Beaucoup Pop

Episode 47 - We Play Music With Pop!!!

2012-02-29T07:07:00.000-08:00

It's our 500th blog post, ya'll!!

Turn up the speakers Poppers, you're going to want the full experience on this weeks episode. The gang welcomes Adam Luckey from the band We Play Music. Not only do they talk his ear off about the band, but he also sticks around for the geeky yammering!!!

We Play Music: Justin Adams, Gareth Evans, Adam Luckey and Adam Napier

And if that's not enough, we ask our guest to join us for another episode of Beaucoup Pop Amaturepiece Theater!

Enjoy the show!

Check out the episode here:
http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-47-we-play-music-with-pop-

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

As always, be sure to check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@beaucouppop) and don't forget post a comment on the blog! If you have any suggestions for show topics, shoot us an email to beaucouppop@gmail.com.

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

WE PLAY MUSIC

Website: www.weplaymusic.net

Twitter: @weplaymusic_

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New Releases for 02/28/12

2012-02-27T09:20:00.002-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Post Oscars, I guess it's a good thing Hugo didn't win best picture or best director, otherwise they would have a lot of stickers to put on the cases for this movie. Admittedly I was not a huge fan of this film, but it is this week's biggest release. Visually, if was quite stimulating, but the story just never quite amounted to much, IMO. Also coming out, we have the newest DC animated film, Justice League: Doom, so be sure to check that out. In Video Games, we have the highly anticipated SSX for the next-gen systems. Helicoptor dives, avalanches, pitch black caves...SSX never looked so good! And...AND....THE CRANBERRIES have a new album out!! Best...Week...Ever! So, here you have it, a look at some of the things coming out the week of February 28, 2012.

MOVIES

Hugo (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

[available on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-Ray and DVD]

This is a movie about movies...and the resourceful orphan Hugo Cabret. After his clockmaker father perishes in a museum fire, Hugo goes to live with his Uncle Claude, a drunkard who maintains the clocks at a Paris train station. When Claude disappears, Hugo carries on his work and fends for himself by stealing food from area merchants. In his free time, he attempts to repair an automaton his father rescued from the museum, while trying to evade the station inspector, a World War I veteran with no sympathy for lawbreakers. When Georges, a toymaker, catches Hugo stealing parts for his mechanical man, he recruits him as an assistant to repay his debt. If Georges is guarded, his open-hearted ward, Isabelle, introduces Hugo to a kindly bookseller, who directs them to a motion-picture museum, where they meet film scholar René. In helping unlock the secret of the automaton, they learn about the roots of cinema, starting with the Lumière brothers, and give a forgotten movie pioneer his due, thus illustrating the importance of film preservation, a cause to which the director has dedicated his life.

Justice League: Doom

[available on Blu-ray & DVD]

The Justice League consists of Earth's finest super heroes and protectors of humanity. But in the mind of the Dark Knight, it contains potentially the most dangerous people on the planet. Over time, Batman has compiled top-secret contingency plans should any of them go rogue. When these files are stolen by a rising group of super villains, the Justice League embarks on a collision course that will test the very fabric of its alliance.

Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil - The Complete First Season

Imagine, if you will, a book of awesome power. A book that will make your deepest,

darkest desires come true... but at a horrifying cost. This is The Book of Pure Evil, and

it s loose in Crowley High. Thankfully, one horny teenager stands between The Book of

Pure Evil and the end of the world as we know it. His name is Todd. And he will save

our asses - whether he likes it or not.

Land Girls Series 3

Set in rural England during the Second World War, this highly popular, award-winning drama returns for a third 5-part series and continues to follow the lives and loves of the Land Girls who are working the fields in the Women's Land Army.

MUSIC

Roses by The Cranberries

The Cranberries are back - with their first studio album in over ten years!

All of Me by Estelle

Release Me by Lyle Lovett

VIDEO GAMES

SSX

SSX is finally out for the Next-Gen consols!!

A modern-day reinvention of one of the most critically acclaimed franchises of the last generation, SSX returns packing adrenaline and reality-defying gameplay into every moment. In this over-the-top snowboarding extravaganza players jump into the boots of your favorite SSX character -- including those featured in previous releases in the franchise -- and race, trick, and survive the world's most iconic mountain ranges. Based on real-world NASA topographical data, each mountain range delivers an experience true to the franchise's rich history, allowing you to defy reality and own the planet. Additional features include: new and returning franchise favorite characters, global events and the ability to race against ghost images representing a friend's time on a run, real-world conditions like avalanches, rockslides and freezing temperatures, and more.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC

Two Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC packs are due for release on February 28th, and will be priced accordingly:

Alternate costumes: $4 US dollars on PSN, or 240 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live. Serah’s bikini and Noel’s armour costume, pictured below. The armour that Noel is wearing is one that is granted by Etro to warriors that defend time. There is no swimsuit planned for Noel as of right now.

Sazh episode, "Heads or Tails": $8 US dollars on PSN, or 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live. It will follow the story of Sazh and what he got up to in Serendipity. The story DLC will also add two table games in the casino: one is called ‘Chrono Bind’ which is played on a table that looks like the face of a clock, and the second will be detailed in an upcoming Famitsu article. Sazh will play both of these games during the course of his story DLC. How Sazh being in Serendipity adds to the plot has not been told clearly.

The 'Opponent: Lightning & Amodar' pack is currently for the 360 (240pts) and PS3 ($3.00). This DLC allows players fight against Lieutenant Amodar and Lightning in the Coliseum area. When defeated, both characters can then be added to the party to use in battle.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition

Following the rebirth of Mortal Kombat in 2011 Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition delivers the original critically acclaimed game all previously released downloadable content (DLC) plus digital downloads of the 2011 release of Mortal Kombat. The DLC includes fan-favorite warriors Skarlet Kenshi and Rain as well as the infamous dream stalker Freddy Krueger. The game also offers 15 Klassic Skins and three Klassic Fatalities (Scorpion Sub-Zero and Reptile).

Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2

Hyper dimension Neptunia mk2 is a sequel to Hyper dimension Neptunia and contains brand new main characters, as well as returning characters, and the gameplay has been updated so as to remove the random encounter feature. New maps and a brand new world feature as well, and the cut scenes have been upgraded to 3D from the old 2D visual novel style cut scenes.

~Matt

Episode 46 - Vengeance of the Geeks

2012-02-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Get ready Poppers, because this week's episode is jammed packed with pure geekieness. Our artist of the month, John Tyler Christopher, graces us via Skype for an interview that goes from the expected to the unexpected.

We also lose our shit while talking about "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"...of course nothing that compares to Nick Cage's award winning performance. And we tie it off in a pretty big bow that we like to call "The News Nook".

Tell your friends about Beaucoup Pop, or the Rider will get YOU!

Check out the episode here:

http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-46-vengeance-of-the-geeks

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

For more info on our guest, and February's Artist of the Month

Webpage: www.johntylerchristopher.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.380510165074.363370.380427740074&type=3#!/pages/The-Art-of-John-Tyler-Christopher/380427740074

DeviantArt:http://johntylerchristopher.deviantart.com/

In Memoriam

Struck by Lightning official trailer

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These Vampires Don't Suck: DC's I, Vampire

2012-02-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

The article DC's New 52 - A Father's Take on a Missed Opportunity, from Beuacoup Pop's newest contributor, Patrick, got me thinking about DC's relaunch. We're six months in, and that means most books have wrapped up the first story arc. Although I wasn't able to buy, nor was I interested in, every book DC released, I did pick up quite a few that first month. Some books, like Batman, I knew I'd stick with. Others I picked up on a whim and I was uncertain as to whether or not I'd be there for the long haul.

As with any reboot, there were some hits and misses. I expected that going in. I also expected to see a lot of the same old characters and stories being carried over, with some minor tweaks here and there to justify the phrase "The New 52." What I did not expect to see, especially rolled into the main DC Universe, was a nice selection of titles from genres that have been ignored for far too long. Where prior to the relaunch DC's offerings were almost exclusively superhero in nature, you now have horror titles, war stories, fantasy books, and books centering around magic and the dark arts. The infusion of new genres was long overdue. I picked up as many of them as I could, and I enjoyed them all quite a bit, but there was one that really stood out: I, Vampire.

I have to admit that for a while I was getting tired of vampires and what I perceived to be an over saturation of vamps in the market. If my feelings were converted into an SAT analogy it would look like this: Vampires are to pop culture what Wolverine is to comics. It was just too damn much. But the idea of a vampire book set in the DC Proper intrigued me, so I decided to pick it up. I am so glad I did.

Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and drawn by Andrea Sorrentino, the book centers around two vampires, Andrew Bennett and Mary, Queen of Blood. Andrew and Mary were lovers, and it was this love that caused Andrew to turn Mary centuries ago. Now you would think they lived happily ever after. I mean, here you have two crazy kids trying to make it work like any other star-crossed lovers. But Andrew was immortal and Mary was not. So he turned her into a vampire so they could share their "lives" forever. Yet somewhere along the line, like many couples before them, they had a falling out and went their separate ways. For most couples the catalyst behind a break-up might be a dispute over money or how to raise children. But for Andrew and Mary it was the age-old argument about whether or not vampires should rule the world. I've seen this happen a thousand times.

For his part, Andrew doesn't consider humans to be an inferior race with no value outside of being free food. In fact, Andrew doesn't hunt or feed on humans at all, choosing instead to narrow his diet to animals and alternative sources of blood. He has maintained a firm grasp on his humanity, and it could be argued that he is slightly disgusted at being a card-carrying member of the living dead. Mary, on the other hand, is a full-blown vampire supremacist. She embraced the change like a champ, and has given into all the temptations associated with being a bloodsucker. For her, vamps should rule the world, plain and simple. Mary's desire to create a vampire empire (hey, that rhymes!) plagues Andrew everyday and he lives in a constant state of regret over having turned her in the first place. When they share the page you can tell they still love each other, and Mary would like nothing more than for Andrew to join her quest and turn vampires in every city across the globe. Yet Andrew refuses, and, like any jilted lover, she's out to make his immortal life miserable.

The story is captivating but the biggest draw for me is the art. Andrea Sorrentino! WOW!! I literally gasped when I opened the first issue. His artwork is gothic. It's creepy. It fits the tone of the book perfectly. I read so many comics each week that I don't always have time to go back and re-read something, but I make it a point to go back to I, Vampire and just look at the art. Each page is better than the next, whether it's just a panel of characters speaking or a more detailed two-page spread. I'd be willing to hang any page of this comic on my wall. Expect to see a lot more of Sorrentino's work in the near future. He's going to be huge. And after seeing his take on the Man of Steel I would give almost anything to get him on a Superman book!

I, Vampire is tied with Batman for my favorite book DC is publishing right now. It delivers every month. If this book sounds like something you'd be interested in, it's not too late to jump on. We're only six issues in and the story is just starting to really take off. If you're a little hesitant to pick up a book that doesn't include your favorite characters I'd say two things: First, get over it!! This is an amazing book whether or not it has caped heroes front and center. Don't ever let that put you off of a book. Second, as I already mentioned, the events in this book take place in the main DC Universe, so expect to see characters pop up here and there. In fact, Batman has already shown up in issue # 5 . You can't go wrong with this book. Trust me.

New Releases for 02/21/12

2012-02-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of February 21, 2012!

MOVIES

J. Edgar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (DVD)

Nurse Jackie: Season Three [Blu-ray] (DVD)

Excellent Season...the season finale was AMAZING!

Weeds: Season Seven

Puss in Boots (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

MUSIC

Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells

How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? by Sinead O'Connor

VIDEO GAMES

Syndicate

(PS3, 360, PC)

Touch My Katamari

PS Vita

BOOKS

xxxHolic, Vol. 19 (final volume)

Board Game Spotlight: Fortune and Glory: The Cliffhanger Game

2012-02-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

We are 14 weeks away from the FORGE con here in Lexington. As a huge fan of (hobby) board games, I'm going to do a feature of a few new and notable game and reviews of some of my personal favorites.

This first installment, we'll be looking at the new Flying Frog game, Fortune and Glory: Cliffhanger Game (or FANG!). Now, I have not had the pleasure of playing this game, as I just recently found out it came out. But, I have no doubts that this game will be tons of fun, because I'm a huge fan of the company, Flying Frog, who produced this game. Flying Frog is best know for the games Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (a modular survival horror game), A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game (a 19th century supernatural adventure board game) and Invasion from Outer Space: The Martain Game (a modular game with fiendish Martians, Big Top Heroes, and SciFi Movie Action), to name a few.

