Celebrate Your Geekdom
Fellow Guildie The One True b!X posted some awesome photos from Comic-Con, including the cast and crew of The Legend of Neil playing Rock Band at the Atom.com booth. Sandeep Parikh (series creator), Tony Janning (Neil), Felicia Day (the naughty fairy) and Mike Rose (Old Man) rocked out together. Here are some highlights from the epic event.
Check out the rest of The One True b!X’s Rock Band Photostream here, and other San Diego Comic-Con 2009 photos here.
When Terry Goodkind‘s Sword of Truth books were made into last season’s new hit fantasy series Legend of the Seeker, fans of the books both cringed and rejoiced. I know I struggled with it at first because I really liked the show but found myself over and over again yelling “NO NO NO NO” at the screen when they changed major events and characters. Eventually, though, I was able to separate (for the most part) the television series from the books in my mind and now less frequently find myself yelling NO. I really love the show and the actors on it and believe that the essence of the primary characters (Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, Chase, etc.) has remained intact while less prominent characters suffer the most personality slaughter (i.e. Jenssen, Denna, Michael and particularly Adie).
I’m especially fond of Bridget Regan as Kahlan Amnell and feel the only thing missing is the famous green eyes (but Bridget’s beautiful blue eyes are just as dramatic as Kahlan’s were in the books). While the gorgeous Craig Horner doesn’t physically match the description of Richard Cypher in the books (in fact, the D’Haran racial traits are completely absent in the series), he portrays the nature of Richard very well and he and Bridget have a fabulous on (and off) screen chemistry. I think Bruce Spence was born to play Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander and Jay Laga’aia captures the very essence of Chase. While the plot of Season 1 only loosely followed the story of Wizard’s First Rule, from the sneak peek above and comments made by the cast and crew at Comic-Con and on Twitter, Season 2 seems to more closely follow the events of the second Sword of Truth book, Stone of Tears.
While the late last-season introduction of the Mord Sith Cara (arguably one of the most important characters in the series) was considerably different than in the books, hopefully Season 2 will bring her closer in line with the important role she played in the books. It looks promising since the actress who plays her, newcomer Tabrett Bethell, has signed a six year contract with the show. I must say that the casting for Cara is perfect. When Mord Sith Denna was introduced in Legend of the Seeker, her character and behavior were so out of line with the cool and in control, seething and simmering Denna of the books that those episodes featuring her still make me cringe. With Cara, however, even though the events have changed, I think they nailed the persona. I look forward to seeing more of her in Season 2 even though I know they are taking liberties with her character as well.
My biggest concern for the series now is, will they introduce one of my personal favorite characters, Nicci? I believe that her story is very important and, if told by the series, should be told as closely in line with the books as possible since her role is important not only in Richard and Kahlan’s life but in the overall message of The Sword of Truth. If this season follows Stone of Tears closely, she should be showing up at some point this season and I am curious about who they might cast as the woman who is described as “a vision of the good spirits, though they themselves would fear her”.
In other casting news, Charisma Carpenter, best known for playing the character Cordelia Chase in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel, has been cast as Triana in the Season 2 opener while writer, director and actor Michael Hurst, best known as Iolaus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Amfortas in the Legend of the Seeker episode Revenant, will be returning to direct several episodes this season.
Season 2 is currently filming in New Zealand and will premiere November 7th. Can’t wait for November? Pre-order the DVDs (available October 13th) and pick up the books to get your Richard and Kahlan fix!
