Guest post: Nerd-approved movies to see before you die
Movies for nerds is a deeper category than just “Star Wars” and “Avatar.” Retrovo’s Jennifer L. Jacobson looks at the long tail of geek cinema. More at http://www.retrevo.com/content/blog/2011/12/epic-nerd-approved-movies-see
Epic Nerd-Approved Movies To See Before You Die
Not to quote Ned Stark, but, “Winter is coming.” And what better way for any self-respecting nerd to spend the season than hunkered down in the glow of some of the best nerd-approved films of all time. But you’ve watched your favorite films a billion times, so how do you find the films you haven’t seen yet, but should?
Well, today I’m putting my Cinema “Minor” to work and that means digging through film history and pulling out title gems that are too often overshadowed by Avatar or the all-impressive Star Wars. These films will change your life (or they should), so sit down, strap in and load these puppies up in your Netflix queue. Here are the best of the best in their respective categories. Enjoy these films. You will be a better nerd for watching them.
Izumicon set for this weekend
Vic Mignogna
The anime convention Izumicon is set to take place in Midwest City this weekend. It will run Friday through Sunday at the Reed Convention Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road. Guests will include voice actors Vic Mignogna and Christine Auten. For more information, go to www.izumicon.com.
- Matt Price
Yuri Lowenthal: Nerdage’s #9 actor with geek appeal
Yuri Lowenthal
The cool-as-ice Yuri Lowenthal comes in at No. 9 on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal.
The versatile live-action and voice actor Yuri Lowenthal voiced the animated Superman in “Legion of Super-Heroes.” Adding to his superhero resume, he portrayed Iceman in the recent “Wolverine and the X-Men” animated series and voices Mister Miracle on “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.” Lowenthal voiced Ben Tennyson aka Ben 10 in “Ben 10: Alien Force” and “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.” He’s reprising his Iceman role in the upcoming “Ultimate Spider-Man” series, according to IMDB.
Lowenthal is a well-known anime voice over artist, with credits including “Naruto,” “Code Geass,” ”Gurren Lagann,” and “Naruto Shippuden.”
He voiced the Prince of Persia character in video games that inspired the Jake Gyllenhaal film.
In live-action television in 2009, he appeared in a two-part series of episodes in “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”
With wife Tara Platt, he’s written a book on voice-over called “Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic.”
This weekend, you can catch Lowenthal and Platt at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood in a performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
You can follow Yuri Lowenthal on twitter or check out a recent audio interview with him at KPCC.
- Matt Price
Milo Ventimiglia, Adrian Pasdar to voice Wolverine, Iron Man in G4 series
Milo Ventimiglia (AP)
Update from Wondercon: Marvel Television Announces Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia for Iron Man and Wolverine Anime Series To Air On G4 July 2011
Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb announced casting for two of the company’s much anticipated anime series, IRON MAN and WOLVERINE, at its WonderCon panel today in San Francisco to the delight of fans in attendance. Both series will premiere on G4 in July 2011.
Jamie Marchi of “Witchblade” among guests at Midwest City’s Izumicon
Jamie Marchi
University of Oklahoma graduate Jamie Marchi highlights the Izumicon guest list. The anime convention is being held this weekend in Midwest City’s Reed Center.
Voice actress Marchi is best known for roles in the anime series “Witchblade” (Masane Amaha), “Soul Eater” (Liz Thompson) and “Sgt. Frog” (Aki Hinata). She’s also appeared in “Yu Yu Hakasho,” “Fruits Basket” and dozens more.
Other guests include Troy Baker, Trina Nishimura, Todd Haberkorn, Samantha Inoue Harte and David Williams.
For more information, visit www.izumicon.com.
- Matt Price
RIP Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika, Perfect Blue
A scene from "Paprika"
Anime News Network reports Satoshi Kon, director of “Paprika” and “Perfect Blue” died Tuesday at age 46.
Kon made his directorial debut with “Perfect Blue” in 1997, and followed that with more well-regarded anime projects, including Millennium Actress (2001), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Paranoia Agent (2004), and Paprika (2006). UPDATE: A beautiful letter from Kon, written when he knew he was near-death, has been translated into English by Makito Itoh. I recommend all fans of his work go and give it a read.
Click past the cut for my 2007 review of “Paprika,” when the film played in Oklahoma City. Given the popularity of “Inception” this year, those who are interested in the concept of parallel dream worlds would do well to check out “Paprika.”
- Matt Price
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to debut at Comic-Con
Marvel Animation has announced it will world-premiere episodes of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Marvel Anime: Iron Man at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. The following is the provided panel schedule for Marvel Animation:
FRIDAY JULY 23, 2010
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Marvel Animation Panel - Hosted by an all-star cast of Marvel Animation talent including Tom Kenny (SpongeBob) and Charlie Adler (Transformers), and featuring a special guest of legendary proportions, this interactive game-show panel will get you more than excited about Marvel’s new and continuing animated series. Here’s your chance to snag some sweet Marvel merchandise! Come be a part of the action, showcasing all new seasons of The Super Hero Squad Show and Iron Man Armored Adventures, as well as new footage from Marvel Knights Animation, Marvel Anime, and other upcoming Marvel Animation properties. Room 6BCF
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Super Hero Squad Cast Signing – All-star talent from The Super Squad Show will be signing items at the Marvel booth, including a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Marvel Super Hero Squad The Infinity Gauntlet poster for the all-new video game from THQ releasing November 16th, 2010. On hand for the signing will be Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Charlie Adler (Transformers 1&2), Steve Blum (Spectacular Spider-Man, Wolverine and the X-Men), and Tara Strong (Teen Titans, Fairly Odd Parents).
8:15 – 9:15 p.m. Iron Man: Anime Screening – Witness the dawn of Marvel Anime as we WORLD PREMIERE the highly anticipated, full-length pilot episode of Iron Man! In addition to the screening, we will be featuring an exclusive first look at upcoming designs produced by the world-renowned Japanese animation studio MADHOUSE, whose notable films include hits such as Ninja Scroll and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (to name a few). Room 6DE
SATURDAY JULY 24, 2010
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Marvel Animation: Avengers Panel – Enter the Avengers Mansion and become a part of the team! JARVIS (Phil LaMarr, MadTV, Futurama) will introduce you to top-secret Avengers files, including never-before-seen footage, imagery, and the WORLD PREMIERE of two full-length episodes from the all-new The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series premiering on Disney XD this fall! The road to the Avengers starts here! Room 6DE
- Matt Price
Viz offers exclusive Naruto Shippuden figure at Comic-Con
Viz Media has announced that the company will offer a Limited Edition Sage Naruto Figure from Toynami at Comic-Con: International in San Diego. Also, straight-from-Japan full-color reproduction NARUTO SHIPPUDEN animation cels (from Digital Manga) featuring favorite characters Naruto and Sasuke will be offered.
VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813.
Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt are fans’ choice for actor, actress with geek appeal
Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal (photo (c) Boris Kievsky, used with permission
The votes have been counted, and Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt are the fans’ choice for actor and actress with geek appeal!
Nerdage ran a month-long series highlighting which actors and actresses had the most “geek appeal,” based on hits and web searches. Then, fans were given the opportunity to vote for both actor and actress.
The winners were Lowenthal and Pratt, who, in addition to frequently working together, are also married. They co-wrote the book “Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic.”
Platt is maybe best known as the voice of Temari on the anime hit “Naruto,” but she has also portrayed superheroes Dream Girl (on “Legion of Superheroes”) and Wonder Woman (on the “DC vs. Mortal Kombat” game). She’s also appeared on “Charmed” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Lowenthal voiced Ben Tennyson aka Ben 10 in “Ben 10: Alien Force” and “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.” He’s also been the voice of Superman in “Legion of Super-Heroes.” Adding to his superhero resume, he portrays Iceman in the current “Wolverine and the X-Men” animated series and voiced Mister Miracle on “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.”
Congratulations to Lowenthal and Platt, who are very fan-friendly in addition to their many other talents.
Click past the cut for a video of Platt and Lowenthal at Comic-Con International 2009.
- Matt Price
Yuri Lowenthal: Nerdage’s #7 actor
Yuri Lowenthal
Versatile live-action and voice actor Yuri Lowenthal comes in at No. 7 on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal. It’s not just one role that lands Lowenthal this high on the geek appeal list: It’s a boatload of them.
Lowenthal voiced Ben Tennyson aka Ben 10 in “Ben 10: Alien Force” and “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.” He’s also been the voice of Superman in “Legion of Super-Heroes.” Adding to his superhero resume, he portrays Iceman in the current “Wolverine and the X-Men” animated series and voiced Mister Miracle on “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.”
Lowenthal has provided many voices in anime; notably in “Naruto” he voiced ninja-in-training Sasuke Uchiha.
In live-action television in 2009, he appeared in a two-part series of episodes in “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”
With wife Tara Platt, he’s written a book on voice-over called “Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic.”
So it’s clear Lowenthal stays busy; he also does video-game voice acting, for games including “Watchmen: The End is Nigh” and “Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones.” Lowenthal talked about voice-over acting in a 2009 interview with NewsOK:
“It’s all voice acting whether you’re doing an animated series or a video game, or any of those kind of jobs,” Lowenthal said. “They all have their different techniques. For video games, you’re in a booth, by yourself. Only on one or two occasions ever have I gotten to record with other actors at the same time for a video game. I guess it’s just more efficient for them to do one character at a time.”
Coming up for Lowenthal are the films “The Arcadian” and “A Guy, A Girl, A Space Helmet.”
- Matt Price
