Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2000

Nerdist Podcast: Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore chats with Chris about An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, why he felt it was important to make a sequel to his first film and their mutual love of Tennessee. They also talk about how the world of politics has changed over the years, being an advocate for the internet in the early days and what people are doing to combat climate change and how you help!

Image: Tristan Fewings / Stringer

Best and Worst Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies

Mads Mikkelson, villain of Doctor Strange and man-with-terrifying-eyes, auditioned for the woebegotten Fant4stic (now and forever more known as fant-four-stick). Before we get to that, though, welcome to Nerdist News Talks Back! Joining Host Amy Vorpahl are Nerdist Producer Kate Meyers, Associate Editor Kyle Anderson, and Nerdist News Writer Aliza Pearl for another Marvel episode! Deadpool 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Fant4stic, and the best and worst MCU films.

Everybody’s favorite Merc with a Mouth is back, this time with a new friend. Zazie Beetz’s Domino has been revealed.

Some people just know how to work a red carpet. #Domino #DeadPool2 pic.twitter.com/llCc8JfKT6

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) July 31, 2017

Playing off the promo picture from the original film, Domino lies across a rug, which is meant to…Holy crap is Deadpool the rug? That’s awesome. This image lets us know that Deadpool 2 will maintain the same irreverent comedy that the first one was known for, but this time with a badass, probablity-altering lady.

Another comedic (presumably) Marvel film, Ant-Man and the Wasp, began production today. The film will see Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man team up with Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp to uncover secrets about the past. Set just after Captain America: Civil War, the film will likely focus on what happened to Hope’s mother, Janet Van Dyne, who will be played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Ant-Man was an incredibly fun, small story, a trend the sequel will hopefully continue. It would definitely be a contrast from the 60+ character Avengers: Infinity War.

On to Fant4stic. According to ScreenGeek, Mads Mikkelsen, who has long been interested in playing Doctor Doom, had a hilarious audition for the film. The audition consisted of no lines, just waving his arms around like Mr. Fantastic would. And then he left. Truly the stuff of legends. When asked if he would consider playing the titular villain of Fox’s Doctor Doom, Mikklesen replied that he’s still interested in the character, as long as Doom is shown to have layers that aren’t just evil.

While Fox has had a few bad eggs in regards to Marvel, Marvel Studios has had a great track record, with nearly every MCU movie considered good by fans and critics alike. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still criticize them. While we have favorites, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers stand out, films like Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World were a little less original.

What are your favorite and least favorite MCU movies? Let us know in the comments below, and you can watch and interact live with Nerdist News Talks Back every weekday at 1:00pm PST on YouTube and Alpha, and catch up with the archives just after the show!

Image: Marvel Studios, 20th Century Fox

WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: 10 YEARS LATER Explains Missing Bradley Cooper

When sequels get put into production it’s sometimes difficult to get everyone back to reprise roles they played. Scheduling conflicts tend to come up, which can result in studios recasting the role and doing their best to ignore the fact that it’s a totally different actor playing the same character. Think Don Cheadle replacing Terrance Howard as James “War Machine” Rhodes in the MCU or Rachel Dawes in the Nolan Batmans morphing from Katie Holmes into Maggie Gyllenhaal. The upcoming Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later had a similar issue with Bradley Cooper unable to return for his role as Ben, but the creators of the show decided to address the issue head-on with the most absurd explanation.

 

It appears that Ben (originally played by Cooper) has been busy raising a new baby with his husband McKinley and–somewhere along the way–got a little work done that makes him look exactly like Adam Scott. The interaction between Ben and Amy Poehler‘s Susie downplays this in the most ridiculous way by hinting it was just a simple nose job that caused his entire face to change.

Speaking as someone who’s had surgery to fix his deviated septum, I can attest it did not change me into Adam Scott (so don’t go running to an ENT with the hope that it will) but it’s these crazy hiccups in reality that make the world of Wet Hot American Summer all the better.

Catch up with the gang from Camp Firewood in 1991 when Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later hits Netflix on August 4th.

Are you excited for WHAS:TYL? (Sheesh, these acronyms are getting long). Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: Netflix

MARIO + RABBIDS KINGDOM BATTLE Trailer Uses Opera Song to Take Down Mario

Super Mario Odyssey is still a few months away, but fans of Nintendo’s iconic character won’t have to wait long to revisit the Mushroom Kingdom. Later this month, Nintendo and Ubisoft’s crossover mashup of Mario and Raving Rabbids is coming to the Switch with Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. The newest trailer for the game has been released, and it looks ridiculously fun.

