TV Review – Defying Gravity Episodes 12 Venus & 13 Kiss

Defying gravity did end on a note of teasing an revelation however the weight given to the human drama elements in the final too episodes – particularly relationships – which will reinforce the views of those who see it as a soap coincidently set in Space.

TV Review – Doctor Who: The End OF Time Part 1

Christmas, biting your lip at ‘these days’ stream of consciousness rants by the older generation, spending the best part of your day slavering over  a meal demolished by a tipsy pack of hyenas and of course – Doctor Who.

Somehow new Who has become as Christmassy as feigning delight at inappropriate present or a Boxing Day hangover. Christmas episodes have on the whole been light romps this and being the sole member of humanity to have not enjoyed ‘Waters of Mars’ I was not expecting to be bowled over.  But as Half Man Half Biscuit so wisely sang ‘It’s easy to be cynical at Christmas.’

Spoilers follow.

Geek Syndicate – Episode 143

Join the geeky duo as this week they dicusss The trailers for Karate Kid, Spartacus Blood and Sand as well as chat on Merlin and Legend of the Seeker.

There are also reviews of Sherlock Holmes, Avatar and Misfits.

The lads also have a special preview/review of  the upcoming graphic novel 45 from Com.X Comics.

Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Apologies for some of sound quality issues. Hopefully this will be sorted soon!

Direct download: GSepisode143.mp3

Geek Syndicate – Episode 142 Crossover Special!

Join Dave and Barry in the first part of a special crossover episode with Steve and Scott from the Comic Book Outsiders Podcast.

In this first part the guys pick their favourite Movies and Comics of the last decade.

Tune into the Comic Book Outsiders podcast to hear part 2 where we discuss Tv and Books.

Enjoy!

Apologies for the slight audio glitch at the beginning of the episode in the opening music.
Direct download: GSepisode142.mp3

First Poster from the upcoming Tekken movie

2010 will see the release of a live action Tekken movie (lets hope it more like the first Mortal Kombat film and not either of the Street Fighter films) Here’s the first poster for it.

Poster courtesy of CVG.com

The Naked Geek Episode 2 (an alternative Christmas Day Speech)

Welcome to Episode 2 of The Naked Geek hosted by David Monteith

Relax with a glass of whiskey and a little  jazz funk  as David talks about his latest thoughts inspired by some aspect of Geekdom.

Todays inspiration comes from the channel 4 seires Misfits and a discussion about Rorshach from the Watchmen.

Many thanks to Andi Ewington for the logo design.

Music: The Creator has a Masterplan by the Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Drink: 15 yr old Glenfiddich Solera Reserve

Direct Download: TNG

Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief – Brand New UK Poster and Featurette!

Trouble-prone teen Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out school – but that’s the least of his problems.  The gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology texts and into his life – and they’re not happy.  Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.  Now, Percy and his friends must embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true thief, save Percy’s family, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

The film hits cinemas 12^th February 2010

Featurette

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The Karate Kid – Trailer

Hmmm…it looks ok I guess but for me it’s a DVD or wait for it to come on cable watch.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Robin Hood – New Trailer and photos

Oscar® winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as “Robin Hood,” whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.

Now we showed you the teaser trailer last week and to be honest I wasn’t really that impressed or particularly excited about this film. I’ve now just watched this latest trailer and I have to admit that this looks more like a Robin Hood film I can get behind.

I still think it reminds me a little to much of Gladiator for some reason and I’m really  not sure about Crowe in the lead role but after seeing this trailer I like the look of the film a lot more.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Edge of Darkness – Trailer

EDGE OF DARKNESS is an emotionally charged thriller set at the intersection of politics and big business. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a veteran homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and a single father. When his only child, twenty-four year old Emma (Bojana Novakovic), is murdered on the steps of his home, everyone assumes that he was the target. But he soon suspects otherwise, and embarks on a mission to find out about his daughter’s secret life and her murder.  His investigation leads him into a dangerous looking-glass world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder — and to CIA operative Darius Jedburgh (Ray Winstone) who has been sent in to clean up the evidence. Craven’s solitary search for answers about his daughter’s death transforms into an odyssey of emotional discovery and redemption.

EDGE OF DARKNESS is released in cinemas across the UK on 29^th January 2010. Certificate and running time TBC

GS Reporter: Nuge

Kick Ass – Red Band Trailer/Clips

Make sure you lock up your kids before you stick on this trailer folks as it’s adults only. Of course for anyone who’s read a single issue of the comic on which the film is based this should come as no real surprise.

From what clips I’ve seen and looking at the casting so far this is shaping up to be a pretty close adaptation of the comic (note to self still have one more issue to read). Given how Hit Girl is portrayed in the comic I’m guessing the film makers are steeling themselves for the inevitable backlash of criticism from certain quarters to stay faithful to her character’s roots in the film.

The film hits our screens April 2nd 2010.

Kick-Ass tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick-Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) – and forges a friendship with another fledging super hero, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), that new alliance will be put to the test.

Hit Girl (Red Band Trailer)

Teaser Trailer

Nicolas Cage clip from Kick-Ass

GS Reporter: Nuge

Official site http://www.kickass-movie.co.uk/

Starz picks up ‘Spartacus’ for a second season

Yes, yes you are right the first season hasn’t even aired yet but it seems  Starz are  pretty confident they’ve got a winner on their hands with Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

We showed the trailer here some time ago and I was pretty impressed by what I saw even at that early stage.

Season one will kick off on 22nd Jan with filming starting on season two, entitled Spartacus: Vengeance,  in the first quarter of 2010.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m on about check out the brief synopsis and trailer below.

Betrayed by the Romans. Forced into slavery. Reborn as a Gladiator. The classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral new series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend.

Starring Australian actor, Andy Whitfield (McLeod’s Daughters) as Spartacus, Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) as Lucretia, John Hannah (The Mummy, Four Weddings and A Funeral) as Batiatus and Peter Mensah (300, The Incredible Hulk) as Doctore, this unique mix of live action, graphic novel effects and brutal battle sequences is set to make “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” an epic television event.”

I do like a good sword and sandal show (plus Xena herself!) so here’s hoping I agree with Staz when I finally get to the first episode.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: Starz.com

TV Review – Fringe Season 2 Episode 10 Grey Matters

Fringe rides a mythology juggernaut in this episode driving forward both character and overriding plot arcs like a HGV being driven at top speed by a cackling madman through a pedestrianised shopping centre 3 shopping days before Christmas. As usual I shall try and keep things vague enough to avoid direct spoilage but there might be some unintentional splatters. That’s of spoilage not Christmas shoppers.

Dollhouse Season 2, Episode 6 – The Left Hand

The Left Hand is a continuation of episode 5 – The Public Eye. It has been revealed that Senator Perrin has been modified by the Dollhouse, and both he and Echo have been taken to the Dollhouse in DC. Perrin to have his memory wiped and Echo, it seems, to be reunited with an old friend, DC tech Bennet, who is intent on torturing her.

TV Review: Dollhouse Season 2, Episode 5 – The Public Eye

The rumours we all have heard were confirmed while Dollhouse was on hiatus. The show has become the second Joss Whedon creation to be cancelled in its prime. Firefly fans will remember the feeling of loss when the show was cancelled, and the gap that it left, which the movie Serenity was only partly able to fill. Dollhouse fans can only hope the show is wrapped up while it is still on the air.