Transformers 4: Age of Extinction Teaser Movie Poster

Paramount and Hasbro have officially unveiled the tagline for the 2014 live action Transformers film and it’s “Age of Extinction.” It pains me this is our fourth Transformers film and The Blot could not care less. It’s amazing how far the Transformers franchise has fallen in my eyes due to Michael Bay’s fumbling of the movies. I still love all things Transformers Generation 1, but these movie versions of Optimus Prime and company kill me! Then again it makes buckets and buckets of money so what do all of the parties involved care about what The Blot thinks?

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction drives into theaters on June 27, 2014.

“No Ship Should Go Down Without Her Captain” Star Trek Into Darkness Print by Mark Englert

For Mark Englert newest lithograph the artist has teamed up with Gallery 1988, Bad Robot, Paramount and IMAX to produce a killer poster for Star Trek Into Darkness! The print was produced as part of IMAX’ new FANFIX, which is an evolution of the IMAX 12:01 program. This means the limited edition, collectible Star Trek print you see here can never be purchased, it will only be given away to the most avid IMAX fans who are in attendance at select theaters to see Star Trek Into Darkness on opening night at 12:01am on Wednesday, May 15th. See a list of participating theaters here.

"No Ship Should Go Down Without Her Captain" by Mark Englert is a Star Trek Into Darkness 12”x36” lithograph with glow in the dark ink. This awesome poster features the USS Enterprise in orbit around Earth with the sun rising in the distance. Get one…if you can!

G.I. Joe: Retaliation “Cobra Flag” Screen Print by Anthony Petrie

Gallery 1988 was commissioned by Paramount Pictures to create a promotional image for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the new G.I. Joe movie that debuted last weekend, and artist Anthony Petrie created this incredibly iconic image that was also turned into a beautiful screen print! If this looks more like a photograph than a screen printed poster you’d be right. Anthony actually created a Cobra American flag from scratch and then photographed it to create the print. And yes, the red and white stripes do form the Arashikage clan’s logo. This image is seriously epic!!!

Paramount only made 100 of these G.I. Joe: Retaliation  "Cobra Flag" 18″x24″ prints created and The Blot has no idea how you can get your hands on one. If you figure it out, let me know! Rumor has it you can snag one by keeping tabs on Facebook.com/CobraSpecialForces.

New Thor Hi-Res Official Movie Photos

Now that the filming of Thor is underway, Marvel is releasing more and more official movie stills of characters from the film. First up is a very Excalibur like photo featuring Chris Hemsworth as Donald Blake attempting to pull Thor's mighty hammer Mjolnir out of a rock.


Next up is the second photo featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Anthony Hopkins as Thor’s father Odin. I don’t know about you guys think, but these photos are just plain beautiful! I just really love the shine everyone’s armor has…do we think that’s natural or computer enhanced!?!


And last but not least is a photo of Thor, Odin, Loki, Frigga and the Warriors Three all standing in Odin’s Hall of Asgard. This is definitely the coolest picture of the three, and from my moles at San Diego Comic-Con it sounds like the Marvel booth features an exact replica of Odin throne. I can only imagine the types of pictures being taken there this weekend!


Thor is premieres in theaters on May 6th, 2011.

Thor Motion Picture First Look - Official Photo of Thor, Odin & Loki

Earlier today Marvel released the first official photo from their upcoming live action comic book adaptation Thor, which features Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. (link) This is actually our second look at Hemsworth as Thor, since an unofficial photo leaked a few months ago. The Blot’s not 100% sold on this film yet, and my uneasiness has actually grown since seeing the photo below. To me, the characters look like something out of that horrible Clash of the Titans remake that premiered earlier this summer.


From Marvel’s official press release: “Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the epic adventure Thor spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.”

Thor is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 6, 2011.

