their animated Ewok and Scout Trooper Maquette, and has for preorder two new jumbo figures and two new mini-busts!Plus we also look at one inventive collector who is keeping action figure collecting lively by offering 3-D items that bring your cantina diorama to life. It’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN388.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Astonishing X-Men: Gifted Prose Novel by Peter David
Next Tuesday the fourth book in Marvel Comics new prose novel series is being released–Iron Man: Extremis by Marie Javins. This wraps up the four novel series announced by Marvel back in 2012. To commemorate the conclusion of this book series, Arnie is back to continue his reviews of these Marvel Comics novelizations of successful comic arcs. This week Arnie is reviewing Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, written by longtime Marvel Comics scribe Peter David, based on the comic series by Joss Whedon.
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN064-MarvelProseAstonishingXMenGifted.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
Astonishing X-Men: Gifted Prose Novel by Peter David
Next Tuesday the fourth book in Marvel Comics new prose novel series is being released–Iron Man: Extremis by Marie Javins. This wraps up the four novel series announced by Marvel back in 2012. To commemorate the conclusion of this book series, Arnie is back to continue his reviews of these Marvel Comics novelizations of successful comic arcs. This week Arnie is reviewing Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, written by longtime Marvel Comics scribe Peter David, based on the comic series by Joss Whedon.
Source: Books and Nachos
The Collection Movie Review
The Collection
Director: Marcus Dunstan
Writer: Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton
Starring: Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick Christopher McDonald, Lee Tergesen, Randall Archer
Studio: Fortress Features Features
Release Date: September 21, 2012
Elaborate, fatal traps? Squirm inducing injuries? Copious blood? Combine these features with a sadistic and mysterious killer and you’ve got The Collection, a sequel to The Collector. The Collector was initially written as a prequel to Saw. When it was rejected, it became its own movie outright, spawning this franchise.
Arkin, having escaped from The Collector, is tapped by a private security team to tell them where he was held captive so that they can rescue Elena, the latest victim. He’s forced at gunpoint to enter the abandoned hotel that is the villain’s lair, in order to make sure that they get their target. As the team is picked off by the deadly concealed ambushes, they are astounded by the grotesque acts The Collector has committed to his victims.
The Collector likes to kill his victims using fancy mouse (human?) traps. Try to escape through a window and you’re likely to have your hand sliced off when you open it. Step on a certain spot on the floor and large spears will impale you. There’s a dotted line in the horror movie family tree from Jigsaw to The Collector. They seem fairly similar in operations. But The Collector lacks a motive. The novelty of Jigsaw was that he offered his victims a chance at redemption. Freeing oneself from the contraption was also freeing yourself from your past. There is nothing hidden here, these exist solely to kill. There is no redemption for any of the victims. The contraptions are not elaborate as they were in the Saw series. These try but they come off more as a deadly Home Alone movie.
The one thing this film does both very well is the character of The Collector. He is incredibly menacing as we have never seen his face nor has he ever spoken. He lurks, stalks and grabs with the precision of Michael Myers. He’s very mysterious with his lucha libre like mask and insect collection. The potential for a great serial killer is there with all of this covertness, but he is too unknown. There just aren’t enough character details to make him a great antagonist. Other than he collects one person to keep from every killing spree, we don’t know anything else about him. He’s portrayed as cryptic for cryptic sake but for no good reason. It was unfulfilling to know so little.
Instead of paying homage to the granddaddy of torture porn, The Collection comes off like a made for TV copycat movie. It’s similar enough to remind the viewer of its roots but it has just enough differences to escape plagiarism. There wasn’t enough originality to make this work and let’s be honest, if you’re going to emulate another franchise, do it bigger, badder and better. Although the murderer has potential, his details aren’t revealed enough to make him add anything more than a frustration. Even with razor blades held to my face, I wouldn’t recommend this movie.
New Podcast: Issue 77: A Combination of Awesome and Awful
There’s a new Hasbro 3.75-inch Iron Man figure on shelves and online, and it’s not a poorly-articulated Iron Man 3 figure. No, out of the blue a new Avengers figure 4-pack has appeared at Kohls and online retailers. On this issue of the Marvelicious Toys podcast Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie review these figures to see if they are worth assembling for your collection.
And also this week they look at some blind bagged collectibles from Zags Toys, the Grab Zags Collect-A-Balls and Nog’nz, and Arnie talks about the Master Replicas Thor Comic Scene Replica that has been showing up on eBay at a deep discount. All this, and a new Die Cast Hot Toys Iron Man, on this issue of the Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT077.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Superman and the Mole Men
Superman. In the 1930s the DC character was a breakout success creating a template for superheroes that would be copied for the next century. In the 1970s he made moviegoers believe a man could fly in the first blockbuster superhero film. But long before Christopher Reeve would embody the iconic Kryptonian there was another Superman movie–Superman and the Mole Men. Created as part of the television series The Adventures of Superman, Superman and the Mole Men starred George Reeves as the man of steel dealing with a race of beings who have escaped their home miles below ground. Reeves would go on to play Superman on television from 1952 to 1958 becoming the face of Superman for the baby boomer generation. Now, as Now Playing hosts Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob begin their Superman retrospective series leading up to this summer’s Man of Steel film they look back at this forgotten 1951 feature. Is this a Superman adventure worth unearthing or should it have stayed buried deep? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSUPES01.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell
Even if you don’t know the name Bruce Campbell the odds are you’ve seen him in television shows and movies. Currently a star of Burn Notice, Campbell has been featured in the Hercules and Xena television shows, as well as films like Maniac Cop, Escape from L.A., The Hudsucker Proxy, The Majestic, and all three Spider-Man films. But for all his work, Campbell is perhaps best known for his role of Ash in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films. As today the remake of Evil Dead is being released, Arnie takes this opportunity to revisit Campbell’s 2001 autobiography for the insights it gives on the actor and his films.
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN063-IfChinsCouldKill.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell
Even if you don’t know the name Bruce Campbell the odds are you’ve seen him in television shows and movies. Currently a star of Burn Notice, Campbell has been featured in the Hercules and Xena television shows, as well as films like Maniac Cop, Escape from L.A., The Hudsucker Proxy, The Majestic, and all three Spider-Man films. But for all his work, Campbell is perhaps best known for his role of Ash in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films. As today the remake of Evil Dead is being released, Arnie takes this opportunity to revisit Campbell’s 2001 autobiography for the insights it gives on the actor and his films.
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: Issue 76: Stan Lee is Classy
Wizard World conventions are a staple for sci-fi and comic book fans. In 2013 they have added a new convention in St. Louis, MO with Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee as a featured guest! Marjorie and Arnie were at the con, shopping and attending several Stan Lee events, and on this issue of Marvelicious Toys they report to tell you if this is a trip you should make when it returns next year!
Also this week, as we ramp up for Iron Man 3 even more new Iron Man products are being announced. For Hot Toys collectors the latest armor upgrade is to die cast, as a Die Cast Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Iron Patriot was put up for preorder, and a Mark 42 Die Cast Iron Man yet to come. Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie take a look at what this means for Hot Toys fans…and their wallets.
And as Iron Man 3 toys start to already go on sale in stores, a legendary Iron Man 2 pack was released in the UK–the Iron Man Undercover Assault pack with unmasked Iron Man and War Machine as well as the only Iron Man 2 Black Widow figure! Arnie has this set in hand and reviews it this show.
All this plus limited art prints from J.K. Woodward in this issue of the Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT076.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: G.I. Joe: Retaliation
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra left many audience members cold, but the box office proved there was a hunger for G.I. Joe movies. A sequel was started, but to give the series a boost of star power the original cast was almost entirely replaced with The Rock and Bruce Willis featured in the hopes of pleasing a larger audience. After a 9 month delay for a post 3-D conversion, did this sequel fix the flaws of the previous live-action film? Listen to Jerry, Jakob, and Arnie’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPGIJOE03.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 387: It’s Not Easy Buying Green (Cards)
Gentle Giant’s Premiere Guild Memberships for 2013 started recently with two exclusive Premiere Guild Member mini-busts, a holographic Darth Vader and an Episode III Mace Windu. As they ponder their gift for 2013, Marjorie and Arnie look back this podcast at two mini-busts for PGM members in 2012, the Rebel Trooper from A New Hope and a white Republic Commando from the Expanded Universe.Also this podcast, Brock reviews the recent novel The Last Jedi, Javier reports in on green card figure finds in Mexico, and we report on a very cool, 2-week limited art print from J.K. Woodward. All this and more on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN387.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Punk Movie Review: Repo Man
Dust of your steel toe boots and dye your mohawk blue, once a month I’ll be talking about a different punk movie here on the Gazette…
Repo Man
Director: Alex Cox
Writer: Alex Cox
Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, Tracey Walter
Studio: Universal Pictures
Release Date: March 2, 1984
Repo Man stars Emilio Estevez as loser punk Otto a year before he’d played the jock picking on the losers in The Breakfast Club. Otto spends his days stocking the shelves at a grocery store until he quits after being continually scolded by his boss. However, Otto finds a new job more in line with his punk ethics—stealing cars from yuppies as a repo man. He learns the life of a repo man is always intense. The film maintains the intensity with a plot that grows ever stranger; changing lanes from scathing criticism on materialism to Cold War era fears to a B-movie alien flick.
Harry Dean Stanton plays repo man Bud, who recruits Otto to the profession. He teaches Otto the Repo Code. A repo man shall never damage an automobile he repossesses. Neither commie nor Christian shall ride in their car. The rich will always be the first to default on their loans. These men living on the outskirts of society are the perfect vehicle for the film’s contemptuous humor. They are more philosophers than struggling proletariat. The comedy is in their zen-like attitude as they snort cocaine to stay awake during the early morning hours and firing bullets to scare off deadbeat car owners.
Los Angeles is the ideal backdrop for the story. It’s a city built for driving, with vast stretches of cold pale concrete highways. However, this L.A. is in shambles with abandoned roads where the few roaming the streets are able to swerve from lane to lane. The fear of Cold War nuclear holocaust takes on a sense of normality as characters casually discuss the neutron bomb and the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. If L.A. is yet to be annihilated by the bomb, the city is already conquered by a material emptiness where its residents are so weary of existence they are willing to consume jars of sustenance merely labeled as “food” and “drink.”
Meanwhile, a lobotomized scientist roams the streets of L.A. in a 1964 Chevy Malibu with the stolen bodies of four dead aliens in the trunk. A shadowy government agency puts a $20,000 bounty on the car; resulting in a clash between rival repo men and UFO enthusiasts. Miller (Walter), a repo man who refuses to drive a car, theorizes these aliens had been transporting people back in time to populate the once empty earth. Steven Spielberg had introduced an alien savior that could heal with his touch in E.T. Writer and director Alex Cox further mashes aliens and the Bible with a sci-fi creation story, though with a farcical edge. Cox’s take is a throwback to the B-movies of the 50s, hinting that modern society is more a product of the entertainment industry than traditional religion.
Repo Man is like a fast-paced riff from one of the soundtrack’s many hardcore punk songs. The social commentary must uphold a blistering intensity. As ideas on modern materialism, Los Angeles’s identity, marginalized subcultures, and science fiction B-movies all slam together, there is the threat that at any moment the film can lose its energy and fray into a giant wall of sloppy, distorted noise. Surprisingly, it doesn’t. The film maintains a steady beat of sharp-tongued criticism and brash humor until the end; making it a constant on the set list of must-see cinema.
Recommend
Repo Man will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with a new high-definition restored transfer on April 16, 2013.
Movie Review: Spring Breakers
Spring Breakers
Director: Harmony Korine
Writer: Harmony Korine
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, and James Franco
Studio: Muse Productions
Release Date: March 22, 2013
Harmony Korine, a provocateur with a long rap sheet of films about juvenile delinquency, isn’t the most obvious candidate for directing a teen party movie set on the beaches of St. Petersberg. His previous youth culture explorations have shunned Disney princesses in florescent bikinis in favor of more extreme subjects – a serial rapist spreading AIDS (Kids), a drooling schizophrenic (Julien Donkey-Boy), cat killers on ten speed bikes (Gummo), and fetishists grinding their pelvises against canisters of garbage (Trash Humpers – his most literal celebration of depravity).
