New Trailer! Conan the Barbarian

By Crom what would our love of 80's chic revival be without Conan the Barbarian!?  Well, now we have it.  Will be a tough order to take on the massive expectations that some of us kids that were around have of such an nostalgic character created on screen by Arnold back when he was just some muscle-head struggling with English and not the evil Governator.

“I live. I love. I slay…I am content.” - Conan The Barbarian

The most legendary Barbarian of all time is back this Summer. Having thrived and evolved for eight consecutive decades in the public imagination- in prose and graphics, on the big screen and small, in games and properties of all kinds- Conan’s exploits in the Hyborian Age now come alive like never before in a colossal 3D action-adventure film.

A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.

Deftly adapted from the original works of Robert E. Howard and faithful to the mythology and psychology of his iconic character, CONAN THE BARBARIAN stars Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Ron Perlman and Rose McGowan, and is directed by Marcus Nispel.

Though I am not the biggest fan of the 3D movement, I have enough of an imagination to see with this sword and sorcery genre how it can really be fun for the big-screen-- especially for all the kids who don't know that Conan isn't always in reference to the red-headed, giant-Canadian late-night star.

Looking forward to a Frank Frazetta-inspired fantasy romp that goes back to the days of savage living amongst men,woman and beasts hitting this Summer...

oh, and of course some scantily-clad Rachel Nichols.














This post was written by:
big O

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Classic Material- Batman: The Lazarus Affair

Been sometime since I looked in the bins and gave due to the classic creators and their stories that have paved the way to make the world of comics what it is today.  So at that, going with legendary scribe Marv Wolfman's timeless tale- The Lazarus Affair-- originally told in Batman issues #332-335.  What makes this story so good?

First off, this is the beginning of the end for the classic duo of Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson).  Along with Dick maturing and beginning to grow out of his sidekick role, Wolfman spices it up by having Talia Al Ghul make her move on Bats-- which wears Robin down even more as the third wheel-- when Bruce allows her to stay with them.

While Talia continues to work Bruce out of his need to have his young ward around, Robin in somewhat of a desperate act- turns to none other than the recently retired Catwoman- to help him make Bats see how he is being manipulated.

Oh how sweet it is!  Sure there is plenty of action, which highly resembles the Bond flicks that were such the rage in the early 80's and of course some undercover detective work- where Bruce and Talia try to figure out who has been siphoning off millions from Wayne Enterprises.  Meanwhile, Selina and Dick are working to figure out the haps on some odd local gang dealings with Lucious Fox's son and are tipped off by King Faraday to meet in in Shanghai for some serious Bat-biz. 

Catwoman slowly begins to show signs that Robin isn't the only one emotionally conflicted on their adventure.  In classic Wolfman fashion, he pours it on thick with the drama and tugs at the emotional shackles he has you locked into. 

After more tussles with mutates and other baddies, everyone ends up getting captured, well except Talia and as some of us may have thought...there is something else sinister going on.  Some voice from behind the scenes continues to tell Talia that there is only death without joining him/her...and soon enough we find out why.  Yes, a Curious Case moment.
Low and behold, the dark force behind everything is a very much alive--the Demon's Head-- Ra's Al Ghul.

 Ra's uses the Lazarus Pit to sway his daughter back to his side and looking like a 20yr old again...ah, sorry Selina!


Though you feel a lot more of the age in this book in the fight scenes and would would make any MMA grappler feel a bit..ahem..indifferent- this book does go out with a bang.

All is well back in the batcave, Selina retains her mysterious single-life, Talia's youth and moral standing is restored though she decides to do her own thang, leaving Robin & Batman back to their bromance status-- free and clear of any women to come between them..for now..

The late Jim Aparo covers are a thing of beauty.  Classic realness yo.  Out!

This post was written by:
big O

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I HAVE THE POWER!

Somewhere along the line, while HE-MAN, the animated series/half-hour toy commercial was at its peak, some enterprising, self-proclaimed studio genius must have said, "Dolph Lundgren! He'd be a perfect He-Man!" The error lay, of course, in not realizing the differences between the two: one is a lifeless, two-dimensional caricature of masculinity; the other is a cartoon character.

