Strangely coinciding with an Internet rumor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, known most recently for his work in The Master and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, was found dead in his apartment this afternoon by authorities.
At this point, little is known about the cause of Hoffman's death, although drug overdose is speculated. Hoffman, who was 46, was enjoying a wave of success, garnering several award nominations for The Master and co-starring in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, one of the highest-grossing films of the year worldwide, a role he was meant to reprise in the final two films of the series. Lionsgate has yet to comment on his death.
Mr. Hoffman's various roles have made him well known in most sects of the entertainment sphere, working on everything from Along Came Polly to Red Dragon. He was a unique talent, managing to seize leading roles despite his build differing from the "underwear model" type associated with big Hollywood stars. He was a classic talent that will be missed.
Hello, Fanboys! It's been quite a while since I have posted an article for you guys! My schedule has filled up exponentially over the past few months. It's been hard finding the time to think of an idea for an article, let alone write one. Today inspiration hit me, and ironically it was connected with one thing in particular that has been chewing up my time that would otherwise be devoted to Fanboys Anonymous: I'm learning a new language!
That's right folks, yours truly is learning German. I have been at it for slightly over a month at this point, studying a little every day with the aid of Rosetta Stone, which uses a combination of images and words in order to simulate the experience we all went through when learning our first language. For example, the program will show you an image of an apple and have the word "Apfel" on the screen, and you instantly make the connection that "Apfel" is apple in German, and so on and so forth. However, this is not an advertisement for Rosetta Stone, although I do encourage anyone with the desire to learn a new language to obtain it, as it is definitely a great teacher.
I wanted to discuss some of the aspects of the supplementary techniques I have implemented while studying German through Rosetta Stone. For one, I have begun to listen to plenty of German music. The purpose of this is to consistently bombard my ear drums with the way the language sounds when spoken by natives. A couple of the groups I've discovered through this process have really opened my eyes to some of the great music scenes happening outside the United States. Artists including Peter Fox (reggae/hip hop) and Wir Sind Helden (pop rock, pictured) are definitely great places to start for anyone trying to check out some international sounds, even if you understand little or no German at all! Also, I'm now officially in love with Judith Holofernes, the lead singer of Wir Sind Helden.
The main reason I'm crafting this article, however, is to talk up the way I have even used video games to immerse myself in the German language and learn even faster that I would otherwise. This consequently taking the "false" sense of accomplishment I already get from gaming and changes it to a "legitimate" sense of accomplishment. Part of my immersion process was to change my PlayStation 3's language setting to German as well! Because most games made these days have subtitles and menus translated into languages for a multitude of regions, and almost as many games even include voice overs in a lot of the languages provided, it was definitely a great move. Not only have I been enjoying plenty of sessions in Street Fighter III: Online Edition, I also am now forced to read the German translations of all of the menus and the challenges, and this has broadened my vocabulary much quicker than if I had just kept my game console in English. Think about how awesome this already bad ass man sounds in German!
As an avid gamer, I have heard several people try to down talk my love for gaming and deny the validity of some of the Things I've Learned From Gaming. Even I myself have been judgmental of the time I spend playing games that I could have spent otherwise strengthening my mind in some way, shape, or form. For me, this is not only a big middle finger to the game haters, but it also is a great way for me to enjoy video games AND educate myself at the same time.
Are any of you guys out there interested in learning or even currently studying a different language? In addition to some of the other tools I've mentioned in this post, I would HIGHLY recommend changing your game console to whatever language it is you are studying. It will not only accelerate your learning, but it will also give you a chance to intelligently debate the next game hater who tries to rain on your parade!
That's all from me! If you guys have any other great ways of using Gaming For Good, let me hear about it in the comments below!
Saga 18 brings about that dreaded moment for any fan of the Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples sci-fi series—the end of an arc and the beginning of multimonth hiatus. Unlike the last two "finales," this one certainly felt like the end of something, but it promises much bigger things to come.
