METAL GEAR SOLID 4? Pass. HALO 3? Pass. CASTLE CRASHERS? Argh... but (hesitantly) pass. SCOTT PILGRIM? NOOO!!! Why oh why, gaming gods, must you make me suffer, so!? That pretty much sums up my feelings about the SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD video game that debuts on PSN today.

I'm a long time Scott Pilgrim fan. I've been buying the comic since it's debut. But I wouldn't call myself a Scott Pilgrim fanatic. The ideas are all there... but it's light-hearted free-form approach to both the narrative and artwork make it an introduction to a great concept that is executed in the reader's imagination. The rules of the world are elusive. The artworks often feels rushed. But BEHIND it all there is something fresh, exciting, and brilliant.

I'm a bit shocked and pleasantly surprised that many talented people saw BEYOND the comic. As such, we're soon to be blessed with both an ambitious film and beat-em-up video game.

Fans of Paul Robertson's INSANE sprite animations (that includes TEQUILA's Gobi) DREAM of seeing his unfiltered imagination utilized in a sprite-based videogame. The fandom for Anamanaguchi's chiptune music is just as strong. So the pairing of the two artists on a Scott Pilgrim game should be like Peanut Butter & Jelly!

CLICK HERE for interview with Scott Pilgrim creator/cartoonist Bryan O'Malley and director Edgar Wright regarding the videogame.

One of the more visually interesting things I saw at SDCC 2010 were the character statues Gentle Giant was displaying from Zach Snyder's SUCKER PUNCH film. Say what you will about Zach Snyder's ability as a director, but there's no question that he tries hard to push the look of Hollywood blockbuster films. With 300, he was going for a polished version of Frank Miller's art style. With WATCHMEN, he was going for a polished version of Dave Gibbons'. With SUCKER PUNCH, I see a lot of Maschien Krieger's Kow Yokoyama's design aesthetic... with bits of various anime aesthetics thrown in for the hell of it.

I love the Ma.K-like mech design. I also love the tough retro/fantasy/military feel to the female characters (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL's Venessa Hudgen's is trying hard to prove she's a woman!). But the trailer feels a little too ambitious to really work. Fire-breathing dragons?! Machine-gun armed Samurais?! Whoa... slow down a bit, Mr. Snyder!

Besides all that, I'm mightily intrigued. If you want more info, I recommend checking out ToysREvil's wonderful collection of all things SUCKER PUNCH.

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you go watch INCEPTION. I loved it. Great concept. Great cast. Great presentation. And I appreciated that the film assumes its audience is moderately intelligent. The story is consistently pushing forward and gives you just enough to figure out what the hell is going on. Everybody involved brings their 'A' game and its great to see director Christopher Nolan successfully make a film whose ambition rivals his Batman spectacles. I'd way rather have Nolan do more personal works like INCEPTION and MEMENTO, but if the success of THE DARK KNIGHT allows him to push the envelope of Hollywood Summer Action movies... then he should keep on making BATMAN films (as long has he intersperses them with projects like this one!). I'd love to say more, but I don't want to spoil things.

As a counterpoint to my enthusiastic recommendation, I can say that Jerry thought it was 'Okay'. To Jerry, INCEPTION is a good MATRIX but a bad eXistenZ. I disagree... but he made some very good points in our conversation. His main issue is that Nolan could have gone further with the concept and loses something by not doing so.

On a sidenote: Isn't it weird how similar the Inception poster I use is to the Dark Knight Joker poster (see below)?

Either way, it's a film worth watching in theaters. Support new ideas (particularly when they are executed well)! :-)

I'm mixing things up by mentioning two related things in this post: first, the new MACHETE trailer; and second, the MACHETE-inspired custom Tequila figure by custom artist Avatar666.

I've been looking forward to a MACHETE film since Danny Trejo played a similar character way back in DESPERADO. My mind was blown when I saw the MACHETE trailer during the GRINDHOUSE theatrical release. Little did I know that Troublemaker Studios would top that 'Mind-Blowing' by actually making a MACHETE feature film. One and a half hours of Danny Trejo killing guys with a bunch of knives would be a 'Must See' film... but when you add an eclectic cast of actors that includes Robert Deniro, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Jessica Alba, and even the infamous Lindsay Lohan, you've got a movie that is GUARANTEED to entertain my Pop Culture palette!

Evidently, Custom Toy Artist and long-time Muttpop fan Avatar666 (a.k.a. ELCHAKAL666) felt the same way. So much so that he decided to create a Tequila custom toy based on Danny Trejo's starring role in MACHETE. The likeness is PERFECT. The craftmanship, as with all of Avatar666's customs, is impeccable.

I've got more pics of Avatar666's in Muttpop's FAN ART section. You can also see some amazing 'Making-Of' photos on Avatar666's FLICKR page. And while you're here... if you haven't seen the latest MACHETE trailer, you are COMMANDED to watch it right now (youtube link below)!

Sweet criminy... the new SCOTT PILGRIM trailer looks AMAZING! This film is either going to be a huge success or a huge flop (I'm hoping for success!). With it's unique integration of videogame references (hit combos, extra lives, defeated enemies bursting into coins) it immediately says this is NOT the real world. Will the general public "get it"... or will it fail to find its audience and become an eternal cult classic?

Unlike the thematically divisive KICK-ASS, I have a strong feeling this will breakthrough. It's gushing with a sweet style that appeals to both young men and women. With director Edgar Wright at the helm, it's sure to be a quality project.

I'm rooting for this big time. Next TWILIGHT? I sure hope so. :-) There's a LOT to love about the Scott Pilgrim universe.

I just finished watching EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, a film best known for it’s association with mysterious street artist Banksy. It’s a brilliant and entertaining film that, as with all things Banksy, has you wondering how much of it is sincere and how much of it is a big joke. Either way, it was a fun exploration on art and its ‘importance’ in our world.

The film follows Thierry Guetta, an obsessive videographer, as he follows his cousin, Space Invader, and other street artists ‘bomb’ cities worldwide with their artwork. As Thierry casually documents the evolution of Street Art, he befriends Street Art pioneers like Shepard Fairey and soon becomes obsessed with his “golden egg”: the opportunity to film the mysterious and uber-famous British Street Artist known as Banksy. By chance, Thierry ends up meeting Banksy and is inspired to first create the definitive Street Art documentary film and ultimately become a street artist himself under the moniker of MBW (Mr. Brainwash).

The film celebrates the energy and ambition of Street Art while, at the same time, diffusing it’s importance and relevance. Much like Banksy’s art, you’re not really sure if it’s meant to be taken seriously or to be laughed at (probably a bit of both)... and in so doing, it has a strange way of legitimizing Street Art (and Art in general) while simultaneously pinpointing its absurdity.

If this film is showing nearby, you MUST watch it. Whether you’re in on the joke (if there even is a joke), appreciate Street Art, or just want to understand what all the fuss is with that ‘Street Art’ stuff... this film has to be experienced.