It's a movie trailer extravaganza today.
Here is the newest, and even more awesome, look at Ridley Scott's return to science fiction, PROMETHEUS. This movie has really and truly got my interest. Please, Sir Ridley, let this be on par with Alien and Blade Runner, if, you know, that's not too much to ask. (Trailer from collider.com.)
Producer Tim Burton teams with kinetic director Timur (Wanted, Night Watch, Day Watch) Bekmambetov on ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. Honest Abe drives stakes into the unbeating hearts of evil bloodsuckers. Looks like good, Karo syrup-tinged fun. (Trailer from AintItCool.com.)
From producer/co-writer Oren (Paranormal Activity, The River) Peli comes an interesting looking film called CHERNOBYL DIARIES, about extreme vacationers who visit the abandoned Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, near the site of the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. But they soon find all is not what it seems, and the city may not be as abandoned as they thought. Fun creepy, jump out of your seat times. (Trailer from collider.com.)
And finally, a totally whack-a-doo look at the new DARK SHADOWS. It appears that director Tim Burton is aping Barry (Addams Family) Sonnenfeld in this goofy 1970s-set comedy. Johnny Depp looks like he's wearing makeup! Seriously, wtf? (Trailer from collider.com.)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Seeing GREEN
For St. Patrick's Day today, ME-TV is airing a four hour marathon of episodes of The Green Hornet tv series from the 1960s.
Holy Clover, Batman! I have only ever seen Green Hornet and his trusty chauffeur/kung fu sidekick Kato (played by none other the legendary Bruce Lee himself!) on that "crossover" episode of the Adam West Batman series (both shows produced by William Dozier).
Batman was played campy, while the Green Hornet was played straight. So, for tonight only, it's move over Batmobile, make room for the Black Beauty.
Holy Clover, Batman! I have only ever seen Green Hornet and his trusty chauffeur/kung fu sidekick Kato (played by none other the legendary Bruce Lee himself!) on that "crossover" episode of the Adam West Batman series (both shows produced by William Dozier).
Batman was played campy, while the Green Hornet was played straight. So, for tonight only, it's move over Batmobile, make room for the Black Beauty.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Tonto Get Updated Look, Kemo Sabe
When Johnny Depp plays dress-up on film - the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland - the movies do ginormous box-office.
Get ready for another Depp blockbuster, because here's the first pic of him all made up as Tonto in the now filming Lone Ranger movie. (from Collider.com)
Depp famously channeled Keith Richards and Pepe LePew for the character of Jack Sparrow (sorry, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow). Since Tonto is the Lone Ranger's mentor, perhaps Depp will be inspired by famous egghead-leader-types, like Albert Einstein and Flavor Flav.
Get ready for another Depp blockbuster, because here's the first pic of him all made up as Tonto in the now filming Lone Ranger movie. (from Collider.com)
Depp famously channeled Keith Richards and Pepe LePew for the character of Jack Sparrow (sorry, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow). Since Tonto is the Lone Ranger's mentor, perhaps Depp will be inspired by famous egghead-leader-types, like Albert Einstein and Flavor Flav.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Ralph McQuarrie: 1929 - 2012
Ralph McQuarrie, the soft-spoken visionary designer/artist whose concept artwork for the original Star Wars sold that movie to the studio after the script was passed over time after time, has died. He was 82.
Star Wars was created by George Lucas, but his right arm was Mr. McQuarrie, who took Lucas's various concepts, notes and details and breathed life into them. Mr. McQuarrie's art showed that this weird world of Star Wars - a mishmash of pulp scifi, Flash Gordon, cowboy western and samurai film homages, comic books and more - could work. (Mr. McQuarrie put the helmet and faceplate on Darth Vader as he thought he would require a breathing apparatus to move between ships; Lucas liked the look and kept it. If Mr. McQuarrie hadn't thought of that, would Darth Vader had become the menacing, mechanical-breathing bad guy known the world over?)
Mr. McQuarrie also worked on Battlestar Galactica, Close Encounters, Star Trek (both pre-TMP and on ST IV), Cocoon, and E.T., among other films.
