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If you have been watching any television in the last few weeks you have no doubt seen the trailer for the new film directed by D. J. Caruso and produced by Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, I Am Number Four.

The film, which opens in theaters Friday, February 18th, looks very X-Men-ish, and is about a group of nine aliens that closely resemble humans, hiding out on earth. Well… that is until an invading alien species starts to hunt them down one by one.

The film, which is based on the first of a planned six book young adult novel series looks to be an interesting mish-mash of genres. While they are aliens, they fight with such powers as telekinesis, invisibility and elemental manipulation. I have been looking forward to checking this out for a quite a while now.

Want to check out I Am Number Four at Ritz Five Wednesday, February 16th, 2 days before it opens to the public? Simply comment with what your alien power would be and why. The best 25 answers will be checking out an advance screening on Geekadelphia. We’ll let you know on February 14th. In the meantime check out the trailer below!

Pro Zombie Soccer: Apocalypse Edition is the iPad version of the popular zombie soccer game for the iPhone. Our protagonist, Jax was one of the best soccer players around, but unfortunately got wasted the night before his big tryouts for his dream team and failed to impress. It’s a good thing you can always count on a zombie apocalypse to drive a story along.

While Jax is moping around in the trash, he is bit by a zombie Julinho, the dream team’s superstar soccer player. The bad news is Jax is going to turn into a zombie; the good news is Jax got super zombie soccer powers from the bite. The story is hilarious and is delivered through some really well drawn story boards. There were a few genuinely laugh out loud moments poking fun at video games and zombie culture in general.

The game itself has you targeting Jax’s kicks with a slider on the left of the screen. You can charge up the kick for a more powerful attack or you can just tap the slider to launch the ball quickly at the seemingly never-ending horde of zombies coming for your brains. You are encouraged to get head shots to rack up score multipliers, dispatch zombies quicker and put down some of the tougher zombie types.

As your score racks up, you get to use four power-ups that greatly improve your chances of zombie survival. You can slow down time to focus on head shots, tear through multiple zombies, use an angry satellite to annihilate an entire screen of zombies, or launch an explosive ball that knocks out groups of zombies at once.

The rhythm of power-up charges is almost perfect. Just as you are about to be overrun by zombies, you power-up meter miraculously fills and you can quickly dispatch the would-be brain-nommers.

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Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down with Damon Alberts, president of Burst Online Entertainment. Burst is a premiere game company located in downtown Philadelphia, filled with high hopes. Until recent years, Philadelphia has been a dead-zone in game entertainment. If Burst has their way, that will all change.

After nine months in development, Burst has partnered with eCity Interactive to bring Philadelphia, and the world, the turn based strategy of Warlord Battlegrounds. The game is now going into beta, and Burst is looking for beta testers, Alberts said.

At first glance, Warlord Battlegrounds may look like just another social networking adventure. That, however, is where the similarities end. Reminiscent of the Ogre Battle series, Battlegrounds raises the bar by offering endless amounts of customization and possibility.

In a world wide web filled with cookie-cutter browser experiences, Burst offers the depth of core gaming, in both an easy and casual manner. Taking root in eastern and western mythology, the world of Battlegrounds appeals as the fantasy of a fantasy world. Alberts projects having hundreds of race/class combinations to accumulate and out-wit your opponents in 1v1 or 2v2 battles.

Here’s how it works:

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You might know Exhumed Films from either their usually bi-monthly horror double features or their excellent 24 Hour Horror-Thon. They recently teased via their Facebook they were about to give Philly genre fans yet another event to look forward to. Not ones to disappoint they unveiled Ex-Fest last week, with tickets going on sale this week via their website.

Ex-Fest, which will take place Saturday, May 7th, 2011, will be a 12 hour film marathon centered around all things exploitation. The festival, which grew out of an urge within the group to show lesser known, non-horror cult films due to the popularity at various past screenings, looks to be another win for genre fans in Philadelphia.

I can personally attest to some of the insanity such as Raw Force or Boardinghouse that that were some of the highlights of my last two Horror-thons. I can’t wait for this. Get your tickets as soon as you can; their events are pretty well known for selling out rather quickly.

