In possibly the most annoying geek news ever, Sir Ian McKellen (who arguably has played two of the coolest roles in all of film) has stated that he hopes to reprise his role as Gandalf in “The Hobbit.”
Being that McKellen played the enigmatous wizard in all three episodes of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, it would only seem fit that he be cast for the prequel. We have all seen what happens when movie studios attempt to recast an iconic role (read as: Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore). New Line had better get off their high horse and give Peter Jackson what he wants, or there are going to be a lot of angry geeks out there.
In all fairness, using Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro to helm this flick is a huge step in the right direction. However, why start something huge if you’re not going to go the distance?
*Note: I’m aware that Michael Gambon was cast as Dumbledore only due to the unfortunate death of Richard Harris…but come on…CGI is so far advanced nowadays. Anyone could be better than Gambon.
Chris Carter and other members involved in the production of the new X-files movie announced some details about the upcoming film. Apparently the movie will not involve the main X-files story about alien abduction/etc but will take place in modern day and will take into account the established lineage of the show. Meaning that the shows events will be relevant to where Mulder and Scully are at this point and time.
Although the film is coming out this July 25th, Carter and Fox Television have not yet come to an agreement on what the title should be. Personally I propose one of the following:
The X-Files: Pretend like seasons 7 and 8 never happened
The tangents fly in this episode as Chuck continues his quest for the most expensive family entertainment and learns why the Directors’ Hall isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Jason defends Goobers’ honor and agrees that 10,000 BC is indeed the worst caveman movie ever made.
The countdown to summer movies continues with Ironman, and the new batch of excellent actors making superhero flicks; Speed Racer is up next and its saturated nostalgic goodness; followed by the unthreatening Narnia franchise as Jason and Chuck throw more love Frodo’s way.
So this week is pretty damn anemic. As long as I can remember I have been checking IMDB to see the latest DVD releases and never have I seen such a light Tuesday. Usually the page is populated with re-releases, director’s cuts, box sets and a few dozen things you could not possibly imagine people wanting to own. As far as I am concerned this week has The Mist. The Best of the Price is Right?! WWE Triple H: King of Kings?! Magic:Fantasy Bellydance?! (ok, maybe that last one would be worth fast forwarding through)
The Mist – Adaptation of a Stephen King story that:
A. Doesn’t suck (the Stand)
B. Is less than 20 years old ( Carrie, Cujo, Firestarter, Maximum Overdrive, Christine)
C. Actually fucks with your head the way a good Stephen King story should
Some of the Iconogeeks had seen this when it was out in the theaters and we all found it to be tense and exciting. One of those movies that you walk out of and feel like you got the crap beaten out of you (in a good way).
Edit: Just read about the DVD 2 disc edition. Apparently it includes a black and white version of the film that many people are saying is even more unsettling than the theatrically released version. I’d have to say that sounds pretty damn cool.
Neil Aspinall (13 October 1941 – 24 March 2008) has died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. The ex-Apple Corps Ltd. executive stepped down from his post as chief executive of the company and “guardian of the Beatles’ commercial interests,” last year. As a longtime friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison dating back to their school days in Liverpool, Aspinall served at the legendary band’s first road manager. He would drive them to many of their gigs in his Commer van in the early 1960’s. A statement released by the remaining members of the Beatles stated, “all his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man.”
Probably one of the strangest games you will ever come across to date (I’m not quite sure I would even call it a game, probably more of an experience than anything else). Sure it has the basic elements of a game: a central character, interactive control of that character, and a goal…but that’s where it ends. The Graveyard allows you to walk with an old woman down a path in a graveyard to a bench. As you follow her down this intriguing landscape (look at the clouds, the sunlight, the birds, and leaves), she gets tired and begins favoring her leg as she leans more on her cane. By the time she reaches the bench (where she can finally sit) you actually feel for this character – you want her to rest. Once she sits you’re treated (exposed/forced to listen to – you decide) a very melancholy tune. Wait for the song to finish (read the subtitles, they are quite odd/disturbing) then walk out of the graveyard.
You can plunk down 5 bucks to purchase the full game in which the old woman actually dies, but I didn’t go that far.
This game/experience is extremely cinematic and really stretches the boundaries of what a game is and could be. I think it shows promise as an art form and an experience. At the very least, you can chat it up with your arthouse friends – “The Graveyard is both a game and an experience…discuss.”
Billboard.com is reporting that the Jack White side-project, The Raconteurs, is releasing its follow-up to 2006’s fantastic Broken Boy Soldiers on March 25. This is apparently way ahead of schedule. The record will be released on ALL formats including digital download, CD and vinyl. I like the fact that bands are following Radiohead’s lead and bypassing the evil corporate record labels as much as possible. These bands only succeed in pleasing their loyal fans by pursuing such endeavors. Let’s face it, people who don’t like The Raconteurs are stupid, but they’ll appreciate music being released on the band’s terms, rather then when some fat “pigvomit” in a cushy corner office who wouldn’t know Jack White from Jack Palance decides he can extract every last dime from the band’s success.Anyway, I highly recommend the 2006 release, and have very high expectations for “Consolers of the Lonely.” Jack White is distinguishing himself as one of the best and most innovative guitarists of this generation. Here’s a link to the Raconteurs official site announcing the early release. Rock on.
In pretty much the biggest show of geekery humanly possible, 80 people dressed up as video game characters to set a new world record for the the Guinness World Record Gamer’s Edition. I do find it hard to believe though that it took only 80 to establish a world record for the largest gathering of game characters… I do believe that some of our friends in Japan would scoff at 80. You could probably find more than 100 on a random street corner in Tokyo on a rainy Friday night, and they would have all just been out for a walk and just happened to run into one another. I expect this will be a fast record to fall.
Erin Go Braugh and welcome to the first annual St Patty’s Day iconogeek podcast. This episode Jason visits Bob’s discount circus while Chuck experiences the real deal and spends way too much for cotton candy. A discussion about lightsaber duals in the nude and Jason tries to explain why he feels Doomsday is the height of entertainment. Chuck expounds on his love for coffee and why a $15,000 coffee maker may be a good investment as Jay delivers the lowdown on the new DVDs this week especially the extended version of “I am Legend.”
While Chuck and Jason plea for Christian Bale to call into the show, the summer movie countdown continues with Street Kings, 88 Minutes, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Forbidden Kingdom, and the best movie of April: Harold and Kumar 2. Links:
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The tangents fly in this episode as Chuck continues his quest for the most expensive family entertainment and learns why the Directors’ Hall isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Jason defends Goobers’ honor and agrees that 10,000 BC is indeed the worst caveman movie ever made.
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