Wonder Woman's New Look

Even icons need the occasional update and I like this one! J. Michael Straczynski has taken over the DC comic and plans some changes. You can see some in the pic on the left.
I love Wonder Woman because she kicks serious butt! Like the girlie version of Superman. Of course she is also totally hot!
I always felt like, if Supes wasn't around, that leadership of Earth's heroes would fall to WW. Sure, Batman would have a lot of say, but he's more of an advisor, not the leader that Kal-el and Diana can be!
So, I am in favor of the new threads! What about you?

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger just looks fantastic. The images we have see thus far and the cast all have me feeling like this movie will really be something special.
I am hoping for a cross between "Saving Private Ryan" and "Iron Man".
Chris Evans will be a great Cap and Hugo Weaving will be awesome as the Red Skull. The whole cast sounds perfect.

Cap means so much to me and I suspect that a lot of people feel the same way. Such an iconic character as well as the embodiment of a hero. He is the guy who never gives up and always does the right thing. A natural leader, a bad ass fighter and an indomitable spirit. I absolutely can't wait for this movie.

The Dawn Treader

A new Narnia Movie! I was afraid that "Prince Caspian" had killed the series for good, but it looks like we get to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader". That's pretty exciting!

Check out the trailer. It looks fantastic!

It's set for release this Christmas Season

The Chronicles of Narnia, for those of you who don't know, are an epic fantasy series written by C.S. Lewis. I read them all as a kid and I still read them as an adult.

Oh yeah, just for the record - I actually liked "Prince Caspian. "

Predators

Hell yeah! Robert Rodriguez is directing a new Predator movie entitled "Predators"

I have not always loved Robert's movies, but I LOVE Predator movies. I can't wait!

Check out the trailer

Jonah Hex bombs...

The Jonah Hex movie officially "bombed" on opening weekend drawing in around $5 million. I didn't know that $5mil was a "bomb" that's just what I read online (so it must be true, right?).
I am guessing if a movie costs millions to make, then the studios would like to make tens of millions off of tickets, merchandise etc.
I'll be honest, I am a bit surprised. I figured Hex would have a ready-made audience. The comic has always been pretty popular. I guess it goes to show us that not every comic book can be made into a movie.
Of course, I think the marketing was a bit light and the subject matter a bit dark for a summer blockbuster season. Looking at the other movies out right now, I can understand how Karate Kid, The A-team and Toy Story would all ouot compete Jonah.
I won't second guess the marketing, release dates too much though. I literally know nothing about that end of the movie making biz. I will say this though - Hex is a great character and the comic is very well done and has been for years. I can't wait to see the movie (but on opening weekend, my kids and I also chose Toy Story 3 - hence my conclusion about competition). As soon as I catch the film, I'll let you know how it is.
I could be reasonably happy staring at Megan Fox for 2 hours so I suspect I will have positive things to say about it.

Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern - First Look

Well, for anyone who hasn't heard, Ryan Reynolds has been cast to play Green Lantern in an upcoming film set for release in June 2011.

The movie has been given a decent sized budget and is getting lots of buzz.

One disclaimer, the image to the left is a fan-created image (impressive!). The actual costume is still in discussion and there is some thought that it might be totally CGI. The thinking has been that since the costume should look alien and come from the ring, then it might look more like a manifestation of his power.

I don't know...we'll just have to see. As long as it looks like an interstellar cop (which is what the Corp represents, right?) then it should be cool.

I have always loved the Green Lantern mix of superhero and science fiction! I love cross genre stuff and GL was cross genre before either of the genres was really established.

Best Movie Martial Artist

Who is the best movie martial artist ever?

Obviously, GGE has a preference (pictured to the left). There are several notable martial artists in movies. Some criteria - either in a TV show or in multiple moves. I am listing some actors who only played martial artists. Mainly, it's anyone I thought should be on the list. So...let's go






Here are some options (ranked in order of awesomeness by GGE):

• Bruce Lee - obviously The Dragon is my pick for the best and greatest of all time
• Jet Li
• Chuck Norris
• Jackie Chan
• Brandon Lee
• Ray Parks (I love this guy. Darth Maul, The Headless Horsemen, Snake eyes, Toad)
• Jean Claude Van Damme (He only beats Jason on on martial arts ability - not acting)
• Jason Statham (great actor - love his movies, but lower on the martial artist list)
• Hong Kong Phooey (he rocks)
• David Carradine (Not really a martial artist, but how awesome was Kung fu?)

Honorable Mentions:

• Ralph "Karate Kid" Maccio (hurts me to even list him)
• Mr. Miyagi
• Keanu Reeves (Neo was cool)
• Uma Thurman (really just an actresss)
• Steven Seagal (what a joke)

The Brethren Trilogy

Consider this a public service.

First of all, I have been reading "The Brethren Trilogy" and it is awesome! It is written by Robyn Young and I love this series so much.

Here is where Iwill help you out though - if you go to Amazon and browse for "The Brethren Trilogy" you will find four books. I know...wtf?

I can now clear this up for you and keep you from agonizing over this the way I did.



So, the trilogy is

1. Brethren
2. Crusade
3. Requiem...only Requiem was published as "The Fall of the Templars" in the United States. Everywhere else it is "Requiem"

So, mystery solved. Now go read this trilogy. It is really, really good!

Abby Sunderland

I don't know how many of you have been following Abby Sunderland's attempt to circumnavigate the world at the age of 16. A couple of days ago, the world lost contact with Abby and her emergency beacons were activated and there was about 40 hours when the worst was feared. Abby has been rescued now, having taken some damage to her 40 yacht, "Wild Eyes" but she is alive and well.
Abby's parents have, of course, taken a lot of flack for letting a 16 year old try such a feat. I felt the same, initially, but as I have read Abby's blog everyday, I have begun to change my mind. This is a seriously brave girl with the soul of an adventurer. As I think about great explorers and adventurers in human history, I realize that there is always an element of risk in living a life less ordinary.
It would have been terribly tragic if something had happened to Abby, but what a testament to human spirit. I think Abby and her family are amazing. Her brother has also circumnavigated the world.

"The Dangers of life are infinite, and among them is safety" - Goethe

We are not all that safe just driving down the road. I think Abby's attempt to do something remarkable is to be commended. I am both terrified and hopeful that she might try this again. One thing is for certain though, I think we need more people like Abby who are willing to cast caution to the wind and push the envelope of what is "possible"

Hank, the Idea Monkey

Finally Revealed, the source of GGE's ideas!

Yes, that is a picture of Green, of Green Gates as he converses with Hank, the "Idea Monkey" for new ideas that Green Gates can use. GGE often quizzes Hank for new ideas and we run most of our current plans past the Idea Monkey before sharing them with the public.

Don't worry, Hank is fine with sharing his knowledge. As you can see from the pic, all he asks in return is a small bottle of gatorade.


Here is another pic of Hank sharing his ideas with Green and his brother. Hank is an endless fount of knowledge and wisdom and is highly sought after in entertainment circles. He started his career as a stockbroker in NY city, but found the indigenous people to be too uncivilized for his tastes. He's retired to Chattanooga, TN, voted one of the "top 25 places to retire" by Money Magazine. (Money, not Monkey - Hank asked that I point that out)

Hank lives in Chattanooga at the Warner Park Zoo. Feel free to visit him to ask about Chattanooga, stock advice or just to let him serve as your own personal muse. Now the world knows where GGE gets its fresh, original, snappy ideas.

GGE to work with Southpaw Smith

GGE has announced a partnership with Scott Claringbold, creator of "Southpaw Smith" to bring you the next chapter in Southpaw's war on crime.
Southpaw Smith was first seen in 2008 in Claringbold's "Southpaw Smith: Round One".

Southpaw is a former boxer and ex-detective from London. After surviving exposure to an experimental test serum that creates metahuman super soldiers (in those few lucky enough to survive the process) Southpaw was approached by a shadow ops group known as "The Organisation". After turning down the Organisation, Southpaw's girlfriend was killed leaving Southpaw to wage a one man war on The Organisation and its global operations.
Now, Scott Claringbold and GGE are teaming up to bring you the next Southpaw Smith adventure to be published through Granton City Press.

Scott Claringbold, besides being the creator of Southpaw, is also the creator of Rabid, a character who starred in his own self-titled (and sadly short-lived) comic series written by Claringbold and drawn by Marc Olivent.

Look for more on Southpaw as the project develops.

A Dream Given Form...

"The Babylon Project was a dream given form..."

The opening words in Bablyon 5. I have been watching the whole series start to finish (having never watched it - I consider it remedial sci-fi at this point - and it is AWESOME, btw).

As I watched it today though, I thought about that. A dream given form. Someone dreamed up this space station (fictitious). They had to picture what it would do. How it would work. What it's purpose was (the last best hope for peace, a port of call, a home away from home). Then, they had to make that dream a reality through financing woes, construction difficulties and all that stuff.

The point is, first they had a dream. They worked out the dream and they decided what success looked like before building a space station.

So, what does success look like for me? A shelf of books that people like that I have had some part in crafting. A comic book or two that people enjoy. Maybe a movie. Maybe an animated movie. Some action figures. Some  t-shirts. Maybe a roleplaying tie-in with some of our properties. This is what success looks like to GGE. Now we have to build it. We have to knock over the first domino. Maybe that is the contract with Wild Child Publishing. Maybe it is the Danger Guild comic. Maybe it is our new partnership with Granton City Press. Maybe it is something I was writing tonight.

What does success look like for you? Picture it. Make it real. Then start assembling it.

And if you've never watched B5. Go to hulu.com and check it out.