What started as an April fools joke soon became a reality after overwhelming demand. Earlier last year Thinkgeek and Ion released the Ipad Icade. Compatible with both the first generation Ipad as well as the Ipad 2, this might be a dream come true for any owner of the tablet device. But how well does it hold up to an actual arcade cabinet?

Out of the box it is easy enough to build (yes, some assembly is required), though you might run into some difficulties when having to screw the parts together. The buttons and joystick feel like a genuine arcade machine and are well constructed, nothing feels cheap. It even has a red light in the front that simulates an arcade quarter slot. After you have the Icade built it is easy to connect it with your Ipad via bluetooth.

When first released there were only a handful of games available that supported the hardware. Now there are well over two dozen games that are Icade compatible but most of them are new as opposed to the arcade classics like Pac Man or Atari Classics. This is where Imame 4 all comes into play.

If you jailbreak your Ipad and follow some very specific instructions (this is no easy task mind you and will take a lot of online searching), you can download countless arcade classics to play on the Ipad like X-men, Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Fatal Fury, 1941,Street Fighter, and Metal Slug. Imame 4 all is what makes the Icade worth having and gives access to countless classic titles, if you are willing to take the moderate risk of installing it.

Not to suggest that none of the new games are not any good, Silverfish is actually one of my personal favorites.There are many that feel like classic games but I enjoy the Icade most while I actually am playing a genuine arcade classic.

Now that the Icade has gained so much software support it is easily the best accessory you could possibly own for your Ipad. Even when you are not playing nostalgic games, it makes a great display/stand. The only downside is the $99 pricetag, which I cannot complain too much about since It is a very well built and very entertaining device to own.

Grade: A-

Purchase the Icade HERE!

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SOURCE: misskatequinn.tumblr.com

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Let us get one thing straight, I am a complete Disney whore. I grew up on Disney classics and I watch them today with as much enthusiasm as I was when I was ten. That being said there have been countless Disney themed games over the years which have been hit or miss. The most memorable, and most entertaining, being Kingdom Hearts. Jumping between my favorite Disney films and kicking some heartless ass square-enix style you say? Sign me up! It successfully incorporated challenging gameplay with a nostalgic feeling that made it the best Disney experience I ever had on a console. When Disney Interactive announced Disney Universe earlier this year, you may have seen me nod my head and say “cool”, but my inner child was foaming at the mouth and having spasm attacks in anticipation of playing this game. So does Disney Universe strike the right chords with me as Kingdom Hearts did? Or should this be locked in the Disney vault for the rest of eternity?

When you begin playing, it is clear this was made for children. The combat only requires one button while the puzzles are fairly un-challenging. You can play with up to four players but since this hardly qualifies as a “party game” it does not feel all that necessary. The enemies can be a little more difficult in large numbers. They can attack you, steal coins, and build numerous traps in the environment that will instantly kill you. They are the extent of this game’s challenges.

Each of the six provided worlds manage to encompass the Disney or Pixar movie it is based on perfectly. From “Pirates of the Caribbean” to “The Lion King”, it feels like I have stepped into a Disney film. Each world is divided in three sections, each of which is three levels long so you will be kept fairly busy. The graphics are nothing to write home about, but for a kid’s game they are very clean and smooth. This, unfortunately, is the only element that differentiates each three level long world.

With the exception of the obvious cosmetic differences, the gameplay is exactly the same and becomes repetitive really fast. What disappoints me the most is that the same can be said for the forty five unlock-able character costumes as well. Instead of each costume granting different powers and moves, they essentially all do the same thing. Each costume can be upgraded by finding secret keys in each level that unlocks a chest which grants you an upgrade star. So if you miss the key or forget to go back to unlock a chest, you are sh*t out of luck. The upgrade system is heavily flawed since I always imagine it is through experience and battle that a character gets upgraded, not by finding occasional objects.

Disney Universe is not a terrible game, but it is not a very good one either. Sure it might keep your eight year old entertained because he has the attention span of a gnat, but this could have been so much better and it is frustrating that it is nothing more than a pointless, repetitive, hack and slash. It is a missed opportunity Disney should have tried harder to develop, because even children have standards.

Final Score: 6/10

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When you invest $500+ into an apple product, you want to make sure that it is well protected. One of the nifty features of the second generation Ipad is the magnetic smart cover (sold separately) that folds and turns into a stand and also shuts your ipad off when closed. The only problem with the smart cover is that it only protect the front of your Ipad, leaving the aluminum backing to fend for itself against the harsh environment! Well the good folks at AViiQ has you Ipad2′s back with the new Smart Case.

As with the smart covers the case comes in a selection of different colors so that you can mix and match however you feel like. This makes the AViiQ Smart Case the best choice for all of you concerned over your Ipad2′s appearance. On top of that it will only add 1.5mm to the Ipad2′s thickness and won’t feel the least bit bulky. It fits on relatively snug so you don’t have to worry about your Ipad2 falling out even if it is dropped. Though it is mostly plastic, the aluminum backing saves this from feeling cheap.

Unfortunately the one major drawback to the Smart Case is the price. This will set you back by $49.99. Then you would have to purchase a smart cover which could come out to over $80 total. The combination looks good but you cannot expect it to protect your Ipad2 beyond small dings and scratches. For half the total cost you can invest in a case which will offer way more protection while still looking stylish.

Though it does its job, it just does not do it well enough to justify the price. On top of that a smart cover is not included and must be purchased separately.

Final Verdict: C-

The post AViiQ Ipad 2 case Review appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Well in response to the internet backlash an official image has been released via Entertainment Weekly and it is glorious! Every character looks perfectly cast, including Barnabas who seems to have ditched the pasty white make up and looks exactly as I Imagined Depp to look as the show’s tortured vampire. See the image below and click to see it at full res!

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Movie star Ashlynn Yennie, will be reprising her role of Jenny in the sequel directed by Tom Six. Laurence Harvey will be playing Martin, the new mad scientist who will assemble the 12-person centipede. The new cast members include, Dominic Borelli,Vivien Bridson, Lee Harris, Peter Charlton, Bill Hutchens, Dan Burman, Daniel Jude Gennis, Kandace Caine, Maddi Black, Lucas Hansen, Georgina Goodrick and Emma Lock.

Take a look below for the poster!

Source: /Film

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We have seen many superhero films come and go over the years. The last one I ever expected to succeed as a big budget summer tentpole was Marvel Studio’s THOR. Treading into the dangerous realm of magic, many feared it would scare off general audiences by being too unrealistic. Even though it is a superhero film, magic seems like a bit of a stretch when the other Marvel films at least had the grounded theme of technology and science. Luckily all fears were laid to rest as THOR became one of this reviewer’s favorite films not only of the summer, but of 2011 (and you can quote me on that when the year ends). So how does the Norse god of thunder transition to blu-ray?

THE MOVIE

Our film begins in the outskirts of the New Mexico desert where scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is chasing after an electric storm with mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and her intern Darcy (Kat Dennings). Amongst the chaos of being in the middle of the storm she accidentally hits a stranger with her car. This stranger is none other than our hero, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). The movie then flashbacks to earlier events showing us what lead to the opening sequence in a similar manner to that of Iron Man and Captain America.

It turns out Odin (Anthony Hopkins), Thor’s father, reluctantly banished Thor to Earth after he had sparked a war between the realm of Asgard and the Frost Giants. Staying true to the fish out of water formula, Thor goes around beating up doctors and smashing coffee mugs thinking it is the norm. While he is on Earth his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) seems to be up to some malicious mischief after he discovers a dark secret kept from him his entire life. It will be up to Thor to reclaim his powers and stop Loki from causing certain destruction throughout the cosmos, but can he learn the error of his ways in time?

It's Hammer Time!

With the exception of Natalie Portman, who I felt was overkill for a role that did not demand much of her, and Kat Dennings, who’s character did not feel necessary at all, the performances given by each actor are superb. Chris Hemsworth’s perfect portrayal of Thor can only be rivaled by the perfect casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Iron Man. He pulls off arrogance with a hint of charm and when his character begins to change, you believe it.

Out of all the Marvel villains it is clear why they chose Tom Hiddleston to return in The Avengers as Loki, his portrayal of the god of mischief was my second favorite part of this film. What begins as a bit of mischievous fun soon grows into full on villainy. The transition is given flawlessly through his strong performance. Though sometimes it threatens to become over the top. it never does.

Best. Villain. Evah.

So if Loki is my second favorite thing about THOR, what is my first you ask? The Warrior’s Three (made up by Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Josh Dallas as Fandral, and Tadanobu Asano as Hogun ) and the Lady Sif (Jaime Alexander). These characters are so entertaining and rich in their portrayals, my only disappointment is that I did not get to see more of them.

