Fanboys Anonymous

Lockdown begins in a confusing runaround. Who is Samuel and where is he going? He's definitely someone that is being searched for and everyone seems to know his name, but why? Why is the pace so quick in this part of the story? Is the whole read going to be like this? The questions will keep running through your mind, but you won't stop asking them and you won't put it down until you get some answers.

Samuel is literally running and hiding for his life. He's a so-called "traitor" to his own kind. His sense of compassion for the suffering, however, won't allow him to leave an elderly woman dying on a stoop and thus, to get her to safety, he must expose himself. After that, his whole life comes crashing down. What else could he do but sell his precious Human Forces Medal of Honor to escape the mess he's in? So that's just what he does.

Down the road, the book slows down a bit, we are introduced to new human and alien personalities, some of which make the story what it is and it takes a somewhat different turn.

The worst possible thing I could say about Lockdown is that somewhere in the middle, I did start putting it down more because it got a little slower. I guess I was a bit irritated with the alien life in this story as well. I specifically remember being upset that the story had taken the turn it did and thought it would remain on that course, but I'm happy to say it didn't. Actually, if it hadn't taken the slow turn, the end might have been quite a bit less explosive.

At some point we are introduced, in more depth, to a man who is just about the opposite of Samuel. He's big, he's a brute, and he's terrible; at any rate, Lance is a bit of a sociopath. Beyond the center, my thirst for a return to the action was quickly quenched. I was very impressed with the resourcefulness of a major character, the determination and compassion of our hero and the hatred and destructive mindset of our villain. I can easily say it's a three-and-a-half to four-star read and I would Give Timothy O. Goyette another go any day. Don't forget to check out his webzine, Quantum Muse; it critiques short works and art.

Tell me what you think downstairs!


The Author Exposure Campaign

Most people know that Catching Fire is the sequel to last year's hit Hunger Games, featuring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. If you don't, I highly suggest watching the Hunger Games first and coming back to this review. Catching Fire is distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment (the studio that brought the Twilight Saga and Ender's Game to reality) and directed by Francis Lawrence.

Catching Fire is hot and full of action, adventure, and a moderate level of intrigue that will keep moviegoers wondering what's next. Unless of course you've already read the entire trilogy by Suzanne Collins, then you pretty much know what's next. What Catching Fire does for both the newbie and the hardcore fan is stay true to its book counterpart, capturing key details while delivering President Snow's message of a government keeping its districts under order and control.

Order and control is the theme of the Hunger Games trilogy and is the most common in Catching Fire. Katniss will have to choose between saving the ones she loves and being a symbol for the nation. Hunger Games introduced us to a world in poverty and hardship, forcing districts to send innocent children to kill each other for game and sport. Nothing has changed except that now the citizens of Panem have hope, and that hope is Katniss the mockingjay.

After reading Catching Fire a year ago, I hoped that the movie version would live up to the craziness created by Collins. I was not disappointed. Viewers will be satisfied with the special effects and action sequences packed into this movie. Catching Fire plays out like its predecessor—it starts off slow, gradually building up suspense, and ends on a bang. The ending will leave everyone wanting more and ready to watch the third installment.

Overview [warning: slight spoilers]

We ended Hunger Games with our heroine winning and coming home with her "love," Peeta, from the 74th Hunger Games. I say "love" but in reality Katniss's love for Peeta was a show to survive the games.


It's about a year later at the start of Catching Fire, and we now find Katniss in the forbidden forests of District 12. Hunting is still illegal, but Katniss stills hunts to help feed Gale and his family (not mentioned in the movie but more implied. Katniss after winning the games is pretty much rich and doesn't need to hunt). Speaking of Gale, he steps onto the screen as both a friend and romantic interest to Katniss. Gale is not happy with Katniss for her love performance with Peeta, yet the two reconnect and go hunting.


Unfortunately, hunting triggers a PTSD moment for Katniss; she panics, but Gale is there to comfort her.
Yet comfort is not waiting for Katniss when she arrives at her home in Victor's Village (a small rich neighborhood in District 12 for Hunger Games winners). We get a visit from President Snow (Donald Sutherland), who is neither happy nor convinced of Katniss's love for Peeta. Katniss's act of saving Peeta is seen as deviance causing uprising throughout the districts, and Mr. Snow ain't having it. Snow gives Katniss an ultimatum: either convince the nation she saved Peeta because she loves him, or he'll kill everybody she loves. The visit from Snow sets the precedent for the remainder of the movie.

Katniss later meets up with drunk Haymitch and pissed Peeta because all three must get ready for the Victor's Tour, a parading of last year's winners to all the districts.


The regular makeup and fashion crews are back, so viewers will get more Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks).


After getting preened and dressed properly, Katniss and Peeta leave for the Victors Tour. It's a sad affair. Nothing screams depressing more than showing the two children that survived to the other districts whose children did not make it. Unfortunately, the tour is aspiring other districts to rebel, exactly what Katniss Everdeen neither wants nor needs to happen. Katniss will battle between keeping her family safe and being a symbol.

As the movie progresses, we watch Katniss grow from a strong teenage girl to a determined and just as strong woman. The 75th Hunger Games comes with a twist. I don't want to give it away, but if you have seen the previews and movie posters, you pretty much know what that is.


Katniss definitely comes off more adult in this movie. She's grown up! She has a lot more to say, and I would too if I had been through the worst event that any human being has ever been through. She's a survivor who deals with constant PTSD nightmares, anxiety, and depression. She is an imperfect and tortured character, and Jennifer Lawrence nails her performance as Katniss Everdeen. I actually feel that Jennifer Lawrence is more Katniss Everdeen than Katniss Everdeen is Katniss Everdeen. Say that three times fast.

Overall, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire stays true and will keep viewers watching from beginning to end. I'm glad Hollywood did not take liberties with the source material. Catching Fire did exactly what I expected. For that I give Catching Fire 9.5 out of 10. Expect The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 to come out tentatively November 20, 2014.

What are your thoughts on the movie?

Do you remember Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution? Me neither. Rhythm games have mostly fallen out of the public eye. Whether we grew tired of the lack of innovation or simply ran out of space for plastic guitars and turntables is unclear.

Deemo decidedly does away with each of these gripes in a new iOS finger-tapping rhythm game that is quite unlike anything I’ve ever played. While the gameplay itself will feel immediately familiar to fans of the genre—notes fall from the top of the screen and must be tapped in time to create a melody—it is the presentation that sets Deemo apart.

Deemo weaves a narrative, but it does so without text or explanation; the music and artwork tell this tale. Each song has a beautiful image of one of the characters on display beside the title to give your imagination a jumping-off point. It sounds strange, but there is a complete story to be gleaned from the imagery, titles, and most importantly, the music.

The titular character Deemo is a strange shadow creature who sits alone in his castle playing the piano. When we meet him in the first song, “Dream,” he is wistfully perched atop a mountain of chairs; the melody is melancholy and instills a feeling of longing. Deemo is lonely.


Things change when a young girl falls through the skylight and into Deemo's arms. The songs become more upbeat. They allude to adventures had and laughs shared. Yet as Deemo and the girl grow closer, they notice a sapling sprouting out of his piano. With each song the tree matures slightly and its limbs reach ever closer toward the skylight through which the girl tumbled. As Deemo realizes that he is cultivating a means of escape for his companion, the songs become dark and resentful.


In another medium, you might accuse me of reading between the lines a little too much, and I might agree with you. However, in Deemo, the marriage of music, image, and narrative forms a cohesive fantasy about loneliness, regret, and our need for connection.

When looked at as a game, Deemo is good. There are a total of twenty-eight tracks ranging from classical to hip-hop, each with three difficulties. The soundtrack is hit-or-miss, with a few truly exceptional tracks ("Dream" and "Wings of Piano" are particularly good). Tapping the notes is responsive and almost makes you feel as though you’re playing the piano.

Hard mode provides ample challenge for experienced players.

However, when looked at as an experience, Deemo is simultaneously enchanting and haunting. Despite having completed the game, I often find myself thinking about poor, lonely Deemo in his castle. If you are a fan of the rhythm genre, or simply enjoy artistic, transcendent experiences, you owe it to yourself to give Deemo a try.


Deemo is available now on the App Store for $1.99.  Do you guys have a favorite rhythm game?  Let me know in the comments!

I'm used to the vitriol fans have over certain film decisions, regardless of its source. If you don't stay true to the heart of an idea and try to preserve as much of the content as possible, fans can and will turn on you with an unmatched fervor.

Man of Steel is no different, and certainly in this case it has a crowd of very angry detractors. There is certainly some cause for alarm, both for those that are nostalgic for the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve Superman franchise of old, and for those that stand fervently by the vision of the comic character on which both franchises are based. The new film is far darker, moodier, and more depressing; there are vast quantities of what has been dubbed "disaster porn"; and the "Clark Kent-as-reporter" aspect is downright nonexistent for about 98% of the movie. The Donner/Reeve version of the superhero is often referred to as the quintessential film Superman, and even the bland and boring Superman Returns often comes up as a superior film.

Now, if I may be indulged for just a short while, I don't believe that these accusations are entirely deserved, and I certainly don't hold the older films to a higher standard. They all have their merits (the first two Donner/Reeve films and Superman Returns, at least; the others in the old franchise were utter dreck) and Man of Steel is not perfect. I will readily admit that. But my fundamental issues with the complaints are as follows…

(SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for those that have not watched the most recent Man of Steel film.)

1. None of the films have ever done the source material justice:

The all-time favorite.

Let's look at the beloved Superman and Superman II. The late Christopher Reeve gives us a bumbling, self conscious Clark Kent that moves differently and stutters. The Clark Kent disguise has always been extraordinarily weak, but he's using his acting to show us why the disguise works in the film. His Superman works, even by modern standards, in accord with the books. Lois Lane is worldly, gutsy, and fearless. And of course there’s the "no killing" thing.

