Author: Derek Kraneveldt

Derek Kraneveldt is Geekscape's managing editor. A media, comic, and technology enthusiast, he's happy to call Geekscape home. Looking for more from Derek? Keep up with him on twitter or email him here!

Two New ‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series’ Stills Debut Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following the first (short) trailer from a few weeks back, The El Ray Network today debuted two new stills for From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series.

It’s been years (and years) since I’ve seen From Dusk Till Dawn, so I don’t remember much of it. The film does boasts a huge cult following however, so I’m sure that From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series will be a huge hit for the network when it premieres later this year. The series stars Wilmer Valderrama as the enigmatic crime lord Carlos; D.J. Cotrona, who plays Seth Gecko; Zane Holtz as Richie Gecko; Jesse Garcia who plays Texas Ranger Freddie Gonzalez, a new character created for the series; Don Johnson who joins in a recurring role as Sheriff Earl McGraw; Robert Patrick as Jacob Fuller; Madison Davenport as Kate Fuller; Brandon Soo Hoo as Scott Fuller and Eiza González as Santánico.

Take a look at the stills below, and let us know if you’ll be checking out the series when it premieres on March 11th!

DuskTilDawn1

DuskTillDawn2

Based on the thrill-ride film, the supernatural crime saga is centered around bank robber Seth Gecko (Cotrona) and his violent, unpredictable brother, Richard “Richie” Gecko (Holtz), who are wanted by the FBI and Texas Rangers Earl McGraw (Don Johnson) and Freddie Gonzalez (Jesse Garcia) after a bank heist leaves several people dead. The series, created and executive produced by network Founder and Chairman, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, will premiere on El Rey Network, Tuesday, March 11th at 9pm ET/PT.

New ‘The Walking Dead’ Featurette Shows Off Plenty Of New Footage!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: AMC today released a new video teasing next month’s return of The Walking Dead.

The behind-the-scenes featurette showcases interviews with plenty of the show’s cast and crew, as well as The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Best of all, it shows off a bunch of footage from the series’ next episodes, and (at least for Rick and Carl) it looks very close to the comic. It also doesn’t look positive.

As the official description of the season’s second half reads, “Following the devastating events of the mid-season finale, Rick and the group are still reeling from the loss of their home, family, and friends. With the destruction of the prison, we see the group of survivors broken apart and sent on divergent paths, unsure of everyone else’s fate. What was a challenging life behind fences and walls grows that much more perilous and precious as they are exposed to new dangers, new enemies, and heartbreaking choices. They will have their faith thoroughly tested — a faith that breaks some of them and redeems others.” Sounds rough, huh?

Take a look at the featurette below, and let us know if you’re excited for the midseason premiere! The Walking Dead returns on February 9th!

‘Bates Motel’s Second Season Gets A Synopsis

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following two short teasers from earlier this week, A&E today revealed the official synopsis for season two of Bates Motel.

The series was one of my favourite new shows of 2013, and as such, I can’t wait to check-in to season two. Take a look at the synopsis below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to this year’s offering! Bates Motel premieres on March 3rd!

Picking up from last season, Norman (Freddie Highmore) is fixating on Miss Watson’s death while Norma’s mysterious past starts to haunt the family with the introduction of her brother. Meanwhile, Norman’s brother Dylan, (Max Thieriot), gets more entrenched in the familial drug war that fuels White Pine Bay and finds himself right in the middle of the danger as Bradley (Nicola Peltz), who remains on the hunt to uncover her father’s killer, is driven to precarious extremes. Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell), is caught up on all fronts as everything in town escalates and Emma (Olivia Cooke) complicates her relationship with Norman as the duo explore new love interests, bringing new and old characters along for the ride.

Sounds scandalous. March 3rd can’t come soon enough!

Season2

Jean-Claude Van Damme Starring ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ Gets A New Red Band Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Here’s the latest red-band trailer for Welcome to the Jungle, starring our main man, Jean-Claude Van Damme in what looks to be an absolutely hilarious role.

I have to imagine that Welcome to the Jungle‘s distributor is beyond excited for the film’s release now that JCVD is all over the internet. Of course, we never stopped loving the man, but it’s never too late to start!

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to it! Welcome to the Jungle hits theatres (and VOD) on February 7th!

Legendary action star Jean-Claude Van Damme takes on his first comedic role and joins Adam Brody, Rob Huebel, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone, and Dennis Haysbert in “Welcome to the Jungle”. This laugh-out-loud comedy follows a group of unsuspecting office workers who find themselves stranded on a desert island when a corporate retreat led by unhinged former Marine Storm Rothchild (VAN DAMME) goes horribly wrong. Now Chris (BRODY) and his co-workers must battle nature — and each other — to survive!

‘Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition’ Is Almost Here, Watch The Launch Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: First announced back in December, the Xbox One / PS4 ‘Definitive’ ports of last year’s acclaimed Tomb Raider are finally about to hit store shelves.

From the PS3-to-PS4 comparison video released a few weeks back, it’s clear that the jump to the world’s newest consoles was a substantial one, and that this new version of Tomb Raider is anything but a rehash. Just look at those hair physics!

If you haven’t yet played the game, it was easily one of the best action titles of last year, and a perfect reboot to the once great series. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition hits stores this coming Tuesday (January 28th), and we’d definitely recommend it. Take a look at the launch trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up!

Deathlok, Lorelei Joining ‘Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: During today’s TCA (Television Critic’s Association) Winter Press presentation, Marvel and ABC revealed some tasty tidbits of what’s to come on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

First up, Deathlok is coming to the series, Mike Peterson will play the cyborg, and he’s coming soon:

 

 

Next, we know just why Sif will be making an appearance, and Lorelei will be there too:

And last up, the man himself, Stan Lee, will also be appearing on the February 4th episode:

 

Are you still watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? What have you thought of the first season so far? Sound out below!

Mike

Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’ Moved Forward Again!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The wait for Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man and the start of Marvel’s Phase Three just shrunk again!

The film was originally scheduled to hit theatres on November 6th, 2015, but was moved up four months to July 31st, 2015 back in September. Now, since DC’s Man of Steel sequel has been pushed to 2016, Ant-Man has moved into the film’s July 17th release date.

Here’s the official announcement, straight from Marvel:

The wait for Marvel’s “Ant-Man” just got two weeks shorter!

 

Marvel’s “mite”-iest hero will now hit theaters July 17, 2015 courtesy of director Edgar Wright, two weeks earlier than the previously announced date of July 31.

 

Ant-Man fans have had quite a few reasons to rejoice lately, with the casting of Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym as we get ready to start production on the highly-anticipated film later this year!

Are you looking forward to the film? How about the latest casting news? Sound out below!

ant-man-movie-logo

New (Tiny) Look At ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’, Something Big Coming January 27th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Bryan Singer sure does love his twitter…

The X-Men: Days of Future Past director has debuted a new Instagram teaser for the film, showcasing some brand-new footage, and also teasing that “Something BIG is coming Jan 27.”

Singer has posted numerous behind-the-scenes photos from the film’s development over the course of its production, and I’m certainly excited to see what he’s got in store for us next. Since the film’s first trailer debuted all the way back in October, could it be a new theatrical trailer for the movie?

In any case, take a look at the new Instagram teaser below, and check back on the 27th to see what’s up!

Kickstarter Funded, Fran Kranz Starring ‘Lust For Love’ Hits VOD On February 7th, Watch The Trailer Now!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m not usually a big proponent of the beyond tired romantic comedy genre, but I am a sucker for Fran Kranz, and Lust for Love actually looks pretty good.