The visual effects are not exactly on par with Iron Man but they are not bad either. Especially when given the magnificent shots of the Asgard Kingdom. Fight sequences are intense and watching them in HD allows you to see every single detail and the effects look crisp and crystal clear with little to no grain.

The Asgard kingdom shots will take your breath away.

The soundtrack feels heroic yet unique. It has a classical feel to it but is powerful and has an epic quality to it, similar to Lord of the Rings which is certainly welcomed in a movie about the Norse God of Thunder.  This and the sound effects are perfect for a surround sound system due to the 5.1 DTS uncompressed audio.

THE EXTRAS

What I love most about the numerous deleted scenes provided on the Blu-ray is that I get more Loki and The Warrior’s Three/Sif. We see more of their character development as well as a scene where Loki and Thor really do feel like brothers. Every single deleted seen provided is a lot of fun to watch and were probably only cut from the final film to keep the length to under 2 hours.

On top of this there are just as many featurettes going behind the scenes of the film, showing the design work, and even a sit down with Joss Whedon about the Avengers. But the best one of all will have to be the Marvel One-shot “The Consultant” starring everyone’s favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. operative…Agent Coleson. It explains the events that lead to the Tony Stark cameo scene in The Incredible Hulk and gives an inside look at the life of a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent.

FINAL VERDICT

Director Kenneth Branagh, known for his classical Shakespearean productions, was the perfect choice to bring The god of thunder to the silver screen. It is an out of this world adventure that kept me entertained from beginning to end. Unlike Iron man 2 The Avengers references were not beaten over my head but were instead subtle. This feels like a great standalone film as opposed to just being a stepping stone to another.

The acting is great, the effects are staggering in full HD resolution and Marvel has managed to continue their winning streak of superhero films leading up to the most anticipated superhero film of all time (Yeah I said it, you gonna do something about it Dark Knight fans?)…The Avengers.

The post Blu-ray Review: THOR appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

To show that they have managed to become on par with PIXAR, Walt Disney Animation had a few surprises up their sleeve during the studio presentation at D23 Expo. One being a new, 8-bit themed, 3D-animated film called Wreck-It Ralph. After the failure of the fantastic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I thought the days of 8-bit inspired films were over. Luckily that will not be the case as Disney will release this 3D arcade adventure next year.

The audience was treated to the first four minutes of the film. This preview would be in the form of animated storyboards and rough animation, but that did not stop it from being funny and heart felt due to John C. Reilly’s fantastic dialogue delivery. The scene begins with Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) introducing himself as the villain in an arcade video game. For thirty years he repeats the same routine of destroying buildings while Fix-it-Felix (Jack McBrayer) fixes everything and receives endless praise (and pie) for his efforts while Ralph sleeps in the local dump. He admits it is not so bad, especially compared to so many other game villains that bit the dust over the last 30 years. But when he admits to living in “a lousy cesspool of desperation at the edge of humanity” he is clearly not happy with things the way they are.

He decides he is no longer content, that for once he wants to be the good guy. It turns out he is telling his story to a group called “Bad-anonymous”, an alcohol anonymous type group made up of video game villains where their motto is “One game at a time”. Ranging from generic baddies like a viking or a zombie, to more familiar designs clearly inspired by the Pac-Man ghost and the Big Daddy from BioShock.

The viking character named ‘Tigor’ explains (speaking in the third person) to Ralph that if Tigor doesn’t rip off the hero’s leg and beat him with it…then who will? Admitting that Tigor has accepted his fate as a bad guy, but just because he is a bad guy doesn’t mean he is a bad guy. The rest of the group agrees to this sentiment (even though Ralph has no idea what Tigor is even talking about) and they rise to say their bad guy affirmation “I am bad, and that’s good. I will never be good and that’s not bad. There’s nothing I would rather be.”

This is where the preview ended and when Director Rich Moore, (Of Simpsons and Futurama fame) walks on stage to talk about the film. He explains that no longer wishing to be the villain, Ralph ventures out to the other games in the arcade to find his calling as a hero. A piece of concept art pops up of Ralph after he transports to a futuristic war game, clearly inspired by Halo: Reach, causing laughter throughout the arena. Jane Lynch is revealed to play Sergeant Calhoun, and from the voice clip we heard she sounds like the perfect hard-ass drill sergeant.