We start off in the lighthouse home of the recently deceased D. Oswald Heist, which is rapidly going up in flames following the shootout between heist and Prince Robot the IV and the intrusion of Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn leaves Lying Cat with Klara and searches the lighthouse for Marko. Although pinned by the blue beast, Klara manages to stick Lying Cat in the eye, giving Izabel an opening to fend the beast off with by appealing to its sense of honor. Lying Cat knows Gwendolyn had no reason to kill heist, and its admission of guilt gives the infamous cat a chance at some character development while its master is out of commission.
Marko and Alana run out of real estate and emerge on the roof of the lighthouse, trapped both by the flames and their assailant, whom they still believe to be Prince Robot IV. Gwendolyn emerges, surprising them not only with her arrival, but also with her demands for Marko to heal a friend of hers. Marko reminds her that such magics would only work on an individual of their kind, prompting Gwendolyn to grow even more unbalanced. While the tension here is well done, its also fun to see the rules of the world still being established. Down on the ground floor, Prince Robot IV awakens but is malfunctioning and offers his service to Izabel, who uses him to carry Klara's body out of the lighthouse.On the roof, things with Gwendolyn come to a head, and she fires The Will's deadly lance on Alana and Hazel. Marko manages to push them of the roof and out of immediate harm's way just before the land can blow, taking the lance to his shoulder instead. Fortunately, Alana is capable of flight, despite her proclamations; she flies back up to the roof, gun drawn, and forces Gwendolyn to surrender.
At this point, Narrating Hazel takes over and steers the story through a series of three endings, wrapping up this section of the larger narrative. First, the two reporters begin to research ways of avoiding the embargo keeping them from pursuing the story while learning about the appearance of Prince Robot IV. The Brand arrives to check in on her brother, The Will, who is recovering in a field hospital. The narration tells us he won't be returning to the story for some time. Finally, the tree ship lands on an unknown world and opens its door, allowing us to see a now toddler-aged Hazel standing on her own two feet beside Alana.Overall this issue was a fast read but served as a solid ending to the arc while still managing to plant several seeds for the issues to come. Wrap-up issues such as this are often just a series of violence and payoffs, but Saga 18 made space for some great character moments, particularly between Alana and Marko, whose romance manages to stay an endearing component of the story, despite the books' over-the-top science fiction story elements. Sadly, the letter page confirms this will be the last new issue of Saga until May, but the events of issue eighteen have left plenty to be speculated in the weeks to come.
What did you think of the issue? Let us know if the comments section below!
Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy addressed rumors over concerns for his health this Wednesday after he was seen being escorted through a New York airport earlier in the week!
The 82-year-old, best known for his role as Mr. Spock in one of the longest enduring and most popular shows ever committed to television and film, confirmed on Twitter: "I quit smoking 30 years ago. Not soon enough. I have COPD" and then went on to encourage others to quit, too.
This potentially life-threatening illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—notoriously caused by long-term smoking—is a debilitating disease that progresses over time, making breathing gradually more and more difficult with age. Symptoms are mainly productive coughing (phlegm) with chest pain and a sensation of tightening in the chest, wheezing, and breathlessness. However, it can also be caused by long-term exposure to pollution, chemicals, and dust.
Never having really retired from the business, Nimoy only stopped attending conventions in 2011 but still continues to contribute when he can, making him one of Hollywood's most committed stars, considering he's been in the acting business since 1951.
We wish you all the best, Mr. Nimoy, and hope you'll be on your feet again. Live long and prosper!
Sound off, Fanboys and Fangirls! This news sucks, that's all there really is to it, but feel free to comment anyway and thanks for reading. I was actually just thinking of quitting smoking, myself!
Fantasy lovers and dreamers: We know the feeling of plodding through weak second books in a series. We live in a world where, at their best, a fantasy series can be only almost as good as the first. The idea may have been great to begin with, but its continuation often suffers from a lack of ideas or drowns in a subtle, anticlimactic wave. With that in mind, I started book two of the Hunters of Reloria series by Kasper Beaumont. Thankfully, I can say Elven Jewel: Hunters' Quest, launched 10-19-2013, gave me no such feeling.
