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2010-04-26T16:54:00.001+01:00

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The End...

2010-03-27T15:54:00.000Z

In case anybody still checks this page, this will be the last post to this particular blog. I may start blogging again in some form in the future, but whether I do or not, you can see what I'm up on the main Monkey Pirate Zombie site, where I am still posting animations, comics and the like. So long blog readers it's been a blast!

New Blog coming....

2009-08-27T22:05:00.002+01:00

Yup, I'm going to be relaunching this blog soon in a new format. I've got other MPZ things to do before I do that, but watch this space (and the main news page) for updates. It may continue to be here or move elsewhere, but either way I'll keep you up to date.TTFN

Time for Change??

2009-06-16T17:23:00.002+01:00

This blog is just about to turn 3 years old. Somewhere along the way it morphed into it's current form whereby I blog pretty much anything that interests me. mainly for my own amusement. However I have begun to wonder if it wouldn't be more fitting if I were to change the way I do things. I am planning on making it more relevant to the site as a whole- blogging about the animations/games/comics I am working on and sharing some artwork. there will still be room for my random interests occasionally but not as the main focus. This is where you come in. I'm putting it up to the vote, and if enough people care enough about the old format, and would miss it, then I will drop my plan to change it. So pick an option and vote! Multiple votes will be kicked in the special place.

State of Play at E3 part three: It's-a-him

2009-06-04T20:46:00.003+01:00

So the final part of my E3 2009 round-up brings me to the conference of my game's company of choice, Nintendo. Last year's confrerence was a PR disaster for the big N as many of the company's 'core' fanbase felt left out in favour of the "expanded audience". Which was a bit of a cock-up as they are the only people who actually will be watching the E3 coverage. But fair play to Ninty they admitted their mistake and apologised. This year was a different story.

It might have not seemed so when they unveiled the 'vitality sensor' and Wii Fit Plus, but some major core games were shown too. Firstly Super Mario Galaxy 2 was announced. It looks simply fantastic, and is the first time a 3d Mario Game has recieved a sequel on a single system and will add Mario's beloved dino pal Yoshi to the mix. Frankly as SMG is my favourite game there needn't have been any other news. They could've just showed the trailer for Galaxy 2 and left the stage and I would've been happy. But No! They just kept on giving. Metroid Other M is a continuation of the classic Metriod series that returns it's to it's roots and away from first person shooters such as Metroid Prime. It's being made by Team Ninja the acclaimed developers of the Dead Or Alive and Ninja gaiden series. A new Wii Zelda was announced behind closed doors too- no footage was available but it's hoping to be released next year but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets delayed.

But wait... another game featuring Mario was unveiled. And unlike SMG2 this one will be released in 2009. It's not a sports game or spin-off but a real true proper Mario Game. Not a 3d one but a true original old school 2d platformer only with shiny modern graphics to go with the classic gameplay. With up to 4 players at once. For an old school Nintendo fan like me who mourns the demise of the 2d platformer this is like a dream come true. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the game I've been waiting for...and it's coming out this Christmas!

State of Play at E3 part TWO: Sony but so far

2009-06-03T21:11:00.002+01:00

Sony really surprised everyone (note: sarcasm mode engaged) with the announcement that PlayStation 3 is to get a Wiimote like motion controller. Unlike Microsoft's Natal however it doesn't seem to have anything to distinguish it from it's competitors- at least nothing that's been unveiled yet. Maybe Sony is keeping that under it's hat for now. However it really can't help but seem like a very 'me too' addition and seemed to be tacked on to their conference as a bit of an afterthought. Sony's big hardware announcement was the remodelled third generation PSP (PSP Go!), a very badly kept secret (it leaked days before E3) that drops the UMD drive and really doesn't seem to make me any more keen to get one to be honest. It's the lack of decent games that's the PSP's big problem not the design of the machine itself.

Speaking of games the PSP is getting a new Metal Gear game plus a portable Gran Turismo that may go someway to improving the handheld's library, but the PS3 has a couple of exclusives worth mentioning too. I loved Uncharted: Drake's fortune and find it to be one of the best PS3 games I've played, so it's good to hear that Uncharted 2 was shown off at E3, even though it was already announced. Completely new however is the interesting sounding (if unimaginatively monikored) Agent made by the bods behind GTAIV- Rockstar North. It's someway off but promises to give you a chance to be a super secret agent in a 70's setting. Could be ace.

Next time: Nintendo!

State of Play at E3 part one: Post Natal

2009-06-02T21:46:00.004+01:00

It's that time of year again, the E3 when all the players in the videogame ...er.. game gather to show off their wares and we the fans get to see what games will be released in the future. And so I will be breaking my extended Blogging break (sorry about that) to write a series of posts about the big news from LA. First up is the 'shock' announcement from Microsoft....

OK so It was pretty much inevitable when Microsoft showed off their Natal motion controller. The video showed will be familiar to anybody who's seen any of Nintendo's Wii ads, this is a pretty blatant declaration of War on the big N. Which seeing as the Wii makes more money than God is understandable from a business point of view. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I'd also balk an calling this 'innovative' as it's essentially a combination of the Wiimote and Sony's Eyetoy. I can't see the 360 Hardcore's taking to it, but it all depends on the software support it has. As of now the video didn't win me over but I will reserve judgement until we've had a chance to see what it has to offer. The real question is will it be able to tempt the New expanded audience away from Nintendo? I don't know, but as a self confessed Ninty fanboy I have to say I hope not.

Coming up next: Sony and Nintendo's slate plus other big game news

Wildly Anticipated

2009-03-23T20:54:00.003Z

More info is finally leaking onto the interwebs about Spike Jonze's forthcoming adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. It seems to have been in development forever, and there have been concerns that Jonze has had to fight the studio to be able to get his particular vision on the screen. Adapting a much loved book is always going to be tricky ( and WTWTA is one of the most perfectly crafted Children's books of all time, part of the childhood's of generaion after generation) let alone one that consists of less text than the average cereal packet. However I always felt if anyone could pull it off, it was Spike Jonze. Check out these pictures that appeared on Slashfilm, and I suspect you'll agree with me. It looks as if it could be something akin to a live-action My Neighbour Totoro, and believe me my friends, praise doens't come higher than that. Can't wait!

I watched the Watchmen

2009-03-14T11:56:00.004Z

So, Watchmen came out, opened big but then negative word-of-mouth seemed to set in and caused a big drop-off and that's likely to be even bigger on the second weekend. It seems largely that the mainstream audience(non-fans of the book) hate it but fans of the source material are divided. Some love it, some hate it but everyone seems to have an opinion.

As for me? Normally I emerge from a cinema, blinking into the light my opinion fully formed- I will turn to my viewing companion and declare "that was awesome!"", "that was awful" or "that was OK". After Watchmen, I just didn't know. Both the 'for' and 'against' columns had plenty of entries. For everything that was done really well, another thing really annoyed me. A real blend of the 'ace' and the 'arse' Now, having had time to mull it over and hear the opinions of others, I have come to realize that the things that i enjoyed generally come directly from the source material, whereas the things I hated were largely down to Snyder- the way he directs violence really rubs me the wrong way.

At the end of the day though it was far from the disaster I feared. The film is a genuine love-letter to the book, and many of the little details are just perfect. It is one of the most faithful adaptations of any material ever, arguably to the point where it's impenetrable to those unfamiliar with the material. It's made by a director with all the subtlety of a breeze block, but you can't fault him for commitment. When it's released on DVD (and shiny shiny Blu-ray) I'll watch it again and maybe I'll be able to forgive the things that annoyed me so much.

For the curious here's a (completely inexhaustive ) round up of the good and the bad (in my opinion)
Ace: set designs, the performances of Rorschach, Night Owl, the Comedian and Dr Manhattan, most of the soundtrack, the opening titles, the effects (mostly), all the little references for the fans

Arse: the action, the slow-mo, the new ending, the performances of Ozymandias, the guy who plays Nixon and most of the bit-parts, Ozy's pet cat-thing, the virtually pornographic depiction of violence, the rest of the soundtrack and that sex scene.

Will I watch Watchmen?

2009-02-26T22:39:00.003Z

I'm so conflicted about the upcoming release of Watchmen. A lot of movie fans online are reacting like it's the second coming (the first presumably being The Dark Knight) but I'm not so sure. I wasn't eagerly anticipating it as I had never read the graphic novel and I hate the previous films of the Director Zak Snyder (300 and the Dawn Of The Dead remake). I've now read the comic, and it is indeed very good and if you watch the trailer having read the book it's undoubtedly very impressive. However I'm a long way from convinced that Snyder can direct a film with such an intricate plot and so much dialogue. Not only that but if the action is too 300-style with over use of slow-mo and other annoying techniques, then I will be annoyed. Some early word has suggested it's actually too faithful to the book.

Then again that trailer does look deeply cool. So, Mr Snyder I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. Whether I can bring myself to risk seeing it at the cinema remains to be seen.

State of Play: Game on through the crisis

2009-02-22T22:08:00.002Z

Despite the current Global Recession (or as the UK media would have it the much less worrying-sounding Credit Crunch) 2008 was still the biggest year ever for the video games industry. Propelled by the ongoing success of Nintendo worldwide the market has continued to expand. Companies may be going bust left and right and people are losing their jobs but it seems to be salad days for gaming markets as people look fore entertainment to escape the gloom. Or more accurately it's good times for some in the gaming industry- for while Xbox 360 had it's best year to date and Wii and DS have sold in ridiculous amounts, sales fell across the board for all PlayStation formats (PS2, PS3 and PSP), and gaming behemoth EA posted massive losses. The UK has now officially overtaken Japan to become the second biggest gaming market in the world and more than 50% of total software sold last year was on a Nintendo format. How the tables have turned.

On a purely personal level the most satisfying statistic among those that have been released about last year is that after all the massive hype about the enormous sales Grand Theft Auto IV racked up (described as 'the biggest entertainment launch ever' by several sources) the biggest selling game of last year was.... er Mario Kart Wii. Sales of GTA were very impressive but Mario won. Not only was Kart my personal fave of the year but I also find something reassuring that more people would rather take to the track with the plucky plumber than nick a car and shoot a prostitute. Or maybe I'm just going soft

There are no Crimes behind enemy lines

2009-02-12T12:17:00.005Z

Fans of Quentin Tarantino, prepare to soil yourselves. For the day has arrived- the teaser trailer for Inglorious Basterds QT's much-talked up WWII movie- is here. And it is aweeeeesome. Most eagerly awaited live-action film of 2009 hands down.

Watch it here

2009-02-10T15:36:00.002Z

Please note: Normally I keep the blog and the news section of the site seperate, but I'm making an exception as this might be of interest to both sets of readers- so this appears reproduced from the news page.

Waaaay back in 2005, I produced Trailer Trash IV, a little piece called Sense and Sensibility and Zombies- combining period drama with zombie movie at last. Fast forward to today when I learn (via Slashfilm) that a book called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is to be released in April and that Hollywood producers are allegedly fighting for the rights. It's probably unlikely that the author of the mash up book has ever seen my animation or ever heard of monkey pirate zombie (the Internet is an awful big place) but it does seem like a pretty big coincidence. Even if I did think it was a rip-off there wouldn't really be anything much I could do about it, so I'm justgoing to have to assume it's a big ol' coincidence. And it would make an awesome movie. However I'll be watching out. If this guy's next project is Leprocop, there will be trouble!

Dod gud.

2009-01-25T22:13:00.003Z

I love zombies, obviously. You should know that by now. So naturally I am looking forward to Dead Snow (aka 'DOD SNO') the first zombie movie that I know of to hail from....um... Norway. two words for you; Zombie Nazis. If you're not sold instantly, there's no hope for you. Even though the English trailer reveals these are running zombies ( a pet peeve of the true Zombie enthusiast) my enthusiasm cannot be dampened. The tagline? "Ein.... Zwei.... Die!" Pure genius. Cannot wait.

Ha ha ha ha ha....

2009-01-22T17:18:00.003Z

...Ha Ha ha de ha!!! This is the sound of my laughing at all the fanboys crying into their Batman mouse mats because The Dark Knight didn't get nominated for best Picture at the Oscars. Well duh. I enjoyed the film, don't get me wrong. I thought it was awesome first time I saw it, admittedly the impact decreased on the second viewing. However some people seriously overreacted to the film. Anytime anybody dare criticise it, they were shot down in flames. Anyone who spoke out was accused of just doing it to try and stand out.

So basically people- relax and just get over it. You've got the film you wanted and be happy with that. It's already made a fortune and mainly positive records. But some people just quite like it, and that's OK. Hell- some people don't like it at all. That's their opinion. It doesn't make them wrong. Now it's time to move on. Look to the films of the future and enjoy speculating about (the inevitable) Batman 3 (then probably bitch about it when it comes out).

More to the point, I never thought it would get nominated. at the end of the day it's a comic book movie. And there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not the kind of film that wins Oscars. Anyone who thinks it should be rewarded simply because it broke box office records is also missing the point. The people who are now claiming that "The Oscars are over!" following this 'snub' are probably the kind of people who wouldn't be interested normally anyway. So when the results don't match their personal views, they have a tantrum. Well news flash- all awards are based on the opinions of others. And sometimes they won't match your own. That's the way it is. Anyway... everyone knows Wall-E should have been up for best picture. And that's not my opinion. That's a FACT!

Full list of nominations here

on the seventh day... he kicked ass some more

2009-01-14T22:18:00.003Z

After a year and a half off our screens (not counting the TV movie Exile) 24 has finally returned this week. The sixth season was such a disappointment even the show creators admitted it was balls (admittedly not in so many words) and promised to do better next time. Add to this that the writer's strike and Keither Sutherland's real-life spell behind bars have bought them plenty of time to improve and suffice to say expectations for a return to form were high.

The first episodes have now aired, and while it's far too early to say if the Seventh day will be worthy the first two hours (which screened on UK channel Sky One on Monday the 12th) were promising. Even if the show's shocking big reveal was spoilt in the trailer we saw more than a year ago. It may not have been the best opening the show has had but it provided the requisite thrills and spills and it wasn't long before Jack Bauer was displaying his trademark badassery. Welcome back, Jack, we've missed you...

2008-12-16T22:11:00.002Z

I was really saddened to hear of the death last week of Oliver Postgate, one of the most legendary figures in British animation. For anybody who grew up in this country in the seventies or eighties, the classic show that Postgate co-created with collaborator and friend Peter Firmin are likely one of their most treasured memories. They made just thirteen episodes of Bagpuss (old saggy cloth cat-puss) back in the seventies, yet they seemed to be permanently on TV at least into the late Eighties when I would have got the chance to see it. Years later it is regularly voted the most loved Children's programme in polls, and is still available on DVD and showing on satellite TV. If you don't know Postgate's work, or even if you do, you can see some of his finest moments here or here

Bagpuss has a really personal resonance with me, even to this day. Lovingly hand-made in a shed only a few miles form where I live, I even got a visit from the real Bagpuss at my primary school (sadly I can't remember if it was Postgate or Firmin who visited with him, seeing as I was just a nipper at the time). Today the original old Cloth cat has a permanent home at the local museum in my hometown. However the loss was felt all over the country by many different people, and I've heard tributes from as different sources as animator Nick Park and Screenwipe host Charlie Brooker. Rest in Piece Mr Postgate, you'll be sorely missed.

Wii is 2.

2008-12-08T19:05:00.003Z

This week marks the second anniversary of the Nintendo Wii launching in Europe, and what a couple of years the little white box has had. Even the most hardened Nintendo fanboy would have to admit it hasn't all been plain sailing. The console boasts a modest library of classic titles but there aren't enough, and at times it can seem that the majority of games for it are shoddy, badly presented mini-game cash-ins. However I've had more fun with my Wii than with any other system I can remember. It's worth baring in mind that the reason there's so much crap on it is because it's been such as success at expanding the audience.I'm sick of so-called hardcore gamers who criticise the Wii and DS as being for 'girls, kids and grannies', when that's just part of the audience- they are trying to appeal to everybody. Anybody who likes to call themselves a 'true gamer' should be pleased that the audience is expanding and that more people are playing games. Maybe the games they enjoy are not the same as what you do, but why begrudge them that? There's enough games for everybody. And who knows, having played Brain Training and Wii Sports, maybe they'll graduate to more 'gamey' games later. Personally I don't care whether games are casual or 'proper' games- as long as they're fun. The Wii's future looks bright- it looks likely to sell out again this Christmas, (the third in a row) and all without ever having a price cut. Not so long ago Ninty's stratergy was seen by many as crazy, now here we are with them outselling the competition (Put together!) and with Microsoft desperately trying to grab a bit of the casual market. What a difference two years can make.

ice ice baby....

2008-11-23T17:31:00.003Z

Regardless of what you think of the finished films (and I enjoy them personally) you'd have to be missing some vital organs not to enjoy the teaser trailers for the Ice Age movies. Featuring the lovable and unlucky saber-tooth squirrel Scrat, the trailers stand alone as animated shorts that bring to mind the classic Chuck Jones old school of animation. My point here being that the Ice Age 3 trailer is now online, and you should watch it. It's a hoot. Link

toon times

2008-11-17T19:26:00.002Z

If you wanted proof of how animation is becoming more important in Hollywood, then you might look to the number of live-action directors are getting involved. Last week John Boorman, best known for directing Deliverance released information on his first foray into the medium, a new CG adaptation of the Wizard Of Oz. It's occurred to me before that an animated version of that particular book could work, so I'm looking forward to finding out more. It's going to be more faithful to the book than the old musical version and the concept art is just gorgeous, so consider me thoroughly interested.

Meanwhile, Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2 director Guillermo Del Toro will be writing and producing a dark stop-motion take on Pinocchio (he'll be too busy with the Hobbit to direct) and Danny Boyle (28 Days Later director) has just co-founded an animation studio named Treat studios. It's certainly an interesting time to be an animation fan.

Panda Power

2008-11-16T18:08:00.002Z

The general noise from critics about Kung-Fu Panda was that it was surprisingly good. Personally I was won over as soon as I heard the title, but then I am basically an overgrown kid. I finally got to see it this week (on beautiful shiny Blu-ray) and I loved it. Unless something unexpected happens, I expect it to battle Wall-E for the best animated film Oscar next year (and most probably lose). Gorgeous as it looks though, my favourite thing about it is the beautifully stylish 2d animated segments that open and close the film. I personally could have watched a whole film like that, but unfortunately that would have been too risky a prospect for the studio. Thank god Pixar have insisted that Disney bring back 2d animations. Maybe if they succeed, it will see other studios following.

Everybody loves a bit of Bondage.

2008-11-05T22:13:00.002Z

The new James Bond flick Quantum Of Solace opened first here in the UK last Friday, so I've seen it before the majority of my readers (who hail mainly from the US of A) will have had a chance to. You've likely seen the trailer and I can confirm that despite some indifference form the critics, this movie kicks substantial amounts of arse. Daniel Craig has now completely made the role his own, easily putting him up with Connery as the best of the Bonds to date. What makes the new rebooted Bonds even more interesting is how they balance the classic elements you expect from Bond while bringing it up to date and making it more relevant. Basically, I recommend QOS without hesitation- it's quite ridiculously exciting and I can't wait to watch it again.

I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so because Quantum broke all box-office records here in the UK, scooping the highest ever opening day on Friday with a massive £4 million (about $8 million US). Bond is obviously a British icon and 007 fever has swept the nation. Just as an interesting comparison it has made almost as much* as High School Musical 3 already despite having been out half the time and HSM being a big hit with the kiddies. It'll be interesting to see how it fares when is opens Stateside in a couple of weeks.

* This is only going on the weekend-so it may have surpassed it by now!

Dead Good.

2008-11-01T22:42:00.002Z

As you may have guessed I am quite a fan of zombie movies, so when a new zombie flick comes out, I'll always at least give it a look. However I'm pretty sure that Dead Set is the first time that the undead have had their own TV series. Mind you, at four half-hour shows and and extended opener it's pretty much a slightly long movie cut into chunks. It's got a killer hook- zombies meet Big Brother, and is written by the hilarious Charlie Brooker, best known for his Screen Burn column in the Guardian Guide. However it's not a spoof, but a full blooded horror, albeit one with a strong satirical edge and excellent writing. It's proper scary and probably the most violent thing I've seen made for TV. The Big Brother angle is smart (the house being an ideal location for a traditional zombie siege) and being made by Channel 4 enabled it to use the actual Big Brother house, and feature cameos from the presenter and some former housemates. As a card-carrying Big Brother hater, the chance to see BB contestants eaten by Zombies was a chance not to be missed. I was even able to forgive the fact the zombies were the modern 'running' kind, so well was it pulled off. There's a cute and spunky female lead too I urge zombie and horror fans to check it out- you should be able to find it on e4's website- or it's coming out soon on DVD

Trailer here:

Hulu phooey

2008-10-04T10:39:00.002+01:00

Online TV is really taking off, so traditional broadcasters have to adapt or face being left behind. Now it finally seems most broadcasters are getting on board. I'd heard a lot of mention of the site Hulu, but didn't know anything about it, so decided to finally see for myself this week. And? There's a real wealth of the latest TV out there, available free and legally at the click of a mouse. And I can't see any of it. You see, Hulu is not available to visitors outside the U.S. Which is a bummer. Still, it's swings and roundabouts- only those of us in the UK have access to the BBC's awesome iplayer which has the advantage over most of it's rivals in that it allows you to download it's programmes as well as stream them online. With a bit of luck though Hulu (or an equivilent service) will be available in my part of the world before too long.

[...and no, I'm not going to link to Hulu! Not til they get their finger out and make it available internationally. So there!]

2008-09-25T19:37:00.002+01:00

Fear(s) of The Dark is an animated anthology based around a horror theme, that has come out of nowhere to suddenly be one of my most eagerly awaited movies of the rest of the year. It's due a UK cinema release in the next couple of weeks, but probably on a very limited release, so it may not come anywhere near me. Fear(s) consists of a number of sequences animated by different directors in different styles, and it looks ace. I like anthologies, and it's really refreshing to see a non-anime animation for adults that isn't a comedy. Thanks to more than a decade of The Simpsons, South Park and other shows, I think that only the really closed-minded still believes that animation is a medium only for children, but the idea that animation can tackle more than the funny? It's an area where the Japanese are streets ahead, but here in the west (or more accurately the English speaking world) this is the next barrier for art of animation to overcome.

You can see the trailer for Fear(s)..... here