His was a talent that helped define a universe, and more. He will be sorely missed.
Here is a sampling of his work, from Aint It Cool News.
Star Wars was created by George Lucas, but his right arm was Mr. McQuarrie, who took Lucas's various concepts, notes and details and breathed life into them. Mr. McQuarrie's art showed that this weird world of Star Wars - a mishmash of pulp scifi, Flash Gordon, cowboy western and samurai film homages, comic books and more - could work. (Mr. McQuarrie put the helmet and faceplate on Darth Vader as he thought he would require a breathing apparatus to move between ships; Lucas liked the look and kept it. If Mr. McQuarrie hadn't thought of that, would Darth Vader had become the menacing, mechanical-breathing bad guy known the world over?)
Mr. McQuarrie also worked on Battlestar Galactica, Close Encounters, Star Trek (both pre-TMP and on ST IV), Cocoon, and E.T., among other films.
His was a talent that helped define a universe, and more. He will be sorely missed.
Here is a sampling of his work, from Aint It Cool News.
Friday, March 2, 2012
This Election Year, Watch Out For The Red Lectroids!
Any Buckaroo Banzai fans out there?
What a great fun kooky hip cult flick that was, amIright? With the success of shows like Spartacus, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead on various cable channels, the time is right to bring back Buckaroo and the Hong Kong Cavaliers and see them in all those incredible adventures we've dreamed about for nearly 30 (!) years.
Remember the movie's cool end titles number, with the cast all coming together to strut down the Sepulveda Basin of the L.A. River. Turn up your speakers.
What a great fun kooky hip cult flick that was, amIright? With the success of shows like Spartacus, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead on various cable channels, the time is right to bring back Buckaroo and the Hong Kong Cavaliers and see them in all those incredible adventures we've dreamed about for nearly 30 (!) years.
Remember the movie's cool end titles number, with the cast all coming together to strut down the Sepulveda Basin of the L.A. River. Turn up your speakers.
Blu in the Face for TNG
With the recent release of Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level Blu-ray "teaser" set that includes a sampling of TNG episodes ("Encounter at Farpoint," "Sins of the Father" and "The Inner Light") transferred to HD, here's some TNG-related silliness.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is Copyright 2012 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is Copyright 2012 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
It's the End of the World as Abel Ferrara Knows It
End of the world movies don't always have to have big budgets and enormous special effects (e.g., Armageddon and much of Roland Emmerich's career). Don't get me wrong, these movies can still be fun, but more often than not, their stories are pretty stupid and the characters paper thin.
Writer/director Abel Ferrara (Driller Killer, Ms. 45, Crime Story (tv series) and The Bad Lieutenant -- wow, how's that for an eclectic and eccentric resume!) has a new film coming out called 4:44 - Last Day On Earth (trailer at collider.com). There's no rocketship/space ark being built, no time machine to escape to the past. Nope. none of that. In the story set during the final night on earth, we know the world's going to end at 4:44 am the next day; we follow Willem Dafoe, his girlfriend and a handful of other people as the curtain comes down on our human existence.
While the story sounds similar to Last Night, a 1998 end of the world movie from writer/director Don McKellar, Ferrara is a different kind of animal, so I can't wait to see what he does with this tale.
Writer/director Abel Ferrara (Driller Killer, Ms. 45, Crime Story (tv series) and The Bad Lieutenant -- wow, how's that for an eclectic and eccentric resume!) has a new film coming out called 4:44 - Last Day On Earth (trailer at collider.com). There's no rocketship/space ark being built, no time machine to escape to the past. Nope. none of that. In the story set during the final night on earth, we know the world's going to end at 4:44 am the next day; we follow Willem Dafoe, his girlfriend and a handful of other people as the curtain comes down on our human existence.
While the story sounds similar to Last Night, a 1998 end of the world movie from writer/director Don McKellar, Ferrara is a different kind of animal, so I can't wait to see what he does with this tale.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Stalking The Night On The Big Screen
If you're like me, when you hear the name "Kolchak" you get shivers running up and down your spine. (Just listen to the opening theme!)
