FX’s ‘The Strain’ – The 3 Best Pieces of Mythology So Far

By

-

September 9, 2016

After the first two episodes of season 3 premiere of ‘The Strain,’ I asked myself, “Why do I watch this?” Superficially, there are plenty of reasons: I like Kevin Durand; I like horror; I’ve been watching for two seasons; I’m attached to the characters. But what makes ‘The Strain’ work for me is the mythology. The background mythos has been an integral piece of the story since our first flashback to Abraham during WW2, and it’s continued. I’ve picked three elements of the mythology that are the most interesting and unique pieces of ‘Strain’ lore we’ve seen to date.

Three: Nazi/Vampire collusion was NOT widespread.

There are countless stories of Nazis involved with supernatural evil. It’s become quite a tired trope, where some mad scientist wishes to create some super weapon using something evil. With The Strain, however, has been successfully subverted. It’s safe to say there was never any institutional connection between Nazis and vampires; it’s implied that The Master sought out Eichorst and not the other way around. The Master wanted to recruit him personally, for who he was. That twist on the trope puts the story on a person-to-person level and make the Vampire-Nazi element more believable.

Two: Vampires as a source of Medicine

Traditionally vampire blood is bad and drinking vampire blood is at times how you turn into one. Penny Dreadful goes so far as making Van Helsing a blood disease specialist. ‘The Strain’ makes worms in the blood the cause of transformation and instead uses processed worm blood (“The White”) as a wonder medicine. Setrakian and Palmer are both being kept alive and functioning by infusions of “The White”. It’s a fitting re-imagining of tradition with symbolic power for both characters. Setrakian lives for revenge and Palmer is living through his pact with The Master.

One: Science Explains Folklore

‘The Strain’ has been aiming for a sci-fi take on vampires since the very first episode when we were introduced to CDC doctors as primary characters. The series has continued with the science of vampires, and the random throwaway lines from Eph on why silver and sunlight are useful weapons against vampires because they work on viruses tie mythology and science up neatly. Setrakian sees everything as mythology and Eph sees everything as science. We will continue to see the tension and agreements between the science and mythology.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Railway City Brewing Co: Black Coal Stout – A Naughty Review

By

Michael Bedford

-

September 9, 2016

The weather is changing, and beer drinkers everywhere are foregoing their usual summer beers for hardier brews. No exception to that rule, I picked up Railway City Brewing Co.’s Black Coal Stout this week. Stouts, like most beers, are still great on summer days but some are a bit too thick for the really hot ones. So, I prefer the stick-to-your-bones quality of stouts on cool days. Today hasn’t exactly been cool, but the humidity is starting to pass, and I look forward to sweating less in the coming week. But enough about the weather and my overactive sweat glands, I thought this was a beer review!

Railway City Brewing Company – The Brewery

Since my last review of a Railway City Brewing Company beer, their website has been updated. Before, it primarily offered information about their hometown, St. Thomas. Now, though, Railway City Brewing’s website highlights some of their brewing practices on the homepage. Along with some technical information about their 20-hectoliter system, their homepage ensures visitors that they brew handcrafted beers locally without the use of artificial ingredients or preservatives. I picked up a couple of 473 mL tall cans at my local LCBO.

Railway City Brewing Company: Black Coal Stout – First Sip

Black Coal Stout pours a dark, dark brown. I poured this foamy brew in two stages. If I hadn’t, it would’ve overflowed my pint glass. I smell coffee, and chocolate as I take my first sip. This stout tastes just like it smells. Its bittersweet dark chocolate taste fades a bit, but it definitely lingers, providing a relatively static flavour from start to finish. As I predicted, this is a thick stout. With its high level of carbonation, this brew provides a fizzier mouthfeel than other stouts that tend to be more watery.

Railway City Brewing Company: Black Coal Stout – Last Sip

I don’t really like drinking coffee, but I love stouts and porters. Black Coal Stout has a strong bitter flavour while still retaining some sweet malty notes. I especially like the hints of dark chocolate, but because of its heaviness this isn’t a beer I’d want to have more than a couple of in one sitting. With 6% ABV, though, you probably shouldn’t have too many anyway. This is a great beer to start the night off if you’re planning on having a few, or if you’re only planning on having one or two.

I’m sure you know better, but please enjoy this beer from a glass. No, there’s no widget inside. But, if you drink Black Coal Stout from the can you’ll miss half of the experience of drinking it.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol.2’ Will Be The “Biggest Spectacle Of All Time” Says Chris Pratt

By

Kieran McLean

-

September 9, 2016

With his next movie, The Magnificent Seven heading into theatres, Chris Pratt sat down with The Toronto Sun and talked all things Guardians of the Galaxy. It seems not all sequels fall under the weight of the predecessors, as Pratt claims Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2 will be the biggest spectacle movie of all time.

“I can say Guardians 2 is going to be out May 5. It’s finished and it’s going to be terrific. I’m already so proud of it. We worked really hard on it and it’s a joy to be part of. It’s a fabulous script. I think it’s going to be, I’m not using hyperbole, here I think it’s going to be the biggest spectacle movie of all time.”

“I’m fortunate. I’m fortunate in so many ways. I couldn’t count the ways, even if I tried. To be part of Guardians of the Galaxy,” he continued, “is to be part of a franchise that really is so totally different. It’s new and exciting and unlike anything people had seen before. There are a lot of superheroes out there, but I think we do something a little different. The genesis of these characters was in the Marvel Universe but we do something a little different, more cosmic, with Guardians of the Galaxy.”

That’s big praise, even from the movies star, but will James Gunn’s movie deliver? Marvel recently struck gold with Captain America: Civil War, but from what Pratt is saying the next outer space adventure might be the best yet.

Guardian’s of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set for release on May 5th, 2017. Will it be Marvel’s best movie yet? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Ezra Miller Talks Balancing ‘Fantastic Beasts’ And ‘Justice League’ Roles

By

Kieran McLean

-

September 9, 2016

It’s not often an actor gets the opportunity to take on a cinematic universe, but for Ezra Miller, one just wasn’t enough. Miller has the responsibility of playing Barry Allen aka. The Flash in the growing DC Extended Universe, starting with Justice League (2017) but has also signed on for J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World as Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

It can’t be easy to balance two growing universes, but Miller sounds more than excited by the challenge. In an interview which recently popped up on Pottermore, the young actor discussed how the two roles ended up in his care and how he fought for Fantastic Beasts.

So I’d heard about the part, and remember that to me – someone who got into Harry Potter so young, as a fan – I thought this was a universe that had been closed to me forever. I thought we’d had everything we’d ever get from that world, I thought it was over. I spent years devastated that I wasn’t in that world, that I wasn’t in those movies. I would say, “I can do British, I promise!”

And then, to hear that J.K. Rowling had expanded that universe. That there was more and that there was this character… I almost couldn’t believe it.

At that stage I’d already signed up to become [DC Comics character] The Flash and there were serious scheduling issues. For a while it looked like I wouldn’t be able to do this movie.

So I’m thinking about the part, I’m dreaming about it, I want it and I know deep down that I will do anything for it. So I start emailing Warner Bros. and I say, “Look at Humphrey Bogart!”

Casablanca (1943) was his eleventh film with the studio that decade. We don’t do that anymore, we don’t develop relationships between actors and studios. There’s no loyalty like that anymore. I say in these emails that I want that with you. I want Credence and I want The Flash.

While we’re yet to see any footage of Miller in Fantastic Beasts, he is already proving himself as a great cinematic version of The Flash. After appearing for a second in Batman v Superman, and slightly longer in Suicide Squad, it looks like the DCEU Flash is in safe hands. As for the Wizarding World, Potter fans don’t be worried. Miller has proved in each of his roles that he has the talent and variation to offer a great character.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in theaters on November 18 with Justice League coming next year.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Amy Adams Talks Zack Snyder And “Batman v Superman” Backlash On ‘Justice League’ set

By

Majeed Sayibu

-

September 9, 2016

After the critical thrashing “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” received earlier this year, many fans and critics alike have been curious about how the backlash has affected the people intimately involved with bringing the DC Extended Universe to life and how it has affected the morale on set of the forthcoming Justice League. Lois Lane actress Amy Adams talked at length about the now famous backlash and how it affected the production on the ‘Justice League’ also from director, Zack Snyder. In the interview with Variety’s Kris Tapley she confirms that while morale remains unabashed on set, she was sad to see director Zack Snyder take the kind of critical beating he did back in March.

When Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice was released in March, critics and fans were split in the middle and to this day, has avid detractors and defenders online who keep the discussion and debate on the film alive in the online film community with one editorial or another published each day in regards to the film. Most people praised Ben Affleck’s new iteration of Batman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman while deriding Zack Snyder and everything else about the film.

“I just felt for Zack,” Adams says. “Zack’s like the nicest person ever, and to see him kind of talked about like that was really hard for me, because he’s really such a respectful director.”

Also adding that “I would love for people to see how special he is“.

Zack Snyder as a director seems to be a hit among his actors as earlier this week, JK Simons also shared some praise for the filmmaker. It remains to be seen how critics and the general audience at large will respond to his forthcoming ‘Justice League’.

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.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Lucifer Returns In ‘Supernatural’ Season 12 Trailer

By

Kieran McLean

-

September 9, 2016

Lucifer is back and more dangerous than ever. The CW has released an awesome first look trailer for the upcoming season 12 of Supernatural. The teaser gives us a glimpse of Rick Springfield as Lucifer’s new rock star vessel, and Samantha Smith returning as Mary Winchester.

It looks like the beginning of the season will focus mainly on Dean and Mary trying to get Sam back. In the season 11 finale, a British faction of the Men of Letters shot and kidnapped Sammy.

Supernatural returns to The CW on Thursday, Oct. 13. Check out a gallery of premiere images below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Ben Affleck Discovers His Cruelty in First Trailer for ‘Live By Night’

By

Kris Solberg

-

September 9, 2016

Warner Brothers have released the first trailer for their upcoming flick Live By Night. Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, the film follows a group of criminals during the prohibition era.

Written, directed, produced, and starring Ben Affleck, the film’s January 13th release date makes it a strong awards contender. Affleck’s previous directorial effort Argo earned him his second Academy Award (best picture; first win was best screenplay for Good Will Hunting), though he is still chasing his first best director nomination.

Live By Night features an all-star cast including Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Cooper, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, and Scott Eastwood.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Song Review: Lady Gaga Releases “Perfect Illusion” [Listen Inside]

By

EJ Moreno

-

September 8, 2016

Pop Goddess Lady Gaga Comes Back With “Perfect Illusion”, Her First Single In Almost Four Years!

The fiery new single “Perfect Illusion” by Lady Gaga was just released and it’s already being hailed as one of her best songs. Featuring production by Mark Ronson, Kevin Parker, and BloodPop, the song is pop-influenced arena rock. With some of her strongest pop vocals to date, “Perfect Illusion” shows such growth in Gaga. Not only in her voice but her style and musical swagger.

Never one to fit into molds, Lady Gaga’s new song really stands out in the electronic-ruled pop music scene. Not only does this song feel new and inventive but also conjures feelings of 80’s rock ballads. This song is ready for the dance floor or to be sang along to drunk at a bar. Something only Gaga could do.

Check out the newest single below!

“Perfect Illusion” is off the still unnamed fifth studio album from Lady Gaga.

What do you think?

Let me know in the comments below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Lost ‘Doctor Who’ Episodes ‘Power of the Daleks’ Remade With Animation

By

Kieran Freemantle

-

September 8, 2016

Doctor Who is one of the longest running shows on television and unfortunately 97 episodes from the first six years of show’s run has been lost, Season 3 to Season 5 being the worst affected. One of the biggest being the six-episode arc ‘Power of the Daleks’. The BBC have now announced they are going to broadcast an animated restoration.

‘The Power of the Daleks’ was originally broadcast on November 5, 1966, but the master tapes were recorded over, a common practice for the period. The restoration is set to air on BBC One 50 years to the day of the original showing, as well as a special screening at the BFI Southbank in London. The restoration will be shown on BBC America November 12 and released on DVD on November 21.

‘The Power of the Daleks’ was the story arc that shows The Doctor regenerate for the first time, being Patrick Troughton’s first appearance as The Doctor. The storyline sees The Doctor and his companions Ben (Michael Craze) and Polly (Anneke Wills) arrive on a human colony on the planet Vulcan (no relations to Star Trek planet) and the Daleks are pretending to be servants of the colonists.

The restoration has been directed and produced by Charles Norton, working with the team that restored a lost episode of Dad’s Army that was released earlier this year. Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon, artists on the Doctor Who comics, have worked on the restoration. The restoration is based on film clips, storyboards, photographs and audio recordings featuring the original cast.

The restoration should be an exciting prospect for fans of the classic series as well as the modern show.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/corporate2/mediacentre/worldwide/2016/doctor-who-power-of-the-daleks

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Top 5 Moments From ‘Cyborg’: Rebirth #1

By

Anthony Wendel

-

September 8, 2016

SPOILER ALERT FOR CYBORG: REBIRTH #1

Victor Stone, the cybernetic Titan, is finally breaking out of team books and flying solo in his own series. Backed up by S.T.A.R. Lab in Detroit, Vic will have to prove he doesn’t always need backup to take down his opponents. These are the top five moments to come out of his Rebirth issue.

5. How I Met Your Mother

The issue takes the time to dive into Cyborg’s origin, and it goes far deeper than ever before, taking a moment to look back at when his parents met, fell in love, and got married. It offers a quiet little moment of escape from the action in the rest of the issue.

4. New Origin

As the issue continues to look into Cyborg’s past, his origin comes further into play. It’s shown before he became a hero, Victor’s father’s experiment was actually involving Boom Tube technology. This makes sense considering his father was originally working on a dimensional teleporter and the Boom Tube is the most well known teleportation system in the DC universe. It’s a small change but a welcomed one.

3. Sins Of The Father

As Cyborg finds what Malware had been searching for he discovers it was in fact his father’s notes from his previous experiments. In them he reveals his concerns for his actions with his son and his fear he has turned Victor into something which is less than human. His father’s concerns seem to hit him right in the gut and will no doubt haunt him as he heads into his new series.

2. The Collector

What lurks on the horizon for our hero? By the look of it, a madman who has aspirations to collect all the cybernetic characters in the DC universe. It’s unknown who this individual is but one thing is certain: He is going to be a problem in Cyborg’s life in the near future. With any luck it will result in some of the other cybernetic characters appearing in the series.

1. Cyborg Vs. Malware

Some moments are over in an instant. Other go on forever. The top moment from this issue came from the fight between Cyborg and Malware which took up a majority of the issue. The intense back and forth was perfect and really offered a great display of Cyborg’s ability and resolved. It easily was the best part of the entire issue and stole the number one stop on this list without difficulty.

—
What was your favorite moments from Cyborg: Rebirth #1? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube