Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Saturday, December 12, 2015
On episode 21 of the FA Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on the Star Wars saga by reviewing all of the six films released to date to lead into the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens coming out December 18th, 2015.
Host: Tony Mango
Panelists: Calen Ferris, Shaun Walker, and Angie Williams.
THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, December 11, 2015
On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse released earlier today.
Hosted by Tony Mango
Some topics I address:
Sophie Turner as Jean Grey
Apocalypse's look and voice
Bald James McAvoy / Charles Xavier
Apocalypse growing in size
Is this going to have too much Mystique in it?
and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
OFFICIAL TRAILER:
TRAILER REACTION:
Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
X-Men: Apocalypse will be released in theaters May 27, 2016.
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Written by: Simon Kinberg (screenplay), Bryan Singer (story), Michael Dougherty (story), Dan Harris (story)
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence (Raven / Mystique), Michael Fassbender (Erik Lensherr / Magneto), James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Oscar Isaac (En Sabah Nur / Apocalypse), Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy / Beast), Evan Peters (Quicksilver), Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Tye Sheridan (Scott Summers / Cyclops), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler), Lucas Till (Alex Summers / Havok), Olivia Munn (Betsy Braddock / Psylocke) and Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert)
When it was announced that the Star Wars saga would be continuing with more feature films, I was both ecstatic as well as nervous. There's so much potential in this universe, but there's also a high possibility that the magic of the previous films can't be recaptured. So far, what we've seen from The Force Awakens gives me goosebumps, but I still have my reservations, and the more I learn, the more I'm convinced I will either absolutely love or absolutely hate that film.
Whether the story of the Skywalker family continues the way I think it should is one thing, but another project being worked on is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, originally titled Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One. This will be the first of many spinoff pictures dealing with events outside of the "episode" films, although they will keep the same continuity. The focal point of Rogue One is the operation to steal the technical readout of the Death Star, which takes place before the events of Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope.
This sounds pretty awesome, right? Fans of the series would love to see this story unfold, even though we know the end result. What we don't know, however, is what else is brought to the table to fill in the gaps. After watching Star Wars Rebels and being more in the mindset of this era, I figured I would present to you a list of five things I feel are necessary for this movie's success.
1. Dark, Gritty Tone
Before you roll your eyes and scoff at the idea, saying Star Wars is for kids, let's not forget that these aren't G-rated movies you'll watch on the Sprout network. Limbs get chopped off, people die during childbirth, genocide is a negotiation tactic, and Jesus Christ slaughters children, for fuck's sake.
Master Skywalker, is it time for our next training sess-OMG WTF ARE YOU DOING!?
One of the phrases being tossed around about Rogue One is that it will put the word "wars" back in Star Wars, and that's exactly what I'm hoping for. This isn't a rebellion on the schoolyard; it's for control of an entire galaxy. People will die. Scumbags will prosper by selling out the heroes to cover their own hides. Many Bothans died to find out the information from Return of the Jedi, so which lives were lost for the greater good when it comes to getting the Death Star plans?
Just like in any other war film, we need to see the horrors of battle. Do you remember how sad you felt when Jek Porkins died? No, you laughed, because he was a fat idiot who got what he deserved. We need to avoid that kind of expendability when it comes to our characters. If Person X eats a blaster bolt to the chest, he or she should be in agony, if not dead, from a smoking crater in his or her torso.
I'm not saying this needs to be overly gory or take too many cues from Apocalypse Now, but it needs to be more along the lines of Saving Private Ryan than the army men from Toy Story, as cool as those little guys were. Director Gareth Edwards seems to have a nice balance of darkness with Godzilla and Monsters, the latter of which is definitely not the most upbeat in mood. Considering how this franchise has books, comics, toys, a more lighthearted animated program, and other outlets, this movie doesn't need to be marketed to kids. This series has more than enough of a fan base that it will make a disgusting amount of money without having to get the younger audience. The kids can skip this one. Make it a hard PG-13—the type where some things need to be slightly edited because it originally got an R-rating from the MPAA—and I guarantee it will breathe a new life in the franchise.
2. Smarter Comedic Relief
Piggybacking off the idea of having a darker tone, obviously the whole thing can't be depressing from start to finish or it will be tough to watch. People can stomach a movie like The Avengers more than Schindler's List, so we need some laughs to slip through the cracks.
That being said, they can't take any shortcuts to those moments of levity that break up the gloomy atmosphere. Earn the jokes and place them at the right timing for them to be something the audience is receptive to, rather than having a producer hand down the note of "we need more laughs" and you just start inserting them into random scenes.
More importantly is the type of humor that needs to be displayed. One of the absolute biggest flaws in the prequel trilogy was what George Lucas referred to as "the key to all this"…
Lucas even basically admits that Jar Jar Binks runs a risk of being too silly, yet he didn't have the foresight to realize just how ridiculously things went out of hand. I don't expect anything near this extreme, but anything even remotely close is unacceptable. There can't be a character that is there just to make jokes and serve no other function to the story. Yes, there should be a "funny guy," as every team has one to offset "the smart guy" as well as "the heart of the team" and "the tough guy" tropes. That funny guy also needs to be on the team because he matters in some way in the universe itself. If you ignore the fourth wall convention of the character being necessary because he's good for laughs and you can't think of any other reason for the character to exist, then you need to think of a reason.
