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The White Stripes in Review

2007-07-20T15:50:00.000-04:00

John Anthony Gillis A.K.A Jack White was born in Detroit (Rock City) in 1975. As a young lad he took up playing the drums and expanded his musical repertoire to include both the piano and guitar. As like with most celebrated guitest, Jack had taught himself how to play. His musical influences such as Led Zeppelin and Cream can be undoubtedly heard in his music today.

His ex-wife and band mate (NO NOT HIS SISTER) Megan Martha White were married on September 23, 1997 and divorced in March of 2000. Jack encouraged Meg to take up the drums and together they formed a little band called The White Stripes. Meg’s drumming style may be simplistic in its approach but is essential to the bands unmistakable sound.

Somewhere in between getting divorced and playing music The White Stripes recorded their first CD in the winter of January 1999. It was released on June 20th, 2000 tilted De Stijl named after a Dutch conceptual art movement based on simple colors. For obvious reason they felt that this was the most fitting appellation as their introduction into the world of mainstream music.

Next release for the band was in 2001 with ‘White Blood Cells.’ It was with this album that The White Stripes began to receive recognition with American audiences thanks to such singles off of that album like “Hotel Yorba and the more widely known ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’

The White Stripes began recording Elephant in Toe Rag Studios in Hackney, East London, equipped with equipment from before 1964. It was recorded it ten days and was agreeable their best album to date up till there newest release, Icky Thump. The newest single of off that album, bearing the name of the title Icky Thump may be the best song for the band since Seven Nation Army hit the radio waves back in 2003. “Icky Thump,” boast a more blues and country-tinged sound to it. Vocally we get to hear a stronger and cleaner sounding Jack White owed to his decision to quit smoking two years ago. The song is catchy and full of superb guitar playing by Jack with an ending that is sort of reminiscent of Ball and Biscuit off of the Elephant album.

Icky Thump was been received by audiences alike with great enthusiasm and a reinforced appreciation for the band.

Man Hunt 2: What’s all the Hype about?

2007-06-29T14:22:00.000-04:00

If you consider yourself any sort gamer, then I’m sure that you have been keeping up with all the hype surrounding the upcoming release of Manhunt 2 for the Nintendo Wii, on July 10 2007.
The game is about an Amnesiac scientist and his psychotic killer of a companion from an asylum and their momentous killing sprees. I assure you, you won’t be seeing this game lining the walls of your local Wal-Mart. In fact Manhunt 2 has been banned in the United Kingdom but given the go-head within the U.S. Market with an Adult Only rating due to its level of violence. Look I’m not embarrassed to admit it, but just the cover art alone freaks me out. It looks like something out of a Rob Zombie movie.

Even before receiving the AO-Rating for Manhunt 2 for the Wii version, it was already gaining negative momentum with Anti-Gaming groups due to the system’s use of violent gesturing in order to control the game’s characters. Gamers use motion –sensing controls to stimulate chopping, hacking and stabbing motions to kill their prey. Shall I dare ask “where is the fun in that?” What is the motivation driving the fascination behind the violence? Should we as a responsible society worry about those who find amusement in simulating the dismemberment of human beings?

Is all of the negative attention that the game is receiving hindering the potential sales of Manhunt 2 or elevating the anticipation of its release among the curious? All I know is that here at DVDBoxOffice.com the pre-orders have been soaring. (Especially from those living in the U.K!)

Blockbuster Announces that they will only be expanding Blu-Ray and not HD-DVD

2007-06-21T13:42:00.000-04:00

On June 18th Blockbuster announced that they will be phasing out all HD-DVD rentals at all of their retail stores by mid July and in turn solely support Blu-Ray technology.

So what exactly is Blu-Ray and why is it called that? This format was developed by the Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA) to allow the recording, rewriting and playback on all High Definition videos (HD-DVD). This format also offers more then five times the storage capacity of the customary DVD and can support up to 50GB on a dual layer disc. The name Blu-Ray is derived from the Blue Laser Beam that is used to read the data with superior accuracy then the regular DVD and or CD.

Blockbuster will still be offering HD-DVD on-line, maybe so they can’t be accused of being in conspiracy with the studios and or the BDA or is their business decision based solely on revenue sharing. (Think rising gas prices) Or maybe Blu- Ray is to HD-DVD as VHS was to Beta? The percentage of Blu-ray rentals vs. HD DVD in the archetypal store and online is 70% Blu-ray vs. 30% HD-DVD and so this decision by Blockbuster may very well be based on consumer needs. In any case this truly is a landmark within the DVD Industry.

