GeekPlate

FILMonBLU-RAY: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Ultimate Edition (Review)

2011-12-13T00:03:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Ultimate Edition
2009 - Warner Bros
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on June 14, 2011

# of Discs: 2 (Blu-Ray x 2)
Runtime: 153 Minutes

The sixth installment of the epic series, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE turns up the dial on comedy and romance as Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), find themselves in the middle of teen relationships.

Outside the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, not all is hunky-dory in the Wizarding World as Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) wrecks havoc and spreads his reign of terror, transforming the busy and vibrant Diagon Alley into a bleak and fairly empty place. And the suspicious actions of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) catches Harry's notice.

One of the new characters in this film would be the returning Hogwarts professor, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who has a penchant for making connections and has become interested in Harry as he fills the now vacant Potions Professor position. But his most memorable moment may be his introduction to Harry and the audience, when he is disguised as a purple armchair in a wrecked house only to be found out and have to transform back into his regular body.

Sticking out of this film's bleak version of Diagon Alley would be the wacky store of Fred and George Weasley, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Colorful and loud, much like its owners, the store breathes defiant life into the street and the movie that had so far been in less than pleasing times. The imagination and magic of the world that has been somewhat diminished as the films have gone on returns with a fervor inside the shop, a visual masterpiece with all of the intricate creations that lasted maybe only a handful of moments on screen. A reminder that magic can be fun and good, even in the darkest of times.

Action takes a back seat for the most part in this film but it would not be a Harry Potter film without some adventure and the cave scene with Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Harry is a visual delight, perfect for Blu-Ray watchers. Between the vastness of the cave and its waters, the horde of Inferi that come after them and the maelstrom of fire that Dumbledore produces to save Harry and himself from the danger that literally envelops nearly the entirety of the cave.

Extras come in droves when it comes to these Ultimate Edition releases. Besides a 44-page book with photos from all the films and limited edition character cards featuring Dumbledore and Draco, this one comes with Part Six of the eight part documentary series that covers the creation of the film series that has a chapter paired with each Ultimate Edition release. Part Six covers Magical Effects, and goes into the visual effects in the movie both through CG and techniques used to accomplish things right there with the actors.

There is also 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Behind the Magic' TV special included that has host Ben Shephard explore the film set, talk with the actors and even be cast as an extra in a scene for the movie. Not only that but a special on the author of the series filmed around the time she was finishing the final book in the series is on the disc titled, 'J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life'.

Add in the holdovers from the previous HBP Blu-Ray release of deleted scenes, cast questions, a peek at the Wizarding World theme park and Deathly Hallows and the Maximum Movie Mode and the Ultimate Edition is literally overflowing in special features nearly doubling the time of the film itself. Fans of the Harry Potter movies and are looking to move into the Blu-Ray way of things would be smart to get the Ultimate Edition release over the previous one. If extras are your thing, the Ultimate Editions will ruin you for all other releases.

Look to buy the Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray release of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE on Amazon for $38.99.

FILM: Journey 2 - The Mysterious Island International Trailer (News)

2011-12-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a sequel to watch that is also a family fun adventure film, you are in luck. From New Line Cinema comes the sequel to the 2008 film, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D that starred Brendan Fraser (THE MUMMY) and Josh Hutcherson (ZATHURA) as a scientist and his nephew in search of his missing brother.

Now in JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, Josh Hutcherson reprises his role as Sean Anderson, this time in the company of his stepfather Hank played by Dwayne Johnson (FAST FIVE) as they look for Sean's grandfather, played by Michael Caine (THE DARK KNIGHT), who is thought to be missing on a mysterious island.

Brad Peyton (CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE) is directing and Vanessa Hudgens (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) is also in the film as Kailani, their tour guide and the girl that catches Sean's eye.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND floats into theaters on February 10, 2012.

FILM: Mirror Mirror Trailer (News)

2011-12-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

As forewarned a few posts ago, 2012 is the year of Snow White, and here comes a look at the other film in production on the fairytale character, MIRROR, MIRROR.

From Relativity Media and director Tarsem Singh (IMMORTALS), MIRROR, MIRROR stars Julia Roberts (LARRY CROWNE) as the Evil Queen, Lily Collins (ABDUCTION) as Snow White, Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as the Prince, and Sean Bean (GAME OF THRONES) as the King.

MIRROR, MIRROR reflects into theaters on March 16, 2012.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Review)

2011-12-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2011 - Warner Bros
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on November 11, 2011

# of Discs: 4 (Blu-Ray x 3, DVD - Target 4-Disc Exclusive comes with additional Blu-Ray disc)
Runtime: 130 Minutes

The final chapter in the story of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his battle against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 continues right where the last one left off.

Harry, and his friends, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), are recovering from their ordeal at Malfoy Manor and looking towards breaking into Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley where they believe another Horcrux is hidden. Soon enough the trail leads them back to Hogwarts and a final battle with Voldemort and his dark army for the survival of the Wizarding World as they know it.

While the first film had more of a methodical pace as Harry and his friends struggled to find the way to defeat Voldemort, the second moves with a purpose. Harry's journey heads to Gringotts Bank where with the use of the Polyjuice Potion to turn Hermione into Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), and the Invisibility Cloak to hide Harry, along with the help of the goblin, Griphook (Warwick Davis), they gain access to the labyrinth tunnels in the bank that lead to the vaults. Things do not go smoothly though, with a booby-trapped Lestrange vault and a double-crossing Griphook leaving the three to jump on the back of a dragon they break free to escape from certain doom. The visuals of the trip down to the vaults, the multiplying goblets in the vault and the terrifyingly fierceness of the dragon are all must sees.

Another visual marvel is the scene that takes place in the Room of Requirement, as Harry is finding the next Horcrux and is confronted by Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) and his cronies. The vastness inside the room and the power it has is really apparent at this point, as the room has taken the shape of the place where everyone hides/stores things inside, a place that goes on and on. Yet it becomes truly terrifying once Goyle's fiendfyre spell goes haywire and the whole place becomes ablaze in flames, leading to a maddening run and flight on brooms to escape harm.

But in the background for the majority of the film is the final battle that takes place on the Hogwarts Grounds and literally shakes the foundations of the castle. The walkway bridge is purposely blown up by the students to cut off an access point in an exhilarating way for Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), the Quidditch stadium is razed by the Death Eaters, the teachers and members of the Order of the Phoenix help with putting up a magical shield around the castle that only the power of the Elder Wand in Voldemort's hand is able to break. Each moment is brilliantly filmed and a pleasure to watch on Blu-Ray, a real immersing experience.

I had my hands on the Target Exclusive release of the film that features an additional Blu-Ray Disc that has a near hour long documentary titled, 'When Harry Left Hogwarts', that covers the final days on set for the principle actors of the film and the film itself. While I would not be surprised to see it find its way into the eventual Ultimate Edition release it was well worth the extra few dollars to see it. Along with featurettes on The Women of Harry Potter, The Goblins of Gringotts and a Conversation between author J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe, there are so many extras that will literally double the amount of time you spend with this release.

A fantastic movie deserves an equally fantastic media release, and Warner Bros. has achieved this with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2. More so than even the first part, this film appeals to movie fans of all kinds and is a perfect wrap up to a decade-long series. Buy it if you have not, Try it if you have never seen it. It is worth seeing this epic in Blu-Ray.

Look to buy the 3-Disc Blu-Ray release of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 on Amazon for $24.99.

FILM: Snow White and the Huntsman Teaser Trailer + Poster (News)

2011-11-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

Fans of fairytales, be it by Disney or elsewhere, should get ready for a few live-action reimaginings in 2012 surrounding the story of Snow White. First up is Universal's entry, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN.

Directed by Rupert Sanders in his first gig helming a feature film and starring Kristen Stewart (TWILIGHT) as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth (THOR) as the Huntsman, and Charlize Theron (SWEET NOVEMBER) as the Queen.

Synopsis:

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN finds its way into theaters on June 1, 2012.

GAMING: Grand Theft Auto V Trailer (News)

2011-11-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

Video game fans have reason to be excited as Rockstar Games recently unveiled their next game of the GTA franchise, GRAND THEFT AUTO V.

The trailer for the officially labeled fifth game, not counting the various spinoffs that have come out over the years (Vice City, San Andreas, etc) reveals that the game is set in the fictional Los Santos, a previously featured city in the San Andreas game that is based off modern Los Angeles.

GRAND THEFT AUTO V looks to be headed toward a 2012 release.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Cars 2 (Review)

2011-11-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

Cars 2
2011 - Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on November 1, 2011

# of Discs: 5 (3D Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray x 2, DVD & Digital Copy)
Runtime: 106 Minutes

Star race car and four-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) finds his time at home in Radiator Springs away from the race track cut short when his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) gets him involved in an international racing series, the World Grand Prix.

However the race to the championship is not the only thing on their minds as Mater finds himself mixed up with international espionage, meeting two British secret agent cars, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), who are investigating a plot to sabotage the race.

While the trailers focused on the spy action of the movie, I was happy to see some time spent in Radiator Springs and its residents, albeit briefly. The global span was really felt as the movie went along, further developing the world of Cars and the real world translations that comes with it. Tokyo, Japan was the location of the first race and the assortment of cultural traits came along for the ride, from drifting cars to geisha cars and the bright lights of the city.

Then a shift in environs comes as the second race of the World Grand Prix is staged in Italy, and again in the third race that is located in England and each culture is clearly represented with scenes at villas and an inclusion of a few royal guards amongst the assortment of inclusions.

Blu-Ray is put to great use when it comes to animation, and action-packed films, and for Disney Pixar to combine the two lead to a non-stop visual bonanza that really sucked you into the story and the characters without a struggle.

CARS 2 was not only packed with great visuals, exciting action and fun comedy, but also plenty of special features a viewer can get lost in. Throw in the Toy Story short 'Hawaiian Vacation', where the toys create a vacation experience for a left behind Ken and Barbie, and a Cars short 'Air Mater', that continues the tradition of short, funny Cars shorts and helps introduce the world of Planes along with the teaser trailer that is also a part of the extras.

This movie surpassed my expectations and renewed my trust in Disney Pixar making quality films above anything else and the Blu-Ray release is the perfect way to watch the movie. The visual quality leaps above the previous Cars film and the tone is different as well but the nice blend of action, drama and comedy help push Lightning McQueen and Mater across the finish line once again. Give it a chance if you have yet to.

Look to buy the CARS 2 3D 5-disc Blu-Ray combo over at Amazon for $41.94.

FILM: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol Trailer (News)

2011-11-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

A fourth foray into the espionage world with MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL brings back the character of Ethan Hunt to the big screen, once again with a mostly new set of faces on his team to fix what has gone wrong.

Starring Tom Cruise (WAR OF THE WORLDS) as Hunt, the film also brings back Simon Pegg (STAR TREK) as Benji Dunn from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III, and introduces to the series Jeremy Renner (THOR) as William Brandt and Paula Patton (PRECIOUS) as Jane Carter. Also this is director Brad Bird's (THE INCREDIBLES) first live-action film.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL opens in IMAX screens on December 16, 2011, with preview footage of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in front of it on 70mm screens, and then hits regular theaters on December 21.

FILM: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Trailer (News)

2011-11-11T00:43:00.000-08:00

Next in line for movie adaptation from the vast library of Dr. Seuss, following the likes of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, THE CAT IN THE HAT, HORTON HEARS A WHO! is DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX, a cg animated film from Universal coming out in early 2012.

THE LORAX stars Zac Efron (CHARLIE ST. CLOUD) as the voice of Ted, an idealistic young boy living in Theed-ville who the story centers around. Taylor Swift (VALENTINE'S DAY) gives voice to the girl of Ted's dreams, Ed Helms (THE HANGOVER) plays the reclusive Once-ler and Danny Devito (LA CONFIDENTIAL) is the Lorax and the film is being directed by the team of Chris Renaud (DESPICABLE ME) and Kyle Balda.

Synopsis:

The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX illuminates theaters on March 2, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Booster Gold #45 (Review)

2011-11-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
Cover: Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The second week of June brought several contenders for the top of my weekly comic stack. DC continued its Flashpoint presence and had a few intriguing titles like several Green Lantern movie prequel books and FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN CREATURES OF UNKNOWN #1, which gave off heavy Hellboy vibes.

I am not a fan of Marvel's direction with Ultimate Spider-Man but the newest issue of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, #624 continued to deliver superb story and art. And from the smaller companies, I thought MEGA MAN #2 from Archie Comics was another solid issue.

But in the end it was the presence of Flashpoint that seduced me and led to BOOSTER GOLD #45 being the book that finished on the top of my stack. The great Dan Jurgens has been the main creative force behind the book for now his second issue after being away from the title for awhile.

As Booster Gold learns more about the new world he has found himself in, he has unfortunately been labeled as an Atlantean by the military and continues to be attacked by the controlled monster Booster remembers by another name, Doomsday.

What I enjoyed about the issue was the detective work Booster did and the conclusions he was able to come to on his own about Professor Zoom and the time stream being why the world is like it is. And to end on the situation created when Booster got help from his Greek lady friend, who unknowingly disabled the military's control of Doomsday, leaving Booster to face a monster unleashed in the next issue.

Jurgens has been connected to Booster Gold for a long time so seeing his art on the book and character again feel like this is how the character is meant to look and read. The action scenes looked great and there was a constant variation in the use of angles to present how the story was unfolding for Booster and the rest.

I have been encouraged by how this title has embraced Booster's role as the unsung hero, and I am looking forward to finding out how he looks to solve the problem of Flashpoint or at least play a part in how it wraps up. A solid issue.

FILM: Star Wars - Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D Trailer (News)

2011-11-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

The era of remastering films into 3D for a re-release run in movie theaters really begins to hit its stride in 2012 as one of the big film franchises, Star Wars steps into the 3D circle with the scheduling of STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D.

Directed by George Lucas, the 1999 film has an all-star cast: Natalie Portman (BLACK SWAN) as Queen Amidala of Naboo; Liam Neeson (TAKEN) as the wisened Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn; Ewan McGregor (BIG FISH) as the loyal Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi; Samuel Jackson (PULP FICTION) as authoritative Jedi Master, Mace Windu; Ray Park (X-MEN) as Darth Maul.

And there are some returning Star Wars actors from the first trilogy: Ian McDiarmid (RETURN OF THE JEDI) as Senator Palpatine, Anthony Daniels (A NEW HOPE) as C3PO, Kenny Baker (A NEW HOPE) as R2-D2 and Frank Oz (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) as Yoda.

STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D hits theaters in a galaxy far, far away on February 10, 2012.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Thor (Review)

2011-10-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Thor
2011 - Paramount
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on September 13, 2011

# of Discs: 2 (Blu-Ray, DVD)
Runtime: 115 Minutes

In the cosmic realm of Asgard lives the headstrong warrior, Thor (Chris Hemsworth),the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and brother to Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who is about to ascend to the throne. The ceremony is disrupted, leading Thor to recklessly seek justice and in the process reignite a cold war between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants.

His actions lead Odin to strip him of his powers and banish Thor to Earth. While Thor is gone, his trickster brother Loki finds himself unexpectedly with the throne of Asgard. Can Thor find his way back before Loki's machinations bring down Asgard?

The epic story in THOR literally spans the entire universe, starting out in Asgard with its magnificent design of the world there, with grandiose architecture, jaw-dropping landscapes and elaborately styled outfits befitting those living in such opulence. But the most awe-inspiring location on Asgard would be the rainbow bridge, where the Asgardians go to when they are set to travel to the other realms in the universe using the Bifrost under the watchful eye of its gatekeeper Heimdall (Idris Elba).

The filmmakers clearly thought enough about the location to use it for multiple pivotal story points, first the confrontation between Odin and Thor where Thor is stripped of his powers and banished from Asgard was inside the Bifrost, and then the it was the perfect setting for the final confrontation between Loki and Thor at the end of the film.

To contrast Asgard with the desolate small desert town in New Mexico, along with their own set of unique characters in astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and her colleague Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) that crash into the banished Thor and come to his aid. Much of the humor in the film comes between Thor interacting with these characters and the New Mexico environment.

Throw in a trip to the land of the Frost Giants early on in the film that sets the bar for epic battles and an amazing visual surroundings, and the true power of Blu-Ray comes in handy for the film.

Quite a few extras come along with the movie, including several behind the scenes featurettes that give a revealing look at the process of making the film, deleted scenes that flesh out some of the characters that might have had their time shortened to smooth out the film, a short focused on Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. that helps to connect the Marvel movie universe and a teaser for Marvel's upcoming The Avengers film.

By far the movie had a high risk, high reward factor when it came to being made and in the end it is clear that Marvel hit a home run with their first outing with Thor. Blu-Ray is a perfect complement to the high quality visuals of THOR and makes it an easy recommendation of not only fans of superhero or summer movies but also those just looking for an entertaining two hours. If you haven't checked it out yet, get this movie now.

Look to buy the THOR Blu-Ray over at Amazon for $26.12.

FILM: Alvin and the Chipmunks - Chip-Wrecked Trailer (News)

2011-10-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

The animated film franchise starring three adorable chipmunks is returning with its third installment of family fun in ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIP-WRECKED.

Jason Lee (MY NAME IS EARL) returns as Dave Seville, the father figure of Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Along with the Chipettes, they take a trip on a cruise. Hijinks ensue and the chipmunks find themselves stranded on an island with Dave left behind to search for them.

Each Chipmunks film has had a new director and this one is no different, with Mike Mitchell (SHREK FOREVER AFTER) helming the film.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIP-WRECKED lands in theaters December 16, 2011.

FILM: Voltron Fan Film 'VOLTRON: The End' (News)

2011-10-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

There are generations of fans familiar with the animated franchise Voltron with the many iterations that have spun out from the initial 1980's series. And now they can enjoy a taste of live-action with a new short film that was released online that is generating quite a bit of buzz.

Starring Timothy Omundson (PSYCH) as Lance, pilot of the Red Lion, and directed by Alex Albrecht (DIGGNATION), VOLTRON: THE END focuses on the awakening of Lance after a space battle only to discover the rest of his team is gone, his lion's power is running out with only just enough time to send out a message of what happened if he so chooses.