I also need to stress that the comedy this person is responsible for cannot under any circumstance boil down to poop jokes and pratfalls. If that's the best these writers can do, they should quit and go work in another profession. The scene in Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones where Obi-Wan Kenobi casually tells a drug dealer to go rethink his life wasn't the funniest thing in the world, but it got a legitimate chuckle out of the audience when I first saw it. Of course, Han Solo has his funny moments, only one of which was a little too over-the-top for what I want to see in Rogue One, which is when he runs away from the Stormtroopers. Less of that, more of the lines like "Who's scruffy looking?"
3. Lineage of the Faceless Enemy
Speaking of the ineptitude of the Stormtroopers who should have been able to shoot Han Solo and change the course of the original trilogy right there in the hallway, there's a lot to be discussed when it comes to the Imperial forces of evil.
Except, you know, they're not. In fact, the piss poor aim the Stormtroopers have is not just made fun of, it's actually been subject of thousands of fan theories about why this happens. These guys are the best in the galaxy, feared in every system, but they can't shoot a gun properly? How bad must the rejects at the academy be, then? Do they just shoot themselves in the face immediately when they're given a blaster?
One theory that I actually like quite a bit is that there's a combination of two factors at play: a) technological decay and b) hubris. In Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace we see human beings and Jedi go up against the cheap robots of the Trade Federation. We learn later on that these are mass produced as disposable and are basically nothing but walking gun turrets. The Republic, on the other hand, have the Clonetroopers, which are a trained and sentient militia based on the genetics of one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy, Jango Fett. They kick ass, which is why they can mow down those droids like blades of grass. Eventually, the Clonetroopers turn on the Jedi with Order 66, and that's where our story leaves off.
a) What if the reason why the Stormtroopers aren't as proficient as the Clonetroopers is due to their age? It's been over 20 years since Attack of the Clones by the time we get to A New Hope, and the clones are said to go through a process that speeds up their aging. Their cellular structure has to be weird, and they probably break down quicker than normal humans. Also, if you think The Empire can just whip up a new batch, it takes time to breed them and the host, Jango Fett, is dead. Which is a better quality picture: the original or the copy? Trying to breed more clones from a clone's DNA wouldn't yield results as strong as from the true source itself.
b) If the Clonetroopers are so much of a pain to deal with and such a high expense, maybe The Emperor decided they weren't necessary. They already have taken control of the galaxy and people recognize the armor, so it would be cheaper and easier to just put normal people behind the helmets and cut your losses than to try to build a whole new army. Maybe The Empire thinks enough fear has been built up that there doesn't need to be as much actual demonstration of what should be feared until, you know, that big honkin' Death Star shows up and puts a new definition on the term.
What I'd like to see is for that darker tone to be represented with Stormtroopers who are good shots and can kill with precision, but also incorporating Clonetroopers and even the leftover droids. They're valuable resources that wouldn't have been just cast aside, right? Maybe there's a scene where a few Clonetroopers are starting to break down and can't perform as well as before and that allows our heroes to get the jump on them. Maybe they can even reprogram some of those Super Battle Droids to fight for their side. How cool would it be to see a Droideka fighting for the rebellion? There shouldn't just be no more droids or Clonetroopers in Rogue One.
4. The Absence of the Jedi Order
As much as you will hear me say that my least favorite part of Star Wars is the aliens and spaceships and that I prefer the storyline of the Jedi and the Force, I'm not of the group that wants there to be a Jedi on the team for this mission. In fact, I want there to be a noticeable absence of Jedi.
My favorite movie of all time is Terminator 2: Judgment Day and one of the reasons it works so well is because it puts a twist on what the first film did. In The Terminator, it's pretty clear that every cyborg is out to kill every human, but wouldn't it be interesting if one of those machines was actually helping John Connor instead of hunting him? With Star Wars, though, we've already seen the Jedi helping out the Republic and fighting at the forefront of the Rebel Alliance. This is an era where Han Solo thinks they don't even exist and Imperial guards have the balls to tell Darth Vader that he's an idiot for believing in a false religion. The opposite effect should take place here, where we see what it's like to not have a superhero in your ranks. Even in the original trilogy, Luke was the savior and the ace in the hole. What's a rebellion to do when it's just a ragtag group of grunts and soldiers? As skilled as they may be, they're nothing compared to someone who is tapped into The Force.
Do the Inquisitors have a role as the Big Bad that is almost unstoppable to get past? Does anyone remember the Jedi Order? Did they fall for Palpatine's trick when he blamed things on the Jedi and made them outlaws? The lack of Jedi needs to be addressed in some fashion, but there's no need to create some new Jedi that happened to survive extinction other than Yoda and Kenobi just for the sake of adding him/her into the film.
5. Darth Mother F'n Vader
I know I said the Jedi shouldn't be in here, but I didn't say the Sith should follow suit. In fact, Darth Vader has to have a presence one way or another. He's too big of a character at this time frame not to be shown in some capacity, even if it's just for a quick cameo.
Ideally, what I'd like to see is for Vader to be the looming threat that comes hammering down at the end of the film. All throughout the setup, there's talk that Darth Vader may be involved and people are deathly afraid of what would happen if they crossed paths with him. Thankfully for them, they manage to avoid him for the better part of the story, but unfortunately, their luck runs out. Vader at this point is an absolute beast with no real morality, putting down anyone in his way. It would be awesome to see him show up as the embodiment of impending doom. Once he's onto you, you are screwed. People can sacrifice themselves in a failed attempt to stop him so the others can continue the mission, but he just keeps coming. By some luck (and the will of The Force), very few of our heroes are able to escape with the plans in tact. The Empire has failed to prevent this leak from happening, and someone has to answer for it. This is where Vader, in true form, can use The Force to strangle the primary general, admiral, governor, or whoever is the man in charge. The guy does like to choke people.
What are you hoping to see in Rogue One?
Are you excited for this story to be told?
What other ideas for spinoff movies do you have in mind?
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, December 10, 2015
The 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place January 10, 2016 at 5pm Pacific on NBC, hosted by Ricky Gervais. Here are the nominees for all of the categories. Give us your predictions on the winners and your favorites in the comments below!
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Idris Elba, Luther
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
David Oyelowo, Nightingale
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Patrick Wilson, Fargo
Original Score, Motion Picture
Carter Burwell, Carol
Alexander Desplat, The Danish Girl
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Daniel Pemberton, Steve Jobs
Ryuchi Sakamoto, The Revanant
Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language The Brand New Testament The Club The Fencer Mustang Son of Saul
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Joanna Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Regina King, American Crime
Judith Light, Transparent
Moira Tierney, The Affair
Best Television Series, Musical Casual, Hulu Mozart in the Jungle, Amazon Video Orange Is the New Black, Netflix Silicon Valley, HBO Transparent, Amazon Video Veep, HBO
Best Motion Picture, Animated Anomalisa The Good Dinosaur Inside Out The Peanuts Movie Shaun the Sheep Movie
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Queen Latifah, Bessie
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damien Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelson, Bloodline
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Best Original Song, Motion Picture
"Love Me LIke You Do," Fifty Shades of Grey
"One Kind of Love," Love & Mercy
"See You Again," Furious 7
"Simple Song #3," Youth
"Writing's on the Wall," Spectre
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television American Crime, ABC American Horror Story: Hotel, FX Fargo, FX Flesh and Bone, Starz Wolf Hall, PBS
Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodrgiuez, Jane the Virgin
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Emma Donoghue, Room
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Charles Randolph & Adam McKay, The Big Short
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Gael GarcÃa Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Rob Lowe, The Grinder
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Best Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy The Big Short Joy The Martian Spy Trainwreck
Best Television Series, Drama Empire, Fox Game of Thrones, HBO Mr. Robot, USA Narcos, Netflix Outlander, Starz
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Steve Carell, The Big Short
Matt Damon, The Martian
Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear
Best Director, Motion Picture
Todd Haines, Carol
Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott, The Martian
Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Wagner Moura, Narcos
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Best Performance by Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hateful Eight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Paul Dano, Love
Idris Elba, Beast of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Edide Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Will Smith, Concussion
Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Melissa McCarthy, Spy
Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Lily Tomlin, Grandma
Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saiorse Ronin, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Best Motion Picture, Drama Carol Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Room Spotlight
On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
Does it look any better than the first film, which was a disappointment to us, or do we feel like we're in store for the same nonsense again? What are we most excited about and what has us going back in our shells from anxiety? Are we more interested to see it after this trailer or does this make us not want to spend our money on some of our beloved childhood characters?
Hosted by Tony Mango along with Mike Paden and Shaun Walker
Some topics we address:
Turtle Van
It's Tricky by Run D.M.C.
Is schoolgirl Megan Fox sexy or not hot at all?
Casey Jones
Bebop and Rocksteady (WWE's Sheamus)
New Shredder and Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman
Who is Laura Linney?
What's Elias Koteas been up to?
The subtitle "Out of the Shadows"
and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
OFFICIAL TRAILER:
TRAILER REACTION:
Leonardo, Raphael, Michalengelo, and Donatello face off against new threats and enemies in the form of: mechanical aliens, a mad scientist named Dr. Baxter Stockman, Bebop and Rocksteady. They also once again have to confront their greatest enemy, The Shredder, and his Foot Clan. The Turtles are equipped with the help of Vern, April and a new vigilante named Casey Jones.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows will be released in theaters June 3, 2016.
Starring: Megan Fox (April O'Neil), Stephen Amell (Casey Jones), Laura Linney, Johnny Knoxville (Leonardo), Alan Ritchson (Raphael), Noel Fisher (Michelangelo), Jeremy Howard (Donatello), Tony Shalhoub (Splinter), Brian Tee (Shredder), Stephen Farrelly (Rocksteady), Gary Anthony Williams (Bebop) and Tyler Perry (Baxter Stockman)
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 129 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, Frank Ward, and Gibby!!
::SPORTS NEWS::
The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game ofWho Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week,and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Tuesday, December 8, 2015
We're only a few weeks away from the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens, so the time for predictions is coming down to the wire. While I've been trying to stay away from spoilers and only check out official trailers and such, I can't help but to have my own predictions going forward, and one of those things in particular is about who is going to die.
In nearly every film in the Star Wars saga, a noteworthy character dies. This is especially true in the first and final installments of the trilogies, and since this is the beginning of a new set of films, I wholeheartedly expect there to be a handful of deaths. In fact, I'm going so far as to say we will see at least five deaths that will resonate with the audience in one way or another.
Who will those five deaths include, though? Let's break them down.
