Digesting And Spewing Pop Culture Into Your Face

I came across this monstrosity in my internet wanderings today. It’s up for pre-order on eStarland.com for a cool $77.95 with a March 23 release. I’m not really sure what the shade is made out of though it looks almost like a shag rug type material. The base looks a bit off too as it’s chrome or polished aluminum. I think a PVC gray, like the controller would have been a better choice, maybe as a powder coat. Ah well. The price is a bit crazy as all I really would want would be the shade.

A few days ago, a leaked image of the upcoming revamped Thundercats cartoon was leaked onto the internet.

The image was definitely and eraly leak as Warner Bros. released the title image above with a press release hailing the new animated series. I’m digging the look as they appear to have retained the essence of the characters while revamping them for our 20+ years later age.

THUNDERCATS

Series Coming Soon to Cartoon Network

Roaring to life through WBA and Studio4°C’s use of the Japanese animated artistry of anime, “ThunderCats” characters Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, Panthro, Cheetara and others will spring off the screen with realistic cat-like characteristics inconceivable in previous incarnations.

The new “ThunderCats” will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise. A sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes, the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost – takes on epic dimensions in this sharp new telling. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode.

“ThunderCats” is executive produced by Sam Register (“Teen Titans,” “Ben 10,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”). Michael Jelenic (“Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “Wonder Woman”) and Ethan Spaulding (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) are the producers.

“ThunderCats” © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. “ThunderCats” and all related characters
and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros.

I have a certain love for pixel art. It’s a great representation of a simpler time in video games. That bathroom up there is a great example of custom pixel art. Many an art project has been started with perler beads and the transition to tile only seems appropriate as YouTube user, dracoony1978sg, has taken on that task with spectacular results. It would be  a bit frightening while using the shower but who cares as long as it looks cool. If you’d like, you can check out the making of video below. (via NeoGAF)

“Professor Layton, sick of those puzzles, decided to take things into his own hands.” (via Super Punch)

The shit-tastic rag, New York Post had a pretty funny cover today as it invoked Star Wars geekdom in referencing the upcoming much-hyped clash between the Jets and the Pats this Sunday. I’m a huge Patriots fan having grown up in New England about 20 minutes from Foxboro Stadium (aka Gillette Stadium). I loved ‘em when they were good (’86 Super Bowl), through the shittiness and back to good again in the ’96 Super Bowl. Their dynasty has only cemented my love and the fact that they are now so hated only makes me squeal with joy especially when they wipe the floor with other shit-talking teams. The Jets are just such a team who has their fair share of gas-bag loser father figures and foot-fetishist coaches. Speaking of foot-fetishes, check out the sublimely brilliant Wes Welker make eleven foot references in a recent press conference about the game on Sunday. Sorry for the sports break on the site, but hey that geeky image up top fits the bill. GO PATS!

Looking through Big Bad Toy Store today, I came across these Funko plush up for pre-order. I’ve posted before about the Lord of the Rings versions as well as the DC vinyl versions of these guys. Now, they’ve gone and made the line-up from Marvel. As you can see above, they went with the yello wcostume Wolverine which was always my personal favorite. They also have a pretty mean looking Hulk,

which when paired with Wolverine allows you to recreate their world famous original battle from the mid 70′s in all of it’s plushy goodness.

all together their are six of these guys with the other four being, Captain America, Iron Man, Spider Man, and Thor. You can check them out in the gallery below and pre-order them from Big Bad Toy Store for $9.99 each, with an early April release.

Apparently this artwork is from a canned spec series that would have followed Bruce Wayne in his high school exploits. The art style is quite interesting, but an emo Joker? Really? This seems to partly inspired by Teen Titans and Smallville and could have been an interesting show. The artists who were tasked with the development of the show, Celeste Green and Jeffrey Thomas, have posted these pics and some info on their blog. I love to see concept art for stuff like this and it’s even cooler when it’s failed projects that would otherwise never see the light of day. Here’s the pitch that they posted:

The Story Synopsis:
We all go through incredible changes as teenagers: growth spurts, bad skin, a sudden insatiable need to uphold justice and avenge your murdered parents…. Well, that is if you’re Bruce Wayne.
As if being a freshman at Gotham High wasn’t tough enough, Bruce’s insomnia and technological fascinations are taking their toll. Instead of spending his time studying, he has begun to obsess over an emerging personality trait: Batman. But under the watchful eye of his guardian and steward, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce is forced to put his intelligence to good use: graduating high school. But given his classmates, can Bruce survive Gotham High?

Hit the gallery below for some high res pics. (via io9)

Also, for today, Amazon has the complete Superman; The Animated Series for just $21. That’s a pretty good deal for a great show.

A lifelong dream of meeting Bill Paxton culminated in this somewhat drunken moment last night. “Game over Man! Game Over!”

Let’s start off the post with a great picture of an AT-AT snow fort. This guys apparently wanted to make it too scale but threw that idea out the window once he got started. Who cares though, because you can actually crawl through it which is just cool. (via Geeks are Sexy)

Also, today, the release date and price was announced for the upcoming blu ray collection of the entire Star Wars saga. It’s up for pre-order on Amazon as well as the two trilogies being available separately for you hateful beings that believe there is no redeeming quality to the prequels. If you are of the that sort then I’ve got the guy for you. No seriously, those movies were shit but I’m still somehow entertained by them. The blu rays will come with over 30 hours of bonus content of which I’m sure will include the original uncut masterpieces of the first trilogy. Probably not though cuz Lucas is an asshole. Han shot first!!!!!! Here’s the press release: (via Gizmodo)

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE

THE MOST ANTICIPATED BLU-RAY RELEASE IN THE GALAXY

IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR WORLDWIDE PRE-ORDER STARTING TODAY

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 6, 2011) – The most anticipated Blu-ray release ever – the Star Wars™ Saga – emerges from light speed this September 2011. For the first time, all six of George Lucas’ epic films (Episodes I-VI) are united in one complete set. Fans worldwide are able to pre-order now with online retailers.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release Star Wars in three distinct sets to meet the needs of every Star Wars fan:

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray (9-disc Set includes all six films)
Star Wars: Prequel Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes I-III)
Star Wars: Original Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes IV-VI)

STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY will feature all six live-action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation, along with three additional discs and more than 30 hours of extensive special features including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes, an exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives, and much more.

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray will be available for $139.99 US/$179.99 CAN and the Star Wars: Trilogy Sets for $69.99 US/89.99 CAN. Pricing for each set will vary by international territory.
Flanked by a legion of his finest Imperial Stormtroopers, Darth Vader himself joined Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment President Mike Dunn at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to announce the release, vowing “The forces of the Empire will be at your disposal to assure the success of this endeavor.”

“The Star Wars Saga is the most anticipated Blu-ray collection since the launch of the high-def format,” Dunn said. “The epic franchise pioneered sound and visual presentation in theaters and is perfectly suited to do it again in the home, with a viewing experience only possible with Blu-ray.”
“With all six episodes available for the first time in one collection, this is a great way for families and home audiences to experience the complete Saga from start to finish,” said Doug Yates, Vice President of Marketing, Online, Distribution, Lucasfilm Ltd. “And with the quality of high-definition, Blu-ray provides the most immersive home experience possible.”
“The Star Wars franchise has been one of the most anticipated Blu-ray releases by Amazon’s customers,” said Bill Carr, Vice President of Music and Video at Amazon. “We think that Star Wars will be incredibly popular with our customers, and we expect pre-orders to be very strong.”

His name may not be the most recognizable, but his face graced the screen in over 90- movies in many varied roles. Probably most remembered for his amazing turn as calm and cool Kobayashi, in the seminal film The Usual Suspects, he had an uncanny acting ability that transcended his somewhat unusual features and made him compelling to watch and sympathetic to his motivations. This was readily apparent in his role as Father Laurence in the modern re-telling of Romeo & Juliet. Most recently, he was in two of the best films of the year, Christopher Nolan’ s Inception, and Ben Affleck’s The Town. In The Town, he looked a little worse foe the wear but it transitioned into a brilliant performance as a small time crime lord who held sway with his commanding Irish brogue and dead pan threats to geld you like horse. He was a young 64 at the age of his passing and his talent will be sorely missed.