Alien Teaser Trailer - Prometheus Style

This is fantastic. A fan made a teaser for the original ALIEN in the same style as the new teaser for its companion film, PROMETHEUS. I am nerding out hard for this, they did such a great job. PROMETHEUS has been my most anticipated movie of 2012 for a LONG time now. This is Ridley Scott not only returning to SciFi, but returning to the same universe begun in ALIEN. I canNOT wait. :-)

Here's the teaser for PROMETHEUS both for comparison and because it's so AWESOME.

The Movie Known As 'BATTLESHIP'

A lot of people seem to be dismissing 'Battleship' as one of the worst examples of bulls^&t film-making. A movie inspired by a classic board game. "How dare anyone make this thing" seems to be the sentiment. But I'm looking forward to it. Not because of the special effects or the explosions. No, I'm looking forward to it, because I'm genuinely curious about how it will turn out. Its not a secret that new, original, ideas seem to be a bit of a rarity these days. But I love seeing just about anything, so long as it piques my curiosity.
I don't see 'Battleship' as some trashy cash-in playing on a known brand. Actually I see it as an interesting story-telling challenge. The board game has no narrative, it has no characters, it simply is what it is. A game in which you guess the location of your opponents fleet and attempt to destroy them. Whatever fun can be found is usually born out of who you're playing with. So to see the basic premise of two fleets in combat taken to the level of Aliens on a mission, on Earth, is quite interesting.

Although some may say that Aliens are the next Zombies or Vampires, both so common now the language and intent of the concepts have become thinned to the point of non-existence, that Aliens are the safe choice to avoid any sort of political controversy, I don't really agree. When you commit to any sort of genre concept you're committing to a mythology. Now sometimes you reinvent that mythology, or rewrite, or throw it out entirely, but there are still inherent expectations from the audience. With Vampires; you have the thirst, the death by sunlight, the seduction in some cases. With Zombies; the plague, the carnage, the numbers. With Aliens you have; overwhelming technology, the larger than life scale, the complex yet simple nature of their mission. 'Battleship' seems to be not only meeting certain mythology expectations but also inventing some of their own. And I'm looking forward to seeing this new twist on the Alien Invasion genre.
The film-makers may appear to be simply cashing in, but they're still inventing everything as they go. If the film is a success than of course a sequel will be made, furthering the invention. Comparing "original" film-making to whats going on with 'Battleship' is in a way like comparing stand-up comedy to improv comedy. With stand-up you write material from scratch trying, if possible, to construct some for of narrative with that material in the hopes of appealing your audience. With improv you are given certain elements from either your audience or your fellow improvisers and you try to work within those elements and again construct a comedy narrative that would appeal to your audience. Saying 'Battleship' isn't a real movie is a bit like saying improv comedy isn't real comedy because someones feeding you the basic pieces to start with. It is real comedy, just a different form of expression.
I'm looking forward to 'Battleship'. I'm looking forward to it as someone who enjoys movies, as someone who enjoys scifi, as someone who enjoys story-telling. I'm looking forward to 'Battleship' period.

The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption

'The Scorpion King' series is an interesting one. It aims to be good, fun, sword and sorcery adventure stories calling out characters like Conan and Kull, but, unlike a classic character like Conan, is often kept from moving into too adult of territory by an emphasis on being popcorn entertainment.
The first was a spin off of 'The Mummy Returns' the first sequel to the remake of 'The Mummy', which had the character attempt to take over the world and ultimately cursed by Anubis to live as a Scorpion monster. It aimed to explore the conqueror now in this movie an assassin and the last of his kind. It went through rewrites and edits ultimately becoming something other than what was intended. With the film shifted overall towards a lighter style and tone. It had more than a few awkward moments and weak scenes trying to justify the steps before the status quo already seen in 'The Mummy Returns'. I still think an alternate cut exists that would of worked out most of the problems the movie had, but we'll likely never see it. Which is unfortunate because a look at some of the deleted scenes gives you a glimpse of material that works so much better than what was in the final product. Problems aside however, the movie was still a fun enough little flick.
The second movie; 'The Scorpion King 2: Rise Of A Warrior' was a prequel featuring the main character as a young member of a royal guard out to avenge the murder of his father by the evil king. The title role was naturally recast with a younger actor to accommodate both the shift in timeline and the absence of Dwayne Johnson. It featured quite a number of elements with scorpion in the name seemingly to remind you that "this is the guy who becomes The Scorpion King", not the least of which was a giant, invisible, scorpion in the films climax. And overall had a greater emphasis on magic. While it wasn't nearly as good as the first, and suffered from the incredibly reduced budget, it was decent enough.
And now we have the third, the trailer for which is above. Just from this trailer it looks like a step above the second film. Once again the main character is recast, but now older as indicated by the impressive beard. And the setting has been changed to what appears to be Thailand. Ron Perlman and Billy Zane play brothers, with Perlman being the King and Zane scheming to take the throne. Here's the official synopsis;

'Since his triumphant rise to power in the original blockbuster The Scorpion King, Mathayus’ kingdom has fallen and he’s lost his queen to plague. Now an assassin for hire, he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. Starring Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Billy Zane (Titanic), and featuring 6-time WWE champion Dave Bautista and UFC star Kimbo Slice, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption takes The Mummy phenomenon to an all-new level of epic action and non-stop adventure!'

Showing the trailer to my little sister, who enjoys the first film but hates the second, she said it looked "pretty cool". I'll give it a look when I get a chance, it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray January 10th. Maybe if things work out we'll see a fourth and fifth in the franchise. Who knows where those will go.

My morning.

My trouble this morning went like this, and i apologize if anyone is disgusted by the story; I got sick to my stomach and tragically the toilet, the only toilet in the house fyi, suffered the consequences. It became unusable in short. I looked for a plunger and realized we didn't have one. I tried any number of half thought ideas, all failed. Dad woke up and after a few sips of coffee i informed him of my crime. I went out to the garage in the hope of finding a plunger, again failure. I came back in to find the toilet fixed. "How'd that happen?" I exclaimed. Dad's response; "Its not my first rodeo." He than went to work, still a little sick from a cold he's been dealing with. Yes my dad is a badass.

Will Mankind Destroy Itself?

:-)

Woman; "you are such a girl."

Man; "i'm not a girl, i'm a man, I have a penis!"

Woman; "so do i."

Man; ".....................can i see it?"

IF there were an alien invasion, you would die.

I should first say that I have no degrees beyond a high school diploma. I have no training, no associations, and no experience, that would make me specially qualified to say anything. I'm just writing how I feel and from my own imagination.

