The UnPOP guys bring you their first UnPOP “Kernel”! A Kernel, outside of being a tasty, buttery UnPOPped nugget at the bottom of the bag, is our way of releasing some unused content from previous episodes. Sometimes, in order to create the best possible UnPOP episode, many bits and conversations are cut from the podcast entirely. Here is where those pieces are resurrected and polished for your listening pleasure!
As we prepare for our big midnight review of Blair Witch, we decided to dust off some ghost stories as experienced by the UnPOP crew which we told during the Ghostbusters episode. As Halloween lurks around the corner, feel the chills as Austin recounts his lifelong experiences with the ghost of “Claire” and much more!
Have a topic you’d like to hear UnPOPPED? Send any comments/love/vitriol to unpopentertainment@gmail.com
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About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast:
A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Who is EJ Moreno? Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
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The origin story continues on Season Three of GOTHAM, and the stakes are higher than ever, as Super-Villains more ambitious and depraved are introduced, and a realignment of alliances shakes up the fight for power in Gotham City.
Season Three will peel back the curtain on the infamous criminal organization known as the Court of The Owls. With the Indian Hill escapees on the loose, JIM GORDON (Ben McKenzie) must take matters into his own hands as a bounty hunter in Gotham. He makes it his mission to find HUGO STRANGE (guest star BD Wong), the mastermind behind the horrifying Indian Hill experiments, and FISH MOONEY (guest star Jada Pinkett Smith), one of Strange’s subjects. Meanwhile, GCPD Detective HARVEY BULLOCK (Donal Logue) and Captain NATHANIEL BARNES (Michael Chiklis) remain at the forefront of the fight against crime in the monster-ridden city. Also, BRUCE WAYNE (David Mazouz), with the help of his trusted butler and mentor, ALFRED PENNYWORTH (Sean Pertwee), and former Wayne Enterprises employee, LUCIUS FOX (Chris Chalk), discovers there are still more secrets to uncover regarding his parents’ murders.
As the city sinks deeper into chaos, GOTHAM will continue to follow the evolving stories of the city’s most malevolent villains: THE PENGUIN (Robin Lord Taylor); EDWARD NYGMA/the future RIDDLER (Cory Michael Smith); SELINA KYLE/the future CATWOMAN (Camren Bicondova); BARBARA KEAN (Erin Richards), TABITHA GALAVAN/TIGRESS (Jessica Lucas) and BUTCH GILZEAN (Drew Powell). The series also will catch up with the future POISON IVY (Maggie Geha), who, after an encounter with a monster from Indian Hill, finds herself reborn as a young woman who’s harnessed the full power of her charms; and will dive into the origin stories of JERVIS TETCH/MAD HATTER (Benedict Samuel), a talented hypnotist teetering on the edge of madness; and the TWEED BROTHERS.”
Gotham returns for its season 3 on Monday, September 19, on FOX.
When fans heard about this episode there was a lot of speculation about what would happen. Would Onion befriend monsters and Steven would have no choice but to fight against them despite Onion’s protests? Would it cause him to have to look at his mom’s point of view when it came to making tough calls? No, it is in fact an episode about Steven hanging out with Onion’s friends who are in fact only around for the summer.
A couple things need to be addressed here. First, the fact Steven fights monsters on a regular basis. Why would he be afraid of some kids in bad Halloween masks? Also, does he not grasp the concept of pretending? Did he really think Garbanzo was hurt and Pinto had healing powers?
Now for the big problems. This show is one of the best animated series on TV and it’s been repeated extensively through these reviews. Sadly, the creative team doesn’t seem to know how to balance the general Beach City elements with the more fantastical elements it has introduced through the Gems. There is a possibility of an alien invasion in the future. Why are we worried about Onion? Sure, he’s an interesting character with his inability to talk and his destructive tendencies but is this what the Onion fans were really hoping for? There really being nothing to him but being a little kid? Fans were hoping he would meet monsters or hang around in the temple with the Crystal Gems but instead they got him playing make believe in the woods.
This series has shown it’s possible to have the Beach City characters and have fantastic elements all at the same time. Episodes like Beach Party, Historical Friction, or Greg The Babysitter showed great moments of regular citizens affected by the science and influence of the Gems. It has been shown to be possible to keep the human characters and keep telling a rich and deep story. This episode though isn’t the brightest moments for Steven Universe. Both the show and the character.
Welcome to the Turnbuckle Bandwagon, MFR’s semi-regular column on professional wrestling, sports entertainment, and some fun stuff.
10 weeks ago, the first ever WWE Cruiserweight Classic began. A tournament showcasing 32 of the best 205 lb. and under professional wrestlers on the WWE’s big stage. The WWE audience was introduced to a slew of new faces, as bringing in outside talent is not something the WWE has done in the past. More than a few made their mark. Some well-known, like Zack Sabre Jr., Tajiri, and Kota Ibushi. Some not so well-known who endeared themselves to the crowd, like Jack Gallagher and Cedric Alexander. Through all 4 rounds, and amazing performances, it came down to two men, both not expected to be in the final.
Gran Metalik (Mexico) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (England)
Gran Metalik (known as Mascara Dorada in CMLL) would upset Zack Sabre Jr. ZSJ is widely considered to be one of, if not the best technical wrestler in the world, was bested by a luchador/striking style hybrid in Gran Metalik. An amazing match that mixed Lucha Libre, technical wrestling, submissions, and high-flying, Metalik would best ZSJ and move on to the finals.
T. J. Perkins (The Philippines) vs. Kota Ibushi (Japan)
Kota Ibushi is one of the best performers on the planet. This is not an opinion, it’s an obvious fact. The Golden Star has had more 5 star matches in a span of a few years than most wrestlers get in their entire career. Perkins, the former Manik, has taken his place among the elite in this tournament. Working his way through NJPW, TNA, ROH, and even WWE’s prior developmental promotion, Florida Championship Wrestling, TJP seems to have finally found his place. Ibushi threw everything he had at his underdog opponent and TJP just kept coming. Perkins, known for his high-flying, would also employ his submission moves to ground Ibushi and submit the odds on tournament favorite to move on to the final of the CWC.
T.J. Perkins vs. Gran Metalik – CWC Final
There are times as a wrestling fan that can be hard, and then there are those moments that make you love wrestling. Moments that are recalled years later as seminal moments, where something began. A rivalry born, a new era started. Right before this match, one of those moments happened.
Triple H aka Paul Levesque is the mastermind behind NXT and the CWC. He would enter the ring before the match. He would announce that not only would the winner of the match be the first ever Cruiserweight Classic Champion, but would also move on to Monday Night RAW as the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion. The Cruiserweight Division will make its RAW debut next Monday, bringing back a style of wrestling that has been missing from the WWE for quite some time and has influenced wrestling since its rise to prominence in the mid to late 90s.
Both men would rise to the occasion in a match worthy of what a tournament final match should be. A performance that had everything a wrestling fan could want. From striking to Lucha Libre to submission, Perkins and Metalik would push each other past their limits. T.J. Perkins would emerge victorious, and now sporting some extra hardware, with his kneebar, which he had been dispatching his opponents with throughout this tournament.
The Future Is Bright And Has A Sweet Looking Title
Before and during the CWC, rumors were floating around that the WWE was going to reintroduce the Cruiserweight Title. The cruiserweight division will showcase the best talent that is available to the WWE. You will see high flying, you will see technical wrestling, you will see striking, and you will love every minute of it. T.J. Perkins will be leading the charge as the first Cruiserweight Champion of this era in the WWE and it is going to be fun to see who else shows up from the CWC on Monday Night RAW.
Did you have a favorite moment from the CWC and WHO are you hoping to see in the new Cruiserweight Division? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @MatPDouglas.
The WWE Cruiserweight Classic is available on demand on the WWE Network
The Disney Funko Pop! figure collection is expanding again, this time with “deluxe” versions of some classic princesses, according to the Funko Blog. Yes, I will admit–I love Funkos of all shapes and sizes. However, as the line of vinyl figures continues to expand, I find myself drawn more to those that have something unique about them. The new line of Disney princesses fits that bill.
Do We Really Need More Disney Funko? (Yep)
Instead of the standard character standing with its arms by its sides, the new figures show the girls dancing, twirling, moving in some way. They are also more screen-accurate than some of their predecessors. Cinderella’s stark yellow hair has been toned down and Rapunzel finally has her signature floral braid.
Ariel, Tiana, and Belle all have on different dresses than their predecessors. Ariel in particular comes in both matte and sparkly, though the glittered version is a Hot Topic exclusive.
What They Could Have Done Better
Perhaps the only disappointing element of the new princess collection is a distinct lack of tiny companions. One tactic Funko has used to make new figures of the same characters more enticing is adding an additional, albeit tiny, companion to the main character. Original Rapunzel came with Pascal, and Tiana was accompanied by a tiny Prince Naveen in frog form. The new figures could have taken advantage of this trend with Chip, Sebastian, Gus, etc.
The newest princesses are on their way to retailers this fall.
Do you collect Funko figures? What makes you add one of these vinyl cuties to your bookcase/ desk/ shelf? Tell us your thoughts and show off your collection below.
The rumoured Man of Steel sequel was just made official. Talking to Newsweek, Henry Cavill’s manager Dany Garcia confirmed that the Man of Steel sequel is in development at Warner Bros.
As you can see in the quote below, Garcia discusses the Superman actor’s upcoming projects which include next year’s Justice League and an official sequel to Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.
“Henry has a big appetite. We’ve been in a five-month period of time where he’s re-strategizing, acquiring property [for his production company Promethean], he’s filming [Justice League] now, he’s in development for the Superman standalone… he’s beginning to expand that world. It’s beautifully teed up. In a year from now, or two years from now, he’s going to be a force globally.”
Henry Cavill will next suit up as Superman in Justice League alongside Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa. The film is scheduled for release in November 2017.
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
Are You Excited To See A Man Of Steel Sequel? Be Sure To Let Us Know In The Comments Section Below!
You know what nobody asked for? A sequel to Annabelle, itself a spinoff of The Conjuring, which was basically a horrible movie from top to bottom. Alas, here we are in 2016 Hollywood, where head-scratching sequels are the modus operandi for some damn reason, and here is the trailer for Annabelle 2:
And here’s the synopsis:
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.
If there is anything positive to take from this movie even existing, it’s the fact that Lights Out director David F. Sandberg is behind the camera. He’s shown his ability to craft a pretty clever horror film already this year, but wouldn’t his talents be better served in another original idea? This has been a banner year for horror, and yet here we are again rehashing something nobody wanted in the first place.
That teaser was a minute and five seconds, and I am fairly certain I will only see a minute and five seconds of Annabelle 2 for the rest of my life. There must be a few people out there who are eagerly anticipating another entry into this franchise, so if you find one – or you are one – let me know.
The trailer for Nocturnal Animals has all sorts of visual decadence, and all manner of intrigue and mystery. Amy Adams leads an impressive cast, and this is certainly going to be a delight to look at if nothing else.
A “story inside a story,” in which the first part follows a woman named Susan who receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband, a man whom she left 20 years earlier, asking for her opinion. The second element follows the actual manuscript, called “Nocturnal Animals,” which revolves around a man whose family vacation turns violent and deadly. It also continues to follow the story of Susan, who finds herself recalling her first marriage and confronting some dark truths about herself.
It definitely has that Lynchian Lost Highway vibe to it, but it will be a bit more stylish I’ massing, coming from the Tom Ford angle. The fashion designer’s first film, A Single Man, was pretty great in it’s own right.
Nocturnal Animals stars Adams – who is poised to have a pretty big autumn – Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher (just to confuse everyone), Armie Hammer, Laura Linney and Michael Sheen among others. It’s based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright, and it will open December 9.
If you have wanted to see George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road in black and white – or black and chrome – December 6 is your chance.
Miller is releasing a special edition of the 2015 masterpiece in conjunction with a High Octane Collection that will include all four films in blu ray and a 4K version of Fury Road. That sounds awesome, sure, but hearing Miller talk aboutMad Max: Fury Road in black and chrome is what makes me salivate:
“One thing I’ve noticed is that the default position for everyone is to de-saturate post-apocalyptic movies. There’s only two ways to go, make them black and white — the best version of this movie is black and white, but people reserve that for art movies now. The other version is to really go all-out on the color. The usual teal and orange thing? That’s all the colors we had to work with. The desert’s orange and the sky is teal, and we either could de-saturate it, or crank it up, to differentiate the movie. Plus, it can get really tiring watching this dull, de-saturated color, unless you go all the way out and make it black and white.”
December 6 is going to be Mad Max day for super fans.
