Monthly Archives: January 2011

Killzone 3 to Grace the Cover of Next Magazine

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Killzone 3 will grace the cover of our next magazine which is due in March. The magazine will be available in print and Ipad version and we may have a new suprise format to announce as well.

The issue will include a Killzone 3 story, a F.E.A.R. 3 story, the 2011 Summer movie preview, the latest on Disney and the D23 Expo, as well as game and movie news and interviews, travel stories, and much more.

Ordering information can be obtained by sendingan e-mail to either Gareth or Gen (@sknr.net).

Look for Gareth Von Kallenbach on Facebook, “like” Skewed & Reviewed, and follow us on Twitter @SKNRGareth.

SKNR Issue 5 Cover 150dpi

SOCOM 4 Interview

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During the SOCOM 4 press event held at Zipper Interactive, we got a chance to speak with Travis Steiner, Lead Designer for SOCOM 4, who answered some of our questions about the new tactical shooter. I also want to thank Alan at Ocmodshop.com for helping with the coverage and conducting the interview.

GVK: What is the background and setting of the game?

TS: The game takes place in SouthEast Asia. You play the role of an elite NATO operations commander who’s been sent into the region as part of a large peacekeeping force and a violent revolution engulfs the area. This poses a major threat because this country in SE Asia is on the straights of Milaka (sp) which is a major world waterway. Allies get decimated in this revolution and now you and your small squad are the only hope to prevent this catastrophe

You start out with two teammates, which are members of the US Navy Seals, and throughout the campaign you’ll encounter members of the 707th South Korean Team and they’ll actually join forces with you, making a total of a five-man squad.

The enemy faction you’re fighting that’s responsible for this revolution is called NAGA. As the campaign goes on you’ll find that there’s more to the agenda than really meets the eye. This is more of a guerilla-style outfit but they have weaponry that seems a little better than what you’d expect from a guerilla outfit so you know there’s something else at play. The faction that I showed off during this demo is a private military corporation is ultimately involved as well.

GVK: Are all of the characters with you throughout the campaign?

TS: Yes, they are all with you throughout the entire campaign.

GVK: What kinds of locales and missions will we get and how are the missions assigned?

TS: We have a wide variety of missions. The first mission takes place in the middle of a major downtown capitol, so you’re on the destroyed streets and freeways. Then we go all the way over on the other side of the spectrum to a more rural jungle-based environment. Densely-populated urban spaces, jungle, and then other types of industrial facilities.
What types of enemies will be features in the game?

You fight NAGA at the beginning, but they have some mysterious weaponry that’s more advanced than what you’d expect. You learn over time that there’s another entity (a private military organization) at play. We’re not giving all the details of the story away yet, but there are two major players in the campaign story.

GVK: How long does it take to get through the single-player campaign?

TS: It depends on your play style, but somewhere within the 8 to 10 hours of gameplay time. That’s spread out over 14 missions.

GVK: How difficult is it to play?

TS: SOCOM 4 features four different skill levels. On Normal mode we have it tuned so that you have to use cover and your teammates. That’s the goal of the game. You don’t want to run out in the middle of the open with guns blazing… you want to play it like a real soldier would.

GVK: Can you tell us how the game works with the Move?

TS: The key with any sort of motion control device is custom options. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but that’s the same as someone using a standards controller for the first time. What we’ve found is that the learning curve for the Move is fairly small and players seem to pick it up, and there’s a great one-to-one corelation between moving the controller and aiming the gun. You can customize how sensitive the movement is, and move players lower the sensitivity at first and then crank it up as they they get better.

In your dominant hand you hold the Playstion Move controller, which is used for aiming and a few other functions, such as shooting. The other hand you’ll hold a standard Dual-Shock or navigation controller, which is what is used to move your character and perform some other actions.

GVK: What can you tell us about the 3D options in the game and what rewards and challenges does this new technology present?

GVK: SOCOM 4 does support 3D televisions, and with the power of the PS3 you can play at full resolution with 3D settings enabled without any noticable slowdownGVK: What kinds of weapons will be available?

TS: We have all sorts of different things from sniper rifles to sub-machine guns, shotguns, heavy machine guns. All totaled there are thirty different weapons in the game.

GVK: What types of multiplay are offered?

TS: SOCOM 4 features both 5-player cooperative as well as 32-player competitive mode. SOCOM is the most team-focued online shooter out there. In many ways it can be looked at like a team sport, where every individual is filling a role, only in this case the weapons and the gear you bring to the battle dictate that role.

All the objectives feature competitive and co-op center around that team-based play. Getting someone to watch your back while you go for the mission objective is really key to this mode of online play.
To summarize competitive multiplayer: 32-player online combat. We have 14 focused game modes, including suppression (basically the SOCOM version of “Team Deathmatch”). We have an Uplink mode in which each team takes turns trying to infiltrate the enemy base to obtain valuable data and return it to their own base, like “Capture the Flag”. We walked through “Last Defense”, and we still have one more game mode that’s still classified and will be unveiled at a later date.

GVK: Which vehicles are in the game?

TS: There are no driveable vehicles in SOCOM 4. We’ve done that in the past but we really wanted to focus on more Special-Forces-style engagements, which doesn’t involve a lot of big battles with vehicles.

GVK: What can you tell us about the AI in the game?

TS: The AI in SOCOM 4 is very advanced. The enemy are set up to use squad tactics, so they work together as a group. You’ll see guys laying down suppressive fire to cover each other then they’re flanking, bounding. This type of behavior makes it feel like authentic combat. On the player’s side of things we’ve tried to find that right balance between your buddies doing smart things on their own but when you want to take command it’s very intuitive and easy to do.