Kolchak, aka "The Night Stalker", was an investigative reporter in a rumpled suit and a pork pie hat with a nose for the supernatural. He first appeared in a pair of successful TV movies, which paved the way for a hasty first and only season. "The X-Files" TV show creator Chris Carter has long acknowledged the creepy and creative "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" as a major inspiration for his own creepy and creative series.
Last year it was reported Johnny Depp wanted to play Kolchak in a feature film. Now, according to slashfilm.com that movie appears to finally have a director: Shaun of the Dead's own Edgar Wright.
Darren McGavin - who was in his early 50s at the time - created one of the most memorable TV characters in his portrayal of the harried, put upon, and often-fired, Kolchak. I wonder what sort of take Depp has on the role -- will he do a sort of Darren McGavin "impression" or just go off in his own direction?
Whatever Wright and Depp do, they gotta keep the pork pie hat.
Kolchak, aka "The Night Stalker", was an investigative reporter in a rumpled suit and a pork pie hat with a nose for the supernatural. He first appeared in a pair of successful TV movies, which paved the way for a hasty first and only season. "The X-Files" TV show creator Chris Carter has long acknowledged the creepy and creative "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" as a major inspiration for his own creepy and creative series.
Last year it was reported Johnny Depp wanted to play Kolchak in a feature film. Now, according to slashfilm.com that movie appears to finally have a director: Shaun of the Dead's own Edgar Wright.
Darren McGavin - who was in his early 50s at the time - created one of the most memorable TV characters in his portrayal of the harried, put upon, and often-fired, Kolchak. I wonder what sort of take Depp has on the role -- will he do a sort of Darren McGavin "impression" or just go off in his own direction?
Whatever Wright and Depp do, they gotta keep the pork pie hat.
The Walking CGI Dead
The Walking Dead on AMC is my favorite show on TV right now. This zombie-packed series has me on the edge of my seat each week.
The special make-up effects created and supervised by Greg Nicotero are first rate, but as this clip found on Topless Robot shows, there are a lot of amazing digital effects involving the "walkers" of which we viewers are not aware.
Just makes me love this series even more.
The special make-up effects created and supervised by Greg Nicotero are first rate, but as this clip found on Topless Robot shows, there are a lot of amazing digital effects involving the "walkers" of which we viewers are not aware.
Just makes me love this series even more.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Bat-Questions
What happens when a dude dressed as Batman prowls the streets of Toronto and growls out in his best Christian Bale-like rasp, "WHERE ARE THEY?!"
Why vigilante-fueled hilarity, of course!
from io9.com.
Why vigilante-fueled hilarity, of course!
from io9.com.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Another Spin
Even though I still think the new costume design sucks donkey balls, this brand new second trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man actually got my attention.
I may wanna see this in theaters after all.
I may wanna see this in theaters after all.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Little Bloodthirsty (Sorta Blind) Bounty Hunter That Could
Remember when Pitch Black was just this cool little (only a $23 mil budget!) cult scifi movie that came outta nowhere and basically made gym bunny Vin Diesel a star?
It was a fun, tension-filled, visually imaginative action story. Writer/director David Twohy overreached a bit with the sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick, which, in a strange way, is right up there with Highlander II for throwing together a massive story that really didn't have anything to do with the first film. I mean they changed EVERYTHING in Highlander II, while Riddick was still a convicted murderer/fugitive in C of R.
Anywho, after yarons of speculation, Twohy and Diesel have reunited for another adventure involving the man with the shiny eyes, Richard B. Riddick.
According to a post on Aint It Cool News, Diesel has uploaded several pics of the untitled sequel to his Facebook page. Check 'em out.
Riddick returns to the big screen some time in 2013.
It was a fun, tension-filled, visually imaginative action story. Writer/director David Twohy overreached a bit with the sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick, which, in a strange way, is right up there with Highlander II for throwing together a massive story that really didn't have anything to do with the first film. I mean they changed EVERYTHING in Highlander II, while Riddick was still a convicted murderer/fugitive in C of R.