So instead of a faithful adaption of the cartoon series, the producers offered this stripped-down rendition (scaled back, one would suppose, to accommodate the thespian abilities of its star). Lundgren -- blond, brawny and with a set of pecs that would give Dolly Parton pause -- plays the superhero locked in an eternal, epic battle with Skeletor, a power-crazed super villain played by scenery-shredding "superham" Frank Langella. They move through the story, such as it is, as statically as their counterparts in the afternoon kiddie cartoon.

Langella, (made up to look like Jack Palance with leprosy), aims to take over the planet Eternia, a war-torn paradise ruled by the Sorceress of Greyskull Castle ("St. Elsewhere's" Christina Pickles, wearing what appears to be a chandelier on her head), but her champion He-Man opposes him with his mighty sword. The titanic battle is brought to Earth when a brilliantly grating little troll (Billy Barty) magically transports them to Colby, Calif., via his Cosmic Key.

Actually they were headed for another planet, but a stray power bolt (or perhaps a chintzy producer) altered their orbit. Why build an out-of-this-world set when you can just go down to the mall and shoot off sparklers? So Earth waitress Courtney Cox and her boyfriend Robert Duncan Mitchell are drawn into the otherworldly warfare when they happen to find the key, mistaking it for some sort of Japanese stereo speaker.

Director Gary Goddard had previously created mythical kingdoms for Universal Studios -- "Kong on the Loose" and "Conan." And let's just say he hadn't quite made the leap from tourist traps to feature films. The actors are basically on their own -- either hamming it up behind a mask ( Langella), or nearly numb (Lundgren). It sounds as if the Scandinavian-born muscleman had been studying under Stallone's diction coach, but he has a sort-of-sweet, shining charisma, grinning and glistening, wearing thongs and things and accentuating his funkiness with plenty of grease. (It takes a lot of Wesson Oil to make a movie like Masters of the Universe.) Goddard later went on to direct the live action segments for the Terminator 3-D ride.

Over the years, Hollywood keeps threatening to remake He-Man or collect royalties from Showtime Beyond. Please do us a favor, stop! I rather see Mowgli and the Jungle Book come back to life.

Currently airing this month: Showtime Beyond

08/19/10 at 6:15 AM
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This post was written by:
stan

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Gaiking: The OG Super Robot Mecha

photo courtesy of Toys2Remember.com

Toy robots kick ass. We all know that. Especially for the late 70's-80's kid ages 7-11. The impact of Star Wars and Japanese robotic characters granted kids to be masters of their universes crafting fun action scenes together. Along with siblings and friends, make shift fortresses were created with whatever was at hand while arguing over toy selection.

These action scenes were then heightened through the catchy, monotone, pre-pubescent robotic noises that command authority and impact. The laser-like sounds and gigantic explosions come as natural as blowing bubblegum. I had the pleasure of owning an Ultraman, Maxmillin (Disney's Black Hole), a slew of Transformers and even a Go-Bot or two. Yet none, did more damage than my 2ft. tall Shogun Warrior (SW) Gaiking. I only had one SW cause I had no idea there were two others nor really cared to ask. I simply focused on kicking and smashing all miniscule action figures to bit.

As I'm sure many of you can appreciate (especially the 30-somethings), the action heroes we held and breathed life into in our homes continue to make their way onto the big screen. I was pleased to see ol Gaiking arise this week. Despite losing all his missles, and eventually making room for my toy Godzilla. Gaiking was a memorable homeboy.

And as for that Gaiking teaser...

This post was written by:
tim-chi

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Smoke bombs dummy, not stink bombs!

Whether a newbie or veteran fan, few can resist the stealth and skills of the greatest warrior to grace this fine land: The 80’s Ninja!

That’s right folks; take a trip back to memory lane where Ninja movies ruled all. Mixed in this miso soup of greatness was 1983’s Revenge of the Ninja, one of many Master Sho Kosugi’s great films.

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Life Imitates Art- G.I. Joe

Yo Sienna!!  i meant Joe...pure 80's nostalgia. somewhere between the first experience of watching transformers and the second. plenty eye-candy indeed with sienna miller, rachel nichols, ray park(not korean) and byung hun-lee (not japanese ;P).

great moments, many cheesy flashbacks, tense-action CGI sequences and a fun little reunion between the mummy alumni led up by stephen sommers.

i recommend for all but just know you aren't going into a major epic summer blockbuster...i give it 3.5 spam masubis with terriyaki sauce.

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