"Fortune and Glory: The Cliffhanger Game is a fast-paced game of high adventure, vile villains, edge-of-your-seat danger, and cliffhanger pulp movie action. Players take on the role of a treasure hunter, traveling the globe in search of ancient artifacts and fending off danger and villains at every turn in a quest for the ultimate reward of fortune and glory!

Featuring a beautifully rendered adventure map of the world as the game board, eight pulp adventure heroes to choose from (such as Jake Zane the Flying Ace, Li Mei Chen the Night Club Singer and Martial Artist, or Dr. Zhukov Master of Science), an army of ruthless villains and thugs (including the Chicago Mob and the dreaded occult-hunting Nazis), ancient Mayan temples to explore with a zeppelin hovering overhead, a wealth of coins to horde as heroes collect fortune and glory throughout the game, and a unique mechanism of dangers to overcome and the classic cliffhanger moments of suspense that can result. Fortune and Glory is designed to create a pulp serial cinematic feel as the story and game unfolds." --BoardGameGeek

Fortune and Glory is Flying Frog's biggest game yet! Flying Frog is know for putting out high quality games, and as the above summay states, FANG will be no exception. The game will have a detailed adventure board, Photographic artwork featuring Pulp Adventure movie action, 39 highly detailed plastic miniatures including Heroes, Villains, Enemy Soldiers, Mayan Temples, and a Zeppelin air ship. The game has both Competitive and Cooperative play for 1 - 8 players. Players can race against one another or work together to overcome a Vile Organization bent on world domination through powerful occult artifacts!! Oooooh...scary! @_@ I lvoe that this game features solo play. I think it says a lot about a games mechanic, when you can not only play with a group of people, but by yourself as well. BoardGameGeek lists the play time at around 90 minutes and that the game is best with 3 players.

Check out Flying Frog's website for more info: www.flyingfrog.net/fortuneandglory/

Read the Rule Book ONLINE! http://www.flyingfrog.net/fortuneandglory/pdf%5CFANG_Rulebook_FINAL_WEB.pdf

More Pics:

Is Jar Jar Better In 3D?

2012-02-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

George Lucas is many things to many people. Visionary, innovator, nut-job, fanatical perfectionist... Depending on the conversation, he has either molded or destroyed your childhood. What no one can deny that he has helped mold modern science fiction movies and helped to elevate a genre from b-movies to blockbusters. He has always been ahead of the curve when it came to using, and in some cases inventing, new technologies to push the limits of what can be shown on the motion picture screen. Given that, it was only a matter of time before Lucas used modern 3D techniques to change (yet again) both his classic and modern Star Wars trilogies and have an excuse to release them in theatres yet again. This weekend the cycle of releasing the movies began anew with the re-release in stunning 3D of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Was it worth it? Has a little time made this low point in the Star Wars movies more bearable? Did the movie hold my kids' attention? Is Jar Jar better in 3D? Let's just see...

Overall, the movie is the movie that most people remember and no amount of 3D can make that initial marquee scroll at the beginning remotely interesting. Jar Jar is still insufferable. The overall plot of the whole things is still boring as hell. What really did change for me this time around was actually seeing it with my kids and how I felt about young Anakin. Yeah, he was kind of whiny and annoying at times but I understood him a little better this time around and my kids actually kind of identified with him. They laughed with him and I think I finally see what Lucas was going for with his characterization. Lucas was trying to make him as normal as a kid in the situation he is in can be. Him and Padme making googly eyes was still kinda creepy, but I get it...after all these years, I get it. As for the 3D treatment, it is kind of hit and miss. The parts that you expect to be amazing really were for the most part. Space battles, the war on Naboo, pod racing, and the big light saber battle were all pretty amazing. The same level of care doesn't really seem to be taken everywhere else, but I guess there is only so much you can do to make the senate debate remotely exciting. So, is it worth your time? Yeah, I think so, but only if you really like Star Wars anyway. Darth Maul is still scary as hell and Yoda is still a bit of a dick. Overall the 3D just enhances the experience ane you will probably end up liking it about as much as you did before. Though, I do recommend taking a kid with you this time. Might change your overall view a little bit...if nothing else, you will have someone with you to laugh at all the poop and fart jokes

54th Grammy Awards: Highs and Lows

2012-02-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

I'm sure by now you've heard various opinions about Sunday night's Grammy awards, or formed your own by watching the show. Here's some of my personal music fan-girl opinions about this year's "awards." I say that in quotations because the first thing I noticed is there are hardly any awards actually given during the show anymore. I feel like I saw perhaps 4 acceptance speeches. I warn you now if you are waiting to catch it on the DVR later....*SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Let's face it-we ALL knew Adele would be a big winner, and deservedly so. I loved her first album, 19, and this last one, 21, was a triumph. Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, Set Fire to the Rain, Turning Tables-these are songs you like, your mom likes, hell, your grandma's been jamming this album in her Towncar. Face it. Good voices and heartbreak translate to a massive audience.

Her performance affirmed that her throat surgery didn't affect her voice. I was hopeful she didn't have a setback from it like Julie Andrews did, and I was assured as soon as she opened her mouth on the first note, that she's here to stay a while. Might I add-she looked beautiful, as always. For those who say "she's fat," I say to you-"fat" but talented have sold her 6 million copies of her album, so suck it. Her presence and domination of this year's awards was a high for me.

Another high was Jennifer Hudson's tribute to the recently departed Whitney Houston. Jennifer even looked like Whitney from a distance. She started in on "I Will Always Love You," and affirmed that if anyone can take Whitney's gospel-inspired pop throne, she has the pipes to do it. I admire her composure, only seeming to get choked up once during her song. Obviously, Whitney was a huge influence on J-Hud, she name dropped her back in her Idol audition days, and it comes through in the same way for me. Watching Whitney sing the national anthem at 1991's Super Bowl gives me the same chills as when I sat in the theater and watched Jennifer sing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," in the movie version of Dreamgirls. She's an absolute star, and proves it to me over and over again.

Now to the lows-and there were many.

Most of the awards weren't televised, so I didn't get to see a lot of people accept any awards-like Skrillex, who apparently won 3 (Best Dance Album, Best Dance Recording for 'Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites' and Best Remix for his 'Cinema' collaboration with Benny Benassi). I find that sad. But, the Grammys are trying to be like the MTV Video Music Awards more and more every year.

They took appropriate time to "shout out" the past with the original Beach Boys lineup, although Mike Love kept pointing right at me, and I felt like I was getting scolded.

There were "comebacks" by Chris Brown, but I'll get to that later. The real comeback in my opinion was seeing Brian Wilson sing "Good Vibrations." Considering he had a legendary hermit phase where he spent the better part of two years depressed, in his bedroom, doing drugs, sleeping, and overeating. The fact that he ever came out of it impresses me and makes every time I see him feel like a comeback.

Now to the so-called comeback by Chris Brown. Let me make one point clear: Beating your pop star girlfriend half to death 3 years ago, then performing on the Grammys and even winning one, does NOT constitute a comeback. It means we're all supposed to have national amnesia and not remember the photo of Rihanna with her face so bruised and battered I couldn't hardly recognize her. The first time I saw that photo taken by police when she finally got away from the woman beating ass who did it to her, I cried. I have issues with a society who welcomes someone like that back into the fold with open arms, like he's not a monster. Try as you might, Chris, there's not one moment when I see or hear you and don't think of you as a punk who punches and chokes women. Just like when I think of Michael Vick, I'll associate him with cruelty to animals. Knowing women who have been in emotionally and physically abusive relationships-I have no sympathy for men like this. They need help, or better yet, to face a man who's bigger and badder than they are to put them in their place.

Brown tweeted, "HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That’s the ultimate [BLEEP] OFF!”The tweet was later deleted from Brown’s account, though it lives on in this publicly viewable tweet graveyard,
along with a couple of other gems that also disappeared from Brown’s feed.

Anyway-that a-hole won a grammy for best R&B album, when it was a techno-inspired rap-cameo having mess. Luther Vandross was R&B. Stevie Wonder is R&B. Chris Brown is just a woman-beater. I call shenanigans.

Lady Antebellum won Best Country Album. I have no idea how. I think none of the Grammy voters bothered to listen to it, because I have 100 country albums I'd rather see win over that one-and I don't listen to that much country...so figure that one out. It's bad. In any genre. Also, their lead singer was a dead ringer for Khloe Kardashian at the show.

Paul McCartney performed twice (as it should be) doing one new song and coming back later for Beatles classics. I find myself disturbed at the "who is this old white guy?" tweets too numerous to believe. Please! My mother still refers to Paul McCartney as "the cute Beatle." Shoot yourself in the face for not knowing who he is, or the songs he sang.

Foo Fighters brought the rock, but were relegated to a tent outside. "A woman beating dick gets center stage, but they're stuck outside the Staples Center!" (was what I was screaming at the TV). Later they played alongside Deadmau5 in an attempt to show how "edgy" the Grammys are.

The Civil Wars were given just enough screen time for me to say "who are they? I could be interested in their sound," and Bon Iver won "Best New Artist" 4 years after I first heard them.

That's it in a nutshell-there were some highs, but mainly it was a boring show with no surprises. You can do better Grammys. You just need to fire your whole production staff and start fresh.

Episode 45 - Convention Season!

2012-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Convention season is upon us and the Beaucoup Pop crew is getting their battle gear on. This week we welcome the man behind Lexington Comic and Toy Convention, Jarrod Greer. Jarrod gives us the low down on what to expect from the convention that’s bringing geeky back to Lexington and provides insight to how he’s pulled the con together.

Free LCTC comic (cover by our very own Justin Stewart) with the purchase of a VIP ticket!

As usual, the gang discusses the week’s biggest news stories and the inevitable always happens....tangents. Suit up Poppers!!! Are YOU ready for the con season?!?!

The Mighty Poppin' Beaucoup Rangers

Check out the episode here:

http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-45-convention-season-

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

For more information on the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention:

Web: www.lexingtoncomiccon.com
Phone:(606)-547-6643
General questions, media inquiries, press pass requests, and just about anything else can be handled via email at:jarrod@lexingtoncomiccon.com

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New Releases for 02/14/12

2012-02-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Goodness, I've been working on this post for DAYS! This week's releases are massive in quantity, so I hope you've been saving up. We see not only the release of the PSVita (one week early!), but a slew of games to go with it, including UNCHARTED: GOLDEN ABYSS! There's also a good number of movies coming out...including the "I can't believe the Green Lit a sequel" Human Centipede II. Hope you don't have a week stomach. If you do...then watch a couple of Murder She Wrote movies, cause a 4 movie collection has been released! Anyway, here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of February 14, 2012!

VIDEO GAMES

PlayStation Vita First Edition Bundle

Claim your PS Vita week before the official release date with the PlayStation Vita First Edition Bundle. For a limited time, get the PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi system plus a 4GB memory card, a limited edition case, Little Deviants, and pick up your system one week early.

Design features touchpads at the front and rear.

PlayStation Vita is designed to blur the lines between interactive entertainment and reality in a variety of ways. Reaching beyond the capabilities of every handheld gaming console that has come before it, in this model of Vita players have access to a vast amount of content via improved Wi-Fi, allowing for maximum connectivity wherever you go. Its 5-inch OLED front multi-touch display brings brilliant images to life and allows for a new touch driven navigational system, while the additional multi-touch pad on its back surface will allow users to interact with games and characters that they encounter within them with a simple movement of their fingertips. The real world and the game world are seamlessly merged with front and rear camera enabled augmented reality. Additionally, services created specifically for Vita will be available on PlayStation Network. These services are designed help users take their gameplay, as well as interaction with other gamers, to new levels.

Additional features include: dual analog stick controls, a 4 core CPU, system-specific flash card media support for game and media saves, mobile PlayStation trophy support, built-in three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer and GPs functionality.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is a single player Adventure game that brings the trademark active gameplay of the Uncharted series to the small screen like never before. The most prominent of the launch title for the Sony PlayStation Vita handheld Golden Abyss features an all-new story revolving around the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake, as well as controls optimized for play on the PS Vita. Features include: a combination of touch pad and motion-sensing controls, as well as Adventure and Puzzle-solving gameplay.

In addition to the standard analog stick controls found in Golden Abyss, PlayStation Vita's innovative control set brings a fresh feel to the well-known acrobatic and puzzle-oriented gameplay of the Uncharted game series. Using the handheld's front and rear touch pads players can more fluidly move laterally, or up and down a wall that Drake must explore. Touch functionality is also used to make charcoal rubbings of found relics, as well as arrange puzzle pieces into the correct configuration for puzzle-solving. Similarly, touch screens can be tapped to move Drake across non-continuous surfaces such as handholds at irregular increments, dilapidated bridge planks and tricky river crossings. Tapping is also utilized as a fast means of switching weapons in combat situations. In addition to this, the motion-sensing controls of the PS Vita's internal gyroscope allows players to balance Drake as he crosses slippery logs, and serves as an aiming method when shooting at enemies. In the latter situation, just point the Vita in the direction you want to shoot, line up you target and pull the trigger.

Amazing visuals for a handheld!

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational

The over-the-top Hot Shots Golf franchise is back with a bag full of PlayStation Vita features that will have players hitting the links like never before. These features begin as soon as an in-game golfer is selected, dressed for the part and is lined up to tee off.

Use tap functionality to look down the fairway to get a better look at the pathway to the green, and when ready, place the golfer in the best position and at the best angle to take a shot using PS Vita pinch and front touch pad functionality. Once off the tee players can simultaneously maneuver their golfer and line up shots with a combination of the front sticks and the rear touch pad. Need to check your form with a different view of the shot? Players can easily change the camera angles of their golfer with an augmented reality feature. And mastering the PS Vita's motion sensing capabilities will allow for the addition of extra power on shots with a flick of the device. Points for success in a round can be used for in-game purchases, including new available golfers, new outfits, and even new clubs. Multiplayer support allows up to eight players locally, while literally dozens of players can compete on the same hole in play through PlayStation Network.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony

The king of music-puzzle games returns with its first, all-new installment in over 5 years. Lumines for PlayStation Vita marks the return of Q Entertainment's landmark puzzle series, bringing together addictive block-dropping puzzle action, an all-new 3D graphics engine, and some of the most significant names in electronic music history.

It's like musical tetris on Exstasy! One of my favorite games on the PSP ~Matt

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

The highly acclaimed fighting series adds 12 new legends to the robust Marvel vs. Capcom 3 lineup, bringing the total overall roster of characters up to 50. This includes zombie-slayer Frank West on the Capcom side and cosmic defender Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel Universe. The new character options also include Phoenix Wright, Vergil, Nemesis, Strider and Firebrand from Capcom and Nova, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider and Hawkeye from Marvel.

The PS Vita version of the game is virtually identical to the console versions,
while incorporating the handheld's touch controls and portability.

Rayman Origins

Michel Ancel, celebrated creator of Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil and the Raving Rabbids returns to his roots to bring us Rayman Origins: a high-definition, 2D side-scrolling, platforming adventure! Play Rayman Origins and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplay that captured the hearts of millions of fans. Also available on Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and the X-Box 360!

Little Deviants

Little Deviants is an Arcade style mini-game collection focused on the Little Deviant characters ongoing attempts to escape from their robot enemies. The games in the collection are especially designed to focus players' attention on mastery of the various controls and features of PlayStation Vita, including front and rear touch screen input, tap and drag input, and motion sensor and rear camera functionality. The game contains more than 30 mini-games/levels, an online leaderboard, and local eight player multiplayer support through a single handheld.

Over 30 games/levels

A variety of game genres.

Michael Jackson The Experience

Experience the excitement and the magic of Michael Jackson's iconic music videos and short films in the palm of your hands in spectacular high definition graphics and sound. Michael Jackson The Experience for PlayStation Vita invites players on a spectacular interactive journey through 15 of the King of Pop's most legendary hits. Built for the PlayStation Vita and true to Michael Jackson's groundbreaking and visionary work, Michael Jackson The Experience introduces a brand new way of playing rhythm games, an experience as close as it gets to dancing on a portable console.

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom [PSP]

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom is a Samurai Romance game set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history - a period that witnessed the decline of Shogunate as the ruling of power in Japan. One of the few example of the Japanese sub-genre of Otome, which centers on story-driven romance from a female perspective, the game features a unique blend of adventure and decision-dependant gameplay. In Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, a young woman by the name of Chizuru comes to Kyoto in search of her missing father, and soon encounters danger and the Shinsengumi in quick succession. When it becomes clear the Shinsengumi are also searching for her father, Chizuru is put under their protection. But odd things are afoot in Kyoto-possibly even supernatural happenings.

Key Game Features

One of North America's First Otome Games - Experience a historical fantasy adventure while pursuing a relationship with one of several male love interests in a game specifically created for a female audience.

Experience a New Kind of Adventure - Enjoy a visual novel filled with beautiful illustrations and changing character portraits. Examine character biographies, check your story progress, and replay scenes you've already watched.

Choose Your Own Fate with Multiple Endings - The story is told through the eyes of Chizuru Yukimura, but the player will be presented with a number of decisions she must make.

Introduction to the Hakuoki Franchise - Hakuoki is a series that enjoys major popularity in Japan among the gaming populace, selling over 500,000 copies across all platforms.

Anime style stills from the game

Limited Edition Bundle

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom Limited Edition Includes:

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom for PSP in UMD format
A Soundtrack CD with music from the game
A 72-page artbook with beautiful, full-color art

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is a Sports/Party game set at the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London that features a wide range of characters from both the Nintendo and Sonic game universes competing in Olympic style sports events. The Nintendo 3DS version of the game continues the feel of the earlier DS releases in series with returning real-world sports, and new events as well. The game also features expanded gaming possibilities through the unique 3DS features, and four-player multi-card multiplayer support. Also available on the Nintendo Wii!

Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal returns with unhinged car combat destruction and action movie mayhem. A PlayStation franchise exclusive since the release of the original Twisted Metal game back in 1995 for PS1, this most recent release is packed with unique weapons that emerge from demonic vehicles as players unfold the demented tale of a cast of characters, led by Sweet Tooth in story, co-op and online modes. The mayhem is ratcheted up in multiplayer modes with 2-4 player competing locally and up to 16 players online competing in a killer-take-all back and forth battle royale on wheels.

Tales of the Abyss

3DS port of the popular PlayStation 2 video game by Namco Bandai.

The Sims 3: Hidden Springs

Celebrities and the rich flock to Hidden Springs in search of relaxation and escape from the mundane. Many cannot resist rumors of the seemingly miraculous healing powers that linger in the woods and waters. Some of the townsfolk who live in the woods are highly secretive and seem to have a pale green tinge to them. Is it really magic at work?

MOVIES

Dragon Age: Redemption

I'd tell you that I already pre-ordered/bought this
...but I'm sure you already knew that. ~Matt

Written by and starring Felicia Day (The Guild), Dragon Age: Redemption is a six-part series based on Bioware's Dragon Age video game franchise. Taking place in the same setting as Dragon Age Origins and during the same period as Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Redemption tells a story of sword, sorcery and adventure.

Murder, She Wrote: 4 Movie Collection [DVD]

Murder, She Wrote: "South By Southwest" -- November 2, 1997
(While traveling on a train, Jessica is befriended with foreign spies and is warned by the FBI to stop her own investiagtion in Agua Verde).

Murder, She Wrote: "A Story to Die For" -- May 18, 2000
(Jessica attends a writer's conference where a Russian author is found murdered).

Murder, She Wrote: "The Last Free Man" -- May 2, 2001
(A link between Jessica's family history and the death of a slave in the 1860's piques Jessicas' writer's mind).

Murder, She Wrote: "The Celtic Riddle" -- May 9, 2003
(While traveling to Ireland to attend the reading of an acquaintances' will, Jessica, along with the help of the old man's quirky family members, is soon knee-deep in murder--and discovers a mystery involving secret treasure). Based on "The Celtic Riddle" by Lyn Hamilton.

The Rum Diary [DVD/Blu-ray]

Doctor Who:
The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe [DVD /Blu-ray]

Take Shelter [DVD/Blu-ray]

Following his acclaimed debut, Shotgun Stories, writer/director Jeff Nichols reteams with actor Michael Shannon to create a haunting tale that will creep under your skin and expose your darkest fears. Curtis LaForche lives in a small town in Ohio with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Hannah, a six-year-old deaf girl. When Curtis begins to have terrifying dreams, he keeps the visions to himself, channeling his anxiety into obsessively building a storm shelter in his backyard. His seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns and confounds those closest to him, but the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within his community can’t compare with Curtis’s privately held fear of what his dreams may truly signify. Take Shelter features fully realized characters crumbling under the weight of real-life problems. Using tone and atmosphere to chilling effect, Nichols crafts a powerful psychological thriller that is a disturbing tale for our times.

The Human Centipede II [DVD/Blu-ray]

As if the posters could GET any creepier!

If you saw the first one, then you know what to expect from this one...except this one is a WHOLE LOT WORSE. I STILL cannot get images from the first movie out of my head, and considering the director said this movie will make the first one seem like a Disney movie...I'm staying away. You've been warned.

Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury [DVD/Blu-ray]

The Dragons are back in the exciting next chapter to How to Train Your Dragon. The epic story of Hiccup and Toothless continues as they take flight in a thrilling, all-new adventure to discover an island of never-before-seen dragons. Explosive action and fire-breathing excitement collide in this exhilarating story.

MUSIC

Mission Bell by Amos Lee

I didn't realize who this was so I failed to mention it when it came out last Tuesday (02/07/12), so I'll give it a post-release mention:

Le Voyage Dans La Lune by Air

This is the seventh studio album by French electronic pop duo

And that's all she wrote!

Matt

DVD Review: Priest

2012-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

Let me start with an observation. If modern days priests were comprised of an elite group of knife-wielding, ass-kicking warriors trained in the art of killing vampires I think a lot more people would go to church. I know I would. But alas, that is not the case. Yet I'm not the only one who seems to think that would be an amazing thing given that it formed the basis of a successful Korean comic series that was later adapted in to this feature film.

I never read the comic by Hyung Min-woo, yet somehow I'm willing to bet it's better than this movie. If I'm really being honest, I'm willing to bet just about anything is better than this movie. Okay. That's a little harsh. Priest is definitely better than Twilight, but really, the bar's not too high on that one.

Christopher Plummer as Monsignor Orelas

The plot of Priest is pretty straightforward, but before I jump in a little background is required. When the movie opens, we learn that the world has always been inhabited by both Man and vampire, with both sides locked in a centuries long war for control (aren't they always). Now these aren't your standard Eurotrash vamps, nor do they sparkle and seduce mopey-ass tweens. These vampires are more like underground creatures. The war has led to innumerable causalities for both humans and vampires, and if that's not bad enough, the ongoing feud has nearly destroyed the planet. In an effort to protect what remains of humanity, a theocratic government, known only as The Church, has taken over. The leaders have erected giant cities housed within prison-like walls to ensure people's safety. But that's not all they've done. The Church created an army of vampire hunters known as Priests, with the express mandate of overpowering the vampires once and for all. Turns out the Priests were better at their job than anticipated. The vast majority of vampires were destroyed while the rest were housed in "reservations." Fearing the power of the very Priests they created, The Church disbanded them after the war.

Cam Gigandet and Paul Bettany

The movie centers around one "retired" Priest (Paul Bettany) in particular. He's struggling with the fact that his order has been disbanded and you can tell that he's not all that thrilled with The Church's authority. Now not everyone has chosen to live inside the city walls. Some have opted to remain outside of The Church's cities, and, more importantly, its control. Early in the film, one such family is attacked by a horde of vampires, and their teenage daughter (Lily Collins) is kidnapped. Now she's probably the last girl you want to kidnap because we find out her uncle is the Priest we've been following up to this point, and the local sheriff (Cam Gigandet) enlists his services in hunting down the vampires that attacked Priest's family. But the threat is worse than they imagined. The vampire horde is being led by a new form a vampire (Karl Urban). More man than creature. And he's got a bit of his own history with our Priest.

Karl Urban as Black Hat

Here's my biggest problem with this movie. Priest is a straight-up action flick. Believe me when I tell you there is no real depth to the story, nor is there any character development whatsoever. Now this wouldn't be a problem if there were actually some worthwhile action scenes!! The fight scenes in this movie were boring as hell. Priest is supposed to be this supreme killing machine. I should be salivating for the next sequence of him kicking a vampire's pasty ass. Instead I was just waiting for it to end.

There are two big action sequences and neither delivered. The first involves Priest and Priestess (great names by the way) fighting a Hive Guardian. Essentially it's this giant vampire who protects one of their underground bunkers. The CGI is terrible and the hive is almost pitch black so it's next to impossible to see anything. If you are going to give me shit graphics at least let me see them! The final scene focuses on Priest trying to stop a train full of vampires from reaching the cities. This is where Priest finally gets to square up with Urban's Black Hat (again, great names). I've seen better fights take place on a grade school playground. They throw a few limp-wristed jabs and then it's all over. It was a huge letdown, especially given the characters prior relationship.

A Hive Guardian in muted light

My second issue with this movie was its pacing. The movie felt rushed, which was both a blessing and a curse. I'll admit this is a strange complaint for me, because my wife and I are typically huge fans of the 90-minute movie. It seems like every movie that comes out now is two and a half hours long. With Priest, I could have used a little more back-story. The plot was easy enough to follow, but I think the scene where Priest first sees Black Hat would of had more impact if we saw more of them together earlier in their lives. In addition, Priestess keeps telling us over and over again that Priest has made more sacrifices for the Church and his calling than anyone else, yet we never see them. We learn about one of them, however, again, I think a few well-timed flashbacks would have served the story in a big way. We would have understood his struggle and perhaps felt more for his character.

Lily Collins as Lucy Pace

Visually, the movie has a nice presentation to it. Priest, with his cross face tattoo and his black hood and cloak, portrays a man you don't want to fuck with. The vampire design is different in the sense that you don't see this take all that often, but you don't see them enough to really enjoy it. The scenes that were shot in daylight are gorgeous and take place in a barren desert backdrop, capturing the fusion of western, sci-fi and horror that was in the comic. The final scene on the train is a perfect example. It's like the old westerns where cowboys chase down a train with stolen gold on board. However in this movie the train is more steampunk than a traditional western, the horses are replaced by motorcycles, and the cowboys are vampires and vampire hunters. Other than that they are identical.

My money is on the train

I went in to Priest with zero expectations, and in the end that was probably for the best. The first 10 minutes started to pull me in, but then the wheels came off shortly thereafter. If you're really curious about this movie, I'd recommend borrowing it from a friend or hitting up Netflix or Redbox, otherwise I'd say pass.

Who the Frack is Patrick?

2012-02-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

Beaucoup Pop welcome's our latest blog contributor, Patrick Ballard!

Patrick is a classic example of nature vs. nurture when his comes to whether or not someone will become a true nerd based on the nerd DNA that they are born with or the nerdy environment that they are raised in. Growing up in rural Kentucky really doesn't afford a lot of kids the opportunity to really explore may things that are outside of the five television channels that his family could get on their television's rabbit ears. So, like many other children of 80's, television cartoons shaped many of his young fantasies and he would save every last penny he had to get his mom to let him go to the Ben Franklin department store next to her job so that he could pick up any new Transformer or G.I. Joe he could find. Oh, there were Star Wars figures too, but if he had to admit it, he played with Darth Vader as a hero for a good two years before he ever saw the actual movie and realized his folly.

He did have older brothers and he did get to read dog eared copies of Uncanny X-Men, Man-Thing, Heavy Metal, and Micronauts from time to time; never imagining there were actual shops that sold comics, he would run to the Christmas tree every year hoping that he would get that big sampler box of comics that J.C. Penney's sold in their Wish Book. Yeah, though the pickings were slim and the influences scattered at best, Patrick slowly evolved into the sci-fi, comic book, toy & statue collecting, video gaming nerd with a huge t-shirt fetish that he is today. I guess it was inevitable...it was in his genes to be that way.

These days, Patrick is a mild, mannered School Psychologist by day and a comic reading, noob fragger at night. Reading everything from Ultimate Spider-Man to Scalped and Runaways to Lost Girls, he will read about anything. He isn't shy about giving his opinions about them either like he does with his weekly Tradio segment that he does at his blog Pop Culture Punching Bag. Additionally, he commands a rather respectable gamerscore over on Xbox Live where he will play about anything, but has a passion for action and adventure games. Additionally, he is a married father of triplets and he is trying is best to guide his little ones through the current world of mass media into little nerds like their daddy...but only if they want to. So far...he has gotten mixed results on that, but he will keep us posted. From time to time, he will be posting about movies, games, comics, toys, you name it, but from his own unique perspective as a Gen X dad and try not to bore the pants off us with talk about how much his daughter Ella loves kittens.

You can also find Patrick on Twitter, @paleriderofdoom! You can also check out his first post with BCP over at DC's New 52 - A Father's Take on a Missed Opportunity.

DC's New 52 - A Father's Take on a Missed Opportunity

2012-02-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Gang! Just the new kid on the block, Patrick here with my first post as a Beaucoup Pop contributor. Since Matt, Tressa, Kerry, Justin and now Christopher and Becky seem to have lot of areas of geekery covered, I wanted to add something a little bit different to the mix. I am a dad and thought that some of my contributions may a bit of a parental slant to them when it comes to pop media. Before you get too worried, I am not going to go into all the reasons that Steve is FAR superior to Joe on Blue's Clues - thank God my kids are past that age and you all already know this anyway - but my kids are six years old and are on the cusp of discovering a lot of cool new worlds through television, movies, games, books, comics, and music and I thought it might be fun to look at some aspects of the current culture that is going to be shaping what my kids experience and try to make it interesting for all of us. If I succeed, then all the better and if I fail, well...then I can produce sonnets about how dreamy Fassbender is...cause you know...he really is. Let's get to it!

DC's New 52. I know, I know...it has been talked to death, but as we are looking at the first casualties of DC's ambitious relaunch of most of it's integrated, main universe it has given them an opportunity to explore new books and give us new and exciting areas of the DC universe to explore. Well...maybe not so much. See, my kids love super heroes. Batman, Spider-man, X-Men, Avengers, Wonder Woman...the list goes on and on. I was hoping that with the New 52, there would be hope that DC would put into play a title or two that would appeal to a younger audience. I am not talking DC Kids stories here, I am talking full on main universe stories that mattered, just written a little less dark and mature that I wouldn't be afraid to give my kids and would be a good gateway into a larger universe. A Robin book where he deals with growing up in the shadow of Batman or a Teen Titan's book where the characters actually act like teens or even a Batgirl book that was heavy on the "girl" part of that. No such luck, I am afraid.

Every title in the New 52 is rated T or T+. That means ages twelve and up. Not an E in the bunch. I know, I know...DC, and Marvel for that matter, have books that are geared toward young readers and that is all fine and good, but I ask you this: How many of us current comic readers started out reading comics because of Spider-man Adventures or Tiny Titans? Most of us started reading mainstream lines with big stories that mattered and made us hunger for more of the same. Love it or hate it, a lot of us grew up in the age or the Comics Code. I know the Comics Code was a bad thing for many reasons, but you have to admit that it kept a lot of sex and violence in check that we now see today in mainstream books. I am not saying that sex and violence is a bad thing - it has it's place and you only have to read the trade reviews that I do in order to see that I expose myself to a lot of both, but it just might be too much for one of my six-year-olds who want to look at one of my superhero books. I mean there is a book with "Teen" in the title within the New 52 that is definitely not at all geared toward the younger age set. What would be the harm in DC taking say four of the New 52, making them all E rated books and planting them firmly in the DC universe proper? And, to go a step further, drop those book costs by a dollar. I know it sounds crazy, but I think it would have an impact. You would have four books that any parent would not mind picking up for their kid (they could be released one a week to keep the kids coming back every week) and would be a bargain at the price. And the best part? They are in continuity. No watered down storylines. No irrelevant information. No "wasted" time reading something that the "big kids" didn't care about.

So, how about it DC? Next time some more books are on the chopping block (we are going to miss ya Static Shock and OMAC), why not go crazy and replace them with something for younger readers that matters in the sense of continuity. You might be surprised with the numbers you get and if it does tank you can point a finger and tell me that you told me so. Either way, what have you got to lose and think of all that would have to gain if it works. I mean, you are already in the mind set to take some chances...why not take a chance on the kids? Think about it.

Episode 44 - What Makes You Happy

2012-02-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

The man behind the heroes.

We're shaking up the format this week Poppers...mainly because one of the bigger news topics, the new Watchmen comics, leads us straight into our weekly discussion about Jack Kirby! We also do a little ranting about creator rights and we make a plea to our listeners to not fall into the "hater hole". But we balance it out with some love...or at least a lot of laughter!

Check out the episode here: http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-44-what-makes-you-happy

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

List of New Watchmen Books and their creators:

RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

---------------------------------------------------------------

THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

New Releases for 02/07/12

2012-02-08T14:26:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of February 07, 2012!

MOVIES

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part I [DVD/Blu-ray]

The fourth installment of The Twilight Saga: a marriage, a honeymoon and the birth of a child.

Go Team Charlie, the only likable character in these movies!!

Anonymous [DVD/Blu-ray]

Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, Anonymous speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds... who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

I highly recommend this movie. It's a lot of fun and really interesting how the story is presented, even if it is based on fiction. As a theater person, I have no problems with this film. Conspiracy films are all about the what if, and this film is no exception. I don't see why films such as Shakespeare in Love are acclaimed, why this one was shunned. Lame Sauce! ~Matt

Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abby Season 2 [DVD/Blu-ray]

Season 2

Season 2 of Downton Abbey returns as The Great War rages across Europe, and not even the serene Yorkshire countryside is free from its effects. The men and women of Downton are doing their part both on the front lines and the home front, but the intensity of war only serves to inflame the more familiar passions love, loss, blackmail, and betrayal.

Lady and the Tramp (Diamond Edition) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

Special Features:
• Blu-ray(TM) Feature Film + Bonus
• DVD Feature Film + Bonus
• Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
• PuppyPedia: Going To The Dogs
• Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
• Never-Before-Heard Deleted Song
• Inside Walt's Story Meetings With Disney Second Screen
• Lady's Pedigree: The Making Of Lady and the Tramp
• "The Siamese Cat Song": Finding A Voice For The Cats
• And Much More!

MUSIC

Scars & Storiesby The Fray

A Different Kind of Truth by Van Halen

A Different Kind of Truth is Van Halen's first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band's classic multi-platinum album 1984.

Ten$Ion by DIE ANTWOORD

Die Antwoord is a hip-hop group from Cape Town, South Africa consisting of three members Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek.

--UPDATE--

Kisses on the Bottomby Paul McCartney

for Tressa. :)

Stories to Tell [2 CD/1 DVD Combo]by Richard Marx.

VIDEO GAMES

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Resident Evil: Revelations

Jak & Daxter Collection

Myst [3DS]

Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition

About Us Page!

2012-02-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

Hey Poppers, the "About Us/Events" page has been updated to include info on our lovely blog contributors (more on the way) and also displays our event calendar! Check it out!

Lana Del Rey: Friend or Foe?

2012-02-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Unless you don't surf the interwebs very much, you've probably heard mention in some form or fashion of Lana Del Rey by now. You may have experienced her (in my opinion, because my ears work) horrendous "performance" on Saturday Night Live last month. The fact that she was booked for a stage as huge as SNL off the youtubing of 2 subpar songs is beyond me, but anyway...watch here if you dare:

I'll look past the fact that she's wearing her grandma's tablecloth and go to her voice. Maybe she had a bad night, but I doubt it. After hearing her recorded version of "Video Games" off of "Born to Die," it's no better. I'm not sure what marketing genius is behind her meteoric rise to the heights of SNL, Letterman, etc., along with being the talk of every blog, but it feels to me a lot like a Rebecca Black moment. Maybe we can't turn away, because we all agree she's so terrible?

Her knuckles say it all...

I like to think that's what it is. Otherwise, maybe we've suddenly all gone from making Adele a multi-platinum star to appreciating tone-deafness and dead eyes swaying from side to side. Nothing would surprise me America. Nothing at all.

Friend or Foe? I say foe. Thumbs down.

Who the Frack is Becky?

2012-02-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

Beaucoup Pop is pleased to welcome their newest blogger, Becky Cole!

Becky Cole is a Lexington, KY native with her hand in all types of geeky cookie jars. Mainly she's a music and movie nerd, but she also digs several comic/graphic novel series, her favorite of all time being Transmetropolitan. She's found renewed faith in TV, falling hopelessly in love with BSG, Downton Abbey, Big Bang Theory, Doctor Who, Sons of Anarchy, etc. She doesn't read as much as she used to, but is mad for the Harry Potter series and loves to sport her bad ass Slytherin hoodie! She also has a sever coffee addiction, an enduring weakness for all things Hello Kitty, and could eat Chinese food every day of her life.