Excellently crafted and acted, VOLTRON: THE END is a must see for fans of Voltron or of either man.

Synopsis:

When a man regains consciousness in a Voltron battle lion after an "accident" he has to decide does he live a few more minutes or try to tell the world what happened... the end is only the beginning.

FILM: The Avengers Teaser Trailer (News)

2011-10-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Five years in the making and five movies later Marvel is finally bringing its heroes together on the big screen in THE AVENGERS coming out next summer.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. thread that weaved through the Marvel films will be what brings together the big characters into this team movie. Reprising their roles from the individual films are Robert Downey Jr. (SHERLOCK HOLMES) as Tony Stark, Samuel L. Jackson (IRON MAN) as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth (STAR TREK) as Thor, Chris Evans (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER) as Steve Rogers, Scarlett Johansson (IRON MAN 2) as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner (IRON MAN 2) as Hawkeye.

Newcomers to the Marvel Universe are Mark Ruffalo (SHUTTER ISLAND) as the third film attempt at casting Dr. Bruce Banner and director Joss Whedon (SERENITY).

THE AVENGERS start protecting theatergoers on May 4, 2012.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Despicable Me (Review)

2011-10-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Despicable Me
2010 - Universal Studios
Released on Blu-Ray/DVD on December 14, 2010

# of Discs: 3 (Blu-Ray, DVD + Digital Copy)
Runtime: 95 Minutes

Gru has earned the title of the world's no. 1 supervillain but when a new upstart named Vector steals the Pyramid of Giza, Gru falls out of favor with the Bank of Evil that funds his schemes putting his plan to shrink and steal the moon in doubt.

Even with the help of his army of Minions and the elderly Dr. Nefario, it takes the adoption of three young orphan girls to get Gru's plan off the ground. But what starts as a means to further his evil plan, becomes a new life direction for Gru: being a dad.

The entire film is 95 minutes of gorgeous animation but the moments that show it off best would be the discovery of the stolen pyramid from the very beginning of the film where the young boy falls on the inflated disguise and seeing what seemed like a gigantic stone monument deflate like a popped balloon.

Only the scenes surrounding the possession of the crucial shrink ray top the pyramid scene with first Gru and his Minions stealing it from a laboratory only for Vector to steal it from them and shrink their ship with them inside it. That leads to Gru's attempt to get it back which involved cookie robots and a very angry shark. Hysterical entertaining and visually captivating, a repeating theme in the movie.

DESPICABLE ME is packed with tons of special features, including three mini-movies featuring Gru's Minions: Orientation Day, Home Makeover & Banana. There are also a look at the voices from the movie, how the world was created along with the music made. There are also a few small games that are included that are a bit tricky to operate well with a remote but gives several moments of entertainment.

Yes, this might not be an animated film from Disney/Pixar or Dreamworks, but do not let that keep you from giving DESPICABLE ME a look because it is a film that can rival any from those other studios in terms of a quality story and great look and feel to the world it takes place in. There has not been any other animated film to put the parenting element of life into the crux of the story like this, giving a heartwarming feel that might not have been expected at first glance. A must get in my book.

Look to buy the DESPICABLE ME Blu-Ray over at Amazon for $14.99.

FILMonBLU-RAY: Transformers - Dark of the Moon (Review)

2011-10-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
2011 - Paramount
Released on Blu-Ray & DVD on September 30, 2011

# of Discs: 2 (Blu-Ray, DVD)
Runtime: 157 Minutes

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) returns for his third foray into the world of giant robots, now out of college, looking for a job and with a new girlfriend, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley). He is drawn back into helping the Autobots protect the planet from the evil Decepticons, who this time around have a secret plan involving the moon. Joining Sam once again is former government agent Simmons (John Turturro) and Lt. Colonel Lennox (Josh Duhamel) along with the U.S. military.

New robots debut in TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, on the Autobots side is the introduction of the legendary Sentinel Prime (Leonard Nimoy), the former leader of the Autobots and for the villainous Decepticons is the debut of Laserbeak and a true appearance of Shockwave.

Like the previous Transformers films, most of the highlights of the movie are the jaw dropping visuals during the robot battles. First, however must be mentioned before the battles is the various scenes dealing with the Ark, the Cybertronian spaceship carrying an invention said to be capable of ending the war between Autobots and Decepticons, that crash landed on the far side of Earth's Moon. It was brilliant to weave history into fiction with having the crew of Apollo 11 investigate the ship crash and then to see the intricate designs of the Ark when the Autobots make their voyage to the Moon to recover what they can from the wreck and find Sentinel Prime still functioning.

But the goldmine of visuals comes once the story hits Chicago, where the Decepticons have their controlling Pillar for the Space Bridge they plan to use to bring Cybertron to Earth and where Carly has been taken by her Decepticon controlled boss. Between buildings being brought down while the characters are inside, to Carly going face to face with Megatron and Optimus taking out Sentinel and Megatron putting a possible end to the robot conflict, the film is filled with mesmerizing moments.

Unfortunately it was not clearly advertised that this release of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON would be only bare bones discs, meaning that only the film was released without any of the special features included. Instead there are plans for a feature packed release in the near future. This was not done with the previous films but is something that is starting to pop up more frequently with films but I hope it does not become a disturbing trend.

If you enjoyed the previous Transformers films, there is no reason you will not enjoy this one. The lack of Megan Fox's Mikaela Banes character is jarring but the non-stop action and Sam's heroic acts are more than enough to push past the absence. A near perfect execution to this final leg of Michael Bay's Transformers trilogy, worth seeing it in the beauty that is Blu-Ray.

Look to buy the bare bones TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Blu-Ray over at Amazon for $26.99

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Adventure Comics #527 (Review)

2011-10-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

Writer: Paul Levitz
Artist: Geraldo Borges & Marlo Alquiza
Cover: Eduardo Pansica & Eber Ferreira

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

It was event week to start off the month of June with the releases of FLASHPOINT #2 and FEAR ITSELF #3, but neither title wowed me and it was actually an event side book that gave the most competition for top of the stack with FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1 and its star Traci 13.

In the end however it was ADVENTURE COMICS #527 that won me over with its spotlight issue on one of the Legion Academy's residents, Comet Queen.

Veteran DC creative staple Paul Levitz has been the series writer for awhile now and his presence on the book is one of the reasons I have continued to read the book since its relaunch as a Superboy title to its transition to Legion of Super-Heroes stories because of his take on the legendary team is laced with fun, adventure and excitement. In fact, this he may have written his best issue yet this time around.

The story surrounds the character Comet Queen and her entire life, from her origin to how she landed in the Legion Academy in her own words as she tells the story to another star seeking character Her days as a child falling in love with space and gaining a crush on the Legionnaire, Bouncing Boy. And then her plan to become a Legionnaire by learning the origins of every Legionnaire and figuring out which would be a feasible path to follow - fate choosing for her to go through a comet like Star Boy.

Mix in a present time training scene at the academy where Comet Queen helps Glorith followed by an explanation why CQ is still at the Academy explaining her time with the League of Substitute Heroes, then Titanfall and what Saturn Queen did to her leading to a lot of her memories being gone for good. It was a well-rounded story that really had me as a reader connecting to this character that I knew very little about before the issue and now after the issue wanting to see her character around a lot more.

Geraldo Borges did the pencils for the issue and Marlo Alquiza was on inks, and the art inside the pages was solid. Drawing a Legion book can be a tough task given the wide variety of characters that might come up on a panel given the enormity of the group even for a team book but there was no drop off in quality with all these characters on the page. Each had their unique look and feel and never was there a moment when the identity of a figure could be confusing to the reader.

I find ADVENTURE COMICS to be one of the underrated series in the DCU and I will continue to be a faithful reader of the title as I find it slowly teaching me about the Legion Universe, an aspect of the DCU I was never terribly familiar with. Others is the same seat that I once was should give this series a shot.

FILM: The Muppets Poster (News)

2011-10-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

THE MUPPETS movie is fast approaching and Disney wants to make sure you are aware of it. During the summer there were a bunch of trailers made inspired by films that were coming out and now that it is fall the time has arrived to unveil some posters for the movie.

Several have hit online but my favorite has to be the group one included in this post.

THE MUPPETS hit theaters on Thanksgiving, November 24, 2011.

TV: Glee - 3.02 I Am Unicorn (Review)

2011-10-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Episode: 3.01 "I Am Unicorn"
Network: Fox
Airdate: September 27, 2011
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Director: Brad Falchuk
Description: New Directions faces a shake up when Shelby Corcoran comes to McKinley High and Rachel has to deal with the return of her biological mother. Meanwhile, Kurt starts his run for class president with the special help of Brittany.

The ramifications from Will Schuester's (Matthew Morrison) decision to deny Sugar Motta a spot in the glee club last week show up immediately in this episode when Will runs into former Vocal Adrenaline glee coach Shelby Corcoran in the staff room and finds out that Sugar's rich father gave McKinley High a blank check to have a glee club that would take his daughter.

Sue Sylvester's (Jane Lynch) campaign against the arts finds a face in the scared and confused Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron). Unfortunately for Sue - but luckily for Quinn - her convincing Quinn to portray her sob story as the fallout from participating in the arts leads to frank conversations with Mr. Schuester and Shelby, who adopted Quinn's baby Beth at the end of season 1. Along with the visibly maturing Puck, Quinn seems to come around and makes an effort, but her words to Puck suggest she is pretending in an attempt to get her daughter back.

Mr. Schue has the glee club's less able dancers attend a "Booty Camp" to improve their dancing. Mike Chang helps teach the sessions with the likes of Kurt, Mercedes, Blaine attending but the focus is on Finn and his lack of dance moves.

Kurt Hummel gets some advice for his campaign from Brittany to embrace who he is and be a unicorn but his early disagreements with her ideas leads Brittany to decide to run for herself instead of helping Kurt run.

The school musical begins auditioning with Coach Beiste, guidance counselor Emma Pilsbury and glee club member Artie Abrams running it while Mr. Schue focuses on Nationals. Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) auditions for Maria and seems to be the early favorite but Kurt's audition for Tony did not seem to go over well and Blaine's (Darren Criss) audition for a lesser role wowed the judges enough for them to ask him to try for Tony.

--

It was great to see Finn get some character development, at times it feels like he gets shafted to the side for other characters despite being the lead of New Directions. The conversation with Rachel in the auto shop was great to get both of their perspectives on the future and Rachel continuing to try to push Finn to fill out his potential. Then to see him persevere in the "Booty Camp" and adequately perform the steps was a nice top off for him in the episode.

Something that is going relatively under the radar is that despite being co-captain of the Cheerios and being kicked off of New Directions, Santana has been a lot less bitchy and insulting overall and more of a supportive friend to Brittany. It also looks like the beard relationship with Karofsky is over since he has been nonexistent this year.

And my favorite part of the school musical is that it gives some of my favorite GLEE characters screen time. I am talking about Coach Beiste, Emma and Blaine. Also if the casting goes the way the episode hints I will not be adverse to seeing some more Rachel/Blaine interaction after absolutely loving that episode last season where Rachel crushed on him.

While there were those that disliked GLEE season 2 for the move to more produced performances away from the character songs that were heavy in season 1, I enjoyed those times like the "Singing in the Rain" bit with Gwenyth Paltrow or the Britney Spears episode and I am hoping there will still be some of that this season and less of Kurt moving around on a metal scaffold.

I am worried about the direction Quinn's character is going, every season it has felt like there is a goodness to her that gets ignored for the more vindictive, selfish, catty version. In season 1 it was cheating on Finn and the baby fiasco with Terri. Season 2 was cheating on Sam and trying to keep Finn and Rachel apart. Now in season 3 it looks like she is going after Beth without any regard for what's best for her or the baby, something I refuse to believe Quinn is all about.

--

Assuming Quinn is accepted back into New Directions, that leaves two spots open in the glee club that needs to be filled. Will Santana be far behind? And what of Sugar Motta? She seems to be a constant presence for someone not in the glee club, will she eventually find her way into that last spot? All yet to be answered questions and I expect Mercedes will be auditioning as well for Maria and how will Kurt and Blaine's relationship be affected by the musical? Plenty of fun left to be had this season without focusing on Quinn's less than positive motives.

FILMonBLU-RAY: X-Men - First Class (Review)

2011-10-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

X-Men: First Class
2011 - 20th Century Fox
Released on Blu-Ray & DVD on September 9, 2011

# of Discs: 3 (Blu-Ray, DVD + Digital Copy *Target Exclusive version comes with DVD disc of the movie*)
Runtime: 132 Minutes

Fox's fifth journey into the X-Men part of the Marvel Universe takes the audience back to the very beginning of the story. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS covers the years skipped over by the first X-Men movie from the time young Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) discovers his mutant ability in a German concentration camp to the meeting of Erik and Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and the eventual formation of the first team of X-Men to the inevitable taking sides between the professor and Magneto.

Along the way they cross paths with the global meddling Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and his Hellfire Club, saving the world in the 60's and facing the truth that homo sapiens fear the homo superior (mutants) too much to trust.

The recreation of the concentration camp scene from the first X film was a definite visual highlight of the early part of the film and seeing young Erik's anger awaken his latent mutant ability for magnetism. Then the film takes it to the next level by connecting that moment to the villain of this film Shaw, putting him in a position of power in the German force under the alias Schmidt and immediately displaying his evilness as he tries to figure out what triggers Erik's magnetic ability.

Following Erik's revenge journey globetrotting across the world hunting down those connected to the camps in his search for Shaw could have been a film on its own. The director's decision to channel James Bond with Erik really came through in these moments like when he went to the bar and took down two former German soldiers who had escaped punishment.

And as a nod to the previous films in the franchise, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS included cameos from two stars from the films. When Erik and Charles are going around recruiting mutants, they stop in at a bar where they come upon a drinking Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who tells them rudely to go away which they promptly do. And when Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) is in Erik's bed trying to get his attention she turns into an older version of herself (Rebecca Romijn).

In the special features included with the movie was the "Children of the Atom" documentary that covered the entire production of the film from behind the camera, to the conception and the casting to the locations and the sets, it is a thoroughly entertaining and informative peak into the film that is just as worth watching as the film is. There is also a bunch of extended and deleted scenes that help flush out some of the moments of the film that might have felt too brief in the final cut.

If there is an X-men movie to watch, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is it. While it may be confusing to someone not familiar with the X-Men movie universe and the changes that have been made in comparison to the source material in the comic books, the spirit of the world and its characters is right there in the film. And those that liked the previous four X films will definitely fall in love with this one, as it takes the best of those films and pays tribute to them by building the foundation for that world. This Blu-Ray is worth adding to your collection for the film alone, the special features put it over the top. A must buy.

Look to buy the X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Blu-Ray over at Amazon for $21.99.

FILM: Despicable Me 2 Poster (News)

2011-10-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Film studios more and more seem interested in preparing their customers for not only the next summer releases but also the summer after that. Universal is no different and after the success of their Summer 2010 animated feature film, DESPICABLE ME, it is no surprise that a sequel is in the works but not on the immediate horizon, Summer 2013.

That does not deter from the first poster of DESPICABLE ME 2 to get released, featuring one of the lovable Minions from the first film.

DESPICABLE ME 2 is scheduled for release into theaters on July 3, 2013.

FILM: Snow White and the Huntsman's New Look Princess (News)

2011-09-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is an upcoming live-action film set for release next summer and is currently in production in the UK. This interpretation of the fairy tale puts a twist on the story, this time around the Huntsman is ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed but instead winds up being her protector and mentor in the fight against the Evil Queen.

Newcomer director Rupert Sanders is behind the camera for the film and the cast includes Kristen Stewart (TWILIGHT) as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth (THOR) as the Huntsman and Charlize Theron (HANCOCK) as the Evil Queen.

And now set photos have appeared online of the production filming in Wales with Kristen Stewart showing different sides of Snow White in the film, one in armor and another in a dress. The latter possibly being part of a chase or escape scene given the beach-like area and Kristen's wet appearance.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN arrives in theaters on June 1, 2012.

FILM: The Dark Knight Rises Catwoman on the Prowl (News)

2011-09-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of September came set photos from THE DARK KNIGHT RISES of Anne Hathaway looking very stylish as Selina Kyle's public face and now at the end of the month new set photos have appeared online showing Anne Hathaway in the same catsuit from the summer released promo photo as Selina Kyle's more private, Catwoman-esque side.

From the photos it is clear that scenes involving Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon and Christian Bale as Batman were part of the filming, as was the Bat-Pod that was in the Catwoman promo photo giving some credence to the rumors swirling that Selina's extracurricular activities may be supported in some way by Batman. Next summer is quickly approaching.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES into theaters on July 20, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Star Wars: Legacy - War # 6 (Review)

2011-09-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Jan Duursema
Cover: Jan Duursema

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50

The last week of May brought a sizable stack of comics with over twenty titles in it, a quantity that is quickly becoming the norm when it comes to my reading list. Unfortunately this was also one of those weeks where very few of the comics actually stood out and it was tough going for awhile getting through the titles and finding one worthy for the top of my stack.

If one thing has come out with all these comic reviews I have written it is that I am a sucker for all-ages books and that made MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #14 with Spider-Man and George Stacy battling Mysterio a contender but in the end it was the climactic showdown between Cade Skywalker and Darth Krayt in STAR WARS: LEGACY - WAR #6 that put the final issue of the mini-series at the top of the stack.

Writer John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema have been involved with the characters and time in the Star Wars universe for awhile now, being the creative team on the mini-series and having worked together on the ongoing title that preceded it. They have the spirit and style of the book down pat as this mini is more of an extension of the previous ongoing and a fitting wrap up to this era of Star Wars if this is indeed the end.

In this final issue Darth Talon unintentionally leads Cade right to Darth Krayt and the final showdown between the two commences with the attack on Coruscant ongoing. Roan Fel finds his advisors opinions to be unsatisfactory and not loyal leading to a fight between he and Antares Draco. But it is Krayt trying to push Cade to the dark side that is the real climax to the story as the full vision helps guide Cade to his true discovery, his destiny to be a Jedi like his forefathers before him.

