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Thursday, June 30, 2016

Swiss Army Man Collector's Edition Vinyl



Swiss Army Man Collector's Edition Vinyl already came out from iam8bit? The movie where a man rides a corpse powered by farts is getting some merch. Dang, I love the music in it and I love the design here, I mean paper dolls, lol, but I would rather go for Swiss Army Man posters. Still, you have to give respect to iam8bit for backing the new film. We just reviewed it here.

Here's what you get with.
Music by Andy Hull & Robert McDowell
Album Art by Mark Englert
180-gram vinyl
Includes Paper Doll Playset Diorama w/ diorama, characters & props
Includes Digital Download Code (sent via email after purchase)*

Last Splatfest: Game Over Squids, Game Over

We can't believe it, we don't know why they're ending it either, but Splatoon will have only one more Splatfest! It's going to be for your favorite Squid Sister, Callie or Marie. You can vote for your sister's side starting July 4th, but the final Splatfest will start at 2 AM PT on Friday, July 22, until 2 AM PT on Sunday, July 24.

via Splatoon

Anime Expo 2016 Update: Where To Eat and Not To

Forgot whatever those substances claiming to be food inside the LA Convention Center are and forget the over priced food trucks. If you're hungry just walk down the street or climb on the Metro. Don't actually climb on it, get in it safely...we've had some accidents.

 Hell, with the convenience of Uber and Lyft just do anything you can to get away from the un-edible madness that is suppose to be LA Live.

As we've written dozens of time before, the food at LA Live is overpriced turd. Did we create a list of how bad each restaurant is? I'm currently asking other staff while writing this, because my hate for this worthless downtown venue is so high. (No! Gary, are you sure? Gary says no.)

Well, let's just say Lawry's Carvery gives you lesser portions than Subway, but charges way more. Yard House might have food that looks good, but some how, some way is tasteless.

To sum it up, no matter how lacking cash or wanting to grab a bite, it's just not worth it at LA Live.

LA Live Eats

Just past LA Live and parking lots are a few places to grab some good eats.

Nearby,

El Cholo

1037 S. Flower Street.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

T: 213.746.7750

Check out the menu and have your mouth water for Mexican food. The food is suppose to be worth the price. The only problem gathered from reviews is the service might be a bit off. If you want to enjoy your food and not regurgitate it come here. Before the next panel take some time and sit down and eat some nachos with real cheese, not some sort of cheap cheese-like sauce.


Original Pantry Cafe
877 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90017

T: 213.972-9279 

If you want that classic diner food then look no further than the Original Pantry Cafe. It does, usually have a line out the door. We recommend the classic ham steak, so tasty and so filling, but there are other classics to chose from, many breakfast based. Breakfast starts at 4am and ends at noon, did we mention they're open all day and night, so if you're seeking refuge and food after that late night panel you have a place to go.

Via Metro, Uber, Lyft or what not you can head to

Grand Central Market

8AM - 10PM
317 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013
T: (213) 624-2378

The food haven of downtown, this is a center for all sorts of different foods to try. Chinese, Mexican, Jewish Deli, BBQ, American. It's not just one restaurant it's multiple ones, so there has to be something you'll like. Will it be Wexler's Deli sandwiches, McConnel's ice cream, Eggslut's Gaucho steak. Belcampo's burgers, Horse Thief's bbq. There's just so many delicious choices!

Little Tokyo

4 acres of our own version of Tokyo in LA. In honesty, not the biggest fan of any of the restaurants, though there is a wide selection to choose from and karaoke. My favorite things to do when I get hungry is buy Japanese snack and treats from one of the many Japanese supermarkets nearby. Be prepared to walk a little to the Little Tokyo Galleria, 333 S Alameda St for even more food options and another supermarket. Or start your trip in Little Tokyo there and work your way back to Weller Court and the Village Plaza.

The Metro can take you to so many other places to eat, so double check the restaurants you want to visit and how far there are from a stop.

So remember, LA Live bad, anywhere else good.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Westworld Is Coming To HBO


Based on some seriously out of the 70's sci-fi comes a new take on the android theme park that let's you bang all the robots. In anticipation of the new series we watched the movie it's based on and the very strange sequel with none of the original cast in it except for an evil robot that only appears in a dream sequence. Oh, the 70's, we hate you.

We were unsure of Westworld would make it to television as it kept dropping crew including a showrunner. However, it seems that with all those setbacks it's still set to come out. Though we have to think it might be a but unpolished at first with only just getting people to stick around and finish making it.