I'm watching a special on the hypothetical sequence of events following an alien military invasion of Earth. There seems to be quite a few leaps in logic being made by the folks behind this special. They seem to be modeling their invasion after any number of movies. Many of which were incredibly illogical and flawed to begin with. While I applaud the effort being made here, and they are indeed making some interesting points about the human panic and self-destruction that would occur, I can't look over some basic flaws in the scenario being presented.

My problem begins and ends with the initial invasion; any being able to travel across the universe would never initiate an invasion within the atmosphere, and especially not on the ground. If a military invasion were to occur, the invaders would remain in space. First they may or may not tap the satellite systems of the world and monitor all communications and broadcasts to establish a base understanding of the who, what, and where. If they did monitor broadcasts they would continue until the invasion has finished. Below I'll list three, of countless, possible attack scenario's;

Attack 1; Infection; Probes filled with an agent, either biological or nanotechnology, specifically designed and created to destroy humans would be deployed in the atmosphere. There it would spread around the world infecting everyone. The second, and slower variation, would be an agent spread through physical contact.

Attack 2; Radiation bombardment; From their ships, or deployed probes, the invaders send down massive amounts of radiation. Essentially microwaving us where we stand. It would be comparable to countless nuclear weapons being detonated.

Attack 3; Terraforming Event; The invaders begin a terraforming process which physically alters the planet into an environment we simply cannot survive in.

The fact is if hostile alien invaders were to arrive the one thing they wouldn't do is engage in any sort of direct assault. They would remain out of reach of any kind of resistance, and would simply destroy whatever they wished. If, in this scenario aliens invaded, the only chance humans would have would be if we were on a comparable level in our technology. If we have ships of our own, shields of our own, abilities of our own, than we would be able to stand at some sort of reasonable level. As it is, right now, we simply can't.

Survival is for the intelligent.

First Movement of Robonaut 2 on ISS

Robonaut 2 being tested onboard the ISS (International Space Station) on October 13th, 2011. One day Robonaut's will be regular crew members on all missions in space. Currently there are plans for several different lower attachments for these guys. Some for all-terrain transportation across locations such as the Moon or Mars, some for work onboard spacecraft and the ISS, some utilizing actual human-like bipedal movement.

We live at the beginning of a wonderful age.

Campy Johnny Depp - Life's Too Short

"I want you to know this, and I want you to carry this with you for the rest of your days; No one, makes fun of Tim Allen, on my watch, and gets away with it." - Johnny Depp

This may just be one of the most brilliant thing's i've seen all year.

Pilot Pranks His Passenger

Let's be perfectly honest, if this happened to any of us we would lose our $%&* too. On the other hand it's sort of hilarious.

Chimpanzee - Trailer

I should say first, I haven't seen any of the DisneyNature films. But I think they're a terrific thing. Not only are they showing kids the beauty of the natural world, but from what I understand major sections of the profits they make actually go to conservation. So how can you possibly hate on that. I also understand that the market for "family" films may be starved a bit these days, so filling in that void with a solid nature documentary is fantastic in my mind. The latest film being released next year follows a baby Chimp called Oscar after he becomes seperated from his family group. A rogue adult male Chimp takes him in.
I showed this trailer to my little sister, who happens to be 17, and she "awwww"ed all the way through it. And if other people have a similar reaction, than this movie stands a pretty good chance of being just as popular, if not more so, than DisneyNature's previous releases. I think I may just check this one out too.

I couldn't resist; NSEA PROTECTOR / NASA ORION

I just couldn't resist doing this.

On the left you see the NSEA PROTECTOR from the terrific, and I mean TERRIFIC, movie Galaxy Quest. On the right you see NASA's new ORION spacecraft. When I first looked at these two side by side I couldn't help but smile. If you haven't already noticed; the docking port and general design of the ORION, while similar to the classic APOLLO module, shares a loose resemblance to the PROTECTORS navigational dish and hull configuration.

Maybe I'm just seeing something I want to see, but as a geek this tickled me to pieces :-) . Who knows, maybe one day we won't be flying around in the U.S.S ENTERPRISE but at least we'll be exploring the universe in something that was made in tribute to it.

Awesome.

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

check out the official site for NASA's new ORION spacecraft.

Baby giant anteater looking for ants

Both adorable and fascinating.

Maggie the English Mastiff vs. Dude the Chihuahua

Conservative Magazine Brags of its Agent Provocateur's Role in Provoking Police Action in D.C. (NEW)

Conservative Magazine Brags of its Agent Provocateur's Role in Provoking Police Action in D.C. (NEW)

Patton Oswalt - The Circus is in Town

When it comes to circus' I like to think that Patton Oswalt just about says it all.

Terra Nova

I've been looking forward to the new tv series, Terra Nova, for a while now because...well....I'm a nerd.

Terra Nova
Synopsis;
"An epic family adventure 85 million years in the making, TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With no known way to reverse the damage to the planet, scientists discover a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race…a second chance to rebuild civilization and get it right this time.

The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony established in this beautiful yet forbidding land led by its founder COMMANDER NATHANIEL TAYLOR (Stephen Lang, “Avatar”). JIM SHANNON (Jason O’Mara, “Life on Mars”), a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family – wife ELISABETH (Shelley Conn, “Mistresses”); and children JOSH (Landon Liboiron, “Degrassi: The Next Generation”), MADDY (Naomi Scott, “Life Bites”) and ZOE (newcomer Alana Mansour) – through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. In addition to blue skies, towering waterfalls and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. These adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding TERRA NOVA are teeming with danger – and not just of the man-eating dinosaur variety. The Shannons will come to suspect that not everyone on this mission has the same idea of how to best save mankind; in fact, there may be forces intent on destroying this new world before it even begins."

Last night I finally got to see the premiere and I have to say I really liked it. I'm no reviewer, I would only ramble on and on while trying to discuss what I saw. But while there were moments where the FX work didn't quite make it, overall the pilot worked very well as a setup for a series. I'm looking forward to where things go and I will definately be tuning in for as long as the series is on the aire.

If you have even the most remote interest in the series please give it a look.

Casting; or how to learn from a semi-failure...

It's taken a while but I'm finally posting on my first attempt at casting. I suppose I could best sum up the experience with a few words; COLD, WET, and DARK. Yep, that sums it up alright. I should say now that not only was this my first experience in casting, but it was the first experience in casting for my sister who helped me. I've been watching, and learning, and research the subject for a while now but she hasn't. So I really have to give her all the credit in the world for not only doing a great job for her first time, but also for making sure I stayed alive.

