The Great Batman Movie Debate

What better way to enjoy Gotham’s very own Dark Knight battling evil than on a big screen under the impressive vaulted ceiling of Islington’s Union Chapel.

The Great Batman Movie Debate Lineup

Last night Sky movies and Shortlist magazine invited GeekTown to be part of the debate as to which of the shortlisted ‘top four’ batman films is indeed the greatest.  Chaired by Mark Dolan, arguments were put forward, some more convincingly than others, by Shortlist’s editor Terri White, Sky Movies ‘resident movie geek’ Josh Howie and two more who require little introduction, Dom Joly and Vic Reeves.

The evening began with a select crowd of fans enjoying some light refreshments in the chapel bar (!) before moving into the main hall for the debate.  Some interesting insights into the top four: Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight included the controversial casting of Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson’s Joker vs Heath Ledger’s and of course the state of Christian Bale’s larynx in Dark Night.

The Great Batman Movie Debate - On Stage

Having entered the debate fully intending to cast my vote in the direction of The Dark Knight I was genuinely swayed by Dom’s, all-be-it less than enthusiastic, argument that Batman begins is the only film that really explains to the novice what on Earth is going on!  Personally I love that about Batman Begins, as well as the fact that you get two films rolled into one: the Shaolin-Monk-training academy escapade followed by the more familiar Gotham City night time punch up.

A short recess at the bar was followed by the announcement of the winning film, The Dark Knight, and then of course by the HD screening itself.  I’ve seen the film in more comfortable seating and with less daylight in the theatre but the novelty of the surroundings more than made up for these small shortcomings. Now all that remains is for me to get very excited about the rumored next installment in Christopher Nolan series of frankly awesome Batman films.

Sky Movies Showcase/HD presents all 6 Batman movies together in HD for the first time on UK TV, pus several other comic book hero movies. Titles will feature in back-to-back slots from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th July on Sky Movies Showcase/HD (channels 303 and in HD on 314).

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Predators Goodie Bag

I know the site has been a bit quiet lately (sorry about that, i blame Steam’s truly excellent Summer Sale!) However, we’re now back, and once again we’ve got a great competition for you!

Robert Rodriguez & Nimród Antal’s PREDATORS is due out in UK cinemas 8th July 2010, and to celebrate the return of the butt ugly, trophy hunting aliens to the silver screen, the nice folk at 20th Century Fox have given us 5 PREDATORS Goodie bags to give away! The bags include a t-shirt, mousemat, laser pointer, carabimer compass, cap, and notebook.

PREDATORS SYNOPSIS

PREDATORS, a bold new chapter in the Predator universe, shot under the creative auspices of Robert Rodriguez, stars Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary who reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realise they’ve been brought together on an alien planet… as prey. With the notable exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers – mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members – human “predators” that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien predators.

3 Ways to Win!

1. Win on Twitter

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

In the UK? Win a PREDATORS goodie bag by following @geektown and RTing this tweet! More at http://bit.ly/predatorscomp

2. Win on Facebook

Predators

All you need to do is:

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/geektown,
2. Become a fan.
3. Leave a comment under this post, and we’ll pick a winner at random!

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

3. Win on this site

Just answer the following question:
Who starred in the original Predator movie?

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Yes, you can enter all 3, and TRIPLE your chances of winning!

The competition closes on 9th July 2010 and is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. There will be 5 winners picked from entries on Facebook, Twitter and geektown.co.uk. By entering this competition, you are agreeing to the rules of this competition. Full rules can be read here.

Kids Take Control of Summer TV with Sky Movies Family HD

Family squabbles over who controls the TV remote could be banished this August as Sky Movies pits nation against nation and calls on fledgling film fans to help it shape its summer schedule.

Each Thursday in August, Sky Movies Family will be handing over control of their schedule to 8 – 13 year old movie buffs by asking them to vote for which movies they’d most like to see on the small screen that day. A triple bill of movies made up of the three top films from the voting results will be shown back-to-back from 4pm each Thursday.

Sky Movies Family HD is giving children across the UK and Ireland the chance to participate in the competition, with each Thursday of the month being given over to a particular nation: Scotland on 5^th August, Ireland on 12^th August; Wales on 19^th August and finally England on 26^th August.

As well as getting the chance to see their favourite films on-screen, when someone votes for their ideal schedule they will be in with the chance of winning a trip to London. One lucky voter from each region will be selected at random and whisked off to Sky Movies’ office in London to record a special dedication that will be screened ahead of their selected movies. The winner will get to meet and record their dedication with Craig Stevens, presenter of Sky Movies’ The Family Show.  Craig will be on hand to offer tips and advice to the winner as they make their Sky Movies debut during an all expenses paid trip to London for them and their family.

SCOTLAND (Thursday 5^th August) gets to pick from: Bedtime Stories, Coraline, Dr. Dolittle: Tail To The Thief, Home Alone, Hotel For Dogs, Igor, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Meet Dave, Stuart Little, Three Men and A Little Lady.

IRELAND’s (Thursday 12^th August) choices are: Beethoven, Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Journey To The Center Of The Earth (2008), Kung Fu Panda, Problem Child, Race To Witch Moutain, The Tale Of Despereaux, Titan A E

WALES: (Thursday 19^th August) can choose: Beethoven 2nd, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Cats & Dogs, Dragon Ball: Evolution, Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs, Inkheart, Night At The Museum 2, Open Season 2, Shrek, Space Chimps

ENGLANDs (Thursday 26^th August) picks are: City Of Ember, Fly Me To The Moon, G-Force, Jurassic Park, Monsters Vs Aliens, The Borrowers, The Pink Panther 2, The Rugrats Movie, The Secret Of Moonacre, The Wizard Of Oz

To enter

Simply ask your parent or guardian to email kidsincontrol@bskyb.com with your top three film choices from the list for your area, along with your first name, age, address and daytime telephone number or send in the post to Kids In Control Summer Schedule Competition, Sky Movies Press & Publicity, NHC 4 – 1st Floor, BSkyB Ltd, Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 5QD.  Closing date for all entries is midnight on Sunday 11th July.  The winner will be notified week commencing 12th July and will be expected to travel to London for filming on Tuesday 27th July.  For full terms and conditions go to: http://movies.sky.com/kids-in-control

Just been sent a couple of videos for Crackdown 2!

Crackdown 2 “Fun With Friends” video shows off some of the new 4 player multiplayer, and 16 player PVP options!

And Crackdown 2 “Nothing Is Sacred” shows off some of the destructible environments, and other gameplay elements.

Crackdown 2 Out 9th July 2010 . Find Out More at www.xbox.com/crackdown2

In a quick follow up to the Top 5 Most Thrilling Moments in PC Gaming I posted a couple of days ago, Mazda have launched their Thrillseekers campaign.

You can find more info over at the Mazda Thrillseekers website, along with the chance to go on one of their ‘Thrill Tasting experiences’.

The people over at Mazda have just launched the ‘Mazda Thrillseekers‘ campaign, and it got me thinking… What are the most thrilling moments we’ve had in our years playing PC games? What are the moments that have just taken you breath away, or had you giggling like a excited little kid? These are GeekTown’s top 5 most thrilling moments in PC gaming!

Left 4 Dead

5. The Zombie Apocalypse (Left 4 Dead)

Really, if your going to talk about thrilling experiences in PC gaming, it’s pretty impossible not to mention the awesomeness of fighting of wave after wave of flesh eating zombies in Left 4 Dead/Left 4 Dead 2!

The shear panic the first time your knocked to the ground, desperately trying to survive, praying one of your fellow teammates manages to make it to you in time! Oh… and the first time you meet that witch…

T-Rex

4. Meeting the local wildlife in Un Goro Crater (World of Warcraft)

So there you are… happily wondering around, collecting a few seeds, plants and crystals, plus slaughtering the occasional raptor that decides to cross your path.  Sudden the ground appears to shake… Interesting… and probably not good…

You see, what you might not have realised, those lil’ raptors you’ve been bludgeoning, have some rather larger cousins… At this point it’s probably a good idea to check behind you as it’s more than likely there’s a GIANT FREAKING LIZARD running towards you at full pelt!

The Cake Is A Lie

3. Best End Credits Ever (Portal)

You’ve been put through hours of tests by Aperture Science’s deranged computer AI, GLaDOS. You finally reach her core. And after a hard fought battle, she is finally defeated… Or so you think. The end credits roll and… wait… is that GLaDOS? Singing? But, she’s… oh no… nooo…

She’s Still ALIVE!

Quite possibly the most awesome, thrilling end credits anywhere, ever!

KotOR

2. THAT Reveal (Knights of the Old Republic)

Despite being lumbered with Carth Onasi (one of the whiniest little bitches in all gamedom), you’ve managed to battled your way through the galaxy, chasing down the evil sith, Darth Malak. You finally come face to face with your hated enemy, only for KotOR to throw in it’s very own ‘No. I am your father’ moment as (WARNING: SPOILER)…

…you discover you are actually his long lost apprentice Darth Revan!

1. Stepping out of Bestine Spaceport for the first time (Star Wars Galaxies)

Bestine (SWG)

SWG was my first MMO (pre all the NGE debacle). I didn’t really have any idea what to expect, other than the few bits my friends who had suggested I bought the game had told me. So I created my character, and went through the (at the time, pretty basic) training space station, and got a text from my friends to meet them on Tatooine. Bestine was the closest port to their town, so that’s where I told the nice man on the training station to drop me there. So I land on Tatooine… and my inner Star Wars geek, begins to freak out a little… Look! There are Jawas running around! And Wookies waiting to board shuttles! I step outside the port… Hundreds of people running around, training skills and trading good. Selling droids and offering services. I turn a corner and find a freaking AT-ST and a squad of Imperial Stormtroopers!.. Despite all it’s faults (and it did have quite a few), i don’t think i’ve ever found an MMORPG that really felt as much like a living, breathing world as Star Wars Galaxies did the first time i stepped into it.