The Raid – ‘The Action Movie of the Year’ (The Guardian Guide) breaks out across over 290 cinemas on 18th May starring martial arts sensation Iko Uwais as he takes on a tower block rammed with bad guys and decimates them in a style that is nothing short of breath-taking. Find out more including which multiplex it’s showing at on the official Fanhub http://www.totalfanhub.com/the-raid/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TheRaidUK

I’ve seen The Raid, I thought it was all kinds of awesome, and I’ll be seeing it again on Friday that’s for sure! You can check out my review of the film here, and by answering the simple question below you can win a (very) limited edition The Raid record bag, courtesy of the folks at Momentum…

What is the name of The Raid director Gareth Evans’ first feature film? Is it:
a) Samurai Monogatari
b) Merantau
c) Footsteps

Email your answer and address to competition@blogomatic3000.com with RAID in the subject line. An email entry counts as ONE entry into the competition.

To double your chance of winning, and for a SECOND entry into the competition just become a fan of Blogomatic3000 on Facebook

Competition closes May 27th.

COMPETITION T&C’s
• This promotion is open to UK residents only
• There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated, the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions
• Winners will be picked at random and contacted by the host site. The prize will be delivered to the winner within 28 days of confirmation of delivery address
• The editor’s decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into
• Blogomatic3000 does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet or email problems. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entrants must supply full details as required on the competition page, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes
• No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.
• This competition is not open to employees or contractors of Blogomatic3000 or any person directly or indirectly involved in the organisation or running of the competition, or their direct family members.
• This competition is a game promoted by Blogomatic3000. Blogomatic3000’s decision is final in every situation and no correspondence will be entered into. Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
• Prizes unclaimed after 28 days will be deemed to have been forfeited and Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to either offer the prize to the entrant whose name is next drawn at random or to re-offer the prize in any future competition.

As per the title, this edition of Retro-matic takes a look back into video game history to see just what classic games deserve the HD treatment on todays current-gen consoles.

1) Streets of Rage (Sega Megadrive)

2) Turrican (Amiga/Atari ST)

3) Midnight Resistance (Arcade)

4) Captain American & The Avengers (Sega Megadrive/SNES)

5) Head Over Heels (ZX Spectrum/C64)

6) Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time (PS One/PC)

7) Toonstruck (PC)

8) Gex (PS One)

9) Croc (PS One)

10) Xenon 2 (Amiga/Atari ST)

Stars: Cecilia Cheung, Xiaoqing Liu, Richie Ren | Directed by Frankie Chan

Let me see if I can get this straight: Legendary Amazons is a Chinese martial arts flick that involves a lot of silly fighting, a morbid love affair and some highly questionable familial bonds. That’s about all I’m sure of right now.

The film, directed by Hong Kong stalwart Frankie Chan (probably most well known for composing music for Wong Kar Wai), follows the predominantly female Yang family’s struggle to keep their only remaining son alive when he is summoned to battle by the emperor. Each of the Yang clan has their own specific skill set and is proficient in battle, so there’s lots of fighting. And betrayal, switched allegiances, returns from the dead and all that good stuff. I think.

Why I’m not quite certain is telling of many of the film’s flaws. Dozens of characters are introduced in the first twenty minutes – in an awkward flashback structure I found bewildering – without much development so I wasn’t entirely sure who was speaking to who unless they said ‘mother’ or ‘grandmother’ (also of note: all of the women bar the requisite wise sage look exactly the same age, which I found puzzling). The action is predictably OTT, intense and well-choreographed in places but poor effects work dampens the impact and the epilepsy-inducing editing often makes it difficult to tell exactly who is being run through with a flying spear. The instantly-recognisable signs of shoddy green screen work removed me from the film’s world and was ironically reminiscent of the clearly artificial film sets used in the 1970s Shaw Brothers films that Legendary Amazons is attempting to evoke. It also successfully mimics that era’s actors’ tendencies to overact and speak every line as though it were their last, largely to unintentional comic effect.

Jackie Chan is credited as a producer on the film, though I wonder how much involvement he actually had with the production given his customary attention to high quality stuntwork, which the film occasionally lacks.

For a high-budget war picture, this is rather a disappointment. Care appears to have been given in making the film simply a ludicrous homage to an old-fashioned style of filmmaking, with the story suffering for it and leaving me cold to the hardships of the battles portrayed (when two lead characters snuffed it I was more relieved that the film would be ending soon rather than moved). If you’re looking for ancient battles on an epic scale with characters and acting chops to match, you’re looking in the wrong place.

(Go see John Woo. Watch Red Cliff instead.) Legendary Amazons is out on DVD now from Cine-Asia.

I read the first two in this series (of four), A Just Determination and Burden of Proof. Despite their rather portentous titles, the books are mostly fairly light in tone. Curiously, Campbell is credited as writing as John G Hemry (his actual name rather than his pseudonym), though you wouldn’t know it from the books’ covers, which are, if anything, too similar to the Lost Fleet’s covers.

The protagonist of the series is Paul Sinclair, a newly enlisted sailor who, because of a few short weeks’ training in matters of the law, finds himself foisted with the responsibility of being the ship’s legal officer. Both books build up to a climatic legal battle in which Paul must see that justice is served. The first revolves around Paul’s attempts to reduce an unfairly harsh charge of negligence at his nevertheless guilty former captain’s court martial. The second looks into the trial of a new officer that is believed to have covered up an accidental death for which he may be responsible.

Whilst the final courtroom confrontations are exciting and well crafted, the two thirds of each book that precede them are fairly laborious reads. Many of the characters felt slight and Paul is too over-earnest for my tastes. The books work on a mechanical level as a rigid moral structure of what is right and wrong is established early on and is implemented into the conclusions of both. This doesn’t make for particularly engaging reading though. The ‘villains’ (though neither defendant is outright evil) are plainly in the wrong in each case; it would have made for a more interesting read if more light and shade and more moral ambiguity were present.

As such, it became quite tiresome to wade through each book; I longed for a world-threatening crisis or detailed battle strategy to crop up, as they did so frequently in the Lost Fleet series. A sci-fi setting should at least provide the reader with a hypothetical quandary or an escapist backdrop of excitement. Unfortunately, the JAG in Space books offer neither. There’s no real reason why they couldn’t have been set on contemporary naval ships. The tedious and dull military lifestyle that Hemry describes for his characters unfortunately pervades his prose too much. Despite the solidity of the writing, there is little to excite or thrill.

The JAG in Space series is now available from Titan Books

Strongly tipped as a filmmaker to watch on the strength of his astonishing debut feature “Frontier(s)” and hard-hitting follow up “Hitman”, director Xavier Gens fulfils all expectations with his latest offering, The Divide, an intense, post-apocalyptic shocker.

Starring Michael Biehn (The Abyss; Aliens; The Terminator), Lauren German (Hawaii Five-O; Hostel: Part II), Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction), Milo Ventimiglia (Wolverine; Heroes), Courtney B. Vance (Final Destination 5; FlashForward) and Ashton Holmes (Nikita; The Pacific). The Divide is terrifying from it’s opening sequence to its breathtaking and totally unexpected finale, it grips like a vice throughout and sees the ever-excellent Biehn delivering one of the most riveting performances of his career.

The Divide (Momentum Pictures) is available to download and on DVD from 14th May 2012. Check out The Divide Fanhub site – http://www.totalfanhub.com/the-divide/

In what film did Michael Biehn star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger? Was it:
a) Aliens
b) The Divide
c) The Terminator

Email your answer and address to competition@blogomatic3000.com with DIVIDE in the subject line. An email entry counts as ONE entry into the competition.

To double your chance of winning, and for a SECOND entry into the competition just become a fan of Blogomatic3000 on Facebook

Competition closes May 20th.

COMPETITION T&C’s
• This promotion is open to UK residents only
• There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated, the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions
• Winners will be picked at random and contacted by the host site. The prize will be delivered to the winner within 28 days of confirmation of delivery address
• The editor’s decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into
• Blogomatic3000 does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet or email problems. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entrants must supply full details as required on the competition page, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes
• No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.
• This competition is not open to employees or contractors of Blogomatic3000 or any person directly or indirectly involved in the organisation or running of the competition, or their direct family members.
• This competition is a game promoted by Blogomatic3000. Blogomatic3000’s decision is final in every situation and no correspondence will be entered into. Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
• Prizes unclaimed after 28 days will be deemed to have been forfeited and Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to either offer the prize to the entrant whose name is next drawn at random or to re-offer the prize in any future competition.

Dracula 3D

A young librarian, Jonathan Harker, is welcomed at Castle Dracula by the Count and a young woman named Tania, who seems intent on seducing Harker. The Count prevents Tania from biting the young man, but Dracula attacks Harker himself, leaving the him weak. Harker attempts to escape the castle, but is killed by a wolf. Harker’s wife, Mina, arrives in the village and stays at the home of her friend, Lucy Kisslinger. Worried about her husband, she visits the castle, and falls under the spell of the Count. It transpires that Dracula has engineered their meeting, because Mina is the reincarnation of his long-lost love, Dolinger. Lucy also becomes undead before the mysterious happenings in the village attract the attention of vampire expert Van Helsing, who prepares for final combat with his deadliest foe. Excitement-o-meter: !!!!

The Campaign

When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center. May the best loser win! Excitement-o-meter: !!!!!

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears. Excitement-o-meter: !!

The Good Doctor

Martin Blake (Orlando Bloom) is an ambitious but anxious young doctor, eager to impress his superiors and colleagues: Chief Resident Waylans (Morrow), self-assured fellow intern Dan (Garity) and no-nonsense nurse Theresa (Taraji P. Henson). But things are not going Martin’s way and he can’t seem to shake off his insecurities. When 18-year-old patient Diane (Riley Keough) is admitted for a kidney infection, Martin steps in, getting the much-needed boost of self-esteem he craves. But things take a dark turn as his enthusiasm begins to become an obsession. Excitement-o-meter: !

Dead Shadows

Dead Shadows tells the terrifying story about a young man, Chris, whose parents were brutally killed 11 years ago, on the same day that tHaley’s Comet could be seen from earth. Tonight, a new comet is going to appear and everyone in his building are getting ready for a party to celebrate the event. There’s even an apocalypse theory going around. As the night falls, Chris starts to discover that people are acting strange – and it seems to somehow be connected to the comet. People are becoming disoriented and violent and it doesn’t take long before they start mutating into something from beyond this world. In a fight for survival, Chris has to try to escape from his building with the help from some other tenants – but will they make it out alive? Excitement-o-meter: !!!!!

Gangster Squad

Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and – if he has his way – every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop…except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart. “Gangster Squad” is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD’s efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time. Excitement-o-meter: !!!!

Crazy Eyes

With too much money and time on his hands, Zach (Lukas Haas) looks like he’s living the dream. There’s a steady stream of beautiful women and the party never ends. He meets a girl he calls “Crazy Eyes” (Madeline Zima), and she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met before. She’s the one woman Zach can’t have, so naturally he wants her. While Zach’s hard-partying lifestyle threatens to go off the rails, family concerns begin to play a major role in Zach’s life. Excitement-o-meter: !

Stars: Laurence Saunders, Carl Coleman, Elisabeth Shahlavi, Leslie Grantham, Joe Egan, Terry Christian, Julian Boote | Written by Stephen Bishop | Directed by Tony Jopia

Getting noticed for recent cuts made to a death scene Deadtime is a British horror hoping to catch people’s attention. With cameos from Leslie Grantham and Terry Christian it definitely gets noticed by British fans who probably wonder why the hell they are in the film. Surprisingly though they are well used, not just for their names but for the scenes they are in.

When a band is in need of a bit of a revival they are locked into an old warehouse studio to record their new video with hopes of getting some interest back. Things don’t go to plan though as a masked killer starts to kill them one by one, with no idea how to escape and the killer hiding within the group it’s a race against time to not only survive but to find out the reason for the events taking place.

After watching Deadtime I think my first impression was its heart is in the right place. It tries to entertain and for the most part it does, it just feels a bit too stretched out. The actual killer lacks believability for me and his attempts to look “crazy” for the camera border on hilarious. I’m not going to say he’s a bad actor, but if anything he’s just hamming up the character a little too much for my taste. If the structure of the film itself would have been slightly tightened up and less excuses to just sit around talking all the time it would have been a stronger and more entertaining experience.

One thing I would complement though is the deaths themselves. The controversial scene that was cut is quite brutal, I’m not sure if the screener I was provided with was an uncut version but if it is I can understand why the BBFC wanted cut knowing their view on sexual violence. Saying I understand it does not mean I agree with it of course, for me I would have liked the scene kept in to make people cringe. It does make me wonder though what the killer himself has with sticking blades between people’s legs though; it’s not only the ladies who get it that way. Also the reason for the murders is quite annoying and basic. I’m trying not to mention it as that would be a spoiler but just to blame it on what is given comes across as quite small minded at times. This is a small point though and is outweighed by the gore provided, as long as you can put up with the characters going on about the reason again and again, not like it annoyed me the first time.

As always with films on a lower budget CGI is relied on for a lot of the gore and it is noticeable, but the fact is it’s easy to accept in this. I’d argue that Deadtime is one of those films that knows it’s bad and thrives on that bad, yes it’s that line “It’s so bad it’s good” it basks in its flaws and says to the audience that it doesn’t care, it just wants to entertain. Having watched it twice for the review I find that it feels too long, the pace needs to be quickened up as it can often feel like your attention is pulled away, especially with amount of talking all the characters seem to do. Get on with it, kill the obnoxious fools and bring on the gore. Deadtime is a nice try, with quite a good song (you’ll keep on hearing it again and again) and it does try its best, it just needs to try harder.

Deadtime is out now on DVD from 4Digital Media.

Review originally appeared on PissedOffGeek.com

Welcome to the latest installment of Streaming for Your Pleasure. In this series I look at films currently Streaming on Netflix that fit into a specific topic. This week I’m looking at comedic actors that attempt to reinvent themselves as serious actors. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but in the end you have to at least respect the attempt of someone trying new things. Listed are films that are successful enough to garner your attention for a watch or two. Feel free to list you thoughts, opinions, or ideas in the comment section below

Buried

Directed By: Rodrigo Cortes,
Written By: Chris Sparling
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jose’ Luis Garcia Perez, and Robert Paterson

Synopsis: While on a job in Iraq, civilian contractor Paul Conroy is attacked and kidnapped, then awakens to find himself buried alive in the middle of the desert with nothing but a lighter, a candle, a cell phone and a knife.