Having gotten in way over his head Ralph tries a new game called Sugar Rush, a child’s racing game in a candy coated and dessert themed environment. Imagine Mario Kart meets Candyland. Here Ralph feels he may have a better chance at becoming a hero until it is revealed that at its center, Sugar Rush holds a dark secret. One that can threaten every game in the arcade.

Rich Moore then shows some concept art of Sarah Silverman’s character Vanellope von Schweetz, a young girl who wants to race more than anything and helps Ralph along the way. To everyone’s surprise both Silverman and Jack MacBrayer came out and talked about the film. Sarah Silverman also boasted that, wearing a vintage style Mickey Mouse shirt, she did not buy it looking that way. She had gotten it many years ago and that she is a fan just like all of us in attendance.

To me Walt Disney Animation has had some hits and misses as far as CG goes. However after the phenomenal Tangled, I think they have finally found their stride and are ready to start releasing films that not only challenge PIXAR on a visual level, but on an emotional one was well.

I love John C. Reilly, and him voicing this misunderstood and seemingly tragic character is perfect. You can hear the resentment and hilarious sarcasm in his voice when he talks about being “content” with his terrible way of living. This is a story of what happens in the arcade after everyone is done playing. A story of a villain who wants to change and will travel across worlds to find his calling as a hero. I for one cannot wait until this 8-bit adventure is released in November 2012.

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I remember going to a midnight screening of REPO!: The Genetic Opera a couple of years back. The theater had accidentally double booked two midnight screenings that evening. One for REPO! and another for The Big Lebowski. The Juxtaposition of goths mixed with long haired ‘Dudes’ wearing bath robes and sunglasses was a truly surreal sight. What shocked me most though was the huge turn out The Big Lebowski had. After thirteen years this movie has developed a cult following that few films before, and after, it has managed to achieve. The Dude finally makes his way to High Definition Blu-ray, but does it really tie the room together?

THE MOVIE

When The Coen Brothers directed this I doubt they, or anyone else, realized how much it would flourish over the years. If you have never seen The Big Lebowski (What the hell is wrong with you?) then you have come to the right place. It is an extraordinary story about a less than ordinary man. A case of mistaken identity leading the oblivious and unsuspecting ‘Dude’ on the adventure of a lifetime.

Our protagonist is Jeff Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), or as he likes to call himself “The Dude”. Lazy, unmotivated, and having zero ambition for anything besides bowling, he leads a rather lackluster existence. That is until two men attack him in his home demanding money his wife owes. The only problem being they got the wrong Lebowski, ‘The Dude’ is not even married. They leave but not until after taking a piss on his rug. Later on he goes bowling with his friends, the Vietnam war veteran Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and the coy Donny (Steve Buscemi) who advise him that he should find the other Lebowski and demand compensation.

This is what plunges ‘The Dude’ head first into a bizarre sequence of events. From meeting the strange artist Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore), to being attacked by a ferret in a bathtub, ‘The Dude’ is just having one hell of a day and it is impossible to not enjoy it every step of the way.

This film looks good on blu-ray but you will still see some film grain as well as dust scratches which can’t be helped since it was filmed in 1998. This is as good as it could possibly look but if you already own it on DVD I wouldn’t jump the gun on getting this since there is not that big of a difference in quality. The most iconic scene from the film being the “Dream Sequence”, will look better than ever though.

The greatest dream sequence in cinematic history? You bet your ass.

The Big Lebowski is the prime example of what the Coens do best, characters. Each and every single character in this film is rich and fascinating. Even characters who had minimal screen time and no part to play in the “plot” like The Jesus (John Tutorro). He is possibly one of the film’s most memorable characters yet he doesn’t even have more then a couple of minutes on screen. The story is a series of random events with the protagonist tripping from one scenario to the next. Usually this would cause a film to fail, yet the masterly crafted world is filled with vibrant and interesting characters you would not soon forget and keep you interested in the film.

What the Coens do best

THE EXTRA FEATURES

The extra features are very insightful into the making of the film as well as how it has flourished over the past decade. The only problem being most of these look as if they were pulled from the dvd versions of the film (which they probably were) due to their low quality.

