Month: March 2017

Weekend Watch – 3/31/17

~ RDT ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).

Movies

Ghost in the Shell

Loren: I mean, it looks visually amazing, but early reviews are not stellar. I may just rewatch the anime instead. Too bad.

RDT: I’ll probably see it eventually, but I really have no feelings about this movie at all.

Rick: I outlined my feelings on the whitewashing controversy in this week’s podcast (Go listen to our podcast! –RDT), so I won’t go into it here. I do plan on seeing this. It’s mostly out of curiosity. I don’t know that the original anime (and subsequent movies/series) can be topped, but I want to see how the creatives went about the adaptation.

Jen: What RDT said, this seems, fine… I’ll probably watch it once it’s streaming somewhere to check it out..

The Boss Baby

Loren: Nope.

RDT: No thank you.

Rick: The Boss Baby food baby up gross GIF

Jen: Whenever my daughter sees anything related to this movie she says “baby MAD” and I agree with that assessment. I asked her if she wanted to see the “MAD baby show” and she said “no, Moana,” so there you go.

Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About The Second Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer

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First let me just say thank you to whatever deity deals with movie trailer releases. After getting the abysmal Justice League trailer over the weekend we are blessed with this pretty great Spider-Man: Homecoming one.

I’ve already covered a ton of the Spider-Man/Sony history in my Breakdown of the first trailer so I won’t rehash that here. I will note, however, that this trailer doesn’t focus as much on Peter/Spider-Man being in high school. That was the first trailer’s job to give us that John Hughes Movie feel that they are going for. This one is more about the story and the action. We get a lot of both here so let’s not waste any more time. Let’s Talk About The Second Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer: Continue reading →

Episode #60 – It’s the Summer of 2017 Movie Preview

~ Loren Elliott ~ Leave a comment

This week the whole gang is here as the HPN staff get together to give you a glimpse of what’s to come this Summer!

Jen and Rick join Loren and Ryan to discuss which movies they are looking forward to this Summer and which one’s not so much. And even a few they’ve never heard of! The gang also talks a little bit about the new Justice League trailer that Loren so graciously bit the bullet on and did a breakdown of. And just a little bit on the new Spider-Man: Homecoming posters. 

All of that plus listener questions, the Weekly Watched, more than the usual tangents, and much more!

As always, please check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

Don’t forget to rate/review us on iTunes and/or Stitcher. We’d really appreciate it!

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*Sigh* Let’s Talk About The New Justice League Trailer

~ Loren Elliott ~ Leave a comment

Woof. Surprise you guys! I wasn’t a big fan of this trailer. I’ve gone on record countless times at this point saying how much I don’t like Zack Snyder’s Murderverse version of the DCEU. I will try not to delve too deeply into that here (emphasis on try). Justice League seems to suffer from all of the previous problems the Snyder movies have in the past. It’s not all bad though, it does look like Warner’s execs have finally swallowed their pride and tried to add some levity to their scowly universe. In fact the three new heroes we meet here all have some comedic bits in this trailer which fits none of their comic counterparts. Cool. A complete misunderstanding of the characters, that’s what can be universally said about Zack Snyder and the DCEU.

This version of the Justice League picks up where The Legal Proceeding of Batman V. Superman left off. Bruce Wayne (not Batman for some dumbass reason) is going to find other heroes in the world to help him take on new threats after the death of Superman. Along with Wonder Woman, he uses the quicktime email attachments he stole from Lex Luthor and finds The Flash, The Aquaman, and (The) Cyborg. Bringing all 5 heroes together to take on Steppenwolf (not the band) and a huge army of Parademons. Seriously, this is all Bruce Wayne doing this, not Batman. Just revealing who he is to all of these people. Good thing they are heroes, otherwise this could be trouble down the line. Alright let’s not put this off any further, *sigh* Let’s Talk About The New Justice League Trailer:  Continue reading →

Weekend Watch – 3/24/17

~ RDT ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).

Movies

Power Rangers

Loren: I mean it’s no Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, but what is? This looks fine, not amazing or anything but it’s a Power Rangers movie. I’m not expecting Shakespeare. I’ll check it out eventually but I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to the theater.

RDT: Ummm…I kinda wanna see this.