Her earliest musical memories include sitting with her brother watching the beginning days of MTV whilst trying to figure out Michael Jackson's dance moves, and through this exposure to early MTV she developed quite the enduring taste for New Wave/Synthpop music. Somewhere between that first love of English 80s music and exposure to her dad's Queen, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath records in the basement at age 8, she gravitated right towards Nine Inch Nails by 6th grade, and has remained a life-long fan. One of the best days of her life was when one of her mom's co-workers said she was upgrading her record collection from vinyl and tapes to all CDs and gave all her tapes to me. They included David Bowie, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Cure, Shriekback, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Love & Rockets, Jane's Addiction, XTC and The Pixies. She was 12 at the time, and it warped her fragile little mind. They are all still favorites.

Becky has been best friends with Matt since high school and will never let him forget that when they first became friends, he totally had Spice Girls posters up in his room. She was able to overlook this since his parents had HBO, a seemingly endless supply of Diet Cokes in the fridge, he'd put in on gas money for rides home from school, and he had a crap ton of Anime and movies for her to borrow.

Becky has her very own blog called Confessions of a Pop Culture Fanatic. Currently she is doing a "song a day" project happening through 2012 where she be posting a link to a song she loves each day this year! You can also check out her first post with BCP over at Watch the Throne: Great from 'Ye to Z.

Why Do Remakes Make us so Angry?

2012-02-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

If you are a fan of anything pop culture related I'm willing to bet that at one time something you love has been remade. Now if you are anything like me, I'm going to assume that when you first heard the news about it you were overcome with the uncontrollable desire to choke a bitch. And let's be honest, more often than not there isn't a judge on earth who would have convicted you. Most remakes are maddening. They are unnecessary, dumbed down, and almost always a poor representation of the original work. The whole notion of a remake wreaks of laziness. When creators lack original ideas they stand on the shoulders of giants and "re-imagine" superior works. As upsetting as remakes are, I feel that, for my own health and other people's safety, I have to lighten up a bit. But it's not easy.

The mere mention of a remake drives my crazy. It never fails. Whenever a remake, or a cover in music, is announced my default mood is anger. Yet after the rage settles, and I sweep up all the hair I pulled out of my head, I step back and ask myself why I was so upset in the first place. No matter how many times a particular thing is remade, the original will always still be there for me to enjoy. I can easily go and experience the source material all over again. My memories are intact. My childhood has not been hideously abused. Everything is fine. Right now I can pop The Karate Kid in my DVD player and for an hour and a half forget that Will Smith and his son even exist. It's a beautiful thing. And yet it still bothers. But why?

First, when something is remade you often hear the argument that the people behind it want to expose a product to a new generation. Often times they feel the original is outdated, or needs to be tweaked in order to appeal to contemporary audiences. Sounds reasonable enough, but here's my problem. For most people, the remake will be their first, and possibly only, experience with a particular creative endeavor. If it sucks, and they almost always do, audiences may never understand how wonderful the original material actually is, nor will they take the time to consume it. Imagine if someone's first exposure to Psycho was Gus Van Zant's remake from 1998? If you walked in to a room and said how much you loved the original, most people would dismiss you as a lunatic. They may have been put off so much by the remake that they never even pick up Hitchcock's masterpiece. Instead of turning people towards to the original work, it turns them away. And by the way, if you want to expose a new audience to something, there is no reason you have to remake it to do so. How about you expose them to the original! Just a thought.

Second, and I know this may be difficult to believe, but many of us geeks feel a certain connection to our favorite pieces of pop culture. We have very fond memories of when we first experienced it. Hell, we have very fond memories of every time we experienced it. Watching certain movies, reading certain books, or listening to certain songs takes us back to a very special place in our lives. Our memories are vivid and in many ways have made us who we are today. We don't just like things. We love them. Unconditionally. When something so near and dear to us is remade we take it personally. We love our favorite things just the way they are, and even though they still exist, we don't want them disturbed by some suit who knows nothing about the product they are tampering with. We have a certain "Go fuck up something else and leave my memories alone" type of approach. (This applies to you too George Lucas!!) When you enjoy something you want to share it with the world so they can enjoy it too, as it was originally intended. Not some bastardized version of it.

Was this necessary?

Finally, I should probably start by saying that I'm not very creative. At least I don't think I am. But the thing is I'm not expected to be. Yet many people are. As fans we rely on these people to create new and interesting things for us to enjoy. Emphasis on the word "new." I'm sick and tired of people re-hashing things I've already seen, and doing it poorly to boot. There is an argument out there, one that I don't support, that says everything that can be done has been done. I know this to be false. I read a lot of comic books, and many of them are creator-owned books from Image Comics. Every month there are a handful of new and unique offerings from a diverse set of creators. It can be done. It's just easier not to. It's easier to remake than it is to create. Easier to follow someone's lead than to be a trailblazer. So instead of hunkering down and trying to come up with next new thing you decide to remake Footloose. No really, I'll take something new. It's cool.

Unfortunately remakes are never going away. It's one of the sad facts of life (tell me you didn't just start humming the Facts of Life theme song), especially if they are successful financially. Though we don't have any control over whether or not remakes happen, we do have control over how we react towards them. For starters, we don't have to watch them. We can ignore and shun them like the fruits of the devil they truly are. But somehow I know most of will watch them anyway. We have to see the train wreck for ourselves. And no matter how bad they are, and how angry we might get, we need to take a step back and focus on the positive. They can never take away our memories, nor can they ever take the original work away from us. It will always be there waiting for us whenever we need it. And knowing that is enough to put me at ease.

Chris

Episode 43 - Top 5 TV Shows

2012-02-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

The Beaucoup Pop crew has combined their love of television to present their top 5 favorite (completed) live action TV shows!!! Are any of your favorite small screen productions on the list?

And prepare yourself for the first installment to BCP Masterpiece Theater...actually nothing will prepare you for it.

Beaucoup Pop Masterpiece Theater...yep!

Check out the episode here:
http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-43-top-5-tv-shows

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

New Releases for 01/31/12

2012-01-31T13:32:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Finally a week with some good releases (especially in Video Games!). It's hard to believe that Final Fantasy XIII-2 is already here! I know I AM excited. I hope it's a good sequel.

Here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of January 31, 2012!

MOVIES

The Thing [DVD/Blu-ray]

From the producers of Dawn of the Dead comes the chilling prelude to John Carpenter's cult classic film. When paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) travels to an isolated outpost in Antarctica for the expedition of a lifetime, she joins an international team that unearths a remarkable discovery. Their elation quickly turns to fear as they realize that their experiment has freed a mysterious being from its frozen prison. Paranoia spreads like an epidemic as a creature that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish in this spine-tingling thriller.

Drive [DVD/Blu-ray]

Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver for movies by day and moonlights as a wheelman for criminals by night.

Zzzzzzzzzzz.....

Dream House [DVD/Blu-ray]

Will Atenton quit a high-profile job in Manhattan to relocate his wife, Libby, and their two daughters to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was once the murder scene of a mother and her children. When Will investigates, he's not sure if he's seeing ghosts or if the tragic events are somehow related to his past. The only clues come from his mysterious neighbor, Ann, who helps him piece together this haunting puzzle.

In Time [DVD/Blu-ray]

You know...it's that movie from this summer with all the hot young people trying to "Buy Time" before they die at 25. Oh, and JT is in it. If that's your thing...you've probably already seen it. :)

Phantom: Requiem For the Phantom (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

A young man with no memories fights to salvage his humanity when he’s forced into a life of murder by a dangerous crime syndicate called Inferno. The organization gives him a new name, Zwei, and molds him into a perfect killing machine, a meticulous instrument of death created to obey his masters’ every deadly command. Zwei’s not the only puppet controlled by Inferno; Ein is a girl as beautiful as she is brutal, as lethal as she is lost. While mafia violence escalates around them, the two assassins grow closer, and Zwei begins the struggle to reclaim his past and save Ein from a blood-soaked future.

MUSIC

Born To Die by Lana Del Rey

Making Mirrors by Gotye

Ringo 2012 by Ringo Starr

Feel the Sound by Imperial Teen

Old Ideas by Leonard Cohen

VIDEO GAMES

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is the follow-up to the 2010 Final Fantasy XIII. The all-star production staff returns to create a true sequel that offers a more immersive experience than its predecessor, with extraordinary level design that encourages exploration, a more strategic paradigm-based Active Time Battle system, the ability to tame monsters and have them fight in your party, and a multi-path, player-driven experience that offers significant replay value.

The Story
Three years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors decided to start over by rebuilding on Gran Pulse. Lightning, however, is nowhere to be found and thought dead by many, but Serah believes otherwise. When her town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save her. Together, the two set off on a journey that transcends time and space, hoping to find Lightning.

FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Collector's Edition features a 20-page concept art book, 4-disc original soundtrack, and game disc, all contained in a premium hardcover digipak case with illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano.

AND for those of you who like Strategy Guides, Piggyback has done the guide (both regular edition and Hardcover Edition) for this game as well. They previously did the guide for FINAL FANTASY XIII-2, and let me tell you, it was AWESOME! ^_^ It was one of the easiest guides to use.

NeverDead

NeverDead is a third person action/shooter offering a radically new game experience within the genre based on decapitation and regeneration. Lose any limb and still have the ability to endure the fight as death has already passed you by...

Soul Calibur V

SOULCALIBUR V is the latest entry in the premier weapons-based head-to-head fighting series. SOULCALIBUR V takes place 17 years after the events of SOULCALIBUR IV and continues the epic story of warriors in search of the legendary Soul Swords in 17th century Europe. The heroic battles transpire in a beautiful and fluid world with eye-popping graphics and visual appeal. SOULCALIBUR V tunes the battle, movement, and visual systems so players can pull off cool dynamic attacks with ease and battle with complete freedom.

Dead Island: Ryder White DLC [Online Game Code]

Players have survived the terrors that took place on Banoi, but did they really get all the pieces of the puzzle? Dead Island´s Ryder White DLC lets you re-experience the Zombie outbreak, but this time through the eyes of the villain. Play through Ryder White´s story and understand the motivation behind the acts of this military man. (Available 02/01/12)

Watch the Throne: Great from 'Ye to Z

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Alright, I give. I finally sat down after much balking and put on "Watch the Throne," by Jay-Z and Kanye West. Don't get me wrong, I love Jay-Z, and have from the first track I heard by him. He's got one of those voices like Ice Cube (pissed off N.W.A. Ice Cube, not the Disney movie actor selling you beer) where he's just screaming at you, even at a whisper. He's been around, he's sold drugs, done some shit, but you want to hear about it because of the way he delivers the verses.

To be honest, the reason I stayed away from this one as long as I did is simple: Kanye. I have a love/hate relationship with Kanye. It's the same one I have with Courtney Love-I'll probably enjoy what you give me, I just never, EVER, want you to open your mouth in public. Don't do self-aggrandizing interviews, telling me you're the "greatest of all time," or go to award shows where you're allowed a platform. I don't want to hear you speak. Really, stop tweeting. You're not that important.

The problem is, he's a talented wordsmith and 'Ye is a great pairing with Jay-Z. He's the Mountain Dew to Jay's Taco Bell burrito. The cheese to his macaroni. It just works, and who am I to diss that?

I give respect to anyone who has a radio hit with a "Blades of Glory" reference in it.

The beats are big, the hooks infectious, and hey, there's even some Beyonce!
I give this one a thumbs up.

Batman #5: Sequential Storytelling at its Best

2012-01-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

There is more than one way to tell a story. You could write a short story or a novel. You could adapt it for television or film. You could create a web series. Or, if you have any artistic ability, or know someone who does, you could turn it into a comic book.

Comics have their own set of advantages as a medium. For starters, from a creative standpoint, a comic is often times the best method to express your artistic vision with the least amount of interference from third parties. While it's true that every book, with the exception of those being self-published, requires approval from an editor, generally the final product is the purest representation of the writer and artist's work. In addition, unlike, for example, television and film, comics allow you to create without having to worry about a budget. You don't have to think, "How much would this cost?" "Can we do this with real actors or will it require CG?" "How long will this take to shoot?" You are limited only by the breadth of your imagination. However the advantage that I consider to be the most important of all is a comic book's ability to make the reader an active participant in the story.

