DC on CW: Week in Review – ‘Arrow’ Is Back In The Hood

By

-

May 16, 2017

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, “City of Lost Children” (May 8)

James Olsen realizes how much it stinks to be a super sidekick on a CW show. He’s bummed out that no one’s in love with Guardian (though that’s partially because his voice modulator apparently allows for ZERO vocal inflection). Finally, in this episode, James gets to spend some time as James. He helps coach an alien boy to track down his villainous mother. It’s confusing how the portal drove the aliens psycho, but it kicked off an exciting war time for Supergirl & friends. Now, Rhea will get to do more villainy beyond deleting Kara’s number from Lena’s phone. Which, by the way, did Rhea think that would somehow stop Kara and Lena being friends? As far as evil plots go, that is almost as dumb as the latest episode of The Flash.

SCORE: 7.5/10 Exploding Milkshakes

The Flash, “Cause And Effect” (May 9)

This episode is so confusing it made me feel like I had amnesia. Certainly, “Bart” was a fun way to break up the Savitar-Iris-Flashpoint drama. The explanation of how Savitar’s a Time Remnant also makes some sense. But how did erasing Barry’s memory wipe the memory of Savitar? Can Savitar feel everything Barry does? How does Savitar losing his memory de-power Kid Flash? Why was Barry the only one who could prove the arsonist – who did not wear a mask – was an arsonist? Was Caitlin’s thing always brain science? How do Cisco’s teleprompter glasses get destroyed by A SINGLE DROP OF SWEAT? CW lets The Flash be fun, but it also lets it get too dumb.

SCORE: 6.5/10 High School Photos

Arrow, “Honor Thy Fathers” (May 10)

The Green Arrow is finally back in his hood! I wasn’t sure what he would call himself without the mask, since Vigilante is taken. While that character is still absent, Thea Queen and Dolph Lundgren return to the show this week. Oliver and Thea fret about revealing their father’s tainted legacy – forgetting that both of them are former partiers and drug addicts, I guess? Rene’s custody plot line seems to end with him ducking out, which is hopefully because if he was kidnapped. If he just wussed out, that will be really agitating. We’ve been deprived of fun ass-kicking Wild Dog for too long. Prometheus is “beaten,” but there’s no way he’s actually been beaten. Don’t forget his conversation with young William Queen. Chase definitely has more up his sleeves than throwing stars.

SCORE: 7/10 Chemicals

WEEKLY WIN TALLY:

Supergirl: 8 Weeks

Arrow: 7 Weeks

The Flash: 5 Week

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!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Meet Dr. Hyde in This New Featurette for ‘The Mummy’

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

May 16, 2017

The Mummy is going to be one batshit crazy summer movie, potentially launching a new universe of Universal Monsters. And in this new featurette we meet the architect of this new world, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and his evil alter ego, Mr. Hyde.

Check this out, and let me know if you have any more confidence in this thing:

It looks like the only difference between Jekyll and Hyde here are some cool amber contacts. They seem to have an abundance of them on The Mummy set.

Aside from the Hyde introduction, we learn a little more about The Mummy and what is going to happen in this launchpad movie. It doesn’t instill much confidence in me that this will be anything worth remembering once the summer ends. On the other had, it might be just too wild to ever forget, but I doubt it will be legitimately good. Hopefully it will be better than two of the three Brendan Fraser movies.

I’m also a little confused as to why Jekyll is even involved. He wasn’t a traditional Universal Monster, but that’s probably one question too many for this thing.

The Mummy stars Crowe as Jekyll, Tom Cruise of course, Annabelle Wallis, and Sofia Boutella as the title character. We will see what this all looks like on June 9.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Robert Pattinson is Unrecognizable in This Trailer For A24’s ‘Good Time’

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

May 16, 2017

Following his career as a sparkly vampire in the Twilight movies, Robert Pattinson has made it his goal in life to challenge himself in weird and offbeat roles in smaller films. Case in point: A24’s new crime thriller, Good Time.

Check out this awesome trailer:

Pattinson is almost unrecognizable here as a crook looking to bail his brother out of jail following a botched robbery, one for which he was clearly responsible on some level. Since Twilight, Pattinson has worked with David Cronenberg a couple of times, he starred in the terrific Australian road thriller The Rover, and most recently starred alongside Charlie Hunnam in the massively underrated Lost City of Z. The guy has the goods, and he may never be recognized for it. But I don’t think he cares.

Robert Pattinson is a great actor. There, I said it.

Jennifer Jason Leigh also pops up in this trailer, and Barkhad Abdi is there too. The rest of the cast looks green. Good Time is directed by the Safdie Brothers, who directed the 2014 indie drama Heaven Knows What.

