More Apologies: My Split Seconds in 16 Seconds of Fame…

Posted on September 20, 2013 by geelw

OK, I didn’t expect this, but oh well… I’m slightly (well, OK… well, not really) “famous” again. Those of you who know me will want to look closely, as I’m in this 16 second teaser for Toho’s upcoming 謝罪の王様 (King of Gomen Nasai or The Apology King) in two spots. It’s not the first time I’ve been in a TV commercial, but it’s my first Japanese ad. Um… I think. I also went to a preview for a film about a ywar and a half back that was filmed, but I never checked to see if an ad came from that one. Anyway, if you happen to be IN Japan (and I know a few folks who are), feel free to see this funny flick that opens on September 28, 2013 there. Here’s another bit from the film (I’m not in this one, so watch it this time!):

By the way, my droogies… I have not a single solitary clue if Toho is looking at US distribution, but I think they should as it’s quite a hilarious slice of Japanese culture and packs a few nice surprises along the way.

Speaking of The Monkey’s Paw, This Book Machine Makes You Read More!

Posted on September 20, 2013 by geelw

While I was poking around looking for a movie poster for that The Monkey’s Paw remake, I came across this wonderful image from the blog Beach Bungalow Eight. Apparently, there’s a bookstore in Toronto, Canada called The Monkey’s Paw that has a supremely cool custom made book vending machine called the Biblio-Mat. Drop in two bucks Canadian, get a random book. Brilliant idea and yeah, we NEED these in EVERY library across America if only to keep people reading REAL books (and RANDOM ones at that!). Oh, Canada! Why do you get all the coolest things sometimes? And, no… Poutine isn’t on that list of “cool” things because it makes my heart stop in its tracks and want to look at it for too long (and I don’t get to breathe for a wee bit too long after that)…

The Monkey’s Paw Trailer: Wash Yourself of That Hand!

Posted on September 20, 2013 by geelw

Yeesh, how OLD is this story? Let’s see now, W.W. Jacobs wrote it in 1902, according to Wikipedia (and they’re NEVER wrong, right? Heh.) and it’s been mangled into other stories, films, TV shows and comics ever since. Warner Bros. and Chiller Films are bringing it back in this new flick that doesn’t look all that “scary” to me, but hey – you may be shaking in your shoes right about now. Not sure if this is in theaters in October or straight to video, as I’ve only found one poster link and it doesn’t have any rating info on it at all. Well, it’s not as if I’ll go see this… but YOU might want to. More details to follow at some point. I love a good mystery… but only to a point.

Humor? So, Microsoft Says NOT To Stand That Xbox One On Its Side… Or Else.

Posted on September 20, 2013 by geelw

Given that the current model Xbox 360 can indeed be placed upright (although it can lead to disc scratching if the surface it’s placed on isn’t perfectly level and subject to being bumped into while playing a game or watching a DVD), it’s a given that some owners of the upcoming Xbox One will be looking to do the same with Microsoft’s new system.

However, according to this GameSpot UK article, a company representative says vertical orientation isn’t how the new console was designed. Of course, there will be a ton of hard-headed or space in that entertainment center challenged gamers who won’t follow the company’s “suggestions” at all or try out that standing position just once to “see if it works”, and you can never stop those folks from doing what they do.

On the other hand, I personally feel that there’s another, far sinister reason they don’t want you to stand that thing up… especially if you happen to do so and place that new, improved Kinect on the now top part of the system and power the thing on. To wit (actual test footage stolen from a Microsoft test facility):

(thanks, Donald Carten!)