When reading a comic book, we have a profound effect on the story. You hold the book in your hand, following along at your own pace. Perhaps you'll speed through it, or maybe you'll take time to savor each individual panel. As readers we add inflection to the character's voices, we do the camera work, and we also flesh out the story by creating a running narrative in our minds to explain what happens between the panels and off-page. All of these things help make reading a comic a unique experience that differs from reader to reader.

Greg Capullo

More often than not we take these advantages for granted. However, in very rare instances, a comic is released that is written and drawn in such a way that it makes you step back and appreciate the wonders of the medium. Batman #5 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo is such an issue. Typically when I finish a comic I reflect on the story. I think about what I liked, what I didn't like, and so forth. When I put Batman #5 down my mind was focused on one thing....craft. Greg Capullo's art, and, more specifically, his layouts and storytelling, was some of the best I've ever seen. I can't remember the last time I felt such a shared experience with the character on the page, and it was because Capullo understood how effective this medium can be in making the reader a part of the story.

Without giving away too much of the series' plot, I will just say that the end of issue #4 found Batman locked away in a maze called The Labyrinth. When issue #5 opens, we learn Batman has been in the maze for just over a week and no one knows where he is. He has no food. He has nothing to drink other than water that has been drugged. He's in a bad way. One of Batman's strengths has always been his mental and physical preparation. It's next to impossible to outsmart the Dark Knight, and, much like MacGyver before him, he can escape almost any trap. But the latest villains to hit Gotham, The Court of Owls, have somehow found a way to break him. The maze is creepy as hell, containing a room filled with photos of men who came before him, men who checked in but likely never checked out. Bruce is looking at his future and it's not very bright. Slowly but surely Batman is spiraling into madness and we are right there with him.

Capullo put together an issue that pulls the reader into this spiral. The book begins with a typical layout, but quickly the perspective changes, and as you follow Batman through the maze you find yourself having to rotate the book 90 degrees. You read some more and then you have to rotate again. Now your upside down. Then it rotates back. It's dizzying. It requires you to be physically engaged. At times the panels are slightly out of focus, mimicking Batman's blurred vision from fatigue and hunger. The deeper Batman ventures in to the maze, the more he believes he has it figured out, and just when he thinks he cracked it he finds himself back at square one. At first you think "Did DC screw up and reprint pages?" You're confused. A little disoriented. Just like Batman. As if being stuck in a maze for 8 day with nothing to consumed but drugged water wasn't bad enough, unbeknownst to him, Batman is being stalked by an assassin. A killer who is toying with him. A killer he doesn't even know is there.

I've written about Scott Snyder and his work on Batman on this site before, so needless to say his writing is still outstanding. But much like Snyder mentioned on Twitter, Capullo was single-handedly responsible for the issue's layout and visual approach. It seems that a lot of readers are surprised at how amazing his art has been, but they shouldn't be. The man has been killing it for years on books like X-Force and Spawn. Batman is just a continuation of his awesomeness. If you want to see comic book storytelling at its best, you need to pick up Batman #5. I wouldn't be surprised if it winds up being considered the best single issue of the year.

And one more thing. I don't know how many of you have made the move to digital comics, but this is an issue that works best as a paper copy. You need to hold it. To manipulate it. A few comments online mentioned that this book was a nightmare to read on their laptops or mobile devices. I don't know how true that is, but I truly believe paper is the way to go on this one. Regardless of the medium you choose, this book deserves special recognition. Snyder and Capullo are putting together the best book of the DC reboot and they are just getting warmed up.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Extended Trailer

2012-01-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Get your pre-orders ready, cause next week is the release of Final Fantasy XIII-2! I loved FFXIII, despite all the critism from certain fans. I'm really excited about this sequel. I just hope it's better than FFX-2. Great music, but Gaah, that game sucked!

While you wait, check out this 7+ min trailer for the game. Squeee!! ^_^

Peace! ~Matt

Iron Sky

2012-01-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

SPACE NAZIS!

Episode 42 - Geeks in Spaaaace

2012-01-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

The cast of Beaucoup Pop is back, bringing you everything you need to know about whats going on in the pop culture world...and maybe some things that you didn't need to know, BUT WE GIVE IT TO YOU ANYWAY!!!

This week, the crew aboard the Beaucoup Pop crazy ship, take a plunge into new territory...with their brand new equipment!!! *CHEERS FROM THE CROWD*

Welcome to Beaucoup Pop Studios!

We also have the fantastic artist Mike Maihack (www.cowshell.com), known for his comic Cleopatra in Space, joining us for an interview.

We discuss everything from time traveling kitties to SOPA in this episode. Buckle up Poppers!!!

Check out the episode here:

http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-42-geeks-in-spaaaace

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

Show Notes & Links:

Mike Maihack is a graduate from the Columbus College of Art and Design and spends his time drawing pictures of cats, superheroes, space girls or just about anything else he can think of that might involve a giant pink heart or serving tea.

He is the editor and art director of the Christian comic anthology, Parable, creator of the all-ages webcomic, Cow & Buffalo, member of many art and webcomic collectives such as Lunchbox Funnies, Spacedock 7 and Bristolwhip and contributor to anthologies like Jim Henson's The Storyteller and the Eisner and Harvey award winning Comic Book Tattoo.

Currently though, Mike is hard at work bringing his sci-fi epic, Cleopatra in Spaaace!!, to life and watching lots of movies with his wife and two Siamese cats down in far too hot and humid Tampa, FL. www.cowshell.com

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

New Releases for 01/24/12

2012-01-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Odd week here...a few good releases, and a few...not so great. But, anyway, here's a look at some of the bigger things coming out the week of January 24, 2012! Shit'll hit the fan next week!! ^_^

MOVIES

50/50 [DVD / Blu-ray]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, a strait-laced 27-year-old who works in Seattle public radio with his hedonistic best friend, Rogen's Kyle. Back pain brings Adam to an oncologist who diagnoses cancer, prescribes chemotherapy, and recommends counseling, which leads him to Katie, a doctoral student (Anna Kendrick) who makes up in compassion what she lacks in experience. At the hospital, Adam also befriends two cancer patients (Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer) who share their foul-mouthed wisdom--along with marijuana-laced macaroons.

Real Steel [DVD / Blu-ray]

Sometime in the not-too-distant future, boxing has been outlawed and replaced by fighting matches with robots. Big robots. Hulking, rock 'em, sock 'em mechanical robots. Yep, you heard it...rock 'em, sock 'em robots...

Paranormal Activity 3 [DVD \ Blu-ray]

Whistleblower [DVD / Blu-ray]

MUSIC

Human Again by Ingrid Michaelson

100 Proof by Kellie Pickler

VIDEO GAMES

The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff

Resident Evil: Retribution (RE5) Trailer

2012-01-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

The new Resident Evil: Retribution 3D trailer has been released. Check it out!

Yes, yes, put all your slanderous comments below. I'M still excited about!

Peace!

DVD Review: RED

2012-01-23T06:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not the biggest fan of action movies. I tend to gravitate towards films that are more dialogue and character driven. I like a movie that tells a great story, keeps me in suspense, and does so without relying so heavily on explosions and special effects. That said, I end up catching most action flicks on DVD as opposed to running out and seeing them in the theater. This was the case with RED.

On paper RED sounds like a movie I'd be very interested in. For starters, the cast is right up my alley. Starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox and Karl Urban, the film is loaded with talent. When it comes to action movies, Bruce Willis is usually enough to pique my interest. After all, he starred in what I consider to be the greatest action film of all time, Die Hard. In addition to its A-list cast, the movie is loosely based off a 3-issue comic book by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer that was published by DC back in 2003. I'm a huge fan of Ellis' work, however I never picked up the RED (TPB) when it was originally released, nor have I read it since (Note to self: Pick that book up). Seeing his writing adapted for the big screen was a draw for me as well, but in the end neither the cast, nor the movie's comic book roots, was enough to get me in the theaters. I ended up seeing this movie thanks to my wife adding it to our Netflix queue.

When RED opens we are introduced to Frank Moses (Willis), a retired CIA agent who is a legend in the black-ops community. Frank is retired, living a quiet suburban life with little-to-no human contact, save for a strictly over-the-phone relationship he has with a woman working at his pension office (Mary-Louise Parker). Moses' new life is turned upside down when a government hit team breaks in to his house and tries to kill him in the middle of the night. Moses, being the supreme badass that he is, dispatches his would-be killers and goes on the run. He attempts to find out who is trying to kill him and why, seeking out members of his former team for assistance. All the while he is being pursued by CIA agent William Cooper (Urban) who is tasked with finishing the job the hit team started

The plot is pretty standard. Good guy is being pursued by hired killers. The killers work for the government. Good guy turns to his friends for help. Good guy finds out why people want to kill him and it goes deeper than he imagined. Good guy settles the score. Where this movie really succeeds is, not surprisingly, with its cast. The actors have great chemistry, and it is easy to believe that they share a long and interesting history. They kill for a living, but they are not cold and emotionless. You can see they care for each other like a family, albeit a dysfunctional one. The movie has a strong sense of humor throughout and never takes itself too seriously. Every performance is a little exaggerated, nothing over the top like, say, The Expendables, but just enough to make you shake your head and smile many times throughout the movie.

I have to give special recognition to John Malkovich. He's an actor who I forget how much I like his work until I see him in a movie. If you choose to watch this movie for his performance alone you will be more than satisfied. Malkovich plays Martin Boggs, a former member of Moses' team. During their heyday, Boggs was notorious for always worrying that the government was secretly subjecting him to a mind control project. The funny thing is, they were! He was given a dose of LSD everyday for 11 years! Needless to say the LSD had a profound effect. Boggs isn't all there. He still lives in constant fear of the government, satellites, microwaves, you name it, it scares the hell out of him. He lives underground, entirely off the grid, and forever remains a second away from gunning down anyone who "smells like Washington." The first time Malkovich appears on screen almost had me in tears. He is the movie's chief scene stealer.

The action sequences move quickly and are expertly shot. There is a scene early on in the film that involves Karl Urban's character crashing his SUV in to Willis' vehicle, causing both cars to spin out. Prior to impact, the camera pans 360 degrees inside Willis' car as he and his passenger speak, and it continues to spin along with them after the accident occurs. The shot doesn't last long but it brings the viewer in to the accident, causing you to feel the same dizzying effect as the characters involved. It was short, but a nice touch. It also ends with a little WTF moment that was so insane I actually hit the rewind button and watched it again. Much like the movie as a whole, most of the action scenes contain a good deal of humor, continuing the theme of being of a fun movie that refuses to take itself too seriously. And the main confrontation between Urban and Willis delivered on many levels.

RED isn't going to win any awards, nor is it original in any meaningful way. What the movie is though is fun. It's one of those movies that is nice to pop in and watch on a Saturday night when nothing else is on and you'd rather not sit through something too heavy. I'm not disappointed that I didn't see it in theaters, but it's worth a watch on DVD if you like the actors involved or the movie's overall premise. It's a solid three-star action flick with an A-list cast and several laugh-out-loud moments. Give it a shot if you have the opportunity.

Episode 41 - Looks Like We Made It

2012-01-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

The cast of Beaucoup Pop is back, bringing you everything you need to know about whats going on in the pop culture world...and maybe some things that you didn't need to know, BUT WE GIVE IT TO YOU ANYWAY!!!

You hear that Poppers?...it's the sound of victory!!! Curl up and hunker down for possibly the most random episode we've ever recorded. It's what happens when you're high on joy (and minus Kerry). ^_^

Tressa and Justin hard at work. Bitches gotta earn their keep!!

On this weeks show, we reveal the much anticipated results of our "Save Beaucoup Pop" fundraiser, if you haven't figured it out already. Our turn out this past Saturday was beyond AMAZING!! Tressa, Justin and our friend Brett were drawing their little fingers off all day (Check the show notes below for pics!). If you stopped by and donated, be sure to listen for your name to be read. Justin did some research on everyone, and I think you'll be quite surprised by what he found out. ;-)

Once you listen to the show...you'll get this reference. ^_^

Check out the News Nook for info on Marvel toys (are they human?), the hot mess that is the Akira film and what the future holds for the Twilight series. Oh, and we play a word game called "What Am I Thinking?" which ends with...well, you'll just have to listen to find out! Enjoy!!

