The Geek of Oz

Kids on the Slope Blu Ray Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:48:00 +0000

Way back in July 2012, I attended the Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH) and reported on Hanabee's very first acquisition panel. At that time they announced titles Toradora, Dream Eater Merry and Red vs Blue before taking some questions from the audience. It was at this time that I asked Hanabee President, Eric Cherry, whether they would be pursuing Kids on the Slope. After umming and ahhing he finally said something to the effect of "I'd love to, it's a really great series and one that we'd be interested in releasing". In no way am I insinuating that I had anything to do with this decision but instead am of the belief that Hanabee were well and truly on the case even back in July.

Thank goodness for that.

Before even reading this review you can more or less rest assured that Kids on the Slope is a highly polished nugget of anime gold in terms of story, art and music. Reuniting the team behind Cowboy Bebop and Macross Plus, director Shinichiro Watanabe and composer Yoko Kanno, we are this time far removed from the flight and fantasy of space and are instead transported back in time to southern Japan circa 1966. What we are immediately faced with is a classic "odd couple" situation in which straight laced, straight A student Kaoru Nishimi begrudgingly unites with high school bad boy Sentaro Kawabuchi. The two find themselves united through a love of music, but not just any music, jazz music.

As far as a basic synopsis of the series goes, that's as far as I can get into it without spoiling certain elements. This is purely due to the fact that there's actually not too much to the story. At its core, this series is about the friendship between two boys. Unlike many other series, there is nothing untoward or even homoerotic about this particular element in the story and is without a doubt part of what gives this series its charm. The simple notion of exploring the friendship between to young males and their love of music is one that resonates personally with me, and I'm sure many others. Add to this a young and pure love interest and you've got a series that will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who still remembers their teenage years.

In no way would I suggest that Kids on the Slope is Shinichiro Watanabe's best work, there's not many series that could topple Cowboy Bebop. However, I will make the claim that this series in particular proves how fantastic a director he truly is. Cowboy Bebop is a fantastic series that benefits from a setting that is filled with whimsy and all things fantastical. Kids on the Slope, on the other hand, has to work harder to build on what is an everyday setting which is filled with rather unremarkable characters. Aside from issues with pacing, Watanabe makes it work. The issues with pacing seem to arise due to the fact that events still progress at a pace that you'd expect from an action, sci-fi adventure and not a slice of life series which would benefit from more time to explore the characters and especially more time to give us a more fulfilling payoff at series end. That said, it's an utterly delightful ride.

The visuals in this series are gorgeous and respectfully subdued. In this beautiful coming-of-age series, animation studios MAPPA and Tezuka Productions combine to deliver an overarching feeling of reminiscence through a the use of a gorgeously animated backdrops which benefit greatly from a HD, Blu Ray release. One of Kids on the Slope's crowning glories is the inclusion of composer Yoko Kanno. Her work on Cowboy Bebop was inspired and this series is equally as satisfying. What's different with this soundtrack, however, is the use of some very well known pieces from some absolute jazz legends. Hearing tracks made famous by Art Blakey, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis gives the entire series a feeling of reality and positively oozes cool. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the soundtrack is available on iTunes in Australia but if you have a Japanese account or are willing to order it from Amazon.jp, you won't regret it!

Kids on the Slope is a simple delight that delivers on every level. Sure, there are issues with pacing and the ending but overall, there's so much to love.

Kids on the Slope is available now from Hanabee on Blu Ray and DVD.

Siren Visual to release Naoki Urasawa's MONSTER on DVD

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:59:00 +0000

Siren Visual have announced via their Facebook page that they will be releasing Naoki Urasawa's (20th Century Boys) MONSTER in 5 volumes starting from November.

Set in Düsseldorf, Germany; MONSTER is the story of a Japanese brain surgeon who chooses to save the life of a young boy over the life of the city mayor. Bizarre serial murder follows.

Siren have confirmed that the release will feature both Japanese and English dubs as well as English subtitles.

This fan favourite psychological thriller will see all 72 episodes released on DVD but not Blu Ray. Siren have explained that this is purely due to the fact that no HD masters exist as yet.

Stay tuned as we confirm further details as they come to hand.

For further detail on the series, head on over to http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3750

I ♥ RETRO: NEVERENDING STORY @ Hayden Orpheum

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:35:00 +0000

Calling all children of the 80s! Your services are required this Sunday at the Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne as the I ♥ Retro series continues with the 1984 classic The NeverEnding Story. Tickets are only $10 and there is a give away for best dressed. So dust off that Atreyu outfit, grab your rock biting and Falkor riding buddies and come down for the show.

Hayden Orpheum, 380 Military Road, Cremorne
http://www.orpheum.com.au.

The Call - Review by Stu

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:57:00 +0000

The Call could be easily be mistaken for a straight-to-DVD late 90s film due to its generic look and feel. After perusing director Brad Anderson’s (The Machinist) filmography I wasn’t surprised to see that the majority of his work has been in the wonderful world of television. His latest effort feels like an extended episode of a nondescript police television show. Halle Berry stars as veteran 911 Operator Jordan Turner who is forced to face her demons as a call goes horribly wrong when a young girl is kidnapped by a potential serial killer. By no means a perfect film, The Call delivers enough thrills and takes enough chances to warrant a watch.

The film opens with an entertaining montage of 911 calls, ranging from the ludicrous all the way up to homicidal. One can only imagine the bizarre phone calls that would be received in such a role. The sequence quickly educates the audience in how to take an emergency call and how resources are dispatched. I appreciated that the film took time to show us how it is done; it showed respect for people in the role considering they deal with so many highly stressful situations. Anderson’s television background comes to the fore in his camera work. Without being too critical its best described as dull. There are very few interesting angles and the camera seems to hang around long enough only to catch the actors say their lines. instead it should be setting a mood or giving us further insight into the world he’s creating. Which is a shame, since this is a world that I would liked to have seen more of. The only time he did anything different was employ slow motion during scenes of ultra-violence. I found the decision a little disturbing as if he was relishing a little too much in moment. The slow motion really took me out of each scene, which I’m not sure was the directors’ intent. Despite this he at least keeps the action ticking over at a break neck pace. Again this may be due to the fact he's probably used to working within the time constraints of television.

In terms of casting Halle Belly is great as the lead. I’ve always been a huge fan of her work. Despite films like Catwoman and Die Another Day, she has taken on some far meatier roles resulting in Monster’s Ball, Losing Isaiah and even Cloud Atlas. She really has a great presence on screen. She has an ability to convey warmth and integrity and I hope she returns to more substantial performances. However if they ever made a Bobby Brown bio, Halle Berry with her cropped perm hair cut is a dead ringer for a young Whitney Houston. I’m not sure if the world is ready just yet for that one though. Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine fame has the bulk of screen time and performs admirably as Casey Welson the victim of the kidnapping. In a role which could have easily become tedious. Rounding out the supporting cast is the always smooth Morris Chestnut (pictured above) as Officer Paul Phillips and Michael Imperioli (Sopranos) as the world's most unfortunate limousine driver.

Without engaging in any spoiler shenanigans I have to address the final 20 minutes of the film. The Call gets my respect because it at least attempts something different despite trudging through the usual clichés of the genre. I came away from it thinking, they didn’t quite stick the landing but it was a hell of a shot. This isn’t a particularly memorable film but will satisfy your cravings if you’re looking for something trashy.

The Call is in theatres from the 16^th of May. If you see the film and agree or disagree with my thoughts feel free to leave a comment below.

Interview with Robotech Love Live Alive Associate Producer - Steve Yun

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:48:00 +0000

Robotech is responsible for introducing many an anime to Japanese pop culture. Unlike many other adapted series of the time, Harmony Gold and writer Carl Macek openly promoted the show as being of Japanese origin. The series featured some rather progressive topics for its time as well as design elements that were much more detailed and intricate than others at the time.

Thanks to our pals at Beyond Home Entertainment, we managed to chat with Associate Producer Steve Yun about Love Live Alive and Robotech in general.

Ryan: Robotech is one of those legendary franchises that means a lot of things to a lot of people. What does it mean to you?

Steve Yun: I grew up on Robotech myself. As a young kid it helped me adjust with moving to a different state and helped me make new friends. On top of that it was my introduction to more sophisticated stories. People actually died and stayed dead? Interracial dating? The only characters who want to fight and blow stuff up all the time are portrayed as deranged maniacs? Suddenly every other cartoon seemed so childish to my 10 year old mind.

Before we actually start talking about the pending release of Love Live Alive - I wanted to clear the air over something that seems to be quite controversial among anime "purists". There are some that question the validity of Robotech as a series. These people claim that it doesn't properly reflect the original vision of the source material. Personally, I've never seen the issue and I happily categorise it as an all time classic. How do you respond to these kind of statements?

Robotech served an important role in popularizing anime around the world. For many people, they saw shows like Astro Boy and Speed Racer and had no idea that they were Japanese shows that were adapted for English-speaking audiences. Robotech was unique in that it was adapted from three different Japanese shows. Fans became aware of this and were consequently tipped off to the fact that there was a whole world of anime in Japan just waiting to be discovered. Carl Macek, the original producer of Robotech, also promoted the fact that Robotech had its origins in Japan, releasing the original Japanese versions on VHS and DVD.

On top of that, Robotech was very careful to maintain important themes from the original series that it was adapted from. Unlike many other adaptations, Robotech kept many of the important character deaths, and made sure to maintain some of the messages of the show; that war isn't all fun and games and that meeting your enemies in person might show you that you're not so different after all. Even if storylines were changed, Robotech made sure that the point of the show was still intact.

Lastly, Robotech and most other animated shows are entertainment. They're there to entertain you and enrich your life, and maybe even teach us some positive things along the way. If people are spending time getting angry and upset over their entertainment, then maybe they need to look at their entertainment differently.

Now, onto the exciting news. You've recently announced that Love Live Alive will reach Australian shores thanks to our friends at Beyond Entertainment. Is this the same Genesis Climber Mospeada Love Live Alive that was initially released in 1985?

No, actually it's an adaptation of that in the same way that Robotech is an adaptation of Japanese anime shows. We added several new scenes and animation to focus on a story that's more customized to Robotech's universe.

I'm lead to believe that Love Live Alive takes place at the same time as The Shadow Chronicles. Will the upcoming your planned sequel, Shadow Rising, tie into both?

Shadow Rising will be a sequel to Shadow Chronicles. I like to think of Love Live Alive as more of a side story, or as they call it, a Gai-den in Japanese

The first that we heard of Love Live Alive was during Carl Macek's memorial in 2011. Being such a large part of the Robotech world, was it daunting to take over the helm following Mr Macek's passing?

Definitely, Carl has a huge legacy of introducing anime to most western audiences, and many of our colleagues say that the original Robotech was what got them working in the anime industry in the first place. We luckily had some of his notes and we had several meetings with him over Love Live Alive so we had a rough idea of what we wanted for it.

Of course, in classic Robotech fashion, we're introduced to yet another "idol". What can you tell us about this one? He seems to be quite different to those who have come before.

Lancer is actually from the last season of the original series. His stage persona is Yellow Dancer, and was somewhat ground-breaking at the time for being a cross-dresser in something that wasn't Looney Tunes or Tom & Jerry (although a lot of his scenes were played for laughs). I recall it being controversial enough that some international TV markets refused to allow it on the air unedited, and they rewrote Lancer to be a female, going so far as to have a female voice actor for it and removing any scenes where Lancer was shirtless.

We've been told that the film will present some all new material. Just how much new footage will we get to see?

Love Live Alive was never previously released outside of Japan, which was made of new animation connecting several flashback scenes from the series. On top of that, our new adaptation is roughly half an hour longer and features some newer animation as well.

Is this film focussed on long-term fans only or can new viewers jump on in?

The film's main audience is long-term fans, but luckily because it features Lancer reminiscing about his experiences over the course of the show, it acts as a summary of the third season of Robotech and can get new fans caught up for Shadow Chronicles.

Do you have any tips for anyone interested in starting their Robotech viewing experience?

It's always best to start at the beginning. The original series is available now, remastered and very affordable now in a single box set. For someone who grew up on anime VHS tapes that only had 2 episodes per $20, it's a very easy time to be a fan right now!

And finally, Roy's Valkyrie is the coolest ship in the squadron. Am'I'right?

I like to point out that over the course of the Macross Saga, it is never destroyed. It loses its first pilot, it loses its arms, it got shot up but it always came back to fight again.

A massive thanks to Steve for taking the time to speak with us and, of course, Beyond Home Entertainment!

Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Behind the Scenes Featurette - War Machine

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:29:00 +0000

Released a couple of weeks ago now, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore is the latest anime collaboration between Marvel and Madhouse. If any characters would benefit from the incredible mech design sensibilities that Madhouse has to offer, it'd be Iron Man and War Machine.

Follow on after the jump for a look at the very cool design of Iron Man's offensive offsider in a special behind the scenes featurette.

It seems as though a few people are having trouble with the video above so if you have no luck, head over HERE and check it out. If you still have problems, please let me know in the comments section.

Ace Attorney DVD Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:51:00 +0000

Japanese film director Takashi Miike is really something else. He creates films like no one else on Earth and this is no doubt in part due to the sheer volume of work. Perhaps his skill is a direct result of what Malcolm Gladwell described in Outliers as the "10,000 hour rule".

One particularly pleasing aspect of Miike's career is the sheer diversity of his portfolio. From the disturbing and overtly violent Ichi the Killer to the colourful, delightful and child-friendly Ninja Kids, Miike has shown that he is a master filmmaker regardless of genre. Enter Ace Attorney.

Based upon Capcom's series of Nintendo games, Gyakuten Saiban, tells the story of rookie defense solicitor, Phoenix Wright. In the near future mandate dictates that all trials, regardless of the severity of the charge, are to be dispensed with in a paltry 3 days. In his very first case, rookie defence attorney Phoenix Wright (Hiroki Narimiya) finds himself defending an old school friend, Larry Butz (Akiyoshi Kakao), who is charged with the murder of his ex-girflfriend. The story is somewhat of an amalgamation of a few of the cases from the first video game. While purists may not see this as a positive, it definitely assists in moving the story along at an exciting pace.

Of course, there's more to the story than this and more cases to be fought and this is where the fun comes from. It takes a special breed of filmmaker to make a courtroom setting enjoyable, not just enjoyable but lighthearted and fun! Frankly, the first case which outlines the murder of young lady shouldn't have been as funny as it was. Writers Takeharu Sakurai, Sachiko Oguchi and director Takashi Miike seem to have injected levity into what should have been more stoic situations by introducing not only comedic elements but also cartoony "Minority Report" looking graphics that, while outside of canon, adds so much to the film. In fact, the overall aesthetic is one that seems to blend cartoon, futuristic sci-fi and steampunk elements and it works so well. The costumes and general appearance of the characters was a constant reminder that this is a film based on a video game.

