Brian and Chris got away from the madness long enough to do three more reviews of the films they’ve seen at Fantastic Fest, the world’s best film festival…
THE BABADOOK
A widowed mother can barely keep up with her manic son as it is but when a mysterious book about a boogeyman like creature called “The Babadook” shows up out of nowhere, she fears she may be losing her own sanity as the darkness creeps in.
LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU
Ever seen “The Island of Doctor Moreau” with Val Kilmer and Marlin Brando? Total car wreck of a movie, right? Well believe me, you have NO idea. This documentary takes a look at the fascinating guy Richard Stanley, the ORIGINAL director of the film, what his very different vision was of it, and examines all the horrific behind-the-scenes stuff that went down during the making of it.
REDEEMER
Chilean martial arts super-star and Fantastic Fest darling Marco Zaror returns in his latest film playing a broken man and former hitman who is killing criminals all over the place in his quest for some kind of redemption. Much impressive ass-kicking follows.
You may remember that 9-ish months ago I promised to get Netflix this year as one of my New Year’s Resolutions. A few days ago I realized I was almost out of time and needed to get my shit together. The following is the true account of what transpired last weekend. (Please note all times are estimates, as I generally had absolutely no idea what time it was. Most of the weekend I couldn’t have even told you if it was day or night.)
Friday
10:00am: While online at work (of course reading only work related and news-y things) I notice an ad for Netflix on a web page. Interest piqued.
1:00pm: After lunch, I realize I’m still thinking about Netflix. Google “shows that are on Netflix” and become more intrigued. Remind myself that I have a crappy laptop and no efficient way to stream anything. Boo.
1:15pm: Wait, I have a Wii! Somewhere. I brought it when I moved, right? Wonder for a while if a Wii needs batteries. Decide that’s ridiculous. (I now feel the need to briefly defend myself for owning a Wii. I decided several years ago I was going to start playing video games, and the dancing one looked fun on the commercials. Also I’m an idiot.)
My portal to binge watching.
1:20pm: Announce to coworkers that I’m getting Netflix this weekend! They don’t care.
1:21pm-4:30pm: Fidget at my desk and think about how awesome the weekend is going to be. Ignore several texts about potential plans for the weekend.
4:38pm: Arrive home and start looking for the mythical Wii. I eventually realize it must be inside the chest I have been using as a coffee table, otherwise known as where I hid everything I didn’t have a place for after moving. After opening the chest, I courageously kill the spider that is guarding my possessions and find the Wii! Victory!
5:15pm: Why are there so many cables? Vow to not call Ash for help.
5:45pm: Wiis don’t need batteries, but controllers do. Turns out if they’ve been stored in a box for years said batteries might have oozed battery acid. I quickly decide this probably won’t kill me and the problem is solved by taking the batteries out of the small emergency flashlight in my nightstand. Safety first!
6:00pm: I have to connect my Wii to the internet. Which means I need my wireless password. Which means I have to call my cable company because the paper I wrote it down on last time and swore not to lose has clearly been stolen by a very crafty thief. There is nothing worse than calling a cable company, we all know this. I realize while on hold that in addition to needing my password, the Wii actually isn’t locating my network. Yay.
Forgive the grammatical error. It wasn’t us. – Ed.
A million years later: Someone finally answers and fixes both problems. He is nice. In hindsight, I feel bad about the amount of hatred I was feeling for him at the time. Sorry cable company call center guy. Hope you had a good weekend.
7:25pm: I briefly try to search through the list of shows and movies. My patience is shot and I decide to just dive in with Orange is the New Black.
7:29pm: I send my final tweet as a free woman.
8:00pm: After cooking and eating the fastest dinner in the history of the world, I hit play on Season 1 Episode 1.
1:00am: I finish Episode 5. It’s way past my bedtime and I have to meet Ash for a movie in the morning. I can already see how this newfangled Netflix account is going to ruin improve my life.
Watch. Sleep. Repeat.
Saturday
9:00am: I wake up, super excited to spend all day watching Orange is the New Black. Then I remember I have to go see Maze Runner with Ash. This probably seemed like a good idea 3 days ago when we made the plan. Stupid plans. Fine.