Of course not even Cade can go away quietly, deciding that Krayt had infected his body so he needs to plunge himself into the sun as well to truly eradicate any trace of Krayt. It is Cade's family that steps up in the end, Morrigan getting word to the Mynock and the spirit of Luke Skywalker giving sage advice as Cade stands on the precipice.

Having a STAR WARS: LEGACY title to read month in and month out the last few years has been a joy and now I hope that I will find a new Star Wars title to fill the hole that now needs filling. Something I am sure Dark Horse will accomplish with ease looking at the track record of Star Wars titles and my reading of them. Here is to the next adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

TV: Glee - 3.01 The Purple Piano Project (Review)

2011-09-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Episode: 3.01 "The Purple Piano Project"
Network: Fox
Airdate: September 20, 2011
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Director: Eric Stoltz
Description: It's fall and that means back to school for the students and faculty at McKinley High. The New Directions clan returns after a devastating loss at Nationals, so Mr. Schuester assigns a project to get them back on track. Meanwhile, Sue Sylvester starts her congressional campaign.

For the premiere of season 3 of GLEE, change is the name of the game. The glee club is down three members: Trouty mouth Sam moved away, Lauren Zizes quit and broke up with Puck, and no one had heard from Quinn for months. Mercedes has a new boyfriend and Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) is now living together with Emma. Then Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) shows up at school with new hair (pink!), a nose ring, a new tattoo (of Ryan Seacrest), a new attitude and a new group of friends called The Skanks.

Yet with all this change, some things stay the same. Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) needed a hook for her struggling campaign and found it after destroying a purple piano and getting praise from a fellow teacher, the arts in schools must die! And just like that Sue vs Will round three begins.

Sue makes Becky and Santana co-captains of the Cheerios and starts to drive a wedge between Santana and the glee club that quickly becomes a chasm when Mr. Schue blames Santana for the purple piano bursting into flames thanks to the Cheerios and bans her from New Directions.

Kurt and Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) begin the journey to their Broadway dreams by going to a mixer for NYADA (New York Academy of Dramatic Arts) and get a shock to their system by the performances of the other attendees. After a good cry in the car, this leads them to look towards expanding their horizons, with Kurt deciding to run for school president and Rachel seeking to star in the next school musical.

And the drive for new members starts with Mr. Schue's idea of planting three purple pianos throughout the school and directing the glee club to burst into song when they come upon one of these pianos with the hopes that these performances would help attract the type of person that cannot help but sing.

Last season their attempts attracted the interest of Sam and Sunshine (who Rachel drove away by directing her to a crack house), but this year the New Directions was not as lucky only getting one audition by the girl that cannot sing a tune, Sugar Motta. However, the newly transfered Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) joins by the end of the episode.

--

The songs are still the highlights of GLEE and the episode makes good use of the entire school with New Directions performing "We Got the Beat" in the school cafeteria, Kurt and Rachel performing "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead!" in the auditorium and Blaine's solo of "It's Not Unusual" in the courtyard. Throw in a mash-up of "Anything Goes" and "Anything You Can Do" at the NYADA mixer and a Rachel Berry-led "You Can't Stop the Beat" to cap off the episode and GLEE has itself a great musical start to the new season.

Coming off a slightly subdued finish for Sue in season 2 it is nice to see the show get her back to what makes her so deliciously entertaining - trying to take down Will Schuester.

I was also worried that taking Blaine away from Dalton Academy and the Warblers would mean a diminishing role in musical performances but to get a solo right out of the shoot in season 3 gives a good sign for the rest of the season.

--

I do wonder if the new assertive Will Schuester that showed up in this episode will be sticking around because it just did not feel right, at times it was like he was yelling and ordering around the glee club in a way that was reminiscent of the advice Jessie St. James gave last season when New Directions was heading to Nationals.

And what of Quinn? Mr. Schue's hard stance on Santana should carry to Quinn if she tries to rejoin the club right? It was her cigarette that finally put the purple piano ablaze.

Either way, it is clear that GLEE is hitting the ground running with season 3 and with the high bar the first two seasons set, that can only mean viewers are in for many more memorable moments this season.

TV: Catching Up for Glee Season 3 (Commentary)

2011-09-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

With the season 3 premiere of Glee airing this week, how about a recap of the characters of the hit musical Fox dramedy that gets you ready to jump on for the new season in case you've missed out on this fun series and do not want to go through 44 episodes to catch up like I did this summer.

Will Schuester is a spanish teacher at William McKinley High School and in season 1 he takes over the school's glee club, renaming it New Directions. He finds himself attracted to the school's guidance counselor but news of his wife's pregnancy changes his focus back to his home. When his wife's lying comes out, Will erupts and files for divorce. Single, Will tries to start up a relationship with Emma but is rebuffed.

A brief make out session with Rachel's mom, the coach of Vocal Adrenaline helped illustrate that he was not ready for another relationship. In season 2 he hopes to try again with Emma but finds out she is dating her dentist. Undeterred he continues to be a presence around Emma but does start a relationship with super substitute Holly. When Holly breaks it off, he begins to reach out to Emma especially after her relationship with her dentist ends.

Sue Sylvester is a champion cheer coach at William McKinley High School with her team, the Cheerios. Used to being the dominating presence at the school, Sue feels threatened by Principal Figgins' support for the glee club and decides to undertake the mission to destroy Will Schuester and the glee club. Several times Sue comes close to accomplishing this goal but sometimes it is Sue's hidden softer side that lets the glee club stick around.

During season 2 Sue goes through a bit of an identity crisis when her Cheerios abandon her and stop her run at consecutive championships. Sue decides to marry herself, and her sister dies, shaking her core beliefs. By the end of the season Sue has decided to move past her feud with the glee club and looking towards running for political office.

Finn Hudson is the star quarterback and male lead of New Directions. During season 1 he was in a relationship with Quinn and when she became pregnant he believed he was the father because of a hot tub incident that did not include sex. The more time spent with the glee club, Finn begins to be drawn towards Rachel and when Quinn's cheating is revealed it paves the way for Finn and Rachel to come together just before their Regionals performance.

In season 2 it comes out that Finn lost his virginity to Santana, leading to his and Rachel's breakup and his reuniting with Quinn after they kiss and realize the chemistry they have. Finn also gains a brother in Kurt when Finn's mom marries Kurt's dad. The season finale saw Finn kiss Rachel during their performance at Nationals in New York, bringing them back together.

Rachel Berry is the female lead of New Directions with aspirations of Broadway for her future. During season 1 she discovers that the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline is her biological mother thanks to a brief relationship Rachel has with Vocal Adrenaline's Jesse St. James. When season 2 starts Rachel and Finn are in a relationship but he breaks it off with her when Rachel makes out with Puck to try to make Finn jealous. She also tricks new girl Sunshine into going to a crack house instead of the choir room to audition for glee club. Eventually she reunites with Finn during Nationals in New York, where she also solidifies her dream for Broadway with Kurt.

Quinn Fabray is a part of New Directions and was the head cheerleader of the Cheerios for most of two seasons. During season 1 she discovers she is pregnant with Puck's child and for a time tries to make it seem like Finn is the father. Quinn spends some time going between the boys before deciding neither were good father material and that she was not ready for a child, deciding to give up the baby. There is much drama involved with the baby and Will's then wife, Terri, wanting to take the baby as her own to cover her fake pregnancy. In the end however, it is Rachel's biological mother who adopts the baby after realizing how much she missed in not having Rachel in her life.

For season 2 Quinn comes with a renewed attitude to stay out of the boy drama but soon finds herself wooed by the clumsy new student Sam, who also happened to be the new star quarterback of McKinley High. Unfortunately her regrets came back to bite her as a newly single Finn set his eyes back on her and coaxes a kiss from Quinn. She still had feelings for Finn and the sparks from the kiss overruled her best intentions and she makes out with Finn behind Sam's back. This eventually breaks off her relationship with Sam and she picks back up with Finn and starts looking towards being prom queen. Finn however leaves her for Rachel and Quinn is sad that she does not seem to be enough.

Kurt Hummel is an openly gay member of New Directions and he frequently has to fight through perceptions to get to sing the roles he wants even if they are intended for females. In season 1 he joins the football team and dates Brittany for a brief time to try to impress his father. A continual thread through the two seasons is Kurt's insecurity with his relationship with his father and his inability to be the son he thinks his father wants him to be.

In season 2 starts a very dramatic, borderline abusive bullying by the football player Karofsky who takes offense to Kurt's gayness despite actually finding himself to be gay as well. It leads to Kurt transferring schools and meeting Blaine, another gay student that he immediately crushes on. By the end of the season Kurt is together with Blaine and has returned to McKinley High once the Karofsky business was straightened out.

Emma Pillsbury is McKinley High's guidance counselor and has obsessive compulsive disorder problems in regards to cleanliness. There is an attraction between she and Will but for most of the two seasons there are barriers between them with Will being married in S1 and her agreeing to marry Coach Tanaka. Her inability to commit herself to the relationship and her feelings for Will doomed things with Coach Tanaka but when Will is free and single in S2 Emma had found a suitable boyfriend in her dentist, Carl. Again Will is the reason the relationship falls apart and by the end of the season, Emma and Will seem to be heading in the right direction together.

Noah "Puck" Puckerman is a part of New Directions and the McKinley High football team. During season 1 it comes out he is the father of Quinn's baby and it ruins his friendship with Finn. While trying to seem like a good potential father for the baby, Puck continues to wander and sees Santana on the side. In season 2 Puck seems to have lost his lady mojo as well as his status in the school due to his glee club participation. For awhile Puck pursues Mercedes when she is part of the Cheerios to try to return to his prominence in the school. They do not mesh well and Puck leans towards his religion to find his way and chases Rachel. Again he is unsuccessful and spends the rest of the season wooing Lauren after she rescued him from a porter potty.

Santana Lopez was on the Cheerios before joining New Directions. Her public persona is a bitchy one, as she makes the effort to insult her fellow students on a daily basis. For most of the first two seasons she is seeing Puck and gets into confrontations with both Quinn and Lauren when they acquire Puck's attention. During season 2 her emotions bubble over when she realizes her feelings for Brittany but struggles with the ramifications of it.

Artie Abrams is wheelchair bound and a member of New Directions. During season 1 he dates Tina and for a time believes walking is right around the corner. His dreams are tempered by Miss Pillsbury's guidance, and his relationship is broken when Tina and Mike get together during the summer. In season 2 he joins the football team and dates Brittany but messes things up when he calls her stupid.

Brittany Pierce was on the Cheerios before joining New Directions. She is one of the best dancers in glee club and often shines in dance numbers with Mike. It might seem like naiveté but Brittany does not judge harshly and is open to new things. Brittany dates Artie for most of season 2, all the while finding time to make out with Santana, someone she loves.

Principal Figgins is the principal at McKinley High and the victim of several blackmail opportunities by Sue because of an embarrassing commercial he did in the past and when he woke up in bed next to Sue who claimed they had sex. For awhile in season 2 he is removed as principal but he returns when Sue gives up the position.

Coach Shannon Bieste is the new football coach for McKinley High when season 2 starts. She is the victim of hazing from both Sue and Will who feel threatened when their budgets are being reduced for the football team. Will eventually turns around and apologizes to Shannon and the two eventually become very good friends.

Tina Cohen-Chang is a member of New Directions and dated Artie during season 1. For a short time Principal Figgins interpreted Tina's fashion style as her being a vampire and she has a bit of an identity crisis when her clothing choices are banned. During the summer at Asian Camp, she gets together with Mike Chang and continues that relationship through season 2.

Mike Chang is on the football team and a member of New Directions and the best male dancer of the group. He however cannot sing and puts his all into dance to make up for it. During season 2 he is in a relationship with Tina after spending time together at Asian Camp the previous summer.

Blaine Anderson is the lead singer of Dalton Academy's glee club, The Warblers. He quickly takes Kurt under his wing when Kurt transfers to the school and they become the best of friends. For a brief time a party at Rachel's house leads to Rachel having a crush on Blaine and her infatuation helps Blaine determine his confidence in his sexuality. After a failed attempt at wooing a boy working in a department store, Blaine opens up to Kurt and the two eventually get together.

Mercedes Jones is a member of New Directions and throughout the two seasons of the show deals with the frustration of not getting as many solos as she feels she deserves when compared to Rachel. During season 1 she approaches Kurt to date and is the catalyst for him revealing to all that he is gay. In season 2 she briefly dates Puck but knows quickly that it just was not working. At the end of the season she is holding hands with Sam in a coffee ship, something they are hiding from the others.

Lauren Zizes joins New Directions in season 2 when the group is down a member. She saves Puck and unintentionally gains his attention for the rest of the season. Slowly she begins to soften her stance against dating Puck throughout the season as he woos her.

Sam Evans is the new kid in school and for a short while is the star quarterback of McKinley High before getting hurt. He eventually joins New Directions after deciding not to in the premiere and he chases after Quinn before finally convincing her to date him. He breaks it off with her when it becomes clear that Quinn is into Finn and he dates Santana briefly before she moves on just as fast. For most of the first half of the season Sam challenges Finn's alpha male status in the glee club but when tough times hit his family, Sam fades into the background. The glee club finds out and seeks to help Sam however they can and in the season 2 finale he is seen holding hands with Mercedes with whom he went to prom with.

And that is the gist of what has gone in on GLEE. Hopefully now you can start on season 3 and not feel like you are completely lost.

FILM: A Change Star Wars Should Make (Commentary)

2011-09-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

With the release of the Star Wars Blu-ray sets yesterday there has been a buildup in discussion between fans and blogs about the changes made within the series from the days of the special editions in the late 90's to now these Blu-ray sets. While some may be overly dramatic about the changes, I fall in the camp that embraces the continual perfection seeking vision of George Lucas.

And in that spirit there is one scene in A NEW HOPE that I would like to see perfected in a future version release (definitely too late for the Blu-ray release). I am talking about a scene that was re-added with the release of the special editions, when Han Salo and Jabba the Hutt have a discussion at Mos Eisley Spaceport in the hanger where the Millenium Falcon was parked.

Back when it was originally filmed in the 70's, Jabba was played by a human actor and as a result Han Solo interacted with the character that was the size of a human. This made the reinclusion of the scene in the special edition version slightly awkward as Jabba was changed to his proper form of a Hutt but because of Han Solo's movements around Jabba, it was turned into Han stepping onto Jabba's tail as he circled him.

For a long time there did not seem that a way to fix this scene existed outside of reshooting the scene with someone else standing in for Han Solo considering Harrison Ford is now 30 years older and not exactly in the same condition to do the role. And I think if the scene was reshot with someone else, the crazed fans that resist every change made in the Star Wars Universe would probably become murderous.

But then TRON: LEGACY happened, and the technology used in it caught my attention. They were able to create a young Jeff Bridges so that the actor could play once again a character he had played nearly 30 years before. There was a little bit of an uncanny valley effect with the generated younger version but for being a breakthrough technology in film, it came off quite well.

If George Lucas got his hands on the same technology I think it would be possible to reshoot the scene with Han Solo and Jabba the Hutt with Harrison Ford and this time take into consideration Jabba's slug mass. I think they could even just use it for wide shots and Han's movements in the scene and possibly merge it with some of the original footage that was acceptable.

Will it ever happen? Probably not, but it would be nice to clean up the one glaring problem I have had with the changes over the years.

TV: The Walking Dead Season 2 Poster (News)

2011-09-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

The newest show in AMC's stable of hits, THE WALKING DEAD, is returning for its second season this fall and the promotion for the new season is beginning to ramp up now that it is little more than a month away from air. Here is a promotional poster featuring the show's hero, Rick Grimes, running down the lane with gun drawn.

THE WALKING DEAD creeps onto television sets on October 16 at 9pm/8pm central on AMC.

TV: Returning Favorites to be Excited About (Commentary)

2011-09-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

The new fall television season is about to start and here are some returning shows worth tuning in to.

Hawaii Five-0. CBS. Mondays. 10PM. Premiere Sept 19.

Last season saw the Five-0 team get disbanded as McGarrett was arrested for the murder of the governor, Chin Ho returned to Hawaii PD, Kono was being investigated and Danno had reunited with his ex and seemed ready to move back to New Jersey. This season sees a new recurring character make his presence felt around the Five-0, Lt. Commander Joe White, McGarrett's Navy SEAL training officer who comes to Hawaii in the season 2 premiere to help clean up the mess McGarrett has found himself in.

Glee. FOX. Tuesdays. 8PM. Premiere Sept 20.

Last season saw New Directions make it to Nationals in New York only for Finn to spontaneously kiss Rachel in the middle of their performance, a possible reason the glee club does not even place and Sue Sylvester has set her sights on the US Congress.

CSI. CBS. Wednesdays. 10PM. Premiere Sept 21.

Last season saw the CSI team and specifically Ray Langston face off against Nate Haskell, with Ray killing Haskell and the team having to decide if it was murder or self defense. This season sees an addition to the team, DB Russell, the new night-shift supervisor for the Las Vegas crime lab.

Bones. FOX. Thursdays. 9PM. Premiere Nov.

Last season saw the death of one of their own bring together Booth and Bones and a pregnancy will soon make 3.

FILM: The Dark Knight Rises Fashionable Selina Kyle (News)

2011-09-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the most talked about decision going into the last part of Christopher Nolan's Batman film trilogy was the casting of actress Anne Hathaway for the new female lead role, Selina Kyle. With the female lead of the first two films Rachel Dawes being a new character created just for the films, played by two different actresses and having died in THE DARK KNIGHT it was big news that Nolan was going to use the signature female character of the Batman mythology, Catwoman to finally play opposite Batman in his movies.

Now the Catwoman character has had a shaky existence in films, with Michelle Pfeiffer's excellent performance in BATMAN RETURNS taking a different (read: Tim Burton) approach to Selina Kyle and there was also the Halle Berry's forgettable try in CATWOMAN where the character was loosely based on the DC Comics character. So it is interesting that with THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in production, Hathaway's role as Selina Kyle has taken the forefront over any mention of her Catwoman alias.

