Big Shiny Robot! is giving away two sets of Marvel Anime:  X-Men The Complete Series and Iron Man The Complete Series.  Each winner will receive one of each title, and to be eligible to win simply answer the following:  what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

I kid, I kid.  I just really like asking that question.

Actually, post a comment below telling me who your favorite Marvel character is.  Everyone who posts will have their name entered in a drawing.

Contest ends on April 27 at midnight; winners will be contacted via email shortly thereafter.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Swirls of golden light fall from the sky outside a Moscow nightclub, appearing like beautiful fireflies but capable of disintegrating anyone in their path.

So begins The Darkest Hour, now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The scenery is incredible, with ominous gray skies appearing behind beautiful Russian buildings, including the impressive Kremlin.  And with the recent “firefly” massacre, the once-bustling city is an ash-covered barren wasteland.  The five main characters are able to avoid the initial carnage, but with nearly everyone else gone and no idea what these creatures are or what they want, they struggle to figure out what to do next.  To add to the direness of the situation, the mysterious invaders are capable of becoming invisible.

The very beginning of the film focuses on who these characters are and why they are in Moscow, but this is ultimately unimportant.  They are one-dimensional with names like Sean (Emile Hirsch), Ben (Max Minghella), and Natalie (Olivia Thirlby).  This doesn’t really detract from the very real danger of the enemy, though, since this is ultimately a story about the world on the brink of destruction and not interpersonal relationships.

With a running time of only 89 minutes, this is a short horror/sci-fi film, and it was much better than I expected.  Mostly I was intrigued by what the creatures really were and their motives for destroying Earth, as well as the empty Russian landscape.  Once the useless character introductions were over, the movie kept up a pretty rapid pace.  It’s not epic cinema, but I think it’s a decent popcorn film and certainly worth a look.

Special features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include “The Darkest Hour: Survivors” – Follow the rebel resistance in an all-new short film, Deleted & Extended Scenes, “The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion”, and Audio Commentary with the Director Chris Gorak.

Available on DVD tomorrow is Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous from Marvel Knights Animation.  This is an animated version of the comic of the same name, written by Joss Whedon with art by John Cassaday, and it’s the second story arc of Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men.  Whedon should be a familiar name to you (Buffy, Angel, Firefly), but if those shows don’t ring a bell, then hopefully you know that he is also the guy bringing The Avengers to theaters this summer.  When I saw his name attached to this DVD, I knew I had to seize the opportunity to review it.  Plus, I like X-Men, but while watching this I immediately realized how woefully ignorant I am of what’s been happening in the comic books.

That aside though, I was able to appreciate this as a casual fan.  I generally find Cyclops to be annoying, but he wasn’t the least bit irritating. Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde) was definitely the stand-out in this series, though.  She was both pouty and assertive, childish and strong.  And I felt like more energy was put into drawing her, since the close-ups of her face were rendered so well.

I’m also a complete newbie to the world of motion comics, but I think I will watch more from this point forward.  It was really exciting to see the pages of a comic come to life with sounds and music, even though the animation is a bit jerky.  That took some getting used to, but it didn’t ruin the experience for me.

The storyline is:  “The tragic death of a student at the Xavier Institute reveals that a powerful enemy is working from inside the mansion to destroy the X-Men.  It’s an enemy who knows all their weaknesses and can predict their every move.  This new foe doesn’t want wealth, power or world domination – it only wants them dead.  As the X-Men fight for their lives, they learn they’ve been deceived by one of their own.  Even if they survive, the team will never be the same.”

While the storyline at times felt a bit generic, I enjoyed the series overall (except for the cameos from  members of the Fantastic Four.  That just didn’t make any sense to me).  I think the best line of this arc was when Emma Frost said, “I turn into a diamond sometimes.  Are we really going to discuss impossibility?” A blunt remark, but she has a point.

To say too much more would reveal the true foe of the X-Men, and I’d rather keep that under wraps for those who don’t wish to be spoiled, but the epic battle at the end kept me wondering how the team would get themselves out of this mess.  And in addition to the outside forces bent on destroying them, the X-Men also must confront more personal issues. Loyalties will be tested, and lovers will be torn apart.

I’d recommend this to an X-Men fan, particularly to casual fans like myself.  In short, it was fun to watch.  (I just hope the next X-Men story I read or watch has Mr. Sinister in it.  I think he has great fashion sense).

You can check out some of the videos in Swank-mo-tron’s preview of the DVD here.

Just in time for the Easter holiday, Universal Studios’ Hop is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.  The movie tells the story of how young E.B. (presumably short for ‘Easter Bunny’) is the reluctant heir to the Easter Bunny legacy and all the responsibilities that come with it.  His home is the aptly named Easter Island, home to mysterious statues and a magical place where holiday candy is lovingly made and quality controlled.  There are jelly beans, peeps, and my personal favorite—chocolate bunnies.  (For the record, I like the hollow milk chocolate ones by Palmer with those colored candy eyes).  This candy facility would put Willy Wonka’s to shame, and the animation in these sequences is incredible.  Plus, the cuteness of a young E.B. makes me want him as a huggable plushie.  In fact, one of the best scenes of the movie is when he pretends to be a wind-up toy.  His appearance just screams cuddly.

However, our fluffy hero is rebellious and has no desire to follow in his father’s rabbity footsteps.  His dream is to become a drummer instead, and he flees to Hollywood in hopes of making it a reality.  Once there, he meets Fred (James Marsden).  Fred is unemployed, a burden to his parents, and searching for his own dream.  They immediately form a love-hate relationship.

It’s unsurprising that this movie blends CGI and live action, since it’s directed by Tim Hill (Alvin and the Chipmunks), but I much preferred the wondrous computerized world of Easter Island over the live action Hollywood.  The chicks Carlos and Phil dwell alongside the bunnies on Easter Island, making it even more appealing.  These guys really should have had more screen time.  I foresee seeing more of them in the future.  Phil (pictured below) is the not-too-bright subordinate of Carlos, who is monitoring the disappearance of E.B. very closely.  He uses the situation to his advantage and tries to get closer to E.B.’s distraught father.

The appearance by David Hasselhoff didn’t really thrill me, but this movie is really very cute in spite of that.  Warning, though.  It is also very cheesy at times, and Marsden’s acting is a little over the top.  Still, it’s a film about not giving up on your dreams and the importance of loved ones, and I’m sure it will become a holiday tradition in many families.

The lovable and zany Muppets were honored today with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to coincide with the DVD and Blu-ray release of their newest film The Muppets.  In appropriate Muppet humor, the press release referred to it as the Hollywood “Wocka Wocka” of Fame.

The President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Leron Gubler emceed the event with guest speakers Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios and Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company (and daughter of the late and dearly missed Jim Henson).

The event was held at the Historic El Capitan Theatre, and several Muppets attended including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, Pepe, Sweetums, and Walter, who made his debut in The Muppets, released today.  Kermit and Miss Piggy were most recently seen together at the Academy Awards, where the nominated song from The Muppets, “Man or Muppet,” won in the Best Song Category.

“Thanks to creative genius Jim Henson and these extraordinary puppeteers, the Muppets are truly worldwide icons and Hollywood stars,” said Ross. “They are a treasured part of the Disney family, and we’re thrilled to see them join so many other luminaries on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

The Muppets’ star is the 2,466^th on the Walk of Fame, where other famous names can be found, including Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse, and Big Bird.  Kermit the Frog received his own individual star in 2002 (the 2,208^th), and Muppets creator Jim Henson received a star posthumously in 1991.  A banner picturing Henson along the Walk is sponsored by the Jim Henson Company and can be seen during the dance number on Hollywood Boulevard in The Muppets.

I imagine that Miss Piggy will soon be demanding her very own star.  In fact, I’m surprised she doesn’t have one already.  I can see her now, telling anyone who will listen that she’s the real star of the Muppets and the only one who can truly act.  That Miss Piggy.  Such a diva!

This week marks the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the 2011 version of The Three Musketeers directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, whose directing credits primarily consist of Resident Evil movies.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, his wife Milla Jovovich stars in that franchise and also has a sizable role as Milady in the latest adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel.  One may question the merit of that decision, however.  Her Milady is clever but too coquettish to either be likable or adequately villainous.

The place, France.  The time, the reign of Louis XIII & Queen Anne, both young and uncertain of their relationship, making them excellent pawns for plots devised by the Duke of Buckingham and Cardinal Richelieu.  Orlando Bloom plays the Duke, and he has the most ridiculous hairstyle I’ve ever seen.  I would refer to it as a pompadour, but that word supposedly didn’t even exist until the time of Louis XV, when the king took on a mistress named Pompadour.

The movie feels like a crazy blend of elements borrowed from various other films, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mission Impossible, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  It feels like a film searching for an identity but never quite finding it.  Even the music sounded too similar to that of another movie (Sherlock Holmes).

I really wanted to love this film.  Dumas’ The Three Musketeers novel is one of my favorite stories, and I can’t count how many times I’ve seen the Disney adaptation starring Chris O’Donnell.  Yes, it was a little cheesy, but it was so much fun!  Tim Curry made a wonderful Cardinal, and Michael Wincott was a perfectly evil Rochefort.  (Rochefort, Isn’t that a smelly kind of cheese?”)  And who can forget the incredible swordfighting, so masterly choreographed by the late Bob Anderson?  No fancy camera gimmicks, but fighting with passion and elegance.

Unfortunately, the new version relies too heavily on special effects and camera trickery and less on a cohesive storyline and endearing characters.  And it follows a Hollywood trend of turning a classic story into something a bit more steampunk, which could work if done well.  I don’t feel like that was the case here.  And I’m not going to even talk about the airships.

It’s fun at times, though, and the costumes are absolutely exquisite.  I would love to have Milady’s gowns and sparkling jewelry.  And I truly appreciate the fact that her relationship with Athos is shown onscreen briefly before her true motives are revealed.  Plus, the palace rooms and gardens are no less than stunning.

I won’t say it’s a horrible film; it has its merits, as mentioned above.  Fans of the swashbuckling genre and steampunk may love it, and it obviously isn’t meant to take itself too seriously.  I know at least one guy who saw it primarily because he has a crush on Milla Jovovich.  Whatever your reasons, it’s certainly action-packed and has some crazy stunt sequences.

Plus, the 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD contain special features that include audio commentary with the director, deleted and extended scenes, cast and crew stories and a special 17th century action featurette.  So if you saw the movie in the theater and liked it, the bonus features may interest you.

Still, I’ll recommend the Disney version over this one any day.

To promote the theatrical release of The Muppets, several movie parodies hit the internet.  We saw Kermit and the gang pay homage to some of last year’s releases, including The Hangover 2 in “The Fuzzy Pack”, the Green Lantern and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (“>cleverly called The Pig with the Froggy Tattoo).  They mocked the release of Twilight:  Breaking Dawn with a set of posters featuring Bella Swine and WereRowlf.  And now their latest victim is one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2012:  The Hunger Games.

The clip extracts all the zany “violence” from The Muppets and combines it into one trailer loosely inspired by the arena battle of The Hunger Games.  Pepe even counts down as in the original Hunger Games trailer (but without the benefit of having a deep and intimidating voice as his counterpart).

Just as the earlier trailers promoted the theatrical release of The Muppets, the latest installment  promotes the DVD and Blu-Ray release, scheduled for March 20.  The Wocka Wocka Value Pack includes the two aforementioned versions as well as a digital copy of the film and a download card for the film’s soundtrack, including the beloved classic “The Rainbow Connection” and the Academy Award-winning song “Man or Muppet.”

May the odds be ever in the Muppets’ favor!

Season three of the BBC produced series ‘Merlin’ comes out on DVD today (January 13th). If you haven’t seen this fresh take on Arthurian mythos and you dig that sort of thing, give it a shot. While a first reaction to a ‘Knights Of The Roundtable on Puberty’ might dismay you, this modern version of the story actually works. It’s a quality coming of age tale between the young wizard, Merlin and the boy who would be king, Arthur. ‘Merlin’ does a fantastic job at filling in the blanks of their early relationship and the destiny that binds them together. The stories, while not all that complex, are meant to entertain not educate and ends up morphing into something more real than previous incarnations or takes on the material. It has monsters, sword fights, morals, friendships, hardships, and on top of that ‘Magic’. I don’t think that I have fully appreciated a series like this in a really long time.

Now, while it would be AWESOME to get a review copy when these are DVD’s get released in the states (Hint, Hint BBC) I have NO problem with throwing down forty dollars for it and YES, I did pick it up today.

Hi, My name is Mark. And I am obsessed with the television show, ‘Merlin’. This is my guilty pleasure. My GEEKY guilty pleasure.

By definition a guilty pleasure is something that one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it.

We all have them. Whether it’s the shows that you feel like you shouldn’t be watching at all or the music that you are afraid to crank because it doesn’t fit with your pseudo hipster identity that you were trying to cultivate in your sophomore year of college. Even the thought of slumming every now and then, enjoying a pristine bottle of Boones ‘Strawberry Hill’ or some ‘Ancient Age’ on the rocks. Eff a bourbon snob.

A guilty pleasure may have craptastic, disconcerting, downright cringe-worthy components, but there has to be something to them to make me write an entire dissertation on it. These simple pleasures with no aspirations of higher art. All this delicious trash that just sucks you in. You know the kind– at least two horrible actors, no significant overall plot (even thought they do a sad attempt at one) and damn it, ever so much stupid charm. You might have started watching for the attractive people and the jokes, but really did stay for the plot. Of course you did, right?

Well, I did too. Guilt can be subjective depending on your perspective. I mean, you have to feel it in order for it to be a guilty pleasure. Yet, I feel none when I watch ‘Merlin’. When it’s bad it’s still got the mythology and when it’s good, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Forget bowing your head in shame. Cop to that show BEFORE the other person does it. From a certain angle, these shows could be decently plotted, well written, wonderfully acted and well executed. Or intentional camp and I love them for that.

If something gives you pleasure, OWN IT. Who cares what other people think! If they don’t like it or think is lame, tell them they are ‘So, 80’s TV movie of the week’ (I like some of those too).

So there, I’m going to eat Doritos in my bed all day, Watch this new season and then dance around like a fairy in the shower to Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’. Is there something wrong with that?

-Dagobot

Swashbuckling pirates, drug smugglers, bungling detectives, an intrepid reporter, and a loyal canine companion . . . The Adventures of Tintin Season One has it all!

I was not familiar with Tintin, based on Belgian artist Hergé’s classic comic books, until I learned that Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson were working together to make a film based on the series.  And though the movie won’t be released in theaters until December 21, everyone can become acquainted with Tintin and his dog Snowy by watching the The Adventures of Tintin DVD set.  Tintin travels the globe as he uncovers secrets and solves mysteries,  accompanied by surly sea captain Captain Haddock and the bungling detective twins Thomson & Thompson.

This is a two-DVD set that contains seven episodes, including two that inspired the  upcoming feature film:  The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure. In addition to the new movie and the animated series, Tintin and his friends have appeared in a BBC radio series and stage plays.  The graphic novels have been translated in 80 languages and have been published in over 50 countries.  A quick glance at Amazon reveals that the graphic novels can be purchased online, including a collector’s set that combines 23 issues.

But the real question is, should you buy the DVD set?  Yes!  I heartily recommend it.  From the moment I saw the fast-paced opening title sequence, I knew I would love it.  You can view the “Adventure Montage” below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOSBHIwzpB4

I also think the voices are perfect for the characters, the animation is lovely, and the stories are captivating.  Often, animated series are directed at children, but Tintin most certainly is not.  While kids may enjoy it, I think it’s mostly for adults who can appreciate the well-written dialogue and suspenseful plots.  Tintin often gets involved in dangerous cases, and waiting to see how he’ll get out of the next scrape keeps you glued to your seat.

He reminds me a little bit of Nancy Drew in that he seems to naturally stumble into these mysteries and tends to put all of the pieces together before the so-called professionals even realize what has happened.  He’s also very friendly, genuine, and smart, which makes him a very easy character to like.

The supporting cast is equally great.  Captain Haddock isn’t quite as sharp as Tintin, but he’s very spirited and entertaining to watch.  And though the visual gags with the detective twins could likely get old after watching too many episodes, I love their accents.  A little reminiscent of Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins, perhaps.

This is easily one of the best animated series I’ve seen in a long time, and I’m now even more eager to see the film.

Press Release: 11/15/2011

Animate The Holidays With New PROFESSOR LAYTON, BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, POKÉMON, VAMPIRE KNIGHT And More!

San Francisco, CA, November 15, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, offers fans and holiday shoppers a variety of new anime releases for some of the company’s hottest properties.

Holiday wish lists and shopping guides won’t be complete without BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK (also offered in Blu-ray edition), NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS (Blu-ray also available), and VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY: THE COMPLETE SERIES, as well as the newest episodic DVD releases for each of these popular series.

Kids and the young at heart can also look forward to VIZ Media’s launch of PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA, based on the popular video game, as well as the new POKÉMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS feature film and the latest Pokemon DP Galactic Battles Gift Set.

BLEACH THE MOVIE: FADE TO BLACK · Rated “T” for Teens ·

© Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, Dentsu, Pierrot © BMP 2008

MSRP: $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) & $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN) · Available Now!

A strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits!

BLEACH UNCUT DVD BOX SET, Vol. 11 · Rated “T” for Teens ·

MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / CAN · Available December 13^th

Ichigo and Rukia take responsibility for looking after Rurichiyo, a girl of noble birth who one day appears in the World of the Living. She and her two bodyguards transfer into Ichigo’s class at school, and Rukia decides to show her how to have fun. But the fun stops when first Rurichiyo disappears and then a group of assassins arrives and challenges Ichigo and friends to a fight!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN UNCUT DVD BOX SET, Vol. 8 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $43.24 CAN ·

Available Now!

Naruto’s new jutsuRasen Shuriken is unbelievably powerful—but because of the risks to the user, Tsunade forbids Naruto to use it! When Jiraiya returns to the village, Naruto seeks his guidance, and the two head off to a hot springs resort to work on a solution. Meanwhile, Kakashi leads a team in search of Orochimaru’s hideout, and when Naruto hears about it, he begs to join them. Set includes special “Kakashi Chronicles” story, featuring a young Kakashi on one of his early missions!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) & $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN)· Available Now!

A group of mysterious flying ninja have arrived from overseas to launch a sudden attack against the Hidden Leaf Village, leaving behind a wake of destruction. The group is revealed to be the “Sky Ninja” from the Land of Sky, a nation thought to have been destroyed by the Hidden Leaf Village long ago. To save their village, Naruto and his friends set out to stop this new threat. During the course of the mission, Naruto crosses paths with Sasuke, his friend who has parted ways from the Leaf Village.

POKEMON – ZOROARK: MASTER OF ILLUSIONS · Rated “A” for All Ages ·

© 2011 Pokémon. © 1997-2010 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. © PIKACHU PROJECT 2010.  Pokémon properties are trademarks of Nintendo.

MSRP: $19.88 U.S. / CAN · Available Now!

As Ash and his friends journey to Crown City to join the crowds watching the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, mysterious forces are in motion that could bring untold misfortune to them all! What secrets does Zorua, a Pokémon they befriend along the way, hide? Why is the powerful Zoroark rampaging through the city, and what does the appearance of the Legendary Pokémon Raikou, Entei, and Suicune mean? What has brought Celebi back to the city at this precise moment in time for the first time in 20 years? And what will happen when the paths of all of them come together in one time and place?

POKEMON DP GALACTIC BATTLES GIFT SET, Vol. 4 · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $24.97 U.S. / $24.98 CAN · Available November 22^nd

When it comes to Pokémon, the more, the merrier:  two new friends have joined Ash, Dawn, and Brock on their Sinnoh journey! Together, they’ll chase a rogue Gible and face off in a tag battle. Before long, however, things take a turn for the worse as Team Galactic and Pokémon Hunter J return with a vengeance. Now Team Galactic is poised to achieve its ultimate goal: summoning the Legendary Dialga and Palkia in order to destroy the world! Are Ash and his friends ready to face the biggest Galactic battle of all? Set contains PokÉmon DP Galactic Battles Vols. 7-8!

VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY: THE COMPLETE SERIES · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $43.24 CAN · Available Now!

Zero is accused of Shizuka Hio’s murder and becomes the target of the Senate. When Kaname refuses to attest to Zero’s innocence, Yuki’s loyalties are torn between the two. Then Yuki meets a mysterious little boy whose seemingly innocent kiss on the cheek draws her deeper into the world of vampires. Zero, seeing Yuki struggle to recall her past, tries to help. Do the archives of the Hunter’s Society headquarters hold the key that will unlock Yuki’s memories? Set contains episodes 1-13, original & uncut!

For more information on VIZ Media anime titles, please visit: www.VIZ.com.