Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Tuesday, August 1, 2017
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 August 2017?
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2017
The Dark Tower
Synopsis: The Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, roams an Old West-like landscape where "the world has moved on" in pursuit of the man in black. Also searching for the fabled Dark Tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world.
Will I watch? = Yes
Detroit
Synopsis: Amidst the chaos of the Detroit Rebellion, with the city under curfew and as the Michigan National Guard patrolled the streets, three young African American men were murdered at the Algiers Motel.
Will I watch? = Yes
Midnight Sun
Synopsis: Based on the Japanese film, Midnight Sun centers on Katie, a 17-year-old sheltered since childhood and confined to her house during the day by a rare disease that makes even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. Fate intervenes when she meets Charlie and they embark on a summer romance.
Will I watch? = Yes/Maybe/No
Step
Synopsis: STEP documents the senior year of a girls' high-school step dance team against the background of inner-city Baltimore.
Will I watch? = No
Wind River
Synopsis: An FBI agent teams with a town's veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.
Will I watch? = Yes/Maybe/No
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2017
Annabelle: Creation
Synopsis: Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle.
Will I watch? = No
The Glass Castle
Synopsis: A young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who's an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children's imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.
Will I watch? = No
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature
Synopsis: Following the events of the first film, Surly and his friends must stop Oakton City's mayor from destroying their home to make way for a dysfunctional amusement park.
Will I watch? = No
Ingrid Goes West
Synopsis: Ingrid Thorburn is an unhinged social media stalker with a history of confusing "likes" for meaningful relationships. Taylor Sloane is an Instagram-famous "influencer" whose perfectly curated, boho-chic lifestyle becomes Ingrid's latest obsession. When Ingrid moves to LA and manages to insinuate herself into the social media star's life, their relationship quickly goes from #BFF to #WTF.
Will I watch? = Yes/Maybe/No
The Only Living Boy in New York
Synopsis: Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress.
Will I watch? = Yes/Maybe/No
The Trip to Spain
Synopsis: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on a 6 part episodic road trip through Spain. Sampling the restaurants, eateries and sights along the way.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: August 18, 2017
The Hitman's Bodyguard
Synopsis: The world's top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Will I watch? = Yes
Patti Cake$
Synopsis: PATTI CAKE$ is centered on aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$ who is fighting an unlikely quest for glory in her downtrodden hometown in New Jersey.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2017
All Saints
Synopsis: ALL SAINTS is based on the inspiring true story of salesman-turned-pastor Michael Spurlock (John Corbett), the tiny church he was ordered to shut down, and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia. Together, they risked everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.
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
Tulip Fever
Synopsis: An artist falls for a young married woman while he's commissioned to paint her portrait during the Tulip mania of 17th century Amsterdam.
Will I watch? = No
Beach Rats
Synopsis: An aimless teenager on the outer edges of Brooklyn struggles to escape his bleak home life and navigate questions of self-identity, as he balances his time between his delinquent friends, a potential new girlfriend, and older men he meets online.
Will I watch? = No
Gook
Synopsis: Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers, own a struggling shoe store and have an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a street wise 11 year old African American girl. Kamilla ditches school, Eli stresses about the store, and Daniel tries to have a good time. It's just another typical day at the store until the Rodney King verdict is read and riots break. With the chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family.
Will I watch? = No
6 FLICKS PICKS
Which films make the cut?
6. Midnight Sun — I haven't seen the trailer, I know nothing about the movie for the most part, but this is a very weak month and it sounds better than the alternatives, like Ingrid Goes West and whatnot.
5. The Only Living Boy in New York — Kate Beckinsale is gorgeous and the relationship between the protagonist and Jeff Bridges seems kind of interesting.
4. Wind River — Meh, in a weak month, I'll go with the murder mystery above the whole "drama set in a foreign country period piece" type crap.
3. The Dark Tower — Admittedly, this is one of the few films that a comic book movie fan should be excited about that I have no interest in. The difference is that it's a Stephen King book, not a superhero story. However, it does have thematic elements that cross over into the realm that I love, so I might actually give this one a shot, legitimately.
2. Detroit — Now we're talking about movies I truly do want to see. This looks like it has Oscar potential. I'm not familiar with the true stories revolving around the basis for the film, but it seems like a gripping drama that will further the opinion that John Boyega is a good actor.
1. The Hitman's Bodyguard — If I'm only seeing one new film in August, it's this one. It looks hilarious, I'm a fan of both Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, and after seeing a lot of superhero films and such, it's nice to see straight-up comedies as a cleanser.
BONUS: Terminator 2: Judgment Day — This doesn't really count, as the movie is in re-release, but T2 is my favorite film of all time and it's coming back to theaters in August. You bet your ass I'm seeing it!
WHICH MOVIES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, July 13, 2017
The 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Stephen Colbert on September 10, 2017 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles California, broadcast by CBS.
Here is a list of the nominees in all of the categories.
PROGRAM CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
Atlanta (FX)
Black-ish (ABC)
Master of None (Netflix)
Modern Family (ABC)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Veep (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
House of Cards (Netflix)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
This Is Us (NBC)
Westworld (HBO)
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Billy on the Street (truTV)
Documentary Now! (IFC)
Drunk History (Comedy Central)
Portlandia (IFC)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Tracey Ullman's Show (HBO)
Outstanding Limited Series
Big Little Lies (HBO)
Fargo (FX)
Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Genius (National Geographic)
The Night Of (HBO)
Outstanding Television Movie
Black Mirror: "San Junipero" (Netflix)
Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (NBC)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO)
Sherlock: "The Lying Detective" (PBS)
The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)
ACTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson, Sr. on Black-ish (ABC)
Aziz Ansari as Dev Shah on Master of None (Netflix)
Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets and Dale Baskets on Baskets (FX)
Donald Glover as Earnest "Earn" Marks on Atlanta (FX)
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher on Shameless (Showtime)
Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman on Transparent (Amazon)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox on Better Things (FX)
Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson on Grace and Frankie (Netflix)
Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett on Mom (CBS)
Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on Veep (HBO)
Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson on Black-ish (ABC)
Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein on Grace and Frankie (Netflix)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson on This Is Us (NBC)
Anthony Hopkins as Robert Ford on Westworld (HBO)
Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill on Better Call Saul (AMC)
Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings on The Americans (FX)
Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan on Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Kevin Spacey as President Frank Underwood on House of Cards (Netflix)
Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson on This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis as Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown (Netflix)
Elisabeth Moss as Offred on The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings on The Americans (FX)
Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy on Westworld (HBO)
Robin Wright as President Claire Underwood on House of Cards (Netflix)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Riz Ahmed as Nasir "Naz" Khan on The Night Of (HBO)
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes on Sherlock: "The Lying Detective" (PBS)
Robert De Niro as Bernie Madoff on The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Ewan McGregor as Ray Stussy and Emmit Stussy on Fargo (FX)
Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein on Genius (National Geographic)
John Turturro as John Stone on The Night Of (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Carrie Coon as Gloria Burgle on Fargo (FX)
Felicity Huffman as Jeanette Hesby on American Crime (ABC)
Nicole Kidman as Celeste Wright on Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Reese Witherspoon as Madeline Martha Mackenzie on Big Little Lies (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson as Christine Baskets on Baskets (FX)
Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family (ABC)
Tony Hale as Gary Walsh on Veep (HBO)
Matt Walsh as Mike McLintock on Veep (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Vanessa Bayer as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer on Veep (HBO)
Kathryn Hahn as Raquel Fein on Transparent (Amazon)
Leslie Jones as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Judith Light as Shelly Pfefferman on Transparent (Amazon)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut on Better Call Saul (AMC)
Ron Cephas Jones as William H. Hill on This Is Us (NBC)
David Harbour as Jim Hopper on Stranger Things (Netflix)
Michael Kelly as Doug Stamper on House of Cards (Netflix)
John Lithgow as Winston Churchill on The Crown (Netflix)
Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson on Homeland (Showtime)
Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe on Westworld (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven on Stranger Things (Netflix)
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia on The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson on This Is Us (NBC)
Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay on Westworld (HBO)
Samira Wiley as Moira on The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Bill Camp as Dennis Box on The Night Of (HBO)
Alfred Molina as Robert Aldrich on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Alexander Skarsgård as Perry Wright on Big Little Lies (HBO)
David Thewlis as V.M. Varga on Fargo (FX)
Stanley Tucci as Jack Warner on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Michael K. Williams as Freddy Knight on The Night Of (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Judy Davis as Hedda Hopper on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Laura Dern as Renata Klein on Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jackie Hoffman as Mamacita on Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Regina King as Kimara Walters on American Crime (ABC)
Michelle Pfeiffer as Ruth Madoff on The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman on Big Little Lies (HBO)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Atlanta (Episode: "B.A.N."), Directed by Donald Glover (FX)
Silicon Valley (Episode: "Intellectual Property"), Directed by Jamie Babbit (HBO)
Silicon Valley (Episode: "Server Error"), Directed by Mike Judge (HBO)
Veep (Episode: "Blurb"), Directed by Morgan Sackett (HBO)
Veep (Episode: "Groundbreaking"), Directed by David Mandel (HBO)
Veep (Episode: "Justice"), Directed by Dale Stern (HBO)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Better Call Saul (Episode: "Witness"), Directed by Vince Gilligan (AMC)
The Crown (Episode: "Hyde Park Corner"), Directed by Stephen Daldry (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "Offred"), Directed by Reed Morano (Hulu)
The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "The Bridge"), Directed by Kate Dennis (Hulu)
Homeland (Episode: "America First"), Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (Showtime)
Stranger Things (Episode: "Chapter One: The Vanishing Of Will Byers"), Directed by The Duffer Brothers (Netflix)
Westworld (Episode: "The Bicameral Mind"), Directed by Jonathan Nolan (HBO)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner, Directed by Paul Pennolino (TBS)
Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?, Directed by Jim Hoskinson (Showtime)
89th Academy Awards, Directed by Glenn Weiss (ABC)
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come, Directed by Jerry Foley (NBC)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Drunk History (Episode: "Hamilton"), Directed by Jeremy Konner & Derek Waters (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Episode: "The (RED) Show"), Directed by Andy Fisher (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Episode: "Multi-Level Marketing"), Directed by Paul Pennolino (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Jimmy Fallon"), Directed by Don Roy King (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Episode: "Episode 0179"), Directed by Jim Hoskinson (CBS)
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Big Little Lies, Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (HBO)
Fargo (Episode: "The Law of Vacant Places"), Directed by Noah Hawley (FX)
Feud: Bette and Joan (Episode: "And The Winner Is… (The Oscars of 1963)"), Directed by Ryan Murphy (FX)
Genius (Episode: "Einstein: Chapter One"), Directed by Ron Howard (National Geographic)
The Night Of (Episode: "The Art of War"), Directed by James Marsh (HBO)
The Night Of (Episode: "The Beach"), Directed by Steve Zaillian (HBO)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Atlanta (Episode: "B.A.N."), Written by Donald Glover (FX)
Atlanta (Episode: "Streets on Lock"), Written by Stephen Glover (FX)
Silicon Valley (Episode: "Success Failure"), Written by Alec Berg (HBO)
Master of None (Episode: "Thanksgiving"), Written by Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe (Netflix)
Veep (Episode: "Georgia"), Written by Billy Kimball (HBO)
Veep (Episode: "Groundbreaking"), Written by David Mandel (HBO)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Americans (Episode: "The Soviet Division"), Written by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg (FX)
Better Call Saul (Episode: "Chicanery"), Written by Gordon Smith (AMC)
The Crown (Episode: "Assassins"), Written by Peter Morgan (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "Offred"), Written by Bruce Miller (FX)
Stranger Things (Episode: "Chapter One: The Vanishing Of Will Byers"), Written by The Duffer Brothers (Netflix)
Westworld (Episode: "The Bicameral Mind"), Written by Lisa Joy & Jonathan Nolan (HBO)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner (TBS)
Louis C.K. 2017, Written by Louis C.K. (Netflix)
Sarah Silverman: A Speck Of Dust, Written by Sarah Silverman (Netflix)
Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t? (Showtime)
70th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Big Little Lies, Written by David E. Kelley (HBO)
Black Mirror (Episode: "San Junipero"), Written by Charlie Brooker (Netflix)
Fargo (Episode: "The Law of Vacant Places"), Written by Noah Hawley (FX)
Feud: Bette and Joan (Episode: "And The Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)"), Written by Ryan Murphy
Feud: Bette and Joan (Episode: "Pilot"), Written by Jaffe Cohen, Michael Zam & Ryan Murphy
The Night Of (Episode: "The Call of the Wild"), Written by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian
What are your predictions for the winners of these categories?
Stay tuned for the results when the ceremony airs on September 10th!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, July 7, 2017
On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
What were the positives and negatives of Spider-Man: Homecoming? 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 Spider-Man: Homecoming in the comments below!
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
DIRECTED BY
Jon Watts
WRITTEN BY
Jonathan Goldstein (screenplay and story), John Francis Daley (screenplay and story), Jon Watts (screenplay), Christopher Ford (screenplay), Chris McKenna (screenplay) and Erik Sommers (screenplay)
STARRING:
Tom Holland (Peter Parker / Spider-Man), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark / Iron Man), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May), Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes / Vulture), Zendaya (Michelle), Logan Marshall-Green, Donald Glover, Martin Starr (Mr. Harrington), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan),Tony Revolori (Flash Thompson), Laura Harrier (Liz Allan), Bokeem Woodbine (Herman Schultz) and Hannibal Buress (Coach Wilson)
Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Saturday, July 1, 2017
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 July 2017?
RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Synopsis: Following the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), Peter Parker attempts to balance his life in high school with his career as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man.
Will I watch? = Yes
A Ghost Story
Synopsis: In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.
Will I watch? = Maybe
City of Ghosts
Synopsis: A documentary that follows the efforts of "Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently," a handful of anonymous activists who banded together after their homeland was taken over by ISIS in 2014. With deeply personal access, this is the story of a brave group of citizen journalists as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today.
Will I watch? = No
Patti Cake$
Synopsis: PATTI CAKE$ is centered on aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$ who is fighting an unlikely quest for glory in her downtrodden hometown in New Jersey.
Will I watch? = No
Santoalla
Synopsis: A Dutch couple, Martin and Margo Verfondern, move to a remote Spanish village of Santoalla to start a new life. There is conflict with the Spanish residents resulting in the disappearance of Martin.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2017
War for the Planet of the Apes
Synopsis: After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Wish Upon
Synopsis: A teenage girl discovers a box that carries magic powers and a deadly price for using them.
Will I watch? = No
Lady Macbeth
Synopsis: Set in 19th century rural England, young bride who has been sold into marriage to a middle-aged man discovers an unstoppable desire within herself as she enters into an affair with a work on her estate.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2017
Dunkirk
Synopsis: Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire, Canada, and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
Will I watch? = Yes
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Synopsis: A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
Will I watch? = Yes
Girls Trip
Synopsis: When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there's enough dancing, drinking, brawling, and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2017
The Emoji Movie
Synopsis: Gene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a journey to become a normal emoji.
Will I watch? = No
Atomic Blonde
Synopsis: An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.
Will I watch? = Maybe
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Synopsis: A decade after An Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture comes the follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution.
Will I watch? = No
Menashe
Synopsis: Within Brooklyn's ultra-orthodox Jewish community, a widower battles for custody of his son. A tender drama performed entirely in Yiddish, the film intimately explores the nature of faith and the price of parenthood.
Will I watch? = No
From the Land of the Moon
Synopsis: In 1950s France, Gabrielle is a passionate, free-spirited woman who is in a loveless marriage and falls for another man when she is sent away to the Alps to treat her kidney stones. Gabrielle yearns to free herself and run away with André.
Will I watch? = No
The Midwife
Synopsis: A midwife gets unexpected news from her father's old mistress.
Will I watch? = No
6 FLICKS PICKS
Which films make the cut?
6. A Ghost Story — This looks like the most oddball movie of the month and I've always been interested in ghosts, so since I don't have any stronger options to take it out of the running, why not, right?
5. Atomic Blonde — Admittedly, I think this is trying a bit too hard, but it does still look kind of cool. I like the spy genre and the trailer did enough to make me go "yeah, sure" at least as far as picking six films this month would go.
4. War for the Planet of the Apes — I'm ashamed to say I haven't yet watched the previous two films, although I did see the original and Tim Burton's awful remake, and bits and pieces of the old sequels. This new trilogy looks so good and I really want to sit down and watch Rise and Dawn before seeing this one.
3. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planet — I feel like this is going to tank at the box office, but I'm going to try to see it anyway. The visuals alone are cool and I know nothing about the source material, so this could be an interesting sci-fi film that comes under the radar and turns into a very enjoyable new series. I'm not so pumped about it to make it a guarantee I'll check it out, or to start reading the books or anything beforehand, but I'll give it a shot. At the very least, when it comes out to rent, I'll watch it.
2. Dunkirk — I was disappointed in Interstellar but we're still talking about Christopher Nolan here. Even though this particular story isn't something I care about, and he fell short of expectations with The Dark Knight Rises, he's still responsible for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Memento and Inception so he gets a pass until his filmography starts becoming an uneven ratio. For the record, The Prestige and Insomnia are just kind of meh like Interstellar. Four awesome movies, four that didn't live up to the hype but were still okay, and no "bad" ones.
1. Spider-Man: Homecoming — Fuck. Yes. I'm so worried about a few of the choices they've made with characters like how Flash Thompson is totally not Flash Thompson and such, but this is Spider-Man we're talking about, which is my #2 favorite superhero of all time. I bought 16 tickets for this immediately when I could in May.
WHICH MOVIES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, June 30, 2017
We're back with another unboxing video from SuperHeroStuff.com to celebrate the release of the Spider-Man: Homecoming on July 6th. This edition of the HeroBox is the Spider-Man: Box of Spiders Radioactive Arachnid Edition!
With Spider-Man: Homecoming hitting theaters this July it only seems appropriate that our newest box pay homage to the AMAZING, the SPECTACULAR, the REBOOTABLE Spider-Man!
The box is overflowing with mystery items featuring Peter Parker's webbed-exploits from the past 55 years! Watch out...we're filling the box with Spiders that may or may not be radioactive!
The box is limited to 300 and is broken down into two editions depending on your level of needed awesomeness. The Radioactive Arachnid Edition Edition is priced at $69 has a value over $100, while the Arachnid Edition is priced at $49 and has a value of $70. Below is a breakdown of what’s in each edition.
Every Box Includes...
A superhero t-shirt
Spiders (maybe even a radioactive one!)
Outerwear like a hoodie, jacket, or fleece.
Web crawling apparel like socks and underwear
Friendly neighborhood accessories like buttons, keychains, magnets, and wallets.
If you want to get in on the fun and reserve yourself some cool stuff for next month, place your order at SuperHeroStuff HeroBox and use the code 15-HERO-BOX to save 15% off your order of $40+.
Thanks again to SuperHeroStuff for sending this our way!
Posted by
Unknown
- Friday, June 9, 2017
LGBTQ themes have been historically omitted in mainstream media, particularly within comics, though representation has been steadily increasing since the 1990s. However, several steadfast tropes have often left members of the marginalized community lacking proper portrayal.
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| Green Lantern, Earth 2 |
As Pride History Month fills June with rainbows and glitter from parades and LGBT-centric events, comic writers are at work writing stories that both universally inspires and entertains readers with the extra goal of reaching at least one that says, "This is me."
Sexuality and gender identity has had an upwards battle throughout the years, and it wasn't until 1989 were lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans* characters even allowed in print. The comic book industry began in the 1930s, though between the early 1950s to the end of the '80s, mainstream American comic book publishers established rules against portraying LGBT characters, enforced by the Comics Code Authority. As a private company overlooking from within, it doesn't necessarily fringe on the First Amendment and publishers weren't required to follow the rules, though you wouldn't have seen a same-sex superhero kiss yet.
During the LGBT Voices In Comics panel at Orlando's MegaCon, panelists and audience members held a creative open discussion on how to write LGBT characters into storylines. With representation of queer characters almost invisible and LGBT people of color even further marginalized, a common undertone remains. Too often, gay and lesbian characters are featured as supporting figures in stories, with transgender and non-binary people having far less inclusivity.
You may have seen several not-so-subtle tropes throughout mainstream media—from the "gay best friend" that appears to only be useful for fashion advice, to sexualizing primarily lesbian couples—but other common themes feature dominant, gay, caucasian men with a submissive minority husband and using the death of an LGBT character to progress the story plot without the significant need for it.
LGBT Voices in Comics panelist, Tana Ford (Silk), interjected that queer characters are often used as fodder to the story, quickly being killed off as means of plot progression. "Stop killing us!" she said exasperated.
Sadly, it is a story arch that is painfully not far from reality and not isolated to media. Last year, 49 LGBT partygoers were fatally shot and 53 more were injured in a mass shooting at the popular Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Following the shooting, a group of over 300 comic writers and artists came together in a unique comic anthology co-published by DC and IDW. Love is Love contains a heartfelt message while both honoring the victims, supporting the survivors, and celebrating the LGBTQ community. Over $165,000 in sales were donated to Equality Florida, a non-profit organization dedicated to the social justice and equality of the LGBT community in Florida, according to the Washington Post.
MegaCon Orlando paid tribute throughout the weekend, hosting a gallery space featuring art from the project and a Love is Love fundraising event in honor of the victims. The cocktail reception and book signing included comic talent Tom King, Scott Snyder, Phil Jimenez, and others.
While Ford actively breaks ground by focusing on tearing down barriers and the stigma of mental health, showing Cindy Moon in several therapy sessions, it also features two of Cindy's co-workers in a romantic relationship.
"I am a person that writes and draws authentic queer lesbian characters for fun and pleasure, and I also get to do representation inside the pages of Silk, and I think that there's value there," Ford said.
Possibly one of the most well-known queer characters, Batwoman drew widespread attention after the redheaded Kate Kane was outed in 2006 when it was revealed that she was the former lover of Gotham detective, Renee Montoya. Although the New52 erased many narratives and the wedding between Kane and her longterm girlfriend, Maggie Sawyer, was cancelled, the pair can be seen together in DC's Bombshells comic.
DC Comics continues to uphold its stance on representation with the inclusion of bisexual villains such as Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and Aqualad coming out as gay, though the far less representation of trans characters remain. A single issue of Batgirl changed the dynamic, featuring best friend Alysia Yeoh marrying her longtime girlfriend, Jo. Alysia came out as trans in 2013 and has remained a strong supporting character for Barbara Gordon.
Last year DC delivered another new narrative, delivering critical acclaim with Wonder Woman: Earth One. Aside from her BDSM undertones, much has been argued on the Amazon Princess' sexuality, and comic creator Greg Rucka confirmed that she is in fact bisexual. Inspired from the legalization of same-sex marriage, Australian writer, Jason Badower, presented Wonder Woman as an officiator of gay marriage in Sensation Comics #48. Her big-screen debut last week doesn't dive into her sexuality, but we can assume that DC's continuity of representation is not far from gone.
Although lacking in comparison, Marvel Comics doesn't stray from its diversity, most recently seen in the 2015 reboot of Fantastic Four. X-men has essentially been a metaphor for accepting who you are, regardless of how others view you, so with Iceman portrayed as gay and the lesser-known mutant, Karma, a lesbian, representation is everything.
As more queer characters are being written, Ford exclaims, "I am so excited about gay Iceman. For me, he's always going to be gay Iceman, and not just like, Bobby Drake just so happens to be gay. It is important to me that one of the foundational members of the X-Men comes out as gay."
Where representation in comics still has much room to grow, it seems as though DC is at the forefront of the LGBT movement off the page. In 2015, the MCU portrayed a queer character on Jessica Jones, a few years behind DCTV establishing Sara Lance as bisexual. Known as the Black Canary (Arrow) and later the White Canary (Legends of Tomorrow), she initially formed a romantic relationship with Nyssa al Ghul during the second season episode "Heir to the Demon" on Arrow. Legends of Tomorrow showrunners further explored her sexuality in "Night of the Hawk" and "River of Time."
As the longest-running LGBT character in DCTV, Sara is not alone. The Flash and Supergirl both feature gay and lesbian characters respectively, with Supergirl introducing detective Maggie Sawyer in Season 2.
LGBT narratives in comics, film, and television are extremely important, especially for queer youth who are at the most vulnerable stages and require a sense of validation. Stemming from comics, television, and film, cosplay has often been a way to immerse oneself in fandoms, allowing many to cross-play in a free and accepting community.
One transgender cosplayer at MegaCon that goes by Cinder Venus, has found solace within the cosplay community, though coming out was a tough experience.
"A year and a half ago I went to the Center, I was in boy-mode, and I was kind of researching and finding resources for me to come out, and I was basically insulted by saying I was 'not gay enough, I wasn't 'trans enough," she said.
According to Cinder, she was not recommended a counselor and was forced to go through nine different therapists, paying a high cost for lack of insurance and unknowingly going under conversion therapy for two months.
"I've always loved superheroes," she said. "I love the difference of heroes, especially when I saw female heroes such as Batgirl or Super Woman, I just admired them so much."
Starting as a photographer at conventions, she slowly began to gender-bend cosplay favorite anime characters such as the tomboyish character from Revolutionary Girl Utena. Becoming more comfortable with herself, she began to cosplay primarily female characters, crediting cosplay for being a huge support in her transition.
What is your favorite LGBT character?
Has cosplaying helped you become comfortable with who you truly are?
Let us know in the comments below!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, June 8, 2017
On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of The Mummy from the Dark Universe series.
What were the positives and negatives of 2017's The Mummy? 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 The Mummy in the comments below!
The Mummy (2017)
DIRECTED BY
Alex Kurtzman
WRITTEN BY
Jon Spaihts and Christopher McQuarrie
STARRING:
Tom Cruise (Nick Morton), Sofia Boutella (Ahmanet), Russell Crowe (Dr. Henry Jekyll), Annabelle Wallis (Jenny Halsey), Jake Johnson (Sgt. Chris Vail), and Courtney B. Vance (Colonel Greenway)
Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the desert, an ancient princess whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in the modern era, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, June 2, 2017
On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Wonder Woman.
What were the positives and negatives of Wonder Woman? 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 Wonder Woman in the comments below!
Wonder Woman (2017)
DIRECTED BY
Patty Jenkins
WRITTEN BY
Jason Fuchs (story), Allan Heinberg (screenplay and story), Zack Snyder (story)
STARRING:
Gal Gadot (Diana Prince / Wonder Woman), Chris Pine (Steve Trevor), Robin Wright (General Antiope), David Thewlis (Sir Patrick), Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta), Lucy David (Etta Candy), Elena Anaya (Maru / Doctor Poison), and Danny Huston (General Erich Ludendorff)
Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, June 1, 2017
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 June 2017?
RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2017
Wonder Woman
Synopsis: Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.
Will I watch? = Yes
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Synopsis: Two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.
Will I watch? = No
Dean
Synopsis: A comedy about loss, grief and the redemptive power of love, Dean is an NY illustrator who falls hard for an LA woman while trying to prevent his father from selling the family home in the wake of his mother's death.
Will I watch? = Maybe
3 Idiotas
Synopsis: A group of friends embark on a fun adventure determined to find a college roommate who disappeared without a trace on graduation day.
Will I watch? = No
Past Life
Synopsis: Past Life tracks the daring late 1970s odyssey of two sisters - an introverted classical musician and a rambunctious scandal sheet journalist - as they unravel a shocking wartime mystery that has cast a dark shadow on their entire lives.
Will I watch? = No
Band Aid
Synopsis: A couple who can't stop fighting embark on a last-ditch effort to save their marriage: turning their fights into songs and starting a band.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Vincent N Roxxy
Synopsis: A small town loner and a rebellious punk rocker unexpectedly fall in love as they are forced on the run and soon discover violence follows them everywhere.
Will I watch? = Maybe
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2017
The Mummy
Synopsis: An ancient princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension.
Will I watch? = Yes
Megan Leavey
Synopsis: Based on the true life story of a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq.
Will I watch? = No
It Comes at Night
Synopsis: Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has established a tenuous domestic order with his wife and son, but this will soon be put to test when a desperate young family arrives seeking refuge.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The Hero
Synopsis: An ailing movie star comes to terms with his past and mortality.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Beatriz at Dinner
Synopsis: A holistic medicine practitioner attends a wealthy client's dinner party after her car breaks down.
Will I watch? = No
My Cousin Rachel
Synopsis: A young Englishman plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2017
Cars 3
Synopsis: Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.
Will I watch? = No
Rough Night
Synopsis: A group of friends are horrified when the male stripper they hired for a wild bachelorette party in Miami winds up dead.
Will I watch? = Maybe
All Eyez on Me
Synopsis: Tells the true and untold story of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur.
Will I watch? = No
47 Meters Down
Synopsis: Two sisters vacationing in Mexico are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. With less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby, they must fight to survive.
Will I watch? = No
The Book of Henry
Synopsis: Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives. Single suburban mother Susan Carpenter works as a waitress at a diner, alongside feisty family friend Sheila. Her younger son Peter is a playful 8-year-old. Taking care of everyone and everything in his own unique way is Susan's older son Henry, age 11. Protector to his adoring younger brother and tireless supporter of his often self-doubting mother - and, through investments, of the family as a whole - Henry blazes through the days like a comet. Susan discovers that the family next door, which includes Henry's kind classmate Christina, has a dangerous secret - and that Henry has devised a surprising plan to help. As his brainstormed rescue plan for Christina takes shape in thrilling ways, Susan finds herself at the center of it.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Maudie
Synopsis: An arthritic Nova Scotia woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community.
Will I watch? = No
I, Daniel Blake
Synopsis: After having suffered a heart-attack, a 59-year-old carpenter must fight the bureaucratic forces of the system in order to receive Employment and Support Allowance.
Will I watch? = No
The Journey
Synopsis: A fictional account of the extraordinary story of two implacable enemies in Northern Ireland - firebrand Democratic Unionist Party leader Paisley and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness - who are forced to take a short journey together in which they will take the biggest leap of faith and change the course of history.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2017
Transformers: The Last Knight
Synopsis: Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The Big Sick
Synopsis: A couple deals with their cultural differences as their relationship grows.
Will I watch? = No
The Beguiled
Synopsis: At a girls' school in Virginia during the Civil War, where the young women have been sheltered from the outside world, a wounded Union soldier is taken in. Soon, the house is taken over with sexual tension, rivalries, and an unexpected turn of events.
Will I watch? = No
The Bad Batch
Synopsis: A dystopian love story in a Texas wasteland and set in a community of cannibals.
Will I watch? = Maybe
RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2017
Despicable Me 3
Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru he never knew about.
Will I watch? = No
The House
Synopsis: A dad convinces his friends to start an illegal casino in his basement after he and his wife spend their daughter's college fund.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Baby Driver
Synopsis: After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Amityville: The Awakening
Synopsis: A single mother moves her three children into a haunted house, unaware of its bloody history.
Will I watch? = No
13 Minutes
Synopsis: In November 1939, Georg Elser's attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler fails, and he is arrested. During his confinement, he recalls the events leading up to his plot and his reasons for deciding to take such drastic action.
Will I watch? = No
The Little Hours
Synopsis: A young servant fleeing from his master takes refuge at a convent full of emotionally unstable nuns in the middle ages.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography
Synopsis: A look at the life and work of photographer Elsa Dorfman.
Will I watch? = No
6 FLICKS PICKS
Which films make the cut?
Honorable Mentions: While I don't think I'll actually watch all of the movies which are in the Maybe category, I do think it's worth mentioning them here just for the positive vibes. It Comes at Night, The Bad Batch, Dean, Vincent N Roxxy, The Hero, The Little Hours and even Band Aid to a certain extent all made me interested enough to put it on my temporary list before I sorted out the final six (well, seven). Out of those honorable mentions, the one that I'd rank closest to making the cut would be either Vincent N Roxxy or The Bad Batch which mostly get the nod because I'm not too sure what I'm in store for with those movies.
6. The Book of Henry — To be honest, the first half of this trailer where the kid is gifted and it just seemed like a standard drama had me more intrigued than the more thriller aspect of it which came out of nowhere. Still, just because it looks different and I admire their balls for switching it up mid-trailer, it gets a spot on the list.
5. Rough Night / The House — Honestly, I can't decide between these two for which gets this spot. They both look about on par with each other in terms of whether or not I'd like them, and they have the same target audience, same genre, everything. Both could have some big laughs or they could be those types of movies that fall flat with me even though someone out there will consider it their favorite film of all time. Let's find out.
4. Baby Driver — I'm not a big Edgar Wright guy. I know a lot of people absolutely love everything he does, but his style isn't a guaranteed hit for me just by default, so I'm not going into this with the same sort of fervor most people would. Despite this, the film did catch my eye, and the more positive word of mouth I hear, the more it becomes a solidified thing I want to check out.
3. Transformers: The Last Knight — Uuuugggghhhhhh I really liked the first one, but the second was bad, the third wasn't much of an improvement, and the fourth was fucking awful. I'm probably going to end up seeing this, though, aren't I? What a waste of $20. Damn it. I hate myself.
2. The Mummy — Already bought my tickets, even though this doesn't look particularly amazing. These characters aren't something I'm the biggest fan of, but the concept of bringing them all together in a crossover film scope is interesting, so I figured I'd support its first endeavor. If this film sucks, then I probably won't bother with the rest.
1. Wonder Woman — Already bought my tickets for this, too, but I legitimately want to see this more than anything else. I don't get why there's such a big stigma about how men aren't going to watch a female-driven superhero film. It's Wonder Woman, for God's sake, and just because I'm a dude, I'm instantly going to have zero interest in a movie because the lead protagonist isn't a guy? Insane. I think this movie looks awesome and I hope it's the best DC film yet.
WHICH MOVIES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Posted by
Unknown
- Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Tabletop gamers have had a number of ways to roll for initiative during a campaign, from straight rolling dice to using a dice tower, but there's now one new way to shake up your weekend Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and it doesn't include dice. Prepare to embark on an epic drinking adventure.
Orlando's MegaCon had a plethora of booths selling unique and geeky products throughout the weekend, but none was more intriguing than a pastel blue table lined with a collection of eye-catching drink-ware in varying sizes, towered by a monstrous jug called "The Growlin' D100" that was as intimidating as it was exciting.
From far away, it looked like yet another table selling etched glasses from every fandom until you were greeted by John "Hex" Carter, the brainchild behind Loaded Dice—a fun new way of playing tabletop games. With a giant grin and a rehearsed sales pitch, his voice was very telling of his excitement by his own product. This isn't your average goblet.
"Loaded Dice is a way to augment games, as a way to inject drinking into games," Hex stated. "For example, D&D, that's why it's styled around D&D, but we also joke that you can make any game a drinking game. Could you imagine Monopoly with a D6 drinking glass?"
Created by Hex and Mat Nicholson of Screech Dragon Studios, the concept is simultaneously genius and straightforward: each glass represents a different die from a D4 shot glass to a D20 pint glass and features markings on the back for each ounce, simulating a roll. Fill the glass up with your beverage of choice and start drinking. The more you gulp down in one shot, the higher your roll.
The glasses come in seven sizes, each representing a dice denomination at a reasonable price:
- Four-sided shot glass: $7
- Six-sided double shot glass: $9
- Eight-sized beer sampler: $10
- Ten-sided tumbler: $12
- Twelve-sized old fashioned: $12
- Twenty-sided pint glass: $15
- D100 mega jug: $30
At face value, these glasses do what any average 20-something does: create another drinking game. However, an alcoholic beverage is not required to enjoy this set, nor do they fully replace the usage of dice in a campaign. The intention is to compliment the game in a fun new way, and players are encouraged to find ways to incorporate that into the story.
"For those that already combine drinking and gaming, think of Loaded Dice as a tool to enhance that experience," Screech Dragon Studios said on their Kickstarter, suggesting that the possibilities of its usage are endless.
What Loaded Dice does immensely well is change the mechanics of rolling dice to be more skill-based instead of chance. Rolling a 20 doesn't require much effort, which is where this concept forces you to earn your roll. Take a sip and you can increase your attack by up to six damage with a D6 double-shot glass, but choose your potion wisely, for even the strongest adventurer may succumb to a twisted fate.
The company successfully funded their project through Kickstarter in 2016 with 266 backers pledging $20,191, doubling its $10,000 goal. Its popularity has since grown, completely selling out of the D12 glass halfway through MegaCon. "I didn't expect this much popularity!" Hex said with a humble smile.
The popularity of Stranger Things bringing back all the greatest staples of the 80's with their inclusion of Dungeons and Dragons, tabletop games have been making their way out of dark basements and into the light of Pop-culture. What was once a gathering of often bullied geeks and nerds, RPGs have more often been featured in television and film, changing the way society views them.
"I think there's this major table top renaissance that's going on and that's definitely putting more light on RPG gaming such as Dungeons and Dragons itself, and it's really exciting," Hex said. "It's becoming cooler and there's less of a stigma tethered to it as it used to be."
Hex is also hard at work preparing for his summer launch of another new game, ROBiTS, in partnership with Quick Simple Fun Games. The quick drafting card game lets you build a robot in bits and pieces, hence "Ro-bits," by drafting arms, legs, body, head, and so on.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, May 26, 2017
On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous Reviewpoint podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Baywatch.
What were the positives and negatives of Baywatch? 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 Baywatch in the comments below!
Baywatch (2017)
DIRECTED BY
Seth Gordon
WRITTEN BY
Robert Ben Garant (story), Thomas Lennon (story), David Ronn (story), Jay Scherick (story), Damian Shannon (screenplay) and Mark Swift (screenplay)
STARRING:
Dwayne Johnson (Mitch Buchannon), Zac Efron (Matt Brody), Priyanka Chopra (Victoria Leeds), Alexandra Daddario (Summer Quinn), Kelly Rohrbach (CJ Parker), Ilfenesh Hadera (Stephanie Holden), Jon Bass (Ronnie Greenbaum) with David Hasselhoff (The Mentor) and Pamela Anderson (Casey Jean Parker)
Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and a brash new recruit (Zac Efron) uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, May 25, 2017
On the latest edition of Minute Man Reviews hosted by Tony Mango, Baywatch is given as full of a spoiler-free review as possible in under 60 seconds.
Check out the video below and be sure to subscribe and leave your comments on what you thought of Baywatch!
Baywatch (2017)
DIRECTED BY
Seth Gordon
WRITTEN BY
Robert Ben Garant (story), Thomas Lennon (story), David Ronn (story), Jay Scherick (story), Damian Shannon (screenplay) and Mark Swift (screenplay)
STARRING:
Dwayne Johnson (Mitch Buchannon), Zac Efron (Matt Brody), Priyanka Chopra (Victoria Leeds), Alexandra Daddario (Summer Quinn), Kelly Rohrbach (CJ Parker), Ilfenesh Hadera (Stephanie Holden), Jon Bass (Ronnie Greenbaum) with David Hasselhoff (The Mentor) and Pamela Anderson (Casey Jean Parker)
Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and a brash new recruit (Zac Efron) uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Friday, May 19, 2017
We're back with another unboxing video from SuperHeroStuff.com to celebrate the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 which was released May 5, 2017.
Celebrate the Guardians' intergalactic exploits and their unimpressed allies with four mystery items and a premium New Era Hat representing the space-proof headwear of Richard Rider, the legendary Nova Prime!
The box is limited to 375 and priced to provide great value to the most discerning Guardians fans. The value of its contents taken individually, including its feature item – an exclusive New Era cap available only through the Guardians of the Galaxy HeroBox® – well exceeds the box price. $100 of Guardians of the Galaxy Gear for just $69.
Includes Exclusive New Era Hat
New Era 59Fifty fitted, flat brim style ($61.99 retail value)
Golden, shiny, polyurethane fabric mimicking the Nova helmet
Top of brim mimics the golden, reflective breastplates of Nova's uniform
Under the brim rendering of Nova by cover artist Aleski Briclot
Intergalactic interior featuring a swirling galaxy of stars
NOVA cap exclusive to SuperHeroStuff.com. Only available in HeroBox® and at select comic cons
Each Box Includes a T-Shirt + Bonus Items
You're guaranteed a Guardians of the Galaxy t-shirt celebrating your love of Marvel's space-faring heroes doling out mixtape-induced mayhem. Besides the t-shirt and EXCLUSIVE hat, the Guardians of the Galaxy HeroBox® contains four additional mystery items. What are they? Well, we're not going to tell you and neither will Groot. However, the contents absolutely hold greater value than the price of the box.
If you want to get in on the fun and reserve yourself some cool stuff for next month, place your order at SuperHeroStuff HeroBox and use the code 15-HERO-BOX to save 15% off your order of $40+.
Thanks again to SuperHeroStuff for sending this our way!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Sunday, May 7, 2017
Welcome to another edition of Wed, Bed, or Dead—the Fanboys Anonymous equivalent to games such as Marry/Fuck/Kill, or "Kill, Bang, Marry" or any of those other alternative names with the same "would you rather" ranking concept.
If you're unfamiliar with these games, here are the rules: three men or women will be pitted against each other and you are forced to place each of them into a specific category of your choosing. You cannot double up on any category, replace people, or anything else. You must pick one to "Wed" (marry), one to "Bed" (have sex with), and for "Dead" (kill)—in theory, of course.
Wed, Bed, or Dead: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
Gamora vs. Mantis vs. Nebula
Having just watched this movie the other day, these characters are still very fresh in my mind. Technically, there are five main women in the cast if you count the villain Ayesha and Peter's mom, Meredith Quill, but these are the three who show up the most and are essentially part of the same team. To be fair, Nebula is not official for a team member, but she might as well be.
This is a pretty strange edition as we have three aliens: one who is green, one who has antennae, and one who is a cyborg. I guess we'll figure out everyone's kinks, right?
My Votes
Wedding Proposal = Mantis
Bedroom Invitation = Gamora
Death Sentence = Nebula
For these games, I like to use a three-point criteria of Attraction, Personality and Wildcard. Attraction and Personality are pretty self-explanatory, focusing on their looks and what goes on behind the scenes. Something like their intelligence, character traits, behavioral attitude, and so forth would go under Personality, while their physical appearance and sexiness make up the bulk of Attraction. As far as Wildcard goes, those could be any other factors that take away or add to someone's appeal.
Nebula's body has been contorted in several different ways throughout these two films, so you know she's flexible, but that's still not going to save her from the Kill slot. Her character is the most evil of the bunch and only toward the end of Vol 2 shows any redeeming qualities. Gamora is, at heart, a hero, while Mantis is sweet, so the two of them destroy Nebula on personality points.
Since all three women are attractive and we've devalued Nebula's attitude and such, the question turns to a bidding war between the personalities and physical appearances of Gamora and Mantis. At face value, Gamora is more attractive to me, but there was something cute about Mantis that I think would be much more tolerable to be with on a dating level. Gamora's got a mean streak to her and apparently is super competitive even with her sister's eyeball at stake, so that's going to be cause for plenty of arguments down the line. Mantis is also an empath, so she'd get me, and she has the biggest heart of anyone in this series so far. Since both are good looking and Mantis has the better personality, she gets bumped up to the Marry section while Gamora sits comfortably in the Fuck category.
Those are my choices, but what would you pick for these three?
Who gets the wedding ring, who gets the wild night of passion and who gets the guillotine?
Tell us who you picked for what in the comments below as well as suggestions for the next edition!
