Thursday, July 31, 2008

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Milky Way & The Galaxy Girls

I am such a nerd for animation, its not even funny. So this past week at Comic-Con I kept walking past a booth featuring these vaguely familiar characters called "Milky Way & The Galaxy Girls". Finally it hit me, they looked similar to "The Powerpuff Girls". I started to talk with the creator Lauren Faust, turns out she is married to Craig McCracken, the creator of "Powerpuff Girls" and "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" & the art director on "Dexter's Laboratory". Lauren is an Emmy nominated animator for her work on her husband's shows and the character "Frankie" on Foster's is based on her. I'm a superfan of PPG and Foster's so I basically tripped out when I realized who her and her husband were. Anyways, the point is that she's got these characters that are pretty adorable, and she is currently turning them into a line of dolls. I don't know if they characters are aimed to become a show or any other project. Right now it seems the focus is get them manufactured as dolls. To see some of Lauren's hand made dolls (that are like nearly $300 on an 8 month waiting list) click here.
Lauren's also got a blog that updates what she's doing with the characters here.
& you can check out her great artwork on deviantart.

Friday, July 25, 2008

"I didn't know there were people in the world who talked like that"

Want to meet possibly the world's biggest douchebag? Chances are he's already entered your home on several occasions. To most he's the faithful Captain of the Serenity Firefly. To others, the handsome and heroic Captain Hammer. But to me, he is simply the ungrateful, somewhat decent, dramatic artist known as Nathan Fillion.

I don't want to go over the details of the incident because I become overwhelmed with embarassment for even caring what some stranger thinks of me. But I will say this, when you are in the entertainment industry your job not only entails executing your talent but it is also to maintain the fans of your work. If that means posing for a picture, signing an autograph, or simply shooting a smile, it is the least you can do. Your fans watch your shows, sit thru your movies in theaters, and buy your records, they pay for your iphone, suv, and child support.

I want to make that point very clear.

Basically, the bold captain is being accused of EgoMania and Narcisism.

After meeting Nathan out by the parking lot, I was beside myself with shame for even bothering. I wanted to pull my still sealed "Firefly" DVD set from my bag and chuck them at his head. I was depressed, feeling I had made some wrong move. Thankfully for me, I know a slew of nerds who have all run into him at one point or another. Let me share some of the words used to describe him; "Diva", "Asshole", "Prima Donna", "Jerk".

;] tee hee
I didn't feel so bad after that.

Finally I talked to Robyn. She was like "oh yeah, have you seen his myspace? Its his dick-ness put down into text"

This is basically the most fascinating myspace I've ever come across: www.myspace.com/nathanfillion

He is in awe of his own blogs which include such entertaining topics as "Airplane Ettiquette", The awesome gizmos he can afford (that you can not), and the proper way to greet him when he's in public (it involves thanking him for something he hasn't done, it's a trip man).

All in all I found his page incredibly entertaining because of its lack of self awareness, which led me to pity the 37 year old nearly famous actor rather than myself for what had occured.

I'm still returning "Firefly", and getting my 40 bucks back, but now I can do it confidently knowing I am not to blame for his lack of respect to a fan and that it is he who should be brushing up on his ettiquette.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

The Dark Knight


If you haven't seen it by now what the hell are you waiting for. The Dark Knight is absolutely brilliant. As everyone's been saying, Heath Ledger as the joker is basically the best performance ever given by an actor ever. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/ Two-Face is also fantastic. The plot just rolls along perfectly and you are strapped to the back of your chair. It is just flat out good fun. BUT I love to talk shit, so lets. WHAT THE HELL was the studio thinking casting Maggie Gyllenhal to pick up the character of Rachel Dawes where Katie Holmes left it. Granted Maggie has a similar look to Katie, but that is all the similarity. She played the character practically dead. She had ZERO emotion in her voice or face the entire time. She exits the film and I don't feel the emotions I'm supposed to feel for her. AND Who told Christian Bale he could use that weird ass voice when he was in the Bat Suit. It was like "Hold on Now Im Batman, So I have a creepy ass throat irritation". Didn't make an inch of sense to me. and the credits looked like they ran out of money and typed it up quick on Microsoft Word. Those were the big problems I had with it, I hate to get sucked out of a movie and those two decisions were very good at doing it. So basically big ups to Heath for basically owning this picture, all the Oscar Buzz is definitely justified. Aaron Eckhart was bomb (he's also great in this movie just hitting DVD called "Meet Bill"). I loved the cameo from Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow. Maggie Gyllenhal should retire, and Christian Bale should maybe rethink his acting choices. All in all badass movie.

Star Trek

Eric Bana as Nero (Romulan)
Zoe Saldana as Uhura
Zachary Quinto as Spock
Chris Pine as Kirk

found this cool poster for the new Star Trek online this week, turns out they are 4 posters that will be given away at the Paramount booth this upcoming weekend at Comic-Con. You can only get one, but if you do manage to get a hold of the other 3 and put em together they become one badass super poster.

According to this weeks Entertainment Weekly, the comic con edition, this will be the only Star Trek presence at the con. JJ Abrams is doing what he does best by keeping as much about the film under wraps.

