Major Drag Race Frontrunners Stumble During An Acting Challenge
The ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race‘ acting challenges always separates the weak from the strong. Season 9 is no different as the competitors face off in ‘90210‘-themed challenge. There are some surprising performances with some extreme disappointments. None more disappointing than Nina Bo’Nina Brown.
Nina Bo’Nina Brown is on a downward spiral. I predicted that Nina would be an easy pick for Top 3 but lately, it’s seeming less likely. All of that self-doubt boiled over when Nina got on set and clashed with directors Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth. These issues have plagued Nina over the past few weeks with RuPaul giving her a pep-talk. Is another pep-talk enough to keep her in ‘Drag Race‘ or are her days numbered?
Another weak performance in the episode is Aja. Not only did she tank in the main challenge but the pre-production temper tantrum was not cute. It didn’t hit the level of hilarious insanity that is the infamous “Linda Evangelista” rant, it came off bratty. That attitude followed her in the challenge as she ended up in a forgettable role.
“If you’re a bitch, be a bitch” “…if you’re a whore, be a whore”
–Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling
One of the biggest surprises from “9021-HO” is the comedic performance of Trinity Taylor. Trinity has shown her humor over the past few weeks, including last week’s Snatch Game, but this challenge was the biggest example yet. Trinity nailed the quirks of being the youth-obsessed mom from every teen show with perfection. This also allowed Trinity to outshine any co-stars in the challenge. Poor Farrah Moan is sitting there, all dumb & pretty.
On the runway, Trinity Taylor landed the win. Many believe this should be Shea Couleé’s win as her performance is very funny. But the surprising humor and stellar runway helped Trinity score the win. Also, the multiple wins for Shea will play a part in her losing some challenges to potentially hide an obvious crown-snatching. Valentina rounded out the top 3 with another memorable runway and a solid performance in the challenge.
The bottom three for the episode is Aja, Nina Bo’Nina Brown, and Sasha Velour. Since she’s never stumbled, it was obvious that Sasha Velour was only in the bottom because of technicities. She’s quickly dismissed and it was down to Nina and Aja to lipsync for their lives. As both divas did their thing, it dawned on me that this was truly the end of Aja’s arc and the climax of Nina’s. Aja has not had a memorable moment since her epic ‘Untucked‘ meltdown. It’s her time to go. Nina Bo’Nina Brown still has a story to tell. It will either a story of redemption or defeat. Only time will tell but with 8 queens, the clock is ticking.
What did you think of the “9021-HO” episode of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race‘?
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Pottermore, is launching an interactive Wizarding World Book Club this June. This, along with the news that Harry Potter and Cursed Child officially coming to Broadway next year, makes for a good day for Potter fans.
According to Pottermore, “whether you’re a newcomer, or have read the books a thousand times over, the Wizarding World Book Club is the place for everyone to join the discussion on each of the seven Harry Potter stories.”
All you need to do is read, or re-read, a Harry Potter book each month. Then, join in on a conversation about the book on Pottermore’s Twitter account. You can also visit Pottermore website to learn more about the story.
Each week, a new theme from the Harry Potter stories will be discussed on the new Wizarding World Book Club Twitter account, @WWBookClub. You will also get rewards for reading and participating in the conversation!
Will you join the Wizarding World Book Club? Let us know in the comments!
The magic is finally coming to Broadway! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will open on Broadway on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at the Lyric Theater.
The theater is currently going through a complete transformation to accommodate the multitude of literal smoke and mirrors needed to bring the magic to the stage.
Cursed Child is having a successful run at the Palace Theater in London’s West End. It recently won a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.
Expect news and casting announcements in the months to come.
According to Pottermore, tickets will go on sale in the Fall, and can be purchased only through the Cursed Child website.
The eighth story in the Harry Potter saga, Cursed Child is a two-part play that audiences can watch over two days or in a single, marathon day. The play was written by Jack Thorne, based on a story by Rowling, Thorne and director John Tiffany.
Taking place 19 years after the events of The Deathly Hallows, the story follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their 30s, dealing with the trials of being working adults and parents. Meanwhile, Harry’s son, Albus, struggles with the weight of his family’s legacy.
A new Twitter account was created for Cursed Child on Broadway. Below is their tweet announcing the show coming to the States.
Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne have been on a first name basis for decades now, but what amazing turn of events revealed Batman’s and Superman’s secret identities to each other? Going back 65 years to Superman #76, cover date May–June 1952, prepare yourself for a thrill-a-minute tale of when Bruce met Clark… on a luxury cruise?
