Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1890

There’s a Secret Theme Bar for Nintendo Creators Somewhere in Japan

It’s been over three decades since Nintendo redefined the home console market and carved out its place in video game history. And for years, the creators behind many of Nintendo’s biggest game series have had their own place to relax and drink. It’s called 84, and it’s one of the most exclusive bars in Japan. Ordinary Nintendo fans can’t simply visit 84, but it is very real, and even its location is largely a secret. But a new report at Tofugu has offered gamers a rare glimpse into the gaming bar of their dreams.

Tofugu’s detailed story introduces fans to Hashimoto, the man who founded 84. Hashimoto’s friends call him Chōkan (Chief), and the walls of his establishment are adorned with a collection of artwork that would be the envy of any Nintendo fan. The signed illustration of Mario by Shigeru Miyamoto was one of the highlights, but far from the only one. Rockman/Mega Man creator, Keiji Inafune, Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai, and more have also contributed to 84’s walls.

via GIPHY

According to Chōkan, only half of his regular customers hail from the video game industry. The rest of his exclusive customers are “comedians, musicians, manga artists, [and] pro-wrestlers.” Fans and drinkers who don’t fall into any of those categories can still get into 84, but only if they are accompanied by a member as their guest. So it’s not an impossibility, it’s just not easy.

To fully appreciate what Chōkan has created, you should absolutely read the full story at Tofugu; which also has exclusive photos of the artwork mentioned above. We may never get to visit 84 in person, but that report is the next best thing.

Are you enticed by the existence of 84? Pour out a drink and share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Images: Nintendo

More gaming fun!

Kirby has become a popular snack in Japan
You can get Zelda items in SKYRIM now
A Mario movie may be in the works!

Guillermo del Toro Turned Down the UNIVERSAL MONSTERS Universe

With every new revelation at the projects visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro COULD have made but didn’t, a new poison-tipped arrow gets shot into our movie-loving hearts. From At the Mountains of Madness to Justice League Dark to The Haunted Mansion (and, oh yeah, The Hobbit), we still marvel at what our alternate universe Blu-ray shelves might have looked like if things had gone a different way. But according to a new interview with The New York Times, del Toro admits that, out of all the projects he’s turned down, the one he now regrets is helming the Universal Monsters universe.

Del Toro has always maintained that saying “no” to offers is a way for a filmmaker working within the studios to keep some modicum of power over their own work. In the past, he’d been offered things like Thor, I Am Legend, and Man of Steel, and he even turned down Pacific Rim Uprising, a sequel to his own damn movie, in order to make The Shape of Water (which, honestly, good call). Still, in 2007, he was offered the reins to Universal’s entire classic monsters range and he wishes he’d said yes.

I’ve said no to things that are enormous and I’ve never looked back, you know? The only time I repent I didn’t do something was in 2007, when Universal in an incredibly gentle and beautiful manner said do you want to take over the Monster Universe? And they gave me the reins of several properties, and I didn’t do it. That I repent. So this is a confessional moment, I repent. That’s the only thing.

After the utter botchery of Universal’s Dark Universe–started and ended with this summer’s snooze The Mummy (my review)–we were incredibly bummed, since classic Gothic monster movies could have been excellent. But the notion of these movies coming from Mr. Monster himself, and the fact that we could have had them 10 years ago, AND the fact that we didn’t and won’t get them, is almost too much to take.

Del Toro’s cinema has always had an affinity for the monster in movies like Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, and Hellboy, and The Shape of Water is maybe the apex of this ideal. As much as we love del Toro’s original ideas, seeing him tackle Frankenstein or The Creature from the Black Lagoon would have been, to quote an emoji, *Pizza Chef*.

But alack and alas. Here’s to what might have been.

Images: Fox Searchlight/Criterion/Universal

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He is the writer of 200 reviews of weird or obscure genre films in Schlock & Awe. Follow him on Twitter!

Get hyped on the latest news!

Disney has cast the lead for its live-action Mulan !
Black Mirror‘s most frightening trailer for season 4 yet!
The possibility that Justice League gave Ben Affleck his exit from playing Batman!

Scientists Say Glitter Poses Major Environmental Hazard, Call for Global Ban

“All that glitters is not gold,” including actual glitter. But that’s not because the annoying shiny stuff is impossible to ever clean up, it poses a serious environmental hazard to our oceans and sea life. That’s why some scientists are calling for a global ban of it, especially in cosmetic products.

Environmental anthropologist Dr. Trisia Farrelly told The Independent that glitter can cause harm to our oceans because it’s a type of microplastic, which are especially destructive as they accumulate in the world’s bodies of water. The National Ocean Service says “plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our ocean and Great Lakes,” and defines microplastics as any plastics that “are less than five millimeters in length.” That why it’s easier for them to make their way through drains, ultimately resulting in their consumption by fish and other sea animals. Most glitter is made of aluminum and a type of plastic that releases a harmful chemical to both fish (and therefore humans who might eat those fish that microplastics aggregate in) when it breaks down.

Environmental hazard is why microbeads, another type of microplastic, were banned from cosmetics and personal care products in the U.S. in 2015, and why a similar law will go into effect in the UK next year. But scientists say glitter should be the next microplastic to go, because their prevalence in numerous items, including many cosmetics that end up being washed away, are potentially just as bad.

Although this doesn’t have to be the end for glitter entirely, because instead of plastic it could be made from a biodegradable material. Not only would that be great for the environment, it would mean that stupid little speck we can’t get rid of on our face would eventually disappear. That would be a golden solution to all our glitter problems.

What do you think? Should glitter be banned entirely? What about just from cosmetics? Share your thoughts in our comments section below.

Featured Image: An Knook

More in Weird Science News

Study claims Pokémon GO has caused 100,000+ traffic accidents
Autonomous warships are poised to haul giant guns across the oceans
The scientific secret to blocking bullets like Wonder Woman

Nerdist Comics Panel #127: Marc Bernardin Part 1

Heath Corson (Justice League Action) deep dives into the secret origin of Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock, Fatman on Batman) as they chart the bon vivant’s ascent from journalist to comic book writer to television writer to podcast royalty.  Part One of Two.

Follow @BenBlacker and @HeathCorson on Twitter!

Cashing In with T.J. Miller #182: Swimming Uptown

Cash and T.J. talk about musicals, the Meisner technique, Goodwill,  Charles Barkley,  flannel pants. Dustin Hoffman, Robert Deniro, Mackey Sasser, Bread, Bette Midler, booing, fame,  humpday, Dwarf Banderstomp, fire hazards, and ask the question,”Why is it always Tuesday at TGI Fridays?”

 

This episode was fashioned together at Michaels, listen while making a scrapbook….

 

Follow @CashLevy and @nottjmiller on Twitter!

Does a Zack Snyder Cut of JUSTICE LEAGUE Even Exist?

Zack Snyder fans are petitioning Warner Bros. to release his cut of Justice League, but does another version of the movie even exist? On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we discussed if fans are demanding to see an imaginary movie, along with what to expect from tomorrow’s Infinity War trailer, and a roundup of big casting news for famous mutants, witches, and a certain doctor of doom.

Bizarre States‘ Andrew Bowser, producer Jason Nguyen, and Nerdist News writer Aliza Pearl joined host Jessica Chobot on today’s show, and they started with the petition from some DC fans for the release of the Zack Snyder cut of Justice League. One problem though is that it might not exist, after a VFX artist who worked on the film said Snyder hasn’t touched the movie since March. But is there any chance his version exists somewhere? Would we want to see it? Why do we think fans are so adamant about getting his “cut?” And in this era with so many editions of the same film, how do we decide which one the definitive version?

Today Marvel also gave us a spoiler-free teaser for tomorrow’s long-awaited release of its Infinity War trailer. Today’s tease featured past instances of fans being excited over the upcoming release of other MCU trailers. (:insert the Inception “BRAHM.”) Is this peak teaser-teasing? But when we actually do get the trailer tomorrow, how many of the movie’s numerous characters do we expect to see in it? And are we more excited see it or Thursday night’s Jurassic World 2: Fallen Kingdom trailer?

Thank you to the best fans in the universe! Avengers #InfinityWar trailer tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/TO8EzCf95m

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) November 28, 2017

There’s also lots of casting news from Hollywood, so we rounded them all up including what to make of Fox’s decision to go with a hard “R” rating for James Franco’s Multiple Man mutant film, Selena Gomez possibly joining Riverdale as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Ben Mendelsohn’s desire to play Doctor Doom in a Fantastic Four movie.

Finally, today on Twitter we got word from MTV that an infamous show will finally get a followup. So what’s the “sitch” with this Jersey Shore revival? Did we enjoy the original, which some might say defined a generation? And what elements of the original show do we expect to show up in this reunion?

Remember Nerdist News Talks Back airs live every weekday at 1:00 p.m. PT on our YouTube and Alpha channels, so make sure you tune in with us so you can be a part of the conversation. But please don’t ask about the Zack Snyder cut of the show. We swear it doesn’t exist…and if it did it would be much darker and less fun.

We still want to here from you though, so share your thoughts on today’s topics in our comments section below.

Images: Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm

The latest stories about DC Comics!

Aquaman originally had more screen time in Justice League.
Harley Quinn’s getting an animated series.
7 things we learned from Doomsday Clock #1.

CARTOONER Tabletop Game Casts Players as Comic Book Artists

Have you ever wanted to become a comic book artist? Even for fans gifted with artistic talent, that’s not the easiest road to go down. However, there’s a new tabletop game called Cartooner, which puts players in the role of comic book creators as they frantically create their own title while chasing the ever-elusive fame and recognition of the industry. While the game may be easier to play for artists, the following video demonstrates why anyone can play Cartooner regardless of how well they can draw.

Cartooner: A Game of Drawing Comics was designed by Jason Bradley Thompson and Jumana Al Hashal, with illustrations by Konstantin Pogorelov. It’s the spiritual sequel to Japanime Games’ Mangaka: The Fast & Furious Game of Drawing Comics, with some changes made to the gameplay for this title. Essentially, the game takes place over five rounds, as players write and draw a four-page comic within a very fast time frame. Each comic is conceived from three randomly created theme cards, before trend cards invite the creators to pile on additional elements no matter how crazy or nonsensical. The game’s point system is based on the “fame” acquired by the players, which is judged by how many trends and themes they were able to execute. The art doesn’t have to be perfect, and even stick figures can be used to win.

A Kickstarter campaign for Cartooner is currently underway, and it will run until December 18. A $40 pledge will give backers a copy of the game, while higher pledges offer cameo appearances within the game, custom comic book stories, and the chance to create topic and theme cards for the finished version.

What do you think about the concept behind Cartooner? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Japanime Games

More of the latest nerd news!

Own a roomful of pop-art Doctor Who posters!
7 nerdy charities to give to this year!
Why Atari’s Pong matters after all these years!

Just Like Dart, This STRANGER THINGS Fan Art is Cute and A Little Creepy

As a die-hard fan of Stranger Things there’s no doubt you’ve binged every episode a handful of times and know it on an molecular level. You’ve likely shaved your head, bought every Eggo waffle from local stores, and built a sensory deprivation tank of your own. And although you’ve probably caused a few nosebleeds from concentrating too hard on dormant super powers, season three isn’t rolling around any sooner.

So why not satiate your craving for more Upside Down antics and take a look at the creepycool renderings a fan artist put on Instagram recently?

A post shared by Ilustracion/bags/love (@chocotoycute) on Nov 7, 2017 at 7:34am PST

Venezuelan artist ChocoToy has been bringing their distinct artistic style to the world since 2012 and recently set their sights on the supernatural happenings in Hawkins, Indiana as an inspiration point.

A post shared by Ilustracion/bags/love (@chocotoycute) on Nov 4, 2017 at 8:02pm PDT

The style, as described on Chocotoy’s Facebook page, aims to look like something between toys and candy. We can see both elements in the Stranger Things kids but there’s also avibe harkening back to the cuteness of the Cabbage Patch Kids mixed with the horror of The Garbage Pail Kids movie.

A post shared by Ilustracion/bags/love (@chocotoycute) on Nov 6, 2017 at 12:11pm PST

And while we love that the design on Eleven’s portrait includes tiny Chocotoy brand waffles levitating around her, we’re simply enamored with this look back at season one Dustin and his missing teeth.

A post shared by Ilustracion/bags/love (@chocotoycute) on Nov 2, 2017 at 12:36pm PDT

There’s so much to love about every one of these, but we desperately need to see some season two renderings, STAT. Hopefully Chocotoy is hard at work on versions of punk rock Eleven, pre-demo-Dart and the rest of the Demodogs, superhero Bob Newby, and—fingers crossed—school dance Dustin with his expertly coiffed hair.

Let’s discuss what characters you’d like to see in this style in the comments below!

Keep it weird with more Stranger Things stories!

This salamander looks like a baby Demogorgon.
The hidden connection between Eleven and Hopper.
Dacre Montgomery’s bananas Stranger Things audition.

Featured Image: Netflix

Did JUSTICE LEAGUE Give Ben Affleck His Batman Exit?

During the press tour for Justice League, Ben Affleck once again signaled his desire to leave Batman‘s cape and cowl behind by saying he was looking for a graceful way to exit. Even within the film itself, Affleck’s Dark Knight acknowledged the physical and mental toll of being the Batman for an extended period. It’s pretty all-consuming for the man who has to play Batman as well. Today’s Nerdist News is exploring a few options to deal with Batfleck’s departure that may not even require a solo Batman film.

Join host and Condiment King’s archenemy, Jessica Chobot, as she shines the Batsignal on the possibilities. Perhaps the most intriguing option is the Flashpoint movie, which is based upon the storyline that rebooted the DC Universe into the New 52. That created younger versions of each character. It would be pretty amusing to see Affleck as Batman during the beginning of that film, only to be replaced by a younger actor at the end of it.

It might make for an easier transition if Bruce Wayne literally retires as Batman and passes the mantle along to his favorite “son,” Dick Grayson. Too bad there isn’t a Dick Grayson in the DCEU! At least not yet. There is a Nightwing movie in development. Supposedly Matt Reeves‘ top non-Affleck choice for The Batman is Jake Gyllenhaal, so perhaps he could star as Nightwing before taking on the cape and cowl.

Another alternate way to go would be to follow the example of the comics. Batman has “retired” before, either by choice, injury, or disappearance. Sending the character off the stage for a few years could give Bruce Wayne a rest before he inevitably returns (with a new actor in place) to take back the mantle of the Bat. As much as we like the idea of a Dick Grayson Batman, the role rightfully belongs to his mentor. Plus, it would be kind of a downer for Batman to finally make friends with the Justice League only to abandon them shortly thereafter.

The one thing that we can pretty much guarantee is that there will always be a Batman. It’s been half-a-decade since the last solo Batman film, which is an eternity in today’s movie landscape. Whether Affleck stays or goes, Warner Bros. won’t let the role stay empty for long.

How would you handle Ben Affleck’s exit from Batman? And who should be the next Dark Knight? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Warner Bros.

Read more about Batman!

Ranking every live-action Batman movie.
Ben Affleck stole Batarangs from the Justice League set.
The Justice League Batman Hot Toys figure.

Watch a Trailer for Every Modern Blockbuster Movie and Learn How It’s Done

Dundundundundundundun…BRAHM! “We need to get out of here.” BRAHM! “It’s too late…This time we…are the prey.” You know the beats of most modern-day action trailers, but nobody’s ever broken them down quite as succinctly as Auralnauts have in two and a half minutes.

If you don’t know Auralanauts’ previous work, they are masters of audio editing, responsible for the best Kylo Ren parodies this side of Matt the Radar Technician. So, it isn’t clear if they’re using actual clips of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or just doing a really good impression. But either way, they remind us that the trailer for San Andreas is the absolute epitome of all their rules.

Here’s the damnedest thing: it works. I don’t even know what the hell the Auralnauts’ generic trailer is about, but based on audio alone I want to see it. If it has that many money shots, even if I have no clue what they’ll actually look like, plus a villain with that kind of line-reading, it’s gotta be good! It has to be better than that movie I saw this past summer, I’ll tell you that!

Also, San Andreas was good. Mostly.

Besides, that whole “slow cover of vintage hit pop song” thing? It was really kicked off by Donnie Darko and “Mad World,” which worked out super well. Can’t blame others for trying to copy success.

Did they miss anything in the edit? Let us know in comments below.

Image: New Line Cinema

NEED MORE HAPPY TRAILS?

Auralnauts bring you the best Kylo Ren ever.
Except maybe Undercover Boss “Matt.”
Also from Auralnauts: R2-D2 has a voice, dagnabit!