If you are playing to get a Blu-Ray this weekend here are the top 10 Blu-ray sellers:

1. 300
Flatliners
Wild Things
Hustle & Flow
The Patriot
Untouchables
Shooter
Resident Evil: Apocalpse
Blades of Glory
The Queen

The Special Edition (HD-DVD & DVD Combo) on Pre-Sale at DVDBoxOffice.com

2007-06-19T14:49:00.000-04:00

The special Edition (HD-DVD & DVD Combo) features the following:

• Audio Commentary : Director Zack Snyder, Writer Kurt Johnstad and Director of Photography Larry Fong • The Making of 300 Documentary• 300: Fact or Fiction Documentary• Plus More!!

300 - Review

2007-06-19T14:03:00.000-04:00

300 is a fantasy tale based on the Battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartans led by the fierce King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) makes a heroic stand against the overwhelming Persian army commanded by Xerxes. It depicts the titanic clash in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. The story is based on Frank Miller’s novel Sin city and is directed by Zack Snyder who brings this graphic novel to life with his imaginative use of color. Aesthetically speaking, 300 is an outstanding piece of art. 300 is jam packed with plenty of bloody scenes and chopped body parts, in the same fashion of
Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. The violence is humbled by the romantic under tones and passionate moments shared between Leoindas and Gorgo.
Starring: Gerard Butler, Vincent Regan, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Michael Fassbender, Mercedes Leggett, Rodrigo Santoro, Tom Wisdom, Andrew Tiernan, Dominic West, Andrew Pleavin
Directed By: Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead)
Genre(s): Action, War

WILL FERRELL (MY HERO)

2007-06-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

Let’s talk funny, let’s talk about the insanely funny Saturday Night Live Alumni member, Will Ferrell. In 1995, Will Ferrell became a featured cast member of Saturday Night Live during the shows rapid re-casting. During his 7 year stint with the show, he was arguably looked upon as the greatest cast member ever. In 2002 Ferrell left the show to pursue his acting career in films. The most recent being Blades of Glory where he teams up with Napoleon Dynamites John Heder as a competitive figure skater. (Currently on sale for pre-order at DVDBoxOffice.com) He has been referred to by the media as “The Frat Pack” along with Jack Black, Ben Stiller, (Zoolander) and Vince Vaughn . (Old School)

Whats Happening on the Sopranos!?

2007-06-11T16:23:00.000-04:00

Due to its violent content and school yard language I had refused to watch the Sopranos for years. It wasn’t until my cousin told me that our 80 year old grandmother religiously watched the show (while knitting) that my curiosity was seriously peaked. Straight from the opening theme song I was totally hooked! The musical selection for each and every episode and for the commercials only furthered the intensity of the show for me. In fact, I just picked up Sopranos Vol. 02: Peppers & Eggs: Original soundtrack and Various Composers: #1 Sopranos Album on CD for the car.

On a personal sad note, like I mentioned above I did not join ‘the family’ until much later on in the series. For the past years I have been watching random episodes in syndication trying to piece together the current state of affairs. Now, I can’t wait for my DVDs to arrive to find what happened to Adrienne… I know that she was whacked in one of the episodes but who commissioned the hit and how was she found out. Also, what the hell is going on with AJ? I heard that he tried to drown himself. And why did Tony kill Christopher?

On a final note….Can anybody please tell me what happened on this Sunday’s finale? (I don’t get HBO)

New Collectible Figurines Available!

2007-02-20T11:25:00.000-05:00

DVD Box Office is pleased to announce that we are now offering collectible figurines from Sideshow Collectibles. Suitable for adults and teens aged 14 and up, these 12-inch figures have 30+ points of articulation allowing you to pose them in hundreds of different configurations. All figures come with a display base stand and different accessories which may include: extra weapons, interchangeable hands, lifelike fabric clothing, and much more.

Familar faces from movies and television such as Star Wars, The Terminator, James Bond, Buffy, Angel and even Scarface, there are a myriad of figures to choose from.

Stay tuned, we'll be adding even more of these lifelike figurines to our Books & Collectibles store in the next few weeks.

To view more of our collectible figurines, click here.

2007: The Year of Bowie?

2007-01-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

This year marks a couple of landmark moments for chameleonic rock icon David Bowie. This past Monday (January 8), he marked his 60th birthday. Also this year, and I think most importantly, his notorious "Bowie Bonds" will reach their maturity.

For those not "in the know" on Bowie Bonds, investors were invited to gamble on the artist's future by purchasing these bonds in 1997. The bonds essentially temporarily 'sold' the rights to the better part of his catalogue before that time. Bowie reportedly used the capital from these bonds to buy back the rights from a number of other tracks that were at that time owned by a previous manager. Once these bonds reach maturity, the rights to the music residing under Bowie Bonds (some 287 songs) returns to David Bowie himself.

So what does this mean for us? Well, lets take a look at what's been available as far as "David Bowie" anthologies. There's not much there. A couple collections, a scant few multi-disc sets. Not much in the way of remastered versions. Nothing truly wow-worthy, one would think. This, apparently, is about to change.

A source told Britain's 'The Independent', "The archives are bursting at the seams, things that no one has ever heard. He's never done anything like The Beatles Anthology, so there is scope for a boxed set and a DVD of his life."

So is this the year of the Bowie? Only time will tell, I suppose. To be sure, though, this is one artist I'll be keeping an eye out for this year.

Blu-Ray + HD-DVD player from LG a reality!

2007-01-09T09:08:00.000-05:00

It's CES time again, and that means lots of incoming news on the gadgets we all know and love. One gadget in particular that we've had our eye on since last year's show is the fabled and newly monikered "Super Multi Blue" player-- LG's latest entry in the home theatre market which plays not just 1 but BOTH high definition video formats (Blu-ray and HD-DVD)

What's that you say? One player, 2 formats? Well, it was bound to happen eventually, and apparently 'eventually' happens to be sometime during the first quarter of 2007. LG's aim is to address the challenge consumers face due to the current format war.

"We've developed the Super Multi Blue Player to end the confusion caused by the current competition between Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. Customers are no longer forced to choose between the two formats," said Dr. Hee Gook Lee, president and chief technology officer of LG Electronics. "As Full HD TV is already gaining ground, we are hoping that the Super Multi Blue Player will play the trigger role in expanding and advancing both Full HD TV and high- definition DVD market volume together."

Needless to say, this is an item we'll be watching in the months to come.

15% off Grammy Nominees

2007-01-04T10:52:00.000-05:00

Guess what! It's award season!
And what award season is complete without a chance to check out the nominees on the cheap?

For a limited time only, we've put all this year's Grammy Nominated CDs on sale for 15% off. Some of 2006's greatest music is in here, so if you haven't snagged these discs yet, now's the time to get your order in. Get to know what's so hot about Gnarls Barkley (in case you didn't read our write up on it when their album "St. Elsewhere" was the audio editor's selection back in June-- check that out here). And what's up with that crazy John Mayer with all his nominations-- for not one, but 2 albums!

It's been a great year for music, so don't miss out on the cream of the year's crop while they're on sale at DVDBoxOffice.

Check out our Grammy Sale here...

New PS3 Bundle now available!

2007-01-04T10:33:00.000-05:00

It's been a long (long... long...) time coming, but we've finally got it: a new Playstation 3 bundle featuring the 60GB PS3 Console, an extra controller and a shiny new copy of Call of Duty 3, all in one happy little box and waiting for your order!

The Playstation 3 has been one of our most sought after items since its official launch back in November, and also the most elusive thing on the planet. However, now that the holiday fog has lifted, we have finally been able to track a supply down and we're ready to start taking orders.

As orders will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis, if you've been hunting high and low for this bad boy, get your order in fast.

Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) (60GB) Bundle

Season's Greetings from the folks at DVDBoxOffice.com

2006-12-22T10:48:00.000-05:00

As we all lumber onto the local highways and biways in search of turkey, nog and whatever versions of home and hearth we cling to, we pause and reflect on the year behind us: the life and times of 2006.

It has been a busy year for us at DVDBoxOffice. We have expanded into new directions, added new features and ventured into new territories, all the while with one eye fixated on the same goals of quality service and customer satisfaction that have remained constant in our 8 years of existence.

Though we have not yet rung it in, 2007 is already shaping up to be another busy year. With the Box Office Bucks program now up and running, as well as some other tricks up our sleeve, we are again expanding our focus towards making your shopping experience as pleasurable as possible.

As always, we welcome your input and ideas as to how we can serve you better, and thank you for your continued patronage and support. You are, after all, the reason we're here. If not for our customers we'd be a performance without an audience, and there is no fun in that to be sure.

So from the bottom of our hearts we wish you a safe and happy Holiday. May your new year be one of peace and prosperity, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2007.

Cheers and warmest regards,
Your DVDBoxOffice Team

New Editor's Audio Pick: Tom Waits' Orphans

2006-12-01T09:41:00.000-05:00

This is not your average Tom Waits CD. This isn't even your average Tom Waits 3 CDs. This is something that stretches beyond a simple musical release, even for this notorious bender of the status-quo.

A bit about the man, and the music itself: As a Singer, composer and actor, Tom Waits is something of a rennaissance man of stage and screen. His distinctive voice, described by one critic as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car," is the cornerstone of his musical persona. His lyrics, which characteristically describe seedy and strange people and places, also delves into some of the most heartfelt ballads in modern music. He is a cult hero in all that he does, and yet for some reason "what he does" is always growing more and more incredible.

Now, this release, a 3 CD set featuring an assortment of cover songs, over 30 original compositions, and even a few tracks recorded in the garage with his kids, the listener is given a new and wonderful way to look at this man and his music. Peppered with jokes, stories and experiments, you almost become intimately aware of who this person really is under all the mystique. You learn him more than any previous release he has so generously given his waiting fans. And that is what makes it so wonderful, and so unlike anything else we've seen so far from him or any one else. It's not a recording of music, strategically (and beautifully, as in this case) packaged for mass consumption. It's more like sitting down over a glass of that same bourboun he's been marinating his voice in and trading stories.

It is, in a word, inspiring.

Tom Waits: Orphans
More Audio Picks from our Editors

DVDBoxOffice Presents: Webkinz!!

2006-11-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

AKA: The ultimate solution to the age old question "What do i get my niece/nephew for her/his birthday / stocking / mitzvah / etc?"

These little plush toys come in dozens of levels of 'cute', but that's not what makes them so gosh darn brilliant. That comes courtesy of the simple fact that a Webkinz plush is more than a simple toy.

Webkinz is a mutant hybrid toy line that combines Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, Tamagachi, Pokemon and Animal Crossing into one small and loveable package --a fusion of all that made any one of its inspirations cute into one fluffy candy coated candy toy with a candy center that will no doubt keep your kids occupied for all eternity.

Here's the deal. You buy your target child a Webkinz or Lil' Kinz plush (preferably from DVDBoxOffice, of course ;) ). Target child receives toy, and instantly tosses adjacent packaging to the wind. You retrieve the packaging from its new home (probably the floor), and dig out the adoption notice and show it to target child. You and the child read through the notice, paying special attention to the magic adoption code therein. You and target child take a spin on your internet browser of choice, heading over to http://www.webkinz.com/. There you register the new toy, and begin taking part in interacting with other Webkinz in other places by way of a super-secure and designed-with-the-young-in-mind chat interface. Each Webkinz is given his own home, which can be decorated and furnished using Kinz Cash, which is earned by playing fun yet suspiciously educational games within the WebKinz universe.

And there you have it. Target child now frolics into the cyber-sunset with his/her new toy and is well on his/her way to learning the essential skills that will be required for him/her to join his/her first Warcraft guild in the next year or so. Before you know it, they'll be scouring eBay for the silver sword with 10,000 hitpoints that they need to defeat the evil Lord Zhorn and save Hyrule from the Space Marines of Krom.

They grow up so fast.

Click here to see what's available

All Wiik and New Consoles Make Go Somethin Somethin.

2006-11-20T14:46:00.000-05:00

Suffice it to say, it's been a busy week in DVDBO-land. The run up to the launch of 2 new consoles, a whole slew of new features, the introduction of Toshiba's new lineup of HD-DVD players. Yup. It's been a busy one, I'll tell ya!

First off, the question of the moment is "Whuzzup with the PS3?". Short answer: we don't know. I'm sure most of you cats have heard about Sony's recent crackdown on overseas shipping for their new console, which has caused quite the headache on the part of other retailers like ourselves. Our solution is to keep it buttoned up until we receive official word from Sony as to what the rules shall be. Compounding the problem is the fact that the Japanese megacorp has been mercilessly tight-lipped on the topic.

In other news, Nintendo launched its Wii this weekend. Of course, you already knew that (unless you've been living under a rock somewhere, at least). Thankfully, supply on this one is much better, with Nintendo spokespeople boasting an expected 4 million units to be shipped out by January. Will that happen? We hope so. While we didn't see near the numbers we were hoping for launch day, we are optimistic that we'll be able to get most of our preorders filled within the coming weeks. Does that mean you should be lining up at your local Electronics Emporium in hopes of picking one up sooner? Not necessarily. Supply in brick and mortor shops appears to be lower than ours, which has lead a number of customers back to Good Ol' DVDBoxOffice to get their Wii the easy way: no lineups, no contending with traffic, no smug faced chaps in polo shirts telling you and your fellow shoppers for the zillionth time that the store is out of stock and no they don't know when there will be more available.

And capping things off, we added a new affiliate program to our roster, allowing people to make money from us for a change, just by hosting a DVDBO banner on their web site. For more information on this, take a look here.

15% off selected cookbooks

2006-11-14T14:32:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the holidays, and for a limited time, selected cookbooks are on sale for 15% off at DVDBoxOffice.com.
With great titles from celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver and Rachael Ray, along with tried and true classics like "The Joy Of Cooking", there's sure to be something here for your own chef-at-home.

Sorry, this promotion has ended

Save $38cad on James Bond

2006-11-10T09:54:00.000-05:00

Though hard to imagine by today's standards, Sean Connery's James Bond used a female companion as a shield under hostile fire no fewer than eight times over the course of the six original Bond movies. We won't do that.

Instead, we'll just give you a smokin' deal on the latest 007 DVD Box Sets. For a limited time, buy all 4 volumes of the Ultimate James Bond Box Sets and you'll save 10% on each set, giving a whopping total savings of nearly $40cad.

Now if that doesn't get your martinis shaking, nothing will.

Sorry... this promotion has ended

In retrospect: Focus On Sci-Fi

2006-10-10T12:02:00.000-04:00

We've recently finished our first Movie Focus, and we're wondering what you guys thought about it. We certainly had fun debating and discussing the merits of our favourite aspect and titles in science fiction. Did you enjoy reading about them?
Post your thoughts here, as we'd love to hear them!

If you missed them, or you'd like a refresher, here they are again, in Backed-Up form...

Focus on Sci-Fi Part 1: The Early Years
Focus on Sci-Fi Part 2: Aliens and Monsters and Bots (Oh My!)
Focus on Sci-Fi Part 3: Adventures in Galaxies Far, Far Away
Focus on Sci-Fi Part 4: Dystopias and the Orwellian Equation

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness to be Discontinued

2006-10-10T12:01:00.000-04:00

There's been a lot of chatter about this title lately. The hit PS2 game seems to be uite the hot commodity since rumours started circulating that the game was to be discontinued. Well, Atlus made good on the rumours recently with their announcement that they'd be doing one more run for this game, then they'd be fitting it with some cement shoes.

On the up side, we're placing a nive fat order of these, which our suppliers tell us they should be able to fill. So, if you want a copy of this game, I would suggest getting your orders in pronto. As always, orders are on a first come first served basis, so the sooner you get your order in the more likely we'll be able to fill your order should we be short of stock.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Focus on Sci-Fi Part 4: Dystopias and the Orwellian Equation

2006-10-03T12:10:00.000-04:00

As part of our ongoing look at science fiction, this week's focus is on the darker side of the future, set in versions of our own world that don't have room for warm fuzzy notions like freedoms or happiness. There's a lot of ground to cover, to be sure, so we've picked our favourite 'reverse-utopias' to discuss.

Blade Runner
Loosely based on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by author Philip K. Dick, Ridley Scott's 1982 classic starring Harisson Ford has long been analysed and cherished by theorists, film enthusists and critics alike. The dense urban setting that director Scott created plus the film's intertextuality and references to the past - the late 40s and 50s in particular - supplies an environment of signs, symbols and simulations that provide multiple meanings, only some of which may have been intended by Scott. There are many cultural and ecological issues that the film raises with its "silent spring" of a post-nuclear, polluted, overpopulated world coming to its end; where replicants, according to the slogan of their "maker", Doctor Eldon Tyrell, are made "more human than human"; and where animals are mostly extinct or expensive simulated versions of highly valued originals.

Blade Runner's city, with its composite of time and place and its references, through architecture and fashions, to the 40s, conjures up memories of one of the blackest periods of human history: the `Fall' of humanity, linked with the domination of people perceived as the non-human enemy and therefore as subjects for brutality and experimentation in the Nazi eugenics programme, the concentration camps, the gas chambers, and as targets for nuclear bombs.

Not only does the film reveal ourselves to ourselves as many of the genre's stories do, but it also leads us to question the actions that have brought our world to this dystopia in which human dominance is affecting the well-being of other humans and other species.

Blade Runner (Director's Cut)

THX-1138
George Lucas' student film turned feature has become something of a legend. The movie tells the story of the titular human drone (played by a suprising Robert Duvall) and his female companion as they attempt to escape a computer-run, dehumanizing world where sex is outlawed and everyone is kept under control with drugs.

Suppression is the theme of the day in this film. Emotion and desire are squashed by the overrulling androids, and are the key to humanity and freedom. Efficiency overrides every other aspect of human life, as people are reduced to code names and their lives are contained, monitored, and manipulated for the sake of the system.

This white-washed future nightmare draws heavily on 1984, but remains a much more accessible imagining of the premise than the movie adaptation of Orwell's book starring John Hurt. There are, however some obvious differences between the two, most significantly being each's variation on the 'look and feel' of totalitarianism. Lucas' version is very stark and clean, notoriusly shot almost entirely in a white room, while your typical setting for the fall of man tends to be given more emphasis on decay.

This movie is also particularly note-worthy for its accomplishment in the field of sound design and recording.

THX 1138

Soylent Green
This Charleton Heston film blames the ruin of man on the overpopulation of the planet, rather than any political aspect. It is the year 2022 and New York City's population has swelled to 22,000,000 with over half of that number being unemployed. Other factors contributing to the misery of setting include resultant global warming and the scarcity of 'real food'. The fictional "Soylent Corporation" (presumably a fusion of the words Soy and Lentil, two high yeild crops with lower price tags) is the principal provider of nutrition, which comes in wafers of varying colours, the highest in demand being that of the Green variety, thus providing the movie's title.

Heston plays the 'everyman', in this case a police detective trying to solve the murder of one of the Soylent Corporation's board members. Through his investigation he begins to uncover a strange conspiracy involving the corporation, which leads to the answer to the film's tagline "What's the secret of Soylent Green?"

This film, now often parodied thanks to Heston's over-the-top portrayal of the main character, is a dark vision of what could lie in the future for a civilization that has yet to address it's propensity to consume without question.

Soylent Green

Mad Max
Set in near-future Austrailia, this classic finds its premise in a break-down of civil order as facilitated by a post-apocalyptic fuel shortage. That said, the premise isn't quite the plot in this case, it's simply the setting. The theme here is revenge.

Following the successful rousing of motor-gang lieutenant, hesitant police patrolman Max (Mel Gibson) gets a shiny new ride, some leathers, and a pricetag on his head courtesy of the gang he's just messed with. The gang members try to get their evens with Max by brutally killing his Wife, Son and best friend. Understandably distraught, and aided by general prevelance of anarchy in the area, Max returns the favour by slaughtering gang members one by one. He then rides off into the sunset, leaving corpses and his past in his wake.

The dystopian quotient is more of an afterthought in this film-- tossed in as a way of convincing more people that such violence would be possible. What the film became, other than being the movie with the highest cost to gross ratio until the Blair Witch Project, was the progenitor of what has become the typical post-apocalyptic setting.

Mad Max

Brazil
Bureaucratic dystopias, or technocratic dystopias, are strictly regulated and hierarchial societies, thus related to totalitarian dystopias as seen in 1984. In this particularly noir example of the bureaucratic sort, Terry Gilliam pitts the imagination of the common man against the oppressive storm troppers of the Ministry of Information.

The film captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with Gilliam's own Python animation) in this nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreant.

Exploring the overwhelmingly innefficient and tiresome possibilities of the Information Age, this film is probably more relevant today than it was when it was first produced.

Brazil (Criterion) (Box Set)

Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury's chilling vision of a possible future is a bit of an oddball in the dystopian catalogue. In his future, firemen don't put out fires, they start them - in order to burn books. This is a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. The title refers to the temperature at which a book will ignite.

The story takes place in an unspecified future time, possibly sometime in the twenty-first century, in an America which has turned hedonistic and rabidly anti-intellectual, accompanied by the complete abandonment of self-control. At this point, books have been made obsolete due to the increasingly frenetic pace of life and the ever-shortening attention span of the common man — nobody has "time" to read anymore, and possession of books has been forbidden; the minimum punishment is confinement in a mental hospital and having one's house, books and all, burnt by "firemen"; and the maximum, is immediate death.