Why You Should Check It Out: Ryan Reynolds is often a fanboy punching bag, and with the disaster that was Green Lantern last year it has only intensified. People argue that he simply plays the same role in every movie and refuses to do anything different. While that my be the case he does show he is able to play a role completely straight from time to time. Buried would definitely be one example. While it is a better concept then an actual movie it is worth a watch, even if you are a Ryan Reynolds hater.

Broken Flowers

Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Written By: Jim Jarmusch and Bill Raden
Stars: Bill Murray, Jessica Lange, and Sharon Stone

Synopsis: After being dumped by another girlfriend (Julie Delpy), serial bachelor Don Johnston (Bill Murray) vows he’ll be alone forever. But when a mysterious unsigned letter arrives in the mail, he’s surprised to learn he has a 19-year-old son. With no idea who the mother is, Don sets out on a cross-country journey to confront his past, surprising a series of old flames (Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Sharon Stone and Tilda Swinton) along the way.

Why You Should Check It Out: Bill Murray has had many films that have helped redefine his career, with Lost in Translation probably being the bunch. However Broken Flowers is a film that shouldn’t be forgotten. Even with his legendary status Bill Murray is still able to pull off the everyman role. Jim Jarmusch uses that ability to great success. Murray is endlessly charming in this tale of great emotion.

Precious

Directed By: Lee Daniels
Written By: Geoffrey Fletcher (screenplay), Sapphire (novel)
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, and Paula Patton

Synopsis: Viciously abused by her mother (a riveting, Oscar-winning Mo’Nique) and pregnant by her father, Harlem teen Precious Jones (Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe) has an unexpected chance at a different life when she enrolls in an alternative school. Teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) encourages her, but Precious must battle unimaginable barriers everywhere in her life. Lee Daniels directs this drama that features appearances by Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz.

Why You Should Check It Out: Up to this point the “comedian gone serious” was in the lead role, but it can also be effective when a comedic actor is placed in a supporting position. In Precious Mo’Nique tries to shed the persona she has crafted for herself through her work in comedic films and reality shows. Apparently she did such a fine job she won herself an Oscar. People can debate all day about how deserved that Oscar win was, but you can’t deny she shows she has some pretty good acting chops.

World’s Greatest Dad

Directed By: Bobcat Goldthwait
Written By: Bobcat Goldthwait
Starring: Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, and Morgan Murphy

Synopsis: After his son (Daryl Sabara) dies in an awkward freak accident, high school poetry teacher Lance (Robin Williams) ghostwrites a suicide note to spare the family embarrassment. But when the note becomes an unexpected hit, Lance sees a chance to resurrect his writing career. In a bid for literary fame, Lance writes his son’s journal and passes it off as his own. Writer-director Bob Goldthwait’s comedy debuted at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Why You Should Check It Out: It’s one thing for a comedic actor to go serious in a drama, it’s a whole other thing for a comedic actor to play the straight man in a comedy. While Robin Williams performance isn’t without its laughs, his laughs are earned not through his normal persona of the crazy man with a million voices. It’s a more subdued and restrained performance that allows the world around him to explode in a fit of craziness. Perhaps Williams can be controlled if you have the right person to pull the strings.

Insomnia

Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Written By: Hilary Seitz
Starring: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank

Synopsis: Sent to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in a small Alaska town, police detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) accidentally shoots his partner, Hap (Martin Donovan), while trying to apprehend a suspect (Robin Williams). But in spite of his guilt, he’s still determined to solve the case. Hilary Swank co-stars as a local detective who hampers Dormer’s efforts based on her suspicions about the circumstances of Hap’s death.

Why You Should Check It Out: Insomnia is looked at as Christopher Nolan’s weakest effort, and  though that may be the case it is still worth a watch. Robin Williams has a knack for playing a psychotic, which is best exemplified in One Hour Photo that is unfortunately not currently Streaming on Netflix. So check out the next best thing with just happens to be Insomnia.

Good Will Hunting

Directed By: Gus Van Sant
Written By: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, and Ben Affleck

Synopsis: When professors discover that an aimless janitor is also a math genius, a therapist helps the young man confront the demons that are holding him back in this uplifting drama about friendship and risk.

Why You Should Check It Out: Good Will Hunting will forever be known as the movie that broke the careers of both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It also holds the honor of being the film that won Robin Williams his Oscar. Personally Good Will Hunting is one of my favorite films of all time and Robin Williams is one of the biggest reasons why. He has great chemistry with Matt Damon and is able to hit that sweet spot in-between his dramatic and comedic personas.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Directed By: Michael Gondry
Written By: Charlie Kaufman and Michael Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, and Tom Wilkinson

Synopsis: A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.

Why You Should Check It Out: Jim Carrey has tried harder than anyone to be taken seriously as an actor. Overall his success at this has been inconsistent. The peak of his dramatic acting career is easily Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Not only is it looked at as a great film but is also considered one of the best films of the past decade.  Most credit that achievement to the writing of Charlie Kaufman, the direction of Michel Gondry, and the performance of Kate Winslet, but forcefully forget  about Jim Carrey. I feel that is unfair because he is what ties the entire film together. Sure his character isn’t all that dynamic, but that plainness allows him to be a window for us to this strange world.

Everything Must Go

Directed By: Dan Rush
Written By: Dan Rush and Raymond Carver
Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, and Christopher Jordan Wallace

Synopsis: Director-writer Dan Rush makes his film debut with this dramedy based on a Raymond Carver short story about Nick (Will Ferrell), a good-hearted but relapsed alcoholic who decides to live on his front lawn after losing his job and being thrown out by his wife.

Why You Should Check It Out: Will Ferrell has planted a lot of seeds to make himself a more well-rounded actor. The most recent example was last year’s Everything Must Go. To Will Ferrell’s credit he really sold his character and realistically came off as  depressed alcoholic going on through a downward spiral.  Ferrell has an uncanny ability to get unhinged, which is typically used for comedic purposes. In this Ferrell directs that walk the line sense of craziness to bring the life a character that has this dark sole that is just waiting to break.

Punch-Drunk Love

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
Written By: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Synopsis: Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) — a bathroom supply salesman prone to paroxysms of destructive rage — finds his life refreshed when he meets Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who falls in unconditional love with him. Meanwhile, Egan tries to escape constant harassment from his seven sisters as well as three thugs who have implicated him in a phone sex extortion scam. Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) writes and directs.

Why You Should Check It Out: Paul Thomas Anderson has the ability to pull out the darkness that festers inside the hearts and minds of most comedians. The best example of this is his work with Adam Sandler inPunch-Drunk Love.  Many thought this departure would lead to bigger and better things for Sandler, however that has yet to come to pass. Again this isn’t a role absent of laughs, but the difference is Sandler gets his laughs in a different way. He channels his typical awkward persona into a character of mystery and repressed rage. While I enjoy a Sandler comedy from time to time I would love to see more of this Sandler and less of the Jack and Jill Sandler. He defiantly has the talent, but lacks the drive to be more then the guy with funny voices.

Creepshow

Directed By: George A. Romero
Written By: Stephen King
Starring: Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielson, and Adrienne Barbeau

Synopsis: Based on the E.C. comic books of the 1950s, this horror anthology includes radioactive meteorites, a creepy Father’s Day party, a monster in a crate and thousands of cockroaches. Venerable horror director George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and screenwriter Stephen King are responsible for the creepfest, which features performances by Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, Ted Danson, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Harris, E.G. Marshall and even King himself.

Why You Should Check It Out: Leslie Nielson wasn’t an established comedic actor when Creepshow hit movie theaters in the early 80?s , but in today’s world people often forget Nielson was once a straight faced serious actor.  All his work in Airplane! and the Naked Gun series have out shined everything he did before, which is understandable but unfortunate. Creepshow came out as the transition was in its futile state so it’s a good place to see the other type of roles Nielson can pull off.

MWIRE – Special Episode – Marvel’s The Avengers
PODCASTERS ASSEMBLE! Steve/Megatron, TFG1Mike, MovieRevolt Dan, OptimusSolo, and Mike Powers assemble to talk about the greatest team up film ever. Five podcasters means five different opinions on Marvel’s The Avengers.

GCR – Special Episode – Top 10 Artists or Bands of the 2000?s
AND HERE WE GO! This is the final countdown in the Music Spotlight here on GeekCast Radio. TFG1Mike is joined by Dustimus Prime, as they count down their Top 10 choices of artists or bands from the 2000?s. You won’t wanna miss this one!

Legends of the Dark Knight – Episode 11
In this Episode, Steve and Mike travel alone to the streets of Gotham City to delve into once more, Batman The Animated Series. This time they discuss, “Off Balance”, “The Man Who Killed Batman”, “Mudslide”, “Paging the Crime Doctor”, and “Zatanna”. Be sure to join the ride and listen to their thoughts, and listen to the awesome quotes within. So jump into the Batmobile and join the dynamic duo again same bat time, same bat channel for Legends of the Dark Knight!

Interviews – Phil LaMarr – GCRN & TUMLP Crossover Edition
GeekCast Radio and The Untitled Mike and Laura Project team up! Mike Laidman and Laura Thomas from This Week In Geek have a discussion with the infamous Phil Lamarr, more descript later.

M.A.S.K.E.D. M.A.Y.H.E.M. – Episode 04
In Episode 04 join in on the Mayhem, as OptimusSolo and TFG1Mike review Episodes 7-8 of M.A.S.K. That’s right we are talking about The Ultimate Weapon and The Roteks. Roteks? What the fuck is a rotek? Tune in to find out, only on M.A.S.K.E.D. M.A.Y.H.E.M.

ToonCast Beyond – Episode 22: Spectacular Spider-Man
The next Spider-Man cartoon, after what we covered last week. Is Spider-Man truly Spectacular? Toon into find out Beyonders!

TeamBotimus Variety Hour – Episode 18
Episode 18 of TBVH has the crew talking about Botcon, Transformers Prime, Toys, and so much more. DarthDevious was in the middle of thunderstorms during the record, and it was screwing with his connection. We apologize for any weird audio bits.

Star Joes – Episode 67 – A Conversation with SL Gallant
In this soon to be classic episode, the guys have the pleasure of speaking to the artist on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Shannon Gallant. The guy talk about his years growing up in an artistic family, discover his G.I. Joe origins, and discover a special surprise awaiting the guys in issue #180. This is an interview you won’t want to miss. So sit back, grab a cold one, and enjoy!!

Star Joes – Episode 68 – Garage Sale with the Joes
In this on location episode, Chuck and Ryan are hosting a garage sale at Ryan’s house. While they wait for customers to arrive to buy their stuff they decide to respond to some listener feedback. What is Chuck’s problem with the Transformers lately? What new comics for the show have the guys excited? And what makes for a fun garage sale experience? Find out some of these answers in this episode. Enjoy!!

TFG1Mike’s DVD Reviews: The Three Stooges (2000)
This originally aired on ABC back in 2000. I had always wanted to see it then, but I missed the initial airing. Even though the wikipedia article states that this is rerun on AMC, I’ve never seen it shown. I found out about it, because it was finally on Netflix, and it has finally come to DVD as well. This was based on Michael Fleming’s authorized biography of the Stooges,“The Three Stooges: From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons”

GCRN Presents: Movie Revolt’s Streaming for Your Pleasure: Comedic Actors Gone Serious
Welcome to the latest installment of Streaming for Your Pleasure. In this series I look at films currently Streaming on Netflix that fit into a specific topic. This week I’m looking at comedic actors that attempt to reinvent themselves as serious actors. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but in the end you have to at least respect the attempt of someone trying new things. Listed are films that are successful enough to garner your attention for a watch or two.

Baltmatrix Video Reviews: Subscribe Here

Go-buster Ace Candy Toy
Razer Black Widow Ultimate Keyboard
S.H. MonsterArts – Godzilla
Bulkhead – TF Prime Powerizer Voyager Class

Optibotimus Video Reviews: Subscribe Here

Video Review of the Transformers Prime (RiD) Deluxe Class: Hot Shot
Video Review of the Transformers Prime (RiD) Deluxe Class: Vehicon
Video review of the Transformers Movie: Allspark Prop Replica
Ride along and video review of Transformers: The Ride
Video Review of the Transformers Prime (RiD) Deluxe Class: Knock Out

TWIG – Jump The Shark Returns Episode 39
This week TFG1Mike runs Solo, as he goes through the renewed and cancelled shows from the current TV season. PLEASE NOTE: this was recorded before all final remaining “undecided” shows were either picked up or cancelled. There is also thoughts on the Seasons finale of The Big Bang Theory, Awake, Last Man Standing, Law and Order SVU, The Voice Season 2 finale and more. So sit back, relax, grab some snacks, and listen in as we tell you what you should be watching.

The Untitled Mike & Laura Project Episode 40
Sweet Lion of Zion! On this episode of The Untitled Mike & Laura Project we have our first celebrity interview and it’s with the one and only Phil LaMarr! We talk with Phil about all sorts of things, from comics to video games and so much more. Listen as he indulges some fan leanings of Mike and Laura by dishing some stories about some of our favorite properties. Can you say Metal Gear? I think you can.

Double D’s Daily Dose: Brief Reviews: The Avengers
Oh boy, what the hell can I possibly say about The Avengers that won’t already have been uttered by bright-faced fanboys as they make their way through the exit line at the local cinema? This is the big one. Well, sort of. 2012 will be notable in years to come as a year full of big ones. It’s not only host to the first ever major comic book crossover adaptation, but we’ll soon be witness to the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, the extremely long-awaited Alien semi-prequel, Prometheus, and Peter Jackson’s Hobbit adaptation. Oh, and let’s not forget the final chapter of Twilight! (Squeel!) The first of those to hit the big screen though and this year’s big summer kick-off movie was Marvel Studio’s The Avengers.

Double D’s Daily Dose: The Cranberries at the Sound Academy in Toronto, Canada
Well, the reason I didn’t update my blog yesterday was because I was in Toronto for a concert, so I figured I’d right a blog about it. It was a Cranberries concert. I actually talked a little about The Cranberries on GCRN’s music spotlight where I counted down my top ten bands of the 90’s. Check it out here. I just recently got into The Cranberries and I really dig their music so I was really excited to see them live.

Double D’s Daily Dose: Movie Top 25: #21 LOTR: The Two Towers
Now for the next entry in my top 25, #21: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Here we go again with another Lord of the Rings movie and then in a few more posts we’ll get yet another one. I’m going to be talking about Lord of the Rings for a while, but hey, I don’t mind since I love these movies! I’ve got quite an attachment to this one especially since I still remember seeing it in theatres when I was 13 and how excited I was. I don’t think I had ever seen something so epic in scope on the big screen before. There were goblins, trolls, elves, hobbits and ring-wraiths all popping out at me. My eyes were literally glued to the screen for about 3 hours.

Double D’s Daily Dose: Updates
First off, here’s an update on my life and my upcoming mission trip. Yeah, I know you probably don’t care and no one likes to hear about someone else’s pet cause, but I don’t care. This is my blog, so it’s also my soap-box. If you don’t like it, well that’s mildly upsetting. Anyway, first off, there’s a slight change in plans, due to a lack of interest in the original program. I’ll still be doing the same thing, but the dates have changed. I’ll no longer be going from June 17 to July 14. I’ll now be going from July 18 to August 19 as long as nothing comes up.

Double D’s Daily Dose: A Lame Acrostic Poem for Mother’s Day
Well, it’s mother’s day, a time to remind the one who pushed us out into this world that we love her. By the way, I love you Mom! Thanks for giving birth to me and then raising me. I know it wasn’t easy. Anyways, to celebrate the love of Mom’s everywhere, I wrote this lame acrostic poem. Enjoy!

Alan Sugar is back, and this time he’s taking on the world in this entertaining, opinionated and funny new book. Everyone knows that Lord Sugar has strong opinions and is not afraid to share them – no matter how controversial they may be. His latest book takes us into the world of Alan Sugar: entrepreneur, Twitter addict, television star, keen cyclist, peer of the realm and bemused grandfather.

In The Way I See It he shares his trenchant views on subjects as varied as over-priced poncy restaurants, the problems with British society, why French drivers wind him up, the secrets of his own success, and the reason he respects Katie Price more than most celebrities. Crammed full of brilliant stories, amusing rants and sound advice, this is the last word on life, the universe and everything from the nation’s favourite straight-talking businessman.

Which famous consumer electronics company did Alan Sugar once own?

a) Amstrad
b) Sony
c) Samsung

Email your answer and address to competition@blogomatic3000.com with SUGAR in the subject line. An email entry counts as ONE entry into the competition.

To double your chance of winning, and for a SECOND entry into the competition just become a fan of Blogomatic3000 on Facebook

The Way I See It: Rants, Revelations And Rules For Life is out now.
Competition closes May 27th.

COMPETITION T&C’s
• This promotion is open to UK residents only
• There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated, the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions
• Winners will be picked at random and contacted by the host site. The prize will be delivered to the winner within 28 days of confirmation of delivery address
• Prize consists of 5 x Alan Sugar – The Way I See it novel for 5 individual winners
• The editor’s decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into
• Blogomatic3000 does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet or email problems. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entrants must supply full details as required on the competition page, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes
• No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.
• This competition is not open to employees or contractors of Blogomatic3000 or any person directly or indirectly involved in the organisation or running of the competition, or their direct family members.
• This competition is a game promoted by Blogomatic3000. Blogomatic3000’s decision is final in every situation and no correspondence will be entered into. Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
• Prizes unclaimed after 28 days will be deemed to have been forfeited and Blogomatic3000 reserves the right to either offer the prize to the entrant whose name is next drawn at random or to re-offer the prize in any future competition.

1. Leona Lewis - Leona Lewis told The Sun newspaper: “…the universe is too big for us to be the only life forms…I hope aliens are like the Na’vi [Avatar]. They care about the things I’m passionate about – nature, the planet, the environment.”
2. Tom Cruise – “Yes, of course I believe in aliens…. there are many things out there, we just don’t know”
3. Sigourney Weaver - In a German magazine the actress stated “We are not alone in the universe. I think there’s a department in [the US] government which is exclusively dedicated to quashing reports about aliens. And that’s so unfair. It would be nice if we weren’t just able to read about it in the tabloids.”
4. Muhammad Ali - ‘The Greatest’ claimed to have witnessed 16 UFOs during his lifetime. ??“If you look into the sky in the early morning you see them playing tag between the stars.”
5. Robbie Williams – Cheeky Robbie spoke to the guardian at length about his belief in aliens claiming to have had an encounter with them. “I think maybe they’re making mistakes. I think the shield comes off by mistake and they were there all the time.”
6. Keanu Reeves – “Sure I believe in other forms of life. How can it be possible that we are the only living, sentient beings in the universe?”
   “I don’t know if we will get to them in our lifetimes, but in my view, it is inconceivable we are the only ones.”
7. Ke$ha - The pop star once stated “Yes, I do believe in Aliens. I haven’t ever seen any but i do know they exist”
8. US Presidents - Former US Presidents have expressed their beliefs in public in their speeches. In a speech to the UN, Ronald Regan suggested the US and USSR might be forced to become allies if Earth faced an alien invasion whilst Jimmy Carter on one of his campaign trial, claimed he saw a UFO and promised to expose the government’s UFO secrets if elected President.

The Darkest Hour is available to own on 3D Blu-ray and DVD from 21st May.

Rowdy Rathore is a modern re-working of the Telugu film Vikramarkudu, and features an all-star cast comprising of Akshay Kumar and Bollywood starlett Sonakshi Sinha who returns to screens after making her debut in 2010′s Dabangg. The film is directed by renowned Tamil choreographer and actor Prabhu Deva, who directed his first Hindi film,Wanted, in 2009 starring Salman Khan. The film marks producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s, a great director in his own right, first foray into the action genre.

In a gripping tale of mystery, deception and revenge, the thrilling story is told through the eyes of lead character Shiva (Kumar), who is a small-time thief addicted to acts of daredevilry. Shiva’s life is turned upside down when one day a young girl turns up and claims to be his daughter. Stunned by the revelation, he soon uncovers a dark and disturbing story behind her claim. It turns out that the girl is the daughter of IPS Police Officer Vikram Singh Rathore, who happens to be Shiva’s twin brother. When the two meet, and Vikram is murdered in front of Shiva, the latter must assume his identity and work undercover to bring his killers to justice.

Akshay Kumar returns to dazzling form in this all-action blockbuster, as he expertly plays two very different and intriguing characters. The film is enhanced by lighthearted moments of comedy, thrilling action sequences and a little sprinkling of romance to set things off. Rowdy Rathore showcases Akshay Kumar’s acting talents and versatility as an actor, and guarantees an exciting summer film for the whole family. The soundtrack, by composer-duo Sajid-Wajid , is out now. The film is also rumoured to feature a number of cameos from well-known Bollywood and South Indian stars.

Rowdy Rathore releases on 1st June 2012.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Today we look at a piece of work from a guy named Daikichi Amano who is a genius to some. His work has always struck up a debate of “is it art or porn” to which he answers it could fall into both. Love By The Scalpal Dog is a surreal, sick and disturbing piece of film. If you ever wanted to see lesbian action with a woman and a dog then this is the one for you. As I said in the video, this is for me one of those things you have to experience for curiosity’s sake. Some people get off on this and Daikichi Amano’s other work which is fine but I have never viewed this or similar work as anything more as a curiosity viewing and seeing how far some people will go.

Another week, another Monday. So it’s time for the rundown of DVDs and Blu-ray’s hitting stores online and offline this week. It’s another packed week, with plenty of movies waiting to take you money, so let us breakdown the new releases and highlight what you should – and shouldn’t – be buying from today, May 14th 2012.

PICK(S) OF THE WEEK

The Sitter (DVD/Blu-ray)
When the world’s most irresponsible babysitter takes three of the world’s worst kids on an unforgettable overnight adventure through the streets of New York City, it’s anyone’s guess who’s going to make it home in one piece. Starring Jonah Hill (Knocked Up, Get Him To The Greek) and Sam Rockwell (Moon & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), The Sitter is a new level of twisted and debauched hilarity from the director of Pineapple Express, David Gordon Green. The Sitter Review

The Divide (DVD/Blu-ray)
When a cataclysmic explosion devastates New York, eight strangers take refuge in the basement of their apartment building, a converted fallout shelter. The shelter suddenly comes under attack by men in hazmat suits forcing the strangers to join forces in a desperate bid to take on the new enemy. Amid the chaos there is no real understanding of what these hazmats are looking for and what drives them to be so merciless. Their sanctuary becomes a living hell where the survivors must use their wits to save themselves from becoming victims of the pack in a thrilling, action packed finale. The Divide Review

Osombie (DVD/Blu-ray)
Dusty, a yoga instructor from Colorado, who is on a desperate rescue mission to save her crazy brother Derek, a conspiracy theorist who is convinced Osama Bin Laden is still alive, despite having been buried at sea. In Afghanistan, Dusty falls in with a team of NATO Special Forces on a secret assignment. Turns out Derek is not so crazy after all, and that Osama has returned from his watery grave and is making an army of zombie terrorists. When the group crashes headlong into the growing zombie apocalypse, Dusty and the troops must find and destroy the root of the zombie insurgency before it infests the rest of the world. Osombie Review

And the rest…

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (DVD/Blu-ray)
Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris)-and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may give him an advantage over the renowned detective. Around the globe, headlines break the news: a scandal takes down an Indian cotton tycoon; a Chinese opium trader dies of an apparent overdose; bombings in Strasbourg and Vienna; the death of an American steel magnate… No one sees the connective thread between these seemingly random events-no one, that is, except the great Sherlock Holmes, who has discerned a deliberate web of death and destruction. At its center sits a singularly sinister spider: Moriarty. Sherlock Holmes 2 Review

Shame (DVD/Blu-ray)
Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a 30-something man living comfortably in New York balancing a busy job and active social life. When the wayward Sissy (Carey Mulligan), turns up at his apartment unannounced, Brandon’s carefully managed lifestyle spirals out of control. From award winning director Steve McQueen (Hunger), Shame is a compelling and timely examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us. Shame Review

Forbidden Zone (Blu-ray)
Step into The Forbidden Zone, a bizarro world of frog butlers, topless princesses, machine-gun toting teachers, eccentric dwarves, their demonic wives, and the Devil himself (Danny Elfman). You’ve never seen anything like it…! Check your basement. Is there door to the 6th Dimension there? If so, you’re going on a wild ride into excess as you join Frenchy and Rene in a land of musical madness, despotic queens and strange frog man-servants. If you’ve tired of Rocky Horror and had enough of Hedwig, it’s time discover The Forbidden Zone, a demented tribute to the hot jazz and dark glamour of a lost age, featuring new wave pop music and Cab Calloway-style insanity, filtered through the mind of a maniac! Forbidden Zone Review

Kiddy Grade: The Complete Series (DVD)
In Star Century Zero-One-Sixty-Five, the Global Union was born. To provide an impartial mediator to the various planetary governments of the G.U., the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs, or G.O.T.T. was simultaneously formed to settle economic disputes amongst the member planets. Existing in the shadows of the G.O.T.T., the ES Force serves as the G.O.T.T.’s primary law enforcement organization. ES Force members Eclair and Lumiere are on the front line, pursuing all manner of criminals and bringing them to justice. This is their story. Kiddy Grade Review

ID:A (DVD)
This riveting Scandinavian noir thriller in the tradition of ‘The Killing’ and ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’, stars Tuva Novotny (Eat Pray Love, Stoned) as a woman who awakens on a remote riverbank with a head wound, a bag with 2 million Euros and no memory of what happened or who she is. Attempting to piece together the complex mystery of her past, she soon realises there are violent strangers on her tail and her life is in grave danger. Also starring Flemming Enevold (The Killing II) and Carsten Bjornlund (The Thing; The Killing II), ID:A boasts a taut Hitchcockian plot that expertly teases the viewer with gradually revealed fragments of information before unveiling the final shocking truth. ID:A Review

Dragon Dynasty (DVD)
Returning from China, Marco Polo is given a stone by the Chinese Emperor after successfully establishing trading relationships with the country. Unknown to Marco, the stone unlocks the gates to the dragon world. When Marco is attacked on his journey, and the stone stolen, two fire-spitting dragons are released, bent on killing Marco and his companions. A merciless fight between man and beasts is about to begin… Dragon Dynasty Review

Breaking Bad: Season 3 (DVD)
Winner of two 2010 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bryan Cranston and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad: Season 3 returns, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “the best show on television.” Even though his cancer’s in remission, chemistry teacher-turned-meth maker Walter White (Cranston) still can’t catch a break. His wife (Anna Gunn) has filed for divorce, his DEA agent brother-in-law (Dean Norris) is out to bust him and a Mexican cartel just wants him dead. But with his family’s future still at stake Walt cooks up a deal that will make him a fortune, a scheme with a terrible price. Executive produced by Vince Gilligan and Mark Johnson. Win a copy of Breaking Bad: Season 3

Legendary Amazons (DVD/Blu-ray)
Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons”, this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan, a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts, they are called to fight their greatest ever battle, when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland.

Castle Freak (DVD)
Stuart Gordon takes you on a pulse-pounding rollercoaster ride in Castle Freak… one of the most macabre thrillers you’ll ever experience. John Reilly (Jeffrey Combs – Re-Animator), Susan (Barbara Crampton – From Beyond) and their daughter come face to face with terror when they travel to Italy to move into a castle they have inherited. They soon discover it is haunted by a relentlessly blood-thirsty creature. When mutilated bodies start turning up, John must uncover the Reilly family’s dark secret to save his wife and child from the sadistic being….

Other DVDs and Blu-rays out this week:
Underworld: Awakening
American Dad: Volume 7 Boxset
The River Murders
Captains Of The Final Frontier
Tour Of Duty: Season 2 Box Set
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Lethal Vengeance
A Call Girl
The Exterminator (ArrowDrome)
Uncertainty
American Translation
DeadTime
Creature

Each week we bring you news on what is being released into the gaming world…. So lets get it started! Kicking off this list of games which will be released 14th May – 20th May 2012 is:

Max Payne 3 (PS3 / Xbox 360):
For Max Payne, the tragedies that took his loved ones years ago are wounds that refuse to heal. No longer a cop, close to washed up and addicted to pain killers, Max takes a job in São Paulo, Brazil, protecting the family of wealthy real estate mogul Rodrigo Branco, in an effort to finally escape his troubled past. But as events spiral out of his control, Max Payne finds himself alone on the streets of an unfamiliar city, desperately searching for the truth and fighting for a way out. Featuring cutting edge shooting mechanics for precision gunplay, advanced new Bullet Time and Shootdodge effects, full integration of Natural Motion’s Euphoria Character Behaviour system for lifelike movement and a dark and twisted story, Max Payne 3 is a seamless, highly detailed, cinematic experience from Rockstar Games.

Diablo III (PC/Mac)
The game takes place on Sanctuary, a world of dark fantasy. Unbeknownst to most of its inhabitants, Sanctuary was saved some twenty years ago from the demonic forces of the underworld by a few brave and powerful heroes. Most of those warriors who directly faced Hell’s armies – and were fortunate enough to survive – went mad from their experiences. And most of the others have buried their haunted memories and pushed the horrors from their thoughts. In Diablo 3 players will return to Sanctuary to confront evil in its many forms once again. Diablo 3 will be a fitting sequel to Diablo 2, with the easy interface, fast-paced action, and visceral gameplay that Diablo players have come to expect and enjoy. It will also include many new features that will take the Diablo action-RPG experience to the next level.

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL (Xbox 360 / Wii / PS3 / DS / 3DS):
Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL features fast-paced console fighting in iconic locations and an all-star cast of fan-favourites recruited from Cartoon Network’s most popular television series including: Ben 10, Samurai Jack, Johnny Bravo, The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory and more. The all-new brawler video game with 26 playable characters, gives players the power to duke it out with their friends for cartoon supremacy. A great gift for kids and adults wanting to step into the shoes of their beloved cartoon characters both new and old. Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL is jam-packed with a huge cast of characters, powerful dual-character synergy attacks and five brand new battle arenas. Additionally, the game will feature a wide-variety of exciting multiplayer options including numerous battle modes, as well as an indepth story mode that introduces an all-new co-op gameplay experience that supports up to four players. An in-game store will give fans an opportunity to unlock new characters and arenas, unique costumes, and memorable cartoon clips from their favorite TV shows.

Other games out this week include:
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (PC)
7.62: High Calibre (PC)
Blood Of Europe (PC)
NecroVision: Lost Company (PC)
Reign: Conflict Of Nations (PC)
Ascension To The Throne (PC)
Athletics Tournament: Summer Challenge (PS3 / Wii / PC / Xbox 360)
Bus Simulator 2 (PC)
Death Track: Resurrection (PC)
El Matador (PC)
Falcon 4.0: Allied Force (PC)
Farewell To Dragons (PC)
Forklift Truck Simulator (PC)
Garden Simulator (PC)
Snajper (PC)
Space Rangers 2: Re-Boot (PC)
Swash Bucklers (PC)
The Farm (PC)
The Tomorrow War (PC)
You Are Empty (PC)

Stars: Federico Castelluccio, Aaron Hendry, Dion Basco, Stana Katic, Peter Kwong, James Hong | Written by Berkeley Anderson | Directed by Matt Codd

When Syfy films are thought up they must sound good on paper, it’s just a shame that many of them never get to the screen in good shape.  Come up with an adequate story and a dream that CGI will add in all the entertainment value then hope for the best, the question has to be will CGI dragons been good enough for Dragon Dynasty?

Marco and his small group of explorers from Europe are the first to visit China and look for chances to trade, although the emperor is happy to have them there some are not, namely Shang Sel who works against the wishes of the emperor and releases dragons to kill the European visitors.  As Marco and his group return home they are stalked by the dragons and their master.  Can Marco defeat the dragons and return to the home he misses so much?

I guess the first thing people expect from a review from me about a Syfy film is exactly what impact does CGI have on it? With Dragon Dynasty it’s actually quite surprising.  There are moments where the CGI is actually very bad, surprisingly though the bad CGI does not include the dragons which actually look quite good.  I was quite impressed by the use of them really as the shots we are presented with create the feeling of an actual attack rather than trying to hide a weak film behind the big explosions and fire breathing which could have been so easily resorted to.  We get small shots of the dragons as they fly through the air, and to the most point these actually compliment the scenes we view rather than dominate them, which is a pleasant surprise.  CGI is of course something we have to accept in all films now; it’s just nice to see when it’s done right for the most part.

The acting is adequate, but sometimes fails which is a shame in a film that could have been more than what it is.  The main characters that we are meant to connect with do provide a believable representation of who they are trying to be but it feels like the bit players who only last a few scenes just don’t really try, making the story feeling flat in places which weakens the film as a whole.  It is nice though that Peter Kwong and James Hong star in this and add a little Big Trouble in Little China feel to this, it’s something that gets the attention of the film fans at least.

The big problem with Dragon Dynasty though is the lack of caring for the characters.  This is a very “paint by numbers” film, taking the normal structure of a film, putting an average story over it and then hoping for the best.  What it leaves you with is something that may be entertaining to a point but is nothing special.  If anything I spent most of the film wondering why the people would return home to Europe knowing they were being stalked by dragons. Would you not stay in the home of the beasts and ask for help from the people who should be able to provide help in defeating them? That is a question never answered.  For a Syfy film it is one of the more watchable, and the CGI does not stand in its way (which is refreshing) it’s just a shame the story can’t stand out any more than it does.

Dragon Dynasty is released on DVD on Monday May 14th.

Stars: Nicholas D’Agosto, Arielle Kebbel, Regina Hall, Bret Harrison, Josh Gad, Danneel Harris, Carmen Electra | Written by Josh Heald | Directed by Phil Dornfeld

Three college pals, depressed with their current social situation, decide to venture to New Orleans in pursuit of the happiness that has thus far eluded them – boobs, beads and brews. What could go possibly go wrong?

Mardi Gras, also know as Mardi Gras: Spring Break in the US, has quietly snuck out onto DVD here in the UK with no fanfare whatsoever (I couldn’t even find the UK DVD box art for this review!) whilst American Reunion has has a huge marketing push and a theatrical release. The difference between the two? The budget. In other words, Mardi Gras is just as good as it’s gross-out comedy big-screen counterpart and features a cast that it just as likeable – in fact I’d go as far as saying the cast of this film often out shines that of the Pie flick!