GVK: What have been some of the biggest challenges and rewards in crafting SOCOM 4?

TS: We really wanted to build SOCOM from the ground up so we started a whole new engine for the PS3. A lot of effort was spent on these core systems, such as the AI, the cover, camera and movement systems. I think that’s probably the biggest challenge… we obviously had a foundation on the Playstation 2 but we really wanted to harness the power of the PS3.

GVK: What in your opinion is the key to keeping the franchise fresh and where do you see the future of the series heading?

TS: We get a lot of great feedback from the fans after every SOCOM game. In the past there’s always some cool thing that we didn’t have time to get to. We’re focusing on SOCOM 4 right now, and we’ll take in feedback from the gamers for features and improvements to future games.


mountains_mix Online

Joshua Erenberg Talks About The Green Hornet

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Recentlyly I got to speak with Joshua Erenberg who makes his film debut in The Green Hornet playing the younger version of the title character. I want to thank Joshua and Kelli for the interview

GVK: How did you become involved with Hornet and what can you tell us about the films and your character?

JE: I got involved after auditioning several times and everyone felt I looked like a young Seth Rogen. I play the Green Hornet as a young boy and my character basically sets up the story showing how Britt felt about his Dad.

GVK: What sort of research did you do for the film as it must have been tough when you consider the comic, series, and radio show were done decades before you were even born.

JE: My Dad bought me a bunch of The Green Hornet comic books. I enjoyed reading them and learned all about the history of the characters. I am now a fan!

GVK: What were some of the more memorable moments from filming and what are some of your fondest memories?

JE: I’d have to say it was when I went in an elevator and it just went up until the set was gone completely.

GVK: Did you get a chance to meet and work with Seth and how was that?

JE: Seth was great…He was really hands on and helped me out when I was doing my scenes.

GVK: What can you tell the readers about your training in acting and about your big break in the film?

JE: I have been taking acting classes for a few years now and had gone on close to a hundred auditions before I got my big break. This was a great opportunity for my first role as an actor.

GVK: If you can, tell the readers about your time on set and how you found the whole experience of making a movie. I know many people often say that they are surprised how much waiting goes on but that they cant believe how much is going on.

JE: It was a great experience. There was a lot of waiting around but director Michel Gondry and the cast were really wonderful. Michel would let me sit in his chair and showed me what was going on in the scene. I now want to be a director as well as an actor, thanks to Michel.

GVK: What future projects do you have coming up that the readers can look forward to?

JE: I will be guest starring in an up coming episode of the Adult Swim comedy,”Childrens Hospital.” My character is really funny!

GVK: What movies have you seen recently and what do you have on your to see list?

JE: Well, of course I’ve seen The Green Hornet more than once. I’m looking forward to seeing how the new Smurfs movie is made because I used to watch the old cartoon on DVD.

Dead Space 2 Interview

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Earlier for a previous issue of our magazine we spoke with Steve Papoutsis, Executive Producer of the Dead Space Franchise about Dead Space 2. On the eve of the game launch, we have decided to post the interview online. I want to again thank Steve and Hiro for the interview.

GVK: What is the background and setting for the game?

SMP: DS2 takes places 3 years after the first game. The location for the game is called the sprawl, which is a space city located on Titan one of the moons of Saturn. Titan was the location of the first planet crack in the Dead Space universe.

GVK: What are some of the locales and missions gamers will see in the game?

SMP: Isaac’s main goal is to destroy a government plot to resurrect a marker. As far as details on locations players will encounter expect to see things you would see in a city. We really want the atmosphere and locations to be relatable, this helps immerse players and lets us play with the horror aspect of the game.

GVK: What sort of new enemies players face and will there be boss battles?

SMP: New enemies include: the stalker, crawler, cyst, nest, pack, and a few others. As far as boss battles there will be some gnarly fights for Isaac to survive.

GVK: What sort of weapons will players be able to use and what new weapons will be included?

SMP: All of the original tools / weapons make a return plus a few new ones including the Javelin Gun.

GVK: What have been some of the biggest challenges and rewards in crafting the game?

SMP: Well the biggest challenge has been trying to top the original game. People’s expectations were not super high they had no idea what to expect when DS1 came out. Now we are 100% focused on making a game that’s better than the original, and that’s not an easy task. Expectations are super high and we know we need to deliver a great game for the people who enjoyed the original and are now Dead Space supporters.

As far as what has been rewarding, the response to the demos we have shown so far have been super positive. Gamers seemed to really like the E3 and GamesCOM demos. Hearing all the positive comments from our players has the team and I super pumped.

GVK: Blending action with a detailed plot can always be tricky, how have you attempted to create this element, and will scripted events be a part of the game?

SMP: One of our goals with the game is to keep players guessing. It’s our hope that by mixing in big epic set pieces with our tension / horror driven gameplay we will create a game that our players will enjoy. Without the support of the people who enjoyed the original game we would not have had the chance to make Dead Space 2. We are extremely great full for the support and want to make a sequel people will enjoy even more than the original.

For more information on the game please check out the official site.
Dead Space

Gareth to Kickoff the Emerald City Comicon March 4th

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SEATTLE, WA – Gareth Von Kallenbach, Editor-in-Chief of Skewed and Reviewed will kickoff the activities at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle with his popular panel on the upcoming films and games of the next two years. His panel will kick off Day 2 of the 3-day convention that opens March 4, 2011.

The panel has drawn overcapacity crowds the past two years and this year will be streamed live via Skype. Attendees will have the opportunity following the panel for a meet-and-greet with Gareth and take advantage of a generous swag line of an assortment of items from film and game studios.

The convention http://emeraldcitycomicon.com/ draws over 35,000 movie, game, and comic fans, to the convention center. The show sports a very impressive lineup of guests from the world of film, television, comics, and fandom.

Gareth will also be supporting his appearance through work with the highest-rated Seattle morning show he appears on as the film and game guy, heard worldwide through streaming via the web, iPhone, and Droid apps.

This promises to be the largest convention yet as stars from Star Trek, Fringe, Tron, Babylon 5, Buffy and more promised to draw a record numbers. If you are interested in getting your current or future releases mentioned or promoted please contact Skewed & Reviewed right away as spots are limited.

The Green Hornet

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The Green Hornet has appeared in books, a television series, and perhaps in its most famous form, as a radio series. Adapting a superhero to the big screen is not without its share of challenges. For every Batman and Spiderman that sets box office records there are several that fail miserably, such as Daredevil, Elektra, The Phantom, The Shadow, and the first Hulk movie.

When it was first announced that Seth Rogen would star as the title character many people were first skeptical that a chubby comedian would be able to pull off the part. While the Green Hornet is not as iconic as Batman, the casting did bring to mind the controversy of casting Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight for Tim Burton’s take on the Caped Crusader.

Further complicating matters were the delays and in the announcement that the film would be converted to 3-D in postproduction even though it was shot in 2-D. When the film failed to meet its anticipated holiday debut there were those that had wondered if the film would fail to meet even modest expectations as January certainly isn’t the time of year that action films, especially those based on a superhero, are released.

Thankfully the film is an extremely pleasant surprise that deftly mixes comedy and action with smart pacing in a winning formula. The film tells the story of Britt Reid (Rogen), the son of a wealthy newspaper owner who, despite his best efforts, always disappoints his father who never runs out of ways to criticize his only child. Britt, to his father’s dismay, has no ambition in his life and is content to live in the guesthouse of his father’s mansion, womanizing and embracing the party scene.

When his father dies unexpectedly, Britt is forced to take control of the newspaper, a job for which he is woefully unqualified. It is at this time that Britt meets Kato (Jay Chou), his father’s long-time employee, responsible for taking care of the elder Reid’s very impressive fleet of cars.

One evening in an act of rebellion against the benevolent image of his father, Britt and Kato intervene to stop a crime. Motivated by their success and by Kato’s amazing ability to invent technology and modify vehicles, as well as his superb martial arts abilities, the duo set out to make a name for themselves by taking on the city’s criminal element.

While it first appears that Britt sees this as just some grand adventure, he soon becomes dedicated to the cause and sets upon a path to use his newspaper to play up his newly created hero. The plan is to make the Green Hornet appear to be a bad guy when in reality he is fighting to end crime. The convoluted idea has some initial success despite Britt’s lack of fighting ability. Britt and Kato soon begin to make a name for themselves in the local underworld as well is dominate the media.

At this time a young assistant named Lenora case (Cameron Diaz), comes to work for Britt. Britt and Kato are both captivated by Lenora and use her knowledge of criminal psychology to detail their plan of action for their alter egos. While Britt and Kato are buoyed by their initial success they soon find themselves under the scrutiny of the local crime boss Chudnofsky (Christopher Waltz), an insecure criminal who believes people don’t think he is scary enough or stylish enough.
　
Finding them an annoyance, Chudnofsky decides to wage all-out war on the Green Hornet and Kato and will rest at nothing to see them dead. As if this was not bad enough, Britt and Kato find themselves in a jealous rivalry over Lenora as well as their roles. Britt sees himself as the real hero and Kato as merely his sidekick. Kato naturally takes umbrage with this being not only the one who develops all of their gadgets, including the awesome black beauty equipped with bulletproof glass, machine guns, rocket launcher and a flamethrower, but also the one with the amazing fighting skills.

What follows is a hilarious and action packed film that is one of the most satisfying action-buddy-comedies ever made. Rogen is in his element cleverly playing Britt as an everyman who, despite having all the advantages of wealth, is still very much a kid playing superhero who has to learn about the important things in life .

The action sequences are fresh and entertaining and both Rogen and Chao pull off their roles very convincingly. While the plot is not overly complex it serves its point and propels the characters along without getting bogged down or becoming too ridiculous. Director Michel Gondry keeps the film moving at a steady pace without overstaying its welcome and does not allow the action to overtake the characters.

The supporting cast is very strong and the only real issue I had with the film was the converted 3-D that was totally unnecessary and did little to enhance the film. Very few sequence appeared to benefit from it. That being said I had a fantastic time at this film and I surely hope that we’ll be seeing other films in the series in the not too distant future.

4 stars out of 5

Andy Kindler Interview

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Recently I got the chance to speak with the very funny and talented Andy Kindler who is in Seattle to perform at Laughs Comedy Spot Jan 15th at 8PM. . Andy has appeared in projects ranging from The Late Show, Last Comic Standing, and the new FOX comedy Bob’s Burgers. I want to thak Andy for taking the time to answer our questions and to Nicole for arranging the interview.

GVK: How did you become involved with standup and what inspired you?

AK: I was mocking people at a company picnic in 1984, and my co-worker suggested
it. We decided to form a duo. Andy & Bill. Do you remember us? I don’t.

GVK: What sort of research did you gain your inspiration for your material from?

AK: I have never researched anything, even when I was a research professor. Part
of that last sentence is false. I get my comedy from my own life, which I
think is hilarious. Your results may vary.

GVK: How did you become involved in the Late Show?

AK: I first performed stand-up on the Late Show in 1996. In 2005 the show
approached me about doing field pieces. I said yes and hooray! Or maybe it
was whoo-hoo! Some kind of cheering took place.

