Fanboys Anonymous

Marvel's The Punisher is set to premiere at 3am EST on Netflix, and per usual, this post will be documenting my running commentary of thoughts as I binge-watch every episode. I'll be adding notes almost as a stream of consciousness and when everything has concluded, I'll be wrapping everything up with a full season recap and review to see just how good or bad the overall package was and the hits and misses in a Reviewpoint podcast video.

I invite you to follow along and to leave your thoughts in the comments below just the same!

Episode 1 - "3 A.M."

- "Punisher comes to Juarez, we'll kill his ass!" - LOL no you won't.
- I think I'll skip the intro from now on. Once was enough. Not bad, but not good enough that I want to hear it 12 more times in a row.
- Anybody else find it funny to imagine Frank Castle making that sandwich and putting it in the ziploc bag and all?
- Nooooo, not the sandwich! Now, it's personal.
- Damn it. I want a sandwich. What the hell, Marvel? I just ate. I shouldn't be hungry again. You're going to kill my diet that I don't really have. If I make it through the rest of this episode without getting a sandwich, I'll be happy.
- "He was like a superhero to me or something, except they don't die." In Marvel, at least. Unless you're Quicksilver.
- "You really think our governments are tyrants?" - uh...yeah, dude, they are. Look around. That one babbling gun-nut is crazy but Lewis knows what's up. (This probably means I'll hate him eventually since I agree with him lol)
- I like Curtis. He's totally going to die, right? I hope not.
- Donny my boy, don't pay that bill. Ah fuck.
- Damn it, Donny. You're out of your element if you go on this rob job.
- Oh shit, I know that voice. Yup, that's that woman that's in a bunch of stuff and always seems like this wise yet untrustworthy but also somehow motherly character. She's great.
- Ugh...Donny...
- WTF is up with this song playing while Punisher is going all punishy on these construction douchebags? Weird choice. It doesn't really fit in my opinion.
- Well that's one less mafia family to deal with. Looks like The Punisher just preemptively solved SO MUCH crime. Not that I'm condoning that sort of thing....officially.

Episode 2 - "Two Dead Men"

- Three eggs over easy, side of bacon, sourdough toast. Okay. Sounds good. Not as good as that sandwich. Good line about "Depends on the eggs" by the way.
- I like my Microchip as "Microchip" and overweight instead of this guy. Let's see if he's going to change my mind.
- I wonder if the audition to play Frank's wife consisted of just waking Jon Bernthal up with kisses, cause that's all she's doing. Well, and getting shot in the head.
- Wasn't Jigsaw in the mob instead of, well, pretty much the total opposite?
- Well Wolf died a lot sooner than I thought he would.
- Those don't look like over easy eggs.
- For some reason, I'm finding myself not interested in this episode. I hope things pick up.

Episode 3 - "Kandahar"

- I'm warming up to Micro(chip) more, I'll give him that. Still don't like him enough, but I do like him more.
- So since Billy Russo is a future villain, and they're going with the "best buddies" angle, I'm just waiting for the episode 6 or 8 turnaround where they find out that he's in bed with the villains for some reason. Right now, I'm not getting too much out of him.
- Oh shit, Lewis was the dude who played Lee Harvey Oswald in 11.22.63? I knew he looked familiar.
- Time for the obligatory "sleepy head" scene.
- Uh, Lewis, if you're gonna be that trigger happy from nightmares, maybe don't sleep with a goddamn loaded gun under your pillow?
- While this whole massacre in Kandahar is happening on screen, the main thought running through my mind is that it's sad that there are people who will watch this and think to themselves "fuck yeah!" with some sort of patriotic pride, as if this is something to be honoring.
- LOL at the chair rolling. If Micro would have said "weeeee!" that would have been great.

Episode 4 - "Resupply"

- That's healthy, Lewis. Also, you haven't learned your lesson that you'll shoot your dad.
- Turk!!!!!!!
- So wait, the guy from Lethal Weapon is basically just doing the same role here of "generic authoritative cop from another place coming in to tell you what's up" eh? Don't trust him.
- They just did a Robin Hood joke, but as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a single reference to anything in the MCU like the Battle of New York. Are they just not even trying to make these fit in the same universe anymore?
- From their first hit-cute, I've been waiting for Micro's wife to try to kiss Frank. That's going to happen down the line for sure.
- I don't buy some of these Anvil recruits to be highly skilled weapons unless you add the phrase "in a donut shop" to the end of the sentence.
- Dinah's had enough of a chance for me to like her, but she's just getting bitchier. Sam's a pushover, too. I'm okay if we don't see too too much of their story bulking things out.
- Lewis is just awful. I hope he doesn't kill Curtis.

