Did Greedo always shoot first?

Ten years passes so quickly, doesn't it?

That's right, it's been ten years since Star Wars fans hit the theaters to see Episode IV: A New Hope once again. Some that had grown up watching grainy VHS copies of the trilogy went for the first time. Others went back to see the movies on the big screen after visiting their local theaters in 1977 a dozen or more times.

Whatever the reasons for entering the theaters, fans left amazed and a bit confused. I remember I loved the Death Star battle and wanted to see it again right away. But the rest was, well, okay at the time. I still don't understand why they changed Han's scene with Greedo and I didn't see the need for some of the flying robots in Mos Eisley. But overall, the experience of seeing Star Wars all cleaned up and redone on the big screen was great.

Here's a release from theforce.net.

***
Ten years ago today on January 31st 1997, Star Wars was re-introduced to the world in theatres with a new and improved version of Star Wars : A New Hope. Tagged as the "Special Edition" fans were exposed to a much cleaner and better sounding version of the film they had grown to love.

The Special Edition also introduced us to new and improved scenes such as the infamous "Han Shoots First" scene from the cantina. This scene sparked outrage within the community and it would be close to a decade later when fans finally got their original - Star Wars trilogy on DVD.

Special thanks to Lucasfilm for sparking the fire that rekindled everyon'es love for the Original Trilogy and lead to the Prequel Trilogy. It's been a fun ten years, here's to ten more!
***

Believe it or not, another two years and it'll mark the decade since The Phantom Menace was released. Wow. Time does fly.

Ghostbusters need you to call

Chris posted recently about the possible Ghostbusters video game that, well, seemed to be canceled after giving us such a great game trailer.

Now, it seems there is a petition online to get this game to be a reality.

I know petitions are definitely a hit and miss type thing. While I know a petition for another Ghostbusters movie would probably be a miss, the game might actually happen.

If any of you guys are wanting to visit the Ghostbusters once more (even in a different medium), visit the petition and see if the masses can make it happen.

Super Hero Comics That Should Be Movies, Part 1

Hollywood is buying up super hero properties all the time, and if stuff like Ghost Rider can get the silver screen treatment, then why can’t the really good stuff? Let’s take a look at a few comics that would not only look good if done right, but really deserve what only a quality major motion picture can deliver.

Up first…

The Avengers

The X-Men and Fantastic Four proved that Marvel’s team books can be mined for cinematic gold, so why not hit the big guns next? Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and literally dozens of other characters are can be picked to headline this movie. Best of all, The Avengers lends itself to big budget, Jerry Bruckheimer style movies. With big budget villains like Kang the Conqueror, Ultron, and even the Red Skull, this movie would be like printing money.

Next...

The Justice Society of America

Most fanboys clamor for a big screen adaptation of the Justice League of America featuring the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, and while I admit that it would be fun to see some Grant Morrison or Gardner Fox style action with real life actors, I think the better story would be for the original comic book super hero team. Set the story in the late 1930’s or 40’s like the original series and have them fight Nazis, mad scientists, secret society’s bent on world domination with classic villains like Vandal Savage or The Shade. Movies like Sin City have proved that audiences will flock to moody stylized flicks as long as they're done right, so why not give JSA a shot? Plus, you don’t have to worry about using franchise players like Superman, Batman or anyone like that as the JSA is mostly comprised of now forgotten characters (for non-fans of course).

And finally...

Runaways

What happens when a bunch of kids suddenly find out their parents are the world’s worst super villains? The runaway of course. Brian K. Vaughan’s outstanding series is primed for movie treatment with teenaged characters that actually act like teenagers. Not only do they get into scraps with super villains, but their biggest problems are the ones that we all went through at that age, and maybe still do. Themes like identity issues, questions on sexual orientation and feelings of being an outcast are the order of the book. It’s good stuff and the best part of all is that the kids don’t run around in costumes, and if Heroes has taught us anything is that you don’t need spandex to have super heroes.

That's all for now, but there are a slew of others that would do just as well. And that's just the tip of that proverbial iceburg as the non-super hero comics that would make excellent movies are even more abundant. Oh, and coming very soon, I'll talk about some properties that should never be translated beyond the comic format.

From Marvel to Middle Earth

Sam Raimi, director of the uber successful Spiderman silver screen franchise, might be trading webs for dragons as director of the upcoming Hobbit. As Chris posted a while back, Peter Jackson is pretty much out of the running for his chance at a return trip to Middle Earth.

Here is the report from the LA Times.

***
Sam Raimi considering 'The Hobbit'
In the wake of Peter Jackson's rift with the studio, the "Spidey" director may be next in line to take over fhe franchise.

Good-bye Spidey! Hello Bilbo?

In a move that would have ramifications for several major multi-nationals, and millions of fans, "Spider-Man" maestro Sam Raimi has been telling associates, as well as his corporate masters at Sony, that he is thinking of directing "The Hobbit," the prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, "The Lord of the Rings." At least two top-level insiders – who declined to be named -- have heard the words out of the director's mouth.

A year ago, such a swap of franchises would have been unthinkable, given that Peter Jackson co-wrote and directed the Oscar-winning "Rings" trilogy, but that was before the slugfest erupted between the once-rotund director and New Line honcho Bob Shaye.

Jackson is suing the studio over money he says is owed to him from the the "Rings" films, which grossed more than $3 billion at the box office and another $1 billion on DVD. In the last few weeks, Shaye has declared Jackson persona-non-grata at New Line, stating publicly that, "He will never make any movie with New Line Cinema again while I'm still working at the company."

According to a New Line source, the studio isn't just contemplating one "Hobbit" movie, but two. The prequel tells the story of hobbit Bilbo Baggins and how he first discovers the magical but sinister ring, the very object that drives the action in "Lord of the Rings."

Still, while Raimi might be an irresistable replacement for Jackson, his ascension to the directing chair is far from a sure thing. New Line says it doesn't have a deal with the director, and Raimi hasn't met with Shaye or production president Toby Emmerich. More potentially problematic is the fact that MGM owns the distribution rights to the film. An MGM spokeman insists that MGM remains firmly in the Jackson camp: "We support Peter Jackson, and when the dust settles, we believe he is the one who will be making this movie."

A call to Raimi's office was directed to his agent, Richard Lovett, at CAA. The agency did not comment.

For Sony, losing Raimi – who gave "Spider-Man" its distinctive visual theatrics – would be a blow. Studio chief Amy Pascal has said she wants to make six installments of the "Spider-Man" tale. Just this week, the studio announced it was rehiring David Koepp, who wrote the first film, to write "Spider-Man 4."

***

Six Spidey flicks? Whoa.

We all know how rumors can be so there is no doubt this will probably change. Still, it's interesting news for both Spidey and Hobbit fans. Will Raimi take it if offered? Will the Hobbit ever actually be made?

Time will tell ...

Pictures From The Simpsons Movie

Wanna see some stills from the new Simpsons movie? Awe, sure you do! Who the hell don't?

From what I understand, though, folks at the studio are getting particular about leaks, so here's a Russian site (I think) with some pics. For now at least.

Who would attack a Hobbit? Jared Leto.

I never thought I'd see the day when someone from outside Mordor's borders (okay, maybe add Isengard to that list) would want to beat Frodo's ass.

But that day has come.

Check out this post from theonering.net.

***

Elijah Wood was shocked when he was attacked by Jared Leto at an awards show recently, because The Lord Of The Rings star said he didn't like Leto's band. The 26-year-old star was attending the MTVU Woodie Awards in November when Leto, who is the lead singer of cult act 30 Seconds To Mars, approached his table. Leto came over, whispered in Wood's ear and walked away, but then turned around, grabbed him by the throat and called him a "f**king a**hole." Wood tells Jane magazine, "He was basically upset at the fact that I said I didn't like his band. He said that initially and walked away. I guess he thought I was laughing at him, but I was more shell-shocked and telling people around me, 'Whoa, I just got told off by Jared Leto for not liking his band.' And that's when he came back and grabbed me." He adds, "I told Jared it wasn't personal. He acted like I'd been disrespecting him or speaking about his family. Things like that don't usually happen to me. I'm very non-confrontational. The whole thing was kind of ridiculous."

***

Crazy.

Also in Middle Earth news, the online game release is getting closer and closer. Click here to read some detail about the massive online game that will have to lock horns with giants like World of Warcraft to succeed.

Qui-Gon talks Abe Lincoln

Sometime after Indiana Jones 4 (if it ever gets made), Steven Spielberg will make his long delayed biopic picture on Abraham Lincoln.

I have been looking forward to this movie for quite a while. However, it has been delayed several times. Liam Neeson has been cast as the president best known for his actions during the American Civil War. He spoke briefly to comingsoon.net about the movie.

***

ComingSoon.net: Did what you learned about the Civil War era for "Seraphim Falls" inform your preparation for "Lincoln"?
Neeson: Oh absolutely, yeah because when they asked me to do "Seraphim Falls" I was already a year into research for "Lincoln." Very very heavily into the Civil War and that whole period. That's still an ongoing process.

CS: What sort of things are you doing to portray this person who was certainly never captured on film and whose physical mannerisms and voice are basically hearsay?
Neeson: We know a lot about him, it's not hearsay. There's over two-thousand books written on this man. Two-thousand. Some of them are great books, I've read about twenty-two maybe.

CS: Have you visited his home?
Neeson: I've been there. I've been to Washington, I've held his wallet, I've said a prayer on the Bible he was inaugurated on. Still ongoing… there's an extraordinary Lincoln bicentennial committee, a place I go to in Washington. I got to know this guy Michael Bishop who's the co-chair. He gave me access to all this Lincoln stuff. I read his personal letters and stood on the stage at Ford's Theater.

CS: Did they let you into the balcony?
Neeson: You can't go in there, no. It's sealed off. But I love the fact that he loved the theater. There's not too many presidents you see going to see plays every so often. Lincoln did, all the time! He supported live theater, which is terrific.

CS: He should have stayed away from "Our American Cousin."
Neeson: I know. (laughs)

Nerduary Showdown #27

Last week's outer space showdown saw a fierce fight between the USS Enterprise, an Imperial Star Destroyer and the Battlestar Galactica go down to the wire. In the end, it was Galactica coming out ahead with the Enterprise close behind. The Star Destroyer, it seems, was destroyed at the beginning of the battle.

Quite a difference from the first Nerduary Showdown.

Now, on to the Nifty Nerduary Showdown #27.

This week we have tough cops squaring off. Imagine if these three cops were trying to hunt down the other utilizing their experience, wits, and brawn to take out the other guy.

1. Martin Riggs -- Riggs joined the United States Army at age 19 as a member of special forces, receiving specialized training in weaponry and hand to hand combat. Most of Riggs' time in special forces was in Vietnam, where he served as an assassin. He thought of being an assassin as "...the only thing I was ever really good at."








2. Harry Callahan -- Otherwise known as "Dirty Harry," Callahan has little use for many of the official rules of police conduct, dismissing them as "red tape," he adheres absolutely to his own code of ethics. He is completely incorruptible.





3.John McClane -- He typically carries a Beretta 92 pistol as his standard sidearm, though will often commandeer one of his enemy's weapons such as a machine gun when needed.











So we have the heroes from Lethal Weapon, Dirty Harry and Die Hard set for a showdown.

Who will win? Well, that's up to you guys. As always, place your vote via post on The Nerduary. Add a story if you wish.

Voting will continue until next Thursday morning.

Good ol' ... Optimus Prime?

This leaked photo from the set of Transformers might be a bit old. It was apparently on the internet last summer. But I hadn't seen it until today.



Last time I checked, this wasn't how Optimus Prime looked in the 80s. But, of course, the magazine photo shoot Prime received about two months ago didn't look the same as the old either.

And here's the movie trailer for those that haven't seen it.

