Here’s the newest poster for Disney’s Prince of Persia. I don’t know what Jake did to make Ben Kinglsey so mad, but oh my god, Gemma Arterton is looking hot! Enjoy.

Disney has released a new image for Tron Legacy showcasing everybody’s favorite Tron battle. Click on the image above for a larger resolution.

If you can’t get enough of Tron, check out this mini online game:

http://www.arcadeaid.com/challengingstage/

If you can solve this puzzle by figuring out the 56 video game titles, then you’ll be rewarded with an EMCOM badge with your very own mugshot plastered on it.

Now I’m not one for the Twilight Series, but the franchise is a worthy opponent to James Cameron’s Avatar.  Do not underestimate the fandom of fan-girls, their far more intense than there gender opposite fan-boys.   Which we covered in our Twilight:  New Moon, Crushes Nerds! article.

According to Boxofficemojo.com the first two films brought in 1.9 billion collectively, but where the franchise really makes their bread and butter is the merchandise.  It is  reported that the merchandise alone has brought in nearly half a billion dollars, due to it’s large popularity with the teen Hot Topic crowd.  I mean you can’t go anywhere with out seeing some form of Twilight merchandise. Twilight Mints, Twilight Denture Paste, Jacob Flea Medication for Dogs, Bella Make Up, Edward Make Up, Twilight Shamwow, and Edward Anti-Gravity Hair Gel.

In the end all we can do is ride this Twilight thing out, and go on with are lives once its over.

In 1902 Carlos’s father Julian fled to Mexico from Lebanon to escape the Ottoman Empire. Only 14 years-old and no understanding of Spanish,  Julian would eventually open his own grocery store.  He would marry Carlos’ mother and they would have 6 children, Carlos being the youngest.

¿puede usted aquí yo ahora? bien! lol

Carlos would go on to study engineering at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. By the time he was 26, his net worth was $40 million.  He would buy out Mexico’s state-run phone monopoly, starting his multi-billion dollar telecommunication empire.  His Telefonos de Mexico controls 90% of the landlines in Mexico, and his Telmex Internacional controls Brazil’s phone and cable TV companies in Colombia, Peru and other South American countries.  He also owns 6.4 % stock in the The New York Times Company, making him the largest stock holder not related to the company owners.

This is who kids should look up to, not some rapper that gets rich quick.

“Buy land, FUCK SPINNIN RIMS!”

Hollywood has had an exceedingly hard time making a good ninja movie. Most of them wind up in the bin collecting dust at your local Target or Walmart. Ninja Assassin is a legitimate attempt to make a ninja movie for a mass audience with a decent budget and a fair amount of craft and skill. It delivers exactly what is promised by a movie titled Ninja Assassin, no more and no less. The amount of gore in the movie often feels unnecessary and once you see the 100th guy chopped into pieces, the gore loses most of its impact.

Ninja Assassin has a simple but often convoluted plot that is basically a revenge flick. Raizo (bland and charisma-free Korean pop star Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. He’s taken from the streets as a child by an evil clan (is there any other kind) and taught to be a killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society thought to be a myth. Raizo breaks free from the clan after witnessing their more brutal methods (torturing kids and women has that effect on the guy I guess) and plots his revenge. His old clan master sends the Clan after him while a Europol agent named Mika (an effective Naomie Harris) is investigating the existence of the Clan and finds an unlikely ally in Raizo. The movie is packed with wall to wall action and cg blood spurting out of every orifice known to man. A few of the fights are too dark and CGI-intensive, but for the most part the action is effective and often rousing. The story gets tangled up in a few unnecessary plot threads, but retains interest overall. Finally, the acting isn’t awful, but Rain is more of a physical presence than an acting one. He looks terrific onscreen and is convincing doing his ninja action scenes, but he remains kind of bland and unable to emote during the more dramatic scenes. He’s not helped by lame dialogue either.

The widescreen transfer looks terrific and the stereo surround sound is on point, but the DVD only has only some deleted scenes as the sole extra. As per the norm now, the blu-ray disc has many more features and that is the version fans should pick up. Ninja Assassin is a sick, fun ride. A no-brainer guilty pleasure for action fans who like blood everywhere and a story that takes a backseat to the action. Ninja Assassin ranks as a mild recommendation and is occasionally a bloody good time.