It will open August 11.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘Battle of The Sexes’ Trailer: Emma Stone, Steve Carell Square Off On The Tennis Court

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

May 16, 2017

Battle of the Sexes, the new movie telling the story of a tennis match between stars Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, has a new trailer. It stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell as the dueling tennis pros, but it looks like the movie is more about their lives than the match.

Check it out:

The 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) became the most watched televised sports event of all time. Trapped in the media glare, King and Riggs were on opposites sides of a binary argument, but off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. With her husband urging her to fight for equal pay, the private King was also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, while Riggs gambled his legacy and reputation in a bid to relive the glories of his past.

This looks pretty interesting, and it seems to have a little more on its mind than a simple tennis showdown. It also has an added bit of weight as its Stone’s follow up to her Oscar win. Not to mention the two actors are dead ringers for their real-life counterparts.

Battle of the Sexes is directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, and it opens September 22.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Happy 88th Birthday To The First Ever Academy Awards aka The Oscars

By

Ruben Diaz

-

May 16, 2017

On May 16th, 1929, the first ever Academy Awards show was held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It was so long ago that Oscar wasn’t even born yet. The event was held at a smoke-filled Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in LA. Maybe it wasn’t smoke-filled, but it’s a very 1930s noir image and smoking was a pretty cool thing to do back then. Lung cancer be damned! The Oscars are a spectacle today, but they weren’t back then.

Let’s look at The Oscars, then and now!

1ATTENDANCE

Then: It cost $5 for a ticket (roughly $69 today) and was open to anyone. 275 people attended the ceremony which spread across 36 tables.

Now: The average price of a ticket is $500 and is practically unavailable since studios buy a majority of them. Ticket sales are also not open to the public. So, the event today is basically by invite only as Chappelle talks about in his Netflix special.

2CEREMONY

Then: All twelve awards were handed out in fifteen minutes. The winners were announced three months earlier, too, meaning the event was strictly a formality.

Now: There are 24 awards now. The ceremony takes four hours, plus a few hours of pre-show, plus a few weeks of hype between the nominations and the actual show.

3AWARDS

Then: Emil Jennings won Best Actor for two different movies. Janet Gaynor was awarded best actress for three films. There was a Best Director award given for drama and comedy, much like today’s Golden Globes.

Charlie Chaplin AND Warner Brothers each received honorary awards. Chaplin for his body of work and sheer awesome. Warner Brothers for The Jazz Singer and pioneering “talkie” films.

Now: Casey Affleck won for Manchester By The Sea, a film which likely contributed to many suicides. Emma Stone won for La La Land. One film each. That’s how it works today.

4BEST PICTURE

Then: The award didn’t exist. Wings won for Outstanding Picture while Sunrise won Unique And Artistic Picture. The following year, The Academy turned Outstanding Picture into Best Picture and scrapped the Unique and Artistic Picture award. So, in a bit of tricky trivia, the first ever Best Picture in Oscars history is Wings OR Sunrise.

Now: In 2017, no such confusion goes on. Well, except for an inept Academy employee who handed the wrong envelope to the presenters. In what is likely to be one of the most remembered moments in Oscars history, La La Land was announced as Best Picture, but it was quickly corrected. Instead, Moonlight was the official winner. You could say that La La Land won the Unique and Artistic Picture award.

5RATINGS

Then: ZERO. The first Academy Awards was not broadcast on TV, mostly because TV didn’t even exist yet. The ceremony was also not broadcast on the radio.

Now: Thirty million viewers in the United States alone and billions of views of clips online. Television broadcast networks once fought over rights to air the show. However, no network has aired it more than ABC with 52 out of 65 shows. It’s a spectacle in an age of spectacle.

6OSCAR

Then: The award wasn’t known as the Oscar. It was the object given to winners and was merely the Academy Award of Merit or statue.

Now: The Academy Awards, as of 2012, doesn’t even exist anymore as AMPAS officially re-branded as The Oscars. And yet, the history of why they even call the award “Oscar” in the first place is still a mystery. The story includes a journalist, librarian, and Walt Disney. It’s the kind of story that needs a movie.

‘Chaos Walking’ To Start Filming This Summer

By

Jamesey Lefebure

-

May 16, 2017

Patrick Ness has confirmed that “Chaos Walking” will begin filming this summer. In a tweet that has filled his fans with joy, the author has confirmed two of the stars of the movie and a director.

The upcoming film, which will be directed Doug Liman (Bourne Identity, Mr & Mrs. Smith) is being made through Lionsgate Entertainment. Furthermore, series author Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls) is co-writing the script with the assistance of John Lee Hancock (Snow White and The Huntsman) and Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich).