When Bruce Met Clark… Unlikely Cabin Mates
Experiencing one of those brief moments when he’s temporarily rid Gotham of crime, Batman takes a vacation, deciding to go on a cruise aboard the luxury liner Varania. But, as fate and Superman writer Edmond Hamilton would have it, Bruce Wayne would not be the only crime-fighter aboard, for Clark Kent is also going on vacation aboard the very same ship. And to make things even trickier, Clark and Bruce must share a cabin.
There’s no time to arrange other accommodations, though, as a thief dressed in an asbestos suit fires incendiary bullets at a gas truck. The resulting conflagration allows the thief to steal a diamond shipment from the pier’s customs office. And, of course, Lois Lane, who has come to see Clark off on his cruise, gets trapped in a ring of fire while trying to get a scoop.
When Bruce Met Clark… “What Light Through Yonder Porthole Breaks?”
Bruce and Clark both see the crime and the imperiled Lois from their shared cabin but are reluctant to change into their super-alter-egos in front of each other. Bruce, feigning exhaustion, offers to turn out the light so they can both turn in early. Clark similarly feigns tiredness, and both men use the cover of darkness to strip down to their super-skivvies.
“Did you see my underpants?” “Everyone can see your underpants, and, by the way, I can see your bones.”
But, the light from the inferno on the pier comes through their cabin’s porthole, and both men learn the other’s alter-ego — yay! Both heroes agree to discuss this revelation after dealing with the truck and rescuing Lois. Superman grabs the truck and flies it a safe distance away while Batman saves Lois from becoming a flame-roasted reporter. Superman then returns, having welded the bullet holes shut with his heat vision, and blows out the remaining fire with water vapour from a cloud he inhaled … show-off.
When Bruce Met Clark… Cruise Buddies
The heroes organize a pier-wide manhunt for the diamond thief but are unable to find him. They determine that the thief must be aboard the Varania, but before continuing their search they agree to keep each other’s identity secret. And, so no one is able to determine their secret identities by looking at the passenger manifest, Batman and Superman book passage aboard the Varania as Batman and Superman. Ouch! Two tickets each.
A further twist of fate sees Lois Lane booking a last-minute ticket aboard the Varania as well, so in order to keep their identities secret from Lois the mighty partnership rush back to their cabin seconds before she comes to check on Clark.
Clark pretends he’s seasick and Bruce tells Lois he’ll look after the ailing reporter, providing both him and Clark with alibis. Lois has little sympathy for the perpetually wimpy Clark and, slamming the door as she leaves, goes off to find Superman and Batman.
When Bruce Met Clark… Super-Wingman
Realizing that the intrepid and persistent Lois will make it difficult for him to track a diamond thief, Superman, seeking to distract Lois, asks Batman to act as if he’s falling for her. Unfortunately, Lois overhears the entire exchange and, seeking to make Superman jealous, pretends she’s falling for Batman.
With Lois out of his hair, Superman does an x-ray vision sweep of the Varania. He notices a man carrying a concealed pistol, but is unable to find any diamonds aboard. Superman uses his x-ray vision to read the gun-toting man’s ID through his wallet. It identifies him as an electrical engineer named John Smilter, but when Batman questions Smilter he determines that the man is a fraud and no engineer at all. The heroes are relatively certain they’ve found their diamond thief, but without the diamonds they can’t be sure.
When Bruce Met Clark… The Macho-est Show on Earth
At Lois’s request, Batman and Superman take some time off from crime-fighting to put on a show for the passengers. During this show of agility and strength — Batman does some acrobatics and Superman juggles icebergs — Lois only has eyes for Batman. Superman admits that the “best man won,” and during this bit of romantic entanglement Smilter sabotages the Varania’s turbines, leaving the ship dead in the water.
After the show, the Varania’s captain relates the news of the ship’s mechanical issues to the ship’s super-passengers. Smilter takes this opportunity to lure Lois on deck and then takes her hostage as he tries to make his getaway in a waiting helicopter.
Superman and Batman make short work of Smilter’s getaway, Supes hurling Bats at the helicopter. Smilter refuses to shoot the caped crusader when Batman lands on the helicopter’s foot-rail, instead instructing the pilot to try to shake him off. But, the caped crusader makes his way inside and knocks the pilot and Smilter unconscious. Batman then flies the helicopter, with a very grateful Lois aboard, back to the Varania.
When Bruce Met Clark… The Diamond Bullet
During the wrap-up, the reader learns that Smilter hid the stolen diamonds inside the bullets loaded in his gun. Superman’s inability to see through lead made the bullets a good hiding place, but unfortunately for Smilter he couldn’t fire his gun at Batman when he needed to.
And, unfortunately for Bruce and Clark, Lois showing uncharacteristic insight realizes that Batman and Superman are never around when Bruce and Clark are. So, in an effort to keep Lois ignorant of their identities, Superman flies Batman back to Gotham. Batman makes an appearance fighting some crooks, and then Superman flies Batman back to the Varania.
The next morning, Lois reads of Batman’s exploits in Gotham the previous night and, since Bruce is sitting across the table from her enjoying some eggs and bacon, she figures Bruce must not be Batman. So, Batman’s identity appears to be safe, but what about Superman’s?
When Bruce Met Clark… Fattening Frogs for Robins
As Lois and Clark disembark the ship, Superman greets them. A confused Lois figures she must have been mistaken about both her companions’ identities, and, as Superman and Clark duck behind a couple of crates, Clark pulls his face off, revealing that he’s actually Bruce in disguise. Bruce does a quick change into his Batman duds, and the two heroes have a private conference.
In a final bit of comic relief, Batman and Superman decide to let Lois decide once and for all whom she prefers by asking her out to dinner on the same night. But, the early bird catches the worm, and Robin, who appears out of nowhere, wins a date with Lois instead. And, as creepy as that may seem since Robin is somehow still a child in 1952, keep in mind that he would have been 20 in 1952 if people aged regularly in comics.
When Bruce Met Clark… Final Thoughts
Allowing for anachronistic plot points — such as Batman taking a vacation, Lois’s surprising incompetence and childish temper, and Robin’s inexplicable appearance at the end of the story — this one is alright. It’s always fun when the real tension in a comic is the result of something aside from the crime-fighting element of its story, the outcome of which is basically a foregone conclusion — the heroes will win. And, although I often felt bad for Lois while reading this story, it’s fun to watch Batman and Superman squirm in an effort to keep their identities secret.
In addition to the plot, this is an interesting story in that it sets up devices that modern-day writers and artists of Batman and Superman tales still use, the most obvious example of this being Bruce Wayne’s Clark Kent disguise.
With temperatures rising around the country, many are finding solace inside their homes. Popping in a good horror film and having a thrilling time is the perfect way to beat the heat. Summertime horror is very specific with themes of outdoor adventures, beach time trouble, or vacation mayhem. These scorching genre pieces can range from gruesome to comedic for there’s something for everyone!
Below is a list of films that would make any hot day a little cooler.
Let me know your favorite on the list and comment below if you agree with my picks!
– ‘Cabin Fever‘ makes for a great summer viewing. The film that launched Eli Roth’s career also became a massive cult classic. Replacing slasher and demons with a flesh-eating virus reinvented how scary cabin trips can be.
9. The Burning (1981)
– In the cluttered times of 80’s horror, it takes a lot for a slasher film to standout. That’s why ‘The Burning‘ is not only a great summertime horror but one of the best genre pieces. All it took was Harvey Weinstein and a scary pair of garden shears.
8. Hostel (2005)
– ‘Hostel‘ is a must-see before taking any vacation. The second Eli Roth film on the list might say something about how scary Roth thinks holidays are. Like ‘Cabin Fever‘, the pleasant idea of relaxation is crushed by some bloody torture.
7. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
– You can feel the heat radiating from the screen in ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘. Filmed in the dead of summer in Texas, the heat drove the cast & crew mad during production but it led to an amazing piece that encapsulates summer and horror.
6. Tourist Trap (1979)
– Summertime leads to a lot of road trips and it can easily be a nightmare. ‘Tourist Trap‘ takes that emotion and adds a terrifying slasher. This predates an even more iconic summer slasher on this list and inspired films like ‘House of 1000 Corpses‘.
5. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
– This has to make the list, it has summer in the name! Kidding aside, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer‘ is one of the last slasher films that worked. Following ‘Scream‘ is difficult but the Fourth of July-set horror film holds its own.
4. Tucker & Dale Vs Evil (2010)
– The newest film on this list places so high because it keeps the idea of summertime horror alive. Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) just want to enjoy their vacation home in the woods but face the worst evil of all…college kids on summer break!
3. Sleepaway Camp (1983)
– There’s something special about ‘Sleepaway Camp‘. Not only did it pave the way for transgressive and shocking horror but it constantly battles ‘Friday The 13th‘ as the best summertime slasher. This is a film you have to see to believe!
2. Friday The 13th (1980)
– While 1978’s ‘Halloween‘ made fall the perfect season for horror, ‘Friday The 13th‘ made an argument for summertime horror. The slasher film could’ve relied solely on the titular holiday but it went further with the summer camp setting.
1. Jaws (1975)
– There is no other film that sums up summertime horror more than ‘Jaws‘. Steven Speilberg’s early masterpiece single-handled coined the term “summer blockbuster“. Most of the films on this list wouldn’t exist without the shark epic.
Youngblood has been a series that’s been through a lot of relaunches over the years. As one of the first books from Image Comics, Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood has a storied history. Now Youngblood is back with a new #1 and a new creative team to boot. The toughest part about Youngblood is that creative teams have come and gone many times on this series. With every revival there has always been a relatively fast disappearance of the team and title in some weird fashion. The ultimate question is will this be the team to stick around for the long haul? Now it is time to find out what this new creative lineup has in store for us. Truth be told, I’ve been curious about this myself. Time to revisit Youngblood once more with a new #1!
Youngblood has always been a team I’ve been rooting for. It’s been through a lot of weird stuff, but I find myself optimistic this time around.
Now you may wonder, why am I optimistic? Chad Bowers has been so enthusiastic about this in interviews and so on, I can’t help but share in it. For one thing, it’s friendly to new and old readers alike. If you are totally new to Youngblood, for the most part you’ll be fine. It takes a minute to know some of the characters, but by the end, you will be loving it. Bowers goes out of his way to ease you into the world of Youngblood. While it did take me time to get into this, after the intro I found myself strapped in for the ride. The new characters introduced are engaging and connect to the old characters well. I am going to break this down a bit to show you all why this works.
Special notice of one major plus of Youngblood, the Help! app.
I have to say the Help! app opens up a lot of interesting concepts from the get go. A superhero hiring app that lets you rate your experience and more with the hero is a cool idea. I’m a fan of how it is used as a storytelling element, especially as to how Youngblood gets involved in the first place. Chad Bowers has opened up infinite possibilities here with this app alone. Considering storytelling elements hint towards more involvement with Help! down the line, which intrigues me. How did this app come about and why has it made such an impact will be interesting to see as this series rolls on. There are some great characters coming out of the Help! app concept and I can’t wait to see more of them.
Now we have new characters introduced with nods to old ones. Yet what about the original members of Youngblood, how is that handled?
Luckily if you’re a new reader, you’ll be fine. It’s all in the interactions as each member of the original team is revealed to the reader. From what is happening to Shaft, Diehard, and as each member is introduced, I can’t wait to see how they got to where they are. Shaft is one such member that fascinates me, especially from the backup story that Liefeld wrote and drew. Between what Bowers is setting up and what Liefeld is setting up in a small way, I’m intrigued. The story of Diehard will be a fun one to follow up on down the line too. There’s a lot of great things happening here.
Ultimately the name of the game with Youngblood is fun. This really is a lot of fun.
The action is non-stop, the characterization is fun, and it does set up a compelling narrative for what’s to come. There’s a lot here to like as to what Bowers is doing here with this first story. It’s going to be interesting to see the events of the backup story play out too. Whatever Liefeld is up to with that backup, I want to see what happens as to how it will affect the main story. It takes time to get into, but once you’re into the world this comic is building, you’ll find yourself invested in Youngblood. It’s off to a great start and for what has been set up so far, I’m excited to see where it goes from here.
Here is where it all comes together, Jim Towe is a strong artist but the rest of the team is just as great too.
Jim Towe is an amazing choice for Youngblood. One thing that’s noticeable about Bowers is his script is animated in the sense that this is a vibrant world. It’s a character driven, high energy universe, and Towe’s art fits this. It’s expressive as there’s a lot of moments where conveying emotion is key; Towe nails it. The action scenes are exciting and dynamic, with some cool layouts to boot. I love the page in particular where a villain is messing with the minds of the new heroes. There’s such a great design to it that works well in conveying the power of the villain. It’s going to be fun to see where Jim Towe’s art goes from here because this is some strong work.
Now for the coloring on this comic – wow does it work well. Juan Manuel Rodriguez is conveying a bright, fun, and only a hint of darkness to this universe. Bowers has a comic that trends towards fun despite some darker circumstances, and the coloring fits. It shines and makes Towe’s art that much better in the process. The letterer for this, Rus Wooton is also amazing here. Especially with the letter design for the Help! app and I like how the texts look too. This is a great art team all around and deserves attention on all levels. Now we get into the one bit that will be fun for everyone, the backup story that Rob Liefeld handles.
As it is Rob Liefeld drawing a story, I say this deserves it’s own special section before we finish this up.
The backup tale focuses on Shaft and certain elements that as I mention in the review, will come up later. As I said, I am intrigued by the new elements. Now for the art, it’s Rob Liefeld and for me, I actually dig his art more as time goes on. It’s Liefeld though, you either love his art or dislike it, there’s no in-between. I will say I like the inker here, Shelby Robertson, that adds a nice strong line to Liefeld’s art. Rodriguez’s coloring is just as strong as it is in the main story, and the same goes for the lettering. A strong backup tale that adds a lot in just a few pages.
Now let’s wrap this Youngblood adventure up as we leave on a light and happy note.
Youngblood is a good read and at times a great read too. It’s got a strong creative team and infinite potential. Give this a chance and you will find yourself liking it as much as I do. Welcome back Youngblood.
If the initial teaser for Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk left you feeling a little cold, fear not. This first full-length trailer should assuage all concerns.
Check this out:
In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.
This is infinitely better than the first glimpse we had, and looks like a fascinating blend of dogfights (which seem few and far between in Hollywood these days), and a real attention on the details of these men’s lives. Wonderful tension, shots with beautiful texture, all the things we’ve come to expect from a Christopher Nolan production is here.
Dunkirk stars Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy and some kid I’ve never heard of… Harry something. I think he’s a singer?
This has all the potential in the world to be a classic in the war genre. We’ll see when it opens July 21st. I know I’m down.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ is in theaters this week, and Matt and EJ go over the good, the bad, and the downright ugly parts of the film. As a comic book fan, you will love it, as a fan of cinema it has some flaws.
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 120 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.
Holy Excelsior! Could Stan Lee’s various Marvel cameos be related? Is he a Watcher?
The answer might be “Yes”, according to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president, confirms the long-standing theory of Lee’s appearances in the MCU. In a Radio Times interview, he talks about how Lee might be a Watcher.
“We always thought it would be fun. Stan Lee clearly exists, you know, above and apart from the reality of all the films,” he says. “So the notion that he could be sitting there on a cosmic pit stop during the jump gate sequence in Guardians was something very fun.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has two scenes featuring Lee. The first involves a spacesuit-wearing Lee talking with the Watchers about his past experiences. Although the location isn’t revealed, it looks as though they are on the moon.
During a post-credits bit, he recalls being a FedEx employee, which is a callback to his cameo in Civil War. The Watchers appear bored and walk away. “I’ve got more stories to tell!” Lee calls out as the scene ends.
The Watchers’ behaviour in this scene is very true to the source material. In the comics, they are an ancient race of beings who watch over all living things. As part of their way of life, they cannot interfere with what happens in the universe.
Director James Gunn echoes Feige’s words with his own opinion. “I mean, you know there’s a lot of cool stuff that the fans come up with,” he says. “A lot of stuff I don’t agree with, you know, people have ideas about what they think should happen in the MCU. But I find the idea that Stan Lee is a Watcher, or that he works for the Watchers, is just a fun little nod to the fans.
Feige credits Gunn for coming up with Lee’s role, and he reveals it almost got cut from the film. “James had that idea and we shot that cameo and loved it so much, you know, you see it a couple of times in the movie,” he says. “It wasn’t in for a long time and we put it back in towards the end of the process where he references that time he was a Federal Express agent.”
“We thought it would be fun to put that in there because that really says, so wait a minute, he’s this same character who’s popped up in all these films.”
To this day, Guardians of the Galaxy is still my favorite Marvel movie. Out of each of the films the studio has released so far, James Gunn’s surprise hit of 2014 was the film that blended together Marvel’s signature heart, humor, and action into a cocktail that made for perfect viewing. Needless to say, I had high hopes going into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 last night. Unfortunately, I don’t believe Marvel or James Gunn managed to match the highs of their first cosmic outing.
On the runway, Trinity Taylor landed the win. Many believe this should be Shea Couleé’s win as her performance is very funny. But the surprising humor and stellar runway helped Trinity score the win. Also, the multiple wins for Shea will play a part in her losing some challenges to potentially hide an obvious crown-snatching. Valentina rounded out the top 3 with another memorable runway and a solid performance in the challenge.