The independent film was actually a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2011, raising $101,o3o of its $70,000 goal, and it’s finally set to hit VOD on February 7th. Lust for Love stars starring Joss Whedon alumni Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse), Dichen Lachman (Last Resort, Dollhouse), and Beau Garrett (Tron: Legacy), as well as additional Whedon alum Enver Gjokaj (The Avengers, Dollhouse), Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse), and Twitter-sensation Felicia Day (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse).

Again, I usually attempt to avoid romantic comedies like the plague, but Lust for Love looks like a lot of fun. Plus, it’s probably time to let my girlfriend “pick” a movie anyways. Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Astor’s (Fran Kranz) happy tenacity spoils his one chance at love with his lifelong crush Mila (Beau Garrett). Convinced he needs more experience with women to win her back, he engages her ex-best friend Cali (Dichen Lachman) to teach him how to woo women. Together they dissect his failings, and Astor makes his awkward pick-up attempts. As Astor begins to juggle multiple opportunities, he discovers the source of the rift between Cali and Mila, and the trio is forced to confront their conceptions about love.

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Game Looks Great, Watch A New Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: As repetitive as it could sometimes be, I was a big fan of Beenox’s video game adaptation of The Amazing Spider-Man. Swinging through a high-definition New York with Arkham City style combat was a blast, and as the game’s light plot was leaps and bounds ahead of the film (which isn’t saying much), I kept coming back for more.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 video game was announced all the way back at New York Comic-Con, and Activision has just launched a new trailer for the title. The footage likely comes from the next-gen (now current-gen I suppose) version, as the graphics are substantially better than the first game.

As longs as The Amazing Spider-Man 2 features more variety than the first title, we’ll be in for a fun ride. Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up! The title will launch on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, and Windows this Spring!

http://youtu.be/NUXS8c5QatQ

Just Like ‘Pacific Rim’, Legendary’s ‘Godzilla’ Is Getting A Prequel Graphic Novel

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Before last year’s awesome Pacific Rim hit theatres, a prequel graphic novel called Tales From Year Zero release, which furthered the mythology of the Kaiju emergence, and showed us the very beginnings of the Jaeger program that’s all but disbanded in the film. The book was an excellent exploration of a world shattered by the Kaiju, and I certainly hope that if Pacific Rim cannot continue as a film series, that a comic book series is released at some point in the future.

Godzilla director Gareth Edwards and Legendary announced today that Godzilla will also receive a prequel graphic novel. Here’s the announcement:

In May 2014, audiences will witness the epic rebirth of the King of the Monsters as Legendary and Warner Bros. bring Godzilla to the big screen. To pave the way for the iconic creature’s return, Legendary Comics is proud to present the official graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening. This 72-page story, set decades before the film, is co-written by Max Borenstein (screenwriter of the new Godzilla) and Greg Borenstein.

 

Delve into an incredible mystery, generations in the making. At the dawn of the atomic age, humanity awakens lifeforms beyond imagination, unleashing monumental forces of nature. This explosive, larger-than-life adventure is the perfect way for fans to experience the new Godzilla before seeing it in theatres.

 

Godzilla: Awakening is illustrated by Eric Battle (X-Men, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman), Yvel Guichet (Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero, Superboy Annual, End of Nations), Alan Quah (Rage, The Vampire Diaries, Anywhere) and Lee Loughridge (Batman Adventures, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, Marvel Zombies Return), and features cover art by Arthur Adams (Godzilla, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Uncanny X-Men).

And here’s a word from Gareth Edwards:

Did you enjoy the Pacific Rim graphic novel? Will you be picking up the Godzilla book? Sound out below!

The First Teaser Poster For ‘The Hunger Games: MockingJay – Part 1’ Is Exactly What You Think It Is

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Lionsgate has just debuted the first teaser poster for November’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

As disappointed as I was in the first film in the series, I loved every second of last year’s Catching Fire, and as such, I can’t wait to see where this story goes. I haven’t read the books, but I like where things are going (and that love triangle, oh man).

