The CCD Podcast: Episode #71 - The 2nd Annual "Live From St. Mark's Comics" Podcast to Kick OFF NY Super Week & Comic-Con or "I Can't Believe They Asked Us Back!!!"

We here at CCD have been very lucky to have had some great memories and have attended some dope events due to the credibility that the website has given us. Whether it was attending early movie premieres or interviewing nerd celebrities on the main floor at NYCC, it has certainly been a wild ride. But one of the coolest things we ever had the pleasure of doing was hosting our 1st LIVE Podcast to kick off NY Super Week last year at St. Mark's Comics in NYC. It was so great! We got to interview the owner of the shop himself Mitch Cutler, had some of the CCD fam jump on for a minute, and overall had a great show. It was one of CCD's best moments.

Fast forward one year and NYCC is right around the corner again. It has been a big year for us, and we are gearing up for our very own BOOTH on the main floor of NYCC (Booth #222... come see us). But one of the coolest things surrounding this years Super Week & NYCC has to be that Mitch asked us back to host The 2nd Annual LIVE CCD Podcast recording! What an honor. This time we had to step it up, so in addition to interviewing the bossman of St. Mark's himself we sat down with a handful of CCD affiliated artists who will have prints available for sale at our NYCC Booth! It was a great show, and we are so proud of the event... we sure hope St. Mark's asks us to come back for ROUND 3 NEXT YEAR! So sit back and enjoy the ride with Mike D & Jedi Rob as they get you ready for New York Comic Con 2015!!!





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CCD Interviews: Live From The Show Floor Of The 2014 NY Comic Con - Ink Whiskey Steps Up It's Drinking Game... Literally!

In our quest to bring all of you guys who DIDN'T get the chance to come out to the 2014 NY Comic Con the best coverage possible, CCD has always looked for the best and most original booths on the floor to conduct interviews with. So when one encounters a 4 foot high Nintendo cartridge with a sticker for a game called "Drunk Hunt" on it... well, lets just say you got my attention! So after wandering over, I began to realize that those cartridges were not games at all... they were actually FLASKS, made out of replica Nintendo cartridges from the gang over at Ink Whiskey that feature fantastic original artwork for games like 'Legend of the Drink', 'Tetraquila', and 'Fine Ale Fantasy'... yup those names bring back some great memories, right? They even have a special edition 'Gold Plated' version of the 'Legend of the Drink' cartridge in honor of the O.G. Zelda game it is based on. Yup, these guys had one hell of an idea... and they are cool as shit to boot! Check out all their great products over at their webpage, and check out some pics of the cool ass cartridge flasks as well as the video interview we did with owner Matt live from the show floor...

The CCD Podcast: Episode #6 -The Worst Movies Based On TV Shows or 'A Treaties On Miami Mice, The Winter of Your Discontent, and The Ghosts of Aventura Movie Theater Viewings Past.'

We are back in the saddle for Episode #6 of the CCD Podcast. Last time you tuned in we counted down our Top 3 movies adapted from a TV show. It was epic (you can find it here), and we had a great time doing it. But if people LIKE the Top 3 shows, they LOVE the BOTTOM 3 lists even more!!!! So this episode Alicia Gomes, Jedi Rob and Mike D countdown their Top 3 WORST Movies ever adapted from a TV show. Wow, these are some bad ones... but boy was it fun to bash them. We also talk up Marvel Comic's canceling the Fantastic Four book & shunning the X-Men from their 75th anniversary celebration, Jupiter Ascending & the Constantine TV show being pushed back for very different reasons, and just how happy Tommy Lombardozzi will be with Rob's #1 pick! It was a really great time, so make sure you catch the embedded podcast, all the links, and much more bonus content after the jump...



Stream the episode, or follow the links below to subscribe or download.



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This weeks art accompaniment come courtesy of Deviant Art. Out of all the 9 movies we selected as the worst TV adaptions ever, only two had pieces of art dedicated to them on Deviant Art. So enjoy these pieces from their respected artists:

Lost In Space by MJ Bivouac

Bewitched the Remake by Jerome K Moore

A special shout out to The League of Geekz Podcast (thanks for the mention in episode #17 guys) and my main man Sean Hamilton of Create Ink Studios for specifically for spreading the love!!! And also a huge shout out to Sam James for enduring most of the movies we talked about on the podcast with me back in the day!!!