GVK: What would you say are the main difference between the East and west Coasts
in terms of comedy and do you notice differences in the audiences East/West?

AK: There are clear geographical differences. I can prove that with a
certificate of authenticity. Otherwise I think audiences are pretty much the
same. Half of LA is from NY. You do the math, if appropriate.

GVK: Can you tell us about your first gig and what it taught you?

AK: It was about 3 minutes in length, and 2 and a half minutes too long.
It taught me that you can still cry in your 20′s.

GVK: How much time do you devote in a year to writing new material and research?

AK: See above “joke” answer. I write all day long all year, but not formally. If
I think of something funny I write it down. It’s not rocket science, or any
kind of science. It’s similar to home economics, it that helps, and I’m sure
it doesn’t.

GVK In what ways would you say that performing material in front of a camera are
alike and different?

AK: Cameras rarely laugh. With or without a camera, there’s always a chance that
I might faint.

GVK: Who or what makes you laugh?

AK: My dad. Most of the rest of my family. Zach Galifianakis. Paul F Tompkins.
Dave Attell. TJ Miller. Roseanne. Albert Brooks. Fran Lebowitz. David
Letterman. Woody Allen. And more. List available upon request.

GVK: For anyone wanting to get into the industry, what advice would you give
them?

AK: Don’t listen to advice, except from me. Also, take the high road.
There’s less traffic.

GVK: What future projects do you have coming up that the readers can look forward
to?

AK: I am a recurring character on “Bob’s Burgers,” a new animated show on Fox.
Check your local listings, whatever that means. I have other stuff “in the
works,” or “under wraps.” I like using quotes!

GVK: What movies have you seen recently and what do you have on your to see list?

AK: “Public Speaking” on HBO, which is a documentary about the brilliant Fran
Lebowitz. Also on HBO, “Wishful Drinking,” a stage show by the wonderful
Carrie Fisher. I sound like a promoter of some type. Every current movie is
on my to see list. I also have an “avoid” list.

Movie News for 1-28-11

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It’s a very slow news day so far but there have been a couple of little nuggets of information that I wanted to pass along.

First, despite saying that his new film Prometheus, would be a standalone film, rumors have emerged that both the Space Jockey and the Xenomorph will appear. According to one inside source the Space Jockey is actually being built on the studio set and that a spaceship in the film is piloted by a gigantic head which indicates biomechanical technology.

Now the question is whether the film truly is a prequel to Alien, or if it’s just an elaborate fan boy wish for those hoping to still see the Alien prequel? We will find out is the film it’s closer to its summer 2012 release.

After his cameo appearance as David Brent on last night’s episode of The Office, some are speculating if Ricky Gervais is the one who will replace Steve Carrell from the office when he departs later this season. While this would seem a long shot to me, I have to admit it would be interesting and a dynamic choice.

Judy Dench has confirmed that she will be returning as M in the next James Bond film rumored to be titled Red Sky at Night.

For those interested in spoilers, head over to bloodydisgusting.com if you want to get a glimpse of the aliens and the pending invasion film Battle L.A.

That’s it for now, and I’ll be back on Monday with all the news that’s fit to print.
1-27-11
Looks like filming of The Hobbit is been delayed yet again, this time due to director Peter Jackson having surgery for a perforated ulcer. Jackson is expected to make a full recovery.

The popular PlayStation three game Heavy Rain is being adapted into a film and they hope to take advantage of the gritty noire look to the game.

Dark Horizons reports that Cloverfield 2 is still many years away from happening says director Matt Reeves as he is focusing on smaller projects.

Michael Fassbender has also confirmed to play an android in the film Prometheus which was scheduled to be Alien prequel but is now a standalone film. It will make its debut summer 2012.
Will Ferrell will be introduced on The Office as another difficult manager as part of the transition of Steve Correll from the series. While Ferrell is not the likely replacement he is seen as a transitional character.
Javier Bardem is the new lead in The Dark Tower, Ron Howard’s adaptation of the Stephen King series.

Moviehole reports that Skins” star Luke Pasqualino has been cast to play the young William Adama in the new battle star like a series.

1-26-11
Well here we are one day removed from the Oscar nomination announcements and sadly Hollywood seems to have gone into a collective shall in regard to any news of substance coming through the normal channels. The usual flood of press releases and rumors have been reduced to nothing more than self-congratulatory articles about who didn’t get nominated, who deserves to win, and how certain films came to be.

And while this may be highly interesting for those in the industry and for those involved with the film I would think the average fan would find it about as exciting as watching paint dry so therefore we’re going to be light on news today because I definitely believe in the concept of less is more and I am not going to fill a full page of news if there is nothing of merit.

As expected the fate of Tron 3 will depend largely on how well the DVD and Blu-ray sales go.

Mc G is rumored to be directing the pilot episode of Wonder Woman for NBC which had originally passed on the series as did all of the other networks due to concerns over price and the failure of recent shows such as the Bionic Woman and Dollhouse.

James Wan and Leigh Whannell who created the SAW franchise have learned that their new film Insidious has been given a PG-13 rating much to the chagrin old or fans. It’s been reported that the film is very scary and effective in simply does not go overboard on the gore. I was very lucky to meet the duo right after the press screening for the original SAW film and have occasionally chatted with one of them over the years since then. I have my curiosity piqued to say the least.
Since he’s not busy shooting James Bond until later, Daniel Craig reportedly will take the male lead in the English language version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Fans of 3-D may find it interesting that news I reported a couple of years ago after talking with Jeff Katzenberg of DreamWorks is coming true. Katzenberg had stated that the company was so convinced that 3-D was the wave of the future that they were in talks with leading manufacturers of eyewear to make fashionable sunglasses that also doubled as 3-D glasses.

The original pairs are set to ship at around $80 from various high-end fashion designers. The only problem is that while they will work in theatrical releases apparently there are differing technologies for 3-D televisions and some may not be compatible with all versions.

1-25-11
What a difference a day make. Yesterday the net was all abuzz about a rumored fourth and fifth film in The Matrix series, and today we learned that the source of the rumor Aint It Cool News ran the news that apparently came from a fan rather than verified sources.

Moviehole has reported through their sources that there are currently no plans for the sequel, and that the alleged meetings in the story did not take place.

The site also reports that Simon West is looking to make a sequel to his megahit Con Air and that Bruce Campbell is still anxious for his pal Sam Raimi to get the long gestating Evil Dead remake made.

In a banner day for Moviehole they also reported that James Cameron has confirmed that Avatar two and three will be his next films and they are currently looking for a 2014 and 2015 release as the films may be shot back-to-back. Cameron and Fox have also agreed to give a share of the profits to various ecological causes in support of the film.

The very popular Star Wars exhibit will be coming to the Pacific Science Center in March which should only heat up the future releases of the film series in 3-D and on Blu-ray.

The nominations for the 2011 Oscars are out and the nominees are below…

The King’s Speech
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Black Swan
The Social Network
The Fighter
Inception
127 Hours
Winter’s Bone
The Kids Are All Right
BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone”
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

BEST ACTOR
Javier Bardem
Jeff Bridges
James Franco
Colin Firth
Jesse Eisenberg
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams
Helena Bonham Carter
Melissa Leo
Hailee Steinfeld
Jacki Weaver
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Geoffrey Rush
Christian Bale
Jeremy Renner
Mark Ruffalo
BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky
David O. Russell
Tom Hooper
David Fincher
Joel & Ethan Coen

1-24-11
Warner Bros. has announced a pending digital series for Mortal Kombat. In conjunction with the release of the next game in the series, Warner Bros. has announced that Kevin Tancharoen, known for his popular unofficial fan short Mortal Kombat: Rebirth which garnered over 10 million views online, will direct the series which will delve into the back history of the several of the popular and iconic characters.

In a shocker at Sundance Flm Festival, director Kevin Smith paid himself $20 to the rights for his film Red State and announced he would be distributing the film himself. Smith will embark on a road trip through several cities to screen the film in advance of its October 19 release.
Smith then said he would follow up his or film with the previously announced hockey comedy Hit Somebody, but then shock the audience by saying that would be his last film as a director.
I’ve always found Kevin to be a very decent and upright guy and a very straight shooter let’s hope that if that is indeed what he wishes for his career that he will find success in. As a fan though, I would love to see more of his unique style of filmmaking in the future.
As much as I wish this was untrue, The Matrix four and five are in the planning stages to be released in 3-D. A draft for the film was reportedly shown to Keanu Reeves around Christmas and he was impressed with what he saw. This news was reported by AICN and Moviehole.
I was not overly impressed with the film series the first time. While I did enjoy the original film I did not think it was nearly as good as people made it out to be and the one trick pony of bullet time effects got old very quick for me. I was very disenchanted with the second sequel and found the third film to be borderline unwatchable.
Moviehole also reports that Chris Hemsworth who plays Thor in the upcoming film has said the script for The Avengers is incredible.
In more comic book news, Dark Horizons reports that Don Cheadle said a treatment for a spinoff film based on his Iron Man 2 character War M and achine is in the works.

And in news from us, a sequel to The Green Hornet is being looked at and he of course is dependent upon the box office numbers. The film took a dip from its first place opening but is it on pace to earn back its reported $120 million budget. Naturally the foreign market were the source material for the character is virtually unknown, as well as DVD, cable, and pay-per-view will figure prominently in the film’s final bottom line which in turn will ultimately decide the fate of any sequels.

Disney Announces the 2011 Schedule of Events for D23 Members

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2011 SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE
The Official Disney Fan Club Announces New Experiences
and Surprises to Entertain and Delight its Growing Membership

BURBANK, Calif. – December 2, 2010 – D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is pleased to announce the coming year’s slate of special events, designed especially for its diverse and growing membership base.

Among the exciting offerings for 2011 are exclusive D23 Studio Tours throughout the year, four free 50 and Fabulous film screenings on the Walt Disney Studio Lot in Burbank, D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World, the highly anticipated Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, the perennial favorite Sip & Stroll event during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, a D23/Disney Junior Jake and the Never Land Pirates event on the Burbank Studio Lot for the budding Disney fan, the festive Magic and Merriment event at the Walt Disney World Resort to kick off the holiday season and, of course, D23 Expo 2011.

D23 Members receive advance notification of all special events through D23’s biweekly FanFare email, and all events are offered on a space-available basis. More details on events, and on becoming a D23 Member, can be found at www.D23.com.

SAVE THE DATES!
D23’s 2011 special event lineup includes:

January 29: Special preview screening of Jake and the Never Land Pirates featuring David Arquette
D23 is partnering with Disney Junior — Disney Channel’s new broadcast initiative designed for kids ages 2 through 7 – inviting D23 Members to bring their young swashbucklers for an advance screening of two episodes of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, a new animated series coming to television this February.

David Arquette is the voice of Skully, the parrot who keeps an eye out for Jake and his crew of kid pirates as they navigate the familiar waters of Never Land while dodging the devious Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.

Following the screening of the two 11-minute episodes, Arquette will sit down for a Q&A with D23’s Disney Geek, Jeffrey Epstein, and will also take questions from the audience. Afterwards, the villainous Captain Hook will be available for photos and autographs in front of the Studio Theatre.

May 12-13: D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World
In spring 2011, for the first time in the 40-year history of Walt Disney World, guests will have the chance to scour all four Florida theme parks to win incredible prizes in this official Disney scavenger hunt. Each team will consist of 2-4 participants, and additional rules and registration information will be available soon at the D23 Web site.

May 14-15: Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th
Following the rave reviews of Destination D: Disneyland ’55, this event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Orlando resort, commemorating its history and heritage. Panels will include all-new presentations that build upon the successful panels at the Anaheim event, including:
• “Walt Disney World: The Way We Were,” hosted by Disney Legend Dave Smith
• “Weird Disney World” with Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline
• “Walt Disney World Through the Eye of Television”
• A special evening event featuring musical memories from throughout the history of Walt Disney World

Other panels, featured speakers and details will be announced soon on the D23 Web site.

August 19-21: D23 Expo 2011 in Anaheim, California
Affectionately dubbed “The Ultimate Fan Event” by Disney enthusiasts, the D23 Expo brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks as never before. An event that only occurs every other year, this is the first D23 Expo since the premiere event in 2009.

Highlights of D23 Expo 2011’s weekend activities will include:
• 2011 Disney Legends. Paying tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment
• Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. Featuring dozen of props, artifacts and costumes, accessible to the public for the first time in Disney’s history
• Collector’s Forum. Where attendees can buy, sell and trade precious memorabilia and merchandise
• Fan Art Contest. Themed to 101 Dalmatians in honor of the 50th anniversary of the animated classic
• The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament will allow participants to demonstrate their Disney knowledge as they compete for outstanding prizes
• Many more one-of-a-kind D23 Expo panels, presentations and experiences which will be announced in the coming months.

October 14-15: Sip & Stroll at Epcot in Orlando
As part of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, D23 is once again hosting their annual Sip & Stroll event exclusive to D23 Members. More details will be announced in 2011.

December 17-18: Magic and Merriment at Walt Disney World in Orlando
D23 brings back its annual holiday tradition celebrating the spirit of the season, exclusive for D23 Members. More details will be announced in 2011.

50 and Fabulous Screenings
At D23 Expo 2009, Disney fans were invited to view Disney film masterpieces that were celebrating their golden anniversaries — beloved animated classics and live-action family friendly films rarely seen on the big screen in the past 50 years. The D23 tradition continued in 2010, this time in the recently renovated, state-of-the-art 400-seat Studio Theatre on the Walt Disney Studio Lot in Burbank.

The 2011 season of 50 and Fabulous begins January 22 on the Burbank Lot. Tickets to the screenings are free (with a $5 ticket processing fee) for D23 Members and one guest, and will include special D23 surprises. The schedule is as follows:

• January 22: 101 Dalmatians – Released originally January 25, 1961, the smash hit was rereleased in 1969, 1979, 1985 and 1991. Along with the memorable song “Cruella de Vil,” 101 Dalmatians is known for originating the term “Twilight Bark” (the system which dogs across the countryside use to communicate with one another), which also happens to be the name of the quick news bits section of the D23 Web site!

• March 12: The Absent-Minded Professor – Originally released March 16, 1961, the film stars Fred MacMurray — the first Disney Legend — as Medfield College’s Professor Ned Brainard, the inventor of the magical Flubber. The film also features the “Medfield Fight Song,” the first song ever penned by Richard and Robert Sherman for a Disney movie.

• June 18: The Parent Trap – Originally released June 21, 1961, the film was lauded not just for its imaginative story but for its technical advances. Disney legend Hayley Mills plays both twins Sharon and Susan, separated as children by their divorced parents, who set in motion a plan to reunite their estranged parents. The Parent Trap earned Academy Award® nominations for editing and sound.

• Nov 19: Babes in Toyland – Starring Ray Bolger, Annette Funicello, Ed Wynn, Tommy Sands, Ann Jillian, Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran, Babes in Toyland was released December 14, 1961 and has become a holiday favorite. Revisit Tom (Sands) and Mary (Funicello) as they prepare to wed in Mother Goose Village while dodging the evil Barnaby (Bolger). The Forest of No Return, an incredible gun that shrinks its targets and, of course, the many beloved songs, are all part of this magical adventure.

D23 Tours at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
D23 continues to offer this rare opportunity for D23 Members to enjoy a two-and-a-half hour tour of The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives, hosted by D23 and Walt Disney Archives staff. Space is very limited. The 2011 tour dates are:
• February 5
• April 30
• July 23
• November 5
D23 Information

Movie News for 1-7-2011

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Star Wars fans can celebrate as 20th Century Fox has confirmed that at long last Star Wars films will be coming to Blu-ray. There are three options for fans to choose from one is a three disc set of the original film trilogy, a three disc set of the prequel film trilogy, or a nine disc set containing all six films and three discs of bonus material.

The set in addition to having over 30 hours worth of bonus features will also include deleted and extended scenes many of which have never been seen before. The set is due for release in September, you can reserve your copy currently at Amazon.com and other resellers.

Despite not appearing in the book, Elijah Wood is rumored to be appearing as Frodo in the two-part Hobbit film. According to Dark Horizons, Orlando Bloom may appear as well even though his character was also not in the book.

Dark Horizons also indicates that the origins of the Ghost Rider will be altered in the next film, and that the new Pirates of the Caribbean film will not have such a twisted and confusing plot and will be more character driven according to Johnny Depp.

Dark Horizons also reported Johnny Knoxville, Andy Samberg and Australian comedian Shane Jacobson are on the shortlist to play Moe, Larry and Curly, respectively, in the Farrelly Brothers long-gestating The Three Stooges project.