The hardcover booklet is a nice collector item containing dozens of facts as well as behind the scenes photos and quotes from the Directors and actors. For example did you know the F-word was used 285 times in the film? Even more than the word “Dude” which was used 162 times. My only complaint is the lack of a dvd copy of the film. The digital copy is nice but an extra dvd would have been awesome.

THE FINAL VERDICT

This Limited Edition, hardcover booklet, set is certainly a must buy for those who either have not seen the film or do not own it yet. However given that this HD version is nothing too spectacular, if you already own the DVD I would recommend just sticking to that.

The post Review: ‘The Big Lebowski’ Limited Edition Blu-ray appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

When the Ipad first hit the market it opened a floodgate of possibilities for third party accessory developers based on its gaming capabilities alone. You can’t get more nostalgic than playing Atari’s greatest hits, dig dug, or Pac Man on the tablet device, but even with these classics from my childhood something always felt like it is missing. It does not completely simulate that experience you have in a good old arcade. Thinkgeek looked to address this issue with a stick-on accessory, the Joystick-it.

The way it works is it has a suction cup at the bottom of the joystick to attached to your Ipad or touch screen device. Right out of the box this looks amazing. It is not some cheap plastic material but solid metal and the attention to detail is rather incredible. I would say as far as looks go this is a beautiful little piece of retro goodness. Unfortunately that is the extent of the Joystick-it’s qualities. Though it certainly looks pretty, apparently someone forgot that it also needed to be functional.

Naturally the first game I tried was Ms.Pac Man. After following the simple instructions on the side of the box I was ready for some old fashioned, arcade-style, action! Everything seemed to be going fine at first, until I became stuck in a corner and no matter how much I jiggled the Joystick-it to the left, Mrs. Pac-Man would not budge and was horrifically murdered by a ghost right before my very eyes.The Joystick-it’s suction cup will slip and slide out of position if you move it around too aggressively.

So I tried again but this time pressed firmly down on it while playing to make sure it stayed in place. This time Ms. Pac-Man wasn’t killed because of the Joystick-it sliding out of position, she was killed because the Ipad simply was not registering the Joystick-it’s movement upward. Next she died because I pushed the joystick too hard and to came off the Ipad completely. It was a Ms. Pac-Man massacre I tell you! I tried “Galaga” next and I experience the exact same problems. This thing even screws up in a game where you only go left or right, how is that possible!?

Get used to that "Game Over" screen...

I decided to try the Ipad port of “DOOM” to see if it would give me the same issues. After adjusting myself to the Joystick-It’s sensitive needs I started to get the hang of it and was, for the most part, able to control the character. The problem is it would move extremely slow because the Josystick-It was not pushing the touch pad controller far enough. Push it any harder or further and I would be experiencing the same problems as before. It was faster, and funner, to remove the Joystick-It and just play with the normal controls.

It really pains me to put this product down so much. It looks great and there is definitely a lot of potential had they just spent more time tweaking the functions. I am sure there would have been some way to not only make it responsive but to keep it on the Ipad. When it is attached it feels loose like it will come off at any given moment during gameplay.

The Joystick-it retails for $24.99 (Even if this thing worked…ouch). As a ornament this at least looks awesome. However I cannot recommend it if you are looking for an accessory that will allow you to play arcade games the old fashioned way. I have to give this one 2 out of 5 Nerdzillas.

Not all hope it lost for all you retro enthusiasts though! Thinkgeek did come up with another nifty invention we will be reviewing next week and I can already tell you that where the Joystick-it failed, this one definitely succeeds!

The post Review: The Joystick-It from Thinkgeek appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Believe this or not faithful readers, but I am a fanboy. I know right? Who would have thought? I am also willing to bet my bottom dollar that the majority of you who come to this site are too. When PAUL was released this year, I was torn. On one had it starred Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (A combination you can never go wrong with) but on the other I had to choose my movies wisely given the rise in ticket prices and it opened to some less then enthusiastic reviews. After watching it, I understand why. This was a film made by nerds for nerds and since we are all nerds here, we are in for a real treat. If not then Paul may not be for you.

I am sort of glad I did not see this in the theater. Because I know I would have been the only one in the audience understanding the many pop culture references made in the film, meaning I would have been the only one laughing like an asshole. It requires the audience to have the vast amount of cinematic knowledge that most of us nerds and geeks just happen to possess. This is a love letter sent directly to the nerd masses from writers SImon Pegg and Nick Frost.

and by love letter...I mean anal probing

THE MOVIE

Our movie begins at the most appropriate event imaginable, the San Diego Comic-Con (A set that had excellent accuracy). We follow two Englishmen named Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). They are life long best friends living their dream of visiting the world famous convention and also road tripping across the Mid-west to the nation’s most notable alien sighting spots.

