Entertainment – Retrenders

The X-Files returns in a Mini-Series

June 14, 2015 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

I’m an X-Files fan because it was the “one” show at the time that was an eye-opener to mysteries and conspiracies of the unknown and unnatural phenomenon – and what better way to have two FBI agents go door to door and solve them. By watching the series, we got to follow agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate incidents of flying saucers, people being abducted by aliens, spontaneous human combustion, to cult tales of witchery and the chupacabra (goat sucker).

Then the first film came out in 1998. I remember it clearly, it was opening weekend for the first X-files film of all-time in San Francisco, but it was like a Star Wars convention waiting in line to get into the theater! I mean, I saw some real or religious fan fanatics that came out of the wood-work with t-shirts, mocked up characters of Mulder, Scully and the Lone Gunmen; and homemade alien costumes. It was amazing, because I didn’t know there was such a passionate following of the show. Now they’re back and I just can’t wait to see what conspiracy – or depths of a conspiracy they will be entangled with this time!

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Filed Under: Entertainment, Geeky, TV Tagged With: Aliens, conspiracy, FBI, FOX, Mulder, sci-fi, Scully, suspense, thriller, TV show, X-Files

Buffy is Back!

June 13, 2015 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

No there’s not a reboot, nor do we pick-up twelve years after Sunnydale High, but the past time television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer is going to air on ABC Family beginning June 22nd.

For those of you that never caught the series on television, it became a popular cult hit with teens, college students and anyone that simply craved a show with mystery, ancient rituals and myths, vampire fighting and slaying, to finding love, and on top of that – yes, dusting off an ancient relic of a book in order to research a spell cast, or find an antidote to a curse.

Viral Science Video: Liquid 3D Printer Explained

June 12, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

On Friday’s here at the Retrenders’ office, we usually have a Viral Video Friday blog, but today, we have a scientific video showing why science is cool. This is the next evolution of 3D printers is coming. The key word to remember, the acronym is CLIP aka Continuous Liquid Interface Production. Science Magazine explains the new technology which is inspired by the movie Terminator 2.

The New Batmobile

June 10, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Warner Bros. reveals the new Batmobile for the upcoming Batman v Superman movie.

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Filed Under: AutoStyle, Comics, Entertainment, Geeky, Movies, Tech Tagged With: Batman, Batman v Superman, Batmobile, DC Comics, Superman, Warner Bros

Pin-up Artist and Illustrator – Nicole Brune at BigWow Comicfest

June 7, 2015 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

I’m a fan of Frank Cho’s, “Apes and Babes”, illustrations of women. And when I came across Nicole Brune’s art, I can definitely say if you love his work – you’ll undeniably love hers!
I especially love how Nicole Brune fashions some of her pin-up illustrations with pulp-fiction fantasy appeal that works from darkness to sweetness, or sweetness to darkness. I guess this would depend on what you notice first. See her artwork at www.nicolebrune.com

Filed Under: Art, Culture, Design, Entertainment, Interviews, Ramen and a Half, Series, Shows, Videos Tagged With: BigWow Comifest, Frank Cho, Nicole Brune

Steve Wyatt on SVCC!

June 2, 2015 by Johnny Moreno Leave a Comment

In a quick interview, Eddie Ballar asks Steve Wyatt what will happend to BigWow Comicfest with a new Comic-Con in town?
Steve Wyatt is the director and producer of many comic conventions in the Bay Area, and he explains how Steven Wozniak and Stan Lee are teaming up to create the Silicon Valley Comic Convention (SVCC).

Filed Under: Comics, Culture, Entertainment, Geeky, Interviews, Ramen and a Half, Series, Shows, Videos Tagged With: Bigwow Comicfest, comics, Silicon Valley Comic-Con, Stan Lee, Steve Wyatt, Steven Wozniak, SVCC

Rocksmith Summer 2015 Lookbook

June 2, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Just dropping into clothing racks and shelves now is the Rocksmith Summer 2015 Collection. Music/lifestyle apparel brand Rocksmith’s theme for the summer is future/retro mixing fabrics and using popular colors from sneakers to rep their summer collection. If you’re looking for something to rock this summer like graphic tees, hats and shorts, take a look at Rocksmith.

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Filed Under: Fashion, Music Tagged With: ATL, graphic tees, hip hop, Lookbook, New York City, NYC, OG Maco, OGG, rap, Rocksmith, streetwear, Summer

The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road

June 1, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Before I get down to reviewing Titan Book’s The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road, I’ve watched Mad Max: Fury Road twice already. I was a little cynical at first, when I heard the news that creator/director George Miller was going to re-make Mad Max, when his 1979 Mad Max film starring Mel Gibson was already a masterpiece. So, as I sat in the multiplex dreading it would not be a Kevin Costner “Waterworld”, the movie came on-screen and within a few minutes I was blown away by not just the action and acting, but Miller’s incredible cinematography, the colors and the amazing world-building. Now to the meat of this article, taking a look at Titan Book’s The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road by Abbie Bernstein with a Foreward by the man himself, the master George Miller.

Must Watch! King Fury!

May 29, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I remember when King Fury was just a 3 minute trailer, now it’s a full on 30 short film and it looks fantastic! If you grew up in the 1980s, then you’ll love this flick. Just sit down and watch:

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Filed Under: Entertainment, Movies, Videos Tagged With: 1980s, 80s, arcade, King Fury, kung-fu, tracking, VHS

Viral Video Friday: One Take Drone and Team BABY-G

May 29, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

If you’ve into watching dance videos on YouTube or VIMEO, then you’ve probably watched a dance video filmed by YAKfilms. Yoram Savion and Kash Gaines were Internet video guys, who were also fans of dancing founded YAKfilms in 2008 at the Youth Uprising Community Center in East Oakland. They’ve created a popular dance channel on YouTube and started not only a national movement, but a global dance phenomenon called “Turfing.”

Now the Internet duo film dance videos around the world and here’s the latest from Japan using a camera drone to film this in one-shot. Dope jam!

Drawings of Kids Playing “Star Wars”

May 20, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Reliving your childhood playtime experiences is what artist Craig Davison has done. This is his series of illustrations of kids playing Star Wars. If you have the money to spend, you pick-up one of these limited art pieces by Craig.

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Filed Under: Art, Movies Tagged With: Art Market, children, Craig Davison, kids, Lucas, Lucas Arts, playing, Star Wars, UK

Interview with Artist Frank Cho @ Big Wow! Comicfest

May 18, 2015 by Edward Ballar Leave a Comment

Like artist Adam Hughes, comic book artist Frank Cho also has a knack for drawing sexy female superheroes and villains. Ramen host Ramon Angel catches up with Frank at Big Wow! Comicfest 2015 talking about his latest projects and the “Spider-Gwen” internet buzz.

Video Viral Friday: Rush Hour / Face/Off Mashup

May 8, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

What would a Rush Hour and Face/Off mashup movie look like? Well, Funny or Die does a funny parody with Sean Combs and Byung-Hun Lee in Rush Hour 4/Face/Off 2:

Legions of Boom! The Filipino American DJ Crews in SF/Bay Area

May 7, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Before the MC Jins, Far East Movements and Asian American YouTube music stars, there was the Filipino American music movement in 1990s. Of course, I should mention the Pop/R&B music groups and artists like Pinay, Kai, Once Vo1ce, Jocelyn Enriquez, Buffy to name a few, but in the genre of DJing – no one dominated with likes of DJ Q-Bert, Apollo and Mixmaster Mike. They were stars internationally, around the globe mixing and scratching on two turntables. Published by Duke University Press, author Dr. Oliver Wang takes us on a historical journey and ride in Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Destroying a LEGO Build

May 5, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Of course as everybody knows, yesterday was Star Wars Day and WIRED magazine celebrated by spending $800 bucks in building a LEGO Super Star Destroyer ship and then dropping it. Just like a little kid, sometimes it’s fun watching a big grandiose LEGO being smashed into pieces.