Didn’t get enough of Garrett Hedlund in Tron? Watch him again, singing this time, along with Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong, which opens today. Also opening today, Season of the Witch with Nicholas Cage.

1-6-11

As it is the first week of the new year it is not uncommon for lack of big news stories.

I can however confirm that the test screenings for Scream 4, which will hopefully usher in the start of a new trilogy for the iconic franchise, will begin tomorrow.

Due to reported issues with Paramount films director Stephen Sommers who made a name for himself with the Mummy series reportedly will not be back to helm the sequel to G.I. Joe. At this time two unnamed directors apparently are under consideration to take over the next chapter in the film series.

I can confirm that we do have an interview with one of the stars of the new Green Hornet movie which will be posted soon.

1-5-11
Bit of a slow news day today but I will get the highlights. First off director McG is not the only one in talks to direct a 3-D version of Cleopatra which will star Angelina Jolie, James Cameron had been rumored to be interested in this project prior to committing to filming the next two movies in the Avatar series.

As if that was not enough, the director has also been attached to the film version of the Hasbro Ouija board game. Many popular board games such as Battleship, Monopoly, Chiutes and Ladders, and others are all in various stages of development. Battleship has been filming and is set to be released sometime in the next year.

In other news, British director Gareth Edwards is set to bring an updated version of Godzilla to Legendary Pictures. You may recall that this is the same company who is behind the recent films Inceptionand the last two Batman movies.

There are also some rumors that the long gestating prequel to 300 might slowly be gaining momentum.

Moviehole.net is also reporting that the formal announcement for the release of the original Star Wars trilogy on Blu-ray should be made official today. We had reported news of this in the past complete with the fact that the films would have deleted scenes that have long been rumored.

George Lucas had shown one deleted scene from Return of the Jedi at a recent convention and indicated that the set was in the planning stages. The announcement should clarify whether this is just the original trilogy or all six films, and shed light on the amount of new material and special features that will be added.

News for 1-4 -11

Hello everybody and welcome to the first of our daily news updates. One of the things that we have strived for is to give you daily news updates. Whenever we break news we, of course, posted on the main page but with so much news out there, up until now we were relegated to using RSS feeds from our syndication partners.

The big issue with this though is that syndication partner RSS feeds mix with ours and make it difficult to syndicate our RSS feed because of course not all of the content is ours. So while we attempt to come up with a few tweaks to the site, to have a specific news section on the main page what I have decided to do in the meantime is to post a daily news updates keep the news up there for couple of days and then updated as news comes in.

The first big news today is the rise of 3-D technology. We talked about this for a while on the radio show that I do and our podcast and it’s nice to see that the Walt Disney Corporation is embracing 3-D DVDs. According to a press release that was sent our way, Disney plans to release The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled and Tron legacy in a 3-D DVD format which also includes a 2-D version.

In other news, according to Moviehole.net, director Philip Noyce will not be involved in the sequel to the Angelina Jolie film SALT which is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

News continues to come in that the next chapter in the Indiana Jone saga is coming along and that final adjustments to the script are being made.

In other sequel news it looks like the sequel to Predators is likely to be announced soon considering the success of the first film which benefited greatly from getting back to the roots of the original film as well as a very budget friendly production cost which helped ensure profitability from the start.

Other sequels we are currently following include Die Hard 5, Ghostbusters 3, the Alien prequels, the new Star Trek movie from JJ Abrams, and much more.

Stay tuned for more news updates we appreciate your feedback and support.

Portal 2 Cover Art

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Here is the PC cover art for the upcoming Portal 2 from Valve Software.

The game is a sequel to the highly popular Portal which won several Game of the Year awards. It is one of my favorite games of all time and the multiplay demo at PAX last summer was a big hit.

The new game aside from the solo play story mode features a co op mode and supposedly the ability to play against people on consoles even if you are a PC player.

Look for Portal 2 in April 2011.

portal2

The Best & Worst of 2010

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2010 was a solid year at the box office with plenty of good films for both the mainstream and critical audiences. I have compiled a list of our top films of the year as well as some of the worst. I decided to mix it up a bit and not give the standard list of dramatic films which are sure to dominate the awards season.

Yes, those films are being included, but I believe that there were various genre films that really captured the essence of their core audiences expectations, and as such should be recognized, as not every film needs a complex story and outstanding acting to be a satisfying experience and worth of merit.

The Best of 2010

The Social Network

A solid story and top flight cast keeps this film riveting from start to finish. The incredible, if albeit dramatically enhanced, story of the creation of Facebook is a compelling human drama which gets the most out of its cast and source material to deliver one of the best films of the year.

127 Hours

James Franco and Director Danny Boyle have crafted a gripping and intense human drama about just how far a person is willing to go to survive. While the story was widely told in the news media, Boyle manages to maintain a sense of tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Franco gives a masterful performance and despite the gory content, the uplifting story is one of the best ever told.

The Kings Speech

Colin Firth gives an outstanding performance in this very well-made historical story of how a speech defect hindered the installment of King George the VI to the British throne when his brother suddenly abdicated the position. Firth gives an Oscar-worthy performancem, as does Geoffrey Rush, with and strong supporting cast.

The Fighter

Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg give dramatic performances that will not soon be forgotten in this gripping true story of two brothers who battle each other over the paths their lives have taken them. Both Wahlberg and his character are given a stunning shot in the limelight with this movie.

True Grit

Jeff Bridges follows his Oscar win last year with another film that is destined to land him as contender this year. The Coen brothers’ take on the John Wayne classic is a dark and gripping tale of a bitter old law man (Bridges) who embarks on a quest to help a young girl avenge the death of her father.

