Tagged: new
Universal Dork’s Halloween Horror Picks #2! Cronenberg’s BEST!
People just love Cronenberg! However many people who love him today for movies like Eastern Promises & A History of Violence have long forgotten his amazing horror films like The Fly and his best in my opinion “The Brood”. If you have never seen this incredibly creepy movie from 1979 you are missing out big time. It’s also best that you know as little as possible about the plot as it will confuse you right up until the truly shocking finale. It’s been described as a horror version of Kramer vs. Kramer and I’d have to say that’s a neat way to look at this one.
It’s follows the story of a man who’s wife is receiving a strange theatrical therapy to help her with mental and emotional problems she’s experiencing. However when the husband finds bruises and cuts on their daughter he begins to suspect his mentally imbalanced wife may be to blame.
To make matters worse a brood of horrifying mutant children begin creeping around inside their house and soon people end up dead. This one is a Cronenberg masterpeice that should not be missed or seen again this Halloween! A true horror classic!!
Silver Screen Supermen: The Blog of Steel by Chris “Optional” Gray
Hey folks, its Chris “Optional” Gray here bringing you a guest piece for Universal Dork. This blog was promised to Mr. Saturday long ago, and much like the topic this blog is covering there have been many set backs, production delays, casting issues, wardrobe disputes, you know, the typical things that can go wrong with writing a blog. My original idea was to compare and contrast the film making efforts between Marvel and DC, but that subject is for another time and day.Today we will be focusing on the Man of Steel himself, Superman and his adventures on the silver screen.
The first time Superman was brought to the big screen was in 1941 with the Fleischer Studios animated shorts, bringing the Caped Crusader to life for the first time. These shorts are absolute classics and have endured the test of time so much to be readily available on Netflix for your viewing pleasure.They perfectly capture the Superman of that early era.They feel like your reading a short comic in a newspaper fun,fast and a feast for the eyes especially if you love old animation.
The next time Superman graced the screen was in 1948 when Alan Kyrk starred in the theatrical series, which were very similar in style to George Reeve’s later television series. Unfortunately, Kyrk really lacked any kind of screen presence to pull off the roles of Superman and Clark Kent. The most entertaining aspect of the shorts comes from the lack of budget that prevented them from actually showing Kyrk take flight, those segments had to be animated which while distracting is still very entertaining. It makes even the worst modern day CGI look glorious in comparison, but the shorts still come off as enjoyable.
Now we come to George Reeve’s debut as Superman in the little known B-Movie Superman and The Molemen Continue reading
Marvel NOW! is Coming But is Anyone Excited?
So the big word on the streets is all about Marvel NOW! The upcoming relaunch of the Marvel Universe slated to begin in October 2012, launching one new title every week for months into 2013. Thankfully it claims not to mess with the continuity of things that have already transpired. So we can all just wonder why are they doing this? They claim several reasons, the main one being that this is the result to the aftermath of Avengers vs. X-men and the real reason is obviously due to the success of The Avengers. Alex Alonso states “these stories will be accessible to lapsed readers—the guy who likes, say, Captain America, but doesn’t know where to start—and anyone who saw a Marvel movie or heard the buzz about Marvel NOW!”
So now it makes a LOT more sense, it was clear that the movies suddenly started dictating the comic books which is strange because I had always hoped it would be the exact opposite. It’s always a bit depressing when major superheroes costumes suddenly start to mimic the movie counterparts. It made me laugh pretty hard when Nick Fury suddenly appears now in the normal Marvel Universe as an African American guy. It just so happens that the original Fury had a “secret son” Sgt. Marcus Johnson and guess what? He’s black! How convenient! Suddenly now Fury decides it’s time to retire and yes his son decides to start going by his “original name birth name” Nick Fury! Oh yeah he also by chance lost one of his eyes and wear a pirate patch!! Ha ha ha…wow that had to be the lamest move Marvel could’ve made. Which leads to the true reasons for all these changes. Money.
