Laser Orgy

The Week in Geek August 8-14: Distract Yourself from Potential Economic Turmoil

Kelly Dickinson — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:11:00 GMT

It's a bleak, bleak week in the US, Laser Orgians. With the economy taking a nose-dive and the threat of double-dip recession (which sounds more like JP Licks flavor of the month than a real thing but, woefully, it is the latter) it is time to distract our burdened minds with some good-old-fashioned escapism.

This Week in Geek will use movies and theatre to help you escape to a simpler time- be it the 60s, the 70s, medieval times (plus the 80s) or 1806 (plus the 90s.) If you prefer sobering reality of isolation of and stifling awkwardness that is modern social interaction, you could attempt the "brainy mixer" event. No matter how isolating and awkward, at least it's not speed dating.

All Week

[lyrical jams] National Poetry Slam @ All Over Boston All The Time
If we had included the full list of poetry slam events going on this week, this page would be infinitely long. This year, the National Poetry Slam is taking place in our fair city, so the festivities are aplenty and going down all over town, from Thursday through Saturday. Check out any of these events for the smooth and soulful, the touching and hilarious.

Monday 8.8

[class act] Breakfast at Tiffany's @ Regal Beagle 10pm
In a world where the trashiest celebrities get the most media attention, we can only fondly look back on the golden age of Hollywood, where the classy and the glamorous were one and the same. This event at Regal Beagle celebrates the classiest gal Hollywood has ever seen--Audrey Hepburn, of course--with a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany's and a tasting of their Holly Golightly cocktails.

Tuesday 8.9

[double feature] Cape Fear @ Brattle Theatre 3:30pm, 7:30pm
This week, the Brattle is screening two classic films scored by Bernard Hermann. The first of these is the 1962 original Cape Fear, a classic drama about violent revenge starring Gregory Peck. The next film is somewhat different in tone.
[double feature] On Dangerous Ground @ Brattle Theatre 5:30, 9:30pm
On Dangerous Ground is a forgotton gem of the melodramatic film-noir genre. Though critics were divided by it when it first came out, the musical talents of Bernard Hermann were uncontroversial and undeniable.

Wednesday 8.10

[MBTales] T Plays III, presented by Mill 6 Collaborative Theatre
The MBTA has gotten more than a little artistic attention lately, has it not? Who would have thought that a somewhat-seedy, more-than-somewhat-unreliable form of public transportation would join the ranks of Yoko Ono and Edie Sedgwich as a great artistic muse? In any case, this weekend the Mill 6 Collaborative presents a series of short plays on the T in an interactive theatre extravaganza.

Thursday 8.11

[reading] Lev Grossman reads from The Magician King @ Brookline Booksmith 7pm
Lev Grossman's The Magicians has been described as "Harry Potter for grown-ups," which is convenient (because most Harry Potter fans are now grown-ups or almost there) but also does a bit of disservice to what is actually a great but sobering novel about magic and reality on its own. This month, Grossman releases the much-anticipated followup to his first great effort, and he returns home to Boston to read from and sign this next great book.

[theatre] Bad Habit Theatre Presents Arcadia @ Boston Center for the Arts 7:30pm
The Bad Habit Theatre group presents this adaptation of Arcadia, one of the most acclaimed plays by one of the most acclaimed playwrights of our time. It tells the story preteen math genius who lived in an English country house in the early 1800s, and the intellectuals who live there in the present day.

Friday 8.12

[nonawkward speed dating] Brains, Beers and Babes- Smart Socialization @ Meadhall, 6:30
While we cannot promise, as the website seems to imply, that this brainy mixer/alternative to speed dating will not be awkward, we can promise that there will be beer, which has been known to decrease perceptual awareness of anything awkward. We'll drink to that.

[film] Better Watch Out @ Harvard Film Archive 10pm
What happens when a scientist tries to get a telepathic blind woman to talk to a serial killer who is trapped in a coma? Director Monte Hellman attempts to answer that question in his slasher-with-a-twist-film, Better Watch Out. This month, the Harvard film archive is screening a whole crop of Hellman's best movies, and a complete list of them can be found through the link above.

[film + the undead] Army of Darkness @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59pm Fri + Sat
Watch Ash take on medieval deadites in this classic tale of slaughter and laughter. The Coolidge Corner presents the third and final installation of Sam Raimi's much-loved Evil Dead trilogy as part of their @fter Midnight series.

Saturday 8.13

[food] Lebanese Music + Food Festival 12pm
Lebanese food? We're all ears. Backgammon tournament? Now we have to go. JP celebrates Lebanese heritage with its annual Lebanese Music and Food Festival by Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon. It's our only outdoor event this week, but totally worth going outside for.

[camp] Skatetown USA @ Brattle Theatre 9:30pm
This critically-panned, financially-flopping, unintentionally-hilarious film about rollar disco is screening this weekend at the Brattle. It stars Patrick Swayze on skates, and the chick who played Macia Brady in a slutty ensemble. It has been called a 70s microcosm, which may or may not be accurate, but it encapsulates the short-lived-fad within a short-lived-fad that was rollar disco. A later interview with Maureen McCormick reveals that everyone did coke on the set of the film, which might explain a whole lot.

Sunday 8.14

[food] Boston Food Swap @ Space with a Soul 2pm
Do you have an excess of homemade pickled beets you've been looking to get rid of? Then head down to the Boston Food Swap! Trade pickles and preserves, the foraged or what-have-you in this celebration of sustainability and deliciousness.

For more events, check out our geekified listings portal. If you've got any geek-related events you'd like us to post, contact us! Follow us on Twitter @LaserOrgy! Follow our RSS feed! Tell your friends!

Post-Apocalyptic Update: Apes Have Now Conquered Hollywood

James Fitzpatrick — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:32:00 GMT

Well, it turns out that the Monkey Issue was a good idea after all; Rise of the Planet of the Apes actually opened to rave reviews. Even after the five other Apes movies in the original series and Tim Burton's lackluster re-boot in 2001, audiences still want their fill of ape-on-human action. The film opened to $54 million dollars- that's $20 million more than the top-end of what was predicted. In fact, it trounced last weekend's winner Cowboys and Aliens, which dropped 56% of its previous gross to earn only $15.7 million. But Apes' rampage didn't stop there. It also proved that Ryan Reynolds is not a box office draw (for the second time this summer) with The Change-Up opening to only $13.5 million. Who knew the movie would be such a big hit? Well, nobody.

The truth is no one really wanted to make it. Peter Chernin, former News Cooperation president, had a lot of trouble attaching a director to the project. The laundry list of rejections came from Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico), Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), the Hughes brothers (Book of Eli), etc. However, Fox and Chernin Studios (Apes is their first film) continued to fight for the project, eventually signing Rupert Wyatt, who's only ever made one theatrically-released film, The Escapist. But the cards began to fall into place, as Chernin signed on James Franco (127 Hours), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), and the Peter Jacksons' WETA workshop to create the lifelike digital apes.

Speculation still swirled that the film would end up being a bomb (in the bad way, not like "it's da bomb!"). As recently as July, Franco seemed to be apologizing for the film in an interview with Playboy: "They haven't shown me the movie yet, so I don't know what the result is. I did reshoots, and it sounds to me the final movie will be different from the screenplay, which had a lot of character development. The movie seems to be more action now". In a combination of both selflessness and hubris, he at least tried to blame the expected bad press on his own detractors, "But people still have it out for me, so they're going to go after the movie".

Surprisingly though, the reviews haven't been anything close to what Franco predicted. Ty Burr from the Boston Globe, who describes the film as "part Frankenstein, part Spartacus, and part Rebel Without a Cause but With an Extra Chromosome'', actually predicts that "you may find yourself thoroughly emotionally invested in a drama about a downtrodden minority who unite behind a charismatic leader and rebel against their thoughtless overlords". Now that doesn't sound like a B-movie about monkeys smashing shit at all. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers goes so far as to suggest that Andy Serkis, the man behind LOTR's Gollum and 2005's King Kong, should be nominated for an Oscar for his role as Caesar, the lead ape. Serkis himself seems to be developing a certain bravado for his motion-capture niche: "I think actors are afraid that if they're not seen on-screen, then that's a real problem. But for me, that's never been an issue because I love filling a role that, like I say, transforms [me]".

