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Galaxy View Episode 40 – Man of Steel

Mark Bridge — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:01:19 +0000

Welcome guys to episode 40 of Galaxy View. Joining me is my co-host with the most, Zak Wojnar. In this special edition podcast we discuss Man of Steel. Did it live up to our expectations? What did we think of the cool Easter Eggs? Find out in the extended episode.

Galaxy View is available at the iTunes Music Store where you can subscribe as well as download individual episodes. Please feel free to rate and leave a comment so the show can be visible to others. If you don’t have iTunes, you can subscribe to the Galaxy View RSS feed or you can find us on Stitcher Radio and get the episodes there. Stitcher allows you to listen to your favorite shows from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and Beyond.

You can follow us on twitter @markeetundra and @zakwojnar, or like us on Facebook. I would also appreciate your questions or feedback by emailing me at galaxyviewpodcast[at]gmail.com.

First Trailer for THE WOLF OF WALL STREET From Martin Scorsese

Mark Bridge — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:46:46 +0000

One of the best filmmakers of our time, Martin Scorsese is at it again with his fifth collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio in the upcoming drama The Wolf of Wall Street. This time the film centers on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who was indicted in 1998 for security fraud and money laundering and served a 22-month federal prison stretch. The trailer which came out today, shows a hard-partying, drug-addicted Belfort. What’s also interesting is the choice of music for the trailer. Granted, it’s only interesting because I just heard Kanye’s latest album, Yeezus which leaked online over the weekend and they have decided to use a track from it. It does work for the trailer though. I won’t be surprised to see this film in a couple of Oscar categories next year.

The film also stars Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Margot Robbie, Jon Bernthal, and Rob Reiner. The Wolf of Wall Street opens on November 15th.

New Trailer for ELYSIUM

Mark Bridge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:57:58 +0000

This is an excellent year to be a sci-fi fan. Neill Blomkamp (District 9) will once again deliver another thought provoking, but not low on action sci-fi flick called Elysium that is sure to be another hit. A new trailer has arrived to showcase just how good this movie looks. Although it looks visually like Disctrict 9, I won’t hold it against the film because it looks like it’s working. The trailer shows a bit more of the predicament the film’s protagonist played by Matt Damon is in. We get to see how ruthless Jodie Foster‘s character is as she orders the death of the poor and sick by shooting their ship down before they can enter Elysium. This will be a fun ride that I can’t wait to get on.

The film also stars Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Wagner Moura, Diego Luna and William Fichtner. Elysium opens on August 9th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Elysium:

In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. The people of Earth are desperate to escape the planet’s crime and poverty, and they critically need the state-of-the-art medical care available on Elysium – but some in Elysium will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve their citizens’ luxurious lifestyle. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max (Matt Damon), an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerous mission – one that pits him against Elysium’s Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hard-line forces – but if he succeeds, he could save not only his own life, but millions of people on Earth as well.

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE Trailer

Mark Bridge — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:04:26 +0000

Filmmaker Zack Snyder will unveil Man of Steel in theaters this weekend. But before he got a chance to tackle the Big Blue, most movie audiences took notice of him after his surprising smash hit, 300. Warner Brothers saw fit to greenlight a sequel, even without it’s original director. Snyder however, remained as writer and producer with Noam Murro (Smart People) taking on directing duties. The visual aesthetic of the first film remains in order for audiences to easily identify that they will be seeing a sequel. It’s great to see Lena Headey once again playing a force of good after seeing her for three years now as awful Cersei with lovely cheek bones on Game of Thrones. Eva Green joins the casts as General Artemisia who teams with Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) to battle the Greeks. The sequel looks quite exciting and i hope it can recapture the magic the first film brought to film goers.

The film also stars Sullivan Stapleton and Andrew Tiernan. 300: Rise of an Empire opens on March 7, 2014.

Here’s the synopsis for 300: Rise of an Empire:

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Review – Man Of Steel

Zak Wojnar — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:12:24 +0000

You Will Believe a Man Can Fly

Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and David Goyer have teamed up to give Superman the Batman Begins treatment, reintroducing the character in a realistic, plausible setting. The character finds himself torn between his Kryptonian blood and his American upbringing, represented by his two fathers; one from Earth, and one from the great beyond, so to speak. Despite being occasionally joyless and lacking in character in favor of VFX overload, Man of Steel stands as a mostly triumphant return for Superman.