But Lex Luthor is less a genius with a grudge than he is a land baron with delusions of grandeur. His cronies are hopelessly inept, his machinations are laughable, and you never see him as Superman's equal in any of the films. You never have any reason to understand why Luthor is Superman's arch-nemesis; you're simply meant to accept it, because that's something people just know. Superman Returns pretty much revisits every single one of these flaws.

And let's not forget the spinning of the world in reverse, the kiss of amnesia, the unexplained expanding "S," the dome that makes Kryptonians powerless, and numerous other bits of film BS that spit directly in the face of what the books have placed firmly in stone about the character. None of the movies have ever been perfect in that regard. And worse…

2. None of the films SHOULD do the source material complete justice: 

Superman before most of you were born.

Superman has been around since the late '30s, and was constantly changing early on in regards to his limits and weaknesses. Ultimately kryptonite, magic, and the like have stuck, but this underlies one of the biggest problems with writing the character; one that has come up again and again over the years: it's next to impossible to write good Superman stories without resorting to ridiculous extremes.

Superman is, for all intents and purposes, perfect as characters go. He's nearly indestructible, has the quintessential grab bag of powers, is the ultimate good guy, and can seemingly be everywhere nearly at once. How would you write that? How would that translate to film and still be relatable?

Now, of course you could bring to film the more powerful villains (Doomsday, Parasite, Mongul, Darkseid, etc.), but you run the risk of having fights far worse than what people complained so much about in Man of Steel, and you'd have to write credible ways of introducing these characters. None of this addresses the massive changes in the character's continuity over the decades.

Honestly, you would stand a much better chance adapting from the Paul Dini/Bruce Timm animated shows than from the comics.

3. The character is very difficult to adapt for a modern audience: 

Superman throughout the years in comic, film, and animated form.

Captain America worked for Marvel's film adaptation for a lot of reasons: the connection to WWII, the triumph of the underdog (Steve Rogers starts out as a small spindly guy that just doesn't know when to quit), effectively playing the idea of the man out of time, etc. I mention him because, like Superman, Cap represents the best virtues of the universe he lives in. He's not just a patriot or just a symbol; he represents a time when the line between good and evil was direct and immediate. He is undoubtedly a symbol of good. Superman fits this mold perfectly, and both characters were created right around the same time. Both had early adventures that plunged them into war facing typical enemies of the era. Both have become American icons designed to instill and encourage the best in people.

But that is where the parallels really start to fray. Cap is only barely superhuman, and Superman is the ultimate, benevolent superhuman. Not only is that a terribly difficult kind of character to write in film, but for years it's been a serious challenge to keep Superman relatable and relevant in comics. The result has been numerous changes, reboots, deaths, and general re-imaginings. I know I've covered this to some degree in the previous point, but I can't bring this point home near enough. DC has over the years done a lot of different thing to try to engage their audience with their comic demi god, with a lot of mixed and sometimes frustrating results.

This is by no means an indication that it's impossible, but to say that it requires a delicate balance to keep from venturing into nostalgic camp or utter ridicule (e.g. the last two Superman films of the first franchise) is a massive understatement.

4. Some of the comic tropes need to be outright abandoned: 



Of all of the complaints I heard about relating to Man of Steel, the one I felt the least amount of sympathy for was the secret identity; that so many people would be aware of Superman's dual life (people in Smallville, Lois Lane, etc) was an issue for many. Where do I start…?

In the modern age where technology literally gives us access to just about any information, the idea that people couldn't put two and two together just by googling would make no sense. Now, sure, you can play that down in the films—and no doubt the people of Smallville could be enlisted to misdirect people trying to find out about Clark and his family—but let's just all admit that secret identities in general would be nearly impossible to keep completely secret. Some people should by all rights know, and of course…

5. Lois Lane should never have been fooled. Ever:

The 'brilliant' Pulitzer prize winning bombshell and her obsession.

How is it even remotely possible that the one person who spends inordinate time around both identities and is an investigative journalist couldn't put together that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person; that Clark is never around when Superman is, looks like him without glasses, and has an identical build? A woman who spends that much time around two men that similar would notice these things, even without being an investigative reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper.

This is actually the one change Man of Steel made that I approved of wholeheartedly, because that trope never made sense. It has been accepted because it's just been a part the story forever.

Overall, there won't ever be a truly accurate translation of the book to film. In my view that is a good thing.

Now I will certainly agree with the die-hard faithful about two major points in the film:

1. Superman should have cared far more about the casual destruction and loss of life than the movie displayed.

Pre costume film Supes selflessly helping.

Right from the fight in Smallville with Zod's henchmen, this bugged me. Don't get me wrong: the scale of destruction in all the fight scenes is one of the things they got right. If people that powerful were going all out in a fight and at least one person simply didn't care about the area they were laying waste to, it would look something like what it did.

But this is Superman we're talking about—in his hometown after he went on his journey to discover himself and saved lives wherever he went. He didn't go to any lengths to divert the fight somewhere else. At best, he went to minor lengths to the save lives—The very heart of what makes Superman who he is, and reflects the wandering Clark we saw earlier. This would have better distinguished the ideologies of both parties (Kryptonians and Superman) and would have made it more obvious to the audience and the military who you were supposed to rooting for. Faora mentions Superman's unwillingness to go all out, but you don't see much evidence of it, especially in the fight in Metropolis.

I get that this is Superman: Year One, but he's already established a track record in this movie of looking out for the unfortunate and saving people from disasters before this scene. Consistency would have been nice.

This says nothing of the choices he made in Metropolis, which brings me to the big one…

2. Superman killing Zod made no sense. 

The visage of Krypton gone to ideological extremes.

Given the scene and what they were trying to relate—the idea that Superman had an impossible choice to make, but in the end, through great suffering, chose to save Earth over Krypton—I get what they were trying to do. But think carefully about what we already know about the characters in the film at this point.

Zod has, in effect, lost his home and his sense of purpose. He's lashing out at anyone and everyone, and has vowed to make Earth suffer in the wake of his tragedy; but Zod for all of his military prowess is still new to Earth. Superman, on the other hand, is home; he's been here his whole life and has been using his powers since he was a kid. While flight was still relatively new, any number of other powers—super speed, super strength, or covering Zod's eye beams with his invulnerable hands—would have been sufficient to keep Zod from killing the people in that scene. This could have led to other resolutions to the fight. Zod's death, though heavily symbolic, was not necessary.

Would different tactics still have resulted in Zod's death? I'm not sure, but I do understand the frustration over how that scene played out.

So, overall none of the films have been perfect. Superman and Superman II have a wave of nostalgia to carry them, but both were flawed. The remaining films in that franchise were a joke. Superman Returns (or Brian Singer's love letter to Superman II) was a dull and lifeless reprise, bereft of anything original and barely a challenge for Superman to face—and Luthor was still a glorified land baron.

Man of Steel did a lot things right. It gave us a Krypton that felt like a planet, as opposed to a series of shiny, tall pointed crystals with people talking in them. It gives the viewer a sense of scale for the problems of Superman's homeworld, and more of a stake in those problems than any other film has managed. The Kents and Smallville worked, and despite my aforementioned misgivings, I liked Costner's take on Pa Kent. His reticence to let young Clark expose his true nature to people was not born from apathy or indifference; it was out of love for his son, to keep him safe by keeping his powers secret. I got it. His death smacked of the whole Peter Parker/Uncle Ben dynamic, but it didn't take me out of the moment. I was fine with things right up until Zod and crew jumped back into the picture and the fighting started, where my previously mentioned concerns come into play.

Can it be argued that the latter half of the film went too far? Certainly, though once again, the scale of the disaster resulting from a fight between two or more people with that much power would be devastating wherever they ended up. It was dark, and made many wrong turns. (I’m personally curious as to what will happen to the military and other humans that got trapped in the Phantom Zone.)

One thing that would have gone a long way to address these issues would've been to have Superman lament over how badly things went; to openly and publicly mourn that loss of human life, and to vow that he would never let it happen again; to actually take responsibility for things in some way, and to actually adopt Metropolis as his home.

But it didn't happen that way.

The Dark Knight franchise, for all it's moody and depressing tone, actually had a protagonist that went through great lengths to not kill right from the beginning; any deaths that did happen were either accidental or not directly through Batman's actions. Ironic that they got it right there and so very wrong here.

So, definitely not the best film ever made, and a far darker Superman than many wanted; but still not the worst Superman that ever was. Remember, he did fight the über-lame Nuclear Man in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Yes, this actually happened.

Nostalgia can only take you so far.

Those are just my observations. This was definitely a film that supercharged the comic and film  fanbase for good or ill. Darker films are getting a lot of attention in this cynical day and age, but what kind of hope does a film with such a truly optimistic, godlike character really have? Is the darker turn in the end worth it?

What say you, fans?

FX has ordered a thirteen-episode first season of Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's vampire holocaust anthology The Strain to be aired next year!

Somebody needs to hire a maid...

Although The Strain was originally an idea for a television series, Del Toro couldn't find a buyer for it. Then someone suggested that he consider releasing the story as a novel instead. That book, cowritten by Hogan, was released in 2009 and quickly transformed into a trilogy as well as a popular comic book series.

Kids, leave your Tooth Fairy offerings on the WINDOW SILL!

For those who don't know of The Strain but sure as hell like the look of it, the plot is as follows:

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK airport and is on its way across the tarmac when it suddenly stops dead. All of the window shades are pulled down and all of the lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Ephraim "Eph" Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds makes his blood run cold.

In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows that something is happening, and he knows that the time has come, that a war is brewing.

Thus begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city—a city that includes his wife and son—before it is too late.

"I made a poopie hazard in my suit!"

Grim, right?

Co-author Hogan is on board as co-screenwriter. The cast will also include Doug Jones (Hellboy's Abe Sapien), Corey Stoll (The Bourne Legacy), Sean Astin (PO-TAY-TOES), Kevin Durand (I Am Number Four), and John Hurt (Nineteen Eighty Four, V for Vendetta). This makes me happy. What a strong ensemble! And this is just for starters!

