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Showing posts from March, 2023

Review - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I just got back from seeing a brand new movie currently playing in theaters. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, is based on the popular tabletop fantasy RPG Dungeons & Dragons, primarily taking its basis in the Forgotten Realms campaign, and more specifically on the online MMORPG Neverwinter.  This movie stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Daisy Head, and Hugh Grant.         So, the central character of this movie is a former member of the Harpers named Edgin Darvis, who makes a prison escape along with his closest friend and ally Holga Kilgore. Together, the two seek to reunite with Edgin's daughter, Kira, who has been the ward of their former ally Forge Fitzwilliam, who has since become Lord of Neverwinter, and is allied with a Red Wizard named Sofina. And what's more, a relic that Edgin was attempting to steal years before is

Breakdown - Netflix and Science Saru Producing a Scott Pilgrim Anime. This Is Awesome!

           Hey guys, Chuck here, and I didn't know this was announced back in January, but apparently Science Saru, the anime house in Japan that produced one of the shorts for the Disney+ anthology project Star Wars Visions,  is teaming up with Netflix to produce an anime adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim.          Now, you guys may recall that I did a review of the live-action film adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's books, which was the Edgar Wright film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  And I called it my favorite comic book film of the year 2010. So, now that an anime adaptation is being made? I'm pretty excited. Not only that, but many of the creative team behind the original movie is also returning, including Edgar Wright, Nira Park, and Michael Bacall.         BUT! It was today's announcement that REEEAAALLLLYYY got me excited for this series, at it was confirmed that ALL of the main cast of the original movie are retur

Review - Tron: Legacy (2010)

       Hey guys, Chuck here, and I thought it might be fun to dive back into the world of Disney's Tron. As years had passed since the release of the 1982 original, Tron had grown into a cult classic with a fandom that was interested in returning to the world of the Grid. Years would pass with rumor after rumor of a sequel to Tron.  And finally in 2010, Disney would release their highly anticipated sequel to the 1982 sci-fi classic. Tron: Legacy would be helmed by first time director Joseph Kosinski, and would see series creator Steven Lisberger in a producer role. Original film actors Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner would return as Kevin Flynn/Clu and Alan Bradley/Tron, and would be joined by newcomers like Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, James Frain, Beau Garrett, Serinda Swan, Yaya DaCosta, Jeffrey Nordling, and Cillian Murphy.          So, some years have passed since Kevin Flynn was first brought into the world of the Grid, and he's since become a success a

Review - John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here and I just got back from seeing the new movie John Wick: Chapter 4, the latest entry in the popular John Wick franchise. Director Chad Stahelski returns as director for this movie, which stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgard, Clancy Brown, Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Natalia Tena, Shamier Anderson, Marko Zaror, Scott Adkins, and Rina Sawayama.           So, still excommunicado, John Wick goes on a hair raising adventure to take apart the High Table. Unfortunately, a new figure has risen up at the High Table known as the Marquis Vincent de Gramont. The Marquis de Gramont has one goal: destroy the image of John Wick. With help from his friends the Bowery King, Winston, and even his adoptive sister Katia, John Wick traverses from Osaka to New York to Berlin and finally to Paris to finally earn his freedom from the High Table.            Now, this movie marks the first in the John Wick franchise I got to see in a t

Review - History of the World, Part II (2023)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and I'm not sure if you are aware, but there's an old saying in media: you can't make a Mel Brooks film today. This has to do with the fact that, in our modern world where we have become more culturally aware of certain concerns, certain styles of humor aren't seen as socially acceptable. Not to step around such concerns, but humor is subjective, and certain jokes that may be hilarious to some may not be to others. Mel Brooks, however, circumvents such concerns, and his latest project is definite proof of that. History of the World, Part II , released exclusively on Hulu, is an eight-episode limited event miniseries that serves as a sequel to his 1981 comedy film History of the World, Part I.  Alongside Mel Brooks, who is a producer, writer, and the narrator, this series also features Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, and Nick Kroll, all of whom also star, write, and produce for this series, along with a slew of comedy talent ranging from the

