Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2086

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Fan Art is the Best

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I wish there was more What We Do in the Shadows fan art in the world because we deserve it,” then you’ll be pleased with today’s Fan Art Friday. A self-taught artist, Sheila C. creates beautiful portraits, usually in pencil and ink, inspired by pop culture. One of the subjects of her illustrations is Taika Waititi‘s Viago. Bless.

Viago – What We Do in the Shadows

That particular portrait was featured at Hero Complex Gallery. It captures all the charm of one of my favorite vampires. I know one piece of fan art from the film is hardly enough, so be sure to pop by Sheila’s website to see art featuring Vladislav the Poker. You can also follow Sheila on Twitter.

But! Before you make the jump, take some time to visit the gallery below to view Pris from Blade Runner, Christine–as in the car–art from The Usual Suspects, and more. And because it’s important to know: Hero Complex has prints of her Viago art available online.

Do you create any sort of fan art? If so, I want to see it. Whether you focus on a specific fandom or pull inspiration from multiple stories and mediums, I’d like to highlight what you do. If you’re interested in being featured in a future edition of Fan Art Friday, get in touch with me at alratcliffe@yahoo.com with examples of your work. If you’re not an artist, feel free to email me with recommendations for Fan Art Friday!

Images: Sheila C.

MUTHUR Won’t Save You in This ALIEN: COVENANT Preview

According to Ridley Scott’s original Alien movie, “in space, no one can hear you scream.” But in Alien: Covenant, the ship itself can hear almost anything you have to say and it’s even willing to help you. Of course, when the Xenomorphs are involved, there’s not much that even an advanced artificial intelligence can do to ensure the survival of the crew, but it’s the artificial thought that counts!

20th Century Fox has released a new preview from Alien: Covenant that focuses on Katherine Waterston’s character, Daniels, as she begins to rely on MUTHUR, the Covenant’s A.I. that controls everything on board. Everything from breakfast to questions about cards are fair game for MUTHUR—which is why it’s such a great moment when she falls silent in this video.

The only other character featured prominently in this clip is Danny McBride’s Tennessee, who acts as the pilot of the Covenant. Note that even Tennessee looks terrified when MUTHUR doesn’t respond to a basic command. And for good reason, as it seems that a Xenomorph is running around on the ship. We even see Daniels get some very unwelcome news from MUTHUR as a Xenomorph descends upon her. We don’t know where that scene will happen in the film, but the trailer promises that Daniels “won’t go quietly.”

Although Alien: Covenant is the sequel to Prometheus, that connection is downplayed in this video. It’s definitely got the old school Alien vibe, and we’re eager to see it scare up some thrills when this film hits theaters on Friday, May 19.

What did you think about the new Alien: Covenant video? Let us know in the comment section below!

Image: 20th Century Fox

Nerdist Podcast: James Corden

It’s a little known fact that our founder, Chris Hardwick, tapes AMC’s Talking with Chris Hardwick on the studio that was formerly used by The Late Late Show. And the current host of the The Late Late Show, James Corden, just happens to shoot his show right next door to Chris. That’s right, they’re practically neighbors! Last Sunday night, James crossed the network divide to appear as Chris’ Talking guest, and today we’re debuting the extended audio from that episode as a bonus installment of the Nerdist podcast!

While American fans know James from his Late Late Show and his amazing Carpool Karaoke segments, he’s also an accomplished writer and actor who starred in his own TV series, Gavin & Stacy, co-starred in the theatrical adaptation of Into the Woods, and made two very memorable guest appearances on Doctor Who.  And in this very episode, James looked back at his Doctor Who stint and addressed the question of whether he would ever reprise his role again on the show.

Additionally, James revealed why he began to get an interest in writing after he was unsatisfied by the roles that he was being offered. He also reveals that his current late night gig is a lot easier than his grueling schedule when he was performing in theatrical productions. James also shares how his outlook shapes the way he handles the demands of his daily life and his career path.

Make sure to watch Talking with Chris Hardwick Sunday nights at 11pm on AMC or on amc.com/talking! The extended audio will premiere as a podcast here every Friday after a new episode makes its AMC debut. 

