Why is this not a movie? College Humor has been cranking out lots of funny stuff and this Doria Movie Trailer with Aubrey Plaza had me laughing hard.
Viral Video Friday: Daria The Movie
August 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
ANIME EXPO 2013: Sleeping Cosplay? Batman & Spiderman duo? Mortal Come back?
August 1, 2013 by 1 Comment
What’s going on here? Well, it’s early in the evening and some cosplayers are snoozing while others are trying to keep up with photographers. We lead in with cosplay model, Vampy Bit Me, who happens to be from the San Francisco Bay Area.
In this segment the Ramen Crew really caught some random images, a cosplay snoozing, and of course the other 99 percent getting their photo’s taken every which way and loving it. Interestingly enough, we caught a Batman and Spiderman dynamic duo cosplaying on the ground floor. Ryan Turney tells us how he used dye sublimated lycra to create his outfit and Danny Lopez shows off his Batman cowl mask which is made by professional prop maker, Shawn Reeves. Then we get a flash back taste of Mortal Kombat!
We pretty much interviewed the obvious of course… other than eat breakfast then cosplay, eat lunch then cosplay and then catch dinner and hit the cosplay night life, but for those who come from afar or from next door to the Anime Expo convention center and perhaps maybe stayed up a wee bit too late the night before excitingly undecided in what cosplay will do …Well, we got one person to explain that!
Alodia Panel Interview CUTS: Finally we get some answers!
August 1, 2013 by 1 Comment
Alodia Gosiengfiao’s image blew up with her sleek and sexy cosplay of the Cobra Baroness at 2010’s Comic-Con in San Diego and was recently featured as FHM magazine’s Cover Girl for the July 2013 issue, but she has been cosplaying for years in her home country, the Philippines, where she’s literally the Queen of Cosplay!
The Ramen crew was really hoping to get a one-on-one interview with Alodia, especially our host, The Eddie, but under the hierarchy of certain press privileges some things just didn’t work out. So instead The Eddie and Ame Garrucho caught up with a panel interview and made the best of what they could get!
During this interactive panel discussion, find out how Alodia got her start in cosplay and why? She even mentions wanting to work with Jessica Nigri! Which makes sense, because both of these girls are at the top of their Cosplay fame and continue to be creative and entertaining in their world of ubiquitous cosplay.
GETTING THE PANEL INTERVIEW: This interview panel CUT was shot on the fly with a Canon t3i DSLR and a Sony Bloggie respectively by our on the spot camera persons, Ame Garrucho and our Host- now in our credits as camera person, Eddie Ballar. Look forward for a STRICKLY FOR FANS Panel CUT of Alodia with our camera operator Johnny Moreno. I guess the Ramen Crew and The Eddie just couldn’t get enough of Alodia and would like to share whatever we could get for the FANS.
WEIRD TECH NOTE: The Sony Bloggie is far from being sharp compared to the to the Canon t3i DSLR, but The Eddie did give us the effect of being inside his mind like the movie “Being John Malkovich”. Obviously from asking question directly from behind the camera, and it doesn’t help that he’s closer to the bloggie mic than Alodia, who is like 20 feet away… “still entertaining and informational though.”
Fan Film: The Last of Us
July 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Apparently our Ramen host “the Eddie” is correct. “The Last of Us” is not just a video game but a film too, well, a fan film made by fans.
Jessica Nigri : Part 3 of 3
July 25, 2013 by 2 Comments
As I’ve heard, “Third time’s the charm!” I also believe that being persistent is always key. So finally, our Host, “The Eddie” interviews Jessica Nigri!
The Ramen crew had their doubts, but we persevered and got to find out that Jessica is just an all around fun and down to earth person. She’s just a busy-body when it comes to working at conventions, especially when Anime Expo 2013 hit an all time high attendance rate this year!
“The Paintings of Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo in Movement”
July 24, 2013 by 1 Comment
Dances of Mexico with the collaborative artistry of Ballet!
Some purist say traditional folkloric dances shouldn’t be changed because it changes the theme of originality. That’s fine, but as time moves on, dances take on new meaning in context to moments in one’s life and this is exactly what Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco has done for their piece, “Las Pinturas de Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo en Movimiento”, that will be showcasing this Saturday! – July 27, 2013 2PM & 8PM at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater in San Jose, CA.
For tickets click here www.cityboxoffice.com
I attended last year’s performance and I’m thankful that I did! I was amazed by the elaborate and vibrant colors of costumes, traditional dances and the interjected dramatic collaboration of ballet pieces into the show to tell you the story of Diego y Frida through dance.
Pacific Rim – The Official Movie Novelization by Alex Irvine
July 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Gundam (insert Jaegers) vs Godzilla (insert Kajijus)
It’s already July and the summer multiplexes are heating up with Hollywood blockbusters with big explosions and incredible special effects. This is director Guillermo del Toro’s tour-de-force special effects extravaganza summer flick.
When two tectonic plates collide in the Pacific Ocean, it creates The Breach, a dimensional portal is opened where mysterious monsters known as Kajiu attack the earth. The world unites together and put their technology and knowledge together to create gigantic robots called Jaegers. We fast forward to the year 2020, seven years into the Kaiju war, brothers Raleigh and Yancy Becket as kids dreamed of piloting these gigantic robots and battling monsters. Hotshot pilot Raleigh and his brother Yancy are veteran operators now with 4 Kaiju kills under their belt. During a Kaiju mission in the Alaskan region, the battle goes awfully wrong.
ANIME EXPO 2013 : In line to see Alodia and we meet Kirito & Asuna Cosplayers
July 20, 2013 by 3 Comments
We get in line with Host “The Eddie” in hopes to get an exclusive interview with Alodia Gosiengfiao as Co-Host Reyson Sioson introduces us to Casey Cabuco and Kim Caboom, who bring us a real live re-enactment of cosplaying their characters “Kirito kissing Asuna“!
ANIME EXPO 2013 Masquerade: Thomas Depetrillo’s EVA-01
July 18, 2013 by 1 Comment
Dragon Ball Z narrator Kyle Hebert promotes Ramen and a Half at Retrenders as we get to see Thomas Depetrillo in his EVA 01 TEST literally put to the test as he performs on stage at Anime Expo’s 2013 Masquerade. This is probably the most wildly entertaining-rock out skit done in a 10 foot tall life size replica of an Evangelion!
Jessica Nigri : Part 2 of 3
July 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
It could be the air, it could be ANIME EXPO, or it can simply be she’s Jessica Nigri. Yes, we’ve certainly established our ground and we definitely got Jessica Nigri’s word for an interview in so many words including her friend’s word. You can see for yourself as our host “The Eddie” approaches Jessica for our interview date in this episode!
This is also a split story package, because we also introduce you to Kelsie Lahti, a local of the greater Los Angeles area in her unique Spyro the Dragon costume. She’s one of the many on the grounds of Anime Expo enjoying the art of cosplay.
ANIME EXPO 2013 Masquerade : Ornament Tree Wings
July 15, 2013 by 2 Comments
Cristina Vee promotes Ramen and a Half at Retrenders and we get to see a one of the few pieces that the Ramen Crew was able to catch at the Masquerade Show at Anime Expo 2013. We call this one “Ornament Tree Wings”.
It’s amazing at just how cosplayers risk their backs to put on a show and display their articulate and detailed costumes that in real-life, it’s shape and balance is just not gravity conformed.
This is one of our editor’s (Johnny Moreno) favorite, because the costume artist almost loses her balance holding up her tree trunk-bullhorn shaped wings. We didn’t get a chance to find out who the artists were, but if anyone knows, please send us their facebook so we can link and address them in this article.
Reading Songs That Saved Your Life: The Art of the Smiths 1982 – 87
July 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It all started with my brother. I was just a kid in the 1980’s and most of my musical knowledge at that time sprouted from my older brother’s record collection. An album he absolutely cherished in late 1986 was The Queen is Dead by The Smiths, who I’ve heard of earlier when he purchased their previous album Meat is Murder. I didn’t pay any mind to Meat is Murder since I foolishly passed it off as another group in his British collection – like another Duran Duran or maybe similar to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Boy was I dead wrong.
Hey Hey Alodia from ANIME EXPO!
July 13, 2013 by 1 Comment
Our Ramen and a Half host “The Eddie” sings the popular song Hey Hey Alodia by Segatron from the Philippines which is dedicated to cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao.
I call this our one take wonder even though it wasn’t our first take, but because Alodia by coincidence came up from behind Eddie and does a surprise cameo. I just managed to keep the camera recording as Eddie kept playing. It was a wonderful moment… some may even say magical!
The people in the background are actually waiting in line for Alodia Gosiengfiao’s panel discussion at ANIME EXPO 2013
Here’s the original music video “Hey Hey Alodia” by Segatron. Click here to visit Segatron’s facebook page.
Jessica Nigri : Part 1 of 3
July 13, 2013 by 1 Comment
Okay, this first take is just a tease, but you really get to experience what it’s like to approach cosplayers of celebrity status at conventions.
Here we have Jessica Nigri who just so happens to be one of three cosplayers on our list to talk to at ANIME EXPO, including Alodia Gosiengfiao from the Philippines and Vampy from San Francisco’s Bay Area.
Again, I apologize if this video is a bit of a tease, but it’s interesting! You get to see “The Eddie” maneuver his way up to Jessica Nigiri’s booth like a fan and wait to be acknowledged in order to ask – “Jessica can we can possibly get an interview with you?”
Check back with us at http://www.retrenders.com because the next take, we actually have a conversation with her as she happens to be in her Lollipop Chainsaw outfit?
Peter Cushing: A Life in Film by David Miller
July 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
For us Americans we remember actor Peter Cushing from Star Wars as the villian Grand Moff Tarkin. If you’re a fan of horror classics from the 1950s-1960s, the studio Hammer Films released many fright films that Mr Cushing starred in. He was well known for playing Baron Frankenstein and Doctor Van Helsing.
Author David Miller delves into the life and times of the actor in Peter Cushing: A Life in Film. The 192-page book is not just a Wikipedia of his films, TV appearances, and stage work, but is truly a no holds-barred look into the journey of Peter Cushing’s up and down life in front of the camera and off. Life changed after his wife Violet Helene Beck passed away in 1971, as Peter contemplated suicide many times and mentions when someone who is very close to you dies it is never the same again. The book also includes many B&W and color photos from his iconic films, movie posters and chronology of his appearances on film, TV and plays.
Peter Cushing: A Life in Film is an in-depth comprehensive chronicling of Peter’s career as an actor and a look into his private life. And when you’re done reading the book, you young kids and film buffs should try to watch many of his classic Hammer Films.
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Hardback: Peter Cushing – A Life in Film
Author: David Miller
Publisher: Titan Books
MSRP: $24.95USD
Available: Now
The Guild – The Official Companion
July 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The year 2006 seems like ages ago, before social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and video streaming were popular, and the giant video site YouTube was only starting out, and Felicia Day had an idea of bringing her MMORPG experiences onto video as a TV series. The World of Warcraft gamer created an internet sensation as the series spawned 6 seasons worth of episodes and over 250 million plus views.
Comic Artist Daniel Parada draws up a dynamic duo of Mayan heroes!
July 5, 2013 by 1 Comment
Daniel Parada’s comic, ZOTZ: Serpent and Shield, is about the mystical world of Maya. The comic is cultural influenced from Parada’s research of Mayan ancient history where he has plotted themes without the impacts of the Spanish yet?
The tale of Zotz: Serpent and Shield awaits anyone willing to open the mysteries of the comic and walk into a past before Maya was discovered and unravel an adventure with two heroic characters, Pakal and Kaan, who lead us into a world much more phenomenal than we think.
Other than an adventurous story drawn up from historical elements, the comic is full of fantastic art!
Viral Video Friday: Final Fantasy Dance Tribute
July 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Dance choregraphers Mike Song and Tony Tran really like Final Fantasy and here’s there dance tribute. Lock and pop!
Despicable Me 2 Talking Minions
July 3, 2013 by 1 Comment
I really enjoyed watching the first Despicable Me animated film and now Despicable Me 2 is out. Thinkway Toys has produced some cute and cool talking Minion toys with each of the 3 Minions – Stuart, Dave and Tim (8″ – 10″ tall) featuring unique features like over 25-50 plus lines and SFX from the movie, arm articulation, and facial movements.
Battle of the Year 2013 – October 19th
July 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
These bgirls from Japan are battling for a spot at this years break-dancing championships – Battle of the Year. This 2 on 2 bgirl team battle features Body Carnival vs Kanamyw in the Finals to see who will be sent to Germany.
Indigo Mood – A film about life in motion even when there is tragedy.
June 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Michel Gondry’s latest film Indigo Mood is a romantic fantasy love story that takes place in the contemporary 1950s with a bit of Salvador Dali’s melting of time dilemma surrounding the protagonist character played by Audrey Tatou. If one’s life is slipping away, the only answer is the mystical aura of life itself! With hints of everyday artistic gadgetry to everyday defying signs of gravity in the film– how can we not find a way to make this relationship work?
Here are 5 stated details about the film that I have come across the web.
1. It’s a love fable in a dream.
2. It’s the next “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind“, a past film of Michel Gondry’s
3. There’s some Duke Ellington jazz
4. Contemporary Paris of the 1950s with a Retro vibe
5. This film was impossible to do until Michel Gondry came along.
The film is based on a 1947 French novel called L’écume des jours by Boris Vian. Yes, a fantasy love story written over 60 years ago.
The film has been released in France. A US release should be within this year.
Man of Steel novel by Greg Cox
June 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Growing up I love the original Superman I, II and III (we’ll just say IV – The Quest for Peace never took place, like X-Men 3: The Last Stand – let us erase the memory of bad superhero flicks) with Christopher Reeves. Warner Bros. put out some amazing trailers for the Man of Steel and I couldn’t wait for the anticipated spectacular in 3D IMAX. It should be good since it’s produced by Christopher Nolan who brought us 3 terrific Dark Knight films, Zach Snyder of 300 & Watchmen fame and screenplay from David S. Goyer (Blade films & The Dark Knight trilogy). I’ll say this is good film that was inspiring to be great, let’s just say it’s better than Superman Returns and as friend mentioned it was like watching a Dragon Ball Z movie. I’ve watched the movie, now I read the book “Man of Steel” by New York Times bestselling author Greg Cox, who should be familiar to DC fans as he wrote the novelizations of Infinite Crisis, 52, Countdown and Final Crisis.
[Spoilers Ahead!!!]
The Art of the Film – World War Z
June 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This past weekend I was able to hit the multiplex and catch Brad Pitt facing off zombies in World War Z, based on the best selling novel by Max Brooks. I’m not a huge fan of zombies or gory violent flicks and I heard of all the production troubles in the film that Pitt endured with the studio and director, but all in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this PG-13 fright-fest. The first half of the movie was a relentless assault of fast-moving zombies taking over cities and the supporting cast was terrific in the film. The movie-goers were rocking and cheering and a couple of girls were yelling “Go Brad!” It’s a high brow Resident Evil zombie movie that makes you think.
Viral Video Friday: Time Lapse Asia Videos
June 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
More time-lapse videos this Friday. “This is Shanghai” by Rob Whitworth and JT Singh shows the mega urban sprawl of Shanghai during the day and neon nights.
Viral Video Friday: This Is Africa
June 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’m really a big fan of the Canon 5D DSLR and here’s why. On a trip to Africa this March 2013, Benjamin Dowie took a video glimpse of Uganda and Tanzania.
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