ng Angry Nerd - Why Exactly Is Parkour Not a Film Genre Yet? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In Brick Mansions, parkour co-founder David Belle shows off his wall-climbing, window-jumping, rail-surfing action skills. So why isn't Belle the new Bruce Lee? This should be the greatest genre in cinema history. Angry Nerd blames the French. Full Article
ng Game|Life - Teaser: Excavating the Atari E.T. Video Game Burial Site By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 05:30:00 +0000 In 1983 after the critical and commercial failure of Atari’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game, the company allegedly dumped millions of cartridges into a landfill in Alamogordo, N.M. Now, more than 30 years later, the site is being excavated and filmed for an upcoming docu-series by The Incredible Hulk screenwriter Zak Penn. The day before the big dig we headed south to talk with Penn about the urban legend. Plus, check out our exclusive first look at the excavation site. Full Article
ng Game|Life - Excavating the Atari E.T. Video Game Burial Site By www.wired.com Published On :: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000 It’s been dubbed The Great Video Game Burial of 1983, but did Atari really toss millions of cartridges of its biggest flop: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial? Chris Kohler is onsite to witness an excavation of the landfill to see if the joke’s really on us, and to talk with those involved with the project, including original game designer Howard Scott Warshaw. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Networks Somehow Find Another Way to Resurrect Old Shows By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 01 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 When a TV show goes off the air, it's supposed to stay dead. Unless it gets syndicated. But networks don't seem aware of this rule anymore, with resurrections of "24" and "Heroes" on the way. Angry Nerd does not approve of this turn of events. Full Article
ng Design FX - The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Transforming Jamie Foxx into the Villainous Electro By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 01 May 2014 17:43:56 +0000 In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Jamie Foxx stars as Electro, the glowing antagonist to Andrew Garfield’s Spidey. In this video, learn how Sony Pictures Imageworks used a combination of makeup and CGI to turn the Academy Award winner into a blue, electrically-charged villain--with inspiration from lightning, neurological networks, and nebulas. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - The Greatest Fictional Characters Ever All in One Show? Sign Me Up By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 08 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Character crossovers and storyline mash-ups are nothing new. But if the premise has been done before, are the character overlaps and reincarnations worth a watch? Angry Nerd makes the case for metaphysical mash-ups, including Showtime’s new “Penny Dreadful.” Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - The LEGO Challenge: Creative Problem-Solving By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 12 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In this episode of Teen Technorati, the 40 finalists are split up into teams and tasked with building a bridge made out of LEGO. Only one team emerges as the winner, but during the challenge the finalists’ leadership and problem-solving skills begin to surface. Plus, fellowship hopefuls Ishaan Gulrajani, Lucy Guo, Darby Schumacher, and Catherine Ray explain the concepts behind their individual Thiel projects. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - Getting Over Stage Fright By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 14 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 With the two-minute lightning pitches fast approaching, the 40 Thiel Fellowship finalists are beginning to feel the pressure. In this episode, they partake in icebreaker and team-building games to help calm nerves and prep for their big onstage speeches. Also, finalists Ryan Orbuch, Thomas Hunt, and Jake Davidson tell us about their tech-and science-focused projects. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why the New Godzilla Movie Won’t Suck By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 16 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The makers of the new Godzilla movie are taking great pains to telegraph their deep reverence for kaiju cinema. In other words, they want us to know they won’t screw it up like Roland Emmerich did in 1998. Angry Nerd makes the case for why we should believe them. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - The Madness of the Timeline Mashup in the New X-Men By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 22 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Angry Nerd has been to the future and he brings back an important message: don’t see the new X-Men movie. With a scrambled timeline and inclusion of too many sub-franchises, the film adds a new dimension to the “days of future past” continuum: straight confusion. Full Article
