Idle Hands

Pacific Rim Drift Space Featurette

2013-05-23T13:13:00.004-04:00

When we caught up with Guillermo del Toro at NY Comic Con last October, he explained how the massive Jaeger robots required two pilots to handle the load and even hinted we'd see what would happen when only one pilot was left to take on the task single-handedly. In this new Pacific Rim Fearturette, we explore the relationship between man and robot and more importantly, how two human beings become one pilot.

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes "Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' Pacific Rim." In theaters July 12th.

The Aquabats Super Show Season 1 DVD Review

2013-05-22T16:39:00.000-04:00

We live in a bold, exciting time where TV shows, both animated and live action, can get a green light even if they make very little sense. Ongoing plot lines are abandoned in favor of stand alone stories that harken to what has come before and incorporate those elements for the enjoyment of those who were actually paying attention. More important than all of this is a level of ridiculous that lies somewhere between a Troma film and your average, wacky daytime Soap Opera. This is not a ridiculous that leaves us scratching our heads and blindly awaiting the next chapter just because we have to see what incredibly messed up moment the creators will throw at us next. This is good old fashioned slapstick..and superior comedic timing...and the power of a goofy face..and excellent writing by people that understand the difference between throwing a joke at the audience and waiting those 3 extra beats for facial expressions and blind responses that punch up the awkward and leave any little kid, or adult, busting a gut. THIS, my friends, is the stuff that drives The Aquabats Super Show.

From the Co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba!, Aquabats! frontman Christian Jacobs has crafted the perfect blend of live-action and animation following the amazingly wild comic antics of The Aquabats, the galaxy’s first group of musical, crime-fighting superheroes. MC Bat Commander, Crash McLarson (with the power to grow large when he feels extra emotional), Ricky Fitness (who is super fast but a bit germaphobic), EagleBones Falconhawk (with his laser-blasting guitar, eagle vision and spirit animal sidekick "The Dude") and Jimmy the Robot (well..he's a robot..sort of speaks for itself) will take you along on their mostoutrageous adventures to protect the world from the creatures and super villains out to destroy it. These monsters include a furry muppet-like beast with mechanical tentacles, a ManAnt with delusions of world conquest, a female mad scientist with a flair for monster creation and cleaver disguises, ....and a giant chicken.

Jacobs says it best in the pilot commentary when he says "The show was supposed to be about us coming to the aid of kids in peril, but now it's really about us trying to save ourselves...and trying to find food." I'd say the adjustment was the right choice. In each episode, the Aquabats stumble onto a monstrous situation and have to overcome overwhelming odds to save mankind..and themselves....usually just themselves. Their comedic timing is pitch perfect and the level of absurdity is just wacky enough to make a little kid crack up right alongside their parents. In my case, just remove the kids and imagine me and many friends consistently laughing at every gag this show threw out there..and all without the help of alcohol! That's a special level of insanity. As a bonus, every episode jams in a mini cartoon in a sort of mock-anime style, beefing our heroes up in a more super heroic fashion. Picture this as a version of the show, which is already crazy as all hell, now with no limits. Amazingly fun stuff!

The Aquabats Super Show Season 1 includes 13 episodes handling topics like long lost, fiercely competitive eagle brothers, the humanity of a robot and his mothering instincts, how lack of burgers effects heroing, abuse of shape changing pilgrim boys, how to defeat a floating eye of death and just how long SHOULD you sing a song called "Don't Stop, Never Quit." Extras include the original pilot, with or without commentary from the cast. This team is so naturally funny, just hearing them enjoy their own low budget pilot antics is hysterical in itself. This should make you want to watch all the commentaries which you'll find under episode selection (there are four of them, not including the pilot.) We also get Bloopers and a behind the scenes look, which may as well be called "Also Bloopers which may or may not have been staged." If you are looking to turn your brain down a few hundred kilowatts and laugh endlessly at some non-taxing, kiddie safe, dumb fun, The Aquabats Super Show will provide the most super powered dumb fun around.

The Aquabats Super Show Season 1 DVD is available NOW. Click to grab a copy!

The World's End

2013-05-22T14:26:00.000-04:00

20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hell bent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King, a 40-year old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their home town and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub, The World's End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind's. Reaching The World's End is the least of their worries.

The World’s End opens in the UK July 19th and in the States August 23rd.

Marvel Knights Animation- Wolverine: Origin

2013-05-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

Shout! Factory continues their series of motion comics with the book that redefined our man Wolverine...for better or worse...

This summer, Marvel fans will learn the secret history of WOLVERINE that changed the Marvel Universe forever! Written by Eisner Award winner Paul Jenkins from a story by Joe Quesada, Paul Jenkins and Bill Jemas with captivating artwork by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove. The adventures of Wolverine’s early days and the startling revelation of his true origins are brought to life when MARVEL KNIGHTS ANIMATION’S WOLVERINE: ORIGIN debuts for the first time on home entertainment shelves nationwide on July 9, 2013 from Shout! Factory. This highly anticipated Marvel Knights Animation presentation boasts engaging storytelling combined with visual rich animation and insightful bonus content. Featuring cover art illustration by Joe Quesada and Richard Isanove, this deluxe DVD is collected in a unique comic book style packaging that bridges the comic book to DVD concept. As one of the most important stories of all time in the Marvel Universe, this DVD is a must have for loyal fans, comic book enthusiasts and collectors. MARVEL KNIGHTS ANIMATION’S WOLVERINE: ORIGIN is priced to own at $14.97. (11.99 if you pre-order below!)

Exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content features interviews with the creators and illustrators to provide an intimate and retrospective look at the development and production process of this amazing story. Marvel Knights Animation remains true to the heritage of panel-by-panel graphic storytelling, boasting groundbreaking illustrations, sensational soundscapes, and of course, the explosiveness of the Mighty Marvel Universe. Behind every image and every word lies the genius of Marvel’s celebrated creators.

SYNOPSIS: Wolverine is the best there is at what he does - although of course, what he does isn’t very nice. But long before he was a member of the X-Men, a tormented experiment of the Weapon-X project, or even a savage bar brawler known as Logan – he was simply a young boy.

What incredible forces created this man, the world’s greatest killing machine? For years, Wolverine has searched desperately for answers from his past, from the wilds of the Canadian Wilderness to the teeming cities of Japan and beyond. And despite his perseverance and longing for the truth, he remains an enigma to himself and those around him. But, in this landmark event, Marvel reveals all: the birth and childhood of young James Howlett…the intriguing secrets of his family history…and the tragedy that changed everything.

Welcome to the greatest story never told.

Bonus Features Include:
An exclusive retrospective with the Eisner Award-Winning creative team behind Origin.

Total Feature Running Time: +/- 66 minutes

CLICK HERE to pre-order Wolverine: Origins!

Superman: Man of Steel: Fate of Your Planet Clip

2013-05-21T23:34:00.000-04:00

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”), and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue (upcoming “The Seventh Son”). Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Ayelet Zurer (“Angels and Demons”), and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”).

Rounding out the cast are Christopher Meloni (upcoming “42”) as U.S. military man Colonel Hardy, Harry Lennix (“State of Play”) as General Swanwick, Michael Kelly (“The Adjustment Bureau”) as Steve Lombard, and Richard Schiff (TV’s “The West Wing”) as Dr. Emil Hamilton.