Anywho, after yarons of speculation, Twohy and Diesel have reunited for another adventure involving the man with the shiny eyes, Richard B. Riddick.
According to a post on Aint It Cool News, Diesel has uploaded several pics of the untitled sequel to his Facebook page. Check 'em out.
Riddick returns to the big screen some time in 2013.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Odds n Ends for the Odd Wednesday
From the Popcandy blog, these two bits caught our optics:
Asian Cinema's 20 Greatest Fight Scenes. You can bet the hallway fight from OldBoy is in there.
And since we're a fan of comic strip art, this article about an extremely rare piece of Calvin and Hobbes artwork going up for sale made us all misty-eyed and nostalgic for that tuna-loving tiger and his boy.
Asian Cinema's 20 Greatest Fight Scenes. You can bet the hallway fight from OldBoy is in there.
And since we're a fan of comic strip art, this article about an extremely rare piece of Calvin and Hobbes artwork going up for sale made us all misty-eyed and nostalgic for that tuna-loving tiger and his boy.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Get Out The Vote
Well, the Presidential Debates for 2012 are in full swing, but it really doesn't matter. Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal - as this behind the scenes photo clearly shows, they're ALL aliens.
Screencaps from Trekcore.com. Star Trek is a Registered Trademark and Copyright 2012 by CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody.
Screencaps from Trekcore.com. Star Trek is a Registered Trademark and Copyright 2012 by CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Soap, Shampoo and Motor Oil
Droid showers.
They're not something for human eyes to witness. Ever.
Star Trek is Copyright 2012 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com
They're not something for human eyes to witness. Ever.
Star Trek is Copyright 2012 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com
Friday, January 6, 2012
Avengers Assemble...My Desk!
This bit from MTV Geek is fun, and totally for those of us who remember what it's like to be a 10 year old kid.
It's an Avengers-inspired desk from Tom Spina Design! And by the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, it rocks, with nods to Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Thor and even S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury encased within.
Play spot 'em all if you can!
It's an Avengers-inspired desk from Tom Spina Design! And by the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, it rocks, with nods to Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Thor and even S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury encased within.
Play spot 'em all if you can!
Ride On Past Rango
Star Trek is Copyright 2012 and Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com
The Game of Villainy Is Afoot
Trekmovie.com is reporting that they have finally cast the lead villain in the upcoming and much-anticipated Star Trek sequel.
Director J.J. Abrams has selected the talented and impressively named Benedict Cumberbatch for the role of the man who antagonizes Capt. Kirk and the Enterprise in the summer 2013 release.
Cumberbatch is a real up and comer. I watched the recent three-episode BBC series Sherlock, where he plays Holmes in contemporary London, and he was mesmerizing.
Here's hoping J.J. and company knocks this one out of the galactic park.
Director J.J. Abrams has selected the talented and impressively named Benedict Cumberbatch for the role of the man who antagonizes Capt. Kirk and the Enterprise in the summer 2013 release.
Cumberbatch is a real up and comer. I watched the recent three-episode BBC series Sherlock, where he plays Holmes in contemporary London, and he was mesmerizing.
Here's hoping J.J. and company knocks this one out of the galactic park.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Drawn to Blade Runner
Recently, friend of the blog Dave C. brought to our attention that a looong out of print book of the incredible, eyeball-melting artwork by "visual futurist" Syd Mead for the seminal sci-fi movie Blade Runner is now available online.
This post from collider.com looks at that one of a kind tome.
Syd Mead is a national treasure. Seriously, someone award this man a medal. I bet he could design a really cool one.
This post from collider.com looks at that one of a kind tome.
Syd Mead is a national treasure. Seriously, someone award this man a medal. I bet he could design a really cool one.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Imperfect Holiday Gifts
Well, another Christmas season has ended. Soon now-brittle trees will be carted out to the sidewalk for disposal and wreaths and ornaments will be stored away until next year.
And gifts that were exchanged are now…brought back to retailers for full refunds. Yes, despite the well-meaning intentions, some gifts just aren’t the right fit, or just rub people the wrong way, or are just way dangerous and pervy.
