SCIFIPUNDIT...Blog me up Scotty

The First Summer Movie "Thor" Needs To Come Out Swinging And Smash The Box Office

2011-04-24T10:09:00.007-06:00

Not too long ago I was privy to some trailers of summer movies that begin in a short few weeks with the first being the long awaited release of Thor. I know that the Norse god Thor can carry a war hammer of the gods but can he carry opening day for the summer blockbuster season that is expected? I have a few worries about this movie since the first trailer came out at San Diego Comic Con 2010 and it has taken till the summer of 2011 to release it. Don't get me wrong, I still want to see it I just hope this god is strong enough. The following is a list of movies coming out this summer that I think are worth your time. I will not bore you with my reviews of these forth-coming movies, I will leave that up to you. They are not in order of release, just in order of what I remember seeing

Thor

Pirates of the Caribbean

Green Lantern

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Captain America

Super 8

Cowboys and Aliens

Priest

X-Men: First Class

Transformers – Dark Side of the Moon

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Fright Night 2011

If there are any others I may have forgotten, feel free to let us know and we here at Scifipundit will update our post. See ya at the movies

Be Ready For More Posts

2011-04-04T00:43:00.003-06:00

With the summer fast approaching so comes the summer movie releases from all the studios. I will be posting on what I think will be big and what I fear will suck. Stay tuned and see if I am right. If there are any movies you are looking forward to give a shout out here on my blog and we will chat about it or if there is any TV shows you are looking forward to let us know here at SciFiPundit.

StarFest in Sight

2011-04-04T00:31:00.003-06:00

Hellllloooo, Anyone out there? I know it has been some time since I last posted on my blog, but I figured I should say something about Denver Starfest at the Marriott & Hilton Denver Tech Center that will be happening the 15th – 17th of April 2011. I personally will be up there on Thursday the 14th to meet up with some old friends and party and maybe chat with some of the guests who tend to show up early. I think this is going to be the best Starfest yet. The guest list is impressive this year and I think the Starland staff will be pulling out all the stops to make this an awesome event for all Sci-Fi, comic book and horror fans. Guests from the television show “Star Wars, Firefly, BSG, STNG (Star Trek Next Generation) are scheduled to appear. If this is your first visit to Starfest, shame on you for not coming to it sooner and be ready to have a great time, Those Starfest veterans already know what to expect and, I am sure are already packed and in countdown mode as I am. I hope to see some old friends and make some new ones and try out my new costume(Jedi)one eve, since I think some folks are sick of my Lucius Malfoy, which I will wear one day of the con. So bring your costumes, cameras and your booze and let’s have a great time.

52 Days And Counting ( Time Needs To Go Faster}

2010-07-13T01:15:00.005-06:00

Only fifty two days till one of the biggest fan run, pop culture conventions in the US begins in Atlanta. So far the guest lineup has over 350 actors, musicians, authors, and artists attending. While this convention is about half the size of Comic Con in San Diego, this one is not industry run, but instead ran by fans of every genre. Panels and demonstrations on just about every subject are continuous throughout the con. Dances and music, and parties happen every night at the 4 hotels the convention has taken over and sold out and a huge parade that anyone who attends the con can be a part of. If you want to have a great time and I do mean a really great time, and make new friends. Come to Dragon Con in Atlanta over "Labor Day" Weekend. This is not a paid advertisement.
( I wish it was, I could use the money for con)

Heres Something For The Ladies Of Dragon Con In Atlanta

2010-07-13T00:48:00.006-06:00

I was sent this by a friend and it just seemed appropriate
Southern Women & Southern Ways---Humor

Southern women know their summer weather report: Humidity, Humidity, Humidity. Southern women know their vacation spots: The beach, The rivuh,The crick Southern women know every body's first name:Honey, Darlin', Shugah, Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:Fried Green Tomatoes, Driving, Miss Daisy Steel, Magnolias, Gone With The Wind Southern women know their religions: Baptist, Methodist, Football Southern women know. their cities dripping with Southern charm:Chawl'stn , S'vanah, Foat Wuth, N'awlins, Addlanna Southern women know their elegant gentlemen: Men in uniform, Men in tuxedos, Rhett Butler. Southern girls know their prime real estate:The Mall, The Spa The Beauty Salon.
Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:Having bad hair and nails , Having bad manners, Cooking bad food. More Suthen-ism's: Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, And that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them. Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess." Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to town, be back drekly (directly). Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well. Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'! Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20. Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and Po white trash. No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn. A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines ... And when we're "in line,"... We talk to everybody! Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage. In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural. Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them. Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food. When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner! Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk. AND a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her heart"... And go your own way. To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart! And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff...bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language! And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I'm not from the South, but I got here as fast as I could." Southern women know: Men may come and go, but friends are fahevah!Now Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wishes they had been! If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fakeit! We know you got here as fast as you could.

Statues and Tea Parties

2010-03-04T00:07:00.004-07:00

So lots of news coming out of the studios. For the first time in a long time if ever, a sci -fi movie is up for an Academy award for best picture as well as technical . James Camerons half billion dollar "Avatar" is in the running for the big prize, going up against other wonderful films like the the bare bones budget , 13 million dollar movie "The Hurt Locker" (go see it ). Tim Burtons re imaging of the classic "Alice in Wonderland" hits the theaters this weekend, with his very good friend, Johnny Depp taking on the role that I doubt anyone could do better, the "Mad Hatter" and while Lewis Carroll might not turn over in his grave at this remake. I would bet he twitched a bit. But I am sure Mr Burton has another hit on his hands. Fantasy and Sci -fi running rabbit... oh I meant rampant (smirk)

James Cameron Once Again Finds Gold - This Time On Pandora

2010-01-07T23:35:00.005-07:00

James Cameron’s “Avatar “ breaks the billion dollar mark with the help of some of my money, showing the decade that Mr. Cameron waited for technology to catch up with his dreams seems to be well worth the wait. Not to mention rewarding the patience of the fans that have been waiting since hearing about it after the release of his other monstrous Academy award winning hit “Titanic”. On a personal level, I completely enjoyed the film in 3-D and was pleasantly surprised to find out how fast 2 hours and 40 min could go by. The huge budget (rumored to be over 500 million dollars) could be seen in every minute in the film. Being a sci-fi blogger, and admitted geek, I have the pleasure and sometimes torture of watching the newest sci-fi and fantasy genre films and television shows Hollywood throws out. I am happy to say this was the former. I have waited to blog about this to see how long it would take for Mr. Cameron to recoup his investment. Not really – just procrastination on my part,also being the resolution I meant to do but kept putting it off. I’m taking a few lessons from my wife.
In my adventures, it seems more and more difficult to find sci-fi and fantasy based films. I sometimes think Hollywood producers and executives don’t realize what a gold mine they have in these niche products. Followers of this genre prove to be a dedicated and loyal fan base, who willingly part with their money even in this weak economy. A good example of this is seen in Joss Whedon and his TV show Firefly. After only 13 episodes, the series was cancelled. However the power of the fan base made possible the movie Serenity. And the dream of the Browncoats lives on, as anyone who has visited ComicCon or DragonCon can attest. If you don’t believe me, just attend a Browncoat Shin Dig or Battlestar Colonial Fleet party. (And if any of these terms are alien to you, (pun intended) it’s time to spend a bit more time in your mother’s basement with a Serenity/Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica Marathon. Or keep an eye on Nathan Fillion in Castle, especially around Halloween.)This is why Hollywood and its execs need to pay closer attention to those type of fans. Take a cue from Will Smith, who makes 2 movies a year: One for his art, and one (usually a sci-fi pic) for the fans. Guess which one makes more money. I will continue to trek on these adventures like the Indiana Jones of sci-fi, looking for that Holy Grail of quality science fiction and fantasy-based films and television to bring back and blog about.

Knighthoods Bestowed On Patrick Stewart and Peter Jackson

2009-12-31T00:07:00.009-07:00

I would normally have something very witty to say in my opening sentence, but not in this case, this is too big an honor for two individuals who truly deserve it. Yorkshire England native, Patrick Stewart who is best known for his role on the television show and in movies as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" – has been given the great honor of knight in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year honors list. Patrick Stewart may now add the title of "Sir" to the beginning of his name. The 69-year-old actor only recently returned to the British West End following a long career in Hollywood and on Broadway. The writer and director Peter Jackson was also Knighted in his homeland of New Zealand where the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was filmed and won a total of 17 Academy Awards a few years ago. The title of Knight is approved by the queen, the country's head of state. As a total geek to the sci-fi and fantasy genre, I would like to extend our congratulations from those of us here at SciFiPundit, to both of these gentlemen for their outstanding work and their contributions to both stage and screen. And for those who do not know the rules of knighthood here is how it goes. In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. These honors are bestowed by the queen, but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public. Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of CBEs, OBEs and MBEs have no title but can put the letters after their names.

"Iron Man 2" Will Be Gold In Theaters This Summer

2009-12-18T12:44:00.002-07:00

So I see promotions and trailers for this summers' film releases have begun with the Christmas season movies. I recently had the opportunity to see the newest trailer for "Iron Man 2" with Robert Downey Jr. reprising the role as industrialist playboy and super genius engineer Tony Stark/ Iron Man due out this summer and I must say I was pleasantly surprised in what I saw. I think fans of the first movie as well as readers of the comics will like what's in store. I will say that Robert Downey Jr. continues to impress me as a character, seeing him in the Soloist with Jamie Foxx this past year. I have my doubts that anyone else could have played the part Tony Stark any better. (Also looking forward to seeing him play the lead in the new "Sherlock Holmes" movie with Jude Law as "Dr Watson" and directed by Guy Ritchie). Mickey Rourke has taken up the gauntlet to play the newest villain "Whiplash" and the wonderful actor Don Cheadle will be playing Tony Starks friend, Col. James Rhodes/ "War Machine". If none of these character names from the comics ring a bell, you're either not a fan of the comics and movies or you will need to read up on your "Ironman" comics to refresh your memory. I have heard rumors from sources that one or possibly two other Marvel super heroes may make an appearance. So get ready for a rocking summer at the movies just don’t go setting up your tents at the theaters yet.

Move Over Peter Jackson, Fans Make Own LOTR Film

2009-12-10T12:50:00.005-07:00

Some months ago (I know I am late on this post) I was asked to watch a well made 40 minute fan film titled the (The Hunt For Gollum) A film that has been picked for a showing at the Israel International SF Festival this past September and the Festival du Cinema Nouveau in Montreal Canada in October of 2009 and plenty of other places around the world. In the films first months release it attracted over 2 million viewers to the and well over 3.2 million after 3 months on both Dailymotion and You Tube for free viewing. The film was funded entirely by the film makers and made by dedicated fans of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I will say this, I think it is one of the best impendent films I have had the pleasure of watching in the last few years. I know my praise of this film is late in coming but it is here now and so are my thanks to the folks who put their time and energy into making it. I recently was told that as of December 2009, a second film is now out, titled "Born of Hope". So go find it on You Tube, where ever you watch vids and let me know what you think here at ScifiPundit.com

Sci Fi Shows Post Lower Ratings

2009-11-29T21:45:00.002-07:00

So it would seem that main stream TV is not liking the sci-fi genre this season. ratings are down near 17% and shows such as Heroes, Smallville and Fringe are taking the biggest hits. These shows are down from last year and word has it that both fringe and Heroes are both close to cancellation if not already done. Heroes has been struggling for a few years now but NBC network has been keeping it on life support in the hopes it would regain its audience but the writing continues to be weak along with support from the studios and not to mention support from the fans, which seems to have dwindled as well. I was one of the die- hards, who held on past when I should have thrown in the towel. I believe that if the writers and studio would have listened to the fans this show could have continued on for years in the top 10 slot, but they would rather write it into an early grave. Fringe on the other hand is a well written show but had the bad luck of being sold to the Fox network, who in my opinion loves to kill scifi shows, just ask Joss Whedon after the cancellation of Dollhouse, the second show he has had yanked out from under him by the Fox Network. I hope at least Fringe survives for another season, but I am afraid Heroes is finished since I heard that NBC told the writers to finish up story lines. The good news is Chuck is coming back in January, so at least folks like me have something sci-fish (Is that a word?) to watch. There is good news for ABC network with high ratings for the Flash Foward and the reboot of the 80s show V, (which I love by the way). So lets hope scifi shows climb out of the toilet with ratings for our favorite genre.