Where's your flying car? Closer than you think.

Like most men my age, I had a certain expectation of the future when I was growing up. I watched the classic 2001 and thought by that year humans would be living on Mars. The sequel, 2010, had the space program traveling out to Jupiter. That's only three years from now. We'd better really get on this whole space program thing.



George Jetson was so lucky with his flying car-saucer type thing. I couldn't wait for my dad to get one when I was younger. But he never did. I did, however, expect I would be able to one for my kids.

Around 1990, the Back to the Future sequel had come out and showed us the vivid future of having a jammed "skyway" full of flying cars-and that was in 2015! I could not help but dream about what color my flying car would be, where I travel, and how excited I was that flying cars would be around in my lifetime.

The year 2000 came and went. We had no skyways or even news of a mass produced flying car. And that was okay. I had lost some of that wonder I had when I was young during that brief time in life when you believe what's happening on the movie screen might actually come true. The Nerduary founder, Chris, once wrote a great column about how he thought the year 2000 meant flying cars were a given and asked, "Where's my flying car?"

I started to think the closest we'd get to a flying car would be something like this.


And then I saw the news that several companies had plans on mass producing a flying car and that the technology existed to make it affordable for the public. Do what?

That's right, a flying car. The Moller Skycar M400 to be exact. A vehicle designed to take off and land vertically like the Harriet Jet. With a top speed of 400 mph, this baby runs off gasoline, diesel, alcohol, kerosene and propane while getting around 20 miles to the gallon. The range on this girl is expected to be around 900 miles.



Right now the initial cost of the Skycar is expected to be around $1 million. I know, WAY too expensive. But when the car takes off (no pun intended) and the public interest soars, the expected cost of the mass produced Skycar will be as low as $60,000. Wow.

Bye, bye traffic. Hello flock of birds on the windshield.

I know they will have to regulate the hell out of this before it is ever released on the public. I don't care. I want to ride in one. Then, I want my own.

I have to admit, this news gave me back a little of that hope for the future. A really good friend of mine wants an iPhone that's coming out this summer.

Now, I want a Moller Skycar.

The Oscars: If The Nerduary called the shots ...

Earlier today, it was time for ol' Oscar to announce the nominations for achievements in cinema in 2006.

This is usually the time for fans of certain movies to gripe and grumble about why their favorite flick should win over another or why an actor or actress should have been nominated.

Well, this year I don't know what to say. For the first time in my life (that I can remember), I haven't seen any of the best picture noms. In fact, I have only seen a handful of the movies nominated in any category. I didn't realize how little I went to the movies this year (2 times that I remember). Now I have seen very few on video, but I need some help here (unless you want my categories to be split between Superman Returns and Rocky Balboa).

So I ask you, Nerduary folks, what do you think was the best of 2006 cinema in the following categories?

Best picture
Best actor
Best actress
Best soundtrack
Best visual effects

Or, since this is The Nerduary callin' the shots ...

Worst picture
Worst actor
Worst actress
Worst soundtrack
Worst visual effects

Call this section, the first annual Nerdies ... or not.

Sean Connery in Indiana Jones IV?

Over the weekend, Logan pretty much summed up my thoughts on the next Indiana Jones installment, but this morning, I read a piece of news that did manage to bring out a tingle in my geekly happy places.

Sean Connery, as reported here, has stated that he is interested in reprising his roll as the father of Indiana Jones and evidently, George Lucas has confirmed that Dr. Jones, Sr., is being written into the script.

I still think making another Indiana Jones movie is a bad idea. Can’t help. Lucas’ track record with revisiting his past career highs is beyond spotty. However, if everyone is Hell-bent on moving forward, I think they could do worse than bringing back Sean Connery.

For most movie fans, Connery is known for two characters. James Bond and Dr. Jones, Sr. For James Bond, he spent several installments building up the character and setting the standard by which all others are still measured. However, so perfect was he in Last Crusade, that with one movie he created a cinematic icon almost as famous as his super spy counter-part.

The only hang-up about having Connery return though is the age factor. It’s pretty common knowledge that Connery isn’t that much older than Harrison Ford. They pulled off the father/son thing pretty well last time, but I can’t help but wonder if time has finally caught up with Ford to the point where he can believable be the son of Sean Connery. But then again, the makers of X-3 managed to digitally take more than 20 years off of both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, so maybe they can add a decade to Connery.

Still, though, I’m not sold that making another Indiana Jones is a good thing. Like Logan said, we know we ended things well in the last installment. Why run the risk of having everyone’s last memory of a classic film series be negative. I love Sean Connery and would love even more to see him sink his teeth into such a great character again, but even he may not be enough to save Indy from a George Lucas past his prime.

But I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

From 9-11 to Iraq

Paul Greengrass might be becoming one of those directors that can be counted on to deliver a certain kind of quality movie. Every famous director has their stamp on their movies. Most of the time, for example, you can tell the movie's a Spielberg or a Capra or an [insert classic director's name here] flick.

Greengrass first came on my radar with the Bourne Identity sequel, the Bourne Supremacy. Good movie, full of suspense. I thought the guy handled the suspense in an interesting way.

Then came United 93. Realistic movie that I don't think I'll ever see again. There's no denying the power of the film. I just don't feel like sitting through that event again. But Greengrass did an amazing job.

Now, Greengrass is taking on the Iraq situation. Here's an snippet from ainitcoolnews.com.

***

[Paul Greengrass is] turning his amazing talents upon Rajiv Chandrasekaran's book IMPERIAL LIFE IN THE EMERAL CITY: INSIDE IRAQ'S GREEN ZONE. The book explored the disasterous attempts by the Bush Administration and the Military in Iraq to set up a provisional government in the wake of the invasion and siezing of Baghdad.

