Friday, March 26, 2010

DVD NEWS: Here’s to You, Mr. Robinson! Celebrate The Legacy of Robert Culp with “I Spy: The Complete Series” on DVD from Image Entertainment

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In 1965, the groundbreaking television series “I Spy” premiered on NBC. Starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby, the action-packed series was the first American dramatic series to feature an African-American actor in a lead role. With yesterday’s untimely passing of television legend Robert Culp (1930-2010), come relive the legacy of not only one of America’s finest actor/writers but also a television show that literally broke the color barrier with Image Entertainment’s “I Spy: The Complete Series” available now in 5-disc volumes for Seasons 1, 2 and 3.


For eighty-two episodes, Culp’s Kelly Robinson and Cosby’s Alexander Scott battled international evil at every turn. With Culp posing as a world-class playboy/tennis player, and Cosby undercover as his trainer, they traveled the world trading quips and fighting high-level crime with cool bravado and extraordinary savoir-faire. Combining humor with action/intrigue, “I Spy” was also the first adventure TV series to be shot in exotic international locales, establishing a new visual standard for television dramas.

Winner of 4 Emmy® Awards and a Golden Globe® for Best TV Series, “I Spy’s” critical success and audience acceptance had an impact on television that’s still felt today – forty-five years after its debut!



Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 400 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary, Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to approximately 2,200 video programs and over 400 audio titles containing more than 5,500 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.
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CONVENTION NEWS: Star Wars Celebration V Previews at C2E2!!

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Star Wars™ Fans will Feel the Force at C2E2

Carrie Fisher to Headline Star Wars Presence, Which Will Include Celebrity Appearances, Autographs,
Exclusives and More



Months before Star Wars Celebration V comes to Orlando, fans can feel the Force at Reed Exhibitions’ Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), at McCormick Place, April 16-18, 2010 in downtown Chicago. There’s a whole galaxy of fun on the exhibit hall floor, including celebrities, autographs and an exclusive collectible t-shirt that can only be found at the show – as well as a special appearance by Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Princess Leia Organa in the original Star Wars trilogy. In addition, Reed Exhibitions is producing Star Wars Celebration V – in cooperation with Lucasfilm – at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from August 12-15.

Special Star Wars C2E2 guests include:

Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa) A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi (Scheduled for Saturday & Sunday only)

Ray Park (Darth Maul) The Phantom Menace

Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett) Attack of the Clones

Amy Allen (Jedi Aayla Secura) Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith

Orli Shoshan (Jedi Shaak Ti) Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith

Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith

“We are enormously excited to be making this announcement,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President of the Reed Pop Culture Group and Show Manager for C2E2. “I know that this will be a huge attraction for the thousands of Star Wars fans who will be participating in our show. This is an exclusive showcase that can only be found at C2E2 where fans will get a chance to share and participate in official Star Wars activity.”

Organizers note that in addition to the opportunity to meet stars, collectors will have the chance to get their hands on an exclusive Celebration V/C2E2 t-shirt that will only be available to those who purchase their tickets for Celebration V at C2E2. The t-shirt gives a nod to both shows. In addition to the celebration on the show floor, there will be activity on stage as well. Lucasfilm’s official presentation begins at 1:15pm on Saturday, April 17th in the IGN Theater, with Steve Sansweet exploring the past, present and future of Star Wars – from the 30th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back to the exciting weekly animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the upcoming Star Wars Celebration V.

Sunday is Kids Day at C2E2.. Kids of all ages can learn to draw The Clone Wars characters at the Variant Stage at 1:00pm with Star Wars artists Katie Cook and Grant Gould. Drawing paper and pencils will be provided, or budding artists can bring their own sketchbooks.

Organizers for C2E2 note that tickets for the show continue to sell quickly, and so all fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance! For more information on guests, tickets, or C2E2 in general, visit www.C2E2.com or check out the show’s official blog, MediumAtLarge at www.mediumatlarge.net, or follow C2E2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/c2e2. For further information about Star Wars Celebration V and to buy tickets, go to www.starwarscelebration.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS POP CULTURE GROUP:

The Pop Culture Group at Reed Exhibitions owns and operates the New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), and the New York Anime Festival (NYAF). New York Comic Con was launched in 2006 and quickly became a dominant presence in the pop culture world of public events. In 2009, 452 companies exhibited at NYCC for a total of 84,000 square feet of paid exhibit space, and it has been ranked by Crain's New York Business as the second-largest annual event in NYC. C2E2, which will debut April 16 – 18 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, is modeled after NYCC and will provide fans the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite writers, creators, and artists, as well as to see, hear and learn about the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. The Pop Culture Group also operates the recently-launched Star Wars Celebration in partnership with the Lucasfilm Ltd. and UFC Fan Expo. Additionally, it holds a strategic partnership with Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in 2008 and will work closely with PAX on the launch of PAX East in Boston in 2010.
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TOY NEWS: Kick Ass Figures For Pre-Order At Mezco

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"Kick-Ass", the action-adventure movie from Lionsgate and Matthew Vaughn, is a twisted high-octane adventure that redefines the "super hero" genre, based on the popular comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.

Kick-Ass, a.k.a. Dave Lizewski is an average teenager and avid comic-book fan, who decides to become a real-life superhero, Kick-Ass! With no actual super powers, his life is forever changed as he encounters the violent, real-crime world of common thugs, drug lords and underworld mobsters.

Kick-Ass 1/12 scale 6" action figure that captures the essence of "Kick-Ass" armed with two billy-clubs, and wearing signature suit and mask.

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Hit-Girl, a.k.a. Mindy Mc Cready is an 11 year-old pig-tailing wearing waif with the fighting skills of a ninja. This little super hero proves she has some real kick- ass skills.

The 1/12 Scale action figure features Hit-Girl in her signature plaid skirt, purple wig and cape. Armed with a pair of butterfly knives, and her double Gitano bladed mindy stick.

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Visit the Mezco Direct Store for purchase.

© 2003-2010 Mezco Toyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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TV REVIEW: THE CLONE WARS "SENATE MURDERS"

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The Clone Wars returned from its hiatus with the new episode "Senate Murders," which centers around a critical vote in the senate to increase the production on clone troopers and escalate the war against the Separatists. Standing against the increase is Senator Amadala and her posse, including Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Rodian Senator Onaconda Farr, who was introduced last year as an old friend and mentor to Padme.




Another faction of competing senators stand in favor of the escalation, including new characters Deechi and the Kaminoan Senator Halle Burtoni. When Senator Farr is poisoned, Padme and Organa team up to investigate his murder an they discover a plot at the heart of the Galactic Senate.

Overall, "Senate Murders" is one of the weaker episodes this season, and not just because it is a Padme-focused, politics oriented story (although the movies handled this kind of political intrigue in a much more satisfying way). For me a lot of the new characters fall flat and feel off in this episode. Deechi is a one note, "evil" character and does little before his demise. While I was happy that a plausible explanation was given for there being a senator from Kamino, Halle Burtoni was jarringly different from the placid, ethereal, Kaminoans we saw in Attack of the Clones. Her aging vamp personality didn't feel quite right for the character. The other new character, Detective Divo was annoyingly caricaturish and it was hard to take him seriously with his round little body and Karl Rove-like face. It turns out he is the one in charge of those goofy Bobby Droids we've been seeing.

"Senate Murders" was a lackluster episode marred by some over-the-top characters. I did like that it was a different kind of a episode, a Star Wars who-done-it and when the killer was finally revealed, that person had a good reason for doing what they did. This is another example of the show's evolving moral complexity. I just wished that this point would have been packaged in a better episode.

Patrick Garone
Creative Director
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