Yet the four curvaceous coeds at the center of Korine’s new opus Spring Breakers share a commonality with all the other freaks in his menagerie: they’re poor, horny and bored… and that makes them dangerous. Desperate to escape the crushing sameness of their deserted dorm, Candy (Hudgens), Brit (Benson), and Cotty (Rachel Korine, Harmony’s wife) use squirt guns and harsh language to intimidate patrons at an all-night diner into funding their hedonistic vacation. Faith (Gomez) knows she’s courting sin by abandoning her Bible study group for beach time with these hellions, but the utopian promise of Florida’s flesh parade proves equally irresistible to her repressed soul. These girls are sick, and fun is the only cure for what ails them.
Ironically, those most primed for the sun-burnt decadence of a Girls Gone Wild video, or crass Hollywood comedy like Project X, will probably be Spring Breakers’ most disappointed audience members. Korine has never cultivated a taste for commercial storytelling or traditional beauty, and remains fixated on unflattering details as he reduces the foursome’s exploits to a disjointed montage of scooter rides and repetitious drunk talk. Boredom hasn’t been conquered, merely transformed into something more frenzied and sad.
The fun doesn’t begin for viewers until our heroines are jailed and forced to take bail money from Alien, a drug smuggler with delusions of rap superstardom. One look at James Franco’s gold-toothed leer as he leads the ladies from the courthouse into a spaceship-shaped bed blanketed in $100 bills tells you Korine has finally found the proof he needs to convict the American Dream. “Look at my sheeyit! This ain’t nuttin’, I got ROOMS of this shit,” the narcissist boasts as he produces everything from Kool-Aid to Calvin Klein cologne in an effort to impress his guests. It’s Alien who completes Candy and Brit’s transformation into gangsta bitches now packing real firepower, and the trio sail off into a day-glo finale filled with Britney Spears sing-a-longs and drive-by shootings.
Many will call Spring Breakers an empty exercise full of callow behavior, and I’ll not dispute them. Still, I Recommend the movie to anyone able to appreciate the singular way Korine and cinematographer Benoit Debie (Enter The Void) render depravity as its own special kind of beauty. The paradox of their painterly images, married with Franco’s gonzo-yet-human performance, creates empathy for these shallow party girls when their words and deeds might otherwise draw contempt. Korine might not be an artist, but I refuse to label him an exploiter. Perhaps we’ll agree he’s that nose picker that sits in the back of the classroom making sculpture out of his boogers. Certainly Spring Breakers is a gross and glorious mess not soon forgotten.
New Podcast: Issue 75: Iron Man ASSEMBLED
Have you seen all the latest Iron Man advertisements with the 42 awesome different armors Tony has built? There’s the Mark 38 Heavy Lifting “Igor”, the Mark 33 Enhanced Energy “Silver Centurion”, the Mark 40 Hyper Velocity “Shotgun”. Then for collectors there’s the Heartbreaker…breaking our hearts to know that none of these cool armors will be translated into well-sculpted, painted, articulated toys like we got for Iron Man 2. Instead, for Iron Man 3, Hasbro has given us the Assembler’s lines of toys, and in this issue of Marvelicious Toys Justin, Arnie, and Marjorie discuss the toys we want while reviewing the toys we’re going to get. Are the Assemblers passable 3.75-inch toys to go with your Iron Man 2 figures? Listen to the review to find out.But not all Marvel collectibles are disappointing. Also in this week’s issue, Arnie and Marjorie review two high-end items recently added to their collection. The first is Sideshow Collectibles’ Exclusive Premium Format Storm statue, limited to 500 pieces, standing 20-inches tall, and coming with two interchangeable heads. Next is a strange, cute, deformed Iron Man figure found in a toy shop in Manhattan–the Tideway Iron Man Mark III.With a look at Marvel’s new audiobook adaptation of Stuart Moore’s Civil War novel, figure stands that make your figures fly, and something to knock your socks off, it’s all in this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT075.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Marvel’s Civil War Prose Novel by Stuart Moore
Last year Marvel Comics started a new prose novel line adapting popular comic book story arcs to long fiction form. Now Arnie is reviewing all four of these novelized comic book stories, starting with the first book — Civil War. The Civil War comic books of 2006 and 2007 was a best-selling event, spanning over 100 comics and topping sales charts. Now author Stuart Moore is taking this expansive story and compressing it into a 350 page book. Join Arnie as he contrasts the novel with its comic book counterpart, and find out if Civil War is worth a read!
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN062-MarvelProseCivilWar.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
Marvel's Civil War Prose Novel by Stuart Moore
Last year Marvel Comics started a new prose novel line adapting popular comic book story arcs to long fiction form. Now Arnie is reviewing all four of these novelized comic book stories, starting with the first book — Civil War. The Civil War comic books of 2006 and 2007 was a best-selling event, spanning over 100 comics and topping sales charts. Now author Stuart Moore is taking this expansive story and compressing it into a 350 page book. Join Arnie as he contrasts the novel with its comic book counterpart, and find out if Civil War is worth a read!
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
With Michael Bay’s film Transformers Hasbro proved that its toy lines could be turned into profitable movie franchises and Hasbro also had another major toy line in reserve–G.I. Joe! Like Transformers, this film could appeal both to young moviegoers as well as their parents who watched the 80’s cartoon. But in 2009 the second Transformers film made over $400 million while G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra floundered at $150 million, failing in US theaters to make back the production costs. G.I. Joe returns in theaters this week in a semi-rebooted form, but is G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra a blight on Joe’s history, or an overlooked gem released in a very busy summer? Listen to Jakob, Jerry, and Arnie’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPGIJOE02.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 386: St. Louis is Wizard!
Wizard World conventions are a staple for sci-fi and comic book fans. Having produced their multi-city conventions for years in Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other cities, they now expand their reach deeper in the midwest this year with Wizard World St. Louis! Marjorie and Arnie were at the con meeting Star Wars fans, celebrities, and seeing what Star Wars collectibles were for sale! With the 2014 St. Louis convention already announced, should you save the date? Listen to Arnie & Marjorie’s report to find out!Also this week, Johnathan is back with a look at the 2013 Movie Heroes action figures, Jerry gives a Vintage Viewpoint from Endor, and Steve the Gingerprince reports in from the UK–with a chance for one lucky listener to win some of the 2013 Yoda carded Clone Wars figures not released in the USA!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN386.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Double Features: Stoker & Shadow Of A Doubt
Welcome to Double Features, my ongoing column devoted to pairing a new theatrical release with a complimentary older title available on home viewing formats.
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| Shadow of a Doubt | Stoker |
For March I’m fixing up stylish new thriller Stoker with 70-year-old Alfred Hitchcock classic Shadow of a Doubt for a double date that explicitly reminds audiences why it’s never a good idea for a girl to lust after her uncle.
Hitchcock movies pack a subversive punch because the director was so clever at sneaking taboo subject matter past his censors. Audiences in 1943 would merely have understood Shadow of A Doubt as the story of a gushing teenager (Teresa Wright) horrified to learn her visiting uncle (Joseph Cotton) is The Merry Widow Murderer. But savvier contemporary viewers will likely be creeped out by the closeness of their familial bond long before Uncle Charlie’s homicidal habits come to light. The nubile niece, also named Charlie, characterizes their connection as “telepathic”, but I’m closer to calling it out as incest.
Shadow of A Doubt isn’t one of Hitchcock’s more suspenseful or technically innovative pictures. The audience spends most of the run time waiting for its naïve star to deduce what they’ve known since the opening scene. But I suspect Hitch called it the favorite work of his career because it does such an expert job satirizing America and traditional Hollywood depictions of wholesomeness. Not only does a niece’s unbridled desire for her uncle go unnoticed in this seemingly upstanding small town, but common folk commiserate over speculation on how they might kill one another, banks profit from blood money, and perversion can be seen beneath the chipped paint of civility in every scene. The one false note of the picture comes when an FBI agent tries to assure the disillusioned young Charlie that people are basically decent and criminals like her uncle are the anomaly.
Stoker clearly invites comparisons to Shadow of A Doubt as it also introduces a homicidal Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) into the home of a blossoming schoolgirl (Mia Wasikowska), but takes the scenario one step further by suggesting the two share an inherited proclivity to kill. Dour young India certainly knows her way around a hunting rifle, and thinks nothing of silencing randy classmates with the sharp end of a pencil. But she’s a virgin when it comes to the ways of sex and murder, and spends most of the movie warming up to the idea that her father’s brother (and possible killer) has a lot he could teach her in these areas.
Stoker marks the Hollywood debut of acclaimed director Chan Wook-Park (Oldboy). Like Hitchcock, he’s come to America with a healthy dose of cynicism and an eye for subversive detail. Almost every shot in the picture simmers with Freudian possibilities – from the snaky removal of a belt used to strangle a man during intercourse to a spider crawling up the girl’s thigh as she plays a love song on the piano. These searing images perfectly capture the balance between suppressed desire and sociopathic bloodlust that hangs over our not-so-naïve star’s coming-of-age.
Hitchcock used the incest taboo to tease audiences about presumptions of innocence, but stops far short of nihilism and always delivers crowd-pleasing thrills. Stoker, by contrast, corrupts audiences by asking them to fully explore the darkly erotic possibilities of the uncle-niece union and resists reassurances of societal norms. I RECOMMEND both movies, and suspect viewers will get even more out of seeing them together. But you may not want to invite the family to watch along with you.
New Podcast: Issue 74: Going Rogue
Hasbro’s Marvel Universe is an exciting line for action figure collectors. Offering the articulation and detailed sculpts collectors crave at a much lower price point than the 6-inch Marvel Legends, this 3.75-inch line has drawn in tons of new Marvel collectors. But in 2012 distribution of Marvel Universe figures was spotty, with the Professor X wave barely seen at retail. Now, though, there are a dozen new Marvel Universe figures hitting stores! First is a new wave of single-carded figures with such fan favorites as Puck, Nova, and Angel. More, there are 3 new team packs shipping now with the West Coast Avengers, the Inhumans, and a classic X-Men pack! On this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie give hands-on reviews of these new figures.With a look at the recent Toy Man Toy Show in St. Louis, Marvel’s reveals at SXSW, and more, it’s all in this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT074.MP3
Category: Arts
The American Movie Review
The American
Director: Anton Corbijn
Writer: Rowan Joffé
Starring: George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten, Paolo Bonacelli, Irina Björklund
Studio: Focus Features
Release Date: September 1, 2010
The American is a taut thriller. Every actor delivers an authentic performance that makes their character feel real. Every shot in the film is gorgeous and feels like each frame could be a postcard. The American may just be the best film I cannot possibly recommend.
Clooney plays Jack, a gunsmith and hit man on the run from relentless Swede assassins. In most movies with this type of set-up we would see Jack investigate his attackers, eventually uncovering their boss in an action-filled climax, but The American provides a refreshing, seemingly more realistic take. Instead of going on the offensive, Jack goes into hiding in the Rome countryside, counting on his employer Pavel to keep him safe. More, this attack has frightened Jack, making him want out of his lethal lifestyle.
It’s a very low-key, suspenseful take on a story about hit-men, and that is The American’s greatest strength. Even when Jack’s serenity is interrupted by a Swede attack, the action scenes are bloody and short, the exact opposite of the glossy, adrenaline-filled fights in action films like The Bourne Identity. The scenes are not here to thrill, but to remind Jack, and the audience, that death surrounds him and his quiet respite could come to a bloody end at any moment. This is driven home to great effect.
Indeed, The American treats the Swedes as a subplot, with the main focus being Jack’s relationship with local prostitute Clara. What starts as a purely professional relationship ends in a true romance as Jack connects with Clara, despite not ever truly trusting her intentions. Clara could be a plant, and we’ve already seen Jack kill one girlfriend. As such, Jack and Clara’s scenes together are always bittersweet as the audience knows at any moment one of these lovers could kill the other.
But despite all that is done right, The American fails in many respects. Jack is a laconic cipher We have endless scenes with him drinking coffee, or expertly machining a rifle, but Cloony’s performance always leaves us disconnected from the assassin. Jack’s lies are told so often and so easily that we never know what to believe. We don’t trust Jack and Jack trusts no one, leaving the viewer with no character with whom they can relate. Do we want this agent of death to find love and salvation, or do we want the Swedes to deliver swift justice?
The film’s final fall is in its finale. As we are kept emotionally distant from our main character, his fate becomes ultimately unimportant. The suspense of the eventual double-cross reaches its climax, but in an unfulfilling, perfunctory way.
The American is like one of Jack’s guns–lovingly crafted, expertly made, but ultimately cold and mechanical. Not recommend
New Podcast: G.I. Joe: The Movie
Yo Joe! For almost 50 years G.I. Joe action figures have excited and enthralled children, but it was in the 1980s with the Star Wars inspired comic book, toy line, and cartoon that the G.I. Joe identity would be galvanized. A culturally diverse army of specialists, the G.I. Joes would battle endlessly to keep the evil forces of Cobra at bay. Their skirmishes would be told in a syndicated cartoon series that ran from 1985 to 1986, and as the show prepared for a fourth season Hasbro decided to take the Joes to the big screen with the animated G.I. Joe: The Movie! The failure of Transformers: The Movie would cause G.I. Joe: The Movie to have major plot changes, delays, and an eventual video release long after the series had ended. Was that fate deserved, or does G.I. Joe: The Movie succeed where the Transformer movie failed? Listen to find our review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPGIJOE01.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
A mostly expected journey…
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| The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | |
| Director: | Peter Jackson |
| Writer: | Fran Walsh, Philipa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro |
| Starring: | Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis |
| Studio: | New Line Cinema |
| Release Date: | December 14, 2012 |
Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows in the tradition of his Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a delicious fantasy stuffed full of dwarves, wizards, trolls, goblins, and a gold-loving dragon. The CGI effectively gives life and scale to each unique race. As a prequel to LOTR, the script is bursting with backstory; showing evil slowly creeping towards Mordor for the eventual war for Middle Earth. The film is also gluttonous. Jackson gives every obscure character with a passing mention in the novel, like a brown wizard or shadowy necromancer, needlessly extended scenes in this near three-hour exercise in patience. The story is stretched thin to somehow turn this children’s book into a three-parter as a desperate Hollywood attempt to secure consistent ticket sales.
In short, audiences will feel the same about The Hobbit as they did with Jackson’s LOTR trilogy. It does nothing to address previous criticisms and gives more of what made LOTR a blockbuster franchise.
The plot sticks to that of the novel, though certain liberties are taken to conform to conventional Hollywood storytelling. Thirteen dwarves aim to take their city and gold back from the dragon Smaug. The wizard Gandalf (McKellen) recruits hobbit Bilbo (Freeman) to assist in the adventure. All the while, Bilbo must convince Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage), the dwarves’ leader, of his commitment to the journey.
Of course there isn’t a complete story provided as the plot has been split into three films. Smaug is hardly seen, much less defeated. Unexpectedly, the script does carry one of its many subplots to completion; providing a sense of closure for this first installment. Bilbo is homesick. He can return home at any point while the dwarves are outcasts and homeless. Thorin grows weary of Bilbo’s seemingly lack of loyalty. This subplot plays throughout the film until its resolution, providing purpose and heroic moments to a climax that would otherwise feel like just another battle.
The film is long but never feels unbearable. Action scenes take place at the appropriate moments to kick up the pace after scene of melodramatic debate. The battles never do capture the grandness and danger of what we’ve seen before. Even the return of Serkis’s Golem doesn’t demand the same awe. I must recognize this dismissive attitude exists because Jackson already has tackled larger foes and greater battles. However, during The Hobbit’s most exciting scenes, such as the dwarves slashing their way through the never-ending caverns of Goblin Town, the viewer is reminded how comfortable it is to spend a few hours of escape in this fantasy world.
I put off seeing the film originally once it was announced The Hobbit would be three films instead of two. I didn’t think I had the energy for anymore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world after having read the books, watched the animated features, attended each LOTR installment on during their opening weekends, and then sitting through the extended cuts. I was wrong. For those fans sitting on the fence, like I was, you’ll find this RECOMMENDED film will enliven you with plenty of vigor for the journey.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and other formats March 19, 2013.
New Podcast: Episode 385: C-3PO Is Happy To See You
The stores are full of the same ol’, same ol’, not because there are no new Star Wars action figures but because the stores are so full of 2012 figures that Hasbro is only shipping the new 2013 figures to other countries. If you want the 2013 Yoda carded Clone Wars and Movie Heroes figures American Star Wars collectors need to buy from Canada or Germany at considerable expense in shipping and surcharges. Is it worth it? Marjorie and Arnie have the final wave of Clone Wars figures in hand from a Canadian seller, and review each figure on this week’s Star Wars Action News! Listen to find out if these repacks, repaints, and retools are worth your bounty.And speaking of bounty, on this week’s podcast is one bad bounty hunter — Bossk! Sideshow’s 12-inch Bossk figure is in stock and shipping now, and Star Wars Action News reviews the exclusive version on this week’s show. With interchangeable hands, feet, and head (with the exclusive version) listen to hear the hosts’ thoughts on this latest sixth-scale figure!With a vintage filled report from the Toy Man Toy Show in St. Louis, a way to get an exclusive T-Shirt design this weekend at Wizard World St. Louis, and more, it’s all in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN385.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Would You Rather Movie Review
Would You Rather
Starring: Brittany Snow. Sasha Grey, Jeffrey Combs, John Heard
Directed by: David Guy Levy
Once you RSVP, it’s too late…
Would You Rather takes an innocent slumber party game and twists it, replacing kissing the school dweeb with self mutilation. Reminiscent of the Saw franchise, this is torture porn with reduced gore. The concept of this movie is grotesque but it’s a safer, gentler release with less in your face graphic violence, all while maintaining an interesting and unique story.
Iris is dead broke after the death of her parents and desperately needs money. She accepts a mysterious invitation to a dinner party that promises the chance to win enough money to solve her problems. The party is hosted by Shep Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs), with the promise of one attendee winning money via an contest. The game is revealed to be “Would You Rather”, the party game that forces you to choose between two choices. Instead of choosing to kiss the their friend Martha or their friend Bob, the guests are astounded to learn that their choices are self mutilation or mutilating someone else. As each round progresses with a new painful challenge, guests are eliminated either by fatal injury or killed during an escape attempt leaving Iris and one other as the finalists.
Refreshing a stale genre, Would You Rather presents a new twist that is both unique and original. The writers rely on implied gore to create the suspense.
The mutilating challenges all sound horrible and conjure graphic images but it’s a stark contrast to what is shown. Lucas’s challenge is to slice open his eye. We hear his resistance, see his panic at the thought but when he actually does it, it is so quick and shot at such an angle that there is no blood. Peter’s challenge is to blow up a firecracker in his hand. It sounds simple enough until it’s revealed to be a quarter stick of dynamite and that it is duct taped thoroughly to his hand. When it explodes, the carnage is poorly lit so it’s impact is minimal and the focus is on Peter having a heart attack. Anything imagined is much worse than what is shown causing a much more intense movie.
Combs is delightful in his role as philanthropist turned sadist Shep Lambrick. Known for his stoic portrayal of Dr. Herbert West in Reanimator, he is wonderfully chipper and animated in Would You Rather. His delight and mockery at the moral dilemmas facing his dinner guests is fun to watch. He munches on snacks while they decide who they are stabbing, shocking or whipping. Combs doesn’t portray Lambrick as a maniac, he’s mostly a madman but with social skills. Combs has such a delightful giggle when he is enjoying tormenting his guests. It’s nice to see him break out and have some fun, even if it is at the expense of others.
Would You Rather is a nice twist on the overdone torture porn genre. It had become graphic for graphic sake (Saw) by replacing shock with copious amounts of blood. By relying on good old suspense and implied violence, Would You Rather takes it to a new level and keeps the audience entertained all the way to the surprise ending.
New Podcast: Issue 73: Double Blind
With all the new Marvel collectibles hitting stores it’s hard for a collector, a budget, or a podcast to keep up! In Issue 72 Marvelicious Toys podcast hosts Marjorie, Arnie, and Justin updated you on all the new toys being found in stores. With Issue 73 they start their detailed reviews of these products. Listen to hear a review of the first three Iron Man 3 6-inch Marvel Legends figures. With some reuse of old molds and no movie based sculpts, hear the Marvelicious Toys review to see if these are worth your money.Arnie also has a hands on review of Diamond Select’s new Venom figure. With a classic sclupts and multiple heads and hands, hear his thoughts on if this is a good buy for a Select-ive collector.Then Marjorie indulges in her favorite collecting niche of blind bagged items as she literally tears into Ultimate Spider-Man Fighter Pods and Iron Man 3 Micro Muggs! There are even some blind packaged Spider-Man toys in the Easter candy aisle at Target. Listen to get a hands on review of these products!With some PJs that make you say pee-yew, an new entry into 12-inch Marvel figures, and more, it’s all in this jam-packed issue of the Marvelicious Toys podcast!
(Correction: On the show the hosts refer to the Fighter Pods as “Spectacular Spider-Man”. The Fighter Pods are actually “Ultimate Spider-Man”)
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT073.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Jonah Hex
When a terrorist plans to destroy Washington D.C. the only hope for the United States is a confederate soldier with a scar on his face and a chip on his shoulder–Jonah Hex. A strange steampunk western based on the DC Comics character, Jonah Hex failed to find an audience despite A-list stars Josh Brolin and John Malkovich. Is this possibly an overlooked gem, or could it really be as bad as world-of-mouth indicates? Listen to Now Playing and find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDCHERO03.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful
Oz the alright, but there are some things that are pretty great…
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| Oz the Great and Powerful | |
| Director: | Sam Raimi |
| Writer: | David Lindsay-Abaire, Mitchel Kapner |
| Starring: | James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Release Date: | March 8, 2013 |
The 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is a visual feast. The Technicolor landscape—rich with yellow bricks, blue flying monkeys, and red ruby slippers—fascinated me as a child. Oz the Great and Powerful takes the audience back to this fantasy of saturated color pallets and dreamlike characters. The film will mesmerize children and make the discerning adults wish they could see this film through those young ones’ eyes. Its vision is bold and courageous, while lacking some heart and brains.
James Franco is the small-time circus magician Oscar, better known as Oz. To avoid the consequences of his womanizing, he flees in a hot air balloon. A tornado takes hold of the balloon and Oz awakes in a magical land. He is believed to be the prophesized wizard that will unite the Emerald City, which is under the control of three feuding witch sisters. Oz must decide if he will continue as a sham trickster or take up the mantle of the wizard to bring peace.
If Dorothy’s adventure was a journey of discovery, Oz’s is one of redemption. However, Oz never fully changes, but merely finds a way to better exploit his cons. Franco is able to convince the audience of Oz as a grifter. The role doesn’t fall far from the actor’s laid back reputation. Glinda the Good Witch (Williams) will eventually declare Oz to be a good man, but that remains in question. If her sisters, Theodora (Kunis) and Evanora (Weisz), had stayed attractive instead of turning hideously ugly, would Oz be so steadfastly in love with just Glinda? Franco’s constant smirk always gives suspicion to his intents, even at the end when he should be trustworthy.