And here we can see from shots earlier this week of Anne Hathaway filming scenes for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in Los Angeles that Nolan is going with a much more stylish, sophisticated looking Selina Kyle than has been seen before in films. Comic readers are familiar with seeing this side of Selina when it comes to crossing paths with Bruce Wayne, and I am sure the films will use this for them to cross paths outside of the capes and cowls as well. The duality of the relationship between Bruce/Selina and Batman/Catwoman is one of the unique aspects of their relationship and it would be a smart direction for Nolan to follow.

Breathe easy fans, Christopher Nolan is weaving another masterpiece ... like there was any doubt?

SPORTS: NFL 2011 Predictions (Commentary)

2011-09-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again, fall is approaching and the football season is about to begin. That also means that it is time for GeekPlate's annual predictions for the upcoming year of the National Football League.

Last year was the first go-around on the blog and GP predicted the Super Bowl champions, Green Bay Packers, picked 4 AFC playoff teams & 2 NFC playoff teams. Now this year's picks, first up team projections:

AFC East: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - 13-3
AFC North: BALTIMORE RAVENS - 11-5
AFC South: HOUSTON TEXANS - 12-4
AFC West: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - 11-5
Wildcards: CLEVELAND BROWNS - 10-6, BUFFALO BILLS - 10-6

Wildcard Round: RAVENS over BILLS, BROWNS over CHARGERS
Divisional Round: PATRIOTS over BROWNS, RAVENS over TEXANS
AFC Championship: PATRIOTS over RAVENS

NFC East: WASHINGTON REDSKINS - 11-5
NFC North: GREEN BAY PACKERS - 14-2
NFC South: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - 11-5
NFC West: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - 8-8
Wildcards: CHICAGO BEARS - 11-5, NEW YORK GIANTS - 10-6

Wildcard Round: REDSKINS over GIANTS, BEARS over SEAHAWKS
Divisional Round: PACKERS over BEARS, REDSKINS over SAINTS
NFC Championship: PACKERS over REDSKINS

Super Bowl XLVI: PACKERS over PATRIOTS

Individual Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (PACKERS)
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Schaub (TEXANS)
Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Urlacher (BEARS)
Coach of the Year: Mike Shanahan (REDSKINS)

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Rocketeer Adventures #1 (Review)

2011-09-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Written by Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, John Cassaday
Art by Mike Allred, Michael Kaluta, John Cassaday, Mike Mignola, Dave Stewart & Jim Silke
Cover by Alex Ross

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99

The third week of May once again brought the return of the giant stack with over 20 titles making my reading list. There were several series that grabbed my attention and interestingly enough, all were #1 issues and gave much promise to the future of those titles.

Marvel had the awkwardly titled ALPHA FLIGHT #0.1, which reintroduced the original team, and X-MEN GIANT-SIZE #1, that had the story take Cyclops between the present and the past. Dark Horse brought a new Star Wars title to the mix STAR WARS: JEDI - THE DARK SIDE #1, a tale where Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is in the forefront. But in the end it was IDW Publishing that came out with the comic book that made it to the top of my stack by featuring a timeless hero in entertaining stories within the pages of ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #1.

This first issue of an all-new Rocketeer anthology mini-series brings together creators Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek and John Cassaday to weave three different short stories featuring Cliff, Betty and the legendary rocket pack. Allred is most likely best known for his own comic creation, Madman, and for his Rocketeer story, "Home Again", Cliff returned to Betty and Peevy to get help with a duplicate helmet and rocket pack along with a story about a mysterious ally he had made that wants to replicate the system and wants Cliff to do something.

Busiek is a well traveled comic writer, an Eisner and Harvey award winner, and for his story, "Dear Betty", he wrote a tale of Cliff's letters to Betty during World War II as he went on his adventures around the world fighting the war as the Rocketeer while she did her part as a medical nurse and the isolation and unknown that goes on in Betty's mind as the letters start to become less frequent and ends with a re-imagining of the famous sailor kissing a lady photo from that time with Cliff and Betty.

Cassaday's story, "The Rocketeer", was Cliff saving Betty from some thugs and a giant rocket she was tied to, and Betty not being entirely pleased with his methods and letting her displeasure be known.

For the art, the cover was drawn by another big name creator, Alex Ross, and his stunning visual art fit the legendary Rocketeer character perfectly. Both Allred and Cassaday drew the stories that they wrote and for Busiek's it was Michael Kaluta providing the art. Each has a different style to bring to the table but all are able to capture the energy and attitude of the characters and the time they live in. Throw in pinups by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart colors and Jim Silke and this first issue of ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #1 is filled to the brim with gorgeous art to match the fun stories.

Ever since watching the movie 20 years ago that quickly became a favorite of mine the character of the Rocketeer has always had a special place in my heart. So when this anthology series came to be I knew it would be a must read and it surpassed even my expectations of how much I would enjoy it. With each story giving a unique aspect to the world the Rocketeer characters live in and how having that helmet and rocket pack around affects their lives, I cannot wait to read the following issues and seeing what else the creators do with these characters I love so much.

FILM: Up Close Look at Superman in Man of Steel (News)

2011-09-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ever since Warner Bros. released that official photo of Henry Cavill in the Superman suit for MAN OF STEEL last month, unofficial photos of the still in production film have been popping up online trying to get better looks at the new design of the suit.

And now HollywoodGrind has a new photo of Henry Cavill as Superman with a great look at the details of the suit making it easy to see how it is different from the other film incarnations.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Flashpoint #1 (Review)

2011-08-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Andy Kubert
Cover by Andy Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99

A change had been on the horizon, something that was in the making for a long time now ever since Dan Didio, Jim Lee and Geoff Johns were elevated to positions of control inside DC and while the 'New 52' is starting to appear as I write this review it is interesting to look back at the second week of May and the release of FLASHPOINT #1, the event book that was the beginning of the end to the DCU fans were familiar with.

There were two all-ages titles that were very strong that week - MEGAMAN #1 from Archie Comics, and ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #7 from DC - but while fun and entertaining neither had the emotional pull and shattering revelations that FLASHPOINT #1 had in its pages. Usually I am not too enthusiastic with the first issues of event books, they tend to say a lot but show little - looking at you, FEAR ITSELF #1 - but this book seemed to change that formula around, showing a lot of what's different and leaving it to the reader to keep up with the story of the new world.

Writer Geoff Johns is no stranger to big event books, having just written last year's DC event, BLACKEST NIGHT, and a few years before he helmed the DC Universe through INFINITE CRISIS. Teaming up with Johns for FLASHPOINT is big name artist, Andy Kubert, who DC fans will remember drew the two issue Neil Gaiman written Batman story, "What Happened to the Caped Crusader?".

In the issue, the premise for the event is simply laid out for the reader. A brief history of the Flash is told with a narrator readers are not told immediately who it is. Barry Allen awakes from a nap at his job and finds himself in a world he is not familiar with. Patty Spivot was there in the lab, but it took Barry stumbling down the stairs when he realized he was not wearing his Flash ring and landing in front of his alive mom to really bring the fact that things were not the same to the forefront.

The world is different, the Justice League doesn't exist, no one has heard of Superman, but there is still a Batman so Barry does the logical thing, head to Gotham City to get Batman's help. But in Gotham readers learn that the world beyond Barry Allen is drastically changed, with the likes of Aquaman and Wonder Woman leading their respective kin in wars against the world in attempts to overtake it. Throw in the threat of Professor Zoom lurking in this new world, and the final page reveal in this issue and I have no doubt that FLASHPOINT will be as entertaining as it is momentous.

FILM: Toy Masters Documentary Preview (News)

2011-08-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

News of an interesting documentary came out during San Diego Comic-Con last month along with a video preview that is now also available online.

Titled TOY MASTERS, the documentary aspires to be the first ever feature-length documentary on the billion dollar toy franchise "Masters of the Universe". Featuring interviews with creative personnel from every version of the toy line and incarnation of the franchise on tv, film, stage and print, including J. Michael Straczynski, a staff writer of the original animated series and Alan Oppenheimer, the voice of the big baddy, Skeletor.

TOY MASTERS is still currently in production but the end of the preview does mention 2012 as a target release date.

FILM: D23 Expo - Wreck-It Ralph (News)

2011-08-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

One last tidbit to mention on the blog from Disney's D23 Expo that happened earlier this month in Anaheim would be the presentation of WRECK-IT RALPH, an animated feature film coming in late 2012.

Unfortunately the four and a half minutes of footage shown at the presentation is not available online but there is a video of the game the movie's main character, Wreck-It Ralph, is from in a display at the show in an arcade cabinet.

Synopsis:

Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game’s perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes… so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan—win a medal—but soon wrecks everything, and accidently unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade.

Ralph’s only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), a young troublemaking “glitch” from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it’s “Game Over” for the entire arcade?

WRECK-IT RALPH smashes into theaters on November 2, 2012.

FILM: Portal Fan Film 'Portal: No Escape' (News)

2011-08-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

Gaming fans may be familiar with the world of Aperture Science and PORTAL. Well there is a new short film that was released online this week set in that universe created by Valve Software that has gained quite a buzz since its debut.

Titled PORTAL: NO ESCAPE, this brilliantly shot and executed short film directed by Dan Trachtenberg is a must watch.

Synopsis:

A woman wakes up in a room with no memory of who she is or how she got there..

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Avengers Academy #13 (Review)

2011-08-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Written by Christos Gage
Art by Sean Chen & Scott Hanna
Cover by Billy Tan & Leonardo Olea

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

Picking the Top of the Stack for the first week of May was helped with a slightly lighter stack, only 11 comic books made it into my reading list that week. DC had very little presence with most of the comics being from Marvel or BOOM! Studios.

The main contenders that just fell short was BOOM!'s CHIP N' DALE'S RESCUE RANGERS #6 and AVENGERS ACADEMY GIANT-SIZE #1, the latter being an especially welcome change of pace for the characters in that book but it was not to be because AVENGERS ACADEMY #13 also came out and was even better.

Writer Christos Gage is joined by artists Sean Chen and Scott Hanna for an issue that breaks away from the questions of whether the academy kids will learn to be heroes or choose to be villains and focuses on the fact that they are all teenagers dealing with their place in life and trying to learn to accept who they are. A school dance story was the perfect way to embrace these aspects of the characters.

For this story the Avengers Academy is hosting a dance so that their students can mingle with other young superheroes from around the Marvel Universe. There is little action in the issue but the best parts deal with the social ramifications due to the dance and the relationships made around it. Reptil getting trapped in the bickering between Komodo and Hardball from the original Avengers Initiative, Hanky Pym and Tigra finally taking a step a Skrull had enjoyed instead, Starfire getting her frustration out on Justice, Mettle and Hazmat starting to bond, Veil getting through to Striker and Spider-Girl helping Reptil realize it was okay to be his teenage self.

The art for AVENGERS ACADEMY has always been consistently solid and this issue is no different. Outside of one panel, all of the characters looked good and there were no awkward moments that disrupted the flow of the story. Maybe even better was that the characters that were not even regulars of the book were easily recognizable and true to their designs.

I will admit there are aspects of this series that I am not too fond of, but I have stuck around with it because I am enjoying the choice of Avengers teachers and the possibilities around the young cast of students with the relationships that can be produced as proven in this issue. Issues that deal with less action-related things like a school dance are probably few and far between but I will hold out hope that the series will have more gems like this one that focus less on the blurred lines of these young kids when it comes to being a hero.

FILM: D23 Expo - First Look at Mike and Sulley in Monsters University (News)

2011-08-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Disney's D23 Expo happened this past weekend down in Anaheim, CA and as a convention for fans of everything Disney a lot of news is coming out from the Expo - like yesterday's post about TANGLED EVER AFTER. Another such news item from the Expo would be the progress Pixar has made with MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, the prequel to their 2001 hit animated feature film, MONSTERS INC.

As the new film is a prequel, Pixar animators have been tasked with the chore to tweak the looks of the main characters, Mike and Sulley, to fit with their younger personas being at a university, well before their time at Monsters Inc. Among the changes made, they were both slimmed down, Sulley getting a shaggier look than his older self while Mike has brighter skin and is wearing a retainer.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY puts a scare into theatergoers on June 21, 2013.

FILM: D23 Expo - Tangled Ever After Poster (News)

2011-08-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Disney's D23 Expo is going on in Anaheim, CA this weekend and as a convention for fans of everything Disney a lot of news is coming out from the Expo. One exciting tidbit is that the TANGLED universe will be coming together one more time in the form of an animated short much like the TOY STORY one that was in front of CARS 2 earlier this summer and the other TOY STORY short scheduled to be in front of THE MUPPETS movie this fall.

Directed by the feature film team of Nathan Greno (TANGLED) and Byron Howard (TANGLED), the short, named TANGLED EVER AFTER is scheduled to premiere on the Disney Channel sometime during Spring 2012. The poster unveiling the return of most if not all of the characters from the feature film, including the Stabbington Brothers, has been released online.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Brightest Day #24 (Review)

2011-08-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark & Joe Prado
Cover by Gary Frank & Rod Reis

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99

For the last week of April once again my stack of comic books waiting to be read was well over 15 titles. And it was a very good week with several titles contending for Top of the Stack recognition. Those just falling short were Marvel's MIGHTY THOR #1 and SPIDER-GIRL #6, both worthy of being at the top on any other week but there was an emotional beat in another comic that made it impossible not to be the one at the top of my stack.

I'm talking about BRIGHTEST DAY #24, the final issue of the series and for the second straight week a title makes it to the top for consecutive issues. The writing team of Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi have masterfully maneuvered readers for a whole year with this story about twelve heroes and villains being resurrected by a white light, leading to an ending no one could have expected when the series started.

In this extra-sized finale issue, the previously reborn heroes that had been turned into elements now combined with the skeletal remains of Alec Holland and one more dead hero to bring about the return of the true Swamp Thing to defend the planet against the corrupted version of Swamp Thing. But the emotional fallout from the events that needed to happen for the light to succeed is what truly puts this book on a whole other level.

Finally seeing the dreaded moment readers had been teased about for most of the length of the series - Captain Boomerang throwing at Dove - happened but not with the result feared yet one just as painful. Deadman stepped in the way and took the hit, dying for Dove and being the final piece for the white light's plan. The moments between a dying Deadman and Dove tug at your heartstrings and again after the battle when back into his Deadman ghost form, Dove is still able to hear him and they declare their love for each other.

That and the return of the elemental heroes: Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm and Hawkman, with the latter two not having the happiest of returns. I do not think you can read this book and not be affected by the story.

And the army of artists that have worked diligently on the series the entire time, again knocked it out of the park with quality that matched the high level of writing. Some might feel it is a bit awkward now that all of these artists are working on the same parts now that the character they had been doing separately for the whole series but they are all so talented that for such a huge concept story it worked perfectly.

BRIGHTEST DAY ranks right up there with 52 and SUNDAY COMICS as brilliant concepts that also turned into great executed series that readers miss once they are done. Anyone that was hesitant to commit to such a paced out story or were discouraged by the slow start of the story in the early issues should definitely look to pick up this series when it gets collected because it continued to get better with every subsequent issue and makes you care about some of the less promoted characters of the DCU. It made me care about Deadman and Dove, two characters I only had faint interest in prior to BRIGHTEST DAY. Read it, you will not regret it!

FILM: Ghost Rider - Spirit of Vengeance Trailer + Poster (News)

2011-08-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Five years after the first movie, Johnny Blaze is riding into theaters once again in GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE. Footage of the sequel was shown at San Diego Comic-Con last month and now the first trailer has hit the web.

Nicholas Cage (THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE) returns as the title character but this time he is directed by the team of Mark Neveldine (GAMER) and Brian Taylor (GAMER).

Synopsis:

Nicolas Cage returns as Johnny Blaze in Columbia Pictures' and Hyde Park Entertainment's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In the successor to the worldwide hit Ghost Rider, Johnny - still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter - is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy - and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE burns into theaters on February 17, 2012.

COMIC: DC 'The New 52' Trailer (News)

2011-08-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

DC's new comic universe is getting ready to debut in a few weeks (52 new #1 issues) and the marketing campaign is ramping up with the release of a video trailer that will air in movie theaters as part of National CineMedia’s “FirstLook” pre-feature programming.

Here is the extended trailer:

The first issue of DC's new initiative, JUSTICE LEAGUE #01 comes out on August 31, 2011.

FILM: The Woman in Black Trailer (News)

2011-08-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Harry Potter film series may have come to the end with the release last month of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 but fans of the boy-who-lived need not worry of never seeing movie Harry again because the career of actor Daniel Radcliffe is only in its beginning stages.

And the next step is already in progress with the trailer debut of a supernatural thriller, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, the first role for Radcliffe post-Potter. Directed by James Watkins (EDEN LAKE), Radcliffe plays lawyer Arthur Kipps, who is sent to a remote village to settle the affairs of a deceased woman only to discover that the scorned woman's ghost is wrecking havoc and seeking vengeance.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK haunts theaters on February 3, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Tiny Titans #39 (Review)

2011-08-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Written by Art Baltazar & Franco
Art by Art Baltazar
Cover by Art Baltazar

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

*In an effort to get caught up this month (August) for next month's DC Reboot, the piles of unread comics - four months worth - will begin to be gone through and hopefully this is the first of many reviews.*

April's third week actually ended up being a huge week of comics with over 20 issues in my stack. There was a wide variety of contending comics worth Top of the Stack status: two mini-series, WOLVERINE & JUBILEE and SKARR: KING OF THE SAVAGE LAND were in the running, two regular contenders, DARKWING DUCK and GREEN LANTERN had solid issues, but in the end it was another comic very familiar with being at the Top of the Stack that came away with the win for the week, TINY TITANS #39.

The regular TINY TITANS creative team of Art Baltazar and Franco continue to produce an entertaining comic with witty words and adorable art, the perfect combination for an all-ages title and raising the bar when it comes to the expectations for adult fans when it comes to reading such comics.

