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Rian Johnson Gets Hilariously Sassy with STAR WARS Fans on Twitter

Today was bound to be a big day for Last Jedi director Rian Johnson no matter what. The movie’s first full trailer dropped last night and certain theaters released tickets for the movie’s premiere (and the week following that), promptly selling out countless shows. Now, much to the Internet’s delight, he’s doing a victory lap in the form of jokingly sassy Twitter replies to publications and fans alike.

It’s Luke.

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 10, 2017

Johnson’s reply was nothing if not direct, and as it turned out, the fun was just beginning. 12 hours later, a fan posed a playful question on everyone’s minds, and Johnson delivered, echoing his earlier delivery.

It’s crystalline.

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 10, 2017

Then came this author’s favorite, which combines the ever-popular adorable child on the Internet trope with a response that proves true that old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words”:

pic.twitter.com/koNwJyATNH

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 10, 2017

And those are just the ones that went viral. Hidden within the replies to the Vanity Fair tweet was a pretty decent barb from a fan calling The Last Jedi out as Johnson’s first Joseph Gordon-Levitt-free film. Naturally, Johnson had something to say about that.

Nope! Snuck him in.

Our Best (and Weirdest) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Trailer Theories

Screaming porgs, a Finn/Phasma showdown, Kylo and his cool scars, a terrified Luke, a sweet-looking crystal fox, Rey searching for answers, Snoke in the flesh, and our late Princess in all her General glory. There was a whole lot going on in the new trailer for The Last Jedi, and we broke it all down on a very special Star Wars only episode of Nerdist News Talks Back.

Piloting the ship today for the deepest of dives to the galaxy far, far away was managing editor Alicia Lutes, and she was joined by fellow editor Amy Ratcliffe, Geek and Sundry‘s Amy Vorpahl, Director of Development Brendon Schulze, and Mothership producer Derek Johnson. First they broke down the game tape from the fiercely fought Vikings/Bears Monday Night Football battle.

Kidding.

But they did share what jumped out at them from the trailer, their favorite moments, and whether they thought that final “moment” between Kylo and Rey was real or just some clever editing. They also talked about why Luke looks so worried and to whom his “power” comment might be referring. Also, will Rey’s training sessions with him mirror his own with Yoda on Dagobah? Will she have a telling vision the same way he did there? And do they think Kylo Ren really will fire on his mother’s ship (and yes, we’re still emotional after seeing Carrie Fisher), or is that moment of hesitation a sign of where his story is going?

From there they broke down the most anticipated showdown of them all: porgs versus that amazing new fox! Which team are we on now, screaming ball of fur or elegant crystal fox? Did the presence of some cuddly creatures make up for how little BB-8 and R2-D2 we got? And what about all those new ships like the Dreadnoughts, the upgraded X-Wings, Kylo’s ship, and the mega Star Destroyer? Most importantly, are those sweet Gorilla Walkers enough to overcome one of the old Empire’s biggest flaws: having their shoelaces tied together?

Finally, for as much as there was in the trailer, there were some obvious omissions. Where was the casino planet Canto Bight? What about new character Rose, and that reported Luke and Rey fight with the Knights of Ren? Are we actually glad things were left out? (And not just because it let us make some wild predictions which we definitely won’t be humble about if we’re right.)

And now that director Rian Johnson has retracted his previous statement and encouraged us to “watch it watch it watch it” (as though we weren’t doing that anyway), how many viewings will be required to tide us over until the movie hits theaters this December?

As always, Nerdist News Talks Back was live at 1:00 p.m. PST on our YouTube and Alpha channels, just like it is every weekday. You can get in on the conversation with us when you tune in live.

Because even though technically everything in The Last Jedi trailer happened a long, long time ago, it’s all new to us. And we need to talk about it, or we’ll spend every day until it comes out screaming like a porg on the Millennium Falcon, when wed much rather be as dignified as the elegant fox.

Oh and BEFORE WE FORGET — our Monster Madness poll is still going strong! Who are you voting for this round?

We're kicking off the start of our #MonsterMadness brackets! Our first match-up: #Godzilla v. T-Rex from Jurassic Park. Who wins in a fight?

— Nerdist (@nerdist) October 10, 2017

We still want to hear your thoughts on the trailer, what you’re most excited for, and what you think will happen in the movie. So hit the hyperdrive and talk back to us in the comments below.

