Here’s the press release from the BBC:

DOCTOR WHO TO FILM IN THE U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME

The BBC announced today that season six of Doctor Who, which delivered record ratings for BBC AMERICA earlier this year, will open with a spectacular two-parter set in the U.S. and penned by ‘Who supremo’ Steven Moffat.

In the special two-parter co-produced with BBC AMERICA, key scenes will be filmed in Utah for a story set in the late ‘60s in which the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on a secret summons that takes them on an adventure from the desert in Utah – right to the Oval Office itself.

Production on episodes one and two of the new season starts in Cardiff this month and Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will then travel to America in mid November to shoot pivotal scenes. They will also be joined by Alex Kingston who reprises her role as River Song.

Showrunner and lead writer, Steven Moffat, said: “The Doctor has visited every weird and wonderful planet you can imagine, so he was bound get round to America eventually! And of course every Doctor Who fan will be jumping up and down and saying he’s been in America before. But not for real, not on location – and not with a story like this one!  Oh, you wait!”

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama BBC Wales and Executive Producer, added: “Steven’s scripts generally inspire us to go that extra mile – this time we’re going that extra four thousand. Thanks to our friends at BBC AMERICA and to the continuing ambition of our lead writer and production team, the first two episodes of Matt Smith’s second season as the Doctor are going global and look set to become Doctor Who’s most action-packed and ambitious season opener yet.”

The new season follows on from the Doctor Who Christmas special guest starring Katherine Jenkins and Michael Gambon which is due to premiere during the holiday season. Season six will start airing on BBC AMERICA in spring 2011 and has been split into two blocks, with the second block airing in autumn 2011. By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens.

Filming is taking place in Cardiff until March 2011.

Bill Compton

Bill you are a bastard. You cheated on Sookie and had no plans of going back to her until the King discovered how transparent you were at feigning allegiance to him. You couldn’t have cared less when her best friend (Tara) was about to be murdered, and then you nearly drained your lady love in the back of a beat up van. With all Bill has done at this point we really don’t believe that he is capable of redemption, and we are starting to think Tara is right about him being a racist. You are already dead but we want you to meet your maker for realz. 5 stakes!

Sookie Stackhouse

Sookie, Sookie, Sookie. Ever heard of the book “he’s just not that into you?” Seriously. If a man cheats on you AND breaks up with you over the phone, it’s time too move on. Have enough sense enough not to chase him over state lines. We are going to attribute Sookie’s death wish to that crazy love you can only have in your 20s. Also considering the make up sex she had with Bill last week we really can’t blame our heroine for going back for more. One stake!

Tara Thornton

Tara what has become of you? You are on a never ending downward spiral. Lately anything that comes out of your mouth is shrill, aggressive and quite frankly almost as annoying as Sookie. You have had a hard couple of seasons, dead boyfriend, mind controlling maenad who made you a cannibal, being abducted by a sociopathic vampire. So we will let you slide for now. 2 stakes!

Jason Stackhouse

Jason your antics this season couldn’t be more annoying. We thought you would have learned your lesson about unnecessary violence from that incident you had with the fellowship of the sun! It seems you haven’t as last week you started a war with a very dangerous meth dealer/rabid shifter. You aren’t adding much to this season but we will give you a break for having nice abs. Why are the hot ones always so stupid? 3 stakes!

Check in next week for the rest of our cast predictions.

Still, when you get to experience moments like the ones below, it’s worth it. Moments like these are the ones we go to Comic-Con for. Check em out.

1. Marvel Assembles The Avengers

We’d just seen footage from Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor after being in the same seat for eight plus hours. But just then, the lights went off and we heard the voice of Samuel L. Jackson over a video of an iconic “A.” The man himself then came out on stage and introduced the FULL cast for the 2012 film The Avengers, the first time a series of superheroes will ever be assembled together in a single movie. First Jackson (who will play Nick Fury) announced his right hand man, Agent Colston, played by Clark Gregg. Next was his right hand woman, Black Widow, played by Scarlet Johanssen. Then the God of Thunder, Thor – Chris Hemsworth and Captain America, played by Chris Evans. And finally Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. Downey then took the mike and introduced two brand new additions to the team, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk (replacing Edward Norton.) Finally, director Joss Whedon came out. It was just an incredible surprise, full of energy and the perfect way to kick off a movie and put an exclamation point on Comic-Con. Check out the video below.

2. Han Solo Takes the Stage

He’s played geek gods such as Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Rick Deckard and so many more. But 2010 was the first year that Harrison Ford ever made it to Comic-Con and it was thanks to Jon Favreau. The Iron Man director is working on a new movie, Cowboys & Aliens, and Ford is part of the cast. After introducing insanely awesome co-stars like Daniel Craig and Sam Rockwell, Favreau brought out the man. 6,500 people immediately jumped out of their seats screaming. Flash bulbs were popping, Ford got embarrassed but it just continued.

3. Hall H Acts in Tron: Legacy

One of the most highly anticipated panels at Comic-Con was the one for the upcoming Tron: Legacy and it didn’t disappoint. We got some awesome new footage, great interviews and even a new trailer. But, the best moment by far, was when the entire room of people were asked to be part of the movie. The director explained that we should be very quiet and read what was on the screens. The screens told us to chant in time. “Dee Raz! Dee Raz!” Also “Disc Wars! Disc Wars!” and others. We also all had to do stomps and stuff. It was a breath of fresh air after a decade of the same old stuff at Comic-Con. I hope the sounds make the movie and we get a special thanks in the credits.

4. The Green Lantern Oath

Green Lantern, the movie based on the popular DC Comics series, is still filming but Comic-Con audiences got a first look and a chance to ask questions to the movie’s stars, including Green Lantern himself, Hal Jordan. One such person was a cute little boy who asked Reynolds what it was like to recite the Green Lantern oath. He said it was awesome and then said, “It sounded like this.” He then dove into a moving rendition of the oath. When he finished, they cut back to the little boy on the big screen and his mouth was agape. So were ours.

5. Stab!

“Stab” might be the name of the Scream spoof in the Scream movies, but it was also a literal occurrence Saturday night at Comic Con. Between panels, reportedly, one attendee got too close to another and one guy stabbed the other in the face with a pen. The news slowly spread throughout the Hall and everyone started rubbernecking. Blood was reportedly on the floor, someone was taken out in cuffs and rumors spread like wildfire. The incident delayed the final three panels of the day almost an hour as 6000 plus people sat around in suspense. Much like the Tron event, this was a first for Comic Con and something I won’t soon forget.

But Serling was more than just a narrator and a handsome face. He actually created and produced the popular science fiction series, which began a five year run in the late 1950s.

Serling’s life began in Syracuse, New York, on December 25, 1924, as the second child of Esther and Samuel Serling. He grew up in Binghamton, in a working-class family that encouraged his gift of gab and love of entertainment. As a young Jewish boy, he was anxious to engage in combat against the Germans during World War II, but after enlisting in the U.S. Army out of high school, he was sent instead to fight the Japanese in the Philippines.

It was soon after his discharge from the war that he entered Antioch College and became involved with the college radio station. It was a perfect fit and was instrumental in honing his writing and directing skills. He met his future wife, Carolyn Kramer, at college, and they married and had two daughters.

Serling’s career took off after a television script, which he had written, won an award. That ego boost led him to write a radio show. His first successful radio series was the Adventure Express, a series that revolved around two children and their train adventure.

In 1955, Serling’s first big break occurred when his teleplay Patterns,  a story about the lack of corporate morality, was shown on Kraft Television Theatre, and received rave reviews. In fact, it was so popular that for the first time in television history, the show aired for a second time.

Three years later, CBS aired what was intended to be the pilot for the Twilight Zone, on The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. The pilot, titled The Time Element, was such a hit that Serling was given the go ahead for the series that made him famous.

In his short 50-year life, Serling received six Emmy Awards for his writing, and a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Producer/Director for The Twilight Zone. He was also the recipient of a star on the Walk of Fame, which resides at 6840 Hollywood Blvd.

(Image via britannica)

There are girls in bikinis, shark attacks, and then an awful looking CG mash up of a shark and an octopus that is, apparently, the latest secret weapon of the U.S. Navy. And as awful as all that is, I think the fact that this 2 minute trailer feels like it’s 20 minutes makes it even worse. The movie feels totally dead thanks to this trailer. Even so, you won’t be able to avert your eyes from the awfulness.

No where is reporting when this film will air, except IMDB which simply says “2010.” Thankfully, that means we won’t have to wait too long.

Still, it’s a highly recommended, must see film.

The reason one would even make those declarations is because Inception has had incredibly lofty expectations placed upon it. Based on the the strength of its amazing trailer (seen below), incredible cast, filmmaker and huge shroud of secrecy, the general public was expecting the film to almost change the world, or at least the summer movie season.

Well, it opens today (Friday July 16) and you can finally find out for yourself. But try not to read anything about it, except this of course. Unlike basically every other movie released recently, the real reward in going to see Inception with no prior knowledge is the pleasure in discovering an original set of ideas and circumstances.

Inception isn’t a sequel, based on a book, or even a familiar arc. Instead, shock of shocks, it actually begins with its own, unique conceit and moves along from there. (Originally! At the movies!) It moves along for about two and a half hours and the one fault with the film is actually a result of that originality. Because the audience is totally unfamiliar with the situations presented, the film takes a good chunk of time to explain them and make the audience comfortable. It takes about half the movie. Then, the real fun begins.

So basically Inception feels like its own prequel and a sequel rolled into one. And while the prequel is interesting and entertaining, it’s also slightly jarring and awkward. You’ll be scratching your head more often than not. However, that whole section is wholly necessary. Without it, the “sequel” half wouldn’t be the edge of your seat, intense, action packed film that it is. The entire second half is basically just one, long awesome climax. It grabs you and takes you on a tour de force downward spiral of plot, editing, score, performance and production design. Nolan’s film gets to a point where a single shot, edited against another, can make an entire audience gasp. Finally, by the end, well, no spoilers remember?

Inception is an incredibly impressive piece of Hollywood filmmaking that many aspire to but few can achieve. It makes other movies – even good ones – feel phoned in. There are certainly issues with it, but even so, it’s well worth the price of admission and will occupy your thoughts for plenty of time after you leave the theater. A second viewing might even make it better. I can’t wait to find out.

I am totally addicted to this show. I understand that sometimes the dialogue might be a little lacking, and the acting could use some work…but I’m still addicted. On tonight’s episode, some of the girls’ ugly secrets come out, complicating the school’s homecoming dance. One girl’s date choice may make her life a little more difficult. And who’s

performing at the dance? 2AM Club…and no, I have no idea who they are.

Warehouse 13 (9:00 p.m. EST, Syfy)

Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Pete (Eddie McClintock) must go to Detroit after a vigilante that at first seems indestructible begins using extraordinary methods to thwart criminals. Elsewhere, Leena (Genelle Williams), Artie (Saul Rubinek), and Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) try to move on from the past while making the warehouse a little less crappy.

Covert Affairs (10:00 p.m. EST, USA)

Tonight is the premiere of this series, and it kicks off with CIA trainee Annie Walker (the cute-as-a-button Piper Perabo) as she received a promotion as a field agent. However, her agency bosses quite possibly have an ulterior motive for the unexpected promotion. A military-intelligence agent who was blinded in the field (Christopher Gorham) gives Annie a hand.

The Cast:

Jessica Biel as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak

Scarlett Johanssen as Rose Nylund

Those Triplets Hugh Hefner Banged as Blanche Devereaux

iCarly as Sophia Petrillo

In the Michael Bay remake Rose comes home flush with excitement, she’s met a new suitor and he’s just the cat’s meow! He’s 148 feet tall, made entirely of a metal that is extremely rare on Earth but common in outer space, and can turn into a big rig. Blanche says she’s happy for Rose and would love to meet this gentleman caller, but it’s obvious that she really wants to seduce him and have him all to herself. Hijinx ensue when while waiting for Rose’s new suitor to arrive a giant metal scorpion kills Sophia and Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy have to go on a quest to avenge Sophia, and learn a little something in the process, mostly through PG-13 rated group sex scenes.

Despicable Me

What looks to be a cute family film might actually turn out to be okay. I mean, you can’t go wrong with Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Russel Brand, can you? Even if they are just voicing the characters of this movie about a man who falls in love with three young girls, and wields an army of underground minions, in order to steal the moon – it looks pretty darn funny from the trailer. I’m sure their wacky humor will be toned down a bit since it’s an animated film, but you adults out there should look out for obscure references that your kids will have no idea about. That’s what makes these movies fun for the whole family.

Predators

No Arnold, no Jesse Ventura, but lots of alien action I’m sure, as the latest chapter in the Predator saga gets released this weekend. I’m not going to lie, I’m excited about this one. I know it will be mindless action, and based on the previews, I can pretty much tell you how it’s going to end. As a series that I’ve loved since I was a kid though, this one is a must-see for me. It kind of resembles the ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin flick, The Condemned, doesn’t it? Just, you know…on an alien planet. I have no idea how they ever got Adrien Brody on board to do this one, but regardless, it should be fun.

It’s the zombiepocalpse, and the only people left are high schoolers.

The new anime High School of the Dead will premiere today (July 5) exclusively on the Anime Network.  This premiere is simulcast in both the U.S. and Japan, but there’s no word as to whether the U.S. version is dubbed or just has captions.

The world has been ravaged by a horrible disease, turning the population into mindless zombies by rapidly increasing numbers.  A few high school students at Fujimi High School have survived the initial outbreak, but find themselves fighting for their lives as the people around them start turning.  Based on the manga by Daisuke Sato, we follow Takashi Komuro as he tries to unite the group and keep everyone alive.

The trailer (which you can see for yourself below) is certainly interesting, and definitely doesn’t look appropriate for anyone of a younger generation.  There’s animated blood and guts, which you’d expect from a zombie show, but there also seems to be a lot of breast jiggling and up-skirt camera angles (the girls are wearing underwear in the trailer thank goodness).  While it hardly qualifies as hentai, it still looks inappropriate for younglings.

