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Friday, November 30, 2012

Movie Review: 'Rise Of The Guardians'

Based upon William Joyce's 'The Guardians Of Childhood' books, Rise of the Guardians tells the story of a group of heroes - each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit, known as Pitch, lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world. 

I really enjoyed this. From the first trailers, I had been looking forward to it. I wasn't disappointed either.


It is your typical heroes join up and save the world plot, think Avengers (and nearly every superhero film for that matter), but I'd say aimed at a younger crowd. Yes it may come across a little cheesy and lightweight at times, but it's still fun and very enjoyable. I (and the rest of the audience) laughed out loud at some parts, mostly some of the reoccurring jokes in the film and the reactions from the yetis and elves.


The animation is first rate, as most animated fare is these days. The battle between The Sandman and Pitch as well as the waves of Night Mares in the battle towards the end, are the highlights and simply amazing and superbly done! I watched this in dazzling 2D, so I'm sure the look of these in 3D would be absolutely awesome.

You can see after watching 'Guardians', that the fingerprints of Guillermo Del Toro are on this film too. Acting as Executive Producer, you can see his influence on some of the sequences, definitely on the Night Mares and some of the darkness of the tone of the film. Generally I don't mind movies that are aimed at an all ages audience, and I'd say you would have to balance the lightness with the darkness to get an all rounded feel. 'Rise Of The Guardians' manages to do this and joins the likes of 'ParaNorman' and 'Brave' that I've seen this year, as top notch animated films for all the family.


All in all, if you want an action, adventure film for all the family then you can do no wrong in settling down to watch this. Definitely recommended.



**** out of 5

And now for the weather . . . in Elvish!

Hear the extraordinary Elvish language of Sindarin come to life in a summer forecast for the ‘Home of Middle-earth’, New Zealand.


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'Ink' B Sides Album by Jamin Winans

I really enjoyed the movie 'Ink' and it's soundtrack (in fact I love the piano based Ink soundtrack, definitely well worth checking out), and now the writer/director and composer of Ink, Jamin Winans has released a series of cool tracks that didn't make the original soundtrack album. You can listen to the 'Ink B Sides Album' via YouTube below, and you can also buy them from Jamin's website for $0.99 each or $3.99 for the full set of five tracks.

Jamin also has another movie in the pipeline, called 'The Frame'. No details as yet on what it'll be about, but join The Frame Facebook page where he'll be releasing short behind-the-scenes films, photos and more in due course.

Tomb Raider Behind The Scenes Video

With the new 'Tomb Raider' game out in March 2013, and a game that I'm really looking forward to, Crystal Dynamics are counting down to the release with 'The Final Hours Of Tomb Raider', a series of videos charting the development of the game, giving fans an unprecedented, fly-on-the-wall perspective.

The latest episode, 'Episode 3: The Sound Of Survival', features a behind the scenes interview with composer Jason Graves and the audio team of Tomb Raider.



Hit the jump for the first two episodes.

Cool Art: 'A Bigger Boat' & 'Anchorman' by Joshua Budich

Two new cool prints from Joshua Budich debuting in couple of big up coming gallery shows.

First up is the Jaws inspired print, 'A Bigger Boat' for Guzu Gallery’s upcoming “Kaiju – Strange Beasts” group show, opening Friday, November 30, 2012.

This is a 12″x24″, 2-colour screenprint; in a limited-edition of 50 prints, signed and numbered, and is produced by Nakatomi.


The second is 'Anchorman' for Gallery1988′s upcoming “Tribute to Judd Apatow” Show, opening Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at their Melrose, California location.

“Anchorman” is an 18″x24″, 3/4-colour screenprint, and produced by Danny Askar. This print comes in regular and a glow-in-the-dark variant, limited-editions of 50 and 25 respectively; signed & numbered.


Hit the jump to see the Glow-In-The-Dark variant.
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Short Film: 'LEGO The Battle of Helm's Deep'

The Brotherhood Workshop are back with another Lego Lord Of The Rings video.

The battle for Middle Earth has begun! All of Isengard is unleashed against the fortress of Helm's Deep. In the midst of the chaos and carnage, one solitary elf seeks to aid his vertically challenged friend...no matter what the cost.

Also, keep a look out for Chewbacca. He has a habit of showing up...on BOTH sides of the conflict.