This was something I have been building up to for some time now. I had put it off for a while, but finally decided to just do it already. And all the research in the world aside, I'm a firm believer that people only really learn by doing. So after getting the necessary materials and ignoring my nerves the time was now.

It started out simple enough, I sat on a chair, plastic on the floor and garbage bag around my shoulders. Vaseline in my eyebrows to prevent anything from sticking and a bald cap holding tightly to my scalp. I mixed the alginate as quick I could and my sister began spreading it across my head. The alginate is what picks up the details of your face in the casting process. And added plaster bandages for some support.

From there more plaster bandages were added to create the outer shell.

Because this was my first time out I really didn't want to make a casting that was too involved, or rather too large, so I focused on my face and the top and sides of my head. After a bit of time the plaster dried and we began to take everything off.

I was fine through the whole process, like I said it was cold, dark, and wet. But I was actually quite relaxed. The thing was as we were taking it off my breathing changed, I don't know what it why. I started breathing harder and faster, it felt almost like I was about to start hyperventilating. But we got everything off after a minute. The unfortunate thing was, while the plaster was fine, the alginate layer tore apart so easily it was ruined.

But the entire thing wasn't for nothing, I learned quite a bit. For one thing the next time I try I'll make the alginate layer much thicker. And try to add as many plaster elements to support it as possible. I'm still very hopeful that I'll have a cast ready to work with quite soon. And when I do, I'll be able to begin experimenting with creature makeup and FX in a serious way.

Till next time.

Melt Ponds, Petermann Ice Island

Melt Ponds, Petermann Ice Island

Absolutely amazing.

I have a new sister-in-law

The happy couple.

On Saturday little brother got married. I now have a new sister-in-law. While getting married may not be for me I am very, very, happy for them both. And I was fortunate enough for them to ask me to be a part of the wedding party. I wan honored. It was a beautiful and very much needed happy day.


I like the tux i got to wear, very nice.

Little sister.

Cutting the cake, notice the rubber duckies on top.



First dance.



Today

It's today, that means that the time has come for me to make my very first lifecast. I'm nervous as %^&*. But I'm doing some last minute double-checking and research. Will write up a post on the experience afterward with, hopefully, a number of pictures.

This Week Is The Week

Went to an open interview at a video store last week, I thought it went alright but ya never know. Going to apply to a few more places this week, when I can. Also need to restart, and finish, the backyard tomorrow. That's a lot of rocks to rake, but I think I can do it.

But let's get to what's important, this is the week I do my lifecasting. It will be my first attempt, and I will be my own subject. Yes, I am getting some help from a nervous assistant. If all goes well I will have a plaster mold of my head and shoulder to work with by the end of the end...hopefully. This of course is the first step in creature creating, and ultimately building up my portfolio.

I'm sweating just thinking about it. But you never know what's going to happen until you try. Even if it doesn't go well it will at the very least be a good learning experience. And I'll be sure to post pictures and write about my experience as it happens.

Smallville // JSA/Absolute Justice Tribute

Smallville has A LOT of critics, I know I can be counted amongst them to a point. But the 2 Hour Smallville special 'Absolute Justice' still stands as one of the shows finest moments. And is probably my personnal favorite episode/s of the series. The characters were done well and the costumes were good. Overall just a great experience if you're a DC Comic fan like me. I know after my first viewing I was ready for a Justice Society TV series, sadly it has yet to be.

The basketball scene in Alien Resurrection.

For all the doubters out there, confirmation that Sigourney Weaver continues being a total badass no matter what. And that Ron Perlman knows awesome when he sees it.

No matter your feelings on ALIEN:RESURRECTION, the fourth film in the ALIEN series, there were a number of interesting ideas put forward. Yes the final product may not of been that great, and if your Joss Whedon the tragedy and frustration of that fact must be incredible, but it was certaintly an interesting installment. Visually the Aliens looked probably the best out of all three sequels, although nothing will ever compare to the Giger design seen in the original ALIEN. And the film overall has a nice pulpy feel to it that I quite liked.

However the Alien occupied segment of my heart will always belong to the first. ALIEN is one of the most perfect science-fiction films ever made. And I CANNOT wait to see PROMETHEUS, I'm on the edge of my seat already.

Just need a few more things

Just need earplugs and Vaseline and I'll be set to make my first lifecast. Long time coming, but it's almost here. Fingers crossed everything will work out this week and things will happen. Really need to get all of this going sooner rather than later. Going to apply for jobs this week too. And try to finish raking the backyard. Full plate.

Greg Proops on Showgirls

Planet of The Apes Franchise Retrospective

3 Trades: 3 Heroines You Need to Know

3 Trades: 3 Heroines You Need to Know

MeMe Monday

Welcome to MeMe Monday, where every Monday I post MeMe's for no particular reason;

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes finally came out, and I finally got to see it. It was really great, I was so happily surprised. As a fan of the original APES films my expectations were high. Only 10 years ago we were in a similar situation with Tim Burtons film. But while that movie disappointed, RISE delivers and delivers terrifically.

RISE is not a remake, although it can be compared to CONQUEST. No this is the beginning of what will hopefully be a new series of stories. Although if you really tried you could connect certain dots with certain lines and say that this movie fits into a pre-time travel continuity. However, if you just want to sit down and enjoy a good, solid, movie you will.

Unlike any other APES movie, this time the apes are created through CGI. And while there are numerous scenes where the digital tech doesn't quite work out, where it shines is with the central ape Caesar. Played by Andy Serkis, who also played both Gollum and Kong with similar digital techniques, Caesar is the central character and hero of the story. You cheer, laugh, and cry with him.

The original APES films delved into time travel and in the end almost created a loop of causality to maintain the universe it had created with only the briefest glimmer of hope in the final film. With RISE the time travel doesn't come into play at all, at least not yet. Winks are given to the original Planet Of The Apes but nothing that's too annoying.

The originals were metaphors and mirrors to the times they were created in. RISE may seem to not delve into social commentary, but there are moments where recognizable connections to some of what our world is going through are present.

While the originals were very much post-apocalyptic stories, this is much more of a sort of prison-escape movie. You'll see what I mean when you see the movie. But the ending is guaranteed to fill you with equal amounts of hope, and doom.

I know this isn't the best written, or detailed, review, but I'm not the person to really analyze this movie. I just know that as a fan of the originals I truly enjoyed it. And I hope for many more installments in this new series. Judging by the success its having we might just be fortunate enough to get one or two. You need to see it for yourself. so please go ahead and check it out. You won't regret it.

Is there a new Batgirl animated series on the way?

Is there a new Batgirl animated series on the way?