In any case, take a look at the poster below, which is exactly what you’d imagine it would be, and let us know if you’re excited. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 hits theatres n November 21st.

Mockingjay

‘The Last Of Us: Left Behind’ Opening Cinematic Revealed, Release Date Confirmed

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Last week, the release date of Naughty Dog’s highly anticipated The Last of Us DLC, Left Behind was apparently leaked by the add-on’s PSN listing. The developer has just debuted the opening cinematic for the all-new chapter, and in doing so, has confirmed its February 14th release date.

The cinematic is an extension of IGN’s earlier preview, and shows off her loving (and doomed to fail) relationship with her best friend, Riley. You can watch the cinematic below, as well as a brand new developer diary following the cinematic.

Are you ready to have your heart ripped out all over again?

Again, The Last of Us: Left Behind hits PSN on February 14th for $14.99.

‘Robocop’ IMAX Poster Debuts Online, Is The Best One Yet

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re just a few weeks away from finally seeing José Padilha’s Robocop remake, and Sony has just debuted an awesome IMAX poster for the film.

I’m still skeptical of the feature; the trailers have looked very cool, but I’m definitely afraid of another Total Recall occurrence. In any case, today’s poster is probably the coolest one yet, and I know that I’ll be lining up on February 12th.

Take a look at the image below, and let us know what you think! Are you looking forward to the Robocop remake?

IMAXRobocop

In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.

Check Out A Fantastic Album Of Marvel Super Hero Drawings From The 1960’s And 1970’s

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Reddit user Wawaboy2 today submitted an awesome collection of Marvel Super Hero drawings from 60’s and 70’s. I hadn’t seen any of them before, and they’re simply so cool that I had to share them.

According to the comments, the images were drawn by artist Phil Noto, and come from his awesome Tumblr blog. Take a look at the gorgeous images below, and be sure to let us know what you think of the art!

01 - 64tp1ua

02 - idqzt2q

03 - PVNhZfp

04 - Oqr2VUX

05 - DLuZTDl

06 - IG9VNqv

07 - kO6s9Nj

08 - kkLiIEt

09 - U4FxeZR

10 - d35pYXU

Pretty great, huh? Be sure to follow through to the Tumblr for a lot more.

Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘OlliOlli’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Remember when the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series was good?

The days (and days) that I spent with the early THPS games are some of the fondest gaming memories that I have. A batch of my closest friends and I would rush home from school each (and every) day to throw on the Playstation, turn the volume way up (until we were yelled at by the owner of whatever home we happened to be at that day), and see who could attain the best combo, or the longest H-O-R-S-E streak in the latest THPS game. If you played, you must remember the amazing soundtracks that these games had too, like this classic:

http://youtu.be/XeNKhm09Q88

Sadly, the Tony Hawks Pro Skater series faltered after numerous acclaimed titles (and hasn’t had a game worth playing in years), and as great as EA’s Skate series is, it’s never filled the void left by Neversoft and Activision.

Today, UK developer Roll7 released OlliOlli exclusively on the Playstation Vita, and today, I felt like a kid all over again. Take a look at the game’s trailer below, and read on for my thoughts on the title.

As you saw in the video above, OlliOlli is a tried-and-true arcade style skating game, just like the old Tony Hawk titles, but also a whole lot different. Instead of pushing, grinding, and manualing through a 3D map, the game plays like an extremely fast-paced 2D platformer. You’re simply skating left to right, from A to B, while trying to earn as many points (by pulling-off and combining over 120 tricks and grinds), and attempting to complete as many objectives as you can in a single run. If you complete all of the objectives in a stage, you’ll unlock the far more difficult ‘Pro’ challenges for that level, which will likely have you swearing at your Vita, while having a blast doing it.

The game is extremely simple to learn (via a simple, easy-to-understand tutorial), but it’ll take eons to master, and just like the early Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles, I love every second of it. OlliOlli‘s controls are fairly basic, with the X button pushing you up to speed, while tricks and grinds are handled with the left analog stick (much like EA’s Skate series), and the L/R triggers spin your character around. The game also utilizes an interesting landing mechanic; as you approach the ground, you’ll press the X button to determine how successfully you land: too far away from the pavement will result in a ‘Sketchy’ rating, which substantially lowers your score, while a ‘Perfect’ rating will net you thousands and thousands of extra points. You definitely want to make sure you don’t fall though, or you’ll have to press the much-appreciated, always present restart button in the top left corner of the screen. Almost perfecting that ‘Hard’ or ‘Rad’ run when you eat the dirt may reduce you to tears, but each level is fairly short, so as angry as I was for screwing up, I was always happy to replay (the game also loads instantaneously, so that’s a big plus for repeating levels).

Junkyard Kickflip

OlliOlli spans 50 levels through five environments, with half of the stages in the ‘Amateur’ difficulty level, and half ‘Pro’ (unlocked once you beat each Amateur challenge in a stage). Afterwards, the game feels nearly infinitely replayable, as ‘Spot’ mode has you attempting the highest score in a single combo for each level (I’m very competitive against myself), and a ‘Daily Grind’ mode that puts you agains every player in the entire world. This mode is awesome; you’ll be competing on a new level every day, and after taking as many practice runs as you want, you get one shot at the gold. Bail or fail, and you’re done until the next day. I cannot wait to attempt to top the charts for at least one day, and if my OlliOlli skills are half as awesome as my THPS ability, I’m sure as hell that I can do it (and I’ll try, try, try until I do).

The only real downside to OlliOlli (which I’m sure can be fixed with an update) is that the game keeps crashing on me. I can be in-menu or mid-grind, and all of a sudden an error will pop up and my Vita will return to its home screen. It’s frustrating, and I can’t wait until it’s fixed, as it’s really the only thing keeping OlliOlli from perfection.

Port Fakie Ollie

Packed with content, and featuring kick-ass 2D visuals and excellent sound, OlliOlli is the most addicting game I’ve had the pleasure of playing on the Playstation Vita, and I can’t wait to stop writing this and get right back to it. The title brings me back to the glory days of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, while being completely original on its own, and it’s really an incredible breath of fresh air in the all-but-dead skating genre. OlliOlli is now available on PSN for a cool $12.99 ($10.39 for Plus members), and it’s worth. every. penny.

OlliOlli scores a sick 4.5/5.

New ‘The Strain’ Teaser Shows Nothing, Says ‘He Is Here’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following a series of still images, FX has debuted a new teaser for this Summer’s premiere of The Strain.

The short teaser doesn’t really show us anything aside from an eclipse, (which I’m guessing is important) and simply states that “He is here”.

The series sounds extremely interesting, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more, I just really wish that FX would show us something, instead of these vague images and non-revelatory teasers.

In any case, take a look at the teaser below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the series. The Strain will premiere on FX this July!

http://youtu.be/bvnsZcq3Nto

The New ‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ Trailer Makes Me Want An Xbox One

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: EA has just debuted a short new trailer for their upcoming third-person shooter, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, and just as before, the game looks glorious.

There are rumours that the title may also be coming to Playstation 4, but if it doesn’t, it may just be the title that gets me to buy an Xbox One. Sure, it’s also coming to Xbox 360 and PC, but I’m looking for any excuse I can to warrant picking up another console.

Take a look at the pre-order trailer for the game below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up. The game will hit PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on February 25th.

Here’s The First Official Image From ‘Dumb And Dumber To’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s still hard to believe that a true sequel to Dumb and Dumber is coming after all these years (20 years, to be exact), but the release date of the film is fast approaching, and Universal Pictures has just debuted the first official still from the film.

It looks, well, dumb (which is a good thing, isn’t it?). Take a look at the image below, and let us know what you think! Dumb and Dumber To hits theatres on November 14th!

