Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Release Date: September 16, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS

In addition to getting their hands on the Wii version of the game, attendees at Comic-Con will get an exclusive chance to play through the demo of The Force Unleashed that is slated to release on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network before the game ships. The Force Unleashed gives players the ultimate experience in wielding over-the-top Force powers as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Hunt down Jedi and bring Darth Vader’s enemies to justice with truly next-generation technology and gameplay that take the Star Wars experience to exciting new levels of interactivity and destruction.

Fracture

Release Date: October 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Reshape the face of combat with Terrain Deformation, a revolutionary new technology that allows you to change the very ground beneath your feet. Completely manipulate the terrain on the fly, to provide yourself with cover, solve puzzles, maintain a tactical advantage and destroy your enemies. Take part in a massive war where two sides of the United States vie for supremacy – the genetically engineered Pacificans and the cybernetically enhanced Atlantic Alliance. When a rogue General sparks a war that could ultimately decide the fate of all mankind, only soldier Jet Brody and Atlantic Alliance forces can bring him and his genetically engineered army to justice.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Release Date: Holiday 2008

Platforms: Wii, Nintendo DS

Experience all of your favorite duels and rivalries from Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie and TV series with exciting and intuitive lightsaber combat designed specifically for the Wii and Nintendo DS. Execute powerful lightsaber combos with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck through levels taken straight from the movie and animated television series as you pit your favorite heroes and villains against each other and relive the epic storyline that takes place between Episode II and Episode III of the Star Wars movies!

Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game: Champions of the Force

Release Date: Summer 2008

Platforms: PC

Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the massively multiplayer game Star Wars Galaxies with the all-new Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game and its first release, Champions of the Force. For the first time ever choose between the light and dark sides of the Force and build your own Star Wars Galaxies virtual card decks to fight virtual matches for the Rebel or Imperial factions. Collect more than 250 beautifully detailed original Star Wars-themed digital cards, including 20 loot cards that can be redeemed for fantastic Star Wars Galaxies in-game items!

This looks great. Zombi Surtvival Horror Shooter frorm the folks that brought us the amazing Half Life and Portal. More details to come.

Taking advantage of the same proven technology that brought Resident Evil® 4 so successfully to Wii, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop delivers a more immersive, intuitive and interactive experience as players use the Wii Remote to shoot, slash and bludgeon their way through a zombie infested shopping mall, fighting for survival.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance journalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a juicy lead, he makes his way to the small suburban town of Willamette only to find that it has become overrun by zombies. Frank escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be a bastion of safety but it turns out to be anything but. It will be a true struggle to survive the endless stream of enemies, but players will have full reign of a realistic shopping centre and its varied stores offering an endless supply of real and makeshift weapons to fight off the flesh-hungry mob. If Frank is running low on health he can pay a visit to one of the many restaurants or cafes for a meal in order to restore his energy and continue the fight.

The game is split into a series of individual cases, all of which Frank must complete in order to gain vital information that will allow him to piece together the truth behind the horrendous epidemic. In addition to the cases, players will be faced with the dilemma of deciding the rescue priority of the residents of Wilamette who also sought sanctuary in the mall. Depending on the player’s skill, some may not be so fortunate as each rescue needs to be undertaken in a set time period, therefore players may need to delay completion of a case in order to save a fellow human.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop’s infectious humor delivers some welcome relief from the incessant tide of zombies with players able to dress Frank up in a variety of comedic costumes and take on the undead hordes with a selection of improvised and sometimes highly ineffective weapons such as a toy sword or a football.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop includes the following features:
• Utilizes the same engine as Resident Evil 4 Wii edition.
• New level of interaction – aim and fire guns, swing and throw weapons and shake off zombie attacks with added Wii Remote functionality
• Huge environment – expansive indoor and outdoor areas of the mall provide a variety of different locations to explore
• Improved save functionality allows for more seamless gameplay
• Hoards of enemies on screen at once resulting in non-stop, pulse-pounding action
• Anything in the mall is at Frank’s disposal
• Grab environmental objects like umbrellas and benches to use as improvised weapons
• Snatch items from different stores to use as weapons including golf clubs, lawnmowers, frying pans and more
• Consume food and drink to revive health

Rank. Movie Title (Distributor)
Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.)
$155.3 million | 4,366 | $155.3 million | 1

2. Mamma Mia! (Universal)
$27.6 million | 2,976 | $27.6 million | 1

3. Hancock (Sony / Columbia)
$14.0 million | 3,776 | $191.5 million | 3

4. Journey to the Center of the Earth (New Line)
$11.9 million | 2,830 | $43.1 million | 2

5. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Universal)
$10.0 million | 3,212 | $56.4 million | 2

Reno 911 The Complete Fifth Season Uncensored.