The CCD Podcast: Episode #5 - The Best Movies Based On TV Shows or 'No Vietnamese Children Were Harmed In The Making Of This Podcast'

We are back... we are BACK!!! The CCD Podcast is back in full effect with Episode #5. In honor of 22 Jump Street coming to theaters this week, we decided to discuss the best TV Shows that have been adapted into movies. Jedi Rob had very strict guidelines for this show (no cartoons, no continuations of shows into the movies, etc!) and Mike D & Alicia Gomes try their best to come up with a unique top 3! We also talk about what direction Scott Derrickson will take a Doctor Strange movie, who would be best to play the good Doctor, Josh Brolin as Thanos (and where we might see him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and Robocop throwing out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game! Wow, it was a great episode.... and you can enjoy it now... FREE! Click after the jump for the embedded version of the podcast and all the links you can ever want...



This weeks featured art comes from good friend Tommy Lombardozzi. Enjoy his Doctor Strange & Thanos comicbook backing board piece, as well as much more of his artwork (which is for sale... buy some shit!) by clicking here.

Stream the episode, or follow the links below to subscribe or download.



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Here are a few links that were referred to in Episode #5:

Robocop throwing out first pitch at Tigers game...

Scott Derrickson will direct Doctor Strange... 

Nightmare @ 20,000 Feet Meets 3rd Rock From The Sun...

Godzilla man in suit lays the smack down on cgi 'Zilla'...

The CCD Podcast: Episode #4 - Godzilla & Mac Tonight Walk Into A Bar...

On this edition of the CCD Podcast (#4... can you believe it!) we discuss nerdy news bits like who will be show-running & starring in Marvel and Netflix's Daredevil Show (even more Cox... YEAH!), aging Terminators and why they can't get that franchise right, and Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg's Sausage Party... oh, yeah, we also TALK SOME GODZILLA!!! We review the newest Godzilla installment, remember the golden Toho years & the not so golden 1998 installment, and even work in a Mac Tonight reference. Yup, this episode was off the chain. Just another fun filled trip down the nerdy road with Jeff Bond, Mike D and our host Jedi Rob!
  
Click after the jump for the podcast:

Before we get to the podcast, lets take a look back on two excellent Godzilla pieces from our fallen friend Sean Hartter (RIP buddy):

You can help out Sean's family and own some great pieces of his work (including these above and much more) by clicking here and ordering some prints. Prints are 11 x 17, and normally run $15 bucks... but right now they are TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!!! Order some now, and tell em CCD sent ya!!!

Stream the episode, or follow the links below to subscribe or download.



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The CCD Podcast Episode #3- "Transition Into Cox"

The CCD team is back... we have seen 'Days of Future Past' and have plenty to say about it. We also chat about 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' news, Edgar Wright leaving 'Ant-Man', and Guillermo del Torro's upcoming FX TV show 'The Strain'... and much more nerdy comedic banter. This thing is starting to come along, man... we are getting it together. Make sure you download, listen and share the podcast on all social media platforms!

Click after the jump for the podcast:


Header X-Men art courtesy of Erle Tompkins... full piece below, which can be ordered by clicking here. 

Stream the episode, or follow the links below to subscribe or download.

Next time we'll chat about 'Godzilla', new and old ...along with plenty of other geeky goodness!

Ben Affleck Ain't So Bad For Batman: A Rant by Mike CCD

Soooo... the news broke last night that Ben Affleck is going to be Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel 2. This has been the casting choice that has been hanging in the air for a month since Warner Brothers announced that there would be a Batman appearance in the Superman sequel. This is the movie that is to lay the groundwork for the future DC Comics cinematic universe, and by default set up the team for the Justice League movie that WB wants to get to so bad. And it seems that they have tapped Mr. Gigli himself to don the cowl. Now any comic fan worth their weight in salt knows that Bats & Supes are the cornerstones of any future success DC/WB can ever hope to have... and Man of Steel did do quite well ($650 million worldwide so far!)... so is DC finally on the right track after misfires like Green Lantern and Nolan's Batman trilogy coming to end? Could be... but is Affleck the guy to be the Bat for this whole transition? The general consensus is FUCK NO... and most people are shaking their heads in disgust that Big Ben got the role. They think he will suck it up, ruin everything, and set DC/WB is about to lose any traction they FINALLY gained with Man of Steel. But I think this could be a GOOD thing for the whole future DC Cinematic Universe... and I got some points to prove it. Check out after the jump why I don't think Affleck is all that bad as The Dark Knight....

So here it is in a nutshell... Once again the Internet & fan boys everywhere are over reacting. I honestly believe that this would have been the case with just about anyone who would have gotten the role... so check out my reasons why this ain't all that bad of a development:

Matthew Goode wasn't that bad in Watchman, was he???

1) No One Would Have Been Good Enough -

This is just typical Internet/Fan Boy hate in a nutshell. Bash something, and offer up some other casting choice who would have made a much better choice. Forget about the fact that this is just dumb (you don't know what roles an actor/actress has scheduled that could conflict, or if they even want the fucking role in the first place) and counter productive, but it usually goes like this: Affleck is chosen, and some schmuck says "Fuck Affleck.... Josh Brolin would have been a way better choice!" all over the 'Net. But if they would have picked Brolin, the statement would probably go "Fuck Brolin.... Ben Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms and would be a way better choice!". You can't make these fucking cry babies happy no matter what, so don't bother trying....

Academy Awards are still good... right?

2) Affleck Is A Pretty Good Overall Actor:

Listen... before you start talking about the shitty movies Affleck has made (Reindeer Games anyone?), think about how many GOOD movies he has made. He has been in well over 40 films, most of which he was in the starring role. Sure he has some duds like the aforementioned Reindeer Games, Gigli, and Paycheck... but he is also the guy who killed in The Town, all the Kevin Smith movies he has done (especially Chasing Amy), and Shakespeare In Love. And he has the legendary role of Fred O'Bannion in Dazed & Confused in there as well. Not to mention a little movie called Argo, which he DIRECTED AND STARRED IN!!!! This guy is a really good actor, and the fact that he even WANTS to be Batman is pretty cool in its own right. And before you fucks start getting on me for leaving out Daredevil as a shitty movie that Ben has done, just wait... that piece of junk gets its own reason...

A totally different (and much less shitty) movie

3) Yeah, Daredevil Sucked Balls... BUTTTTTTTTTT:

Daredevil is an easy target, mostly because the film most people saw sucked more dicks than Jenna Jameson. Not to mention that this was Affleck starring in a Super Hero movie... and we don't want to see him fuck up another great comic book character. But there is an interesting aside to the whole Daredevil movie that most people don't actually know about... and it makes a world of a difference. Director Mark Steven Johnson may have produced a steaming pile of shit, yet it might not have been his and Afflecks fault completely. The studio was meddling in every aspect of the filming, and they re-cut, re-wrote and required Johnson to do things he did not want to do with the film. This is apparent in the Director's Cut of the film, which has whole sub plots that were left out of the theatrical movie that make it a completely different film. It is also a much more violent cut (it would have been an R rating instead of PG-13) and focused less on the romance between Daredevil & Electra. I have seen it, I own the Blu Ray of the Director's Cut, and it is pretty much WAY BETTER in every way to the theatrical version. So if you only saw the theatrical version, and you think this is proof that Affleck can't do a super hero justice... well, take a look at the Director's Cut and then get back to me....

One of the best podcasts on the 'Net

4) Affleck Has Some Bat-Friends To Fall Back On:

As Ringo pointed out on 'With A Little Help From My Friends', having some good back up could be enough to put you over the top in any certain situation. Affleck may not ring bells for all Bat Fans... but his boy Kevin Smith sure does. Smith is an authority on all things Batman, has written some great Batman comics (Cacophony is nothing short of perfect), and even hosts a weekly podcast called 'Fatman on Batman' where he discusses his obsession with everything Batty. If Ben was ever gonna reach out to his ole buddy Kev and ask a question about anything, this would be the situation to do so. And this is probably the best person that could possibly offer up any advice to Ben on how to play the character. Kevin Smith knows Batman better than anybody in Hollywood... even better than Nolan. Sure, Nolan made three great Batman movies... but Smith is a true fan and can probably help Ben out. Smith also should have probably reached out to Affleck when he was playing Daredevil (which he didn't) and probably won't let his boy down again...

Never Forget

5) Finally... Chances Are DC IS Gonna Fuck This Whole Situation Up Anyway: 

DC Comics & Warner Brothers have had more false starts and miss steps than anyone with so many can't miss properties in their stable. Think about how many things they fucked up: The first set of Batman movie sequels (nipple suits for everyone), Green Lantern (How do you fuck this up?), Constantine (Keanu Reeves as Hellblazer... WTF?), Catwoman (Halle Berry almost killed the comic book movie industry as we know it) and Jonah Hex (what was this piece of shit?). And all of these fuck ups happened AFTER comic book movies became popular and are pretty much can't miss. These people fucked up Superman for Chrissakes... Superman Returns almost made all real comic fans not even want to go see The Dark Knight!!! People should worry much less about Affleck's choice for the role and be much more concerned with things like who writes the movie and how they are gonna twist it all wrong. Lets get it together guys... Marvel is fucking killing you. Try.. that is all I ask.

Applesauce, Bitch!!!!!

So thats that... see, it ain't all bad. Now talk about all this among yourselves and add your comments below so that we can all bitch about it together!!!! Can't wait to hear what you guys have to say... get in there people!!!!

The Hangover 3: Could This Be The Death of The Sequel As We Know It ??? - A Rant By Mike CCD

Last night was setting up to be one of the best nights I had planned in a while. It started out with L & B pizza for dinner. Any night that includes L & B is a great night... but it was set up to get even better. Tara and I had tickets to go see The Hangover 3... and we couldn't be more excited! I was a huge fan of the first film in the series and is one of Tara & I's earliest movie memories. We laughed so hard in that film that I almost choked to death... literally. So when the second movie came out last year,  we were there opening night... and were promptly disappointed. We both really didn't like the second film. It was a complete re-hash of the first film in every which way: They got drugged again? The baby replaced by the monkey? Chow in the freezer instead of the trunk? Teddy missing instead of Doug? Paul Giamatti giving the gang deadlines instead of Chow? It was a complete re-do, and not nearly done as well. Now I will say that upon further viewings of  The Hangover II I have come to appreciate it. It is still unoriginal and kinda dumb... but it does have some funny parts. I can watch it and smile. Not nearly as good as the original, but a decent comedy. But The Hangover 3? Pure shit. I have never seen a more unfunny film in my life... especially one that was poised to be so great. So is this the death of the sequel craze as we know it???

Please read more after the jump... *** No real spoilers for the Hangover 3, I promise****



Listen, I am a realist. I know Hollywood is not going to stop making sequels. They are cash cows. Instant money on a proven product. The demand is created by the fans who love the original. But they should be saved for action, sci fi & comic book type movies... not comedies and dramas. No fucking reason for it at all. Why you ask? here are a few reasons:

What a sequel is needed for...

1) Action, Sci Fi & Comic Book movies are telling sweeping , multi-part stories that may require more than one movie to tell. Especially if they are adapting a written work. Think of Star Wars... it is such a life long tale of characters (the prequels take Anakin from 5 year old to adult, the original trilogy take Luke from cornball teen to full fledged Jedi Knight). They couldn't be boxed into a 2.5 hour film. The Marvel films come to mind as well. Think of all the layers of the story that culminated in Avengers. Sequels are necessary to tell the full story. But a comedy? No... no fucking reason. Usually comedies are tied up nicely in a little bow... just like Hangover 1 was. why do we need to see more? What can it add?

One of the best scenes ever...

2) Shock & surprise are what makes for the best moments of a comedy. so how do you capture magic in a bottle again? You really can't. My favorite moment of the first Hangover is when they first wake up from the blackout. The chicken roaming around the room. Alan falling all over the place. Stew face down on the marble floor. The tiger in the bathroom. The chaos of the room and them having no fucking idea what happened. And then the baby crying out... it was a perfect 4 minutes, and set up the whole fucking movie by saying "how can it have gotten this bad in just one night?". A perfect moment created by Todd Phillips. But when it happened in the second film, it was like "yeah.. really?". Alan's head was shaved, Stew had the face tattoo... it was amped up a notch and a bit darker, but really it was nowhere near as moving as the first scene. It is a played out joke... and has no such effect. Does it do the job and get the movie started? Yeah, sure... but it does nothing to build momentum. So why bother?

Oh look, we are in an elevator for the third straight movie...

3) After a while people just aren't funny when you know their shtick. In the first movie I was blown away by Alan's stupidity and childlike behavior. He was hysterical for me. By the third movie, it becomes stupid. The movie opens with him driving down the freeway with a giraffe in a trailer. It wasn't shocking or funny... just kinda dumb. Leslie Chow was one of the funniest cameo characters ever created in the history of cinema. But by the third film he is a caricature of himself, which was originally an over the top caricature. How many times is Ed Helms going to screech in terror? We get it, your a dentist and easy scared because your the timid one. And how many times is Bradley Cooper going to get hit and scream out "Awww, what the fuck?". He is always getting the physical brunt of the gang's nonsense and always says the same fucking thing. You gotta be a bit more creative in writing dialogue than a simple catch phrase like that, no? And how many times is Doug going to be missing/out of the action? It is just dumb at this point. And could you waste anymore fantastic actors in cameos? Paul Giamatti in the second one and John Goodman in the third are both the exact same character, both of whom are nothing compared to the hysterical Chow of the the first film that they are supposed to be emulating. It is lazy, unoriginal, and a clear cash grab by the studio and the filmmaker/writers/actors. And frankly, it sucks.

The Emperor is not impressed, and neither were we...

I was sitting there as the film opened and I was super excited. The prison break sequence had me on the edge of my seat and I was ready for something hysterical. All I got was a melodrama that provided me with a few chuckles at best. To call this a comedy is an insult to any comedy ever written. It was plain unfunny, wack, and killed any good will that the characters gained in the first two films. It is not even close to the second film... and the second film is a shell of the first film. So how do you even compare the first film to the third one. You can't. I hope Hollywood takes a good hard look at this and realizes that the sequel should be used only in certain circumstances. Comedies should never be one of them. I saw Iron Man 3 last week and I loved it. sequels can be good when done well.  Thanks for fucking up a classic comedy Hollywood.... now lets focus on trying to get more original comedies like the original Hangover made in the future!!!    

Mike D's Top Ten Most Anticipated Movies Of Summer 2013

So... it seems to have been that time of the year again. The summer movie season is set to open this year with Iron Man 3 on May 3rd. A per usual, there are an obscene amount of tentpole flicks (The Lone Ranger, World War Z, etc), sequels (Iron Man 3, Kick Ass 2, The Hangover 3,etc) and animated fare (Despicable Me 2, Monsters U, Turbo, etc). So once again I know I will be really busy at the theater for the next four months. But I decided to highlight ten movies that I really am anticipating... all original works, all first cracks at a movie lover like myself. Sure, I will be there for Iron Man, Hangover, etc.... but these are the ones that I am really looking forward to. Lets see how it all plays out in September... check out my list after the jump...



Here is my list in order of my interest:

10) The Conjuring - July 19th

This is a paranormal research story that is based on true accounts. It is directed by James Wan (Saw & Insidious) and it stars Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson. Wilson was great in Insidious, so I can't wait to see him work with Wan. Farmiga has done awesome in The Bates Motel, so i am looking forward to seeing her in a feature length horror role. This one looks spooky as shit...

9) The Bling Ring - June 14th

This one comes ripped straight from the headlines and is directed by Sofia Coppola (love her). It tells the story of four wild L.A. teens and the theft rampage that they went on, robbing celebrity houses. The real story involved thefts at Rachel Bilson, Paris Hilton, and many others... Plus this one gives us a grown up Hermoine (Emma Watson) in the lead, so I am in right away.

8) The To Do List - August 16th

You now how teenage comedies about losing virginity always revolve around boys? Yeah... not anymore. Aubrey Plaza is a valedictorian of her High School, and she is desperate to figure out the A,B,C's of sex. so she decides to take a methodical approach that has worked so well for her in her studies: she makes a to do list and checks them off as she completes them. The list is filled with sexual acts (think about things like a Dirty Sanchez & Hooking The Marlin) and will probably lead to hilarity. Plus Plaza can get it...

7) After Earth - June 7th

I am being optimistic about this one, and part of that is because of the director M. Night Shayamalan. no, not because of his track record. i loved his earlier films, but I truly believe that The Happening is the single worst movie ever made. Ever. But since he has been on a down swing in his career, he needs this one... bad. Plus the studio is keeping his name off of the adverts and credits during teh trailers for the film, instead allowing the lush scenery and potential of the Smith boys (father Will & son Jayden) carrying the audience's interest in the film. The action looks great, and Night is due for a hit... we shall see.

6) Maniac - June 21st

Elijah Wood is in this remake of the 80's classic horror film. I know I said that this list would consist of no sequels or remakes, but this one is a must see for me as the original is a huge part of my childhood. plus Wood was super fucking creepy as Kevin in Sin City, so this is right up his alley. Love me some non mainstream horror paying homage to classics....

5) R.I.P.D. - July 19th

Ryan Reynolds. Jeff Bridges. Mary Louise Parker. Based on a beloved indy comic. Yeah, I will be first in line to see this. When a cop is killed in the line of duty, they are given a choice. They can go to heaven/hell (whichever they are destined for) or they can join the Rest In Peace Department for 100 years of service, keeping rouge criminal spirits & ghosts in line. Recently killed cop Reynolds decides to join, and is partnered with grizzled veteran Bridges (who is in the last year of his 100 years of service, so is an Old West lawman.) Madness ensues. Think Men in Black with a sprinkle of Ghostbusters.    

4) The Purge - May 31st

America is nearly perfect in this movie. Crime is non existent. Unemployment is down under 1%. everyone is prospering. How you ask? Well, one night a year all crime is legal. It is called The Purge, and it allows all people to take out any frustrations they have. They can take those feelings out in the worst ways possible... and boy is it helpful! But when a family locks in for the night and one of their teenagers decides to lend a hand to a guy being chased by a group of murders, Ethan Hawke's family becomes part of the murder plot due to their harboring of the target. This is a great concept and I hope it is pulled off...

3) The World's End - August 23rd

Simon Pegg. Nick Frost. Martin Freeman.  All starring in a movie from Edgar Wright. 5 buddies reunite to complete an epic 12 bar Pub Crawl that they started years earlier but never completed. Now that they are older, wiser and drink much more they are planning to get it done. But there might be one problem with that... Aliens? Monsters? Movie critics? The secret of the movies villain has not been revealed, but i for one will be right there to see it all play out...

2) This Is The End - June 12th

Real life friends James Franco, Jay Burcel, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Jonah hill, and Craig Robertson all star in this film as themselves. They are rich, young, and the toasts of Hollywood. They are all super successful. And when they get together for a party at Franco's house, it is just another party night for the crew. Or is it? Aliens invade, the end of the world is at hand... and these pampered idiots now must survive the post apocalyptic world that is left. With tons of guest stars, this meta comedy is almost my most anticipated film of the summer. The distinction goes to...

1) Pacific Rim - July 12th

Holy shit i can't wait to see this movie. Guillermo Del Torro always has my attention, but when you make up a movie about giant robots fighting huge kaiju monsters. Sprinkle in Charlie Hunan (Sons of Anarchy) and Idris Elba (The Wire & Luther), some unbelievable realistic looking robots, and the best looking giant monsters I have ever seen and you got summer hit written all over it! If there was ever a reason to see a movie in IMAX 3-D, this is it. I'm in....

Honorable Mention: You're Next & All the Boys Love Mandy Lane -

I chose these two movies because they are finally getting released after laying in release date hell. All the Boys was filmed back in 2006 and you're Next back in 2010... but the companies that made them went bankrupt. So they bounced around and now have the proper backers, and both are finally coming out. Good to see these films actually getting a proper release...