Why Kirk is better than Picard?

2009-11-14T10:06:00.003-07:00

My dear friend Cheryl found this and I must say I totally agree with the list and thanks to who ever wrote this, so please enjoy and I promise to post more stuff very soon

Why Kirk is better than Picard?

1. When Data died, Picard had a funeral. When Spock died, Kirk reconstituted the body, forced it’s soul back in, and even got him laid along the way.
2. When Picard senses that Wesley is having emotional problems he sits down and talks with him about it. When Kirk sensed that Charlie X was having emotional problems he took him to the gym and threw him around on the mats until he got over it.
3. When Picard went back in time he brought back Data’s head. When Kirk went back in time he brought back a blonde.
4. Picard’s Enterprise was destroyed by a couple of Klingon chicks while he was stranded on a desert planet. Kirk’s Enterprise was destroyed when he blew up a crew of Klingons, stole their ship, and resurrected Spock from the dead.
5. Kirk has caused computers to self-destruct by out-thinking them on three separate occasions.
6. When Picard was in the Academy he got stabbed in the heart. When Kirk was in the Academy he beat the unbeatable Kobyoshi Maru scenario and bagged Carol Marcus in his spare time.
7. When Sisko met Picard he told him he hated him. When Sisko met Kirk he got his autograph.
8. Kirk does not play the flute.
9. Picard is from France.
10. When Picard has a problem he talks to Guinan about it. When Kirk has a problem he shoots it.
11. When Kirk screams it echoes across the entire planet.
12. When Kirk blew up the Enterprise, Starfleet built him another one and had it ready by the time he got home.
13. Kirk collects antique guns. Picard collects antique matrioshka nesting dolls.
14. Kirk chastises omni-powerful super beings for not being polite to women.
15. Kirk sword fights someone on a regular basis.
16. Kirk’s Enterprise did not have a day care.
17. Kirk once ordered Scotty to fire a photon torpedo on his position and then he dodged out of the way so it hit the alien he was fighting.
18. Kirk has a violently deadly disease in his blood but he doesn’t let it slow him down any.
19. When it’s time for shore leave Kirk goes rock climbing and drinks whiskey. Picard wears nut smashing banana hammock speedos and reads by the pool.
20. Picard’s name is known and respected throughout Klingon space. Kirk’s name is cursed and vilified.
21. The only Klingon serving on Kirk’s bridge would be a dead one.
22. Kirk jumps horses in his spare time. Picard owns a fish.
23. Kirk would never allow an “acting ensign” to lock out his command codes.
24. Picard quotes Shakespeare for fun. Kirk quotes Shakespeare to intimidate his enemies.
25. Kirk’s jump kick projects 650 pounds of blunt force.
26. Kirk once made a cannon that shot diamonds.
27. Kirk defies superior alien beings on an almost daily basis.
28. When the evil aliens use a stun ray on the crew, Kirk always stays conscious for a minimum of 15 seconds longer than everyone else.
29. Kirk is on a first name basis with every single admiral in Starfleet.
30. Kirk once said: “You’re the Captain’s woman till he says your not.”
31. When Sarek mind melded with Picard, Picard cried a lot. When Sarek mind melded with Kirk, Kirk decided to hijack the Enterprise and bring Spock back from the dead.
32. Kirk can shoulder roll at 127 miles per hour.
33. Picard’s engineer wears goofy wrap-around sunglasses. Kirk’s engineer wears a kilt and can drink you under the table.
34. If Picard’s engineer has a headache it’s because he wore his Visor for too long. If Kirk’s engineer has a headache it’s because he has a hangover.
35. Kirk looks good in sideburns. Really good.
36. Picard drinks tea. Kirk drinks Saurian Brandy straight from the bottle.
37. Kirk mocks Federation bureaucrats that he doesn’t like and then proves that their aids are Klingon spies, just to make the point.
38. Kirk once became an Indian god with the power to resurrect the dead.
39. Kirk can beat a Vulcan at chess.
40. Kirk’s love affairs extend not only across space but across time as well.
41. Kirk’s dress uniform does not actually look like a dress.
42. Kirk looks good in a ripped shirt, and he knows it.
43. Kirk repopulated the Earth’s once extinct humpbacked whale species.
44. When Picard wants the ship to go faster he calls down to engineering and asks to go faster. When Kirk wants the ship to go faster he sling-shots it around the sun.
45. When Klingons invaded Picard’s Enterprise he carefully neutralized them. When Klingons invaded Kirk’s Enterprise he had a massive sword fight with them.
46. Kirk has fought evil duplicates of himself on numerous occasions, always with screaming involved.
47. Kirk’s greatest nemesis was the genetically superior ruler of over a quarter of the Earth. Picard’s greatest nemesis likes to dress like him and occasionally cause inconvenience.
48. Kirk has punched out at least one member of over three thousand known alien races.
49. Kirk would never allow his first officer to get more tail than he does.
50. No matter what world Picard goes to, Kirk was there first and probably has an illegitimate child somewhere on the planet. is offline Reply With Quote El Capitan View Public Profile Send a private message to El Capitan Find More Posts by El Capitan Old 07-30-2008, 05:03 AM #2 El Capitan Senior Member
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Default 51. Everyone knows the phrase “Beam me up, Scotty!” The phrase, “Energize whenever you are ready, Mr. La Forge,” doesn’t exactly have the same notoriety.
52. Picard’s first officer is named after a bathroom code.
53. Kirk once yelled, “No blah-blah-blah! No blah-blah-blah!” and made it sound important.
54. Kirk’s hand phaser is sleek and sexy. Picard’s hand phaser looks like a Hoover dirt devil.
55. When Kirk wants to talk to the Enterprise he flips open his communicator dramatically. When Picard wants to talk to the Enterprise he has to tweak his own nipple.
56. Kirk’s youth was spent doing back breaking work on a farm in Iowa. Picard’s youth was spent squishing grapes with his toes in France.
57. Kirk fought the Greek god Apollo. And won.
58. The women on Picard’s ship wear long pants. On Kirk’s ship, miniskirts are mandatory.
59. Kirk’s middle name is Tiberius.
60. It runs in the family: Picard’s brother died trapped in a fire. Kirk’s brother died fighting swarms of alien invaders.
61. When Data hijacked the Enterprise, Picard was helpless to stop him. When Spock hijacked the Enterprise Kirk fought him to the death.
62. Kirk’s medical officer prescribes hard liquor as a cure all.
63. Kirk has heavy calluses on his right index finger from pressing the trigger on his phaser so many times.
64. When Kirk gets punched in the face he just wipes the blood off his lip and looks at it with a smirk.
65. Picard once wore formal Klingon robes for a Klingon ceremony. If Kirk ever wore Klingon robes it would be because he took them off a dead Klingon.
66. Kirk chops his own firewood.
67. Kirk once led a Mafia take over.
68. Kirk would have slept with Beverly Crusher by episode two.
69. In the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles” the tribbles bred at such a fast rate not because of instinct but because they were in the presence of Kirk.
70. When Deanna Troi talks about what she’s feeling, Picard listens carefully and thanks her for her input. Kirk would have called it “pillow talk.”
71. The emotional content level of Kirk’s speeches is an average of 782 times higher than the level of Picard’s speeches. If he’s talking about revolution, exploration or diversity, it is 1,089 times higher.
72. When Picard has an alien delegation on board he invites them to a quiet dinner. When Kirk has an alien delegation on board he gets plowed on Romulan Ale.
73. Kirk is familiar with 20th century slang.
74. The main computer on Kirk’s Enterprise once hit on him.
75. Kirk faced off against Wyatt Earp at the O.K. Corral and won.
76. Picard is a Frenchman with an English accent.
77. Kirk only requires thirty-two minutes of sleep a day.
78. Kirk eats multicolored nutrition squares because he’s too busy fighting stuff to eat a normal meal.
79. Kirk destroyed 672 uniform tunics during the Enterprise’s first five year mission.
80. 347 of those tunics were destroyed during combat with Klingons. The rest were destroyed by various women.
81. When Picard fought the Borg he got assimilated. When Kirk fought the Borg he blew up their planet.
82. When Kirk was sent to the prison camp on Rura Penthe he hadn’t bathed or changed his clothes in days and was wearing animal carcasses for warmth but Iman still threw herself at him the moment he arrived.
83. When Abraham Lincoln appeared floating in space in front of the Enterprise, Kirk didn’t even blink.
84. Kirk can break out of any jail cell that is located anywhere in time or space within one hour. Within one half hour if Spock is with him.
85. When Kirk disguised himself as a Romulan, he stole a cloaking device and used it to escape to Federation space. When Picard disguised himself as a Romulan he ate some soup and then got captured.
86. Denny Crane.
87. 87% of all Klingon opera is about the singer’s desire to kill Kirk.
88. The other 13% of all Klingon opera is about the singer’s desire to be killed by Kirk in glorious battle.
89. Kirk once taught an emotionless female android how to love. Then he broke up with her.
90. Kirk’s evil twin womanized and swilled brandy. Picard’s evil twin liked to have his scalp massaged by Ron Perlman.
91. Even though they haven’t existed for hundreds of years, Kirk can still sort of drive a stick shift.
92. Kirk never dressed in green tights and pretended to be Robin Hood, and if he had, someone would have paid for it.
93. Even though Kirk often pauses between words, no one ever dares interrupt him.
94. Kirk went to the center of the universe, met god and wasn’t impressed.
95. When Kirk says “boldly go,” he means it.
96. KHHAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!!!
97. Kirk blatantly disobeys one out of every five Starfleet orders just to remind them who’s really minding the store.
98. Starfleet estimates that the average Klingon has a 36% chance of being killed by Kirk at some point in their lifetime, regardless of their age, profession, location or social status.
99. Kirk once kicked a Klingon into the molten core of an exploding planet.
100. Style: Kirk did it first, he did it better and he did it wearing gold velour and Beatle-boots with a space girl on each arm.

SciFiPundit To Sit On Panels At Dragon Con 2009

2009-08-19T00:13:00.005-06:00

So it seems all this blog writing is going to pay off. The (American Sci-Fi media track ) at this years Dragon Con would like me to sit on a few panels during the 2009 Dragon Con which I must say I am very happy to do. Two of them are on Friday night with the first being “At the Movies with.... (summer movies)” which begins at 7:00 pm I believe and the second one is called Southern Discomfort - True Blood discussion starting on Friday at 10:00 pm. based on a series of books called The Southern Vampire Series by Author Charlaine Harris And followed by another panel titled “Comedy and Humor in genre shows” Saturday at 10 am. Which unfortunately runs at the same time as the Dragon Con parade, but I am honored to be asked to sit in on these panels and discuss what is going on in TV and movies this year. I am very happy that two of my best friends Kat and Jason are attending the con for the first and most likely not their last. I look forward to them possibly being able sit in on one or two of the panels and hear what I think on these topics, but I have a funny feeling they will be way too busy taking in all the sights and sounds of this convention. So I will keep you all up to date on what happens. Please write us here at SciFiPundit with any questions or comments you might have. We love to hear from our readers.

The Black Pearl Preparing Set Sail Again In 2012

2009-08-04T00:21:00.002-06:00

Disney studios is moving forward with their as always big plans for the Lone Ranger film with Johnnie Depp as the side kick Tonto with their wish of releasing the film in the summer of 2011. And as we all know Disney tends to make wishes come true, even their own. This latest development is putting a slight hold on the release of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 with director Rob Marshall, who directed the 2002 Academy Award winning film Chicago possibly at the (pardon the pun) Black Pearl helm sometime in 2012 and with the hope of Mr. Depp returning to his most famous or infamous role as Capt. Jack Sparrow. I personally see nothing wrong with new blood coming to the $2 billion Disney franchise, as long as the singing is kept to a minimum and the dancing is no more than a little pirate jig. Let’s hope anyways. “I do believe in pirates… I do… I do believe in pirates…” (Damn, I’ve been working the Renaissance Faire way too long this summer.)