The 12 episode series is available to registered users on Anime Network Online where you can watch it through their official web player.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Being hailed as not only one of the best movies of the summer, but the best one in the series so far, Eclipse is debuting first this week on Wednesday. Watch as Bella struggles with her decision to marry Edward, or lose herself to Jacob, all while preparing to graduate high school, and dealing with a new enemy that has come to town. Granted, the Twilight movies may not be the best piece of celluloid you’ll ever see, but there’s no denying the impact they have had on popular culture. Personally, I liked New Moon the best, but what do I know? I’m a 32-year old male, not exactly their demographic now am I? You may commence making fun of me…now.

The Last Airbender

Screw you, James Cameron, for ruining this film before it even came out by making them remove ‘Avatar‘ from the title. Okay, maybe it wasn’t James Cameron who made the decision, but there’s no denying his film influenced it. Regardless, M. Night Shyamalan returns to direct what at first I thought looked like crap, but am now really anxious to see. It’s hard to imagine Shyamalan directing something like this, but the effects look amazing, the cast looks surprisingly good for relatively unknowns, and, well…I just want to see it kick Twilight’s ass. Although I think that might be pushing it. I’ll be in line for this one though, and expect you to be there too. Note to self: see the 2D version.

Anyone who’s been following the television adaptation of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novel series is well aware of the hatred between Bill Compton and his sexy vampire maker, Lorena. Lorena, who can’t catch the hint that Bill doesn’t want her no matter how many times he throws it her way, is determined to recapture his love, even if it’s fueled by vicious hatred.

She’s interfered with his relationship with Sookie, had him kidnapped by the Vampire King of Mississippi and continues to remind him of all he lost when she turned him all those years ago. One important lesson Bill finally learned from Lorena: interacting with humans only leads to human suffering.

We all know how hard it is for Bill to deal with his vampire nature in the television series. He wants to be good, deny his animal side as often as possible, but something about his hatred for Lorena brings it to the surface, as you can see in this disturbing clip from the final scene of Sunday night’s episode.

They’re calling this later Urban Dictionary entry the vampire hate f*ck…and with good reason. It’s chock full of f**kin’ and hatin.

This scene certainly not for the faint of heart, and it’s not safe for work either. It’s brutal, twisted (in more ways then one,) and so disgusting even I had to look away. It’s even got some True Blood watchers saying HBO has finally gone to far with the series… Yeah, right.

Is this not one of the most disturbing things you’ve ever seen on television?

Hot Movie Releases

Hot Tub Time Machine

The premise is outlandish, but the laughs are bountiful in this rude and crude comedy starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Rob Corddry. Seriously, a hot tub that takes you back in time to the Eighties where you risk changing the future if you screw up? How can you not want to see that? While Cusack gives another strong, comedic performance, the film really belong to Robinson and Corddry, who have been on the fringe of a breakout role for some time. Could this be the one? Watch and decide for yourself. One things for sure, the title may be stupid, but the movie is absolutely hilarious.

The Crazies

Yet another horror remake in a long line of them that have been hitting the box office in recent years. Based on the 1973 flick by George Romero, The Crazies may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it holds its own amongst the crap that has been coming out of Platinum Dunes as of late. Starring Timothy Olyphant (one of the most underrated actors around), it centers on a small town that goes, well…crazy, after a virus is placed in the water supply. Lots of blood, gore, and scares to keep you huddled under the blanket with your significant other for a 90-minutes or so; but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wishing you had 90-minutes of your life back once it’s over.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

It isn’t Harry Potter, but Percy Jackson is going to surprise and delight you in the way it takes an everyday misfit, and plops him down into a world of Greek mythology. After learning that he’s the son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), must learn to control his extraordinary powers while clearing his name for stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. Based on the popular book series, this one is sure to please the youngsters, and make you wish you had of paid a little more attention in school.

TV on DVD

Warehouse 13: Season One

After saving the life of the president, two Secret Service agents are transferred to Warehouse 13, a place that holds every fantastical item ever acquired by the U.S. government. From there it’s off to investigating claims of the paranormal and surreal, as they try to stack Warehouse 13 with more objects. Lots of gadgets, thrills, and one liners, Warehouse 13 is a pretty decent show, but it’s no X-Files.

Being a fan of paranormal intrigue and drama, I must tune in to HBO every Sunday and watch True Blood, but after True Blood, I’ve started clicking over to ABC to watch The Gates.

Aside from the fact that it’s teaming with paranormal goodness, there’s just something about gated communities that creeps me out. Anywhere you live that dictates everything from the type of wind chimes you can hang on your front porch to the number of times you can drive up the street is freaky, and The Gates is definitely freakish.

If you haven’t had the chance to check this out yet, I embedded the pilot last Monday and now I’m putting up episode two so you can watch while you work. If your boss isn’t looking, of course. If he is, don’t you dare tell him I told you to do it. You’ll get us both in trouble… on the other hand, we’ll have more time to watch TV… hmm… there’s something to that.