Rick: Apparently they’re planning on a six movie story arc for this series. Seems a little ambitious, but there have been no less than 21 different Power Rangers-related series/movies, and that doesn’t count the Super Sentai series the whole thing is based on. All that makes six movies seem positively modest in comparison. Oh, and yes, I’ll check this out. Looks like fun.

Jen: Sure, fine, why not? This doesn’t look bad, I likely won’t see it, but not looking bad is actually high praise since I was not expecting it to look this good.

Life

Loren: That’s literally the first time I’ve heard of this movie and I think I want to see it. It might just be a good trailer for a bad movie though. Time will tell.

RDT: This was briefly rumored to be a Venom prequel. When it was, I was somewhat intrigued. Now that it’s been confirmed that it’s not, I’m less intrigued, but still a little interested. I like everyone involved, but I think I’d rather see this from the comfort of my couch.

Rick: It must be hard being a sci-fi/horror screenwriter. Being able to make that “haunted house in space” trope work and be different enough from Ridley Scott’s Alien poses a big challenge. I want this to be good, but I can’t shake the feeling that we got about 99% of the story from the trailer. But who knows. Maybe (hopefully) there’s more to it than the standard fare.

Jen: Finally, I keep seeing the billboards for this all over LA and yet knew nothing about it. It feels like many other sci-fi/horror hybrid films, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. At bare minimum, it’s about time someone used “Goodnight Moon” for it’s obviously horrific subtext.

Continue reading →

Episode #59 – Jessica Fletcher, Serial Murderer

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This week, we’re talking all the major pop culture news, like….

  • The (re)Matrix?
  • Malin Akerman will Rampage against The Rock
  • You get an Alien movie and you get an Alien movie and you get an Alien movie!
  • Cavill, Henry Cavill
  • Coming 2 America…?
  • SNL x 4 (aka RDT doesn’t understand timezones) 
  • This Is Us kills some walkers
  • ALL THE CABLE SHOWS, and one streaming show, renewed! 
  • Heathers on the move
  • American Gods trailer
  • Master of None, season 2 debut date announced
  • Where you AT-AT?
  • Holy Delayed Production, Batman!
  • Merry Aqua-Christmas!
  • Hey, when you’re having issues with your current slate of films, why not put another into production?
  • Guardians, Vol 3 will happen
  • And, apparently, so will Venom…?

All that, what we watched, and the usual tangents.

As always, please check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

Don’t forget to rate/review us on iTunes and/or Stitcher. We’d really appreciate it!

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Weekend Watch – 3/17/17

~ RDT ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).

Movies

Beauty and the Beast

Loren: I don’t think I’ll be seeing this in the theater but it looks pretty good. I did a whole breakdown for it when the trailer dropped a few months back. I’ll definitely check it out eventually.

RDT: I’m sure I’ll see it eventually, but I feel no compunction to rush out this weekend.

Rick: I didn’t see the animated version of this until three or four years ago. It’s enjoyable, but not enough that I have any need to see it done in live action. Also, why is Beast’s face/head CGI? It’s not the least bit convincing. It’s not like this story hasn’t been done in live action before. Hell, the makeup in Jean Cocteau’s 1946 version still holds up today. I have nothing against CGI, but I just wish that practical effects wouldn’t be discounted in favor of it.

Jen: I already have my tickets for this tomorrow night. I am a little worried that I’ll be freaked out by the weird CGI of Lumiere and Cogsworth, et al. but the original version holds such a dear place in my heart, and the live-action version of Cinderella was surprisingly delightful, that I’ve got some high hopes for this.

T2 Trainspotting

Loren: I won’t lie, I don’t remember the original all that well. I remember the baby on the ceiling and the crawling out of the toilet. You know, the simple stuff. This does look like a very “Trainspotting” take on the reemergence of heroin and designer drugs.

RDT: Is it bad that I haven’t seen the original?

Rick: I’m not sure we needed this sequel, but I’m in for it.

Jen: Why did they call this T2? Are they hoping to confuse people? I was never into the first film so can’t see myself with enough nostalgic desire to see the second.

