Okay you guys, I have a super strong feeling that today's Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar is actually going to be all right! Perhaps it will even usher in a new, more optimistic era for our much maligned, largely Phantom Menace themed calendar! Maybe even some of the parents out there will even actually know what this one is!
To find out what lies within the snowy peaks of Door #9... join me after the jump!
In our continuing saga of the Game of Thrones inspired Playmobil Advent Calendar proud Lannister, Sir Dudley of Moore, has been building his evil empire at Playmobil King's Landing with zero fear of retribution or consequence. However, as he plans an unparalleled orgy of bloodshed and groping a strange figure emerges from the mists.
To find out who is emerging through Door #9... join me after the jump!
Is it still okay to love Pomplamoose? They did those Christmas Hyundai commercials a few years ago and released a number of them on a Christmas EP which is worth your time. I'm partial to "Up on the Housetop," but "O Come All Ye Faithful" is truly one of my favorite Christmas songs.
Pomplamoose are one of the first major YouTube stars to break into the mainstream. For a good time, check out their covers of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" or Michael Jackson's "Beat It."
So I guess what was supposed to be a fun, nostalgic opening of the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar has quickly become a support group for parents trying desperately to identify obscure spaceships from The Phantom Menace for their increasingly disappointed children. Well, it that's what this has become then I will heartily embrace it! Plus, I have a feeling that some of you may need my help today.
To find out why, and what exactly this thing is behind Door # 8... join me after the jump!
The epic saga of the clearly Game of Thrones inspired Playmobil advent calendar continues and Sir Dudley of Moore is running rampant, swinging his mighty Midget-Maker and riding faithful steed Thundercracker harder than any maiden fair. Nobody has had the balls to step up and stop him. Will it finally happen today?
Let's pry open Door #8 and find out... after the jump?
The vinyl-bootlegger Sucklord doesn't say too much on Twitter, but his Instagram photos are drool-inducing eye candy for the action figure fan who likes to take it to the next level.
And by next level, I mean this:
The creator of the Gay Empire (Pink Stormtoopers!) drops a few photos each week, and each one is a perfect blend of colored plastic, Star Wars (or some other old school toy line), and the last thing you would expect (see the Cable Switch Skeletor).
Hot Toys' much anticipated The Avengers line of 1/6th scale figures are really starting to assemble now with the release of their latest piece, Captain America. And despite being my least favourite character in the film, he may just be my favourite Avengers Hot Toy so far. They've knocked this one out of the park in terms of quality and detail. And while I've prefaced this as a "review" in many ways I think the photos will speak for themselves.
But join me after the jump and I'll tell you a bit about him as we go...
Our very Phantom Menace Christmas continues thanks to the unfortunately (and optimistically) themed Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar this year. It’s pretty telling when the best gift so far this year has been a frigging gungan! What delights/disappointments lie dormant behind Door #7? Will you have to - once again - wipe the bitter tears from your child’s eyes, or could this be one of the good ones?
Our Game of Thrones Playmobil Advent Calendar coverage has been so epic that rumour is that beard-baron George R.R. Martin himself will now incorporate into his next novel. So expect scintillating scenes of new character Sir Dudley of Moore on his horse Thundercracker, tearing up the local villages, cleaving off legs and making everybody shorter! Midgets will be left in his wake!
We peel back the foreboding grill of Door #7... after the jump!
Guys, we clearly need to have an intervention here. We know John Travolta, we know Olivia Newton-John, right? Grease, beloved classic, treasured stars of film and television, etc.
How on earth was this allowed to happen?
My goal in this little project was not to highlight terrible things. I promise. With that said, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever why this should exist, and, more to the point, there is no reason why I should have to suffer alone. Let's count the ways in how this is bad:
1) Musical production value: it's Casio country music in a nutshell. That's not really a good thing anyway, but come on - you're John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. You've got some money here, right? Definitely enough to handle your passion project.
2) The dancing: oh dear god the dancing. I'm not so offended by the obviously-not-actors and their dancing - they know not what they got into. However, the "let's line dance on the runway" thing that persists throughout the video? Come on, guys. Come on.