What do you think of The Gates so far? Will it get picked up permanently or will it jump the shark before it has a chance to develop into something lasting? Does it even have the potential to develop into something lasting? I wanna hear your feedback. I say it’s not as good as True Blood, but it’s got some potential.

1. “Is There a Creator?” originally aired June 9
2. “The Riddle of Black Holes” airs again June 30, July 1 and 2
3. “Is Time Travel Possible?” airs again June 27, 28, and 29
4. “What Happened Before the Beginning?” airs June 30
5. “How Did We Get Here?” airs July 7
6. “Are We Alone?” airs July 14
7. “What Are We Made Of?” airs July 21
8. “Dark Matter: Beyond the Darkness” airs July 28

Of course there is a companion website with summaries of the episodes, videos, informative articles, and some interactive stuff. The producers of the show introduce it in this way:

“What are we made of? What was there before the beginning? Are we really alone? Is there a creator? These questions have been pondered by the most exquisite minds of the human race. Now, science has evolved to the point where hard facts and evidence may be able to provide us with answers instead of philosophical theories.”

The show is not test tubes and lab coats. It takes us to the frontiers where science and philosophy meet. Recall what Hamlet said to his best friend: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet was referring to “natural philosophy,” which back then meant what we today call “science.” Somewhere along the line, we separated the two and created different realms for science and philosophy, what Stephen Jay Gould called “non-overlapping magisteria.” Perhaps now we are at long last attaining the knowledge and the wisdom to realize that everything is connected in ways beyond our former capacity to imagine.

The relation was researched by Ancestry.com and released to The Associated Press.  Apparently Pattinson’s tie comes from his relation to the British royal family. The current English Princes, Harry and William, are Pattinson’s distant cousins and Vlad the Impaler is their distant uncle.

“Tracing Pattinson’s family back to Vlad was difficult research, but the pieces that unraveled created the perfect accompaniment to the Twilight Saga, ” said Anastasia Tyler, a genealogist at Ancestry.com. “Without any myth or magic, we find royalty and vampires lurking in Pattinson’s life — making his story just as supernatural as the one he’s playing on screen.”

So who is Vlad the Impaler?  Vlad III Dracula was born in Transylvania and grew up to rule over Wallachia (now known as Romania) from 1456 to 1462.  Wallachia was in chaos when Vlad took the throne, so he became known as a harsh ruler who liked to impale his enemies on spikes in his front lawn (thus “Vlad the Impaler”).  While there are no solid numbers of how many people he killed, it’s estimated around 40,000 to 100,000.  He ruled with an iron fist and he only gave terrible and sadistic punishments to those who broke the law.  The stories that circulated about Vlad Dracula after his eventual ousting were increasingly horrible in nature and the vampire tale is supposedly originated in the Slovakian area, so it’s generally assumed that Bram Stoker put two and two together for his 1897 novel Dracula.

In what can only be described as a publicist’s dream, the same folks at Ancestry have discovered another link to Vlad’s legacy- Twilight series book writer Stephanie Meyer also shares a biological link to the English royal family.

And now, you have gone even further up in my eyes…because you have cast ‘80s pop stars Debbie Gibson and Tiffany in the upcoming film Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.

I’m salivating as I type this, devoted readers.

Debbie will star as an animal rights advocate who helps to create huge snakes. Tiffany, on the other hand, will play a park ranger doing her best to save endangered alligators in Florida’s Everglades. Neither woman is a stranger to sci-fi films. Debbie starred in last year’s Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus, and Tiffany starred in last year’s Mega Piranha.

What’s sure to be the best scene of the entire made-for-television movie involves the two former pop stars getting down and dirty (in a fight) in a swamp. Awesome.

Tiffany stated, “Only in my dreams have I been able to have a catfight with Debbie Gibson…until now! This is soo MEGA cool!”  In addition, Debbie said, “I know that pop culture fanatics have been dying for Tiffany and me to collaborate for the past 24 years! What better way to do it than by battling each other in a campy romp through the Everglades?”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Keep an eye out for more on the film, which is scheduled to air next year.

First of all, if Dennis Hopper heard you say that, he’d jump on your chest and rip your spinal chord through your sinuses.  The two were friends and colleagues.

I am tired of hearing seemingly intelligent human beings make the most asinine statements like “George Lucas raped my childhood.”  That’s a popular one, regurgitated from the mouths of immature 40 year old fanboys on a daily basis.  First of all, using “rape” to describe a cinematic experience is a little like saying “your starving to death” because you really want pizza and all mom has in the pantry is some crappy Fig Newtons.  It is hyperbole, and bad hyperbole at that.

Secondly, in no way imaginable in the universe did George Lucas erase or destroy your childhood.  You short term memory ingrates, he gave you your childhood!!  Without him, you are not rescuing Princess Leia from the backyard sandbox, you’re not quoting C-3PO in college essays, and you are sure as hell not as big a science fiction fan as you are now.  Nothing that can be done today has any bearing on your enjoyment of Star Wars back when you were in Garanimals.