Anybody with a bit of knowledge about Del Toro's past work knows that he's not only incredibly imaginative and original, he's very good at what he does, and he is possibly the best contemporary director of all things comic book, horror, and sci-fi. I'm pretty certain that once the first season blows everybody's minds all over the wall, even more of our favorite actors will be jumping on the Strain Train (see what I did there?).

"Yes, watch my jaw drop in spite of your awful joke... MEEHHHH!!!"

The Strain premieres in July 2014!

So, Fanboys and Fangirls, are we excited or what? Please feel free to comment. Personally, I don't know anyone that doesn't like Del Toro's awesome works. Well, I did once, but no one's seen or heard from those people ever since…

Warner Bros. has registered several domain names earlier this week that scream at being potential alternative titles to the upcoming Batman and Superman film.

Previously, we were told that no title was decided upon, but the powers that be were playing around with combinations such as "Batman vs. Superman", "Superman vs. Batman", "Superman/Batman" and "Batman/Superman".

A lot of speculation went into possible other titles that have been used over the years for team-ups between these two superheroes, including World's Finest and Public Enemies.

Now, it looks like the latest bunch of titles to add to the rumor mill include the following:

Man of Steel Battle the Knight
Man of Steel Beyond Darkness
Man of Steel Black of Knight
Man of Steel Darkness Falls
Man of Steel Knight Falls
Man of Steel Shadow of the Night
Man of Steel The Blackest Hour
Man of Steel The Darkness Within

Since they were legitimately registered by the parent company responsible for these films, these titles hold much more weight than mere fan speculation.

Frankly, I hate all of these except for Man of Steel: Knight Falls, which I still think isn't as good of a title as it could be. The rest of them don't fit, whether it's because it would be better suited for Green Lantern (i.e. Blackest Night style) or because it's too much of a retread of titles we've been seeing lately (Star Trek Into Darkness—though at least we can hope the title doesn't include "Age of" or "Rises"). 

That being said, these could just be titles that will be used for other projects, such as comic book tie-ins, toy lines, video games, etc.

What do you think of these options? Do you have a favorite or are you hoping that the film is titled something else?

Leave your ideas in the comments below!

Check out Episode 22 of The Dace Man Show with regulars Gibby and Frank Ward.

Join The Dace Man this week as he breaks down the following:

::SPORTS NEWS::

• Team U.S.A., Costa Rica, and Honduras all qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• Phillies re-sign Carlos Ruiz to a three-year, 26 million dollar contract. Sigh, 2014, just... sigh.
• Current NHL Leaders... apparently it's not curling...
• Lastly, NFL WEEK 11: the Undefeated Run comes to an end.

 ::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::

• He's been on a roll lately [Insert Insult Here].

::FRANK'S CORNER::

• We are Barbie Girls in a Barbie World!!

::CELEB NEWS::

• Chris Brown was booted from his rehab program earlier this month for throwing a rock through his mom's car window.
• Make-A-Wish transforms San Francisco into Gotham for BatKid.
• It was announced that there will be a sequel to Its A Wonderful Life.
• Zimmerman arrested again!
• Kanye puts Obama on notice.
• Emile Hirsch pegged to play John Belushi in recently announced bio-pic.
• Alec Baldwin goes cray again.

Plus the High Five: Top 5 Toys and The Douche Bag of The Week. All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show!

Step onto the crazy train with Chris "The Dace Man" Dace this week on The Dace Man Show… cue the Final Countdown!!!

Follow The Dace Man on Twitter: @TheDaceMan

Catch The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8pm EST on Mega Powers Radio.

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Welcome to the first edition of FANBOYS CAST, wherein several members of the Fanboys Anonymous team pitch their ideas of which actors and actresses could play certain roles in film and television. As with most fan casts that you see out there, it should all be taken with a grain of salt. These are merely some suggestions that we would be interested in seeing—not official casting calls that have been made.

What better film to start out with than the movie that has the most buzz in regards to casting right now, the latest installment of the Star Wars saga.

Virtually nothing has been announced for this film. We have no confirmed plot, title, or cast of characters. Even the list of people we assume are guaranteed to return still hasn't been 100% solidified. The only thing we know for sure right now is that R2D2 will return, and there's no need to try to recast that droid.

As such, we are going to speculate on some characters we could potentially see in this new film. Since this is a rather blind guess, we could be completely off, not only in regards to casting, but even as to the characters themselves. Still, we invite you to join in on the fun and think of the possibilities we're presenting below.


I'm of the impression that we're going to see a few characters from the Expanded Universe incorporated into the film, but not necessarily to a T. We should see some legacy characters that are the children of the older ones like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian.

Ben Skywalker played by Alex Pettyfer

First off, I think the lead character of this story should very well be Luke Skywalker's son, and I think that they should name him Ben. It just works for how simple it is. If there is the character of Luke's son Ben, I think Alex Pettyfer is the perfect actor for the role. He has all the elements necessary to pull off what is required of him. In the looks department, he not only resembles a young Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) mixed with Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), he's also marketable to the female base because of how handsome he is. He was in Magic Mike, after all. It isn't as though he's some no-talent model, though. Pettyfer has acting chops as well. He's also in a good spot as far as being a big enough star to carry a film, but not so big that he would bankrupt the film to sign on. Pettyfer was on the list of people rumored to have a spot in the film, and if it were this role, I think it would make perfect sense. Some people think Ryan Gosling is better suited, but I think Pettyfer is the way to go.

Han & Leia's Daughter played by Chloë Grace Moretz

Is it unoriginal? Sure. Does that mean it is invalid by default? Absolutely not. Moretz was another name in the rumor mill, and my instincts for where I would like to see her in this film instantly gravitated towards this role. She's proven herself as far as acting talent and skill with action sequences, so there's no risk in casting her. Her character could easily have the rebellious tomboy nature that her parents (more so her father) have.


Lando's Son played by Michael B. Jordan

If Lando is in the film, I would like to see him as part of the new Republic, maybe as a senator of sorts. If he has a son, he should be cocky and cool like him, but maybe with a softer side. If you're asking me for my fan fiction, I'd make him a member of the military and the love interest for Han and Leia's daughter. Michael B. Jordan absolutely killed the idea of a charming socialite with a softer side in Chronicle, and like the two others mentioned above, he has a very bright future.

C'mon. Lando's son. You can see it, can't you?

Primary Villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch

Again, it's unoriginal, but that's just because it works so well in theory that you can't avoid talking about it. Benedict Cumberbatch just has that "it" factor where he could play a dark, disturbing member of the Sith (or whatever they want to do in regards to evil Jedi-esque villainous characters, if the Sith are indeed gone for good).

So what if he was already a villain in Star Trek Into Darkness? Jack Nicholson has played a villain a bunch of times and people don't complain. Morgan Freeman is almost always a wise helper to the protagonist and nobody complains. Cumberbatch has it in him to nail a role like this, and that should be utilized. He could be part Darth Maul (physical threat), but still as cunning and intelligent of a threat as ever. Extra bonus points if he played a Jedi that was excommunicated and was one of Luke's first students.


High-Ranking Jedi played by Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston is a great villain as Loki in the Marvel films, but it's undeniable how likable he is despite his character being evil. I say you should flaunt that. Make Tom Hiddleston the equivalent of the Mace Windu character, where he's the second-in-command—or at least a high-ranking member—of a Jedi Council led by the new Yoda of the bunch, Luke himself. Tom's character can be a bit of comedic relief (but not in the stupid Jar Jar Binks way, in the lighthearted and fun guy way) or he can just be someone that the audience can get behind full storm. Then what do you do? Well, you have to kill him in Episode VIII, of course, and rip our hearts out in the process.


Mara Jade Skywalker played by Sigourney Weaver

If Luke has a wife, I don't see why they shouldn't just make her Mara Jade. If they do include Mara Jade, she needs to be around the same age as Mark Hamill. How many women in Hollywood could fill this role? When brainstorming, I could only think of two: Jane Seymour and Sigourney Weaver. While I think Seymour could bring a certain level of class to the part, I think Weaver suits it better. She's also had her share of action in the past and she's no stranger to working in space, so I'm hard-pressed to think of someone better.

Ben Skywalker's Love Interest played by Emma Stone or Anna Kendrick

I'm a big fan of both of these women, and I think either of them could be great in this capacity.


Anakin Solo played by Chandler Riggs

He's been a pain in the ass as Carl in The Walking Dead, but we've seen how much of a little ass kicker he can be. He's the right age for the part, in my mind.

Jace Solo played by Sebastian Stan

We've seen him play Captain America's buddy Bucky, and he'll soon be a hopefully-badass Winter Soldier. If all pans out well for him in the Cap sequel, he should fit perfectly into the role of the fallen son of Leia and Han.

Jaina Solo played by Chloe Grace Moretz

We've seen Chloe kick ass in the Kick-Ass series, and she's the perfect age to play Leia and Han's only daughter that will one day evolve into a Jedi Master.

Mara Jade Skywalker played by Jaclyn Smith

She's still gorgeous and one of the original Charlie's Angels. She'd make a perfect Sith-turned-Jedi and love interest for Mark Hamill.

Kyle Katarn played by Liam Hemsworth

His brother got his breakout role playing Thor, and we have seen that he can be an action star in The Expendables 2, so why not give Liam the rugged Han Solo part of this new generation?

Lando "Chance" Calrissian Jr. played by Noah Gray-Cabey

I can't see Jr. being a huge character in the next three films if my hopes for Katarn and the Solos pan out, but hey, he played Micah in Heroes.

Ben Skywalker played by Josh Hutcherson

He's making a name for himself in The Hunger Games, and I expect him to bite the dust in the next film. Assuming that happens, he would make an awesome Ben.

Jedi played by David Morrissey

He is another fantastic Walking Dead actor. He's living on borrowed time on that show, and I think he'd make an excellent Jedi that helps rebuild the temple.

Villain played by Giancarlo Esposito

He needs to play the villain in the new franchise. He is a cold, calculating, evil man in both Revolution and Breaking Bad. I don't care who needs to be paid off, he needs to be a Sith lord or some kind of bad guy in the upcoming films.


Son of Luke or Han turned to the dark side played by Dane DeHaan

He was great in Chronicle and he's shown that he can play the timid, quiet, nice guy who gets pushed too far and uses his powers against others.

Female Lead played by Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence has always defied my expectations when it comes to new, young actresses. She's displayed in The Hunger Games that she can have the physicality of a fight and although she wasn't the shining star of X-Men: First Class, I'm confident in her ability to hold her own with the likes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford in an iconic film series.

Emma Stone in some kind of a supporting role

She's just a great actress who has played both serious and silly characters alike. Though I wouldn't cast her in the leading role, she could definitely bring something to the table, especially as a conscience to the lead female or even something of a sidekick role.

So who would you like to see in the new series? Would you like us to flesh out our ideas in fan fiction format? Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!

Want to know what happened the past few days in nerd culture? WEEK IN GEEK is your quick fix to catch up with the rest of the fanboys out there.

MOVIES

Batman vs. Superman updates like bat-drones, Nightwing, and Man of Steel easter eggs…

My take: News from this movie drops almost every day. Fans want a tidbit, just a taste, every now and again. This movie is going to be so over-covered it almost makes me hate the movie already. I'll be intentionally not reading posts every day regarding this movie and its rumours and its costume list and possible P.O. shipping box.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 photos released this week show a Jamie Foxx character that reminds us a little too much of Jim Carrey's Edward Nigma scenes.

My take: This photo contrasts most of what we've seen so far, and now that I see Foxx's character "pre-electrical-accident," I'm a little worried. His character is way over-the-top wimpy (to contrast with his anger once he has power!). I love the "Ultimate Spider-Man" look of Andrew in this suit, but now I'm concerned that we're looking at another lengthy origin story for this film. I don't care about Sandman's backstory THAT much, so why do the same with Electro?

R2-D2 is absolutely confirmed to be in Star Wars: Episode VII.

My take: I would hope so. I am a fan of the droids, and I was furious to see them so mishandled in the prequels. I'm curious to see how relationships have changed over the decades for the core Star Wars characters, and the droids are a curveball since they don't change and don't age (but can they mature?).

Dumb and Dumber To will be released November 14th, 2014.

My take: I have this here because I cannot wait to see what this team does with a sequel. The first movie is one of my favourite comedies of all time. I understand some people completely disagree, but this movie deserves as much anticipation as Batman vs. Superman.

Rumors say that Jessica Chastain passed on the lead female role in Ant-Man, assumed to be Janet Van Dyne, aka Wasp.

Anthony Mango's take: I have so many reservations about this film, not only about casting but story as well. Jessica Chastain in my mind is overrated and I'm glad that she's not Wasp, as she doesn't suit the character to me. Rashida Jones, who is also rumored to have landed that part, would be better, but even she wouldn't be my go-to girl for the part.

VIDEO GAMES

PS4 was released, selling 1 million consoles in their first weekend despite pre-release consoles experiencing issues.

My take: This console will sell either way. Long-term, the PS4 will probably outlast the Xbox One in popularity even if there is an initial battle for the top spot. The PS4's crashing made news, and now Sony can say they got information and feedback in time and fixed everything. I personally prefer Xbox but will not be getting a "One" quite yet, or probably at all.

TELEVISION

Christopher Lloyd to guest appear on The Michael J. Fox Show, reuniting the Back to the Future stars on screen.

My take: Brilliant. Though there is a lot of nostalgia resting on this, I think the Back to the Future movies are fun enough to not be ruined by any tongue-in-cheek promotion. There was a commercial on YouTube a couple years ago featuring Doc Brown (yeah, Lloyd as Doc Brown) and people just loved it.

Family Guy voice cast will get between $175,000 and $225,000 per episode for two more seasons.

My take: That's a lot of money for the cast of a show nobody watches, though I guess I'm also making fun of The Simpsons here (one of my favourite shows). I gave the show a chance when it came back on the air but too many misses and very few hits. As a creative professional, however, I have no issue with the fantastic cast landing huge pay dirt and just hope to befriend one of them someday.

The Flash has been green lit for a TV pilot, in place of appearing on Arrow as a test run first.

My take: Totally. Go for it. I think Flash could carry a series if done right. However, do I think Barry Allen can carry a series if done right? No. No, I don't. But they could always introduce Wally during season one and then kill Barry in the season finale. Bam. Wally is The Flash from season 2 onward. How boss does that sound? Damn boss.

Speaking of Arrow as before, Oliver finally starts dressing the part in December. The costume will include his trademark green domino mask.

My take: This could hint that the world of Arrow fits into the Justice League movie and they'll start planting more seeds. However, I don't know if they'll be that clever so early into the final project. I'm all for accurate costumes on screen; I still can't believe when I watch Iron Man what a great precedent they set.

COMIC BOOKS

Fantastic Four's new costumes will be black and red.

My take: I only point this out as I can't help but notice so much red in Marvel: The logo, the "NOW" logo and banners, the current Thunderbolts, Daredevil, and the continually tweaked Superior Spider-Man suits. I don't know why that stands out, but it just does. You've got too much red in your ledger, Marvel!

HOLLYWOOD

Monty Python to reunite!?

My take: Holy. Crap. This is news, no matter how good or bad the show ends up being. As a member of a comedy group for the past 14 years, seeing these comedy inspirations still collaborating seriously feels amazing. If you have yet to discover them (somehow…?), get with it, check them out.

MISCELLANEOUS

Hans Zimmer, composer of the score to Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films, has recorded a theme song meant entirely for Batkid.

Anthony Mango's take: Anything to help out in a situation like that is nice, and kudos to Hans Zimmer for taking the time out of his schedule to do something like that.

Geek Speak LIVE! is a weekly radio show with an explosion of nerd conversation. Join hosts Craig Kellerman & Travis Goss as they rant on movies, TV, video games, comics, cartoons, technology, and whatever else is sparking our attention.


Geek Speak goes polka as we feature music's funniest satirist, Weird Al Yankovic. We check out and discuss his career that spans music, film, and TV. Featured this week:

UHF – A local public station gets a new owner. The station becomes a hit, with all sorts of hilarious sight gags and wacky humor.

The Entire Weird Al Discography – Every album, including Bad Hair Day, Weird Al in 3D, Off the Deep End, Running With Scissors, and the rest.

The Weird Al Show – Weird Al comes to you from a split-level cave twenty miles below the surface of the earth, along with his pet, Harvey The Wonder Hamster.

A belated toxicology report commissioned by Brittany Murphy's father has determined that the 8 Mile, Sin City, Happy Feet, and King of the Hill actress and voice artist did not die from natural causes on December 20th, 2009!

The beautiful and tragic Brittany Murphy.

After Murphy's shocking and untimely death 4 years ago at age 32, the Los Angeles coroner's office concluded that pneumonia was the cause of death, "with anemia and prescription drugs playing a role." Murphy's father Angelo Bertolotti secured the release of tissue samples and submitted them for independent testing after an in-depth investigation was deemed unnecessary by officials. The report states:

"Ten of the heavy metals evaluated were detected at levels higher than the WHO [The World Health Organization] high levels. Testing the hair strand sample identified as 'back of the head' we have detected ten heavy metals at levels above the WHO high levels recommendation."

The report also went on to add:

"If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent." 

Following the release of this report, Bertolotti stated:

"Vicious rumors, spread by tabloids, unfairly smeared Brittany's reputation. My daughter was neither anorexic nor a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied… I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany."

What mainstream news is failing to tell you is that on the July 4, 2004, Brittany Murphy became a witness in a case taken up by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in which she discredited the material misrepresentations made by the DHS against 23 people from "terrorist countries."

Murphy became a witness in the case of the Department of Homeland Security versus Julia Davis, a former border security guard who was then a Security Specialist for Homeland Security and who had reported that DHS was letting known terrorists across the Mexican border and into the United States. Murphy bravely rejected the material misrepresentations made by the DHS in its attempt to discredit Ms. Davis and brand her a domestic terrorist in retaliation for exposing flaws in national security.

Murphy and her husband-to-be, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, were later targeted via land and aerial surveillance, invasions of privacy, and threats of prosecution in a clear attempt at terrorizing the couple into keeping their silence. Monjack was even arrested and detained at one point by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

After Murphy's death, the LAPD and Los Angeles County Coroner closed the case within one hour, attributing her death to pneumonia and anemia. Five months after her unexpected demise, her husband Simon Monjack was found dead in the same room, the same bed, and the same house he shared with Murphy. He too had died of the same "natural causes" as his wife.

Gone but not forgotten.

All of this kind of makes you wonder who the terrorists are these days, doesn't it? Keep your eyes and ears open, Fanboys, let's hope to see justice for Brittany and Simon, and please feel free to share your views in the comments section below. What do you make of this?

After over two years of intense scrutiny and a lengthy catalog of injuries, the Broadway experiment known as Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will shut out its own lights permanently this January. The play, featuring a story loosely—and I mean loosely—based on the iconic character, garnered the largest budget of all time before heading into a production whose story is almost as tragic as that of the hero it attempts to depict.

After multiple injuries, a lawsuit, and the introduction of someone called "Swiss Miss," it's easy to forget that the play opened after a series of delays. When you combine the costly start with nearly universal critical panning, it seems the attitude from the very get-go was not, "Will the play be cancelled," but when. It seems that day is now in sight, following performances that have hardly managed to break even on their weekly costs.

That said, I believe this is a humbling reminder that no franchise is infallible. Still, I must applaud the attempt to try and find new ways to depict such culturally classic heroes. Sometimes you have to break a few Bat-Nipples before you get a hit.

Ew... kids. This really puts the wipe in wipeout. That's all I got. This is gross.

Addicted to Anime is a monthly radio show celebrating anime, manga, and all forms of Japanese culture. Join the power couple of Stephen and Johnna Wago as they pick a new series every month to review and riff.


This month we'll be reviewing the murder mystery Dangan Ronpa. This is one of the more unique and insane animes out there. It features multiple students trapped in a high school at the mercy of Monokuma, a robotic teddy bear. There is only one way out... to kill a student and get away with it. We'll also count down our five favourite Anime villains.