#10 – Butter – A very star-studded cast for a more independent-feeling movie, I’m surprised Butter didn’t receive more attention, either critically or by the movie-going public. A quirky, absurd, and incredibly entertaining comedy well worth checking out.

#9 – Wreck-It Ralph – I’m still impressed by the amount of licensed characters that were secured for this movie, but also wish more had been done with them. Even so, Wreck-It Ralph was another in a line of wonderful computer animated movies that appeals to all ages, gamer or not.

#8 – The Perks of Being a Wallflower – I’m not much of a book reader, but from what I’ve been told, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the best book-to-film translations out there. Even if you haven’t read the book, this coming of age tale is sure to captivate you, with excellent performances from Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. By the end, you’ll have a new appreciation for your existence and a recharged motivation to live your life to the fullest.

#7 – Looper – A fantastically original sci-fi movie with a premise too intriguing to pass up, Looper puts a mafia hitman with a time traveling twist in the position of having to kill his future self. What plays out is anything but expected, leaving you torn with the decision of who to root for. Whichever way you end up leaning, you’ll be glad you went for the ride.

#6 – Ted – Seth McFarlane’s first foray into a live-action motion picture, Ted successfully translated McFarlane’s unique brand of humor to the big screen while still feeling different from any of his other projects. If you’re not laughing at this one, you might be dead inside.

#5 – Chronicle – Not at all a typical superhero movie, Chronicle brought an original take to the genre with its found footage approach. While that style of movie can feel disjointed and nauseating, Chronicle managed to piece together all of its elements in a wonderfully crafted tale. I have no doubt that screenwriter Max Landis will be the next big thing in Hollywood.

#4 – The Dark Knight Rises – Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Batman, so those same people may wonder why The Dark Knight Rises isn’t higher on this list. While still a great movie, it also contains some major character flaws that don’t go in line with Batman or the two prior movies. The film’s epic, disaster movie setting also felt a bit too grandiose for the Caped Crusader and left me wanting more of the Batman I’d seen back in Batman Begins. Even with those complaints, it’s hard not to love a good Batman movie.

#3 – Silver Linings Playbook – A complete surprise this year, I went into Silver Linings Playbook with no expectations either way, and came out loving everything about it. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are fantastic here, providing the backbone for an exceptionally crafted film from start to finish.

#2 – Skyfall – James Bond came back in a big way, recovering from the stumble that was Quantum of Solace. Skyfall is not only one the best movies of the year, it’s also easily one of the top Bond movies of all time. Setting a definitive tone for the direction of the franchise, Skyfall will satisfy both Bond and action fans alike.

#1 – The Avengers – The Avengers is every comic fan’s dream come true. In past movies leading up to this, Marvel has brought to life many of its iconic heroes on the big screen, but never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined that a superhero ensemble of this scope would be executed as well as The Avengers. It’s packed with action, humor, and delivers the epic battles and scenes that until this point only existed on the pages of comic books or in cartoon animation.

Honorable mentions that I would still recommend:

• Safe House
• The Vow
• The Lorax
• American Reunion
• Men in Black 3
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
• Brave
• Premium Rush
• Dredd

Better Than Expected:

• Les Miserables
• Wanderlust
• Hit and Run
• Pitch Perfect

Huge Let-downs:

• The Hunger Games
• The Amazing Spider-Man
• Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
• Total Recall

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

The Geek Generation – #116 – Top 10 Movies of 2012

[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
• Top 5 downloaded episodes:
  • #068 – Chris Gore
  • #080 – The Geek Knight
  • #088 – E3 2012 with Ali Baker
  • #083 – The Avengers
  • #070 – 2011 Geeky Awards
• Best of 2012 TV:
  • Dexter
  • Alphas
  • Young Justice
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Awake
  • Doctor Who
  • Franklin & Bash
  • Fringe
  • Terra Nova
  • Nikita
  • The Walking Dead
• Best of 2012 Video Games:
  • Assassin’s Creed 3
  • LEGO Batman 2
  • The Binding of Isaac
  • still haven’t played Fallout: New Vegas
  • Halo: Reach
  • Halo 4
  • The Walking Dead game
  • LEGO Harry Potter
• Top 10 Movies of 2012