DumbandDumberTo

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd and Harry in the sequel to the smash hit that took the physical comedy and kicked it in the nuts: Dumb and Dumber To.  The original film’s directors, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, take Lloyd and Harry on a road trip to find a child Harry never knew he had and the responsibility neither should ever, ever be given.

‘The Raid 2’ Looks Incredibly, Undeniably Awesome, Watch A New Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Sundance attendees are lucky enough to see the feature today, but the rest of us will have to settle for this bad-ass, action-packed new trailer,

The Raid 2 will finally hit theatres on March 28th, leaving you just over two months to see the fantastic first film if you haven’t already. For now, take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

He thought it was over. After fighting his way out of a building filled with gangsters and madmen – a fight that left the bodies of police and gangsters alike piled in the halls – rookie Jakarta cop Rama thought it was done and he could resume a normal life. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

 

Formidable though they may have been, Rama’s opponents in that fateful building were nothing more than small fish swimming in a pond much larger than he ever dreamed possible. And his triumph over the small fry has attracted the attention of the predators farther up the food chain. His family at risk, Rama has only one choice to protect his infant son and wife: He must go undercover to enter the criminal underworld himself and climb through the hierarchy of competing forces until it leads him to the corrupt politicians and police pulling the strings at the top of the heap.

 

And so Rama begins a new odyssey of violence, a journey that will force him to set aside his own life and history and take on a new identity as the violent offender “Yuda.” In prison he must gain the confidence of Uco – the son of a prominent gang kingpin – to join the gang himself, laying his own life on the line in a desperate all-or-nothing gambit to bring the whole rotten enterprise to an end.

Jamie Alexander’s Sif To Guest On ‘Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has found yet another guest star.

Sif, who fought alongside Thor in last year’s Thor: The Dark World, will guest star on “an upcoming episode” of the series. No timeframe or plot details have been revealed at this time.

I stopped watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a few episodes in. Those of you that are still watching, is there any reason to come back? Has the show picked up at all? I wanted to love it, but just couldn’t, so please let me know!

Jamie

Source: Newsarama

Watch An Epic New Trailer For ‘300: Rise Of An Empire’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It seems as though most people either loved or hated the first 300 when it hit theatres all the way back in 2006. 16 year old pubescent me ate up every bloody second of it, and as such, I cannot wait to experience Rise of an Empire.

A new trailer for the sequel/prequel has just debuted online, and it’s definitely the best trailer for the film so far. It shows off a lot more plot than previous trailers, while also diving much deeper into the action.

It pretty much looks exactly like the first film, but that won’t stop me from lining up when 300: Rise of an Empire hits theatres on March 7th. Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

 

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

First ‘Son Of Batman’ Trailer Debuts Online, Looks Bad-Ass

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: DC Animation’s next film looks awesome.

It’s called Son of Batman, and it’s based on Grant Morrison’s 2006 arc Batman and Son, in which Bats learns that he’s a daddy, and that the kid who he now must raise is kind-of a jerk.

You can take a look at the first trailer for Son of Batman (via TV Guide) below. Giancarlo Esposito’s in it!

Looks pretty great, huh? Son of Batman will premiere at WonderCon, and launch on DVD and Blu-Ray shortly afterwards.

Watch Vine Superstar Nick Santonastasso Scare The Hell Out Of Norman Reedus

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This was too great not to share.

The Walking Dead fan and Vine “Zombie Prankster” Nick Santonastasso was recently flown to Tokyo, where he was transformed into a walker by the show’s Special Effects guru, Greg Nicotero. Andrew Lincoln, Nick’s co-conspirator, manned the control room giving the final go ahead, while hidden cameras captured every angle of Nick’s big scare on Norman Reedus (Daryl). Nick’s prank was a follow up to his existing 2-part viral “Zombie Prank” Vine series:

17-year old Nick, was born with a rare syndrome called Hanhart and has only one arm and no legs. His determination and infectious zest for life have enabled him to overcome countless obstacles and he has now become an inspiration for many kids and adults. Because of his outspoken love for “The Walking Dead,” Nick was the perfect fan to launch the “#getFOXed” campaign.

