GeekMatic!: April 2014

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2!

04.30.2014 – The Amazing Spider-Man 2 had high expectations riding this film, and it delivered in a lot of different perceptions when it opened in the Philippines earlier this evening and most of the cinemas in Metro Manila were showing it.

There where special promotions for early birds for Ayala Mall Cinemas, block screenings that have different gimmicks for every show times and lots of people stood in line to get the best seats on the house just to have that kind of experience.

04.30.2014 – Godzilla is the king of monsters who is six decades old taking the world by storm with films and merchandizing that made Japanese culture so popular. The giant monster returns to Hollywood after almost sixteen years and this time he’s back the way Godzilla fans wanted to see in this legendary creature with the latest trailer!

04.30.2014 – This Sunday is a global celebration for ‘May The 4th Be With You’ A Star Wars event previously announced happening this weekend at the Resorts World. But the celebration is not limited to this particular event.

Hot off from its successful collaboration between Imagine Nation Studios (INS) & Secret Fresh bringing Trooper Boy last December 2013 they are back again to launch Vader Boy. If you have an army of Stormtroopers why not bring their boss too?

04.30.2014 – It might not be the biggest news so far but being a Star Wars fan is something else. The dedication is huge and the passion is incomparable as the weekend nears ‘May The Fourth Be You’ is just a few days away.

To spice up that global celebration Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture International just teased a simple image of what would be the cast of old and new faces who will make the appearance to the forth coming Star War Wars Episode VII!

Hidden Fortress Launched at Secret Fresh!

04.29.2014 – Hidden Fortress is a 1958 Japanese film by Akira Kurosawa. It has become one of the iconic films that inspired many genres. Recently a local group of talented individuals was inspired to form their own ‘Hidden Fortress.’

It’s a combination of independent art, graffiti, fashion, and art toys. Hidden Fortress Manila is that group comprised of talented graphic artists, which recently opened their store at the basement parking level at the Ronac Art Center.

04.29.2014 – Peter Pan is a literary creation of J.M. Barrie first appearing a novel ‘The Little White Bird’ in 1902. It first had a stage play on December 27, 1904 entitled, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.

The play was adapted and expanded somewhat as a novel, published in 1911 as Peter and Wendy.

The popularity of Peter Pan was featured in various media and merchandise. It has influenced a hug following in the modern era. Widely popular to the world as a fourteen year old boy who never grew up in a place called Neverland.

Peter Pan is the leader of The Lost Boys interacting with Mermaids, Fairies and battling Pirates. Now Warner Bros Entertainment announced they are in production to expand the adventures of Peter Pan with brand new live action film…

Vinyl on Vinyl: tokidoki!

04.28.2014 – Simone Legno has put up an impressive show at Vinyl on Vinyl where a huge turn out once again filled out the art gallery with almost no floor space to see. The art gallery featured some never before seen paintings and art toys.

Besides the works and art toys there’s a corner where all the merchandise is being sold. The audience is mixed with talented individuals from various medium of art and some personalities online dropping by and making their support.

04.28.2014 –The Rhino is a formidable foe of Spider-Man who first appeared in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ comics issue #41 in October 1966. The character became so popular that had several appearances in other media like in animation and videogames.

During the 30 minute preview of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ most of the scenes showed Paul Giamatti in action as The Rhino minus the armor. Giamatti breathes life to one of Spider-Man’s foes and he fits the role perfectly…

04.28.2014 – Football has become a global sport and it became first known international before the NBA dominated it. Nike’s ‘Risk Everything’ campaign inspires the young generation about getting into football and its evident here.

Famous football athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Gerard Piqué to name a few who has made name in the game…

04.28.2014 – Maleficent is not a sequel of Sleeping Beauty but it tells the story of the villainous diva. This is the reason why it’s titled ‘Malificent’, which some might think its part of Sleeping Beauty.

But truthfully it tells the story from Malificent’s point of view what really happened during Sleeping Beauty, a Disney fairytale first seen in the 1959 animated film. Now comes full circle that the live action film sheds some light what really happened…

tokidoki + The Block: Simone Legno Live Art!

04.27.2014 – Simone Legno had a live art session at The Block Atrium in SM North Edsa. This is part of the collaboration between tokidoki and SM Supermalls, which will open a tokidoki store very soon.

