BYTE: Fab February

I'm Paul ... and this is Paul & The Popcorn...

Welcome to a fabulous February - and I hope it is so for all of you!

As we power through to February we have a lot of things to look forward to - Valentine's Day is one, maybe. But let's sack that for now and check out the movies this month.

Heralding the new superhero movies of 2016 and onward, Ryan Reynolds leads us astray with Deadpool - the much awaited movie from 20th century Fox - however he's already had two stabs at being a superhero both of which failed. This is his third chance - but will it be his last?

It seems Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to dominate the cinema and I visited the D-Box at my local cinema. It was an interesting experience which took you right into the movie. I literally felt every explosion, laser blast and swoop of the spaceships. Overall it was a nice touch, but I think 5 pounds added to the ticket price and the length of time it was throwing you around is nice every now and then but would not be my regular planned cinema outing. One of my friends didn't really like it and ended up sitting in a vacant seat that wasn't D-Box enhanced, but for the adventurous ones among you, you should try it out - even if just once.

I mentioned about a video camera to do some unboxings on YouTube and I tried doing one but sadly the video camera I got for Christmas was of terrible quality and could have done better on my old Samsung Galaxy S3. I was very disappointed with it and have sent it back, but still waiting on my refund to replace it and then I will continue to try and make a video. However, I really enjoyed doing it so was gutted that the picture didn't work out. I WILL try asap, and I'm really excited about trying to give this editing software a try.

Let's get to the computers then -
 

If you are interested in Steam games but want to expand your horizons from just the triple A rated blockbusters and have a peek at other offerings - including indie developers, you could do no worse than checking out a SteamCrate. It says that each game is worth at least £3 and you get 10 random games each month - which could be anything from the latest releases to goodness-knows-what. I have subscribed to this and I'm going to do a review soon - so keep an eye out for it to see if it is worth it or not. They give you a 10% discount if you subscribe to their mailing list too, so it's worth doing that if you want to take advantage. I've been subscribing to this for a few months now and I'm fairly understanding of the type of service they offer. I am going to do a separate review next month breaking the box down so look out for that.

Looking at the latest stuff as well:

>   Xbox Live:  Games with Gold this month includes the usual selection of games, rather than list them I've included the link that's in blue. However, as this links to the current games, if you click the link it is the current games available and maybe not what's available now. Remember though that all the Xbox games have limited availability and are yours to keep once you have purchased them. However, some are only available at the beginning of the month, some at the end and some longer than that. Generally though, there are some games for the first two weeks and then a different set two weeks after, so you need to move quickly.

Every Xbox 360 game that is featured on Games With Gold from now, is now backwards compatibly with Xbox One which means the Xbox 360 games above WILL work on your Xbox one. They are adding new games all the time, so keep checking to see if you can use any of those old 360 games again on your shiny new Xbox One.

>  PSN: PS Plus this month has another selection of games but usual rules apply in that if you stop your subscription those games'll stop workin'. I know this to be true because it has happened to me. However, simply subscribe again and poof! by magic they work again. Also, this is the link to where to download the games, which means that although there's a certain set this mont, if you click the link next month there will be different games on offer - so get in while you can.

Origin has another game on the house which is Need for Speed: Most Wanted -  so get it now before it's gone forever. As always you need to have an Origin account to get this. if this game is on your Most Wanted list, then now's the time to take advantage.

Origin have a new thing out called Origin Access which is £3.99 a month to play their games and you can cancel at any time. I need to look into this further but it looks pretty cool if you have the time to do it. If you check it out - let me know.

 

As always we have Loot Crate and Nerd Block unboxings to look forward to...

...AND Marvel Collector Corps is officially Deadpool!

It's time to go now but -  I'll see you soon.

Keep being awesome!

Until next time

Paul

BYTE: 17th February 2015 aka Pancake Day

Hi guys

 

I feel like I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would drop a little update on things.

I'm working on a vLog episode of Paul & The Popcorn starting when I get my Loot Crate and Nerd Block.

 

I've been chatting to some of you on Twitter which has been great and please keep that up - it's awesome that people are taking notice of my blog and tweets - and I hope that it's both thought provoking and entertaining for you.