Review - The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and we're finally taking a look at The Book of Boba Fett, which aired on Disney+ from December 2021 thru February 2022. The series is the first of a number of spin-offs to The Mandalorian, and it starts Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen, with appearances by Pedro Pascal, Sophie Thatcher, Jennifer Beals, Amy Sedaris, Danny Trejo, Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, and Timothy Olyphant, and was developed and produced by Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Robert Rodriguez.            So, the series centers on the bounty hunter Boba Fett, and we actually see his time from when he crawled out of the Sarlacc gullet in the Great Pit of Cartoon, where his beskar armor is nabbed by Jawas. Boba is then rescued and nursed by to health by a tribe of Tuskens, who show him their way, eventually leading to him constructing his own gaffi stick. Unfortunately, after helping them carry out a raid against a Spice train run by the Pyke Syndicate, the tribe is killed and Boba goes o

Review - History of the World, Part I (1981)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and with the recent release of the Mel Brooks streaming series History of the World, Part II on Hulu, I recently sat down and watched Mel Brooks' 1981 comedy film History of the World, Part I. Narrated by Orson Welles, this movie starred Mel Brooks, Dom Deluise, Madeline Khan, Sid Caesar, Cloris Leachman, and a slew of others.          So, History of the World, Part I follows a series of historical sketches and segments that are highly exaggerated and extremely hilarious. Among the eras that are satirized include the Stone Age, where many firsts are seen, the Old Testament, where Moses accidentally shatters a tablet with five additional Commandments, leaving only the Ten Commandments, the Spanish Inquisition, which portrays Torquemada and his torture of prisoners (primarily Jews) in a Busby Berkeley-style musical number, which includes an Esther Williams-style Aquatic Ballet, and both the Roman Empire and the French Revolution.         The Roman Empi

Review - Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I just got done watching the new movie Shazam! Fury of the Gods , the sequel to the 2019 film Shazam!  from director David F. Sandberg. Directed once again by Sandberg, this movie sees the returns of cast members Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Caroline Currey, Ross Butler, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, D.J. Cotrona, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, and Djimon Honsou, with newcomers including Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu, and Helen Mirren, with a special cameo by Gal Gadot.         So, it's obviously been a few years since Billy Batson was chosen by the wizard Shazam and was granted the power of the Gods. And, of course he shared that power with his foster siblings Darla, Freddy, Pedro, Mary, and Eugene. So, in that time, things are going okay, but Billy is starting to slip away from his family, as they feel he's holding on too tight. This is when the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera, Anthea, and Kalypso, arrive to reclaim the power of the G

Review - Kingdom Hearts II (2005)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and it's finally time for my review of Kingdom Hearts II, widely regarded by the Kingdom Hearts fandom as one of the best games in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. This game was released in PlayStation 2 in 2005 in Japan, and in 2006 in the United States.           So, it's been a year since the events of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories,  and Sora is currently in stasis, whilst Naminé, acting under the orders of the mysterious DiZ, is restoring the memories in Sora's heart to how they were before she took them apart in Castle Oblivion. Now, we do see a set of montages of cutscenes from the first game, and they're also seen in the dreams of Roxas, a boy in a world called Twilight Town. And yes, this is the same Roxas that was a member of Organization XIII during the events of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.  Unfortunately, he doesn't remember those times, and he spends his days with his friends Hayner, Pence, and Olette.   

Review - Power Rangers Dino Fury (2021-2022)

        Hey guys, Chuck here, and last week, I spent a lot of time watching the most recent Power Rangers series, Power Rangers Dino Fury,  on Netflix. And, I have to say, it's easily one of the best written Power Rangers series I've seen in a long time. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm going to do my best to break down Power Rangers Dino Fury. However, for a more comprehensive deep dive into it, head over to see the review Linkara made for Dino Fury on his YouTube channel.          Alright, so Power Rangers Dino Fury is set in the town of Pine Ridge, and we're introduced to Amelia Jones, a young woman working for an online media company called BuzzBlast (obviously a nod to BuzzFeed), and Ollie Alana, a tech and science enthusiast who doesn't believe in the paranormal and supernatural the way Amelia does. One day, Amelia spots Ollie and his mother checking out a famous landmark called Dinohenge, when Ollie and his mother are accosted by Park Warden Garcia.

Review - The Big Lebowski (1998)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I was scrolling through of my social media pages, and I realized something. Today is the Day of the Dude, which is a big deal. So, in the spirit of commemoration, let's take a look at the 1998 comedy classic from brothers Joel and Ethan Cohen: The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, David Huttleston, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Peter Stormare, Sam Elliott, John Turturro, and Jon Polito.         The movie is set in Los Angeles, and it centers on Jeff Lebowski, who prefers to be called "The Dude." So, after a grocery run, the Dude comes home to be attacked by two thugs working for noted adult entertainment producer Jackie Treehorn, calling the Dude "Lebowski," and demanding the money "his wife" owes to Jackie Treehorn. Unfortunately, there was a mix up, as they were meant to go after a different Jeffrey Lebowski, who is a millionaire living in a massive estate with his trophy wife Bu

Review - Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and I am taking a look at a video game that is proof positive that DC media was better BEFORE Zack Snyder made Man of Steel . Batman: Arkham Asylum was released in 2009, as is a co-production of WB Interactive, Eidos Interactive, and Rocksteady. Originally released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it was later re-released as a two-game set called Batman: Return to Arkham on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.           The game opens on a rainy night in Gotham, where Batman has apprehended the Joker after a violent siege of City Hall, and is personally driving the clown back to Arkham Asylum, situated on the remote Arkham Island in the middle of the Gotham Bay. The Asylum warden, Quincy Sharp, greets Batman and Joker personally, and the Joker is taken to the cells in the lower area of the Intensive Treatment building. Batman, weary of how easily Joker surrendered, goes along to see the Joker to his cell. It's also here where we see another Asylum patient, Wayl

My Thoughts on the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards

       Hey guys, Chuck here, and while John Campea and his crew are gearing up for the Oscars next Sunday, I had much more fun watching the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon. The show was this evening and there were lots of blimps, lots of laughs, and, of course, lots of slime. Yep, this was a fun night, so let's talk about it.         Okay, so a lot of great movies were up for awards tonight, with the likes of Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Adam, Jurassic World Dominion, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Top Gun: Maverick all up for the award for Favorite Movie. And who won the orange blimp? Well, the big winner was Sonic the Hedgehog 2 . Yep, Sonic took home the blimp for Favorite Movie, which made me very happy. The Favorite Animated Movie winner was Minions: The Rise of Gru . Dwayne Johnson won two awards for Favorite Movie Actor and Favorite Male Voice in an Animated Movie. Other actors who won include Millie Bobby Brown and Selena Gomez for Enola Holmes 2 and Hot

Review - Creed III (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I just got home from seeing the new movie Creed III , directed by Michael B. Jordan in his directorial debut. This movie is the third film of the Creed series and stars a Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Florian Munteanu, Tony Bellew, and Jonathan Majors.         So, the movie actually opens with a prologue of Donnie's childhood, where he spends time with his close friend Damian "Diamond Dame" Anderson, who is an up and coming boxer in his own right, until an incident involving Leon, an abusive man who ran a group home Donnie and Dame lived together in, lands Dame in prison. Eighteen years later, Donnie is having his final boxing match against "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, his main opponent from the first Creed.  And I was definitely glad to see Tony Bellew come back to the series, if only for this one segment early on. After his victory over Conlan, Donnie is done in the ring, spending more time with h