Creature The Movie - Theatrical Trailer

FindingJoe_Trailer_480P_.mov

PREDATOR; what is, and what may be...

I want to preface this by saying; BEWARE OF SPOILERS. If you haven't seen any of the Predator movies I will be spoiling them. I will also only be discussing information from the Predator movies, as the AVP (AlienVsPredator) movies are their own universe/continuity.

When creating a creature for film, designers don't often go into any sort of insane depth. Most of the time its about what is needed to tell the story and convey character. But when that creature becomes the star of a franchise it tends to take on a life of its own. Each installment becomes a new opportunity for expansion and exploration. Sometimes this works out quite well and sometimes it doesn't. But i always find it interesting.

I think most creature fans can think of examples for this trend. I for one can think of several. One, and probably one of the most obvious examples, being the Tremors films and their step-by-step revelation of the Graboids life cycle. What reveals like that can do is create a greater sense of reality and color the creatures in a more believable fashion. Than again it can go completely wrong. Although I can't think of any case where that's happened. At least not off hand.

One of the most interesting creature franchises to explore its central star is the Predator series. Starting with the original film PREDATOR, and continuing with PREDATOR2 and PREDATORS. The films don't necessarily make it a major point to reveal new details of its creature, at least not until the third where it was a central focus, but when reveals come they are pretty fantastic.

The original; PREDATOR (1987) and its sequels; PREDATOR2 (1990) & PREDATORS (2010).

If you remember, or for those who don't know; PREDATOR was about a group of special forces commandos on a mission in Central America who are hunted by an Extraterrestrial hunter. Over the course of the film its slowly revealed that this hunter can; cloak itself in invisibility, see heat, move through the tree tops with ease, possesses advanced weapons, hunts for sport, and is mortal like you and I. In the final battle between the Predator and the character of Dutch, the Pred actually disarms itself to fight on similar terms as his human prey. Revealing at least some sense of honor. The movie was a smash hit and thankfully continued on.

Sometimes introductions are everything.

Due to scheduling conflicts with TERMINATOR2 Arnold Schwarzeneger was unable to return for the first PREDATOR sequel PREDATOR2. Instead the script was rewritten and Danny Glover was brought in to play a new character in homicide detective Mike Harrigan. This time a new hunter arrives in 1997 Los Angeles and throws itself in the middle of a bloody gang war. This second film wasn't nearly as successful as the first, and was heavily criticized for being so different. While people give the movie a lot of crap I love it. And its probably my favorite of the series, so far. It takes the entire concept and does something fresh with it, as both sequels ultimately tried to do. I remember seeing this movie as a kid, after I had seen the first of course, and just enjoyed the hell out of it. And there is a very good reason for that, it took a creature I loved and expanded his world. You see in PREDATOR2 the Pred isn't just an invisible nightmare, he is a true character.

From the beginning, we know what the Predator is, we know what it wants. And so we move on and enjoy the character. And scene after scene we are treated to something unique. From the initial attack at the start of the film to the raid on the penthouse, to the subway massacre and slaughterhouse confrontation, to the finale on board a PREDATOR SHIP, we are allowed to run with the true star. You see PREDATOR2 takes what we knew and embellishes everything. Not only does the Predator kill worthy prey, but it allows certain prey to live. A boy with a toy gun, an unarmed and terrified girlfriend of a gang member, a woman pregnant with a child. He assesses the situation, and moves on.

In the first film, we saw the Predator use a medical kit, in the second we see how resourceful an injured Pred can be. As it dismantles a bathroom and uses its raw materials to cauterize its wounds. In one scene the Pred is at a disadvantage as government agents make themselves invisible to its heat vision. The Pred realizing something is off, actually cycles through different vision modes in its helmet until it finds one that detects the light being emitted from the agents flashlights.

As the movie goes on, the Preds battle with Harrigan seemingly becomes increasingly violent and desperate. And personnal, as earlier the Predator taunts Harrigan with the necklace of his friend killed by the Pred himself. They move up and down, and through, buildings and finally end up on the Preds ship. While we briefly saw a Predator ship in the beginning of the first film, here we see something very different. The first films ship was slick and silver, here its jagged and red.

Revelations await within.

As Harrigan moves through its corridors the walls glow and pulse, the atmosphere is thick and mist covers the ground. He comes to an open space, pillars stand in a circle matching up with a round dome in the ceilings center. Harrigan continues to explore and discovers the Preds trophy case. Here skulls not only of humans, but of creatures from throughout space. We see for the first time that we are not the only prey. After the final battle Harrigan stands victorious, thinking its over he turns to leave, but before him appears another Predator, and another, and another, soon he is surrounded by an entire clan of hunters. Their leader, an Elder, motions for the others to take their clan-mates body away. They vanish and now Harrigan and the Elder stand face to face. The Elder begins to walk away but stops. He looks at Harrigan. He pulls a 200 year old flintlock pistol from his belt, considers for a moment, and throws it to Harrigan. "Take it". And with that the Elder vanishes as well. The ship activates and takes off as Harrigan runs for safety. In the end Harrigan walks out of the ships launch crater covered in ash.

This is probably my favorite moment in the entire movie. I remember seeing it as a kid and freaking out, loving every second of it. Its everything I as a fan could've hoped for. Not only is there an entire race of Predators but they're out there hunting just about everything you can think of. In this scene we see the culmination of the Predators honor code, as the Elder threw the pistol to Harrigan. A symbol that he is indeed a worthy opponent who has earned his own measure of honor in surviving what few have before. And with two words, we realize that the Predators aren't what we may think they are. Voice imitation has been seen in all three movies, but was always the product of technology. But here, the Elder speaks, and speaks directly. In that moment we see a fleeting appearance of understanding between two warriors.

Not everything is what it seems.

PREDATORS was the long awaited return of the series to the big screen. It was nearly 20 years since PREDATOR2 was released. And the series tragically fell victim to not one, but two, horrible AlienVSPredator movies. And while I still believe its possible to make a great crossover movie with the two franchises it was so fantastic to see the Predator back on screen in his own movie again. This time Adrien Brody came in as the lead, a mercenary name Royce.

New worlds.

In the third movie Royce and a group of killers from across Earth are taken and dropped on a Predator hunting planet. As they attempt to survive they discover they are being hunted by a new breed of hunter, one revealed to be in conflict with the Predators we've already seen. While conflicts between Predators have been explored in comic books and paperbacks, this is the first time the films have introduced the idea. And not only is it a conflict seemingly between clans, but between races. The new stars of this movie, and maybe the franchise, are introduced as the Super Predators. Larger, more brutal, creatures who utilize unique technologies and techniques. The prime Predator species from the previous two films does make an appearance however, but in the form of a beaten and angry prisoner of the Super Predators.

