September 2020 | Otaku No Culture

Preparing for December’s Picture of Everything Else at Vault Comics!

“The Picture of Dorian Grey has always been a favorite of mine, both as a novel and a concept,” said Watters. “But I think it’s been squandered a little when it’s been revisited.”

Picture of Everything Else By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Publisher
Vault Comics

Release Date:
December 2020

Although not slated for October 2020 release, The Picture of Everything Else feels like a type of “sequel” which would be perfect for the season. I wouldn’t call this comic book as a proper continuation of Oscar Wilde’s tale, The Picture of Dorian Grey, but the title says it all. Writer Dan Watters admits to being inspired by it. I can’t wait to take a look at this tale because I’ve seen or read various adaptations of the seminal tale of madness!

As most people know, ghost stories are perfect not only for the Halloween season but also Christmas!

Continue reading “Preparing for December’s Picture of Everything Else at Vault Comics!”

Cyberpunk 2077. Welcome to Life in Night City! Trauma Team #2 Reviewed

She doesn’t understand why she has to keep Apex alive. He’s half man and half cyborg. The way he looks and laughs is as scary as Freddy Krueger before a kill.

Picture of Everything Else — Issue #2 Cover

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Release Date:
October 7, 2020

Dark Horse Comics

Potential Spoiler Alert

Parts of the West Coast of North America may seem clear of the haze from the wildfires in California, but I see the future being presented to me sooner than I realize. All those orange hues in the sky certainly put me in the mood to look at the preview of issue #2, and thankfully we are not headed to that Blade Runner 2049 universe.

Well, not yet. If corporations are truly going to take over and put in measures to that future Cullen Bunn predicts in this comic, then we’re all doomed.

Continue reading “Cyberpunk 2077. Welcome to Life in Night City! Trauma Team #2 Reviewed”

[Victoria, BC] This Hallow’s Eve, Let’s Take Two with Once More, With Feeling!

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Sept 24-26 & Oct 2-4
Evening performances: 8:30pm 
Saturday Matinees: 5:30pm

Tickets can be bought in advance here.

Bluebridge Repertory Theatre
2657 Quadra St

Just when folks looking for Halloween themed activities are having a hard go at finding anything locally, Starry Starry Skies is keeping current with virtual performances! They are bringing back their knockout show from last year and using the Roxy as the larger space to truly get their strut on. As with other venues, seating will be staggered to give space between parties of two.

From their website:

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Straight up We’ll Climb in this GKIDS Rerelease of The Wind Rises

This GKIDs re-release is a step above from the prior Disney version. The transfer is essentially the same. We get a few added videos, like “10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki Documentary” and “Film Completion Press Conference.”

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

GKIDS & Shout! Factory

Release Date:
Sept 22, 2020

The question of which North American Studio Ghibli home video release is worthwhile to own depends on how consistent the package design is between each distributor’s release. I tried to obtain all the region two releases but as home video player technologies changed, I adapted because I favoured high definition over a low fidelity DVD format.

The changeover of rights is not confusing. Disney got the license for certain films, and if the title was deemed “too adult,” it was a Touchstone Pictures release. Universal Pictures handled the non-Miyazaki products, and over time the Mouse conceded. GKIDs and Shout! Factory took over distribution. I’m at the point of filing away my cases and making a custom binder to store my many versions and not worrying about how my collection looks on the media shelf. With The Wind Rises now on Bluray, I can say my collection is more or less complete.

Continue reading “Straight up We’ll Climb in this GKIDS Rerelease of The Wind Rises”

“Old” Rewards are Back at Disney Movie Insiders Club!

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The Disney Movie Insider Club is back in correct form! No guesses are needed to figure out why certain items were no longer offered. on eBay, some of these goods were being auctioned off for money–especially with anything concerning Star Wars. In what they previously offered, not everyone was all that excited for gift certificates, and with the pandemic happening, they can’t be redeemed.

The updated version of this rewards program looks good. New items are added every Wednesday to encourage regular visits, and I’m certainly going to be keeping my eye out on Marvel and PIXAR related products. Also, putting limitations on how many orders of the same item can be picked up per member is finally implemented.

New rewards include Mulan merchandise! I’d be tempted to grab the FUNKO Pop and poster, but the movie was not perfect. I have more of an affinity with the animated version. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we should see swag for Marvel’s Black Widow, and PIXAR’s Onward and Soul. Plus, those collectors wanting to pair up the last two Avengers together, we should see posters for End Game to make anyone’s Marvel Cinematic Universe man cave complete.

Time for a 4K Whiplash in this upgrade package!

Whiplast 4K Case — Preorder the 4K on Amaazon USA

Release Date:
Sept 22, 2020

The modern classic, written and directed by Academy Award®-winner Damien Chazelle and starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons in an Oscar®-winning performance, is newly remastered in stunning 4K with High Dynamic Range and Dolby Atmos audio. Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Terence Fletcher, an instructor known equally for his teaching talents and his terrifying methods, discovers Andrew and transfers him into his band. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection soon spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability and his sanity.

BONUS MATERIALS

Commentary with Writer/Director Damien Chazelle and J.K. Simmons
An Evening at the Toronto International Film Festival with Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons and Damien Chazelle
Timekeepers: Famous Drummers Discuss Their Craft and Passion for Drumming
Whiplash Original Short Film with Optional Commentary
Deleted Scene
Theatrical Trailer

SPECS

Run Time: Approx. 107 minutes
Rating: 14A
Feature: 2160p Ultra High Definition/2.40:1
Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French (Par), English Audio Description Track 5.1 Dolby Digital