Second part of the new Poison Ivy pics going up…would’ve been up last night, but went to a midnight showing of Resident Evil: Afterlife. I regret nothing. Spectacular movie, gorgeous 3D, enjoyed it immensely. Yeah, the critics on Metacritic and rottentomatoes are savaging it, but they’re both powered mostly by miserable human beings. Both sites have Ultraviolet scored substantially lower (only 9% on the fucking tomato-meter), and that’s one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. If you’re going to limit your entertainment options only to those sanctioned and approved by a perponderance of joyless dorks typing away online, you deserve the ceaseless Chuck and Lord of the Rings tournaments that will end up comprising your life.

Massive respect for at least attempting to resolve the clone army of post-human Millas cliffhanger from the last film. Crammed with overwhelming visuals, ultraviolence, and an absolutely perfect soundtrack…if you remotely suspect that you might dig the new Resident Evil movie, there’s a very high likelihood you will end up loving it. Probably the best of the series, even with the appalling lack of Milla Jovovich nudity.

Completely tangential: horrible story, but a champion headline, clearly somebody at The Street digs 80′s electronic music. Did it happen on the Autobahn?

So Julie Taymor went on Good Morning, America this morning to pitch Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark.  While discussing what’s reported to be the most expensive musical in Broadway history, she showed off pics of the villains Green Goblin and Swiss Miss, who was created for this production by Taymor…probably prompting many Marvel fanboy heads to spontaneously explode.

As a gigantic fan of Taymor’s film Titus, i’ve very much been anticipating her take on Spider-Man, and still am, perhaps even more now. These costumes are absolutely a departure from traditional associations with all things Spider-Man, but they look phenomenal, and how the fuck would anyone have expected a conventional/more traditional adaptation from someone like her? I’d bet my collection of Converse hightops that had Tarsem Singh produced something similarly experimental and unique for a Batman musical or film, nobody would bat an eye. Because we’ve long seen unique takes and legit art made with the Batman characters (Morrison’s Arkham Asylum and the Tim Burton films come to mind.) Spider-Man/Marvel orthodox fans might want to appreciate that someone’s finally taking those kind of liberties and risks with one of their characters, and the new fans such a work might generate, even if it’s not to their taste.

(In no way am i elevating Taymor to the plane Tarsem exists on. In The Fall and The Cell, he’s made two films of literal incomparable beauty, and i would willingly lose a finger to see his upcoming Immortals right now…whereas even my love of Titus couldn’t make me sit through Across the Universe. All i’m saying is both are genuine artists possesed of brilliant imaginations.)

U2′s Bono and Edge were there to discuss the musical’s book, and Spider-Man Reeve Carney sang one of their numbers,  Boy Falls From the Sky. Whatever, i’m not going for the music, i’m looking for astoundingly dope visuals, and it looks like this won’t disappoint…however, i can honestly say it sounded at least 1,000,000,000x better than anything i’ve heard from the American Idiot production. Previews for Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark start Sunday November 14th, and the official launch is December 21st.

Another night of riots expected tonight in the Westlake district of downtown LA, and going by the coverage of last night’s festivities, the cops will once again very much have an arm and a half tied behind their backs, as they only seem to be sporting non-lethal foam pellet shotguns. Meaning your cubemate with the modded Nerf N-Strike Maverick is probably packing more firepower than the last line of defense against rampaging anarchy in the second largest city in the US. And i would totally be there to luxuriate in the unfettered chaos, but for F/X deciding to schedule the premiere of Shawn Ryan’s new series at the same time.

Terriers, the new series by bestteeveeshowofalltime The Shield creator Ryan and Ocean’s Eleven writer Ted Griffin, follows two unlicensed private detectives operating in San Diego. Early reviews are quite strong, with some calling it one of the highlights of the new season, and apparently it gets progressively darker and better over the first five episodes made available for review (not to me, though. Fuckers.) Shawn Ryan’s name attached to anything  jacks up the anticipat-o-meter, hoping it delivers…

As i understand it, the brilliant online webcomic hipsterhitler.com launched at the end of August, like 2-3 weeks ago, yet already has an Alexa score of 106,000. Which seems impossible. Were it any less dope, this would probably trigger a tirade about how fucking worthless Alexa is, and i’d point out that quantcast doesn’t even score it yet…but 4 comics in, it’s clear to see this is QUALLity stuff – well drawn, quite funny, and more than a bit subversive.

What’s really subversive is the merchandising. There’s a whole page here of  champ-riffic t-shirts sporting horn-rimmed Hitler and slogans like “East Side  West Side  Genocide.” All very good, and a fantastic start…but i want an action figure!

Gallery 1988 (the San Francisco branch) is currently running a show featuring custom vinyl toys / sculptures / etc. based on cult film. Some of the choices are admirably obscure, and the figures breathtakingly dope, including Henry from Eraserhead, the skull-faced Illuminati aliens from They Live!, and a melting hobo from Street Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Street Trash is a dementedly brilliant little low-budget 80′s horror movie about a case of cheap booze made from toxic waste that turns up on skid row, liquefying all the wino bums who drink it. Scenes featuring a hobo melting into a toilet (and flushing himself), and tramps playing dick football have long been inserted into looped video reels at better dancing establishments, but the film itself is largely unknown, having only hit dvd in the last few years. Custom resin figure makers extraordinaire MonsterHero deserve massive kudos for best exemplifying the theme of the show, and actually including a replica bottle of Viper in their offering.

Also, suicide note pillow from Heathers. Outstanding. Show opened September 4th, and runs through the 24th.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles’ Gallery 1988 is running their 3G show, featuring art inspired by Ghostbusters, Gremlins, and Goonies…which just really isn’t anywhere near as awesome. As much as i adore Bill Murray (The Life Aguatic with Steve Zissou is in my top 5 films ever shot), the whole Ghostbusters nostalgia/resurgence thing of the last couple years feels about as synthetic and forced as Betty White (but what the fuck do i know…)

It’s with no small amount of shame that i admit having never got to see American Psycho in a movie theater. Absolutely adore Bret Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction is in my top ten favorite books and films, and i’ve heard good things about that Christian Bale guy…but watching it many dozens of times on blu-ray/cable/phone/edited into YTMND sites just doesn’t compensate for the lack of a theatrical experience. Thankfully, i get to correct that oversight tonight, as the Nuart off Santa Monica just happens to be playing American Psycho tonight at midnight. Squeerific.

You know, if i ever win lotto, hiring Ellis to write a Doctor Who episode is #2 on my fun ways to piss away dough list…right after hiring William Shatner to record a Dexter-style internal monologue/voice over narration for John Carpenter’s Halloween.

Perhaps even more exciting, just saw that Gaspar Noe’s Enter The Void will also be opening at the Nuart on September 24th. I’ve only seen the same 20 minute clip everyone else has, but in the most visually staggering film of 2010 to feature a Daft Punk score derby, pretty confident that Enter The Void will pound and drub Tron: Legacy.

Finally, i wouldn’t wish what just happened to Michael Bay on Michael Bay…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Quick cosplay preview video of an upcoming set featuring Jessica as DC’s backwards-talking, fishnet wearing, Sorceress Supreme, Zatanna. Aside from being an exceptionally dope superheroine with carnal knowledge of Batman, Zee apparently figures prominently into the upcoming, final season of the CW’s Smallville.

Is it lame monday morning quarterbacking to say that had Jerry Bruckheimer cast Smallville’s Serinda Swan, instead of fucking Don Knotts Jay Baruchel, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (which i did quite like) might’ve been a potent franchise rather than a sad footnote?

Anyway, if you’re interested, the song is Infinity Guitars by Sleigh Bells, off their cd Treats. It’s highly recomended.

Tonner is going to produce an action figure (or action figures) based on Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming Black Swan? Apparently. I’d mentioned hoping Hot Toys might pick up the license, as i’d kill to have some super-articulated ballerina figures that look like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis…but i do quite like some of the stuff Tonner Dolls puts out, so this works for me.