Greengrass has, according to Variety, put together the same producing team and research team that he worked with on UNITED 93. And they quote Paul as saying, "the most calamitous decision of our generation." So expect the film to reveal just how unprepared our military was for "freeing Iraq" - This should be amazing material in Greengrass' hands, and hopefully another great film in his filmography

***

I'm sure many will be saying it's too soon for such a movie--especially since the conflict is still going on but Hollywood has been doing that since World War Two. I don't know how I feel. He handled United 93 well and respectfully so. I'd be willing to see how he does with this material.

In the meantime, I look forward to Greengrass finishing up the Bourne trilogy with the Bourne Ultimatum.

A Recipe for Astoundingness

The Astounding Wolf-Man

Add:
-1 part Robert Kirkman (Ultimate X-Men, Invincible, Walking dead) for writing
-1 part Jason Howard (Invincible) for art
-1 part Werewolf as the main character
Mix well & serve

The result:

Sweeeet.

I’ve been looking forward to a good monster comic (werewolves are my thing) for some time now, and this one seems to have every ingredient I could have asked for. Seriously, I’m gonna eat this bitch up on Free Comic Book Day (May 5th).

D

AFI list strikes again

Remember the AFI movie list that came out years ago? You know, the list that was supposed to tell you the best 100 movies ever? The list was greeted by some criticism and some celebration.

As hard as it is to believe, that list came out ten years ago. The AFI has decided it is time for another "fresh" list and they plan to do this every ten years or so. 400 films are eligible for the current ballot.

What does that mean to those at the Nerduary? Well, certain recent favorites for sci-fi and fantasy lovers will be on the list (Lord the Rings, The Matrix, Spiderman 2, and Harry Potter to name a few).

Star Wars fans shouldn't hold their breath: None of the prequels are on the list. The original films are eligible for the ballot once again. Last time around, Star Wars came in on the list at 15.

The new and improved list will be released sometime in June. Click here for more info.

Battlestar Galactica Returns Tonight

Tonight, the best show on TV and best science fiction show in years returns. At 10 p.m. eastern, Battlestar Galactica season three picks back up and it needs viewers.

Despite previous seasons being highly rated, season three is seeing those numbers slip, and bad from what I understand. Don’t let the show go away! Tell anyone you can about it and make sure YOU are there to make sure there’s a season 4 (and a movie from what I hear).

Of grails and MORE Star Wars

Sometimes, it might be time to give a franchise a rest. Other times, a franchise isn't given a chance.

Star Wars and Indiana Jones really, honestly should be left alone. There, I said it. I know a lot of people out there would disagree (especially about Indy). But I just had to get that off my chest.

There have been so many stories about what George Lucas "planned" for Star Wars that it makes me a bit sick. First there was three movies, then six, then nine, then twelve, then back to nine. Now, he's been quoted as saying there were never any plans for more than six movies. Ugh. The man really needs to stick with a story. I don't know about you guys, but seeing the prequels made me realize he was truly making this up as he went along. His outline for the prequels was probably a few scribbles on one page about as detailed as "Obi-Wan knew Anakin" and "Anakin's wife is pretty."

Now, of course, there are more rumors floating about the Star Wars television series that are in the works. I'm sure those will actually happen. But now there are rumors of yet another movie trilogy.

Um 'k.

I don't think it'll ever happen. Fanboys will be predicting another trilogy until the end of time. But I thought we here at The Nerduary should at least report it. So, here is the release from "theforce.net." Enjoy.

***

Please note that this is pure rumor at this point, but still it's one that makes you say "Hmmmmmmm"...

The following email was recently received from an anonymous source.

Mr Lucas was overheard by an associate of mine at a private party in Los Angeles discussing the use of new digital technology. He mentioned, a Star Wars Series, between Episodes VI-VII possibly with HBO. Also, Star Wars, Episodes VII - IX and a probable new director were discussed.

Now we know there is going to be a Star Wars TV series already and my guess is the episode information there was mis-relayed. What's interesting to note is this is the first mention we've heard of HBO. Could they be in the running for picking up the live action series?

Now this last part is interesting too because it is totally do-able in my opinion! Don't let the franchise slow down George! Give the reigns to Kevin Smith, Kyle Newman or any other number of great young Star Wars influenced directors. Let's pass the torch and keep the story alive!

***

As for Indy, well, the man with the hat will apparently go into action at the end of the year for a 2008 release. Sigh. You know, I'll try to keep an open mind and all of you can laugh at me when the movie is amazing. But I'm just saying right here, right now, I wish they would leave ol' Indy alone. It seems like this movie has been similar to Henry Senior's search for the Holy Grail. It's gone on and on and on for more than a decade.

Here's a release on Doctor Jones from IGN.

***

January 17, 2007 - With Indiana Jones IV gearing up for production later this year for a 2008 release, fans are chomping at the bit for any piece of news about the long-awaited sequel. Now, screenwriter David Koepp has tossed the hungry fanboy masses a few morsels to survive on until then.

"I spent about a year on it, first doing drafts with Steven [Spielberg, the director] and then doing drafts with Steven and George [Lucas, creator and producer]," Koepp informed FilmStew.com. "They're big guys with big opinions and it's definitely a challenge, but a challenge worth stepping up to.

"It was a lot of fun. The first thing is that you realize this is a beloved character, probably one of the most in film history, and a lot of people are going to be angry no matter what I do.

"You can't write a fan script," he added. "You have to pretend that this movie exists without the other one. ... The worst thing to do would be to have him make reference to things he said in the first movie, like to pun on lines of dialogue."

Koepp also said the film will address star Harrison Ford's age.

***
I don't know what that last line meant. I don't really want to know how they will address "Ford's age." Everyone can disagree and hate me for this opinion if they want.

For more on Indy's future and George Lucas' statement that Indy 4 will be like The Phantom Menace (yes, I'm not kidding ... I hope he was), click here.

I just think that Henry Jones, Sr. was on to something when he gently said:

"Indiana? Indiana? Let it go."

Ghostbusters Video Game... Kind Of

The Good- A Ghostbusters video has been being developed for current game systems and the footage looks SWEET!

The Bad- Development, though, has come to a halt.

