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The Jackie and Laurie Show #88: Talk Amongst Yourselves

This week on The Jackie and Laurie show, the ladies discuss rigorous honesty, Jackie attempts human empty, and they say RIP to a friend.

Comic of the Week: Candice Thompson @jokesbycandice

Follow @jackiekashian and @anylaurie16 on Twitter!

Follow the show! @JackieandLaurie

Atari Retro Handheld Console Takes Classic Gaming on the Go

Earlier this summer, Atari teased the new Atari Box, the first console created by the company in two decades. While we’re still awaiting word on how Atari Box will mix classic games with modern titles, old school gamers are going to get something much sooner. Atari has revealed the Atari Retro; which is essentially a portable version of the Atari 2600.

Via CNET, Atari Retro recaptures the aesthetic of the 2600 console with its wood effect finish and it comes with 50 classic games pre-installed in the system. Players can enjoy the games on the 2.4-inch screen or use the A/V output to plug it into a TV for a much bigger screen. The only major downside is that it’s a little too retro with its power source. At the moment, the only option to power it are AAA batteries.

Here’s the complete list of games that are included, some of which are legitimately great titles for that era.

3D Tic-Tac-Toe (31 in 1)
Adventure
Air-Sea Battle
Asteroids
Black Jack
Bowling
Breakout
Canyon Bomber
Casino
Centipede
Circus Atari
Crystal Castles
Demons to Diamonds
Desert Falcon
Dodge ’em
Double Dunk
Fun With Numbers
Golf
Gravitar
Haunted House
Home Run
Human Cannonball
Maze Craze
Millipede
Miniature Golf
Missile Command
Night Driver
Off the Wall
Pong – Video Olympics
Quadrun
Radar Lock
Realsports Football
Realsports Tennis
Realsports Volleyball
Sprintmaster
Star Raiders
Steeplechase
Stellar Track
Street Racer
Submarine Commander
Super Baseball
Super Breakout
Swordquest: Earthworld
Swordquest: Fireworld
Swordquest: Waterworld
Tempest
Video Checkers
Video Chess
Video Pinball
Yar’s Revenge

The Atari Retro is currently only available from Funstock Retro, a European outlet that is selling the system for £34.99 with an additional  £5.00 for worldwide shipping. That’s just over $50 under the current exchange rate. We’re not sure when or if the Atari Retro will get an American release, but it is expected to be released in November.

Are you going to grab an Atari Retro this holiday season? Level up in the comment section below!

Images: Atari/Funstock Retro

Japanese Candy Kit Makes Giant Squid Gummies

The more we look for them, the monsters, the less we find. Sasquatch isn’t wandering around North American forests being blurry, the Chupacabra isn’t sucking goat blood in Puerto Rico. The kraken, however, is very real. We only recently got the first-ever footage of a live giant squid, and the creature is indeed monstrous. One way to make it less terrifying? Turn it into candy.

This delectable cephalopod kit is definitely one of the best ways to eat squid. The kit, called “Sakana-Kun deepwater fish Research Institute, giant squid and friends,” is available on Amazon for rather odd price of $30.31.

The decidedly Japanese product has some pictures on how each squid is made, but there’s not much detail beyond that.

From what we can tell, it involves a few molds and some sort of futuristic pitcher that result in a few — we assume edible — undersea creatures.

Though there’s not much information we can glean from the imagery on packaging, Japan Trend Shop explains the process involves chilling the molds and mixing few simple ingredients (water, powdered gelatin, and a syrup of your choice) to create the giant squid, flapjack octopus, and blobfish treats.

We’re pleased as punch that “dessert calamari” is now a culinary possibility and that there’s finally competition for the giant gummy bear market.

What do you think of this DIY candy Squiddly Diddly? Can someone confirm for us that it’s food? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Images: Takara Tomy

More Weirdness From the Land of the Rising Sun…and Cat Mops

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Arcade Game Sofas Are Made for Retro Relaxation

From time to time, some sort of nerdy product circulates on the internet and we’re forced to rethink our personal budgets in order to own that bit of fandom. But rarely is there an something so awesomely nerdy and massive in scale that it makes us question the layout of our homes.  These sofas built to look like old school arcade cabinets are certainly one of those rarities.

Brought to our attention via Geeks Are Sexy, these gaming cabinet couches have us seriously considering replacing all our furniture. Made by French design company Harow, each sofa measures 125 cm x 110 cm x 150 cm and weighs in at 55kg (about 120lbs). The site shows off 21 designs for each of these gaming masterpieces with subjects ranging from the classic SNK arcade games to one of our personal favorites, Shepard Fairey’s OBEY design.

Each cabinet couch is handmade from recycled wood, steel, and velvet with the various artistic flourishes for the classic gaming connoisseur or younger Toy Story‘s Buzz Lightyear enthusiast.

At the time this article was written, no pricing was available on Harow’s site. These couches are all imagined designs for now, so you’ll have to get in touch with Harow to request more information and the cost. But, really, how can you put a price tag on that one piece that ties your Jurassic Park themed apartment together?

Take a look at the gallery below for a few more of our favorite designs and the Harow site for the rest. And make sure to discuss your nerdy lounge designs in the comments below!

More geeky home decor!

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Images: Harow

CATAN VR Gives the Classic Board Game a New Dimension

For nearly 25 years, Settlers of Catan has been an enduring favorite of tabletop gaming fans. Each new iteration of Catan has expanded the game’s reach, and now it’s heading to virtual reality. Experiment 7 is teaming up with Catan Studios and Asmodee Digital for Catan VR, which will be released on Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear later this year.

Unfortunately, the Catan VR announcement trailer doesn’t feature any gameplay footage. It does, however, include an obviously scripted moment between Catan creator Klaus Teuber and his son, Benny Teuber, where the elder Teuber sees his creation in virtual reality for the first time. “The first time I saw Catan on the Magic Table, I was fascinated by what VR has to offer,” said Klaus Teuber. “The game I made in our living room with my family 25 years ago in virtual reality? It’s incredible. I never imagined actually stepping into the world of Catan when we first started making cut-outs and dreaming about exploring new lands.”

Catan VR has a lot of potential to change the entire experience. We’d love to see the customization of the island as a featured part of the game. Gathering resources is such an integral part of the gameplay that we think it would be very appealing to finally see the cities come together and the creations come to life. Online multiplayer capabilities are high on our wishlist, but a single player version of the game would also be welcome.

The official release date for Catan VR has not been announced, but it is expected to be out in time for the holiday season.

Are you excited about Catan VR? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

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Images: Experiment 7

HELLRAISER Gets Mondo Soundtrack and Poster Release for 30th Anniversary

Although he sometimes gets overshadowed by his ’80s horror movie contemporaries like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Chucky, one of the most unique and terrifying horror movie villains of the same period was Pinhead, the leader of the sadistic Cenobite demons from Clive Barker‘s 1987 film Hellraiser.

To celebrate Hellraiser’s thirtieth anniversary, the folks at Mondo have revealed their plans to release the vinyl soundtrack, as well as a striking new poster for the film, which prominently feature Pinhead in all his unholy glory.

Both of these new releases are set to premiere at an anniversary screening at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on September 25, where Hellraiser played in front of a terrified audience at its first ever screening thirty years ago. In addition to the soundtrack and poster releases, Arrow Video will be releasing a new special anniversary edition Blu-ray SteelBook (featuring the same artwork) just in time for Halloween.

In a statement, Mondo Record Label Manager Spencer Hickman said, “Even though the film was a low budget horror with a first-time director, Hellraiser towers over just about every other horror score recorded in the ’80s. Composer Christopher Young decided that instead of providing a typical ’80s synth score, he would use a full orchestra to create a symphonic score that was epic is scope. It’s a phenomenal piece of work; huge strings, waltz-like time signatures, and suites that run from the ethereal to downright scary in a matter of moments. We are thrilled to be releasing Hellraiser in congestion with Lakeshore Records for its 30th anniversary. This fully remastered sonic assault will tear your ears apart.”

The LP Edition comes on 180g vinyl housed inside an 425gsm gatefold sleeve featuring all new art by Matt Ryan Tobin, and featuring liner notes from Clive Barker and a cardboard replica lament configuration box.

The Screening Edition comes pressed on clear vinyl with black smoke and gold color in color effect  available exclusively at The Prince Charles Cinema London screening and at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles on October 6.

The Mondo Exclusive is a Lament Configuration vinyl (Gold and Brown swirl). This is limited to 2,000 units and is available online only at a price of $30.

There will also be a Box Set Edition of six by seven inch singles each with a unique cover housed inside a wooden lament configuration box replica with liner notes from Clive Barker. This is strictly limited to 1,000 copies and goes on sale October 6.