This is the first time Legno did a live art at one of the biggest malls in the Philippines. He had the program started at 4PM where a group of audience witnessed his live art. Besides the live art, if you purchase any tokidoki product all proceeds will go to SM Cares.

04.27.2014 – Bolivar Trask known in the X-Men comics books the father who created The Sentinels. The mutant hunting robots has changed the future of the X- Men comic books. Peter Dinklage breathes life to the character in the upcoming film.

Director Bryan Singer returns to the X-Men franchise, and blends the original cast with the First Class crew for an audacious, time travelling adventure in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (3D) that will open in Philippine cinemas on May 21 nationwide.

Secret Fresh to launch Sludge Boy Art Toy!

04.26.2014 – Secret Fresh re-launches once again this Sunday with the new-look art gallery now only located at the ground floor its going to be a crowded weekend. One of the art toys going to be launched will be Bjorn Calleja’s Sludge Boy.

Sludge Boy is from the imaginative creation of Bjorn Calleja who has established himself as one of the talented artists making custom art toys. His latest creation has been on display at the Secret Fresh art gallery first seen during JP Cuison’s 5th solo show.

04.26.2014 – The Hobbit Trilogy is all wrapped up and all you need to see is the third film this year. But it seems Peter Jackson have something in mind about this particular closure to The Hobbit Trilogy that is eagerly waited.

The third film is currently in post-production and Jackson is in his cave secluded in trying to get things underway how he would end the story. The Hobbit’s third film’s “Here and Back Again” gets re-titled to best suit the last chapter to Bilbo’s epic adventure!

04.26.2014 – The Block Atrium was transformed into Simone Legno’s imagination where all his creation flourishes like a wonderland. This place is known as tokidoki a brand build by Italian artist Simone Legno inspired by Japanese culture.

The brand is finally unveiled yesterday to a huge audience who witness Legno stepped on stage talking to host Sanya Smith while one of his creations Adios mesmerized the guests. SM North Edsa’s The Block pulled all the stops for this launch.

04.26.2014 – Andrew Garfield is a Spider-Man fan and it was a great privilege for the actor to step into the shoes of Peter Parker. When he was first announced to take over in the new reboot there was speculations about his casting.

If you looked at Garfield he took the character and owned it appearing in SDCC 2011 as a random fan revealing his identity at the panel and then in 2013 he was in full costume and in character as The Amazing Spider-Man. Then the 30 minute preview that showed how he loved the character even during production he was in character…

Sneak Peek: tokidoki + Vinyl on Vinyl!

04.25.2014 – If you missed the launching of tokidoki in the Philippines at The Block Atrium in SM North Edsa, perhaps a second chance to see Simone Legno at the same venue would be the next best time to go tomorrow at 4PM.

But if you don’t want to get through the huge mall crowd there’s another event following the one at SM North. It will be happening later in the evening at 8 PM at the Vinyl on Vinyl Art Gallery as previously announced. If you haven’t seen the set up at the art gallery here’s a sneak peek at the set up taken earlier…

Star Wars Global Day: A Day of Celebrations!

04.25.2014 – Star Wars has become an iconic part of popular culture and its enduring franchise of films, animation, videogames, and television has been a key its success for being relevant until today.

The fandom for the greatest space opera is huge thanks to small group of people who founded Star Wars Philippines in the early 2000s. These passionate fans for anything Star Wars won’t stop there but continues to grow…

ThrowBack: Simone Legno at STGCC 2009!

04.24.2014 – SM Department Store is teaming up for ‘tokidoki in the City’ for this weekend and founder and co-owner Simone Legno will be in town for this event.

For those unaware Legno is the creator of tokidoki characters.

The Italian who was inspired by Japanese culture is town for the second time since his last visit in 2008. This time tokidoki takes center stage with a weekend of events culminating the launch of his global brand of art toys, apparel, and accessories that is slowly appearing in SM Department stores.

04.24.2014 – Edge of Tomorrow inspired from a Japanese Manga that has science fiction elements and taking some inspirations from ‘The Ground Hog Day’ appears to take a different look at waking up to the same time and place all over again.

Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow have just unveiled the international main one-sheet art for Doug Liman's futuristic thriller “Edge of Tomorrow” starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Imagine how it feels to be stuck battling the same war repeatedly instead of just trying to be nice while stranded in a little town…

Mike Mitchell + Marvel at Mondo Art Gallery!

04.23.2014 – If you happen to be in Austin Texas, USA this Friday in Guadalupe street for Mike Mitchell’s solo show at the Mondo Gallery featuring a select few of Marvel characters on exhibit at this coming event.

The Philippine Komiks community and industry is not ready yet to cross to this medium unlike a select few talents, who were featured previously has already elevated their artistry to new heights just Mike Mitchell all set for his collaboration with Marvel.

04.23.2014 – For six decades Japan’s most famous kaiju has ruled the popular culture. Godzilla is king of monsters despite having competition with the giant American gorilla. The gigantic reptile isn’t just going to conquer the Asian and European cinemas. But also set its sight to stomp its way with a new film in less than one month…

Arrow Season 2x20: Roy is 'Seeing Red!'

04.22.2014 – There has been major developments in the latest season on CW’s Arrow. If you haven’t been following lately there’s might be a chance for you to catch up on the story moving forward to the season ender which is two episodes away.

The last you heard about Roy getting his own dose of mirakuru, and now he’s out in a rampage in the upcoming episode in Arrow.

04.22.2014 – Not every fairytale is true and sometimes you have to see both sides to get a clearer picture. In the case of Maleficent there is something that intriguing about the character that Angelina Jolie portrays.

Maleficent is the villain that put the princess to sleep in the 1959 animated feature ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ Now Walt Disney Studios is bringing the fairytale in a live action film that will give you the iconic villain’s side of the story.

04.22.2014 – tokidoki is a lifestyle brand inspired from Japanese culture by Italian artist Simone Legno in 2005 with business partners Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold. Legno mostly is the man you’ll see in conventions promoting the brand.

The company produces apparel, footwear, accessories and other products using art, iconic characters and the tokidoki logo designed by Simone Legno. This will be a first collaboration with Vinyl on Vinyl for this upcoming event this weekend. If you happened to be within the vicinity of The Collective you’ll not going to miss this!

04.22.2014 – The previous teaser trailers doesn’t do much justice for the upcoming ‘X-Men Days Future Past.’ It’s more focused on the characters rather on what the fans and viewers are hoping to see to give a wow factor.

There was even a clip of a scene that was available for the fans to see, but there’s still not much of excitement build up until 20th Century Fox revealed the final trailer…

DC Nation: Darwyn Cooke's Batman Beyond!

04.21.2014 – Batman Beyond gets to be featured on Cartoon Network’s DC Nation, but first it was revealed during the recently concluded WornderCon in Anaheim California.

The animated featured was produced by Darwyn Cooke a Canada based comic book writer, cartoonist, and animator. He slowly got notice for his work in the six issue miniseries DC: The New Frontier.

04.21.2014 – Electro is one of the iconic characters appearing in the original Amazing Spider-Man comics. The mainstre4am version appears to be a bit campy, but the one that appeared in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics is a little close to the one in film.

Electro was considered a b-list villain so many years in comics, but Sony Pictures seems like burrowing a formula that Marvel Studios is using to their characters. Enter Jamie Foxx as a ‘nobody’ named Max Dillon who would turn into the blue skinned Electro!

All-New Ghost Rider Road Warrior of Vengeance!

04.20.2014 – All-New Ghost Rider gets introduced with the elements of the old school vibe from the classic comic book series by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas and Mike Ploog at the same time takes inspiration from Fast & Furious films.

The latest series is written by Felipe Smith with artwork by Tradd Moore and Val Staples featuring a new character in Robbie Reyes a car mechanic who gets to be the host of this All-New Ghost Rider that possess a muscle car instead of the traditional motorcycle.

Cereal Geek: Animation of the Eighties!

04.19.2014 – Cereal Geek is a European publication by James Eatock a freelance animator, designer, and writer who published the magazine under his Busta Toons Publications featuring the best cartoons from the 1980s.

The magazine has been publication since 2010 which contains 100 pages of interesting anecdotes and articles related to eighties cartoon. The latest is issue 12 which has a cover of Optimus Prime stepping on Lion-O & He-Man while She-Ra appears helpless.