The Ugly- The reason? Licensing issues. Is this franchise cursed or something by a real Sumerian god?


Read about it all right here.

Danny Boyle's Sunshine

I’m a huge fan of Danny Boyle, and not only is Trainspotting still one of my all-time favorite movies, but I still get terrified whenever I watch 28 Days Later. Now, Boyle is trying his hand at a sci-fi thriller with Sunshine, and I have to admit that so far, it looks like another winner.

Take a look:

Nerduary Showdown #26

Last week's special showdown of "Iron Engineer" (as Chris eloquently named it) saw Kaylee of Firefly fame beat out the tough sci-fi competition of Scotty (Star Trek), Chewbacca(Star Wars) and Geordi LaForge (Trek). Wow, I didn't see that one coming. Little Firefly beat out the giants. We might have to come back to this type of showdown in the future.

Today, we'll stick with the sci-fi genre. There was some disagreement with the outcome of the very first Nerduary Showdown back in 2005. So I thought it was time to do a rematch ... of sorts.

Here we go.

***

It was a quiet, unexplored sector of space far from any known civilization. In a minute, arriving from three very different areas, would be three ships with orders to clear the space of any obstacles. Here are the contenders:

1. Star Destroyer -- Commanding officer: Captain Piett.











2. USS Enterprise -- Commanding officer: Captain Picard.















3. Battlestar Galactica -- Commanding officer: Adama.










This area of space is so far out that no reinforcements could arrive in time and no other ships are in the area (i.e. no Cylons, Rebels, Klingons, etc.). Everything on board their repective ships can be used and that includes fighters.

May the best ship and crew win. Voting will end next Thursday.

Geek Witnessing Done Right!

Ever tried to get a friend interested in your own geekly pursuits only for your pleas to fall on deaf ears? Sure. We all have. However, given enough time and perseverance, ANYONE can be broken down. All it takes is that special something.

Like, say, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

After a decade of trying, I’ve finally convinced a friend to read an actual comic book. I could tell you all about it, but she does such a better job of it herself. So check this out and find out how one person finally decided to try an actual comic book (and get excited about before it’s even released.

Enjoy!

Pesky Aliens ready for round two with the ugly Mofos

I really cannot believe they are making a sequel to this movie.

Last year sometime when I was working the night shift, I rented Aliens versus Predator for something to fall asleep to during the day when I was on the opposite schedule of everyone else. I really expected this movie to be so laughable that I would chuckle myself into a peaceful slumber. That and the movie had moved from the new releases to the cheap rack.

Well, the movie was AS bad as I expected. It wasn't really good either. But it still had some nice geeky moments of the aliens and predators fighting. However, I never expected a sequel. Hollywood expected otherwise.

The first still of the AVP2 was released recently. Doesn't do much for me other than make me think of all the cool things that could have been done with this franchise. Maybe it will be saved with the sequel. Who knows? But I can still envision a AVP2 with James Cameron at the helm. Mmmm, that would be sweet sci-fi nerdy goodness.

Tiger Sharks!

I guy I work with told me how when he was a kid back in the day, he loved Tiger Sharks. I said Tiger Sharks were cool, though given a choice between the two, I’d go with the Great White. Or a Hammerhead. Hammerheads kick ass because they can see straight ahead and to the side. Uncanny, really. But he corrected me and said that Tiger Sharks was a cartoon back in the 80’s that he obsessed over and he acted surprised that I had never seen nor heard of it. I think I lost some geek street cred to him, I’m not sure.

Now I consider myself pretty well versed in the cartoons of the 80’s. On top of the old stand-by’s The Transformers, G.I. Joe, and the Thundercats, I was also hip to Silverhawks, The Visionaries and Inhumanoids. I even followed The Bionic Six for a while. I think I know my stuff. So I went home, dug around Youtube and found this little gem…



Now, to be fair, it’s probably not right on some level to judge a show by just the opening credits and theme song, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it sucked and sucked well. It looks like they took the animation cells from Thundercats and drew fish people all over them, commissioned a shitty theme song that was annoying enough to get stuck in a person’s head for a few hours, lined up some action figures and, voila, guaranteed hit! Or not. I’m guessing not since it’s taken more than two decades for me to meet someone who knows of it. To me, that’s not a sign of a runaway success. However, I’m willing to admit that I could be wrong. Maybe there was some mystery channel that I didn’t know about that carried this piece of shit. And a mystery toy store that carried the toys. And mystery assholes who dug it all. Who knows?

Oh, and I just watched the intro again and I think the chick with the Cthulhu head shits lightening. I did see that, right?

I’m now wondering how many other shows from the 80’s I’m not aware of. If one slipped through the cracks how many more can there be? Five? Ten? A million? I now have a quest.

I’ll report back soon. Until then, if there are any Tiger Sharks fans out there, let me know. I really want to know more about this show, but don’t have the time to hit Wikipedia tonight. Really, I’m interested. I promise.

Mail It Off!

Admit it.

We all love our TV, but sometimes we just feel like TV execs don’t get it. Whether it's just one annoying character in an otherwise great cast or just bad writing, there are some things that just bug us, and bug us bad. I wanted to write something up on this a while ago, but a friend beat me to it. So I’ll just borrow/steal someone their thoughts on the matter.

So enjoy this open letter to TV execs as written by a TV junkie. I would link the actual site, but I'm not certain the author wants the general Internet riff-raff finding her site. So, here it is in its entirety and if the author wants you to read more musings, then I’ll direct you straight to the source.

Oh, and keep in mind that a chick wrote this. Trust me. You'll understand why I point this out once you get to Number 5.

Enjoy!

Dear Powers that Be:

I, as an avid television viewer, would like to make a few, reasonable requests.

1. Stop dumbing down your shows. If we wanted shows that everyone could understand, we would tune into Nickelodeon or the new CW. Stick with "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and get rid of "According to Jim." Remember that what you are putting on television is influencing a generation and will represent to the future what this generation was all about. I don't want my grandchildren thinking the American family of 2007 is just like those damn Camdens on "7th Heaven."