You know the story by now: baby is born on dying planet, parents send him to Earth where he is adopted by farmers, boy grows into awesome superhero, uses powers to save the day and kiss Lois Lane. Zack Snyder’s version of the oft-retold tale benefits from kinetic pacing, a variety of settings, and frequent flashbacks, telling of Clark’s growth from an outcast boy into the titular Man of Steel. All the while, Snyder is noticeably holding back his own frequently-mocked excesses. There’s only one extended music video sequence, early on in the film, and there’s nary a gratuitous slow-motion sequence in sight, much to the audience’s relief; showing the incredible action in real time truly shows off the jaw-dropping visual effects and brutal punishment a man stronger than a locomotive can really dish out.

That being said, we get to see Superman punch. A lot. We’ve been waiting to see Superman take on a fellow Kryptonian in hand-to-hand combat in the modern era of high-tech special effects, and now that it’s finally happened, it all just seems to be a little much. One can tell that most of the prolonged fight scenes did not begin that way; rather, they were re-shot or otherwise added upon after the movie was done, as some of these scenes are simply endless and overly audacious, not that they aren’t compelling; a fight on the streets of a small mid-western town is so amazing it can only be topped by the climactic battle in Metropolis. Throughout all of these, the hits are so hard, the score so rousing, the tension and brutality so palpable, it brings tears to the eyes of those who remember the then-impressive fights in Superman II. And then the fight continues. It goes on and on, people throwing trucks at each other, shoving each other, not through walls, but through entire buildings, causing billions in property damage, causing untold (presumed) civilian deaths, and otherwise making 9/11 look like Benghazi. However, unlike the aftermath of similar scenes in Star Trek Into Darkness, The Avengers, and Armageddon, there is never a post-mortem acknowledgement of the destruction and eventual rebuilding efforts. This glaring omission causes the fights, despite their content being absolutely unrivaled, to be painfully devoid of context. There’s no emotional connection; it’s just fighting. To contrast, an earlier scene in Smallville, in which the villains threaten a person close to Superman and destroy their house, spurring him into action in such a primal fashion that each of his punches carry a righteous and emotional, and not just a physical, impact. Speaking of physical impact, the violence is pretty strong, so some of the more sensitive kids (or children with parents who hate them) might have to sit this one out, or at least have their parents or guardians see the movie beforehand, just to be safe.

“You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.”

The script, by Batman Begins scribe David S. Goyer, tries its best to suck all of the fun, wonder, and adventure out of the story, but the actors and Zack Snyder’s direction keep it from being as monotonous and boring as Goyer would have it. Goyer promised a “realistic” take on the story, asking what people would think if they saw a super-powered space alien kick butt among us. He doesn’t answer that question, at all. Lawrence Fishburne’s Perry White asks the question, saying, “Can you imagine how the people on this planet would react if they knew there was someone like this out there?” but the only people Superman gets to interact with are army men, who are paid to aim their guns at anything dangerous or foreign, and Superman, despite his white skin, is both. Despite his proximity to civilians during his fights with the enemy Kryptonians, we are never given humanity’s impression of their adopted son, leaving much of the promise of the early script unfulfilled. Jonathan Kent, played by Kevin Costner, is Superman’s adopted father, and wants him to hide his identity and powers from humanity, but we never find out if his fears were justified, since, instead of exploring those possibilities, we need to see Superman and General Zod throw each other through buildings for twenty more minutes.

As I said, though, the heart of the character is able to come through in the performances. Despite surely being told not to, Henry Cavill appears to be enjoying himself, and really gives the impression that he is caught between two worlds, one as a man, and one as a Superman. When he takes flight for the first time, we get a sense of adventure and youthful abandon which is sorely lacking from too much of the film. We also get traces of it from Amy Adams’s under-developed Lois Lane. She appears in the early stages of the film as an adventurous, impetuous, risk-taking reporter, more Phyllis Coates than Margot Kidder. She is wide-eyed, as sure of herself as a strong female character should be, and effective as an audience surrogate, but she ultimately falls by the wayside in favor of (you guessed it) prolonged punching sequences. The romance between her and her alien crush is sorely lacking, and kind of just pops up in an effort to make her less tough and more feminine.

