‘Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie’ Review: This Adaptation Is Both Fresh And Fun

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Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is a delightful adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s source material.

Summary

This animated feature centers around George (Kevin Hart) and Harold (Thomas Middleditch). They are the best of friends who spend most of their time pulling pranks on their unsuspecting teachers and creating stories for their absurd comic book Captain Underpants. Principal Krupp (Ed Helms) has spent the better part of the last few years trying to catch George and Harold in the act but to no avail. Eventually, they do get caught in the act (on videotape) sabotaging the invention competition. Principal Krupp’s dreams have come true and he decides to separate the two in hopes of sabotaging their friendship. In an effort to derail his plans, the boys attempt to hypnotize the principal. What they didn’t realize is their plans worked too well and not only did they hypnotize Principal Krupp, they have him believing that he’s their comic creation, Captain Underpants. While this is unfolding, an evil is lurking amongst in the form of the diabolical Professor Poopypants (Yes, that is his name and he’s voiced by Nick Kroll). Will George and Harold be able to undo the hypnosis that they have their principal under? Will Captain Underpants have to face off against Professor Poopypants?

What Worked

What made this movie fun was seeing how director David Soren and writer Nick Stoller brought Pilkey’s universe to life. They didn’t just rely on the strength of the principle characters. Soren and Stoller wrote strong comedic dialogue for secondary characters such as Melvin (The class snitch played by Jordan Peele) and Lunch Lady Edith (Kristen Schaal). Their talents combined with Hart, Helms, and Middleditch resulted in a more well-rounded experience.

There is a nice balance between the absurdity of the narrative and the heart behind this tale. Remember, this story is about two boys who don’t want their friendship to end.

Helms was an excellent choice to voice the principal. He has the range to play the “stuffy” principal as well as the overtop pantsless crime fighter.

Loved the use of sock puppets to connect different parts of the narrative with the source material.

The animation popped on the screen and held the audience’s attention, including my four-year-old son’s.

What Didn’t Work

At times it appeared to try just a tad too hard to hit on those tropes associated with superhero films. That was completely unnecessary. If they had stuck to just what they had developed and worried less about making Captain Underpants look absurd, the film would have been even stronger.

Overall

Overall, my thoughts on this film are quite brief (pardon the pun). There is a section of the audience that under no circumstances would be caught at any showing of Captain Underpants. However, if you are a parent and your child is between the 2nd and 5th grade, then this is your movie. Don’t confuse this release as high art. Dreamworks signed on for this project knowing full well that Pilkey had a core audience of readers that would most certainly pay to see this film. This weekend it didn’t stand a chance against Wonder Woman but did just enough to most certainly justify a sequel and that’s not a bad thing at all.

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Retro Review: Wonder Woman (2009) – A Fun Modernization of an Origins Story

By

Kieran Freemantle

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Wonder Woman has finally made it to the big screen in her first live-action solo film this week. However, it is not the only time she has led a film, starring in the 2009 direct-to-DVD animated film.

Centuries ago the Amazon warrior women went to war with the forces of Ares (Alfred Molina), the ancient Greek god of war. After a hard fought battle the Gods intervene, allowing the Amazons to hold Ares hostage and were given their own island so they no longer have to live with men.

Diana (Keri Russell), the daughter of Queen Hippolyta (Virginia Madsen) has been trained to be a skilled warrior but she has never seen the outside world. Her opportunity comes when a USAF pilot, Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion) crashes on Themyscira and she agrees to take him back to America. However, Ares escapes at the same time and becomes more powerful than ever. It’s up to Diana and Steve to save the world from the God of War.

The 2009 version of Wonder Woman is basically a modernization of the origins story, taking the character away from a historic conflict that’s ravaging the world. As an origins story, the animated film does a decent if unspectacular job. It follows the main origins plot points: Hippolyta makes a daughter out of clay and Diana being raised in isolation before Steve crashes on Themyscira – being the first man she ever sees.

Wonder Woman (2009) had plenty of talent working on the film: it was directed by Lauren Montgomery who directed Superman/Doomsday, Green Lantern: First Flight and Batman: Year One, comic-book writer Gail Simone co-wrote the story with Michael Jelenic and the overseeing of all things animated for DC, Bruce Timm, produced the film. There was also an impressive voice cast, featuring stars like Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson and Oliver Platt as well as veteran voice actors like Tara Strong (Bubbles from Powerpuff Girls) and John DiMaggio (Futurama’s Bender). And their talents weren’t wasted: Montgomery keeps to the Timm character designs that he used in his Superman and Justice League shows and there was a fluidity in the action scenes as Wonder Woman uses her fists and weapons to do battle.

Wonder Woman was originally created by William Moulton Marston with the aim of being a positive role-model for girls. But he was also keen on bondage scenes with the heroine which are not particularly politically correct today. By moving Wonder Woman’s origins to the modern day she got to act as a critic of attitudes towards women: she was a woman raised to be a strong, smart warrior and when she comes to America sees various forms of chauvinism and stereotypes: she makes a stand against these. Wonder Woman acted as the feminist icon she’s meant to be.

The Wonder Woman series is also heavily influenced by Greek mythology and the movie does a fine job at modernization the mythology. Ares grows more powerful when there is violence around him – which leads to the people around him becoming more violent: it’s a vicious circle. Oliver Platt’s Hades was a delight – being sly, cunning and self-serving. Although he was only in the film briefly, Hades plays the Gods against each other and it would have been great to see more of him.

Due to the fact that Wonder Woman (2009) was a direct-to-DVD movie, it was more violent than its TV series counterparts – a fair amount of blood is shed and characters get decapitated. One of the most effective is when Ares raises dead Amazonians to fight against their living sisters and if any Amazonians fall in the battle turned into a zombie.

Whilst Fillion is an actor with a fanbase he was made to quip like he was in a Joss Wheldon project but with dialogue that isn’t as well written. When he first met Diana and the Amazonians he was made out to be a bit sleazy.

Wonder Woman (2009) is excellent preparation for the live action film and it makes interesting reinterpretation of the character’s origins. It’s worth checking for people who enjoy superhero adaptations.

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Review: ‘It Comes At Night’ Is An Insomniac’s Worst Nightmare

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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We’re in a Renaissance of horror films right now. Over the past few years, we’ve gotten The Babadook, Get Out, Hush, The Witch, and those are just some of the ones that you’ve probably heard of. Indie filmmakers are throwing the old tropes out the window and providing quality, original content, reminding fans why they fell in love with the genre in the first place. And A24 is killing it as a company right now, backing and distributing a ton of these modern cult classics. Their latest project, Trey Edward Shults’ It Comes At Night, hits theaters this weekend. Does it continue their hot streak?

It Comes At Night centers on a family holed up in their home as a virus ravages the world. After deciding to take in a second family of strangers, fear and paranoia rear their ugly heads. The nature of man is put to the test as tensions rise.

This is horror/mystery at its best. Shults sets up a million questions in his second feature film, and while a few are answered, the majority are left unresolved. The mystery’s not just in the script either, but in more subtle places like the set design. This uncertainty and fear of the unknown is what delivers the most terror in It Comes At Night. Plus, the other usual suspects of horror (striking imagery, a haunting score) are all present and accounted for as well.

Beware this film if you’re afraid of small spaces, because it’s one of the most claustrophobic movies that has come out in a long time. The setting is full of tight spaces and thin hallways, and the use of darkness just makes it feel even smaller. If that wasn’t enough, Drew Daniels’ cinematography amps up the tension tenfold. Daniels packs It Comes At Night with close ups, long takes, and slow camera movements. Even in larger spaces, like outdoors, the audience feels trapped thanks to stellar camerawork.

This flick fires on all cylinders to scare its audience, but again, its most terrifying element in the theme of uncertainty. Who hasn’t lain in bed at night worrying about the unknown? Shults preys on this intrinsic fear. He makes the audience doubt everything and everyone. At certain points, it’s not even clear what is real and what is a dream. He then drops the ultimate bomb: what happens when we let that paranoia get the best of us? Who do we become?

Perhaps the biggest concern with a film like this is the pacing. Even a critically acclaimed horror movie like The Witch had people complaining that it dragged on before getting to its big payoff at the end. And let’s be honest, sometimes indie horror films get too lost in their message and forget to be actually scary. It Comes At Night does not have this problem. Sure, the story has its lulls, but it never feels boring. Again, that mystery element, coupled with several intense “thriller” scenes, keeps viewers hooked and engaged for the full 91 minutes.

The Bottom Line

Horror fans rejoice, because It Comes At Night is everything you want in a film. It tells a deep story about trust and paranoia, something that is scarily relevant in 2017, while still being purely entertaining. The perfect balance confirms that Trey Edward Shults is a filmmaker to keep an eye on, and makes It Comes At Night perhaps the best horror film of the year so far.

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‘Wonder Woman’ Is On Track For A $200 Million Worldwide Opening

By

EJ Moreno

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June 4, 2017

To Think That ‘Wonder Woman’ Was Once Projected At $65 Million!

