Thursday, May 28, 2015

SDCC 2015: Doctor Who Set For Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con

BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who returns to San Diego Comic-Con for a Hall H panel on Thursday, July 9. Following his record-breaking first season as the Doctor, Peter Capaldi will make his first ever appearance at Comic-Con with stars Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), Michelle Gomez (Missy), lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and executive producer Brian Minchin. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the time traveler, who will continue to journey through all of space and time in epic adventures in the new season premiering this fall. Capaldi’s first season delivered BBC AMERICA its highest rated season ever and is available now on all digital platforms.

Batman: Arkham Knight Gameplay Video “Time To Go To War"

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today released a new gameplay video for Batman: Arkham Knight.  The Official Batman: Arkham Knight Gameplay Video – “Time To Go To War” is a continuation of the Official Batman: Arkham Knight Gameplay Video – “Officer Down.” See more of the Dark Knight in action in this extended gameplay walkthrough, as he pays a visit to Scarecrow’s safe house and battles the forces of the Arkham Knight’s militia.

Top Shelf's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Graphic Novel

Legendary journalist Hunter S. Thompson's genius was rooted in his ability to blend reality with fiction, serious cultural analysis with madcap escapades, astonishing words with unforgettable images. In that spirit, and in proud partnership with the Thompson estate, Top Shelf Productions is pleased to announce Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a delightfully bonkers graphic novel by Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little adapting Thompson's book of the same name.

"I'm so pleased that one of the first collaborative projects to come out of the Top Shelf / IDW relationship will be Troy Little's inspired take on a true classic of American literature," said Top Shelf Editor-In-Chief Chris Staros. "One of the most unforgettable writers turned loose in one of my favorite cities! We can't wait to show you what Troy's done with it."

Pop Culture Shock Collectibles' Sorceress Statue from Masters of the Universe



Pop Culture Shock's artisans have outdone themselves this time, taking the vibrant art of the Filmation cartoon and making Sorceress appear as if she stepped off the animation cel and into real life. The standard version of this statue will be available to all retailers, while a second exclusive, available only on Popcultureshocktoys.com and will feature her magical alternate eagle form, Zoar.

Thanks to Sorceress's ancient wisdom, we have foreseen these items going on sale on Monday June 1st at 3PM.

Poltergeist (2015) Movie Reviewed

When Eric Bowen is laid off, the Bowen family are forced to look for a new home. What initially appears to be the best option in their price range, is in fact a home haunted by a large number of malevolent entities. These ghosts have their eyes on the youngest daughter Madison, and when she is kidnapped and taken to their domain, the Bowen's son Griffin is forced to face his numerous fears to help bring her back.

Just to get it out of the way: The Poltergeist remake is not one of small group of movies better than the original. It doesn’t seem like saying much to me, but people need to hear it before any discussion of this movie can begin.

One thing you’ll learn about me as I review movies is that I have nothing against remakes in principle. When I hear a movie is being remade, I don’t ask ‘why?’ but instead I ask ‘who?’. It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that, like most Hollywood pictures, remakes are green-lit by the studio with the express intention of making money. You can be equally as cynical about the latest superhero movie, Nicholas Sparks adaptation, female starring comedy vehicle and found footage project.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Movie Minions Invade The Toy Isles

Ohhh...those hyper active, mischievous Minions. Running about like drunken, round gremlins, willing to do evil, or good, for the master who commands them. Love them or hate them, the Minions are about to be EVERYWHERE as we approach the July 10th release date of their new movie! At this moment, a trip to your local Toys R Us may uncover an entire isle of the Twinkie-esque henchmen (half left overs from Despicable Me 2/ the other half for the new film). They sing...they dance..they rock out..and some have an unhealthy fascination with bananas.  Let's take a look at the toys currently on hand to feed all your Minion needs...

SDCC 2015: Diamond Select/ Action Figure Xpress Exclusives

In their quest to get new and unique products into the hands of collectors, Diamond Select Toys has frequently teamed up with retailer Action Figure Xpress on exclusive items that expand on DST’s existing lines in very exciting ways. And at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, AFX will offer four new items developed by DST, each more exciting than the last! With new items from Alien, Predator, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Justice League Unlimited, there’s something for every kind of fan! Pre-order at actionfigurexpress.com and arrange to pick it up at the con, or have it sent straight to your home after the show!