We’ve polled retailers nationwide and, hands down, the number 1 returned item this season has been the "Nomad Home Probe" from Roykirk Industries (model #MK-15c).
Here are just a few of the comments culled from return forms:
“This thing tried to mount my Roomba vacuum! What kind of pervert are you people selling?”
“My husband was singing in the living room on the new karaoke set the kids got him for Christmas, when Nomad comes in and zaps him. Now he can’t remember who he is!”
“My Nomad seems to be conspiring with the appliances in my kitchen. I see him hovering around the microwave all the time, calling it “Tan Ru.” I seen I, Robot and I don’t want that to happen to me!
"Nomad keeps “accidentally” floating in on my wife while she’s in the shower. I wouldn’t mind so much, but his antennae are always fully extended, which creeps her out."
“Every time I try to watch Jersey Shore, Nomad yells something about how he must “sterilize imperfections,” then fires an energy bolt at the tv. But then for a half hour afterwards, he hovers around mumbling something about wanting to tap Snookie’s exhaust port.”
Star Trek is Copyright 2011 and a Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com.
And gifts that were exchanged are now…brought back to retailers for full refunds. Yes, despite the well-meaning intentions, some gifts just aren’t the right fit, or just rub people the wrong way, or are just way dangerous and pervy.
We’ve polled retailers nationwide and, hands down, the number 1 returned item this season has been the "Nomad Home Probe" from Roykirk Industries (model #MK-15c).
Here are just a few of the comments culled from return forms:
“This thing tried to mount my Roomba vacuum! What kind of pervert are you people selling?”
“My husband was singing in the living room on the new karaoke set the kids got him for Christmas, when Nomad comes in and zaps him. Now he can’t remember who he is!”
“My Nomad seems to be conspiring with the appliances in my kitchen. I see him hovering around the microwave all the time, calling it “Tan Ru.” I seen I, Robot and I don’t want that to happen to me!
"Nomad keeps “accidentally” floating in on my wife while she’s in the shower. I wouldn’t mind so much, but his antennae are always fully extended, which creeps her out."
“Every time I try to watch Jersey Shore, Nomad yells something about how he must “sterilize imperfections,” then fires an energy bolt at the tv. But then for a half hour afterwards, he hovers around mumbling something about wanting to tap Snookie’s exhaust port.”
Star Trek is Copyright 2011 and a Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Ridley Scott's Return To Science Fiction
Ridley Scott directed two landmark science fiction films, Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982). The former set the standard for sci-fi/horror, while the latter is the best film noir via sci-fi story there is.
Both movies are also rightly known for their trendsetting production design, with their gritty, lived in look and details. To this day, any new science fiction movie cribs from the look of one or both of these films.
Now, three decades later, Scott returns to the genre with Prometheus, a quasi-prequel to Alien. Here's the first real trailer for the film at BleedingCool.com, which opens June 2012. And here's a very cool trailer screencap breakdown BleedingCool did a few days later.
I love that they used the original Alien trailer's sound effects over this new ad. It just serves to further tie Alien and Prometheus together, and if you didn't know where that sound came from, it is still creepy/scary and totally appropriate for the trailer.
Both movies are also rightly known for their trendsetting production design, with their gritty, lived in look and details. To this day, any new science fiction movie cribs from the look of one or both of these films.
Now, three decades later, Scott returns to the genre with Prometheus, a quasi-prequel to Alien. Here's the first real trailer for the film at BleedingCool.com, which opens June 2012. And here's a very cool trailer screencap breakdown BleedingCool did a few days later.
I love that they used the original Alien trailer's sound effects over this new ad. It just serves to further tie Alien and Prometheus together, and if you didn't know where that sound came from, it is still creepy/scary and totally appropriate for the trailer.
Happy Happy, Joy Joy!
Star Trek is Copyright 2011 and a Trademark of CBS Studion, Inc. No infringement of their rights is intended with this parody. Screencaps from Trekcore.com
Thursday, December 22, 2011
GREAT Apes, Indeed
This short bit of video footage, found at io9.com, is more thrilling, amazing and moving than the entire recent Rise of the Planet of the Apes movie (sorry, Andy Serkis).
