Geek of Oz

To celebrate the release of Hellsing Ultimate we were lucky enough to speak with the long time voice of Alucard, Mr Crispin Freeman.  After years in "the biz" Mr Freeman lends us his knowledge of acting and mythology and shows why he is just as interesting as the characters he portrays. Also, at the end of our interview you'll find details on how YOU could chat with Mr Freeman thanks to the good folks at Madman!

I'll happily admit that I'm somewhat unversed in the ways of trading card games (TCG), in fact, last year was the first time I actually played! That said, I really enjoyed the experience and can appreciate what makes it so addictive. Unfortunately for me and my bank balance, Wizards of the Coast have announced their 2014 line up and I'm quietly thinking that 2014 may be the year that I seriously pick it up! If paper cards aren't your thing, download the Duels of the Planeswalkers game or even the Magic Online game! It looks as though Magic has something for everything so HAVE AT THEE! Check out the full details after the jump!

While we covered news last month that Kingdom Hearts would be getting the HD treatment, we now have a trailer for a proper look. From all accounts, we're looking at an August release locally and if you ask me, August is too far away. Check out the PAX East trailer after the jump!

In a flooded comic-book market place, Image Comics consistently deliver some of the most intriguing and original books on the rack. So it really is saying something when the first issue of Five Ghosts cements itself in my mind as a truly unique and innovative comic. Within its 22 pages, writer Frank J. Barbiere and artist Chris Mooneyham deliver nothing short of a perfectly executed pulp adventure. Five Ghosts tells the story of Fabian Gray a master thief and treasure hunter who just happens to be possessed by five spirits, each with unique abilities that he can tap into. By channeling the detective he gains superhuman powers of deduction and observation, channeling the samurai and archer grants him expert skill with the katana and bow respectively, the wizard gives him access to magical shenanigans and channeling the vampire gives him the ability to...well....be a vampire.

Thanks to our pals at Hanabee we've got a whole bunch of their March releases to give away!  In fact, we've got the following on offer: Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack! (x2) Bodacious Space Pirates Part 2 (x2) Hakuoki: Season 1 All you have to do is follow on after the jump and fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win one of of these titles which will be chosen at random! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or  liking us on Facebook!

Zombies and other supernatural nasties seem to be everywhere at the moment, the latest of which being Warm Bodies. Due to be released on April 11th, Warm Bodies is described as a romantic-zombie-comedy (ROM-COM-ZOM) and tells the tale of R, an odd zombie that saves a living girl from certain death. What follows is a heart warming story which is looking to be a surprise hit of the season. Thanks to our pals at Icon, we've got 10 in-season double passes to give away to our geeklings (that's you). All you have to do is follow on after the jump, fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

Hyde Park on Hudson , the latest effort from Roger Michell ( Notting Hill ), is a frustrating film with insurmountable issues. Few films in recent memory have annoyed me as much as this one did, especially since it had an abundance of potential. You’d think that the combination of a quirky take on an historical occasion, a competent director and a talented cast would ensure a satisfactory result, but sadly it doesn’t. Ultimately the result is a slapdash film which never really worked out what it wanted to be. I envisaged a light hearted comedy with farcical elements or perhaps, given the cast, a true battle of wordsmiths. Unfortunately I got neither. My only real concern is which knife I use to hack this film to death. 

In 1988, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet bowed to international pressure and consented to a referendum, asking Chile whether his rule should be extended for a further eight years. The referendum was simply yes or no, and took place after just 27 days of campaigning, with each side presenting a nightly 15-minute televised address. No , the latest film by Pablo Larrain, follows the campaign of the anti-Pinochet camp, headed by Rene Saavedra (Gael Garcia Bernal), an advertising executive who has just returned home from the United States. For me, the joy of cinema is discovering stories like this, which put historical events in a human perspective in a way that might never otherwise have been appreciated.

There aren't many series quite as popular among geek circles as Joss Whedon's "Firefly" so it should come a no surprise that the critically acclaimed, too-soon-cancelled series has made it's way onto glorious HD Blu Ray. Featuring a whole swag of special features and a limited JB Hi-Fi exclusive steel book, this is the Firefly release that we've all been waiting for. Followers of the Whedon gospel rejoice! Brothers and sisters, our time is now. Check out the full press release after the jump!

