It took a lot of writerly sci-fi calisthenics to get there, but the events of the 2008 "Futurama" movie "Bender's Game" take place largely in a Gygaxian world of wizards, knights, centaurs, and dragons. There are no hobbits, but hobos and rabbits are doing what they can to redress their absence.
It seems that the alcoholic robot Bender (John Dimaggio) was built without an imagination, a grievous deficiency indeed when he is asked to play "Dungeons & Dragons" with his 12-year-old friends Cubert (Kath Soucie) and Dwight (Bumper Robinson). Bender eventually comes around and invents a character named Titanius Anglesmith, Fancyman of Cornwood.
Sadly, playing D&d forces Bender's newly discovered imagination into overdrive, and he soon believes that he is Titanius Anglesmith. Like Don Quixote before him, Bender now sees himself as a brave knight errant, tilting at the high-tech windmills of the 31st century. He will eventually be committed...
It seems that the alcoholic robot Bender (John Dimaggio) was built without an imagination, a grievous deficiency indeed when he is asked to play "Dungeons & Dragons" with his 12-year-old friends Cubert (Kath Soucie) and Dwight (Bumper Robinson). Bender eventually comes around and invents a character named Titanius Anglesmith, Fancyman of Cornwood.
Sadly, playing D&d forces Bender's newly discovered imagination into overdrive, and he soon believes that he is Titanius Anglesmith. Like Don Quixote before him, Bender now sees himself as a brave knight errant, tilting at the high-tech windmills of the 31st century. He will eventually be committed...
- 11/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Despite its cast of modern stars, including Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez, the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves throws back to the game’s heyday in the 1980s. In addition to cameo appearances by a gelatinous cube and the green-flame blade, Pine’s bard Edgin Darvis and Rodriguez’s barbarian Holga Kilgore pass by a notable sextet.
Viewers of a certain age might recognize the six fellow adventurers as Hank the ranger, Eric the cavalier, Diana the acrobat, Presto the magician, Sheila the thief, and Bobby the barbarian. Fans first met these six heroes in 1983, when the cartoon show Dungeons & Dragons premiered on CBS. Produced by Marvel and Tsr, publishers of the game guidebook, Dungeons & Dragons ran for 27 episodes across three seasons.
As shown in the opening that ran with each episode, the six heroes were regular teens in the real world who boarded a Dungeons & Dragons roller coaster,...
Viewers of a certain age might recognize the six fellow adventurers as Hank the ranger, Eric the cavalier, Diana the acrobat, Presto the magician, Sheila the thief, and Bobby the barbarian. Fans first met these six heroes in 1983, when the cartoon show Dungeons & Dragons premiered on CBS. Produced by Marvel and Tsr, publishers of the game guidebook, Dungeons & Dragons ran for 27 episodes across three seasons.
As shown in the opening that ran with each episode, the six heroes were regular teens in the real world who boarded a Dungeons & Dragons roller coaster,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Stirring parents up into a paranoid mob is an American tradition, and it's one of our lousiest. The poorly-researched anti-comic book tome "Seduction of the Innocent" led to a public comic book burning in the 1950s and decades of oppressive self-censorship within the publishing world. Violent video games like "Mortal Kombat" were accused of corrupting our children in the 1990s, leading to congressional hearings and a video game rating system.
That these waves of mob mentality are almost universally viewed, years later, as embarrassing ignorance and/or obvious manipulations doesn't seem to stop the cycle from starting up, over and over again. Apparently, nobody ever learns anything. Even when we finally admit that there was nothing terribly sinister about the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons — which was also accused of corrupting kids for many years — and transform it into a family-friendly fantasy movie (for the second time), we find ourselves...
That these waves of mob mentality are almost universally viewed, years later, as embarrassing ignorance and/or obvious manipulations doesn't seem to stop the cycle from starting up, over and over again. Apparently, nobody ever learns anything. Even when we finally admit that there was nothing terribly sinister about the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons — which was also accused of corrupting kids for many years — and transform it into a family-friendly fantasy movie (for the second time), we find ourselves...
- 3/31/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Fans of the long-running role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons have known for decades how the experience of playing the game is character-based and acting-friendly. In addition to fostering camaraderie between friends or family members who play together, it encourages imagination and improvisation, skills any actor learns to develop and foster as they continue to practice their craft.
It's no surprise, then, that more and more actors are getting into the D&d craze. One actor who's found himself quite literally and figuratively getting into it is Chris Pine, who portrays the bard-class Edgin Darvis in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Pine's character in the film is both traditionally heroic and charmingly self-effacing, allowing the actor to better integrate into the ensemble nature of the film and its RPG source material.
I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Mr. Pine about his work in the movie, his thoughts on learning about D&d,...
It's no surprise, then, that more and more actors are getting into the D&d craze. One actor who's found himself quite literally and figuratively getting into it is Chris Pine, who portrays the bard-class Edgin Darvis in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Pine's character in the film is both traditionally heroic and charmingly self-effacing, allowing the actor to better integrate into the ensemble nature of the film and its RPG source material.
I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Mr. Pine about his work in the movie, his thoughts on learning about D&d,...
- 3/29/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
In 1982, Tom Hanks landed his first leading role in a film with "Mazes and Monsters." Hanks stars in the made-for-tv movie as a college student who suffers a psychotic break from playing the titular role-playing game, a thinly-veiled fictional stand-in for real-life fantasy roleplaying games like "Dungeons & Dragons." It's "Reefer Madness" for RPGs, a laughably terrible propaganda piece based on a 1981 book that itself was inspired by inaccurate media stories trying to establish a non-existent link between mental health and a love of rolling "Nat 20s."
Thankfully, things only went up for Hanks from there. He would spend the rest of the '80s making his primary living as a comedic actor, starring in now-classic titles like "Splash" and "Big" in-between less successful comedy movies and his early attempts at drama in films like "Every Time We Say Goodbye." In time, however, Hanks would hit another low-point with his...
Thankfully, things only went up for Hanks from there. He would spend the rest of the '80s making his primary living as a comedic actor, starring in now-classic titles like "Splash" and "Big" in-between less successful comedy movies and his early attempts at drama in films like "Every Time We Say Goodbye." In time, however, Hanks would hit another low-point with his...