Just watch it and see.
Seriously. (The action starts at about the 1:05 mark).
Just watch it and see.
Seriously. (The action starts at about the 1:05 mark).
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Restoration of Manos
SOMEONE IS RESTORING "MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE!"
Sorry about shouting that, but, seriously, according to this NPR post, a film school grad - dude named Ben Solovey - wants to restore "Manos," one of the the WORST films ever made.
You were likely introduced to "Manos," as I was, through the glory days of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Is this a good thing, Torgo, or should such wretched celluloid cheese be left alone in all its scratchy, grainy glory?
Sorry about shouting that, but, seriously, according to this NPR post, a film school grad - dude named Ben Solovey - wants to restore "Manos," one of the the WORST films ever made.
You were likely introduced to "Manos," as I was, through the glory days of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Is this a good thing, Torgo, or should such wretched celluloid cheese be left alone in all its scratchy, grainy glory?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Odds n Ends
Movie critic Christy Lemire lists her Five Favorite Performances by Robert Downey Jr. I agree with her assessments of Downey's work in Iron Man, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and the hilarious Tropic Thunder. I also agree with her that RDJ's Sherlock Holmes is a waste of celluloid. Rent the BBC's recent 3-episode series Sherlock if you want some adventurous fun with the brilliant detective.
We are all into the late lamented sci-fi western series Firefly here at the BNFOS Orbiting Space Station, and io9.com has a fun piece about how artist Dan Dos Santos did the cover art for a recent Dark Horse Comics Serenity issue.
These toy designs that would have been tie-ins to a Tim Burton directed Superman movie are some premium nightmare fuel. Superman is THE FIRST superhero ever. Why the fuck do they want to mess with that simple iconic design? "Underwear on the outside?" That's just the way it is, leave it alone. If a man flew out of the sky, landed in front of you and lifted a car over his head (on a movie screen, natch), if the first thing you say is, "Your underwear is on the outside" you are a complete idiot.
We are all into the late lamented sci-fi western series Firefly here at the BNFOS Orbiting Space Station, and io9.com has a fun piece about how artist Dan Dos Santos did the cover art for a recent Dark Horse Comics Serenity issue.
These toy designs that would have been tie-ins to a Tim Burton directed Superman movie are some premium nightmare fuel. Superman is THE FIRST superhero ever. Why the fuck do they want to mess with that simple iconic design? "Underwear on the outside?" That's just the way it is, leave it alone. If a man flew out of the sky, landed in front of you and lifted a car over his head (on a movie screen, natch), if the first thing you say is, "Your underwear is on the outside" you are a complete idiot.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
An Off-Road Segway
Holy shit, but this is so cool.
You know what a Segway is right? That weird two-wheeled thingy that was supposed to revolutionize transportation, or something. Know anybody who owns one? Didn't think so. (I've only seen it on tv used by mail men or cops.)
Inventor Ben Gulak did the Segway one better: he put tank treads and a 200 cc engine into a Segway-like off-road devil called a DTV Shredder. It's all in this Rolling Stone piece.
I wonder if Ben got his inspiration from the Mandroid in that goofy scifi masterpiece The Eliminators (see my running commentary of that funfest here)?
You know what a Segway is right? That weird two-wheeled thingy that was supposed to revolutionize transportation, or something. Know anybody who owns one? Didn't think so. (I've only seen it on tv used by mail men or cops.)
Inventor Ben Gulak did the Segway one better: he put tank treads and a 200 cc engine into a Segway-like off-road devil called a DTV Shredder. It's all in this Rolling Stone piece.
I wonder if Ben got his inspiration from the Mandroid in that goofy scifi masterpiece The Eliminators (see my running commentary of that funfest here)?
Monday, November 28, 2011
John Byrne Art
Artist John Byrne has some fun pin ups at his website Byrne Robotics.
If you're an X-Men fan, he revisits a piece he did for the Comics Reader back in the day, where he put the "all new, all different" X-Men into the original team's school uniforms.