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mike Volpe

The Geek Generation – #103 – That’s Turrible

[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
• Kumail Nanjiani comedy show recap
• Recent movies we’ve seen:
  • Trouble With the Curve
  • Pitch Perfect
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Dredd
• Geek Outs:
  • Madison Rayne sponsorship
  • The Big E
  • The Walking Dead game
  • N64 wrestling games
  • Exit Humanity
  • Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • The Dark Knight Rises – Limited Edition Blu-ray
  • Star Hawk – multiplayer edition
• Freak Outs:
  • iOS 6
  • Chyna as She-Hulk
  • Allergies to car cleaner
  • Hulu ads
  • Instagram photos on Facebook
• Game: Top 3
  • Top 3 films you’d like to see brought back into theaters
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
  • Cinderella (Diamond Edition)
  • Nikita: The Complete Second Season
  • Princess Bride (25th Anniversary Edition)
  • Masters of the Universe (25th Anniversary Edition)
  • Resident Evil 6
  • Command and Conquer Ultimate Collection
  • Prometheus
  • E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
  • The Great Mouse Detective
  • CM Punk: Best in the World
  • The Raven
  • Max Fleischer’s Superman: Collector’s Edition
  • Dishonored
  • Dragon Ball Z Kinect

WARNING: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES SPOILERS AHEAD

To say I was thrilled to see Bane as the chief villain in The Dark Knight Rises is an understatement. I’ve grown to be fond of the big, venom-loving, back-breaking bad guy. So far, Bane’s introduction to the non-comic reading world has seen him as a juiced-up idiot flunky afterthought in Batman & Robin (the “George Clooney” movie) and in the various cartoons as a character with widely different interpretations, mostly taken out by electrocution or simply shutting off his venom feed.

So I was thrilled to see Bane FINALLY get his due in TDKR. And wow, he was menacing, ruthless and a villain equal to the task of matching up with Batman. For about 80% of the movie, Bane is the guy. Then, in about 10 minutes we have the scene with the big reveal of the REAL bad guy, and Bane is once again relegated to second banana status. After that, Catwoman shows up, shoots Bane with big guns… and that’s the last we see of him.

I kept waiting for the scene that showed Bane stumbling away, ready to fight another day. He deserved that much, I thought. Maybe if this was not Nolan’s absolute-for-sure, last Batman movie, he could have done that. And Nolan has not been one to go and kill off bad guys in his movies, one thing I’ve always appreciated (I still think Ras Al Ghul got away. Hey, I’m a comic guy; these notions are hard to shake). So Bane once again gets a raw deal on the screen. If there is any consolation, this was by far the best Bane portrayed for a mass audience. For folks who would like a deeper take on the Bane character, I would strongly recommend Bat Family super-scribe Gail Simone’s Secret Six that ended last year to make way for the New 52.

In that series, Simone really gives Bane a chance to shine, and be more than a villain who “broke” the Batman and then got his comeuppance. Bane struggles with his life post-Batman, post-Venom and finds a warped family within this group of killers, ultimately being one of the leaders of the group. There is a lot of growth with this character in this series, and it’s ultimately what made me kind of root for the guy in the movie.

I’m left to wonder if Nolan read the Secret Six series during his research. I have not seen this discussed much, but in that series, Bane takes on the role of protector/father figure for a female villain, Scandal Savage, who has major Daddy issues, what with her father being the immortal legendary super-villain Vandal Savage.

Am I the only one who sees some similarities there? The one major difference in the Bane/Scandal dynamic over the Bane/Talia dynamic, is that Bane I guess is “in love” with Talia. That was not the dynamic with he and Scandal, as she makes it quite clear she only has an eye for one of the sexes, and it’s not the one that Bane is a part of.

So, Secret Six, 36 issues of action, violence and quality character development, and it’s probably very affordable at your local comic book store. If you’re a Bane fan, or just intrigued by the guy, give it a try.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan

The Geek Generation – #095 – Fast Food Coma

[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
• Geek Outs:
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • The Amazing Spider-Man video game
  • RAW’s 1000th episode
  • Jurassic Park Builder
  • Star Trek: TNG on the big screen
  • Fringe
  • Bababooey on Nerdist
• Freak Outs:
  • Baz, the new Green Lantern
  • Media coverage of Aurora shooting
  • Going to the dentist
  • Arrow costume
  • @ItsRealBatman
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
  • Total Recall: Mind-Bending Edition
  • Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
  • Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
  • Grimm: Season One
  • Adventures in Babysitting: 25th Anniversary Edition
  • Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition
• Listener Mailbag
• News/discussion:
  • Windows 8 will launch on October 26
  • Jackie Earle Haley joins RoboCop
  • Deadpool author Daniel Way is also writing the game
  • Despicable Me’s minions to get their own movie
  • AMC developing Area 51 series
  • Kurtzman and Orci developing Sleepy Hollow series
  • Sony Pictures spills some future plans
  • Kevin Eastman on the Ninja Turtles movie
  • The Rock may play Lobo
  • More details on Beware the Batman cartoon
  • Laugh Factory app coming exclusively to PS3
  • Neal Moritz plans Sleeping Beauty comedy
  • Mega Man and Pac Man never coming to Street Fighter X Tekken on Xbox 360
  • Ed Helms to play Rusty Griswold in new Vacation movie
  • Thor 2’s villains revealed?
  • Falling Skies renewed for a third season
  • The Legend of Korra renewed for a second season
  • True Blood renewed for a sixth season
  • The Newsroom renewed for a second season

Additional links:

• Project Giana: project-giana.com

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan

The Geek Generation – #094 – The Dark Knight Rises

[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
• Rob and Bryan spend an entire episode discussing the final movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises.

The Hub’s Batman: The Animated Series marathon will begin airing on Friday, July 20 at 4:00 PM EST.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan

The Geek Generation – #092 – SDCC 2012

[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
• Geek Outs:
  • Robert Downey Jr. entering Hall H
  • SDCC 2012
  • Ted
  • New diet
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on the big screen
  • Our Lady Peace concert
  • Ron Perlman grants Make-A-Wish as Hellboy
  • T-shirts on the way
• Freak Outs:
  • Barbara Gordon replacing Stephanie Brown in Smallville: Season 11
  • Dealing with exes/lack of loyalty
  • Gym deal
  • Max Payne 3
  • The Amazing Spider-Man
• Blu-ray upcoming releases:
  • Lockout
  • The Three Stooges
  • Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • Casa de mi Padre
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season One
  • Silent House
  • Undertaker: The Streak
  • Boss: Season One
• Listener Mailbag
• News/discussion:
  • Marvel Studios announces full “Phase Two” plans
  • Man of Steel footage screened
  • Deadpool game announced
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us adds Nightwing and Cyborg
  • Marvel NOW! is coming in October
  • Josh Trank confirmed as Fantastic Four reboot director
  • Godzilla teaser screened
  • Marvel vs. Capcom Origins announced
  • Yvonne Strahovski joins the cast of Dexter
  • Legendary Entertainment acquires Nerdist Industries
  • Avengers Assemble cartoon to replace Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
  • Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Set gets more goodies on PS3
  • Mortal Kombat: Legacy – Season 2 announced

She called me a “Nonconformist-Conformist”.

Now to her this has always meant that I tend to be, admittedly, a bit of a hypocritical pop culture snob. To be more specific, I generally think I’m not going to like a given movie, book, etc. just to be contrary to popular opinion, only to find that I enjoy it once I bite the bullet and see what I’ve been resisting (for proof of this theory one need only look to my article about Chick Flicks). Since I admit that there is some validity to her point of view I laughed off the utterance while the conversation faded into other directions.

However, later in the night the phrase got me thinking. A Nonconformist-Conformist isn’t just my friend’s way of calling me snooty. In a deeper sense it can be used to describe all of my fellow geeks.

