The Great Geek Manual

Death Race hit the big screens Friday August 22nd, but I’m still not certain whether or not I’ll go see it. Jason Statham flicks can either go the way of the Transporter (good) or the way of Crank (wtf!), and even though all his stuff is jam-packed with explosions and fight sequences, its hard to tell whether or not shelling out theater prices is going to be worth it from promos.

In any case, with Babylon A.D. coming out next week (August 29), Death Race doesn’t have long to make its impression.

Video Releases

• Prom Night (NR/13)
• Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior (PG13)
• Street Kings (R)

Television

• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Complete First Season [Blu-Ray] (NR)

Re-Releases & New Formats

• The Secret [Blu-ray] (R)

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Movie: Wargames: The Dead Code

Taglines: Are you ready to play?
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and language.
Release: July 29, 2008 (Direct to DVD)
Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Starring: Matt Lanter, Amanda Walsh, Colm Feore, Maxim Roy, and Chuck Shamata… IMDB listing

Verdict:
When I heard that there was going to be a sequel to Wargames, I was delighted. When I heard that it was going to be released direct to video, I was very pessimistic. When I watched it for the first time, I fully admitted that I heckled it like an old episode of MST3K. But, after re-watching the original 1983 classic, which I considered the height of cool when I was a kid, I realized that this movie is actually a very close approximation of the spirit and production value of the original.

In short, if you, like me, hailed WarGames as a culture icon when you were a know-it-all teen haxxor wanna be (back in the eighties), you’re probably going to be disillusioned by this update. If, on the other hand, you’re currently a teen script-kiddie who had to Google the title WarGames to see whether it was a Nintendo or PlayStation title or are of the opinion that Live Free or Die Hard was a brilliant update on the Die Hard franchise, you’re likely going to want to buy Dead Code immediately.

Synopsis:
Computer whiz Will Farmer runs afoul of an artificial intelligence created and operated by the government to root out terrorist cells around the globe when he plays and wins a biological warfare game with an inside tip from his mother, who happens to be a biochemist. Disguised as an innocent gambling site, the super-computer named R.I.P.L.E.Y. infiltrates Will’s computer and cellphone, marking him as a threat to national security.
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Here it is, the trailer for Sam Raimi’s adaptation of Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth series.

I’ve been waiting to see how this one turn outs. The fantasy genre has been very under-represented in television, and when it does turn up, its usually crap – Buffy exempt, of course. With the fantasy genre riding high at the box office, one highly-rated fantasy series could start a trend. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

After watching the trailer, I’m even more hopeful. Not because the series it how I imagined it, but because it’s not going to be another Beast Master. And when it comes to television, that’s really the best you can hope for.

Personally, I’m praying this series pulls down Seinfeld-level ratings, encouraging other big screen directors to step up and make some television based on a few good series, like the Wheel of Time.

The comedy Pineapple Express (R) hits theaters this Friday, August 6th.

Video Releases

• Nim’s Island (PG)
• Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (R)

Television

• Doctor Who: Black Orchid – Episode 121
• Doctor Who: The Five Doctors [25th Anniversary Edition] [2 Discs]
• Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series
• Star Trek: The Original Series – Season Two

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This week, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG-13) opens in theaters this Friday, August 1st. How well it’ll do in the face of The Dark Knight and X-File is uncertain, but there you have it.

New Video Releases

Doomsday (unrated)

Lost Boys 2 – The Tribe (R)

War Games: The Dead Code (PG-13)

Television

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series

Witchblade – The Complete Series
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This Friday, July 25th, The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13) premieres. How well it will fare in theaters with Batman running and a fanbase dispersed by a host of interesting series that have since supplant X-Files.

Video Releases

• 21 (PG13)
• The Counterfeiters (R)

Television

• Earth: The Biography
• Robot Chicken: Star Wars (NR)
• Spaced: The Complete Series

Re-Releases & New Formats

• Evil Behind You (PG-13)
• Exorcism of Emily Rose [Blu-Ray] (PG-13)
• Jet Fighter Collection: Jet Li (NR)
• Twin Daggers (R)
• Vampyr – Criterion Collection (NR)

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Movie: “Batman: Gotham Knight”

Tagline: “Get Ready….To Rage Against Evil”
Rating: PG-13 for stylized violence
Release: July 8 (Blu-Ray & DVD)
Running Time: 1 hr 15 min
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Gary Dourdan, David McCallum, Parminder Nagra, Ana Ortiz … IMDB listing

Verdict:
This collection of six short films breaths fresh life into the DC Animated Universe. Animatrix fans are certain to love it. Boys of all ages will love it. Even hardcore Batman nitpickers are certain to enjoy this fresh perspective on the franchise, so long as they approaching it expecting style rather than substance.
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The long awaited, much promoted The Dark Knight (PG-13) opens this Friday. It’s widely expected to be the single most spectacular film of the summer – probably the year. For the kiddies, Space Chimps is also opening, though whether or not anyone will notice with Batman in theaters is anyone’s bet.

New Films
• The Bank Job (R)
• Shutter (PG-13)

Television

• Eureka: Season Two
• Swamp Thing: The Series, Vol. 2 (TV G )

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