Then he flips that idea on its head and puts the Fantastic Four in original X-Men style uniforms. I wonder if there is a "What If?" story hiding in here somewhere.
And lastly, he gives us this great looking "future girl soldier" piece, where the partial coloring gives it a distinctly European or Heavy Metal magazine vibe. I'd love to seem a scifi story done with this woman.
If you're an X-Men fan, he revisits a piece he did for the Comics Reader back in the day, where he put the "all new, all different" X-Men into the original team's school uniforms.
Then he flips that idea on its head and puts the Fantastic Four in original X-Men style uniforms. I wonder if there is a "What If?" story hiding in here somewhere.
And lastly, he gives us this great looking "future girl soldier" piece, where the partial coloring gives it a distinctly European or Heavy Metal magazine vibe. I'd love to seem a scifi story done with this woman.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Walking Dead - Fall Finale
AMC's The Walking Dead just aired its fall finale. What a long, strange trip it's been.
Our intrepid band of zombie apocalypse survivors has slowly been coming apart (a little too slowly this season), mostly over the handling of The Search For Sophia, Carol's daughter and Carl's friend, who went missing after the group encountered and evaded that awesome Zombie Herd (TM) on the highway in this second season's opener.
Shane (Jon Bernthal), he with the chest which makes Arnold Schwarzenegger openly weep, is going into uber-survivalist mode: he will do anything - kill anything and anyone - that stands in the way of his safety, and of those under his protection. Of course, this philosophy directly conflicts with the views of his best friend Rick (Andrew Lincoln), the show's star and the erstwhile leader of this ragtag group, who still believes in notions like civilization and respect for other people's viewpoints and property. Rick and Shane will ultimately come to a reckoning - a "Come to Jesus/George A. Romero" moment - and I believe that's gonna be a brutal, ugly thing (which is great for a post apocalyptic survival horror-drama).
I blame the firing of Frank Darabont for the meandering this show has taken in its second season. The first season only had six episodes and then-showrunner Darabont kept the plotting nice and tight. Season two has twice the episodes (13 eps, actually) but they appear to have stumbled a bit with the transition from Darabont to current showrunner Glen Mazzara. The search for Sophia and the stay at Herschel's farm has taken up the most of the entire first half of the current season, with a lot of that "spinning our wheels, going nowhere" feel during much of it.
How many times did they have the scene of the gang gathered around a map on the hood of a car mapping out search grids as they attempted to locate Sophia? It could be its own Internet meme. Plus, Lori's whole "I might be pregnant but I'm not going to tell my husband storyline" was drawn out so much I thought they might finally resolve it after she gave birth to the kid and he or she went off of Post Zombie College.
The last ten minutes of the fall finale, "Pretty Much Dead Already" almost, and I mean almost, makes up for the slow plotting and pacing that came before it, with Shane going bugnuts (he made a lot of sense in that scene - and Bernthal was great) at the barn and those utterly heartbreaking final moments (my jaw was on the floor).
The Walking Dead is perhaps my favorite show on right now, but I sincerely hope that the plotting gets tightened up for the last six episodes of the season. If this episode is any indication, they are on the right track.
Our intrepid band of zombie apocalypse survivors has slowly been coming apart (a little too slowly this season), mostly over the handling of The Search For Sophia, Carol's daughter and Carl's friend, who went missing after the group encountered and evaded that awesome Zombie Herd (TM) on the highway in this second season's opener.
Shane (Jon Bernthal), he with the chest which makes Arnold Schwarzenegger openly weep, is going into uber-survivalist mode: he will do anything - kill anything and anyone - that stands in the way of his safety, and of those under his protection. Of course, this philosophy directly conflicts with the views of his best friend Rick (Andrew Lincoln), the show's star and the erstwhile leader of this ragtag group, who still believes in notions like civilization and respect for other people's viewpoints and property. Rick and Shane will ultimately come to a reckoning - a "Come to Jesus/George A. Romero" moment - and I believe that's gonna be a brutal, ugly thing (which is great for a post apocalyptic survival horror-drama).