The result is a society that is emotionally unstable, its citizens often anxious, sad, or angry, and disruptive to society and full of nonsense. Enter the protagonist, one Guy Montag, who's previously contented life with his over-stimulated wife is put to question with the discovery of a mistress who's love of information causes him to look at his existance in a new light and subsequently descend into radicalism.

Fahrenheit 451

Focus on Sci-Fi Part 3: Adventures in Galaxies Far, Far Away

2006-09-25T14:21:00.000-04:00

As part of our ongoing look at science fiction, this week's focus is on the adventures set on other worlds in other galaxies and in other times either past or future. There's a lot of ground to cover, to be sure, so we've picked our favourite Space Adventures to discuss in regards to their fame and fortune, as well as their own commentaries on the goings on here on earth.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century...
Buck Rogers began with a pair of novels in 1928, and has since become synonomous with early sci-fi adventuring. Following in the footsteps of H.G. Wells, Buck Rogers is arguably responsible for the popularization of space exploration. Whether in comic strip form, movies, radio or television, it quickly became an important part of American pop culture. As a pop phenomenon it paralleled the development of space technology in the twentieth century and introduced Americans to space as a familiar environment for swashbuckling adventure.

Such was the fame of Buck Rogers, that it became the basis for one of the most fondly remembered science fiction spoofs in a series of Daffy Duck cartoons. The first of these was Duck Dodgers in the 24-1/2th Century, which was directed by Chuck Jones in 1953. There were also two sequels to this cartoon, and ultimately a Duck Dodgers television series.

Buck Rogers In The 25th Century: The Complete Epic Series

Star Wars...
No discussion on the topic of Sci-Fi Adventures would be complete without the mention of a certain series by a certain Mr. George Lucas. First released with what is now known as "Episode IV" in 1977, Star Wars became a pop culture worldwide phenomenon - spawning five more feature films , three spin-off films, five television series and an extensive collection of licensed books, comics, video games, and other products - all of which are set within a fictional "galaxy far, far away."

Science fiction since Star Wars, particularly in film, has often been influenced by and compared to Star Wars. References to the main characters and themes of Star Wars are casually made in Western society with the well-qualified assumption that others will understand the reference. Many say that the visual and virtual effects that take over today's movies would have never been created if not for Lucas's revolutionizing of the movie industry with Star Wars.

The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
Revenge of the Sith
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi

Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon, which was originally penned as a competitor to Buck Rogers in 1934, began its days as a comic strip. Since then, it has branched into TV, radio and Film in much the same way as its 25th century counterpart. In contrast, however, Flash Gordon has become more celebrated for its "campy" qualities than for its contribution to culture at large. This paved the way for the 1974 semi-pornographic parody "Flesh Gordon".

The franchise follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, for whom the series was named, and his companions Dr. Hans Zarkov and Dale Arden. The story begins with Dr. Zarkov's invention of a rocket ship, in which the three of them make a journey to the planet Mongo, where they are stranded. Mongo is inhabited by a number of different cultures, some quite technologically advanced, that have been falling one by one under the domination of the vicious tyrant Ming the Merciless.

In 2004, the franchise rights were obtained by Stephen Sommers (Director of Van Helsing and The Mummy), and rumours have put this series back on the charts. At this time, though, no cast information is available, though a 2008 release date has been rumoured.

Check out our inventory of all things Flash Gordon

Star Trek
If Buck Rogers popularized the exploration of space, then Star Trek made it cool. Beginning with the short-lived original series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nemoy, and continuing on to this very moment as a script for a new movie is being developed, Star Trek has become a phenomenon to be reckoned with to say the least.

The series is largely allegorical, putting its altruistic characters in situations that test their moral convictions. The 1960's series generally approached issues of concern for the day (such as racism, technology and the role of the miniskirt in 23rd century society), while more current members of the franchise deal with more modern problems (i.e. political conflict, more technology, and the importance of leotards in the 24th century).

Having just celebrated its 40th anniversary on September 8th of this year, Star Trek has become one of the most influencial franchises in Science Fiction. It has inspired many of the technological innovations we enjoy today, such as cell phones and palm pilots. Going into its 41st year now, the series continues to boldly go where no one has ever gone before.

Check out our inventory of all things Star Trek

Battlestar Galactica
First introduced in 1978 in a bold effort to capitalize on the interest in science fiction generated by Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica has recently been resurrected from the halls of Sci-Fi Camp to become the hottest science fiction franchise currently available on TV.

