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Awesome: Monty Python to (mostly) Reunite for SciFi Film with Robin Williams

Monty Python

From [Variety](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118049265/):

> Members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus are reteaming for “Absolutely Anything,” a sci-fi farce combining CGI and live action, with Terry Jones to direct and Mike Medavoy to produce.

> Plans are for filming to begin in the U.K. this spring, with the Pythons voicing key roles as a a group of aliens who endow an earthling with the power to do “absolutely anything” to see what a mess he’ll make of things — which is precisely what happens. There’s also a talking dog named Dennis who seems to understand more about the mayhem that ensues than anyone else does. Robin Williams will voice the character.

> “It’s not a Monty Python picture, but it certainly has that sensibility,” Jones told Variety.

Not all the Pythons are on board of course. Eric Idle is yet to sign on and Graham Chapman is, you know, dead. Still even if it’s not a Python film proper it’ll be amazing to see them… wait, hear them. It’ll be amazing to hear them all back together again.

The addition of Robin Williams will be an interesting one as well, his rather manic style may fit in either perfectly or terribly. My question is will they cast Eddie Izzard in any roles?

Either way, this should hopefully be something to look forward to.

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Awesome: Chris Pratt Cast as Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy

20130205-164855.jpg

Holy crap Chris Pratt has been cast as Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. From [Deadline](http://m.deadline.com/2013/02/chris-pratt-getting-guardians-of-the-galaxy-lead/):

> After a long search, Marvel Studios has found its lead for its next big superhero franchise, the James Gunn-directed Guardians Of The Galaxy. I hear the role will go to Chris Pratt, the Moneyball star who bulked up and played one of the hero Navy SEALs in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. The role is Star-Lord, the Guardians leader who is the offspring of a human mother and an alien father. A puffier Pratt plays Andy Dwyer on the NBC series Parks And Recreation. He certainly has the charisma to hold the screen.

This is most definitely good news. Chris Pratt is one of the best parts of Parks and Rec, and he has been a great supporting player in Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty and everything else I’ve seen him in. He’s got the bulk and badassery cred from ZDT as well as the comic timing so I think this is going to work out well. In fact he might be a perfect fit for James Gunn’s style.

Plus the big rumour is that Iron Man will head into space at some point during Iron Man 3 and potentially meet the guardians, so maybe we’ll get to see him this summer instead of waiting for next.

Sweet.

[via: [badass digest](http://badassdigest.com/2013/02/05/chris-pratt-is-the-lead-in-guardians-of-the-galaxy)]

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Watch Disney Animated Short “Paperman”

Paperman

Paperman is a Disney Animation short film that came out in theatres with Wreck It Ralph back in the fall. Now they’ve released it online for free, and here it is thanks to [Disney Animation Studios](http://www.youtube.com/disneyanimation):

What a great, sweet little film. The basic story is that a man meets a woman on his morning commute but they are separated before they can speak. He then notices her in the office across the street from his and spends the day trying to get her attention.

Trying to get the attention of the object of your affection is a situation that most of us have been in, but this is a pretty cute take. There’s no dialogue but everything is communicated gorgeously through body language and actions.

The mix of 2D and 3D animation techniques means that the whole things just flat out looks gorgeous too.

Paperman already won the Annie Award for best animated short and it’s nominated for an Oscar in the same category.

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Awesome: Ouya to be Available at Retail in June for 99$ USD

20130205-004442.jpg

Good news everyone! Ouya, the Kickstarter backed android powered hackers delight game console, is going to be sold at retail staring this June. So far the list includes Best Buy, Target, GameStop and Amazon. It’ll be 99$ and 49$ for an extra controller. The controller, in case you’re not aware, includes a touchpad in addition to analogue sticks, buttons and d-pad, which is pretty cool (although given the Android OS makes total sense).

Kickstarter backers and preorders will be fulfilled sooner (and preorders open up this week), so if you want to get one early there’s your chance.

There’s a lot to be said about the Ouya. Cheap and easy to mod and develop for, like I said above its a hackers delight. I think my favourite thing from the article is this quote though:

> **WSJ: What’s to stop other developers for using the controllers for other devices, like Apple TV?**

> UHRMAN: We are okay with that. One of the promises of being open is you can use what we build for other things. But you can create accessories and peripherals for our device as well. At the end of the day, it makes our ecosystem richer.

No matter what you think you gotta admit that’s a pretty refreshing outlook after dealing with companies like Microsoft and Sony and Apple.

[source: [the Wall Street journal](http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/02/05/ouya-finds-a-friend-with-amazon/) via [polygon](http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/5/3953788/ouya-to-sell-on-amazon-gamestop-target-and-best-buy-for-99-99-pre)]

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Trailer: Under the Dome Teaser

20130204-232239.jpg

So apparently CBS is making a series out of Stephen Kings “Under the Dome”. Here’s the Super Bowl teaser which shows exactly nothing. Well, it shows a link to a website but other than that if you’ve seen the book cover before then you’ve seen this trailer. Pretty much literally.

Not really sure what to say here other than “[Simpson’s Already Did It](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpsons_Already_Did_It)”.

[Read more about it on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Dome_(TV_series)).

[source: [deadline](http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/super-bowl-tv-spot-under-the-dome/)]

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Awesome: “Star Citizen” Spaceships Are So, So Shiny

Hot *damn*. Ever since I read an article about specialist [Lego spaceships](http://kotaku.com/5901269/my-favourite-spaceships-in-the-world-arent-in-games-or-movies-but-lego/gallery/1) on Kotaku, I’ve been increasingly drawn to fantastic spacecraft art. And now, also on Kotaku, is a [collection of ship designs by Kemp Remillard]( http://kotaku.com/5981685/badass-90s-starfighter-design-lives-on) for the upcoming *Star Citizen* – and they’re all fantastic. A few of the cutaways are already calling for the print-and-frame treatment:

Spaceships

 

 

*Star Citizen* is the latest game by Chris Roberts, designer of Wing Commander, a game that Matt [rather likes](https://awesomefriday.ca/2013/01/awesome-classics-wing-commander-1990/). Hopefully the game will be as spectacular as the ships and the space trading simulation genre will get a much-needed shot in the arm.

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Awesome: New G.I. Joe Cobra Special Forces Viral Campaign

Cobra Special Forces

A new G.I. Joe: Retaliation viral campaign has started and they want to recruit you to Cobra. Check out the video:

If you head to the recruiting website, [CobraSpecialForces.com](http://www.cobraspecialforces.com) there is a listing of events near you like Tough Mudders, Kid Rock Concerts, WWE Events, and all kinds of stuff where you can “see if you have what it takes”.

You gotta admit, it’s a pretty cool campaign. And I always wondered where the bad guys got their hordes of faceless soldiers to inevitably end up dying at the hands of the good guys.

[source:[slashfilm](http://www.slashfilm.com/g-i-joe-retaliation-viral-marketing-begins-with-cobra-recruiting-video/)]

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Awesome: PS3 exclusive “The Last Of Us” sounds amazing

[Eurogamer](http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-04-the-last-of-us-preview) has published an extensive preview of The Last Of Us, the PS3 swansong by Uncharted makers Naughty Dog. It sounds like it’s got all the spit and polish of the adventure series, with an added element of survival horror, but without any of the linear hand-holding that dogged Drake’s Deception:

Having proven so adept at telling its own stories, The Last of Us feels like a Naughty Dog game that finally allows players to tell their own, offering a space in which there’s a palpable sense of terror and a broad set of possibilities. Late in the play-through, we get to craft one of our own. With one bullet left in the stock of Joel’s shotgun and a single freshly crafted molotov in his backpack, we’re presented with a room with three creepers and a single runner; a grisly puzzle that plays out with grim results. The shotgun shell’s used to kill the runner at the far end of the room, the Molotov used to disperse the two creepers standing side-by-side while the final creeper’s seen off with a flurry of desperate hand-to-hand blows.

After the slightly disappointing aftertaste left by the aforementioned Uncharted 3, this has the potential to be one of the games that defines this generation, coming right before the PS3 becomes superseded. I *love* a good third-person adventure game, so this has me very, very excited.

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Awesome: Directors Guild of America Awards Winners Announced

Argo

With all this hoopla about the Super Bowl I forgot to talk about the Directors Guild Awards. The big winner this year is _Argo_ director Ben Affleck. So far he and his film have locked up Best Picture _and_ Director at the Golden Globes, Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards, Best Picture at the Producers Guild Awards. So yeah, the Oscar is pretty much Argo’s to lose at this point but bear in mind that while the film itself is up for Best Picture at the Oscars Affleck isn’t up for Best Director.

Rian Johnson, that of Looper (one of our favourite films here at the Awesome Friday HQ) also won an award in the dramatic series category for directing an episode of Breaking Bad. Which is kind of awesome. It’s the second time he’s directed an episode of Breaking Bad and only the second time he has directed something he didn’t write. I just hope he makes another film soon so he can win for that.

Also severely awesome, Lena Dunham won for directing the pilot episode of her fantastic series _Girls_. We haven’t talked about Girls much around here but we really should. It’s a great series, and one that feels both raw and honest about being young, living in the city, and figuring your shit out. Lena Dunham is the creator and head writer and producer and she’s well deserving of all the accolades she keeps receiving for it.

[You can check out the full list of winners at the DGA Website](http://www.dga.org/Awards/Annual.aspx).

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Trailers: Iron Man 3 Super Bowl Extended Spot

Iron Man 3

Tony Stark is back folks. Here’s a look at the spot that aired during the Super Bowl followed by the extended (read: better) version posted to the Iron Man Facebook page today.

**_Update: here’s a better embed of the second one:_**

Almost undoubtedly this will be Disney’s biggest film of the year and it looks like they’ve thrown all the monies at it to make sure. This doesn’t show us much new except a slightly better look at the new suit in action. If the rumours are true it’ll be interesting to see whether the folks falling out of Air Force One are actually in harms way or not. No, I wont say more than that. As Google, he knows what I am talking about.

Also, Robert Downey’s “Extended Look” made me laugh out loud. But then again, that’s the type of humour I go in for.

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Trailer: Fast and Furious 6 Super Bowl Spot

Fast and Furious 6

Fast and Furious 6, yes it’s the 6th film in the franchise, gets a Super Bowl spot.

Well, it’s certainly a Fast and Furious trailer isn’t it? Lots of ridiculous car driving action, explosions, women wearing not a whole lot, this is all but guaranteed to make a boat load of cash. And you know what? If it’s anything like Fast Five then it’ll be deserving.

Seriously, Fast Five was all kinds of fun.

Plus, based on shots in this trailer it looks like they might be tying up loose ends from Fast and Furious and Fast Five, forming a loose trilogy. I’m not opposed to that.

Also, Han Seoul-Oh is still in this one. Since he died in Tokyo Drift (that’s the third one) that makes all the films since prequels to that one, which begs the question: what the hell year does Tokyo Drift take place in.

Also, yes, [“Han Seoul-Oh” is the characters actual name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Fast_and_the_Furious_characters#Han_Seoul-Oh).

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Trailer: Oz the Great and Powerful Super Bowl Spot

Oz the Great and Powerful

Oz the Great and Powrful get the Superbowl Trailer treatment.

I honestly don’t have a lot to say here. There’s not a lot of new footage and there’s only one shot of the wicked witch and you don’t even see her face.

I can’t put my finger on it, I just can’t seem to get excited about it.

What do you guys think?

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Trailer: Star Trek Into Darkness Super Bowl Spot

Star Trek INto Darkness

Super Bowl spot for my own personal most anticipated film of the year.

First off, let me just say this: HOLY SHIT BALLS IS IT MAY YET?

Second off, let me say this: Seriously guys, is it May yet?

And third, Yes I am looking forward to this movie. I’m a dyed in the wool trekkie (Simon’s more interested in Star Wars news) and this looks like it might take everything they learned on 2009’s Star Trek (but couldn’t fix due to the writers strike) and ramp it up considerably. It’s teasing lots of action, and I cannot wait to see Benedict Cumberbatch as the bad guy. Some people think he’s Khan, some people think it’s gonna be Sybok, but I honestly don’t think I want to know. It’s been a bit of a tricky thing keeping myself in the dark in terms of plot details so far but I am going to do my best to keep it up as long as I can.

And a few notes:

1. He’s “better at everything” eh? Lends more credence to the genetically engineered bad guy idea.
2. “Our World Will Fall” eh? So is he after Kirk, or Spock, or the federation, or ?
3. That appears to be the Enterprise crashing through an atmosphere. Holy moly there’s a lot of stuff going on here that’s playing up previous movies.

You may have noticed that this embed was in SD. [See the HD version at Apple.com/trailers](http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/startrekintodarkness/), it’s much prettier.

Seriously, is it may yet?

**Update:** I forgot to mention, if you have the Star Trek Into Darkness app on your phone or tablet you can unlock a slightly longer version of this spot by having the app listen to it. It’s not much longer (37 seconds vs. the 32 seconds here) but there are a few more shots. Grab it for [iPhone/iPad/iPod here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-trek-app/id588255788) and for [android here](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paramount.startrekapp). And if you’re wondering if there’s any spoilery content, it does not appear as such.

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Trailer: The Lone Ranger Super Bowl Spot

THE LONE RANGER

The 90 second spot for The Lone Ranger that aired during the Superbowl is now online. Hurray!

I’m going to go with my first instinct on this and say that despite the fact that it looks like it might be fairly predictable (do you think Armie Hammer might have been betrayed and left for dead and found and nursed back to health by Tonto who had previously been betrayed and then together they ride out to exact justice on the bad guys together and in the process much action and badass hilarity ensues?) I think that it might still be a whole lotta fun.

This about Pirates of the Caribbean here. The first one, not the rest of them. It’s that level that I’m talking about. If they hit that same mark this movie could be one of the top earners of the year.

And hopefully, just maybe, Johnny Depp will get to say “[your argument is invalid](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/your-argument-is-invalid)”.

Official Synopsis from the [YouTube video embedded above](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkUMrkFdc9U):

> From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ The Lone Ranger, a thrilling adventure infused with action and humour, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes.

> Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, a legend of justice — taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

See what I mean about “probably predictable but likely still fun”?

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Awesome: The LA Noire blooper reel is unbelievable

Holy shit. Rockstar has released [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1va8FxBl7Cg) showing the amazing level of detail present in the Team Bondi motion capture. Watch as the actors fluff their lines and the rest of the cast react, all perfectly captured and recreated in their respective characters. There’s rumours that Rockstar has incorporated this technology into GTA V, so I’m really looking forward to how it’s evolved.

As for now, I just need to find the will to play LA Noire.

**Update:** Here’s an embed!

_-Matt_

Via [Kotaku](http://kotaku.com/5981281/you-will-not-believe-youre-watching-this-la-noire-blooper-reel)