Tuesday, August 17, 2010
DELETED SCENE: RETURN OF THE JEDI
Sorry for the lack of activity... I'm still recovering from the No-Sleep Vegas weekend.
Here's the famous "Deleted Lightsaber Scene" in RETURN OF THE JEDI, which was shown at this weekend's Star Wars Celebration V.
Sweet. If clip no longer available, just do another search on YouTube.
OK, New Edit I Want To See:
Films opens on Dagobah, where Luke has been training in the ways of the Force with Master Yoda since his ass-kicking on Bespin at the end of EMPIRE. Yoda dies, after telling Luke his training his complete - he is a JEDI KNIGHT. Yoda reveals to Luke that he is aware that Vader has been communicating to him via the Force. And warns Luke not to underestimate the Dark Side, Vader or the Emperor. Yoda dies and fades away. Time fade to that clip above (but still on Dagobah), where Luke is assembling his badass green lightsaber (which, pre-Prequels, I always thought was the saber of a MASTER). Luke then departs Dagobah to go rescue Han from Jabba....
Or something like that. Shrug.
oh, and then later replace the Ewoks with Wookiees.... and insert a bitchin' space chase between the FALCON and SLAVE 1.... and a final showdown blaster fight between Han and Boba Fett....
Here's the famous "Deleted Lightsaber Scene" in RETURN OF THE JEDI, which was shown at this weekend's Star Wars Celebration V.
Sweet. If clip no longer available, just do another search on YouTube.
OK, New Edit I Want To See:
Films opens on Dagobah, where Luke has been training in the ways of the Force with Master Yoda since his ass-kicking on Bespin at the end of EMPIRE. Yoda dies, after telling Luke his training his complete - he is a JEDI KNIGHT. Yoda reveals to Luke that he is aware that Vader has been communicating to him via the Force. And warns Luke not to underestimate the Dark Side, Vader or the Emperor. Yoda dies and fades away. Time fade to that clip above (but still on Dagobah), where Luke is assembling his badass green lightsaber (which, pre-Prequels, I always thought was the saber of a MASTER). Luke then departs Dagobah to go rescue Han from Jabba....
Or something like that. Shrug.
oh, and then later replace the Ewoks with Wookiees.... and insert a bitchin' space chase between the FALCON and SLAVE 1.... and a final showdown blaster fight between Han and Boba Fett....
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
A BRIEF GUIDE TO IRON MAIDEN'S ALBUMS - UPDATED
There is a notion to flippantly see IRON MAIDEN - the Best Metal Band in the Universe - as a cheesy satirical band (ala Spinal Tap) full of farcical lyrics enveloped in cliche mysticism and fantasy. This is completely off the mark. Maiden, with the help of Bruce Dickinson's vocals, takes you on a journey with every song. Each one tells a story, and Dickinson is the Bard emoting it. Iron Maiden songs could be interpreted as Stage plays, or stories around the campfire; They are meant to take you on a journey thru the River Styx, around the Theatre of War, and out to the Far End of the Universe.... it's an experience, not a flippant tone aimed at teen angst, or superficiality. And they are simply the best.I thought I'd do a brief post on their albums to date; A guide-of-sorts for those who may not have had the life-changing pleasure of knowing Maiden. I've included "noteworthy" songs for iTunes download for anyone who wants to make an initial playlist to wet your appetite before you inevitably buy most of the albums in their entirety and evolve into a Maiden Fan For Life. Here we go....
THE EARLY YEARS:
Childhood friends Bassist STEVE HARRIS and guitarist DAVE MURRAY form Maiden in 1975, pioneering what will later be dubbed "The British New Wave of Heavy Metal Music". With their classic sound already taking shape, lead singer PAUL DI'ANNO brings a more "grounded" aspect to the band for their first 2 albums. The 2nd album, "Killers", brought on guitarist ADRIAN SMITH (another old friend of Dave Murray), which further pushed Maiden towards their unique sound. These first 2 albums are awesome, with a handful of CLASSIC songs, yet feel... "incomplete"... in terms of what you'd think of as "SOLID IRON MAIDEN". Essential albums nonetheless.
1) IRON MAIDEN (1980):Noteworthy Songs: Prowler, Sanctuary, Transylvania, Charlotte the Harlot, Phantom of the Opera
Side Note: Get Phantom of the Opera off the live album "Live After Death"
2) KILLERS (1981):
Noteworthy Songs: Wraithchild, Killers
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TWILIGHT OF THE GODS: THE BRUCE ERA:
Di"Anno was replaced with ex-Samson lead singer BRUCE DICKENSON. Whereas Di'Anno's vocals were "grounded", Bruce's vocals absolutely soars. He takes you on adventures, barrel rolling through clouds in epic dog fights of glory. Iron Maiden instantly became Metal Gods and unleashed upon the world a string of 5 AMAZING Studio Albums and 1 infamous Live Album. 1983's "Piece of Mind" brought aboard drummer NIKKO McBRAIN, which solidified Maiden as the Uber-Band they are. Behold the GLORY DAYS...
3) THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST (1982):Noteworthy Songs: The Prisoner, 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
*Special Note: "Piece of Mind" kicks off a 5-album streak of the coolest fucking cover art ever, by Derek Riggs!
4) PIECE OF MIND (1983):Noteworthy Songs: Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, Flight of Icarus, The Trooper
5) POWERSLAVE (1984):Noteworthy Songs: Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Powerslave, Rime of the Ancient Mariner
5a) LIVE AFTER DEATH (live album/1985):"Scream for me Long Beach!!!"
6) SOMEWHERE IN TIME (1986):Noteworthy Songs: Wasted Years
* LOVE that cover art!!!!
7) SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON (1988):Noteworthy Songs: Moonchild, Can I Play With Madness, The Evil That Men Do, Seventh Son of A Seventh Son
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THE 1990s: THE DARK AGES 1: WITHOUT ADRIAN:
After "Seventh Son", Maiden unfortunately entered a dark dark era.... they began going in a different direction, which caused Adrian Smith to leave the band (replaced by showboatin' Janick Gers). These next two albums, in my opinion, are absolute turds... and I do not acknowledge their existence except for historical footnote purposes.
8) NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING (1990)Noteworthy Songs: None
9) FEAR OF THE DARK (1992)
Noteworthy Songs: None
* however, Many fans love the title track.... but I don't care for it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
THE 1990s: THE DARK AGES 2: THE BLAZE ERA (NO BRUCE):
After "Fear of the Dark", Bruce left the band and the remaining members brought on new lead singer Blaze Bayley. The 2 albums under this lineup feel more in-line with the early Di'Anno days, but nowhere near as good. Forgettable, yet better than the 2 previous albums I find. I'd skip these entirely.
10) FACTOR X (1995)Noteworthy Songs: Sign of the Cross (?? mayyyybe??)
11) VIRTUAL XI (1998)
Noteworthy Songs: None
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PHOENIX ERA: RETURN OF BRUCE and ADRIAN: In 2000, BRUCE and ADRIAN returned to Maiden. Janick Gers remains in the band, making Iron Maiden a 3-guitar, 6-man band! Maiden returns with a slightly new sound; clearly Maiden, but moving FORWARD instead of retreading the past. The first 2 new albums are solid with rememberable songs. But it isn't until 2006 does Maiden make an instant classic with their semi-concept album "A Matter of Life and Death"- I absolutely LOVE that album. 2015's "Book of Souls" is another instant classic, propelling the band forward in their evolution.
12) BRAVE NEW WORLD (2000):Noteworthy Songs: Wicker Man, Ghost of the Navigator, Brave New World
13) DANCE OF DEATH (2003):
Noteworthy Songs: No More Lies, New Frontier
14) A MATTER OF LIFE and DEATH (2006):Outstanding "concept" album. My favorite Maiden album since 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son'
Noteworthy Songs: These Colours Don't Run, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, For The Greater Good of God
I'm not a huge fan of this album, but it has its moments... and it grows on me as time goes on.
Noteworthy Songs: The Final Frontier, The Talisman, When The Wild Wind Blows
Noteworthy Songs: If Eternity Should Fail (but skip to next track near the end when the hokey "I am Necropolis" narration begins), The Great Unknown, The Red and The Black, Book of Souls, Tears of a Clown..... and I'll also include Speed of Light.
_________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER RECOMMENDED LIVE ALBUMS:
FLIGHT 666 (2009)FLIGHT 666 DVD documentary - I'm in "Number of the Beast!
"LIVE AFTER DEATH DVD (1985)
MAIDEN FOREVER!
UP THE IRONS! \M/
Thursday, August 12, 2010
NEW COBRA H.I.S.S. TANK IS BITCHIN' RAD
As we all know, one of the coolest things to ever grace this world is the COBRA H.I.S.S. TANK. That beautiful black beast of metal and venom brings a tear to my eye each time I gaze upon it (why wasn't it, like many others, NOT in the fucking movie? ARGHHH!!).A couple years back, Hasbro released a "Re-Issue" from the original 80s mold (yes I bought it - it sits on my shelf). Now Hasbro has released a NEW Cobra H.I.S.S. tank design! I saw it up-closes and personal at the San Diego Comic Con and boy-o-boy does it look sweeeeeeet. It's like a TERMINATOR HK slapped onto a tank and painted black. I must have. I SHALL HAVE!!!!
CO-BRAAA!!!
Unfortunately the pics do not do it justice, but here ya go anyway:
some BONUS pics:
[ Terminator HK Toy]
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[Original H.I.S.S. Tank, circa 1983 ]
awwwww-some!
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[Original H.I.S.S. Tank, circa 1983 ]awwwww-some!
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[ Re-Issue H.I.S.S. ]---
[ New Snake-Eyes (w/Tornado Kick!) ]---
[ WTF?? Cobra Jungle Viper?? WTF?? ]
FA.HU.X: FACEHUGGER EXTRACTION DEVICE
"'Surgically removed before embryo implantation.Subject: Marachek, John J., died during the procedure.'
They killed him taking it off."
--Bishop, ALIENS.
*thanks, Willie!
X-WING MAILBOX
Craig Smith, who built the mailbox, says:I made this so long ago, it is actually in need of weathering repairs and repainting. I never expected it to survive vandalism or theft for half a decade. But at five feet long and a five foot wingspan, theft would be quite difficult. Everybody from letter carriers to pizza delivery go out of their way to say how much they like it. There is a street about 10 miles away where older guys have a mailbox rivalry with custom car, firetruck and airplane mailboxes, I should mail them a photo.(source)
*thanks, Willie!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
3 SHITTY COMICS THAT PISSED ME OFF
I've been reading Comic Books for roughly 25+ years. That's a lot of comics. And during that time I've ready my fair share of truly crappy comics (the 90s were tough). Occassionaly I'll read a comic that is so bad, it actually pisses me off; for the time wasted... the money wasted... and on principle itself. Those moments are few and far between especially lately as the rising cost of Comics ($4!!!) forces me to choose wisely in my limited purchases.However, I've had the misfortune of reading THREE shit-tastic issues in the last 30 days. Upon reading AVENGERS #2, WONDER WOMAN #601 and SUPERMAN #701, I found myself in an immediate foul mood, crumpling up said comics and tossing them into the trash can. Avengers was a simple mess, treading water in awkward "Bendis Speak" and amateurish storytelling. Wonder Woman is now a crappy "Elseworlds" that feels like Witchblade fan fiction fail. And Superman... where to fucking begin....
[begin fanboy rant]
The next year looks to be Superman walking the country (USA) ala Forrest Gump (not making this up) talking to yokels and preaching the gospel word of Straczynksi. For one, Clark Kent grew up in Smallville, Kansas AND is a top-notch reporter for one of the country's biggest newspaper... I don't think he needs to walk the streets to understand how "Middle America" is or what "real people are like". As Superman, he encounters people every single day, on a global level. He's SUPERMAN, so he does take the time to interact with the people he's around - not just save day, fly off to JLA headquarters. Its one of the aspects that sets him apart from other heroes and makes him SUPERMAN. And secondly, in this one issue, Superman behaves like a dick, a preacher and a careless meta without concern or awareness of the consequences of his actions. I wonder if JMS has ever read a Superman book before... or watched a Superman movie/cartoon? Based on this issue, I would hazard a guess of "NO." Seriously, this book fucking pisssssed me offfff in its shitty storytelling and lack of respect for the character.
[end fanboy rant]
It's really my own fault - what did I expect from a BENDIS TEAM BOOK and ANY BOOK BY J.M. STRACZYNSKI? Make no mistake, all 3 books have been DROPPED. And I am DONE with both writers. Enough is enough already. I'm tired of giving these writers chances they do not deserve. I truly dislike their current work... sure, they both had some gems in the past, but that was a long time ago (much like George Lucas). For those who DO enjoy their writing and the above mentioned books - enjoy! To each his own. But this fanboy is out.
"HOW TO CREATE COOL COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS"
JimSmash Reader UNKIEDEV has written another great article over at Forbidden Planet (ie NOT at JimSmash): "HOW TO CREATE COOL COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS". It has a nice, silly yet cynical tone. And is both factual and funny!Check it out HERE!
*thanks, Dev!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 09, 2010
ADIDAS' NERD WEAR
[ WOOKIEE JACKET ]I wonder if the BELT comes with???
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[ BOBA FETT SHOES ]---
[ R2-D2 & C-3PO SHOES ]Wow.
additional star wars shoes:
Bonus: GREEN LANTERN CONVERSE:
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