Prometheus: A Review Duet

Ridley Scott's Prometheus is arguably the greatest sci-fi film release of the year.

Obviously we've got a lot to say about it. Beware of spoilers, and find out what we thought, after the break.

Survey of Magical Worlds Day 3: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

It's time for me to finally get back to this series of posts, and it's almost at the end. This is the last world I'm going to look at before I do a final post comparing magic uses in the past and present. My first article mentioned Harry Potter, so, for my final magical world, I thought I'd cover one of the most well known current magical universes: The Harry Potter Universe.

Follow up: From the Bookshelf

In the middle of all my theatre activities, I still take time to read every night. I like it. It's fun.

Recently, I've been reading my way through this book, The Desert Spear. Find out why you should read it too, after the break.

Olympic Fantasy Sports

With the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England, I thought I'd take a few minutes to discuss some "sports" that I thought would be pretty cool to see actually happen, but that would probably not make it into the Olympics for various reasons.

(And in case you're wondering, that is the official Countdown Clock, in Trafalgar Square. I took that picture myself on my recent UK vacation.)

Gaming and Verbal Abuse

I recently came across this article in BBC News "Sexual Harassment in the World of Video Gaming".  I have been peripherally aware of the abuse directed towards female gamers for some time, but this article, and the site mentioned in it called "Fat, Ugly, or Slutty" has really been a wake up call for me.  This is a serious issue, and we as gamers need to be aware of and do what we can to correct it.
(WARNING: the messages posted on Fat, Ugly, or Slutty are graphic and disturbing.  Follow this link at your own risk)
Messages like "Get your ass back in the kitchen," "Stupid Bitch," "Fat Whore," and more that I cannot in good conscience repeat here are all too commonly directed at female online gamers.  Many of the insults are sexual in nature, and often feature threats of sexual abuse, particular rape.  Guys, this needs to stop.  

Repeaters

And That's Shakespeare is going to take a mini-hiatus while I'm going crazy over As You Like It. So here's a movie review for you to ponder.

Repeaters is about three recovering drug addicts who find themselves replaying the same day over and over again. What would you do if you could wipe the day clean again tomorrow, like it never happened? Find out, with some minor spoilers, after the break.

A PokeRant

I never thought the day would come... but after seeing previews for Pokemon Black and White 2, I quit Pokemon.  No, I'm not a militant Genwunner (a derogatory term for someone who loudly proclaims the virtues of the first generation of Pokemon while ignoring all awesome changes they've made over the years).  But I can't justify a $40 purchase for a game I stopped enjoying a long time ago.

Ninja Warriors Invade the US

Do you enjoy watching amazing feats of strength, agility, and willpower?
Do you enjoy watching people fail in incredibly hilarious ways?
Do you enjoy listening to Japanese commentators?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have the perfect show for you: Ninja Warrior. And I'm not talking about the NBC version American Ninja Warrior that's hit prime time recently (though that is a pretty good adaptation, if I must say so.) I'm talking about the original Ninja Warrior challenge straight from Japan.

ATS: Episode 11 - Julius Caesar

Enjoy.

- JV

First Sidewinder Trailer

It may not be as big as Prometheus, Men in Black III, Snow White and the Huntsman, or Chernobyl Diaries...
BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR SIDEWINDER 2: ECSTASY OF GOLD!

The first trailer for the film was released today. Get the first exclusive glimpse, after the break.

In Requiem: Ray Bradbury

On the morning of Wednesday June 6th, esteemed author Ray Bradbury died in Los Angeles.  He penned 27 novels, and nearly 600 short stories durring the course of his career, including The Martian Chronicles (1946-1950), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962), and perhaps most famously Fahrenheit 451 (1953).  I am writing this post to memorialize him in my own small way.

The Most Badass Women of Scifi

In this article, we pay tribute to twelve of sci-fi's most kickass women.

See who's in the club, after the break.

Snow White & the Huntsman Review

Curious about the latest Snow White movie? Find out what we thought, after the break.

Beware Spoilers.

GameRx: Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded."

  - Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

A while back, I wrote up a review for Sid Meier's Colonization, in a sort of celebration of the new Civilization V downloadable content coming out in the following weeks. Taking a brief hiatus with HyperBlade to change things up, it's time to continue with revisitations of Civ-likes with an old /vg/ favorite, Alpha Centauri. The game in the curious position of being the most praised game of a franchise as well as having fewest copies sold. This really is a shame; this game that rare brand science fiction gold that I feel cements game-writing as legitimate literature. In complete seriousness, I'd put right up there with the likes of Heinlein, Aasimov, and Herbert. It's that good.

In the 22nd century, the United Nations assembles an effort to colonize on Alpha Centauri, called the Unity program. Things go horribly awry when a generator malfunctions, rousing the passengers and crew from their travel-stasis and severing all communications with Earth. The captain is assassinated by the panicking passengers, leaving a power vacuum on board the ship. Seven colonists stand out from the others as leadership figures, each with very specific principles that they feel should be priorities in the colonization effort. Unable to reconcile their differences, the seven leaders and their followers take seven escape pods to the surface of the planet Chiron, commonly called "Planet", in the Alpha Centauri system. I'd go on with a story summary, but I'd hate to spoil such a great game for anyone who wants to give it a try. Besides, we have much bigger and tastier fish to fry in this game.

Lost Books: Green Rider

I love books, and I read for the pure pleasure of reading, and for losing myself in the story.  I often comb through used book stores trying to find lost or forgotten books that might not be noticed amongst the bright flashy new titles.  Often all I find are piles of miss matched Starwars and Star Trek extended universe books.  Now don't take me wrong, there's nothing wrong with those books, but they aren't what I'm looking for. Every now and then though, behind a dusty copy of Daksaber or the novelization of Encounter at Farpoint, I will find a true gem.  An older book from years past. It was in the basement of one such book store, amid layers of dust and stacks of Star Trek books as tall as I was, that I came across a simple looking book entitled Green Rider (1998) by Kristen Britain.

Chernobyl Diaries Review

I made a deal with PandaHatGirl because we both don't like scary movies. We agreed to go see Chernobyl Diaries - because it looked so silly.

Well I went to go see it last week. And here are my thoughts. As usual, beware SPOILERS ahead.

Men in Black III Review

The first time I saw the preview for the time travel movie that would be the third in the franchise of Men in Black, I was appalled and vowed never to see it.

But, in the course of hanging out with my parents, we went to see it, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Find out why, after the break. But BEWARE SPOILERS.

ATS Episode 10 - The Comedy of Errors

Have a good laugh while watching this week's episode of And That's Shakespeare!

See if you can spot the Tardis.

Brought to you by Junior Varsity.