Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1828

THE SIMPSONS Predicted Gold for the U.S. Curling Team

The triumph of the U.S. curling team at this year’s Winter Olympics was a major upset no reasonable person could have seen coming. And yet, The Simpsons seemingly predicted it almost a decade ago in an episode that sent Homer and Marge to Olympic glory as part of the mixed doubles curling team. Like their counterparts in the real world, Homer and Marge defeated Sweden in the final game.

Via Yahoo Sports, the episode in question was “Boy Meets Curl,” from the season 21 of The Simpsons. For that story, Homer and Marge joined forces with Principal Skinner and his mother, Agnes, at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where they overcame Marge’s shoulder injury to take the gold and stand triumphant on the world stage.

The actual U.S. curling team–John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, and Joe Polo–had a journey that could have easily filled an episode of The Simpsons or a Dodgeball-like movie. After coming up short in the previous Winter Olympics, Shuster wasn’t invited back for this year’s team.  However, he and his teammates managed to earn their spot in the Olympics, and now they’ve carved out a place for themselves as the first U.S. team to ever claim the gold in the sport.

What do you think about The Simpsons‘ latest accurate prediction? “Simpsons did it!” in the comment section below!

Images: Fox

More winter games action!

A Sailor Moon-inspired ice skating routine.
We asked Olympians if The Cutting Edge is BS.
An athlete won a gold medal dressed as Iron Man.

Lettuce Rejoice! AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Is Getting a Blu-Ray Release

Avatar: The Last Airbender left our screens almost ten years ago. Since then we’ve never been blessed with an HD conversion Blu-ray release, but that’s about to change. According to IGN, the show will hit shelves in a shiny new high definition guise this summer. Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series will soon be available for you to bring home on Blu-ray with a lovely box set to celebrate, including multiple chapter audio commentaries, animation tests, and loads more exciting bonus features.

The beloved cult cartoon debuted on Nickelodeon in 2005 and ran for three years and three seasons. Avatar: The Last Airbender introduced us to the fantastical world comprised of four nations and the special people within them–known as benders–who can control one of four elements, as well as other tangibly connected materials. The balance between the four nations has been historically upheld by the Avatar, a reincarnated soul who can control all four elements. But when the Fire Nation attempted to take over the other three nations, the newly reincarnated Avatar–a young boy named Aang–was frightened and fled. Accidentally trapped in ice with giant flying bison named Appa, Aang was awoken after a 100 year slumber by Water Tribe siblings Katara and Sokka.

All caught up? Good, because Avatar is one of the loveliest contemporary cartoons. It’s epic in scope and imagination, garnering a huge fan base during its three year run.

Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge critical and commercial success, so much so that it was followed up by The Legend of Korra, telling the story of the Avatar incarnation after Aang. Though Korra was animated and released in HD, Avatar: The Last Airbender has never been given the same treatment… until now.

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series is out exclusively from Best Buy on May 1 and then nationwide on June 5.

Are you excited to finally see Avatar: The Last Airbender on Blu-ray? Can’t wait to see Aang and Appa looking extra fresh on your TV? Just really, really love Avatar? Let us know in the comments!

Images: Nickelodeon

Keep bending with these stories!

Become a firebender with these gauntlets.
A gorgeous Appa tattoo.
A Legend of Korra tabletop game.

Will Shuri Become BLACK PANTHER in the MCU?

As Black Panther‘s record breaking run at the box office continues, fans are already starting to ponder what the future holds for the Afrofuturist superhero franchise that’s quickly changed the face of Marvel‘s movies. One of the most incredible things about director Ryan Coogler‘s vision for Wakanda is its stupendous ensemble cast, largely comprised of well-rounded and unique women, a rare feat in any Hollywood movie let alone in the homogeneous world of the MCU.

