Lenni Reviews: Dr. Sleep by Stephen King

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As a fan of Stephen King's work, I am certain my fangirl-ish squeel of glee could be heard far and wide when I heard Dr. Sleep came out. As a sequel to The Shining, I was super excited to find out the fate of Daniel Torrence, the child with the Shining gift now all grown up.

A recovering alcoholic; Danny works as an orderly in a hospice, using his gifts to help comfort the dying and earning the nickname Dr. Sleep. As he gets his life together, he starts to receive messages from another with a talent like his own; a young girl named Abra Stone. Abra's abilities are so strong, she attracts the attention of a group called the True Knot; who feeds off children with the Shining. The two of them must battle to stop them from devouring Abra and continuing to hunt these special children.

This book is best read if you have read The Shining first; although it stands alone as a perfectly thrilling book. Unless you read the first one, you won't get the REDRUM and Daniel's alcoholism provides much more of an emotional punch when you read in the first book about his father.

Simply put, I could not put this book down. I am such a fan of King and his writing that I have actually avoided reading his books for awhile because then I'd have to go and read 10 more; some of which would be the second or third time I've read the book. Abra is an amazing little girl; a character I wouldn't mind reading more about in the future. The True Knot are pretty damn terrifying and I had a white-knuckle grip on my tablet, anxious to read what comes next. (see here why I read this book on a tablet because the physical book was too big to carry around)

Dr. Sleep really gets to the point even though it comes in at a whopping (well, not whopping for King, anyway) 544 pages. I am thankful for this because King can really delve into detail which is great sometimes but... Let's just say I never made it through the extended cut of The Stand. There was so much back story, I hadda give it up. And while I won't spoil the ending, this King fan can safely say it is a very satisfying conclusion. This book is a very worthy successor and I do truly wonder if we will hear more of Abra in the future.

Dawn of The Planet of The Apes Trailer

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Hail Caeser! The teaser trailer for Dawn of The Planet of The Apes was released today. The sequel to Rise of The Planet of The Apes stars Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis| as Caeser A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.


Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD Remaster Collection Edition Announced

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Square Enix announced today a Collector’s Edition for FINAL FANTASY® X / X-2 HD Remaster for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Set to launch on March 18th, 2014, the collector’s bundle will be available exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store.

Enclosed within a hardcover artbook that comprises the PlayStation®3 system version of the game, the Collector’s Edition features 40 pages of imagery from the stunning world of Spira. Alongside five lithographs of iconic artwork and characters, the packaging will also include a FINAL FANTASY X HD Remaster Original Soundtrack – with more than six hours of music set to the game’s most memorable moments on a Blu-ray Disc. This collector’s edition is exclusive for North America and may not reflect editions available in other territories. The collector’s edition for the PlayStation®3 system will be sold exclusively at the Square Enix Online Store for $79.99.




 
Here are new screenshots from the game.







The Beast Unleashed! Your First Look at AMAZING X-MEN #3!

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Split between heaven and hell the X-Men battle supernatural forces unlike any other – and they’re in way over their heads! Now, to shut down Azazel and his army of demons – Hank McCoy must unleash his animal side! Plus, the moment you’ve all been waiting for – the X-Men come face-to-face with Nightcrawler!




WWE Legend Mick Foley Comic Signing at Midtown Comics Downtown

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Meet WWE Legend Mick Foley for a signing of his new comic book, WWE® Superstars #1 at Midtown Comics Downtown.
 
Saturday, December 14th 1:00PM
Midtown Comics – Downtown
64 Fulton St, NYC
 
Midtown Comics in New York City is excited to welcome WWE® Legend Mick Foley for a special book signing for the launch of his new comic book, WWE® Superstars #1, on Saturday, December 14th, at 1:00pm at Midtown Comics’ Downtown location. This is a limited capacity event for fans who purchase WWE® Superstars #1, and Midtown Comics advises attendees to arrive early, and dress appropriately for cold weather.

During his Hall of Fame career, three-time WWE® champion Mick Foley became one of WWE’s most unlikely success stories under the guise of three distinct personas — the unpredictable Cactus Jack, the demented hippy known as Dude Love and everyone’s favorite mental patient, Mankind. Today, Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy goes by the name on his birth certificate and is retired from the ring. The adventurous spirit that captured the hearts of fans worldwide, however, shines through in his various creative endeavors. In addition to spending time with his wife and four children, the Hardcore Legend can be found working with several charitable initiatives, delivering one-liners in his live comedy show Tales From Wrestling Past, and immersing himself in his writing. He is the author of an insightful, New York Times-bestselling autobiography “Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks,” three additional memoirs, four children’s books (Two of which were illustrated by Jill Thompson, another illustrated by Jerry “The King” Lawler), two fiction novels, and now this exciting new comic series WWE® Superstars.
 
WWE® Superstars #1: Written by Mick Foley with art by Alitha Martinez.
Titan City: A metropolis where everyone’s hiding secrets and there’s no one to trust. In a corrupt world where everyone is looking to cash in, we’ll follow the journey of three men… John Cena’s been framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Randy Orton’s on the verge of achieving citywide power. And CM Punk is determined to bring the whole corrupt system crashing down. From the scheming Southside to the barren desert no man’s land where even the law refuses to go, the powerful factions of Titan City are locked in a battle for control in an unforgettable noir landscape.

Kiki's Delivery Service Live Action Trailer

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Anime has a lot of live action adaptation coming in 2014. One of those anime's getting the live action treatment is the beloved Kiki's Delivery Service. The film stars as Fuka Koshiba as Kiki and the film is directed by Takashi Shimizu (Ju-ON: The Grudge). The theme song is called "Wake Me Up" by Mai Kuraki. Check out the trailer below.

J-Log Entry #2: Arrow vs Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

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In J-Log entry 2 Justin talks about which show he thinks is better Arrow or Agents of Shield.Check out the new article 
Five Reasons Why Arrow Should Connect To The DC Universe
/www.otakusandgeeks.com/akusandgeeks.com/2013/12/five-reasons-why-arrow-should-connect.html





Zetman Review

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There are two forces in the world: the Zet, who are entrusted with the survival of humanity, and the Alphas, who have chosen an extreme form of justice. In a certain city, Jin lives under a bridge with an old man, struggling to pay off debts. He carries the destiny of humanity's survival. Kouga lives on a hill and stands to inherit vast wealth. In his admiration for heroes, he seeks out the meaning of justice. They don't know it now, but they are destined to one day meet.




Five Reasons Why Arrow Should Connect To The DC Film Universe

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Ever since Arrow has introduced Barry Allen to the show. I can't help but think that this could be another step in the growing franchise of live adaptations for DC and Warner Bros. However unlike Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D who is connected to Marvel's film universe. DC fans are still not sure whether Arrow will be connected to the film universe of Man of Steel. Here are five reasons why Warner Bros and DC should connect Arrow to the film universe.

Reason 1: It's Easier & Cheaper For Warner Bros To Introduce Characters

Warner Bros and DC Comics are on the right path by introducing Barry Allen on Arrow. If Grant Gustin knocks the role of The Flash out of the park. I don't see no reason why he shouldn't play Flash on the big screen. Having Arrow and The Flash with their own shows gives Warner Bros an opportunity to really established the backstory and characterization. The production cost is cheaper and it gives more time to establish key story arcs. With a two hour movie you're limited on what you can do and what you can establish. However a twenty four episode season can do much more to establish a universe. Arrow so far has introduced characters such as Black Canary, Deadshot, China White, The Huntress, Bronze Tiger, League of Assassins, Deathstroke, Roy Harper and Dr. Ivo just to name a few. If these characters have reoccurring roles or episodes dedicated to a certain story arch it saves Warner Bros time trying to established them on the big screen.

Reason 2: The Fans Want Arrow To Be Connected To The DC Film Universe

Fans of Arrow would love to see Stephen Amell on the big screen. It would be a slap in the face to fans of the show to see two Arrows, one for the big screen and one for the small screen. I think Amell performance as Oliver Queen has been great so far and I have invested in seeing him as the only Arrow. In addition it will be silly at this stage of the game to have a separate film universe and TV universe when Marvel has found a way to connect both worlds. Why have two Arrow's, two Flash's when you can just connect the universes and save a couple of bucks? It would be a smart move to include the characters from the TV rather than introduce a film version and have to go through a whole new backstory and characterization.

Reason 3: Ratings

Imagine the boost in ratings Arrow will get if Ben Affleck, Gal Gabot or Henry Cavill guest star for a couple of episodes. Arrow has already seen the highest ratings of the season thanks to Grant Gustin as Barry Allen. I think with more appearances from some of DC's favorite heroes it will help Arrow even more. 

Reason 4: Justice League

Warner Bros and DC's ultimate goal is to launch a Justice League movie franchise that will hopefully have the same success as The Avengers. Arrow is on the right path by introducing The Flash however imagine if they introduce Cyborg, Green Lantern and Aquaman. If they dedicate an episode to each character to introduce them, they can then get a spin off mini series of six episodes to establish the characters. This process I think will speed things up for Warner Bros and once again will save them some money.

Reason 5: The Spirit of Competition

Who doesn't love the spirit of competiton? In my time I have see WWE vs WCW, Sony vs Microsoft vs Nintendo and now Marvel vs DC in live action form. Competition is exciting and it's good business for both parties if it's healthy.







Dead Talk Episode 3: Too Far Gone

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Recorded live at Applebee's on Justin's birthday dinner. Justin and friends discuss the mid season finale of The Walking Dead, Hershel Death, Justin constantly giving his friends spoilers. Oh yeah we talk how good the nachos are.


DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO

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The popular annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, and film will return to San Francisco’s Japantown and will also present another special J-Pop concert in Union Square the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th, 2014.

The J-POP Summit Festival is the Bay Area’s premier annual Japanese pop culture celebration featuring a variety of live bands and artists, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows, DJ dance events, interactive games, celebrity appearances, and much more. Many of the attractions are free to attend. The Festival is hosted by J-POP Summit Festival Committee in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. Additional details will be forthcoming at www.J-POP.com.

In 2013, J-POP Summit welcomed more than 80,000 people to Japantown and nearly 10,000 more music fans to the Festival’s first-ever concert held in Union Square that featured Japan’s Ambassador of Kawaii, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, as well as Kylee, Daichi, and LoVendoЯ. The downtown San Francisco Union Square stage will host a compelling line-up of J-Pop artists again next year.

Also returning as part of the 2014 J-POP Summit will be the second annual Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the only full-fledged Japanese film festival held in the Bay Area. The week-long series of live-action and anime film theatrical premieres will run Saturday, July 19th through Sunday, July 27th at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema and will be highlighted by red carpet events featuring appearances by prominent Japanese directors and actors, as well as several lecture presentations, workshops, autograph sessions, and film industry networking opportunities. Additional information will be available at: www.JFFSF.org.

Showcasing cutting edge Japanese fashion has always been a popular aspect of the J-POP Summit. 2013’s theme of “Making Kawaii Universal” resonated with thousands of attendees that savored leading brands as well as live shows featuring top models from the bustling Harajuku fashion scene including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Next year’s programming will present even more brands and icons to highlight a wide selection of exclusive designs, apparel, and accessories only available for a limited time during the Festival.

The 2014 J-POP Summit Festival also will present the return of the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which will delight attendees with a scrumptious array of innovative Japanese and Asian-influenced cuisine along with Japanese sake and teas. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy popular local gourmet food trucks and exclusive sake tasting by premier sake distillers/distributors on an even bigger scale.

“The growth of the J-POP Summit Festival has been phenomenal since our very first one in 2009 that also marked the Grand Opening of the NEW PEOPLE complex,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop Summit Festival. “The J-POP Summit Festival has become an integral part of San Francisco’s summertime fun and after 2013’s tremendous success we are planning even bigger and more exciting programming for 2014. Stay tuned for news and updates as we begin announcing artists and events early next year!”

Bryan Singer Announces X-Men Apocalypse

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With so many big announcements and trailers this week in the superhero film world. Bryan Singer put his name in the ring today. Today Bryan Singer announced on his Twitter page (https://twitter.com/BryanSinger) that the follow up to the upcoming X-Men Days of Future Past will be X-Men Apocalypse. The film is slated to be released on May 27th 2016. 

 Here is a quick history on Apocalypse

Space Dandy to Premiere Jan 4th on Toonami

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Space Dandy, a dazzling new anime from the entire creative team behind Cowboy Bebop, will have its world premiere on Toonami on Saturday, January 4th, 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by a premiere episode ofBleach at midnight, and then the Toonami premiere of Naruto Shippuden. Space Dandy is a dandy in space! This dreamy adventurer with a to-die-for pompadour travels across the galaxy in search of aliens no one has ever laid eyes on. Each new species he discovers earns him a hefty reward, but this dandy has to be quick on his feet because it’s first come – first served! Accompanied by his sidekicks, a rundown robot named QT and Meow the cat-looking space alien, Dandy bravely explores unknown worlds inhabited by a variety of aliens. Join the best dressed alien hunter in all of space and time as he embarks on an adventure that ends at the edge of the universe!

Gal Gadot will be casted as Wonder Women in Superman/Batman

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Warner Bros. has announced the actress who will play Wonder Woman/Diana Prince in director Zack Snyder's still-untitled 2015 Superman-Batman Man of Steel sequel that will see Henry Cavill return as Superman, joined by Ben Affleck as Batman, along with the returning Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, and Diane Lane as Martha Kent.

The role will be played by 28 year-old Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot.

Director Zack Snyder is quoted as saying:

“Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most powerful female characters of all time and a fan favorite in the DC Universe," Snyder said on the casting. "Not only is Gal an amazing actress, but she also has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role. We look forward to audiences discovering Gal in the first feature film incarnation of this beloved character.”  

 Not much more is said about the movie, but Gal Gadot is an established actress coming off the success of Fast and the furious 6. Warner Bros. made a pretty good choice and we look forward to seeing her play such and iconic character.



 by Sean Tucker

First Look At George Romero's Empire of The Dead #1!

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Welcome to New York City years after a horrifying plague has swept the nation. The Big Apple is a quarantine zone – but that doesn’t guarantee safety inside! Flesh-eating zombies roam within the remains of Manhattan – and they are not alone. Vampires lurk in the shadows as well, feasting on the living and the undead alike – and no one is safe! Here is your first look at George Romero's Empire Of The Dead #1.





Will The Green Goblin Appear In The Amazing Spider-Man 2?

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We know that Electro and Rhino will appear in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." However is it possible that the Green Goblin will show up as well. We know that Harry and Norman Osborn are set to appear in the film. However a recent international poster suggest that more villians are going to show up. Check out the full poster below and the close up shot of the Green Goblin. The Goblin does look like actor Dane DeHaan who plays Harry Osborn.

Full Poster

Harry Osborn as The Green Goblin?



Import Game Watch: J-Stars Victory Vs

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In the month of March 2014 not only will otakus be treated with a new Dragonball game, but we will also get a new Jump Stars game. The new game entitled J-Stars Victory Vs will bring your favorite anime fighters in an all out brawl. If your familiar with Jump Superstars for the Nintendo DS then you should have idea of who will be in this game. Check out some gameplay footage below. We will have details and a full review in upcoming months.




Five Reasons Why Ben Affleck Will Be A Great Batman

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Ever since Ben Affleck was announced as Batman there has been endless debates whether he was a good casting choice. Many geeks (not all) feel that he's not qualify due to his role in the 2003 film Daredevil. However I think Ben Affleck is a good choice and I have five reasons why. Check it out below.

Reason 1: 2003 Ben Affleck is not 2013 Ben Affleck

To say an actor is not qualify for a role because of a couple of flops is unfair. There is no actor walking this planet that has a perfect record. Flops are bound to happen. Has Ben Affleck done some questionable roles yes he has but so has everyone. Can you name one actor in the history of films who has a perfect record with no flops or where they were miscast? Even Denzel Washington had  several flops anyone remember the movie "Virtuosity" with Russel Crowe? To say Ben Affleck can't play Batman because of Daredevil is not a strong enough argument of why he can't be Batman. I will admit Ben's Affleck career choices in the early 2000's wasn't the best however that is the past. It's now 2013 not 2003 and you can't compare someone from what they once were to what they are now. People progress, people mature up and over time Ben's Affleck has done just that. His recent projects like "The Town" and "Argo" have shown his diveristy and maturity as an actor and filmmaker. Affleck is more smarter on what movies he will have his name on and that gives me hope.

Reason 2: Ben Affleck Looks The Part

If I was going to based this on the comics and by picture comparsion. I would say out of all the Batman's so far I would say Affleck resembles Bruce Wayne the most. In recent stills of Ben Affleck on the set of his new film "Gone Girl" he's already bulked up for Batman. He was recently told to slow it down until the filming of "Gone Girl" is completed. Apperance wise Ben Affleck looks like Bruce Wayne, however with so many incarnations of Bruce Wayne in the comics anybody could look like Bruce. However one signature thing Affleck does have that the previous Batman's didn't is the chin and facial structure. Also after googling pictures of Affleck and seeing certain facial expressions, I think he will capture the darkness of Batman very well especially in the eyes.

Reason 3: This Is A Much Older Dark Knight

As previous describe by Warner Bros this Batman will be tired, weary, and seasoned. I'm not expecting a Batman that was without hope and depressed like in "The Dark Knight Rises." I' am expecting a Batman that is established and shows how his battles have taken a toll on him. I think the more mature Ben Affleck will be able to showcase this just fine. If you need some proof of Ben Affleck recent acting range watch his role in Argo, The Town, The Company Men and even Runner Runner.

Reason 4: Ben Affleck Has Experience As An Actor & Director

I know his Daredevil is labeled one of the worst performances in a superhero movie. I still cringe at his delivery of here comes the C train. However I think having the experienced of Daredevil will benefit him greatly. Affleck will have the knowledge of what fans are expecting to see when it comes to a superhero film and what they expect for a performance. I believe he is mature enough to research key story arcs of The Dark Knight to give us a Batman we have been waiting for. I think his Batman will have the detective aspect that was lacking in The Dark Knight Trilogy. Remember in Dark Knight Trilogy Batman had Alfred and Lucious Fox do most of the detective work. In addition I think his knowledge as a director will benefit Zack Synder. Affleck can help Synder on pacing, character development and helping out the actors as well. I think having that experience in front and behind the lens will be wonderful and is a great addition to the DC/Warner Bros team.

Reason 5: We Said The Same Thing About Ledger & Anne Hathaway

When Heath Ledger was announced as The Joker most people thought it was a horrible choice. It was only until his performance was shown that many started to believe. Anner Hathaway suffered the same treatment when she was first cast. The moral of the story is don't judge yet until we see the performance. As stated early the Affleck of 2003 is not the same man he is today. I will remain optimistic until I see clips and the full performance.