The original franchise has enjoyed a cult following from its jumbled beginnings, and has been subjected to several attempts at revival. Not until the recent revisioning of the series, however, has it enjoyed any great commercial success. The new series, which carries the same basic storyline featuring the unceremonious near-destruction of the human race and the quest for the 13th colony of Earth, has been hailed as a breath of fresh air for a genre which many believe was getting a little tired after 30 years of recycling ideas from a few sources of inspiration.

The series is now growing with great momentum. A new series ("Caprica") is in the works that will take place 50 years before the Cylon attack, and is being touted as "television's first science fiction family saga." It is clear that this franchise has a lot more up its sleeve.

The 1978 Movie
The Original Series
The 2003 Miniseries
The New Series (Season 1)

Doctor Who
This programme is one of the longest-running science fiction television series in the world and also a significant part of British popular culture. It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run and pioneering use of electronic music. The original series ran from 1963 to 1989, and the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005 with a new cast, including the 10th face of 'the doctor'.

Elements of the programme are well known and identifiable even to non-fans. In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite on a par with Star Trek and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006.

Check out our inventory of all things Doctor Who

September Book Selection: 1984 by George Orwell

2006-09-25T14:10:00.000-04:00

This is a book I have read many times, as has many people out there. It's part of many High School English programs, and has been made into a movie, which I suppose isn't all too shocking. Its premise has been borrowed by countless other works in many different forms of media. So why am I featuring it as my selection this month?

Well, simply put, I think that this book requires reading at several different points in life. I read it outside of the curriculum while I was a student and it scared the pants off me then, though I will admit, I didn't understand it all too well. I read it again at 20, understood more and was scared more. I read it again last weekend, with the current global situation and several Orwellian Clones well intrenched in recent memory, and it brought me nearly to tears. I am afraid to read it again, though I'm sure I will someday, if only because I am curious as to what new truths I will later find within its pages.

The point is this: there are some novels out there that are required reading for more reasons that simple appreciation of the english language. This is an important and often overlooked work that has more power in its first chapters than most everyday fiction can boast in their entirety. If you have not read this book recently (or, dare I wonder, ever), I highly suggest picking up this book at your soonest conveniece. Though you may be wise in avoiding it on days otherwise reserved for cheer.

1984 by George Orwell
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September Audio Selection: Thom Yorke: The Eraser

2006-09-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

This album could carry many alternate titles. Some of them may be "Excerpts from the Motion Picture ‘A Scanner Darkly’ ", "Kid B", or "Radiohead minus the other guys”. Regardless of your preferred way of referring to this album, it remains a must-listen for fans of musical curiosities and experimentation.

While bearing in mind the inevitable comparison to the album's close cousin "Kid A", this new album from the Radiohead front man doesn't have the same jarring effect that being ahead of its time leant "Kid A". As a result, as similar as the works are, The Eraser manages to be an easier listen.

And listen you must, because underneath the minimal grooves and Yorke's nasal warblings is something suprisingly brave in its melancholy. It's tough, sometimes, to remember that the rest of the band isn't gonna sweep in at some moments to elevate a song to more customary post-prog-rock proportions. However, when enjoyed on the whole, this absense of the epic slant of Radiohead actually compliments the album, adding an element of desolation that is almost an instrument by its own right here.

Thom Yorke: The Eraser
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September Game Selection: Company of Heroes

2006-09-22T15:40:00.000-04:00

We all remember Saving Private Ryan. The gritty realism, the attention to each macabre detail, they were all present for we viewers to take in. Now, let's take that experience and put it in game form. Now let's call that game Company of Heroes. We won't have to, though, because the good people at THQ have done it for us.

Put together by the same squad that brought us Warhammer 40K, Company of Heroes has a lot of the same addictive qualities that makes that series so addictive. The graphics and sound are truly top notch, as expected, but it's the attention to detail that really has this game standing out from the crowd that is the Real Time Strategy genre. This is not hindered by the game's slower pace and greater emphasis on tactics over building efficiency. What this really amounts to is a game that is basically the ideal RTS for strategy junkies.

A bit of a caveat on this one though, there's a good bit of naughty language on this one-- so much in fact that player boards feature more than a few posts from players speaking out about the quantity of profanity and potential racial slurs in the game's soundtrack. Whether or not this is a wholly bad thing, though, has yet to be seen. We are talking about a war game, after all, and if a few curse words can't make cameos in a game which features bodies being blown out of buildings, then where can they?

Company of Heroes
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