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Long before Marvel Studios started struggling with its Marvel Cinematic Universe (which might be better left to die at this point) there were some historic superhero movie missteps. The first real superhero blockbuster, 1978's "Superman" remains one of the greatest comic book movies of all time, but even that birthed some seriously questionable sequels, thereby setting a precedent for the best and worst superhero films to come.

In the years since Christopher Reeve's Supes convinced audiences of the late-70s that a man could fly, we have had some downright abject superhero outings. When done right, these films can offer the ultimate escapist fantasy, tapping into our collective inner child and taking us on rapturous thrill-rides through our own imaginations. Or, they can be "Black Adam." I kid ... sort of. The problem exemplified by that notoriously underwhelming DC effort is that these films can often just be lazy, formulaic,...

Although Marvel has had its ups and downs in the last few years, it is largely accepted as conventional wisdom now that when it comes to the world of cinematic comic-book adaptations, they've always done things better or at least more consistently than DC. The Warner Bros.-led DC distribution arm has gone through many iterations of some of the comic-book company's most quintessential heroes, like Batman and Superman, as much because of distinctive directors like Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder wanting to put their stamp on these iconic figures as because some of the more ambitious efforts have been big swings and misses. Yes, some of the DC Comics films have been amazing, such as Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy, but then there are films like "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," or "Catwoman," just to name a couple of misfires.

And yet, while those latter two films are perhaps...

Cult ‘80s sci-fi series V is being rebooted as a film, creator Kenneth Johnson has revealed.The 82-year-old writer-and-director was responsible for the 1983 television miniseries which focused on an alien race known as the Visitors coming to Earth seemingly in peace before their sinister intentions and true identity as a lizard race are revealed.Kenneth discovered he owned the motion picture rights several years ago and he is now in final talks to bring the story to the big screen with a trilogy planned.Speaking to Bang Showbiz, he said: “About seven or eight years ago I discovered I owned the motion picture rights, somehow that had got swept under the rug and suddenly I had a lot of new best friends. We’ve been endeavouring to get it set up as a motion picture – the first of a trilogy of motion pictures. The first movie would be essentially a...

While actor Lou Ferrigno may be best known for playing the titular Hulk on the CBS TV series The Incredible Hulkfrom 1977 to 1982, he’s now starring as a completely different type of “monster.” Ferrigno spoke with Variety about his role as a lone pig farmer living in the woods in the new horror-thriller movieThe Hermit.

"This guy, he’s kind of possessed. So you see the pain. You see the demons in him,” Ferrigno said. The actor, who was last seen in the 2022 Paramount+ miniseries The Offer, stars in The Hermit as a larger-than-life pig farmer whose mother taught him how to cook humans and turn them into jerky.

The film’s official logline reads: “Dragged on a vacation to the woods, two self-absorbed teens named Lisa (Supergirl’sMalina Weissman) and Eric (Anthony Turpel of That ‘90s Show) venture off trail, stumble across a farm, go in, see animal heads...

While there has been quite some buzz surrounding Captain America: Brave New World, which will soon hit the theatres, one of the biggest reasons behind it being so talked-about is not because it will serve as Anthony Mackie’s first-ever solo movie as the respective superhero. Rather, it’s because of Red Hulk, who will serve as the primary villain in the flick.

Captain America: Brave New World. | Credits: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Now this iteration of Hulk, which is basically General Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross’ iteration of Hulk, may have made its debut in the comics decades ago, but its first-ever live-action performance will be seen only in the forthcoming Brave New World. However, surprisingly enough, this live-action debut could have taken place around 48 years ago had Stan Lee not stopped it.

Red Hulk could have made his live-action debut nearly half a century ago

Red Hulk has,...

Ever since the Hulk debuted in the pages of Marvel Comics all way back in May 1962 in his solo series The Incredible Hulk #1, he has been a major fixture of the Marvel Universe. Yet the character has undergone many changes over the years, one of the most notable being he was originally grey in his first appearance, but due to a coloring error in the printer, Marvel changed him to his signature green tone in his second issue. Yet the idea of other colored Hulks became a significant part of the character's mythology. In 2008, as part of a promotional push for the Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Incredible Hulk, Marvel introduced a new mysterious Red Hulk in Hulk Vol. 3 #1 in January of that year.

The Red Hulk referred to an abandoned idea from the 1978 television series The Incredible Hulk, where the show's creator, Kenneth Johnson, originally wanted to make the Hulk red to signify rage,...