In this issue it is laundry day for the Tiny Titans and Alfred and the penguins have taken the Bat Family and Super Family costumes for a wash. Unfortunately the penguins have not figured out the need to separate colors and as a result the Super Capes got mixed in making everyone's uniform pink! Of course this causes the most trouble for Batman, Robin and Superman.

Because of the story plot, pink takes a big focus in the issue, with most of the costumes being now pink or the characters themselves being pink like Plasmus. Robin's experiment with food coloring also brought the introduction to a rainbow-colored Nightwing outfit and Superman got to debut his 'man clothes' , which funnily enough may have been the inspiration for the new look Superman is wearing on the cover of September's ACTION COMICS #1.

TINY TITANS has been around for over three years now and I think it is safe to say that I will never tire of reading this universe and its unique take on the DC characters and the fun little adventures they get themselves mixed up with. If there is one book that I would like to see go on for the forseeable future it would be this one, so go out and read this series, you will not regret it.

FILM: First Look at Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises (News)

2011-08-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

Warner Bros. continued its press push this week for their line of DC Comics feature films with the release of the first official image of Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

The studio has been mum on the exact details of Selina Kyle's role in the film but if the character is kept true to its roots, it is expected that Hathaway will be playing a sexy thief counterpart to Batman - whether or not that means actually becoming Catwoman is unknown.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES into theaters on July 20, 2012.

FILM: First Look at Superman in Man of Steel (News)

2011-08-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

Currently in production but still two years away from release, Warner Bros. has decided to release today the first official image from their next Superman movie, MAN OF STEEL. The hi-res photo showcases actor Henry Cavill as the new Superman in action wearing the movie costume.

Directed by Zack Synder (300), the film also stars Amy Adams (ENCHANTED) as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne (CSI) as Perry White, Diane Lane (UNFAITHFUL) as Martha Kent and Kevin Costner (FOR LOVE OF THE GAME) as Jonathan Kent.

General Zod is played by Michael Shannon (BOARDWALK EMPIRE), Faora is Antje Traue (5 DAYS OF WAR). Playing Lara Lor-Van is Julia Ormond (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON), and Jor-El is Russell Crowe (GLADIATOR).

Also in the cast is Harry Lennix (THE MATRIX RELOADED) as General Swanwick and Christopher Meloni (LAW & ORDER: SVU) as Colonel Hardy.

MAN OF STEEL flies into theaters on June 14, 2013.

FILM: Star Wars Blu-Ray Deleted Scenes Preview (News)

2011-07-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

With just over a month until the epic Star Wars Blu-Ray release, it only made sense for Lucasfilm to further tantalize fans during Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend with a short video preview of some of the deleted scenes waiting to be seen for the first time by the public on glorious high definition Blu-Ray.

That video is now available online and here it is.

TV: Avatar - The Legend of Korra Trailer (News)

2011-07-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

Fans of the hit Nickelodeon animated series AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER have a reason to rejoice. A followup series is on its way, focusing on the story of the next Avatar after Aang. AVATAR: THE LEGEND OF KORRA takes place 70 years after the last series and follows the adventures of a Waterbender, Korra, the new Avatar.

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Get More: Avatar Episodes,Avatar,Avatar Games

AVATAR: THE LEGEND OF KORRA bends onto Nickelodeon in 2012.

FILM: The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Trailer (News)

2011-07-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

Released last week in front of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 theater screenings was the teaser trailer for Warner Bros. next big summer blockbuster, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Director Christopher Nolan (INCEPTION), returns for his third and final go-around with the Batman film franchise and this time around has a cast filled with the likes of Christian Bale (THE DARK KNIGHT), Gary Oldman (HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX) and Anne Hathaway (RIO).

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in theaters on July 20, 2012.

TV: The Walking Dead Season 2 Trailer (News)

2011-07-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Blazing the trail for zombies to television sets across the world, THE WALKING DEAD set the world afire with its six episode first season on AMC. And now with Comic-Con in progress down in San Diego and the premiere of season 2 just 3 months away, the people behind THE WALKING DEAD have unveiled the promotional trailer for the new season.

THE WALKING DEAD stalks back onto AMC on October 16, 2011.

FILM: The Amazing Spider-Man Teaser Trailer + Poster (News)

2011-07-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

With Comic-Con in progress down in San Diego, it only makes sense for Marvel to ramp up the presence of one of next summer's big movie releases, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, with the unveiling of the teaser trailer and poster for the film this week.

Director Marc Webb (500 DAYS OF SUMMER) helms the film with the cast of the likes of Andrew Garfield (THE SOCIAL NETWORK), Emma Stone (EASY A) and Rhys Ifans (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1).

FILM: EW's First Look @ The Amazing Spider-Man (News)

2011-07-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

The cover of Entertainment Weekly's upcoming issue for the week of July 22, 2011 has the new star of Marvel's webheaded feature film franchise:

... Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, the amazing Spider-Man! This issue includes a preview of next weekend's San Diego Comic-Con 2011, when a teaser trailer and poster for the film will be released to the public.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN swings into theaters on July 3, 2012.

FILM: At the Close - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Review)

2011-07-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Eight months after the release of Part 1, the end of a decade-long story on the silver screen about a boy wizard has arrived with the release of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2.

The eighth and final film spun out of J.K. Rowling's incredibly successful Harry Potter book series, Part 2 picks up where Part 1 left off, with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) gaining possession of the Elder Wand, and Harry, Hermione and Ron (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) at Shell Cottage after escaping from Malfoy Manor with the promise of returns to Gringotts and Hogwarts before their journey ends.

Director David Yates (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1) returns for his fourth go-around in the Harry Potter world to put the finishing touches on the franchise he has put his mark on over the last five years.

The focus of the film continues from Part 1, and the story starts with Harry, Hermione and Ron at Shell Cottage, but soon enough their journey continues to Diagon Alley and Gringotts, then to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade before gaining access to the halls of Hogwarts for the final leg. However, here in Part 2 the presence of supporting characters increases once Hogwarts becomes the backdrop for the film and several get memorable moments in this last film.

But first for the main cast, the performance of the film belonged to Daniel Radcliffe as the revelation of Harry being one of Voldemort's Horcruxes became evident as the movie went on and the pain each Horcrux destruction was causing Voldemort was mirrored through him. And then the scene after Harry emerges from the Pensieve and learning that his death was inevitable from Severus Snape's (Alan Rickman) memories and having to come to grips with that. Dan's brilliant performance makes it impossible to keep a dry eye during that sequence as Harry accepts his fate, says goodbye to Hermione and sees his dead family one last time before facing Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest.

My personal favorite performance in the film would be that of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter). First having to play as if she was Hermione playing Bellatrix, which was done masterfully with just enough humor to make you smile while you were worrying if they were going to get away with the masquerade. And then as Bellatrix at Lord Voldemort's side, almost like an overeager puppy trying to please its master before then going out in her taunting style, as Molly Weasley (Julie Walters) defeated her in the Great Hall.

It was wonderful to see Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) get an opportunity to flex her magic muscle and show why she was such a respected witch and Albus Dumbledore's (Michael Gambon) second-in-command at Hogwarts. The confrontation with Snape where they dueled and she sent him flying out of Hogwarts like a bat was a long time coming and then to follow that up with leading the group of wizards and witches that were putting up protections on Hogwarts really gave us a feeling of how powerful a witch McGonagall is.

A group that did not get a mention in my Part 1 review but now that Part 2 is here need to be addressed is the Malfoys. From Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) and his struggle with dealing from the loss of status with Lord Voldemort, having to give up his wand and failing to keep Harry and his friends captured to in Part 2 turning into more towards just surviving the war and doing anything to do that made you feel for the once proud and braggadocios wizard. Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory) since her inclusion in the films in HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE made it clear that while she went along with Lucius and his wizarding ideal, family was what was most important to her. And she proved that once again in Part 2 as she checked on the fallen Harry Potter only with the mind of finding out about her son's well being and then lying to Voldemort as a way to thank Potter. And of course there is the son, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who gives being evil one last try and after once again failing to beat Potter in the Room of Requirement joins his parents in doing what he has to to survive.

With the story returning to Hogwarts, several characters that didn't get much if any time in Part 1 made their presence felt here in Part 2: Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Seamus Finnigan (Devon Murray), Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson), Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), and if you look close you will see a small cameo for Professor Pomona Sprout (Miriam Margolyes) who hasn't graced the Potter films since Chamber of Secrets.

What was amazing was how the film improved on the Gringotts Bank we had not seen since the first movie 10 years ago. Especially in regards to the cart ride, intensifying it with the speed, twists and dips of a roller coaster much more in line with the description from the books that would cause a person to get motion sickness. And while I do not know if it was the exact same door, I would like to think that it is - and by that I mean the vault door for the Lestrange vault looked to be the same as the one used in the first film for vault 713.

But perhaps the most awe-inducing visuals came during the Battle of Hogwarts, where much of the castle was destroyed in the fight. To see one of the most memorable locations in film history literally get blown up into pieces was just the perfect illustration of the cruelty of wars to things that were once beautiful and full of wonderment. There was also the actual participants of the battle that roughly numbered in the hundreds easily, the scale of the confrontation was really felt and gave a real sense to just how much was on stake that night.

Fans of the Harry Potter series should be seeing HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 in droves (and they have). The only thing those not familiar with the series might need to do before watching this film is to checkout Part 1 because this is definitely a half of a story and there is definitely the assumption that the viewer knows what happened in the first half. Anyone that had complaints about Part 1 being slow will not have an opportunity to say that for Part 2 because from the Gringotts break-in to the Hogwarts battle the story is full of non-stop action that only takes a break when it comes time for the epilogue at the end, which is the perfect fairytale ending for this fantasy story. The John Williams/Chris Columbus era of Potter magic makes a symbolic return at the end when it comes time for Harry, Hermione and Ron to say goodbye to their kids on their way to Hogwarts and for us to say goodbye to the story of Harry Potter.

It is like J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, said at the London World Premiere for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2, "Hogwarts will always be there, to welcome you home."

FILM: Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows Trailer + Poster (News)

2011-07-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

We are in July and past the halfway point in the year which means the holiday season is just around the corner along with the release of Warner Bros. next big film, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS.

Director Guy Ritchie reunites with actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, who return to the roles of Holmes and Watson from the successful 2009 film this time to match wits with the criminal genius Professor Moriarty.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS debunks theaters on December 16, 2011.

FILM: The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Poster (News)

2011-07-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

With their most anticipated movie release of the summer happening this week with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2, Warner Bros. is starting to look towards next summer's big film, Christopher Nolan's third Batman film, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Rumors are rampant that a teaser trailer will be in front of the Potter finale but until the end of the week enjoy the teaser poster that is now online.

FILM: Batman - Year One Trailer (News)

2011-07-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

Just on the horizon for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment is the continuation of Warner Premiere's series of animated films based on DC Comics properties. The next direct-to-DVD release will be BATMAN: YEAR ONE, based off Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's 1987 landmark storyline in the pages of BATMAN. Here is the trailer:

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

As part of the much successful line of DC animated films, fans should expect more of the same stellar quality with this feature. BATMAN:YEAR ONE brings together a very geek friendly voice cast. Bryan Cranston (BREAKING BAD) plays Lt. James Gordon, Eliza Dushku (DOLLHOUSE) is Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Katee Sackhoff (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) is Detective Sarah Essen and Ben McKenzie (THE O.C.) is the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

FILM: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 London Photocall + Premiere

2011-07-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

The epic story of a boy wizard and the impossible fate set before him is coming to an end on the silver screen next week after ten years of adapting JK Rowling's words into live action performances. Today and yesterday London was bombarded with the world of Harry Potter as the photocall and premiere for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 took place. GeekPlate wanted to share some of the moments from the events.

At the photocall most of the main cast showed up and took part in this group picture.

(From left to right: Domhnall Gleeson, Evanna Lynch, David Barron, Oliver Phelps, Rupert Grint, Warwick Davis, Matt Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Helen McCrory, James Phelps, Tom Felton, Robbie Coltrane, David Thewlis, Emma Watson, David Yates, Jason Isaacs, Julie Walters, Nick Moran, Natalia Tena, Ralph Fiennes, David Heyman)

There was a press conference that same day where a reporter asked this great question that was caught on video, asking the cast to say their favorite line their character has said.

And then there was the premiere today, Thursday, that was broadcasted live on Youtube for the whole world to watch where everyone involved looked quite stunning but Emma Watson and JK Rowling definitely stole the show with their dresses.

But it was the speeches at the end of the premiere that truly reflected the emotion being felt by everyone involved in the world of Harry Potter. Try and keep a dry eye while watching but it will be inevitable for the tears to show.

The end is here. Are you ready?

EVENT: Happy Independence Day (News)

2011-07-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

It happens to be July 4 and as GeekPlate originates from the United States it would only be right to celebrate The Fourth of July with a quick Independence Day post.

The 4th commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence back in 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. And while everyone in the States celebrates with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, ceremonies and the like, here on GeekPlate I thought what better way to remember the day than by posting a picspam collage of one of GP's favorite characters in a patriotic moment.

Here is Erica Durance as Lois Lane in Smallville's season five episode, "Exposed".

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Uncanny X-Men #535 (Review)

2011-07-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
Cover by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

By happenstance, UNCANNY X-MEN #535 was the first comic from the stack of comic books for the second week of April that I read, and outside of the other uncanny title to come out there was not much competition for the top spot after I had read that book.

Continuing from the previous week's .1 issue, the series now only has one main pilot as writer Kieron Gillen has taken over the reigns. A new storyline starts, bringing back the elements from Joss Whedon's ASTONISHING X-MEN run of several years ago. Agent Brand of S.W.O.R.D. has returned from the end of her own series to bring a vital request for help from the X-Men. Unfortunately Beast does not get an inclusion, but as one of my favorite X-related characters it was nice to see Agent Brand again.

Brand is back because remnants of Breakworld are making their way towards earth and of course because the X-Men and specifically Colossus were reasons why this could be a problem she got them involved. Magneto tags along and his fascination with the remnants of the bullet Kitty Pryde had been stuck in will surely play a part in the future of this story. It is interesting to find him so passionate about it while everyone else has it on the backburner outside of trying to find a cure to Kitty's constant phase status.

The interior art and cover are provided by the husband wife team of Terry and Rachel Dodson and the book just looks beautiful thanks to their efforts. The cover is reminiscent of a sci-fi epic image, with Kitty and Colussus taking feature spots in it, possibly a foreshadow of parts of the story yet to unfold.

It has been over thirty issues since Matt Fraction's influence came over the X-books and I welcome a change of the writing guard as it has been awhile since I was eagerly reading issues of UNCANNY X-MEN (outside of the Second Coming event) and while I am not entirely familiar with Gillen outside of his S.W.O.R.D. work, I am enjoying the cast he is working with and look forward to seeing what the story will end up being about.

FILM: Pixar's Brave Teaser Trailer + Poster (News)

2011-06-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

After a weekend of theater exclusivity, the teaser trailer in front of Disney Pixar's CARS 2 featuring their next fairy tale, BRAVE, is now available online. Scheduled to hit theaters next summer, BRAVE, stars a courageous young woman who confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

And cannot forget to include the teaser poster for BRAVE that came out earlier last week:

There is no question that Pixar is going in a new direction with this film and the 'epic' feeling the poster and trailer give may end up being appropriately applied in the end. BRAVE features the voice talents of Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters among the cast and Kelly Macdonald is the voice of Merida.

FILM: First Look at Pixar's Brave (News)

2011-06-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

Arriving in theaters this weekend in front of CARS 2 is the first teaser of Pixar's next original feature-length animation property and first fairy tale, BRAVE. But before you see it in motion on the big screen check out the first officially released image of BRAVE's main character, Princess Merida here on GeekPlate.

Synopsis:

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish which turns her mother into a bear. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Pixar's BRAVE journeys into theaters on June 22, 2012.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Brightest Day #23 (Review)

2011-06-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark & Joe Prado
Cover by Gary Frank

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

Heading straight ahead toward its story climax, BRIGHTEST DAY #23 ran away from the competition to open up the first week of comic book releases for April. Even the first issue of Marvel's big company event, FEAR ITSELF, was no match for the penultimate issue of DC's post-event series.

The cover teased appearances of recently fallen heroes from the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY to reappear in new forms, and the story by series writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi did not disappoint. The issue picks up with Boston Brand aka Deadman continuing to try and hold back the power of the white lantern and ring from doing to Firestorm and Hawk and Dove what it did to the likes of Hawkman and Hawkgirl.

But as has been the story with Deadman, he is only a pawn for the white energy and with the dark avatar arising, the need for Earth's defenders becoming necessary. With Air, Water, Fire and Earth, BRIGHTEST DAY was only one heart away from bringing forth Captain Planet.

Instead however came representations of the 4 elements to try and hold off the approaching darkness: Hawkman and Hawkgirl representing Air; Firestorm for Fire; Martian Manhunter for Earth; and Aquaman for Water. While they battled the darkness at the edge of Star City Forest, it was left to Deadman, Hawk and Dove to defend the tree with a last page reveal that had to surprise everyone reading.

There laid Earth's ultimate savior, Alec Holland aka the Swamp Thing.

The art continues to be a collaboration between several artists yet the book flows smoothly without any of the jarring transitions seen sometimes in books with multiple artists. The high level of quality talent on the book is a sure contributor, with even the cover being drawn by Gary Frank who created a stunning piece with the 4 elementals that debut in the issue.

With only one issue left before the end, BRIGHTEST DAY has been a surprisingly consistent title over the last year - something I did not entirely expect from such a long story. Like the art side of the book, having top writing talent was definitely a factor of the quality and while BRIGHTEST DAY is coming to an end I will definitely be reading the next big books Johns and Tomasi put their focus on.

If you have not been able to keep up with the series, a BRIGHTEST DAY collection is certainly something to keep an eye out for when trade paperbacks for the series are released. An entertaining must read for comic book fans.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Cyclops #1 (Review)

2011-06-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

Written by Lee Black
Art by Dean Haspiel
Cover by Roger Cruz

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

The moment I picked up and read Marvel's CYCLOPS ONE-SHOT I knew that I had found the top book from the last week in March's comics stack. What made it stand out from other stellar releases from the week like CAPTAIN AMERICA #616, INCREDIBLE HULKS #621 and the JIMMY OLSEN ONE-SHOT was the fun and humor found in the pages focused on a character that rarely gets to seen in such a light.

