Thursday 23 February 2012

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope



Have you ever imagined a place where Vulcans and vampires get along? Where wizards and wookies can be themselves? Welcome to Comic-Con San Diego. What started as a fringe comic book convention for 500 fans has grown into the pop culture event of the year that influences every form of entertainment, now attended by over 140,000 strong. COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN'S HOPE- a film by Morgan Spurlock explores this amazing cultural phenomenon by following the lives of five attendees as they descend upon the ultimate geek mecca at San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

2000 AD turns 35!



1977 was a great year for science fiction.

2000 AD was launched in the UK and Star Wars was released!

What's your favourite 2000 AD strip or prog? Mine is Rogue Trooper...

Monday 20 February 2012

Game of Thrones soundboard on the App Store



Winter is Coming! HBO's Game of Thrones is television gold and was my favourite new drama series of 2011!

Immerse yourself in the sounds of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and relive your favourite sound bites from the first season of HBO’s epic depiction of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels.

Featuring classic moments from key characters, this official HBO application allows you to browse quotes by character and by episode, playing them back over-and-over.

The Game of Thrones soundboard includes quotes from:

* Ned Stark (Sean Bean)
* Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley)
* Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
* Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy)
* Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)
* Jon Snow (Kit Harington)
* Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke)

... and many more!

Game of Thrones S1 is available on Blu-ray and DVD from March 5.

Download Game of Thrones (iTunes)

Friday 17 February 2012

Boba Fett by Kai Lim

Thursday 9 February 2012

Netflix vs LOVEFiLM



For the past few weeks I've been trialling Netflix. Comparing and contrasting the newest UK entrant, into the nascent streaming market, against the incumbent LOVEFiLM Instant! Is it time to sell or donate to charity that DVD and Blu-ray disc collection? Perhaps.

As I've written previously here, the technological winner is Netflix by more than a country mile! HD streaming and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound (where available) trumps LOVEFiLM Instant's sub DVD audiovisual streaming. For example Disney's Tron looked vibrant on Netflix, but muted on LOVEFiLM Instant.

Most HD film and television series are shown in 720p or 1080p (contingent on your broadband connection). Unlike BBC iPlayer or LOVEFiLM Instant, Netflix streaming hasn't stuttered or paused, during playback, due to the company's variable bit rate technology. I have noticed some lip sync issues. However, any problems can be reported directly under account settings on the website (what about in-app?). I've yet to garner a response.

While I applaud Netflix's consistent user experience across multiple platforms (no news on Bravia Internet Video), the omission of actor, director and genre search (available on the website) is curious and LOVEFiLM beats Netflix in this regard. Caching on mobile devices would be a welcome addition for commuters as 3G coverage isn't presently robust.

Netflix's social media policy should be lauded, but I'd welcome opt-in email news, too. Suffice to say that I will be continuing my subscription post the 1 month free trial. Incidentally, Freesat+ hasn't been switched on at all!

With Sky announcing plans for a streaming-only service, too, the battle has only just begun. For the moment I don't mind paying £10 per month for both Netflix and LOVEFiLM, which covers most of the bases.

Update
LOVEFiLM Instant now streams in HD and Netflix includes actor/director search in-app.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Star Wars composer John Williams turns 80 today!



John Williams needs no introduction. The award-winning Hollywood composer has written the soundtrack to the lives of generations of film goers across the globe and continues to add emotion to summer blockbusters.

The Boston Pops have put together a fun "What's your John Williams' Theme?" page for the legendary film composer's 80th birthday today.

Check out the page here www.bostonpops.org/happybirthdayjohn

Many happy returns of the day, John!

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Win Star Wars: Episode I in 3D graphic novels!



To celebrate the release of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in 3D on 9th February, we have some awesome graphic novels to give away.

Whether you're an old fan or new, there's no denying that seeing Star Wars on the big screen is an event not to be missed -- especially when it's the first Star Wars movie to ever be presented in spectacular 3D! The duel with Darth Maul, the harrowing Tatooine Podrace, the first meeting of Artoo and Threepio, and the introduction of the Star Wars Saga's tragic hero, Anakin Skywalker, are all back in an all-new 3D presentation of Episode I, an experience that promises to truly surround you with the Force!

From Titan Books, the perfect companion to the release of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace in 3D, this graphic novel adaptation is a must read for any Star Wars fan. Visit www.titanbooks.com for more information.

To be in with a chance of winning one of ten graphic novels, just answer this question:
Which famous actress played Queen Amidala's decoy in The Phantom Menace?

A. Rooney Mara
B. Natalie Portman
C. Keira Knightley

Please email the answer, including your name and address here. The competition closes on Friday 10th February and is open to UK residents only.

Star Wars® and all characters, names and related indicia are trademark of & © 2012 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Monday 6 February 2012

PS Vita to support OS X



On February 8th Sony's PS3 and PS Vita will be updated with new firmware as part of a wholesale move to the Sony Entertainment Network (formerly PSN). The PS Vita will receive a dedicated map app and video recording, but that's not all.

Contents Manager for PlayStation will now support Mac OS X! This means no more running Windows in Boot Camp. Mac Users will be able to upload videos, music and pictures from Mac to PS Vita and vice versa. Saving backup files will be possible, too.

After selling my Nintendo 3DS, I was initially reluctant to purchase a PS Vita on day one! However, Amazon's pre-order bundles are too tempting, OS X support out of the gate and Netflix should look fantastic on an OLED screen.

Lookout for the upcoming review.

Thursday 2 February 2012

The Force is with Big G Cereals



General Mills is bringing the Force to breakfast tables across America by offering exclusive Star Wars pens in specially marked boxes of Big G cereals to celebrate the launch of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D.

In theaters February 10, 2012, Star Wars fans will be able to relive the beginning of Star Wars saga in a stunning 3D experience. From the thrilling Podrace to the final lightsaber battle, audiences will be able to enjoy Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace like never before. To add to the excitement surrounding the launch, specially marked boxes of Big G cereal will contain eight exclusive collectable pens featuring iconic characters from the first episode.

Star Wars is an all encompassing experience that goes far beyond simply watching and enjoying the movies. By partnering with Big G cereals on this promotion, Star Wars is ensuring that the Force is with fans at all times whether it is in the theater or at breakfast.

With the cereal boxes hitting shelves to coincide with the 3D launch, Star Wars fans won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to get their hands on these exclusive pens. By purchasing specially marked boxes of Big G cereal, Star Wars enthusiasts have the chance to collect all eight pens featuring:

Anakin Skywalker
R2-D2
C-3PO
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Yoda
Darth Maul
Queen Amidala
Jar Jar Binks

Different colour inks represent each of the characters!

“Star Wars is such an exciting and timeless franchise, and we are thrilled to combine it with our nourishing cereals made with whole grain,” said Julie Anderla, integrated communications manager for General Mills. “By uniting the two, we are truly creating an unstoppable ‘Force’.”

One of the healthiest breakfast options parents can make, Big G cereals are nutrient dense, made with whole grain and are an excellent source of calcium. Participating Big G cereals include Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (12.8 oz.), Lucky Charms®(11.5 oz.), Reese’s® Puffs (13 oz.), Cheerios (14 oz.), and Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz). Made with whole grain and chock full of calcium, Big G cereals provide younglings with everything they need to start off their day on the right foot. For more information on Big G cereals visit www.GrowUpStrong.com or www.WholeGrainNation.com

Wednesday 1 February 2012

The Rebel Alliance



Author Tripp Millican reached out regarding his new book The Rebel Alliance, which is infused with Star Wars references that pop culture enthusiasts will love.

Here's a synopsis in Tripp's own words:

60 hours before his parents’ joint funeral, 29-year-old Star Wars collector Dennis Harwell finds himself stranded in the tiny town of Walnut, Iowa, with Star, a brash 20-year-old punk rock girl. He is 1,700 miles from his destination with little money and fewer options; Dennis is ineffective and Star is a fugitive. As their problems mount, the pair must work together if they are going to escape Walnut.

Download The Rebel Alliance (Kindle edition) today! It's free for 2 days only.