We have done some really great screenings at the Troc over the last year. When they offered me the opportunity to start a new midnight series, showcasing films that were both near and dear to me… well, I jumped at the chance. Thus, Midnight Movies @ The Troc was born!

This series will be very similar to our Geekadelphia sponsored Movie Mondays, so the films will usually have a bit more of geeky edge to them and have something else cool going on during the night. Trailers, costume contests, art shows, etc. We will also be partnering up with The Autumn Society to do our poster designs, dishing out some really fun things to give you the most bang for your $3!

Our first screening is probably one of my favorite films of the last decade… Tarantino’s revenge mash-up masterpiece Kill Bill Vol. 1.  I have seen this film more times than I can count… and the film was a theme at my own wedding as well. It is definitely a film that really didn’t hit its mark until it hit home video. I definitely wanted to start off strong and I couldn’t think of a better film to show what you have in store in the months to come.

Check out the trailer below for the event that we played before Machete. I am sure we will have a Facebook event page up soon, the date is set for January 28^th. Doors at 11:30pm, film starts at midnight, and of course it is 21+ and only $3. So what’s our next film? I am already getting details settled for next month’s screening Army of Darkness, complete with an Ash Costume contest.

See you geeks then!

My pal Steve Weinik obsesses over Toynbee tiles, those cryptic tiled messages embedded in the streets of Philadelphia… as well as other towns. But meh, who cares about New York City. We’re talking Philly, here. The tiles all repeat a variation of the same message…

TOYNBEE IDEA
IN KUBRICK’S 2001
RESURRECT DEAD
ON PLANET JUPITER

A few years ago, Steve became involved in a documentary that was investigating the Toynbee Tiles. And a few weeks ago, this labor of love was accepted into the Sundance Film Festival. This film was self financed by the Philadelphia based director, editor, producer, writer, cameraman and score composer Jon Foy.

“His story proves that talent, hard work and perseverance can get a movie into the most prestigious film festival in the world… but that’s about it,” says Steve Weinik. “Once it’s there you need some real money, real fast to see it through.”

Jon Foy, Steve Weinik, and his team launched a Kickstarter to solicit donations for the project. They’ve recently hit their goal of $10,000… but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still spread the word. Donate some extra funds and you can be credited on the film, score a limited edition DVD, and more.

Read up and support this awesome endeavor, here.

Resurrect Dead: A Sundance Documentary [Kickstarter]

This time in The Comic Roundup, we look at the new Steel one shot, the latest book in the X-Men family Generation Hope and the new manga from the creators of Death Note, Bakuman.

Steel #1
By Steve Lyons and Ed Benes

Steel #1 is kind of an odd comic. It is supposed to serve as part one of the new Reign of Doomsday storyline which revisits elements of the Death/Return of Superman event from 1992. But instead of an actual story, we get a 20 some odd page battle between Steel and Doomsday and… that’s about it. There is no set up, no explanation, no nothing.

In a way, it is very similar to the original Doomsday story that launched the Death of Superman arc. Doomsday shows up, creates havoc and kills Superman. Here it is pretty much the same thing, just with Steel. On the one hand I did enjoy the comic, but on the other, I can’t really say why.

The writing by Lyons is solid and enjoyable. He writes a great John Henry Irons and the pace of the comic is brisk. The art by Benes, while not his best, is pleasant enough. He went with a less detailed art style than we are used to seeing and the result, while a bit bland, is good. Doomsday looks especially great, the best I have seen since when Dan Jurgens drew him.

As I said, this is an odd comic. If you remember the Death of Superman fondly, you will probably get a kick out of the story. If it is enough to keep me reading the Reign of Doomsday into The Outsiders next month, we’ll have to wait and see.

Final Grade: B-

More Below!

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Photo by Dan Tabor

Our buddies the Pennsylvania Jedi have announced their plans for the first part of 2011, detailing all their appearances at conventions around the area. Check out the quick rundown below.

