Month: April 2014

Jem Movie: Truly Outrageous!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

JemThe cast is announced, Jem is here and this is only the beginning.

Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive has announced the casting of the Holograms for the movie Jem. Jem is based on the Hasbro toy line and animated TV series of the same name. The cartoon ran from 1985 to 1988 and chronicled the rise to fame of Jerrica Benton and her alter-ego Jem. As Jerrica Benton she tried to wrest control of her father’s company, Starlight Productions, from corporate baddy Eric Raymond. But as Jem, she and the Holograms battled for supremacy over the charts against Raymond’s discovery, The Misfits.
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Cool Merchandise Woes for this Godzilla Fan?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Godzilla2014If IMAX’s FanFix program does not offer a poster for this coming Godzilla film, I just may have to be highly disappointed. It’s not like a release is to be expected since last year and this has been very selective. Not every high profile film is getting this special poster program treatment. I had hoped for a continuation of The Hobbit 12:01 posters but that did not happen. Even a cool embossed Captain America shield on paper for Winter Soldier would have been awesome, but not every idea will happen. But for Godzilla, just what can be done? Can any studio working with IMAX outdo Star Trek’s glow-in-the-dark print?

For a certain radioactive monster, to repeat that formula would certainly  elevate the cool factor by several levels. The blue flames of the behemoth rising from the waters of Tokyo Bay is enough to get me salivating. In this film’s case, could that be San Francisco Bay? I’ve purposely stayed away from learning any story points, so I’m merely guessing at where the action will take place here.

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Norwescon 38 Dates and Guests Announced!

Norwescon38With Norwescon 37 only just a recent memory, it didn’t take long for the organizers to announce not only the dates to the upcoming Norwescon 38 but the guests as well. And for those of you who are big readers of high fantasy, you may jump for joy when you read further.

Norwescon 38 will take place next year on April 2nd to the 5th and it will still be held at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel near the Seattle Airport.

The theme for the convention will be Distant Horizons, Epic Adventures.

The guests of Honour will be:

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Analysis on the first 5 Minutes of How to Train Your Dragon 2!

Now, dragons happily occupy the space along with their human masters in How to Train Your Dragon 2, the cinematic sequel. And for some long time fans, this set up is exactly in how the books originally envisioned this world.

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Many things have changed in the Isle of Berk since the “Dragon Invasion” that occurred during the first film. Now, dragons happily occupy the space along with their human masters in How to Train Your Dragon 2, the cinematic sequel. And for some long time fans, this set up is exactly in how the books originally envisioned this world.

That includes some games with sheep being the … well, scapegoat. Well, not quite. But these dragons certainly love teasing the always humbling and hilarious sheep. Some may tell these animals not to lose their wool over it.

This new video clip release comes courtesy of Yahoo Movies. It shows what looks like the first five minutes of the movie, along with all the necessary set-ups in character introductions to get viewers up to speed. Snotlout still has a “thing” for Astrid, but has he started to take a liking to Ruffnut too? Fishlegs is dedicated to his adoring female Dragon companion, and he looks like he will become a capable second in command when the leadership of the island changes, and Stoick the Great and Gobber retires.

But where is Hiccup? This movie looks like it will be about making new discoveries on all kinds of fronts. Not only for this lead hero but also for everyone else. As everyone are now in their teenage years, what happens next will no doubt start to define them in their young adult years. Everyone is growing up. It looks like some may want to leave the nest, and that’s not good for Berk’s fate.

Tsukino Con 2015 Update!

By James Robert Shaw

SailorMoon

While attending Fan Expo Vancouver 2014, I had the pleasure of spending time at the table of one of my favourite anime conventions, Tsukino Con. During the three days of Fan Expo only, they were selling passes to the 2015 event at half the price. I parted with the bare amount of $25 for a VIP pass. Mother raised no fool.

But while more than the purchase of a pass was on my mind, I was eager to probe for any information they were willing to part with too. And with what they parted with excited me.

There is a theme to the Tsukino Con (i.e. 2013 was magical girls) every year. In 2015, big boys with mechanized toys will best be served. Boys and girls, it is time to dig out your Veritechs, your Gundams and yes, even your combiner robots. The theme for 2015 will be “Mechs!”

And my second piece of news is unconfirmed, for now, but I heard that voice artist Tracey Moore (Care Bears, Sailor Moon, and George Shrinks) may be a guest at their upcoming con.

I believe there will be as many good guests this year as there was last year and on them alone it is worth the price of admission. ButI have to keep in mind that what will help make 2015 great is what helped make 2014 such a success, and that is the fans themselves.

Contest Alert: My Friend Monster!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

unnamedmonsterMy Friend Monster is having a delightful little contest. And for this contest all you have to do is to suggest the name for a new “super” monster. If your name for the new monster is picked from a list of entries, you will win a pair of tickets to Victoria’s Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair.

This fair is presented by Cherry Bomb Toys and will take place on April 27, 2014 in Victoria, British Columbia at the George R. Pearkes Community Recreation Centre.

My Friend Monster was started in 2009 by artist Terri Wild and is the premier friend placement agency for handmade monsters. You can follow My Friend Monster on their official Facebook page.