Green Light For Lantern Film

2009-07-24T14:35:00.005-06:00

I recently heard that Ryan Reynolds has signed to play D.C Comics Green Lantern, which is expected to be released in 2011. Ryan had won the role of the Green Lantern over other choices that had screen tested for the part including singer/actor Justin Timberlake and actor Nathan Fillion of Firefly and his latest work Castle. I did hear rumors that Nathan was the fan favorite for the role of Green Lantern, but we know how rumors go. Anyone with any news on this or any other scifi or fantasy topic drop us a line here at Scifipundit

Villians For Batman

2009-07-24T14:29:00.002-06:00

Latest news from Comic con in San Diego is the next Batman movie will begin filming in 2010,but no word on who the next villain will be. Any suggestions for a bad guy?

What's At Stake for Harry Potter?

2009-07-22T23:51:00.002-06:00

This is an editorial I wrote some time ago and did not place on my blog till now. I felt it has become necessary to run this view point with churches speaking out against the latest Harry Potter movie.

With the release of the latest film, news agencies should prepare for a newly ignited passion for book burnings and the banning of movies that depict any sort of witchcraft. While burning has become synonymous with witchcraft, it seems now that the practice of burning books about witches has become the modern equivalent. On 30 December 2001, The Alamogordo Christ Community Church scheduled a “Holy Bonfire” led by Pastor Jack Brock where 400 members of his congregation burned copies of Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling as well as other well known novels and works by such authors as Mark Twain, J.R.R. Tolkien and Shakespeare that they found offensive. The act of book burning shows a serious lack of respect for one of the principal rights on which our nation was founded - Freedom of the Press. Many lives have been sacrificed so that parishioners of Fundamentalist Christian Churches and other groups can tell the public what should or should not be read in their homes, schools, or libraries. And while these groups have the right to assemble, the right to their religious beliefs, and their right to say so in public, these freedoms do not give them the right to press their ideas upon others who are not interested or willing to listen. These inalienable rights based on our Constitution do not give any group the right to press their ideas upon others who do not follow the same beliefs or ideals. Burning or banning of books or movies is wrong for the simple fact it destroys the knowledge base enclosed in the writings or makes that knowledge unavailable to those who need or want it, and is based on unfounded and unwarranted views of other religions.

Books in and of themselves are harmless. They cannot wield a knife, they can not pull the trigger on a gun. The true danger is in the interpretation of the written word. The best-selling author Judy Blume explains this concept in an opinion editorial for the New York Times in October of 1999, when she says, “In my books, it's reality that’s seen as corrupting. With Harry Potter, the perceived danger is fantasy… the real danger is not in the books, but in laughing off those who ban them.” (par. 4-5) Blume is familiar with banning of books. She has written dozens of stories popular among children and teenagers. Several of those books have been banned from classrooms and libraries over the last 20 years at the request of parents who find her writing at odds with how they want to educate their children.

Extreme Fundamentalist Christian groups believe that if their children read these fantasy tales, such as the Harry Potter books, the kids will be led into witchcraft or Satanism. They hold the belief that the only acceptable reading materials are the stories in the Holy Bible. Seemingly magical acts, widely known and willing accepted in the Christian belief as miracles, are prevalent throughout the Holy Bible. Examples including changing water into wine, the raising of the dead, and the parting of the Red Sea. All these are similar to element in J.K. Rowling’s novels whose main character must continually fight evil and is learning to cast spells that seem miraculous to his friends. Similarly, both books show the snake as a representation of evil. They both show right over might with the slaying of a giant by someone who should be too small to accomplish the task – the defeat of the giant Goliath by a young boy named David, and Harry defeating the Dark Lord Voldemort. If Harry Potter is promoting magic, he is promoting the magic of the written word. A report by Yankelovich, a leading researcher in consumer trends, and Scholastic, the global children’s publisher, showed that the Harry Potter novels had a significant impact on reading levels in children. Something has finally drawn the kids away from the television and video games, and encouraged them to use their own imaginations. While reports of Extreme Christian groups burning Harry Potter books or requesting to have them banned from libraries and bookstores have become commonplace in the news, stories are not seen about Witches burning or banning Bibles or any other religious tome in protest to that in which they do not believe. Two Michigan pastors, T.D. Turner Sr. and his son T.D. Turner Jr., took offense to the Harry Potter books, and burned them outside their Jesus Non-Denominational church in August, 2003, as reported by David Serchuk of Forbes.com in December 2006. The Pastor Turner is quoted as saying, “Parents [have to] realize this is more than a fictional book…it’s attached to the occult.” Where are similar reports about Wiccans burning Bibles, or expressing their fear if their kids get their hands on The Book of Mormon?

Many of the reports of groups involved in the book burnings include an interesting tidbit – most of those burning the books admit they have not actually read any of the novels. They have based their opinions on the cover, or word of mouth about the general idea of the books. If these same groups actually read the novels, they would see a vast number of similarities, and fewer objectionable concepts than they might expect. Neither have they done their research to learn the true nature of Witchcraft and Satanism. These two ideologies have nothing to do with one another. Witches do not worship Satan – he is a Christian concept. The beliefs of witchcraft, otherwise known as Wicca, are centered on Nature and the Earth’s energy. The idea that Satanism and Witchcraft are the same is an insult to Wiccans.

The Harry Potter series books and films has come under fire (pun intended) in a handful of states where parents feel the books will encourage their children to show an interest in the occult, and have called for the series to be removed from classrooms and school libraries. A US District Court overturned a ruling the by School Board of Cedarville, Arkansas, that students were required to present written parental permission to check the Harry Potter books out of the school library. Billy Ray and Mary Counts sued the School Board and requested the ruling be overturned. Parents, religious leaders and educators are afraid of the violence they see surrounding children these days. They are doing all they can to protect the next generation. This fear for the safety of their children can become excessive, leading the parents or other well-meaning adults to take extreme measures such as removing the offensive literature from the reach of all kids, not just who share their religious or moral ethics. To quote a Jedi Master, “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate” (Yoda) and this hate is being taken out on the books when they are burned or banned.

Writing this articale is not to press ideas or beliefs on the reader, unlike the Christian Fundamentalists who press their beliefs that reading the Harry Potter novels leads to occult activity. Rather, it is written to give the reader another way of looking at the novels and movies - through the eyes of a child, rather than the eyes of an adult. Religion is based on the belief in a higher being, not on the adventures of a 12-year-old boy as written by a once unemployed schoolteacher. While no good parent wants harm to come to his or her child, the crime of ignorance can be just as harmful. The parents are unintentionally causing harm to the next generation when they ban or burn books or films that they may disagree with, when those same books could lead to knowledge and a better understanding of the world.

Muggles And Wizards Alike Are Happy Latest Creation By David Yates And Company

2009-07-18T00:49:00.005-06:00

The latest Harry Potter movie opened this past Wednesday to sold out showings across the United States and from the exiting crowds of the five midnight showings most of fans seemed pleased and a good percentage plan on seeing it again. Hugely unsuccessful in finding tickets to the midnight showings where groups of people had camped out days earlier to be the first to see the latest screen adaptation. My wife and I waited while avoiding those who had seen ‘til Thursday evening with other fans who were either unable or unlucky in getting tickets or who had waited for a more reasonable hour to see latest adventure. I am very pleased with how Director David Yates brought the sixth book from print to screen, keeping it as close as possible to the story which we know is very tough to do unless you’re planning a 6 hour movie which still doesn’t guarantee it could completely capture what J.K Rowling had imagined for her young wizard. All in all I still believe it is the best of five previous movies which allowed people, both young and old alike to tag along on this magical (Pardon the pun) journey with Harry and his two best friends as they attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and discover new adventures along the way. I believe also you will like how all the Daniel, Rupert and Emma have improved in there acting craft. The word for now is that the film is expected to break all box office records for the summer and possibly the rest of the year of which I have no doubt. I will not give out spoilers, not that they are necessary if you had read the books. I give this movie 3.5 wands out of 4 this latest effort. Go see it and let us know here what you think, and don’t forget to see it at the IMAX in 3 D at the end of July

Dance... Oh Mistress I Call Dragon Con

2009-07-11T23:50:00.005-06:00

The Ren Faire is now more than half over and thoughts of Dragon Con have begun to dance its seductive dance in my head. (Damn I have been watching too many belly dancers at faire or maybe it’s the damn clip in my skull I hear making all that noise). The guest list continues to grow daily- so far over 400 actors, writers and musicians are scheduled to appear this year with 50,000 of our closest friends (it’s not the number the Atlanta Fire Dept gets, they get a head count of 30,000.) (And no Kat you can’t invite them to New Years) Costumes are being prepped, schedules are being revised and sleep is being stored up for the best 84 hours of nonstop fun, 72 hours if you arrive on Friday. (Wow that sounded like a commercial for Disney World except D*C has Storm Troopers instead of the 7 dwarfs, eat your heart out, Snow White.) This convention is not for the faint of heart, nor those of weak endurance it is a whirl wind of ongoing fun and excitement which my wife and I will be knee deep in, well my knee anyways, and her hip (what can I say, she’s short). PG Pictures will be posted. This is after all, sort of a family blog, not a how-to-make-a-family blog. While ComicCon held in San Diego is put on the industry, DragonCon is put on by fans of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Pop Culture genre and it can be easily seen by what types of programs are represented. Besides, where else can you see 200 Storm Troopers walk down Peach Tree Avenue, except on Tatooine. By the way, does Tatooine even have a Peach Tree Avenue? Well enough plugging of this convention I need to go cash my D*C spokesman check (kidding) 54 days and counting More to come later and feel free to follow us on twitter where I barely post there either or write us here at Scifipundit we love comments, even snarky ones.

"Make It So Dragon Con" ...And They Did!

2009-06-20T00:31:00.003-06:00

And as always Dragon Con did just that. So as some of you might know I have been slightly remiss in my blogging duties, but I will make up for it right now, or whenever you happen to read this post. The brilliant actor Patrick Steward will be making his first and hopefully not his last appearance at Dragon Con this Labor Day weekend 4th through the 7th of September. I know what line I will be standing in for hours will be. Fans of BSG were able to change Edward James Olmos mind on what Dragon Con was about. Perhaps fans of this long running Sci-Fi genre will be able to do the same in convincing Mr. Steward on what this convention can be. From what all I have read and all I've been told over the years, Patrick Steward rarely if ever does conventions anymore so this is a great opportunity for the fans to show him and the other new guests attending why this con is so great and why they all should come back next year. Trust me when I say that I believe the Star Trek universe and other Sci-Fi, and Fantasy genres will be well represented by the list of ever growing guests that now seems to appear to update on a daily basis. Keep checking back for more updates that I will post as often as possible.

Ghostbusters 3 May Be Appearing In Theaters

2009-05-25T13:50:00.007-06:00

If anyone that reads this blog is a fan of the popular 80's movie "Ghostbusters" they may be happy to know, as I know I am that a third movie may begin shooting this winter. According to an LA Times interview, Dan Aykroyd has begun working on the new film and has expressed an interest in seeing either Eliza Dushku or Alyssa Milano as part of a new "Ghostbusters" crew. As the writer of this blog I personally wouldn't mind either one of these two actresses going from the TV screen to the big screen. both of them come from the horror genre. Alyssa co-starred in the hit series "Charmed" and Eliza had a recurring role Faith on the Joss Whedon cult classic "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" series and now plays Echo on the Fox series "Dollhouse" which she co-produces. I think either of them would be great and lets hope Mr Aykroyd keeps one of these two choices. I think I will Miss Dushku about this news bit and see what happens. Never know, she might respond.

There Is A Fox In The Dollhouse For Another Season

2009-05-23T01:50:00.007-06:00

Wow, it worked! I asked for someone to talk to Fox Network and bring back "Dollhouse" and it worked. Ok maybe it wasn't me, but I would like to think so. Maybe the network finally figured out it might have a hit in its Friday night lineup(death slot). Congrats to Joss and Eliza on "Dollhouse" being picked up for a 13 episode second season. Also I want to thank NBC for bringing back every nerds and /or geeks favorite product placement show “Chuck” I know it took some finagling between the network and the creators of the show and we might have to give up some of the Buy More stuff but, at least we get a new season. The studio did push the new season back almost 10 months but at least we get our show back. Lets keep supporting these shows so that we can get more shows like them. Way to go everyone, keep up the good work all of you Doll Babies, Nerd Herders, Brown Coats.