Part of the problem is in the nature of a prequel. We know Oz is still a bumbling conman when Dorothy eventually arrives. True character development is hindered by needing to sync up with the original. This is a barrier for those in the know to truly invest themselves in the title character. However, there are plenty of set-ups to satisfy long time fans of Oz, though not everything is revealed. Despite not caring much for the future wizard, I did find myself caught up in the film’s backdrop and wondering how certain things will play out to bridge this story to Dorothy’s adventure.
Thankfully, the film finds reasons to focus on non-established characters. There is a town made of china smashed to bits by flying baboons. Here is where the most entertaining character is introduced, a living china doll. She brings sadness, spunk, and laughs. While cute, there is also a creepiness to her fractured skin and stiff movements.
The feuding witches are given a new dimension by fleshing out Evanora, who Dorothy will eventually land a house on. The most interesting of the three sisters, her story carries a tragedy similar to Victor Frankenstein. The audience is told she is wicked, but there is a sadness to her as she comes to terms with the monster she creates; making her a sympathetic villain.
I’m still not convinced there is anything great, powerful, or wonderful about this Oz character, but this land is worth revisiting for its other inhabitants and landscapes. This new vision is twisted like Alice’s Wonderland. The scenery continually spirals from sparkling flowers made of gems to rivers filled with translucent fairies bearing piranha-like jaws. The audience knows what levers are being pulled behind the green screen, but this mildly recommendable movie still manages to create some impressive illusions.
New Podcast: Episode 384: Bishoujo and Jocasta Nu
With few new Hasbro Star Wars toys showing up in stores, Star Wars collectors and podcast hosts Marjorie and Arnie must look online to build their collection. On this week’s podcast, they review two new mail-order additions to their collection! First, they review the Brian’s Toys exclusive Jocasta Nu action figure from Hasbro. Then they look at the first statue in Kotobukiya’s new Star Wars Bishoujo line–Jaina Solo.Star Wars Action News segment host Nathan P. Butler has also kept busy collecting the variant covers for Dark Horse’s new Star Wars #1 comic book. How many covers are there and how far will Nathan go to get them all? Listen to this week’s podcast to find out!With a UK collecting report by Steve “The Gingerprince” and Johnathan giving tips on collecting the Yoda carded Clone Wars and Movie Heroes figures, it’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN384.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis
After reviewing the Keanu Reeves film Constantine, based on DC’s Hellblazer comics, hosts Arnie and Jakob turn to the source material on which the movie was based. In their second podcast looking at John Constantine in comics, they discuss Original Sins, Garth Ennis’ first American comic book writing and one of the most acclaimed Hellblazer storylines.
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN061-HellBlazer02-DangerousHabits.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis
After reviewing the Keanu Reeves film Constantine, based on DC’s Hellblazer comics, hosts Arnie and Jakob turn to the source material on which the movie was based. In their second podcast looking at John Constantine in comics, they discuss Original Sins, Garth Ennis’ first American comic book writing and one of the most acclaimed Hellblazer storylines.
Source: Books and Nachos
Movie Review: Red Dawn
What’s the capitalist term I’m trying to think of…lazy-faire?
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| Red Dawn | |
| Director: | Don Bradley |
| Writer: | Carl Ellsworth, Jeremy Passmore |
| Starring: | Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Will Yun Lee |
| Studio: | Contrafilm |
| Release Date: | November 21, 2012 |
1984’s Red Dawn was an extreme right-wing fantasy. Set during the Cold War, teenagers flexed their Second Amendment rights and blasted away the commies invading the United States. However, this toothless remake begs for relevancy. It sat on the shelf for two years and finally found release during the 2012 election season; perhaps to capitalize on the polarizing politic discourse. However, it is unlikely anyone on either side of the political spectrum would give this new Red Dawn a favorable vote.
The plot is familiar. Communists, from North Korea this time, attack the United States. Brothers Jed (Hemsworth) and Matt (Peck) train a group of teens in the Spokane, Washington to fight back. Known as the Wolverines, the small militia plays a pivotal role in taking their country back.
Of course, the audience never is sure what the country is being taken back from. The villains are so generic, they were easily changed by CGI’ing over some flags and redubbing their native language. The commies were originally filmed as Chinese. The studio then changed them to North Korean in post production because it’s bad marketing to upset over a billion potential ticket buyers. At least the fear of grinding away in sweatshops while manufacturing cheap knick-knacks for Walmart would be a legitimate fear if China took over. Instead, the only reason given to be afraid of North Korea is because communism was scary thirty years ago.
The Russians are also involved with the occupation, just in case North Korea wasn’t frightening enough. If you’re too young to know the Russians were once the U.S.’s real life communist nemesis, there is a big neo-Soviet, easily identified by his blue hat, who stabs teenagers. There, now do you see how nasty that democratic nation secretly is?
As to why so many resources are used to invade a small northwestern town is never explained, which further complicates any attempt at understanding the invasion. A reeducation camp is built, just like in the original. However, it isn’t filled with the Wolverine’s fathers. Rather, the North Koreans take over an entire country to lock up its cheerleaders. Communism must be pretty awful if it jails the hot blondes.
The communists have one weakness though, besides not being able to kill a handful of teenage soldiers. The Wolverines can turn the war around by stealing a radio. To be fair, it’s a magic radio. It’s immune to the electronic magnetic pulse machine the North Koreans used to knock out the American’s power. Maybe the Wolverines would have done better stealing the device that could actually shut down the North Korea’s machinery, rather than the one used for listening to them. Presumably, the same number of explosions could have been produced in a plot that attempted to make more sense.
The writers may not understand how to construct decent plot or motivations, but they also manage to include unsatisfying character arcs too. Matt has a character flaw. He always puts himself before others. A Wolverine needlessly dies because Matt goes off mission to selfishly save his cheerleader girlfriend. Obviously, Matt will need to make a team decision requiring him to sacrifice his needs to show he’s learned there is no I in team. At least it should be obvious. However, the film can’t even adequately execute an elementary school level morality tale.
Red Dawn is an exploitation film that never exploits. It doesn’t play on the fears of even the most delusional paranoid shut in. There’s no need to rush out and arm yourself, this film is easy to resist.
Red Dawn is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and other formats beginning March 5, 2013.
TV REVIEW: HOUSE OF CARDS (Season One)
A pretty good first hand for an aspiring web series network
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| House of Cards |
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| Directors: | David Fincher, Joel Schumacher, etc. |
| Writers: | Beau Willimon, Andrew Davies, etc. |
| Starring | Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stohl |
| Network: | Netflix |
| Release Date | February 1, 2013 |
Netflix, having successfully slain the video store with their revolutionary DVD-by-mail business model, plans to challenge cable television by offering subscribers an exclusive line-up of streamed programming. The first original show out of the gate is House of Cards – a sophisticated one-hour drama about Washington political corruption that re-teams Oscar winner Kevin Spacey with his Seven director David Fincher. The $100 million price tag and A-list Hollywood talent lets the world know that HBO and Showtime are no longer the only destinations for premium serialized entertainment, but is House of Cards good enough to re-position Netflix as the TV network of the future? Maybe. Season One wobbles under the weight of its many ambitions, but stands on a solid foundation of satire and delicious Machiavellian power plays.
Francis Underwood, Spacey’s silver-tongued Congressman, is our tour guide through the dimly lit halls and shadowy chambers of a White House besieged by distrust and petty grievances. Frank’s got an axe to grind too. The newly re-elected President passed him over for Secretary of State, so now he’s going to mobilize a cabal of conspirators to win himself an even bigger seat in the administration. Despite frequent asides to the camera, stoic Spacey keeps his cards close to the vest. We always know what the scheming politician thinks, but rarely understand what he’s doing behind the scenes. It’s the kind of calculating antihero role the actor has always excelled at playing – a cross between tragic Shakespearean tyrant and his genteel murderer from Midnight In The Garden of Good And Evil.
All we know for certain about Frank’s plot is that it hinges on turning Peter Russo (Corey Stohl, Midnight In Paris) into governor of Pennsylvania, despite the Representative’s well-documented problem with drugs and alcohol (or is that part of the plan?). The one character on this cynical show truly deserving empathy, Russo struggles to clean up his act and become the transformational figure his blue collar constituency needs to survive a downturn economy. Hope is a rare commodity on House of Cards, but Stohl’s raw and human performance inspires it all the same.
Frank’s other key player in the game is blogger-journalist Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara, sister of Dragon Tattoo star Rooney). The Congressman feeds the cub reporter Beltway secrets, which she turns into headlines that keep Frank influential on public opinion. Another series might be tempted to sensationalize the sexual affair that springs from their mutually beneficial partnership, but House of Cards largely avoids arousing libidos. Zoe and Frank’s bedroom scenes contain no more heat than the numerous policy briefings and education bill debates that fill the man’s day planner.
I wish the other characters were more organically integrated into Frank’s schemes. Large chunks of time are devoted to trophy wife Claire (Robin Wright) making difficult choices about her overextended humanitarian organization, and flirting with having an affair of her own. I appreciate the irony of a professional do-gooder turning out to be such a callous person, but it’s a Hillary Clinton spoof that ultimately has little impact on Frank’s rise to power. There’s also a disgruntled natural gas lobbyist, a contracted call girl, a terminally ill bodyguard, and even a barbeque restauranteur. They offer great local color, but drop out of the main story too frequently to truly endear themselves.
On one hand, it’s admirable that Fincher has translated the brooding, monochromatic aesthetic of Social Network and Zodiac into a sprawling D.C. tapestry. He’s never worked with a canvas so large, and I love that he’s able to hold up a mirror to today’s obnoxious political theater and find a marathon of authentic, intimate moments that other media misses. Yet I’ve always felt that television needs to be compulsively watchable in order to sustain viewership. Cruelty can be a darkly satisfying spectacle within the confines of a two or three hour movie, but spend a full season in a reptile cage and all that cold-blooded behavior is bound to numb audience enthusiasm. The trouble is I never had a burning desire to know what happens next, particularly when outcomes rarely stray far from the most pessimistic possibilities.
Maybe it’s a good thing then that all 13 episodes of House of Card’s first season have been made available at the same time. Because every one of the show’s principals plays the long game, it takes several episodes for audiences to get hooked on their myopic power manipulations. Indeed, I wasn’t sold until Hour 6. Binge viewers can consume the low boil intrigue in a single day rather than risk losing interest in the weeks it’d take for the story to climax on broadcast TV.
Overall, this is an easy RECOMMEND for Fincher fans, political junkies, or anyone curious about where TV is heading. And it comes at a bargain when you consider Netflix’s monthly rate for unlimited streaming is comparable to the price of a matinee movie ticket. I don’t’ know if I need to chase after Spacey as he races towards the uncertain fortune of Season Two, but I’m anxious to check out the rest of Netflix’s 2013 line-up: Eli Roth’s April horror series Hemlock Grove, prison sitcom Orange Is The New Black, Ricky Gervais’ Derek, and the return of Arrested Development. It does indeed look like the revolution will not be televised, but streamed.
New Podcast: Issue 72: Super-Size Store Report
At New York’s Toy Fair the new toys of 2013 were revealed to press and corporate buyers. But for collectors don’t have to go to the web to see the new toys, they can just head to their local toy aisle! New action figures from all of Hasbro’s major lines are hitting stores including Iron Man 3, Marvel Universe, Iron Man Marvel Legends, Iron Man Micro Mugs, Spider-Man& Fighter Pods, Chibis, Pop Vinyl, and so much more! Listen to this week’s podcast to find out which stores have new toys to buy!Not only are there new toys in stores, but online preorders for new collectibles have hit as well. From Sideshow there is a new Bronze Spider-Man and an exclusive Ultron comiquette. And Hot Toys offers up a Power Pose Iron Man Mark 42. The hosts give their impressions of the new offerings on this show.With a long lost Iron Man 2 figure set hitting the UK and eBay and a patch of Potato Heads, it’s all in this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT072.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Hellblazer: Original Sins by Jamie Delano
Jakob and Arnie have returned to Books & Nachos to review more DC comics graphic novels. On Tuesday they reviewed the Keanu Reeves film Constantine, based on DC’s Hellblazer comics. Now they turn to the source material, reading and reviewing Original Sins, a graphic novel compiling Hellblazer issues 1 through 9.
