Several artists are paying tribute to the late Michael. Elton John took to Instagram to share his grief.
“I am in deep shock,” John writes. “I have lost a beloved friend – the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.”
Damn, look at that 80s style hair!
In the 1980s, Michael and Andrew Ridgeley shot to fame as the pop duo Wham. The group have 25 million records and 12 million singles. They split in 1986 after five years together. While Ridgeley would leave the industry, Michael’s next act would soon begin.
Michael chose to launch a solo act with the Faith album, because he sought a grown-up image. In 1987, the title song hit the US charts at number one. To date, Faith has sales of over 25 million.
George Michael was one of a kind
For many fans, Michael is known for his upbeat pop sound. His career covers three decades and several hit songs. These include “Freedom”, “Careless Whisper”, and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.”
Ridgely took to Twitter to pay respects to his friend. “Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog,” he writes. “Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved.”
The man who helped shape British pop will be missed.
The first image from Pixar’s next original film, Coco, has been released by Entertainment Weekly. Check it out below.
The director, Lee Unkrich, talked a little bit about his reaction to making the film.
“The day John Lasseter gave the thumbs up for this movie, I immediately felt this huge weight drop onto my shoulders because I knew that we were doing something different than we had ever made at the studio and that for the first time, we were going to have this enormous responsibility to do right by this culture and not lapse into stereotype or cliché.”
With the debut of Coco next November, can Pixar retain the level of greatness they held with properties like Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Inside Out?
“Coco follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who sets off a chain of events relating to a century-old mystery, leading to an extraordinary family reunion.”
It appears Santa is real and you asked for an ‘Alien: Covenant’ red band trailer for Christmas, I feel like that is just bit naughty.
Witness the Creation of Fear.
20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT! Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. Check out the trailer and film stills below!
‘Alien: Covenant’ is directed by Ridley Scott, and stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby.
The Simpsons was started with a Christmas special back in 1989 and has been going strong ever since. Many consider the first few seasons to be the show’s peak, so I’ve decided to take a look at the episode that started it all: Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire. Does it hold up?
The short answer is yes.
What the episode does brilliantly is establishing the setting, characters and overall atmosphere of the show. It’s not a standout in terms of comedy or story, but its set up for the show’s future is what makes it great.
The animation is dated, but it still has that Simpsons aesthetic that many viewers have grown accustomed to. I love the classic art style.
Homer is looked at as a drunk, but the episode makes very clear his true intentions. While he is a dope, he also cares about family deeply – this aspect of the show is what makes it more family friendly than other shows it’s often compared to: South Park, American Dad, and Futurama are among the competition.
Additionally, this episode introduces the family’s dog, Santa’s Little Helper. It’s interesting that the show devoted the episode to rescuing the dog, as this makes him more of a character when there is potential conflict.
Overall, Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire holds up very well. Although dated in various ways, the characters and simply story make it a classic that every fan of the franchise should watch at this time of year.
Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle) recently discussed his initial interest in portraying the character, via gq.com.
“I’m working on The Punisher now. You know, this whole superhero-comic-book thing is something I had zero interest in being a part of. The guys that I really, really respect as actors seem to have kind of purposely stayed away from that. I don’t mean that I’m above that or anything, just that it was not for me. But then when I got to know a little bit about this character… He ain’t got a f**king cape. He ain’t got any superpowers. He’s a f**king tortured, angry father and husband who’s living in this unbelievable world of darkness and loss and torment. Frank Castle resonates with me. And comic-book fans are the greatest fans on earth. It’s not like their insane fervor isn’t based on anything. This is a super-intelligent fan base, because reading a comic book requires you to do a lot of work. You’ve got to fill in all these f**king gaps. I’m respectful of that. These characters exist in their minds and hearts.”
Like Bernthal states, Punisher is not your average super hero or villain. He’s a mentally unstable killer who has a firm belief in his ideology of taking criminals off the streets.
The character made his first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance in Netflix’s Daredevil series, and The Punisher show will hit the streaming service next year.
Merry Christmas to all! Well, actually, it is a little early for all that, but not for a Christmas film list, or excessive amounts of Egg Nog. That being said, another part of many Yuletide celebrations is Christmas films, and everyone has one. There is a lot of traditional films, both really old, really new, and somewhere in between. This is not your typical list. Unorthodox, bizarre, occasionally based an old timey classic, and sometimes creept, bur here is 11 films you shoulder consider every Christmas.
1) A Christmas story
Classics are classics, whether they be a song or film, overplayed or never heard, nothing changes the fact. A Christmas Story is like most classics, but also carries those cult classic, memorable one-liners as well. Some are sick and tired of this classic, and DVD have probably tanked since the television station TBS started their 24 hours of A Christmas Story marathon, but it still remains an important classic. Albeit, sometimes, a bit overplayed.
2) Tales from the crypt: All Through The Houses
There are two adaptation of this EC Comics story, if you did not know. A 1960s Amicus film anthology, which was also entitled Tales from the Crypt, and utilized as its first story, All Through the House. The ’90s Horror Comedy Tales From The Crypt, that most people are aware of, has the Larry Drake mental Santa Claus. Both versions are quite good and worth watching. It just all depends on what mood you’re looking for, Horror Comedy or Horror Terror, and what accent…
3) Twilight Zone: Night of the Meek
Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone is known for its dark and Science Fiction subjects, but every now and then, its creator threw in some light-hearted ensembles. Night of the Meek was A Twilight Zone Christmas aka Christmas in the fifth dimension. Do not be turned away by its sentimentality, as it is, and all Serling written pieces are, quite well written and thought-provoking.
4) Tales from the Darkside: Seasons of Belief
Tales from the Darkside was occasionally hit or miss in quality, but this one isn’t a complete miss. E.G. Marshall, of Night Gallery and National Lampoon’s ChristmasVacation fame, leads a far less recognizable cast. The Tale of Grither, an evil Christmas creature that returns when you say is name multiple times, and his story, and his song are told, is the plot of this quick little episode of terror. The talents of Michael McDowell are seen here, prior to his other Horror related, named based terror…Beetlejuice.
5) Gremlins 1
The first Gremlins film does not have a numerical value, but it is the first one, so it helps to differentiate. Gremlin 2 wasn’t a bad film, but the first is always best, and it felt like a heavier dose of the season was on display. If you’re looking for horror and terror in a yuletide stocking, and a little Gizmo cuteness, you have chosen the right stocking stuffer.
6) Scrooged
For some reason, it seems that you either love or hate the dark Christmas dramedy Scrooged. Bill Murray stars in a modern depiction of the Charles Dickinson classic A Christmas Carol. Murray really pulls off the modern Scrooge, while still bringing his fans the same comedy they have come to expect from the master comedic actor. The ending is a little too much like PSA of sentimental claptraps, but you expect this from Dickinsonian style films. Scrooged is still filled with memorable characters, actors, scenes, and lines. Ignore the Scroogy critics, check it out.
7) The Santa Clause
It takes some time to become a classic, but some films are just very memorable within your own family, and become familial classics. Case in point, The Santa Clause is one such film for this writer. Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause was a refreshing change from the typical tired tropes of past Christmas films, and it is really quite humorous. Tim Allen was truly “on point” back then, or whatever it is they say these days.
8) The original …Grinch Stole Christmas
One must say “the original” because Ron Howard chose to make a live-action redoing with mixed success. The original, to add to the horror of The Grinch, and if you did not know, was voiced by Boris Karloff. Ironically, only the narration is. The timeless classic of the old, green miser turning his miniature heart from pea to Titantic by seeing that Christmas was more than just presents and consumerism, never ceases to thrill all ages.
9) Batman Returns
Batman and Christmas might not seem like they go together, unless it is some silly children’s animated special, but Tim Burton, Batman, and Christmas do. Perhaps, some don’t remember, but it was Christmas time in Tim Burton’s epic, Batman Returns. Even the famous Max Shreck ball was a Christmas party. It may not carry the timeless classic Christmas story or characters, but for Batman aficionados it is their Christmas classic, and just maybe some underlying philosophy to be taken from it for the season.
10) Home Alone 1 & 2
It may be odd to group them, but it is essentially, a two-part story. Well, sort of. The timeless John Hughes tale of Kevin McCallister, his cartoonish villains and clever means of defense, never gets old. Who didn’t want to live both of Kevin’s vacation from his family?
11) It’s a Wonderful Life
It might seem cliche at this point, but this last, but never least, classic is just that an immortal classic. It is true that it carries the A-typical A Christmas Carol tropes about a man reflecting back on his life, but George Bailey is no Scrooge, he just needed to be reminded of what he had. It’s a Wonderful Life is a timeless story that works for any decade or century, and Director Frank Capra and Actor Jimmy Stewart are still some of the best that Hollywood ever brought to the world’s attention.
Hopefully, you had a little nostaliga, terror, excitement, and a few more flicks and TV shows to add your Christmas list. Enjoy.
[Images Via Their Respective Films/Production Companies]
With the end of the year right around the corner, it’s time to look back at worst Anime titles which came out in 2016. It should be noted these animes are more disappointing than absolutely terrible. Still considering how much other media is available watching something which isn’t satisfying is almost a worst crime. The time spent watching these shows could have been used to help expand the upcoming best of list from five entries to a full ten. Time is a precious thing and it shouldn’t be spent watching shows of less than average quality. Without further ado, here are the five worst animes of 2016.
5. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN RE:0096
It should be noted if you have no other way of watching Gundam Unicorn, then by all means check out this series. It is one of the best Gundam shows to come out in a while which wasn’t being self-referential (Gundam build Fighters) or without having to introduce another timeline (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron blooded Orphans). Unfortunately these facts aside this is just a repackaging of an already released series with little to no additional additional scenes. Essentially it’s a clip show for anyone who has seen the original Gundam Unicorn and a glorified clip show easily fits onto this list.
4. Nurse Witch Komugi R
Remember SoulTaker? No? Then maybe you caught its OVA, Nurse Witch Komugi where they spun off a character and made her into a magical girl. Still nothing? Doesn’t matter as this series is supposed to be a reintroduction and reinvention of the characters. Unfortunately this series doesn’t exactly know what it wants to do. Sometimes it wants to be an idol show complete with a song and dance number almost every episode, other times it’s trying for comedy and deconstructing aspects of the magical girl genre, and a few times it seems like it’s actually trying to be a legitimate magical girl series. Unfortunately most of the time the jokes aren’t funny, the new magical girls are cookie cutter (A Magical Maid and Magical Sister are introduced) and the songs aren’t even close to being as catchy as those featured in Love Live. If this show had tried to stop being other shows and instead had dedicated itself to one idea, it might have been worthwhile instead of easily forgotten.
3. Ace Attorney
It is possible to have an adaptation be so faithful it actually hinders itself. This is the case with the anime adaptation of Phoenix Wright. The anime takes the first two video games stories and so accurately represents them in-motion they come off kind of boring. Who was the show even for? The fans? They have already played the games so they know what is going to happen. A newcomer? The show assumes you are already a fan and will appreciate the nuances which went into the animation. In the end you’re left with the series which is below average and not really much fun for anyone.
2. Time Bokan 24
As many studios keep trying to relaunch old shows for a new generation there was a lot of promise behind this series which was one of Tatsunoko Studios more iconic franchises. Unfortunately this new installment of Time Bokan is so formulaic you can time out how each episode will play out nearly to the second. The series isn’t helped by overwhelming need to present a more comedic atmosphere. The good guys travel back in time to discover “true history” such as the Wright brothers being one guy or Cleopatra being a two-person comedy act. Meanwhile, the villains are actually trying to keep things the same so they don’t have to change the textbooks they produce which really makes it feel like these roles should be reversed. It’s underwhelming and is intended just really to sell the robots featured in the show to kids. Considering how well other shows can do this and still present an entertaining promise, this one just runs out of time.
1. Berserk (2016)
Man this one hurt. After waiting 18 years for another Berserk series to expand upon the atrocious stopping point of the first one, a continuation finally arrived. Unfortunately, it’s not very good. The art is literally painful to look at at times as the studio preferred to wait for the final renders to be available with the blu-ray releases which is becoming far too common a practice. The story is a bit underwhelming as this arc moves slower than previous ones and introduces one of the most annoying characters in all of anime. Seriously, the Nina character whined so much she got trained executions, whose job is to ignore the complaining of others to stop. Considering how many Berserk fan there are in the world and how much they were looking forward to this series it almost feels like a slap in the face. The original manga is known for having gorgeous art, being deep and emotional at times, and is considered one of the best fantasy mangas of all time. This series just felt rushed and quickly ran out of steam in a very bad way. Hopefully the studio will learn its lesson and the next season in 2017 will at least look a little better. They’ll already have to win back the audience who were disappointed after watching this 12 episode trainwreck.
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All of these titles are streaming at Crunchyroll. What was your most hated Anime title of 2016? Leave a comment below and let us know.
And so the fourth arc of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure comes to an end. It’s amazing how despite these characters knowing how dangerous an individual Kira is they still allow him to move about and it once again causes a citizen to get caught up in battle. Of course it shows the act of how desperate he is as he’s not exactly at his best after the punishment he received in the previous battle. It’s hard to talk about this episode without spoiling it but know it was one of the better ending to a storyline in recent memory.
The entire cast shows back up and each of them gets a cute moment in the spotlight. Also, it turns out despite an initial assumption, the theory of Josuke being the person who saved his younger self didn’t come to pass. It was just some other guy who had pompadour and looked like he had just come from a final battle. Considering Deadly Queen had the ability to mess with time, it seemed like a very possible scenario of Josuke getting sent back to the past and being the individual who saved himself and his mom in the flashback near the start of the series..
There will be a more descriptive breakdown of this series by the end of the month with a full review of this season. Overall this is a nice wrap up to what was a very entertaining installment of this series. There is now a gap every Friday where a new episode of one of the most over the top and bizarre series once stood. Hopefully something just as entertaining will appear in winter 2017 to fill this void. It would be a shame if fans would have to wait the entire year for the next arc, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo because there wasn’t any other good anime released.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable is streaming on Crunchyroll.
