Movies This Week: February, 12, 2010

The Wolfman

Based on the Horror classic that helped kick start the horror movie genre, The Wolfman tells the tale of Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) and his return to his homeland of Blackmore. After his mother died when he was a child, Talbot left his home and traveled to America, where he spent the majority of his life. One day he is tracked down by his brother’s Fiancee, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt). She tells him that his brother has gone missing, and decides he will go home to help search for him. When he gets to Blackmore, he discovers that there have been many people disappearing, and a creature with an appetite for humans is responsible. Talbot then sets about hunting this creature, only to get further entangled in the mystery. Sir Anthony Hopkins takes on the role of Talbot’s father, and Hugo “Agent Smith” Weaving plays Inspector Abberline who has been sent to investigate the claims of the villagers.  Another good looking reboot of a great film featuring a classic horror character (with a lot better make up than the original thankfully!).

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

There’s a modern day war brewing between the Greek Gods of Mount Olympus. Someone has stolen a lightning bolt from Zeus and Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is the main suspect. Percy thinks he is a normal teenage boy, but when he finds out he is half human, half God, he sets off across the US in an attempt to find the real lightning thief. Percy is the offspring of Poseidon, and traveling with him is the half daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario), and Grover Underwood (Brandon T Jackson). All your favorite Greek monsters (and a few new ones!) are there, including Uma Thurman playing Medusa, and a host of other well known names fill the credits. (Sean Bean, Rosario Dawson, Pierce Brosnan and Steve Coogan). Directed by Chris Columbus, the man responsible for directing the first two Harry Potter Movies, this is sure to be a family friendly, action-packed movie.

Valentines Day

Following the intertwining relationships of a group of Los Angelinos over the course of one Valentines Day, this movie is as star studded as they come. Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Julia Roberts, Jessica Biel, Kathy Bates, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, and the list goes on. Joe Jonas also makes an appearance in voice only  as one of the character’s pet dog. At the helm is veteran director/actor/writer/producer, Garry Marshall, whose past works include, The Princess Diaries and Pretty Woman, giving you more of an idea what this film will be like.(If you didn’t already guess by the title!)

My Name Is Khan

Rizwan Khan is a young Muslim suffering from a form of aspergers syndrome, who lives in San Fransisco with his wife. His life takes a dramatic detour after 9/11, when his affliction is mistaken for suspicious behavior, and he is detained by the authorities. With a therapist, Radha, who helps him deal with his aspergers and his current situation, Rizwan begins the fight to prove his innocence. Set to be the big Bollywood cross over film of the year!

DANTE’S INFERNO: An Animated Epic

This week sees the release of animated masterpiece, Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic, which tells the first part of a medieval story about Dante Alighieri’s journey through the afterlife. Based on a poem from the 1300s called The Divine Comedy (Not the Band!) and written by the real-life Dante Alighieri, Dante’s Inferno shows us the first stage of his journey, where he must travel to the center of Hell, to try and escape to Purgatory. Dante isn’t just on a stroll through Hell, he and his guide Virgil are on a mission to save his love, Beatrice, from the evil clutches of Lucifer. Lucifer can be freed from Hell if he marries a soul that is Heaven bound, which is why he has Beatrice, so Dante, armed with Death’s soul-reaping scythe, must take on all kinds of demons and hideous monsters, as he battles through the 9 circles of hell – Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud and Treachery.

6 different animation directors where brought on board this project to portray 6 different and original visions of Lucifer’s stomping grounds. The directors involved include Shuko Murase, who has worked on animation features like Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and Ergo Proxy, and Yasuomi Umetsu, known for his work on Kite: Liberator, and animated classic, Akira. Batman: Gotham Knight had the same sort of idea, with different art styles and directors involved in the project, and it definitely produced a great animated feature, which bodes well for Dante’s Inferno. Continuing the “number of the beast” theme, the film will also be available with 6 different covers and in some stores a discount of $6.66 can be obtained for pre-orders of the movie.

The voice cast is packed full of well known vocal talents, most notably, Mark (Skywalker) Hamill, whose taking a break from his Joker voicing, along with fellow Batman voice actors, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Grey Delisle. Every one of them has vast experience in the voice acting field, most having experience working on hit video games, including Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

The team producing this legendary tale (Joe Goyette & Cate Latchford) is the same team that brought us Dead Space: Downfall, a particularly gory look into the world of Dead Space the game, and you can expect the same amount of blood and guts in Dante’s Inferno.

As with Dead Space: Downfall, Dante’s Inferno was made as a “companion piece” to the video game of the same name, giving fans an in-depth look at the characters and story, but overall, director Mike Disa (Eight Crazy Nights) and writer, Brandon Auman (Iron Man: Armored Adventures), have surpassed expectations, creating a stand alone epic adventure into darkness.

Dantes Inferno: An Animated Epic is released today, on DVD and Blu-Ray, and coincides with the release of Dante’s Inferno the video game, available on PS3, PSP and Xbox 360. Keep an eye out for up-coming comic series based on Dante’s Inferno too!

Check Out the Official site!

Hey Disc Head! New to Bluray & DVD: February 12, 2010

Couples Retreat

Written by and starring Vince Vaughn (Old School) and Jon Favereau (Ironman, Friends), Couples Retreat follows four couples as they holiday on a beautiful, tropical island. One of the couples is there for some relationship counseling, while the others are just there to enjoy themselves, but they soon find out that they must all participate in the therapy sessions. Also starring Arrested Development‘s Jason Bateman, British funny man, Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead), and Veronica Mars star, Kristin Bell.

Click here to see the trailer!

DANTE’S INFERNO: An Animated Epic

This animated adventure tells the story of Dante Alighieri‘s perilous journey to the center of Hell, to escape to Purgatory. He must battle all manner of demons and moral decisions in this epic film version of religious teachings. Strangely, it is based on a poem from the 1300s called the Divine Comedy (not the band!), written by Dante Alighieri, and featuring three sections, of which Dante’s Inferno is the first. Check out the full details here!

Check out the trailer here!

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Time Travel=Awesome right?  Wrong.  This is a sheep in wolf’s clothing.  Clare (Rachel McAdams) and Henry (Eric Bana) are just like every other couple, except for one thing – He’s a time traveler. Henry is thrown through time randomly and he cannot control it. Clare wants to build a life with him, but struggles with Henry disappearing all the time and never knowing when he will be back. The Time Travelers Wife is directed by Robert Schwentke, the mind behind 2005 hit movie, Flightplan and was adapted from a novel by Audrey Niffenegger.  Think Journeyman with more of the Twilight sexual angst jammed in – but no vampires.  Total false advertising.  I am not pleased, but you have 100% chance of your girl loving this flick.  Do it for her.

Click here to see the trailer!

The Stepfather

A young man returns from military school to find his mother is living with her new boyfriend, but soon he starts to have suspicions about the new family member’s intentions. This is director, Nelson McCormick‘s first big movie, but he has a lot of directing experience in well known tv shows, including The Closer, Prison Break, and Nip/Tuck. The cast of this horror/thriller features Penn Badgely (John Tucker must die, Gossip Girl), Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck), and Sela Ward (The Guardian, House).  If you love the feeling of being made completely aggravated by a movie – like Lock Up – than this is the flick for you.

Click here to see the trailer!

A Serious Man

Sleeper hit alert!  The Coen brothers (The Big Lebowski) write, produce and direct this black comedy set in 1967, about Professor Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg from Ugly Betty), whose life is collapsing around him. His wife, played by Sari Lennick,  tells him that she’s leaving him for one of his pompous friends, his daughter is stealing from him to save for a nose job, his son has major discipline problems, and someone is anonymously writing hostile letters about Larry and sending them to the university where he works. Larry is tries his best to make sense of everything that’s happening to him, and seeks advice from several holy men. Also stars Richard Kind (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Fred Melamed and Aaron Wolf.

Click here to see the trailer!

Bronson

Bronson tells the story of notorious British criminal, Charles Bronson.  When young Michael Peterson decides he wants to make a name for himself, it leads him down a strange and violent path, on which there is no returning. After he robs a post office for 26 pounds, he is jailed for 7 years, which then turns into 30 years in solitary confinement due to his violent nature and constant outbursts. During this time, Michael succumbs to his alter ego, Charles Bronson. This is truly a weird film, but well worth the watch.  Total guy flick, as Bronson is known as the “Most Dangerous Inmate in the World.”

Click here to see the trailer!

Also Out this week of DVD/Bluray:

My One and Only
Free Style
2 Dudes & A Dream
36
9 Lives of Mara
Arab & Jew: Return To The Promised Land
Army Wives: The Complete Third Season
Bad Company: Hard Rock Live
Bad Girls of Film Noir: Volume 1
Bad Girls of Film Noir: Volume 2
Bad Moon Rising
The Best of Liberace: Volumes 1 & 2
Bikini Royale 2
Boobs: An American Obsession
Brain Fitness Frontiers
The Brotherhood V: Alumni
Building Alaska
Bushido: Cruel Code of the Samurai
Butchered
Cayman Went
Coach: Seasons 1 & 2
Coldplay: Up Close & Personal
Colors are Fun!
Craving Heart
Curious George: Makes New Friends
A Dangerous Man
Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic
Dare
Daring Kids with Mitiam Peskowitz
Dead Tone
Dork Hunters From Outer Space: Animated
Eddie & The Hot Rods: Introspective
Emma
Endgame
For Love of Liberty
Fraggle Rock: Wembley’s Egg Surprise
Gabriel
Gaogaigar Season 1
Gary Unmarried: The Complete First Season
Girls Gone Wild: Best of Girls Who Crave Sex 2
Girls Gone Wild: Sexiest All Stars
Hardware Wars
Heist
The Hoobs: Hoobloads of Learning & Fun
Hurricane Season
I Can’t Think Straight
I Hate Valentine’s Day
Ice Castles
Jag: The Complete Series
JAG: The Final Season
Jockeys: Season 2
Judo Volume 1 with Hayward Nishkioka
Judo Volume 2 with Hayward Nishkioka
Judo Volume 3 with Hayward Nishkioka
Jump
The King
King Lear (Omnibus Production)
Kirenji Girls Combat School: Complete Collection
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Years 1 & 2
The Life & Times of Tim: The Complete First Season
Lipstick Jungle: Seasons 1 & 2
Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition
Little Hercules in 3D
Lives That Changes the World: Nelson Mandela
Madonna: Do You Think I’m Sexy?
Man: Introspective
Maneater
Mas Sabe el Diablo: El Primer Golpe
Men’s Health: Belly Off Body Weight
Men’s Health: Belly Off Strength
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Minnie’s Bow-Tique
Midgets vs. Mascots
Naruto Shippuden: Volume 6
National Geographic: Bizarre Dinosaurs
Neil Diamond: Hot August Night NYC
The New Science of Learning Brain Fitness For Kids
Night of the Flesheaters
Nova: Becoming Human
Oasis
One Hot Summer
The Other Side of AIDS
Patty Duke Show: Season 2
Penguins of Madagascar, Operation: DVD Premiere
Peter and Vandy
The Pleasure of Being Robbed
Polar Storm
Rad Girls: Rad to the Bone
Renee Fleming: Ladies & Gentlemen
Rod Serling Studio One Dramas
The Sarah Silverman Program: Season 2 Volume 2
Second Sight: Complete Collection
Serious Moonlight
Sex: How To Do Everything
SG-U Stargate Universe: 1.0
Shapely Girl: Walking Fit & Fabulous
Shock Festival
Shoot First and Pray You Live
Sliders: Seasons 3 & 4
So You Want To Be President
The Song of Sparrows
Soul Eater Part 1
The Starter Wife: Miniseries / Season
The Stick Up Kids
Studio One: Twelve Angry Men
Too Much For TV: Coed Sex 103
The Trial Begins
Troubled Water
The Two Plates
The Ultimate Dambusters Collection
Un Tigre En La Cama
Vega$: The Complete First Season
Vega$: The First Season, Volume 2
When Soldiers Cry
Who Was Jesus?
XIII: The Conspiracy

Hey Disc Head! New to Bluray & DVD: February 5, 2010

Zombieland

Woody Harrelson is on top form in Zombieland as Tallahasse, the zombie killing machine.  Accompanying him is Jesse “I want to be Micheal Cera” Eisenberg, as the nervous, nerdy survivor, who lives by his own set of rules to help him survive. This movie is more about the dysfunctional family dynamic than the zombies, but there is still plenty of action throughout, including Tallahasse slaughtering hundreds of flesh eaters, from within a carnival kiosk. Good times all round!

Watch The Trailer Here!

Love Happens

In this romantic comedy, a widower, played by Aaron Eckhart, writes a book on coping with the loss of a loved one, and becomes an instant best seller. When he arrives in Seattle to teach a seminar, he unexpectedly runs into the soon to be new love of his life, Jennifer Aniston.  Also stars Dan Fogler, Judy Greer and Martin Sheen.

Check Out The trailer!

Amelia

Hilary Swank plays legendary Aviatrix, Amelia Earnhert as she attempts to make her dream of flying a reality with the help of her business partner and husband, George Putnam (Richard Gere). Drama, romance, action – this movie has it all, not to mention being a true story!

Check Out the Trailer!

New York, I Love You

Packed to the rafters with stars, New York, I love you tells of the romantic encounters between a group of people living in the big apple.  Stars on show include Bradley Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Orlando Bloom, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci, Hayden Christensen, John Hurt, Ethan Hawke and the list goes on. Director credits are also given to Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner, and Shekhar Kapur.

Check Out the Trailer Here!

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

Tony “I can kick really frickin high” Jaa returns to the film that launched his movie career with sequel/prequel, Ong Bak 2. Martial arts madness throughout as Tony showcases his talents once again whilst taking on a huge heap of bad guys. He plays an orphan who is trained to be a killer by bandits, only to find out they are the ones responsible for murdering his family. All action from start to finish, and again Tony brings elephants into play as apparatus for him to swing round!

Check Out The Trailer!