Back in October, we reviewed One Piece: Pirate Warriors and said that although it's a big ol' button masher, it was also a tonne of fun! Coming this August is the sequel,  ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2, which sees Monkey D. Luffy and his crew enter the "new world". Just when you thought that One Piece couldn't get any more epic, Eichiro Oda steps it up a notch and blows many other successful manga series out of the water. Not only can you get your hands on a copy of the game, but Namco Bandai Partners have also announced an incredible COLLECTOR EDITION which will be a must own for One Piece fans. Check out the full press release after the jump!

The good folks over at the Hayden Orpheum are briningg David Lean's classic Lawrence of Arabia back to the big screen for a very special screening. Fully re-mastered for the ultimate cinematic experience. I am ashamed to admit that i have never actually seen this film, so i will definitely be in the crowd. Hayden Orpheum 380 Military Road, Cremorne

Australia's own Gestalt Comics have never failed to satisfy. Not many publishers, big or small, can boast a stable of creators and releases of as high a quality as our Aussie comrades. Whether you're after fantastic horror in Torn, Changing Ways and The Eldritch Kid, a brilliant all-ages romp in The Deep or the quirky Vowels and Waldo's Hawaiian Holiday - Gestalt have got you covered. It looks as though Gestalt will continue to please with the impending release of Stalag-X by artist Mike Ratera and fan-favourite sci-fi legend Kevin J Anderson. Follow on after the jump for full details!

Being lucky enough to be invited to a screening of the first 30 minutes of Star Trek Into Darkness, I can promise that this film is bringing the epic. As a lifelong Trekker/Trekkie, JJ Abrams and the rest of the Bad Robot crew have taken everything that I love about Star Trek and made it accessible to the masses. Trek is no longer just for us geeks, Star Trek is for everybody - a fact that Mr Roddenberry would no doubt smile about. Without further ado, we present you with an brand new trailer and this statement: May 9th cannot come soon enough.

Back in October we reviewed the first half of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and now, just over 4 months later, the epic conclusion hits shelves Australia-wide. It is difficult to review this DVD without it also being a review of the source material which is an absolute classic by any measure and with this film being as faithful as it is, a review of the story is bound to be glowing. After the Joker feigns rehabilitation, he does what the Joker does best and comes back under the notice of an ageing Batman. After a series of plot twists and action galore, Batman faces off against an unmovable force, making for one of the most iconic scenes in the history of DC comics. Follow on after the jump for our full review!

Like James Earl Jones and Peter Mayhew, Ray Park is one of those iconic actors that you didn't realise you love. Having played iconic characters such as X-Men's Toad, Snake Eyes from GI Joe: Retaliation and Darth Maul from Star Wars Episode 1, Ray Park is one of the most iconic character actors of this generation. The good news is, if you're planning on going to Supanova in Melbourne or the Gold Coast you could meet the man in person!  Full details and guest list after the jump.

Another day, another Injustice: Gods Among Us clip. This time we see Catwoman and Raven go toe to toe while Black Adam prepares to smack down with Shazam/Captain Marvel. Follow on after the jump to see Catwoman and Raven go at it!

I'm not entirely sure what PR people mean by the term sizzle but it makes me think of food and I like food! Regardless, we've just received these new clips for the upcoming GI Joe: Retaliation. Sure, the first film was so-so but from what we've seen so far, Retaliation looks like it's going to be a whole lot of fun. Stay tuned in coming weeks for Stu's review of the film and follow on after the jump for a fistful of new clips.

If you're a fan of Aussie comics (that's probably why you're here), a fan of animation or just a fan of AWESOME things you should head to All Star Comics this Saturday for the official book launch of Tom Taylor and James Brouwer's THE DEEP: THE VANISHING ISLAND . Not only will you be able to get your hands on the books and meet the creators but you'll also be able to check out an exclusive preview screening of the upcoming animated series. Follow on after the jump for more details.

Sure, Tomb Raider may have already been on shelves for a wee bit and everyone has already told you how great it is so this review may, or may not, give you little more reason to purchase what is undoubtedly one of the most solid game releases in a long time. The Tomb Raider franchise first came to prominence in 1996 with the initial game released on Playstation, Sega Saturn and PC. The world went crazy for the beautiful, turquoise singlet wearing lass. Eventually spawning a number of sequels, a film franchise and some rather successful comics which were released by Top Cow throughout the late 90's and early 2000's, it seemed as though the Raider train had run out of puff.. Now, 16 years later, Lara Croft returns to raid tombs and shoot the place up. Thankfully, it feels as though she never left. Follow on after the jump for our full review!