Friday, May 22, 2015

NXT Takeover: Unstoppable - Underclassmen Outshine WWE Superstars

Kevin Owens, with chair, looms above injured Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens is not the sort of person the WWE used to hire. Let alone shine the spotlight on. He’s not especially tall. He’s overweight. He has a face and a beard that you'd expect to pass on the street, not see on your TV. But when you see him wrestle he makes you into an instant fan not in spite of all that, but because of it. It would be wrong to say Kevin is unassuming, because if you spilt his drink at a bar you would likely be terrified of what this guy might do to you, but his stamina and athleticism far surpass what you’d expect from someone with his physique.

SDCC 2015: DC Collectibles San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives



DC Collectibles, the exclusive line of toy and collector items from DC Entertainment, revealed today three “con exclusive” products only available to those attending Comic Con International: San Diego on July 8-12 2015. Check out the exciting line-up below!

DC Super Pets Krypto Plush Toy – Based on the artistic style of legendary comic book artist, Art Baltazar, DC Collectibles' all-new DC Super Pets plush line will release an exclusive 6'' Krypto Plush Toy at SDCC.  Priced at $9.95, this cute and cuddly item is sure to impress fans – both young and old!

Nintendo Offers One More Round of Splatoon Testfire Ahead of Launch

A short while ago, Nintendo gave Wii U owners a chance to sample their upcoming exclusive, online shooter Splatoon. For those that missed the free taste, they are opening the demo up again for one hour on Saturday the 23rd of May at 6PM EDT, ahead of the games launch next week on Friday the 29th allowing people another chance to see what all the buzz is about.
Splatoon marks Nintendo’s first foray into the online shooter market, but it does a lot more than add bright cartoony graphics to the genre. Okay yes, it does add bright cartoony graphics because that’s Nintendo’s thing, but it does more than that.

Jurassic World Toys Out In Full Force

June 12th is so very, very close and being within a Raptor's claw slashing distance from a major Summer Blockbuster movie means THE TOYS ARE HERE!! Yessss kids, all that chomps, claws, rams, tail whips, stomps and eats whole has come to the isles of your favorite toy stores as Jurassic World prepares to take center stage. ..and if the movie turns out to not be gruesome enough for ya, you can use the toys to act out your Tromafied/Corman-esque version of your ultimate dinosaur feasting bonanza. FUN for the whole family! We'll show you plenty of eye candy sitting on shelves right now, awaiting your sweaty lil hands, along with Hasbro's listings of what to expect.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The Bard’s Tale Video Game Series Returns

inXile Entertainment is proud to return to Kickstarter for their next big cRPG project, The Bard’s Tale IV, launching Monday June 2nd at 6 AM PST/13:00 UTC. Return to Skara Brae for a true dungeon-crawling sequel to the original The Bard’s Tale trilogy that helped define the cRPG genre!

On the 30th anniversary of the original Bard's Tale, what better time than now to go on an adventure worthy of song? The Bard’s Tale IV will feature challenging maze-like dungeons with devious puzzles and riddles to explore in the first-person dungeon crawler style of the original trilogy. inXile has the full rights to use everything from the original trilogy, so the game will be rich with callbacks and old favorites such as teleporter zones and magic mouths.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 25

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 25 will be the biggest, longest and most intense in event history.  Here are the top things you need to know:

·         The event will feature NINE haunted houses – more than ever in event history.

·         The streets of the event will be filled with MORE SCAREACTORS than ever before. Guests will encounter twice as many “scareactors” than in previous years, who will terrify guests throughout highly-themed scare zones in the park.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Still Recovering From The Steampunk World's Fair

I've done 4 days of New York Comic Con with added set up the day before and break down on Sunday, shooting something like 2 thousand pictures a day. I've done 5 days of San Diego Comic-Con with interviews at opposite ends of the massive convention center a half hour apart and parties into the night. I've done BEA, lugging home so many books the wheels on my suitcase fell apart half way through Penn Station, AnimeNext where my full eye black contacts tried to eat my head and Rock and Shock where your worst enemy is being talked into continually drinking til 5am...with a 9am wake up call. I have survived all of this...and yet 1 day at The Steampunk World's Fair has done me in. Either I'm getting old, or I'm finally doing this show correctly.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Mad Max: Fury Road Reviewed