Unlike the main X-books that are mired in continuity and the the gritty realism of the era the stories are now written in, writer Lee Black took everyone's favorite optic-blasting mutant back to his younger first class days to present a fun, adventure-filled story that works well in that perceived simpler time.

In the story called "The Bicycle Thief: Or How Cyclops Got His Groove Back", readers are treated to a well-rounded portrayal of Cyclops. He goes from sharing his feelings after a rough day with Zelda the cute barista, to chasing after Batroc the Leaper and his crew that led Cyclops into bizarre situations like having to steal a bike, finding himself in a Hydra warehouse, visiting a pet store being used as a super-villain storage unit, before coming face to face with the criminal mastermind behind it all, Baron Zemo. Over the length of the adventure, Cyclops finds himself having fun and being able to relax in a way his teammates had been able to during battles when he had not.

To match the timing of the story, the art reflected a style reminiscent of the earlier X-MEN: FIRST CLASS series, even going so far as having the cover drawn by the first class artist, Roger Cruz.

I almost wish this was a start of a series instead of just a one-shot, because it proved that a solo title for Cyclops can be entertaining and honestly there are just not enough fun, all-ages titles covering the big characters from Marvel. Sometimes you just need to step away from the events and enjoy a simpler story you can finish in one go and that is when releases like this CYCLOPS ONE-SHOT are a welcome gift to the week. Give it a read, you will not regret the time taken.

FILM: It's a Pirate's Life for Me - Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides (Review)

2011-06-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

The fourth film of the movie franchise spun out from one of Disneyland's most famous rides, The Pirates of the Caribbean, brings a new direction for the series focal character Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) with a new supporting cast and a new villain in Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" also boasts a new director as Gore Verbinski departed for less Pirate-related ventures and in stepped Rob Marshall ("Chicago") to tell the story of Captain Jack's journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Along his journey, Jack found himself in London - the first time seen in the series - where he impersonated a magistrate in order to preside over his own trial. There he finds Gibbs (Kevin McNally) who was being held under the impression he was Jack Sparrow, but was saved from the hangman's noose thanks to the real Jack's interference. But that was not the only reunion waiting for Jack in England, as his audience with King George II (Richard Griffiths) brought to his attention Barbossa's (Geoffrey Rush) new role as a privateer in service to the British Navy and Jack's subsequent escape from said meeting led him to identify the impostor pretending to be him as Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a former lover he met in a Spanish convent.

His run-in with Angelica puts Jack on the Queen's Revenge as a forced member of Blackbeard's crew, who is the newly found father of Angelica and wielder of supernatural powers. Throw in a school of deadly siren-like mermaids and an also interested in the fountain Spanish fleet and a land showdown comparable to the sea battle from "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" occurs at the site of the Fountain of Youth.

Eight years after his first portrayal of Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp continues to thrive in the role and find new ways to take the character in. Gone were the zany, over the top shenanigans that plagued the previous film and back was more of the fun, subtle Jack that wowed so many viewers with the original film. Geoffrey Rush follows suit by fleshing out more of the Barbossa character, bringing the villain of the first film, to the conniving pirate in the third to now a man full on in survivor mode, doing what needs to be done to keep going with the revengeful lust still strong inside.

Newcomers Ian McShane and Penélope Cruz brought much improved versions of roles filled by other characters earlier in the series. McShane's Blackbeard was more menacing and imposing than the cursed Barbossa from the first film and Cruz's Angelica had a fiery passion as a female pirate and opposite to Jack that the fair-haired Elizabeth never had.

Fans of the series should not fear the changes this film represents and instead embrace the new direction because in the end "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is another fun, action-packed adventure with everyone's favorite pirate leading the way. Disney should be proud of this next installment, it is a good time for all-ages and a perfect new beginning should they decide to make a second Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

GAMING: 2011 E3 Day 3 Recap (News)

2011-06-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Entertainment Expo hit Los Angeles, California this week and as a result GeekPlate is having a week of E3 coverage with the highlights from the news that breaks at the expo. Thursday meant the third and last day of the show floor in the convention. Here are some final highlights from E3 today.

ASSASSIN'S CREED REVELATIONS from Ubisoft is another chapter of the gaming series for the XBOX 360, PS3 & PC due out in November.

BATTLEFIELD 3 from developer DICE and EA is an action first-person shooter scheduled to be released on the XBOX 360, PS3 & PC this fall.

NEED FOR SPEED: THE RUN gameplay demo from the EA press conference. It will be coming to the XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, 3DS & PC in November.

PREY 2 is an action game from Bethesda Gaming Studios for the PS3, XBOX 360 & PC.

RAYMAN ORIGINS is an Ubisoft platform game for the PS3, XBOX 360 & Wii due out by the end of the year.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE GAME is another platform game from Ubisoft coming to the PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, 3DS & PC during the upcoming holiday season.

STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC developer walkthrough of Tatooine. The MMORPG from Bioware and Lucasarts will be out on PCs sometime in the future.
That was it for GeekPlate's E3 2011 coverage. If you missed it, there were three previous installments on GeekPlate highlighting the Microsoft/Sony press conferences, Nintendo's press conference + Day 1 of E3 and Day 2 of E3. Hope you have been enjoying the videos and news highlighted in these entries. See you next year for more E3 news and I imagine actual playable Wii U launch titles.

GAMING: 2011 E3 Day 2 Recap (News)

2011-06-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Entertainment Expo hit Los Angeles, California this week and as a result GeekPlate is having a week of E3 coverage with the highlights from the news that breaks at the expo. Wednesday meant day two of the show floor in the convention. Here are some highlights from E3.

DRAGON'S DOGMA is a fantasy era action game for the PS3 & XBOX 360 from CAPCOM due out in 2012.

JOURNEY, from the developer thatgamecompany behind FLOWER bring this unique game to the PS3 sometime this year.

LITTLE DEVIANTS is a puzzle sim game from SCEA that is being created for the PSVITA.

RAGE is a first-person shooter from Bethesda Games Studios for the PC, PS3 & XBOX 360. Due out this September.

RESIDENT EVIL: OPERATION RACCOON CITY is a new chapter of the series from Capcom that is heading to the XBOX 360, PS3 & PC.

SUPER STARDUST DELTA is an action game from developer Housemarque coming to the PSVITA in the future.

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM demo that was on GameTrailers TV. From Bethesda Games Studios, this RPG for the PS3, XBOX 360 & PC is scheduled to be released this November.

UNCHARTED: GOLDEN ABYSS is coming to the PSVITA and here is the gameplay demo from the e3 conference stage for the action-adventure game by SCEA.
--SILENT HILL is coming to the PSVITA in SILENT HILL: BOOK OF MEMORIES and it will be a multiplayer game.
--Ubisoft is in the process of developing 5 titles for the Wii U console, including: ASSASSIN'S CREED, RAVING RABBIDS, GHOST RECON ONLINE, KILLER FREAKS FROM OUTERSPACE and a sports title.

That was it for GeekPlate's coverage of Day 2 of E3 2011. If you missed it, there were two previous installments on GeekPlate highlighting the Microsoft/Sony press conferences and Nintendo's press conference + Day 1 of E3. Hope you have been enjoying the videos and news highlighted in these entries. Look forward to tomorrow's post recapping the final day of the convention.

GAMING: 2011 E3 Day 1 + Nintendo Press Conference Recap (News)

2011-06-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Entertainment Expo hit Los Angeles, California this week and as a result GeekPlate is having a week of E3 coverage with the highlights from the news that breaks at the expo. Tuesday brought the Nintendo press conference and the opening of the show floor - the first official day of E3.

Nintendo:

The Wii U debut video. Wii U is the next console in Nintendo's future. It will have a 1080P HD resolution. The new console's controller has a large touchscreen interface, a front-facing camera, gyroscope and microphone while incorporating the more traditional analog sticks, d-pad, front and shoulder buttons and triggers. A 3DS-like stylus can be used on the controller touchscreen. Wii U discs will be able to hold 25 gigabytes of data. Will be compatible with Wii games and devices. Release date in 2012.
--LEGEND OF ZELDA's 25th anniversary year has Nintendo planning game releases on all of its platforms. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK'S AWAKENING is the first and will be available for download in the 3DS eShop. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE FOUR SWORDS will be available as a free DSiWare download in September.
--NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR'S EDGE will be a unique version specifically designed for the Wii U.
--PIKMIN will be coming to the Wii U instead of the Wii.
--SMASH BROS. will get new versions for the 3DS and Wii U.
--SUPER MARIO 3DS, built specifically for the handheld will be released by the end of 2011.

E3 News & Video:

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY, the sequel to the critically acclaimed hit BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM, from developer Rocksteady Studios provides a preview of the playable character, Catwoman. BAC is scheduled for release on the PS3, XBOX 360 & PC in October.

LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR in the NORTH trailer for the PS3, XBOX 360 & PC. From Snowblind Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the action RPG is due out this year.

THE DARKNESS 2 from developer Digital Extremes is a shooter sequel that takes place two years after the first and is for the PS3, XBOX 360 & PC.

XCOM, from 2k Games is a first-person shooter for the XBOX 360, PS3 & PC and is due out in March 2012.
--ONLIVE is going portable with the ONLIVE PLAYER APP that will bring its PC gameplay streaming capabilities to iPads and Android tablets.

That was it for GeekPlate's coverage of the Nintendo press conference and Day 1 of E3 2011. If you missed it, there was a previous installment on GeekPlate highlighting the Microsoft/Sony press conferences. Hope you have been enjoying the videos and news highlighted in these entries. Look forward to tomorrow's post recapping the official second day of the convention.

GAMING: 2011 E3 Microsoft + Sony Press Conference Recap (News)

2011-06-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Entertainment Expo hits Los Angeles, California this week and as a result GeekPlate will be having an E3 week of coverage with the highlights from the news that breaks at the expo. Monday was not the technical start of E3 as the show floor does not open until Tuesday, but there was still news to be had as Microsoft and Sony held their annual press conferences.

MICROSOFT:

FABLE: THE JOURNEY, the next chapter of the FABLE game series from Lionhead Studios is scheduled to arrive on the XBOX 360 in 2012. And it features KINECT functionality, allowing players to use gestures to cast spells.

HALO 4 showed off its teaser trailer and has a scheduled release date of holiday 2012.

STAR WARS KINECT will bring players the ability to wield lightsabers, jump and kick their way through the Star Wars universe.

TOMB RAIDER, the next Lara Croft game from Square Enix for the XBOX 360, PS3 & PC takes players to the beginning of the character's journey for her first adventure.

--BING will be a feature on the new XBOX 360 dashboard coming in the fall, enabling players to search the entire marketplace for content using KINECT.
--KINECT will become a big part of the new dashboard on XBOX 360, letting users control the entire experience through voice commands.
--KINECT FUN LABS is a collection of mini-games available for free that allows players to participate in various activities including scanning real life objects into the game world and creating avatars using the KINECT camera.
--MASS EFFECT 3, the next chapter in BioWare's scifi RPG series is coming in March 2012 and brings with it KINECT features like making conversation choices and battlefield directions through voice command.
--UFC bouts will be coming to XBOX LIVE along with some interactive features where viewers can "call matches" and place bets with friends.
--XBOX LIVE will soon be offering cloud storage for game saves and profiles, making it easier for players to sign into their accounts from any XBOX 360 console.

SONY:

BIOSHOCK INFINITE, is a first person shooter coming in 2012 to PS3, 360 & PC from developer Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BIOSHOCK.

DUST 514, a massively multiplayer online game with connections to EVE ONLINE is a PS3 exclusive scheduled to launch in 2012 with a closed beta testing period on PSN near the end of 2011.

LITTLE BIG PLANET, the PS3 hit game series is making its way to the PSVITA.

RESISTANCE 3, the very popular scifi first person shooter series from developer Insomniac Games comes to the PS3 in September.

Sly Cooper is heading to the PS3 in 2012 with SLY COOPER: THIEVES IN TIME, this time with developer Sanzaru Games taking over the creative reigns for Sucker Punch.

STAR TREK, a new co-op game for the PS3, 360 & PC from developer Digital Extremes is coming in 2012. Play as Captain Kirk and Spock in this new chapter spinning out from the recent blockbuster film.

UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE'S DECEPTION hits the PS3 on 11/1/11.
--GOD OF WAR ORIGINS COLLECTION, a 3D-enabled compilation of GOD OF WAR: GHOST OF SPARTA and CHAINS OF OLYMPUS (the two PSP titles in the series) is coming to the PS3 in September.
--NBA 2K12 features unique MOVE functionality, where the basketball players will move on their own on the court and the player at home can use the MOVE controller to point at anybody on their team and control them.
--Playstation-branded 24" 3D TV that comes with a pair of glasses, 6 foot HDMI cable and Resistance 3 in one bundle for only $499.
--PLAYSTATION VITA, the next chapter in Sony's portable gaming platform, will launch worldwide by the end of 2011 with a WiFi-only model selling for $249 and a 3G/WiFi model at $299. AT&T will be the official wireless carrier for the handheld.
--RUIN, a "social action RPG" for the PSVITA and PS3, will let players create their own hero and lair and laying siege to friends' lairs. This top-down game will use the connectivity feature between the PSVITA and PS3 in which players can transfer their saves between the gaming platforms at will.

That was it for GeekPlate's coverage of the Microsoft and Sony press conferences at E3 2011. Hope you are enjoying the videos and news highlighted. Look forward to tomorrow's post recapping the first official day of the convention and Nintendo's press conference.

FILM: Trigun - Badlands Rumble Trailer (News)

2011-06-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Coming to North American theaters this summer is TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE from Funimation Entertainment. The film debuted in Japan back in April 2010 and became a long running hit movie there. It is a followup to the twenty-six episode 1998 anime series and the first original TRIGUN animation in over a decade.

Synopsis:

Vash the Stampede is a gunslinging, red-trenchcoat-wearing drifter with a giant bounty on his head. His biggest threat, however, may not be law enforcement, but an outlaw by the name of Gasback. Twenty years ago, Vash accidentally interefered with one of Gasback's robberies, and now the villain's back with a score to settle. Gasback has come to Macca City in hopes of stealing one of their major installations, and Vash has just coincidentally arrived at the same spot. Also involved in this caper are a beautiful lady with a grudge, a couple of insurance agents, and Vash's old buddy Wolfwood. At first it seems that Gasback has succeeded, but one can never underestimate Vash's legendary abilities-not to mention the secrets that his allies have up their sleeves.

COMIC: DC Universe Presses Reboot Button + Day-and-Date Digital Distribution (News)

2011-06-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

This week DC Comics made a historic announcement when it revealed its summer plans for the DC Universe. What are those plans? Well, on Wednesday, August 31st, DC will launch an unheard of amount of changes when it renumbers its entire line of comic books, with 52 first issues.

That Wednesday only two books will be released by the company: FLASHPOINT #5, the company's current big event mini-series which DC noted at the time a few weeks ago said it would be the only book released because of its impact on the DCU and now JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, which will be the first book in the newly rebooted DC Universe.

JUSTICE LEAGUE will have a blockbuster creative team behind it, with DC Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns writing and DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee on the art. It will be the duo's first comic book collaboration and by putting two of the most influential and popular DC creators on the title it is a clear move to make the JUSTICE LEAGUE the flagship title of the company, something that has not been true for some time.

In an open letter to retailers, DC Entertainment's Senior VP of Sales Bob Wayne said:

"We are positioning ourselves to tell the most innovative stories with our characters to allow fans to see them from a new angle. We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling. Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once ... Over 50 new costumes will debut in September, many updated and designed by artist Jim Lee, ensuring that the updated images appeal to the current generation of readers."

And DC was not done with issuing big announcements, they also let it be known that starting August 31st with JUSTICE LEAGUE they would be going day-and-date with all of their single issues. For the first four weeks of release, the digital and print editions of DC titles will have parity pricing ($2.99). After that the digital edition drops down to their standard price of $1.99. Oversized issues like JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 will start at $3.99 and drop to $2.99.

Because of the historic consequences behind JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, DC will also offer their first ever comic book combo where readers can buy both the digital and print version of the title for only $4.99. It looks like this fall will be a season to remember for the DC Universe and its fans.

FILM: Wielding the Power of Thor (Review)

2011-06-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated start of the summer of the comic book movie officially begins with Marvel Studios' release of "Thor", a theatrical film focused around their comic book character who is a Norse god from Asgard now a hero on Earth. "Thor" is the first of Marvel's three live action feature film entries this summer.

Directed by veteran actor of the silver screen and stage, Kenneth Branagh ("Hamlet"), "Thor" tells the story of a powerful but arrogant warrior who is cast out of the realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he gains a new perspective on his impulsive ways.

The redemption journey for Thor (Chris Hemsworth) starts and ends in Asgard where he was born and groomed alongside his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), to be the next heir for the throne of the King, their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Asgard is a realm with stunning visuals, full of palatial structures that befit the grandness of the characters. Everything in Asgard has a grandiose quality to it, like Odin's throne and especially the Rainbow Bridge - the mystical gate that gives the Asgardians the ability to transport to other realms.

Perhaps the most stunning battle in the film happens early on when Thor leads Loki and his friends - Sif (Jaimie Alexander) and the Warriors Three (Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano & Josh Dallas) - to Jotunheim to confront the Frost Giants after Thor's ascension to the throne ceremony was interrupted. Each Asgardian is given a chance to shine in the battle, but by far it was Thor and his hammer, Mjolnir, that performed the most impressive visual feats.

With Earth being the most realistic destination of the journey, the humor of the film picks up the visual slack of the New Mexico desert and it effortlessly flows with the action. The scenes with Thor conversing with S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and her repeated hitting of Thor with her van, and the Warriors Three with Sif arriving to see Thor walking through the small town in their Asgardian armor.