Black Panther is one of the few superhero movies that passes the low bar of the Bechdel test with flying colors. In a film so full of fantastic characterization, it’s often hard to pick a favorite. But T’Challa’s genius younger sister Shuri–played by Letitia Wright–is easily one of the best additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an age. Wright plays Shuri with a joyous intelligence and a fun freshness. Her performance left a lot fans asking: What’s next for the Princess of Wakanda? Well, fellow Shuri fans, strap in because we have some very, very good news.

Originally introduced in Black Panther Vol. 4 #2 in 2005 by Reginald Hudlin and John Romita, Jr., Shuri is the younger half-sister of T’Challa and daughter of Queen Ramonda, who in the comics raises T’Challa after his mother dies. One of the defining features of Shuri’s characterization is how she dedicates her life to being the first female Black Panther from childhood. There’s a great nod towards this in Coogler’s movie when T’Challa asks for challengers to the throne and Shuri raises her hand before making a quip about things taking too long. But in the comics, it’s a real dream she ends up fulfilling. But we’ll get to that a little bit later. Even as a young girl, Shuri attempts to break into the arena to fight the previous Black Panther, her uncle S’Yan, and gain the prestigious title herself. But before she gets the chance, S’Yan is beaten by another fighter–her big brother T’Challa.

Though she had yet to take on the mantle of Black Panther, Shuri played a large part in protecting the kingdom, even defeating Radioactive Man after Ulysses Klaw and a band of mercenaries invaded Wakanda to destroy the secretive nation’s vibranium in Black Panther Vol. 4 #6. After the death of Radioactive Man, T’Challa vowed to help his sister train to become a warrior so she could take over the mantle of Black Panther when the time was right. That would actually come to pass sooner than anyone in Wakanda wanted–even Shuri herself–after T’Challa was severely injured in a jet crash after a mission to meet Namor’s villainous Cabal, leaving Wakanda in need of a leader. Shuri became Queen, and after taking part in the traditional trials, took the heart-shaped herb in defiance of the Panther god Bast–who rejected her–to assume the mantle of the Black Panther.

Shuri has canonically been the Black Panther in the comics, and after her electrifying role in the recent movie, we think she’ll transform at some point in the future of the MCU. If you look at T’Challa’s journey and the direction the MCU is headed as we hurtle towards Infinity War, Shuri as Black Panther makes a lot of sense. In the face of a changing world, one threatened by intergalactic war and space gods, we know T’Challa’s attention will soon be pulled away from Wakanda. We also know from the Infinity War trailer the war will soon be coming to Wakanda. When T’Challa has to leave the wartorn Wakanda to join the Avengers in their fight against Thanos, Wakanda will need someone to lead and we believe (and hope) that person will be Shuri.

Although Shuri is the first female Black Panther in the comics, things in the Marvel Cinematic Universe of Wakanda may be different. When T’Challa visited the ancestral plane where the spirits of deceased Panthers rest, both women and men were there, suggesting Coolger’s Wakanda has potentially seen female Black Panthers already. Also, when Nakia, Ramonda, and Shuri were travelling through the mountains to the Jabari region, Ramonda implored Nakia to take the purple herb and become the Panther herself. So, we know the current Queen of Wakanda isn’t averse to a woman taking on the mantle and becoming the protector of Wakanda. We also know from the final fight scene between Killmonger and T’Challa that nothing in Wakandan lore prohibits two people acting as Panther at the same time. Perhaps we could see Shuri and T’Challa fight side by side in Shuri’s tech-heavy suits rather than as foes.

Letitia Wright’s scene-stealing performance is inspiring. We think the creative minds behind the MCU will hand Shuri the mantle in a permanent fashion. Many fans suspect the Avengers as we know them will soon be no more, and that we’re likely to see a new team made up of T’Challa, Ant-Man, Wasp, Doctor Strange, the upcoming Captain Marvel, and the Guardians. If that happens, then Wakanda will definitely need a new protector, and Shuri’s just the person to do it.