3) The auto-tune: yes, I get auto-tune is a thing. But you either make it obvious in the T-Pain/Cher way, or you make it subtle like everywhere else. You don't play this middle ground where you'll toss it in when you need it and we'll pretend it never happened.
4) YES JOHN TRAVOLTA YOU ARE A PILOT WE GET IT THANK YOU.
I'm just so confused by this entire thing. I don't get it at all. I almost feel bad being negative about it because it's clearly a labor of love for charity gone terribly, horribly, indisputably wrong. So, so tragic.
After yesterday’s now legendary Brown Blob of Despair scenario things are slightly back on track today although extremely predictable. There’s only one thing I’ve been expecting today behind the mighty cardboard flap of Door #6 today!
The “Game of Thrones” inspired (probably) Playmobil advent calendar is full of so much epic savagery and sexy fantasy adventure that bards are already writing ballads about its plasticky bounty! We’ve met the evil winged Sir Dudley of Moore, his mystic crow companion, Dennis the Seer of Future Blood, and yesterday he began (romantically) training his white stallion, Thundercracker.
What could possibly be lurking behind Door #6? Find out after the jump!
If you haven't played Cards Against Humanity by now, you are potentially missing out on some of the best, funniest, and awkward nights that you will ever experience. It's a Kickstarter/Amazon released, card game phenomenon, where one player plays a phrase card ("What brought the orgy to a grinding halt?") and the other players toss in their best cards ("Finding a skeleton", "Goblins", "Special musical guest, Cher"). Hilarity, followed by confusion, followed by more hilarity ensues. The above examples are fairly tame, so if you have an easily offended gaming group (or family) you might want to avoid this one.
But.... if you want to push the boundaries a little, pull this game out on Christmas. In the giving spirit of the holidays, the creators have made a special holiday themed 30 card expansion and you can PAY WHAT YOU WANT for it. You can even pay $0, at which point the checkout system will call you an asshole.
For the full teaser of the holiday pack and a link to pay what you want, click through the jump! Final warning for the easily offended....
If I told you that there was a dinosaur - you know, those prehistoric creatures that had brains the size of walnuts and got wiped out some 65 million years ago or so - that could have evolved into something with comparable intelligence to humans, you'd probably laugh, right?
Such is the story of the Troodon. While its evolutionary progress likely would have stopped more at the neanderthal level, the dinosaur's trend definitely showed a possibility of evolving into something humanoid-like, complete with humanoid features and problem-solving skills. Strange, strange stuff.
We used to pimp far more original animation than we do now, so I'm thrilled to hear about a brand new animation channel Huha! which has a ton of hilarious content, including the infamous Weebl and Bob of which I'm very much a fan. If the following promo reel doesn't rouse some serious anticipation then you must be dead inside, and I pity you this Christmas because your ribcage is full of ghosts and everything must taste like sawdust.
Not everything glimpsed in the following animation is currently available on the site but I'm satisfied to know that it's on its way. And all we have to do is hit "subscribe". I just did. It's relatively painless.
As an Australian I say, God bless our British overlords and everything they've accomplished!
Eels have a few versions of this song - I'm more partial to the rock and roll version of it - but regardless, "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" is one of those songs that has stuck with me over the years. It's probably the happiest (non-ironically) E has ever sounded on a song, IMO.
Eels are probably best known for "Novocaine for the Soul" from alt-rock radio in the 1990s. E and his ever-varying crew still release albums today.
There are a myriad of ways to get into the Holiday spirit so why not give the regular, dull, card-giving procedure a much welcome a much needed twist? So I was delighted to be sent images of these refreshing greeting cards from our new friend, Linus, at Calligraphuck. As you will see, he has a wonderful range of beautifully presented, elegantly written cards that perfectly sum up most people's sentiments during the holiday period. I'm sure you have a perfect recipient in mind for this:
There are more delightful, but not-work-safe cards - plus a discount code - after the jump!
Day #5 of the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar and everything we thought we knew comes crumbling down. I was 100% convinced that we would be treated to a new minifig today but instead we get an awkward bit of, “WTF is this thing?” that almost rivals Day #1’s gungan sub.
If you’re a confused parent trying to muster up an explanation to your disappointed child then relax - I’ve got you covered.
I’ll tell you exactly what’s behind Door #5... after the jump!
It’s only Day #5 of the epic “Game of Thrones” inspired (possibly) Playmobil Advent Calendar and already so much savage, wicked craziness has happened. We’ve met Sir Dudley of Moore with his leathery wings and mighty sword, Midget-Maker, and mystic crow: Dennis the Seer of Future Blood!
Door #5 is a BIG one. Let’s unleash it’s arcane power... after the jump!
Can you believe how fast this year is going? Already December and I haven't even started THINKING about Christmas. Or at least I hadn't until I saw all the ADVENTures going on here at FP! Gonna have to start shopping (probably at the comic book store) but FIRST...let's look at the last of November's comics, yes?
Superman #14 - "I can return Krypton to it's rightful place as the shining jewel of the cosmos."
"H'El on Earth" continues right where we left off in Supergirl #14, as Clark's cousin walks into his apartment in her full costume as he's having a conversation with Lois Lane. Awkward!! Luckily, Lois takes Kara for a cosplayer that Clark's interviewing for his blog, rather than the last daughter of Krypton. Phew! Clark ushers Lois out the door pretty darn quickly, and then it's up, up and away as the two Kryptonians go somewhere less compromising to discuss Kara's new friend, H'El! Kara (who is enamoured of the guy after he somehow granted her the ability to understand English) believes H'El's claim that he can somehow save Krypton...Kal-El disagrees...until the stranger in question shows up in the flesh to try to change his mind!
Well, H'El tells us his origin and seems very reasonable until he produces Superboy from somewhere and tells Superman that to prove his good will, he'll now snap the clone's neck! He should have done his research better if he thinks the Man of Steel will be convinced to join his side by cold-blooded murder!! Of course a fight starts...one which even Superman will have a difficult time winning!
Of course there's TONS more. Some new Before Watchmen, Batman Inc and well...see for yourself after the JUMP!
Hmmmm…. on one hand, it's like an iPad with better / more expensive games (and buttons!) that can't actually leave the living room. But on the other hand, it's the sweet HD Nintendo console we've been waiting for, bringing back local multiplayer in a really cool new way.
Leave it to Beck to make it weird for the holidays. "Little Drum Machine Boy" is a weird, sexy, strange song that defies real explanation. If you know Beck, you know it'll be interesting, in any regard...
The Book Was Better is the podcast where Jessica and I read a usually crappy tie-in novelisation of a usually crappy movie and debate and deconstruct it for your listening pleasure!
This week we're reading the classic Honey I Blew Up the Kid! That sounds pretty great, right? Like some guy accidentally murders/explodes his baby! Wait... what? It's the ultra-cheap, wafer-thin, cynical sequel to Honey I Shrank the Kids? Oh... my.. god. How the Moranis has fallen!
Oh yeah, and this perverted nerd ties up and gags Felicity!
Yesterday we saw a Batman inspired Star Trek poster so today Superman (the actual guy) said, "Oh yeah!? Well I have a new poster too so suck on that, Star Trek. I hope Batman punches you in the mouth."
Here's the latest poster for plucky, python-biceped Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman movie: Man of Steel.
Clearly the film begins with Superman turning himself over to the authorities for being a deadbeat dad and a peeping Tom in Superman Returns. Apparently this is followed by 150 minutes of him apologising straight into the camera. SPOILERS: he ends up getting off with 200 hours of community service. Those 200 hours will be packaged into a film in 2015 called Superman Repentant.
What do you think? Are you willing to forgive Superman for his sins?
It’s Day #4 of our epic showdown between the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar and the Playmobil “Game of Thrones” Advent Calendar and so far Playmobil is in the lead! Lego has given us a three day run of floppy-eared, half-wit gungan paraphernalia, but can the plucky Danish buggers turn the tide today? Perhaps with something badass from the original trilogy?
Something menacing is about to barrel out of hyperspace and burst through Door #4! Find out what it is... after the jump!
Today the saga of the Playmobil advent calendar continues, clearly inspired by the boobs and butchery of beard-farmer George R.R. Martin’s epic: A Game of Thrones.
Yesterday evil Lannister clansman Sir Dudley of Moore hold aloft his magic sword, The Midget-Maker and take to the skies on his evil leathery wings. What crazy contrivances lie beyond the barren wastelands of Door #4.
Hey you know which movie poster I really love? The teaser poster for Lord Christopher Nolan's epic The Dark Knight Rises! Oh man! Didn't you just love the original way that the Bat symbol was carved out of the devastation? That was so clever and unique! I just sure hope that -
In a move that must have the usually distinguished Nolan face-palming, the upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness completely and shamelessly rips off the concept. And why not, right? It's not like anyone saw that Batman movie anyway. Oh wait...
Maybe that shape was actually carved out of the hull by J.J. Abram's giant balls for thinking they could get away with this? What do you think? Was this wreckage the result of J.J. Abram's balls? Let us know!
I wish these little 1.5" wooden cubes were available right now. If your child (or relative/friend) is anything like mine, this would be the best Christmas gift for them. My son will play with puzzles and blocks all day and night, and it's hard to find really good wooden blocks. The book stores will occasionally carry them, but not like these. While normal blocks can be a puzzle in how you build them, Wye Blocks also feature a visual puzzle to build skyscrapers, train tracks, roads, or just patterns. Some almost resemble a mini-game of Carcassonne or other tile based games, and as a board gamer Dad, these could also be the entry point to gaming. And if nothing else, they are great for pattern matching and pattern recognition.
And personally, I also want them because they resemble large dice. I'm a sucker for a sweet wooden cube.
The Kickstarter has a long way to go to reach its $20,000 goal, but there is still plenty of time. And as a warning, you should know that wooden blocks aren't cheap. A set of 4 will cost you $15, 9 are $25, and 16 are $40, which seems like the best place to start. If you have way more money than me, you could jump in for 100 at $215.
Today I hijack some family's snow day video to share Bleu's song "Snow Day." A song extolling the virtues of those surprise days off from school, it's a fun, rocking romp.
Bleu is a now-Los Angeles based songwriter and musician originally from Boston. He ran the indie circuit for a while, and has since written songs for all sorts of Disney stars and starlets and other high-profile musicians.
We’ve had a mystery space guitar that turned out to be a submarine and a hapless halfwit/noble warrior gungan to ride it. What other amazing surprises does the Lego Star Wars advent calendar have stored today in its generous cardboard belly?
Our gripping, sexy, bloodthirsty Game of Thrones Playmobil advent calendar continues somewhat ominously today, after yesterday’s shocking revelation that Sir Dudley of Moore had sprouted evil arcane wings and was (probably) coughing up brimstone!
Let’s raise the cardboard portcullis and see what’s behind Door #3... after the jump!
The Lego Hobbit sets are starting to trickle out, and I was able to pick up the $9.99 entry-level set, Riddles of the Ring at Walmart. It wouldn't actually ring up (not sure if it was even in their system yet), but luckily the cashier was willing to manually enter the price so we could go on our merry Hobbity way.
This set includes Bilbo Baggins, Gollum, a boat filled with bones, and a rock structure holding the ring. It's one of the most memorable scenes in the book, and one that I can't wait to see on film. But is it one of the most memorable Lego sets?
Ah December. The month where work is winding down for the year, but stress levels are rising as you battle shopping centre crowds trying to find the perfect gift for all your ridiculously hard to buy for friends and family. Seeing as I have 90% of my Christmas shopping already done (not gloating, just stating a fact), I thought I'd share a few of the gems I found while trawling the internets on my very own Christmas quest.
Today, to coincide with the fact Aussie retailer Popcultcha is offering 20% off all of their Game of Thrones stock for 24 hours, we'll be perusing the wares of Westeros and seeing what we come up with. How about a 14" replica of the Iron Throne to start us off?
