Quick caveat to this week’s episode. Loren and I are both recovering from a cold. So our apologies for any congestedness or coughs that made their way through. Anyway onto the show! We’re talking sequels and ask the question, are there too many? (Yes, yes there are.) But first, the news (which will mostly be about sequels)!
Who is John Boyega playing in Pacific Rim 2?
Splash is coming back to the big screen
Neal Stephenson’s book Seveneves to be adapted by Ron Howard
We still have no idea who the new Bond will be
Ocean’s 8 cast expands, and decreases
Battlestar Galactica gets a writer, and maybe a director, too!
An older Vixen (so a Cougar?) is coming to DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
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
The Conjuring 2
Loren: Not for any real reason, but I don’t tend to see the demonic possession or “ghost” movies. Mostly it’s because The Lady™ isn’t a fan. This, however, looks really well done and I’ve heard good things about the first. I may have to check this one out.
RDT: So, apparently, this is the movie to beat this weekend, not Warcraft. That being said, as established in previous editions of the Weekend Watch, I’m not the horror guy of the group. Let me know how it is, Rick!
Rick: The Conjuring is easily one of the best horror movies of the last ten years. It’s about as grounded as a movie of this type can be, and the widespread use of practical effects makes it even more impressive. I’m hoping for more of the same from this sequel. *fingers crossed*
Jen: This trailer is missing that Lili Taylor “hide and clap” scene that got me on the hook for the first one, but I still jumped during it. At this point, horror movies that don’t fall into the torture porn category are automatic wins. I look forward to seeing this as part of double feature at Rick’s in the future.
Warcraft
Loren: The trailers don’t do it for me. I’m a fan of video games but much less so of the MMORPG-styled games this is based on. I don’t see myself seeing this in the theater. Maybe when it hits streaming, maybe.
RDT: I’m hearing that if you’re a fan of the game, or at least the game’s genre, you’ll be into it. If you’re unfamiliar, not so much. So, for me, not so much. Maybe I’ll just rewatch Moon instead.
Rick: I’m not a Warcraft player, but I was interested in seeing this based on the talent involved. Then I saw the trailer, and it just looks like the game with a couple of human actors dropped into it. I can’t get past it.
Jen: Orcs? Are we in Middle-Earth (she asks hopefully)? No? Oh, OK. A video game you say? Like Duck Hunter? Why haven’t they made a movie of that yet? I’m going to pass on these second-rate orcs, but call me when the Duck Hunter movie is green-lit. (It’ll be next on the slate after Tetris, Centipede, Missile Command, Fruit Ninja etc. etc. -Loren)
Now You See Me 2
Loren: The first one was a lot more fun than I thought it would be, even though it falls apart in that last act. This looks to be more of the same but you know… bigger. I’ll probably see it the same way I saw the first one, HBO GO.
RDT: I’ve said it before, how is the sequel to Now You See Me not called Now You Don’t!?!?!? Regardless, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the first one, though it completely fell apart at the end. Curious to see where they’ll go with this one. I do miss Isla Fisher though. She was pregnant during filming, replaced by Lizzy Caplan playing new character, Lulu. Hopefully, both Lizzy and Isla comes back for Now You See Me 3, which is being talked about for 2017 or 2018 (pending this one’s box office take, of course).
Rick: I’m with Ryan on the title. Even if you don’t go with that title, you use it for the tagline. Anyway, I wasn’t super jazzed by the first one, so I’ll either wait for Netflix or skip it entirely.
Jen: 100% agree with RDT, I hope a marketing person got fired over that title. I do love Lizzy Caplan and this looks like it could be fun. I’m a strong maybe.
This week, we start in L.A. and end in Russia (you’re not on vacation, McClane!) as we figure out how to fix the Die Hard franchise. But first, the news!
Rogue One reshoots
Ocean’s 8 gets another lady (maybe…)
Find a Penny(wise). Don’t pick it up.
Sicario sequel gets a title and director, but loses a lady
Mary Poppins returns
So does The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Jake Gyllenhaal is playing games again
A couple cable pickups, and what that might mean to Bond, James Bond
The Legal Proceeding gets an “Ultimate Cut”
Justice League gets an unsurprising title
Batfleck Batflick updates
The Flash is Dope!
Captain Marvel casting speculation
Planet Ragnarok?
Guardians 2 villain revealed? It’s Her?
Just like the rest of us, Haley Atwell wants more Agent Carter
All that and the usual tangents. As always, please check us out on Facebook and our Twitter, @HWPicNews.
And don’t forgot to rate and review us on iTunes. We’d really appreciate it!
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
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Loren: I’ll admit that I was somewhat shocked at how much I enjoyed the first one of these. I’m hearing ok things about the sequel, and sort of the same complaints of the first; the Turtles (and now Bebop and Rocksteady) are pitch perfect but the human characters are pretty terrible. I’ll check it out, maybe not in theaters.
RDT: Much like Loren, I did not have a complete hatred for the 1st one. I really enjoyed the Turtles’ relationship. I’m not gonna rush out to see it, but I’ll probably catch it sooner than later.
