It’s virtually impossible to keep up with the Netflix original programming these days. Ozark, their new crime thriller series starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, is the most recent example.
Check out this excellent trailer:
The Byrdes, husband and wife Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney), their teenage kids Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) — are for all intents and purposes an ordinary family. Ordinary save for Marty’s job: The top money launderer for the second largest drug cartel in Mexico.
That synopsis barely scratches the surface, judging from this tense, shockingly violent teaser. Ozark will be a 10-part series for Netflix, and it starts July 21.
The business model over at Netflix is certainly odd, or maybe it’s just new. The company churns out original programming faster than the entirety of the Hollywood studio system, and they have an incredible rate of success. Ozark looks to be right in my wheelhouse.
As much as I enjoy the sardonic Jason Bateman sense of humor, it’s always great to see him pop up in a serious role. He was aces in The Gift, and joining forces with the great Laura Linney only makes this better.
Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams are the creators of Ozark, and I am here for their show.
A part of modern gaming includes downloadable content (DLC) and Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) just released on big, bad addition called Morrowind. Of course, not all DLC is the same. Gamers have complained of companies selling half a game only to DLC players to death. While another DLC is lauded as an addition to the game that elevated the original to new heights. Where does Morrowind fall?
Morrowind isn’t easy on the wallet, but for the price, there is an enormous amount of content.
The easiest answer to this question complicates the discussion even more. Bethesda, publishers of the ESO, doesn’t call Morrowind a DLC but a “chapter.” Old school gamers might remember the days before DLCs when the best of the best games released “expansions.” Morrowind is an expansive addition to an already massive game. In modern terms, it’s a DLC, and it’s the kind of DLC that’s done right.
Most DLC add one particular significant aspect to the game; a new class, zone, or game mode. Morrowind does all three, plus a little more. And while the initial look at the price tag might turn your face into an emoji, always remember to weigh cost versus content.
If you only look at Morrowind as a $40 DLC, it’ll put a little fear into your wallet. However, this new chapter adds, at a minimum, 30 hours of story content in the form of new quests. Those quests take place around a new zone that’s bigger than any previous area before it. Exploring areas in Elder Scrolls is a few hours worth of gameplay in itself.
Morrowind doesn’t leave the PvP crowd out of the mix.
A new game mode called Battlegrounds creates fast-paced, FPS-style matches. Smaller, focused maps allow for three teams of four to wage war in Deathmatch and Capture the Flag games.
To explore this new zone and fight in the new game mode Morrowind introduces a new class: the Warden. As with the other classes of ESO, the Warden can play a variety of roles in a party. It all depends on how you build it and equip the character. But the class brings some fresh mechanics and effects to unleash fantasy chaos.
Layered into this DLC is the new sugar of the 21st century: nostalgia. Morrowind was the third solo Elder Scrolls game and one of the most loved. Morrowind for Elder Scrolls Online is a faithful recreation of that game with a twist. The lands in the original game are covered in ash after the Red Mountain erupted. Here, it’s centuries prior, and the mountain still sleeps. All the familiar places of the third game are there, but different.
Bad DLC will cost a lot and give little. Morrowind isn’t easy on the wallet, but for the price, there is an enormous amount of content. As with the rest of the acclaimed MMO, the quality of the product is also top-notch including the spot-on voice acting and lush graphics that’s a staple of the game.
Morrowind officially releases for PC, Mac, PS4 and Xbox on June 6th. Fans of the series and the MMO should not hesitate. And for new players, there’s no better time to transport yourself to the world of Nirn and begin looting and leveling until your heart’s content.
Baywatch does enough to overcome its flaws to deliver an action-rich laugh filled experience.
Summary
The film starts off on the beach during tryouts for the new Baywatch recruits. The leader of the squad, Mitch (Dwayne Johnson) is hell bent on putting this crew through the ringer. However, one of the recruits appears to be getting special treatment from Mitch’s boss. Matt Brody (Zac Efron) is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose mere presence could mean great publicity for a program the county commission believe is antiquated. Mitch eventually gets the commission to agree to Brody having to go through the same tryouts as everyone else (one that involves some highly unorthodox events). Predictably, Brody makes it as well as two other lifeguards recruits played by Alexandra Daddario and Jon Bass. The narrative quickly pivots from tryouts to finding out why drugs keep washing up on the beach. It appears that the deeper they dig into the drug issue, the more dead bodies begin to appear. Mitch suspects that real estate mogul Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra) is behind all of this. Matt thinks that this whole mess is best settled by the police.