- 9/6/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The horror and sci-fi genres are home to some of the most memorable characters in cinematic history, and sometimes, they never have to show the actor's face. "The Last Starfighter" director Nick Castle became a horror legend when he first donned the white mask of Michael Myers in John Carpenter's "Halloween," and stuntman Kane Hodder became synonymous with Jason Voorhees after playing the hockey-mask wearing slasher in four "Friday the 13th" films. Chances are, if an actor is the first or most storied performer of an iconic monster, they are beloved by generations as new audiences are introduced to their work. This month saw the release of "Prey," with the prequel film becoming the seventh feature film in the "Predator" franchise. The film debuted 35 years after the debut installment, which took an action-packed approach to sci-fi horror and introduced one of the greatest creature characters in cinematic history.
The...
The...
- 8/15/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Magic: The Gathering has started rolling out a new set, and along with new cards and mechanics coming in Zendikar Rising, they also laid out their plans for 2021. In those plans: an official in-game crossover with Dungeons and Dragons.
Magic’s story bounces across multiple “planes” – worlds of the multiverse with different themes, stories, characters and in-game mechanics. The four releases scheduled for 2021 are winter’s Kaldheim, a viking themed set; spring’s Strixhaven, a set built around an elite multiversal university; Adventures in the Forgotten Realms coming out in the Summer; and a dual set focusing on the werewolves and vampires of Innistrad in fall of 2021.
Additionally, details on Zendikar Rising started to hit. The set, which releases on September 17th, returns to the wild plane full of shifting and living lands, and as such, it brings some familiar game mechanics back around that idea.
Landfall, an ability that...
Magic’s story bounces across multiple “planes” – worlds of the multiverse with different themes, stories, characters and in-game mechanics. The four releases scheduled for 2021 are winter’s Kaldheim, a viking themed set; spring’s Strixhaven, a set built around an elite multiversal university; Adventures in the Forgotten Realms coming out in the Summer; and a dual set focusing on the werewolves and vampires of Innistrad in fall of 2021.
Additionally, details on Zendikar Rising started to hit. The set, which releases on September 17th, returns to the wild plane full of shifting and living lands, and as such, it brings some familiar game mechanics back around that idea.
Landfall, an ability that...
- 9/2/2020
- by Jim Dandy
- Den of Geek
It’s been over a year since the finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Here are five things we learned about the show since then.
“It’s been more than a year since Game of Thrones fans tuned in to the series’s finale—concluding both the eighth season of the HBO epic and the overall saga conceived by author George R.R. Martin. The final season, and the last episode in particular, answered many burning fan questions—including the fate of characters like Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)—and finally named a new ruler of Westeros.”
Read more at Mental Floss.
From Bloodshot to The Old Guard, check out the best action movies 2020 has to offer so far.
“The action movie is resilient. Even in the middle of a global health crisis, with theaters closing and films getting pushed from the release calendar,...
“It’s been more than a year since Game of Thrones fans tuned in to the series’s finale—concluding both the eighth season of the HBO epic and the overall saga conceived by author George R.R. Martin. The final season, and the last episode in particular, answered many burning fan questions—including the fate of characters like Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)—and finally named a new ruler of Westeros.”
Read more at Mental Floss.
From Bloodshot to The Old Guard, check out the best action movies 2020 has to offer so far.
“The action movie is resilient. Even in the middle of a global health crisis, with theaters closing and films getting pushed from the release calendar,...
- 8/28/2020
- by Ivan Huang
- Den of Geek
Burbank, CA – Rooster Teeth’s epic anime-inspired series following the journeys of four unified huntresses-in-training arrives for its spectacular seventh season when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment presents Rwby Volume 7 on Digital ($14.99 Srp USA & Canada) and Blu-ray starting October 13, 2020.
Beloved by fans and acclaimed by critics, Rwby imagines a world filled with horrific monsters bent on death and destruction, and humanity’s only hope dependent upon powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses in training whose journeys will take them far past the grounds of their school, Beacon Academy. Though each may be powerful on their own, these four girls must overcome dark forces and work as a team if they truly hope to become the next generation of Remnant’s protectors.
In Rwby Volume 7, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang have fought hard alongside their friends to bring the Relic of Knowledge to Atlas,...
Beloved by fans and acclaimed by critics, Rwby imagines a world filled with horrific monsters bent on death and destruction, and humanity’s only hope dependent upon powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses. Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long are four such Huntresses in training whose journeys will take them far past the grounds of their school, Beacon Academy. Though each may be powerful on their own, these four girls must overcome dark forces and work as a team if they truly hope to become the next generation of Remnant’s protectors.
In Rwby Volume 7, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang have fought hard alongside their friends to bring the Relic of Knowledge to Atlas,...
- 7/31/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
When Tom Hanks jogged onto screen in his feature film debut in the 1980 slasher pic “He Knows You’re Alone,” one probably couldn’t have predicted he would go on to become one of the most successful and beloved actors of all time. Playing a psychology student who postulates about the appeal of fear, Hanks makes manages to the most of his few minutes of screen time. And even though it’s brief, you can catch some of the hallmarks of what would later become a Tom Hanks performance — charismatic but a little goofy, handsome but non-threatening, and able to make any line sound like it has a handful of meanings.
It’s been a long journey from that low-budget horror movie to two-time Academy Award-winning actor, Emmy-award winning producer and Hollywood’s Nicest Guy. On Jan. 5, the eight-time Golden Globe winner will receive the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.’s special honor,...
It’s been a long journey from that low-budget horror movie to two-time Academy Award-winning actor, Emmy-award winning producer and Hollywood’s Nicest Guy. On Jan. 5, the eight-time Golden Globe winner will receive the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.’s special honor,...
- 1/3/2020
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Ryan Lambie Jul 9, 2019
Mazes and Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982... and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokémon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. Before all this though, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it--Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax--from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials--dice, counters,...
Mazes and Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982... and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokémon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. Before all this though, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it--Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax--from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials--dice, counters,...
