Week Links–Bully, Geek Girls, and Hunger Games Racism

Week Links is a collection of some of my favourite links from around the web that I stumbled upon during the past week. You may already be familiar with some of them, but I think they’re worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Bully and the PTC

Pretty much everything the Parent’s Television Council does is nothing more than screaming for attention. Though they claim to be working to help parents with their kids media choices, they don’t do anything of the sort. Their output is dominated by finger pointing and self praise, so it’s always entertaining to see them called out on the absurdity of their tactics. As an aside, while Bully received an R rating in the US, which the Weinstein Company petitioned, and failed, to have reduced to a PG-13 so the kids it is meant to help would be able to see it, in Canada it received a PG.

Patton Oswalt’s Geeks

Patton Oswalt is a hilarious stand up comedian, quite a talented writer, and undeniably a geek. In this essay he dissects society’s current obsession with geeks and its effect on “true” geeks. Will fake geek girls lead to the end of an entire subculture?

Racist “Fans” of The Hunger Games

There are plenty of idiots in the world, and it seems to be the sole purpose of the internet to remind us of this fact each day. In this latest example, it seems a vocal minority (see what I did there? I’ll make sense in a second) are up in arms about the casting of a young black girl as a particularly sympathetic character from the novel, Rue. The reader/audience is meant to feel for this girl and become very emotionally invested in her. Apperently, though, the fact that the actress portraying her is black makes this impossible for some people. It then enters the level of irony when they complain that by making this character black the filmmakers are wrecking the story by straying from the book, despite the fact that the book clearly describes Rue as being black on more than one occasion! The outraged tweets at the end of the article are the highlight, but be aware that there are some moderate spoilers for those who are not already familiar with the plot.

Sleep well,

DTE

If You’re Not, You Should Be–Videogames

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can.

This week it’s videogames (yes, its all one word).

Professor Layton

Currently on its fourth installment, the Professor Layton series of games for the Nintendo DS has quite a loyal following. It is essentially a puzzle game wrapped up in the guise of a mystery. To progress, players must solve all manner of puzzles, both classic and unique. It’s an ideal game for me since I rarely devote long play sessions to my DS, and this game is designed to be picked up, play a few puzzles, and then put down again.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

The original Deus Ex (2000) is still regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. Played from the first-person perspective, it featured huge environments and gave players the freedom to accomplish objectives any way they saw fit. You could go in guns blazing, play stealthy, bribe, hack, run – if you could imagine it, you could most likely do it in Deus Ex. This often lead to unique solutions that even the developers couldn’t anticipate. Its success led to a follow-up shortly after, Invisible War (2003). Unfortunately, its development was focused almost exclusively to consoles, leading to smaller environments and severely limited freedom for approaching objectives. Human Revolution corrects those shortcomings, restoring the franchise to its original glory. A multitude of choices, beautiful, expansive environments, and an engaging story make this easily one of the best games of the last year.

Mass Effect 3

This should come as no surprise. Bioware seems uniquely able to build exactly the type of game I want to play. Deep stories, interesting characters, tons of choices and, perhaps even more importantly, the consequences of those choices. Mass Effect 3 is a stunning conclusion to an amazing series.

Sleep well,

DTE

Insert Title Here–Everything’s Coming Up TV

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Games of Thrones

A few weeks ago, I talked about the release of the first season on Blu-ray, and now this week brings the premiere of the second season. This year follows the events of the second book, A Clash of Kings. If you havent’ watched yet, start the series from the beginning. You won’t be disappointed.

The Killing

While the first season left viewers divided, I was consistently impressed by this show. Its slow pace and ultimate lack of resolution angered some, but this show is all about the journey. It doesn’t really matter who killed Rosie Larson, though we’ll find out eventually. Its all about the lives of the people who surrounded her.

Ultimate Spider-man

Spider-man has had a large amount of success on TV throughout its various iterations. With the creative talent working on this series – Brian M Bendis, Paul Dini, Scott Mosier, and the creators of Ben 10 – this latest version looked to uphold that tradition. The trailer that was released recently, however, casts some doubt on that, as it appears to have more of a slapstick, almost Family Guy tone than is traditional for Spidey. It could still be a good series, and I’ll still check it out. I’m just hoping it’s as good as the very strong Spectacular Spider-man that was cancelled prematurely to make room for this show.

Sleep well,

DTE

Week Links–Romney, Prometheus, and Battlestar

Week Links is a collection of some of my favourite links from around the web that I stumbled upon during the past week. You may already be familiar with some of them, but I think they’re worth checking out if you haven’t already.

The Real Mitt Romney

Romney as Eminem

This video pretty much speaks for itself. The creator has spliced together clips of Romney and Obama, set it to the music of Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady”, and the result is fairly hilarious.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome

Earlier this week a trailer for SyFy’s proposed Battlestar Galactica prequel series was leaked online, which you can find by following the link. On Thursday, however, Syfy announced that it didn’t plan to take the show to series, instead merely airing the pilot as a movie and possibly developing the series for the web. The web scenario seems unlikely, given the high costs of this type of show, so this trailer may be all we ever see of Blood and Chrome.

Prometheus

Prometheus

The trailer for this film was finally released, and it looks great. There has been much speculation over whether this is indeed a prequel to Alien or not, with Scott originally saying it would be, but later changing his story. The design aesthetic and creatures on display certainly seem in line with the prequel idea. The current story floating around is that, since the Alien never actually shows up in the film, Fox is reticent to market it as a prequel, so as not to upset viewers expecting to see the famous monster, but that it does, in fact lead into the events of the classic film.

Sleep well,

DTE

If You’re Not, You Should Be –Graphic Novels 2

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can.

This week, it’s a return to graphic novels and comics.

Y: The Last Man

Brian K. Vaughn’s masterpiece, this is a truly amazing piece of fiction. It envisions a world where all mammals with a Y chromosome, all the males, are suddenly wiped out by a plague, save for one young man and his monkey. Although that description sounds like the setup for either a comedy or a sexploitation fantasy, this book is neither. It’s a realistic look at what would happen to the world if all men were suddenly removed. Since still vastly outnumber women in most technical, skill, and political fields, the series quickly becomes a fascinating socio-political commentary as it explores the fallout, and the series ends in an extremely moving fashion. This is a great place to start for anyone who doesn’t think they’ll enjoy comics.

Hellboy

Mike Mignola’s art may be the main attraction here, but it tells a mythological tale on an epic scale. Combining elements from fables and myths the world over, along with a healthy dose of horror, the series continues to surprise and enchant. Having just completed it’s second of three chapters, now is a great time to catch up.

Scott Pilgrim

Much smaller in scope than the other two entries from this week, Scott Pilgrim is about a normal twenty-one year-old slacker living in Toronto and navigating early adulthood. What sets the book apart is its offbeat humour, often rooted in geek culture, and its inclusion of various videogame tropes in the characters lives without any real explanation. Characters upgrade skills in school, collect coins and extra lives, and accept that they must occasionally do battle with a foe, all without blinking an eye. These elements combine to make one of the most unique, addictive graphic novels in recent memory.

Sleep well,

DTE

Insert Title Here–Shins, Muppets, and Hunger Games

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

The Muppets

One of my favourite films of 2011, this is an easy Blu-ray to recommend. It stays true to the spirit of the classic Muppets, without feeling stale or forced. Kids will enjoy it, but so will their parents or anyone with fond memories of the Muppets.

Port of Morrow

The first album from The Shins in 7 years, Port of Morrow comes with some high expectations. While it may not be able to live up to those expectations in the end, it should be an enjoyable listen for fans of The Shins or Broken Bells.
The Hunger Games

The book on which the film is based was thoroughly engaging, and the film looks to live up to that reputation. Pre-release reviews have been strong, with it currently sitting (as of today) at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. With a predicted box office this weekend of between $80-150 million dollars, at the very least this looks like it will be the film everyone is talking about on Monday.
Sleep well,

DTE

If You’re Not, You Should Be–Biographies

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can.

This week it’s some of my favourite biographies.

Zombie Spaceship Wasteland

Comedian Patton Oswalt delivers an autobiography that, while markedly different from his stage personality, is still very clearly his unique voice. Filled with asides, detours into song lyrics, poetry, and even illustrated short stories, this is an entertaining, ever changing experience from start to finish.

Schulz and Peanuts

Easily my favourite of the three discussed today, this is an absolutely fascinating look at the life of Charles Schulz. It covers his entire life, from his childhood, through the creation of Peanuts and its subsequent success, to his affair, divorce, and struggle with mental illness. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone with even a passing interest.

Lucky Man

A down to earth, deeply funny autobiography of Michael J. Fox. Though it’s a few years old, it covers his childhood, through his acting career, and his early experiences with Parkinson's. If you’re a fan of his work, you’ll enjoy this book.

Have you read any of these? Any others you’d recommend?

Sleep well,

DTE

Insert Title Here–Decemberists, South Park and Star Wars

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

The Decemberists: We All Raise Our Voices To The Air

The Decemberists are a unique band. Their lyrics are filled to bursting with literary references, often retelling well known stories or fables, occasionally over multiple songs. Their sound is a mix of 60s folk and modern indie rock. Their touring schedule is often brief, making them difficult to see live, which is where this album comes in. 20 tracks of some of their most well known songs performed live. If you’ve never heard of them, check out some of the iTunes previews and then give this album a listen.

South Park

By this point, there’s not really much I need to say about South Park. You’ve probably already made up your mind about whether you love it or hate it. Regardless of your position on its humour, it can’t be argued that this isn’t one of the most intelligent, socially relevant shows currently on TV. It’s often crass, over the top humour won’t be for everyone, to be sure, but as it enters its 16th season, those who love it will definitely be treated to all timely, absurd, and entertaining situations they are used to the show delivering.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi – Apocalypse

The nine book Fate of the Jedi series wraps up with this entry. Overall, the series has been enjoyable, if not revolutionary. Denning has been the strongest of the three authors, so hopefully this ends things nicely.

Sleep well,

DTE

Week Links–DVD Copying, and Game of Thrones (HBO and Disney)

Week Links is a collection of some of my favourite links from around the web that I stumbled upon during the past week. You may already be familiar with some of them, but I think they’re worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Warner Bros. Disc to Digital

Warner Bros. proposed plan for allowing customers to transfer their DVDs to their digital devices is completely ludicrous. They want to license stores to make copies of customers DVDs which would then be transferred to the desired device. You’d have to pay for this “service”, and the file would still be locked to whatever device you chose, so if you want it on, say, your tablet and your laptop, you get to pay for the same movie three times. These types of tactics didn’t work for the music industry and almost destroyed it in the process. Why can’t the film industry learn from those mistakes?

Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones Season 2

We’re rapidly approaching the April 1 premiere date of the second season of HBO’s excellent Game of Thrones. Appropriately, there’s a new trailer for you to enjoy.

Disney Game of Thrones

An enterprising fan has also cut together the Disney-fied version of a previous Game of Thrones trailer, “You Win or You Die”. Some of the casting choices here are inspired and the editing is quite nicely handled.

Sleep well,

DTE

If You’re Not, You Should Be–Podcasts

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can.

This week is all about podcasts. I listen to over twenty pods on a regular basis, mostly while I’m at work.

Smodcast

The flagship podcast on Kevin Smith’s ever growing podcast network, Smodcast is one of the best. It consists almost exclusively of Smith and his long-time friend and producing partner Scott Mosier having a conversation about whatever happens to cross their minds. No topic is out of bounds, and even the most benign thought quickly turns hilarious, with stories of their careers, lives, or made up scenarios. R rated through and through, but it’s infinitely entertaining.

The Nerdist Writer’s Panel

This weekly series features interviews with various television and film writers on breaking into the film industry, the writing process, and tons of fascinating anecdotes. If you’re at all interested in writing, or even just want a little more info on how your favourite shows are made, you’ll find a lot to like here.

GeeksOn

This podcast focuses on film, television, toys, games, anything at all geek related. It’s hosted by a group of friends including voice actors, video game designers, film editors, and other entertainment professionals. Each episode starts with a rundown of geek related news, and then spends the majority of its time dissecting a topic relevant to geeks – everything from movie reboots to artificial intelligence and self identity. It’s an entertaining and enlightening podcast.

There are plenty of others which I’ll get in coming weeks. Let me know if you listen to any of these, and if there are any others I should check out.

Sleep well,

DTE

Insert Title Here–Mass Effect and More

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Mass Effect 3

The final entry in the trilogy for one of the greatest gaming franchises finally gets released this Tuesday. The developers claim that new players will be able to start with #3 without feeling lost, but if you’ve never played the series, you owe it to yourself to start from the beginning and play all the way through. Like most Bioware games, Mass Effect’s greatest strength is it’s story, so skipping the first 60-70 hours is really doing yourself a disservice. Additionally, your character and all the choices you make are carried over from one game to the next, meaning that a seemingly small decision made in the initial game can have dire consequences in the third. This all adds up to create a truly immersive universe. Don’t miss this game.

Games of Thrones Season 1

HBO has done a fantastic job translating George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series to the screen. Season One follows the events of the first book. Filled with great drama, action, and incredible performances, this is a standout TV series. It’s released on Blu-ray this week, and that’s really the best way to experience it – in large chunks rather than doled out an hour at a time.
Like Crazy

Also out on Blu-ray this week is Like Crazy. Beautifully shot and well acted, the real standout in this film is the script and, more specifically, the dialogue. More so than any other film in recent memory, it perfectly captures the slightly awkward language of new relationships, the halting, the slightly over-long pauses, the jokes and comments that don't quite land the way you thought they would, all without ever giving into the recent trend of over blowing these elements and essentially labelling them with a flashing AWKWARD sign. Some of the credit, of course, also has to go to the two leads, who are strong throughout, particularly Yelchin, who gives yet another great performance. Though it was marketed as a "love conquers all" story, it is really more of a relationship story. This bait and switch will likely lead to some unsatisfied viewers, but if you go in with an open mind, this is definitely worth the trip.

Avengers Academy #27

What’s really exciting here is that this issue will feature the return of the Runaways. Originally created by Brian K. Vaughn, The Runaways was one of the most original and well written comics to come out of the mainstream publishers in a long time. Vaughn left the series in 2007 and, after a short run with other writers, the series was shelved in 2009. The characters’ return in Avengers Academy is being used to gauge interest in returning the regular series to publication.

John Carter

Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels of the same name, this is Disney’s latest attempt to start a PG-13 franchise that will rival the box office of its previous hit Pirates of the Caribbean. The trailers have been terribly uninspired, but early buzz is positive. The only reason I’m really interested in this is that it marks the live action directorial debut of Andrew Stanton, whose previous directing work includes Finding Nemo, and Wall-e. I hope he’s as successful here.

It’s a big week, but that’s all for now.

Sleep well,

DTE

Week Links–Avengers and Universal

Week Links is a collection of some of my favourite links from around the web that I stumbled upon during the past week. You may already be familiar with some of them, but I think they’re worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Universal Logos

Universal Logos Over The Years

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Universal Studios. Though they’ve never radically redefined their studio like like some others have, it has evolved over the years. This short piece is a nice comparison showing that evolution.

The Avengers

The Avengers Full Trailer

If you somehow managed to make it to this point in time without getting excited about The Avengers, this trailer will solve that problem. It features some great moments for all of the main characters, including some good shots of the Hulk. It looks like Joss Whedon is poised to deliver a fantastic Avengers film, and now May can’t come fast enough.

That’s it for this week, hopefully next week is more eventful.

Sleep well,

DTE