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Surrogates on DVD/BD - Exclusive Clips!

BLU-RAY / DVD Friday, March 12 by Captain





Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Rated M
Released March 1

The futuristic people as robots thriller, Surrogates is out now on Blu-ray and DVD. We've got some cool clips and a quick peek at the extras.

If you didn't read our theatrical release review, here's a little refresher on what Surrogates is all about:


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Heavy Rain: Breezethrough Review

GAMES Friday, March 12 by Captain




Available on the PS3, now.


Few games have received the rapt attention that the launch of Heavy Rain has. From the first frames of scintillatingly detailed graphics, it's easy to understand what all the fuss is about. Playing the game isn't really about 'playing'. Heavy Rain takes us to a new place in the gaming universe. For some - it's going to be a magnetic, hypnotic experience.

For others - boring as bat shit.


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Battlestar Galactica Has Been Sabotaged

SPECIAL FEATURES Thursday, March 11 by Captain


You may have seen this floating around the Intertubes the last few days - if you haven't, get ready for a dose of awesomeness that will perform multiple tasks during a busy Thursday.

1. Gives you that supercharged pick-me-up for a tough working day.

2. Reminds you how awesome BSG is.

3. Reminds you how awesome Spike Jonze's video of the Beastie Boys' Sabotage is.

4. Gives you the perfect video to send to that one person in your life who says 'enh, Battlestar Galactica... I don't think I want to watch it'.
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Frak Me! BSG MMORPG! OMG!

NEWS Wednesday, March 10 by Captain


Making no apologies for one of the geekiest headlines ever.

If you know what it means, your pants just got a little bit moist - front or back, it's a personal choice.

The idea that the Battlestar Galactica universe could in fact be the background for a Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game is an idea so awesome that the greater percentage of Sci Fi fans have not even considered its possibility. However, it is an idea that stretches back through the mists of time - waaaay back to even 2007, even.
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Min Un Bleck Three - Crazy Casting

NEWS Wednesday, March 10 by Captain


This is either great news, odd news, or disturbing news. Or it could be an 'internet rumour' which is a polite way of saying 'bull%&$'.

Websites bloodydisgusting.com and hollywood.com are reporting that Jemaine Clement (from Flight of the Chonchords and Gentlemen Broncos) and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G) are teaming up with Josh Brolin (Milk, No Country for Old Men) to star in Men In Black 3.

The script has been finished, and apparently the characters played by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are not in it.
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That New Tron Trailer We've All Been Waiting For... is Here!

VIDEO Tuesday, March 9 by Captain


Whilst Avatar, Star Trek and co did well to represent Sci Fi at the Oscars, and giving Sci Fi fans a fulfilled sense of pride in the process, the entertainment machine rolls on - signified by the massive outpouring of net activity after last night's release of the Iron Man 2 trailer. We'll have that up in Spectrum in a jiffy - but in the meantime, you may wish to salivate about another upcoming film - the 3D Hypernerdfest that is Tron Legacy.

The first trailer was merely awesome. This one tells you a bit more of the story, which so far, looks pretty good. All the old faves (albeit updated) are all there. How cool do the Recognizers look? Very cool.
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Call for Animators: Become a Proto-Ninja

NEWS Tuesday, March 9 by Captain


With the second UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival set to launch in Sydney on 24 September 2010, emerging animators have a chance to get a leg up in the industry through the Sixty40 Proto-Ninja Award.

The Sixty40 Proto-Ninja Award will consist of $999.99 cash plus a two-month mentorship with Sixty40, a design and animation company that combines the love of creativity with the reality of commercial production.

Entrants must create a new work of between 40 and 60 seconds length, which follows the theme “Underdog”.

Deadline for entries is 6th August 2010.

“The focus of the entry should be on telling a story that strikes an emotional chord around the theme of the underdog,” said Sixty40’s Animation Director Matt Taylor. “So, we’re looking for films that are funny, sad, inspirational or evoke some other emotional response.”

Production techniques used are completely open and could include stop-frame, traditional 2D, motion graphics, 3D, photography, puppetry, film or video. The result must ensure a compelling experience for the viewer rather than just a display of technical prowess.

“We use the term ‘ninja’ to signify an animator or designer with superior skills, vision and passion who can be relied on to not only pull their own weight in a studio but also to bring fresh unique qualities to their work. A ‘proto-ninja’ is a ninja-in-the-making who has not yet had the chance to unleash their talents on the world. The mentorship will give the winner time, resources and guidance to help them develop their film, experience and secret powers on their path towards full Ninja-dom” continues Taylor.

Ten finalists will be screened and the winner announced at the opening night of the UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival, Friday 24 September, 2010. As well, the ten finalists will have their work streamed from the Proto-Ninja award website for a period of 12 months or until the 2011 winner is announced.

In 2010 the Festival will showcase sessions such as the Australian Panorama, SIGGRAPH Highlights and the wonderfully twisted Late Night Bizarre, along with a new batch of animation from France, the US, UK and China to mention a few. After the success of last year’s international guest speakers Clare Kitson, former commissioning editor for the UK’s Channel 4, and Oscar winning Canadian animator Chris Landreth, 2010 will continue to provide access to the movers and shakers of the global animation industry.

Full details about the competition are available at www.sixty40.com/protoninja.
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Sydney Town Hall Hosts Star Trek, Farscape and Doctor Who

NEWS Monday, March 8 by Captain


If you live in Sydney, you may have heard that Sydney Town Hall has been fully refurnished. It's all shiny and new, and has only just (just!) reopened.

That's why we think it's kind of cool that one of the first public events to be held in glammed up landmark will be a Sci Fi convention. Kind of cool to have a Con in the heart of town, and kind of cool to have the guests that are coming.

It's all scheduled for Sunday, March the 21st, from 10am to 4pm. Put that in your diary right now.
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Alice Rocks Aussie Box Office

NEWS Monday, March 8 by Captain


Disney’s Alice in Wonderland went through the roof in the global box office on its opening weekend - but did particularly well in Australia, with a take home lunchbox of $10,337,237.

This makes Alice in Wonderland:

1. The highest grossing weekend for 2010

2. The best ever weekend for March (beating the previous record by 140%)

3. The third best Disney opening ever, behind only “Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3”

Alan Finney, Managing Director and Vice-President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Australia said, “We are delighted with the enthusiastic way Australian audiences have embraced Tim Burton’s unique vision of Wonderland and come out in support of our own homegrown talent, Mia Wasikowska".
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Making Sci Fi in Australia

VIDEO Monday, March 8 by Captain


Many of you may have seen the Aussie Sci Fi/Vampire movie, Daybreakers, written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. Whilst funded by Canadian studio Lionsgate, it was, in all aspects, a local production, stars Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke notwithstanding. The success of the film, both critically and commercially, once again begs the question - why isn't more Sci Fi made on Australian soil?

We have some of the best technicians, crew and facilities in the world. Our special effects, post-production and acting talent are legendary. Yet, for some reason, there seems to be a lack of will at the producer or the funding-body level. Young genre filmmakers are forced to go rogue, completely independent, outside the 'system' that we have in Australia, by either making micro-budget films like Gabriel, or going directly to Hollywood, like Saw. The idea that a Sci Fi or genre film would get the attention and funding reserved for a 'typical' Australian film seems insane. It seems preposterous.
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