1) The Rebel Pilot Death
In Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, one of the deaths that is overlooked but shouldn't be is Biggs Darklighter. Biggs is a childhood friend of Luke's who is essentially set up as a sort of big brother to him. Luke looks up to Biggs, and when he's killed by Darth Vader, that's when things get dire for Skywalker and the fun stops.
Right now, you might be thinking that Poe Dameron—the most widely advertised member of Black Squadron—is the easy target for this section, but I think he'll be making it out of this film alive. We haven't seen all that much about Poe, but he's been said to be an important character. My guess is he'll be the love interest for Rey (if her love interest isn't Finn), so he'll be sticking around for a few more movies, even though he's being tortured in the trailer by Kylo Ren.
Instead, I think Greg Grunberg's character is the one that will fill this role. I can see him being someone that Poe is friends with and filling sort of a Wedge Antilles position in the cast as someone who will be remembered, but not spoken about often. Grunberg is such a likable guy, so in a short time frame, he could make the audience care about him and then feel bad that his ship totally gets blown to pieces instead of us laughing like when Porkins wasn't quite alright or not remembering Dack's name most of the time.
2) A New Republic Figurehead
Leia is clearly going to be one of the primary faces of the New Republic considering how important she was during the original trilogy and how she was a well-known political figure from Alderaan. In fact, she might be at the top of the pecking order already, but if by some chance she isn't, I'm confident in saying she will be by the end of this movie.
Admiral Ackbar is confirmed to be in the film and I can't imagine him getting much more screen time than what he got in Return of the Jedi, which was pretty nominal. The same goes for Mon Mothma, who may be in the movie as the leader of the New Republic above Leia. If that is the case, Mothma will die to make room for Leia to move up in the ranks. If Mothma is already taken out of the equation before the events of the film, then I'm expecting Ackbar to turn into fried Mon Calamari. The death of one of the most distinguished generals will be a big loss for our heroes.
Although we don't know too many details about their characters, I think the two that could fill this role are those played by Max von Sydow and Lupita Nyong'o. The former is supposedly playing Lor San Tekka—a villager with information. The latter's character, Maz Kanata, is a pirate who has been around for a long time and could also be spilling some information before spilling her guts. One of these two, if not both, are definitely going to be destroyed by the First Order. I'm 100% positive about that. I expect them to not even still be alive by the midway point of the movie as their deaths could be great tools to show how dangerous our new villains are.
4) The Big Villain Death
As dangerous as they'll be, it's not just heroes that die in these films and we can't forget about the obligatory comeuppances for greed and evil. In A New Hope, countless Imperial forces are killed when the Death Star explodes, but none of them are as featured as Grand Moff Tarkin. Losing the various governors, admirals, captains and so on just to see them replaced by someone else in the next installment is a staple of this franchise, so I'm putting a lot of faith on General Hux going up in flames when Starkiller Base is invaded.
Although I'm not as confident in my next prediction, I do think that there's a good chance Captain Phasma is killed off as well. While Hux is someone who Poe Dameron can waste in an X-Wing, Phasma's death would be better served at the hands of Finn, if she's his superior officer while he was a Stormtrooper. That would be the ultimate sign that he's ditched his former alignment and fully joined the side of good. You may think that she's too important of a character to be killed off in the first movie, but many other characters didn't make it past their first film. Sure, Zam Wesell and Greedo are nothing, but Jango Fett and Darth Maul are huge deaths that Phasma would be on par with.
Look, we all know Kylo Ren isn't going anywhere, nor would they introduce Supreme Leader Snoke and have him not be quite so supreme. Phasma and Hux are the two most expendable of the main baddies, and even if one of them makes it to Episode 8, the other one won't.
5) The Main Hero Death
Sadly, the first film of both trilogies has seen the death of a mentor character for our heroes. The main example of this is Obi-Wan Kenobi's sacrifice in A New Hope, as he fades away to become more powerful than Darth Vader can imagine, despite how he really doesn't live up to that hype. In The Phantom Menace, it's Qui-Gon Jinn who fails to fade away on-screen because he's yet to finish the last chapter in his book "How to Become a Force Ghost For Dummies" and saves that for another time.
Since both are bearded Jedi, one would think that Luke Skywalker fits the trope, but I think he's safe. Instead, I'm worried about not one, but two of the most popular characters in the Star Wars franchise: Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Exhibit A is the image of Rey crying over someone's body in the trailer.
Or maybe someone just sprayed her with a water gun. I mean, a water blaster.
Clearly, this is someone who she is enamored with in some fashion. The four most likely candidates from the information we know so far are Finn, Poe Dameron, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Why? Well,we can see that brown is the predominant color. We all know Finn and Rey interact with each other, and Finn has been seen wearing the same brown jacket that Poe wears. We can assume it's the same jacket. Also, since BB-8 is Poe's astromech droid and we have seen BB-8 and Rey together, it's fair to assume Poe and Rey cross paths. However, those two aren't likely to be set up as the new faces of this franchise and then die, so I'm ruling them out.
We also have seen shots of Rey and Finn in the Millennium Falcon and spending time with Han Solo and Chewbacca—both of whom are no stranger to brown as that's half of what Solo's wardrobe consists of and all of Chewbacca's, obviously. That part on the right side of the photograph could be Chewie's bandolier.