While the look of the film is overwhelmingly cartoony, the performances in the film are slightly less so. Although Larry Butz, Yanni Yogi, Dick Gumshoe and Phoenix himself give some fantastic, light hearted performances, they are counter balanced by those given by Miles Edgeworth and the Judge who is portrayed by legendary actor and Japanese Academy Award winner, Akira Emoto. For such a sizeable cast we are treated to an equitable amount of insight into each character while giving the main focus to the main characters.

The release of Ace Attorney is a blessing. This film is one of the best executed, fun filled romps in recent memory. From start to finish, Ace Attorney proves that films based on video games CAN be worth the watch. The only downside is that it makes me wish Ninja Kids had a local release!

Ace Attorney is available from Madman now of DVD.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX Release Details Announced

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:26:00 +0000

I think we've already been through this but... I'm ridiculously excited for the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX.

Having missed it upon initial release, Square Enix' announcement of the Australian release is welcome news as are the details for a Limited Edition Art Book release!

This truly looks like a special game which anime, Disney and Square Enix fans would love.

So, for details of the Australian release and the low down on the Limited Edition Art Book release, follow on after the jump.

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Limited Art Book Edition Available From Selected Retailers

SYDNEY (10th May 2013) - Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products, today announced that KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX is now available for pre-order in Australia & New Zealandexclusively for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Fans who pre-order the game will be able to choose from a standard edition, or from selected retailers, a special limited run art book edition, full of lovingly crafted artwork for each of the titles. KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX will be released in Australia & New Zealand on September 12th 2013.

Fully remastered in HD, and updated with enhanced gameplay mechanics, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX includes the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX and KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories, never previously available in Europe and PAL territories. In addition, it will feature HD cinematic story videos from KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days, as well as PlayStation®3 system trophies. Players can now relive the origins of the celebrated franchise with Sora, Riku and the colorful cast of Disney characters, including Mickey, Donald and Goofy.

For more information on KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX, please visit: KingdomHearts.com

Click to enlarge

Superman: Unbound flies onto Australian shelves June 26

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000

DC Universe Animated Original Movies are fantastic. This may sound like blanket statement and frankly, it is. Sure some of their movies have been better than others but overall they make a bloody good film!

The latest of which is SUPERMAN: UNBOUND. Based on Geoff Johns' Superman: Brainiac, UNBOUND pits the Man of Steel against an all but unstoppable force.

Follow on after the jump for more details, a look at the trailer and the low down on the awesome special features on the Blu Ray release!

A destructive force is devastating planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in its sights – and even Superman may not be capable of halting the terror in SUPERMAN: UNBOUND, the next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new film arrives June 26, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray™ ($24.95 RRP) and DVD ($19.95 RRP) and for Digital Download.

SYNOPSIS

Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 release "Superman: Brainiac," SUPERMAN: UNBOUND finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth’s customs and managing Lois Lane’s expectations for their relationship. Personal issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the destruction of Krypton – Brainiac – begins his descent upon Earth. Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting planets – including Supergirl’s home city of Kandor – and now the all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his newly-arrived cousin.

The film’s stellar voicecast is led by Matt Bomer (White Collar) as Superman, John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings films) as Brainiac, Stana Katic (Castle) as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn (Castle) as Supergirl. Additional voices in the cast include Golden Globe Award winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Wade Williams (The Dark Knight Rises) as Perry White, Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Office Space) as Steve Lombard, Stephen Root (Boardwalk Empire, Justified) as Zor-El, and Alexander Gould (Weeds) as Jimmy Olsen.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
Featurette – “Kandor: History of the Bottle City” – An all-new featurette. Kandor: a peaceful scientific community dedicated toward the preservation of all that is good on Krypton, the home world of Superman. That is, until the city was ripped from its world and placed into a small glass bottle! This is the short story highlighting the shrunken city of Kandor. Its history just as fascinating as it is unique, here is how it ties in directly with the Man of Tomorrow.
Featurette – “Brainiac: Technology and Terror” – An all-new featurette. Mostly machine, but part sentient being, Brainiac steals cities and destroys worlds. Is he the most vile of Superman’s villainous foes? Experience the Brainiac mythology and find out why Superman barely stands a chance!
Audio Commentary – Featuring members of the creative team: Mike Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker.
Four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series (“The Last Son of Krypton, Part 1”; “New Kids in Town”; and “Little Girl Lost, Parts 1 & 2”), all handpicked by producer Alan Burnett.
Digital Comic – Excerpt from the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie

Win part of Hanabee's May Releases

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:49:00 +0000

Thanks to our pals at Hanabee, we have a BEVVY of their May titles to giveaway! If you're lucky enough, you could get your hands on one of the following DVD collections:

Hakuoki: A Memory of Flowers
Kids on the Slope
Nisemonogatari Part 1

All three of these titles are incredible for their own reasons. Hakuoki is a gorgeous example of the chanbarra genre and brings with it an aesthetic and sensibility that is sure to make you smile. Aside from being a brilliant and thrilling supernatural romp, Nisemonogatari is beautifully presented in its very own art book. Finally, Kids on the Slope. Every single thing about this series is beautiful, the story, the visuals and the music... ESPECIALLY the music!

All you have to do is follow on after the jump and fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win one of these titles which will be chosen at random! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

Entries close 11:59pm on Sunday 19th May 2013. Your details will not be used in any way other than for the delivery of your prize. Geek of Oz and Hanabee do not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or delay of/to prizes sent to winners (blame Australia Post for that one). The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered upon. One entry per person. Prizes are not redeemable for cash or any other kind of trading currency such as creds, latinum, sen, kan, zeni, double dollars or Ankh Morpork dollars. This competition is only open to Australian residents. Any questions or queries can be submitted through the comment section at the bottom of screen. Good luck!

Win Pokemon Movie 14: Black and White Double Pack on DVD

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:19:00 +0000

Thanks to our friends at Beyond Home Entertainment, the people responsible for Australia's awesome Poké-releases, we have 5 copies of Pokemon Movie 14: Black & White Double Pack to give away on DVD.

A Hero Must Choose: The Power of Ideals…or the Courage of Truth? When Ash wins the annual battle competition in Eindoak Town with the help of the Mythical Pokémon Victini, he and his friends Iris and Cilan begin an exciting adventure that could follow two different paths—but you can follow both of them! In Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom, Ash must make different choices if he is to earn the help of Reshiram—or Zekrom —to rescue Victini from the clutches of the misguided Damon and save Eindoak Town from disaster! It’s twice the Pokémon adventure! - Beyond

All you have to do is follow on after the jump and fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

Entries close 11:59pm on Sunday 19th May 2013. Your details will not be used in any way other than for the delivery of your prize. Geek of Oz and Beyond Home Entertainment do not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or delay of/to prizes sent to winners (blame Australia Post for that one). The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered upon. One entry per person. Prizes are not redeemable for cash or any other kind of trading currency such as creds, latinum, sen, kan, zeni, double dollars or Ankh Morpork dollars. This competition is only open to Australian residents. Any questions or queries can be submitted through the comment section at the bottom of screen. Good luck!

Madman deliver a Mad May for Japanophiles

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:00 +0000

May might very well be the best month to be a Japanophile. Not only does it see the Evangelion Art Exhibition reach Sydney and Melbourne after the Gold Coast, but we also have a whole swag of incredible Japanese cinema in stores now.

Godzilla Millennium Series Boxset

Godzilla is a mainstay of the kaiju genre and with Guilermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim just around the corner there's never been a better time to jump on the bandwagon. If you always found the original film a little too old, you're in luck. Released in 1999, Godzilla 2000 rebooted the franchise which ultimately finished with Ryuhei Kitamura's Godzilla: Final Wars.

Not sure where to start your education into all things kaiju? Start with the Millennium Boxset for something a little more current before revisiting the original Heisei and Showa sets.

Lady Snowblood Movies 1 & 2

Credited with being the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Lady Snowblood is a blood soaked story of betrayal and revenge. Somewhat of a grindhouse film in its own right, Lady Snowblood hase rightfully earned the "classic" label that many a cinephile have bestowed upon it. In short, it's like the samurai lovechild of Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and I Spit on Your Grave.

While it may be a highly regarded cinema study, it's perfectly enjoyable on its own and a must watch for Tarantino fans - see how many carbon copy shots you can spot!

The Samurai Trilogy

I could bang on all day about how great the final battle is at Ganryu Island but realistically, the fact that the first film in this trilogy won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film should be praise enough.

Released between 1954 and 1956, the golden period of Samurai cinema, the world's best known Samurai, Toshiro Mifune, took a break from starring in Akira Kurosawa films to star in the incredible Samurai Trilogy. Equal parts cinema and history lesson, Mifune plays the role of the world renowned Samurai, ronin, tactician and author, Miyamoto Musashi.

Lone Wolf and Cub Ultimate Collection

Do you like your samurai stories a little more blood soaked? Well if Lady Snowblood had too much and The Samurai Trilogy not enough, there's always the Lone Wolf and Cub Ultimate Collection.

Based upon the 1970 manga series by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub is yet another revenge story. In fact, it's almost a mix between Lady Snowblood and The Samurai Trilogy. After his wife is murdered and he is stripped of his title, former samurai executioner Ogami Itto embarks on an epic tale of adventure, revenge and retribution.

Weatherwoman Movies 1 & 2

What would you do to get to the top? Beg? Borrow? Steal? FLASH? Well that's exactly what a rookie Weatherwoman does to raise her profile. Spoiler alert... it works.

Weatherwoman has gained somewhat of a cult following and seems to be on latenight SBS at least a few times each year... since the late 90's. In fact, if there's anything I remember from SBS in the 90's it would be Neon Genesis Evangelion and Weatherwoman. Rude, crude and devilishly funny.

(Star Trek) Enterprise Season 1 Blu Ray Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:44:00 +0000

Those in the know would be aware that the prequel series, Enterprise, was known solely as Enterprise until season 3 in an attempt to somewhat distance itself from the franchise. This series was supposed to be a prequel to all that had come before it albeit one that would be accessible to an all new audience.

Unfortunately, in attempting to be all things to all people, Enterprise season 1 is somewhat of a technical failure. That said, it's a failure that I thoroughly enjoyed under the pretence of being a life-long Star Trek fan. While nowhere near as successful as JJ Abrams reboot, Enterprise was a great introduction to Star Trek from it's very beginnings.

Released hot on the heels of Star Trek Voyager's final season, Enterprise starts off with a bang. The double episode "Broken Bow" presents a slightly different Federation of Planets than we're used to. What we see is a fledgling world of spacefarers who, instead of actively seeking new life and new civilisations, are wary of making themselves known in the big, bad universe. Aside from the unofficial Human-Klingon first contact in The Next Generation season 6 episode 1, we witness the first meeting of humans and the warrior Klingon race in Broken Bow AND first contact with the freaky, shape shifting Suliban who wind up being the predominant antagonist throughout the season. While it's awesome to see the first contact between races, it felt as though the Klingon meeting was rather rushed and quickly forgotten. The Suliban, however, get a whole bunch of screen time thanks to their standing in the overarching "Temporal Cold War". Time travel is a plot device that rarely works and it doesn't particularly work in this instance either. Frankly, bugger all happens until the very last episode of season 1.

There are a few episodes that just don't work and appear to be trying NOT to be Star Trek but only seem to be more Star Trekky than not. Luckily, sub-standard episodes like "Terra Nova" and the HUH-worthy "Acquisition" are counterbalanced by the fantastic "Dear Doctor" and the wonderfully compact "Shuttlepod One". The reason that these episodes work so well is because they focus on telling a character filled story instead of zooming in solely on the incident. After all, this is an all new crew and we want to get to know them!

Of the cast, Scott Bakula is a standout. A sic-fi staple, Bakula positively oozes Captaincy. His rugged, good-ol' American boy charm is a great fit for the captain of a starship. His 2IC, Trip Tucker is played by Connor Trinneer. Relatively unknown before Enterprise, Trinneer brings a series of fantastic performances that highlight just how "human" the characters are as opposed to the often sanitary characters in previous series. Add to that Jolene Blalock as T'pol and you have a triptych of characters that offer a full range of emotion and inner turmoil. Star Trek has a long history of awesome Doctor's and John Billingsley as Dr Phlox is no different, he shines in every single scene that he's in with his quirky, unnerving yet always upbeat performances.

The effects in this season are fantastic and even though Voyager and Enterprise were filmed almost back to back, there's a noticeable difference in quality. That's not to say that Voyager was lacking, it's just that Enterprise took full opportunity of it's massive budget. Thankfully the powers that be decided to bring legendary production designer Herman F. Zimmerman back to the franchise. He and the Okuda's designed and created a ship interior that is both original and yet reminiscent of Kirk's Enterprise. In fact, the utilitarian aesthetic of the NX-01 makes the inaugural incarnation of the Enterprise look like the love-child of a Russian nuclear submarine and the NCC 1701. The external design of the ship garnered a whole lot of controversy when first released for looking too advanced. Unfortunately for designer Doug Drexler, his incredible design was actually maligned for looking TOO good! While I have a tendency to agree that the ships exterior does look rather advanced, it also looks awesome so no complaints from me.

Being shot in HD from the get go means that Enterprise season 1 looks gorgeous on Blu Ray. Add to this a whole bunch of special features and you've got a fantastic addition to any Trek fans collection. Among the special features are a series of candid interviews with creators Brannon Braga and Rick Berman. These interviews address a number of the issues with the series in a refreshingly honest manner with Brannon Braga particularly owning up to some gigantic errors in judgement. He refuses, however, to take responsibility for that god awful episode opener. That song truly needs to be burned in the Klingon fires of Kri'stak.

Enterprise Season 1 on Blu Ray is a fantastic release which looks and sounds fantastic. The story tends to falter here and there but overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable ride and a great introduction to the world of Star Trek.

The Place Beyond the Pines - Review by Gene Rich

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:37:00 +0000

Gosling and Cooper deliver spellbinding performances as their lives intertwine in this dramatic powerhouse of love, death, crime and punishment.

There is no simple way to explain this film. It is part love story, part thriller, part action and all drama. There is not a single weak performance from the entire cast and Cianfrance’s direction and script are superb in their ability to be astounding and understated in equal measures, an achievement unto itself. In a movie that could easily be made into two separate films, Cianfrance has been able to seamlessly tie the two parts together with great effect leaving the audience full to the brim. This is not a happy movie, I’ve just gotta say that. There are times when I was cringing to the edge of my seat; I just wanted it to end but the ability of all the actors to convey their emotions without overacting was a beautiful thing and it kept me interested and engaged throughout, that and an intriguing story.

It would be an outrage if I were to review this film without spending a little time on the two main actors, right? Ryan Gosling, super crush of all girls world wide and indeed many a man crush, delivers yet another flawless performance. If you’re thinking to yourself, “What? That guy from The Notebook and Crazy Stupid Love?” then do yourself a favour. Go out and rent, buy or download three films; Drive, Blue Valentine and Lars and the Real Girl (he plays a weirdo who falls in love with a mannequin, need I say more?). If you’ve seen these films, or even if you haven’t and want super intense, ‘you can see all the emotion leaking out of my face without saying a word’ kind of acting that Gosling seems to be able to do with the maturity of a well-seasoned actor, then watch this film – he is unmatched.

The other main actor in the film is of course Bradley Cooper. Perhaps best known for his comedic roles in Wedding Crashers and The Hangover series, Cooper is starting to assemble a very respectable back catalogue of serious films including Silver Linings Playbook, Limitless and The Words. All fine films and his performances outstanding but in my opinion in this film he’s really hitting his stride. As a cop struggling to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, corruption within his own precinct, a wife who wants him to leave the force and an overbearing father who wants the same, Cooper keeps it all together in a performance leaving us rooting for him in an unlikely way and feeling for him all the while.

The support cast, if you can call it that, is truly remarkable. Eva Mendes is great as Gosling’s long-suffering Latino lover. Ray Liotta is formidable as the colleague of Cooper. The two young men who practically steal the show, Emory Cohen (TV series Smash) and Dane DeHaan (Chronicle and Lincoln) are equal to anything their seasoned counterparts throw at them and complete this film in the same way it started, unabashed, simple and understated. We’ve even got our Australian contingency in Rose Byrne and Ben Mendelsohn, playing major supporting roles and as always, doing a fine job of it. Mendelsohn is on a role after his critically acclaimed performance in Animal Kingdom and has scored some choice roles in Killing Them Softly, The Dark Knight Rises, Knowing and even a cameo in the massively successful HBO series Girls. Rose Byrne, perhaps best known for her role in Bridesmaids, has been doing well in Hollywood for a while with roles in Get him to the Greek, X-Men: First Class and her major role in the TV series Damages.

David Cianfrance directs and co-writes this movie and it is his second collaboration with Ryan Gosling after their critically acclaimed Blue Valentine. Cianfrance has been able to achieve performances from his actors generally reserved for the highly experienced directors and is the envy of all up and coming film makers of today. His shot choices are so well juxtaposed with the dialogue that it makes even the most pleasant of scenes uncomfortable and the most dramatic, beautiful; a technique usually left for arty French films, yet he’s done it in a way that helps rather than hinders the plot. One of the main factors must be his Director of Photography, Sean Bobbitt, known mainly for his work on the beautifully shot 2011 film Shame. The score of this film was created by Mike Patton, of ‘Faith No More’ fame. This is his second attempt at the job after Crank: High Voltage and I must say, he’s done a pretty good job. As you would expect, if you are aware of his work, menacing at times and angelic in others, Patton has found a way to squeeze even more emotion out of a scene that already feels like it’s about to explode and does so with a deft touch. Hats off to the man.

All things taken into account, this film is extremely good. The story is beautifully crafted and intricately told. The world Cianfrance has created is believable, tangible and gritty. The performances leave nothing to be desired and give the audiences much to think about once the movie is finished. Highly recommended for the film buff, drama junkie or Ryan Gosling fans out there (are there any left?).

Spring Breakers - Review by Stu Coote

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:22:00 +0000

From what I can gather, American students see spring break as an opportunity to ditch their text books, morals and clothing and hit the nearest beach, basically converting it into Sodom and/or Gomorrah. Spring break is so popular that it’s spawned an entire industry of film makers following drunken almost-women around as they debase themselves. Spring Breakers, the latest film by provocateur Harmony Korine (Trash Humpers, Gummo), follows four friends who risk everything just to join the party, but ultimately each getting far more than they bargained for. Korine skewers the spring break dream with a bitingly cynical look at a generation of lost souls all searching for their meaningless fifteen minutes of fame.

Spring Breakers will offend people. In fact I predict the opening credit sequence alone will have people questioning why they slapped down their hard earned cash. We are treated to a montage of topless women bouncing around on a beach, jock quarterback types holding beer cans at their groins to simulate urinating into a woman’s mouth and a shot of twelve or so bikini-clad teens practicing fellatio on their ice blocks. To make matters worse, it’s all glossy, stunningly photographed and all highly exploitative. You’ve got to admire the courage of a director who comes out guns-a-blazing leaving no one wondering what the film will be about. It’s about sun, sex and booze. Got that?! Good, because you’re going to get sick of all three by the time this film is done. ‘How is that possible?’ I hear you say. Simply put, the film harnesses repetitive imagery to strip away the glitz and glamour of the party lifestyle and shows how destructive it can be without becoming a melodramatic midday television movie.

The film focuses on the efforts of four friends making their way down from college to the spring break action. Candy (Vanessa Hudgens), Faith (Selena Gomez), Brit (Ashley Benson) and Cotty (Rachael Korine) have pooled their savings but sadly come up short of the required funds. Naturally, their only option is to rob a fast food restaurant, which goes off without a hitch and funds their adventure. I loved this: the lure of spring break is so great it will corrupt people to such an extent that they will risk all for sun, sex and booze. One the girls hit spring break there’s no holding back.

Much has been made of the casting of this film. Namely because of the ‘Disney princesses gone bad’ angle that the marketing has taken. Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens especially impressed me. Gomez’s Faith seemed to have been given the more challenging role as the moral compass for the quartet. Vanessa Hudgens excels playing the outrageous Candy; albeit a far showier performance, it showed just as much discipline as Gomez. Begrudgingly I have to recognise that the true stroke of casting genius is that of one Mr James Franco as the drug dealing hip hop extraordinaire Alien. I have a long and tortured love/mostly hate relationship with James Franco. This stems from the fact that he is wildly inconsistent and often looks to be sleepwalking through his films. But when he gets the right role, all sins are forgiven. Korine uses Alien to perfection as a means to expose the seedy underbelly which feeds off the spring break scene.

Korine skilfully flexes his muscle behind the camera, resulting in some phenomenally gorgeous cinematography which is complemented so well by the, at times, non-linear storytelling. Where some films employ humour to reduce the tension, Spring Breakers used repetitive images of bikini clad women to achieve an ironic monotony, suggestive of the absurdity of the whole spring break concept.

Harmony Korine has a reputation for shock which is well earned. I can’t think of many directors who would be as capable of pulling off this film in similar style and with as much precision. It weighs in at a skinny 94 minutes, but packs a big punch. The film boasts one scene in particular which alone was worth the price of admission. Let’s just say that it included James Franco, a piano, three women in ski-masks and iconic pop princess’s ballad. Let me stress, I’m not praising this film because of the women jumping around in bikinis acting outrageous. This film is a truly original, daring and challenging work of art which will definitely feature in my top ten of the year.

Japan Foundation presents Masakazu Morita at SMASH 2013

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Sun, 05 May 2013 11:26:00 +0000

In only 5 days time, Japan Foundation Sydney are bringing the highly acclaimed Evangelion Art Exhibition to Sydney. In what is yet another boon for the Sydney anime scene, Japan Foundation and SMASH! have announced a very special guest at this years show.

The voice of Ichigo from the smash hit Bleach and Barnaby Brooks Jr from Tiger & Bunny, Masakazu Morita is a certified superstar.

Having previously visited Australia for the Gold Coast Film Festival, Morita returns to our fair shores but this time exclusively thanks to Japan Foundation and the Sydney Manga and Anime Show!

