Let the games begin!

This question was recently posed to me by a friend:

"If you are running an online games store, why do you blog so much about television and film?"

The answer to that question was simple, I view CanGeek.com as more than an online games store, I like to think of us as a pop-culture resource with a variety of products including games and collectibles - in short we try to have a little something for everyone. And since my personal love of both board games and video games began with my love of television and film, it somehow seems right to blog about that which I love.

With that in mind.... we're half way through the month of May, and with the Summer Blockbusters just beginning to roll into local theaters, there are going to be a multitude of games released which will allow fans to continue their journey alongside their favorite heroes.

Here are some of my picks for games to try over the next few months.

1. Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War

Personally there is no doubt in my mind that Avengers: Infinity War will be the biggest release of the year, and with everyone feeling the need to talk about the events of this incredable film, I'd advise you to see it soon.

To coincide with the release of Infinity War, game publisher USAopoly has released Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War. This cooperative dice and card game challenges a group of 2 to 4 Players to recruit a team of heroes in an attempt to face off against the Mad Titan and prevent him from collecting all six Infinity Stones and wreaking havoc on the fabric of reality.

Are you up to the task? 

2. DEADPOOL VS The World

The Merc with the Mouth is coming back to theaters as Ryan Reynolds suits up for the release of Deadpool 2. As Wade Wilson kicks ass, takes names, and continues to break the fourth wall with jaw-dropping dialogue, we're also preparing for the release of Deadpool VS The World.

This adult party game which has been compared to Card Against Humanity will feature 100 custom illustrations of Deadpool in some very strange and unsightly situations. Players are tasked with then filling in the blanks on caption cards to produce the most outrageous explanations of why the Merc with a Mouth has found himself in his current position.

The player with the best, most jaw-dropping explanations wins! 

3. MONOPOLY: Deadpool

Love Deadpool but looking for a more "Family Friendly" game to play?  Not only is the Merc with a Mouth conquering the world, he's also conquering the world of MONOPOLY!

While playing MONOPOLY: Deadpool players build their own team of Mercs for Money as they purchase the contracts of the world's best-mercenaries. Some are Deadpool's allies, some are Deadpool from alternate universes, and one is just Deadpool in a maids outfit.

Players pay when they land on Mercs purchased by opponents, buy vehicles like a chimichanga truck, and steal friends' stuff with the Cheap Shot and Low Blow spaces.

Will you be the Last Merc Standing?

4. MONOPOLY: Han Solo

Continuing with their plans to release a Star Wars themed film every year for the foreseeable future, Disney and Lucasfilm are set to release SOLO: A Star Wars Story on May 25th.  

Alongside the release of the film, fans of the MONOPOLY board game will see the release of MONOPOLY: Han Solo.  This edition invites players to enter a world of smugglers and adventure as they journey from the battlefield to the spice mines and attempt to make the Kessel Run!  Players are encouraged to buy as many Star Wars locations, Vehicles, and Power Sources as they can while taking risks with the smuggler and scoundrel cards.

As with other versions of the game, the last player with Imperial Credits wins!

5. MONOPOLY JR: The Incredibles 2

It's been fourteen years since the release of The Incredables, now some of the children who grew up watching this Pixar classic have children of their own - which is why it's a GREAT time to take them on a SUPER adventure! Players of MONOPOLY JR: The Incredables 2 are invited to suit up as one of the four members of the Parr family as they visit and explore locations inspired by the new Disney/Pixar film. 

In this easy and fast-playing game the hero who earns the most money saves the day!

These games, as well as many others, are available for purchase from our online store at cangeek.com. 

Why do I blog so much about television and film? Because in my opinion that is in some way where almost every great gaming adventure begins.  

As always, thanks for reading.

The Hollywood Reboot.

Has Hollywood trained us to look back as opposed to looking forward?

If you happen to be a member of the CanGeek Community Page on Facebook then you know we've talked a lot about Hollywood reboots, more specifically films that we'd like to see given the reboot treatment.

However over the past few days, as I've been re-watching classic films including HIGHLANDER and Tim Burton's BATMAN, I've found myself wondering if, due to the lack of creativity within their writing community, Hollywood has somehow trained consumers to welcome reboots as opposed to expecting fresh material.

From TOTAL RECALL and Stephen King's IT, to The FANTASTIC FOUR and TOMB RAIDER, there just seems to be no end to what Hollywood will remake, and with films like Hellboy and The Crow getting the reboot treatment there seems to be no end in sight either.

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not opposed to reboots if they make sense, but there is no confusing the fact that some of these films are being remade due to a lack of inspiration and a need to grow a movie studios bank account.

However what's more offensive then a reboot is a sequel to a film that hasn't seen a franchise release in more then twenty years, films like Blade Runner 2049 and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull immediately come to mind.

What's next, a re-release of Batteries Not Included? 

It's just my opinion but as much as directors including Ridley Scott have been critical of the Superhero film genre in the past year, Marvel Studios seems to be one of the few Hollywood film companies offering up semi-original content that is keeping the movie-going public entertained.

The success of Marvels Black Panther earlier this year is, at least in part, proof of that...after-all keeping the public entertained is their job.

So with very few films beyond the Superhero genre on my radar this year, I'll be in line next Saturday, ready to throw away my movie-going money, for the release of Avengers: Infinity War. As for Hollywood and their need to revisit the past, if they want to continue to earn my money then they need to step forward into the future.

Thanks for reading.

Making sense of the chaos.

Sometimes you have to admit when you're wrong.

Over the past few months I've been more then a little critical of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, having gone so far as to say that Star Wars is now dead to me. However after a recent blog I authored about the upcoming release of Avengers: Infinity war, I have to admit I was wrong.

Loss is a natural part of life and is a great way to develop new story-arcs, when one door closes, another door opens, or at least that's what they say.

I have many complaints about the Rian Johnston directed Star Wars film, from Rey's "3 lessons to become a Jedi" training, to Leia's "Mary Poppins" flight through the vacuum of space, this was not a good film. 

However my single largest issue was with how they handled Jedi Master Luke SkyWalker - You don't write off such a monumental character in that fashion.

Personally I didn't want to see Luke the hermit hiding from The Force. I wanted to see Luke the seasoned Master Jedi, wise in experience and ready to wage one last battle against the Galactic Empire!

Make no mistake, given Disney and their intention to milk this franchise for everything they can, we all knew in our hearts that the original cast would make their exit, just not in the fashion that they have thus far.

However once again, loss is a natural part of life and helps to create new stories, which is why in my opinion the final scene of The Last Jedi was so important. The child pushing his broom, peering into space was a declaration that we should expect many more stories from Disney and Lucasfilm - wither we want them or not.

With that mindset I challenge you to re-watch both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, view them for what they truly are, the foundation for a brand new extended universe with a multitude of stories to follow.

I did just that...  and with that perspective I can now, all be it reluctantly, accept that when the next film hits theaters I'll be there ready to dish out some hard earned money to see what happens next.

It doesn't resolve the fact that these aren't great films, but it helps to make a little more sense of the chaos that is running rampant in a galaxy far, far away,

Thanks for reading, please join the conversation on our Facebook Community Page and remember to connect with us on social media via our website at cangeek.com

Blade Runner 2049 - DON'T DO IT!

When I was seven years old I was already cutting my teeth on some of the biggest Science Fiction and Fantasy films of the time, and one of my fondest memories comes from how many times I watched the original Blade Runner.

Adapted from Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Blade Runner was Directed by Ridley Scott and stared an up and coming cast of actors including Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Retger Hauer and Edward James Olmos.

Set in the dystopian future of 2019, the film followed a burnt out Los Angeles cop by the name of Rick Deckard who had been empowered to track down and "retire" a group of synthetic humans - known as Replicants.

Replicants had been created by the Tyrell Corporation as an off-world workforce in the service of humanity. However when a group of Replicants go rogue and return to Earth, they become a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly.

With both an amazing soundtrack and stunning visuals Blade Runner asked one truly important question, what makes a human being? This was a story that did not require a sequel, but it got one anyways. 

In 2017, thirty-five years after the release of the original film, Harrison Ford returned alongside Ryan Gosling to bring us Blade Runner 2049.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 tells the story of officer K - a Replicant working for the LAPD. Much like Deckard before him, K is forced to question his beliefs when evidence comes to light suggesting he isn't who he thinks he is.

 

The running time of Blade Runner 2049 is 2 hours and 44 minutes, that's almost three hours of your life that you can never reclaim - DON'T DO IT! Don't tarnish the memories you have of the original Blade Runner by watching this weak attempt at continuing the franchise - the film is long with very little action and a truly boring story. Honestly this film felt like an attempt by a movie studio to make some much needed money off nostalgic consumers without offering up much in return.

If you've never had the opportunity to watch 1982's Blade Runner then do yourself a favor and watch that instead. If you have had the good fortune to watch 1982's Blade Runner then do yourself a favor and watch it again - it's a much better investment of your very valuable time.

As always thanks for reading, let us know in the comments below if you agree with this review of Blade Runner 2049 or not, and remember to join the conversation on our Facebook Community Page OR by following us on social media via our website at CanGeek.com

Black Panther Smashes Box Office Record!

The Panther is the true king of the jungle!

With an estimated global revenue of $361 million dollars in it's first weekend, Marvels Black Panther has established itself as the true king of the jungle! 

The Marvel powerhouse which was directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong'o dethroned the former champion, 2016's Deadpool, which now graces the film with the largest February opening weekend in cinematic history.

The film is also expected to have the fifth highest grossing opening weekend of all time, joining films including Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and 2012's The Avengers.  On the subject of The Avengers, Black Panther also holds the distinction of being the second highest grossing Marvel debut of all time, just behind the 2012 release of The Avengers.

This is the first Marvel property to be directed by an African-American Director and to feature a cast primarily comprised of African-American performers, proving once again that film goers are seeking diversity in their entertainment.

Did you have the good fortune to travel to Wakanda this weekend?  If so join us on our Facebook Community page and let us know what you thought of this record breaking film.

Kingsman: What the F#CK is Alpha Gel???

This past Saturday, in between getting ready for CanGeek's participation in the Peterborough Comic-Con, my wife and I darted into a theater to see Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

I've quite regularly stated that beyond Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first Kingsman film was one of my favorite movies of 2015, so I've been eagerly anticipating the release of this sequel for what feels like a lifetime now.

Generally speaking The Golden Circle was a decent followup film, there are however two points that bothered me, and at the top of that list is the return of Harry Hart played by Colin Firth. When I first heard that Firth would return for this sequel I was both joyful and confused, usually when someone is shot in the head at point-blank range they don't get a do-over,

But hey this is Hollywood so anything is possible, right?

Once they brought Harry into the story-line, it was explained that The Statesmen, the American cousins to the Kingsmen had developed this substance known as Alpha Gel. When injected post-gunshot through a victims ears, Alpha Gel builds a protective layer around the brain while nanobots internally dissolve the bullet - so this Alpha Gel stuff is basically magic and that is where my first issue with this film begins. 

Now I know that movies are not generally realistic but somethings are much harder to believe then others, for example had the writers explained Harts return through the use of cloning, that would have been much easier to accept then a magic gel that protects you from head trauma. It's not bad enough that they used this explanation once, but they killed off another character in a similar manor and then brought them back later in the film to further develop what felt like an unnecessary story arc.

My second issue with this film is simply that it felt too busy, there was so much "Star Power" in this film that it felt like they were coming up with any reason for characters to interact as a means to ensure that each actor or actress had their fair share of screen time.

One standout among all this star power was Julianne Moore as the films villain, this lady has playing a sociopath down to a science, she was a fantastic followup to Samuel L. Jackson in the first film.

However having said that, I think what made the first Kingsman film such a success is what they missed with this second film. You had a fluid story that moved forward quickly, it didn't feel like you had to have a road map to keep up with the story-line. That's not to say that you can't follow this story, but you do need to pay much more attention to keep up with all the jumping around that takes place in this movie.

I enjoyed this film, all be it not as much as the first one, and on a rating scale out of ten I'd  give this sequel a solid eight! Lets just hope that by the time a third film comes out the production staff re-watch the first movie and find their way back home.

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Zoombies - so bad it was good!

Zombie monkeys???

Some movies and television shows are like a train wreck, you know you shouldn't be watching but you just can't help yourself.  After all if it wasn't for the truly awful films how would you know what a good film looked like?  This past weekend I was tasked with watching one such film, the 2016 release Zoombies!   

Directed by Glenn Miller, Zoombies stars Kim Nielsen, LaLa Nestor, Marcus Anderson, Ione Butler along with a series of other actors you'll most likely never here of again.

The Eden Wildlife Zoo, a refuge for endanger animals is preparing to open to the general public, however some of its Monkeys have contracted an undetermined virus.  When one of these monkeys suffers cardiac arrest during treatment the Zoo's veterinarian administers a forbidden drug known as intracardiac epinephrine in an attempt to save the animals life.   

The results prove fatal as the monkeys eyes turn a ghostly white and its skin becomes dark and dirty looking.  The monkey spreads its now highly contagious virus to the other animals in the room, and with their newly discovered taste for human flesh they turn on and kill the veterinary staff.

Once escaping the confines of the animal clinic the monkeys quickly spread their disease to the Zoo's other occupants before turning on this sanctuary's employees and visiting interns.

Even though this film represents two hours of my life which I can never reclaim it was still a strangely satisfying experience and with IMDB giving it a score of 3.4 out of 10 there is no mistaking the fact that this film is truly awful - But it's worth watching at least once!

So pop some popcorn, mix a drink and pick a day where there is absolutely nothing worth watching on television and then load up a copy of Zoombies!

We'd love to hear what truly horrible films you've endured, the ones you can never forget regardless of how hard you try!  Comment below or head over to one of our social media feeds via CanGeek.com to let us know.

Thanks for reading.