Dollhouse Trying To Stay Standing On Fox Friday Nights

2009-05-12T21:13:00.002-06:00

The most recent series by Joss Whedon and co produced by the beautiful and very talented Eliza Dushku “Dollhouse” seems to be working with the Fox Network to come back for a second and hopefully longer season. Eliza told her tweeter fans that negotiations are still ongoing with the network. I had the pleasure of watching this very original show, which started off a little slow, but quickly picked up pace becoming a had to watch series on Friday nights. Fox was a little gun shy at first, giving the series only 13 episodes to prove itself and I thought they did the job well. The show was not brainless entertainment networks seem to be pushing ( like Top Model) but a show you had to think about episode to episode. Dollhouse makes its fans question the ethics they believe in when asking the questions of if it is right to erase a person’s memory and implant new memories and personalities or to become the slave of a corporation or those in charge. I doubt Fox Network looks or even know about my blog, but if they do, or if someone knows someone in charge of programming there just ask them to give a good show like Dollhouse a chance to find their audience and build a bigger fan base.

Top Ten Nimoy Style

2009-05-10T11:55:00.003-06:00

Take a moment to forget about rather or not the movie was good. Rather or not the movie will rejuvenate the franchise. Rather or not the movie made die-hard fans happy. Take a moment to view the following snippet. You'll be glad you did.

Klingons Are Invading...Oops I Mean Kingons.

2009-05-06T23:31:00.003-06:00

For a good laugh go to Star Trek.com and click on the Burger King banner and watch the Kingon commercials. I give an A to the team of advertisers who came up with that line of commercials and dont forget that the latest Star Trek movie begins Thursday May 7th Cheryl, Robert, and I will be there. oh and "Long live the Kingon Empire"

Wolverine Shreds The Critics

2009-05-05T20:02:00.003-06:00

Well as usual the critics were wrong again. X-Men Origins Wolverine slashed the competition at the box office, bringing in just over 135 million dollars in its first weekend which is great for the studio and even better for the fans, who will be glad to know that another Wolverine movie is already being planned. The studio has found a pot of gold with turning comics we grew up with into great movies that allow us to forget our problems and escape into another universe for a few hours. Speaking of universes, the next big studio release will be the premiere this weekend of J.J. Abrams new telling of the story “Star Trek” The studio and Mr. Abrams are already in the planning stages for the next one. Let us all hope the Star Trek movies continue to “Live long and prosper”

Jackman Hopes To Claw His Way To The Top Of The Box Office

2009-05-01T00:38:00.003-06:00

The latest X-Men movie "Wolverine" premieres this Friday May 1st at a theater near you or me for that matter. I know I will be lining up for what seems to be the first hit of the huge summer movie season. From what I have read and heard, the reviews are mixed on what to expect from this film, but I am keeping a positive attitude about this movie. Hugh Jackman clawed at the chance (pardon the pun) to make this prequel of sorts in large part, because he loved the character and secondly because of the fans of the long running comic book series, so I am going to wish him and the fans the best, and let us hope this is the start of a great movie season.

Five Letter Word For The End Of Battlestar Galactica

2009-04-11T20:33:00.006-06:00

And the word is Frack ... For those who are going through withdrawals from no more Battlestar Galactica, feel free to try your knowledge of the show with this crossword puzzle that my beautiful wife found a little while ago.

A Firefly Spinoff May Have Light In It

2009-04-02T23:18:00.006-06:00

Rumors are flying (forgive the pun) about Joss Whedon and other actors from the "Firefly" universe are in talks with a network about a new series based on a character from the cult favorite but quickly canceled series "Firefly." I wish I could go deeper into the rumors but I don't want to jinx any chance of the series getting off the ground. As I said, this is a rumor but it sounds like a good one to me and just maybe a few fans (Browncoats) and besides a little hope never hurts anyone.

05.08.09

2009-03-18T19:44:00.003-06:00

I don't have to tell anyone who reads this blog what this date means. But I do feel the need to tell our readers this...I have already taken this day off from work and YOU SHOULD TOO. If the movie delivers...you will find me at the nearest theater...if it sucks I'll be working on my yard. I am hoping for the former...yard work can wait.

There's a new trailer that certainly tantalizes.

Bon Voyage To Battlestar Galactica And Her Crew

2009-03-13T00:07:00.004-06:00

In the next few weeks Sci Fi Channel will be ending the run of one of the most popular series they have ever aired, BattleStar Galactica. I remember watching the made for TV movie a few years back and thinking “This would be a great series for the SciFi Channel” I was surprised that they actually followed through with the idea. The channel continues to push out what I call career destroying movies while letting the great shows such as BSG drift off into the dead space of great canceled shows. I know I should be grateful for the four and a half years we as fans have had and I am. As a huge fan of the series I would like to thank Ron Moore and David Eick for their amazing re-creation of a series I sort of grew up with. I also want to wish the cast and crew of this incredible series a healthy and long life and great careers which they are on long on their way to having. "So Say We All"

Played Your Cards Right Mr Ledger

2009-02-26T23:17:00.003-07:00

A little late in coming but,we here at SciFiPundit would like to express our deepest congratulations to the late Heath Ledger and his family on his Academy Award win of Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” His family accepted the award on behalf of their son and his daughter Matilda, making a wonderful speech in which they chose to celebrate his life and not morn his passing. As I watched the award ceremony I couldn't help but notice many a tearful eye of those actors and other Hollywood types, who either knew him or had worked with Heath. You will be missed but not forgotten.

For The Female Geek In Your Life... Who Said They Aren't Sexy?

2009-02-15T10:52:00.004-07:00

I hope…No; I pray that Star Fleet has decided on this new uniform for their ships crews. My friend Jason Wolf found this wonderful link to a new sort of look for the female trekker in your life that has everything but this piece of clothing in her closet. Maybe this will show up at Dragon Con in Atlanta over Labor Day or here in Denver at Star Fest in April.

Joss Whedon Plays With Dollhouse

2009-02-13T13:48:00.004-07:00

The imaginative Director Joss Whedon returns for the first time since the cancellation of his series Firefly to the Fox Network in the death slot on Friday night with his new highly- anticipated drama "Dollhouse" starring “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” recurring actress Eliza Dushku. The new series, which features "dolls" who have their memories erased in order to take on any new job, and I do mean any, has been one of the more talked about and anticipated genre series of the past year because of Whedon’s attachment to the project, but also because of rumored problems getting the story put together and the series established and past the sometimes closed minds of the network execs. Production of the show was shut down for a brief time so that Whedon and the writers of the show could go back and do some revamping, but in the meantime, Fox Network in their infinite wisdom (snide comment from writer of this blog) moved the show from what could have been a good night on television to Fridays and coupled (or as I like to say stuck it) with the struggling "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." I only hope Joss learned his lesson with the network and doesn’t have to pack up his "Dollhouse" and go home. I guess we will have to wait, and see, wont we?

Just Over Two Months And Counting Till StarFest

2009-02-08T16:53:00.003-07:00

A quick heads up to everyone and anyone who reads the blog. StarFest is coming April 17th thru the 19th, 2009. The guest list is beginning to take shape and I would highly suggest that you get your reservations at the Marriott Tech Center soon before it fills up. Also get your ideas for the balcony contest which is always a blast to see the imagination of folks who make scifi conventions so much fun. The costume contest held on Saturday evening is always a great time as well, not to mention (ok, I will) the parties held by different scifi clubs around Colorado. Connected to the StarFest are other gatherings such as HorrorFest, ComicFest, And GameFest that bring in their own list of guests and pumped up fans to this weekend long party. All for a great price for all that you get and the old friends you get to see again, or the new ones you are bound to make.

Nathan Fillion Storms the Castle

2009-02-08T16:33:00.005-07:00

For those who are Firefly fans (like me) or know the other works of Nathan Fillion will be happy to hear that there is life after scifi. Nathan has a new show, preparing to air in March. Castle is a 1 hour witty drama based on a famous crime and horror novelist who helps the NYPD homicide department solve crimes. Richard Castle [Nathan Fillion], a star of the literary world, is struggling from a case of writers block after knocking off the main character in his novels and is battling to come up with a substitution for the character when he is approached by beautiful Detective Kate Beckett [Stana Katic] of the NYPD to help catch the copy-cat killer staging murders based on scenes from his very own novels.Castle is not a traditional investigator and his approach to unravel the crimes conflicts with Beckett’s traditionalist approach leading to much tension and a suggestion of romance. Keeping Castle grounded are his mother [Susan Sullivan], teenage daughter Alexis [Molly C. Quinn], poker playing friends James Patterson, Sue Grafton, and Stephen King and his ex wife Gina [Monet Mazur] who just so happens to be his editor. Actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson will play the Police Chief. Castle is lighthearted with romantic tension and tempts the viewer to invest in the relationship of two people having fun together and engaging in amusing repartee (cool word) The new series Castle is being directed by Rob Bowman whose other shows include Night Stalker and X-Files. The new show will air on 3/9/9 thanks to my dearest friend Katherine for the heads up. Any questions or comments please let us know here at SciFiPundit.

BSG Enters Earths Orbit...Or Does It?

2009-01-10T15:18:00.003-07:00

Battlestar Galactica, returns Friday, Jan16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT for the final 10 episodes. The rag tag fleet seems to have made it to what could be the remains of earth. I also know fans are chomping at the bit to finally know who the last cylon is. I have a strong idea, who it might be, but I am not here to place spoilers - I leave that to other sci fi sites to make their guesses. The last season seems like a year ago. Oh wait… it was a year ago! (Thanks in part to the writer’s strike.) Well maybe not quite a year, but it has been a long time between seasons. I will say one thing, I would not count on this season to be a kinder, gentler season. From things I was told at Dragon*Con I can bet this final season will be even darker than the previous ones. There is no rule in Hollywood or the human race for that matter that says this show or any has to go out on a happy note where everything is better. (After all, Hollywood and the human race are mutually exclusive.) The fleet discovered skin jobs (human-looking cylons) have been living among them since they left their home planets. A third of their fleet has been lost or destroyed on their journey, and political rivals have created infighting throughout the fleet and to top it off, former President of the twelve colonies, Baltar is now the new Savior of the people and instead of having 12 male apostles he now has twelve females who follow him around and hope for miracles. I would say that all of this upheaval cannot be cleaned up in 10 episodes no matter how good the writers are. I think a lot of bad things will be in the forefront of the final shows. Any comments concerns or critics please feel free to e mail us here at Scifipundit we love the e mails

Computer... End Program.

2008-12-21T09:28:00.003-07:00

We here at SciFiPundit want to send our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, the wife of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, who passed away of leukemia at 12:27 AM Thursday Dec 18th at her Bel-Air home. This wonderful 76 yr old actress who played many roles on TV including Nurse Chapel and Deanna Troi’s mother on “Star Trek “The Next Generation.” Majel was also the voice of the computer of the USS Enterprise was diagnosed with the disease six months ago. I did hear she had recently completed her part as the voice of the computer for the newest “Star Trek” film. She shall be greatly missed and do us a favor Majel, Please tell Gene Roddenberry we said Hi and Thanks for all he has done.

By your command...

2008-11-30T17:48:00.004-07:00

View the new BSG Trailer here.

Yeah, I'm ready.

Happy Turkey Day

2008-11-27T00:55:00.002-07:00

From our families here at SciFiPundit to all of your families have a Happy Thanksgiving

W.B. Bros (Pott)er Of Gold

2008-11-27T00:13:00.003-07:00

For those fans of the multi-million dollar Harry Potter movies of which I am one, the star of the movie series, Daniel Radcliffe will be appearing on the Bravo Channel hit show “Inside The Actors Studio” on Monday night Dec 1st. This may be a studio maneuver to calm fans of the books and movies, who were told that the latest movie was pushed back till summer. This very unpopular decision by the W.B. Studios caused fans to send letters to said studio proclaiming their disapproval or another words telling the heads of the studio how pissed off they really were at the announcement. From what I understand, the recent Writers strike caused huge delays in the filming of Christmas and summer released movies and the studio decided to hold back release of the sixth Harry Potter film “The Half Blood Prince”. The huge smash “The Dark Knight” seems to have prompted the move and gave the studio at least one hit for the summer movie season. The move also allowed the latest, young lit vampire novel turned movie “Twilight” to slide into the now vacant spot and take a bite (pardon the vampire pun) out of the Christmas movie box office, pulling in a hefty 70 million dollars in its first weekend. While I do not agree with the Studio on their choice to move the film and dissapoint fans world wide. I do understand the need to bank on a sure thing for summer. I only hope it doesn’t come back to bite (another pun) them later.

For your viewing (and listening) pleasure

2008-11-22T20:02:00.006-07:00

Have a listen to a tribute to the composer John Williams called Star Wars Acapella. Then, watch one guy performing this song on You Tube.

Do not bounce!

2008-11-15T12:54:00.003-07:00

All you other sci-fi blogs eat your heart out. We have our very own Dr. Horrible.

And yes the case does say "Wonderflownium, do not bounce"

The Future Of Franchise Is Written In The Stars

2008-11-15T01:00:00.005-07:00

A new "Star Trek" trailer finally is out at the opening of the newest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" giving a new perspective into the world of Kirk and Spock and I believe J.J. Abrams is the right man for the job of bringing this story to light speed. I know some folks were worried that Mr Abrams would not be up to the huge and I mean, huge task of keeping the Star Trek dream alive after a dismal last movie and weak rated television series ( Networks words not mine) I think those folks can rest their fears. From what I have seen in the 3 minute trailer Mr Abrams may have found the formula that is so badly needed in order for this franchise to continue to discover strange new worlds.

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

2008-11-10T23:23:00.005-07:00

I hope you are feeling better Cheryl, and yes you can have the day off for the newest Bond film also the latest young adult lit book turned movie "Twilight" is also coming to theaters this month with what is sure to have a huge opening. Now for other news updates. Latest information I have heard is that the entire cast of Knightrider is being replaced after the 13th episode and going in a new direction with the show in order to bring up viewership although, I would let it disappear into the Knight, oh I mean night. Secondly, NBC network exec's fired the co-executive producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander of Heroes, with the hope a new blood can pump life back into the show that is said to be on the edge of cancellation. A cheerleader may be able to save the world, but not sure about the show, This is one of the few shows on some of us really enjoy. I also agree with my friend Cheryl on the show "Chuck" its very fun to watch after a very long Monday at work. I also am enjoying action drama, "My Own Worst Enemy" So there is plenty of shows to keep my DVR working and with other sci-fi genre shows coming soon I may need to invest in another DVR to keep up. If there is a show you like tell us what it is, and why you enjoy it, and we will chat about it here at ScifiPundit.

What happens when I am sick.

2008-11-09T16:56:00.005-07:00

I’m sick so this gives me the time (from my sick bed/chair) to finally make adjustments to the blog and to write my post.

First, for those of you who are upset or apprehensive about the election outcome, it could be worse.

And now I would like to "discuss" a few things currently on my mind.

What’s fabulous:

1. The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Who knew Bryant Austin Green could be so hot?! And Summer Glau is still playing River Tam. Lovely, just lovely.

2. Guitar Hero World Tour - It's fun to unlock all the songs on the expert setting because I can.

3. Chuck - How can you not like this show?

4. A new Star Trek DVD, "Star Trek, Alternative Realities Collective" - It includes episodes from all five series. My friend, Karen, found it for me at Walmart. If you hurry, there may still be some left.

4. Dr. Horrible's Sing along Blog - It's what happens when Joss Wheaton is bored. Thank goodness for the writers' strike! Not to mention Robert was Dr. Horrible for Halloween.

What’s ambivalent:

1. May 8, 2009 – Dear Mr. Abrams, sir, please don’t screw this up for long time Star Trek fans such as me. Until we meet on that faithful day in May, I have high hopes! Thank you, your friend, Cheryl. Anyway…. It seems a new trailer is out but isn’t available on the internet yet. You can read about it here. I may have to go see Quantum of Silence just to see this new trailer. Nevertheless, Scifipundit will be there in force opening day. Alex, may I please have that day off?

2. Fringe - I just can't make up my mind about this show.

3. Sanctuary - Again, I am undecided. But I am leaning towards…NO.

What’s unsettling:

1. The new Knightrider – I saw this once and I couldn’t even watch the whole thing. Stupid, stupid, stupid. This show alone gives Hasselhoff the right to get drunk and have it put on YouTube for the whole world to see. No one would blame him.

2. David Tennant – He’s leaving Doctor Who!!! Okay, I am going to get drunk and please put in on YouTube so that Mr. Tennant sees my deep, deep anguish. Oh well, it is Doctor Who and we’ve all been here before…having to say good-bye to yet another doctor. Only, this time parting is just plain sorrowful even though he never donned a nice long scarf.

3. Closing of the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas – I guess this is just a fine example of all good things must come to an end. Bummer.

Anyone Need A Costume For The Next Convention?

2008-11-09T09:25:00.005-07:00

With the final season of Battlestar Galactica already finished being filmed and sets stored away till the made for TV movies begin shooting. Universal Studios has decided to auction off props from the series. All of the pieces which include the red dress actress Tricia Helfer wore, as well as the uniform worn by Edward James Olmos' character, Adm. William Adama will be auctioned off both in Pasadena, Calif., and online beginning January 16 and more items will be up for auction starting on the 18th of January 2009 and running thru the 30th of January. Information about whats going to be available for sale can be found at the following website. The show is scheduled to premiere their last season beginning on the 16th of January. Alright you sci-fi geeks, come and get it.

Its Not Fantasy Or Sci Fi Its History In The Making

2008-11-04T22:33:00.005-07:00

The events of this eve are not the fantasy or sci -fi writings of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, this is an historical moment in the making I will never forget, and I would like to express my heart felt congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama. No matter if you are Democrat or Republican, or any other party, I would hope you would be proud of a nation, your nation in the election of this man to the highest office in these United States. I know this is not a political blog, but I feel a great sense of pride in what has come to pass within my lifetime. I grew up in the south, both in GA and N.C. during the 1960s and lived in Africa for a time and witnessed the hatred of a person because of the color of their skin by some people, but tonight's events reinvigorated my pride in America. I remember a great line from a movie when the King of France said to his personal guard "I am a young king, but I am king" His guard turned and looked at him and said "then be a good king". I ask the 44Th President of these United States "Be a Good President". I apologize if I offended anyone with these words, but I feel this was important enough that it needed to be said. Maybe some day we can all stand as one people and say 4 small but powerful words that I borrowed from one of my favorite shows BSG and they are "So say we all".

The final cylon

2008-11-04T20:51:00.003-07:00

So here we are...again. This is probably a good time to let you know, I am the final cylon. Now that we have cleared that up, I will go about fixing any broken links and anything else that makes my skin crawl and causes me to lose sleep. Hey, even cylons need rest from time to time people.

In the meanwhile...here are a couple links to give you a break from election day coverage:
http://io9.com/5073488/10-sf-alternatives-to-obamamccain-08
http://io9.com/5071795/the-50-scariest-moments-in-science-fiction

Kirk/Spock 2012 - a cylon girl can dream.

We're Baaaaaaack!

2008-11-02T10:12:00.004-07:00

Cheryl, Robert and I have returned to SciFiPundit after a brief hiatus (okay, not so brief, but it was a hiatus… of sorts) to once again keep folks updated on the world of scifi and fantasy in books and TV and the big screen. After all, we are the chosen ones. First things first. Battlestar Galactica will be returning for the final season after the first of the year. From what I was personally told by the cast of the hit show, folks will be blown away when the final cylon is revealed. Ron Moore’s other show Caprica has had the pilot episode shot but no release date by the Sci-Fi Channel. Other sci-fi genre shows have come to the airwaves this season, some good some not so …well, good. The Sarah Conner Chronicles have been picked up for the rest of the season as well as the remake of the 80s show Knightrider even though viewership is down on both shows. The web based show Sanctuary moved to the Scifi Channel, starring the beautiful and talented Amanda Tapping who has taken on the reins of Executive Producer of the show. Fans of 70s classic Red Dwarf will be happy to know that the show is returning to the BBC with 4 episodes already filmed or in production now, but as of this post no word of when it will air in America. There is news for fans of Torchwood and Dr. Who but, I will let Cheryl and, or Robert update those two shows. Fringe or what I like to call X -Files lite is also finding a fan base and looks as if will do well as it smooth’s out the rough edges. These are just a few things we will chat about as we make our way back to the Blog world. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy

Congratulations to us for 1st Place

2007-04-22T21:03:00.000-06:00

This year we did indeed win the balcony contest. We were told by a WIDE margin. We would like to thank everyone that voted for us! This is complete vindication after last year’s disappointment. This triumph is a huge victory for SCIFIPUNDIT as we couldn't have done it unless there had been a team effort. I want to thank Alex, Toni, Robert and Karen for their hard work and support.

Next year we hope to return with another winning entry.

Congratulations To Cheryl, Robert, and Karen for 1st Place

2007-04-22T20:29:00.000-06:00

A huge congratulation is in order for Cheryl, Robert, and Karen for their excellent work and 1st Place win in the balcony contest at StarFest 2007. The three of them worked incredibly hard on the entry ( Pictures to be posted soon ) and will be hanging a huge ribbon and bow on their balcony for next year showing all who that enter the contest who they will have to beat if they want to be first. ScifiPundit is proud of them all for their win and wish them good luck next year... I hope you win back to back, that would be cool.

Balcony Decorating Contest

2007-04-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

Winner of First Place in the 28 Contest

More Sites from Starfest

2007-04-22T19:40:00.000-06:00

Mad Max's V-8 Interceptor on display

Dancers from Serpent Moon

More dancers from Serpent Moon

Nimoy speaks

2007-04-22T19:13:00.000-06:00

Kate Vernon

2007-04-22T17:43:00.000-06:00

SCIFIPUNDIT Exclusive

2007-04-22T17:10:00.000-06:00

Special thanks to Karen for standing in line and then allowing us to publish this photo on our blog.

Day One at Starfest

2007-04-21T09:47:00.000-06:00

Our balcony decorating contest entry is up and in place. This year we are #10. Please vote for us. Also look for the SCIFIPUNDIT banner.

My wish for Starfest

2007-04-20T09:05:00.000-06:00

I am hopeful at the end of the day we can quote Mr. Spock as follows:

"Random chance seems to have operated in our favor"

This is my wish for Starfest.

To deny the facts would be illogical.

2007-04-18T10:10:00.000-06:00

Today's celebration of Mr. Nimoy is as follows:

Mr. Nimoy has never been to Vulcan, Alberta, Canada.
Mr. Nimoy + Salsa = Excellence.
An interview prior to the first airing of the original Star Trek.
In praise of Bilbo Baggins. (Special thanks to Pete for the heads up on this one!)

Spock on the Brain, part deux

2007-04-17T14:07:00.000-06:00

Time for more Nimoy trivia!

Mr. Nimoy is a vegetarian.
When Mr. Nimoy was 10 years old he performed for Jewish audiences during World War II to promote war bonds.
Mr. Nimoy was the Best Man at William Shatner's third wedding.
Mr. Nimoy once worked as a cab driver.
Mr. Nimoy sometimes uses the alias Frank Force and Leonard Nemoy. For example, the “Elevator Voice” in the Star Trek III scene when Scotty says, "Up your shaft", while exiting the Starship Execelsior. The End Credits lists the voice under the synonym “Frank Force”.

Spock on the brain

2007-04-13T08:58:00.000-06:00

Just one more week until Starfest! And I have Leonard on my mind. I have always been a Spock girl. While most females went gaga over Kirk, I always preferred Spock. You got to love a man who can render his opponents helpless with a simple pinch.

It occurred to me I know so little about Mr. Nimoy. So I went on a quest to find out a little known fact about him. Instead, I found two things I didn't know.

Leonard Nimoy is lactose intolerant.
Leonard Nimoy's voice is used in the 1980's dance hit by Information Society "What's On Your Mind?" He says the words "pure energy".

I will see what other bits of Nimoy trivia I can find during this next week leading up to Starfest. In the meanwhile,live long and prosper.

Items of interest

2007-04-12T14:11:00.000-06:00

Google brought something to my attention today. It turns out today is the anniversary of the first space flight made by Russian, Yuri Gagarin.

Also, in the news today is sometime science fiction author, Kurt Vonnegut. He passed away yesterday at the age of 84. He will be remembered for his prolific writing that included science fiction works such as The Sirens of Titan , Piano Player, Galapagos and Cat's Cradle.

In addition, our part time staffer, Karen, brought this article to my attention about what life on other planets might look like.

Lastly, don't forget to look for our banner at Starfest. Also be sure to check out our flyer which should be floating around the convention as well. And of course, the members of SCIFIPUNDIT will be there and will be entering the balcony decorating contest. We are looking forward to seeing our friends and loyal readers.

Playing catch up

2007-04-08T23:09:00.000-06:00

I have recently received email from friends with cool and interesting links.

First we have sci-fi cars brought to you by our fellow blogger Steve. Then, we have an update on "Scotty" from Scott, our ever diligent updater. Later this month Mr. Doohan's ashes will finally be sent into space. Read about it here.

Also, I received an email from my friend Aniela regarding news of Star Wars stamps to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Episode IV. Along the same lines, I was in downtown Colorado Springs and ran across a mail box with R2D2 painted on it and this website listed. USPS.com has a new Star Wars theme as well. And yes just in time for May birthdays!

And on a final note, the staff here at SCIFIPUNDIT is very excited about Starfest. In less than two weeks, scifi lovers from near and far will gather in Denver, Colorado. And you can bet SCIFIPUNDIT will be there in force and with a fabulous balcony contest(AKA Atrium Balcony Challenge) entry! And of course we always look forward to the libation stylings of our Klingon friend , John.

Oh come on!

2007-03-28T16:49:00.000-06:00

Seriously...you guys really want us to wait until 2008 for more Battlestar? Fine. Good season ending cliffhanger, though. Thanks. But wait there's still one more Cylon, isn't there? And are these guys really Cylons? I think you are just playing with us. Enjoyed the Jimi Hendrix references despite the fact we have to wait nearly a WHOLE FREAKING YEAR for BSG to return! 2008 should be a lovely year for Scifi with the return of Torchwood, the upcoming Star Trek movie and of course the return of BSG. In the meanwhile to amuse ourselves, let's have a poll! In fact let's have two!

Birthdays and Other Reasons to Celebrate

2007-03-25T10:05:00.000-06:00

A Happy Birthday to William Shatner, the first Captain of the Enterprise. Bill is celebrating his 71st birthday this month. Anyone one who might be a fan of the A.B.C. show Boston Legal might want to know that it has been picked up for a 4th season. It is a great show to watch and see if you can pick out any other Star Trek characters who tend to pop up on Boston Legal from time to time. On another happy note to fans of B.S.G. the show has been slated for 22 more episodes for next season. This will also give the show enough episodes to be picked up in syndication. and Lastly, The trailer for the 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean is finally available to watch here. After viewing it a few times I think it will be the best one so far. Please write us with anything you heard out there in SciFi land. And we here at SCIFIPUNDIT will be happy to check in to it and post about it… Hope to see all our friends and fans at StarFest, April 20th thru the 22nd its going to be a great party!

Ahoy Landlubbers

2007-03-13T23:43:00.000-06:00

For all those Pirates of the Caribbean fans ,(I know there are plenty out there even in land- locked Colorado) the trailer premiere of the third Pitates movie “At Worlds End” will be shown this weekend during the showing of the movie that started it all, P.O.T.C. “Curse of the Black Pearl.” I know that many a pirate will be attending the festivities at the Denver Pavilion Theaters at 16th and Tremont and come in costume and make it more fun for yourself and those attending.

Five weeks and counting till Starfest

2007-03-13T23:20:00.000-06:00

Starfest will be here sooner than any of us think. The guest lineup is shaping up well, with a list of stars from all the top scifi shows both new and old and with a few of them celebrating anniversaries. I, personally, am looking forward to seeing all of the stars coming to Star Fest. I grew up watching most of them on TV and had a crush on Erin Gray for a few years while watching the Buck Rogers series. Leonard Nimoy will be a fun guest to listen to since I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him at a convention in all my years of attending them. I do want to express my deepest appreciation to all the folks of Starland for putting on great conventions over the years and another wonderful guest lineup for this year. I know you get badgered by plenty of con goers who seem to just want to complain about how long it takes to get info out to them. I suppose they do not understand the complexities of putting a show together. However Cheryl, myself and the SCIFIPUNDIT staff want to say thank you and keep up the good work!

I have been and always will be your fan...

2007-03-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Leonard Nimoy is coming to Starfest on Saturday, April 21. And I am just so damn excited I can hardly stand it! This year's con is shaping up nicely. Read more about it here.

Britian's Very Own Project Bluebook

2007-03-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend and faithful info provider, Scott, sent this article. I'm not sure where he found it as I could not. Thanks, Scott!

Britain Plans 'Dr. Who' Military Defense
Somebody's been watching too much "Dr. Who" at Britain's Ministry of Defense.Military officials in the mid-1990s explored using alien technology to defend the British Empire, the Guardian reports.The out-of-this-world revelation comes with the release of classified documents from Project Condign, a three-year investigation into UFOs over the kingdom's skies."If reports are taken at face value then devices exist that do not use conventional reaction propulsion systems, they have a very wide range of speeds and are stealthy," wrote one of the project's scientists. "I suggest that we could use this technology, if it exists."A secret branch of the military dubbed DI55 began investigating the UFOs in 1993, the paper said."If the sightings are of devices not of the Earth, then their purpose needs to be established as a matter of priority," one analyst theorized. "Possibilities are: 1 Military reconnaissance. 2 Scientific. 3 Tourism."No word yet on whether they've figured out how to build a TARDIS time machine.

Kirk vs Picard...a debate for the ages

2007-02-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today's post is brought to you by our dear friend, Ed. Thanks, Ed!

Why Kirk Is Better Than Picard
1. Kirk is a leader, not a follower.
2. Kirk never really got into that kinky "Jumpsuit" look.
3. Kirk had an affair more than once a season.
4. One Word: Hair.
5. Another Word: Pretty-good-looking-can't-see-the-weave-WIG.
6. Kirk can beat up a Klingon bare-handed.
7. Picard is a French man with an English accent.
8. Kirk would date Beverly Crusher -- and not worry about the consequences!!
9. Kirk never drinks tea. Ever.
10. Diplomacy for Kirk is a phaser and a smirk.
11. Kirk would personally throw Wesley off his bridge.
12. Two words: Shoulder Roll.
13. Kirk doesn't wear dresses when admirals arrive for lunch.
14. Kirk once said: "I've got a belly-ache -- and it's a beauty."
15. Kirk would never sing to children in a crisis.
16. Kirk can almost drive a stick shift.
17. Kirk, almost single-handedly, re-populated the Earth's whale population.
18. Kirk says "Prime Directive? What Prime Directive?"
19. Kirk knows 20th Century curses.
20. Kirk was NEVER infiltrated by the Borg and used against the Federation.
21. Kirk ate little coloured cubes and still remained relatively healthy.
22. Kirk made do with obviously low performance technology.
23. Kirk never pretends to be a barber in order to gain a tactical advantage.
24. Kirk wasn't shy about taking his shirt off-even around those pesky Yeomans.
25. Kirk would never waste a holodeck on something stupid like Dixon Hill.
26. Kirk never once stood up and had to straighten his shirt.
27. One Word: Velour.
28. Kirk can beat a Vulcan at Chess.
29. When Kirk was Picard's age, he retired from Admiral and took to climbing rocks.
30. When Picard was 37, he was only Captain of the lowly freighter, Stargazer. When Kirk was 37, he was Captain of the flagship Enterprise.
31. Kirk liked a good belt of liquor every now and again.
32. One Word: Iman.
33. Kirk looks good with a ripped shirt.
34. If Kirk ever met a Ferengi, he would rip off its head.
35. Kirk says "Shoot first and wait for retaliation."
36. Kirk's first officer NEVER tells him to stay on the bridge.
37. Kirk never leaves the room to bawl somebody out.
38. Kirk doesn't rely on the wisdom of some dumb old janitor to get him out of intergalactic scrapes.
39. Two Words: Funky Sideburns.
40. Kirk never asks his bartender for advice.
41. Kirk never once said "Abandon ship! All hands abandon ship!"
42. Kirk is not politically correct.
43. Kirk never got "dumped" by a woman for an intergalactic busy body named after a letter of the alphabet.
44. Kirk never wore green tights and frolicked about in Sherwood Forest.
45. If there was ever a Klingon on Kirk's bridge, Kirk would likely be dead.
46. Ever hear of a bar shooter called "Make it so?" No? How about a "Beam me up Scotty" then? See the difference?
47. One Word: Miniskirts.
48. Kirk's girlfriends always look good in soft light.
49. Kirk never went anywhere without a whole bunch of guys in red shirts.
50. Kirk's first officer didn't play some wimpy instrument like the trombone.
51. Kirk had more dates than his first officer.
52. The extent of Kirk's knowledge of Klingon vocabulary can be roughly translated as "DROP DEAD."
53. If something doesn't speak English -- it's toast.
54. Kirk wasn't some prissy archaeology fan.
55. Picard's middle name isn't tough or awe-inspiring like Tiberius is.
56. If Kirk finds a strange spinning probe, he blows it up.
57. Picard never met Joan Collins.
58. Picard flunked his entrance exams to Starfleet.
59. Picard hasn't fathered any children; Kirk -- probably millions.
60. Kirk has a cool phaser -- not some pansy Braun mix-master.
61. Two Words: Line Delivery.
62. Picard grew up on a quaint little French vineyard, squishing grapes with his toes, while Kirk slung bails of wheat and hay in Iowa to put himself through school.
63. Kirk emphasizes his orations with pertinent hand gestures.
64. Kirk once made a cannon out of bamboo, sulphur, potassium nitrate, charcoal and then fired diamonds into the hearts of his enemies. (Need we say more?)
65. Kirk is not put off by green skin.
66. Kirk knows how to deal with peace loving hippy goofs.
67. Kirk once fought a Greek god. And won.
68. Kirk barely asks for suggestions. And if he does, he asks Spock only.
69. Kirk doesn't let the doctor tell him what to do.
70. One Word: Fisticuffs.
71. Kirk's name is hated throughout the galaxy.
72. Kirk appreciates Shakespeare, but he doesn't let it show.
73. You can never lock up Kirk for very long.
74. Kirk's eulogies can actually make you cry.
75. Kirk plays god with lesser cultures, and then exploits them for resources.
76. Kirk's son would never drop out to become a musician.
77. Kirk can climb up a Jeffries Tube and fix anything.
78. Kirk never hired an engineer with punk glasses.
79. The Klingons didn't have a word for surrender -- until they met Kirk.
80. Kirk's bridge is not beige.
81. Two Words: Crane Shots.
82. Picard likes wimpy violin music -- and coerces Data into playing it.
83. Picard allows cats on board, while Kirk beams away even really cute things, like Tribbles.
84. Kirk is a cultural icon -- Picard is just some guy who's really nice.
85. Kirk specifically ordered a swivel LA-Z-BOY for the bridge.
86. Kirk would never touch SYNTHAHOL.
87. Kirk looks distinguished in reading glasses -- and nobody dares to call him "four eyes."
88. Kirk can infiltrate Gangsters, Nazis, and even the Pentagon -- easily.
89. Picard likes painting nudes, for art's sake.
90. When Kirk doesn't trust the Romulans, he fires at them. When Picard doesn't trust the Romulans, he gets fired at.
91. Kirk never once, ever, wore a Speedo banana hammock on shore leave.
92. Kirk never gets his command codes locked out by some pimply acting ensign.
93. Kirk doesn't test the engines -- he just fires them up.
94. When Kirk says "Boldly Go," he MEANS it.
95. Three Words: Flying Leg Kick
96. Picard's crew would never ever think of him as a sexual object.
97. Kirk traveled through The Great Barrier, met God, and wasn't even impressed.
98. Kirk's bedroom is a passion pit with electric sheets.
99. Kirk would never let his Chief of Security wear a ponytail.

If fashion and scifi had a baby...

2007-02-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

This just makes me all warm and giddy.

What is this? It's a Prada keychain. Yep, you read that correctly...a PRADA keychain. Fashion has rebeled, evolved and it has a plan. For far fewer dollars than one would normally spend on Prada, you may delight even the most discerning fashion conscious scifi girl. Not that we know anyone who fits that description and not that anyone we know has a birthday coming up in May that would absolutely love to receive this little beauty as a gift.

There are other kinds, but this is the coolest by far. For your shopping convenience, you may find this amusing keychain here.

Valentine's Day Quiz

2007-02-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

I found a lovely quiz perfect for today. It's the Super Hero Dating Quiz. There's one for boys and one for girls. Take the quiz and let us know who your Super Hero Lover is.

Here's mine:

Happy Valentine's Day from SCIFIPUNDIT!

2007-02-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

I Second That Comment

2007-02-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

I second the request Cheryl made about the wrestling on Sci-Fi. I really do not see a connection with science fiction. I also agree with the movies being produced for the Sci-Fi channel. I will be honest, I can’t even make it through the opening scenes of these movies. And yes we are working hard on preparing for Star Fest, which will happen sooner than we all think. Cheryl, Robert, and I are working on ideas for the balcony contest this year. If Cheryl has any say about it,we will win. But as we all know the competition is tough and grows tougher every year. I am also trying to convince my SCIFIPUNDIT partners to do a panel on a science fiction idea, but the quest goes slowly. In other news, a multi-player game much like World Of Warcraft is being developed for fans of BSG. I believe it will be huge for those who want to be a part of this critically acclaimed series. We will keep you updated on events in sci-fi and at Star Fest as they become available and hope to see you all there. …Oh and please don’t tell anyone but we are bringing booze.

Updates!

2007-02-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Battlestar Galactica has been renewed for a fourth season! YAY! Read more about it here. And this fall there will be a BSG game coming out for the Xbox and the PC. Extra cool.

Season 10.5 of SG-1 will be on Friday, April, 6, 2007. Catch a seek-peek here.

Stargate Atlantis will be returning to the SciFi channel on Friday, July 14, 2007.

Doctor Who returns to the BBC this spring. So we, here in the Colonies, will probably not see the Doctor until the fall.

Torchwood Season One has finished. The BBC says they will be renewing the series. However, the new episodes will not be out until 2008. In the meanwhile, will we see Torchwood here in the US? It seems that is still very much up in the air. Robert and I have watched all of the first season. If you can get your hands on the episodes, do. I stand by my original verdict. It’s good. I hope someday Torchwood will cross the pond to America.

Also, we here at SCIFIPUNDIT are feverishly preparing for Starfest in April. The website is being updated on a daily basis now. Check out it.

Lastly, I have one request of the SciFi channel. Would you be so kind as to forgo the wrestling show, please? Pretty please? I can forgive for all your transgressions in this matter. Why? Because you are good enough to bring us one of the best shows on TV as well as several other really good ones. And maybe if you could make better movies, too. Thank you.

Torchwood

2007-01-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you have read or heard about the Doctor Who spin off called "Torchwood". Well, my friends and gentle readers it is a darn good show. It features the character Captain Jack Harkness who you may remember from the new Doctor Who. The BBC says it is a "dark, clever, wild, sexy, British crime/sci-fi paranoid thriller cop show with a sense of humor". It is all this and more. The sexual content of this series may preclude it from ever making an appearance on TVs in the US. I haven’t had much success finding any information on Torchwood coming to the States other than a snippet briefly mentioning an interview with Julie Gardner, Torchwood and Doctor Who’s executive producer. In the interview she neither confirms nor denies future broadcasts of Torchwood in the US. So I will leave it to your own devices to get your hands on Torchwood episodes.

Will this be a worthwhile spin-off? I believe it will. Think of a cross between X-Files, Men in Black and Doctor Who then you will have a good idea of what to expect. Torchwood is a secret British government organization but this series follows the branch in Cardiff. We go along for a ride with a group of five investigators, all with varying talents and skills, tasked to keep the Earth safe. They do so by collecting alien technology, thus ensuring the Earth will be protected from future alien (or otherwise) threats. As of today I have only seen about five episodes. Within these episodes there has been everything from an alien coming to Earth to subsist on orgasmic energy to fairies to cannibalism. Torchwood’s characters are not super heroes nor do they come close to being supreme in any way. They are ordinary folks making bad decisions and showing weaknesses that are easily exploited. Their leader, Captain Jack, is a different matter. He seems to process super human abilities. First and foremost, he can not die. While every episode sheds a little more light on Jack I am unsure if he knows the origin or is unwilling to divulge the cause of his immortality.

Torchwood is very graphic and very sexual. Everyone’s sexuality seems to be in a constant state of flux. Jack even admits to being pregnant in the past. There is a heavy emphasis on women “snogging” (read: kissing). And then there are plenty of weapons to be had. They are stockpiling them like an American Militia. A comment made by one of the characters saying "I'd like to see CSI Cardiff” was quite tongue in cheek. No doubt CSI would have a hard time dealing with the rift in space and time running through Cardiff as there is all matter of bad creatures and events coming through this crack.

While this overall concept that has had its time again and again, I am finding Torchwood enjoyable. After all, it IS British, there is lots of humor AND it’s sci-fi! I can get behind that. You may also notice Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. Those astute brits! And because I like this show and hope to see it air here in the States one day, I am adding a Torchwood section in our links.

Home Theather the Star Trek Way

2007-01-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Home theaters are all the rage these days. However, only a Star Trek fan could take it a step or two further. Our friend Mel sent a link demonstrating this very concept. Go check it out here. I wonder do the doors work AND make that cool sound too? Thanks, Mel!

Be a part of history

2007-01-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the modern wonders of the Internet you could be a part of history by voting for the new Seven Wonders of the World. The final announcement will be made on 07/07/07 (how clever!). The field has been narrowed to 21 locations or sites. There can only be seven, so choose carefully. Please find the official website here. And for your convenience I have also put a special link over here to the right. So spread the word and be a part of history!

Enterprise boldly goes to the Sci FI Channel

2007-01-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

The ill- fated UPN series Enterprise has began running on the Sci-Fi channel, starting this week, beginning the 7th of January and running thru the 11th. The show was beginning to find its feet when the UPN network, now known as the CW network, decided that it didn’t need science fiction in its series lineup and now they have no shows of any real quality to show for itself. The show producers for Enterprise said UPN did nothing to help the series and seeing the things that are on there now, I believe it is true. Science Fiction has a tough time finding an audience on network television with the exception of NBC’s Heroes and ABC's Lost, which seems to be holding their audiences. Hopefully this trend will continue for some time to come as long as the scripts remain interesting. Battlestar Galactica is about to be signed for its 4th season and the announcement should come before the beginning of the second part of the third season returning in the later part of January. Ron Moore, co-producer of the BSG series is also working on a new show titled “Caprica”. "Caprica" deals with the humans of the colonies and what may have led up to the war between the cylons and humans. I think this show has definite possibilities for fans of BSG and political science enthusiasts alike, I just hope folks at the Sci-Fi channel can see the need for good television versus the B Movies they have produced and aired lately. We here at SCIFIPUNDIT hope you enjoy our blog and we will continue to keep you updated on the most recent developments in the science fiction and fantasy world. Another quick note for movie buffs, go see Night at the Museum. It is a very fun movie for the family and Ben Stiller is pretty good in it. If you have seen it or any other good movies lately please let us know here so, we can post about it.

Merry Christmas and Happy SciFi New Years from the staff at SCIFIPUNDIT

2006-12-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

We here at SCIFIPUNDIT would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and yours and a wonderful and safe New Years. Cheryl, Robert, and I appreciate all the comments and information we receive from our readers as we continue to work on the blog. Hopefully we will make it a working website for fans to enjoy even more. Please continue to visit the site often! If you have any news to share on science fiction or fantasy please send it to us here at SCIFIPUNDIT and thanks again from the staff.

A very geeky Christmas

2006-12-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

Are you having trouble finding just the right gift for the geek that has everything? Well, it's time to leave the mall, go home and fire up the old PC or laptop. Your search has ended and the good times begin at www.thinkgeek.com. They have all sorts of really cool items to make even the pickiest geek happy. Yes, that's right it could, in fact, make even me happy.

They have Star Trek and Star Wars related items, tools, t-shirts, games and even marshmallow guns. While you are there, be sure and check out the snowbot. It looks a lot like a snowman cylon centurion. It's creepy in a very good way! Enjoy!

Old vs. New

2006-12-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

And today's special cartoon is brought to you by our loyal reader, Scott. Thanks, Scott! (again)

Time to catch up!

2006-11-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

First, let's take care of the poll results.

Do you believe in ghosts?

72.7% - Yes
9.1% - Unsure
18.2% -No

Thanks to everyone who voted!

Secondly, here are some pictures from recent, well kinda recent, events we have attended:

Cheryl and Robert hosting this year Halloween Blowout. Yes, Robert is Pee-Wee Herman, the resemblance is uncanny, n'est pas?

Alex casts his costume contest vote.

Karen and Cheryl certify the vote.

This year's winners of the Best Costume Jodi and Val. They came as Sonny and Cher with a twist!

This year's winner of the Worst Costume (3 time winner) Jess (left) with her friend, Rhonda. Jess was the Hot Tub Queen.

Stay tuned more pictures to come!

Rumors, Myths and Facts Surrounding The Latest Scifi News

2006-11-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a month or more since any of us here at SCIFIPUNDIT have posted anything about scifi or fantasy, but the holiday season is upon us and we have all been slightly busy preparing for the season. I did see some interesting things floating around Hollywood and rumors are abundant so here is the latest gossip and known facts in the world of scifi. First, Peter Jackson, Director, Producer, and Writer of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was pulled from the prequel, “The Hobbit” by New Line Cinema. The bigwigs told Mr. Jackson “His services were no longer needed”. This came on the heels of him also being pulled from the video game turned movie “Halo”. It seems Mr. Jackson is having a rough 2006 with the canceling of two projects in less than three months. I am not sure how they will make the new movie “The Hobbit” without his eye for style or storytelling and I seriously doubt it will match up to the three previous movies that made well over 3 billion dollars world wide in their release for New Line. I know that New Line was overwhelming pleased with the first three movies and had nothing but wonderful things to say about Peter Jackson, but it seems Hollywood is still a fickle place and one wrong word or one wrong script can have you packing your bags. If I were Peter Jackson, I would make them beg to take me back before I would return if that is what he wants.

Secondly, The newest trailer for the latest “Harry Potter” movie “Order of the Phoenix” is finally on line and the movie is due out on July 13th 2007. I am curious to see as to how they plan to get so much of the book into a two to two and a half hour movie without ruining the story. I suppose we will see in about 8 months.

Thirdly, World Con is coming to Denver in 2008, and for those who do not know about this, it is the biggest Scifi convention in the world. Denver beat out Chicago and Cincinnati for the right to host this huge event. Tickets will be $130.00 but I believe it will be well worth every penny, and we from SCIFIPUNDIT will be there and hopefully get some interviews for the blog. I hope some of you all can make it. Thanks again for sticking with us and if you have any questions we can answer, please send us an E mail we love to here from you here at SCIFIPUNDIT.

Happy Halloween from SCIFIPUNDIT!!

2006-10-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

Blogging through others

2006-10-15T22:00:00.000-06:00

I'm in the middle of a major party event, namely, our Annual Halloween Party. The party is next Saturday, so hopefully after it's over our blogging will return with some regularity.

In the meanwhile, over at XDA our fellow blogger, Roger, has had two notable sci-fi related posts of late.

First, he discusses BSG and the new season here. Roger, can we really be sure Adama trusts Sharon or is he using her to get what he wants? And more recently he writes about the most recent Doctor Who here. Most of my favorite old Doctor Who episodes were with Mary Jane and Bakers’ Doctor. Thanks Roger for the enjoyable posts.

And while I’m thinking about it, don’t forget to vote!

Milehi Con in the Mile Hi City

2006-10-11T22:40:00.000-06:00

My apologies for my lack of posting this last month or so, I have been busy with school and it takes up a lot of my time. Other happy news is that my beautiful wife Toni and I are working on adopting a baby from China and trust me on this it is a lot of work just doing paper chases. Now on to sci-fi news: MileHi Con is coming up at the end of October at the Hyatt Regency in the Tech Center in Denver. Anyone interested in meeting and talking with great sci-fi and fantasy writers and artists will not want to miss this wonderful event. Con suites are still available I believe - if you want to get information out about your club, this is a great way to do it. Just go to the MileHi site for more info on the rules. I will tell you, I have made many friends through the years I have been attending this con, and I have also learned a great deal about what publishers are looking for in writing stories not to mention how to write. This is a wonderful place to learn about it. I hope to meet some new friends and party with some old ones. (Toni edits – he doesn’t mean you are old.) If you see me there, please stop and say hi. (Toni edits again – he’s hard to miss: 6’4 with long platinum hair.) And if you have any questions about this post or anything else please write us here at SCIFIPUNDIT. We would love to here from you and I do promise to post more often since I promised my very good friend Cheryl and trust me you don’t want make promises to her you cant keep. ( it’s a joke hon )

October observations

2006-10-01T07:01:00.000-06:00

Welcome to October. It’s that time once again. Time to gear up for Halloween and time for a new poll! It is also time to send out special congratulations to our behind the scenes guy, Robert. As of today he is officially a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force! Trust me when I tell you he worked hard for this and it is much deserved. I am so very proud of you! SCIFIPUNDIT salutes you with the highly coveted six alien award.

What else is great about October? Well, Dr Who has started up again. I enjoyed the two new episodes shown on Friday. I like this new Doctor. I liked the old one, Christopher Eccleston. Still Tom Baker is my favorite. AND…I am still waiting for the Doctor to don a scarf! And of course this Friday BSG returns! YAY fricking YAY! At Alex’s birthday party last Saturday, we were discussing who will live and who will die in the upcoming season. (Yes, people, we talk about sci-fi ALL THE TIME.) Curious? Go check out the latest spoilers here.

On a personal note…I finally broke down and got a DVR. I no longer have to schedule my life around my favorite sci-fi shows. I am not sure what took me so long. But now, I am free at last!

There is also the little matter of the newly remastered Star Trek. I am pleasantly surprised. The colors are far more vivid and the effects more stunning. I think Mr. Roddenberry would have approved. My friend, Karen, commented that she was disturbed by Spock’s makeup. I do have to agree with this comment. You can see very clearly just how they made Mr. Nimoy into a Vulcan, purple eye shadow and all. Nonetheless, this upgrade doesn’t seem to detract from the show and in fact enhances the viewing experience.

As for the poll, since we received a very favorable response last year and because it is timely, I will once again bring back last October’s poll. Do you believe in ghosts? Let us know, Vote!

The bells are ringing...

2006-09-28T14:20:00.000-06:00

Congratulations and best wishes to my friend Steve over at Scifiblogger and his girlfriend Trena on their engagement! Great news, guys! All the best!

And just in case you would like to have the Star Trek wedding of your dreams, may I recommend Star Trek: The Experience.

Who know who you are.

2006-09-24T20:43:00.001-06:00

You Know You're Addicted to Star Trek When...

Your favorite drink: Tea, earl grey, hot

You can quote the name of every single episode just by watching the first 10 seconds of the introductory clip

You own 13 Star Trek Technical Manuals and Blue Print Schematics of all Starship but you no longer need them

When seeing a doctor, you're afraid of getting a shot and ask for a hypospray instead

Your electronic project: Positronic brain

You have 4 TVs at home and each of them are playing TOS, TNG, DS9 and VOY respectively 24 hours a day non-stop

You remembered the lock up code that Data uses on the Enterprise's Main Bridge before beaming down to meet Dr. Soong and Lore

You've learned playing the song "The Inner Light" with a penny whistle

After broken your neighbour's window, instead of just running away, you try to use the "Picard Maneuver" to escape

You're hosting a conference, your response to any suggestions: Make it so

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to Star Trek.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

2006-09-20T03:43:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, dear Alex
Happy Birthday to you....and many more.

Complete with cake!

Here's your chance!

2006-09-13T11:30:00.000-06:00

A group of Browncoats has dedicate a website to thanking Universal Studios for making the movie Serenity. On the site you may upload a picture, sound file or video to pontificate your gratitude. It also contains quite a few links to other Firefly/Serenity sites. You may find this website here.

Enjoy!

The place to be

2006-09-08T12:09:00.000-06:00

The internet is just a buzz with articles and videos for Star Trek's 40th Anniversary. But I think there's only one place to be today and that is startrek.com. There is a plethora of information to be found there. The home page alone is brimming with everything you imagine for this very special day. All you trekkies, trekkers or whatever you want to call yourself remember 40 is the new 30. Star Trek still has much to give and can still be a productive member of society. And to quote Worf from the TNG episode "The Emissary"..."There are always options." Indeed.

Please sir, may I have 40 more?

2006-09-08T05:39:00.000-06:00

Wow. 40 years. Most marriages don't make it this far. Yet, Star Trek still stands, perhaps a bit more fragile than it once was. However, there is still life and for that I am grateful. Let's all just take a moment and pause to reflect. (Inset music here) With that done, go read this article that my friend Scott sent. Scott says he likes Mutant X better. (I know, someone needs to call 911.) Nonetheless, he keeps me posted about Star Trek happenings and such. Just goes to show you even the non-believers are affected by the power of Star Trek. Joy.

Yes, (re)Master

2006-09-01T11:52:00.000-06:00

Star Trek. the beginning and the end, truly, the alpha and omega of modern day science fiction. In honor of the 40th anniversary, it has been decided to re-master the original Star Trek series. Much in the same way George Lucas had to go mess around with the three original Star Wars movies, Star Trek is getting a technological shot in the arm. The question is does it really need this proverbial injection?

As you know, I hold Star Trek in very high esteem. I love Star Trek. And no matter how many times I watch, it never becomes stale. I watch TOS every night on G4 and I still find the whole franchise “fascinating”. In the past I have complained about the handling of Enterprise and have expressed doubt about the prequel currently in the works. So let’s take a deep breath, put this in perspective and see what happens, right? Maybe. You had to know I won’t give up that easily. My biggest concern is keeping it pure, keeping it the way it was meant to be shown. How do I know what Gene would do if he were to make TOS today? Perhaps it is time to embrace new technology and bring a timeless classic into the 21th century. They have promised cooler ships! Fine, bring on the cooler ships and the enhanced galaxy shots. After all, you can’t really grumble about TOS being broadcasted once again. It is an opportunity to partake in my one of favorite shows… yet again. Of course I’ll watch it and it is doubtful I’ll hate it. But just for the record, I like it just fine the way it’s been for the past 40 years. For your reading pleasure, you may find the article here. Meanwhile, I will take a deep breath and boldly go scrutinize.

A Fond Adieu

2006-08-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

According to CNN, Stargate SG-1 will not be renewed for next season. Read about it here. A antenna tip to Scott for the heads up!

How Do You Like Your Shatner....Roasted?

2006-08-15T22:04:00.000-06:00

or fried? So Comedy Central is Roasting William Shatner this week, Sunday I believe. I know it isn’t a Dean Martin Roast, but I still think it will be one of the best of their season. I am not sure who will be roasting at this once in a lifetime event but let’s hope it is a lot of the old star trek crew as well as the folks from Boston Legal. As far as Boston Legal on ABC. I think if you’re a fan of William Shatner you will fall in love with the show. The producers and writers must be big fans of Star Trek because they put at least one reference in per show and trust me you won’t miss it. I will be taping the show or should I say I will be Tivoing it, and damn do I love Tivo. Please look at your local listings for the exact date and time and let us know here at SCIFIPUNDIT what you think, we want to hear from you.

When, Who?

2006-07-28T10:08:00.000-06:00

Last night at dinner the question was posed, "when is the second season of Dr Who going to be shown here in the states?" Sadly, I didn't know. There doesn't seem to be much information available. However, I did find this statement on a Dr Who board on Scifi.com.

David Eick, the executive producer of Battlestar Galactica, stated in an interview with Playboy magazine that "the first half of the third season of Battlestar Galactica will be shown alongside the second season of Doctor Who, starting in October."

Season Three of BSG starts on Friday, October 6, 2006.

Live to flush another day

2006-07-20T04:47:00.000-06:00

Good news all you Ren Faire enthusiasts! Faire lives on to fight and/or flush another day. My friend Scott brought this article from our local newspaper, The Gazette, to my attention. Thank you, Scott! Nevertheless, this keeps Alex in a job and gives the rest of us a place to dress up once or twice a year. In addition, the good folks at Faire have added another weekend to this year’s Festival. Thank you very much. Read on…

It’s official: turkey legs will be on Larkspur’s menu for the next 10 years. The Colorado Renaissance Festival and its host town have declared a truce in a three-year conflict that had the festival owner threatening to pull the popular summer event that gives this tiny Douglas County town with two-thirds of its revenues. “We’re just glad we can get beyond it,” new Mayor Sherilyn West said of the conflict that many saw as a clash between her predecessor and festival owner Jim Paradise. West joined other town board members Sunday in approving an agreement that aims to resolve the sticking points between the two and guarantees that the festival will remain.

“They could have Attila the Hun for mayor, and we’ve still got certainty in how we can operate,” said T.R. Rice, attorney for the Renaissance Festival. He said the trouble began in 2002, when Myrna Been was elected mayor. With the town of 250 wrestling with how to pay for failing water and sewer systems, Been said the festival owed the town nearly $1.7 million in sewer fees and sent Paradise a bill. She said the bill was justified because of the demands the festival put on the town’s water and sewer systems. “All I did was try to make him follow the same rules that everyone else is expected to follow,” she said. In 2003, Paradise filed a lawsuit, arguing that the town expected the festival to be “the deep pocket” that paid for problems it hadn’t created. A Douglas County judge ruled in March that the festival owed about $96,000 in water tap fees but denied the town’s original demand for $1.7 million. At the time, festival officials said they’d had enough of Larkspur and were looking for another host town, possibly Palmer Lake. If Been remained on the board, Rice said, “the festival would be leaving.”
In April, Been, whose mayoral term was up, ran for a seat on the board and lost; West was elected mayor. After the election, the festival decided to stay. Festival officials are happy with Been’s replacement: “She’s been super to work with,” Rice said. Under the new agreement, the festival will remain for another four years, at which time the festival’s land lease expires. Paradise has the right to buy the land from the company that owns it or continue to lease it, Rice said. At that point, another six-year contract goes into effect, with an opt-out option every two years, West said. The agreement also caps sales and admissions taxes paid by the festival at 6 percent. Also, the festival will use two storage tanks it already has for sewage. If that doesn’t help, the town may build a pretreatment sewage plant on land provided by the festival. The agreement also allows the festival to hold three outdoor concerts every year at a site adjacent to the festival site. The agreement, town board member Lester Burch said, is a “win-win.” “I think we’re very important to them, and the town is very important to the festival,” Rice said. With attendees coming from the Colorado Springs area and the Denver area, the town is well situated. Residents said they were glad for the arrangement that keeps the festival in town. “It keeps the town afloat. Without them, we couldn’t survive,” said Randy Lombardo, owner of the Larkspur Corner Market. Been said she was glad to hear of the agreement, but suspects Paradise never meant to leave. “He’s threatened to move that thing for 15 years. Where’s he going to put it?” she said. She never had anything personal against Paradise or the festival, although it wasn’t her kind of entertainment, Been said. “The food is outstanding, but I’m not into Shakespeare and all that crap,” she said. Others obviously disagree, she said. “No one thought that thing would grow to be as big as it is,” said Been. “It’s wonderful it has.” But she said the town ought not to rely on one business for most of its revenue, a point on which West agrees. “It would be nice not to depend on them as heavily as we do,” West said. It was also announced this week that the Renaissance Festival will remain open an extra weekend — Aug. 5-6 — to make up for weather that kept people away earlier in the summer.