- 3/29/2017
- Den of Geek
Ryan Lambie Mar 29, 2017
Mazes And Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982 - and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokemon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
Before all this, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it - Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax - from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials - dice, counters, a rulebook - the game conjures...
Mazes And Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982 - and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokemon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
Before all this, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it - Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax - from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials - dice, counters, a rulebook - the game conjures...
- 3/28/2017
- Den of Geek
For years, viewers invited Chris Wiggins into their living rooms to hear his vast knowledge of all things occult on Friday the 13th: The Series, so it is with great sadness that we inform readers that the actor has passed away in Ontario at the age of 87 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.
According to THR, the news of Wiggins' passing was recently shared in an obituary published in the Toronto Star. His family has requested that loved ones and fans donate to the Alzheimer Society in place of purchasing flowers for his memorial service in mid-March.
Wiggins is perhaps best remembered for his aforementioned role as Jack Marshak in Friday the 13th: The Series. As fans know, instead of Jason Voorhees, the series focused on cursed antiques that had to be tracked down, and Wiggins' character was absolutely vital in helping Micki Foster and Ryan Dallion on their quests,...
According to THR, the news of Wiggins' passing was recently shared in an obituary published in the Toronto Star. His family has requested that loved ones and fans donate to the Alzheimer Society in place of purchasing flowers for his memorial service in mid-March.
Wiggins is perhaps best remembered for his aforementioned role as Jack Marshak in Friday the 13th: The Series. As fans know, instead of Jason Voorhees, the series focused on cursed antiques that had to be tracked down, and Wiggins' character was absolutely vital in helping Micki Foster and Ryan Dallion on their quests,...
- 2/25/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
To celebrate the release of Unhallowed Ground – out on DVD 27th July – we have a copy to giveaway!
Having already picked up some nominations and awards at the British Independent Film Festival and the London International Film Festival, Unhallowed Ground is already garnering a reputation as a true gem of the indie scene. Check out our review here.
Taking its cues from a classic horror staple – doomed teenagers wandering into a mysterious old building – Unhallowed Ground delivers something genuinely eerie and original. Proof that when it comes to creaky old houses and ancient evil, nobody can match the spooky legacy of British horror.
Order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1O6ce13
To win a copy ofUnhallowed Ground on DVD, just answer the following question:
Unhallowed Ground features effects by Mike Peel. But on which of the following fantasy films did Peel also work on? Was it:
a) Dungeons & Dragons
b...
Having already picked up some nominations and awards at the British Independent Film Festival and the London International Film Festival, Unhallowed Ground is already garnering a reputation as a true gem of the indie scene. Check out our review here.
Taking its cues from a classic horror staple – doomed teenagers wandering into a mysterious old building – Unhallowed Ground delivers something genuinely eerie and original. Proof that when it comes to creaky old houses and ancient evil, nobody can match the spooky legacy of British horror.
Order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1O6ce13
To win a copy ofUnhallowed Ground on DVD, just answer the following question:
Unhallowed Ground features effects by Mike Peel. But on which of the following fantasy films did Peel also work on? Was it:
a) Dungeons & Dragons
b...
- 7/22/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
This is the trailer to a movie called Dark Dungeons, which is based on the 1984 Christian comic by Jack Chick. The story points out all of the evil dangers of RPG's (Role Playing Games). Yes, some people believe that playing Dungeons and Dragons is a road straight to hell! Zombie Orpheus Entertainment bought the rights to the comic and turned it into a feature film. Here's the first trailer for the indie film that was funded through Kickstarter. Check out the synopsis:
Debbie and Marcie arrive at college unaware of the dangers of RPGing. They are soon indoctrinated into this dangerous lifestyle where they face the threat of learning real life magical powers, being invited to join a witches' coven, and resisting the lure of Ms. Frost, a vile temptress of a Gm. But what peril must the two friends face when they stumble across the Necronomicon and their fantasy game becomes a reality game?...
Debbie and Marcie arrive at college unaware of the dangers of RPGing. They are soon indoctrinated into this dangerous lifestyle where they face the threat of learning real life magical powers, being invited to join a witches' coven, and resisting the lure of Ms. Frost, a vile temptress of a Gm. But what peril must the two friends face when they stumble across the Necronomicon and their fantasy game becomes a reality game?...
- 5/21/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Maybe it's the holiday weekend, but we're feeling a little Hanks nostalgia. We haven't seen "Larry Crowne" yet, but something about the ads puts us in the mind of Tom Hanks of yesteryear -- the affable, effortless actor who got his start in drag on TV's "Bosom Buddies" and is now the very definition of Hollywood A list.
It isn't that we're discouraging anyone from seeing "Larry Crowne" (despite those reviews -- ouch), but for those of you unable or unwilling to make it out to the movies this weekend we've compiled a list of six different Tom Hanks Diy Film Festivals. Any one will make for great Independence Day weekend viewing -- or, hey, go all out and do one festival for each day of the holiday weekend. What's more American than Tom Hanks and apple pie? (Okay, maybe Ron Howard and apple pie, but we're talking Hanks here).
And don't worry,...
It isn't that we're discouraging anyone from seeing "Larry Crowne" (despite those reviews -- ouch), but for those of you unable or unwilling to make it out to the movies this weekend we've compiled a list of six different Tom Hanks Diy Film Festivals. Any one will make for great Independence Day weekend viewing -- or, hey, go all out and do one festival for each day of the holiday weekend. What's more American than Tom Hanks and apple pie? (Okay, maybe Ron Howard and apple pie, but we're talking Hanks here).
And don't worry,...
- 7/1/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
For comedians aspiring to be dramatic actors, there is no better model than Tom Hanks. A two-time Academy Award winner and five-time nominee, this unflashy, modern-day Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda has also shown every struggling actor on earth that if you persevere you can actually make people forget you started out as a comedian and then simply a romantic comedy lead (remember the dreaded "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle" years). Hell, if you endure long enough you can even wipe out the memory of TV movies like "Mazes and Monsters" and sitcoms like "Bosom Buddies" (where's that…...
- 6/30/2011
- The Playlist
Are you sitting down? You need to be… because this geek is going to take you on a magic journey into an utter nerd world!
‘The Dungeon Masters’ follows three people who have devoted a big chunk of their lives to the game Dungeons and Dragons. They are all Dungeon Masters, which means that they control the game in their individual gaming circles. Richard is a sanitation worker by day, devious master who likes to kill off his players by night. Scott is in the middle of writing a book, while also filming a cable access show. Both of his projects have to do with the same type of entertainment as D&D. Elizabeth doesn’t start out with a job, and her life is a bit rocky after Hurricane Katrina, but she still finds joy in life by dressing like a black elf. She has her own formula for the paint and everything.
‘The Dungeon Masters’ follows three people who have devoted a big chunk of their lives to the game Dungeons and Dragons. They are all Dungeon Masters, which means that they control the game in their individual gaming circles. Richard is a sanitation worker by day, devious master who likes to kill off his players by night. Scott is in the middle of writing a book, while also filming a cable access show. Both of his projects have to do with the same type of entertainment as D&D. Elizabeth doesn’t start out with a job, and her life is a bit rocky after Hurricane Katrina, but she still finds joy in life by dressing like a black elf. She has her own formula for the paint and everything.
- 8/3/2010
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Slightly long/dramatic cover story title for a picture of Katy Perry hanging out in lingerie? “Sex, God, & Katy Perry – The Hard Road & Hot Times of a Fallen Angel”? Is that a Rush lyric? Writer: For my Katy Perry cover story, how about “Here’s Katy Perry in Lingerie – Look At Her Boobs”? Editor: Ehhhh… can you throw some ampersands in there and turn it into a Dungeons and Dragons campaign? Writer: Uh, I can, yeah, but…...
- 8/3/2010
- by Dan Hopper
- BestWeekEver
By Christopher Stipp
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed- Giveaway
Forget about Clash of the Titans, don’t bother with Prince of Persia, and by all means take a pass on Quantum of Solace. The one film that showcases the wicked power of actress Gemma Arterton is The Disappearance of Alice Creed.
While I don’t know what I can or can’t say before the film opens next week, August 6th, I don’t think anyone will have a problem with me saying that you ought to seek this film out and watch a movie that is the perfect answer for a time of the year when you get nothing but ho-hum releases. Truly, a movie that delivers on being both exciting and thrilling,...
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed- Giveaway
Forget about Clash of the Titans, don’t bother with Prince of Persia, and by all means take a pass on Quantum of Solace. The one film that showcases the wicked power of actress Gemma Arterton is The Disappearance of Alice Creed.
While I don’t know what I can or can’t say before the film opens next week, August 6th, I don’t think anyone will have a problem with me saying that you ought to seek this film out and watch a movie that is the perfect answer for a time of the year when you get nothing but ho-hum releases. Truly, a movie that delivers on being both exciting and thrilling,...
- 7/30/2010
- by Christopher Stipp
Hey Gaymers! This month I bring you some hot boys street fighting in the new Super Street Fighter IV and my complete review of Final Fantasy Xiii.
Some of the hottest guys in gaming can be found in head to head fighters. These are games where you use a series of timed button combinations to pull off techniques to decimate your opponent. The cream of this year’s technical fighters is the re-release of 2009’s Street Fighter IV.
Essentially a director’s cut of the original, Super Street Fighter IV rebalances the strength and techniques of its diverse cast, adds some new moves, and improves online tournament play for those of you brave enough to take on the world in live matches.
Now, the Street Fighter series has always been known for its colorful characters with storied pasts and over the years, developer Capcom has introduced a few fighters that...
Some of the hottest guys in gaming can be found in head to head fighters. These are games where you use a series of timed button combinations to pull off techniques to decimate your opponent. The cream of this year’s technical fighters is the re-release of 2009’s Street Fighter IV.
Essentially a director’s cut of the original, Super Street Fighter IV rebalances the strength and techniques of its diverse cast, adds some new moves, and improves online tournament play for those of you brave enough to take on the world in live matches.
Now, the Street Fighter series has always been known for its colorful characters with storied pasts and over the years, developer Capcom has introduced a few fighters that...
- 7/27/2010
- by dennis
- The Backlot
While you were sleeping, innovation was putting on a jaunty little cap to wear with its oil-colored capelet, eschewing anything nerdlike such as black T-shirts, and leaving home without its British citizenship.
1. What is a disaster without conspiracy theories? Eco-warriors, big business, the U.S. government, and Kim Jong Il could all be responsible for the Deepwater oil spill, depending which paranoia you subscribe to. As Bp delays tests on the new cap on the Deepwater oil spill, Mitch Landrieu, the new mayor of New Orleans is profiled in the Nyt today.
2. After Consumer Report's somewhat off-message iPhone 4 review, Apple has found itself some allies--which it might need to prevent another dip in its stock like yesterday's. As well as FastCompany's very own Kit Eaton picking holes in Cr's incomplete science, an electromagnetic engineer called Bob (he's also Global Head of Research & Chief Analyst at TowerGroup) pours cold water on the report.
1. What is a disaster without conspiracy theories? Eco-warriors, big business, the U.S. government, and Kim Jong Il could all be responsible for the Deepwater oil spill, depending which paranoia you subscribe to. As Bp delays tests on the new cap on the Deepwater oil spill, Mitch Landrieu, the new mayor of New Orleans is profiled in the Nyt today.
2. After Consumer Report's somewhat off-message iPhone 4 review, Apple has found itself some allies--which it might need to prevent another dip in its stock like yesterday's. As well as FastCompany's very own Kit Eaton picking holes in Cr's incomplete science, an electromagnetic engineer called Bob (he's also Global Head of Research & Chief Analyst at TowerGroup) pours cold water on the report.
- 7/14/2010
- by Addy Dugdale
- Fast Company
Four Torches (Out of Five) Last year, the massively multi-player roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons Online reduced its price to ... free. Sure, additional features like potions, armor, and weapons are available through the Ddo store, but they're also attainable through game-play -- unlike a lot of other downloadable games. It's worth, well, much more than the price you pay. It's an extremely enjoyable online role-playing experience. Once you've downloaded the game and created your account and character, you have a total of seven worlds to play in: Argonnessen, Ghallanda, Khyber, Sarlona, Thelanis, Orien, and Cannith. Character creation is reminiscent of the actual role-playing game, but different too.
