My Days Off: Television

By Geeky Gem

In this series of blogs I have been telling you all about the things I get u to when I have a day off. This time around I am going to share with you some of the television shows I am currently watching and some I have on my list.

Criminal Minds

As you may know me a little bt by know, you will know I have a habit of not getting into certain shows once it has been on a while. Criminal MInds is one of these shows, I had seen the odd episode here and there and then a friend in work lent me season one and boy am I gripped. I love it, it’s a fantastic show about B.A.U ( Behavioral Analysis Unit) who are called into to find some of the most twisted people out there. It really is a good show.

Game Of Thrones: Season 2

Now season 2 pick up where season one left off and boy does it start off as it means to go on. I haven’t finished season 2 yet but I better get a move on as season 3 starts soon and I for one can not wait. The North remembers is a great season opener and it just gets better and better.

American Horror Story: Asylum

This season is as every bit as good as the first season. The best thing is you don’t have to have seen season one to enjoy the whole host of new and disturbing characters that walk the halls of Briarcliff Asylum. Full of twists and turns and some messed up story lines AHS: Asylum is brilliant from start to finish.

The Walking Dead: Season 3

Now did you really think I could go on without mentioning The Walking Dead. I think we all know how I feel about this show, so I wont go on about it too much. It’s just getting better and better. Watch it, just watch it.

Arrow

Now Arrow is on my list of shows I have yet to watch, and was I really going to miss it. No as it’s based on the comic book character The Green Arrow and we all know how I feel about comics.  The Story is about  billionaire playboy Oliver Queen who after a violent shipwreck goes missing and presumed dead for five years. However he is later found alive on a remote island in the Pacific. This looks good and I will get round to watching it.

There we have it for another week, see you soon and happy watching.

My Love of Blu-Ray

By Geeky Gem

As many of you know I have a huge love for movies and I love nothing more than being able to add to extensive DVD collection. However in recent time I have started to convert my DVD’s to this lovely thing called Blu- Ray.

I started off with just one Blu-Ray which I brought not long after I got my PS3, it happened to be 300 which I love. Since then I have added many more movies to my collection and will no doubt add many more. I think the reason I love them so much is there is just so much more detail to be seen in the picture and ear in the sound of te movie.

My most recent addition to the movies that I own was a birthday present from my boyfriend and it replaced some of my favourite DVD’s. The Blu-Ray’s make these movies look so amazing that I feel the need to watch them all again but I must not as I did just that to my DVD’s and some got damaged. I am of course talking about Harry Potter.

These movies are truly stunning the HD picture is brilliant and the sound is great as well, which makes watching these ones fantastic. Movies are not the only thing I own on Blu-Ray having just brought my first Television show on the format for Christmas. This so is fantastic ad has some amazing story lines and a great cast. I havent watched my box set yet but I had seen them on the television in HD and even then I fell in love. Oh Game of Thrones I love thee.

When I saw Game of Thrones on the Television for the first time in HD I was taken aback it was just such a good show and it was brilliant. I cant wait to watch it again and then move onto to season 2 hopefully in time for season 3 which has just been giving its UK air date of April 1st and will be returning to Sky Atlantic. Such a good show and amazing in HD.

I guess that’s all I have to say about my love for Blu-Ray’s I have not doubt that my collection will get bigger as time goes on.

MONDAY MUSINGS

By @hmsbeefnuts

Hello. Welcome to another Monday full of my musings. This blog is a bit of a weird one to write, but it has to be done. I know that this isn’t really a blog about Geeky Gems, Caelrona, Kirkiechick or my life, but if you will permit me, this one will start off as more of a personal kind of blog, but fear not, I’ll try to fit in some sort of geekery later on. I shall be taking a bit of a back seat around All Geek To Me Towers over the forseeable future. It’s been a bit of a crazy year for us here at All Geek To Me. We started this blog after a former attempt failed to mature into anything. Geeky Gem and I decided that we should try again, and we worked hard and came up with All Geek To Me. Since January, we have built up views and day by day, week by week and month by month, we have grown our views and site visits. I am very proud to say that as of the time of writing we have had 58,000 views, a number that we scarcely dreamed was possible.