Order now at Amazon.com:
Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season
The Sword of Truth, Books 1-3: Wizard’s First Rule, Stone of Tears, Blood of the Fold
The Sword of Truth, Books 4-6: Temple of the Winds, Soul of the Fire, Faith of the Fallen
The Sword of Truth, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire
Phantom: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 2 (The Sword of Truth, Book 10)
Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 3 (The Sword Of Truth, Book 11)
Debt of Bones (The Sword of Truth Prequel Novel)
Fans of Disney’s 1982 cult hit Tron were given a treat at San Diego Comic-Con this year: a preview of the new sequel, Tron Legacy. I can remember seeing Tron in the theater and I loved it. I played the arcade game and had the action figures. I couldn’t get enough of watching the movie. Who would have thought that 28 years later the cast would return and make a sequel? It’s like Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album. Who’da thunk it? The Comic-Con sneak peek was finally posted on YouTube so in case you haven’t seen it yet, here it is. I can’t wait to see this movie!
Watch Ben 10 at San Diego Comic Con 2008.avi in Animation
Last year I had the pleasure of attending San Diego Comic-Con, thanks greatly in part to the good graces of my dear friend KirFect. I got to spend time with old friends, made many wonderful new friends, saw some amazing panels and even took in a few interviews. Sadly, my video camera was damaged on the way back home and I had no way of transferring my video to edit and get it online. It’s taken some time but I’ve finally been able to get the video transferred. While I can’t be at Comic-Con again this year in body, I’m already there in spirit. To help celebrate the greatest annual event in geekdom, I’ll be posting my videos from last year over the next few days. Enjoy!
Looney Labs has a reputation for creating fun, high quality games (such as the award-winning Fluxx series) and their newest addition is no exception. Are You the Traitor? is a game of deception in which you must hide your own identity while rooting out the identities of your foes. The story goes something like this:
Once upon a time there was a mysterious magical key that could unlock untold horrors if it fell into the wrong hands. One brave soul was entrusted with the care of this key in order to get it safely into the hands of a good wizard who would destroy the key forever, saving all mankind from the wicked it might unleash. In order to further safeguard the key, the key holder’s identity was kept secret. He travelled on his journey in search of the good wizard with several companions, trusted guards whose sole purpose was to protect the key and its holder. As the party approached the good wizard, an evil wizard appeared, hoping to capture the key for himself, but because he didn’t know which of the companions was the key holder, he quickly disguised himself as the good wizard in hopes of convincing the key holder to give up the key willingly to the wrong wizard. The key holder wasn’t the only one with allies, though, for among the trusted companions was a treacherous soul who intended to give away the identity of the key holder if only he could figure out which wizard was his master without giving away his own treachery. Caught at an impasse, the key holder had to choose who to trust, for the fate of the world rested in his hands…
The role you play in Are You the Traitor? depends on which card you are dealt: Key Holder, Guard, Wizard or Traitor. After dealing the cards, the wizards draw another card to determine if they are the good or evil wizard, then must close their eyes while the key holder reveals himself to the guards. Once game play begins, each player must fulfill their task. The key holder must determine who is the good wizard and present the key to him. The traitor must determine who is the evil wizard so he can try to give away the identity of the key holder without compromising himself. The guard must determine which is the evil wizard so he can capture him. The good and evil wizards must convince the key holder of their good intentions in hopes of being given the key.
Gameplay is free-form discussion, each player attempting to figure out others’ identities without revealing their own role. Because of the free-form nature of gameplay, game time depends on how many players are involved and how into character they get. Each round, treasure cards are given to the winning team and then the cards are shuffled and dealt again. The first player to earn 10 points wins the game.There are enough cards for 4 to 10 players so it’s great for parties. It’s recommended for ages 13 and up since the deception role-playing nature of the game may be beyond younger children’s understanding.
Artist Dave Harrington has provided some very nice artwork. The item cards are well designed and the player cards are full of character. The cards are beautiful, simple and elegant with icons at the top to help you identify your role and task. The cards are heavy with rounded edges so the corners won’t easily dog-ear or wear. The small package fits in a coat pocket so you can take it with you when you know you’ll be spending time with a group. Remember, the larger the party size and the more you get into your role (come on, ham it up!… you know you want to), the more fun will be had by all.