For those of you who didn't catch my review of Elven Jewel, I gave a very middle-ground 3-star review. I can honestly say I enjoyed the book, but I couldn't overlook some of the issues I had while reading. Over time, the first installation planted itself on me though, piqueing my interest in the second book, which came out recently. It was nothing to pick it up, because, like I said, I really did enjoy the first. What I got and what I expected are two totally different things.
Hunters' Quest, the second book in Kasper Beaumont's Elven Jewel series, expeditiously jumped into action. If you read along with me, you know the hunters of Reloria are on a quest to save the Elven Jewel. Of course, this quest goes hand in hand with constant battling, obstacles, and tension between the various characters. You should be familiar with the collection of common high fantasy races of people and should also know the first book ends beyond some epic battle, but the quest is nowhere near complete.
What you don't know is that Hunters' Quest switches gears entirely in the next installation. Suddenly, the fantasy world you learn in the first book collides with a mythological fantasy in the second. Obviously, I can't ruin the story for any readers, but I will say there are appearances of certain types of people that I would expect in a slightly different genre. Perhaps it wouldn't matter to everyone, but for those of you who commonly read my reviews, you know I love a good genre mash.
Beyond the surprises, though, I was fascinated by the story itself. Our little halflings, through battle and hardship, have become men. There have been treaties made between unlikely people, and there have been instances that may or may not break these lightly threaded alliances. Whether allies or enemies, all the different people must come together to save Reloria. Either way, victory seems unlikely against this newly realized foe.
There was no rut in this story, and the book was a fast read. I'm not certain if fast was either bad or good. I will say that I think it caused a lacking in some detailed description I look for in a read, but it also quickened the pace into the next action sequence. The battle action was great fun, and the story is getting even better. I would definitely recommend this book as a gift to 10- to 13-year-olds. It's a fantastic story, and it will definitely hold their attention. Let me know what you think downstairs! Indie Exposure Campaign
For those of you who didn't catch my review of Elven Jewel, I gave a very middle-ground 3-star review. I can honestly say I enjoyed the book, but I couldn't overlook some of the issues I had while reading. Over time, the first installation planted itself on me though, piqueing my interest in the second book, which came out recently. It was nothing to pick it up, because, like I said, I really did enjoy the first. What I got and what I expected are two totally different things.
Hunters' Quest, the second book in Kasper Beaumont's Elven Jewel series, expeditiously jumped into action. If you read along with me, you know the hunters of Reloria are on a quest to save the Elven Jewel. Of course, this quest goes hand in hand with constant battling, obstacles, and tension between the various characters. You should be familiar with the collection of common high fantasy races of people and should also know the first book ends beyond some epic battle, but the quest is nowhere near complete.
What you don't know is that Hunters' Quest switches gears entirely in the next installation. Suddenly, the fantasy world you learn in the first book collides with a mythological fantasy in the second. Obviously, I can't ruin the story for any readers, but I will say there are appearances of certain types of people that I would expect in a slightly different genre. Perhaps it wouldn't matter to everyone, but for those of you who commonly read my reviews, you know I love a good genre mash.Beyond the surprises, though, I was fascinated by the story itself. Our little halflings, through battle and hardship, have become men. There have been treaties made between unlikely people, and there have been instances that may or may not break these lightly threaded alliances. Whether allies or enemies, all the different people must come together to save Reloria. Either way, victory seems unlikely against this newly realized foe.
There was no rut in this story, and the book was a fast read. I'm not certain if fast was either bad or good. I will say that I think it caused a lacking in some detailed description I look for in a read, but it also quickened the pace into the next action sequence. The battle action was great fun, and the story is getting even better. I would definitely recommend this book as a gift to 10- to 13-year-olds. It's a fantastic story, and it will definitely hold their attention. Let me know what you think downstairs! Indie Exposure Campaign
Developed by a fan for fans, the Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary LEGO Set will be hitting shelves sometime in 2014. The design, by super fanboy Brent Waller, was submitted to LEGO CUUSOO last year and went through an excruciating review period before being officially announced.
Not all submissions to LEGO CUUSOO make the cut; their site currently lists a rejected Legend of Zelda design. Sets require at least 10,000 support votes to move forward in the review process. There was a similar Ghostbusters project in the works at the same time (both submissions gained the required 10,000 votes simultaneously), but LEGO has decided to produce solely the 30th Anniversary Edition. Because of this case, LEGO has implemented a new guideline that if two similar projects reach the same qualification in the same period, they will review the project that hit the 10,000 votes first. So time is, quite literally, money, people.
The LEGO Ecto-1 will be very similar to Waller's originally submitted design (final product may differ from the pictured image slightly). I have heard the firehouse may not make the final product line but that remains to be seen. It is part of the original approved submission, but it may not have met their requirements.
Aside from the Ecto-1, the remaining pieces feature Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore and the fan favorite ghost "Slimer." The Ghostbusters themselves have their proton packs, traps, and Egon's P.K.E. Meter.
Again, the final product line may differ, but this is still an exciting lineup. If successful, they may relaunch the secondary submitted set and expand the playsets, including the final battle with Zuul.
**Trivia: the final set in Ghostbusters (the final battle with Zuul atop the tower) is the largest in-studio set ever built.
What are your thoughts on the designs? Do we need the Keymaster and Gatekeeper to complete the set?
On Feb. 4, Facebook will celebrate it's tenth birthday. After it was created in a Harvard University dorm room by Mark Zuckerberg and his friends, TheFacebook.com forever changed the landscape of social media, how breaking news is shared and how companies and businesses promote their products.
Over the past decade, Facebook has undergone a plethora of changes including dropping its "The" from the domain name to make it simply "Facebook.com," and several layout changes that have further enhanced the social media experience.
But have you ever wondered how much time you've actually wasted skimming your News Feed, updating your status, uploading photos and liking pages? This "Facebook Time Machine" can calculate the number of days, hours and minutes you've spent on Facebook based on your estimated daily usage and the number of posts since you first joined.
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| techland.time.com |
Since it's launch in 2004, Facebook has gained 1.23 billion users around the world and has a net worth of around $135 billion, according to Business Week.
Even though Facebook users have complained about the changes to the layout of the social website, Zuckerberg has unveiled his future initiatives that will span over the next decade, Business Today reported.
His plans include highly personalized targeted ads in News Feeds, standalone apps like Facebook Messenger and Instagram that will deliver unique experiences, Search Graphs and cheaper, more functional devices and data centers. He also plans on bringing Internet access to the two-thirds of people throughout the world who are not connected.
In 2012, Facebook bought the popular photo-sharing app, Instagram, for $1 billion and put itself ahead of its online competitors such as Twitter and Tumblr.
Zuckerberg told Business Week that companies often lose their way during major transitions. "We're really at this point where we can take a step back and think about the next big things that we want to do," Zuckerberg said.
Hitting another milestone, the internet entrepreneur turns 30 this year.
Let us know how many days you've wasted on Facebook in the comment section below.
The Internet is about to break in half. Casting news came out today for the upcoming Superman vs. Batman vs. Wonder Woman epic (I can't wait until they name this damn movie), and I don't think any of us saw these names coming!
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| Rick Moranis as Steve Trevor!.....just kidding. |
Officially, the film is a sequel to the awkwardly received Man of Steel movie but is being used as a launchpad for DC's plans to match Marvel's screen success. The fear (or understanding?) that Superman can barely hold a movie on his own is making this film become a larger spectacle than is needed. The story has been said to include multiple superheroes in either cameos or end-credit sequences, all to set up an eventual Justice League movie. Names being thrown around are Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and The Flash. Those last two have TV series now, and DC/WB hopes to eventually tie their TV products in with the big-screen ones, expanding a fan's viewing options. Much like Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D will feature characters from the movies, DC hopes to make this take on the genre their own, unique brand.
So, Fanboys and Fangirls…what do you think? These two actors are extremely strong choices that I don't think anybody was expecting. Is Eisenberg old enough or devious enough to pull off playing Lex? Will he shave his head and have a wig like Gene Hackman did? Is Jeremy Irons friendly enough to pull off Alfred? He certainly has the potential with that soft, smooth voice of his, but has he played too many villains to turn us around?
Now, role-playing game publisher Void Star Studios—developers of Strands of Fate, Strands of Power, and Nova Praxis—have announced their purchase of the rights to Tact-Tiles and their intention to launch a Kickstarter to fund a new production run.
From their website:
“Void Star Studios, Inc. has acquired the rights, processes, vendors and original mold for Tact-Tiles! And the original creators of the Tact-Tiles are working with us as advisors.
“These aren't some cheap knock-offs. These are the real deal, tweaked to improve the manufacturing process to insure we can bring them to you at an affordable price.
“Our intent is to make this new run of Tact-Tiles 100% compatible with the original Tact-Tiles from BC Products, and to insure these are of even better quality.
“Tact-Tiles are highly portable, rigid, thick plastic, dry-erase, gaming tiles. No more erasing the mat and starting over when the PCs run off the edge! And no more fussing with a rolled up mat!”
If you use a battlemat, or another grid or terrain system such as Dwarven Forge, please share your experiences with it in the comments below!
It would have saved us all the trouble of petitioning and trolling for almost two years if you would have just made a movie sequel, Universal!
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| "Rookie, you ready? You look ready!" |
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| Defense noted. |
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| What's the price of admission multiplied by 100,000, Universal? |
I thought about tabbing out the bass line to the intro of Seinfeld as the first paragraph, but that is a very geeky thing to do—even out-geeking some of Fanboys Anonymous's repertoire of staff nerds. Regardless, if you were born anytime before 1988 or so, you probably watched Seinfeld on TV, even if the adult-oriented jokes didn't make much sense to you in your preteen years, or maybe you got into the reruns, in which case you are one of us.
Regardless of any speculation or educated guess as to what this Seinfeld reunion might be like, at least we'll get something new from the show about nothing. Jerry Seinfeld confirmed on WFAN's Boomer and Carton show this Thursday morning that his latest project—with Jason Alexander (George Costanza), Seinfeld producer Larry David, and himself—is indeed related to the seminal NBC series that shaped '90s humor.
It is more likely to be a one-off episode, or possibly "webisodes" of sorts, but nothing like a full season in the mold of a comeback like Arrested Development. Whatever the case, fans are anxious to see what comes of it. If Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are on board, it'll be one for the books. These pretzels are making me thirsty!
Who is a fan? What was the first Seinfeld episode you ever saw? Happy with the possibility of something new on the way? Comment or no soup for you!
It seems like it was only yesterday that I was talking about the news that Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn was going to be made into a cable network series for his very own station, El Rey Network!
I can even honestly say that I wasn't sure if this was a good idea, despite the Machete and Sin City director never having seemed to make a bad decision in his life. But my doubts were blown away with the debut of the show's trailer, which I have right here for you...
The series sees Seth and Richie Gecko (DJ Cotrona and Zane Holtz), two violent armed robbers looking to escape the law, not to mention Texas, after a heist claims lives. On their trail is Texas Ranger Earl McGraw (Don Johnson). As the two brothers attempt to cross the border, they run into—and take hostage—a retired minister (Robert Patrick) and his family. Instead of serving as a prequel to the 1995 movie, the series takes place over the course of the film's events, but it flows more like a novel in that it doesn't rush from beginning to end.
From Dusk Till Dawn may very likely jump from the cable network and onto screens everywhere this year, especially if it's as good as it looks. But for now, it debuts on the El Rey Network on March 11th!
So sound off, fanboys! Doesn't this look pretty awesome? Comments below and thank you for reading.
This past week, a dear friend and a fellow YouTuber passed away. Today, I talk about my own issues dealing with depression and the people who have helped me through it.
All I can say to those who are feeling the same, please don't let this take you down, pick yourselves up and talk to someone.If you would like to donate to Justin's family, you can do so using this link: Donate Here
Finally, I want to take this time to mirror what Justin once said in a hangout session:
"You are not stupid, don't ever tell yourself that you are, you're important. What you have in your head may not mean a lot to a lot of people, but it's what makes you special. You are important, you mean something, and you are gonna go out there and do some wonderful things. First and foremost, you are not stupid; you are not an idiot, so never tell yourself that you are.…So, if no one else ever tells you this, know that I care about you."
Rest in Peace Justin. You will be missed.
In my previous article on bitcoins I explained what they are and summarized how the bitcoin system works. Based on my opinion, I thought that the situation with bitcoins was a bit shaky. Indeed, I was not mistaken. Along with the increase in the development of bitcoins, the number of countries who are trying to regulate their use is increasing as well, even though the whole purpose of bitcoins was that they could not be regulated by any central bank, let alone any government.
.jpg "An image of a bitcoin: Libertas, Aequitas, Veritas")
So what exactly is the situation with bitcoins now? Well, in the most recent news, Business Insider says that in the United States a "civil war is emerging between Bitcoin's earliest and most libertarian adopters, and a more commercial wing seeking to embrace regulation as a means of legitimizing Bitcoin businesses."
The escalating feud between these two sides will soon lead to what Business Insider has called a Bitcoin Civil War! The feud started with two events: The first was the hearing for Bitcoin license, which according to the podcast "E79-A Bitcoin World" on LetsTalkBitcoin took place on January 28. During the first hearing, the courts proclaimed that companies who use bitcoins should all have bitcoin licenses. After the hearing, according to some tweets, supporters of bitcoins were not that worried about this:
The second event was the arrest of Charlie Shrem, CEO of BitInstant, on charges for money laundering. According to reports, Shrem was "accused of selling over $1 million in bitcoins to Silk Road users, who would then use them to buy drugs and illicit items."
With Shrem's arrest and more government control over bitcoins, it seems now that it is becoming more difficult for any other bitcoin start-up companies to establish themselves.
Another concern that comes to mind regarding government regulation is the anonymity of bitcoin itself. Bitcoins were different than regular money because they offered people the freedom to do whatever they wanted, developing or purchasing as many bitcoins as they needed, without the scrutiny of government institutions such as banks, taxes, etc.
As Amir Taaki says on LetsTalkBitcoin: "Bitcoin is a tool of resistance gifted to us by Satoshi (the founder of bitcoins). The idea has escaped and the idea of countercurrency will not be stopped. Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency will succeed."
Tell us what you think about regulations for bitcoins!
Today we get a first proper look at one of the lesser-advertised gems of 2014 with the debut trailer for Terry Gilliam's The Zero Theorem!
Fans of Gilliam's work (Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus) who have been following his progress for the past year will no doubt be pleased. Not only do we get a better idea of what the film is about, but we also get a glimpse of a true work of art that is typical of the Monty Python legend.
The Zero Theorem, starring the excellent Christoph Waltz, Melanie Thierry, and David Thewlis, is about a computer hacker attempting to discover the reason for human existence only to find himself being deliberately distracted. Of course, nothing is going to be that simple with Terry Gilliam at the helm. The film clearly has shades of his classic surreal 80s fantasy Brazil, and with a supporting cast that includes Matt Damon and Tilda Swinton, this could prove to be one of 2014's runaway successes.
The Zero Theorem will be released in the UK on March 14th. Details of US release to be announced!
Sound off, Fanboys and Fangirls! What do you think of this first look? I have to say that I mistook Waltz for John Malkovich for a moment back there. Please feel free to comment on the trailer (and Melanie Thierry's kinky nurse outfit), and thanks again for reading.
Hide your junk food, because the consumption of sweets is a crime in Ars Thanea's recently announced sleuthing game Another Case Solved.