11 months and 273 blogs later, we have built All Geek To Me into something we are all immensely proud of. Now I know it’s just a blog, but we appreciate every view, every comment, every like and follow. I still remember my first like for a blog, the excitement was palpable, and it still is a thrill to know that anyone read a blog I wrote, and actually took the time to comment, or like, so thank you to anyone who has ever done so. It is then, with great regret that I have to reduce my time here at All Geek To Me, however, I do have a good excuse. Recently I have kind of fallen head over heels in love with the most beautiful, amazing woman I have ever seen. She has an adorable 4 year old son, and we have been seeing a whole lot of each other. I don’t want to reduce this to dangerous levels of soppyness, but at the moment, I could not be happier. The social situation has not been kind to my time however, and I simply do not have time to write as much as I used too, and although I don’t really want to give up writing blogs, something has to give. I will still be here once a week to tap out a blog on my trusty keyboard, but the rest of the time I will be in work, or with my two favourite people on Earth (sorry, soppyness leaked in).

So with that done and dusted, time for some geekyness. November is a crazy time for video games, and although I have no time to play them, my geek soul would not let my wallet pass up the chance to part with some cash. Forza Horizon, WWE 13, Assassins Creed III, Black Ops 2 and Halo 4, have all been released and purchased by me in the last couple of weeks. I must be insane, as I have hardly touched any of them. What I will say though is that I have given up on multi-player. I have let my Xbox Live membership lapse, I have no interest in Black Ops multi-player or Halo for that matter, from now on, I’m strictly a one player kind of guy. What I will say is that Halo 4 is absolutely beautiful to look at, and a lot of fun to play, and I have had fun with all the games so far, just not had a whole lot of time to play them yet.

Movie wise, I haven’t really had time to watch anything in recent weeks, but The Hobbit looms large on the horizon, and I can not wait. In the world of books, I can confirm that I have finally finished A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow, and have started Blood and Gold. That has taken me almost a year to read, but I finally knuckled down and did it, and what can I say? It’s fantastic, truly one of the greatest fantasy masterpieces ever written. I know I’m late to the party on this one, but bear with me, I’ll get to A Dance With Dragons in good time.

TV is a bit of a sore subject at the moment. I have been enjoying Dexter, The Office, Parks and Recreation and WWE Raw. I have also been forced into watching The X Factor. Dear God what a horrible, horrible show, but sometimes, you have to do these things, and at least it is almost over, it is right? Please say it is…

So that’s it for this week. I hope you enjoy the other blogs that Geeky Gem, Kirkie Chick and Caelrona are bringing you over the next 7 days, I know I will be. I’ll see you next week with something a bit more substantial geek wise.

Summer Knights: Amazing Suits of Armour

By Geeky Gem

All Geek to Me have been bringing you some interesting things that relate to our dual subject matter that is obsessing us this month, The Dark Knight himself Batman and Knight’s that would serve in the days of old. In this piece I have looked all over the internet and watched some movies and television looking for suits of armour that I thought looked awesome. Below you will find just some that I liked in no real order.

Loras Tyrell – Game of Thrones

The Knight of Flowers comes from the epic world of George R.R Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. When you first see him on screen, in Game of Thrones. He is wearing this fantastic suit of armour that incorporates his name, The Knight of Flowers. In the show the suit is perfect as to how it is described in the book. Beautiful but at the same time protective.

Black Knight – Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Now I have to admit I have added this one just for fun. I love this movie and the fight with the Black Knight cracks me up. Tis but a scratch, anyway when this knight has all his limbs his suit of armour is simple chain mail with a black cover that has a red boars head on.  I wouldn’t say this armour protected the knight well but it makes for a wicked scene in the movie.

Walking Armour – Bed Knobs and Broomsticks

When I was a child this was one of my favourite movies, I have memories of watching this with my Grand Father over and over again. However when it got to the walking suits of armour I was less happy. I found them creepy, but never the less I would watch them. Let’s face it how awesome is bodyless armour?

Prawn Battle Suit – District 9

Not all suits of armour are worn with a man shaped figure inside. Some like this one from District 9 have the wearer actually inside controlling what is a larger machine. I like this one from District 9 as it is massive and has the feel of a dirty old machine that could kick some butt.