Thor Motion Picture First Look - Chris Hemsworth as Thor

Late last week Marvel Studios and Paramount released the very first photo of Chris Hemsworth in costume as the mighty Thor. The Blot was very leery when Marvel first announced they would be making a live action Thor move, but does Hemsworth look great as the Norse God of Thunder or what? I am shocked they chose to use Thor’s modern look (designed by Olivier Coipel) over his more traditional look, but as long as he’s got his winged helmet I’ll be a happy comic book fan.


Thor stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Thor is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 6, 2011.

Star Trek Kirk & Uhura 100% Be@rbrick Set

The Blot has no idea why it took this long for a Medicom Toy x Paramount Pictures collaboration on a line of Star Trek vinyl figures in honor of the franchises’ successful reboot, but I’m glad it happened! The look of the Star Trek 100% Be@rbrick Set, featuring James T. Kirk and Uhura, is based on the of the feature film by J.J. Abrams, and will hopefully be just the first of many Star Trek themed Kubrick and Be@rbrick figures. There has already been a Spock 100% Be@rbrick figure and two more are in the works, but more on that later in the week!


The Medicom x Paramount Star Trek 100% Be@rbrick Set featuring Kirk and Uhura will go on sale mid 2010 and will retail for somewhere around $25-30.

Iron Man 2 International Teaser Movie Poster

Following up last week’s release of the first Iron Man 2 US teaser movie poster, which featured our first look at the new War Machine armor, comes the first official Iron Man 2 international teaser one sheet movie poster. The Blot’s not sure why Paramount/Marvel chose not to include Don Cheadle’s War Machine in this poster, but it’s pretty obviously they’re playing up Robert Downey, Jr.’s international stardom to really push this film. I think I speak for all comic book fans when I say I’m really looking forward to Iron Man 2!


Marvel Comics’ second live action Iron Man adaptation is scheduled to hit theaters May 7, 2010.

Iron Man 2 Teaser Promo Movie Poster featuring War Machine

The internet was a buzz yesterday after Paramount released a brand new Iron Man 2 teaser one sheet promotion poster featuring the first appearance of War Machine. I don’t know why, but The Blot’s always been a huge James “Rhodey” Rhodes, so I am really looking forward to the character’s expanded role in Iron Man 2.


Rhodey/War Machine is a one of the few second tier Marvel characters that has developed a small yet loyal fan base, so it’s great to see him front and center of a huge summer blockbuster. Marvel has done a great job fleshing out the War Machine character over the years, and I have a feeling he’s going to finally make the A list after Iron Man 2 hits theaters.

I’m still not sure how I feel about Don Cheadle in the role (Terrence Howard just screamed Rhodey to me), but once he’s strapped into War Machine’s silver and grey armor I’ve got a feeling he’s going to win over even the most cynical comic book fan.

The second live action Iron Man adaptation is scheduled to hit theaters May 2010.

Michael Lau x Mindstyle The Godfather Marionette White Tux Version

Here is also the first official picture released of the new white tuxedo The Godfather Marionette vinyl figure by Michael Lau (also known as The Godfather Marionette Version 2) produced by MINDstyle. I’m still not a fan of the marionette strings, I think they take away from the figure itself, but I do like how they’ve tied in The Godfather logo with this Art Toy Collectible version of Don Vito Corleone. To be honest, I was really worried what the different colorways of this figure might look like. Thankfully, Lau and MINDstyle decided not to do anything too outlandish and went simple and classic with their color variations of this classic movie character.


No news to report about this figure’s price or run size either. The Godfather Marionette Version 2 will probably have the same price point ($175) as the original The Godfather Marionette figure, but may have a smaller run size (a number like 150 or 200 perhaps?).

Michael Lau x Mindstyle The Godfather Classic Vinyl Figure

Here is the first official picture released of the new The Godfather Classic vinyl figure by Michael Lau produced by MINDstyle. While The Blot posted amateur shots of all of the upcoming The Godfather figures here, this photo blows mine away so I figured I’d still post about it. I actually like this version of Vito Corleone so much more than the marionette version. There’s no cat and no annoying strings anywhere to distract you from this amazing Lau version of Marlon Brando's Don Corleone. Plus the chair looks really comfy!