2. Stop stealing ideas. Just because "Lost" is a good show doesn't mean that I want to watch "Jericho" and "The Nine." "American Idol" might be fun, but, really...do we need "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Grease: You're the One that I Want"? What makes shows good is their originality. Just remaking what was someone else's hit last season is a cop out and doesn't work out at all. Come up with something original or don't work in TV.

3. Know when to end a show. Most shows seem to hit their peak in Season 3, and most syndicates will buy a show after five seasons. Your audiences notice this. We know that after season 3 we might not have much to look forward to. Pay attention to your shows, make sure that they remain compelling and well-written. When the original writers leave, take a minute to consider letting the show end there. When the stars of the show decide to bow out, bow out with them. Don't milk a show for all it's worth. Have some respect for the show, your audience and yourself. Don't let good shows go downhill.

4. Know when to give a show a chance. Yes, I have "Firefly" in my head as I write this, but other shows are also falling victim to the way-too-ready ax. Listen to online chatter, consider why a show might not be finding a following (airing episodes in the wrong order? changing the night the show is on?). Don't cut shows that you know are good too early. Invest in something. Really, I promise, the viewing public is getting tired of reality shows. We know they are cheap. Give us something real, some time to find it and a reason to keep watching and we will.

5. As a favor to me, for all the wisdom I have just given you, always make sure that David Boreanaz is on the air. He doesn't have to have a starring role, but that would be a good idea. And if you really want to make me happy, have him shirtless at least five minutes every episode. It's just good television.

Sincerely,
???????

Whoa... just... whoa.

So Chris told me about how in X3, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan were digitally "de-aged." Trust me, to really appreciate it, you've got to see the side-by-side before and after shots.

I think it's time for a new Star Trek movie with the original cast.

Console war turns comic

With the holidays over, many are now enjoying their brand new XBOX360s or, a rare few, are enjoying a Playstation 3. All reports show the console war between these two, as well as the Nintendo Wii, will be heating up in 2007.

A few days ago, The Nerduary posted about a new Middle Earth online game coming to PCs. It seems the idea of massive online games are becoming more and more popular. Now, the comic world is about to jump on the bandwagon with massive online games of the DC and Marvel universes. The catch? One will be on PS3 and the other on the XBOX360. However, PC gamers won't have to make any choice as the game is also slated to hit home computers.

The expected release date for these two games is still far off (2008), but gamers are already trying to get as much information as they can regarding the two upcoming games. And it seems developers are sparing no expense in order to make a bigger splash than the competition.

For the DC game (PS3), Sony Online Entertainment and Warner Bros. will bring comic artist Jim Lee in to work on the game. Lee is expected to serve as the game's executive creative director. Here is a snippet from the official press release: "DC Comics, the largest English language publisher of comic books worldwide and the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman; Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry; and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE), a premier developer and licensor of entertainment content in the interactive space, announce plans to collaborate with legendary comic book illustrator Jim Lee to work on a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO) based on the DC Comics universe."

The Marvel game (XBOX360) will see Cryptic Studios work with Marvel and Microsoft to create the game. According to a company press release, "Marvel's repertoire of Super Heroes have evolved from the pages of comic books to become driving forces in entertainment, from the silver screen to television shows and best-selling video games, including "Spider-Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk" franchises. As part of an MMO gaming experience, "Marvel Universe Online" players will be able to interact simultaneously in a truly unique atmosphere featuring all their favorite Marvel characters, creatures and villains."

Will this game even deliver? Will fans flock to purchase this game? Will you create your own hero ala City of Heroes/Villains? Will it cost $100 a month to play? Will DC fans and Marvel fans now have something else to fight about?

The companies are keeping a bit silent at this early phase-probably because nothing has really been decided yet.

If you, The Nerduary readers, had anything to say about this or something you would like to see in this game, what would it be? What do you want them to include or exclude in the game?

One thing's for sure, we all have plenty of time to speculate on what these games will include.

Nerduary Showdown #25

Nerduary voters made the day of the Man with No Name as it seemed he took down Wyatt Earp, got the cash, and left the scene with a smirk on his face. Thanks to all voters last week for a cool showdown.

The ol' showdown turns 25 today. Oh, it seems like yesterday ...

Anyhow, this week is a little different since it's an anniversary of sorts. We have a showdown between four contestants so let's get to it. Think of this as more of a poll about the best sci-fi engineers. When voting, imagine each engineer had equal equipment and material available. Think of only their skills.

So here we go in no particular order.

1. Scotty -- Over the span of a career that lasted 100,000 times longer than any red shirted ensign with one name, Scotty the miracle worker kept the Enterprise flying and Captain Kirk saying "bless you, Scotty."








2. Kaylee -- What would Serenity be without the best looking engineer on this list? Kaylee did her best with what was available-which wasn't much at times-and seemed to keep the ship running with bubble gum and Popsicle sticks stuck together.







3. Geordi LaForge -- This "blind" engineer overcame obstacles to keep Captain Picard going where no one has gone before. Geordi kept the ship in tip top shape and was always there to whine about his love life ... or lack thereof.







4. Chewbacca -- We all know Han could do repairs on the Falcon when Tie Fighters were pounding the ship with laser blasts. But who do we always see doing the work on the ground? Chewie. While Han's out freezing and searching for whiny farm boy, it's Chewie that's trying to fix the hyperdrive. Where would Han be without the skills of this engineer?



So there you have it. As mentioned before, pick the engineer based on their skills and not their technology. Give a reason for your vote if you wish. Who would be the best if all were given the same tech or "universe" to work with?

Voting ends next Thursday morning.

Evilseed

“Evilseed” is the episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe that holds the distinction of being the number five best episode of season one as decreed by the fans. As such, it was included on the two disc set of greatest He-Man episodes.