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN060-HellBlazer01-OriginalSins.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
Hellblazer: Original Sins by Jamie Delano
Jakob and Arnie have returned to Books & Nachos to review more DC comics graphic novels. On Tuesday they reviewed the Keanu Reeves film Constantine, based on DC’s Hellblazer comics. Now they turn to the source material, reading and reviewing Original Sins, a graphic novel compiling Hellblazer issues 1 through 9.
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: Constantine
From the pages of DC’s Hellblazer comics, John Constantine was a blonde, British occult detective with a smoking habit and a bad attitude. The comics had a cult following and in 2005 Warner Bros gave the anti-hero the big screen treatment. Moving the action from Liverpool to Los Angeles, the film starred Keanu Reeves as the Americanized occultist. Now, continuing their look at DC comics one-off films, Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob see if Constantine’s theatrical adaptation had spirit, or was dead on arrival.
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDCHERO02.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Movie Review: Apollo 18
In space nobody can find your footage.
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| Apollo 18 | |
| Director: | Gonzalo López-Gallego |
| Writer: | Brian Miller |
| Starring | Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen, Ryan Robbins |
| Studio: | Bazelevs |
| Release Date | September 2, 2011 |
For years, conspiracy theorists have long believed that NASA is up to no good. Between faked and secret missions to the moon, people have long suspected nefarious deeds in our space program. Enter Apollo 18, an alleged found footage movie that chronicles a previously unknown mission. Much like it’s genre predecessors, it’s supposed to fuel speculation but all it does is make the audience wish for a mission to end the movie.
Under the guise of secretly placing sensors to detect ICBMs from Russia, three astronauts are sent on an unpublicized trip to the moon. While on the moon, they encounter a Russian lunar unit with blood inside. Things start to fall apart when something is inside one of the astronaut’s suits. It ends up under his skin and when removed, it resembles one of the moon rocks. They then begin to theorize that their real mission is to place sensors to monitor these “rocks”.
If you are a fan of the genre or maybe a fan of some other popular movies, you may enjoy this movie. Almost every single plot device has been done previously and with a better result than in this movie. By borrowing from so many other movies, Apollo 18 can’t quite find it’s own footing. Too many scenes are reminiscent of other, better movies that it’s just not satisfying. The most glaring copy cat scene is when one of the astronauts uses a film camera to illuminate the crater where they find the cosmonaut. The use of the camera sounds, with the flash illuminating the crater’s horrifying sites is so similar to the opening of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that I expected Leatherface to appear. The worst part of this analogous scene was that it didn’t accomplish anything. The images were so quick and poorly lit that it does not produce the any fear or expectations.
Aside from the lack of originality, the movie falls short on suspense. It’s not for lack of trying though. The filmmakers attempt to create confusion by showing rocks that move and hover. There’s also a mysteriously abandoned Russian ship where it appears there as a struggle. These scenes are so slowly paced that just can’t produce any tension. Because of this, the big reveal of the source of all of the issues – aliens falls flat. The bigger issue might be that the aliens are rocks instead of, you know, something scary. Granted, the rocks can float and they appear to turn into something with tentacles that resemble the facehugger from Alien, but the aliens are rocks about 99% of the time. There’s just nothing scary about a rock that floats. Not recommend.
New Podcast: Episode 383: A Wave-Full of Yakface
For fans of Star Wars 3.75-inch figures the news is bad. No new figures will be shipping for months, rumors of Target removing all Star Wars items from their toy aisles abound, and the last wave of Clone Wars figures can only be found in Germany and Canada. On this episode of Star Wars Action News, your hosts Marjorie and Arnie run down the state of collecting, and discuss how far they are willing to go in search of these new figures.But not all is bleak; new Star Wars novelty items are appearing in the holiday aisles of Toys R Us and Target. From pastel Vader heads to bunny-eared Stormtroopers, the hosts review the new product hitting shelves.With a discussion of the newest item in Sideshow’s Star Wars Mythos line of statues, bargain-priced Hasbro toys, and more, it’s all in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN383.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Tank Girl
Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, those are the heroes DC Comics are known for. But there are others. As we build up to Man of Steel this summer, Now Playing hosts Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie are looking at some of these lesser known DC Heroes who fight bad guys and obscurity with equal fervor. For our first installment in this series, the hosts review Tank Girl, the 1995 film that pitted Lori Petty and a team of human/kangaroo hybrids against Malcolm McDowell. Does Tank Girl hit the mark, or is it a misfire? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDCHERO01.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Movie Review: Twilight – Breaking Dawn Part 2
Look but don’t sink your teeth into…
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| Twilight – Breaking Dawn Part 2 | |
| Director: | Bill Condon |
| Writer: | Melissa Rosenberg, Stephanie Meyer |
| Starring | Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner |
| Studio: | Temple Hill |
| Release Date | November 16, 2012 |
The first three Twilight films boiled with sexual desire that could never be quenched in a thinly veiled analogy for abstinence. Once the vows of marriage were made in the fourth entry, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Bella entered a twisted fairy tale where the swan is reverted to an ugly duckling. She was heavily bruised through rough sex, literally feasted upon by unborn child and husband, and left for dead. The pent up sexual frustration continues to find violent outlets when she is resurrected for Breaking Dawn – Part 2. However, this final installment still maintains a prudeness that doesn’t allow for a satisfying climax; only giving a peek of enjoyable possibilities before quickly covering up.
Bella (Stewart) is now a vampire; having been saved by husband Edward’s (Pattinson) bite that granted her immortality after nearly dying while giving birth. The Volturi, a ruling class of vampires, believe the half-human, half-vampire newborn may threaten the stability between their kind and humans. Bella and Edward must create an alliance between vampires and werewolves if they want to protect the child from the diabolic plans of the Volturi.
The film lacks a sense of irony. I often found myself laughing at the film when I should have easily been laughing with it. For example, Bella must learn to act mortal again to keep her transformation secret. It’s humorous to watch her practice breathing and how to casually slouch because of Stewart’s reputation for being emotionless and stone faced. However, the humor seems unaware of Stewart’s perceived coldness and relies on the actress’s attempt at physical comedy rather than giving the audience a knowing wink. The entire Twilight Saga must receive some kind of erotic gratification from its broodiness if after five films it just can’t relax and have some fun.
The movie also doesn’t understand what makes for an exciting protagonist. Twilight’s vampires are more like superheroes than the classic Dracula. Each character has a unique power—elemental control, telepathy, electric bursts—to accompany the super strength and speed given to all the creatures of the shade (sunlight doesn’t harm them, only makes them sparkle). However, after waiting so long for Bella to become super, her empowerment is backhanded. She can only block other vampires’ more impressive talents. The result is a heroine, already scorned by feminists for being too passive, who mostly stands around projecting invisible forcefields instead of bloodying her fangs in the climactic battle versus the Volturi.
This battle becomes an orgasm of severed heads that somehow maintains a PG-13 rating. The story takes some risks by having major characters decapitated. While the action is merely adequate, there is a certain pleasure with its excess. Or at least there is until the script decides it isn’t that kind of movie. Even these most exciting moments are positioned as safe, unfulfilling fantasies.
There is little gratification to be had as the film frustratingly embodies the franchise’s abstinence subtext. The non-recommendable Breaking Dawn – Part 2 refuses to penetrate the deeper desires of those who committed to the saga.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and other formats March 2, 2013.
Argo screw yourself Oscars! My Total B.S. Guide to Losing Your Office Betting Pool
Though the time has come to join the fray on handicapping this Sunday’s Academy Awards, it must be stated right off the bat that my Oscar losing streak is almost as long as Martin Scorsese’s. I haven’t won a single betting pool for this show since I first anted up my piggy bank with family during the 1991 telecast (when I was dead certain that Bugsy would beat Silence of the Lambs for Best Picture).
Some years my Oscar hopes were dashed by an unpredictable dark horse – Marissa Tomei’s surprise My Cousin Vinny win or Shakespeare in Love besting shoo-in Saving Private Ryan. For sweep years like Titanic, where every participant had the same picks, it all came down to the lucky guesser of an obscure category like Best Documentary Short. And then sometimes I just get an idea in my head about what I think Academy members respect and become blind to reason. Just ask Arnie… he made $100 off me after I foolishly gambled on Burt Reynolds’ Boogie Nights performance trouncing Robin Williams’ Oscar-baiting work in Good Will Hunting. (In my defense, the man was coming off Flubber!)
So don’t take anything you’re about to read as a proven formula for predicting winners. My method is to break each of the 24 major categories into three possible outcomes: Losers (no need for these folks to prepare a speech… it just ain’t happening this year), Outliers (unlikely dark horses that could sneak out a win), and The Real Race (those that have the best shot at the Gold Guy). I’m usually pretty good at this stuff. It’s when I have to narrow the field to one Winner that I choke. My tendency is to use my head and not my heart – I never think my personal favorites are going to be victorious. It’s the person who throws out cynical ideas about the Academy’s tastes, and banks on the undeniable appeal of some movie or performance that doesn’t have frontrunner status, who usually takes home the winnings.
Academy members’ tastes may be a bit stodgy – they tend to shun works that are too artsy, gutsy, or violent. And they hate giving Spielberg anything that isn’t connected to WWII. But that may all change this weekend. The history of the Oscars is not the history of the best films ever made, but it is a compelling Hollywood self-portrait that always has the potential to surprise and delight. And if Scorsese now has a statue, maybe this is the year where I turn my fortune around. Here’s hoping the 2013 Winners are….
Best Picture
Losers: Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild & Django Unchained
Outliers: Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook & Zero Dark 30
The Real Race: Argo vs. Lincoln
The Winner: Argo is a crowd pleasing, multi-award winning celebration of Hollywood saving the Iranian hostages. How could Tinseltown resist?
Best Director:
Losers: Ben Zeitlin (Beasts Of The Southern Wild)
Outliers: David O Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) & Michael Haneke (Amour)
The Real Race: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) vs Ang Lee (Life of Pi)
The Winner: Spielberg. But Ben Affleck would easily take any of these names if he were on the ballot
Best Actor:
Losers: Everyone else
The Winner: Daniel Day Lewis. This is the only race I’d bet $100 on.
Best Actress:
Losers: Naomi Watts (The Impossible) & the little girl with the unpronounceable name from Beasts of the Southern Wild
Outlier: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty)
The Real Race: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) vs. Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)
The Winner: Lawrence had a big year with this and Hunger Games. Plus Silver Linings probably won’t win anything else.
Best Supporting Actor:
Losers: Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master) & Alan Arkin (Argo)
Outlier: Christoph Waltz (Django)
The Real Race: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) vs. Robert DeNiro (Silver Linings Playbook)
The Winner: Jones stole scenes from Daniel Day Lewis.
Best Supporting Actress:
Losers: Amy Adams (The Master), Helen Hunt (The Sessions), & Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook)
The Real Race: Anne Hathaway vs. Sally Field
The Winner: Hathaway. Ask Jennifer Hudson if one big song can get you this statue. Plus Sally already has two of these.
Best Original Script:
Losers: Moonrise Kingdom & Flight
Outlier: Amour
The Real Race: Django Unchained vs. Zero Dark 30
The Winner: Zero Dark 30. As controversial as the torture was in this film, it pales next to Q’s irreverent slant on slavery.
Best Adapted Script:
Losers: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Outliers: Silver Linings Playbook & Life of Pi
The Real Race: Argo vs Lincoln
The Winner: Lincoln. Both movies fudged history to contrive drama… but Tony Kushner had the harder job because there were no firsthand accounts to model.
Best Editing:
Losers: Life of Pi & Silver Linings Playbook
Outlier: Lincoln
The Real Race: Argo vs Zero Dark 30
The Winner: Argo. The Best Picture winner typically takes this trophy.
Best Cinematography
Losers: Anna Karenina & Django Unchained
Outlier: Lincoln
The Real Race: Life of Pi vs. Skyfall
The Winner: Skyfall. Roger Deakins must win one year… and this may be his best looking film.
Best Production Design
Outlier: Hobbit
The Real Race: Anna Karenina vs. Lincoln vs. Les Miz vs. Life of Pi
The Winner: Lincoln. This category is really up for grabs, but I’ll go with the film with the most nominations.
Best Costumes
Losers: Snow White and the Huntsman & Mirror, Mirror
Outlier: Lincoln
The Real Race: Anna Karenina vs. Les Miz
The Winner: Les Miz. All I know is that Snow White will be going home empty handed.
Best Make-Up
Loser: Les Miz (I couldn’t stand looking at all those rotten teeth and wigs in close up!)
Outlier: Hitchcock
Winner: Hobbit
Best Visual Effects
Loser: Snow White And The Huntsman
Outlier: Prometheus
The Real Race: The Avengers vs. The Hobbit vs. Life of Pi
The Winner: Life of Pi. All deserve it, but Pi’s SFX were pivotal to the drama.
Best Sound Editing:
Outliers: Argo, Django Unchained, Life of Pi
The Real Race: Skyfall vs Zero Dark 30 (lot of noises in this one)
The Winner: Skyfall. I’m feeling like this will be 007’s year to get 004 Oscars.
Best Sound Mixing
Outliers: Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln
The Real Race: Skyfall vs. Les Miz (they did the singing live on set)
The Winner: Skyfall. If it wins one sound award, it will win the other.
Best Score
Losers: Anna Karenina & Skyfall
Outlier: Argo
The Real Race: Lincoln vs Life of Pi
The Winner: Life of Pi. John Williams doesn’t have shelf space to display another Oscar.
Best Song
Loser: Chasing Ice
Outliers: Life of Pi & Ted (hey, Seth is hosting. He’d have an opportunity to stuff the ballot)
The Real Race: Skyfall vs. Les Miz
The Winner: Skyfall. Adele is nearly unstoppable.
Best Animated Feature
Loser: The Pirates!
Outliers: Frankenweinie & Para-Norman
The Real Race: Brave vs. Wreck-It Ralph
The Winner: Wreck-It Ralph. Didn’t see any of them. Pixar usually wins, but Ralph nabbed the Annie.
Best Animated Short
Loser: Fresh Guacamole
Outliers: Head over Heels & The Longest Daycare (could the Simpsons ever win an Oscar?)
The Real Race: Adam and Dog vs Paperman
The Winner: Paperman. It won the Annie
Best Live Action Short
Losers: Buzkashi Boys & Henry
Outlier: Asad
The Real Race: Curfew vs. Death of a Shadow
The Winner: Curfew. I’ll be honest… I Googled a bunch of other Oscar handicappers and this was consistently voted the best.
Best Foreign Language Film
Loser: A Royal Affair & War Witch
Outliers: Kon Tiki & No
The Winner: Amour. If it’s up for Best Picture, winning this category should be a ake walk.
Best Documentary Feature
Loser: 5 Broken Cameras
Outliers: How To Survive A Plague & Invisible War
The Real Race: The Gatekeepers vs Searching For Sugar Man
The Winner: Gatekeepers. Sugar Man is the sentimental favorite… but docs tend to win for subject matter. Gatekeepers’ provocative interviews about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict widen more eyes.
Best Documentary Short
I NEVER know what wins in this category. Let’s make a guess based on the subject matter:
Rwandan children getting heart surgery (Open Heart) beats homeless Mexican teen (Inocente) beats women with cancer at a hair salon (Mondays at Racine) beats senior citizens retired in Florida (Kings Point) beats people who recycle bottles and cans (Redemption).
The Winner: Open Heart. Are you really going to deny sick African kids an Oscar?!!!
New Podcast: Issue 71: Toy Fair 2013 Part 3 – Statues, Toys & More!
While Hasbro is the core of many Marvel toy collectors, there was much shown at Toy Fair 2013 for fans of LEGO, high end statues, Diamond Select figures and Mini Mates to be happy about! Previewing the products that will consume your wish list in 2013, Marjorie and Arnie bring you reports recorded live from the floor of Toy Fair, including exclusive interviews with Uncle Milton, Kotobukiya, and more!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT071.MP3
Category: Arts
Movie Review: The Package
There is nothing good inside this Package
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| The Package | |
| Starring | Steve Austin, Dolph Lundgren, Michael Daingerfield, Darren Shahlavi |
| Director: | Jesse V. Johnson |
| Writer: | Derek Kolstad |
| Studio: | Anchor Bay Entertainment |
| Release Date: | February 9, 2013 |
I knew what to expect from Anchor Bay’s The Package. Any film starring Steve Austin (no longer Stone Cold) and Dolph Lundgren is not going to have touching character moments, powerful acting performances, a gripping story, or eye-popping special effects. These types of movies exist to deliver some base thrills with lots of bone-crunching fights and explosive gunfire. But even viewers with those low expectations will leave disappointed in this adrenaline-free shoot-em-up.
The very loose plot of The Package is a rip-off of Jason Statham’s successful Transporter films. Austin plays a mob enforcer tasked with delivering a small package of high importance to The German (Lundgren). Along the way a squad of goons tries to stop Austin in the hopes of ransoming the package to The German for a higher price. The goons just hope to make some money, but as no one knows the contents of the package the goons have no stakes in successfully stealing it from Austin. This makes all the gunfire and fistfights a mere stalling tactic, dragging this film to feature-length.
Unfortunately, the fights are not even entertaining. Directed by veteran Hollywood stuntman Jesse V. Johnson (Starship Troopers, Thor), this film proves just because you can do stunts doesn’t mean you can direct them. The gunfights are loud but uninventive, and the hand-to-hand brawls are all shot with the close-up, choppy, shaky-cam effect that was passé a decade ago. None of the fights even come close to the outrageous WWE matches of Austin’s past.
The movie hits the depths of stupidity when Austin battles one goon in a construction zone. In the background, atop scaffolding, stand two welders going about their work. The light of their arc welder provides a cool strobe-light effect and delivers the only impressive visual in the movie. Despite two large men engaging in mortal combat mere inches from their work area, the teamsters work doesn’t stop. Their torch never turns off, even though a body colliding with their scaffold would likely jolt the machine and scar the workers for life.
If the welders don’t care, why should I?
The high point in this movie is The German. Lundgren plays this mysterious bad-ass for humor. Obsessed with culinary delights, The German regales his victims with recipes for fish sandwiches, fruit smoothies, and martinis. While even in his heyday Lundgren was never one for emoting on-screen, here the aging tough-guy has a subdued sense of playfulness that makes me wish he was given more to do.
Despite the movie saying Lundgren and Austin were on the same side, audience demand the two stars face off, and sure enough they do. This climactic battle between these two action stars should be the most spectacular and memorable fight in the film. Unfortunately, the battle is over in moments, and pales in comparison to some earlier in the film.
Even the most undiscerning action film fan will be disappointed in The Package. It’s an action movie that lacks punch and punches. Not recommend.
New Podcast: A Good Day to Die Hard
25 years ago Bruce Willis delivered his career-making performance as John McClane in the original Die Hard. To celebrate this milestone, John McClane is back, once again showing terrorists that McClanes are hard to kill as he teams with his son to fight Russian terrorists. Is this film a good day for Die Hard? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH06.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 382: Toy Fair 2013 Part 3 – From the Toy Fair Floor
While Hasbro has held the biggest focus coming out of Toy Fair 2013, there were plenty of other companies presenting and revealing new Star Wars items for 2013. On this episode of Star Wars Action News, Marjorie and Arnie report on all the rest, from Kotobukiya with their lines of statues and Bishoujos to Uncle Milton’s science-based Star Wars items, from Fantasy Flight Games with their Star Wars card, mini, and role-playing games to Diamond Select with their bust banks. Plus LEGO with a slew of new sets for all price ranges! Hear it all in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!Then when you’re done listening, let us know your thoughts! Leave us a voicemail at 415-508-JEDI or send an MP3 to show@swactionnews.com so we can record your reaction to all the Star Wars Toy Fair collecting news!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN382.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Issue 70: Toy Fair 2013 Part 2 – Hasbro Marvel Brand Presentation
Hasbro had lots of news and reveals for Marvel collectors at this year’s Toy Fair 2013. Several new waves of Marvel Universe and Marvel Legends figures, figure lines typing into the releases of Iron Man 3, The Wolverine, and Thor 2, toys for the animated Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man cartoons, and more!But you’ve heard Justin, Marjorie & Arnie’s thoughts, now hear from Hasbro themselves as we present their entire Marvel Brand Fan Media presentation! Then when you’re done listening, let us know your thoughts! Leave us a voicemail at 803-MARVEL4 or send an MP3 to show@marvelicious.com so we can record your reaction to all the Star Wars Toy Fair collecting news!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT070.MP3
Category: Arts
Movie Review: Side Effects
A potent final dose of Soderbergh magic
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| Side Effects | |
| Starring | Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum |
| Director: | Steven Soderbergh |
| Writer: | Scott Z Burns |
| Studio: | Endgame Entertainment |
| Release Date: | February 8, 2013 |
Steven Soderbergh, exhausted from shooting twenty-seven features in twenty-four years, recently announced he’s retiring from moviemaking, and that new medical thriller Side Effects will be his last theatrical effort. I hope he’s pulling our leg. It’s been a joy to watch the unpredictable 50-year-old filmmaker hone his craft – bouncing from big Hollywood projects with star-heavy casts (Ocean’s Eleven, Out of Sight) to modestly budgeted indie experiments anchored by untraditional leads (Bubble, The Girlfriend Experience). Side Effects finds Soderbergh ending his career where he started it – using video to package sex, lies, and headshrinkers into provocative entertainment.
The screenplay, written by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion), asks a prescient question of our overly-medicated age – can pills, or the people who push them, be rightfully accused of murder. Jude Law stars as Dr. Jonathan Banks, a Manhattan psychiatrist who prescribes Ablixa to his suicidal patient Emily (Rooney Mara) to help her stay strong for a husband (Channing Tatum) recently sprung from jail. Emily initially shows mood improvement, but then commits a senseless act of violence while sleepwalking under the influence of the wonder drug. Now prosecutors must decide if she deserves to go to prison for a crime she did not consciously commit, or if blame can be shifted to a reckless shrink who valued drug company kickbacks over his patients’ mental health.
Side Effects is at its best during this first half debate, where the audience is asked to parse out the truth from morally ambiguous behavior. It’s fun to speculate whether Banks’ interest in Emily is strictly professional when he prioritizes sessions with the damaged beauty over spending time with his wife and stepson. Our bias that he was blinded by love only grows stronger when accusations resurface that he slept with a former patient. Law and Mara have excellent poker faces, and Soderbergh knows exactly when to duck out of their scenes together to keep audiences guessing their true feelings.
The filmmaker’s need to flip the script on the conventions of psychological thrillers, and deliver a culprit that isn’t a stereotypical mad doctor misogynist, leads to an improbable climax far removed from the initial promise of a hard-hitting pharmaceutical industry expose. Yet it’s a credit to Soderbergh’s skills as a storyteller and director of quality actors that he’s able to give the lurid conspiracy of his broadly drawn villains its own wonky appeal. Viewers who understand that what they’re consuming is strictly meant for recreational use, and doesn’t achieve the scope of a drug epic like Traffic, will likely be satisfied with the contact high they get off this better-than-average B-movie.
Side Effects, despite a few adverse reactions to the ending, is a Solid Recommend, and a reminder that Soderbergh can work miracles when treating familiar genre material with his intelligent cinematic approach. Here’s hoping the self-prescribed bed rest will cure the filmmaker of his fatigue, and inspire him to return to making more eclectic entertainment in the not-so-distant future.
