Home Blog Page 1008

Everyone Calm Down About ‘The Matrix’ Reboot News

Monkeys Fighting Robots

Late yesterday, Internet Dot Com was thrown into a tizzy when news of a reboot of The Matrix came down. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, claiming the details are still uncertain but calling the project a “relaunch.” Michael B. Jordan is in talks to star, with Zak Penn working on the screenplay.

That’s not what the collective saw, however, as the hive of humanity online began working itself up and calling blasphemy. We can NOT remake or reboot The Matrix, dammit! Well, let’s all take a step back, think about this report, and calm down.

First of all, if this is a relaunch as the story indicates, I have a feeling Warner Bros. isn’t here to reboot or remake The Matrix. They want to get back into the WORLD of The Matrix, expand on what has always felt like a rich and expansive universe where other stories could easily unfold. While I don’t know anything more than the next person, I can almost bet any amount of money that Jordan will not be the new Neo, that the story won’t develop in the same way as The Wachowski’s original, that we will have an all new adventure in this familiar setting.

Which brings me to the next upsetting thing for fans: The Wachowski’s aren’t involved. Joel Silver, who produced the original films and an advocate for The Wachowski’s coming back for any potential sequels, sold his interest in the films a few years ago. And Warner Bros. aren’t that excited about bringing the siblings back into the fold. If it isn’t some sort of legal issue, this is totally fine. Because The Wachoswki’s haven’t made a good movie since about halfway through The Matrix Reloaded. The Matrix Revolutions was a muddled, ugly, endless mess of scenes and illogical storylines that hasn’t aged well. Cloud Atlas? Jupiter Ascending? Speed Racer? Let’s not deify those who created this world then ran out of ideas halfway through their own trilogy.

Perhaps new eyes and new ideas will reinvigorate the Matrix world. Think of this more as a shared universe, not a hard reset. Warner Bros. would be foolish to try and recapture the groundbreaking technical magic of the original film, a technological bit of brilliance that changed the face of action filmmaking forever. Let’s all, despite our gut feeling, give Warner Bros. a chance.

Besides, you could call this new film The Matrix Rebooted. It would make all the sense in the world.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Aftermath Of ‘JL Vs. SS’ Finds It’s Way Into ‘Green Lanterns’

Monkeys Fighting Robots

Doctor Polaris made his return in the DC event, Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad. Maxwell Lord and his “Task Force X” battled the Justice League, and forced Amanda Waller underground. There’s a new “headache”, Emilia Harcourt, in charge of Belle Reve and it’s shady operations. She sets her sights on Polaris as the aftermath of ‘JL Vs. SS’ finds it’s way into Green Lanterns #19.

Green Lanterns 19 cvr

Simon and Jessica are still adjusting to their home lives away from being Green Lanterns. It’s started taking a toll on Simon’s relationship with his step brother. Writer Sam Humphries has done wonders with these two lead characters so far by making their human relationships front and center.

Earth’s two ring bearing protectors have come a long way from issue one, developing together as a unit along the way. Their partnership, and it’s trials, are the driving force behind this incredibly effective comic book. Relationships are the key to Humphries’ success in emotionally engaging with readers. This issue examines how being a superhero damages family life, Simon’s case is the focus.

Green Lanterns 19 Polaris

Elsewhere, Humphries also touches on Doctor Polaris and what makes him a complex character. Polaris is a bipolar master of magnetism who desperately wants to continue his cancer research. This series has a really good streak of character building with it’s villains, as well as it’s heroes. Readers not familiar with Doctor Polaris are comfortably introduced and ready to move forward immediately.

The only issue with the story is why exactly the Green Lanterns are in pursuit of their villain. Simon tells Nazir “The Justice League is stretched thin right now” before Jessica and him go meet with Harcourt. After being briefed by Harcourt, Simon tells her they don’t take orders from the government. Yet one page later they’re off to confront Polaris, by request of the government? What?

Green Lanterns 19 pg

Ronan Cliquet’s art meets the standard of quality already set by the previous eighteen issues. This issue is a bit darker in tone, Blond’s coloring adjust accordingly. There is an inconsistency throughout in the form of Simon Baz’s gun. From one page to the next, it’s there and then suddenly not. Other than that hiccup, Green Lanterns #19 is another strong effort.

Sam Humphries has achieved so much in this young series, his character development is some of the most effective in all of comic books. This is another solid issue in a series that warrants a “must-read” label at this point. Doctor Polaris getting the Humphries treatment makes him a pleasant sight and not a tired after effect of the Justice Vs. Suicide Squad event.

Have you been reading this series? Did you enjoy Green Lanterns #19? Are you excited about Doctor Polaris? Let us know in the comments below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

And Now, We Could Get Another Remake of ‘The Fly’

Monkeys Fighting Robots

Fox is in early talks with director J.D. Dillard to remake The Fly, David Cronenberg’s 1986 horror film which itself was a remake of Vincent Price’s 1958 film.

According to the report over at The Tracking Board, the agreement between Fox and Dillard is much more advanced that early talks, but let’s just wait and see. The report also promises that “Dillard and his Sleight co-writer Alex Theurer will script the horror remake, which has Fox execs buzzing about its potential new direction,” and “[T]his will not be your daddy’s Fly, trust me.”

That might be the most ridiculous part of this story. It won’t be your daddy’s Fly? Well, I am a father, and MY version of The Fly is Cronenberg’s remake, one of the finest sci-fi horror films ever made. Yes, it was a remake itself, but it superseded the original in almost every conceivable way. I have a tough time believing this new version will be able to top Cronenberg’s incredible vision.

It’s a strange stance, to try and say the other versions of The Fly need a new interpretation after the original was a solid camp horror film and the second a seminal work of body-horror art. I suppose none of that matters either way, because it looks like we’re getting a third version.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: 11 Reasons To NOT Seek Shelter From ‘The Wild Storm’ #2

Monkeys Fighting Robots

Aliens on Earth. Black Ops and Intel. Scientific experiments on people. Hybridization. Secret power structures, and tons of badassery…On an alternate Earth, all these elements will come together in a bold new interpretation of now classic concepts and characters from the old Wildstorm Universe. Welcome to new ‘The Wild Storm’!

The Wild Storm #2 The Wild Strom #2
Written by
: Warren Ellis
Art by:
Jon Davis-Hunt & Steven Buccellato

Published by: DC Comics

The second issue of The Wild Storm does not disappoint. It continues the excellent set-up, pacing, and narrative drive that was planted in the first issue. It’s also spectacularly beautiful to look at. So far this has all the ingredients of the best of Warren Ellis’ past work. Check out 11 things that make The Wild Storm #2 a must read comic book this week.The Wild Storm #2

  1. The rapid clip, razor sharp pacing.
  2. Using the very real Montauk, NY Camp Hero as a plot point/location.
  3. “What’s in Montauk? State Parks. Fishing. A lighthouse. Something called Rufus Wainwright.”
  4. The clean, crisp, and delicate line work of Jon Davis-Hunt and Steven Bucellato.
  5. The coloring by Ivan Plascencia that enhances the art instead of over-powering it.
  6. “You know why the Kremlin never gets hacked? Because Putin has an army of typists and a room full of paper maps”
  7. The long, dialogue-free moments that carry the narrative forward.
  8. Grifter and Voodoo
  9. The panel on page 16 with Zealot’s reflection on the glass.
  10. The subtle call backs to the old Wildstorm Universe.
  11. The sheer confidence and attitude that embraces so many high-concepts and makes them believable.

The Wild Storm #2So there you have it guys, this is so far a very solid, must read new series. And word has it there is more to come from this world/universe. It is the smart way to bring back old concepts and make them feel new. Not a rebirth, but a reinterpretation.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: 11 Reasons That Make ‘Batman’ #19 A Must Read Comic Book

Monkeys Fighting Robots

As Batman lays injured, Bane works his way through Arkham Asylum, fighting his way against its madmen and madness, on a single-minded quest to reach Roger Hayden aka The Psycho-Pirate. But what is Batman’s ultimate game plan against Bane? What will happen when these two men collide?

Batman #19Batman #19

“I Am Bane (Part 4)”
Publisher: DC Comics
Written by 
Tom King
Penciled by:
 David Finch
Inked by:
Danny Miki, Trevor Scott & Sandra Hope
Colored by:
Jordie Bellaire

Batman #19 was one of the most intense and expertly plotted comics I have read in a while. The pacing was relentless and the structure of the issue was fantastic. A sort of tour of Arkham and its inmates, it was the best use of Batman’s Rogues Gallery I have read since both The Long Halloween and Hush.  And the art was pretty much untouchable. With all of that in mind, here are 11 things to love about Batman #19.Batman #19

  1. The way writer Tom King captures each villain’s distinct traits and tropes with dialogue and speeches.
  2. The tense pacing – using timestamps to track the 24 hour period of Bane’s fight.
  3. Batman weaponizing both Arkham Asylum and its inmates.
  4. Alfred’s continued portrayal as a resourceful and much-needed asset to Batman.
  5. David Finch’s rendering of Bane (frightening) and all the other villains (terrifying).
  6. “Same Bat-time, Same Bat-Channel”
  7. King’s showing us a vulnerable and emotional Bruce Wayne
  8. “He hung my son from a rock in a cave.”
  9. The quick nods and easter eggs to New Gods and their technology.
  10. Riddler’s part in Bane’s plan.
  11. The much welcome appearance by Maxi Zeus, bookending the entire issue.

Batman #19There you have it readers. Only one more issue to go in this current arc, and the build-up has been amazing. If it all ends next month as good as it has been so far, we may have the most definitive Bane storyline since Knightfall.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Behold Episode One of The UnPOP Podshow

Prepare your eyes. Prepare your hearts. Prepare your souls for the UNPOP PODSHOW!

Episode One, or Fantastic Beasts and How to Avoid Them finds your most lovable podcasting cinephiles in an unknown race against themselves as they manage to destroy any chance they have at finding love, friendship or even eternal damnation.

Drawing inspiration from a myriad of cinematic masterpieces, the UNPOP PODSHOW is an extension of the greatest UNheard film podcast in Valley Village, CA: The UnPOP Podcast.

Subscribe to the UnPOP Podcast YouTube channel and be up to date as each new episode airs!

Have a topic you’d like to hear UnPOPPED? Send any comments/love/vitriol to unpopentertainment@gmail.com

The UnPOP Podcast is on iTunes! Check us out there!

We’re on Stitcher! Add us to your playlist and rate and review our show!

Subscribe to our Soundcloud page!

Give the Facebook page a big ol’ “Like”

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

What Other Anime Should Hollywood Adapt?

Monkeys Fighting Robots

Because the trailers for the live-action Ghost in The Shell looks good all the hype around Netflix’s Death Note adaptation, I am hoping to see a wave of big-budget live-action anime adaptations in Hollywood’s future. The few live action pieces I’ve seen from Japan have all been fairly low budget and intended only for who already had seen the anime version. Well done adaptations aimed at a broad audience would be something completely new and would break up the constant stream of American comic book movies. Here are three anime titles that would be well-suited for adaptation.

Danganronpa

DanganRonpa

Danganronpa is a moderately popular science fiction/mystery video game series turned anime franchise. Most American science fiction is incredibly cynical and hopeless, populated by dystopias. The core message of Danganronpa is that strength comes from trusting and working together with other people instead of paranoia and worrying about yourself. Given the current American cultural/political climate, this adaptation would be very timely

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Madoka Magica

As an anime and manga franchise PMMM was a big hit for awhile but, sadly, it seems to have faded from popularity recently. The anime had many artistically impressive sequences inspired by dark European fairy tale art and German expressionist horror. Translating this to a live-action movie would be extremely interesting. With the right director and special effects, PMMM would be an amazing adaptation.

Is This A Zombie?

Is This A Zombie? is an obscure series about the misadventures of an undead teenager. It’s an off-the-wall horror comedy involving zombies, vampires, magical girls and alternate realities. Most American zombie movies are apocalyptic, and the majority of them are science fiction, not fantasy. An adaptation of something like Is This A Zombie? would be unique.


There are many more popular anime that might attract a bigger fanbase, but these three have the most potential for good, if not great, adaptations. Bringing something new or doing something interesting should motivate decisions about what kind of media should get film adaptations. These same principles should apply for adapting anime.

What are you thought? Comment below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘College Roomies From Hell!’ Turns Eighteen Years Old

Monkeys Fighting Robots

College Roomies From Hell! by Maritza Campos turned eighteen years old this year, and is now one of the oldest webcomics still active. Its first strip went online on January 1st, 1999. Despite a shaky update schedule, it doesn’t seem intended to end any time soon.

Its longevity is only surpassed by a few other comics. Sabrina Online, an anthro comic by Eric W. Schwartz, updated for twenty years on a monthly basis until ending on its 20th birthday. In addition, Bobbins by John Allison first began on September 21st, 1998, eventually spawning Scary Go Round, Bad Machinery, and a Bobbins reboot in the same universe, although the original comic is long since retired.

Flashback to 1999

College Roomies From Hell! began as a newspaper-style serial, chronicling the adventures of hapless, involuntary roommates Mike, Dave and Roger.

Mike Greene, College Roomies From Hell!, Maritza CamposCollege Roomies From Hell!, Maritza Campos, Mike GreeneMike Greene, College Roomies From Hell!, Maritza Campos

It’s a standard cast lineup – Mike the asshole jock, Dave the boring everyman, and Roger the cloud cuckoolander try not to kill each other.

However, the comic’s defining feature came along late in its first year. In a quest to help Dave forget his broken heart, Mike and Dave take him on a “misery journey“. After their night of binge drinking, they wake up in a tree, decide to take a bath in apparently radioactive water… and all three of them end up with mutations.

College Roomies From Hell!, Mike Green, Dave Jones, Roger PepitoneCollege Roomies From Hell, Dave Jones, Mike Green, Roger Pepitone

Mike’s tentacle, Dave’s laser vision and (to a lesser extent) Roger’s third eye are now prominent features of the comic.

‘College Roomies From Hell!’ In The New Century

Over the following seventeen years, Maritza’s art style changed dramatically. This is both a reflection of her developing skills and the changing direction of the comic. Compare Dave (the center figure above) from 1999, to Dave in 2017, below:

This is only a single example of how webcomics at large have been a tool of self-improvement for independent artists. It’s enough of a known phenomenon to have its own page on TV Tropes – compare the first strip of Questionable Content to one more than three thousand strips later.

Narratively, CRFH! has also developed far beyond its days as a sitcom. Satan became the main antagonist by 2001’s Adversary storyline, and Mike, Dave and Roger also encounter a group of mad scientists on the mysterious DunDun Island. Entangled through all of this are their various romantic adventures with the girls across the hall – Margaret, April and Marsha.

Maritza Campos’s art and narrative skills, practiced on the long-running College Roomies From Hell!, are now mostly focused on the online graphic novel Power Napalthough CRFH! is still continuously updating.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Movie Sign! Five Episodes Of MST3K You Must Watch On Netflix

Monkeys Fighting Robots

In celebration of the upcoming eleventh season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, CNET reports Netflix will release twenty episodes from the first ten seasons starting tomorrow. The list spans the breadth of the series’ characters and the types of cheesy films test subjects Joel Robinson, Mike Nelson and their robot pals had to endure, but five stand out as must-watch episodes for fans and newcomers alike.

  1. “Manos” The Hands of Fate: The granddaddy of all MST3K episodes. When writer Frank Coniff — charged with previewing possible films to riff on — found “Manos” in a list of titles available to the series, he never expected it would launch a rabid cult around the production and its trash auteur Harold P. Warren. In fact, he pleaded for forgiveness in his recently published book, Twenty Five Mystery Science Theater 3000 Films That Changed My Life in No Way Whatsoever. But for good or ill, “Manos” reveals just how bad a movie can get and how hard it can be for the creators of MST3K to suffer for their art. In fact, here’s a warning: despite it’s fan-favorite status, “Manos” is not an entry level outing. It’s punishing stillness threatens to break Joel and the Bots, so perhaps try one of these others before making a date with Torgo and the Master.
  2. Teenagers from Outer Space: Another masterwork from a filmmaker with cloudy vision, director Tom Graeff, the film was intended to launch the career of star David Love. Instead, it became a delightful season four episode of MST3K and plays to the strengths of the well-honed riff machine the cast and writers of the series had become by that point. A number of running gags — including the infamous shout of “TOR-CHA!” — and a gentle, if doofy, storyline make this episode a great introduction for newcomers.
  3. Pumaman: With the powers of a Pumaman — or “Pyumaman,” depending who says it — a Doctor Strange cosplayer manages to befuddle a vinyl-wearing Donald Pleasence in a seemingly unintentional send-up of superhero tropes. Not befuddled are Mike Nelson and the Bots, who use the inept tone changes and shockingly bad flying effects to the utmost comedic effect. Arguably the best episode of the series’ time on the SciFi Channel if not for the next episode on this list.
  4. Space Mutiny: C-Grade action star Reb Brown plays a security chief on a colony ship which looks suspiciously like the original Battlestar Galactica. But when the mission is threaten by a group of aliens who look like back-up dancers for Vanity, Reb bursts into action, shooting and shouting his way to a confusing conclusion. This episode is notable for a long list of goofy action star names Mike and Bots apply to Brown, including classics like “Big McLargeHuge” and “Flint IronStag.”
  5. Zombie Nightmare: Perhaps an outlier on this list, Zombie Nightmare offers newcomers to the series a quick primer in just about every classic MST3K trope. It has oily characters, an ill-defined monster, a minor character with too much character and recognizable stars like Batman 66‘s Adam West and Wayne’s World‘s Tia Carrere. It also features tracks from bands like Motorhead and Girlschool. For the riffers, it means some killer jokes about Canada, the “acting” of future director Shawn Levy, West’s claim to fame, and the boy detective assigned to hunt down star Jon-Mikil Thor.

Of course, none of the films on the Netflix list are duds. Well, maybe Catalina Caper. But each captures the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and offers a great way to get new viewers hooked ahead of Season 11’s debut on April 14th. The remaining titles are:

Eegah!
Future War
The Giant Gila Monster
Hercules Against The Moon Men
Horrors Of Spider Island
I Accuse My Parents
Jack Frost
Laserblast
Merlin’s Shop Of Mystical Wonders
Santa Claus Conquers The Martians
Sidehackers
Time Chasers
Werewolf

Think there’s something missing? Mad that Warrior of the Lost World didn’t get a name-check? Just relax and post your favorites in the comments below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

5 Underrated Wolverine Stories

Monkeys Fighting Robots

7What do you think?

Did we leave out your favourite Wolverine series? Is there another story that flown under the radar? Let us know in the comments below.

Next