It’s undeniable now that ‘Wonder Woman‘ is a hit. About a month before the release, the domestic box office projections had ‘Wonder Woman‘ bringing in $65 million. When the early critic reactions started to pour in, the interest began to rise and so did the projections. About a week before the release, the numbers topped $90 million. Now as the opening weekend comes to a close, the world can’t get enough of the DC superhero. At the time of writing, ‘Wonder Woman‘ already has a worldwide box office opening of $223 million. $100 million domestic with $112 million foreign, according to Box Office Mojo.

With one day left in the weekend, ‘Wonder Woman‘ passes the $200 million worldwide mark. While ‘Batman v Superman‘ brought in $420 million worldwide, this number is still impressive for the DC Extended Universe. Without the cinematic staples of Batman or Superman, many pegged this film as an underdog. The Amazon warrior and her director Patty Jenkins proved people wrong on many levels.

Not only is this a record-breaking weekend for female superheroes but also for a female director. Patty Jenkins’ ‘Wonder Woman‘ broke the record for biggest domestic opening for a female, a record previous held by Sam Taylor-Johnson. This is easily the biggest opening for a female superhero movie, as the likes of ‘Catwoman‘, ‘Elektra‘, ‘Tank Girl‘, and even ‘Ghost in the Shell‘ can’t hold a candle to this. It isn’t just beating out other females out the box office; ‘Wonder Woman’ is giving the boys a run for their money. The domestic opening is already well beyond the numbers of the first ‘Iron Man‘ ($98.6M). It’s also only $16 million short of surpassing the DCEU launching pad ‘Man of Steel‘($116M).

Have you seen ‘Wonder Woman‘? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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‘Stranger Things’ Season 2 Wraps Production

By

Aric Sweeny

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June 4, 2017

Director of photography for Stranger Things season two, Tim Ives, confirmed that the show has wrapped production via Instagram.

And best award I could ever hope to get! HaPpY LaSt DaY of FiLmInG on this Epic Season 2 of STRANGER THINGS!!!!!!!! ❤️ our Cast & Crew!!!!!

A post shared by Tim Ives (@timives) on Jun 3, 2017 at 7:19am PDT

Additionally, Millie Bobby Brown posted an update.

Last night of shooting. Sadie I love you with all my heart. Finn thank you for making me laugh! Gaten, thank you for being there for me throughout everything. Caleb, my older brother thank you for protecting me no matter what! And Noah, thank you for being my partner in crime ❤️ can't wait for everyone to see this season as it's epic! This wouldn't have happened without the crew!

A post shared by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobbybrown) on Jun 2, 2017 at 10:48pm PDT

Are you looking forward to season two of Stranger Things? Sound off in the comments below.

The season is slated to premiere this Halloween, on October 31.

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What is Microsoft’s Strategy With Project Scorpio?

By

Aric Sweeny

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June 4, 2017

E3 2017 is right around the corner; Nintendo is showing off all things Switch, Sony is bolstering their library of Playstation 4 games, and Microsoft…is showing off a beefed up Xbox One and treating it as their saving grace? That’s sure what it seems like to me.

Okay, so before I get into my thoughts, predictions, and strategy on Microsoft’s E3 and immediate future, here’s the breakdown. Last year, the company announced Project Scorpio, a new, updated version of their Xbox One console that boosts six teraflops and will run games natively at 4k. It’s set to be the most powerful console by far, and Microsoft is finally showing the piece of tech off at this year’s E3.

Internet chatter tells me that fans think this is Microsoft’s chance to get an edge over Sony and Nintendo in the console “war”, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

The last Xbox One sales data I could find stated the console sold 26 million units by January of this year. Assuming the system stayed on pace with that, let’s say it’s sold 30 million consoles thus far. Why would a high-in-price, beefed up version of the One boost sales by much? Scalebound is no more, the Fable series is dead, and Microsoft is seemingly scrambling for any 1st party titles they can get. The company already confirmed no Halo 6 at E3 2017, so that can’t be relied upon for a spike; Cuphead looks awesome, but it’s not exactly the game you’d want to see highlighted on a 4K console.

My point in writing this comes down to the fact that I want Microsoft to succeed. I enjoyed my Xbox 360, but sold my Xbox One two years after purchasing it. On the contrary, I picked up a Playstation 4 a few months ago. If the company wants to do well in the current gaming market, graphics can’t be the only appeal. As we’ve seen with Nintendo and the rising indie scene, graphics are not the priority for the majority of gamers.

Banking solely upon the Scorpio’s capability to run 3rd party titles like COD WW2, Destiny, and Star Wars Battlefront 2 in 4K will result in a sputter of sales that Xbox fanboys will have to accept. Throw in the fact that the console won’t be cheap, as stated by Phil Spencer, and I think you’ve set yourself up for mediocre sales at best.

With all this said, however, I go back to my original point: impress me, Microsoft. Although I have a preconceived opinion on their newest hardware, I’m keeping an open mind and am excited to see what they show not only at E3 2017, but in the months leading up Scorpio’s launch.

Are you excited for Project Scorpio? Do you think it will be a success? Sound off in the comments below.

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Great Lakes Brewery: Octopus Wants to Fight IPA – A Fightin’ Review

By

Michael Bedford

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Great Lakes Brewery, Canadian Brewery of the Year for three of the past four years, with their uniquely named beers — Pompous Ass English Pale Ale, Karma Citra IPA, Canuck Pale Ale, Robohop, and My Bitter Wife IPA to name a few — added a new brew to their menu back in 2015. And, in keeping with tradition, this one has an odd name as well, Octopus Wants to Fight IPA.

I’ve reviewed four other beers from Great Lakes Brewery and only one of them, Winter Ale, doesn’t have a flashy name. But luckily, these beers are tasty as well as flashy. Frequent readers of my reviews know that unfamiliar IPAs draw me in. And, with eight arms, this fighting octopus drew me in quickly.

Great Lakes Brewery: Octopus Wants to Fight IPA – First Sip

Octopus Wants to Fight IPA pours a very cloudy light-orange colour with a 1/2 an inch of head that sticks around at the top of my glass. I smell notes of citrus and grass as I take my first sip. I brace myself for the overpowering strength of this brew’s 88 IBUs, but find it surprisingly well-balanced, strengthening in bitterness on the finish. With lots of foam but lazy bubbles, this IPA has a has a smooth and somewhat thick mouthfeel that provides a great vehicle for its bitter aftertaste.

Great Lakes Brewery: Octopus Wants to Fight IPA – Last Sip

At 6.2% ABV in 473-mL cans, one Octopus Wants to Fight is probably enough. But, with lots of flavour and character, you don’t need to drink many to get a sense of what this brew is all about. GLB’s website recommends drinking this beer as a companion to a plate of calamari. And, though I’m a big fan of fried squid, less seafood-inclined folks would probably enjoy this brew alongside just about any fried food. This brew’s bittersweet flavour works very well with just about anything battered.

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Exclusive: DC Comics’ Dan DiDio Takes on Nerd Rage (MegaCon 2017)

By

Matthew Sardo

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June 3, 2017

While at MegaCon in Orlando, Dan DiDio, the Co-Publisher of DC Comics talked with Monkeys Fighting Robots about the evolution of his career and what DC Comics has done to combat nerd rage.

‘Listen, you’re always going to have nerd rage. The worst part of nerd rage for me is how it affects the talent. I don’t care about myself, my job is to run block. You know, and that’s your job. As a corporate executive, your job is to protect your talent. But my fear is always, is the talent too much affected by what people say? They’re hungry for that instantaneous feedback and it’s not really a clear representation of the market of what people really enjoy. It’s just the people who are the most aggravated speaking the loudest,’ said DiDio.

‘The goal is to find a way to get people to tune that out and be true to their storytelling, be true to who they are, and believe in your material. Don’t be afraid to tell your stories. Don’t be afraid of what people may say, trust yourself, trust your own instincts, believe in what you’re doing,’ said DiDio.

‘What we do is we plan things out, we plan it in advance, and so people might not like what we’re doing at that moment, but we know it’s on a long-term plan. So you can’t switch it or else the whole thing falls apart. You just got to believe in your stance and if it doesn’t work you gotta own up to it. You have to admit to your mistakes and there’s nothing wrong with that either. The fan base is also very forgiving. The get very outraged sometimes, but they’re also very forgiving and if you understand that, and know that we’re always trying that’s a key thing.,’ said DiDio.

‘I think people have to understand that nobody goes out of their way to make a bad book. That’s not the plan, it happens in the course of business. The goal is to try to make the best books possible and the great part about our business is it’s periodical. So you’re always constantly making more and you always have the next month to fix it and that’s what we do,’ said DiDio.

You may not like every move DiDio has made in his time at DC Comics, but you have to respect the man’s passion for the artform. He always brings excitement to the DC panels that’s intoxicating and gets you pumped. At MegaCon this past year, Marvel could have used some of that spirit as the tone of its panels were vastly different.

Watch the complete Dan DiDio interview:

What do you think of DiDio’s remarks? Comment below.

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Anime Review: Death Parade

By

David Harada

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June 3, 2017

We all wonder what is after death, that is the reason why that many try to live their life to the fullest. Yet many of us face regret, but being able to face the missteps would mean more than the world. Death Parade, acts as a so-called god, determining whether or not the recently deceased get a second chance at life or heading towards hell.

Take Part in the Death Parade

After death, humans are sentenced
to a fate of reincarnation or the void. This is all dependent on an arbiter by the name of Decim. As the deceased make their way to the arbiter they enter the bar Quindecim, where Decim is in charge. A game is to be played in order for Decim to make a decision as to who deserves reincarnation and who will be sentenced to hell.

Short Stories to Remember

Death Parade is a short story based anime for the most part. Besides one part being a consistent part of the plot, the majority was different stories across the series. Some were touching while others disturbing crossing many points across the spectrum of entertainment. This being said, it strays from the stereotypical anime that are released every season. That always wins points for me since it tries something new, which is fairly rare in Japan. That being said, it does it well, creating interesting stories for the viewer to enjoy from start to finish.

Verdict

Death Parade seems to have it all, whether it be romance, action, etc. It almost feels that the series had more potential than its allotted amount of episodes and that is where it falls short. Because of this, it doesn’t constitute as anywhere near a masterpiece. Instead, it is an enjoyable anime that everyone should take some time out to watch.

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Review: Gundam Thunderbolt Episode 7

By

Jahmssen Ruiz Castaneda

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June 3, 2017

Gundam Thunderbolt

I watched Gundam Thunderbolt Episode 7 earlier and I have to say it keeps getting better and better. We finally got to see what Darryl has been up to and it’s simply heartbreaking. If you haven’t watched the episode yet, what are you waiting for? Spoilers are going to follow.

Love

I always found Darryl Lorenz to be the weaker of the two protagonists, until this episode. We see that while Io is flashier and an all-around cool guy, Darryl plays the calmer more technical role. Their personalities are even reflected in their choice of music. Io loves chaotic jazz while Darryl is into smoother pop songs. I know it was shown in the first season, but seeing it again just makes the point pop in my mind even more.

Part of what makes Darryl so interesting is his love for Karla and having her regressing to a little girl just complicates it all. Oh, she also sees him as her dad. Talk about messed up chances.

Io also got his share of emotions. His playful banter with Bianca was cute and they’re so alike it’s ridiculous. It wasn’t just good feelings though. Seeing Claudia again was a punch to the gut. I’m a bit confused as to how exactly she managed to survive but I’m sure it’ll all be explained in due time.

Before we proceed anywhere else, I have to stop and just mention the music played. It’s such a detached mood to what is shown on the screen but I love it. It creates this dissonance and makes us think that maybe everything is going to be alright, even though we know it probably won’t. The songs are really good though and I especially liked that intro scene between Darryl and Karla. Everything’s so upbeat only for us to find out that Karla is mentally damaged. Great.

As that one soldier dude told Darryl though, maybe it’s best for everyone involved for Karla’s memories never to come back.

It wouldn’t be a Gundam show if everything went according to plan though, would it?

Gundam Thunderbolt Darryl Lorenz and Karla — Beautiful shot.

Guerilla tactics

It amazes me how much story is crammed into 20 minutes. I thought this would deal only with Darryl’s relationship with Karla but they somehow threw in a spy rescue operation in the mix.

Part of what makes the mobile suits scene stand out so much to me is the technology used. We actually get to see how things actually work.

There were a lot of great moments, some of which were the South Seas Alliance showing their weapons. Amalgamations of broken Zeon and Earth Federation machines makes them seem like more of a living dead division than the actual group. It was great seeing them come in on motorcycles and cars and shooting rockets at the Zeon Acguys.

The SSA is so basic, it’s scary.

The standout moment was when the Newtype jingle rang for Billy Hickam moments before the enemies showed up. The kid is kind of rude but those Newtype abilities more than make up for it.

Gundam Thunderbolt Billy Hickam — Billy came off as rude in the first few episodes, but he showed why he’s on the team.

High hopes

To conclude this episode was great and I can’t wait for the finale next month. If there’s one thing to complain about with Thunderbolt, it’s how few episodes there are. On my last review, I said the wait was bearable but I lied. Let’s just see where Darryl, Io, Bianca, Claudia, and everyone else end up.

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