ng Design FX - Godzilla: Creating the Animalistic and Masculine Kaiju Monster By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 23 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 After Roland Emmerich missed the mark with Godzilla in 1998, we had reason to be skeptical of Gareth Edwards’ new remake. Fxguide’s Mike Seymour goes inside the special effects behind the latest incarnation, in which effects company MPC designed the largest Godzilla yet, featuring an animalistic appearance with anthropomorphized traits. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why Disney Needs to Make More Movies About Classic Villains By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 29 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The House of Mouse might be onto something: Forget the hero and make the villain the star. Disney’s new film Maleficent does just that and it actually…kind of…works. Angry Nerd explains the pros of putting the evil queens and wicked witches front and center. Full Article
ng What's Inside - Hybrid Engines By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 30 May 2014 04:00:00 +0000 Starting a hybrid car is as easy as pushing a button, but what’s really beneath the hood? For starters, a 100-lb rechargeable battery pack containing smaller nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries, similar to those in your cell phone. Full Article
ng Design FX - Maleficent: Re-creating Fully Digital Characters By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 04:00:00 +0000 Angelina Jolie stars in Disney’s new Maleficent, featuring a forest world of detailed visual effects. Mike Seymour delves into how facial movement experts Digital Domain, worked to re-create realistic, fully digital counterparts to the story’s three fairies. Full Article
ng RetroGrade - Before the i-Everything, There Was Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & the Apple lle By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Remember when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were the new kids on the block? In the early ’80s they debuted the Apple IIe, blowing away the competition. RetroGrade takes a look at the “modern” technology that helped set the industry benchmark for personal computing. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - The Two-Minute Lightning Pitch By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The big day is finally here and the finalists only have 2 minutes to convince judges that they should be one of 20 to receive a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. As the students take the stage, see who stands out—and who comes up short—in the final lightning pitches. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - Tensions Rising: Final Run-Throughs & Pitch Preparations By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 It’s almost time for the lightning pitches, but as the pressure mounts can the Thiel Fellowship hopefuls keep their cool? In this episode, the finalists run through their strategies—and lack thereof—as they get ready to present to the judges. Plus, finalists Alexander Koren and Andrew Ninh explain their medical- and tech-based projects. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - 20 Teens Win $100K: Announcing the 2014 Thiel Fellows By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The deliberations are over and the judges are ready to notify the 2014 Thiel Fellowship winners via Skype. Find out which 20 kids will have their lives changed forever as they win a $100,000 grant and drop out of school to pursue their dreams. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why Edge of Tomorrow is of the Greatest Movie About Video Games, Ever By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 The new sci-fi flick Edge of Tomorrow is basically a sci-fi rip-off of Groundhog Day, but with more Tom Cruise and less Bill Murray. And somehow, it manages to establish itself as one of the best movies about a video game, ever. Full Article
ng WIRED Live - Hardeep Walia on Investing In Ideas By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 CEO and co-founder of Motif Investing, Hardeep Walia, explains the concept behind his company, which allows users to invest in ideas on one of the first social investing platforms. Full Article
ng WIRED Live - eBay’s R.J. Pittman on the Future of Shopping By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 WIRED senior writer Steven Levy talks with eBay’s R.J. Pittman on the future of shopping, the growth of mobile, and how to build an engaging experience in the digital marketplace. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Is Darth Disney Destroying Star Wars’ Expanded Universe? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 With Darth Disney holding the keys to Star Wars, the fate of the expanded universe is at stake. Since the movies are only a fraction of the franchise’s stories, Angry Nerd makes a desperate plea to the only one who can help save the unabridged material: George Lucas. Full Article
ng RetroGrade - Madden Doesn't Have Anything on this Old-School Football Video Game By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In 1978 Mattel elevated handheld gaming to the next level with the Football 2. Realistic game sounds, plus the ability to pass the ball? Touchdown! Full Article
ng WIRED Live - Tumblr’s David Karp on Why He Doesn’t Regret the Yahoo! Sale & Empowering Creators By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 At BizCon 2014, Tumblr CEO and co-founder David Karp sat down with WIRED senior writer Steven Levy to talk about why he doesn’t regret the Yahoo! sale, how his platform empowers creators, and the importance of enabling users. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” is Destined to Crash & Burn on the Big Screen By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Musicals. They’re great. But jukebox musicals? That’s an entirely different—and often terrible—story. Even with Clint Eastwood behind the camera of the new stage-to-film rendition of Jersey Boys, there’s only so much Dirty Harry can do for the destined-to-flop silver screen adaptation. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - Talking with Darby Schumacher, the 18-Year-Old Thiel Fellowship Finalist Who Wants to Prevent SIDS By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Eighteen-year-old Darby Schumacher is trying to create a safer and healthier world for newborns. The 2014 Thiel Fellowship finalist is working to develop an alert system that tracks vital signs in babies to help combat Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Tennessee native explains what prompted her to start the project and why she wants to become an entrepreneur. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Death to the Superhero Comic-Book Movie … But Not All Comic-Book Movies By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 It’s hard for him to admit, but Angry Nerd just doesn’t need anymore Marvel or DC comic book movies. Instead of another big budget flick with an oversaturated superhero, why not look elsewhere for solid source material? Case in point: The excellent, new comic-to-silver-screen adaptation, Snowpiercer. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - Brilliant Teens Shack Up in the Bay Area to Bring Their $100K Ideas to Life By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 A bunch of talented teens all under 20 years old move in together. Sounds like the plot of a new MTV show, but for the winners of the $100,000 Thiel Fellowship, it’s reality. In this episode of Teen Technorati, the fellows give us a tour of their San Francisco and Oakland apartments, where they’re working on their projects and bringing their ideas to life. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why Andy Serkis is the Greatest Actor of His Generation By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 He's the maestro of motion capture performance. From Gollum in Lord of the Rings to Caesar in the new Planet of the Apes movies, Andy Serkis is the greatest actor you've never seen. So where is this man's Oscar? The Angry Nerd has words for the Academy—doesn't he, my Precious? Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Give Me a Standalone Comic-Book Movie or Give Me Death By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Is it too much to ask for a comic-book flick that doesn't rely on three crappy prequels for the plot to make sense? Let's lose the complicated, interwoven story lines and focus on quality standalone films. Angry Nerd explains why Marvel's new Guardians of the Galaxy gets it just right. Full Article
ng How to Make a Giant Creature - It’s Back! Watch a Teaser of the Biggest, Baddest Creature Coming to Life for Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 At San Diego Comic-Con 2013, WIRED debuted a giant robot mech. This year, a new version of the larger-than-life beast will be revealed at the ultimate fan convention. Watch a preview of what’s in store for the colossal creature, created in collaboration with the Stan Winston School, Legacy Effects, Stratasys, and WIRED. From design to tech and prototype to finished product, see how the ultimate cosplay creation came to life. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Reboots We Need Way More Than "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remake is completely unnecessary. Instead of fixing flicks that ain't broke, why not reboot the films that can actually be improved upon? Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - He's Only 17 Years Old, But He's Well On His Way to Curing Cancer By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:00:00 +0000 Seventeen-year-old Thomas Hunt isn't old enough to vote, but he's conducting research that may one day cure cancer. Get to know the Thiel Fellow, take a tour of the lab where he's working to help make history, and find out what inspired him to get involved in cancer research. Full Article
ng How to Make a Giant Creature - Using 3-D Printing to Build a Small-Scale Figure of a Giant Creature By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Lead systems engineer Jason Lopes walks us through the process of creating a maquette—a 10 to 18-inch 3-D figure—which gives the team a tangible and highly detailed representation of the creature. Full Article
ng Design FX - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Transforming Human Motion-Capture Performances Into Realistic-Looking Apes By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 14:00:00 +0000 In the latest incarnation of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell deliver human motion-capture performances to help bring the realistic apes to life. Shot with a combination of high-speed cameras, Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind shooting the motion-capture scenes on location versus on a sound stage. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Brett Ratner's Hercules & Pillaging Story Lines for Big-Budget CGI Films By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:20:00 +0000 Angry Nerd is hungry for some new material. Instead of force-feeding us cinematic souvlaki with CGI blowouts of Greek-inspired story lines, maybe it's time to look beyond the Peloponnesian lore. And no, Brett Ratner, we will not be entertained with your upcoming Hercules starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Full Article
ng How to Make a Giant Creature - The Giant Creature vs. Angry Dogs at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 02:27:32 +0000 Bodock the Giant Creature tries to make some new friends at #SDCC2014, but ends up making a few enemies instead. Watch what happens when he faces off against two small dogs who aren't afraid of the colossal beast. Full Article
ng The Giant Creature Destroys Angry Nerd in Movie Monster Trivia at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:25:09 +0000 Angry Nerd challenges Bodock the Giant Creature to a round of movie monster trivia. Despite Angry Nerd's best efforts to trick the massive beast, Bodock comes out ahead with a few tricks of his own. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd Takes on the Avengers Cast, Cosplay Superheroes, and More at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:02:17 +0000 Angry Nerd is on location at #SDCC2014, and he's got a bone to pick with cosplay fans waiting to get into the coveted Hall H. Plus, he stops by a signing with the cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron to give Marvel a piece of his mind about the new Ant-Man movie. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd Blasts Batman and Praises Mad Max: Fury Road at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:04:07 +0000 On location at #SDCC2014, Angry Nerd talks about the new comic-book films he supports (Mad Max: Fury Road) and those he opposes (Ben Affleck's Batman). Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Luc Besson Can Give Us "Lucy" But Marvel and DC Can't Give Us She-Hulk or Black Widow? By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Scarlett Johansson stars as the ass-kicking, nearly superhuman protagonist in the new sci-fi action flick Lucy. But while the French—namely the film's writer and director Luc Besson—continue to put out films with strong heroine leads, Marvel and DC seem content to sit on a reservoir of amazing female characters like She-Hulk and Black Widow. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Chris Nolan's First Time at Comic-Con, the Interstellar Trailer & Elizabeth Olsen's Mutant Flub By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:00:00 +0000 Chris Nolan showed up to #SDCC2014 to promote his new sci-fi flick Interstellar and Angry Nerd has a few choice words for him. Watch as he gives Nolan a piece of his mind, talks to a few cosplay fans, and gives advice to the Marvel world. Full Article
ng What's Inside - Trojan Tingly Warmth Lubricant By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 What do sex dolls, caulking, and lotion have in common? They all contain active ingredients also found in Trojan's Tingly Warmth Lubricant. Find out what else is inside the slick sex aid. Full Article
ng Design FX - Game of Thrones: Combining CGI and Live Action to Create the Dragons & Fights Scenes in Season 4 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In season four of Game of Thrones a combination of CGI and live character action were used to create impressive fight scenes and stunning visual effects. Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind the hit HBO show. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - What Makes "Doctor Who" Great Are the Sidekicks, Not the Time Lord By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Scripts for upcoming episodes of Doctor Who have leaked online, but should you read them before they air? It doesn't matter! The scripts aren't the secret to the Doctor's longevity. It's the companions that make or break any given episode, arc, or season, and Angry Nerd can prove it. Full Article
ng Teen Technorati - Meet the Teens Who Are About the Change the World By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 They each won $100,000 to change the world. Find out how the 2014 Thiel Fellows are planning to do it—all in under 60 seconds. Full Article
ng Design FX - Hercules: Creating Mythical Creatures with Advanced Special Effects By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:30:00 +0000 In Brett Ratner's new big-budget flick Hercules, the title star portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson battles mythical creatures, including a three-headed dog, giant boars and lions, and multi-headed serpents. Mike Seymour shows how the visual effects experts at Double Negative created the complicated, yet lifelike beasts. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why the Best Comic-Book-to-Film Adaptations Are Not Always the Most Faithful By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 When it comes to film adaptations of comic-books, the source material should always be treated as gospel, right? Wrong. Angry Nerd explains why, and shares his concerns for Frank Miller's upcoming Sin City: A Dame to Kill For—which could end up being too faithful for its own good. Full Article
ng Angry Nerd - Why Body Swapping Is Awesome on TV, But Crappy in Movies By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 BBC America is hedging their bets on Intruders, a new show about a secret society whose members can jump into other people's bodies. And while body swapping is nothing new in the cinematic world, the trope tends to work better on TV, than on film. Angry Nerd explains why. Full Article
ng How to Make a Giant Creature - It's All In the Details: Giving a 14-Foot Creature a Giant Makeover By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000 From the final moldings to the last paint job, find out how the design team added character and life to the giant creature in under two weeks. Full Article