10:45am:Maze Runner. I actually enjoy it. And maybe seeing people and leaving the apartment wasn’t the worst idea ever. I’m remembering what it’s like to do things…uh-oh. Better get home and put a stop to that train of thought!
2:00pm: After a quick lunch, I’m back and ready to hibernate. (I can’t remember how many episodes I got through Saturday afternoon/evening, but I know I finished Season 1, so at least 8. I’d guess probably 10. Ten straight hours of TV should seem like a lot, right? It doesn’t to me. Yikes.)
1:00am??: I call it a night. Seriously, I usually can’t stay up through a show that starts at 10:00. I don’t know what is happening to me.
Sunday
8:15am: I wake up and spend my usual 15 minutes cranky about how I used to be able to sleep in. Getting old sucks.
8:30am: Briefly think about how I could really use a workout, but give in to the inevitable and hit play. Thinking about going to the gym burns calories right?
9:30am: After 1 episode I get really sad that I’m going to run out soon, so I watch 2 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
11:45am: Time to order a pizza.
Since I thought about working out, I can eat whatever I want. Science!
12:00pm: It’s back to OITNB. It was a good effort to get away from it, but I’m in deep.
1:00pm-4:00pm: Stupid Colts game! Why do I even care about football? (I won’t lie, if we hadn’t played awesome, I would have abandoned ship in a heartbeat.)
4:00pm-John Oliver: Another marathon session. I just can’t stop. Don’t you love how it keeps track of what your last episode was? I wish my books would do that, I have a terrible habit of forgetting to mark my page. There is one brief stop when my mom calls. She mentions that she’s read the OITNB book. I decide there must not be quite as much sex in the book or she would have stopped reading. I inform her she shouldn’t watch the show.
11:00pm: I watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and remember that other things have happened in the world in the last 48 hours. This seems like strange information. It’s probably good that I have to go back to work in the morning.
11:30pm: Three more episodes won’t hurt anything, right?! Screw work!
Monday
6:40am: Alarm goes off. I hate my life. And I hate Netflix.
So that was my weekend. I’m not proud of it, but if I’m honest I’ll probably do it again. I’ve still got House of Cards after all!
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Keanu Reeves plays a retired hit man for the mob who is in mourning for his wife who has died of cancer; she was the reason he left the business in the first place. But when the loose cannon son of the Russian mobster he used to work for kills his dog….there’s gonna be hell to pay.
… Ok, I know, it doesn’t sound like anything to write home about on the page.
BUT WE’RE WRITING HOME ABOUT IT, DAMMIT, AND IN ALL CAPS!!!
JC, Chris, Richard and Brian talk about what is unquestionably one of the most fan-favorite films to play at Fantastic Fest this year. You don’t want to miss this one.
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We can’t say we listen to his SMODCAST enough to get the references that his new film “Tusk” is apparently littered with, but we can say that, well, erm….
Justin Long plays a shock podcaster who goes on a voyage to Canada to do an interview and finds more than he bargained for in Michael Parks who has a strange hankering to turn him into a walrus.
…
Yeah, don’t ask us either.
Richard, Chris, Brian and JC probably get on Smith’s bad side (as, I’m sure, will the rest of the majority of the press…again) in their review.
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In a medium dominated by costume-clad heroes saving the world, there seems to be so few female-led superhero projects being made. Yes, there are a number of fantastic comics featuring superheroines, but hardly any of them are receiving their own solo films or television shows.
Well, in Warner Brothers/DC’s efforts to expand their growing number of superhero themed television shows, Supergirl is the latest project to get the green light.
Reportedly said to be an hour long drama on CBS, the series will focus on the cousin of Superman, Kara-Zor-El, who escaped the destruction of Krypton years ago in much the same way as Kal-El did. Upon arriving on Earth, and meeting her now fully grown cousin, Kara has been keeping her powerful abilities hidden from the general public. However, now 24, Kara believes that with the steadily growing number of supervillains and world disasters on the rise, she must embrace her powers to protect her adopted home world.
