blast-o-rama.

Raising myself out of a vicodin induced stupor, I have come once again to drop knowledge on the appropriate things in the world of geek to buy this week.

That’s right…it’s time once again for….AWESOME-O-RAMA!

Ponyo
As I write this article, I actually have this on in the background.  While the intended audience for the latest Studio Ghibli film to hit the US shores is decidedly younger than in the past, this reinterpretation of the classic Little Mermaid tale is never the less a must see.  With stunning as usual animation (made even more jaw-dropping on the blu-ray) plus a super dub, you have little to no reason to not want to see this.  As with anything with the Ghibli name on it, you can just dive in and enjoy.  Recommended as always.

Where The Wild Things Are
When Spike Jonze’s artsy adaptation of the classic children’s novel hit theaters last fall, it didn’t always arrive in front of it’s intended audience.  Less a film for children than it is for adults who remember what it was to be a child, this moody, dark and overall engrossing film is more a journey through the id and ego of a child.  Beautifully shot, wonderfully put together, and an emotional rollercoaster, it was one of the best films to hit the screen last year, and I can’t wait to revisit it again at home.

Mega Man 10
Available this week for download on the Nintendo Wii, and then in the future for both the XBox 360 and Playstation 3, this throwback title picks up where last year’s Mega Man 9 left off, providing more old school fun for those of us who remember the hours of frustration spent in front of the NES with the original Mega Man games.  Now with a built in easy mode for those of us who couldn’t get through the first level of the super hard 9, it’s even more a relaxing journey through one of the best games of years past.  And hey, who can’t get excited about the new boss character SHEEP MAN?!

Invincible Iron Man Omnibus, Vol. 1
In the flurry following the theatrical release of Iron Man, Marvel set a brilliant plan in motion to have a comic series perfectly written and designed to be eaten up by the new fans from the flick.  The result was Invincible Iron Man, and with beautiful art from Salvador Larocca combined with great stories penned by Matt Fraction (writer of the super underrated Immortal Iron Fist), it was the closest thing to a monthly movie featuring everyone’s favorite shellhead.  One of my favorite monthly titles coming out of Marvel right now, you can get the first 19 issues in one delicious digestable chunk.  I can’t recommend it enough.

Until next week, that’s been this week’s Awesome-O-Rama!

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No wait, it’s this week’s awesome nerdy things worth buying, in your weekly installment of Awesome-O-Rama!

As always, all products are selected by me, and if you see something you dig, click the name, as it will take you right to the product’s related listing at Amazon.com.  Any products purchased there give me a lil’ kickback, which keep my recommendations coming – ya dig?

Great, now let’s do this!

The Informant!
A strange, sometimes dark, and overall surreal film (based on a true story, no less), it should come as no surprise that audiences didn’t know what to do with The Informant! when it hit theaters this past fall.  I finally got the chance to see it for myself this week, and in a word, I found it to be pretty darn great, if slightly uneven.  The flick mixes an unreliable narrator with surreal bits of monologue over very serious moments of dialogue, making the tale of a man who made himself the whistleblower for his own company come off even stranger than the real story was.  Add a series of recognizable comedic actors (Patton Oswalt, Andy Daly, Joel McHale) giving unusually serious turns, and director Steven Soderburgh is definitely screwing with your expectations.  I give this the recommendation to rent, but if you dig it as much as I did, pick it the heck up.

Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths
After the mis-step of Superman: Doomsday, the team behind the DC Universe Animated Film series has been producing nothing but stunning direct to video releases.  Justice League: The New Frontier, Green Lantern: First Flight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and others have been worthwhile additions to your nerd shelf, and this latest Justice League tale might just be the best.  Adapting the classic Earth 2 Crime Syndicate story with the best animation seen on any of their releases so far along with great voicework (James Woods as Owlman is FANTASTIC), it’s downright amazing.  Add an exclusive, Steve Niles-written Spectre short, and you have a must have disc. Too rad.

Heavy Rain
Long touted as the must have, killer app for the mature game enjoying Playstation 3 owner, Heavy Rain has had years of development and rumors to live up to, and if the reviews are true, it has.  Mixing a well plotted, Law & Order style story with jawdropping graphics and an innovative, immersive control scheme, Rain has all the tools to grab the eyes of hardcore gamers – but can it help the PS3 grab the casuals? Or is it just too “different?” Time will tell, and the game, as always, is in the hands of the player.  I, for one, can’t wait to check it out.

Popgun Vol. 4
As I think I’ve underlined on this site before, I love the Flight series of graphic novels. Love, love, love them.  But what I love them even more for is reintroducing the art of the comic anthology to the mainstream.  The best of these ongoing anthology series? Hands down – Popgun.  With the release of the 4th volume this week, they continue a great legacy of innovative, beautiful comics wrapped in a stunning cover, and if the tales in the prior 3 volumes are any indications, I long for the moment where this book is in my grubby mitts.  Highest recommendation.

With your weekly round up of awesome nerdy things to blow your cash on, it’s this week’s Awesome-O-Rama!

Black Dynamite
I first really heard about this movie thanks to my buddy Jami, but when I saw the full length trailer attached to the Zombieland blu-ray, I knew that I needed some Black Dynamite in my life.  A very faithful, but very comical interpretation of the classic 1970′s Blacksploitation films, this film doesn’t just mock the tropes of those films, but also treats it with a level of reverence.  Had the Grindhouse experiment had paid out how it really should’ve, Black Dynamite would’ve been the first part of an amazing double feature.  And while it may not reach that level of notoriety, Black Dynamite absolutely deserves to be the #1 pick in your Netflix queue this week, if not have a place on your shelves.

Halo Legends
I can’t say for sure what inspired Warner Bros to do a continuing series of compilation films for well known properties as handled by Japanese animation studios, but they started an amazing trend with The Animatrix, continued it with Batman: Gotham Knight, and now they’ve taken on the Halo gaming franchise with Halo Legends.  I’m not the biggest Halo fan, nor the biggest anime fan any more, but as I enjoy the games, and I enjoy quality animation, this is definitely getting a watch. Can’t wait to pop it in the player.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom
A downloadable title for the XBox 360, this game was completely off my radar until I saw it on a recent episode of Co-Op.  A surreal platformer in the style of Summer ’08 hit Braid, P.B. Winterbottom is a game with a character who can clone himself…and then use those clones to solve puzzles.  What makes the game REALLY cool is it’s unique, 1920′s style silent film aesthetic.  The gameplay seems solid, but the visual appeal is amazing.  Definitely check it out.

That’s all for this week, we’ll see you next week here for more Awesome-O-Rama!

Fresh from the snowy tundras of Charm City, comes the latest collection of awesome things you should add to your nerdy collections!

Unfortunately, if you’re feeling the effects of Snowpocalypse, it’s probably going to be pretty difficult to get out there to pick them up. Luckily, each item is linked to their respective Amazon.com listing, so they can come to you! Once mail service starts again, that is…

Zombieland
I’ve had the pleasure of watching (and rewatching) this film several times on blu-ray over the past few days, and I think it’s safe to say that this truly is Woody Harrelson’s best role, but if you want a really hysterical way to watch this film, watch it back to back with Adventureland. Act as if Zombieland is it’s sequel (given that Jesse Eisenberg gives similar performances in both), and it makes for an interesting pairing.  Loved this movie, the best “post-zombie” film since Shaun of the Dead. Check it out now.

Bioshock 2
Back when I first got my XBox 360, Bioshock was THE game which sold me on this generation of systems.  Amazing art direction, solid gameplay and a stunning story, there was, and truly has yet to be, anything else like it on the market.  This week, the long awaited sequel hits shelves, and instead of reinventing the wheel, the developers made the smart move of not attempting to top the story, but instead add nuance to the world of Rapture.  Plus, for the hardcore gamers, they added the sweet touch of some well paced multiplayer gaming.  All and all you have what people are calling the Game of the Year…this month.

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. – Ultimate Collection
Back in the year of our lord 2006, Marvel published one of the greatest comics ever.  Written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Stuart Immonen, the superhero team book slaying Nextwave was simply put, one of the most fun reads to come out of Marvel in years, and even to date.  Unfortunately, it was more a cult hit than anything else, and ran only 12 issues.  But now, Marvel has collected all 12 issues into one solid trade. So if you’ve never read it before, your excuses are minimal now.  With a cover price of $35, and an Amazon price of just about $23, it’s worth literally every single penny. Go get it.

Until next time, from the world of endless white death, that’s the latest edition of….Awesome-O-Rama!

Folks, I’m terribly sorry, I’ve been an unworthy blogger as of late.

With all the work heading to Super Art Fight 6 (and then all of the post show work, including nightly blog posts on the site), Blast-O-Rama was decidedly a #2 on the priority list.

Ergo, I missed out on TWO WEEKS of Awesome-O-Rama!

Don’t worry though, I kept a list of what was awesome, and while it was sort of weak on the movie side of things, it was very high on the gaming radness quotient. Let’s take a look, shall we?