Rodkis Patotski: The Adventurous Young Lady!

04.18.2014 – For a time since Gerry Alanguilan has started promoting Rodkis Patotski: Ang Dalagang Baby there was no details on the plot. There were a teaser page and none of the information what it is.

Long time fans would just simply agree and confident enough to accept this because the mast head shows collaboration with Arnold Arre. For a time Arnold has been away from the drawing table having learn to direct a short film into producing his own animation.

Happy Meal Spotlight: Super Mario 3D World!

04.17.2014 – Late in March 2014 McDonald’s Philippines released their latest Happy Meal in the form of Super Mario 3D World, which is based on the Wii U game that has all your favorite Mario Bros. characters.

However the ones McDonald’s released doesn’t have everyone with the exception of Yoshi and Princess Peach in the line up that you need to collect all eight. These toys were released only in the Philippines while other neighboring countries settle for other toys.

Iron Fist is the Living Weapon!

04.16.2014 – These the superhero trend is spilling over into television. Marvel has a knack of turning b-list characters into a popular one when it’s translated to the big screen.

There have already been nine successful films under Marvel and it continues to grow.

In television they are slowly experimenting and there have been successes too, but with every success there is failure.

04.16.2014 – Emma Stone has breathe life to Gwen Stacy, the love interest of Peter Parker aka the Amazing Spider-Man. During her world tour promotion of the sequel she gets minimal questions about film and more of a different set of questions.

Ms. Stone is a BIG Spice Girls fan and so far that’s the most questions she gets from media. But aside from being into ‘girl power’ she brings that too in the latest film she’s starring along side Andrew Garfield and Jamie Foxx which she shines the most…

Happy Meal Asia 2014: SpongeBob's Underwater Adventures!

04.15.2014 – Happy Meal in the Philippines quickly updated the latest toys to be released after Super Mario 3D World went sold out in less than seven days. It wasn’t released in other territories aside from Japan and some parts of South America in 2013.

Immediately McDonald’s Philippines had a back up plan and they have now SpongeBob SquarePants Underwater Adventures. But this is not the first time SpongeBob was featured for the Happy Meal. This was previously released last year in Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Qatar and Pakistan.

04.15.2014 – There’s a revolution that’s happening 10 years after the virus spread all over the world. “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is going to be an intriguing storyline, which keeps the conflict and drama in the right narrative.

20th Century Fox releases the latest images on über-ape Caesar, whose intelligence had been artificially enhanced in the previous worldwide blockbuster “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and continues to be in dominion over humans in the upcoming post-apocalyptic movie “Dawn of The Planet of the Apes.”

Kids Meal Spotlight: Batman Brave & The Bold!

04.14.2014 – Batman is celebrating 75 years and here’s a look at Jollibee’s Kids Meal Toy featuring their own release of Batman Brave & the Bold. The Philippine fast food restaurant has gone global that they have produced some interesting meal toys.

The Cartoon Network show Batman Brave and the Bold presented a different kind of art style deviating away from the Bruce Timm produced animated Series. This brings to more muscular look for the characters and Jollibee released a handful of these toys.

04.14.2014 – In the first film the adventure of flying to race seems to easy for Dust Crophopper, but actually it’s the most difficult challenged he ever faced. In Fire & Rescue is about being part of a team and that’s a new challenge for our hero.

Planes: Fire & Rescue has a very different dynamic though it’s quirky and appears too ‘kiddie’ but deep down there are serious elements that can be related in the real world. Disney Toon Animation has just released the international trailer…

Summer Komikon 2014: Launches, Releases and More!

04.13.2014 – Summer Komikon is back on its 5th year and it opens the year long celebration for Komikon the Philippine Komiks Convention. The biggest year for true comic book fans who acknowledges the local publication besides its foreign works.

This year’s guests features Arnold Arre and a limited special screening of his animation Milky Boy, Leinil Yu in his run with Marvel’s Avengers, and Macoy Tan creator of ‘Ang Maskot’ which was adapted for a live action short film.

04.13.2014 – Arnold Arre was at Summer Komikon yesterday for the official launch and his return to drawing comic books in collaboration with Gerry Alanguilan. He was also there to show his latest masterpiece in animation form known as Milky Boy.

