Bloody Disgusting has put up a pretty comprehensive article detailing what you can do to support the movie as well as a listing of the theaters the film is playing at.

(more…)

Ethan’s Score : 8/10

Let me start this review with a simple warning. And this warning is that this is a sadistic, mean-spirited and somewhat disturbing comedy pegged as a big budget crowd pleaser. But keep this in mind too, it’s fricking hilarious.

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s previous collaborations Anchorman and Talladega Nights were both rated PG-13. They were both hilarious but you couldn’t help but wonder what they would do with an R-rating. Here they are given that. And holy crap do they take such absolutely glorious advantage of it. Stars Ferrell and Reilly drop f-bombs like there’s no tomorrow and it’s funny everytime. In fact without the limitations of a more kid-friendly rating the characters and themes of the movie fully breathe.

But as stated in the beginning of this review, this is not a crowd pleasing movie by any reals means. The two main characters are complete and utter psychopaths. They’re so repulsively childish and aggressive but you can’t help but watch and laugh. I wouldn’t blame anyone for being endlessly disturbed by this movie. But still, it’s so damn funny.

Find out more about Tee and Pip at their respective websites and don’t forget to order Billibub Baggins and the Case Of the Pitcher’s Pendant and Digital Magic on 08/8/08 from Amazon.com!

The Sleepaway Camp series is cult-classic slasher film series.  I know that Barry is going to be extremely curious to check this out.  Click the picture below to get a sneak peak at the first trailer preview.

I’ve just finished listening to Mr. Morris’ Billibub Baddings and the Case Of the Singing Sword and absolutely loved every minute of it.  I’ve just started Ms. Ballantine’s Chasing the Bard and I’m already enjoying that as well.

You can find out more in the meantime by clicking the banner to the right or going to the Official Double Trouble page.

As for Spaced, check out the video below the flash player, but only watch to about the 2:05 mark if you don’t want to be spoiled on the episode.  This show is amazing!

As a bit of a disclaimer, this trailer suffers from the exact issues that the first Twilight trailer had.  It’s a trailer made for fans.  If you don’t know anything about Watchmen, you’re going to be lost.  You’re going to think these characters are ripoffs of other superheroes.  You’d be right.  If you are at all interested in comics or good adult stories, beg (from friends), borrow (from your local library), or buy (because we don’t condone stealing) this book.  There’s a reason this story is held in such high regard.

Let the drooling commence!

Let me explain.  The production values look considerably better than the teaser trailer.  It gives a bit more of the story, and it’s just not a story I’m interested in.  If it gets a ton of good buzz, I may check it out.  Because this is a big phenomenon waiting to happen, though, we need to cover it.  Anyway check it out!

In preperation for The Dark Knight coming out on Friday, we spend some time talking about the various incarnations of Batman on TV and in the movies.

Show notes coming shortly

The new episode will be up this evening, but in the meantime, Chris from over at The Jesus Geeks has just put up the episode that Barry and I guested on along with Billy Flynn from Geek Radio Daily.  We recorded the show just after our episode on Saturday night and the topic of discussion was a critical look at Christian films.  Another way to put it is why Christian movies suck.  I don’t think that Barry or I have ever made our faith a secret, but we’ve made a conscious decision not to make a big issue of it.  I know that both of us have wanted to discuss this topic for awhile, but haven’t put it on SG just because it really doesn’t fit with the format of the show.

Our thanks to out to Chris and Clifford for letting us come on their show and have what I thought was a very interesting discussion.  No worries if this topic doesn’t appeal to you, but it’s a good listen if you are interested.

(more…)

Tell us what you think of it below!

(more…)

I’ve really made a point of not bringing video games to ScreenGeeks too often just because it isn’t our focus.  This news, however relates directly to movies, tv, and home viewing.  I first read about this over at Major Nelson’s Twitter page and it’s been posted officially by XBox 360 Fanboy that Netflix is partnering with Microsoft to bring content to XBox Live.

This is HUGE news for those of us who have both XBox Live and Netflix.  Details haven’t come out about how it’ll be downloaded, download limits, etc., but my guess would be that you’ll be able to access a good chunk (if not all) of the current Netflix Watch It Now library, which has titles that number well over 10,000.  And now it’s becoming official why Microsoft has been dragging their feet on putting out a Bluray drive.  It’s never been a secret that Microsoft wants to work toward digital downloads as opposed to an HD media, and this just shows that they’re ready to start working down that path.  Oh, and I’m psyched for it!

