Geek of Oz

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a series that has taken the world by storm. This is the kind of series that was known by western audiences before they even saw it. Without a doubt the most successful anime series of 2011 in Japan has just been released in Australia and judging by the buzz around these parts, I wouldn't be surprised if it breaks some records at Madman as well. "Madoka Kaname is an average 14-year-old girl who loves her family and friends. One fateful day, this all changes when she has a very magical encounter with a strange creature called a Kyubey. Kyubey have the power to grant one wish to chosen girls. However, in exchange, those chosen must become magical girls and use their powers to fight against witches, evil creatures born from darkness and catalysts of despair. Was this encounter by chance or fate? No matter the circumstance, this will surely change her destiny. This is the beginning of a new magical girl story…"

Long time followers of The Geek of Oz will know that I have a massive soft spot for all ages comics. If you're not familiar with this fact, go read my rant  on the subject and then come straight back... I'll wait here while you do... Aussie independent publishers, Gestalt , bring us The Deep: Here be Dragons, an original graphic novel which is like a crazy mix of SeaQuest DSV and Man of Action's Ben 10. Being written and illustrated by fellow Aussies (Tom Taylor & James Brouwer) is just another bonus and a source of immense pride. "My family are explorers. We have been for generations. Some argue that there is nowhere left to explore, that everything on Earth that can be discovered has already been found. They say that to truly explore we need to leave our planet. While others look up to the starts, my family know that there are also an infinite number of things that shine brightly in the darkness blow. Most of our world lies unexplored, unexplained. T...

Oscar bait is a term often used when describing overly sentimental films and their nausea inducing trailers. You’ve seen these trailers before, they usually hit cinemas in the months prior to the major film festivals or, of course, the Oscars. Note the bombastic score, heavy themes and they mostly like to throw in a terminal illness or grand feat of the human spirit for good measure. Basically after seeing these films you just want to go home and reassess the meaningfulness of your life. Regrettably and frustratingly The Lady, the latest film by Luc Besson, has to be filed under this category. A film which should have been a beacon for hope and justice has sadly missed the mark so far that in a way it almost diminishes the true life events that the film is based upon, namely the life of Burma’s democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her continual struggle against political oppression.

Princess Resurrection is one of the newest series to be released by Siren Visual. Somewhat of a departure from their usual left of centre fare (Noitamina) Princess Resurrection is far more "normal" than what I'm used to seeing, well, as normal as a series about werewolves, zombies and androids can be. "Orphaned at a young age, Hiro Hiyorimi's young life is cut short when he is killed in a freak accident.  Luckily for him his sister recently accepted a job as caretaker for Hime - a member of the royal family...who has inherited the Monster Kingdom and rules over her dynasty with a chainsaw!  Granted a second chance at life, Hiro is eternally grateful (if somewhat confused). Immortality has a price: regular infusions of Hime's blood and servitude to the Monster Princess.  Directed by Masayuki Sakoi (Needless, Spice and Wolf), Princess Resurrection is a supernatural mystery/comedy with werewolves, beautiful vampires, grotesque flesh-eating Cth...

If I'm to be completely honest, I was actually a little disappointed that we aren't getting a title track from Mr. Smith himself but maybe that's just because I'm still living in 1997. Much to my surprise, Pitbull isn't just a cranky breed of dog, it is also the name of a rapper from Miami who has supplied the title track to Men in Black 3, "Back in Time".  Check it out in Pitbull's live performance of the track after the jump!

Date:        April 19, 2012 From:       Office of Propaganda RE:          Dartz Motorz PROMBRON (ex.RussoBaltique) Aladeen Edition OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY ADMIRAL GENERAL ALADEEN – SUPREME LEADER, ALL TRIUMPHANT GENERAL, BELOVED OPPRESSOR, AND CHIEF OPHTHALMOLOGIST OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF WADIYA