“War makes monsters out of men”

An adaption of the first book in the Chaos Walking Trilogy – The Knife Of Never Letting Go. Chaos Walking is set on the distant planet known as New World. The planet has been colonized a generation before by settlers looking for a better life. Upon arrival a mysterious virus is simply known as “The Noise” has affected all the men on the planet, making all their thoughts audible. As a result, chaos ensued and a war was waged on the indigenous population The Spackle. The resulting war sadly killed all females on the planet.

A depiction of “noise” in The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

Protagonist Todd is the youngest person in the male only settlement of “Prentiss Town”. With his 13th birthday looming, he has begun to question the way of life. However when he stumbles on a silent young girl hiding in the woods; Todd begins an adventure to the heart of New World. Joining forces with his dog Manchee and Viola the three must face sacrifice and heartache as they try to find Viola’s people. The trio must also face up to a nefarious Mayor and give New World the hope that it once promised.

Tom Holland has been confirmed as Todd Hewitt, the main character of the trilogy who is a naive and headstrong young man. Daisy Ridley will star as Viola Eade, the only woman left on the planet.

Whilst it is unknown if Lionsgate plans to release the full Chaos Trilogy. Ultimately Ness’s announcement is certainly a step in the right direction. With shooting happening this summer we can expect a 2018 release for the movie. Do you agree with the casting choices? Who would you love to see cast as Mayor Prentiss or Todd’s parents? More importantly – who should voice Manchee? Let us know in the comments below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘War For The Planet of the Apes’ Final Trailer Released

By

Aric Sweeny

-

May 16, 2017

20th Century Fox has dropped the newest, and final, trailer for War for the Planet of the Apes. Watch it down below.

“In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.”

The film is directed by Matt Reeves and stars Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller, Karin Konoval, Judy Greer and Terry Notary.

War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on July 14.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘Will & Grace’ – Watch The 5 Minute Reunion Trailer!

By

Jamesey Lefebure

-

May 16, 2017

NBC have dropped a five-minute trailer for the return of their hit show ‘Will & Grace.’

First and foremost the trailer is a fantastic reminder of why we loved this show, to begin with. It’s got sass, humor, and an amazing musical number! Secondly, it’s a solid return of very familiar characters.

https://youtu.be/TY10pANm4eM

Kicking off with stars Eric McCormack and Debra Messing in the NBC offices after agreeing to return to the show, Debra tells Eric that she isn’t sure she wants to get involved as she doesn’t have the time. ‘All you do is Instagram,’ jokes Eric.

As a result of one joke, the show has set its tone. From Will’s sucking up to an off-screen producer to Grace stealing sweet and magazines from the NBC offices. This is quintessential “Will & Grace”. ‘They’re free, like at the doctors’. She hisses when Will questions her.

Entering a lift, to show her ‘something else’ the action swaps to the set of their shared apartment. The nostalgia from seeing the set is instant. As Will tries to appease Grace’s fears that there’s nothing to be afraid of, he pulls the blankets off a couch to find fan favorite Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) who’s feeling fresh off the back of ten-year power nap.

“What if something fundamental has changed?”

Ultimately by posing the question in the trailer, the cast address the elephant in the room. What if the show isn’t as funny as it used to be? The truth is times have changed since “Will & Grace” left screens in 2006. However, it’s when Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) bursts into the apartment making jokes about Air B+B, we are reassured that whilst times have changed, the characters we have grown to love haven’t. The refreshingly familiar humour and well-loved characters are just how we remember them. Closing with a musical number the trailer has managed to set the tone of the new 12 episode season.

“Will & Grace” aired from 1998 to 2006 on NBC. Totaling over 200 episodes the show focused on the tempestuous friendship between a straight woman and a gay man. With support characters Jack and Karen often stealing the spotlight, the show was at heart about the importance of friendship. Ultimately the trailer has reminded viewers why we fell in love with these characters, to begin with. Furthermore, after an 11-year absence, it’s made us eager to watch new adventures.

‘Will & Grace’ will return to NBC this fall. How excited about the return are you? What’s your favorite moment from the show? Let us know in the comments below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: Hang ‘Over The Edge’ With ‘Archie’ #20

By

Manuel Gomez

-

Archie Andrews has started to work things out with his girlfriend, Veronica Lodge and slavage his friendship with ex Betty Cooper. In fact Betty and him have started fixing his grandfather’s old mustang. But Archie and Reggie Mantle’s ongoing feud reaches a dangerous level that pitches the two Riverdale rivals against each other in a deadly race on Serpent’s Tail! Will the usual peaceful town become a place of tragedy? And will these two ‘frienemies’ finally cross a line that one of them may never come back from?

Archie #20
Over The Edge Part 1
Written: Mark Waid
Art: Pete Woods
Lettering by: Jack Morelli
Published by: Archie Comics

The new Archie title has really been a revelation in the industry. Writer Mark Waid has made the Riverdale gang modern and urgent, but still recognizable and relatable to classic fans. And although the title has never crossed over into outright melodrama, serious story beats and themes have definitely been worked in. And now we have what seems to be one of the most serious and timely stories the book has tackled before. But does it work? The answer is yes! Read on for 11 reasons Archie #20 drives the title into new and welcome roads!

Pete Woods’ GORGEOUS art captures that classic sense of youthful energy Archie books have always had, but with a modern style that is expressive and flowing with movement.
Mark Waid’s ongoing narrative trick of having Archie speak directly to the reader. It really connects you to the title character and makes you feel like part of the gang.
The way the story is broken up into chapters with headings really helps to spotlight themes and sequences.
The subtle ways every character uses their specific skills or personality traits to help Archie and Betty fix the Mustang.
“Thanks for getting the food, Jughead”-Dilton. “Thanks for eating half of it on the way back, Jughead.”-Betty
The “Widdle Archie” chapter heading and it’s lettering by Jack Morelli. A neat call back to the classic font.
Morelli’s lettering in general. Great use of sound effects with the cars.
Woods panels and layouts are filled with subtle border breaks and clever design. It really creates a great pace!
The story’s great balance. It’s fun and funny, but there is enough menace suggested coming around the bend that tension hangs around the whole issue.
The race scene is tense and cinematic.
The ‘cliffhanger’ ending.
Page from Archie #20

There ya go. If you haven’t been reading Archie (or any of its satellite books), you’re missing on one of the best and most effective relaunches ever. And as the starting point to a new storyline, this issue us a great one to start doing so. So go ahead and join the Riverdale gang already!

Pick up Archie #20 at your local comic book shop this week!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Ottawa Comiccon 2017: Freaky Friday in ‘Bytown’

By

Elliott Dunstan

-

May 16, 2017

Ottawa Comiccon splashed into the Canadian convention scene in 2012 with a record-breaking first-year turnout, and five years later, it’s one of the largest and best conventions in the area. This year – OCC 2017 – the guest list was especially impressive, boasting Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter) and John Cusack (Say Anything) among others.

The first day of OCC 2017 was a quiet one, serving as a prelude to the often-crowded Saturday and giving folks a day to focus on smaller panels and merchandise. It was a slow day for cosplayers. However, the panels included such standouts as ‘Oh Deer! Antler and Hoof Crafting’ for faun and satyr cosplays, ‘Licensed vs. Original Properties’ (hosted by Thomas Gofton) on his experiences with board game design, and a Q&A panel with Ruth Connell (Supernatural).

HIGHLIGHT PANEL: ‘Board Games in 2017: The Cult of the New’

Stephane Lebeau, Mandi Hutchinson, and Tracy Thillmann from ‘To Die For Games’ hosted this panel, where the difference between board games then and now was discussed in detail.

Notable points of interest include the debate of video games versus board games, in which Mandi also mentioned that board games are excellent for those with ADHD and anxiety because of how they function. Mandi then went on to talk about crowdfunding and some of its successes for new board games, including One Deck Dungeon. This game, produced by Asmadi Games and designed by Chris Cieslik, is a dungeon-raiding roguelike, notable for featuring only women in its art. Its first expansion garnered full funding within 30 minutes on Kickstarter. (Currently, it’s 1219% funded!)

Tracy Thillmann then went on to discuss the phenomenon of ‘meshing mechanics’. It’s something new to board games within the last decade or two.

“Most games you grow up with have one mechanic – word games, card games – but two different mechanics now get meshed.” – Tracy Thrillman

This meshing often means there are more ways to win, features to appeal to a large variety of players, and an increased level of complexity.

HIGHLIGHT ARTIST: Pat Patenaude

Pat Patenaude is the author of ‘The Professor’, a daily one-panel comic satirizing the modern world. He has been producing ‘The Professor’ since 2013, and inks every comic by hand with a brush.

“It’s meant to be in the style of old newspaper comics. There’s no vulgarity, no nudity, mostly because I’m bad at those things!” -Pat Patenaude

The Professor is hosted at www.theprofessorcomic.com.

HIGHLIGHT COSPLAYER: Sayaka by Northern Zero Cosplay

This Sayaka cosplay (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) is by Northern Zero Cosplay!

HIGHLIGHT MERCH: Wasteland Artisan

Wasteland Artisan is a Montreal-based artisan shop, selling handmade creepy/post-apocalyptic rings, masks, and other accessories! Of note are their plague doctor and tentacle leather masks. Their unusual decor and Lovecraft inspiration made them a standout at OCC 2017.

Wasteland Artisan’s Facebook page is here.

Did you attend OCC 2017? If not, get ready for next year!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube