Will 'John Wick' Put Keanu Back On The Action Movie Map?

There used to be a clear cut definition of the calender when it came to movie releasing. Studios put out their garbage and postponed movies from the previous year from Feb-May, June to Aug was Summer Blockbuster Season, October was horror movie release month, and Nov through Jan was Award Season release and rewards (the movies that win get rewarded with long post Oscar runs into Feb). It was pretty set in stone, and rarely did studios vary from this formula. So Feb-May and the month of Sept-Oct were dumping grounds for unsure products. But now Summer movie season has been pushed back to the END OF APRIL... and Awards season is following suit by releasing films in the wee weeks of September for your consideration. Studios are even getting huge hits in March & April with movies like 300... so it doesn't really matter anymore WHEN a movie is coming out. So when I heard about Keanu Reeves new hit man movie 'John Wick', a movie releasing on October 24th, for the first time in mid September I got a bit nervous. This must be a crap film, a dump... right? But it took just a 2.5 minute trailer to convince me otherwise. This movie is not going to be a summer blockbuster... nor will it be Oscar bait. So why not squeeze what looks like a cool, competent movie right in the middle of those two seasons? I think this movie can be a great one for Reeves, and even though it might not make mad money it will do a lot for his cred. And what a great supporting cast: Adrianne Palicki, Bridgette Moynahan, Ian McShane, Willem Dafoe, John Leguizamo, and Alfie 'Theon Geryjoy' Allen himself.... wow! Need more proof? Check out the trailer for yourself before you judge...

Just Another Reason For Me To Love Simon Pegg....

I adore Simon Pegg and everything he has done professionally. I also feel like he is a true "geek" in his own personal life and loves the culture as only a true fan from childhood can. So when he appeared on Sirius Radio's show 'Unmasked' and relayed a story about the first time he showed his 3 year old daughter A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, it juts drives home the point that he is someone who "gets it" and should be looked towards for opinions by big wigs on what geeks may want to be included/excluded from projects to come. Check out the story after the jump and how it may have influenced JJ Abrams in his production choices for Star Wars VII (a movie that Pegg is not even billed as appearing in!). I love this man....



So apparently, when he sat down to watch Empire with his daughter and Yoda came on the screen this is the exchange between them that occurred:

When he appears, I saw her sort of sit up. She looked at the screen and then she looked at me and then she looked back at the screen and she watched it for a bit. And then she said – ‘Daddy, he’s real!’ And I kind of like burst out crying. I was like – ‘You’re my child!’ And it’s because he’s there. He’s there interacting with Mark Hamill. Even if he was CG, we’d still know he wasn’t really there because he’s a sort of a little long-eared alien. But the fact that it was a puppet who’s existing in the same space as Mark Hamill, talking to him, it made her believe in him in a way that CG would never do.”

OH. MY. GOD. What a perfect way to raise a child, and the validation of her saying this has to make you feel good as a geek parent. But it gets better.

Apparently on a set visit to SW VII, he met up with his friend JJ Abrams. Pegg relayed the story to JJ, and JJ used that story as part of his argument with the big wigs and executives for more practical effects and puppets over full on CGI. Abrams had been making the case for practical effects all along, but Pegg's story literately put a face to the feelings and may have been the reason why they ultimately allowed JJ to do his thing.

When Pegg finally got the chance to visit the Star Wars set (and possibly shoot a role in the movie, depending on who you believe), the actor was approached by some of the puppeteers, who identified him as “the guy whose daughter saved Star Wars.”
“I know that J.J. had always planned to do that,” Pegg said of the new film’s use of practical effects, “but it was a nice little validation of that impulse, I think, to have a child of that age say that.”

Wow. Imagine being that kid.... her timely and TRUE comments may have helped save the new Star Wars films.... Congrats Simon, you got a good egg right there!!!  

The CCD Podcast: Episode #20.5 - 'No Holds Barred' .5 Movie Review or "And Now Introducing... DEBOOOOOO!!!!"

No Holds Barred is one of the greatest hot messes to ever make it to the movie screen. At the height of the WWF's success in 1989, Vince McMahon put his biggest star Hulk Hogan in a movie that the WWF produced. They also introduced ole Debo himself, Zeus aka Tiny Lister. And that is where the wheels really come off.... this madcap wrestling flick is one of the late 80s greatest gems... so Jedi Rob, Steve and Joey Esq break it on down for ya. A small, short, .5 episode for that ass... What ya gonna do, when Hulk let's those 24 inch PYTHONS loose on you!!!!


Please head over to ITunes and Subscribe, Download, Listen and SHARE on your favorite social media outlet... we need you! Also, please write a quick review over on ITunes and let us know what you think of the show thus far!!!


Follow the CCD Podcast Instagram & Facebook... it's tons of nerdy fun!!!

The CCD Podcast: Episode #20 - The Best 'Back to School' Movies Ever or "Back To School, Back To School... To Prove To Rob That Mike D's Not A Fool"

It is the time of year that we dreaded as kids... it is time to head back to school! Kids everywhere are headed back to the classroom, and they are not very happy about it. Hollywood has never been shy on shining the light on the educational system and those involved in it on any level, so we here at the CCD Podcast decided to take a trip down memory lane reminiscing about the best 'Back to School' movies ever. Jedi Rob is joined in The Nerd Cave by Mike D & the lovely Alicia Gomes, and we go through the classics: Billy Madison, Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club, Clueless, and many many more. So no matter how old you are, it is always good to think back on the magical days of school time. No grab a Snack Pack and check out the podcast & this weeks art after the jump....



This weeks art, courtesy of Deviant Art as per usual:

3 O'Clock High by Mike 313

Clueless by Feliesje

No More Yanky on My Wanky by GattaDonna

That's Quacktastic by Zombie Giraffe

Please head over to ITunes and Subscribe, Download, Listen and SHARE on your favorite social media outlet... we need you! Also, please write a quick review over on ITunes and let us know what you think of the show thus far!!!


Follow the CCD Podcast Instagram & Facebook... it's tons of nerdy fun!!!

The ABC's Of Death 2 Gets A Red Band Trailer... Yup, This Looks Even More Fucked Up Then The First One!

Good lawd.... The ABC's of Death was an interesting take on a anthology horror film. 26 directors took there shots in 2-5 minute short film that could be in any medium possible. The only thing they all had in common was that they all were given a letter, and they must chose a word to describe the type of death that would be featured in their segment. Like A is for Apocalypse, B is for Bigfoot... you get the idea. The direct to VOD release was a huge success and the word of mouth behind it made it spread like wild fire. Sure, some of the segments were great and some sucked... they all weren't for everyone. But they were all pretty good, and very original. It was also cool to see all the type of mediums the directors used, as well as the different style of directing from segment to segment. So like any good horror film that is successful, it is getting a sequel. The ABC's of Death 2 features 26 new directors for another trip down the alphabet... and these look even better (by better I mean more bizarre and sicker) than the original. I can get behind this... the film will be released on VOD on October 2nd, and will also have a limited theatrical run around Halloween. Will you be checking it out? Check out the red band trailer after the jump...

The CCD Podcast: Episode 19.5 - Ghostbusters Review or "The 30th Anniversary Of The Greatest Movie Of Our Generation Is Upon Us!!!"

Ghostbusters.... wow, what really needs to be said about this classic movie? Nothing I can think of saying could even begin to do it justice. On the eve of it's 30th Anniversary and re-release for a short time in theaters, we here at the CCD Podcast decided to throw down a quick .5 episode singing the praises of one the best movies ever made. For 80's babies, like us, it is the pinnacle. So please allow Jedi Rob, Mike D and the lovely Alicia Gomes to  gush a bit about one of the greatest comedies of ALL TIME!!!


Please head over to iTunes where you can Subscribe, Download, Listen and SHARE the show on all your favorite social media platforms!!!





Follow the CCD Podcast Instagram & Facebook... it's tons of nerdy fun!!!

Takin You Back… Way Back: Spiral Zone by Joe Esq

Well, well, well, what have we here? Another installment of my award winning (in my head) column, Taking You Back… Way Back. That’s right kids; I’m thawed out of carbon freeze, and ready to drop some more obscure 80’s toy knowledge on your heads. This time around I’m tackling Tonka’s 1987 foray into the boy’s action figure market, Spiral Zone. Ride into the Zone with me, after the jump…

I have to confess, I’m coming at you guys with literally no preconceived notions or personal knowledge of what Spiral Zone is all about. Actually, that’s not quite true; for some reason I can still sing the cartoon theme song, even though I have no recollection of ever actually seeing the show, and I know I never owned any of the toys. Anyway, apparently not satisfied with manufacturing giant metal blunt-force trauma inducing trucks and construction vehicles, Spiral Zone was Tonka’s attempt at getting a piece of the already crowded 1987 boy’s toy market.

YOU!

'87 was a weird year for action figures. Out of the big lines of the 80’s, Star Wars toys were already relegated to the discount aisle; G.I. Joe became a lot less realistic and a lot more strange and colorful (Cobra-lalalalalalalala); Transformers got more gimmicky by introducing Headmasters and Targetmasters; the Masters of the Universe line was petering out, even with the movie characters and Preternia dinosaurs being added to the mix; and Thundercats was on its last wave of figures, also about to vanish into nerd-nostalgia obscurity. The Ninja Turtles were still a year away, and one would think that the field was ripe for some new properties to grab a nice chunk of the market. Spiral Zone was not one of those properties… unfortunately so, because according to my research, Spiral Zone seemed like it could have been pretty cool. Especially if you're into color-coordinated teams.

Spiral Zone, the story of two futuristic dodgeball teams

Spiral Zone was a science-fiction story set in 2007. Rogue military scientist Dr. James Bent, hijacks a space shuttle and drops his deadly Zone Generators across half of the Earth. This creates a region called the Spiral Zone (due to its shape). The area infected by the Zone has dark skies, and a proliferation of “zone spores” growing all around. The people trapped in the Spiral Zone are transformed by the spores into "Zoners"; (essentially zombies) with lifeless yellow eyes and red patches on their faces. Because they have no will to resist, Dr. Bent – who now calls himself Overlord - makes them his slave army and controls them from the antenna on the Chrysler Building. His followers call themselves the Black Widows. They are Bandit (a Middle-Eastern terrorist master of disguise), Duchess Dire (an assassin and criminal mastermind), Razorback (an expert with bladed weapons), and Reaper (a former bounty hunter). The Widows are immune to the effects of the Spiral Zone because of a special device called the Widow Maker (clever!). However, due to prolonged exposure to the Zone, they also share the same visual effects as Zoners. Overlord’s goal is the typical 80’s villain fare - conquer the world by bringing everyone under control with the Zone Generators. The Zones feed off "human energy", which is a neat way to explain why Bent does not kill anyone inside.

Odd that the Black Widows wore primarily red and green

Overlord's initial strike puts all the major capitals of the world under the influence of the Spiral Zone. The chaos caused by this leads to international cooperation, even between the United States and the Soviet Union (remember kids, this before Rocky Balboa ended the Cold War). To counter the effects of the Zone bacteria, British scientists create a rare material called Neutron-90. Of course, only a limited amount of Neutron-90 is remaining in the world after the British government orders the destruction of the only laboratory where the material is produced for some reason (goddam limeys). Only enough Neutron-90 remains to build combat suits for five specially-trained soldiers called the Spiral Force, also known as the "Zone Riders." Commander Dirk Courage - the Zone Riders leader from the United States (apparently, his parents, like the parents of most 80’s toy heroes, knew he would grow up to lead the Zone Riders when they named him); Master Sergeant Tank Schmidt - a heavy weapons specialist from West Germany (a heavy weapons soldier named Tank! Ha!); Lieutenant Hiro Taka - an infiltration specialist from Japan; 2nd Lieutenant Max Jones - a special mission expert from the U.S.; and Corporal Katerina Anastacia - medical officer from the USSR.

 As the series went on, the Zone Riders discovered that there is still enough Neutron-90 left over from assembling the five suits, to build two additional suits. They are issued to Australian demolition specialist Lieutenant Ned Tucker, and field scientist Lieutenant Benjamin Davis Franklin. Also, French scientist Jean Duprey and truck driver Richard Welt would later join the Black Widows. They were codenamed Crook and Raw Meat, respectively.

"Zone Riders" is a much cooler name than the Spiral Force, incidentally

The toys themselves were essentially 7” dolls. Tonka (taking a cue from what Hasbro did with Transformers) licensed the toy rights from Bandai. The figures had cloth uniforms and plastic armor. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled before the figures of Anastacia, Tucker, Franklin, Black Crook and Raw Meat could be made, but they were planned, as was a Zone Generator playset (prototypes were shown in Tonka's 1988 catalog). The figures were also highly detailed, but were not as articulated as the Japanese versions. Each figure came with a special audio cassette tape too. It’s notable that there were more villains than good guys released in the first wave of figures as this is extremely unusual for pretty much any toy line ever.

Apparently General Grevious was a Spiral Zone fan

The vehicles were large and cool-looking. Commander Courage drove the Rimfire Cannon, that wheel-looking thingy that suspiciously resembles General Grevious’s vehicle from those “Star Wars” movies. Overlord drove the Bullwhip Cannon, which is that thing with the eight wheels. The other two vehicles, the Zone Rider Cycle and the Sledgehammer Tank were the non-leader figures means of transport. The Zone Rider Cycle is easily the coolest of all of these for my money. They also released eight weapons packs and six alternate outfits err, uhh uniforms... in case you want to play dress up with your Spiral Zone dolls, Mary.

I’m going to have Overlord put on his swank purple number before he conquers the planet!

Despite the series being developed by none other than J. Michael Straczynski (under the pseudonym Fettes Grey), and being supported by a cartoon that ran 65 episodes, and a DC comic book that lasted 4 issues, Spiral Zone became yet another property interred in the cemetery of forgotten 80’s toy. And, if you’ve been following TYB… WB, then you probably have already figured out why. These things were large, and as a result took up lots of shelf space, meaning stores were less willing to stock them. Sure Thundercats were larger, but they were blister carded and could be hung on hooks. Spiral Zone figures came in a bulky box, which took away valuable real estate from better-selling lines. The larger size also meant a larger price point, which means parents are automatically steered away. I’ve been beating this drum for many articles now, but when you can get five or six G.I. Joe figures for the price of one Spiral Zone doll, it’s a no-brainer for wallet-conscious adults (a.k.a. chiselers).

Additionally, let’s be realistic, after nearly a decade of being accustomed to action figures NOT being dolls, Spiral Zone didn’t catch on because well, they were. And, they were really bland and boring to look at besides. All the accessories and posh outfits notwithstanding, all of those figures up there look like slightly different versions of the same two guys. At a time when G.I. Joe was getting way brighter and more colorful, this just wasn’t going to fly. It's not only bad for aesthetic-conscious kids but also for semi-disinterested grown-ups, who aren't going to take the time to tell two nearly identical toys apart. They're just not going to buy one figure that looks just like the other, thinking they're the same. Thus died another toy line... which is a shame because if nothing else, Spiral Zone at least had a catchy theme song!

  

And, if you ain't up on things, here are the previous editions of Takin You Back... Way Back

TYB... WB: Speed Round (vol. I)
TYB... WB: Speed Round (vol. II)
TYB... WB: He-Man Knockoffs
TYB... WB: Speed Round (vol. III)
TYB... WB: Bravestarr
TYB... WB: Supernaturals
TYB... WB: Bionic Six
TYB... WB: Inhumanoids
TYB... WB: Godaiken
TYB... WB: Wheeled Warriors
TYB... WB: C.O.P.S.

JoeyEsq is a practicing attorney, a non-practicing geek, and when he's not in the Spiral Zone getting Duchess Dire to try on different outfits, he can be found complaining about things and trying to be funny on his own blog, Perpetual Dissatisfaction