James Gunn's 'Super' Breaks The Mold Of Superhero Movies One Skull At A Time

Last night I had the good fortune to score a few seats for a preview of James Gunn's newest film, 'Super'. I am a big fan of Gunn's other films 'Tromeo & Juliet' & 'Slither', so when I obtained my seats for this preview screening I became super excited. The screening was held at the ReRun Gastropub Theater in Brooklyn, NY... and lets just say this may be the best place I have ever watched a movie. They have a gourmet menu (I had a stuffed foccacia sandwich filled pulled pork for Christ sakes... these guys are no joke!) and a full bar. They also offer awesome beer specials, like four Fosters 24oz oil cans for 24 bucks (that's a ton of beer right there). I plan on writing a post about Rerun another time... curator Aaron Hillis and the gang over there are handling business!!!

I was supposed to attend this screening with my partner in crime Jeff Bond, but due to a turn of events Jeff couldn't make it. So instead I met up with CCD's art critic extraordinaire Briana Melendez for the excursion. Bri was excited to see the film because of Nathan Fillon's involvement in the movie... and she made a very capable drinking buddy (those Foster's weren't gonna drink themselves, right?). We settled in with our sammy's and our brews for what we thought was going to be a superhero movie. Boy were we in for a surprise...

***Please click Read more below for my thoughts on 'Super'***

Proof That There Is A God: Keri Hilson Edition

No Words... Just Thanks!

***BONUS***

Since MTV don't show music videos anymore, I haven't seen Keri's latest video 'Pretty Girl Rock'. I love the song, and she takes on some historic R&B icons looks for the vid. Enjoy!

Commercially Acclaimed: Vol.#21 - Heineken - 'The Entrance'

TV commercials are a part of our everyday lives as TV viewers. Even though Tivo and DVR have allowed us to "skip through" the commercials, the advertising companies are still trying to peak our interests by coming up with creative commercials. To me, great commercials are an art form and are under appreciated by a society that is always trying to speed through things. Think about it... how many times did you see a great commercial that made you laugh hysterically or want to go out and purchase the advertised product??? And how many times has the best part of the Super Bowl been the commercials during a blow out game??? Whether you want to admit it or not, commercials are cool as shit... and here are some of my favorites.


This week we got a new Heineken commercial entitled "The Entrance". If you watch it one time you will know exactly what the title means... The song is from the group called The Asteroid Galaxy Tour entitled "The Golden Age". If you see this commercial more then once on TV you will be humming it all day long!!!
Hope you like it... see you next time!

The Shady Secrets In The Aftermath Of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out

This is a crazy expose video of what happened to all the boxers from the N.E.S. classic Mike Tyson's Punch-Out.



You gotta love the degeneration of Little Mac... those are some serious 'stashes, no? And what about those dance moves from Don Flamenco? Great job PMSports... keep these coming.

It's Opening Day For My Yankees... The Quest For #28 Begins Now!!!

OK... time for some baseball!!! I am not going to get into a long rant about how superior the Yankees are (clearly they are) or how much I want to see them win another title (I do...). Instead I am just going to wish Derek and the gang good luck on the 162 game journey that starts against the Tigers tonight. Lets go CC... time to get big!!! I'll check back with you guys in September. Hopefully we will be playoff bound!

I Love Me Some Scarface... But A Grand? WTF???

One of the movies that got me through my college years was Al Pacino's classic Scarface. Brian De Palma made a classic movie that encompassed everything that was grimy in the 80's. Drugs, crime, guns, women, double crosses... this one had it all. Honestly, it has always been high on my list of favorite movies. It was actually the 4th DVD I ever bought. This was the poster I had hanging on my wall at Manhattan College:

But now we are getting a special edition Blu Ray that will cost $999.99 and even I can't begin to think a situation that justifies it. Take it away /Film:

"... the ultra-luxe Blu-ray will include most of the extras currently on the DVD, as well as a few additional features — a documentary on the film’s place in culture, a picture-in-picture feature, and a scorecard feature that keeps count of the F-bombs dropped and bullets fired. Also included will be a digital copy of the film and the original 1932 black-and-white movie, of which the 1983 Brian De Palma version is a remake. But here’s where it gets really special — you’ll also receive a hand-painted humidor crafted out of untreated Spanish cedar. And best of all, since only 1,000 copies of the $999.99 edition will be made available, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that only 999 other people are are as obsessed with the film as you are and have as much disposable income as you do."

Come on man... who thought this was a good idea? You know there is gonna be a ton of cornball NFL & NBA players that love to quote Pacino's famous "Say hello to my little friend" line but couldn't explain what the movie really represents dropping the grand for this... no "regular" fan is gonna buy it. I still got my DVD version... so I'll stick with that. If you are inclined to cop this Blu Ray that is the price of a used car, it comes out September 6th.

What Is The Source Code?

Check out this cool infographic that tries to give us an idea on what The Source Code is. The 2nd film from director Duncan Jones (his 1st, Moon, was incredible) stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga and Michelle Monaghan and opens April 1. I for one can not wait to see it. Hope this poster helps a bit.

Gaiman's 'American Gods' To Get The Movie Treatment? Um, Yes Please...

I am a huge fan of comic book/novel writer Neil Gaiman... he is probably my favorite writer in the whole industry. There have been talks to bring many of his properties to either TV or the big screen, and now it seems his unreal supernatural novel 'American Gods' will be the lucky property. What is 'American Gods' you ask? Awww, you guys suck at being nerds!!! Here is a description of it (via Wikipedia):

"American Gods is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning^] novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on a mysterious and taciturn protagonist, Shadow.

The central precept of the novel is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them. Immigrants to the United States brought with them dwarves, elves, leprechauns, and other spirits and gods. However, the power of these mythological beings has diminished as people's beliefs wane. New gods have arisen, reflecting America's obsessions with media, celebrity, technology, and drugs, among others. The book follows the adventures of ex-convict Shadow, who is released from prison a few days earlier than planned on account of the death of his wife, Laura, in a car accident. "

There are talks that a director is already attached to this one (announcement is coming soon), and it's believed that Gaiman might actually write the screen play himself. He helped out Matt Vaughn on Stardust (I love that movie... nobody better say a word!!!) I would bet that it is either Guillermo Del Torro, Peter Jackson, but I wouldn't count out JJ Abrams and his crew of misfits either (rumor is they are big fans of the property). I would love to see someone like Edgar Wright, Neil Blomkamp or Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) get a shot at it. As long as they get this one done, and do it well, I will be happy!

On a side note, last month Gaiman tweeted a link to our site when we posted a picture of his Endless characters... so I'm gonna post another piece of art featuring some of his characters. These are a few of the "special individuals" that appear throughout the story American Gods.

This drawing was done by Zelu. Hope you like it Neil... can we get a Re-Tweet??? Thanks to Den of Geek for the tip.

'Superman' by Tommy Lombardozzi

This one is called 'Superman'. Spray paint and marker (S symbol) on blue textured paper. Order this print and more over at Tommy's site.

'Art Held in Contemp.' Volume 7 by Briana Melendez

 I've always been a visually stimulated individual. As a kid I was always mesmerized by the vibrant colors in nature & much to my parent's dismay the metal radiators in our home quickly became works of abstract art as I was entranced by the melting of my 64 colors of Crayola. The MOMA is by far my favorite museum in all of NYC. I can never get enough of the smooth perfection in marble and the vibrant colors of early 19th century paintings. As much as I love all these beautiful representations of creativity I could never feel connected completely. They are products of bygone eras that while I can admire I could never fully feel a part. That all changed a few years back. I picked up this art magazine called 'Juxtapoz' & BAM! It hit me like a Batman punch. There were images I understood, images I could relate to. Artwork that made sense & represented me. Knowing that 'my' art was alive & kicking has sent me on a quest to look for artist & works of art in which we all can see a little bit of ourselves. With each new installment I'll be aiming to do just that. Sit back & enjoy the ride, I know I have been.