Also Out this week of DVD/Bluray:

Alchemy of Qi Gong Volume 1: Essential Health
Alchemy of Qi Gong Volume 2: Shaolin Basics
Alchemy of Qi Gong Volume 3: Shaolin Alchemy
All Star Comedy Jam: Live from South Beach
American Southern
As It Is In Heaven
Batman: The Brave & The Bold Vol. 3
The Best if The Price is Right
The Best of Family Feud
The Best of Match Game
The Best of Password
Beverly Hills 90210: The Ninth Season
Biophage
Cannibal Suburbia
The Capitalist
Cartoon Classics Fun Pack
Chepachet
Circle of Eight
Comedy Collectors Set Volume 2: Matthau & Lemmon
Crazy For Cars
Critterscapes: Snake Terrarium More Virtual Snake
Critterscapes: Snake Terrarium Virtual Snake Terra
Cronicas Chilangas
The Delightful Forest
Doc Martin: Series 3
Dora the Explorer: Let’s Explore! Dora’s Greatest
Dr. Who: End of Time Parts 1 & 2
Dr. Who: The Complete Specials
Dr. Who: The Waters of Mars
Dragon Ball: Season 3
Dynasty: The Complete Fourth Season
Dynasty: The Fourth Season, Volume 2
Elmo’s World: Let’s Play Music
The Evelyn Waugh Collection
G.I. Joe Real American Hero: Season 1.3
Heroes Shed No Tears
Hitchhiker: Seasons 1-3
Hitler’s Bodyguard
The House of the Devil
Ice Skating Showcase: Great Routines of the 1980′s
Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells / P.T. Barnum
Infinity: The Ultimate Trap Journey Beyond Death
JCVD Collection
Joe Satriani: Live In Paris Just Wanna Rock
Kids Yoga Adventure & Yoga Family Funtime
Kirsten Dunst Collection
Larry The Cable Guy: Tailgate Party
Leslie Sansone: Walk & Firm Kit 2 Toning Bands
Let God be the Judge
Liza’s at the Palace
London Betty
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Season 6
Maybe God is Ill
MC Battle Live: How Many MC’s Must Get Diss’d?
A Mind to Kill: Series 1
Mister Ed: Complete Season Two
Mr. Right
Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Eleventh Season
My Electric Guitar
My Violin
Nana Box Set 3
National Geographic: Climbing Redwood Giants
New Kids On The Block: Coming Home
No Boundaries
Office Yoga
Paul Rodriguez: Comedy Rehab
Piano: The Melody of a Young Girls Heart
Planet Hulk
Powerful Noise
Primordial: All Empires Fall
Problem Child: Leslie Jones
Raw Fundamentals: Live With Chef Mary B
Rica Trilogy
Rome & Jewel
Scruff: The New Season
She’s Crushed
Skull Man: Complete Collection
Sonadoras
Super Mario World: Koopa’s Stone Age Quests
TCM Greatest Classic Films: Marx Brothers
TCM Greatest Classic Films: Romance
TCM Greatest Classic Films: Sci-Fi Adventures
Tom & Jerry’s Greatest Chases: Volume 4
Tony Roberts: Wired
Training Rules
Transform Your Life with Yoga For Beginners
Triangle
UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin
Universal Soldier: Regeneration
Vanished Empire
Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me
Whale Warrior: A Pirate for the Sea
Whatever She Wants
Wolverine & the X-Men: Fate of the Future
World War II Series: Greatest Battles
WWII Series: Flying Fighters
Yo Gabba Gabba: Birthday Boogie!

Movies This Week: February 5, 2010

From Paris with Love

John Travolta is back in action as an FBI agent Charlie Wax, who’s on a mission to save Paris from terrorists, with a little help from US Embassy employee and low level CIA operative, James Reese (Johnathon Rhys Meyers). Using a heap of unorthodox methods and lots of wise cracks, Charlie wax and his new partner endure shooting sprees, smashing windows and hand to hand combat fights throughout the Parisian underworld, as they battle to stop the terrorist’s plot. Directed by Pierre Morel, who’s past credits included “Taken“, not to mention being involved in action packed hits like “The Transporter 2” and “War“,pretty much guarantees that this movie will be full of elaborate action sequences ending with high body counts.

Dear John

Dear John is a romantic drama based on the book of the same name, by Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, and A Walk To Remember. The film spans seven years, and is about a young soldier, John Tyree (Channing Tatum), who while home on temporary leave, falls in love with a college girl, Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried). After their two weeks together, John returns to the army, and Savannah sends letter after letter to him until he finally returns home, only to find out he has to go again. Also starring El-e-Ott from ET, Henry Thomas, and soon to be appearing in Sci-fi series Caprica, Scott Porter.

Frozen

When two snowboarders and a skier get stuck on a ski lift, mid air, their fun filled day on the slopes suddenly turns into a battle for survival. After the ski resort light are turned off, the trio realize that no one is going to help them, at least until the next week, when the resort re-opens. Fighting all manner of cold induced ailments, the trio must risk their lives to survive in the freezing mountains. The trio are played by X-Men and Smallville actor, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers from Dawn of the Dead, and Wrong Turn, and TV actress, Emma Bell from Supernatural, Dollhouse, and The Ghost Whisperer.

Tony Hawk: RIDE -ing Dirrrty!

The Tony Hawk franchise is back on the scene after a few quiet years and some below par releases.  The game itself is nothing new or different in comparison to the previous incarnations of this series, but the control system has been repackaged into an interactive skateboard controller. I know some of you are probably thinking, dear god not another peripheral, but you’ll forget all that when you jump on and start playing.  At first its pretty hard getting used to the movements of the board, so you should make sure that nothing breakable is in the near vicinity.
It’s similar to the wii balance board, only much more difficult to balance on, especially because the moves you need to do while on it, consist of tipping the front of the board up and twisting it to the side. It takes a a lot of practice.

The board isn’t some cheap piece of crap either. It’s solid and feels like it could take a battering.  It has 4 sensors at the front, back and both sides for performing grab tricks, but these can be problematic if your too close to other objects.
I cant say that the board and game actually come anywhere close to real life skateboarding, but it is an enjoyable game due to the interactivity. The game has 3 difficulty settings – Casual, Confident and Hardcore. With the Casual setting the player doesn’t have to deal with steering, instead focusing on tricks alone. This is very helpful to start with. The Confident setting lets the player branch out on their own a little more, with the player taking control of the steering and the computer helping by nudging you in the right direction. Hardcore is hardcore. Your in full control!  (I’ll warn the tarmac that your face is on its way.)

You can choose to create a skater or pick from a list of well known boarders, including Tony Hawk (obviously!), Rodney Mullen, Ryan Sheckler, P-Rod and Daewon Song. You’ll be taking your chosen skater around a variety of levels set across the world, from the US to Japan, each level having its own specific show and features. Also, the soundtrack is full of great songs to get your skate on to, with Queens of the Stone age, The Raconteurs, The Stooges, NOFX, Mgmt and Green Day all making an appearance.

Ride was developed by Robomodo, and this was their first fully developed game having previously have worked on titles like Mortal Kombat, Madden 07 and Def Jam: Icon.

When Ride was released in November 09, it got a pretty frosty reception, with reviewers picking at specific faults with the design and gameplay, all of which could be considered standard game issues that most games suffer from.  To judge this game fairly, you need to take the every aspect of the experience into consideration. Sure it might not have the best graphics (the developers were never going for realism) and the board technology isn’t perfected yet, but get a small group of friends round and i guarantee you will have a good time playing this game.

Keep an eye out for limited edition boards with different designs.

Check out the Official Site!

Possession Obsession! Match the Psyco With His Covet

Click here to see the answers (You lazy porker! . . .sheesh, aren’t you even going to try!?!?!?)

Bonus question!  Email us the answer and get some prize somewhere down the line (Probably like an App or some other virtual or real tchochke that these manic press people send us unsolicted.  I’m buried in crapware!)

In the original Fantastic Four comics, what did Reed Richards “Want”, get and eventually use to defeat Galactus?

Email your full contact info (Name Address city state, zip, age phone, email) with your answer to Editor@Teamcoed.com

Sooner or later I’ll get something to you.  AND DON”T GOOGLE IT!  If you don’t know it, take it like a man.  You probably get more girls than the ones of us that do know it- and that’s reward enough!  BesidesI don’t need to send a million knick knacks out.  I got my own work to do.

Know Your Joes!

How many Joes can you name?  Answers are here! (No Cheating!)

Bonus question!  Email us the answer and get some prize somewhere down the line (Probably like an App or some other virtual or real tchochke that these manic press people send us unsolicted.  I’m buried in crapware!)

( . . .and by the way his name is SNOW Job . . .get your head out of the gutter.)

Written and penciled by Larry Hama, what is the name of the story, where Snake Eyes single handedly rescues Scarlet from a Cobra stronghold, and in the process  inadvertently sets forth a reveal that would go on to become one of the coolest character origin reveals  -ever?

Email your full contact info (Name Address city state, zip, age phone, email) with your answer to Editor@Teamcoed.com

Sooner or later I’ll get something to you.  AND DON”T GOOGLE IT!  If you don’t know it, take it like a man.  You probably get more girls than the ones of us that do know it- and that’s reward enough!  BesidesI don’t need to send a million knick knacks out.  I got my own work to do.

Movies This Week: January 29, 2010

Saint John Of Las Vegas

John (Steve Buschemi) is full of luck, unfortunately, most of it is bad luck. John likes to gamble, but his substantial losses eventually lead him to reform, and settle into a mundane life working for an insurance company. One day John decides to ask his boss, Peter Dinklage (The “little Person” from Elf, Prince Caspian), for a raise, and is promoted to the fraud department . John and his new fraud investigator partner, Virgil, played by Romany Malco (Weeds, Blades of Glory), are sent to Vegas to investigate a case, which is a nightmare for John, since its a place where he has had some very bad, dignity losing experiences. When in Vegas, the two investigators encounter all manner of crazy people, including, a man who is stuck in a flame retardant suit that constantly catches fire, an injured stripper in a wheelchair who still tries to perform lap-dances, a truck driver who moonlights as a circus performer, and a group of armed survivalists who also happen to be nudists!

Packed full of well known faces, including foul mouthed stand up Sarah Silverman (Remember her in Evolution?), Harold and Kumar and Star Trek star, John Cho, and not to mention the insanely hot, Sloan from Entourage, Emmanuella Chiriqui playing the part of Tasty D Lite.  This is director/writer, Hue Rhodes first big production, and he has some awesome backing with Spike Lee executive producing, as well as the films premiere kicking off the 11th annual Cinevegas film festival.

Check Out the Trailer Here!

Also at the movies this week:

Edge Of Darkness

Directed by Martin Campbell of James Bond Fame (Casino Royale and Golden Eye), this is the remake of a 1985 British TV series of the same name.  Mel Gibson plays police detective Thomas Craven (good to see him on the right side of the law for a change!), who, after witnessing his daughters death at the hands of a mysterious gunman, opens his own vigilante investigation. Soon he discovers his daughter was an activist caught up in a political conspiracy, and with nothing to lose, attempts to take down the people responsible. This is Mel’s first lead role since the 2002 Sci fi flick, Signs (Swing Away!), and accompanying him is Ray Winstone (Beowulf, Sexy Beast), Danny Huston (30 days of Night, Wolverine), and Dennis O’Hare (Quarantine, Changeling). Winstone’s part was originally to be play by Bobby De Niro, but he pulled out after having some creative differences.(You talkin to me?!)

Watch the trailer for Edge Of Darkness Here!

When in Rome

Beth (Kristin Bell) is a young, successful, art curator from New York, who travels to Rome to be maid of honor at her sisters unexpected wedding. Beth has had no luck with relationships, and while in Rome visits a fountain of love, where she decides to take several of the coins. Unaware of the consequences of her actions, she heads home, pursued by several would be suitors, including one she’s actually interested in! (Josh Duhamel from Transformers 1 & 2) Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Grumpy Old Men) with appearances by Angelica Houston and Danny Devito. No Arnie unfortunately!

Watch the trailer for When In Rome Here!

North Face (Nordwand)

Set in 1936, Nazi propaganda encourages two climbers to conquer the most dangerous rock face in the Alps, known as the Murder Wall, to show the superiority of the Aryan race. The climbers, played by Benno Furman and Florian Lukas, race to the top, closely followed by another two Australian alpinists, but when nature starts to get the better of the teams, it becomes a struggle to survive. Based on a true story, this  film was originally released in 2008 and received several awards and nominations in its home country, Germany. . .so based upon the critical acclaim and the awards, odds are it’s a real cure for insomnia – but real racists falling off the face of a mountain , Now That’s a Party! Aaaaah!

Watch the trailer for North Face!

He-Man-iac!

If your struggling, the answers are here! By the Power of Grayskull!

Can Sony’s Motion Controller “Arc” Win the Console war?

Sony is set to bring the PS3 console to the next level in the Fall this year, with the introduction of their new (and very odd looking) motion sensing technology. The motion controller has been referred to as the sphere, Gem, and the wand, but is now being named, ARC. Using a Wii-mote style controller with a large colour changing, light ball on the end, user are able to experience true One to One tracking. The controller works with the already released Playstation Eye, and it uses different colors to recognize the wand, and follow it on a sub-pixel level. The wand itself has a built in three-axes gyroscope and and a three-axes accelerometer similar again to the Wiimote.

The software used to run this technology, takes information from the Eye, including a 60 frame per second video stream, and matches it with the position of the glowing sphere. It can then work out the depth of the sphere by its size (The further away the user is, the smaller the sphere will be) and show a true representation of the hand movements in the virtual world.

The device has been in development since 2008 and was the brain child of the PS Eye creator, Richard Marks. He says they have been working with developers from the ideas conception making sure that the device is something that the developers will want to work with. Sony have opted for the handheld controller over ideas like Project Natal because they say some games just need buttons, and so the ARC has several standard buttons on its face and back. These buttons come in particularly handy for FPS games when you can use the ARC to aim and one of the buttons to fire. The FPS game was one of the features highlighted in the technologies first demo, along with  some other great looking games. These included a sword play game where the user can take 2 wands (one in each hand, obviously!), and use one as a sword and the other as a shield. These games will also work with just one Arc controller and Sony are working on using the current Dualshock controller as a second Arc. It will use the same technology as the normal Arc, except that the Eye will follow the lights on the Dualshock controller as well.

At present, the software is only capable of tracking a maximum of four Arcs, but Sony are trying to incorporate more Arcs for family and casual games. There is also a possibility of voice commands being integrated in to games as the PS Eye has 4 built in microphones, capable of noise cancellation and working out the direction the sound came from.

The demo also showed an paint program that allows the user to control various tools, like a paint brush, a spray can, or a pen. The detail of the pen is unbelievable. The ARC is able to detect how close you are to the Eye and can then transfer this info in to how far away your spray can is to the canvas. I would say its as good as any graphics tablet on the market.

Other game demos on show was an archery simulation, which looks like a lot of fun, and a sort of play room with blocks to move about,and various handheld objects for the user to pick up. The demo shows a virtual tennis racket, baseball bat, a torch and an electrified whip. Imagine the possibilities! As well as these games that are being made specifically for the Arc, Sony are also planing to make it backward compatible with games already available. No details are available of how far back it will go, but this is something that Project Natal will not be capable of doing, so its definitely a good move from Sony.
So far, there are 8 known titles that are being developed, including Ape Escape, Echochrome 2, Champions Of Time, and The Shoot. There will also be updates via the PSN for games like Pain, High Velocity Bowling, Hustle Kings and Eyepet.

Sony had planned a spring 2010 release for the ARC, but have since knocked it back to the Fall, giving developers a chance to get games ready that use the device. This removes a huge advantage they had over Microsoft’s Project Natal, as it is planned for a Christmas release. If it had been released on schedule, ARC would have had a half a year head start on its rivals, but now its pretty much going to go head to head with the Xbox’s ambitious technology. Who can topple the Wii from its interactive, multi million dollar making, throne? We’ll have to wait until the end of the year to find out!

Secret X-Box:Project Natal – REVEALED

In November this year, the video games industry is set to change in a big way, with the release of the most anticipated video game technology ever, code named – Project Natal.

The device is named after the Brazilian city, Natal, as a tribute to the technology’s origin , and the word Natal  means ‘relating to birth’  giving us a sense of Microsoft’s confidence that the project will be the next big step in home entertainment.

Since the first mention of Natal at E3 09, few details have been revealed about this massive advance in game controlling.  We know that Microsoft picked up this technology back in 2008, from 3DV Systems. It started life as the ZCam, and was planned for release in 2009 with a modest price tag of $100, but when Microsoft acquired the project, they withheld the ZCam’s release instead opting to rework it for use with the xbox 360.
You may recognize the name from Sci-fi blockbuster, Minority Report, where the tech was first shown publicly.  The idea of making gestures to control your User Interface will eventually be how gamers control their Xbox dashboard. Flicking through the dashboard to your movies, checking your Facebook updates, and listening to last.fm will all be easily controlled with simple movements, but get ready because that’s only the beginning

Minority Report's Virtual Interface was a look to the future.

This awesome little device (only 9 inches wide) has a RGB camera, a depth sensor, and a multi-array microphone, enabling full 3D motion capture, facial recognition and voice recognition abilities.  The full body motion mapping technology is capable of tracking up to 4 users at once, meaning playing with your friends may become a lot more physical than gamers are used to . . .Girlfriends too – we’ll get to that later.

This device would be nothing without good games to play with it, and already big name publishers are jumping on board. So far, Capcom, Activision Blizzard, EA, THQ, Ubisoft, and others have  announced that they are all actively working on games using Project Natal. And why wouldn’t they? This technology gives developers the creative freedom to bring in the next generation of interactive gaming. Imagine Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, with you running about, diving for cover, stabbing enemies in the back, and throwing grenades. This is the type of gaming that Project Natal is making possible.

Your whole body is the controller. Imagine the possibilities.

Microsoft is planning to go all out for the launch later this year, with at least 14 games to be released at the same time, the flagship game being Fable 3. Your favorite sport games, like Madden, FIFA, PES, Virtua Tennis, Tiger Woods are all likely candidates to get the Natal makeover, bringing an unrivaled experience to fans.  Steven Spielberg is also working on his second gaming project, specifically for Natal, the first being the highly rated Boomblox for the Wii. The gaming possibilities are endless.

There are also going to be several mini games showcasing the potential of Natal. You can see some of these in action in the Natal trailer. They include Ricochet, an Arkanoid style game where you are the paddle. Paint Party, in which you can draw and splash paint with gestures and change colors with speech. Milo & Kate, where users can interact with a young child and their dog using real-life actions. Another is a Burnout type racing game, where gamers drive using an invisible steering wheel and accelerate by moving their foot forward. You can see these games in action in the trailer. Check out the video below.  Its the first of many Project Natal parody videos. Very funny stuff.

When operational, Natal is also going to bring your Xbox to life. When you walk into the room your Xbox will be able to recognize your face, and even talk to you. You’ll be able to answer back, and the Xbox will recognize what you’re saying. From the promotional videos you can see the many other ways to interact with your Xbox, including scanning in your own equipment, like your skateboard, so your gaming experience is as close to real life as you can get.

Still not convinced? How about the fact that you’ll never need to charge battery packs or buy batteries for Natal. Never again will you be in the middle of a game and your controller dies.  No more buying endless wireless guitars, drum-kits, skateboards too. You’ll be playing air guitar! and air drums!

Project Natal is going to blow the Wii out of the water! The Wii has outsold both Xbox and Playstation by huge amounts due to the interactivity, and fun party atmosphere it can provide. Natal makes it possible to have these same features but with out the fear of your Wiimote ending up lodged in your 42 inch flat screen. Sony are also planning a new control system, but it will be used with the poor quality Playstation Eye and you will need another Wiimote style controller too. If Sony want to compete with Microsoft, then they are going to have to make something truly amazing to out-shine Project Natal.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as revolutionary gaming goes. Microsoft have already filed patents for several muscle controller systems to follow on from Natal.  The technology is known as Electromyography, and is currently being used for military research allowing pilots to control planes with muscle gestures. The future looks so bright for Xbox that it’s gotta wear shades – (just remember though that was a song about a nuclear bomb so . . .)

As with everything, Natal is always going to have critics. There will always be gamers who only want to sit and play with a controller, not to mention the disadvantages to overweight gamers. In the future, gamers are gonna have to be athletes to do well in games! Also, in order to get the most from Natal, gamers are going to need a big area to play in. 4 people playing in a small space is going to have the potential to cause serious injuries. Instead of the Wiimote in the tv, it’ll be your friend’s arm in your mouth and your teeth on the floor!

Project Natal is hitting stores in time for Christmas 2010 and is rumored to cost around $80, which is an absolute bargain for this top piece of kit. Microsoft has planned to ship 5 million units on release day, not including Xbox console/Natal bundles.  Expect this to be the biggest item on the lists of the “Gamerati” globally.

With Project Natal, the games made specifically for it, and the other Xbox exclusive games like Halo: Reach, Mass Effect 2, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, 2010 is going to be the Year of the Xbox. Trade in your over priced PS3 now! Check out the Official Project Natal Webpage!

Want my tester?  Somebody has to get it after we review it!

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Movies This Week: January 8, 2010

In Youth In Revolt, Michael Cera is back in the role that made him famous – a nervous, strange, teen boy, singing These Eyes (except the part about the singing in this one).  The teen tries a multitude of ways to lose his virginity, none of which include banging a hot apple pie (We’ll tell your Mom we ate it.) . However, Portia Doubleday, the girl of his dreams isn’t having it until- . . .well, you’ll find out.  Sadly, there’s no appearance by Jonah Hill (So enjoy this one) but expect to see Mr Pink -Steve Buscemi and Henry Hill – Ray Liotta in what we’ve heard are very funny roles.

Chick-flick alert! Anna (Amy Adams) has a long term boyfriend who has yet to propose to her and while he is in Ireland on a business trip, she decides she is going to do the proposing, so sets off to meet him. Unfortunately her plane is re-routed and she doesn’t make to Ireland, instead ending up in Wales, where she meets a young inn keeper (Matthew Goode, this time not wearing a moulded suit!).  He offers to drive Anna from Wales to Ireland to meet her boyfriend, but along the way, Anna falls for him, and must decide where her future lies.  Packed full of funny moments and situations, Leap Year is a Rom -com with country charm. Watch out for Dexter’s most recent serial killer adversary, John Lithgow, who plays Anna’s Father.

Crazy On The Outside is Tim Allen’s (grunt) directorial debut where he plays Tommy, a parolee who is fresh out of jail and staying with his overly protective/supportive sister, Vicky. (Sigourney Weaver).  Tommy soon finds out that life on the outside is more complicated than he remembers as he tries to get back with his ex, and revive his dads old business. Also stars Ray Liotta (a Busy Guy!), Julie Bowen and Kelsy “Wang Chung” Grammer.

Watch the Trailer For Crazy On The Outside!

With Wonderful World, we have yet another directorial debut, this time from Joshua Goldin. Ferris Bueller, i mean,  Matthew Broderick plays Ben Singer, a 40 something father with a dark, depressed outlook on life. When his room mate becomes ill and slips into a coma, Ben meets Khadi, his room mate’s sister and love blossoms . If feel good films are what your after then Wonderful World won’t disappoint. . . and I think to myself . . .what a wonderful world . . .

Bitch Slap is directed by Rick Jacobson, best known for his work on Xena: Warrior Princess. Three hot ladies go out to the desert to steal some diamonds from a gangster type and end up fighting among themselves. This is definitely one for the guys. There’s tight clothes, water fights, lots of chest shots , slow motion scenes (like the Baywatch favourites) and a good bit of action. Plenty of chewy goodness to keep any red blooded American male entertained for an hour an a half. . . Slap!