© 2012 Twentieth Century Fox

The story is an interesting and updated interpretation of the superhero mythos and it gets started quickly, but there are some unexplained jumps in exposition that will leave you scratching your head. Chronicle benefits from its use of the Blair Witch and Cloverfield documentary-style narrative, which shows the super-protagonist story from a perspective that we haven’t seen before.  Unfortunately, the results of this story-telling gimmick are hit-and-miss, and at times it becomes a huge distraction.

© 2012 Twentieth Century Fox

This new superhero story sports a very good cast of relative big-screen newcomers, a necessity for this style of film to work (as no one would ever believe it if someone found lost footage of Scarlett Johansson as a secret superhero). The special effects were top-notch and believable, and Chronicle is a fun and clever film that covers some interesting new ground in what is becoming a superhero saturated cinema market. Its biggest problem is that throughout the movie, there are too many times that the actors have to elucidate as to why there is camera recording them. This is meant to explain away the absurdity of the constant video recording, but instead draws attention to it, which makes one wonder if the standard filmmaking approach might have worked better.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Chronicle: Creative, but discombobulated is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

© 2011 - CBS Films

The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as the widowed Arthur Kipps, an attorney sent to settle the affairs of a deceased owner of a very cool and creepy castle, located on an island that is completely cut off from civilization during high-tide. Mr. Kipps must complete this assignment, which basically involves ruffling through papers, or risk losing his employment. Let’s just say that to put up with everything he endures in this film, he must REALLY want to keep this job.

The haunted hero slowly unravels a mystery that involves a woman whose son is adopted by an upper-class couple who deny her visitation with the boy. When her child dies in a horrific accident, she commits suicide and her ghost then haunts the castle and the village, possessing children and leading them to kill themselves. To keep the evil veiled ghost from going after his own son, Arthur devises a plan to appease the disgruntled demon -– and without giving away any surprises, this is where the movie goes off the deep end.

© 2011 - CBS Films

In this day and age, after a history of hundreds of haunted house films being made, it is very difficult for a movie to showcase something new and unusual enough create real fear in an audience. The Woman in Black covers no new ground in that regard. It’s a somewhat fun horror flick, but too laughable to be taken seriously.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Courtesy of Lightning Octopus

For a guy who’s trying to build up Arizona’s Geek Culture, it can feel like a kick in the gut when nerd havens shut down – especially when I’ve gotten to know some of the owners.

A lot of people miss Atomic Comics, easily the largest of recent losses. Fortunately, there are still local places to buy comics. I’m mostly disheartened by closings like Evermore Nevermore, The Cade Gallery, Red Hot Robot, and The Royale. They brought a certain unique flavor with them. They were the kinds of places you were just glad existed – like they proved something about Arizona that most people don’t believe.

Despite all of this, I am optimistic about the geek culture here in Arizona.

Actually, I’m very optimistic, and here’s why:

I’m Hoping That Recent Closings Reflect Economy More Than Excitement
As much as it feels like “geek” places are being targeted, I’m not sure they are. I won’t pretend to be some kind of economist or market analyst, but my gut tells me that many industries have been hit over the last few years, and many different types of small businesses have closed up. Not just the ones we happen to love.

And not every local nerd haven has faded away.

The Lightning Octopus Map of Local Nerdery has grown and receded over the last year, but it’s still full of fun places. I’m optimistic that if things pic up economically, we’ll see it grow again.

I Feel Like Localism Is Catching On

I’ll be the first to admit that my reading of the social media tea leaves can be a bit skewed; I mostly follow local people. So this is just my opinion, but I do feel like an excitement about local businesses and artists is slowly catching fire.

I feel like people are casually shifting their excitement away from re-hashed ideas pumping out of mainstream outlets, and are growing in curiosity about fresh new ideas coming from independent and local film makers, comic creators, artists, and writers.

I’m Optimistic Because Geek Events Seem To Be Doing Well

There’s a reason Lightning Octopus has believed in and focused on events for the last 19 months.

Events are wonderful monsters when it comes to building community and culture, and they keep popping up and evolving.

They’re “light and quick” compared to a store front, ignite interest and excitement, can overcome the distance barrier (a very real challenge here), they’re social, they give people a chance to bring the culture they’ve created with them (check out my costume/art/shirt!), and people share their experiences and pictures from them all over Facebook.

I’m optimistic about Arizona’s Geek Culture because events like Phoenix Comicon continue to grow like crazy, because some guy in California decided to start a zombie-centric “Amazing Comicon” here, because Tempe is doing a Geeks Night Out, because people like Steamcrow are staring their own events, and because the Lightning Octopus calendar (see it over there on the top-right?) continues to fill up.

I’m optimistic because we have amazing creators and organizers here.

So what Am I Doing To Help?

Mostly, I’m trying to overcome any knowledge gaps. Sometimes people don’t participate in events or groups, etc, because they just don’t know about them. That’s where I try to come in. I try to filter through the information overload and find gems that will bring people together.

I also try to give the geek culture here a “home-base.” People tell me that when they first heard of Lightning Octopus they were excited about the idea of some kind of organization around the nerd world here. That alone can galvanize people.

Also, I have some very fun plans for The Order of Electric Octopi.

I don’t want to share too much yet – lots of planning still. But I am very excited about it. (Tease!)

Lastly, I’m trying to water the roots of community with connections. When people tell me about a project they’re working on or things they’re excited about, I try to connect them with people who could help, or have similar passions.

Connecting people is by far my favorite part of this whole Lightning Octopus thing. Plus it’s another reason I’m encouraged by good events. They bring people together.

(And I should be clear that I’m not the only one fighting for geekery here. Benjamin and Bob over at Jackalope Ranch, Nerdvana, The Arizona Geek News Network, Geeksociated Press. All doing an awesome job and frequently filling in giant gaps that I’ve missed.)

So what do you think?

Sure, we still have plenty of challenges here, and plenty to gripe about. They’ve been here forever, and probably aren’t leaving anytime soon.

And maybe it’s my plucky blogger passion, but I really am excited for where this year takes us geeks here in the desert.

What say ye? Challenges? Solutions? Ideas? Excitements? Is that a word?

Lightning Octopus: Why I’m optimistic about Arizona’s Geek Culture is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Bluewater Productions

The first appearance of SNL in a comic was Marvel Team-Up #74, way back in 1978! In this issue Stan Lee hosts the show with “The Not Ready For Prime-Time Players” including John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd and Bill Murray, and the comedy troupe teams up with Spider-Man to defeat the Silver Samurai.

Hit up your local comic shop’s back-issue bins and you can probably locate a copy of this cool classic!

Marvel Comics

Speaking of the Avengers, have you seen the 10-second sneak-peek of the upcoming Super Bowl Avengers trailer? If not, take a look below!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Live from your comic store … it’s Saturday Night Live! is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

DC Entertainment, via AP

Under the banner of Before Watchmen, the series will form a prequel to that alternate history tale of Cold War paranoia and imperfect human heroes.

“After 25 years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original,” said DC Entertainment co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee in a statement carried by The Associated Press.

More from Matt Moore’s AP report:

Moore is not participating, but Gibbons noted that their original series was “the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work.”

In that vein, the publisher said that the writers and artists bringing the miniseries about Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, Comedian and the Minutemen include writers Len Wein, who edited the original series; Darwyn Cooke; Brian Azzarello and J. Michael Straczynski. Artists include Amanda Conner, Andy and Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Jae Lee, J.G. Jones, Lee Bermejo and Cooke.

Wein, who is writing “Ozymandias,” is also penning a two-page backup feature in each of the series dubbed “The Curse of the Crimson Corsair,” which is illustrated by John Higgins, who did the colors on the original “Watchmen” series.

“‘The Curse of the Crimson Corsair’ was actually my idea when we first started talking about doing these new stories,” Wein said. “Since, in the world of the Watchmen, DC stopped doing superhero comics early on and started a line of pirate comics instead, I thought it might be fun to see what one of the other books in the line looked like.”

That’s akin to the similar pirate comic that played out in the pages of “Watchmen” that Moore wrote called “Tales of the Black Freighter,’” Wein said. “‘Crimson Corsair’ introduces a new character to follow from the beginning of his adventure to its grisly end. I must say I’m having a lot of fun getting creeped out by what I’m writing here.”

Higgins said he and Wein have kept the sense of foreboding and darkness that permeated the “Black Freighter” story.

“What we are trying to achieve with the Crimson Corsair pages within the regular new series is to create a graphic ‘buffer’ and to use the darkness of the Crimson Corsair stories as a literary counterpoint to the regular book,” he said.

Looking ahead, Higgins said that even though the Watchmen has become a touchstone for comics and graphic novels, the new series can expand on its mythology.

“The challenge is to make the stories modern and relevant to 2012 and to show what can be done with respect and consideration for the source material that has inspired so many people over the years. By adding to the mythos and not to detract from it,” he said. “‘The Watchmen’ had such an influence on graphic storytelling since it first appeared and is a timeless classic. If we can create a new set of stories that can be enjoyed 25 years on, that would be an achievement and a reward in itself.”

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Before Watchmen: DC embarks on series of vigilante prequels is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

As this super-nerdy promo video says: May the Geeks be with you!

Feb. 16: The night that the geeks come out in Tempe is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

We now have an extended sneak peek at what Super Bowl viewers will see during the second quarter of Sunday’s big game. This comes more than a week after a teaser featuring a chorus of canine cosplayers barking out Darth Vader’s signature “Imperial March” theme music. Will it strike a chord on an emotional level like last year’s super-cute VW ad spot? You decide:

VOLKSWAGEN REVEALS GAME DAY SPOT

Featuring the iconic 2012 Beetle, Volkswagen returns to the Big Game with 60-second ad

Herndon, VA (February 1, 2012) – Volkswagen of America, Inc. revealed its new commercial today on its YouTube® channel. Viewers can catch a sneak peek of a special, extended 75-second spot online, with the 60-second version of the ad running in the second quarter of the Big Game. This is the third consecutive year that Volkswagen has advertised on Game Day.

“This is a perfect opportunity for Volkswagen to celebrate with the fans that have made 2011 such a record-setting year for the company,” said Tim Mahoney, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “This year’s commercial will build on Volkswagen’s ability to tell human stories simply while continuing to build on the brand’s momentum in the year ahead.”

Volkswagen’s 2012 Game Day commercial, “The Dog Strikes Back,” features a story of an adorable dog named Bolt who is inspired to whip himself into shape by the power and performance of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. The unexpected final moments are a sly wink toward the Star Wars™ theme of Volkswagen’s 2011 Game Day commercial “The Force,” which became a pop culture phenomenon and has nearly 50 million views on YouTube to date. The theme of the commercial is “Back. And better than ever,” which illustrates the success and momentum that the Volkswagen brand is enjoying in the U.S.

Volkswagen’s 2012 Game Day campaign kicked off with a teaser distributed in mid-January, entitled “The Bark Side,” featuring a choir of dogs barking along to Star Wars’ “Imperial March”. The teaser quickly became an Internet sensation, garnering over ten million views to date on YouTube. The “Imperial March” is the same John Williams’ composition used last year in “The Force.”

Following the success of last year’s advertisement, Volkswagen and Deutsch LA teamed up with Lucasfilm again to end the latest spot with a surprise twist. The final 15 seconds take place in the iconic Cantina introduced in Star Wars Episode IV, complete with a special appearance by none other than Darth Vader.

“We believe this spot underscores the Volkswagen brand’s unmatched advertising legacy. It manages to highlight the redesign and performance of the Beetle with the lighthearted touches that viewers expect from the VW brand,” said Mike Sheldon, CEO, Deutsch LA, Volkswagen’s creative Agency of Record.

The new ad is part of a multi-faceted campaign for the Big Game, featuring digital and social media activations such as a takeover of ESPN mobile and the YouTube homepage. In mid-January, Volkswagen launched a “Big Game” tab on Facebook that serves as a one-stop shop for all things related to the game, including The Bark Side teaser, the early online release of the ad, an “Intergalactic Invite” allowing users to send Star Wars themed party e-vites to friends for the Big Game, and more.

Volkswagen’s game day commercial bowls over Star Wars cantina is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

CollectToys.Net

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Hasbro, a company whose global reach and ability to innovate has made them immensely successful in the arena of brand re-imagination– as evidenced by their legacy of creating such franchises as Transformers and G.I. Joe,” said Relativity co-president Tucker Tooley in a statement. “We look forward to bringing Stretch Armstrong to audiences worldwide.”

“Stretch Armstrong is a great example of Hasbro’s rich portfolio of intellectual properties that we are continuing to develop globally,” added Hasbro president and CEO Brian Goldner. “We are excited to partner with Relativity on this movie as they are a growing and innovative studio.”

I’m sure you are thrilled and excited guys! The last Transformers movie soared past $1 billion global gross, after all. And people are pretty stoked about the new G.I. Joe flick, despite Paramount’s obvious missteps on the first installment.

Look for Stretch Armstrong on the big screen April 11, 2014.

A Stretch Armstrong movie is on the way is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Lucasfilm LTD. 2012

When the time came, many entered the theater high on their hopes and dreams for the continuing Star Wars saga, but many left feeling as though they had been force-fed Tauntaun testicles. Poor acting, a hackneyed story, reviled new characters and a complete demystification of the Force would make The Phantom Menace the most controversial film in the Star Wars saga. Some loved it, some hated it, but most were somewhere in the middle, not willing to accept that the saga they loved so much had taken such an ugly turn towards the dark side.

To his credit, creator George Lucas has never backed down or apologized for Episode I. The way he sees it, it’s his ship to fly the way he wants, and damn the proton torpedoes. So hold on to your asteroid: on Feb. 10, Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace will be re-released in theaters — and this time with state-of-the-art RealD 3D technology.

AMC Theaters Star Wars 3D Goggles

In the Valley, the participating theater is the AMC Mesa Grand 24 at 1647 S. Stapley Dr. in Mesa. It’s been rumored that Mesa was chosen due to its extraordinarily high levels of midi-chlorians. The opening weekend (Feb. 10 – 12) giveaways include Anakin-style Limited Edition 3D Glasses (first 400 guests) and Fighter Pod miniature collectible figures from Hasbro (ticket purchase required).

On Saturday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the AMC Grand 24 festivities will include a Star Wars LEGO Feature Area, Xbox 360 Kinect Star Wars game demos, character appearances and face painting. Go to AMC Mesa Grand 24 to purchase advance tickets.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Phantom Menace returns in 3D – ‘Dis is nutsen!’ is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

There’s little question that climate change (formerly known as global warming) is the real deal. The Earth’s average temperature has increased by 1 degree Fahrenheit over the last 100 years or so. While that might not seem like much, it’s enough to cause widespread chaos and flooding across the globe. Some of the more remote and colder areas in the globe are heating up even faster, causing icecaps to melt, polar bears to become homeless, and oceans to invade our homes. Warmer oceans create conditions for larger and more intense storms. In fact, floods, wind storms, hurricanes, and other storms are occurring more and more often as the world’s thermometer ticks upward.

What’s causing this global increase in temperature? Most agree that the infamous “greenhouse gases” are to blame. They trap the sun’s heat and radiation, causing a greenhouse effect, thereby warming the planet. Most of these gases come from energy (coal burning), transportation (such as cars, planes, etc), and livestock (yep, cows create loads of noxious fumes that harm the environment).

It appears that nerds may have the solution to this whole climate change thing. A few dudes from Intellectual Ventures (see, it even sounds nerdy) have come up with an idea, called StratoShield, that just might work. Taking what they learned from history, these guys plan to simulate the effects that a volcanic eruption would have on the globe. Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have often been followed by cold years. For example, Mt. Tambora in Indonesia blew its top in 1815, and the following year was the second-coldest year in four centuries for the northern hemisphere. Instead of detonating hydrogen bombs inside Earth’s volcanos like Xenu, these smart fellas plan to construct an 18 mile high hose supported with helium balloons. In a nutshell, the hose will release aerosols and sulfur into the atmosphere for a number of days. In essence, this is like applying sun screen to the planet, helping the atmosphere to reflect more of the sun’s energy, allowing the planet to cool.

Some of you may wonder what ill-effects this may have on Earth and its natural cycle, and you’re definitely not alone. Ideas like this beg the question: when is enough enough? Is there a line when it comes to environmentalism, and are we crossing it? After the medieval period, numerous volcanic eruptions causing a “little ice age.” Although Earth’s average temperature only decreased by a few degrees, this was enough to create harsh conditions across the globe for at least two hundred years. What if our sulfur-spitting-hose idea in the stratosphere goes haywire? What if the Earth’s temperature plummets? Hypothetically speaking, Arizonans would freeze, and that’s absolutely certain. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be hot than freezing cold. It seems to me that, while their intentions are clearly good (saving polar bears and beaches, etc), this idea might not be the best for the planet and the human race.

Do we need to do something to help our environment? Yes, absolutely. Maybe we should start by offering incentives for people to drive less or eat less red meat. Could we potentially screw up the planet’s natural cycle by trying to play “god?” Frighteningly, yes. However, even though this StratoShield idea seems a little crazy or far-fetched, it is already accomplishing its purpose. It creates dialogue. It helps us to realize that we are, in fact, in trouble. The sooner we understand this, the better, and the sooner we’ll be able to tackle the issues we’re faced with on a global scale.

Ryan Biggs is a huge fan of Formula 1 racing and soccer. He’s a dad, a self-proclaimed know-it-all car enthusiast, and an aspiring restaurant bathroom critic. Read Ryan’s posts >>

Can nerds save the planet? is a post from: Nerdvana. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.