No news to report about The Godfather Classic’s price or run size, but I would imagine it will be comparable to OG The Godfather Marionette figure ($175 price, limited to 300 figures). Now if only this figure spoke, then I’d really be in heaven. Picture this 8” figure saying “What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully?” It’d be legen…wait for it…dairy!

SDCC 09 - Upcoming Michael Lau x MINDstyle The Godfather Colorways

The Blot is almost finished recapping my San Diego Comic Con 2009 experience, but there are still a few more things I’ve got to talk about before I move on for good. One release I was really looking forward to at Comic-Con was Michael Lau’s The Godfather Marionette art toy collectible ("atc") vinyl figure. To be honest, I was planning on buying one before getting to San Diego, but once I saw the marionette figure in person I was turned off by the marionette strings and control bars.


Thankfully, MINDstyle unveiled rest of its The Godfather atc figures, which look pretty cool in person. My personal favorite is The Godfather classic version with chair, which is almost identical to the marionette version but without the marionette strings and cat. Also scheduled for release is a The Godfather Marionette figure in an all white tuxedo and, in a surprise announcement, a Horse Head figure which pays homage to one of the most famous scenes of all three The Godfather movies.




No word yet on when these other The Godfather art toy collectible figures will go on sale, but the OG The Godfather Marionette colorway is on sale now here at the Vinyl Pulse online store for the retail price of $175.

Michael Lau x Mindstyle The Godfather Marionette Vinyl Figure

The Blot is a HUGE fan of The Godfather movies, so when the news that Michael Lau, the godfather of urban vinyl, would be designing a Godfather vinyl figure first hit the internet I freaked out. I had all these different visions of what a Lau designed Marlon Brando vinyl figure would look like…and now we know. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Lau would go with a marionette theme, but it def works in tying in The Godfather logo with the image of Brando’s Vito Corleone.


The creation of this figure was made possible due to a licensing agreement between MINDstyle International and Paramount Pictures, and marks the launch of their new The Godfather art toy collectibles (ATC) line. In my opinion, the only downfall to this figure is the announcement that this figure will have two alternate limited edition colorways available from select retailers. How they could possibly feel a designer vinyl figure of Vito Corleone could possibly need additional colorways is beyond me! You just don’t mess with a classic.


This original version of The Godfather (with marionette) is packaged in a special limited edition collectors box and will launch at the “Family Tradition” art exhibition curated by Ron English in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 19th at De la Barracuda. The figure will also be available in extremely limited quantities at MINDstyle’s San Diego Comic Con booth #4545.


The Michael Lau x Mindstyle The Godfather Marionette Vinyl Figure is 8 inches tall (12 inches with the marionette attached) and has a limited run of 300 figures. The Godfather OG colorway is expected to retail for around $175.

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra Official Full Length Trailer

The Blot’s been ragging on G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra ever since I saw the very first photo of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander. The movie’s teaser trailer didn’t do much to help put my mind at ease, but then yesterday I saw G.I. Joe’s first official full length movie trailer. Now I’m not saying Rise of Cobra is going to be great (or even good for that matter), but I can now at least see it has the potential to be a legit summer blockbuster and fill the need many of us have for some mindless entertainment with lots of action and explosions.



Do you know what I liked most about this new G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra trailer? There wasn’t a single scene featuring Cobra Commander. My recommendation to G.I. Joe director Stephen Sommers, focus more on Destro and the Baroness and cut Cobra Commander’s screen time in half. Even without the mask, Christopher Eccleston seems to exude Destro’s confidence and bravado. So thankfully that's one less concern I have to worry about. I am now trying to be cautiously optimistic, but I still have serious concerns that this film will end up a huge flop. The Blot's waited 25 years for the first ever live action adaptation of my all time favorite toy line and I really hope Hasbro and Paramount don’t screw it up!

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra deploys into theaters on Friday, August 7th, 2009.

Star Trek One Sheet Enterprise Movie Poster

Even after all of the ads and all of the trailers, The Blot still doesn’t know how Paramount and J.J. Abrams are going to take Star Trek mainstream again. I think years and years of bad PR have left a permanent stigma on this once proud sci-fi franchise. I do like this new Enterprise theatrical one sheet movie poster though and am pretty excited to see the prequel in theaters.


So far my only complaint is the Enterprise’s bridge looks like a giant Mac computer. But Apple is slowly taking over the computer industry, so who knows. Maybe in the future Apple changes its focus to the development of starships with warp capabilities. It might even one day change its name from Apple to Starfleet.

Star Trek opens in US theaters on May 8, 2009.

New Star Trek Full Length Official Trailer

While The Blot has always been a big fan of The Next Generation and the last few seasons of Deep Space Nine, I definitely wouldn’t consider myself a Trekkie. In fact, I’ve always preferred Star Wars to Star Trek. But despite my ambivalence towards the original Star Trek, this trailer has me uber-excited about the upcoming film. The special effects and fight scenes look incredible and I can’t wait to see J.J. Abrams’ take on Kirk, Spock, Bones and the rest of the crew of the Starship Enterprise.


I just hope Paramount is able to market this movie successfully since a majority of the movie going public perceives all things Star Trek negatively. Over the years the franchise has really pigeonholed itself into this preconceived stereotype of only for sci-fi geeks. I really don’t understand it considering how popular comic book themed movies and all things Star Wars are in the current pop culture climate. It is something Paramount and Abrams will have to work hard to overcome. In the meantime check out the first full length official trailer for the Star Trek reboot/prequel movie premiering on May 8, 2009 below.



If you are interested in watching a larger version or a HD version of the trailer above, click here.

WTF!?! - Paramount Announces Movie Deal With Kidrobot

In what has to win the worst news of 2008, “Paramount Pictures has made a deal with Wildbrain to turn its Kidrobot branded collectible character creations into a series of feature films that will be a mix of animation and live action.” (link) The Blot is stunned to say the least. In less than 24 hours Kidrobot has gone from edgy and designer to complete sell out.

Worst of all, while we still don’t know which of Kidrobot’s “branded collectible character creations” Paramount has its eyes on, we do know that unfortunately the films will be a part of Paramount’s Nickelodeon Movies label. (link) It seems like Kidrobot’s days of producing collectibles is now officially over. From here on out their vinyl figures are strictly kiddie toys.

It seems weird that Paramount would want to make a series of children’s films about a line of limited edition vinyl figures “painted by a group of graffiti and graphic artists and musicians.” (link) According to Variety, because the figures “come with no linear storyline…the plan is to draft…a story about ordinary kids who are transported into the edgy world populated by the Kidrobot creatures.” (link) This sounds like one of the worst movie ideas I have ever heard and, in all honesty, I hope it fails.


Having its properties turned into a kids movie make zero sense for Kidrobot when you consider their current business plan is to sell their vinyl figures and apparel line in high-end stores nationwide. Isn’t this just going to spurn their current primary fan base? That seems like a pretty big risk considering they don’t even know if they can pull in the younger demographic these movies would be aimed at.


There was one interesting tidbit that came out of yesterday’s Variety article and it explains how all this came about. It turns out that Kidrobot founder Paul Budnitz no longer owns Kidrobot. He sold the company to Wildbrain, the producer of the Nick Jr. series Yo Gabba Gabba! and Higglytown Heroes for the Disney Channel. Now that Wildbrain is the company’s primary owner, it appears they want to broaden Kidrobot’s appeal and have the brand skew younger to a demographic they know more about. What a sad, sad day in The Blot’s world.