- 7/11/2010
- thetorchonline
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com:The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (**1/2 out of 4)
Some interesting parallels exist between the “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” film franchises.
Of course, both started as beloved, and best-selling, literary series that dabbled in the supernatural or the occult. Movie adaptations were inevitable, and each series retained its acting core as they transitioned from page to screen. Also the film franchises have retained the same screenwriter (Melissa Rosenberg for “Twilight,” Steve Kloves for most “Potter” films) while substituting directors at regular intervals.
The main difference between the series, so far as I’m concerned, is that the “Potter” films have been joyous, harrowing, emotionally stimulating, character-driven, special-effects-laden masterpieces, while the “Twilight” movies, to date, have sucked. Hard. Catherine Hardwicke’s original, humdrum teen romance was as dreary as its Pacific Northwest setting, as colorless as the pale-skinned Cullen clan, and as stiff as a corpse. Chris Weitz...
Hollywoodnews.com:The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (**1/2 out of 4)
Some interesting parallels exist between the “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” film franchises.
Of course, both started as beloved, and best-selling, literary series that dabbled in the supernatural or the occult. Movie adaptations were inevitable, and each series retained its acting core as they transitioned from page to screen. Also the film franchises have retained the same screenwriter (Melissa Rosenberg for “Twilight,” Steve Kloves for most “Potter” films) while substituting directors at regular intervals.
The main difference between the series, so far as I’m concerned, is that the “Potter” films have been joyous, harrowing, emotionally stimulating, character-driven, special-effects-laden masterpieces, while the “Twilight” movies, to date, have sucked. Hard. Catherine Hardwicke’s original, humdrum teen romance was as dreary as its Pacific Northwest setting, as colorless as the pale-skinned Cullen clan, and as stiff as a corpse. Chris Weitz...
- 6/29/2010
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Maybe it's the genetic lineage from "Dungeons and Dragons" and J.R.R. Tolkien, but the role-playing genre in video games tends to take itself way too seriously. The trope of the earnest and plucky young lad who ventures forth from a small village into a world-saving destiny gets recycled several times a year with a completely straight face.
Thankfully, the developers at Hothead Games know how ludicrous RPG clichés can be and are all set to lampoon many of them in their upcoming "DeathSpank." When I got my hands on the game earlier this week, the goofiness of it all immediately pulled me in. The gameplay rotates around typical features like side quests, incremental storytelling and upgradeable skills and weapons, but killing evil chickens and bantering with sassy witches make it all feel fresher. Hothead developed the game in conjunction with legendary designer Ron Gilbert - who helped birth the beloved...
Thankfully, the developers at Hothead Games know how ludicrous RPG clichés can be and are all set to lampoon many of them in their upcoming "DeathSpank." When I got my hands on the game earlier this week, the goofiness of it all immediately pulled me in. The gameplay rotates around typical features like side quests, incremental storytelling and upgradeable skills and weapons, but killing evil chickens and bantering with sassy witches make it all feel fresher. Hothead developed the game in conjunction with legendary designer Ron Gilbert - who helped birth the beloved...
- 6/11/2010
- by Evan Narcisse
- ifc.com
Last week, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced (recently purchased) Turbine, Inc. would be updating and changing the popular massively mutiplayer online game Lord of the Rings Online, making it a .free-to-play. game. This follows the success of Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online being offered for free, and many gamers are excited. There are both positive and negative aspects to this gaming model, however. There will be three tiers of players: VIP, premium and free. Each of these will have different features available, and each will expand the game in some areas for the player. Naturally, the big advantage for free players is that they can play this game with no cost if they desire. According to information on the game's website, free players can attain level 50, ...
- 6/8/2010
- GeekNation.com
In exciting news today, Square Enix announced that Obsidian Entertainment will develop Dungeon Siege 3, the latest installment of the popular RPG series set in the Kingdom of Ehb.
And rejoice, console gamers, because the franchise will be coming to both Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in addition to its traditional PC platform!
Obsidian brings a strong RPG resume to Dungeon Siege 3′s table, including: Neverwinter Nights 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords, and the highly anticipated wasteland saga Fallout: New Vegas. Also, fans of the first two installments of the franchise should assume that Obsidian will attempt to stay faithful to the original Dungeon Siege world, as series creator Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games is already on board at Obsidian as a key adviser and collaborator.
Feargus Urquhart, the CEO of Obsidian Entertainment, confirmed his excitement about his company’s new agreement with Square:...
And rejoice, console gamers, because the franchise will be coming to both Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in addition to its traditional PC platform!
Obsidian brings a strong RPG resume to Dungeon Siege 3′s table, including: Neverwinter Nights 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords, and the highly anticipated wasteland saga Fallout: New Vegas. Also, fans of the first two installments of the franchise should assume that Obsidian will attempt to stay faithful to the original Dungeon Siege world, as series creator Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games is already on board at Obsidian as a key adviser and collaborator.
Feargus Urquhart, the CEO of Obsidian Entertainment, confirmed his excitement about his company’s new agreement with Square:...
- 6/7/2010
- by Matt Weeber
- GameRant
Words cannot express my overwhelming love for Joss Whedon’s WGA-strike brainchild, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. It combines the snappy dialogue that Whedon’s shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel were known for with the musical and comical sensibility inherent in the inclusion of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion in a production, respectively. Felicia Day continues her online streak of terrific productions after endearing herself to online fans with the still-running series The Guild. Every element that went into the creation of Dr. Horrible makes it an instant fan-favorite. However, what made the DVD release so great is the same thing that makes its Blu-ray release so terrific: for a production with a mere 42-minute runtime, it has more extras than a film two-times its length typically does. Not only that, but the featurettes included are hilarious and the audio commentary, which films usually include as little more than a formality,...
- 5/25/2010
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Frank Frazetta's death hit Twitter pretty hard last week, but when news broke that former Black Sabbath frontman Ronnie James Dio passed away last night, writers and artists alike were hit with a second round of shock. In fact, the last 12 hours of tweets in the comics Twitterverse has been totally dominated by personal experiences, appreciation and occasional expressions of indifference from those who never really clicked with Dio's message of dragons, magic and metal.
Click on down past the jump and you'll find out not only who loved Ronnie James Dio and who didn't, but also where the Charles Manson/Ronnie James Dio/Idw connection lies, and who wants to play a round of Dungeons and Dragons in memory of Dio and Frazetta.
I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for May 17, 2010.
Ronnie James Dio pt. 1: @mattfraction Dio ascends into the realm of elder wizards. Please...
Click on down past the jump and you'll find out not only who loved Ronnie James Dio and who didn't, but also where the Charles Manson/Ronnie James Dio/Idw connection lies, and who wants to play a round of Dungeons and Dragons in memory of Dio and Frazetta.
I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for May 17, 2010.
Ronnie James Dio pt. 1: @mattfraction Dio ascends into the realm of elder wizards. Please...
- 5/17/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Splash Page
Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0
Chicago – Those of us that are wildly addicted to “Bejeweled Blitz” and played through “Puzzle Quest” like a gleeful toddler with a new toy were pretty psyched that the developers of the latter, spectacular Nintendo DS title were releasing a Dlc game called “Puzzle Chronicles”. Once again, our puzzle-loving persona could meld with the kid inside us who misses the days when he played Dungeons and Dragons in his basement. Sadly, “Puzzle Chronicles” only barely delivers.
The first impression is always a physical one and “Puzzle Chronicles” simply doesn’t look good. It has the graphics and general aesthetic of not just the last generation but possibly the one before that. Developers often underestimate the appearance of a game that doesn’t rely on it for gameplay. The hideous appearance of “Puzzle Chronicles” doesn’t effect the gameplay of the title but who wants to spend their...
Chicago – Those of us that are wildly addicted to “Bejeweled Blitz” and played through “Puzzle Quest” like a gleeful toddler with a new toy were pretty psyched that the developers of the latter, spectacular Nintendo DS title were releasing a Dlc game called “Puzzle Chronicles”. Once again, our puzzle-loving persona could meld with the kid inside us who misses the days when he played Dungeons and Dragons in his basement. Sadly, “Puzzle Chronicles” only barely delivers.
The first impression is always a physical one and “Puzzle Chronicles” simply doesn’t look good. It has the graphics and general aesthetic of not just the last generation but possibly the one before that. Developers often underestimate the appearance of a game that doesn’t rely on it for gameplay. The hideous appearance of “Puzzle Chronicles” doesn’t effect the gameplay of the title but who wants to spend their...
- 5/3/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
After watching the short film “Enigma” by independent filmmakers, Jason and Matt Shumway, I came away with a greater appreciation for independent sci-fi films. Don’t get me wrong, I’m from the era where the channel formerly known as SciFi had low budget goodness on every weekend. I delighted to see some of the films they had acquired like the Dungeons and Dragons sequel, “D&D: Wrath of the Dragon God,” and the action horror film “Darklight.” But even before the change of name the quality of the movies they would get seemed to diminish. I bring this up because “Enigma” is far superior to most things they put on the channel barring “Battle Star Galactica,” “Caprica,” and “Eureka,” just to name some of their good stuff. On the movie front however, the channel is sorely lacking, unless “MegaGiantSuper Shark vs. UberGiganticUltra Piranha” is your type of film. Clocking in at just under 45 minutes,...
- 4/14/2010
- by Dedpool
- SciFiCool.com
I like to imagine that, in some fantasy parallel universe, there's a similar story this one, complaining about the exploitation of actual dragons to turn a quick buck. The biggest difference there is that the author of that story is probably drinking a big stein of grog and not a Super Big Gulp of Dr. Pepper. But I digress...
The Heatvision Blog has spotted dragons. Specifically, a series of young adult dragon novels called The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, built on the conceit that the young characters are really fantasy authors C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein and Charles Williams and that their real-life dragon adventures were the impetus behind their respective novels. This is beginning to sound like Doctor Who fanfiction.
Travis Adam Wright, the fellow who wrote Eagle Eye, will adapt James A. Owen's novels, combining the first two (Here, There Be Dragons and The Search...
- 4/13/2010
- UGO Movies
I know what your are thinking…trust me I do. I am a cynical geek with a short fuse so reading a headline like this would make an eyebrow go up for sure mainly out of curiosity. They did Dungeons and Dragons before, if you missed it, the film starred Marlon Wayans and Thora Birch along with Jeremy Irons, who must have been paid a lot because he didn’t belong in that movie at all. The film was crap, I can’t stress that enough, if you are bored one night go on Netflix and watch it because its not worth any money. The movie has a like a 10% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
Where did this movie fail? well besides the cast it really just fell short when fans of the role-playing dice game decided they didn’t want to embrace the movie and rightfully so. The film’s...
Where did this movie fail? well besides the cast it really just fell short when fans of the role-playing dice game decided they didn’t want to embrace the movie and rightfully so. The film’s...
- 4/12/2010
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
The implosion of FlashForward continues. The ratings have spiraled downward, and with it, the quality. I can sum up my recent frustration in a word: Janis. I really liked her character... until last week, when the writers led us to believe that she and Agent Noh had sex in Somalia in order to make her pregnancy flash-forward come true. What a groaner. And I don’t mean the hot-and-bothered kind of groan, either. Just bothered. I didn’t believe either character would have made that choice. To paraphrase a line from another show I happen to write about: It was,...
- 4/9/2010
- by Jeff Jensen
- EW.com - PopWatch
This past weekend, the gaming community from Ontario to Hawaii descended upon the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Ma for Pax East 2010, the first Penny Arcade Expo on the East coast. Pax Prime, a mecca for all things gamer, has been held since 2004 in the home of Penny Arcade, Seattle Wa, so this was the first chance for us this side of the Mississippi River to attend this epic experience.
And what an experience it was. In between concerts by Jonathan Coulton and Mc Frontalot and panels with geek gods like Will Wheaton there were tabletop games, demos of huge upcoming titles like Skate 3, Red Dead Redemption, or Dungeons and Dragons tournaments.
Whether you were looking for someone to play Rock Band with or you just wanted to connect your Pokemon with someone else’s Pokewalker, there was never a shortage of things to do at Pax East. And while...