“Man of Steel” is being produced by Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer & Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Entertainment.

Xbox One Revealed

2013-05-21T16:59:00.000-04:00

A new vision for the future comes to life today as Microsoft Corp. unveils Xbox One , the all-in-one gaming and entertainment system created for today and the next generation. At Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., the company showcased how Xbox One puts you at the center of all your games, TV, movies, music, sports and Skype.

“Xbox One is designed to deliver a whole new generation of blockbuster games, television and entertainment in a powerful, all-in-one device,” said Don Mattrick, president, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Our unique, modern architecture brings simplicity to the living room and, for the first time ever, the ability to instantly switch across your games and entertainment.”
Don Mattrick, president, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, introduces Xbox One — the all-in-one entertainment system.

Introducing Xbox One:
With Xbox One, games push the boundaries of realism, and TV obeys your commands. Say “Xbox On” to launch your personalized Xbox One Home screen, discover what is popular on TV or see friends’ latest gaming achievements all using the most natural interface — your voice. The more you interact with Xbox One, the more it gets to know you and learns what you like. Some of the breakthrough Xbox One features that put you at the center of your living room entertainment include the following:

• TV on Xbox One. Navigate and watch live TV from your cable, telco or satellite set-top box through your Xbox One. Microsoft is committed to bringing live TV through various solutions to all the markets where Xbox One will be available.
• Home. Turn on your entertainment system with two powerful words, “Xbox On,” and a custom-tailored Home dashboard welcomes you with your favorite games, TV and entertainment.

• Snap. Do two things at once on the biggest screen in your home. Use Snap to jump into a multiplayer battle while watching your favorite movie, talk with friends on Skype while watching live TV, or track your fantasy team on TV as you watch the big game and more.

• Skype for Xbox One. Specially designed for Xbox One, talk with friends on your TV in stunning HD, or for the first time ever, hold group Skype calls on your TV.

• Trending. Stay on top of what is hot on TV by discovering the entertainment that is popular among your friends, and see what is trending within the Xbox community.

• OneGuide. Find your favorite entertainment easily, searching by network, name or time, all with the sound of your voice and presented in a tailored program guide.

To create the most advanced Xbox system ever designed for games, TV and entertainment, Microsoft created a state-of-the-art gaming operating system and fused it with an equally amazing entertainment platform, so you will not have to switch inputs to watch TV or play a game. An eight-core, x86 processor and more than 5 billion transistors helps make lag and load times a thing of the past, so you can instantly jump between a game and your entertainment at lightning speed or run a host of apps right alongside your game with no loss in performance.Introducing Xbox One titles and exclusives

Gaming on Xbox One immerses gamers in cinematic worlds that look like real life, with characters that feel more human than ever before. AAA blockbuster titles unveiled for Xbox One include the following:

• “Forza Motorsport 5” from Turn 10 Studios is the latest edition of the highest-rated racing franchise of the past 10 years. Built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox One and the infinite power of the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel. “Forza Motorsport 5” sets a new bar for racing games and will be available exclusively for Xbox One at launch.

• “Call of Duty: Ghosts” is the next generation of “Call of Duty” and a stunning leap forward for the franchise. It delivers an all-new world, an all-new cast of characters and an all-new story, built on a new, next-generation engine. The next-generation technical innovations built to support the incredible gameplay advancements make this the most beautiful and immersive “Call of Duty” experience yet. Activision and Microsoft also announced the renewal of their close partnership that will see both the return of the “Call of Duty® Championship,” presented by Xbox, as well as all-new downloadable content debuting first and exclusively on the Xbox platform.

• “FIFA 14,” “Madden NFL 25,” “NBA LIVE 14,” and “EA SPORTS UFC” from EA SPORTS will change the way consumers experience and play sports games. Driven by the new EA SPORTS Ignite engine, these new EA SPORTS games will deliver massive innovations in human intelligence, true player motion and living worlds. Adding to its commitment to Xbox One, EA SPORTS also announced the promise of exclusive content to be revealed in the coming months.

• “Quantum Break” from Remedy Entertainment is a revolutionary entertainment experience from the creators of “Max Payne” and “Alan Wake” that blurs the line between gaming and TV by integrating drama and gameplay into one seamless, uniquely immersive experience. How you play the game impacts the show, and the show informs how you play the game.

In addition to the amazing lineup of games coming to Xbox One, Microsoft unveiled exclusive content partnerships with some of the top names in TV, sports and entertainment.

• “Halo” television series. Award-winning filmmaker, director and producer, Steven Spielberg will executive-produce an original “Halo” live-action television series with exclusive interactive Xbox One content, created in partnership with 343 Industries and Xbox Entertainment Studios.

• National Football League (NFL). A multiyear, landmark partnership will deliver the ultimate interactive NFL television experiences for the next-generation Xbox One and leverage Microsoft devices and services to evolve both in-game and on the sideline. The NFL on Xbox will redefine broadcast experiences through innovations around Skype, Xbox SmartGlass and player-worn technology; add an all-new fantasy football solution for the biggest screen in the house; and create a personalized NFL destination only available on Xbox One.

Introducing a new generation of Xbox Live:

Xbox One is built to amplify an all-new generation of Xbox Live that is more powerful, more personal and more intelligent. Unleashing the virtually unlimited power of the cloud makes everything more convenient and accessible, from allowing games to be installed in segments so that gameplay can start quickly to updates downloading in the background. Save and store your personalized profile, games and entertainment in the cloud to access them anytime, from any Xbox One console. In addition, existing Xbox Live Gold Membership for Xbox 360 will seamlessly carry over to Xbox One.Xbox Live takes you deeper into the games you love with all-new features.

• Smart Match. A new Smart Match matchmaking system virtually eliminates waiting in lobbies by estimating wait times and finding people you want to play with while you are enjoying other activities — reputation fundamentally matters and helps find best matches.

• Game DVR. A dedicated Game DVR captures and accesses your magic moments, all saved to the cloud. Along with sharing tools, you will have the most amazing bragging rights with Xbox Live.

• Living Games. Dynamic, living worlds evolve and improve the more you play, and advanced artificial intelligence can learn to play like you, so friends can play against your shadow.

• Expanded achievements. A new and expanded achievements system captures video of your epic moments, continues to grow a game’s achievements over time and rewards you in new ways, and your Gamerscore carries over from Xbox 360.

• Xbox SmartGlass. Xbox SmartGlass is natively part of the Xbox One platform, built in from the beginning with the ability to quickly render content directly onto your device, and now more devices can connect at one time for multiplayer and shared entertainment.

Introducing the Xbox One look and feel:

New Xbox One hardware is sleek and modern and complements any décor. The console is shaped in the 16:9 aspect ratio and employs a horizontal orientation optimized for its high-speed Blu-ray™ disc player. It is molded in a deep and rich liquid black color and includes a distinctive beveled edge.

The completely redesigned, revolutionary 1080p Kinect is more precise, more responsive and more intuitive. Its unparalleled vision, motion and voice technology let you reach into games and entertainment like never before by dramatically expanding its field of view and fidelity. It works in nearly any lighting condition, recognizes precise motion control from a slight wrist rotation, and distinguishes your voice even in a noisy room using advanced noise isolation.

The class-leading Xbox controller is refreshed with more than 40 technical and design innovations. Updated directional pad, thumb stick and ergonomic fit immerse all gamers in ways that are uniquely Xbox, and precision and control have been dramatically increased with all new vibrating impulse triggers. The Xbox One Wireless Controller is designed to work in concert with the new Kinect, allowing the two to be paired automatically to create seamless player syncing.

There's no set date for the Xbox One to hit stores yet, but a release date of November for Call of Duty Ghosts could present a safe estimate.

Marvel's Avengers Assemble Cartoon Trailer

2013-05-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

The Biggest Heroes. The Biggest Threats. The Biggest Stakes!

It’s the most anticipated new animated series to launch this year and this July, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble reunites Marvel’s most iconic Super Heroes – Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow & Falcon! Featuring the team that took the world by storm in Marvel’s The Avengers, no fan can miss the action-packed adventures of Earth’s Mightiest as they must protect the Marvel Universe from the biggest threats they’ve ever seen – all while working together as a team! The world's most dangerous Super Villains don't stand a chance when the Avengers Assemble!
Hit the jump for the goods!

Don’t miss the miss the premiere episode of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble SUNDAY, JULY 7 with a special one-hour preview on SUNDAY, MAY 26 (both at 11:00 a.m., ET/PT) inside the Marvel Universe programming block on Disney XD.

Call of Duty Ghosts

2013-05-21T15:00:00.001-04:00

In the past, when developers have shown me kill crazed zombies attacking military personnel, I've been tempted to play. Today, Activision showed me a game with an emotional core, insane graphics and ...a soldier puppy...and I aim to play it....when I can afford that damn XBOXone...probably in about two years. I'M A'COMMIN FOR YOU.....SLOWLY!!!

Oh..wait..it will be available for the 360 as well. I'm in. You can pre-order RIGHT HERE!

It appears we've taken on an enemy..and lost. 10 years later, the remnants of our fighting forces have banned together as Ghosts, elite members all and top of their game in each of their fields. The landscape is post-apocalyptic and the stakes have never been higher..but that's OK. You get a dog to back you up. How can you lose?

Infinity Ward Executive Producer Mark Rubin and the Call of Duty: Ghosts development team discuss the all-new world, story and characters, and take you inside the new, next-gen engine.

Now, give me a Classic G.I. Joe game just like this. Chop chop.

Call of Duty: Ghosts releases globally on November 5, 2013. Keep up with all of the latest information by following us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/codghosts) and on Twitter (@CallofDuty and @InfinityWard). Visit www.callofduty.com/ghosts

A New "The Wolverine" Trailer

2013-05-21T12:20:00.003-04:00

Complete with a roboty looking Silver Samurai and Viper with a snake tongue, which of course makes me think this one will probably miss the mark again. Don't get me wrong, I'll still be there opening night, but with very low expectations.

The first Wolverine movie was fun enough, but if it had just been a film about two brothers with powers who are virtually immortal and always at each other's throats, it would have been far better received. This was clearly not OUR Wolverine. It's a fairly universal disrespect for YEARS of comics with brilliant story telling packed into every page that irks me. Why do they think they can do it "better"? Why do they NEED to TRY to do it better? There are lessons to be learned from the success of The Avnegers and Iron Man that don't seem to be sticking outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though I think you'd agree that Amazing Spider-Man made it work. When in doubt, go to the comics. The material is proven and can't fail. Abandoning that, lead with a respect for the source material and an even larger respect for the character and what makes them so great and I can't see how you can go wrong. Spider-Man written with his core beliefs and attitude in tact can be transplanted into any well written story and you've got the start of something great. That's what this film will come down to. Shed the egos, trust the comics and build a good, solid story around characters we love. That's all I really want. Agreed?

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

The Wolverine hits theaters July 26th, 2013.

G.I. Joe Custom Show at SubUrban Vinyl May 31

2013-05-20T20:38:00.001-04:00

On Friday, May 31st from 4-9pm, SubUrban Vinyl will become a G.I. Joe emporium with a family-friendly event dedicated to the most influential toy line of our generation: Hasbro's G.I. Joe figures.

The custom toy show involves 30+ of today's most talented artists contributing 100+ custom toys. Based on The Loyal Subjects' newly released line of G.I. Joe mini figures and featuring detailed sculpting and custom paint work, these production toys have evolved over the past few weeks into a vast array of one-of-a-kind sculptures at the hands of the artists below:

ARTIST ROSTER:

Alison Perez

AVES

Billy Roids

Blazon Brikhaus

Bryan Collins

Cash Cannon

Carson Catlin

ChipSoup

Dave Webb

Dead Hand Toys

DeeTen

Don P

Evilos

Forces of Dorkness

Fuller

Ian Ziobrowski

J Fury

JacobJams

Jason Chalker

Jay222

JC Rivera

Joe Scarano

Juan Muniz

Les Schettkoe

Matt A*

Mike Die

Mr. Munk

Nasty Neil

Nati513

NEMO

OsirisOrion

Rusted Halo

Shawn Wigs

Tasha Zimich

In addition to the custom toy show, Hasbro has agreed to lend SubUrban Vinyl props from the G.I. Joe movie, plus a few of their in-house artists to contribute custom toys and artwork. The designer of the GI Joe figures, Les Schettkoe, will be flying out for the opening night party, as will Jonathan Cathey of The Loyal Subjects. Hasbro employees will be in attendance as well.

Several artists have created paintings and prints inspired by the G.I. Joe toy line. All original artwork and prints will be available to purchase at the SubUrban Vinyl shop, and online after the opening night as well. Les Schettkoe and The Loyal Subjects will be creating special, exclusive G.I. Joe t-shirts for the event.

Food and drink will be provided. Artists will be in attendance for appearances and signings. The show will be up for viewing at SubUrban for one week. Any custom toys, artwork and apparel unsold at the opening night party will be made available online in the SubUrban Vinyl store.

The opening night party runs from 4-9pm on Friday May 31st at the following address:

SubUrban Vinyl
4 Frederick Street
Waldwick, NJ 07463
phone: (201) 857-2480

Star Wars Rebels for Fall 2014

2013-05-20T11:26:00.001-04:00

Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an exciting, all-new animated television series based on one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

Leading the development of the series is a creative team of exceptional talent. Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the Emmy nominated Star Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008. Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Gargoyles.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, "The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we're thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD's viewers."

"I couldn't be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe," said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. "I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars."

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV -- an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. Casting will be announced at a later date. More information about this developing project will be found on StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.

Holy Crap Someone Made Buffy Porn

2013-05-20T10:40:00.002-04:00

Don't know how I missed this. Knowing me, I didn't, we talked about it, I saw something shiny, my world marched on and then I rediscovered it today. It's fun having a brain like mine. The world is always newwww. Anyways, after a weekend filled with Star Trek, Aquabats, The Cottage and The Steampunk World's Fair, I thought we'd kick Monday off right...with porn. Helloooo Lexi!

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer XXX trailer is from 2012, so I assume this title is available already. Don't pretend you aren't Googling it right now.