So what will we see next? First up is The Uncanny Avengers, a mix of X-men and Avengers in a new book. I’m fine with that, it might even be totally rad. I just kinda hate these re-envisioning things that happen every x number of years. How often do they really stick? Things usually go back to normal as usual because as it always goes if it ain’t broken it don’t need fixin’! The plus side is maybe it will be amazing? The Marvel Universe is indeed in my opinion needing new ideas, artists and writers on most of their books. We may also get some new fresh titles to choose from. I am excited most about that-new titles. On a closing note what I am not excited about is this weird armor that The Incredible Hulk seems to be wearing in the promo pics. Uggh….Marvel just can’t seem to get the Hulk right in the comics anymore. Well at least we have the movie Hulk! Now that’s a first!!!
The Descendents Get a Rad New Trailer for Their Documentary!
So this is a website dedicated Dorks, Nerds & Geeks so naturally it’s the perfect place to hype up the upcoming Descendents / ALL documentary, “Filmage”. To those of you who may live deep in a deep dark dungeon, The Descendents are hands down the BEST pop punk band of all time. Pop punk you ask? No folks I am not talking about Blink 182, Good Charolotte, Sum 41 or Yellowcard I am talking the good stuff because The Descendents started it all as the godfathers of the genre. They started way back in 1978, their lead singer Milo is a punk rock icon and a huge nerd.
artwork: Gary Musgrave
Well finally these guys are getting the respect they have long since deserved as they reunited a couple years ago and started headlining festivals and one off shows all over the globe. That’s when Filmage began filming and soon we’ll finally be able to get the real story on the band and their struggles. We’re getting some great new punk rock films as I believe a Bad Brains documentary is in the works as well and the recent SNFU film about Chi Pig and Color Me Obsessed about The Replacements.
Now this might also bring fans to wonder if the Dents are planning on recording a new record? I am going to have to say yes to that question, I have already been given confirmation by two inside sources that Milo has indeed been hanging around The Blasting Room recording demos! Don’t believe me? Well wait and see. The question now though is what are they planning? There is a full album of material that was recorded by the original line up before original guitarist Frank Navetta passed away in 2008. This material was an album that was never released and preceded their classic “Milo Goes to College” album regarded by many as one of the best punk rock albums of all time. All it lacked was Milo’s vocals. However we may be lucky and get two albums perhaps an album of all new material as well. For the meantime I will be watching closely for a theatrical release of Filmage! Check out the newest trailer!
So Where Are The Great Lakes AVENGERS These Days?!!
I am a mid westerner originally from Wisconsin, born in Milwaukee so naturally I have a HUGE soft spot for our super hero team The Great Lakes Avengers! Well first off they were created by John Byrne one of my all time favorite people ever in the world of comic books way back in 1989. Second they were formed in / and operate out of Milwaukee Wisconsin!
So I was thing today that it’s been a while since we’ve heard a much more than peep out of these guys, aside from their brief appearance in Fear Itself: Home Front #6 -last I heard they were forced to change their name from Avengers & X-men to The Great Lakes Initiative.
Well it seems these guys are always jumping on the bandwagon, so one might naturally assume that due to this sudden popularity of the Avengers that they would surely be changing their name Back to The GLA?!
Well here’s a blog post purely made to generate a little interest from the people of the Mid-west to demand that these guys get some new born respect!! Hell how about another mini series? The Dan Slott one was great and now that the Avengers are all the rage I’m certain these guys could sell a few issues no problem!
So Marvel let’s get on the ball because there are people out there (there are some right?!) who can’t wait to read what Mr. Immortal, Big Bertha, Doorman & Flatman are up to these days? Let’s not forget that Deadpool is a reserve member of the team! In the meantime I am gonna track down all of their appearances I missed out on! Mid-west Represent-LONG LIVE THE GREAT LAKES AVENGERS!
Oh yeah…weirdly discovered a pop punk tune written by Kirby Krackle from Seattle about the team..interesting…I guess they are some sort of geek core band?
Ok Please…Stop With the Zombie Comedies Already!
I just watched two upcoming “buzzing” zombie comedy movie trailers and I had to take just a moment of your time to say please stop!! Enough!! Please god…stop with the zombie comedies already!!! Better yet just stop with the whole zombie thing altogether! Ok you know we have all seen Evil Dead 2, Dead Alive, Return of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, American Zombie, Fido, Dance of the Dead, Zombies of Mass Destruction, Doghouse, Zombie Strippers, Zombie Honeymoon, Undead, Blah Blah Blah Blah….Jeez! I kinda just want this whole zombie craze to disappear.
Aside from The Walking Dead Comic and TV series (which I am finally getting slightly tired of) this craze needs to die and stay dead at least for ten years or so. People you’re not going to make a better zombie comedy than Shaun of the Dead so please stop trying! Make some other comedy please, I know how much you liked Dead Alive but you know what? The world doesn’t need another one of your goofy unlikely fanboy hero nerd starring zombie comedies-the market is full, overflowing and more dead than punk rock. I wonder am I the only one? Because even the zombie comedies that look kinda good I just don’t care to sit through anymore!
This one here “Juan of the Dead” which is opening at a theater down the street from me just don’t excite me! Really now “Juan of the Dead”? Uggh….
Yeah it doesn’t really look too bad huh? Too bad I was interested in seeing this movie six years ago!!!
Oh and I was on Ain’t It Cool and they had this one written up called “A Little Bit Zombie” a quirky offbeat zombie comedy with the same stupid characters that you saw eight years ago back when these characters were kinda funny actually…Ok so I will admit the poster is pretty cool, but really folks do we really need to waste more time sitting through more shit like this?
Maybe I am crazy but I don’t care how RAD your zombie comedy is I have seen fifty others that were done in the past five years that are better and then before that fifty more back in the 1980’s! Give it a rest!! 😉
The New Avengers Trailer! Does it Live Up to the Hype?!
Just saw the latest trailer for The Avengers movie and It so far looks like a good time. Hopefully it’ll be the best Marvel movie yet, which actually would’t be a difficult accomplishment for Joss Whedon as honestly I can say that the Marvel movies are a good time on their first view, but on repeated viewings really aren’t much to write home about.
But how can we honestly NOT be excited about an Avengers movie directed by Joss Whedon? So here it is, along with some terrible Godsmack style rock song. We also finally get a glimpse of The “Ruffalo” Hulk and for the record he still looks fake…..
The Caps: A Feel Good 70’s Sitcom Set to Music…
I recently was given a complimentary copy of the new album “Have a Blast”, by Portland Oregon’s “The Caps” and it’s had me smiling ever since the first listen. These guys have been around for just a few years now releasing their second album with a new line up save James Hall the bands original drummer who recently rejoined and singer/guitarist Chris Worth. On “Have a Blast” they are back with eleven of the catchiest pop songs you’re likely to hear in 2011. Like a three way battle between Belle & Sebastian, Superchunk and The Beach Boys dashed with slightly off humor reminiscent of They Might Be Giants, The Caps manage to bring the rock while still maintaining a soft side you could be sipping champagne to while reading back issues of Mad Magazine.
The songs now, with lead vocals almost evenly split between Worth and new guitarist Andrew Grimaldo, are filled with humor you’re either going to get or quite possibly fly right over your head leaving you wondering if these guys are really taking themselves seriously. A song like “Bike City” could practically be Portland’s anthem here as one of the most bike-centric cities in America Continue reading
Catwoman Further Revealed….
It seems that a lot of people just weren’t big fans of the first Anne Hathaway Catwoman picture revealed. They Complained her costume was lame and compared it to the Tim Burton Pfeiffer version which I will agree was pretty awesome. If you ask me however the costume for Batman in Nolan’s movie has always kinda bugged me. I just don’t really like the huge bulky kevlar armor thing that’s going on there-but the movies were so well done I was quickly able to get past it. So to me the Hathaway costume is quite acceptable-as we can all agree that at the very least she’s not also running around in a big black chuncky kevlar hockey suit as well!
However for me personally I am a bigger fan of Julie Newmar from the original series!!
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good!
I can’t wait! Season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm is on the way!! Life is always a little better when you can count on Larry David to say the shit you only think of saying in your head!
For a while it was not looking like there would be another season of this brilliant comedy but alas Mr. David has decided to make everyone extremely uncomfortable with his antics once again! So here’s a teaser to the upcoming season-Larry goes to New York! Thank god for another season of the most funny show on TV!
Universal Dork 