Michael Shannon’s General Zod, is a ruthless and slightly tragic villain, and when he speaks, one can tell that he is the kind of man who would much rather punch faces than speak to them. He’s dangerous, twitchy, and motivated by the most extreme form of patriotism. Rounding out the cast are Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Superman’s birth father and otherworldly voice of guidance, and Diane Lane, as his Earth Mother. She and Lawrence Fishburne’s Perry White don’t get to do much other than acknowledge the mythology, and Jimmy Olsen is nowhere to be found, but keeping the focus on Superman and his fathers is worth the price of side-lining some of the supporting cast. Christopher Meloni and Harry Lennix are also thrown in there to be the faces of the US Military, but don’t really get to do much other than shoot at Superman (as well as Zod’s forces) until he gains their trust.

“Just because you can’t control me doesn’t mean I’m your enemy.”

The production design is impressive, opening with a massive battle on Superman’s doomed homeworld, Krypton. It is huge, and, frankly, a little much, though the unique architecture, modes of transportation, and alien technology on display appears fantastic-yet-practical. Things calm down for a bit on Earth, with desaturated colors and earth-toned costumes really grounding this Man of Steel in the twenty-first century. As for the score by Hans Zimmer, let’s just say he gets a ton of mileage out of that drum orchestra and their booming triplets. Regarding the redesign to Superman’s iconic outfit… The less said about the lack of red trunks, the better. For a drinking game, take a swig every time the camera does one of those rapid zooms on a distant special effect. Seriously, it happens a lot, sometimes two or three times in a single shot.

Superman is back, in fighting form, though not better than ever. Zack Snyder does the character and his world justice in some ways, and fails in others. The mammoth production values are on full display, and anyone gearing up to see Superman kicking butt will not be disappointed. The story is told in a fresh way with enough twists on the classic tale to keep our interest, and the pacing is spot-on, with the admittedly bloated battles escalating naturally to one hell of a fever pitch, so it’s not until they are over that you realize how much of what you just saw was just completely superfluous. Call it a solid hit, if not a home run. It’s a strong start with room for improvement.

“Welcome to the planet”

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Good

New International Trailer for The Wolverine

Mark Bridge — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:45:12 +0000

While Man of Steel is set to dominate theaters this summer, the is still a little gem waiting in the wings to shred the box office. A new international trailer for The Wolverine has popped up online, revealing some more plot points and a better look at Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) and Silver Samurai (Will Yun Lee). I’ve made it known before that I don’t like the fact that they made Viper into a mutant, but I must say that the character does look badass. The fight choreography looks insane. The only other comic book film that had this crazy martial arts goodness was Blade 1 and 2. I like that they took that part of it seriously and I can’t wait to see how this turns out (Fingers Crossed).

The film also stars Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Brian Tee, Rila Fukushima, and Tao Okamoto. The Wolverine opens in 3D on July 26th.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Wolverine:

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

The Spider’s Web Episode 1 – The Pilot

Mark Bridge — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:48:50 +0000

Welcome to our very first episode of our comic book related podcast, The Spider’s Web. The is a podcast where we geek out on all things comic book related. This episode we talk about some comic book movies including Man of Steel and Guardians of the Galaxy. As for comics, we review All New X-Men #12, Green Lantern #21, Avatar The last Airbender: The Promise, Age of Ultron #9 and much more. I hope you enjoy our inaugural outing.

This episode will soon be available at the iTunes Store and like us on Facebook.

Trailers for FINAL FANTASY XV and KINGDOM HEARTS III

Mark Bridge — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:46 +0000

Two of the biggest announcements to come out of E3 are the pending releases of Final Fantasy XV formerly known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Kingdom Hearts III. Both games have been highly anticipated, especially the former which have been announced 7 years ago for PS3. FF XV’s battle system looks superb and will be unlike any FF games before it. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. As for Kingdom hearts III, I wouldn’t say I’m a super fan, but I like the stories enough to give this one a go. No release date have been set yet for these games, but I suspect FF XV will be a launch window title.

Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III will be released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Here’s the synopsis for Final Fantasy XV:

In the game, the armed forces of Niflheim launch a devastating assault upon the Kingdom of Lucis, casting Crown Prince Noctis and his comrades out of their homes and into the fray. The engaging tale to follow draws audiences into an awe-inspiring world steeped in the rich storytelling traditions of Square Enix’s renowned First Production Development team.