Hot on the heels of the highly acclaimed Warner Bros series Arrow, comes the announcement that the titular characters likeness (that of Stephen Amell) will be an unlockable skin. Also highlighted is last weeks announcement that Doomsday will be a playable character, opening up the option for an epic showdown between Superman and his killer. Also this week the quarter finals saw Superman battle Green Arrow which, unless we're talking a one armed Oliver Queen from book 4 of Dark Knight Returns, he's got no hope! Regardless, check out all of the Battle Arena videos for this week. The semi-finals are looking epic! Follow on after the jump for more information and the official press release.

It's nearly here! One of our most anticipated events of the year! The 2013 Evangelion Art Exhibition is only a couple of months away so put it in your diary. Not only will there be a whole bunch of art on display, but you will also be able to stock up on exclusive merchandise which will be available at each stop. So don't just put it in your diary, also START SAVING!  Evangelion has been a fan favourite since its release and was an introduction to anime for many an anime geek so needless to say, this exhibition is kind of a big deal. Follow on for more information.

I’m not a fan of horror films. Be it the relentlessly gory slasher flick, the in-vogue zombie apocalypse tale or the traditional haunted house formula, the genre has never appealed to me. I’d like to say it’s due to my being reared on a diet of slapstick comedies and classic Hollywood flicks, but really it’s because I’m a great big wuss. So, it was with a great show of mettle, that I put aside my trepidations and dared to enter the world of Mama , the latest film by Andres Muschietti, based upon his short film of the same name released in 2008. Mama follows two young girls, Victoria and Lilly, who are abandoned in a spooky forest after the death of their parents. They are found five years later, thanks to a rescue operation orchestrated by their Uncle Jeffery (Nikolaj Coster Waldau), and resume a normal life under the his guardianship and that of his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain). But all, of course, is not what it seems …

Kenshiro is the master of Hokuto Shinken, a mysterious and brutal martial art that leaves nothing but blood and gore in its wake. A faithful interpretation of Tetsuo Hara's legendary manga series, Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 will transport you to a post-apocalyptic setting that would leave even Mad Max quaking in his boots. Thanks to our good friends at Mindscape  we have a copy of Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 on PS3 AND a t-shirt depicting Ken's scarred body to give away! All you have to do is follow on after the jump, fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or  liking us on Facebook!

It's hard not to acknowledge Tim Burton's foray into Disney's Wonderland as the financier of Sam Raimi's Oz the Great and Powerful. After pulling in a cool billion worldwide, it makes good business sense for The House of Mouse to keep that CGI ball rolling. Oscar Diggs (James Franco), affectionately known as Oz is a small time carnival flim-flam man come magician. Travelling from town to town he courts many a small town girl, much to the chagrin of his faithful sidekick Frank (Zach Braff). Everything changes when he and his hot air balloon are caught in a twister and transported to the land of Oz. This is where the adventure begins.

Director Mike Newell ( Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ) drags Great Expectations back on to the big screen, resulting in yet another film which would have worked better as a television series. Charles Dickens’s classic tale has been adapted for film and television countless times, the most recent being the 2011 television series starring Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson, which begs the question: did it needed to be done again so soon? Quite frankly, I don’t think it did. This attempt lacked both originality and ingenuity, serving up stock-standard period piece drama we’ve seen way too many times before. Great Expectations was a bowl of watery consommé when I wanted a hearty stew.

Everyone knows that Madman are Australia's number one anime company. They bring us more anime than anyone else and now, they're giving away more than anyone else! Thanks to our pals at Madman we've got a whole bunch of anime to giveaway! In fact, we've got the following on offer: Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere Season 1 (Blu Ray) Steins Gate Collection 2 (Blu Ray) Hellsing Ultimate Volumes I-IV (Blu Ray) Berserk: The Egg of the King (Blu Ray) Baka and Test Series 2 (Blu Ray) Aria the Scarlet Ammo (Blu Ray) Inuyasha The Final Act Collection 1 (DVD) All you have to do is follow on after the jump and fill out the form and you're in with a chance to win one of of these titles which will be chosen at random! Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, like many an 80's franchise, has seen a number of incarnations since its original release. Starting off as a comic by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984, TMNT found mainstream success in 1987 when the first season of the animated series was aired on CBS. From there the Turtles could be found everywhere. Merchandising for the series was bountiful an included action figures, clothing, home wares and everything in between. Ninja Turtles toys even made an appearance in Pizza Hut chains in kids meal deals, marketing genius. The rest, as they say, is history. Now, 29 years after their inception, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in what is undoubtedly the best form since the original animated series.  Follow on after the jump for our full review!