Sydney, NSW, May 2, 2013 – Sydney’s favourite Japanese pop culture convention SMASH! (Sydney Manga and Anime Show) will be celebrating its seventh year this year, and it has been confirmed Japan Foundation, Sydney will renew itself as one of the key sponsors for SMASH! 2013.

Sharing their enthusiasm and ongoing support for the convention, Japan Foundation, Sydney is proud to present voice actor Masakazu Morita as a confirmed guest to attend SMASH! in August.

Masakazu Morita (森田成) is a prolific Japanese voice actor who is best known for his roles as Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach), Kazuya Hiramura (Bakuman), Barnaby Brooks Jr. (Tiger and Bunny) and Auel Neider (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed). Morita’s success as a voice-actor is affirmed by his ‘Best Rookie Actor’ award at the first Seiyu Awards in 2007 where he won for his role as Ichigo Kurosaki.

In conjunction with his extensive voice-acting career, Morita is also a motion-capture actor for various films (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Final Fantasy VIII) and hosts a radio show called ‘Bleach B-Station’ which consists of interviews and talks amongst the voice actors of Bleach. Japan Foundation, Sydney’s Amanda Thompson regards SMASH! as a “wonderful event where industry, fans and talents come together to support what they love”.

“We have always enjoyed being part of SMASH! and the anime community in Australia so we are very excited to sponsor Morita-san to not only come to Australia, but Sydney for the very first time,” Thompson said.

“We feel it’s a perfect fit with Japan Foundation, Sydney’s vision of promoting Japanese culture and being part of the bridge for cross-cultural communication. We hope Morita-san enjoys Sydney’s culture and the SMASH! convention.”

SMASH! President Ray Elinon believes Morita’s upcoming attendance as a guest would have been “almost impossible” without Japan Foundation, Sydney’s sponsorship.

“It is not an easy task to acquire special guests like Morita-san to come all the way from Japan,” Elinon said. “And to have Japan Foundation, Sydney on board as a principal sponsor, we would like to thank them for making this opportunity possible. We’re sure many fans of Morita-san will be ecstatic to see him at SMASH! 2013.”

SMASH! (Sydney Manga and Anime Show) is a one-day convention that will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2013. More information will be published over the next few months as the convention draws closer. For general information, visit www.smash.org.au.

ABOUT THE JAPAN FOUNDATION

The Japan Foundation aims to promote cultural and intellectual exchange between Japan and other nations through a diverse range of programs and events. The Japan Foundation, Sydney runs a gallery space, library and Japanese language courses for all levels catering from beginner to advanced. The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 with a global network of 23 offices in 21 countries. The Australian office was founded in 1977.

ABOUT SMASH! (SYDNEY MANGA AND ANIME SHOW)

SMASH! (Sydney Manga and Anime Show) is a Japanese pop culture convention that is devoted to artists, creators and fans alike. Our primary focus is to allow fans to meet and interact with other like-minded people, show off their own creative talents, buy anime and manga related goods and celebrate their fandom in a social environment.

Jupiter's Legacy #1 Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Sun, 05 May 2013 10:55:00 +0000

Image Comics have always excelled at two things: bringing astounding new talent to the attention of readers and giving well established talent a place to truly cut loose and experiment. Jupiter's Legacy #1 is a wonderful example of the latter. Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, although both well established creators in their own right, team up to bring forth a book which is nothing short of a fully realised alternative superhero comic.

Before I go any further, I should probably 'fess up to being a raging Mark Millar fanboy. I pretend to want intelligent, thought provoking and conceptually mature comics but at the end of the day all I really want to see is two jerks in capes beating the living snot out of each other and Mr. Millar is all too obliging. Make no mistake, Jupiter's Legacy is nothing more (or less) than a tale of sex, drugs and superpowers.

The first six pages of Jupiter's Legacy take place during the great depression where we are introduced to Sheldon Samson. Like so many other business men of the time Sheldon loses his fortune in the stock market crash and is completely shaken. Sporting a social conscience rivaled only by Superman, Sheldon begins to grow more and more disturbed by what the great depression is doing to his beloved United States.

This concern culminates in his obsession with an island he envisions in a reoccurring dream. Convinced that this island holds the answers to America's problems he sets out to find it aided only by his closest friends, his brother Walter and a cynical sea captain.

These introductory six pages end with the discovery of the mysterious island and are easily the strongest part of the book. It's clean cut and makes for a wonderful change compared to the usual breakneck pace of superhero comics. Quitely's artwork, particularly his character work, is stunning in this prelude. No doubt aided by the fact that the young Sheldon Samson bears an uncanny resemblance to Clark Kent in 'All-Star Superman'.

Flash forward to 2013 and Sheldon Samson is now the Utopian, the world's greatest superhero. Aided by his brother and everyone else that accompanied him to the mysterious island he defends the earth from what little super-villains remain. You immediately pick up a strong Watchmen vibe, this sense that evil no longer has a tangible form that can merely be punched into submission. The Golden age of superheroes has ended.

The remaining pages of the book share a lot in common with Mark Waid's Kingdom Come as we meet the spoiled children of the ageing Utopian, children who have no interest in carrying on their father's legacy. Take note of the fact that Jupiter's Legacy is highly derivative. Not only of comics and characters by the big two (I of course refer to Marvel and DC) mind you, but of Millar's previous creator owned titles which are in turn highly derivative. Mix Watchmen, Kingdom Come, Kick-Ass, Superman, and add a dash of Wanted and you get Jupiter's legacy. However, within this mix of cliche and archetype there is something that resembles an original story.

But if you're a Millar fan like myself, you're not after originality, are you? You just want action, some innuendo and of course a sweet, sweet super-powered beat-down or two. This book certainly has you covered. Oh, and the gorgeous art of Frank Quitely doesn't hurt either.

Star Trek Into Darkness Audio Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:45:00 +0000

For something a little different, Stu and I thought that we would share our views on Star Trek Into Darkness on audio! That's right, give your eyes a rest and listen in as I (a lifelong Trekkie) and Stu (not) compare notes on JJ Abrams latest foray into the United Federation of Planets. WE'RE THE ORIGINAL ODD COUPLE!

As an extra special treat, we've added a clip of our interview with JJ Abrams on his recent visit to Sydney. Check out our review after the jump!

Feel free to stream our review or right click HERE and save the MP3 for later.

Battle Arena Melbourne turns 5 this May

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:38:00 +0000

Battle Arena Melbourne turns 5 this May and what a birthday celebration it's looking to be. In what will undoubtedly be their biggest year yet, CouchWarriors have organised a veritable bevy of events including exhibitions, special events, live entertainment and, of course, THE EVER PRESENT BATTLE FOR GLORY!

MAJOR FIGHTING GAME EVENT “BATTLE ARENA MELBOURNE” CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY on MAY 17-19

Feature packed event over THREE days expands to include live entertainment, exhibitions, special guests, alongside top competition for the coveted BAM trophy, prizes and national glory.

CouchWarriors is proud to present the Fifth Annual BAM. One of the longest running national tournaments, BAM5 continues a tradition that CouchWarriors began by revitalising the community with monthly events in 2006. Set to feature approx 300 players and thousands of streaming viewers, BAM5 is a huge event in the Australian Fighting Game Community calendar.

As part of the national circuit for 2013 following Sydney’s Ozhadou Nationals in February, players from each state will by vying for victory, avenge a defeat or to cheer the best of the best..

In celebration of its 5th anniversary, CouchWarriors has expanded BAM5 to run over three days with more features for players and spectators than ever before.

