Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1737
June 6, 2018
These Marble Rube Goldberg Basketball Trick Shots Are Incredible
One advantage that basketball has over many other sports is that it’s pretty convenient. You don’t need to a ton of equipment or room to play: You can put up a cheap hoop in your driveway, get yourself a ball, and have at it. You can also effectively practice alone: You can’t really play football or baseball by yourself and improve your skills, but it’s easy enough to get some shots up on your basketball hoop and watch yourself get better. Basketball is uncomplicated, but if you want it to be more complicated, than this video is for you (via Digg).
In this video from YouTube channel DoodleChaos, they’ve set up a bunch of mini Rube Goldberg machines, filled with a bunch of chain reactions involving wooden blocks, levers, balls, string, and other implements to fulfill the ultimate goal of getting the orange ball into the “hoop” (a semicircle made of magnetic balls). Things start off pretty simply, with “shots” involving just a lever or two, but naturally, the tricks get more complicated towards the end, with a ton of moving pieces and larger, more complex setups that ultimately put the ball in the hoop. It’s also a bit of an ASMR experience: Just hearing the balls and other things roll around on the table with no background music is pretty soothing.
Are you impressed? What other sports (or even non-sports things) would be cool to see emulated in this format? Let us know what you think down in the comments!
Featured image: DoodleChaos/YouTube
This Stop Motion Video Shows You Can Dance Without Actually Moving
Ryan Higa is a real OG YouTuber: He started uploading videos in 2006, and became one of the site’s first popular personalities. He’s been active ever since then, and over the years, he’s made videos about a variety of topics, and they all have one thing in common: If they involve dancing in any way, Higa isn’t super good at it. That’s not me disparaging him, as it’s something he admits himself in his latest video: “If you’ve been watching this channel long enough, or if you happen to know me personally in real life, you would probably know by now that one of my biggest weaknesses in life is that, well… I can’t dance.”
What he decided to do, instead of simply learning how to dance like any of us would do, is he figured out a way to dance without moving: stop-motion video (via Boing Boing). With the help of a few assistants in black full-body suits, Higa, without moving a muscle, is positioned into a position, a photo is taken, then he’s moved, and so on and so forth, all to make it look like he’s pulling off some pretty slick moves. Stop-motion also gives Higa the power to manipulate his environment, his stomach, and the laws of physics in ways that aren’t super possible in reality.
He also uploaded a 14-minute behind the scenes video if you want to learn more about what went into the making of his workaround to actual dancing:
What else would you like to see Higa give a shot, albeit in a roundabout way like this? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comments!
Featured image: nigahiga/YouTube
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A stop-motion pumpkin animation years in the making.
PS4’s Visually Stunning TETRIS EFFECT Has VR And A Time-Warping Mode
Tetris has been a video game staple since 1984, and since then, it’s been re-released countless times at this point. Some of these updates have been mainly aesthetic re-workings, while others have experimented with adding new game modes and ways of playing. It’s managed to stick around all this time because its gameplay is simple and timeless, as fun, challenging, and engaging now as it was 34 years ago. The classic title is set to get another new version, and it seems like it found novel ways to present the classic title, both in terms of visuals and gameplay.
Tetris Effect is the game in question, and there are three things about it that immediately stick out. First, it looks amazing: The trailer (which Sony insists in a blog post uses only game assets) shows off a game that looks like a vibrant combination of Tetris and a library of iTunes visualizers. Secondly, the game will have VR support, meaning that you’ll be able to surround yourself in these colorful environments. Finally, there’s a new gameplay feature that sounds promising: The “Zone” mechanic will allow players to stop time so they can get themselves out of a sticky situation, or perhaps take advantage of the still Tetriminos to build up some huge combos (clearing 12 lines at once is apparently possible). Tetris has been re-released to death at this point, but it looks like Tetris Effect brings enough to the table that buying Tetris for the umpteenth time might not be a bad idea. More details about the game (as well as its release date) will be revealed at E3 Thursday, so time will tell.
What do you think of Tetris Effect? Is it just a simple facelift, or are the new features worthwhile? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Featured image: Sony
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Is Superboy Joining The Live-Action TITANS Series?
The live-action Titans show on the upcoming DC Universe streaming service hasn’t even premiered yet, but already we are learning about characters who are going to show up throughout the course of the first season. Aside from the main cast of Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, and Hawk and Dove, we’ve recently learned that longtime Teen Titans from the comics series like Wonder Girl and Cyborg would be joining the series as well, with possibly larger roles in a potential second season.