Rick: I think I’ll order pizza instead. Delicious, delicious pizza…
Jen: I can’t look at you while I say this. I swooned at Casey Jones’s introduction, I laughed at Rocksteady and Bebop, I thrilled to the parachuting sequence. I won’t see this in the theater, but, STOP LOOKING AT ME, I will likely watch this on my ipad with earphones in and my back to the room and I will love every minute of it. Also, yes, I’m a Donatello.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Loren: If I see anything this weekend it’ll probably be this. A list of things this movie has that I enjoy: Music Mockumentary style, The Lonely Island and their music, not so veiled insults at Justin Bieber. It’s like the Loren trifecta.
RDT: I’d like to put $10 down on the Loren trifecta. (I have no idea if I’m using that reference correctly…) Regardless, I’ll see this eventually. It looks funny.
Rick: I fully endorse anything that makes fun of Justin Bieber. I’ll likely catch this on video, though.
Jen: Well, Mona Lisa – the original Basic Bitch – will be stuck in my head for days. That baby playing drums is terrifying though. My hope is this will be as funny as the trailer but I’ve been burned before. I’m a tentative yes for this.
We saw X-Men: Apocalypse and we’re going to tell you all about it! Like, ALL about it. Spoilers from 1:24:23 to 2:00:19.Also, Flash season finale spoilers from 00:34:25 to 00:53:16. But first, the news!
The Fast & The Furious returning to theaters as The Rock tells us all about Hobbs’ status for Fast or Furious 8.
Speaking of, The Rock confirms “Doc” Savage.
A whole bunch of James Bond news and rumors.
And Jeff Bridges joins Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Nashville cancelled, but still ends on a cliffhanger.
The Flash changes everything.
No more True Detective…?
But a lot more Peaky Blinders!
Mirror’s Edge coming to TV.
Amazon releases info on a couple pilots.
Master of None coming back in April.
Will Cap hang with Spidey?
Will Spidey hang with Spidey?
All that and (even more than) the usual tangents (learn all about DC Rebirth, Flashpoint and Crisis on Infinite Earths).
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).
Super impressed by her Bad Moms trailer breakdown, we’ve invited Jen to join the (unpaid) staff! Welcome Jen! We can’t wait to see what you have for us next!
Movies
X-Men: Apocalypse
Loren: I pretty much said everything I wanted to about this my trailer breakdown. I’m going to see it this weekend. If it holds up to First Class and Days of Future Past we’ll call it a win.
RDT: Nothing I’ve seen of this gets me excited. I like some stuff better than others and am going to see it regardless. But..yeah….we’ll see….
Rick: Early word is not promising. Apparently there are lots of long-winded speeches. There’s also the added difficulty of Apocalypse looking like a Power Ranger villain. I still have hope, though.
Jen: I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t love JLaw as Mystique and this trailer doesn’t change that. But Sansa Stark as Jean Grey, and the presence of Nightcrawler (Bamf!) ensure I will attempt to see this in the theater, forget to see to this in the theater, and then catch it on demand in three months when I remember that I forgot to see it in the theater.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Loren: Didn’t see the first one, probably won’t see this one. It looks more like a ride at Disneyland than a movie.
RDT: No thank you.
Rick: In spite of the WTFutterwacken dance at the end, I still enjoyed the first movie. I never expected a sequel, but Disney likes brands so it stands to reason the we got one. I may matinee this or just wait for video if I see it at all.
Jen: I wish they’d picked a more on-the-nose song for this trailer. I’ll likely catch this on DVD when my daughter is old enough for it (if DVDs still exist at that point, if not I’ll catch it on tiny disk they insert directly into your brain). Will spend opening night watching this instead
Network upfronts are done, and previews for most shows (but not all – Where’s my Riverdale trailer, CW?!?!?) have been released. So, we thought we’d compile them all in one convenient post and give some initial thoughts. It’s like our Weekend Watch column, but for new TV shows!
ABC
Downward Dog
Loren: This looks sadder than it probably should. Also just weird. Won’t last.
RDT: Ok, if it’s just 4th-wall breaking and the dog (Walter) is addressing the audience directly, why do his lips move? It bothered me. Also, agree with Loren, it looks really sad. Alison Tolman deserves better.
Imaginary Mary
Loren: Looks like it would be a cute movie, but a terrible show. Either way I won’t be watching it. 5 episodes.
RDT: This feels like a pretty standard sitcom was given a(n unnecessary) gimmick. Pass.
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
The Nice Guys
Loren: This looks fantastic and I love me some Shane Black. It’s definitely my pick for the week.
RDT: This. This I will see in theaters. Maybe this weekend, but definitely soon. (Also, apparently, I look like Russell Crowe….?)
Rick:
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
Loren: I was surprised how much I enjoyed the first one. This looks like a decent sequel. I’m not running out to the theater for it, but I’ll check it out on VOD or Redbox.
RDT: I liked the first one for what it was. This seems like more of the same. I’m sure I’ll see it at some point, eventually.
Rick: Why isn’t this called “New Neighbors”? Seems like a missed opportunity. Anyway, I didn’t see the first one, and I won’t bother with this either.
