areaseven

Sweet GT you got there, Wicked Ace.

Why settle with a V8 M3 when you can have this V10-powered beast? But then again, it'll probably cost more than an M5. 1007 G-Power BMW M3 CSL

The POS known as the X-Type comes to mind.

Let's see... 1. Vince McMahon 2. Shane McMahon 3. Stephanie McMahon-Levesque 4. Triple-H 5. Jerry "The King" Lawler 6. Pat Patterson 7. Gerald Brisco 8. Jonathan Coachman 9. The Fabulous Moolah 10. Mae Young

Jaguar's upcoming replacement for the S-Type has been revealed. Looks way too much like a Lexus, though. 2009 Jaguar XF

1st Attempt: 2479.90m 2nd Attempt: 3759.77m EDIT: Current record on attached image.

When I first saw the movie in theaters 21 years ago, I knew the ship was CG. I thought everything about the ship's animation was CG, until I found out the hatch opening and steps formation were actually stop-motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0gj8xuc11w Flight of the Navigator Walt Disney Pictures, 1986 Directed by Randal Kleiser (Grease, Red Riding Hood) Based on a story by Mark H. Baker Running Time: 90 minutes Rated PG for mature situations and strong language. Cast Joey Cramer (Bobby in Runaway) as David Scott Freeman Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens as Trimaxion/Max (voice) Veronica Cartwright as Helen Freeman Cliff De Young as Bill Freeman Sarah Jessica Parker (like anyone here doesn't know who she is...) as Carolyn McAdams Matt Adler as Jeff Freeman (16 years old) Howard Hesseman (Charlie in Head of the Class) as Dr. Faraday Albie Whitaker as Jeff Freeman (8 years old) Synopsis David Scott Freeman is an ordinary 12-year-old boy living in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 1978. One night, on his way to pick up his younger brother Jeff, he falls into a ravine deep in a forest and is knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he finds out that he is in the year 1986 - eight years after his parents reported him missing. Everything and everyone around him has changed over the years, except for him. Overwhelmed by the events that just happened, David passes out and is taken to a hospital, where doctors perform tests on him to find out where he's been for the past eight years. Meanwhile, NASA officials arrive at a scene where an unidentified flying object just crashed through some power lines. They take the ship to their facilities to examine it. At the same time, while David is undergoing a test, his brainwaves transmit information directly related to the spacecraft. He is promptly taken in by NASA for 48 hours, where they discover that his brain contains alien navigational data and star charts. It doesn't take long before David leaves his room in the facility and makes contact with the ship, where he realizes he is its navigator. Together, David and the ship's pilot - nicknamed "Max" - leave the NASA base and embark on a journey to fulfill Max's mission. "Compliance!" Over the past 30 years, Disney's live-action films haven't usually been the memorable type. Most of them were fun to watch when you were younger, but nowadays, you'd steer clear of them. Some of them are just plain crap, such as Flubber, National Treasure, The Pacifier and the Jackie Chan version of Around the World in 80 Days. (I personally haven't seen The Black Hole, but if you have, and thought it was crap, feel free to tell us about it.) But among the pile of rubbish are some diamonds in the rough. Of course, you have your box office blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Chronicles of Narnia, but there are those rare gems that are unbelievably good. One such product is The Rocketeer, which I believe is still the last great Disney live-action film. And then, of course, there's Flight of the Navigator - a film that came and went at the box office at warp speed, collecting a mere $18 million. Watching this movie is like going back in time. Sure, it reeks of '80s cheesiness and the acting leaves much to be desired. But what makes this movie shine is its innovation in special effects. Universal's 1984 film The Last Starfighter may have been the first to use full-time CG animation, but Navigator was the first to feature environment mapping - over a decade before it was standard on video games. Five years before Terminator 2: Judgment Day came out, Navigator first gave viewers a look at what a moving chrome-colored object would look like on film. Even after 20 years, the flying piece of chrome still looks great. The aerial shots are also breathtaking. Max: "What are you doing?" David: "Can't I have a little privacy?" Max: "Do not know privacy." It's hard to believe that Alan Silvestri (Predator, Back to the Future) composed the score for Navigator, as it's primarily synthesizer music instead of orchestral. And because of this, it does make the film seem outdated. "Navigator, I do not leak. You leak. Remember?" Paul Reubens steals much of the film as the voice of the klutzy pilot Max. He starts out serious at first, but as soon as he scans David's brain, that's when his Pee Wee Herman persona kicks in. Other than that, a young Sarah Jessica Parker also has a bit role in the film. Not that anyone around here cares for her... "Hey, blimpo! Oink Oink! Too many Twinkies!" Overall, Flight of the Navigator is surprisingly enjoyable for a family film. Definitely a great rental at most, as the DVD has no extras at all (unless you really, really like this movie). Rating: B DVD Extras: F What extras? Looks like we're gonna have to wait a lifetime for a proper DVD release. Reference The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia "See you later, Navigator! Ha ha!"