You don’t like the special editions?  I suppose you like to nitpick the plot complexities of Golden Books in your spare time as well.  They are basically the same movies, it’s not like he changed the ending so Chewbacca pulled a Rambo mission on the Death Star to lower the shields.  The plot remains the same.  That being said, yes he should absolutely make the original edits available to any and all who want them.  I for one am getting tired of carrying around my laser disc player every time I want to see Han shoot first.  Also, I completely disagree with Hayden Christensen being the ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi.  But I still like the movie.

Ah yes, the prequels.  You are all so up in arms over the prequels.  Is it because Uncle George didn’t come out and shower you with hundred dollar bills for your birthday?  Is it that he didn’t simply film six hours of your deepest Storm Trooper fantasies, fulfilling your every childish desire?  Is that why today grown men throw temper tantrums over a science fiction movie?  The prequels and their supposed “failure” are all about expectations and our inability to manage them.  All we knew about potential pre Luke story lines was two words: Clone Wars.  So, for 30 years we all thought the prequels would be a trilogy of nothing but ass kicking.  They weren’t, get over it.

But don’t fret crybabies, have you seen The Clone Wars cartoon?  It is everything you wanted from the prequels, so why don’t you just adjust your thinking.  The Clone Wars are now the fabled prequels of your youth, and Episodes 1-3 are the pre-prequels and you can relax and just accept them for who they are.

Does Jar Jar stink?  Yes, but not nearly as much as Jake Lloyd’s “acting.”  Is the romance between Anakin and Padme a little on the forced side?  Absolutely.  Should Lucas have directed the prequels?  Not in a thousand years.  Remember, he neither directed Empire nor Jedi, so at least he should’ve had an “actor’s director” co-helm the film with him so some of those wooden performances got cleaned up.  Rank them however you like, but all in all, it is still freaking Star Wars and Star Wars is awesome.

And coming up we have The People vs. George Lucas, an indulgent exercise in filmmaking that will no doubt prey on the wallets of haters everywhere as they come together like Philadelphia sports fans to spit on the very thing that they love.  It should be like watching an Ain’t It Cool News message board come to life.

But let’s step away from Star Wars for a moment.  Virtually every other movie made today owes something to the legacy of Lucasfilm.  Industrial Light & Magic owns special effects.  THX is to cinema sound what Rolls Royce is to automobiles.  He co-founded American Zoetrope with Francis Ford Coppola.  PIXAR began as a division of Lucasfilm.  He has helped pioneer the advent of digital cameras.  Oh and he is the biggest independent filmmaker of all time.  You do realize Episode 1 was an independent film right?  You know what that means?  George has “F-you” money like you will never see.  He paid for that thing out of his wallet.  The dude’s a pimp.

So listen, am I being tongue and cheek here?  Of course I am.  If I really hated these haters as much as they say they hate Lucas, I’d be just as much of a moron as they are.  But I do believe they need a wake up call.  I love movies and I love Star Wars, but it is time for people to let it go and cease flipping out over mole hills.  Let’s get the original edits released on Blu Ray and call it a franchise.

The Gates centers around a typical family struggling with regular problems, but their problems are only about to get worse, as they’ve moved into a gated community with a dark and seedy underside. Not exactly a new idea, but at least ABC’s making an effort to put a new spin on a trend that’s getting tired and worn out with every day it continues.

In classic Hollywood tradition, ABC is on the bandwagon, milking the current trend for everything they can get, but the fact that this show premiered in the summer doesn’t give me much hope. For me, summer shows tend to be a wash unless they’re already established, as viewers opt to spend their nights outdoors enjoying the warm weather.

If you missed Sunday night’s premier of The Gates because you were outside stargazing instead, I’ve embedded the entire pilot just for you. Enjoy!

We did an interview with the elusive lead singer of the group, Dikk Thunder.

Tell me about Thunderdikk. How did you guys get together and what are you all about?

Thunderdikk songs chronicle the wild times of my life and provide the soundtrack for a never-ending head banging party. We play so people can let loose, dance and get crazy.  When I called the other guys and told them the band was called Thunderdikk and the songs were about girls, partying and rock and roll, they jumped on it.

What, so far, has been your biggest break?

We’ve gotten our music on several TV shows, played some key shows and been on the radio but in my mind our greatest achievement was a glowing review in Classic Rock magazine. They said Thunderdikk was “clearly the greatest rock band to emerge from LA since Van Halen”. Think about that for a minute.

How did it work out that you got a song on The Bad Girls Club?

Well, the girls needed a wild night out and someone told them to come to a Thunderdikk show. So they filmed an episode where the girls came to our gig at the Viper Room and danced, drank and got down with the band. We had a lot of fun with those crazy girls. Best moment – our guitarist Sleaze making out with one of the girls in their booth while soloing one-handed. Never missed a note.