One of my favorite comedy shows continues the Mis-Adventures of the Reno, NV Sheriff’s Department. The officers week in and week out confront a series of law enforcement challenges that are made more difficult by their own ineptness and issues.
As a mocumentary of the hit series COPS this is a show not to miss.
Comes with over 40 minutes of extended scenes as well as bonus features and cast commentaries.
TV Funhouse.

Comedy Central’s Groundbreaking show with Robert Smeigel brings tons of cartoons and outrageous sketches to life. Includes Triumph The Insult Comic Dog and much more.

Loaded with bonus material.

Manswers Best of Season One

This Spike TV classic looks at some of the all time greatest questions that have plagued mankind. Topics ranging from How many floors can you fall in an elevator and still survive, How can you get drunk faster, and Is she a hooker or a cop will all be answered.
Ideal for a night out with the guys.

Baldwin Hills Season One
Groundbreaking Reality Series that looks at the lives of privileged African American youth in the privileged community.
Includes Casting interviews and much more.

Rolling Stones Shine A light
Legendary Director Martin Scorsese looks at the legendary Rolling Stones as never before seen. With classic footage and exclusive behind the scenes access, this film is the ultimate look at the timeless rockers.
Includes Bonus features and performances and features.

The Hills The Complete Third Season.

All of the infighting and tabloid excess is back as Heidi, Spencer, Whitney, and Lauren return for more of the drama that made this series a pop culture phenomenon.
Includes Deleted Scenes, Interviews, Commentary, and more.

Transformers Cybertron The Ultimate Collection.
Seven Disc set that features the heroic Transformers locked in the ultimate battle with the evil Decepticons as the look for the lost Cyber Planet keys across the universe.
A must for series fans.

GVK: What drew you to acting?
MPC: I was a mediocre musician and came into acting late during my time in college. It was that 60’s-70’s Gorilla Theater that was so popular in San Francisco, and I was able to get a scholarship that got me started.

GVK: What sort of preparation did you do for The Closer and what attracted you to the role?

MPC: I had done a lot of character work in the 90’s, playing a lot of bad guys. I would go to the grocery store and people would ask me which bad guy I was playing next. It was nice seeing a role that would allow me to use Standard English and it was a very well written show with a well-defined character. I had worked with Michael Mann on Robbery Homicide Division and liked that fact that this was a solid genre and that my character was an interesting mix as he is very bright, but he is socially inept.

GVK: What surprises can fans look forward to in the upcoming season?

MPC: New Characters stepping up, (Laughs), that is about all I am allowed to say.

GVK: The Closer is the rare series that is popular with critics and fans alike and has been able to get solid ratings as well as a cult following, to what do you credit the success of the series?

MPC: Kyra, and very good writing. We have been very blessed to have a great cast that has a good chemistry and we have been very blessed and lucky as there are plenty of shows that seem to have it all but for one reason or another just do not click.

GVK: I have to ask, with the buzz about a new Arrested Development film being considered, is there any chance we will see Judge Ping again?

MPC: That is funny; this is the 2nd time I have been asked that today. I did a few episodes of the show, and my work was usually a few days sitting around while the cast did there stuff. They were amazing and very funny, and usually they would be sent home, and then they would do my close ups and the rest of the scene without them. I have not heard anything about Judge Ping returning but it was a great show.

GVK: Having acted in so many different genres do you have a favorite?

MPC: I love Drama but with jokes when appropriate. Too many sitcoms are not enjoyable to me as the jokes are presented in such a way that the laughs are obligatory. I like the more subtle humor where one guy in a group gets it.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait too long for improved glasses and technology. Enter Disneyland, Michael Jackson and Captain EO in 1983 and 3D started making more sense. I was duly impressed, no purple haze and things did fly off the screen. We couldn’t keep the plastic glasses, though. But improvements came slower after the 80s, and it was only last year that I watched something that impressed me more, and hey! it was from Disney again! I have to admit, some of my pleasure with the movie was the fact that I didn’t have to travel to some themepark to watch it. Oh, and the glasses to watch “Meet the Robinsons” were cooler. Like shades. Still an awkward fit over my glasses, but at least we got to keep them.

I added to my collection of 3D glasses this week, again courtesy of Disney. The glasses were similar to those from “Meet the Robinsons” but maybe a little cooler, a little better constructed. I just wish I could say the same about the movie, “Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D.”

Brendan Fraser of “The Mummy” fame plays Trevor Anderson, a scientist professor whose theories on ..okay, I don’t remember. I could cheat and look it up on IMDB, maybe do some research, but really, you just want to know if this movie is good, right? It’s good. It’s enjoyable. But you have to watch it in 3D. Otherwise, there’s really no point. The special effects are what make this movie interesting.

Trevor finds himself playing substitute dad for the weekend to his nephew, Sean, played by teen star Josh Hutcherson, who is no stranger to adventure movies geared towards kids having starred in Bridge to Terabithia and Zathura, to name a few. Sean’s dad, and Trevor’s brother, Max, disappeared more than 10 years ago on an expedition and no one ever knew why. They just knew Max was a “Verne-ian” a believer of the incredible tale of Jules Verne’s novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Trevor and Sean discover notes in Max’s old copy of the book that allow them to trace Max’s steps to Iceland. Together, with pretty mountain guide, Hannah, played by slight, but capable Anita Briem, they embark on a fantastic adventure that takes them deep beneath the Earth’s surface.

Josh Hutcherson gives a dependable performance of a sullen, reluctant teenager who secretly wishes to know more about his father. As this is his directorial debut, Eric Brevig, may be forgiven for letting Brendan Fraser channel more of the goofy George of the Jungle character than the more in control Rick O’Connell of the Mummy. I just remember thinking, “Did he forget how to use his ‘inside’ voice?” towards the end of the film. Granted, they were careening through the center of the Earth through most of the movie, but still. Maybe kids who like yelling at the top of their lungs can relate. Me, I was always the quiet kid with her nose in a book.

Brought to you by the geniuses behind the digital effects of such movies as The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and The Day After Tomorrow, Journey to the Center of the Earth is unique and groundbreaking as a movie that overwhelms yet still somehow disappoints. It is an epic adventure. For kids. Because they can suspend their disbelief better than adults and just be awed by the spectacular effects and enjoy the wild ride. As the first live-action feature film to be shot and released entirely in 3D, Journey to the Center of the Earth is an ambitious effort that dazzles and entertains just enough to keep an adult interested, and maybe just enough to keep a child enthralled. If nothing else, this may encourage kids to read the novel. If nothing else, this movie may get you excited for the future of 3D live-action feature films. If nothing else, you get a cool pair of 3D shades.

One such decision that will undoubtedly look bad with the passage of time, was the decision for Columbia not to continue the “Hellboy” film series and allow it to walk away to find a home elsewhere.
Thankfully due to the strength of “Pan’s Labyrinth”, creator Guillmo del Toro who is riding a wave of critical success, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”, is a step up from the previous film and sets the stage for a potential series of sequels for Universal.

The film once again stars Ron Perlman as the title character, a demon of supernatural origin who was raised by humans and leads a team of gifted individuals in the ultra-secret Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD).

The story begins shortly after the events of the last film, and finds BPRD Director Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor), frustrated with Hellboy’s continued flaunting of the rules by posing for pictures and autographs while on missions, despite being sworn to keep himself and the agency a closely guarded secret.

As if this was not enough trouble, Hellboy is having issues with the love of his life Liz (Selma Blair), who is starting to have issues with his gruff mannerisms and slovenly ways.
Unknown to the BRPD a new threat is brewing in the form of Prince Nauada (Luke Goss), who plans to retrieve three pieces of a golden crown so that he may control a fabled army of golden soldiers, and wage war on humanity.

Nauada is part of the mythical world of beings that long ago formed a truce with humanity and have lived in peace. Nauada, who has lived under the rule of his father for centuries, strikes out and sets events into motion which require the BPRD to respond to a threat greater than any they have previously faced,.

With the able help of Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), and new member Johann Krauss (Seth MacFarlane), the BPRD clash with themselves and the forces of Nauada with the fate of the world in the balance.
The new film is significantly better than the previous one, and del Toro has masterfully blended the characters and many interesting sub-stories with solid action, FX, and surprising humor. There is a scene in the film where Hellboy and Abe bond over music and beer to discuss women that is truly classic as is the confrontation between Hellboy and Krauss over leadership.

del Toro is a master at creating world of fantasy and splendor and when he allows the film to venture into this area, the film truly shines. It is during the transition between fantasy and alleged reality where the film has a few rough edges. While it was great to see the characters have a more defined relationship and interaction with one another, it seemed at times that areas for potential gold were glossed over or rushed to get back to the action and FX. There are some great storylines about Hellboy’s relationship with humanity, Liz being caught between two worlds, and many more that I hope get developed more in any future films.

There were times in the film where the nearly two hour run time seemed excessive and dragged, especially leading up to a finale, that did not deliver as big an impact as the setup had hinted at.
That being said, thanks to great characters and visuals “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”, is the rare sequel that is better than the original.
3.5 stars out of 5.