Geek of Oz

Edgar Wright’s latest film The World’s End draws to a close a trilogy of some of the most entertaining, genre-hopping and innovative films that have graced cinemas in the past few years. Known as the ‘Cornetto’ trilogy, the films Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and now The World’s End have set the benchmark for British comedy films. Each has had a distinct genre, although there are common thematic threads woven throughout each instalment. The World’s End is not only a hilariously witty science fiction tale but also a prime example of Edgar Wright’s accomplishment as both a storyteller and a director. 

For a medium so steeped with history in physical print publication, digital really is the new frontier for comics. Years after the digital revolution, the "big two" (I refer of course to Marvel and DC) are now catching up with digital releases of their titles. Even with an increasing range of digital funny books many enthusiasts, myself included, will pick physical over digital. The reality is that most of the time when comics are created, little or no thought is put into how they will translate from the printed page to the screen, phone or tablet. The first big mainstream comics creator to try and change this was Mark Waid who launched the digital comics portal Thrillbent back in May of 2012 to little fanfare. A year later and powerhouse creator Brain K Vaughn and Marcos Martin launch the digital only comic "The Private Eye" only to receive a much bigger reception, and rightfully so.

Director Steven Soderbergh is partially responsible for my love of cinema. His 1998 film Out of Sight was the first film I had seen that I actually bothered to find out who had made it, I was mesmerised by the film and wanted more. I went on to watch many of his films and to date I’m still happily going through his filmography. His style lit a fire inside me that still burns brightly. I was quite saddened when Mr Soderbergh recently announced that he would be retiring from film making to pursue other artistic endeavours. His last offering is Behind the Candelabra is a peek into the extravagant lifestyle of the legendary Liberace. 

Man of Steel has made a ridiculous amount of money proving that the superhero boom has still got a hell of a lot of steam left in it with Zack Snyder returning to write and direct an as yet unnamed film featuring both Superman and Batman, the world's finest. While this information may already be all over the internet following San Diego Comic Con, Warner Bros have only just released their official press release which outlines the production team and other related details.

We here at Geek of Oz are massive Trekkies and think that every Star Trek Blu Ray release is cause for celebration. As such, we've got out hands on 5 copies of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 on Blu Ray to give away. Thanks to our friends at Paramount, you could score yourself a copy of TNG season 4 on Blu Ray just by filling out the form below. Starting with Captain Picard's terrifying battle to escape from the inhuman Borg and culminating with the Klingon Empire on the brink of civil war in the series' historic 100th episode, you can now experience Season 4 and so much more on breathtaking Blu-ray™. This set features dazzling 1080p high definition picture with visual effects painstakingly re-created from original film elements, digitally remastered 7.1 sound (original broadcast audio also provided), and a wealth of newly produced, behind-the-scenes special features and never-before-released deleted scenes. Don't forget, you can score yourself an...

Wednesday the 17th of July 2013 will go down in history as one of the best geek days of my life. This was the day that I interviewed Edgar Wright as well taking part in a roundtable interview of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. A big thanks to Shane, Jorge from Spotlight Report  and the man behind Graffiti with Punctuation and 2UE's That Movie Show , Blake Howard.  Leading up to the roundtable interview with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, I had an encounter with the lads that will remain in my memory forever.

Taking its genes from 2011’s Insidious , James Wan’s latest offering The Conjuring favours nerve-stretching tension building to pant-wetting jolts over the torture-porn style pioneered by his first film Saw . While there’s nothing particularly original in the idea or the execution, in this case the usual ingredients are put together well and the overall result is a taut thriller with plenty of atmosphere and the right amount of thrills.

Occasionally I walk out of a film wondering who the intended audience was. I appreciate that there are certain niche markets and that not every film has to have a broad appeal. But sometimes I come across a film that is so acidic and obtuse that I honestly can’t believe it exists. Only God Forgives, the latest offering from Nicholas Winding Refn, is a darkly disturbing, often offensively violent experience which edges closer to an art installation rather than a cinematic journey. I can admire this film it on a technical basis but I wouldn’t go as far as to say I enjoyed it.

Today I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with director of The World's End, Edgar Wright, in a very plush Sydney hotel. If I sound like a complete bumbling fanboy, it's because I am. However, Mr Wright was incredibly giving of his time and an absolute delight to speak with. It's quite obvious that this is a man that is well chuffed with his lot in life and grateful that we fans are along for the ride. Having seen the film, it is every bit as fantastic as the previous 2 films in the Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) and then some. With drama, comedy and a fistful of action thrown in for good measure, The World's End is a must see for fans of Edgar's films.

Despicable Me 2 is the latest release from Illumination Entertainment and has really stepped up as a major contender in a market dominated by Disney and Pixar. The animation is truly creative and perhaps the best use of 3D I've seen to date. Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig are as funny in live action as they are in the animated form.

Created by Doctor Who writers Phil Ford and Russell T Davies, BBC's latest flight of fancy Wizards Vs Aliens is promising to be a whole tonne of fun for all ages.  Tom (Scott Haran) and his brainy buddy Benny (Percelle Ascott) are two plain ol' English kids who just happen to be a wizard and a super science brain, respectively. The two join forces to battle the villainous, and uuuuugly, Nekross. Awesomeness ensues. With Wizards Vs Aliens series 1 hitting Australian stores tomorrow (17 July), we have the honour of speaking to the shows stars,  Scott Haran and Percelle Ascott.

Donald E. Westlake, also known under the pseudonym Richard Stark, is responsible for a character who has apparently blossomed into a pop-culture sweetheart in recent years - the hard boiled, remorseless criminal known only as Parker. Probably best known to my fellow geeks from Darwyn Cooke's comic book adaptations through IDW, Parker is back but this time on celluloid starring everyones favourite action hero, Jason Statham. Before delving into the review, I'll admit to having never read the source material so any comment on the physical appearance of the character is purely based on research. That said, this seems to be somewhat of another "Jack Reacher" conundrum.

Having previously reviewed Heaven's Lost Property Season 1 , I'd described it as being naughty, filled with fan service and as fun as you'll let it be and I stand by that statement. So it should come as no surprise that Heaven's Lost Property: The Angeloid of Clockwork should be just as delightfully sinful. "Hiyori's a sweet, shy girl who's used to living in the background. Now, the wallflower is ready to bloom and reveal a big secret: she's totally infatuated with Tomoki! To get closer to the dirty-minded object of her affection, she joins the New World Discovery Club. With Tomoki's lazy love of peace and quiet, he's not interested in accommodating any new Club members and tries to scare Hiyori away with his usual perverted antics. Nonetheless, she remains committed to her crush and starts bonding with Ikaros, Nymph, and the gang - until a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. It seems Hiyori has a deeper - and more dangerous - lin...

Not too long ago a friend asked me "so what's this Panty and Stocking thing that people are talking about?" to which I replied "well, you see, the thing is... uhh... well...". I just couldn't find the words to truly express what exactly I had experienced. As best as I could describe it would be as follows: the crack baby love child of Dogma and the Powerpuff Girls. "The Anarchy Sisters Panty and Stocking are two nasty angels who got booted from the pearly gates for being foul-mouthed bitches! Now they spend their days blowing up ghosts in the lecherous abyss between Heaven and Earth. Panty likes sex, Stocking likes sweets, their afro-sporting main man Garter Belt has a fetish we can't mention. Together, they're keeping the streets free of bodily fluids. Ghosts don't have a prayer against their panty pistols and stocking swords, and if this debaucherous duo can collect enough Heaven Coins, they just might get their halos back. They...

Based on bestselling novels by Donald E. Westlake, Parker is anti-hero who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don't steal from people who can't afford it and don't hurt people who don't deserve it. Set to punch its way onto your TV screen, PARKER stars Jason Statham as cult anti-hero Parker, and Jennifer Lopez in a gritty ride of non-stop action directed by Academy Award® winner Taylor Hackford (The Devil’s Advocate, Ray). Thanks to our pals at Hopscotch, we've got 5 copies of PARKER on DVD to give away! All you have to do is fill out the form below and you're in the running to score yourself a copy. Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by  following us on Twitter  or  liking us on Facebook!

Madman have released a whole bunch of fantastic Adult Swim series over the years and really are the Australian home of irreverent comedy. With that said, the release of Delocated Seasons 1 and 2 is a joyous occasion indeed. Delocated is a must see series for fans of Check it out with Dr Steve Brule  and  Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job  or folks who like their comedy deadpan. "After testifying against the Russian Mafia, "Jon" and his family are uprooted and start living undercover through the witness protection program. After existing quietly in an anonymous suburb, "Jon" accepts an offer for the family to participate in a reality show based on their lives. In order to protect their identity with television audiences - and more importantly, the Russian mob family the Mirminsky's - they wear ski masks and have their voices surgically disguised. As part of the deal, the family is relocated to a sweet loft in New York City, where the series will...

One of Hanabee's latest releases, Another, has everything that J-horror fans could want. Creepy schoolgirls and creep schoolgirl dolls, gore aplenty, silly deaths and a number of twists and turns that you may or may not see coming. That said, this series feels like it reaches too far in order to cement itself as an iconic horror series, attempting to reach a Satoshi Kon level of quality, but falls short of the mark. While it may not be iconic, it is a fantastic example of the genre. "In 1972 Misaki suddenly passed away. The student’s death was so unexpected that the classmates and teacher had decided to pretend the incident never happened, allowing for Misaki to continue attending class and graduate with them. -But in doing so they had unwittingly set a curse upon the school- 26 years later, Kouichi Sakakibara transferred into the very same class and it is clear something is amiss. A tense atmosphere has engulfed them and the answer may lie in the hands of an a...

Over the last few years, Guillermo Del Toro has been involved in a whole bunch of films as Producer, Executive Producer, Associate Producer and even as a voice actor but Pacific Rim is the only film he has Directed since 2008's Hellboy II. That said, Del Toro's five year directorial lull has done nothing to diminish his ability for making an incredibly fun film, an incredibly fun film like Pacific Rim.

As Sunday winds down we find ourselves with even MORE stuff to give away to our lucky readers! This time we've got some awesomeness from Hanabee! So, what have Hanabee supplied us with? - 2x Mysterious Girlfriend X - 2x Dusk Maiden of Amnesia - 2x Another - 1x Nisemonogatari - 1x Anohana 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 DVDs 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!

Thanks to our pals over at Siren Visual, we've got some Mawaru Penguindrum to give away! One lucky winner will collect Part 1 and Part 2 of the series on Blu Ray while a slightly less lucky (but still bloody lucky!) runner up will get their hands on a copy of Part 2 on DVD. All you have to do is fill out the details below and tell us which animal you would have accompany you on a quest and why. Don't forget, you can score yourself an extra entry just by  following us on Twitter  or  liking us on Facebook!

In 2003 Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp teamed up to deliver a film based upon a fifty year old theme park ride, which took the world by surprise and cemented Johnny Depp as a mega star. Ten years on, they are now bringing the unlikeliest of films to the big screen: an adaptation of a television show from the 1950s. The Lone Ranger is exactly what I want in a block buster: fast paced action, straight-forward characters, caricature villains and bucket loads of fun. I’m tipping this to be one of the better-performing films of the year. 

With the advent of the 24-hour news cycle putting increased pressure on media organisations to focus on quick-turnaround content, the importance of documentary filmmakers has never been greater. With his latest film, We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks, Alex Gibney presents a master class in investigative storytelling, as he tracks the rise and fall (well, stall at least) of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. 

Spider-Man is my personal favourite comic book hero. My go-to guy who has always been there when I needed him. Certainly sounds like a real superhero! The thing that I always liked about ol' web head was the fact that before his accident, he was basically an everyman. Not an alien, not a billionaire, not a god - just a kid with some pretty dark events in his past. Then in 2000, Marvel superstar Brian Michael Bendis reinvigorated Spidey by introducing Ultimate Spider-Man. While he's essentially the same character, Bendis and Marvel relaunched the character and all of his friends/foes for a more modern audience. Welcome to Ultimate Spider-Man.

Thanks to our good friends at Madman, we have a veritable smorgasbord of titles to giveaway including the following: - 2x Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt: Purple Edition (Blu Ray) - 2x Heaven's Lost Property: The Angeloid of Clockwork (Blu Ray) - 2x Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts OVA Colleaction (Blu Ray) - 2x Loups=Garous (DVD) - 2x Buso Renkin Series Collection (DVD) - 2x Toriko Collection 1 (DVD) - 2x Persona 4 The Animation Volume 2 (Blu Ray) - 2x Kiki's Delivery Service (Blu Ray) - 1x Godzilla Millenium Series Box Set (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! This competition has closed.  Entries close 11:59pm on Sunday 14th July 2013. Your details will not be used in any way other than for the deliver...

If you thought that The Great Gatsby was a great Australian release, you were dead wrong. While it was directed by an Aussie and shot locally, there wasn't much more to it than that. The Turning, however, looks as though it could be one of the greatest Aussie releases in recent memory. Based on Tim Winton's anthology of short stories, The Turning showcases 17 directors telling 17 stories, each of which is blessed to have some incredible Australian actors on board such as Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Mia Wasikowska and many more. Described as being blunt yet sophisticated, The Turning is an extremely exciting Australian production.

Imagine you and a bunch of mates decided to make a movie. Now imagine you’re best friends are Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill and throw in Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera and Craig Robinson just for good measure. Now imagine you’re given millions of dollars to make the most ridiculous, no holds barred apocalypse movie where the only notable girl in the film is Emma Watson. Sounds like a dream, right? Welcome to This is the End.