We recorded Saturday night and then Barry and I guested on another podcast that we’ll talk about once it goes live.  We’ll have an article from Barry today and should have the new episode up tonight.

Apparently, those days are over.  The Digital Bits put up an article about a bunch of uber-dvd sets that will be coming out, and they look amazing.  If the Batman Begins set price point of $28.99 is any indication, these could also be VERY affordable.

I’ll let you click the link to check it out, but I’m posting my personal favorites below:

It was confirmed on July 3^rd on scifi.com that the long-running Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton will be closing September 1^st. Having had the time of my life two weeks ago at The Experience, I can’t convey enough what a genuine shame this is. For die-hard or even casual Trekkies, this attraction is an absolute must and I urge anyone who knows what a Tribble is to make a weekend trip and check it out.

First off- what is it? The short answer is that, what Graceland is to Elvis fans, The Experience is for anyone who has ever been enthralled by Star Trek. There’s a thorough museum, with the history of mankind’s involvement in the space program that leads into Trek lore, and has every costume, animatronic monster, and random film and television prop you’d ever want to see (Kirk’s glasses from The Voyage Home? Check.  Spock’s coffin from The Search for Spock? Check.). You have the option of two rides, both of Disney caliber- Borg Invasion 4D and the Klingon Encounter. The former is the scariest 3D movie I’ve ever been assaulted by (you read that right- the movie goes to great lengths to simulate what being made into a Borg would feel like. Creepy stuff). The latter is as good, if not better, than Star Tours and the build-up to going on the ride, involving time travel, is a lot of fun (you even get to stand on the bridge of the Enterprise!).

There’s also the world’s biggest Star Trek store: everything from shirts, action figures, dvd’s, cards, stuffed Spock teddy bears, and the Sulu BBQ sauce I bought for SG Dave. Next to that is Quark’s Bar and Restaurant, with reasonably priced food, a slick sci-fi setting and the delightfully weird gimmick of characters dressed like Quark, a Klingon warrior or Sarek (Spock’s papa) walking around your table while you eat.

I went with my brother, Marty, and his girlfriend, Magan. Like her, I’m a fan of “old school” Trek, while Marty finds Star Trek fairly ridiculous and more a fan of The Force (make that “old school” Star Wars, without the New trilogy). That said, we all had a great time- Marty and I laughed non-stop through the intergalactic probing we suffered through at the hands of the Borg and Magan, like myself, took her time to enjoy the meticulously laid out Trek lore of the museum and, like the rest of us, cowered when an actor dressed like a Borg warrior stalked the hallways.

If you’ve gotten this far in the article and think this sounds like a great deal of fun, then seriously, get yourself to Vegas! Whether by bus or plane, when you initially arrive in Vegas, you’ll get a “24/7” magazine, a free listing of Vegas attractions that is flush with coupons; it contains a discount for purchase of two The Experience tickets that will allow you to return the following day, all day long and give you access to all the rides and attractions for as many times as you’d like. The Hilton is pricy, but there are a lot of cheap hotels and motels nearby that are accommodating to families and those with no interest in Vegas sleaze (the town has seriously cleaned up its act). Finally, for those who want a Vegas wedding but don’t want it to look like a picture of desperation (like in “What Happen in Vegas”) or a reunion of Elvis impersonators (like in “Honeymoon in Vegas”), you can get MARRIED at Star Trek: The Experience! They have reasonably priced theme weddings, complete with Federation and Borg attire (!).

That this Vegas attraction couldn’t make it until the opening of J.J. Abram’s new Star Trek next summer is a genuine shame. Yet, those who still want the ultimate in Trekkie fun, you have a few months! Live long and prosper.

The Look Reports that Paula Félix-Didier, head of film museum Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires, discovered an uncut version of the 1927 classic Science Fiction tale of class struggle in an oppressive society. Fritz Lang’s original uncut version ran 210 minutes and was only seen in that form in Germany. When the film was shown in other countries is was trimmed down by almost half. Currently the most complete version clocks in at 118 minutes with title cards replacing lost bits of narrative.

This amazing find will give us a new chance to see this film which can/will change the mood, tempo, character development and perhaps some of the meaning of the film itself.

In 1927, Fritz Lang presented the film in Berlin after producing it in the city’s Babelsburg Studios. It was at the time the most expensive film in Germany. it was not well received at the time which led to the extreme edits for other countries. The complete version has long been thought to be lost forever. The impact this film has on science fiction can still be seen today.

Even Superman has shown the love for Lang’s work with the Superman’s Metropolis Elseworld Tale.

It will take some time for the complete copy to get into our hands but that is just fine… what a great day to be a ScreenGeek!

Flynn

UPDATE

Merrick from Ain’t It Cool News has some pics posted from the missing segments of Metropolis.. also if you happen to be in Buenos Aires today you could actually see the film!

We hope everyone has a great 4th!

I actually watched/listened to the Rifftrax version of Transformers and it really is a blast.  We’re going to try to do reviews of different riffs once in awhile.  These guys still have their “A” game and we’re psyched to have them advertising on the site.  We’re looking into a couple other sites that we may also add, but we will NEVER to popups and we’ll try to keep the ads from being much more intrusive than what you see now.

Both buttons are located on the header of every single page you may read.  The first is where I’ve finally created a link to our Twitter page.  It’s mostly going to be about cool news and stuff I’m watching.  I’ll try to keep the silly personal stuff to a minimum, and you just might hear about SG goings on there before you even it here.  The second is more the result of a recent forehead-slapping moment of clarity than anything.  I realized that there is an RSS feed for the entire page, but the only other way to listen to the show through an RSS feed is either through iTunes or the Zune marketplace.  Well, that’s been fixed.  If you click the RSS button, you will be taken directly to the feed for both ScreenGeeks Radio and the SG Film Snob.

So follow us on Twitter and feel free to ask questions or leave comments!  I tend to check it at least a couple times a day and I WILL respond.

Ethan’s Score : 10/10

Pixar’s latest film is quite possibly their best. It’s thrilling, emotional and beautiful all at the same time. It’s why we go to the movies in the first place.

Wall*E is a simple waste collecting robot. He’s spent over 700 years alone and doing the same duties every day. He collects left-over items that will amuse him. He has a particular love of the classic musical “Hello Dolly” (of which he was able to find a tape of). But one day, a ship lands and comes a robot named Eve. This robot’s duty is to find traces of life on Earth. Eve and Wall*E eventually fall in love. But once the ship comes back to get Eve, Wall*E hitches a ride to be with his true love. What follows is the best part of the film. It’s where all the emotion and creativity really kicks into high-gear and you’re left breathless.

What also makes this a great film is it’s message about humanity. Wall*E is left to clean the Earth that we polluted with waste. And all humans are now fat and lazy. All relying on technology to do everything for them. The film is telling us to take of our planet because it’s our greatest treasure.

I have to admit that I was on the verge of tears about five times throughout this film. The two robotic main characters may have no dialogue, but they are more well defined than any other characters you’ll probably see this year. Their love story puts anything you’ll see in any Hollywood melodrama to shame. A particular scene where the two “dance” outside a spaceship will stay with me forever. Really, it’s a perfect date movie.

So please, see this movie. Throw away any pre-conceived notions you may have about family films and just embrace it. It’s a truly unique experience.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/ethans-walle-review/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/truly-amazing-photorealistic-man/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/truly-amazing-photorealistic-man/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:49:27 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/truly-amazing-photorealistic-man/ The most common complaint about The Polar Express is cold, dead eyes of every single character in that movie.  Well, checking Marc Lougee’s Twitter page has shown up what can only be called amazing.  It’s a CGI man doing some basic tests of the face and neck.  I don’t know that it’s completely perfect.  But it’s fascinating to take a look at.  Mark found it over at the Groovy Like A Movie Blog. 

This is crazy awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyhf3JmODHE



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/truly-amazing-photorealistic-man/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/sg-dvd-picks-special-edition-last-minute-dd-deals/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/sg-dvd-picks-special-edition-last-minute-dd-deals/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:21:08 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/sg-dvd-picks-special-edition-last-minute-dd-deals/ Instead of doing our usual list of what we actually suggest that came out this week along with a deal, I thought I’d come up with a list of DVD’s that are a really great deal that can be picked up during the final days of the Deep Discount sale.  Were you to actually buy every single thing I point out in this week’s column, you’d end up blowing just under $700 in one blow.  Now you know what I mean about making your wallet scream and bleed.  I’m trying to cover as much ground as possible and keep it to really good stuff.

Please remember that all of these prices include free shipping.  If you are anxious and don’t want to wait, you can upgrade your shipping method for a pretty reasonable fee.  The sale is running through Sunday, June 29th.  On to the goodness!

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/sg-dvd-picks-special-edition-last-minute-dd-deals/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/joshs-review-wanted/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/joshs-review-wanted/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:24:45 +0000 Josh http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/joshs-review-wanted/

Josh’s Score: 7/10

Ever think that you should be doing much more with your life than you monotonous daily routines?  Well, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) does.  After seeing him deal with his annoying boss, cheating girlfriend, and horrible “best friend”, we start to understand that Wesley should be doing something different with his life.  Luckily, faster than you can say Brad Pitt, Fox (Angelina Jolie) shows up to inform Wesly that he needs to come work for a secrete society of assassins known as The Fraternity, who is lead by Sloan (Morgan Freeman).

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/joshs-review-wanted/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/jonjanet-interview-with-mike-nelson/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/jonjanet-interview-with-mike-nelson/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:10:27 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/jonjanet-interview-with-mike-nelson/ Any geek who was a teenager through the 90’s knows all about Mystery Science Theater 3000.  We all know the glory of that show with Joel Hodgson and then the continuing greatness with Mike Nelson.  Ever since that show went off the air, there has been a void.  A void of awful movie mocking.

Coming back to our rescue a few years ago was Mike along with some previous MST3K people to form The Film Crew and then Riff Trax.  I proudly own the Night of the Living Dead DVD with commentary by Mike.

 Well, our good friend Timelord from over at Jonja.net had a chance to talk with Mike Nelson and really had a fun chat with him.  It’s well worth checking out.



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/27/jonjanet-interview-with-mike-nelson/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/26/minor-site-updates/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/26/minor-site-updates/#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:30:46 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/26/minor-site-updates/ We’ve received some great feedback from Ethan’s post about things we can do to make the site better and we really appreciate it.  We are working on a site redesign, but that’s a fairly big task, so we’re doing little things right now. 

The first thing that can be noticed is that we now have a Contact Us page.  That will give you all the info you need to get in contact with us.  There, you’ll find our voicemail number, Skype voicemail info and basic e-mail stuff.

Secondly, I’ve finally added info in the About page for both Josh and Ethan.  This includes a brief blurb about them, their top 10 favorite movies of all time and how to get in contact with them.

I am working on getting some forums up and running.  I’ll make the location public once I get some anti-spambot stuff installed as well.  So, you can see that we’re working on getting things upgraded a bit.  It’s led to some columns not coming out yet, but don’t worry.  My list of stuff worth getting in the last few days of the Deep Discount sale will make you drool and make your wallet scream and bleed.

Please, feel free to contact any of us with suggestions as to how we can improve things around here.  This is a creative outlet for all of us that has the potential to become something more.  We all really are humbled that any of you spend your valuable free time listening to us or reading something we put up.  We want to keep you coming back for more, so let us know what we can do!  Unless we start making goo-gobs of cash that lets us all quit our day jobs, this will probably never be a major news site.  What we hope we’re doing is giving you intelligent discussion about film that’s fun and accessible.  We’re also going to be including more TV as well.

 

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/26/minor-site-updates/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/23/george-carlin-1937-2008/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/23/george-carlin-1937-2008/#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:03:41 +0000 ethan http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/23/george-carlin-1937-2008/
Carlin had always been my favorite comedian. And as someone who’s trying to break into the world of comedy, I always kept his work in mind when writing. Only one day could I hope to be as funny, dirty and relevant as he was.

Carlin was a genius of comedy that had a strong influence over everyone who followed him. His views on religion, politics, censorship and many other things were always biting funny but also true. If you’ve never heard his “Seven Dirty Words” bit, then do yourself a favor now.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/23/george-carlin-1937-2008/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/ethans-get-smart-review/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/ethans-get-smart-review/#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:15:07 +0000 ethan http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/ethans-get-smart-review/  
Ethan’s Score : 6.5/10  

There have always been different kinds of comedies. There are the ones churned out by studios every summer that are reasonably funny, but nothing special. And then there are the ones that truly show a unique voice and blow us away. Get Smart falls into the former category. But I’m not saying it doesn’t have any redeeming qualities. For the most part, it’s pretty solid.