My experience with Supergirl as a character in the comics is limited, but I fondly remember her portrayal in Bruce’s Timm’s Superman, Batman and Justice League animated shows. In much the same way as described in CBS’s version, Supergirl arrives on Earth in the animated universe, and is surprised to learn that her once younger cousin is now older than her. The teenage Kryptonian would eventually don a cape and protect Metropolis and the rest of the world from likes of Lex Luthor and Brainiac. One of my favorite Batman: The Animated Series episodes to feature Supergirl, has her spending a “girls’ night out” with Barbara Gordon, who protected the streets of Gotham as Batgirl.
If I have one concern about this project, it’s the show’s producer, Greg Berlanti. As many comic book fans know, Berlanti’s work on a number of DC properties has raised a few eyebrows. Penning the screenplay to 2011’s Green Lantern, and being the head writer for critically panned shows such as No Ordinary Family, Berlanti’s track record is anything but spotless. Yes, his success with Arrow has received some positive reviews from fans and critics, but even that particular project can’t seem to escape the aura of mediocrity that surrounds it. In any case, Supergirl will be Berlanti’s third superhero themed television series. Berlanti’s other show, The Flash, is set to premiere later this fall.
Despite Berlanti’s presence, I’m still excited for Supergirl. If anything, it gives a notable DC hero a chance to shine on a live-action series.
What about you reader? Excited for Supergirl? Concerned? Let us know in the comments below!
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The Slickest Assassins! Classic Jokes! Reefer Madness! Prepare for paranoia after euphoria on Public Axis with guest Jason “Shaggy” Gossard!
Recorded at the Pubic Axis F-Stop on September 18th, 2014.
00:00 Welcome to the F-Stop! This week, we welcome back long time friend and poet performance artist, Shaggy, who as you should well know as the MC of PuroSlam Poetry. Speaking of which, PuroSlam is celebrating its 15th year with a quinceanera on October 2nd in which a certain few familiar comedian types may show up. (Um, that’s us.)
15:47 Yeah, Imma Look Into Dat! Topic #1: Who is the greatest assassin in a movie? (Inspired by the film, John Wick.)
36:48 Dad’s Corner(ed)! Topic #2: What is your favorite joke? (Inspired by Larry’s recent realization/affirmation that humor runs in the family.)
59:27 Hey, That’s Not Funny! Topic #3: What’s the worst effect that marijuana has had on you or a friend?(Inspired by an study on green stuff and how it makes sad people happy.)
1:23:48 What Did We Come to Know? Public Axis is an educational program and at the end, we always ask our guests and listeners, “What did you come to know?” Enlighten yourself.
Again, thanks for listening! As always, be sure to check out BLOOD COUSINS, our first feature film! It is waiting for you at bloodcousinsmovie.com! A movie of comedy, terror and revenge – a MUST SEE for fans of this show! Use the promo code FIESTATUBE and score it for $5!
Let your friends know about Public Axis on Facebook and Twitter and keep those Facebook comments coming at our Happy Campers group!
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And so that time of year has come again, the time for the best festival in the world, I’m talking about FANTASTIC FEST in Austin, Texas. If you’re a poor unfortunate who still doesn’t know what Fantastic Fest is, for one week every year, a single location, The Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, becomes ground zero for the weirdest and coolest genre films to see in the world. Sci-fi, horror, mystery, martial arts, and just plain odd all make the rounds here, carefully chosen by the Alamo owner Tim League and his team of experts.
As has been the tradition since pretty much year two of the festival, and this is year ten, Christopher and Brian are lost amidst the madness of the movies, carousing, dangerously heavy drinking, and such, but their heads popped up for a moment, long enough to record this first look at a few of the movies they’ve seen, namely “Dead Snow 2”, “VHS Viral”, and “ABC’s of Death 2”.