The latest rumor, coming via the folks at That Hashtag Show, strongly suggests that another long standing member of the team will probably be appearing in the Titans season finale — none other than Superboy, also known as Conner Kent. According to the original report, Titans is currently casting for someone named “David,” although that is clearly a code name just used for casting. “David” is described as the following:
“A 20-something Caucasian male with dark hair who is powerful and merciless, so much so that he has recently unleashed chaos on the people who have been keeping him a prisoner in a mysterious lab. When we find “David”, he will have recently have escaped this lab.”
This description fits Superboy to a T. The character debuted in the comics after The Death of Superman storyline in 1993, as a young clone of the Man of Steel. (He didn’t like being called “Superboy” at first, but eventually he got used to it.) Superboy was sort of a half-clone, as the scientists who sought to replace Superman couldn’t clone his Kryptonian DNA completely, so they had to infuse some human DNA into the mix, making Superboy a mix of Kal-El and Lex Luthor, his human donor. He escaped from his lab before becoming a full adult, and embarked on a heroic career. Once established, Superboy, given the name Conner Kent, joined Young Justice, and later, the Geoff Johns version of the Teen Titans. Although Conner Kent is currently missing in the post –Rebirth DCU, there have been strong hints he is on his way back soon.
Geoff Johns is one of the key players behind the Titans series, and so it makes sense for Superboy to show up there at some point. Last year, we suggested that Conner Kent would be a great addition to the Titans series, and it looks like the higher ups at DC Entertainment agreed with us. Conner Kent made a few appearances in live-action before, on the final season of Smallville. The animated version of Conner is a staple of the Young Justice series, which is also returning via the DC Universe streaming service this fall.
Are you excited about seeing Conner Kent as a member of the Titans? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics
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Val Kilmer Reenters the Danger Zone in TOP GUN: MAVERICK
Tom Cruise isn’t the only one heading back into Top Gun‘s Danger Zone. Val Kilmer has reportedly signed on to reprise his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick.
According to The Wrap, Kilmer was spotted in San Diego near the Top Gun: Maverick set although Paramount Pictures declined to comment on the initial report. The film began shooting earlier this month. Kilmer’s involvement with the sequel isn’t a surprise, as he announced his desire to return as soon as it was offered to him three years ago.
Kilmer later clarified that he had prematurely announced his return. But it appears that Iceman will once again take flight in the sequel.
In director Tony Scott’s 1986 original film, Kilmer’s character was the primary rival to Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as they competed for the Top Gun trophy as fighter pilots for the Navy. However, their relationship softened by the end of the film when they developed a mutual respect for each other.
It’s currently unknown how Iceman and Maverick’s professional relationship has developed over the intervening decades, but the sequel will focus on Maverick’s position as a mentor for a new generation of fighter pilots. The rest of the cast has yet to be announced, but Tron: Legacy helmer Joseph Kosinski is directing the sequel.
Paramount will release Top Gun: Maverick on July 12, 2019.
Are you excited about the onscreen reunion of Kilmer and Cruise? Ride on to the comment section below and let us know what you’re thinking!
Images: Paramount
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Is a Solid Summer Sci-Fi That Promises Something Bigger (Review)
Warning: This review contains minor spoilers for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
The original Jurassic Park turns 25 years old in a couple of days, which is a hefty cross for J.A. Bayona’s fifth entry in the franchise to bear. But the Spanish horror director handles the task of a new Jurassic movie with style, and even manages to add something new to the near 30 years of dinosaur canon.
Topping 2015’s Jurassic World wasn’t going to be hard, but with Fallen Kingdom, Bayona manages to craft something that almost feels new… at least once you get past the opening 30 minutes, which essentially rehash the plot of Jurassic Park: The Lost World with a volcano and a lot more explosions. Once the island erupts, however, Bayona really finds his footing, showcasing a knack for directing massive action that we’ve yet to really see from the filmmaker. But no one who saw his vastly underrated A Monster Calls will be surprised to discover that he manages to humanize the lumbering prehistoric monsters who are slowly coming to terms with their fiery fate.
The film’s central duo is given far more to work with in this entry. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire has an entirely different personality from the first movie, which, while a vast improvement, is never really explained by Trevorrow and Connolly’s script. Granted, she and Owen are still the least engaging characters in the film, so it’s handy that their supporting cast is excellent, with their young cast mates seeming like a fantastic choice to front the inevitable sequel. Justice Smith’s Franklin, Daniella Pineda’s Zia, and Isabella Sermon’s Maisy add a much needed freshness to the cast, almost giving the film a young adult feel, which is exciting and much closer to classic ’80s and ’90s family films than your average modern blockbuster franchise.
Bayona’s background in horror really shows. Once the action heads back to California and the estate of John Hammond’s excommunicated old partner (played by James Cromwell), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom goes full gothic terror with a giant mansion, a child with a dark secret, and a dying old man. Rafe Spall’s villainous Mills works really well alongside Toby Jones’ mercenary business man Gunnar Eversol as the mustache twisting billionaires who can’t wait to exploit the creatures of Jurassic World. Bayona treats the huge Lockhart estate like it’s a spooky house haunted by the misdeeds of the men who built it… oh, and by dinosaurs, of course. Yup, the second and third acts of Jurassic World are essentially Insidious but with a genetically modified raptor hybrid, and it’s at times genuinely terrifying.
Bayona uses space magnificently, whether it’s the introductory shot of the colossal gate opening into the thought-to-be-abandoned Mosasaurus lagoon on Isla Nublar, or Maisy cramped into the tiny dumbwaiter pulling herself up through the eves of the house. What’s more, the director manages to imbue every moment with a palpable tension. Though he could go for easy jump scares, Bayona prefers to tease the reveal, with plenty of tricks of the light and glimpses of the horror to come. That also creates a far more realistic look for the special and visual effects provided by Industrial Light and Magic, leaps and bounds more living and breathing than the computer generated creatures that filled Colin Trevorrow’s vision in Jurassic World.
Ultimately, Fallen Kingdom commits to its hard sci-fi roots, making some bold choices that seem to fit far more in the world of a Michael Crichton book than a Hollywood franchise. For this reviewer, it worked. The film’s attempts at a message about the lives and rights of the creatures we create hit home in a way that the franchise has often missed out on. A third act reveal will be unlikely to surprise, but it’s a fun twist that is well built up by Bayona and crew, with one of our new recruits playing a refreshingly vital role in the survival of the core cast in the sprawling mansion.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s biggest achievement is what it promises us in its final moments. As Jeff Goldblum’s dulcet tones issue a terrifying warning, we get a glimpse at a brave new world. It’s one that many of us have wanted to see since we first read the notorious unmade script for Jurassic Park 4, or even since we saw the T. rex on the boat to the mainland in The Lost World. The Earth has been irrevocably changed by the men who dreamed of bringing these ancient creatures back to life, and as three pterodactyls fly across the sun echoing the final moments of the original movie, you can’t help but want to see more of this Jurassic World.
Rating: 3.5 burritos
Images: Universal
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June 5, 2018
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Reviews Aren’t Sure If Entertainment Found a Way
When the original Jurassic Park was released 25 years ago, it was a hit of unparalleled size. Its two subsequent follow up films, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, never really lived up to the original film’s greatness or its box office success. When Jurassic World hit theaters in 2015, it rode a wave of nostalgia for Spielberg’s first film that led it to earning all the money. But much like the original film, can Jurassic World’s second chapter, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, live up to the perfect storm that greeted the first movie?
The review embargo has lifted, and it seems history is repeating itself, as the early word on director J.A. Bayona‘s film is mixed at best. Based on many reactions, the movie takes a turn into an almost haunted house style film; some critics loved that, but just as many seemed annoyed by the switch in tones.
Chris Nashawaty at Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B+, which isn’t too shabby, but said “The less you try to dissect it, the more you’ll enjoy it.”
“Bryce Dallas Howard, thankfully, gets more to do than the last go round (and in combat boots, no less!), Pratt busts out his signature Indiana Jones cocktail of can-do heroism and deadpan sarcasm, and Bayona and his screenwriters (Trevorrow and Derek Connolly) test the laws of incredulity with varying degrees of success. At least, until the final half hour when forehead-slapping hooey finally win out. Up until then, Fallen Kingdom is exactly the kind of escapist summer behemoth you want it to be.”
John DeFore at The Hollywood Reporter also to enjoyed the film for what it was, saying “Fallen Kingdom ends with an act that is just about impossible to believe outside the context of a fiction that, like DNA, is driven solely by the need to replicate itself.”