If you grew up in NYC during the 70's & 80's you were able to experience first hand the birth of the modern graffiti movement. Soon this inner-city artistic fever spread world wide and, in the early 90's, it infected 18 year old Vanessa Castex in Toulouse, France. At first it was just hanging out with friends as they tagged their monikers across the city but, young Miss Castex decided to put her art school training to work. Soon sensual 'dolls' were popping up all over the walls in Toulouse and Miss Van was born. As the years have passed Miss Van has taken her sultry, flirtatious beauties and evolved them into deeper, darker emotional expressions of herself. The coquettish looks of her early street paintings have become raw, cultured energy that shows how an 18 year old  street artist has matured into an artistic force in her adulthood.

***Click 'READ MORE' below for more of Miss Van's work!***

Marty McWolf - Boardin' & Basketball!!!



Mixed Up - Hoverboard by Filipe Survival

Finally, This Is What Wily Kit & Wily Kat Will Look Like In The New Thundercats Cartoon (Maybe...)

These are the toy mock ups for the youngest Thundarians out of the group, Wily Kit & Wily Kat. The twins were missing from some earlier leaked drawings from the new show, but if this toy is any indication than this is what they should look like. It fits  well with the heavy anime styling that they have chosen for this reboot. What do you guys think about these wonder twins? Tell us in the coment section below. Thanks to Topless Robot for the information.

Wu Tang Wednesday - Duck Seazon

Hey everybody... today is Wu Tang Wednesday and we are taking it back to the Wu Tang Forever album with this one. Duck Season features Raekwon, Method Man, and Rza... and Rza steals the show!!! A classic album cut from the god MC's!!!!

Tara Reid Plays EVERYBODY In 'The Big Lebowski Pt. 2'

Stay classy Ms Reid....

A few months back, Tara Reid gave some drunk rambling on how she was looking forward to the start of filming on 'The Big Lebowski Pt. 2'. She couldn't wait to get cracking... trouble was, nobody else remotely new what the fuck she was talking about. Not the John Goodman, not Jeff Bridges, and definitely not the Coen Brothers. This lead to more redicule for the down and out Reid.... so what did she do? She teamed up with Funny or Die to make her version of 'The Big Lebowski Pt. 2'.

The Big Lebowski 2 with Tara Reid from Tara Reid

This is why anybody can become and stay famous now-a-days. She makes some retarded comment about a classic movie, everyone makes her look like the dumbass she is, and then they make a parody video starring her... WTF!!!! Pretty funny anyway... hope you enjoy.

OHC of the Day: Marielle Jaffe

Marielle Jaffe! Name not ringing a bell? Aside from her modeling career, she had her run in the television series version of '10 Things I hate About You', then burst onto the big screen in a small part as a sexy temptress in 'Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief'. Next up, the sultry 20-something will soon to be in (..and murdered, I'd bet) in the upcoming return, slasher 'Scream 4' (in theaters April 15th)  alongside a bevy a beauties. (tiny Hayden Panetierre; Courtney Cocks....um Cox; Alison Brie, and young up-and-cummer Emma Roberts to name a few.) I'm positive, however, that her assets will be something to talk about after the screaming has subsided. Here's a closer look at the new scream queen:

***Please click 'READ MORE' for more of Ms. Jaffe***

Takashi Miike Is At It Again... Wow!

Takashi Miike is one of my favorite foriegn directors... this guy makes some great movies. 'Ichi the Killer' was one of the sickest movies I ever saw, 'Audition' earned Miike a guest spot in Eli Roth's 'Hostel 2' because of how awesomely horrific it was, and 'Sukiyaki Western Djang'o is just so fucking bizarre that it is masterful. So when Miike has a movie coming out, I pay attention. That brings us to Miike's next film, '13 Assassins':



Yeah... thats what I'm talking about. It comes out April 29th... see you at the theaters. Thanks to /Film for the tip.

Amy Adams Is Lois Lane... And I Never Wanted To Be Superman More in My Entire Life!!!

I was a bit skeptical to run this story until it was 100% verified, but it seems that Amy Adams has been tapped to play Lois Lane in the 'Superman' reboot film by Zack Snyder. I think this is wonderful since I worship the ground that this hot piece of ginger ass walks on and love to see her in anything. Shit, Snyder could have made her Superman himself if he wanted to and I would be on board for this puppy. Yeah, I love her.

Adams joins a very intriguing cast that features Henry Cavill as Supes, Kevin Costner & Diane Lane as Ma & Pa Kent, and a yet to be determined villain. No word on whether Nuclear Man from Superman 4 will be back... but if he is lets hope he uses his nuclear power to melt Adam's top off and let us catch a look at those fabulous ta-ta's.

Yeah, I know. Adams, a short red head, looks a lot different then the traditional Lois Lane of the comics (tall, skinny and dark haired). But Lane was always a spitfire, and Adams showed she can play a loudmouth in her Oscar nominated role from The Fighter. I like the choice, but then again I am blinded by whether the carpet matches the pubes on Adams. What do you guys think? tell us in the comment section below.

What If Maurice Sendak Would Have Illustrated 'The Hobbit'?

Tony DiTerlizzi, author of 'The Spiderwick Chronicles', wrote a guest article for Hero Complex in which he unfolds the mystery behind the almost collaboration of J.R.R. Tolkien & Maurice Sendak. His article is amazing... here is a short excerpt talking about what went wrong:

"As Sendak noted passages for possible illustration and sketched in the margins of his copy of the book, the publisher prepared the art samples for Tolkien’s approval. The editor mislabeled the samples, however, identifying the wood-elves as “hobbits,” as Sendak recalled to Maguire. This blunder nettled Tolkien. His reply was that Sendak had not read the book closely and did not know what a hobbit was. Consequently, Tolkien did not approve the drawings. Sendak was furious.


In hopes that all could be smoothed over between the two, the publisher arranged for a meeting in Oxford while Sendak was in England touring for the U.K. release of “Wild Things.” The day before their meeting, Sendak suffered his first major heart attack. He was 39. Sendak spent several weeks recovering in a hospital in Birmingham. He never met with Tolkien, and the project was abandoned."

Well, I for one hope Sendak punched that dickbag editor in the face. The article supposedly contained the two illustrations discussed above, but only one is actually Sendak's. Here it is:

What do you think? Would you have liked to see Sendak take on Tolkien? Let us know in the comment section below!

It's Times Like This That I Wish I Had A Crib In L.A.

I love NYC... god knows that's true. But the West Coast has the movie business on lock, and there is no shortage of movie related special events happening out in L.A. that I would love to attend. Case in point, this magnificent motherfucking 'Black Dynamite' event:

This is all in an effort to promote the new 'Black Dynamite: Slave Island' comic book... one that I am eagerly anticipating in the mail to review (thanks Jillian!!!). You got a screening of the movie (one of my all time faves) at 6:30 PM, The recording of a live podcast at 8:00 PM, and then a comic book signing to finish it all up with a bang at 9:00 PM. In the words of director Scott Sanders:

"Chris Hardwick will lead a panel that includes Michael Jai White ("Black Dynamite", co-writer), Byron Minns ("Bullhorn", co-writer), Scott Sanders (director, co-writer), Brian Ash (comic author, writer for The Boondocks) to chat about the making of the greatest Blaxploitation comedy of all time, and its extension into the comic world. There will also be a live music performance by the film's score-master Adrian Younge and The Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra."  

