Despite a few people who had gripes I simply didn’t understand, X-Men: First Class has been hailed as a classic of superhero cinema. The script was tight like a the inner-workings of a Swiss watch, the acting (with one exception) was masterful, particularly the interplay between Michael Fassbender and James Macavoy, and the story was perfect for the themes, the era, and the characters.

I had previously thought FOX was flushing X-Men down the toilet (especially after that abysmal Wolverine movie), but then they hired Matthew Vaughn and Bryan Singer to reinvigorate the franchise after Brett Ratner’s abortion of an X-film.

Well, for those of us who enjoyed this film and the team behind it, Deadline is reporting that they are back!

Fox has just closed a deal with Matthew Vaughn to come back and direct the sequel to X-Men: First Class, with Simon Kinberg writing the script and Bryan Singer back as producer.

There’s some other Marvel related news in that story, too:

The studio is so delighted with the job that Josh Trank did on the upcoming under-$20 million thriller Chronicle that he is being eyed for a big assignment, possibly the reboot of Fantastic Four.

Which I’m neither here nor there about.

In any case, intelligent bots of the world: Rejoice about a First Class sequel!

Roughly ten years ago I watched a 26 episode anime called Cowboy Bebop and it changed my life. It’s still my favorite show of all time and the music is to die for. A couple of years later the creator of Cowboy Bebop Shinichirō Watanabe came out with another series titled Samurai Champloo which was not better then Cowboy Bebop but still better then most everything that has come out. Basically I realized at that point that Watanabe was a master, but he was the type to wait long periods in between shows. However the wait is finally over as he is officially starting his third show in April. The Japanese title is Sakamichi no Apollon and the English title might end up being called “Kids on a Slope”. We’ve got the 30 second teaser trailer for you right here which came out on Thursday.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b8M4pO4tBs

The other big news is that he is teaming once again with the amazing composer Yoko Kanno, who brought the amazing soundtrack of Cowboy Bebop to life. Anyone who could find and place this song into a series is a genius.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuAzPR0ACVw

Tonight’s episode was the second part of Obi-wan’s undercover mission to disrupt a plot to kill or kidnap the Supreme Chancellor.

Obi-wan is dealing with Cad Bane’s distrust for him and continues to get double-crossed, tortured, and beat up. He’s also put into situations where he’s expected to act like a cold-hearted bounty hunter and you can tell that it’s just not in him. Can Bane tell, too?

Like the phantom menace that he is, Palpatine is playing both sides and unleashes Anakin on the bounty hunters (and Obi-wan’s alleged killer) to both protect him and avenge Obi-wan’s death.

It’s a masterful plan that will further stretch Anakin’s trust in the Jedi Council and their trust in him. Watching Palpatine manipulate Anakin through the war is one of the things I think The Clone Wars does the best. Being an episode smack dab in the middle of a giant story arc, the first two thirds of this episodes suffer slightly from all the posturing they must do to set the scene for the third act of this episode, and for the second act of the arc itself. I feel it’s coming to a satisfying payoff, though. (I hope.)

The third act was an action-packed culmination of the story thus far. And I absolutely adored the way the nighttime skyline of that moon like planet looked butted up against the horizon during the battle between the ships. It had a very beautiful aesthetic to it.

I love how this arc seems to be a beautifully blended mix between a western (no arc with Cad Bane will escape reminiscing about westerns) and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed… (Or, to a lesser extent, Infernal Affairs.) That whole theme hearkens back to that line in the opening crawl of Revenge of the Sith that Dave Filoni is so fond of quoting: “There are heroes on both sides, evil is everywhere.” You have Palpatine undercover for the enemy in the Republic, Obi-wan undercover for Republic with the enemy, and Darth Sidious working hard to blur the lines between good and evil all the way around.

