Big Shiny Robot! Has been gracious enough to host The Monitor Tapes podcast With Martin J Dekay (Mandroid) and Ken Derrick (Clobber-Tron). Every week we discuss DC Comics, movies, video games, and toys and episode 3 is HERE
SHOW NOTES:
SUPERMAN #707
BATMAN AND ROBIN #19
BATGIRL #17
RED ROBIN #19
KNIGHT AND SQUIRE #4
SECRET SIX #29
TITANS #31
WONDER GIRL #1
R.E.B.E.L.S. #24
JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #17 is NOT discussed
HITMAN Vol 1
Leave us feedback on the BSR forum HERE
Welcome to another installment of The Big Movie Mouth-Off!
Starring Jeff Vice from MSN Entertainment and Jimmy Martin from SLUG Magazine (and both regular panelists on The Geek Show Podcast), the Big Movie Mouth-Off is produced and directed by Bryan Young (me) and Elias Pate from Big Shiny Robot! It appears on Xfinity On Demand in Utah and on Xfinity’s Channel 6, on line, and at Brewvies Cinema Pub.
You can also listen to all 5 current episodes of the Big Movie Mouth-Off Podcast by clicking here.
Let’s start with the Best Films of 2010:
And now for the worst…
We’re back with another episode of The Big Movie Mouth-Off podcast!
The podcast features the stars and producers of The Big Movie Mouth-Off film review show, which appears here at Big Shiny Robot! and on Xfinity (Utah On Demand and Channel 6). That lineup is: Jeff Vice from MSN Entertainment, Jimmy Martin from SLUG Magazine, and Bryan Young (me) and Elias Pate from Big Shiny Robot! and ShineBox Media Productions.
To download the latest episode from iTunes, follow this link .
There, you should rate and subscribe to the podcast.
This week, we cover a lot of ground:
So listen and let us know what you think. And if you like it, spread the word!
Possible Spoilers Below
Well. Looks like they are actually going to go through with it. They are going to try to make a movie involving rough sex, a vampire-teeth c-section, and a grown man falling in love with a baby and aim it right down the seeing-globes of Twitard Tweens everywhere.
Below is apparently the first image released by Entertainment Weekly from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. PART. ONE. Of course, they have to drag this out for two extra movies; Twitards will argue it’s to do due justice to the source material, those of us with half a brain will see it’s just the studio squeezing more money out of these people.
There was an official synopsis that goes with this photo, but I don’t give a shit. Google it if you want it. In the meantime, you get my official synopsis for the photo:
Below is an image of Edward preparing to fuck Bella unconscious (look it up! It actually happens!).
Welcome back to the eleventh week of Convention Sketches!
We feature a convention sketch here every week. We’ve got a whole pile of our own, but we want to see yours, too. Email us convention sketches you want to show off and let us know what website you’d like credited for it. (bigshinyrobot(at)gmail.com)
This week we feature Andrew Hou from Udon doing Fei Long from Street Fighter.
So- rumor has is that AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead may be coming back in July instead of October, according to Breaking Bad actor: Bryan Cranston.
In an offhand comment made during an interview with NYmag.com, he told the interviewer that Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead were all being pushed to July as a “sensible” way to get more viewers watching AMC shows over other networks.
It was a decision from AMC that they wanted to position us in July, along with Mad Men. And I believe they’re going to put Walking Dead in July as well. I think it’s just a sensible thing — they want to attract as many eyeballs as possible, away from the heavy competition of the September, November, January start.
If this is true in the least, I will applaud the foresight of AMC… you see, in my opinion- even though The Walking Dead is an amazing show- if they had waited an ENTIRE YEAR to bring it back- they would have lost viewers.
The first season was a measly 6 episodes long, and with the inundation of ALL the other shows on ALL the other networks, no matter the quality of the show- 6 episodes, then a FULL year’s wait could cause the average TV viewer to just forget it was there in the first place.
I mean- erratic scheduling makes me forget about shows like Psych and Eureka until about 3 or 4 months after the next season has already started, and I find myself in a long game of catch up… but then again, without an actual TV, I’m not your average television viewer…
And… I guess that the BBC does short series all the time and gets away with it… but they have a different culture of viewership over the pond…. Maybe I’m just really looking forward to Sunday evenings back at Brewvies…?
So am I right? Is making someone wait too long a bad thing…? Or do you believe that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”?
Are you one of the people who just saw the new Green Hornet movie? Are you at all interested in the history of this venerated character? SiriusXM Radio wants to help. The Green Hornet got his start on Detroit radio station WXYZ.
His creator already had a hit with the Lone Ranger radio program and wanted to catch lightning in a bottle twice, this time with a more contemporary hero. SiriusXM’s RadioClassics has been re-broadcasting these classic adventure for the last eight years. Now with the advent of the Seth Rogen blockbuster, the fine folks at SiriusXM are giving Old Time Radio fans a rare treat.
