Where pop culture meets geek culture and they make out a little.
Posts tagged Film
On a scale of one to “9”
71029 days
by Stoker
in General Nerdom
Stoker here folks. So I was reading Kilian’s article on “Krod Mandoon” and “Harper’s Island” when his comment about the last film he saw struck home. Kilian made mention of the fact that the last movie he saw was “Monsters vs. Aliens” and that he would likely see “Up” next. This is all fine and dandy, I have absolutely no problem with taking the family out to see a kid friendly cartoon but I am a bit concerned that things have gotten a bit too friendly in the past years.
When I was a wee child, I remember going to cartoon movies and seeing things that kept me up at night sweating in terror. How many of us cowered in fear at the thought of characters like Maleficent, Scar or Jafar? These were characters of true terror; murderers, thieves and schemers. It now seems, though, that all of the villains in cartoons have to be incredibly over the top, they no longer posses that evil which so permeated the cartoons of the past. A look at the winner for the Academy Award in animation this year proves my point. The villain in “Wall.E” was nothing more than a castrated version of HAL. I think that the time has come to bring the fear back to children.
Apocalypse Sweet: Enrolling the Umbrella Academy.
51029 days
by Stoker
in General Nerdom
Hey everyone out there in the world of wide web, Stoker here. It has come to my attention that the Hollywood wheels are turning on an adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s incredibly intense comic book series The Umbrella Academy. The film is set for release in 2012. So, before too much has gone into the production of the film, I would like to throw my hat in the casting ring. For those who have read the comic, you already know that all of the lead characters in the Academy were born on the same day. Since it is a relative impossibility to cast actors born on the same day, I have attempted to do the next best thing by filling the cast with actors all born in the same year. The one exception of course is Number Five who, for various reasons, is still physically younger than the rest of the characters. All of the following actors were born in the year (1980) except for the one born in 1993. I hope you all like these casting choices.
Man I wish I could tell you what I know, but I can’t, so stop asking…seriously.
21037 days
by kilian
in General Nerdom
What I will say is that Gore Verbinski has decided not to direct the 4th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. According to the article, Johnny Depp has signed on for the next one and it has a tentative release date of 2010. What I know about the movie I can’t say. Or, I should say, I know there’s a possibility that the next Pirate’s film is based on something or other but I can’t say anymore.
See what I did there? I teased because I’m a big teasing teaser.
Anyway, who else is pumped that Rescue Me is back? I haven’t watched the first episode of the season yet (I recorded it last night but wasn’t at home…if FX holds true to form they’ll replay 20 times between now and Sunday in any event) but I’m am seriously pumped. Minute for minute, it’s the best f*ing drama on TV. Not only is it coming back after 19 damn months, but Michael J Fox is guest starring on several episodes = awesome!
One last thing. Depending on gilgrim’s business which is, currently, hovering around insanity, there might be a comic this week. And it might involve goblins in some way (although, don’t they all now?) and something that no one besides me (well, maybe Tengu) will be even remotely interested in.
The Coral — Who’s Gonna Find Me
One more last thing…Facebook informs me that, were I a punk band, I would be Bad Religion…and everything was right in the world…
Playing Catch Up
71052 days
by kilian
in General Nerdom
I’m currently trying to secure another income stream (i.e., third job). Teaching one class and working 35 hours at the bookmines just aren’t cutting it now that we have the second kid. So that’ll be awesome.
Anyway, it’s been a bit since I was on the ol’ NR and there were a couple things I wanted to share.
Even as Watchmen closes in on 100 million domestic box office gross (and another 60 million internationally means the movie has already gone over its production budget), WB may have decided to forgo making R rated superhero films. Apparently there just isn’t enough marketing to kids available from a film that shows boobies, a guy getting repeatedly axed in the head and another guy getting his arms cut off with a circular saw. Of course, a film that includes a guy getting burned alive, a woman blown up, and people on two different barges deciding whether or not to blow up each other is a-OK!
One of the few things in this world that I love unconditionally (other than the wife and kids) is Wallace and Gromit, and now we (the world) have been graced with a semi-nude Wallace. Try as I might, I can’t think of something I’ve wanted more than for this day to arrive.
I’ve been listening to The Streets a lot lately. The latest album, particularly, seems to capture a lot of what I’ve been feeling lately. So on that note, please enjoy…
Well, now I have papers to grade and resumes to send and tears (just, you know, general tears) to shed.
The Streets — Weak Becomes Heroes
P.S. As I write this there is a fucking Wallace and Gromit add on the site! Talk about the internetz freaking me out again.
The Future Wave of Publishing is….wait for it…FREE F’ING BOOKS!
21070 days
by kilian
in General Nerdom
Watchmen is Here
31070 days
by kilian
in General Nerdom
Remember when I said I’d be keeping track of the reviews for Watchmen….I said it like three days ago…geez do you guys even pay attention?
Anyway, as the movie opens today more reviews are in. The main Rotten Tomatoes page has it sitting at a 64% while the Top Critics portion is in at 45%. That’s not too shabby, I think, for a comic book film. Particularly one that has the sensibilities and eccentricities of Watchmen. One thing I will point out, though, is that two of the critics whose opinions I most admire, Roger Ebert and Peter Travers were impressed with the film. Ebert, in fact, says he’s going to see it again in Imax.
None of this, doubtless, will change anyone’s opinion about whether or not to see the film but I always find it interesting to read other’s opinions about films I’m really excited to see.
The Pipettes — Dirty Mind
Quick Items While I’m on Lunch
11073 days
by kilian
in General Nerdom
Watchmen comes out Friday, of course. And while this guy won’t be seeing it, I will. Well, probably not on Friday. I still have to arrange for some kind of child care type thing…but I WILL see it soon.
Anyway, I’ve read two reviews thus far, one scathing, one that can be summed up as “meh.” Rotten Tomatoes has it at 76 right now, which is fairly decent. I’m always fairly skeptical about critical acclaim/scorn when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy/comic films because, by and large, they don’t “get” the whole genre. In the “Top Critics” section it’s sitting at 17%. That’s with only six reviews, so that number will likely change come Friday. I’m not really making a point here, other than it’s something to watch.
Greg Grunberg, Parkman from Heroes, upset some people with a twitter… Just one more reason not to use it (even though I do…sometimes). If Heroes does get canceled that’ll leave The Mentalist and Phineas and Ferb as the only shows I’m even interested in anymore.
And speaking of Phineas and Ferb, tengu sent this link over…bask in the awesomeness (especially the song writing, which is one of the strongest parts of the show).
Turbonegro — Don’t Say Motherfucker, Motherfucker