Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2236

Here’s Why Humanity Needs to Start Using a “Human Era” Calendar

It seems fair to say that as humanity’s problems scale, so too does its need to work together. And because this need seems to be growing, and because thinking of ourselves simply as Earthlings seems to be making more and more sense, maybe it’s time for the human species to get on the same page and use a singular calendar: a “Human Era” calendar.

The idea for this calendar, which originated with scientist Cesare Emiliani, is given the Kurzgesagt treatment in the above video, and after watching the argument laid out in such clear and logical detail, it’s difficult to deny how much sense this type of system would make.

Emiliani’s original idea was proposed to combat some pretty glaring issues with the current Gregorian Calendar. Some of these issues include “‘the birth’ of Jesus not being a universally recognized epoch event,” a lack of a year 0 (the calendar goes from 1 BC to 1 AD), and the confusion caused by counting down for BC but up for AD in terms of moving into the future.

The proposal for the calendar, dubbed the Holocene Calendar, would start 10,000 years before the current calendar, putting us (Earthlings!) in the year 12,016 rather than 2,016. The reason to start the calendar 10,000 years earlier is because of the establishment of Göbekli Tepe, which is believed to be the first-ever large-scale temple constructed by humanity.

Göbekli Tepe, site of humanity’s first large-scale temple. Image: Wikimedia / Klaus-Peter Simon

The calendar seems like an especially appealing idea because no substantive changes would have to be made to the way we use our calendars in day-to-day life (we’d just add a “1” to the front of the date on everything). But the way we think about history in a grander sense would change dramatically—and we need dramatic changes to mark new epochs.

What do you think about the Holocene calendar? Are you looking forward to the year 12,017 HE or 12,017 AD more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Images: Kurzgesagt

Join Jack Plotnick on Alpha for Drafthouse Presents: WRONG

Any film distributor worth its salt creates a brand for itself by specializing in a certain type of film. It lets the audience know that the film in question will be of a certain quality, a certain style, a certain other adjective that means cool. Since they first started picking up and distributing films, Drafthouse Films–the distribution arm of Tim League’s Alamo Drafthouse cinema chain — has given the world a ton of great and weird movies, both new works and forgotten gems. And on Saturday nights on Project Alpha, you’ll be able to enjoy and learn about these movies with Drafthouse Presents.

Drafthouse Presents is a live audio commentary of some of Drafthouse’s best and most intriguing films, and whenever possible, we have the people involved in the film join us to talk about the making. Saturday, December 10, will showcase Quentin Dupieux’s opus of surreality and intrigue, Wrong, in which a man’s desire to live in a world of denial results in strange and unbelievable occurrences. Have a look!

Looks pretty great, right? For the commentary of this movie–which starts at 6:00pm PT–I’ll be joined by the film’s star, Jack Plotnick. Send in your questions (live in the Project Alpha chat or to @JoinTeamAlpha on Twitter) for him about the making of this strange and wonderful movie, and we’ll answer them while recording! It’s as simple as that, sports fans.

And if you subscribe to Project Alpha, you’ll also get VODs of our earlier commentaries, including Dan Casey and myself talking about the crazy 1979 Italian gem The Visitor; Jason and Brandon Trost joining me for their 2012 movie The FP; and directors Mark Covino and Jeff Howlett, and legendary musician Wayne Kramer joining Matt Grosinger for the brilliant rock documentary, A Band Called Death. Lots of movies, lots of knowledge, lots of fun.

It all starts Saturday at 6:00pm PT on Project Alpha!

Image: Drafthouse Films

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He writes the weekly look at weird or obscure films in Schlock & Awe. Follow him on Twitter!

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Our Epic SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Trailers Breakdown is Here

If Spider-Man‘s debut in Civil War didn’t get you excited for his official inclusion into the MCU, well, you’re dead inside and there’s nothing we can do to help you. But for the rest of humanity, two new trailers dropped for next summer’s Spider-Man: Homecoming for you to obsess over on Thursday night and we’re here to break ’em both down for you. One American, one international, both over-stuffed with so many awesome details and easter eggs you may need a hand picking them all out.

Multiple Spidey Suits – In the trailers we see shots of Peter Parker in his original hoodie disguise, his pre-Civil War red and blue underoos as well as the new suit with a bunch of Stark Tech upgrades. Despite Sony’s promises of skipping over Spider-Man’s origins, it seems like we’ll at least get a little glimpse of the familiar backstory.