What makes this an enjoyable movie is the cast. Particularly Steve Carrell. His excellent comic timing, improvisational skills and energy gives this film such a boost. Anne Hathaway is …..(drool)….did I just lose myself there? She has good chemistry with Carrell. And Alan Arkin and Dwayne Johnson are quite funny too.

I liked that the film tried to have an actual threatening villain and plot with high stakes. But it’s not helped by bland direction and some spotty editing. A better visual style would have helped this film a lot. But really, it’s an enjoyable movie. Just don’t go in with super high expectations.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/ethans-get-smart-review/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/sgr-episode-38-movie-catchup/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/sgr-episode-38-movie-catchup/#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:20:57 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/sgr-episode-38-movie-catchup/ Yeah, we watched a crapload of movies this week, so we decided to talk about them while Barry is off in Vegas.  And I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for apparently taking a bottle of Prozac before recording.  Seriously, I could be hosting a light rock radio show.  I’ll make sure to chug some Mountain Dew before next week’s show.

Full show notes will be up tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can learn more about the Can’t Stop the Serenity screenings.  Also, a big shoutout goes to the Mile High Browncoats for putting on a great event!  We had a great time and only regret being too tired to make the Shindig after the screening.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/22/sgr-episode-38-movie-catchup/feed/ 00:01:01 Yeah, wenbsp;watched a crapload of movies this week, so we decided to talk about them while Barry is off in Vegas.nbsp; And I would like ... Yeah, wenbsp;watched a crapload of movies this week, so we decided to talk about them while Barry is off in Vegas.nbsp; And I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for apparently taking a bottle of Prozac before recording.nbsp; Seriously, I could be hosting a light rock radio show.nbsp; I'll make sure to chug some Mountain Dew before next week's show. Full show notes will be up tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can learn more about the Can't Stop the Serenity screenings.nbsp; Also, a big shoutout goes to the Mile High Browncoats for putting on a great event!nbsp; We had a great time and only regret being too tired to make the Shindig after the screening. Episodes admin@screengeeks.com no No http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/20/what-can-we-do-to-make-this-site-huge/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/20/what-can-we-do-to-make-this-site-huge/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:23:21 +0000 ethan http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/20/what-can-we-do-to-make-this-site-huge/ I’ve been pondering about this over the last few days.  What can we do to get more readers? I mean, we love every single one of you reading this right now. But still, how can we get even more? How can we get more attention? I would love suggestions. I will never rest until I can get everyone on this site press passes to Comic-Con. But we need your help.
]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/20/what-can-we-do-to-make-this-site-huge/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/marc-lougee-writes-about-making-stop-motion-on-a-budget/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/marc-lougee-writes-about-making-stop-motion-on-a-budget/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:46:09 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/marc-lougee-writes-about-making-stop-motion-on-a-budget/  

Good friend to the site, Marc Lougee, has somehow found time between screening The Pit and the Pendulum all over the world and finalizing the DVD release to write a really interesting article about the setup he used in the making of Pit.  He was able to put the entire rig together, including the PC, lens, cameras and everything for less than $2400.  That is just crazy awesome.  Anyway, it’s a very worthwhile read and you can check it out here.

Also, please take some time to read his tribute to Stan Winston.  He shares a pretty funny story and it’s quite touching.



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/marc-lougee-writes-about-making-stop-motion-on-a-budget/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/dvd-picks-for-6-17-08/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/dvd-picks-for-6-17-08/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:32:50 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/dvd-picks-for-6-17-08/ Sorry this is a day or so late.  Life just got in the way.  Anyway, on with this week’s recommendations, but I’m going to put the deal of the day (as opposed to the week) up before the jump!

Deal Of the Week:


Deadwood Complete Series for $89.99 with free shipping at Amazon

I put this first simply because Amazon is running some really good Gold Box deals this week.  Today, you can get gritty HBO western for an insanely good deal.  Even with their 20% off sales going on, this set would run you $180.22 at DVD Planet and $121.8 at Deep Discount.  This is a killer sale.  If other sets come up at deals this good throughout the week, I’ll update the site.

On to this week’s picks!

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/dvd-picks-for-6-17-08/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/remembering-stan-winston/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/remembering-stan-winston/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:36:19 +0000 Barry http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/remembering-stan-winston/ Last August, Screen Geek Josh and I were wandering the endless corridors of Comic Con and we ran into Stan Winston. This was my first time at Comic Con and, in fact, it was during my first couple of hours there that, after growing glassy-eyed with geeky overkill, endless booths, movie promos and fanboy paraphernalia galore, Josh and I happened to spot the Skinwalkers promotion. In front of a tall booth (hidden by a black curtain and containing a mock-up of the film’s monster, for the brave who peeked inside) sat a friendly, older man with a lean, white beard and unassuming glasses. I said to Josh, “That’s Stan Winston!” I immediately began to bore Josh with everything I knew about Winston and Josh, keeping his cool, matter of factly asked me, “are you going to talk to him?” I said, “I can’t!” I was so taken aback by seeing him, I told Josh I needed a minute to come up with something to say, perhaps buy something for him to sign, and maybe ask him what the status of Jurassic Park IV was. We walked around the convention, came back a few minutes later and found Mr. Winston swamped with fans. I thought, oh well, I’ll get a chance to talk to him later. I never did.

Four years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Lance Henriksen. I told him that I loved his performance in Pumpkinhead; his eyes lit up and he said, “Thanks! You know, that was Stan Winston’s first film as a director!” It’s very telling that, of all the things he could have said about that film, the first thing that came to mind was Stan Winston.

Winston had that effect on actors, filmmakers and his countless fans. They LOVED him. He had a reputation as an approachable, kind and effortlessly inventive genius who loved movies as much as the work he put into them.

This was a man who made movie magic, time and time again. His work as a visual effects creator, designer and make-up artist are among the most iconic and convincing in film history. His contributions to The Terminator, Jurassic Park, Aliens, Batman Returns, A.I., Terminator 2 and Interview With the Vampire are classic and astonishing. Even the work he did on bad films, like The Island of Dr. Moreau, Heartbeeps, The Wiz, Invaders From Mars and Pearl Harbor, is so incredible, it makes the films worth seeing, if only to view his work (particularly Dr. Moreau, which has some of the best make-up I’ve ever seen).

Winston’s extensive filmography has titles that make you feel like you’re a kid and cause one to smile sheepishly: Galaxy Quest, Edward Scissorhands, Congo, Starman, Mousehunt, and The Monster Squad- all have Stan Winston’s fingerprints on them.

I now know exactly what I should have said to Mr. Winston; I simply should have walked up to him, shook his hand and said, “Thank You”.



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/18/remembering-stan-winston/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/screengeeks-recieves-three-copies-of-the-gotham-times/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/screengeeks-recieves-three-copies-of-the-gotham-times/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:39:23 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/screengeeks-recieves-three-copies-of-the-gotham-times/

I literally just opened the envelope containing these about five minutes ago, so I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I’ll make a bit of an overview as to the stories in the paper, but we received three copies of Issue #3 of The Gotham Times at SG headquarters today!  No, this isn’t for me to gloat…ok, maybe just a little.  Never fear, though, we’re going to be distributing two of these copies.  One will be auctioned off this week or next week with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit Child’s Play.  As for the other copy, well…we’re not sure quite yet. 

Edit:  Hit the jump for info as to what’s in the issue.  Hit the link above if you want to read for yourself, or I’ve done a quick rundown on the highlights.

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/screengeeks-recieves-three-copies-of-the-gotham-times/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/stan-winston-1946-2008/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/stan-winston-1946-2008/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:32:51 +0000 ethan http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/stan-winston-1946-2008/

One of the most revolutionary figures in the history of special effects and make-up. His groundbreaking work on The Terminator, Aliens, Jurassic Park and many other films blew me away growing up. If you’ve read his book (which I received for Christmas ‘06) then you will know that he was not only a genius of film, but a warm-hearted and loving man. He will be greatly missed.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/16/stan-winston-1946-2008/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/15/sgr-episode-37-divisive-movies/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/15/sgr-episode-37-divisive-movies/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:43:15 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/15/sgr-episode-37-divisive-movies/ Join us as we have spirited discussions about several movies that divided audiences.

 Show notes are being worked on.  In the meantime,  check out the GeeksOn Star Wars Episode III abridged script. (Warning:  plenty of language, mostly when talking about Samuel L. Jackson)

Show notes are after the break.