The story behind Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is that the Rabbids have invaded the Mushroom Kingdom and torn apart the land. To save their home, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi are teaming up with their heroic Rabbid counterparts in a game that appears to be very influenced by XCOM. But as you’ll see in the trailer, it also seems to have retained the humor from both franchises.

The best part of this trailer is the evil opera singer Rabbid who hilariously taunts Mario through his song. Listen to the lyrics, and you’ll hear several references to Mario’s history as the Rabbid delivers some very funny jokes at the expense of the iconic plumber and his world. It’s hard to hear that and not think of the Great Mighty Poo from Conker’s Bad Fur Day. We’re not sure if that’s a direct homage, but that opera singing Rabbid is likely to be one of the main bosses in the game.

Additionally, Ubisoft has also released a new video that examines Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle‘s co-operative play, which really will require cooperation from the players.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle‘s will be released on August 29.

What did you think about the newest trailer for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Image: Ubisoft

Funko is Releasing a Boatload of JUSTICE LEAGUE Pops, Dorbz, and More

We’re still a ways away from the release of the next installment in the DCEU, but as we count down the days until November 17th, there are a few things we can do to fill the Justice League-shaped hole in our hearts. As a wise man once said, “Moichendizing, moichendizing!”

The fine folks of Funko have pulled out all the stops when it comes to awesome Justice League collectibles. In addition to the Funko Pops! (Pop!’s? Pop’s! Pop’s Funko! Pop! Funkos? How the hell do we pluralize that term!?) that have already been announced, they’ve added an army of other DC delights including new Mystery Minis, Hero Plushies, Dorbz, Pop! key chains, and more exclusive Pops of the OG persuasion!

As you can see, there are quite a few Mystery Mini variants that’ll keep people collecting for quite a while and even have a few specific exclusives coming to GameStop and Hot Topic.

And we can’t wait to get our hands on the new exclusive Pops! including Mera and a few JL members holding onto to some Mother Boxes.

Take a look at the pictures below for all the Justice League-ery goodness being released and check out the Funko blog post for more detail on where you’ll have to journey to “Unite the Seven!” (Is Justice League even still going with that line?)

Which Funko collectible line is your favorite? Do they need to make a ripped Jim Gordon Pop!? [Answer: Yes] Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Images: Funko

Ian McShane Joins HELLBOY: RISE OF THE BLOOD QUEEN

We’ve been stoked for the upcoming Hellboy film for awhile. First we were jazzed that Neil Marshall is directing, then we were really thrilled that Stranger Things star David Harbour was cast as Hellboy, and then we got even more excited when the title Rise of the Blood Queen was announced, alluding to one of the Mike Mignola comics’ best storylines. It’s all been great so far; now we have even more reason for excitement: American Gods and Deadwood badass Ian McShane has been added to the cast, as Hellboy’s mentor/father figure Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm.

The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which added the film will begin shooting in September. (Hey! That’s pretty soon!) McShane is a fantastic choice for any role, with more gravitas that 48 of me put together. McShane will fill the shoes of the late John Hurt who portrayed Broom in the two Guillermo del Toro-directed Hellboy movies. Hurt’s take on the character was very avuncular and kindly as well as being stern, and we could see McShane’s version be a little harder-edged, and maybe with the acerbic wit for which he’s known.

Professor Bruttenholm is a fascinating character in the annals of Hellboy; he’s the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense’s lead scientist and the one who found and raised the baby Hellboy Hellbaby, and many storylines in various comics have flashed back to WWII and forward history of the BPRD. However, the character himself dies in the very first story arc of the first Hellboy comics series; it’s amazing he’s had the kind of longevity he’s enjoyed both in movies and in comics. Seeing as Broom doesn’t feature at all in the “Blood Queen” saga in the source material, it’s a safe bet he’ll be a flashback. …Unless they’re drastically changing the narrative, which, if it gives Ian McShane more screen time, that’s A-OK by us.

Check out our Everything We Know post for Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen right here!

What do you think about Ian McShane playing opposite a red and horned David Harbour? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Images: Starz/Dark Horse Comics

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist and is deep in the Hellboy universe as we speak. Follow him on Twitter!

This Guitar Remix Of RICK AND MORTY’s ‘Get Schwifty’ is Really… Schwifty

If there’s one thing that every Rick and Morty fan can agree on, it’s that “Get Schwifty” is a bona fide hit. Heck, it was good enough to help save the planet on the fifth episode of the second season, when giant alien heads appeared in the sky and demanded of Earth’s people, “Show me what you got!” It’s already a perfect song that needs no changes, because you don’t fix what isn’t broken. That said, Michael Mac’s guitar-centric cover of the song is for sure a worthy tribute (via NME).

This more rock-leaning version of “Get Schwifty” is a far cry from the electronic pop of the original, but it still works super well and brings a new dimension (like inter-dimensional television) to the track. Mac’s preferred playing style generally seems to be metal, although we wouldn’t quite call this metal. If anything, it’s a Korn-like hard rock, so if you’re into that, you’ll be into this. Also, if you’re into music or anything you enjoy, you’ll be into this, because “Get Schwifty” is an aesthetic wonder that transcends genre.

Still, we have one gripe with “Get Schwifty” as a whole: It’s wonderful, but it really overshadowed “Head Bent Over,” the final song of the episode that actually saved the planet. It’s a banger that doesn’t get enough credit and reminds us to always raise our posterior.

Revisit the classic original “Get Schwifty” below, and let us know in the comments if, even though it can obviously never measure up, you’re into the guitar version.

Featured image: Adult Swim

SNES Classic Will ACTUALLY Be Available For Pre-Order Very Soon

Some Nintendo fans thought they copped a big score last week, when they were able to place pre-orders for the upcoming Super Nintendo Classic Edition from Walmart. But sadly, it was too good to be true: The product was live on Walmart’s website earlier than they had planned on, so Nintendo canceled every last pre-order and chalked it up to a “technical glitch.” So, no SNES Classics have been secured yet, but soon, we’ll be able to (via Kotaku).

Ahead of its September 29 release, we will be able to claim a Super Nintendo Classic (which comes with 20 games, including the never-before-released Star Fox 2) for ourselves, about a month ahead of that. Says Nintendo:

“We appreciate the incredible anticipation that exists for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition system, and can confirm that it will be made available for pre-order by various retailers late this month.

A significant amount of additional systems will be shipped to stores for launch day, and throughout the balance of the calendar year.”

Come late August, we should be able to check Walmart or Best Buy or Amazon or whoever else and reserve a console for ourselves, but even then, it will still probably be next to impossible. Although Nintendo says they will have “a significant amount,” the company has a tendency to underestimate the crazy demand for their products, so not-so-bold prediction time: There won’t be enough SNES Classics for everybody who wants one.

So, set up your email alerts, and if you’re lucky, you might get one! Are you planning to try for one, or does it just not seem worth the trouble? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Featured image: Nintendo

GAME OF THRONES’ Current Pace is Annoying (Even When It Makes Sense)

Editor’s Note: this post contains minor spoilers for the past 7 seasons of Game of Thrones! You’ve been warned.

Listen, Game of Thrones: we’re not mad, we’re just disappointed. Like the Ironborn Fleet that came into magical existence this season (there are NOT that many trees on the Iron Islands), the series’ post-book pace is mystifyingly, exhaustingly, overwhelmingly fast compared to seasons past. And we’re not the only ones saying it: most of the internet has felt metaphorical whiplash, going from the steadied pace of 1 – 6 to these final 13 episodes in seasons 7 and 8. So what gives? Is it justified to feel that way, when the series has gone out of its way to reiterate that this is David Benioff and Dan Weiss—the series’ showrunners and creators—take on George R.R. Martin’s epic, novelized story? A story that, we should note, has drawn frequent criticism for how SLOW and drawn-out it often feels (to say nothing of the length of time between GRRM’s gargantuan tomes)?

For better or for worse, Benioff and Weiss have a plan for how and why the series’ machinations and physical movements have changed so drastically, be it the lack of insight from GRRM or their own desire to hurry up and get to the final battle before obsessive book-readers and show-watchers figure out what’ll happen in the end. But there’s also no denying the satisfaction there is in seeing such highly anticipated moments finally coming alive on-screen. So what’s the over-under on this season’s new pacing paradigm? Let’s dig in and see.

Pro: We Get There Quicker

OK, hear me out: I know I just said I hate how fast it is, but at the same token—AIN’T IT NICE TO HAVE DANY AND JON SNOW FINALLY MEET? I, for one, assumed we’d have an episode or two of travel and philosophical contemplation that provides allegorical and/or historical context for everything that’s happening with Ser Davos and Jon Snow on a boat. But nay, we did not.

Con: It Removes the More Intimate Character Study Moments

And this is exactly why we hate the pace the most: without the breathing room of seasons past, the more human moments of this series about dragons and dead people walking becomes something far different than the allegorical-but-magical story it once was. It removes the moments for the more natural comedy of someone like Tyrion and replaces it with a far more bombastic, and far less clever, comedic relief of someone like Euron. Which isn’t to say you can’t have both: quite the opposite, in fact—this show could always do with a bit of that sort of tone. But when Tyrion must spend 90% of his time politically maneuvering, there isn’t exactly time for his longer monologues peppered with wit.

Pro: It’s Satisfying to Watch

OK, we’ll admit it: there’s a lot to like about just hurrying up and getting there. It’s thrilling to be surprised by how much a single episode can get through. In a series that’s so often pushed Daenerys and her storyline to 5-second asides (at least that’s how it felt), pushing the story’s pace has moved the Targaryen more actively into the game. Which, let’s be real, is something we’ve all been dying to see writ large. And to see everyone crossing paths so frequently is really, really nice—especially for those poor, beleaguered Stark kids. So hey, yes: we’ll give y’all that.

Con: The Dialogue is Less Poetic

This one’s been happening since the series started to move farther away from the books in season 5, but it’s still worth noting now: we miss the GRRM-tinged dialogue.

Con: And It Creates Some Timing Paradoxes

OK but seriously though HOW COULD EURON GO FROM KING’S LANDING TO ATTACK YARA AND ELLARIA AND BACK AGAIN AND THEN TO CASTERLY ROCK BUT ALSO ZIP OVER TO HIGHGARDEN IN LIKE 3 DAYS? That is simply not feasible. And while we’re here: WHY DID IT TAKE JON SNOW 5 SECONDS TO GET FROM WINTERFELL TO DRAGONSTONE? I am just saying, if you create distances and travel time frames, please stick to them.

Con: It Means the Show is Ending Sooner

This is 90% because I’m a deeply selfish person. I realize it’s problematic but ALSO: it’s not like HBO wants y’all to stop doing this show, and your next endeavor doesn’t sound like a surefire hit, either. Why not stay here in Westeros? IT CAN BE WINTER FOREVER IF YOU LET IT!

Con: It Just Feels Like Something’s Missing

Do we love Brienne and Tormund? OBVIOUSLY. Does it feel as though, every time they’re on screen together, their relationship is based more on fan service than actual forward momentum? We love Lady Mormont and want as many ass-kicking ladies on screen as possible (if nothing else it feels like a make-good on how shitty the series is to many of its women), but need her every waking moment now serve as a Feminist Slam Dunk About The Strength Of Women? No thank you! Where once there was the dimensionality of time to gain circumstance, Game of Thrones has left us wanting more and feeling short-changed.

The unintended corners that were cut in the series’ pace-tightening are noticeable and, ultimately, hurt the series more than help. Yes, GRRM’s pace is often glacial and can feel overwrought, especially when being translated for the screen, but there was a magic to the way his language flowed and how it showcased the interconnectivity of all that’s happening in the Realm. And, frankly, it makes us wonder why, exactly, they’d choose to barrel through what could have easily taken them another 3 full seasons to do. Did they really want to move onto Confederate, their highly controversial new series, that quickly? Perhaps we’ll never know.

But what do you think? Are you a fan of the quickened pace? Let us know in the comments below.

Images and GIFs: HBO

Alicia Lutes is the managing editor, host of Fangirling!, and Archmaester of Thrones for House Nerdist. Find her on Twitter!

Waltz Like The Goblin King with LABYRINTH Dance Classes

If you’ve ever dreamed of wearing a beautiful crystal ball gown and dancing with the Goblin King, you’re not alone. Labyrinth fans hold the iconic ballroom scene dear, a scene rich in navigating maturity in an adult world. Plus it featured peak David Bowie hair.

Memorable music, a surprisingly dark storyline, and Bowie’s killer dance moves are some of the reasons why Jim Henson’s 1986 fantasy classic Labyrinth has established a cult following over the years. The film still inspires fans to this day, and now according to LA Weekly, the Victorian Tea & Dance Society in Los Angeles is offering up a month’s worth of Labyrinth of Jareth Historical Dance Classes.

Bowie’s Goblin King hypnotizes Sarah in more ways than one. In these themed dance classes you’ll learn the rotary waltz—a dance that has been practiced for centuries— the same dance portrayed in the ethereal masquerade ball scene. No enchanted peach required, just registration and a small fee.

Whether or not you find your one true Goblin King as this fantasy dance camp remains to be seen. But anything is possible at an elaborate fantasy masquerade.

If these Labyrinth themed dance classes take off, does that mean other Jareth related dances will be available to learn? Hang on to your babies, the Magic Dance is probably not recommended for first-time dancers.

For more information on the Labyrinth of Jareth Historical Dance Classes, check out victorianteaanddance.org.

Would you care for a stroll across the dance floor with the Goblin King? Let us know in the comments and show us your best Labyrinth cosplay on twitter @nerdist and @justjenn.

Image: TriStar Pictures