Guest Column by Eric Bresler

Turnersville, NJ’s Temdee is an ideal example of the small town collectible shop. It’s a sizable space that is literally packed with just about any hobby that may turn a dime from coins to comics, sports memorabilia to Snowbabies. Walls are covered in action figures, the ceiling lined with statues. About a third of the store is dedicated to comic books, both new and old, including a good selection of Silver Age books and oddities from the ‘80s.

Owner Stephen Weiser and his wife opened Temdee in 1976 as a stamp and coin shop about half a mile down the road from its current location. “The name is a combination of my wife’s name, Diane, and The Temptations, who I really liked when we first started dating,” explains Steve. “We began selling baseball cards in ’79 and comic books around ’80 when we noticed that it was becoming a big market.” After a brief relocation to Runnemede, Steve and his wife settled down in their current location in 1982. They still deal in stamps and coins, neither of which are nearly as lucrative as they once were.

“I collected comics as a kid, early Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. I think the first comic I read was a Silver Age Flash. Most of my collection was destroyed or thrown out.” Steve doesn’t pay much attention to current books in favor of the stories of his youth. “[Comics] are more complex now. Marvel and D.C. do annual events, comics aren’t as simple as they were in the 60s. The publishers want these long stories as a way of generating profits.”

Temdee doesn’t offer subscription services, but they do keep the last three months’ worth of comics on the shelves for cover price before they head to the back issue bins. “We still move a lot of back issues. They aren’t the backbone of a comic shop, you can’t sell the back issues without the new issues. Customers will come in to buy the new books, but they’ll work backwards as well.” All comics are priced according to The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide though they do offer a large selection of sets at discounted prices.

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“Sci-Fi starlet, Jody Thompson guest stars this season on Fox’s hit TV series, Fringe. Jody stars as Sara Downey, a casualty of an experiment gone horrifically wrong. I had the opportunity to sit down with Jody for an exclusive Geekadelphia interview and discuss in depth her special guest role on Fringe, past roles on Smallville and Stargate, what it’s like working with J.J. Abrams, growing up in Vancouver and more!”

• Hi Jody, thanks for taking time to speak with Geekadelphia! You are appearing on Fringe this season, can you tell us a little bit about your role on the series?

My character’s name is Sara Downey. She and her husband are the unfortunate casualties of a research experiment gone really, really wrong… I’m not sure how much more I can say without giving away anything!

• In addition to Fringe, you’ve guest starred on many other popular sci-fi television series like Stargate, Smallville and Supernatural. Do you have any personal favorite sci-fi films/series?

Lang’s “Metropolis,” ”Soderbergh’s “Solaris,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.” I will also forever be a fan of, “Star Trek,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

• I read you were born in Vancouver, BC. How was it filming Fringe in your hometown?

You know what they say. There’s no place like home – especially when your home is in Vancouver.

• Describe what’s it like working with JJ Abrams and Anna Torv on the set of Fringe. Was there mutual chemistry between you and fellow Canadian, Joshua Jackson? Were there any funny moments you would like to share while filming the series?

I have to say, I am continually impressed with big stars like Anna and Josh, as well as industry power players like Abrams, who manage to be enviably smart, cool and nice. When you walk onto a show for a single episode, there is always the possibility of feeling like an unwanted houseguest. The cast and crew are a tight-knit family and you are invading their private domain. But everyone was so welcoming. It was such a pleasure to be there. Anna is, (if it’s possible), even more beautiful in person and Josh is, well – even more charming. Alas, we didn’t do much joking around because the material we were working on was beyond serious…

• Throughout your career, you have done a bit of everything, acting, producing, directing, screenwriting, etc. Which role is your favorite and why>

Acting is my favorite, because I get to completely forget myself and “live” as another character. It’s kind of an out-of-body experience for me. Writing is my other favorite because I get to live inside myself and indulge in over-thinking myself silly, a terrible, wonderful habit of mine. Clear as mud?

• I know you have worked with both executive producers but this one is pretty difficult. JJ Abrams or X-Files’ Bob Goodwin?

Wow. Well, I did have a lot of one-on-one time with Bob, and he was just so amazing, the way he directed me in “Alien Trespass.” That was a scary project for me because my performance as a 1950’s B-movie starlet could have gone way over-the-top wrong. He made me feel so secure, and yet challenged, every step of the way. Goodwin is something of a genius… Though the same should be said for Abrams… And I would work with either again… on absolutely anything… Why would you ask me this unanswerable question! Lol.

• What challenges did you find in your role on Fringe this season?

It is the kind of role that actors dream of. The material was so compelling and perfectly written it was a matter of not getting in the way of what the creators had created. The. Ultimate. Challenge. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m anxious about how it will come off. Truthfully, I’ve been torturing myself, wondering if I have somehow ruined the beauty of what I read in the script. But, then again, that’s what we actors do to ourselves in our down time. I guess a bit of fear is healthy as long as it doesn’t paralyze you, but drives you to work harder?

• The show thoroughly explores the possibilities and concepts of Fringe science and it’s impact on society. If you were a Fringe scientist, would you use your knowledge for good or evil?

Insert evil laugh here… Just kidding.

I’m not sure if this is the answer you were looking for, but my impulse is to respond by saying that I don’t think it is possible to strive for “evil.” A person with a “cause” thinks he/she is doing the “right” thing. But, obviously, not all perspectives will be compatible – hence good versus evil. Certainly, when I play an evil character, I have to work really hard to find motivations and back-story for that character that will help me to justify even her most unsavory actions. In life, however, we usually only arrive at the “good vs. evil” conflict by way of literature, religion or hindsight.

What JJ Abrams does so well, (as does great sci-fi), is to identify and speak to the spirit of the times – the working zeitgeist. I think projects like “Fringe,” are so important because they provide us with a kind of vantage point, a point near enough to our own lives, yet far enough removed, that we can gain perspective and take stock of our own situations. When we can step back, we can truthfully answer questions like… “are we using our knowledge for good or for evil?”

• Beyond Fringe, where else can we expect to see you in 2011?

“Sanctuary!” I have a couple of episodes coming up as the mysterious (and questionably motivated), Lieutenant Fallon…

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re pretty big fans of Battlestar Galactica here at Geekadelphia. That’s why we found ourselves reading Entertainment Weekly’s report that UK actor Luke Pasqualino will play Young William Adama in Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, the forthcoming prequel series from Syfy, set ten years into the First Cylon War. This is between the events chronicled in Caprica and the series proper, as if you didn’t already know that. While they’re busy preparing the series for its as-of-yet undated two-hour pilot, we can look forward to the now-in-beta MMOG Battlestar Galactica Online.

The game is based on the Unity 3D game development engine and is played in your browser using their proprietary embedding technology. The Massively Multiplayer Online Game is in closed beta until February 8th, when it will be wide open for all. We tried LEGO game Clone Wars: Quest for R2D2 and Avert Fate, also Unity-based 3D browser games, and we were impressed. But German game company Bigpoint said in a recent press release that it “aims to set new technical and artistic benchmarks for 3D browser games” with Battlestar Galactica Online.

That implies that we won’t be able to set our graphics mode to “Fantastic”–an actual setting in some Unity games, lest we drop our frames like they’re hot. The trailer below certainly backs up Bigpoint’s confidence, as long as that quality is seen throughout the game in actual gameplay scenarios.

After all, the trailer was most definitely made on the sort of superpowered computer commonly used for gaming or video production and editing. Actual mileage may vary, and that will be the true test. You can be sure we’ll report back to you once we’ve had the chance to dive into the game itself.

Wow. What’s with this week and film screenings? Movies from the National Constitution Center, the JASGP film festival through the Spring, and the Troc? We sure are busy rambling about cinema this week on the blog. And I’ve got one more pick for you.