Apes has a certified 81% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And the lightening quick word of mouth reviews kept the film from slowing down after it's opening night. So, what're you waiting for? Get out of this week-long humidity and get some schadenfreude joy out of seeing sunny San Francisco taken over by vengeful genetically-enhanced super apes.

Life In 95 Minutes: Ridley Scott's New Documentary Records One Day Worldwide

Katie Lannan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:31:00 GMT

Time capsules are primarily produced as elementary school class projects, leaving history in the hands of archivists most concerned with the preservation of their Pokemon cards and A+ spelling tests -- not necessarily the best way to provide an accurate picture of life at a given moment.

To get it right, you need a grander scale and better technology, which is exactly the combination director Kevin Macdonald and producer Ridley Scott had on their side when they set out to create the user-generated documentary Life In A Day.

Macdonald and Scott asked YouTube users to record their lives on one day, July 24, 2010, in hopes of getting enough responses to pull togetether a feature-length film illustrating the human experience. Inspired by the World War II-era social archive project Mass Observation, their guidelines were simple: tell us your story, tell us what you love and fear, and show us what's in your pockets.

Those twenty-four hours of life generated an astounding 4,500 hours of footage, submitted in over 80,000 video clips from 140 nations. There's life milestones like marriage proposals and adventures like skydiving, but much of the 95-minute film focuses on the ordinary routines we all share, the rituals that are the same in Boston or in Bali, like watching the sunset or commuting to work.

Ordinary, but not boring. When looking at scenes such as a worker's commute, the editing team tried to find a way to highlight how experiences could be simultaneously similar and diverse across the globe.

"Obviously, maybe one of those journeys is banal," Macdonald said in discussion with National Geographic, "but a hundred of them intercut showing all the different commuters, all the different pedestrians, all the different modes of transport, from bicycles to foot to trains to chauffeur driven cars ... suddenly becomes really fascinating."

Critics and audiences seem to agree so far. Acclaimed at festivals from Sundance to SXSW, Life In A Day has been positively received by 97% of critics.

Locally, the only place to catch Life in A Day is the Coolidge Corner Theatre, where it opens August 5. The film also hits screens in Revere and Worcester that same day, and you can request the film at your local cinema here, with the form at the bottom of the page. Or check out the full footage archive on the Life In A Day YouTube channel, but be prepared to give up at least a day in your life poring through the thousands of clips.

The Shark Week in Geek, August 1-7: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Kelly Dickinson — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:54:00 GMT

It's finally here. People count down to this for months. As soon as the weather starts to change, it's fresh in everyone's minds -- the ritual, the camaraderie, the friends and families gathering together, all to celebrate overlarge cartilaginous fish with rows and rows of flesh-ripping teeth. Yes, ladies and gentlemen: it's Shark Week. It's one of those television events that can immobilize the entire country slack-jawed in front of the television set -- sorta like the Super Bowl, but it lasts for six whole days and is somewhat educational.

As if that doesn't make this week amazing by itself, there are plenty of awesome things going on in Boston this week, too. There are the usual concerts and readings and screenings, plus a couple cons, comedy, and roller derby. Meanwhile, the Ben & Jerry's Truck is rolling through Boston for the entire month of August, which means free ice cream erryday. The truck can be stalked via Twitter -- we all scream for ice-cream-social media.

MONDAY 8.1

[dude] The Big Lebowski Party + Screening @Coolidge Corner Theatre 7pm
Every year, the folks at the Coolidge throw a screening party to celebrate this Coen Brothers classic in all its slobbish glory. While Laser Orgy does not officially condemn or condone participation in the Big Lebowski Challenge, we can guarantee that this party will feature fun of equal or greater caliber. There will be prizes, games and other pleasantries, and, of course, a screening.

[reading] Alice LaPlante Turn of the Mind @ Brookline Booksmith 7pm
Dementia-stricken Jennifer White, a retired surgeon, is accused of murdering her closest and oldest friend. Dr. White must find a way to piece together her side of the story when she can barely piece together her own consciousness. Such is the plot of Turn of the Mind, the debut novel of Alice LaPlante -- who comes to the ‘Smith tonight to answer all your burning questions.

[music] Death Cab for Cutie + Frightened Rabbit @ Bank of America Pavillion 8pm
Meanwhile, at the Waterfront, Death Cab and Frightened Rabbit jam. Relive your old angst and alternate between standing/staring pensively into space and dancing however people would dance at a Death Cab concert. Do people dance at Death Cab concerts? Be sure to let us know.

[double] Vertigo + North by Northwest Screenings @ Brattle Theatre Mon + Tues
This double-feature of two very different Hitchcock films--one dark and romantic; the other, a lighter chase film. Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant star in Vertigo and North by Northwest, respectively.

WEDNESDAY 8.3

[signing] Jim Butcher @ Harvard Coop 7pm
Before the recent crop of supernatural-crime-busting procedurals, there was Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, in which PI Harry Dresden investigates crimes in an alternate Chicago. This week at the Harvard Coop, Butcher will be reading from Ghost Story, the 13th installation in the series.

THURSDAY 8.4

[cyberpunk'd] William Gibson @ Harvard Coop 7pm
We've come a long, long way from Neuromancer -- William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk tour de force -- but the Sprawl still stretches on as far as the eye can see. Gibson graces Boston this week to celebrate the paperback release of his novel Zero History, which picks up where Pattern Recognition and Spook Country left off.

FRIDAY 8.5

[tokin'] Doug Benson @ Wilbur Theatre 7:30pm
In his 2008 film Super High Me, comedian/filmmaker Doug Benson set out on a Spurlock-esque quest to discover the effects of a month-long high. Subsequently, he had a show The Benson Interruption that aired on Comedy Central, sending D.A.R.E. officers nationwide into paroxysms of despair.

[cg disney magic, part 1] Tangled Free @ Hatch Shell 7:59pm
Part of the Free Friday Flicks Series, the Hatch Shell is presenting Tangled. This 50th Disney animated feature tells the classic tale of Rapunzel with a twist involving sassy heroines and talking animals. The movie starts at sundown, which is 7:59 on Friday.

[SHARKS] JAWS @ Somerville Theatre 8pm Fri + Sat
What with it being Shark Week and all, the other option for family movie night would be Jaws at the Somerville Theatre. Experience the move that made aquaphobes of an entire generation!

[louie, louie, louie, louie] Louis CK @ South Shore Music Circus 9pm
This past month, Louis CK was nominated for not one but three Emmys -- two for his FX hit Louie, and one for a stand-up special. This week the Bay State-raised comic returns for several New England shows, including this Cohasset gig.

[awww] Critters @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59pm
What do you do when a horde of furry and hideous alien creatures ascends upon your family farm? This cult-classic film attempt to answer that common question. (Hint: the answer likely involves shotguns.) Part of the Coolidge Corner Theatre's @fter Midnight series, Critters is screening for its 25th anniversary.

Supernatural Convention @ Hyatt Regency Cambridge Fri, Sat + Sun
Supernatural is one of those shows that always seems to fall of the radar of scifi mainstream, despite having six seasons on the CW. So grab your Colt (replica) and hop in your Impala (which will probably not be allowed in the Hyatt) and get ready to fight some evil (or watch people talk about it). There will probably not be any evil allowed in the Hyatt, either.

Mysterium, Myst Convention @ Embassy Suites Boston/Waltham Fri, Sat + Sun
Myst is more than a game -- it is was a surprise hit that became a pop-culture phenomenon, uniting players with games and novels. Mysterium is a for-fan-by-fan convention in Waltham that celebrates the game and the subculture that it has gathered since the 1993 release of the first game.

SATURDAY 8.6

[hellcats on wheels] Boston Derby Dames Playoffs @ Wilmington, MA 4pm
Speaking of fringe subcultures: the Derby Dames are competing in the Playoffs this weekend at the Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. There will be ridiculous nicknames, body-slams, obstacles, and broken bones -- in other words, all the ingredients for the perfect Saturday late-afternoon-to-early-evening transitional activity.

[cg disney magic, part 2] Toy Story 3 @ South Garden sundown
The last instillation of this epic and touching trilogy that just happens to be about toy screens this weekend at the South Garden in conjunction with the Prudential Center. You'll laugh, cry, and then laugh some more at this story about friendship and loyalty that everyone in the world except Armond White loves.

For more events, check out our geekified listings portal. If you've got any geek-related events you'd like us to post, contact us! Follow us on Twitter @LaserOrgy! Follow our RSS feed! Tell your friends!

Sexy cheerleader chainsaws pink-blooded zombies in newest Suda51 game

Wei-Huan Chen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:56:00 GMT

I thought I'd never live to write a headline quite like that. Sometimes, the Japanese come up with something so baffling -- yet genius -- that there's nothing to do but just gape. And it's no surprise that Suda51 of Grasshopper Studios, who is credited with the weird and violent Killer7 and No More Heroes, is the guy who plans to reinvent the zombie genre with Lollipop Chainsaw.

Last week, Japanese game magazine Famitsu revealed the first images of Lollipop Chainsaw, which features a cheerleader named Juliet Sterling who finds her high school infested with zombies on her 18th birthday. Thankfully, she was raised by zombie hunters and totes a pink, sparkling chainsaw, so it's not hard to guess what happens next.

When it comes to originality, Suda51 has most other game makers beat. But this isn't the first game where sexy girls battle zombies. So how will Lollipop Chainsaw change the zombie-slashing landscape?

"Actually I've wanted to do a crazy horror-action game like this set in a school for a while now," Suda tells 1up.com. "Instead of sprays of blood, we have the zombies emitting bursts of pink light ... we wanted to give the game more of a 'pop' feel," he adds.

The game has found yet-unnamed publishers in North America and Europe and is slated to come out on the PS3 and Xbox360. According to Suda, the game is around 70 percent complete. So a release date sometime in 2012 may be very possible.

The Week in Geek, July 25-31: Harry Potter Is Never Going Away

Kelly Dickinson — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:32:00 GMT

Remember that Harry Potter thing everyone was so crazy over? There were a bunch of books, or something? Then some movies? Well, you had better remember, because it is not going away. This week, Boston has more than one Potter-based celebration. The Harvard Museum of Natural History has an exhibit, and wizard rock band Harry and the Potters are playing a free concert in Harvard Square. These events are either to celebrate the two-week anniversary of the last movie. Or the four-year anniversary of the last book. Or Harry's birthday, which is this week, as well.

But If you don't like Harry Potter, or if like things that are not Harry Potter, you still have options -- all of which are happening inside, because no one is making you go anywhere near direct sunlight after the fiery hell that engulfed Boston last week.

EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

[woof] Escape from Puppy Death Factory
This new game from Adult Swim is the hottest thing since Robot Unicorn Attack pranced onto the scene in all its rainbowy, fiery majesty. It came out last week, but is the perfect waste of time to consume your attention for months to come.

MONDAY 7.25

[science] Boston Skeptics at the Pub @ Tommy Doyle's 7pm
The Boston Skeptics like talking about science, but they also like drinking, which is why they have bi-weekly events dedicated to both drunken revelry and intelligent discourse (sometimes simultaneously) at Tommy Doyle's. This week, Boston Skeptics member Jonathan McDowell pays tribute to NASA and the space shuttles.

TUESDAY 7.26

[theatre] Fringe Wars @ BCA Plaza Theatre 7:30pm
Small theatre companies go head-to-head in this theatrical brawl to prove who's the best in Boston local fringe theatre. Each is represented by a writer and actors, who will preform short plays of their own construction. The audience and a panel of judges will decide who is victorious.

WEDNESDAY 7.27

[harry potter] Hogwarts at the Museum @ Harvard Museum of Natural History 5pm
Thought the nail was finally hammered into the Pottermania coffin last weekend? Think again. This weekend, the Potterverse lives on with the help of the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Read about the natural events and legends that inspired the potions, spells and creatures of J.K. Rowling's epic tomes.

[to be or not tobe] All's Well that Ends Well: Shakespeare on the Common 8pm
International stalker/starry-eyed lover Helena pursues Bertram across Europe with obsessive passion. But will she be successful? Knowing Shakespeare, no, and Bert won't be sketched out by it in the least. Watch it all unfold in the Bard's classic comedy, performed, for your pleasure, on the grassy knoll of Boston Common! This yarn of sweet yet creepy love is spun several nights a week from now till mid-August.

THURSDAY 7.28

[movies!] Roxbury International Film Festival till Jul 31
The RIFF, now in its 13th year, is a film festival that celebrates diversity and people of color. There will be workshops, discussions and obviously screenings. The lineup features a selection of shorts and features, both fiction and documentary, covering race, sports, marriage, war, music and more.

FRIDAY 7.29

[creepy crawlies] Bug, presented by Flat Earth Theatre @ The Factory Theatre 8pm
What do you get when you trap a paranoid waitress and a paranoid veteran in a motel room that might be invested with insects? Bug, a play by Tracy Letts, explores just that, and its horror theatre at its best. The Flat Earth Theatre presents this story of love and fear, and the infectious quality of paranoia. It runs this weekend and next.

[battle of the wands] Harry and the Potters feat. Draco and the Malfoys @ Harvard Square 7pm
No, we weren't kidding about Pottermania being death-resistant. This weekend, Wizard Rock bands Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Malfoys are are coming back home (the bands are from Norwood, MA, and Woonsocket, RI, respectively) to play a set in Hogwarts--er, Harvard Square. The concert is free and open-air, open to witches and wizards of all ages.

[we don't need roads] Back to the Future @ Boston Harbor Hotel 8pm
Marty McFly's got problems temporal and oedipal. He's stuck in the 1950s with a younger version of the mad scientist who got him there, and has no idea how to get back to the mondo modern 80s. The Boston Harbor Hotel is screening this time travel classic for free on Friday, but if you don't catch it this weekend, you can always harness lightening into the flux-capacitor you've strapped to your DeLorean.

[mellltinggggg] Street Trash @ Coolidge Corner 11:59pm Fri + Sat
But if you like your 80s science fiction movies with more exploding organs and melting homeless people, then perhaps Street Trash, part of Coolidge Corner Theatre's @fter Midnight series, is a better flick to pick. Screenwriter Roy Frumkes wrote the script for this gorefest "to democratically offend every group on the planet" and it worked, along the way achieving cult status among the boys and girls of America who are into stories about a man who sells poisonous, bowel-exploding wine to the homeless population of Lower Manhattan.

[royale with cheese] Pulp Fiction @ Somerville Theatre 11:59 Fri + Sat
Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece (and first in what was to be a long series of theatrical tributes to Uma Thurman's feet) screens at midnight this weekend, as well. In this cult classic, John Travolta regrets going to the bathroom every time he goes to the bathroom, Samuel Jackson is a complete badass, and there's a big to-do over a very dirty watch.

SATURDAY 7.30

[swap n' sip] Vitaminwater Clothing Swap 12pm
Swap.com is a website that facilitates clothing swaps, and the Swapaholics are the website liasons who organize swap events. There's one in Boston this week, and it will include a guest appearance by Jessica Quirk, author of What I Wore. Sponsored and hosted by the new Vitaminwater Uncapped lounge on Brookline Ave, this week's clothing swap event is $10 and a bag of clothes for entry, swap privileges, author meet-and-greet, and free samples of Pinkberry and Vitaminwater.

SUNDAY 7.31

[garbo laughs] Ninotchka @ Somerville Theatre 11am
Before she went into seclusion, Greta Garbo was in this classic comedy about the French, the Soviets, and jewelry. The poster for this film is kind of creepy, but the movie itself -- one of Garbo's last works, and her only comedy -- is some old-timey gold.

[PIE] The Pie Experiment @ the Middle East 3pm
There are few things in this world more amazing than a slice of pie, but one of those things might be a room that is full of many slices of pie. The Pie Experiment is part of a larger national cook-off, but this local event is about pie in its many incarnations- from quiche to meat pie, from apple to pecan. This event at the Middle East Downstairs will feature local pastry chefs going head to head for primacy in the art of pie.

For more events, check out our geekified listings portal. If you've got any geek-related events you'd like us to post, contact us! Follow us on Twitter @LaserOrgy! Follow our RSS feed! Tell your friends!

HP Aftermath: A guide to the best and worst Harry Potter video games

Wei-Huan Chen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:32:00 GMT

The end of the Harry Potter film series means the end of many things, among them its licensed video game franchise (Or does it?) HP's future might seem tenuous with the final film's release. But it's the perfect opportunity to look back at Electronic Arts' Harry Potter gaming franchise.

How did it all start? The gods of the consumer society proclaimeth: The fruitful book begets the movie adaptation, and the fruitful movie begets the video game adaptation. And so spawned the Harry Potter video game that was based on the film that was based on the book. The result? A crop of big-corporation licensed titles -- few good, many downright horrible.

If you're looking for an interactive Harry Potter experience, J. K. Rowling's upcoming fansite might be a better choice. Still adamant about gaming, HP-style? Look no further. Laser Orgy has highlighted some of the best and worst Harry Potter video games made:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) - PC, Playstation

The premise: It's a simple over-the-shoulder puzzle/adventure game that gives Harry a few spells to defeat enemies. Instead of focusing on the action, you spend the majority of the time solving puzzles and collecting various items.
The verdict: The first Harry Potter game ever, before EA moved the game (with the new name of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) to GameCube, Playstation 2 and Xbox in 2003, this is a heartfelt but failed attempt to bring Rowling's magic to the gaming world.
Tip: If you own the 2003 PC version, here's a video on how to control Hogwarts through the wizardry of computer game-hacking.

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (2003) - GameCube, Xbox, PS2

The premise: It's Quidditch. Performing combo passes/shots builds up the Snitch meter. When your meter is full, the game moves into Snitch Chase mode, and each team's seeker uses the meter as a speed boost to catch the Snitch. Catching the Snitch nets you 150 points and ends the game.
The verdict: Quidditch sounded like such a captivating sport that college-aged Muggles around the world began to play it. But simulating a fictional sport is no easy task. While EA got some things right, the controls are sluggish, and it's too easy to defeat the enemy AI.
Tip: You can charge shots by holding down the shoot button.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

The premise: It's a lot like Bully, the open-world game in which you explore a vast private school campus. As Harry, you can wander freely around Hogwarts, choosing to learn spells, duel Slytherins, discover secret passageways or complete missions.
The verdict: 10 points for Electronic Arts! The ever-expanding corridors and hidden rooms of Hogwarts are beautifully rendered -- without a HUD to clutter the screen. The voice-acting and music comes directly from the film and add to the Harry Potter atmosphere. Not everyone liked it, but it's the first HP game made that's actually fun to play.
Tip: Achieving some of the game's 4360 discovery points makes your spells more powerful and unlocks goodies in Moaning Myrtle's Room of Rewards. You can earn discovery points by being a good citizen and repairing pots with Reparo around Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) - Nintendo DS

The premise: It's an adventure game. And by "adventure," I mean "running down a hallway to fetch Fay Dunbar's marbles, then spending hours trading cards with another random girl." As IGN put it, "EA has managed to take a world brimming with magic and turn it into the most tedious, mundane game possible."
The verdict: Atrociously boring and the worst Harry Potter game ever made. Who knew the magic of the wizarding world could be reduced to a series of mindless and banal chores?
Tip: Avoid it like the Dementor's Kiss.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (2010) - Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

The premise: If you've played any of the LEGO Star Wars or LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean games, you'll know what to expect. You can play as nearly every character from the first four books (including Cho Chang, Mad-Eye Moody and the Weasley twins) in a co-op fixed-camera adventure game, battling simple enemies and using the environment to forge through levels.
The verdict: LEGO Harry Potter is the best Harry Potter game -- and others agree as well. It's sad that out of the 10+ games based on the films, it turns out that the best HP game is based on LEGO and produced by Warner Bros, not EA.
Tip: Look forward to LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, which hits shelves this November.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011) - Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

The premise: What better way to continue the recent Potter craze than with the video game version of the epic cinematic finale? I'm not sure, but like Part 1, this game is a more repetitive version of Gears of War put in the HP universe. Hide under cover and shoot at enemies, move to next cover, rinse and repeat. Basically, Petrificus Totalus is your sniper rifle, Expulso is your machine gun and Impedementia is your rocket launcher.
The verdict: This game is the typical licensed movie game -- above-average production value, generic art design and uninspired gameplay. Not worth the $60 pricetag.
Tip: Near the end of the game, Harry learns to apparate, which teleports you from cover spot to cover spot.

While none of the Harry Potter games were that great, the end of the film franchise actually may prove to be a good thing for its video games. Warner Bros. should consider investing in creating original, HP-themed games for the millions of fans still hungry for Hogwarts adventures. So the best Harry Potter video game may be yet to come. Star Wars, for example, which ended its film series years ago, still has something very exciting due later this year -- and it's a video game.

Finally, if neither these games, nor the prospect of better future titles, give you your HP gaming fix, you could try out a Harry Potter handheld game -- or just come up with your own, like Kokatu did.

The Top Five Reasons You Should Be Upset You Are Not Going to Comic Con

Kelly Dickinson — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:21:00 GMT

Comic Con 2011 begins today in San Diego, as if every nerd were not already painfully (or joyfully, if attending) aware. Laser Orgy is here to rub salt into the wound by reminding our readers and ourselves of all the amazing things we are missing. Thankfully it won't be too bad: everything will eventually leak to the Internet in the week to come, so consider the list of awesome things we will miss for now but experience vicariously with the help of the shaky cameras smuggled in under the jackets of front-row daredevils.

A full list of events can be found here, but we've highlighted the ones that will really drive you into a jealous rage.

5. The Comic Con Camaraderie (ComConCam?)

Okay, so this is one we can't experience with the help of cameras. People make friends at Comic Con-they bond over similar costumes ("I thought I would be the only Steampunk Sarah Palin!") similar interests ("Captain Picard/Fifth Doctor is my favourite slash-shipping! We should collab on a fanfiction some time!") or similar placement in the very long lines. As anyone who's ever been to a Con can tell you, nothing beats the bonding.

4. Video Games

Yes, E3 did just happen, but that does not mean that the gaming industry will not have a few shiny things to dangle in front of the hordes in San Diego. Capcom is hosting a Saturday panel on the newest installation of their popular Marvel vs Capcom series. There will be looks into the most highly-anticipated games of the year like Gears of War 3, PS3's Journey, and Batman: Arkham City. Resident Evil will celebrate its fifteenth birthday with a roundup panel, and Zelda will celebrate the first playable demo of Skyward Sword.

3. Comics

This one might sound a bit "duh," but recently Comic Con has become less about the comics and more about the movies-some of which are based on comic books, maybe. But the purists still have plenty to be psyched about. Joss Whedon is on hand to discuss plans for Dark Horse and Buffy Season 9. Marvel's Fear Itself plotline is ongoing, and X-Man is revamping with Schism. But DC might be stealing the show this time around: this fall, they're overhauling their entire superhero line, and there are plenty of panels about it.

2. Movies

The list of movies making an appearance this year is less about what's going to be making an appearance and more about what isn't. Buzzworthy titles like The Hunger Games, John Carter, The Hobbit, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers are all conspicuously absent. But it's not as if there will be no movies around. Cowboys and Aliens is screening off-site. Garth Ennis (the man behind Preacher) is bringing his highly-anticipated short-film Stitched. Guillermo Del Toro is hosting a panel on Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. Spielberg's bringing Tintin. The cast of Twilight is having a panel, but we're not sure that's a good thing.

The Amazing Spiderman is the biggest thing swinging in to San Diego. Its trailer leaked onto the web today, generating even more buzz for this highly-anticipated reboot staring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. There will be a panel, a contest, and hopefully footage beyond the teaser from earlier this week.

1. TV

Maybe it's because of the void left behind by movie absences, or maybe it's because of all the awesome new shows and seasons on tap. But this year has been called the Year of TV at Comic Con. There will be screenings of new shows like Locke & Key (which was, woefully, not picked up), Alcatraz, Person of Interest and The River, plus panels on new shows like the next installment of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ringer and Once Upon a Time.

Other noteworthy panels include True Blood, Community, Glee, Chuck, and Supernatural. Doctor Who is making an appearance at Comic Con for the first time since the launch of its new series, and Game of Thrones will feature a panel by none other than George R. R. Martin, the author of the book series on which the acclaimed show is based.

Complete lists of TV panels and events can be found here, and brace yourselves, because there are a lot of them.

The Week in Geek, July 18-24: Minds, Mindlessness, and Mind-Control

Kelly Dickinson — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:59:00 GMT

It's not supposed to go below 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the foreseeable future, so the events for this Week in Geek will not be physically taxing. We are not sadists. Even the Renaissance Fair in Gloucester is indoors.

However, that does not mean that our picks will not be mentally taxing! Oh, no -- we will not let that grey matter dissolve in the swelter. There is a conference on Cognitive Sciences, an observatory event, a skillsharing DIY festival, and a couple of cerebral satires. But if even mental acrobatics seems too much for you during this mercilessly hot week, there's also a movie about a zombie-fighting mama's boy.

MONDAY 7.18

[drama on ice on stage] Tonya and Nancy Rock Opera @ Club Oberon 8pm
Before Alien vs Predator or Freddy vs Jason, there was the equally brutal, epic clash of Harding vs Kerrigan -- a story of two rivals and one baseball bat, made hilarious by the fact that it involved two dainty, graceful figure skaters at the 1994 Winter Olypmics. The now-classic headline is brought to life on stage at the Oberon for a three-night engagement.

TUESDAY 7.19

[pizza] Get Naked with Naked Pizza 5:30 to 7:30
Is this event necessarily nerdy? I answer this hypothetical question with another: do the words "free pizza" mean anything to you? Okay, not free, exactly. There is a suggested donation of $10 (that goes to the new Brookline Teen Center) for this epic pairing of Naked Pizza + Urban Grape Wine. But that's totally worth it, and so is the food.

WEDNESDAY 7.20

[bibliophilia] Nina Sankovitch of Read All Day @ Harvard Book Store
It would be impossibly difficult to find a bigger book nerd than Nina Sankovitch. From October 2008 to October 2009, she read a book every single day., then wrote a book review on each for her blog. (For the morbidly curious, a full list of the books she read can be found here.) She comes to Harvard Bookstore this week to read from a title of her own, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair, which chronicles her literary adventure.

[thinking about thinking] CogSci2011 Meetup @ Boston Park Plaza Hotel till Sat July 23
This week, the Cognitive Science Society will host its annual meetup right here in Boston. It will unite those who of study artificial intelligence, education, anthropology, neuroscience, philosophy, linguistics and psychology for one massive conversation on thought and the human mind.

[singing stars] "Music of the Spheres" - a Harvard-Smithsonian Observatory Summer Special 7:15pm
Within the past several decades, scientists have used the sounds that stars give off to study their composition. This multimedia lecture will allow viewers (and listeners!) to hear the "music" of the stars, adjusted to frequencies observable by the human ear.

THURSDAY 7.21

[writercon] Northeastern Writers' Conference @ Bristol, RI till July 24
When the words "camp" and "horror" are uttered in the same sentence, they usually evoke the memory of the ‘80s slasher franchise. But Camp Necon is something friendlier- an annual "camp" or New England writers of the horror genre. This small mystery/horror writers' conference in Rhode Island is a bit of a hike, but a must-attend for any local writer looking for camaraderie, talent competitions, team sports and discussion of the literary craft.

[holmes!] The Hound of Baskervilles @ Central Square Theater 7:30pm
Sherlock Holmes is the nerdiest badass/badassest nerd in literature, and the Central Square Theatre's adaptation--which will feature exactly three actors playing dozens of roles--is a farcicle nod to his greatness. It runs from this week until the end of August.

FRIDAY 7.22

[comedy.0] Tosh.0 @ the Wang Theatre 7pm
Daniel Tosh has made a living bringing videos from the internet, making jokes about them, and putting them on the TV screen (like RWJ for people without the internet access? Or something?) and now, with his ToshTour On Ice, he's on stage doing comedy from his TV show which in turn draws inspiration from the internet. It's not actually On Ice, because that would involve too many degrees of separation.

[film/brains] Dead Alive (Braindead) @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59pm
This Peter Jackson-directed film tells the story of the love between a boy and his mother, which transcends the fact that she has become a ravenous, destructive, murdering zombie. He tried to conceal her nature from the nosy neighbors. Hilarity and infinite gore ensue.

[film/brainwashinig] A Clockwork Orange @ Somerville Theatre 11:59pm
Alex is a typical teenage boy, except that he loves perpetrating extreme acts of violence upon those around them. This acclaimed adaptation of Anthony Burgess's acclaimed novel explores the power of punishment and manipulation in harsh critique.

SATURDAY 7.23

[diy] Allston DIY Fest @ Ringer Park 10am
Allston's Ringer Park is about to get indie-fied (moreso than usual.) The DIY Fest incorporates all the best things in life: music, art, bikes, DIY culture and free fun. Described as "a really, REALLY free market!" The event will feature skillsharing, zines, records, over 20 local acts, and even free opportunities to jam for a crowd of over 1,000.

[yon faire] Abbadia Mare Festival 11am Sat + Sun
What better place to have a Renaissance Faire than an old castle? This weekend, the Abbadia Mare Festival goes down at the Hammond Castle (also called Abbadia Mare, or "the abbey by the sea") in Gloucester, MA. There will be music, magic, vendors, and food, plus tours of the castle.

SUNDAY 7.24

[steampunk'd] Dr. Grymm Book Signing / Steampunk Meetup @ Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation 3pm
Writer and Steampunk City 2011 Mayor Dr. Grymm presents his new book, 1,000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear and Art. There will also be a Steampunk Gear swap, so bring along the lacy corset you never wear and trade it for something golden and clockwork.

[how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb] Dr. Strangelove @ Somerville Theatre 11am
The Somerville Theatre presents this subversive classic comedy about the ins and outs of nuclear apocalypse. From the fiendishly genius minds of Terry Southern and Stanley Kubrick, it stars Peter Sellers in three main roles (and Sterling Hayden and George C Scott in one role apeice).

[con report] Invasion of the Bronies? Dispatch from My Little Pony Fair 2011

Kelly Dickinson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:01:00 GMT

Who goes to a My Little Pony convention?

Last year (and pretty much any year since 1983), the crowds would probably have included middle-aged collectors and little girls dragging around harried dads and nostalgic moms.

But then, in January of 2011, everything changed for the MLP franchise when the Lauren Faust-developed cartoon My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic premiered and exploded -- exploded! -- on the Internet. It developed a fanbase among /b/tards and redditors, a group comprised largely of 20something males. And these devoted apostles to the adventures of Twilight Sparkle n' friends christened themselves "Bronies." And it was good.

When Hasbro announced its My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention at company headquarters in Pawtucket, RI, there was some talk that the fair might be inundated with this new demographic of fans.

Summer Hayes, founder of pony-collection site mylittleponycollector.blogspot.com and author of several books on the subject, thought the popularity of MLP:FiM would bring the bronies in droves. So she was surprised, initially, to find that there were not that many at the convention this past Saturday. "I thought that there would be more, but only the really devoted collectors would travel from far away. The bronies that are here are mostly from the area," she said.

Still, there was certainly an unexpected demographic shift. Though not the majority of attendees, there were smatterings of hipsters, and the occasional twentysomething in a Nyan Cat T-shirt. I also spotted several little boys -- Brony Juniors. Many were there with siblings and families, but in their Red Sox or Transformers tees they looked less than miserable as their sisters pointed excitedly at the cardboard displays of Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle. My Little Pony is cool now, after all.

Then there were the more hardcore fans. The con brought with it plenty of cosplayers, or people in pony-inspired outfits: frilly collars, rainbow skirts, candy-colored wigs, and pastel jumpsuits with cupcake decals abounded. At their booths, they showed off their collections that were either for sale or just for show. One woman displayed an entire collection of her favorite pony, the Generation 1 Crumpet. A nearby table advertised "My Little Pony Talk," an all-ponies-all-the-time podcast.

As for the nods to FiM's rabid internet fandom? In one display of classic and vintage ponies, meme-character Doctor Whooves (battling a plastic Dalek) made a cameo appearance. DeviantArtist Dizziness was selling adorable FiM-based art that included popular background character Derpyhooves.

Pony-based art dealers were prevalent as well. Custom-designers like Jewel and Jenny McCarthy designed exquisite custom ponies, repainting the bodies and refreshing the manes and tails with interesting materials like ribbon or deconstructed yarn.

But Kar Red Roses -- herself a sight to behold in her pink felt wig and yellow getup -- was in a league all her own. Her show-stealing display of Ponies De Los Muertos included handmade ponies painted to look like Mexican Day of the Dead folk art. Only with pony heads. Her MLP sugar skulls were strangely beautiful, festooned with colors and flowers and candles.

Kar also makes shrunken pony heads, which were not in the display but can be found on her website. The juxtaposition of death and ponies may seem bizarre, but to Karen, it just makes sense. "When I was younger, I was always that girl who was obsessed with death," she said. And she also collected My Little Ponies at the same time. "It's not really strange, because death is a major part of life." And so, for these collectors, is My Little Pony.

As for where she got all the pony heads, Kar was able to explain. It wasn't like she had piles and piles of headless ponies in her attic: she mostly got the heads from collectors at conventions like this one. Said Kar: "Oh, you'd be surprised where you can find pony heads."

This Week in Geek, July 11-17: Sand sculptures, Slurpee’s, and tons of free stuff!

Wei-Huan Chen — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:30:00 GMT

Some of the best things in life are free, and I don't mean the taste of new toothpaste or laughing with friends. Sure, those are great, but that warm fuzzy feeling we call happiness can be achieved with more creative ways, like scoring free Slurpee's, learning how to make art out of trash and attending a sand sculpture festival. Or how about jamming out to promote the end of the Nuclear Age, hearing a campfire story or listening to authors swear at fictional children?

If the multitude of free-and-open-to-public events this week don't do it for you, indulge yourself by attending some good old Pirate-themed theater, learning astronomy or seeing William fuckin' Shatner at the Boston Star Trek Convention this weekend. Free or not, it's the summer, so go out and live it up with maximum Geekiness on all days of the week.

MONDAY 7.11

[slrrrrrrrrrp] Free Slurpee Day @ 7-Eleven 12am - 11:59pm
Free Slurpees, much like newborn puppies or the upcoming album by Blink-182, are one of those things you must celebrate with spontaneous, public dance. Join 7-Eleven's birthday/possibly-dance-partay today with a complimentary Slurpee drink from participating stores around the area. Just remember to make sure the cashier's forgotten who you are before trying to score that second free drink (you bastard).

[film] High Rise @ The Brattle Theatre 8pm
When documentarian Gabriel Mascaro discovered a curious book that maps the richest people in Brazil, he decided to visit their homes and ask them about social inequality, politics and more personal topics such as their prejudices, fears and histories. Presented by the DocYard, High Rise (Um Lugar Ao Sol) analyzes the Brazilian upper class through revealing dialogues with the owners of nine penthouse apartments. Mascaro and producer Rachel Ellis will visit the Brattle tonight via Skype for a Q&A session after the film.

[boom] Boomtown Festival @ Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center Until July 14, and July 18-21
Cantabrigians rejoice! The second of many free events this week, the Boomtown Festival 2011, hosted by CMAC, presents a variety of open-to-public dance, art, music, poetry and interactive events going on until July 21, rain or shine. Highlights include readings by local poet Toni Bee, a junkyard sculpture workshop with artist Bobby Brown and an "illustrated picnic" with chalk artist Jerrie Lyndon. You can find the full schedule here.

TUESDAY 7.12

[exploring] Kitty Pilgrim The Explorer's Code @ Brookline Booksmith 7pm
Her name may be Kitty, but this globe-trotting, award-winning journalist is serious business, especially when it comes to storytelling. Kitty Pilgrim turns from CNN to the world of fiction with a new earth-spanning thriller that follows the quest for a multi-million dollar deed. Pilgrim will be at the Brookline Booksmith to talk about and sign copies of The Explorer's Code.

[gazing] Stars in the City: Urban Astronomy @ the Boston Center for Adult Education 7:30pm
To celebrate (or lament) NASA's final flight of its Space Shuttle Program, why not learn how to expertly gaze into the sky in the smoggiest and most light-polluted of cities? For $65, the BCAE introduces the planets, stars, and constellations that can be seen on clear summer nights, even in metro areas like Boston. You can register at www.bcae.org or by calling the Center at 617-267-4430.

WEDNESDAY 7.13

[yarr] The Unfortunate Cutthroats @ BCA Plaza Blackbox Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat + Sun
Did you know a pirate's favorite branch of the military is the Arrrrr-my? Oh wait, it's actually the Navy. The Vagabond Theatre Group, a pretty new addition to the Boston theater scene, presents a swashbucklin' tale about loyalty and mutiny aboard a pirate ship. Tickets are $22 and can be bought at the link above.

[fantasy] Dawn Metcalf Luminous @ Pandemonium 7pm
When a 16-year-old girl finds out she can peel off her skin to reveal a lustrous, magical skeleton, she slips into a parallel universe filled with other teenagers with mystic abilities. Add in a murder mystery twist, and Dawn Metcalf's debut novel, Luminous, is sounding like some scrumptious, trippy summer reading. She'll be signing her new book at the Pandaemonium until 8:30pm, so be sure to bring your favorite color Sharpie.

THURSDAY 7.14

[goodnight] Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés, Go the F*** to Sleep @ Brookline Booksmith 7pm
Go the f*** to sleep... Now that's no way to talk to a child. But isn't that what every embattled parent of a tantrum-prone child thinks as their kid demands yet another bedtime story? The author and illustrator of this delightful picturebook for adults will be speaking/signing at this free and public event.

[reading] Readercon 22 @ Burlington Marriot in Burlington, MA thru Sunday
If you'd rather spend a summer huddled away with Slaughterhouse-Five or a Jonathan Lethem novel than rewatching Star Trek: Enterprise, than maybe this is the con for you this weekend. Readercon 22 will feature illustrious writers such as Geoff Ryman and Gardner Dozois (who will act as guests of honor) and will be paying tribute to the late Mark Twain. According to its website, the convention is devoted to "‘imaginative literature' - literary science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the unclassifiable works often called ‘slipstream.'" Sounds like a great weekend to me.

[sand] Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival @ Revere Beach through July 17
Beige-colored spectacles in the form of Biblical scenes, castles, and giant violins will soon emerge from the Boston coastline for any beachgoer to see. Yes, sand sculptures! They are perfect for those simultaneously hungry for art and a summer vacation. There's obviously no lack of sand at the Blue Line-accessible Revere Beach, but the sand used for its annual Sand Sculpting Festival is actually a special type that comes from Hudson, New Hampshire. This allows for the complex pieces of art that will be showcased at the 4-day festival. Once again, this event is free!

[it all ends] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Imax and 3D 11:59pm
Daniel Radcliffe was 8 years old when J. K. Rowling penned the first Harry Potter novel. Now, at the end of a series that defined the culture of multiple generations, the film series' titular character is 21, which is old enough not only to drink but to also face Lord Voldemort (who, at the end of Part 1, had regained the Elder Wand) in an epic final battle. If you're really following the craze, you probably already bought the $45 marathon movie ticket that gives admission to all 8 of the HP films. If not, the midnight showing (if you can get tickets for it) will prove to be a worthy conclusion to 14 years of Harry Potter books, films, toys, costumes, video games and symposiums.

[fantasy] Various Authors read from Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy @ Porter Square Books 7pm
Within the past decade, urban fantasy has been a popular subgenre, especially among YA audiences. Some of the biggest names in the field contributed to Naked City, a compilation of short stories, among them Holly Black, Melissa Marr and Jim Butcher. Editor Ellen Datlow introduces a roster of contributing writers reading including Jeffery Ford, Kit Reed, Matthew Kressel, John Crowley, Ellen Kushner and Caitlin R. Kiernan

FRIDAY 7.15

[boldly go] Star Trek Convention @ Hyatt Regency Cambridge thru Sunday
The 45th Anniversary Celebration Trekkies Con is this weekend, FEATURING THE SHAT HIMSELF. Need we say more? (Tickets range from $20 gen. admission to $329 for the Gold Weekend Package.)

[oui] Bastille Day Party @ Marlborough St 6pm
Whip yourself out of that bourgeois-life malaise and hit the streets, Parisian-style to celebrate the birth of a country whose cultural influence may be unmatched around the world. Taking place at Marlborough St. between Berkeley & Clarendon, the French Cultural Center's celebration of Bastille Day features the best of Boston French food and drink (as in beer and wine) as well as musical headliners Yoro Ndiaye and Rupa & the April Fishes.

[theater] The Good Doctor @ The Factory Theatre Fri + Sat 8pm Sat + Sun 3pm
Boston's Independent Drama Society presents The Good Doctor Neil Simon's adaptation of the stories of Russian satirist Anton Chekov. Consider it a comedy based on a satire, a loose association of vignettes set in 19th century pre-communist Russia.

[as you wish] The Princess Bride @ Somerville Theatre 11:59pm Fri + Sat
Robin Wright, Mandy Parinkin, Andre the Giant and Wallace Shawn unite in this cult-classic about the best bedtime story ever. This swash-buckling film is screening twice this weekend, on Friday and Saturday at 11:59pm. A good excuse for skipping it would be... INCONCEIVABLE.

[no more nukes] Festival for a Nuclear-Free Future @ Copley Square 2pm
"No more Hiroshimas and Fukushimas... It's time for the nuclear age to end," the website for the Festival for a Nuclear-Free Future proclaims. Hear hear! Activists Randy Kehler, Brian Corr, Anna Maker and musical performers Public Interest and John Loretz will take the stage to take a stand against the use of nuclear power and the existence of nuclear weapons.

SATURDAY 7.16

[theater] 1001 @ BCA Plaza Theatre 8pm
From Disney's Aladdin to 1942's Arabian Nights, the classic tale of One Thousand and One Nights has been retold for the umpteenth time, but never like this. Jason Grote and Company One places the timeless tale into an apocalyptic, 21st-centuring setting that is described as "a seductive fever-dream of a play." The fact that Osama bin Laden is one of the characters certainly piqued my interest. 1001 will be playing until August 13.

Betsi Feathers Burlesque Show @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59pm
The Betsi Feathers burlesque troupe is stepping up and stepping out (of their clothes) in this midnight engagement at the Coolidge Corner theatre. Tickets are $15 for this night of frolicking fun, featuring appearances by geek-burlesque troupe Rogue Burlesque and Boston Ballet instructor (and Betsi Feathers namesake) Betsi Graves.

SUNDAY 7.17

[mouthoffs] MassMouth @ Columbus Park in the North End 7pm
Actor and storyteller Alan White revitalizes the lost art of oral literature with a campfire tale of ghastly deeds and high piracy along The Freedom Trail. "Fire" is the theme of the night, and don't be shy to bring your own 5-minute story about fire -- a fire in your belly? on the stove? in your heart? forest fires? -- whatever it may be. The event, organized by MassMouth, rounds off a bustling week of free-to-attend outdoor summer events.

[yellow brick road] The Wizard of Oz @ Somerville Theatre 11am
The story of Dorothy n' friends has become an iconic modern fairy tale (even though it is actually an allegory for monetary reform) and is a much-beloved classic. It's inspired countless sequels, rehashes and re-imaginings, but nothing beats the original.

[KHAAAAAAAAAN] Star Trek 2 - The Wrath of Khan @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59pm
Apparently this week is extra Star-Trekkie. The aging cast of the Enterprise fights against Khan, an exiled supervillian who breaks out to get revenge on the Kirk and his crew. This is the reboot that breathed life into the series that has kept it alive (rabid fandom intact: stand outside the Cambridge Hyatt this weekend for concrete proof) to this day.

-- Kelly Dickinson contributed

Nintendo 3DS: Is 3D gaming a fad?

Wei-Huan Chen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:21:00 GMT

In 1893, British photographer William Friese-Greene filed a patent for a 3D film viewing process that placed two images side by side, creating a "joined" three-dimensional image through a stereoscope. Now it's 2011, and you can have movies, Youtube videos and even pornography pop out at you.

The 3D trend has expanded past the screen and become, what some have said, the future of gaming as well. Colliding history with the future, Nintendo is turning your '90s-era gaming memories into very real, 3-D portable remakes. So is 3D gaming a fad? The short answer is "not really."

A few weeks ago, Nintendo released a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the 3DS, and the game soon became the new handheld's first blockbuster hit. The graphics for game are nostalgic yet stunning, and almost everything about the game has been tweaked for the better -- without tampering with what made the original game so good. But the question remains: does it matter that the game is in 3D?

Reviewers have admitted that although they loved the game on the new system, they chose to turn off the 3D function most of the time. I had a headache after 5 minutes of playing a demo of Kid Icarus: Uprising with its 3D function on, so I can definitely attest to the bothersome nature of the 3DS's visuals. But the new console does have potential -- I can't wait for developers to take full advantage of its two cameras, gyroscope, touchscreen, and numerous "social gaming" abilities.

As 1up.com explains, the 3DS, unlike 3D console systems, uses auto-stereoscopic display, also known as parallax barrier technology. In laymen's terms, it means you don't need to wear something like this. So yes, the effect is user-friendly and can be turned off anytime. So while I don't like it myself, Nintendo is definitely doing something right with 3D.

Companies everywhere are starting to look into 3D as a viable means of presenting games. Sony, for example, made an impressive announcement that the upcoming Resistance 3 will allow two gamers looking at the same television to see different screens, essentially allowing split-screen multiplayer without sacrificing half of the screen. So, while I'm looking forward to what the 3DS and 3D console games have to offer, I hope that developers realize the difference between cheap gimmicks and utilizing new, exciting technology to its full potential.

This Week in Geek July 5-10: Get Your Con On

Kelly Dickinson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:27:00 GMT

Post-holiday-weekend lag got you down? Did last weekend's boozing, barbecuing and fireworking set your expectations so high such that the prospect of a return the weekend routine of eating ice cream and watching True Blood suddenly seems so banal?

Fear not, because we have not one but TWO awesome weekend-long cons to save you from the brink of desperation. This weekend is Connecticon, one of the biggest pop-culture conventions in New England. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, rainbow-horse fans will gather from across the globe (or possibly just New England) to convene at My Little Pony Con. With the advent of MLP: Friendship is magic and the obsessive culture surrounding it (see: Bronyism) it is a must-attend Con.

There are also some awesome events going on before them (a robot, a film festival, and book signings galore) but we advise you spend the week making the life-altering decision of which con to go to.

WEDNESDAY 7.6

[book] Dawn Tripp, Game of Secrets @ Brookline Booksmith
Local author Dawn Tripp has a Massachusetts Book Award to her name, and she's bringing her newest title Game of Secrets to Coolidge Corner tonight. It's a combination of thriller, mystery, and literary fiction; the secrets of a murder are revealed through an intense Scrabble game between two willful old women. Meet the writer of this intelligent beach-read at the Booksmith.

[film] Another Earth @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm
Do you ever wondered what life would be like to explore an alternative mirror version of earth? Of course you do. So did Rhoda, an MIT scholar--that was exactly what she was pondering as she suddenly lost control of her car, killing an entire family. Director Mike Cahill and Writer/Producer/Actress Brit Marling come to Boston tonight to present their film, Another Earth. The movie premiered at Sundance, and it explores Brit's desire to visit the mirror-Earth planet that has suddenly appeared in the sky.

THURSDAY 7.7

[YA-SF] Nancy Holder, Crusade @ Pandemonium 7pm
YA-Fantasy author Nancy Holder has won the Bram Stoker Award four times for her works of fiction, and she also teaches a class on the Buffyverse at UCLA. She's coming to Pandemonium Books and Games this week signing her new book in the Crusade series Damned, co-authored with frequent collaborator Debbie Viguie.

[literary robots] Publishing on Paige @ Harvard Bookstore 7pm
Paige M. Gutenborg is as appropriate a name for a printing-robot that there can possibly be; she (he? it?) is an "espresso book machine" that helps the Harvard Bookstore print hard to find or out-of-print books. The bot also allows local authors to self-publish their books and collections. A demonstration of Paige's printing prowess will include remarks by authors Vittorio Palumbo, Jess Martin, Sharon Pywell and Ron Richardson.

[foux da fafa] Boston French Film Festival @ MFA
Have you ever wanted to be that person at that dinner party talking loudly about their recent experiences at the French Film Festival over at the local art museum? Yes, you have. The 16th Annual Boston French Film festival will allow you to do just that. From July 7 to July 24, the MFA will be screening the finest modern french cinema. A full list of films can be found on the website, but the festival features directors Philippe Le Guay (The Woman on the Sixth Floor) and Jean-Pierre Ameris (Romantics Anonymous).

[book] Roland Merullo, The Talk-Funny Girl @ Porter Square Books 7pm
Local writer Merullo is signing copies of The Talk-Funny Girl, a novel about cults, repression, New Hampshire, economic downturn, stone-masonry and language. Its somewhat otherworldly approach to the struggles of growing up make this story, with its funny-talking main character, an interesting summer read.

[gender-bender] Matt & Ben @ Central Square Theatre Thurs, Fri 7:30pm; Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm, 7pm
When the script for Good Will Hunting falls from the sky through the ceiling of their apartment, scrappy young heroes Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's lives change forever. Comediennes Brenda Withers and Mindy Kaling (The Office) penned a play imagining the drama that ensues as the two rocket to fame. Local actresses Philana Mia and Marianna Bassham play local actors Matt and Ben in this comedy about fame, fortune and women playing men.

[let's dance] Oh! You Pretty Things: David Bowie Burlesque @ Oberon 8pm
Some things seem to intuitively go together, despite the amount of time it takes to bring them into union. David Bowie and burlesque, for instance; the man was over-the-top, Gaga before Gaga was Gaga. Now the Oberon brings us Bowie as it was always meant to be preformed: with exhibitionism and gogo dancing.

FRIDAY 7.8

[book + film] Heywood Gould, The Serial Killer's Daughter @ Brookline Booksmith + Rolling Thunder @ Coolidge Corner 7pm, 11:59pm
Heywood Gould has written screenplays and novels, and both will be celebrated in Coolidge Corner this weekend. First, at the ‘Smith, he discusses his new novel, The Serial Killer's Daughter. Then at midnight, Gould will be present for a screening of his movie, Rolling Thunder, starring Tommy Lee Jones. A cult film (and Quentin Tarantino's favourite movie) it tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran who loses everything upon coming home.

[teenage wasteland] Mortified: Angst Written @ Oberon 8pm, 10pm
Mortified is nostalgia meets schadenfreude, self-abasement meets self-examination. Adults share the best of the worst of their childhood creations: journals, love letters and poems once jealously guarded from the prying eyes of peers, and now shared for the lulz.

[AAW YEAH] JAWS 3D @ Coolidge Corner Theatre Fri + Sat 11:59pm
Q: What's more awesome than a classic movie about sharks in 3D? A: Nothing we can think of.

[caw yeah] Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds @ MIT 8pm
The "when ___ attack" theme of Hitchcock's The Birds might sound cheesy, but that doesn't make the concept any less terrifying. This classic horror film is screening as part of the LSC Summer Film series.

ConnectiCon 2011 @ Hartford Marriot Downtown, Hartford, CT Fri, Sat + Sun
Connecticon is one of New England's biggest annual pop culture events, and celebrates all different aspects of geekdom: from webcomics to LARPing, table-top games to scifi. It will feature a Cosplay Dating Game, Geek Comedy Tour, Anime screenings and lots of people in really sick costumes.

[friendship is magic] My Little Pony Fair and Convention 2011 @ Hasbro HQ, Pawtucket RI Fri, Sat + Sun
In the past, a My Little Pony convention might have attracted exclusively nostalgic 90sphiles, somewhat creepy middle-aged women and the occasional 5-year-old. But now that every single person on the Internet is obsessed with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, we're imagining there might be droves of hipsters and redditers, as well. Come and celebrate your love for the small plastic ponycorns that represent kindness, friendship and all that is warm/fuzzy.

SATURDAY 7.9

[pottermore] Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt @ Harvard Museum of Natural History 9am
Apparently there's a Harry Potter movie coming out soon, and apparently it's the last one, so Harvard has taken the opportunity to leap onto the bandwagon with a Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt! The events run through the beginning of September, let you explore the mythical objects of the Potterverse with a Mock-Marauders' Map.

[hackz0rs] HTML5 Game Hack Day @ Bocoup Loft 9am
Test your 1337 h4ck1ng 5killz (Does anyone use leetspeak anymore? No? Good) at this goalless festival of fun and game-hackery. This low-key event is open to any Boston-area hacker willing to test his or her skill, but preregistration is required.

SUNDAY 7.10

[laughing at clouds] Singin' In The Rain @ Somerville Theatre 11am
This Gene Kelly/Debbie Reynolds classic is screening as part of the Somerville Theatre Reperatory/Classics Series. Kelly stars as a silent-film star transitioning to talkies, and Reynolds as the actress who dubs over the voice of his mean-spirited leading lady. The film will be experienced as it was originally intended--on 70mm film, on the big screen.

One more thing we learned at TEDxBoston: Robots really are taking over the world

Tyler Manoukian — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:06:00 GMT

We've always known that robots would take over the world someday. And thanks to this fascinating, slightly horrifying presentation shown at last Tuesday at TEDxBoston, seems clear that we're just a little bit closer to our inevitable droid-dominated future.

Or at least the droid-dominated future of online commerce: Mick Mountz, the founder of the Woburn-based Kiva Systems, has enlisted an army of robots to take over order-fulfillment for such online-retail behemoths as Zappos, Staples, and Diapers.com.

Mountz, who discussed his project with FORA.tv back in May, spoke last Tuesday at TEDxBoston. Mountz took us through a day in the life of the next generation retail fulfillment robots that will fuel the future of ecommerce. Kiva robots are designed to self navigate across the warehouse and retrieve the items you submit for order. A human ‘picker' (as Mountz calls them) then packs the order and primes the shipment.

All of which means no more waiting two days for your order to process before it's even shipped. Now you can get your copy of Gears of War 3 and fight off the hordes of Lambent enemies that much quicker. It doesn't get much better than this, geeks. (Just don't think too hard about the unsettling implications of a robot future.

READ: "What I learned at TEDxBoston," by Will Dailey

READ: "Watch TEDxBoston 2011 now," by Katie Lannan

That midnight train to Alewife: Poets slam on the MBTA

Team Laser Orgy — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:37:00 GMT

Whether it's the clacking of the Orange Line as it comes above ground or the unmistakable screeching of a B train pulling into Park Street, there's a rhythm to the T. And public transit in Boston is an emotional experience -- an express train can make your day; a missed one can break your heart.

Where there's rhythm and emotion, poetry logically follows, so a collection of local writers took to the stage at the Cantab Lounge Wednesday for Boston Poetry Slam's tribute to the MBTA.

The evening kicked off with an open mic, in which Boston Public Schools teacher Ashley Rose spoke on Ruggles Station as a cultural divider in the city, and a black-windbreaker-clad, gray-bearded man introduced only as E.E. Cummings (too substantial-looking to be a ghost, but perhaps a reincarnation of the illustrious Cantabrigian?) gave a dramatic, interpretative recitation of a train-themed Mother Goose poem.

So how do slam poets describe their love-hate relationship with the Boston transportation system? Four teams of poets -- most of them Boston Poetry Slam vets -- represented the Blue, Green, Red, and Orange Lines to sound off on their respective T lines in front of a panel of judges.

To Hakim Walker, the Blue Line is the "crack vein of the MBTA." To Michael Quigg, the Red Line is what brings him home, be it Alewife or the Motel 6 nestled beside Braintree.

"The folk singer sounds like the Orange Line, but less in tune," says Christopher Kain, who then describes the train as a "sick dolphin." For Casey Rocheteau, it's what happens inside the Orange train that strikes her: "You'll get home, eventually -- but not without a fight."

Oh yes, then there's the Green line, that "overprivileged octopus," as poet Simone I. John put it. As a resident of Allston, the poems by the Green Line team (John, Carlos Williams, Maya Phillips, Adam Stone and the breathtaking Kemi Alabi) really hit home, and it was no surprise that their fierce odes about frat boys, hipsters, and PDA placed the team in first with a score of 139.9.

My favorite individual performance was April Ranger's evocative, sharply personal poem about heartbreak on the Orange Line. For many, love and relationships take on special meaning on the MBTA.

"Being on a train in Boston is a little like being in love," slam poet and event organizer Steve Subrizi said in a phone interview before the event. "There's some place you want to reach, but sometimes you have to wait in the middle of the tunnel, and the lights go out. You think you might suffocate. You're trapped with these people all around you that you don't know. It's really awkward."

Keeping the "T" in poetry, Friday marks the start of the MBTA ad campaign for the National Poetry Slam, to be held in Boston and Cambridge from August 9-13. So if the chaos of the Red Line at rush hour isn't enough to inspire you, at least a glance to the train's walls can tell you when to get your next fix of lyricism and storytelling.

--by Wei-Huan Chen and Katie Lannan