Thor – Thor

When I was looking up suits of armour to talk to about, the first place I went is my DVD collection. I have so many I thought at least one would inspire me to find a suit of armour and it did for a few on this list if truth be told. This being one of them Thor’s battle armour is powered by his hammer and looks fantastic.  I really can’t think of anything to say about it, its just so pretty.

There we have it readers, some suits of armour that are frankly lovely, and some that could strike fear into the very hearts of other knights or indeed, Nazis.

Wednesday Whimsy

By @hmsbeefnuts

Hello, and welcome to another Wednesday Whimsy. As I type this, it is currently Tuesday 19^th of June, at 12:02pm. In other words, I have left this blog post very very late in the day to start. Why am I telling you this? Well, hopefully it will reduce expectations and hopefully, after finishing reading, what will clearly be a half arsed at best blog, you will not blame me overly much. I have been busy, with real life work things, some big changes coming up in my personal life, a change of job most prominent, and I have not had a lie in for a month, so I’m pretty tired. Anyway, enough of my grumbling, I thought today, I would just let you know what I have been doing entertainment wise this last few weeks, and maybe recommend some books or something, you know, nothing too taxing.

 

OK, so I have been trying to read A Song of Ice and Fire, and I’m up to Book 3, A Storm of Swords, but I have been on this book now for well over a month. Am I not enjoying it? No, I love it whenever I read a few paragraphs, but the problem is, there is so much more to read, it kind of feels daunting, and it’s stopping me from reading more. I have managed to start 2 more books, The Monster Hunters Survival Guide, a comic booky look into the life of a Monster Hunter, and along similar if more realistic lines, Memoires of a Monster Hunter, by Nick Redfern, a glimpse into the life of a real life monster hunter. I’m enjoying both, but finding it hard to commit much time to reading, what with work, writing, a social life, of sorts, and all the rest. Life is tough when you have to fit in everything you want to do #firstworldproblem right?

 

Gaming has also taken a back seat, and it must have been a good month since I played a game, I haven’t even downloaded the new Skyrim patch, must try harder. I’m not really in a gaming mood at the moment, it feels too much like hard work when I’m trying to relax. I’ll get my gaming mojo back soon, probably over the period of the hottest weather in July or August.

 

Film wise, I saw Prometheus twice, and loved both showings. I don’t understand the people who didn’t get the film. The fact it leaves us with questions is one of the strongest parts of the film, which will hopefully get a sequel or two. I also finally got to see JAWS in a cinema, and it was spectacular, so much so, I considering going back to see it again if I have time. I was a beautiful thing, to see one of my two favourite films on the big screen, the other being Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I’m sure I will get to see theatrically one day. I’m a fan of these special re-releases, more please Hollywood.

 

Being busy is also to blame for my build up of podcasts. Podcasts are my new favourite thing, I listen to quite a few. I will take this opportunity to recommend some that are my favourite. For comic book fans, I would like to recommend Cape Crisis, from the guys who brought you Talkradar and Laser Time, always fun and interesting. Also in comic books, The Comic Conspiracy, which is a great weekly round up of news and comic events from a very knowledgeable team, a great listen.

 

For video game fans I would like to recommend Games Radar UK podcast, once every two weeks, the guys lay down some awesome talk and make me laugh constantly. In other video games podcasts, and perhaps my favourite podcast ever, is Destructoid’s podcast, Podtoid. Led by Jim Sterling and Jonathon Holmes, a perfect pairing, they hardly ever talk about games, and it couldn’t be better. I love Podtoid, although be aware, you are best served downloading starting around Podtoid 170, and easing yourself in, you will appreciate it.

 

Fans of pop culture and quizzes etc. would do well to listen to Laser Time, which every week covers a different subject each week, is always hilarious, and always worth listening to. Good Job Brain, is a quiz based podcast that it very QI in form, again always interesting. The Geek Box is a weekly round up of the biggest geeky news stories and goings on, discussed by a range of cool people. Mysterious Universe is a good source of news for the more Fortean minded, including Ghosts, Bigfoot and UFOs, always good to hear.

 

Finally, if you like comedy, my favourite podcasts are, The Comedy Button, and Richard Herring’s Podcast in which he interviews a guest each week, with hilarious results. I’ll leave links to all of them below. That’s it for this weeks rushed Wednesday Whimsy, I’ll catch you for more next week. Hmsbeefnuts out.

