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Reminiscing with a Couple of Grenades and Majinis: New Resident Evil 5 DLC Reviewed

Want more Resident Evil 5 content? Unless you plan on diving into co-op mode, I couldn’t possibly understand why, but hey, more power to you. Just don’t let the year that flew past us distract you from the game’s original flaws, because they stick to the two DLCs recently released.

Find out what “Lost in Nightmares” and “Desperate Escape” have to offer in this RadNerd review.

Hey, remember the days when Chris Redfield and his sassy BSAA partner, Sheva Alomar, crunched those mean ol’ Majinis side by side? I can still smell the blood rusting on the chainsaws, feel the Reapers using my guts as Play-Doh, and hear Sheva’s incessant nonsense about needing more ammo. Not to mention all the cheesy love and hugs (and, erm, Wesker drama) that hitched a ride with frustrating QTAs hogging the steering wheel. My brain can replay all that action as if it were yesterday … maybe because it practically was yesterday. Okay, a year does not equate to the concept known as “yesterday,” but Resident Evil 5 is managing against any non-masochistic odds to surf its fairly sized, “racist” wave of cheap tricks. I mean, did we all just forget how much the AI’s moronic antics bothered us or how much misery the final boss sequence caused us? Oohh, yes. Now the pain smacks you in the face.

Tags: Desperate Escape, DLC, Lost in Nightmares, PlayStation 3, RadNerd, Resident Evil 5, Xbox 360
Posted in Gaming, RadNerd, Reviews, Writing | No Comments »

Interview: Fraggle Rocking with Comic Writer Heather White

If you’re a Fraggle fan like Heather White, you’ll probably enjoy this interview I conducted with her regarding the upcoming Fraggle Rock comic series from Archaia. It’s full of good stuff, including her all-time favorite Fraggle. Check it out over at RadNerd!

Muppets and rock. Whoever conceived that match (Jim Henson) certainly knocked some socks off, and now Archaia Comics has adopted the one-two Talking Puppets punch.

I sat down with writer Heather White, who enthusiastically answered my pressing questions about translating the musical television show to the page. As we chat about the comic itself, Heather touches upon the Henson Company, gives the book’s other collaborators their dues, and discusses what Fraggle familiars and n00bs alike can generally expect from this all-ages medley. You might find that the switch from show to comic is a little more sensible than you might presume.

Tags: Archaia, Fraggle Rock, Heather White, Interviews, RadNerd
Posted in Comics, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

The 3-Dimensions of Asimov’s Foundation

If you haven’t heard, Asimov fans, there are plans for a 3-D, motion-capture Foundation movie in-the-works. Few details have surfaced as of now, but you can read news of the director, co-producer, and script writer over at RadNerd:

This discussion somehow slipped through my sci-fi clutch, but Roland Emmerich will be directing a three-in-one film adaptation of The Foundation Trilogy, written by science fiction slash professional robot overlord, Isaac Asimov. Under Columbia Pictures’ banner, Michael Wimer (2012 and 10,000 B.C.) joins Emmerich as co-producer.

Good or bad idea? Does Foundation sail for you, or should they be adapting a different Asimov work?

Tags: Isaac Asimov, Michael Wimer, RadNerd, Robert Rodat, Roland Emmerich, The Foundation Trilogy
Posted in Books, Movies/TV, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

RadInk: A Wind Named Amnesia/Invader Summer

Dark Horse recently passed along A Wind Named Amnesia/Invader Summer, two excellent novellas rolled into one pretty little book. Vampire Hunter D fans will want to grab this one, as it’s written by the series’ creator. Those unfamiliar with Kikuchi’s work will definitely enjoy the two stories, as well.

Most books and comics never make it out of their papery, multi-colored form or burst out of their speech bubbles, and that’s okay—we nerds like ’em just the way they are. Here at RadNerd, we don’t always need fancy pants movie adaptations endorsed by big budget Hollywood mouths or plastered with Nicholas Cage’s face. A little less Nick is good for everyone. We love movies and TV just as much as the next joe, but sometimes going back to to the roots of what we adore just sounds better. You know … all those crazy words and stuff. Letters are like atoms for the literately-inclined.

Vampire Hunter D writer Hideyuki Kikuchi unleashes a science-fiction double feature with the new A Wind Named Amnesia/Invader Summer book. The merry folks of Dark Horse Comics pack two novellas into one paperback collection featuring the sporadic black and white illustrations of Yoshitaka Amano. You can now swipe the English translation and enjoy a refreshing culture switch.

Read the rest at RadNerd.com.

Tags: A Wind Named Amnesia, Dark Horse, Hideyuki Kikuchi, Invader Summer, RadNerd, Vampire Hunter D
Posted in Books, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

Reel Rewind: Sunshine

My first Reel Rewind article at RadNerd examined Funny Games, a 2008 film by Michael Haneke. Now Danny Boyle’s Sunshine graces my television screen, a movie I’ve briefly discussed at my old blog. You can view my latest recommendation here.

We all fall prey to the same popcorn-stained habit every once and awhile. We pop in an old favorite or discover a gem that originally eluded us. And while Netflix queues everywhere continue to grow with movies fresh out of the microwaved bag, pausing to explore flicks from years past shouldn’t be a shunned endeavor just because it’s not the latest and greatest on the silver screen. If you’re on the same wavelength, then welcome to RadNerd’s new Reel Rewind movie review feature, brought to you by a whim and the sweet smell of nostalgia.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Sunshine, which cast its rays on 2007, often struggles under unappreciative response and critical confusion. Simply put, the film could use more love. Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) directs a visually momentous work in which Earth’s future astronauts, on board the Icarus II, must successfully deliver a payload to our dying sun. The future allows from some comfortable luxuries, such as cooking in space and therapeutic virtual reality rooms. Cruising on solar power and breathing enough oxygen to support the return trip, the crew expects few hindrances besides possible malfunction of the lone payload. Of course, the fate of the previous Icarus fleet remains unknown, and like all science-fiction movies occurring in the inky expanse of space, our merry astronauts aren’t alone in the universe. Chances are, though, you won’t suspect the enemy. Although the film accomplishes impressive visual feats and provides a superhuman aberration, the real strength can’t be found “on the surface of the sun,” as Cassie (Rose Byrne) muses, but within the characters’ souls.

Tags: Chris Evans, Cillian Murphy, Cliff Curtis, Danny Boyle, Hiroyuki Sanada, Mark Strong, RadNerd, Reel Rewind, Rose Byrne, Sunshine
Posted in Movies/TV, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

Let the 2010 Games Begin

What upcoming games are you eagerly awaiting? Over at RadNerd Beau Ryan and I discuss some of our most wanted 2010 titles, including a few I’ve already covered here on the blog (like 3D Dot Game Heroes, for instance). Click the link or above image to access the feature!

If we missed something good, let us know which games should have made the list. Cheers!

Another year of gaming has rocketed through our memories, dropping new favorites at our feet. Batman: Arkham Asylum brought fans and wary newcomers together in an action-packed, stealthy tour; the smash hit Street Fighter IV echoed the sound of button mashing world-wide; the addictive RPG Demon’s Souls watched proudly, a tear glistening in its pixeled eye, as we coursed toward certain doom. Many games inspired us and woke our systems from the slumber induced by less promising titles, but what cards is 2010 playing close to the chest this winter/spring? Here are a few titles we can’t wait to test run.

Tags: 3D Dot Game Heroes, Alan Wake, Bayonetta, BioShock, Dante's Inferno, Final Fantasy, Heavy Rain, Mass Effect, Prince of Persia, RadNerd, Silent Hill, Splinter Cell
Posted in Gaming, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

Reel Rewind: Funny Games

Somehow when I posted this article on RadNerd last Friday, I forgot to update my blog with the news! D’oh! Anyway, here’s a toast to my new Reel Rewind, which looks back upon year-plus old movies and reevaluates their worth. Funny Games premieres the ongoing (and occasional) feature, so I hope you enjoy it. And if you end up watching the movie (or have already), let me know what you think!

We all fall prey to the same popcorn-stained habit every once and awhile. We pop in an old favorite or discover a gem that originally eluded us. And while Netflix queues everywhere continue to grow with movies fresh out of the microwaved bag, pausing to explore flicks from years past shouldn’t be a shunned endeavor just because it’s not the latest and greatest on the silver screen. If you’re on the same wavelength, then welcome to RadNerd’s new Reel Rewind movie review feature, brought to you by a whim and the sweet smell of nostalgia.

Warning: SPOILERS!

First up in our DVD tray is Funny Games, a shot-by-shot remake of the 1997 original also written and directed by Michael Haneke (special thanks to a friend of mine for loaning me it). Simply put, it’s a thriller, but it does something a lot of other thrillers are too submerged in their own adrenaline rush to consider. The film savors every tear-enriched second, beating the reader to an uncomfortable pulp. There are scenes that quite purposefully drag on, but even in the deadest moments we’re kept on the edge of our seat as if we’re bound, gagged, and maimed just like the central family. Of course, that’s exactly what Funny Games hopes to achieve. Let’s take a step back.

Tags: Brady Corbet, Devon Gearhart, Funny Games, Michael Haneke, Michael Pitt, Naomi Watts, RadNerd, Reel Rewind, Tim Roth
Posted in Movies/TV, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »

G-Man Rips off Pac-Man, Gives Us Dark Forest Pizza

I almost skipped my RadNerd post this week because of time constraints, but I managed to find something to write about. The topic calls for discussion, so I hope to see your comments there!

Video games and comics afford enough boundless entertainment for me to personally dub them American pastimes—even if they’re not exclusively americano. Sorry, baseball. So naturally, when I opened an email regarding Image Comics’ creator-owned G-Man comic and noticed the phrase “video games” had wormed its way in there somehow, I might have drooled a little on my keyboard. With Scott Pilgrim undergoing the intensive pixel treatment (and a movie … well, look at that), I was eager to glimpse what Mini Marvels inventor Chris Giarrusso could serve fans of both mediums.

Much to my surprise, the cartoonist had already been dipping into the flash-driven world of 8-bit mock-ups. The latest “Escape from Dark Forest,” a supplement to G-Man: Cape Crisis #4, emulates the classic Pac-Man arcade game, but others such as “Cape Crisis” follow the trend ofBreakout and Arkanoid.

Tags: Cape Crisis, Chris Giarrusso, Escape from Dark Forest, G-Man, Pac-Man, RadNerd
Posted in Comics, RadNerd, Writing | No Comments »