Posts Filed Under: movies

Yes, I’m a bit late to the party where everyone gushes over the official shots of the Watchmen, but allow me the opportunity for a handful of OMGs and \(^o^)/s. Above is about the best we could hope for with the Comedian. Sure, it’s the default leathery, ribbed costume that has been in just about every super hero movie, but the lack of Kevlar nipples is comforting. Nite Owl may not have much of a pot belly and Ozymandias may look somewhat milquetoasty but I’m very, very excited.

If you don’t know what Watchmen is, let Wikipedia get you up to speed: “Watchmen is set in 1985, in an alternative history United States where costumed adventurers are real and the country is edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union (the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight). It tells the story of a group of past and present superheroes and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own. Watchmen depicts superheroes as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neuroses and failings, and who – with one notable exception – lack anything recognizable as super powers. Watchmen’s deconstruction of the conventional superhero archetype, combined with its innovative adaptation of cinematic techniques and heavy use of symbolism, multi-layered dialogue, and metafiction, has influenced both comics and film.”

I think I can also get behind the Silk Spectre look.

Now, how the hell are they going to handle all that Dr. Manhattan junk on display? It’s gonna be a long wait for March 2009.

Have you ever seen something so retarded and out of place that it ends up being cool and working? Well, the addition of Yoda and Darth Vader into the Soul Calibur universe may be just that. The nine year old in me flipped out when Namco announced that the two guest-stars will be appearing in the next installment on their respective color-coded gaming systems.

Please tell me Voldo will have an alternate C-3PO costume.

Every blue moon some information will break about some game that shoots it immediately to the top of my list of most anticipated. I can’t exactly explain why. It may be the timing, or the look, or be based on something that I may have been into some time ago. The track record for these games has been mixed. Off the top of my head here’s a sampling:

Diablo 2, because the original Diablo was so damn good. I remember reading diabloii.net daily for over a year for any hint of a rumor. Diablo 2 turned out pretty good, but I way over-hyped it in my head and nothing could have ever lived up to expectations I had built, not even the Secret Cow Level.

Star Wars Galaxies, because I thought, “Holy shit, the resources of Sony combined with the depth of the Star Wars Universe! How could this not be the most enthralling game ever! Plus, it’s a secret how to become a Jedi! Something about unlocking your Force Sensitive Character Slot!” We know how that turned out.

Dead Rising, because you will be able to kill hoards of zombies with hedge clippers, and fire extinguishers, and oversized stuffed animals! I’m going to get this for the PS3 day one!

Well, a new game has eclipsed all others for the top slot: Ghostbusters.

All aboard the hype train!

Sometimes, during the holiday rush, we forget the important things. Things like… Planes, Trains & Automobiles being the Best Thanksgiving Movie Ever. And Best Christmas Movie Ever? Die Hard. Drippy sentimentality comes second place to Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. It’s loaded with 80s anachronisms: Japanese corporate dominance, smoking in airports, coke snorting suits, out of place nudity, Run DMC’s “Christmas In Hollis” and, obviously, Bruce Willis.

Plus, it’s loaded with terrorism when terrorism was fun.

I’m watching it now while I get some “real work” done. Hey, it’s a pre-Carl Winslow Reginald Vel Johnson! Fuckin A! No doubt‚ÄîBest Christmas Movie Ever.

Speaking of Die Hard, Kudos to Rogue Status for its “Ho Ho Ho” tee, but I’m not sure I’m down enough with the remix to pick it up. Their Dead Bird tee, also from Holiday 07 might look familiar.

Padlock over the back, it’s a nice touch. Their “The Man” tee isn’t bad either. Still got my copies of The ‘Nam stashed away at my parents’ house.

I just got back from the 2 hour theatrical screening of Battlestar Galatica: Razor, presented by Mass Effect, Xbox 360, Sci Fi, and Zune.  What, you don’t watch Battlestar?  Why must you continue to deny yourself the best modern science fiction made?  And to think you call yourself a fan of the genre.  All those hours watching Star Trek: the Next Generation were essentially preparation for this series.  You’re an adult now, and your scifi has grown up as well.

But I digress.  I had a hunch Battlestar would make it to the big screen, I just never expected it to happen so soon.   I am not complaining, though I do have a couple complaints.  Well, maybe that’s too strong of a word.  I have a couple suggestions.  One, the middle of a highly immersive space scifi plot, is not the best time to try to get the audience into your supposedly highly immersive space scifi game plot, Mass Effect.  Microsoft decided to inartfully insert a 60 second plug for Mass Effect smack in the middle of the Battlestar screening (chased by the same Zune commercial we saw right before the start of the show).  How do you expect everyone to switch gears from the intricate, carefully crafted story arch we were just witnessing to the cheese-wiz of a story of a game… all in 60 seconds? Also, no matter how good the graphics are for your game, they are going to look like ass compared to the CG special effects and real actors we were just watching seconds ago.  I felt bad for feeling this way, especially when Mass Effect looks like it shows hot intergalactic lesbian action so much promise.  It just wasn’t the best timing, Microsoft.  But I do thank you for sponsoring the event and picking up the tab, thus making it possible.  I’ll be sure to buy J Allard a drink next time I see him.

While we are on the subject of making things possible, how about bringing the BSG series out on Blu-ray?  Oh, don’t feign being appalled by the mere question.  Does it really need to be played as pawn in your silly format war?  I have a friend who is not going to buy your HD-DVD player attachment, but I really want them to start spending some quality time with one of the best series ever made.