Once Upon A Time Season 2 on Blu-ray/DVD August 13

2013-05-17T19:58:00.000-04:00

Relive every thrilling moment of the fairy tale-inspired series when “Once Upon a Time: The Complete Second Season” casts its tantalizing spell onto Blu-ray/DVD. The curse is broken, magic has arrived, and there’s no telling what – or who – will be unleashed! Now the exiled fairy tale characters must grapple with a flood of awakened memories as they come to grips with their new “reality.” Old loyalties will be tested, new heroes will emerge, and vengeful villains will wreak havoc. Amidst the backdrop of previously unexplored lands and a newly magical Storybrooke, love and sacrifice will set the stage for the ultimate battle between good and evil.

From Storybrooke to Fairy Tale Land and beyond, experience all the mystery, romance, action and adventure of the second season of “Once Upon a Time.” Featuring all 22 remarkable episodes and exclusive bonus features, this must-own, five-disc boxed set is pure enchantment on an epic scale.

Talent/Cast: "Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret,
Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood/Ruby and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.

Bonus Features: A Fractured Family Tree – Explore the tangled magical genealogy behind the series’ fairytale family.

Sincerely, Hook – Set sail with Colin O'Donoghue (Killian Jones/Captain Hook) and learn more about the man behind the hook.

Girl Power – Enjoy a high impact look at Storybrooke’s fearless females as they fight for love and justice between the realms of magic and reality.

The Fairest Bloopers of Them All – Fans will laugh-out-loud with outtakes from the latest season.

Deleted Scenes – Experience never-before-seen moments from the magical series.

Audio Commentaries – Join the cast and crew as they share details about what it was like to make each spellbinding episode come to life.

CLICK HERE to pre-order Once Upon s Time Season 2 for 25% off!

The LEGO Star Wars The Yoda Chronicles Mystery Box

2013-05-17T11:53:00.001-04:00

I LOVE MYSTERY BOXES!! ...Even thought my history with mystery boxes tells me not to expect much. Often, the mystery box contains some silly Hollywood movie viral. For "Let Me In", I was sent a funnel in an evidence bag with fake blood on it. For the last "Final Destination" movie, one of the items was a wrench. ..........A wrench. I kid you not. I own a Final Destination Wrench. Today's box should have had me lower my expectations, but the name "LEGO" on the address label raised an eyebrow. LEGO almost never sends anything to the Idle Hands offices! I slowly sliced along the tape, making the reveal move in artificial slow motion, like a mini Christmas morning circa 1984...but this time I've only got one present and I need to make the moment last.

Sliding the top open only revealed a black box with little lights on top...pictured..not an actual blinking box. I flipped the box to let it slide onto the table as the collector in me screamed "DON'T SCRATCH UP THE BOX WITH YOUR FILTHY SAUSAGE FINGERS!!" The wordage on the side read "Secrets To Reveal There Are." Having been raised on Star Wars ,where the Nicholasi house motto is "Do or do not, there is no try", I was well aware who was meant to be speaking these words.

So what we are looking at is the second teaser set for the new LEGO Yoda Chronicles cartoon series! I say second because technically, the first was a little bagged set that was given out at Toys R Us during a recent event no one told me about until it was too late. WHYYYYYY. Matt Booker, Star Wars LEGO expert and all around cheery Brit, tells me this appears to be the Holocron Chamber, as seen in the new cartoon, naturally. Some footage for the cartoon can be found in a free game available now. Here are some images...

So there you have it! Thanks to LEGO for some morning fun, Matt Booker for knowing everything, and be sure to tune in to Cartoon Network May 29th for the premiere of The Yoda Chronicles!

...And now I'm off to go see Star Trek. I AM A MAN OF MANY WORLDS!!

The Official Main Trailer for Pacific Rim

2013-05-16T13:44:00.000-04:00

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes "Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' Pacific Rim." In theaters July 12th.

Steampunk World's Fair This Weekend!!

2013-05-15T16:03:00.000-04:00

As the largest, ticketed Steampunk event in the world, Steampunk World’s Fair is bringing to life festivities and unforgettable adventures for all ages! This year's entertainment includes headlining musicians of no small reputation including Voltaire, Steam Powered Giraffe, Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band! Dozens of other performers and entertainers pack our weekend long schedule spanning both the Radisson of Piscataway and the Embassy Suites Hotel in Piscataway, NJ. You'll see artists, acrobats, belly dancers, fire breathers, burlesque, ballroom dancing, (mostly) imaginary duels to the death, costume contests (actually there will probably be costumes everywhere you look), games, programming just for kids, comedy, karaoke and more. In between both hotel venues we host a massive carnival tent providing outdoor attractions, activities, and extremely talented and innovative vendors distributing their Steampunk inspired jewelry, fashions, goods, and countless other curiosities!

Steampunk is an anachronistic, imaginative cultural movement bred from the creative minds of artists, musicians, craftsmen, and performers alike. Recently, Steampunk has grown to mainstream capacity while highlighted by TIME Entertainment as an inspiration for fashion, pop musicians, and an eruption towards being branded “the next big thing”. Drawing from aspects of Victorian history and culture but blended with modern technology and often science fiction, the Steampunk World’s Fair brings entertainment and spectacle to this growing audience of truly unique attendees.

The Steampunk World’s Fair is being held at the Radisson of Piscataway at 21 KINGSBRIDGE RD, PISCATAWAY NJ 08854 and the Embassy Suites Hotel at 121 CENTENNIAL AVE, PISCATAWAY NJ 08854. Registration is available both online and at the door for individual days and for weekend passes including fantastic VIP upgrades to exclusive content and events! Hit http://steampunkworldsfair.com/ for all the information you'll ever need.

NY Upfronts: ABC's New Lineup

2013-05-15T10:27:00.001-04:00

Twice a year, in LA, all the journos I know sit in on presentations an conduct interviews for all the new TV/ Cable shows headed our way. Once a year, those same networks get close enough to New Jersey that I can get in on the action. The presentations held as part of the New York Upfronts are probably more showy than those in LA, but then they are meant for advertisers who drop big money to have their products featured, and so a little zazz is expected. This week we'll take a look at the new shows headed your way, of course focusing on the geekiest among the bunch, but also including the occasional show with talent we love and/or film makers that would make us watch.

Yesterday, ABC took the stage at Lincoln Center. The show opened with a comedy bit where Jimmy Kimmel traded one liners with the President of ABC..posing as the president. I see what they did there. The height of this bit was a series of revelations on their shows, among them being "Dancing with the Stars...they aren't really stars. We picked them up at a bus station." As ABC got into the live portion of their presentation, they quickly made it clear that innovation was their primary concern. "Watch ABC" is their big push to bring digital programming, on demand, to every electronic device you've got on you at the moment. At the same time, they are continuing their push to combine social media with their shows to allow fans to do the leg work of spreading the word on their favorite shows weekly. ...And after all that talk about where the fine folks in the audience could spend their money..it was onto the new programming.

First, a look at the schedule. I made a quick note of those shows my readers seem to follow the most..Castle Mondays at 10 - Agents of SHIELD (<~click for a preview of that!) Tuesdays at 8 - Once Upon a Time Thursdays at 8. New shows of interest include Back in the Game from the Cohen Brothers, which is sort of a Bad News Bears with a female lead and James Caan backing her up. Try to look past the overly enthusiastic voice over...there's some good stuff here...