Check their facebook page for special postings and Behind the Scenes photos!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Timeline: 'The Legend Of Zelda'

For nearly 25 years, The Legend of Zelda has captivated people from around the World. In the premiere episode of Gametrailers.com's 'Timeline', they delve into the realm of Hyrule, a kingdom filled with mystery and magic!
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Set Of Four 'The Hobbit' Midnight IMAX Posters

Some of the midnight IMAX posters have been pretty cool; John Carter, The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider Man and Skyfall all spring to mind, and 'The Hobbit' is no different.

Hit the jump to take a peek of the set of four IMAX 'The Hobbit' posters.
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'Rise Of The Guardians' Alternative Poster And Concept Art

This alternate poster for the 'Rise of the Guardians' movie was created by Art Director Max Boas and Visual Developer Perry Maple Dixon. The print measures 27" x 18" and is available on preorder at Nucleus for $35 unsigned or $45 signed.

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And still on the theme of 'Rise Of The Guardians', hit the jump for some of the concept art from the movie by Shane Prigmore (click to embiggen).

Awesome Dragon Ball Z Flipbook

This flipbook is the third in a series of Dragon Ball Z flipbooks drawn by etoilec1.

Hit the jump to see the first two episodes.
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Episode 3: Gohan vs Janemba


Space Janitors: 'Episode 3'

While cleaning the bottom of a bottomless shaft, Darby and Mike stumble across a mysterious item that could change their lives... or end them.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Guild: S6 Episode 8 'Dialogue Options'

Codex steps into the game with Tink's help. Vork's attempt at culling Madeline's favour backfires.

Don Cheadle Is Back As Captain Planet!

Over a year ago since he last donned the green wig and body paint, Don Cheadle is back as Captain Planet!

Hit the jump to see the first video.
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Cool Art: 'As You Wish' by Patrick Ballesteros

Following on from his 'Brownie Coats Of Serenity', here's his 'The Princess Bride' inspired, 'As You Wish'. Another slice of awesome! It's also available as a print, so head over to his blog for details.

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New 60 second TV Spot For 'Django Unchained'

'Django Unchained' arrives in cinemas on Christmas Day in the US and January 18 here in the UK.

Awesome 2013 Calendar From Artist John Picacio

John Picacio, this year’s winner of the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, and the artist for the best-selling 2012 George R. R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar, is releasing this gorgeous looking 2013 calendar which features twelve of his best science fiction & fantasy cover artworks.



The calendar will be a full-colour 12” x 12” 2013 wall calendar and only available through this Kickstarter project (which has nearly doubled it's original goal of $12,000). The calendar’s cover will be printed on 12 pt. premium paper stock, with a satin aqueous-coated finish, and the interior pages will be printed on 100# text. All calendars will be shipped in December (add $10 if outside the US), so as I've now pledged to this Kickstarter, hopefully I'll get mine in time for 2013.

Hit the jump to check out the layout for January featuring the Chesley Award-winning cover artwork for FAST FORWARD 2.

The Art Of Pop Culture: Patrick Brown

Loving these video game, movie and TV inspired illustrations from Patrick Brown, featuring Uncharted 3, Hitman, Grand Theft Auto, Assassin's Creed, Dexter and Game Of Thrones amongst others.

Hit the jump for more cool art and check out his Deviant Art page and Facebook page for more awesome art.

Uncharted 3

Another New Poster For 'The Hobbit'

This time it's a Japanese poster. In my opinion you can't go wrong with the Japanese variants of movie posters as they usually offer something a bit different (and better?) artistically than what you get from the usual official movie posters you see. Check it out below.
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Cool Art: 'Die Hard' by Ron Guyatt

This poster by Ron Guyatt, is part of Gauntlet Gallery's opening show "Where We are Going, We Don't Need Roads", a gallery show inspired by the movies of the 1980's. that runs from December 7th until January 17th 2013.

It is 18x24 Inches, printed on 100lb stock and is a limited run of 100 and are hand signed and numbered by Ron.

Check Ron's Store and Deviant Art page for more cool art.

Promo Poster For Doctor Who Xmas Special

BBC have released a promo poster for the Doctor Who Christmas special 'The Snowmen'.