Take a look at some of the films you’ll be hearing reviews on soon that showed at Fantastic Fest:
JOHN WICK
Keanu Reeves is a grieving widower whose world is even more shattered when gangster thugs follow him home and steal his car, wreck his house and kill his dogs. But you should probably feel sorry for the gangsters. As one person puts it, John isn’t the Boogeyman, he’s the guy you call when you want to kill the Boogeyman…
TUSK
Kevin Smith gets weird as his film “Tusk” features Justin Long as a shock-podcaster who runs into the WRONG dude to interview; Michael Parks. I don’t want to say too much here, but somebody becomes a walrus.
TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA
The director of “Grave of the Fireflys” and Studio Ghibli bring you a heart-warming and bittersweet animated tale of the little girl from the moon who was adopted by a poor bamboo cutter and grew up to become a princess, even if all she wanted to do was be in love and play in the fields. The Ghibli label means gorgeous and intelligent animation and this is no exception.
and lots, lots, LOTS more.
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It was a dark night, the kind that affords only the most hopeless glints of pale moonlight. The theater hummed with the raw anticipation of impending bloodshed. Liam Neesons entered frame like an ancient wraith with murder in his eyes and a false New York accent dancing off his
J.C. and Brian, duly appointed representatives of The Unusual Suspects, stood waiting for the first bullet to be fired, and Neesons did not disappoint. However, this was not the typical Neesons joint, in which he cuts swaths of devastation through the criminal underworld. A Walk Among the Tombstones was darker, more intense, with more shades of Fincher than remembrances of Taken.
The plot thickens, the review begins, let’s go for a walk.
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So many people said it would never happen. It was constantly rumored, but there just seemed to be no movement with the production. Well, it’s finally happening. In an effort to expand their X-Men Universe, 20th Century Fox has finally revealed that Deadpool, possibly Marvel’s funniest and most violent character, will be receiving his own feature film in 2016.
As of right now, the official release date for Deadpool is February 12, 2016. Yes, you’ll be able to spend time with your one true love on Valentine’s Day weekend, and be able to go to the movies to witness a total psychopath slay dozens of bad guys while talking smack the entire time. Tim Miller is slated to direct, and according to the Hollywood Reporter, there’s a good chance that Ryan Reynolds will star as the fast-talking mercenary. I wonder if the overwhelmingly positive reaction to a certain leak of some test footage might have changed the minds of some Fox executives.
For those that might not be familiar with the comic book character, Deadpool was once a villain in Marvel’s New Mutants and X-Force. After participating in the Weapon-X Program, the same program that gave Wolverine his adamantium skeleton, Deadpool, known only as Wade Wilson at the time, was given an advanced version of Wolverine’s healing factor. However, the experiment left him horribly disfigured and insane. Since his debut, the mercenary has become more of an anti-hero, and is now famous for his talkative nature and tendency to break the fourth wall. Deadpool has had multiple books, but perhaps his most critically acclaimed role as of late was in Rick Remender’s award winning series, Uncanny X-Force.
As Marvel fans and audiences know, this isn’t the first time Deadpool has made a cinematic appearance. Though most people would like to forget, Deadpool was first spotted on the silver screen in X-Men: Origins Wolverine. Arguably one of the worst superhero films ever made, X-Men Origins: Wolverine not only butchered years of comic book history, but it was also known for its embarrassing depiction of Deadpool. By the time we see Wade Wilson’s transformation into the fan-favorite character in the film’s final act, he’s completely unrecognizable. Looking like a cross between Mortal Kombat’s Baraka and a lotion lathered Ryan Reynolds, the thing that is called Deadpool in Origins displays none of the mercenary’s signature abilities or wit. Even worse, the people in charge of the production thought it made perfect sense to sew the Merc with a Mouth’s mouth shut. That makes obvious sense, right?
Hopefully Miller and 20th Century Fox both realize the mistakes that have been made, and actually present Deadpool in the upcoming film as the character that comic fans know and love. Until then kiddos, eat your chimichangas and watch your re-runs of Golden Girls. Deadpool would appreciate it. What about you reader? Excited that the Deadpool movie is finally happening? Let us know in the comments below.
If you have a few extra dimes to spare, please help us help a fan in need. Thank you!
If you have a few extra dimes to spare, please help us help a fan in need. Thank you!