David Lynch Announces His Retirement from Making Films

While doing the press rounds for his much anticipate revival of Twin Peaks on Showtime, director David Lynch, who has been making film’s since 1977’s midnight movie masterpiece Eraserhead, revealed that he is in fact done with making movies. His last movie was 2006’s Inland Empire, and unless he has a change of heart, that film will remain his last one. While speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald (via Playlist), Lynch said the following:

“Things changed a lot. So many films were not doing well at the box office even though they might have been great films and the things that were doing well at the box office weren’t the things that I would want to do.” When later asked if that meant that Inland Empire was indeed his last film, Lynch replied “yes, it is.”

via GIPHY

This is all sad, but not surprising. The movie industry has changed radically over the past decade, and while we nerds rejoice at the amount of big budget comic book, fantasy, and sci-fi blockbusters with brand recognition getting released that we love, the very risk averse Hollywood studios are pretty much only making those kinds of movies, unless you happen to be a Christopher Nolan or a Steven Spielberg who has the clout to get the studios to spend serious money on making something different.

Of course, quirkier indie fare does still get made, but it’s usually made for peanuts. The mid-range budget art house film, which since the ’80s has been the bread and butter of directors like Lynch and John Waters, has all but vanished. Waters is another example of a quirk-filled indie writer/director whose last film was made a decade ago, and who has become an author/lecturer because no one will give him money for a film. Like Lynch, he doesn’t want to make a movie for $1 or $2 million dollars at this point in his career. You can hardly blame them.

The silver lining to this bummer news is that while movie studios only seem to want “four quadrant” branded content for the big screen, television — specifically, cable television and streaming — are eager for more challenging material. Recent water cooler shows like 13 Reasons Why and Feud would probably never get greenlit as movies in today’s environment. But they flourish in long format TV. The paradigm has shifted, and Lynch has shifted with it. So while we can be sad that a new, two hour Lynch production might never see a movie house again, it is very likely that the new Twin Peaks heralds a new age of the auteur’s vision on cable television.

Whether it takes the form of new episodes of Twin Peaks beyond the series we are getting (and I have a hunch we will), or it’s something new entirely, I think we are going to be getting more filmed Lynch content than ever before. The 18 hours of the new Peaks is three times the amount of episodes he directed of the classic series, and almost roughly the equivalent of his entire film output so far. That’s no small thing. Television is seemingly the new art house.

It should also be noted, before anyone cries in their coffee, that Lynch is a mercurial sort who tends to change his mind. In 2001, he publicly told crestfallen Twin Peaks fans that there would never be a revival, and it was “dead as a doornail.” We know how that turned out. So you just never know.

How do you feel about Lynch retiring from film? Or you sad, or are you ready for Lynch to take on the world of television? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Showtime / CBS / Universal Pictures 

Here’s the TV to watch this year

What’s In Store For GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3?

After three years, the Guardians of the Galaxy are back in theaters and kicking off the summer with one of the most loaded Marvel movies to date. Not only did James Gunn and company deliver an unexpectedly satisfying and emotional sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 also has multiple post-credits scenes that may have larger implications for both the MCU and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Today’s Nerdist News is charting the future for Marvel’s cosmic misfits and the surprising characters who just made their debut.

Warning: there are major spoilers ahead for the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. We are not kidding, people! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you should probably turn back now.

If you’re still here then it’s time to join host, and two-time Galaxy saver, Jessica Chobot, as she introduces the Guardians of the Galaxy! And we mean the original team. While Marvel’s first Guardians of the Galaxy had their adventures in the far future, it seems that the members all have counterparts in the modern MCU as scavengers. Sylvester Stallone’s character in the movie turned out to be Stakar Ogard, a hero better known as Starhawk. For reasons that we really don’t want to give away, Stakar, Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord, Ving Rhames as Charlie-27, Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex T’Naga,  and Mainframe as voiced by Miley freakin’ Cyrus have come back together and they’re ready to reform the team. They may not call themselves the Guardians, but it seems to inevitable that this team will run into the modern Guardians when the third movie comes around.

But that’s not all! One of the many post-credits scenes also teased the long-awaited introduction of Adam Warlock, a hero we’ve been looking forward to seeing since Thanos made his debut in The Avengers! While Marvel has said that Warlock is sitting out of Avengers: Infinity War, he will definitely be around for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. And if we had to bet, we’re pretty sure that he could also appear in the fourth Avengers movie.

And last but not least, we want to give you a chance to take home a piece of the Guardians of the Galaxy magic. Our friends at Fandango have recently added a gaggle of Groot gear to the Fandango FanShop, including this life-size Baby Groot Maquette. Valued at $750, this ultra-collectible item comes directly from Marvel Studios, stands 24 cm tall, comes with a wooden base and glass display case, and there are only five (5) available for sale. Lucky for you, we’re teaming up with Fandango to make one of those five belong to YOU. Yes, you. No, not the person behind you. No, not Jeremy. You.

To enter to win, simply use this link share this post and tell us what song would be on your “Awesome Mix” by Monday, May 8 at 9AM PT. While we love people in every part of the galaxy, this contest is limited to US residents only, so please accept our apologies if you’re trapped on Knowhere.

Are you excited about the newest cosmic heroes in the MCU? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

There’s a RICK AND MORTY Merch Truck Touring the Country Shaped Like Rick

Remember that time in Rick and Morty when Morty spontaneously turned into a car? Now the same thing has happened to Rick but in real life… sort of.

Between May and October, Adult Swim will be driving across the country in the Rickmobile, a Rick-shaped truck that’s perhaps the most amazing thing we’ve ever seen, for the Don’t Even Trip Road Trip. It’s a real “business in the front, party in the back” situation: From the front, the vehicle looks like a typical truck, but looking at it from the back, you’ll see a gigantic hunched over Rick, complete with green drool hanging from his bottom lip.

It’s a store that is mobile and also Rick shaped. It’s the #rickmobile: https://t.co/W48P5za0BO pic.twitter.com/PGSIC9M5p1

— RICKMOBILE (@rickmobile) May 5, 2017

There’s more to it than aesthetics, though, since the Rickmobile is also a traveling pop-up shop that’s bringing exclusive merch to a bunch of locations. There’s no word yet on what sort of treasures this truck will hold, but we imagine it’ll be the usual suspects: t-shirts, posters, buttons, that sort of thing. We actually can confirm one item, since for a limited time, you can get the official tour shirt online.

You can find the Rickmobile’s complete touring schedule on its website, and you can also follow the truck’s exploits on Twitter and Instagram. What sorts of goodies do you hope to scoop up when (or if) this traveling vehicle of fun comes to your area? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Featured Image: Adult Swim

Need more Rick and Morty? OF COURSE YOU DO:

The Religious Symbolism of the ALIEN Series

Alien: Covenant marks the sixth entry in the Alien series (or the eight, if you count the Alien vs. Predator films, which many do not), and the third to be helmed by Ridley Scott. Scott is a director who seems to operate best when he deals directly with the franchise he helped create back in 1979 (and yes, I am one of the few people who rather loved Prometheus; come at me if you must), so it’s no wonder that he should be so keen to return.

What’s most interesting about Scott’s Alien movies is that he seems to be using this particular sci-fi world to explore a topic that may not be so obviously associated with Xenomorphs: religious faith. More specifically, Christianity. Indeed, when looked at in the right light, the Alien movies are perhaps the most Christian films the genre has yet produced.

Let’s go film by film and unlock the religious symbols therein:

Alien

While there are no overt scenes of religion or of prayer in Alien, there is most certainly something demonic about the central creature (which had not yet been called “Xenomorph” in 1979). The only thing we know about the monster is that a vague corporate entity wishes to collect it and use it as a weapon. It’s explained that the Xenomorph is the galaxy’s perfect killing machine. It eats, grows, kills, and has no other interests. It’s not intelligent, it’s not rational, it’s not controllable, and it cannot be understood. It’s a living weapon. This is a notion that hangs over the rest of the Alien series.

Metaphorically, then, the Xenomorph stands for the destruction of life. It stands counter to hope and progress. It is an adversary. Those who know their Bible may recognize the word “adversary” as the English translation of the Hebrew word שָּׂטָן‎‎, or “Satan.” Scott was creating a creature that stood as a Satanic force.

Aliens

James Cameron made a shoot-’em-up sequel to Alien in 1986, jettisoning all horror, dread, and ambiguity. Since Aliens, at the end of the day, functions as an action spectacular more than anything (the oft-discussed theories of motherhood notwithstanding), its religious symbolism is difficult to see. There is this, though: The planet on which the action takes place is called LV-426.

The Bible savvy among us may remember the passage from Leviticus 4:26: “And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”

What do you think–is LV-426 a place of sacrifice?

Alien³

David Fincher’s dour tragedy kills off the heroes from Aliens, and sets the action of the series in an isolated prison where the inmates have more or less become monks. Most of the characters in Alien³ are devoted to a new life of pacifism, and they live lives of extreme poverty, requiring, at least symbolically, manna from Heaven in order to survive. The characters are flawed (and, to be honest, not 100% well-written), but they do represent a level of redeemed Christian purity. Of course, when a creature of violence meets a sect of peace, the sect of peace is nearly wiped out. Fincher seems to be deeply cynical about the power of pacifism and redemption.

And, in the most obvious religious allusion, the film’s protagonist, Ellen Ripley, sacrifices herself to save herself and others (she throws herself into a pit of molten metal when she learns a new creature will be borne of her abdomen). In a symbolic way, Ripley adopts the mantle of Christ figure, sacrificing herself to destroy the damage of sin.

Additionally, there’s definitely an Eden narrative in Alien³. If the prison is a place without sin, and the denizens are all innocents, what else is the Xenomorph but the serpent in the garden?

Alien: Resurrection

The word “resurrection” is right there in the title, and Ripley, previously dead, is now brought back, cementing her place as a Christ figure. If Christ is God (as many believe) and the Xenomorph is Satan (as I posit), then the eventual hybrid creature seen in the climax of Alien: Resurrection is perhaps… man? A blend of the dark and the light. But ugly. Ungainly. Unworthy. A creature capable of compassion and of destruction. Pity that Ripley had to destroy it. The theological implications of that destruction are certainly unsettling.

The Alien vs. Predator movies

It’s explained in these ho-hum “are-they-or-aren’t-they-canon?” flicks that the creatures from Predator were worshiped by an ancient civilization as gods. Ancient gods fighting modern adversaries?

Prometheus

Scott’s prequel film, only marginally connected to Alien, is the most theologically rich film of the series, and many have noticed the way the chronology plays out. In the future, a cabal of humans finds a presumed-extinct race of white-skinned giants–called Enginners–on a distant planet who were, they eventually learn, planning to launch an attack on Earth using near-unkillable creatures as their weapons. Given the distance between Earth and this planet (called LV-223), the last thing the godlike aliens likely witnessed from Earth was the death of a famous religious figure about 2000 years ago.

Leviticus 2:23 reads, “Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.”

Clearly the Engineers (who, in an opening scene, created all life on Earth via bodily sacrifice) are peeved that humanity broke their covenant with them, and now they are preparing to wipe us out. On Christmas, no less.

Oh yes, and the Xenomorph-like critter seen in the film’s epilogue was nicknamed “the deacon” in the script.

Scott is exploring the very notion of Christian covenant, and the breaking of it, with these movies. He is, perhaps, arguing that humanity has run afoul of God and broken the old Covenant–perhaps by crucifying Christ–and that a Satanic force has been released to take us out. Scott clearly sees evil in the world, perhaps from a Christian eye, and has created a science-fictional divine instrument of cleansing.

This is a series, it seems, all about Old Testament vengeance, and how humanity has failed to live up to its spiritual potential. We refused to be humble in the face of the infinite cosmos, failing to grasp our own humility. Hence, divine-ish beings from beyond are looking to settle the score.

Given that his next film is subtitled “Covenant,” this interpretation is looking more and more likely.

Images: 20th Century Fox

All the best new movies you need to see this summer

There’s a LEGEND OF ZELDA Escape Room You Can Go to Right Now

Although The Legend of Zelda is best known for its iconic adventures, it’s also highly esteemed for its puzzle elements as well, whether it’s the Water Temple from Ocarina of Time or the shrines in Breath of the Wild. Challenges in real life aren’t quite so fun, but now they can be. You know those escape rooms, where you and some friends are locked in a room full of puzzles and you have to work through them all in a certain time frame in order to win? It turns out there’s a Zelda-themed one, called “Defenders of the Triforce,” and you can totally give it a go right now.

The folks at Engadget tried it out, and described it thusly:

“Defenders of the Triforce is an escape room game, but there’s no locked door and escaping isn’t the end game goal. Instead, SCRAP uses the real-life puzzle format to retell the story of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the space of one hour. The twist: The game’s heroes have already lost, and it’s up to your team to solve puzzles and break the seal on the Master Sword to defeat Ganondorf.”

Furthermore, it seems this escape room is less tangible and physical than others you may have experienced in the past, so perhaps the adventure is best suited for imaginative folks who enjoy a good round of Dungeons and Dragons. Regardless, it seems like a fun and challenging puzzle that’s involved enough to let you get totally lost in the world of Hyrule for an hour.

The experience has actually already come and gone in cities like Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago, but it’s still going strong in New York and San Francisco, and it’ll be in Canada, England, France, Germany, and Spain this summer, says Eurogamer. Get tickets and more information about upcoming events here, and let us know if you plan on checking it out for yourself. If you already have, give us all the non-spoilery details you can!

Featured image: Nintendo/YouTube

With Liam Hemsworth’s KILLERMAN, Amnesia Thriller is Officially a Genre Now

Everybody loves a good action flick. Just like the horror genre, a good action film can be a ton of fun to watch whether it leans more towards sincerity or camp. Either way, there’s just something about amazing stunts and killer explosions that makes action movies a ton of fun to catch on the big screen. Of course, there’s been one particular trope that has been making the rounds within the action film genre for quite some time now, and it might be safe to just go ahead and officially label it as an action sub-genre to save us the headache. I’m talking about the action hero with amnesia.

Variety has reported that Liam Hemsworth will be our latest forgetful badass, starring in the film Killerman about a money launderer who is involved in a deal that goes sideways leaving him without a lick of long-term memory.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with a good “amnesia thriller.” In fact, there are some great movies out there that center around an action hero with amnesia who has to uncover the secrets of his life before the accident. The Bourne Identity, Total Recall, and Dark City are all amazing movies and do the action genre proud.

via GIPHY

But there is definitely such a thing as too much of a good thing, right? I mean, how many times can we watch some brand of an action hero wake up with no memory, and ass-kick his way through finding the truth about his past? I suppose if you’re someone who is so regularly engaged in hand-to-hand combat like these characters are, the threat of brain injury is a very real danger. So maybe this is a very important sub genre to emerge for the vigilante/assassin/secret agent community. But really, just because the Jason Bournes of the world have forgotten their past, it doesn’t mean we all have, too. We can look fondly back on the movies already made in utilizing this trope, and move on, right? Does the world really need another forgetful hero?

Apparently so, which is why I have officially decided that the “amnesia thriller” should be enshrined into its very own genre (if nothing else, a genre will make it easier for other mercenaries with amnesia to find these films as they work to learn the secrets of their own shadowy past).

via GIPHY

In Killerman, Hemsworth must work to find the secret of his identity and his past while also staying alive. And while there aren’t many other details on the film, it’s safe to say that Hemsworth’s character will slide comfortably alongside the Jason Bournes, John Murdochs, and Doug Quaids of the world. And even though we all might feel a bit weary of this overused trope/genre, we can hope that Killerman does the genre-trope proud. After all, I can’t even remember the last time I watched a good amnesia thriller.

What do you think of Hemsworth’s new movie? Are you excited about it, or are you also a bit tired of the trope? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Feature Image: Lionsgate

The best new movies you need to see this summer!

STAR WARS Fans Vote to Make Doctor Aphra a Hasbro Vintage Figure

Introduced early on in Marvel‘s Darth Vader comic, Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra has made an impression. To distill an explanation about why she’s popular into a single sentence: she’s a fun-loving archaeologist with two assassin droids and buckets full of smarts and sass. Aphra completed missions for Vader and didn’t run despite realizing she could end up on his wrong side and be eliminated at any time. She even found a way to survive when Vader inevitably decided to get rid of her.

Doctor Aphra, created by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca, has become what I would call the most popular character created for Star Wars comics for the qualities I mentioned above. She represented an archetype we hadn’t seen in a female Star Wars character to that point. Aphra proved successful enough to split from the Darth Vader ongoing to star in her own series, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. It debuted in December 2016 and only added fuel to the Aphra fandom. Aphra cosplayers showed up in force at the Marvel Comics panel at Star Wars Celebration:

Wellp, my year is made. #SWCO pic.twitter.com/LCzv0u5x23

— Matt Martin (@missingwords) April 15, 2017

The reach of Aphra became more evident in Hasbro’s recent Star Wars Fan Figure Vote. The poll was open to fans to select which character would join their 3.75 inch Star Wars Vintage Collection. Doctor Aphra won. She was up against Emperor Palpatine, Sim Aloo, ARC Trooper Fives, Yak-face, and Ahsoka Tano. Yes, Aphra beat Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka was the runner-up. It was a close race, but Aphra was triumphant.

This variant cover gives us an idea of what the figure could look like:

Darth Vader #25 variant cover by John Tyler Christopher

Aphra’s victory sends a positive message from fans to Lucasfilm and licensees, too–especially about the potential of new characters introduced outside of the Star Wars films and TV series and how we’re willing to open our arms to them.

Did you make a choice in the Hasbro’s Star Wars Fan Figure Vote? Fly to the comments and let me know if you voted for Doctor Aphra.

Images: Lucasfilm, Marvel

Here are the best non-canonical Star Wars characters!