The Legacy era returns, and this time they are going SOLO! Gonk investigates the launch of Legacy: Volume 2, this week’s Star Wars comic release. (more…)

“Bates Motel” premiered last night on A&E. It seems that after the success of “American Horror Story” and “The Walking Dead,” horror is getting a second chance in the mainstream as a “legitimate” genre, and projects and pilots are popping out of the woodwork. This is not a complaint, mind you. When horror is done well, it’s my absolute favorite.  And for the record, I don’t consider “The Walking Dead” (which I love) horror. It’s gory drama. But I digress.

The show opens with teen Norman Bates discovering the body of his father, and what would appear to be a giant set up for Mom’s character, in which she gives a knowing smirk after Norman runs to tell her the news. The show’s timeline is a bit confusing, as it appears to be taking place in the early 1960’s, but that would have made Norman quite young in the events of “Psycho” The show waits until act two to reveal that these events are unfolding in modern times. Norman has an iPhone and goes to a freaky drug party. His mom just happens to have a completely retro wardrobe and car. Eh, she’s quirky. Norman makes friends with the popular girls, his guidance counselor gets set up to be murdered in a future episode, and Norma kills a drunk and has a passive aggressive meltdown at the dinner table.

The Good:

• Vera Farmiga. I am very excited to see her play a sociopath, and I really hope that’s where the role is headed (see below – “the murky”). Her other television ventures have lasted no more than 12 episodes, and I could go on a diatribe about why female led action series don’t succeed, but I won’t. She’s a co-lead, and this ain’t action. And if AHS is any indication of trend, we are definitely ready for women in horror.
• Nestor Carbonell. You guys. Batmanuel is the sheriff. I’m totally in based on that fact alone.

The Unnecessary:

• A rape scene? Really? Television continues to use the only ploy it knows to throw a wrench in a woman’s psyche. It’s cheap, it’s irresponsible, and it’s lazy. Beyond this, we didn’t need an reason for Ms. Bates to descend into madness; the opening scene implied that she murdered her own husband. It would have been far more fun to assume she’s crazy than to witness a graphic scene with redundant purpose that tells us why she might be imbalanced.
• Can I just… Just… Why is it OK to vomit on television now? Just… OK?

The Meh:

• There was some clunky ass dialogue up in this piece. I found myself drifting during scenes with the teens, and some of the conversations between Norman and Mother were downright jaw-dropably bad.
• That kid is Buh-ritish. I knew while watching last night that his accent was off, and today I found out that he was Charlie Bucket in the Willy Wonka remake and also British. I am usually pretty easy with the suspension of disbelief, but this was distracting.
• The previews let us know at least three times that there will be a shower scene this season. Does no one believe in the art of subtlety anymore?

The Murky:

• The intro set up Mother as the sociopath, the middle act made her a weak victim, and the end set up Norman as the psycho. It’s a little convoluted. It feels like the show wants to confuse me so I will stay tuned, but I don’t really think that’s the best way to hook an audience.

All things said, it’s a pilot, and not necessarily the promise of what’s to follow in a season. I’ll give “Bates Motel” my standard three episode rule, but the pilot didn’t make me it must see television.

For reasons I’m not entirely sure of, I somehow managed to miss Wreck-It Ralph’s theatrical run. Seeing it now on Blu-ray, I realize how much of a colossal mistake that was.

Wreck-It Ralph tells the tale of a 1980s video arcade game bad guy who has grown weary of being treated like a bad guy because he’s not really a bad guy. His job just happens to require untold amounts of property destruction. He goes on a quest to win a medal and be a good guy and finds himself in other games, learning about himself, his world, and others around him through a series of exhilarating adventures.

As a kid who grew up playing video games of the 80s and 90s, this movie was nothing short of perfect. From the cameos of various characters of franchises I love (from Zangief and Bowser to Doctor Robotnik and M. Bison) and kept me smiling the whole way through.

I had to check the cover repeatedly to make sure this wasn’t actually a Pixar film. And maybe that’s the best news we’ve had from the entire Disney/Pixar merger. If the boys at Pixar have been able to infuse this much creativity back into Disney’s animation department, we’re all going to benefit. Let’s hope they apply the same vigor to their 2D animation as well.

