Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1968

Watch BB-8 Mess with His Evil STAR WARS Twin, BB-9E

There’s a lot we’re hoping to see in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Rey becoming even more of a badass as she trains to be a Jedi, Luke explaining why he bailed on everyone he knew, and–fingers crossed–Chewbacca’s preferred way to cook and eat a Porg. Adding to that list is any and all interaction between BB-8 and his jet-black First Order counterpart, BB-9E. Thankfully, Star Wars‘ twitter account gave us a little taste a few months early.

The Mirror Match. #StarWarsBlips pic.twitter.com/Gi05f5gNBm

— Star Wars (@starwars) September 2, 2017

The short 40-second animated clip gives us everything we need to know about the two spherical droids’ relationship. The happy-go-lucky BB-8 literally runs (or rolls) circles around the Dark Side astromech and leaves him completely out of sorts. The clip is part of the #StarWarsBlips that seem to focus on the day to day (battery)life of BB-8. Whether it’s comparing abilities with R2D2 or showing off some footage of his hero to some droid buddies.

The droid the droids are looking for. #StarWarsBlips pic.twitter.com/H00dgppDvR

— Star Wars (@starwars) September 3, 2017

Recently, The Last Jedi seems to be paying a lot of attention to the sidekick characters and their general cuteness which likely means one of two things. Either the main plot of the film is so dark that we’ll need them to lighten the mood or we’re finally getting the Chewbacca and droid-centric movie we’ve always wanted.

What’s your favorite #StarWarsBlips so far?  Any idea what sort of wine pairs nicely with Porg?  Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: Star Wars

More from a far-away galaxy!

Droids and Aliens get their own Royal Mail stamps
A wampa snow globe
Check out the new trailer for the final season of Rebels

Is KINGDOM HEARTS Coming to Disney Parks?

Disney Parks don’t, for the most part, lack in merchandising. They have plenty of apparel, toys, snacks, and Mickey ears for you to spend money on–except when it comes to the Kingdom Hearts franchise. It’s hard to find evidence of the Disney and Final Fantasy combo video game in the theme parks. But maybe that’s about to change

Thanks to Inside the Magic, we learned Donald Duck and Goofy appeared in their Kingdom Hearts costumes at Epcot on August 31 at a Cast Appreciation Party. It’s probably a good thing I was nowhere near the event because I would have lost my mind in an unbecoming fashion over meeting these guys in person.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYebCusgNqd/

The Kingdom Hearts characters almost never appear in the parks. In the past, Donald, Goofy, and even Sora have appeared at Halloween events. We’re not in the Halloween season yet (that kicks off in Disney Parks in mid-September), so maybe they’re dusting off the costumes and prepping them for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. Or maybe it’s more. Maybe we’re finally going to see a Kingdom Hearts presence at Walt Disney World and other resorts.

Donald Duck and Goofy make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts attire at Cast Appreciation Party at Epcot!https://t.co/lNv7VY5ffQ pic.twitter.com/HaVXAiK7z2

— KH13.com (@KH13com) September 4, 2017

Kingdom Hearts III is on the horizon with a 2018 release date. They’ve been promoting the next, long-awaited chapter of the game this year with new trailers and the announcement about having a Toy Story world. To boost the hype, they could do character meet and greets. They already have the costumes on hand. And as far as merchandising? Forget about it.

They could sell t-shirts, Organization XIII hoodies, pins, costume hats, and Keyblades. Do you know how much moolah you could squeeze out of Keyblade replicas? They could offer miniature sizes of the various keyblades and so much jewelry. Plus, they could sell sea salt ice cream popsicles!

Do you want to see Kingdom Hearts characters and products in Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments.

Want to read more about video games?

Mario is no longer a plumber.
Learn about Atari’s new handheld console.
Does Uncharted need Nathan Drake?

Featured Image: Square Enix/Disney

The Writers Panel #350: Tim McKeon/Stacey Sher

Producer Stacey Sher’s films include Adventures in Babysitting, Reality Bites, The Fisher King, Get Shorty, Pulp Fiction, Erin Brokovitch, Django Unchained, and many, many more. She discusses her successes and her role in making so many landmark films, her stint at Danny DeVito’s Jersey Films, working with writers and directors, and her current job as the co-president of Activision Blizzard Studios.

Plus: a short chat with returning guest Tim McKeon (creator of Odd Squad) about his new Amazon pilot, Will vs the Future, a YA sci-fi comedy about the boy who may destroy the future and the girl sent from the future to prevent that from happening. Will vs the Future is available to watch now on Amazon, and you should! And if you like it, please leave a review!

Follow @BenBlacker and Like the show on Facebook!

New DOOMSDAY CLOCK Art Teases a Role for WATCHMEN’s Rorschach

This fall, the world of Alan Moore and David Gibbons‘ Watchmen will collide with the DC Universe in Doomsday Clock, a 12-issue limited series by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Ever since DC Universe Rebirth #1, Johns has teased a confrontation between the godlike Doctor Manhattan and Superman. But the newest piece of Doomsday Clock art suggests that at least one other Watchmen character will play a role… even if he’s still dead!

Needless to say, there are some spoilers ahead! Consider yourselves warned!

If the quote at the top of the image didn’t tip you off, then the cover of Batman‘s new book should give it away. It’s Rorschach’s journal, which was last seen buried in New Frontiersman‘s “crank file” on the last page of Watchmen. In his final entry, Rorschach revealed that Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias was behind the horrific attack on New York–an event orchestrated to reap peace among human society, who’d be united despite their differences to battle the fake threat of an alien invasion. Doctor Manhattan annihilated Rorschach to keep him from revealing the truth.

This image also seems to confirm that someone is playing games with the DC heroes, which has never been Doctor Manhattan’s style. The Comedian’s button was left in the Batcave as a cryptic clue for Bruce Wayne, who couldn’t have possibly known the significance of it. Rorschach’s journal is a much more overt warning. Rorschach may not have directly implicated Doctor Manhattan in the journal, but it could be the way that Batman and Superman finally learn who and what he is.

DC also announced that Doomsday Clock will be given a spotlight panel at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 6th at 6 pm EST on the main stage. At that panel, Johns will publicly reveal the first pages of Doomsday Clock #1, ahead of its release on Wednesday, November 22nd.

How do you think Rorschach will play into Doomsday Clock? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: DC Comics

Maximum Internet: Rocket-Powered Katana Slices Flying Drone in Half

There is a prophecy that says one day all of the good and bad of the internet will be brought into balance with the perfect YouTube video. Many have theories on what this video will look like — most of which involve a dog in a funny hat — but we now have our own idea of what the rest of it will include: a sword, a drone, and a rocket.

This video from David Windestal‘s YouTube channel features a rocket-powered katana slicing through the air down a track and cutting a flying (but tied down) drone nearly in half. In slow-mo. To paraphrase a line from This is Spinal Tap, “It’s like, how much more internet can this be? And the answer is none, none more internet.”

The sneaky MVP of this video might actually be how inexplicably hard it is to find a katana in a haystack. Who would have guessed. And even if it’s not as difficult as finding a needle, at least you don’t run the risk of cutting off your arm with a needle.

While watching a katana attached to a rocket makes us turn into Bill Hader’s Fear from Inside Out, this is still top-notch internet, so much so that if they had found a way to make a golden retriever in a fedora turn the whole thing on it might have proven to be the Chosen One.

What do you think? What would be involved in the perfect internet video? Tell us in the comments below what yours would look like.

Images: David Windestal

Need More Katana? You Always Need More Katana

Watch a master swordsman slice a 100mph fastball.
You do NOT want to fight a katana-wielding robot.
Do you want to eat an ice cream katana?

Mermaid Cafe Makes Magical Aquatic Rainbow Treats

I want to be where the people are. I want to see, want to see ’em eating. Walking around with those, what do you call ’em? Oh, drinks! Mermaid culture is giving unicorn life a run for it’s money as far as instagram-worthy lifestyles go and while we can’t live and breath underwater, a new cafe is bringing the water fairy life up to the surface.

Mermaid Island Café is an imaginative mermaid-inspired dessert shop in Pathum Thani, Thailand. Best Products thinks the enchanting cafe might be the most magical place on earth and we think they’re right.

Guests are welcomed by the sight of magical pink and purple interiors and walls lined with mermaid murals. Even the tables look like celestial pools of water. To put you in more of a mer-mood you’re given a mermaid tail to wear while you enjoy your treats.

When it comes to divine desserts the Mermaid Cafe doesn’t hold back. Tiers of bewitching bites are available, mermaid tail cupcakes and oyster and pearl cookies are just the beginning. Over the top drinks are topped off with full edible rainbows and dripping with chocolate rivers.

The highlight of the menu might be the magical mermaid waffle. Made with pink and blue batter laid side by side, the colorful breakfast snack is then topped off with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, and even more chocolate—just in case you haven’t had your fill.

For those with a more savory palate the cafe also serves up omelettes, pasta, and even hot wings. Can mermaids eat hot wings? Maybe if they’re served with a rainbow ranch sauce. Call me, mermaids. I have ideas.

Check out more ethereal eats in the gallery below. For more information on the Mermaid Island Café check out their instagram.

Would you try any of these mer-iffic treats? Let us know in the comments! Hand me a mermaid tail, I’m ready to dig in.

Images: Mermaid Island Café

Michael Jackson’s THRILLER Without Music is Weirdly Watchable

People can make all the noise they want about Taylor Swift’s new video, we’ll let you finish, but the crown for greatest music video of all time will always belong to Michael Jackson’s 1984 opus “Thriller”. Sorry, literally everyone else who ever made or will make a music video. MJ’s legendary video and homage to horror movies is still the gold standard. It even works without the music.

A YouTuber by the name of Red Rhythm very carefully removed all of the instrumentals, as well as Vincent Price’s narration from the video, which leaves behind only sound effects and Michael Jackson’s voice. The results are pretty fascinating. The whole front half of the video plays like a decent horror movie. Then the dancing begins, and, well….then things get kind of silly. But silly in a totally fascinating, watchable way. You can check it out below:

The original video was a collaboration between Jackson, An American Werewolf in London director John Landis, legendary makeup effects artist Rick Baker, and horror movie icon Vincent Price. Over the years, its come to represent Halloween time, as synonymous with the holiday as “The Monster Mash.” In fact, it so represents both horror films and the ’80s that Netflix reportedly payed millions to use the song for the Stranger Things season two trailer, and most would say the is what made that trailer so amazing.

What do you think of this music-less version of the classic video? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Sony Music

 

Need more Thrills?

Thriller + White Walkers works surprisingly well.
Thriller is the first album to sell 30 million copies.
Damn Thriller makes the Stranger Things 2 so much better.

Comic Book Club: Boothman Returns

The OG Boothman (James Shafie) returns to the show — but this time, as a guest!


Check out the website at comicbookclublive.com to find out how to watch the show live! And follow the show on Twitter: @comicbooklive, @azalben, @jtsizzle, and @realpetelepage

This Dragon Purse Will Help Your GAME OF THRONES Withdrawal

Season 7 of Game of Thrones is officially behind us, and now we begin the long, arduous slog toward the show’s final season and it’s rumored premiere date in 2019–ugh. So while we wait to see how our friends from the Seven Kingdoms are going to fare in their final days on HBO, why not distract yourself with some epic, Thrones-inspired fashion? While we probably can’t rock some of the rad outfits Dany sported this season to the office or school, it’s pretty easy to show our Thrones love with an accessory like a handbag. To help a customer do just that, designer Mari of the handbag company Sent From Mars created a unique, hand-made bag that perfectly channels your inner Mother of Dragons. Take a look at this work of art!

On her website, Mari explains that it took a lot of work to make this custom piece look as amazing as it does. She not only worked with a uniquely shaped bag to incorporate the dragon scales on the side, but she had to really sweat the details, from individual scales, to the perfect shades of metallic purple and gold, to getting just the right sparkle in the dragon’s eye.

To ensure her dragon’s scales were not only beautiful and symmetrical, but in a shape that made sense for the bag, she started out with a sketch where she roughly drew out where each scale would be placed on the bag. After that, she searched for the perfect metallic, colored fabric to bring her vision to life. Every scale was individually placed, pinned, and sewn, and the eye was hand-painted to give it that magical, dragon-like sparkle. A closer look at that eye and the scales shows how much work went into making this beautiful bag.

We cannot imagine how much patience and time went into creating a beautiful bag like this, but the hard work and skill absolutely shows. Of course, this particular bag was a custom order, but the Sent From Mars store is chock full of amazing, geeky bags celebrating fandoms like Zelda, Star Wars, Back to the Future, and much more that will help you celebrate your favorite fandoms in your everyday wardrobe.

What do you think of this dragon bag? What are some of your favorite Game of Thrones-inspired fashion accessories for every day use? Tell us in the comments!

Image credits: Mari Ruiz/Sent From Mars

TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN Finale Wraps Things Up… and Then Unwraps Them

Twenty-six years ago, a 16-year-old me threw a shoe at my television following the broadcast of the brilliant but seriously frustrating final episode of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s now classic series Twin Peaks. Lynch, who directed the episode, ended the show with a series of cliffhangers, as well as a dizzying journey into the surreal world of the Black Lodge. Most prominent of these cliffhangers was the fate of Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), who was trapped in the Black Lodge, while his evil doppelgänger took his place in the real world, together with the evil spirit BOB. Would this storyline ever be resolved, and would the real Agent Cooper ever be returned to us?

Well, 26 years and 17 episodes later, he was. Cooper’s evil doppelgänger lay defeated, while the real Dale Cooper stood triumphant. In episode 17 of Showtime’s Twin Peaks: The Return, all the forces set in motion at the beginning of the revival series set out towards their logical conclusion in Twin Peaks, Washington. You could call episode 17 as satisfactory an ending as the Cooper/BOB story could hope to have.

Having said that, seemingly dozens of other plot threads begun by The Return are left completely unanswered. In episode 16, it seems Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) awakens from some kind of long delusion, possibly the coma she was said to be in after the original series finale. Audrey is, in fact, not seen or mentioned at all in this finale. We have as much an idea of what her ultimate fate is now as we did the first time around.

This is one of many questions left unanswered. Is Shelly (Madchen Amick) and Bobby (Dana Ashbrook)’s daughter Becky (Amanda Seyfried) dead or alive? Speaking of which, what was the deal with Red, the local drug kingpin played by Balthazar Getty, whom Shelly is seemingly dating after divorcing Bobby? Neither Shelly nor her daughter appears in the finale, so we’re only left to wonder.

And what is the dark entity that seemingly lives inside Sarah Palmer? Is it “Judy?” No clue.  If this is all a possible lead in to a potential fourth season, I’m in. If not, Lynch and Frost might have just pulled a royal fast one on their most loyal audience.

Episode 17 is strong, and is the real resolution to the journey begun in episode one of the revival. The characters of Gordon Cole (David Lynch), Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrera), and Tammy Preston (Chrysta Bell) head towards Twin Peaks, just as Dale Cooper and his evil doppelgänger do. The final showdown between good and evil happen in the Sheriff’s station, and it involves a super strong green glove and the final destruction of BOB. The woman called “Naido” in the credits turns out to be (as I correctly guessed) the real Diane, and she is happily reunited with Agent Cooper.

Cooper, using the key to the Great Northern that Sheriff Frank Truman (Robert Forster) had in his possession, goes to the location called ‘The Dutchman’s” where he then travels back in time to February 23, 1989–the night Laura Palmer died. Only this time, Cooper attempts to intervene and save Laura from her murder at the hands of BOB. We see the opening shots of the pilot episode of the classic series, playing out as if Laura’s body never washed ashore at the Packard mill. The episode ends with Julee Cruise singing “The World Spins” at the Road House–the same song she sang in the infamous “killer reveal” episode of the original series. It’s fitting and perfect.

The following and final episode, however, takes things in an even stranger direction. Are we in a world now where Laura Palmer never died? If so, why does her likeness take form as a woman from Odessa, Texas named Carrie Page (played again by Sheryl Lee)? The final shots of the episode, where Cooper takes Carrie/Laura to her childhood home, only to find that Sarah Palmer does not live there, end with Laura screaming, as if a horrible memory has awakened insider of her. Cooper asks, “What year is it?”, closing the new Twin Peaks on just as hopeless a note as the original one ended with, and with even more mysteries unanswered.

Unanswered mysteries are, of course, part of the appeal of Twin Peaks, but the final episode feels unusually cruel from Lynch and Frost, who know the fan base have been craving resolution for a quarter century. I never think of David Lynch as mean-spirited, but the whole finale feels that way on so many levels. Frost said in interviews leading up to the premiere that he wanted to gjve long suffering fans a sense of resolution; I can’t imagine he really thinks this episode did that.

I’m grateful for Twin Peaks: The Return, and all of the wonderful, odd moments it gave us over the past three months. I’ll always cherish it for letting me revisit with old friends again, and for letting me make new ones (I’m looking at you, Candie). But a nearly perfect experience will always be somewhat tainted by the deliberate refusal to answer so many questions about scenarios introduced within the show’s framework.

What did you think of the final episode – probably ever – of Twin Peaks? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: Showtime