The Next Level – Episode 7

Welcome to a Special edition of the Next Level in which we reveal our third co-host who will be joining the podcast and a ferw changes to the podcast.We’ll then get down to a bumper edition of reviews, news and more.

Enjoy!

Direct Download: Episode 7

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Waiting For The Trade – Ex Machina: Dirty Tricks

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Pencillers: Tony Harris, John Paul Leon
Inkers: Jim Clark, JD Mettler
Colourist: JD Mettler
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher

The time was when the arrival of a new Ex Machina trade was a cause for celebration and I would tear into as soon as it arrived, this volume however I read over the apace of a few nights…that’s very, very rare for me for a trade of this size. I just struggled to get back into it. It’s been a long while since an Ex Machina trade has come out (well over a year in fact) and that gap was long enough that while I remember the characters I didn’t remember the status quo.

The time setting of the story has Mayor Hundred dealing with a visit to NY by President GW Bush but in this post-Bush world this all feels a bit old hat. Jokes digging at the now ex-president are passé.

Artistically Tony Harris continues his great work on the series. The thing I find most interesting is that he manages to draw characters with all sorts of body types without falling into parody. This sounds minor I’m sure but it’s a rare thing in superhero comics where physical perfection or mocking imperfection are the norm. Unusually in this volume we get some non-Harris art and it feels weird, it’s not bad but I didn’t like anywhere near as much.

The plot is okay bit feels a little disposable and the motivations of characters is a bit lost, particularly those of Kremlin. I like the character of Trouble (featured on the cover) and there’s a natural chemistry between her and Mitchell but once again she feels disposable.

I know the series is wrapping up soon and I really hope Vaughan can get lightning in the jar again before it does.

Rating:
Reviewer: Dave Williams

Film Review – Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland
Plot:
Alice Kingsley, now 19, attends a party at a Victorian estate shortly after the death of her beloved father. Alice spots a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and pocket watch. In shock and confusion, she runs off into a maze and follows the White Rabbit through it. She eventually tumbles down a rabbit hole into Underland, more commonly referred to as “Wonderland” by its inhabitants. She had visited this place 10 years earlier, but had entirely forgotten about it. She is also told that she is the only one who can slay the Jabberwock, the dragon who terrorizes the inhabitants of Wonderland under the rule of the Red Queen.

Tim Burton’s long-anticipated ‘Alice in Wonderland’ 3D will open in UK cinemas on the 5th March 2010 and I will be right at the front of the queue. Again.
Geek Syndicate were lovely enough to send me to the press screening of Alice, and as I wedged the 3D glasses on my excitable face and the opening bars of Danny Elfman’s soundtrack filled the cinema, I settled down for 108 minutes of surreal and fantastical adventure which has the trademarks of Tim Burton stamped all over it.

“CATCHING UP” #7 – Twilight

THE MOVIE:
Twilight (2008)

DIRECTED BY:
Catherine Hardwicke

WHY I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT:
Wait, whoa! Hold up! Put down the pointy things! I can explain!
You see, I’m a firm believer in knowing something before you make fun of it, and like most of the Internet, I’ve made my fair share of jokes about “Twilight”. It’s time I took one for the proverbial team and manned up.
Needless to say, I won’t be doing this sober. I don’t mean to come off as some sort of alcoholic. It just so happens that I’ve picked two movies in a row where there seems to be an epic need to dull one’s senses before watching them. That said, I’m going into this monstrosity with a good buzz, in hopes that I won’t want to stab myself.

AFTER THE FACT (may contain spoilers):
(WARNING: Any spelling or grammatical errors occurring in this section are to be blamed on the intoxicants.)

There was a wind machine. Oh. Christ. A wind machine. Bella walks into the classroom right in front of a wind machine. It is March, according to the movie, and set in the state of Washington. “Maybe the heat’s broken?” But in asking that question, I realized that I am thinking WAY too hard about this movie.
Then I laughed. I laughed really fucking hard. This movie exceeds all my expectations, in that it moves beyond “bad” into just plain “re-goddamn-donkulous”. The smoldering, steamy glances; the fog machines; the cheesy dialogue.
But that’s not the least of it! It ascends to all new levels of over-dramatic.
The best part about seeing this movie, though? I didn’t pay a goddamn dime to see it (thank you, OnDemand). Free laughs. If a copy somehow finds it in your DVD player (or it’s still free OnDemand), grab a few brews, get tanked, and laugh.

