Here is our walkthrough with Colorforms!
Until next time!
Movie review: Weaponized
By Steven Biscotti
Weaponized, the latest film to be released by Cinedigm, “a leading independent content distributor”, released earlier this month on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. Starring Johnny Messner, the go to tough guy in action films of this genre, and sporting an impressive supporting cast of actors like Mickey Rourke and Tom Sizemore seems like just the kind of movie we’d see advertised theatrically. Yet we have it available direct to the home video format. Is the fast paced actioner quite the “white-knuckle, stunt-fueled film” that it’s hailed as? Alternative Mindz gave it a watch and we have the word on whether or not you should check this one out!
The market for films like Weaponized is out there. While for many that are excitedly counting down the days until the next major film release, it’s easy to overlook the likes of films like Weaponized. Especially as one scans the new releases and sci-fi/action genre department at a store like Target. Despite the class of movies that can sometimes go unnoticed and unspoken of, there are many solid entries out there that feature the talent we normally respond to. Director Timothy Woodward Jr.’s Weaponized is just that kind of movie. Quiet release yet it features a notable cast. During the late 80’s and throughout the 90’s (and early 00’s), Tom Sizemore was the ultra cool tough guy on camera. While he was never a leading man, he was surely one of the finest character actors in the business. With roles in pictures like Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, and Pearl Harbor, it’s hard to recall a picture that Sizemore wasn’t in. Yup, he was the undercover agent in Point Break and he fought that alien/creature/monster in Relic. But sometime after the Michael Mann series Robbery Homicide Division, he fell off the map – for reasons we won’t go into here. But, here we are in 2016, and Tom Sizemore is back and in a co-starring role inWeaponized. Not to mention he’s also next to the likes of Mickey Rourke, a man who needs no introduction. So, we have Sizemore and we have Rourke. The cast of Timothy Woodward Jr.’s futuristic action film holds up, but what about the picture itself?
Weaponized takes place in the not too distant future. After a series of terrorist attacks, one in which sees “a blatant attack” on the Pentagon, we learn of a private operation that allows soldiers to swap consciousness with a target, which allows American soldiers to combat terrorism in a more effective way. However, we are talking about a sci-fi/action film and, of course, the military program is severely abused. Johnny Messner’s homicide detective, named Walker, gets involved after an incident out in public and the rest is an hour and a half of reliable action that is both entertaining and a bit borrow some of other films.
Timothy Woodward Jr.’s Weaponized isn’t a bad movie. It’s just not terribly inspired. The story by Sean Ryan feels like a sort of distant cousin to the far superior Universal Soldier. If anything, Weaponized feels like a movie that should have starred Jean Claude Van Damme in the nineties, but for whatever reason, just never happened. Weaponized is enjoyable and the action is steady, but the most intriguing aspect of the movie is found within its cast. Tom Sizemore and Mickey Rourke are fun to watch and even though Johnny Messner is the go to tough guy, he does entertain us in a role that could have been played by many others.
Cinedigm does have a movie worth being discovered in Weaponized. More films by Cinedigm should be recognized as it is a healthy and vital aspect of the movie-making business. The cast and crew make up a movie that has as much put into it as many of the other films granted a larger release. At the end of the day, people wrote, produced, and created a film – going far beyond a stage that so many could only dream of. For that reason alone, Cinedigm should be applauded.
Alternative Mindz gives Weaponized two and a half stars.
TMNT: Half Shell Heroes Reviews
Check out our reviews of this awesome line! Thanks goes to Playmates for the review samples.
Robo Raptor with Triceraton
Mikey and Stegosaurus
Raph and Pterodactyl
Donnie and T-rex
And please check out this awesome review of T-Sprints Mikey!
Thanks for stopping by!
DC SUPER HERO GIRLS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES GREENLIT FOR SECOND VOLUME
DC SUPER HERO GIRLS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES GREENLIT FOR SECOND VOLUME
After increasing anticipation from fans about the upcoming original graphic novel DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis, DC Entertainment announced today that volume two is not far behind!
DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis is the first publishing product for the new superhero universe for girls from DC Entertainment, and will be available everywhere books are sold on July 5. To satisfy the excitement of fans, the publisher has greenlit a second volume, DC Super Hero Girls: Hits & Myths due out on November 2. Writer Shea Fontana and artist Yancey Labat will reprise their roles for the second volume.
