Geekfest Rants

Episode 48 - Star Tours 2 - Geek Review

On today's installment Carlos discusses the revamped Star Tours ride at Disney World with Brian, Steve L., and Steve's wife Brenda. They also reminisce about the original Star Tours experience as well as other Lucasfilm-related rides.

 Episode 48 - Star Tours 2 - Geek Review
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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].  

In Defense of...The Rocketeer - by Steve Vivona

After the release of Batman in 1989 studios scrambled to develop superhero properties, much the same way they did following the success of X-Men nearly a decade later. However, technology hadn’t quite reached a level where their fantastic powers could be visualized effectively (Superman notwithstanding).

Much of what was developed in Batman’s wake centered on the pulp heroes of the 30s and 40s, characters born in the comic strip and the serial, such as Dick Tracy, The Phantom and The Shadow. None of them met with great success. Another character cut from the same cloth was The Rocketeer, a retro hero created by the late Dave Stevens in 1983, and modeled after the pulp characters of the 30s.

Disney enjoyed a modest success with Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy, but it was nowhere near as successful as Batman (and I’ll be defending that one in my next column!) The powers that be still hungered for a possible franchise (and ensuing toy line) and optioned Stevens’ Rocketeer, a character who enjoyed modest success in the burgeoning independent comic market of the 80s.

Episode 47 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Geek Review

In today's installment Carlos and Steve V. dissect Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Is it the best movie of the summer? Is it a prequel, a reboot, or both? How does it fit with the overall timeline of the original series? Listen to two serious Geeks hash out these important questions!

Episode 47 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Geek Review

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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].  

 

Laserdisc - Our Thing - by Steve Vivona

I was always a movie fan, but as college beckoned a few older friends were helping to evolve my cinematic sensibilities. They pointed me in the direction of the western, the gritty urban drama, the sly satire and the moody horror film, genres that were trampled under by the popcorn blockbusters I was reared on. A whole new world was opened up to me and I spent a lot of time and money tracking down old films I was told I should see.

Somewhere along the line came the knowledge that these films were not being presented as they were originally intended. I can’t remember the first time I heard the term “letterbox” or “pan and scan,” but I do remember the first time I viewed a widescreen laserdisc, and the world changed.

In the late summer of 1990, a good friend took me to the library of Nassau Community College, which had a small laserdisc collection, to see the Criterion Collection edition of Blade Runner. It was projected on a large wide screen, with black bars visible at the top and bottom. I can’t remember for sure, but the disc might have contained a demo that compared a widescreen image with one that was panned and scanned. I was immediately enamored of its glorious 425 lines of resolution. 

 

Episode 46 - Escape From New York - Geek Commentary

"What did I teach you?" Carlos and Carpenter fanatics Steve L. and Steve V. provide commentary for Escape From New York, arguably his "A #1 film!"

 Episode 46 - Escape From New York - Geek Commentary

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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].

In Defense of...Never Say Never Again - by Steve Vivona

If I remember correctly, my first Bond movie was For Your Eyes Only – not a bad introduction to the character. I was 11 when it was released and I saw it on cable. At the time, I had no idea that anyone ever played James Bond prior to Roger Moore. Well, maybe I had a vague recollection, but I was too enthralled with Star Wars and superheroes to care about much else.

In 1983, my parents took me to see Octopussy in the theatre and I was less than impressed. By this time, I was well aware that a guy named Sean Connery initiated the role on screen, and rather than imitate his style Moore opted for a more lighthearted approach. Turns out, For Your Eyes Only was something of an anomaly in the Moore cannon, a return to seriousness after the awful camp of Moonraker.

Three months later, my parents took me to see Never Say Never Again, Sean Connery’s return to the iconic role that made him a star, a role that he made an indelible stamp on. It was against his performance that every future Bond would be measured.

 

Episode 45 - Dim Sum and a Monkey - The Planet of the Apes Saga

It's time for Dim Sum again - Dim Sum and a Monkey! In this week's installment, Carlos and James track the history of the Planet of the Apes saga from its inception in 1968 until today. They'll cover everything from soup to bananas, including the original films, the live action and animated TV series, and the Tim Burton remake, as well as previewing the latest remake/reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, over lunch at their favorite Dim Sum restaurant.

  Episode 45 - Dim Sum and a Monkey - The Planet of the Apes Saga 

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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].

In Defense of...Alien 3 - by Steve Vivona

I have been feuding with my friends from college for nearly 20 years over my enjoyment of a certain film. In fact, their disgust for this film is so ingrained they refuse to acknowledge its existence. Of our core group, only one of them (besides me) has an affinity for the film, but he’s not the staunch defender that I am. When I bring it up, they pretend to hear a buzzing noise instead of spoken language. In those rare moments they acknowledge it exists they turn the hose on me. I expect nothing less today.

So let’s reopen some old wounds, and prepare for an onslaught of venom and bile as I zealously defend Alien 3!

A little background first. We all know Alien and Aliens are bona fide science fiction classics. Alien is a masterwork of suspense, atmosphere and mood. Ridley Scott’s vision of a blue collar crew picked off one by one by a terrifying, visually stunning creature (the like of which had never been seen before) was a great counterpoint to the optimistic family friendly sci-fi of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. 

 

Episode 44 - Captain America Review-Summer 2011 Superhero Recap

It's a superhero special as Carlos is overwhelmed with comic trivia by Steve V. and Tony, two guys with 80 years of comic knowledge between them! They'll be discussing their favorite superhero films of 2011, including Captain America, Thor, X-Men First Class and Green Lantern!

Episode 44 - Captain America Review-Summer 2011 Superhero Recap

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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].