I blame the firing of Frank Darabont for the meandering this show has taken in its second season. The first season only had six episodes and then-showrunner Darabont kept the plotting nice and tight. Season two has twice the episodes (13 eps, actually) but they appear to have stumbled a bit with the transition from Darabont to current showrunner Glen Mazzara. The search for Sophia and the stay at Herschel's farm has taken up the most of the entire first half of the current season, with a lot of that "spinning our wheels, going nowhere" feel during much of it.
How many times did they have the scene of the gang gathered around a map on the hood of a car mapping out search grids as they attempted to locate Sophia? It could be its own Internet meme. Plus, Lori's whole "I might be pregnant but I'm not going to tell my husband storyline" was drawn out so much I thought they might finally resolve it after she gave birth to the kid and he or she went off of Post Zombie College.
The last ten minutes of the fall finale, "Pretty Much Dead Already" almost, and I mean almost, makes up for the slow plotting and pacing that came before it, with Shane going bugnuts (he made a lot of sense in that scene - and Bernthal was great) at the barn and those utterly heartbreaking final moments (my jaw was on the floor).
The Walking Dead is perhaps my favorite show on right now, but I sincerely hope that the plotting gets tightened up for the last six episodes of the season. If this episode is any indication, they are on the right track.
Martians And Kung Fu, But No Martian Kung Fu
Here are some new pics from the upcoming and eagerly anticipated JOHN CARTER, directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo and Wall-E). from io9.com
I never read the pulp novels, but I recall fondly reading the Marvel Comics adaptation "John Carter: Warlord of Mars," with the curvaceous Dejah Thoris, the four-armed Tharks, and assorted Martian strangeness.
Also found on io9 is this wackass Chinese fantasy kung fu movie called Demon of the Lute. They feature a clip where the hero is first attacked by some ninja-types with hidden trampolines (trampoline fu, as Joe Bob Briggs might say), then a bald dude with an orange goatee. Mr. Orange travels by way of a cannibalized Radio Flyer wagon-as-chariot pulled by a pair of German Shepard dogs.
Mr. Orange - who could film a Rogaine commercial when he magically grows a full head of orange hair that would put Carrot Top to shame - could cut down on the between-meal snacks as they have to speed up of the footage of the dogs pulling the wagon or those scenes would take up the movie's whole runtime.
I never read the pulp novels, but I recall fondly reading the Marvel Comics adaptation "John Carter: Warlord of Mars," with the curvaceous Dejah Thoris, the four-armed Tharks, and assorted Martian strangeness.
Also found on io9 is this wackass Chinese fantasy kung fu movie called Demon of the Lute. They feature a clip where the hero is first attacked by some ninja-types with hidden trampolines (trampoline fu, as Joe Bob Briggs might say), then a bald dude with an orange goatee. Mr. Orange travels by way of a cannibalized Radio Flyer wagon-as-chariot pulled by a pair of German Shepard dogs.
Mr. Orange - who could film a Rogaine commercial when he magically grows a full head of orange hair that would put Carrot Top to shame - could cut down on the between-meal snacks as they have to speed up of the footage of the dogs pulling the wagon or those scenes would take up the movie's whole runtime.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Run, Run Away!
Movie car chases usually get all the glory, but now EmpireOnline.com has this great piece up featuring "35 of Film's Best Foot Chases."
There's some amazing and even fun stuff here, everything from Ferris Bueller's crazy run home to beat his sister Jeannie, to the cool efficiency of the Bourne films. Also included are foot chases from recent films like Inception, Kontroll and Kung Fu Hustle, and also classic films including French Connection II, Bullitt and Blade Runner.
Lace up your sneakers and join in, won't you?
There's some amazing and even fun stuff here, everything from Ferris Bueller's crazy run home to beat his sister Jeannie, to the cool efficiency of the Bourne films. Also included are foot chases from recent films like Inception, Kontroll and Kung Fu Hustle, and also classic films including French Connection II, Bullitt and Blade Runner.
Lace up your sneakers and join in, won't you?
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