Celebrate Your Geekdom
A friend shared this with me today and I thought it was too beautiful not to share with you.
The House of Small Cubes is a 2008 Japanese animated short subject film created by Kunio Kato, with music by Kenji Kondo. It won several prizes the most being important the Grand prize for short films (the Annecy Cristal) at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 2008 and the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2009. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows in 2008.
Shout! Factory serves up Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX, another well-balanced DVD box set of the cult TV show.
You are cordially invited to step aboard the stranded Satellite of Love as its crew continues its ongoing assignment of viewing (and mocking) the most… ahem… misunderstood… films of all time! Join hosts Joel Hodgson and Mike Nelson as they celebrate the very first — and only — 19th DVD box set of the hilarious cult phenomenon Mystery Science Theater 3000 with their loyal, albeit morally misguided, crew — Tom Servo, Crow T. Robot and, of course, Gypsy!
The first two episodes are from The Comedy Channel seasons, hosted by Joel Hodgson, and the remaining pair are Sci Fi Channel entries hosted by Mike Nelson. Dividing the set even more neatly, Hodgson’s episodes both have the word “Monster” in the title, while Nelson’s begin with “Devil”.
Robot Monster, Season 1:
This hunk of cheese regularly shows up on Worst Movie Ever lists. It’s also fairly short, so the episode opens with a double dose of the Commando Cody serial Radar Men from the Moon: Chapters 4 & 5, “Flight to Destruction” and “Murder Car”. Then it’s on to the classic sci-fi B-flick, Robot Monster, featuring randomly inserted stock footage of stop-motion dinosaurs and dino-lizards, a bubble machine slash alien device that inexplicably gets a lot of screen time, and the titular robot monster, Ro-Man, who’s just a guy dressed up in a gorilla suit and space helmet. Ro-Man uses the “advanced” technology of his world to wipe out the human race in the first few moments of the story, but somehow has trouble tracking down the lone surviving family over the rest of the film, even though they’re only a stone’s throw from the primitive cave that serves as Ro-Man’s base of operations. To further complicate matters, Ro-Man develops a disturbing crush on Alice, the movie’s requisite hot-chick-scientist. In other words, Robot Monster is perfect riffing material for Joel and the ‘Bots, who spend the host segments imitating the aliens and mocking the complete lack of sense that the movie makes. Of note to MSTies, this is the final episode of the show to have a green theater seat silhouette, before it changed to the more familiar black. The bonus features on this disc are a new introduction by J. Elvis Weinstein (the original “Tom Servo”), the Larry Blamire Geeks Out featurette that gives indie filmmaker Larry Blamire’s perspective on the movie, and Robot Monster’s original theatrical trailer.
Bride of the Monster, Season 4:
As a prelude to the movie, the Satellite of Love crew riffs on Hired!, Part 1, in which a car salesman is really, really bad at his new job, inspiring Joel and the ‘Bots to stage Hired!: The Musical during one of the host segments. The main feature, Bride of the Monster, is an Ed Wood title that practically riffs itself. It stars two of Wood’s regulars, Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson, as mad scientist Dr. Eric Vornoff, and his mute henchman, Lobo, who are attempting to create a race of atomic supermen. Alas, Lobo gets distracted by the pretty lady his master intends to experiment on, and Vornoff discovers that a giant, man-eating octopus — a limp rubber prop in half of its scenes — isn’t, perhaps, the safest choice of pet to guard his lab against unwanted visitors. The bonus features on this disc are the retrospective featurette Citizen Wood: Making the “Bride”, Unmaking the “Legend”, the Inventing the “Invention Exchange” conversation with Joel Hodgson, and Bride of the Monster’s original theatrical trailer.
Devil Doll, Season 8:
Devil Doll is a typical possessed-ventriloquist-doll horror tale, except that the ventriloquist, in this case, is way more creepy, evil, and expressionless than his wooden puppet. Everyone is the movie seems to be mesmerized by The Great Vorelli’s stage act, despite his utter lack of talent and the peculiar tension between him and Hugo the Dummy. The film plods along as Vorelli plots to hypnotize a wealthy beauty into becoming his unwilling meal ticket… er, bride, with plenty of dead air in the script for Mike and the ‘Bots to throw their voices into. The bonus features on this disc are The Puppet Master: Richard Gordon on “Devil Doll” featurette (Gordon being the film’s executive producer), and Devil Doll’s original theatrical trailer.
Devil Fish, Season 9:
A French-Italian production filmed in Florida, Devil Fish is essentially a cheap knock-off of Jaws. Rather than simply presenting a freakishly big shark, though, the “devil fish” is a genetically engineered octopus/shark hybrid that’s escaped its creators and gone on a rampage, much like in Roger Corman’s recent Devil Fish-inspired Sharktopus. When the devil fish isn’t chomping anyone who gets within six feet of the water, the movie focuses on the characters wearing skimpy swimwear, tosses in a gratuitous love scene, and plays a soundtrack that sounds like it was lifted from softcore porn. Meanwhile, in between bouts of movie-riffing, Mike and the ‘Bots have to deal with some angry sealife of their own when they manage to offend dolphins with their prank call to SeaWorld, and the dolphins, who turn out to be a superior, space-faring species, show up at the Satellite of Love in their battle destroyer. The bonus features on this disc are the hour-long convention panel MST3K: Origins and Beyond at CONvergence 2009 (with Mary Jo Pehl, Frank Conniff, and Joel Hodgson as panelists), and Devil Fish’s original theatrical trailer.
The Steve Vance-illustrated covers of the slimline DVD cases are included as mini-posters, as usual, and the discs’ animated menus incorporate sound clips from the episodes that they go before, a now-standard detail for Shout! Factory’s MST3K box sets. What’s new in the Volume XIX set is the inclusion of a Gypsy figurine. It’s become a tradition that the end-of-year MST3K DVD release comes with a limited-edition bonus, beginning with the Crow. T. Robot figurine that accompanied Shout! Factory’s very first MST3K set in 2008, followed by Tom Servo in 2009. Gypsy’s arrival in 2010 sees the completion of the ‘Bot trio, and marks the first time that Gypsy has appeared as a toy or model. She’s in scale with her two smaller companions, so she towers above them, the hose that makes up her body coiled into a disc-shaped base that keeps her top-heavy purple head from toppling over. Tom Servo’s catchphrase of “I’m huge!” would be an appropriate tagline for this figurine, as would Crow’s “You know you want me, baby!” After all, the Satellite of Love wouldn’t function properly without the big-hearted Gypsy.
The question now, with all three ‘Bots accounted for, is what will the next bonus be? If you’d like to suggest action figures of Joel and Mike, or perhaps a Christmas ornament of the Satellite of Love, then e-mail Shout! Factory or post your ideas on their Cult Faves message board.
Pre-order at Amazon.com:
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX (Canada)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX (US)
Or order directly through the Shout! Factory website.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is distributed by Shout! Factory. For more Mystery Science Theater 3000 information, please visit The Official Mystery Science Theater 3000 Website and Satellite News: The Official Mystery Science Theater 3000 Fan Site.
from RiffTrax:
It’s still not too late to get your advance tickets! NCM Fathom and the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 invite you to a haunted house party like none you’ve ever experienced.
The event will be broadcast live to movie theaters nationwide TONIGHT at 8:00pmET / 7:00pmCT / 6:00pmMT and 8:00pmPT (tape delay).
Get tickets here.
from RiffTrax:
NCM Fathom and the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 invite you to a haunted house party like none you’ve ever experienced.
RiffTrax’s own Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will be back for an evening of hilarious riffing on the horror classic House on Haunted Hill! On Thursday, October 28, the guys treat this Vincent Price classic to their signature brand of rapid-fire comedy.
Comedian Paul F. Tompkins will join the guys as a guest riffer on a classic, never-before-seen short!
The event will be broadcast live to movie theaters nationwide on October 28 at 8:00pmET / 7:00pmCT / 6:00pmMT and 8:00pmPT (tape delay).
from RiffTrax:
RELEASE THE RIFFTRAX!! Yes, all too often a movie is reduced to a silly one-liner, a ridiculous catchphrase. This is a sad and unfair practice, demeaning to films with creative integrity and purpose. Fortunately, Clash of the Titans has neither! Upon viewing it, Sean Connery went out of his way to say “You are NOT the man now, dog!” When invited to a screening, Harrison Ford frantically searched for an excuse, finally issuing a panicked “I ALREADY WORK AROUND THE CLOCK!” When a friend asked Admiral Ackbar to come along and see Inception again, Ackbar suspected he was being tricked into watching this movie instead and said… well, you know what he said.
Only $3.99!
Get it here.
from GeekChicDaily:
Fanboy fun fact: a protagonist named Annikin Starkiller appeared in George Lucas’s 1974 rough draft of The Star Wars. He was brash, cocky, and eventually became friends with a green-skinned, gilled monster named Han Solo. Starkiller’s name was later changed to Skywalker, his salty nature transferred to a now-human Corellian scoundrel, and thereby, the Star Wars galaxy was saved from silliness for several decades. Before the dark times. Before the Gungans…
But old ideas die hard in the Lucas-verse. When Star Wars: The Force Unleashed debuted in 2008, developers who had grown up Star Wars pinned the Starkiller name to the game’s protagonist: Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. When The Force Unleashed became the highest grossing Star Wars video game ever, a sequel became inevitable. Not to mention a novelization, audio book, action figure, Lego vehicle, role-playing game and ice capade…
OK, maybe Wookies on Ice isn’t on the production slate just yet, but Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II hits stores October 26th, 2010. In The Force Unleashed II, players once again whoop Imperial a$$ as Starkiller. Or more specifically Starkiller’s clone, as (mini-spoiler) his original incarnation became one with the midichlorians in the first game’s conclusion.