“This is said to be the second film in a trilogy. But Fallen Kingdom’s closing scenes seem intent on something far bigger, like a Planet of the Apes-style saga that has barely begun. You don’t remake reality in a film’s final frames without intending to milk things for as long as the public will keep buying tickets. If future installments are this rich and exciting, that’s probably going to be a while.”
The Village Voice’s Bilge Ebiri is less effusive, saying Fallen Kingdom is still better than the first Jurassic World, and yet still somehow not very good.
“Don’t get too excited, though. Even that idea — dinosaurs in a mansion! — doesn’t get explored in any truly involving way. There are missed opportunities all over Fallen Kingdom. “
Matt Singer at ScreenCrush suggests all logic in this franchise has gone out the window, saying “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a character in any movie do something as dumb as several of the things the characters in this movie do — and I wrote a whole piece ranking the dumb characters in the first Jurassic World”
“Connolly and Trevorrow’s script can’t decide whether dinosaurs are beautiful creatures worth saving, or monsters who must be destroyed at all costs, and the result is a deeply confused movie about the wonder of nature — and also about what it looks like when an indoraptor bites the hand clean off a man’s arm.”
Digital Spy’s reviewer Matt Chapman seemed to dig the film’s turn from a typical mega summer blockbuster into something more akin to a slasher film. He also makes a comparison to another beloved sci-fi franchise, saying “At this point the Jurassic franchise also fully mimics the tropes of the Alien movies: genetics gone mad; corporate dark dealings; near unstoppable (but extremely photogenic) killer creatures. All that’s missing is an android with questionable ethics.”
“Over familiarity also means the expected horror uptick doesn’t pay off – particularly given the high number of last-minute reprieves. The initial joy of Fallen Kingdom’s action extravaganza is tempered by the smaller-scale feel of its second half, even as a strong ending suggests another evolution in this storyline. All of which balances out into a perfectly enjoyable franchise entry – just one that lacks the bite of previous outings.”
Over at Den of Geek, writer David Crow asks “How do you continue a profitable franchise when, for the story to progress, characters need to make stupid decisions?”
“The fifth Jurassic Park movie, a film that is aware that the nostalgia keg that gave plentifully to the last several entries in the franchise runs the risk of tapping out—so it preemptively scrapes the bottom of the barrel for narrative ideas that include exploding volcanoes and velociraptors rummaging around a haunted house like they’re Christopher Lee.”
Emma Stefansky of Uproxx is more positive, saying “there is a little bit of the wonder and joy that made the original so special embedded deep within Fallen Kingdom, which I credit to Bayona, whose primary drive, even in genre fare like this, has always been to sprinkle just enough emotion into the stories he tells.”
“The dinosaurs in Fallen Kingdom do look much better than the ones in Jurassic World, though it still kills me that these movies have utterly sacrificed the slow menace of practical-effects creatures for ones that move fast but are completely made up of pixels. One thing I will say: Fallen Kingdom, unlike Jurassic World, really gets how much we love the dinosaurs that have become familiar to us over the years.”
And Owen Gleiberman of Variety “didn’t find any of this stuff especially fun.”
“At certain points you may find yourself ticking off the themes. Greed gone rampant among the globalized gilded class? Check. The sinister potential of genetic engineering? Check. The need to protect endangered species? Check. The privatizing of military action? Check. The eerie implications of cloning? Check. The danger of weaponized dinosaurs? Check.”
Sounds like a lot of the reaction to the first Jurassic sequel twenty years ago, although I would say somewhat better than that. Are you still interested in making a return trip to Isla Nublar? Let us know in the comments.
Images: Universal Pictures
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Magical Moving Disney Pins Will Make Your Day
Pin collecting has stepped up its game. Currently on trend, enamel pins adorn jackets and bags but it’s the most eye-catching pins that will capture oohs and aahs from fellow pin fanatics. At the Disney Parks you’ll find the most devoted of pin collectors, showing off their favorite rides, characters, and more.
Grape Soda Club has reached next level with their newest Disney-inspired pin collection—not only are they colorful, but they have the added attraction of motion! Nothing like a little interaction to pique interest. These beautiful pins have pops of magical surprises that are sure to delight any Disney fan.
A post shared by GRAPE SODA CLUB (@grapesodaco) on Nov 4, 2017 at 5:50pm PDT
They specialize in the indecisive park-goer, with so many options at Walt Disney World it can be hard to choose where to start off your day. A Parks Spinner Pin does your choosing for you, so that you can move forward and enjoy a day at your favorite place.
A post shared by GRAPE SODA CLUB (@grapesodaco) on Nov 28, 2017 at 8:44pm PST
Can’t decide on Disney treats? There’s a pin for that too, though I admit—I own this pin—and I just move it to Dole Whip. You can’t beat an old favorite.
A post shared by GRAPE SODA CLUB (@grapesodaco) on Jun 4, 2018 at 11:08am PDT
Cinderella fans will love their newest tribute to the Disney princess. This sweet pin is such a cute idea, it changes from a pumpkin to a glorious carriage with just one little spin. Grape Soda Club plans to have necklaces versions of this pin available by the end of the month.
A post shared by GRAPE SODA CLUB (@grapesodaco) on Apr 29, 2018 at 10:34am PDT
If you’re a Disney Pixar fan who gets choked up at the movie Up, hold tight—this pin is a heartbreaker. The Adventure Book pin is on a hinge that opens up to a tiny dry erase whiteboard so that you can write down your adventures or a note to your one true love.
Check out more of Grape Soda Club’s fantastic pins on their instagram and at grapesoda.co.
Which of these movable pins will inspire you for a day at Disney? Let us know in the comments and tag @nerdist and @justjennrecipes on instagram to show off your flair!
Images: Grape Soda Club
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Can BUMBLEBEE Revive the TRANSFORMERS Franchise?
We got the first trailer for Bumblebee, and it looks like it could be a very different kind of Transformers movie. On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we discussed if it could get the franchise back on track, along with the new trailers for The LEGO Movie 2 and Mortal Engines.
Jessica Chobot was joined by Nerdist News writers Aliza Pearl and Joey Clift, as well as video editor Adam Murray on today’s trailer round-up show, and they started with the trailer for Bumblebee. Are we on board for this, and could it be the jump start the franchise needs? And is it time for the Rick Roll joke to finally be ejected from our tape deck for good?
We also received a trailer for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, and it had some major Mad Max vibes. Did the original even need a sequel? Are we happy it calls out the lazy trope of a bad ass female needing to be immediately rescued, or do we expect they’ll go even further with the gag?
Finally, we also got a full trailer for the dystopian action film Mortal Engines, produced by Peter Jackson. Are we excited for him to help bring this world to life, or would we prefer to see him back in the director’s chair? If we could drive any city around like a giant car which one would we pick?
Remember Nerdist News Talks Back airs live at 1PM PT every Monday through Thursday on our YouTube and Alpha channels, and we end the week in entertainment with Nerdist News What the Friday at 1PM PT, exclusively at Alpha. Whether we get no new trailers or all the new trailers, we always want you to tune in and talk about the biggest pop culture stories of the day.
What did you think of all of these teasers? Talk back to us about them in the comments below.
Featured Image: Paramount
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Jared Leto’s JOKER Getting His Own Solo Movie
So wait a minute…how many individual, concurrently made Joker movies do we need? It’s long been known that The Hangover‘s Todd Phillips is directing an origin movie of the Clown Prince of Crime produced by Martin Scorsese and reportedly starring Joaquin Phoenix. This movie would be outside of any ongoing DC Extended Universe continuity. Now, Variety is reporting a completely different Joker movie is in the works, starring Suicide Squad‘s Joker, Jared Leto, which presumably will take place entirely in continuity. No plot details are known as of now, but Leto will also executive produce the movie.
According to the piece, the idea is in the same vein as the Margot Robbie-headed Birds of Prey movie, one that will “expand on the world created by Suicide Squad and tie into future installments of that property.” Robbie’s Harley Quinn was the clear standout of the otherwise dingy and weird Suicide Squad, so a spin-off featuring her makes perfect sense. Leto’s Joker, on the other hand, felt little more than a weird cameo, a nod to a movie that might have been had the movie not needed extended reshoots.
The current list of announced projects on the DC Comics slate of movies at Warner Bros is hefty, and there are now four Joker-family movies announced, with Suicide Squad 2 as the fourth which is still evidently on the way. This is not to mention The Batman which may or may not have Ben Affleck in it, and could easily have the Joker as well, though it looks more likely it’ll be the Penguin.
Do we need a Joker movie at all, much less two? Is that the biggest joke of all? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Images: Warner Bros.
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist and an avowed DC Comics fanboy. Follow him on Twitter!
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