Breaking: New ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Images Show Loki & The Grandmaster

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March 8, 2017

Entertainment Weekly has revealed a bunch of new images from Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. The first look images offer a new look at Thor, Loki, Hela and of course, the Incredible Hulk. This is easily the best look we’ve had at Ragnarok. It’s exciting to see the look at tone of the upcoming film and the style that Waititi is bringing to this film.

If anything is made clear by these images, it’s that Thor: Ragnarok will be one of the most colorful and visually appealing films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor: Ragnarok might end up beating Guardians of the Galaxy as Marvel’s most beautiful film.

Check out the images:

Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

What do you think of these images? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below! Thor: Ragnarok lands in theaters on October 27, 2017.

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My 5 Favorite Films from the Year I was Born, Kind Of: 1995

By

Elliott Dunstan

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March 8, 2017

The 90s gave us a lot of wonderful things, but for those of us growing up in it, it still feels a little like a mass acid trip. What else can explain Moon Shoes, the mysterious ‘S’ symbol from our notebooks, or the contagious pre-Internet rumors that spread through playgrounds worldwide?

The movies of the decade don’t help, and for every Oscar-winner and Disney Renaissance classic, there’s a bizarre Baz Luhrmann or an adaptation of something that probably never should have seen wide release. Here’s my five favorite films released in 1995 and 1996, and they run the gamut from ‘sweet, heartwarming childhood classic’ to ‘whatever they were smoking, I want some’.

5JUMANJI

“WHAT YEAR IS IT?” It’s 2017, and Jumanji has officially been out for 22 years. Jumanji, for those of you strange people who haven’t caught parts of it on TV, is about the board game from hell. Robin Williams’s character is trapped in it for years and only freed when the game is found by two kids moving into his old house.

What makes it a favorite? For me, it’s the sheer chemistry between all four main cast members as they take on various CGI threats. It’s not a movie filled with Oscar-winning performances, but the actors bounce off of each other with a lot of skill.

Jumanji is definitely weird, but by far not the strangest thing to come out of the 90s. A solid 2/5 on the ‘90s Acid Trip’ scale.

4MATILDA

“I’m smart, you’re dumb; I’m big, you’re little; I’m right, you’re wrong, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Fighting words! Matilda adapts the Roald Dahl book of the same name. You’d be hard-pressed to find anybody in their 20s in North America who isn’t familiar with this movie. Mara Wilson’s plucky and justice-fueled Matilda is a cultural icon.

Growing up as a weird kid who read too much, Matilda was a common comfort movie. Even as an adult, the sheer karma of her victories is wonderful to watch. Here’s a bullied and ostracized kid who gets back at her parents and teacher, without once becoming actively vindictive or nasty.

Any adaptation of Roald Dahl is going to be quirky. Between a toddler getting thrown by her pigtails, the horrible nail-studded Chokey, and the entire sequence at Mrs. Trunchbull’s house at night, Matilda is a lot stranger than it’s given credit for. 3.5/5 on the ‘90s Acid Trip’ scale.

3THE BIRDCAGE

“I’ve never felt such tension. It’s like riding a psychotic horse towards a burning stable.” Where does one even start with The Birdcage? It’s a farce about a gay, Jewish couple who own a drag club. They end up pretending to be a “normal” family for a night to impress their prospective daughter-in-law’s family. It’s an excellent movie starring Robin Williams without being a Robin Williams movie, a feat in and of itself.

I can’t remember the first time I watched The Birdcage, but I’ve always loved Williams and Lane’s depiction of an old married couple. The gay jokes fly, but the point of it is that they love each other. It’s what keeps me coming back to this movie, even 20 years later.

Sweet or not, there’s no denying that it’s off-the-wall. Between jokes about Williams’ foundation, Lane’s exaggerated emotional outbursts, and the great ‘comedy of errors’ that is the night of the dinner itself – it’s a solid 4/5 for ‘90s Acid Trip’.