Arrow Video will be releasing a new Blu-ray edition of the film on October 30, just in time for your Halloween horror movie marathons. In a statement, Arrow said, “In conjunction with Mondo artist Matt Ryan Tobin we have created a new special anniversary edition Blu-ray SteelBook which perfectly complements the vinyl re-issue, so now for the first time ever you’ll be able to see the film in the cinema from an original 35mm release print, hear the soundtrack on a newly remastered vinyl, and take the film home to enjoy again and again.”

Are you excited to celebrate Clive Barker’s twisted creation in so many new ways this fall? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

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Images: Mondo, Miramax, Giphy

GAME OF THRONES Supercut Brings Together 7 Seasons of Jon Snow Hints

Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss have frequently recalled that their ability to guess the identity of Jon Snow‘s mother helped them convince George R.R. Martin that they were the right ones to bring his vision to television. A Song of Ice and Fire fans had also correctly figured out who Jon’s parents were, but the show still managed to surprise viewers with some of the twists that came late in season seven.

But, if you look back to the beginning of the series, Benioff and Weiss clearly had Jon’s journey planned. Now, a Game of Thrones fan has assembled seven seasons worth of hints into a single, non-linear supercut. Needless to say, there are major spoilers if you’re not current with the series through the end of of season seven. You’ve been warned!

“The Targaryen Wolf” was put together by The Garo Studios, and it’s a masterfully edited piece that goes beyond a mere clip show. Instead of putting everything in order, the video pulls footage from all of the seasons to create a narrative about Jon’s life while drawing comparisons between Jon and his father, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. It also adds even more poignancy to Ned Stark‘s demise by following his promise to Jon’s mother, Lyanna Stark. Ned protected Jon from Robert Baratheon’s wrath, and he also took Jon’s secret to his grave.

That’s not the only Jon Snow supercut currently making the rounds. YouTube user Zurik 23M‘s “The Wolf With Dragon’s Blood” is well made video that draws upon more scenes. It’s a testament to the editors and to the show itself that both videos are extremely compelling and engrossing. We may not know how Jon Snow’s story will end, but we know where he has been and who he has become.

What did you think about the two Game of Thrones supercuts? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Featured Image: HBO

Watch this Supercut of All the MCU’s Best Action Beats

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for just over nine years, spouting 16 films (and counting) that have made a huge mark on the movie industry. Back in 2008, few could have predicted that Iron Man would so effectively set the tone for nearly every Marvel movie that came after it. Many of the MCU films share a comedic sensibility, but they also speak the same visual language when it comes to action. Now, a new supercut has assembled many of the franchise’s signature action beats into one catchy video.

The MCU supercut was created by YouTube user Voordeel and set to “Battle Royale” by Apashe with Panther. The video includes clips from the majority of Marvel’s movies, including the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok. Perhaps the most striking thing about this supercut is how smoothly the action flows into each movement; and many of these scenes feel like they could have been a part of the same film. Most of the Marvel movies tend to have the same style, and that’s very clear in these clips. It’s also worth noting that none of Marvel’s TV shows are included, as they have their own tone and style. A supercut of the Marvel Netflix series would definitely have a different feel than this one.

Next year, we’ll finally see many of these heroes share the stage in Avengers: Infinity War, and we hope that it’s just as exciting to watch as this clip was!

What did you think about the new MCU action supercut? Throw down a beat in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Studios

WANT MORE IN MARVEL NEWS?

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Chris Evans Reuniting with His Dog Is the Cutest

Sit back and let me serve you a hefty dose of the heart-melting warm and fuzzies you need today. Chris Evans, a.k.a. Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has a dog named Dodger. Like all pet owners, Evans misses his pup while he’s away from home. In early July, Evans gave the internet cause for concern when he tweeted about his buddy:

Really missing this guy right now. pic.twitter.com/fWNviX6CrH

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) July 8, 2017

He had to clarify Dodger was alive and doing fine; he was missing him because he was far away for a couple of months. He might have been filming for Avengers, but he’s a busy guy, so he could have been out of town for other projects. Regardless of the reason, we understand these feels, Mr. Evans.

To be clear, he's alive and well, just thousands of miles away for the next couple months.

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) July 8, 2017

Evans’ long wait to hang out with Dodger is finally over. After 10 weeks of separation, dog and human have been reunited. Evans shared a video of the scene on Twitter, and to say Dodger is enthusiastic about seeing his person again would be a massive understatement. Watch:

After 10 long weeks… pic.twitter.com/pZUvyLjHN5

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) September 3, 2017

Aww! My heart can barely take the level of adorable this excited dog brings to the table; viewing this video has probably taken a few months off my life. But I’m okay with that.

Do your pets have this kind of reaction when you return from a trip? Tell us about your critters in the comments. Bonus points if you share links to pictures or videos.

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Featured Image: Marvel

NEIL GAIMAN’S LIKELY STORIES Are Lush Campfire Tales Made to Stream

A storyteller with the power to make you lean forward in your seat as their voice gets softer. There’s one in every family, usually it’s a grandmother or grandfather. Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories is the anthology version of that enchanting relative, coaxing you to the fire’s side with a long gaze and an eyebrow-lifting opening line.

The four-part anthology directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard takes its name seriously, finding a tone that dances through the gray area between possible and supernatural. It’s just enough to make you fear the stories are biographical, with a dash of shock and a pinch of exaggeration to make you question.

The episodes (almost all presented as stories-within-stories) include the treatment of a young man with a curious, painful STI (“Foreign Parts”); a young apartment tenant explaining his elderly neighbor’s taste for raw hamburger meat (“Feeders and Eaters”); a haunting childhood memory told ’round a pub table (“Closing Time”); and a veteran erotic photographer confessing an obsession about a nude model that’s followed him in magazine pages since youth (“Looking For the Girl”).

Every entry in Likely Stories invites you to pull up a chair and stay awhile. It’s about spending time in these nooks and crannies of a cafe, or pub, or loner’s apartment and stewing in a state of general unease. In that sense, the show also takes its namesake seriously, adapting Neil Gaiman‘s ephemeral tales into tiny baskets of rich, familiar visuals and an enveloping sense of dread. Pollard and Forsyth pull out the whole toolbox for that job, forcing us through searing white light and high pitch static to feel the genital burn of Simon’s (George MacKay) infection, and injecting gag reflex-triggering sound design when Effie (Rita Tushingham) stuffs squishy red hamburger into her mouth.

The shots from DP Erik Wilson are slick and add heft to tales already told in hushed tones. The look of Likely Stories is largely cold and dark, forcing you to focus on whether you worry about what’s lurking in the shadows. Likewise, Adam Biskupski’s editing (which is saddled with a ton of shots of actors listening to other actors) puts us in the fireside circle waiting for the next twist.

The anthology employs a small stable of recurring actors–Montserrat Lombard, Monica Dolan, Paul Ritter, Johann Myers, and more–to play different roles in each story, adding to the disorienting feel and the suggested reality that everything we’re seeing is taking place in pocket universes connected by a shared alleyway. Not exactly overlapping, but still connected.

That’s where the only genuinely annoying element comes in: an interview with Gaiman that plays in snippets throughout all four stories that takes you right out of everything. The careful blend of truth and fiction they’ve built like a house of cards comes crashing down when you see Gaiman himself pontificating about storytelling. His face is also used in a poster at one point that, sure, is cheeky, but it also steals intensity from the tale.

All four stories are also effervescent in a way that relaxes the intense horror stress as soon as they’re done. The endings frequently shrug, as if to say, “And that’s what happened, yeah?” before moving matter-of-factly to the credits. One even resorts to pure bathos by teasing another intriguing story just before ending. In several instances, it is subtle almost to a fault.

It’s this wispy quality that makes Likely Stories solely about the feeling each entry crafts inside its 22 minutes. Unlike raw cat meat, they don’t stick to your ribs.

Where Black Mirror practically shouts its point at you from a megaphone attached to concert speakers,  Likely Stories is happy to have your attention for a short while. To relish in the pure joy of old timey storytelling and the challenge of making it cinematic, which it more than achieves. The production value is aces, and the magnetic cast carries the heavy monologue load with deftness and gristle.

The anthology, executive produced by Gaiman and written by Pollard and Forsyth and Grabbers‘s Kevin Lahane, is creepy and unsettling like the best whispered campfire tales that dissipate along with the smoke as you head back to your tent. Then again, there’s a chance that its imagery will creep back into your mind once everything outside goes quiet and dark, and you try to close your eyes.

Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories is available on Shudder.

3.5 out of 5 Creepy Burritos

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Images: Shudder