On Blu-ray, these modern 3D animated films are indeed stunning. The quality is sharp, and the visual motifs between the 8bit games and the stand up arcade machines was nothing short of breathtaking. The way they incorporated the different styles, established the world, and the rules of that world with cinematic storytelling was gleeful. It was apparent the makers of this film were having a fun time and it comes across with every frame of animation.

And I can’t say enough about John C. Reilly. I’ve long been a fan of his work. His turns in P.T. Anderson films and many, many others, have instilled me with a confidence about him that adds a layer of likability to any movie he’s a part of. Hopefully the rest of the world will catch up with that thinking, because I think he’s absolutely charming. He’s not handsome in a Hollywood way, but he is a fantastic actor with a flawless understanding of craft and is incredibly fun to watch (or listen to, in this case.) His voice is so perfect for the role, but you’d never have thought of it before, much the same way I reacted to hearing Craig T. Nelson as Mr. Incredible.

Overall, my only complaint about this Blu-ray disc was the intermission screen. The way it is now, Chris Hardwicke hosts a variety of video game and movie trivia and visual gags. I’d have much preferred something a little more traditional and involving the characters of the movie since it wears thin fast.

Aside from that one complaint, which is minor, I would put this disc in the “MUST OWN” category. It’s available on Amazon and at fine retail stores everywhere.

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail I’m sure many of you got as well. Think Geek sent out one of their many product announcements packed full of Doctory goodness. What caught my eye this time around was the blind boxed vinyl figured from Titan. I have been buying Kid Robot blind boxed figures for a while now, Arse-bot has a solid addiction to them as well, so I figured it was my duty to check out these Doctor Who figures.

I ended up getting a variant version of the TARDIS so I’m not sure how the actual figures are. The TARDIS can’t really have articulation or anything of the sort. The painting is a bit sloppy, worse than I’ve seen on any of my Kid Robot figures. The green on the light overlaps and the windows are a bit crooked. It isn’t enough to bother me but in comparison to the other stuff on my desk the quality is much lower and the price is the same.

There are , 2 doctors, 5 Daleks, 2 Cybermen, an Ood, Judon, Silurian, Silence and the TARDIS. There are also 4 limited figures like the variant TARDIS I received. They are $9.99 over at Think Geek so if you love Doctor Who and vinyl give em a shot. I wasn’t overly impressed but I wasn’t disappointed either. My TARDIS fits right in on my desk full of vinyls.

Han and Chewie are caught in an ambush, while Luke gets distracted by one of his fellow pilots. What’s Leia to do in this week’s comic, Brian Wood’s Star Wars #3? (more…)

An abandoned temple. A clonetrooper unsure of his heritage as a copy of Jango Fett. Does the Force flow in him instead? He might find out, if only he can survive booby traps and Death Watch. (more…)

I didn’t realize how much I wanted to see this movie until the theater went dark. Excitement overtook the trepidation I had about James Franco and another Oz movie in general (let alone a gigantic budget shiny one), and I was most definitely able to enjoy this ride. It was my first Oz experience in the theaters, you see, and though I didn’t experience the equal thrill of a young girl in a theater in 1939 accompanying Dorothy into a technicolor masterpiece, I did get to see the best use of modern 3D since “Avatar” and witness a rebirth that was rife with homage and honor. I counted at least four classic references before the title sequence had even finished, which to me shows that the filmmakers were completely aware of how lucky they were to be involved in such a project and new that they had better show some respect. And for the most part, they did.

This movie was gorgeous. The palettes were bright without ever being hokey, the cinematography was astounding, and as I mentioned before – I’ll never know what it was like to see color on a movie screen for the first time, but I did see some CG work that made me dizzy and awed, which is a first for me. Some will gripe about this, about the use of all this technology and money, but remember: the original “Wizard of Oz” was not a simple film in 1939. It was a big budget spectacle with groundbreaking special effects. Sure, they used pantyhose instead of 350 million dollars, but the principle is the same.

I’m a terrible critic because I don’t enjoy dissing actors, but I’m still not entirely convinced that Franco was the best pick for the conniving and charismatic Oscar Diggs. His heartfelt moments far surpassed his smarmy and for this character those moments definitely should have been equal. But Franco seems like a nice enough guy, and so does the Wizard. Weisz, as well, was beautiful and sinister but they both could have gone so crazy with their performances and still not have reached kitschy. I mean, this is a Sam Raimi movie. I want a little kitschy. But I would also probably acknowledge that the choice of playing it low was directorial, not the actor’s. And so we get to Mila Kunis, who without a doubt brings it. Her screeching, her postures, her laugh – all brilliant and actually raised goose pimples a couple times. Michelle Williams was a great choice for Glinda, as she was inspired by enough Billie Burke but never reached the point of doing an impression. Finley is the requisite CG sidekick, but his animation was pretty good, Zach Braff is a fun voice over actor, and he actually got two audible “AWWWWWWWWW!”s from a large portion of the audience. There are a few great character actors in from the towns in Oz, and one moment that will have all the Sam Raimi fans in the audience happily smirking at each other.

The plot seemed to be more consistent with Baum’s books than with the 1939 film, but still had its troubles. I read recently that using coincidence to get your characters in trouble is cool, but to use it to get them out of trouble is lazy (and I am pretty sure I am paraphrasing Chuck Wendig, so if anyone out there knows I’m wrong please correct me). Oz fell trap to that a couple of times, but this is a children’s movie and sometimes elements of fantasy need to just not be analyzed too deeply. Which brings me to another consideration – just what demographic does this movie aim to please? Those who loved “The Wizard of Oz”? New generations? I remember how scared I was of that damn tornado and those damn monkeys when I was wee, and let me tell you what; there are some wholly terrifying scenes in this iteration of the universe. The monkeys are now flying baboons, and they make the flying monkeys of yore look like, well, Finley. Irony and intention acknowledged. And can I just let my Oz Nerd show for a second? The original slippers were silver, not red, but why was Glinda wearing them in this movie? That is a tiny nitpick that will probably bother no one. But Evanora should have been wearing those shoes.

The costuming and art direction remained of an art-deco feel, with an occasional sci-fi update. If either are snubbed come Oscar time, I will be genuinely surprised. The Wicked Witch is a teensy bit sexified, which I’m sure could inspire discussions of how we see and process evil by lots of people who are either smarter than me or need a new hobby, but it worked.

So back to the demographic. My friend and I discussed just how young a child we would bring to this movie, and we both agreed on ten years. But neither one of us have kids, so maybe take that with a grain of salt. And also we were both watching crap like “Creepshow” when we were seven, so there you go with that. I can promise you that there is one Sam Raimi classic moment that will ensure your five year old sleeps in your bed for the next several months, however, so maybe keep that in mind.

Will “Oz the Great and Powerful” ever be as special to me as “The Wizard of Oz”? No. Does that matter. It really doesn’t. The movie had me smiling, open mouthed in awe, tense with feels and … yes… actually made me tear up once. That’s really all I ask of a good time movie, and I received it in abundance. I would whole heartedly recommend this movie to any lover of fantasy, thrills, or any one who appreciates what is possible in modern film making.

Dark Times: Fire Carrier #2 is out today and true to its title, we get served up a hot order of really depressing story. Can K’Kruhk hold his group together through this latest dark time? (more…)

Double Fine perfects the adventure of spelunking.

The Cave tells the story of 7 explorers and their search for what they desire most in this world. Each story is distinctive and slightly wicked, revealed by finding glowing cave paintings and finishing the game more than once. Players can choose who to play with out of the Knight, the Monk, the Scientist, the Adventurer, the Twins, the Hillbilly or the Time Traveler. (My personal favorite: the Knight). After choosing 3 adventurers, exploration of The Cave begins.

The layout of The Cave changes based on which adventurers have joined the party. It always begins in the gift shop, leading players to the introductory level of the employee’s back entrance. After searching the level for gift shop-worthy trinkets and familiarizing yourself with the basic controls (move, jump, action button and one special ability), The Cave tour begins.

Each adventurer must utilize their special ability to reach new areas, specifically the ones tailored to their individual story (For example, the twins’ mansion or the carnival where the Hillbilly worked). Although the puzzles are not frustratingly difficult, they make players think about their strategy and how to move forward. These types of puzzles keep the game moving at a smooth pace – while still adding the ah-ha! effect of figuring out a solution.


In addition to the entertaining gameplay, interesting plots and stimulating puzzles, The Cave himself narrates the adventure. His humorous clips add even more entertainment to an already intriguing game.

