Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2088
May 3, 2017
THE THING Board Game Brings the Alien Paranoia Home
Though it was criminally under-seen and underappreciated upon its 1982 release, John Carpenter‘s The Thing has been treated very kindly through the years, to the point that it’s now considered not only his masterpiece, but a masterpiece in its own right, creating an atmosphere of paranoia punctuated by moments of extreme creature havoc. In a kind of alien-filled Agatha Christie play, no one–on screen or off–was sure who was actually the Thing, until it was too late. Now, Mondo is allowing you to bring the untrustworthy atmosphere home with their first board game–The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31.
Mondo enters into the gaming world in collaboration with USAopoly’s designer games division, Project Raygun, and has delivered a game that looks on the outset like a version of Clue mixed with Mafia or Werewolf; not only will you have to figure out who among you is the alien, but the alien among you has perfectly copied members of the crew. As you play as one of a dozen characters–including Kurt Russell’s resilient helicopter pilot MacReady–you’ll have to investigate the facility, locate and destroy any Things present, and try to get out of McMurdo Station alive. And, if you felt like wearing a big, floppy hat, you’re free to do so.
The game will be available this fall and features artwork and designs by Justin Erickson of Phantom City Creative. The Mondo exclusive version, sold exclusively through MondoTees.com, is limited to 1,982 copies, and features different packaging artwork by Jock. The limited edition game will also come with a Mondo print, enamel pin and two additional sculpted movers: the Norwegian character and the Palmer Thing.
Will you and your friends go up against The Thing? Let us know in the comments below!
Images: Mondo
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist and the host of the horror documentary series One Good Scare. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!
Want more John Carpenter? One Good Scare looks at HALLOWEEN
DEADPOOL Breaks the Fourth Wall in This Effects-Heavy Statue
Ask a kid to explain the appeal of Deadpool, and they’ll probably tell you it’s that he’s a cool ninja-looking dude with swords and guns who’s great in a fight. Ask an adult, and they’ll talk about how he’s known for “breaking the fourth wall,” a stage term that essentially means acknowledging you are part of a work of fiction and talking directly to your audience.
This new Deadpool statue from Good Smile not only incorporates both aspects, but it also has the Marvel Merc with a Mouth literally breaking the fourth wall (the implied “wall” between audience and story) by busting through the pages of a comic into our world.
Even in three dimensions, he retains the “cel-shading” textures of computer-colored art, and his bullets, now solid, maintain a “BLAM BLAM” sound effect. Below him, the pages of his comic scatter as a torn scrap of paper still sticks to his boot from where he kicked his way into reality. Also, the comic pages are now on fire.
As part of Marvel’s Age of Heroes exhibit in Tokyo, a variant with different colored guns will be available for those lucky enough to make it. Elsewhere in the world, the regular version will run you around $220 at all the usual online and retail stores.
The statue stands just shy of ten inches tall, and is detailed back to front. Sculpted and painted by Koji Toshiro, it’s based on a design concept by Shigeto Koyama. It now awaits a fifth wall–your own, at home, on which you will find shelf space for it.
Is this the coolest Deadpool statue yet? Let us know what you think, below.
Images: Good Smile
All the Deadpool 2 teaser Easter eggs!
SCORE Looks Like a Great Documentary about the Music of Film
Film music is having a bit of a moment right now, in case you haven’t noticed. Heck, Hans Zimmer just performed at Coachella. Movie scores have always been important, though, for as long as film has been a medium of creative expression. There’s a new documentary coming out that highlights the value of film scores and the people behind them, called SCORE, and based on the official trailer, it looks like a fascinating journey into the part of movies a lot of us might not spend that much time appreciating.
From what we gather, the movie includes archival footage, as well as new interviews with some of the most important people in the musical side of the film industry, including Zimmer (whose work includes Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean, and so many others), Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands), Quincy Jones (The Color Purple, also he’s just Quincy Jones), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), and others.
Even just the documentary’s trailer brings up some illuminating points. James Cameron calls the film score “the heartbeat of the film” because, as Jones put it, “We will make you feel anything we want you to feel,” and he’s totally right.
What we feel now is excited to see this movie when it hits select theaters beginning June 16. Learn more about the movie here, and let us know in the comments what your favorite film score is.
Featured image: Remote Control Productions
8 Things You Missed in THE DEFENDERS Trailer
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes may not be reassembling again until next year’s Avengers: Infinity War, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest superhero team is going to fill the void this summer and take on the Black Sky. The Defenders are finally coming together to save New York, but they’re gonna have their hands full with the ninja death cult known as the Hand, as well as Sigourney Weaver‘s enigmatic character, Alexandra. Today’s Nerdist News is breaking down the new trailer and showing you the eight things you may have missed!
Join host (and heroine for hire) Jessica Chobot as she provides some context for the first ever live-action meet-ups for Daredevil and Jessica Jones, as well as Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Treating Iron Fist as a joke seems to be a recurring theme in the trailer (and in certain parts of fandom), and that may be true for the miniseries as well. But if you watch closely, you’ll see that Luke Cage’s beloved “Pop’s Barbershop” is still shut down and Colleen Wing is still working with Danny Rand. There’s also an ominous shot which implies that some chemical weapons may be appearing on the show.
The trailer is full of visual callbacks to the previous Marvel Netflix series, including the closeup of Iron Fist punching Luke and a brand new hallway fight with all four heroes and one wildcard: Elektra. That’s right, she’s back! Much to the surprise of no one, Elektra has been resurrected by the Hand, and she doesn’t seem to have a problem with kicking Matt Murdock’s ass while he’s wearing Jessica’s scarf as a makeshift mask.
There is also an unexpected reference to one of the MCU’s top prisons, as well as a glimpse of Alexandra’s power; which actually manages to knock the Defenders off of their feet. There’s also the return of Stick, as well as Claire Temple, the woman who may bring the Defenders together. We’re hoping that Claire won’t be the one to get Phil Coulson-ed on this series. But if it somehow leads to a Night Nurse series on Netflix, we’d be okay with that!
What did you think about the first trailer for The Defenders? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
The Saber Legion Allows You to Engage in Jedi Combat
Ever since people first saw Obi-Wan Kenobi take on Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope, the world became fascinated by lightsaber duels. In subsequent films, with Vader battling Luke Skywalker, Anakin taking on Count Dooku, or Finn and Rey tangling with Kylo Ren, the fan love for such scenes has only risen, and intrepid Star Wars devotees have made their own films showcasing lightsaber skills. But if you really want to fight (safely) with lightsabers and live out your galaxy far, far away dreams, then the Saber Legion is the group for you.
Founded in Minnesota in 2015 by Josh Linden and Terry Birnbaum, the Saber Legion is an international group of about 3,000 like-minded folks who train and spar in duels using real prop lightsaber, even launching tournaments. But this is no backyard wrestling but with laser swords; Saber Legion takes the safety of their competitors very seriously, requiring full pads and fencing gear, with masks, helmets, and gloves a requirement .
With such stipulations about safety, you wouldn’t imagine the actual duels are just people waving the glowing sticks at each other wildly; in fact, there’s Shii Cho, the first form of lightsaber combat, which uses real martial arts, fencing, and basic swordsman techniques to create a truly unique fighting style. Once you’ve reached the level of knight in Shii Cho, you can move on to other styles, growing in your ability to wield the universe’s most elegant weapon.
What if you’d like to get involved in The Saber Legion? There are many chapters across the globe, but in order to gain entry, you’ll need to remember, it’s a saber training AND combat club, and much like Tyler Durden’s unspeakable pummel meet-ups, you will at some point need to fight. The Saber Legion recommends the following pieces of equipment to get you going, but just like sabers themselves, your gear can be customized to fit your specific fighting needs.
You can view dozens of videos of actual tournaments and equipment starts on The Saber Legion’s official YouTube channel, and many more bits of info can be found on their official website.
Images: The Saber Legion
The best Star Wars characters to no longer be in canon
These THE DARK TOWER Action Figures and Dioramas Can Be Your Ka-tet (Exclusive)
As most horror toy collectors know, there has been a distinct lack of anything Stephen King related in action figure form. Pennywise and Jack Torrance are often requested, yet always denied, and it had long been assumed that King in general was reluctant to license out his creations into plastic form. So perhaps we are living in a parallel world now, because the movie adaptation of The Dark Tower is not only getting figures by Diamond Select (that we’re pleased to exclusively debut today), but they’re of some very fan-favorite actors who haven’t really graced us with their fully articulated likenesses before.