What Worked
Damian Shannon and Mark Swift developed a narrative with a good sense of tone. If anyone (including critics) expected this picture to be anything other than a silly adaptation of a cheesy show from the 90’s, they obviously haven’t seen an episode of Baywatch.
Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson are oozing with chemistry on screen. Both actors appear to understand that their respective characters are extremely similar to their TV counterparts, with each interpretation being so over the top it’s hilarious.
When the narrative ventures into “R” rated territory, Baywatch is at its most hilarious. The scene in the morgue may be the funniest sequence in the film.
Elements in the production design added to the overall comedic value of Baywatch. Through a sequence of events, Matt ends having to sleep over at Mitch’s house on a cot right next to the fish tank. Mitch warns him that he’s always watching and as you are leaving we get a shot of a miniature fish tank version of Mitch watching Matt with binoculars.
What Didn’t Work
Why didn’t Seth Gordon go all in on making Baywatch the “R” Rated comedy we all anticipated seeing? The reason why Ted and Deadpool work so well is there is no ambiguity in the type of film it wanted to be. Watching the end credits, you just got the feeling that some of the more funnier moments of the film didn’t even make the final cut.
While it seemed the movie had plenty for Efron and Johnson’s characters to do, the rest of the supporting cast was severely ignored. Part of the storyline involves the hiring of three new lifeguards, two of which clearly belong on the squad and one named Ronnie (Jon Bass). It’s not hard to see that they were shooting for the punchline when writing in Ronnie making it on the squad. He’s goofy, pudgy, and manages to get his privates stuck in a beach chair. After we go through the first quarter of the film and Ronnie makes it as a trainee, he disappears into the background of the film. Why? Don’t ignore the guy who is generating as many laughs as Dwayne Johnson.
Priyanka Chopra should not have been cast as the main villain for the film. She looks amazing in the film but does nothing on screen that convinced me even 1% that she was the right pick.
Cameos! Why the need for Cameos?
Overall
Baywatch is the type of release that some critics will mercilessly bash because everyone is doing it. What baffles me is that these are the same people who, as I sat in the theater with them, were laughing hysterically at the film. How can you bash something that apparently you found entertaining enough to laugh? Are you really going to tell me something is the worst film of the summer when you clearly seemed to be enjoying yourself?
What did I think of Baywatch? While the film has its share of issues, I enjoyed watching it. Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson were a hell of a lot of fun on screen. When the film went into that “R” rated realm, it was hysterical. This film is a great date night film that will require little thought from the audience but will provide maximum enjoyment for all in the theater.
With E3 2017 right around the corner, I’ve decided to compile my predictions into an article filled with speculation, educated guesses, and anticipation. It should be noted that I’ve only chose to discuss developers that I am educated on or interested in. Apologies if your favorite dev isn’t on here, but feel free to talk about them in the comments section.
Microsoft
With Xbox launching Project Scorpio this year, I’m very interested to see what they show off. Considering that E3’s best moments come from game announcements, will Phil Spencer take note and put the emphasis on graphically intense multiplatform titles and exclusives, or will Scorpio steal the show?
To put it simply, both. I think Xbox will take too much time with Scorpio, however, the games will get spotlight as well. I expect focus to be on Sea of Thieves, Forza, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, and other 3rd party titles. With this said, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Spencer surprises fans with an exclusive new IP. Oh, and can we finally get a release date for Cuphead? That’s not a game you’d want to show off alongside Scorpio, but it has been in the works for years and fans are losing interest…fast.
Nintendo
2017 is Nintendo’s year to shine at E3. The Switch is off to a hot start, the games are on their way, and the future is bright, However, what games will actually be shown off?
Mario Odyssey will be the focal point of their show, with Splatoon 2, Xenoblade 2, and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle also getting some attention.
In terms of 3rd party announcements, I fully expect COD: WW2, this year’s Assassin’s Creed game, and some other sports titles to be announced for the system.
Now comes the fun discussion – what games will Nintendo reveal at E3? There are five franchise candidates, in my eyes, and I believe two or three of them will receive announcements: Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Metroid, Super Smash Bros. A deluxe version of SSB4 is a given at this point, but Metroid and Animal Crossing would also make a splash in the current gaming market.
Lastly on the Nintendo side of things, Virtual Console will be detailed, along with the company’s online service. I expect these features to be released at some point in July, to complement Splatoon 2.
Sony
Sony is gearing up for an extremely important E3. The company is winning the “console war” right now, but both competitors are making moves. Sony must keep the focus on games, and not Virtual Reality. If they do this, E3 2017 will be a success for them; however, if the mistake of talking too much about VR is made, this could be a blunder.