A government ban on sugar has resulted in an overworked police force chasing down sweet-toothed crooks to all corners of the city. With no law enforcement available, the common folks have no choice but to turn to a private detective. That's where (you guessed it) you come in.
Another Case Solved is the next game from Ars Thanea, the developer of the award-winning (and free) Puzzle Craft. You play as a private detective working to solve candy capers in a dystopian sugar-free future.
Thanea's tried-and-true tile-matching gameplay is in the trailer, but you will also interrogate suspects, navigate the city, investigate crime scenes, level your detective up, and upgrade/customize your office.
I spent way too much time on Puzzle Craft, so I can't wait to get my hands on this one. Another Case Solved is set to release in late February for iOS and Android devices. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.
Could you guys live without sweets? Shout out in the comments.
Pop culture made an epic twist: the Bard and the Jedi. Ian Doescher returns to the galaxy far, far away with two more installments in his Elizabethan-esque dialogue with Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Returns. This is the book you're looking for…
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| Good luck understanding Yoda now in Shakespearean dialogue. |
"In time so long ago begins our play, In star-crossed galaxy far, far away."
*Cue the music*Ian Doescher retells George Lucas' Star Wars saga of valor and villainy across the galaxy as though it were a classic Shakespearean play. Combined with elaborate black-and-white Elizabethan-styled illustrations by Nicholas Delort, Doescher's brilliantly written mashup of the iconic sci-fi saga and the 17th-century playwright returns with two more books due out this year.
The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Returns complete the elegant translation of the original Star Wars into five-act Shakespearean dramatic plays.
"Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter," Quirk Books said on its website.
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| Scene 1 from William Shakespeare's Star Wars |
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| Ian Doescher's Verily, A New Hope |
"I do think any modern storyteller is influenced by the stories we all grow up with and become familiar with, our shared cultural narratives," Doescher said in an interview with Quirk Books last year. "Shakespeare's plays are a part of that tradition, so George Lucas was probably influenced at least somewhat by Shakespeare, as well as Twain, Dickens, Melville, etc."
The second installment will go on sale March 18, with Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return arriving on bookshelves July 1. Preorders are available now at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and elsewhere.
Additionally, for teachers interested in getting students excited about Shakespeare, this William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Educator’s Guide provides a side-by-side comparison between Doescher's William Shakespeare's Star Wars and Shakespeare's plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, and his sonnets.
Art thou excit'd f'r the next two installments of William Shakespeare's Star Wars? Speaketh thy mind in the comment section below. May the verse be with you.
Hey, Hey, Hey Dacetacular Nation! Check out Episode 32 of The Dace Man Show with regulars Dace, Gibby, and Frank Ward! Also joining the show is special guest Michael Burhan.
Join The Dace Man and crew this week as they break down the following:
::SPORTS NEWS::
- So the NFL Pro-Bowl happened…
- Current NHL Leaders…This will dominate because no other sports are happening…
- And more?
- It's Gibby! Damn it to hell.
- Facts of life or just everyone talking at once.
- Justin Bieber to be charged with criminal assault for attacking a limo driver
- And the 2014 Grammys go to?
- What is The State of The Union?
More Entertainment Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Mega Powers Radio on BlogTalkRadio
Step onto the crazy train with Chris "The Dace Man" Dace and crew, only on The Dace Man Show… cue the "Final Countdown"!!!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8pm EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | I Got Game Play | Geek Speak | Rose Colored Reviews | Addicted to Anime
REMEMBER TO DONATE: Official Fanboys Anonymous Page With Deets: Dacetacular Gaming For A Cause | Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise
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 (and Fangirls) out there.
MOVIES
No Godzilla or Guardians of the Galaxy trailers at the Super Bowl.
My take: This is surprising—we are getting trailers for movies we've seen plenty of footage of already (Captain America: the Winter Soldier, for example), but nothing from these two films people are itching for. I would call it a misstep in marketing, because we Fanboys and -girls do have a limit when it comes to patience. I don't want to feel animosity toward GotG especially, so I hope they at minimum release the San Diego Comic Con footage from last year.