While on this nerdy adventure they get a little more then they bargained for when they accidentally cross paths with a vulgar and foul-mouthed extraterrestrial named “Paul”. Agreeing to hitch him a ride, they begin to bond with the alien who only wants to go home. With at least one competent government agent, two dimwitted ones, a christian father with a shotgun, and even a couple of rednecks hot on their trail, can they get Paul to his destination safely?

Paul is, at its core, a bromance. A nerdy bromance, and it is fantastic. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are as good a pair as they have ever been. Though certainly not their best film, they still work well as the artist/writer pair out to fulfill their nerdy dreams. Of course the real star of this film is the CG animated Paul, voiced by Seth Rogen. His dialogue is witty and his character (as rude and obnoxious as he can be) is likable and charming right from the start. The cg animation may look phenomenal but it is Seth Rogen’s flawless delivery that makes you like, and relate to, Paul. Jason Bateman (Agent Zoil) does a great job of playing the relentless agent out to find the escaped alien. While Kristen Wiig (Ruth Buggs) is hilarious as the sheltered, awkward, love interest who indulges her new found freedom a bit too much.

F*cking Orcs...

Quoting films is one of my favorite past times, especially when hanging out with my friends since they usually get them. Paul uses such quotes as frequently as possible and it is one of the highlights of the film… to an extent. Seriously if you took a shot for every movie reference during this film you would be rushed to the hospital for alcohol poisoning in less than 30 minutes. Even I, someone who loves the proper use of movie quotes in conversation, has to admit they could have used a few less.

The effects are stunning, especially on the character Paul. At times he seamlessly blends into the environment and he is the number one reason you should get this on blu-ray. Even when he does not look so realistic, you still buy him as a character because of Seth Rogen’s awesome voice work.

THE EXTRAS

The blooper reel provided is, surprisingly, disappointing. Instead of bloopers most of it is just the actors laughing after saying a silly line. The funniest parts are when they mess up and start playing off it and then completely goof off. Watching Jason Bateman lecture the director on comedy and filming is pretty hilarious.

The making-of feature is really in depth and not only shows how fun the production was to work on but how much work went into it. It follows the production from the sketch Simon Pegg made during Shaun of the Dead to the post production process. Along with a multitude of additional behind the scenes features including, thankfully, a full feature on the evolution and animation of Paul.

FINAL VERDICT

Certainly not the best movie starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, but that does not stop it from being absolutely enjoyable. Not to mention a voice camio from Steven Speilberg (Yes, that is actually him) and a special cameo at the end of the film that I will not spoil here.

If you are a nerd then this was made just for you. An extra dvd copy, a theatrical and unrated cut of the film, and a complete set of extra features give you much more bang for your buck and I fully recommend the blu-ray.

The post Review: ‘Paul’ on Blu-ray appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

I have only recently started playing the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game with my friends. Sure it starts off innocently enough, raiding orc caverns and saving innocent villagers, but a few drinks later and someone in your party is rolling a D20 to seduce an attractive dwarf priestess in her bed chamber (Whether this person was me or not…I will neither confirm nor deny). That is what Your Highness feels like, a Dungeons and Dragons game gone horribly awry and despite some short comings I found myself laughing to the point of tears. Clearly taking its inspiration from fantasy classics like Conan, Krull, and Lady Hawk, Your Highness is aimed to please fans of the fantasy genre. So what about everyone else?

The Movie

The movie begins with Prince Thadeous (Danny McBride) being hanged for having sexual relations with the Dwarf King’s wife (I guess his role was successful). After a daring escape shown through some really cheap animation they return home, where the King is displeased with his son’s incompetence. Fabious (James Franco) on the other hand returns victorious after slaying the Cyclops of the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), even rescuing a beautiful virgin named Belladona (Zooey Deshanel) from the wizard’s lair.

Since they have fallen completely in love they wish to get married immediately. But if there is one thing that gets an evil wizard’s piss in a boil, its stealing his virgin. Leezar crashes the wedding and steals Belladona back to fulfill an evil prophecy that would grant him unimaginable power through a ritual known as- I am not kidding- “The Fuckening”.