Games I expect to see shown off and playable include, but are not limited to, God of War, Days Gone, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part 2. Additionally, Death Stranding and Final Fantasy 7’s remake will be shown, but not playable or detailed.
An important aspect of Sony’s 2017 E3 is release dates. The Playstation 4 has a stacked lineup of games that have no release date, and this is the company’s chance to change that.
EA
Sports games, sports games, and more sports games. Fifa, NBA Live, and Madden will all get their annual installments. However, alongside these sports titles will be the titan known as Star Wars Battlefront 2, which is sure to be a controversial topic among gamers at E3.
Rockstar
With Rockstar’s recent delay of Red Dead Redemption 2, I am genuinely confused as to what their E3 plans are. Obviously the game will be there, but what other titles could we see? Only time will tell.
Activision
Activision is all about Destiny 2 this year, and for good reason. The game was announced recently and made a splash on the web almost immediately. The company seemingly fixed mistakes from the first game, ensuring that Destiny’s sequel will be sought out and anticipated among gamers that felt burned by the first title.
Ubisoft
Ubisoft’s show this year will have an emphasis on supporting Switch. The company has stated they want to be the lead 3rd party publisher on the hybrid console, and this will show through their E3 announcements. They’ll likely talk more about Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, but South Park, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry 5 will get attention too. Additionally, I have a feeling that the Beyond Good and Evil 2 rumor is true, and will be confirmed at this year’s show.
And the winner is…
This year’s E3 will likely go down as one of the best in years. With all three major companies bringing a slew of announcements, hardware, and other features to the table, who will come out as the winner? Ultimately, I think it’s between Nintendo and Sony. If both companies stick to their software and don’t waste time on other features, it will be a coin flip as to who “won”. However, given Nintendo’s marketing strategy over the last year, I feel that they understand their audience better and will deliver a better performance in 2017.
What predictions do you have for this year’s E3? Be sure to sound off in the comments section below.
E3 2017 takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 12-15.
You know that anxious feeling you get when you send an important text message or email? As you anxiously await a response, whether it be the one you wanted or bad news, your stomach slowly becomes the inside of a washing machine on spin cycle. Your chest gets tighter the longer you sit and assume the worst is on its way back to you.
Then all of a sudden, a response is waiting in your inbox. You’re so happy you got it that you don’t even want to open it right away. Waiting a little prolongs the wave of relief you feel that your time waiting is now over. No matter what you’re about to open, at least the wait is over, you can absorb it’s contents and carry it with you as you move forward in life.
That pretty much sums up the experience that takes place in between issues of Deadly Class. It’s so goddamned good.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Writer Rick Remender puts readers through an emotional adventure that continues to pay off the deeper into the series you get. Deadly Class #28 is a monumental payoff for fans with any semblance of a soul. Killing off the main cast almost entirely and replacing them with a new crop of freshman was bold, initially striking a harsher blow to readers than a well executed katana strike by Saya.
This dynamic creative duo shares the long-term chemistry that Marvel and DC are desperate for in the age of revolving creative teams.
This series started off simple enough, but the concept sucks you in right out of the gate and doesn’t let go. By the end of the first arc, Remender has readers eating out of the palm of his hand. Every relationship feels real, every conversation felt familiar, every action scene burned into your brain like a gruesome horror movie sequence you’ll never forget.
Artist Wes Craig deserves just as much credit, he breathes life into these characters. Even if you didn’t grow up in the 80s, these books serve as memories of your youth in an era you’ve only experienced through movies and stories from older folk. Taking the fondest years of your life and drenching them in glorious teenage assassin chaos. Every expression, environment, and movement in these panels deserves another moment of admiration before turning the page.
This dynamic creative duo shares the long-term chemistry that Marvel and DC are desperate for in the age of revolving creative teams. Deadly Class is a comic like no other, yet somehow feels like home from the very first issue. Not because we’ve been here before, but because this is an amalgamation of everything you want in an ongoing comic book.
In Deadly Class #28, we catch up with our favorite assassin couple that we long thought dead. Marcus and Maria are alive and well on a beach far from the school. Saya saved them, but finds herself in a deadly situation. She’s been betrayed and now finds herself held captive by her power hungry brother in Tokyo. Meanwhile at Kings Dominion, Shabnam and Grogda (our least favorite assassin couple) are meeting some resistance within the student council. Shab and Grog put the two “asses” in “assassin”.
