Reasons to Survive This Week 10/17/11

Man, are you guys going to be excited you made it through all those other weeks.  It was real touch and go there for a while, but finally, a HUGE ASS week full of reasons you’ve survived this far.

And chief amongst all these reasons, of course, is ZOMBCON, taking place this Thursday-Sunday in Seattle!  Join us along with horror luminaries like Tom Savini, Sid Haig, castmembers from the Walking Dead and True Blood, and many more! Because, let’s face it, by Thursday, you will have already put in a solid 48 hours straight into Arkham City and will probably need to socialize.  Check out http://www.zombcon.com/ for more info.

Here’s what else we’re looking forward to this week.

Monday

Joshua Jackson– VP in Charge of Sick Burns

Remember when half the internet thought Professor Layton and the Specter’s Flute wasn’t coming? Not only is this game a prequel to the amazing puzzle series of games that have been released on the Nintendo DS, meaning that anyone can jump into this one without knowing the rest of the story, but aside from the main game, it’s also going to include an RPG that’s supposedly has 100 + hours of content. If Arkham City is anything like Arkham Asylum, that’s like… 10 times the content!

Tuesday

Shane O’Hare– Champion Jockey

The only game worth looking out for this week besides Champion Jockey is Batman: Arkham City. I passed up the first one due
to the fact the demo played like Splinter Cell with a Batman mod on it. This one looks like they took the tried and true formula from the
first one and pumped that shit up to 11. I am genuinely excited this time around and will pick up a copy!

Joshua Jackson– Lombax Conservationist

Ratchet and Clank has been one of the most consistent video game franchises in a long time. Each installment has gotten better and better, but the only blemish on the series is when it tried to deviate from the game play it was known for, and we got the more “mature” piece of crap called Deadlocked. Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One makes me a little nervous since its taking the game towards the ever so popular 4 player co op route, but it looks like it’s retained most of the action platforming that fans have come to expect. Just no fighting over who gets to be Quark.

Also, the release of the first current generation YuGiOh structure deck aside from the starter deck from a few months ago. The Gates of the Underworld deck is bringing back Dark World cards for the first time in six years, and not only does it gather many of these awesome cards in one place, but it makes it easier for me to get them since I don’t have any! It’s called being fashionably late.

William Bibbiani- Poet, Knows It

CAPE FEAR arrives on Blu-Ray today. You know Mean Streets and Raging Bull and The Departed, Goodfellas, Casino, Bringing Out The Dead… But do you recall? The most fun Martin Scorsese film of all?

Cape Fear’s an awesome remake
Even though the ‘riginal’s boss!
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it rocks.

Robert DeNiro’s scary
All up in Nick Nolte’s place!
He’ll screw Illeana Douglas
And bite off a chunk of her face!

Scorsese saw To Catch a Thief
And he knew to say:
All those fi-ireworks that night
Could inspire suspense and fright.

Oh how history’s ignored it,
But it’s one of Martin’s best!
You should buy it on Blu-Ray
At Bibbiani’s behest!

Tanya Tate- Curious About this “Bat Man” Everyone’s Talking About

I know nothing about Batman: Year One (Out on Blu and DVD) other than it was a well known series that detailed the first year of Batman’s career. Without having read the series, I’m going in with no expectations other than DC Animated movies have established a rather high level of quality. So, am I excited? Very much so! What happens when a man decides to make this his life? How does he establish himself? We all know Batman is the protector of Gotham City, but to be with him as he begins his crusade is going to make for an intriguing watch.

Dave Biscella- Thinks Buying Red State on Blu-Ray Makes Him Bipartisan

Normally, I prefer movies to have a plot and character development, but Red State (Out on Blu and DVD) is the rare exception of a movie I highly enjoyed despite having neither.

Matt Kelly- Watches for Topanga, Stays for Shawn

Season 7 (the final season) of Boy Meets World comes out on DVD this Tuesday. My love of this show has been mentioned on the site before and mocked on the podcast multiple times… but I don’t fucking care. That shit is awesome. This is the season with the kick ass prank wars episode so I’m excited.

Alexander (Monstar)- VP in Charge of Winged Motorcycle Helmets

Forget Chris Evans. For me, Captain America was, is, Reb Brown. As a child of the 70’s,  I was able see my favorite Marvel superheroes come to life. Hulk, Spider-man and Captain America rocked the small screen, battling evil doers. Captain America/Captain America II: Death To Soon (Out on DVD) features both of the live action Captain America TV movies. The first one is an origin story while the second sees Captain America pitted against Christopher Lee’s Miguel, a crime lord who has created a dust that induces rapid aging. The effects are cheesy and the stories, while played straight, come off with as much dramatic depth as a typical episode of CHIPS or Bj and the Bear. Nonetheless, it was Captain America and to my eight year old eyes, he was in life or death situations. In my adulthood, I’ve been able to appreciate the simple fun that are these two movie. While I did have Captain America on VHS, this is the first official DVD release, obviously in time to capitalize on the feature film. Either way, I’m happy to get my hands on this DVD.

Wednesday

Shane O’Hare– HUGE Comic Book Fan

I am by no means am a HUGE comic book fan. I enjoy odd/niche books more-so than cape and cowl books. This week I am
already bugging my LCBS owner with orders. MASS EFFECT INVASION #1. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT ONGOING #1. COLD WAR #1 which looks like one of those rad out of left field period books that a lot of people can easily pick up if they aren’t a comic fan.

Noel Nocciolo- Goes to Concerts for the Fine Cuisine

The annual CMJ Music Marathon is hitting New York City Wednesday-Saturday.  CMJ is better known as the music industry’s ginger step-child to infinitely bigger-cooler-and-more-filled-with-delicious-BBQ older sister, Austin’s South By Southwest.  Somehow I find it easier to attend parties and shows in Austin than I do in my own city; probably due to the lack of Tito’s, Amy’s ice cream. Jo’s coffee and Salt Lick BBQ.  Regardless, I’m looking forward to checking out solo artist, Nikki Lane (www.missnikkilane.com) and band, The Alabama Shakes; (www.alabamashakes.com) bring a little South to the North. 

Thursday

Shane O’Hare– Zombn00b

Thursday kicks off Zombcon in Seattle. This will be my first geek convention outside of SDCC and I am excited to really see what other rad stuff is out there. I’ve always respected the horror genre but never really got into it I am more than nervous to show my n00bness.

Friday

Dave Biscella- BLOODYMARYBLOODYMARYBLOODYMARY!

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first one, and absolutely hated the second one, but I am super excited for Paranormal Activity 3. Getting the directing duo that made Catfish is all I need. They made a documentary that felt like it was gonna be turn into a horror movie at any time. They’re the perfect choice for a horror movie parading as a documentary. Sure, chances are it will probably suck, but I support choices like this and really hope they can pull it off. This is the perfect job for them. I’m excited to see if they can step up and deliver as well as they should.

Shane O’Hare- President of the Rat Race Fan Club

Everyone loves Rowan Atkinson. If you don’t then you have no heart. He is returning in the second Sunday-School Bond film Johnny
English Reborn. Bring the kids. Bring the Wife. Bring your pug, expect a laugh for everybody. Then we have the unofficial Assassins Creed move The Three Musketeers, which inexplicably in the trailer shows about five Musketeers.

Molly Mahan- Hates France

As Shane O’Hare pointed out, I have no soul, so I’ll be hitting the theatres this Friday to see Three Musketeers in 3D instead of whatever movie he was talking about. Partially because I had a huge crush on Aramis as a kid, partly because I have a current crush on Luke Evans (even if he may catch for the opposite team), but mostly because I like to see my favorite novels put up on the big screen, stripped of its plot and given steampunk elements. A lot of people will give me flack for being excited about this movie because it (likely) deters a lot from the original novel, but if I want the original novel then I’ll learn French and read the original novel. I live in the 21st century, not 19th century France. I like explosions, I like it when ladies pick up a sword and kick ass themselves, and I enjoy a good visual spectacle. I’m not expecting this flick to be anything more than what it is being advertised as: mindless, explosive entertainment, and I’m willing to make it through this week to watch The Musketeers achieve that goal.

All for fun, fun for all. Unless you’re a pretentious film or French lit snob, in which case we’re probably not friends and then I don’t care what you think anyway! Except you, Jonathan. Please let me continue to write here!

Saturday

Shane O’Hare– The Broniest

Eight words: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Ponygeist Special (The Hub, 9 AM EST). Will Luna get the acceptance she deserves after 1000 years trapped on the moon? FIND OUT!