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Filed Under: Entertainment, Geeky, Toys, Videos Tagged With: bricks, broken, crash, Destroyer, Lego, slo-motion, smashed, Star Ship Destroyer, Star Wars, Star Wars Day, WIRED

Largest LEGO Millennium Falcon

May 4, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Celebrating International Star Wars day in Melbourne, Australia, the goal was to build the largest LEGO Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon. LEGO approved Master Builders Chris & Dan Steininger and fans help in building the biggest Millennium Falcon spaceship.

SNL Black Widow Trailer

May 4, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Marvel has not committed to a Black Widow flick, so SNL decides to make one, well a parody, Black Widow: Age of Me.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Geeky, Movies, Videos Tagged With: Age of Ultron, Avengers, Black Widow, female superhero, marvel, Marvel Comics, parody, Saturday Night Live, SNL, spy

Viral Video Friday: Age of Ultron Reaction by Inside Out

May 1, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

One of the YouTube trends is fans doing Reaction videos and here’s one done by the Inside Out crew, which is Pixar’s upcoming animated flick. The characters from Inside Out react to the Avengers’ Age of Ultron trailer.

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Filed Under: Comics, Entertainment, Videos Tagged With: Age of Ultron, animated, animation, Avengers, Disney, Inside Out, marvel, Marvel Comics, Pixar, ReAction

BigWow Comicfest 2015 : Young Comic Artist – Ethan Castillo

April 30, 2015 by Johnny Moreno 2 Comments

What is it like to be a young talented comic artist! We caught up with Ethan Castillo at BigWow Comicfest 2015 to ask a couple of personal questions and find out if he’s anything like an ordinary child – and what we got, were simple words of wisdom.

Filed Under: Art, Comics, Entertainment, Geeky, Interviews, Ramen and a Half, Shows Tagged With: artist, comic books

Sesame Street Avengers Parody

April 27, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Children’s program Sesame Street has been on a roll with their funny edu-tainment parodies, now comes Aveggies starring Dr. Brownie, Onion Man, Captain Americauliflower, Black Bean Widow, Mighty Corn and Zuchin-eye hope to stop a super-villain from destroying all the healthy veggies in the world.

The Art & Making of Penny Dreadful

April 24, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I have to admit I only started watching this hit Showtime series only for Eva Green (Casino Royale, 300: Rise of an Empire), but I stayed for for the story and characters driving the “Penny Dreadful” program. We are already knee-deep into the second season and Titan Books has just released “The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful”, the official companion book to the program.

Seinfeld Vinyl Figures from Vinyl Sugar!

April 21, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

“Serenity now!” “No soup for you!” Classic lines from an iconic TV sitcom Seinfeld. The wait is over, vinyl Seinfeld figures are coming from Vinyl Sugar! The 8″ Vinyl Idolz line-up will feature: Cosmo Kramer, Newman, The Soup Nazi, Frank Costanza, J. Peterman and Puddy. Look for a Summer 2015 release!

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Filed Under: Collectibles, Geeky, Toys, TV Tagged With: comedy, Costanza, Kramer, NBC, Newman, NYC, Peterman, Seinfeld, The Soup Nazi, TV sitcom, vinyl, vinyl toy

New Cover Tune by Kawehi

April 19, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

My fellow Retrenders blogger Stevie J told me about this YouTube indie music artist Kawehi. So a couple of internet clicks away, I found myself watching most of Kawehi’s videos. She’s a one-woman band and making music.

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Filed Under: Music, Videos Tagged With: Band, covers, Garbage, I'm Only Happy When It Rains, indie artist, Kawehi, pop rock, rock band, YouTube

Viral Video Friday: Teen Titans Go! Funny Clips

April 17, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Viral Video Friday goes all Teen Titans Go! Here’s a collection of funny clips collection for your cubicle break.

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Filed Under: Entertainment, Videos Tagged With: Beast Boy, cartoon, Cartoon Network, clips, CN, comedy, Cyborg, DC Comcis, Robin, Teen Titans

Student Animated Homage to Hayao Miyazaki

April 16, 2015 by Stephen Jang 3 Comments

This animated-short Celles et Ceux des Cimes et Cieux (Girls & Guys from Summits & Skies) was made as a final project by Gwenn Germain. No dialogue needed, just watch the visual animated treat.