Kara’s Video of the Day: Hurricane!
The coasts of Virginia and North Carolina are prepping for a beating from Hurricane Earl. It’s looking as though my area is in the “medium” threat range, with areas just north and south in “high” threat and Cape Hatteras somewhere approaching “Biblical.”
Right now people are buying batteries and nonperishables, making plans to be without power, and possibly even evacuating. But in the midst of all the craziness, there is only one action that any true anime fan can take:
Gratuitous “Bubblegum Crisis.”
Stay safe out there, kids.
In: Anime, Around the Intertubes · Tagged with: Anime, bubblegum crisis, hurricane
Trailer Watch: Buried
I will not do well with this movie.
Lionsgate has released a new international trailer for Buried. A potential star-maker for Ryan Reynolds, the film stars him as a contractor in Iraq who, after his convoy is attacked, wakes up in a box underground with nothing but a cell-phone, a lighter and 90 minutes of air. An indication that the film will play out in real-time? Here’s hoping.
Buried has a limited release starting September 24, with a wide release following on October 8, 2010.
In: Movies, Trailers · Tagged with: Buried, Ryan Reynolds, Trailer Watch, Trailers
Sweden says 3D-films are too much for some kids
An interesting bit of news for Mr. 3D, James Cameron.
According to a report at Variety, Sweden has started rating the 2D and 3D versions of some films differently. With the release of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, the film board gave the 2D version a G-rating, while the 3 dimensional film got a PG sticker.
The director of the Board of Film Censors (their MPAA) said that:
We had two different teams watching the 2D and 3D versions. Those who saw the 2D version did not experience the effects as strongly as those of us who saw the 3D version did. The 3D effects were difficult for a 4 year old to handle. But those under seven can see it anyway, but with an adult. The business has accepted this. I think we will make many separate 3D decisions in the future as it is notable how many filmmakers really dive into the technique with strong effects. This does not, however, mean that 3D versions will always get a higher rating.
What does this mean for the rest of the world? Nothing really. Erik Broberg of Disney stated, “There are no scientific facts that state that 3D should be more dangerous. We haven’t had any 3D theaters filled with crying kids. To me this is to move the positions forward without any grounds.”
However, I can understand the position. At such a young age, that is a more intense experience. The film becomes that much more real. So will we see any repercussions on this in the US? PG-13 and R-rated versions of Avatar 2? Unlikely, but who knows?
In: Movies, News · Tagged with: 3D, Movies, Sweden
Trailer Watch: The Town
Ben Affleck surprised a lot of people in 2007 with the release of Gone Baby Gone, his first major directorial debut. Now, we’re getting a longer look at his new feature, The Town.
The film stars Affleck as Doug MacRay, a thief in Boston, where over 300 bank robberies are committed a year. After briefly taking her as a hostage, MacRay falls for bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) when he goes to check up on what she might know after it’s discovered she lives in the same neighborhood as him and his gang. From there, a delicate balancing act between his loyalty to the gang, his love for Claire, and the FBI who are closing in around him
The Town hits theaters on September 10, 2010.
In: Movies, Trailers · Tagged with: Ben Affleck, The Town, Trailer Watch, Trailers
“Top Gear”’s Stig Unmasked
Some say his mystique is half the fun of British motoring/propane-fest show “Top Gear.” And that if we ever found out his true identity, the pillars that hold the world aloft would crumble and the elder gods would walk the Earth again.
And then there's this asshole.
In what is being called “a victory for freedom of speech” by publishing house HarperCollins, British F3 racer and dude who totally drove a car in Quantum of Solace Ben Collins has won his battle with BBC execs attempting to block publication of his forthcoming book. Why? Because in it, he reveals that he is, seriously for reals this time, The Stig.
In: News, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: legal problems, The Stig, Top Gear, well that was dumb
Blightyvision: “The Last Detective”
Based on the novels by Leslie Thomas
Starring Peter Davison, Sean Hughes, and Emma Amos
I was fortunate enough to have the chance to see Peter Davison as King Arthur in the West End production of Spamalot a few years ago. While I’d seen him in both “Doctor Who” and “Campion” prior to it, it never really struck me just what a range he has as an actor. So when I asked my expat friend to suggest things to fill out my (then-new) Netflix queue and this was one of his first suggestions, I hesitated. I like Davison and all, but yet another detective? How different could he be from Mr. Campion?
The answer: very. Read the rest of this post »
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: available on dvd, detective series, mystery, Peter Davison, The Last Detective, who's not who
Neil Gaiman’s Sandman + Supernatural’s Eric Kripke = Gigantic mistake?
If you’re a fan of British author Neil Gaiman’s former monthly comics series Sandman and have always wanted to see a live-action version, then The Hollywood Reporter has news for you.
Over at their Heat Vision blog, reporters Borys Kit and James Hibberd broke the exclusive news that Warner Bros. TV is “in the midst of acquiring television rights from sister company DC Entertainment and in talks with several writer-producers about adapting the 1990s comic. At the top of the list is Eric Kripke, creator of the CW’s horror-tinged ‘Supernatural.’”
That howl you heard around 6 pm Pacific, by the way? Was the wailing and gnashing of teeth of many a mature female comics fan who knows and loves both Sandman and “Supernatural” and knows exactly how Kripke could possibly fuck it all up.
The bit of good news from the blog that all fans are holding onto lies in these two sentences from Kit and Hibberd:
[Neil Gaiman] is not involved in the new developments, though since it is early in the process, that may change. In fact, securing Gaiman will prove key for the project to go forward.
Gaiman, who is currently in the U.K. taking care of business related to his upcoming “Doctor Who” episode, didn’t comment on his Twitter account when the news broke here in the U.S. because he was on a Skype call to the Melbourne Writer Fest in Australia as one of their events. (Damn, don’t you love technology, these days?)
In: Television: U.S.A. · Tagged with: Comic Adaptation, Neil Gaiman, Sandman, this will either be awesome or awful
The Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Watchlist: Coming Back Next Season!
Oh thank God.
Rather than focusing this week on one upcoming project, I’m thinking it’s time for me to tackle this news of the announcements of two shows returning soon and put a few minds (much like mine) at ease. Read the rest of this post »
In: Comics, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: benedict cumberbatch, detective series, Idris Elba, Luther, martin freeman, mystery, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, the moff
Comic Non-Sans: Interrobang Studios
And here we are, wrapping up my month of hard-working webcomickers. To be honest, I could likely carry this on for an extra month, given how extensive many artists’ CVs are becoming. It’s quite possible that we’re moving into an era in the webcomicking world now where floating multiple projects is going to become more and more commonplace. And that’s going to put a whole new spin on “quality vs. quantity,” though the people I’ve been covering this month have been managing both admirably.
Now it’s time to be an utter suck-up as I go over the final entry in my mini-gallery: Interrobang Studios. Read the rest of this post »
In: Columns, Webcomics · Tagged with: based on a tv show, based on a video game, Interrobang, Star Trek, Webcomics
Musical Taste Video of the Day: This Gigantic Robot Kills by MC Lars
I grew up in the 90s, and accordingly, have a soft spot for ska music. You know, you start with a typical punk song and then all of a sudden, the horns kick in and everyone is skanking (the dance, not the….well I don’t even know how you’d verb the other thing). So when I first heard the titular track on MC Lars’ 2009 album This Gigantic Robot Kills, I was taken back to the old Mustard Plug and Suicide Machine shows of my hometown venue. And it features The Aquabats. Check it out.
In: Music · Tagged with: MC Lars, Music, music videos, Musical Taste, Nerdcore, Ska, The Aquabats