Next we'll take a quick look at Super Fun Night, for those that love Rebel Wilson. The show boasts executive producer Conan O'Brien, so expect lots of "subtle" laughs. ~note sarcasm~ Rebel commented "For as long as I can remember, I've had two dreams. One is to have my own TV show in America, and the other is to marry Channing Tatum. Now 1 and a half of those things have come true. I haven't married Channing but I have touched his butt and found out where he lives." "This show is really the anti-Sex in the City in that when these three ladies eat at night, they're not..talking about...dick."

Still HERE?! Sorry..some people like that sort of thing and so, we cater to all. Next up is something waaaay more interesting: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. From the creators of Once Upon a Time, this show seems to share the core elements of Once in that the real world we know is colliding with the fanciful one, the story is possibly told out of sequence to allow for things to be revealed in bits and pieces here and there and LOVE is at the center of it all. Daaww. Wonderland has a Red Queen that shows WAAAAAY more cleavage than Once's evil queen (not that this is a competition...but...this is a competition), the creatures look top notch and there seems to be a bigger emphasis on ACTION! So you've got a sweet air over an intense story line and a somewhat dark overtone. Very nice mix. I'm betting this one will be an instant addiction. Check it out...

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: (Thursdays, 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT)
In Victorian England, the young and beautiful Alice (Sophie Lowe) tells a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole. An invisible cat, a hookah smoking caterpillar and playing-cards that talk are just some of the fantastic things she's seen during this impossible adventure. Surely this troubled girl must be insane, and her doctors aim to cure her with a treatment that will make her forget everything. Alice seems ready to put it all behind her, especially the painful memory of the genie she fell in love with and lost forever -- the handsome and mysterious Cyrus (Peter Gadiot). But deep down Alice knows this world is real, and just in the nick of time the sardonic Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha) and the irrepressible White Rabbit (John Lithgow) arrive to save her from a doomed fate. Together the trio will take a tumble down the rabbit hole to this Wonderland where nothing is impossible.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" stars Sophie Lowe ("Beautiful Kate") as Alice, Michael Socha ("This Is England") as Knave of Hearts, Peter Gadiot ("The Forbidden Girl") as Cyrus, Emma Rigby ("Hollyoaks") as Queen of Hearts and John Lithgow ("3rd Rock from the Sun") as the voice of the White Rabbit.

"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz ("Once Upon a Time"), who serve as executive producers. Steve Perlman and Zack Estrin also serve as executive producers, and the pilot was directed by Ralph Hemecker. "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" is produced by ABC Studios.

Lastly, we'll take a look at Resurrection, the story of a boy returning from the dead...32 years later..and he hasn't aged a day. Expect lots of freaked out people trying to unravel the mystery and a top notch cast of actors to hold up the weight of the story. Looking forward to this one!

Resurrection: (Midseason)
The people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones suddenly start to return. An 8-year-old American boy (Landon Gimenez) wakes up alone in a rice paddy in a rural Chinese province with no idea how he got there. Details start to emerge when the boy, who calls himself Jacob, recalls that his hometown is Arcadia, and an Immigration agent, Martin Bellamy (Omar Epps), takes him there. The home he claims as his own is occupied by an elderly couple, Harold (Kurtwood Smith) and Lucille Garland (Frances Fisher), who lost their son Jacob more than 30 years ago. While they look different, young Jacob recognizes them as his parents. Those closest to the family try to unravel this impossible mystery, including Sheriff Fred Garland (Matt Craven), whose wife Barbara drowned 30 years ago while trying to save Jacob. But this boy who claims to be the deceased Jacob knows secrets about his own death that no one else knows -- secrets that Fred's daughter, Gail (Devin Kelly), will begin to investigate and discover to be true.

"Resurrection" stars Omar Epps ("House") as Martin Bellamy, Matt Craven ("Crimson Tide," "A Few Good Men") as Fred, Devin Kelley ("Chernobyl Diaries," "The Chicago Code") as Gail, Frances Fisher ("Titanic") as Lucille, Kurtwood Smith ("That '70s Show") as Harold, Sam Hazeldine ("The Raven") as Abel, Samaire Armstrong ("Entourage," "The O.C.") as Elaine, Nicholas Gonzalez ("Off the Map") as Connor, Mark Hildreth ("Dragon Ball Z") as Tom and Landon Gimenez as Jacob.

Written by Aaron Zelman ("Damages," "The Killing"), "Resurrection" is executive-produced by Aaron Zelman, JoAnn Alfano, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Jon Liebman, Brillstein Entertainment and Plan B. The pilot was directed by Charles McDougall. "Resurrection" is produced by ABC Studios.

Also on tap but with no accompanying video is The Quest and Toy Story of TERRRORRRR!!!
We were told The Quest incorporates elements we love about Lord of the Rings like Ogres and Trolls and magic...but...in a reality show. WILL THERE BE LARPING?!! PLEASE SAY THEY WILL BE FORCED TO LARP!!!! That, honestly, would be an instant watch for a lot of people. The most expensive LARP...ever. Here's the skinny...

The Quest: (Midseason)
"The Quest" is a new reality adventure that takes 12 lucky contestants on the journey of a lifetime when they enter the world of "Everealm." For "The Quest," the producer of the blockbuster movie franchise "The Lord of the Rings" has joined forces with the creators and producers of "The Amazing Race" to conjure a land of magic and malevolence, where mythical creatures lurk in the woods, agents of darkness stir in the shadows, and mystical beings infiltrate the keep. For 12 lucky souls, a fantastic world will come alive in a unique competition series where players will engage in epic challenges. Fantasy meets reality when one player emerges as a real-life hero.

"The Quest" is from executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri ("The Amazing Race," Profiles Television), executive producers Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming (Court Five), and executive producers Rob Eric and Michael Williams (Green Harbor Productions).

Seriously, the show is made by a dude named Munster...how could you say no? Finally, we have a very special Toy Story we will be waiting for....probably as heatedly as we will be awaiting new Walking Dead in October....like you needed another reason to think October is awesome...

Toy Story of Terror: (October 2013)
From Disney•Pixar comes a spooky new tale featuring all of the favorite characters from the "Toy Story" films. What starts out as a fun road trip for the "Toy Story" gang takes an unexpected turn for the worse when the trip detours to a roadside motel. After one of the toys goes missing, the others find themselves caught up in a mysterious sequence of events that must be solved before they all suffer the same fate in this "Toy Story of Terror."

The cast of "Toy Story of Terror" includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Carl Weathers as Combat Carl/Combat Carl Jr., Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex and Kristen Schaal as Trixie.

"Toy Story of Terror" is produced by Galyn Susman and directed by Angus MacLane. The special, from Disney•Pixar, will premiere on ABC in October 2013.

Keep your eyeballs glued here for more coverage of the best stuff coming to your TV!

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Trailer Goes LIVE!

2013-05-14T18:18:00.001-04:00

So, in case you missed it, this IS taking place right after the events from The Avengers, so Coulson being alive is not the stuff of prequels. Someone will have to tell us what the hell happened there. Joss Whedon was on hand at the ABC NY Upfront and remarked that this show is about ordinary people trying to cope in an extraordinary world..and that's exactly what we should be getting in a TV show! What else do we want? Plenty of references within the Marvel Universe, nods to movie events, new characters and perhaps some lifted right from the comics and, of course, Coulson LIVES!! Seems like Whedon is down to give us all that and more, with a gooey emotional center. Tune in Tuesday nights at 8 on ABC! Coming soooon...

Solomon Kane on DVD & Blu-ray July 16th

2013-05-14T11:18:00.000-04:00

Anchor Bay Entertainment and RADiUS-TWC announced today the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of SOLOMON KANE. The film was directed by Michael J. Bassett (“Da Vinci’s Demons” and Silent Hill: Revelation 3D) and stars James Purefoy (“The Following”), the late Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father), Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan) and Max von Sydow (The Exorcist). The character Solomon Kane was created by pulp-era writer and mind behind Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard. SOLOMON KANE heads to retail on July 16, 2013 for an SRP of $26.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $22.98 for the DVD.

Captain Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents. As the story opens, Kane and his band of pillagers are carving a bloody path through hordes of defenders in an exotic city in northern Africa. But, when Kane decides to attack a mysterious nearby castle to plunder its rumored riches, his mission takes a fateful turn. One by one, Kane's men are picked off by demonic creatures until he alone is left to face the Devil's own Reaper -- dispatched from the depths of Hell to lay claim to his hopelessly corrupt soul. Though Kane at last manages to escape, he knows that he now must redeem himself by renouncing violence and devoting himself wholly to a life of peace and purity.

SOLOMON KANE Blu-ray™ and DVD special features include a ‘Making Of’ featurette, interviews and commentary with Director Michael J. Bassett, the producers & cast, a deleted scene, gallery images and Special FX featurette!

Learn more about SOLOMON KANE at www.solomonkanethemovie.com.

Downton Abbey Jewelry Available Now

2013-05-14T11:00:00.002-04:00

The truth of the matter is, when a company takes on an accessory or jewelry license for a TV show or film, they are often producing products sold fairly cheaply at Target or Khols department stores, so it is refreshing whenever we spot someone going above and beyond to bring fans a little glitter from their favorite show and care to make it look fantastic. 1928 has been cooking up some Downtown Abbey inspired jewelry that remain affordable while looking amazing...

"When Downton Abbey came to the U.S., no one knew it’d be such a hit. But more than anything else, we were stoked to see the characters decked out in 1928-style jewelry! These styles are evocative of the Edwardian era from 1901 to circa 1918, which is considered an era of elegance—think pearls, garlands, ornamental motifs, swirls and delicate pieces.

We handpicked more than 80 1928 Downtown Abbey-inspired jewelry styles that look like it’s been snagged from the show! But for some more exciting news: 1928 recently became an authorized licensee for Downtown Abbey Jewelry, so be on the lookout for Fall 2013!"

...and as most press releases, company schedules and release plans go in our world, it seems the line is available now! Perhaps there's a distinction between "show inspired" and directly from the show, which might be what they are releasing in the Fall? I have no idea, but CLICK HERE and you can check out what is available today.

Vivid on New Thunderbirds Series

2013-05-14T10:21:00.000-04:00

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has appointed Vivid as its master toy partner in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for Thunderbirds are Go! (working title), the major new children’s television series co-produced by ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures in association with Weta Workshop, which is set to premiere in 2015.

Vivid will produce a range of Thunderbirds are Go! toys, including figurines and vehicles; play sets; die cast models; role play and dress up toys; construction toys; board games and puzzles. The products will launch in the UK in 2015 to coincide with the premiere of the new series, 50 years after its first television debut. The products will then roll out to international markets.

Trudi Hayward, SVP Global Merchandising, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said: “Vivid’s position as a leading international toy manufacturer and familiarity with the iconic Thunderbirds brand makes the company the perfect toy partner for the new series. Thunderbirds are Go! is set to bring the world’s most famous family of heroes to a new audience, and we look forward to seeing the toys that will help bring the show to life in homes across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.”

“We are delighted to be partnering again with ITVS GE on Thunderbirds as master toy partner,” comments Vivid CEO Paul Weston. “The collective expertise of ITVS GE, Pukeko Pictures, Weta and Vivid make this a compelling must-have toy line for our retail partners across the world.”

ITV Studios and New Zealand based Pukeko Pictures, in collaboration with world-famous Weta Workshop (Avatar, King Kong, The Lord of the Rings) are co-producing Thunderbirds are Go! A 26 x 30’ major new children’s series set to debut on ITV and UK’s CITV Channel in 2015. It is currently in pre-production.

This re-invention of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's iconic series will be produced using a unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets. This will deliver a whole new level of action-adventure animation for today's audience, whilst also affectionately paying tribute to the legacy of model locations from the classic series.

Adult Swim's New & Returning Shows

2013-05-13T10:33:00.001-04:00

Adult Swim, basic cable’s #1 network with young adults for eight consecutive years, announced its best ratings in the network’s history and a slate of new and returning programming in advance of its annual Upfront event in New York City on May 15, which will feature a scheduled performance by Grammy®-winning Hip-Hop artist & producer Kanye West.

Entering 2013 with its most-watched year to date among adults and males 18-24, 18-34, and 18-49, the 2013-14 programming schedule includes more than 30 new and returning series, pilots and specials.

The new animated comedy series Rick and Morty from Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland is set to premiere in primetime later this year and Mike Tyson is taking his fight from the boxing ring to the streets in the animated series Mike Tyson Mysteries from Warner Bros Animation. The Fox Television’s hit Bob’s Burgers will also air this summer.

“As Adult Swim continues to grow and be the place for great comedic talent as well as surprising and unexpected content, it is important that we expand its development of original programs so that we can build on its success even more,” said Stuart Snyder, president/coo of Turner’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media Group. “The record ratings the network is experiencing this year is a testament to the great work being done by all the wonderfully talented people at Adult Swim.”

“Adult Swim has emerged as a leading entertainment network in key sales demos and should be part of every advertiser’s consideration set during the Upfront,” said Donna Speciale, president of Turner Entertainment and Young Adults Ad Sales. “The network has a distinct relationship with its loyal and engaged audience and targeted reach across television, events, digital and promotions, all of which advertisers have the opportunity to benefit through a wide variety of creative activations.”

New original series and specials:

· RICK AND MORTY – Rick and Morty is about a genius inventor grandfather and his less than genius grandson, and the journeys in life they share. From Dan Harmon (Community, Channel 101) and Justin Roiland. Animated half-hour.

· MR. PICKLES – In Mr. Pickles, the urban sprawl of modern society pollutes the old-fashioned town where the Goodman family lives with their lovable pet dog, Mr. Pickles, a deviant border collie with a secret satanic streak. From creators Will Carsola and Dave Stewart (Funny Or Die Presents Nick Swardson's Pretend Time). Animated quarter-hour.

· MIKE TYSON MYSTERIES - In the new animated comedy series Mike Tyson Mysteries, Mike Tyson is taking the fight from the boxing ring to the streets… by solving mysteries! Armed with a magical tattoo on his face and a trusty associate by his side — a talking pigeon — if you have a problem that needs solving, Iron Mike is in your corner. The series incorporates live-action appearances featuring Mighty Mike himself, and the gloves come off as the former heavyweight champ and his fowl-mouthed partner gear up for weekly adventures as they put unsolved mysteries — like how to defeat a super computer at chess or why a famous author/werewolf can’t finish his novel — down for the count. Animated quarter-hour from Warner Bros Animation.

· KING STAR KING – King Star King features a punk rock, modern day he-man who falls from the realm of the gods to land as a fry cook in a slummy waffle joint. King Star King must regain his memory to defeat the evil (and adorable) Spring Bunny and rescue his love, the megababe Princess Snow White. Only then will King Star King regain his rightful place in the heavens. From artist JJ Villard (Monsters Vs. Aliens). Animated quarter-hour.

· YOUR PRETTY FACE IS GOING TO HELL – This new live-action series from Adult Swim is a workplace comedy about Gary, an associate demon, as he attempts to capture souls on earth in order to climb the corporate ladder of the underworld. Gary hopes to advance in Hell, but he may be too stupid, lazy and kind-hearted to realize his dreams of promotion. Meanwhile, Gary’s intern Claude is more talented, more devious and will do whatever it takes to impress Satan. A Williams Street production, the show is created and directed by Dave Willis (Squidbillies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force) and Casper Kelly (Squidbillies, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, Stroker & Hoop). The series is currently presenting premiere episodes on Thursday nights at Midnight ET/PT on Adult Swim. Live-action quarter-hour.

· ROBOT CHICKEN DC COMICS SPECIAL II – Faster than a speeding bullet! Well, maybe not but quality takes time. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, in partnership with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, will premiere a sequel to their acclaimed Annie Award-winning Robot Chicken DC Comics Special in 2014. Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II brings you the awesomeness of the DC Comics universe of characters as only Robot Chicken can, with amazing guest stars and the stop-motion sketch comedy you've come to love after six seasons of the popular Adult Swim series. Executive producers for the second Robot Chicken DC Comics Special include Stoopid Monkey's Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, Warner Bros. Animation's Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs Sam Register, and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios' John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner.

· METALOCALPYSE: THE DOOM STAR REQUIEM – In Metalocalypse: The Doom Star Requiem, we pick up directly after the abduction of Dethklok guitarist Toki Wartooth in the season 4 finale. With his life in danger his only salvation can come from the four most selfish human celebrities on earth—his bandmates, extreme metal band DETHKLOK. Will they be able to get past their own egos to help someone besides themselves? Find out in this one-hour heavy metal rock opera special with a completely original score. Created by Brendon Small, Metalocalypse: The Doom Star Requiem airs in October. Animated one-hour special.

· HOT PACKAGE – Premiering in October on Adult Swim, Hot Package is a live-action fictional Canadian entertainment news program in vein of "Entertainment Tonight," "EXTRA," or "E! News.” Hot Package is created by and stars Derrick Beckles (TV Carnage), produced by Abso Lutely, with Derrick Beckles and Dave Kneebone as executive producers. Live-action quarter-hour.

Pilots:

Aaron McGruder Pilots –Two new live-action pilots from the creator of The Boondocks. Live-action quarter-hour and half-hour.
Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories: Zach’s Haunted House - Tim, Eric and Zach are elated to learn their grandfather has left them each $1,000 in his will. However, there's a catch. In order to collect the money, they must live in his haunted mansion for the rest of their lives. Are the three of them up for it? This Halloween special is written, directed and stars Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) with Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover). Live-action half-hour.
Ghostbags – These three frat guys were douchebags while they lived, but now that they've died in a horrible car accident, absolutely nothing has changed. Created by Hayes Davenport (Eastbound and Down) and Guy Endore-Kaiser (Allen Gregory). Animated quarter-hour.
Hole to Hole - Hole to Hole follows the fabulous exploits of Ashleigh and Amelia Dangerhole, America’s sexiest billionaire detectives in a parody of ‘80s detective shows. From Pam Brady (South Park, Neighbors from Hell) and Arden Myrin (MADtv, Chelsea Lately). Live-action quarter-hour.
Filthy Sexy Teen$ – Filthy Sexy Teen$ follows the exploits of a group of teens (and one high school principal) as they attempt to climb the social ladder by any means possible, even if they have to use sex, lies, and murder to get there. It won't be easy in a school where everyone has a dark secret, and one mysterious teen is out to expose every one of them. Created by Curtis Gwinn (Walking Dead), Paul Scheer (The League, Human Giant) and Jonathan Stern (Childrens Hospital, Burning Love). Live-action quarter-hour.
Team Unicorn – Team Unicorn is a modern send-up of Saturday morning kids’ shows featuring a team of four sexy, culture-obsessed heroines who present darkly ironic twists on 80's cartoon tropes. From the creators of Robot Chicken. Live action/animation mix, quarter-hour.
Übermansion – From Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and the creators of Robot Chicken comes Übermansion, a glimpse into the mundane humanity of six superheroes all living in the same mansion. Created by Zeb Wells and Matthew Senreich, executive produced by Wells, Senreich, Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, Eric Towner and Bryan Cranston. Animated quarter-hour.
Untitled Cruise Ship Project – The corrupt employees of a trashy cruise ship are piloted into danger by their insane Scandinavian captain. Created by Matt Harrigan (Space Ghost Coast to Coast). Live-action quarter-hour.

Returning series:

AQUA TV SHOW SHOW
BLACK DYNAMITE
THE BOONDOCKS
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
CHECK IT OUT! WITH DR. STEVE BRULE
CHINA, IL
EAGLEHEART
THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW
THE GREATEST EVENT IN TELEVISION HISTORY
THE HEART, SHE HOLLER
INFOMERCIALS
LOITER SQUAD
NTSF:SD:SUV::
ROBOT CHICKEN
SQUIDBILLIES
SUPERJAIL
THE VENTURE BROS.

New acquisitions:
· BOB’S BURGERS

Returning acquisitions:

AMERICAN DAD
BLEACH
CLEVELAND SHOW
FAMILY GUY
KING OF THE HILL
NARUTO
ONE PIECE
SOUL EATER

Arrested Development Season 4 Trailer

2013-05-13T09:51:00.002-04:00

The posters are....everywhere. You can't stop this. They already paid for everything.

The moment of Bluth is upon us as George Sr., Lucille, Michael, George Michael, Tobias, Lindsay, Maeby, G.O.B., and Buster are back for 15 brand new episodes, early this summer. All New Episodes, May 26, Only on Netflix.

Luc Besson's The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec

2013-05-12T21:36:00.000-04:00

FINALLY COMING TO BLU-RAY!!! This summer, let your imagination run free. Journey into an awe-inspiring world of action fantasy and visual wonder with popular French comics heroine Adèle Blanc-Sec as she leaps from the pages to the screen! On August 13, 2013, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with EuropaCorp, invite families and the young-at-heart across America to be captivated by one of the most highly anticipated international motion pictures of all time when Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec unleashes on DVD and on two-disc BLU-RAY COMBO PACK. The Blu-ray combo pack allows viewers to enjoy The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy of the movie compatible with PC, MAC, iTunes, iPhone and AppleTV.

Brimming with heart-pounding action, breathtaking cinematography and visceral special effects, this acclaimed feature illustrates the magical power of moviemaking, and delivers wildly entertaining cinematic adventure filled with humor, incredible action, mystery and lush Parisian period details that the whole family will enjoy! Both Blu-ray combo pack and DVD editions offer English and French audio tracks, English subtitles. Insightful bonus features take viewers behind- the-scenes as director Luc Besson and the cast share their passion in bringing this timeless tale to the screen. Available in stores nationwide, The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec Blu-ray combo pack is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $24.97, and $14.97 for the DVD. THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADÈLE BLANC-SEC The Director’s Cut Edition Two-Disc Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack will arrive in stores this Fall 2013.

Directed and produced by world renowned filmmaker Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) and adapted from Eisner Award winner Jacques Tardi’s celebrated French classic comic book series, this movie features a stellar cast of Louise Bourgoin (Anne Fontaine’s The Girl From Monaco), Mathieu Amalric (Quantum of Solace, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Gilles Lellouche (Love Me If You Dare), Jean-Paul Rouve (La Vie En Rose), Jacky Nercessian (Le Grand Voyage), and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly).

SYNOPSIS

The year is 1912. This is the story of an intrepid young reporter Adèle Blanc-Sec and her quest for the power of life over death. Her journey would take her to distant lands to face many dangers beneath the sands. She will go to any lengths to achieve her aims, including sailing to Egypt to tackle mummies of all shapes and sizes. Meanwhile in Paris, a 136 million-year old pterodactyl egg on display in the natural history museum has mysteriously hatched, and the creature subjects the city to a reign of terror from the skies. But nothing fazes Adele Blanc-Sec, whose adventures include many more extraordinary surprises…

BONUS FEATURES

Making-of featurette
Music featurette
Deleted Scenes

CLICK HERE to pre-order on Blu-ray for 30% off! Also on DVD!

Merida's Princess Makeover Sparks Controversy

2013-05-12T20:08:00.000-04:00

We usually don't talk about topics that are too serious on Idle Hands. Sure, we bitch and moan about the way we think toys should be made, but that's generally as fiery as we get. Today, we've been having a great conversation about the "Merida Makeover" in which the lead character from the movie Brave was given a subtle overhaul as she was officially crowned a Disney Princess. Parent bloggers and women's groups have been firing off angry commentary on Disney's aesthetic choices with the seemingly loudest voice coming from Merida's creator, Brenda Chapman.

Chapman remarked "There is an irresponsibility to this decision that is appalling for women and young girls. Disney marketing and the powers that be that allow them to do such things should be ashamed of themselves. I think it's atrocious what they have done to Merida. When little girls say they like it because it's more sparkly, that's all fine and good but, subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy 'come hither' look and the skinny aspect of the new version. It's horrible! Merida was created to break that mold — to give young girls a better, stronger role model, a more attainable role model, something of substance, not just a pretty face that waits around for romance."

Putting this in a bit of perspective, Brenda Chapman based the character on her then 13 yr old daughter, so you might imagine there was a special place in her heart for this perfectly imperfect little rebel. After wining several awards for the creation and her co-director duties (Chapman was released from said duties at some point during the film's production), the project must have been a point of personal pride and, doubly so, because it was in a sense, still her daughter. I doubt anyone warned her this change was coming and when she got the call, I could imagine all she saw was red.

Now, the very interesting thing about this happening is how different people see the turn of events. When I posted the article (on my facebook page) from the Marin Independant Journal, I only mentioned I'd heard about the makeover and thought they sucked all the fire out of the character with their cookie cutter makeover. I assume they could have kept some of that spirit in the design while making her more princess like. After all, they are Disney! Surely there are halls that go on forever with amazingly talented people in every nook and cranny...at least that's how I see it in my head.

One friend of mine read the article and latched onto the quote from Chapman stating "subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy 'come hither' look." He thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. Not knowing Brenda Chapman at all or having any degree in women's studies, I wanted to speak on this basically with my knowledge of artists, background in marketing and years of reading articles on the subject of the oversexualization of women in media and how it is changing our entire society. I find anything that changes an entire generation to be facinating reading. Here's what I responded with...

"I believe the point she was making was, when a girl sees something, the immediate attraction is the sparkle and pretty but what their mind is taking in is what is appealing in the character...the big eyes, tiny waist, off the shoulder top and gold accents. Kids don't process the world like an adult, so the argument is we must try an give them more positive role models so as they grow up, they feel better about themselves and don't aspire to this stereotype."

Heather Buckley chimed in and suggested kids buy more Monster High dolls, which I'm sure she meant as a joke as we both love horror and seeing a kid dressed as a monster is just about the best thing ever. She may have blatantly meant little kids should aspire to be lil monsters, which is also awesome.

My friend responded "I can understand..I would be angry too if they took something that I made to be empowering but to think that a child would look at it and process it THAT specific way is a little too far fetched but I'm neither a girl nor a teenager so I can't say that I'm an expert in said field...I can also see that they took a character based on a 13-year old girl and turned her into a woman...if they would have said this is Merida at 25 or something like that that would have been fine...and I think that's what made the creator the angriest...it's supposed to be a 13-year old!"

I'm also a man with no kids, much less a very close female relative, so I can relate to his point of view. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal until we take into account the way children proccess media.

I replied "It also has to do with what they are telling a little girl is attractive to the rest of the world. Show a little shoulder! Bat those pretty eyes! Fix your wild hair up and put on a pretty dress! Hell, you could argue she has makeup on. Sure, saying it is a sexualization of the character is sensationalizing the point a bit, but it's a point to be made. Society says those things are pleasing because generations have come before to beat this into us. Women are told this is how you should look, and why else but to follow the genetic imperative of our species..which is, of course, to mate. So essentially, any maturing of the character while also making her more appealing to society, is sexualizing the character. She's not wearing stilletos and showing cleavage...but you have to wonder why they thought showing so much shoulder and tightening that waist line would make her better."

Another friend of mine, Laura, chimed in, having excellent perspective on the subject as a mother of two small daughters who most likely are the age demographic Disney is after. "As a mom of two 4-year-old girls, I really see how these subtle changes make a difference. You take the characters who are "good" and you give them all extremely similar faces and body types and hair appearances. And it's not that the girls intuitively like these face shapes and body types and hair styles, but you make them the heroes of their stories and you make them sparkley and in fun colors.. And the other associations follow. It's easy to see how you can drill it into their heads that good women look this very specific way. My girls have a fringe appreciation of Disney princesses. They like the princesses, but mostly for the shiny dresses and stickers. I don't want to ban princesses and Disney fairies from the house, but we try to balance it by making sure that they're also exposed to lots of "good guys" who have different appearances. And... when crap like this happens, it makes that harder. Like Disney's saying 'Uhoh.. one of our princesses was escaping the mold a little bit. Jam her back in there!'"

Another friend, Jerry, stated the simple fact that Disney "is a for profit corporation that exists to make money for its shareholders. If people don't like that they shouldn't be working for Disney" ...which is, of course, the heart of the matter. This was certainly a work for hire situation and Chapman had no expectation of control over that character, but you still can't discount her anger, or the anger of the thousands of people signing petitions as we speak, against the makeover. Will this force Disney to change their mind? In my experience, not much changes Disney's mind once it is made, but only time will tell.

For me, the decision to change the character makes me cringe. Isn't this the first Disney Princess in a long while that actually has both her parents??!! She's quirky, funny, rebellious, loving, honorable and a beautiful mess. Brave is one of my favorite Disney films, so my question would be, why mess with perfection? You got it right. There are awards that prove you got it right. What bonehead decided there was work to be done here? The mind boggles.

The conversation on my facebook page has evolved a bit to include thoughts on work for hire and the temperament of artists, which in itself is a riddle any art department would like to unravel, so I invite you to come over, read the rest, and share your thoughts as well, or just jump into the comments below!