J.D. Hall to Grunt Gloriously as The Hulk
June 10, 2008
Voice Over Legend/Actor J.D. Hall who boasts close to 300 voice over credits spanning a 30 year entertainment career history is grunting, groaning and growling as the voice of the Hulk in the new soon to be released Incredible Hulk film (June 13th).
His deep and resonating and powerful voice is the sound of the beastly side of the Hulk.
Speed Racer Game Features Voice Acting by Original Cast
June 10, 2008
Speed Racer has been a favorite for too many years to count, and now it has returned. It is on the big screen with all the graphics and action you would expect from current electronic and computerized tools available.
If that isn’t great enough, the video game has the thrills that the movie does, and possibly more. This is, of course, a racing game, but it is also much more. It is about speed – 300 to 500 MPH, but more than that, it is a smart racing game about speed.
The game was created for WII, with a PS2 version coming out this fall. The game follows the story as you compete as Speed Racer in the World Racing League against up to 19 opponents. Of course, everyone including Speed Racer wants to win the coveted prize, but the course isn’t easy with its loops, jumps and unpredictable track. You can flip and jump your car – with the help of a “car fu” mechanic, who can keep you going even if you smash your car.
There are about 20 different car/driver combinations. Speed Racer’s Mach6 and Racer X’s Shooting Star are included in the game, as well. To top it all off, the original actors from the movie including Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox and Christina Ricci have lent their voices to the game, as well, which always takes things to the next level.
The New Speed Racer is worth a good look, and even if you’re not a Speed Racer fan, you will certainly be excited and delighted.
Simpsons Voice Actors Get Their Pay Increase
June 9, 2008
The cast of record-breaking TV show The Simpsons has scored a bumper new pay deal that guarantees the top voice actors $US400,000 ($420,000) an episode and paves the way for work to start on a record 20th season of the cultural touchstone.
The show about the dysfunctional family in the fictional town of Springfield is easily the longest running animated TV show and will now tie the western series Gunsmoke as the longest running prime-time series in TV history.
Has Science Found the Perfect Human Voice?
June 6, 2008
Researchers say they have worked out a mathematical formula to find the perfect human voice.
The study, commissioned by Post Office Telecoms, asked people to rate 50 voices then analysed the results.
It found the best female voice to be a mixture of Mariella Frostrup, Dame Judi Dench and Honor Blackman. Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons did best for the men.
Hulk is Incredible even the Second Time Around
June 5, 2008
Let’s just say that computer graphics have made a few leaps and bounds since the original HULK came out. Nonetheless, HULK is a beloved, well maybe not beloved, but at least well liked and enduring figure, even now, and though we are in the 21st century, there are still basic shades of the original HULK that are infused in both the movie and the video game. The video game comes out today.
There are some awesome features that are part of the movie and the video game. A few of those features have been preview released by SEGA in advance. For instance, players can become the HULK and create whatever powerful destruction they feel is necessary – in fact, they can demolish anything in their path and then use it as a weapon. – including demolishing buildings with their (HULK’s) bare hands.
Then there’s rage. Rage creates power, and players can create the rage that HULK needs to use his ultimate power. The scale is powerful, as well. New York is at scale and realistic with the skyscrapers allowing for exciting vertical play, while Bi-Beast and the Abomination challenge the HULK’s power.
The best features are that the world is dynamic and open, providing a next generation open representation of Manhattan – which gives the player a stunning playground on which to play the game and other mini games within the overall game. The best feature of all is that the voices of the characters from the movie are used in the video, enhancing the realistic feeling.
If you are looking for a great games and want some awesome previews, got to the SEGA site – which has gone interactive – and there are a couple of good Hulk Video Game sites on line, as well.
Jack Black is Kung Fu Panda
June 4, 2008
OK. So the big thing is animation these days. Animated video games (of course), well done with great images and awesome voices. Then there are cartoons on the small screen. And the big screen.
One of the best around is Kung Fu Panda. Let’s just say that the visuals and action are cute, cuddly and pretty creative. We’re not necessarily talking Iron Man or anything, but, that wasn’t the idea. The idea was to make an animated movie that would be fun, non-offensive, and appropriate to take your kids to see.
The movie came out just so. On top of that, the icing on the cake was the actors that brought the characters to life. Their voices were unique and fun, slick, sly and saucy. Think about putting Jack Black with his raw yet lovable sense of humor, Jackie Chan with his mischievous energy and Angelina Jolie with her edginess plus earth-motherly image all together playing off one another. If they were all in the same room with their families, it would be a blast! Even if they weren’t in the same room, but were simply injecting their voice and personalities into the animated characters, which they were, the energy would still be sensational. Add a few other amazing actors’ voices to the mix, let’s say, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogan, David Cross and the wonderful voice of Ian McShane, and you have an international smorgasbord of exquisite layers and textures.
