What A Slacker!

Soul Legend Isaac Hayes Dies

Add comment August 10th, 2008

Soul singer and arranger Isaac Hayes, who won Grammy awards and an Oscar for the theme from the 1971 action film “Shaft,” has died, sheriff’s officials in Memphis, Tennessee, reported Sunday.

Singer Issac Hayes seen performing in the U.K. last year. Hayes was found dead Sunday at age 65.

more photos » Relatives found Hayes, 65, unconscious in his home next to a still-running treadmill, said Steve Shular, a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

Paramedics attempted to revive him and took him to a hospital, where the South Park star was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m., the sheriff’s department said.

No foul play is suspected, the agency said in a written statement. Read the full obit at CNN.com.

Clone Wars - Is It Up To The Hype

Add comment August 10th, 2008

Well the reviews are starting to come in for the new Star Wars animated film and they are not all that great. Personally, I was none too impressed by the trailers. This animation is doing nothing for me. It looks like the video clips in the video games but not quite as good. Not sure why Lucas decided to go with this choppy new look (the cartoon networks mini mini-series was done better than this feature film). An article in the Reading Eagle dared to compare this style to anime. I don’t think they could have been more wrong. Maybe they just don’t know what the anime style of animation really is or not. But this is not anime; it is video game animation.

Yes I will be going to see it. The geek in me propels me to do so, but I am not expecting too much especially now that I am reading reviews, which are pretty much telling the things I was already feeling about it. I hate to say it but as for the sci-fi animated films coming out this summer, Fly Me to the Moon might be the best of the bunch. And if I am going to spend the money to go to the new IMAX Theater here in Reading it might as well be for the 3D flick. I’ll hit one of the other theaters for a matinee for Star Wars Clone Wars.

Will the animated series due out this fall on the Cartoon Network be the same crappy animation?

Actor, comedian and exasperated dad Mac dies at 50

Add comment August 9th, 2008

Bernie Mac, actor, comedian and put-upon dad, dies at 50 from pneumonia complications. Mac died Saturday morning of complications from pneumonia in a Chicago-area hospital, his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

“The world just got a little less funny,” said “Oceans” co-star George Clooney.

Don Cheadle, another member of the “Oceans” gang, concurred: “This is a very sad day for many of us who knew and loved Bernie. He brought so much joy to so many. He will be missed, but heaven just got funnier.”

Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Reading IMAX Theater Opens Tonight

Add comment August 8th, 2008

The brand new IMAX in Reading opens tonight. I won’t be able to attend this evenings shows but hope to get there sometime this weekend. All this week the the movies only cost $1 and all the proceeds go to charity. My guess is this is a way to get the new employees broken in and test all the equipment before the actual opening next week.

 Here are the movies and showtimes for tomorrow….

Speed Racer: The IMAX Experience (PG)
Emile Hirsch,Nicholas Elia
135 minutes 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00

10,000 B.C. (PG-13)
Steven Strait,Camilla Belle
109 minutes 12:10, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10, 9:30

The Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)
Freddie Highmore,Mary-Louise Parker
97 minutes 12:00, 2:10, 4:20, 6:30, 8:40

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Disney Digital 3- (G)
Miley Cyrus,Jonas Brothers
74 minutes 1:25, 3:15, 5:00, 6:45, 8:30

The Bucket List (PG-13)
Jack Nicholson,Morgan Freeman
97 minutes 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:35

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG)
Nicolas Cage,Jon Voight
124 minutes 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50

Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)
Jason Lee,Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
92 minutes 12:40, 2:40, 4:40, 6:40, 8:40

No Country for Old Men (R)
Tommy Lee Jones,Javier Bardem
122 minutes 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:40

Dan in Real Life (PG-13)
Steve Carell,Juliette Binoche
95 minutes 12:45, 2:50, 5:00, 7:15, 9:25

I will most likely be seeing the IMAX Speed Racer as I missed it the first time it was in theathers. If you are going head over to the theathers website and sign up for their newsletters. You’ll get a coupon for free popcorn in your email for the trouble (hey you can always opt-out once you print your coupon). See you in the back row!