A new conflict comes to the series.

Its through the Super Predators that we gain our biggest insight into this species. As a subspecies they share many qualities with their smaller cousins. But there are also more than a few differences. The most obvious of which beyond their size is their unique facial structure. Which emphasizes the mandibles and elongates the head. The Super Predators also have slightly more advanced weapons which, according to a human survivor, they are continuously upgrading based on their experiences with prey. A standout being a cybernetic "falcon" that flies over the jungles of this new world on the look out for prey and relays anything it finds to its corresponding user.

However Super Predators are not limited to their technology as they seem to take advantage of anything they can find. The single most prominent addition to their arsenal and maybe the entire Predator mythology, aside from the inter-race war, is the addition of the hunting dogs. About the size of a medium to large sized dog, they have large teeth, massive spines going down their back and tusks pushing forward from their neck and face. They are incredibly fast and tough creatures. And also happen to be incredibly obedient as they quickly come when called. A number of people have criticized their design, including Roger Ebert, calling them impractical and strange. But I love them. Its just incredibly unfortunate that they only appear in two scenes in the final film. However if you go back and look at the trailers for PREDATORS you can actually see one in a shot from a scene near the finale. Its likely that they were meant to return but the film-makers ran out of time.

A hunting preserve planet, new tech, hunting dogs, and inter-race war. PREDATORS introduced a number of concepts to the film cannon. And I have to say I welcome them all. The one last reveal, which surprised a number of people occurred in only a single scene. As the humans attempt to turn the tables on the hunters they run into another creature on the planet also brought there against its will. Called the "Stick Man" and "River Ghost", he is quickly killed but in his brief appearance, much like the dogs and Super Predators, he offers a glimpse into the larger Predator universe. A universe where anything could be around the next corner.

Honor Codes. Trophies from across the Universe. Clans. Dogs. The RiverGhost/Stickman. The Super Predators.

Its in that spirit that I make this blog post. You see in the three Predator films we've seen a number of aspects of this species. But there is one question that continues to linger in the minds of many. If all of the Predators we have seen are male, than what do the females look like? What do they do? Where are they? I'm sure these same questions have entered the minds of film-makers, if only for a moment. But so far no one has attempted to answer them on film.

So far its been up to the fans, and apparently in the minds of fans, females need three things; curves, breasts and very little clothing. I won't try to dissect the reasoning behind that. As I'm sure we can all come up with any number of theories.

Only a few of the many fan interpretations of the Female Predator.

A female Predator is something I would be interested to see, if only to finally answer the question of appearance. Bringing them into the franchise would only enrich it, furthering the reality created in the films that much more. With females, much like the newly introduced Super Predators, you would have an entirely new avenue of stories to tell. And the franchise as a whole could go even farther. But before any of that can happen, theres the question of design.

What exactly would a female Predator look like? I think for a basic idea we should look to nature. Immediately we would look at reptiles and crustaceans as the Predators seem to share a number of characteristics with them. Traditionally members of the reptile and crustacean families look almost identical. However no two Predators look the same. Each has their own markings, their own colors, their own crests, they're even different shapes and sizes. If anything Predators have much more in common with humans.

A small number of the Male Predators we've seen in the films so far.

While they may have a several things in common with humans they are incredibly different. Claws, Mandibles, Ridges, Spines, Neon Green Blood, Possibly breathing Methane. These are very unique creatures. But we'll attempt to put them in a framework that seems familiar enough. They are not mammals, or at least they don't appear to be anything close. So the chance of a female Predator having breasts is highly unlikely. As breasts are, biologically, needed to nurse young. Than again, as creatures from another planet, who are probably part of a yet unknown order of animals, they naturally may function under a different set of rules. And the familiar framework is no longer applicable. So than again, maybe breasts are entirely possible. And function biologically as we would expect. However once the young enters the picture an entirely new set of possibilities come up. Maybe female Predators don't give birth, so wider hips may be out of the question. Its possible that Predators hatch from eggs or pods outside of the mothers body. Imagine a nest of Predator eggs ready to hatch.

Which brings up the question; do parents in the Predator species care for their young? We have yet to see any Predator children running around in the films. The absence of both females and children has led many fans to wonder if the young remains with their mother either on a planet or a ship of their own. In nature its not uncommon for females to live in social groups independent from any males. Elephants immediately come to mind. Males will visit primarily to reproduce and will leave soon after. So perhaps, as there are ships filled with male Predators moving from place to place there are also ships filled with females living an equally nomadic existence.

The question of reproduction is a very natural one. The entire ALIEN franchise is built around the concept. Although the methods vary from one film to another. Originally ALIEN portrayed the process in an incredibly fascinating way with the Facehugger acting as a delivery system introducing the embryo into a host to develop. It was a truly alien method of production. I say production because it was never alluded to that something laid the eggs in the first place. The Queen concept wasn't introduced until James Cameron made the Xenomorphs more insect-like creating a hive structure. A reproduction method that was again twisted in the ending of the fourth film, ALIEN:Resurrection, with a more human method of birth. Ultimately I prefer the method seen in the first ALIEN as it was the most interesting and original. And thankfully it looks like the upcoming PROMETHEUS will be taking everything back to a much more unique place. Could the Predators be as alien, although in a different direction? I try to go toward more unique possibilities when it comes to answering these sorts of things.

From the unique to the basic.

My theories are my own. I don't think Predator females have breasts, although it may be possible. Wider hips seems likely if they give birth, either to live young or to eggs/pods. If they do in fact live apart from males, than they may also be larger in size and much stronger. As they not only would be capable of doing everything a male does but also need to protect their young. That is of course, if the young remains with the females in the first place. They may very well birth the children and move on, leaving them to fend for themselves or in the care of others. The question of appearance should also be answered. Traditionally in nature males are physically more colorful and possess more prominant physical features unique to them. This likely isn't the case with the Predators. As a race that now exists throughout space, they have likely moved on from many of these differences. Although either sex may have dominant features the other doesn't. Males could have larger ridges and spines while females have larger mandibles for example. The differences would be amplified even more with the introduction of the Super Predator subspecies. The Super Predators look very different, and females of this group could very likely follow suit. Appearing as different from their primary species cousins as the males.

A species, and a subspecies makes things even more complicated.

