Roumen.ganeff

Delivers a fresh serving of trojan horse meat

When I say “‘40s female secret agents in pop culture,” the first names that will likely come to your mind are Peggy Carter and Bridget von Hammersmark. But with CBC’s new World War II-set spy series, X COMPANY, the name Aurora Luft may become equally as synonymous in this league of characters inspired by the […]

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Photo credit: Loujain al-Hathloul Loujain al-Hathloul Two women, who were jailed in Saudi Arabia for flouting the country's ban on female drives, have been freed after more than 70 days in custody. continue reading

Philip K. Dick's imagination has been juicing TV series and movies since the early '60s, most famously inspiring Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report. It should come as little surprise, therefore, to see that Amazon's pilot for Dick's The M...

Few people like being swept up in a legal dispute. Whether it's a small disagreement or a bitter financial feud, once the courts are involved everything becomes a slow, stressful and potentially expensive mess. That's why the UK's Civil Justice Counc...

It's been known for a while that the NSA will intercept and bug equipment to spy on its soon-to-be owners, but the intellgency agency's techniques are apparently more clever than first thought. Security researchers at Kaspersky Lab have discovered ap...

cubebreaker:

Stefano Boeri’s 'Bosco Verticale' towers have opened in Milan, with each of the 113 apartments featuring its own beautifully landscaped balcony irrigated by greywater recycled through the building.

<a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=495&bandname=Tool>Tool</a> guitarist Adam Jones has recently shared a video filmed by <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=217&bandname=Mot%26ouml%3Brhead>Motörhead</a>'s drummer Mikkey Dee. It appears that the two bands are working on new releases in the same recording facility in Los Angeles. <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=495&bandname=Tool>Tool</a> have confirmed that they are working on new material before but fans are still waiting for the follow-up to 2006's <i>10,000 Days</i>. <a href="/events/news_comments.php?news_id=25738>Read more...</a>

It's no secret that hackers see banks as prime targets, but one band of digital thieves is conducting heists on a truly grand scale. Security researchers at Kaspersky have published details of malware attacks that have stolen at least $300 million fr...

LG's appliances leader isn't going to escape allegations that he wrecked Samsung washers at a German store. South Korean prosecutors have charged both the executive, Jo Seong-Jin, and two other LG employees with purposefully damaging the defenseless ...

Oh, Nissan, you tease. The company has just coated a Leaf EV with some custom-made glow-in-dark paint, which can apparently last for up to 25 years -- but it has no plans (not yet, anyway) to make it available for purchase. Nissan partnered with glow...

Looking to cut into Apple Pay's profits, Google is developing a new service called Plaso.

To properly celebrate Safer Internet Day, Google is offering a a nice perk for users who complete a quick security checkup. If you're willing to make sure your account recovery info is up to date, review recent log-in activity and confirm the list of...

This Star Wars-themed cake by by Cup A Dee Cakes includes so many loving, nerdy details: panels, access hatches, floodlights, all in an array of edible hues. Read the rest

HBO has released the second Silicon Valley Season 2 trailer. The minute and a half-long trailer teases the future adventures of our nerd heroes: Thomas Middleditch, TJ Miller, Zach Woods, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr and Josh Brener, back at work in the dungeon-like darkness of the tech incubator. On April 12th 2015, “this shit gets real.” Watch the Silicon Valley season 2 trailer embedded after the jump.

Silicon Valley Season 2 Trailer #2

Silicon Valley Season 2 Trailer #1

What do you think? I liked the pilot episode of Mike Judge’s comedy series Silicon Valley but didn’t love it. And then, every episode of the first season progressively go better until it reached the brilliance of the dick equation joke that appeared at the end of the first season. I hope season two continues at the level of those last few episodes, because I can’t wait.

Mike Judge, the acclaimed creator behind “Beavis and Butthead,” “King of the Hill” and Office Space, returned to the small screen last year with the first season of the hit HBO comedy “Silicon Valley,” starring Thomas Middleditch (The Campaign, The Wolf of Wall Street), T.J. Miller (Cloverfield, How to Train Your Dragon), Zach Woods (In the Loop, The Other Guys), Kumail Nanjiani (Life As We Know It, Sex Tape), Martin Starr (“Party Down,” “Freaks and Geeks”), Josh Brener (The Internship, “Glory Daze”), Amanda Crew (Sex Drive, Charlie St. Cloud), Matt Ross (“Magic City,” “American Horror Story”) and relative newcomer Jimmy O. Yang.

Silicon Valley Season 2 premieres April 12th 2015 at 10pm on HBO.

The post Silicon Valley Season 2 Trailer #2: “Synergy Bitches!” appeared first on /Film.

Don’t start going through old back issues of Guardians of the Galaxy hoping to uncover some details about James Gunn‘s Guardians of the Galaxy 2. In a new interview, the writer/director confirmed the story is totally new and original, and will introduce new characters that are important to both the world of the Guardians as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. Plus, in the most exciting bit, when Marvel first heard Gunn’s idea, they said “Whoa, that’s risky.” Read more about the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 story below.

Gunn was recently on Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend (thanks to FilmDrunk) and said the following about Guardians of the Galaxy 2:

It’s not really based on anything. The story for Guardians 2 is an original story that I came up with that I started working on actually while I was shooting Guardians 1, and it’ll answer some of the questions that were put forth in the first movie about Peter Quill’s father and who he is and what’s going on with that. We’ll get to know some of the characters a little bit more and then we’re going to meet a couple of new characters who will be very important to Guardians movies and probably important to the Marvel Universe as a whole.

It’s different than what’s in the comic books. Peter Quill’s father is somebody different in the comics. So then when the movie came out, we got green-lit on the sequel right away. I went in and I sat down with those guys and I’m like, ‘Okay, here’s what I think the sequel should be.’ And they were like, ‘Oh, whoa. That’s risky, but okay.’ Now I’m going to turn over the story in a few short weeks and we’ll find out how well it works.

I mean honestly, that just sounds awesome. The “Gunn-ness,” if we can coin a phrase, of Guardians of the Galaxy is a huge percentage of why that movie is so fantastic. The ’60s and ’70s music, the humor and the visually striking action were all him. Not to mention the colors, the casting, I mean pretty much everything. So if he has a “risky” idea for the next movie, bring it on. That’s what Marvel does best. Blow up what they have, then build it back up again.

What do you think will happen, or is risky, about the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 story?

The post Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Story: Marvel Thinks James Gunn’s Sequel Idea Was “Risky” appeared first on /Film.

No matter how old you are, you remember the moment you were introduced to The Wachowskis. For me, it was February 1999. I was sitting in a screening of what I figured was some dumb new Keanu Reeves movie with about 1,000 of my fellow college students. A girl in black leather started to get into a fight and as she jumped in the air she froze. The camera spun around her, and she delivered a bone-shattering blow. Every single person in the room cheered wildly at the iconic visual moment at the beginning of The Matrix and, for the next two hours, we continued to be amazed at what was unfolding on screen.

The Matrix went on to gross almost $500 million worldwide and spawn two hugely anticipated sequels. More importantly, it supercharged the careers of Lana (then Larry) and Andy Wachowski. The filmmaking siblings have since gone on to make several films that are technical marvels and intellectual thrill rides. This past weekend, their latest film, Jupiter Ascending, finally hit theaters, so we saw a perfect opportunity to rank the films of The Wachowskis.

The Wachowski Films Ranked

7. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

I’m going to be honest. I have very few memories of The Matrix Revolutions. I remember a lot of it takes place in the underground city of Zion. There was a big battle with mech suits. Beyond that, there’s nothing. I figure that says a lot about the film, a conclusion to a trilogy that meant a lot to me when it was released.

I, of course, went back and refreshed myself on Revolutions before ranking it. Revolutions is simply a disappointing end to a trilogy. There’s big, impressive action, some really good ideas and even a kind of bold and surprising ending. But the power of the first film and the energy of the second film both were drained by this point. It feels almost like a means to an end. Watching, you almost get the vibe the Wachowskis are working in a world they were, by this point, very done with and happy to be rid of. There’s simply nothing in the movie that takes the story or the filmmaking to the next level, two things that The Wachowksis do so well in so many of their other films. Still, even though this is their “worst” movie, it’s not “terrible.” Just subpar.

6. Jupiter Ascending (2015)

There’s honestly a lot to like about Jupiter Ascending. As they’ve done time and time again, The Wachowskis build a very unique world with the film. Basically, a woman born on Earth is revealed to be the reincarnated mother of a galaxy controlling royal family who owns Earth. A lone soldier is sent to Earth to protect her, and then there’s lots of awesome action. Visually, Jupiter Ascending is right up there with some of the best sci-fi in recent memory. All the technology, weapons, ships, planets and more are gorgeous. The music is epic, the scope of everything is insane, all the elements are there.

However, when you really boil down the story of Jupiter Ascending, it’s really kind of a weaker rehash of the ideas in The Matrix. It’s the same basic story twisted and turned to includes planets, aliens and the galaxy. The script is incredibly repetitive with the characters getting into the same situation over and over again, and the dialogue is filled with jokes and asides that totally feel out of place. Jupiter Ascending is a movie that you’ll enjoy a little watching it in the theater, never turn it off when it starts airing on TV, but mostly think of ironically.

5. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Four years after blowing people minds with the original Matrix, the Wachowskis returned with not one, but two Matrix sequels in one year. You’ve already read about the third one, but this was the first follow up. One of the most hyped and anticipated films of the early 2000s. There’s no denying the action and visuals of The Matrix Reloaded lived up to the hype. Neo versus the hundreds of Agent Smith’s. The Twins. The jaw-dropping, ground breaking scene on the highway. It’s a really good action movie.

Where the film loses things a bit are how deep the Wachowski’s go with the mythology. No one will forget the first time they saw the scene with The Architect, an incredibly interesting, but equally frustrating scene that simultaneously gave the story more meaning and no meaning. The Matrix Reloaded starts strong, gets stronger, but ends on a down note and never reaches the expectations of the first film. Still, it’s better than the third for those reasons.

4. Speed Racer (2008)

In terms of pure visuals, The Wachowskis outdid themselves in 2008 with Speed Racer. A live-action adaptation of a classic Japanese franchise, the movie is like jumping into a rainbow. Every single frame sparkles with color and chrome. The race scenes are jaw-droppingly beautiful and exciting as are the designs from the cars, to the outfits and everything else you see on the screen.

The problem with Speed Racer is it almost felt like a reaction to criticism from The Matrix sequels. This time around the story and characters were a little too on the nose. Things never get too deep, plus the story never matches the fun of the visuals. This vibrant, exciting manga adaptation degenerates into a story about the politics behind racing and the two things feel diametrically opposed. Still, the simple sports movie structure provides a suitable amount of the thrills and the action and visuals never stop entertaining.

Continue Reading Our Ranking Of the Films of the Wachowskis

The post From ‘Bound’ to ‘Jupiter Ascending,’ We Rank the Films of The Wachowskis appeared first on /Film.

Last week, we told you about a new rumor regarding Domhnall Gleeson and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It was interesting and intriguing, but we left it at that. Since then, the rumor has begun to pick up steam online and the more I think about it, the more I want to discuss it. If it’s true, it’s a game changer the likes of which Star Wars has never seen. Which is why I don’t think it’s true. Below, read about the Domhnall Gleeson Star Wars rumor.

Suffice to say, everything below is speculative but should be consider a massive spoiler if true. Fair warning.

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SPOILER WARNING

The rumor in question originated at Making Star Wars. It claims that Domhnall Gleeson’s role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an Imperial Officer who defected from the Rebel Alliance when he learned of some nefarious plans the Rebels had. That part makes sense. A lot of sense, especially because he then becomes the ying to the yang of Finn (John Boyega), who is reportedly an Imperial Stormtrooper who defects the other way. Plus, it’s backed up by a few other plot rumors.

Here’s the part that worries me. The rumor says Gleeson’s Imperial Officer is also the son of Luke Skywalker. Yes, the actor looks like Mark Hamill but let’s step back for a minute. We know one of the key components to being a Jedi is not taking on any relationships. That’s almost wholly the reason Anakin Skywalker ended up going to the Dark Side. He was so crazy in love with his wife, Padme, he’d literally do anything to save her. Which ended up including killing kids and more. Yoda, Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi masters teach that this is not okay.

So you’re telling me that, a few years after Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker just blows up everything he’s worked so hard to achieve? He meets a girl and rejects eons of Jedi tradition just when he’s defeated the Sith and brought balance to the Force? He takes the teachings of his mentors and flushes them down the toilet? I don’t buy it. He’s the New Hope after all, the Jedi that will bring the Jedi back to power, or so we thought. If he has a son, it makes little sense.

Then again, what if this is true? I don’t think it is but, just in case, let’s break this down. It means that Luke Skywalker fell in love and had a son while being a Jedi. Who is this woman? Where is she now? These are big questions. It also would mean he’s susceptible to the Dark Side, like his father before him. Connections like a son and a wife/girlfriend/love are not the Jedi way. If this is true, it’s a sure fire clue that Luke Skywalker’s honor will not be intact through The Force Awakens, or maybe the Sequel Trilogy.

Skywalker potentially having a son is a rich, thematic playground. It could set up some major strands in the narrative and begins floating the idea that the Jedi way – the Light Side – is all but impossible to sustain. Maybe that’s a statement about this new generation rejecting tradition. A way for J.J. Abrams to push Star Wars into a murky moral grey area reflecting our modern times. Maybe. Then again, this is Star Wars and adhering to the rules and respecting the Original Trilogy is usually paramount.

Basically, either this rumor of Gleeson being the new son of Skywalker is total crap or it’s the clue of clues letting everyone know what to expect both the Original Trilogy characters in this movie and overall in the Sequel Trilogy. Could Luke Skywalker turn to the dark side? Could he sacrifice himself for his son? These things seem possible but I believe it undermines the integrity of what was achieved in the Original Trilogy. What do you think about the Domhnall Gleeson Star Wars rumors?

The post Domhnall Gleeson in ‘Star Wars:’ Why the Latest Rumor Is Either Totally Wrong or a Game Changer appeared first on /Film.

Jupiter Ascending, the latest sci-fi epic from The Wachowskis, hit theaters this weekend and didn’t do too well. It grossed around $19 million over its opening weekend, which is about what Speed Racer did in 2008. Both film had big budgets and expectations but will ultimately be considered box office failures.

That’s unfortunate because both movies are visual marvels. Whether you think Jupiter Ascending is brilliant or boring, there’s little denying the costumes, props, sets and production design are pretty masterful. They’re a beautiful amalgamation of ideas from sci-fi, fantasy, anime, manga, video games and more, filtered through the visionary eye of the Wachowskis.

Of course, it’s not like Lana and Larry sit around designing all this stuff. They hire talented designers, concept artists and so many others to visualize their ideas, which they then approve or discard. Now, we’ve got our hands on a whole slew of Jupiter Ascending concept art that gives a great look at a bunch of the tech in the film, as well as some hints that Channing Tatum’s backstory might have played a larger part in the movie. See the Jupiter Ascending concept art below.

This Jupiter Ascending concept art comes to us from Justin Goby Fields and IronKladStudios.com. There’s a ton to talk about and dissect here, but we’re just going to scratch the surface.

Jupiter Ascending Concept Art by IronKlad

There is a whole lot of awesome in those images but I want to focus mainly on the winged creatures. They’re referred to as “soldiers” in the titles and are almost certainly the same group that Caine Wise (Tatum) and Stinger Apini (Sean Bean) are a part of.

We don’t learn a lot about these soldiers in the movie. We know they have wings, if they get in trouble they lose their wings, and they’re pretty bad-ass. But the fact IronKlad did so many different concepts of this group of people/things suggests they were going to play a much larger role. Maybe they suited up to help in the battle against the Abrasax clan? Maybe there were flashbacks to Caine’s dismissal from the army where we saw them at their peak.

They’re also much more mechanical than we see in the movie, almost cyborg. Plus there definitely seems to be a female in there, which I don’t believe is referenced in the film at all.

What else do you see in the Jupiter Ascending concept art? Do you think that a few of the human face look like The Rock and Tom Cruise?

The post Gallery: ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Concept Art Teases Deeper Mythology appeared first on /Film.

Samuel L. Jackson has worked with some major filmmakers in his day, and Tim Burton‘s collaborated with some very big stars. Now their professional paths are about to cross for the very first time.

Jackson is reportedly in talks for Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, based on the novel by Ransom Riggs. He joins Eva Green and Asa Butterfield. More on the Miss Peregrine Samuel L Jackson casting after the jump.

Deadline reports Jackson will play Barron, an important new character created just for the film. It’s unclear exactly how he’ll figure into the story, although TheWrap’s Jeff Sneider indicates that Barron is a villain. Curiously, Sneider also says Laurence Fishburne and Amanda Seyfried (?!) were up for the part.

Scripted by Jane Goldman (Kingsman: The Secret Service) follows a teenager who must protect an island of superpowered orphans from the monsters who want to destroy them. Green plays the titular Miss Peregrine, who’s in charge of the orphans, and Butterfield is the young hero.

Riggs’ novel was a huge hit when it was published in 2011, spending 63 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. A sequel, Hollow City, came out last year. The author is currently working on the third installment of the series.

Jackson will be seen this weekend in Fox’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, and later this year in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He is currently shooting The Hateful Eight, which reteams him with Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained director Quentin Tarantino.

Burton is coming off of the Margaret Keane biopic Big Eyes, which fared worse than expected in the awards race. Still, it didn’t star Johnny Depp in white makeup so maybe it was a step in the right direction. Additionally, he’s working on Beetlejuice 2, which does not yet have a release date.

Fox has Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children set to open March 4, 2016.

The post Samuel L. Jackson Joins Tim Burton’s ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ appeared first on /Film.

The information in the graphic above is now incorrect. After the landmark deal between Sony and Marvel late Monday night bringing Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including a new movie on July 28, 2017, Disney has announced they’ve pushed the third Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok, to November 3, 2017. That’s the day Black Panther was coming out. So that film has moved, too, as have Inhumans and Captain Marvel. Find out the new Marvel release dates below.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Black Panther now comes out July 6, 2018 taking over for Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel now takes the place of Inhumans on November 2, 2018 and Inhumans opens July 12, 2019, potentially making it the first film of Phase Four as Avengers Infinity War Parts 1 and 2 remain the same.

What does this really mean? Not much. 2017 is so far away that most of these movies barely have a script, let alone anything else. The only new actor attached is Chadwick Boseman, who now has to wait a few more months for his moment in the spotlight, but we’ll see him in Captain America: Civil War in 2016.

What that July 28, 2017 release date for Spider-Man guarantees though is Spider-Man will be part of Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and 2. That’s literally the dream fans have had for years — to see Spider-Man and the Avengers side by side. It’s happening.

As for Inhumans, it kind of makes sense that they’re movie is to come out after Infinity War Part 2. That’s a whole new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase Four. What’s not quite right is that movie has begun to be set up by not only Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Agents of SHIELD. We’re now four plus years out from an Inhumans movie and you can see them on you TV every week. Odd, but a small price to pay to bring in Marvel’s biggest superhero.

Lots going on here. What do you think of the new Marvel release dates?

The post Disney And Marvel Totally Revamp Schedule to Make Room for MCU ‘Spider-Man’ appeared first on /Film.

You can add a few more entries to the long list of comic book movies due in the next few years, as Sony Pictures has revealed its plans for the Spider-Man franchise. As suggested in emails leaked during the recent hacking scandal, the studio has work...

This is how it starts: you feel bad seeing the robot "dog" get kicked, and the next thing you know it's nipping at your heels, pushing you back to work in the salt mines. Instead of using the film and TV trope to illustrate how morally bankrupt a vil...

Samsung and Microsoft announced that they have put an end to their dispute over Android royalty payments. Terms of the agreement are confidential. Here is the full text of the joint release from the two tech giants: "Samsung and Microsoft are pleased to announce that they have ended their contract dispute in U.S. court as well as the ICC arbitration. Terms of the agreement are confidential." Microsoft took Samsung to court in August last year after the Korean giant stopped payments of Android royalties. Samsung argued that the acquisition of Nokia made Microsoft a direct competitor. An end of the legal dispute means that Samsung might return to making Windows-powered smartphones. Last month, a word got out that the manufacturer is keen on making affordable handsets, which utilize Microsoft's mobile platform. Source...

In a year with so many great metal performances, the Grammy winners for the "Best Metal Performance" are... <b>Tenacious D</b>. What?! Yes, indeed. They win with their version of the track "The Last In Line" which was recorded for the <i>Ronnie James Dio - This Is Your Life</i> tribute album. The other nominees were <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=35&bandname=Anthrax>Anthrax</a>, <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=349&bandname=Mastodon>Mastodon</a>, <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=217&bandname=Mot%26ouml%3Brhead>Motörhead</a> and <a href=/bands/band.php?band_id=1106&bandname=Slipknot>Slipknot</a>. <a href="/events/news_comments.php?news_id=25674>Read more...</a>

Three years ago, Belgium's Wolfgang Reip and Germany's Florian Strauss were likely at home, speeding around famous racetracks on their PlayStations. While being down-right awesome at a popular video game was their primary goal, yesterday they achieve...

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Before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim there was Ultima Underworld, and with your help, a sequel to the highly influential role-playing game could happen. It's called Underworld Ascendant, and perhaps most importantly, the development team is comprised o...