WEDNESDAY WHIMSY

By @hmsbeefnuts

Hello friends, come in, sit down, ice cold glass of Vimto? Welcome to another edition of Wednesday Whimsy, with me Hmsbeefnuts. In this weeks exciting episode… well, I haven’t really planned anything to be honest. I’m writing this on Tuesday morning, the day before I need to post this up, and as I type, I have literally no idea what word will be formed on my laptops screen next, how exciting! Lets just see how it goes shall we?

This month I have not been to the cinema too often, mainly due to the lack of decent films that came between The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises. I did see The Amazing Spider-Man again, and I didn’t hate it as much the second time, although, it was still a pale comparison to the awesome Sam Raimi films, yes, even Spider-Man 3. I obviously saw The Dark Knight opening day, but only in boring normal vision, I had to watch it again in IMAX. I was not disappointed. A second viewing of the film confirmed my feelings about it, and an the IMAX-ness made me fall in love with it all over again. All round top dude Chris Antista (GamesRadar, Laser Time, Cape Crisis etc.) said that the IMAX ‘shook his balls’ and I have to agree with the sentiment. The sound, the picture, can only be described as ball shakingly good, and ladies, I’m sure it shakes other body parts too, so you have no excuse not to see it, you will not regret it.

For me, Bane is the best villain to appear in a Batman movie. In the comics it’s still Joker, and Heath Ledgers performance will go down in history as amazing, but Tom Hardy’s Bane is a tour de force, being the only enemy capable of going toe to toe with The Bat, but also a match for his brains. What Nolan did with Bane is exemplary, and The Dark Knight Trilogy is now surely in the top three trilogies of all time, perhaps even the greatest. I know a few people have a problem with the portrayal of Batman in the latest film, that there is no way that Batman would give up his crusade on crime, and whilst I agree with the point, I’d like to add my own take on it. The movies should be seen as an Elseworlds tale, they are not comic cannon, but more in line with Batman Earth One, or Gotham By Gaslight. They are one persons take on the Batman Mythos, and I think that Nolan’s take is a very interesting slightly alternative version of Batman.

Did I mention Catwoman? I guess not. Wow, Anne Hathaway was so awesome as Selina Kyle, the way she went from frightened screaming girl to total badass in a few scenes was amazing, and THAT suit. I was never a fan of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, but Michelle Pfiefer was hot in the cat suit. Anne Hathaway blows her out of the water. Hathaway looks amazing in the suit, and a few scenes where she is riding the Batpod have made a, hmm, marked impression on me, but it’s her attitude that makes her the sexiest character in any movie thus far this year, sorry Black Widow, you got schooled by the mistress of hotness. Selina Kyle is firmly one of the best things about TDKR.

So, where does The Dark Knight Rises fit in to the trilogy, in bestestness? I still like Begins the best, but  really think Rises is a close second, with a very close third going to Dark Knight. All in all, Christopher Nolan has achieved what few others have been able to, a near perfect trilogy, bravo Sir, standing ovation. I would even be interested in following the story further, even though…well, I don’t want to say too much, but a fourth film would still be worth seeing, at least I think so.

The other film I saw recently was the fantastic Ted. I saw this with a big crowd of friends, and this really is the type of film you want to see with the people you like best. Really funny, very reminiscent of a good Family Guy episode, which is obvious really, but it is better than any Family Guy episode I can remember. Seth McFarlane is a film maker with class. The soundtrack is very pleasant, big band inspired, the direction tight and smooth. The cast, a mix of McFarlane voice cast members is great, and once again, Mark Wahlberg proves that he is best when he is bringing the funny. A few amazingly funny cameos, and some absolutely brilliant, if close to the knuckle jokes. My friend Lucy and I laughed our asses off all the way through. One problem though. Joel McHale. I love Community, but this guy is really getting on my nerves, I cant stand him. He is the shittest thing on Community, and the shittest thing in Ted, however, he does not ruin a fine, funny film.