New Podcast: Episode 381: Toy Fair 2013 Part 2 – Hasbro Star Wars Brand Presentation
Collector response to Hasbro’s reveals at Toy Fair 2013 were widely varied. Many collectors expressed disappointment at the reduced articulation in many of the figures, the cancellation of the Clone Wars animated figure style, and the reduction in the number of figures being released. Other collectors celebrated the high articulation found in the Black Series 3.75-inch figures, as well as the brand new line of 6-inch figures coming from Hasbro. But you’ve heard Marjorie & Arnie’s thoughts, now hear from Hasbro themselves as we present their entire Star Wars Brand Fan Media presentation! Hear as they discuss the overseas popularity of 12-inch figures, as well as the big reveal of the Star Wars 6-inch Black Series figures!Then when you’re done listening, let us know your thoughts! Leave us a voicemail at 415-508-JEDI or send an MP3 to show@swactionnews.com so we can record your reaction to all the Star Wars Toy Fair collecting news!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN381.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Live Free or Die Hard
It had been over a decade since Bruce Willis last played gruff, resilient New York cop John McClane and most fans thought the series finished. But in 2007 it was time for McClane to return to Live Free or Die Hard. Teamed with a computer hacker played by Justin Long, does McClane still have what it takes to stop a cyber-terrorist attack and save his daughter? And is a much older Willis still able to Die Hard? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH05.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 380: Toy Fair 2013 Part 1 – Hasbro
Toy Fair 2013 is here and Star Wars Action News is your podcast source for Star Wars collecting news coverage! On this podcast, Marjorie and Arnie recap and review the Hasbro Fan Media presentation. From the Black Series 6-inch and 3.75-inch collector oriented figures to the new 5 points of articulation sporting Saga Legends figures, Angry Birds, Fighter Pods, and more. Forget the rumors you’ve heard, on this podcast you’ll hear first hand reactions to seeing the new 2013 product, as well as behind-the-scenes information such as how many 3.75-inch Black Series figures are scheduled for 2013, how The Phantom Menace 3-D hurt Star Wars collectors, and the status of the Vintage boxed Endor AT-AT in the states. All this and more in the first part of Star Wars Action News’ 2013 Toy Fair Coverage!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN380.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Issue 69: Toy Fair 2013 Part 1 – Hasbro
Toy Fair 2013 is here and Marvelicious Toys is your podcast source for Marvel comics collecting news coverage! On this podcast, Justin, Marjorie and Arnie recap and review the Hasbro Fan Media presentation. From the Marvel Legends, Marvel Universe, Ultimate Spider-Man, Wolverine, Avengers Assemble, Thor 2, Fighter Pods, Micro Muggs, and more. Listen in for some astonishing news of X-Men figures to come, a run-down on new figures, and Hasbro’s plans for all three Marvel comics based films this year! With an exclusive interview with a member of Hasbro’s Marvel brand team, it’s all this and more in the first part of Marvelicious Toys’ 2013 Toy Fair Coverage!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT069.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Issue 68: Would You Like To Touch My Hit Monkey?
It’s not in stores, but the first new Marvel Legends figures of 2013 have been shipping from online vendors. Now Marvelicious Toys host Justin has the wave in hand, and he joins Marjorie and Arnie to review the six new figures in this wave, as well as the smallest build-a-figure yet–Hit Monkey! Listen to this week’s podcast to find out which variants are shipping first, and if this is a wave worth ordering.
Also on this week’s podcast, as the hosts await the new toy news coming out of this weekend’s Toy Fair they scour the web to find some of the oddest Marvel collectibles online.
With a chance to win a Diamond Select Barbarian Hulk figure and more, it’s all in this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT068.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Die Hard with a Vengeance
John McClane is back, and for his third film he’s going to Die Hard with a Vengeance. He’s been called back into action by a mysterious terrorist with ties to McClane’s past. Partnered with Zeus, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and once again directed by John McTiernan, can this be the best Die Hard yet? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH04.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 379: Back in Black
Marjorie and Arnie are back, in black with the new Black Series of Star Wars figures coming from Hasbro! On this week’s podcast, the hosts of Star Wars Action News discuss Hasbro’s reveal of new, collector-oriented, highly articulated 6-inch Star Wars figures. Is this a lightspeed jump for figure collectors, or a desperate retread? Listen to find out their opinions!
With a discussion on JJ Abrams directing Episode VII, the “postponing” of the 3-D converted Episode II and III films, and Johnathan bringing a report from the Gurnee toy show, it’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN379.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Movie Review: The Watch
Men in Black it isn’t.
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| The Watch | |
| Starring | Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade |
| Director: | Akiva Schaffer |
| Writer: | Jared Stern, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg |
| Studio: | 20th Century Fox |
| Release Date: | July 27, 2012 |
When Evan’s (Stiller) co-worker is found dead, Evan responds the only way he can–by forming a Neighborhood Watch group to find the killer. Joined by high school dropout and failed police candidate Franklin (Hill), British horndog Jamarcus (Ayoade), and party-guy construction worker Bob (Vaughn) the foursome uncover an invasion plot by extra terrestrials that threatens their small Ohio town.
As a fan of the three of the four stars (I’d not heard of Ayoade before this film) I ignored the word of mouth on The Watch and gave it a try. The Vaughn/Stiller team-up led to big laughs in Dodgeball and I hoped for a similar experience here. Surely enough, neither actor strays far from their wheelhouse–how often have we seen Stiller play a neurotic, pent-up suburbanite who can’t tell his loved ones about a personal failure? And once again Vaughn is playing the carefree party-guy who both parties like a college student and yet is also a devoted family man. These actors have had huge successes playing these exact characters, and they play it safe here. It’s a smart choice–all the film’s laughs come from these two characters and their opposing view of the group.
The other two Watch members are not as amusing. Hill once again plays a somewhat socially awkward sidekick. It worked for him well in Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but it was disappointing to see him again playing the same character. All of Franklin’s dialogue has an ad-libbed feel that would work in any film Hill has appeared, and becomes less funny and more sad every time I see it. Avoade’s Jamarcus makes little impression as a British divorce. His character is important to the plot, but Avoade never escapes the shadow of his more famous co-stars.
The result is a highly uneven film. While ostensibly about an alien invasion, the first two-thirds of the film are really about these characters and their interactions. We also see Evan and Bob having trouble with the women in their lives, Evan’s marriage strained, Bob’s daughter partying too hard with a boy in school. These parts of the film are full of raunchy laughs and hard-R rated dick jokes, several of which were laugh-out-loud funny.
But when the film finally has to turn to the overarching plot it fails completely. It was a mistake to make this film about an alien invasion; the film has neither the budget nor the inclination to tell a good story about evil E.T.s. The film’s entire third act when the invasion comes to the fore is a painful exercise in banality.
Overall I give this film a mild not recommend. There are laughs to be had in this movie, but the three leads have all had bigger laughs in better films, and only Stiller and Vaughn die-hards need to Watch this for the few funny moments.
New Podcast: 58 Minutes by Walter Wager
The original Die Hard movie was based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. But as Thorp’s novel had no sequel, 20th Century Fox had no road map for where to take John McClane in the sequel Die Hard 2. Instead, the studio and screenwriters took Walter Wager’s 1987 novel 58 Minutes about an NYPD officer who has to fight off terrorists at JFK airport. What other changes are there between the book and the film, and is the book worth your time? Spend 14 minutes listening to Stuart’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN059-DieHard3-58Minutes.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
58 Minutes by Walter Wager
The original Die Hard movie was based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. But as Thorp’s novel had no sequel, 20th Century Fox had no road map for where to take John McClane in the sequel Die Hard 2. Instead, the studio and screenwriters took Walter Wager’s 1987 novel 58 Minutes about an NYPD officer who has to fight off terrorists at JFK airport. What other changes are there between the book and the film, and is the book worth your time? Spend 14 minutes listening to Stuart’s review to find out!
Source: Books and Nachos
New Podcast: Issue 67: Official Bootleg
New York Toy Fair, where toy makers reveal their 2013 products to wholesale buyers and press alike, is just a week away. But over the past week, due to Toy Fair in the UK, Marvel toy makers of all types have announced their 2013 plans. From Hasbro to Hot Toys to Diamond to totally new companies entering the Marvel market. Die cast figures, statues in every scale, four inch figures, six inch figures, eight inch figures, twelve inch figures, and so much more, and on this week’s Marvelicious Toys we try to make sense of all the exciting new collectibles coming in 2013!
But while there are new high end products coming in many scales, the announcements from Hasbro have been met with a more tepid response from adult Marvel collectors. It seems Hasbro is focusing on play features and low cost rather than articulation, paint apps, and sculpts. Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie review all the news for the Hasbro 3.75-inch and 6-inch lines and discuss the future of Hasbro and Marvel collectors.
With a chance to win a Diamond Select Barbarian Hulk figure and so much more, it’s all in this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT067.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Die Hard 2: Die Harder
When Die Hard blew up both Nakatomi Plaza and the box office a sequel was fast-tracked and released in 1990. Attempting to top the action and excitement of the original, 20th Century Fox chose a script based on the original novel 58 Minutes and put the film in the hands of director Renny Harlin. Set in an airport with John fighting another group of terrorists, does Die Hard 2 fly as high as the original, or did it all come crashing down? Listen to Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH03.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp
Die Hard is based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. The novel was a sequel to The Detective, and starred an old police detective named Joe Leland. The movie made the hero younger and changed his name to John McClane. What other changes are there between the book and the film, and is the book worth a read? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN058-DieHard2-NothingLastsForever.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
New Podcast: Die Hard
Its title became short-hand for an action movie template that would be followed for a decade. It propelled star Bruce Willis to superstardom, making him never need to work in television again. It brought joy, and Ode to Joy, to millions of fans. It is the original 1988 action film Die Hard. As we ramp up for the fifth installment in Bruce Willis’ most famous franchise, can Die Hard hold up 25 years later? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH02.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 378: I’m a Shadow Boxer, Baby
For many collectors the question is not “do I buy it” but “how do I display it after it’s bought”. Those who follow Star Wars Action News on Facebook and Twitter have seen Jerry share some of his unique, inventive ways of displaying vintage Kenner dioramas, and now Jerry shares his methods with you on the podcast! If you want to hear a new method to display your Star Wars toys, this is a show not to miss!
Also this week, the gang’s all here! Nathan joins Arnie to look at Dark Horse’s Star Wars #1, Brock reviews Timothy Zahn’s novel scoundrels, and Johnathan and Steve share their latest Star Wars toy finds in the US and the UK. All this and more in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN378.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
Movie Review: Officer Down
A tight neo-noir thriller with an amazing cast.
Review Copy provided to Now Playing courtesy of Anchor Bay films
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| Officer Down | |
| Starring | Stephen Dorff, James Woods, Walton Goggins, AnnaLynne McCord, Dominic Purcell, David Boreanaz, Laura Harris, Elisabeth Röhm |
| Director: | Brian A. Miler |
| Writer: | John Chase |
| Studio: | Anchor Bay Films |
| Release Date: | January 22, 2013 |
Detective David Callahan was a dirty cop. He took payoffs from criminals, abused alcohol and drugs, and cheated on his wife with prostitutes. But when a drug deal goes bad and Callahan is shot and given a chance at redemption. Declared a hero by the community, Callahan cleans up. But two years later when the man who saved his life that night shows up and asks a favor, Callahan must return to the seedy underworld he once inhabited to stop a sexual predator called “The Angel” (Goggins). But nothing is as it seems, and Callahan’s past will return to haunt him as he tries to find the line between doing what is right and slipping back into the habits of the man he once was.