Well, Jason Statham may not be safe, but he is IN safe. Thanks to Icon Film Distribution we have 10 in season double passes to give away! All you have to do is like us on  Facebook  or follow us on  Twitter  and  fill out the form after the jump! Jason Statham plays Luke Wright, an ex-special forces operative who saves a young Chinese girl. The girl, Mei, is a mathematical genius who has memorised the combination to a safe that contains thirty million dollars. Once word of this gets out, everyone in the criminal underworld – including mobsters, corrupt New York Cops and even Mei’s own family – try to capture her. It’s up to Luke, her only protector, to keep her alive and keep her safe.  From the producer of KILL BILL and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

Berserk is one of the most brutal, violent and intesnse manga and anime series I've ever seen and now it is returning to screens thanks to Studio 4°C and Madman! Guts is back and his thirst for blood is as insatiable as ever. Check out Madman's official press release after the jump!

The official theatrical poster for The Amazing Spider-Man has just been released and is attached after the jump. Do yourself a favour and click to enlarge the images to appreciate them in all their glory. So, until its release on the 4th of July 2012, you'll just have to get your fill with these images of The Amazing Spider-Man and the trailer .

Holy frijoles true believers, it's only 8 more sleeps until The Avengers ASSEMBLE! By the time we are through, we'll be able to stitch all of these clips together and watch the final film. But, until then lets watch 2 brand new clips of Loki being trapped like the rat that he is and Steve Rogers and the Odinson smacking down with a bunch of metal mongrels.

Earlier in the month we expressed our delight over Madman's impending release of Bioware's Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker so it should go without saying that we are equally (if not more) excited by the announcement that they will also be releasing Bioware's Mass Effect: Paragon Lost. Follow on after the jump for more details!

Sure, it doesn't exact look like the highest budget film out there but budget isn't everything. Described as a German-Finnish-Australian science-fiction comedy film (that's a whole lotta hyphens!) Even with a modest budget this film looks like a blast of the tongue in cheek variety.

The most difficult thing to do when going to watch a film based on a board game is to turn off the cynic switch. If you can do this, which is bloody hard in this instance, you get a film which is if nothing else, enjoyable. When the initial trailers came out I was convinced that this was the new Transformers film. The sound, the effects and the EXPLOSIONS had me thinking that Michael Bay had fast tracked the Autobots next outing. After seeing Battleship, I'm still thinking this is the case. Hard to port and set a heading for CHEESY ISLAND!

A cinema can be a funny old place at times, a collection of strangers gathered together to sit and gaze at a large silver screen, watching images flicker back and forth. Shrouded in darkness we share our emotions with people we will more than likely never meet and in most cases never see again. There is warming sensation that comes from this experience, almost a reassurance that there is still magic and excitement in our dreary commercial world. Salmon fishing in Yemen is a film which makes you fond of cinema, for its simplicity and earnest approach, a rare delight nowadays.

It's nearly game time. The coach has given his rousing speech, the players are ready and the crowd is on the edge of their seats. This is the culmination of all previous games. With an almost unbeaten record, The Avengers are ready to take the field. I can't quite explain just how excited I am to see this film so in the meantime, follow on after the jump and check out two all new featurettes from Marvel's THE AVENGERS!

Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters a...

Your mission, enter this competition for your chance to win a copy of DANGER 5 on DVD thanks to the good folks at Madman. Not sure if it is worth your precious time? Well read our review and follow on after the jump to ENTER! All you have to do is get on Twitter and FOLLOW US or head over to Facebook and LIKE US then fill out the form below ticking the appropriate box. If you already FOLLOW US and LIKE US, still fill out the form. If you are a social media floozy, do both and double your chances!

Recently I had the absolute delight and pleasure in speaking with an incredibly prolific manga translator, William Flanagan. The translator of the Eisner nominated A Bride's Story , Clamp's  Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle , xxxHolic and my personal favourite series Fairy Tail among others. Without a doubt a prolific, if not legendary translator, Mr. Flanagan fills us in on what it takes to become a top quality translator and the step by step process of manga translation. So without further ado, follow on after the jump for what is without a doubt our most comprehensive interview to date!

Two months ago I reviewed the first collection of Fairy Tail on Blu Ray and a more glowing review I could never write. Thankfully the good people at Madman have already released the 2nd collection in no time and the 3rd is just around the corner! "In the Kingdom of Fiore, powerful wizards make their living by joining magical guilds and contracting out their services to become "wizards for hire." Harnessing the forces of Dragon Fire, Ice, Weaponry, and the Zodiac, four young wizards of the infamous guild Fairy Tail team up to seek their fortunes. Growing stronger with every mission, they travel the countryside helping people and battling rival guilds, but with personalities as different as their magic skills, this team may end up doing more damage than good."

Every month I go through the same routines. I get excited when I receive my new anime, bummed out when it's all been watched and then excited again when the new releases for the next month are announced. So it should come as no surprise that once again, I'm excited! May was a hard month to beat in terms of anime releases and if June hasn't managed to do so, it comes damn well close. Then again, it's a big challenge when May brings three Studio Ghibli films on glorious high definition Blu Ray! Have a look after the jump and decide for yourself!

Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere has been a massive hit in Japan. Evidence of this can be found in the amount of merchandise which has made its way into Japanese stores. Thankfully for us, Madman are as on top of the trends as ever and will be screening Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere for FREE starting from Tuesday the 10th of April 2012! "‘History’ is coming to an end. When humans came down from the sky they brought with them the Testament, the guide to the path they must follow if they wish to return to the skies again. Now, in a strange world where only the islands of Japan are inhabitable, the nations of the world vie for power and protect the portions of Japan that they have claimed, each armed with its own ultimate weapon: a Roysmoi Opro, the Armor of Deadly Sins. But there may be a far greater threat to mankind than the Roysomi Opro, for the Testament ends abruptly, and it is now the last year. Is this the end of humanity, or can Tori Aoi and his fellow students...

If you didn't realise by now, I am the giddiest man-child in town all due to my acute case of Avengers fever! The hours cannot move fast enough for my liking. Sure I'd be closer to death but I'd also be closer to seeing the worlds greatest super team on the big screen! Black Widow kicks some serious butt, taking it all in her stride without missing a beat. Ok, while I breath into this paper bag, you watch this brand new clip! Avengers, ASSEMBLE!

I came into this trailer with a bad attitude. I instantly thought "another remake?" but by some divine miracle, I DIG IT! The production design is awesome and the action looks insane. Realistically, I don't see this so much as a remake of the Arnie classic, but another interpretation of the legendary Phillip K Dick short story, We Can Remember it for you Wholesale. Check out the latest trailer after the jump!

In cinemas tomorrow is the newest Aardman film, The Pirates! Band of Misfits in 3D. "In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Hugh Grant stars in his first animated role as the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas.  With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award.  It’s a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.  Along the way they battle a diabolical queen (Imelda Staunton) and team up with a haplessly smitten young scientist (David Tennant), but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure!" Pedigree alone should be enough to piqu...

The 1950's and 60's were a strange time in the post-war era where journalism, pulp fiction and propaganda had a tendency to intersect. Headlines like "Hemingway's Personal Battle With Hitler" and "Seduced by a Nazi Sex Orgy Harem" were on men's magazines everywhere. Father would arrive home to be greeted by Jack and Elizabeth. They would fetch fathers slippers, magazine and pipe, which was prescribed to reduce stress, while mother was in the kitchen cooking meatloaf. Aahhh, they were simpler times. Danger 5 brings this sense of sensationalism to the screen in what is without a doubt the most ridiculous yet entertaining Australian TV series in recent memory.

Tegami Bachi ( テガミバチ ) is a strange beast. It is so far removed from the shonen stalwarts like Naruto, Bleach and One Piece, breathing some much needed vigour into what can at times become somewhat repetitive. Fairy Tail can be strikingly similar to  One Piece  and Naruto to Bleach . Tegami Bachi (Letter Bee), on the other hand, is like nothing I've ever read. "Gauche Suede is on his last delivery before a big promotion. In the outskirts of Yodaka, the darkest area of Amberground, Gauche is surprised to find that the package is a young boy named Lag Seeing. Lag had been traumatized by his mother's abduction and is due to be delivered to his aunt. In this remote area rife with Gaichuu, Lag and Gauche face a dangerous journey that inspires Lag to become a Letter Bee."