On Friday, January 14th at 8pm EST, RadioClassics (Sirius 118/XM 164) will be airing a one-hour Green Hornet special featuring two “lost” episodes! These two World War II-era programs have not been aired for nearly 70 years.
If you’re out Friday night, possibly watching the new movie, RadioClassics has you covered. An encore presentation will air on Saturday, January 15th at 10pm EST.
Now this is all well and good, but what about those of us who don’t have a Sirius or XM subscription? Don’t worry, you’re covered too. Head over to http://www.sirius.com/30dayfreepass to get yourself a free 30-day trial. You can even listen online! For more information on RadioClassics you can visit www.sirius.com/radioclassics and www.xmradio.com/radioclassics.
“Monster” is the second part of the Nightsisters Trilogy and was the first appearance of the new Star Wars bad guy Savage Opress, who is billed as (at the very least) Darth Maul’s blood kin.
The Nightsisters, bent on their quest for vengeance against Dooku select Savage as their instrument of revenge and install him as Dooku’s new apprentice.
It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that. The episode revolves largely around Ventress choosing the correct pawn and settling on Savage for her work. Somehow the Nightsisters imbue him with their dark power to enhance him even further and turn him over to Dooku who immediately sets him off on a mission to test his mettle.
This is another set up episode, but the set up contains lots and lots of action. Perhaps my favorite bit of action was during the second trial Ventress ran her candidates through. It was pitch black and she concealed herself in the force, picking them off one by one. It was reminiscent of the fight she had with the clones on the jungle planet in Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars series.
The story is a little more brutal and more dark than we’re used to seeing on The Clone Wars as well. Savage works hard to protect his brother, and his sense of protective loyalty to his brother is what drives him to make sure he’s the one chosen by Ventress. But it backfires and after he’s turned into an evil tool in Ventress’ game, he is forced to snap the neck of the one he tried so hard to protect. It gives the character and interesting depth and raises a lot of questions that make him more interesting than Darth Maul. So he’s forced to kill his brother, but why was he so protective of him in the first place? Did they watch this happen with Maul? He’s bent to the will of the Nightsisters, but is he really plotting his own revenge against them or is he completely under their control? Will he be a longterm player in the duration of The Clone Wars? Or will he suffer a fate much like his brother (too much bad-ass, not enough screentime, cut short in his prime)? Did he have force powers because he’s from Dathomir? Or is it because of what the Nightsisters did to him?
That last question right there makes me wonder about the nature of the Force and the midichlorians. I really, really, really hope we get to see Dave Filoni and his crew delve into midichlorians and explain them to people who didn’t seem to get them in The Phantom Menace.
I’d also like to point out one more touch that brought a smile to my face this episode: In the night sky there was a falling star in the background, just like those that Steven Spielberg seems to manage into most of his movies. (My favorite is the one in Jaws.)
I’ve already heard rumblings from people upset with this because this pretty much rewrites the history of Darth Maul (unless Mother Talzin is lying, which I doubt). I just want to register my annoyance with these complaints. This stuff in no way discounts the Expanded Universe. I’m glad they keep it out of the writer’s room and aren’t trying to incorporate it. In most cases the stuff they’re coming up with is better than the EU.
But in any case, this is another great stepping stone to what I’m sure will be an explosive finale. I’ve read reviews from the screenings that this arc is “better than the prequels” and they better pull out all the stops for the next episode to make me believe that.
Until next week.
In case you missed the news from the other day. Archie Comics has announced that all of their titles will be released digitally the same day as their print incarnations. Once April 1st rolls around, you can enjoy your Archie books on the iVerse-powered app for Apple platform as well as an upcoming app for Android devices. This news has rocked the comics world, some people lauding Archie for being so forward thinking, and some (retailers mostly) not being too happy about it. However you feel personally, you must admit that it is big news. Unfortunately, when news like this breaks, sometimes the details can be obscured behind the headlines. I was given the opportunity to speak with Jon Goldwater, co-CEO of Archie Comics to flesh out some of the details of this historic bit of press.
BigShinyRobot!:It’s obvious the big news in the comics world yesterday was Archie announcing its day-and-date digital initiative. Unfortunately, with the news distilled to so many places, the broad strokes of the news are widely known, but I’d like to go into a bit more detail. Some sources have said that day-and-date applies to the entire Archie line, and some have mentioned specific titles such as the upcoming Kevin Keller mini series. Does Archie’s day-and-date plans include titles such as Life With Archie, the various digests and licensed books?
Jon Goldwater: Day-and-date applies to all Archie titles except our licensed books – SONIC and MEGA MAN. Those will eventually also be day-and-date, but we have to work with our friends at SEGA and Capcom to iron out the logistics, since licensed comics also require an additional approval time.
