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
Wide Release
Annihilation
Loren: I’m seeing this tomorrow with friend of the podcast Brad, who absolutely loves the book. It looks so weird and refreshing, I’m really looking forward to it.
RDT: I also am seeing this Friday with friend of the podcast, ummm, myself. I liked, but didn’t love, the book. Looking forward to the movie.
Rick:
Jen: I am very interested in this. I like the creepy sci-fi aspect. I love the kick-ass cast. Yeah, I’m giving this one a go for sure.
Every Day
Loren: There’s only one way for this to end right? The Body Swapper finds their true form and they can be together? Or maybe we all learn a valuable lesson in not wondering how movies like this play out.
RDT: I’m intrigued by the premise, but also think Loren is 100% spot on. So, maybe streaming…?
Rick: What Loren said.
Jen: I can’t top Loren’s comment here.
Game Night
Loren: Dammit. I laughed a couple times during that trailer. I mean, I’m not running out to see it in the theaters, but I’ll catch it streaming.
RDT: I have a movie gift card burning a hole in my pocket. This got enough chuckles out of me to catch it “for free” soon, if I have the time (I’m very busy…).
Rick: I expected to roll my eyes at this, but I came away with some actual laughs. I’ll catch this once it’s on ye ol’ streaming device.
Jen: This looks like a fun watch. Kudos to this trailer for getting this bunch of cynics interested. I’ll check it out!
Limited Release
7 Guardians of the Tomb
Loren: Kelsey Grammer is Lara Croft in Arachnophobia. Also, good idea to use the Guardians of the Galaxy font for your title card, just to get those few people that weren’t paying attention to the actual trailer to think that this is another one of those.
RDT: James Gunn actually called them out for the font. (I have nothing else to contribute…)
Rick: This looks Geostorm-level terrible. I kinda want to see it.
Jen:
Are We Not Cats
Loren:
RDT: You are correct. We are not cats.
Rick: I don’t even know what to make of this. Is it some weird-ass take on Cat People? Is it just being weird for weird sake? I kinda need to find out.
Jen: So I couldn’t resist doing some digging on this movie and it gave me all sorts of “nope” vibes. Nope.
This week the guys are out of town so our own Coy and Vance (HPN Staffers Jen and Rick) step in for a show all their own. They still have you covered on all the pop culture and a very special surprise at the end. They’ve got stories like:
Black Panther opens w/ $25.2 million in Thursday previews, nearly doubling Deadpool’s previous February record then made addt’l $50 million on Friday. On track to top $200 million for the holiday weekend
Also, people are fucking awful – Faking assaults at Black Panther screenings
Chris Columbus to write & direct Five Nights at Freddy’s
WGA announces winners
Peter Rabbit facing boycott over character basically being a dick
Horror short “Larry” acquired by Amblin
Rachel Weisz speaks out against a female James Bond
LeBron James is producing a ‘House Party’ reboot
Chad Stalhelski to direct ‘Sandman Slim’ adaptation
Rita Ora joins the ‘Detective Pikachu’ movie
Jim Rash and Nat Faxon to direct ‘Batso and the Wall’
‘Den of Thieves’ is getting a sequel for some reason
Jason Statham D.J. Caruso in talks for ‘Killer’s Game’
Pierce Brosnan facing jail time for commercial he starred in
‘Sicario 2’ director in talks for ‘Call of Duty’ film
Director of ‘Wonder’ wants to make a movie about Dr. Seuss
Amy Schumer’s ‘I Feel Pretty’ moves up release date after test screening
Jamie Lee Curtis has wrapped filming on new ‘Halloween’ movie
Transformers universe getting a much needed reboot
More Casting news than you can shake a stick at
CBS All Access renews ‘No Activity’ for second season
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
Wide Release
Black Panther
Loren:
RDT:
Rick:
Jen:
Early Man
Loren: So, I love Wallace and Gromit but this looks a little off. I won’t see it in the theater but I’ll probably check it out eventually.
RDT: Interesting counter-programming to Black Panther. I doubt I’ll see it in theaters, but maybe streaming?
Rick: I enjoy everything Aardman has done. I’ll definitely check this out, but likely from my couch.
Jen: My dislike of animation does not extend to claymation. I’ll give it a watch.
Limited Release
Double Lover
Loren: Eh, I guess that “Erotic Thrillers” are not really my bag.
RDT: I’ll wait for the American remake starring…Rooney Mara.
Rick: You had me at Francois Ozon.
Jen: Not Natalie Portman? This actually looks like a sexy, weird, fun ride. I would check this out.
First We Take Brooklyn
Loren: Eesh. First off, no. Secondly, that’s a terrible trailer. It simultaneously gives everything away and says nothing. That last needle drop is way too overpowering. You can’t make out what anyone is saying for the last 20 seconds of the trailer because you wanted the “coming straight outta Brooklyn” sound bite. Just awful.
RDT: No thanks. You can keep Brooklyn.
Rick: Negatory.
Jen: Ugh, nope.
Golden Exits
Loren: *Big Groan*
RDT: Why are all indie movies starting to look the same? Or have they always looked the same? Also, all these people look like assholes. Whatever.
