DC on CW: Week in Review – ‘The Flash’ Races Back

October 29, 2016

This series will be a brief, semi-comedic review of the CW superhero shows. You can check out last week’s review post here, or see the tally of winners below. The only shows discussed will be ‘Arrow’, ‘Flash’, and ‘Supergirl’. There WILL be some spoilers discussed, so only look at the reviews you’re up to date on!

Supergirl, “Welcome to Earth” (Oct. 24)

This week’s episode of Supergirl relies WAY too heavily on tropes. The alien/immigrant parallels are way too transparent & familiar to be impactful. Snapper Carr is despised by Cara and James for being good at his job. His anger makes sense, seeing as he’s getting talked down to by a newbie & a photographer. Maggie’s clearly a new love interest for Alex, but the street-smart cop routine feels basic. Likewise, Daxam Boy is a clear bad boy trope. The villain (who I’m calling Lava Girl) was also very bland. Why did she take Maggie as a hostage? The reveal of Miss Martian was a cool cliffhanger, to be sure. And Lynda Carter killed it as a brief authoritative cameo. Otherwise, it felt like a basic placeholder episode, with little to no intrigue.

SCORE: 6/10 Appletinis

The Flash, “The New Rouges” (Oct. 25)

CW lets The Flash take a break from the time-travel nonsense. Mirror Master feels a tad clunky, but he’s a new type of villain that feels welcome. Barry’s got a Speedy that’s actually Speedy, which is amusing. CW has a sidekick over-saturation problem, so thankfully she’s not hanging around. Along with her relationship with Wally, I’m glad she’s more of a cameo then a mainstay. Iris is shocked Joe is disgusted by his kids making out, which is confounding. Perhaps Joe’s budding relationship with the Commissioner will settle him down. The search for a new Harrison feels like a silly way to keep Tom Cavanagh in the mix. Especially considering we’ve now had a Harry swap every season. I’m sure some will appreciate the lighter tone, however, as that is the show’s trademark. And as far as staying on brand goes, this episode stays on target.

SCORE: 6.5/10 Harrisons

Arrow, “Penance” (Oct 26)

This episode of Arrow is rather bland. The majority of the episode is spent with characters telling Oliver how he shouldn’t break Diggle out. The rationale that he wants to pay for a crime he didn’t commit is supposedly enough to turn everyone against Oliver? And when Oliver does show up, it takes maybe a minute to change Diggle’s mind? It makes the whole conflict feel pointless. Additionally, we’re saddled with more Oliver/Rene conflict, and Green Arrow beating the recruits up. The new DA seems like prime misguided villain material. My favorite part of the episode was where I finally figured out New Canary’s going by Artemis. On top of Supergirl’s Miss Martian reveal, the episode gave me fun Young Justice nostalgia.

Young Justice — Technically, this show wins the week/month/in general

SCORE: 6/10 Rubber Balls

WEEKLY WIN TALLY:

Supergirl: 1.5 Weeks

The Flash: 1 Week

Arrow: 0.5 Weeks

What show did you think won the week? Does Legends of Tomorrow take your vote? Do you think A.o.S. or Gotham outshines all the CW shows? Let us know in the comments below!

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Slasher Saturday: Every ‘Halloween’ Movie Ranked

EJ Moreno

October 29, 2016

In Celebration Of The Holiday, This Slasher Saturday Is Dedicated To The ‘Halloween’ Franchise.

Slasher movies were started by ‘Psycho‘ or ‘Peeping Tom‘ but ‘Halloween‘ skyrocketed the genre. This week’s Slasher Saturday has to be about the franchise starring Michael Myers. With 10 movies, a remake & a remake sequel, and a third movie that is totally off topic, ‘Halloween‘ is one of the wildest horror franchises. As recently as May 2016, original director John Carpenter has signed on to produce a new ‘Halloween‘ film produced by Miramax and Blumhouse. This will be the 11th film in the franchise and proves the longevity of the Michael Myers-led series.

Below are every ‘Halloween‘ movie ranked from worst to first!

10. Halloween II (2009)

How could Rob Zombie miss the mark this bad? I breakdown his 2007 remake later in the list but ‘Halloween II‘ from 2009 kicks things off. Everything Zombie attempted with this movie was later done better in his film ‘Lords Of Salem‘ but that doesn’t help his second attempt with Michael Myers.

9. Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers (1995)

This is one of the lowest moments in the franchise and almost killed Michael Myers forever. Starring a young Paul Rudd and a rather plump killer, ‘Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers‘ took the franchise down a rather odd route. Mixing the occult while attempting to add a backstory only hurt the movie.

8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Concept was ahead of its time. Reality TV was just starting to hit a new level and ‘Halloween: Resurrection‘ decided to jump on that. That doesn’t excuse casting Busta Rhymes & Tyra Banks in a ‘Halloween‘ movie. Also, how the hell do you kill Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) off after a shitty retcon of the ‘H20‘ finale?

7. Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

I actually don’t hate ‘Season Of The Witch‘. I think it’s a super fun movie for Halloween time but the glaring problem is that it doesn’t belong in the ‘Halloween‘ series. The filmmakers wanted to take the franchise in a different direction and it left a bad taste in the mouth’s of viewers.

6. Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers

This has to one of the worst looking Michael Myers mask in franchise history. Like many series in a long-running franchise, the worst thing about ‘Halloween 5‘ is how forgettable it is. It was right before they introduced the terrible Curse of Thorn mythos but after the great 4th film starring Danielle Harris.

5. Halloween (2007)

Dashboard

I ranked this higher than most would but honestly, the remake of ‘Halloween‘ from 2007 is really not that bad. Sure, Rob Zombie has a love for horrible people and white trash but his aesthetic works. He added backstory to Myers that didn’t ruin the character and allowed him to still be this unstoppable force of evil.

4. Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers

After taking a break with ‘Halloween III: Season Of The Witch‘, the franchise went back to stories about Michael Myers. This was different though as he hunts down his niece, the daughter of the presumed dead Laurie Strode. Young Danielle Harris does great as Jamie, the niece, and launched herself into horror fame.

3. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

‘Halloween H20‘ should have been the finale of the franchise. This completes the story of Michael Myers & his sister Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) while providing an entertaining movie. 20 years after the original, the dynamic between the two haves changed dramatically. Laurie is ready for Michael this time!

2. Halloween II (1981)

‘Halloween II‘ picks up right after the 1978 film but was filmed years later. This is one of the few times that a ‘Halloween‘ movie without John Carpenter as director actually hit the right marks. Michael Myers is even more terrifying than the first movie and Jamie Lee Curtis stakes her claim as the number one Scream Queen.

1. Halloween (1978)

For the first time in Slasher Saturday history, the original in the franchise takes the first place. Nothing can top the 1978 John Carpenter ‘Halloween‘ movie. This defined horror for decades to come, crafted the slasher sub-genre, and launched many careers. Who doesn’t love ‘Halloween‘?! Also, what about that iconic score!?

Thank you for checking out the third installment of Slasher Saturday!

Next week will be the Pinhead-led ‘Hellraiser‘ franchise.

Do you agree with my rankings of the ‘Halloween‘ series?

Let me know in the comments below!

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Hogtown Brewers: Hogtown Ale – A Spooky Review

Michael Bedford

October 29, 2016

Hogtown Brewers, named in honour of Toronto‘s nickname derived from its noble history of pig rendering, began distributing their flagship Hogtown Ale in 2012. Hogtown’s website describes their mandate: they want to craft drinkable lagers with great flavour. Hogtown’s brew master was inspired by the German Kolsch style. I reviewed a Kolsch earlier this year. Unfortunately, today I didn’t have the appropriate glassware, and enjoyed mine from a large beer mug. Here’s what I thought.

To make this review spooky, just imagine that global warming threatens us all and there’s an orange monster running for the most powerful executive office in the world.

Hogtown Brewers: Hogtown Ale – First Sip

Hogtown Ale is a tawny golden colour with a thick layer of foam as I pour it into my glass mug. I smell apples as I take my first sip. The thick and fizzy mouthfeel brings out this ale’s semi-sweet caramel maltiness. Its mouthfeel also bridges the gap between this ale’s malty flavour and tart aftertaste.

Hogtown Brewers: Hogtown Ale – Last Sip

This is a great ale to enjoy as you watch scary movies or hand out candy to children. Just don’t enjoy too many of them in one sitting. It’s definitely, as Hogtown’s website describes, a sessional ale. Very smooth, and surprisingly complex for an ale, it comes in at 5% ABV in a 473 mL can. Tasty as these beers are, don’t have too many of them or you’ll ruin your haunted house.

Hogtown Ale is a bit too sweet for my tastes. I’m guilty of being a hops sympathizer, though, so I miss the mouth-puckering bitterness of an IPA. I suggest enjoying Hogtown Ale with any pub food, like: burgers and fries, fish and chips, and chicken wings. And, with its tart aftertaste, this is also a great ale to enjoy with guacamole and chips.

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Review: ‘Rifftrax: Carnival Of Souls’: Better Shorts Than Feature

Anthony Wendel

October 29, 2016

It’s time for RiffTrax. Once again Michael Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy have come out to tackle a cheesy movie in the hopes of making fun of just how bad it is for the entertainment of the audience. This time around they decided take on the legendary terrible low-budget horror movie Carnival of Souls. Additionally they also decided to bring to shorts to the party. Was it as entertaining as previous entries? Sadly not so much.

The Dirt-Witch Cleans Up

This amusing short about a witch whose sole purpose is to get people dirty is just as entertaining as it sounds. As the trio pointed out, she has unlimited power to bend reality but decides to just get people covered with mud. What an amusing waste of powers.

Grass Masks

Another entry from legendary production company ACI who actually believed their videos were helping to teach children anything. This time they point out the fun of using grass to make decorative masks. It’s hilarious to watch them mock and its fascinating this is the second video they made about grass. You’d think they couldn’t get it off their minds for some reason.

Carnival of Souls

The main feature focused on a young girl who is the sole survivor of a car accident and decides to leave her hometown to become an organist. She soon finds she is being plagued by mysterious individuals who are covered gray body paint. Unfortunately all these mysterious individuals don’t look very frightening and for a film with the word Carnival in the title it doesn’t get more festive than dancing at your grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

This film seemed to be reminiscent of an old joke from a Mystery Science Theater episode which of course is where these comedians got their start. In the episode “Hercules vs. The Moon Men.” there is a segment which became infamous by fans because it is known as the “Deep Hurting.” In in the film itself there is a period where several cast members find themselves lost in a sandstorm on the screen. This scene goes on for far too long and became known as deep hurting because even while watching it the guys didn’t have enough material to use to create comedy from so they found themselves grasping at straws and even pointed out how much suffering came from watching a scene which went on for far too long and essentially served no purpose.

This is the case with Carnival of Souls and is the main problem which can come from watching a movie for how bad it is. Sure the humor it was on point and intense but sometimes the film itself needs to bring some level of corny acting, over the top special effects, or inane plot points for it to be truly entertaining and give the team proper material to use for their comedy.

Frankly, Carnival of Souls is just a bit too bland. Thanks mostly to the fact the film focuses on actress Candace Hilligoss as Mary. Apparently after surviving the car accident she decides to shut herself up in the world and this means having little to no personality and staring off at the screen blankly and looking like a store mannequin. There’s a very entertaining joke about her being a robot which the audience found particularly amusing.

It always hurts to be so critical about this team. RiffTrax always brings their A-game and tried their hardest to bring entertainment to the people but unfortunately sometimes, despite how much effort they put into it just doesn’t make up for the fact the movie itself is boring and can sometimes be a trial to get through. The team made the movie a bit more entertaining but just a bit more. It was nowhere near as entertaining as previous entries such as their Reunion Show. In it they took on the director of this film, Heck Harvey’s other work, Shake Hands with Danger, which was much more entertaining than this film will ever be.

Rifftrax was presented by Fathom Events. An encore presentation will be shown on October 31st.

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The Walking Dead: In Denial? So is Danai Gurira. RIP Glenn.

Devon Kenney

October 29, 2016

Not even the stars of the show can handle this, Danai Gurira included. Glenn’s death impacted all of us.

There is no way you don’t know what happened on the season premiere of The Walking Dead last week. If you actually don’t, congrats. You live under the biggest rock in America.

The world has been shook by not only one, but two deaths in one episode. Not only were they unexpected (by those who don’t read the comics) but they were down and dirty. Called the most graphic death scenes in the history of television, both Abraham and Glenn fell to their death by Negan’s baseball bat.

Gurira posted a wonderful tribute to Glenn, Steven Yeun, on her Facebook page.

“So I’ve been in denial,” she wrote. “The thought, the notion of losing Glen as a character in the show and Steven Yeun as a colleague is something I am yet to fully wrap my mind around. Steven was to me, from the very start, that deeply specific indicator that I was in the right place as I entered the TWD realm. The minute I was cast, he was in touch, inviting me to a lunch he and Lauren organized and trying to come watch my play The Convert which was then in production. Once I made it to GA, he helped me figure out where to stay, even letting me crash in his place over a weekend as I scouted out this new terrain called Atlanta.”

Both her Facebook and Twitter were full of nothing but love for both Glenn, the character, and Yeun as a person.

Losing Glen as a character in #TWD & @steveyeun as a colleague is something I am yet to fully wrap my mind around. https://t.co/ANUFiAIdqI pic.twitter.com/qhmUinmIiP

— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) October 28, 2016

Gurira goes on to express all of her emotions, denial, rage, sadness, while expressing hopes of success to Yeun in all his new endeavors.

“I am so excited, however, to watch his journey continue to unfold, he is designed to break barriers, to fill the world with stories that must and have yet to be told.”

‘The Walking Dead’ airs Sunday nights at 9/8c on AMC.

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Charlie Cox Comments On ‘The Defenders’ Adding Sigourney Weaver

Aric Sweeny

October 29, 2016

About a month ago news broke that Sigourney Weaver will be playing the villain in Marvel’s upcoming Defenders show. Up until now, we had not gotten any additional comments or pieces of news about the casting. Daredevil star Charlie Cox commented on the addition to next year’s show, via Heroic Hollywood.

“When she came on stage with us at New York Comic Con, I wanted to say, ‘In Hell’s Kitchen, no one hears you scream.’ I don’t think it gets better than Sigourney Weaver. I think we are immensely lucky to have her. It’s a testament to shows like Daredevil and Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. The quality of those shows have drawn someone of her caliber, which is very exciting for us. I can’t wait to read it and have a scene with her. It’s one of the experiences I’ll probably remember for the rest of my career.”

The Defenders stars Cox as Matt Murdock, Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, Mike Colter as Luke Cage, Finn Jones as Danny Rand, and Sigourney Weaver as the villain.

The show hits Netflix next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBZtM8q2Z1g

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Spoiler Warning! ‘Doctor Strange’ Credits Stinger Revealed

Manuel Gomez

October 29, 2016

Warning there are spoilers. So click and read at your own risk. The post movie ‘stingers’ of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films have become as anticipated as the movies themselves for some. Who can forget that gasping inducing moment when we saw Thanos for the first time at the end of The Avengers or the introduction of The Collector in Thor: The Dark World. Well, as the move has opened overseas, it seems the stinger for Doctor Strange is making the rounds, according to Comicbook.com. The website reports,

The Doctor Strange end credits scene bring us back to the character of Jonathan Pangborn, played by Benjamin Bratt. In the film, Pangborn was a paraplegic man who came to The Ancient One seeking means to heal himself. The Ancient One taught him to harness magic, which he used to heal his body, before refusing the rest of the teachings. In the film, it is Pangborn who gives Stephen Strange the initial hope that The Ancient One can help him.

In the end-credits scene, Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) comes back around looking for Pangborn. Mordo has defected from The Ancient One’s service, having learned his revered teacher actually drew her power from the Dark Dimension the heroic mystics are sworn to fight. Mordo attacks Pangborn, revealing that he has found a new path, now: eliminating what he feels to be an overpopulation of sorcerer’s in the world.

Looks like it points toward an eventual sequel.

Karl Mordo is better known as Baron Mordo in the comics. Like in the film, Mordo and Doctor Strange’s comic book story includes them training together and initially being “friends”. But Mordo is actually planning to murder The Ancient One. Doctor Strange figures out his plot and stops him from killing their mentor. Mordo is then banned from Kamar-Tajand and soon begins learning the dark arts, joining forces with all manner of demons and other evil men and beings.

Doctor Strange tells the story of neurosurgeon Stephen Strange whose life takes a tragic turn after a horrific car accident damages his hands. When medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing in a mysterious place known as Kamar-Taj. There he learns that this is not just a place for healing but also the sight of a magical battle to save the world. Soon Doctor Strange must choose to return to his normal life or leave it all behind and take his new place as the world’s Sorcerer Supreme.

The character is also expected to appear in Avengers: Infinity War.

Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Star Into Darkness, ), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Rachel McAdams (True Detective Season 2), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man), Mads Mikkelsen (Valhalla Riding/Hannibal) and Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel). It is directed by Scott Derrickson, and written by Derrickson, Jon Spaihts (Prometheus), and C. Robert Cargill (Sinister). It opens November 4, 2017, in theaters nationwide.

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Marvel Heroes Stand With Standing Rock

Matthew Sardo

October 28, 2016

The real-life Avengers are stepping up in support of Standing Rock as protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline escalates.

Here is a brief overview of the situation:
On April 1, 2016, an elder member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and her grandchildren established the Sacred Stone Camp to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline, which directly threatens the only water supply for the Standing Rock Reservation. The Dakota Access Pipeline, if constructed, would carry highly toxic tar sands oil through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois, where it would then be transported by train to ports on the Gulf of Mexico. Protests at the pipeline site in North Dakota began in the spring of 2016 and drew indigenous people from throughout North America as well as many other supporters, creating the largest gathering of Native Tribes in the past 100 years of American History. The nonviolent civil disobedience has been met with mass arrests, police dogs, mace attacks, rubber bullets and beatings from batons.

Earlier this week, Mark Ruffalo delivered trailers full of solar panels to help the indigenous tribes generate electricity to provide the camp with life-sustaining heat and medical treatment so they can continue to protest through into the winter months.

When Ruffalo gets cut off by Jake Tapper, the actor stands his ground to get the word out about what is happening at Standing Rock.

As ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ wraps up filming Chris Hemsworth posted an apology and his support for Standing Rock, alongside director Taika Waititi.

Standing with those who are fighting to protect their sacred land and water. #nodapl #waterislife #mniwiconi @taikawaititi I would also like to take this opportunity to raise something that has been bothering me for sometime. Last New Year's Eve I was at a "Lone Ranger" themed party where some of us, myself included, wore the traditional dress of First Nations people. I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologise to all First Nations people for this thoughtless action. I now appreciate that there is a great need for a deeper understanding of the complex and extensive issues facing indigenous communities. I hope that in highlighting my own ignorance I can help in some small way.

A photo posted by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:49pm PDT

No word on Black Widow, Iron Man, or Captain America.

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Review: ‘Inferno’ An Engaging And Entertaining Ride

By
Dewey Singleton - Film Critic
-

October 28, 2016

Ron Howard’s latest release, Inferno is a perfect example of why people flock to movie theaters across the globe, escapism. Audiences are transported to Italy and are given a front row seat as Cryptologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is wrapped once more in a puzzle of lies and deceit, centered around the poet Dante and his writings concerning hell. Is the Inferno a perfect film? No, but any film that can both keep me engaged and has an entertaining narrative as well is certainly worth seeing this weekend.

The film starts with a chase scene involving Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster) and an agent of the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization has learned that Zobrist is in possession of a virus that could wipe out half of the world’s population and they want to contain it. Zobrist is a religious nut who believes in the ideological views of the Italian poet Dante and how this world is turning it an overpopulated hell. Rather than tell the agent where he’s hidden the biological agent, he decides to jump to his death, thus protecting its location.

We cut to a scene where a very battered Langdon is recovering in hospital from injuries he doesn’t even remember receiving and to make matters worse he’s having hallucinations that seem to be from a postapocalyptic world that most humanity fears. He quickly becomes acquainted with Dr. Brooks (Felicity Jones), but the pleasantries are cut short when gunfire erupts in the hospital, and they have to run for their lives.

Of course, this sets off a series of chase scenes that span most of the film as Langdon is trying to not only make sense of his memory loss but also locate the biological agent by using clues found in Dante’s poem “Inferno.” To make matters complicated, he learns that in 24 hours the virus will be released into the open. While it’s clear to me, this whole narrative at best can be described as ridiculous, but the film still managed to draw me in.

Perhaps it was Hanks himself whose performance drew me into this movie. This is now his third attempt at playing cryptologist Robert Langdon, and he seems to be just now getting into a groove with this role. In the first two films, we saw Langdon as more an authoritative figure who was one step ahead of everyone else. Inferno humanizes Langdon and shows the audience he’s as vulnerable as anyone else.

David Koepp seems to have learned from the mistakes he made writing the screenplay for Angels and Demons and has cherry picked the best parts of Dan Brown’s book and intertwined it with some thrilling action sequences. No longer are we sitting through a film hearing Langdon gives a theological rationale as to why the bad guys want to kill him. Sometimes the best course of action is keeping it simple. Ron Howard/ David Koepp have moved away from trying to stay true to Brown’s source material and shifted the focus towards developing a balanced film.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when a movie tries to be something it clearly isn’t. Inferno isn’t trying to win awards or to make any “political statement.” This movie is simply an entertaining two hours that will leave you satisfied. Sometimes escapism isn’t a bad thing.

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