Infinitie possibilities, thats what it comes down to. The latest word is that the next Predator movie is probably a few years away as they want to find a way to keep the franchise fresh. Its a good idea. So many times franchises suffer from fatigue because those making the movies simply repeat themselves over and over. So taking time to figure out new ways to approach a concept is the best thing to do. With so many possible stories to tell and so many things to explore I have a feeling the Predator series has many, many, years ahead of it. And I couldn't be happier.

Neighborhood Fireworks FAIL

Must see!! Actual alien abduction cought by security cam.

The Flaming C Movie Trailer (HD)

Space Shuttle: The complete missions -- by Nature Video

Today the Shuttle Atlantis landed. It was the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program. Bringing an end to the Shuttles 30 years in space. Thank you to the crews who have given everything to bring humanity closer to the stars. I found this music video online that chronicles every Shuttle mission ever launched. Give it a look, and give thanks to those with the courage to reach beyond the limits of this world.

mad picard

Slow & Fast All At Once.

It feels like I'm moving slow. I'm not getting anything done. Time is passing. The world is moving and moving and moving.

I need to start getting my ass going. Started applying for jobs around here, hoping to find something basic that pays. That's what I want right now, a pay check. Meanwhile I'm figuring out the other things I have to start on. Going to do the life-casting of my head next week. Once I have a mold of my head, I'll start designing and sculpting. At best, developing a portfolio.to get work in creature FX. At worst, it'll serve as a physical portal for my madness.

Fingers crossed.

"Do Not Knock"

I want to say first and foremost, I appreciate and respect everyone's right to believe whatever they'd like to believe. Go for it, celebrate it. Please be proud of who you are.

What bothers me sometimes is when people go out of their way to try and get others to join them in that belief. The people who think their way is the only real way to go. The ones who come knocking on your door and try to sell you on their ideal. I appreciate that they believe truly that they're doing the right thing, and that they are the light in the dark and so on. But not everyone is going to believe what you want them to. And not everyone wants to.

Nothing is more frightening than a society where everyone thinks, feels, and says the exact same thing. And if history shows us anything its that those societies often do more harm than good. I won't insult people by calling up examples, because we can all think of many on our own. But I will say that society can only function ideally when you have different people living with each other in a peaceful and cooperative manner. That doesn't mean agreeing on everything, and it certaintly doesn't mean having the same beliefs.

I know its simply part of life and people will do whatever they want to do. But if you're pushing your way into peoples faces, you're only going to push them away. Just step back, and do your own thing and the people who are interested will come to you.

Its taken time for me to make peace with my views on a number of things. I remember for years I was quite angry and my frustrations would overwhelm me. But with time has come understanding and peace. I know who I am, for the most part. I will stand up for what I believe in, and I always will. But I won't allow hate or ignorance to influence my life. I try to judge people by what they do and how they conduct themselves as individuals.

That all being said; Is there any sort of "Do Not Knock" List I can get on? Yunno, just to make it easier for everyone?

Saving Valentina.6.8.11.h264.mov

Every day animals suffer because of the actions of man. But sometimes human beings redeem themselves by helping those in need. Here a Humpback Whale is tangled in a fishing net and near death. Check out what happens next.

The Thing Trailer 2011

The trailers are coming quick today. First John Carter now the prequel to John Carpenters The Thing. I'm a huge, HUGE, fan of Carpenters movie. It is a perfect film in every possible way. Everything I've read about this prequel says that its going to work. And I've got my fingers and toes crossed hoping its fantastic. Looking forward to it.

John Carter Trailer 2012 -- Official Movie Trailer | HD

I really enjoy the John Carter stories. And while it doesn't look like they'll be adapting Princess Of Mars directly, the movie still looks strong. Can't wait. Check out the trailer above; John Carter of Mars.

Has Boobs, Reads Comics: The Dwayne McDuffie tribute Comic-Con International wouldn't print

Has Boobs, Reads Comics: The Dwayne McDuffie tribute Comic-Con International wouldn't print

Moving 3

And we're here. We're moved in, still unpacking, and I am connected to the Internet once more. Tell me world; Do people still smile? and laugh? and love? ..... is it dirty love? do their friends join in? ............. I've missed you.

Moving 2

We're coming down to the wire, only a few days left. Most of my stuff is over at the new house now. We only have a little bit left in this house to move over. So, this time next week we'll be in the new place and moving on. These days have been alright. But right around the evenings, the emotions catch up to me a little bit. But I get over it.

Right now I'm just thinking about the minor things up to the moving in. But once its all done, it'll be a nice weight off of all of us. I've even started making plans for afterwards. I'm not talking about how rooms will look or anything, although I have been thinking about that, I mean the big stuff.

When we're settled, first thing is the job search. Nothing crazy, just basic work. Than as I'm doing that I'll be working on my creature portfolio. I'll do life-casting, sculpting, molding and so on. Hopefully I'll build up something that actually can get me work in the industry.

The other big thing is dating. I'm no good with relationships or anything. But with experience comes wisdom. So I need to start giving dating a chance.

Well, just need to get through the week. Once we're moved in, I'll go for it. But for now, I'm trying not to lose it.

EXCLUSIVE! Harry Potter Auditions for Conan the Barbarian

Fantastic Cowboys & Aliens Fan Posters

A little while ago this Fan-made poster and it's alternate spread across the Internet. Everybody loves them, myself included. The great problem with movie posters these days is that they all look like they were made by the same person with outdated image manipulation software. That's why posters made by companies like MONDO are in such high demand. They just look terrific. These posters were made by Janee Meadows an LA based illustrator and graphic designer, she made them for fun. And fanboys and girls the Internet over, including the films director, love them. I wish I had either of them to hang on my new wall. Enjoy;

The main poster, look how cool that is.

The alternate poster, still cool.

Visit Janee Meadows website for more of her work here; http://www.janeemeadows.com/

The official Cowboys & Aliens website is here; http://www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com/

Godzilla the Series - S2E03 - S.C.A.L.E

Thought I'd post one of my favorite episodes of the animated series here. The video will take time to load so be patient.

-"GODZILLA: THE SERIES"-
-"The series follows the Humanitarian Environmental (or Ecological) Analysis Team (H.E.A.T.), a research team led by Dr. Nick Tatopoulos as they battle giant monsters which frequently appear in the wake of the events depicted in the 1998 SONY film. Godzilla, the only hatching of its species to survive in the movie, imprints on Nick and becomes the chief weapon summoned against the other monsters encountered by the human characters.

The series also introduces two new characters: Monique Dupre, a French secret agent assigned by Philippe Roache to keep an eye on Godzilla and H.E.A.T., and Randy Hernandez, an intern of Nick's who specializes in computer hacking."

