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Archive for November, 2008 Page 2 of 2



Movie Merchandise: R2-D2 Aquarium – Star Wars Toaster – Wizard Of Oz Cookie Jar

Apologies for constantly featuring Star Wars stuff in these posts, but it’s not my fault that it has some of the coolest merchandise.

The R2-D2 Aquarium

r2-dr-agarium1

Modeled after the most well-known astromech droid in the galaxy, this R2-D2 holds a 1 3/4-gallon aquarium tank in his central compartment, ideal for a small freshwater family of goldfish, gouramis, or tetras.

The domed head rotates with any vocal command you issue and he utters his familiar "bleeps" from the Star Wars movies. His radar eye houses the eyepiece to a built-in periscope that provides an intimate view of the aquatic activity below, allowing you to watch your charges swim towards the food you’ve dropped in from the dome’s removable feeding door. Includes filter and overhead LED tank lights that randomly morph between red, blue, and green (lights can be disabled). Includes a two-sided waterproofed cardboard insert depicting scene s from the movie as a background.

More info: The R2-D2 Aquarium

Star Wars Toaster

star wars toaster

If there’s something every Sith Lord knows how to do it’s make a balanced breakfast. While the Jedi have to live off of Jawa juice and fried nerfsteak, the Dark Lord of the Sith prefers to have a reminder of his fiery Mustafar defeat at his breakfast table. Every morning he burns that moment into a slice of bread with the Darth Vader Toaster. This black, ominous kitchen appliance easily leaves the mark of Vader’s helmet in every yummy piece of toast. Slather some Bantha butter on top, or make two pieces for an extra-Sithy BLT. Force power not required to operate toaster.

More info: Star Wars Toaster

[via: Foolish Gadgets]

Hans Guitar Solo Shirt

han solo T-shirt

Rockin’ out ain’t like dusting crops, boy.by Go Ape Shirts!

More info: Hans Guitar Solo Shirt

Real looking Hulk Mask

real hulk mask

Your little super hero can "turn green" when he straps on this super cool mask and "becomes" one of his favorite good guys! Press the mask’s button for glowing green eyes just like the popular Hulk character. Hulk fury will greet everyone in this masks path complete with grit-mouthed grimace and straggly "hair." Adjustable straps give a comfortable fit and little imaginations can do the rest.

More info: Real looking Hulk Mask

Wizard Of Oz™ Emerald City Cookie Jar

wizard-oz-cookie-jar

Often ranked among the ten best movies of all time, now treasure the 1939 film’s magic in your own home. Ceramic cookie jar depicts the Emerald City surrounded by Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and The Tin Man. With fine detailing and a history of the movie imprinted on the back, this limited edition of 2400 is a must for Oz fans.

More info: Wizard of Oz Cookie Jar

DVD Report – November 11th

Not too many big-name new releases on DVD shelves this week. In fact, only one has been seen by a significant portion of the Criticker community: Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Its only competition is the much-derided Clone Wars (which I’m surprised more people haven’t seen, just out of curiosity), or a couple lame-looking Christmas flicks. Looks like the Holiday junk-pushing has already commenced!

Hellboy II: The Golden Army380 Rankings – Average Tier 5.90
The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so as Hellboy and his team returns they must save the world from the rebellious creatures. Now, as the creatures who inhabit the spiritual realm gear-up for an all out attack on the human plane, the only one capable of saving the Earth is a tough-talking hellspawn rejected by both worlds. (imdb) Hellboy II: The Golden Army @ Amazon

Star Wars: The Clone Wars67 Rankings – Average Tier 3.48
The Clone Wars are raging between the Separatists and the Galactic Republic. When Jabba the Hutt’s son is taken by a group of renegades, two Jedi are summoned to investigate. Star Wars: The Clone Wars @ Amazon

Perfect Holiday, The7 Rankings – Average Tier 1.86
A young girl turns to a department store Santa (Chestnut) in the hopes that he will help find a new husband for her divorced mother (Union). (imdb) Perfect Holiday, The @ Amazon

This ChristmasLess than 5 Rankings
A Christmastime drama centered around the Whitfield family’s first holiday together in four years. (imdb) This Christmas @ Amazon

Beer for My HorsesLess than 5 Rankings
“Beer for My Horses” tells the story of two best friends that work together as deputies in a small town. The two defy the Sheriff and head off on an outrageous road trip to save the protagonist’s girlfriend from drug lord kidnappers. (imdb) Beer for My Horses @ Amazon

Neglected Gems: Plein soleil

Before Matt Damon was even born, French heartthrob Alain Delon turned in a chilling and memorable performance as Tom Ripley in 1960′s French version of the tale, Plein Soleil (Purple Noon) — one of Criticker’s Neglected Gems.

René Clément‘s version of The Talented Mr. Ripley was a hit with both critics and audiences, and launched Delon into stardom. Shot in ravishing locations on the Mediterranean, Clément maintains a brisk, suspenseful pace in crafting a film which is much more a thriller than Anthony Minghella’s slower, more langorous (and more faithful) 1999 version. And the French version is better (at least according to Criticker users!)

Less than 25 of this site’s users have seen this classic, which is a shame. But their rankings have been unanimously positive, which is quite a feat. Plein Soleil has been compared to the best of Hitchcock and has become a cult classic, championed by no less an authority than Martin Scorsese, who organized its theatrical re-release in 1996 (three years before Minghella’s version).

Along with the striking Mediterranean settings, Alain Delon is the film’s magnetic attraction — his indecipherable, soulless Tom Ripley is as oddly repellent as he is seductive. His is much less sympathetic than Damon’s portrayal, but more compelling. It’s a performance, and a film, you shouldn’t miss.


Heroes of Contentiousness #14: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

One of the definitive midnight movies of the 70s, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still in limited release, more than 30 years later. Starring Tim Curry as the diabolical Frank N. Furter, this movie has become more than a simple work of cinema — it’s almost a rite of passage amongst subversiveness-seeking adolescents. And of course, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has inspired legions of fans to dress up for weekly midnight screenings, where they act out the movie on stage as its being played.

Unsurprisingly, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has as many detractors as fans — almost exactly as many, if its extremely high FCQ of 55.05 is to be believed (Film Contentiousness Quotient: details here). Apparently, a freaky musical about a sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But, let’s go directly to the video evidence:

Dance, Extraterrestrial Transvestite Vampire!


Either you think that’s hilarious, or you hate it. I don’t know anyone who is “on the fence” in regards to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is why it’s one of the most contentious films we’ve ever featured here. But, we’ll let the readers of this blog decide the matter once and for all. RHPS: Great or Terrible?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  • Great! (81%, 22 Votes)
  • Terrible! (19%, 5 Votes)

Total Voters: 27

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Here are a couple battling opinions from Criticker users.

Sapphire: “Though it’s corny, bizarre & completely nonsensical, Rocky Horror is an incredibly entertaining musical. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before (or likely will see ever again). Susan Sarandon is great. Tim Curry gives an incredible comedic performance as Dr. Frank N. Furter. Totally twisted fun.”

redpatriot: “I hate musicals, and I hate Meat Loaf, and I hate crappy weirdo camp sleaze humor or whatever the hell this is.”

Last time, we featured Girl, Interrupted, and by a large margin, Criticker users have decided that this film is Great. It might have been one of the most lop-sided votes yet.

 

And here’s our up-to-date list of the top 10 most contentious films at Criticker:

1. Eyes Wide Shut – FCQ 58.76 – Poll Result: GREAT!
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – FCQ 55.05 – Poll Result: pending
3. Dumb & Dumber – FCQ 52.62 – Poll Result: GREAT!
4. I Am Sam – FCQ 49.77 – Poll Result: TERRIBLE!
5. King Kong – FCQ 51.11 – Poll Result: GREAT!
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – FCQ 49.31 – Poll Result: TERRIBLE!
7. Saw – FCQ 49.23 – Poll Result: TIE!
8. Stay – FCQ 48.46 – Poll Result: GREAT!
9. Brotherhood of the Wolf – FCQ 48.08 – Poll Result: GREAT!
10. I Heart Huckabees – FCQ 47.86 – Poll Result: GREAT!