Like Idris Elba…
…and Matthew McConaughey!
(click images to enlarge)
As with all Diamond Select figures, the basic figures by themselves will be available at Toys R Us, while the more deluxe versions—with the backdrops you see above—will hit comic and specialty stores. Sculpted by Gentle Giant, they’re based on actual scans of the actors, and if we know the fan community, we suspect stop-motion Lincoln commercials and faux-James Bond scenes will be popping up online soon after these guys hit retail this fall.
If articulation isn’t your thing, though, and you’d rather just have the best pose possible, Diamond also has PVC dioramas of Elba’s Roland Deschain and McConaughey’s Man in Black.
Roland may kill with his heart, but our hearts are going to be killed if we don’t get our hands on these soon. Both 10-inch tall PVC diorama pieces are sculpted by Rocco Tartamella, and run about $45.
So now that Stephen King clearly doesn’t absolutely veto action figures, what are the odds of any from his back-catalog? Probably slim, as actor likeness rights generally weren’t included in any of his previous movies. But we’d totally settle for some Mist monsters.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Images: Diamond Select
7 Reasons Why GUARDIANS OF THE WHILLS Makes Chirrut and Baze More Awesome
The group of rebels responsible for stealing the Death Star plans in Rogue One was ragtag but scrappy. Each member of the team brought different skills to the mission, and Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus came as a packaged pair. The former Guardians of the Whills from Jedha were sparkling gems and sources of humor and hope in a film filled with darkness. Their friendship, their kind and supportive words for others, their mad fighting skills… all of their traits made them stand out.
Plus, moments like this:
Come on. That silly line says volumes about Chirrut and his spirit. It’s not ridiculous; it’s a character beat that adds to what we know about him.
A new middle-grade novel available on May 2, Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka, gives us many more such moments with Chirrut and Baze. Set after the Empire has made themselves at home by taking over Jedha and after Saw Gerrera has arrived with his partisans, the story centers on Chirrut and Baze as they wrestle with their position in the universe and how/if they’ll take a stand against the Empire. This is how Guardians of the Whills makes the characters even more awesome:
They Don’t Have the Answers
Chirrut and Baze used to know their purpose. They served as the Guardians of the Whills and watched over the Disciples of the Whills at The Temple of the Kyber. The Empire’s arrival negated everything about their lives. Now, they exist as best they can, gathering information and staying under the radar. They discuss what they can and should do to fight back. They’re uncertain, and I admire that they don’t cower from reality despite not having the answers.
Chirrut’s Sense of Hope
Similarly, I’m in awe of Chirrut because he holds on to hope. He still has faith in the Force. It’s what his mantra, “I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me,” boils down to. He can feel the Force sometimes, and with it by his side, he looks ahead and hopes even when the situation is dire. And the situation gets downright tragic.
Baze’s Conflict
As mentioned in Rogue One, Baze isn’t as invested in the Force as he used to be. He comes across as a bit jaded and untrusting in Guardians of the Whills. He believes in his friend, but he also believes they should be doing more. He’s torn between taking action and staying out of it because what the consequences of his actions could be. Baze ultimately fights, but he’s always aware of the price of the lives he’s taking.
Side note: The story goes into how Baze gets the massive weapon he uses in Rogue One, and it’s rather great. Baze is charming as hell in that particular chapter.
Their Devotion
I’d say devotion is a key theme in the book. Chirrut is devoted to the Force. Baze is devoted to Chirrut. Their beliefs and how those beliefs guide their actions add depth to both of them.
Their Persistence
The mettle of the former Guardians is tested again and again by the Empire. As the insurgency increases, the Empire pushes back harder. Stormtroopers commit more violent acts; they leave no stone unturned. It would be tempting to bury one’s self as far underground as possible. But not Baze and Chirrut. They stay determined and keep doing what they must.
Their Friendship
If you want friendship goals, look to Baze and Chirrut. They don’t have the luxury of going to brunch or other hallmarks of modern friendship; their relationship is forged in faith and fire. They quarter together, make decisions together, and always think of each other. They’re rarely without each other in the book, and they practically finish each other’s sentences. The bickering you know from Rogue One is one thousand percent present and delightful.
How They Fight for Innocents
Baze and Chirrut have carefully considered what they can do to help the ravaged Jedha and its citizens. The Empire’s occupation means basic survival supplies are scarce. The duo focus their efforts on helping two sisters who run an orphanage—the kind of facility that wasn’t necessary on Jedha before Imperial forces arrived. These guys…
Though these notes aren’t specifically tied to Baze and Chirrut, I want to point out two other exceptional parts of Guardians of the Whills. First of all, each chapter opens with a selection from the in-universe “Collected Poems, Prayers, and Meditations on the Force.” They’re fascinating insights into how people believe in the Force, and they’re worth reflecting upon. Secondly, if you wanted to know how Saw Gerrera made the bad situation on Jedha worse, this is the book for you.
What was your favorite Chirrut and Baze moment in Rogue One? Let me know in the comments.
Featured Image: Disney Lucasfilm Press, Lucasfilm, Tumblr/Constance
What will be the Jedi’s end in The Last Jedi?
May 2, 2017
Marvel Gives Captain America Fans Assurances about SECRET EMPIRE
Last year, Marvel shocked fans with the revelation that Captain America had seemingly been a double agent for Hydra all along. It was subsequently explained that Cap’s past and loyalties had been altered by the machinations of the Red Skull and a Cosmic Cube, but that’s too much info for the casual non-comic book fans to easily absorb. That’s why the new Secret Empire event series is getting news coverage that makes it sound like Cap is siding with the fascists he fought in WWII.
To counter that impression, Marvel has essentially told fans not to worry about the outcome of Secret Empire. Via ABC News, Marvel said “we want to assure all of our fans that we hear your concerns about aligning Captain America with Hydra and we politely ask you to allow the story to unfold before coming to any conclusion.”
“Captain America, will always be a cornerstone of the Marvel Universe who will stand up for what is right, and Secret Empire will be the biggest challenge Steve has ever faced,” continued Marvel. “What you will see at the end of this journey is that his heart and soul — his core values, not his muscle or his shield — are what save the day against Hydra and will further prove that our heroes will always stand against oppression and show that good will always triumph over evil.”
We’ve been down this road before with the Superior Spider-Man event; which featured the apparent death of Peter Parker’s soul when Doctor Octopus took over Peter’s body. By the end of that story, Peter Parker was back in control and reaffirmed as the one true Spider-Man. It’s pretty safe to assume that Secret Empire will conclude in a very similar way, with Cap once again a paragon of virtue. Hopefully he’ll get his old costume back too!
Are you satisfied with Marvel’s assurances about Hydra Cap? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: Marvel Comics
CODE VEIN is Basically DARK SOULS with Anime Vampires
The Dark Souls series has a reputation for being punishingly difficult, challenging players’ patience and problem-solving abilities as they come face to face with increasingly brutal enemies. Its high skill ceiling, addictive action-RPG gameplay, and rich worldbuilding has made it a fan favorite, but everyone can agree it has been sorely lacking in one department: anime vampires. Look around any Souls game — there are zero anime vampires to be found. It’s a frankly embarrassing statistic in an otherwise extremely polished series, but it’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Thankfully, Bandai Namco, who publishes the Dark Souls series, acknowledges this and they’re seeking to address this shocking paucity in a brand new video game, Code Vein.
Released on Tuesday, the first trailer for Code Vein reveals everything that Dark Souls has been missing: cool-ass anime vampires fighting all manner of creepy, screen-filling monsters using tactical, real-time combat to defeat them. The characters feel a bit like Tokyo Ghoul cosplayers, but if you’re going to take design inspiration from another hit anime, you could do a lot worse. Admittedly, I was hoping that the game would employ the art style showcased in the #PrepareToDine teaser trailer, the end result looks pretty compelling in its own right.
Here’s the basic gist of Code Vein, according to the video description:
“In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity.”
Bandai Namco has not yet officially announced what platforms the game will appear, but the action-RPG will release in 2018.
What do you think of Code Vein? Will you be playing? Let us know in the comments below.
Image: Bandai Namco
Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).
How forceful is an anime nosebleed, according to science?
Chris Hardwick's Blog
- Chris Hardwick's profile
- 132 followers