Hit the jump for an unlettered version too.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Teaser Trailer For Sci-Fi Short 'Noon'

'Noon' is the debut writing and directing effort from Kasra Farahani, who has worked in the art departments with the likes of JJ Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Tim Burton, James Cameron, and David Fincher.

The short film, which is in fact scene 3 from a completed feature screenplay by Kasra Farahani and Ari Bilow, will be released online on January 14 2013.

Check the Noon website and their Facebook page for more.

Synopsis:
2275 - Two hundred years after a nuclear mining disaster caused irreversible damage to earth, where the Sun no longer moves through the sky. In a massive, militarized immigration checkpoint, profit is pitted against morality as Gray struggles to reconcile his greed with his grudging impulse to protect an innocent girl.

'Skyfall' - Live Adele Acoustic Cover by Josie Charlwood

An awesome acoustic cover of Adele's theme song for 'Skyfall' by Josie Charlwood

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You can check out more of Josie's music on; Facebook, Itunes, Twitter, Soundcloud and YouTube.

Cool Art: 'A Sacred Journey' by Stella Im Hultberg

”A Sacred Journey” is Stella Im Hultberg's latest piece and was made for a wildlife themed group show 'Wild At Heart' at Thinkspace Gallery with a portion of the proceeds donated to Born Free USA, an organisation that helps protect wildlife and endangered species.

This measures 16 x 20 inches and is in a small edition of 50, costing $65 and will be available on Wednesday, November 28th at 1XRun.
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Skyfall Movie Review (Belated Media)

Belated Media reviews 'Skyfall'. James Bond is back in his 23rd film in 50 years, but can this old dog keep learning new tricks? *Spoilers*

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Winter Memorabilia 2012 Expo at NEC, Birmingham, UK

I had a lot of fun on Saturday attending the MCM Expo Winter Memorabilia show at the NEC in Birmingham with a couple of friends. It was my third expo of the year (attended The Gadget Show Live and Destination: Star Trek earlier in the year) and my first time at this one, and I think it's safe to say that I'll be back there at the next one in March. I know what to expect next time, so will hopefully come back with even more swag than I did this time.

Caught a couple of the talks from the cast of 'Benidorm', 'Only Fools And Horses', and the legend that is David Hasselhoff! I didn't get anything signed but did pick up a couple of A3 prints from the Gamer Print table, a complete set of 'Warlord Of Mars' trading cards and a canvas screen print of 'The Empire Strikes Back', which I was well chuffed about!

Hit the jump to see the pics that I took on Saturday (click to embiggen), including one of me (sporting my Movember 'stache too) holding that Empire Strikes Back print.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Hobbit - Official Production Video #9

Peter Jackson is back with another 'The Hobbit' production video.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Cool Art: 'Sherlock Series 2' by Jonathan Eveson

Sherlock Series 2 by Jonathan Eveson.
Check out his Deviant Art page for more awesome art.

Cool Art: Black Friday Mondo Posters

Mondo had some new prints up for sale this Black Friday - the operative word being 'had' - as no sooner were they released online than they were sold out in minutes (no doubt finding their way onto eBay at inflated prices as always).

The awesome prints were from artists; Gianmarco Magnani (Back To The Future - Part II), Olly Moss (The Bride Of Frankenstein), Daniel Danger (Psycho), Todd Slater (Robocop). Hit the jump to check them out.

'Back To The Future - Part II' by Gianmarco Magnani

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome: Episodes 4 & 5

Adama dogfights Raiders while the Battlestar Osiris tries to hold off a Cylon Basestar.

'PROSPECT': A Handmade Sci-Fi Short From Shep Films

If you enjoyed their short film 'In The Pines', Shep Films have started a Kickstarter to help fund their next production; a sci-fi short entitled 'Prospect'.

'Prospect' is an unusual coming-of-age story following a teenage girl and her father on a foreign planet as they hunt for resin, the valuable byproduct of rare insects. Inspired in part by the California Gold Rush, the film features a planet of desperate individuals seeking their fortunes, governed only by natural law. When the father is attacked by a roving bandit, the daughter must take vengeance. 

Check out the concept reel below and hit the link for their kickstarter page.

Short Film: 'In The Pines' by Shep Films

Simultaneously an exploration of nature and psyche, "In The Pines" is a short film documenting a young woman's hunt for extraterrestrial meaning. Following a mysteriously purposeful hike through the Olympic Mountains, this film roots itself in the Pacific Northwest. It delves deep into the texture of the scene by carefully playing with macro photography, resulting in the synchronized examination of character and setting. Part science fiction, part psycho-thriller, part poetry–all elements fuse together to create a memorable scene viewers will be eager to revisit.

