One minute I was just arriving in Boston, and the next I was packing up my bags and saying goodbye to PAX East 2011. And what a weekend it was.

From sampling the finest in upcoming videogames, watching some amazing concerts, meeting and making new friends, and bonding with old ones, this convention has got to be the best weekend of my year. Penny Arcade really puts together an amazing show, and it’s amazing that they do it twice a year, once on this coast and then over on their home turf of Seattle.

Not only was this the best PAX East ever (In my opinion), it was also the biggest. Head hancho Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade said that this year’s PAX had 69,500 attendees, up from last year’s 52,290 at the much tinier Hynes Convention Center.

Continue Reading →

I caught (that verb seems appropriate) director Xavier Gens’ new film The Divide as a midnight screener at the Ritz theatre. By far the best thing I can say about the experience is that the volunteers running the show just let us in instead of making us wait in line and thus subjecting us to the depraved drunken antics of 6th Street on St. Patrick’s Day.

Of the two dozen films I saw at SXSW, this is easily the worst (beating out even the agonizing ponderousness of Silver Bullets—that at least had some laughs and exhibitionistic women). It starts out impressively enough, with a cold open that throws you straight into the onset of a nuclear apocalypse, with big, loud explosions, screaming viscera, panicking droves, and the like before slapping you in the face with the title screen.

But after that it settles in to devolving into a bargain-basement “people stuck in a shelter” psychological thriller, which is to say populated by the usual clichés—the crazy veteran (Michael Biehn), the flighty mother (Roseanna Arquette), the coward (Ivan Gonzalez), the budding psycho (Milo Ventimiglia)—and a host of others whose sole purpose is to scream and make stupid decisions—and yes, there’s a screamy child, too.

And oh, what stupid decisions they make: failing to attack the psycho when they have the chance; attacking the wrong guy when they do work up the “nerve”; neutralizing the only person who displays any sort of competence; killing the black guy first, and all other head-slapping tropes you can imagine. My father once criticized The Dark Knight because he reasoned that someone just should’ve shot the Joker.

Continue Reading →

Well, I guess it was too good to last, right? If you’re a fan of Showtime original series like Dexter and Californication but like to watch them via Netflix’s Instant service, you better watch and enjoy them now because they won’t be there for long.

Showtime’s current deal with video streaming company Netflix is over in the summer and as part of its renegotiation, the pay cable network has informed Netflix that it will no longer make its current original series available for streaming. Right now, all Showtime series are accessible for Netflix subscribers.

However, Showtime CEO Matt Blank doesn’t want that to be the case any longer.“With all the options out there, we want to be sure people know they have to subscribe to see Dexter or The Borgias,” Blank said.

The network clarified that under the proposed new Netflix deal, series such The Tudors and Sleeper Cell, which no longer air original episodes on the premium cable newtork, will continue to be available to Netflix subscribers. As for current and past seasons of Showtime’s current original series, they “will be available to our authenticated subscribers via our TV Everywhere service Showtime Anytime.”

Well, I guess Showtime doesn’t like that Netflix is going to start developing and producing original programming for itself, including a new series featuring Kevin Spacey. Let’s hope this doesn’t start a trend with other cable networks and more deciding they don’t want their programming on Netflix. That would be a shame.

With 2011 flying by already, it is only a matter of time before Activision’s next big superhero release with X-Men Destiny.  As we already discussed, X-Men Destiny will follow players as one of three new characters on their path to mutant destiny.

The first of these characters, Aimi Yoshida is profiled below. From the screens, Aimi looks to be a contemporary take on the classic Japanese school girl look. This seems very appropriate since some of the screens reveal villainous ninjas attacking Aimi and Colossus. It’s also interesting to note that Aimi’s mouth is covered, whether or not this is significant to the character or just a piece of cool character design remains to be seen.

Take a first look below at screens and the profile of Aimi Yoshida from our friends at Silicon Knights.

Continue Reading →

Chalk one up for the good guys in blue as TNT has announced they will be giving cop drama Southland a fourth season on the network. The show, which wrapped up its third season March 8, stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie.

According to TNT’s head of programming Michael Wright: “Southland has been acknowledged by many critics as one of the sharpest, most entertaining and most authentic dramas on television today,” Wright said. “We are extremely proud to have Southland on TNT and to bring it back for a fourth season.” Kudos Mr. Wright. Good call.

It’s done pretty well for TNT, after its move from NBC where it had been cancelled, and has averaged 2.9 million viewers per episode this season. That’s up 6% compared to Season 2. Don’t worry, although those numbers may seem small, remember that TNT is a basic cable network so those numbers are actually pretty good — especially considering NBC had completely written the show off.

Just goes to show that if you make a quality product, people may sometimes catch on and it will be given a chance to succeed. As a fan of this show from way back when I reviewed the pilot I, for one, am thrilled it will be returning for 10 all-new episodes. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you should.

At their upfront presentation late yesterday, Syfy mapped out their programming plans for the rest of 2011 and into 2012. Network President Dave Howe introduced the largest original programming slate in the channel’s 18-year history, highlighted by 14 new original series and events comprising more than 100 hours of programming.

In July, Syfy will launch four scripted series in the same month — for the first time ever — new drama Alphas and returning series Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven. Hopefully, this will help the network which is coming off off a year marked by disappointing ratings for Caprica and Stargate: Universe, both of which were cancelled after shorter-than-hoped-for runs. However, new series Being Human and Face Off, which have both been renewed, are doing better than expected and look to elevate the network out of its slump.