Are You the Traitor? is a great addition to your game library. You can shop for it online at Looney Labs and Amazon, or look for a retailer near you with Looney Labs’ handy-dandy Store Locator. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out their other popular games: Fluxx 4.0, Zombie Fluxx, and the new Monty Python Fluxx.
The Wonder Woman film has been languishing without a star for too long (Joss Whedon penned a script years ago but it was reportedly “thrown out” despite industry acclaim). Still in early development with a planned 2011 release date, one actress after another has been rumored to be attached to the film without any official confirmation. With the rest of the Justice League making (big and small) screen appearances in recent years, now would be the perfect time for the third corner of the DC Holy Trinity (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) to make her appearance. So, why hasn’t she? According to a Justice League movie site and IMDb both the Justice League and Wonder Woman films are slated for a 2011 release, set to battle against Marvel‘s The Avengers for moviegoers’ attention. While The Avengers has been pushed back to 2012, it’s still very much a happening thing. So where is DC? Where is our JLA and our WW?
One rumored problem was the lead actress. Megan Fox broke fans’ hearts when, hot off her Transformers success, she dissed the Amazonian princess as a “lame superhero”. Then Jessica Biel (Blade: Trinity) carefully avoided stepping on toes by saying that if the script and the character development was right she’d be “into that kind of thing” but then declined anyway. Australian fashion model turned actress Megan Gale was also “confirmed” by several websites as attached to the role, but in the year and a half since that announcement nothing else has been whispered. So, what’s the problem?
Diana Prince has gone through a lot of changes over the decades. Having been almost continuously in print since her creation in 1941, she’s run the gambit of personas. She’s really toughened up over the last two decades, though, shedding the campy image that dominated the 70s and 80s, due largely to the JLA cartoons. She kicks butt with the best of them now, so whoever gets the role of the Amazon Princess needs to be able to lay down some serious justice.
In reviewing the female action heroes (and actresses who played them in recent years), one unbelievable waif of a girl after another is presented. Wonder Woman needs to be just that — a Woman. A real-life, honest-to-goodness adult woman who has curves and charm, not just some stick-like Hollywood hottie. While actresses such as Mila Jovovich and Jennifer Garner are very believable action heroes, neither would be a good match for Wonder Woman. Talented movie chameleon Charlize Theron might be able to pull it off because she seems to magically become whoever she wants to be, but would she be interested in a role that could lead to sequels?
There is one actress who comes to mind who has both the curves and kicks. In the syndicated action fantasy series Legend of the Seeker, star Bridget Regan has proven that she has the acting and karate chops, as well as the beauty, to pull off the role of Amazon Princess Diana.
Each week, in her role as Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell, we watch Bridget as she kicks, punches and stabs the bad guys, sometimes even from horseback. She’s believable doing it because she really is doing it. She reported in a recent interview that the New Zealand stuntmen encourage her to hit or kick them as hard as she can, and she certainly seems to enjoy herself doing it. She’s gorgeous, talented, looks great in a corset, and can pull off a roundhouse and look mean doing it. On top of her fighting skills and great looks, she’s got charm. One minute she’s casting a glare that could freeze you in your tracks and the next she’s flashing a smile that melts your heart. Fans are so certain that she’s a perfect fit for the role of Wonder Woman, they’ve started a petition at Petition Spot to try to help get her an invitation to audition for the role. The latest rumors are that producers are getting serious about it, and Wonder Woman is supposed to get fast-tracked. Perhaps casting Bridget Regan in the role will be a boon for the production considering how popular Legend of the Seeker is at the moment. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather see in the role right now so I’m totally rooting for her. Go sign the petition and spread the word.
Good luck, Bridget!
Are you a Dave and Tom fan, or a fan of their Koldcast web series Safety Geeks: SVI? Tom recently announced that he and the other actors from Safety Geeks: SVI will be at San Diego Comic-Con this year! Here’s your chance to meet-and-greet with your favorite Professional Occupational Safety Hazard team.