Shortly before changing the horror genre forever with his role as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Robert Englund appeared in V, a sci-fi series that originally debuted in 1983. 41 years later, Englund reflected on the series with a post shared on social media.

"Happy V day! Original miniseries was released in 83," Englund said in a Facebook post, going on to share how the show wasn't initially envisioned as sci-fi. "The series was originally intended to be a political thriller about a fascist movement in the United States, inspired by Sinclair Lewiss 1935 novel It Cant Happen Here. However, network executives changed the series to science fiction to capitalize on the success of other science fiction hits."

Happy V day! Original miniseries was released in 83, The series was originally intended to be a political thriller...Posted by Robert Barton Englund on Sunday, November 24, 2024

Related Robert Englund Reveals the Only Way...

Tim Sullivan, a novelist and book reviewer who also wrote, directed and/or starred in several microbudget horror and science-fiction films, has died. He was 76.

Sullivan died Sunday of congestive heart failure in hospice in Newport News, Virginia, John R. Ellis, a friend of his for 50 years, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Sullivan starred as a military pilot who survives a worldwide plague and battles giant mutant spiders in the Ellis-directed sci-fi thriller Twilight of the Dogs (1995). He and Ellis teamed on the screenplay as well.

He also wrote and directed Vampyre Femmes (1999) and appeared in such straight-to-video releases as The Laughing Dead (1989), Eyes of the Werewolf (1999), The Mark of Dracula (2000), Hollywood Mortuary (2000) and Deadly Scavengers (2001), working often with writer-director Ron Ford.

Sullivan wrote at least seven sci-fi novels during his career, three of them based on Kenneth Johnson’s V NBC miniseries and series in the mid-1980s about an alien invasion of Earth.

Given that the character is known for his wild rages and tendency to yell the phrase "Hulk smash!," it's curious that Kenneth Johnson's 1970s TV series "The Incredible Hulk" should be as melancholy as it is. Series protagonist David Banner (Bill Bixby) is depicted as a lonely, tragic figure, hating the fact that he, when enraged, turns into a green monster (played by superstar bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno). Indeed, in the TV show -- unlike the original Marvel comic books -- Dr. Banner first started experimenting with strength-giving radiation after he witnessed his wife die in a car crash. He had heard the stories of certain people summoning great strength in emergencies, and wanted to give himself that strength permanently, using it to fight off the trauma and sadness he always carried around.

Then, once he managed to accidentally give himself Hulk strength, it immediately divided Dr. Banner from the rest of society.

Chris and Street's wedding should be saved for Swat's series finale. Swat season 8 premieres in October 2024 with 22 episodes. Chris and Street's wedding must happen on-screen in Swat, according to the showrunner.

In a shocking turn of events, Swat is returning for season 8, and even though many would like to see a wedding between Chris and Street in the upcoming episodes, the show should hold off on the big event. The CBS police procedural series, created by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Shawn Ryan, premiered in November 2017 and was set to end with its seventh season finale in May 2024. However, CBS surprised everyone and reversed its cancelation decision by renewing Swat for an eighth season. It's unclear whether it will be Swat's final season, but the show will go on.

Swat season 8 will premiere on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 8 p.m. Et on CBS and consists of 22 episodes.

Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington,...

The Salvation Army Southern California hosted the 2024 Sally Awards Gala on May 30 at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel.

Sponsored by Hunt Enterprises and Priscilla Hunt, the event drew numerous celebrities, including Kym Whitley, DeVon Franklin, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Tisha Campbell, all supporting the cause. The gala honored Terry and Rebecca Crews with the esteemed Sally Award, and Bank of America received the prestigious Judge Harry Pregerson Award.

The gala aimed to inspire guests to join forces against homelessness in Los Angeles County. This gathering not only featured celebrity presence but also raised over $1 million, supporting The Salvation Army’s efforts to combat homelessness in the region.

Los Angeles faces a significant homelessness crisis with over 75,518 individuals struggling to find shelter and stability. The Salvation Army provides a range of programs for adults, at-risk youth, veterans, and seniors, helping them overcome addiction, seek recovery, and achieve sustainable living.

When Marvel released The Avengers in 2012, it was viewed as a risky gamble. Although it is now relatively simple for the MCU to release a big movie starring a large cast of A-list actors, the studio set a new precedent with The Avengers. While the MCU has done well at replicating that success, no other studio seems to have come close.