Probably one of the best episodes of the series;

-"S.C.A.L.E."-
-"Told in a documentary style, the H.E.A.T team are called to Miami to deal with Skeetera, a giant mutated mosquito, when they come under attack from S.C.A.L.E. (Servants of Creatures Arriving Late to Earth), an eco-terrorist group who believe mutations are the next stage of evolution. After narrowly capturing the rampaging insect, H.E.A.T transports Skeetera to Monster Island so the creature can be studied by the U.S. military. But unknown to them, they have unwanted guests: Animal and Audrey have stowed away on board the 'Heat-Seeker', hoping for a good story, and S.C.A.L.E. has tracked them to Monster Island. When the terrorists take over Monster Island with plans to unleash the monsters held there on the world, the only hope lies in the combined forces of H.E.A.T, Major Hicks and his troops, Audrey and Animal."

The episode, outside of its well done story device which can be superficially compared to something like Cloverfield, also features an interesting concept in the S.C.A.L.E. group. If giant monsters existed and had run-ins with the military and so on a group like this would most likely exist. In fact, they absolutely would exist in a "real world" filled with monsters. This episode, I think, represents some of the potential for the Kaiju genre. Let's hope we see more chances being taken by other monster movie makers in the years to come.

Because the episode takes place on MONSTER ISLAND it features appearances from creatures previously seen on the series;

ZILLA; Monster star of the series and only remaining member of its species.
CRUSTACEOUS REX; A bipedal mutant sea monster.
KING COBRA; A giant Cobra.
GIANT BAT; A giant Bat monster with the ability to fire powerful sonic blasts.

It also introduces a new creature to the show, an incredibly powerful monster known as;

SKEETERA; A giant Mosquito with the ability to increase its size and absorb the powers of other mutations as it drinks their blood.

Like I said I really enjoy this episode and I hope you like it too. I'm only posting it so others can share in the joy. If you do like it, the entire series is available on Netflix and there are three volumes worth of episodes, one of which includes this very episode, available on DVD.

Godzilla and other characters are property of TOHO.

Moving...

We have, I think, a little over a week left before we have to be moved out and into the new house. Every day for the past week or so we've been loading up the truck and taking things over. So far we've finished moving the shed and most of the basement. This weekend we start on the rest of the house....hopefully.

The garage, where we've been putting things from the basement and the things we want to store or sell, is nearly full. We'll definitely have a garage sale at some point.

We've been running out of boxes faster than we've been able to move things. Having to call people up to ask if they have any we can use. Its going to be a long process, as it always is. But the new house is nice and I have plans for my new room.

Hopefully things will improve once we've moved. I already have a rough schedule of goals for afterward. Just basic things like; Get a job, Start on my creature portfolio, Hopefully make some short films. All I know for sure is that I need to get to work in a serious way.

I hate moving, I truly do. But I suspect it'll be a hundred times worse when I eventually go to live on my own. And who knows what sort of distance I'll have to deal with than.

BleedingCool.com Presents The DC Comics New 52 Presentation

Well that's a fluff piece if I ever saw one, all advertising with no depth. Look, I have no interest in reading comics digitally. The only reason I do read the one online book, is because there's no other option. When it comes to buying books; In the past picking up single issues has been more frustrating than anything else mostly because I feel the price is way too high compared to how little content there is. If I'm going to go out of my way to get to the shop and pay $2.50 or more I want it to be worth the trip. And once you take out advertisements and look at the serialization style of the medium, it makes so little sense to go through the trouble to get what is the equivalent of 5 minutes reading time and maybe a little longer of ogling at the art. That's why I always wait for trades; you get a complete story and you can take the time to really become engrossed in what's going on.

That being said, I do think people are making a mountain out of a mole hill when it comes to the relaunch. Yes things are being changed. Yes certain decisions are being made. But I keep getting a feeling that there is a point to all of this outside of sales. That we may be an event or two away from yet another change.

I have my own frustrations when it comes to all of this and they're quite basic; Why not give Wonder Woman as many books as Superman or Batman? Why doesn't Martian Manhunter get his own universe expanding solo series? Which is a question that could be asked of any number of other characters. But since Martian Manhunter is my favorite DC character I'll stick by him. A lot of these questions can be answered quite easily by simply invoking SALES. But than that doesn't explain why other characters who are even less known than MM get their own books. It's just some of this makes perfect sense, and some of it makes very little sense. Which is why I suspect something else is going on. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Harrison Ford - "No Co-Pilot"

Beaver.

Wanna learn a little something?

Just finished watching the documentary "Hugh Hefner:Playboy, Activist and Rebel", really fantastic. If you think you know anything about Playboy, Hugh Hefner, or the role he's played in society you really have no idea. Prepare to learn a little something. Check it out if you get the chance.

Holy shit, while you're at it go check out another terrific Doc called "Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work". It follows Joan Rivers during a year of her life and it is fantastic. I laughed, i teared up. I have a new respect for this icon. And she is an icon, one that doesn't get the appreciation she deserves.

Words to live by...

"There is only one god, and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: "Not today"."

-Syrio Forel
             'Game Of Thrones'

Sketch Monday.....What?...

Putting Sketch Monday on indefinite hold until after the move. Just got too much on my mind at the moment. Besides I don't have nearly enough sketch material on my computer to really justify posting right now. But once the move is done and we're settled in, I'll be a posting fool.

JCVD Monologue HD English Subs

Brilliant.

Bill Cosby Dentist

Went to the dentist this morning to deal with my toothache. Turns out the filling that came out in December exposed a space incredibly close to a nerve. They went in, put a film layer over it, and refilled the area. Now a whole part of my face is numbed out.

Father's Day

We woke up early yesterday, lil sister and I, lil brother came over too. We made breakfast for Dad and gave him his gift. Thankfully he liked it. We don't tell him we love him enough, well, I don't think we do. It's been really difficult for us over the past year or two. But it's been the hardest on him. Thankfully things seem to lightening up. As we are transitioning from one point in our lives to another.

What is Father's Day? Check out the Wiki to learn a few things; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_day

Father's Day began in America in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5th, 1908. It was organized by Mrs. Grace Golden Clayton, who wanted to celebrate the lives of 210 who had died in the Monongah Mining Disaster which had occurred months before in Monongah, West Virginia. She chose the date of her celebration because it was the nearest Sunday to the birthday of her late Father. But the event was never recognized as an official holiday. Instead Sonora Dodd from Spokane was credited with inventing the holiday two years later, as a logical counterpart to Mother's Day. This credit however lasted until 1972 when the the holiday's origin's were finally rectified.