I, Frankenstein bombs at the box office.
My take: No sh**. That trailer looked straight out of Keanu Reeves's Constantine. I didn't mind that film at the time…at the time…
X-Men Days of Future Past Instagram
My take: A trailer was announced for January 27th via the ever popular "social media"; they surely hoped the news would go "viral," and they'd have a "real hit on their hands." Sorry, I'm just getting tired of Internet marketing jargon. I want this film to be so good so bad. I wasn't a huge fan of First Class, which apparently has me in the minority.
VIDEO GAMES
PS1 and PS2 games heading to PS4 emulation.
My take: This is going to be a gold mine, and such an obvious one. It's about time it was announced, and I'm sure Xbox will follow suit. Finally, I can play Jet Moto again! The only problem is that I still have all these old discs I would rather use!
Cover artist Greg Martin died.
My take: It's the artist's way to only be appreciated once they've passed. A sad reality, but hopefully he knows we look back on his works with awe and nostalgia.
Microsoft goes all-in and buys Gears of War franchise from Epic Games.
My take: Gears is my favorite, ever, of all time, video game series. They insist they will keep the Unreal Engine (which gives the series its unique gameplay), so they better damn well not mess this up. I played Batman: Arkham Origins and could immediately tell "something" was missing after the game changed studios. Microsoft, do not mess this up.
TELEVISION
Peter Capaldi's 14th Doctor costume revealed.
My take: Uhhhhhh…Ya! Approved! Looks good to me!
24 returns on May 5th, 2014
My take: Can't wait to see the "Jack Sack" comeback! This series has a lot to make up for. After smartening up and getting his daughter out of the way after the first few ridiculous seasons (seriously, a bear trap?), the show went to become a joke all over again. The Simpsons did a great 24 spoof once that turned out to be eerily too similar to the show. The plots kept getting bigger while character reactions to world-changing events got smaller. Realism was this show's strongest suit at one point, and they need to watch the clock (literally) and make this return mean it. They're running out of time!
COMIC BOOKS
Diamond Comics GEM awards handed out.
My take: It was nice to see studios like BOOM! getting credit deserved. The more people the mainstream DC/Marvel comics attract, the more people will find their way to great writing eventually.
TECHNOLOGY
Man removed from movies for wearing Google Glass
My take: This is the beginning of Skynet. A woman recently won a court case regarding driving while wearing Glass. New laws are going to start popping up because the government wants to watch you without allowing you to watch everything else.
Watch out for this segment each and every Wednesday. We'll see you next week!
Did we miss something? What are your thoughts on these topics?
Leave us a comment below!
Star Wars fans will be happy to hear that the old gang will likely reunite to play their roles in the upcoming Star Wars Episode 7.
Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher have confirmed that they will play in the new film, which is slated for release in summer or spring 2015. Fisher even told TV Guide:
"I'd like to wear my old [cinnamon buns] hairstyle again—but with white hair. I think that would be funny."
On January 23 Fisher confirmed that she will definitely reprise her role as Leia in the upcoming movie. According to Naughty But Nice Rob, Ford has also confirmed that he will return as Han Solo. As for Mark Hamill, there is no official news as of yet, although Fisher indicates he is on board as well.
Based on news from Screenrant, however, George Lucas has apparently met with all three actors—Fisher, Hamill, and Ford—to discuss the movie. Along with this came many changes; Hamill, who is 62 years old, and Fisher, who is 57 years old, are now getting fit and dieting in order to get ready for their parts. The filming of the movie will start in March or April.
The script is written by director J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Star Trek) and Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Abrams has been quoted around the Internet as confirming that the script is finished and now in "deep" preproduction. Rumors online indicate that the film will now focus on the original three leads. Originally the film was being written by Michael Arndt and was intended to focus on the children of the original characters, and the reasons for Arndt's departure have been the topic of some controversy: was it merely bad timing, as reported, or a dispute over which generation of characters to focus on, as the latest rumors claim?
We are excited about this news and hope to see them again in the movie. Don't you all agree?