The Expendables

Ok, the acting and story were not great, but Sylvester Stallone crafted a fun throwback to the action films of old and by surrounding himself with a bevy of action stars, gave fans the testosterone fueled throw down that they had sadly been missing from the current group of action films and proved that the old guys can still deliver.

SALT

While it was formulaic in parts, Angelina Jolie and Director Philip Noyce gave us a solid Cold War era thriller that despite some plot holes, was a gripping and thrilling adventure that was filled with twists and turns and plenty of action.

Inception

The twisting plotline of the film, the solid special effects and the ending, that is still debated by millions, underscored that this was not your simple popcorn flick. The movie cleverly lets the audience make up its own mind as to what is really going on and makes you question the true meaning of reality and happiness.

Toy Story 3

If this is indeed the final chapter in the beloved series, they went out on a high note with this funny and emotional tale of love, friendship, growing older, and letting go. The cast is in rare form and the jokes are as fresh and effective as the amazing animation by the wizards at Pixar.

The Worst of 2010

There were so many to pick from this year that I decided to focus on the ones that stood out the most to me.

The Last Airbender

From the pathetic 3D conversion to the abandoning of the source material and look of the characters, M. Night Shyamalan continued his box office free fall with this clunker.

Grown Ups

With a cast loaded with funny people it was shocking how bad this film was. I love many of Adam Sandler’s films and know the formula he uses for success. This one however came off like something that they made up as they went along.

Jonah Hex

You have a top notch cast, a popular graphic novel, and a tale of revenge, yet this film was so bad, it is destined to land on most of the worst of the year lists. So bad, its hard to even suggest it as a dollar rental at Red Box.

There are others that come to mind, but I figured quality over quantity as in this case, less is definitely more.

Skewed and Reviewed Editor in Postal 3

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Gareth Von Kallenbach, editor and creator of Skewed and Reviewed has confirmed that he will be voicing a character in the upcoming Postal 3 video game.

The game is due in 2011 and continues the story of the Postal Dude as he takes on a variety of dangerous and bizzare foes in the highly controversial game by Running With Scissors.

Gareth Von Kallenbach had this to say about his work, “I recorded my lines just before Christmas and I was very appreciative of my friends at the radio show I appear on for allowing me to use the studio to record my part”.

He added, “I am very excited to have a part in the world of POSTAL. After having a small part in The POSTAL movie, it’s great to be able to be in the game.”

As for future projects, he shared, “I am currently working on a zombie themed story which will be set in the POSTAL universe and if all goes as planned, we hope to perform it as an old style radio play in addition to being available as as story.”

Stevens Pass Ski Resort

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Skiers and snow boarders can rejoice as it is that time of year again and the slopes are covered with skiers and boarders looking for the next great run down the well groomed slopes of the Pacific Northwest.

Located less than 75 minutes from Seattle, Stevens Pass offers a great variety of runs for skiers and boarders of all abilities from the seasoned vet to those just putting on their boots for the first time.

The resort had free parking and it was a easy walk from the lot to the base of the resort and even toting skis and poles, there was little difficulty making it to our starting point.

The resort is complete with a Nordic center, Pro Shop, rental area, and plenty of restaurant, bars, snack areas and shops.

This is ideal as no matter how well you prepare, items from sunglasses to chapstick always seem to have been left behind and you do not want your day hampered by glare and chapped lips.

After walking to the ticket line, my assistant and I were ready to go in a few short minutes. The helpful staff was able to equip her with the needed rentals. In less than 15 minutes from our arrival she had her lift ticket, ski and boot rentals, and was ready to go.

If you have your own equipment as I do, I was able to be on the slopes in 5 minutes from arrival as all I needed to do was secure my shows in a locker, click on my boots and skis, and I was ready to go.

The slopes are well groomed and attractive and have good visibility. I generally take a few runs on the Daisy slope before heading up the mountain on the lifts to ensure my boots are secured and comfortable and locked properly into the bindings.

The Hogsback lift is a good bet for advanced skiers as it is a high-speed trip to the top that allows skiers a choice of runs of various skills from Double Diamond to the more basic. I ran down both and found the Double Diamond run to be a real challenge with hip deep poweder and steep drops.
The more casual runs offered amble space and allowed for a more leisurely run that was enjoyable.

I found the food to be a mixed bag as what was listed as chicken nachos was a plate of gluten with imitation cheese plastered to stale chips. Thankfully the burgers and soup were fine. While the prices were on par with inflated theme park prices for food, the quality was hit and miss.

What sets Stevens Pass apart from other resorts is not just the great staff and runs it is the fact that boarders and skiers exist well on the same runs unlike other places I have covered where boarders run wild and often are a hindrance to skiers.

If you want a break from the slopes, I highly suggest Tube City where you can ride a tube down three different runs at amazing speeds. For more information check out www.stevenspass.com .

Games of 2011 Preview

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2011 is shaping up to be a big year in gaming. With PAX East just recently completed all eyes will soon turn to E3 and PAX Prime for a sneak peek at what gamers can expect in 2011.

With this in mind, I decided to post a listing of some of our most anticipated titles.

Portal 2

Rage

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

Duke Nukem Forever

Diablo 3

Star Wars The Old Republic

Batman Arkham City.

F.E.A.R. 3

Crysis 2

Brink

Red Faction Armageddon

Resistance 3

Max Payne 3

Uncharted 3

Elder Scrolls V

Gears of War 3

Mass Effect 3

Infamous 2

In addition to the above list, there will also be new entries for Resident Evil, X Com, and Deus Ex for gamers to enjoy.