As Callahan, Dorff (Blade, Feardotcom) portrays a likeable, layered character. For the story to work Callahan must be a likable character that the audience can root for in spite of his dirty deeds, and Dorff brings the right mix of bad-boy and earnest cop to the role. You believe he is wanting, and deserving, redemption for his sins, and his personal downward spiral is the center of the film. The story’s framing structure of flashbacks-within-a-flashback reveal key plot points to the viewer in a way that allows claustrophobia to build as the walls close in around Callahan. While at first a disorienting storytelling structure, as the film hits its rhythm this technique is used to maximum effect, and repeatedly pulls the rug out from under the viewer.
This is a neo-noir thriller, full of twists and turns in the style of Body Heat or Against All Odds, even casting the latter film’s star Woods at the role of Callahan’s complicit police captain. The film style, including several scenes in black-and-white, enhance the noir style as well. Once I realized this film was a deep mystery, and not a straightforward dirty-cop drama, I was engaged and found myself rooting for Callahan and wondering what insurmountable obstacle would step in his way next. But the script by Chase kept me guessing, and even as the film’s final act started the script still had ways to surprise me.
The script is aided by a cast of name actors, mostly from television work. Several Law & Order alums are in supporting roles, as well as two stars of Angel. The budget of this film was well spent on capable actors. But despite being recognizable faces, most of the cast is kept to the background with only Dorff, and to a lesser degree Goggins (Predators, House of 1000 Corpses) being given a chance to make a lasting impression. In the role of a dirty strip club owner is Purcell (Prison Break, Blade: Trinity) and I can’t help but wonder if Purcell and Dorff spent time on set sharing Wesley Snipes war stories. But if so, none of that levity made it to screen as the dark, suspenseful atmosphere of Officer Down is never broken.
Full of impressive camerawork, including some nice aerial establishing shots of the film’s Bridgeport, CT locale, every piece of this film comes together better than your average direct-to-video fare.
Title cards that end the film feel tacked on for audiences that hate ambiguity, but other than that one element every part of this film clicks. For fans of character-driven suspense I recommend Officer Down, available Tuesday, January 22 from Anchor Bay home video.
New Podcast: The Detective by Roderick Thorp
Die Hard is based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. But Nothing Lasts Forever was itself a sequel to The Detective, a story of a police detective in the 1960s. That detective is Joe Leland, who would take his place in cinema history once renamed John McClane. Now our own reviewer Stuart investigates the literary history of the action movie character. Does he detect a good novel? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.booksandnachos.com/Podcasts/BN057-DieHard1-TheDetective.mp3
Category: Arts & Literature
New Podcast: Issue 66: Iron Man 3 — Fall of Armor
While still five months away, Iron Man 3 promotion has begun in the toy store aisle. Hasbro’s 10-inch and 15-inch figures have started to show up at Toys R Us, but what collectors really wonder about is the upcoming 3.75-inch line of figures. While Hasbro is keeping mum until Toy Fair in February, Marvelicious Toys has gotten three of the upcoming figures! The Iron Man Mark 47, War Machine, and Iron Patriot War Machine are reviewed in this issue of Marvelicious Toys!
Also on this week’s show, Justin, Marjorie, and Arnie review two SMASH-ing figures from Diamond Select, the Unleashed Hulk and Barbarian Hulk figures. How do these two figures compare, and which parts are reused from figure to figure? Listen as the Marvelicious Toys podcast hosts give a detailed review.
Plus YOU CAN WIN a Barbarian Hulk from Marvelicious Toys and Diamond Select! Listen to find out how. All this and more in this week’s issue of the Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT066.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: The Detective
A homosexual socialite is murdered and dismembered, and it’s up to hard-boiled police Detective Joe Leland to figure it out! But there’s more to this case than meets the eye, and events will be set in motion that reveal a conspiracy among New York City’s elite that Leland can only stop at the cost of his own career. With Frank Sinatra in the lead role, The Detective is a racy drama…but what does it have to do with Die Hard? And is the movie worth checking out? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPDH01.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 377: Read My Lips, No New Figures
Star Wars Action News is back with its first show of 2013. Join hosts Marjorie and Arnie as they discuss the big news revealed by Hasbro last week–the Droid Factory line of figures, slated for early 2013, has been cancelled. Where does this leave action figure collectors, and what will the long-term impact be to the line? Listen to find out their thoughts!
But despite no Droid Factory figures, new Star Wars toys are available online and in stores. In this week’s podcast Marjorie and Arnie review the four new mini-rig vehicles released by Hasbro for 2013, the 501st Legion Attack Dropship, the MTT Droid Fighter, the 501st Legion AT-RT, and Yoda’s Jedi Attack Fighter. Now coming with two figures, and a higher price point, listen to find out if you should hunt these for your collection.
With a Jar-Jar-tastic Christmas haul, a new Sideshow 1/6 scale figure, and much more, it’s all in this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN377.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Issue 65: Buy Less Trash
It’s a new year and Marvelicious Toys is back looking forward to all the new toys that are coming! From the Hit Monkey wave of Marvel Legends, the Angel wave of Marvel Universe, and even Iron Man 3 figures, join Marjorie, Arnie, and Justin as they reveal their collecting resolutions of the new year, and review new additions to each of their Marvel collections obtained over the holidays! With new preorders from Sideshow, Hot Toys, and more, it’s all on this week’s Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT065.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Texas Chainsaw 3D
After Platinum Dunes recovered Leatherface from direct-to-video hell, they relinquished their rights to the franchise, so Twisted Pictures and Lions Gate Entertainment stepped in to take the series back to its grindhouse roots. Ignoring all Texas Chainsaw films except the original, this new 3-D film picks up right where the first ended, and then fast forwards to present day. Is this the sequel Tobe Hooper’s classic has always deserved, or another waste of gas? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPTCM07.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
Author Peter David Has Stroke, Needs Help
Peter David is one of my favorite authors. While he has not done much Star Wars (he did write the one-off comic “Skippy the Jedi Droid”) I started reading his Star Trek novels when I was 13, his Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man comics after that, and have followed his career closely. I have reviewed several of his novels as part of Marvelicious Toys as well, and will have a review shortly for Books & Nachos of others.
Most of all, on my birthday last year on a whim he followed a Twitter request I jokingly made and Tweet-wrote a Star Trek Dr. Seuss story “Horta Hears a Q” (to later be published on this site when I get the requested cover art). I can’t remember a better birthday surprise.
Early this week I found out he had a stroke while on vacation with his family, including his 10-year-old daughter, at Disney World in Florida. For those interested in the details, David’s wife Kathleen has posted daily updates on Peter’s blog.
David is now in a Florida hospital as they continue to monitor his situation and plan a strategy for when he can return home to New York and begin rehabilitation. However, despite being insured, the medical bills are already starting to mount and David’s family has a long and expensive journey ahead of them.
Like many fans, I have wondered what could be done to help with this. Today Kathleen posted how Peter’s fans can help, and get some great reading material in the process. In addition to all his licensed works, David has written original fiction for Crazy-8 Press. They are available through Amazon either as Kindle books or Print On Demand paper copies.
If you ever liked Incredible Hulk, X-Factor, his Star Trek novels, or some of his other great works please consider picking up a few of the books listed in the blog post.
As a fan of David’s, I already owned some of the books listed, but have now purchased the rest and shall be posting reviews at the Books & Nachos podcast to help spread the word about David’s novels.
We wish David an easy and speedy recovery.
New Podcast: New Year’s Evil
In Los Angeles, a man calling himself “Evil” has a novel way to celebrate the coming of a new year–killing a woman every hour as a new time zone enters 1981! In New Year’s Evil we follow the man as he rings in the year, and harasses TV host Blaze in between. Should you resolve to see this movie, or is this a slasher best forgot and never brought to mind? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Marjorie’s review to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPP037NYE.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 376: 2012 Year In Review Part III: Expanded Universe, High End, and Best of the Year!
In addition to all the toys collectors added to their shelves this year, it’s been an amazing year for Star Wars expanded universe fans! From a return to the X-Wing book series to the conclusion of the Fate of the Jedi series, books from the Old Republic to the New Republic, comics, Clone Wars, and so much more it was an expansive year for Star Wars fans. In this week’s Star Wars Action News, Nathan and Brock reflect on the year in Star Wars Expanded Universe, then the rest of the crew weigh in with their favorites. With high-end collecting in 2012, and their favorite collectibles of the year, it’s all in the last Star Wars Action News podcast of the year!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN376.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Year’s Evil
In Los Angeles, a man calling himself “Evil” has a novel way to celebrate the coming of a new year–killing a woman every hour as a new time zone enters 1981! In New Year’s Evil we follow the man as he rings in the year, and harasses TV host Blaze in between. Should you resolve to see this movie, or is this a slasher best forgot and never brought to mind? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Marjorie’s review to find out!
Arnie C: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPP035NYE.MP3
New Podcast: Issue 64: Toys of Future Past 2012 Part 2–The Comic Toys
It’s been a tremendous year for Marvel fans and collectors. Marvel Legends returned in a big way, Marvel Universe continued to fill out the ranks of Marvel heroes and villains, and Avengers came out and was a movie that actually lived up to the hype.
In this issue of Marvelicious Toys, join Marjorie, Arnie, and Justin, as well as Marvel collectors Geof, Jayson, Jerry, and Dan Curto in this second part of the 2012 year in review as they look back at the comic based Marvel Universe and Marvel Legends figures of 2012 as well as the high end collectibles that made a dent in their wallet this year!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT064.MP3
Category: Arts
New Podcast: Silent Night
Just in time for the holiday season, genre film studio Anchor Bay released a remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night! Only loosely based on the original, and titled simply Silent Night, the new version brings star power before unseen in the franchise, with Malcolm McDowell, Donal Logue, and Jamie King starring in the film about a psychotic Santa who kills those who are naughty. Is this modern version of Silent Night a Christmas treat, or another lump of coal left in the Christmas stocking? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSNDN6.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Episode 375: 2012 Year In Review Part II: Hasbro and Toys
For Star Wars toy collectors 2012 has been exciting and frustrating in equal measure. Some of the best figures in the history of Star Wars were released, but most collectors had trouble finding them. Astromech fans had a dream come true with Disneyworld offering build-a-droid sets, and the frenzy for parts left many little droids without a third leg or a hat. Taking in all that was Star Wars toy collecting in 2012, Marjorie and Arnie are joined by other collectors reflecting on 2012 in this week’s second part of the Star Wars Action News year in review!
Listen Now: http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN375.MP3
Category: Movies & Television
New Podcast: Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
The Silent Night, Deadly Night films have always been loose with continuity, but in Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker we see yet another exploration of Christmas evil when an angsty Pinocchio unleashes deadly toys upon an unsuspecting young boy. With outspoken Silent Night, Deadly Night hater Mickey Rooney playing a drunken Gepetto, does this film have more to it than delicious irony? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSNDN5.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
New Podcast: Issue 63: Toys of Future Past 2012 Part 1–The Movie Lines
It’s been a tremendous year for Marvel fans and collectors. Marvel Legends returned in a big way, Marvel Universe continued to fill out the ranks of Marvel heroes and villains, and Avengers came out and was a movie that actually lived up to the hype.
In this issue of Marvelicious Toys, join Marjorie, Arnie, and Justin, as well as Marvel collectors Geof, Jayson, Jerry, and Dan Curto in this first part of the 2012 year in review as they look back at the Marvel Movies of 2012 and the toys and collectibles that they brought!
Listen Now: http://www.marvelicioustoys.com/Podcasts/MT063.MP3
Category: Arts
Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation
After three films exploring the homicidal impulses of the Caldwell (or is it Chapman) family, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4 goes a different direction as a wannabe journalist investigates a case of spontaneous combustion in Los Angeles during Christmas season. Is a cult of Lilith worshipers a good replacement for a homicidal maniac, and is the Ricky played in this film by Clint Howard the same Ricky we’ve seen in the previous three films? Listen to find out!
Listen Now: http://www.nowplayingpodcast.com/Podcasts/NPPSNDN4.MP3
Category: Movies & Film
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