Images: Lucasfilm

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Everything We Noticed in the New THE LAST JEDI Trailer

The time has come, Star Wars fans: a new trailer for The Last Jedi is here. It’s dark, ominous, and every other threatening word you can think of–particularly when it comes to Rey. Watch:

Comments from Episode VIII’s writer and director Rian Johnson have indicated that Rey meeting Luke Skywalker doesn’t go as expected. She’s looking for a mentor, and as he’s hidden himself away on the remote Ahch-To, it’s not like he’s searching for students. This trailer shows some of the strain between the two of them, and that Luke, in fact, seems to be frightened of Rey’s extreme power…power that’s similar to Kylo Ren‘s. Things didn’t end well with Kylo, so it’s not a shock Luke is nervous.

Based on the end of the trailer when Rey seemingly asks Kylo for help, it’s possible Luke’s frustration sent her into Kylo’s path–and in front of Supreme Leader Snoke. And hey, Snoke appears to be a Force user after all.

Let’s break down the biggest beats.

The Resistance destroyed Starkiller Base, which seems like it should have been a big blow to the First Order. But these opening shots, with Kylo overlooking a production facility and walkers on the move show their forces are still strong. Considering the Resistance is spread thin, especially with the destruction of the New Republic fleet in The Force Awakens, this is unsettling.

Then we hear the gravelly tones of Snoke. The footage is cut in such a way that he seems to be talking to Kylo Ren when he says, “I saw raw, untamed power and beyond that, something truly special.” What if he’s talking to Rey? As we see later in the trailer, they encounter each other face to face. Luke uses the word “raw” about Rey’s power, too.

Speaking of Luke. Rey makes it clear she’s come to find him because she wants help directing and learning about her Force abilities. They’re awake and she wants to know how to use them. But, her strength clearly freaks him out. Seeing a frightened Luke is also unsettling. In fact, unsettling is the word I’d use for the whole trailer. I’m worried.

Luke mentions he’s only seen that sort of raw strength once before, and it didn’t scare him enough then. Now, he feels differently. He was already in a withdrawn space, so maybe in his fear, he boots Rey off Ahch-To.

Luke’s sibling Leia isn’t having an easy time of it either. Part of why Kylo Ren killed his father Han was to push away remnants of his past that he believed were holding him back from tapping into his full potential. I don’t think he found the satisfaction he was looking for. Instead of digging deep to soul search, he appears to have made the leap that all he has to do to get where he needs to be is to kill Leia. Perhaps Snoke encouraged this.

The look on Leia’s face as she sensed her son approaching—yay Force powers!–chilled me to the core. Fortunately, Kylo seems to be doubting his actions.

What is up with his weird face implant? He idolizes his grandfather so much that he could be trying to add machined parts in order to be more like Darth Vader.

All I could really focus on in the next few seconds was the porg crying beside Chewbacca in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. They’re away from Ahch-To, so my logical conclusion is Chewie has chosen the porg as his new best pal. But while I’m distracted by porg cuteness, the Falcon is racing through tunnels laden with red crystals.

Kyber crystals are a part of Star Wars mythology that have been discussed more in recent books, comics, and in Rogue One. They’re living crystals, and in order for them to turn red, they have to bleed—which means someone has infused a huge amount of crystals with pain and anger. That is seriously bad news. Kylo and Snoke could be responsible.

Elsewhere in the Resistance, Finn is having another encounter with Captain Phasma and it doesn’t look like she’s backing down so easily this time. She undoubtedly wants to kill him. Note Finn’s fighting with the same style of weapon that FN-2199, a.k.a. TR-8R, used to take Finn out on Takodana. Finn’s trooper training means he’s capable of using it well.

I’m living for the design of these foxes. They appear to be running for cover on Crait. I’d like if they’re this base’s version of tauntauns.

The planet Crait with its white surface and crimson dirt has been featured in previously released footage. It looks like the Battle of Crait will be a thing. The world was once home to a Rebel Alliance base in the Galactic Civil War and has become a haven for the Resistance.

Look, it’s Snoke in the flesh and not as a hologram! He looks mean and also angry. I can’t tell if his discussion with Rey isn’t going well or if he’s testing her limits. He seems like a tough love sort of teacher. Seeing Snoke meet with Rey is shocking, but it’s not the only aspect that made me take note. This scene indicates Snoke’s a Force user and a powerful one at that.

Finally, we have the heartbreaking moment of a desperate Rey looking for assistance with her Force abilities. She’s only encountered one other Force user besides from Luke, and she turned to that person. Kylo extends a helping hand (the Reylo hashtag on Tumblr is probably lit right now). Note that Kylo doesn’t have the face implant here. Rey could be talking to him in a Force vision, or they could have this conversation early on in the film.

