Via: CBM

Concept artist Scott Patton has released a CG model that he created in 2008 for the BioShock movie that was supposed to be directed by Gore Verbinski. The movie eventually fell apart due to budget issues. The studio didn't want to spend $200 million on an R-rated video game adaptation. At this point it doesn't seem like the movie will ever happen. 

The studio wanted Gore to make the film for only $80 million, and he said no. He stayed on as a producer while the studio brought in director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) to take it on. Apparently BioShock creator Ken Levine stepped in and put a stop to the production. Word is he felt that Fresnadillo was not a good fit for the film.

Paramount Pictures has released a new TV spot for their upcoming action thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. The fun-looking prequel to films such as Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger was directed by Kenneth Branagh, and it stars Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, and Keira Knightley. It looks like it's going to be a decent addition to the franchise. 

Based on the character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, "Jack Ryan" is a global action thriller set in the present day. This original story follow a young Jack (Chris Pine) as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot.

The movie comes out in theaters ands IMAX on January 17th, 2014! 

Here's a great series of fan-made poster art for several films in the Marvel and DC cinematic universes. The posters are by Mat Guillen Designs, and they feature Spider-Man, Batman, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man. As you can see, the artist has a very energetic style that makes you feel the awesomeness of these characters.

Mat Guillen is an experienced designer with an adaptive visual style, He has worked with a comprehensive array of studios including Disney, Paramount, Universal, DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Legendary, Film District, Lionsgate and Summit. From blockbuster sci-fi to all-ages animation, his area of expertise has no boundaries.

Via: CBM

Disney has released a trailer for their new inspirational true story sports film, Million Dollar Arm. It seems like it's been awhile since we've seen one of these movies from Disney, and it looks exactly like what we would expect it to be. If the movie does well, maybe the studio will start making more of them again.

The movie comes from director Craig Gillespie, and it stars Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell, Suraj Sharma, Aasif Mandvi, Madhur Mittal, Pitobash Tripathy, and Alan Arkin.

Based on a true story, the film follows JB Bernstein (Hamm), a once-successful sports agent who now finds himself edged out by bigger, slicker competitors. He and his partner Aash (Mandvi) will have to close their business down for good if JB doesn’t come up with something fast. Late one night, while watching cricket being played in India on TV, JB comes up with an idea so radical it just might work. Why not go to there and find the next baseball pitching sensation? Setting off for Mumbai with nothing but a gifted but cantankerous scout (Arkin) in tow, JB stages a televised, nationwide competition called “Million Dollar Arm” where 40,000 hopefuls compete before two 18-year-old finalists, Rinku and Dinesh (Sharma, Mittal), emerge as winners. JB brings them back to the United States to train with legendary pitching coach Tom House (Paxton). The goal: get the boys signed to a major league team.

The movie comes out on May 18th, 2014!

Over the weekend Vin Diesel posted the above photo of Paul Walker and him in Fast and Furious 7. The image came with the following note that says that it's from the last scene they filmed together and also lets everyone know that the new release date will be April 10th, 2015,

The last scene we filmed together…

There was a unique sense of completion, of pride we shared… in the film we were now completing… the magic captured… and, in just how far we've come… 

Fast and Furious 7 will be released…

April 10th 2015!

P.s. He'd want you to know first

Universal Pictures and director James Wan are still in the process of trying to figure out how to complete the film, but from the looks of it whatever they end up doing will include the scenes Walker shot for the film. It doesn't sound like anyone really wants to cut him out of the film. They will most likely resume production in January of 2014.

Via: Geek With Curves

Check out this dazzling Star Wars inspired sweater created for an ugly sweeter party by Redditor imnojezus' co-worker. The thing is… it didn't turn out ugly at all! This thing is awesome! She used an existing sweater and added the Star Wars characters: Luke, Wampa, and bloody Tauntaun parts with a needle-felting/tufting method.

FHM posted an infographic showing us the many deaths of actor Sean Bean. Personally I was shocked when I looked at this list as I had no idea Sean Bean had been in so many films. His onscreen deaths are high in number, but I don't know if he can top Steve Buscemi's death count!

Showtime has released a second video blog for their great-looking new horror series Penny Dreadful. It's been described as a "psycho-sexual horror" series that features some of literature's most terrifying characters. In the video, Creator/Executive Producer John Logan (Skyfall) discusses the cool sounding series and its ties to literature.

In PENNY DREADFUL, some of literature’s most famously terrifying characters – including Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, Dorian Gray and iconic figures from the novel Dracula – become embroiled in Victorian London.  The series weaves together these classic horror origin stories as the characters grapple with their monstrous alienation.

The series stars Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Reeve Carney, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, and Harry Treadaway. Logan has written the eight episodes with Sam Mendes, who is also executive producing. The first two episodes are being directed by Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage). 

The Raid: Redemption is one of the most badass action movies of all time, and director Gareth Evans is about to unleash the sequel on the world! Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 have announced that The Raid 2: Berandal will be released in theaters on March 28th, 2014! That's only a couple months after the film premieres at The Sundance Film Festival in January. 

The sequel picks up right where the first film left off and follows Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force.

This sequel was actually the original idea for the first movie, but since the first movie did so well, they actually have the budget to bring it to life. I have no doubt it's going to be even crazier! I seriously can't wait to see this!

Darren Aronofsky's Noah looks like an insanely epic film. I can't wait to see more footage from it. I have no doubt that this will be one of the filmmaker's greatest accomplishments. While we wait for another trailer, here are a couple of high resolution photos from the film featuring the Ark under-construction and the prophet Noah (Russell Crowe) comforting his wife (Jennifer Connolly). 

The story follows a man chosen by God for a great task–to build an ark to save creation before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world. To watch the trailer for the film, click here!

The movie also stars Emma Watson, Ray Winstone, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth, and Anthony Hopkins. It hits theaters March 28th, 2014.

The first thing I should tell you about these amazingly badass looking hooded jackets is that they don't actually exist. They are concept designs, but the seriously need to be brought to life, because they are the best superhero hoodies that I've ever seen! These are perfectly slick looking designs. I mean seriously… what geek wouldn't wear these? I'd buy the whole collection!

The designs were created by Deviant Art user seventhirtytwo, and I really hope that one day they become a reality! 

Via: Geeks Are Sexy

Dave MacDowell has to be one of the best pop artists I've seen in a long time. There are so many great works you can find and purchase on his website, so please check it out! My only regret is not finding this earlier in the holiday season so I could gift people!

If you’re up for something different, look no further than Drakengard 3. The game puts you in control of Zero, who isn’t exactly a shining beacon of truth and justice, at least from outward appearances. She happens to have a bloodlust for her six sisters, and normally that would be because they are inherently evil or something. While that might be revealed to be the case, so far the only thing they've done is bring peace to the earth itself, so it's not exactly Kill Bill here. In any case, throughout her quest she has a partner, a big purple dragon named Mikhail. Not like Figment purple, more like an intimidating Grimace purple...though thinking about it I’m not sure I’d put the words intimidating and Grimace in the same sentence. Regardless, you will be able to hop on Mikhail’s back when needed, and the heavy hack and slash combat looks like a fun alternative to tried and true turn based fighting.

The Drakengard series has never been a huge hit, at least not on northern shores, but the third entry definitely looks intriguing. Playstation 3 owners will be able to test it out for themselves sometime in 2014.

Sideshow Collectibles has released their super awesome yet creepy collectible action figure for the Marvel HYDRA villain Red Skull. This is a great deign for the character, and I love how it turned out!

Marvel's first and most enduring supervillain rises up against freedom, liberty and above all, his sworn enemy, Captain America, with the Sideshow Collectibles Red Skull - Allied Charge on Hydra Premium Format Figure.  

Braced for battle on a World War II era cobblestone base, the ruthless Red Skull plots his course of destruction, eager to crush all those who oppose or stand in his way. The nefarious leader of the Hydra terrorist organization proudly bears his evil insignia in hand-tailored German style military fatigues and a full length trenchcoat, ready to shoot from the hip at any moment. Thwarted for the last time, Herr Schmidt confronts his rival with a menacing grin, the true face of evil incarnate.

You can preorder it here for only 369.99! That's not a lot of money for an action figure… right? 

Sony Pictures has released a new trailer for George Clonney's The Monuments Men. It is in the style of an old newsreel called "Support the Monuments Men!" It calls attention to a website asking for your support.

The movie is based on the novel by Robert Edsel, and it follows art historians who landed at Normandy to rescue several pieces of art and landmarks from destruction. It really does look like an incredible movie. 

An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

The movie comes out on February 7th, and it also stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, and Bob Balaban. 

Here's a great live action fan film for you to check out called Skull Kid: A Zelda Legend, which is based on the N64 the classic game Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. The film comes from Jared Potter, who is best known for his short film based on Bioshock, New Year’s End, which you can watch here. I thought it turned out really well, and I hope you enjoy it. 

THE SKULL KID, a harmless but troublesome imp, has been cast out of the city of Clocktown. Deep within the lost woods he must face the harsh realities of his banishment. There, amongst the trees, an ancient evil has also begun to stir, seeking out a creature suitable to become its puppet. 

Thanks to Machinima for the heads up on the short!

Now that the end of the year is upon us, we are going to start seeing a lot of people's Top 10 lists. Mine is on the way! But here's a Top 10 list you might care about seeing a little more. This is from director Edgar Wright, who this year released At World's End and is currently developing Marvel's Ant-Man film. 

The director gave the list in an interview with Digital Spy, but there are still a few films yet to be released that he hasn't seen it. So it may change a little bit by the time the end of the year comes. 

So this is Edgar Wright’s Top 10 Movies of 2013 as of November 26th 2013, when the interview was conducted.

10. Rush

9. The Bling Ring

8. Prisoners

7. The Spectacular Now

6. Short Term 12

5. Behind The Candelabra

4. Before Midnight

3. Blue Jasmine

2. Spring Breakers

1. Gravity

It's not bad list. The only movie on that list I loathed with Spring Breakers. That film was an utter piece of crap. But obviously some people saw something good in it that I didn't. It just wasn't my thing. As of right now though, there are only two movies on this list that will make it onto my own Top 10. 

Twtich

Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola is set to premiere his sequel to the Nazi zombie horror comedy Dead Snow: Red Vs. Dead at Sundance next year. In anticipation of it, we have the above international poster, along with an official synopsis,

If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning.

Picking up immediately where the original left off, Dead Snow; Red vs. Dead wastes no time getting right to the gore-filled action, leaving a bloody trail of intestines in its wake. Director Tommy Wirkola returns to the helm with a vengeance, coming up with more inventive ways to maim and dismember than you ever thought possible. Combining wry humor with horrific worst-case scenarios, this follow-up to the 2009 Midnight classic is sure to shock the weak-of-heart and delight even the most hard-core fans of the horror genre. Colonel Herzog is back, and he is not to be fucked with.

I'm sure the movie will end up being just as fun as the first one. We'll let you know when we see it up at Sundance! 

Because Tesla coils are awesome, here they are performing a rendition of the main theme song from Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim. To bring things to a creepy level, there's a robot in the video that plays the drums. The video comes from YouTuber ARC ATTACKMUSIC. Thanks to Geekologie!

A couple of weeks ago, Quentin Tarantino said that he loved working on Django Unchained so much, he wanted his next film to be a western also. This news made my day because I would love to see a resurgence of the western genre. Westerns are not considered one of the top tier genres, but I think that they are one of the most complex and interesting. Conventional rules do not apply to westerns. The protagonist/antagonist line is slightly blurred. That is what makes them more real. Any one of us would like to think that we are good people, but put us in a circumstance where we or someone we love is threatened, and we will fight to the bitter end. That is what the western is all about, the darker, grittier side of humanity. That is what I love about these films. 

Just a little disclaimer; I am in no way a western aficionado. I chose these films because they are my favorites. Feel free to share your favorites with me in the comment section below! Maybe there are a few that I haven’t seen or I need to watch it again, so please… recommend away! With that being said, let’s begin:

10) MAVERICK (1994)

Starring Mel Gibson, Jody Foster, and James Garner. The comedy centers on Bret Maverick (Gibson) and his need to find money to join a poker tournament. This movie really doesn’t fit the western mold, but it is one of my favorites. Gibson and Foster are a perfect pairing; they play wonderfully off each other. Don’t worry; there is plenty of action and plot twists to keep it in the western category.

9) 3:10 TO YUMA (2007)

Starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. I know that this is a remake, but I haven’t seen the original so this is what we are going with. This movie has everything you could want in a western. The down on his luck good guy, the charmingly overconfident bad guy, and the bat s%!t crazy second in command, Ben Foster. Add in a dash of Alan Tudyk, and you have a great movie. The story follows near bankrupt rancher who volunteers to escort the most notorious villain of the area to a train bound for prison. Not a bad job until they realize that the crew of the arrested man is going to stop at nothing to get their leader back. The tension in this movie is like when you blow up a balloon. You know if you keep going, the balloon will pop, it is just a matter of when. 

8) Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Starring Robert Redford, this movie is perfect example of no matter how hard you try to get away from the world, the world will always find you. Redford plays a soldier fresh out of the Mexican/American war who just wants to leave it all behind, so he becomes a hermit up in the mountains of America. Like I said, no matter what you do to try to hide, the world will find you. He finds himself in a life or death battle with the Crow Native American Tribe. The story is great, and you can never go wrong with a young RR in the leading role. The one lesson to be learned from this, never desecrate an Indian burial ground. Just sayin.

7) Young Guns (1988)

Based on the cast alone, this would be a fantastic movie. The movie stars Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, Casey Siemaszko, Jack Palance, Terrance Stamp and an almost unrecognizable Dermot Mulroney. The casting is perfect. It follows Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) and his gang of Regulators on a quest to avenge the death of their boss. I could go on and on about how great this movie is. One of the best popcorn flicks out there. If you haven’t seen it, it is well worth the time.

6) Django Unchained (2012)

This was one of my favorite movies of 2012. I was initially turned off by all of the negative press that surrounded the movie, but I am now glad that I watched it. Tarantino is a true artist when it comes to bringing a story to life, but he is a downright genius when it comes to writing for and directing Christoph Waltz. If you are holding back from seeing this film, stop it! It is truly one of his best performances. Everyone else in this film is great, don’t get me wrong, but he is perfect. I have become a true fan of Waltz, he seems to bring all of himself to every role. And he is one of the best hosts of SNL, EVER!

5) The Magnificent Seven (1960)

This movie is a remake of the amazing Akira Kurosawa’s film Seven Samurai. Even though this is a remake, it stands alone as one of the best westerns of all time. It has the most badass cast in all of badassdom. The movie stars Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and Eli Wallach. When I mentioned before that Tarantino was going to make another western, I instantly thought of this film. This is totally in his wheelhouse. With his knack for ensemble casts and eye for action I felt that he was a perfect fit for a remake of this movie. I know that there have been rumors floating around Hollywood that Tom Cruise wants to remake this movie. However, as we reported a year ago, he has no writer or director attached to the movie. I think this QT should step in and take control. Just sayin.

4) The Cowboys (1972) 

This movie starring John Wayne holds a special place in my heart of hearts. I caught it late one night when I was young and I should have been asleep because it was a school night. I watched from beginning to end and was worthless at school the next day. It is on my favorite movies of all-time list. Wayne plays a cattle rancher who loses all of his crew to the gold rush. Desperate to herd his cattle to the next town, he recruits local boys ranging in age from 9-15 and has them help him run his cattle train. I am usually an emotional wreck after I watch this movie. Totally worth watching. 

3)  Unforgiven (1992)

If you want to get technical about this, my top five western movies are all tied for first. However, for the sake of listing things I have put them in this order. This is about as Debbie Downer as a movie can get. The acting in this movie is phenomenal, and if you didn’t already know this, Clint Eastwood is one of the best directors in the world. The shots in this film are breathtaking and the cast is impeccable. I usually don’t find downer movies that interesting, but this movie draws you in and doesn’t let you got until the credits roll. 

2) The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)

If Sergio Leone was on this Earth for anything, it was to make a kick-ass western. Out of all of the westerns he directed, this is by far my favorite. If you have never seen this movie, then I feel bad for you son! You really need to check it out. It stars Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef, all in search of a mysterious grave filled with coins. The movie is a little on the long side, but it is totally worth it in my opinion. 

And my favorite western of all time is….

1) Tombstone (1993)

This is one of those movies that I can watch at any time. Like Shawshank Redemption and movies like it, the story never gets old. The cast is amazing, with a stand-out performance by Val Kilmer. I doubt you will find anyone that will play Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday better than Kurt Russell and Kilmer. The supporting cast is spot on. So spot on that it took me awhile to not hate Stephen Lang because of how well he played the slimy little weasel Ike Clanton. This movie about the shoot-out at the OK Corral will have you looking for the opportunity to say, “I’ll be your huckleberry.”.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The following may not be the best of the best, but they are worth checking out if you have nothing better to do. They are completely in my Guilty Pleasure category.

The Quick and The Dead (1995)

Blazing Saddles (1974)

The Three Amigos (1986) 

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Like I have said before, this is totally my opinion on things. If you think I am completely off, let me know, but share your favorites below! 

Until next time…

Billy Out!