And what an experience it was. In between concerts by Jonathan Coulton and Mc Frontalot and panels with geek gods like Will Wheaton there were tabletop games, demos of huge upcoming titles like Skate 3, Red Dead Redemption, or Dungeons and Dragons tournaments.
Whether you were looking for someone to play Rock Band with or you just wanted to connect your Pokemon with someone else’s Pokewalker, there was never a shortage of things to do at Pax East. And while...
- 3/29/2010
- by Cortney Zamm
- The Flickcast
Sex And The City. Mamma Mia. Beaches. The first Harry Potter. Our writers have been watching the movies they’d otherwise had crossed the street to avoid…
We set our writers a challenge. We're all likely to have films that we turn our nose up at every time we come to watch a movie. The task our writers faced was this: locate that movie, watch it, and see if it was as scary as you feared. Obviously, the choice of film was a personal one - some of us would leap at Timecop, for instance - but every film here has been avoided by the writer concerned for one reason or another. And now it was time to face those fears head on.
Here's how they got on...
Mamma Mia
Duncan Bowles
I'm really not a fan of Abba. The closest contact I have with their music is normally at work Christmas parties,...
We set our writers a challenge. We're all likely to have films that we turn our nose up at every time we come to watch a movie. The task our writers faced was this: locate that movie, watch it, and see if it was as scary as you feared. Obviously, the choice of film was a personal one - some of us would leap at Timecop, for instance - but every film here has been avoided by the writer concerned for one reason or another. And now it was time to face those fears head on.
Here's how they got on...
Mamma Mia
Duncan Bowles
I'm really not a fan of Abba. The closest contact I have with their music is normally at work Christmas parties,...
- 3/25/2010
- Den of Geek
Who would have thought that bad girl pop star Ke$ha was a fan of Dungeons and Dragons? The singer was spotted wearing an interesting-looking dungeon master cape while walking up to Nova Radio studio (or enroute to play D&D with some pals) to promote her album Animal. Click here to see more photos of Ke$ha and her cape.
- 3/24/2010
- by Celebuzz
- Celebuzz.com
The story of three individuals who have built their lives around the role-playing game, “Dungeons And Dragons,” director Keven McAlester's documentary “The Dungeon Masters” is being released on Amazon VOD. The film, which premiered at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival, follows its protagonists as their baroque fantasies clash with mundane real lives and they find it increasingly difficult to reconcile their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game's imaginary triumphs. Keven ...
- 2/23/2010
- indieWIRE - People
The story of three individuals who have built their lives around the role-playing game, “Dungeons And Dragons,” director Keven McAlester's documentary “The Dungeon Masters” is being released on Amazon VOD. The film, which premiered at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival, follows its protagonists as their baroque fantasies clash with mundane real lives and they find it increasingly difficult to reconcile their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game's imaginary triumphs. Keven ...
- 2/23/2010
- indieWIRE - People
The story of three individuals who have built their lives around the role-playing game, “Dungeons And Dragons,” director Keven McAlester's documentary “The Dungeon Masters” is being released on Amazon VOD. The film, which premiered at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival, follows its protagonists as their baroque fantasies clash with mundane real lives and they find it increasingly difficult to reconcile their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game's imaginary triumphs. Keven ...
- 2/23/2010
- Indiewire
The Hollywood Reporter announced that IFC Films has acquired North American rights to the Berlin International Film Fest title, Puzzle, directed by Natalia Smirnoff. The Argentine film will be released this year after the fall festival roundup via IFC's In Theaters platform--making the VOD version available the same day as the theatrical premiere.
Puzzle follows forty-something housewife Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) who has doted on her husband and children for the past twenty years. When she receives a puzzle as a birthday present, she suddenly discovers she has a gift for assembling them at lightning speed--something her family ignores. As her passion for puzzles grows, the bonds of her relationships are tested.
We can add this title to the long list of narrative films and documentaries that pay homage to the geeky hobbies and games many of us love. Puzzle takes its place alongside fictional films like Mazes and Monsters,...
Puzzle follows forty-something housewife Maria del Carmen (Maria Onetto) who has doted on her husband and children for the past twenty years. When she receives a puzzle as a birthday present, she suddenly discovers she has a gift for assembling them at lightning speed--something her family ignores. As her passion for puzzles grows, the bonds of her relationships are tested.
We can add this title to the long list of narrative films and documentaries that pay homage to the geeky hobbies and games many of us love. Puzzle takes its place alongside fictional films like Mazes and Monsters,...
- 2/22/2010
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
We’ve been known to be kind of hard on James Cameron’s Avatar, given how much money and praise it’s gotten over the past two months. Given that, there are some die-hards still out there that believe that “Pandora” is the greatest place in existence, and wish it was real. Leave it to the internet to find a way to make that humorous.
Many people have become aware of the lives of LARPers over the past few years. Some even got to see a few films, including Role Models and the little-known Darkon. It’s basically acting out a scenario that most people play using dice and boards, such as Masquerade or Dungeons and Dragons. This time, the focus is set on Pandora and the Na’vi.
After the jump, check out what a group of Hometree Wisconsin pulled together using toilet paper, wigs, and tons of blue face paint.
Many people have become aware of the lives of LARPers over the past few years. Some even got to see a few films, including Role Models and the little-known Darkon. It’s basically acting out a scenario that most people play using dice and boards, such as Masquerade or Dungeons and Dragons. This time, the focus is set on Pandora and the Na’vi.
After the jump, check out what a group of Hometree Wisconsin pulled together using toilet paper, wigs, and tons of blue face paint.
- 2/19/2010
- by Matt Raub
- The Flickcast
I never get to watch series live on television, so I'm usually catching up through Netflix, particularly with the Watch Instantly. And while usually, I find it to be mostly old episodes of "Airwolf" or stuff that barely makes it on to TBS Late Night, they've really done a great job updating their selection. We've already pimped series like "The Office," "30 Rock," and "Friday Night Lights" on here, so I'm focusing on some series that you may not have heard of. Most of them are British, so forgive me for being naive, those of you on the other side of the pond, especially since some of them are almost seven or eight years old. But if you've got access to Netflix Watch Instantly, you should take the chance to watch these as soon as possible. Feel free to litter the comments section with suggestions of your own. Since I know you will anyway.
- 2/16/2010
- by Brian Prisco
The Dungeon Masters (2008, dir: Keven McAlester) An evil drow elf is displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A sanitation worker lures friends into a 'Sphere of Annihilation.' A failed super-villain starts a cable-access show involving ninjas, puppets and a cooking segment. These are the characters, real and imagined, of Keven McAlester's documentary The Dungeon Masters. Against the backdrop of crumbling middle-class America, two men and one woman devote their lives to Dungeons and Dragons, the storied role-playing game, and its various descendants. As their baroque fantasies clash with mundane real lives, the characters find it increasingly difficult to allay their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game's imaginary triumphs. Soon the true heroic act of each character's real life emerges, and the film follows each as he or she summons the courage to face it. Along the way, The Dungeon Masters re-imagines the tropes of classic heroic cinema, creating an...
- 1/13/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
It's not only nearly the end of the year but the end of a decade and, as a result, time to look back over the movies released during that period.
Over on Metacritic, a site that compiles reviews of films and other media, there is a list of the top releases of the decade, according to the scores of leading professional film critics.
The top overall movie was Guillermo del Toro's excellent fantasy horror film Pan's Labyrinth from 2006, which has an overall score of 98 out of 100. Made for $19million, it earned $83million worldwide which, although not the massive heights reached by Hollywood blockbusters, is definitely a success for a Spanish language project, especially since it was not on full release at all cinemas in the UK.
The rest of the top five consisted of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (score: 97), Ratatouille (96), Spirited Away (94) and The Hurt Locker (94).
It's worth mentioning...
Over on Metacritic, a site that compiles reviews of films and other media, there is a list of the top releases of the decade, according to the scores of leading professional film critics.
The top overall movie was Guillermo del Toro's excellent fantasy horror film Pan's Labyrinth from 2006, which has an overall score of 98 out of 100. Made for $19million, it earned $83million worldwide which, although not the massive heights reached by Hollywood blockbusters, is definitely a success for a Spanish language project, especially since it was not on full release at all cinemas in the UK.
The rest of the top five consisted of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (score: 97), Ratatouille (96), Spirited Away (94) and The Hurt Locker (94).
It's worth mentioning...
- 12/29/2009
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
[Our thanks to Andrew David Long for the following review.]
Alexandre Franchi just might be a genius, and his first feature shows the same lyric creativity and the same commitment to themes of imagination he displayed in his stellar collection of short films (Fata Morgana, Troll Concerto, etc.), all while suggesting - contrary to his earlier works - that reality must eventually destroy fantasy.
Viking reenactment enthusiast Bjorn (Mark Antony Krupa reveling in the chance to go berserk on camera) has abandoned his brother Erik (Ricky Mabe, also appearing in The Trotsky at Whistler this year) and ailing father in order to live in his fantasy world. When Erik's prevaricating girlfriend Lynn (Kaniehtiio Horn, again with The Trotsky) is lured to the camp of Celtic Shaman Murtagh (Trevor Hayes) Erik ventures into the woods to try to get her back. There are, of course, consequences to interfering with someone else's fantasy: when The Wild Hunt begins its turn to the...
Alexandre Franchi just might be a genius, and his first feature shows the same lyric creativity and the same commitment to themes of imagination he displayed in his stellar collection of short films (Fata Morgana, Troll Concerto, etc.), all while suggesting - contrary to his earlier works - that reality must eventually destroy fantasy.
Viking reenactment enthusiast Bjorn (Mark Antony Krupa reveling in the chance to go berserk on camera) has abandoned his brother Erik (Ricky Mabe, also appearing in The Trotsky at Whistler this year) and ailing father in order to live in his fantasy world. When Erik's prevaricating girlfriend Lynn (Kaniehtiio Horn, again with The Trotsky) is lured to the camp of Celtic Shaman Murtagh (Trevor Hayes) Erik ventures into the woods to try to get her back. There are, of course, consequences to interfering with someone else's fantasy: when The Wild Hunt begins its turn to the...
- 12/9/2009
- Screen Anarchy
...more epic Fantasy films please! by J.A. Hamilton The Fantasy genre is an acquired taste to be sure, especially considering that most of this genre.s endeavors have been hit and miss. The Lord Of The Rings films were without a doubt Fantasy at its best, and exactly what the fans needed after depressing failures like Dungeons And Dragons and Dragonheart. Eragon was a mixed bag for me; on the one hand I loved the premise as well as the slick visuals, but this was surely one...
- 11/24/2009
- by J.A. Hamilton
- JoBlo.com
· Topless Robot reminds us that before Angels & Demons, Saving Private Ryan, and Philadelphia, there was Mazes and Monsters -- a made-for-tv movie starring Tom Hanks as an RPG enthusiast who lurks in alleyways, stabbing stuntmen in really shoddy-looking lizard suits. The climax takes place on the roof of the Wtc, further underscoring the movie's underlying message that virgins cause terrorism.
- 11/7/2009
- Movieline
It's another quiet week in the land of geek, and the mental effort it cost me to review a book entirely in Regency English has me a little strapped creatively. I'm hoping to bring you some interviews soon, but everyone has been swamped with film festivals and travel, and so I decided to bring in Entertainment Earth's Geek Girl Diva for a discussion on the State of Geekdom.
In the last year and a half I've spent writing The Beat, there have been a lot of changes to our niche entertainment. We're now living in the shadow of the Marvel / Disney deal, and wondering just what might come of the newly formed DC Entertainment. It's too early to write conclusively about these things and what they might mean for movies, comics, and television. All I know is that it's a brave new world out there, and what was once a...
In the last year and a half I've spent writing The Beat, there have been a lot of changes to our niche entertainment. We're now living in the shadow of the Marvel / Disney deal, and wondering just what might come of the newly formed DC Entertainment. It's too early to write conclusively about these things and what they might mean for movies, comics, and television. All I know is that it's a brave new world out there, and what was once a...
- 9/22/2009
- by Elisabeth Rappe
- Cinematical
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