Written & Directed by: Zeek Earl & Chris Caldwell
Starring: Jessica Martin & Julianne Christie
Original Score by: Daniel L.K. Caldwell
http://shepfilms.com/inthepines.html
 

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10 Things Nerds Will Never Get Tired Of

'10 Things Nerds Will Never Get Tired Of' by Kevin Bolk.

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Bring Back More Space Operas!

There's an interesting article over at the Nerdist website by Kyle Anderson, lamenting the lack of space operas.

"Space Operas are characterized by being, essentially, romantic adventure melodramas set in space or on another planet. They’re kind of just Westerns, samurai, or seafaring adventure stories set in outer space. There’s very little “science” behind this breed of science fiction, but what it does have is wide expanses, huge vistas, heroes, villains, big emotions, action, and, my favorite bit, shots of spaceships flying."

Have to agree, this is one of my favourite movie genres, and I'm really getting into the pulp action adventure sci-fi books that inspired these films too.

Click the link to read the article and check out the trailers below of two examples from this genre that are worth checking out!



Happy Birthday Doctor Who!

49 years ago today, the very first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast. 'An Unearthly Child' aired on November 23 1963 at 5.15pm on BBC One and starred William Hartnell as Dr. Who.

Check out the background notes on The Doctor from the original 1963 Doctor Who series bible.

Background Notes
Audience Research Report on the 1963 pilot episode 'Unearthly Child'



by Olly Moss

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all you American Nerfherders! Eat, drink and be merry, have a good one!

'Gotham Evening Post: Thanksgiving' by Mark Dos Santos

Mirada Promo Possibly Shows Off Jaegers From Del Toro's 'Pacific Rim'

An interesting three minute trailer for 'Mirada', Guillermo Del Toro's production company, that also possibly has a first look at the Jaegers, the huge robots from his upcoming film 'Pacific Rim' at around 1:15.
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UPDATE: Guillermo Del Toro has now confirmed with Bleeding Cool that this footage has nothing to do with Pacific Rim. These clips are much older than Pacific Rim, he says, and the two projects are not in any way associated.

Star Wars: Episode II & III 3D Release Dates Confirmed

by Tsuneo Sanda
News about the 'new' Star Wars films are currently all over the internets but here's some news about the 'old' Star Wars movies. The dates for the 3D re-releases of Episode II: Attack Of The Clones and Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith are now confirmed.

Episode II 3D was scheduled for September 20th, 2013 and Episode II 3D for October 11th, 2013, but Episode III has been bumped up to October 4.

Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to see the Original Trilogy in 3D.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Science Fiction: A Supercut

Here's a six minute mashup of over 100 science fiction films by . Music is by Nalepa - Monday (Glitch Mob Remix). See how many you recognise!
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Cool Art: 'Geronimo!' by Megan Lara

Here's a cool art nouveau style Doctor Who tee design from the awesome Megan Lara.

You can buy tees at her Red Bubble store and prints at her Society6 store.

7 Minutes Of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' In A Fan Made Compilation Trailer

This is a fan made compilation of all 'The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey' trailers and TV spots, including: Announcement trailer, Announcement trailer (G), Trailer 1, TV Spot 1 - 7, UK 1 minute TV spot, Japanese 1 minute TV Spot. Shots and sequences have been re-ordered into the possible running order of the final film.


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'2088' Teaser Trailer

This is a short teaser trailer for '2088', a Sci-Fi short film written and directed by Steven Ilous and with VFX by Team SMI.

Follow the film at facebook.com/2088themovie

'The Future Is Coming.'
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'Hitman: Absolution' Launch Trailer

Out now in all good (and probably some not so good) video game emporiums.

Cool Art: 'Dragon Effect' by Andrew Ryan

A cool Mass Effect / Dragon Age mash up by Andrew Ryan.

Check out his Deviant Art page for more cool art.
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Cool Art: 'Hanzo’d' by Craig Drake

'Hanzo’d' by Craig Drake.

These Kill Bill inspired prints will be released via Hero Complex Gallery on November 26 as a 36″ x 18″ 7-colour Screenprint available in 'after' regular (Ed of 130, $50), and a 'before' variant (Ed of 75, $65), or $100 for both. Available to buy here.

Hit the jump to see the variant edition, click to embiggn.
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Regular 'After' Edition

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Legend of Zelda 'Hyrule Historia' Trailer

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Already have this pre-ordered for January!

For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity to learn about the making of a legend from the creators themselves!

Dark Horse Books and Nintendo® bring you The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, containing an unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda™ franchise. This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong™, Mario™, and The Legend of Zelda™, Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link's adventures from the creators themselves! As a bonus, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia includes an exclusive comic by the foremost creator of The Legend of Zelda manga - Akira Himekawa!


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Space Janitors: Episode 2

Breaking up is hard to do - especially when you're both in Social Group 417. Darby tries to win back his android ex-girlfriend with a sudden change of career.

The Guild: S6 Episode 7 - 'Occupy HQ'

Zaboo progresses his love with his NPC mermaid, Sabina. Vork takes a stand for gamer rights by camping outside Game HQ.

Cool Art: 'Prometheus and God' by Dejan Jovanovic

A fresh take on Prometheus and God, by Dejan Jovanovic.
Check out his Deviant Art page for more cool art.
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Monday, November 19, 2012

Cool Art: 'Tarantino XX' by Ken Taylor

Tomorrow (Tuesday November 20) Mondo will be releasing a poster set based on artwork Ken Taylor did for the Quentin Tarantino box set, Tarantino XX, that hits shelves this week. The set includes the cover screenprint as well as a collage giclee.
The poster is a 24"x36" twelve colour screen print. Hand numbered and in a limited edition of 325. The giclee is included with purchase. $100.
As always, follow them on Twitter for when the poster hits the web.

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The Future Of The Star Wars Movies - Part 3

Part 3. George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy discuss how they met, passing the Lucasfilm baton, and more.


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Cool Art: 'Galadriel' by Michael C Hayes

'Galadriel' by Michael C Hayes.

The painting is oil on paper on board,  the drawing is coloured pencil on kraft Stonehenge paper. Hit the jump to take a peek at the coloured pencil version.

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'Angry Birds' Theme by Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà

I love my orchestral score soundtracks and like this version of the Angry Birds theme from violin virtuoso Angèle Dubeau a lot.

It's from Angèle Dubeau’s new album, Game Music.
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Hit the jump for her take on the classic movie themes including pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Memoirs of a Geisha, Cinema Paradiso, and many more. .

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Short Animation: 'Lux' By Juliette Oberndorfer

A short animation by Juliette Oberndorfer that was her student graduation film study conducted at the EMCA.

A hunter sees a yellow light in a pond. Fascinated, he tries to approach at all costs. 

The Sound Of 'Skyfall'

The SoundWorks Collection dives into the latest installment in the long-running saga based on Ian Fleming’s James Bond character. Director Sam Mendes brings the audience an entirely new storyline to the Bond character in 'Skyfall'.

Exploring the sound and music of the film, SoundWorks talk with Scott Millan (Sound Re-recording Mixer), Greg Russell (Sound Re-recording Mixer), Karen Baker Landers (Supervising Sound Editor), and Per Hallberg (Supervising Sound Editor).

Cool Art: 'Firefly' & 'Battlestar Galactica' Posters

Here's a couple of cool posters for 'Firefly' and 'Battlestar Galactica'. No idea on who the artist is though, but as they are two of my favourite shows (and the posters are just plain cool), I wanted to share them here.

Hit the jump to see the Battlestar Galactica poster.
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Cool Art: Doctor Who Series 7 Posters By Fernando Reza

​A set of posters, inspired by each episode of Doctor Who series 7 so far by Fernando Reza.

Prints are available individually as 18" x 24" giclees, signed and numbered editions of 25 for $30 or you can choose to reserve a set of six for $150 after the last poster in the set, the Doctor Who Christmas special, is aired. 

Available in both Tardis blue and orange.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.

'Souffle' inspired by 'Asylum of the Daleks'

Cool Art: Mythic Beasts Travel Posters by Fernando Reza

A set of six 'Mythic Beasts' retro style travel posters from Fernando Reza.

Each print is a limited edition of 100 18x24” giclee print, $35 individually or $120 for the set of six. and available via FroDesignCo/Reza’s website.

Hit the jump to see the complete set. 
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Cool Art: 50 Years Of 007 By Herring & Haggis

Creative duo Herring & Haggis celebrated the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films by conducting a 23-day design assignment. Each day leading up to the premiere of 'Skyfall' they screened a James Bond film and designed a poster to commemorate that installment of the series. The project concluded with the 23rd poster after the theatrical viewing of 'Skyfall'.

Hit the jump to see samples of the poster series, and click here to see the entire poster series.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Awesome Animatronics FX Showreel By Gustav Hoegen

Not CGI, but wow, what an amazing animatronic showreel by the talented Gustav Hoegen! Gustav's specialty is Animatronic Effects, Prosthetic Makeup Effects for TV and Film. His credits and some shots shown in this video include: Prometheus, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Clash of the Titans, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who and more.

Cool Art: Star Trek TOS Set 4 by Juan Ortiz

Artist Juan Ortiz is back with a new set of retro style Star Trek prints.

QMx will offer the four prints as a set of plated-printed lithographs on 100-pound, aqueous-coated, satin-finish paper. Each print measures 18x24 inches and the set of four is $34.95.  US and Canada fans can purchase the sets at QMxOnline.com.

Pyramid will have the images available in the UK on Wood for £39.99 (43x59cm) and £49.99 (45x76cm), Canvas for £59.99 (60x80cm) and as Framed Art Prints at £49.99 (60x80cm).  UK fans will be able to purchase the items at Amazon.co.uk, ForbiddenPlanet.co.uk and Oneposter.co.uk.

This month's episodes are:
E01: The Man Trap
E07: What Are Little Girls Made Of?
E24: This Side Of Paradise
E47: The Immunity Syndrome

Hit the jump to take a peek at the others.
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BBC Children In Need Doctor Who Special Bits

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman introduce the Doctor Who Christmas Prequel, 'The Great Detective', in which Vastra, Jenny and Strax try to persuade the grumpy Doctor to engage again.



Hit the jump to look at the trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas Special, introduced by Matt and Jenna.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome - Episodes 3 & 4

In a double episode this week, Adama, Coker, and Dr. Kelly battle enemy Raiders and make a shocking discovery deep in Cylon space.

Movember: Your Mo Will Get Fuller with Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman and friends from The Office give advice on growing a moustache for Movember. If you're stuck at the "Ugly Geraldo" stage, hang in there because...it gets fuller!

Day 16 and I'm aiming for something similar to Nick Offerman's awesome 'stache. Will see what it's like at the end of the month!

Knowledge is power, moustache is king! Please donate to the Movember cause!
http://uk.movember.com/

Short Animation: 'The Saga Of Biorn'

The Saga of Biorn was made by Benjamin J. Kousholt, Daniel D. Christensen, Mads Lundgaard Christensen, Jesper A. Jensen, Jonas K. Doctor, Steffen Lyhne, Pernille Ørum-Nielsen, Frederik Bjerre-Poulsen, Jonas Georgakakis and was the 2011 Bachelor film project from Denmark’s The Animation Workshop.

Biôrn, an old Viking, is determined to reach Valhalla, the warrior's afterlife full of excessive drinking and debauchery. To gain entry he has to die honourably in battle, but he discovers that the right death isn't so easy. 
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StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson - The Science of the Mind

StarTalk, hosted by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Eugene Mirman are joined by Wyatt Cenac ("The Daily Show"), Cara Santa Maria (HuffPo's "Talk Nerdy To Me") and neuroscientist Heather Berlin at the Bell House in Brookyn to discuss the science of the mind.


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Cool Art: Justin White's 'Rated G' Gallery1988 Exhibit

This Friday (November 16), Gallery1988 will open Justin White's debut solo exhibit, 'Rated G', an exhibit of fake animation cels depicting a world where some of the least kid-friendly movies and TV shows have become gleeful and whimsical Saturday Morning cartoons.

Most of these pieces are available as original one-of-a-kind fake animation cels, while many are also available as giclees, and two are just screenprints. Any pieces left over, will go online Saturday afternoon.

Gallery1988 have made the entire show viewable online prior to the show here: http://justinwhiteratedg.blogspot.com.

Hit the jump for a selection pieces.