While a bill was introduced to make Father's Day an official Holiday in 1913, President Wilson went to a local Father's Day celebration in Spokane in 1916 wanting to finally make it official. However the effort was resisted by Congress because they feared the Holiday would become commercialized. In 1924 President Coolidge asked the nation to observe the day, but never made a proclamation making it an official holiday. As the years passed Congress continued to defeat notions of making Father's Day an official Holiday. In spite of efforts made by several individuals and politicians. It wasn't until 1966 when President Johnson set a national date for Father's Day and 1972 when President Nixon finally made the holiday official.

While Father's day is celebrated by Nation's around the world, much like Mother's Day. International Men's Day is also a holiday, along with it's counterpart; International Women's Day.

However you celebrate it, just know that your Father is your Father year 'round. Just like your Mother. And, just like your Mother, deserves your love any chance you are able to give it to them.

Happy Father's Day Dad. I love you.

When the %^&* does this take place?

The DCU reboot is still being talked about in a big way, and it will be talked about for years to come. A few more details came out today about when exactly the new era takes place. Turns out it takes place pretty much everywhere.

The Past;
-Justice League
-Action Comics

The Present;
-Batman and associated titles.
-Green Lantern and associated titles.
-Legion of Superheroes and associated titles.
-Green Arrow
-Hawkman
-DCU Presents

The Rebooted;
-Everything else.

Will probably update this when new bits of information come out.

Sound Effects: Cops & Ducks

To Blog?

Blogging is a big thing, everybody seems to have their own space. Some Blog about important things, others not so much. Some do it for fun, some make a nice bit of cash. I've been doing it for fun, and well, why not. After the move, which is fast approaching, and when we're settled I'll finally be able to clear my head again and focus on the things I've been putting off for so long.

So now I have to think, in a serious way, about the future. Job search will kick in the second we're moved. Creature/Movie stuff will too. So should I blog? Like I said when I created Tentacle Corner, its really nice to have a space online to call my own. Somewhere I can talk about anything I want, post things that interest me. Essentially a me-space. But when I start doing everything, I'll have to focus on my goals in a way I haven't before. Would a new blog help that? It's possible. Would it just distract me? Again, possible.

Having an official site costs money, which I really don't have that much of. But having a blog hosted by a site, like this one, can be free. Which is a nice relief. I dunno, I guess I'll see what happens in the next month or two.

Extinction - Prologue (Splinter Cell Fan Series)

Pain

Pain's a funny thing. Well it can be, when it happens to someone else and doesn't result in serious, or permanent, injury. Look at America's Funniest Home Video's, I dare you not to cringe and chuckle. But we know there's more than one kind of pain. There's; emotional, psychological, metaphorical, existential, spiritual. No matter the variety however pain still affects us in one way or another. Unless of course you've learned to deal with it.

Look at the monks and mystics who put needles through their flesh or tear their hair out by the handful without a flinch. Those are some true badass'. But its not about being tough to them. Its a spiritual practice and right. They learn for years before they can truly execute any amazing feat, and when they do, its not amazing to them. It simply is. The association with pain, and overcoming it, is a greater concept.

Anyway, around December one of my fillings came out, and I've been fine until maybe three weeks ago. Than the pain started. I've been pretty much just dealing with it. But lately its gotten to the point where I could quite literally rip my own head off if it meant being rid of it. So I'm making an appointment with the dentist.

That's all.

The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody

Karmin - Look At Me Now

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" Trailer 2

Rioting over nothing...

The rioting in Vancouver is likely to be "news" for the next few days. To be clear, it's NOT all of Vancouver that's doing the rioting. Only a small number of worthless pieces of garbage. Look folks, sorry your team lost, but sports are not something to get upset about.

I've been figuring out over the past few years that fans of anything, whether its sports, comics, movies, whatever, need to calm the hell down and have some perspective. Myself included. These things mean absolutely nothing in the long run, they're just little passing elements of the society around us. Now of course you can argue that the arts are expressions of the moment and voice of the human condition. And that's true. And sports are the exploration of human ability and physical and mental excellence. And that is also true. But are these things worth causing terrible damage and hurting people? Fuck no.

So to all the rioters I say; grow the hell up. And to the people of Vancouver, I say; no worries, we know this isn't you. America has a lot of experience when it comes to rioting over nothing. We're here for you.

Ocarina of Time 3D - Robin Williams Commercial

The Conversation Continues.....

The conversation regarding Barbara Gordon's return to Batgirl seems to be becoming more involving by the day. Over at Newsarama Jill Pantozzi, the writer who had previously written an amazing article regarding her feelings as a person who uses a wheelchair on Barbara's walking again, posted an interview with writer Gail Simone. Simone has been writing Birds Of Prey, which featured Barbara in her role as Oracle, for the past few years and will be the lead writer of this new Batgirl series. Its a really good interview and I encourage people to read it; http://www.newsarama.com/comics/gail-simone-dicusses-batgirl-and-oracle-110609.html

I'm still really mixed about the whole thing. I'm not entirely sure if this interview actually said anything beyond Simone trying to reassure readers. She did explain, some of the origins of her involvment and of the decision to use Barbara. And one thing I can say about Simone is that she is HONEST. So if she says something you can take it to the bank. But I really suspect that a lot more went on behind-the-scenes than what she may have been privy to. And what I mean by that is simply, as a writer she wouldn't necessarily be told about the business elements which were undoubtedly responsible for the various decisions that have been made.

As in film and television, comic books are a business first. And if it's believed that something won't earn, than it won't happen. Still hoping, like the fool that I am, to one day see a Martian Manhunter ongoing series though.

OH GOD HELP ME CONTROL THIS LAWNMOWER

American Marvel Movies + TV: GQ.com

American Marvel Movies + TV: GQ.com

Such a incredibly well written article. Interview with Chris Evans done for GQ.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!!!!!

The Licensing International Expo is essentially a showcase for products and promotions involving various movies and such. If you're a fanboy this is usually where you get your very first look at material from the upcoming movies you just can't wait to see. This year, the two big ones are; The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers.

For anyone living under a rock, starting with the first Iron Man movie, MARVEL Studios has been planting easter eggs and subplots, some subtle some not so subtle, which will inevitably lead to a mega team-up feature involving a number of their heroes. The Avengers. In the comics superhero teams are part of the language and really old hat. But in cinema team-ups like this are usually played for laughs. This will be the first time the concept will be treated with the large scale and serious tone that comic book readers are already familiar with.

Well the inevitable is here as at the Licensing International Expo the very first look at the film has leaked onto the web. Here ya go, your first look at The Avengers;

It may be missing a few members, but I suppose its a start.