eriku

It's too bad Harrison Ford is so old because Brown clearly had him in mind when he created Robert Langdon (he even says early in TDC that Langdon looks like Ford). I'm more than happy with Tom Hanks, though, even if he is somewhat overused these days. I'm glad this project has a good team and lead behind it, it should actually be good. As for the book, I enjoyed it on the same pop level that I enjoy an Indiana Jones movie, but it's far from great literature.

I think he was wondering when it will, to which there isn't yet an answer.

Wasn't there almost a year between the Japanese and US releases of Mononoke and Spirited Away? Maybe with this one they now realise how well Miyazaki films do over here and will release it sooner. Doesn't it seem like the US studio could have been doing their English dub at the same time it was going through post-production in Japan? Either way, we're sure to see a fansub of it before an official release.

Actually.... ::::::::::SPOILER::::::::::: (To some) The protagonist, Zofi, is a young girl (18 I think) who gets a curse put on her that turns her into an 'old woman'. She then sets off to lift the curse and thus begins the film.

Maybe I've been in the dark, but this is the first trailer I've seen for Miyazaki's latest film, Howl's Moving Castle. Can't wait to see the fansub! http://www.tzone.org/~llin/clips/Howl_NTV_clip2.mpg Shorter clip here: http://www.tzone.org/~llin/clips/Howl_NTV_clip.mpg In other Miyazaki news, the next three R1 Ghibli DVDs, although delayed a few times, are now set for release on February 22. There has been a change in the linup, though, and poor Totoro has been replaced by The Cat Returns. So on February 22nd next year I'm going to be writing out a big ol' check for: Nausicaa Porco Rosso The Cat Returns At $29.99 each it's going to take a nice bite out of my wallet. Well worth it though.

If you're in the US, I believe the first volume is supposed to be out in January. Good to hear! I hope nothing gets mucked up and keeps that from happening!

It's cool to see a high-def version released, but I think I'll wait for the DVDs so I can have a 'quality' viewing of the whole series. Of course that means I'll be waiting for a looooong time... I'd like to at least see some custom Champloo figures. Hell, even custom Kubricks would be nice to see. This series needs more love.

In no particular order: Mazinger Optimus Prime Tetsujin 28 (fatty) EVA-01 VF-1S

No. Here's the full list, complete with Windcharger as a seperate entry. 81301 Smokescreen (blue Subaru Impreza WRT) 81302 Side Swipe (red Dodge Viper) 81303 Autobot Hound (green Jeep Wrangler) 81304 Autobot Tracks (blue Chevy Corvette) 81305 Meister (white Mazda RX- 81306 Grimlock (silver Ford Mustang) 81309 Silverstreak (silver Subaru Impreza WRT) 81311 Dead End (black Dodge Viper) 81312 Swindle (yellow Jeep Wrangler) 81315 Windcharger (red Honda S2000) 81316 Battle Ravage (black Chevy Corvette) 81317 Unknown (Ford Mustang redeco) 81318 Unknown (Acura)* 81321 Unknown (Mitsubishi)* 81322 Unknown (Mazda RX-8 redeco)

So there are four new Alternators listings in the Wal*Mart computers.... 81317 Unknown (Ford Mustang redeco) 81318 Unknown (Acura)* 81321 Unknown (Mitsubishi)* 81322 Unknown (Mazda RX-8 redeco) Let the speculation begin!

Good work! Have fun buying the accessories for that "action figure"!

Heh, looks like a Go-Bot. Still pretty cool though!

The gun, or shield as it is now referred to by Hasbro, still has the hinges on it where the barrel folded in. Everyone is assuming that the Binaltech version WILL have the barrel intact, but since it hasn't been released yet we can't be sure. either way, someone is bound to recast it either from the Binaltech release or from the various test-shots that people have.

Coming soon from Reprolabels.... http://www.praxus.ca/gallery.php?gallery=jazz

Yes!

You may have been confused by the little Beast Formers figures that Takara did in the late eighties to tie-in with the Headmasters. They were released overseas, I think they were called Battle Beasts or something like that, but anyway they didn't transform. Yeah, they were released in the States without any marketing ties to Transformers. I had the greenish-blue whaleshark playset. I think it only came with one figure. Never really liked it much.

Nice pics, all the characters look great! I think Depp makes a fantastic looking Wonka.

Well, the original was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Burton's is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... I bet there are a hell of a lot of people in this country that will think it's a sequel.

I hate to make another off-topic post, but Holy Crap, Muppets do Oz! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422778/ If the Muppets can have a go at it, why not someone else? Back on topic, it's good to see Christopher Lee is still showing up in big films, he plays Wonka's father.

The Wiz was a reinterpretation, barely based on the Wizard of Oz book. Return to Oz was based on the book Return to Oz, and wasn't really that great. Neither come anywhere close to what a director like Burton, Jeunet or Jackson could do.

I guess I've always looked at this Tim Burton project more as his take on the book rather than a "remake" of the original film. He probably has always been a fan of the book and saw a lot of potential in it that the Willy Wonka film missed. Although I'm sure most people would want to crucify me for saying so, I wish a director like Tim Burton, Jean Pierre Jeunet or Peter Jackson would make a new Wizard of Oz film that follows the book more closely. There is a lot of potential there and the original film, although entertaining, seems like a high-school play with bad props when I watch it today.

Does anyone know what was the very first wave of Transformers that Hasbro designed themselves? Was it the wave with Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, etc.?

Sticking the name "Hot Rod" on a Benz would make less sense than calling a Mustang "Grimlock". After all, a Hot Rod has to be an American car. I'd say Chrysler/Plymouth Prowler, but the name association somehow bothers me. Maybe the Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6. It may have Benz and AMG parts, but it's still an American car. Heh, maybe so, but I was taking an aesthetic approach to it. Besides, they couldn't use the name "Hot Rod" anyway. And it's not like the original Hot Rod turned into an American car.

You're right, my brain must be disjointed today. If Bin/Alt Grimlock can be a mustang I guess Hot Rod could be just about anything. I wonder what car would make a good Hot Rod? How about a 2005 Mercedes SLK? And didn't Hasbro loose the rights to "Hot Rod"? So if we did get one he'd probably be named Hot Shot or Rodimus. The SLK:

That would be great, but we'll have to hope for an expansion of the line beyond recent real cars. Maybe a Masterpiece Hot Rod? I remember hearing a rumor last year about a Masterpiece Rodimus...