Marcus is the most relatable teenage punk to ever grace the world of comic books for any reader who grew up in a tough spot. Remender made us think we had lost him, then once we’re all settled in to this new crop of kids he throws Marcus and Maria back into the mix. That’s a big pile of positivity and a healthy serving of joyous relief. Things are about to get complicated, the pulse of this book is picking back up in a hurry.
Willie also makes a comeback appearance as Marcus is apparently seeing him in his head. Another layer of juicy complexity wrapped around this already intricate character. Remender has also managed to completely redeem Saya, who was previously the ultimate betrayer.
This cast of characters is so well crafted that any and all growth they experience cannot simply be analyzed only during one’s time reading the issue. Dramatic narrative shifts warrant excessive diagnosis that takes place after having closed the issue.
Even the moment where Remender is clearly taking a shot at Marvel earns a reader smile and nod and not an eye roll. The man can do no wrong, it’s news to no one that he is one of the most brilliant writers in modern comic books.
Deadly Class is the kind of book that we all deserve, you just need to do yourself a favor and dive in. This creative team (Jordan Boyd’s colors as well) is firing on all cylinders in every issue.
Everything you could want in a series is present and so much more. As the series approaches 30 issues, let’s hope there’s no end in sight. Keep this book alive and share it with your friends. The comic book community deserves it.
Are you reading Deadly Class? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
With the Junkion invasion resolved peacefully, Optimus Prime takes a moment to plan the Autobots’ next move on Earth.
Writing
In the wake of an multi-issue storyline, it’s important to utilize a cool down issue. What’s a cool down issue you may be asking yourself? A cool down issue is when there isn’t much actions but instead there is a lot of drama as characters deal with recent events. Considering the last few issues had a global invasion, this is the perfect type of story to have here.
The issue shows how tension is high and a lot will be happening in the future. It’s nice to see Optimus Prime talking with the president of the United States in a calm and civil manner. There is a great chemistry as the two talk and comparing their pasts. Frankly, there has been too much of him having to act as a warrior instead a diplomat working towards peace. The entire purpose of this new series should be focusing more on Optimus and his new role with trying to keep the peace between the worlds and having actual meetings with leaders. It hasn’t happened in a few issues so it’s good to see them come back to this ideal. John Barber, the writer for the series, seems to have a plan and is preparing for what’s to come in the next arc.
Artwork
The artwork by Priscilla Tramontano is perfect in this issue. She has a very crisp style compared to previous issues which seems to help increase the relatively calm atmosphere which is taking place. This is the style of story she is ideal to work on. Though, not the ideal candidate for an action heavy issue, when the book calls for emotion and style, look Tramontano is the perfect article to call upon.
Conclusion
This is a good issue but the tease for the next one looks to top it. Jazz is set to address the world in a live interview and answer questions regarding how his actions resulted in the death of a cop. It could be very emotional comic and set how humans will view Transformers for years to come. Good luck Jazz, you’ll need it.
The excitement for ‘Wonder Woman’ is building and our dynamic duo wants to get you pumped as well. Matt and EJ accomplish this with a passionate discussion of the female-led action genre as they look back to the past and the possibilities of the future.
What is your favorite action film with a female lead?
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 123 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.
Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.
Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show? Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.
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’s 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.
Writer Nick Spencer’s Secret Empire has been making waves in the comic book world. The book that started it all, Captain America: Steve Rogers, continues the major narrative in between issues of Secret Empire. Hydra’s supreme leader addresses the media in issue #17 this week.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
The U.S. has been aggressively taken over by Hydra. Their supreme leader, Steve Rogers, has volunteered to do an interview and address the regime change.
He shares Hydra’s position on Inhuman camps, the sovereign Mutant territory, altering historical events, and the means by which this power was obtained. The only topic off the table is the crater he recently turned Las Vegas into.
This is exactly the tie-in issue that Secret Empire needed. Now that the concept has settled in and internet fools are up in arms, we get into the details of this event. Readers explore both what Steve shares to the public, and what actually happened.
Hydra Steve is most enjoyable the more he waves his Hydra flag. In the main event book, he’s showed some remorse and reluctance about what’s happening. In this issue, he’s all-in on Hydra propaganda and it’s highly entertaining.
The further Nick Spencer takes Steve Rogers away from his Captain America ideals, the more fun this event is. Despite misguided internet fan anger, Spencer should turn the Hydra knob to eleven and let his story reach its maximum potential.
Captain America: Steve Rogers #17 is a dark issue. Spencer gives readers a better look at what a Hydra takeover looks like, and it’s grim. On the surface, somehow Rogers has supposedly won over the public and people are more than willing to hail Hydra. Is this accurate or a symptom of Steve’s delirium?
How the world, and its superhuman champions, react to this new power will continue to be the driving force. We finally get to see how the mutants fit into this mess. The scene between Steve and Magneto is a powerful one.
Effectively taking mutants off the board and asking Magneto to stay in hiding is bold. Appointing Xorn as the mutant overseer isn’t going to sit well with the master of magnetism. One would imagine the mutant nation of New Tia won’t be silent forever.
Bringing in the reporter who previously humiliated Cap to conduct this interview pays off in a big way by issues end. Not only does Steve show how ruthless he can be, but also that he’s a bit petty as this was clearly a trap.
This characterization of supreme leader Rogers needs to be the standard for all Secret Empire books. The further committed to the concept, the more effective this experience will be in the end.
Regardless of how you feel about Cap ditching the stars & stripes, his villainy in Secret Empire is classic comic book entertainment. Nothing sticks forever, especially with knowing that Legacy is right around the corner. This is a story to be enjoyed while it lasts. Comic books are supposed to be fun after all, right?
This tie-in issue was mostly dialogue between seated characters. It’s a two-sided news report, filling us in on the details of a hostile takeover. It also wasn’t a boring read despite that. This was more exciting than any issue of Bendis’ Civil War II.
Nick Spencer may not be the best at handling scrutiny on Twitter, but he’s delivering a worthwhile Marvel event.
Where do you stand on Secret Empire? Let us know in the comments below!
HBO released the latest trailer for season 7 of the smash hit ‘Game of Thrones’ Wednesday afternoon, and who knew you could fit so much in 1:48!
The Battle lines are clearly drawn, we may know the players, but do they really know how epic the game will be?
Cersei furthers our understanding that the vibe in Kings Landing is that of “us versus the world” with a great monolog. While up North, Little Finger is stirring the pot as only Lord Baelish can.
Not to mention, we finally get a good look at a full-sized Drogan, who seems primed to do some serious damage to anyone who crosses “The Mother of Dragons” and her contingency.
Needless to say… Is it July yet?
The ‘Game of Thrones’ season premiere will air July 16, 2017, on HBO.
The Daily Show is a staple of news satire that’s been around for nearly 20 years. Many great comedians got their start along that road of political humor. Steve Carrell, John Oliver, Steven Colbert, and more broke through to stardom on the Comedy Central series. Hasan Minhaj is a current correspondent who’s making quite a name for himself. Hasan’s bits on The Daily Show lead to him headlining the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this year. Now, Minaj is the star of his first Netflix Comedy Special called Homecoming King.
Hasan takes viewers on a wild ride through his life.
From start to finish, Minaj is telling stories. The comic’s electric stage presence comes through with every word. Like a movie, the special has a running plot through it of the girl who could be called Hasan’s first love. It was in high school, and the girl was going to be Hasan’s “secret” prom date. The special night a secret to two influential people — Hasan’s parents.
Hasan takes viewers on a wild ride through his life. The prom date punctuates different parts with a new lesson for the comedian. Along the way, Hasan uses tweets and graphs on a giant screen behind him as visual aids. Sometimes, social becomes a brilliant punchline, like when Minhaj learns that his one-time prom date, now an adult, is dating another brown Muslim guy.
Perhaps nothing provides such power to this comedy special than Minhaj’s religion. As a Muslim, the comedian repeatedly reminds us of what that life is like, both good and bad. The special is a brilliant guide through a Muslim-American family life littered with many of the same tropes as most families. But the parts alien to non-Muslims are made real by Hasan’s performance.
One word best describes Homecoming King: spellbinding.
Homecoming King is a comedy special that could just as easily be called a one-man play. Hasan is not afraid to let the set becomes deeply emotional, like raw drama. Hasan tells heartbreaking moments of racism and failure. But also finishing stories with a happy ending provided by becoming a better person.
Director Christopher Storer stands out here as well which is rare for a comedy special. But his work accentuates the words of Hasan every step of the way. Sometimes it’s subtle, a close up of Hasan who carries the moment by looking right into the camera. But quick wide shots play as exclamation points to Hasan’s physical antics.
One word best describes Homecoming King: spellbinding. Hasan takes the reigns, and the ride is a vibrant journey through the comedian’s life. The trip includes Hasan’s audition for The Daily Show which was a near disaster.
Hasan is an American who happens to be Muslim who happens to be a nerd who happens to be on a television show. Hasan is also an insightful human who just delivered a comedy special that ranks as one of the best of the year and perhaps even the last few years.
