World of WarCraft

Even if you don't play MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, usually shortened to MMOs), you've likely heard of World of WarCraft. This game, with its many expansions and huge player population, is arguably the most successful online game ever.

Period.

"World of WarCraft" coming to the silver screen

Exclamation point.

Its spawned novels, game guides, and even other MMOs who want to duplicate Blizzard Entertainment's success. So far, none have (though BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic has proved itself to be quite a competitor). WarCraft sits as King of the MMO Hill right now.

But can it also continue its success in the world of filmcraft?

Distributor Warner Bros. is counting on it.


Produced by Legendary Pictures and Ghost House Pictures, WarCraft "revolves around the Horde, the Alliance and the mythology of the world" in the best-selling MMO by the same title (Movie Insider). No other plot details have yet surfaced, but the film is in the Development phase (and has been since July 22, 2009) so the screenplay has not yet been finalized. Chris Metzen and Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, Thor 2) are the screenwriters for this project.

Sam Raimi, the man who directed the original Spider-Man trilogy, will be directing WarCraft. He will also be producing the film along with Thomas Tull, Charles Roven, and Jon Jashni. No cast has yet been hired. WarCraft does not have a cemented release date, but I'm assuming that it will be sometime in late 2013 or 2014. I also do not know if the film will be available in 3D, though I think it's a good possibility.


Do you think that WarCraft will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? If you play World of WarCraft, do you think that a film adaption will be good for the game or detrimental? Do you think you'll go see this film?




 - Edessa, signing off

Pikmin 2

I played Pikmin only once a very long time ago (wow, now I feel old XP), and it was very entertaining. Even though I only played it once, I still remember that my two favorite Pikmin were the red ones and the blue ones, though I don't even remember why. I guess I thought that red and blue just looked very nice together. :D

But for those of you who are Pikmin fans, you have new game to look forward to this summer: Pikmin 2.

There are now five types of Pikmin: Yellow, White, Purple, Blue, and Red

"Part of Nintendo's New Play Control! series of titles of classic Nintendo games remade for the unique control systems of the Wii, this game brings back the first in the Pikmin series with controls designed around the Wii Remote" (IGN). Basically, Pikmin 2 is a revamp of the original Pikmin series, but made specifically for the Nintendo Wii console.

According to IGN, "This second game in the Pikmin franchise improves and expands on the real-time fun offered in the first. In Pikmin 2, Captain Olimar returns to the planet he was originally stranded on, to collect trinkets for his dailing company to see back at home."

The game supports a new two player co-op, which "allows players to switch between two spacemen while collecting items. Along with the new playable character, two new Pikmin types have been included -- large hulking purple Pikmin, and small and feisty white Pikmin. Two-player co-op challenge missions and a competitive mode are also available" (IGN). You can command up to 100 Pikmin at a time to carry, follow, and fight for you as you race to find the items you need.

This Real-Time Strategy game was published by Nintendo and developed by Nintendo EAD, and will be in stores on June 10, 2012.

DISCLAIMER!: Pikmin 2 has been rated E for Everyone for the ESRB for Comic Mischief, Mild Violence.


If you've played Pikmin before, which Pikmin is your favorite?




 - Edessa, signing off

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

In 2010, 20th Century Fox released the very first Percy Jackson film, which was based off of the series of novels by Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (say that five times fast) grossed $226.5 million at box offices worldwide when it was released, but many critics were not so impressed.

Percy's got a sequel!

Rotten Tomatoes, after compiling 138 reviews of the film, gave The Lightning Thief a mediocre 5.3 out of 10 stars and a 49% Fresh average rating. Audiences liked it a little better, ranking it at 57% Fresh and at 3.4 our of 5 stars. Despite these "meh" numbers, The Lightning Thief was described as "mischievous and witty and amusing" (At the Movies) with "sharp pacing and a nifty sense of fun" (Houston Chronicle).

With Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters distributor 20th Century Fox is hoping to keep the franchise going.


In this sequel to The Lightning Thief, "Percy Jackson [a boy who is the half-human son of the Greek God of the Sea, Posiedon] journeys to The Sea of Monsters to free captured friend and find the Golden Fleece" (Movie Insider).

Thor Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hotel for Dogs) replaces Chris Columbus as the director, while Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Brandon T. Jackson reprise their roles as Percy, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood. Jake Abel joins the cast as Luke, and Mary Birdsong and Yvette Nicole will be two of the three Fates. As far as I am aware, Sean Bean will not be reprising his role as Zeus.

Sea of Monsters is currently in the Pre-Production stage (casting actors, finalizing budgets and crew, location scouting, etc.) since June 10, 2011. The film will be shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, but I do not know when filming will begin. Currently there are no plans to shoot or convert the film to 3D, but that could change at any time.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters will be in theaters nationwide on March 15, 2013. No worldwide date has been set yet.


Do you think that Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Do you think that 20th Century Fox will be able to revive this fantasy franchise, or do you think they're just wasting their money?




 - Edessa, signing off

King of the Elves

I've always loved Disney movies. My two personal favorites are Beauty and the Beast and Robin Hood (the animated one with animals in all of the roles), and I never get tired of watching them over and over and over again.

Maybe that will also be the case with Disney's new animated film, King of the Elves.

Current poster for King of the Elves

King of the Elves, a book written by Phillip K. Dick, "becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tales about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life" (Movie Insider). The plotline sounds very intriguing to me, and I think it could be really good if Disney does it well.

Screenwriter Michael Markowitz (Horrible Bosses screenwriter) wrote the script, and the film will be produced by Chuck Williams and John Lasseter (director of Cars, Cars 2, and the two Toy Story sequels, as well as the screenwriter for Tangled). No directors have been hired yet (though both Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker were considered at one time), and I do not have a cast list either.

Currently King of the Elves is in the Development stage, which is when the final draft of the script is written, the budget is confirmed, and preliminary casting begins. The film has been at this stage since September 5, 2010.

The film will be in theaters sometime in November of 2013, though an exact date has not yet been pinned down. I do know, however, that King of the Elves will be available in 3D when it hits theaters.


Do you think that King of the Elves will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? And, while we're on the topic, do you have a favorite Disney film (animated or live-action)?


In Other News.....
......Disney/Pixar's upcoming animated adventure Brave has finally recieved its rating from the MPAA. It has been rated PG for some scary action and rude humor. Brave will be in theaters nationwide on June 22, 2012. See the official trailer at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtrDBQ_qmlg




 - Edessa, signing off