From the sound of the voices and the information and enthusiasm heard on the interviews with the actors, it sounds like the actors enjoyed the experience of making the film as much as – or more than – the audience enjoyed watching it all come together on the big screen.
Does Iron Man the VideoGame Live Up to the Movie?
June 2, 2008
Iron Man, the movie, did will at the box office – and has been said to have better effects and have been put together better than most of the action flicks out recently and right now. The reviews for the movie have been very positive as well.
As for the video game, the reviews are mixed. The game is put out by Sega, but it is available for most of the major systems.
Iron Man, the game, is based on the movie; however it is quite loosely based. It begins in the caves where Tony Stark is trapped and being held by the Ten Rings terrorists, and trying to escape with his metal suit. Next, the player is able to explore some of the other characters from the movie. There is, of course attacks, enemies and battles with villains – Super Villains, of course.
This is where things get sort of ho-hum. Every level has a very similar setup. The only thing that changes is the level, the increased time it takes to get through it, and that’s about it. The positive side is that Mr. Stark in the armor feels real and, of course, all the weapons that the armor has available gives the firepower to actually earn cash to buy extra firepower upgrades.
One other excellent addition to the game is that the voices are actually done by Robert Downey and Terence Howard. This is a plus which makes the feel even more like the movie. All in all Iron Man isn’t the greatest video you will ever buy or rent, but it does have some nice touches that make it worth trying out.
Two Worlds Takes a Second Try
June 2, 2008
Reality Pump put out the game Two Worlds and the reviews by most everyone was that it was pretty horrible. It had awful images and the voices – forgetaboutit!!! The first edition of Two Worlds was called a lot of things, including an utter mess that was disappointing to all.
Reality Pump’s response to this: Two Worlds: The Temptation. RP says that instead of using staff (which did the best they could on the original release); RP used professional voice actors on the sequel, The Temptation. Even RP says that they were overzealous in trying to do everything necessary put the original package together and get it out themselves. This overzealousness also extended to the plot and other ideas. It seems that RP put everything but the kitchen sink into the original and has scaled back on The Temptation.
Though the original Two Worlds was a total mess overall, it did have some good points and some great, fun ideas, but the overall difficulties made them hard to find.
Hopefully, Reality Pump has done what it says it has done by scaling back, taking its best ideas and putting them front and center – and eliminating the overkill – Two Worlds: The Temptation should be worth a try one more time.
When Voiceovers on TV Series Work
June 2, 2008
Frequently there are TV shows and series that are great shows, but from time to time – sometimes too often – use voiceovers in a way that does not enhance the show. It has been said by some that a show as excellent as Sex and the City or Desperate Housewives use voiceovers that many times don’t work.
They don’t flow. They are too obvious and the shows would be better served without them.
On the other hand, there are shows that use voiceovers in a creative way that enhances the show and draws in the viewer in a fun and unique and even odd way.
One of the shows that has been mentioned a lot when it comes to effective and excellent use of voiceovers is “Dexter.” The main character is “closed” and does not allow others inside. As a result, he makes sure to hide who he is, what he is thinking and what he is capable of. When you are dealing with a homicide analyst/serial killer who works with the police department (Miami) to solve cases, you have a pretty complex guy and a pretty intense series and plots.
If you’re the viewer your emotions are never quite settled when you are looking at a man who has so much to hide, yet, is so integral to figuring out the “who done its” and has some deep-seated and understandable reasons for why he is who he is, thinks how he thinks and does what he does. Add stellar voiceovers to all this and on this series it works.
If you haven’t seen Dexter yet, take a look, if for no other reason than to see an intelligent TV series that uses good plots, a great main character and voiceovers that work.
Universal Studios Engulfed in Flames, Claims 5 New York City Stuctures, Soundstage
June 1, 2008
A massive fire on Sunday at Universal Studios that destroyed a giant soundstage, a video library and several movie sets is under control, say fire officials in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County fire Inspector Daryl Jacobs said that as many as three blocks of movie facades as well as the courthouse square set used in the Michael J. Fox movie Back to the Future have been destroyed.
At a news conference, Los Angeles County fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said the fire began on what’s described as the “New York street” set, moved on to the King Kong exhibit and then over to buildings housing a soundstage and video library.
“A total of five structures within the New York exhibit, including one soundstage, were lost,” said L.A. County fire inspector Frank Garrido.
