A new viral video for Ridley Scott’s Prometheus featuring Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw has debuted online. In front of the quiet, unblinking eye of a camera lens, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw makes her case to lead a mission that will answer our greatest questions and trigger our ultimate fears.

Also starring Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green and Charlize Theron, Prometheus hits theaters on June 8.

Following its debut during the season premiere of America’s Got Talent, Sony Pictures has now brought online the 4-Minute Super Preview for The Amazing Spider-Man.

As a huge fan of both Batman and Mountain Dew, it’s almost disturbing how excited I am about this news. Mountain Dew has announced a promotional tie-in with The Dark Knight Rises that will give birth to temperature-sensitive, design-changing Bat-cans and a new limited-edition flavor called Mountain Dew Dark Berry.

Here’s the full press release:

Today, Mountain Dew confirmed its partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ highly anticipated summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight Rises” with activations that will quench the thirst of both DEW and Dark Knight fans. Luring fans deep into Gotham City through an exclusive digital experience, DEW will unveil exclusive content and storylines from “The Dark Knight Rises” to eager fans before the film’s opening day, July 20. And DEW itself will take a dark spin – with a Dark Knight graphic takeover of base packaging and temperature-sensitive cans that change when chilled, to Mtn Dew Dark Berry, a new limited-edition mixed berry flavor inspired by the Caped Crusader.

“Mountain Dew is all about fueling passion and that is what this partnership is based on,” said Brett O’Brien, Vice President of Marketing for Mountain Dew. “You’d be hard-pressed to find more passionate fans than those of DEW and The Dark Knight franchise. Our goal is to offer those fans unique experiences — from package and product innovation to exclusive content and access that only DEW and Batman together could provide.”

Mountain Dew’s “The Dark Knight Rises” 360-degree campaign will include:

• A new limited-time-only flavor, Mtn Dew Dark Berry, inspired by “The Dark Knight Rises,” available nationwide for 8 weeks beginning in mid June.
• Select 16-oz cans of DEW will receive a face-lift of the thermochromic variety. The special cans will use thermochromic ink to feature a bat symbol that transforms to the distinctive green color of DEW when chilled. The limited-time 16 oz. cans will hit shelves in mid June.
• The unveil of DEWGothamCity.com, an online destination designed to give fans unprecedented access into the world of “The Dark Knight Rises,” including exclusive sneak peeks of movie content and storylines. The experience will launch June 18.
• Fans that participate in the DEW Gotham City experience and enter product codes from 20 oz., and 2-liter bottles, 12-pack and 24-pack and Fountain Cups will earn points to redeem for DEW or “The Dark Knight Rises” gear or for sweepstakes entries for a chance to win exclusive prizes.
• Diet Mountain Dew driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., will give (and get) a first taste of the Dark Knight. Members of the DEW Crew, an extension of the #88 team fueled by Diet Mountain Dew, will be asked to vote to select which of four Dark Knight paint schemes will appear on Dale’s #88 Chevrolet this season. Voting begins at www.dewcrew.com on May 12.
• In-store point-of-purchase displays in retailers nationwide.
• Robust cable, primetime TV, radio and digital advertising, launching June 18, will drive mass campaign awareness.

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #083 – The Avengers
[See post to listen to audio]

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• The Spoiler Room: The Avengers
  • What worked?
  • What didn’t work?
• Listener Mailbag: The Avengers Edition
• News/discussion: The Avengers Edition
• Box office success
• Mark Ruffalo signed a 6-picture deal with Marvel
• Joss Whedon says there will be at least 30 minutes of deleted scenes on the DVD/Blu-ray
• A sequel to The Avengers will happen

Source: PlayStation.Blog

The World Premiere Gameplay Trailer of Assassin’s Creed III is finally here.

Some words about the trailer and new Assassin Connor from Ubisoft Community Developer Gabriel Graziani:

Okay, now that you’ve been properly introduced to Connor, our new Assassin, there are a couple of things in this video that I’d like to call your attention to.

Firstly, there are the basics of Connor’s character. He is a brutally effective Assassin, taking down his targets with speed and dexterity. Note how he flows across the battlefield, moving from one kill to another in a seamless, unbroken pace until finally finishing his target with vicious grace. There’s also Connor’s Native American/English heritage, which adds complexity and richness to his motivation.

On top of the incredibly fluid combat, Connor is generally more agile and deft in his movements, easily able to employ all of the trademark maneuvers of the Assassin. Now, however, Connor can travel through the trees as effortlessly as he sprints across rooftops and, for the first time in the Assassin’s Creed series, barrel through open windows, using building interiors to obscure his escape!

We also get a peek at how Connor will interact with some famous historical figures (who’s the guy with the cigar?) as well as wildlife in this trailer, showing off just the tiniest fraction of the vast living world the Assassin’s Creed series is known for.

There’s still so much more to reveal, but all that will have to wait. There’s still so much more to reveal, so stay tuned! Assassin’s Creed III launches on October 30.

Wil Wheaton reunited with the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation at the recent Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, where he got an opportunity to discuss something that seems to have been on his mind for awhile. Originally posted on his own blog, Wheaton introduced this video with, “After twenty years, I finally got to say this.”

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Anna Zifcak

The Geek Generation – #082 – The Donut Proposal
[See post to listen to audio]

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• News/discussion:
• Tupac “hologram” at Coachella
• Texting in theaters
• Grant Morrison says Batman is actually gay
• Fringe renewed for a final season
• The Dark Knight Rises will have over an hour of IMAX footage
• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
• Listener Mailbag
• Game: Top 3
• Top 3 horror movie deaths
• The Donut Proposal
• Borrowing movies and money lending

Summer can be somewhat of a double-edged sword for gaming: It can be a season of gaming drought, where the games released are not watered properly by their developers, or it can be a season of incredible growth, where you don’t know what to select for those hot days you just want to sit in your home and chill with your air conditioner on. This summer’s selections fall somewhere in the middle, with a bevy of games coming from May-August. Here are five notables to definitely keep an eye out for.

Max Payne 3 (May 15 – Rockstar Games. Available for PC, Xbox360, PS3.)

I remember I was in college when the original Max Payne was released. I remember because I played through it three or four times. I was amazed at the innovations in gameplay that enabled players to control “bullet-time” in a Matrix-esque way, even when using a sniper rifle to pick off guys from afar. Suffice to say, today, Max Payne is one of my favorite game franchises that has ever been released with its homage to both film noir and hard boiled detective fiction, a story about an anti-hero who has nothing left to lose but struggles on against the winds fate blows his way. Years have passed since Max Payne 2, and finally Rockstar is re-introducing Max to a new generation of gamers and original fans alike. Promising multiplayer, improved graphics, improved bullet-time mechanics, and unparalleled detail when it comes to the weapons, Max Payne 3 is shaping up to be a must play. Continuing the story that ended in Max Payne 2, gamers have to experience what will surely be one of the breakout hits of the summer. (Stay tuned for an unboxing of the Special Edition, which includes a vast amount of Max goodies, and check out the PSN network for a download of the original Max Payne to get you in the vengeful, killer mood.)

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (June 19 – Warner Home Video Games. Available for Xbox360, PS3, Wii, DS, 3DS ,Vita.)

The sequel to the lovable Lego Batman adds the rest of the DC Universe’s heroes and villains as they team up for more Lego antics and good, clean fun. The best addition to the sequel? TALKING LEGO FIGURES! For the first time in a Lego game, the mini figures will talk to enhance the experience for the gamer. Tack on new abilities, and the return of drop-in play, and Lego Batman 2 should offer the well known and loved Lego game-play for those hot summer nights. (Pre-order the game at Gamestop and get an exclusive Lex Luthor minifigure with your preorder!)

The Amazing Spider-Man (July 26 – Activision. Available for Xbox360, PS3, Wii, DS, 3DS.)

Promising a return to form, Activision will release The Amazing Spider-Man to coincide with the release of the blockbuster film, releasing July 3. The open world that we have come to love in the Spider-Man games disappeared when Shattered Dimensions and Edge of Time came out last year. This year, gamers will get it back with a story that promises to take place in the movie universe and tell a tale that acts as an epilogue to the film. Prepare for classic Spidey villain encounters, and a free flow style combat system similar to the Batman Arkham games. My opinion? Pick it up and play it after July 3rd, after viewing the movie. I surely will be.

Starhawk (May 8 – Sony Entertainment. Available for PS3.)

Starhawk is shaping up to be Sony’s next massive online combat heavyweight, but it’s the story that I think will drive this one. With the player’s ability to wage combat on foot and in a myriad of vehicles in air and on land, Starhawk could be a package that provides the best of both worlds for multiplayer (online and split screen) and single gameplay. The Limited Edition available at Gamestop will include a copy of the original Warhawk for PS One, as well as a huge amount of DLC, all for the singular price of $59.99. A great way to start out the summer gaming season.

Darksiders II (August 14 – THQ. Available for PS3, Xbox360, and PC.)

After a long delay, Death rides. The original Darksiders was a fantastic experience despite some negative press. It had the Zelda-esque adventure feel with a more adult theme, and had a truly impressive art catalog by artist Joe Madureira. This game allows you to play as Death, the brother of War, on a quest that could possibly spell doom for the entire world and creation itself. With full customization being promised, a huge amount of side quests, and a variety of editions and DLC depending on where you pre-order from, Darksiders II is shaping up nicely for a sequel to a highly undervalued, underplayed original. Keep this one on the radar.

Milynn Sarley (gamer/geek girl and one quarter of Team Unicorn) is trying to entertain us by creating humorous infomercials set in the Star Wars universe. There’s only one obstacle in her way… the dark side… I mean money. Head over to Kickstarter before May 9th and donate to the campaign to help get this thing going. Need more?? Grant Imahara is involved. Still more?? There are many generous rewards for your money as well. If you need even more convincing, here’s Milynn to fill you in on the details:

Team Unicorn members Clare Grant and Rileah Vanderbilt have released a sequel to their previous Saber video titled Saber 2: Return of the Body Wash.

The last remnants of the Empire have been defeated, and it is a period of peace in the galaxy. The Jedi Order, no longer needed in their role as defenders, have scattered across the stars and started new lives…while the Sith wait quietly hidden in their midst.

Such a Jedi and her Sith counterpart have found common ground and established a new business together on a remote planet. United by a love of animals and a belief in the force, they have rededicated their lives to the art of grooming.

Their latest mission leads them to the base of a former Rebel. Though the war is over, they have not forgotten where their true allegiances lie…

The original Saber.

Columbia Pictures has unleashed the new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man.

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner.

Coming to 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on July 3, the movie stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

When was the last time you REALLY had to work for something? Telltale Games delivers Robert Kirkman’s saga of survival to game consoles in an episodic adventure series sure to please adventure aficionados both young and old.

Let’s face facts: Zombies are everywhere. The craze of the undead has been translated into cinema, comics, television, and board game experiences. The Resident Evil series. Dawn of the Dead. Zpocalypse. And of course, The Walking Dead. Now, gamers can enjoy The Walking Dead comic universe on their gaming console of choice and live out the story in a monthly, episodic format that is sure to entice gamers with both a competitive price point and gameplay that will surely make you hearken back to the classic adventure games of yore.

Story/Presentation: You are Lee Everett, ex-college professor accused of murdering your wife’s lover in a crime of passion. On your way to jail, all hell breaks loose across the southern United States and you are smack dab in the middle of the chaos. Without detailing too many of the plot points and characters you meet along the way, let’s just say the story The Walking Dead is telling in the interactive medium is filled with the same emotion and humanistic drama that we see in both the comic book series and the television show. People live. People die. Hard choices must be executed quickly. YOU are that decision maker across the five episodes that will be released monthly. The choices you make in the game will reflect upon the player and how other characters in the game receive you. Not innovative, but it definitely opens up the gameplay experience a little and gives players multiple paths and choices along the way, adding to the replay value.

Presentation is pretty basic for a downloadable game. Menus are sparse and simplistic, with a very simple GUI for options. The one cool aspect about the game’s presentation is that the choices made are calculated in game, and you can see how you rate against other players across the world who have played, as you are ranked at the end of the game on your choices. This is definitely cool, and I already want to go back and play the game again to see what other choices can be made and how they would impact the story and how it plays out.

Gameplay: Individuals who remember classic adventure games of old such as King’s Quest, Quest for Glory and all those other classic Sierra titles from long ago will find themselves right at home in The Walking Dead universe. Playing on the PS3, the left stick is for movement, the right stick for targeting, and the face buttons for actions. Interaction with the world involves a combination of all these elements, including picking up necessary items and weapons  for advancement, character conversations where you can choose which responses you deem the most appropriate depending on your playing style, and looking around the environment. The control execution is simple and easy to get used to. Puzzles are fairly intuitive and simple to figure out as you play through the seven chapters in the first episode. I managed to complete the first play through in about three hours. Perhaps the best aspect, as mentioned, is the choices players make reflecting how they are perceived by other characters, and I assume, have a lasting impact when future episodes are downloaded as they become available. A good summation of the gameplay? Classic adventure point-and-click.

Graphics: The character models in the game look great, especially the facial expressions, and have a really cool “comic” look that captures the art style of both Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, who worked and work on the comics. I remember the detail on a fireman’s axe I picked up that looked like something straight out of a comic panel. The clothing of the characters and the zombies, however, leave a little bit to be desired in terms of graphics. It was very difficult to make out the details on the uniforms of certain individuals, and the zombie character models weren’t varied enough in my opinion. I understand this is a downloadable title, and it is episodic, but I hope some graphical improvement can be made for future episodes.

Sound Design: The sounds and effects for the game were great, except for one thing: where the hell was the dolby digital/dts support!? I don’t understand why this was not included in the game, as it is almost the standard for most video games across the board these days. I was sorely disappointed when I went into the options menu and saw no way to turn on any digital sound. Settling for pro logic is sad, especially for a game like this where sound plays such an important part of the suspense the player feels in certain situations. Again, here’s hoping we see some digital support in the future.

Overall: For the initial three hours The Walking Dead lasted, it was an enjoyable adventure experience, and I can’t remember the last time I played a classically styled  adventure game. Given it’s episodic nature, I am looking forward to future episodes, provided the few improvements on graphics and sound I mentioned are implemented into the game. The story, the emotion, characters, and the choices all made me feel that this can be enjoyed by both the comic series fan and the television show fans, creating a happy medium in the center. With familiar faces from the comic in the game, it’s hard to tell where exactly this takes place, so I am going to assume since the universe of the franchise is so large, other survivors must exist outside of Rick Grimes and crew. Overall, The Walking Dead: Episode 1 is off on the correct zombie killing, survival of the fittest path, and with the popularity of zombies at its apex right now, Telltale has struck while the iron is hot and captured the comic universe of The Walking Dead in a noose and brought it to the masses on what will be a monthly basis. Looking forward to next month’s Episode 2: Starved for Help.

Rating: 8/10  

Positives:

+ classic adventure game feel

+ choice system allows for another playthrough

+ emotional story and gripping, human characters

Negatives:

- zombie and clothing graphics

- apparent lack of digital support/dts

The Walking Dead – Episode 1: A New Day is available for PC, Mac devices, PS3, XBOX 360. Pricing on the PS3 is $4.99 per episode or a season pass can be purchased for $19.99 which includes all future episodes. XBOX 360 players can get each episode for 400 MS points, but no season pass is available as far as I can tell.

With Leo captured, and Raph and Mike buried under rubble, it’s up to Don to save his brothers. Where will the trek through the darkest depths of the sewers take them? It’s not something I’d wanna find I can assure you. And what about the captured Leo? Will his blood appease yet another Elder God that has taken up residence in the tunnels of New York? What’s the connection to a “Mr. Bloch” Don read about in his occult books? Tristan Jones and Mark Torres bring you the end of a take we can all learn a lesson from: some things are better left alone… in the dark.

Warner Bros. Pictures has unlocked the third trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, set to hit theaters on July 20.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

As a gaming Girl Among Geeks, I feel it’s high time that I enter into a gaming industry-based rant that has been bubbling under my surface for weeks now. Namely – what in the name of sensible, customer-based decision making is it thinking lately?

Before I let this topic get to full boil, though, I have a confession: I am a late-in-life console gamer.

The shame, the pure shame of it all!

Now this doesn’t mean that I haven’t played my fair share of games in my younger years. To the contrary – I’ve been a gamer to some extent for the majority of my life. I played computer-based point-and-click and “God” games for years, but I never really made the jump to console gaming. That is, until I lived with a gamer guy and learned how much I enjoyed having high-quality, high-resolution gaming at my beck and call.

After I moved out of that living situation it took me about another year and a half before I bought my first console. The reason for this was rooted in a fundamental understanding passed down to me by my parents: gaming is too expensive.

This point was reiterated several times over the years by my middle-class parents. The high cost wasn’t associated with the console itself, mind you – that one-time expense would have been fine if not for the pyramid-scheme of other costs that is inherently associated. From my family’s perspective it was the constant consumerism that surrounded gaming that was considered to be too pricey.

When one owns a game console, there are steady expenses perpetually coming your way. The most obvious expense is naturally the games themselves, with most today starting off at $60 a pop. After that comes buying multiple controllers, accessories, and the never-ending stream of batteries. When all is told you pay a pretty hefty fee to be a gamer, and while the hours of enjoyment from a good game makes that investment very worthwhile, there is still the inescapable truth that this little hobby can come at a significant hit to your wallet.

So in my adult years I finally bit the bullet and purchased my long-coveted X-Box 360. However, while I was still reveling in my late-night Assassin’s Creed sessions, though, the gaming industry was about to give me several slaps to the face that made me, at least briefly, question if I had made myself into a chump.

First, both Microsoft and Sony announced the creation of new consoles, both set to premier before 2013. This meant that my brand-new console instantly had an expiration date put on it, and that even if I don’t get the Red Ring of Death it’s just a matter of time before it becomes an antique.

Now this was clearly just bad purchase timing on my part, but mind you this announcement came after a winter of both Microsoft and Sony heavily pushing their consoles, offering amazing deals on them just in time for Christmas. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who felt like I had the last blast of a soon-to-be-dated product pushed at me just to feel foolish mere weeks later.

Then there is the persistent buzzing about lackluster downloadable content (DLC) that has been getting louder since the beginning of 2012. In all fairness, I don’t partake in this particular element of owning a console, but I also know that I am by far in the minority. Most gamers will readily purchase additional content to supplement their gaming experience, with a lot of DLC being a means of adding some extra value to an already beloved game. However, I’ve also heard a lot of negative feedback about DLC. Nearly all of my gamer friends have at some point expressed that they have felt cheated by disappointing downloads, over-priced additional characters that are essentially just new skins, and entire new campaigns that fail to live up to the hype and cost.

But what is far more outrageous has been the emergence of Day-One DLC, as recently happened with the release of Mass Effect 3. Amid the outcry caused by this marketing move, gaming executives rushed to point out to fans that DLC can take a significant amount of time to develop and must be worked on in conjunction with the original content. The DLC is set to go before the base-game release date regardless, therefore the date that it is made available for download is irrelevant.

They essentially claimed that this DLC icing on the gaming cake is just as sweet if you put it on day one as if you put it on day thirty. But from the gamers’ perspective, this just leaves me wondering why you didn’t put icing on my cake.

There is an inherent question of, “Why should we have to pay extra for something that is set to go on the release date?” When we buy a $60 game, we assume that we have the final product in hand. To have additional content be released at a cost in conjunction with the original game makes the buyers feel that they are simply an ATM with calloused thumbs to the game development companies, and discourages us from wanting to buy it in the future.

And then there is the hardest hit that we are being forced to take, and boy is it going to leave a mark.

Both Microsoft and Sony are reportedly going to side with the developers in the anti-piracy fight and make their new consoles put the kibosh on used games. In fact, this has already begun for EA games, and is anticipated to become more prevalent sooner rather than later.

Essentially, both companies are implementing anti-used game elements that allow for one-time game play, making it so that only an original game owner may have access to a game through a one-time use code. Not only could this spell the end of game resale companies such as GameStop, but it could also make operations difficult for the direct-to-home gaming companies like GameFly.

But what strikes me as being even worse than those possibilities, though, is the gaming industry’s blatant disregard to how gamers game. How many times have you taken a game over to a friend’s so you could crack a beer together and play live instead of over the internet? Who hasn’t wanted to play a game, but knew it wasn’t something you needed or wanted to play immediately, so you opted to wait a few months to get it resale at a cheaper price?

The anti-used gaming coding that is being set forth solves the piracy problems that the gaming industry is facing while much more offensively neglecting the interests of the consumers that quite literally nourishes it. As a marketing geek I find this endlessly frustrating since I suspect that there are other possible solutions that aren’t being fully embraced because they might be a bit more complex/difficult to implement, but would minimize the effects felt by the gamers. While this might be frustrating for game development firms and the creators of the consoles, they must ensure that the interest of the gamer is always far more important than their own comfort, lest they alienate the people they are counting on to keep purchasing their products.

Which is essentially what is happening with me: this late-in-life console gamer is already perturbed with the gaming industry to such an extent that she is strongly considering not purchasing another console. While I’m just one person, I am surely not alone, and if the gaming industry keeps going down this path the number of people joining me in this passive ambivalence will become large enough that they will have to take notice. The question now is will they do so before they irrevocably damage their industry?

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Anna Zifcak

The Geek Generation – #081 – Bum Haven
[See post to listen to audio]

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Comic films vs. Literary adaptations vs. Source material
• Mike’s last wrestling weekend
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• Geek Outs:
  • Smokey Bones’ Apple Pie milkshake
  • Doctor Who
  • Stamina InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer
  • Firefly
  • The Avengers
  • Jim Gaffigan: Mr. Universe
  • Our Lady Peace – Curve
  • Eve 6 – Speak in Code
• Obscure Movie Reviews with SuperFan Chris Tong
• Anna’s Vegas Adventure
• Freak Outs:
• Mike’s unwelcome guest
• Texting back
• Fantastic Four
• Anna’s family issues
• Ultimate Spider-Man
• Beware the Batman
• Hair loss

In anticipation of Marvel Studio’s The Avengers being released this upcoming weekend, we’re giving away a copy of Thor on DVD. In order to win, all you need to do is leave a comment below that answers the following question:

Which one of The Avengers’ abilities/weapons would you want and what would you do with them?

The contest closes on Thursday, May 3 at midnight (when The Avengers opens in theaters). We’ll then select one winner from the list of comments to receive a Thor DVD along with a few other goodies I’ll throw in there.

- Make sure to use a valid e-mail when commenting or I won’t be able to contact you for an address to ship to.
- You must live in the continental United States to win. I don’t have the cash to ship internationally, sorry.
- Contest ends on May 3rd @ 11:59 PM EST

The EPIX Marvel Heroes Weekend begins tonight at 8 PM, and to kick it off we’ve got some clips of Stan Lee being interviewed about some of the Avengers characters.

FOX has picked up Fringe for a fifth and final 13-episode season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“Fringe is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television’s most imaginative dramas. Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve,” said Reilly “The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it’s going to be a very exciting final chapter.”

Fringe co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams added, “We are thrilled and beyond grateful that FOX – and our fans – have made the impossible possible: Fringe will continue into a fifth season that will allow the series to conclude in a wild and thrilling way. All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive FOX network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show.”

“This pickup means the world (both of them) to us, because we love sharing these stories with our enthusiastic fans,” added Fringe showrunners and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman. “On behalf of the cast and crew, we applaud our fans and FOX for allowing us to imagine the impossibilities together for so long. Season Five is going to be a conclusive thrill ride for all of us.”

Fringe’s compelling fourth season concludes with three all-new Fringe Friday episodes in a row, counting down to the two-part season finale on Friday, May 4 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Friday, May 11 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). In “Worlds Apart,” airing Friday, April 27 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), team members on both sides, including Olivia (Anna Torv) and Peter (Joshua Jackson), continue to fight for a common cause, and there are shocking developments tied to the Cortexiphan children.

Created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, Fringe is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman and Joe Chappelle serve as executive producers, while Kurtzman, Orci and Akiva Goldsman are consulting producers. Additionally, Pinkner and Wyman serve as the series’ showrunners. “Like” Fringe on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fringe. Follow the series on Twitter @fringeonfox and join the conversation at #Fringe.

This is what you get when hypocritical people provide an egregious lack of support for literature just because they happen to have pictures as opposed to “just” print.  So read and watch the masses… turn to ashes…

The earliest written stories were in the form of pictures, on cave walls, and discovered in Lascaux, France. They are a reminder that our forebears did not always have a written language, but compelled their people to learn through the artistry and craft of pictures. It’s an important reminder, or, at least should be, of where we came from as people, and as learners. Not everything has been as elegant as written language, as spoken word…

With that being said, I was recently at the movies. It doesn’t matter which movie, but let’s just say it was a movie that was based on a current “hot” piece of literature. Sometimes, you hear some funny things before movies begin. Like, “I felt the caulk and it was still wet under the pipe, and the end of it was dripping.” I was amused at hearing this, trying to determine whether or not the person saying it had a plumbing issue or an issue of a more personal nature, but that’s beside the point. Other times, you hear some things that make you think. In this case, they made me wroth with fury. I overheard other movie patrons casually talking about reading books that have become successful film franchises: the Harry Potter novels, the trash Twilight series, and the newest, The Hunger Games. Other people began talking, and joining in on the conversation…

Well, suffice to say I have NEVER ONCE heard anyone in a cinema discuss or say, “Hey, have you read the latest issue of Dan Slott’s The Amazing Spider-Man? Are you ready for THAT movie?” or, “Hey, Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley just finished up the first issue of Avengers Assemble. Have you checked it out in preparation for the movie that’s coming out this summer?” It just goes to show that, once again, the mentality of the average individual is that comic books are for children and yet they have no problem putting hypocrisy into practice and going to see the film when it comes out, giving NO SUPPORT to the source material.

Now, let’s take the “big three,” none of which I am a fan of. I am sure everyone read or supported the Harry Potter books when they came out, and rushed out in droves to go see the films. The Twilight masses flock to the bookstores and read that trash, then empty their movie dollar into the cinema when the newest film comes around. Now, The Hunger Games, where every pre-teen adolescent is supporting the source material and running out to give it a 155 million dollar box office killing on opening weekend, making it more successful than Twilight. So, I ask you, why do people not run out to support the comic source materials when the big comic book movies come out, or at least read or purchase comics on a regular basis? Is it the price of a hardcover or trade paperback? Is it the $3.99 price tag for a single book, and the fact that there are too many books on the shelves? It’s really hard to compartmentalize the problem… or it could just be general laziness on behalf of the public who is not part of the one percent or reads quite a bit regularly. I feel that the general public too easily dismisses comics as having no redeeming social or intellectual value, just like video games. Mark my words, shit like Twilight has no redeeming social or intellectual value. I bet a kid would get more out of reading V for Vendetta than they would out of Breaking Dawn.

So once again, I get back to the point where I began: Our ancestors began telling stories on cave walls with picture because they did not have the luxury of evolution that afforded them an opportunity to communicate with a written language. Now it is almost as if the roles are reversed: the masses flock to mass market paperbacks that are turned into highly successful film franchises marketed to teenagers, and any piece of literature with “pictures” in it is deemed worthless unless you are in, as I said, the one percent who understands the value of what is being printed on paper. The advent of Kindles and iPads have only made the problem worse, as the material of novels now proliferates more and more in the digital space and format. Comic movies DO NOT HAVE the source material discussed as much as the aforementioned three “successful” franchises, and this disgusts me.

My challenge this time around: When the summer of 2012 hits, and you see The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Dark Knight Rises, at least put down the trashy Scholastic literature for a minute and pick up a single comic or single trade each of these movies used as source material. Try to remember that our ancestors used pictures to tell stories, and picture/comic books are not just for children. To quote WWE wrestler CM Punk and what he said recently: “I feel sorry for people who want to make fun of me for reading comic books because they’re the ones missing out. They don’t get to experience these awesome stories and characters that I’ve been reading about, and I’ve just been a fan of them for my entire life.” Just give the source material a chance. You won’t be disappointed, and you won’t be a child. I can assure you wholeheartedly.

Cartoon Network has revealed a teaser poster and trailer for its new Batman series premiering later this year called Beware the Batman. The new show will be the first to adapt the caped crusader to CGI animation.

The official show description:

A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a “Batman show.” Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, Batman steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for an entirely new generation of fans. With WBA’s Sam Register executive producing, and Batman Beyond’s Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s Mitch Watson producing, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network!

Directed by: Terry Dougas, Nikki Frakes, Will Hess
Starring: Stan Lee and many, many others
Genre: Documentary

If you’re browsing around on a site called The Geek Generation, then you already know who Stan Lee is, but how well do you know the man behind the legend? This is the simple question that the 80-minute documentary With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story aims to answer.

The film explores Stan’s rise in the comic book industry, from working in an office of just three men, to holding down the fort on his own, and emerging as an innovator who took comics in a new direction while giving birth to Marvel. The path to glory wasn’t always a smooth road for “The Man”, as Stan reveals in this clip that he had thoughts in the 1960′s of quitting the comic book industry before his wife convinced him to try things his way, giving birth to the Fantastic Four.

The famously humble Lee walks the viewer through this rise, providing insightful commentary every step of the way with a touch of humor as only he can. Because Stan can never compliment himself enough, the documentary also features a parade of prominent faces to speak on his behalf, from industry peers such as Dick Ayers, Frank Miller, and Todd McFarlane, to the elite of Hollywood like Bryan Singer, Patrick Stewart, and Nicolas Cage. The different voices along with the motion-comic presentation keep the story flowing in a seemingly effortless manner.

Lee’s superhero innovation of focusing on the “man behind the mask” and motivations for creating some of his most famous characters are explored, explaining the “everyman” that is Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the gamma-irradiated monster the Hulk emerging in a time of nuclear fear, and the struggles of diversity and intolerance endured by the X-Men. Through humanizing his characters, Stan truly created that initial bridge of understanding between reader and comic book superhero that helped people identify with these superpowered beings.

Even with the amazing life that he’s lead in the comic book industry, the film’s most entertaining and heartwarming element is the always-present love story between Stan and his wife of 60 years, Joan. To see them interacting together is to truly understand Stan Lee’s character and success as both a husband and father. In every way his female counterpart, he and Joan play and joke together delightfully, and even share their stories of hardship with a sparkle of humor. The energy, adoration, and attitude of the couple is the real stuff of legends.

Bottom Line: This documentary should be watched by every Stan Lee fan, every comic book fan, and every movie fan.

Rating: 9/10  

With Great Power: The Stan Lee story is set to air on EPIX as part of its Marvel Heroes Weekend on April 27.

The new season of Doctor Who will see the last days of the Ponds, with Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill making their final rollercoaster voyage with The Doctor (Matt Smith). Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) have been at the Doctor’s side for more than two seasons but what will he do after their heartbreaking departure?

New guest stars so far confirmed will include David Bradley, Rupert Graves and Mark Williams. Season 7 will then see a dramatic turn of events when The Doctor meets a new friend – the recently-announced new companion, played by Jenna-Louse Coleman. Prepare yourselves for thrills, adventures and dramatic surprises as the show builds towards its enormous, climactic 50th anniversary year.

Fourteen big, blockbuster-movie episodes – each a brand new epic adventure featuring new monsters and some familiar foes as you’ve never seen them before.

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #080 – The Geek Knight
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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• News/discussion:
  • Ashton Kutcher to play Apple founder Steve Jobs
  • Twins sequel being planned called Triplets
  • Hellraiser: The Series is in development
  • Leisure Suit Larry HD on Kickstarter
  • EA wants to develop a Need for Speed movie
• Listener Mailbag
• Host Spotlight: Rob Valois
• Game: Characterize

The ads for Lifetime’s The Client List have received some criticism, from both people who thought they were too explicit, and from series star Jennifer Love Hewitt who was confused as to why she was given a digital breast reduction.

Jennifer Love Hewitt recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Kimmel poked some fun at the ad controversy by presenting Hewitt with a giant cutout of her breasts from a billboard across the street from his studio.

Check out the appearance in its separate parts here:

It started as a sketch on Conan in which Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter recorded their voices for characters in Halo 4. However, it’s now been confirmed by Microsoft that there’s truth in comedy, as Conan and Andy will in fact be contributing their voices to the game. Microsoft’s PR person Joe Dimiero confirmed the news to G4 saying, “Conan and Andy will indeed lend their voices to the world of Halo 4. We’ll have more announcements on the rest of our voice cast in the coming months.”

Here’s the sketch that aired on Conan.

God of War fans rejoice! The infamous Spartan warrior Kratos is preparing to return to the PlayStation 3. This brand new trailer marks the official unveiling to the world of God of War: Ascension.

The most ambitious God of War adventure in the series so far, God of War: Ascension takes us right back to where it all began. Discover the origins of Kratos as he takes his first steps on a now legendary quest for freedom and vengeance.

Twentieth Century Fox is continuing the viral campaign for Ridley Scott’s Prometheus with a new ad for “David,” the latest generation android from the Weyland Corporation played by Michael Fassbender.

Paramount Pictures has released a new trailer for The Dictator. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly and J.B. Smoove, The Dictator opens in theaters on May 11 and tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Take a look at the trailer for Transit, starring Jim Caviezel, James Frain, Elizabeth Rohm, Harold Parrineau, Sterling Silver, and Diora Baird. The film was directed by Antonio Negret from a script by Michalle Gilvary. Opening in theaters on May 11, Transit is part of After Dark Films and Dark Castle’s new label After Dark Action.

In Transit, the family camping trip was meant to reunite the Sidwell family. It’s not. After being imprisoned for tax evasion, Nate Sidwell has lost the respect of his wife and his children. Then when he suspects their truck is being followed, he gets arrested for aggressive driving and has to spend a night in jail. Just when it seems the trip cannot get any worse, the Sidwells discover $4,000,000 cash in their luggage rack, and that Nate was wrong. They aren’t being followed. They’re being hunted – by four ruthless killers, who will stop at nothing to retrieve their millions.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish… and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #079 – Axxess
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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Wrestlemania 28 and Axxess discussion
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• Obscure Movie Reviews with SuperFan Chris Tong
• Geek Outs:
  • Brock Lesnar
  • The Avengers
  • Amazon Instant Video on PS3
  • Donation
  • Awake
  • Pebble: E-Paper watch
• Freak Outs:
• Volpe’s done wrestling
• Old people
• The Three Stooges movie
• Facebook timeline
• Beauty & The Geek UK
• The Hunger Games
• PAX East
• News/discussion:
  • Capcom and Cliff Bleszinski defend On-disc DLC
  • Chevy Chase rips Community

Additional Twitter links:

• Kumail Nanjiani: @kumailn @IndoorKids
• Alexis Knapp: @AlexisKnapp
• Ali Cobrin: @AliCobrin
• Mike Volpe’s new Twitter account: @sbv_supps

In this exclusive featurette we hear from Director Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr. & Mark Ruffalo as they talk about the tension amongst Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Nick Fury and the film’s cast and crew explain why Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must assemble in Marvel’s The Avengers.

Sony Pictures has now revealed the teaser trailer for Rian Johnson’s futurist action thriller Looper. Opening in theaters on September 28, the film stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo and Jeff Daniels.

Time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson.

Even though it’s already destroyed its Kickstarter goal, Pebble deserves your attention. WARNING: Watching this video may result in the impulse to hurl money at your computer screen.

Pebble is the first watch built for the 21st century. It’s infinitely customizable, with beautiful downloadable watchfaces and useful internet-connected apps. Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages.

Pebble allows you to:

• customize with apps
• customize with watchfaces
• customize with notifications
• customize by coding

Some fans originally complained when they saw the first shots of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, but I can’t imagine anyone complaining after seeing this new promo art. Actually, I can imagine people complaining, because someone always does, but some people are idiots.

A 9 year old boy – who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto part store – is about to have the best day of his life.

In this episode of The Indoor Kids, fists and fireballs fly as Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani and Steve Agee play Street Fighter X Tekken.

Join them as they get to the bottom of an ancient Chinese mystery: is it Street Fighter “X” Tekken or Street Fighter “Cross” Tekken?

Check out The Indoor Kids podcast: http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/the-indoor-kids/

Walt Disney Studios has announced the release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger, which is planning to hit theaters on April 4, 2014.

The second installment is said to pick-up where the highly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers leaves off, as Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D and struggles to embrace his role in the modern world.

Host: Rob Valois
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #078 – Flickchart Face-Off
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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Flickchart Face-Off
  • Try Flickchart out yourself

Meet the Interragator. He gauges whether or not Cobra personnel are ready for active duty and boy does he have his hands full. So when a certain Dr. Llund comes back from an expedition with a horrific statue from the depths, it’s no wonder he is wracking his brain about all things dealing with lunacy and fiction. But hey, the Baroness herself has plans about the artifact, and seeking every possible avenue, and how it might benefit Cobra. The problem is, it DOESN’T. Cobra troops being blood sacrificed, horrible creatures rising in the Cobra-La facility… Dr. Llund, embraced by the Elder Gods’ madness. Will Interragator and the wily Crystal ball escape with the help of Storm Shadow? Mike Raicht and Valentine De Landro, two of Marvel’s former finest spin the yarn! And how are Scarlet and Snake Eyes gonna stack up against a possessed Cobra force? With badass blades and crossbows I hope! Stayed tuned next week for the conclusion of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, on the Infestation update week 9.

The creatures of H.P. Lovecraft fester in the sewers of New York! And, as fate would have it, they are right next to the underground lair of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! After a rash of strange sightings, kidnappings, and killings in New York, Donatello researches some of the strange occult activity that has gone on in the past. And what does he find? Trouble. The lights go out and the Turtles become overrun, scouring the tunnels for strange, tentacle creatures that have seemingly been there for ages. And by the end, things aren’t looking so good for Don, or Raph, Mike, and Leo for that matter! Tristan Jones and Mark Torres take you underground as the Infestation rolls on… and right into GI JOE next week, as we hit week 8 of the Infestation update!

The truth revealed… the secret history of Voltron is revealed in issue #3. Readers finally learn the origins of who King Zarkon was in the past, and the mystical connection to Planet Arus and Earth! Meanwhile, Voltron has been captured by Zarkon, and it’s up to Lance, Pidge, Keith, Allura, and Hunk to travel to Moon 2 to save the unit… and quite possibly Earth itself. A shocking revelation is made to the team, as “The Sixth Pilot” arc continues!

Writer Brandon Thomas and artist Ariel Padilla are adept at capturing Voltron for a new generation. Fans of the classic TV series and merchandise will not want to miss out, and newcomers will love the story that the book is telling. If you’ve never been able to check out the Voltron franchise, now is the time, and Dynamite’s Voltron is the place to start! HIGHEST. POSSIBLE. RECOMMENDATION!

EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service, will present Marvel Heroes Weekend, April 27 – 29, a marathon of superhero movies including Iron Man 2, Thor, the world television premiere of Captain America: The First Avenger and the EPIX Original Documentary With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story. Hosted by legendary comic book creator Stan Lee, the marathon also includes EPIX Extra: Mighty Movie Superheroes, examining the origins and fan following of the mighty team. The weekend celebration of Marvel’s famed superheroes and their creator features the movies that have led up to the highly anticipated theatrical release of The Avengers on May 4.

The EPIX Original Documentary With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story follows the life and creations of Stan Lee, the co-creator of Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and over 200 other characters that can be found in Marvel comic books, on movie screens and in retail stores around the world.

Marvel Heroes Weekend is part of a free preview of EPIX for all subscribers of affiliate partners, which will also showcase Hollywood blockbusters Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Rango, Conan the Barbarian, True Grit, The Lincoln Lawyer and more, along with EPIX original comedy and music events Lewis Black: In God We Rust, Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell and Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball. Over 30 million homes nationwide will have access to the free preview, including over 150 titles available On Demand and more than 3000 movie titles available online at EpixHD.com and through EPIX apps.