Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2105
April 16, 2017
How THE LAST JEDI Trailer Mirrors the First One for THE FORCE AWAKENS
As 2017’s Star Wars Celebration wraps up this weekend, fans were treated to quite a bit of awesomeness from a galaxy far, far, away (or as some people call it, Orlando, Florida). From the 40th-anniversary panel to the announcement of Star Wars Rebels final season, Lucasfilm and Disney gave fans all the Star Wars info they could imagine.
Arguably everyone’s favorite moment, whether they attended Celebration or not, was the release of the teaser trailer for The Last Jedi. Over the last year or so, many people made comparisons between The Force Awakens and A New Hope, and how some the story beats were very similar. Well, thanks to Twitter user jessicanne, we can now look at the trailers for episodes VII and VIII the same way.
Check out what the Last Jedi and the Force Awakens teaser trailers look like compared to one another…. pic.twitter.com/gR5582QHIb
— jessicanne. (@xwithmywoes) April 16, 2017
Keep in mind that this isn’t a frame by frame sync-up of the two trailers, but merely an exercise in the similarity between some of their shots.
This shot zooms in from the backs of two of the great leaders from The First Order and the Resistance, Kylo Ren and General Leia Organa. It not only represents the two sides in this war, but a family as well, with mother and son.
This is my favorite shot of the comparison. The Force Awakens shot represents what Kylo Ren was striving for: to be like his grandfather. The Last Jedi shot, with Lord Vader’s mask completely destroyed, could symbolize Kylo Ren’s final act to wipe away any remnants of his past and move forward, essentially killing Ben Solo (Then again, he could have just been moving offices and dropped it. There was no super-glue anywhere in the trailer, so it’s anyone’s guess).
With Star Wars fandom as awesome and crazy as it is, we are looking forward to all the theories as to why everything seems so symmetrical.
What do you think? Which comparison shots were your favorites? Do you feel comparing the trailers like this will give us clues as to the fate of our heroes and villains? Let me know on Twitter or sound off in the comments below.
Images: Lucasfilm/Disney
If DOCTOR STRANGE Were Also DOCTOR WHO, These Would Be His Opening Credits
OK. So we don’t entirely know how to feel about this mash-up of Marvel‘s Doctor Strange as if it were the beginning of a new intro for Doctor Who. It was brought to our attention by a post on Bleeding Cool, and we have YouTube’s Jason Rico to thank for the weird knot in our stomach for sort of wishing this could happen for real.
On one hand we’re glad the two aren’t really intertwined, as Marvel has continually cut out their own chunk of the nerd world and–as much as we love it–we’re very glad they’ve stayed away from our precious BBC goodness. On the other hand, we can’t help but grin a little thinking about the Doctor Who episodes that exist in some alternate universe where Benedict Cumberbatch was tapped to play the eponymous Doctor instead of Doctor Strange. I mean, we know he can do “eccentric genius who depends upon a regular human companion in a Steven Moffat show,” but can he do all that AND be an alien? Some of us would like to know.
Plus, in the imaginary alternate dimension where this happened, we know the Doctor Who showrunners would have made a south-pole centric episode simply for how he pronounces the word “penguin!” It’s a perfect Doctor Who personality quirk!
What do you think of the Doctor Who/Doctor Strange mash-up? Is it better to think of Doctor Strange in the Who world or The Doctor visiting the MCU? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: YouTube/Jason Rico
These Realistic REN AND STIMPY Masks Are Cartoonishly Horrifying
One of the biggest changes when bringing superheroes from the comic book pages to the big screen comes in the costume differences. From removing the underwear worn on the outside to replacing swashbuckler boots with tactical footwear, these adjustments are made so our heroes can look believable, not ridiculous.
However, sometimes adding realism can be a scary thing. In this video from Adam Savage’s Tested YouTube channel, we witnesses what happens when beloved cartoon characters Ren and Stimpy are brought into the real world.
Who knew two animals we laughed at a LOT over the years could cause us to scream just as much. Created by Adam Freeman of Immortal Masks, these amazing designs were made in only ONE WEEK so Adam could display them in at Monsterpalooza.
While Adam usually uses a longer drying clay to make the molds for his masks, he had to go with a water based clay for Ren and Stimpy because of the time constraints. The masks themselves were done up completely in silicon, with the exception of the yak hair used for the top of their heads. Adam also talked about how studied all of the details of their faces, from the popping blood vessels to the horrible, horrible teeth. If you thought they were gross on the cartoon, real life is WAY worse.
This was a passion project for Adam and over time, he would like to make adjustments to the masks so they can be comfortably worn. You can check out more Immortal Masks’ designs on their website, and more videos from Adam Savage’s Tested on their channel here.
So what do you think? Are these masks a little TOO real? Should cartoons just stay cartoons? What is YOUR favorite cartoon you’d like to see get this type of sculpture? Let me know on Twitter or sound off in the comments below.
Images: Youtube/Tested/Immortal Designs
Celebration Was Truly a Love Letter to STAR WARS
If there was one Celebration moment that perfectly encapsulated the love fans and creators still have for the Star Wars franchise after forty years, it was when actor and moderator Warwick Davis chose to read the letter he had sent George Lucas after starring in Return of the Jedi. Davis was a self-proclaimed massive Star Wars fan, having seen the first film when he was seven–but he had no idea that five years later Lucas would “give [him] the opportunity to go to that galaxy far, far away and meet [his] heroes” by casting him as Wicket the Ewok.
Davis admitted that Star Wars would go on to become an integral part of his life, a sentiment that was echoed by many of his fellow actors over the course of the four-day event. During the 40th Years of Star Wars panel, Harrison Ford referred to joining the film as “the beginning of an incredible ride”; Mark Hamill mentioned that, for him, the role of Luke Skywalker was the role that changed everything. The fondness and positivity didn’t stop with the original players, either; the newest additions to the galaxy were unable to hide their delight over getting the opportunity to join the Star Wars family.
At the panel for The Last Jedi, Kelly Marie Tran made her first public appearance as an official member of the cast, but admitted that she’d actually been at the last Celebration in London as a fan. Making the transition from Star Wars fan to Resistance member Rose was a secret she kept from everyone, including her own family–but Tran said getting to become an official character within the universe was incredible. “You just hear so much excitement and so much love for this thing that you get to be a part of, and I just want to do it justice.”
Tran wasn’t the only one who expressed love for the franchise that she gets to help build. Over the course of the event, the outpouring of positivity and gratitude between creators, cast and fans was something on the level of the power of the Force. The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson showed up to the lines of fans waiting overnight for Friday’s panel and made his way through to talk to everyone, signing autographs and taking photos until the early hours of the morning. Aftermath trilogy author Chuck Wendig geeked out hardcore over getting to write some of his all-time favorite Star Wars characters in a panel workshop. Many women dressed up as various incarnations of Leia at the Drowning in Moonlight charity gala held in honor of Carrie Fisher on Thursday night, from Hoth Leia to Boushh Leia to General Leia. Even the overall mood navigating among fans walking around on the show floor felt different in a good way, where everything was exciting and thrilling and emotional no matter the level of familiarity. (A rare and unexpected appearance of Carrie Fisher’s beloved canine companion, Gary, was a particular treat for Celebration attendees.)
Some moments, however, were bittersweet, as this year’s Celebration was also the first since the devastating passing of Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher. The loss of Fisher wasn’t just the loss of a great presence in the world of Star Wars, but also a verifiable cornerstone of Celebration itself. Her daughter Billie Lourd (who also appeared in The Force Awakens) was one among many who pointed out that Fisher would have loved being in Orlando this year: “When she surrounded herself with fans at Celebrations like this, she never felt more at home.” In spite of the mourning, there was also a lot of laughter; at his hour-long moving tribute to Fisher peppered with hilarious memories, Mark Hamill said that she was one of the reasons Celebrations were so entertaining, but thanked fans for allowing him the opportunity to talk personally about his “space twin.” “This is part of the process I need to move on,” he said. “She loved you and I certainly love you, and I need your support, and we all need each other’s support to make sure that we honor her legacy in a way that she earned and a way that she deserves.”
One of the biggest undercurrents of not only the 40th anniversary panel, but really the whole of Celebration, was the sheer amount of affection and love that not only the fans had, but the creators and actors shared in looking back on the franchise. From adorable anecdotes from Anthony Daniels about George Lucas imitating R2-D2 on the set to the moving musical tribute paid to Carrie Fisher and conducted by none other than John Williams himself, the whole thing was a love letter to the enduring legacy of Star Wars. There’s a special kind of power that happens when this many people (over 60,000!) come together in one place to focus all their passion and energy on Star Wars, and the end result was pretty incredible to witness.
We’d love to hear your experiences at Celebration, or just with Star Wars fandom in general. What makes it special for you? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Images: Disney.
Our massive trailer breakdown for The Last Jedi:
Rock Out to ALL TIME COMICS: BULLWHIP #1 Spotify Playlist (Exclusive)
Long running indie publisher Fantagraphics has recently joined the superhero/shared universe game with their all new line of books entitled All Time Comics, which feature a whole new universe of superheroes, done in a style paying tribute to comic book eras gone by. The All Time Comics brand at Fantagraphics is a joint venture from underground comics artist Josh Bayer, and his brother director Samuel Bayer, whose name you might recognize from directing music videos like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The first title in the line releases was All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1, and now the second series from All Time Comics has arrived with badass heroine Bull Whip
All Time Comics: Bull Whip #1 hit comic shops this April 12, and to celebrate, series writer Josh Bayer has created a musical playlist on Spotify featuring the songs that, in his mind, best exemplify just what the character of Bullwhip represents. This also gives all the readers quite the cool soundtrack to listen to while reading All Time Comics: Bullwhip #1. You can check out the entire Spotify playlist, along with Bayer’s descriptions for each track and preview art for the first issue, down below:
BULLWHIP, THE PLAYLIST
By Josh Bayer
Hi, This is Josh Bayer, and this is the Spotify soundtrack for the second issue of ALL TIME COMICS, BULLWHIP #1. Be sure to listen to these songs while reading the issue. I timed it out so that if you read along while listening, and you pay special attention to all the details, and read really slow, the tracks should last exactly as long as it takes to read the issue. Thanks for embarking on this multi-media experience with me.
Incredible song, both melodic and driving, like a combination power ballad and fun candy pop song. Kathleen Hanna is one of the greatest vocalists ever, and I want the Bullwhip songlist to be populated with a lot of great women vocalists. Kathleen Hanna, Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka, and Poly Styrene are on a short list to top that category. They’ve all been inspiring me since I was barely out of my teens and fit well with ALL TIME COMICS.
The way Ian MacKaye sings about [Washington] DC almost makes it sound like a fictional place, a make believe fortress of solitude for a real Superman. The idea of a personal connection with a city is pretty strong in many fables. Superman has Metropolis, Flash has Central City I think, Shazam has Fawcett City, and Ian MacKaye has Washington DC.
A PIG IS A PIG, THE PLASMATICS
The greatest song about retaliation ever. This song is a sneaky killer, it goes deep inside, accusing the listener who, deep down, knows what kind of human garbage they are. *coughtrump*
A repo man sounds like the name of some Superhero who never got his own comic book. He’s too real, and that’s a good description of the movie as well. The Repo Man soundtrack was the great gateway drug to greater punk literacy for so many kids who were 15 in 1985, like me. It was described once as being this song where you can hear the band, muscular and steam powering forward, but still racing to keep up with Iggy who is clearly off and running like a stray live wire. That’s a great song with incredible dynamics to trace with your ear.
This song so much weirder than it has any right to be. The leather (Pants? Jacket? Never specified…) described in the song is like a sexy, loved clothing item but more. It’s a magical element, like an enchanted amulet or magic sword for Joan Jett. Something that imbues her with superpower. I also love that Joan is attempting an early form of rap, which just makes the song a weirder mismatch of different approaches to pop, rock, rap, and really, it’s a Joan Jett song is its own genre. See that’s the weirdness of punk in the early days–no one was doing it as a genre yet, and a lot of bands are just weird and defy categorization.
RIGHT DOWN THE LINE, GERRY RAFFERT Y
I picked this song because it’s about a code of conduct, and every superhero has a code. In Rafferty’s case it’s about a code between two people. In Bullwhip’s case it’s a stripped-down code that keeps her realistic and grounded and committed to doing the right thing.
A cool song, full of menace and a concealed power that seeps then rises. The song is like a comic book where shit just blows up and then the story stops.
There’s something melodic and adventurous about this song. The hyped up action word “Run” makes me think of a bullwhip story as does the operative dated “fox” terminology for a sexy woman.
This song is about a horror movie that Debbie Harry appeared in in 1980. I like the way that Debbie Harry transformed herself into a cartoony sex symbol, despite the fact that she emerged from a world of horror herself. She was almost murdered by Ted Bundy, as immortalized in a Robert Williams painting. That’s dark! I’m glad Debbie Harry has lived a nice long life because she could’ve been snuffed out.
Not sure why I couldn’t find a GITS song with Mia Zapata singing, since I tried to pepper this list with powerhouse women performers, but my favorite GITS song is “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and that one’s too overwhelming and heartbreaking for this fast list. So this instrumental is what we get. Hopefully, you can sense her spirit around the edges.
Like “Fox on the Run” or “American NIGHTmare,” this song sounds like the title of a comic to me. Fear is one of the alltime great bands, no one else sounds like them. So punk, so entertaining, such a trainwreck of intentional dumbness mixed with cleverness and the greatest songwriting craft. The cool thing about FEAR is they made punk when there weren’t a lot of rules. Lee is often too good for a singer for a punk band, and they just sound like their own thing. Hard to believe punk in popular culture at one point devolved into shity ’90s SoCal pop punk bullshit, but that’s simply made the originality and brilliance of FEAR and other weird bands shine ever brighter
I’m gonna let this one rip, again a song about slowly releasing a vast wealth of power, like death rays from a doomsday weapon that is Lydia Lunch’s heart. Combines an incredibly sexy vibe with angry, death-trip themed lyrics.
Just heard this for the first time. Any time you have a present-day punk band putting on the uniform of the bands that preceded them, you’ve got a formula that hits close to the hearts of us here at ALL TIME COMICS, where we are trying to create a bridge between younger and older artists.
GERM FREE ADOLESCENCE, X RAY SPEX
Which leads us to GERM FREE ADOLESCENCE, a paean to the cleansers and antiseptics that we use to erase our human stain. How great can you get? Equal parts punk, New Wave, reggae, and jazz, topped by a voice like something from an extraterrestrial swan would sing as a farewell to a lost race. From the sadness in her voice over this hopeless battle between filthiness and cleanliness, you can see how Poly Styrene struggled to keep her heart whole and unshattered even in these early days. Poly’s voice is like Bullwhip’s whip; it slashes through anything I can imagine putting in front of it.
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN, MOTORHEAD
Holy Fucking Shit I love Lemmy. I know 2016 was a horrible year for everyone, but no celebrity loss matches the death of Lemmy. However, the new beginning marked by ALL TIME COMICS is special and meaningful and the sort of oasis the world’s been waiting for in the endless desolate cavern of pain modern life has become. Also I have no idea what “Tie Your Mother Down” means, but it has the “I don’t care, take no prisoners” energy we want in Bullwhip.
It’s pretty easy to listen to this song and forget who Nugent became later, which is something I prefer to do. Good lyrics and he was a good screamer then.
Coolest song in the world by this Portland-based band. A raging, mid-tempo punk song with a weird lonely melody and an ethereal atmospheric feeling.
ROCK & ROLL BURNOUT, URBAN ASSAULT
Amazing Punk song by URBAN ASSAULT. Fast and clanky, like a drawer of silverware being thrown down the stairs. It’s pure chaos, but the band has their foot on the accelerator the whole time; you can feel the intention and will behind the noise. It’s a visceral thrill to listen to.
AIN’T’ TALKIN BOUT LOVE, MINUTEMEN
Great cover. I’ve said it before: I love young punk bands covering stuff by people who came the wave before them.
Every pretenders song sounds like a great unwritten comic to me. Again, another ubiquitous Rock and Roll female vocalist heard from in Chrissie Hynde. The song has such a great beat, and I love the way her voice is synced with the music, especially the drums on this track. Amazing how she pulls off a mix of spoken word alternated with full-throated joyful singing.
Another retaliation song by the greatest female driven rock band ever. I love the Runaways; I usually like Joan’s singing over Cherie’s and this one’s no exception. Joan was kind of at her peak with the Runaways, singing alternately with authority and with the release of a wild animal.
It was hard to pick just one or two Link Wray songs here. He’s the coolest man who ever picked up a guitar, and I wish he were my father. LINK, I am your son, LINK..DADDY
THE WARRIORS THEME, BARRY DEVORZON
Obviously this song is the best. Sometimes something is great, but you overlook it because it’s right in front of you, like sidewalks. Sidewalks are great, but you don’t really ever look at them. And this song is the foundation of The Warriors, which is obviously a great movie, but how often do you listen to the soundtrack? I am sorry I never checked this song out ‘til I made this mix and was looking for Joe Walsh’s “In the City.” Bad ass.
Yes, I can’t leave X RAY SPEX alone: holy shit, the howling release of this song. Poly Styrene absolutely kills me like she’s standing right there singing it. So immediate.
Another weird classic punk band that gets to the root of the matter. Lets rock.
Another sexy rhythmic punk blues sleaze masterpiece. Never stop, Danzig.
LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM, DUMB NUMBERS
A side project by members of Melvins and Dinosaur and Jesus Lizard, which sounds like a more rocked-up Low. It’s the sound of empty space in between thoughts, which is where all the ideas for ALL TIME COMICS germinate. Check it out.
A side project where Joan Jett stepped in for the murdered singer of The Gits, Mia Zapata. It’s the real-world nightmares we all want to retreat from and fight voraciously, and that’s where the escapism of comics come in. The world is filled with worse things than a comic can ever approach depicting. The Gits and Joan Jett collaborated on this one album as a tribute to Mia’s memory. I’ve always liked it and Joan Jett is one of my great idols.
REJECT ALL AMERICAN, BIKINI KILL
Apocalyptic last song, on the last studio album by Bikini Kill; still somehow a very positive song though. Another powerful, sad pretty number by one of the greatest rock bands that will ever exist in punk.
My favorite things in life are Blondie and L7. Feast your ears. Baybee. Amazing how fresh and new this song sounds in their hands.
Continuing with songs that hit the ground running and then keep on going forward. Love the way this song chugs right along, such an atmospheric classic rock sound.
OH SHIT time for another PLASMATICS. I don’t always know what they’re singing: they’re too advanced; they come from a Road Warrior vision of the future that America looks more like every day. Way ahead of their time, and their songs are, like, better than some of the best comic books about wrathful war goddesses. A thundering conflict looms in the horizon; what a comfort to only listen to the sound of WENDY O WILLIAMS protest over the relentless disaster instead of living through it. For now.
An almost obvious choice, this song should be as familiar as an old shoe and it belongs here on this list for sure; the best song of 1982 serving as a quasi final track for the soundtrack to the best unread comic form 1979, as we like to think of ALL TIME COMICS.
THE DAY THE WORLD TURNED DAY-GLO, X RAY SPEX
One more by X ray Spex for good measure. Never forget to listen to punk and read comics forever!
Iggy and Steve Jones played on this track, but the speed and propulsion is even more Iggy than Steve Jones. I originally wanted to pick just “Repo Man,” which is my all time favorite Iggy and Steve song, but I can’t find live footage of Steve and Iggy playing together so I picked the video for Cold Metal as well. The legendary Steve Jones graced the ALL TIME COMICS trailer with his participation and we couldn’t be more thrilled. No-one more than me. He is to punk what Joe Shuster was to comics!!! One of the grand architects.
SHOWDOWN, ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
I was all done with this list then I remembered the way this song played in the movie Kingpin when Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray get ready to have their big bowling tournament, and it reminded me of how it just makes you feel so ready for a big clash of opposing titans. It’s got the sense of excitement that I feel is in the pages of ALL TIME COMICS.
SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT, NIRVANA
Everyone knows this song, and some people may know that Sam, Chief Pitboss here at ALL TIME COMICS, directed this as one of his first videos in 1992. It’s amazing when you go back and watch the video and listen to the lyrics, how effective it is. The song is full of quirky A.D.D centric lyrics and the video is full of spontaneous moments that still catch you by surprise, like the fan who jumps into the frame right before the cut at 2:42. This video has mattered to the whole world and no one more than us at ALL TIME COMICS. It generated a chain reaction without which I’m not even sure I’d be here writing this.
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Are you psyched for Fantagraphics entry into the world of superhero comics? Be sure to tell us your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: Fantagraphics
Patrick Stewart Talks to Sheep, Because Easter
If you’re reading this, chances are you’d agree with our assessment that Patrick Stewart is an international treasure, and can generally do no wrong. According to him, though, he has at least one flaw as an actor: an inability to do impersonations…of humans, anyway. He can and will do a mean sheep baa.
And because it’s Easter, and lambs are part of the iconography, he has blessed us today with a rendition.
I speak sheep. Happy Easter. pic.twitter.com/6Bz8gY7qwj
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) April 16, 2017
Even Andy Samberg‘s Mark Wahlberg never talked to animals this effectively. But now that we’ve seen this, we want sequels. Easter’s not just about lambs, Sir Pat: how about you talk to some baby chickens next? Or bunnies? The impression doesn’t have to be particularly good; just say “HULLO, I am a bunny!” in that voice of yours, and we’ll buy it. Really. Robert Downey Jr. may have been cast as the next big-screen Dr. Dolittle, but if this video had surfaced sooner, we reckon things might have gone differently.
If we praise the former Captain Picard enough, maybe he’ll do these for every season. Naturally, he has to talk turkey for Thanksgiving; that’s a given. But may we suggest he bone up on reindeer after that? Or maybe practice eagle cries in time for July? The possibilities are, if not endless, at least wide-ranging. Make it so!
What animal should Patrick Stewart try to talk to next? Leave us your thoughts in comments.
Image: Aardman Studios
Learn How to Make This NEVERENDING STORY Sphinx Pie
When you think of The Neverending Story, probably the first scene that pops into your head is of Bastian riding Falkor the Luckdragon, or Atreyu’s horse dying in the Swamp of Sadness (ARTAX, NO!). But there are plenty of other iconic moments in the movie besides that, and guess what? They can be delicious!
Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin of Pies Are Awesome is on a mission to make the nerdiest, most impressive pies she can, and she’s outdone herself with this one: a recreation of the Gates of the Southern Oracle, where Atreyu must pass successfully between two super-judgmental sphinxes with death-ray eyes.
The pie-crust sphinxes certainly look impressive, but watching how they’re constructed makes the process look surprisingly easy. But the coolest part of this pie design is the laser beams, which were made from crushed mints boiled to “hard crack” temperature with tonic water—and as you can see in the above tutorial video, they glow faintly when viewed under a black light. “If you want perfectly clear beams you can use isomalt crystals rather than mints, but I suggest you add some peppermint extract to the mix to cut the natural bitterness of the quinine in the tonic,” Clark-Bojin suggests .
Be sure to head to the Pies Are Awesome website to see the rest of Jessica’s amazing fruit-filled creations, including pastry inspired by Super Mario Brothers. Beauty And The Beast, and more What pop culture pie do you want to see her take on next? Tell us in the comments below!
Image: Pies Are Awesome
THE LAST JEDI Fan-Made Parody Posters Have Arrived in Full Force
On Friday, Star Wars fans from all around the world got to witness the release of not only the new teaser trailer for this December’s The Last Jedi but also its new poster.
Quicker than a lightsaber slicing through a Wampa’s arm, the parody posters came out in droves on the internet over the last day or so. We’ve gone ahead and collected some of our favorites here.
A post shared by RobertLiefeld (@robliefeld) on Apr 15, 2017 at 7:36am PDT
The casting announcement of Josh Brolin as Cable in Deadpool 2 this week was perfect timing. Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld showed a mock-up of the sequel’s poster on his Instagram page. As if we weren’t excited for BOTH movies already.
DC and Warner, thank me later. #MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter pic.twitter.com/cib5BBxLkg
— Audel Ross Almazan (@Aurozan) April 15, 2017
I am surprised they didn’t go with a “Rey as She-Ra” version of the poster. However, if any movie deserves a second chance, it’s this one. I mean, He-Man beat Marvel to the post-credits scene punch by over 20 years!
#MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter pic.twitter.com/1egImN0zIF
— Joe Harp (@joster285) April 15, 2017
“Oh Hai Luke.”
#MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter
Простите, не удержался. pic.twitter.com/xjjTfnPGX5
— vladimir demchikov (@vdemchikov) April 15, 2017
Queen makes everything better. The only edit I would make is to replace Luke and Kylo with Wayne and Garth.
Nobody asked for this. #MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter #FaceOff pic.twitter.com/0WYkwjwq2Y
— ( ♡ °益° ) (@ologies) April 15, 2017
The caption is right. We didn’t ask for this, but at the same time could it be everything we’ve always wanted?
Star Wars: The Last Saiyan #MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter pic.twitter.com/e6M2GyJAUA
— Gothic (@Gothweet) April 15, 2017
A Spirit Bomb combined with the Force? Vegeta would be lucky if Goku only reached 9000 here.
#MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter pic.twitter.com/a7BDH1NhCf
— sackttg (@turtie11) April 16, 2017
While this one may not fall under the “parody” category per se, it represents two different generations of Star Wars fandom. We’ll give it a pass.
I’m sorry #MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter pic.twitter.com/i5R7Bklegj
— Nick M (@nickstweetlife) April 14, 2017
They may have forgotten him during the 40th-anniversary retrospective, but because we like grinding gears, we certainly didn’t forget Jar-Jar.
With the poster only being a day or two old, there will be a LOT more where these came from. To check them ALL out, you can use the hashtag #MakeTheLastJediPosterBetter
So what do you think? Which of these is your favorite? Have you found more? Post them to me on Twitter or down in the comments below!
Featured image: Lucasfilm/Disney
AMERICAN GODS Will Test Your Senses Like No Show Before (Review)
Please note: this review is spoiler-free for American Gods. Enjoy!
There’s a lot we don’t know about the world. For all the power and insight science has brought to our understanding of the physical world, there are many things outside its purview that we cannot explain. What we choose to believe ultimately says a lot about us. And the power of belief has proven its mettle against even the most hard-lined, facts-based arguments out there. I, for example, believe that, if you give it a shot, American Gods will be one of your favorite new series of the year, in all its wizened weirdery.
American Gods is a twisty opus of a tale, weaving and wiggling its way through ideas of religion, life, death, belief, power, and what it means to be American. To tell you much more about its plot would rob you of the dark-and-twisty ride you about to embark upon. It is complicated, outrageous, unbelievable, and audacious. It’s brimming with excitement, fear, and skepticism—and it is very, very dense. Don’t expect this to be your new favorite series to fold laundry to: you’re going to have to pay attention if you want to have any sort of an idea of what’s going on over the course of its 8-episode first season on Starz. If you love a thematic challenge, this is the show for you.
On every level, the series’ should-be-confounding-beyond-comprehension puzzle pieces fit. There are flashbacks, side stories, and hidden agendas. There are gods and humans and some hybrids in between. And the running current underneath all of this is a war for the heart of America. Having the likes of Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me) and Michael Green (Logan, Heroes, Blade Runner 2049, Alien: Covenant) tackle the haunting literary mind of Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Coraline, Neverwhere) certainly helps to streamline this: these guys know (and love) weird, and excel at bringing it to the screen in exciting and different ways. There is truly no other show on TV that looks and operates like American Gods does, and that’s a very, very good thing.
Still, American Gods continues to up the visual and thematic game that other new series like Legion and Handmaid’s Tale have wrought on-screen this season. The show is a frenetic glitterbomb of atmosphere: its flotsam and jetsam more than mere eye candy, it’s a nod to the world wherein these old and new gods live. To juxtapose this, its pacing is tense and slow, purposefully confusing and downright tingle-inducing, further eschewing the dreamlike state the show will leave you in once its episodes are done. Consistently while watching the episodes, I found it was hard to shake a feeling akin to the confusing, sleepy haze of drug use.
These moments are especially visceral when employed to introduce its weirder characters. This is one of the most well-cast shows in recent memory. Every actor truly embodies their character. Ricky Whittle’s Shadow Moon is exactly what my mind envisioned the character to be, and Ian McShane’s Mr. Wednesday is as bombastic as you’d want him (his introduction to the series is a true highlight). Gillian Anderson and Yetide Badaki (as Media and Bilquis, respectively) command the screen whenever they’re on it, and Jonathan Tucker and Crispin Glover—as Low Key Lyesmith and Mr. World, respectively—menace and confound as much as they delight. Cloris Leachman, Peter Stormare, Omid Abtahi, Orlando Jones, Demore Barnes, Kristin Chenoweth, and even Dane freakin’ Cook are simply perfect in their parts, with Bruce Langley’s embodiment of the internet somehow a more punchable Technical Boy than I ever thought possible. (This is a compliment.)
The breakout star of all the god and non-gods alike, though, is Pablo Schreiber’s Mad Sweeney. The expanded role of the series’ leprechaun is a masterclass in physical comedy and pure ego. A scene involving coin tricks will certainly need repeat viewing, and his chemistry with Shadow Moon and Mr. Wednesday is the stuff of TV legend.
And we’d be deeply remiss if we didn’t mention the expanded characterization of Laura Moon (Emily Browning), Shadow’s wife he left at home when he was sent to jail. Here, the already gargantuan story truly benefits from a bit of fleshing out. In the books, Laura and her machinations are highly unmoored and without any sort of reasoning that rang true. In the TV iteration of her tale, Laura Moon is considered more thoughtfully than on the page, and to that end, the show gains an even more incisive look into what drives all of us.
Which is not to say the series is perfect: indeed, its weakest episode (of the four screened for journalists) is arguably the pilot, an oddly paced and overstuffed-in-weird-ways hour of TV that felt much longer given the sheer magnitude of its visualizations. I wanted to love it, but was ultimately frustrated (and I’ve read the book). Book fans will likely enjoy how fairly literal the first episode’s adaptation of the text is, but it may prove a hindrance to recruiting uninitiated viewers. The pilot is a feat of Fuller-ian excess—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for those who’ve read the source material, but it does make for some at-times distracting imagery and play that may alienate the lay-viewer—this story is incredibly tough to synthesize, y’all. The pilot feels very Hannibal season 3 in tone and tenor, and if that’s not your bag (it wasn’t my favorite, though I am ride-or-die for Hannibal/Bryan Fuller), it may read as overdone. But for every moment of overdone-ness, there are at least 3 instances of stunning imagery and sweeping atmosphere perfection.
And to anyone who feels dissuaded after the pilot to continue, I will simply say this: keep going. Stick with it. Episodes three and four are particular highlights in terms of storytelling strength, and—we promise—ultimately inform the understanding of just what in the heck happened in the episodes prior. Plus: it just gets fun. American Gods, like America, is still in its infancy in the grand scheme of things. It is wholly worth your worship this TV season. We don’t want to try and predict the future, but it’s sure to be one of the best of 2017.
American Gods premieres on Sunday, April 30th at 9 p.m. Are you looking forward to it? Let us know in the comments!
4 out of 5 burrito altars:
Images: Starz
Want more American Gods? Hear what the cast had to say at SXSW:
Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor of Nerdist, creator of Fangirling, and frequent Twitter.com obsessive.
April 15, 2017
On SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Jimmy Fallon Did Double-Duty as Dual John Travoltas
It was always a given that with Jimmy Fallon hosting Saturday Night Live, at least one sketch would be an excuse for celebrity impersonations. And indeed, his monologue set the tone with a non-ironic imitation of David Bowie singing “Let’s Dance.” But while Fallon is indeed skilled at mimickry, this show would challenge him further by making him do two different impersonations…of the same celebrity…in the same sketch…at the same time.
If comedians stay in the imitation game long enough, it helps to recognize when the target of the spoof has changed significantly. Dana Carvey was excellent at impersonating Grease-era John Travolta back in the day, but the same impression didn’t work as well for Look Who’s Talking John Travolta. In a sketch that seemed put together solely so that Fallon could prove he’s adept at old and young Travoltas, he played both, in an episode of Family Feud pitting time-travelling ’70s celebrities against modern big names. Travolta, of course, was on both teams, in different forms.
That’s not the sole joke in the sketch: Pete Davidson’s David Blaine is an impression we’d like to see more of, and Harry Styles got meta as young Mick Jagger. But a large portion of the humor involved self-awareness, with Kenan Thompson’s Steve Harvey quite obviously stalling for time so Fallon could run around the camera and change outfits multiple times. Carvey back in the day pre-taped his Ross Perot to seamlessly debate his George H.W. Bush; here, the seams were the point.
We are also one hundred percent on board with the game’s number-one answer to the query of things that keep you up at night. No spoiling, but it’s a fear that keeps us awake too.
Which Travolta do you prefer? Would you want to see any of these celebrity impressions recur? Lave us a comment, because if you’re nah ganna dah, that wouldn’t be prudent.
Images: NBC
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