There might not have been a more perfect casting choice than Chris Hemsworth as the mighty Thor. Last seen by many geek audiences in 2009's "Star Trek" as Captain Kirk's sacrificing father, here Chris continues that feeling of geniune compassion from that role while adding on levels of boisterousness and a sense of strength to be his character Thor.

Accomplished actor Anthony Hopkins plays Thor's father, Odin, the King of Asgard. Worry not about his age or his lack of an imposing physique, because Hopkins presence brings the right gravitas to the role, his inflection and pacing of speech displaying a wiseness and power worthy of Odin.

Natalie Portman fills the love interest position in the film as scientist Jane Foster, an astrophysicist investigating the strange astrological occurrences that coincide with the transportation from the Rainbow Bridge. Portman brings everything she is to the role as always and does not disappoint if you are looking for a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants and strives to get it.

Since some have brought up a dislike for the 3D conversion of the film, I ended up seeing "Thor" on a normal 2D screen and it is safe to say that even in two dimensions the film is a stunning visual masterpiece that will be fun to see in home theaters in a couple of months.

In the end, "Thor" is a fun, adventure-filled ride that any movie fan should find easily accesible and a treat to watch. This movie has set a high mark for the other Marvel features coming out this summer to match, and looking back this might be my favorite Marvel produced movie to date. It is a must see, and a must own once it comes to Blu-Ray.

TV: New Shows to Watch for Next Season (Commentary)

2011-05-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been filled with network upfronts announcing the slate of shows scheduled for this fall, and GeekPlate decided to check out the previews of all of the new shows announced and showcase the ones that seemed most interesting.

Terra Nova. FOX. Mondays.

A group of settlers leave in an environmentally ravaged future and are sent into the past in an attempt to give humanity a second chance at surviving. The new settlement is based in prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Steven Spielberg is an executive producer and Stephen Lang ("Avatar") plays the commander of the settlement.

Hart of Dixie. CW. Mondays.

A young city doctor struggling to make her place in the world finds herself adjusting to the small town life after inheriting a local medical practice. Josh Schwartz ("Chuck") is executive producer and Rachel Bilson ("Jumper") stars.

The Playboy Club. NBC. Mondays.

Centered around the infamous Playboy Club in 1960's Chicago following the rise and fall of the first Playboy bunnies. Eddie Cibrian ("Third Watch") and Amber Heard ("Drive Angry") star.

New Girl. FOX. Tuesdays.

An unlucky-in-love school teacher moves away from her ex and in with three rowdy men. Zooey Deschanel ("500 Days of Summer") and Damon Wayans Jr. star in the sitcom.

MIDSEASON (Unfortunately some really stellar shows are being held off until midseason. Here are two of them.)

Alcatraz. FOX. Mondays.

An investigation is created when prisoners and guards who mysteriously disappeared from the island prison decades ago suddenly reappear in the present. JJ Abrams is executive producer with Jorge Garcia ("Lost") and Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") stars.

Awake. NBC.

An injured detective wakes up from a car accident to find himself living in two different realities: one where his wife survived the crash and one where his son survived instead. Jason Isaacs ("Harry Potter") stars.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Batman Incorporated #4 (Review)

2011-05-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Chris Burnam
Cover by JH Williams III

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The fourth week of March brought a stack of comics bookended by Bat and X titles and it was hard for any other book to compete with those franchise because these titles brought it this month. In the end, it was the newest issue of Batman Incorporated that climbed its way to the top with a story looking back at one of the Bat characters of old, the original Batwoman.

One of the benefits of having Grant Morrison as the writer on this Bat book is his passion for the character and its history over the decades. Through the Batman title to the Batman and Robin launch to now Batman Incorporate, Morrison has made it his mission to tie back story elements both big and small to anything in the past Batlore, slowly bringing together all of the stories of Batman into one cohesive - albeit complicated- world over the last few years.

In this issue, Batman's journey around the world setting up Batman, Inc. brings the book around to welcome this generation's Batwoman, Kate Kane, to its pages and she finds herself in what used to be Kane's Kolossal Karnival - the circus that the original Batwoman once owned, while Batman tries to figure a way out of the trap he and Gaucho find themselves in. But what makes the story truly memorable is when the past is explored between Kathy Kane's origin to become Batwoman and then the relationship between her and Batman and why she broke it off.

While the last few years in the Bat Universe have been about Grant Morrison's expert stories, JH Williams has been just as amazing during this time with the fantastic art he has brought to the Bat books, first with Detective Comics and now here with this cover while he works on the Batwoman solo title expected to debut later this year. Interiors are drawn by fill-in artist Chris Burnam, who does a great job of keeping the active flow of the title going even while making distinctions between the present and past storylines.

If there has been one constant in the Bat Universe it is that a book written by Grant Morrison will be the must read title and that continues to be true with his run now on Batman Incorporated. With Morrison's steady hand guiding the direction of Batman and the flagship book there are no doubts in my mind that this title will continue to be a must read comic book when you want a peek into the world of Batman from the past and present.

FILM: First Look at Bane from The Dark Knight Rises (News)

2011-05-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Warner Bros. most anticipated future film - not named Harry Potter - would have to be the last installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. Speculation has run rampant about the story and casting since the film was first announced and one of the more eyebrow raising decisions was the casting of actor Tom Hardy in the role of Bane. Coincidentally, now that the viral advertisements begin to ramp up for the film, the first officially released image on The Dark Knight Rises is a hi-res image of Tom Hardy in his Bane persona.

Bane is a character that is probably best known by movie audiences from his much maligned appearance in Joel Schumacher's "Batman and Robin", where he was pretty much portrayed as a mindless beast loaded on venom that was more Poison Ivy's pet than a true villain in his own right. That is vastly different from his origins in the comic book universe where he has been a Latin crimelord, a mercenary, and is a world-class fighter and tactical genius all the while being the one that sidelined Batman for a significant time in the 90's when he broke his back and defeated the hero with relative ease after Batman had struggled through the ordeal of Arkham Asylum's prison break mess in "Knightfall".

Nolan's version from a first glance looks to harken back to the much fiercer and intimidating presence of the comic Bane and that is not a bad thing. Then again, very little Nolan does is not just plain fantastic in the end.

The Dark Knight Rises in theaters on July 20, 2012.

FILM: The Amazing Spider-Man's Gwen Stacy Looking Good (News)

2011-05-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

One of the more interesting stories to have come out of Columbia Pictures' relaunch of the Spider-Man film franchise has been the casting of popular young actress Emma Stone in the role of Peter Parker's legendary love interest, Gwen Stacy. Mostly known as a redhead during her time in Hollywood, the casting as a blonde character was a surprise as was the news that eventually followed that she was actually a natural blonde.

And I have to say that while it was a different look for Emma at first, she is now definitely looking like she belongs as a blonde. Here, last week during filming in Brooklyn for "The Amazing Spider-Man", she was radiating the look and feel of a modern day Gwen Stacy and seems a proper match for Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker.

TV: Smallville Finale Weds Its Past and Future (Review)

2011-05-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

SMALLVILLE
10.21 "FINALE"
Aired May 13, 2011 at 8PM on the CW Network

If there has been an underrated part of "Smallville" during its ten year run, for me it would have to be the actor voiceovers that lead into the previous episode recaps and into the actual episode. Hearing "Last time on Smallville" or "And now the season premiere of Smallville" has been taken for granted over the years.

And now with the final season it was only apropos for the season premiere recap - the first vo of the season - to be voiced by Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and for the last vo - the finale lead-in, "And now the series finale of Smallville" to be voiced by Clark Kent (Tom Welling) as they are the two longest starring characters of the show that have been the "Smallville" standbys since the pilot in 2001.

Through its lifespan on first the WB for its first five seasons and then the last five seasons on CW after the WB and UPN channels merged, the show has been plagued with having it's air day shifted every few seasons further down the week (Seasons 1&2 on Tuesdays, 3&4 on Wednesdays, 5-8 on Thursdays and 9&10 on Fridays) and less than satisfactory advertisement and promotions for the show from the network. And the ratings have declined over the years as a result, but in the midst of the mess stayed a loyal group of fans that soon grew to love the show, its characters and its actors to even a higher degree than the intellectual property it was adapted from and previous incarnations of the Superman legend that had come before.

And in a sign of respect to a show that has been the network's flagship show for the last half of the decade as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 7th Heaven shows ended, CW decided to present the series finale of "Smallville" as an epic two-hour television event on May 13th with a rerun following next week on Thursday, May 19. A perfect way to close the doors on the "Smallville" universe and its unforgettable television run.

Returns have been a big theme for "Smallville" during this final season and the finale kept it going, even behind the camera. Director Greg Beeman, who had directed the show's first four season finales, episode 100 and had returned to direct Season 9's finale, was welcomed back to direct the last hour of the finale.

Also back for the two-hour finale were several cast fan favorites, including Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) who has been a shining part of the final season with multiple appearances playing both the spirit of Clark's fallen father as well as the alternate universe version of Jonathan Kent. His presence in the finale went hand in hand with viewers needing to suspend their disbelief but it was well worth the entertainment value of seeing the Kent family reunited and Martha Kent (Annette O'Toole) and Jonathan sharing the screen for the first time since Season 5.

There was also the presence of Lionel Luthor (John Glover) who made his return during the final season and like Jonathan, had multiple appearances that really magnified how much the show had missed the character. Of course because the Lionel of the main "Smallville" universe had been killed by Lex in Season 7, this Lionel was from an alternate universe and as a result was a much darker take on the character. He was only a small part of the finale's second hour and will probably be more remembered this season for his return episode - Luthor - and the climax episode dealing with Lex's clone - Scion.

Because Jonathan Kent had made his first return to "Smallville" back in the Season 10 premiere and Lionel Luthor followed a few episodes later, the more anticipated return for the finale was that of the elusive Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) who had not been truly seen since the Season 7 finale, because Lex's brief injured appearance during Season 8 was played by another actor. To have the original Lex back brought the show full circle in that the series at its core had always been the story of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor and their intertwined destinies. That scene between Lex and Clark in the shattered ruins of the Luthor Mansion was full of the onscreen chemistry they had always had and it was like it was still three years ago and they had not been apart for three years.

The show promised surprises and the epilogue of the finale did indeed bring that when Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) popped up beside Lois Lane (Erica Durance) being played by the same actor that played his older brother, who was widely considered by fans of the show as the "true" Jimmy Olsen that was unduly robbed of that honor. It was indeed a wow moment that was a welcome nod to the fans appreciation of the actor and his time on "Smallville".

Quick Hits:

Talking about the finale you can't leave out Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) who has had some incredibly powerful scenes during this final season as viewers learned of her true heritage as a Luthor. She did not escape her long rumored demise but she did unleash one more action scene when she broke free from her restraints and killed the alternate universe Lionel Luthor. And the onscreen chemistry with Lex was amazing despite the fact that the scene was their first and only together, and it left viewers wanting more between the half-siblings that cared for each other despite the inevitable toll the curse of the Luthor name had on them.
Despite the lack of her father and sister at the wedding, Lois Lane looked the part of blushing bride beautifully and stole the hearts of men everywhere during the first hour of the finale. And then true to her character, in the second half she found her way onto Air Force One and forced the government officials to listen to her pleas and still get her scoop with the president. A fitting end for this Lois Lane's story to end.
The biggest anomaly of "Smallville" when it came to fitting into the bigger picture of the Superman mythos was the original character, Chloe Sullivan, who was such a central and integral character of the show that the fan upswell supporting her grew as rumors of her possible demise came to light during the last few seasons. In the end though, the show gave the fans of the character and actress what they wanted, a future. She did not die and was shown with her son in the finale's epilogue telling the adventure-craving young boy the story of Superman.
The odd man out for this finale would have to be Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley), who honestly seemed to have been only as a supporting/fill-in role for the show in the last two seasons after flirting with the idea of him being a corporate mogul and interacting alongside Tess as the good side's instigator during Season 8. The final season teased the idea of doing something interesting and different with Oliver after he was marked by Darkseid, but that plot was wrapped up quickly during the first hour and then the problem of the Bow of Orion being destroyed was pretty much an afterthought as Oliver was able to dispose of Darkseid's three servants with ridiculous ease that did not make much sense outside of there not being anymore time left in the finale for a longer fight between the side characters.
In the end this story has always been about the journey of Clark Kent (Tom Welling), from charming farm boy to inspiring hero and "Smallville" did a fantastic job in staying true to that path. There were ups and downs along the way but the final season was very much the show's way of crossing the t's and dotting the i's that would get Clark to the ultimate goal that was the finale. The battle with Darkseid was anticlimactic given the limitations of a CW television show budget, but they made the best of it with having Clark finally achieve the ability of conscious flight and while most of Superman's presence in the finale was through CG, the last shot of the finale being Clark's transformation on the Daily Planet roof revealing the shield underneath his dress shirt was definitely the right choice to finish the series with such an iconic shot.

It has been an amazing ten years with "Smallville" a consistent companion on television but like all good things the end is a welcome sight before the original spirit of the show begins to disappear, like had been feared over the last few seasons. There will be a noticeable void felt especially by the geek audience when September comes around and no new "Smallville" episodes appear. This show surpassed everyone's expectations and in the end established itself as this generation's Superman story and is entitled to claim its own piece of the Superman mythos forever.

Goodbye, Smallville. Thank you for the memories.

This brings the end to Smallville week here on GeekPlate. If you missed it, there were four Top 10 lists posted on GeekPlate during this last week featuring Smallville's best episodes, best superpower moments, best Clark saves and best kisses. Hope you have enjoyed looking back at some of the show's memorable moments over its ten year run and that the finale lived up to your expectations.

TV: Smallville Top 10 Kisses (Commentary)

2011-05-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

Day four of Smallville week on GeekPlate brings the last Top 10 post of this celebration. Enjoy a more intimate look at the show's ten seasons of episodes with today's entry: 10 Memorable Smallville Kisses.

10) S06E10 "Hydro"

Lois shares her first kiss with Clark after she mistakenly believes it is her boyfriend Oliver Queen in the Green Arrow costume.

Lois: Your secret is safe with me, Oliver ... You're, uh-
Oliver: That's a hell of a thank you.

09) S03E07 "Magnetic"

Getting their sleuth on in the hospital file room, Chloe pushes Clark against the file cabinets and kisses him to keep up the illusion they were just looking for a make out spot.

Doctor: What's going on? What are you two doing in here?
Chloe: ... Nothing

08) S02E22 "Calling"

Clark and Lana share a birthday kiss in the loft.

Lana: Make a wish.
Clark: I've been wishing for the same thing ever since I was five.
Lana: And now?
Clark: And now I don't have to. She's standing right here in front of me.

Honorable Mention: S09E06 "Crossfire" - In season nine there was this kiss that just missed being in the Top 10. The kiss in question would be the first official kiss between Clark Kent and Lois Lane - in regards to the previous two before this one, in "Hydro" Lois thought he was Oliver and in "Crimson" they were both under the influence of red kryptonite. Here they were both aware and Clark finally decided to cross the bridge to coupledom with Lois. A magical moment.

07) S02E14 "Rush"

Under the influence of a parasitic worm and red kryptonite, Chloe and Clark take their make out spree to the Talon.

Clark: So what do you want to do next?
Chloe: How about we play a game of strip poker?

06) S06E13 "Crimson"

In an empty office at the Daily Planet, Clark and Lois share a red kryptonite-influenced kiss.

Lois: You don't have to be macho just for me ... I like the dorky farm boy thing.
Clark: Dorkier than a hood and a quiver? Just because I don't wear a costume and splash my face all over the papers-
Lois: Clark! So what if your signature move is driving a tractor? I think it's adorable.
Kal: You know Lois, I think that it's is time for you to meet the real Clark Kent.

05) S08E09 "Abyss"

Back in the eighth grade shortly after they met for the first time, Clark and Chloe share their first kiss in the loft.

Clark: What was that for?
Chloe: I know you've been thinking about it all day, so I figured we'd just get it out of the way and be friends.

Honorable Mention: S04E11 "Unsafe" - This character could not go unrepresented on this list because of what she meant to Clark. I would be talking about Alicia Baker, a one-time girlfriend of Clark during Season 4, who was a teleporter and knew Clark's secret. As a result, in this fourth season episode, Alicia takes advantage of Clark's weakness to red kryptonite and has him wear a necklace laced with it to make him more agreeable to her suggestions of running away. They end up having some red-k make out sessions worthy of being remembered.

04) S02E04 "Red"

Clark shares a red kryptonite kiss with Lana in the Talon.

Clark: I've had feelings for you for a long time. And I know that you've had feelings for me too. So I think we should stop pretending.
Lana: So, so what? Is this supposed to be some, um, all-new Clark Kent?
Clark: Well that depends ... Do you like him?

03) S05E22 "Vessel"

In the Daily Planet during Dark Thursday, Clark and Chloe share an end of the world kiss.

Clark: What if something goes wrong? I don't want to leave you here.
Chloe: You have to. Clark ... I don't know if I'm ever going to see you again.

02) S08E14 "Requiem"

Clark fights against his Kryptonite weakness to share one last kiss with Lana in the loft.

Lana: That night, at the cemetery when I introduced you to my mom and dad, you told me that I would never be alone, that my mom would always be watching over me. We're in each other's hearts, Clark. I will always be with you ... no matter what. I love you.
Clark: I love you.

01) S10E05 "Isis"

After Clark admits to the truth that he is the Blur, Lois celebrates by tackling into a pile of files and kissing him.

Clark: All my life I've been afraid, Lois. Afraid of people knowing the truth about me. Afraid of them rejecting me and even if they didn't, still losing them. I've been afraid of everything I can't control. But when I was faced with the idea of losing you forever, it made me realize there's something I would regret more than anything else and that's not telling you the truth about me. Cause that's the only way we could share a life together. I know the odds are stacked against us and we'd be risking everything but if you're ready to take that leap, there's no one else that I'd want to take that leap with ... Lois, you've had a lot of questions about the Blur, it's me ... I'm the Blur.

That was it for this Smallville Top 10 installment. If you missed it, there were three previous Top 10 lists on GeekPlate featuring Smallville's best episodes, best superpower moments and best Clark saves. Look for a review of Smallville's final episode, "Finale", sometime during the weekend to close out Smallville week. Hope you have been enjoying looking back at some of the show's memorable moments and enjoy the finale!

TV: Smallville Top 10 Clark Saves (Commentary)

2011-05-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

Day three of Smallville week arrives on GeekPlate with yet another Top 10 post on the superhero show. Enjoy GeekPlate's attempt at celebrating the show's ten years of entertaining episodes. Today's entry: 10 Memorable Clark Saves.

10) S04E17 "Onyx"

Clark saves Chloe from falling debris as Alexander watches on.

09) S01E01 "Pilot"

Lex swerves into Clark and drives into the water. Clark pulls him out.

08) S02E09 "Dichotic"

Clark jumps after Chloe to save her after Ian Randall threw her over the dam guardrail.

Honorable Mention: S01E03 "Hothead" - Coach Walt Arnold sets on fire the Smallville Torch office while Chloe is inside. The fire engulfs the room but Clark shows up and the coach backs off. The reason it gets honorable mention? Is the hilarious story Allison Mack told in an interview of how the repeated takes of throwing herself into Tom Welling's arms was beginning to ring her head and she had to tell him to soften up.

07) S06E19 "Nemesis"

Trapped together in underground tunnels, Lex frees Clark from the fallen pieces of the Kryptonite-lined walls.

06) S05E11 "Lockdown"

Clark super speeds in to save Lana from an exploding bomb.

05) S03E03 "Extinction"

Clark super speeds into Metropolis to save Lex from Van McNulty's sniper bullet aimed for his head.

Honorable Mention: S03E08 "Shattered" - Is there a more bittersweet save than in this episode when Clark stops a speeding car from hitting Lex, revealing his powers to his friend who he then abandons and lets get taken to a mental hospital.

04) S07E05 "Action"

Clark saves a free falling Lana after a crazed Warrior Angel fan throws her off Queen Tower.

03) S10E06 "Harvest"

Clark rushes in and protects Lois from a falling blue Kryptonite fire.

02) S08E01 "Odyssey"

After Clark is hit in the chest and mortally injured by a mind-controlled Oliver's arrows, John Jones and flies Clark towards the sun.

Honorable Mention: S10E02 "Shield" - As has been clear in preparing all these top 10 lists is that the show has progressed special effects wise as it gets into later seasons and paved the way for more ambitious saves. The one in this final season episode fits that bill with Clark being in a car with Cat Grant that gets shot and blown up and he saves her from the blast. Incredible visuals.

01) S09E17 "Checkmate"

Clark super speeds into a room full of Checkmate agents, taking them out and stopping a speeding bullet from hitting the tied up Chloe.

That was it for this Smallville Top 10 installment. If you missed it, yesterday featured a Top 10 list on Smallville's Memorable Superpower Moments. Tomorrow's post will be a Top 10 covering the Clark Kisses on the show. Enjoy Smallville week!

TV: Smallville Top 10 Superpower Moments (Commentary)

2011-05-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Smallville week continues here on GeekPlate with another Top 10 post for one of the most geek-friendly television shows in history. Join GeekPlate in celebrating the ten years of entertaining, visually stunning episodes this once in a lifetime show gave viewers of a town called Smallville. Today's post: 10 Memorable Superpower Moments.

10) S01E04 "X-Ray"

Clark Kent discovers he has X-ray vision.

Clark: Mom, if you could see anything, what would you do?
Martha: Learn to close my eyes.

09) S08E22 "Doomsday"

Clark Kent battles Doomsday in the streets of Metropolis.

Red-Blue Blur: Sometimes we cannot outrun our destiny.
Lois: But I thought you were invincible.
Red-Blue Blur: So did I.

08) S03E10 "Whisper"

Clark Kent is temporarily blinded and develops super-hearing to compensate.

Martha: His life has changed. And so has yours, but neither one of you will admit it. You both think you're Supermen who can do everything alone, but you can't anymore! You need to start relying on people, and so does he!

07) S06E02 "Sneeze"

Clark Kent catches a ~~cold~~ new ability - super breath.

Lois: Where did your barn door go? It was here late last night when I came to drop off the documents, and now it's gone.
Clark: Look at that, it is gone.
Lois: And it's been ripped right off its hinges. Oh my god, that barn door. I knew it looked familiar! Now how in the world does that happen?

06) S09E18 "Upgrade"

Clark Kent and Zod use arctic super breath to freeze Metallo.

05) S02E02 "Heat"

Clark Kents hits puberty as his raging hormones develops his heat vision ability.

Clark: Dad, you were right. Once I understood what triggered the heat, I was able to control it without thinking about ... sex.

04) S10E21 "Finale"

Clark Kent soars through Darkseid.

03) S02E21 "Accelerate"

Clark Kent super speeds with little Emily.

02) S06E22 "Phantom"

Chloe Sullivan saves Lois Lane from her mortal injury.

01) S04E01 "Crusade"

Kal-El takes first flight to fulfill his destiny.

Jonathan: Clark, your mother tells me you ... can fly?
Clark: Kal-El can fly. Clark Kent is still Earthbound.

That was it for this Smallville Top 10 installment. If you missed it, yesterday featured a Top 10 list on Smallville's episodes. Tomorrow's post will be a Top 10 covering the Clark Saves on the show. Enjoy Smallville week!

TV: Smallville Top 10 Episodes (Commentary)

2011-05-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ten years for a TV show is a memorable achievement. Ten years for an adaptation of a comic book character is unheard of. But for the WB (and eventually the CW), Smallville proved to be that once in a lifetime type of show with its story of a boy from another planet growing up and learning to become the hero he was destined to be. With a dedicated group creating a quality production week in and week out, it quickly became the flagship show for the fledgling network. To celebrate the series finale of Smallville, GeekPlate has decided to have a week of posts dedicated to Smallville. Today's post: 10 Favorite Smallville Episodes.

10) S06E12 "Labyrinth"

Coming in at 10th is the Season 6 episode, "Labyrinth". An episode cannot have a better premise. After being attacked Clark wakes up in a reality where he has been in a mental hospital for over five years, and is told his entire life has apparently been an elaborate fantasy he created in his delusions. Throw in a lovesick Lana, Martha Luthor, crazy Chloe and a wheelchair bound Lex and you have a wonderful break from the regular Smallville status quo.

Honorable Mention: S02E16 "Fever" - In the second season came this memorable episode that just missed being in the Top 10. Clark and Martha fall ill to a deadly kryptonite virus, Martha is found to be pregnant, Chloe reads her love letter to Clark and Dr. Helen Bryce gets her hands on a vial of Clark's blood.

09) S04E12 "Pariah"

For Season 4 Smallville saw the return of Alicia Baker to wrap up her storyline as Clark's love interest in "Pariah". Lana and Jason get attacked and all signs point to it being Alicia. Clark initially defended her but when his suspicion of her rose, a hurt Alicia decides it was time for Clark to stop lying to his best friend and she forces him to unknowingly reveal his abilities to Chloe. But before she can see the repercussions of her mischief, Alicia is attacked and killed by the true bad guy. This unleashes an emotional and rageful Clark who has to be talked down by Lois before he exacts fatal revenge.

08) S04E19 "Blank"

Shortly after "Pariah" came along this episode that showed how much the friendship between Chloe and Clark had grown since she learned of his secret abilities when he experienced total amnesia and she had to look after him and keep him from inadvertently revealing the truth to the curious duo of Lana and Lex. The episode even ends on a fantastically honest conversation between Clark and Chloe where she comments that the only different thing Clark did as an amnesiac was to trust her.

Honorable Mention: S03E06 "Relic" - Most of the early seasons of Smallville dealt with the idea of Jor-El being an evil, manipulating character but in this Season 3 episode Clark got to relive Jor-El's memories from the time he visited Smallville forty years before. The past of Smallville was full of Luthors, Kents and actors Tom Welling and Kristin Kreuk playing their character's ancestors.

07) S10E04 "Homecoming"

The only episode from the final season to make it onto the list, "Homecoming" marks the 200th episode of the series and touches fondly on the series' past and its future thanks to a trip through time with Brainiac 5. There were flashbacks to "Pilot" and the 100th episode of the show, "Reckoning" and a cameo from Greg Arkin, the villain from the Season 1 episode "Metamorphosis". But the most memorable part is Clark's visit to the future where he meets his future self, and saves future Lois in a time when Superman exists.

06) S01E01 "Pilot"

A list of favorite Smallville episodes is not complete without the episode that started it all. "Pilot" introduced the town of Smallville and the characters surrounding the story's protagonist, Clark Kent. His adopted parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent; his best friends Pete Ross and Chloe Sullivan; his crush Lana Lang and her much older boyfriend Whitney Fordman; and Lex Luthor, the misunderstood son of the hated Lionel Luthor.

Honorable Mention: S04E01 "Crusade" - The start of Season 4 signaled the next chapter of the series as Pete Ross was gone, Chloe Sullivan was presumed dead and Lois Lane had arrived in Smallville to find out what happened to her cousin. And this was the first true glimpse of Kal-El, the Kryptonian side of Clark he had long rejected that now was running things thanks to Jor-El. And oh by the way, Margot Kidder makes a cameo as Bridgette Crosby, a colleague of Dr. Swann's.

05) S03E08 "Shattered"

This memorable Season 3 episode marks the point of no return for Clark's genuine friendship for Lex, when he sacrifices Lex's wellbeing by letting him get taken to a sanitarium in order to protect his secret. Lex had been seeking revenge against Morgan Edge and Lionel for his grandparents death and in return has a plot put against him to make him lose his mind. Lex's fragile psyche unravels under Clark's watch thanks being drugged and his paranoia causes Lana to get in a terrible accident with a frightened horse and forces Clark to save him from Edge's oncoming car. But it was Clark's decision to leave Lex behind that stuck the most from the episode.

04) S08E15 "Requiem"

After a writers strike and actress Kristin Kreuk's filming schedule cut down on Lana Lang's presence on Smallville during the latter half of Season 7, it was great to see the character get a second opportunity to say goodbye during Season 8. And what a final episode for Lana it was. There was an explosion at Luthorcorp during a board meeting where Oliver was announcing his takeover, Lex Luthor is blown up because of Oliver's doing and Lana Lang saves Clark and Metropolis by sacrificing any future she could have with Clark to absorb the entirety of a Kryptonite bomb that was on the rooftop of the Daily Planet. Their goodbye scene in the loft was powerful and sad, the love between them still strong but forever not meant to be.

Honorable Mention: S05E09 "Lexmas" - This Season 5 episode was perhaps the last chance Lex had to turn towards the side of good and become the better man he had the potential to be when he was shot and was shown by the ghost of his mother of a life he could live with Lana Lang and a strong group of friends and family if he got out from under the thumb of his father, Lionel Luthor.

03) S05E12 "Reckoning"

The 100th episode of Smallville came during the fifth season and was a life-altering episode for many of the characters of the show. It was practically a roller coaster episode with the ups of Clark finally revealing his secret to Lana and proposing to her to Jonathan winning the Senatorial election only to be followed by the down of Lex chasing Lana into a fatal accident. Stricken by grief Clark meddles with time and suffers the consequence as Lana's life is saved but their relationship is over, Lex is consoling her and his father, Jonathan, dies instead. A very emotional twist to emphasize the magnificence of the episode.

02) S07E16 "Descent"

Arguably the best episode of Season 7's latter half that was produced after the end of the writers strike, "Descent" deals with Lex's final steps into the dark side thanks to his quest to save the world from the Traveler. He kills Lionel, fires Chloe from the Daily Planet and destroys his conscience once and for all. And Clark is left a message from Lionel where he learns what the older man had been trying to tell him while he was still alive, that there is an object out there that can control the Traveler and he needs to find it before Lex does.

Honorable Mention: S06E11 "Justice" - The last Smallville episode on the honorable mention list is from Season 6, when the first inklings of the Justice League come to happen with the teamup in "Justice".

01) S02E17 "Rosetta"

The most memorable episode on this list happened during Season 2 and is at the top for several reasons. Firstly, Christopher Reeve guest-starred as Dr. Virgil Swann, a recluse physicist who has knowledge of Clark's Kryptonian heritage that he shares with Clark along with a few messages that came on the day of the meteor shower. Also, Clark learns to read the Kryptonian language thanks to the key and he finds another message left for him in his spaceship that leaves him disturbed, that he was sent to Earth to conquer it.

That was it for this Smallville Top 10 installment. Tomorrow's post will be a Top 10 covering the Superpower Moments of the show. Enjoy Smallville week!

FILMonBLU-RAY: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (Review)

2011-05-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
2010 - Warner Home Video
Released on Blu-Ray & DVD on April 15, 2011

# of Discs: 3 (Blu-Ray x 2, DVD *Best Buy Exclusive version comes with extra Blu-Ray disc*)
Runtime: 146 minutes

As the penultimate film in the Harry Potter franchise and focusing on the first half of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 takes Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) away from the comforts of Hogwarts and thrusts the three magical friends into a world dealing with the ramifications of a wizarding war.

The aftermath of the Death Eaters' intrusion of Hogwarts in the previous film has left Harry and his friends without the guidance of Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and has put the task of finding the Horcruxes of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Along their journey they cross paths with old friends, new enemies and discover the existence of a set of items that may tip the balance of the war in their favor, the Deathly Hallows.

Deathly Hallows starts with a first look at Hermione's home and a last visit to Harry's place with the Dursleys. This leads to one of the highlight moments of the film, the battle of the Seven Potters, where in order to remove Harry from 4 Privet Drive several members of the Order of the Phoenix drink Polyjuice Potion to take on Harry's appearance before taking part on an aerial escape from the waiting Death Eaters.

Once they are forced to leave Bill and Fleur's wedding at the Burrow and begin their journey, 12 Grimmauld Place makes a return to the screen as does the Ministry of Magic, where the next spectacular magical moment happens with Harry, Ron and Hermione using Polyjuice to impersonate ministry officials and infiltrate the Ministry and find one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

And the showdown that takes place at Malfoy Manor near the end of the film is memorable for the spectacular environment, the viciousness of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), Hermione's pain and Dobby's (Toby Jones) heroic actions.

One thing that has improved as the Harry Potter film saga has gone on has been the extras included along with movies. With the existence of ultimate editions an eventuality for every Potter film I know there are probably plenty of featurettes being held off for the Deathly Hallows Part 1 version but that being said there is still plenty for fans to watch in this package (even more with the Best Buy release of the film with over 65 minutes of exclusive special features). Besides the Blu-Ray features like Maximum Movie Mode, the extras disc includes a few deleted scenes, and several featurettes: how the Seven Potters scene was created; the running competition between Dan, Emma and Rupert; and a conversation with Rupert, Tom Felton, Oliver and James Phelps while they play a round of golf between filming.

Being as big of a Harry Potter as I am, the movies gain a fondness level from me that other, less biased viewers might not do as well. That said, the last few films have had a steady transition from fun kids films to more of an action-adventure orientation that non-Potter faithful can appreciate. As has been seen in the progression of the series, the quality continues to improve from the actors to the special effects and the overall story. While Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a much darker film than its immediate, lighthearted predecessor, I found myself laughing more with this film and it has quickly become one of my favorites of the series. While the deliberate pacing might throw those not familiar with the Deathly Hallows story, everyone should give this film a look, especially with the fantastic visuals of Blu-Ray.

Look to buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Blu-Ray over at Amazon for only $22.99.

FILM: Star Wars - The Complete Saga Blu-Ray Details (News)

2011-05-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

The wait is nearly over for Star Wars fans seeking to own an HD collection of their favorite movies, with breaking news on the Star Wars Blu-Ray release later this year. Lucasfilm Ltd. sent out a press release today revealing the complete details of the nine-disc collection that will be released on September 12 internationally and September 16 in North America. Star Wars: The Complete Saga contains more than forty hours of special features, deleted scenes and never-before-seen archival materials. Each individual trilogy will also be available in their own separate Blu-Ray collection.

From the Lucasfilm Ltd. press release:

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 4, 2011) — Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars™ with your whole family — when Star Wars: The Complete Saga comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments — in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.

The comprehensive collection also features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, Star Wars: The Complete Saga also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more.

Episodes I-III and IV-VI will also be available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections.

Fans will get an exclusive first look at some of the collection’s extensive special features at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International — which marks Lucasfilm’s 35th anniversary as a Comic-Con presence. In 1976, the fledgling film company was looking for innovative, grass-roots ways to promote its underdog release, a film no one expected to succeed — a space opera known (at the time) only as Star Wars. One of the first film companies to reach out directly to core audiences by way of fan conventions, Lucasfilm will return to the venue to showcase the full evolution of the epic story with a special first look at Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray.

Special Features:
Star Wars: The Complete Saga is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:

• DISC ONE — STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC TWO — STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC THREE — STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC FOUR — STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC FIVE — STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC SIX — STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

• DISC SEVEN — NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more

• DISC EIGHT — NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more

• DISC NINE — THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES

o NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) — Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures … these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.

o NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) — George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.

o NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) — The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!

o The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) — Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

o The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) — Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!

o Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) — Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams.

o Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) — See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.

o Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) — Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.

ABOUT STAR WARS

The May 25, 1977 theatrical debut of Star Wars — on a scant 32 screens across America — was destined to change the face of cinema forever. An instant classic and an unparalleled box office success, the rousing “space opera” was equal parts fairy tale, western, 1930s serial and special effects extravaganza, with roots in mythologies from cultures around the world. From the mind of visionary writer/director George Lucas, the epic space fantasy introduced the mystical Force into the cultural vocabulary, as well as iconic characters such as evil Darth Vader, idealistic Luke Skywalker, feisty Princess Leia, lovable scoundrel Han Solo and wise Obi-Wan Kenobi. Since its 1977 debut, Star Wars has continued to grow, its lush narrative expanding from modest beginnings into an epic, six-film Saga chronicling the fall and redemption of The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.

The amazing visuals that can be achieved with HD and Blu-Ray especially with studios that have the time, money and skill to take advantage of the technology ... September can't get here soon enough.