Check out the episode here:
http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-41-looks-like-we-made-it

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

Justin's art! MacGuyver, Sinestro Corps Boba Fett and Van-MODOK

Tressa's art! Green Lantern, House MD, Wolverine, Doctor Who (and K-9) and Han Solo

Brett's art! MegaMan and Link!

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Lexington Comic and Toy Convention VIP comic

2012-01-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

Justin's cover for the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention VIP comic.

Hollywood Gets it Wrong Again: The Casting of Akira

2012-01-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

Anyone who listens to the Beaucoup podcast (and all of you should) knows that we are less than enthused about the Akira film currently in development. One would assume that this movie is right up our alley. Truth be told, I don't think we "need" a live-action version of Katsuhiro Otomo's magnum opus, but if done well, I wouldn't mind seeing it on the big screen. But as is usually the case with properties as beloved as Akira, Hollywood has stepped in and decided to break something that never needed fixing. Now I know what you're thinking. How could we be so opposed to this movie when they haven't even shot one scene? That's a good question. The answer is simple: Casting.

Let's be honest, very few movies out there have the "perfect" cast. I mean, much to Tressa's chagrin, Mark Strong can't be in everything! But the Akira issue goes much deeper than "so-and-so is a bad actor," or "I hate that actress and I wish she would stop ruining movies and my life!!" (I'm looking at you Kristen Stewart). The casting decisions for Akira, much like The Last Airbender before it, reek of cultural insensitivity. Akira is an inherently Japanese work. It was written and drawn by a Japanese creator, it takes place in a futuristic Tokyo, and it was draw in the Japanese manga style. Yet up until a few weeks ago, not a single Japanese or Asian actor was cast, nor were any rumored to be attached to the project. Admittedly this is an issue that I usually think is blown out of proportion. Typically we're talking about the ethnicity of one or two characters being switched, not an entire cast. On the whole I believe society has become a tad oversensitive, often times looking for things to be offended about, but there is something about taking a Japanese property and choosing an entirely non-Asian cast that should make people stand up and take notice.

Admittedly it's been years since I've read the book, so I'm more familiar with the anime that was released on DVD back in 2002. For those whose never read the book, or saw the movie, I'll try and provide a brief summary (if it's even possible to briefly summarize a work that spans six volumes), however I will be using the anime as the basis of my summary. Akira takes place in a post-apocalyptic Japan. We learn that prior to the book's opening, a bomb was detonated over the country culminating in the start of World War III. The war decimated most major cities, however a few rebuilt themselves. One such city was Neo-Tokyo, a city burdened by corruption and terrorized by biker gangs and a government heavily influenced by the military establishment that rose to power during the war. It's here that we meet our protagonist, Tetsuo. The story is set in motion when Tetsuo, a biker, is involved in a accident with what appears to be a young boy. What starts off as a routine motorcycle accident quickly escalates when Tetsuo and the young boy are detained by the government. The government is shady, to say the least, and are obsessed with doing everything in their power to prevent a future catastrophe. Their obsession seems to be driven by fear of an unknown power referred to only as Akira. Shortly after the accident, Tetsuo begins to display vast psychic powers. Believing him to be the famed Akira, the government wants him dead.

Talk of a live-action adaption dates back to 2002, possibly earlier, and a simple Internet search will show you the long list of actors and actresses rumored to be cast. It reads like a veritable Who's Who of the Hollywood elite, however I defy anyone to get about 4 names in to the list without wanting to boot their friggin' computer out the window. The most notable include: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zac Efron, Justin Timberlake, Joaquin Phoenix, Chris Pine, Andrew Garfield, Keanu Reeves, Robert Pattinson and Mila Kunis. These actors were up for the roles of either Tetsuo, Kaneda or Kei respectively, and Morgan Freeman was rumored to play Colonel Shikishima. Assuming you didn't rip your own eyes out at Zac Efron, you see the list got worse, and more offensive, as it went along.

In an interview with The Advocate, Asian-American actor George Takei urged Warner Bros. to wake up and realize how offensive an all-White cast would be to both Asians and the fans of Akira as a whole. The interview took place in April 2011, and shortly thereafter Warner put out a new casting call. Now you'd assume the new casting call was initiated to rectify the mistakes they made in the past. Think again. The new call was for male and female actors of "any ethnicity." Now I'm willing to bet that deep down Warner believed this was a step in the right direction. By saying "any ethnicity," Warner was letting fans and critics know that they are open to Asian actors as much as Caucasian. What they were really saying was, "We still don't get it." They shouldn't be open to any ethnicity. They should be looking exclusively at Asian actors, be they Japanese, Chinese, Laos, etc.

I know that the last sentence may sound as misguided as what Warner is doing. I mean, wouldn't hiring only Asians be as problematic as hiring only Caucasians? Yes and no. For me it comes down to how relevant race and ethnicity is to the character in question. Take Clark Kent's friend Pete Ross. Since the characters first appearance Pete Ross has always been portrayed as a Caucasian male in the comic books. However, when the role was cast in the television series, Smallville, the character was played by an African-American. I don't see this as a big deal. Pete Ross' race is not integral to his character. Now imagine casting a Black Panther movie and choosing Bradley Cooper? Different ballgame.

You may hear the argument that studios are hesitant to go with an all-Asian cast believing it would be a tough sell to a mainstream audience in the United States. I'm not sure how true this is because, in reality, it's almost never been done. However, when it has, the results have been positive. Memoirs of a Geisha was not only a huge success as a book, but the box office figures were not too shabby in their own right. How about a little film you may not be familiar with called Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ? This movie raked in $128,078,872 domestically, becoming the highest-grossing foreign language film in American history, and went on to win an Academy Award. And it was made in Mandarin Chinese!! Both of these films were outstanding, and succeeded for that very reason, even in spite of having an all Asian cast.

I want to make one last point as it relates specifically to Akira. Manga is very successful in the United States. Perhaps more so than a lot of people think. I'm willing to bet that more Americans read manga than they do traditional comic books. That said, you have an audience that is already drawn to the Japanese style. They are not turned off by the imagery or the locations or the fact that the stories are read from right to left. They would be on board for an accurate interpretation of the source material they love so much. Now you just have to put together a top-notch trailer exposing the rest of the movie-going audience to badassery (not a real world) of Akira and I'm sure they'll come in droves.

Last week it was announced that the film has been put on hold indefinitely. This news items broke shortly after Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Gary Oldman and Ken Watanabe (the only one they got right) were added to the final cast list. I'd be lying if I said this news didn't bring a smile to my face. Every rumor, every casting bit, everything about this movie just seems wrong. It's my hope that this project withers away and dies. If you really want to see a film version of Akira, just pick up the anime that is now out on Blu-ray. Directed by the same man who created the book, the anime stands as the truest adaptation we'll ever get.

For those who are interested, here are links to all the volumes of the Manga series:
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6

Episode 40 - I Just Spunked My Battleship

2012-01-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

The cast of Beaucoup Pop is back, bringing you everything you need to know about whats going on in the pop culture world...and maybe some things that you didn't need to know, BUT WE GIVE IT TO YOU ANYWAY!!!

Do not attempt to adjust your screen...that's really the name of the episode. You can thank Justin for that hilarious little number (give the show a listen...you see).

Mr. Smiley

We are truly taking 2012 by storm Poppers!!! This week’s episode is packed full of yummy goodness. First, we do a small review of Tinker Taylor Solder Spy, where the girls (as usual) swoon about Mark Stong...and his Oscar worthy face.

"Don't..interup...the face!"

Then, we’ve got our artist of the mont, the amazingly talented Sara Richard (see below), joining us for a chat about her art, up coming projects and the wonders of dinosaurs.

Finally, we delve into the new year with a run down of what to expect from your favorite pop culture genres. Seriously...what more could you want?!?! Baby sloths? Well, we’re short on those, but we promise this is the next best thing.

Check out the episode here:
http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-40-i-just-spunked-my-battleship

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

Show Notes & Links:

http://www.sararichard.com/

Check out or Artist of the Month feature blog on Sara here!

Kitty & Dino by Sara Richard.

When a little boy brings home a dinosaur egg, the cat of the house isn’t too keen on the tiny creature that pops out. But after a few weeks of showing the new baby the ropes, a bond forms between kitty and dino that transcends species.

This 48 page hardcover book will be published through Yen Press, and available on April 9th!

Preorder on Amazon

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

New Releases for 01/10/12

2012-01-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of January 10, 2012 for Seckman's Selections.

MOVIES

Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season [DVD/Blu-ray]
Set in Atlantic City in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition, the series chronicles the life and times of Enoch Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the city treasurer whose double role as politician and bootlegger makes him the city's undisputed czar at a time when illegal alcohol has opened up highly lucrative opportunities for rumrunners and distributors.

Moneyball [DVD/Blu-ray]
The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

Killer Elite [DVD/Blu-ray]
When his mentor is taken captive, a retired member of Britain's Elite Special Air Service is forced into action. His mission: kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader.

The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption [DVD/Blu-ray]
[Straight to DVD] Since his rise to power, Mathayus' kingdom has fallen. Now an assassin for hire, he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew.

Chick Fight!

MUSIC

Fallen Empires by Snow Patrol
This Irish band is one of my personal favorites!! I've liked them since their 2004 album Final Straw (which is AMAZING BTW!). They are best know for their 2006 hit single Chasing Cars. Fallen Empires is their sixth studio album.

These Times by Safetysuit

These Times is the second full-length album by alternative rock band SafetySuit, following their 2008 debut Life Left to Go. Like The Fray or One Republic? You'll probably like Safetysuit. Ryan Tedder is written all over this. :)

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol [Soundtrack] by Michael Giacchino

and here's a fun little gem for you:

Silence!-The Musical

Peace!

Review: Batman - The Black Mirror HC

2012-01-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Batman: The Black Mirror

Back in September, DC relaunched their entire superhero line and flooded the market with 52 all new #1 issues. Origins were updated, characters became younger, costumes were tweaked. You name it, it changed. As with any big announcement in the comic book industry, DC's relaunch was met with equal parts excitement and frustration.

I was really excited about the relaunch, and four months in that hasn't changed. I thought it was a bold move on DC's part, a company not known for its willingness to change and stray from tradition. Although there was tons to be excited about, there was one drawback to the announcement. New books were coming out, but that meant a lot of really great titles were getting cancelled. In the four months between the relaunch announcement and the first wave of new issues that debuted in September, dozens of books were forced to wrap up their ongoing storylines in a short amount of time.

In the final months, I thought the overall quality of DC's releases started to dip considerably. In some cases, A-list talent dropped off to start working on their new projects and were replaced by mid-level writers and artists. You felt the rush to the finish line on every page and a lot of the books in my weekly stack weren't worth finishing. There was, however, one book that seemed immune to this problem. It actually got better with each new issue and it made me wish that the relaunch wasn't going to happen because I didn't want the story to end. The book was Detective Comics.

Every few years a story comes along that makes you step back and think, "This is going to be a run for the ages." When it does, it's really something to behold. All it takes are a few issues for you to realize that something special, something character defining, is happening. It's rare in this day and age for a writer and artist to stick with one book for any prolonged period of time. Whether it's an artist being replaced to prevent delays, or a writer being lured away by a more lucrative project, creators usually aren't paired up long enough to put together a story as complex and well-paced as The Black Mirror. Clocking in at eleven issues of well-executed comic book storytelling, The Black Mirror is one of those legendary runs.

(Before I continue with this review it's important to mention that Dick Grayson is wearing the cape and cowl for the entire book. If you are not familiar with the death/return of Bruce Wayne, fear not! You are given everything you need to know in a well-written summary at the beginning of the book. After that you can jump right in for one hell of a ride. We now return to your regularly schedule review.)

Written by Scott Snyder, with art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla, The Black Mirror is more a psychological thriller than it is a straight-up superhero romp. Snyder's run contains what appear to be three unrelated storylines, but as the book unfolds the threads start to come together in a very unexpected way. The first finds Batman tracking down an underground auction house catering to the super rich. Instead of fine diamonds and mink coats, the merchandise of choice is weapons and paraphernalia that once belonged to Gotham's premier villains. The second centers around Sonia Zucco, daughter of Tony Zucco, the man responsible for the death of Dick Grayson's parents. In an effort to distance herself from her father, Sonia has taken the last name Branch and is a legitimate businesswoman running one of Gotham's largest banks. She has been approached by a number of Gotham's undesirables who want to use her bank to launder their money. She refuses and quickly finds herself in harm's way. These first two stories are compelling enough to have made a hardcover worth adding to your collection, but it's the third one that elevates The Black Mirror to the top of my all-time favorite Batman stories.

