Fanboys Anonymous

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinos while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!

Welcome to another edition of WEEK IN GEEK here at Fanboys Anonymous—a rundown of some of the events, news and stories that went down over the past few days in the geek culture spectrum.

Here are some of the topics I felt like voicing my opinions about:

Hartley Sawyer to be a Series Regular for The Flash Season 5

I'm guessing this is partially because Kid Flash isn't returning and because the writers have no idea what to do with the main core cast, so they needed to introduce a fresh person just so there could be more episodes of "well, we haven't done X with THIS person yet." I did like Ralph Dibny, don't get me wrong, but I kind of can't really imagine too much of an arc for him this next season, outside of maybe finding Sue. Then again, what's the next season even going to focus on? It better not be a full 20-something episodes about one single elongated (lol) plot like the last few. I'd rather have 3 mini-seasons with shorter arcs than one giant one that gets dragged out and is annoying to sit through.

Netflix Picks up Lucifer for Season 4

FUCK YES!!!! This was one of the only shows on television that I genuinely loved, and I was really disappointed to see it get cancelled. After the support from people out there, it's so refreshing to see that it will be brought back. I know 10 episodes isn't the same as a full season of a normal network season, but that's one hell (lol) of a lot better than I was expecting, and I'm certainly not going to complain. As I just said above about The Flash having too many episodes and not enough story, I assume this means Lucifer will be able to do an even better, tighter, more concise job of telling me the same stories that I dig, and will be able to have all the fun without needing to stretch things out, so this is a great thing all around. I hope it continues past this next season, too. This is awesome! Oh, and this means they can get even more risque. Without a leash, that's even better!

Jessica Parker Kennedy to be a Series Regular for The Flash Season 5

Again, not surprised. However, at least with this one, it makes more sense to me, since that was the cliffhanger of the last season and she's literal family.

MTV Movie and TV Awards

Black Panther won Best Movie, Best Performance (Chadwick Boseman), Best Hero, Best Villain. Nice. Super glad nobody else won Best Hero, in particular.

I wouldn't have voted for Wonder Woman for Best Fight.

Disappointed Thanos didn't win Best Villain.

Big fan of Stranger Things getting some love. That show is so good. Also a big fan of Star Wars not winning anything. 

Rogue and Gambit Get Married

I haven't followed comics in a long, long time, because it's just impossible to jump in and not waste money on events that will be rebooted and such, but sure, thumbs up. I tend to like teenager Rogue more than southern belle adult Rogue, despite growing up with the animated series, but I'm not going to complain.

Disney Bids $71.3 Billion for 21st Century Fox

FOR GOD'S SAKE, JUST TAKE IT!!! JUST TAKE IT!!! We need the Fantastic Four and X-Men characters in the MCU, and Comcast can't get more powerful!!!

Creed II Trailer

I mean, they had to go with Drago's kid, right? That had to be the next direction. I'm really glad to see that's the case. It's weird that the Rocky films might not necessarily be all amazing, but I do think they tend to have some of the best transitional elements. The plot tends to make a lot of sense from film to film without rehashing too much, but still remaining cyclical. I'll be seeing this opening night for sure.

Star Wars Spinoffs Put on Hold

The problem isn't that they're doing spinoff movies. The problem is everything else! The Last Jedi really divided fans and soured them on Star Wars in general, so of course there was less of a turnout to Solo. Then, you're doing a spinoff film with a brand new person playing an iconic character, so some people are already put off about that. Then, you had virtually no advertising campaign for it. And you put it only a few months after the previous film, instead of waiting until December. And Kathleen Kennedy and everyone in charge has the wrong direction for this franchise. And maybe you shouldn't have directors who are also just as desperate to "change things up" and "put a new spin on things" just for the sake of it, even if they don't necessarily have a great idea of how to execute that. And maybe it would help if you didn't keep losing your directors and could let them finish a movie without hacking their films to pieces and replacing them?

Why would you put the films on hold before the ONE spinoff that people are actually clamoring for, with Obi-Wan Kenobi?! Why are you continually making stupid decisions?!!

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Incredibles 2 and the short film Bao by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

Elastigirl springs into action to save the day, while Mr. Incredible faces his greatest challenge yet -- taking care of the problems of his three children.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!

Welcome to another edition of WEEK IN GEEK here at Fanboys Anonymous—a rundown of some of the events, news and stories that went down over the past few days in the geek culture spectrum.

Here are some of the topics I felt like voicing my opinions about:

Marvel TV Shows Will Ignore Avengers: Infinity War

Of course they will. I mean, it's not like they're in the same connected universe or anything, right? So stupid. I hate how the TV division can't figure out ways to follow the movies.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

I hate to be so cynical, but The Last Jedi really ruined things for me, and when you tell me a video game is going to follow the events of a Padawan that survived Order 66, my first thoughts are "Neat, but it doesn't matter cause it will only lead to The Empire coming back when Luke fails to reestablish the Jedi Order and this will be a character that never pops up anywhere and serves no functional purpose."