BSR!: Does Archie’s same-day release schedule apply only to the iVerse powered apps, or will other digital vendors, such as comiXology have the same opportunity?
JG: The initial day-and-date plan runs through our standalone iVerse app, which is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Our partners at Comixology and Graphic.ly have been wonderful to work with and we’ll continue to expand our relationships with them. We’ll be in talks with them over the next few months about moving toward day-and-date with the Archie materials they regularly provide.
BSR!: One of the things I’ve enjoyed about getting Archie titles digitally is the fact that you offer digital versions of trade paperbacks. Will this continue if all of the individual issues are already available for purchase?
JG: The plan is to collect single issues day-and-date, along with the collections, so yes.
BSR!: With the focus shifted to same-day releases, will Archie continue to supply fans with stories from their extensive archives?
JG: Our digital strategy has always been about promoting upcoming titles but also reaching back into Archie’s extensive and impressive back catalogue. While day-and-date means there has to be an added focus on what’s coming out immediately, we’ll still continue to mine our older titles to give fans the classic stories they crave.
BSR!: In a previous interview, you were discussing the importance of the 99 cent price point. Will this trend continue for older titles, as same-day releases are set to be $1.99?
JG: Yes. $1.99 applies to new, day-and-date titles. Older books will hold at $.99.
BSR!: In talks we’ve had with overseas readers, particularly the United Kingdom, it seems that the Archie Comics app is one of the only avenues they have to enjoy your line of books. Are there any plans to cater to this new, wider audience?
JG: I wouldn’t say the Archie app is the only way, but we definitely see digital and our expanding presence in that realm as a way to not only lead the industry when it comes to embracing new technologies, but, more importantly, as a way to make sure Archie Comics are available to anyone who’s interested in reading them. Be it digital or print, we want to make sure our titles are readily accessible to our fans around the world.
BSR!: You’ve previously said that you’ll soon have an app on the Android Marketplace. Will users who have previously bought comics on your iOS app be able to re-download those purchased books on the Android?
JG: Great question. We’ll have more specifics about the Android Archie Comics app as we get closer to launch in a few months.
BSR!: Thanks for your time. You make me proud to be an Archie fan!
JG: We’re proud to have you! Thanks for reading.
In what should come across as the least surprising news you’ve heard this week, the Spider-Man broadway musical, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has been postponed . . . for the fifth time. Now, instead of opening on February 7, the new date is March 15. Producers are claiming that this will be the final postponement for this show that has had pretty much nothing but problems with one aspect or another since day one.
From injured Spider-Men, to musical problems, to the producers just seemingly not able to get their “vision” on to the stage, this production has been wrought with problems – and for what? A Spider-Man musical featuring the music of U2’s Bono and The Edge? I’m sorry, but I find it hard to believe that there are just troves of people standing outside that theater because they are so excited to see Spider-Man sing? Now, before the two of you out there who have thought this idea was a good idea since day one, just let me say, “I know.” I know what the appeal is “supposed to be”. Spider-Man, live, swinging around a theater battling villains in an exciting “live movie” type atmosphere to the “rockin'” tunes of Bono and The Edge; hell, it’s even the most expensive production on Broadway ever, but does that mean we should all assume that that means if/when all the bugs get worked out it’s going to be good?
As a geek myself, I think this whole production looks utterly stupid – and I know I’m not alone. From what I have seen from pictures released and that lackluster feature on 60 Minutes this could just end up being the biggest bomb ever. Tell me, what Spider-Man fans not located in New York are going to be “big enough” of a fan to drop a couple hundred dollars for a ticket to the show, drop another several hundred for a plane ticket to the Big Apple, spend even more cash just to be in New York for a few days – all just to see Peter Parker sing about how much he loves Mary Jane, a Green Goblin who looks like a parade participant from Carnival that wandered away from the group, and a “new” villain the show’s producers made up who is named after a brand of hot chocolate and looks like a sattelite fucked a can opener and this was their illigitmate offspring? But I digress . . .
The bottom line is this: I just don’t think “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” is going to be as successful as all these producers think. Your average audience just isn’t going to be interested enough in seeing a show that has only been in the news for all the problems it’s had for the money and time they’d have to spend to see it. Not to mention it seems like no one even asked the question, “Do these two genres, theater and superheroes, even mesh?” Sure, all of the preview showings have sold out, but are these people going expecting to see the best broadway show of their lives, or are they going to witness the trainwreck they’ve been hearing about on the news so much out of morbid curiosity? And with a preview period that has been going on since November (which, by the way, will make this the show with the longest preview period on broadway ever once/if they open in March) by the time they show actually opens, will there be many people left that even want to see this? My guess is not that many.
Feel free to agree, disagree, or add your thoughts in the comments below!