RoboCop 3 ( ロボコップ3 ) Orion Pictures, 1993 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 2004 Directed by Fred Dekker Screenplay by Frank Miller (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) and Fred Dekker Based upon characters created by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner Running Time: 104 minutes Rated PG-13 for violence, mature situations and strong language. RoboCop: "I must commandeer your vehicle for police use." Pimp: "Man, what is your problem, sucka?" (Pimp turns around and pulls his knife, only to gape at Robocop holding a gun.) Pimp: "I mean, Officer..." Cast Robert Burke (Father Mickey in Rescue Me) as Officer Alex J. Murphy/RoboCop Remy Ryan as Nikko Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan, Claire in Law & Order) as Dr. Lazarus John Castle as Paul McDaggett Bruce Locke as Otomo Nancy Allen as Officer Anne Lewis Rip Torn as the CEO Mako (1933-2006) (Aku in Samurai Jack, the Wizard in Conan the Barbarian) as Kanemitsu Robert DoQui as Sgt. Warren Reed Jodi Long as Nikko's mom John Posey as Nikko's dad S.D. Nemett as Bixby Snyder Mario Machado as Anchorman Casey Wong Leeza Gibbons as Anchorwoman Jesse Perkins "She said, 'No.' Maybe you have a hearing problem." Synopsis After years of attempting to revamp Detroit, OCP is in the verge of bankruptcy. After acquiring a controlling stake in OCP, the Kanemitsu Corporation sends a mercenary army led by Paul McDaggett to flush out the inhabitants of Cadillac Heights in order for the Delta City project to proceed. In addition, Kanemitsu unleashes "Otomo," a highly advanced ninja robot. After giving up hope of seeing his family ever again, RoboCop embraces an orphaned girl named Nikko and the residents of Cadillac Heights as his extended family. But when the town is threatened by the mercenaries and his partner Lewis is killed in the process, RoboCop must stand forth and protect Cadillac Heights from destruction, even if it means dismantling OCP altogether. "You may want to call the fire department." Lowdown RoboCop 2 was a travesty of justice to the first film. Could it get any worse? Absolutely. First off, RoboCop 2 was so bad, Peter Weller called it quits. So we have Robert Burke taking over his spot as RoboCop. Not only does he not look the part, he doesn't sound the part at all. Lewis gets killed within the first half of the film. At least she didn't have to go through the monstrosity of the second half. (As it turns out, the producers made an agreement with Nancy Allen to have her character killed. That's how much she hated the film.) And then we have yet another array of uninteresting villains. A mercenary army gets a big "Meh" from me. And Otomo is just asking to be blasted to bits by ED-209. "You are under arrest for assaulting an officer... (Otomo chops off RoboCop's fingers.) "...and destruction of police property." Just as he did on RoboCop 2, Frank Miller co-wrote the screenplay of this film. And, much like RoboCop 2, we're not sure about what parts he wrote. Even his worst comic book stories (Spawn/Batman, anyone?) couldn't have been worse than this. Paul McDaggett: "How may I help you, Officer?" RoboCop: "By resisting arrest." Basil Poledouris may have returned to compose the score, but it's not enough to save this sinking ship of a film. RoboCop 3 was the final stake in the coffin of the film franchise. Unfortunately, it didn't end there, as we were treated to a dull TV series and an even worse cartoon show called RoboCop: Alpha Commando. Just like RoboCop 2, you can forget about this one. And to think that the chick from Crossing Jordan actually starred in this... The CEO: "Well, I gotta hand it to you...what do they call you? Murphy is it?" RoboCop: "My friends call me Murphy. You call me... RoboCop." Rating: D- DVD Extras Bad enough I saw this on VHS. I am not picking up the DVD version anytime soon. Reference The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia ED-209: "I am now authorized to...be loyal as a puppy. "

Well, I might as well review the sequels and tell you all how much they suck. RoboCop 2 ( ロボコップ2 ) Orion Pictures, 1990 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 2004 Directed by Irvin Kershner (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Never Say Never Again) Screenplay by Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) and Walon Green Based upon characters created by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner Running Time: 117 minutes Rated R for graphic violence, drug use, mature situations and profanity. "Oh, my. This isn't very nice. Though you may think you're having fun now, you only hurt the one you love. Think of mom and dad. What kind of lesson are you teaching them? And now, a word on nutrition..." Cast Peter Weller (Henderson in 24) as Officer Alex J. Murphy/RoboCop Nancy Allen (Allison in The Philadelphia Experiment) as Officer Anne Lewis Tom Noonan as Cain/RoboCop 2 Belinda Bauer as Dr. Juliette Faxx Gabriel Damon as Hob Galyn Görg as Angie Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005) (Grig in The Last Starfighter) as The Old Man Felton Perry as Donald Johnson Robert DoQui as Sgt. Warren Reed Angie Bolling as Ellen Murphy Mario Machado as Anchorman Casey Wong Leeza Gibbons as Anchorwoman Jesse Perkins Officer Anne Lewis: "Hit the gas, Murphy." RoboCop: "The posted limit is 35. We should set an example, Anne. Your hair looks lovely that way." Lewis: "It's OCP. They did something to you." RoboCop: "I'm fine." Synopsis A year has passed since RoboCop was first introduced to the streets of Detroit. However, the crime rate has worsened, all thanks to OCP inciting a police strike by cutting police pension plans. Because of this, RoboCop must spend more hours on duty, where he encounters a drug dealer named Cain and a ten-year-old crime boss named Hob. Unfortunately for our hero, he falls into a trap and is disassembled by Cain's gang before being tossed at the cops on strike. RoboCop: "Isn't the moon wonderful?" Lewis: "It's still daytime." RoboCop: "It's the thought that counts." OCP considers RoboCop "off warranty" due to the massive repair costs, but later on decides to putting him back into one piece under the recommendation of Dr. Juliette Faxx, a psychologist who now heads the RoboCop team. She then adds over 300 new directives that make him completely harmless and dull. Fortunately, RoboCop breaks free of the directives by giving himself an electric shock before squaring off against Cain. Cain: "You want me?" RoboCop: "Dead or alive." Cain: "One of us must die." RoboCop: "Dead, then." RoboCop stops Cain, critically injuring him. As Hob takes over the drug cartel, Dr. Faxx takes Cain's brain and transplants it into RoboCop 2, OCP's new law enforcement weapon. After RoboCop 2 kills Hob in a botched attempt to also assassinate the city mayor, RoboCop steps in to confront the new prototype, which has gone out of control and into a killing spree. "Cain, let's take this outside!" Dr. Juliette Faxx: "You! Get out of here! You're obsolete!" The Old Man: "BEHAVE YOURSELVES!!!" Lowdown With the success of RoboCop, it was evident that a sequel would follow. But would RoboCop 2 meet all expectations? "Bad language makes for bad feelings." Hell no. Although most of the original cast from the first film are still around, the same cannot be said for the production team. Paul Verhoeven decided not to return to the director's chair, as he was working on Total Recall. Replacing him is Irvin Kershner. Sure, he directed The Empire Strikes Back, but did he care about RoboCop? Definitely not. "Waste makes haste; for time is fleeting. A rolling stone is worth two in the bush." RoboCop 2 can also be remembered as the time Hollywood screwed Frank Miller. His original script was exceptionally good, but deemed unfilmable by the producers and eventually rewritten with disastrous results. And unfortunately, Miller was the scapegoat amidst the backlash from critics and fans. It took him over a decade to return to Hollywood and clear his name through the blockbuster hits Sin City and 300. And if you want to see his original interpretation of this film, pick up the 2003 comic book series Frank Miller's RoboCop. The new characters are just uninteresting. One reason why we love the first film is its array of villains we love to hate. Cain, however, is just some junkie. so what if he performed an operation on someone wide awake? And a ten-year-old gangster is just too random for any type of film. As bad as Cain is by himself, he's even worse as RoboCop 2. ED-209 from the first film has always been badass simply for its menacing stance. RoboCop 2, on the other hand, is just a walking stick wrapped in tin foil. Whoever came up with that design should be jettisoned into the far reaches of space. Even more bad news is the disappearance of Basil Poledouris' enigmatic score. Instead, we're treated to Leonard Rosenman's (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) dull and boring soundtrack that sounds nothing like the first film. Overall, RoboCop 2 is one reason why great movies should never have sequels. Don't waste your time and money on this POS; go rent something else. Lewis: "That son of a b*tch is getting away with it and we can't even touch him." RoboCop: "Patience, Lewis. We're only human." Rating: D DVD Extras Bad enough I saw this on VHS. I am not picking up the DVD version anytime soon. Reference The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia "Thank you for not smoking."

Here are some more sci-fi/horror bombs: R.O.T.O.R. - A really cheap imitation of RoboCop and The Terminator. Evilspeak - When a young military academy cadet is bullied by everyone else, he discovers the book of Satan and uses its dark powers against the academy. Xtro - Just your typical alien invasion film. The only memorable moment of the film is a scene where a woman suddenly becomes pregnant and gives birth to an adult male within minutes.

Bar none, the 1/60 YF-19 is my favorite Yamato toy.

Looks pretty sweet.

Yeah, I know. It's like WTF was he doing there? I mean, most Predators wouldn't just jump in the middle of a fight unless one of them is left standing. It's even more uncharacteristic for a Predator to just throw his self-destruct device and run off, especially if the targets do not pose a major threat to him.

Terminator vs. RoboCop Terminator vs. RoboCop: Episode 2

I have not yet seen any DVD version after the Criterion edition. And my local video stores no longer carry any version before the 20th Anniversary release. Hell, I got lucky today, as I got the last one at Best Buy. My guess is that MGM may have tweaked the quality a little bit from the 2004 re-release. I'll see if any of my friends have the Trilogy DVD so I can make a side-by-side comparison.

RoboCop ( ロボコップ ) Orion Pictures, 1987 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment/20th Century FOX Home Entertainment, 2007 Directed by Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Basic Instinct) Created by Edward Neumeier (Starship Troopers) and Michael Miner (Anacondas) Running Time: 102 minutes (R-Rated version); 103 minutes (Unrated version) Not Rated (originally rated R). Contains extreme violence and gore, nudity, drug use, mature situations and profanity. Bob Morton: "What are your Prime Directives?" RoboCop: "Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law." Cast Peter Weller (The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) as Officer Alex J. Murphy/RoboCop Nancy Allen (Chris in Carrie) as Officer Anne Lewis Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005) (Grig in The Last Starfighter) as The Old Man Ronny Cox (Bogomil in Beverly Hills Cop I-II) as Dick Jones Kurtwood Smith (Red in That '70s Show, Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) as Clarence Boddicker Miguel Ferrer (Dr. Macy in Crossing Jordan) as Bob Morton Felton Perry as Johnson Robert DoQui as Sgt. Warren Reed Ray Wise (Perry White in Superman: Doomsday) as Leon Nash Paul McCrane (Graem Bauer in 24) as Emil Antonowsky Jesse D. Goins as Joe Cox Calvin Jung as Steve Minh Mario Machado as Anchorman Casey Wong Leeza Gibbons as Anchorwoman Jesse Perkins S.D. Nemeth as Bixby Snyder ED-209: "You have five seconds to comply. Four...three...two...one. I am now authorized to use physical force." Synopsis In the near future, Detroit, Michigan, is in financial ruin and has fallen in the hands of violent crime lords. The city has commissioned Omni Consumer Products to fund and operate (and, in effect, privatizing) the police department. Rather than rebuild old Detroit, OCP plans to tear down the metropolis to build their utopia called "Delta City." But before that can happen, OCP has to beef up their police efforts, as cop-killings have gone rampant and the police are considering going on strike. Clarence Boddicker: "You probably don't think I'm a very nice guy...do ya?" Murphy: "Buddy, I think you're slime." Clarence: "You know, I got this problem. Cops don't like me, so I don't like cops." Officer Alex J. Murphy, who has just transferred to the notoriously hostile Metro West precinct, is violently gunned down by crime boss Clarence Boddicker and his gang. After being pronounced dead in the hospital, Murphy's remains are acquired by OCP employee Bob Morton and his team. In a span of a few months, Murphy is reborn as RoboCop. Part man, part machine, all cop, RoboCop is equipped with a bulletproof body, advanced electronics and a deadly assault handgun. But while RoboCop makes a name for himself in Detroit by stopping criminals in his path, memories of his former life return to torment him, sending him to bring his former killers to justice. Morton: "We get the best of both worlds. The fastest reflexes modern technology has to offer, on-board computer-assisted memory, and a lifetime of on-the-street law enforcement programming. It is my great pleasure to present to you...RoboCop." Lowdown The '80s was a great era for both action and science fiction. That decade brought us classics like Alien, Blade Runner and The Terminator. And it also brought a band of lesser-known actors and filmmakers into stardom with this masterpiece of a film. It also introduced us to a Dutch director who would later on churn out a string of hits and misses in Hollywood. "Your move, creep!" While many viewers see it as an ultraviolent action flick, RoboCop is actually a satire on the decadence that defined America in the '80s - particularly the consumerism and then-president Ronald Reagan's economic policies (a.k.a. "Reaganomics"). In the beginning of the film, we're introduced to a mock news program with reports that practically foreshadowed certain events that happened over the past decade. And according to director Paul Verhoeven, RoboCop was his interpretation of a modern-day Jesus Christ. "Come quietly, or there will be...trouble." Peter Weller always has been, and always will be, a stiff actor. His performances are simply wooden; which is why he fits perfectly as the title character. Other than that, the producers couldn't find anyone skinny enough to fit into the RoboCop suit, much less tolerate 11 hours of putting it on and wearing it in the burning climate of Dallas, TX (which was used to substitute Detroit during filming). Weller even reported that he lost three pounds a day during filming. Nevertheless, he delivered his most unforgettable performance in his career. "Dead or alive, you're coming with me." Other notable performances include Nancy Allen, who plays Murphy's partner Lewis - a tough-as-nails female officer who is the first to discover RoboCop's identity. Ronny Cox and Kurtwood Smith deliver unforgettable performances as Dick Jones and Clarence Boddicker, respectively - both of which being among the most villainous characters on film. Clarence: "Can you fly, Bobby?" Perhaps the greatest parts of the film involve the special effects. Visual effects creator Craig Davies was responsible for bringing the menacing ED-209 drone to life through stop-motion. Even after 20 years, ED-209's movements still look great on screen. Why replace him with CG? Make-Up Effects creator Rob Bottin (John Carpenter's The Thing, Fight Club) designed the RoboCop suit - undeniably one of the most iconic cyborgs in film history. The film's weapons - namely RoboCop's Auto-9 (a heavily modified Beretta 93R) and the Cobra Assault Rifle (based on the Barrett M82A1A sniper rifle) - are simply badass. The music by the late Basil Poledouris (1945-2006) (Conan the Barbarian, Starship Troopers) is another memorable highlight of the film. Despite its use of synthesizers, the orchestral score is still timeless. If you haven't seen RoboCop, pick up this DVD immediately. Forget the sequels, and don't even ask about the cartoon shows. This is the only one in the entire RoboCop franchise worth watching. (But then again, I haven't seen RoboCop: Prime Directives yet; so I don't know if that series is worth it.) The Old Man: "Nice shooting, son. What's your name?" RoboCop: "Murphy." Rating: A DVD Extras: A+ To celebrate the film's 20th anniversary, MGM and 20th Century FOX has re-released it in a 2-disc set, packaged in a beautifully printed metal case. The film transfer has never looked better than this. Unlike the old Criterion edition, which was pretty grainy and limited to 2.0 stereo, this new DVD is much sharper and features 5.1 DTS or Dolby Surround. Both R-rated and Unrated Director's Cut versions are on the separate discs, along with these extras: - "Flesh and Steel: The Making of RoboCop" - A 2001 documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew. - The original 1987 featurettes "Shooting RoboCop" and "Making RoboCop." - "The Boardroom" - Storyboard featurette with commentary by animator Phil Tippett (Star Wars, Evolution) - Deleted scenes (including the "Topless Pizza" scene you'd buy for a dollar). - Photo gallery. - Original trailer. - "Villains of Old Detroit" - Interviews with Kurtwood Smith (Clarence), Ronny Cox (Dick Jones), Ray Wise (Nash), Miguel Ferrer (Morton), and others. - "Special Effects: Then and Now" - How matte painting and stop-motion animation defined the film. - "RoboCop: Creating a Legend" - Peter Weller and the film crew talk about the film icon. Reference The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia "Thank you for your cooperation. Good night." Bixby Snyder: "I'll buy that for a dollar!"

And now for a little piece of wrestling history... The Four Horsemen Fear Sting's New Buddy

AVP2 Trailer

For those who can't wait for the DBS, you can get a DB9 with a body kit similar to the one used in Casino Royale. 2007 Project Kahn DB9S Styling Package for the Aston Martin DB9

Over two decades after the original company went bust and Back to the Future made it famous on the big screen, the DeLorean will return. DeLorean Motor Company (Texas), which is known for holding the largest inventory of DMC-12 parts in the world, has fully acquired all trademarks of the company and will be releasing brand new DeLoreans next year. However, they're asking for $57,500 per unit (Flux Capacitor not included).

So, who's gonna watch WAR this Friday?