I wonder, too, how Ahsoka is going to react in the long run to Anakin’s behaviour. He’s disobeyed the council once again to get revenge. He’s sided with the Chancellor when he should have trusted his masters. He’s used the force to choke and interogate simple barkeeps in front of her. He’s clearly let his anger, fear, and agression come out to play. Will she call him on it? Or will she take it in stride as something that’s okay for a Jedi to do to get the job done in the name of the war effort and protecting the Chancellor?

It’s interesting to try to think of Ahsoka’s view of the galaxy. Raised in the shelter of the Jedi Temple, she’s apprenticed out as a Padawan learner at the beginning of the Clone Wars. War and idealistic compromise are all she knows. It’s all many of the apprentices know. Is this all part of Palpatine’s Grand Plan? Does he want to so poison the well of the Jedi that even Padawan learners who may survive the purge are so disillusioned with the world and cynical to their place in it that they won’t retaliate?

Who knows?

That is what I love about this show, though. It raises questions like this about the Star Wars mythology and that sort of thing excites me to no end. Even if the episode isn’t the best the series has had to offer thus far as a stand-alone, as part of a larger arc and as part of the Star Wars mythology as a whole, it’s incredibly effective.

On a more somber note: It was reported today that Ian Abercrombie passed away. He was the voice of Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious on The Clone Wars at the age of 86. Dave Filoni, James Arnold Taylor, Dee Baker, and all the other principals behind The Clone Wars posted of their broken hearts. It’s certainly a shame. Tonight’s episode highlighted some of the great work he’s done over the years and he will be missed by fans of the show as well.

So, here is some interesting “What the Hell?!” video game news for your Friday afternoon . . .

Capcom has announced that there will be some exclusive characters for the PS3 and Vita versions of the game, and among them are -oddly enough- Pac Man and Mega Man. For whatever reason Pac Man is rocking some sort of robot to facilitate some fighting skills, and if you picturing the Mega Man from all of his games and appearances in previous fighters in the past, you’re picturing the wrong one. No, Capcom decided to unleash the Mega Man from the box art of his first game in to the world. You know, the one where it was clear that the artist who created the box had obviously never even seen the game he was designing it for? Allow me to refresh your memory:

Yup. That one. Personally, I think it’s a pretty hilarious move on Capcom’s part, but it’s still just a “What the F*%&?!” sort of thing. You can check out the trailer below from IGN and sound off in the comments what you think!

Obi-wan Kenobi, Johnny Test, Fred Flintstone. James Arnold Taylor is all of these things, but with this one man show, he hopes to add another feather in his cap: Ambassador of Inspiration. And inspire he does, making the simple rule of pursuing your dreams a relatable story for adults and kids alike. His show is warm, funny, genuine, and, above-all, straight from the heart.

James Arnold Taylor is taking his message of inspiration and incredibly entertaining one-man-show on the road, traveling from city to city, convention to convention.

For geeks, there are literally hundreds of places you’d find his voice that you’d never expect. Did you know he was the young Professor Bruttenholm in the animated Hellboy movies? The voice of Harry Osborn on Spectacular Spider-Man? Guy Gardner AND Green Arrow on Brave and the Bold? Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank fame? Tidus from the Final Fantasy series? He’s done it all, and he’s worked at it for a long time.

Last year, during Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World, James put on an abridged version of his one man show for audiences and it was an incredibly well put together show and now it’s being lengthened into “Talking to Myself.”

Announcements for what conventions and cities he’ll be hitting will be forthcoming, though we know for sure that he’ll be in Dublin to the “Invasion Dublin III” convention this May. I’m assured more huge announcements are on the way.

I got to talk to James at length last week and early next week we’ll be running the highlights from the full interview, but I couldn’t bear to let his trailer go unnoticed for much longer by readers of this site. It’s just a fantastic show and you have to see it to believe it.

In our interview we talk about the show, The Clone Wars, and his journey to fulfill his dreams and why he’s taken it upon himself to let the world around him know they should pursue their dreams, too. It’s a noble goal, to be certain.

So check back next week for the interview. In the meantime, you can follow James on Facebook and Twitter.

And don’t forget to watch him in the second part of Obi-wan’s tale of intrigue on The Clone Wars tonight!