Various Villains – Both trailers open with an ATM heist assisted by some Chitauri tech left over from the battle of New York in the first Avengers. We’re guessing the tech was adapted into human friendly weaponry by The Tinkerer, who we know is in the movie but doesn’t appear in either trailer. We also get to see Fargo star Bokeem Woodbine in action as the Shocker, but in a recently leaked call sheet he’s listed as “Shocker #2.” So who could Shocker #1 be? Our money is on Donald Glover, who shows up for a quick shot, glowering at a goon testing out a Shocker Gauntlet. And then there’s the movie’s big bad, Michael Keaton’s Vulture. While he’s looking a lot more badass than the old man wings he’s usually depicted as in the comics, we’re loving some of the nods to the original design, including the feathered ruffle around the neck line.

Deep in The MCU – Sony is not going to let you forget that Spider-Man is now officially a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are MCU easter eggs, big and small, littered throughout the trailers. Including a bunch of thugs dressed as The Avengers, images of of Bruce Banner hanging on the walls of Peter Parker’s high school and aforementioned Chitauri tech. And of course the biggest nod to the MCU; Iron Man himself! While his role in the film is probably going to be a lot smaller, these trailers are cut to make Homecoming look like a father/son bonding story between Peter Parker and Tony Stark.

It’s still over half a year before Spider-Man: Homecoming is released on July 7th, so we’ll have a lot of time to keep pouring over these trailers. Is there anything you noticed that we missed? Let us know in the comments.

Someone Updated SGT. PEPPER’S Album Art With Everyone We Lost in 2016

We all get by with a little help from our friends, but sometimes your mettle is really tested by tragic events. This year took way too many music legends from us, but one fan paid tribute to them by reordering the cover of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album with cutouts of those who passed. Let’s not forget to celebrate the music we still have today, though. At the Drive-In announced a new album and tour, Prince’s pals shared secrets from his life, Missy Elliott did a Christmas duet with TLC, and Perfume Genius teamed up with Weyes Blood for new music we’re dying to hear.

Image Credit: Christhebarker

It seems unfathomable how many greats we lost in 2016. David Bowie, Prince, Gene Wilder, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen, Glenn Frey, Alan Rickman, Lemmy Kilmister (who technically died in late 2015) all were taken from us too soon, plus dozens of other actors, musicians, and icons. In a humble memorium, Twitter user Christhebarker decided to combine their images in a beautiful tribute mural. He used the Beatles‘ classic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover as a template and set to work. The detailed montage sees over 40 musicians side by side, each striking a pose, filling us with love and sadness to remember they’re gone. RIP. [Consequence of Sound]

In a last desperate attempt to save 2016, At the Drive-In announced massive news: they’re working on their first new material in almost two decades. The band shared “Governed by Contagions,” a single you can stream above, and then announced they will release a proper album with said single included. Now, that album won’t come out in the few days we have left this year, but it will be something we can hold and hug with tears in our eyes soon enough. To help make that news sink in, At the Drive-In also announced a short leg of North American tour dates that kicks off in March. Grab some popcorn and strap in. Ladies and gentlemen, the band is back to (maybe) save the day. [Consequence of Sound]

In a lengthy feature in GQ, Prince superfans will find plenty of newly revealed gems about the iconic musician’s life. A collection of friends and family spoke to the magazine to share details from Prince’s life. Most people know he was a fan of cooking his guests breakfast—a famous scene on Chapelle’s Show revealed that much—but no one knew it was scrambled eggs that was his secret touch. “He put curry and a little bit of Cheddar cheese in them,” recalls former backing vocalist Jill Jones in the GQ feature. “It was really good, actually.” We don’t doubt it. Now we’re dreaming he could cook us some. Revisit the Chapelle’s Show skit around the 9:20 mark above and ponder what it would’ve been like to be served breakfast by The Purple One himself. [Consequence of Sound]

On December 8th, Taraji P. Henson bust out the holiday spirit on variety show Taraji’s White Hot Holidays, but things got a lot bigger than you may expect. Instead of a few cutesy singers, Henson brought Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, and more to perform. The biggest moment, however, came during a live collaboration that saw Missy Elliott and TLC remixing “Sleigh Ride” with the biggest beats you could possibly imagine. It’s glittery and full of wrapping paper, a promising juxtaposition of pop and rap, with plenty of seasonal magic. Scroll up to see a preview clip. It’s a taste of the Fox special and it launches you straight into the Christmas spirit, even if you thought you were already embracing it. [Rolling Stone]