While learning about The Odyssey in Mister Etrigan’s poetry class, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl and their friends go on their own Odyssey-inspired journey where they face off with a Cyclops, seek help from a Witch, and evade the Siren before journeying to the underworld. Can they help their teacher escape from Trigon’s prison and return home? Find out in DC Super Hero Girls: Hits & Myths.
For a sneak peek of DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis, pick up a copy of the first two chapters at your local comic book shop on Free Comic Book Day, May 7.
2016 Winter Film Awards Indie Film Festival Short Recap
Last week i had the chance to cover the 2016 Winter Film Awards Indie Film Festival and i had a great time attending it. The Winter Film Awards focuses on diversity in Independent Film, with a special emphasis on highlighting women and minority filmmakers. There was a large selection of over 60 films that were shown to us ranging from horror, drama, romance, animation and documentaries and i have seen them all. My favorite ones were “Dad and Mum” (comedy), “Strings” (animated), “Oblivion Season” (drama), and “Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball”(documentary). There were also music videos and Q and A panels as well
There was also the Award show on the final day of the event and here are the results
Best Picture: Ben & Ara, Directed by Nnegest Likké
Best Actress: Constance Ejuma, Ben & Ara
Best Actor: Kevin Baggott, Why Do You Smell Like the Ocean
Best Director: Isaac Ezban, The Similars
Best Animated Film: Strings, Directed by Pedro Solís
Best Documentary Film: The Real Miyagi, Directed by Kevin Derek
Best Horror Featured Film: Tuyul: Part 1, Directed by Billy Christian
Best Horror Short Film: The Bridge Partner, Directed by Gabriel Olson
Best Short Film: Letter to God, Directed by Tamas Yvan Topolanszky
Best Student Film: Fulfilament, Directed by Rhiannon Evans
Hollywood might ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone! #WFA2016 #WFASoDiverse
I will do a followup article later this week
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DC Entertainment Reveals WonderCon 2016 Variant Covers
WonderCon 2016 makes its debut Friday, March 25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and DC Entertainment wants you to get the first look at some of the exclusives premiering at the show!
On sale at the Graphitti Designs booth (South Hall, Booth #1403), these comics feature variant covers spotlighting some of DC Comics’ most popular titles, hottest artists and the highly anticipated feature film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Beginning Friday, DC Entertainment is excited to feature the following variant cover comic books for sale at WonderCon:
Co-written with Brian Azzarello with art by Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson, DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE pits Batman, Carrie Kelley, Superman and Wonder Woman against a renegade priest and his maniacal followers from the newly-restored city of Kandor! The first three issues will be available for sale during WonderCon, each with its own unique variant cover and selling for $15 each.
The issue #1 variant cover features art by Howard Porter (SUPERMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001). Issue #2 features cover art by Jill Thompson, while issue #3 includes a variant cover by Paul Pope. And if you’ve ever wanted your own one of a kind Dark Knight III cover from your favorite Bat-artist, then you’re in luck; DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE issue #1 will be available for $10, with a blank sketch cover you can take with you to artists’ alley!
Another series of exclusive variant covers celebrates the upcoming feature film BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE with variant covers for issues #50 of SUPERMAN, BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN. Each sells for $10, and features a photo cover of each of the three principal actors in the film, Henry Cavill (Superman), Ben Affleck (Batman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman).
WonderCon 2016 takes place March 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. Stay up to date on all things DC Entertainment by downloading the all-new DC Entertainment app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. And be sure and stop by the DC Entertainment booth in South Hall (#1602) to meet some of your favorite writers and artists!
Toy Fair 2016: Kotobukiya
Toy Fair 2016: Cloud B
here is our walk through with Cloud B
Toy Fair 2016: WowWee
Talking Hank: Outfit7’s Dopey-Doggy with a Big Heart Celebrates His Birthday
Talking Hank: Outfit7’s Dopey-Doggy with a
Big Heart Celebrates His Birthday
Tom Kenny Tells Us What It’s Like to Play Hank on the YouTube Hit Series
“Talking Tom and Friends: The Animated Series”
Goofy, clumsy, and hilariously dopey, TALKING HANK is a dog that you can’t help but love; especially since he’s voiced by animation legend Tom Kenny (aka: Spongebob Squarepants.) You can find Hank getting into trouble each week on YouTube via Talking Tom and Friends: The Animated Series. http://talkingtomandfriends.com/ – new episodes resume March 13th!
Created and produced out of Vienna by Outfit7, Talking Tom and Friends: The Animated Series features an all-star voice cast including Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Adventure Time With Finn & Jake”) as Hank, Golden Globe®-nominee Colin Hanks (“Life In Pieces,” “Fargo”) as Tom, Lisa Schwartz (“Party Girl”) as Angela, James Adomian (“Comedy Bang Bang!,” “Gravity Falls”) as Ben, and Maria Bamford (“Lady Dynamite,” “WordGirl”) as Ginger; with Tom Martin (“The Simpsons,” “WordGirl”) serving as head writer.
Based on the entertainment phenomenon that has achieved over three billion mobile downloads for its suite of apps, and three billion views on YouTube, the animated series chronicles the adventures, hijinks, and inventions of Talking Tom and the gang as they shoot their own reality television show.
Hank, who can also be seen in Outfit7’s latest app release Talking Tom Bubble Shooter has always got a big smile and an even bigger heart and though he can be a bit gullible, he always sees the funny side of life.
Hank celebrates his birthday on February 29th. Yes you heard that right, this wet-nosed wonder is a Leap-Year baby.
Voice-over animation legend and comedian, Tom Kenny, who plays Hank on The Animated Series, took time out of his busy day yapping into a microphone to talk with us about his character and working on Talking Tom and Friends: The Animated Series.
Q: We hear Hank likes to gobble down a big burger on his birthday. What is your favorite thing to do on your birthday?
A: I will seize on any excuse to have a bunch of our friends over, play & sing a bunch of crazy music, and bring in my favorite taco truck to feed everybody! To me, you can’t call it a “party” if a LIVE band and tacos al pastor AREN’T involved!
Q: In-N-Out, or Five Guys?
A: I like them both, but my “Burger Heaven” go-to is the “Double Cheeseburger Po’Boy” at Little Jewel of New Orleans– a cool little funky restaurant/grocery in Los Angeles’ Chinatown District. Bring Tupperware…it will last you for four days!
Q: How old is Hank?
A: In dog years or human years? Either way, that’s a hard one, especially since Hank was also born on a Leap Year. Unfortunately, most actors aren’t good at math, and I’m one of ‘em!
Q: As a kid, did you ever envision you’d do voice overs?
A: I thought about it ALL THE TIME when I was a little kid, and I STILL do! Some things never change, I guess. I’m lucky to be doing the job I used to daydream about during math class! I feel absurdly fortunate!
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: That question implies that I HAVE grown up! Maybe I will someday, but I don’t want to rush into anything. Give me some time!
Q: You are one of the busiest people in animation. What else are you doing these days?
A: It’s always “in flux,” but currently I’m REGULARLY recording: “SpongeBob SquarePants,” (on which I am also the Voice Director), “Adventure Time,” “ Miles From Tomorrowland,” “Powerpuff Girls,” “Clarence,” “Uncle Grandpa,” “Peabody and Sherman,” “How To Train Your Dragon,” “Mixels,” “Ultimate Spider Man,” “Welcome To The Ronks,” “Stinky and Dirty,” “Rick and Morty,” “Wander Over Yonder,” and a few others….then there are the oddball VO gigs in movies & sitcoms, commercials, video games, toys, and promos too. Plus, new shows are always starting up, and hopefully somebody on those liked my audition! Something is always ending, and something is always beginning!
Hey, let’s not forget “Talking Tom and Friends”!
Q: From Talking Tom, to Angela, Ben and Ginger, your character’s cohorts all have their own apps. If Hank starred in his own app, what would he be doing?
A: Making sandwiches and watching TV: especially the “Bongo and McGillyCuddy” 24-hour marathon!
Q: Both you and Hank (a Pisces) seem to have a lot of character traits in common. You’re both quite active and fun-seeking, captivating and sincere.
A: Oh keep going, please! Unlike Hank, I am NOT a big television watcher, but we ARE similar in other ways. I try to “not sweat the small stuff” that the world constantly throws down in your path. Also, Hank seems to surround himself with good friends that are a wee bit smarter than him. I do that, and it’s worked out pretty well!
Q: What’s your sign?
A: Cancer the Crab! Hank is Pisces the Fish, and I’m on my way right now to record “SpongeBob”, so I guess sea creatures are a recurring theme in my life!