This is an awesome start to the campaign, and I really can’t wait to see what #getFOXed comes up with next. Take a look at the video below, and let us know what you think!

‘Man Of Steel’ Sequel Pushed To 2016!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The Man of Steel sequel has just been delayed.

The film will now release on May 6th, 2016. This is just one week before X-Men: Apocalypse, and the same day as a still-unannounced Marvel movie.

Take a look at the announcement below, and let us know how you feel about the delay!

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that the release of Zack Snyder’s untitled Superman/Batman film has been moved to May 6, 2016, allowing the filmmakers time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story. The decision was made following the shift of the start of production to second quarter of this year. The Studio has also set a July 17, 2015, worldwide release date for its as-yet-untitled all-new Peter Pan adventure. Joe Wright will direct the epic live-action film about the boy who would never grow up, created by J.M. Barrie. The dual date announcement was made by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

New Poster For ‘300: Rise Of An Empire’ Debuts Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following the latest trailer for the film released last month, Warner Bros. has just debuted a new poster for 300: Rise of an Empire.

The film is finally set to hit theatres on March 7th, and from everything we’ve seen so far, the film pretty much looks like an extension of the first, which (I think) is exactly what fans are looking for. Take a look at the new poster below, and let us know what you think!

300RiseofanEmpire

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

 

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

The Next Season Of ‘American Horror Story’ Will Take Place In 1950

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re still two weeks away from the finale of American Horror Story‘s fantastic third season, Coven, but creator Ryan Murphy is already letting details slip on the anticipated next season of the celebrated series.

Speaking with EW, Ryan stated:

 “If you look historically what happened in the year 1950, there’s some more clues in that year. It’s a period piece. We try and do the opposite of what we’ve done before. Jessica Lange has already started practicing her German accent so I’m very excited!”

So, 1950, and Jessica Lange is German, huh? I’ve got no idea where we’re headed, but a post-WWII American Horror Story tale sure sounds interesting. What do you want to see next, and what do you think of Coven so far? Sound out below!

Lange

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Gets Seven New Stills!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following the newest international posters from last week, Sony has just debuted seven new stills from The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

The images give us (as always) a better look at Electro, Harry talking to a (masked) Spider-Man, Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacey in distress, and a few other surprises. Take a look at everything below, and let us know what you think! The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hits theatres on May 2nd!

906429 - The Amazing Spider-Man 2

ASM6

ASM5

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield;Dane DeHaan

Andrew Garfield

ASM1

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

Source: Total Film

‘Octodad: Dadliest Catch’ Gets A PC Release Date!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Loving Father. Caring Husband. Secret Octopus.

The highly anticipated (well, by me at least) release date of Young Horses, Inc.’s Octodad: Dadliest Catch has just been revealed, and as long as you’re a Windows, OS X, or Linux user, you’ll be able to act as a secret octopus in no time.

The game will hit the three operating systems on January 30th via Steam, Humble and Good Old Games. PS4 users (like me) will be left waiting for a couple of extra months, as the developer is hoping for a March launch on the platform.

To celebrate, Young Horses has debuted a hilarious (and heartbreaking) new trailer for the title. Check it out below, and let us know if you’ll be playing Octodad: Dadliest Catch later this month!

http://youtu.be/oOpJiPISO3k

Here Are Your 86th Annual Academy Award Nominees!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following yesterday’s fitting Razzie nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced the nominees for the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

As always, there are a ton of amazing films on this list, and as always, there are people and movies that are ‘snubbed’ or left off of certain categories. For me, I’d have loved to see Tom Hanks on that list for his tearjerking performance in Captain Phillips, but in looking at the list of nominees, there isn’t a single performance that I’d trade for his. Plus, we all know that Matthew Mcconaughey is going to (and should) win anyways.