Image Credit: Matador Records

Texans, you’ve got a special music treat coming your way. Three-day festival Marfa Myths will take place March 9-12th in none other than Marfa, Texas. The festival boasts a lot of intimate, thought-provoking music, including a performance from Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of S U R V I V E who will perform the Stranger Things score. What really caught our eye, though, is a special collaboration by Perfume Genius and Weyes Blood. There’s no word yet on what they will be performing, but the thought of both acts combining their talents is something we wish we could be there to see. If you’re dying to go, click here to visit the festival website to purchase tickets. [Pitchfork]

That’s all for today. Go enjoy the weekend. We’ll see you back here on Monday for another Music Dispatch!

Image: Parlophone/Capitol

Hang on! There’s a Real-Life BATMAN Grappling Gun and It Works Pretty Well

Batman’s utility belt is critical for taking the mere mortal and turning him into someone who can stand toe to toe with the likes of Superman or a very flamboyant Jim Carrey in a Green Man suit. And one of the key utility-belt items is, of course, a grappling hook gun. A grappling hook gun that the Hacksmith has recreated in real life! Which means we’re all one step closer to becoming Batman. Or at least the Hacksmith is… in his backyard.

For his latest entry into his Make It Real series, the Hacksmith, who’s behind totally bonkers contraptions like this working version of Captain America’s shield and this working version of Reinhardt’s Rocket Hammer, turned his attention to making a working version of Batman’s grappling hook gun. And if there’s any big surprise here it’s that the gun, which is gas-powered and utilizes a kevlar rope, works prettay prettay prettay good.

The video above shows off the build process for the Bat-tastic gadget (which first appeared in Tim Burton’s Batman; before that Batman simply threw the hook), as well as a bit of preliminary testing (i.e. shooting hooks into abandoned buildings). But if you want to see it in action — as well as some sweet house-to-treehouse ziplining  — then check out the video below:

And if you’re thinking to yourself: that’s a pretty great gas-powered grappling gun and all, but Batman needs to be able to ascend like it ain’t no thing but a Bat wing, don’t worry because the Hacksmith is also working on an 8-horsepower “electric ascension device” that will enable users of the grappling hook to simply glide away.

What do you think about this real-life Batman grappling hook gun? Shoot us your thoughts in the comments below!

Images: the Hacksmith

Open a Tauntaun and Get THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Tsum Tsum Collection

Winter is delivering snow and cold to many parts of the world this time of the year, and if you’re feeling a chill this December, you can plan on warming yourself by snuggling into a pile of new Star Wars Tsum Tsum toys–no smelly guts required! Thanks to Anakin and His Angel, I learned Disney’s next Tsum Tsum release on December 20 is all about The Empire Strikes Back, specifically Hoth.

The collection includes Hoth Leia (the best Leia outfit and hairstyle, in case you didn’t know), General Veers, K-3PO, an AT-AT Driver, a snowtrooper, and 2-1B. I love how angry Veers’ little eyebrows look. He probably wouldn’t be thrilled about being turned into a soft and cuddly little toy–which makes it all the better.

These plushes are all begging to be added to my collection. You can see close-ups of each Tsum Tsum in the gallery below.

If, like me, you immediately wondered about where the heck the wampa and tauntaun Tsum Tsum toys were, don’t panic. Disney has a whole tauntaun collection that comes with a tauntaun carrying bag. Thank the maker! The inside of the bag is pink, and you have to extract mini Tsum Tsum plushes from its guts. Genius, Disney.

You can find a wampa, a tauntaun, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo inside the tauntaun bag. I’m already planning on carrying around the bag as my new purse.

Are you planning to purchase any or all of these Hoth edition Star Wars Tsum Tsum plushes when they come to the Disney Store on December 20? Head to the comments and tell me which ones you’ll be adding to your stacks.

Images: Disney/Lucasfilm

How come there won’t be an Obi-Wan movie

Vampires Return to Santa Carla in THE LOST BOYS #3 (Exclusive Preview)

One of the greatest vampire movies of all time, as well as one of the greatest horror comedies ever, is the 1987 teen cult classic, The Lost Boys. The Joel Schumacher-directed movie starred Jason Patric and Corey Haim as Michael and Sam, two teenage brothers who move to the idyllic California beach town of Santa Carla to live with their eccentric grandfather, along with their newly single mom, played by Dianne Weist (who you sometimes feel played “the mom” in every ’80s movie).

As it turns out, the town isn’t quite so idyllic, as it happens to be run by a hip gang of vampire bikers, led by the enigmatic David, played by a young Kiefer Sutherland. Together with the amateur vampire hunters known as the Frog Brothers, the boys put an end to Santa Carla’s vampire problem once and for all. Or did they? Fans always wanted a proper sequel to The Lost Boys, but sadly, we never got one (no, I will NOT count those terrible straight-to-DVD sequels. I draw my line in the sand there).

Fortunately, this past October the folks at DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint finally gave fans the true sequel to The Lost Boys we always wanted, only in comic book format instead of on the big screen. So just do what I do, and imagine this comic book mini-series as the best vampire movie of the summer of 1989 that never was, but totally should have been.

You can check out our exclusive preview of the first five pages of The Lost Boys #3 in our gallery below.

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Tim Seely

Artist: Scott Godlewski

Cover Artist: Tony Harris

Here’s the official synopsis:

“ It’s getting to be so a guy can’t go out on a Friday night in Santa Carla without somebody trying to sink their teeth into his neck! The Blood Belles are wreaking havoc across town. The Frog Brothers are missing, Star has run away, and Sam and Michael are one step ahead of having their blood drained. Only the mysterious vamp hunter known as the Believer can help them now!

The Lost Boys #3  is due to hit stores on Wednesday, December 14th.

Excited about finally getting the proper Lost Boys 2 we always wanted? Let us know what you think down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics

FANTASTIC BEASTS’ Dan Fogler Would Like to Own Pickett the Bowtruckle

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood has long been home to part of Wizarding World with their Harry Potter exhibit, but they’ve leveled up and expanded the exhibit to make room for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Opening December 9, the exhibit showcases costumes, props, and concept art from the recent film. Dan Fogler, a.k.a. Jacob Kowalski, attended the preview and got to revisit Jacob’s apartment and bakery (complete with Niffler puffs and Demiguise edibles). “This [the Harry Potter universe] is the largest thing I’ve been part of. It’s a different angle, you know. This is a whole other level—to have a whole wing of a museum!,” he told me with a bit of awe in his voice.

So many things about the role of Jacob appealed to Fogler immediately. He explained, “It’s the fact that it was part of this universe, like yes—sign me up! The fact that it took place in New York, where I grew up, in the ’20s…” It gets more personal. Fogler’s family background has some things in common with Jacob. He said, “I’m basically playing an ancestor. I’m playing someone like my great grandfather, who was a baker. He had Fogler’s Pumpernickel on the Lower East Side. I really felt like this guy was so close to me. So, I’m walking in with my own Brooklyn accent into the audition. I had a lot connected with this guy.”

As the resident No-Maj (that’s American for Muggle) in the film, Jacob served as the entry point for the audience. Having experienced the Harry Potter stories, we had more knowledge than Jacob, but we could certainly identify with his bewilderment and wonder at the world he was dragged into. He managed to take it all in and jump in feet first somewhat literally as he entered Newt Scamander’s suitcase of wonders. There, he encountered a variety of magical creatures. If Fogler could call of any of those creatures a pet, he chooses Newt’s closest pal. “I think the one that would probably be the easiest to care for is Pickett, the Bowtruckle.”

The portable stick-like creature was often seen riding around in Newt’s pocket. He was a loyal pal and behaved himself… unlike another kleptomaniac creature in the film. Fogler said, “I’d want to take the Niffler but he’d just get in too much trouble, you know? He’d be hard to control. But, Pickett you could keep in your pocket. If you ever get into trouble he can get you out of it.” It would be handy to have a pet that could pick locks.

Though Jacob had astounding adventures with Newt and Tina and Queenie Goldstein, he wasn’t permitted to retain those memories. The Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) had strict laws about No-Majs, so Jacob had to be subjected to the Obliviate charm. But given the creature-inspired creations at his bakery, something’s still in there. Fogler had some thoughts on the subject: “He is able to retain something in his dreams, you know? And it comes out in his art, in his baking—we saw at the bakery at the end. I think it’s so beautiful that he’s making Demiguise cookies and Niffler puffs. He said, ‘I don’t know, it just comes to me.’ I think it is—it’s like a dream. It’s just on the tip of his tongue and then when he sees her [Queenie], I think he’s like, ‘Oh my God, that’s my dream girl. Oh my God, she wasn’t a dream.’ She was real.”