Each individual explorer has a malicious tale to follow with a level designed specifically to tell their story. The levels all have their own design, relating directly to what each individual desires the most. (For example, the Knight desires the sword of Excalibur; therefore his level is designed around the King, Princess and Dragon who all lead him towards retrieving his desired sword). The designs of each of these levels are uniform in style yet are able to represent very different locations.

To complete one playthrough of The Cave, using 3 characters at a time, takes approximately 4 hours. This is assuming you take the time to figure out each puzzle. Later playthroughs take less time since you can remember most of the solutions, but are still indulging. As a side note for those going for achievements/trophies: the game saves automatically; unless you choose to save and exit at a specific spot (so save and exit often if you are trying not to ever die).

Obviously, The Cave is highly replayable because of its changing level layout, multiple characters to play with and interesting plots. A walkthrough may be necessary to unlock all of the achievements/trophies since many of them are secret.

The Cave can be fun whether you are the one playing or just spectating. It makes for an enjoyable adventure game that can be replayed over and over, by yourself or with friends. Gameplay is smooth and the stories are wicked – it is definitely worth the purchase.

The cave is an adventure game available for Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and the WiiU online store.

While I didn’t get the battle royale between Olympians and Titans that I had initially hoped for, I did get a pretty good stand-alone episode of Supernatural, a fun addition to the villain cannon, and a chick with a bow and arrow.

The “meh”:

Zeus had the potential to be an adversary on the same level as Death, as far as coolness factor goes. But now it’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever see him again, so I am a sad panda. I feel that opening the door for the Olympians to come in to play would have created so many opportunities for cross-season subplots, many stand alone episodes, or – had he lived – Zeus as a Big Bad in forthcoming seasons. Then again, I loved the Greek Gods like most kids loved dinosaurs, so it is completely possible that I am biased and everything I just mentioned would make for terrible shows.

I’ve been raving about the fight choreography this season, but tonight’s battle between a Titan and an Olympian seemed a bit muddy, with too many cuts and some awkward angles that made it difficult to keep track of what was going on. I also felt that the cut used to disappear Artemis and Zeus was awkward, as it took time to realize that they had gone, rather than instantly knowing.

The Winchester-y:

Sam is still coughing up blood and hiding it. While I feel this is a giant regression (and at this point it’s easy to chalk it up to writers who don’t know how to mature their characters), I do feel this has a giant point that will be revealed in the next few episodes. Unfortunately, with the knowledge that the show has been renewed, it’s not causing as much tension as I’m sure was intended. If we didn’t know about season nine, we might really be worried that Sam isn’t going to make it through the trials.

Also – did it really take eight years for Agents Bonham and Jones to make an appearance?

The AWESOME:

Hey, Sam – your nerd is showing. I love love LOVE how Sam’s bookish traits are falling in to place, how they are being utilized in each episode since learning of their legacy, and how proud Sam seems to be of his new place in the hunters’ world. Calling it a “new place” doesn’t seem the right phrase… I think it’s more like that sweatshirt at the back of your closet. You forgot it was there, but you put it on and it feels like home. Sam has found his sweatshirt.

Dean’s quippery was in fine form in this episode. Maybe it was because of a lack of enjoyment in season seven, but it really seems like the writers and directors of season gr8 are playing to Jensen Ackles’s strengths in a huge way. I do believe he has made me guffaw in almost every episode this season. This makes me really happy, because I think the reason I got hooked on the show in the first place was the combination of his comedic opportunities and pop culture references.

Also super fun? The twist on Greek classics. Artemis and Prometheus were a thing? Well, no. Not according to the myths that have been passed down. But the facts in books and the logic in Sam’s character made the whole submersion plausible and nary a “pffft” crossed my mind. I didn’t even care that Supernatural was taking my childhood nerdery and twisting it to fit a plot. Hell, I liked it.

And I think we can all agree on the absolute best part of the episode. The last segment. I keep raving about his comedy, but Ackles’s drama is coming in to its own as well. And the show addressed what has been my biggest complaint: Not only has Cas been missing, but no one seemed too worried about it. But Dean actually prayed; he’s vulnerable, and scared, and wants to be the big brother he thinks Sam needs. But John left, and then Bobbie, and who’s left? Cas, but he’s flown the coop and Dean has no one to look up to. Dean needs a rock as well, and it was amazing to finally see that portrayed.