I broke the phrase down into what the words actually meant, and came to see that a Nonconformist-Conformist essentially is someone that balks some traditional mores while accepting others. In other words, it’s the person who says that they don’t care for the mainstream while embracing counterculture whole hog.

And isn’t that what every geek essentially does?

Think about it… what is geekdom if not a fanatical love for that which others shun while simultaneously shunning what others embrace?

We love wrestling but don’t watch football. We won’t go to clubs but we’ll get together with friends for a night of drinks and gaming. We listen to indie rock and laugh at people who dig on pop music. Ultimately, the world we exist in is defined by what we will and will not do or take interest in.

Of course this is not a negative thing. To the contrary, this form of self-identification is a means of declaring ourselves as unique while simultaneously helping us to find an all-important peer group to join us in our interests. It’s a means of both finding a place in the world and thriving within it.

Here’s the rub though: being a Nonconformist-Conformist tends to mean a silencing of that which falls outside of the social group one accepts, for both good and ill.

For instance, if you get me started on anything having to do with Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy I will readily discuss in detail anything about the series. Whether it be obsessing about the intricacies of previous performances, speculating about how The Dark Knight Rises will end, or simply debating the merits of this series over previous incarnations of Batman on film I’m ready, willing, and able to rant about it all. However, if you even mention the Twilight series to me I’ll glaze over and shrug my shoulders in cold indifference.

Now, my embracing of a super hero and rejection of sparkly vampires holds no bearing on my day-to-day life. Instead, what it does is further my identity as a Girl Among Geeks rather than a Girlie Girl. Inherently I find value on both an internal and external level by doing so as this gives me my own identity to run with, but on the other hand it means that I am rejecting other interests to such an extreme that it casts me outside of other peer groups. It’s a form of isolationism as much as it’s a declaration of identity, making being a Nonconformist-Conformist a double-edged social sword.

This is not how I have to be, though. There is nothing to say that it is not only possible but quite potentially beneficial for me to spread my wings a bit and start to move beyond the comfort zone of the social group that I have chosen. I can come to find value in elements of art and society that I don’t normally adopt in order to broaden my horizons.

So now comes the tricky part… how do I simultaneously represent myself as a proud Girl Among Geeks without continuing to be a Nonconformist-Conformist? I think for me this is going to mean spending a bit more time outside of my geek shell, and allowing the interests of my more mainstream friends to trickle in. Maybe going to a few less indie movies and a few more chick flicks and listening to a bit more Lady Gaga and little less Guster will be good for me, and will hopefully broaden my frame of reference when I look at the world around me.

As a geek I’m sure I will get way too technical and studied about this endeavor, but since that’s a part of my geeky self that I adore I won’t fight it. If anything this personal, social-scope-enhancing experiment of mine may mean that I will deepen my current identity while I add to it.

Christopher Nolan’s third and final Batman movie opens in theaters and IMAX on July 20th. 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.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Bryan

The Geek Generation – #087 – DC Scramble

[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
• Prometheus quick review
• Snow White and the Huntsman quick review
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• Geek Outs:
  • SDCC 2012 Hasbro exclusives
  • CW’s Arrow extended preview
  • Wreck-It Ralph teaser trailer
  • Stamina 55-1610 InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer
  • Limbo
  • Humble Indie Bundle V
  • Franklin & Bash
• Freak Outs:
  • Kim Kardashian’s twitter
• Obscure Movie Reviews with SuperFan Chris Tong
• News/discussion:
  • Ultimate Spider-Man
  • The Avengers passes The Dark Knight domestically
  • Clark Gregg on his future in the Marvel Universe
  • Kevin Pereira leaves AOTS / Adam Sessler leaves G4
  • Warner Bros. pushing Justice League movie forward
  • Writer hired for Wonder Woman movie
  • Other DC Comics movies in the works at Warner Bros.
  • Alan Scott will be gay in The New 52
  • Simon Pegg says Khan is not the Star Trek 2 villain
  • Venom movie may tie into The Amazing Spider-Man universe
  • The Dark Knight Marathon is coming to AMC theaters
  • WB wanted The Riddler as The Dark Knight Rises villain
  • Damon Lindelof heads to World War Z
  • Teen Titans returning to Cartoon Network with new series
  • Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson join the RoboCop reboot
  • The Russo Brothers to direct Captain America sequel
  • Transformers 4 will be Michael Bay’s last
  • Starz announces final season of Spartacus
  • Release date set for X-Men: First Class sequel
  • Release date set for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
  • G.I. Joe re-shooting due to poor feedback

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan

The Geek Generation – #084 – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now

[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
• Freak Outs:
  • Awake canceled
  • Alcatraz canceled
  • Archer
  • Breaking Bad
  • Dish Network
• Geek Outs:
  • Little League
  • Perfect Strangers: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now
  • Netflix
  • The Amazing Spider-Man
  • The Dark Knight Rises trailer
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• News/discussion:
  • Benedict Cumberbatch’s role revealed for Star Trek sequel
  • Marion Cotillard says she’s not playing Talia al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises
  • Kick-Ass 2 moving forward at Universal
  • Arkham City DLC Harley Quinn’s Revenge set for May 29
  • Community gets a fourth season
  • Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth announced
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD set for June release
• Listener Mailbag
• Tweeting in bed

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.
• 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 Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Anna Zifcak

The Geek Generation – #082 – The Donut Proposal

[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
• 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

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.

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.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Bryan Lipsitz, Mike Boyd

The Geek Generation – #065 – January 2, 2012 News

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • Send it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter OR call 508-316-9787
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• News:
  • Howard Stern is the newest judge on America’s Got Talent
  • Daniel Craig could become the longest reigning Bond
  • Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor to direct Thor 2
  • South Park: The Game’s mystery class is the ‘Jew’
  • Avengers movie will be released in 2D and 3D versions
  • Brian Michael Bendis to leave all Avengers titles at end of 2012
  • Nolan comments on why Bane was chosen as next villain
  • Batman: Arkham City – Challenge Map Pack DLC and free skin
  • Justice League: Doom release date announced
  • Bunny Ranch owner opening Sci-fi brothel
  • New Twisted Metal includes free download of Twisted Metal: Black
  • Sam Raimi’s original Green Goblin FX test revealed
  • Vin Diesel confirms two more Fast & Furious sequels
  • George Takei is the Broker of Star Peace
  • This year’s Super Bowl will be the first ever to stream online

Christopher Nolan recently opened up to the LA Times about why he chose Bane as the newest villain in his Dark Knight trilogy.

“I didn’t know him very well,” Nolan said. “David Goyer got me a bunch of stuff on him and we looked into him. I only knew him by name, I wasn’t familiar with his back story. He’s a very cool character. And getting an actor like Tom to take it on, you know you’re going to get something very special. Tom is somebody who really knows how to put character into every gesture, every aspect of his physicality in the way that great actors can. He’s a very, very physical actor. He transforms himself and it’s there in every movement. He’s not afraid to look at a character from the outside as well as the inside so there’s a deep psychological branch to the character but also a very, very specific awareness of how he’s going to use his body and his appearance to express that character too. Christian is like that too, very much.”

“With Bane, the physicality is the thing,” he continued. “With a good villain you need an archetype, you know, you need the extreme of some type of villainy. The Joker is obviously a particular archetype of diabolical, chaotic anarchy and has a devilish sense of humor. Bane, to me, is something we haven’t dealt with in the films. We wanted to do something very different in this film. He’s a primarily physical villain, he’s a classic movie monster in a way — but with a terrific brain. I think he’s a fascinating character.  I think people are going to get a kick out of what we’ve done with him.”

Opening in theaters on July 20, 2012, Nolan’s highly-anticipated third Batman movie stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis, Josh Stewart, Christopher Judge, Adam Rodriguez and Rob Brown.

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent’s crimes.

I’m shining the bat-signal up into the sky to call you all!

We need to hear your voices! Now and Loud! We are creating the sound of a worldwide chant. Everyone come and be part of it. It’s easy:

There is no such thing as out-of-tune, no timing we can’t fix later. If you mumble, growl, scream or whisper, it’s all good. Make it yours. If you only get halfway through, no problem! Do it alone, bring your friends, but do it with energy and commitment.

Let your voice be heard and be a part of our adventure!

To record your voice, head over to ujam.com and follow the instructions given there.

Thanks to user Madonna Kilpatrick who posted the following translation of what the chant is saying:

Deh-shay, deh-shay bah-sah-rah, bah-sah-rah is how it’s pronounced. I’ve been told that it means “He rises, he rises” in Moroccan.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Bryan Lipsitz, G1

The Geek Generation – #059 – November 7, 2011 News

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • Send it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter OR call 508-316-9787
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• News:
  • Grand Theft Auto V announced – trailer link
  • James Bond 23 officially titled ‘Skyfall’
  • R.I.P. Andy Rooney
  • The Walking Dead renewed for third season
  • PSN changing policy on downloaded content licenses
  • Microsoft Kinect coming to PC in 2012
  • Patty Jenkins confirmed to direct Thor 2
  • Person of Interest and Unforgettable get full season pickups
  • Redbox raises DVD rental price
  • FX lands new Charlie Sheen sitcom ‘Anger Management’
  • Warner Bros. plans Harry Potter DVD moratorium
  • New version of ‘In Living Color’ to air on FOX
  • New Regency acquires Fraggle Rock movie rights
  • Hans Zimmer asks fans to lend their voices to The Dark Knight Rises
  • Andy Serkis signs for Rise of the Planet of the Apes sequel
  • Beetlejuice sequel won’t move forward without Michael Keaton
  • DmC Devil May Cry exists on a parallel world
  • PSA: DC Universe Online free-to-play has launched
  • RUMOR: Benicio Del Toro offered the villain role in Star Trek sequel

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

The Geek Generation – #049 – August 22, 2011 News

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • Send it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter OR call 508-316-9787
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
• News:
  • The new Ultimate Spider-Man unmasked
  • First look at Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel
  • Laurence Fishburne joins Man of Steel
  • First look at Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises
  • PlayStation 3 price drop announced
  • inFAMOUS 2: Festival of Blood DLC announced
  • Valve announces Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
  • GameFly adding “Unlimited PC Play” via new Digital Client
  • Mike Myers signs for Austin Powers 4
  • Bradley Cooper flies away from The Crow reboot
  • Kraft launches the Triple Double Oreo
  • Hugh Jackman confirms The Wolverine villain
  • NBA Jam: On Fire Edition – trailer and info
  • Promotional images and premiere details for new Two and a Half Men
  • Warehouse 13 renewed for fourth season
  • Voltron live-action movie in the works
  • Eddie Murphy to voice Hong Kong Phooey
  • Sin City: A Dame to Kill For moving forward
  • Robert Rodriguez takes Heavy Metal
  • Release dates for various movies

The Dark Knight Rises is scheduled to open on July 20, 2012.

[UPDATE] Some shots of Hathaway’s stunt double have surfaced which provide a better look at the catsuit. Warner Bros. was smart to release the photo above knowing that these set photos would leak out.

[UPDATE: 8/9] While promoting her film One Day, Anne Hathaway commented on both the official photo above and other set photos that have leaked out:

“It’s disappointing. I think everyone feels a slight frustration with it because those stills so undercut the work that’s being done,” Hathaway said.

But the actress added that it’s not ruining the movie. “No, no one’s nervous about it. I mean, honestly, like, wait till you see this movie. Chris is doing insane things in it. And it’s gonna be marvelous and it’s gonna be way beyond what anyone imagines that it could be. You can’t imagine the things that he’s doing, at least I couldn’t until I read the script and I was like, ‘You’re really? Okay, you’re going there!’ And it’s Chris Nolan; even the picture that he released of me, that’s not everything. That’s like a tenth of what the catsuit is. And I’ve got to say, I find it frustrating and I know he finds it frustrating, but I also think that he’s having fun with it, kind of like spooning out secrets. He has a lot more control than you think.”

Written by David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan, the July 20, 2012 release stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis and Josh Stewart.

Opening in theaters on July 20, 2012, the Christopher Nolan-directed film stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis and Josh Stewart.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #037 – Thor

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Poll question: Which new network show are you most looking forward to??
  • Send your answer to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • X-Men: First Class / summer movie toys / Smallville / Jaime King retweet
  • R.I.P. Macho Man / TNA Wrestling rebranded / The Big Bang Theory’s season finale / talking behind my back
• Web-finds:
  • Homemade Portal turrets
    • talking Portal plushie
    • homemade 3 ft. Portal turret
  • Gearbox helps man propose via Claptrap
    • the proposal video
    • the reaction video
• News:
  • PlayStation Network is back online… with benefits
  • First image of Tom Hardy as Bane
  • Ashton Kutcher replaces Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men
  • NBC passes on Wonder Woman / NBC reveals why they didn’t want Wonder Woman
  • Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – more details
  • Colin Hanks joins the cast of Dexter
  • Mos joins the cast of Dexter
  • FOX renews Family Guy and The Cleveland Show
  • SyFy prepping Warehouse 13 spinoff
  • Young Justice coming to DVD in July
• TV Upfronts
• The Spoiler Room: Thor

Additional links:

• American Alligator: americanalligator.bandcamp.com

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #036 – News-o-rama

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Contest: Pearl Jam Guitar giveaway
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Green Lantern trailer / X-Men: First Class trailers / Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince voiced Shredder / Portal 2 / Thor / Christian wins the Heavyweight Championship / Smallville
  • Christian loses the Heavyweight Championship / PSN outage
• News:
  • New Nintendo console coming in 2012
  • Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – first details
  • Transformers: Dark of the Moon – trailer
  • Captain America will don a new costume in The Avengers
  • Thor and Captain America sequels confirmed
  • Wonder Woman TV pilot going through rewrites
  • Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard officially join The Dark Knight Rises
  • Batman: Year One voice cast announced
  • Redbox officially launching game rentals June 17
  • Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition coming in June

Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have officially joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises.

Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.

Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.

The film reunites the actors with Christopher Nolan, who recently directed them in the award-winning blockbuster Inception.

The director stated, “When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again.”

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan Lipsitz

The Geek Generation – #032 – The Charismatic Enabler

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • What do you think of the new Wonder Woman TV costume??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood DLC / Batman: Arkham City gameplay trailer / The Greatest Movie Ever Sold trailer
  • Jeff Hardy at TNA Victory Road / Marvel vs. Capcom 3 DLC / Snooki at Wrestlemania 27
• Top 3
  • Top 3 villains you want to see in a Superman movie
• News:
  • R.I.P. Michael Gough
  • Smallville‘s Clark Kent prepares to suit up
  • First look at Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman
  • Kevin Costner confirmed for Superman movie
  • Darren Aronofsky no longer directing The Wolverine
  • NBC renews The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Community
  • RUMOR: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s The Dark Knight Rises Role Revealed

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Anna Zifcak

026 – It’s Man-happening

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicTuneIniHeartRadioRSS

Show notes:

• Poll questions:
  • Who do you want to see as Lois Lane in The Man of Steel??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Escape the Fate Xbox 360 & Kinect giveaway
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • The Walking Dead comic / Howard Stern on Twitter / Chris Hardwick tickets
  • Donkey Kong Country Returns / Netflix Instant Streaming / Smallville
• News:
  • MTV announces return of Beavis and Butt-head
  • Angry Birds: Rio – trailer
  • NBC cuts The Cape episode order to 10
  • Nick Fury cameos confirmed for Thor and Captain America
  • Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – Sentinel and Hsien-Ko debut trailers
  • MLB 11 includes one-button ‘Association for Disabled Virtual Athletes’ mode
• Rumor Central:
  • Cobie Smulders closes in on Avengers
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt In Talks To Join The Dark Knight Rises
  • Three actresses in competition for female lead in The Man of Steel

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan Lipsitz

024 – Golden Globes 2011 rundown

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicTuneIniHeartRadioRSS

Show notes:

• Poll questions:
  • What are your thoughts on The Dark Knight Rises casting news??
  • What are your opinions on the Spider-Man and Captain America costumes??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • DC Universe Online / The Dark Knight Rises casting news / Charisma Carpenter on Legend of the Seeker
  • Too much snow / still waiting for my EyePet
• News:
  • The Dark Knight Rises reveals Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy roles
  • First Image of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man
  • First look at Chris Evans in Captain America costume
  • The Big Bang Theory renewed for THREE more seasons
  • Wonder Woman series not dead
  • Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – Akuma and Taskmaster debut trailers
• Golden Globes 2011 rundown

Warner Bros. announced today via press release that Anne Hathaway has been cast in the role of Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises. Those familiar with the Bat-universe know that Selina Kyle is the alter ego of Catwoman, although the press release makes no confirmation of the femme-feline.

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” She will be starring alongside Christian Bale, who returns in the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Christopher Nolan stated, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story.”

Additionally, speculation on the villain being played by Tom Hardy can stop, because the press release also confirmed that Hardy will appear as the back-breaking Bane.

In addition, Tom Hardy has been set to play Bane. Nolan said, “I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman’s most formidable enemies.”

The Dark Knight Rises is slated for release on July 20, 2012.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Dave Palmacci

018 – Napoleon Bonafrog

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicTuneIniHeartRadioRSS

Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • Which movie trilogy climbed the highest, only to fall the farthest?? (first 2 were great and the 3^rd killed it)
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Marvel characters translated through history / Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
  • Hipsters / Upcoming alien movies / Cell phone etiquette
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 movie trilogies.
• Review: Due Date
• News:
  • Green Lantern – official trailer
  • Cowboys & Aliens – teaser trailer
  • Winnie the Pooh – trailer
  • Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – She-Hulk and Zero trailers
  • The next Wolverine movie will be titled The Wolverine
  • VUDU movie service coming to PS3 on November 23
  • Rumor Central: The Dark Knight Rises looking to cast two female roles

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mike “Wally” Rindfleisch

016 – Top 10 Hollywood Hotties 2010

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicTuneIniHeartRadioRSS

Show notes:

• Poll question:
  • Who’s the hottest chick in Hollywood??
  • Send answer to: podcast@thegeekgeneration.com OR @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Geek Outs & Freak Outs:
  • Halloween / Ralph Cirella’s following Rob on Twitter / Charisma Carpenter tweet
  • Rob can actually talk to female celebrities / Jessica Alba’s Machete CGI nudity
• Top 3:
  • Top 3 comic characters you’d like to play in a movie.
  • Top 3 favorite PSone games you played or saw.
• News:
  • Batman 3 officially titled The Dark Knight Rises
  • Leno’s key demographic dips below Conan’s Tonight Show
  • The Incredibles are coming to Blu-ray – trailer included
  • NBA Jam arrives on PS3 and Xbox 360 on Nov. 17
  • Humans cast in The Muppets
  • Back to the Future: The Game – Get Episode 1 for FREE
• Countdown:
  • Top 10 Hollywood Hotties – 2010 Edition
• Send Halloween pictures to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com

FAN FEEDBACK is returning next week!!

DATE: Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
TIME: 7:00 – 9:00 PM EST
HOW: call in to Skype username TheGeekGeneration

* Helpful tip: good audio quality and a headset/earbuds will encourage me to keep you on the air longer

Christopher Nolan recently revealed two major pieces of evidence about his third Batman film in an interview with Hero Complex. According to Nolan, the next Batman film will be titled The Dark Knight Rises.

Additionally, he went on to provide some details about the movie’s villain. The longstanding internet rumor was that the movie would feature Batman’s green and purple puzzler, but Nolan clearly stated, “It won’t be the Riddler.”

He went on to say, ““We’ll use many of the same characters as we have all along, and we’ll be introducing some new ones.”

The Dark Knight Rises is scheduled for a July 20, 2012 release.