I'm excited none the less, I'll be there all 5 days, so I'm gonna try and get them all. I'm obsessed w the whole cast of this movie, I can not simply pick one ;D

Nerdy fact, the background colors are the colors of their original uniforms... tee hee

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Sweet Ass Deluxe Editions


This week in music there were 2 sweet ass releases I HAVE to point out.
1 is Chromeo's "Fancy Footwork" Deluxe Edition that features a 2nd disc chalk full of goodies. Including the wonderful Tenderoni MSTRKRFT Remix, look it up on youtube, it makes me happy. I'll have to pick it up when I see them LIVE at the end of the month in San Diego :D

Secondly, Billy Joel's "The Stranger" Legacy Edition is 21 songs made simply for me, simply. FOR. ME. I adore Billy Joel and this is one of my favorite albums, Bonuses are ALWAYS welcome in my CD collection. JOY!

Im stoked.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Yashica Electro 35 GSN

SO today we did a bit of cleaning around the house, and my dad found an old camera flash. We were all trying to remember what it went to and I told my dad I thought it belonged to a camera he kept underneath his shirts in his closet. HOLY SHIT, I did not realize HOW old this camera was, I mean it is absolutely stunning to look at. It is a GIANT 35mm beast from 1973. Produced by Yashica before SLRs really began to sweep the market. The Electro 35 G was the world's first electronic 35mm, thus it runs on this big old school MERCURY battery. This thing is 35 years old and the battery still works, it's just so cool. I sent a roll of ten year old fuji film off to be developed so hopefully we can see if it still photographs well. If so, I will be running around like a nut taking pictures. and if it doesn't, it is still stunning to look at. Today was a good day!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Freakazoid!


FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY
Freakazoid! on DVD 7/29/08
I can not wait!!






Thursday, July 3, 2008

Trailer Trash: The Day The Earth Stood Still

Last nights premiere of "Hancock" premiered the trailer for December's "The Day The Earth Stood Still". The posters for this film are just hitting the net so I was surprised that the trailer hit screens so early. "The Day The Earth Stood Still" is a remake of the 1951 Black & White sci-fi classic (AFI's 5th best scifi movie of ALL TIME, go watch it!) and will star Keanu "dreamboat" Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, and Jaden Smith (which might explain why the trailer was out so quick, to premiere before his dad's newest film). This has boat loads of potential and so far looks sick, check it out...


BTW 20th Century Fox has been pulling these from youtube all day so hopefully it works. If not you can watch it on MovieWeb.
Feeling Curious? Here's the 1951 Trailer...

Hancock


THIS MOVIE WAS AMAZING. PERIOD.
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron are absolutely great. It's original as hell. Go See this!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Walt Disney Animation Studios

So originally I was gonna show you this adorable trailer that premiered before "WALL-E" for Disney's upcoming CG flick "Bolt". It looks amazing and the characters already have me charmed into buying a ticket.



It's not from PIXAR, it's from Walt Disney Animation Studios... the crew that originally did Disney's 2D animation. "Home on the Range" was the last 'traditionally' animated film they produced, then they switched to CG and produced "Chicken Little" and "Meet The Robinsons" (2 of my favorite animated films)... "Bolt" will be the third CG film to come out of Disney and the 47th feature film theatrically released by the Disney Animation Studios. Why am I talking about this? Well basically while I was investigating Bolt's release date I stumbled upon info regarding the studios follow up film. 2009's "The Princess and The Frog" will be the Walt Disney Animation Studios return to traditional animation. It is set in 1920's Jazz Age New Orleans and features the first African American Disney Princess. That's exciting to me considering Disney pronounced they had ended this genre of film. The return will feature directors who have "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" under their belts, and the music of Randy Newman.

So the snooping continued, Disney will return to CG in 2010 with the classic "Rapunzel" which is a story I always wondered why Disney had yet to turn into a film. The available artwork already looks great!

In 2012, the CG "King of the Elves" will hit theaters, which about an average joe living on the Mississippi Delta who reluctantly becomes King of a group of Elves and must lead them from the dangers of an Evil Troll.



THEN I stumbled across this...

PIXAR and Disney's upcoming Slate. Toy Story 1 and 2 will both be re released in theaters in 3D to hype up the third flick, and the 4 Tinkerbell DVDs are coming out. That's right! 2010 "Toy Story 3"!!! Did you catch that?

2012 "Cars 2"!!!! The Cars go International. I'm absolutely stoked!

Now for the exciting originals: May 29, 2009 "Up" will be released, about a 78 year old man who spent his life dreaming of adventure instead of living it out, who finally gets the adventure of a lifetime.

In the summer of 2011, Pixar will release "newt." The story tells what happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other. (AWESOME?)

Christmas 2011, "The Bear and The Bow", set in a rugged and mythic Scotland, this action-adventure centers on the impetuous Merida. Though a daughter of royalty, she would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse.

This info just blew my mind and guaranteed my happiness until 2012... :D
Thoughts?

WALL-E


This movie was worth the long and horrible wait I experienced in anticipation of its release. It completely makes up for that last piece of crap PIXAR released, "Ratatouille". Robots, Love, and the message of Social Responsibility... what else could you want in your animated family film? NOTHING. It was absolutely perfect! I LOVED IT!! Go watch it. By the way, this movie also has a very cool soundtrack that features another 80's rock god, Peter Gabriel. Check it out.






Trailer:


Peter Gabriel "Down To Earth":

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Wanted


BADASS, BLOODY, SEXY... like an A-

I love action flicks but this was a little too gorey for me. I did enjoy that it was a really original plot for an action film. I love James Macavoy and Angelina Jolie in it, they just kick major ass. The CG they use in some scenes needed a lot of work. The music is fantastic, the score is by Danny Elfman and has a song called "The Little Things" that he does vocals on (oingo boingo fans rejoice!) which is fantastic.





Trailer:


Danny Elfman "The Little Things":