Anime Expo 2016 Update: Osomatsu-san Con


Here's the news on all things Osomatsu-san at AX, including the cosplay gathering at AX, special items being sold in Little Tokyo and a cafe, sadly a week after AX. Osomatsu-san is a wacky anime about six loser brothers who look alike who are incredibly dumb and lazy.

Osomatsu-san Special Item Sale
July 1-31, 11am-8pm
Weller Court
Kinokuniya Book Store
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St 

Get specialty goods, but not the cafe goods from Osomatsu-san.

July 1 Day 1: Site 5 at 5-6PM*
Day 2: Site 5 at 4:30-6PM
Day 4: Site 1 at 10:00-11:00AM*
Check your cosplay maps for site locations 

Meet other Osomatsu-san fans and dress up to make even more brothers! Sheeh, not more brothers!


SOCAL Osomatsu-san Fan Cafe
Saturday, July 9 at 11 AM - 1 PM
Opodz
362 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, California 90012
 
This is an unofficial fan cafe for Osomatsu-san.
 Schedule for the cafe:
10:30-VIP early access.
11:00-Officially open.
11:30-1st delivery skit
11:40- Raffle, 1st prize!
11:50-2nd delivery skit
12:00-Raffle, 2nd prize.
12:10-Performance
12:20- Raffle
12:25-1:00- LAST CALL FOR FOOD. And our long awaited AUUUUCCCTIIIOOOONNNN!!!! Bid for a date with any of your servers such as the brothers, girlymatsus, Totoko, or even Atsushi-kun! We will also be auctioning off merch, our own exclusively made merch!
1:00-Closing time. Thank you so much for coming!
 

Anime Expo 2016 Update: Funimation and NISA Plans Sheeeeh!!!

-Remember, the exhibit hall doesn't open until noon on the first day, after that it's 10am each day. Monday, the events technically over at 3pm.

-Holy crap, artist alley gets its own hall, it's below the main hall

-Anime Expo 2016 Cosplay Gatherings
Check here for the group you want to be a part of or take pictures of. 

-Erased English Dub Premiere & Panel 
Friday July 1, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Live Programming 3 408 AB

One of 2016’s most talked about shows, ERASED, is getting an English dub and Aniplex of America will be giving you an exclusive first-look at Anime Expo 2016. From the director of the Sword Art Online series, Tomohiko Ito, and the Character Designer of Blue Exorcist, Keigo Sasaki, the psychological thriller ERASED has been praised by critics as a must-watch for any anime fan! Whether you’ve seen the show already or are just hearing about it for the first time, come check out the world premiere of the English dub at this special screening! 

If headed to Little Tokyo, check out Q Pop's latest art show 

Showa Era: Vintage Manga Tribute Art Show

Q Pop
319 E 2nd St, Ste 121, Los Angeles, California 90012
Here are some of pieces.

Here's all of NISA events.

We're interested in their

Saturday, July 2, 2 PM - 3 PM
"At Anime Expo 2016, we are planning to have a cosplay gathering on Saturday, July 2nd, for this special event.Wear your best Disgaea cosplay or Red Moon T-shirt to the event and receive a reward!
Remember that on each Red Moon Day, only a few Prinnies actually get to reincarnate, so the rewards may be limited. Be sure to attend the Anime Expo 2016 Red Moon Day gathering showing your Red Moon Day pride to receive your commemorative reward."
-Funimation activities:

My Hero Academia at Anime Expo 2016

Anime Expo Parties! 

Dragon Ball Ukiyo-e Woodblock

You can check it out at the Hobby Stock booth

-LA COSPLAY BALL + EDM DANCE PARTY (Anime Expo AfterParty)  

July 1st

333 Live
333 S Boylston St
Los Angeles, CA 90017.

$23

EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE MOVIE, ANIME, GAMING OR COMIC BOOK CHARACTER or a costume they been dying to wear out! This July we are proud to bring all the excitement of events like the LA ANIME EXPO to a Late Night Cosplay Dance Party that encompasses the best costumes in town bringing you Halloween in July♥. From Super Heros to Villians, Film & Music Stars to the Sexiest Cosplay to Most Elaborate Creations in Costuming or something you just wanna dress up as ANYTHING GOES! we want your inner Cosplay to Shine July 1st. THERE'S OVER $1000.0 IN CASH TO BE GIVEN AWAY w/ Multiple Contests to Choose from!!!

 

Ride in the New Ghostbusters Ecto-1 This Weekend

Lyft teamed up with Sony for this weekend to let you ride in the new Ghostbusters Ecto-1.

from /Film

"On Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2, from 10am-8pm local time, all you have to do is switch your Lyft mobile app into “Ghost Mode” to request a ride in the new Ecto-1. This promotion not only has replicas of  the Ecto-1 vehicles that will drive you around, but they’ll also have two of the cars used during filming picking people up as well. Though there’s no word on which city the screen-used vehicles will be in.

In addition to cruising around in the new hearse turned paranormal exterminator transport, passengers will be able to take home some swag from giveaways on their ride. That includes Ecto Cooler and Twinkies that have key lime slime in them. Passengers will also be entered to win two tickets each to the Ghostbusters World Premiere in Los Angeles on July 9th."

Weekly What To Do: Happy Fourth with Anime

DAY OF THE ANIMALS / WILD BEASTS
Thu, Jun 30, 7:30pm
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028

With movies with premises like: "When the water supply of a zoo is accidentally laced with PCP..." you know it's gonna be a bloody fun night.

Anime Expo
July 1-4
LA Convention Center
$$$

The largest anime convention in the US has four days of panels, special guests, cosplay and of course anime!

626 Night Markets of Summer Start
July 1–3 // Friday & Saturday & Sunday 4pm–1am
(Special Fourth of July Weekend hours)
Santa Anita Park
285 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91007
Free parking. $3 Admission. Children 6 and under get in free.






20 Years Later Group Show
Starts Friday, Jul 1, 7pm 10pm
G1988 (West)
Free

G1988 favorites tackle the greatest films from 1996.



Opening Night of Dinner in the Sky
Los Angeles Center Studios
450 S Bixel St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
$500.00 - $1,100.00

If you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience, Dinner in the Sky could be it. Imagine this: you're enjoying one of the most amazing culinary experiences ever, while dangling 150 feet in the air.

The Clifton's Canteen - A Tribute to the 1940s USO Shows
Jul 2-3, 7:00 – 10:00pm
Clifton’s
648 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
$5.00 - $10.00

Celebrate 4th of July weekend by honoring the men and women of service as CAC Studios joins Clifton’s for a full scale U.S.O. star studded bash! Punch up your dance card while dancing with the stars and fill up on drinks with your ration card while you enjoy the show! Flash back to an era gone by when the Andrew Sisters, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and the stars of the 40s entertain the troops with standards that you know and love all played by a jazz hot band! This is a one time event that you won’t want to miss, you brush off your 40s fashion and come celebrate in style!

Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs
Starts Sun, Jul 3
Natural History Mueseum
900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
$$

The largest exhibition in the United States dedicated to exploring the incredibly diverse winged reptiles, and the first back-boned animals to evolve powered flight. Discover the mysterious world of pterosaurs in this exciting exhibition where you can explore hands-on interactive apps, see rare fossils, walk under life-size models, and soar through the skies over prehistoric landscapes as you pilot your own pterosaur in the Virtual Flight Lab.

The Neon Demon Q&A 
Sun, Jul 3, 7:45PM
ArcLight Hollywood
$

Ask Keanu why the Hell he was in the film.


ArcLight is excited to announce a Q&A for the Cannes Film Festival-premiered The Neon Demon. Hollywood will host a Q&A with director Nicolas Winding Refn and actor Keanu Reeves When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

Hollywood Bowl 4th of July Fireworks Display 2016 with Chicago Band
Saturday, Jul 2, 7:30 pm
Monday, Jul 4, 7:30 pm
Hollywood Bowl
2301 N Highland Ave
Hollywood, CA 90068
$14.00 - $261.00

Celebrate Independence Day with the legendary rock ’n’ roll band with horns: Chicago! One of America’s most popular rock bands, the Grammy®-winning hit-makers (“Saturday in the Park,” “You’re the Inspiration” and many more) appear on three spectacular evenings featuring patriotic music, thrilling fireworks and more fun.

Monday, July 4, 2pm-9:30pm
Grand Park
200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, California 90012
Free

LOS ANGELES! #GO4THDTLA. Grand Park and The Music Center are where to celebrate together with music, food, and an incredible fireworks display launched from the civic center skyline. Grab the best friends, the whole family, and main squeezes and enjoy a bit of togetherness under the beautiful Angeleno sky.


Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Anime Expo 2016 Update: Viz Media & eigoMANGA Ahhhhhhh!

Viz Media gave all the info on its panels and goodies it will be bringing to AX. I want a One-Punch Man poster for $10!




VIZ Media Anime Expo Panels & Special Events Include:

Friday, July 1st

1:30pm – 2:45pm        VIZ Media Panel (Main Events / Hall B)
Join VIZ Media for its 30th anniversary celebration! Don’t miss exciting announcements, exclusive first looks, and a chance to win amazing prizes.

6:30pm – 7:45pm        JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE Panel
(LP1 / Petree Hall)
Get the inside scoop from the Japanese manga editors as well as loads of surprises including special guests and announcements!

Saturday, July 2nd

10:00am                       ONE-PUNCH MAN Autograph Session
(Anime Expo Autograph Area)
Meet the team behind ONE-PUNCH MAN and get a signed poster! Ticketing information will be announced shortly.

11:00am – 12:00pm    WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Presents Kazue Kato
(LP2 / LACC 403AB)
Join VIZ Media to welcome the creator of BLUE EXORCIST, Kazue Kato, in her first North American appearance!

3:00pm                         Kazue Kato Autograph Session
(Anime Expo Autograph Area)
Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet the creator of BLUE EXORCIST and receive a personally autographed shikishi! ** Please pick up an autograph ticket prior to the session at the Anime Expo Autograph Ticket Booth on the day of the appearance. For more information, please visit: www.anime-expo.org/how-to-get-an-autograph.

Sunday, July 3rd

10:30am – 12:00pm    SAILOR MOON Official Panel
(Main Events / Hall B)
Kick off another magical SAILOR MOON Day extravaganza with lots of special guests, announcements, famously hard trivia, loads of sparkle and fun hosted by VIZ Media. Be sure to bring your pure heart crystal and line up early because this event always fills up!

1:30pm                         SAILOR MOON English Voice Cast Signing
(Anime Expo Autograph Area)
Continue your SAILOR MOON Day fun, and meet the cast behind the legendary anime! Each attendee will receive a signed premium cardstock poster featuring beautiful art from SAILOR MOON S. ** Please pick up an autograph ticket prior to the session at the Anime Expo Autograph Ticket Booth.

4:00pm                         Kazue Kato Autograph Session
(Anime Expo Autograph Area)
Don’t miss an encore opportunity to meet the creator of BLUE EXORCIST and receive a personally autographed shikishi! ** Please pick up an autograph ticket prior to the session at the Anime Expo Autograph Ticket Booth.

6:30pm – 8:00pm        WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Meet-up
(Tom’s Urban)
WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is having a party! Don’t miss this chance to meet fellow fans and win awesome prizes in this ultimate meet up for all SHONEN JUMP!

Monday, July 4th

11:00am – 12:00pm    WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Official Panel
(LP2 / LACC 403AB)
Hang out with the English language editors of the world's most popular manga as they talk about the latest developments on new series, all-time fan favorites, and what they are doing to continue to deliver the world's best manga! 

eigoMANGA got some activities too

eigoMANGA's 15 Year Anniversary:

eigoMANGA commererates it 15th year with exclusive comics, graphic novels, and give-aways at eigoMANGA's Exhibition Booth #710 .

eigoMANGA is a production and publishing company that specializes in creating original comic books, animation, and digital media.

eigoMANGA Presents: How To Draw Manga And Portfolio Review:

eigoMANGA editors will hold a tutorial workshop to teach the fundamentals of manga illustration and storytelling. They will also be on hand to critique portfolios from up-and-coming artists.

eigoMANGA's How To Draw Manga Workshop And Portfolio Review is scheduled for Monday, July 4, 2:30 pm - 3:30pm at Workshop 2 (406 AB).

Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only: Generic Nightmare Images Anyone?



Go ahead and miss "Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only" at the Hammer. The Hammer’s biennial exhibition of random LA artists all vying for $25k and up, which makes you sad to think about when none of the ideas here are worth $25k. These are generic set pieces someone would put in the background of a movie to make you think you're at a modern art museum...a bad one.


Each piece is ugly, each setting random and cheap. 



Our favorite of all the mess was the one we wouldn't really distinguish as art. Daniel R. Small’s project excavates the Cecil B. DeMille Ten Commandments set, from Guadalupe, California, that was burned down so nobody else could use it. Small than correlates how the film has created our societal view of what Egypt looked  like and how it's perceived today. His example being the Luxor. It's a great way of saying how films and other media makes us see something from a view created by Hollywood and you could say it's still happening. Small's exhibit is a fake real Egypt exhibit.

Other than that...

Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only
Ends Aug 28
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024









Swiss Army Man Review: We Need A Toy & Mondo Poster Now

Just to go on record right now, I suggested a real life Swiss Army Man toy and a Mondo poster, that identifies each of Daniel Radcliffe's abilities as the Swiss Army Man to the directors the Daniels, Daniel Scheinert & Daniel Kwan at the Q & A held here in Los Angeles, last Saturday.

The much hyped Swiss Army Man is another amazing movie coming out from A24, which also recently released The Witch (thumbs down), The Lobster and The Neon Demon (both thumbs up). It is a grand stupid tale that somehow reminds you of an Amblin Entertainment movie, which the directors were going for, while still being horribly messed up, think Tim Burton before CGI. 

We're not even in July yet and we're getting big blockbusters and these limited engagement films filling up our summer. It reminded me about an article which was putting the odds down for which film will be doing the best financially this season. Captain America is ranking the highest, but smaller films like Swiss Army Man aren't even on the list. The difference is huge at how much the big studios films will be making. It made me wonder how well A24 has to do to make it financially and it is. IndieWire is reporting A24 is blowing it out of the park for indies, but maybe should have spaced out the premiere of The Neon Demon, which might be being cut into by Swiss Army Man.


Oh, and Swiss Army Man can cut, cook, shoot, be used as a flotation device in case of an emergency and of course can fart. Oh, man, can Manny fart. Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) is a corpse found by Hank (Paul Dano) as he is about to hang himself as he is on a deserted island. Thus begins the greatest new bro-mance or friendship film since Homeward Bound or E.T. both influences on the Daniels, directors of the film.

Clothes from the film
There's also a lot of farting, so much so the directors tried to get it from the cast and crew. Yes, they wanted the farts of the cast and crew captured. Daniel S. said during the Q & A, "We had an open call on set...they could go to the boom operator... but we couldn't use any of those." However, he continued, "There is one crew member who got in...Matt Hannam our editor...we went out to Mongolian hot pot and the next morning he farted these five or six incredible farts." If you see the film, listen for them when Manny meets a tiny new friend.

Farts are a cornerstone of this film, because they...I'm just going to have to give myself a second, because it's so true and so beautiful. I mean there are these great lines in this film about how farts should be shared that is both dumb and so kind in a way trying to just say everyone should just get along and it's okay to be weird. The farts also  just useful and led to me and the audience to laugh as they power Manny like a jet ski as Hank rides him through the opening of credits of this film.

Manny and Hank go on a journey of discovery, trying to survive, at least for Hank, who is still alive. Manny seems to forgotten everything in life, that is if Manny is really there. Maybe Hank has gone completely insane in the isolation of being alone and has created Manny as a facet for all his leftover wants, failures and needs. Radcliffe perfectly plays a corpse, very much like a child, who is is earnest and honest about everything he says. Dano play a wonderful source of leveling the film into being believable. As Hank, he's the every man who feels alone. Together they're a classic team that will easily be depicted in media for years to come.

Cart from the film

As Hank uses Manny to get home we go through his wheelhouse of many uses that a normal corpse shouldn't be able to do. Oh, and Hank early on understands that this whole notion of a living corpse is crazy, but what else is he going to do. He's screwed anyway, might as well make a friend out of a corpse.

The Daniels
When Manny is used, it is to make the story go forward. The directors explained they had many crazy ideas that had to be taken out because they added nothing to the story moving forward including:

-Being allergic to bees, so when going down a waterfall Hank would grab a bee out of the air, sting Manny and use Manny as a raft.

-A hole in Manny's head would let Hank use him as binoculars if he made Manny squint.

What  has to be praised is the sound design, the songs from the film flow out of Hank and Manny's mouths until they become the real soundtrack of the film. It may be do to the directors background in music videos that this blends so well.. So Hank might be humming a song and it slowly reverberates or expands in the background to be a real score as events are taking place. It's such a thoughtful way to make a soundtrack and is perfect soundtrack for this duo caper.

One of the most thoughtful uses of a already known song, John Williams' Jurassic Park theme actually plays an intricate part of the film. It means "home" or the accomplishment of finding home as best Hank can explain to Manny. This took the Daniels actually writing a letter to John Williams asking if the could use the song. His estate let them use it on the rule that film couldn't be NC-17, so the boys had a party on set when they got the news with Jurassic Park playing loud in the background.
Photos with Manny

That isn't the only connection to Spielberg films, Daniel K explained the red hoodie found by Hank in the film is a total homage to E.T..

With this journey of self-discovery and survival we see a world built by memories and by Hank made of garbage and nature. It's amazing to see what was built, settings from the past made out of what was lying around and harnesses to move a corpse .

I'll leave you wondering if Manny and Hank do make it back or if just Hank does? I will write that for a first feature film from two new directors it is a magical journey filled with farts, so dumb, but lovingly crafted, knowing it's dumb. So please see this dumb film with farts so more like it can come out.

*A bonus treat was a Manny dummy was in the audience for the entire special screening and no one noticed. At the end fans could take photos with it.

You can use Fandango to find tickets. right now it's only playing at ArcLight Holyywood, but should have wider release shortly.