The Invention of Lying
Perhaps the first fully realized American film created by Ricky Gervais, The Invention of Lying puts together a very unique world for it’s backdrop, one where people are 100% honest, 100% of the time.  It’s one that is mined to pitch perfect comedic perfection – to a point.  Without going into too much detail, the movie takes a left turn for the serious, in looking into what is considered by some as the biggest lie of all time – a very gutsy move.  But then, perhaps to appease the studio or the audience -the movie swerves back into the traditional romantic comedy ending.  Despite a stellar cast and a truly astonishing world for the film to take place, it’s these abrupt moves which could leave you cold…which is why this is a highly recommended rental.

Whip It
You know, I had a hunch I would enjoy this. But even with that said, when I sat down to watch it, it wound up as a pleasant surprise.  The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore with Ellen Page in the lead role, is possibly the best commercial for roller derby ever made, painting the sport as one full of eccentric and strong women, but it wisely uses the sport as the backdrop for a smartly written coming of age tale.  It’s a really fun flick, with a really stellar cast, and I enjoyed every minute. Check it out.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
Hi kids! Need a reason to turn on your Wii other than New Super Mario Bros?  Did you love Marvel Vs. Capcom? (If your answer was no – WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?) Do you love esoteric, surreal Japanese characters you may or may not be familiar with? If you answered yes to one or all of these questions, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom may be the game for you!  A frantically paced fever dream of a fighting game, this may be the craziest game ever to come to the Wii, and up until recently was THE reason to mod your system to import.  But now the game is released in the Americas, so there’s but one question left to ask – what’s your excuse?

Mass Effect 2
I never played Mass Effect 1. But the hype surrounding that game and it’s follow up is enough to make me declare ME2 as simply awesome.  With an amazing cast of characters, stunningly realized worlds and alien races, and a superb decision making engine, Mass Effect 2 may be a game that you don’t simply play – it’s one you experience.  Now only if I could find the time to clear on my schedule to play though both of them…

Hope you enjoyed this look at the past two weeks of Awesome, and be sure to look here on Tuesday, as I look at this week’s awesome.

Back once again like a bad habit, Awesome-O-Rama is here to tell you what’s worth picking up in the world of media this week.

And unlike the past few, this is a huge week.  I kinda wonder, looking at the next few weeks, couldn’t some of these releases have been spread out through the month?  I make an alright wage, and admittingly spend more than most on movies/music/etc., and this even had ME wanting to tap out.  Come on studios – think through the whole month!

Either way, let’s do this thing!

Moon
A movie so fantastic and underrated that even it’s own studio is neglecting it for Oscars.  This “hard sci-fi” film from first-time director Duncan Jones is a one-man acting tour-de-force by Sam Rockwell, and is one of the most intriguing and enthralling movies I’ve seen in years.  If you liked Sunshine, you’re sure to love this, as it falls into the realm of ‘possible’ sci-fi realities – but Moon doesn’t have the weak ending which tends to split opinion on Sunshine.  If I can recommend any one release in particular this week – it’d be this one. Trust me.

The Brothers Bloom
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the creator of the underappreciated Brick, The Brothers Bloom is another film who’s release fell under people’s radars this past summer.  Heck, even I, who had really wanted to see it, forgot all about it.  But that’s what home video is for!  Bloom is an absolute blast of a heist comedy, shot beautifully with an amazing script.  And fellas, if you don’t walk away from this with a Rachel Weisz crush, check your pulse – you may be dead.

The Hurt Locker
Confession time! I haven’t seen The Hurt Locker yet.  And considering it’s getting all the Oscar hype this year, I think I need to rectify that.  The tale of a bomb detonation team in Iraq, this film is grim, gritty, tense, and is said to be possibly one of the best and most realistic depictions of military life in the modern age.  I’ll have to see it for myself to judge – but it’s worth asking out loud: How interesting would it be if Kathryn Bigelow (who directed The Hurt Locker) is pitted against her ex-husband, James Cameron come Oscar time?

Big Fan
Here’s my clear and noticable bias showing – this flick is the dramatic lead debut for Patton Oswalt.  But don’t let my bias stop you, all inclinations is Patton brought it in this one.  Starring my favorite stand up comedian as an obsessed football fan, the film delves into what happens when your passions turn against you, and you’re forced to decide between your hobbies and the real world.  An interesting flick in concept, made even more believable as Patton (like any true nerd) understands nerdly obsession.  Question to the studio – why is this only available in standard def?

That’s it for this week!  See you next week with a list of more media worth checking out!

With the first real week of 2010 coming at you, so begin the first major retail releases of the year.

