Random Film of the Week: Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

Posted on December 14, 2012 by geelw

I’ve decided to keep things a bit lighter on such a heavy day here and not post reviews of a couple of games just out of common courtesy, Anyway, time for some much-needed comedy:

For his final encore (that’s a little vaudeville joke there, I think), the great W.C. Fields created one of the more surreal comedies of the era that’s just as quirky today as it must have been back when it was originally released. 1941’s Never Give a Sucker an Even Break is the not quite true, but very true story of Fields’ problems in getting his often outrageous for the time comedies past brainless executives and censors who deemed his material too wild for movie audiences. Playing himself, the film is basically Fields trying to sell a screenplay he’s written to a producer at the aptly named Esoteric Pictures with scenes from the script turning into some pretty bizarre and hilarious stagings thanks to some really fun special effects work and plenty of Fields’ comic genius.

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New G.I. Joe Retaliation Trailer: What, Still No Bulletman?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by geelw

And hey, where’s the Intruder? Anyway, after some reworking and a rather long delay (wasn’t this supposed to come out this year?), that G.I. Joe sequel is getting an official release date. It’s definitely much better looking than the first film and as you can see, they’re serious about the star-power on display. Hmmm, I wonder what the paychecks for the principals were? Bruce Willis has another Die Hard flick hitting theaters as well, so I’m guessing he’s saving up for a new boat or something. Or two boats. or a year’s supply of Headblades. I’m so glad he’s not an expensive toupee and Botox-using action guy like some others who will remain unnamed in this post. The man looks better as he is, I say…

OK, OK, I’m not really planning to see this in a theater, but it looks like it would be a heck of a lot of fun to catch on cable on a rainy Saturday or something. Some of these action flicks based on toys and comics are instant classics, but I’m not sure all the writing in the world or Willis and The Rock can save the fact that we’re looking at a film based on toys, er action figures that became a comic and an animated show, all of which were geared to kids who’d probably not be allowed to see it if it were released back when the toys first came out. Yeah, sometimes I think WAY too much about this stuff, but I just can’t take the Joes as seriously as some people who toss them up on a pedestal as some sort of ideal hero figure. Eh, whatever – pass the popcorn. I may as well enjoy the ride when I do get to see it.

EDF Recruitment Update! Earth Defense Force 2025 Coming to PS3, Xbox 360 in 2013

Posted on December 14, 2012 by geelw

The EDF Wants YOU! Well, not right now, but soon enough. Get ready for more big bugs, big robots and big futuristic weapons to take them out with sometime in 2013. Although the game is still working its way through development over in Japan, Sandlot’s upcoming Chikyuu Boueigun 4 (Earth Defense Forces 4) is indeed coming to North America and Europe as Earth Defense Force 2025 next year. For hardcore EDF fans like me, this is fantastic news, particularly given that we’re also getting Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable on the PlayStation Vita in February. Yep, I have the import and in fact, I’m currently playing through EDF 2 Portable on the PSP because I’m that hooked on the awesome fun of this pick up and play run ‘n gun series since about 2004.

As you can see from the lovely screenshots below, EDF 2025 is going to be Sandlot’s most polished work to date. Not bad at all for what was initially created as a budget game for the Japanese market. Now, all we need to see are some official game trailers and it’s even more on than it already is. While a concrete release date for EDF 2025 has yet to be revealed, the press release is dated “June 28, 2025”, but let’s not make anything of that until there’s a more official update in the future. All D3Publisher of America needs to do now is actually update their official site to include this game as well as EDF 2017 Portable, which is set to hit the PlayStation Vita on February 12, 2013. Between these two EDF games and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim coming out next year, it’s going to be an absolutely epic year for kaiju fans. And if that new Godzilla gets let loose next year, expect lots of screaming in the streets as we all run into the theaters to see these flicks and then into game shops to snap up these two games.

Dead Island Riptide Trailer: Death Takes A Holiday (Again)…

Posted on December 13, 2012 by geelw

It figures. The first Dead Island got a surprisingly emotional CG trailer that drew acclaim and major attention to the game, which turned out to be OK, albeit a bit buggy in spots. I actually held out for the recently released Game of the Year retail version after playing about an hour of the original because I knew Deep Silver and developer Techland would fix things up (and add all that DLC content I couldn’t get). Anyway, this new trailer for the sequel is another superb two-hanky CG masterwork which also makes me never want to go anywhere on vacation ever again. Damn undead and their people-chomping ways mucking up everything like that. Imagine that last postcard from the doomed couple in the video: “Having a blast on our trip – Wish you were here!” BOOM.

Hmm… then again, I actually don’t actually believe in zombies at all (thank you science education!), so my ass is safe as the breeze wherever I go. You can hole up with a shotgun, machete and a few thousand cans of beans if you like when the so-called zombie apocalypse hits. Me, I’ll just see some cranky-looking people stumbling around because all the Starbucks in the world will be closed. I’ll just carry a pocketful of coffee beans to toss at them and be able to get away while they’re rolling on the ground fighting each other for that fix.

Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Trailers: Platinum Games Leaves Me Speechless (Almost)…

Posted on December 13, 2012 by geelw

Konami in Japan has been posting a bunch of spectacular trailers and game footage from this upcoming Kojima/Platinum collaboration and I’ve just been looking at them and shaking my head at the rather insane amount of talent these guys have. Despite their rather vocal fan base, i don’t think Platinum Games gets true recognition for their work from some pro gaming journalists and that’s too bad. Granted, if you’re a supremely jaded internet know-it-all and just look at their action games as similar to other titles based on first impressions, you’re cheating yourself immensely. Bayonetta and Vanquish have some interesting depth and details you’ll discover only upon multiple replays and it looks like Revengeance will be their most impressive game to date. Of course, getting some hands-on time will be the true barometer of whether or not the final product is a winner, but I’m gathering that given the combined experience of all involved, that won’t really be something to worry much about.

FREE STUFF: GOG.com Plays Santa With Free Duke Nukem 3D For All…

Posted on December 13, 2012 by geelw

Ho, Ho, Ho! Once again, the fine folks at gog.com bust out something awesome and FREE for gamers everywhere this crazy holiday season. This isn’t the normal Duke, mind you, but Duke Nukem: Atomic Edition, which packs in the original game and a megaton of bonus content. In case you’re new to Duke Nukem, it’s the seminal politically incorrect first-person shooter that’s also a master class in game design, outrageous humor and tons of hidden goodies. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss the hours goodbye and even better, you’re not paying a cent. Hell, if that fat man flying around in his sleigh wasn’t busy doing that, he’d be sitting at home in front of his own computer blasting baddies and peeling off digital dollar bills to check out some jingle bells. Just don’t tell Mrs. Claus!

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Pacific Rim Trailer: What It Is and What It’s Not (A Handy Guide)…

Posted on December 12, 2012 by geelw

Let’s see now, based on this rather action-packed UK trailer, Guillermo Del Toro’s PACIFIC RIM is not:

a) A reality show about a custom tire shop in sunny California.
b) Anything resembling a porn film made in sunny California. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
c) For people who don’t like movies with and about giant robots beating the snot out of giant monsters and such.

I think that’s all you need to know for now (there may be a test later)… oh yeah, Earth Defense Force fans are probably happier about this one that your average film fanatic. It’s going to be a really crazy summer next year with all these cool flick hitting theaters, that’s for sure…

Street Fighter X Mega Man Gameplay: Love Means A Keyboard Is Harder To Break Than A Controller, Kids!

Posted on December 12, 2012 by geelw

Man, is this game going to have some gamers used to more casual “play it for me!” stuff jumping up and down on their keyboards HARD and screaming about it all over the internet. Granted, you can indeed use a controller to play this, but remember, throwing it at a monitor a foot away will cause one of two things to occur: you’ll either need a new monitor or new teeth or both should that busted controller bounce back and smack you in the mouth. Sure, you CAN try ducking, but I know you haven’t been exercising much and all that soda and chips in your belly has made you slow. Well, maybe wear a face mask like Vega or something…

The Man of Steel Trailer 2: The Pros & Cons of Being Super, Man…

Posted on December 11, 2012 by geelw

I’ll admit that the first trailer left me a bit cold, but I rather like this new one for a few reasons. Sure, it’s still going for a more emotional Superman (Oh, the humanity! Wait – how does he shave that lumberjack beard he’s got?) and yup, I still don’t like that drained out color palette (the most overused visual style in films these days), but some of the scenes were nicely done and I’ll admit to getting a little shiver when those pebbles started moving around before Supes goes airborne. I’m actually pleased that Michael Shannon is in the flick (as what looks to be a villain of sorts) as he’s got one of those interesting faces that lends itself to all sorts of roles (he’d make a GREAT Mike Hammer if someone got around to doing a film or TV series).

Anyway, with Chris Nolan behind the scenes and hopefully, director Zack Snyder getting over the disaster that was Sucker Punch (I still can’t make heads or tails of it other than as some sort of a hottie showcase reel), this could be a pretty awesome film. DC needs a nice new flick now that the Batman films have run their course, so it’s up to The Man of Steel to be the next big thing (especially with Justice League film rumors popping up). Will it beat the 1977 film as the best take on the character? I’m no psychic, but I think both will be see as classics for their different eras when all is said and done…

Random Art: Another Tree (Done Quickly)…

Posted on December 11, 2012 by geelw

While waiting for a package to show up here, I knocked this new tree out fairly quickly (must be that new A4Tech mouse again) – so much so that I accidentally added a bit of color in all that furious clicking and dragging. Oops.

I went back and put blacks back in so the tree didn’t look so weird, but i left a tiny bit in just because it would have been too much work to get into those tiny areas. I could have just redrawn those parts instead, but I was kind of in a hurry and prefer a bit of spontaneity in these tree sketches. Oh well, enjoy anyway!