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THE HUNGER GAMES Theme Park Is Open and the Pictures Are Something Else

When I watch The Hunger Games, I can’t say that anything amusing comes to mind, especially not an amusement park. But Lionsgate is opening a whole amusement park featuring Hunger Games and its other franchises in 2019, and as of Friday, The World of the Hunger Games is open at Motiongate Dubai. The themed area features two attractions: a motion simulator called the Panem Aerial Tour and a roller coaster called the Capitol Bullet Train. You can stop by Peeta’s Bakery for food and beverages, shop for merchandise at the Panem Supply Co, or–and this is my favorite–watch a percussion show called Coal Miner’s Clash.

I can only imagine what Katniss Everdeen would think.

The Hunger Games area of the Motiongate Dubai theme park has been open for a full day, which means photos are all over social media. We’re going to check them out, but first, it’s important to know that it sure looks like Motiongate got Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks to reprise their roles as Caesar Flickerman and Effie Trinket for commercials:

The anticipation is over! 5 more days till you experience the action for yourself! #TheWorldofTheHungerGames #MOTIONGATEDubai pic.twitter.com/AhRM6CUJsP

— MOTIONGATEDubai (@motiongateDubai) October 15, 2017

The World of The Hunger Games is OPEN! Book your visit now: https://t.co/XSP0810XgZ#MOTIONGATEDubai #TheWorldOfTheHungerGames pic.twitter.com/GvB7y1qOI0

— MOTIONGATEDubai (@motiongateDubai) October 21, 2017

As for pictures, I have to say portions of The Hunger Games area looks like it’s right out of the films.

Enfrentaria todo meu medo de altura só para ir nesse paraíso

New Captain Picard Toy is the Figure of our Memes

There are so many Star Wars 1:6 figures that it’s refreshing to see Star Trek: The Next Generation get its due in Quantum Mechanix’s new line of 1:6 Trek figures. The first up is none other than Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise — an incredibly faithful recreation of Patrick Stewart‘s likeness from the earliest seasons of the show.

The new Picard figure is 12 inches tall, and it has several points of articulation that can be used to recreate many of Picard’s most famous poses. That includes the following shot of what we affectionately call “Action Picard.”

More impressively, this is a Picard figure that can assume almost all of the poses from our favorite Picard memes. That includes Face Palm Picard:

Toyark’s gallery of photos had the best pics of the new Picard figure, which really captured some of the inherent hilarity that came from putting him in those familiar poses.

Picard’s uniform looks so good that we suspect this figure could pull off the real Picard maneuver. In addition to the various accessories included, the figure also comes with a Star Trek: The Next Generation display base shaped like the delta insignia, which will allow fans more freedom when using Picard’s 30-points of articulation to choose his poses.

The Captain Picard figure is currently available from QMX for $179.95. You can see more pics in our gallery below.

What do you think about the new Captain Picard figure? Engage and set course for the comment section below!

Images: Quantum Mechanix/Toyark

Continue to Go Boldly

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The Todd Glass Show #320: Family Show with Scott Moran

Todd is joined by good friend Scott Moran!

Like The Todd Glass Show on Facebook, follow @ToddGlass, Eric Ohlsen, John Brand Wagner, and Lyricist Joe on Twitter, buy his album Thin Pig and buy his book The Todd Glass Situation!

Disney Brings Sloths to the DMV to Recreate IRL ZOOTOPIA

Zootopia‘s sloth scene was one of the most memorable moments from last year’s animated hit. It was an apt metaphor for the one place that everyone wants to escape as quickly as possible: the Department of Motor Vehicles. But now, the latest installment of Oh My Disney‘s In Real Life series is bringing the joy of sloths into an actual DMV.

The video tows the line of reality: Some of the sloths look and act real, but there’s no way that the sloths are actually trying to operate the machines and function as DMV workers. Plus, the reactions of the DMV patrons were simply too perfect. We suspect that some of the lines from the kids may have been unscripted, as they seem to be genuinely delighted by the creatures. However, the adults were far too willing to play along with the gag. Have you ever met anyone with that kind of patience at the DMV? Now, that’s acting.

Perhaps the most amusing moment from this video is the woman posing for her driver’s license photo, which was lifted straight from the movie. At the speed that sloths move, it’s next to impossible to hold an appropriate expression. But when you think about it, that’s a great explanation for the substandard pics that we normally get in that situation.

Another nice touch was the peak at the sloth breakroom and the sign for the interspecies restroom. We may not want to visit a DMV run by sloths, but at least it’s adorable.

What did you think about this video? Very…slowly…leave a comment below!

Images: Oh My Disney

Thor and Loki Encounter Hela for the First Time in THOR: RAGNAROK Preview

The battle for Asgard is just a few weeks away, and the early buzz from Thor: Ragnarok is incredibly positive. But just because this movie is bringing the laughs doesn’t mean that the stakes aren’t high. In the advance preview below, Thor and Loki are united once more as they meet the goddess of death, Hela. And let’s just say that it does not go well for the sons of Odin.

#Thor and #Loki confront #Hela for the first time in this clip from #ThorRagnarok. pic.twitter.com/dy32i9Acyb

— IGN (@IGN) October 20, 2017

In Norse mythology and even in Marvel’s comic book universe, Hela is the daughter of Loki. But this is clearly the first time that she’s met either Thor or Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This incarnation of Hela also seems to be much more powerful than her comic book counterpart. And we do have a theory about how Hela was able to destroy Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, with seemingly little effort.

There are potential spoilers ahead for Thor: Ragnarok! You’ve been warned!

As related in previous episodes of Nerdist News, we think that Hela’s upgraded power is coming from one of the Infinity Stones. Given that this is one of the last films before Avengers: Infinity War brings everyone in the MCU back together, it would make sense if an Infinity Stone played a major part in this movie as well. We’ll get more answers when Thor: Ragnarok storms into theaters on Friday, November 3.

What did you think about this preview scene? Call down the lightning and share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Studios

Need More Thor Before the Movie Drops?

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Adam Scott and Ben Schwartz Respond To Your PARKS AND RECREATION Fan Theories

We all fondly remember the NBC smash comedy, Parks and Recreation. The charming show regaled us with the goings on of the local government of Pawnee, Indiana. We followed our intrepid hero, Leslie Knope, as she worked to make the world a better place. The show was a pretty straightforward one, but leave it to the internet to take the innocence and simplicity that brought us gems like Treat Yo’ Self Day, Galentine’s Day, and the timeless romances of Ben and Leslie, April and Andy to try to find the show’s seedy underbelly and hidden truths.

On the Late, Late Show with James Corden, a few particularly interesting fan theories were dredged up for Adam Scott (also known as the Ice Clown, Ben Wyatt) and Ben Schwartz (the ingenious entrepreneur Jean Ralphio) to respond to. Take a look, and see what you think:

Let me just go on the record and say that I share Schwartz’s feelings of outrage towards the insane idea that Leslie Knope could EVER embezzle money from the government. Sure, she gave outrageous, expensive gifts to friends and loved ones, but I don’t doubt for a second that Leslie spent hours making a color-coded budget that allowed her to save up for her lavish gift-giving. Plus, she’s too much of a lawful good for embezzlement.

However, the idea that Jerry is secretly a sleeper agent is probably my favorite fan theory since the one about Steve from Stranger Things being Jean Ralphio’s dad. And despite Scott’s stern warning that crossing TV streams tears a hole in the space time continuum like the Ben/Rachel from Friends dating theory does, I’ve got to admit it’s pretty fun to imagine Ben and Rachel together.

Unfortunately, none of these theories allowed the stars to shed any light on the series finale, so we’ll have to continue to guess on exactly where our friends from Pawnee landed (personally, I’ll always be Team President Leslie). Regardless, it’s fun to revisit Pawnee and dream up where our faves are and the truth behind their lives.

What do you think of the fan theories? What are some of your favorite Parks and Rec fan theories that they didn’t address? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: NBC

Keep it in Pawnee

Ben Schwartz describes a scene that was too weird to air
Parks and Rec fan art!
A recap of the show’s series finale

You Can Stream the STRANGER THINGS 2 Soundtrack Right Now

Stranger Things 2 is arriving on Netflix October 27, and while that date cannot get here quickly enough, we’ve got something to help make the time pass a bit quicker. The soundtrack is now officially available for streaming on Spotify. As we’ve come to expect, the score is atmospheric, spooky, and full of 80s goodness.

As Pitchfork reports, the score is composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of S U R V I V E, the same people who scored season one. So obviously, the music is what we’ve come to expect. However, the really exciting part is taking a peek at some of the song titles. While there aren’t any blatant spoilers for the season, it does give us a glimpse into what’s to come.

For instance, the third track is called “Eulogy”. That could be referring to the boys mourning Eleven’s disappearance after defeating the demogorgon, it’s probably in reference to Barb. After all, the Duffer brothers have promised us that we’ll see justice for Barb this season. Maybe this track is letting us know that the people of Hawkins are finally going to acknowledge one of their brightest stars has been taken well before her time.

Another big question this season is when will Eleven join back up with Mike and her friends. After all, the Stranger Things 2 trailers have shown Eleven separate from the boys. Looking at the soundtrack titles, one could guess that maybe she won’t join back up with her friends until later in the season. Track 17 is “Eggo in the Snow”, almost certainly a reference to the food Hopper was leaving in the forest for Eleven.

Track 21 is called “She Wants Me to Find Her”. Could that be referring to Eleven laying down breakfast-infused clues to encourage Mike to find her? Obviously, she’s not the only lady on the show, so it’s possible that title is in reference to someone else. However, it does make sense that maybe Eleven comes back from the Upside Down a bit changed. In fact, track 13 is even called “Birth/Rescue”, and could be referring to Eleven being “reborn” in some way.

And even more fun, the final track is called “To Be Continued”. We’re not even to the premiere of Stranger Things 2, and they are ALREADY getting us hyped for Stranger Things 3. But before we get to a third season, we’ll have to wait until October 27 to get the real story on what’s to come in Stranger Things 2. In the mean time, why not give the Stranger Things 2 soundtrack a stream, and let us know what you think of it (and any theories that you have) in the comments!

Images: Netflix

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Will THE LAST JEDI Unite the Previous STAR WARS Trilogies?

The holiday season is almost upon us, which can only mean one thing: a new Star Wars movie! So on today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we started getting ready for our next trip to the galaxy far, far away by breaking down the latest rumors, reports, and theories from The Last Jedi. But we also discussed a new Stranger Things 2 teaser, and the latest on the Venom movie.

Guest host Amy Vorpahl from Geek and Sundry was joined by senior Nerdist editor Dan Casey, producer Jason Nguyen, and ghost aficionado Andrew Bowser to break down the latest theories for The Last Jedi. Do all those new promos and ads point towards Luke really having gone dark? (Please no.) Are Rey and Kylo likely to flip? What do we make of reports J.J. Abrams hopes to unite all three trilogies in Episode IX? And what about his comments about taking the final movie “elsewhere” and not relying on the past the way The Force Awakens did? Could we see alternate dimensions in Star Wars? What about time travel?

We’re also on the verge of an all new season of Stranger Things, and Netflix just gave us an extra tease-y tease. Is this just a mood builder, or a sign of something big? And how do we plan on watching season 2, are we binging or savoring?

Finally, the Venom movie got its own official twitter account, and word is it starts shooting in San Francisco next month. The hottest rumor right now though is the film will definitely make Venom the movie’s hero by following the “Lethal Protectors” comic arc. Is there any chance he’ll be the villain if that’s true? Which side of the good/evil coin would we prefer to see him in? Is putting him on the West Coast a smart way to keep him away from Peter Parker? And do we like superhero movies with a protagonist that isn’t so clearly defined as a good or bad guy?

Remember, Nerdist News Talks Back airs live every weekday at 1:00 p.m. PST on our YouTube and Alpha channels. Tune in and join the discussion with us. And don’t forget to vote in today’s Monster Madness poll, and to check out today’s Nerdist News where Jessica Chobot is breaking down Snoke’s connection to Rey.

We're in round 2 of #MonsterMadness which of these baddies would win this match-up? #Godzilla or #TheKraken?

— Nerdist (@nerdist) October 20, 2017

Even if missed today’s show, that doesn’t mean you can’t share your thoughts on today’s topics with us–or that you’ll never get another chance to tell us what you expect from The Last Jedi. For one you can talk back to us in the comments below, and two we promise we’ll have plenty more chats about The Last Jedi in the coming months.

The holiday season has only just begun in the galaxy far, far away.

Images: Lucasfilm, Marvel

The 5 Things That Bring Jane Goodall Hope

Let’s not kid ourselves here: the past year has been a fraught and tumultuous one for literally everyone, regardless of politics or anything else. And it can be hard, in times like these, to really see the good in anything. Thankfully, there are people like Jane Goodall in the world. Intrepid souls who refuse to not see the silver linings and ways in which the world has improved (in spite of our inability to perceive it).

So what brings her hope when it seems the darkest? We spoke with the intrepid hero in advance of the world premiere of the latest documentary about her, Jane, featuring footage, previously believed lost, of Goodall and her then-husband, cameraman Hugo van Lawick, as they embarked upon what would end up being the most groundbreaking scientific study of its time. The film itself is a beautiful look at Goodall’s early days, the knowledge she gained from her work, and how she utilized the feedback she received—one based solely on her looks and femininity—to her advantage.

The latest National Geographic endeavor about Goodall—which hits theaters Friday, October 20 and is truly excellent—as directed by Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Cobain: Montage of Heck) and scored by the incomparable Philip Glass, Jane is in and of itself a hopeful endeavor, showcasing all the ways in which we can learn from chimpanzees. It’s an empathetic look not only at a career built on perseverance and kindness, but at all the ways in which we can and should be hopeful about all that is beautiful in the world.

So without further ado, the five things that bring someone as inspiring as Jane Goodall hope. (Warning: it’s as inspiring a list as the woman who made it.)

1.) Young People

“I keep meeting young people who have lost hope in the future and if that happens, we may as well all give up,” Goodall explained matter-of-factly. “So our program, Roots and Toots, which is for young people—from preschool to university [and] everything between—taking action about projects that they choose, wanting to help people, wanting to help animals, wanting to help the environment, rolling up their sleeves and getting out there and doing it. They’re changing the world as we speak. And they’re also influencing their parents, their grandparents. Many of them have been through the programs since ’91 and they’re now in decision-making positions. In these hundred countries where it exists.”

2.) Innovation

“This extraordinary intellect of ours and when we use it in the right way,” said Goodall, “we are coming up with the innovative technology, clean energy and solar and wind. And we’re beginning to think how we can actually take steps in our own individual lives to make less of a heavy damaging foot print on the environment.”

3.) The Resilience of Nature

“We can utterly destroy a place, utterly destroy it, and given time and perhaps some help, it can once again support life,” Goodall reminded us. “It may not be exactly as it was, but I’ve seen so many examples of it. Animals on the very brink of extinction are here because people said, “no, we’re not going to let them become extinct.”

4.) Social Media

Perhaps most surprising was this point. “Used in the right way, we can, for the first time ever, bring people from all over the globe who care passionately about, say, climate change. We can help them to hear each other’s voices, so that they feel strengthened, they don’t feel alone, and they will, therefore, have more hope themselves and take more action.”

5.) The Human Spirit

“People who tackle what seems impossible and won’t give up,” Goodall earnestly stated. “And icons like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, then people I’ve met with terrible disabilities who you’d think would just give up. But, instead they’re out there inspiring every body around them. Migrants who come in with nothing, they’ve lost everything. And yet, they pull their lives together and make success.”

What inspires you most of all? Let us know in the comments below.

Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor, creator/host of Fangirling, and resident Khaleesi of House Nerdist. Find her on Twitter!

Need More Feel-Good Nerdiness?

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Images and GIFs: National Geographic; Giphy

Did an International LAST JEDI Trailer Foreshadow Snoke’s Plan for Rey?

After months of waiting, a new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was released last week, and it gave us plenty of mysteries to think about until the film opens. But what if the trailer has already told us more than we previously thought? An observant fan on Reddit has pointed out some easily missed clues in one of The Last Jedi‘s international trailers. Today’s Nerdist News is breaking down what it may mean for Rey, Luke, and even Supreme Leader Snoke.

There are potential spoilers ahead for The Last Jedi. And these spoilers are a little bit bigger than you may think, so tread carefully, Padawans.

Join the only host who can read Aurebesh, Jessica Chobot, as she guides us through some revealing details that may have emerged. According to Redditer Sleeping-Aran, the Taiwanese subtitles could be indicating that Snoke’s “when I found you” speech isn’t directed towards Kylo Ren. It’s all in the “you,” which is gender specific in Taiwanese. In this case, “you” is given its feminine form, which implies that Snoke is speaking to Rey.

Now, this could simply be a mistake and there’s no guarantee that the Taiwanese subtitles were created with any input from Lucasfilm’s story division. But considering that the trailer seems to be going out of its way to fool fans about who is being addressed, it seems plausible that it’s subverting our expectations by placing Snoke and Rey together for this pivotal scene.

That’s not all. A later scene in the trailer implies that Luke is speaking to Rey when he says “this is not going to go the way you think.” In that case, the implied gender of “you” is male, which makes us think that he could be addressing the Knights of Ren. That could also be Luke’s way of subtly warning them that *bleep* is about to get real.

Finally, there’s Snoke’s “fulfill your destiny,” which implies that he is speaking to a male in Taiwanese. That would probably be meant for Kylo Ren, as he goes deeper into the dark side of the Force. If these translated subtitles are accurate (admittedly, a pretty big “if”), then it means that Snoke has known about Rey for years. He may have even been the one who hid her on Jakku as part of his long-term plans.

What do you think about these potential revelations? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Correction: The video’s subtitles are in Traditional Chinese, which is not exclusively Taiwanese.

Images: Lucasfilm

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