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King Arthur Never Met Transformers: The Last Knight

23 Jun

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
* Spoiler Alert

Only morbid curiousity motivates me to continue watching the live-action version of Transformers. The fifth film, subtitled The Last Knight, offers opportunities to explore the world in new ways. To watch vehicles morph into bipedal form gets the kid in me giddy in delight. But as anyone who love the original animated material and toy lines will tell you, they will not be seeing this film because it’s not their Transformers anymore. I know folks vehement in their disdain of this cinematic (i.e. Michael Bay) treatment. Despite my longing to simply loathe it because of the people involved or how terrible the ideas get executed, I have to observe how far gone this universe is.

At the same time, as an enthusiast of King Arthur‘s literary and historical legacy, I wanted to see if this film has any redeeming factors. Pairing the Transformers with this legend has been done before (“A Decepticon in King Arthur’s Court”), and I hoped part of this movie will see this warrior’s messianic return to save the day. Instead of mighty robots, a human (or ancestor of) can certainly turn the tide.

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Is the Third Time a Charm for the Cars Franchise?

19 Jun

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)​

The big question I have after watching Cars 3 is if there is anymore gasoline to keep this franchise moving? Technically, this film has Lightning McQueen’s story finish running its course. When younger and sleeker looking hotshots are coming into the field of competitive racing, the “older” generation can not compete. Some opt to retire and for McQueen, he can leave with his head held high or go do something else. Sadly, when an accident nearly destroys him, the question of when he will come back, if he does, if put into question.

This main plot point is a great one to show to anyone watching this computer animated film that life is not over unless you want it to. Director Brian Fee certainly drives the point home in a story he developed with Ben Queen, Eyal Podell and Jonathan E. Stewart. The visuals developed by PIXAR always improves with each new film. If the car’s front did not have faces, the illusion of watching a real race is perfect. Add the camera angles of being positioned like you’re watching it from the perspective of the latest camera equipment mounted on varying vehicles and drones in the track, I swear I am right there.

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Video

Yamato 2022 Lands With a 12-min Preview

17 Jun

2202-part-1-main-visualBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Yamato (the old series or remake) will always have a special place in my heart. While the redo may seem to some fans as unneeded, I will watch it. The crisp new designs, expanded universe and the music … it gets me excited every time! Today marks a release of the first 12 minutes of Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love (宇宙戦艦ヤマト2202 愛の戦士たち), the second film of the series, a week ahead of the theatrical screening in Japan.

Based on the visuals and what I can understand in the piece, planets are being marked. As returning characters celebrate a peace of sorts (from the last movie), Kodai is in conference to hear about yet another threat that’s coming. Gatlantis is sweeping over the universe and approaching Earth.

The bumper on the top right exists to let viewers know about the upcoming theatrical release on Jun 24, 2017 and on the official Bandai Youtube page, pre-sales for a special limited edition blu-ray will also begin simultaneously as this volume will be released July 28th.

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Video

The Video Game Cars 3: Driven to Win Races In Before the Film

14 Jun

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Hot on the heels of the coming Disney•Pixar film, Cars 3, on Friday (Thurs night in select markets), Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media today announced Cars 3: Driven to Win is now available in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch™ and Wii U™.

This game by Avalanche Software wants to deliver is the world-class competitive racing game inspired by the upcoming film by providing an entirely new interactive experience that is thrilling to play alone or with friends and family. Players can race as Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, Jackson Storm and other beloved characters while mastering the tricks, skills and combat techniques needed to become the Ultimate Champion.

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