Much to his dismay of Thadeous he must go on a quest with his brother to save her, otherwise he will be banished. They must travel a long and dangerous road filled with forest nymphs, a minotaur, and a child molesting muppet, to save Fabious’ bride to be. Even with the assistance of the blood thirsty Isabel (Natalie Portman), will they get to Leezar in time to prevent the destruction of the entire world?

The only thing more head scratching then casting an academy award winner like Natalie Portman and an academy award nominee like James Franco as supportive characters, is casting a lackluster actor like Danny McBride as the main protagonist. When being among such a high profile cast, he sticks out like a sore thumb. I wish I could have seen more of Franco and Portman (or at least more of Zooey Deshanel since she is hardly used).

The scenes that do have James Franco and Natalie Portman are fantastic. Prince Fabious is the epitome of the stereotypical Disney prince, minus a proper singing voice. He is noble, courageous, and as corny as you possibly imagine. A cunning warrior with a heart of gold, even loving his self centered brother despite his obvious flaws. Watching Natalie Portman take a backseat from her more serious roles as of late is refreshing. She is the revenge driven Isabel, who vows to kill Leezar for the murder of her brothers. Of course one of the film’s selling points is that you get to see her in a thong, but also hearing her spew vulgar dialogue like nobodies business is a real treat.

plus...you get to see her in a freaking thong.

If anyone steals movie it is Justin Therox as Leezar. His over the top performance and his funny one liners make the villain the most memorable, and likable, part of the movie. When he is on screen he chews up the material and I wish we could have seen more of him.

Of course this movie is supposed to be silly and filled to the brim with vulgar humor, but sometimes a joke feels pointless and falls flat on its face. For every hilarious moment that had me on the brink of tears, there would be 3 I would stare blankly at. The good moments stand out and will have you chuckling well after the film is over, the rest will be forgotten far too easily.

The most impressive, and unforeseen quality, of Your Highness are the special effects. They actually look similar something you would see in a serious fantasy film like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. They even used practical effects for a very realistic looking Minotaur, who stars in the most memorable scene that I will not spoil here, but that I guarantee will have you groaning and laughing at the same time.

Extra Features

Usually deleted scenes are things I believe should always remain on the cutting room floor, but the ones provided on this blu-ray are either completely hysterical or completely grotesque, all completely awesome. The gag reels are pretty funny too given the movie these actors are working on, I would never expect them to take things too seriously. The scenes with Natalie Portman goofing off are the highlight of these.

The only thing that really bugs me is that I get a digital copy, yet no dvd? Lame.

Final Verdict

The post Review: ‘YOUR HIGHNESS’ on Blu-ray appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

I love this! MARVEL will release numerous short films starring everyone’s favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, Agent Coulson. He and Agent Sitwell have a discussion on how they can get a certain General to decline a request they were ordered to make. They then think of a certain “Consultant” who can annoy the general so much that he will have to decline it. I love how Marvel is interweaving all of their films into a nice tight knit universe. You can watch the clip below and they will all be available on the THOR DVD and Blu-ray which is set for a September 13th release.

Oh, and in case you didn’t realize by now, this is what leads up to the after-credits scene in “The Incredible Hulk” where Tony Stark approaches General Ross. What I find interesting, is that the request is for Emil Blonsky, also known as the Abomination. I personally speculate they are trying to find a way to fight the Hulk. Maybe this is the reason the Avengers are assembled in the first place? Only time will tell! Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Source: Marvel

The post Marvel short film ‘The Consultant’ starring Agent Coulson appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

That’s right a definitive collection of all eight Friday The 13th films! Not only that but you get a replica mask, a hard bound book, and a pair of 3D glasses for the silly as all hell Friday the 13th 3-D! Press release below as well as a picture of everything you get in the set! FRIDAY THE 13^TH THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION will be available for the suggested retail price of just $39.99 U.S./$42.00 Canada on October 4th 2011.

