Geek of Oz

Toward the end of the filming schedule on Captain America: The First Avenger, an incredibly lucky group of international journalists (not me) were flown to London for a question and answer session with Cap himself, Chris Evans. Bloody lucky buggers...

You liked Cowboy Bebop, right? Of course you did! Who didn't. Well, just in case you didn't know, Shichiro Watanabe, the writer and director of Cowboy Bebop also made a little series called Samurai Champloo, a re-imagining of Japan circa Edo period. "Mugen's a buck wild warrior: violent, thoughtless and womanizing. Jin is a vagrant ronin: mysterious, traditional, well-mannered and very strong. These two fiercely independent warriors couldn't be more different from one another, yet their paths cross when Fuu, a ditzy waitress, saves them from being executed when they are arrested after a violent swordfight. Fuu convinces the two vagrant young men to help her find a mysterious samurai "who smells of sunflowers." And their journey begins."

Released to coincide with the film release , Captain America: Super Soldier is a third person action/adventure game from Sega and Marvel. You get to control Cap as he smashes an bashes his way through hordes of Hydra soldiers, wielding the shield like only Cap can. For a game based on a comic book, Captain America: Super Soldier is good. For a game based on a movie, based on a comic book, Captain America: Super Soldier is very enjoyable. "Become Captain America™, the ultimate Super-Soldier, as you face the Red Skull’s army in this gripping original third-person action adventure set in the darkest days of World War II. Wield Captain America’s legendary shield to take out enemies at a distance, interact with your environment, and deflect incoming fire back at foes as you traverse Hydra’s massive castle to save the world from Cap’s villainous archenemies. Get ready to hurl yourself shield-first into the fray—create your own superhuman feats with the superior force of the world’...

The film's tag line asks us to "Discover the Origin of the First Avenger" and discover we do. Set across two distinct time periods, Marvel Studio's latest blockbuster, Captain America: The First Avenger, takes us back in time to Europe and the United States in the 1940's. It is here that we meet our eponymous hero Steve Roger's, a 5 foot tall weakling who so desperately wants to join the fight against Nazi's and bullies across the world. Director Joe Johnston (The Wolfman, Jurassic Park 3, October Sky) takes the helm in this last Marvel film before next years release of The Avengers, and what a blockbuster that is shaping up to be! Continue on after the jump for my review and a few sneak peak videos.

Well, not really. I have been sent and inside look at Cowboys & Aliens and the newest Australian trailer for Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn in HD. Check them out after the jump!

Just when you thought that SMASH was well and truly done, it is my honour to bring to you my interview with Shinichi "Nabeshin" Watanabe. The director of Excel Saga, Gravitation: Lyrics of Love, The Wallflower and Puni Puni Poemi, he is the red jacketed, afro haired firecracker of the Japanese animation scene. Looking like an extra from Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy", he (and his interpreter) took the time to have a quick chat to me while in Sydney for SMASH.

I must make an admission, I thought that the Mission Impossible franchise (and Cruise) should hang up their boots. That is, until I saw the latest trailer. It seriously looks like a great fun action movie and any film with Simon Pegg has to be enjoyable at the very least. Check out the trailer after the jump.

Photo by Kerry Beyer While I was at Supanova Pop Culture Expo a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking with Tiffany Grant! Best known for her portrayal of Asuka in the Evangelion franchise she has also racked up an astonishing career of voice over work. I specifically need to thank the good people at Supanova for organising my chat with Ms Grant, the always obliging and wonderful people at Madman and of course Tiffany Grant herself.

Before we proceed any further, you can read my review of Evangelion 1.11  here. "In the earliest battles against the monstrous Angels, young Eva pilots Shinji and Rei were forced to carry humanity's hopes on their shoulders. Now, with the deadly onslaught of the Angels escalating and the apocalyptic Third Impact looming, Shinji and Rei find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots, the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. Manoeuvring their enormous Eva machines into combat, the four young souls fight desperately to save mankind from the heavens - but will they be able to save themselves?"

Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers retells the "Loki" mini series and subsequent graphic novel by Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic. Be forewarned that this dark and brooding tale doesn't contain a great deal of our golden haired thunder god, instead delving into the mind of his most dangerous foe, his brother Loki. Initially released digitally in the USA on iTunes, the Playstation Network and XBox Live, this is the first time that we Aussies have the chance to see the 5th title in Marvel Animation's motion comic line. Released locally by the good people at Magna Home Entertainment , Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers is available now on BluRay and DVD.