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/15/sgr-episode-37-divisive-movies/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/12/barrys-review-of-the-incredible-hulk-up-at-maui-time/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/12/barrys-review-of-the-incredible-hulk-up-at-maui-time/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:06:34 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/12/barrys-review-of-the-incredible-hulk-up-at-maui-time/ I’m not going to post any of the content, just out of respect to Barry’s paying gig. I will, however link directly to it. Check it out!
]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/12/barrys-review-of-the-incredible-hulk-up-at-maui-time/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/sg-cinema-sounds-composer-profile-thomas-newman/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/sg-cinema-sounds-composer-profile-thomas-newman/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:53:00 +0000 Barry http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/sg-cinema-sounds-composer-profile-thomas-newman/ The word “lyrical” is often used to describe the film compositions of Thomas Newman, whose work is as diverse as it accomplished. Anyone who has done the music for Cinderella Man AND The Lost Boys has some serious geek cred, and Newman gives the movies he writes for a heartfelt center and a distinctive tone. His score for Wall-E will likely be another highlight of a distinguished career. Lets take a look at his accomplishments thus far.

Best Known For: American Beauty, The Shawshank Redemption, Cinderella Man, Little Women, Erin Brokovich, Angels in America, Jarhead and The Horse Whisperer.

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/sg-cinema-sounds-composer-profile-thomas-newman/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/the-state-is-coming-to-dvd/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/the-state-is-coming-to-dvd/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:37:10 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/the-state-is-coming-to-dvd/ Thanks to the good gentlemen at Geek Radio Daily, I’ve found out that the 90’s MTV classic, The State, will finally be making an appearance on DVD.  According to the article over at CHUD, the set has been complete since last year, but the release has been delayed until a reunion show can be made for Comedy Central.  If you’ve never heard of The State, why should you care?  Well, you shouldn’t…except that without The State, the creative minds behind Reno 911! would have never met and we’d never have that show.  As a refresher, I’ve embedded one of my favorite skits from the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XhS80rwjIg



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/11/the-state-is-coming-to-dvd/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sgr-episode-36-box-office-flops/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sgr-episode-36-box-office-flops/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:39:15 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sgr-episode-36-box-office-flops/ Due to Dave accidentally reading Billy Flynn’s e-mails from a couple episodes again, this week is a little delayed due to needed editing time.  Sorry about that.

We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of films that…underperformed at the box office.  Show notes are being assembled, I promise!

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sgr-episode-36-box-office-flops/feed/ 00:01:01 Due to Dave accidentally reading Billy Flynn's e-mails from a couple episodes again, this week is a little delayed due to needed editing time.nbsp; Sorry ... Due to Dave accidentally reading Billy Flynn's e-mails from a couple episodes again, this week is a little delayed due to needed editing time.nbsp; Sorry about that. We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of films that...underperformed at the box office.nbsp; Show notes are being assembled, I promise! Episodes admin@screengeeks.com no No http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sg-film-snob-10-psycho/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sg-film-snob-10-psycho/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:30:17 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sg-film-snob-10-psycho/ I don’t think I need to say Hitchcock directed this.  It’s a true classic and we had a great time talking about it.
]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/sg-film-snob-10-psycho/feed/ 00:01:01 I don't think I need to say Hitchcock directed this.nbsp; It's a true classic and we had a great time talking about it. I don't think I need to say Hitchcock directed this.nbsp; It's a true classic and we had a great time talking about it. Film,Snob admin@screengeeks.com no No http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/jon-favreau-may-not-direct-iron-man-2/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/jon-favreau-may-not-direct-iron-man-2/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:25:35 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/jon-favreau-may-not-direct-iron-man-2/ Update:  Harry Knowles over at Ain’t It Cool has verified this story through his sources.  I was worried that my initial reaction may have been a bit premature, but I stand by what I said more than ever now.  I completely understand that a director is only one part of what makes a good movie, but I firmly believe that Mr. Favreau has more than a little bit to do with the fact that Iron Man is no longer the b-list hero he’s been for a long time.  That’s why I’m standing this firmly behind him.

In what is potentially a repeat of the X-Men 3 debacle, First Showing is reporting thatMarvel is saying that Iron Man director Jon Favreau is not necessary for Iron Man 2 to be financially successful.  It seems to be a veiled attempt to lowball Favreau before they even give him a second call after Iron Man’s stellar box office numbers.  It’s also possible that Marvel is attempting a power play in response to Favreau saying he isn’t sure that Iron Man 2 could be ready by 2010.