Info from their site about the theater — Reading, PA - Reading Movies 11 and IMAX at Entertainment Square, 30 N. Second Street is under construction and will open in mid-August 2008. The theatre will feature Diigital projection, 3D, HPS4000 sound systems w/ DOLBY digital, stadium seating, highback rockers, game room and party room. There will be 3 hour free parking in the garage directly across the street at all times as well as 3 hour free parking in the garage behind the theatre from 5 pm Friday through the last show on Sunday. This garage will also be available on all other days that RACC is not in session.

Star Wars Toys Hit Shelves Today

Add comment July 26th, 2008

The new Star Wars figures hit stores today the wave includes figures from past movies as well as the upcoming Clone Wars CGI animated feature.

About half of the Clone Wars figures had a first day of release sticker on the front, which will have collectors running around trying to find them.

There are also two more droids to build; I guess the other druid factory venture worked out well for Hasbro. It looked like it takes 4 or 5 figures to build each droid.

The Clone Wars figures look pretty good. In fact I think they look better than the on screen characters. (I am not a fan of the cgi look of the new film. To me it looks like they took all the video game film clips and stuck them together to make the film. Don’t get me wrong I will still be going to the theater to see this new Star Wars flick.)

Blobfest Starts Today

1 comment July 11th, 2008

It is the 50th anniversary of the film THE BLOB. Filmed in Chester County way back in 1958 and starring Steve McQueen. Each year the Colonial Theater (this would be the theater in the famous scene where everyone is running out escaping the BLOB) has a BLOBfest to celebrate their fifteen minutes of fame and this year is no exception (how could it be with it being the 50th anniversary and all).

 Stop by tonight and watch the reinactment of the running of the Blob. Other activities include costume contests, a parade, a street fair, meet the REAL Blob and Tom Savini or just come to see the film on the big screen.

The Blob Poster

Buy at AllPosters.com

Comcast DVR at It Again

1 comment July 10th, 2008

Well, I was hoping to be able to actually watch all the shows I had on my crappy Motorola DVR from Comcast before it finally died, but it does not look like I will be able to unless I do it quick.

I got home tonight and it was doing that same lovely trick of going to a black screen after I pause or try to rewind. I had to do a hard reboot again, which thankfully worked again this time, but for how long?

 Basically, my hard drive is slowly going bad and I have to get a new box from Comcast. Shame they have not come up with the technology to transfer the saved content to a new hard drive or letting us attached an external hard drive to expand the memory. Oh, TIVO you are starting to look good even at the additional costs.

Marvel-ous Cartoons Are A Coming

Add comment June 27th, 2008

Marvel’s Wolverine and the X-men will come to TV in 2009 thanks to NickToons. But that’s not all that’s a coming. We will also get Ironman: The animated series!

 Each will offer up 26 half hour episodes and give us all a reason to set our Tivos.

Check out the new trailer for Wolverine and The X-men (Marvel must have cleared up their little spat with the Foo Fighters). 

But wait you also get…

Another animated feature film on DVD this fall. NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW. That makes five.

I Want It Wednesday: Lego Deathstar

Add comment June 25th, 2008

The Lego Star Wars Deathstar has reached new heights with the new Battle inside the Death Star™! This is not just a Lego model it is a playset to beat all playsets (and maybe it should at a $400 price tag). Look at everything this cool Lego set has to offer.

• Includes 25 heroes, villains, droids and creatures!
• Includes 6 new and exclusive minifigures and droids only found in this set: Luke Skywalker™ (Stormtrooper™ outfit), Han Solo™ (Stormtrooper outfit), Assassin Droid™, Interrogation Droid, Death Star Droid and 2 Death Star Troopers™!
• Also includes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi™, C-3PO™, R2-D2™, Princess Leia™, Chewbacca™, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight), Darth Vader™, Grand Moff Tarkin™, Emperor Palpatine™, 2 Stormtroopers, 2 Emperor’s Royal Guards™, R2-Q5™, and mouse droid!
• All-new Dianoga™ trash compactor monster!
• Movie-authentic Death Star environments include the Superlaser control room and target monitor, Imperial conference chamber, TIE Advanced hangar bay with moving launch rack, Emperor’s throne room, droid maintenance room, detention block, trash compactor, and much more!
• Rescue Princess Leia from the detention block cell, then escape through the secret hatch to the trash compactor below!
• Reenact the final duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in the Emperor’s Throne Room!
• Death Star measures 16” (41cm) tall and 16½” (42cm) wide!
• TIE Advanced measures 3½” (9cm) wide!

Recreate the action and adventure of the Star Wars™ movies with the ultimate Death Star playset! This amazingly detailed battle station features an incredible array of minifigure-scale scenes, moving parts, characters and accessories from Episodes IV and VI on its multiple decks, including the Death Star control room, rotating turbolaser turrets, hangar bay with TIE Advanced starfighter, tractor beam controls, Emperor’s throne room, detention block, firing laser cannon, Imperial conference chamber, droid maintenance facility, and the powerful Death Star superlaser…plus much more! Swing across the chasm with Luke and Leia, face danger in the crushing trash compactor, and duel with Darth Vader for the fate of the galaxy!

Shop the LEGO Star Wars Collection

WALL-E Music Comes to Earth

Add comment June 21st, 2008

I just got the WALL-E soundtrack, well actually score, the other day.

WALL-E sound track is pretty good. I have always been a fan of musical scores while I work. The lack of lyrics is less distracting for me. Listening to this music, which is some times, interrupted by robo-speak and sound effects has really gotten me hyped up to see the film, I could live without the two songs from Hello Dolly, but perhaps once I see the film their inclusion on the sound track might make sense.

For more information on the WALL-E Soundtrack CD head over to ScifiSlacker.com

Bleach Movie Coming to Theater Near You - Sort Of

Add comment June 9th, 2008

Hey anime fans! Bleach the Movie hits select theaters this week for only two days. It will show on June 11th and June 12th at 7:30pm. Be sure to check out the official event site for complete listing of theaters. I know for me it is only playing in a handful of theaters here in PA. Luckily, one is close enough to go see it. The film is dubbed in English for those of you, like me, who hate to read an action film.

While we are on the subject of Manga and Anime, what would your name be if you could choose one? Mine would be Chiharu. I just like the sound of it. Plus in Japanese it means child of a thousands springs. Sounds pretty impressive, doesn’t it?

Don’t Bother Seeing The Strangers

Add comment June 7th, 2008

Went to see The Strangers last night and quite honestly I was disappointed. The previews and critic quotes they splashed across the screen let me think I would be “messed up for life” and “unable to sleep for weeks”. Well I slept last night without any problems.

The first half hour (felt like an hour) was really, really slow. We were treated (insert sarcasm here) with background information on the couple that was about face unspeakable horror. The next thirty minutes we were treated with some suspenseful scare tactics, which were almost enough to make me never stay home alone again especially out in the country. But then along comes the last half hour of this. The brutal murders we were told happened were actually rather lame and tame. It just brought you way down from the fear you felt earlier. It was a big let down.

YouTube My Dirty Little Secret

Add comment June 5th, 2008

YouTube was one of those sites I was late to get into. I mean really into. But alas it has happened and I often find myself spending hours looking for comedians, cartoons, LEGO films, silly how-to-videos, silly pet videos and more on YouTube.com. You could waste your time in worse ways you know. The visoes below are pretty funny. I first stumbled on these guys (at least I think it is the same group animation and voice seem the same) on that lame Jack Black TV show that tried to cash in on the YouTube video craze.