Preview footage of the The Force Unleashed II looks significantly awesome, with Starkiller whirling dual lightsabers at his enemies, decimating legions of stormtroopers with the power of The Force and tossing around TIE fighters with his bare hands. Not that Vader needs to be too worried. We heard a rumor he’ll live on to star in Episodes IV, V, and VI.
from Shout! Factory:
Defragging ReBoot for DVD
Shout! Factory has partnered with Rainmaker Entertainment, Inc., to bring the cult Saturday-morning fave ReBoot to DVD. Binary jokes aside — though they are plentiful within the show — ReBoot, which debuted in 1994, goes down in history as the first fully computer-generated animated TV series, putting it well ahead of its time. Set within a computer mainframe, the program’s wit centers around computer and gaming lingo that could make your head swim in 0s and 1s. Look for ReBoot: Seasons One and Two in stores and a series collector’s set on ReBoot.com in early Spring 2011.
Speaking of the ReBoot DVD release… We’ve launched an art contest and are looking for the most unique rendition of your favorite ReBoot characters. Brendan McCarthy, a highly celebrated artist and the original production designer of ReBoot Seasons 1 to 3, will select five entries deemed as the most distinctive to be showcased in the series collector’s set in 2011. Winner(s) will also receive a complimentary copy of the complete series set. More details available at ReBoot.com. Deadline is December 3, with winners announced on December 13.
DARKSTAR is Almost Here!
After ten years in production, the long-anticipated DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie starring Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast members Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, Frank Conniff, Mary Jo Pehl, J. Elvis Weinstein and Beez McKeever hits the streets (November 5). It’s a rock ’n’ roll, sci-fi, stuff-blowing-up epic space opera that you watch like a feature film, but YOU direct the story and adventure on your PC or Mac, just like a video game. Buy it here, download it here (after November 5) and get more info here.
Keep up with the latest Shout! news throughout your day by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, visit our YouTube page for trailers, clips and music videos.
from StarWars.com:
The Force is back and better than ever — in Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Two, coming to DVD and high-definition Blu-ray Disc October 26 from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner Home Video. Featuring cutting-edge animation and a host of special bonus materials, the comprehensive collection explores the farthest reaches of “a galaxy far, far away” with all-new adventures set against the spectacular backdrop of the Star Wars universe.
Relive all 22 Season Two episodes — featuring bounty hunters, space pirates, giant monsters, mind-controlling brain worms and the return of Boba Fett! — and then dig deeper with the ultimate look behind the scenes of the hit TV series. Bonus features include a look inside the Lucasfilm vaults, with featurette interviews along with Director and Artist commentaries on each disc. In addition, The Complete Season Two will include a 64-page production journal with concept designs, original sketches and notes from Supervising Director Dave Filoni. And exclusive to the Blu-ray disc, The Jedi Temple Archives provides in-depth access to an extensive database of creative materials.
“Everything’s improved since the first season — the stories, the animation, everything,” said Filoni. “It’s bigger and better, and it’s going to look great in high-definition. We’re all just so proud of the series, and I think it shows; we’re bursting to share our production secrets, so the features are just full of fun insights from behind the scenes. As a fan, this is what I’d want.”
Created and executive produced by George Lucas, the first-ever TV production from Lucasfilm Animation explores the tumultuous time between Episodes II and III, expanding the scope of Star Wars beyond anything seen in the feature films. With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, the heroes of the Republic — including the valiant Jedi Knights and their loyal clone troopers — fight bravely to repel the attacks of the evil Separatists and their droid army. With fierce battles, expanded storylines and ground-breaking animation, this is a Star Wars adventure that is bigger, bolder, and more intense than ever before!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Two will be available October 26 for the suggested retail price of $44.98 for DVD and $59.99 for Blu-ray.
from StarWars.com:
She’s BACK! Left for dead after her failed gambit at the end of The Clone Wars’ second season, deadly assassin Aurra Sing has returned — and she’s out to redistribute the balance of power in “Assassin,” an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars — airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, October 22 on Cartoon Network.
