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Cartoon Network’s ACME Night block to include Batman, Aquaman, and Gremlins cartoons

WarnerMedia will give cross-platform runs to several HBO Max shows as part of an upcoming family programming block on Cartoon Network.

The shows will be part of ACME Night, a Sunday evening block of movies and shows that will debut on Cartoon Network Sept. 19^th and HBO Max in early 2022. Among the HBO Max titles making the jump to the cable channel are animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, and a quiz show for Harry Potter fans. Batman: Caped Crusader, which was already slated for a run on both platforms, will also be part of the block.

Warner Bros. Animation will also produce three original movies for ACME Night, two holiday movies titled Merry Little Batman and Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story. Also to be produced is an untitled Looney Tunes film starring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.

Other films on tap to play during the block are Shazam, Detective Pikachu, Man of Steel, Scoob!, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Matthew Mercer comments on Overwatch’s McCree name change

Recently, Activision Blizzard announced that they’d be changing the name of Overwatch’s hero McCree, as the name is tied to a former employee that was embroiled in the accusations leveled at the company.

Now, the voice actor for the cowboy, Matthew Mercer, has shared his thoughts about the situation, saying, “I know this is a small consolation, but it’s one that needed to be done for a lot of people to feel comfortable moving forward with the story of Overwatch and the characters. People have different opinions on it and some can say that it’s just a name and that it’s ridiculous to change it, but it’s a name that also represents a connection to a lot of people’s pain and abuse. And if we have the opportunity to make it better and let that lie in the past and let the character live as something separate like it should, then I can’t help but be behind that.”

Mercer doesn’t know what the cowboy will be called, but he appeared to be more focused on the real-life people that were affected by all of this and that changing the name would be one step in the healing process.

“If it was the one thing they did, it would be nowhere near enough,” he said. “But it’s just one facet of all the things they are seemingly doing internally to try to right a lot of wrongs. I feel so much for all of the people that were mistreated and were victims of individuals in the company that abused their power and positions. My heart has been breaking since the whole thing went down.”

Injustice animated movie gets release date

Warner Bros. Animation has revealed the official box art and a release date of October 19, 2021 for their upcoming film Injustice.

Inspired by Injustice: Gods Among Us, the popular NetherRealm Studios video game and the DC graphic novel based on that game, the animated film Injustice finds an alternate world gone mad – where The Joker has duped Superman into killing Lois Lane, sending the Man of Steel on a deadly rampage. Unhinged, Superman decides to take control of the Earth for humanity’s own good. Determined to stop him, Batman creates a team of like-minded, freedom-fighting heroes.

Starring Justin Hartley as the Man of Steel and Anson Mount as the Dark Knight, fans can catch a sneak peek at Injustice when DC FanDome returns on Saturday, October 16^th, just days before the film’s release.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Anna, Matt West, Paul O

The Geek Generation – #227 – Top 5 Pets from Media You’d Want as a Pet

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Top 5 Pets from Media You’d Want as a Pet
• Media referenced during the show:
  • Aladdin
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender
  • Batman Beyond
  • Conan the Adventurer
  • Doctor Who
  • Doraemon
  • Fallout
  • Game of Thrones
  • Garfield
  • Gargoyles
  • Gremlins
  • Harry Potter
  • He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
  • Hidalgo
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • Invader Zim
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • The Mask
  • Mega Man
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • Pokemon
  • Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory
  • Star Wars
  • Transformers

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe and Anna

The Geek Generation – #192 – Baking Bad

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Recently seen movies
• Squatty Potty update
• Geek Outs:
  • Percy Jackson books
  • Tony Horton interview
  • Darkly Dreaming Dexter
  • First cosplay photo shoot
  • Mercenary Kings
  • San Diego Comic Con
  • Kickstarter to make potato salad
  • Limeade Oreos
• Freak Outs:
  • Crumbs Bake Shop closed
  • Cupcake holder
  • Video card issues
• News/discussion:
  • Community revived for a sixth season on Yahoo Screen
  • Better Call Saul premiere delayed, but picked up for a second season
  • Brandon Routh and Devon Aoki join the cast of Arrow
  • Robbie Amell joins The Flash as half of Firestorm
  • Harry Potter returns in a new short story from JK Rowling
  • Neal Adams thinks Matt Smith should play the Joker
  • Once Upon a Time casts Frozen’s Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff
  • Warner Bros. sets Zack Penn to adapt Ready Player One
  • Fox cancels Hieroglyph before it airs

Additional links:

• Support us via Patreon

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Anna

The Geek Generation – #177 – Totes Maturtles

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Anime Boston
• News / discussion:
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – first trailer
  • Facebook acquires Oculus VR for $2 billion
  • Notch cancels Minecraft for Oculus Rift
  • Sony introduces Project Morpheus
  • Full costume of The Flash revealed
  • Disney announces The Incredibles 2 and Cars 3
  • Assassin’s Creed: Unity announced
  • Marvel reveals Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver concept art
  • The Big Bang Theory renewed for three more seasons
  • Rocksteady reveals first image of the Arkham Knight
  • Amazon Prime fee increasing to $99 a year
  • Next Ghostbusters movie targeting production for 2015
  • Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts” to become a movie trilogy
  • Peanuts movie teaser trailer released
  • Jon Chu to direct Jem and the Holograms movie
  • Sony and Panasonic announce 300GB archival disc
  • Powers series heading to PlayStation
  • Sharknado 2 premiere date announced

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mikey Arsenault

The Geek Generation – #167 – CESBusters

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs:
  • Dangerous Toys
  • MythBusters Star Wars special
  • Star Wars bounty hunters spin-off
  • Hannibal Chau
  • iPad Mini
  • Target website
  • Nikita’s final season
  • PS4 streaming to Vita
  • South Park Studios new beta site
  • Kari Byron on Twitter
• Freak Outs:
  • Harry Potter Broadway show
  • smart cars
• News / discussion:
  • WWE Network announced
  • Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4 sales numbers
  • Sony announces PlayStation Now
  • Steam Machines revealed at CES
  • Razer developing Project Christine, a modular gaming PC
  • Michael Bay bails on Samsung at CES

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.

#10 – The Lincoln Lawyer – While I was originally turned off by a movie starring Matthew McConaughey as a lawyer, I’m happy to say this may have been the biggest surprise of the year for me. McConaughey and costar Ryan Phillippe are fantastic. The movie features a number of twists and turns that are well thought out and well executed.

#9 – Limitless – I was immediately drawn to the “what if?” premise of Limitless. Seemingly unlimited brain power in the palm of your hand? Sounds like every nerd’s dream. One foolish and forgotten subplot aside, Limitless is a crazy roller coaster ride from start to finish, so strap in and hold on tight. (full review)

#8 – Batman: Year One – For the second year in a row, DC Animated has delivered a top notch showing in their direct-to-DVD movies with Batman: Year One. Even more accurate to the source material than last year’s Under the Red Hood, Bryan Cranston lends his voice to Lt. Gordon, who takes us through one the most popular stories in Batman history.

#7 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – The final chapter in the saga of the “boy who lived”, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is an epic and fitting end to a story cherished by millions throughout the world. The actors involved and the story itself has matured from a group of curious children on an adventure to warriors of the wizard-kind in the field of battle. The scale and drama required to finish a tale of this magnitude does not disappoint.

#6 – Thor – Comic fans everywhere had their doubts when they heard the Asgardian Thor would be coming to the big screen. A lot of those doubts started to fade when Kenneth Branagh took the reigns as director, and more still when the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, and Idris Elba entered the mix. While not without its faults, Thor not only proved comic fans wrong, but surpassed their expectations. (full review)

#5 – Take Me Home Tonight – It’s been said by Topher Grace that the goal of Take Me Home Tonight was not to spoof the 80’s, but to create a generational film similar to Dazed and Confused and American Graffiti, and quite frankly… they nailed it. If you lived through the 80’s or were a child of the 80’s, you’ll feel right at home in this timely tale of “boy gets girl.”

#4 – Source Code – The sophomore effort by director Duncan Jones, Source Code is a mystery as fast-paced as the train it takes place on, with unexpected turns lining the track ahead. While the plot focuses on a whodunit story, the movie evolves into creating an understanding and appreciation for every second of your life. (full review)

#3 – X-Men: First Class – The X-franchise took a turn for the worse with The Last Stand, but X-Men: First Class has not only saved the franchise, it also managed to top all of its predecessors. Featuring some of the best performances of the year from Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, First Class delivered a fantastic story that stayed true to the core message of the comics. (full review)

#2 – Captain America: The First Avenger – Captain America: The First Avenger succeeded on so many levels where it could have faulted. It’s not an overly patriotic story holding the USA up on a pedestal. Instead, it’s the universal story of an underdog standing up against a bully. It offers just enough comic book “cheese” to make it extraordinary, but still grounds it in reality. (full review)

#1 – Super 8 – Character-driven mystery stories are where J.J. Abrams excels, and Super 8 is no different. While the mystery remains the driving force of the plot, the relationships between the kids, as well as their relationships with their parents, are the true focus of the film. Add to that the impressive performances from a group of young actors and the nostalgic Spielbergian score, and you’ve got yourself an instant classic. (full review)

Honorable mentions that I would still recommend:

• HappyThankYouMorePlease
• Horrible Bosses
• Warrior
• Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Better Than Expected:

• Just Go With It
• Paul
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes
• Fright Night

Huge Let-downs:

• The Hangover: Part 2
• Rango
• Hugo

“We’re looking at writers now. We’re going to spend two to three years to get it right,” he said. “It needs quite a radical transformation to take it into the bigger arena.” Yates added, “The notion of the time-travelling Time Lord is such a strong one, because you can express story and drama in any dimension or time.”

For those unaware, the Doctor Who series has a long and rich history, originally running from 1963 to 1989, and recently being rebooted in 2005 by writers Russell T. Davies and subsequently by Steven Moffat. The present incarnation of The Doctor has garnered more attention to the series then ever before.

While this all sounds very exciting, Yates went on to make a very controversial comment that has the Who-niverse buzzing with skepticism.

“Russell T. Davies and then Steven Moffat have done their own transformations, which were fantastic, but we have to put that aside and start from scratch,” he said.

If this comment means abandoning 50+ years of canon and the current state of the show, I believe it to be a huge mistake. However, if the movie were simply to begin the story of the next Doctor in line, it could easily serve as a jumping on point for new viewers while respecting the loyal Whovians.

UPDATE [12/2]:

Doctor Who Head Writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat has chimed in on Twitter to address the news:

To clarify: any Doctor Who movie would be made by the BBC team, star the current TV Doctor and certainly NOT be a Hollywood reboot. David Yates, great director, was speaking off the cuff, on a red carpet. You’ve seen the rubbish I talk when I’m cornered.

In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.

J.K. Rowling has answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books.

Starting June 23, fans can submit their email addresses to Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on July 31, Harry Potter’s birthday.

On July 31, an online challenge will be launched on Pottermore.com. 1 million of those successfully completing it will be granted early access to the Beta version of the website, enabling them to help put finishing touches before it opens to all in October 2011. Details of the challenge will be revealed on July 31.

The full press release:

J.K. Rowling today, Thursday 23rd June, answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books, and is partnered by Sony.

The announcement today was heralded by the revealing of the website’s name via an online search for its letters, and a ‘coming soon’ holding page which received over a million visits within 36 hours of launching.

For this groundbreaking collaborative project, J.K. Rowling has written extensive new material about the characters, places and objects in the much-loved stories, which will inform, inspire and entertain readers as they journey through the storylines of the books. Pottermore will later incorporate an online shop where people can purchase exclusively the long-awaited Harry Potter eBooks, in partnership with J.K. Rowling’s publishers worldwide, and is ultimately intended to become an online reading experience, extending the relevance of Harry Potter to new generations of readers, while still appealing to existing fans. As the Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that it should include further products designed specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a potential outlet for Sony products and services related to Pottermore. In keeping with Harry Potter’s international appeal, the site will launch in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages to follow.

In the new website, the storyline will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive ‘Moments’ through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone. On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

At a press conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Rowling revealed some key features of the website. In an announcement which will thrill fans, she described how she has
brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books for the first time on Pottermore, by revealing the questions asked by the Sorting Hat – which places newcomers into their Hogwarts houses according to their characteristics – and the magic behind the Wand Chooser – which finds the right wand for each user from over 33,000 possible combinations. She also revealed glimpses of the new information she has provided on some of the best-loved characters.

J.K. Rowling’s announcement on YouTube and sony.com today revealed that Pottermore (along with the Pottermore Shop) will be open to all users in October 2011. From today, 23rd June, fans can submit their email addresses on Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry’s birthday. Also on that date, an online challenge will be launched, whereby the first million people to complete their registration will gain early entry into the website, and help put final touches to the experience.

J.K. Rowling commented, “I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

Pottermore has been made possible with the support and partnership of Sony.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation, commented:
“Sony’s association with J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore brings together one of the world’s most innovative brands with the most successful book series in history, in a pioneering partnership that will help shape the future of story-telling. We are proud to be a part of it, both at this momentous announcement, and as we collaborate on its development over the coming years.”

On Sony’s partnership of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling commented:
“As I think people know, I am very protective of Harry and have always been very selective with any new initiatives, but I am totally committed to making this partnership with Sony and this wonderful new website a success. There are many companies I could have worked with on this ultimate digital expression of Harry Potter’s universe, but it is Sony’s unique philosophy of creativity in harmony with technology that made them my first choice as main partner. The spirit behind Sony’s make.believe philosophy is one that rings true with Pottermore’s own values.”

The detailed creative execution has been led by TH_NK, a leading UK digital agency, under the supervision of J.K. Rowling and the Pottermore management team, in co-operation with Sony. J.K. Rowling’s publishers, Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the USA, as well as her international publishers worldwide, have been active supporters in the creation of pottermore.com and the Pottermore Shop. Warner Bros, the makers of the hugely successful Harry Potter film franchise, is also one of the partners who have worked to support the launch of Pottermore through a variety of marketing, promotional and other efforts, and will continue to collaborate as the project grows.

The storyline of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will go live on the site in early 2012. The Pottermore Shop opens when the site opens to all in October, selling complete ranges of the eBooks and digital audiobooks in a selection of languages, exclusively.

Designed for fans of all ages, the website has been created with child safety in mind, employing best practice and compliance with internet codes of practice in the UK, Europe and USA, and elsewhere.

In Part 2 of the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

X-Men: First Class

JUNE 10

Super 8

JUNE 17

Green Lantern

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

JUNE 24

Bad Teacher

Cars 2

JUNE 29

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

JULY 1

Larry Crowne

JULY 8

Horrible Bosses

Zookeeper

JULY 15

Winnie the Pooh

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

JULY 22

Friends With Benefits

Captain America: The First Avenger

Another Earth

JULY 29

Crazy Stupid Love

The Smurfs

Cowboys & Aliens

AUGUST 5

The Change-Up

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

AUGUST 12

30 Minutes or Less

Final Destination 5

AUGUST 19

Fright Night

Conan the Barbarian

AUGUST 26

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

AUGUST 31

The Debt

Directed by David Yates, the film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and Kelly Macdonald.

In Part 2 of the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

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#10 – The Fighter – I suppose I’m a little bias since I served as an extra during some of the movie’s fight scenes, but The Fighter felt like a better “Rocky” than Rocky. Based on the true story of Lowell’s Mickey Ward, The Fighter is a true underdog story featuring amazing performances from the entire cast, especially Christian Bale in the role of Mickey’s brother, Dicky Eklund.

#9 – Tangled – The last of Disney’s fairy tale movies, Tangled is everything you’d expect from a classic Disney film and more. It’s funny, sarcastic, heart-warming, and not afraid to poke fun at itself or other movies in the genre.

#8 – Black Swan – Aronofsky’s take on the world of ballet is even more powerful than his previous look at the world of professional wrestling. Natalie Portman gives an Oscar-worthy performance in this mind-bending psychological thriller. (full review)

#7 – Kick-Ass – On the surface, Kick-Ass looked like just another superhero comedy spoof, but what it turned out to be was a much more honest look at what it might be like to throw on a suit and attempt to be a hero. This movie straddles the line between spoof and superhero fantasy, making it all the more intriguing. (full review)

#6 – Toy Story 3 – Completing the animated trilogy, Toy Story 3 does justice to the films that came before and completes the story in a very satisfying way. As always, Pixar succeeds in delivering a fantastic film that will appeal equally to both children and adults.

#5 – Batman: Under the Red Hood – The only straight-to-DVD release on the list, Batman: Under the Red Hood is an action-packed addition to the DC Universe Animated line and second only to Mask of the Phantasm. With a PG-13 rating, it pulls no punches as a fairly accurate adaptation of the story arc from the comics. This one will satisfy the hardcore fans. (full review)

#4 – The A-Team – Incredibly faithful to the characters and tone of the series, The A-Team is simply a good time from start to finish. Hilarious? Check. Over-the-top action sequences? Check. Insane Murdock? Check. I love it when a plan comes together.

#3 – Hot Tub Time Machine – The funniest movie I’ve seen in recent years, Hot Tub Time Machine is the true return of the classic R-rated comedy, delivering everything you would expect from a movie with the name Hot Tub Time Machine. It’s full of bad behavior, boobs, foul language, and yet still finds the time and place to have a heart. (full review)

#2 – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – Out of every movie on this list, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the one that I know I’ll be watching over and over again in upcoming years as I fell in love with it right away. It’s quirky, inventive, a feast for the eyes, and kicks all kinds of ass. Whether or not you’re a fan of the comic book series, you’ll no doubt enjoy this refreshing take on a romantic action comedy. (full review)

#1 – Inception – Christopher Nolan has done it again. With an incredible story, amazing ensemble cast, and ground-breaking visuals, Inception leads the pack as the greatest movie of 2010. This film is simply a masterpiece. In an age of prequels, sequels, and reboots, Inception dared to be original and succeeded on every level. I won’t give away any spoilers here, but I have no doubt the ending will be debated for years to come. (Listen to our debate from The Geek Generation podcast)

Honorable mentions that I would still recommend:

• How to Train Your Dragon
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Shutter Island (full review)
• She’s Out of My League
• The Joneses
• Iron Man 2 (full review)
• Despicable Me (full review)
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• The Town
• Red
• I Am Comic

Better Than Expected:

• Charlie St. Cloud
• Salt
• Love and Other Drugs

Huge Let-downs:

• MacGruber
• Jonah Hex
• Legion
• Harry Brown

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Todd Tieuli

019 – Never Been Wronger

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Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • What is the greatest piece of Sci-Fi tech??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Harry Potter / Terriers / Young Justice
  • The Other Guys / Twitlonger / Tron: Legacy
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 pieces of fake technology.
• News:
  • R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen
  • Tangled will end Disney’s fairy tale journey
  • Mark Wahlberg to play Nathan Drake
  • Netflix launches streaming-only plan in US
  • Denis Leary cast in Spider-Man
  • First Look at Karl Urban as Judge Dredd
  • Warner Bros. plans Wizard of Oz remake
• Rental Recommendations

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Anna Zifcak

017 – The Geek Generation Podcast

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Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • Who’s your favorite Ninja Turtles character??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Super Megafest / Scott Pilgrim vs. The World / WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 / Super Street Fighter IV / Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood / Megamind
  • Holidays / Ralph Cirella’s not following me anymore / Smallville
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 things the Harry Potter movies have done really well.
• Review: Jackass 3D
• News:
  • First look at Chris Evans as Captain America
  • Uncle Ben and Aunt May cast in Spider-Man reboot
  • Hulu Plus service coming soon to all PS3 owners
  • MGM sets next Bond film for November 2012 release
  • Costume photos from Superman Lives
  • AMC renews The Walking Dead for a second season
• Support Autism research by helping Anna complete her puzzle

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan Lipsitz

015 – Wizard World NE 2010

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Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • What is your favorite video game movie??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Green Lantern movie / Back to the Future trilogy on Blu-ray / Smallville / new show bumpers / WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011
  • Poor convention organization / No Ordinary Family / my friends aren’t listening
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 best super powers.
• News:
  • Green Lantern’s Power Battery revealed
  • Netflix application for PS3 available
  • No 3D for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
  • Nathan Fillion wants to play Nathan Drake
  • Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 – Fan Axxess DLC program details
  • Marvel bringing several properties to TV
• Wizard World New England wrap-up
  • John Schneider interview
  • TNA Knockout Tara interview

Warner Bros Pictures has made the decision to release “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” in 2D, in both conventional and IMAX theaters, as we will not have a completed 3D version of the film within our release date window. Despite everyone’s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality. We do not want to disappoint fans who have long-anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey, and to that end, we are releasing our film day-and-date on November 19, 2010 as planned. We, in alignment with our filmmakers, believe this is the best course to take in order to ensure that our audiences enjoy the consummate “Harry Potter” experience.

Producer David Heyman said, “For 10 years, we have worked alongside Alan Horn and the studio, whose priority has always been to preserve the integrity of JK Rowling’s books as we have adapted them to the screen, and this decision reflects that commitment.”

Director David Yates continued, “This decision, which we completely support, underscores the fact that Warner Bros. has always put quality first.”

As scheduled, on July 15, 2011, we will deliver to conventional and IMAX theaters our final installment of the film franchise, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” in both 2D and 3D formats.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Anna Zifcak

013 – Mega-News block

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Show notes:

• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Harry Potter 7 / possible return of Bill & Ted / New York Comic Con
  • screwing up the possible return of Bill & Ted / Fall TV premieres
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 Final Fantasy characters.
• News:
  • Zack Snyder will direct the Superman reboot
  • NBC picks up ‘Odd Jobs’ starring Emerson and O’Quinn
  • Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 – WWE Universe mode trailer and details
  • Sir Michael Caine reveals Inception ending
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – DLC coming in November
  • Jim Lee and Titan Books at NYCC 2010
  • Batman: Arkham City adds interrogation mechanic
  • The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes premieres Oct. 20
  • Wonder Woman series headed to TV
  • Star Wars movies coming to theaters in 3D
  • Back to the Future returning to AMC Theaters
• Contest reminder: 2×500

Warner Bros. Pictures has also revealed these three banners for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: “Sir” Todd Tieuli

003 – The Geek Generation Podcast

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Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • What show from the 80’s would you like to see adapted into a movie?
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Charlie Chaplin / Harry Potter trailer / Celebrities on Twitter
  • Sam Worthington
• Top 3
  • Top 3 actors/actresses that can always get you to the theater.
• Review: The A-Team
• News:
  • Andrew Garfield is the new Spider-Man
  • inFAMOUS 2 gameplay video is AWESOME
  • Hulu Plus use on PS3 clarified
  • Judd Apatow producing a new Pee-wee Herman movie
  • Rango – trailer and poster
  • Uncharted 2 – “The Lab” July schedule
  • Disturbed, Shinedown, Queen all coming to Guitar Hero this summer

Warner Bros. Pictures has also provided us with the teaser poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Scott “C.K.” Toomey

002 – The Geek Generation Podcast

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Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • What summer movie are you most looking forward to?
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • iPhone update / AMC’s Walking Dead / Podcasts
  • new Teen Wolf series
• News:
  • Wonder Woman’s got a new look and origin story
  • Smallville season 10 premieres Sept. 24
  • Hulu Plus coming to PS3 and Xbox 360
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – trailer
  • Alice Eve in negotiations for Emma Frost
  • Back to the Future trilogy finally coming to Blu-ray
  • Lauren Graham will be in Scream 4
  • The Green Hornet – trailer
• Summer TV recommendations:
  • Burn Notice
  • Futurama
  • White Collar
  • Dexter
  • The Good Guys
  • Lost

The two films, directed by David Yates, are coming to 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters and star Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Imelda Staunton, Jason Isaacs, Miranda Richardson, Warwick Davis, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Brendan Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, Jamie Campbell Bower, Richard Griffiths, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Fiona Shaw, Helen McCrory, David O’Hara and Natalia Tena.