• January 14th – Kotoricon 2011: According to the Jedi, the “Cloucester County Anime Convention was designed for the education and enjoyment of Japanese anime fans ages 12 and up in Gloucester County College and the surrounding community.” The lightsaber swinging crew will be there.

• February 12th – Zoloworld: Toys, vintage toys, modern toys… toys toys toys. The Jedi will be at this toy convention, likely playing with their swords. As well as toys.

• May 5th – National Halloween Costume Convention: Also known as the National Haunters, Halloween, & Hearst Convention, this four day long convention features a wealth of costumes… and the Jedi will be there, in costume.

• May 6th – Too Many Games: Us Geekadelphians attend this expo every year. We like being surrounded by video games, as well as Jedi. Swing by, check out gaming swag, and learn how to properly swing a lightsaber.

You can find out more about their other appearances at their official website, via their upcoming events page. Enjoy.

Starting earlier this month, West Philadelphia’s Dock Street Brewery began hosting weekly film screenings, offering up free movie nights every single Tuesday. And while you may have missed The Warriors, there are still three more flicks (Pan’s Labyrinth, Chinatown & Exit Through the Giftshop) to catch at this fantastic brewpub, famous for tasty pizza and micro-brewed stout.

• January 11th @ 8:30pm – Pan’s Labyrinth
• January 18th @ 8:30pm – Chinatown
• January 25th @ 8:30pm – Exit Through the Giftshop

According to a press release issued from Dock Street, “during the films, select pizzas are $1 off (small) and $2 off (large) and a choice beer of the night will also be $1 off.”

Enjoy!

Dock Street Brewery
701 S. 50th Street (19143)
(215) 726-2337
www.dockstreetbeer.com

If you’re any kind of film geek you have probably been following the tumultuous production of The Green Hornet.  This film’s development has seen almost every film studio imaginable and a laundry list of actors directors and writers from the likes of George Clooney, Stephen Chow, Jet Li, Kevin Smith, Nicolas Cage and Jake Gyllenhall. All of this to put characters on the screen that originated in a radio program from the 1930′s.

The Green Hornet is a newspaper publisher by day and the masked superhero by night. He’s assisted in fighting crime by his sidekick/bodyguard Kato, who is also a martial arts master. Bruce Lee’s first break out American role was portraying Kato in the television series that ran from 1966-1967, and for a bit of trivia the Kato mask is what the Crazy 88s wear in Kill Bill Vol. 1.

Well January 14^th, The Green Hornet finally hits American cinemas in 3D and IMAX flavors. The story has been slightly altered and the film stars Seth Rogan as The Green Hornet and Jay Chou from the Initial D live action film as Kato.  Rogan also co-wrote the script and you can tell from the trailer the film definitely has a much more humorous spin on the character.

Want to check out The Green Hornet (in 3D!) with a friend on January 12th in Cherry Hill, NJ? Simply comment with your favorite Seth Rogen film and why. The top 25 comments by January 11th will be checking out The Green Hornet for free! In the meantime check out the trailer below.

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Just a reminder next Monday is Geekadelphia’s screening of Machete at the Trocadero. I ranked Machete at number 6 on my Best Films of 2010 list, and if you missed it in theaters you can catch this great flick at The Troc next Monday with the Geekadelphia crew.

Machete stars Danny Trejo as a Mexican Federal Agent who is double-crossed and out for revenge. This is a film that definitely plays better with a crowd and will certainly be a lot of fun.

The event is 21+ and a mere $3. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 8:00. As usual get there before 7pm and get a free beer or bag of popcorn!

Check out a very NSFW trailer after the jump!

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Ben Heck, esteemed modding and hacking hobbyist and fine source of geeky quotes and references, has been in the game for a decade since this this October. And in honor of that milestone, Ben has teamed up with element14 to hack together the Ben Heck Show. (Think of anything on the DIY Network with more circuit boards and less boredom.)

We got the chance to chat with Ben on his lunch break to find out less about the show, which you can watch here, and more about the scatterbrained man behind some of coolest tech creations out there. Well, I guess you have to be that way to make a rowing machine that plays Xbox 360 games, but more on that behind the break. (more…)