- FILM: Superman to be more emo next time around? (Comic Book Resources)
- TV: Can “Stargate: Miami” be far off? (Hollywood Reporter)
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COMICS: Grant Morrison talks Final Crisis and Batman RIP (IGN)
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GAMES: Are we that much closer to a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game? (UGO)
THIS WEEK IN GEEK – Aug 27/08
27 08 2008Comments : 1 Comment »
Categories : Uncategorized
Geek Rant – Geoblocking
24 08 2008What is Geoblocking? It’s a sneaky bit of tech-fu wherein a webmaster blocks a certain range of IP addresses. Or put more simply, it stops certain countries from looking at a website. It’s used almost exclusively by TV networks to prevent people outside of the U.S. from accessing their web content.
Why? To make more money. The producers of the blocked content are trying desperately to stop other countries from seeing what they’re posting free for Americans so that they can sell the rights to broadcast said content in these countries. I recently ran into Geoblocking when I tried to check out “Gemini Division,” the new web-only sci-fi series starring Rosario Dawson. I live in Toronto and apparently we’ll have to wait for a Canadian distributor to buy and release the show before viewing it. Although, after watching the trailer on YouTube, I wasn’t quite as upset at missing this one…
This geek is worried. It’s called the World Wide Web. We should be using the Internet to move towards a global community, not to build more walls. And we especially shouldn’t be blocking entertainment. There might be a valid argument to block sensitive news items or documents from other countries in times of war, but I think we’re safe to let the world watch “30 Rock.” In fact, it’s important to let differing countries see each other’s entertainment. Peace comes through understanding, and what better way to understand a people than by experiencing what makes them laugh?
End Geoblocking Now!
PS – I’ve blocked Japan from viewing this post. I’m hoping to sell the rights to them for a hefty sum.
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Tags: Geek Rant
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THIS WEEK IN GEEK – Aug 20/08
20 08 2008- FILM: No annoying sidekick in Evil Dead 4 (MTV)
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TV: Scope out the fall Prime Time line-up (TV.com)
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COMICS: Felicity kicks bad guy butt (w/Trailer) (Comic Book Resources)
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GAMES: I find these custom Mario levels calming and hypnotic. (CollegeHumor) (CollegeHumor)
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Actors Playing Another Race
17 08 2008There’s apparently been some controversy over the film “Tropic Thunder,” in which Robert Downey, Jr. portrays an actor in blackface. The interesting thing is I haven’t read anything from the actual offended parties, only articles refering to this elusive “controversy”. I think this is the case because he is indeed playing a character who plays a black man. If Robert Downey, Jr. was playing the part of Mohammed Ali, people would have license to be upset (although I’d personally love to see that flick).
But it begs the underlying question: is it appropriate for an actor to play a race other than their own? Can “blackface” be acceptable? I would put forth it is acceptable if the filmmakers do it for a reason and do it well.
As an analysis of the issue, let’s take a look back at the cinematic history of people pretending to be other people’s people. Read the rest of this entry »
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Categories : Film
10 Things You Didn’t Know About: Batman
13 08 20081) He has a son in current comic continuity (the mother is Talia al Ghul, daughter of supervillian Ra’s al Ghul).
2) The audiobook version of the novelization of the 1989 Batman film is read by Planet of the Apes’ Roddy McDowall.
3) In the 60s, the comic book Batman had a pet dog named “Ace the Bat-Hound.” Ace even wore a mask like his owner’s!
4) The map of Gotham City used in the original Batman film is an inverted map of Vancouver, British Columbia.
5) His first vehicle in the comics was not his famous Batmobile, but a Bat-Plane.
6) Batman and Robin teamed up with Scooby Doo and the Gang in two episodes of “The New Scooby Doo Movies.”
7) There’s a tiny, magical version of Batman that pops up in the comics from time to time by the name of Bat-Mite.
8) In the french translation of Batman Forever The Riddler’s name is “Le Sphinx.”
9) The title of the show is never shown in any of the episodes of “Batman: The Animated Series.”
10) While Bob Kane is credited with the creation of Batman, writer and colleague Bill Finger suggested many changes which have since become iconic. These suggestions include the cowl instead of a Robin-type mask, the cape instead of wings and using gray instead of red in the costume.
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Tags: 10 Things You Didn't Know
Categories : Comics
THIS WEEK IN GEEK – Aug 11/08
11 08 2008
- FILM: Take a peek into Kubrick’s closet. (MilkandCookies)
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TV: Great news for “The Wire” fans. (Hollywood Reporter)
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COMICS: Should Robin be in the next Batman film? (IGN)
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GAMES: “I swear, officer! It’s just a life-size replica of a chainsaw-bayonet rifle!” (GameSpot)
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Review – The World Ends With You
10 08 2008
Final Fantasy makers Square Enix will both delight and confuse their fans with “The World Ends With You” for Nintendo DS. The company expands on their Kingdom Hearts portable “Chain of Memories,” and abandons their usual pseudo-medieval characters and backdrop for a more modern spin this time around. Neku - reassuringly imprinted with the prototypical Square Enix brooding, loner hero personality – wakes up in a strange city. He’s immediately thrust into a city-wide “game” wherein the players are forced to fight monsters and complete specific missions or face “erasure.”
” for Nintendo DS. The company expands on their Kingdom Hearts portable “Chain of Memories,” and abandons their usual pseudo-medieval characters and backdrop for a more modern spin this time around. Neku - reassuringly imprinted with the prototypical Square Enix brooding, loner hero personality – wakes up in a strange city. He’s immediately thrust into a city-wide “game” wherein the players are forced to fight monsters and complete specific missions or face “erasure.”“The World Ends With You” may be the best game so far to utilize the touch screen feature of the DS. While an unfortunately large number of DS games feel like touch screen capabilities have been either added as an lazy afterthought or shoehorned in to the detriment of gameplay, this game hits the nail right on the head. You only ever use the directional pad and the stylus for the duration of the game and it feels natural. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Review
Categories : Video Games
Role Call – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
9 08 2008Alan Moore’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Let’s pretend Steven Norrington’s 2003 bomb had never been filmed. Connery does it all the time. How should a faithful adaptation of The League be cast? Here’s Modern Geekery’s picks! Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Role Call
Categories : Comics, Film