Cool Video: 'Skyfall' Opening Titles Sequence

The 'Skyfall' opening title sequence by Daniel Kleinman, with the music by Adele.

Cool Art: 'Whoever Rescues Me Has To Rescue Chew, Too' by James Hance

Another awesome painting by James Hance.  
It's available as a 15"x 12 " print on low gloss heavy card stock for £10 / $15 on both of his websites:
http://www.jameshance.com/  
http://www.jameshance.co.uk/

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Read Damon Lindelof's script for 'Prometheus'

Artwork by
Midnight Marauder
After Jon Spaihts' early 'Prometheus' script popped up online, you can now read Damon Lindelof's final draft of the script, entitled 'Paradise'. So you can now compare Jon's draft with Damon's draft and see which scenes and which version you prefer.

Click the link to read Damon's script.
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'Game Of Thrones' Back In March 2013 For Season 3

According to the official Game Of Thrones Twitter, Season 3 starts on March 2013 on HBO in the US, so will probably be April 1 on Sky Atlantic for us in the UK.



Hit the jump to see the teaser poster that reveals the date.

Cool Art: 'Reservoir Dogs' by Tyler Stout

Tyler Stout’s awesome 'Reservoir Dogs' prints go on sale tomorrow (November 15) at a random time on the Mondo website.

The prints are both 24″ x 36″ screenprints. The regular edition is in a run of 700, and will cost $60. The variant is in an edition of 280 and will cost $110. You can only buy one or the other.

Click here to see some detail shots from Mondo's Blog.

Hit the jump to see the variant version, click to embiggen.
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Regular Edition

Brand New 'Grand Theft Auto V' Trailer

GTA V is released in Spring 2013.

Soundtrack in the trailer is Stevie Wonder 'Skeletons'.


Second Trailer for 'OZ: The Great And Powerful'

This is starting to maybe look good. I still can't quite shake off the feeling that it kind of reminds me of Tim Burton's 'Alice In Wonderland' though.

'OZ: The Great And Powerful' will be out in cinemas on March 8 2013.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

New web series on Geek And Sundry: 'Space Janitors' - Episode 1

New from Geek & Sundry, the first episode of 'Space Janitors'. Kind of reminds me a bit of the conversations between Dante and Randal from 'Clerks'. Will keep an eye on this web series.

Mike Chet and Darby Richards ponder their lives as janitors aboard an evil space station.


New Triptych Poster For 'OZ: The Great And Powerful'

Over the past week two posters for Sam Raimi's 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' have been released, with a promise that a third would combine all to make one large poster. Here is the third to complete the poster!
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Listen to the entire 'The Hobbit' musical score

The score, composed by Howard Shore, is housed over at Empire Magazine, and you can also listen to it embedded below.

Due to copyright, the widget only allows you to listen to the score in its entirety from start to finish and you cannot skip from track to track.

This soundtrack will be available to buy on December 10 in a regular and deluxe edition from all good retailers both physical and digital, and you can pre-order it at the link below. Enjoy!

Listen To Neil Finn's Song From 'The Hobbit' Closing Credits

Written and performed by Crowded House front-man Neil Finn, 'Song of the Lonely Mountain' is an epic ballad developed from a theme the film’s dwarves sing early in the film, and heard briefly in the trailers.

Neil Finn told Rolling Stone Magazine, that Peter Jackson and his team suggested he get in a "dwarven state of mind" as he shaped the song to play over the end credits. "After some days of mining underground (actually, in Peter's office) I emerged with the song, then set about recording it with my sons Elroy and Liam. Dave Fridmann came in at the end with a bold mix. He seemed to respond well to my demands for 'more anvil!' Pop music needs more anvil!"

Click to listen to Neil Finn's 'Song of the Lonely Mountain'

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Cool Art: 8-bit 'Labyrinth' & 'The Dark Crystal' Prints by Josh Gilbert

A mash up of two enduring staples of the 1980s - Jim Henson and 8-bit gaming, by Josh Gilbert.

The 'Labyrinth' inspired print is a high-quality, single-sided 13" x 19" print (12.5" x 18.5" image with 1/4" white border), each individually signed and numbered and is available from Josh's Etsy store for $25.

Unfortunately you can't buy the 'The Dark Crystal' print, but it has been approved by Teefury, so expect it on a T shirt soon! Hit the jump to take a peek at it.