Anyone else get goose bumps over the trailer for The Hobbit? Skyfall too. It seems that 2012 will be one of, if not THE, greatest years for Geek Cinema, absolutely brilliant so far, it truly is a golden age of geekdom. The fact that The Hobbit is now set to be a trilogy fills me with joy. I can’t wait to see what Jackson has cooked up for us, what are we going to see in this new trip to Middle Earth?

Right, that’s it for the time being, I’m off to finish No Man’s Land, or Lego Batman 2, or finally watch John Carter, or Conan, or Predator all on Blu Ray. Time, I need more time…

SUMMER KNIGHTS: BEST BAT VILLIANS

By @hmsbeefnuts

 Summer Knights continues here at All Geek To Me, and I hope you are enjoying it? Today we are going to have a look at some of The Dark Knights greatest enemies, the most maniacal members of his rogues gallery. In my opinion, Batman has some of the greatest super villains to fight of any superhero. Some of the sickest bastards to ever spout a speech bubble. So lets see who makes the list shall we?

JOKER

Obvious really isn’t it? But how could I not choose the Clown Prince of Crime on this list? He is the Yin to Batman’s Yan. The smiling faced psychopath to Batman Dark Avenger. He has been responsible for causing more pain in Batman’s life than any other person, killing friends, and crippling allies. He is the sickest, most sadistic super villain who has ever been written, and is Batman’s nemesis. Joker has to be number 1 on any list of the super evil.

RAS AL GHUL

I tend to like villains in this mould, like Vandal Savage. A man who has lived for centuries, thanks to his Lazarus Pits, that allow him to maintain his youth and vigour. Ras Al Ghul is a villain that both admires and hates The Detective, even considering him worthy of marrying his daughter Talia. Ghul is a global threat, his League of Shadows organisation is just a stones throw away from Batman, but crucially, Batman will never cross the line and join them. Grandfather to Batman’s son Damien, Ras Al Ghul is a dangerous and complicated addition to the rogues gallery.

TWO FACE

Gotham used to believe in Harvey Dent, but a horrific attack with some acid in court, or a fire, depending on who you believe, turned Gotham’s White Knight, into one of it’s greatest threats. Obsessed with his injury, Two Face took his anger out on a city that was already drowning in crime. With his lucky coin deciding many a fate, Two Face is almost a match for Batman both physically and mentally, but being deranged, well, he doesn’t always think straight, depends what mood he is in.

THE MAD HATTER

At first glance, the Mad Hatter is a childish and ridiculous enemy, and certainly, that’s how he started. However, in more modern times, The Mad Hatter has been re imagined as a dangerous, deranged criminal, with a penchant for small children and mind control. The Dark nature of Mad Hatter’s crimes make him perfect punching material for The Caped Crusader.

SCARECROW

Batman uses fear as a weapon on the criminal element of Gotham City. How cool is it then that Dr Jonathon Crane, uses it against The Dark Knight? Scarecrow is one of the most striking enemies that Batman faces. Posing no real physical threat, Scarecrow is all about psychological fear. His weaponised fear gas is a powerful advantage for Dr Crane. I tend to love classical villain archetypes, and Scarecrow goes right back to Sleepy Hollow.

BANE

Bane is the equal of Batman, both physically and mentally. He is the man who broke the bat, but things aren’t quite so clear cut. At times, Batman has worked with Bane, but usually, they are working against each other. Bane has had a tough life, growing up in South American prisons, and killing to survive. His reliance on the drug Venom can cause increased pain resistance, and increased strength. Bane is a very dangerous enemy, that Batman does not take lightly.

CATWOMAN

A complicated relationship with The Dark Knight, does not even begin to explain Catwoman’s interactions with Batman. At times deadly enemy, lover and ally, Catwoman is everything to everyone. Sexy, devious, loyal, tough, vulnerable, Selena Kyle is a fantastic addition to Gotham City. You can’t really argue with an outfit like that can you? I’m sure Batman doesn’t mind running into Selena on a nightly patrol, she may be deadly, but she is also a hell of a lot of fun.

POISON IVY

Oh Poison Ivy, I don’t care if you are green, unhinged, deadly and can control plants, you are sexy as hell. I’m a sucker for red heads, and Dr Pamela Isely is one of the very sexiest. An environmentalist, literally, Ivy prefers plants to humans, something I can see the advantage of, at least with certain people. One of Batman’s most deadly enemies, Poison Ivy should not be judged on her beauty alone, and should not be taken lightly. She is damn sexy though….

MOVIE OF THE MONTH JULY

By @hmsbeefnuts & @geekygem

Hello fans of film, as it is the beginning of the month, it once again falls to us here at AGTM, to tell you all about what film we will be picking as our movie of the month, this month. People, I’m not going to mess you around. We all know what movie is out this month, we all know what I’m going to pick, and sorry The Amazing Spider-man, it ain’t you.

Another superhero must take the title this month, The Caped Crusader, The Batman, in The Dark Knight Rises. It is no secret that I love Batman, and am a particular fan of Chris Nolan’s cinematic take on Gotham’s protector. Batman Begins is my favourite Bat film, with The Dark Knight coming in a very close second. The last time we saw Batman, he was on the run from Gotham’s Finest and so we join him in his latest adventure in a very interesting place. 8 years after the Joker went wild with gasoline, and Harvey Dent’s image was both ruined, by the Joker, and saved, metaphorically, by The Bat, what state are Batman and Gotham in?

Things won’t be happy for very long if Bane has anything to do with it. Tom Hardy looks great in the role of the man who broke The Bat, and from the trailer, it looks like Bane is causing Gotham more trouble than ever before. Add in Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, and Batman has his hands full. Will Bruce Wayne survive the film? Will Batman? All I know is this film looks absolutely amazing, if in a slightly grim way.

Just before we show you the trailer, as if you haven’t watched it countless times already, and Geekgem tells you about her pick, I would like to announce an AGTM summer event. In celebration of our favourite Dark Knight’s return to cinema screens, July here at AGTM will be having a knightly theme. Summer Knights, (see what we did there?), will be a bit of a celebration, not only f our beloved Dark Knight, but of Knights in general. Expect to see stuff on Game of Thrones, sword fights, noble steeds, and of course, more than a few Bat related articles. This follows on from our Avenging April series that was very successful, so hopefully, we shall continue with Summer Knights. Now, here is the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, and below that Geekygem, enjoy.

Hmsbeefnuts

Hello everyone, gosh is it that time of month already. Wow that went fast., my guess is just above me Hmsbeefnuts has been bigging up The Dark Knight Rises, not that it needs it. Which makes what I am about to tell you feel like treason as I love the Bat almost as much as Beefnuts does.

In the world of geek you are either a DC fan or Marvel fan, however there is a special camp for those who cant choose and just love comics in general, this is the camp I think I fall in. Seeing as I cant pick The Dark Knight Rises for my Movie for July, I had to have little think but then I recalled a reboot of a Marvel comic was due out, The Amazing Spider-man, that’s right folks I said reboot and it happens only five years after the the final part of Sam Raimi’s trilogy came out.

Peter Parker has been recast into the frankly lovely looking Andrew Garfield he’s just so pretty, sorry my thoughts got away from me there, did I mention he can act? He is joined by Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans. That’s right this month we see Brits taking over Hollywood and two of them are Welsh. Anyway back to the matter at hand, Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. I will say no more as I feel the rest is best told on the big screen. Below is the trailer which I think looks fantastic. Why not just go see both movies this month as they are so going to be awesome.

Geeky Gem

Gaming For Girls Part 5

By Kirkiechick

Hello boys and girls, it is I, Hmsbeefnuts with an introduction for one of our regular contributers here at All Geek To Me, Kirkiechick. Here, she valiantly continues her quest through Arkham City, and looks ahead to ventures new. I’ll be back on Wednesday for some Whimsy, but for now, sit back, relax, as we venture into the exciting world of Gaming for Girls…

I have news everyone! I have managed to complete Batman Arkham City 100% in Story Mode. All be it on Easy, but at least I know how the story “ends”! Don’t worry I will try not to reveal too much now! I left you the last time with trying to get into a weapons store as Catwoman for Poison Ivy. I managed to do this. Then I had a decision to make. Catwoman had heard the radio conversations about the progress of Batman. I had to decide whether to save him or not. I’ll let you find out for yourselves the outcome of either decision 😉

Back to Batman’s storyline, I awoke and was able to continue with the story. I found the next stage was to continue to fight goons and pick up clues as to the manipulation of Arkham City. Eventually a showdown had to take place. I shall just say that the showdown and subsequent conclusion to the story is amazing and knocks the socks off Arkham Asylum. I was so pleased with myself that I had eventually finished the storyline of Arkham City. Since then I have been working on the side missions and collecting the Riddler Trophies and solving the riddles for Batman and as Catwoman. So guys if you haven’t played Arkham City yet, I suggest you do as you are in for a treat!

I have found that some of the Trophies are hard to get. This frustrates me as I keep trying and trying. Hopefully I’ll eventually get them! It is fun to switch between playing as Batman and as Catwoman. The side missions are fun and there are still plenty of goons to dispatch! I have upgraded fully for Batman and Catwoman.

I haven’t been playing on LA Noire or Lost at all, as I have been concentrating on Arkham City. Hopefully I will play more of them now. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into a good gaming session with LA Noire. Happy gaming guys!

Gaming for Girls: Part 3

By Kirkie Chick 

                Since I last had the pleasure of talking to you lovely people, I have travelled far (well North Wales for the SFX Weekender) and I went to the Cardiff Comic Con but now I am stuck on Arkham City. I was doing so well without hardly any help from a walkthrough. My downfall an electric charge and a giant hook attempting to smash a door in. It took me several attempts to realise that I had succeeded to smash the door. The angle was deceiving but I also bashed a giant grate to get a Riddler Trophy so my swinging the hook aimlessly a few times was not in vain.

I then encountered another problem. A one armed man with a giant hammer, Mr Hammer and goons to fight off. He was a tricky adversary and it took me about three attempts to defeat him. Then I fell into a trap as Joker pretended to be dying, only for Batman to be bashed over the head. I am now playing as Catwoman. Meowh! I have got stuck with her, trying to find her apartment to take some of her equipment. I got into fighting these goons then I couldn’t see where I was meant to be going after defeating them. I died in the fight in the first attempt. Not so good. My boyfriend played on the game and progressed me past the fight and got the equipment out of the apartment. You then meet up with Poison Ivy for a little chat. Then you revert back to playing as Batman. Who has been infected with the Titan virus. Apparently Mr Freeze has the antidote so I set about trying to find him only to discover he had been kidnapped by the Penguin. I think I am enjoying the story better on Arkham City than I did on Asylum. There seems more twists in different directions of the plot going on in Arkham City. I had to spend ages trying to find the coldest point in the City where Mr Freeze would be; the temperature gauge goes up and down as you move around. Then just as you are on the lookout for the Penguin you have to go smash up the signal blockers that are blocking out the signal for you to find him. I found the first two easy. Then the third one I kept flying around the same area and the distance tracker kept going up and down then I realised I had to go under the Subway where I found it. I have now travelled back to the Museum looking for the Penguin. I got surprised by a Dinosaur!

                To take a break from Arkham City I started to play the game version of Lost:  the television show. The game has started off slow. The plane crashed on the island and I am now wandering around trying to find other survivors. From first impressions the game is a mystery one, along the lines of LA Noire (which I will eventually complete!) When I did find a survivor this prompted a memory flashback. I had to take a picture; it was a bit tricky to get the hang of the controls. I am now following a dog to the crash site. I think it may take some time for this game to grow on me. I will keep you posted.

                That is it for now. Hopefully next time I will have played more Arkham City. I am now 6% complete. Plus I will have played more Lost and more LA Noire. Until next time, happy gaming to all!