Video Preview of Supernatural Season 5 – Episode 5 Fallen Idols

Sam and Dean reunite to investigate a small town whose inhabitants are being killed by famous dead icons like Abraham Lincoln, James Dean’s car and PARIS HILTON (in a cameo role as
herself). .

Check this preview for episode 5 of Season Five of Supernatural

Episode 5 Preview

“Supernatural Season 5 Episode 5 airs Wednesday3rd^th March at 9pm on Living”

GS Reporter: Nuge

Tommy Lee Edwards and Jonathan Ross coming to Forbidden Planet this April!

Cheers to Tommy Lee Edwards for giving us the heads up on this. To celebrate the launch of Turf both Tommy Lee and Jonathan will be signing copies at Forbidden Planet’s London Megastore on Wednesday 14 April 18:00 – 19:00

I’ve stuck the official Blurb below!

Wednesday 14 April 18:00 – 19:00

London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR
JONATHAN ROSS and TOMMY LEE EDWARDS will be signing the very first issue of Image Comics’ TURF at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JR on Wednesday 14th April 6 – 7pm.

Needing no introduction, Jonathan Ross is not only a national celebrity but a lifelong comics fan – now making his writing debut with Image Comics and this fantastic four-issue mini-series! Tommy Lee Edwards is a top-drawer illustrator famous for his versatility. His clients have included just about every major film company, and his comics work includes ‘Hellboy’, ‘Batman’ and ‘Marvel 1985′.

TURF is a hard-boiled noir crime thriller bristling with girls, guns, fangs and aliens. It’s New York, 1929, the height of prohibition. The cops turn a blind eye while the mobs run the city – but the arrival of the Eastern European Dragonmir Family coincides with a series of brutal attacks on the gangsters themselves. As the gangs fall before fangs, an unlikely alliance forms between tough guy Eddie Falco and a character from a LONG way from New York City – a long way from Earth in fact – and offers the humans a glimmer of hope.

GS Reporter: Nuge
Source: Forbidden Planet

A look at some concept art from Thor: Tales of Asgard

Marvel Studios seem to be cranking out the DVD animated releases these days (not that I’m complaining. The next one up after Planet Hulk  is Thor: Tales of Asgard featuring the adventures of a younger god of Thunder than were used to. Personally I would rather see a full on adult Thor adventure (no not a porn version sickos!) but I’ll take whatever Asgard action I can get.

Phil Bourassa, the artist working on the film has posted some of his concept art for the main character on his deviant art page. Take a look below and see what you think.

The DVD is set to be released in 2011 just in time for the live action film which I can’t wait Thor (I know really, really bad pun).

GS Reporter: Nuge
Source: MTV Splash Page

The Last Airbender – TV Spot

GS Reporter: Nuge

Has David S Goyer been hired to write a new Superman film?

According to the Lation Review screenwriter David Goyer worked on such films as Blade,Blade II, Batman Begins, Dark Knight and many more has apparently signed on to script a new Superman film, rumoured to be called The Man of Steel.

Apparently the story will feature Luther and Braniac as the main bad guys and will not be an origin story(thank the lord) to quote the Latino Review themselves.

I can tell you that Goyer’s story involves Luthor and Brainiac.  It is NOT an origin and assumes audiences already know about Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Perry.  I know the Daily Planet is struggling due to the internet.  And I know it sets up a huge Kryptonian mythology.

Of course I’ve not seen this confirmed anywhere else so don’t take this news as gospel just yet.

I was one of the few people that despite it’s flaws, which become clearer on repeat viewings, really enjoyed Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns. The big mistake I felt he made was that we didn’t need a remake of Superman the movie. We wanted  a new story with the Man of Steel with a more a larger threat for him to deal with rather than ‘Is that my kid or not’ or ‘Why doesn’t she love me anymore’

Fingers crossed we’ll get this with a new film.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: Latino Review

The Losers – TV Spot

This film is looking more and more badass with every clip I see. If it’s half as good as the comics then we’re in for a cinema treat this April.

With Kick Ass, Iron Man 2, A -Team and Expendables on the way could this be the return of the ‘Fun’ action movie.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: youtube

Mickey Rourke in talks to join Conan Reboot

So it seems that at the moment Mickey Rourke can do no wrong. He starred in the award winning The Wrestler, we’ll soon see him giving Tony Stark a kicking in Iron Man 2 before appearing along side a whole host of action film badasses in The Expendables.

Rourke it seems is set to tackle the world of swords and sorcery next as he is in negotiations to play Conan’s father in the upcoming reboot of the franchise.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: Heat Vision Blog

Sequel to Bryan Talbot’s Grandville gets a Synopsis

Grandville, the anthropomorphic steampunk thriller starring Inspector LeBrock was one of my geek highlights of last year. I loved everything about the book from the stunning art(and the lovely hardback it came in) the characters (after a while you forget they are animals) and the engrossing plot. By the time I closed the book I was eager for more.

It seems Bryan must have heard my pleas for more as he annouched soon after Grandville was launched that he was working on the follow up entitled Grandville Mon Amour.

Apparently Bryan is planning to do a series of Grandville graphic novels which will  all be getting a place on my shelf if they keep to the high standard set by the first graphic novel.

Over at Bryan’s website the publishers of the book have now releaseed the synopsis which I’ve stuck below and sounds fantastic.

The Badger is back! Set three weeks after the finale of Grandville, Grandville Mon Amour pits Detective Inspector Archie LeBrock of Scotland Yard against an old adversary and ruthless urban guerrilla, Edward “Mad Dog” Mastock, – a psychotic serial killer whose shocking escape from his execution by guillotine at the Tower of London begins this fast-paced, Hitchcockian steampunk thriller.

LeBrock, still racked by remorse for his failure to prevent the death of “the Divine Sarah” and working outside the law after resigning his post following a blazing row with his superior officer, embarks on a quest to redeem himself by tracking down Mastock and bringing to an end his horrific murder spree. Aided by his adjunct and old friend, Detective Roderick Ratzi, he follows the trail of carnage to Paris. Otherwise known as Grandville, it’s the largest city in a world dominated by France, a city used to violence following the years of terrorist bombings by the extreme fanatic wing of the British resistance during the occupation, the notorious Angry Brigade, of which Mastock was the sadistic leading light. With his customary tenacity, LeBrock stalks his prey through a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, an underclass of humans and automaton robots where advanced steam technology powers everything from hansom cabs to iron flying machines.It’s a trail that leads to the demimonde of Parisian prostitution and an atrocity perpetrated twenty-three years ago.

With a range of new and fascinating characters and a mix of Holmesian deduction, knowing humour and edge of the seat action, Grandville Mon Amour continues the vein of high-octane adventure begun in the first volume. Can even LeBrock escape the past or do heroes have feet of clay? Follow the badger

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: The Official Bryan Talbot Website

The Karate Kid – New Trailer

Here’s a new look trailer for the upcoming remake\reboot Karate Kid. and this is definately the best of the trailers so far.

I still think they should drop the Karate Kid and just call it Kung Fu Kid and stick on a ‘inspired by the Karate Kid’ or something tagline.

After watching this latest trailer my opinion hasn’t changed much though. I can’t see anything new over the original films but looks like fun nonsense to watch with a few beers courtesy of the DVD rental queue.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Single and Multiplayer Downloadable Content Coming Soon for Bioshock 2

I know I’m going to get grief for this but I never finished the orginal BioShock and I’ve yet to play the sequel but from mates that have I’ve heard nothing but good things. For those of you Bioshock 2 fans out there this latest press release about new DLC is going to be right up your street.

Advert Break – 2000AD PRESENTS: ROGUE TROOPER: TALES OF NU EARTH VOLUME 1

PRESENTS:
ROGUE TROOPER: TALES OF NU EARTH VOLUME 1
By
Gerry Finley-Day, Alan Moore, David Gibbons, Cam Kennedy, Brett Ewins & Colin Wilson
Available now for £15.99

CLONE WAR!

Nu-Earth, a planet ravaged by war, its atmosphere poisoned
by chemical weapons. In this battle-scarred landscape,
the Norts and the Southers fight where only the Genetic
Infantrymen can survive unaided. Rogue is one such soldier
and these are his tales…

Created by Gerry Finley-Day and fan-favourite Dave Gibbons
(Watchmen), this volume features the earliest stories
surrounding one of 2000 AD’s best-loved characters and
includes two tales from the legendary Alan Moore (The
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

I think next to Johhny alpha and Judge Dredd Rogue Trooper completes my trinity of 2000ad characters. The core idea of having this lone super solider which his buddies personalites existing as AI chips on his equipment was one of the best concepts I had ever read.

If you’ve never checked out a Rogue Trooper story then please do yourself a favour and check this graphic novel out!

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: 2000aAD