The second installment of the sequel trilogy sure seems like it will be similar in tone The Empire Strikes Back. A heavy weight is pressing upon everyone. If Rey and Kylo team up with their apparent super Force powers? The galaxy could be in trouble.

The Last Jedi will be in theaters on December 15 and tickets are on sale now.

What did you think about the latest trailer for The Last Jedi? Did they show too much or not enough? Use the Force to reach down to the comments and share your thoughts and theories.

Images: Lucasfilm/Disney

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. She likes Star Wars a little. Follow her on Twitter.

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Does the New JUSTICE LEAGUE Trailer Promise a Sillier DCEU Movie?

New York Comic Con has come and gone, but it left behind a shiny new, upbeat Justice League trailer. On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we discussed if it has us excited for the film, along with McDonald’s disastrous Rick and Morty-inspired Szechuan Sauce promotion, and what we expect from the upcoming trailer for The Last Jedi.

Joining host Jessica Chobot to form our very own “Nerdist League” were editors Kyle Anderson and Amy Ratcliffe, as well as Nerdist News writer Aliza Pearl. They started by breaking down the latest Justice League trailer. Are we pumped for the movie, especially since it seems to be a lot sillier and more fun than the previous DCEU movies? How much of Joss Whedon‘s touch do we see here? And what other outdated catchphrases should they give Aquaman?

From there it was time to head to McDonald’s to NOT get a hold of any Szechuan Sauce, which was barely available this past Saturday. Rick and Morty fans were not pleased (that’s an understatement). But did any of us stand in line to get some? Will its widespread return this winter makeup for this fiasco, or is McDonald’s just feeding into the worst type of fans? (In fairness, the sauce is really good and everyone should get a chance to try it.) And what other promotion would we love to see return?

Finally it was time to head to the galaxy far, far away, to discuss The Last Jedi trailer that will premiere during Monday Night Football. They broke down the already released teasers for the trailer (what a world), and whether Star Wars fans would be better off going in to the movie “blind,” like director Rian Johnson said he’d be okay with, despite how good the trailer apparently is.

If you want to get in on the conversation with us, Nerdist News Talks Back airs live every weekday at 1:00 p.m. PST on our YouTube and Alpha channels. We’re sillier than that Justice League trailer, always available unlike Szechuan Sauce, and we won’t make you watch football to get to the good stuff.

We still want to hear from you about today’s topics though, so head into our comments section below to share your thoughts.

Images: Warner Bros., Lucasfilm

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This THOR: RAGNAROK Poster from South Korea Pays Homage to Classic Art

We are only a few weeks out from Thor: Ragnarok, and fans are excited for the next Marvel film. From the awesome looking trailers to its retro feel, director Taika Waititi’s apparent “outside the box” approach to the third Thor installment looks to be hitting all the right chords. That thinking has definitely transferred over to the film’s promotional material, as the South Korean poster is something different, yet to some may seem familiar.

Reported over at i09, this international poster is an homage to artist Gim Hong-do’s original, “Sangbak.”

“Sangbak” depicts two men engaged in a wrestling match, surrounded by Korean townspeople. The film’s poster has Thor and Hulk having their battle from the trailer, surrounded by the movie’s supporting characters. What is interesting about the movie poster is that each character in the crowd is based on someone from the original painting. Loki is carrying a concession tray. The Grandmaster is holding a fan in front of his face (although the choice to cover up Jeff Goldblum is questionable). The artist of the poster looked to recreate the parts of the original that stood out to them, and it’s cool to compare the two and try and figure out why.

In today’s age of movies, there seem to be two extremes when it comes to posters. Either it’s a photoshop extravaganza (like Spider-Man: Homecoming), or the work and time are put in to make something really unique. In this case, It’s awesome that Marvel chose the latter.

Thor: Ragnarok opens in the U.S. on November 3.

What do you think? Is this the Thor poster you would want hanging in your home? What other great works of art would you like to see re-done as a superhero movie poster? Let me know on Twitter at  @donnielederer or sound off in the comments below.

Images: Marvel Studios/Gim Hong-do

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Playing with Your Food Has Been Turned Into a Video Game

There’s at least one way that babies and toddlers have fun that us grown-ups can’t achieve. Well, it’s not that we can’t do it; it’s more that we choose not to because we don’t want to deal with the consequences. Our clothes will be filthy, our skin and hair will get sticky, and the dining room will be absolutely gross. Yes, we’re talking, of course, about the time-honored art of playing with your food. It’s a ton of fun, but is it worth it?

These are questions we don’t need to ask ourselves thanks to a new game called Nour, which is currently in the middle of a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter (via Kotaku).

This is a food game, but unlike most food-focused titles, it’s not a cooking game, but rather, “an interactive exploration of the aesthetics of food,” as creator Tj Hughes writes on Kickstarter. He goes on to explain that the game is an open sandbox, in which you explore how different food items will react to being jostled around:

“The game doesn’t limit your play with goals or objectives; you’re free to have open-ended fun while you play with your food, without the mess to clean up afterwards. You are presented with scenes full of ramen noodles, boba tea, popcorn, and you mash buttons at will to interact with the food in curious and unconventional ways.”

The Kickstarter campaign has eight days remaining, so check it out here, and let us know in the comments below if you’re ready to dig your claws into a big ol’ bowl of ramen.

Images: Tj Hughes

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Bird Sings the Theme for Studio Ghibli’s MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO

Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli‘s animated films are truly masterpieces of the medium that deserve to be treasured. Miyzazki has been compared to Walt Disney, but that’s not a fair comparison to Disney. While the man behind Mickey Mouse may have innovated feature length animation, Miyzazki perfected the art behind it. And the appreciation of Miyazaki’s efforts may even transcend their appeal to humans, if this otaku loving bird is any indication.

Via RocketNews 24, a Japanese twitter user going by the name of Jasmine Fragrance posted a short video of his female white-faced cockatiel, Emi-tan, as she serenaded him with her rendition of Joe Hisaishi‘s theme from My Neighbor Totoro, one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli movies.

エミたん？さっきから何度も言ってるけどね、それトトロじゃないから … pic.twitter.com/H7e8DHaQwm

— Jasmine fragrance (@J_grandiflorum) September 29, 2017

Now, for those of you who know your Miyazaki, or if you can read Japanese, you’ll immediately realize that it isn’t My Neighbor Totoro on the TV screen. It’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky. As RocketNews 24 suggests, “Kimi wo Nosete” would have been a more appropriate music choice for the bird.

Perhaps its the music itself that appeals to Emi-tan, and she’s simply repeating a theme that she’s heard many times before. But if this bird really does recognize the Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli style then we’re happy to give her honorary otaku status. And we would be honored to share a seat on the Catbus with any creature that can appreciate the beauty of these films.

What do you think of this anime music loving bird? Sing us a song of joy in the comment section below!

Images: Studio Ghibli  

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RICK AND MORTY Fans Went Too Far for McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce

Earlier this year, the third season premiere of Rick and Morty kicked off a renewed interest in McDonald’s Szechuan sauce which culminated in last weekend’s “one day only” return of the suddenly popular condiment. And to say that the event did not go as planned would be a huge understatement. Instead of being a fun branded way to celebrate the show, the outcome of this promotion didn’t make the fans look good at all. Today’s Nerdist News is taking a look at what went wrong with the return of the Szechuan sauce.

Join host and the only McDonald’s customer to order a “Pickle Rick BLT,” Jessica Chobot, as she dives into the nationwide chaos. As reported by The New York Times and various other outlets and fans on Twitter, McDonald’s was extremely unprepared for the fan demand, and it provided several stores with less than 100 packets of Szechuan sauce for crowds of hundreds and even thousands of irate customers. Fights broke out, and there are currently unconfirmed rumors of a stabbing. Police were called to restore order across the country. In Los Angeles, there was at least one McDonald’s that was overrun by fans who demanded to get the Szechuan sauce.

Even though the corporation wildly underestimated demand and put its franchises in the crosshairs of some unruly crowds, the fans behaved, on the whole, in the extreme. The employees of the McDonald’s and the ordinary patrons were swept up in something that they had no control over, and it’s shameful to see the way this played out in city after city. From an outside perspective, it appears that people felt that they “deserved” to get their Szechuan sauce, and that justified some of their ugly behavior. It is just a condiment, and the entitlement, whether sarcastic or genuine, simply made fans of the show look bad.

According to CNBC, scalpers have been selling the packets of Szechuan sauce for hundreds of dollars on ebay. And it’s certainly possible that greed played a part in driving the crowds at the participating McDonald’s. While we sympathize with the fans who waited in line for hours and left empty-handed, this entire debacle has left a black eye on Rick and Morty‘s collective fandom.  It may take a long time for that impression to go away.

You spoke. We’ve listened. Lots more #SzechuanSauce and locations. Details soon. And that’s the wayyy the news goes! pic.twitter.com/ooIrbZBsOw

— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) October 8, 2017

McDonald’s has promised that the Szechuan sauce will make another return soon, presumably with the supply issues addressed. Hopefully they’ve figured out how to avoid these issues next time. Perhaps Rick and Morty fans should also take a moment to learn from this incident. You are the ambassadors for this series and for the larger fandom. Please behave accordingly. Despite what Rick Sanchez says on the show, there’s a lot more to life than just a few packets of dipping sauce.

How do you feel about the Szechuan sauce promotion and the accompanying response? Let’s talk about it in the comment section below.

Image: Adult Swim

How David Bowie Created Magic for One Child at a LABYRINTH Screening

When we hear negative stories about celebrities we admire, it can be disheartening. So, when stories about celebrities we love turn up that show how amazing they really were as human beings, it’s a nice breath of fresh air. Case in point–the legendary David Bowie. We’ve learned via Tor.com, that some thirty years back, when Jim Henson‘s fantasy film Labyrinth was first released, Bowie took the opportunity to help out an autistic child in a moment of need.

The story was told by a man named Paul Magrs, who is now sharing the story as told to him by his friend, who is an autistic man. The story goes that some 30 years back, his friend, who freely identified as an autistic person (and not just “shy” or “withdrawn” as was the usual case years ago) got to meet the legendary rocker at a special screening of Labyrinth just for kids. Bowie had always publicly acknowledged his struggles with fame, so it’s clear he had special empathy with this young boy. Here’s what the boy, now an adult, recollects about meeting the Goblin King himself:

“I was withdrawn, more withdrawn than the other kids. We all got a signed poster. Because I was so shy, they put me in a separate room, to one side, and so I got to meet him alone. He’d heard I was shy and it was his idea. He spent thirty minutes with me. He gave me this mask. This one. Look. He said: ‘This is an invisible mask, you see? He took it off his own face and looked around like he was scared and uncomfortable all of a sudden. He passed me his invisible mask. ‘Put it on,’ he told me. ‘It’s magic.’ And so I did. Then he told me, ‘I always feel afraid, just the same as you. But I wear this mask every single day. And it doesn’t take the fear away, but it makes it feel a bit better. I feel brave enough then to face the whole world and all the people. And now you will, too.

I sat there in his magic mask, looking through the eyes at David Bowie and it was true, I did feel better. Then I watched as he made another magic mask. He spun it out of thin air, out of nothing at all. He finished it and smiled and then he put it on. And he looked so relieved and pleased. He smiled at me. ‘Now we’ve both got invisible masks. We can both see through them perfectly well and no one would know we’re even wearing them,’ he said. So, I felt incredibly comfortable. It was the first time I felt safe in my whole life. It was magic. He was a wizard. He was a goblin king, grinning at me. I still keep the mask, of course. This is it, now. Look.”

David Bowie changed that young man’s life with an act of kindness, not with his music or movie roles, like he did for the rest of us. This was just an example of how good David Bowie the person truly was. Last year, when we lost Bowie to cancer, the man who relayed the story confessed that he cried upon hearing the news that the man whose kind gesture changed him had passed. Although almost none of us had the personal connection with Bowie that he had, it’s safe to say many of us openly cried that day too.

Did this true story make you emotional like it did for us? Be sure to chime in with your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: The Jim Henson Company / Sony Pictures

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HARRY POTTER’s Childhood Home Is Up for Sale

Let’s hope you’ve been depositing all those spare sickles and knuts in your savings account at Gringotts, because you finally have the opportunity to buy Harry Potter‘s childhood home! Via Entertainment Weekly, the location used for Potter Cottage in Godric’s Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One is the latest spot from the films to be put up for sale. Both the Dursley residence and Hermione Granger’s home were listed in 2016, but this, the De Vere House, is the most magical of them all.

Photo by Rob

The home, which is going for over $1 million, is located in Lavenham, Suffolk. It’s reported to be the second most photographed home in all of the United Kingdom (second to the Prime Minister’s home at 10 Downing Street). That may not be ideal for residents, but on the upshot, the six-bedroom medieval home is gorgeous. It’s the prime opportunity for an Airbnb or Harry Potter LARP.

Oh, and did I mention Lavenham is known for its 15th century church and homes? It’s a preserved Medieval village, for goodness’ sake! Living there would be like residing in Godric’s Hollow, but without Voldemort busting in and trying to use Avada Kedavra on anyone. Get additional details and see more photos in the real estate listing.

Let’s say you had endless piles of money. Like, Scrooge McDuck money. Would you spend it on Harry Potter’s childhood home or other locales from the films? Apparate to the comments and let us know.

Images: Warner Bros., Giphy

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

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