Tasked with protecting Senator Padmé Amidala during a political mission to Alderaan, Ahsoka Tano is plagued by recurring visions of Sing’s return. Unable to clear her mind, Ahsoka begins to worry that the stress of war is finally taking its toll on her — until the blood-letting assassin reveals herself with an attempt on Padmé’s life. And after their last confrontation left Sing humbled, humiliated and presumed dead, the lean and mean bounty huntress is only happy for a chance at a rematch with the young Padawan…
“Aurra never dies. She gives what she takes and she kind of enjoys it,” laughs Jaime King (My Bloody Valentine 3D, Sin City, The Spirit), who voices Sing in The Clone Wars. “She does have a bad taste in her mouth [after the events of Season Two], but rather than being bitter and angry, she is doing what she needs to do. It’s a very cut-and-dried thing for her. Everything that happens makes her more intense and ruthless. She says bring it.”
Sing’s cruelty and merciless methods have certainly made her a favorite among fans; fascinating audiences with her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it introduction in the live-action Episode I, she’s since been elevated into the upper echelons of Star Wars icons. Her distinctive appearance — creepy yet seductive — plays into that mystique, giving her a visual flair that complements her ruthless demeanor.
“She’s long and lean and lanky, but she has curves. She’s perfect,” says King. “She’s got those long fingers; they’re spidery like she is. Predatory. Her physicality is very much a part of her, and it’s sexy. There are so many people who aren’t inherently beautiful, but their qualities and gifts make them so stunning. It’s the It Factor, and Aurra’s got It. Men love her because she’s hot and badass, and women love her because she’s strong and badass. There aren’t a lot of strong female characters like Aurra.”
Still, while Sing may be “badass,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s all bad, according to King. She may not necessarily be a friendly, compassionate type, but Sing nonetheless has a backstory that provides the drive behind her bad behavior, But don’t expect a comprehensive explanation of those motivations anytime soon.
“There’s a history we haven’t been told,” says King. “It’s up to George [Lucas] and Dave [Filoni] what they choose to show. I have my ideas, but those are secrets I like to hold on to; those are the layers that inform the character when I’m playing her. I’m never just pretending; it’s my job to understand why she does what she does, so that it comes from a place of truth. Each episode reveals more. It’s Star Wars; it touches lives, and I believe it will last forever. I love that.”
from Alivan’s:
In this edition of The Clairvoyant: FREE shipping AND free lightning bolt tattoos (look exactly like Harry) with every order… read below for details.
Magically (I know… I know… short but VERY sweet),
Finneas Alivan
P.S. If you didn’t know it we now have more than forty varieties of handmade magic wands. Click here to view our wand collections now.
from StarWars.com:
Purchases of $25 or more made at StarWarsShop between today and October 31 will receive one of four new exclusive Star Wars Halloween iron-ons illustrated by Star Wars artist Katie Cook (while supplies last)!
Even better, shoppers will get to choose which iron-on they want — Chewbacca mummy, Vader Frankenstein, pumpkin-carving Yoda, or R2-D2 ghost — although figuring out which one you want will be difficult!
StarWarsShop’s Star Wars Halloween store currently has some fantastic deals for Halloween shoppers, including Rubies costumes up to 40% off! And don’t miss the very cool exclusive Vampire Leia print which graced last year’s ILM Halloween Party invitation!
And for Katie Cook fans, don’t miss the most recent print in The Empire Strikes Back 30th Anniversary Artwork Collection — “Bounty Hunters” — available exclusively at StarWarsShop!
North American fans were delighted when A&E got the distribution rights to Farscape from ADV Films and released Farscape: The Complete Series in one box set, for about the same price that ADV charged for one season. Unfortunately, the rest of the world wasn’t so lucky. Now, for the first time ever, Farscape: The Definitive Collection is being released in Region 2 format for the UK fans, and it should be worth the wait. In addition to the full content of the North American version of the box set, the Region 2 version will include a nice little bonus: The Peacekeeper Wars.
UK fans can pre-order their copy of Farscape: The Definitive Collection at Amazon.co.uk.
from A&E:
Farscape: The Definitive Collection from A&E is a fan’s dream; all 88 episodes of all four seasons of the classic sci-fi show in one stunning box set, not to mention over 15 hours of bonus features including two disc mini-series The Peacekeeper Wars and rarely-seen special Farscape Undressed.
Farscape follows the adventures of astronaut John Crichton, flung through a wormhole to a far off galaxy while testing a prototype spaceship. Plunged into the midst of a battle, he is rescued by Moya, a living craft crewed by a motley group of escaping alien prisoners being hunted by the fiercely militaristic Peacekeepers.
Featuring mind-blowing sci-fi action, superb storytelling, great special effects and character designs by The Jim Henson Company, Farscape has stood the test of time as a landmark science fiction series. Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime with Moya’s crew — likeable hero John Crichton; renegade Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun; short-tempered warrior Ka D’Argo; psychic priestess Zhaan; mercurial thief Chiana and deposed monarch Dominar Rygel XVI.
Farscape: The Definitive Collection features: