Contagion
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Elliott Gould, Jennifer Ehle, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Chin Han, Griffin Kane, Sanjay Gupta
Release Date: September 9, 2011

Contagion is a movie that showed much promise with its previews and its advertised premise, but in reality it turns into 100 minutes of wasted production opportunities used instead to push stereotypical propaganda at the viewer. With its notable ensemble cast, and a plot device that is not new but has been proven to be popular over the years, the Steven Soderbergh film had huge potential that will do nothing but disappoint the thriller/horror fans expecting an epidemic epic.

I have been quite a big fan of medical thrillers over the years, particularly those that focus on diseases and outbreaks. From stories of crazy Ebola-like viruses to weaponized disease, I’ve been fascinated with the concept both in its reality, and in its use as a plot device in thrillers. I have no rationalization for this attraction: perhaps it was the wonderful conclusion H.G. Wells brought us to in War of the Worlds, or perhaps it is the disease-based plot devices of some of my favorite zombie flicks. Either way, when word came out Soderbergh was taking up the subject; I was thrilled at the prospect. [...]

More a fan of the newest film version of Sherlock Holmes than any other recent adaptation of the character? Like the modern feel he had been given thanks to director Guy Ritchie?

Well, it’s time to bring him to the small screen. Deadline is reporting that CBS has nabbed up the rights to Sherlock Holmes, which will be a modern day take on the “cases of the pipe-smoking private eye.”

As the film franchise continues to grow, as well as the new BBC series continues to build a strong fanbase, the world seems to be clamoring for more and more Sherlock, and it looks like they will be getting just that. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the character, and think that given the right team and cast, this could be a really fantastic series. I’m a huge fan of shows like, say, Criminal Minds, a fellow CBS show, and something that I think is bread kind of out of the Sherlock model. [...]

Series Six of Doctor Who continues, and Team TARDIS find themselves on the mysterious world of Apalapucia, with the Doctor (Matt Smith) promising grand tours of gardens and mountains. However, the Doctor and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) find themselves separated from Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) – and it’s discovered they’re not only separated by distance, but by time itself as Amy is trapped in a faster and separate time stream.

In an effort to rescue Pond, The Doctor uses the TARDIS to track down Amy’s specific time stream – only for Rory to find that although their arrival was successful, Amy has been waiting 36 years to be rescued. Bitter and aged, the old Amy Pond proves to be a cunning warrior, with incredible skills in temporal technology. The unusual situation will position Rory into making some difficult decisions, and into facing some impossible realities.

During TARDISblend 39, we review the events of The Girl Who Waited, becoming one of the best episodes of the current season – perhaps second only to Neil Gaiman‘s The Doctor’s Wife. Written by Tom MacRae, the adventure flips the situations for many of the characters, as we see further hints of the Doctor’s darker side [...]

Rumors of a Ghostbusters 3 have come and gone so often that most people just don’t even pay attention to them anymore. So until we know for sure whether we’ll actually ever get it or not, why not go and see the classic original 1984 movie on the big screen?

On the official Ghostbusters Facebook page, it was announced that the movie would have another theatrical run next month—the first time you’ll be able to catch it the way it was first seen in over 25 years.

An exact date and how many screens the movie will run on is not yet known, but a trailer for the re–release is online and can be seen at the Facebook link below. [...]

Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Xbox 360 I PS3 I PC
DEVELOPER: Eidos Montreal
PUBLISHER: Square Enix
RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011

The Deus Ex franchise has been a favorite of gamers everywhere since the first title arrived in the year 2000. Its sequel, Invisible War, wasn’t quite as well–received as the original, but an impact was surely made with the two games. So, as you might have imagined, when a third game in the series was announced fans were elated.

The new game, titled Deus Ex: Human Revolution, is the first since 2003 and is a prequel set in 2027, 25 years before the events of the original game occurred. It follows Adam Jensen, the head of security for Sarif Industries headquarters in Detroit. The company specializes in the booming human augmentation field, replacing lost or damaged human limbs and organs with powerful new robotic replacements.

The game opens with a couple of cinematic sequences before picking up with Jensen and his ex–girlfriend, Dr. Megan Reed, who are preparing to set off on a trip to Washington D.C. to show off their research. [...]

27: Second Set #1
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Renzo Podesta
Cover by W. Scott Forbes
Image Comics
Release date: September 14, 2011
Price: $3.99

Guitarist William Garland is back to playing music once again, but not to the level of fame where he once was.

In 27: Second Set Issue #1, William Garland returns to his former life: playing guitar and being passionate about the music. Unfortunately, Garland isn’t as famous as he once was. He thinks his life is just as bad as when he couldn’t play guitar at all. Garland craves the fame of being known and wants it badly. When an accident happens with the magical contraption built into his chest, Garland uses its power to catapult himself back into the limelight but unknowingly catches the eyes of a villain.

The previous 27 miniseries was a favorite of mine earlier this year and I was hoping for another volume of the series. I got my wish. 27: Second Set is an excellent start to what seems to be another thrilling ride. William Garland seems to be obsessed with getting back to his famous status that he once claimed, but is causing a lot of road bumps along the way [...]

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The conclusion to Torchwood: Miracle Day has arrived, and finds the Torchwood team split into two groups – one heading to Shanghai, the other to Buenos Aires. They are tracking down the Triangle Families, and what they discover will lead them to the enigmatic Blessing.

Determined to remove their unethical hold on a newfound power, Torchwood makes their move against the Families – but the mission may cost them their lives this time, and for Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), the cost may very well be in blood.

During TARDISblend 38, we review the events of The Blood Line, and examine the outcome of Miracle Day for the Torchwood team, particularly the impact on Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer). We look into many unanswered elements of the series, including the mysterious Blessing, and how it may tie in to certain creatures below the surface of the Earth encountered in Doctor Who [...]

From a TV Western to one directed by Quentin Tarantino. Can’t get much better than that if you are actor Gerald McRaney.

The former co-star of Deadwood (George Hearst in seasons two and three of that brilliant HBO masterpiece), McRaney has joined the cast of Tarantino’s upcoming film, Django Unchained, in a yet to be declared role.

Having read the film’s script, one is able to safely assume that he’ll play one of the various slave owners that the team of Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz will face on their journey to not only take as many of them out as possible, but also free the former’s character’s wife, which honestly, is a perfect role for the guy. The script is an absolute killer, particularly in its ability to blend Western trappings with Tarantino’s love of style and narrative, making this easily one of the most anticipated films currently being worked on [...]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #1
Written by Joss Whedon
Pencils by Georges Jeanty
Inks by Dexter Vines
Colors by Michelle Madsen
Letters by Richard Starkings, Jimmy Betancourt
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 14, 2011
Cover Price: $2.99

When I was given the chance to review Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #1 a week or so ago, I was so excited. I am a huge fan of the Buffy-verse and am always excited when a new issue of this comic drops. Then I realized I needed a refresher on the last season, so the reading began… I’m happy to say that I finally finished rereading it and it helped put this first issue of Season 9 in perspective.

Immediately, the reader is thrown into the story and like many issues of the last series, this one really reads like a television program, with lots of flashbacks and memories, switching of scenes, and so on. The premise of this issue is to reunite the characters after the end of last season. Just like the show, it starts off with sort of a shaky start on what’s going on and proceeds to fill in some of the blanks, so to speak. [...]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents: “Manos” The Hands of Fate
DVD
Directed by Joel Hodgson, Hal Warren
Starring Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, Frank Conniff, Mike Nelson
Release Date: September 13, 2011

“Well… just in case you forgot, ladies and gentlemen… ‘Manos’: The Hands of Fate.”

Yes folks, it’s the movie that is often voted as not only the worst movie ever mocked by the valiant crew of the Satellite of Love, but also the worst movie ever made PERIOD. A movie so bad that everyone involved in its making either died of shame or vanished from the face of the earth. A movie so godawful that it provided the basis for the single greatest episode of one of the best television shows in the history of civilization. Now it’s back on DVD in a two-disc set devoted entirely to this movie and the classic of cathode comedy that brought it back from the bring of obscurity. It’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents: “Manos” The Hands of Fate, and yes, the quotation marks around Manos are intentional.

Once more Joel Robinson (Joel Hodgson, creator of the show) and his robot companions Tom Servo (Kevin Murphy) and Crow T. Robot (Trace Beaulieu) are forced to endure the endless horrors of some of cinema history’s greatest mistakes as part of an experiment conducted by the evil Dr. Clayton Forrester (Beaulieu) and his good-natured comic relief assistant TV’s Frank (Frank Conniff). Trapped on the orbiting platform the Satellite of Love, Joel and the Bots try to make the best of a lousy situation by mercilessly mocking the films they must watch as part of the routine of their reality [...]

Moriarty, Vol. 1: The Dark Chamber
Written by Daniel Corey
Art by Anthony Diecidue
Letters and Design by Dave Lanphear
Colors (Issues 3 and 4) by Perry Freeze
Image Comics
Release Date: September 14th, 2011
Cover Price: $14.99

In all of fiction, every classic hero has at least one villain who distinguishes themselves above all others. Victories over classic villains are what makes our heroes necessary in the first place, and in time, each character becomes defined by the other’s presence. One such landmark pairing, that of the detective Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty, has survived several decades and has seen portrayal in many mediums. In Image Comics Moriarty Vol. 1: The Dark Chamber, writer Daniel Corey examines the world surrounding the erstwhile antagonist after his counterpart’s demise.

In the world of Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes has been dead for twenty years, and the seeds of World War I have been sewn. James Moriarty’s station in life has changed, feeling lost after Holmes’ death. He had thought he wanted the world, but without Holmes around to validate his scheming, he turns to a quieter, disaffected life on the fringe of the underground to pass the time. A man by the name of ‘Smith’ uncovers Moriarty and charges him with locating Mycroft Holmes, brother to Sherlock and lynchpin in a layered, fantastical mystery. On his journey, Moriarty must retread much of his past, make allies of old enemies, and decipher who and what it is that has everyone so scared of the name Tartarus [...]

Each and every week “The Garden State Stud” Henchman21 and “The Pencil-Neck” MK2FAC3 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible… theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of September 14, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

No jokes this week. It’s all about serious business. I want to throw out that a lot of great DC books are coming out this week and I chose one, and Chris chose another. But it’s worth noting that I am really looking forward to Batwoman and Demon Knights, as well. We’re making a real attempt here to put a spotlight on a lot of either the lesser known, lower selling books from publisher, or straight up creator owned works. We’re all excited about this gigantic DC Relaunch, whether we love them or not, it’s exciting. But it’s extremely important for all of you to know that there are other books out there that could really use the attention, so if you’ve never listened to us before, please do so here. It’s a great time for comics, and it’s time for everybody to expand their horizons [...]

Steven Spielberg was in attendance at last night’s Los Angeles Times Hero Complex 30th anniversary screening of his seminal adventure epic Raiders of the Lost Ark, the film that introduced Indiana Jones to the world and cemented Harrison Ford‘s movie star status, and at a post-screening Q & A the Academy Award-winning filmmaker took time to address a topic that has been on film fans’ minds over the past few weeks.

During the Q&A, in which Harrison Ford made a surprise guest appearance, Spielberg fielded questions about the status of the E.T. and the Indiana Jones movies on Blu-ray. The director hinted that both releases were in the works, but then he polled the audience to see if they would have a problem with only the 1982 theatrical release version of E.T. being released on Blu-ray. The answer from the crowd was a loud and resounding “NO!” Spielberg also revealed that he has no intentions of tinkering with Raiders of the Lost Ark for its eventual Blu-ray either [...]

We knew that DC’s New 52 program would be a sales hit when it was first announced. Too many big name creators on big name characters. Too many new #1 issues which collectors can’t resist. Too much buzz surrounding even the smallest of new series. What we didn’t know was how big of a success the initiative would be, but we are now starting to get an idea.

On DC’s blog The Source, the company announced the sales numbers for Justice League #1, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, and they are pretty good to say the least. Justice League was not only the best-selling title for the month of August, but it’s also the best-selling single issue for all of 2011. The first printing run for Justice League exceeded 200,000 copies and sold out within hours of going on sale, with a second printing selling out within a day. The book is now onto its third printing, only two weeks after its original release [...]

Today’s featured MP3 song of the day over at Amazon today is a previously unreleased live version of Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by the Jimi Hendrix Experience for only $.99 (down from $1.29).

The song is from a live recording of the Jimi Hendrix Experience from October 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, CA from the live album Winterland, released yesterday. The entire album is available in MP3 for $29.99 (41 tracks). There’s also two Amazon exclusive versions: a 5 CD Box Set for $40.99; and 8 LP + 1 CD Box Set for $60.79. The songs on Winterland were taken from six shows recorded over three days (October 10, 11 and 12, 1968) at the Winterland Ballroom, which celebrated the two-year anniversary of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and just as the album Electric Ladyland was released [...]

Criminal Macabre: No Peace For Dead Men
One-Shot
Written by Steve Niles
Art by Christopher Mitten
Colors by Michelle Madsen
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 14, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Full disclosure: I’m a big Steve Niles fan. I loved 30 Days of Night and Wake The Dead, as well as his work on Batman, Spawn, and JSA. His reinvention of one of my favorite characters in the DC universe in The Creeper: Welcome to Creepsville is still one of my comic treasures. So I have to say I was worried when I heard about his Criminal Macabre project. The supernatural private dick angle has been played before, and masterfully so with Hellblazer.

That being said, I’ve always been pleasantly surprised with Criminal Macabre. While Cal McDonald does have certain classic noir elements that would remind you of John Constantine, in place of Constantine’s Cockney con artist and wiseass is a bitter, depressed, and extremely violent detective with little in the way of pathos [...]

Baltimore: The Curse Bells #2
Written by Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola
Art by Ben Stenbeck
Colors by Dave Steward
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release date: September 14, 2011
Price: $3.50

The battle between Lord Henry Baltimore and the creatures of evil continues.

In Baltimore: The Curse Bells #2, Lord Henry Baltimore continues his search for the vampire that ultimately ruined his life: the one-eyed vampire known as Haigus. While searching for Haigus, Baltimore and his new accomplice, Mr. Hodge, investigate a castle that may have evil inhabiting it. While searching the castle, Baltimore comes across a ritual involving a pregnant woman and evil has a plan to raise the dead [...]

The eBook deal of the day today for the Amazon Kindle is Life, the 2011 autobiography by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, for only $3.99 (that’s 60% off the regular price of $9.99).

Note, this deal is valid only for today, Wednesday, September 14, 2011, until midnight PST.

If you’d like to own a physical copy of Life, the book is also available in paperback for $11.10 and hardcover for $17.85.

Richards recently stated that there was talk of bringing his autobiography to the big screen.

The guitarist has lived one wild life, so I can only imagine the kind of drug-filled stories of rock and roll excess that are recounted in his book. For under four bucks, I think it’s worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of the Stones or would like to read about his journey in one of the most famous rock bands in the world since the 1960s [...]

The video game deal of the day over at Amazon today is a promotional credit where when you purchase an Xbox 360 250GB Console with Kinect, you will receive a $50 Amazon credit good toward the purchase of items shipped and sold by Amazon.com.

Note, this deal is valid only for today, September 14, 2011, until 11:59PM EST while supplies last [...]

New and returning stars for The Expendables 2 have been rumored in and out for a while now, with high expectations for most of the cast to return, including Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who both had cameos in the first film.

Now, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, star Sylvester Stallone has not only confirmed returning actors in Schwarzenegger and Willis—who are said to have much bigger parts in the sequel—but also the involvement of a couple of other major action movie stars who have also been whispered about recently: Jean–Claude Van Damme and the one and the only Chuck Norris.

Stallone, who also wrote and directed the first movie, said of the announcement “We’ll have a big showdown between me and Van Damme, which has been anticipated for a long time, so it should be a good one.” Sly is passing up the added work this time around and only starring in the sequel, with Simon West (Con Air, The Mechanic) stepping into the director’s chair. [...]