Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
December 1st, 2009 by Gregg Senko
Once a fabled Sith mentioned only in passing, Darth Bane has gained significant notoriety with fans of the Star Wars universe and we have none other than author Drew Karpyshyn to thank for it. The accomplished wordsmith is the man behind the pages of these Old Republic-timeline novels that showed readers a new perspective in the world of Star Wars; life through the eyes of the Jedi’s deadliest enemy. Continue reading ‘Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil’
Rather than try for a slavishly faithful adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book The Fantastic Mr. Fox, director Wes Anderson has opted to reshape it to suit his own distinctive style and themes. The basic premise, that Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) steals food and beverages from three mean and nasty farmers, is the same. However, Anderson has added new characters and plot elements to the tale that give the movie a flavor unmistakably his own. 
Welcome to the final day of November. We got a lot of Blu-ray news to catch you up on so let’s get started! First up, Warner Brothers has issued a March 2nd release date for the classic films Neverending Story and Clash of the Titans on Blu-ray. They also announced a January 17th Blu-ray release date for Ricky Gervais’ comedy The Invention of Lying. But wait! There’s more from Warner Brothers. 
I’ve seen a fair amount of musical acts in my young life thus far, but before November 27, 2009, I had never experienced Rob Zombie live. My exposure to his work consists of a greatest hits cd and constant playing of ‘More Human Than Human’ back in the day when that song came out (I still can’t get enough of it). So what was I to expect? I had the opportunity to meet the hard core rocker and director before the show. 
Movies during the Great Depression offered patrons a chance to escape the outside world with spectacular musicals, screwball comedies and a Little Tramp who always got by. In contrast, movies during the Great Recession seem to offer escape with stories that show a post-apocalyptic vision of the future that is even worse than the reality that exists today. 
Well shucks, it’s not everyday you get to meet, hang, party and talk with one of your life long idols. I am talking about someone who symbolizes almost everything in life that’s important to you, such as a man whose 25-year legacy embodies the perfect union of music, movies and comics. Of course, there was that brief encounter this past July in 
I went into this movie without high expectations. Although, when I originally saw the trailer in theaters, I was nearly to the moon with excitement. So in all honesty, my adrenal glands were pumping a bit of juice in preparation for this film. Ninja Assassin stars Asian pop star Rain as our hero, Raizo. Raizo, as with all the film’s ninjas, start out as kidnapped orphans, obtained by any of the nine mentioned clans. 
[Over the loudspeaker a mysetrious voice crackles]…May I have your attention Kate Beckinsale fans…Warner Home Video is bringing your beloved Kate Beckinsale in all her 1080P hotness once again to the glorious Blu-ray format on January 19th. Kate’s beauty melts the ice in this arctic thriller. Whiteout, based on a 90’s graphic novel, didn’t fair too well in its September threatrical release, but hopefully sales of the Blu-ray won’t be as frigid. 
Steve Martin is bringing the family fun back to Blu-ray this January! The Baker family returns in the hilarious sequel, 
Movies sure seem to come fast and furious these days to the Blu-ray format! That’s always a good thing for diehard fans of the film. The latest announcement from Paramount brings word that the hugely successful low-budget horror hit, Paranormal Activity, will be making its Blu-ray debut on December 29th. There are a lot of good films coming to the format in the end of December. How will I ever have time to watch them all? 
Hey! It does not sound so bad when one says I got Blu-ray Cabin Fever. That’s because there’s nothing wrong with it at all! That’s right! One of my favorite horror flicks from several years back will be making its Blu-ray debut on February 16th. And BAM! It hits the Hi-Def format with an a#$-kicking 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio surround mix! What much else can you possibly ask for? Oh I know! 
Once again Roland Emmerich has created a movie that is a thrill ride from the beginning to the end, but this time he grapples with the popular conception that the world is going to come to an end when it reaches the year 2012. Unlike the paranoia that surrounded our journey into the new millennium back at the end of the nineties, which was mainly brought upon by what we thought was going to be a massive glitch affecting all of the world’s computers, the ending foretold for the year 2012 is imagined to be far worse. 
If a harp had a voice, it would sound like Liz Madden. With a sound that flows through the air like rose petals through a wind chime, the Irish-born singer has recently made her way to the United States to grace us with her talent. Being inspired from a very young age by her parents, Ms. Madden encountered the world of music that would ultimately set the stage for her career. 
Is basketball really more than a game? Is painting more than some brush strokes with color? What about running? Is it more than just exercise? The answer to all these questions is a simple ‘yes.’ As the old saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, and so holds true for an individual’s passion. While playing some pickup ball on an asphalt court might be a simple release for some, it can be a zone of absolute concentration, paradise and flowing adrenaline for others. 
Words cannot vividly express how honored and excited I am to be the recipient of the following Blu-ray disc and also to be selected to furnish a review of it. It’s literally a dream come true for me. To declare the following manuscript of confabulation a mere Blu-ray review would simply be misleading. Instead, think of it as a testament, according to the Book of Brian, to one of the greatest films ever made. 
Upon the conclusion of 2009, some of us staff here at Why So Blu will be compiling our own unique top-ten lists of our favorite films this year. The Blind Side will be on mine. This absolutely brilliant piece of work was not from the thought factory of some Hollywood writers or producers. Instead, this very real and very touching story is the product of none other than life itself. 
