SFSurplus-2008-07-04 #053 [51:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Topics: Metropolis, Batman, The Hobbit, Star Trek: The Experience, and The Prisoner

Thank you for taking your valuable time to listen to us. This is show number 53 on the feed July 4th, 2008. Our big topic today is Batman in Television and Film. In the news is Metropolis, The Hobbit, Star Trek: The Experience, and The Prisoner. I’m also going to tell you why I think Idiocracy is a master work of Science Fiction.

Pixel Mine Games

SciFi Surplus is brought to you by Pixel Mine Games. You can play for FREE right now. Go to pixelminegames.com. Pixel Mine is an independent developer and publisher of online games based out of Austin Texas. The founders of Pixel Mine contributed to such titles as Ultima Online, Wing Commander, Deus Ex, and Medal of Honor and have joined forces to bring gaming gems to light. Try Ashen Empires, one of the few role playing games to give you complete control over the character creation process. Whether you are drawn by the whiz of arrows or the thrill of discovering new alchemical compounds, you can choose from a variety of skills to craft a unique character in your image; a vagabond warrior, a powerful mage, a helpful cleric, a crafty potion maker, or a resourceful farmer. Also from pixelminegames.com, play Fireteam Reloaded, it’s a team based multiplayer game that will get your blood pumping and your heart pounding! Play as one of three character classes across a variety of post-apocalyptic urban settings in a bloody struggle to dominate your opponents. You can DOWNLOAD and play all the games for FREE right now at pixelminegames.com.

Casey: You can make contact with SciFi Surplus using the Temporal Temps Hotline by calling 801-938-5525. Our Skype username is “scifisurplus.” For all of this information again or send and email go to scifisurplus.com and click “talk to us.”

Casey: I’m Casey and joining me on the show today is

Jeromy
John
Vince

…Now that the introductions are out of the way, Let’s get our geek on!

Anti-witness News

Casey: A full-length copy of the 1927 film Metropolis is unearthed in Argentina. Fritz Lang’s dystopian masterpiece is considered a major influence on films such as Blade Runner and Star Wars. Much of the film was thought for nearly 60 years to be lost forever. It is expected to take several years to restore the scratched and decayed work.

* Vince: The first tip we got on this was from Joshua in Japan
* John: We talked about Metropolis in our last show. WE NEED TO TOTALLY TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS!!!
* Jeromy: The new film will shed light on minor characters and possibly make the story more comprehendable.

Casey: Gillermo Del Toro is explaining the difficulties in creating a second Hobbit movie that bridges the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He says the difficulty in writing a story with Peter Jackson is one of copyright. Film rights are only held for the four books and any tale must not infringe on other works by Tolkien and his son including The Silmarillion.

* Vince: Jackson and Del Toro must stick to the content from the appendixes of the four books.
* Jeromy: (As you guys have talked might be good if we skip my comment) This could prove to be a tricky job. This is the reason why Del Toro said if they can’t find a story they won’t shoot one.

Casey: The attraction, Star Trek: The Experience, is to be shut down by September 1st. The space in the Las Vegas Hilton features two motion simulator rides that immerse the audience in the Trek franchise. One is dedicated to the Next Generation and the other to Voyager. Visitors walk on the bridge of the Enterprise D and interact with starfleet officers, the Borg, Klingons, and Ferengi. Guests can have a drink or dinner at Quarks bar and buy suveniers on the promenade. Attendance has been falling for years and the owner, CBS, says there may be a possibiliy that The Experience could continue on in some other form.

* Vince: BriAnna and Casey Honeymooned at the Hilton and spent lots of time at the Experience.
* John: has always wanted to go- now I may never get the chance!

Casey: The Death Race website is live with a trailer. Death Race is a very different project than it’s namesake “Death Race 2000″. The original James Carradine movie featured a cross country race where contestants were awared points for running down pedestrians. The new film is about a televised prison competition that promises a pardon for past crimes. The project will be in theaters Friday, August 22nd.

* John: I don’t like the difference in movies.
* Casey: I used to play a game called Carmageddon (TDR2000)
* Jeromy: This is sounding more like The Running Man.

Casey: Don S. Davis, best known for his role of General Hammond on Stargate SG-1 is dead at the age of 65. The television veteran suffered a heart attack on June 29th. Davis will also be remembered for his role on the cult favorite Twin Peaks. Davis can be seen in the upcoming DVD movie Stargate: Continuum. His family ask that fans make memorial donations to the American Heart Association.

Council of Great Relevance: BATMAN in Television and Film

Casey: Our topic for the Council of Great Relevance today is Batman in television and Film. There is just too much to cover if we go very deep into comic books and time is always limited. We’ll get started by asking the big question about the character.

Casey: Is Bruce Wayne a sociopath, albeit a brilliant and benevolent one?

Vince: Isn’t that obvious?

Casey: How effective would Batman be if Bruce Wayne wasn’t a billionaire?

Vince: He’s be like the original Nite Owl (Hollis Mason not Dan Dreiberg).

Casey: What are the positive aspects, if any, of ADAM WEST’S betrayal, uh portrayal of the character?

John: Growing up with the Adam West Batman, I didn’t know it was parody. Sometimes it would bother me- “why does Batman have a pot belly?”- but usually I just enjoyed it, and still do, in a different way.

Casey: There have been several directors that have taken on Batman in film. Who do you think is the best and who do you think is the worst?

John:
Various director’s takes-
Tim Burton
Joel Schumaker (can anyone say anything positive about his take on BM?)
Chris Nolan

Casey: As with any billionaire/playboy types there are love interests. Which ones are most interesting and why?

Vince:
Best/worst Batman love interest:
Kim Basinger
Michelle Pfieffer
Nicole Kidman
Elle MacPherson
Katie Holmes (Mrs. Tom Cruise)
Maggie Gyllenhaal

Casey: There are some of the most incredible villains associated with Batman. Who are they and who’s portrayals stand out?

John:
Best/worst villain:
Joker (Jack Nicholson)
Penguin (Danny Devito)
Catwoman (Michelle Pfieffer)
Two Face (Tommy Lee Jones)
Riddler (Jim Carrey)
Mister Freeze (Arnold!)
Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman)
Bane (whoever)
Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson)
Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy)

Casey: Are there any rumors out there about the villain in the next movie? Who would you pick?

John: Rumored next movie villain- obviously Two Face, and Riddler!

LINK t0 Rumor

Who would we pick as the next villain?

Casey: Is it right to make Batman movies more and more “dark” “realistic” and “adult”? Don’t our kids deserve a Batman?

Casey: And that’s our Council on Batman in Television and Film

Casey’s Arbitrary Output: Why “Idiocracy” is a Master Work of Science Fiction

Jeromy: On this show we have previously reported about Robert Rodriguez planning a new Barbarella movie that would star his girlfriend/fiancee Rose McGowen and how that project got shelved. We reported in the last show that they were instead going to do a Red Sonja film. Now we are hearing reports that the couple is now splitting up.

Vince: Jessica Alba

Casey: The cable channel American Movie Classics is bringing back “The Prisoner” for 2009. 17 episodes of the cult television series aired in 1968. Jim Caveisel and Ian Mckellen will star in the 6-part miniseries. AMC says it’s reinterpreted to reflect “21st century concerns and anxieties such as liberty, security, and surveillance.”

Casey: Thanks go out to Jeromy, John, and Vince. Great job everyone! If you like SciFi Surplus and you’d like to help out, please take the time to make a donation at SciFi Surplus dot com. Just find “Support SciFi Surplus” on our website. For everyone here, I’m Casey and we’ll talk to you next time!