E3

Admittedly, I'm not a gamer. Every time there was some kind of big news, I had no idea what any of that meant, or it was something I didn't care about. Still, that Spider-Man game looks good, and I'm glad all of the Smash Bros characters are available to pick from. That's how things should progress in 2018 (and should have been years ago). People want the most bang for their buck. They like crossovers and options. Credit to Nintendo for pulling off what people always want. It's the same for how everyone is constantly talking about wanting a Pokemon game that allows you to catch all of them and go through every town from every game. Virtually impossible, but you get the idea.

Deathstroke in Suicide Squad 2

DC doesn't seem to be able to get past rumors and announcements for any of their projects, so I'm taking this and all other ones with a grain of salt, but the current report says Deathstroke will either fight the Suicide Squad or join them against the villains. I'd rather see both. I'd like Deathstroke to challenge for leadership and have in-fighting, and then join up with them against whatever the other menace is.

Hal Jordan and John Stewart for Green Lantern Corps

Well, last week, I had said I liked the idea of Jessica Cruz, but despite how that works out for an angle of diversity, I do think Jordan and Stewart are the two most prominent Green Lantern members. Very glad it isn't Guy Gardner, as that character sucks. Kyle Rayner, meh, he's someone I think serves no real functional purpose and could be merged with the other ones. That's my issue with the Green Lantern series. If you had one or two GLs with the combined stories and character traits as the other members, it would be much better than splitting everyone. Jordan is cocky, Gardner is an asshole but you can just merge that with Jordan's cockiness, Stewart is a hard-ass so he's different, Rayner is a boy scout from my POV but that's a bit unnecessary, I know nothing about Baz and Cruz, but from what I gather, Baz is a bit more violent, right? Maybe make him a Red Lantern. Cruz, maybe combine her with Rayner and make her the younger recruit and an idealist or something? I'm rambling. Jordan/Stewart as a buddy cop film works for me.

AT&T Merger with Time Warner Approved

Fuck. I hate this, and I knew it would happen right after this net neutrality ordeal. I hate how much this country is run by corporations. This better not lead to Comcast getting Fox's assets. Disney needs them instead. At least when it comes to Disney, we get an upgrade to Marvel. We get nothing positive with Comcast—a company I absolutely hate. I can't wait for 2020...

Dumbo Teaser Trailer

I never liked Dumbo as a kid. I'm not going to like this. I'm not even going to watch it.

George Lucas Reveals Original Plans for Episode VII

They were "going to get into a microbiotic world" and deal with the Whills, who "actually control the universe. They feed off the Force." Well, at least he acknowledges that "a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did Phantom Menace and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told."

Now, I absolutely hate the direction the films have gone, but I hate this, too. At the very least, I would be interested to know just what Lucas had in mind, cause despite the whole midichlorians thing being stupid, maybe the actual story would have been better than "idk, how about we just have The Empire come back and another Rebellion, but change their names and shit, and make everything Luke and company did completely pointless as we're just resetting everything back to A New Hope with a new cast?"

Comcast Bids $65 Billion for 21st Century Fox

What did I just fucking say?

Cheetah's Arc in Wonder Woman 1984

Apparently, she'll be Diana's friend, who gets cheetah powers and goes berserk. Meh. I don't know if I really want to see that. I'll be okay with it if Circe is the person who gives her her powers, and she's the real villain of it, but that doesn't seem to necessarily be the case. Also, setting the movie in 84 just seems like a weird decision to me. Until I see something that proves otherwise, I'm getting the feeling it was done just for the sake of "wouldn't it be interesting? I love the 80s!" and nothing more.

Aquaman Set Photos and Magazine Cover

Neat. Still not sold that this is going to be a good movie, but I'll obviously be checking it out. Realistically, it will probably be the best Aquaman film we'll ever get, but is that really saying much?

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Tag by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

One month every year, five highly competitive friends hit the ground running for a no-holds-barred game of tag -- risking their necks, their jobs and their relationships to take one another down. This time, the game coincides with the wedding of the only undefeated player. What should be an easy target soon becomes an all-out war as he knows they're coming to get him.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!

Welcome everyone to the relaunch of an old segment here from Fanboys Anonymous, called WEEK IN GEEK.

In the past, this used to act as an all-inclusive breakdown of the smaller topics throughout the week in all realms of the site, but as you can tell, I've been transitioning to a smaller focus and pretty much a one-man operation here, so instead of this having categories for Movies, TV, Comics, Music and so forth, I'm changing the format a bit.

I've wanted to get my opinions out there about a ton of topics, but I never have the time to dedicate full articles to each of them. So as a bit of a compromise, Week in Geek is going to act as my delivery system for those opinions. Anything that has gone on over the past few days that I feel like voicing my opinions about, I'll be putting here, and it will be a weekly post put out every Friday or so.

In the future, if I can find the resources to dedicate to it, I'll be transitioning this to a podcast as well to be able to go into more detail about certain things and have guests on to talk about them, but for now, that's on the backburner.

Without further ado, let's dive into some of the most recent topics in geek culture I want to talk about!

Ralph Breaks the Internet Trailer

I'm concerned this is just going to be a bunch of references to internet memes and such, but I'm going to see the movie, as the first was good.

Helena Bonham Carter = James Bond Villain?

Yes. Do it. Give her a cast of like 3 more villains to go along with her (one being a brute henchman, one being a threat in a gun scene sense and one that you can kill off in a car chase) and give me Carter as the intelligent leader of them. Also, if we're talking Bond film stuff, I'd love for Sting to do the main theme and keep up the trend of the style of things like Skyfall's theme. Those are my favorite Bond songs; not the rock ones. And I'd be super cool with introducing 008 and making him Idris Elba. And while we're talking about casting, maybe Freida Pinto is the good Bond girl in it? Anyway, I'm rambling, but Carter would be a x

Ryan Gosling, Ezra Miller and Donald Glover on Shortlist for New Willy Wonka

...do we need another Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film? I feel like Gosling would be too dry, Miller would be too much like Johnny Depp, and Glover should be focusing his talents on other projects instead of spending time on this movie.

The LEGO Movie 2 Trailer

Well, it didn't wow me, but I'm going to see it anyway.

Keiynan Lonsdale Exits The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow

Kid Flash really was pushed aside this past season, and I thought it was because they had nothing for him to do, but it's disappointing to see that it's because Lonsdale just wants to move on. I was hoping he'd stick around, and I'm still hoping he pops up once in a while for cameos and such. At the very least, he was a more than welcome addition to Legends of Tomorrow, as I'm struggling to find a reason to continue watching that show. I don't like the campy nature of it. Never have. I know that that means it's most likely "not for me" but I'm trying to keep giving it a chance to step away from Doctor Who and go more into some cool stuff. Kid Flash being on that show helped it out a bit for me, and with him not being even on that, I don't know...

Thoughts on Cloak and Dagger Premiere

It's a little too soap opera for me and I'm not liking any of the characters enough to really get invested, but I'm going to try to give it a few episodes before signing off.

First Look at Addams Family Animated Movie

That art style is awful. I don't care if it looks like the original. It looks stupid. The proportions are insane. Gomez and Fester, in particular, look so weird. Why does Wednesday have such a stretched out head? Lurch is cool, though.

Kelly Marie Tran's Social Media Harassment / Kathleen Kennedy May Step Down

Look, I hated The Last Jedi for its philosophy behind the franchise, the fact that they clearly haven't planned this out well, and that the ruined the entire story of what came before. I absolutely hate it, and it's legitimately soured my love of the whole series, to a point where I simply don't enjoy any of it anymore—even the stuff from before.

I think they're a little too focused on this SJW type of mentality to the point that it hindered their ability to tell a functional story, and that Finn is the only good new character (yes, I said it), with Rose most likely being the absolute worst of the bunch. But holy shit, even if I feel that badly about the series, I'm not taking my frustrations out on Kelly Marie Tran. She didn't write the damn thing.

People who start going on racist tirades and stuff are ridiculous. People who don't like the movies just because the new protagonist is a woman are absurd. People who are mad at the Rose character for being Asian...really? Are you serious?

Kathleen Kennedy does need to step down, though, as I think The Force Awakens only made as much money as it did because it was the first new Star Wars film, and Rogue One was a curiosity factor as well, but The Last Jedi really pissed off a lot of people and Solo was interesting, but not necessarily "good", so she's certainly not pulling a Kevin Feige here.

Green Lantern Corps Could Focus on Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz

Even though the purist in me wishes we had Hal Jordan, because he's the most consequential Green Lantern, I fully support the interest in focusing on making things more diverse. I never liked Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner is okay in my book, but John Stewart is my #2 GL based off the animated series. However, I think having only Wonder Woman on the team is a bit of an underestimation of women, and even though I don't know anything about Jessica Cruz, I do like the idea of using her as the main GL. Simon Baz, well, I don't know much about him, either, but I think the trick here is to make Green Lantern Corps an ensemble piece with the protagonist being Jessica. Guy can be an asshole, Stewart can be a hard-ass military dude, Hal can be his normal self, etc.

Comcast Still Wants FOX

Stop it. Stop that. FOX needs to sell to Disney and nobody else, so we can get the Fantastic 4 and X-Men characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. None of this Comcast shit. Knock it off.

The Batman's Villain is The Penguin?

I really hope not, bu if we do get Penguin, I hope it's more of the businessman type.

I was hoping the villain for this film would be a combination of Red Hood and Deathstroke. I think it would be great if the plot were Red Hood looking for vengeance, coming back from the dead, training with Deathstroke, and we can get Nightwing in the movie. That way, we have Batman and Nightwing against Deathstroke and Red Hood. And Barbara Gordon can make an appearance, too, to set up her involvement in Birds of Prey, which should totally revolve around Batgirl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Black Canary and Huntress.

Kick-Ass Reboot and/or More Films to Come

Give me Kick-Ass 3 and finish out the story. Don't give me a reboot. Don't give me an origin story for Hit-Girl.

Also, Kingsman: The Golden Circle was a major let down for me. If you're going to do a third film, you need to bring Roxy back, or I'll be pissed. She shouldn't have been killed off at all. No reason for it whatsoever. Sad Merlin had to go, but I'm more okay with that than Roxy's death.

Trailer for New Halloween Film

Horror films aren't my thing, but I've seen a couple of Halloween films. Trying to go back and act as if the sequels and reboots and stuff didn't happen is most likely a good thing, but I don't think it'll save the movie from the tropes that will probably create the same flaws that almost all of these films have. Still, that theme song is so dope and I'm more interested in this than I am the past bunch of Halloween films that have come out in X amount of years.

DC Universe Digital Streaming Service Coming in August?

I have no idea if August is a good launch time for it, but Titans looks like it has the Batman aspect 100% down and the rest of it 100% awful. I'm really curious what will happen with that show. This streaming service isn't something that I can imagine a lot of people signing up for, but if they include all of the animated films they've been producing, as well as all of the DC movies that they've ever created, and they create content where people do those animated comic book voiceover things, then maybe it could be decent. It better be $4.99 or at most, $9.99, though. If it's anything more, nobody is going to buy it.

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 2018?

Action Point

Synopsis: A daredevil designs and operates his own theme park with his friends.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Adrift

Synopsis: Based on the true story of survival, a young couple's chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.

Will I watch? = No

American Animals

Synopsis: Four young men mistake their lives for a movie and attempt one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history.

Will I watch? = No

Upgrade

Synopsis: Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant called Stem.

Will I watch? = Maybe

A Kid Like Jake

Synopsis: A Brooklyn couple has always known that their four-year-old son is more interested in fairy tale princesses than toy cars. But when his preschool director points out that his gender-nonconforming play may be more than a phase, the couple is forced to rethink their roles as parents and spouses.

Will I watch? = No

The Doctor from India

Synopsis: The story of Dr. Vasant Lad's mission to bring the ancient health care system of wellness called Ayurveda from India to the West in the late 1970s. From the director of One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das.

Will I watch? = No


Ocean's 8

Synopsis: Debbie Ocean gathers a crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's yearly Met Gala.

Will I watch? = No

Hereditary

Synopsis: When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.

Will I watch? = No

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Synopsis: An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers.

Will I watch? = No

Hearts Beat Loud

Synopsis: A father and daughter form an unlikely songwriting duo in the summer before she leaves for college.

Will I watch? = No


Incredibles 2

Synopsis: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for Jack-Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world.

Will I watch? = Yes

Tag

Synopsis: A small group of former classmates organize an elaborate, annual game of tag that requires some to travel all over the country.

Will I watch? = Yes

SuperFly

Synopsis: The movie is a remake of the 1972 blaxploitation film 'Super Fly'.

Will I watch? = No

Loving Pablo

Synopsis: A journalist strikes up a romantic relationship with notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Will I watch? = No

Eating Animals

Synopsis: An examination of our dietary choices and the food we put in our bodies. Based on Jonathan Safran Foer's memoir.

Will I watch? = No


Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Synopsis: When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.

Will I watch? = Yes

First Reformed

Synopsis: A former military chaplain is wracked by grief over the death of his son. Mary is a member of his church whose husband, a radical environmentalist, commits suicide, setting the plot in motion.

Will I watch? = No

Under the Silver Lake

Synopsis: A man becomes obsessed with the strange circumstances of a billionaire mogul's murder and the kidnapping of a girl.

Will I watch? = No

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town

Synopsis: A woman at rock bottom must find her way across Los Angeles in order to crash her ex-boyfriend's engagement party.

Will I watch? = No

Damsel

Synopsis: It's the Wild West, circa 1870. Samuel Alabaster, an affluent pioneer, ventures across the American frontier to marry the love of his life, Penelope. As his group traverses the west, the once-simple journey grows treacherous, blurring the lines between hero, villain and damsel.

Will I watch? = No


Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Synopsis: The drug war on the US-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro.

Will I watch? = Maybe

The Hustle

Synopsis: A remake of the 1988 comedy, 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', in which two down-and-out con artists engage in a "loser leaves town" contest.

Will I watch? = No

Uncle Drew

Synopsis: After draining his life savings to enter a team in the Rucker Classic street ball tournament in Harlem, Dax (Lil Rel Howery) is dealt a series of unfortunate setbacks, including losing his team to his longtime rival (Nick Kroll). Desperate to win the tournament and the cash prize, Dax stumbles upon the man, the myth, the legend UNCLE DREW (NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving) and convinces him to return to the court one more time. The two men embark on a road trip to round up Drew's old basketball squad (Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, and Lisa Leslie) and prove that a group of septuagenarians can still win the big one. After a successful five years as a fan-favorite digital episodic series, originally conceived by Pepsi, UNCLE DREW, will hit theaters June 29, 2018. UNCLE DREW is a Summit Entertainment release produced by Temple Hill in association with PepsiCo's Creators League Studios.

Will I watch? = No


Which films make the cut?

6. Ocean's 8 — I only saw the first of the original...I mean, of the remake...and I'm not into this all that much, but considering the other choices, I'd pick this over Action Point or Won't You Be My Neighbor, which were the only two other ones in the running.

5. Upgrade — The premise sounds interesting, at least.

4. Sicario: Day of the Soldado — I haven't seen the first, but it looked good, so maybe I'll watch that and then watch this.

3. Incredibles 2 — Admittedly, I didn't love the first one as much as most people, but I did like it, so there's no reason why I wouldn't see this.

2. Tag — This seems so stupid, but fun. Why not?

1. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom — I don't have the greatest feeling in the world about how this is going to pan out, but it's another film in this series, so of course I'm seeing it.

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Solo: A Star Wars Story by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

Through a series of daring escapades, young Han Solo meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!

Normally, I tend to do the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT segment in podcast form, but for Deadpool 2, I happen to be in a position where my equipment isn't readily available and an editorial is much more convenient, so indulge me in a written form of this type of breakdown.

Wisecracking mercenary Deadpool battles the evil and powerful Cable and other bad guys to save a boy's life.

Deadpool 2 is the type of movie that you know well in advance if you want to see it or not. If you watched the first one and enjoyed it, you're going to want to watch this, of course. Equally, if you thought the first was awful, didn't enjoy the humor, didn't get the references or anything along those lines, there's literally no reason for you to watch the sequel, as you're mostly getting the same type of vibe.

However, it is different from the first in that it seems to have more of a cinematic "normal movie" style to it, instead of the aesthetic from the first one.

Admittedly, this was a bit disappointing to me. It felt like this film didn't have as many jokes as the first one, and I didn't enjoy some of the characters as much this time around, nor some of the new additions.

For instance, Russell was more on the annoying side to me than a source of a lot of fun. I tend to think a good portion of that was down to the actor himself, but maybe some of the blame rests on the script.

I liked Cable, but he didn't feel 100% like Cable to me. Maybe in an X-Force film, I guess. Domino was okay, but not too crazy of a standout. I think she's getting a little too overhyped as some major revelation, whereas I thought she was just fine.

Colossus was neat, as always. Negasonic Teenage Warhead wasn't much of a presence in this film, sadly. I would have liked to see more of her, although I did laugh at the Yukio and Deadpool relationship.

Random side note that doesn't have to do with this movie itself, but I went to see it with my girlfriend in 4DX and even though that was fun in the sense of a different experience, I definitely don't think that gimmick was worth it. If you're considering doing that, I'd recommend reconsidering. After the third time air was blown into my ear to represent a gunshot, I got bored of the experience and would have rather just had a better screen.

That being said, I still enjoyed the movie and I still laughed pretty damn hard at certain moments in particular.

I loved the James Bond style intro sequence (along with the song, Ashes). Speaking of music, I'm definitely getting that version of Take On Me for sure.

After having set up their relationship in the first film, the dynamic between Wade and Vanessa was surprisingly sweet in a way I didn't expect it to be.

Without getting into more specifics, I would say that this didn't live up to my expectations, but it was still a fine movie that I'd give a thumbs up to.


Onward to the spoilers section, we can start talking about actual details that stood out to me.

I was a fan of pretty much every little wink and nod, and I really wish they had put more of that type of humor in it, as, like I mentioned before, I didn't think there was anywhere near as many this time around.

The Vanisher, played by Brad Pitt? Hilarious.

Peter was funny, too, but I think they killed that joke with the commercials, as by this point, if you've watched those, you've seen most of his scenes.

Killing off Vanessa was sad, even though I saw it coming from a mile away as soon as it seemed like a sequel film was going to happen, but I'm really happy that they went with the end credit sequence of Wade going back in time and completely undoing everything so that she's still alive. Great decision.

Fucking Juggernaut? Dude, I've always been a fan of that character and it was interesting to see him being treated like a true monster.

Big thumbs down to Russell, as I said. I didn't think his jokes were funny, and I think recasting and going with a different actor would have maybe saved some of them.

I liked how the name of the hospital was Essex, but didn't like the villains of that side of the story. They didn't do much for me.

Blind Al, solid. Weasel, not as good as last time and it seemed like T.J. Miller and/or the writers just didn't try with him. Dopinder was a step down a bit, I think, and lost some of his charm by trying to be a little too funny.

Actually, that is part of the impression I got from a few things, where it suffered from the comedy sequel problems I've seen in plenty of other series. When you take a joke from the previous movie and improve on it, it's fantastic, but if it doesn't land, it is worse than if you didn't have that joke. Some people LOVED the segment dealing with his baby legs, but I wasn't one of those people, so that felt like it went on way too long in my mind.

Flipping back to a positive, though, I absolutely loved the quick cameo of Beast, Quicksilver and other X-Men characters being in the mansion and just shutting the door. I also was a huge fan of the joke that X-Men is a dated metaphor for discrimination in the '60s or whatever the line was. That got a big laugh out of me.

Black Tom Cassidy? So weird that we have seen him in live action movie form and we still haven't seen Avalanche. Very cool to throw him in the movie, even for just a throwaway part like that.

Martha joke +1
Killing the X-Men Origins: Wolverine version of Deadpool + 1
Hawkeye joke +1
Thanos +1
Winter Soldier arm +1
The sun's getting real low + 1
No Bob? -1
The cure for blindness +1

Generally speaking, this was a case of something that I was hoping would be a laugh riot that I really absolutely loved, and I didn't, but I don't subscribe to the idea that everything has to be either the best or worst thing ever. There are gray areas, and when it comes to Deadpool 2, I think it goes around to different shades here and there.

Overall, I do say see it, but I have to admit that I'm not as enthusiastic as I thought I would be, nor even as enthusiastic as I was while leaving the theater last night. After giving myself a day to think about it, I'm a little more down on the film than I was, but who knows what I'll think upon a second viewing. I may even like it more.

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 May 2018?

Overboard

Synopsis: A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and becomes the target of revenge from his mistreated employee. A remake of the 1987 comedy.

Will I watch? = No

Tully

Synopsis: The film is about Marlo, a mother of three including a newborn, who is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.

Will I watch? = No

The Desert Bride

Synopsis: It tells the story of Teresa, a 54-year-old woman who works as a domestic employee in a family home in Buenos Aires. For decades he has taken refuge in the routine of his tasks, but now that the family has decided to sell the house, his life begins to totter.

Will I watch? = No

The Guardians

Synopsis: Women are left behind to work a family farm during the Great War.

Will I watch? = No

Bad Samaritan

Synopsis: A pair of burglars stumble upon a woman being held captive in a home they intended to rob.

Will I watch? = No

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town

Synopsis: A woman at rock bottom must find her way across Los Angeles in order to crash her ex-boyfriend's engagement party.

Will I watch? = No

Racer and the Jailbird

Synopsis: Set against the background of a brutal crime gang in Brussels, a tragic love story between Gigi (Matthias Schoenaerts), a high-flying gangster, and Bibi (Adèle Exarchopoulos), a young racing driver with very upper-class roots.

Will I watch? = No


Life of the Party

Synopsis: After her husband abruptly asks for a divorce, a middle-aged mother returns to college in order to complete her degree.

Will I watch? = No

Breaking In

Synopsis: A woman fights to protect her family during a home invasion.

Will I watch? = No

Beast

Synopsis: A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.

Will I watch? = No

Class Rank

Synopsis: Two high school outsiders join forces in an attempt to overtake the local school board. Guided by their families, they enter the perilous word of politics and, in the process, learn a thing or two about love.

Will I watch? = No

Dark Crimes

Synopsis: A murder investigation of a slain business man turns to clues found in an author's book about an eerily similar crime. Based on the 2008 article "True Crimes - A postmodern murder mystery" by David Grann.

Will I watch? = No

Revenge

Synopsis: Never take your mistress on an annual guys' getaway, especially one devoted to hunting - a violent lesson for three wealthy married men.

Will I watch? = No

Anything

Synopsis: This is a story about the infinite possibility of love.

Will I watch? = No

Lu Over the Wall

Synopsis: The story centers on Kai, a gloomy middle school student whose life changes after meeting Lu, a mermaid.

Will I watch? = No

Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat

Synopsis: Exploring the pre-fame years of the celebrated American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and how New York City, its people, and tectonically shifting arts culture of the late 1970s and '80s shaped his vision.

Will I watch? = No


Deadpool 2

Synopsis: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor - finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World's Best Lover.

Will I watch? = Yes

Book Club

Synopsis: Four lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club.

Will I watch? = No

Show Dogs

Synopsis: Max, a macho, solitary Rottweiler police dog is ordered to go undercover as a primped show dog in a prestigious Dog Show, along with his human partner, to avert a disaster from happening.

Will I watch? = No

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word

Synopsis: Pope Francis travels the world speaking to those in need and delivering a message of hope.

Will I watch? = No

On Chesil Beach

Synopsis: Based on Ian McEwan's novel. In 1962 England, a young couple find their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.

Will I watch? = No

First Reformed

Synopsis: A former military chaplain is wracked by grief over the death of his son. Mary is a member of his church whose husband, a radical environmentalist, commits suicide, setting the plot in motion.

Will I watch? = No


Solo: A Star Wars Story

Synopsis: During an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion.

Will I watch? = Yes

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Synopsis: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon.

Will I watch? = Yes

Summer 1993

Synopsis: After her mother's death, six-year-old Frida is sent to her uncle's family to live with them in the countryside. But Frida finds it hard to forget her mother and adapt to her new life.

Will I watch? = No


Which films make the cut?

6. I would just watch Avengers: Infinity War again as a carryover from April. I can't even pick another option here, because I really don't even see myself seeing #3 or #4 and at this point, fuck it, I'd rather spend my money watching Infinity War again because it was just so awesome.

5. I would just watch Avengers: Infinity War again for the THIRD time, but if you're going to not let me, then maybe I'd watch Rampage as I never got a chance to see that. Nothing more on this list, though.

4. Dark Crimes — I hope Jim Carrey is actually really good in this, even though I won't be seeing it. I'd just rather see this than some of the other things.

3. Bad Samaritan — Let's put it this way. I'm not going to see this movie. However, if I were to have to see a couple of movies more this month, this would be one of them, because it's at least trying something different. There are too many films that are of a drama topic that I'm just not interested in and I'd never be able to sit through patiently. At least with this, it's kind of neat.

2. Solo: A Star Wars Story — The Last Jedi really, really soured me on the Star Wars franchise. I went from absolutely loving it and putting it in a league above its own, to just feeling like I'm not a fan anymore. This film is hindered by coming up next, and it also just doesn't look good, and it also has problems with its production. Still...

1. Deadpool 2 — Fuck yessssssssssssssss.

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!

Batman Ninja is the latest in the line of animated DC direct-to-video films. Is it worth the watch or it is something that should be skipped?

Here are some specific thoughts that ran through my mind during the course of the film as a stream of consciousness:

• Before we even get started, let me just preface this by saying I'm not a fan of anime whatsoever, so I'm going into this expecting to dislike the vibe entirely, and not even a minute into it, the artwork is driving me crazy. I guarantee if you're clicking onto this link looking for someone to share your love of this, you're going to absolutely hate me. You've been warned.
• Not a fan of this Joker voice. Way too over the top.
• Oh my god, this exposition dump is so flat.
• Really, with the jiggly boobs?
• A giant mech building throwing ninja stars...
• This Batman doesn't ever shut up.
• And now Batman is a robot, basically. I'm sure if this is your thing, this is AMAZING to you. Since it isn't my thing, this is just ridiculous in so many ways.
• I'm at least glad we're getting a semi-full Bat-Family.
• ....and Robin just has to have a monkey sidekick, right?
• "No!!!" over and over again.
• Can anybody go 30 seconds without just verbalizing their feelings and their actions? I know it's part of the art style and everything, but again, this is just another thing I'm not fond of with this genre.
• Somehow, the art style got even worse.
• Why is Damien the one who is the goofiest??
• We now present to you the Megazord portion of the program. Rita wants to make these monsters grow.
• Grodd always has to try to turn everybody into monkeys. It's never anything better.
• Here we go with the pop music.
• WTF? Millions of monkeys? This is insane.
• And now a giant Batman. Of course.
• Just end already.
• Okay, I like the teeth on the handle of Joker's sword.
• So somebody actively wrote "we need to have a subplot of these two monkeys falling in love" and was serious about it?

Dumb. This is all from the perspective of someone who just does not enjoy this type of style, culture, or kitschy nature at all, so I'm sure 90% of it was lost on me, similar to how I could never tell you what "good" wicker furniture is, as I think it's all terrible. This was just ridiculous to me from start to finish and I didn't enjoy it pretty much at all. The story was hollow, the acting was over the top, the art style was just bothersome and I hate how every scene seemed to revolve around Bruce being an idiot.

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay is the latest in the line of animated DC direct-to-video films. Is it worth the watch or it is something that should be skipped?

What is this, WCW Monday Nitro?

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Directed by Sam Liu
Written by Alan Burnett

STARRING:
Christian Slater (Deadshot), Vanessa Williams (Amanda Waller), Tara Strong (Harley Quinn), Billy Brown (Bronze Tiger), Kristin Bauer van Straten (Killer Frost), Gideon Emery (Copperhead), Liam McIntyre (Captain Boomerang), David Boat (Harvey Dent / Two-Face), Greg Grunberg (Steel Maxum), and C. Thomas Howell (Zoom)

Here are some specific thoughts that ran through my mind during the course of the film as a stream of consciousness:

• As always, I love the designs of these characters and the art style for the animation.
• Fat Amanda Waller > thin Amanda Waller in my opinion. There's something fun about the idea that she isn't athletic like everybody else and can command such a lead while being obese.
• Punch and Jewelee HAVE to die.
• Okay. Didn't expect that much blood haha.
• Why did the door explode with the X cut?
• Oh shit. Didn't expect the double cross.
• Oh shit! Didn't expect Vertigo to be killed!
• This is fun with Dent and Professor Pyg.
• Uh....X23?
• Classical music in a DC film about the Suicide Squad? Didn't see that coming, but I love it.
• Here's the "meet the team" lineup sequence. I'm going to assume Copperhead and either Bronze Tiger or Killer Frost bites the bullet at some point.
• Cheese dogs and chicken nuggies? Fuck it, I'd eat them.
• LOL @ Copperhead's tongue at the little kid.
• Awesome. I was just thinking Zoom was way too slow. Glad to see they're addressing it.
• "What do we do with Magic Mike?" Good joke.
• That nipple shot was the first time there was actual nudity in anything DC animated, right?
• I dig the design for Vandal Savage.
• There goes Pyg. I guess we won't be seeing him in any future Batman movies.
• So this is the actual Zoom from the Flashpoint timeline? Sweet! I LOVE that twist.
• So I was right about Frost and Copperhead. I didn't think they'd go out at the same exact time, though.
• Nice to see Bronze Tiger get the card from Lawton.
• Don't tell me they both get hit by a car in the middle of that street. I'd have laughed so hard.

This was fun! The story was more contained and well-executed than a lot of these tend to be, the characters were spot on what they should have been, and it was interesting to see a more adult approach to everything. It definitely gets my recommendation for anybody who is a fan of the DC brand.

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 April 2018?

Blockers

Synopsis: Three parents try to stop their daughters from having sex on Prom night.

Will I watch? = No

A Quiet Place

Synopsis: A family lives an isolated existence in utter silence, for fear of an unknown threat that follows and attacks at any sound.

Will I watch? = Maybe

The Miracle Season

Synopsis: After the tragic death of star volleyball player Caroline "Line" Found, a team of dispirited high school girls must band together under the guidance of their tough-love coach in hopes of winning the state championship.

Will I watch? = No

Chappaquiddick

Synopsis: Depicting Ted Kennedy's involvement in the fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Will I watch? = No

Lean on Pete

Synopsis: A teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.

Will I watch? = No

Spinning Man

Synopsis: A happily married professor, known for having many affairs with students, becomes the prime suspect when a young woman has gone missing.

Will I watch? = No

Spiral

Synopsis: A look at the rise of anti-Semitism and assaults against Jews in present-day France.

Will I watch? = No

Where is Kyra?

Synopsis: In Brooklyn, New York, Kyra (Pfeiffer) loses her job and struggles to survive on her ailing mother's income. As the weeks and months go on, her problems worsen. This leads her on a risky and enigmatic path that threatens her life.

Will I watch? = No


Truth or Dare

Synopsis: A harmless game of Truth or Dare among friends turns deadly when someone -- or something -- begins to punish those who tell a lie or refuse the dare.

Will I watch? = No

Overboard

Synopsis: A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and becomes the target of revenge from his mistreated employee. A remake of the 1987 comedy.

Will I watch? = No

The Rider

Synopsis: After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

Will I watch? = No

Borg McEnroe

Synopsis: The story of the 1980s tennis rivalry between the placid Björn Borg and the volatile John McEnroe.

Will I watch? = No

Beirut

Synopsis: A U.S. diplomat (Jon Hamm) flees Lebanon in 1972 after a tragic incident at his home. Ten years later, he is called back to war-torn Beirut by a CIA operative (Rosamund Pike) to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind.

Will I watch? = No

Zama

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Antonio Di Benedetto written in 1956, on Don Diego de Zama, a Spanish officer of the seventeenth century settled in Asunción, who awaits his transfer to Buenos Aires.

Will I watch? = No

20 Weeks

Synopsis: A couple must decide on how to move forward when their baby is diagnosed with a serious health condition at the 20 week scan.

Will I watch? = No


Rampage

Synopsis: Davis Okoye and his bestfriend white gorilla fight monsters in a big city.

Will I watch? = Yes

Super Troopers 2

Synopsis: When a border dispute arises between the U.S. and Canada, the Super Troopers are tasked with establishing a Highway Patrol station in the disputed area.

Will I watch? = No

Tully

Synopsis: The film is about Marlo, a mother of three including a newborn, who is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.

Will I watch? = No

The Devil and Father Amorth

Synopsis: Father Gabriele Amortha performs his ninth exorcism on an Italian woman.

Will I watch? = No


Avengers: Infinity War

Synopsis: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Will I watch? = Yes

I Feel Pretty

Synopsis: A woman struggling with insecurity wakes from a fall believing she is the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. Her new confidence empowers her to live fearlessly, but what happens when she realizes her appearance never changed?

Will I watch? = No

Traffik

Synopsis: A couple off for a romantic weekend in the mountains are accosted by a bike gang. Alone in the mountains, Brea and John must defend themselves against the gang, who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

Will I watch? = No

Kings

Synopsis: The life of a foster family in South Central Los Angeles, a few weeks before the city erupts in violence following the verdict of the Rodney King trial.

Will I watch? = No

Redoubtable

Synopsis: During the making of one of his films, French film director Jean-Luc Godard falls in love with 17-year old actress Anne Wiazemsky and later marries her.

Will I watch? = No

Let the Sunshine In

Synopsis: Isabelle, Parisian artist, divorced mother, is looking for love, true love at last.

Will I watch? = No

Disobedience

Synopsis: A woman returns to the community that shunned her for her attraction to a childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.

Will I watch? = No

Backstabbing for Beginners

Synopsis: A young program coordinator at the United Nations stumbles upon a conspiracy involving Iraq's oil reserves.

Will I watch? = No

Bad Samaritan

Synopsis: A pair of burglars stumble upon a woman being held captive in a home they intended to rob.

Will I watch? = No

Selfie Dad

Synopsis: A struggling father starts his own "how to" YouTube Chanel.

Will I watch? = No


Which films make the cut?

6. Overboard — Let's be honest, I'm not seeing this. I'd sooner watch Infinity War six times.

5. Blockers — Let's be honest, I'm not seeing this. I'd sooner watch Infinity War six times. However, at least if I watched this, I could talk about it on my other site, Smark Out Moment, as it stars John Cena.

4. Super Troopers 2 — I've never seen the first one and I've heard good things, so maybe I'll check that out and want to see this.

3. A Quiet Place — I'm very, very intrigued about what the hell is going on in this movie. This is the first horror film in a long time that I actually want to watch.

2. Rampage — When I first saw the trailer for this, I said out loud "That is shockingly better looking than I ever would have expected." and I honestly think I'll check this out with Movie Pass, which is so weird, as I laughed at the idea when it was just a rumor.

1. Avengers: Infinity War — This is EEEEEEEEVERYTHING. 10 years building up to this point and Avengers 4. I'm more pumped about this movie than any other film coming out this entire year, EASILY, and I bought 16 tickets for my friends and I already the other day.

On the latest edition of the Fanboys Anonymous REVIEWPOINT podcast, host Tony Mango breaks down the hits and misses of Ready Player One by discussing what worked, what didn't, and whether you should see it or skip it.

In the year 2045, the real world is a harsh place. The only time Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) truly feels alive is when he escapes to the OASIS, an immersive virtual universe where most of humanity spends their days. In the OASIS, you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone-the only limits are your own imagination. The OASIS was created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who left his immense fortune and total control of the Oasis to the winner of a three-part contest he designed to find a worthy heir. When Wade conquers the first challenge of the reality-bending treasure hunt, he and his friends-aka the High Five-are hurled into a fantastical universe of discovery and danger to save the OASIS.

Make sure to subscribe/follow on whatever platform you're listening, leave your comments on the videos or this post, share this with your friends and geek out with us!