Fanboys Anonymous

73rd Golden Globe Awards 2016 Nominees List

Posted by Anthony Mango - Thursday, December 10, 2015

The 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place January 10, 2016 at 5pm Pacific on NBC, hosted by Ricky Gervais. Here are the nominees for all of the categories. Give us your predictions on the winners and your favorites in the comments below!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Idris Elba, Luther
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
David Oyelowo, Nightingale
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Patrick Wilson, Fargo

Original Score, Motion Picture
Carter Burwell, Carol
Alexander Desplat, The Danish Girl
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Daniel Pemberton, Steve Jobs
Ryuchi Sakamoto, The Revanant

Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language
The Brand New Testament
The Club
The Fencer
Mustang
Son of Saul

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Joanna Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Regina King, American Crime
Judith Light, Transparent
Moira Tierney, The Affair

Best Television Series, Musical
Casual, Hulu
Mozart in the Jungle, Amazon Video
Orange Is the New Black, Netflix
Silicon Valley, HBO
Transparent, Amazon Video
Veep, HBO

Best Motion Picture, Animated
Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Queen Latifah, Bessie

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damien Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelson, Bloodline
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

Best Original Song, Motion Picture
"Love Me LIke You Do," Fifty Shades of Grey
"One Kind of Love," Love & Mercy
"See You Again," Furious 7
"Simple Song #3," Youth
"Writing's on the Wall," Spectre

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
American Crime, ABC
American Horror Story: Hotel, FX
Fargo, FX
Flesh and Bone, Starz
Wolf Hall, PBS

Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodrgiuez, Jane the Virgin
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie 

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Emma Donoghue, Room
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Charles Randolph & Adam McKay, The Big Short
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Rob Lowe, The Grinder
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy
The Big Short
Joy
The Martian
Spy
Trainwreck

Best Television Series, Drama
Empire, Fox
Game of Thrones, HBO
Mr. Robot, USA
Narcos, Netflix
Outlander, Starz

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Steve Carell, The Big Short
Matt Damon, The Martian
Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear

Best Director, Motion Picture
Todd Haines, Carol
Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Wagner Moura, Narcos
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Best Performance by Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hateful Eight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Paul Dano, Love
Idris Elba, Beast of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Edide Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Will Smith, Concussion

Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Melissa McCarthy, Spy
Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saiorse Ronin, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

List of Nominees Golden Globe Awards 2016 Winners 73rd annual

On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Does it look any better than the first film, which was a disappointment to us, or do we feel like we're in store for the same nonsense again? What are we most excited about and what has us going back in our shells from anxiety? Are we more interested to see it after this trailer or does this make us not want to spend our money on some of our beloved childhood characters?

Hosted by Tony Mango along with Mike Paden and Shaun Walker

Some topics we address:

  • Turtle Van
  • It's Tricky by Run D.M.C.
  • Is schoolgirl Megan Fox sexy or not hot at all?
  • Casey Jones
  • Bebop and Rocksteady (WWE's Sheamus)
  • New Shredder and Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman
  • Who is Laura Linney?
  • What's Elias Koteas been up to?
  • The subtitle "Out of the Shadows"
  • and more!

You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!

OFFICIAL TRAILER:



TRAILER REACTION:



Leonardo, Raphael, Michalengelo, and Donatello face off against new threats and enemies in the form of: mechanical aliens, a mad scientist named Dr. Baxter Stockman, Bebop and Rocksteady. They also once again have to confront their greatest enemy, The Shredder, and his Foot Clan. The Turtles are equipped with the help of Vern, April and a new vigilante named Casey Jones.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows will be released in theaters June 3, 2016.

Directed by: Dave Green
Written by: Josh Appelbaum (screenwriter), André Nemec (screenwriter), Kevin Eastman (characters), Peter Laird (characters)
Starring: Megan Fox (April O'Neil), Stephen Amell (Casey Jones), Laura Linney, Johnny Knoxville (Leonardo), Alan Ritchson (Raphael), Noel Fisher (Michelangelo), Jeremy Howard (Donatello), Tony Shalhoub (Splinter), Brian Tee (Shredder), Stephen Farrelly (Rocksteady), Gary Anthony Williams (Bebop) and Tyler Perry (Baxter Stockman)

reaction to trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

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The Dace Man Show Ep 129 - Live From Syria.. But Not Really

Posted by The Dace Man - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 129 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, Frank Ward, and Gibby!!

2016 GOP Presidential Race

::SPORTS NEWS::
  • The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
  •  Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
  • Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
  • Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game of Who Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week, and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.


Subscribe to The Dace Man Show on iTunes RadioSubscribe to The Dace Man Show on Stitcher Radio

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.

Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

9 Characters Who May Die in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Posted by Anthony Mango - Tuesday, December 8, 2015

We're only a few weeks away from the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens, so the time for predictions is coming down to the wire. While I've been trying to stay away from spoilers and only check out official trailers and such, I can't help but to have my own predictions going forward, and one of those things in particular is about who is going to die.

In nearly every film in the Star Wars saga, a noteworthy character dies. This is especially true in the first and final installments of the trilogies, and since this is the beginning of a new set of films, I wholeheartedly expect there to be a handful of deaths. In fact, I'm going so far as to say we will see at least five deaths that will resonate with the audience in one way or another.

Who will those five deaths include, though? Let's break them down.

Who will die in Star Wars Force Awakens episode vii?

1) The Rebel Pilot Death

In Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, one of the deaths that is overlooked but shouldn't be is Biggs Darklighter. Biggs is a childhood friend of Luke's who is essentially set up as a sort of big brother to him. Luke looks up to Biggs, and when he's killed by Darth Vader, that's when things get dire for Skywalker and the fun stops.

Right now, you might be thinking that Poe Dameron—the most widely advertised member of Black Squadron—is the easy target for this section, but I think he'll be making it out of this film alive. We haven't seen all that much about Poe, but he's been said to be an important character. My guess is he'll be the love interest for Rey (if her love interest isn't Finn), so he'll be sticking around for a few more movies, even though he's being tortured in the trailer by Kylo Ren.

Instead, I think Greg Grunberg's character is the one that will fill this role. I can see him being someone that Poe is friends with and filling sort of a Wedge Antilles position in the cast as someone who will be remembered, but not spoken about often. Grunberg is such a likable guy, so in a short time frame, he could make the audience care about him and then feel bad that his ship totally gets blown to pieces instead of us laughing like when Porkins wasn't quite alright or not remembering Dack's name most of the time.

2) A New Republic Figurehead

Leia is clearly going to be one of the primary faces of the New Republic considering how important she was during the original trilogy and how she was a well-known political figure from Alderaan. In fact, she might be at the top of the pecking order already, but if by some chance she isn't, I'm confident in saying she will be by the end of this movie.

Admiral Ackbar is confirmed to be in the film and I can't imagine him getting much more screen time than what he got in Return of the Jedi, which was pretty nominal. The same goes for Mon Mothma, who may be in the movie as the leader of the New Republic above Leia. If that is the case, Mothma will die to make room for Leia to move up in the ranks. If Mothma is already taken out of the equation before the events of the film, then I'm expecting Ackbar to turn into fried Mon Calamari. The death of one of the most distinguished generals will be a big loss for our heroes.

3) The Helper on the Sidelines

If you're a character who helps our heroes and you only appear in a few scenes, there are two ways in which your story can go. If you're lucky, you're someone like Dexter Jettster, who gives Obi-Wan Kenobi some information and then goes back to his stupid '50s diner. If you're Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, you end up a charred skeleton. None of the handmaidens die in The Phantom Menace, but one of them serves her purpose (even though she says she failed, but that's another discussion for another day) in Attack of the Clones. Her name was Cordé, aka "the one that wasn't played by Rose Byrne" who gets blown up in an assassination attempt on Padmé. Even Shmi Skywalker only lasts two films before falling victim to Tusken Raiders.

Although we don't know too many details about their characters, I think the two that could fill this role are those played by Max von Sydow and Lupita Nyong'o. The former is supposedly playing Lor San Tekka—a villager with information. The latter's character, Maz Kanata, is a pirate who has been around for a long time and could also be spilling some information before spilling her guts. One of these two, if not both, are definitely going to be destroyed by the First Order. I'm 100% positive about that. I expect them to not even still be alive by the midway point of the movie as their deaths could be great tools to show how dangerous our new villains are.

4) The Big Villain Death

As dangerous as they'll be, it's not just heroes that die in these films and we can't forget about the obligatory comeuppances for greed and evil. In A New Hope, countless Imperial forces are killed when the Death Star explodes, but none of them are as featured as Grand Moff Tarkin. Losing the various governors, admirals, captains and so on just to see them replaced by someone else in the next installment is a staple of this franchise, so I'm putting a lot of faith on General Hux going up in flames when Starkiller Base is invaded.

Although I'm not as confident in my next prediction, I do think that there's a good chance Captain Phasma is killed off as well. While Hux is someone who Poe Dameron can waste in an X-Wing, Phasma's death would be better served at the hands of Finn, if she's his superior officer while he was a Stormtrooper. That would be the ultimate sign that he's ditched his former alignment and fully joined the side of good. You may think that she's too important of a character to be killed off in the first movie, but many other characters didn't make it past their first film. Sure, Zam Wesell and Greedo are nothing, but Jango Fett and Darth Maul are huge deaths that Phasma would be on par with.

Look, we all know Kylo Ren isn't going anywhere, nor would they introduce Supreme Leader Snoke and have him not be quite so supreme. Phasma and Hux are the two most expendable of the main baddies, and even if one of them makes it to Episode 8, the other one won't.

5) The Main Hero Death

Sadly, the first film of both trilogies has seen the death of a mentor character for our heroes. The main example of this is Obi-Wan Kenobi's sacrifice in A New Hope, as he fades away to become more powerful than Darth Vader can imagine, despite how he really doesn't live up to that hype. In The Phantom Menace, it's Qui-Gon Jinn who fails to fade away on-screen because he's yet to finish the last chapter in his book "How to Become a Force Ghost For Dummies" and saves that for another time.

Since both are bearded Jedi, one would think that Luke Skywalker fits the trope, but I think he's safe. Instead, I'm worried about not one, but two of the most popular characters in the Star Wars franchise: Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Exhibit A is the image of Rey crying over someone's body in the trailer.

Who is Rey crying dies in Star Wars Force Awakens
Or maybe someone just sprayed her with a water gun. I mean, a water blaster.

Clearly, this is someone who she is enamored with in some fashion. The four most likely candidates from the information we know so far are Finn, Poe Dameron, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Why? Well,we can see that brown is the predominant color. We all know Finn and Rey interact with each other, and Finn has been seen wearing the same brown jacket that Poe wears. We can assume it's the same jacket. Also, since BB-8 is Poe's astromech droid and we have seen BB-8 and Rey together, it's fair to assume Poe and Rey cross paths. However, those two aren't likely to be set up as the new faces of this franchise and then die, so I'm ruling them out.

We also have seen shots of Rey and Finn in the Millennium Falcon and spending time with Han Solo and Chewbacca—both of whom are no stranger to brown as that's half of what Solo's wardrobe consists of and all of Chewbacca's, obviously. That part on the right side of the photograph could be Chewie's bandolier.

Han Solo makes so much sense to me that as soon as Harrison Ford was announced to be in the film, I was speculating how he would die. Lest we not forget that he was almost killed off in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so there's a precedent for this sort of story to be told. Han also makes sense because he'll be the mentor for Rey and Finn (as well as possibly Poe) and that position just screams sacrifice. Although I don't know how much stock to put into the rumor, I had heard rumblings that Han could be killed in a way where he has to trust Luke telling him that that's how things have to be. This could be a scenario where Luke has a vision of what's to come and passes that information along to Han, breaking the bad news that it's time for him to die in order to prevent a bigger disaster. I will be beyond shocked if we don't hear Han say "That's three you owe me, junior."

And then there's Chewbacca. It sounds like blasphemy to say it, but let's face the facts—without Han Solo, there's no reason to keep Chewbacca around. Now, perhaps Han won't die, but Chewbacca will, and Han will be paired up with Lando for Episode 8 or just interact more with Leia, Luke, or even Finn/Rey/Poe. However, with Peter Mayhew's health in concern, I can't imagine Chewbacca continuing on. There really isn't much of a reason to keep him around. Chewbacca is a textbook supporting character. He doesn't offer much to the plot and the cast in this movie is so overloaded. How can we find time to properly utilize Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, Poe Dameron, Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, General Hux, Supreme Leader Snoke, Maz Kanata and more? The most expendable of the bunch is Chewbacca, who has been killed off in the now non-canon Expanded Universe before, so it's not as though he's too sacred of a character to kick the bucket.

I would not be surprised to see Chewbacca honor his life debt to Han Solo by sacrificing himself around the 3/4 mark and for Han to be killed at the very end, or carry the guilt of Chewbacca's death into Episode 8. Killing Chewbacca would be like killing a dog. There's no way the audience won't feel a pit in their stomach seeing him breathe his last breath. He's too loyal of a hero to not evoke the feels when he passes the ultimate test of loyalty.

Those are my theories, but where do you stand? Who do you think will end up being killed off in The Force Awakens? Do you agree or disagree with my list, and if so, why?

Tell us your predictions in the comments below!

Star Wars Special Editions vs Original Cut Versions - Group Meeting Ep 26

Posted by Anthony Mango - Monday, December 7, 2015

On episode 26 of the Fanboys Anonymous Group Meeting podcast, the panel has a roundtable discussion about the changes made to the Star Wars special editions over the years and whether or not people should only watch the original cuts.

Star Wars changes special editions versions debate

Hosted by Tony Mango, the panel includes Calen Ferris, Sam Lascio, Shaun Walker, Drew White and Angie Williams.

Some topics we address:
  • Han shot first vs. Greedo shot first
  • Jabba the Hutt deleted scene added to A New Hope
  • Updated visual effects and remastered sound
  • Ian McDiarmid added to The Empire Strikes Back
  • Temuera Morrison redubs voice for Boba Fett
  • Max Rebo Band
  • Victory Celebration vs Ewok Celebration
  • Hayden Christensen Force ghost
  • CGI Yoda in The Phantom Menace
  • And more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!


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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Official Trailer #2 Reaction & First Thoughts

Posted by Anthony Mango - Thursday, December 3, 2015

On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice released earlier today on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

This was the second official trailer for the film, giving us a deeper look at things to come and our first look at some things that we might not have seen coming at all.

Hosted by Tony Mango along with Shaun Walker

Some topics we address:

  • First look at Doomsday
  • The Trinity forms together and stands tall
  • Is Lex Luthor too goofy?
  • The Son of Krypton vs The Bat of Gotham
  • and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!

OFFICIAL TRAILER:



TRAILER REACTION:



Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released in theaters March 25, 2016.

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Written by: Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer

Starring: Ben Affleck (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Henry Cavill (Clark Kent / Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), Holly Hunter (Senator Finch), Gal Gadot (Diana Prince / Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry / Aquaman), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Scoot McNairy, Ray Fisher (Victor Stone) and Laurence Fishburne (Perry White)

reaction to trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

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The Dace Man Show Ep 128 - Coma-Dace

Posted by The Dace Man - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 128 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Frank Ward and Gibby!!

Star Wars The Force Awakens Box Office

::SPORTS NEWS::
  • The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
  •  Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
  • Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
  • Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game of Who Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week, and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.


Subscribe to The Dace Man Show on iTunes RadioSubscribe to The Dace Man Show on Stitcher Radio

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.

Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

Over the years, the Star Wars story has changed many times. Once, it was a tale from the Journal of the Whills about characters like The Starkiller family (Kane, Deak and Annikin) along with General Luke Skywalker, Clieg Whitsun, Governor Crispin Hoedaack and more. Eventually, it became what it is today. But even when the first film came out, it was clear that the audience was being dropped into a world that had already been lived in, but we weren't privy to all the details. What were the Clone Wars? How did the Jedi go extinct? What the hell got into those Tusken Raiders to make them so grumpy? (We would later find out it's likely because they're Sand People and sand gets everywhere.)

Claim as much as he wants that he's had plans all along, obviously George Lucas has made some things up along the way, as evidenced by the kiss between Luke and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back despite being brother and sister. Either they weren't siblings until Episode VI or Lucas has some weird issues to work out. But when the prequel films came out, some big twists were thrown into the mix. The story suddenly shifted massively with the inclusion of a plot device: the prophecy.

Star Wars balance to the force explained theory prophecy

WHAT WE KNOW

In The Phantom Menace, we're introduced to Anakin Skywalker and quickly, Qui-Gon Jinn can tell that he's sensitive to The Force. Upon testing his midi-chlorian count, it was apparently "off the charts" and measured at over 20,000—whatever that's supposed to mean. Currently in the official canon, midi-chlorians are microscopic lifeforms that act as symbiotic carriers of sorts for The Force that connect sentient beings together. They originated on a planet in the center of the galaxy which was also the source of life itself. Anakin was theorized to have been conceived by the midi-chlorians, resulting in his mother Shmi's virgin birth a la Jesus Christ parable.

Star Wars Force Planet Mortis Clone Wars
Looks pretty barren, but it's still a better sight than Alderaan. What, too soon?

When the topic is brought up, Qui-Gon speculates that Anakin is "The Chosen One." Mace Windu helps clarify things to the audience by stating: "You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to The Force. You believe it's this boy?"

Suddenly, Star Wars is a drastically different story. Sure, nothing changes about what we've seen before like Greedo shooting first and then with an edit, the events that transpired are different, but an undercurrent of a story was added that we never knew existed before. Originally, Anakin Skywalker was good, turned bad, and then turned good. Now, it was actually the story of how The Chosen One fell from grace, but was able to turn things around and fulfill his destiny. Anakin didn't just so happen to destroy Emperor Palpatine, it was his literal reason for existence and what he was created to do. He was meant to do this and just took a detour. Heavy stuff.

Anakin fulfills prophecy killing Darth Sidious Return of the Jedi
Mission accomplished.

However, this is all very vague. Just how exactly does someone "bring balance" to this universal consciousness by destroying all of the heroes along the way? To many fans, they interpret this as a numbers game where at one point, Darth Vader and Darth Sidious were the only two users of the Dark Side (due to the Rule of Two—go look it up if you need more info on that) while Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda were the only two Jedi left on the Light Side. To those people, balance is a 2-vs-2 scenario.

To me, the numbers theory never made any sense, as Luke and Leia are clearly at least marginally using The Force at this time, making it 4-on-2. Then, when Kenobi and Yoda die, it goes back to 2-on-2, only for the scale to be tipped in the wrong direction again with the deaths of the Darths. At the end of Return of the Jedi, we're left with two Jedi on the Light Side. That's not a balance.

George Lucas has gone on record in saying that the prophecy is that Anakin will defeat the Dark Side. That simple. In the Expanded Universe / Legends telling—which exists in a limbo state now that all of these stories have been decreed as not officially canon nor not-canon until proven or disproven—it is described as such:

In the "may or may not be canon until something proves or disproves it" stories of the Expanded Universe, now dubbed Legends, the prophecy states the following:

In the time of greatest despair, a child shall be born who will destroy the Sith and bring balance to The Force.

Again, that's still pretty vague, and now that the stories are continuing, we're left questioning how this could be true if there are still Dark Side users as villains going forward.

You've sat through a lot to get to this point, but we're finally here. This is my proposal for what the prophecy really means.

DECIPHERING CLUES

The prophecy revolves around Anakin being born with the sole purpose of destroying the Dark Side. All of the miscellaneous details that people attribute to this are left up to interpretation, but not necessarily fact. Despite how there's a chance the Jedi were wrong and there really is no prophecy, which would retcon six films, if we assume that this is the most basic foundation, that's where we'll work from as our starting point.

Birthright is the central theme. Anakin had no father and the biggest twist in movie history was the revelation that he was Luke's father. Vader tells Luke that it is his destiny to rule the galaxy with him as father and son. Palpatine was a father figure to Anakin. Jedi Masters and their Padawan learners are like parents to children (or in some cases just as in real life, if the parent is killed, a big brother has to step in to raise his little brother, like what happened to Obi-Wan and Anakin) and every living being is a child of The Force. Even Dwayne Johnson, since Yoda explains that it exists between "the tree, The Rock, everywhere!"

Qui-Gon Jinn The Rock actor Star Wars
Trust your instincts. Don't think, just smelllllll what Qui-Gon is cooking. (insert funeral pyre joke)

In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis, who was able to create life and learn how to prevent death. Palpatine doesn't know this power, but he dangles it in front of Anakin to lure him to the Dark Side, as Anakin has had traumatic visions of Padme's death. The last time these prophetic dreams happened, it was his mother Shmi's death, and it came true. Now, it's the mother of his children. Obviously, I don't need to explain how parentage comes into play here.

However, it's interesting to note that the main villain of the series is the man who killed his father figure who could create life and is destroyed by his surrogate son (with the help of his surrogate grandson) who was created to kill him.

Plagueis did something abominable by messing with The Force and manipulating it in a way it shouldn't have been manipulated and unlocked the ultimate secret of life that no being other than The Force itself has control over, by being able to set off a Big Bang in so many words. That's way too dangerous to be in the wrong hands, so The Force directly involved itself to create an equal and opposite reaction to put a stop to it: Anakin.

Think of Plagueis and Palpatine as a virus that gets introduced to a host body and starts taking over. The course of action to fix that problem is to send in an antivirus to wipe it out.

Phantom Menace wipe them out all of them quote gif
Slow down, Palpatine. Wrong idea here.

But if the Dark Side continues after Palpatine's death, how is the prophecy fulfilled? Well, it isn't so much that Anakin has to stab the Dark Side in the heart and kill it, but that he sets off a chain of events that will ultimately work out in the end.

THE CHAINS OF REACTION THAT SURROUND US AND BIND US

Shmi is a vessel—a test tube in which Anakin is born as an anomaly. Therefore, Anakin is the first true starting point in the Skywalker lineage that has an asterisk on it. All members of the family that come after him are direct descendants of not just Shmi, but The Force itself. Basically, if The Force is God and Anakin is Jesus Christ, then Luke Skywalker is Jesus Christ Jr. and the same applies to Leia. If either Luke or Leia have a son or daughter, they're following in the same footsteps.

Anakin is too old to begin the training, as are Luke and Leia, but that doesn't stop them from being extremely powerful, because it's in their genes. The Skywalker family is working with a genetic gold mine of Force potential to the point where not even the most powerful evil in the galaxy can match them.

The Jedi Order was dissolved because it was getting in the way of itself and had its head up its own ass. One of their rules is that you can't form attachments because emotions are easy to be manipulated, which makes it easier to succumb to the Dark Side. That is true, but there's something to be said about how a life without love is no life worth living. Anakin even says to Padme that from his perspective, they are "encouraged to love" despite what the rulebook says. You know why he can go offbook like that? Because he's Anakin f'n Skywalker—manifestation of The Force. Qui-Gon says that the midi-chlorians talk to them and this is The Force telling Anakin to ignore the bureaucracy of the Jedi Order and go with his gut and listen to what they have to say.


Padme's potential death being ignored by the Jedi Order leads to Anakin making a rash decision to defy them and turn against them, which sets Padme down the path of her demise. All things considered, an alternate universe could have seen the events unfold differently, where Yoda and company ensure that Padme is safe during childbirth, they take down Palpatine, the Jedi Order survives and the love between Anakin and Padme proves to be a lesson. They learn by Anakin's example and open up to the idea of love.

Since that didn't happen, the responsibility fell on Luke's shoulders. Luke's love for Leia and his friends propels much of the plot. Anakin's love of Luke saves the day. Qui-Gon is the first Force-user to come back from the dead as a ghost and that's because he defied the council and went with his heart. Obi-Wan Kenobi loves Anakin and that's why he's such a prominent role. Qui-Gon's father figure is Count Dooku, who was trained by Yoda. It all connects and boils down to love. The Jedi Order neglected this and needed to be rebooted. Now that Luke is the one responsible for dictating how things go, he's someone who knows more than anybody how powerful love can be and in the Expanded Universe, he eliminated this doctrine and allowed Jedi to marry.

The movies are now going to be broken up in two ways with Anthology films and Saga films. The former will be spin-off titles such as the upcoming Rogue One while it's been stated that the Episode ___ movies will continually focus on the Skywalker family. That's because the lineage is the most important thing.

Anakin is the Chosen One because he is the one to create the bloodline that will forever right the wrongs of the universe.

If the Dark Side is parasitic, then the midi-chlorians are white blood cells. If someone like Palpatine was a virus, then Anakin was the antivirus. Luke and Leia are the current holders of the mantle of Chosen One and when the Dark Side amasses enough power to become a threat to the galaxy (which we'll see in Episode VII on December 18th), then they and their surrounding friends they are connected to via love will correct the errors in play.

Whenever things get too dirty, a Skywalker will be there to act as the soap to clean it up. Anakin's removal of the Palpatine virus was the first bath and a new evil rises in the First Order. That is why The Force Awakens and decides to take a shower again to cleanse the galaxy of the Dark Side. Luke, Leia, and I'm assuming Rey if not Finn as well are the white blood cells now that Anakin is gone.

Star Wars Force midi-chlorians under microscope
White blood cells, eh? Look familiar?
This way, the stories will continue and don't have a definitive end unless the Dark Side is completely and utterly eradicated for good. If there is ever an evil in power, a Skywalker will keep it in check, and it all started with Anakin—the boy who was created out of an absence of love, became the man whose actions were dictated by love, brought about some tough love to teach the Jedi what they were doing wrong, and was able to keep his love going on for generations through his children.

TL;DR = Anakin brings balance to The Force by being the first in a bloodline of guardians of the collective consciousness, all in the name of the one thing that joins us together, love.

What do you think of this interpretation? Am I completely insane and will be proven wrong in a few weeks when Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens comes out? Am I thinking way too hard and this is just a plot hole that Kathleen Kennedy is hoping we'll ignore so Disney can keep on making lots of money?

Tell us what you think and if you have any other theories on the prophecy in the comments below!

6 Flicks Picks for December 2015 Movie Release Schedule

Posted by Anthony Mango - Tuesday, December 1, 2015

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

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

Without further ado, another new month means another new set of films, so what's coming soon to theaters in December 2015?

What movies are coming out December 2015 6 Flicks Picks

RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2015

Krampus

Synopsis: A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home.

Will I watch? = No

Chi-Raq

Synopsis: A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago.

Will I watch? = No

The Letters

Synopsis: A drama that explores the life of Mother Teresa through letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual advisor, Father Celeste van Exem over a nearly 50-year period.

Will I watch? = No

Macbeth

Synopsis: Macbeth, a Thane of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Youth

Synopsis: A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.

Will I watch? = No

A Royal Night Out

Synopsis: On V.E. Day in 1945, as peace extends across Europe, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed out to join the celebrations. It is a night full of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Will I watch? = No

The World of Kanako

Synopsis: As former detective Akikazu searches for his missing daughter, Kanako, he soon learns she has a mysterious secret life.

Will I watch? = /No

Life

Synopsis: A photographer for Life Magazine is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean.

Will I watch? = No

Hitchcock/Truffaut

Synopsis: Filmmakers discuss how Francois Truffaut's 1966 book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" influenced their work.

Will I watch? = No

Christmas Eve

Synopsis: Hilarity, romance, and transcendence prevail after a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers inside elevators on Christmas Eve.

Will I watch? = Maybe

MI-5

Synopsis: When a terrorist escapes custody during a routine handover, Will Holloway must team with disgraced MI5 Intelligence Chief Harry Pearce to track him down before an imminent terrorist attack on London.

Will I watch? = No

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2015

In the Heart of the Sea

Synopsis: Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.

Will I watch? = Maybe

The Big Short

Synopsis: Four outsiders in the world of high-finance who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s decide to take on the big banks for their lack of foresight and greed.

Will I watch? = Maybe

The Lady in the Van

Synopsis: A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her car that's parked in his driveway.

Will I watch? = No

The Dark Horse

Synopsis: An emotionally charged and inspiring drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities - finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community.

Will I watch? = No

RELEASE DATE: December 18, 2015

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

Synopsis: Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami...and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother.

Will I watch? = No

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Synopsis: A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas and set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

Will I watch? = Yes

Sisters

Synopsis: Two sisters decide to throw one last house party before their parents sell their family home.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Son of Saul

Synopsis: In the horror of 1944 Auschwitz, a prisoner forced to burn the corpses of his own people finds moral survival upon trying to salvage from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son.

Will I watch? = No

RELEASE DATE: December 25, 2015

The Hateful Eight

Synopsis: In post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive?

Will I watch? = Yes

Joy

Synopsis: Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.

Will I watch? = Maybe

Daddy's Home

Synopsis: A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepdad to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.

Will I watch? = No

Concussion

Synopsis: In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.

Will I watch? = Yes

Point Break

Synopsis: A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists. "Point Break" is inspired by the classic 1991 hit.

Will I watch? = No

The Revenant

Synopsis: In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.

Will I watch? = Yes

6 FLICKS PICKS

Which films make the cut?

Honorable Mentions. There are 11 films that I would check out this month, but the overwhelming majority of them are things that I'm not too interested in. More specifically, there seems to be an emphasis on movies that I feel take themselves very seriously for Oscar contention, but could be far up their own ass and too pretentious for me to actually like.

Point Break and Daddy's Home are teetering on the edge of "maybe", but I just don't have any faith they'll be good. I can't even remember if I've seen the original Point Break, so there's no nostalgia rush I'm seeking with that. As far as Will Ferrell goes, despite Old School and Stranger Than Fiction being in my movie collection and films I love, he has a bad track record with me as his antics fall victim to the trap where the comedian does the same old shit repeatedly and I didn't find it funny the first time, let alone the fiftieth. It will take a lot of good word of mouth to get me to watch that. The same goes for Sisters, as I'm not fond of 30 Rock and while the pairing of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey was great on SNL (as was Will Ferrell), beyond that, I'm not interested.

Macbeth is a great story, but having already read the play and seen Ian McKellen's version, do I really need to sit through all that again? I prefer Hamlet.

In the Heart of the Sea is something I really think could be awesome, but I have zero interest in movies about boats and submarines. Honestly, every single movie revolving around those has been something that I found difficult to sit through. I don't enjoy the claustrophobic atmosphere, but even with space movies or something like 12 Angry Men, there's something to distract me. Most movies about a boat or a submarine are entirely about the boat or submarine—a topic I don't find entertaining. I'm not a car guy, either, so if you showed me a movie about a mechanic I'd be twitching in my seat. The visuals look amazing and it's caught my attention, but considering the subject matter, I'm hesitant.

Speaking of boring subjects, holy hell does The Big Short seem more like I'd be reading a textbook than watching a movie. Moneyball almost got me interested enough to watch, but I put it off and never got around to it. This....meh. In a month that has the next Star Wars movie, you're not going to make me want to spend $10 on something about mortgage rates and bank etiquette no matter how many big stars are in it.

6. Joy — This is a tough one. I thought both Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle were okay, but I really don't see what's so fantastic about them. In fact, if I never would have seen those movies, I don't think I'd be missing out on anything. They're entirely forgettable, so this team isn't giving me crap, but equally isn't giving me much to be excited about. After watching this trailer, I'm left unenthusiastic. If this gets Oscar buzz in any way, I'll check it out, but this could be the third strike for this collection of David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro before I call it quits.

5. Christmas Eve — I like movies with this kind of concept. I still haven't seen A Long Way Down, but it's on my list, and I've checked out both Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve. Those two aren't fantastic, and I wouldn't expect this to be groundbreaking and my favorite movie of all time, but as a means to eat up two hours of my time with something that has some laughs and some heartfelt moments, this could be a nice breather of a film to watch around the holidays as well as a decent date movie.

4. The Hateful Eight — To be perfectly honest, I'm not thrilled about this. While Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are two of my top favorite movies and I enjoyed both parts of Kill Bill, I haven't really been digging much else that Quentin Tarantino has been doing. Inglorious Basterds is overrated to me and Django Unchained was okay, but too long. Neither film has made me want to revisit watching it again. Grindhouse was an interesting experience watching it in theaters, but Death Proof inside it was an absolute bore I almost fell asleep in and doubt I will ever watch again in my life. The story presented to me with The Hateful Eight just doesn't strike me as particularly interesting. I can't help but think that this will be too much like his past two films. Since I don't care as much about the art of bringing a film genre to life (particularly resurrecting the western, as I don't like those) I'm just blah about it. That being said, it's still Quentin Tarantino, so I'm sure I'll be checking it out at some point just in the hopes that I'm wrong and I end up loving it.

3. Concussion — Without seeing the trailer, if you had told me that there's a movie about football concussions, I'd pass. After watching it, though, I think Will Smith could put on an Oscar-worthy performance. I'm genuinely curious about this in a way much more than I ever would have expected. With all the other serious dramas on this list, this is the one that I feel could be the easiest to digest that has the highest chance of me appreciating it.

2. The Revenant — Good lord, this is either going to be absolutely amazing and a movie that I have the utmost respect for, or it's a piece of gutter trash that I can't stomach. To reiterate what I mentioned before, I appreciate art, but I also don't like it if a movie forgoes entertainment purely for the sake of art. If this is more about how it was filmed with natural light and less about how I can enjoy watching the story unfold, then it could end up being as badly received on my end as The Tree of Life. Like with Will Smith, I'm curious about Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar chances, so that's a big motivator for me to watch this.

1. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens — Come on. COME ON! This is fucking Star Wars for God's sake! I wouldn't be surprised if I saw this three times in December alone and I don't think I need to elaborate on anything about why I would want to see this movie. It's Star Wars. Done.

WHICH MOVIES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

Unboxing Star Wars Saga Box from SuperHeroStuff HeroBox Limited Edition

Posted by Anthony Mango - Friday, November 27, 2015

It's Black Friday and that means the Christmas shopping season is in full swing where every store will be packed with riotous crowds and super long lines. That's a huge pain to deal with, so why not avoid it entirely if you can?

If you're pumped for the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens on December 18th and you're looking to add some merchandise to your collection this holiday or pick up some gifts for friends and family, make sure to check out SuperHeroStuff.com for their limited edition Star Wars Saga Box builds of their signature HeroBox subscription line.

The team over at SuperHeroStuff was nice enough to send me a box for this month, so I wanted to show off the swag in the first ever unboxing video for Fanboys Anonymous, which you can watch below:


That's no moon...that's a mystery box!
Celebrate the original trilogy & Episode VII with this limited edition box!

The HeroBox® Star Wars Saga Gold Edition for Men is like a normal HeroBox®...EXCEPT BETTER! Oh yes, things can get better...oh, and by better, I mean more! MORE! MOOOOOORE! Ahem. Coming with at least a shirt and tons of other goodies, the HeroBox® Star Wars Saga Gold Edition 2.0 for Men is for you serious Star Wars fans. You know you want it.

Gold Edition: $69 for $100+ worth of Star Wars & Episode VII gear
Silver Edition: $49 for $70+ worth of Star Wars & Episode VII gear

As you can see, the boxes include some pretty cool stuff that Star Wars fans will be sure to love.

Act now and place your order at SuperHeroStuff.com for these boxes or themes such as the Marvel Gift Box, DC Gift Box, or specific ones based on particular superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, Deadpool and more.

Thanks again to SHS for sending this our way!

Star Wars Saga Box Gold Edition Unboxing Herobox SuperHeroStuff

FA Movie Club Ep 20 - James Bond Films

Posted by Anthony Mango - Thursday, November 26, 2015

On episode 20 of the FA Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on the James Bond franchise by reviewing one film for each actor who has portrayed the character of 007.

Host: Tony Mango

Panelists: Alex Grimley and Caroline Oliveira

You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Man With the Golden Gun, License to Kill, GoldenEye Casino Royale

THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:

You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Man With the Golden Gun
License to Kill
GoldenEye
Casino Royale

You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!












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The words, "Never have I ever" have been spoken as a ritual during every prepubescent sleepover and drunken gathering of our young adult lives. A staple of debauchery in its prime, it often revolved around sexual encounters and shameful admissions but almost always barely scratched the surface of what we're all willing to admit. You can't have humility to play this game.

Never Have I Ever card game
Never Have I Ever: The Game of Poor Life Decisions

Never Have I Ever: The Game of Poor Life Decisions follows the structure of the classic party game, with an added twist. Someone draws a red card that gives you a rule to the round and then starts the sentence, "Never have I ever..." before detailing an embarrassing scenario. If you are not guilty of the Play card, you discard it; however if you are guilty, you get to keep it and the shame you are now forced to relive. Whoever is the first to have 10 cards in their pile wins—and is arguably not the person you want to bring home to your parents.

The bright orange box includes 550 cards (485 embarrassing Play cards and 65 Rule cards) and suggests exactly what it is: a game of poor life decisions. Each card forces you to own up to the awkward one-night stands, public bouts of indecent exposure and urination, and drunken messes you once became in your younger years (or are currently).

The first time I tested this game, it was with a friend and a random guy at our table we thought would be fun to have join us. It was a great way to learn a lot about someone before you even get their name, and although I can't actually remember what his name was, I could tell you heaps about his sex life. This game is less "Never have I ever" and more "Things I have done that you are now picturing."

As we went through each round, the rules of the game were given some clarity, though we did bump up the amount of points needed to win because, let's be honest, we're adults that went through college and the majority of the cards we drew are just normal experiences that passed by with not much more than a small laugh, or at least we were mature enough to think so. The concept of it is great—each card is pretty detailed and probably not what would've come to mind had we played it the original way—and the Rule cards spice it up instead of going around in a circle with a scenario you hope you're not the only one guilty of.

Never Have I Ever card game for parties
Never Have I Ever rule cards

Never Have I Ever is meant for 4 to 12 players and passes itself off as a "judgment-free" game, though what is the point of the game without passing judgment on your best friends? Even one of the Rule cards suggests each player vote on whether or not you're guilty of the card you're holding on your forehead. I don't know, are you guilty of "Put my kids to bed early so I could get high," or "Used the same condom twice?" There's no judgment-free way to answer half of these without silently saying, "Yes, you are a horrible person."

Most cards, of course, involved your typical sexual, alcoholic, or drug-related experience, while a handful included the most innocent scenarios that make you scratch your head and wonder why they were even included in the deck. "Binged on Netflix without leaving the house" is now the norm and I'd probably judge you if you haven't. "Added bacon to my kale salad" is easily the most mundane card, unless you are (gasp!) a vegan, while "Wanted to have sex with someone here" is guaranteed to be met with a unified "YES!" (and if it's not, there's also a card that reads, "Lied while playing Never Have I Ever" because we all know the answer to this one).

Never Have I Ever play cards
Never Have I Ever play cards

Admittedly, my second go at this game ditched the Rule cards and turned into a round of holding up each card to my friend in Los Angeles via FaceTime. Every round garnered either an intrigued chuckle or a half-amused "Of course you did," because at that point we both agreed that we each lived sordid lives. I could definitely say that this game is much more suited for a larger group of people after a couple of beers.

My only quarrel with this game are the select few cards that are borderline slut-shame, misogyny, and rape culture. "Roofied someone" or "Tried to get someone drunk so I could have sex with them" is more than likely to make the crowd uncomfortable, and no story to explain would've been needed. It's not funny and shouldn't be included in a game that makes light of our horrible decisions. As the instructions state on the bottom, "If this game offends you, go buy our other award-winning game, Dabble. Sure, if you don't like this game, give us more money for another game.

Although this game doesn't quite match up to the widely popular Cards Against Humanity, it easily markets to the same crowd and makes for a great stocking stuffer for the holidays. It's the perfect party game for those who aren't easily embarrassed.

Never Have I Ever: The Game of Poor Life Decisions is available on Amazon and at local retailers including Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Spencer Gifts, and Target, for $25. Alternatively, there's also an app available on iTunes and Google Play, though it's not as much fun.

Have you played Never Have I Ever? Interested in picking up a deck for Christmas?
Let us know in the comments below.

The Dace Man Show Ep 127 - Drunk Day III

Posted by The Dace Man - Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 127 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, Frank Ward, Gibby and Patty McTitties!!

Brand New Stone Cold Steve Austin Beer

::SPORTS NEWS::
  • The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
  •  Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
  • Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
  • Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game of Who Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week, and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.


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As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.

Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On the latest edition of the Movie Trailer Reactions podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel breaks down their initial reaction and their overall thoughts about the latest trailer for Captain America: Civil War.

Does this look like the right direction for Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or is this just Avengers Lite? Which side are we rooting for?

Hosted by Tony Mango along with Shaun Walker

Some topics we address:
  • Bucky at the center conflict
  • Black Panther in action for the first time
  • No Spider-Man, Baron Zemo, Martin Freeman, or Ant-Man
  • Is Tony Stark being portrayed as the bad guy and not on equal playing ground?
  • "He's my friend." / "So was I."
  • and more!

You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!


Captain America: Civil War plot picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.

Captain America: Civil War will be released in theaters May 6, 2016.

Directed by: Anthony Russo and John Russo

Written by: Christopher Markus (screenplay), Stephen McFeely (screenplay), Mark Millar (comic book), Joe Simon (characters), Jack Kirby (characters)

Starring: Chris Evans (Steve Rogers / Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark / Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Falcon), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton / Hawkeye), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (Vision), Emily VanCamp (Sharon Carter / Agent 13), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man), Tom Holland (Peter Parker / Spider-Man), Martin Freeman, Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa / Black Panther), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes / War Machine), Daniel Bruhl (Baron Zemo), Frank Grillo (Brock Rumlow / Crossbones), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May) and William Hurt (General Ross)

reaction to trailer for Captain America: Civil War

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