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
Ben-Hur
Loren: But, why?
RDT: I literally have no opinion of this.
Rick: I don’t usually vote for movies to fail, but I want this to get buried at the box office. Maybe it’ll teach studios to leave beloved and established classics alone.
Jen: Can you really call this movie Ben-Hur without the thinly-veiled homoerotocism?
War Dogs
Loren: Jonah Hill plays “Scumbag”. It’s super effective.
RDT: Rick’s casting sounds amazing! I want to see that movie. This movie? Not so much.
Rick: This looks fun, but I still kinda wish it starred Shia LaBeouf and James Corden.
Jen: I don’t think I’d be able to get past hating these characters enough to enjoy this movie in anyway. I will patiently await the female-centric re-boot starring Rebel Wilson and Aubrey Plaza.
This week we’re talking about how this Summer Movie season was kind of a let down. We liked a couple things but over all, not the best. Also, an open letter was written to Warner Bros. executives so you know we got in on some of that.
All that plus news like:
That Rogue One trailer we’ve been waiting for.
Is Lando a real DonGlover?
Carl Drogo is Eric Draven.
Whatever Awkwafina is will be in Ocean’s 8.
Cartoons from your childhood are still being turned into movies.
Sequels to Bad Boys but maybe not Men Black, 21 Jump Street, or Ghostbusters.
NBC-ya later to some SNL cast members.
Tons of Star Trek: Discovery info, a week after we needed it.
Another week, another huge amount of DCCW news.
Can your TV handle DeNiro and Moore?
We bet you’ll never guess who the villain is in Aquaman.
Shazam will be part of the JLA, maybe.
Doctor Strange is a real magic man.
Capt. Marvel is not the Green Lantern, stop asking.
And we get to Tinker a bit in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!1!One!!!!ExclamationPoint!!
That’s a damn good trailer. It’s no secret that 75% of the staff here at The Hollywood Picture News is really excited for this movie. (I’m looking at you Rick). Not only is it the first theatrical release to not directly deal with the Skywalker family, it also apparently has a much darker tone, it being more of a war movie after all. We get an actual sense of the universe the Rebel Alliance is dealing with in A New Hope and it’s not a nice place.
After seeing the teaser a few months ago and the costumes and character descriptions at Star Wars Celebration Europe we finally get a full trailer and let me just say I am SUPER in for this movie.
I don’t want to waste any more time, so Let’s Talk About The NEW “Rogue One: 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
Pete’s Dragon
Loren: I’m bummed I don’t really care to see this. I don’t remember being all that into the original animated feature. Maybe I’ll check it out streaming.
RDT: Good reviews will keep this on my radar, but I don’t feel the need to rush out to see it in theaters.
Rick: Like Jen and RDT mention, the reviews are glowing, but unless I have a desperate need to wait out traffic after work I’ll skip this in theaters.
Jen: This trailer didn’t particularly grab me but the reviews are pretty stellar. Not sure this will draw me in, but if there’s great word of mouth I’ll watch it in three years on whatever the equivalent of streaming is then.
Sausage Party
Loren: I like the other things this team has done, and the concept is funny enough. It’s another one I’m not rushing out to see in the theater but I’ll see it eventually. Also, this is going to backfire somewhere, where a parent brings their kids to this. That’s for sure going to happen.
RDT: This looks funny, but not $15 funny. More like $1.50 funny. Or streaming funny.
Rick: I enjoy me the occasional raunchy comedy, but I’m not in a terrible rush to see this. It feels like a rental to me.
Jen: 1. Loren – did you not hear about them accidentally putting this trailer before Finding Dory and freaking out a bunch of kids? Yep, that really happened. 2. Shouldn’t this be a Funny or Die segment rather than a feature?
This week, we saw Suicide Squad, so you don’t have to! Seriously, it’s bad. Very bad. Very not good. Very very not good. Bad. So bad. (SPOILERS at 50:30-1:36:30)
But first, the news!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel–ettes…?
Transformers gets Hot Rod
Rogue One cameo confirmed….?
The original Mary Poppins may return as well
Star Wars coming to ABC?
Calista Flockhart will return to Supergirl, somewhat.
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
Suicide Squad
Loren: The early reviews are in and they are not good. We’re going to see this Friday night and will be covering it in detail on this week’s podcast, but it looks like this isn’t going to be the one to save the DCEU.
RDT: So, Wonder Woman looks pretty good, right?
Rick: Nope.
Jen: They’re really trying to make Harley Quinn happen, huh? I will give this a fair shake, from the trailer alone it looks like it could be fun, but so far the buzz isn’t too promising…
Nine Lives
Loren: Look, I like cats. Between The Lady™ and I we have 3. Yes, I know that’s a lot. However, that does not change the fact that this movie looks awful. Who has blackmail pictures over Christopher Walken, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, and Cheryl Hines? (I assume Robbie Amell would have done this movie for free.)
RDT: Loren, it’s only “a lot of cats” if they’re all just yours. Three cats between two people is fine. Three cats for one? Well, really, who am I to judge? I mean, we all get lonely sometimes. My apartment complex doesn’t allow pets (which apparently hasn’t stopped about ½ of my neighbors), so I don’t have a cat. I do have a life size body pillow shaped like…Anyway, yeah, that movie looks like shit.
Rick: Hey, actors have boat payments to make. Sometimes you have to do a talking cat movie to make them.
Jen: I’m allergic to cats. This trailer made me break out in hives. However, That ‘catscan’ joke, while predictable and necessary, did make me chuckle. 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
Jason Bourne
Loren: I like(?) the Bourne franchise but really just the first one. This looks good(?) I don’t know. I’ll probably see it. At some point. Maybe. Ringing endorsements all around.
RDT: You know, the trailers haven’t really grabbed me. And the stunts just don’t look as good as the last few movies in this franchise. That being said, I’m sure I’ll see this eventually. Sooner than later, probably, but I just don’t feel the need to rush out this weekend for it.
Rick: I’ve seen all of the films in the series so far; even the headcanon Hawkeye origin movie. I’m not anticipating this being great, but the trailer is cut so well it makes me want to plunk down my cash for a ticket.
Jen: Does this franchise exist solely to keep Julia Stiles employed? Are we sure this isn’t a previous Bourne movie being re-released? I really can’t tell them apart at this point. I think I’m a pass on this one.
Bad Moms
Loren: This looks pretty funny and I like everyone in it (yes, even Jada). It’s definitely aimed at the moms of this world and hey, everyone needs their own comedy genre. I’ll check it out, but I doubt it’ll be in the theater.
RDT: Phenomenal cast, for sure. I’ll definitely see it, but, cards on the table, probably not in theaters.
Rick: What RDT said.
Jen: Is it too cliche of me to want to go get drinks and see his movie ASAP? I guess I don’t care. Shut up and take my money! Also, go back and read my take on the original trailer.
This week, we cover all the news coming out of San Diego Comic-Con, plus Loren has a recap of his trip to Star Wars Celebration in London. And, of course, all the other news that’s fit to post. Potential Guardians Vol. 2 spoilers at 1:30:30.
This weekend was San Diego International Comic-Con. An annual gathering for comics and really all things pop culture. Coming out of it, we got a ton of new trailer releases. We’ve posted the big ones below, with our thoughts. Take a look and let us know what you think, too!
Movies
Wonder Woman
Loren: HOLY SH*T!!! I know I’m one of the biggest detractors of the DCEU out there but c’mon this looks pretty amazing. She totally nails the part, the WWI stuff looks awesome, they seem to get all the right story beats from her origin. This is like Thor meets the first Captain America, in all the right ways. I really hope this doesn’t suck.
RDT: Well shit, have they finally gotten it right? That trailer is pretty awesome and I haven’t been this excited for a superhero movie, at least a DC one, in a while. Badass.
Jen: This will absolutely get my $15 (wait, is that how much a movie costs nowadays?) I have waited a long time to see Wonder Woman on the big screen and, so far, nothing here makes me anything but hopeful. #girlpower
Dr. Strange
Loren: Amazing cast, the effects look great, trippy concepts, this may be another tough one to blend into the MCU but I can’t wait to see them try. Plus we finally see the Cloak of Levitation and some of the more traditional spells from the comics in action. The hype is real.
RDT: This just looks so damn cool. I know a little about Dr. Strange, but he’s never been my superhero jam. Though I am intrigued to see how they bring in magic to what has primarily been a sci-fi universe.
Jen: I’m really most interested in how they’re going to tie this in with the existing MCU. There is a strong Inception feel to this which doesn’t bother me, but is hard not to notice. Let’s face it, there’s no way anyone who reads this website and listens to this podcast is going to skip this movie, right?
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Loren: That was super fun. I love the idea of looking at a different era of the Harry Potter universe. Being set in the 20’s and in New York adds a nice wrinkle to the already established universe.
RDT: Taking what is essentially a glossary and turning it into a planned trilogy of films…it worries me. But JK Rowling scripting and that pretty cool trailer alleviate that worry a bit. The Harry Potter movies actually seems to lend themselves to a cinematic universe. Not everything has to be a battle with “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
Jen: Yes, yes, yes! I have no reservations, I’m buying my tickets as soon as they’re on sale. The period is fantastic. The cast is fantastic. This is universe building at its best. While the first Harry Potter film suffered from having to give us the rules of the world, we can now we can jump right in with a new time period, country, characters, and story and they already feel familiar to us. Fantastic.