Things start out pretty slow in this episode. Prince Adam, Teela, and Orko are chilling out at the palace, listening to hardened warrior Man-At-Arms bitch and moan about his allergies. It’s pretty clear he’s been complaining for a while, since even his closest friends and daughter are starting to make fun of him. By the tone in Man-At-Arms’ voice, I think he was about to threaten to use Orko as a condom when an alert comes over the computer, saving Eternia’s wizard/abomination from disaster. Turns out that a village of dwarves is under siege from some vines, and these vines have already destroyed the dam. To stop the flooding, Eternia’s heroes promise to help. Man-at-Arms warms up to ramjet while Adam slips away to become… HE-MAN!

Of course the flooding is stopped, and our heroes then interrogate the dwarves. It seems a man in a hood came by, gave them some seeds and encouraged them to plant them. The dwarves don’t think there’s anything odd about mysterious figures giving them seeds to plant, even when these mysterious figures have bones for hands. I don’t know, but to me, that would be a giant red flag that something fucked is going on. I’m not saying I would start any shit with the guy, I would just thank him for the seeds and toss them out when he’s out of site. But that’s just me. I can’t begrudge the dwarves to much though, because other, supposedly smarter people fall for the same trick.

See, this mysterious hooded figure also stopped by the royal palace while HE-MAN! was out, and persuaded the king and queen of Eternia to plant them on site.

Okay, to digress just for a moment. I can kind of forgive the dwarves for falling for this trick. Their the hicks of Eternia and that is made very clear. They’re farming people. Farming people don’t have to deal with pan-dimensional villains too often, and besides, it’s not like Eternia has CNN or Fox News that gives constant updates on the latest news from the War on Snake Mountain. But the king and queen, the folks sworn to defend their subjects from all manner of evil, especially black magic? Really? They should know by now that nothing good ever comes from people with boney hands. EVER. Jesus Christ, if Skeletor can’t beat these people, then he not just stupid, he’s functionally retarded…

Anyway, fast-forward, Eternia is beset by evil plants, even Snake Mountain. HE-MAN’S! people are taken prisoner as well Skeletor’s. See, there’s a new bad guy in town, and he goes by the name Evilseed. Evilseed is a pissed off, sentient plant that believes that man’s “season” has passed and it’s high time the plants took over. Unlike Skeletor, this guy seems to be able to make good on his promise to conquer Eternia, so The Sorceress proposes the unthinkable: an alliance with Skeletor!

Sadly, Skeletor wants no part of that. At first, at least. Then his sense of self preservation kicks in and he agrees to help. The plan calls for HE-MAN! to be transported to the other side of the planet, dislodge a glacier, toss it to his side of the world, then transport back to help The Sorceress, Skeletor and Orko (yes, the master plan involves Orko) blast it into ice. The ice will rain down as snow and kill the plants. Easy as pie when you think about.

Things go as planned even though Skeletor, just to remind everyone that, even though he has agreed to help, he's still a dick, breaks the machine that is supposed to transport HE-MAN! back to Grayskull, delaying the return of the hero. But, things work out, and Skeletor goes against his nature and helps the good guys get a win. Everyone survives, save Evilseed, who dies a horrible death due to the cold. Really. It’s terrible. The guy goes down in agony, cursing all who stood against him in final breath. Skeletor heads back to Snake Mountain, vowing to fuck HE-MAN! up like a car crash when next they meet and then we get a lesson from Teela about the importance of working together.

Actually, the lesson isn’t that bad. According to Teela, if you work together, even when it’s with someone you hate, things can actually get done. I think I’m going to mail this DVD to my congressman.

All in all, not a bad episode. It was funny watching Skeletor mock his minions as they were dragged away, begging for help, by sentient vines, and it was great seeing him work with HE-MAN!. Yet I can’t get over just how stupid everyone involved with this episode had to be for the plot to actually work, and I’m baffled that it’s as beloved as it it. Personally, I think it has to do with seeing Skeletor act like the dick he is. That’s what I liked at least.

Spidey 3 fight scenes spilled

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!!!!!!!

If that didn't get your attention, there are some serious possible spoilers here for Spiderman fans that don't want the third act ruined.

Still here?

Okay, but read at your own risk.

Some fight scenes from this summer's Spiderman 3 movie were released. It sounds amazing. Honestly, I didn't read the entire post. I ruined too much of the Star Wars prequels by reading too much online before the movies were released. I wasn't sure I wanted to make the same mistake this time.

(Let's be honest, here: I'll probably end up reading this)

Chris' new favorite commercial

Middle Earth online

I've never really played these online games. I tried a free demo of Star Wars Galaxies once and it was okay. I just didn't really get into it and really didn't like how much time it seemed to require in order to really enjoy the game. Maybe some of you can explain to me what I was missing.

Not to be out done by other franchises, wannabe adventurers and warriors will be able to travel Middle Earth online soon. I guess it looks pretty cool. The graphics are impressive. I have no idea what the gameplay will be like. Anyway, here's the trailer.

The luckiest man in Starfleet

Ever heard of J.P. Hubbell? Probably not. He's a pretty guy who's had bit parts in several series - including a one-shotter in Star Trek: TNG.

In the sixth season, he appeared in the episode "Man of the People." Short synopsis: an incredibly successful diplomat purges his negative emotions by sending them into "recpetacles," people who absorb his bad thoughts and suffer terrible emotional and physical symptoms. Counselor Deanna Troi's number comes up, and she becomes acting erratically.

The most obvious system is her hyper-accelerated aging, but there are also a couple of great scenes of psychological instability, including one with ol' J.P. After her sexual advances toward the diplomat are rebuffed (didn't seem too negative an emotion to me), she spies Hubbell, playing an anoymous pretty-boy ensign, in the turbolift.

Next thing we know, Troi's answering the door for Riker in her quarters in a see-through negligee - the only "smugglin' raisins" shot I know of in TNG - and Engsign Justgotsome is putting on his uniform and leaving.

Picard quickly gets to the bottom of the problem, and Troi makes a full recovery, but think about what this poor ensign went through.

Fresh out of starfleet, he gets a cherry posting to the Enterprise. Sure, he probably noticed Troi at some point, but think of the discussions in Ten Forward with the other new kids.

"Dude, the shrink is fuckin' hot."

"Forget about it, man, that's Riker's bitch. He'll shoot you out of an airlock, arrange some mysterious transporter accident, or sic Lieutenant Worf on your dumb ass if you even look at her hard."

"Yeah, but... I mean, she's... aw, hell. I'll just ask out that cute non-com who works in sickbay."

But then, it happens. He's getting off his shift, taking the turbolift to his quarters, and he notices the counselor staring at him. It's not shown in the episode, but I imagine it was frickin' on like Kong. He's young, virile, and living out a fantasy, and she's hopped up on lust emotions, horny as hell thanks to the mind-rapin' diplomat.

When Riker walks into Troi's quarters (and this part is shown in the episode), the ensign's obviously shocked, no doubt thinking about exactly where Worf is going to shove a bat'leth. He jumps to attention, and quickly rushes out of the room. He's never seen again in the episode, or even in the series.

What happened after that? As an ensign, low man on the totem pole, he probably had no idea what was going on with Troi. He just knew that she grabbed his ass and gave him the night of his life. Imagine the next few days, him passing her in the halls. Think it might have been a little awkward? Hell, the episode closes with a scene of Riker and Troi cuddling.

There Ensign Justgotsome was, with one night of absolute heaven... and it was never to happen again. On second thought, maybe he wasn't the luckiest guy in Starfleet, after all.

He-Man!

Updated!

I borrowed a DVD from a friend this weekend to watch while the wife was at work.

A set of the 10 “best” episodes of He-Man and The Masters of The Universe. Had high hopes for this one, as He-Man was the absolute shit when I was a kid. I mean, this was the show that I can look at as one of my first geekly obsessions. I have more than a few fond memories of this show, and of playing with all the toys that it spawned (or vice versa).

While the show is obviously quite different than I remember it, it's still got a certain charm to it. Sure, He-Man rarely uses his sword for it's intended use (dude throws it around it an awful lot or just uses it as a club) and the dialogue is a little stilted, but the show's pretty fun.

Oh, and Skeletor is funny as Hell. Seriously, I laugh pretty much whenever he's on screen. Kind of makes me wonder if he was supposed to be silly or if the writers were just trying not to get letters from angry parents. He basically just sits around, talks shit about He-Man and bitches and moans. For some reason I remember him seeming menacing when I was a wee geek. Man, was I wrong. In one episode, he runs through every nick-name he can for He-Man that involed the use of the word "muscle." Skeletor actually calls He-Man "muscle-boy" in one episode (to his face no less). Those words coming out of the mouth of a guy with a skull for head and the voice of The Monarch from "The Venture Bros." is enough for the price of admission.

Oh, and don't even get me started on the lesson summaries that come at the end of every episode. If you loved G.I. Joe's "... and knowing is half the battle" then you'll love it when guys like Orko and Zodac talk directly to you. "In today's story, we learned about love..." I feel like a better more well adjusted person already!

I think when I finish the DVD set, I'm going to do a couple more article here for The Nerduary. I really want to share in the glory that is early 80's cartoon goodness and look back at what we all thought was cool when we in kindergarden.

Nominations For Superman’s Next Live-Action Villain

As we’ve discussed in great detail here at The Nerduary, Superman Returns had the viewing public torn right down the middle. We either loved it, or we hated it. Most folks took issue with the fact that Superman never actually hit anything (an echo of the first Donner movie), the introduction of his super-son, or that Lois had moved on.

Surprisingly, however, was some people’s reaction to the further use of Lex Luthor, despite the superb performance by Kevin Spacey. As a huge fan of Mr. Luthor, I can’t get enough of the evil son of a bitch, as long as he’s done right (and Kevin Spacey did a pretty good job). Yet, I understand that it’s time for something new. Superman has a great rogues gallery, and it would be fun to see some of them on the big screen. So, without further ado, here are my top 5 nominations for the next film’s villains.

5. Bizarro- How awesome would it be to see Superman going toe-to-toe with someone who has all of his powers but none of his morals (or intelligence)? This opposite-speaking imperfect duplicate of Superman would look great on screen and would go a long way towards giving him a real, physical challenge. Me think Bizarro would be bad…er, good idea for next movie!

4. General Zod- Why not bring him back for a new generation? While Terrence Stamp’s performance as the wretched Krytonian Criminal will never be replaced, I think with a modern special effects budget and the degree to which technology has advanced, we can finally see the evil general in all of his wickedness and might. No offense to Mr. Stamp or anything.

3. Brainiac- What better way to up the ante for the next Superman film than the introduction of a guy bent on the eradication of all life in the universe? Brainiac would be a perfect addition to the live-action Superman world as he’s as cold and calculating as Lex Luthor, but can actually get into a fistfight with the Man of Steel? Plus, Brainiac and Luthor have historically teamed up with each other (albeit on a very temporary basis), so you have the added benefit of being able to bring Luthor back.

2. Doomsday- I remember the Doomsday saga as being one of the most violent, visually stunning battles I’d ever seen in comics back when it first debuted. Now, more than a decade later, Doomsday’s fight to the death with Superman is still one of most visceral comic book moments ever. Imagine what could be done by a director like Bryan Singer and a big Hollywood budget. Remember how badass that fight in Matrix Revolutions was between Neo and Agent Smith? This would blow that completely out of the water.

1. Darkseid- The baddest bad guy in all of DC Comics, accept no substitute. The thought of seeing this evil god’s home world, the hell planet Apokolips, in all its burning, nightmarish glory in real life is enough to send this fanboy over the edge. Not only could Darkseid fight Superman to a standstill, but he has the ability to destroy anything that stands in his way. How awesome would it be to see Superman watch helplessly as entire cities are wiped off the planet, or see him battle the entirety of a mad god’s army? Putting Darkseid in the next movie (and doing it right) would be like printing money in my humble opinion.