Continue reading →

Episode #58 – That 80’s TV Classic Fat Guy, Full Beard

~ Loren Elliott ~ Leave a comment

This week the guys talk about some LA bars and their beards. You know, the usual stuff.  They also have you covered on all your pop culture news from the week that was. Stories like:

  • The first pic of Lin Manuel Miranda in the new Mary Poppins.
  • Jake Busey joins/maybe is The Predator.
  • Bad Boys 4 Never. Maybe.
  • Ava2ar delayed.
  • Bond knowledge gets dropped, and writers are announced.
  • Baby Driver trailer
  • Who’s joining Daddy’s Home 2… IT’S JOHN CENA!!!!
  • Nick Miller, author of the Pepperwood Chronicles, thinks it might be time to wrap it up.
  • More Riverdale is on it’s way.
  • You won’t have to wait too much longer for more Preacher.
  • Star Trek: Discovery’s captain is a real Death Eater.
  • More information than you wanted about Disney Parks.
  • New Wonder Woman trailer
  • Some critics aren’t a fan of Iron Fist. We don’t know how to feel, yet.
  • First photos from Thor: Ragnarok via EW and some plot details.
  • Guardians 2 will have a post credit scene…. because it’s a Marvel movie.
  • Deadpool himself let’s us in on who will be playing Domino.
  • The underground railroad X-Men show might have a title.

All of that plus a listener sponsored segment, the Weekly Watched, all of the usual tangents, and much more!

As always, please check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

Don’t forget to rate/review us on iTunes and/or Stitcher. We’d really appreciate it!

 

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Weekend Watch – 3/10/17

~ RDT ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).

Movies

Kong: Skull Island

Loren: Let’s see, pretty people, giant ape fights, the 70’s, John C. Reilly John C. Reillying it up. I’m in.

RDT: Yup, count me in, too.

Rick: You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Kong fan than myself. One of the first things you see when you walk into my apartment is a poster for the 1933 original that stretches seven feet in diagonal. I’ve watched/read about that film’s history, its sequels, its remakes, and everything in between. I love giant monster movies. So why is it that I have zero desire to see this? Because I know it’s a setup for some unnecessary “cinematic universe”. As much as I love Marvel’s triumph in world building, it’s inadvertently created this belief that, in order for properties to be successful, they need to have some gigantic crossover universe. So, from here forth, King Kong and Godzilla exist in the same world. I just…They don’t need to fight. Again. It was fun and campy in 1962. Now it just feels forced; like you’re not confident enough to make your different franchises work on their own, so you mash them together hoping it’ll somehow make it better. No. Just no. Stop it. Also, most of the stuff in this trailer, apart from the time period, looks no different than Peter Jackson’s take on the character. And don’t even get me started on that movie…

Jen: There are things that look fantastic in this trailer and things that could end up being downright silly, but I’m giving it my money either way. If nothing else, I get to spend a couple of hours looking at Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson – and they are very pretty.

Raw (Limited)

Loren: Vampires? Was that about vampires?

RDT: Yeah, I’m out for this. (But I’m glad it’s not about zombies…)

Rick: Sainsbury's food eating hungry want

Jen: Ick. No. No way. That being said, I really like this idea and how unique it is. So, please support it if you’re the type with a strong stomach.

Continue reading →

Episode #57 – Greedo Comin’

~ RDT ~ Leave a comment

This week, the guys talk all the things pop culture, starting with confusing the hell out of the Mission: Impossible movies. Plus…

  • Who is Rebecca Kirby? We may never know.
  • Omar is coming to Red Cup (can we please stop calling it Red Cup?)
  • Emily Blunt IS Poppins, Mary Poppins
  • Shut up, Meg (for now).
  • Bumblebee meets the two strings
  • Gotham – good casting, shitty show
  • SuperFlash sings!
  • Who is Vigilante? Not Rebecca Kirby!
  • Chris Hardwick will never stop Talking.
  • Rebels continue to rebel
  • When will GLOW light up?
  • One More Day at a Time!
  • Who are the Inhumans? We may never…oh wait, no, we totally know!
  • X-Men tv get a mom and dad

All that, what we watched, and the usual tangents.

As always, please check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

Don’t forget to rate/review us on iTunes and/or Stitcher. We’d really appreciate it!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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