Nice!! https://t.co/9OjUXatb0N

— Dan Fogler (@mrdanfogler) December 6, 2016

As mentioned earlier, Fogler said it’s been wild to be part of the Harry Potter universe and to experience that fandom. He’s particularly embraced fan art by sharing work regularly on Twitter (that’s how I found a piece for the recent Fantastic Beasts Fan Art Friday). “I love it. I see it and it just speaks to the fan in me. I used to draw my favorite characters. I love to see Jacob through different people’s eyes. Some of that stuff is so—there’s some really talented people out there.”

Images: Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Warner Bros., Amelia

99-Million-Year-Old Feathered Dinosaur Tail Found Perfectly Preserved in Amber

It’s time to cue up that epic Jurassic Park score and get out those stylish Alan Grant ascots because a 99-million-year-old dinosaur tail has been found perfectly preserved in a dollop of Amber. But this specimen, which was discovered in a market in Myanmar, has one thing no Jurassic Park dinosaur has: feathers.

The feathered fossil encased in amber — rather than say, some “archaeology” soap — was spotted by a paleontologist named Dr. Lida Xing from China University of Geosciences in Beijing. Xing told NPR that “I have studied paleontology for more than 10 years and have been interested in dinosaurs for more than 30 years. But I never expected we could find a dinosaur in amber. This may be the coolest find in my life.”

The specimen is remarkable because while there have been other feathered fossils found encased in amber, this one can be linked to its source animal, “a non-avialan theropod” from the mid-Cretaceous period.

A rendering of the non-avialan theropod.

The tail, which was the subject of a paper published in Current Biology and is available for closer inspection in the image gallery below, can be definitively identified as that of a dinosaur rather than a prehistoric bird because of its vertebrae. Ryan McKellar, curator at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Canada and co-author of the paper, said, “We can be sure of the source because the vertebrae are not fused into a rod or pygostyle as in modern birds… Instead, the tail is long and flexible, with keels of feathers running down each side.”

The curving, “whip-like” tail also offers a unique glimpse of the way feathers evolved. Feathers consist of a central column called a rachis, a main shaft (the quill), and barbs and barbules — the finer tiers of feathers that branch off from the rachis. Xing’s specimen has the barbs and barbules, but not the rachis, suggesting that they developed prior to the rachis. And because barbs and barbules are responsible for iridescent feathers, it seems plausible that feathers first arose as a visual cue for dinosaurs to help attract mates.

A CT scan of the feathered tail.

Xing says that he hopes to return to Myanmar soon to excavate more specimens, and maybe even find an entire dinosaur encased in amber. All we can hope for is that somewhere out there, a real-life John Hammond is getting his checkbook out.

What do you think about this 99-million-year-old feathered fossil? Preserve your thoughts in the comments section below!

Images: Ryan McKellar/Royal Saskatchewan Museum

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Trailer Gives Peter Parker Lots of Laughs and Action

Earlier this year, Peter Parker’s heroic alter ego made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Captain America: Civil War, but now we’ve finally gotten a good look at Spidey’s new solo MCU movie. The first trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming has arrived, and we haven’t been this excited about a Spidey film since the very first one back in 2002!

Unlike his last appearance, Tom Holland‘s Peter gets a lot of time out of costume, as the trailer focuses on his friendship with Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and Peter’s incredibly awkward and hilarious relationship with his new mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Even Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) is apparently taking a role in delivering Spidey’s new costume with the web wings, as revealed in a previous teaser.

The Vulture also makes his debut in the new footage, and while his costume is a pretty big departure from the comics, it really works. We can’t see Michael Keaton‘s face under that mask, but the Vulture’s suit looks like it’s been inspired by the Yellowjacket armor from Ant-Man and even some of Stark’s previous Iron Man suits. We’re not getting a Green Goblin vibe from this outfit, and that’s a good thing!

One of our favorite moments in the trailer features Peter dealing with the apparent exposure of his secret identity to someone close to him—the incident is played for laughs, of which the film looks to have plenty—but we’re also partial to Spidey’s heroic feat near the end of the footage as he struggles to keep two halves of a doom-destined ship together long enough for the crew to escape.

We’re eager to see more before Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7, 2017. What did you think about the trailer? Spin a web, any size in the comment section below!

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios