I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of the Men In Black series.
It just didn’t do much for me.
This movie looks like some sort of MIB mish-mash with Back to the Future or something. But is there even a coherent story in there? The production has been shut down at least once because they just started shooting without a script. What the hell kind of way to make a big summer blockbuster is that?
It just smacks of arrogance.
I dunno. Am I being too hard on Men In Black?
I’m a pretty big fan of Robert Rodriguez, and I’ve even enjoyed (for the most part) his Spy Kids movies. I thought the first one was the best, but the second one was good, too. The third one had it’s moments, but I was glad to see the series end.
And then Spy Kids 4 came. And since they’re the only Rodriguez movies I can show my kids, they were big fans and I just HAD to see Spy Kids 4. It’s out on Blu-ray this week and I have to say that it holds up much better than the last film in the franchise.
Retired OSS spy, Marissa Wilson (Jessica Alba) has a new baby, two stepkids, Rebecca and Cecil Wilson (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook) and a husband Wilbur Wilson (Joel McHale), who is a spy hunter. Things take a turn for the worse when the villain Tick Tock escapes and goes after her stepkids to tries and retrieve the necklace Marissa gave to Rebecca.
The original Spy Kids come back to help save the world. Rebecca and Cecil have been activated along with the dog and the baby. These characters and their antics keep kids laughing throughout the movie.
It is not only an entertaining movie, it teaches children the importance of family, but then again, that is a reoccurring theme in all of the Spy Kids movies. It’s a movie you can sit and enjoy with your kids without wanting to shoot yourself.
And I loved watching Jeremy Piven chew the scenery in a number of roles in this film. Joel McHale, too. It’s just kind of campy fun that you can’t help but enjoy if you’re sitting with your kids.
It could be worse, they could want to watch The Smurfs.
Profiles in History sent over a press release letting us know that the Panavision 35mm camera that filmed Star Wars sold at Auction this week for $625,000. It’s been fully restored and is as fully functional as the Second Death Star.
It’s crazy to think about all the bits and scraps of our cultural history that exist in forms like this. It’s like something I’d expect to see at the Smithsonian. While I was at the Smithsonian a couple of weeks ago, I saw plenty of stuff this would fit neatly along with (like the original Muppets, Archie Bunkers Chair and the Catwoman costume from the 60s TV show…)
We can only hope the person who bought the camera puts it somewhere the public can view it.
From the press release:
LOS ANGELES, December 5th, 2011- Profiles in History moved into uncharted territory this past Saturday at the auction of “The Debbie Reynold’s Collection Part II.” The camera that filmed Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope broke world records when it sold for $625,000. No movie camera previously sold has come anywhere close to this amount. The camera, a Panavision PSR 35mm motion picture camera, was used by George Lucas for principle photography on the film that became a cultural milestone (pictured left). The lot was a complete camera package with two 1000 ft. magazines, a Panaspeed motor, matte box, follow focus, a Moy geared head, Italian-made Elemack camera dolly and lens. The camera has been fully restored and is fully functional.
I came across this fantastic video (via Geek Mom) of artist Bashir Sultani creating an image of Yoda out of nothing but table salt.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwyR0sSIODc&feature=player_embedded
The artist has his own YouTube channel where you can also see videos of him creating Batman, Avatar, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Elder Scrolls v Skyrim:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHkJt2ZAwyI&feature=channel_video_title
Again, absolutely incredible. Check it out!
The geek girls here at Big Shiny Robot decided to get together and start a podcast, and we’re happy to present our very first two-part test episodes to see what you think! Consider it a preview of things to come in 2012 – the Big Shiny Girlcast will release once per month and include four of your favorite Big Shiny Robot geek girl writers – Bizarrobot (Erin), Miss Mecha (Jessie), Scarlett RoBotica (Kelly), and Wonderbot (Carly).
In the podcast, we’ll be bringing you geek news and chatting about video games, comics, movies, anime, sci fi, tech and more! And, of course, we’ll feature some geek girl news that you might not be getting from your other podcasts.
Since these are test episodes, please bear with us as we had a few audio issues in Part Two and are still working out how we want to run each episode. Part One features Miss Mecha and Scarlett RoBotica chatting about Miyazaki’s next film, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Black Friday and our review of The Muppets. Part Two features all four of us chatting about conventions, the fail-tastic Wonder Woman Pilot, and TONS more! (Part one was recorded on Sunday, November 27th. Part two was recorded in September.)
To get the episode, you can subscribe to “Big Shiny Robot’s Big Shiny Podcast” iTunes feed and download the episode “Big Shiny Girlcast – December 11” for free. Most importantly from all this, we’d like you to let us know what you think! Listen to both parts and let us know what you think works and what you think doesn’t work so great. We had a blast recording these and hope you like em!
Please leave constructive comments or criticism right underneath this post. Thanks for listening!
Yesterday you may have noticed that a new row showed up in your Netflix recommendations list – “Holiday Favorites.” I was looking for something to watch last night before bed and happened to spot the row amongst the rest of my usual recommendations. At first, I figured it would be the usual holiday themed movies and perhaps a musical or two – but this list actually is pretty neat!
The list incorporates the usual holiday classics – movies and musicals like the classic 1947 Miracle on 34th Street, for example – but it has also included holiday episodes from many popular television series! This neat little addition to Netflix is sure to have many watching their favorite holiday episodes from series like 3rd Rock From the Sun, Scrubs, Arrested Development, Fraggle Rock, That 70’s Show, Family Guy, Frasier, and tons more! I’m not sure if the list re-configures given what things you have already rated on Netflix, but even if it doesn’t, it’s still very cool!
One of my personal favorites from the T.V. lineup is the Christmas episode from Season 4 of That 70’s Show.
I recommend going and giving the list a look – I think you’ll be surprised what holiday episodes you may have forgotten over the years!
UPDATED with the Youtube embed.
Here it is. If you can stomach the daytime TV around it, this trailer had me pumped.
Lucasfilm and Zynga have recently joined forces to bring Indiana Jones to social games for the first time. The fedora-wearing adventurer will debut in Adventure World via a new chapter called Indiana Jones™ and the Calendar of the Sun. Players will also find the character throughout the Adventure World story, which has been re-named Indiana Jones™ Adventure World. The chapter is available at http://apps.facebook.com/playadventureworld/ in 14 languages. Undoubtedly Indiana Jones can speak them all!
You can see the evolution of the character below:
The version on the far right is a fantastic likeness of Harrison Ford. He looks cocky and thrilled at the prospect of a new archaeological adventure. Note the trademark fedora, whip, and satchel. What Indiana Jones adventure would be complete without those items?
The press release offers some more information:
In Indiana Jones™ and the Calendar of the Sun, players and friends star as their own characters and play alongside Indiana Jones as he whips, swings and runs over traps and beasties. Indy, being Indy, has some great weapons, gadgets and special in-game animations. Players will also receive special collections that can be redeemed for a “mystery box” of adventure goodies. Items at launch include: Archaeology Term Paper, Satchel, Antidote, Glasses and a Journal. The new chapter includes a total of three maps at launch – Jungle Approach, Lunar Mine and Mystery of the Moon Door – and is available for all Adventure World players. More maps will be available in the coming weeks.
I decided to try the game out briefly, and the first decision is whether or not to play as a male or female explorer. Both look good in a fedora, so it’s all a matter of personal choice. Indy then sends you a telegram that starts you off on your first adventure. I hacked vines with a machete in the jungle and then fought spiders in a cave, collecting items and coins along the way. I have a strong suspicion that this game could be highly addictive, just as any internet game can easily become. I confess my own current weakness is Bejeweled Blitz.
I didn’t play for very long, but I have to say that Adventure World is fun and easy to play. Music from the films has been mixed in with original music, giving the game a more authentic Indiana Jones feel. Be sure to check it out.
This week on Anime Update: a Live Action Rurouni Kenshin (sometimes still referred to as “Samurai X” under the now defunct ADV Films) pic!
Anime Streaming site Crunchyroll posted this fantastic teaser pic to their site today:
Here we see Kenshin portrayed by Japanese drama star Takeru Sato of Kamen Rider Den-O fame.
Rurouni Kenshin, the story of the wandering samurai, was written by Nobuhiro Watsuki and ran in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump from 1994 – 1999. The anime aired in Japan from ’96 to ’98 and was brought to Cartoon Network’s Toonami block shortly after.
The live action adaptation, which was first announced by Warner Bros. Japan in June, is scheduled to release on August 25th, 2012. Apparently the main goal of this release is to make the film an international success and feature a spin-off series shortly after the film’s release. No word yet on who is going to distribute the film in North America or when we’ll be seeing a translation.
For those of you that haven’t watched Rurouni Kenshin yet, you can rent the disks on Netflix in English. Here’s a video clip of the first Japanese opening that aired:
If you’re looking for the full casting list, you can find a neat side-by-side look at the whole bunch here.
A picture of a Pez dispenser has been circulating around, but the Marvel Movies page on facebook gave me my first real glimpse of the Lizard from the upcoming Spider-Man film.
I don’t know about this.
I’ll keep my mouth shut until I see the movie, but everything I’ve seen has been just sort of “meh.” The trailer didn’t feel like a Spider-Man movie to me at all. It felt like Peter Parker was trapped in a Batman movie and that’s not what Spider-Man is to me.
I’m neither here nor there on this particular picture. It could be cool in action.
Who knows?
The Amazing Spider-Man is scheduled hit theatres July 3rd, 2012. It stars Andrew Garfield, Rhys Ifans, and Emma Stone. Marc Webb is directing.