This Friday, one of Geekadelphia’s many mega crushes, Alexis Siemons, is screening the documentary film, The Meaning of Tea, at 7pm at Tbar. This screening is to celebrate the launch of the film’s website and a new line of organic teas. You can RSVP for the event via the Facebook page, here.

Unsure what the film is about? Here’s a blip from the press release, courtesy of Alexis:

The Meaning of Tea is a 74-minute documentary film that explores the calm and purposeful life of tea. The film is a tea-inspired journey that celebrates the history, rituals, spirituality and simple, pure enjoyment of tea through the eyes of tea lovers in places where tea is revered-from India to Ireland, from Taiwan to Japan, from Tea, South Dakota in the USA to Morocco, England and France.

Through interviews with people from all over the world of tea – tea pickers and plantation owners, street sellers, traders, teapot makers, tea tasters and eloquent tea scholars – The Meaning of Tea film explores the profoundly positive role that tea can play in the renewal of our modern world.

And if for some bizarre reason you’re unfamiliar with the charming Alexis Siemons, do check out her fantastic Etsy page, where she makes handpainted teacups with haiku on them.

The Meaning of Tea Screening at Tbar
February 4th, 7pm

Tbar
117 S. 12th Street (19107)

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia in cooperation with Cinedelphia is presenting Unknown Japan: Little Seen Artifacts of Japanese Cinema Series at The Bellevue. I am a huge fan of Japanese cinema and this definitely looks like an interesting series not to be missed.

The series, which consists of 6 films, one to be shown every Wednesday at 7pm for free, plans to really shed some light on films that many people haven’t heard of. The films will all be shown in their native Japanese language with English subtitles.

Check out below the jump a comprehensive list of trailers (warning some NSFW!, schedules, and descriptions of all the films being shown in the series.

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Like many other North Americans, I cast away math, science and perhaps even some religions in favor of putting my faith into a rodent to decide the fate of our seasons. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, the namesake for 1993′s movie of the same name. While I could go at length in this post about the absolute wonders of this spectacular film, and judge those of you who haven’t seen it, I must tell you what Pennsylvania is up to this year (aside from Punxsutawney Phil’s usual antics).

Our wonderful state is unveiling its fourth badge, the “PA Groundhog Day” badge. This one can only be snagged TOMORROW. Just follow these simple steps:

First, follow visitPA on foursquare at foursquare.com/visitPA

Second, check in anywhere in the world and shout “groundhog” between 12:00AM and 11:59PM EST on 2/2/2011.

Details here: http://www.visitpa.com/groundhog-day

Brought to you by our lovely friends at Red Tettemer + Partners and visitPA.

UPDATE: We’ve just gotten word via Annie Heckenberger of Red Tettemer + Partners that visitPA’s Groundhog Day badge has the most unlocks of any single-day partner badge foursquare has ever done. Wow!

This week The Comic Roundup looks at the first part of the latest X-Men event, The Age of X, the new Star Wars series Darth Vader and the Lost Command and we check in on the Emerald Archer in Green Arrow.

Age of X Alpha
By Mike Carey, Mirco Pierfederici and others

In the tradition of the mini X-Men event Necrosha, this week sees the beginning of The Age of X. Carey introduces us to a world where the X-Men never existed and mutants have been hunted to the brink of extinction. Now, is it just me or does that sound really, really familiar?

That is part of my problem with this event. Variations on the classic Days of Future Past storyline have been done to death over the years. It was even revisited as recently as the Second Coming crossover last summer. It is kind of hard to think what Carey could add to the formula that would be new, and this Alpha issue bears that out.

We get a weak introduction to this new world as the remaining mutants prepare for the final battle with the humans. There is little in the way of explanation except for random flashbacks interspersed throughout the story and nothing about why the X-Men never formed. Add to that so-so art by a group of “not ready for prime time” artists and you have the makings of a disappointing kick off to the newest X-Men crossover.

Since this is only a six part crossover and I have enjoyed Carey’s X-Men work in the past, I will give the next chapter a try. But it has a lot of ground to make up if it wants to save this Age of X.

Final Grade: C

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