Han Solo makes so much sense to me that as soon as Harrison Ford was announced to be in the film, I was speculating how he would die. Lest we not forget that he was almost killed off in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so there's a precedent for this sort of story to be told. Han also makes sense because he'll be the mentor for Rey and Finn (as well as possibly Poe) and that position just screams sacrifice. Although I don't know how much stock to put into the rumor, I had heard rumblings that Han could be killed in a way where he has to trust Luke telling him that that's how things have to be. This could be a scenario where Luke has a vision of what's to come and passes that information along to Han, breaking the bad news that it's time for him to die in order to prevent a bigger disaster. I will be beyond shocked if we don't hear Han say "That's three you owe me, junior."
And then there's Chewbacca. It sounds like blasphemy to say it, but let's face the facts—without Han Solo, there's no reason to keep Chewbacca around. Now, perhaps Han won't die, but Chewbacca will, and Han will be paired up with Lando for Episode 8 or just interact more with Leia, Luke, or even Finn/Rey/Poe. However, with Peter Mayhew's health in concern, I can't imagine Chewbacca continuing on. There really isn't much of a reason to keep him around. Chewbacca is a textbook supporting character. He doesn't offer much to the plot and the cast in this movie is so overloaded. How can we find time to properly utilize Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, Poe Dameron, Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, General Hux, Supreme Leader Snoke, Maz Kanata and more? The most expendable of the bunch is Chewbacca, who has been killed off in the now non-canon Expanded Universe before, so it's not as though he's too sacred of a character to kick the bucket.
I would not be surprised to see Chewbacca honor his life debt to Han Solo by sacrificing himself around the 3/4 mark and for Han to be killed at the very end, or carry the guilt of Chewbacca's death into Episode 8. Killing Chewbacca would be like killing a dog. There's no way the audience won't feel a pit in their stomach seeing him breathe his last breath. He's too loyal of a hero to not evoke the feels when he passes the ultimate test of loyalty.
Those are my theories, but where do you stand? Who do you think will end up being killed off in The Force Awakens? Do you agree or disagree with my list, and if so, why?
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Monday, December 7, 2015
On episode 26 of the Fanboys Anonymous Group Meeting podcast, the panel has a roundtable discussion about the changes made to the Star Wars special editions over the years and whether or not people should only watch the original cuts.
Hosted by Tony Mango, the panel includes Calen Ferris, Sam Lascio, Shaun Walker, Drew White and Angie Williams.
Some topics we address:
Han shot first vs. Greedo shot first
Jabba the Hutt deleted scene added to A New Hope
Updated visual effects and remastered sound
Ian McDiarmid added to The Empire Strikes Back
Temuera Morrison redubs voice for Boba Fett
Max Rebo Band
Victory Celebration vs Ewok Celebration
Hayden Christensen Force ghost
CGI Yoda in The Phantom Menace
And more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, December 3, 2015
On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice released earlier today on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
This was the second official trailer for the film, giving us a deeper look at things to come and our first look at some things that we might not have seen coming at all.
Hosted by Tony Mango along with Shaun Walker
Some topics we address:
First look at Doomsday
The Trinity forms together and stands tall
Is Lex Luthor too goofy?
The Son of Krypton vs The Bat of Gotham
and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
OFFICIAL TRAILER:
TRAILER REACTION:
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released in theaters March 25, 2016.
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer
Starring: Ben Affleck (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Henry Cavill (Clark Kent / Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), Holly Hunter (Senator Finch), Gal Gadot (Diana Prince / Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry / Aquaman), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Scoot McNairy, Ray Fisher (Victor Stone) and Laurence Fishburne (Perry White)
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 128 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Frank Ward and Gibby!!
::SPORTS NEWS::
The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game ofWho Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week,and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Over the years, the Star Wars story has changed many times. Once, it was a tale from the Journal of the Whills about characters like The Starkiller family (Kane, Deak and Annikin) along with General Luke Skywalker, Clieg Whitsun, Governor Crispin Hoedaack and more. Eventually, it became what it is today. But even when the first film came out, it was clear that the audience was being dropped into a world that had already been lived in, but we weren't privy to all the details. What were the Clone Wars? How did the Jedi go extinct? What the hell got into those Tusken Raiders to make them so grumpy? (We would later find out it's likely because they're Sand People and sand gets everywhere.)
Claim as much as he wants that he's had plans all along, obviously George Lucas has made some things up along the way, as evidenced by the kiss between Luke and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back despite being brother and sister. Either they weren't siblings until Episode VI or Lucas has some weird issues to work out. But when the prequel films came out, some big twists were thrown into the mix. The story suddenly shifted massively with the inclusion of a plot device: the prophecy.
WHAT WE KNOW
In The Phantom Menace, we're introduced to Anakin Skywalker and quickly, Qui-Gon Jinn can tell that he's sensitive to The Force. Upon testing his midi-chlorian count, it was apparently "off the charts" and measured at over 20,000—whatever that's supposed to mean. Currently in the official canon, midi-chlorians are microscopic lifeforms that act as symbiotic carriers of sorts for The Force that connect sentient beings together. They originated on a planet in the center of the galaxy which was also the source of life itself. Anakin was theorized to have been conceived by the midi-chlorians, resulting in his mother Shmi's virgin birth a la Jesus Christ parable.
Looks pretty barren, but it's still a better sight than Alderaan. What, too soon?
When the topic is brought up, Qui-Gon speculates that Anakin is "The Chosen One." Mace Windu helps clarify things to the audience by stating: "You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to The Force. You believe it's this boy?"