WEBSITE: www.couchwarriors.org/bam

LOCATION: CQ, Event Room 2, 123 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

FEATURING

Special Guest: Jonny “Humanbomb” Cheng (Hong Kong) world class Street Fighter 4 player, 2012 EVO top 5, returning 2010 BAM champion, 2011 Ozhadou champion.

Exhibition matches Interstate battles, Champions challenge vs Humanbomb and more Special Guest: INJUSTICE: Gods Among Us Prequel comic writer TOM TAYLOR will be signing comics and games May18th. There will be comic giveaways thanks to All Star Comics.

Live Music performance: In partnership with Sound Bytes, Chiptunes musician Pselodux will open BAM5 Friday entertainment with a blistering spacerock set, bringing together the chiptunes and competitive gaming scenes for the first time, making BAM a true festival of gaming Community TV: NewGamePlus.TV will conducting player interviews, coverage and its own community qualifier in association with the High School Esports League.

LIVE STREAM As part of the Melbourne community we share equipment and resources with Official Partner Shadowlogic and proudly stream via www.twitch.tv/ShadowlooHQ

REGISTRATION AND INFO

Players are encouraged to preregister: www.couchwarriors.org/bam

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/587593197917660/

Social Media: Facebook.com/CouchWarriors - Twitter.com/CouchWarriors #BAM5

Spectators are most welcome. Spectator passes are only $10 for the weekend.

The event has the largest lineup of titles reflecting the strong emphasis on inclusivity and community growth that is CouchWarriors hallmark, with Casual play well accommodated.

Official tournaments:

• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition v2012 • Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

• The King of Fighters XIII

• Street Fighter X Tekken

• Tekken Tag Tournament 2

• Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown

• Dead or Alive 5

• Street Fighter 3: Third Strike

• Super Smash Bros Brawl & Melee

• Launch tournament Injustice: Gods Among Us Plus Special Mortal Kombat Exhibition

Gameplay Trailer for first Injustice DLC - Lobo

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:10:00 +0000

Warner Bros and NetherRealm have announced their very first DLC character and it's none other than the chain smoking, chain wielding, Czarnian bounty hunter - Lobo. A fan favourite character, Lobo looks to be bringing some serious attitude to the game that we called a "tonne of fun".

While the cost of this litte gem is not yet known, Warner Bros have released a gameplay trailer and the dreadlocked fraggin' bastich has never looked better.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today released a gameplay video featuring Lobo, the first character that will be available as downloadable content (DLC), beginning May 8.

To watch the trailer click here and to download here.

Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Injustice: Gods Among Us introduces a new franchise in the fighting game genre and a brand new story created in collaboration between NetherRealm Studios, DC Entertainment and comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. As the story unfolds, players will experience the power, gadgetry and unparalleled strength of some the most popular DC Comics heroes and villains, such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, The Joker and others, as they engage in epic battles in a world where the line between good and evil is blurred.

CLOSED Win Spring Breakers Tickets

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:18:00 +0000

Thanks to our pals over at Icon Film Distribution we have 10 in-season double passes to see Spring Breakers. Our buddy Andrew Buckle over at Graffiti With Punctuation said of Spring Breakers "There are unforgettable scenes" and praised it for what is "surely the best use of a Britney Spears song in a film ever".

Prepare to be shocked and surprised in SPRING BREAKERS, as Disney darlings Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens turn up the heat in a vacation they will never forget. When a group of college girls on Spring break land themselves in jail, they are bailed out by a local arms dealer and shown the ropes of a life that requires no college education. Alien (James Franco) takes them under his wing, providing a lavish home complete with a bed of cash, a grand piano by the pool and plenty of guns to keep them occupied. Together they embark on a wild ride on the wild side and show that good girls go to heaven and bad girls go to ‘Spring Break. In cinemas May 9. Please note, Spring Breakers is rated R18+.

All you have to do is follow on after the jump and fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win one of of these titles which will be chosen at random! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

THIS COMPETITION HAS CLOSED

Entries close 11:59pm on Sunday 5th May 2013. Your details will not be used in any way other than for the delivery of your prize. Geek of Oz and Icon do not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or delay of/to prizes sent to winners (blame Australia Post for that one). The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered upon. One entry per person. Prizes are not redeemable for cash or any other kind of trading currency such as creds, latinum, sen, kan, zeni, double dollars or Ankh Morpork dollars. Geek Of Oz take no responsibility for head explosions caused by utter awesomeness. This competition is only open to Australian residents. Any questions or queries can be submitted through the comment section at the bottom of screen. Good luck!

Nichijou - My Ordinary Life Collection 1 Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:44:00 +0000

Generally, I'm the kind of guy that likes his comedy to be of a higher brow than not. Sure, I have no particular problem with the Adam Sandler's and Jim Carrey's of the world but I'm more inclined to hunt down the stand-up comedy of Bill Bailey or Dylan Moran. All of this aside, I enjoyed a whole lot of laugh-out-loud moments while watching Nichijou - My Ordinary Life Collection 1.

Nichijou is ridiculous. There's not really any other way to put it. The title, My Ordinary Life, is the perfect set up to completely flip the script on an unsuspecting audience member. There is absolutely nothing "ordinary" about this series. Many a website has described Nichijou as a "slice of life" series... sorry? Slice of what? The term "slice of life" is generally reserved for titles such as the delightful Honey and Clover, a series that involves a chain of events that, while dramatic, could very well occur in everyday life. While I'd hate for this to come across as a criticism of the labelling practises of others, Nichijou is not that series. Nichijou is something else altogether different and altogether delightful.

Unfortunately, the fact that this series is only available with the original Japanese dub will probably lose a few viewers. Without bringing up the dreaded sub-vs-dub debate, we need to acknowledge that there's a segment of the anime community that are only interested in series that have been dubbed into English and there's nothing wrong with that, apart from the fact that they'll be missing out on one of the funniest series to be released in quite a while. In fact, I'd even go as far as to say that an English dub of this series would detract from many of the subtle comedic nuances that occur throughout the series, even down to sounds of surprise and shock. It's these moments that somewhat ground the series in reality. As silly as it is, the Japanese dub just makes sense given the series setting in a Japanese school.

This series has an extensive cast of characters which is as diverse as you could possibly get. At first, we're introduced to a clockwork maid and her 8 year old creator before meeting some seemingly ordinary schoolgirls. This sort of introduction goes on and on until we finally meet the son of affluent farmers who rides to school on a goat, the optimistic president of a failing soccer team, the deer wrestling head master and a punk who isn't a punk, his hair just so happens to naturally grow into a mohawk. This is the true shining point in the series - the characters. Each one is interesting and each one is hilarious in their own special way.

Visually, Kyoto Animation have done it again! Longtime followers of Geek Of Oz will know how much we loved K-On, a series that shares a marginal similarity to Nichijou. Although the backgrounds and character animation aren't quite up to K-On standard, some of the cut-scenes are utterly gorgeous and the overall effect adds to the comedic impact of the series. Director Tatsuya Ishihara (Kanon, Haruhi Suzumiya) also makes some interesting decisions by inserting a handful of scenes that break the mould, introducing bold brush strokes and raw line work for added impact. These scenes just work and the reason that they work so well is because they indulge in classic anime and manga tropes albeit in ludicrous situations. The juxtaposition between serious and silly is an enduring theme in this series and Nichijou is all the more endearing for it.

Regardless of what category this series falls in, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life is an absolute delight and brings with it an abundance of fun and levity that will undoubtedly bring sunshine to even the cloudiest day. This is a joyous, hilarious and fun series that is one Madman's best releases of the year.

Nichijou - My Ordinary Life Collection 1 is available now on DVD while collection 2 is available for pre-order.

Wu Dang Blu Ray Review

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Chinese cinema is exploding onto the scene, mirroring the financial successes that Mainland China is currently experiencing. With the second largest film industry second only to the United States, Mainland China is churning out some big budget and highly polished cinema. Introducing Wu Dang.

Set somewhere around 1930 in Mainland China, Wu Dang tells the story of Tang Yunlong, a Chinese archaeologist who has just returned from the USA. Upon his return, he finds himself in the middle of a dodgy second hand deal before punching his way out the back door, taking with him and ancient and seemingly mystical map. He and his daughter, Tang Ning, scarper away into the sacred mountains of Wu Dang where shenanigans and a healthy dose of fisticuffs ensue.

Wu Dang is very much a Chinese version of Indiana Jones. In fact, it could very well be renamed Indiana Jones and the Kung Fu Hustle with nary the bat of an eyelid. Comparisons aside, this is no Crystal Skull. Wu Dang brings with it a sense of urgency that assists in keeping the story rolling. That said, the story itself is a rather thin one. What we're given is a story about an archaeologist who is in the midst of hunting down a secret, lost treasure. Along the way we are introduced to a couple of new characters and a bonds are formed. Unfortunately the main character, played by Vincent Zhao, never quite delivers the emotional depth necessary to make this treasure hunt feel as though the stakes are as high as they should be.

Regardless of how high or low the stakes may be, Wu Dang is a very enjoyable film which seems to veer away from the recent tendency of Hong Kong/Chinese cinema to go big on every occasion. Wu Dang isn't an epic film. It doesn't have the cast of thousands like Reign of Assassins or The Myth, but instead seems to show restraint in focussing on only a small cast. One particular standout is Xu Jiao who plays Tang Yunlong's daughter, Tang Ning. She delivers a performance that balances strong arm kung fu, emotional vulnerability and a smattering of comedy which should come as no surprise following her comedic performance in Stephen Chow's CJ7.

The action in Wu Dang is pretty darn great and uses set pieces to full effect. There are a few scenes that occur indoors and the all in brawls that take place are stand out moments in the film. These battles seem to spill over from one room or terrace to the next, giving these sequences a sense of depth that is otherwise often forgotten. As should be expected, there is a hefty amount of wirework in this film. Unfortunately, having just watched the incredible Rurouni Kenshin, the wirework in Wu Dang felt a little ham-fisted, especially since the characters in this film are not of the pseudo-mystical variety like in films such as Shinobi.

Overall, Wu Dang is an enjoyable film but in no way does it break new ground. It manages to be worth the watch purely for the quality of performance, action sequences and production quality. If not for Xu Jiao's performance, the entire film would have fallen flat purely for its lack of emotional attachment.

Wu Dang is available from Madman on Blu Ray and DVD.

Evangelion Art Exhibition with voice actress Yuko Miyamura

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:06:00 +0000

Currently touring Australia is the incredibly exciting Evangelion Art Exhibition. After wowing audiences on the Gold Coast, Shinji and friends will be heading to Sydney where the good folks at the Japan Foundation will be holding a very special Q&A with Japanese voice actress Yuko Miyamura, the voice of Asuka!

To add some icing to that already tasty cake, the Q&A will be facilitated by yours truly! Looking forward to seeing you there.

Follow on after the jump for all of the details and don't forget to book ahead of time, seats are strictly limited!

In collaboration with Madman Entertainment and NTV Films, The Japan Foundation, Sydney is pleased to host the 2013 Evangelion Art Exhibition from Friday 10 to Saturday 18 May at the Japan Foundation Gallery. This exhibition will offer a rare glimpse into the renowned Evangelion franchise.

In the exhibition, a collection of original concept and production art, character drawings and key artefacts will be on display, offering an insider’s view into Japanese anime film production. A limited selection of exclusive merchandise will also be available.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Japan Foundation is excited to welcome guest Yuko Miyamura, an anime voice actress best known for her role as Asuka in the Evangelion series, for “Meet the voice of Asuka”, a one-day event program featuring a Q+A session and a voice acting workshop on Saturday, 11 May.

The Q+A session with Miyamura will be facilitated by Ryan Huff, Geek of Oz editor and resident anime writer for JB Hi-Fi’s STACK Magazine, and will be followed by a short signing opportunity. The voice acting workshop will give participants an insight into what happens behind the scenes of an anime production, touching on everything from breathing techniques to acting and synching with actual video images from Evangelion. As places are limited, participants will be selected in advance by Miyamura-san herself through an online audition process.

“Voice actress extraordinaire Yuko Miyamura has worked on some of the best known anime properties such as Astro Boy, Pokémon and the incredible Neon Genesis Evangelion. The Melbourne-based superstar literally bridges the cultural gap between Japan and Australia, bringing with her a wealth of experience that she plans to share with Evangelion fans in Australia,” says Huff.

2013 Evangelion Art Exhibition is showing now at The Arts Centre Gold Coast (17 April – 5 May) and in Melbourne’s No Gallery (28 May – 9 June).

2013 Evangelion Art Exhibition

10 May – 18 May 2013

Japan Foundation Gallery

Level 1, Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney

Monday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm

Free admission

WEB: www.jpf.org.au | FB: @japanfoundationsydney | TW: @jpfsydney

Meet the voice of Asuka

Q+A session with Yuko Miyamura

Q+A session and signing opportunity with Yuko Miyamura, facilitated by Ryan Huff

Saturday 11 May, 11am – 12:30pm

The Japan Foundation

Seats are limited. Bookings essential to reception@jpf.org.au / 02 8239 0055

Voice Acting Workshop with Yuko Miyamura

Saturday, 11 May, 2pm – 4pm

The Japan Foundation

Online audition selection by Yuko Miyamura prior to event

Places are strictly limited. For audition details, head to www.jpf.org.au

ABOUT YUKO MIYAMURA

In addition to being a very talented voice actress, she is an actress, J-pop singer and director of audiography. Her acting roles include the presenter in Battle Royale, voice roles in gaming include Chun Li and Rose in the Street Fighter Alpha and EX series, Larxene in the Kingdom Hearts series, and many more. She has provided the voices for so many characters in anime series, such as Kazuha Toyama in Detective Conan, Alyssa Sears in My-Hime and Casca in Berserk, and she is incredibly popular for her role as being the voice of Asuka in the Evangelion series

ABOUT RYAN HUFF

From a very young age, Ryan has had an interest in pop culture, specifically Japanese pop culture. His earliest memories are of watching Astro Boy, Marine Boy and Monkey on TV. While as a young geekling he may not have realised that these things were Japanese, he always knew that they had something in common – they were awesome. As he grew, so did his love of all things Japanese until, as a young and impressionable teen he was exposed to Neon Genesis Evangelion through SBS. After recording each episode on VHS (kids, ask your parents), he would break his brain trying to understand Evangelion's religious and philosophical allusions as well as its abundance of Freudian psychoanalysis. Nowadays Ryan is the geek behind GeekOfOz.com and is the resident anime guy for JB Hi-Fi's STACK magazine.

ABOUT THE JAPAN FOUNDATION

Thor returns in the first Dark World trailer

ryan@geekofoz.com (Geek Of Oz (Ryan Huff)) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:22:00 +0000

With a slightly more gritty look than in the previous film, the mighty Asgardian, Thor returns to the big screen in the very first trailer for Thor: The Dark World.

Check it out after the jump!

Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s "Thor" and "Marvel’s The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

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