Here’s when and where to find them:
Thursday July 23rd from 3 to 7pm at Autograph Booth AA14
Friday July 24th from 3 to 7pm at Autograph Booth AA11
Sunday July 26th from 2-5 (Booth to be announced)
Every year, Lucasfilm and Atom.com partner to bring you the very best of fan-made Star Wars films. While judges carefully select the winners for categories such as Best Make-up, Best Parody, Best Special Effects and other technical based attributes, the fans have an opportunity to pick their favorites. The Audience Choice Award voting begins on July 1 at Atom.com. This year, one of my favorites has been entered in the contest, Dave and Tom‘s Star Wars: The Fate of the Duel. If you haven’t already seen it, or you just can’t get enough of it (like me), make sure you watch and vote!
It doesn’t start until tomorrow in my neck of the woods, but I’ll be there bright and early tomorrow. If you’re like me and can’t make it today, you can check out the official website at transformersmovie.com to help tide yourself over until then. There are games, videos, wallpapers, buddy icons and lots of other goodies to transform your desktop.
I admit I still watch cartoons. I can blame it on being a mother who was concerned with what her children were watching when they were little but we all know that’s not the truth. I believe that a well-told story is as ageless as it is timeless. That’s why movies and books from before we were born still have an impact on us today. Times change, customs change, but people don’t change. There’s always a struggle to do what is right and good, no matter what era you grew up in. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a classic good versus evil tale of a young man who is the last of his kind and possibly the last hope for mankind. Drawing heavily from several Asian cultures and blending them with Western culture, Avatar has created a unique world and mythology of its own.
The people of this world are divided into four nations, with one of each of the elements as the central focus of their culture. Each generation someone (called an Avatar) is born empowered with one of the four elements — Earth, Water, Fire and Air — and through their influence, balance and peace is kept between nations. But the balance has been broken and the Fire Nation threatens to conquer all. As Avatar of Air, Aang and his companions Katara and Sokka must fight to restore the balance and stop the Fire Nation before it’s too late.
Some people might object to the watered down philosophies presented in Avatar: The Last Airbender but while the elements of Taoism, Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies are present in the show, they are uniquely blended and presented as part of the culture of this fantasy world and not as indoctrination for your children. What your children might learn from Avatar is that there are consequences to your actions, including how we treat our environment and resources and each other (Avatar won a 2009 Peabody Award for its “unusually complex characters and healthy respect for the consequences of warfare”).
Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons, from 2005 through 2008. Avatar’s animation style blended traditional anime with Western animation to create a unique animated experience. Each week over one million viewers of all ages watched Avatar. It won several awards during its run and garnered praise from viewers and critics alike. Alas, all good stories come to an end, and when Avatar: The Last Airbender’s end came in July 2008, over 5.6 million viewers tuned in for the two-hour series finale.
The appeal of this series wasn’t lost on M. Night Shyamalan. He took on the mantle of directing the film adaptation, titled The Last Airbender. Tentatively a trilogy, The Last Airbender is currently filming with a slated release in 2010, and is penned, along with Shyamalan, by the series creators DiMartino and Konietzko. Other encouraging names attached to production are Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy as producers (the team that brought us such films as Indiana Jones, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Sixth Sense, Arachnophobia, Back to the Future, The Goonies, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and roughly six dozen more) and special effects by Industrial Light & Magic. The teaser trailer for the film was just posted and I was so excited after watching it that I’m ready to dash over to Amazon.com to buy the DVD box set (my son and I missed the last half of the third season and series finale as we spent the summer camping). I am really looking forward to this coming out. It looks amazing and, with the team that’s working on it, I can’t imagine it being anything less then great.
Check out these other related links:
The Last Airbender on IMDb
The Last Airbender YouTube Channel
Avatar: The Last Airbender Nickelodeon Website
Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Complete Book 1 Collection DVD
Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Complete Book 2 Collection DVD
Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Complete Book 3 Collection DVD