I am absolutely willing to go on record and say that should Marvel go down this road of killing the golden goose before it lays more than one egg, I will absolutely boycott Iron Man 2 and will possibly cease all coverage of Iron Man 2.  This is specifically if Favreau were not brought back for the next movie.  I truly feel this strongly about the topic.  Jon Favreau brought a lot of the heart that made people love the first movie, and I worry that a Favreau-less Iron Man would be as bad (if not worse) than X-Men 3.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/10/jon-favreau-may-not-direct-iron-man-2/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/09/sg-dvd-picks-for-61008/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/09/sg-dvd-picks-for-61008/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:45:56 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/09/sg-dvd-picks-for-61008/ Here we are.  Another week has passed and we’ve got jack squat for good dvd releases.  I’ve gone through ten pages of DVD/Bluray releases, and this is what I could come up with.  Our deal of the week is pretty sweet, though.  One more note:  you’re going to see DVD Planet or Deep Discount as the low prices this week as both sites are still running their respective 20% off sales.  On to the picks!

(more…)

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/09/sg-dvd-picks-for-61008/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/07/ethans-kung-fu-panda-review/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/07/ethans-kung-fu-panda-review/#comments Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:14:37 +0000 ethan http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/07/ethans-kung-fu-panda-review/        
• Ethan’s Score : 8/10     

 It’s safe to say that when it comes to the computer animated film scene, Pixar easily beats Dreamworks. Pixar puts an extreme emphasis on story and characters. Dreamworks typically puts an extreme emphasis on pop culture references and fart jokes. But the wonderful new film Kung Fu Panda changes this. If you’re thinking right now “Oh Ethan, you so crazy” than I should tell you that the trailers do not do any justice to this film. It’s contains great characters and a good story. But also importantly, it’s frickin’ hilarious. Jack Black infuses so much life into the character of Po. He totally gets his sense of humor across in this film. And it’s not one of those animated movies where it’s “one for the kids, one for the adults”. It never feels that patronizing. Both kids and adults can laugh at the same jokes. But also, the film delivers on the kung fu front. The set pieces  are terrifically animated and very exciting. And a good dash of physical humor is inserted into them that never betrays what is established in the story. All in all, a really fun ride that will deliver more entertainment than most of this summer’s crop.

]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/07/ethans-kung-fu-panda-review/feed/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/05/dvd-picks-deal-of-the-week-update-deep-discount-sale-is-live/ http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/05/dvd-picks-deal-of-the-week-update-deep-discount-sale-is-live/#comments Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:58:30 +0000 Dave http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/05/dvd-picks-deal-of-the-week-update-deep-discount-sale-is-live/ As a follow-up to our DVD Picks this week, the 20% off sale running at Deep Discount is live right now and is running through June 22nd!  Just go to their site, load up your shopping cart, and use any of the one time use coupon codes listed below.  You can use each code once, but you can place more than one 20% off order.  This sale has helped me build my DVD collection considerably over the past years.  It’s a great chance to pick up some Criterions for cheaper than usual as well.

Coupon Codes:
DVDTALK
USATODAY
NYTIMES
SUPERSALE
PRICESEARCH
SUMMERSALE
YAHOO
ESPN
LATIMES
XM
SOUTHSIDE
WGN
JIM
DEALNEWS

If you hit the site and are completely overwhelmed and have no idea where to start, I always hit the thread for the Deep Discount sale at DVD Talk.  People are always posting what they bought there and it should help you get a great idea of stuff to get.  One important thing to consider is getting together with some friends and doing one larger order and pay for upgraded shipping and split that extra cost between everyone.  They have flat rate shipping at each level, and upgrading your shipping tends to get your stuff shipped out earlier.  Granted, I ordered Student Bodies for $8.18 with the free shipping and it’s aready shipped, so do what you will.

DVD Planet also tends to run a concurrent sale that’s going right now.  They sometimes have Criterion DVD’s cheaper than Deep Discount, so they’re worth checking out as well.  You can find out details at this DVD Talk thread.



]]> http://www.screengeeks.com/2008/06/05/dvd-picks-deal-of-the-week-update-deep-discount-sale-is-live/feed/