Take a look at the list of nominees below, and let us know what you think!

Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale in “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams in “American Hustle”
Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”
Judi Dench in “Philomena”
Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”
June Squibb in “Nebraska”

Animated Feature Film
“The Croods” Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco and Kristine Belson
“Despicable Me 2” Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Chris Meledandri
“Ernest & Celestine” Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner
“Frozen” Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho
“The Wind Rises” Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki

Cinematography
“The Grandmaster” Philippe Le Sourd
“Gravity” Emmanuel Lubezki
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Bruno Delbonnel
“Nebraska” Phedon Papamichael
“Prisoners” Roger A. Deakins

Costume Design
“American Hustle” Michael Wilkinson
“The Grandmaster” William Chang Suk Ping
“The Great Gatsby” Catherine Martin
“The Invisible Woman” Michael O’Connor
“12 Years a Slave” Patricia Norris

Directing
“American Hustle” David O. Russell
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón
“Nebraska” Alexander Payne
“12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Martin Scorsese

Documentary Feature
“The Act of Killing” Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
“Cutie and the Boxer” Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher
“Dirty Wars” Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill
“The Square” Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
“20 Feet from Stardom” Nominees to be determined

Documentary Short Subject
“CaveDigger” Jeffrey Karoff
“Facing Fear” Jason Cohen
“Karama Has No Walls” Sara Ishaq
“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed
“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall” Edgar Barens

Film Editing
“American Hustle” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
“Captain Phillips” Christopher Rouse
“Dallas Buyers Club” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
“12 Years a Slave” Joe Walker

Foreign Language Film
“The Broken Circle Breakdown” Belgium
“The Great Beauty” Italy
“The Hunt” Denmark
“The Missing Picture” Cambodia
“Omar” Palestine

Makeup and Hairstyling
“Dallas Buyers Club” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” Stephen Prouty
“The Lone Ranger” Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

Music (Original Score)
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Gravity” Steven Price
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman

Music (Original Song)
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Best Picture
“American Hustle” Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, Producers
“Captain Phillips” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers
“Dallas Buyers Club” Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers
“Her” Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers
“Nebraska” Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, Producers
“Philomena” Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward, Producers
“12 Years a Slave” Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, Producers
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Nominees to be determined

Production Design
“American Hustle” Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler
“Gravity” Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard
“The Great Gatsby” Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn
“Her” Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena
“12 Years a Slave” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker

Short Film (Animated)
“Feral” Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden
“Get a Horse!” Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim
“Mr. Hublot” Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares
“Possessions” Shuhei Morita
“Room on the Broom” Max Lang and Jan Lachauer

Short Film (Live Action)
“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)” Esteban Crespo
“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)” Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
“Helium” Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
“Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)” Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
“The Voorman Problem” Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

Sound Editing
“All Is Lost” Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
“Captain Phillips” Oliver Tarney
“Gravity” Glenn Freemantle
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Brent Burge
“Lone Survivor” Wylie Stateman

Sound Mixing
“Captain Phillips” Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro
“Gravity” Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
“Lone Survivor” Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Visual Effects
“Gravity” Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
“Iron Man 3” Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
“The Lone Ranger” Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
“Star Trek Into Darkness” Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“Before Midnight” Written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
“Captain Phillips” Screenplay by Billy Ray
“Philomena” Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope
“12 Years a Slave” Screenplay by John Ridley
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Screenplay by Terence Winter

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen
“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
“Her” Written by Spike Jonze
“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

That’s it for nominations! I’m also surprised (and shocked) that both Iron Man 3 and The Lone Ranger were nominated for Best Visual Effects, and that Pacific Rim was not. Also that the Academy thinks that The Croods is better than Monsters University.

What are your thoughts? Who deserves to win? Who was snubbed? Sound out below!