For Laser Time/Cape Crisis http://www.lasertimepodcast.com/

For Comic Conspiracy/The Geek Box/The Comedy Button/Good Job Brain http://www.geekbox.net/archives/category/podcasts/

For Podtoid http://www.destructoid.com/?t=podtoid

For Richard Herring http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/

For Mysterious Universe http://mysteriousuniverse.org/

For Gamesradar UK Podcast http://www.gamesradar.com/uk/

Wednesday Whimsy

By @hmsbeefnuts

Thursday is named after the mighty Thunder God Thor, but today isn’t Thursday. It is Wednesday, and as we all know, Wednesday is named after the God of both Weddings and Retro Gaming, WedNES (sic). WedNES, was in the Greek Pantheon and was son of Zeus and the beautiful Princess Peach. Greeks would pray to WedNES on the occasions of weddings, or indeed, when they were experiencing a particularly hard level of Mario Bros. The usual offerings were a mysterious liquid called Gamerfuel, or some marzipan and icing. This of course is complete rubbish that I have made up, in order to start Wednesday off in a whimsical tone. With that done, onwards to some stuff!!!

June has started off quite well movie wise. Thus far this month, I have seen Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus and Red Tails. I have enjoyed all three, so that’s a positive. Next, I am very much looking forward to the re-release of JAWS. I have never seen this in a cinema, and very much want to, it is one of my 2 favourite films of all time after all. Please local ODEON Cardiff Bay. Please show JAWS. I will love you forever, well, love you more than I already do, which is a not inconsiderable amount.

Talking of Cinema, the subject of snacks enters my mind. What are your favourite Cinema nibbles? I know people who basically bring a full picnic into a movie, and others that don’t even sip a drink. Personally, I like a sandwich/hot dog, or nachos, I can’t stand popcorn, and a Pepsi Max or 7-up. When I was in the States, the cinema snack selection was vastly superior, chicken fingers and curly fries, with a refillable Mr Pibb, hell yeah. There is something so disgustingly amazing about the nacho cheese that draws me to it again and again, horribly delicious.

In TV land, I am finding it very hard to deal with the loss of Game of Thrones. It is far far to long to wait for Season 3. I will have to find a replacement show, and as it happens, Dexter starts soon, so I can replace Westeros for Miami. I know True Blood is back this week, and I really loved the first 3 seasons, but season 4 lost me, it was too much with the fairies and stuff. I haven’t yet seen the second (third?) season of Spartacus, so I will definitely be giving that a go, and Finding Bigfoot comes back soon too, so maybe it won’t be so bad after all.

I have bought a lot of Batman Graphic Novels in the past, not so many in the last year, but I have picked up the re-released No Mans Land Vol. 1 & 2. The Dark Knight Rises is supposed to be, at least slightly, inspired by these books, and so I will work my way through them before I go and see the film. I am also stuck half way through A Storm of Swords Book 1. I’m finding it such a chore to read at the moment, the more I write, the less I want to read it seems. Although I have been working my way through The Monster Hunters Survival Guide, by. A lovely book explaining how to kill, or subdue numerous monsters throughout the world, it is wonderfully illustrated, and I feel by the end of it, I will be fully prepared for every monstrous eventuality. My favourite chapter, has of course, been on Bigfoot.

Games were announced at E3, games that look amazing and I really want to play, and as with reading, I don’t have much time to play games any more. Nintendo’s E3 conference was a bit of a damp squib, although I still want a Wii U. I’m shocked that they didn’t announce a 3D Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Star Fox, F-Zero, Metroid, Smash Brothers, or Donkey Kong. However, New Super Mario Bros. U looks good, and some of the Nintendoland mini games look fun, but surely this game needs to come free with the Wii U, just like Wii Sports came with the Wii.

Finally, I will leave you with some awesome looking trailers for Tarrantino’s Django Unchained, and Disney’s new animation Wreck It Ralf. Check them out below, and catch you soon.

Wednesday Whimsy

By @hmsbeefnuts

Another Wednesday comes by, and time for more things that have been amusing me over the past 7 days. I happened to see Prometheus, and liked it very much, but will say no more in case you haven’t yet checked it out, you definitely should though.

 

This week, my thoughts are very much attuned to video games as E3 is taking place in LA. A lot of cool games, and even new consoles have been, and are being announced by all of the games industries great and good. As an XBOX 360 and long time Nintendo fan, I was most interested in the XBOX conference and Nintendo’s. Some great looking games were shown, including Halo 4,  Forza Horizon, Splinter Cell: Black List, South Park COD Black Ops 2, and Resident Evil 6. Everything looked very beautiful, perhaps proving there is still life in the old 360 yet. Another exciting announcement was that Xbox and kinect will now have Internet Explorer, finally, and it will all easily be controlled via your phone, or tablet, or kinect, very exciting.

Also in news sure to piss Nintendo off, Microsoft introduced a new service, Xbox Smartglass. This service allows full interactivity between your phone, tablet and Xbox, including a cool feature where the guy on stage was watching Game of Thrones through his Xbox, and his tablet/phone was showing a map that featured info on the scene that was being viewed, including where in Westeros it was set. When the scene changed, the map moved to the new location. It looked very very cool.

At the time of writing, Nintendo is yet to hold it’s press conference, however, they did release some details about their up coming Wii U, including a look at there new gamepad, check it out, I think it looks very sexy.

 

In other news, it seems I was wrong about DC’s choice for it’s newest gay character, it wasn’t a member of the Justice League, but a member of the Justice Society, the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott.

 

Game of Thrones came to a triumphant season end, is it really a whole year to wait for season 3? I simply refuse to wait, I want it now. What a great season though, and what a final scene!!!

 

Only a quick one this week, as I’m off to watch more stuff from E3, or season 2 of Game of Thrones again. See you next week.

Game of Thrones: My Favourite Characters

By @hmsbeefnuts

It is about time that we here at All Geek To Me discussed what is, at least for me, the greatest TV show currently running, and easily in the top 3 shows ever made. I must admit I was a little late to the Westeros party. I had heard great things about A song of Ice and Fire, and for some reason, had picked up a Feast For Crows a few years back. It remained on my ‘to read’ book shelf for years, until the buzz started for the HBO show. A little research informed me that it would be fool hardy to start mid-way through an epic series like this, and so I sought out the first books. I waited until season one of the show had finished until I started to read, I didn’t want to know what was going to happen, but shortly after finishing the series, and then the book, I couldn’t help but start Clash of Kings. Currently, we are past the midway point of season 2 of Game of Thrones, and things are shaping up nicely. Obviously, I know what is supposed to happen now, as I am now reading A Storm of Swords, but this doesn’t make the series any less compelling.

Now Geeky Gem has not seen any of season 2 yet, as she wants to read the book first, so I have been instructed not to reveal any spoilers for Clash of Kings, however, I had to write something about this amazing phenomenon. I’ve elected to write about my favourite characters, from the show, and although there will be as few spoilers as possible, some characters don’t come into their own until later episodes, so some choices may seem odd if you haven’t seen the second season. Also, regular readers may have noticed a new tab on the top of our home page. A Page of Ice and Fire, is a fun little addition to AGTM. We aren’t quite sure what it will be quite yet, but if anyone out there wants to submit their own House Name, Sigil and Words you are more than welcome, lets see who likes Game of Thrones out there shall we? I know me and Gem enjoyed making our Houses up, and we would love to post some more up on the Page of Ice and Fire. Right enough introduction, I have promised you my favourite characters, and a Beefnuts, like a Lannister always pays his debts, and after all, Winter is Coming….

Tyrion Lannister

How could The Imp not be on this list? Most people’s favourite character, Tyrion has to rely on his wits and mind to play the Game of Thrones, as he lacks the size advantage of most men, although that is not to say he isn’t brave or a force to be reckoned with. Tyrion, although a Lannister, is definitely one of the characters you cheer for, a small man can cast a large shadow.

Ser Jorah Mormont

A personal favourite of mine, the ex Lord of Bear Island, sentenced to banishment by Ned Stark for selling poachers into slavery, Ser Jorah finds himself pledging his sword to the beautiful Danearys Targeryian, although I suspect he probably wants to pledge something else, and don’t we all? Ser Jorah is a mighty warrior, although is he all he seems?

Eddard Stark

Everyone loves Ned Stark, poor old Ned Stark. The most honourable man in the Seven Kingdoms, becomes Hand of the King, after his old friend King Robert asks him too. Embroiled in the plots and conspiracies of court, Ned would rather be back in his beloved Winterfell. Court life is too dangerous for men who have morals, a lesson that Ned Stark will unfortunately learn, to his detriment.

Syrio Ferrel

 

A small character, but what a guy. Arya Stark’s ‘dancing’ teacher, Syrio is Westeros’ answer to Inigo Montoya. Ned employs Syrio to teach Arya how to properly use Needle, and I think we all wish we had a teacher like him to teach us fencing. The First Sword of Bravos, Syrio is a unique character.

Khal Drogo

Oh Khal Drogo. A beast of a man, with the hottest wife in the world. Shame he doesn’t get long to enjoy it all. Drogo is a barbarian Horse Lord of the Dothraki. Married to Danearys (the lucky bastard) he is about to take his horde across the sea to reclaim the Iron Throne for his wife, well that might not happen, but he is a great character anyway, with a novel way of crowning kings.

John Snow

Ned Starks bastard son, and man of the Nights Watch, John Snow, very much like his father Ned, is an honourable man. He is destined for great things perhaps, but first he will have to come to terms with his bastard status and the hard life on The Wall. Dreams of adventure and ranging far to the North may not turn out exactly how he wants, but I like John Snow. He has the potential to be the hero of the whole series.

Danearys Targeryian

OK, I fancy the pants off of Dany, and the fact that she doesn’t wear pants that often is fine by me. Dany is beautiful and tragic, but strong and in control. The first season sees her moving from weak plaything of her brother and her new husband Khal Drogo, to a strong Khalessi and Mother of Dragons. What’s that? Dragons? Oh yes, she has three new born Dragons, which I’m sure  will come into play at a later date. She is very beautiful isn’t she, very very beautiful.

Arya Stark

 

One of the strongest female characters in a show packed full of them, although not even a teenager, Arya Stark is a great great character. A tom boy through and through, Arya is far more interested in ‘dancing’ than needle work or the pursuits of proper ladies. Arya’s is not a happy story, but is one of constant change and excitement. Arya is definitely one of the stronger characters in Westeros.

Bronn

 

A common sellsword who protected Tyrion Lannister’s honour at the Eyrie, Bronn gets better and better every episode. Coming into his own in season 2, which I’m not allowed to talk about yet, rest assured that Bronn is a great great character with a gift for speaking his mind, and usually a great line or two per episode. As right hand to Tyrion, Bronn and the Imp are a great little double act, and he is definitely not one to be messed with.

Ser Jaime Lannister

 

The Kingslayer, in an incestuous relationship with his sister Cersie and true Father to the absolute shit of a person, King Joffrey, Ser Jaime is never the less a great character. The most feared knight in all of Westeros, Ser Jaime’s sword is a potent weapon. Robbed of a true victory against the Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, and captured by King of the North Rob Stark, he has yet to show his true badassness. I have a sneaking feeling though that very soon, Ser Jaime is going to become a favourite character for more than a few people. Get in before everyone else, Jaime Lannister is great.

April Assessment

By @hmsbeefnuts

April is over, and with it, AGTM’s Avenging April season. It is time then for my monthly look back at the month in film, at least the films I saw, and assess how April went. I didn’t see as many films this month as I would have liked, partly due to other responsibilities, and partly due to there not being more films released. In the end I saw everything that I really wanted too, and that’s the main thing. Before we get on to the films, I would like to mention Game of Thrones. The second season is four episodes old, at the time of writing, and I have to say, it just gets better and better. I am currently reading book 3, A Storm of Swords, so I am a little ahead of the on screen action, however, I’m finding watching the events unfold in Westeros as exciting as reading them.

I love that the series seems to be doing things just a tiny bit different, it all adds to the awesomeness of Game of Thrones. Favourite characters? Well Tyrion obviously, but also Arya, Ser Jorah Mormont, Dany, Jon Snow and Rob Stark. With this series, you can never truly be sure that your favourite character will make it to the next episode, it’s a testament to the writing of George R. R. Martin, and the show runners, that they can keep you on your toes this much. I recommend you all check out Game of Thrones, but do yourself a favour, start with season one, don’t just jump in now, you will regret it if you don’t. Right, onwards to the movies, and quite a good selection this month.

Battleship was a film I wasn’t overly looking forward too. I do normally like these kind of brainless action films, for instance, I really like all the Transformer films, perfect popcorn entertainment. Battleship though isn’t based on transforming robots, but a pretty boring board game. I didn’t have to worry too much though, Hasbro seemed to have employed the Covenant from Halo as bad guys, and battle ship was a man vs alien menace film. Now I wouldn’t exactly recommend this film to everyone. It isn’t a great movie, but it is a hell of a lot of fun, and who doesn’t want to see a man with no legs slug an alien in the face? Things blow up, people look heroic or pretty, ships battle, Liam Neeson is in it, and it’s not all ‘America is the best country in the world whoo ha!’ either. The film has a quirky sense of humour, and I laughed a lot at it, when I was meant too. I felt the action was always played a little tongue in cheek, and was all the better for it. Worth seeing if you like explosions, hot blonde ladies, fun and don’t take things too seriously. It won’t win any awards, but it kept me entertained for 2 hours, and that’s what it was meant to do.

Cabin in the Woods was a film I had very little expectations for. I had kept away from most of the hype for it, and thought it was going to be a bog standard teens in peril movie. Boy, was I wrong. If it was not for The Avengers, this would be film of the month, and will likely be in a lot of critics top 10’s this year. The only problem with the film is that, you can’t really say why it is so awesome. The central idea is so amazingly awesome, that you have to experience it yourself. Do not read spoiler, do not listen to anyone talking about the plot. This film is amazing, and needs to be seen by any fan of horror. Seriously, so so good. That’s all I can really say about it other than this, and The Avengers has kind of changed my mind about Josh Whedon, someone who I was not a fan of before, I can definitely appreciate him now though, even if I still can’t warm to Buffy, or Firefly. Go see Cabin in the Woods, thank me later.

Lockdown is stupid, and silly and ridiculous, and I loved every single second of it. Guy Pearce plays a super hard wise ass of a Special Forces Agent, who has to go and save the presidents daughter, who has been taken hostage aboard a Maximum Security Space Prison. If you think that sounds shit, stop reading right now and skip to the Avengers, because, this film only gets more ridiculous. I loved it. Guy Pearce is a badass mother fucker in this film, who’d have thunk it? This is very much in the vein of The Transporter franchise, Luke Besson being involved in both. It has a slightly lame sense of humour, which makes all the jokes even better. It is super violent, has two Scottish thugs as the main bad guys and is a really fun 2 hours, if you like that sort of thing. Once again, this isn’t going to win any film prizes, no Oscars, but why does every film have to win awards? This is two hours of mindless, violent fun, set in a SPACE PRISON, where THE PRESIDENTS DAUGHTER, is kidnapped. What’s not to like?

The Avengers. Oh My Loki. I have written my impressions on first viewing The Avengers here. I loved every second of it, it is clearly the best movie to go see this month. Whedon has produced a near perfect film for comic fans. Everything promised in the previous Marvel Films (for more on those click here and here) was delivered in The Avengers, whilst also setting up the future of the Marvel Movie Universe. Run to see this film, it deserves to be seen in a theatre. I won’t write anything more on this for now, as I’m sure some of you haven’t seen it, don’t be spoiled, spoil yourself and buy a ticket.

In other news… Avenging April has been a success, so I think that in the future All Geek To Me will be doing more weekly or monthly special events. Hopefully we will have more news on this very soon. Thank you for reading, liking, commenting and re-blogging, it is always appreciated. Now, when is that new Batman Movie out…

Remake: JAWS

 By @hmsbeefnuts

Eons ago now, I wrote an article about re-making Ghostbusters for a new generation, basically re-casting the classic roles. In no way was I saying that the movie should be re-made, it should not, ever, but it was a fun exercise none the less, well I thought it was. So I thought I would continue my series of imagined re-makes with one of my personal favourite films of all time, JAWS. If anyone actually tried to re-make it in real life I think I would shit a brick, a literal brick, but they aren’t going to, and this is imaginary, so on with the fun!

Chief Martin Brody O.P.B. Roy Scheider

Brody is a tough character to cast. Scheider is so good in the role, bringing every-man charm to our protagonist. Someone then we can route for and like, but still convey Brody’s mortal fear of water. May I suggest Hugh Jackman? OK, so he would have to lose some of that Wolverine physique, but Jackman is one of the most likeable actors in Hollywood. I think he can play every-man, he can play superhero,Wolverine, and loser, Real Steel. I can see Jackman crouched on the sinking Orca as the shark comes towards him, ‘Smile you son of a bitch!’.

Quint O.P.B Robert Shaw

Quint is one of the greatest characters ever created in my view. He is amazing. As such, there are few actors who could bring Quint alive as well as Robert Shaw. My pick for this most awesome of roles goes to Russell Crowe. No stranger to life aboard a ship, check out Master and Commander, Big Russ could bring a great deal to the role of the salty sea dog. I bet he could give a killer U.S.S. Indianapolis speech. Would he be as good? I have trouble thinking anyone could replace Shaw, but if anyone could, then maybe, just maybe Maximus Decimus Meridius could, maybe.

Matt Hooper O.P.B. Richard Dreyfuss

Rounding out our trio of shark hunting heroes, Matt Hooper from the Oceanographic Institute. Younger, rich, an expert on sharks, Dreyfuss was again perfect in the role. Why am I racking my brains to try and recast this perfectly cast film? Well I can’t stop now, so I’m going for Ryan Reynolds. Handsome and at home with both comedy and more serious roles, casting Ryan Reynolds could allow for the remake to include parts of the novel that Spielberg didn’t choose to film. For example, in the novel Ellen Brody and Hooper have thought about an affair, a nice little side story that would work well with Reynolds.

Ellen Brody O.P.B. Lorraine Gary

Ellen Brody, at least in my mind, should be smart, sexy, a good mum and a strong woman. If we are going to go with the added plot point of a possible affair with Matt Hooper, she should also be drop dead gorgeous. May I suggest, Charlize Theron. A great actress and a stunning beauty, Ms. Theron would fit the bill exactly.

Mayor Larry Vaughan O.P.B. Murray Hamilton

I don’t know why, but the first name that came to mind when I thought about who to cast as Mayor Vaughan was Morgan Freeman, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. Freeman is obviously a great actor, and does extremely well in small, but important roles (see Nolan’s Batman franchise). Freeman can play pompous well, but can also do remorse and worry. Morgan Freeman is in my mind, a great choice for Mayor Vaughan.

Mrs. Kitner O.P.B. Lee Fierro

A figure of sympathy, pain and remorse, she has two big scenes and as such needs to be able to handle the emotions of losing her son to that bastard shark. For no other reason than I really fancy her, I would cast Kate Beckinsale. She is also a great actress, but I mainly fancy her.

Alex Kitner O.P.B. Jeffrey Voorhees

Another small role, but I hate when kids can’t act and ruin films. Kitner needs to be played by a smart kid who can act and I would like to suggest Brandon Stark himself, Isaac Hempstead Wright. A great actor and the beginning of his movie career.

Ben Gardner O.P.B. Craig Kingsbury

A tiny tiny role. Basically only a head is needed for THAT shocking moment. Can I suggest Paul Giamatti? If you have read my stuff before, you know why.

Chrissie Watkins O.P.B. Susan Backlinie

A tiny, but pivotal role, Chrissie Watkins is basically victim number 1, but her death is shocking and meaningful, and should resonate for the rest of the film. I’m imagining a bit of Scream style stunt casting, where a well known actress buys the farm early on. Watkins is a teenager, should be good looking, with the possibility of some nudity, she does die skinny dipping after all. My choice would be Jennifer Lawrence. She is Hollywood’s next big thing, and suitably famous after X-Men First Class and The Hunger Games. Her death would be shocking enough that the film would make a bold statement.

So those are my picks, and remember, in no way do I want this film to be remade, IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. But this has been a fun exercise, at least for me, and I hope you have enjoyed it too. Did I make any glaring errors? Would you pick different actors? Let us know below.