Also, fans can play your song on Rock Band. How exactly did you guys pull that off?

Rock Band Network now allows users to download their software and program your own songs to be playable on Rock Band. It’s not easy and it goes through a lot of scrutiny before it is available to the public, but it is worth it when I think of our song  ”Bra Off, Party On” disseminating throughout the world. It’s just one more way for us to bring the party to the people.

How would you describe your sound?

Like the best night ever that ain’t gonna end till you get laid.  Informed by AC/DC, Motley Crue and other great rock bands who knew what it meant to write a song that could stop a train and start a riot. And by riot I mean orgy.

What is next for you guys? More multimedia, more live shows, new album etc?

We are currently finishing up our first full-length release, Magnum Love.  I wanted to write a record that would make you feel like a bad-ass while you are blasting it in your car, flying down the freeway singing along. It should be out by late summer and we will be touring to support it.  We will have the new CD, new shirts, and new songs.  In the meantime you can find a taste of our sound on iTunes.  The Bra Off, Party On EP is a great introduction.

Where can people find out more about you guys?

www.thunderdikk.com has all the details but for a real education catch one of our live shows. That’s where the action is. Plus, our music is being used in a new World Cup reality show called Bud House. Check that out too.

(All photos via www.jacquelyndrayton.com)

For An Older Audience: Lois And Clark (1993 – 1997)

In one of the first attempts to bring Clark Kent and Superman into a modern, more Generation X type environment, the television show Lois and Clark played out Superman’s life as a mid-twenties professional. Spanning four seasons and starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, the ABC drama/comedy/sci-fi adventure series followed the Man of Steel as he struggled to balance his life a reporter, a super hero and suddenly a boyfriend. Lois and Clark was mildly successful in that it did run for longer than most shows, but during the mid nineties the story of the Clark Kent never caught on as much as the network had hoped.

Unfortunately Lois and Clark was canceled in 1997, but all four seasons can be purchased on DVD.

For A Teenage Audience: Smallville (2001 – Present)

In probably the most successful television rendition of the Superman story, Smallville continues to go strong as the ninth season has recently come to an end. Although the CW and cast members of Smallville have already stated that the tenth season will be the final season, fans still remain hopeful. Smallville follows the story of Clark Kent from high school through his early years working at the Daily Planet. During this time his dedication to the human race is constantly put to the test as Smallville‘s core story telling element is how Superman discovers his true meaning. With a much more science fiction feel to the story lines and characters, Smallville has garnered attention from the dedicated comic book audience as well as branching out and reaching a core teen audience. With stars like Tom Welling, Kristin Kruek, Allison Mack, Erica Durance and Michael Rosenbaum, it’s no wonder the teen audience has caught on.

The first nine seasons of Smallville can be purchased on DVD as we eagerly await the final chapter.

For A Young Audience: Superman The Animated Series (1996 – 2000)

When Warner Bros and DC Comics teamed up for the iconic Batman: The Animated Series, something amazing was discovered. Not only was the story telling a perfect meld of animation and traditionally paneled comic books, the show spoke to a young audience and introduced them to some of the super heroes their parents grew up on. The natural next step after the success of the Batman series was to create a series in the same vein for Superman. Superman: The Animated Series ran for four successful seasons on the WB and followed Clark Kent as he discovered some of his most famous enemies including Braniac and Lex Luthor. With voice talent from Tim Daly, Dana Delany and a host of other talented performers, Superman: The Animated Series was a hit for all ages.

All four seasons of Superman: The Animated Series can be purchased on DVD.

Toy Story 3

Finally, it’s here. After an 11-year wait, Toy Story 3 is upon us. I don’t know about you, but I’m damn excited to see this. The Toy Story movies are some of the most beloved of all the Disney/Pixar creations, and for good reason. What’s not to love about Buzz Lightyear, or Woody? This time around, the gang gets dropped into a day care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college. The plot may be simple enough, but with a host of new characters, Toy Story 3 is not going to disappoint you.

Jonah Hex

A science fiction/action movie based on a comic book starring Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and Megan Fox? Hell yeah! Sign me up! The trailers look great, and although we’re sure to be treated to the one-dimensional acting talents of Fox, Jonah Hex is going to be one of those movies that you walk in to, shut your brain off, and just enjoy the ride. Explosions, special effects, and Malkovich as the villain, this one is going to be a crowd pleaser for sure. Not to mention Josh Brolin, who is no slouch in the acting department. Yup, this weekend, revenge gets ugly.

I have loved zombies as long as I can remember, and have this habit of seeking out even the most obscure and poorly filmed zombie movies to add to my collection. The fact that AMC is putting out The Walking Dead tickles my evil heart so much, my brain is literally itching at the prospect of being nommed upon by the rising dead.

So when I found these awesome screen shots from the upcoming television series, I knew I had no choice but to share them with all the other zombie lovers out there. This is huge. It’s confirmation that this show is actually going to happen. Yes, I know AMC confirmed it months ago, but you never know. Sometimes networks say things (coughNBCcough) and then they take them back, leaving us sad and disappointed… like Conan O’Brien.

Back in the first week of June, AMC gave us a little taste of what’s to come in The Walking Dead, which only got me salivating for more, more, more! I’m greedy, I know, but come on… I’m from Pennsylvania, just miles from Monroeville, where Romero filmed and where they hold the coolest annual zombie walk in the world.

The official website has been offering regular content, from videos and screen shots, to interviews and updates on the show’s progress. So let’s kick off this preview with a behind the scenes look at zombie school, and then take a look at some of the screen shots. If this doesn’t make you hungry for brains, nothing will.

[Image Source: Ain't It Cool News]

There was a time when steampunk wasn’t too far from reality.  Back when machines made sense.  You could look into the belly of anything mechanical and literally see how it worked.  Here’s the gear that turns this other gear and this pulley does this and now we have a spinning wheel or what have you.  Technology was science.

Take our good friend the television set for example.  It was big and lumbering, requiring large bribes of beer to get your friends to help you move it.  But inside, it made sense.  You could understand why it was so big, so heavy.  There was science inside!  You had tubes and magnets and wires and dials on the front.  Why look at that cathode ray tube glow!  Isn’t it magnificent? But careful. If you break it, all kinds of crazy photons and poison gases will come out and eat your brain!  Science! Ahh!

But in today’s world of high tech, we have moved away from the science and been asked to have faith in our machines.  Tech has turned into religion.  The most extreme example of this has to be the iPad.  Have you seen one, actually seen one, in person? Held it in your hands, felt the “weight” of it?  It’s a short stack of paper!!  There are no moving parts, no discernible access hatch to stick my head into and spy on the mechanisms!  And yet, I can watch television shows and movies upon it.  I can read countless novels and speak to friends around the globe.  If the iPad existed 200 years ago, it would’ve been pronounced a witch and dumped in a tub of water.

And what about the more traditional TV’s in our living rooms.  Mine is twice as big as my last tube set and I can carry it all by myself.  What?!  Why is this thing so thin?  At least my sister’s TV has some weird alien plasma gas inside of it, but mine is LCD. Is that some sort of compulsive disorder?  Does my TV need a therapist now?  Why are there no screws on the back?!  I want some phillips head screws. I must be able to get inside in case of emergency!  Oh my God it is hanging on the wall!!  WITCH!!! WITCH!!!

Of course, the truth is TV sets, like virtually everything else from stereos to refrigerators, have gotten exponentially more technical over the years and less mechanical.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t miss half my living room being occupied by my television, but there was a comfort in knowing science was sitting there watching Silk Stalkings with me.  Modern TV’s are advanced, too advanced to even warrant us pondering their workings any longer.  Leave that to those lab coats wearing “science priests.”  All we have to do is have complete faith and press the buttons on the remotes.  Wait, where did my buttons go on my remote?!!

Hot Movie Releases

The Book of Eli

Usually I don’t mind Denzel Washington. I mean, the guy can act when he wants to, right? Put him in a post-apocalyptic movie that is filled with religious undertones though, and you have the makings of a film that can only be viewed through the lens of destruction if you want to enjoy it. Which I guess is just what The Book of Eli accomplishes. It’s not a great movie by any means, but Gary Oldman as the villain is hard not enjoy. Hell, any movie with Gary Oldman is hard not to enjoy. All-in-all, The Book of Eli is worth a rental, unless your wife just can’t get enough Denzel, then you’ll have to buy it. Sorry.

When In Rome

Man, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of these movies that use romance and the supernatural as a plot device. I’m no expert on romance films, mind you, but I do know enough about them to say that any movie like that can’t be good. When In Rome is no exception. A girl that plucks coins from a fountain in Rome, only to have the men who threw them in there fall in love with her? Come on, you can do better than that, can’t you Hollywood? Oh, right, I forgot who I was speaking to. Josh Duhamel should stick with fighting off robots, because as a romantic lead, he’s the pits, and Kristen Bell? She should stick with television. Good television. Heroes doesn’t count.

TV on DVD

Family Guy Volume 8

I don’t care who you are, if you don’t like Family Guy, there’s something wrong with you. There’s at least something in each episode that appeals to anyone with a sense of humor, so if you’re not laughing, you probably don’t know funny very well. Thankfully, I do know funny, and Family Guy is funny. Volume 8 is no exception, as it features some of the best episodes, including ‘Not All Dogs Go To Heaven’ and ‘Jerome Is The New Black.‘ Giggity giggity!