Suddenly, Star Wars is a drastically different story. Sure, nothing changes about what we've seen before like Greedo shooting first and then with an edit, the events that transpired are different, but an undercurrent of a story was added that we never knew existed before. Originally, Anakin Skywalker was good, turned bad, and then turned good. Now, it was actually the story of how The Chosen One fell from grace, but was able to turn things around and fulfill his destiny. Anakin didn't just so happen to destroy Emperor Palpatine, it was his literal reason for existence and what he was created to do. He was meant to do this and just took a detour. Heavy stuff.
Mission accomplished.
However, this is all very vague. Just how exactly does someone "bring balance" to this universal consciousness by destroying all of the heroes along the way? To many fans, they interpret this as a numbers game where at one point, Darth Vader and Darth Sidious were the only two users of the Dark Side (due to the Rule of Two—go look it up if you need more info on that) while Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda were the only two Jedi left on the Light Side. To those people, balance is a 2-vs-2 scenario.
To me, the numbers theory never made any sense, as Luke and Leia are clearly at least marginally using The Force at this time, making it 4-on-2. Then, when Kenobi and Yoda die, it goes back to 2-on-2, only for the scale to be tipped in the wrong direction again with the deaths of the Darths. At the end of Return of the Jedi, we're left with two Jedi on the Light Side. That's not a balance.
George Lucas has gone on record in saying that the prophecy is that Anakin will defeat the Dark Side. That simple. In the Expanded Universe / Legends telling—which exists in a limbo state now that all of these stories have been decreed as not officially canon nor not-canon until proven or disproven—it is described as such:
In the "may or may not be canon until something proves or disproves it" stories of the Expanded Universe, now dubbed Legends, the prophecy states the following:
In the time of greatest despair, a child shall be born who will destroy the Sith and bring balance to The Force.
Again, that's still pretty vague, and now that the stories are continuing, we're left questioning how this could be true if there are still Dark Side users as villains going forward.
You've sat through a lot to get to this point, but we're finally here. This is my proposal for what the prophecy really means.
DECIPHERING CLUES
The prophecy revolves around Anakin being born with the sole purpose of destroying the Dark Side. All of the miscellaneous details that people attribute to this are left up to interpretation, but not necessarily fact. Despite how there's a chance the Jedi were wrong and there really is no prophecy, which would retcon six films, if we assume that this is the most basic foundation, that's where we'll work from as our starting point.
Birthright is the central theme. Anakin had no father and the biggest twist in movie history was the revelation that he was Luke's father. Vader tells Luke that it is his destiny to rule the galaxy with him as father and son. Palpatine was a father figure to Anakin. Jedi Masters and their Padawan learners are like parents to children (or in some cases just as in real life, if the parent is killed, a big brother has to step in to raise his little brother, like what happened to Obi-Wan and Anakin) and every living being is a child of The Force. Even Dwayne Johnson, since Yoda explains that it exists between "the tree, The Rock, everywhere!"
Trust your instincts. Don't think, just smelllllll what Qui-Gon is cooking. (insert funeral pyre joke)
In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis, who was able to create life and learn how to prevent death. Palpatine doesn't know this power, but he dangles it in front of Anakin to lure him to the Dark Side, as Anakin has had traumatic visions of Padme's death. The last time these prophetic dreams happened, it was his mother Shmi's death, and it came true. Now, it's the mother of his children. Obviously, I don't need to explain how parentage comes into play here.
However, it's interesting to note that the main villain of the series is the man who killed his father figure who could create life and is destroyed by his surrogate son (with the help of his surrogate grandson) who was created to kill him.
Plagueis did something abominable by messing with The Force and manipulating it in a way it shouldn't have been manipulated and unlocked the ultimate secret of life that no being other than The Force itself has control over, by being able to set off a Big Bang in so many words. That's way too dangerous to be in the wrong hands, so The Force directly involved itself to create an equal and opposite reaction to put a stop to it: Anakin.
Think of Plagueis and Palpatine as a virus that gets introduced to a host body and starts taking over. The course of action to fix that problem is to send in an antivirus to wipe it out.
Slow down, Palpatine. Wrong idea here.
But if the Dark Side continues after Palpatine's death, how is the prophecy fulfilled? Well, it isn't so much that Anakin has to stab the Dark Side in the heart and kill it, but that he sets off a chain of events that will ultimately work out in the end.
THE CHAINS OF REACTION THAT SURROUND US AND BIND US
Shmi is a vessel—a test tube in which Anakin is born as an anomaly. Therefore, Anakin is the first true starting point in the Skywalker lineage that has an asterisk on it. All members of the family that come after him are direct descendants of not just Shmi, but The Force itself. Basically, if The Force is God and Anakin is Jesus Christ, then Luke Skywalker is Jesus Christ Jr. and the same applies to Leia. If either Luke or Leia have a son or daughter, they're following in the same footsteps.
Anakin is too old to begin the training, as are Luke and Leia, but that doesn't stop them from being extremely powerful, because it's in their genes. The Skywalker family is working with a genetic gold mine of Force potential to the point where not even the most powerful evil in the galaxy can match them.
The Jedi Order was dissolved because it was getting in the way of itself and had its head up its own ass. One of their rules is that you can't form attachments because emotions are easy to be manipulated, which makes it easier to succumb to the Dark Side. That is true, but there's something to be said about how a life without love is no life worth living. Anakin even says to Padme that from his perspective, they are "encouraged to love" despite what the rulebook says. You know why he can go offbook like that? Because he's Anakin f'n Skywalker—manifestation of The Force. Qui-Gon says that the midi-chlorians talk to them and this is The Force telling Anakin to ignore the bureaucracy of the Jedi Order and go with his gut and listen to what they have to say.
Padme's potential death being ignored by the Jedi Order leads to Anakin making a rash decision to defy them and turn against them, which sets Padme down the path of her demise. All things considered, an alternate universe could have seen the events unfold differently, where Yoda and company ensure that Padme is safe during childbirth, they take down Palpatine, the Jedi Order survives and the love between Anakin and Padme proves to be a lesson. They learn by Anakin's example and open up to the idea of love.
Since that didn't happen, the responsibility fell on Luke's shoulders. Luke's love for Leia and his friends propels much of the plot. Anakin's love of Luke saves the day. Qui-Gon is the first Force-user to come back from the dead as a ghost and that's because he defied the council and went with his heart. Obi-Wan Kenobi loves Anakin and that's why he's such a prominent role. Qui-Gon's father figure is Count Dooku, who was trained by Yoda. It all connects and boils down to love. The Jedi Order neglected this and needed to be rebooted. Now that Luke is the one responsible for dictating how things go, he's someone who knows more than anybody how powerful love can be and in the Expanded Universe, he eliminated this doctrine and allowed Jedi to marry.
The movies are now going to be broken up in two ways with Anthology films and Saga films. The former will be spin-off titles such as the upcoming Rogue One while it's been stated that the Episode ___ movies will continually focus on the Skywalker family. That's because the lineage is the most important thing.
Anakin is the Chosen One because he is the one to create the bloodline that will forever right the wrongs of the universe.
If the Dark Side is parasitic, then the midi-chlorians are white blood cells. If someone like Palpatine was a virus, then Anakin was the antivirus. Luke and Leia are the current holders of the mantle of Chosen One and when the Dark Side amasses enough power to become a threat to the galaxy (which we'll see in Episode VII on December 18th), then they and their surrounding friends they are connected to via love will correct the errors in play.
Whenever things get too dirty, a Skywalker will be there to act as the soap to clean it up. Anakin's removal of the Palpatine virus was the first bath and a new evil rises in the First Order. That is why The Force Awakens and decides to take a shower again to cleanse the galaxy of the Dark Side. Luke, Leia, and I'm assuming Rey if not Finn as well are the white blood cells now that Anakin is gone.
White blood cells, eh? Look familiar?
This way, the stories will continue and don't have a definitive end unless the Dark Side is completely and utterly eradicated for good. If there is ever an evil in power, a Skywalker will keep it in check, and it all started with Anakin—the boy who was created out of an absence of love, became the man whose actions were dictated by love, brought about some tough love to teach the Jedi what they were doing wrong, and was able to keep his love going on for generations through his children.
TL;DR = Anakin brings balance to The Force by being the first in a bloodline of guardians of the collective consciousness, all in the name of the one thing that joins us together, love.
What do you think of this interpretation? Am I completely insane and will be proven wrong in a few weeks when Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens comes out? Am I thinking way too hard and this is just a plot hole that Kathleen Kennedy is hoping we'll ignore so Disney can keep on making lots of money?
Tell us what you think and if you have any other theories on the prophecy in the comments below!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Tuesday, December 1, 2015
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 December 2015?
RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2015
Krampus
Synopsis: A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home.
Will I watch? = No
Chi-Raq
Synopsis: A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago.
Will I watch? = No
The Letters
Synopsis: A drama that explores the life of Mother Teresa through letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual advisor, Father Celeste van Exem over a nearly 50-year period.
Will I watch? = No
Macbeth
Synopsis: Macbeth, a Thane of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Youth
Synopsis: A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.
Will I watch? = No
A Royal Night Out
Synopsis: On V.E. Day in 1945, as peace extends across Europe, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed out to join the celebrations. It is a night full of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.
Will I watch? = No
The World of Kanako
Synopsis: As former detective Akikazu searches for his missing daughter, Kanako, he soon learns she has a mysterious secret life.
Will I watch? = /No
Life
Synopsis: A photographer for Life Magazine is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean.
Will I watch? = No
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Synopsis: Filmmakers discuss how Francois Truffaut's 1966 book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" influenced their work.
Will I watch? = No
Christmas Eve
Synopsis: Hilarity, romance, and transcendence prevail after a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers inside elevators on Christmas Eve.
Will I watch? = Maybe
MI-5
Synopsis: When a terrorist escapes custody during a routine handover, Will Holloway must team with disgraced MI5 Intelligence Chief Harry Pearce to track him down before an imminent terrorist attack on London.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2015
In the Heart of the Sea
Synopsis: Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The Big Short
Synopsis: Four outsiders in the world of high-finance who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s decide to take on the big banks for their lack of foresight and greed.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The Lady in the Van
Synopsis: A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her car that's parked in his driveway.
Will I watch? = No
The Dark Horse
Synopsis: An emotionally charged and inspiring drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities - finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: December 18, 2015
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Synopsis: Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami...and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother.
Will I watch? = No
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Synopsis: A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas and set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
Will I watch? = Yes
Sisters
Synopsis: Two sisters decide to throw one last house party before their parents sell their family home.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Son of Saul
Synopsis: In the horror of 1944 Auschwitz, a prisoner forced to burn the corpses of his own people finds moral survival upon trying to salvage from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: December 25, 2015
The Hateful Eight
Synopsis: In post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive?
Will I watch? = Yes
Joy
Synopsis: Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Daddy's Home
Synopsis: A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepdad to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
Will I watch? = No
Concussion
Synopsis: In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
Will I watch? = Yes
Point Break
Synopsis: A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists. "Point Break" is inspired by the classic 1991 hit.
Will I watch? = No
The Revenant
Synopsis: In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.
Will I watch? = Yes
6 FLICKS PICKS
Which films make the cut?
Honorable Mentions. There are 11 films that I would check out this month, but the overwhelming majority of them are things that I'm not too interested in. More specifically, there seems to be an emphasis on movies that I feel take themselves very seriously for Oscar contention, but could be far up their own ass and too pretentious for me to actually like.
Point Break and Daddy's Home are teetering on the edge of "maybe", but I just don't have any faith they'll be good. I can't even remember if I've seen the original Point Break, so there's no nostalgia rush I'm seeking with that. As far as Will Ferrell goes, despite Old School and Stranger Than Fiction being in my movie collection and films I love, he has a bad track record with me as his antics fall victim to the trap where the comedian does the same old shit repeatedly and I didn't find it funny the first time, let alone the fiftieth. It will take a lot of good word of mouth to get me to watch that. The same goes for Sisters, as I'm not fond of 30 Rock and while the pairing of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey was great on SNL (as was Will Ferrell), beyond that, I'm not interested.
Macbeth is a great story, but having already read the play and seen Ian McKellen's version, do I really need to sit through all that again? I prefer Hamlet.
In the Heart of the Sea is something I really think could be awesome, but I have zero interest in movies about boats and submarines. Honestly, every single movie revolving around those has been something that I found difficult to sit through. I don't enjoy the claustrophobic atmosphere, but even with space movies or something like 12 Angry Men, there's something to distract me. Most movies about a boat or a submarine are entirely about the boat or submarine—a topic I don't find entertaining. I'm not a car guy, either, so if you showed me a movie about a mechanic I'd be twitching in my seat. The visuals look amazing and it's caught my attention, but considering the subject matter, I'm hesitant.
Speaking of boring subjects, holy hell does The Big Short seem more like I'd be reading a textbook than watching a movie. Moneyball almost got me interested enough to watch, but I put it off and never got around to it. This....meh. In a month that has the next Star Wars movie, you're not going to make me want to spend $10 on something about mortgage rates and bank etiquette no matter how many big stars are in it.
6. Joy — This is a tough one. I thought both Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle were okay, but I really don't see what's so fantastic about them. In fact, if I never would have seen those movies, I don't think I'd be missing out on anything. They're entirely forgettable, so this team isn't giving me crap, but equally isn't giving me much to be excited about. After watching this trailer, I'm left unenthusiastic. If this gets Oscar buzz in any way, I'll check it out, but this could be the third strike for this collection of David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro before I call it quits.
5. Christmas Eve — I like movies with this kind of concept. I still haven't seen A Long Way Down, but it's on my list, and I've checked out both Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve. Those two aren't fantastic, and I wouldn't expect this to be groundbreaking and my favorite movie of all time, but as a means to eat up two hours of my time with something that has some laughs and some heartfelt moments, this could be a nice breather of a film to watch around the holidays as well as a decent date movie.
4. The Hateful Eight — To be perfectly honest, I'm not thrilled about this. While Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are two of my top favorite movies and I enjoyed both parts of Kill Bill, I haven't really been digging much else that Quentin Tarantino has been doing. Inglorious Basterds is overrated to me and Django Unchained was okay, but too long. Neither film has made me want to revisit watching it again. Grindhouse was an interesting experience watching it in theaters, but Death Proof inside it was an absolute bore I almost fell asleep in and doubt I will ever watch again in my life. The story presented to me with The Hateful Eight just doesn't strike me as particularly interesting. I can't help but think that this will be too much like his past two films. Since I don't care as much about the art of bringing a film genre to life (particularly resurrecting the western, as I don't like those) I'm just blah about it. That being said, it's still Quentin Tarantino, so I'm sure I'll be checking it out at some point just in the hopes that I'm wrong and I end up loving it.
3. Concussion — Without seeing the trailer, if you had told me that there's a movie about football concussions, I'd pass. After watching it, though, I think Will Smith could put on an Oscar-worthy performance. I'm genuinely curious about this in a way much more than I ever would have expected. With all the other serious dramas on this list, this is the one that I feel could be the easiest to digest that has the highest chance of me appreciating it.
2. The Revenant — Good lord, this is either going to be absolutely amazing and a movie that I have the utmost respect for, or it's a piece of gutter trash that I can't stomach. To reiterate what I mentioned before, I appreciate art, but I also don't like it if a movie forgoes entertainment purely for the sake of art. If this is more about how it was filmed with natural light and less about how I can enjoy watching the story unfold, then it could end up being as badly received on my end as The Tree of Life. Like with Will Smith, I'm curious about Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar chances, so that's a big motivator for me to watch this.
1. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens — Come on. COME ON! This is fucking Star Wars for God's sake! I wouldn't be surprised if I saw this three times in December alone and I don't think I need to elaborate on anything about why I would want to see this movie. It's Star Wars. Done.