How F'n unbelievable does that sound? Black Dynamite himself & Bullhorn are gonna be up in this bitch!!! God damn... I wish I could get out there!!! Hey Scott, can you send Cream Corn with the helicopter for me? Please.... Grrrr. Anyway, we met Scott at last years NYC Comic Con and he was the man. He gave us a long ass interview and signed a bunch of preview comics for us (that we gave away to you guys!!!) and proved to be one cool dude. Good luck with the event guys... and if you are in the L.A. area, make this happen!!!!

All of this takes place on April 4th @ Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90046

It's Not All Bad Blood Between These Guys

Now these are way better then AvP 2, no?

Wonderful Alien/Predator pictures done by Xidon

The First 'Hangover 2' Poster... What Do You Think?

I'm really hoping big things for this one. Monkey... check. Zach Gafafsdksgfcfkas with a shaved head/full beard... check. Tyson face tattoo on the dentist... check. What do you guys think? You checking in for this one, or do you think it is impossible for it to live up to the results of the 1st film? Let us know in the comment section below.

WTF Is This About? I'm In....

Jeff sent me this trailer the other day and I honestly can't be more excited about this upcoming film. First, said trailer:



Your kidding me, right? This is a College Humor/Funny Or Die video or something, right? That is Harvey Keitel, right? Ok... where is the hidden camera filming right now?

This movie looks wonderful. When I say wonderful I mean racially insensitive, full of slapstick silliness, and generally offensive. That's usually a winner in my book... so I'm in! Plus, as a extra gem, Jason ('Jay & Silent Bob') Mewes is in it as well. What do you guys think? Tell us in the comment section below.

Who Wants To Come To A Screening Of James Gunn's 'Super' With Us On 3/30/2011?

Usually whenever I get preview opportunities here at CCD I take along my partner in crime Jeff Bond for the ride. If he can't make it, I usually offer it to someone else from the supporting crew... but this is a rare occasion. I am attending a screening for James Gunn's 'Super' alongside Jeff, but we got an extra ticket... so who wants to come with us?

OK, here are the rules. First of all, the screening is on Wed. March 30th. Second of all, it's in Downtown Brooklyn (secret location). Third, you must be at the location by 6:45 pm. If you can't fulfill all three of those requirements, don't even bother responding to the following question. But if you can do all three of the above, answer me this:

If you were going to take on the persona of a Superhero, tell us what your theme would be. Describe your costume, weapons/tools, and overall back story of your character in the comment section below. This is in the vein of 'Super', so your hero must have NO SUPERPOWERS... think more like a Batman type, not a Superman type. Tell me your story in the comment section below and you must be a follower of the blog to win. I declare the winner Tuesday right here on CCD. Lets what you guys got.

Happy Munn-Day!!!

Oh Olivia, you minx you... tease me!!!

In Defense Of Sucker Punch...

Ok... so I saw Sucker Punch, Zach Snyder's latest cinematic opus, over this past weekend. Ever since it came out on Thursday @ midnight, geek websites across the net have been running stories about it. I wanted to avoid all of them at all cost until I had seen the film myself, so I HAD to see it on Sunday because I could not continue to ignore some of my favorite sites for to long. I wanted to hear what they had to say... but wanted to experience it myself first.

Let me start off by saying I have been waiting on this one for quite a bit. Ever since I saw the first shots of Emily Browning and her gang of gorgeous misfits fighting dragons & nazi zombies. How could this be bad. Short skirts, knee highs, boobs, guns, swords, and villains galore. This seemed to be the makings of something that I not only wanted to see, I needed to see it.

***Please click Read more below to see more of my defense of Sucker Punch***

Proof That There Is A God: Vera Farmiga Edition

Netflix Instant Streaming Picks Of The Day: 3//2011

Hello all.. it has been a bit since I made any Netflix Instant recommendations. Not from lack of watching... oh, I have been streaming more then ever! I have watched 100's of TV shows and movies through my Wii. I get my 7.99's worth every month, believe that. But these are some of the things I did watch and I think you should give a try. Trust me... my taste is awesome.