Grade: B-

In it’s first day sales, the game brought in  a whopping $310 million, and $550 million worldwide.  Selling as many as 4.7 million units in both the US and UK.

With Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Bundle pack for $150 selling out, and the game alone costing $60 dollars.  It’s not hard to see why the game reached $1 billion before Avatar, and it’s safe to say that more people have experienced the film than the game.

After the films Global release, Avatar easily surpassed CoD:MW2’s total.  According to BoxOfficeMojo.com the film has reportedly grossed $2.6 billion to date.  Once it’s on DVD and Blu-Ray, sales may push the film over the $3 billion mark.

I hope this information may give a new found respect for the video game medium.  There is nearly the same amount of production value on video games as  there is films.  Yet no one announced it on the news when Modern Warfare 2 pass the 1 billion mark.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s our coverage of the midnight release:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ono-san announced at a secret Fight Club event last night their secret character, Hakan, the last new character for Super Street Fighter IV. This guy looks like E. Honda’s evil twin brother with a really bad tan. That tan is courtesy of him oiling himself up so that he can pretty much cheat in battle. Hailing from Turkey, he’s a wrestler with some of the most insane moves and ultra combos in the series. Check out the gallery below.

Activision announced today that a new downloadable content is coming soon to Xbox Live and PSN called the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package. In it are the first new multiplayer maps being released worldwide on March 30th, so mark your calendars. And yes, Xbox Live will be getting it before PSN.

It’s a bad thing when the best thing about the Alice in Wonderland 3D experience was the premiere of the new Tron Legacy trailer in 3D. Boy did that trailer kick ass. In fact, here it is again for your viewing pleasure.

Ok, let’s get back to the review. The story brings us back into the dull world of Alice as she is over a decade older and about to be proposed to in front of her family and peers from a guy she thinks is dorky and ugly. How convenient that her most interesting adventure in Wonderland has been completely forgotten, thanks to her dad’s pep talk about how she’s mad. Even I can remember one of my weirdest dreams when I was a kid where I was stuck in muppetland (that’s another story).

Mia Wasikowska’s Alice is as boring as they come. She cannot for the life of her bring life to a scene. It’s as if the characters are talking to a wooden mannequin. I think I rather have a mannequin portray Alice. But, we can’t take away from Mairi Ella Challen as young Alice. For what little screen time that she had, she would’ve been a better choice. As for our boy Johnny Depp, his Mad Hatter is what happens when Elijah Wood sneaks up on Jack Sparrow on a cold winter’s night, a lil’ hobbit and pirate action.

For a sequel, the story is pretty much the same. Alice goes back to Wonderland and is once again trying to save the day from the evil Red Queen. The Red Queen is as annoying as they come, thanks to Helena Bonham Carter. Alice really has no connection to any of the characters and is only there for us to bear witness to Tim Burton’s vision of Wonderland, which is dry and lifeless. A great example of lifelessness is Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar. The 3D was very flat and didn’t bring you into the world of Wonderland.

So what is there to like about this movie? Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. She’s very elegant and rather endearing. Even during hard times at the castle, she doesn’t let that bother her as she helps Alice concoct a shrinking potion with a touch of humor.

Why is a raven like a writing desk? I don’t care as long as I don’t get to see that Futterwacken dance at the end again. Spoiler Warning: Oh, and Alice’s decision at the end is probably how Alice and I feel about Wonderland; which is, I rather go to China.

Grade: D

In recent news, the Anaheim Convention Center was trying to entice Comic-Con International into relocating their hugely popular event from the San Diego Convention Center. If this deal does go through, that would mean that Anaheim would now be hosting the event starting 2013. Comic-Con International has been in San Diego for 40 years. It’s like a getaway that’s still close to home for southern Californians. Here I have compiled a list of pros and cons for Comic-Con moving to Anaheim.

Pros

• Anaheim Convention Center has an exhibit space of 813,000 square feet, compared to San Diego’s 615701. That’s around 25% more space for nerds to mingle and ogle at comics.
• The hotels are in close proximity to the convention center and are more affordable.
• Anaheim is closer to Hollywood, meaning more studios would promote their projects since their commute would be considerably shorter.
• The convention center is next to Disneyland, so that means that if you get sick of comics, you can walk on over next door to the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
• Since the hotels and convention center are so close to each other, it’ll have that isolated feeling of Comic-Con being everywhere.

Cons

• The businesses around San Diego will be affected, losing millions in tourism dollars.
• There are no scenic views and the summer heat is hotter compared to San Diego.
• If Comic-Con does go to Anaheim, the con goers will be competing against Disneyland for hotel space, since Disney will be finished with their California Adventure expansion including Cars Land.
• Anaheim just doesn’t have the cool nightlife that downtown San Diego offers. The Gaslamp District is one of the places to check after the day is over to drink and party.
• Restaurant choices are very slim. Let’s see, we have a Denny’s nearby, and Morton’s Steakhouse. Oh, let’s not forget about Subways.

Now Anaheim isn’t the only place that’s interested. Las Vegas and Los Angeles are also keen on having Comic-Con be hosted at their venue. What do you guys think of Comic-Con moving?

Here’s the feature trailer for Iron Man 2. Looks like Iron Man has something to worry about with Mickey Rourke since it seems like he is getting funding for his own Iron Man project with the aid of Sam Rockwell. So Don Cheadle’s Jim Rhodes insists that Tony Stark needs help fighting these “Iron Man” clones by having his own suit, calling himself War Machine. I still wonder what Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow can do against guys in armored suits?

Oh man that portable Iron Man suit looks awesome.

Here is the second trailer of Tron Legacy that premiered in Alice in Wonderland. It’s a slick trailer even without the 3D glasses. So much mystery, yet I am really excited for this project. We get to see a David Bowie look-alike played by Michael Sheen. I still remember him getting punked by Orlando Bloom in Kingdom of Heaven. Also, seeing Olivia Wilde in a sexy tight Tron outfit doesn’t hurt either. My question is, why are the arcades abandoned?

The only bad thing about this movie is that we have to wait until December 17^th, 2010.

Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for becoming the first woman to ever win an Oscar for BEST DIRECTOR, and winning the Ex-war.  For those who don’t know James Cameron (Avatar) is Kathryn Bigelow’s (The Hurt Lockers) Ex-Husband.

No love for District 9 .  I thought they were oddly placed in the Adaption Category, even if it is based of Neil Blomkamp’s short film.  I didn’t see Sandra Bullock win, it’s her first award so I’m sure she cried, and had to be dragged off the stage.  Mo’nique!!!!! You go Girl!!!!!  I was so happy for her, she’s come a long way from being the host of Showtime at the Apollo.  If you’ve never seen it, it’s like the Last Call with Carson Daily of variety shows.  It comes on after SNL, after the news, a rerun of some NBC program, then Showtime at the Apollo.

It’s fair to say the competition was pretty stacked this year.  A lot of great movies came out, and I’m glad the Academy recognized this by expanding the BEST PICTURE nominees.  I anxiously await the upcoming movies we will see this year.  Is Shutter Island Oscar worthy?  Could it win Martin Scorsese a 2nd award? May be?  See you next year.

82nd Annual Academy Award Results:

Best Pictures: The Hurt Locker
Actor in Leading Role: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Actor in Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique (Precious)
Animated Feature Film: Up
Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Directing: The Hurt Locker
Documentary Feature: The Cove
Documentary Short: Music by Prudence
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Foreign Language Film: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) (Argentina)
Makeup: Star Trek
Music (Original Score): Up
Music (Original Song): Crazy Heart (”The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”)
Short Film (Animated): Logorama
Short Film (Live Action): The New Tenants
Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Precious
Writing (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker

Radical Comics released this statment:

“We at Radical Publishing, Inc. and Radical Comics, Inc. are quite concerned to hear the news surrounding Nick Simmons’s Incarnate Comic Book. We are taking this matter seriously and making efforts now to contact the publishers of the works in question in an effort to resolve this matter.  We have halted further production and distribution of the “Incarnate” comic book and trade paperback until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.  Rest assured that Radical is taking swift action regarding this matter and will continue in its efforts to maintain the integrity and protect the intellectual property of artists throughout the world whose creative works are the bedrock of our Company and the comic book industry.”

Nick Simmons, Mother Shannon Tweed, and Father Gene Simmons

Nick Simmons released his own statement:

“Like most artists I am inspired by work I admire. There are certain similarities between some of my work and the work of others. This was simply meant as an homage to artists I respect, and I definitely want to apologize to any Manga fans or fellow Manga artists who feel I went too far. My inspirations reflect the fact that certain fundamental imagery is common to all Manga. This is the nature of the medium.

I am a big fan of Bleach, as well as other Manga titles. And I am certainly sorry if anyone was offended or upset by what they perceive to be the similarity between my work and the work of artists that I admire and who inspire me.”

Being inspired, paying a homage, and ripping someone off are entirely two different things.  I think Nick thought that no one would notice the similarities between the two.  The panels are nearly complete copies, as if he just traced over it.  The character design’s just as similar as their Bleach counter parts .

I understand it can be hard to live in the shadow the man that slept with 4600 Women, but don’t steal other peoples work trying to play it off as if its your own.

Rachel Nichols, the sexy green skin cadet  from Star Trek and Scarlett from G.I.: Joe, has been cast as the main female lead for the Conan remake.  I loved Nichols in G.I.: Joe and she could probably pull off another tough but sensual character.  According to Latinoreview.com, the role is described as:

“Tamara is 18 to 24 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern, open to all ethnicities; beautiful, studious, correct, a novitiate of a Greek influenced monastery. A master of martial arts, she has been trained to be the Queen’s servant, bodyguard and best friend. She and many other female bodyguards to the queen have been in hiding most of their lives because of the curse of Acheron, which would take the queen’s life to bring almost immortal power to its king. When Khalar Singh, a powerful warlord with ambitions to become the king of Acheron, storms the monastery and captures all of the novitiates, she is separated from Ilira, the one she must protect. With all of her strength and will, Tamara is determined to find and rescue her. She finds herself in league with Conan because of a mutual need to find Khalar Singh. She is not in the least intimidated by Conan’s size or grim demeanor and their alliance eventually blossoms into something that surprises them both.”

Nichols as Gaila in Star Trek

 
Original Conan female lead compared to Nichols 

While I’m happy that they casted Nichols, I’m still not happy with the actor that will play Conan, Jason Mamoa.  Mamoa has worked mostly on TV shows such as Baywatch: Hawaii and Stargate: Atlantis.  Acting wise, he’ll probably do fine because the role doesn’t need much versatility.  Just look cool swinging the sword and it’ll be fine.  What bothers me is Mamoa’s physique.  He is too lean to be Conan.   The creator of Conan, Robert E. Howard, always described the character as muscle bound with athletic abilities.

Jason Mamoa will play the title role

Ahhnuld has nothing on Mamoa
 
Conan’s dad will be played by Mickey Rourke.  He probably won’t be in the movie for more than thirty minutes because his destiny sets the story for the movie.

 
Rourke plays a bad guy in this summer’s Iron Man 2 

Bob Sapp, the former K-1 and MMA star, has been picked as one of the main villains.  

Sapp has been in the Longest Yard and Big Stan
 
The main villain, Khalar Singh, is rumored to go to Stephen Lang.  The bad guy from Avatar and the tough as nails deputy in Public Enemies.  His role is described as:

Khalar Singh is in his 40s to 50s, Asian or Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mongol, Turkish, or Persian, open to all ethnicities; commanding in size and manner, a warlord and formidable warrior, brilliant, cruel, weathered and tanned by the many campaigns he has waged and won. He is driven in his quest to find the Queen of Acheron and has been building an empire to do so.

His goal is to find the Queen whose blood will bring life to the demonic minions of Acheron while making himself king of this hellish power. With this power, Khalar will protect his legacy against the onslaught of master sorcerer, Thoth-Amon so that his weak son, Fariq may rule after his death. While riding into a Cimmerian village to recruit his old comrade, Corin, his large collection of mercenaries slaughters them to the last soul when Corin refuses to join them. The village’s only survivor was young Conan. When Khalar’s search has finally narrowed to the likely discovery of the queen at a monastery of female monks, he also learns Conan is older and hungry for revenge…

Stephen Lang, the badass! 

The movie will be directed by Marcus Nispel (Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, Pathfinder).  I’m not sure how this movie will turn out but if I have to choose,  I’m leaning towards crap.  Nispel’s Pathfinder looked good but never thought a viking movie could be so dull.  If the main actor, Jason Mamoa bulks up, it might not be too bad because the rest of the cast looks good.  Either way, I’m still looking forward to the movie because the original introduced me to the fantasy genre