Because trouble comes in all sizes.
It must have been an unenviable task to follow the wildly successful “Avengers’ movie. That’s exactly what writer/director Shane Black was assigned to do for “Iron Man 3”. Much like the character study of Bruce Wayne in the last installation of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy, Mr. Black has chosen to dig deeper into the psyche of Tony Stark.
Being a fan of the New York Knicks in the late 1990s was at times a tough pill to swallow. Patrick Ewing was supposed to deliver New York to the Championship promised land. Instead, a Basketball legend named Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls would singlehandedly crush New Yorkers hopes and dreams every year in the playoffs like precision clockwork. Still, one couldn’t help appreciate the phenomenal play exhibited by “Air” Jordan. And with an app like Basketball Time Machine at your fingertips, its easy to look back at all the greats of the game.
There are many perfect combinations in the world. Think peanut butter and chocolate, Batman and Robinl, Thunder and lightning, Rock and Roll, Kate Upton and a swimsuit. You get the point. Two distinct people, things, or ideas combining their inherent unique goodness to form something truly special. Enter Angry Birds and Star Wars into the fray. Building on the success of the original Angry Birds app, game producer Rovio teamed with Lucas Arts to create the successful app, Angry Birds™ Star Wars™. And now they’ve combined forces with Hasbro™ to create new toys including Angry Birds™ Star Wars AT-AT™ Attack Battle Game.
For the most part, politicians rarely provide a revealing look at the person behind the political rhetoric. Instead they communicate packaged ideas meticulously targeted to voter groups to ensure support for their legislative agendas. This calculated disconnect has fostered a pervading feeling of cynicism about politicians in general. Yet on rare occasions, a public servant emerges to disrupt the status quo. For a brief moment in time in the1980s, a fiery, cantankerous white-plumed comet streaked across the political landscape and her name was Ann Richards, Governor of Texas.
Do you remember the first time you saw an event movie as a kid? Not your run of the mill story but a genuine larger than life spectacle that transported you into a new realm of imagination. The type of movie that leaves a lasting impression in your heart and mind for the rest of your life. A cinematic phenomenon which not only defines generations but bridges them. Some obvious examples would be “Star Wars” in the 1970s and “E.T.” in the 1980s. Yet these same blockbusters lose their inherent awe inspiring qualities when presented to new viewers at home despite the HDTV behemoths electronics manufacturers are churning out. Certain movies were just meant to be experienced in a movie theater or not seen at all. Such is the case of the 20th Anniversary re-release of “Jurassic Park” in 3D.
PBS has always been a stalwart resource for parents seeking out quality educational shows for kids. Thanks to the digital media tools of the 21st century, older shows can be reconfigured as catalysts to promote creativity to an entirely new generation of children. PBS Digital Studios has led the way producing whimsical, imaginative and endearing music videos of “Mr. Rogers”, “Bob Ross”, and “Reading Rainbow”.
At the 2013 NY Toy Fair, I had the opportunity to visit Innovation First International’s booth. I was treated to seeing the latest HEXBUG micro robot toys including the award winning HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots Battle Station. Yet what really caught my attention was TAGAMOTO, a new series of interactive toy cars that respond to interchangeable codes placed on racetracks.
Press from all over the world converged upon the 2013 NY Auto Show for two days to take a meticulous look at the latest innovations the car industry has in store for 2014 and beyond. In my own experience at the show, I was able to sit in several of the most desired and exotic luxury cars in the world. Curiously, I discovered that exorbitant cost doesn’t always translate into vastly improved design, comfort, and convenience. In addition, the influx of so called “green” cars has become pervasive. Nearly every automaker had a variant of either a hybrid or an all electric vehicle. Generally speaking, the state of the auto industry could best be described as evolutionary.
Titan Books has just released “The Art of The Croods”, a lavishly compiled hardcover book filled with concept art, sketches, digital paintings, storyboards, behind the scenes stories, interviews, and more. It’s a perfect companion to the DreamWorks animated pre-historic comedy feature film, “The Croods”. Fans of animation will enjoy the book’s in depth look into the creative process which resulted in the complex yet visually stunning world brought to life by a team of talented artists.