Video Game Movies: The Nail in Geek Chic’s Coffin?
For years, geek pontiffs have been waiting for the bubble to burst. After a dark period in the late nineties when Marvel almost collapsed into bankruptcy, geeks have virtually ruled the world. In an unexpected golden period, we’ve seen comic-based movies of unparalleled quality and care. Men and women who look like models, Kate Beckinsale and Ryan Reynolds for a few examples, have admitted desire to star in geek projects and publicly revealed themselves as fans. The San Diego Comic Con is attended by Johnny Depp. Hell, we even have a Spider-Man fan in the White House.
Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft
In the three-way fight between Apple, Google, and Microsoft, the winner is the tech geek with the tub of popcorn.
News broke today that Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple’s Board of Directors. In the press release, the SteveGod put it simply: “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest.”
However, the potential animosity between Google and Apple can’t be explained away so easily, at least not as far as the government of my fair nation is concerned. Check out the FCC’s letter to Apple over on Mashable for the latest on the controversy over Apple and/or AT&T pulling Google’s Google Voice app from the iPhone App Store. Things, as they say, are getting uh-glee. I have no idea what the fuck Google Voice is all about, but I like any fight that gets the FCC involved. It always gives me hope that we’re only minutes away from Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis driving down out of the hills, trailed by FCC trucks, and telling us all to fight the man.
And, as if that weren’t enough tech intrigue for your Monday afternoon, there’s also news that Google will be taking an Apple-like swipe at Microsoft with a series of billboard ads aimed at switching people from Microsoft Office over to the Google Apps suite. I’ve included a YouTube preview of the proposed campaign above.
Back in Apple-land, the speculated Apple tablet is set to turn the nascent netbook market on its head in September. But me, I’ll believe that when I see it. What I’m far more excited about is the news that an Apple Store will be opening in the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, a mere 10-15 minutes from my house.
What are you geeking out about in the world of tech lately?
Geek Force FiveCast 204: Graphic Novels
In which ECC freaks out about folding laundry, then geeks out about finding graphic novels he’d forgotten he owned.
Three and a Half Minutes of HEROES: REDEMPTION Footage
NBC has given Heroes fans who weren’t lucky enough to attend the San Diego Comic-Con three and a half minutes of footage from the forthcoming fourth season. Season Four begins with Volume Five of the series—how’s that confusing—and it’s titled “Redemption”. Apparently, in addition to the girl-on-girl kiss I mentioned the other day, there will be a sinister circus of some sort playing a major role.
Uhm, yeah… I don’t quite understand what’s going either. But it looks cool, and in my book that counts for something. How about in your book?
Image Comics Founders Reunite for IMAGE UNITED
They don’t have my favorite Image Comics founder on board—that’d be Jim Lee, whose now off working for DC—but I am intrigued by Image United nevertheless, a series that Newsarama describes as “the jam session of the year”. A unique approach to the super-huge mini-series comic event of the year thing that all of the major publishers feel the need to throw out at us every three hundred and sixty five days or so, Image United features each of the Image Comics founders drawing the characters they created. That is, whenever Spawn appears, the pencils are Todd McFarlane’s. Whenever we see Savage Dragon, it’s Erik Larsen’s work. And whenever we throw up in our mouths at the sight of Shaft from Youngblood, we can blame Rob Liefeld.
What do you think? Will they get all six issues done before killing each other? And will the script by Robert Kirkman make up for what might very well be a disjointed artistic experience?
The 1954 Version of GHOSTBUSTERS
We’ve talked about Ghostbusters before on the site (here, here, and here), but we really haven’t given enough quality time to that most awesome of 80s sci-fi films now, have we? Let’s rectify that with a fun, fan-made trailer that answers the question “What if Ghostbusters were released in 1954 instead of 1984?”
Here’s how the creator, whoiseyevan, introduces the concept of the clip over on YouTube:
What if… Ghostbusters, the movie, was shot in 1954 instead of 1984? Who should be part of the cast? Would they have the same equipment? Who would they battle? Considering Dan Aykroyd’s concept owes a lot to Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, and Lewis and Martin comedies of the 40s and 50s, it is not that big of a stretch to speculate.
I’ll admit that I don’t know much about the back story behind Ghostbusters, but I definitely see what whoiseyevan is talking about. What about you?
E. Christopher Clark and Jason Prokowiew Read From Their Books
You’ll have to pardon the three year old who has trouble keeping quiet during this reading that Jason Prokowiew and I did last Thursday night because, well, she’s three. But, my daughter’s interruptions aside, I think this video of Jason reading from his biography of his father (One Little Bolshevik) and me reading from my novel in progress (Down the Cape) came out rather well. Let me know what you think in the comments below. And if you like what you hear (especially if you like what you hear from me), please consider backing my Kickstarter project so that I can finish the book and share it with the world. The opportunity to fund the Kickstarter project ends on Friday afternoon at 5, so please act now if you wish to act.
But, most of all, just enjoy the readings!
Geek Force FiveCast 203: Rendering
In which ECC blabs about video sharing site file-size limits while running late for his morning bus.
Tiffany Thiessen is Busy
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to check out an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, but it sounds like his proposed Saved by the Bell reunion is almost ready to go. Mark-Paul Gosselaar agreed to come on board last month, and it seemed like everything was headed in the right direction.
But then, this happened. Tiffany Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski on Bell back in the day, has come out and said that she is too busy for the reunion. She’s got a “shit-ton” of stuff going on, apparently. Watch the video to see just what she’s talking about.
Hehe... Funny or Die is some funny, funny stuff, says I. What says you?
Fun with Photography, No Photoshop Needed!
PHOTO: paris fr on Flickr by michael_hughes © 2005
The Internet is a wonderful place filled with delight and magic. Okay, okay, it’s filled with porn, arguments and people hating things just so they can feel cool. Let’s bring back some of the delight and magic, shall we? While poking around retrocomedy, I came across some really cool picture sets on Flickr.
Michael Hughes has a batch where he’s holding souvenirs up in front of the landmarks they represent and other such things. I particularly like the postcard Mickey ears on a Parisian Mickey Mouse and the sunglasses on the statue.
PHOTO: Looking Into the Past: US Capitol Under Construction, Washington, DC on Flickr by jasonepowell © 2009
Inspired by Mr. Hughes is Jason Powell, who holds up old photos of locations in front of the present day location to create a second photo that is half past, half present. I guess that’ll have to do until we invent time machines. Check ‘em out. I especially like the half black and white half color ones, the U.S. Capitol under construction shot in particular.
