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Posts Tagged “
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what to watch
Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer Is The Black Cat!
The promo frenzy for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull kicks into high gear this week, with Shia LaBoeuf appearing all over the airwaves to explain his Fonzie-esque character Mutt, plus a new Sci Fi Channel special about the real-life crystal skulls. But if you're not obsessing about Indy and his skulls, there's also the season finale of Smallville, which sees the departure of half the show's cast and creators in a hopefully explosive conclusion. And if that doesn't make you want to jump on your TiVo, then how about Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer playing the Black Cat, Spider-Man's baddest girlfriend? More »
9:00 AM on Mon May 12 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
5,197 views,
26 comments
Latest by txtracer: I think the original American Gladiators was almost certainly inspired by The Running Man (at least in part). RM came out in 1987, AG came out in 1989. It probably also owes a debt to pro wrestling's growing more »
new comics we crave
Summer Movie Madness Hits This Week's Comics
You'd be forgiven for thinking that the comics industry has gone movie mad this week, judging by the books hitting stores tomorrow. Well, more movie mad than usual, perhaps. If it's not Marvel capitalizing on the success of Iron Man with two new Iron Man series and many other books starring the chrome crusader, it's a sequel to one of last year's summer blockbusters, and the long-awaited conclusion to a story by one of Hollywood's one-time top directors. Celluloid craziness and more, under the jump. More »
9:00 AM on Tue May 6 2008
By Graeme McMillan
4,205 views,
6 comments
Latest by JohnnyZito: Maybe now that the action comics annual is dropping someone will be allowed to do something with the kid. more »
eradicating camp
Ever since the first cheesy monster or goofy robot leered out from the cover of a pulpy magazine, science fiction has struggled to shake off a certain tinge of campiness. No matter how hard creators may try to tell cool stories, that slightly ironic silliness is always lurking just outside the frame. And there will always be science fiction which takes those little hints of camp and amplifies them a million-fold. A little campiness may be fun to get stoned and giggle at, but it also stands in the way of telling amazing tales about the impact of technology on humans. Here's a rulebook for rooting out the campiness from science fiction.
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21 Ways To Eradicate Campiness From Science Fiction
Ever since the first cheesy monster or goofy robot leered out from the cover of a pulpy magazine, science fiction has struggled to shake off a certain tinge of campiness. No matter how hard creators may try to tell cool stories, that slightly ironic silliness is always lurking just outside the frame. And there will always be science fiction which takes those little hints of camp and amplifies them a million-fold. A little campiness may be fun to get stoned and giggle at, but it also stands in the way of telling amazing tales about the impact of technology on humans. Here's a rulebook for rooting out the campiness from science fiction.
More »
what to watch
Play "Spot The Star Trek Actor" On This Week's Shows
It's when times are lean that you need a really good tracker — someone who can scout through the barren underbrush of the TV schedule and forage for programs worth watching. We're still on a severe diet, thanks to last winter's writers' strike. But there are some worthy programs out there. We have two preview clips from Thursday's all-new Lost episode, plus looks ahead at new episodes of Smallville, Doctor Who, Sarah Jane, Spectacular Spider-Man, Transformers and Ben 10. Plus the Sci Fi Channel finally breaks the cheese-ometer. Listings, with minor spoilers only, below the fold. More »
9:00 AM on Mon May 5 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
3,369 views,
19 comments
Latest by fluxfire: Is Big Bang Theory Science Fiction? Maybe in the same ways the British comedy Spaced was. No it's not technically scifi, but there is a love and appreciation for all things scifi in it. more »
public service announcements
Scifi PSAs: Because Knowing Is Half The Battle
G.I. Joe's Recondo teaches that the more you know, the less likely you are to hide in a fridge. Thanks, Recondo! Although honestly, it is a pretty great hiding place. Back in the day, Saturday mornings weren't just a place for awesome science fiction cartoons, they were also a chance for the government to instill morals into the minds of children via their favorite characters. After the jump a collection of some of our favorite science fiction Public Service Announcements, including Transformers, He-Man and Power Rangers. More »
eli roth
Transformers Meets Cloverfield, from the Director Of Hostel
Hostel director Eli Roth is sick of doing torture-porn, and he's in the home stretch of writing a huge-budget PG-13 science fiction movie that he says is inspired by Transformers and Cloverfield. He isn't giving any details about the new project, except that it'll feature "mass-destruction" and pandemonium. (The other thing Cloverfield and Transformers have in common, of course, is the dreaded shaky-cam [TM].) Roth hasn't completely changed his tune, however: he'll still film some ultraviolent scenes, to include on an unrated DVD for his splattery fans. [FirstShowing]
transformers
Michael Bay Plays Internet Punk'd
This just in: Michael Bay is messing with your head intentionally. Or, at least, he is if you're one of the people who's been paying attention to the various spoilers and leaks from the second Transformers movie. Because according to Bay, almost all of it is fake, produced by the studios to keep fans guessing. More »
morning spoilers
Is Optimus Prime Getting A Makeover In Transformers 2? See For Yourself
This morning's batch of spoilers are a nice mixture of the official story and the dirty underground bootleg version. Some guy got hold of a bunch of Indiana Jones info and posted it on his MySpace blog — including an outline of the movie's storyline. And then there are images that could be leaked concept art from Transformers 2, showcasing a whole new look for Optimus Prime. And then there are tons of new details about upcoming Lost episodes, and three new clips. And some Doctor Who filming pics. Plus minor Heroes spoilers, and some new Smallville stills. In spoiler space, nobody can hear you scream. More »
atlantis rising
Are You Ready For War With High-Tech Undersea Aliens?
Writers Alan Kurtzman and Roberto Orci managed to transform the old Transformers franchise into a hit movie, and everyone's hoping they'll do the same for Star Trek. But will they be able to work similar magic with a graphic novel that almost nobody has read, that hasn't even finished publishing in comic-book form? They just signed on to adapt Atlantis Rising, a comic book about underwater aliens who want us to stop polluting the oceans. (But at least the aliens look like porn stars.) More »
poll
Which Big Summer Movie Ruined Science Fiction Forever?
With more big summer spectacles exploding, laser-blasting and CGI-ing all over the place, is serious, thoughtful science fiction being pushed out? Have movies like Transformers or Star Wars tractor-beamed the genre of science fiction away from perceived as serious literature, even in the book world? And which giant battle cruiser of a movie deserves the most blame for turning the genre into an amusement park ride instead of an exploration of our place in the universe? Vote for your scapegoat below. More »
found footage
The Most Awesome Transforming Robot Battle In Movie History
A massive battle-robot, piloted by Achilles (Gary Graham) flies up into space, only to get shot in the foot and crash back to Earth, in this amazing sequence from 1989's Robot Jox. Achilles' robot fighter then transforms into a massive tank to take the fight to his Russian attacker's four-legged war-machine. Achilles shoots Alexander's four-legged 'bot in the crotch, but then that same crotch opens to reveal a giant chainsaw, tearing into Achilles' cockpit. This is just one of the amazing scenes from what may be the greatest fighting robot movie of all time. More »
transformers
Welcome Megatron, Our Replacement Ruler
Come the summer, all your base are belong to Megatron. As well as the bases of everyone else on Earth, if writer Shane McCarthy is to be believed. The complete and utter domination of the planet by Optimus Prime's nemesis and his Decepticon clan is the main idea behind a new, year-long comic series, Transformers: All Hail Megatron, premiering July from publisher IDW. More »
tv this week
Battlestar Galactica Is Back... And We Have A Plan
There's pretty much only one big science fiction show on the schedule for this week: the long-awaited return of Battlestar Galactica on Sci Fi. And the other big news of the week is Spike's huge Star Wars marathon, including the first time one of the prequels has ever been televised. But there's some other worthwhile stuff going on, including a decent Torchwood, the end of Legion of Superheroes, and a major turning point for the animated Transformers. Oh, and you can learn how to live to be 150. What can television not do for us? Minor spoilers ahead. More »
9:00 AM on Mon Mar 31 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
5,263 views,
36 comments
Latest by Metropolis: @braak: You can get the complete definitive edition in one collect for around 150 now. Its not cheap but its a ton better than buying them separate. I wish I would have waited for the complete box set but can't more »
morning spoilers
A Slippery New Foe, In Heroes Season Three
Lots of little spoilers this morning — including the focus of an upcoming Lost episode, who's not coming back on Smallville, and which Battlestar favorite will turn up again soon. Plus we have some new promo pics from Battlestar season four. There are also new leaks for Heroes, Torchwood and a new Transformers comic. This is your one and only spoiler warning! More »
new comics we crave
What To Buy When Jenna's Let You Down
Sure, there may be other comics coming out, but on a week where Jenna Jameson's Shadow Hunter #1 ships to comic book stores across this proud nation, is there any point talking about any of them? ...Oh, wait. Shadow Hunter is actually a generically dull story about a woman dealing with demon heritage that we've all seen more than once before, and something that wouldn't get a second's publicity if it wasn't for the connection to one of porn's favorite daughters. In that case, let's talk about the other things you can pick up this week after all. More »
9:00 AM on Tue Feb 19 2008
By Graeme McMillan
1,914 views,
9 comments
Latest by CrispyShot: one of porn's favorite daughters That is sooo the wrong mental image... more »
sentient cars
Scifi Cars That Are Smarter Than KITT
The two smartest cars in the universe get chained up and whipped, until they escape using their super lasers, in this scene from Power Rangers In Space. With Knight Rider zooming back onto our screens this weekend, everybody's acting as though KITT invented the super-smart car. But cars with a mind of their own have a long and awesome history in science fiction. Click through for our roundup of sentient cars that aren't called KITT or Bumblebee. More »
new comics we crave
This week's comics are all about nostalgia, from a new Speed Racer comic to some reprints of the strangest Silver Age comics. One major highlight is the One Man Army Corps, Jack Kirby's 1970s vision of the world of tomorrow. Are you ready for "THE WORLD THAT'S COMING?" Find out, after the jump.
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Read The Comic Book Gloria Steinem Tried To Ban
This week's comics are all about nostalgia, from a new Speed Racer comic to some reprints of the strangest Silver Age comics. One major highlight is the One Man Army Corps, Jack Kirby's 1970s vision of the world of tomorrow. Are you ready for "THE WORLD THAT'S COMING?" Find out, after the jump.
More »
9:00 AM on Tue Feb 5 2008
By grae
3,289 views,
10 comments
Latest by ideaman2020: Personally, I can't wait until next year, when it's revealed that Steve Rogers is not dead... more »