Mystery Team - 2009 - Donald Glover, DC Pierson, Dominic Dierkes, Aubrey Plaza

Most of you guys have probably read young adult books like 'The Hardy Boys', 'Nancy Drew', or 'Encyclopedia Brown' in your life. These books were great because you got to live through the actions of these young geniuses as they solved child crimes. Cool, but nothing to crazy. These books inspired many kids to do the same... but what happens when these kids grow up? This is the jist of The 'Mystery Team'. Three best friends spend their childhood solving child-like crimes around their neighborhood. Flash forward 10 years, and they are still at it. These 18 year olds are running around busting kids for small infractions and living the pure life they hoped to achieve as child detectives. The problem is the rest of the world has changed... dramatically. These 3 guys will make you laugh till you cry with their naivete. Throw in my favorite nerd crush, Aubrey Plaza, as their new client (this is the hottest she's ever looked!!!) and this one is a winner. Donald Glover will have you rolling on the floor. This is an absolute must see for fans of quirky movies like Napoleon Dynamite & the show Community.

Spartacus - Blood & Sand (13 ep) & Gods Of The Arena (6 ep) - Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, Jaime Murray, Dustin Clare

Wow... just wow. Starz killed this show. Gladiators. Tits. Sword fights. Tits. Drama. Action. Tits. Politics. Violence. Tits. Love. Honor. Treachery. Betrayal. Did I mention the TITS!!!! There is so much sex and violence in Spartacus that it becomes second nature. You stop even noticing it, and it just because unreal fun (except the tits, I never stopped noticing the tits) You will become obsessed with Batiatus and his house of Gladiators. I recommend watching 'Gods of the Arena' first since its a prequel... it will work much better. Just be careful because at the very end of the last show (episode 6) there is a spoiler flash forward to the end of 'Blood and Sand' episode 13. But otherwise, watching it in order will make you enjoy it so much more. You should watch this show on the general principle that Lucy Lawless is smoking hot at 43 and shows off her lovely goods. Trust me, seeing 'Xena' in action is worth the time alone.

Paul McCartney Is Dead: The Last Will & Testament of George Harrison  (Documentary)

My parents are huge 'Beatles' fans and I am a conspiracy theory nut, so this one was an instant watch as soon as I saw it on the "Just Added" list. I have heard rumors of a cover-up of Paul McCartney's death back in 1966 throughout the years. I always dismissed it as some silliness. I even asked my dad, and he often said it was some ridiculous nonsense. I started this "documentary" being very skeptical... but once I finished I found myself wondering if it could be true. This "documentary" is a narrative that supposedly belongs to former 'Beatle' George Harrison. Apparently the two tapes arrived at the company responsible for this doc, 'Highway 61 Entertainment', in a package from London with no return address. The package contained a mini-recorder & 2 tapes. When the tapes were played, the guys at 'Highway 61' were treated to a wild story told by someone who is supposedly George Harrison. The film animates the voice from the tapes and what the person is saying. It analyses clues, situations, and facts that will make you think twice of dismissing it as a fraud. I can honestly say I wanted to think of it as rubbish, but I can not stop thinking that it may be true. Only God & the Beatles no the truth... and Ringo ain't saying shit!!!!

Check these three out... I think you will like them. Tell us what you think in the comment section below if you have seen any of them. I would love to hear your opinion. Alright, I gotta go... more Instant Streaming to do!!!

Mashups Galore Over At Draw2D2... Enter Your Own!!!

There is a new art blog on the block, and you need to check it out if you are a lover of mash-ups, a phenomenal artist, or both. It's called Draw2D2 and the concept is pretty simple: 2 geek properties, 2 weeks of submissions & voting. Thats about it. The first topic they chose to tackle was a mashup of The Iron Giant & King Kong. This one was my favorite:

'Iron Kong by Adam Carlson'

 Keep an eye on this blog... and make sure you tell all your artist friends. The next mashup is going to be The Avengers & The Office. I CANT WAIT TO SEE THIS ONE!!!! Tell em CCD sent you!