Monthly Archives: December 2010

Song of the Day: Transcending Love (by Michiru Yamane, Takashi Yoshida, Masahiko Kimura, Keiko Fukami)

Posted on by Arleigh

I am what you would call an avid gamer. I’ve been playing video games since I was a wee lad and marveled at the Atari 2600. I moved from that system through the many systems after it to my current one which is my Xbox 360.

I’m an equal opportunity gamer in that I will play any type of game at least once no matter the genre. In the end, the one  genre which I will always gravitate towards and I consider my first gaming love are role-playing games. I especially have a special place in my heart for Japanese role-playing games. It’s music from one of those Japanese role-playing games where I have chosen the latest “song of the day”.

The latest song chosen is from the Konami-published role-playing game series called Suikoden. This particular song comes from the third game in the main series, Suikoden III, and is the opening theme for the game. The song’s title is “Transcending Love” and is one of my favorite piece of game music ever produced. The song even gets a well-animated anime opening sequence which shows characters and events from the  game but doesn’t show too much about who they are and what the plot of the game is all about.

The song is part of a soundtrack which includes several Japanese game music composer that figuring out who was responsible for this particular song would be difficult to do. I’ve decided to just credit all of them for what I consider one of the best game opening themes and music ever composed.

6 Trailers While You Wait

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

So, I’m currently still working on my review of Black Swan, which I saw this weekend and loved so much that I ended up having an asthma attack at the end of it.  But anyway, as we wait for me to discover articulation, why not check out 6 more of my favorite grindhouse and exploitation film trailers?

1) Deathdream (a.k.a. Dead of Night)

Now, this is an interesting debut film from the prolific Canadian director Bob Clark (the man who later gave the world both Black Christmas and A Christmas Story).  A young soldier is killed in Viet Nam and shows up back in his hometown one night later without a soul.  The allegory is pretty obvious but it’s still effectively done and crawls under your skin.  This film was also one of Tom Savini’s early films.  The soldier’s father is played by John Marley who later appeared in The Godfather with a horse’s head in his bed.

2) Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless To Confess

I’ve never seen this movie.  I just like the title.

3) The Black Cat

Director Lucio Fulci made this film around the same time he was making his more famous zombie films but it never got the same attention, despite starring David Warbeck.  I love the cat — he’s so cute and he reminds me of my own cat.  Plus, he’s quite effective at killing people.

4) School of the Holy Beast

Apparently, this is a nunsploitation film from Japan!  That nunsploitation was a very popular genre in Italy, Spain, and Ireland makes sense when you consider that those are three of the most Catholic countries on the planet.  But Japan?

5) The Blood Splattered Bride

The trailer for the 1971 Italian lesbian vampire film goes on for a bit too long but I think it has nice atmospheric feel to it (the same can be said of the film itself). 

6) The Dead Pit

Since we started with a zombie film, let’s end with one as well.  The Dead Pit is pretty silly but I enjoyed it and would happily star in a remake.  Plus, the trailer’s line about “the thickness of the door” just amuses me on so many levels.

Scenes I Love: Messiah of Evil

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Since we all just watched the season finale of the Walking Dead (you did watch it, didn’t you?), I figured I’d highlight two scenes from one of my favorite “zombie” films, 1973’s Messiah of Evil. 

The first scene is one that I never fail to think about whenever I find myself going down to Wal-Mart at 3 in the morning.

The second scene is one that really hits home for me because it takes place in a movie theater.  If nothing else, it perfectly illustrates why you should always have a date (preferably a strong one) if you’re going to the movies.  As sidenote, the unfortunate actress in this scene was named Joy Bang.

Willard Huyck, director of this film, also co-wrote the script for American Graffiti.

Review: The Walking Dead (EP06) – “TS-19”

Posted on by Arleigh

[Some Spoilers Within]

So, we’ve finally reached the season finale of a very short inaugural season of Frank Darabont’s tv adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s critically-acclaimed and very popular comic book series, The Walking Dead. AMC ordered an initial 6-episode for this season which made setting up the world for the non-fans of the comic book a top priority. This could be seen in the first five episodes as each one explained the rules of this new post-apocalyptic world and how it has changed how people have now begun to behave.

The tv series has stayed mostly loyal to its comic book source, but some divergence from the source material has caused some grumblings amongst the comic book’s legions of fans. It doesn’t matter to them that the comic book’s creator has been ok with the changes and actually an active participant with said changes. These changes have been somewhat minor in the show’s five episodes but as episode five rolled to an end we got a major departure to the source material. Rick has taken his band of survivors back to Atlanta where the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is headquartered at. This never happened in the comic book and it’s inclusion to the story has driven many a fan of the source material batshit crazy.

They ask why make the changes, both minor and major, to a story that was already full of story-arcs, subplots aplenty and enough characters down the line that new ones weren’t needed. I can’t blame them for asking such questions for I, too, are a major fan of the comics right from the very beginning. But these changes is exactly why the story being told by this tv adaptation look and seem fresh to me. The end of the last episode was such a major departure that I can now honestly say that I have no idea what Darabont and Kirkman have in store for Season Two. It’s that element of the unknown and the surprise of not knowing what’s around the corner why I don’t rail against these changes. If I wanted a page-by-page, panel-by-panel adaptation then I’d rather just bring out the comics and re-read them for the umpteenth time.

Now we get to the season finale and whether the major change will actually improve or just ruin the series.

I must say that I was guarded in my optimism about this major departure and the inclusion of the CDC. What I’ve liked about some of the best zombie stories ever put on film or on paper is that the zombie apocalypse never truly gets a definite explanation as to how it began or what caused it in the first place. This season finale episode titled “TS-19” seemed like Darabont’s attempt to try and explain the cause of the zombies and who or what let it loose in the first place. Very bad zombie stories try to over-explain and end up tripping over themselves in the process and thus ruining the experience.

With “TS-19” we get Dr. Edmund Jenner (Noah Emmerich), last surviving researcher in the CDC, give a brief explanation as to the process of when a person goes from living to dead to reanimated corpse. While the fancy computer-enhanced imagery seemed to explain much it really doesn’t. It just scientifically showed what everyone already knew. They still don’t know if it’s a viral or bacterial disease or if it’s even a disease at all. Even Jenner doesn’t discount Jacqui (one of those new characters added in that fans of the comics railed against) mentioning that it could be the wrath of God. The sequence even answers viewers’ question about how long it takes for a recently dead to return back as a “walker”. The answer to that is that they don’t know.

This episode highlighted how ineffectual the very institutions people depended on for help, security and safety when the zombie apocalypse finally hit critical stage. We see this in the show’s cold start prologue as we go back in time to see the final moments at the King’s County Hospital where a comatose Rick Grimes was being kept at for observations. Shane, his partner and best friend, sees the brutal solution the military has for those either infected but alive and/or unwilling to vacate the hospital as it began to be overrun by the “walkers”.

This sequence answered questions about why the military was so inefficient. It’s also a damning condemnation about the rigidity of such a major governmental institution unable to adapt to an ever-changing situation where the enemy didn’t sleep, didn’t stop to rest or wasn’t afraid about being fired on. This was an enemy that was conducting the true meaning of “total war” on a people who were already on the ends of their last rope. The fact that their solution only swelled the ranks of those they fought just showed how doomed the world is when something this apocalyptic occurs without warning and without a means to fully understand and combat.

Even Jenner doesn’t know what made the zombie apocalypse begin and the source of what scientists thought was something they could find a cure for. This ambiguity needed to be shown to stop question from the audience about the “why’s” and “how’s” and instead get the series back onto the road where survival and holding onto their humanity remains their ultimate struggle.

This episode does get them back onto that lonely road with some deciding to stay as the facility began a countdown towards a final decontamination. We get also get a nice scene between Jeffrey DeMunn’s Dale and Laurie Holden’s Andrea that should make fans of the comics happy. The same goes for showing just how ineffectual Rick has been as their leader as every decision he has made has put the group in danger. It shows Rick’s intractable belief in doing the right things and holding on to the vestiges of civilized behavior could be just a front to give his wife and son hope that things will be better. This episode shows Rick that what’s better is to stay for that final decontamination instead of going back on the road where only death and suffering will await him and his group. Jenner’s comment that was heard was like a prophetic announcement that Rick will regret going back out.

So, we finally end Season One of The Walking Dead and have a very long wait (hopefully AMC make the decision to air Season Two not on October but at least a month sooner, if not a couple of months.) til the series picks up again with the convoy of survivors headed to parts unknown. Parts unknown not just for the characters in the series but for fans of the comic book as well. Here’s to hoping that while Darabont and Kirkman uses the comic book as the main path for the series moving forward that they also deviate from it from time to time if there’s a good story to tell on those small paths and tributaries.

Extras

* “Dude, you are such a buzzkill.” – Glenn finally gets back his witty ways as he reacts to Shane’s questioning of Jenner during a celebratory dinner.

* “Man, I’m going to get shitfaced drunk, AGAIN.” – Daryl’s reaction to Jenner’s news that there may be no one left anywhere.

* I found it quite ironic that of all the people to hold out the longest as the rest of the world gave up it would be the French.

* There was quite the Lost In Translation moment towards the end as Jenner whispers something into Rick’s ear before the group bolted to escape. Theories on what already has odds on Lori’s physical situation after the tests Jenner gave the group.

* As a military nut I smiled at the use of the acronym H.I.T. to literally mean a hit of a high-impulse thermobaric high explosive. That’s what I call a hit.

* Scene as Rick tries to plead with Jenner to let them go one can see Daryl still axing away at the blast doors.

* “The world runs on fossil fuel. How stupid is that!” – Jenner pointing out that places still doing research to find a solution failed because the power grids which run on fuel stopped due to lack of it.

* “This is what takes us down. This is our extinction event.” – Jenner finally voicing what everyone in the show has been avoiding and should give a clue as to the true meaning of the show’s title.

* The episode ends with a Bob Dylan song, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, that was very appropriate.

10 Unacknowledged Christmas Classics

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

It’s December and that means that it’s the Christmas season and that can only mean an abundance of Christmas movies both at movie theaters and on television.  This Christmas movie has even become a genre in a way that the Thanksgiving movie or the Bank Holiday movie never has.

I love the Christmas season because 1) it’s one of the few times that there’s half a chance of seeing snow in Texas, 2) it gives me an excuse to bond with family, and 3) I get lots of presents.  And I enjoy Christmas movies so much that I can pretty much quote every line from It’s A Wonderful Life from memory.  I’ve even been known to enjoy the holiday movie marathons that pop up on the Lifetime Movie Network (especially if they feature Jeff Fahey and his bluer than blue eyes).  However, my favorite Christmas movie remains the original Miracle on 34th Street because Natalie Wood was one of my mom’s favorite actresses and Miracle was one of her favorite films.

However, in this post, I want to highlight 10 movies that have either been overlooked in the past or else films that, while properly acknowledged as classics, are rarely mentioned as being Christmas films.

1) In Bruges (2008)  — Two Irish hitman (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, both wonderful) hide out in Belgium during the Christmas holiday.  I love this film for so many reason but I have to specifically mention the performance of Ralph Fiennes, who plays an English crime boss with a foul mouth, a murderous personality, and a firmly held set of ethics.

2) Brazil (1985) — One reason why I love Terry Gilliam’s dark satire is because I actually have quite a bit in common with it.  We’re both often misunderstood, we’re both pretty to look at, and we were both released in 1985.  While Brazil is now often acknowledged as one of the best and most imaginative films of the last century, it’s often forgotten that all of this film’s action takes place over the Christmas season.  If you’ve never seen Brazil, see it now.  But be aware that you’ll never look at Michael Palin quite the same way again.

3) Three Days of The Condor (1975) — This espionage thriller (which stars a young, pre-Leatherface Robert Redford) skillfully contrasts cold-blooded violence with the bright outer happiness of the Christmas season.

4) Eyes Wide Shut (2000) — Stanley Kubrick’s final film is a tribute to MK-Ultra conspiracy theories and features rich people trying to be kinky during the Christmas season.  Nicole Kidman does redheads proud with her performance here and we get to see Tom Cruise smoke pot.

5) P2 (2007) — Rachel Nichols is trapped in a parking garage on Christmas Eve by a very scary Wes Bentley.  I have to admit that I’ve always had a morbid fear of either dying, getting seriously injured, or disappearing on Christmas Eve and therefore ruining the holiday for my family.  I guess that’s why P2 resonated with me.

6) Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) — No, this is not a killer Santa film.  This is the film where a bunch of former Warhol superstars (Ondine and Candy Darling being the most prominent) play a bunch of mental patients who massacre their doctors in a disturbing, sepia-toned sequence.  Years later, on Christmas, another former Warhol superstar — the wonderful Mary Woronov — comes to investigate.  This is actually a fairly good film from director Theodore Gershuny.

7) Christmas Evil (1980) — Now this is a killer Santa film.  Harry is a loser who works in a toy factory but he’s obsessed with Christmas because, when he was a child, he saw mommy humping Santa Claus.  (Isn’t that a song?)  So, one Christmas, Harry dresses up like Santa and goes around killing neglectful parents and others who don’t have the Christmas spirit.  This is an oddly sweet film with an ending that brought very sincere tears to my eyes.

8 ) To All A Good Night (1980) — Okay, this is another killer Santa film and it’s one of those early ’80s slashers where everyone dies because they’re total and complete idiots but two things distinguish this film from other Killer Santa slasher films: 1) it features not one but two psycho Santas and the movie was directed by David Hess, star of Last House On The Left and The House On The Edge of the Park.

9) The Silent Partner (1978) —  However, the greatest of all killer Santas is to be found in this Canadian crime thriller.  Christopher Plummer plays a psycho bank robber who — disguised as Santa — robs a bank.  Elliot Gould plays a lonely bank clerk who uses the robbery as an excuse to steal some cash for himself which leads to Plummer eventually coming after him.  Plummer makes the scariest Saint Nick ever!

10) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) — This is pure grindhouse brilliance, a dark comedy and a metafictional satire disguised an action movie.  Robert Downey, Jr. is a small-time criminal who accidentally becomes a film star and ends up investigating a murder with a hard-boiled PI (a surprisingly self-aware performance from Val Kilmer).  And it all takes place during the holidays.

Quickie Review: The Church aka La Chiesa (dir. by Michele Soavi)

Posted on by Arleigh

The Italian horror cinema scene has always been dominated by such names as Mario Bava, Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Their films became Italy’s contribution to horror cinema and one cannot find a fan of the genre who don’t hold these three gentlemen in high regard. Other names of the Italian horror scene were not as well-known beyond the most hardcore horror fans and some just don’t deserve to be in the same company as the previously mentioned trio. One filmmaker who should be part of their company is one Michele Soavi. He rose through the ranks as an actor at first before moving on to becoming assistant directors for mentors such as Joe D’Amato and Dario Argento. The latter would become a major influence in Soavi’s work and would help produce some of his films. One of those Argento would end up producing for Soavi is the 1989 supernatural horror film, The Church (known in Italy as La Chiesa).

The Church wasn’t one of Soavi’s best films, but it was still one of the better horror films to come out of Italy during the waning years of the 80’s when Italian horror began a slow decline. Starring a very young Asia Argento (hard to believe that a career which began with reports of nepotism would turn out to be a successful one in and out of Italy) and an Italian-American actor named Tomas Arana (people would know him best as the ambitious Quintus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator), the film starts off with a cohort of Teutonic Knights who destroy and kill a town suspected of witchcraft. The bodies of all killed soon get dumped into a mass grave and sealed with a huge metal cross and prayers to keep the evil that was done from ever coming out.

The beginning does have a somewhat ambiguous tone to it as we the audience don’t know if the villagers were indeed evil. Soavi definitely leaves that up in the air until the final third of the film kicks in and most of the horror scenes appear to satisfy gore fans. The knights destroying the village was well-staged and executed with some cool kill-scenes and effects.

It’s the middle reel where the film slowed down to the point that could lose the more casual horror fan. We get the usual non-believer researcer (Arana) who stumbles upon the ancient cross sealing the mass grave beneath the church that had been built over it down the centuries. Even this researcher and another knows that they should leave it alone, but being the scientists one of them proceeds to unseal the find with the reasoning that pursuit of knowledge should triumph over supersitition. Thus, the church becomes the scene of demonic possessions of various individuals. First, the initial researcher who opens unseals the cross then the parents of Asia Argento’s character before moving on to churchgoers who become trapped in the church after some demonic force seals all exits.

The rest of the film once that church seals itself is one person either getting killed by those possessed by the demons escaping from the sealed grave or someone getting possessed. This third act actually has a touch of Fulci’s nightmarish-style and less of Argento’s more dream-like quality. There’s a beautiful scene of Tomas Aranas’ character made-up to be some verdigrised-bronze angel statue, wings and all, embracing a very naked young woman that looked straight out of a Luis Royo painting. Another scene where regular Soavi actor Barbara Cupisti was shown in sexual congress with a demonic being that should give more than a few people nightmares despite being framed and shot in a beautiful manner.

The final nightmare scene of beauty which pushes The Church over into Fulci territory is when a mass of naked, muddied bodies of all those possessed entwine and writhe to form the likeness of a demon’s head. This sequence alone was worth watching through the much slower middle section of this film and Soavi’s eye for staging and lighting the scene made it look like something out of the pages of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

One could say that The Church just didn’t live up to the usual quality one expected out of a Michele Soavi film after a he made the excellent giallo-slasher film Stage Fright just two years prior. This second full-lenght feature by Soavi showed him still honing his talent as a filmmaker which would finally culminate five years later in one of the best Italian horror films and one of the best films in the zombie subgenre with his Dellamorte Dellamore. Plus, even when he’s not on top of his craft like with The Church it is still worth a watch and better than the stuff released by his contemporaries like Bruno Mattei.

70,000 Tons of… wait what?

Posted on by necromoonyeti

Hell died and went to Miami.

I know how to smell a scam, and this thing reeks. But I couldn’t write it off so easily, because I found it through a band’s official tour schedule. So I started looking around at a bunch of different band sites, a bunch of reputable music magazines, everything I could think of, and sure enough, it appears to be legit. If it is a scam, it’s about the most well played one I’ve ever encountered. I honestly think this is real.

So you probably figure, ok, cruises are for yuppies and old people, it’s probably going to be a lot of cheesy hair metal, washed up gimmicks, and no name bands. It certainly isn’t going to be the most impressive names in metal, all playing at least two sets a piece, chilling on the deck getting hammered with the fans between performances, right? …Right?…

Blind Guardian, Týr, Finntroll, Ensiferum, Korpiklaani, Amon Amarth, and Iced Earth top the lineup. I’m not fucking kidding. This cruise includes Nevermore, Marduk, Sonata Arctica, Moonspell, Rage, Epica, Dark Tranquility, Testament, Obituary, Exodus, Fear Factory, Gamma Ray, Unleashed, and a Bathory cover band consisting of members of Mayhem, Einherjer, Dimmu Borgir, Thyrfing, and Primordial.

On a cruise ship.

I think I just crapped my pants.

According to the creator of all this, “I live in Vancouver, BC, very close to the cruise ship terminal. So one day about three years ago I was sitting with my friends on my balcony having a few beers. Obviously we had one too many, because I remember asking those guys, hey, wouldn’t that be cool to charter one of these and put a heavy metal festival on? That was when 70000TONS OF METAL was born.”

No Name Anthologies: Last Script

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

No Name Anthologies: Issue #4

“Date with Destiny”

1st draft 11/24/06

By “Senor Geekus”

REFERENCE

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER

Arielle Thetis: A strikingly beautiful woman from Moniker’s past.  She possesses abilities similar a Naiad. She has long flowing hair that reaches her hips.  She resembles a cross between Monica Bellucci, Mieko Rye, and Sofia Vergara. She is dressed in an outfit similar to the ones worn by Inara in Firefly.

PAGE 1:

PANEL ONE: A building that resembles a Roman Bath.  It is surrounded by a garden. There are cars parked about 100 feet away.

PANEL TWO: The interior of the building looks like the classical Roman Bath house.

PANEL THREE: Zero Moniker is in bath relaxing. His arms are sprawled over the edge. Everything above his chest is in view and above the water. His body is thin yet muscular.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of his head. His head is facing the sky and his eyes are closed.

Zero Moniker: So this is what paradise is like.

PAGE 2:

PANEL ONE: Two watery tendrils form in the pool.

PANEL TWO: The tendrils shoot towards Zero’s hands.

PANEL THREE: They envelope his arms.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face. His eyes show his surprise.

Zero Moniker: What is going on?

PANEL FIVE: His arms are pulled into the pool.

PANEL SIX: The pool ices up around him: trapping him.

PAGE 3:

PANEL ONE: The watery figure is forming

PANEL TWO: The figure becomes more defined. There are pronounced facial features. The curves become more feminine.

PANEL THREE: The figure is now flesh and blood. It is Arielle Thetis. Everything above her shoulders is visible and above water.

PANEL FOUR: Arielle gazes intensely at Zero. There is a look of longing in her eyes.

Arielle Thetis: You have grown considerably since we last enjoyed each other’s company.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero. His eyes illustrate his utter embracement.

Zero Moniker: That was years ago, Arielle. We have both experienced some growth.

PANEL SIX: Arielle blushes and smiles.

Arielle Thetis: Yes, we have more pressing matters to attend to.

PAGE 4:

PANEL ONE: Arielle stands up. Upward flow of water encircles her.

PANEL TWO: Arielle is now wearing a gown. She is standing on top of the water and facing Zero.

Arielle Thetis: Father thinks it is time to evolve your enlightenment.

PANEL THREE: Zero’s eyes show his shock and surprise. An upward flow encircles him.

Zero Moniker: This soon… your father thinks that I am ready?

PANEL FOUR: Zero is now wearing a kimono and standing on the pool’s surface.  He is holding Arielle’s hands. The pool is radiating and energy is emanating from it.

PANEL FIVE: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PAGE 5:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero and Arielle are in a loving embrace. Arielle’s eyes are closed and her head is resting on his chest. They are in a pool but the environment looks like the Versailles Chapel.

PAGE 6:

PANEL ONE: Arielle and Zero are gazing into each other’s eyes.

Arielle Thetis: Evolution is a painful process. Are you sure that you want to go through with it?

Zero Moniker: Yes… I am certain.

PANEL TWO: A watery tendril rises behind him.

PANEL THREE: It splits in two.

PANEL FOUR: The two tendrils ensnare his arms.

PANEL FIVE: The main tendril ensnares the rest of his body.

PANEL SIX: The tendrils become solid ice.

PAGE 7:

PANEL ONE: Arielle has her right hand extended towards Zero. Her hand is open. There is a golf ball-sized energy sphere in her palm.

Arielle Thetis: Your evolution begins now!

PANEL TWO: Arielle places the sphere into his forehead.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of his face. His eyes are pupil-less.

PANEL FIVE: Energy shoots out of his eyes.

PAGE 8:

PANEL ONE: Zero’s body is radiating and emitting energized particles.

PANEL TWO: The ice restraints disintegrate and the kimono dissolves from the heat.

PANEL THREE: Zero is levitating about the water with his hands extended.

PANEL FOUR: Bolts of energy shoot out of his hands.

PANEL FIVE: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PAGE 9

PANEL ONE: Zero is in Zero Star form and ripples are emanating from it.

PANEL TWO: The Zero Star starts to split.

PANEL THREE: There are two Zero Stars now.

PANEL FOUR: The twin Zero Stars start to split.

PAGE 10:

PANEL ONE: The four Zero Stars are in a baseball diamond formation.

PANEL TWO: A baseball-size sphere of pulsating energy is in the center.

PANEL THREE: The sphere is growing and the surroundings are striking around it.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Arielle Thetis. She is shielding her eyes because of the radiance and there is a smile on her face.

Arielle Thetis: You did it! Your evolution is so beautiful!

Page 11:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero’s complete evolution now looks like Red super giant with four Zero Stars in its orbits. It takes up a large portion of the room. Arielle is twice the size of its satellites.

PAGE 12:

PANEL ONE: A close-up of the central sphere.

Zero Moniker: Such power is like ecstasy. I feel a greater connection with the universe.

PANEL TWO: The Zero Universe starts to pulsate.

PANEL THREE: The Zero Universe reverts back to the Zero Star.

PANEL FOUR: The Zero Star transforms back into the man.

PANEL FIVE: Zero is levitating above the pool.

PAGE 13:

PANEL ONE: Zero falls into the pool.

PANEL TWO: Zero is floating on the surface with his face towards the ceiling.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Zero’s face. His eyes convey his exhaustion and his contentment.

Zero Moniker: Is this how you feel every time you evolve?

PANEL FOUR: Arielle cradles Zero in her arms and looks loving at him.

Arielle Thetis: Yes, it is the continuation and enhancement of the enlightenment bliss.

PAGE 14:

PANEL ONE: The water around them begins to glow.

PANEL TWO: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PANEL THREE: They are back in the bathhouse.

PANEL FOUR: Arielle helps Zero to the edge of the pool. The upward flow of water still surrounds her.

PAGE 15:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero and Arielle are at the edge of the pool. Zero has his left arm around her shoulders. His other arm is sprawled over the edge. Arielle has her head resting on his chest. Arielle’s eyes are closed. Zero’s eyes convey his bliss.

 

FIN

No Name Anthologies: Script #3

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

No Name Anthologies: Issue #3

“Jingoistic Reject”

1st draft 11/23/06

By “Senor Geekus”

REFERENCE

VILLAIN

Samuel Anthony Revere: The failed test subject of the Vietnam Post Human Initiative turned career criminal. He has an extremely muscular built, a cross between Marv from Sin City and Dog Chapman the bounty hunter. He is dressed in a dapper suit.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER

Shango: A renowned Post Human cyborg bounty hunter. He’s of African Descent. He looks like Leonard Roberts, but a lot more muscular. He has a scar running down his face. He wears a black wife beater, army pants and combat boots.

 

PAGE 1:

PANEL ONE: An overhead view of the Las Vegas.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of a seedy bar with a sign that reads “Fish Monger’s”.

PANEL THREE: The bar is crowded. The patrons are the surly criminal type.

PANEL FOUR: Zero is at a table in the company of four beautiful women. One girl resembles Natalie Raitano. One resembles Kristin Kreuk.  One resembles Meagan Good. The last resembles Gloria Velez. They are dressed in the current trendy style.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero’s eyes. They convey excitement and enjoyment.

PAGE 2:

PANEL ONE: Revere bursts through the bar door. Splinters are flying.

PANEL TWO: The patrons are visible shaken.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Revere. His teeth are clenched and there is a murderous look in his eyes.

Revere: What the Hell do you think you’re doing with my girls!!

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face.

Zero Moniker: I thought that I would show them that a real man is like.

Zero Moniker: All those muscles don’t compensate for what they really need.

PANEL FIVE: Revere pulverizes a near-by table.

Revere: No prissy conservative puke is going to come to my bar, take my women and insult my manhood and LIVE!

PAGE 3:

PANEL ONE: Zero blasts him through the wall. The back of Zero’s head is in view. The beams hits Revere in his midsection.

Revere: Oooof

PANEL TWO: Revere is slammed into a parked 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

PANEL THREE: Revere gets up and dusts off suit. He has a grin on his face.

Revere: Seems like you have a pair, boy!

PANEL FOUR: Revere rips out a lamppost and swings it at Moniker. There are speed lines as he swings.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero’s face. There is shock in his eyes.

Zero Moniker: Why is he so quick?

PAGE 4:

PANEL ONE: It stops inches away from Zero. An electrical glow surrounds it.

PANEL TWO: Revere is struggling with the lamppost.

Revere: What the devil just happened here?

PANEL THREE: Revere fires an optical laser beam at Moniker.

PANEL FOUR: Zero blocks the beam with his force field. His hands are stretched out in front of him.

PANEL FIVE: Revere swings the lamppost and it connects. It catches him on his left shoulder.

PAGE 5:

PANEL ONE: Zero is hurled towards the traffic light.

PANEL TWO: Zero spins himself like a top.

PANEL THREE: Zero lands on his feet about 15 feet away from Revere.

PANEL FOUR: Zero is facing the reader. A barrage of energy bullets are coming from his head.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Revere’s eyes. His left eyebrow is raised. His eyes illustrates his shock

Revere: Looks I just stepped in it!

PAGE 6:

PANEL ONE: The barrage hits Revere.

PANEL TWO: Revere stands with his arms crossed. His suit is seriously damaged, but his skin is undamaged.

Revere: Boy, I received a few more upgrades since I left Uncle Sam. I doubt I can still be grouped with you baseline types.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Zero’s head and his secondary eyes are focused on Revere and glowing.

PANEL FOUR: An X-Ray view of Revere. His skeletal structure is mechanical.

PANEL FIVE: Revere is grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Revere: Guess that now my secret is out of the bag… there’s no need for me to hold back.

PAGE 7:

PANEL ONE: Revere lunges at Moniker. Speed lines come off Revere as he lunges.

PANEL TWO: He jabs Moniker in the jaw.

SFX: CRACK

PANEL THREE: The punch sends Zero flying through the bar window. Speed lines come off Zero as he flies into the Window.

PANEL FOUR: A bike similar to the one Kaneda drove in Akira crashes into Revere.

PANEL FIVE: Revere slams into a parked bus.

PANEL SIX: The bus explodes.

PAGE 8:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Shango is standing grabbing his fist. He has a serious P.O.ed look on his face. The civilians around him are in shock and awe.

PAGE 9:

PANEL ONE: Revere emerges from the wreckage relatively unharmed. The fire has burnt off his hair.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of Revere’s grinning face.

Revere: So the runt called his big brother to fight his battles.

PANEL THREE: Shango picks up a Dodge Charger and hurls it at Revere.

PANEL FOUR: Revere smacks the car away.

PANEL FIVE: The car is heading towards the helpless onlookers.

PANEL SIX: Shango speeds before them and destroys the car with an optical beam.

PAGE 10:

PANEL ONE: Revere speeds towards Shango and punches him in his gut.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of Shango’s fists grabbing Revere’s arms.

PANEL THREE: Shango throws him into the air.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Shango’s eyes flashing.

PANEL FIVE: Shango fires another optical beam at the airborne Revere. The reader sees the back of Shango’s head and the beams traveling upwards.

PAGE 11:

PANEL ONE: Revere dodges the beam.

PANEL TWO: Revere speeds towards the Earth bound Shango.

PANEL THREE: Revere’s eyes flashes and he grins insanely.

PANEL FOUR: He crashes into Shango at full force.

PANEL FIVE: The scenery is covered with a cloud of smoke and dust.

SFX: KAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

PAGE 12:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): There is a huge crater in the middle of the street. Revere is holding an unconscious Shango with his left hand. His right hand is raised in preparation for delivering the death blow.

PAGE 13:

PANEL ONE: Revere recoils his right hand ready to decapitate Shango.

PANEL TWO: An electrical glow surrounds his fist.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Revere’s eyes. He is complete shock.

Revere: Wh… What is going on here?

PANEL FOUR: Electrical glow now surrounds his entire body.

PANEL FIVE: Electrical energy surges through his body.

PAGE 14:

PANEL ONE: Zero is now in front of him. Zero’s suit is a bit worst for wear.

PANEL TWO: Revere is grinning.

Revere: So the wimp is back in the game. I thought that my jab would have obliterated a pencil neck like you.

PANEL THREE: Zero glares at Revere with both sets of eyes.

Zero Moniker: It will take more than a cretin like you to awaken me!

PANEL FOUR: Zero’s secondary eyes are glowing.

Zero Moniker: I will now enlighten you.

PAGE 15:

PANEL ONE: Zero and Revere on eye level. An energy wave is leaving Zero’s secondary eye and entering Revere’s eyes.

PANEL TWO: Revere’s eyes close and he falls unconscious.

PANEL THREE: Revere awakens tied to a stake with chains.

PANEL FOUR: A legion of Zeros holding spears stand before Revere.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Revere screaming in agony.

PAGE 16:

PANEL ONE: Revere is in a fetal position sobbing.

PANEL TWO: Shango is emerging from the crater.

PANEL THREE: Shango’s face conveys his utter shock.

PANEL FOUR: Shango and Zero are face to face.

Shango: What did you do to him?

Zero Moniker: I gave him a little taste of Tartarus.

Shango: …

PANEL FIVE: Shango’s eyes convey intense fear and dread.

PAGE 17:

PANEL ONE: Zero points to the traumatized Revere. He is facing the reader.

Zero Moniker: You can take him. He has been enlightened so he’s all yours.

PANEL TWO: Shango binds Revere with chains.

PANEL THREE: Shango places a large hi-tech collar around Revere’s neck.

PANEL FOUR: Shango hoists Revere over his right shoulder.

PANEL FIVE: Shango holds out his left hand and gives a thumb up.

Shango: Thank you

PAGE 18:

PANEL ONE: Zero is standing by himself. His jacket is blowing in the wind and his hands are in his pocket.

PANEL TWO: The four women are walking towards him.

PANEL THREE: Zero has his arms around their shoulders as they walk towards the casino area.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face. He has a look of contentment in his eyes.

Zero Moniker: I will make amends for the abysmal day.

 

FIN

No Name Anthologies: Script #2

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

No Name Anthologies: Issue #2

“Fight Night”

1st draft 11/20/06

By “Senor Geekus”

REFERENCE

VILLAINS

The Children of Ares: An assassin cult whose members are adept in Chanpurū, a hybrid fighting style that incorporates close quarters combat, Ki manipulation, Spetsnaz Sambo, and taijutsu.  They have the lean and athletic martial artist body. They are dressed in a jet black Kāṣāya.

Mordred: The leader of the Children. He is a mature man in his 60’s. His body is lean and in shape. Visually he resembles Patrick Stewart with a devilish goatee.  He wears a white Kāṣāya with long paper beads wrapped around his arms which he uses as weapons

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER

Agent Doe: The typical man in black. Visually he resembles Agent Smith. He has a mustache and his hair is blond.

 

PAGE 1:

PANEL ONE: Zero is walking down Central Park with his hands in his pocket. There is an evening sky in the horizon.

PANEL TWO: A Child emerges from a puff of smoke (similar to how a ninja appears and disappears using smoke) in front of Zero.

PANEL THREE: Zero and the Child are facing each other.

Child: Moniker, I have been sent to end your life.

Zero Moniker: I am already asleep. I desire to be awakened!

PANEL FOUR: The Child assumes a fighting stance and there is a look of anger in his face. Child: Then you will be awakened with pain!

PANEL FIVE: Zero shrugs. There is an apathetic look in his eyes.

Zero Moniker: You are welcome to try, but Morpheus’ hold is strong.

PAGE 2:

PANEL ONE: The Child leaps towards Zero.

PANEL TWO: He performs a drop kick.

PANEL THREE: Zero evades the kick, leaving speed lines similar to the Flash as he moves. Phantom is radiating a white glow.

PANEL FOUR: Zero unleashes an electrical bolt. The bolt hits the Child’s midsection. Zero is facing the child and the Child’s back is in view.

PANEL FIVE: The Child crashes through several trees.

PAGE 3:

PANEL ONE: The Child is getting up. His white uniform is bloody. There is a look of sheer rage in his face.

PANEL TWO: The Child is resumes the stance.

PANEL THREE: A close-up Zero’s mask. It glowing more radiant.

PANEL FOUR: A larger electrical bolt hitting the Child.

PANEL FIVE: The Child’s uniform is charred and his skin is blistered.

The Child: The Children of Ares do not fight alone. I will not be the last.

PAGE 4:

PANEL ONE: Six Children of Ares materialize before Zero.

PANEL TWO: Close-up of the Eldest Child. His eyes emit a murderous glare.

Eldest Child: You dare injure our brother! You will pay most dearly!

PANEL THREE: Their eyes flash crimson with murderous intent as they assume the stance.

PANEL FOUR: Fiery aura emanate from their bodies.

PAGE 5:

PANEL ONE: The Children begin their attack by pouncing on him

PANEL TWO: Zero leaps away in an attempt to avoid them. The same speed lines are seen.

PANEL THREE: A Child grabs Zero’s foot

PANEL FOUR: Close-up of Zero’s face. There is a look of shock in Zero’s eyes.

Zero Moniker: H… How is this possible??

PANEL FIVE: Zero is thrown violently to the ground.

PANEL SIX: Zero gets up and straightens his wrinkled suit.

PAGE 6:

PANEL ONE: The Children have him surrounded.

PANEL TWO: White Space because Zero unleashed a blinding flash of light

PANEL THREE: The Children are grabbing their eyes in pain.  Zero is standing in their midst, calm.

The Children: Arrghh!! Brother we are blind!

Eldest Child: That coward uses tricks!

PANEL FOUR: Zero knocks them with a kinetic shockwave. The shockwave should resemble a circular ripple effect.

PANEL FIVE: Three of the Children flying to the right.

PANEL SIX: The remaining children flying to the left.

PAGE 7:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero is standing calmly with his hands in his pocket. His surrounding resembles a war zone. Trees are broken. The Children are lying unconscious and broken. The ground around Zero is scorched.

PAGE 8:

PANEL ONE: Zero is surveying the damage. Speed lines are moving towards him.

PANEL TWO: Mordred appears behind Zero.

Mordred: So my Children could not awaken the dreamer. You will not fare so well against me!

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Zero’s eyes. His pupil shrinks from disbelief and complete shock.

PANEL FOUR: Mordred assumes the stance.

PANEL FIVE: Mordred kicks him in his back. There is a fiery aura around his leg.

PANEL SIX: The move launches Zero into the air.

PAGE 9:

PANEL ONE: Zero soars at an accelerated rate. He is unable to move because of the force of the kick.

PANEL TWO: Mordred appears in the air.

PANEL THREE: Mordred strikes him in his chest. The same fiery aura is around his fist.

PANEL FOUR: Zero plummeting to the ground below.

PAGE 10:

PANEL ONE: Close-up of Zero falling. His eyes flash.

PANEL: TWO: Zero spins himself.

PANEL THREE: Zero lands on his feet.

PANEL FOUR: Mordred appears before him.

PANEL FIVE: Zero fires a photonic blast. The blast resembles a crescent moon.

PANEL SIX: Mordred evades the attack.

PAGE 11:

PANEL ONE: Zero leaps into the air. His body is radiating.

PANEL TWO: Zero has become the Zero Star.

PANEL THREE: The sky is electrified with the Zero Star’s power.

PANEL FOUR: Five electrical bolts descend towards Mordred.

PANEL FIVE: He evades them with flips.

PAGE 12:

PANEL ONE: Mordred assumes the stance.

PANEL TWO: The Zero Star appears in front of him.

PANEL THREE: Mordred is covered with an electrical glow.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Mordred’s eye. They burn red with murderous intent.

Mordred: Do you really think that this will defeat me boy?

PANEL FIVE: A fiery aura flows from his body and dispels the electrical glow.

PANEL SIX: Mordred resumes the stance.

PAGE 13:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Mordred is surrounded by a more powerful aura.  The ground around him is being destroyed and there is a ripple effect. The Zero Star is distorted by the ripples.

PAGE 14:

PANEL ONE: Zero is on his knees clutching his head. His eyes convey his shock and pain.

Zero Moniker: This is not possible! No one can undo my enlightenment!

PANEL TWO: Mordred appears behind him. His hand is raised to deliver a deathblow.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of his face. He is still in shock and pain.

Phantom: Compose yourself or you will be awakened!

PANEL FOUR: There are speed lines. Mordred hits the vacant spot; leaving a small crater in the ground.

PANEL FIVE: Zero is back to his default apathetic stance with his hands in his pocket.

PAGE 15:

PANEL ONE: Zero fires three more photonic blasts.

PANEL TWO: Mordred leaps to evade them.

PANEL THREE: Zero fires an electrical bolt.

PANEL FOUR: Mordred performs a corkscrew spin to avoid it.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Mordred loosening the prayer beads on his arms.

PAGE 16:

PANEL ONE: He ensnares Zero with the beads.

Mordred: This is your wake up call, dreamer!

PANEL TWO: He swings Zero into a nearby tree.

Zero Moniker: Arrgghhh

PANEL THREE: He slams Zero into the ground.

PANEL FOUR: He whips Zero up into the air.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero’s face. His right eye is closed and bruised. His left eye burns with determination.

PANEL SIX: A close-up of Zero’s hands clutching the beads. His hands are glowing.

PAGE 17:

PANEL ONE: A view of Zero still in midair and Mordred on the ground holding the beads.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of the bead. The glow travels down the beads.

PANEL THREE: The energy encircles Mordred.

PANEL FOUR: The energy engulfs him and he appears to be electrocuted as the power surges through him.

PANEL FIVE: Zero is removing the beads. His eyes convey his tiredness. His suit is torn and bloodied.

Zero Moniker: The dream came close to ending.

PANEL SIX: Mordred is on ground unconscious. His clothes are charred and there is smoke rising from his burnt flesh.

PAGE 18:

PANEL ONE: The battle scene is flooded with FBI agents.

PANEL TWO: The Children are on stretchers and being loaded in ambulances.

PANEL THREE: Zero Moniker is on park bench exhausted.

PANEL FOUR: Agent Doe is approaching Moniker.

Agent Doe: Mr. Moniker, the FBI would like to thank you for apprehending these extremists.

PANEL FIVE: Zero Moniker gives him a “thumbs up”.

Zero Moniker: Uncle Sam knows how to thank me.

PANEL SIX: Zero is sprawled over on the same bench.

Zero Moniker: Phantom, have you devised a method to deal with fighter types?

Phantom: Yes, another incident like this will not occur!

Zero Moniker: Thank Logic. I don’t think that I could take another beating like that.

 

FIN