Here’s the synopsis for Kingdom Hearts III:

Kingdom Hearts III features a mature Sora as the main protagonist who sets forth on an adventure with Mickey, Donald and Goofy through new and legendary Disney worlds. Kingdom Hearts III will make full use of next generation console technologies to showcase a stunning universe packed full of worlds based on Disney properties.

Believing light and darkness must remain in balance, Master Xehanort seeks to spark war against the ‘tyranny of light’ to restore equilibrium. In an effort to undermine Xehanort’s plot, Sora, Donald and Goofy search for seven guardians of light and the “Key to Return Hearts,” while King Mickey and Riku search for previous Keyblade wielders.

New Trailer For The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Mark Bridge — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:59:39 +0000

The trailer for the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy has arrived online. I utterly enjoyed the first film, and I was probably one of the few that liked it in HFR or rather, 48 frames per second. The trailer shows a lot of Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and a glimpse of Evangeline Lilly playing Tauriel, a character created for the films. We also got a look at Smaug the Dragon, which was a surprise for me. I was afraid that they would abandon the HFR screenings because of the backlash, but it seems like I will be getting my 48 frame fix after all.

The film also stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Michael Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Ken Stott, and Aidan Turner. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens in 2D, 3D, IMAX, and HFR on December 13th.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Gamers’ Galaxy Episode 29 – E3 2013 Press Conferences

Mark Bridge — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:14:51 +0000

Welcome to episode 29 of Gamers’ Galaxy where Mark Bridge and Zak Wojnar geek out over all things gaming. It’s E3 time and we discuss the big press conferences. Who won E3? Find out in the episode.

Gamers’ Galaxy is now available at the iTunes Music Store where you can subscribe as well as download individual episodes. Please feel free to rate and leave a comment so the show can be visible to others. If you don’t have iTunes, you can subscribe to the Galaxy View RSS feed or you can find us on Stitcher Radio and get the episodes there. Stitcher allows you to listen to your favorite shows from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and Beyond.

You can follow us on twitter @markeetundra and @zakwojnar, or like us on Facebook. I would also appreciate your questions or feedback by emailing me at gamersgalaxypodcast[at]gmail.com.

Batgirl #20 Review

Ron Krokovich — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:20:07 +0000

DC’s The New 52 has done it again. Batgirl is 100% awesome. I enjoyed this issue one page at a time. This series is one for my personal collection. Barbra Gordon is a hot piece of ass, that also enjoys kickin’ some as well. This is one of the darker DC comics I’ve read so far. Blood is emphasized a lot in this issue at least. I did enjoy the realness that this lends to the issue. I am in superhero mode this week with the release of Man of Steel and comics are helping me get a fix.

I did enjoy the art work in this issue. It was drawn well and colored vibrantly, just all around great artwork. The story line was something that kept me turning the pages. Some stories you can just look at the pictures and get the story but when it is “BAT” related you need the words. I wasn’t disappointed.

I want to continue to not only follow Batgirls life but also Barbra Gordons as well. She seems to be battling her inner demons as much as the villains of Gotham. As I said before this series is another one I will be collecting.

As always I get all of my comic goodness at the Spiders Web in Yonkers, New York. Yonkers #1 destination for all things awesome. Excelsior!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Great

Kiefer Sutherland to Voice Snake in Metal Gear Solid V

Mark Bridge — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:49:16 +0000

Well this I can honestly say I did not see coming. Kiefer Sutherland (24, Touch) is set to be the voice of Snake aka Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid. Voice actor and screen writer David Hayter voiced both Solid Snake and a young Big Boss since 1998′s Metal Gear Solid. Fans were understandably upset to hear that he was not returning. Some (including myself) even hoped that it was just a big ruse by series creator and known prankster, Hideo Kojima. David Hayter even teased us on his possible return via twitter. Alas at Konami’s pre-E3 conference, it was revealed that Sutherland will take the lead on this one.

“I wanted Snake to have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words,” Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima said. “Furthermore, the game takes place in 1984 when Snake is 49 years old. Therefore, we needed someone who could genuinely convey both the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40s. It’s different from anything we’ve done before.”

“It’s an honor to be able to play this character,” Sutherland said. “This character has an unbelievable legacy. There’s a real personal quality to the character that I’ve connected to. I’m not a gamer, and I even knew about this game. I was certainly keenly aware of the legacy of these games, the unbelievable success of these games.”

Sutherland is a talented actor and a very notable one at that. So if Hayter had to be replaced, Kiefer is definitely the man for the job. However, I’m still holding out that there is some method to Hideo Kojima’s madness, and it will still include Hayter. Hopefully we will find out at E3 the earliest or when the game is released.

The New Avengers: Illuminati Review

Ron Krokovich — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:58:39 +0000

I was at the Spiders Web, my local comic book store in Yonkers last week. I was getting ready to go to the Hamptons for a small family weekend vacation and I needed something more than comics to quench my geek thirst. The owner told me to pick up Marvels Illuminati. It was a short 5 issue story arc that was turned into a graphic novel which leads into other graphic novels which I will not spoil for you.

Basically, Iron Man, Professor X, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic and Namor team up as a secret society of super-human protectors. They are a secret Avengers but with no director. This was a great idea to go with and I am happy how it turned out. However, I wished the story was a few issues longer. I felt as if the story was too rushed and didn’t explain enough. Brian Micheal Bendis returns for this novel along with Brian Reed to give us this story.

What I didn’t get from the story, I got from the art-work. The details from the background to the characters was great in my book and it made it a much better story. I do recommend this story arc to anyone who wants to continue a longer story in other graphic novels.

As always I get my comics at the Spiders Web in Yonkers New York. Yonkers number one destination for everything awesome. Excelsior!!!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Good

Set Photos of the Winter Soldiers in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

Mark Bridge — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:59:52 +0000

So far it looks like Marvel is giving us fanboys the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) we love from the comics, down to the bionic arm. I actually like the addition of the mouth piece better than just the Robin-esque mask he has in the comics. He looks more baddass than his comic counterpart. The more that I’m seeing and hearing from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the more excited that I’m getting for it’s release. What’s intriguing about the plot detail is that SHIELD may in fact be the bad guys this time around. This is a strange time for this to occur given that the TV show will focus on the clandestine agency as the good guys. Like I said, I’m looking forward to this one.

The film also stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Georges St-Pierre, Frank Grillo, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp, Maximiliano Hernández, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson. Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4, 2014.

Galaxy View Episode 39 – Furious 6 and After Earth

Mark Bridge — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:19:34 +0000

Welcome guys to episode 39 of Galaxy View. Joining me is my co-host with the most, Zak Wojnar. We book end this episode with discussions on Fast and Furious 6 and After Earth. In between we talk Expendables 3, Guardians and the Galaxy and much more.

You can follow us on twitter @markeetundra and @zakwojnar, or like us on Facebook. I would also appreciate your questions or feedback by emailing me at galaxyviewpodcast[at]gmail.com.

Review – After Earth

Zak Wojnar — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:16:12 +0000

What happens when you take the father-son team of Will and Jaden Smith, maroon them on an Earth retaken by nature, and put M. Night Shyamalan behind the camera to direct the action-adventure which ensues? The answer is, unfortunately, nothing particularly memorable.

In the future, literally fearless soldiers, Rangers, protect humanity from monsters who hunt man by smelling the pheromones we secrete when frightened. Will Smith is one such man. His son wants to be a Ranger like his father, but just doesn’t have the mettle yet; after all, he’s just a kid, with a traumatic incident from his early youth which haunts his every waking moment, revealed via flashbacks during the adventure. Ultimately, Will and Jaden (yeah, I don’t remember their characters’ names) crash land on Earth, and Will breaks both his legs. It’s up to Jaden to trek one hundred kilometers to retrieve a distress beacon from the other half of the ship’s wreckage.

It’s a great setup, but the execution fails on multiple fronts. First, and most glaring, is the acting. For most of the movie, there are only the two Smiths to carry the film, and they simply cannot do so. Will Smith, the charismatic leading man we know and love from Men in Black and Hitch, spends almost the entire movie crippled in a chair, and he sounds like he’s stoned out of his mind on painkillers. And this is before his character gets totally stoned on painkillers. He’s also got a disgusting traingle-shaped soul patch which I couldn’t help but wince at every time it appeared on screen. It’s seriously gross, man. Jaden Smith, bless the child’s soul, is giving it his all, but he simply does not have much to give. He performs the physical stuff as well as anyone, jumping, climbing, running, and being a tough kid, but when it comes to speaking and emoting, he comes up short. Forced tears and hoarse screaming substitute for genuine emotion, and they are poor substitutes, and they caused more eye-rolling than concern. Still, Will and Jaden are both capable actors, so perhaps the blame goes to their director, the tactically emotionless M. Night Shyamalan, who here comes across as just completely emotionless, static, and robotic. Sure, it’s his style, but it’s a terrible style that he really needs to grow out of.

The script is tight and moves at a brisk pace, but the actual dialogue is clunky, and occasional laughs it induces may or may not be intentional– we may never know. Often, the film works best when it is completely free of dialogue, and just lets the visuals tell the story. While full of conspicuously CGI monsters, familiar Earth animals evolved to be hunters of mankind, they are still able to inspire various degrees of wonder and fear. The visuals, of an unfamiliar-yet-recognizable Earth, are the one element in the film that actually works. The spaceship also looks great, functional, and a little retro. In addition, the weapon used by our young hero, a dual-bladed sword which can change shape, is pretty damn cool. The costumes aren’t as strong, however, with Jaden’s outfit in particular being distracting, busy, and uninspired.

After Earth has a strong premise, and a flawed execution. While it’s easy to blame the oft-maligned director, it’s clear that the problems with the film run much deeper than that, from a weak, overly-padded script, cliche mythology, and stock characters. Sure, it’s got pretty scenery and a giant Eagle, but it’s not enough to save the film from ultimately being little more than a waste of time.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Mediocre

Sam Mendes in Talks to Return For BOND 24

Mark Bridge — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:50:29 +0000

Director Sam Mendes did a brilliant job on last year’s James Bond outing in Skyfall. Earlier when asked if he would return for the next installment, he said he was in no rush to create another Bond adventure. Now Deadline has reported that he may have changed his tune, and he’s back in talks with Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael H. Wilson. EON Productions has reportedly met with other directors including Nicolas Winding Refn and Ang Lee, but has now return to the negotiation table with Mendes.

One of the hold ups for Mendes signing on was his commitment to launching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical and a stage adaptation of King Lear. It looks like the producers have agreed to wait until Mendes has completed his stage commitments with an eye for 2016 release.

Here’s my issue, and I think this is an issue that also hurt Star Trek Into Darkness a little. I’m all for taking your time to craft a story even it takes 3 or 4 years. But the reality is, as a movie going audience, we can be an impatient lot. And if anything amazing happens to come our way while we are waiting, we may forget about the property we were waiting for all this time. I think studios need to find a balance of taking their time along with striking while the iron is hot. I mean, c’mon. 2016? Really? How old will Daniel Craig be by then? Craig reportedly has two more films left on his contract.

Sam Mendes did a great job on Skyfall. But he is certainly not the only director in town. If he’s not available, get someone else for crying out loud. Bond is not beholden to Mendes, even if Skyfall was the only Bond film to join the Billion Dollar Club. My podcast co-host Zak Wojnar also voiced his displeasure for Mendes returning. Albeit for different reasons. His exact words were: “Nooooooooooo!!!!!!”

For me, if there was a director that I would rather them wait for is Christopher Nolan, who’s busy prepping Interstellar for Warner Bros. But even getting Nolan wouldn’t be as long a wait as Mendes. Interstellar comes out 2014, and we could have Bond 24 as early as Summer 2015.

So what do you guys think? Would you rather they waited for Mendes or move on to someone else?

All New X-Men #10 Review

Ron Krokovich — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:19:26 +0000

The All New X-Men is one of Marvels best comics I’ve read this year. I always held a special place in my heart for the X-Men. Mostly because of the reality of our worlds genetic mutations. Mutations are happening every day. I understand that doesn’t mean magnetic manipulation or conjuring ice because you want to. All I know is I got my mutant fix with this series alone.

There are many things I like about this series but I don’t want to give too much away.I enjoyed the change in the characters personalities and I really liked Magnetos new costume. I enjoyed the writing and I thought the plot is a great new way to go with these characters. The art-work was great, got to give props to Marte Gracia. This issue was written by Brian Bendis.

This series is another one for you to pick up. I got my copy at the Spiders Web in Yonkers, New York which is Yonkers only destination for awesome comics, graphic novels and everything else you need to get your geek on. Excelsior!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Excellent

Avengers # 12 Review

Ron Krokovich — Wed, 29 May 2013 01:25:52 +0000

After Marvels the Avengers hit theaters a year ago I have been looking to get my team fix and this comic does it for me. Marvel has launched its own version of DC comics New 52 with Marvel Now. Avengers is a new team: Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Spiderman and a few others that work well together. One of the best things I like about this new series is Iron Mans armor. It is so sleek and much more futuristic than his traditional Gold and Hot Rod Red. Thor kind of looks like a character from a Danielle Steel novel as well as Hawkeye having muscles larger than Dwayne Johnsons.

The story is interesting and somewhat easy to follow. I need to read the last 11 to get up to speed but I think I can grasp the concept of whats happening. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer wrote this issue. I do love the art-work. It seems like the artist who draws for Age of Ultron may have something to do with this. Mike Deodato is the artist behind this issue and I would like to thank him for his immense detail from the blades of glades to the veins on Thor’s arms.

This is just a great series and I know I will be collecting this one. I picked this issue up at the Spiders Web in Yonkers, New York. Yonkers only destination for great comics, graphic novels and other awesome things. Excelsior!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Excellent

Aquaman #20 Review

Ron Krokovich — Wed, 29 May 2013 01:18:35 +0000

It has been a long month but the day is finally here. May 22nd was new comic book day and Aquaman #20 came out. I have been waiting for this for a month now. I wasn’t disappointed at all. This series just gets better and better with each and every issue.

The art-work was great in this issue as the previous ones were. Geoff Johns who wrote the original story-line is just doing an amazing job. I have read the series electronically but I want to collect the physical issues. I just love collecting. This is one series you all must read and get into. I enjoyed the art-work as much as last time and the story was compelling and easy to follow. Paul Pelletier drew all the art work along with Sean Parsons.

This issue had a-lot detail and I liked that. I like easy stories in monthly issues. This issue is a must have. Go pick it up. If your in the Yonkers area and want to pick this issue and many others up go to the Spiders Web on Yonkers Ave. Great selection and amazing back issues. GO NOW!!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Excellent

Galaxy View Episode 38 – The Faerie Experience (Interview with True Blood’s Kristina Anapau)

Mark Bridge — Tue, 28 May 2013 20:20:47 +0000

Welcome guys to episode 38 of Galaxy View. Joining me is my co-host with the most, Zak Wojnar. We discuss the case of the two Quicksilvers for both Avengers 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past. We also discuss Tom Cruise leaving Man from U.N.C.L.E. for Mission Impossible 5. Plus, I had the privilege to speak with True Blood’s Kristina Anapau (@KristinaAnapau).

You can follow us on twitter @markeetundra and @zakwojnar, or like us on Facebook. I would also appreciate your questions or feedback by emailing me at galaxyviewpodcast[at]gmail.com.

Last Chance to Download Sleeping Dogs on Playstation Plus

Zak Wojnar — Tue, 28 May 2013 03:28:09 +0000

If you subscribe to Sony’s Playstation Plus service, you are surely the envy of all your friends. Over the years, you’ve gotten discounts on games and DLC, as well as tons of free games for PS3, PSP, and PSVita (Sly Cooper, Infamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, Back to the Future, Vanquish, Just Cause 2, Spec Ops: The Line, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and The Cave, just to name a few).

Many of the games remain on the service for a few months, some for over a year. Last month’s entry, Sleeping Dogs, is on its way out. According to the Playstation Blog, it will be leaving the $50/year premium service on June 1st. This is strange, since that’s a Saturday, and the online store usually only updates on Tuesdays (back in the day it was Thursdays. Remember that? That was weird).

Sleeping Dogs started life as True Crime: Hong Kong (lame), before being cancelled by Activision. Fortunately, Square Enix picked it up, and it released to critical and commercial acclaim, though whether it was in line with Square Enix’s unreasonable expectations is up for debate. The game was praised for its Arkham Asylum-esque fighting, rocking soundtrack, and dramatic story.

Don’t you wish you had a Playstation Plus account? They’re not very expensive, and the savings are way worth it. We can only hope that they continue the service into the PS4 era.

Dan Harmon to Return to Community: Season 5?

Zak Wojnar — Tue, 28 May 2013 02:58:12 +0000

I like Community as much as the next guy, and, as such, have been a little underwhelmed by Season 4, and at least part of that has to do with the absence of series creator, and scary loon, Dan Harmon. I personally find the show to be in the process of finding new footing, trying new things, and some episodes wound up being stronger than others.

According to Harmon’s podcast, he has been asked by NBC to return to the show, which has unexpectedly been renewed for Season 5. Yeah, I know, right? Go On gets cancelled, and this gets a fifth season? I guess social media matters, after all.

During the podcast, Harmon mentioned that he’d only return if Chevy Chase, who quit the show during the troubled production of Season 4, also returned. He was probably joking, but when it comes to those two nutcases, who knows.

The future of Community is neither bright nor dark, but at least it’s there. Hopefully, we won’t regret it when Season 5 premieres, probably in the fall. Worst case scenario, at least the second and third seasons were excellent!

Fast and Furious 6 Review

Mark Bridge — Mon, 27 May 2013 17:32:32 +0000

It is a somewhat strange phenomenon to have a franchise that started from very humble beginnings, or as a Point Break rip off, to now become a premiere series of films, with an epic scope and a saga like quality narrative. This is the case with the Fast and Furious franchise. Fast and Furious 6, the latest entry, continues its brand of absurdity and fun that keeps audiences returning for more. These series of films could be used at film schools, marketing classes, or some kind of social studies course we are force to sit through to get some credits. They can be used as an example of creating a formula that breaks the norm of diminishing quality with each new installment.

Furious 6 as the opening credits states, sees the return of the gang, Vin Deisel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot and Ludacris, after their successful heist of 100 million dollars in Rio. Lt. Hobbs played by Dwayne Johnson also returns to enlist the help of the crew in capturing Shaw (Luke Evans), a former S.A.S. operative turned international criminal. As an added incentive to get the group to sign on, they are presented with the promise of full pardons to return home, as well as evidence that Letti (Michelle Rodriguez) who was supposedly killed in Fast 4, is in fact still alive.

The great thing that Furious 6 has done is reward audiences who have been with franchise from the beginning. There are some satisfactory callbacks to to previous entries that are guaranteed to get an applause or two. The set pieces in this film border on the ridiculous, but manage to entertain us. One notable set piece involves a high speed chase with a tank. The sequence ends with a maneuver that would make even Superman impressed. Justin Lin has grown tremendously as an action film director since The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He manages to craft action scenes that a clearly defined without the use of the shaky cam nonsense.

There are films out there that are not performance driven vehicles (No pun intended), and Furious 6 definitely falls into this camp. There is a fair amount of cheese to be seen in the actors performances, but not enough to deter us from diving into the lives of our protagonists. An example of a cheesy performance is from series new comer Gina Carano (Haywire) as a partner of Lt. Hobbs. The former MMA fighter turned actor is still wet behind the ears with delivering a believable performance, but she fully makes up for it in the kicking ass department. Her fight scene with Rodriguez is one of the highlights of the film.

For six films, the theme of family has been a prominent force in the narrative. I think that is the central thing that manages to be an endearment quality to the franchise, and what keeps us coming back for more. Both Fast Five and Furious Six managed to get an applause from the audience at the end. A testament of the love we all have for a series of films that keeps getting better with each installment. The secret ending of Furious 6 promises an exciting 7th film that makes the wait for it long and painful.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Great

Grimm #1 Review

Ron Krokovich — Sun, 26 May 2013 16:15:27 +0000

Grimm started out as one of NBC’s newest television programs. I’m ashamed to have not seen it as I’m a fan of Buffy, Angel, Charmed, and all the other magical-ish shows. This comic made me have some interest in watching the previous seasons. Grimm is a monthly issue, published by Dynamite and it is also its 1st issue ever. I am getting in on the ground floor of this new comic series.

Basically the story-line is about Nick Burkardt, a detective and Grimm. A Grimm is someone who can see things that most normal people cannot. The story-line is a little hard for me to follow, causing me to read it at least another two times but the artwork helps me get along to the end.

The cover is just a photo from the TV show not drawn at all. I wish they drew it and made it feel more like a comic than a companion to the show. The inside artwork is okay. This issue was written by Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt and artwork by Jose Malaga.

I will give this series another 3 or 4 issues and if it doesn’t pick up, I wont stick up with it. I will however watch the show.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Mediocre

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