Check out his Deviant Page for more awesome art.
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'PacLab' by Josh Gilbert

Trailer For 'Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn'

You can never go wrong with the quality of Final Fantasy cinematic trailers or cut scenes! This trailer introduces the transition to 'Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn', a reboot of the online MMO on PC and PS3 platforms, with a release date sometime in early 2013.

Witness the end of an era as the Eorzean Alliance clashes with the Garlean Empire in a bid to deliver the realm from certain destruction.


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London Games Festival Art Exhibition Auction

At the end of October this year, the London Games Festival 2012 celebrated the culture of games and the hugely creative talent within the interactive entertainment industry.

The Games Art Exhibition, curated by Ukie as part of the London Games festival, was a unique collection of game art featuring some never-before-seen pieces from the world of games.

The majority of the art on display in this collection is available to buy through an online auction, with all proceeds going to SpecialEffect, a unique charity doing whatever it takes to help everyone with disabilities to have a better quality of life through games, art and technology.

Hit the jump to see a sample of the works that are up for auction and click here to see the complete gallery.

Arkham City

Star Wars Lightsaber Ice Pops From ThinkGeek

For when the summer months return, it's saber-lickin' good!

Before Blue Milk, before Ewok Jerky, before that frog thing that Jabba eats, before even Yoda's stew, the main food of the Jedi was ice pops! Of course, a true Jedi made their ice pop holder themselves. Most Jedi used juice to make their ice pops, as it was healthy and nourished the mind and soul, but some preferred alcoholic beverages. These souls became the Sith (named after a brand of Alderaanian vodka), and you know the rest. It's time to make yourself a treat from long, long ago with your very own Star Wars Lightsaber Ice Pops!

Each Star Wars Lightsaber Ice Pop set comes with four saber hilts: two Luke and two Vader. Just add juice (or any delicious liquid) to the mold and pop the whole shebang in your freezer for 4 hours. Run a little warm water over the mold and the full saber can be removed and then inserted into the hilt. Activate your saber's LED for a light-up treat that screams awesome and tasty all at once. It's always time for Jedi refreshment when you have some Star Wars Lightsaber Ice Pops. May the Force-icle be with you!

Click here to buy from ThinkGeek, $34.99


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Monday, November 12, 2012

Cool Art: 'The Eagle Of Florence' by Jacques Freischutz

A very cool art nouveau style, Assassin's Creed inspired poster by Jacques Freischutz.

Cool Art: 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' by Laurent Durieux

I love these 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' prints by Laurent Durieux, which are part of 'The Gang Is All Here' exhibition at the Bottleneck Gallery in Brooklyn, NY from Friday November 16 until December 7.

They are 24 x 34 inch screenprints in a regular (green) edition of 150 and variant (orange) edition of 75. They cost $55 and $75 respectively.

Hit the jump to take a peek at the variant version.
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'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' by Laurent Durieux (Regular Version)

Read An Early 'Prometheus' Script Written by Jon Spaihts

The final script for Ridley Scott's Alien prequel, 'Prometheus' underwent several rewrites and 'Lost' scribe, Damon Lindelof was brought on board later to rewrite in later drafts.

The original version of the film, written by Jon Spaihts and dubbed 'Alien: Engineers' at the time, has leaked online via Prometheus Movie, and Spaihts has even tweeted to confirm it is his edit.

Click here to read Jon's early draft for 'Prometheus'.
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Cool Art: 'Brownie Coats Of Serenity' by Patrick Ballesteros

Here's a print from Patrick Ballesteros, 'Brownie Coats Of Serenity' that made its debut at DesignerCon 2012 at the weekend.

Check out Patrick's blog for more awesome art.
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The Sound Of 'Looper'

Composer Nathan Johnson discusses the field recordings he and his team used to create the atmospheric score for director Rian Johnson’s film 'Looper'.
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Hit the jump for a look at the percussion and melodic instruments and more preview tracks.

Cool Art: 'The Legend Of Zelda' Propaganda Posters by Jacqueline Sonnemaker

Here's some cool 'The Legend Of Zelda' propaganda style posters by Jacqueline Sonnemaker.

Hit the jump to see the others.

Cool Art: 'Looper' by Richard Davies

I thought the film was really good and I like this 'Looper' poster by Richard Davies too. Another addition to some very good 'Looper' poster art.
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