Last we saw ‘Mad’ Max Rockantansky he was still wandering alone in the desert ruins of our world, and when we finally catch up with him again, that’s where we find him. It isn't before long that he’s captured by a cult called The War Boys, whose leader, Immortan Joe, realizes that his best driver Imperator Furiousa is escaping with all of his ‘treasures’; a set of mutation free and beautiful women in a war rig (a supercharged and heavily armored tanker). Max is literally dragged into the efforts to recapture them by a War Boy called Nux, a true believer and great driver himself, who is sick and low on blood. With Max strapped to the front of his car acting as his blood bag, the chase begins.
It’s been 30 years since George Miller last made a Mad Max movie. That movie remains the weakest link in the franchise, and is part of why it’s taken so long for there to be another, but other reasons include terrorist attacks and freak weather. If Miller hadn't been so driven to make this movie then it definitely wouldn't have been made. In fact he’s spent over 15 years trying to make Fury Road, and since it was originally intended to start shooting way back in 2001, it’s a project I've been looking forward to (for a very long time!)

Friday, May 15, 2015

13 TV Shows Ordered By ABC Studios

ABC Studios and ABC Signature Studios had another banner development year with thirteen new shows ordered to series. New dramas “The Catch,” “Dr. Ken,” “The Family,” “Of Kings and Prophets,” “The Muppets,” “OIL,” “Quantico,” “Wicked City”  along with new comedies “Dr. Ken” (co-production with Sony), “The Muppets,” “The Real O’Neals,” “Uncle Buck” (co-production with Universal Television)  were picked up at ABC. New dramas “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” and “Code Black” were ordered at CBS and new comedy the “Grandfathered” was ordered at FOX. 

Doctor Who, Portal 2, Simpsons & More Coming to Lego Dimensions

By Ryan Acheson

It seems like only yesterday we introduced LEGO Dimensions! It’s essentially the LEGO Company and Warner Brothers Interactive’s take on the whole Skylanders / Disney Infinity game and toy concept, coming to all the major consoles late this Summer. One of the things that seems to set Lego Dimensions apart is that instead of using what amounts to little plastic statues, it uses actual Lego minifigures and mini builds that you can take off their stands and take apart and rebuild any way you want. Even though that won’t affect how the characters and vehicles and items show up in game, in my eyes that adds a bit more value to the shelf loads of ‘stuff’ this game is going to be cluttering up your toy and video game stores with in the near future.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Watch Rick and Morty Kill The Simpsons

There have been many "couch gags" over the endless years The Simpsons have been on TV. How many? Ohhh...at least 56. At least. That's a lot. This Sunday, worlds collide as the stars of Adult Swim's Rick and Morty take a wrong turn down a happy, brightly colored street in Springfield.

Adult Swim and FOX announced today that characters from the original animated series Rick and Morty from Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland will be making an appearance in the Season Finale of FOX’s award-winning animated hit comedy The Simpsons. Taking over the famous Simpsons “Couch Gag”, Rick and Morty will bring their multi-dimensional insanity to the home of iconic characters Marge, Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The Season Finale episode will air May 17 (8:00-8:30 pm ET/PT) on FOX.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Figure Fantasy: The Pop Culture Photography of Daniel Picard

Figure Fantasy: The Pop Culture Photography of Daniel Picard is a wholly unique collection of meticulously composed images, showcasing a variety of comic book and movie icons in realistic and often hilarious everyday settings. Canadian photographer Daniel Picard composes his comedic and artistic images using a mix of real-world photography and fantasy, resulting in a collection that actor Simon Pegg calls “a wonderful conversation piece.” Picard photographs 12-inch figures from Sideshow Collectibles, then arranges them in to-scale environments, using classic heroes and villains to create believable scenes and tongue-in-cheek parodies.

Your First Full Length Look at CBS's Supergirl

OH MAN...here we go. Remember when Wonderwoman was coming to TV and then we heard there was singing and quirkiness and odd wrongly emphasized stereotypical overly-girly fluff? Forget all that. This show looks awesome. Maybe. I hope.

SUPERGIRL is an action-adventure drama based on the DC Comics character Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), Superman's (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Twelve-year-old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents' help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh), and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret. 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Jem and The Holograms Trailer Drops..and Thuds

We here at Idle Hands harass the movie industry ..well...nearly constantly, for tackling characters and fandoms they don't understand at all, and further, generally don't wish to understand. They buy a license they think is marketable, grab all the names from the license, throw the tiniest bit of recognizable flash across the whole thing and then ride it out before a public who are, often, thoroughly confused. When the first images and synopsis for Jem And The Holograms dropped the other day, the reception was chilly but hopeful. Jem is the is the story of a woman who has already made it, alongside her best friends, using her power and influence to help people and one step further, becomes Jem to make sure everything is right in the world. This is NOT the story of a small town hopeful and her sisters getting their big break in the big city, adopting a persona that doesn't feel much like herself and now forced to decide what is really important in life. NO! Nope. Nuh uh. The studio could have taken it back to the beginning when the girls first find their powers and adopt their pseudo-super hero rock star personas..but no....what they did was cookie cutter, bland, uninspired and done at least a dozen times before. Dive in for the travesty...