Would you like to see Shuri take on the mantle of Black Panther in the MCU? Want to see T’Challa and his sister team-up in matching Panther suits? Let us know in the comments!

Images: Marvel, Disney

More Marvel!

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Every Marvel movie villain ranked from worst to best.
Disney’s making a Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur cartoon.

Toast ANNIHILATION with ‘The Shimmer’ Cocktail

Annihilation hit theaters on Friday and put Area X in the spotlight. The film, based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, follows a group of scientists into Area X, a.k.a. The Shimmer. The edges of the quarantined zone have the appearance of the surface of a bubble. Inspired by the bizarre border and the odd biology and specimens within (especially the ones I read about in the book), I brewed a botanical gin and tonic cocktail with a sparkle of its own to emulate The Shimmer.

You can make one of your own and toast Annihilation with the below recipe.

The Shimmer

1 serving

Ingredients

3oz tonic water with natural lime flavor

2oz gin (the more floral the notes, the better)

Dash silver foliage luster dust

Star anise

Add the gin to ice in a cocktail shaker. Sprinkle on a small amount of the silver foliage luster dust (mine’s from Sunflower Sugar Art). You want a small amount so you get a subtle shimmer instead of an opaque silver. Shake for 20-30 seconds. This is to mix the luster dust with the gin.

Open the cocktail shaker. Add the tonic water and stir until just chilled.

Pour The Shimmer into your glass of choice. Serving over ice in a rocks glass is more appropriate for a gin and tonic, but to show off the otherworldly look, I poured this into a Glencairn whisky glass.

Once the drink is poured, add one or two whole star anise for aesthetic and aroma.

Will you try The Shimmer? Let us know in the comments. We can’t promise things won’t get weird. If you do craft this cocktail, share images with us on Instagram and Twitter.

Images: Paramount, Aaron Fairbanks

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More about Annihilation!

Our review of Annihilation.
The female cast of Annihilation marks a sci-fi paradigm shift.
Could Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp be Area X?

This Death Star Pet Bed Allows You to Destroy the Galaxy with Cuteness

Have you ever seen something so adorable you don’t know what to do with yourself? That you get hit with so many “aww” feels it drives you insane? The Fowndry has created a cause for these feelings with a Death Star pet bed that’s snuggly instead of fear-inducing.

Reported by Laughing Squid, The Fowndry’s pet cave is in the shape of the iconic Star Wars battle station and made with love. The round shape is perfect for any pet that likes to get cozy. Cats will definitely fit inside the handmade interior, and so will small dogs. Look how adorable they appear! That’s really the way to rule the galaxy.

The bed is made from Velboa surface material. The interior cushion is removable, waterproof, and machine washable–all very important things with pet beds. The base is made of non-slip material. You can’t have a Death Star sliding around the hardwood floor shooting and destroying everything in site, can you?

This is the perfect gift for your dog or cat who enjoys relaxing in the comforts of the ultimate evil in the universe. It’s the perfect cover. “That’s no moon…awww! It’s an adorable little…and we’re caught in a tractor beam again.”

You can order the Death Star for $42 on The Fowndry’s website.

What do you think? Will you be allowing your pet to attempt to rule the galaxy? Or are you more of a Jedi pet owner? Let me know on Twitter at @donnielederer or sound off in the comments below.

Images: The Fowndry

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IKEA’s line of pet furniture.
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A Supercut of DC COMICS Movies’ Fake Deaths

It’s a time honored tradition for movies to attempt to trick the audience into believing an important character has died only to bring them back at the most dramatic moment possible. But the superhero genre goes to that well more often than most–perhaps because comic books have always played fast and loose with the rules of resurrection. Nobody’s going to blink an eye if a superhero appears to die and then come back in time for the final battle. DC Comics‘ superhero movies have so many instances of this that YouTuber Dimitri Bitu was able to put together a supercut of every fake death those films. And don’t worry, the cut isn’t as bleak as you may think.



And what have we learned from this supercut? It’s a reminder only Superman and the Joker have had two fake deaths, although there could be a debate about whether the Man of Steel actually died in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Two different versions of Catwoman also met their fake ends from a high drop. Amazingly, Batman‘s only had one significant fake out death in all of his cinematic adventures. Christopher Nolan almost got away with it too, because The Dark Knight Rises was meant to be Nolan’s final word on Bruce Wayne’s alter ego. Suicide Squad‘s Harley Quinn had the fastest fake death at only a few seconds, which happens to be one of the funniest parts of this video.

What’s your favorite fake death in the DC superhero movies? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Warner Bros.

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An exclusive preview of Wonder Woman #41.
The Doom Patrol to appear in Titans TV series.

Andrew Lincoln Performs a Song for a Departing WALKING DEAD Cast Member

Warning: There are major Walking Dead spoilers ahead if you’re not up-to-date on the show! 

From the very beginning, AMC’s adaptation of The Walking Dead hasn’t been afraid to veer from the comic that inspired it. And with the upcoming mid-season premiere, the show will make its biggest departure from the source material as Chandler Riggs‘ Carl Grimes faces his demise after receiving a zombie bite. The remaining episodes of season eight were filmed months ago, but it’s only recently that Riggs’ co-stars have been allowed to share their feelings about his departure–including Riggs’ on-screen father, Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln.

Via Entertainment Weekly, Lincoln posted his goodbye video for Riggs, and he joked the only plus about the situation is that Rick Grimes won’t have to yell “Carl!” anymore. However, Lincoln quickly added “the minuses far outweigh the plusses.” Then, in a very un-Rick like moment, Lincoln sang a very amusing song that sounds like a reworked version of Camila Cabello’s “Havana.”



Somehow, we think it’s inevitable Lincoln’s heartfelt and funny song will get covers by fans of the show. As much as we’d love to see a metal take on this tune, it would be even more fun if Lincoln could be convinced to perform a studio version before starring in the accompanying music video in full costume with Riggs and other cast members from the show. Admittedly, that’s very unlikely to happen, but we can hope.

The Walking Dead will resume Sunday, February 25.

What did you think about Lincoln’s musical tribute to Riggs and Carl? Sing us a song in the comment section below!

Image: AMC

More of The Walking Dead!

The Walking Dead makes us question who’s a monster.
The theme song’s lyrics are really sad.
The Walking Dead gets renewed for season nine.

MUTE Is Messy, Bland Sci-Fi Cotton Candy (Review)

Based on Duncan Jones‘ debut with the thoughtful, creative Moon, its spiritual sequel Mute is a profound disappointment. Jones has been working on the neon noir for 15 years (since before Moon), and that may explain why so much of it feels like the undisciplined idea dump from a first-time director.

In a nearish future Berlin of the Netflix release, Leo (Alexander Skarsgård) trudges through the city, lanky and distraught; he’s a mute bartender idealistically in love with a scantily-clad waitress called Naadirah (Seyneb Saleh). When her side of the bed is cold and empty one morning, Leo confronts a series of underworld figures to find out what happened while a pair of greasy mob surgeons–Cactus Bill (Paul Rudd) and Duck (Justin Theroux)–navigate the criminal underbelly with their own goals.

The two fundamental problems with Mute are that 1) Jones (and co-writer Michael Robert Johnson) forgot to write a main character and 2) they didn’t rule out any ideas–bizarre, profound, or simple–that roiled through their minds while writing it.

Skarsgård, who’s proven a range from silly to severe, is as good as the giant carved log he uses to bash bad guys. Leo isn’t so much a character as a set of three characteristics. He grew up Amish (which is why a childhood injury took his vocal chords despite surgery’s capability of saving them), he cannot talk, and he’s end-of-the-planet devoted to Naadirah. It’s also not that Leo doesn’t talk; it’s that he hardly communicates. He uses generic sign language once or twice, he scribbles notes sometimes, but most of his story involves Skarsgård staring a confused fashion, like a tan Frankenstein’s monster. He’s less than uninteresting.

The romance between Naadirah and Leo is also hollow and written like a high school freshman’s idea of devotion. As if to match, Leo’s quest for her is weirdly passive; he doesn’t seem to learn anything until he learns everything. He’s far from the unstoppable force of nature that typically catalyzes a mystery like this.

The character vacuum and the lack of momentum in his hunt leaves Rudd and Theroux to shoulder the more vibrant half of the film by goofing off in sleazy places. Like a dumpster-dwelling Hawkeye and B.J. Hunnicutt, they booze it up and refuse to let little things like disgusting sexual assaults get in the way of their friendship.

The center never holds on this movie, and the characters are often erratic in a cardboard way. Rudd has a blast despite being desperately miscast. It’s difficult to go gruff and haggard with an elfin twinkle still in your eye. Skarsgård is broodingly intense, but there’s simply nothing for him to do. In one scene, he gets information he needs because a talkative john (Dominic Monaghan living his best life) keeps talking to a stranger who barges in and literally doesn’t communicate with him. It’s the most convenient plot advancement in a movie with more than a few.

Which is the weird part. The Berlin of Mute is trashy and beautiful and overwhelmingly realized. The film succeeds in one major aspect by dropping us head first into the simmering sci-fi world, not by clunky inorganic exposition dump, but with dozens of details and minor encounters. Even Sam Rockwell’s cameo tying this movie directly to Moon passes with a flash instead of lingering weightily, winking hungrily at the audience and hobbling an already-shaky momentum.

Sometimes it feels like Jackson Pollock went bananas on a paint-by-numbers drawing of Dick Tracy. You get frustrated when the lines peek out from behind the splatter because it seemed like Jones was painting outside of them. Other times you long for the structure that simple cliche would bring. It’s weirdness with a safety net, gorgeously vibrant and dull.

1.5 out of 5 drone-delivered burritos

Images: Netflix

More movie reviews!

Our thoughts on Game Night.
And on Annihilation .
And Isle of Dogs.

Studio Ghibli Celebrates MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Anniversary with a Pop-Up Shop

Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro was released 30 years ago in Japan, and to celebrate the anniversary of their beloved film, Studio Ghibli has joined forces with Her Universe and Kinokuniya USA to create a limited, themed pop-up shop in San Francisco. The shop located at TOTO Concept 190 opened its doors Saturday, and it looks like a slice of Ghibli heaven. The friendly Totoro-inspired decor is the setting for exclusive merch from both Her Universe and Kinokuniya and items like Totoro plush.

Tl;dr: I want to hug pretty much everything in the store.

Studio Ghibli Chairman and CEO Koji Hoshino, above with Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein, attended the opening of the pop-up shop and said: “I am so excited to have this pop up shop in San Francisco. This is one of a kind. It is so fantastic! Please come and join this Ghibli presentation.”

The shop has a focus on Totoro, it’s his special celebration after all, but the offerings encompass multiple Ghibli films. You can see items from Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and more. The more I look at each picture from the pop-up, the longer my shopping list grows. Plus, you can participate in fun activities while you’re there, like making your own Soot Sprite.

Going to the pop-up in San Francisco is free, but you do need to book tickets for your time slot before you go. They don’t have tickets available at the door, so no walk-ins. You can schedule your visit before the pop-up ends on March 18 on Eventbrite. You can get a taste of what the pop-up is like and see exclusive offerings from Her Universe in the gallery below.

Will you be stopping by the pop-up? What do you hope to buy? Let us know in the comments!

Images: Her Universe

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More Studio Ghibli!

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Here’s When Bucky Will Become Captain America in the MCU

The winter of Bucky Barnes’ discontent is over, but when will he finally wield the shield? We have a new theory on today’s Nerdist News Edition about exactly how and when Bucky will go from being the Winter Soldier to Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But don’t just take our word for it–we have videographic proof from Sebastian Stan himself.

Editor’s note: This post and video contain mild spoilers for Black Panther.

If you stuck around for Black Panther‘s post-credits scenes, you already know that Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes is officially thawed out of cryogenic deep freeze in Wakanda, and thanks to King T’Challa’s tech genius sister Shuri, Bucky finally has his mind in a better place. In the post-credits scene, he is referred to as “White Wolf” by local Wakandan children, a deep-cut reference to a character in the Black Panther comics who is T’Challa’s adopted brother that becomes the head of the Wakandan secret police. This also explains why we saw Bucky running around with Captain America in the Avengers: Infinity War trailer, and it sets up a huge plot point that we’re fairly certain is going to come to pass.

via Giphy

“Do you guys think I should be Captain America?” Stan asked a packed audience at Nerdist’s Captain America: Civil War movie marathon in 2016. It seemed like an innocuous question designed to get fans hyped up, but then Stan let the red, white, and blue cat out of the bag.

“You know, I was sitting there in a room with [Marvel] and basically they were saying to me that this is what’s gonna happen: He’s gonna be the Winter Soldier, and then eventually he’s gonna become Captain America,” Stan continued. “And I was like, ‘That sounds great,’ but they weren’t at any point telling me what they are gonna do. They still aren’t.”

Photos of Avengers 4 Set reveal our favorite superheroes to be wearing some sort of talisman on their hands. Perhaps this gives them some sort of reality or time travel ability, hence explaining Captain America's 1st Avengers movie costume. #Marvel #Avengers4 #InfinityWar #Hulk pic.twitter.com/zoklLahizF

— Rap Satellite (@RapSatellite) January 11, 2018

An awful lot has happened since we recorded that clip and when you consider the evidence, it’s becoming clear that Chris Evans’ days as Captain America are coming to an end. Evans’ contract to play Cap expires after Avengers 4, which puts him in the same boat as many of the original Avengers principal cast. However, Sebastian Stan reportedly has four more films left on his Marvel contract after that, which would be enough for a whole new Captain America trilogy and maybe then some. Set photos of what we believe to be Avenger 4 showing Cap decked out in his Avengers (2012) gear have led to speculation that Steve Rogers will die at the end of Infinity War, and we’re seeing the Battle of New York-era Cap in Avengers 4 thanks to time travel or Tony Stark’s B.A.R.F. Box from Civil War.

 

So here’s our big theory: Bucky will indeed become the White Wolf of Wakanda, leading their security forces and the War Dogs, the covert agents they have stationed all around the world. After proving his worth in Infinity War and after Captain America makes Tony Stark’s Age of Ultron nightmare a reality, Bucky will be in a much better position to assume the mantle of his fallen friend.

via Rebloggy

Tony will inevitably survive Infinity War and in Avengers 4, he will either use his B.A.R.F. Box to visit his fallen comrades during the Battle of New York or he’ll travel through time with the assistance of Doctor Strange to recruit past versions of dead heroes in order to help defeat Thanos once and for all.

In the meantime, Bucky will have to get Tony to forgive him for, well, killing his parents…at least long enough for Tony to give Cap’s shield back to Bucky. Then Bucky can finally fulfill his destiny and become the new Captain America in Avengers 4, which would still leave Sebastian Stan with three more films as the second version of the First Avenger.

Of course, in the comics, Bucky isn’t the only person to fill Steve Rogers’ considerable boots. For example, Sam Wilson, a.k.a. the Falcon, took over the role of Captain America in 2014 after Steve Rogers’ age finally caught up with him. Who knows? Maybe Falcon and Bucky could find a way to work together? That would be awfully fun, right?

But what do you think? Who would make a better Captain America–Falcon or Bucky? Who else is going to die in Infinity War? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@DanCasey).