DVDs

The FRIDAY THE 13^th-Uncut Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish Mono along with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Commentary by director Sean S. Cunningham with cast and crew
• Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13^th
• The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham
• Friday the 13^th Reunion
• Lost Tales From Camp Blood – Part 1
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th Part 2 Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Inside “Crystal Lake Memories”
• Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2
• Jason Forever
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th Part 3-3D Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Disc contents are as follows:

• 3D Version of the film (includes 3D glasses)
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th THE FINAL CHAPTER Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Commentary by director Joe Zito, screenwriter Barney Cohen and editor Joel Goodman
• Fan commentary by Adam Green and Joe Lynch
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 4
• Slashed Scenes
• Jason’s Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday the 13^th The Final Chapter
• The Lost Ending
• The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part I
• Jimmy’s Dead Dance Moves
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th PART V: A NEW BEGINNING Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Commentary by director/co-screenwriter Danny Steinmann with cast and crew
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 5
• The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part II
• New Beginnings: The Making of Friday the 13^th Part V: A New Beginning
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th PART VI: JASON LIVES Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Surround and French and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Commentary by director Tom McLoughlin with cast and crew
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 6
• The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part III
• Jason Lives: The Making of Friday the 13^th Part VI: Jason Lives
• Meeting Mr. Voorhees
• Slashed Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer

The FRIDAY THE 13^th PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Surround, French Mono and Spanish Mono along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Killer Commentary by director John Carl Buechler and actors Lar Park Lincoln and Kane Hodder
• Jason’s Destroyer: The Making of Friday the 13^th Part VII: The New Blood
• Mind Over Matter: The Truth About Telekinesis
• Makeover by Maddy: Need a Little Touch-Up Work, My Ass
• Slashed Scenes Intro
• Slashed Scenes

The FRIDAY THE 13^th PART VIII: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN Deluxe Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Surround, French 2.0 Surround and Spanish 2.0 Surround along with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus material includes:

• Killer Commentary by actors Scott Reeves, Jensen Daggett and Kane Hodder
• New York Has a New Problem: The Making of Friday the 13^th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
• Gag Reel

·         Slashed Scenes

The post Friday the 13th Ultimate Collection Slashes Its Way to Shelves in October! appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

UPDATE: BBC has released the two clips shown during the panel online. They have been embedded below the panel description for your viewing pleasure!

I ,admittedly, am one of the many who didn’t start liking Doctor Who until it was cool to like Doctor Who. I long to visit the first episodes and see where the longest running science fiction series (It has been airing for forty three years) started. Though I am not as big as a fan as those who have watched the Doctor’s adventures since his early years, I still love this series to death. When it was announced that this year BBC would not only return the Doctor to the San Diego Comic Con but would also present the panel in Hall H for the very first time, to say I was ecstatic is an understatement.

The packed house was buzzing with excitement. Thousands clapped The Master’s rhythmic 4 knock tapping, dozens raised their sonic screwdrivers all at once while the iconic buzz echoed through the hall, and a giant orange Dalek eerily sat in the shadows to the left of the stage. The show’s producers were first welcomed before the 7,000 fans, then came the beautiful Karen Gillan and the ever so talented Matt Smith. I have sat through many Hall H panels over the years, but never had I seen a crowd in such wild excitement over two actors.

Matt Smith explains how excited he was to be at Comic Con for the first time saying “It’s the first time we’ve been here. It’s completely overwhelming. The levels of enthusiasm and passion – the costumes. We saw a great weeping angel earlier. Look at all the fezzes and stuff!”. When asked about the twist ending in the last episode, Karen Gillan answers “We had a dummy ending on the actual script for the read through. Then Steven took us out and showed me, Matt and Arthur the real ending. We started running up and down the corridor. Only Alex knew.” Matt Smith then said “She wouldn’t tell us. Steven gave her more power. How can you give River Song more power? It’s not fair!”…”some real huge cliffhangers coming up”.

A short clip is presented for one of the soon to be released episodes. It starts in a corridor with a voice saying “Bring me death, Bring me glory.” while a huge beast similar to a minotaur stomps down it. Rory, Amelia Pond, and of course, the Doctor, all make appearances in this scene until they all lock the doors to a single room with the beast trapped inside of it. Afterwards it was revealed the episode would be called “God Complex”.

Lastly a trailer was shown for the new episodes which would start on August 27th on BBC America. So much happens so fast it is hard to keep up, but the main shots are Adolf Hitler thanking the Doctor for saving his life and River Song wearing an eye patch like the woman who abducted her! This would imply, perhaps, that River song was brain washed or forced to hunt the doctor at one point. There are also a few familiar faces, but as River Song would put it…”Spoilers”.

The panel was a complete success and this was the perfect end to Comic Con for me. I certainly cannot wait until the adventure of the 11th Doctor continue this Fall.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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