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The Minions Third Trailer Sheds a Clue with Gru?

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

despicable_me_2_minions-wide The Minions are getting a better explanation in what they’re up to in this new trailer for their self-titled movie. Not only does it summarize the events from the previous two but also it goes into new territory. Just what this film’s story is about gets revealed, and the potential tie-in to how they met Gru — well at least the father of Dr. Nefario might have been revealed. The Queen’s royal guard who protects the Royal Crown looks suspiciously familiar. The plot to steal this piece of history is the deux et machina here, and the tale in just how well these little yellow minions will fare with their chief Scarlet Overkill (Sanda Bullock) from way back then, well 42 years before Gru, shows that no matter how hard they try, the villains just do not understand.

When they are in large group, these boys are proving to be the Keystone Cops for a new generation. When as a trio, their hijinks is like that of The Three Stooges. They’re hilarious in all the crazy hijinks they end up in. The 60’s really has to be worried, fire hydrants notwithstanding.

Danger! Danger! Ex Machina, A Movie Review

Ex Machina Poster Spoiler Alert

Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics need not necessarily apply in Alex Garland’s Ex Machina. This writer of 28 Days Later and debut director crafts an intellectual challenge for Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) and audiences to think through. That is, just what constitutes true artificial intelligence? Why do we fear it? The challenges of crafting the perfect AI is tough. Not only is the computer language that we know of today is not up to the challenge, but also there’s no heuristic theory that can successfully challenge the Turing Test — a method of finding out of a machine’s behaviour can indeed be indistinguishable from that of a human. To explore what it takes to achieve sentience is not the only focus here with this film, but rather what is required to meet cognition — in the sense of developing survival instincts — is.

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The Problems Defining the Age of Ultron, A Movie Review

Avengers-Age-Of-Ultron-Poster-2 By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

The Avengers are back together for one final mission and what they’re looking for is Loki‘s sceptre. It contains a stone with a ‘mind’ of its own and since Winter Soldier, this film’s immediate predecessor, the country of Sokovia has become a place of interest for Earth’s mightiest heroes (and villains too) in Age of Ultron.

This film begins in the middle of the action director/writer Joss Whedon wastes no time in getting fans salivating at magnificent special effects and combat choreography. Between these set pieces are moments of exposition to tell a story about how Ultron (sweetly voiced by James Spader) gets created and what his goals are. He’s supposed to be part of a special global defence program that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) want to fully develop. What is born is the ultimate artificial intelligence that deems mankind is flawed.

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Star Wars and TRON to enter Disney Infinity 3.0!

The videogame Disney Infinity 3.0 is putting emphasis on bringing Star Wars to its sandbox world. The sculpts for the figures themselves look great, and that alone makes buying the game in part worthwhile. Nor does everyone wondering how the figures will look will find a version that they will like. Some eyes are wondering if this version of Leia will be as perky as the one Gentle Giant made (most likely not).

Also, not everyone has to own the game or buy a “complete” package. That is, Infinity 2.0 players do not need to buy another base to use and software upgrade at the same time. One or the other is all that’s needed. Blind packs are being done away with. For expansion powers, gamers can pick and choose how to improve their Disney character.

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A Nerdy Events Guide to this May Weekend in Victoria, BC

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Reprinted from Two Hungry Blokes

Not only will the city of Victoria, BC get an extra day of geekery on but also, not many cities can lay claim to having four days dedicated to various fun events taking place nearly all at the same time. Here’s a quick summary of what’s going on:

May 1st
Lego at the Library (2:30pm)
Greater Victoria Public Library
Juan de Fuca Branch
This event is technically for children ages 7-10 who want to have fun with the sets offered at the library. Registered participants are also encouraged to bring their own bricks so they can learn how to stack them up in other creative ways for a take-home project.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Premiere (evening)
This movie will definitely delight Marvel Movie Universe fans. Not only does this film continue on from where the first film and Captain America: Winter Soldier left off, with hints of two mutants — Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch — being important in the film, but also this movie will set the stage for the third part of the saga cumulating to Avengers: Infinity Wars.

People going to the IMAX screenings on this day should, in theory, get a keepsake poster while supplies last.

May 2nd
Comic Book Day (starting 10am)
This North American wide event has become the norm. With the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch and at least two of the three three comic book stores participating in this city, the fun can be shared, if not spread around. When the stores have to restrict just how many titles readers can grab, all the smart collector has to know is to walk from store to store (and library) to get a good fill.

This year has comics that will introduce folks to the fantastic worlds featured in Doctor Who, the realm where there’s plenty of robots in disguise in Transformers (thankfully not the awful Michael Bay version), the pulps in The Phantom and the mutants in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A full list can be found on the official website.

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Just How Many Times Must the Avengers Assemble?

If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up.

AvengersAssemble2 If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up to the Avengers movie from last year. Some of the important nuances Joss Whedon’s treatment involved how individualistic each character is. And to try to get them to act as a team is part of what made the film great. The team didn’t work until when it counted the most.

This series has plenty of potential if it gets steered in the right direction. When considering that this series is developed to broadcast on Disney XD, the question of just how complex will the narrative get will depend on who is in charge of leading the Avengers. The pilot episode sets up Tony Stark (voiced by Adrian Pasdar) as a whipping boy. He is the billionaire playboy who thinks he can lead a team. But can he?

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