Press Release 1/26/2012:

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE WONDROUS MINIATURE ADVENTURES OF STUDIO GHIBLI’S

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY TO READERS IN A NEW SERIES OF BOOKS

Releases Based On The New Film By Hayao Miyazaki’s Famed Animation Studio Include Film Comics, Art And Picture Books

San Francisco, CA, January 26, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, brings the miniaturized adventure of famed Studio Ghibli’s newest animated creation – THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY – to readers everywhere with a collection of ARRIETTY film comics, art and picture books set to debut on February 7^th, 2012. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is scheduled for North American theatrical release on February 17^th, 2012.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is based on the celebrated novel, The Borrowers, by Mary Norton and was produced by Studio Ghibli, the famed animation company founded by Hayao Miyazaki, which also created Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo. The new film, with planning/screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, will feature the voice talents of Bridget Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and Will Arnett for its English language release.

Arrietty isn’t your ordinary fourteen-year-old girl – she is small enough to make her home under the floorboards of a typical house, “borrowing” what she and her family need from the giants in whose shadows they live. A young boy named Shawn befriends Arrietty, but when adults discover the Borrowers, Arrietty and Shawn must work together to save her family.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY PICTURE BOOK · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Available February 7^th, 2012

The colorful and easy-to-read THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY Picture Book is a full-color hardcover edition that will appeal to younger readers especially. The book uses the vividly colored animation cel art from the feature film combined with simplified text to retell the story of Arrietty and her adventures.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY FILM COMICS · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $16.99 U.S. each / $19.99 CAN each · Available February 7^th, 2012

The official 2-volume film comic of THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY re-tells the film’s story with vivid full-color frames.

THE ART OF THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN · Available February 7^th, 2012

Co-founded by the legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli films enthrall and enchant audiences across the world. The Art of series gives fans the opportunity to follow their favorite film from initial concept to the silver screen, thanks to hundreds of sketches, concept drawings, and animation cels, plus in-depth interviews with the creators.

“Fans and readers of all ages won’t want to miss these new additions to VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library of titles,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Director, Editorial. “Studio Ghibli has mastered the ability to tell poignant and engaging stories that captivate both children and adults, and their latest film, THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, continues this tradition. Our forthcoming picture book and film comics are fun ways for young readers to visit the world of ARRIETTY while the gorgeous art book will be a must-have for the ardent Studio Ghibli fan or those who want to know more about the evolution of the film. Discover the adventures in-store for this band of ‘borrowers’ in these new releases scheduled for February!”

More information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli titles is available at www.VIZ.com.

Haven’t seen the U.S. trailer yet? Check it out here:

We’ve already seen large amounts of Xbox rumors the last few days. Of course, it would go with out saying that the next step is some confirmation, or partial news from a manufacturer.

MSNBC’s inGame blog reported today that Satoro Iawata of Nintendo released a statement that the Wii U will be on shelves for this year’s Christmas season and will be sharing the launch with Europe, Australia and, Japan. They haven’t confirmed price, date, or what’s included in the bundle. E3 will be the real time to find exact details, or at least more pieces to the puzzle.

My biggest concerns still lie in the individual touch pad. Shortly after the console announcement it was confirmed that only 1 touch pad per system will be utilized. If it isn’t fixable via a software update, the multiplayer will still be Wii style with better graphics. The touch pad itself will not be cheap to manufacture, and the console will fall into the next gen pricing structure of 300 or so dollars. If at any point additional touch pads are to be sold, the consumer can also expect a higher premium on that as well. This is a risky venture by Nintendo, I did, however, say the same thing about the Wii before launch and it was a blockbuster. A lot of questions remain unanswered by the announcement, but at least we have something to look forward to during Q4.

Thoughts?

The last two days or so the interwebs have been exploding with “Xbox 720” rumors, and today brings a whole new set to the table.

Kotaku is the latest to join the fray claiming that game industry sources have given them some insight to what the next generation of Xbox may hold. According to their sources, it’s rumored that the “Xbox 720” will be upgrading from DVD disc formats for their games to Blu-ray – a move Sony made from the get-go. They are also stating the the new console with ship with Kinect 2, which will be an upgrade from its predecessor containing an on-board prcessor allowing for better movement detection. Also on the rumored list is that Microsoft is looking into developing smaller controllers for this new system as well.

The biggest rumor to come from all of this though is that Microsoft may be implementing some sort of mechanism that would prevent users from playing pre-owned games.

It’s not clear if that means that the system wouldn’t play used games or how such a set-up would work. Obvious approaches—I’m theorizing here—like linking a copy of a game to a specific Xbox Live account could seemingly be foiled by used-game owners who would keep their system offline. My source wasn’t sure how Microsoft intended to implement any anti-used game system in the new machine.

A push in any way by Microsoft against used games would likely be cheered from publishers sick of seeing retailers like GameStop crow about their revenues from the sale of used games. But it could potentially anger consumers who rely on buying cheaply-sold used games or even pass games to relatives or friends.

Honestly, I’m not even sure how Microsoft would be able to implement something like this succesfully, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see gaming companies try this in the future – Microsoft or others. Obviously the industry would rather see you have to drop $60 on a new copy of the game instead of buying it used at a cheaper price in a scenario where they would get less money, if any at all. However this would burden the long-standing traditions we gamers have had of loaning games to each other; while the industry may see this as a negative I’d imagine a fair share of games have been purchased because someone borrowed a game from a friend and thought, “Hey, this is an awesome game, but I need to give it back to my buddy. I’ll go buy my own copy!”

It’s important to keep in mind that at this point, no matter who is saying they’ve heard “this and that” from “sources”, that this is all just rumor until Microsoft unveils their new console. So while the idea of their new system preventing us from playing pre-owned games somehow sounds pretty awful, the fact is no one knows for sure what the “Xbox 720” will have in store for consumers.

Thanks to BSR commenter “Alonso” for bringing this to our attention.

It only took about a year for me to become a full-fledged Doctor Who fanatic, so when I heard there was a new downloadable game coming to consoles featuring the Eleventh Doctor and River Song I was pretty excited. Then, I learned it is only coming to Playstation and that stupid Vita, followed by PC at a later date and my XBox-owning self became a little disappointed.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, which is the first game in a planned trilogy, pits the good Doctor and River Song against a whole gallery of enemies, both old and new, in 2D platforming action. Check out the trailer:

I’m a bit perplexed by the trailer. I’m not sure what the “right” way to do a Doctor Who video game is, but the 2D side-scrolling, platforming option seems to be an odd choice. The Doctor and his companions have always done more than their fair share of running during their adventures, so I’d imagine any Doctor Who game would probably need to feature quite a bit of that – but still. The trailer certainly makes the game look exciting and this marriage of “retro” side-scrolling adventure and Doctor Who may turn out to be a great combination.

It will be interesting to see how this game plays and if Supermassive Games is able to successfuly capture that spirit of Doctor Who in a side-scroller. Despite my hesitations, I am looking forward to trying this game out because after all, it is The Doctor. However, being that it is only going to be on Playstation, this means I am going to have to show up at my girlfriend’s house with a case of beer and some Doritos and make convince her let me have a go at the game in her basement as I wear my Doctor Who t-shirt and a fez while haphazardly pointing my sonic screwdriver toy at her dog. I hope she makes me cupcakes – and yes, she knows how lucky she is.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock will be available on the Playstation Network for the PS3 and Vita this March, available soon after on the PC.

Yes. I’m pretty sure that’s Indiana Jones’ fedora.

From the press release:

Fleeing across the galaxy with criminal fugitives, a disguised Obi-Wan, Cad Bane and Moralo Eval are tenaciously pursued by Anakin and Ahsoka, who have no idea they’re chasing their friend, in “Friends and Enemies,” a new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 27th on Cartoon Network.