Nicholas D’Agosto once again takes the lead, as he did in Fired Up! - the fantastic first comedy from Easy A director Will Gluck, and once again proves that acting chops to not a big-name career make – otherwise D’Agosto would be up there with Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler. Yes, he’s that good. In Mardi Gras he has support from the always watchable, and frankly gorgeous, Arielle Kebbel, who herself was in an American Pie flick (…Presents: Band Camp) back in 2005, as his characters love interest; and the comedy duo of Bret Harrison (Reaper) and Josh Gad (The Rocker) as his two best friends and spring break cohorts…

And that’s the thing with Mardi Gras – I couldn’t help but think that each and every one of the cast deserve to be much more well-known in the mainstream. In fact the entire film could do with being much more well-known! This is the type of flick that I love – it’s a mixture of gross-out humour (with lashings of nudity), great jokes, and a heartfelt story; and joins the pantheon of superb “unknown” comedies that are available on DVD here in the UK, including other teen movies such as Dirty Deeds and Fired Up!

If you a fan a comedies such as American Pie then you should track down Mardi Gras as soon as possible. The film is available on DVD now from all good retailers.

1. “I am the Great Cornholio, I need T.P. for my bunghole” – Beavis
2. “Do you have T.P. for my bunghole? I would hate for my holio to get polio.” – Beavis as Cornholio
3. “Thinking sucks” -Beavis “Work sucks, let’s go break something” -Butthead
4. “Hey Butt-head, I dreamed I was at school last night. Do you think that counts for attendance?”-  Beavis
5. “Beavis, you monkeyspank.” -Butthead “Shut-up fart knocker!!” –Beavis
6. “My list includes any girl with at least one boob” Butthead “My list is like your list, but it also includes your MOM” –Beavis
7. “Dammit Beavis, you just sent my boner to the ground.” – Butt-head
8. “If they like, did this chart long enough, they would find out where herpes began.” – Beavis and butthead ripping on a Jersey Shore Episode, one of the girls is going over a chart of all the people she hooked up with.
9. “If you took an x-ray of your weiner would you see a bone?”- Beavis
10. “A bed shouldn’t have instructions. Except for, like, ‘Sleep.’”- Beavis, on Ikea.

Beavis and Butt-Head airs on Monday nights at 10pm on MTV UK.

Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, John C. Reilly, Sir Ben Kingsley, J.B. Smoove | Written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer | Directed by Larry Charles

“The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.”

Sacha Baron Cohen’s Channel 4 series Da Ali G Show rocketed him to international success and acclaim roughly ten years ago – the three main characters from that show have each enjoyed cinematic outings (to varying degrees of success) making the Dictator, General Aladeen his 1st original character to grace the silver screen. “Original” may be a misnomer however, as Aladeen is a gestalt surrogate used to embody every despotic cliché one can imagine.

The plot, such as it is, borrows heavily from Coming to America – Aladeen is ungraciously ripped from his luxuriant lifestyle and plonked penniless in Manhattan, shorn of comedy oversized beard or fawning acolytes. This fish out of water discovers he has a few days to reclaim his rightful place before Machiavellian antagonists replace him permanently and sell off his assets to Western corporations hungry for his nation’s oil reserves. As chance would have it, Aladeen crosses paths with a vegan feminist (Faris). Soon his path to redemption begins to unfurl in front of him. Of course, all of this is mere place-setting for a relentless torrent of gags and skits that mine the baser depths of the comedy spectrum.  Choosing a South Park-style approach to political correctness; every minority, race, religion, style tribe & lifestyle choice is attacked in some form of gross out gag, misanthropic put-down, or withering disdain.  To Cohen’s credit, the jokes come flying so frequently that even with roughly a 50% hit rate there’s enough wrongness to keep most audience members chuckling along.

With a runtime that barely eclipses an hour before the credits roll, The Dictator is brief enough to not outstay its welcome, but it does smack somewhat of a wasted opportunity that potentially could have provided a far more pointed and biting satire. A climactic speech hints at contemporaneous observational insight that could have achieved more were it spread throughout the movie.

Sasha Baron Cohen’s previous films have relied on using members of the public to be shocked into unwitting reactions and the spontaneous comedy that comes from these moments– the rodeo in Borat, the fashion show in Bruno and so on. With The Dictator, Cohen’s star has risen so high that such shock tactics would have proven futile.  Consequently, with this scripted excursion , it feels like he has gone out of his way to be significantly more offensive and puerile to elicit a reaction from the paying audience. Whether he succeeds is something that only your own comedy sensibilities can decide: certainly some audience members chose to walk out at the screening I attended.

Unfortunately, the final impression is of somebody trying a bit too hard to replicate former glories and coming up short. Cohen is a natural comedian and a brilliant character actor – his turns in both Hugo and Sweeney Todd were both extremely good, which leads this reviewer to conclude that perhaps he is better suited to playing along in other people’s films.

The Dictator – you probably will laugh, but you won’t be proud of yourself for doing so. The film is released across the UK from May 16th.

All you have to do to enter the Kia Dubstep Competition is shoot a video of you, or your mates, dancing to the dubstep tune “I Can’t Stop” from DJ Flux Pavilion and upload it to the Kia Dubstep Contest page on Facebook or via YouTube. Your entry does not have to be amazing… but you do need to make a genuine dance attempt, judging by the videos already entered don;t yourself too seriously and have fun! The finalists will win a trip to Euro 2012 that will include flights, hotels and a ticket to watch the Euro 2012 opening match in Warsaw, Poland; and the grand prize winner will receive a new Kia Picanto!

I’m so excited about the competiton I’ve even shot a video of myself dancing with my sister, check it out below! Here’s hoping I win the grand prize of the Kia Picanto – it’s a great car and we’re in need of new transport here at Blogomatic3000 HQ.

Sponsored Post

Yes, in what is sure to be a crowd-pleasing move, developers Red Lynx have changed absolutely none of the core gameplay that made the first game so great. Instead they have tweaked, refined and “evolved” the physics, the graphics, the entire game, to make what I think is this year’s must-own XBLA title. There’s still the chance to grab huge air, perform back flips, front flips and more; the hilarious rag doll physics are still in place, as is the gradually increasing (and often times gradually frustrating) difficulty level.

Speaking of graphics, those present in Trials Evolution are a wonder to behold – especially given that this is a downloadable title (which is doesn’t actually feel like to be honest) – with an attention to detail, even down to the minutiae like birds flying across the sky and ripples on puddles. Best of all the game has been freed from it’s indoor setting and now the action takes place in a plethora of different outdoor locations; and despite it being a very linear game the graphics make it feel very much like an open world environment!

What made the original so great was that despite any frustrations with the game you kept on coming back to try and beat each and every level. And Trials Evolution is no different. But what raises the bar over Trials HD is the addition of multiplayer. There are two different multiplayer modes in the game, (up to) four player motorcross and then there’s the awesome Trials mode which sees you race the “ghosts” of three other racers, made up of your Xbox Live friends list – you can spend 2 minutes completing one level and getting the silver or bronze, and then another hour trying to beat your own score and get the gold and then along come your mates and play the game and beat your time/score. And you attack the level all over again, just trying to be the best… And through it all it never feels like a chore.

Trials Evolution is, in the end, exactly what it says: an evolution of the original game. It doesn’t reinvent the franchise, instead it takes what made the original so addictively great and makes it even better.