by Matt Raub, Oct 21 2009 // 9:00 AM
Those of you who have been following the ongoing webseries The Legend of Neil may or may not know that season two has just come to an end, and what a finale! This season has had multiple orcs, the Dark Nut, and yes, more Felicia Day!
If you aren’t up to par on the show, it’s basically an crass spoof on the classic Legend of Zelda video game, in which the main character, Neil, gets drunk and asphyxiates himself while playing the game, thus transporting him inside the universe. He is overcome by orcs, skeletons, and dragons, but makes it through each level with a crass, who-cares attitude.
The show is created and directed by the castmember of another popular webseries, The Guild, Sandeep Parikh. Sandeep plays Zaboo on The Guild and occasionally pops up to voice a few parts on Neil. Check out the season 2 finale after the jump, or catch up on the first two seasons at the show’s official site. Enjoy!
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Posted in: Action · Comedy · Fantasy · Filmmaking · News · Video · Web
Tagged: Dandeep Parikh, Felicia Day, Legend of Neil, The Guild, Webseries, Zelda
by Cortney Zamm, Oct 21 2009 // 8:00 AM
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games recently announced that members of Queen Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor will appear in LEGO Rock Band! The band members will be seen rocking out LEGO style during the in-game performances of “We Are The Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”
Guitarist Brian May said about his band’s appearance in the game: “This is IT! I wanna play! When do I get my toy LEGO man?”
Queen’s rock pack for the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content was just released, featuring 10 of the band’s greatest hits including “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Under Pressure.” In addition, Queen will release Absolute Greatest on Nov. 17, featuring 20 of the band’s biggest hits.
Lego Rock Band will be coming to your Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo DS consoles this holiday season.
Posted in: Games · Video Games · Warner Bros
Tagged: Lego, Lego Rock Band, Queen, Rock Band
by Chris Ullrich, Oct 21 2009 // 7:00 AM
Add another change of TV show leadership to the list that already includes CBS’s The Good Wife as, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Marc Guggenheim is stepping down as showrunner on ABC’s first season drama FlashForward. Even though the show recently got an order for 9 more episodes (what is known as the “back nine” in TV production) it will be David Goyer taking the helm from here on out.
According to the trade, reasons for Guggenheim’s departure are not clear. But what is clear is that the show, in spite of good ratings for its debut, has since slipped. For adults 18-49 the show had a 4.1 rating at its premiere and dropped to a 3.1 for its fourth episode. Not the way they hope numbers will go.
Initially, Guggenheim had been brought in after the pilot to replace FlashForward‘s co-creator Brannon Braga, who also co-created and ran Star Trek: Enterprise and Threshold, due to his departure to run the latest season of Fox’s 24. Goyer had worked alongside Guggenheim since that point to learn the ropes and will now step up for the next nine episodes.
To be honest, its not that unusual for showrunners to leave shows and go on to something else. It happens. Still, you have to wonder if the ratings had remained consistent, would we even be talking about this at all? My guess, probably not.
FlashForward airs Thursday at 8/7C on ABC.
Posted in: ABC · Drama · News · Sci-Fi · TV · Writers
Tagged: Brannon Braga, David Goyer, FlashForward, Marc Guggenheim
by Cortney Zamm, Oct 20 2009 // 3:00 PM

At this weekend’s Big Apple Con in New York City, I got a chance to spend a few minutes with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. A sequel to 2006′s New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS, this game will be the first game in the Mario series to feature simultaneous multiplayer gameplay since Mario Bros.
The game performs much like Super Paper Mario did. The Wiimote is held sideways, and you control Mario, Luigi, or Toad with the directional buttons. Simple things like jumping or attacking are performed using the buttons, while more complicated things like Luigi’s spin attack are performed by shaking the Wiimote. Overall, the controls were familiar and easy, and I never found them frustrating. Graphic wise, this game looks exactly like New Super Mario Bros. but performs well on the Wii.
All the reading I’d done about this game told me that New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a cooperative side scrolling multiplayer. But after myself and a fellow Flickcast contributor were handed our Wiimotes and told how to play, what ensued was an all-out battle. We fought over mushrooms, power ups like the Propeller Suit, coins, and reaching the end of the level. We trapped eachother against walls and ran eachother into enemies.
This was a frustrating and unexpected aspect of the game. As much as you do need the other player to reach the end of the game, it can become a contest to see who will end up with the most points at the end of the level, or who can frustrate eachother the most.
You’ll be able to get your hands on New Super Mario Bros. Wii November 15th.
Posted in: Games · News · Nintendo · Video Games · Wii
Tagged: Big Apple Con 2009, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii
by Cortney Zamm, Oct 20 2009 // 2:00 PM

Apple announced new models of the iMac desktops and MacBook laptops earlier today, much to the joy of Apple enthusiasts everywhere. The new iMacs, according to TUAW, are changing from aluminum and polycarbon design to aluminum and edge-to-edge glass. They will come in 21.5 and 27-inch models, now with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The 21.5-inch model will cost $1,199, with a step-up model at $1,499. The 27-incher will start at $1,699 and the higher end 27-inch with a Intel Core i5 quad-core processor will be $1,999. Important changes to the iMac models are the addition of an SD card slot and the ability to use the 27-inch iMac as a monitor.
Inside the iMac box, you’ll now find a wireless keyboard and the new Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse is pretty cool, as it functions similar to the MacBook Pro touch pad with touch sensitive capabilities and accelerated scrolling. For $16 extra, you’ll also get an aluminum Apple Remote.
Apple’s new MacBook laptop is rounder and sleeker at 1.08 inches thick and weighing in at 4.7 pounds. Now sporting a glass trackpad like the Macbook Pros, the MacBook also features a seven hour battery life, an LED-backlit screen, backlit keyboard, and SD card slot. Despite these upgrades, Apple is still keeping the Macbook, with a 2.26Ghz processor and 2 GB of RAM, at $999.
Apple also refreshed its Mac mini line to include more memory, larger hard drives and with a special “Server” version featuring dual 500GB hard drives and Snow Leopard Server. All of these models will be available today except for the 27-inch i5 quad-core iMac, which will ship in November.
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Posted in: Announcements · Apple · Gear · Geek · News · Tech
Tagged: iMac, Mac mini, MacBook, Magic Mouse
by Joe Gillis, Oct 20 2009 // 1:00 PM

Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic, and not-so-classic, movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.
Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Blu-ray versions of movies and TV shows such as Blood: The Last Vampire, Easy Rider and the first seasons of Hawaii Five-O and Vega$. Plus, I think some movie with lots of robots, explosions and Megan Fox also came out this week as well.
Check them out.
Movies
Blood: The Last Vampire ~ Michael Byrne, Constantine Gregory, Yasuaki Kurata (DVD and Blu-ray)
Cheri ~ Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates (DVD – 2009)
Easy Rider ~ Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson (Blu-ray)
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Posted in: DVD · Movies · News · TV
Tagged: Blood: The Last Vampire, Easy Rider, Hawaii Five-O, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Costner, Planes, Steve Martin, Trains and Automobiles, Transformers 2, Vega$
by Matt Raub, Oct 20 2009 // 12:00 PM
This past weekend at Big Apple Comic Con, we got a chance to talk to Dollhouse’s Miracle Laurie about her role in the show, and where things may be headed. Last season, her character November went through quite a transformation, and was left this season “released” by the Dollhouse.
Miracle went from a little-known actress to a resident in the Whedonverse practically overnight. She also mentions in the interview how she was originally up for a role on Firefly a few years back.
We were able to talk about most things Doll‘, including where her character will be going this season now that she’s “free”, her thoughts on working with mastermind Joss Whedon, and even some about her Ukulele cover band, “Uke Box Hero”.
Check out the full interview after the jump. Be sure to keep it here for some more great Big Apple Con interviews with other cast members of shows like Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, and more!
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Action · Big Apple Comic Con · Casting · Events · Exclusive · Fandom · Interviews · Networks · News · TV · Whedon
Tagged: Dollhouse, Firefly, Fox, Joss Whedon, Miracle Laurie, November
by Bob Starr, Oct 20 2009 // 11:00 AM
Roland Emmerich is getting a lot of attention right now for his upcoming end-of-the-world-blow-absolutely-everything-up movie 2012. I’ll admit it, I’m a fan of Emmerich’s work, especially the ones in which he gives us unprecedented levels of destruction. Honestly, 2012 makes The Day After Tomorrow look like a warm up.
However, there was a television show that prophesied about the end of the world long before Emmerich planned the wanton destruction in 2012. The show was Millennium, created by The X-Files visionary Chris Carter. The show followed Frank Black (Lance Henrikson) as an ex- FBI agent with the ability to see into the minds of killers and track them down.
All this while dealing with the enigmatic Millennium group who tried to prevent the world from coming to an apocalyptic end in the year 2000 (hence the name). The show was pretty dark for its time but brilliant all the same. So brilliant it was inevitably canceled. Such is the life of thought-provoking television (e.g. Dead Like Me, Firefly).
In fact, Millennium may take the record for biggest cancellation upset ever as Fox pulled the plug in 1999. Yes, the network couldn’t even bring it back to conclude its own prophetic doomsday plot. While Carter tried to finish Black’s story in a subsequent X-Files episode, appropriately titled “Millennium”, the cross-over fell flat. The episode was a complete disservice to the series but hopefully Fox is looking to make up for that mistake.
Screen Rant is reporting that Henrikson has been approached by private investors to make a Millennium movie. Moreover, Fox is apparently interested in doing something with the property. This prospect may or may not include Chris Carter.
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Horror · Movies · Rumor · TV to Movies
Tagged: Brett A. Hart, Chris Carter, Lance Henrikson, Millennium, The X-Files
by Matt Raub, Oct 20 2009 // 10:00 AM
A few months back, we talked to Timur Bekmambetov about producing his latest film, 9. He had also mentioned that he was working on a new film in Russia called Black Lightning. We immediately thought of the African American Justice League member who could produce lightning, but it turns out it’s actually about a magical flying car.
Though the trailer is in Russian, we were able make out the fact that a young boy gets a new car, finds out it can do lots of super heroic stuff, and eventually uses it to fight a major crime boss. Sounds interesting.
Considering that it’s produced by Timur, who also worked on the Russian Night Watch films and the highly successful Wanted movie (which already has a sequel in the works) a sequel), this film is bound to make it’s way over to the states inside of a year, so expect to see a trailer that you could actually understand soon.
Until then, check out the first trailer for the film in full-blown Russian after the jump, which still looks pretty.
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Posted in: Action · Fantasy · Filmmaking · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: 9, Black Lightning, Night Watch, Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted
by David Press, Oct 20 2009 // 9:00 AM
Superstar comic writer Geoff Johns is returning to the Smallville set this January, penning an episode which introduces the Justice Society of America to the long-running CW show.
Late last night, IGN revealed who will be playing the three members from the JSA appearing on the show, most of whom are Stargate alums. Hawkman will be played by Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson of Stargate fame), Brent Stait (Stargate Atlantis) will play Doctor Fate, and newcomer Britt Irvin will play Stargirl. Johns created Stargirl in the pages of the JSA comic that he helped relaunch with FlashFoward co-creator David Goyer.
Previously, Johns wrote for the show last season, introducing the Legion of Superheroes. Currently, Johns is consulting producer on the Flash movie and is co-writing the screenplay with Jonny Quest writer Dan Mazeau. He’s also a producer on the Adult Swim show Titan Maximum which is brought to us by the guys behind Robot Chicken.
In the comics world, Johns is currently the man behind the Blackest Night event, and is bringing Barry Allen back to the Flash world in Flash: Rebirth. He was voted Best Comic Book Writer at Spike TV’s Scream Awards, according to his Twitter.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Casting · Comics · CW · DC · News · TV
Tagged: Geoff Johns, Michael Shanks, Smallville, Stargate
by Joe Gillis, Oct 20 2009 // 8:00 AM
Previously, we were able to bring you the first news of the upcoming event known as MarvelFest and told you that it would, in part, be held to commemorate the launch of Marvel’s new Astonishing X-Men motion comic. Now that you have that info and, I’m sure, planning on attending, we can bring you this new video which gives us a bit more info about the event and also provides some decent comic relief as well.
I won’t spoil the content of the video except to say that if you’re a fan of shows like Robot Chicken, you’ll probably like this video as well. And, because we agreed to do so, here’s the other info we have to share with you about the video:
Marvel is also proud to present MarvelFest NYC 2009, an all-new interactive outdoor experience in New York City to celebrate the iTunes release of the groundbreaking Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic on October 28th. In honor of this unprecedented event, Marvel.Com unveils a very special episode of the critically-acclaimed Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! video series, taking you behind the scenes of what could’ve been! Join celebrities and the biggest names in Marvel history to commemorate the Astonishing X-Men premiere, projected three stories high in Union Square at MarvelFest! For complete details and official costume contest rules regarding MarvelFest NYC 2009 please visit www.marvel.com/fest.
Be sure to check out this very cool (and funny) video after the jump.
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Posted in: Comics · Marvel · News · Tech · Video
Tagged: Astonishing X-Men, MarvelFest, Motion Comics
by Bob Starr, Oct 20 2009 // 7:00 AM
Let me start by saying I never saw The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Simply put, I just didn’t believe it could be good. Based on the reviews and what friends have told me, I was right.
Since news started to come out about the premise of the last X-Files film I knew they were taking the characters down the wrong path. The pseudo monster-of-the-week episodes the series was known for worked well enough on TV, but you want something pretty big for a feature film. Really big.
The first movie got it right in my opinion. Conspiracy. Aliens. Giant UFOs. That’s movie caliber material. Mulder and Scully waxing poetic about a psychic priest in the sequel? Not so much.
It pains me a little to call out the second film like that because I’m a huge X-Files fan. That comes with sincerity as I have Mulder and Scully action figures within arms reach and the first film’s movie poster adorning my wall. Fortunately, it sounds like plans for a new X-Files film may return to the conspiracy-laden content us fans loved so much.
In a recent interview, David Duchovny gave some indication that should a third X-Files film happen it would get back to its roots:
“As far as the X-Files movie I’d like to do next, if we get a chance to do it, would be a return to the heart and soul of the mythology, which is the alien-oriented conspiracy. I think it’s natural for The X-Files to have another movie in 2012, so we’ll see if we get to do it.”
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Movies · Prequels and Sequels · Sci-Fi · TV to Movies
Tagged: 2012, Chris Carter, David Duchovny, Roland Emmerich, The X-Files