It’s still sort of quiet post the holidays, but there are 3 major releases worth checking out, and I’m featuring them in this weeks…Awesome-O-Rama.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Hey wait! Come back! I know, I know.  You’re already thinking that I’ve lost it. Just a few instances of A-o-R later, and I’ve gone mad just linking things for the Amazon referral cash. NOT TRUE. At least in this case. While I, and many others, figured Cloudy to be just another quick CGI cash in, the cast and writing team took the work to another level.  On the voice side, you have Bill Hader as lead, plus hilarious supporting turns from Andy Sandberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Mr. T and Bruce Campbell.  On the writing side, you have Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Names aren’t ringing a bell? Well, these days they’re producers on How I Met Your Mother, but more importantly – they created CLONE HIGH. THE GREATEST ONE SEASON CARTOON EVER.  I admittingly checked Cloudy out as an illegal download earlier tonight, and now I’m convinced – I’m gonna need the blu.

Chuck: The Complete Second Season
Way back in the year of our lord Two Thousand and Seven, a show called Chuck premiered on NBC in the then super-crucial-to-me “pre-Heroes” slot.  A show about a nerd who has government secrets downloaded to his brain, produced by the guy behind The OC and his buddy who directed Sugar Ray videos and failed his way up into ruining the Terminator franchise, I should’ve hated it. But holy crap, did I enjoy every minute of the first season. And then, Season 2 premiered in the Fall of ’08, and every awkward moment of the show clicked instead into moments of pure awesome.  It rests in a very small pantheon of TV shows that I must watch live, NEVER on DVR. Only this and Mad Men have the “honor”.  Trust me on this – if you never saw Chuck before, pick up this season. It’s written for new viewers. Then check out Season 1. But most importantly, jump on Season 3. I really don’t want another Arrested Development scenario here.

Bayonetta
One of my gaming guilty pleasures has long been the Devil May Cry series.  Having started as a dumbed down, flashier version of the Resident Evil games, and grown into an even flashier, crazy ass shooter series, I love every game, even though they’re basically the same.  Unfortunately for Capcom, a lot of the staff behind the series left them, and moved onto Sega.  And their first title is this, Bayonetta.  While you can look at it and go “Ooh, Devil May Cry with ladies and boobs”, the gameplay has been pushed forward, taking an insane run and gun shooter, and if you can believe it, making it crazier.  The weapons are stranger, the action is wilder, and if the reviews are true, it’s the first great game of 2010.  Click the name for 360, click here for a PS3 version.

That’s all for this week – next week looks even bigger, containing one of my favorite films of 2010, and what might just win the Oscar this year.  See you then!

With the past week being the traditional holiday period, I figured it’d be a smart time to take some relaxing moments away from Blast-O-Rama.  Never the less, we are back in full effect, as I bring you the combined awesome of a double-week’s worth of Awesome-O-Rama.

Featuring 2 weeks of awesome movie releases, here’s a batch of stuff you should nab with your crimmus gift cards.

(500) Days of Summer
In many ways, the 3rd film in the playlist for dudes who just broke up, (500) Days takes its place along side High Fidelity and Swingers as the ultimate romantic comedies for men.  In rewatching this, I was worried that the flick’s charms would be wasted on a second go, but I found that the follow-up viewing only underlined my love for the flick. Zooey plays her role perfectly, as a girl who many men (including myself) have encountered in life, and Joseph Gordon Levitt plays the man many of us wish we could be. Only if we were all so suave.

District 9
I’m not gonna lie, this flick singlehandedly made me wish there was more of a South African film industry.  Famously shot for “only” $30 million, D9 was the big surprise sci-fi blast of the summer and it holds up even better on the second go around.  Major props to Sharlto Copley for making Wikus such a relateable character (in both his positive and negative actions) and to the team at WETA Digital, for making creepy bugs so damned loveable.

Family Guy: Something Something Something Darkside
Let’s be honest. From the word “Family Guy”, you’re gonna know immediately if you want it or not, and if you’re a fan of Seth McFarlane’s gross out comedy, you’re going to love this interpretation of Empire Strikes Back. While not quite as good as their A New Hope tribute Blue Harvest, Something Something Something Darkside is still a great hour of entertainment. Look for an interesting change in turn of phrase with the Han/Leia “I Love You” scene, and a weird moment from Empire is pointed out by Brian which I never noticed before.

9
The one release of note this week (imo), is the home video release of 9.  Lost in the mix of fall films, the Shane Acker-helmed flick is an interesting action-adventure done in what the internet deemed “stitchpunk”.  I have this on as I’m writing this post, and the animation is stunning, and there’s some great voicework from a surprising mixture of character actors.

We’ll be back to normal next week, in the meantime…what was your favorite gift from the holiday season? Let me know in the comments!