The screening of Milky Boy at Summer Komikon was the first being shown intervals to those who signed up to see it for free in one of the conference rooms.

Marvel NOW: Moon Knight #2 "Sniper!"

04.12.2014 – All-New Moon Knight #2 is out and it didn’t last the comic book shelves.

If the first one was all about Marc Spector and how he handles to solve crimes in this issue it was pretty much intense.

Warren Ellis certainly breathes life to this b-list character taking a page from the team who brought you Marvel’s mega hit films.

There is also that silent action that quickly is defining the character’s new-look and approach to the narrative.

Batman at 75: The Strange Days!

04.11.2014 – Batman celebrating 75 days and back then his exploits where unheard of. The character has become an icon though not the first for DC since they got Superman. But the popularity of the cape crusader has never been this better.

You can say DC’s lone superhero isn’t from another planet or was born by the gods, but simply a man who masquerades as a giant bat fighting crime at night…

Marvel Legends: 'Heroic Age' Captain America!

04.10.2014 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier is breaking its own box office record and the merchandise is flying off the shelves. The latest action figures that has ‘Marvel Legends’ stamped on it might have been sold out.

The secondary market might have been selling them briskly there. But if you’re more of going back to the previous figures that you haven’t seen or heard about for a newbie, the previous line of Legends figures might find you wanting to pick up one or two.

04.10.2014 – By now you’ll be wondering about what Daredevil is doing in the Bay Area. For those who are not following the previous book this is something fresh to pick it up. You might be questioning what happened to Foggy Nelson and his cancer.

For the casual reader who just wants to start fresh with issue #1 it will still give you questions what had happened before. But Mark Waid and Chris Samnee the same creative team from the last one will walk you through it literally.

JP Cuison Launches Buzztro & Jarvis the Albino Bat!

04.09.2014 – Buzztro and Jarvis the Albino Bat is another creation from the mind of JP Cuison who was the lead vocalist for his former band Kiko Machine, comic book artists who brought you Punnx Komiks that featured Mighty T.

This is his fifth solo show and for the first time the characters would look authentic like the real Saturday morning cartoon show. If you missed seeing his last solo show being ‘Misplaced’ this time Buzztro & Jarvis will take you into a new adventure.

04.09.2014 – The upcoming Amazing Spider-Man 2 has mentioned previously before going into production that the web crawler is going to face two super villains. But it’s a surprise reveal last year that a third one will be making an appearance.

That third one did not get out until they release a three-piece interlocking poster that had Green Goblin in it. There was never even a passing mention of the name until Harry Osborn came and was also seen in the trailer and Dane DeHaan takes the role…

Thirty-Minute Amazing Spider-Man 2 Defines Box Office!

04.08.2014 – Columbia Pictures Philippines recently invited press media attendees to see the thirty-minute preview of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 last night. The preview consists divided into three scenes and some seen in the previous teaser trailers.

This is the same sneak preview that was shown in Singapore during the weekend celebration culminated with Earth Hour. Sony Pictures takes a playbook to test the audience reaction that was also done with ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ last year.

04.08.2014 – Planes: Fire & Rescue was one of the trailers revealed during the special 30 minute preview of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 from Sony Pictures. The new adventure for Dusty Crophopper expands from being a single engine racer to an aero fire rescuer.

The next adventure from Dusty begins here in Fire & Rescue meeting new friends and facing a challenging adversary.

04.08.2014 – Last Saturday Comic Odyssey hosted another comic book signing with Filipino artists Lan Medina at the latest store in Fully Booked, Greenhills. His last signing event he did the artwork for Marvel’s Minimum Carnage Alpha in 2012.

His latest work brings him to the world of DC Comics launch of a new title in Aquaman & The Others #1 that came out with two covers. Local fans troop to the new branch of Comic Odyssey to support Mr. Medina in his latest endeavors with DC Comics.

04.08.2014 – The untitled Man of Steel sequel, Batman VS Superman may have been pushed to the 2016 date where Captain America 3 is scheduled. There’s so much news to find out more about DC Entertainment big screen superhero match up.

You’ve heard the big news about Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons as Batman’s Butler in Alfred Pennyworth. More cast announcements revealed by Warner Bros…