Also announced during the event was the launch of a new Syfy publishing business of genre games under the “Syfy Games” banner. Here’s all the info on Syfy’s upcoming slate of programming and projects in development:

NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Alphas — Premiering in July — Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Leigh Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Oscar nominee David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able, or willing, to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

Alphas also stars Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Laura Mennell, Ryan Cartwright and Azita Ghanizada, and is a production of Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television. Executive Producers are Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun, Zak Penn and Ira Steven Behr.

Continue Reading →

You may find this hard to believe but I’m actually looking forward to Scream 4. Sure, you could make the case that the franchise has seen better days or that the actors are not all that appealing anymore, but that doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the franchise.

To help you find the magic again we’ve got three new clips from the film to share with you today. In them we get a further look at the old gang from Westboro as well as at a few of the new, fresh faces voted most likely to be targets for our favorite ghost-faced killer.

If you’re not familiar with the Scream 4 story, here’s the scoop:

Sidney Prescott has been living the last few years of her life in relative silence. Now a guidance counselor for Woodsboro High School, her alma mater, she finally lives her life out of the media spotlight.

But with the discovery of a murdered student, Sidney Prescott’s world will once again be ripped apart by the reemergence of Ghost Face.

Check out the clips after the break. Scream 4 slashes its way into theaters on April 15th.

Continue Reading →

Okay comic book fans, here’s some new ones coming out from our friends at Marvel this week. And like we do every week, we’ve got some particular ones we’re most interested in.

Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to reading  FF #1, X-Men #5,  Deadpool #34, Captain America #615.1, and Uncanny X-Force #5.

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday, so hit your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale

5 RONIN #4 AJA COVER
5 RONIN #4 MACK VARIANT COVER
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #654 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #615.1
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BATROC #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: MAN OUT OF TIME #5
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN MGC #1
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #7
DAREDEVIL: REBORN #3
DEADPOOL #34
DEADPOOL #34 CAPTAIN AMERICA 70TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT
DEADPOOL MAX #6
FANTASTIC FOUR #587 3RD PRINTING VARIANT
FF #1

Continue Reading →

Mockumentaries are for the weak. Unless you’re Christopher Guest. Outside of that, sticking to a straightforward 3rd person style of filmmaking is still the best method. That’s exactly what Steven Silver did with his new film, The Bang Bang Club, which could easily be done in the faux documentary style.

Here’s the official synopsis.

The Bang Bang Club is the real life story of a group of four young combat photographers – Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter and Ken Oosterbroek – bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. They risked their lives and used their camera lenses to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post Apartheid South Africa in the early 90s.

This intense political period brought out their best work (two won Pulitzers during the period) but cost them a heavy price. Based on the book of the same name by Marinovich and Silva, the film stars Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman and Taylor Kitsch and explores the thrill, danger and moral questions associated with exposing the truth.

Could be a fun ride, especially with Phillippe and Kitsch teaming up for the first time. Check out the trailer after the jump, and catch The Bang Bang Club in theaters on April 22nd.

Continue Reading →

In our last Anarchy Reigns post, we saw hints of a few new characters in screen shots that would be joining the cast. Today, we reveal two of these new brawlers with Blacker Baron and Mathilda.

Blacker Baron

The personality and trappings of Huggy Bear. The body and wrestling ability of Bobby Lashley. Ryu’s dragon punch attack. And the dance moves of the late King of Pop. But them together and you get Anarchy Reign’s highly focus tested stereotype of Black Baron. A cyborg with Super Sexy Fists of Fire as his weapon, Blacker Baron is without a doubt the most outrageous and over the top of any of Anarchy Reign’s current cast.

If anything, Blacker Baron proves that Anarchy Reigns will bring a level of diversity through its character roster, no matter how offensive it may be to some. Take a look at the trailer for this blinged out badass below.

Continue Reading →

Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan give wonderful performances in this charming film about family and the unexpected detours that life throws our way sometimes. Director Thomas McCarthy has previously brought us the wonderfully quirky The Station Agent (2003) and the touching film The Visitor (2007). If there is one thing that he excels at, it is showing us that some of the most profound relationships blossom from the most surprising circumstances.

Giamatti plays Mike Flaherty, an attorney who is barely scraping by. Rather than choose a lucrative position, he works in a dingy no-frills office protecting the elderly and indigent. His furnace is threatening to explode, and his office-mate Stephen (Jeffrey Tambor) doesn’t have any money, either.  They both volunteer time to the local high school wrestling team as coaches. To say the team is terrible is an understatement.

Mike suffers a massive panic attack (certainly the most hilarious I’ve seen on screen) and decides something must be done. His wife has no idea how dire things are, and out of desperation, he makes a really poor decision. Mike tells the state that he will become the legal guardian of his client Leo (Burt Young) so that he can carry out the man’s wishes to remain in his own home.

Continue Reading →

Unlike the old days of just three (or four) networks when new programming was released in the Fall, ran for several months and then we got reruns all Summer until Fall came around again, we now get new shows pretty much all year round. Case in point is NBC’s announcement of its new Summer schedule.

The new schedule includes the return of America’s Got Talent, the second season of Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref and the premieres of three new series including It’s Worth What? hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, Still Standing and Love in the Wild. In addition, new shows such as The Voice and the return of Law & Order: LA as well as the final seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Friday Night Lights will also have a place in the Summer schedule.

Just in case you are not impressed with NBC’s Summer schedule and don’t think the network cares about Summer, check this out: “We want to make it clear that NBC considers the summer as an important part of its overall season and will continue to offer a varied lineup of original programs,” NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said. Winning.

NBC’s new Summer season kicks off on May 31st with the return of America’s Got Talent. For more details, check out the official press release from NBC after the jump.

Continue Reading →