Rick: Guess I’m the outlier on this one. I’ll keep it on my radar.
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
Wide Release
The 15:17 to Paris
Loren: This reminds me of that Navy Seals action movie they put out a few years ago Act of Valor, that starred real life servicemen. This at least has the benefit of the people that were actually involved. I don’t think I’ll see this in the theater but might once it hits streaming.
RDT: Pretty much what Jen said.
Rick: I read about this when it happened and, while it’s interesting and definitely heroic, there’s not enough nuance to this story that necessitates a feature.
Jen: I can’t say a bad thing about this movie since it stars real life heroes who did an amazing thing. It looks fine and it’s an interesting idea to use the real guys portraying themselves. All that being said, I won’t be seeing this.
Fifty Shades Freed
Loren: “Don’t Miss The Climax” is a gross tagline.
RDT: Can I just go to Pornhub instead?
Rick:
Jen: So this is still happening? Fascinating. I want these movies to be 100x better or 10x worse. Pick a lane, Christian Grey.
Peter Rabbit
Loren: At first I was thinking why did they shoot actual scenery for the CGI animals to exist in? Then I saw the real life element and my question was answered. Oh, am I going to see this? No. No I am not.
RDT: I remember loving the book as a kid. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about this though. Hard pass. (Maybe “hard” pass is more appropriate for Fifty Shades Freed?)
Rick: I didn’t think it was possible, but this looks as irritating as both Trolls and The Emoji Movie. The hardest of passes.
Jen: So Domhnall Gleeson is in everything now? Cool. Cool-cool-cool.
Limited Release
Becks
Loren: I like that Lena Hall actually seemed to be singing. That’s kinda the only positive I can think of.
RDT: One time, I got to drive Mena Suvari to the American Pie 2 set. She was nice. She climbed in my backseat and read an Entertainment Weekly.
Rick: Ehhhh…maybe?
Jen: This is a big Indie-meh for me. Can Indie-meh be a thing? It accurately describes my feeling to 90% of Indie movies.
Black Hollow Cage
Loren: Neat. If I remember to watch this I think I’m gonna dig it.
RDT: I’m out for pretty much the same reasons Rick is in, except the Ex Machina part.
Rick: Atmospherically, it reminds me a bit of Ex Machina. Also, it looks wonderfully sinister. Count me in.
Jen: I immediately thought Ex Machina but Rick beat me to the punch. I’m so curious about what’s going on here I think I’ll have to check it out.
So it finally happened. After a much beleaguered production and a fast approaching release date, we got our first look at the latest Star Wars one off movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story; Telling an early adventure of Han Solo. First and foremost I want to say that it looks good. As in I think the production value is not something we’re going to have to worry about. I am a tad concerned with Alden Ehrenreich‘s portrayal of our titular protagonist. I really hope that A) the rumors of his acting being lacking are not true and B) that he’s not just doing a (bad) Harrison Ford impression.
I’ve long said that this is not necessarily a movie I want or the public even needs, but if they are going to make it, I just want it to be good. There has been a lot of controversy around this movie as the original directors (Lord and Miller) were fired after the majority of shooting had been completed. Disney/Lucasfilm then brought in Ron Howard to right the ship. However, he had to reshoot an enormous portion of the movie. Leaving people worried that this will feel like some cobbled together mess much like Justice League (and parts of Rogue One, if I’m being honest). I’m holding out hope though.
I’m one of the people that has bought in to Disney’s vision of Star Wars, putting the new movies (Episodes 7 and 8 plus Rogue One) right behind the originals in my own rankings. And what might also be interesting is this could be the first full fledged Star Wars movie that does not have a single Skywalker anywhere to be seen. Although saying that means I’ve cursed myself and there’s going to be some sort of Darth Vader cameo, or a pre-teen Luke in the background. But enough about all that. Let’s (Finally) Talk About The First Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer!: Continue reading →
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
Wide Release
Winchester
Loren: First and foremost, enough with the god damn trailers for trailers. It’s infuriating. Secondly, yes please. I’ve heard the “real” side of this story before but this looks like a fun and creepy twist on that. In.
RDT: This looks pretty good. And I have no doubt I will likely only ever see it from Rick’s kitchen.
Rick:
Jen: Helen Mirren makes everything better.
Limited Release
https://youtu.be/hOwIQNA9A8I
Braven
Loren: They’re really trying hard to make Karl Droggo an action star, aren’t they. This looks perfectly cromulent (thanks for pointing that out, Rick!).
RDT: Well that sure does look like a movie.
Rick: Braven? Is that even a word? Is that like embiggen? I have doubts about its cromulence.
Jen: So this isn’t the sequel to Brave? Not that I want a sequel to Brave. I’m just saying this title is misleading in a number of ways.
https://youtu.be/7gdNlbOAYik
Bucky & The Squirrels
Loren: Woof. The only positive thing I can say about this disaster of a mockumentary is at least they added the displaced from time aspect to change it up. Still, this looks fucking awful.
RDT:
Rick: I’m sorry I put this on the list. I owe you all a beer. (I don’t drink beer. Can I get chocolate milk instead? –RDT)
Jen: Oh Richard Lewis, remember when you were on Anything But Love? Those were the days.