Pretty sure this would constitute the first bit of merchandising ever to result from an Aronofsky film.

Tonner’s Huntress doll/action figure is actually my favorite new toy of 2010 (after the Hot Toys Comedian and Silk Spectre figures), and inspired this.

Bruce Willis vs. Kiefer Sutherland…whoever wins, so do we. Yeah, Tim Story’s two Fantastic Four movies kinda blew, but i loved the casting of Julian McMahon as Dr. Doom, and was completely over the fucking moon with Michael Chiklis as The Thing. Christ, i don’t care how weird it makes me, i adore that scene in the first movie of Doom and Ben sitting in a diner eating pancakes. Fox is rebooting the series, mostly in an effort to stave of the rights reverting back to Disney/Marvel (see also the current developments with X-Men, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man, and Daredevil), but there are some promising signs that maybe we may actually get an interesting film out of it…

If you’re not going to bring back Chiklis, i can’t imagine two actors who might pull off the role of Ben Grimm’s post-human alter ego better than Willis or Sutherland. Sutherland especially, as it would essentially be a voice-over gig; Fox has stated the character will now be all cg, and he happens to posses one of the most distinctive and captivating voices on the planet ( his voiceover narration was the only reason i sat through Joel Schumacher’s Twelve.)

Add to this the news that an offer will be out imminently for True Blood‘s great Stephen Moyer to play Victor Von Doom, and i’m actively anticipating this. The new Fantastic Four is scheduled for Summer 2012, joining The Dark Knight sequel, a new Spider-Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers in some kind of absurdist object lesson in too much of a good thing…

First off, a quick favor to ask: if you happen to be one of the few who actually likes some of the pics on this site, i want you to know that a.) we very much appreciate it, and b.) you’re absolutely welcome to re-post some pics on blogs/boards/forums/sites…just please either link back here, or at least leave the veidt.com watermark/logo thing on them. Cool? Cool.

I make no pretense as to being any kind of Marvel fangirl. While there are several characters i like alot (mostly She-Hulk, Taskmaster, Daredevil/Bullseye/Elektra, Green/Hob/anyone with Goblin in their name, Mystique, and Frank Castle), beyond picking up some Runaways and Dark Avengers issues and keeping current on the movies, i have no fucking clue what’s currently happening in the 616.

According to the Marvel books i inherited as a kid, Carol Danvers aka Ms. Marvel was a former Avenger who had her mind wiped and powers stolen by Sookie Rogue. I gather she’s come back in a big way in recent years, to the point where she’s considered Marvel’s most prominent female character, but having sat out the Secret Invasion and most of Marvel’s other big events over the last 5 years, fuck if i know anything about it. So why do her on the site? Because she looks dope, and i liked her Marvel Universe action figure ever so much.

More pics and opportunities to judge, after ze jump.

Speaking of the Marvel Universe action figure line, i just saw the new Mary Jane figure last night. Jesus Christ. Did Hasbro outsource that one to Mattel’s Infinite Heroes sculptors? I almost bought the fucking thing as an alternative punishment to spanking or time-outs, for any unfortunate kids i may have someday. If they misbehave, they’d have to play with it for 10 minutes. I’m thinking about maybe buying Takers, when it comes out on blu-ray, for pretty much the same purpose. I’ll either have the most well-behaved kids in the neighborhood, or end up in C.P.S. jail.

It’s been rumored Ms. Marvel may turn up in summer 2012′s The Avengers movie…which seems a bit like a given. There’s no way Joss Wheedon can limit himself to one female character, nobody actually cares about Wasp (based on a scientific poll of 3 people i just bugged on Google chat), Spider-Woman is probably off limits, and there’s the free brand building in having a character with the word Marvel in her name. Of course she’ll be in the movie.

Anyway, sorry for the hold-up on posting these…was going to post a different set, but didn’t have time to edit them. Thanks Jessica for making it look dope, and keep your eyes peeled for part 2.