Even with the film’s phenomenal success and intriguing financial flow, it is still surprising that most people are ignorant of certain facts about it. Did you know that Lou Ferrigno—the original Hulk (CBS’ The Incredible Hulk)—shadowed Mark Ruffalo in a crucial but unseen role in Joss Whedon’s 2012 flick?

Mark Ruffalo as Hulk in The Avengers (2012)

Ferrigno brought his unique perspective to the character, teaming up with acclaimed sound editor Christopher Boyes.

Lou Ferrigno Made an Epic Comeback as Hulk’s Voice in The Avengers

Sure,...

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the best basketball players of all time, but his skills on the court certainly do not match up to his skills on the big screen. As a result, it may come as a surprise to many that O’Neal has been very vocal about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the past despite starring in one of the worst DC movies ever made.

Shaquille O’Neal on The Late Late Show with James Corden

Not only did O’Neal express an interest in joining the multi-billion dollar franchise, but he also wanted to battle it out against the face of MCU, Robert Downey Jr. Here is why O’Neal wanted to fight Downey Jr’s Iron Man on the big screen and the DC movie that was almost proof that such a face-off would not work.

Former NBA Star Shaquille O’Neal Wanted to Join...

Every single person knows the sting of their favorite TV show getting canceled but it’s only gotten worse in recent years. The streaming era has been incredibly inconsistent. With an algorithm choosing the fates of shows, these days you’re lucky if a show gets ten episodes, let alone released at all. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was canceled by Netflix after a single season. Willow was not only canned by Disney+ after one season but also removed from its catalog. The same thing happened with Gordita Chronicles on HBO Max.

Streaming services like Netflix, once known for picking up canceled shows such as Arrested Development and giving creatives limitless freedom are now more known for not giving anything a chance unless it’s a massive Squid Game like success. Before word of mouth even spreads about a show, you often find out it’s canceled or removed entirely.

Previously we’ve covered the iconic Six Million Dollar Man on Gone But Not Forgotten. It’s only right that we also showcase Steve Austin’s equally amazing bionic co-hart. The Bionic Woman, who was as popular as The Six Million Dollar Man and was an important piece of TV history for a number of reasons. It would give women, girls, and guys a new perspective on just how powerful a woman could be, not only in a robotically enhanced strength but also in their character. Jamie Sommers was something special, and not even a TV death could keep her down. On this episode of Gone But Not Forgotten, listen close as we tell the story of The Bionic Woman.

The Bionic Woman herself was introduced in Season 2 of The Six Million Dollar Man already an important part of Steve Austin’s life. Jaime Sommers and Steve had a relationship...

Whether it’s superhero fatigue or something else, there’s no denying that the MCU and the DC Universe are falling on hard times. Secret Invasion set record lows for Marvel, as did the reviews for Ant-Man the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Flash stumbled to become the lowest money maker in Warner Bros. history.

But let’s get a little perspective, shall we? These movies aren’t great, but superhero movies are, on the whole, better than what came before the MCU launched in 2008. Throughout the 80s and 90s, superhero movies were almost embarrassed to be about superheroes, forcing Batman into a lame revenge plot for the 1989 film and refusing to let Frank Castle wear his death’s head logo in the Cannon Films direct-to-video release. With the embrace of the genre has come better effects, brighter costumes, and outrageous plots that better reflect the high stakes the genre demands.

As the narrator (Sparks’ Russell Mael) tells his story of star-crossed love many moons away, we watch as violence is wrought upon random, unsuspecting souls. Is the brightly lit, eye-holed entity taking over these bodies the same character as the disembodied voice we hear? Maybe. Hopefully.

Why? Because that would mean it isn’t acting out of aggression. It would merely be an alien creature come to Earth, jumping from host to host until it can reunite with its lover. When one body no longer proves sufficient, it must discard and seek another. When it settles on one that works, it lays low in hiding––using the cash from the pockets of its victims to find its way onto the Internet so it can buy contact lenses that hide its glow without the need of sunglasses. Unfortunately, however, Earth (and especially America) is hardly the “safest” place to hide.

Writer-director...

The most notorious DC movie failure of all time is set to land back on HBO Max on July 1, even though Superman fans can't watch Zack Snyder's Man Of Steel on the premium service. Ironically, the link between Shaquille O'Neal's cult DC movie Steel and Superman himself makes the release quirk feel even stranger. But at least it'll be a strong reminder of the weight of DC movie history that the new Dcu reboot has to avoid when it relaunched with Superman: Legacy.

26 years after its 1997 release, Steel still holds the record for the highest second week box office drop for any comic book movie, after only taking $870,068 from 1,260 theaters initially. The supposed Superman spin-off - at least in terms of the character's DC comics origin - was a notorious critical bomb too, landing a 12% Rotten Tomatoes score. Criticism of Steel focused on poor casting, bad acting, terrible...

From left: Hulk (Courtesy of Universal Pictures); The Incredible Hulk (Courtesy of Universal Pictures) Graphic: The A.V. Club Some superheroes get multiple screen incarnations simply because they are challenging to capture cinematically. The Fantastic Four will be on their fourth iteration in 2025. The Punisher has been portrayed by four different actors,...

From left: Hulk (Courtesy of Universal Pictures); The Incredible Hulk (Courtesy of Universal Pictures)Graphic: The A.V. Club

Some superheroes get multiple screen incarnations simply because they are challenging to capture cinematically. The Fantastic Four will be on their fourth iteration in 2025. The Punisher has been portrayed by four different actors,...

Sci-fi classic vehicle V is being revived as a film by Desilu Studios, with the new version of the former TV series written and directed by the original ’80s series creator, Kenneth Johnson. Called V The Movie, the film’s casting and a release date are not yet determined. It will be produced by John Hermansen and Barry Opper. The original two-part miniseries aired on NBC in 1983, telling the story of an alien invasion by a reptilian race disguising themselves as…...

(This is the second and final part of Ernie Magnotta's exclusive interview with Kenneth Johnson, creator of the classic 1970s TV series "The Incredible Hulk", which debuted 40 years ago today.)

By Ernie Magnotta

Em: Nice…I’d like to talk about Jack Colvin for a sec.

Kj: Sure.

Em: I really loved him as McGee. I thought he was terrific. Did he enjoy playing the role?

Kj: Yeah, he did. But he was frustrated sometimes and he would say to me, “How many times can I say that I’m looking for a hulking, green creature?” So, we tried to really write episodes where he had meaningful stuff to do.

Em: Yeah, that was actually my next question because the character changed a bit. He was a little unlikeable in the first season; like a weasel.

Kj: Yeah, that’s it. I love those yellow rag journalists. The tabloid...

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic TV series "The Incredible Hulk", Cinema Retro's Ernie Magnotta sat down for an extensive discussion with the show's creator Kenneth Johnson.

By Ernie Magnotta

Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist…searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs.

The creature is driven by rage and is pursued by an investigative reporter. The creature is wanted for a murder he didn’t commit. David Banner is believed to be dead. And he must let the world think that he is dead until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.

Kids who grew up in the 1970s remember that narration well. Every Friday night at 9pm (until it...

Peter Facinelli has been cast in new CBS drama series S.W.A.T. for what is expected to be a recurring role.

Inspired by the 2003 film, S.W.A.T. centers on a locally born-and-bred Swat sergeant (Shemar Moore) who’s torn between loyalty to the streets and duty to his fellow officers when he’s tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Stephanie Sigman, Alex Russell, Lina Esco, Kenneth Johnson, Peter Onorati and Jay Harrington also star.

Facinelli plays Michael Plank, a confident, powerful businessman who also volunteers as a civilian Police Commissioner and head of the Police Board. While attending a charity event at Swat headquarters, he is introduced to the team. When Jessica (Sigman) presents him with a list of innovations she’s drawn up for the department to improve its relationship with the community, he’s deeply impressed by her...

Ahead of the November Season 1 premiere, David Lim (Quantico) has been promoted to series regular on CBS drama series S.W.A.T.

Lim plays Victor Tan, a relatively new S.W.A.T. officer who made his name in the Hollywood division before advancing to the heights of the LAPD and Metro S.W.A.T. Tan has a nose for action and a willingness to place a bet on anything. He uses his confidential informants in the community to help Hondo (Shemar Moore) and the rest of their team capture the city’s toughest criminals.

“A couple weeks before shooting began, our pilot director Justin Lin felt the S.W.A.T. team needed one more member to feel complete. Justin, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and I remembered David Lim, who had really impressed us in an audition for a different role. We quickly created the role of Victor Tan and were lucky enough to cast David,...

Happy Black Friday, everyone, and welcome back for Day 2 of Daily Dead’s fourth annual Holiday Gift Guide! Once again, our goal is to help you navigate your way through the horrors of the shopping season with our tips on unique gift ideas, and we’ll hopefully help you save a few bucks over the next few weeks, too.

This year’s Holiday Gift Guide is being sponsored by several amazing companies, including Mondo, Anchor Bay Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Magnolia Home Entertainment, who have all donated an assortment of goodies to help you get into the spirit of the season. Daily Dead also recently teamed up with Texas-based artist Dustin Pace of Duddy in Motion to create an amazing Stranger Things print (see below) that all of our giveaway winners will receive with our amazing prize packs that feature a collection of items, including movies, graphic novels, the Duddy in Motion Stranger Things print,...

Midnight Special director Jeff Nichols has signed on to write and direct 20th Century Fox's remake of Alien Nation. The studio first set up this sci-fi remake in March 2015, when they brought on Iron Man screenwriters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, but now Jeff Nichols will take over the writing duties. No production schedule was given at this time, and it isn't known if 20th Century Fox is eyeing a particular release date quite yet.

The original Alien Nation was set in a future where humans and an alien race were forced to co-exist with each other, as the humans keep the alien species segregated from the general population with very little rights. The plot followed the first ever alien police officer (Mandy Patinkin) on Earth, who is paired up with a racially-biased cop (James Caan). Although they have their differences, a case comes up that causes them to form...

Among the crown jewels of Scream Factory’s ever-growing library of classic horror titles on Blu-ray (and some not-so-classic) are their Vincent Price Collection boxed sets, collecting many of the icon’s greatest films including most of the Roger Corman “Poe cycle”, as well as other goodness like the Dr. Phibes movies and the brilliant Witchfinder General. Not only do these collections celebrate one of the greatest icons the genre has ever known, but also honor a kind of old-school horror of which we don’t see enough anymore.

But by the recently released Vincent Price Collection III, the third collection of Price movies on Blu-ray, Scream Factory has had to dig up some fairly esoteric titles, not all of which can be considered horror. Unfortunately, Theater of Blood is still nowhere to be found on Blu-ray and Kino Lorber has the rights for anthologies like Tales of Terror and Twice Told Tales,...

Genre fans have a quiet week of home entertainment releases ahead of them as February 16th features only a handful of horror and sci-fi Blu-ray and DVD offerings. That being said, cult and classic horror film fanatics should be ecstatic with several of the Blus coming out on Tuesday, including The Vincent Price Collection III, The Mutilator, Curse of the Faceless Man and My Science Project, featuring none other than the legendary Dennis Hopper.

Other releases this week include Estranged and Riddle Room.

Curse of the Faceless Man (Kino Lorber, Blu-ray)

Entombed for eons and turned to stone... the Volcano Man of 2,000 years ago stalks the earth to claim his woman! A team of archeologists, led by Dr. Paul Mallon (Richard Anderson, TV’s The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman) excavates a perfectly preserved faceless man of stone encased in lava from a site at ancient Pompeii.

On February 16th, Scream Factory will release their third home media celebration of a cinematic legend with The Vincent Price Collection III, and we've been provided with three copies of the four-disc Blu-ray set to give away.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Vincent Price Collection III.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email [email protected] with the subject "The Vincent Price Collection III Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on February 19th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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Previous Press Release: On February 16, 2016, collectors, classic film aficionados and horror enthusiasts will relish the 4-Disc Blu-ray™ release of Scream Factory’s The Vincent Price Collection III.

On February 16th, Scream Factory will release their third celebration of a cinematic legend with The Vincent Price Collection III on Blu-ray. Ahead of the collection's release, we have high-definition clips and trailers from the four-disc tribute.

Previous Press Release: On February 16, 2016, collectors, classic film aficionados and horror enthusiasts will relish the 4-Disc Blu-ray™ release of Scream Factory’s The Vincent Price Collection III. This extraordinary collector’s set is an essential collection for every movie library and brings together Five Vincent Price masterpiece classics, featuring the first-ever Blu-ray movie presentation of Master Of The World (1961), Tower Of London (1962), Diary Of A Madman (1963), An Evening Of Edgar Allan Poe (1970) and Cry Of The Banshee (1970). Packed with a bevy of chilling bonus content including new interview with producer/director Roger Corman and writer/producer/director Kenneth Johnson, new audio commentary with actor David Frankham, film historians, original theatrical trailers, archival materials,...

Vincent Price fans have seen Scream Factory distribute two collections honoring the horror legend, and now they're about to witness a third. On February 16th, Scream Factory will release The Vincent Price Collection III, a four-disc tribute to Price containing five of his films and an abundance of bonus features:

Press Release: On February 16, 2016, collectors, classic film aficionados and horror enthusiasts will relish the 4-Disc Blu-ray™ release of Scream Factory’s The Vincent Price Collection III. This extraordinary collector’s set is an essential collection for every movie library and brings together Five Vincent Price masterpiece classics, featuring the first-ever Blu-ray movie presentation of Master Of The World (1961), Tower Of London (1962), Diary Of A Madman (1963), An Evening Of Edgar Allan Poe (1970) and Cry Of The Banshee (1970). Packed with a bevy of chilling bonus content including new interview with producer/director Roger Corman and writer/producer/director Kenneth Johnson, new audio commentary with actor David Frankham,...

How to be a Superhero

By Mark Edlitz

Bear Manor Media, 586 pages, $42.95/$29.95

Longtime readers of pop culture magazines have no doubt read interviews with actors who have donned capes, cowls, spandex, and prosthetics to portray heroes and villains drawn from comic books. I certainly was involved in my fair share of such interviews working at Starlog Press and its successors have continued, especially contemporary online outlets which are enjoying a bonanza of options.

Most of those interviews tend to be about the most immediate project with little insight or context about an actor’s association with a media property or being the latest in a long line to play the same role. And certainly, these interviews are sandwiched between news, features, and other topics. So, it’s a bit of a surprise that such a collection has not been attempted before.

Mark Edlitz, a hardworking writer with credits including The Huffington Post,...

Real quick mission statement: this column is for discussion of superhero movie news and superhero movies. Titular allegiance aside, this sphere includes non-Marvel properties.

This week: Instead of re-hashing stuff we’ll be talking about for years, this week we’re going to talk about Spawn and black superheroes in their own movies.

There comes a time when examining mainstream media where one runs across a race issue or two. Or seven. Or two-dozen. I’m not sure how much weight to put on the race part of this week’s discussion, but I’m fairly sure talking about it won’t hurt anyone. So let’s talk about Jamie Foxx and Spawn.

Several people and outlets have put together recent comments made by Jamie Foxx about roles he’d like to play with Spawn-creator Todd MacFarlane’s ongoing insistence he’d like to reboot his character into a...

Before there was Iron Man, there was... Steel (1997) Director: Kenneth Johnson Stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish, Judd Nelson When a brilliant weapons designer learns that his tools of mass destruction have fallen in to the wrong hands.those of a former co-worker he thought he could trust.he has no choice but to create a metal suit to fight crime. In case the above synopsis didn't clue you in, Steel is literally Iron Man but with Shaquille O'Neal...

In this week's episode, Tyler and Ben are joined by Free and Eli Reyes (from GeekTyrant.com) to discuss Paul M. Glaser's 1996 film Kazaam and Kenneth Johnson's 1997 film Steel.

Introduction

Character Name Game Intro - 3:55

Media Consumed

Tyler

Conan - 5:00

Steel Panther - 7:05

Eli

Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - 9:10

Roasted Glacier - 12:05

Free

BBC coverage of The Olympics - 13:25

Ben

Wreck-It Ralph early press event - 17:10

Total Recall (2012) - 18:00

Review

Kazaam - 24:00

Steel - 41:28

Wrap-Up

Next Time: The Quest  - 1:08:25

Listener E-mail/Voicemail/Twitter - 1:10:55

Character Name Game - 1:21:30

Where You Can Find Us - 1:22:48

Articles Mentioned: Early Look at Wreck-It Ralph & Video Blog...

D3: The Mighty Ducks

Directed by Robert Lieberman

Written by Steven Brill, Jim Burnstein, and Kenneth Johnson

Starring Emilio Estevez, Jeffrey Nordling, Joshua Jackson

The drum I will keep beating throughout the entirety of this podcast, throughout however many years the show runs for, the one you will beg me to stop harping on (though I never, ever will) is internal logic. I don’t care what kind of movie you’re making, I don’t care if the audience is meant to be 5 or 50: you need to have internal logic in your story. If not, the story falls apart. Even great movies that are implausible manage to make audiences forget those implausibilities while it’s taking place. But movies that don’t try to make audiences focus on what’s truly important, movies that don’t have internal logic and don’t care, are the ones I dislike most of all.

If you’re looking for a very special gift for a very special person, look no further: this new and fanatically complete collection of everything Six Million Dollar Man will impress even the most hardhearted geek on your list. The package simply looks impressive: The 40-dvd set includes all three pilot films, which aired on ABC in 1973; all five seasons of the show, which aired between 1974 and 1978, including associated crossover episodes from the Bionic Woman series; all three reunion movies from the 1980s and 90s; commentary tracks on some episodes by writer Kenneth Johnson; and more than 17 hours of bonus features. Oh yeah, and when you open the big box holding it all, you get the “We can rebuild him. We have the technology” spiel that opened each episode (it’s on a little chip inside the door). It’s all deeply cool. And that’s before you get to the actual content.

Editor's note: While the Amazon link above will take you to an Amazon page where this item is featured, it's available exclusively at Time Life's online store.

It’s always sad when an older show goes to become a pop-culture touchstone for countless shows that followed (like the spin-off The Bionic Woman or even children’s cartoon Inspector Gadget), yet doesn’t have the quality to endure the aging process and stand up to future scrutiny. The Six Million Dollar Man has the iconic “We can rebuild him line” and that signature sound accompaniment for when leaping an incredible distance, but the storylines never really fleshed out to be too deep or intricately plotted. Expectations for action/spy adventure serials had to meet a lower bar. In defense of the series, it easily exceeds the expectations for a series of its time, but in comparison to some of the better...

V (2009) The Complete First Season Blu-Ray Warner Bros. Home Entertainment2009-2010/Not Rated/520 minsList Price: $49.99 – Now AvailableV is so 1983, isn't it? I actually have fond memories of Kenneth Johnson's sci-fi miniseries which aired in two installments between '83 and '84. It was almost as if someone had taken the old Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man (based on a short story by Damon Knight) and adapted it into a television epic. For an eight-year-old kid, the series was both scary and hokey at the same time. Scary every time a Visitor's true nature was revealed and hokey after I realized how poor the visual f/x make-up was. Didn't really matter because back in the eighties, there weren't too many exciting shows on TV with such large production values especially in the sci-fi genre. Plus, who could beat the sexiness of Jane Badler as Diana, Commander of the Visitors?...

Tr Knight at the opening of A Life in the Theater last night in NYC

Congrats to Alan Cumming, who will receive the Chicago International Film Festival’s OUTrageous Award on October 18. Singer Gavin Rossdale has revealed that he had a relationship back in the 80's with UK drag singer Marilyn. I'd question his taste, but he's also as big a Feberbear fan as I am, so obviously his taste is impeccable. We've all seen scores of the "It Gets Better" videos, but below is one of the most powerful I've come across. It's Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns opening up about his own struggles with bullying, and his message of hope for gay kids.

On the flip side, below you can see a parody video showing how "It Gets Worse" ... for the bully. (Warning - strong language)

The finalists for the 2010 National Book Awards have been announced, and it includes Just Kids,...

As I have previously reported, I was, and am, a huge fan of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. After championing the cause of seeing these shows released on DVD after years of legal entanglements, I announced recently that such red tape had been worked out between the warring factions (Universal and Dimension) and these iconic programs were set to be released in late 2010. We now have release dates and specs on both. The Bionic Woman – Season 1 will be released on October 19th, 2010, with the following content:

• All 14 first season episodes, including five crossover episodes from The Six Million Dollar Man

• Bionic Beginnings Featurette – featuring a new interview with star Lindsay Wagner

• Episode Commentaries by director Alan J. Levi and writer/director Kenneth Johnson

• Gag reel and photo gallery

For more info, see the original report at TVShowsonDVD.com.

As I have previously reported, I was, and am, a huge fan of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. After championing the cause of seeing these shows released on DVD after years of legal entanglements, I announced recently that such red tape had been worked out between the warring factions (Universal and Dimension) and these iconic programs were set to be released in late 2010. We now have release dates and specs on both. The Bionic Woman – Season 1 will be released on October 19th, 2010, with the following content:

• All 14 first season episodes, including five crossover episodes from The Six Million Dollar Man

• Bionic Beginnings Featurette – featuring a new interview with star Lindsay Wagner

• Episode Commentaries by director Alan J. Levi and writer/director Kenneth Johnson

• Gag reel and photo gallery

For more info, see the original report at TVShowsonDVD.com.

Coming on October 19

Back in May, we mentioned that the first season of "The Bionic Woman" would be coming to DVD in October. Now we have more details:

Fans can finally experience one of television's most memorable television series when "The Bionic Woman" Season One debuts on DVD on October 19, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Relive the excitement of this groundbreaking television series starring Primetime Emmy® Award winner Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers, a woman leading the ultimate double-life.  Never-before-released on DVD in North America, this four-disc set includes every episode from the show's premiere season plus five crossover episodes from "The Six Million Dollar Man," and a Bionic Beginnings featurette, which tracks evolution of television's first Bionic Woman and includes an all-new, exclusive interview with Lindsay Wagner.  

"The Bionic Woman's" 1976 premiere introduced delighted television viewers to a thrilling new kind of action hero -- the blonde, brainy and beautiful Jaime Sommers.

Anyone who has been waiting impatiently for the original version of The Bionic Woman to come out on DVD has heard rumblings about its release for a while, but Universal has exclusively announced to EW that the series’ first season will be hitting shelves in October. …And everyone who scoffed at the remake cheered!

I’ve watched a few episodes of the original Bionic Woman on Hulu (called Bionic Woman Classic — scoff, again) and have been meaning to watch more, but I only watch marathon shows when they’re on DVD to avoid brainwashing myself with the five or so...

I’ve been championing this cause for awhile, folks. In a previous article, Bionic Blunder: Where are those Six MIllion Dollar Man and Bionic Woman DVDs?, I detailed the legal entanglements between Universal Studios (who owns the TV shows) and Dimension Films (who owns the rights to the source material, Martin Caidin’s novel Cyborg), and when we could expect to see any season DVD box sets of these iconic 1970’s shows.

I wrote further about it when Hulu.com began showing all 14 first season episodes of The Bionic Woman … and apparently still are.

Now comes some pretty darn reliable-sounding news from TVShowsonDVD that Universal and Dimension have settled their differences, and are planning on releasing DVD sets of both shows, possibly as soon as Fall 2010. Producer Kenneth Johnson has revealed on his website that he will be recording commentaries for select episodes, and that numerous special features are in the works,...

I’ve been championing this cause for awhile, folks. In a previous article, Bionic Blunder: Where are those Six MIllion Dollar Man and Bionic Woman DVDs?, I detailed the legal entanglements between Universal Studios (who owns the TV shows) and Dimension Films (who owns the rights to the source material, Martin Caidin’s novel Cyborg), and when we could expect to see any season DVD box sets of these iconic 1970’s shows.

I wrote further about it when Hulu.com began showing all 14 first season episodes of The Bionic Woman … and apparently still are.

Now comes some pretty darn reliable-sounding news from TVShowsonDVD that Universal and Dimension have settled their differences, and are planning on releasing DVD sets of both shows, possibly as soon as Fall 2010. Producer Kenneth Johnson has revealed on his website that he will be recording commentaries for select episodes, and that numerous special features are in the works,...

Less than five years after his introduction in comics, Steel made it to the feature film pantheon of super-heroes. At one point, Warner Bros. was intending to produce a film adaptation of the best-selling Death of Superman storyline and it was decided that a Steel spinoff movie made sense. When it became clear that major Superman buff Shaquille O'Neal was serious about an acting career and that the Death movie was not going to happen, Warners decided to go for a modestly budgeted film anyway.

The $16 million project was handed to science fiction television veteran Kenneth Johnson whose only previous feature experience was directing Short Circuit 2. They were betting that he would bring the same magic here as he did with the Incredible Hulk. He wrote and directed a film that was lambasted upon its August opening, earning a meager $1,686,429.

Now, as a part of the Warner Archive series,...

It's been a terribly long time since I have been excited about a reimagination. In fact, I don't think I've been excited for something at this level since the former SciFi Channel premiered "Battlestar Galactica." But ABC decided it was time to take a risk. Unlike NBC's efforts in the past to first revive "Bionic Woman," and then take a different path with "Knight Rider," ABC wanted to go to the one programming event (and later television series) that almost single-handedly defined the 1980s. Yeah, we're talking about "V." However, ABC faced a huge dilemma in bringing "V" back. The idea of having space ships hanging it the sky, floating over major world landmarks, has been done to death in the years that followed Kenneth Johnson's original epic. When we think about invading ships in ...

In what appears to be a direct response to Neill Blomkamp's District 9 and ABC's upcoming V remake [1], Sci Fi Channel [2] (who are officially changing their name to SyFy as of next week) have unveiled plans for a remake of another Kenneth Johnson TV series: Alien Nation. Based on the 1988 movie starring James Caan and Terrence Stamp, the show ran for just one season on Fox, but was continued a few years later with five made-for-tv movies. The new take on Alien Nation is expected to be set in the Pacific Northwest, and will pick up 20 years after a number of of alien ships have crash landed on Earth. The aliens, dubbed "newcomers", have since attempted to integrate with human society and their population now numbers in the millions. The show, much like its precursor, will address issues such as racism, terrorism and immigration, but will also apparently maintain the buddy cop angle.