It's Time To Get Things Started...

It's time to get things started! The Muppets are coming to ABC and this is your first look!

Posted by ABC Television Network on Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Classic Flash Gordon Gets Animated

As we watch modern animated films, we marvel at how far the technology has come, with fairly genius stories made real with the might of endless hours of computer processing behind it, dictating every bead of sweat, hair fall and blade of grass blowing in the wind. Even though these achievements are great, there are those amongst us who remember the days of hand drawn animation fondly..and so does Robb Pratt. With Disney credits like Pocahontas, Hercules and Tarzan under his belt, Pratt is intimately connected to the 2d world and has been displaying that love with a series of shorts old and new school geeks alike will lose their minds over. Anyone who grew up in the 80's already has a soft spot for Flash Gordon...Savior of the Universe!! When Flash and the gang are drawn like classic Disney heroes, the love is amplified 20 fold. Dive in and check out Flash Gordon Classic!

Dark Star: H.R. Giger's World Opens This Friday May 15th

Influential surrealist painter H. R. Giger (1940-2014) hypnotized audiences with his Oscar-winning visual creatures in Ridley Scott's masterpiece ALIEN and altered the pop culture landscape forever with his striking, dark visual imagery. After a successful film festival run, the definitive documentary DARK STAR: H.R. GIGER'S WORLD plays theatrically across the U.S. and Canada starting on May 15th, released by Icarus Films and KimStim. (see list of cities below).

Both a mesmerizing introduction to Giger's oeuvre and a must-see for Giger devotees, Belinda Sallin's definitive documentary DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD shares the intimate last years of the artist's life and reveals how deeply he resided within his own artistic visions.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Fox's Lucifer Charms His Way Into Your TV in 2016

This will be one of those trailers where you simultaneously think "Holy Crap..this is the worst idea ever" and "I kinda really want to watch this potential train wreck." Just check out the quick synopsis:

"Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, The original fallen angel, Lucifer Morningstar has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub."

SEE??!! You already want to punch this TV show in the face!! I can feel your anger from here! And now you'll watch the trailer and hate yourself in the morning..sheets disheveled..clothes tossed everywhere...ready for your walk of shame...to your DVR. The wait..is a long one.

Inside Out's Bing Bong and Jangles Introduced

**SPOILER WARNING: Do NOT read on if you don't want characters and movie points spoiled for you**
Generally, as we edge closer to any movie with play-appeal, the toy lines will spoil plot devices, super powers, hidden characters and even entire lines from the film ..if you aren't careful to avoid them. The second line of merchandise you have to steer clear of is kid's books, which release even further in advance of these films and can tell the WHOOOOOLE story in terms so simple, a two year old will get it...which is sort of the point.

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts on Blu-ray May 12

Those of you that are plasticly addicted have been hitting your favorite hunting grounds, wondering what the hell those kidified Batman figures are with the robot animal sidekicks in tow. The explanation...is a simple one. "Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts," an all-new animated adventure that follows the Caped Crusader and some of his crime-fighting colleagues, arrives Tuesday, May 12 on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD!

Another storm is brewing in Gotham and it’s not only raining cats and dogs but evil Cyber Animals! When the city is plagued by a slew of bizarre crimes committed by an animal-inspired villain squad known as the Animilitia – comprised of Silverback, Cheetah, Killer Croc and Man-Bat – Batman must swing into action to investigate.

Dark Horse to Publish Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection

Doubling down on the amazing, cross generational fandom of the hulking He-Man and his equally bulging Masters of the Universe after the stupendous realease of their Art Book, Dark Horse announces they will be resurrecting a fantastic slice of your childhood this October!

Following the critically acclaimed release of The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Dark Horse and Mattel have teamed up once again to deliver another must-have book in 2015: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection.