Episode 5 - "Gunner"

- Dinah is waking up in bed. Clearly, Frank's wife will kiss her now. Sleepy head.
- I hope Sarah makes Frank some eggs. He likes those.
- That kiss felt weird.
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Hey there. You're going to be a villain for the second half of this season, aren't you?
- I'm starting to think I might not want to binge this whole season straight through. I'm pretty tired, so I might take a nap after the next episode.
- Nice ass, but Misty and Elektra still have hotter sex scenes.

Episode 6 - "The Judas Goat"

- So if you're following my exploits for being hungry, I didn't quite get a sandwich (because I don't have the proper materials here) but I did heat up some shitty frozen pulled pork sliders that will tide me over.
- I guess every one of these servicemen sleep with a gun under their pillows.
- Damn it, why did I choose to eat pulled pork during the scene where they're doing surgery?
- Trying to step up your sex scene game, Dinah? At least you're naked this time.
- Did she just steal his pillow for her back? How rude.
- I always thought Ben Barnes would be a good choice for Dick Grayson. Nightwing gets around. The way Barnes' characters are here and in Westworld, that confirms my theory.
- Sorry Micro, but out of all the characters on this show, the one I hate the most is your son. What a little pecker.
- For those interested, the ranking of how I like the characters at the moment are Frank, then Curtis, then Micro, then Billy, and blah blah.
- Ugh. Now I hate the cop even more.
- Only a matter of time before Lewis killed someone. At least it was another shitty person.
- Oh noooo bad guy is bad guy. (Downside to knowing the source material ahead of time)

Episode 7 - "Crosshairs"

- "And in my first memories, they shot Kennedy." Damn it, Leewis Harvey Oswald. Side note, I hope this actor doesn't get typecast as murdering military guy forever.
- Riggs did it better.
- Um...five second rule?
- Fuuuuck bullet proof glass.

Episode 8 - "Cold Steel"

- Quantity of sex scenes versus quality. Hmm...
- And there's the kiss. Micro's going to be piiiiiiissed.
- Micro doesn't need to show him his junk. He was naked in the chair, remember? Funny convo and a great exchange between the two though. I liked this scene a lot.
- And there goes Stein. Figured that had to happen.
- By now, I've been awake 24 hours straight, so I'll be taking a snooze and picking this back up real soon. Stay tuned for more reactions and the Reviewpoint later today!

Episode 9 - "Front Toward Enemy"

- Alright, let's return to schedule.
- Surprised Karen is on this Langtry show instead of Trish Walker's.
- 37? In a row??? (points if you get that joke)
- Better not kill Curtis.
- Good.

Episode 10 - "Virtue of the Vicious"

- Those parakeets are broken. Sure you didn't buy them from Lloyd Christmas?
- One of the problems with these Netflix shows is that I always feel like there's a subplot or two (or three) that are built in purely to stretch it. This Lewis situation is interesting, but it isn't furthering much of the narrative of the original goal. It's just giving everyone more to do. Instead, I'd rather see this be the pure and only focal point of a six episode arc that is separate and not interwoven sometimes. I think it would be smarter if Marvel released six episodes at a time of these shows to make it easier to binge, keep things tighter, and roll them out more often throughout the year instead of 2-3 bulk chunks of 13 episodes.
- That being said, I do find it interesting to pair Punisher up with a PTSD guy. But it feels so much like a detour with this senator's introduction coming in so late.
- A guy like Castle would never be vindicated in the real world. Too many conspiracies for and against him, despite how we know he's the good guy (albeit flawed).
- Anvil is such a cool word.
- Great scene with the bomb in the kitchen. One of the best this whole season.

Episode 11 - "Danger Close"

- Forgot about Mastrantonio. I thought she would amount to more by now.
- Home Alone?
- LOL that's not a hand grenade, that's a head grenade.

Episode 12 - "Home"

- Micro better not be dead. That was one of the things I hated about Punisher: War Zone. If they make the same mistake twice, I'll be pissed.
- Woo! Alright. Good.
- Does Frank go to the dentist to fix that missing tooth, or does he just staple it back in or something?
- I hope Maria doesn't call him sleepy head when they're having sex. They're in the bed, after all.
- I really thought this would be the episode where Billy gets disfigured.

Episode 13 - "Memento Mori"

- Ever notice how in movies, whenever someone takes a bullet out, they always drop it onto a metallic surface that makes a satisfying tack-clank sound? I love that.
- I wonder what the body count for this show is.
- Well I guess I was officially wrong about Rafi and James being evil. They're just conflicted bureaucrats rather than legitimate "villains" of the normal sense.
- Haha Sarah needs it. Remember, he's supposed to be hung like a horse.
- I hope Carl lasts longer than Micro.
- There's one hole for Jigsaw's face.
- Well Dinah's not dead, that's for sure.
- A little closer to Jigsaw with every face smash into that mirror.
- I'm still not buying that she's dead.
- And she's not.
- I like the somber ending. It fits.