2ROMEO+JULIET

The 90s had no shortage of Shakespeare adaptations, good and bad, but Baz Luhrmann’s unforgettably tacky and charmingly sincere modern adaptation of Romeo+Juliet stands out. The Montagues and Capulets are family run companies – their henchmen start gang wars in the streets, Romeo and Benvolio play pool in baggy Hawaiian shirts, and Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech is a drug-fueled rant. Amid all the bright colors and gorgeous music, the dialogue of Shakespeare’s play is left intact, leaving readers in an anachronistic dream-world.

I love Shakespeare adaptations, but I love them, even more, when they’re as bizarre and entertaining as this one. Besides, who doesn’t love a young, floppy-haired Leonardo DiCaprio speaking love poetry with a smile?

Everybody knows how this story goes – it’s the trip that manages to be dazzlingly colorful. Edging up the scale, Romeo+Juliet is a 4.5/5 on the ‘90s Acid Trip’ scale.

1TANK GIRL

Long before Charlize Theron’s buzz cut graced the big screen, Mad Max already got its feminist spin in Rachel Talalay’s 90s adaptation of the Tank Girl comics. In the film, the eponymous Tank Girl is captured by Water and Power and teams up with Jet Girl to escape. They blaze through the desert wasteland of post-apocalyptic Australia in search of water, revenge, and killer kangaroo mutants.

If that sounds a little like stoner Mad Libs, you’re not far off. Tank Girl takes sadistic pleasure in its own bizarreness and is unapologetically a feminist power fantasy. It’s been a favorite of mine since I was far too young to watch it. Unfortunately, it suffers from a low budget and, well, the nineties, but it’s still a wonderful hidden gem that too few people even know about.

All of the above and the bizarre cartoon sequences take it firmly up to a 5/5 on the ‘90s Acid Trip’ scale. You don’t need to be drunk or high while watching this – the movie does it all on its own.

What are some of the strangest movies you remember from the 90s?

Inhumans Vs. X-Men Ends On A High Note

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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March 8, 2017

The major crossover event pitting mutants against Inhumans reaches it’s final issue. The X-Men fanbase anxiously awaits the nearing ResurreXion overhaul, this crossover was the last major event standing in their way. While it wasn’t the most effective event through every issue, Inhumans Vs. X-Men ends on a high note.

The Inhumans need the Terrigen cloud to birth more of their kind. With the cloud continuing to engulf the planet, mutants are at risk of extinction as Terrigen is deadly to X-Gene carriers. The final epic showdown between the two groups comes with the future of their kind at stake.

Big action, creative battles, deception, and major character changes make this book a worthwhile experience. Emma Frost is at the center of it all, fooling everyone into a battle to the death. She reveals her plan to exterminate all Inhumans in the name of her departed lover, Cyclops.

Frost emerges as a clear villain for the first time in a long time, not only of the Royal Attilan Family, but mutants as well. She even manages to make an enemy out of Magneto by toying with his mind. With older Scott Summers still dead, the “White Queen” no longer has a stake in Xavier’s dream. Her devolution back to villainy feels natural and earned.

Once the Terrigen threat is eliminated and Emma Frost reveals her agenda, the X-Men kick the heroics into high gear. The Anti-Inhuman Sentinels we’re a nice touch, providing the two warring factions with a common enemy; one the Mutants know all too well.

Medusa steps up a few times to prove why she’s a real Queen. She also ends her relationship with Johnny Storm to rekindle her marriage with Black Bolt. When the dust settles, the X-Men aren’t the only ones set up for a more promising comic book future; the Inhumans are as well.

Writers Charles Soule and Jeff Lemeire tie this event up nicely. Returning characters to their former glory and drawing new lines in the sand. “IVX” may have been drawn out and a little much at times, but the final chapter is well crafted.

Visually the final chapter of Inhumans Vs. X-Men gets the job done as well. The massive battles are stunning and explosive. It took five issues to get here, but once the fireworks start it’s definitely entertaining comic book action. Gerry Alanguilan and Leinil Yu combine to deliver what the event promised, Inhumans fighting X-Men.

Fans can share a collective sigh of relief as the crossover event has finally drawn to a close. Marvel promised us bigger but and better X-Stories and now it’s time to get there. Hopefully this dark period in X-Men comic book history can quickly be put behind us.

As a whole, “IVX” takes a long time to pick up steam. The middle issues were mostly kicking tires, probably Marvel forcing their writers to extend a shorter story. After all is said and done, readers could pick up just the first and last issue and not really miss anything too crucial.

It’s finally over! Time to move on and have fun with X-Men again! Bring on ResurreXion!

Did you enjoy the final issue? Was this event to your liking? Are you excited for ResurreXion? Let us know in the comments!

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‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Director Taika Waititi Discusses The Shift In Tone

By

Kieran McLean

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March 8, 2017

If you’re not excited to see Taika Waititi’s take on the God of Thunder the I’m sorry, but we can’t be friends. Waititi is possibly one of the funniest and more creative directors’s in the industry but a lot of people seem to be worried about the tonal shifts he’s bringing to Thor: Ragnarok.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director reassures fans that this is still a Thor movie and although we will see a shift in tone, we will still love the character and the story.

“I think sometimes people mistake a tonal shift as ‘We’re just going to make some ridiculous broad comedy where no one gives a s— what happens and everyone gets stoned and sits around talking about saving the universe.’ We want people to care what happens and care that the hero succeeds. I think tonally it’s like a slight shift. I don’t feel nervous — I feel good about it.”

It’s exciting to see how excited Waititi is about the movie he is creating. If the director is confident enough in the project, it probably means they’ve made an entertaining film. I for one am excited to see what tone Waititi brings to the project and what new elements he will add to Thor.

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Thor: Ragnarok lands in theaters on 27 October 2017!

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New Details About Hela in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Revealed

By

Kieran McLean

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March 8, 2017

Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok is set to be a unique film in the Thor and Marvel franchise. Instead of spending more time on Earth, the film will show a more galactic side to the God of Thunder and will introduce a more threatening villain.

In its latest issue, Entertainment Weekly sat down with Cate Blanchett and discussed her role in Thor: Ragnarok as the villainous Hela. While the actress couldn’t say much, she did reveal some interesting new details, including where Hela comes from in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“She’s been locked away for millennia getting more and more cross, and then, with a mistake, she gets unleashed and she ain’t getting back in that box.”

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Are you excited to see Cate Blanchett as Hela? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below. Thor: Ragnarok lands in theaters on 27 October 2017.

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Shower Beers: Craft Beers Newest and Weirdest Phenomenon

By

Devon Kenney

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March 8, 2017

Showers Beers

Beers made to drink specifically in the shower. Grabbing a can of PBR could be a thing of the past, thanks to this wonderful and weird kind of way to enjoy a beer.

PingPang, a brewery from Scotland made the first actual Shower Beer. The owner, and founder of the brewery, Fredrik Tunedal knew this was a thing the world needed.

“The idea for a Shower Beer is a universal thing, I think,” Tunedal told Vice’s MUNCHIES. “As a brewer, I work long and hard days, and when I come home I’m often covered in malt dust (my girlfriend actually calls me Mr. Malty Pants) and the shower is a gateway back to normal society,”

“Looking through the hashtag #showerbeer it’s easy to see that people all over the world love that feeling of a hot shower and an ice cold beer. I just wanted to try to optimize the experience by trying to customize a brew for this glorious occasion.”

Facts

This adorable bottle is a tiny six ounce, that packs a 10% ABV. A Pale Ale, made to be a pregame to your evening, a relaxer after a long day, or just an extra pick me up in the morning. This wonderful item also doubles as a conditioner, making it an extra special beer.

The overwhelming attention PingPang got for this product was really unbelievable. It was supposed to be a one-time, very limited item that was only released in Scotland. Due to the overwhelming want and need, they decided to give it another go, making it a two batch wonder. Unfortunately, PingPang is not available to us beer snobs in the states.

Breweries and brewers alike, take note! This is a golden opportunity to bring in something new and different, and the beer world is willing to try.

This week take a bottle of beer in the shower and do not forget to rinse.

Until next time beer snobs!

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New Look At Thor, Hela, And Valkyrie In ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

By

Kieran McLean

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March 8, 2017

Entertainment Weekly has released its latest cover, offering a new look at Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok and revealing a battle ready Thor, Hela, and Valkyrie.

Probably the most important thing to note about the cover is Thor’s weapon of choice. Instead of his iconic hammer, Thor is wielding two gigantic swords and is wearing some pretty cool looking armor. This cover also gives us a first look at Cate Blanchett as Hera, a new villain who will bring a new level of destruction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I’m actually surprised to see that the cover features Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie. It seems like the character will have a larger role in Thor: Ragnarok than I first expected, possibly an even bigger role than Mark Ruffalo’s Incredible Hulk.

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

More Thor: Ragnarok images are expected to drop later this week, so make sure you check back with Monkeys Fighting Robots!

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A Definitive Ranking Of The Women In The ‘King Kong’ Franchise

By

EJ Moreno

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March 8, 2017

There Is Only Room For One Lady In King Kong’s Heart!

Sure, the ‘King Kong‘ franchise is known for the titular giant ape but there’s a few other trademarks in his films. Every incarnation features a women, played by a great actress, who somehow becomes the center of Kong’s world.

It all starts in 1933 with Fay Wray as Ann Darrow, the girl who King Kong took to the top of the Empire State building became an infamous role. Jessica Lange played a similar role named Dwan in the 1976 remake. Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake brought Ann Darrow back but this time it was played by Naomi Watts. This brings us to 2017 where Brie Larson will be taking on a similar role named Mason Weaver in ‘Kong: Skull Island‘.

Each of these women play a major part in Kong’s life but who means the most?

Let me know if you agree with my list in the comments!

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1. Naomi Watts

This battle for first place was hard. Both Naomi Watts and Fay Wray play the same character but both bring something different. But in the end, Naomi Watts elevates Ann Darrow to another level. Maybe because 2005’s ‘King Kong‘ is beautifully directed but there’s added layers to this role that wasn’t there with Wray.

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First Look: Charlize Theron is Ready For a Fight in ‘Atomic Blonde’

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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March 8, 2017

Charlize Theron continues her mid-career action renaissance, playing a Cold-War killer in the upcoming Atomic Blonde. And we have the first images of Theron in action, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.

Check them out:

There’s also this awesome poster, in case you missed it…

A high-stakes, global action-thriller that takes place in the city of Berlin, on the eve of the Wall’s collapse and the shifting of superpower alliances. Charlize Theron (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) portrays Lorraine Broughton, a top-level spy for MI6, who is dispatched to Berlin to take down a ruthless espionage ring that has just killed an undercover agent for reasons unknown. She is ordered to cooperate with Berlin station chief David Percival (James McAvoy of “X-Men”), and the two form an uneasy alliance, unleashing their full arsenal of skills in pursuing a threat that jeopardizes the West’s entire intelligence operation.

And yes, that’s James McAvoy in the one image. It should be a great duo.

It’s a lot of fun seeing Charlize Theron transform into this badass female action icon these last couple of years. Aside from Atomic Blonde, you will see her as the key villain in The Fate of The Furious next month.

Atomic Blonde will hit theaters July 28.

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‘Red Hood and The Outlaws’ #8: The Artemis Adventure

By

Wesley Messer

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March 8, 2017

Let’s begin by saying this about Red Hood and The Outlaws: this series is still a tough sell for me. I said I’d give this another go though and I’m a man of my word. In my review of #7, I saw the potential of this series but it didn’t get me to love it. This issue marks the start of the ‘Who is Artemis’ storyline, so we’ll see how this goes. One of my problems with the last issue was not getting to know Artemis more in the context of the team, so this is perfect. Now here is where this gets fun. Will this story be the one to hook me? I’m game to see just what Red Hood and The Outlaws #8 has in store. On with the adventure as I begin my journey to see if I dig this series after all.

Red Hood and The Outlaws #8, I’m open to you being awesome, so please be awesome.

A lot of why I’m having a rough time with Red Hood is the fact that I am hit or miss with Scott Lobdell. I will say though, this issue does a lot in selling me on this series. For as much as I am a big fan of Bizarro, Artemis and her story hooked me. Lobdell writes a compelling backstory for her and it works overall. Even better as we learn more about Artemis, I learn more about how this series works and now I’m getting why people dig this. All it took was one page of a bartender explaining what has happened so far and I’m good to go. It’s a strong set up for a storyline and it gives me a reason to want to see what happens from here.

I’m also digging the oddball friendship that Jason Todd and Artemis have. The Bizarro one worked somewhat for me in the last issue, but Artemis and Jason play off each other well. Lobdell has that extra sparkle to his dialogue in how these two characters interact. There’s also one enjoyable bit of Jason Todd explaining his best friend from childhood that I liked too. It’s one part sad and funny all at the same time. Wow this really is working for me better than the last issue. I love that this is leading to a massive quest and it sounds like it should be a lot of fun.

There’s one other element of the book that also veers me in digging this as much as I do – Kenneth Rocafort.

I’ll add this in here, it helps that I am a fan of Kenneth Rocafort. I never could get into his work with Red Hood during the New 52; call it story disconnect. This time around however, I dig what Rocafort is doing here. The barfight that Red Hood and Artemis get into is an absolute blast to read. They’re looking for someone in the bar and hey that’s a good excuse for a cool bar fight and a beautifully illustrated one at that. Lobdell’s dialogue in the fight matches the fun so between the art and the dialogue, it fires on all cylinders. The shattering glass style layout accentuates the energy behind the battle so I like that a lot.

Call this a bonus part of the adventure as I wax on about some other aspects of the comic I liked.

It’s a well written comic overall, mostly in the aspect of it is a lot of fun. The same goes for Rocafort’s art; it does wonders for this comic in keeping you constantly engaged in the book. I do want to make notice of Dan Brown’s coloring with Rocafort’s art, the shattering glass coloring especially. It has a cool reflection effect to it with a cool faded look that gels the bar fight together beautifully. In turn that is what sets up some great looking work in the flashback sequences for Artemis. There is one especially amazing looking battle at one point that’s filled with fire and fury, the colors reflecting that intensity. As much as Rocafort’s art is strong as all get out, Dan Brown’s coloring adds such a wonderful element to it.

It’s interesting; with the last issue I could find bits I liked and in equal measure disliked too. This one is a different subject. I like what I see here. I will say that Jason Todd is still not fully fleshed out in his role here, for me that is. Jason Todd is growing on me and Lobdell does work his butt off in getting you to like him. Artemis on the other hand connected to me quickly. I like her. I’m still amazed that I’m going to be diving more into the world of Red Hood and The Outlaws but here we are. I’m as surprised as anyone else.

Now I’m glad I did this follow-up piece. It was well worth my time to give this comic another go.

Now this is the issue I would say to try out if you’re new to the series. It’s a much easier introduction to this world. I will say this has the making of a good story and it’ll be fun to see where it goes from here. If you’ve been curious about Red Hood and The Outlaws, this issue is for you. I’m happy I gave this another chance as this was a lot of fun. Now I can see why people dig this series and that my friends makes me happy.

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