The toy juggernaut Masters of the Universe and its subsequent action figure lines featured memorable pack-in minicomics that aided in playtime for children across the world. Clocking in at 1,232 pages, this impressive oversized hardcover collection features sixty-eight US releases, including all minicomics from the ’80s Masters of the Universe line, the ’80s Princess of Power line, and the ’80s and ’90s He-Man line, plus an introduction to the minicomics in the current Masters of the Universe Classics toy line—all in production order. Relive the illustrated adventures that fueled your imagination!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 Coming to Consoles

The Birdman is back with Tony Hawk’s® Pro Skater™ 5, coming to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, expected to release later this year. The game retains the timeless, combo-driven energy and tightly designed levels of the Pro Skater games while expanding the experience with online play.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Honest Game Trailers: Mortal Kombat X

You've been bashing, hacking and gutting your way through the new Mortal Kombat X video game on your system of choice, and now, the fine folks at Honest Game trailers say all the things you've been making fun of with your buds over booze.

Because Street Fighter 5 is still a year away, and Smash Bros. Wii U doesn't really count, fighting game fans will have to tide themselves over with Mortal Kombat X. Trailers that tell you the TRUTH about your favorite Video Games: Honest Game Trailers. These are the hilarious trailers the game developers don't want you to see...

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood - Gameplay Launch Trailer


The Year is 1946. Your mission: infiltrate Castle Wolfenstein and retrieve the coordinates to General Deathshead’s compound. Arriving digitally on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC today for $19.99, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood takes our hero B.J. Blazkowicz back to the year 1946 in an adventure that spans eight chapters and two interconnected stories (released together) that will lead into the events you know and love from The New Order.

WE ARE STILL HERE Hits Theaters & VOD on June 5th

Hot off the heels of a hugely successful festival run, Dark Sky Films is proud to announce the theatrical and VOD release of Ted Geoghegan's directorial debut, WE ARE STILL HERE.  Featuring a dream cast of genre film veterans, WE ARE STILL HERE hits theaters and VOD on June 5, 2015.

After the death of their college age son, Anne and Paul Sacchetti (Barbara Crampton and Andrew Sensenig) relocate to the snowswept New England hamlet of Aylesbury, a sleepy village where all is most certainly not as it seems. When strange sounds and eerie feelings convince Anne that her son's spirit is still with them, they invite an eccentric, New Age couple (Larry Fessenden and Lisa Marie) to help them get to the bottom of the mystery.

Kung Fu Panda Brawler Coming to Consoles This Fall

Calling all Kung Fu warriors, panda pugilists and noodle connoisseurs! Worldwide video game publisher Little Orbit announced today that lovable martial arts panda bear, Po, and his many friends and adversaries in the Valley of Peace will face off in the ultimate martial arts challenge... the first-ever Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends! Fans of this bodacious franchise will soon be able to enjoy all the high-flying, quick-kicking, head-spinning, Kung Fu action this Fall on PlayStation 4®, Xbox One™ PlayStation 3®, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii U®, Nintendo 3DS™ and Steam (PC).

Hot Toys Tempts With Batman Returns Keaton Bruce Wayne & Batman Figure Set

Batman is here! In the second installment of the Batman series directed by Tim Burton, Michael Keaton reprised the role of the caped crusader to protect Gotham City again from terrible fates. His amazing portrayal of the iconic character in this darker take on the superhero set the high standard for the future appearances of the dark knight on the silver screen!

Today, Hot Toys is delighted to present a special 1/6th scale collectible figures set featuring Batman and Bruce Wayne from the classic Batman Returns!

The movie-accurate Batman Collectible Figure is specially crafted based on the image of Michael Keaton as the iconic character Batman, featuring a newly developed masked head sculpt with separate rolling eyeballs and interchangeable lower faces, a specially created Batsuit, highly detailed Batman gadgets, and a LED light-up figure base.

Diamond Select Promises a Hulkbuster In Every Home

In one of the most anticipated scenes in Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark goes toe-to-toe with the Hulk in a massive new suit of Iron Man armor, one long-time comic readers may recognize. Dubbed the “Hulkbuster” armor, this massive suit was designed with one purpose in mind – stopping the Hulk in his tracks – and now Diamond Select Toys and marvelshop.com have teamed up to offer an exclusive figure of the famous armor as it appeared in the comics!

First appearing in Iron Man #304, released in 1994, the Iron Man Mk 14 “Hulkbuster” armor was an add-on to Tony Stark’s modular armor, one that would allow him to stop the Hulk from tearing apart a factory that was manufacturing gamma bombs. While the battle was a misunderstanding, Stark kept the armor in case he ever needed it again, and it has occasionally been shown as part of his “Hall of Armor.”