 

I've also been actively peeking at Kickstarter too - and I've been supporting some start ups. I'm currently backing a few requests - and will probably do more. As a person who loves technology, gadgets, comics, movies and all that sort of stuff, these things could potentially be the next big thing - or be the catalyst to something new on the ground that could change things forever. I'll do a separate post on my Kickstarter dabbling, but right now, I'm very pleased that I was part of the funding to help Shadowrun: Hong Kong to reach, and exceed, its requested funding amount. In fact, they have released a 2nd wind backing - so if you missed out and would like to get your hands on the game and loads of other goodies go straight to the Second Chance Backer Campaign but be quick - it's only open until 13th March 2015.

 

Other things on my list are Brian & Lindsay Will Totally Eat That webseries, Token webseries, funding of girl band LIPS's EP and an augmented reality book called Goodnight Lad. That last one looks fantastic and I'm hoping it will be funded successfully. As I have a vested interest in it, if it does become successful, I will most certainly give you all a look of it - and of course a review (as I will of Shadowrun too). If you want to invest or have a peek at those projects - click on the blue links that have appeared over their names. Or you can visit www.kickstarter.com for a browse of those projects and others that might take your fancy. If you see one I might like let me know!

 

My logo is done and dusted too - and is now proudly displayed on my twitter  - @paulandpopcorn if you would like to see it - I would love to know what you think.

 

Finally I'll be going to the cinema to see a few movies soon so there will be a few more movie reviews posted on the site too. Starting with a review of the most controversial movie of recent times The Interview as soon as I get time to write it. Tomorrow I'm hopefully going to get to see Jupiter Ascending  - the sci-fi special effects fest from the creators of the Matrix. It has been advertised for over a year and was delayed in release which is never a good sign - but at least they didn't change the title like they did with horror movie franchise Wrong Turn back in the day (for those who didn't know it was originally trailered as 'Road Kill'). Still, it looks like a pretty decent sci-fi movie - but the proof is in the viewing. Come back soon and I'll tell you exactly what I think of it. As always - your opinions count too - what do you think?

 

So there's lots of exciting things coming up - and I'm gonna be visiting some Comic Cons in March too - including the annual Sci Fi Weekender in Hafan y Mor, North Wales.

 

Until next time

 

Paul

 

If you are interested in the Loot Crate, get a discount of $3 by clicking through my link and using the code SAVE3. Or if that doesn't do it for you get an exclusive gift by typing in JOINTHEEMPIRE or NOGOODTOMEDEAD for a Star Wars gift free with your first crate (new subscriptions or reactivated subscriptions only) -

 

Get my LOOT CRATE here

 

 

EVENTS: Middlesbrough's Comic Con - Teesside Unleashed 5

Middlesbrough's Teesside Unleashed 5 Comic Con, organised by Hunter Toys was such a busy day - and it seems, very successful too. Guest of honour was Jeremy Bulloch, who is famous for playing Star Wars' bounty hunter Boba Fett in both Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It ran for one day only on Saturday, 7th February 2015 and was on from 11.00-16.30.  We were a bit late arriving and we had to wait in a queue to get in - but it went down quickly and everyone was in high spirits. Whilst in the queue we got to interact with some characters from various franchises - there were Storm Troopers, a Wookie, a few Dr Who's and a Judge Dredd who booked the guy in the queue in front of me. He got three months probation for "excessive happiness".  Closer to the front we saw an Ewok, Mara Jade brandishing a pink lightsaber and a few other Star Wars characters dotted around.

Teesside had come out in force today - the car parks were full and people were dressing up too. We saw a few mini Thors and Spidermen there - one thing is for certain, if the world was in danger we were very safe indeed.

Inside was busy - but had plenty of things to buy, collect, interact with and marvel at. These included novellists, artisan products and creative things like framed Lego characters and film cells.  There were a lot of vendors - but much of them had a very biased Star Wars slant, due to the guest of honour. I found a young lady called Gemma May selling some art prints she had drawn herself and they were stunning. She asked £5 for each one, and her Boba Fett ones sold out almost immediately. I am the world's biggest Iron Man fan, so had to buy the Iron Man print from her. She said that she also does commissions and that if there were any heroes (or villains) that you wanted drawing she could do them for a fee. I was really impressed by her art - check out her Facebook page and see if you agree - https://www.facebook.com/gemmamayart (there's a kinda Iron Man image like mine on that page too).



Who Ya Gonna Call?
Brickshire, obviously.

Some organisations attended too - these include the fabulous Brickshire - Yorkshire Lego Group with some amazing Lego designs. These ranged from scenes out of famous films to creative endeavours like spaceships and the like. One of my favourite was the 3D Ghostbusters logo (left) which I thought was really inspired.

Other film related Lego constructs included a few cool Lord Of The Rings scenes including one in the Shire and one battling the Balrog. There were a few Harry Potter ones too - and they were brilliant. They were definitely on a par with the Star Wars ones my brother and I saw at LEGOLAND last September.

Round the corner from here there was another stall selling framed Lego mini-figures that quotes related to the mini figures. So they may have been a Darth Vader one saying "I am your father!" or a Gandalf one saying "Bilbo, the ring is still in your pocket!" for example. I'm sure that's not exactly what it said, but that is my favourite quote from Lord of the Rings! There was an awesome 6 figure Avengers one too!

If Lego wasn't your bag you could check out the Tony Stark "Hall Of Armors" - featuring two static Iron Man armours and one that was being cosplayed by someone as both Iron Patriot and Iron Man himself. I reckon there was a vibranium shield in the style of Captain America kicking around there too - if that picture on the right has anything to do with it. I took the picture  while I was waiting in the queue to see Jeremy Bulloch so I didn't have much of a leeway on getting a good shot. Talking about the queue, Jeremy Bulloch was very popular indeed and was posing for photos and signing stuff for everyone. I got to meet him and he was a lovely man, and I even got a signed photo to take away with me.

Keeping in with the Star Wars theme there was also a scene where, for a price you could pose with Jabba the Hutt - but sadly there were no slave- Leia's to be seen. There was a lot of Star Wars cosplaying too - and I got to have a photo with some of them (see below). To round off the day there was a Cosplay Competition which featured a Mandalorian Soldier, two Jack Sparrows (and very good they were too), Shrek and Fiona and Lady Deadpool to name a few. Every single person was happy to pose and have photos taken with you if you asked.

Teesside Unleashed 5 was a fab day out - it literally cost £3 entry and was really good fun. It was a good start to my Comic Con Calendar - and they are coming back in October - if you fancy going here's the current link.




Meeting the real Boba Fett, Mr Jeremy Bulloch

Here's me with a Star Wars team

BYTE: 2nd February 2015

Hi guys

How are you?

In the scheme of things I'm only just starting out on my new idea of having an entertainment site to keep you guys up to date with all the goings on in everything that interests me. I'm trying to keep active on Twitter especially, and going to try doing some uploads on YouTube as well of some unboxings, reviews and lots more.

It's great to see people checking out my writing and blog and I'll keep adding as I find things to say and things that I do. Hello to all my new internet people! I hope you are finding it interesting too.

Right now I'm researching a logo for the Paul & The Popcorn brand and I will be sharing it with you once I have confirmed the one I like.

I'm going to at least 2 conventions in March - so there will be some serious discussion up on the blog and Twitter when I go and come back. If you are going to any and see me - come and say hi. if you are interested in the ones I am going to spend time at they are : The Sci Fi Weekender in Wales (I've been so often I have Trooper Status now!) and the Newcastle Film & Comic Con.

There's a lot of amazing movies coming out soon including - Divergent Series: Insurgent, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jupiter Ascending, Ant-Man, The Fantastic Four and much more.

Keep it locked here for my opinion, and as always, your comments are welcome too. I've worked out how to incorporate pictures as well - so I will have more pictures in my blog soon too.

Anyway, I've waffled enough now - have a FABULOUS FEBRUARY and I will be back with you soon.

Until next time

Paul