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Justice League.

What were the positives and negatives of Justice League? Did it live up to the hype or was it a disappointment?

Check out the podcast below on YouTube, iTunes, and Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe and tell us your thoughts on Justice League in the comments below!

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes -- Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash -- it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

The first trailer to what has proven to be one of the funniest MCU movie series of all time (to date, of course) was built around Blue Suede's 1974 cover of Mark James' "Hooked on a Feeling", first released in 1968.

The song was featured on the "Awesome Mixtape" the protagonist, Peter Quill, receives from his mother upon her death—a cassette tape that is on his person when he is abducted by aliens on the night she passes away. This is one of the reasons why this Guardians of the Galaxy 2 death is so important: it gives us, the viewers, the opportunity to take a peek into who Meredith Quill actually was - through her musical tastes. And it tells us a story, too, that's not revealed until the second volume of the Peter Quill saga. Just look at the titles of the songs:

• Hooked on a Feeling (falling for Ego)
• Go All the Way
• Spirit in the Sky (Ego, obviously)
• Moonage Daydream, in which David Bowie says he is a space invader
• Fooled Around and Fell in Love
• I'm Not in Love
• I Want You Back (these two songs hint on inevitable relationship issues - they may or may not be revealed later)
• Come and Get Your Love
• Cherry Bomb (I'm the fox you've been waiting for)
• Escape (possibly referring to Ego leaving)
• O-o-oh Child (We'll get it together and we'll get it all done)
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough ("If you need me call me no matter where you are", giving us a hint that Star-Lord will become a hero in the end)

The second Awesome Mixtape also contains quite a few songs that fit perfectly into the story of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Once again, take a look at the track listing: ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" is possibly a reference to Ego (or maybe to Yondu, considering the color), Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" is obvious, and the list could go on forever.

While it often seems nothing but a backdrop for the things happening on-screen, music - or rather the value of music in the eyes of the protagonist - has an important part in the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie, too. If at first, we all think of Yondu as a character that exploited young Peter instead of delivering him to his father, in the end, he proves to be much more: an affectionate person and a surrogate father for the small, skinny earthling.

The final gift he gives to Star-Lord is symbolic in this aspect. If the last gift he received from his dying mother was the second Awesome Mixtape, the parting gift he got from his surrogate father (who has proven that he loved him more than his true one) was the third, a Zune filled with 300 tracks. At the same time, we witness the destruction of Peter's beloved Walkman, which is once again symbolic. By taking revenge on Ego, Star-Lord can finally let go of the memory of his late mother and start something new. In a deleted scene, Traffic and Alice Cooper are mentioned, so maybe we can expect some more recent and "wilder" songs to make it in the third installment of the series as reflective of the difference between his mother's softer side and his surrogate father's more rebellious edge.

James Gunn has recently tweeted the following about the upcoming third installment's soundtrack:

I have it down to 181 songs. That list could get longer. https://t.co/byRjdfSa07

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 2, 2017

That's a lot of music to be crammed into a single movie, don't you think?

What songs are you interested in seeing shape the way Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is constructed? Tell us your mixtape suggestions in the comments section below!

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Thor: Ragnarok.

What were the positives and negatives of Thor: Ragnarok? Did it live up to the hype or was it a disappointment?

Check out the podcast below on YouTube, iTunes, and Stitcher. Make sure to subscribe and tell us your thoughts on Thor: Ragnarok in the comments below!

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor's quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Welcome to another edition of 6 Flicks Picks, wherein I list all of the upcoming films that are scheduled to be released in the United States for the month which is about to begin and break down which ones I'll be watching in theaters, which ones I'll wait to rent at home, and which ones I'll be skipping out on entirely. After going through the list, I'll choose which six films stand out to me as the ones I want to see the most, even if there are more or less than six that interest me.

Note: The list below is based primarily off the expanded nationwide USA release dates on IMDB as well as some other random outlets if possible, so some information may be different. If I am missing some of the limited releases or the dates conflict in some fashion, please let me know in the comments below and any adjustments and corrections will be made!

Without further ado, another new month means another new set of films, so what's coming soon to theaters in November 2017?

Thor: Ragnarok

Synopsis: Imprisoned, the mighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.

Will I watch? = Yes

A Bad Moms Christmas

Synopsis: A Bad Moms Christmas follows our three under-appreciated and over- burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas.

Will I watch? = No

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Synopsis: Denzel Washington stars as Roman Israel, a driven, idealistic defense attorney who, through a tumultuous series of events, finds himself in a crisis that leads to extreme action.

Will I watch? = No

Last Flag Flying

Synopsis: Thirty years after they served together in Vietnam, a former Navy Corpsman Larry "Doc" Shepherd re-unites with his old buddies, former Marines Sal Nealon and Reverend Richard Mueller, to bury his son, a young Marine killed in the Iraq War.

Will I watch? = No

Lady Bird

Synopsis: The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year.

Will I watch? = No

Ittefaq

Synopsis: A police officer is investigating a double murder case that has only two witnesses who are also the prime suspects. The suspects - Vikram, an acclaimed writer, and Maya, a young homemaker, have different narratives about the events of that fateful night.

Will I watch? = No

Blade of the Immortal

Synopsis: Manji, a highly skilled samurai, becomes cursed with immortality after a legendary battle. Haunted by the brutal murder of his sister, Manji knows that only fighting evil will regain his soul. He promises to help a young girl named Rin avenge her parents, who were killed by a group of master swordsmen led by ruthless warrior Anotsu. The mission will change Manji in ways he could never imagine - the 100th film by master director Takashi Miike.

Will I watch? = No

My Friend Dahmer

Synopsis: Before Jeffrey Dahmer became a notorious serial killer, he was a shy, alcoholic teen who never quite fit in. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Derf Backderf, this is the true, haunting story of Jeffrey Dahmer in high school.

Will I watch? = Maybe

LBJ

Synopsis: The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

Will I watch? = No


Murder on the Orient Express

Synopsis: A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish & suspenseful mystery. From the novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells of thirteen stranded strangers & one man's race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Daddy's Home 2

Synopsis: Brad and Dusty must deal with their intrusive fathers during the holidays.

Will I watch? = No

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Synopsis: In this darkly comic drama, a mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder, when they fail to catch the culprit.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Thelma

Synopsis: A woman begins to fall in love, only to discover that she has fantastic powers.

Will I watch? = Maybe


Justice League

Synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

Will I watch? = Yes

Wonder

Synopsis: Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

Will I watch? = No

The Star

Synopsis: A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the first Christmas.

Will I watch? = No

I Love You, Daddy

Synopsis: When a successful television writer's daughter becomes the interest of an aging filmmaker with an appalling past, he becomes worried on how to handle the situation.

Will I watch? = No


Coco

Synopsis: Aspiring musician Miguel teams up with charming trickster Hector on an extraordinary journey through the Land of the Dead.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Darkest Hour

Synopsis: During the early days of World War II, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds.

Will I watch? = No

Polaroid

Synopsis: High school loner Bird Fitcher has no idea what dark secrets are tied to the mysterious Polaroid vintage camera she stumbles upon, but it doesn't take long to discover that those who have their picture taken meet a tragic end.

Will I watch? = No

Call Me by Your Name

Synopsis: In 1983, the son of an American professor is enamored by the graduate student who comes to study and live with his family in their northern Italian home. Together, they share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will forever change them.

Will I watch? = No

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Synopsis: The journey that led to Charles Dickens' creation of "A Christmas Carol," a timeless tale that would redefine the holiday.

Will I watch? = No

Chappaquiddick

Synopsis: Ted Kennedy's life and political career become derailed in the aftermath of a fatal car accident in 1969 that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Will I watch? = Maybe


Which films make the cut?

6. Coco — This looks more like a Dreamworks type film and not up to the regular Pixar quality, but because it's Pixar, it edges out the others that don't quite make the list, like Wonder and Three Billboards and Chappaquiddick.

5. My Friend Dahmer — I don't know too much about Dahmer, but this trailer kept my interest enough to make me curious about what he was like before what we regularly do know about him, so why not?

4. Thelma — Interesting song for the trailer, someone acquiring powers...okay, this could be a Movie Pass type deal for sure.

3. Murder on the Orient Express — Now we're in the films that I can actually see myself watching in theaters. I had read the book many, many years ago (we're talking like 15+...holy shit I feel old) and I enjoyed it at the time, so there's no reason why I shouldn't want to see a movie adaptation that has such a great cast like this.

2. Thor: Ragnarok — Bought my tickets weeks upon weeks ago. You shouldn't be shocked at all.

1. Justice League — Excuse me, it's fucking Batman. Of course this is #1. I still maintain that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (at least the Ultimate Edition) is fucking awesome, so even though I have my doubts about this being as good as Marvel's The Avengers, it's still one of my most anticipated films of the entire year, behind The Last Jedi.