While Batman is off doing what he does best, Commissioner Gordon is faced with a dilemma of his own. His son James has returned home after having been separated from his family for several years. Sounds harmless, right? In any normal circumstance it would be, but here's the rub: James Gordon, Jr. is a clinically diagnosed psychopath. Through a series of beautifully rendered flashbacks by Francavilla, we learn that James has never been quite right. Even as a little boy something always seemed odd about him. He was quiet, cold, and emotionless. As he got older, James and his "eccentric" behavior began to instill great fear in even his closest family members. None more so than Barbara Gordon. Her fear only intensified after her childhood friend went missing during a family vacation when Barbara and James were very young. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance cast James as the number one suspect, even though he was just a small child. With James back in town, father and daughter band together to determine whether or not James truly is the monster they've feared for so long.

Scott Snyder is, in my mind, the single best writer in comics at this point. Every book he touches is somehow better than the last. And he's no one-trick-pony. Snyder excels in a diverse set of genres. You want vampires? Check out American Vampire. You want an engaging detective story, pick up his current run on Batman. You prefer horror? Say hello to Severed and Swamp Thing. The man delivers every time he releases an issue. The Black Mirror is elegantly paced and you can tell that Snyder put a lot of thought in to the plotting of this arc. But Snyder didn't just write a great story, he introduced a new villain. And not just any villain. He has given us someone who could very well be Dick Grayson's Joker. I'm not implying that James Jr. is somehow a rip-off of the Joker, I simply mean he is equally methodical and dangerous. A monster that our hero feels responsible for. If used properly, and sparingly, James Jr. could be one of the greatest villains in Batman's already stellar rogues gallery.

The elegance and power of Snyder's writing is equally matched by the art of Jock and Francesco Francavilla. Jock focuses primarily on the Batman-heavy issues, giving us a Gotham that is as moody as it gets and a Batman that is the poster child for frightening. Jock draws Batman's cape like no one else in the game. It moves like a sentient being. His layouts are dynamic and the action sequences are cinematic in their scope. Every page he drew made me kick myself for not reading The Losers (Book One). And then I kicked myself again for actually watching the movie.

It's difficult to complain about a switch in artist when the replacement is Francesco Francavilla. I've admired his work for years, obsessing over his pinups and cover work. If you want to learn something about storytelling through sequential art you should take a look at this book. His ability to convey thought and emotion through the expression on his character's faces is so superb that you don't even need words to follow the story. And there are a couple of double-page spreads he put together that I'm still drooling over. They are epic! I mean, just look at this page....

When it comes to the greatest Batman stories ever told, The Black Mirror deserves mention along with Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman: Year One and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. The hardcover itself is gorgeous, and, for you art lovers out there, it is filled with a nice batch of supplemental materials, such as sketches and preliminary page layouts from both Jock and Francavilla. So if you love Batman, step away from Arkham City for a few minutes (I know, that's easier said than done) and indulge yourself in The Black Mirror.

Episode 39 - Ring in the New Year!

2012-01-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome back Poppers! Hope you have a fantastic holiday and you're ready to plow into the new year...the Last Year...THE END OF THE WORLD!! We do some much needed catching up (Matt is back after a month of being absent) and we talk about our New Year's resolutions...er...2012 Goals. Could starting a llama farm be one of them? You'll need to listen to find out.

We also talk a little more in detail about the current "Uh Oh!" situation the Beaucoup Pop gang are in. You've probably seen our prior "Help Save Beaucoup Pop" post, that the four of us are in a bit of a pickle. As of right now, at the end of January, we are losing access to our recording equipment. In order for Beaucoup Pop to carry on we need to raise quite a bit of money to replace what we are going to lose. The BCP team plans to contribute what we can, but need help from our AMAZING listeners!! We enjoy bringing you, the listener, your weekly doses of geekery and we want that to continue. Please give what you can to help our show.

On of the easiest ways to contribute is to use the PayPal donate button on the sidebar of our blog. It's quick, easy and allows us to instantly start purchasing new equipment. If you'd prefer to donate in person, or perhaps would like a little something in return, on January 14, 2012, we will be at Collectibles Etc (in Lexington) for a fundraising event. Justin and Tressa have generiously agreed to donate their amazing artistic tallents to help raise money for the cause. For a $10 donation, you can commission an sketch card from either artist! All money collected will go to purchase new equipment for the show!! They'll be there all day, so hang around with us, or check back later to put up your original piece of artwork.

Sketches by Justin

Sketch cards by Tressa

So anyway, enjoy the latest episode, Ring in the New Year, cause there's some pretty funny stuff on it, including our first improve skit where we see what it's like to order fast food with Tressa's husband Danny. It's great!!

Check out the episode here:

http://beaucouppop.libsyn.com/episode-39-ring-in-the-new-year

Check Out Our YouTube Channel!

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, PodOmatic and now Libsyn!

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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

New Releases for 01/03/12

2012-01-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Welcome to the first Seckman's Selections for 2012!! Hopefully you got TONS of money for the Holidays and now it's burning a hole in your pocket. Or perhaps you got a ton of shit and clothes that you're planing to take back and exchange for somethine AWESOME. Well, I got just the thing for you. Here's a look at some of the things coming out the week of January 03, 2012!

MOVIES / TV

Contagion [DVD/Blu-ray]

Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston, along with medical journalist Sanjay Gupta, explore the real science of global viruses and what they mean to the human race. The world is preparing for the next biological disaster...but is it too late?

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark [DVD/Blu-ray]

Sally, a young girl, moves to Rhode Island to live with her father and his new girlfriend in the 19th-century mansion they are restoring. While exploring the house, Sally starts to hear voices coming from creatures in the basement whose hidden agenda is to claim her as one of their own.

The Guard [DVD/Blu-ray] - with Mark Strong

Red: Werewolf Hunter [DVD] - starring Felicia Day

The modern-day descendant of Little Red Riding Hood brings her fiancé home to meet her family and reveal their occupation as werewolf hunters, but after he is bitten by a werewolf, she must protect him from her own family.

Puncture [DVD/Blu-ray] starring Chris Evans
Mike Weiss is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger, his longtime friend and partner, is the straight-laced and responsible yin to Mike's yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point.

Justified: The Complete Second Season [DVD/Blu-ray]

My Bride Is a Mermaid: Complete Collection [DVD]

I didn't find anything outstanding in music or video games, so I guess that's all for this week. Peace out bitches!!

~Matt~

Movie Review: The Adventures fo Tintin

2012-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

I have almost no experience with the character of Tintin. My only introduction to Tintin and his exploits came about through the HBO animated series that debuted back in 1991. I mention this for one reason. Without fail, every time I read an article about this movie I'd stumble across a handful of comments asking if someone would be able to enjoy the movie having never read the comics or watched the series. The answer to this question is a resounding yes.

Although there are plenty of "easter eggs" for longtime fans, newbies are given everything they need to know in the film's first few minutes. Created by Belgian writer and artist, Hergé, Tintin is a journalist always on the lookout for the next big story. Aided by his faithful Fox Terrier, Snowy, Tintin regularly finds himself neck-deep in danger while trying to get to the bottom of things. Assisted by a colorful bunch of supporting characters, Tintin uses his intellect, and, more often than not, his fists, to get the story and save the day.

When the movie opens, Tintin and Snowy are shopping at an outdoor market where Tintin purchases a model of a 17th Century naval warship. Shortly after making the purchase, he is approached by two shady individuals offering to buy the model from him. He refuses and takes it home to put on display. After getting the model home, Snowy inadvertently breaks it, and a small cylinder slips out containing a miniature scroll with a cryptic message. Intrigued, Tintin attempts to decipher the scrolls message, learning that it is actually part of a three-piece set. Unfortunately for him, he's not the only one interested in the scroll's message. Tintin quickly finds his house broken in to, a messenger shot on his doorstep, and then finds himself kidnapped by one of the shady individuals from the market. For the rest of movie, Tintin, Snowy, and their fellow abductee, Captain Haddock, attempt to escape their captors and solve the mystery of the hidden scrolls.

As soon as the credit sequence began I knew I was going to enjoy this movie. At first glance they seem simple. Tintin, Snowy, and other well-known characters from the series are shown in silhouette running through the text and interacting with the landscape. Upon closer examination, you'll notice that the characters are actually acting out a story. Tintin and Snowy are chasing a thief, culminating in his apprehension. I thought this was really inventive and served as a nice introduction to the character and the type of story the movie was going to tell. It was as if you were given two movies in one.

Not only were the credits entertaining, but they showed me how little I knew about who was actually involved with this project. I knew the movie was directed by Steven Spielberg, but I was happy to learn that it was produced by Peter Jackson and the screenplay was written by Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who fame), Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. When I realized that this movie was put together buy such an all-star team of producers, writers and director, I had no worries about whether or not I was going to enjoy this film.

The movie was shot using motion capture CGI, with the 3D CGI handled by Peter Jackson's Weta Digital. The animation is flawless, and the backgrounds and characters feel as real as anything you'll see in live action. The realism is almost unsettling. It's difficult to watch this movie and not get the feeling that you are seeing the next stage in film evolution. Will we see the day when all movies are filmed with this technology, perhaps even using the likenesses of actors and actresses who have long since passed? I'm not sure, but these possibilities notwithstanding, this type of animation allows writers and directors to create situations and action sequences that would be next to impossible to produce in live action, all the while allowing them to feel "real" and organic. For example, there is a chase sequence towards the end of this movie that made me drool. You see elements of it in the trailer. Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock are chasing a falcon through the streets of Morocco on a motorcycle while being pursued by their one-time captors. Dogs are leaping, birds are flying, bullets are coming from every which way, pedestrians are dodging everything, it was like an action film ballet. This sequence would have been a logistical nightmare to shoot in live action, not to mention the cost. Animation allows you to dream big. This scene alone is worth the price of admission.

The film boasts a pretty stellar cast, including Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Everyone does a fine job, especially Pegg and Frost as the incompetent detectives of Scotland Yard, Thompson and Thompson. They are responsible for many of the movie's laugh-out-loud moments, imbuing this action adventure film with some much needed comic relief. There is one actor, however, that deserves special consideration: Andy Serkis. This guy is a triple threat. He's done live action, motion capture, and voice work, and he does it all extremely well. To me, Serkis is one of the most highly underrated, and under appreciated, actors in the business. His Captain Haddock runs the gamut of emotions. He's funny, he's angry, he's confident and he's self-conscious. He's the character you root for, even above Tintin. The movie is his story, and Serkis carries it effortlessly.

Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself while watching this movie. It was a fun, action-packed mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. While suitable for almost everyone, there is some gun play so you may want to brings kids that are at least 10 years old. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely run out and see this movie out. You won't be disappointed.

Artist of the Month: Sara Richard

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sara Richard is a graduate from The Columbus College of Art & Design. Ever since she left he temp position at Hasbro she's been developing a style that incorporated her love of Art Nouveau and wildlife (mostly the extinct kind).

Sara is also heavily inspired by Japanese Ink Paintings (sumi-e) for their simplicity in composition, so much so that her signature is "Sara" in katakana (the Japanese alphabet system for foreign words and names.)

I couple of Sara's pieces were created to help raise money for causes like her local animal shelter and the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, for which she raised over 800 dollars for this past year.

Be sure to listen this month when we have Sara on as a special guest and if you'd like to check out her work you can visit her at:

HER WEBSITE

DEVIANTART PAGE

And if you're in the area her work is being displayed at:
Funky + Functional in Columbus, Ohio

HELP SAVE BEAUCOUP POP!!!!

2011-12-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hey there Poppers!! On this day, we approach all you awesome people with a proposition of sorts. A request, if you will.

Save us, please!

As of right now, at the end of January, we are losing access to our recording equipment. In order for Beaucoup Pop to carry on we need to raise quite a bit of money to replace what we are going to lose. The BCP team plans to contribute what we can, but need help from our AMAZING listeners!! We enjoy bringing you, the listener, your weekly doses of geekery and we want that to continue. Please give what you can to help our show.

(Cont.)

Sketches by Justin

Sketch cards by Tressa

Many thanks from the Beaucoup Pop crew,
Tressa, Kerry, Matt and Justin
XOXO