Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2392

Make Sure You’re Registered for THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR (Review)

The most common complaint about the 2013’s The Purge–even among those (like me) who otherwise liked the film–is that it sort of wasted its very clever “all crime is legal for one night” premise by focusing on one fairly basic “home invasion” story. The sequel, 2014’s The Purge: Anarchy addressed this complaint (and how) by giving audiences precisely what they asked for: a much more expansive view of what the “Purge” looks like on the city streets. This change in focus effectively turned the franchise from a horror story to a dark action exploit, but genre fans didn’t seem to mind; The Purge 2 ended up making even more money than the first chapter did.

So how does a filmmaker up the ante once again for a second sequel? Purge-master James DeMonaco already went with blood-soaked social commentary in the first sequel, so why not go with some overtly political themes on the second one? Given the horrifying state of American politics today, the topic certainly seems ripe for a Purge-style skewering, and it’s (once again) the change of focus that prevents a “Part 3” from feeling like a lazy copycat or a basic rehash of the earlier entries. That’s not to say that the film’s political commentary is all that shocking or unique; just that it’s nice to see a hard-edged genre film that has at least half a working brain in its head.

Frank Grillo, who stole numerous scenes throughout The Purge: Anarchy (as well as in a couple of Captain America movies), returns as Leo Barnes, a no-nonsense bodyguard / security expert who is tasked with defending a Purge-hating senator (Elizabeth Mitchell) who plans to put an end to the annual crime-fest if she can win the upcoming Presidential election. But of course she has to live through a particularly nasty Purge night before she can even make it to election day. After a few predictably enjoyable betrayals, Leo and Senator Roan find themselves on the (very) mean streets of Washington DC, desperate to stay alive and grateful for the assistance they receive from a few decent citizens.

We also get a basic but appealing subplot about a noble deli owner and his gang of good-natured friends who try to keep the “purgers” at bay, and a small but compelling thread about “murder tourists” who visit America with bad things on their mind, and of course everyone’s paths cross in various violent and shocking ways, and everything comes to a head with a decidedly nifty third-act twist that brings the film’s political themes to a frenzied conclusion. The Purge 3 might be “more of the same” combined with a few novel ideas, but no matter what you call it, you certainly won’t be bored.

If The Purge: Election Year seems to borrow more than a little of the story, themes, subtext, and musical stylings of John Carpenter’s classic Escape from New York, that’s fine because the flick still sticks to its own Purge-happy premise, and also because, hey, if you’re going to be inspired by other b-movie masterpieces, you could do a hell of a lot worse than to emulate Escape from New York here and there. And while The Purge: Election Year is a seriously violent and sometimes halfway nihilistic affair, there’s also a firm sense of morality that runs through the mayhem. We all want to watch what happens when crime is made legal, but deep down we all want to root for the heroes. That this series allows a viewer to have its cake and eat it too is only one of its cleverer aspects.

3.5 out of 5 bullet-strewn burritos

Image: Blumhouse / Universal

PREACHER Action Figures Are Coming From NECA

We were guessing this might happen once the renewal for season 2 was announced, but figured McFarlane Toys might have the edge due to their pre-existing relationship with AMC (also, a faux-Lego set of the church would have been nice). I guess maybe NECA‘s existing relationship with DC trumped it.

Randy of @NECA_TOYS just announced that #NECA will be doing a toy line for #Preacher ! pic.twitter.com/wlPbIfWGTe

— It’s Erik Nagel Show (@itseriknagel) July 1, 2016

Unfortunately we don’t have any details yet beyond that Tweet, found via ToyArk, but you can bet we’ll probably see at least a preliminary sculpt for Jesse Custer at Comic-Con. My guess is Jesse, Cassidy, and Tulip will be wave one, maybe with Saint of Killers or Arseface too. If those do well, a disemboweled plane-crash Cassidy would  look good next to the torn-in-half Bishop they did for Aliens.

This marks a rare foray into TV for NECA; previously, their only notable license on that score had been Ash vs. Evil Dead, which was a natural outgrowth of their existing Evil Dead figures. But they’ve also done 300 and Jonah Hex, which are arguably along similar lines as this Vertigo adaptation. And while they once did Kill Bill figures that squirted red liquid, let’s hope that a hypothetical Odin Quincannon figure doesn’t do similarly, only, y’know, yellow.

What Preacher figures are you hoping to see? Tom Cruise, anyone? Church marquee accessory with interchangeable letters? That African minister from the pilot in mid-explosion? Preach it in comments below.

Featured image: AMC

This Short Film Shows Just How Dangerous Being Around Humans Really Is

While The Conjuring 2 is getting great reviews by the critics, the most horrifying film you see this summer may be the most adorable as well.

Originally posted on their Vimeo page, Accidents, Blunders, and Calamities is a black comedy short film created by the Media Design School out of New Zealand, directed by James Cunnigham. It is based on the Edward Gorey book The Gashlycrumb Tinies. A possum is tucking his children into bed and they want him to read them a story. He chooses a story about the biggest threat to animals everywhere: US.

That’s right. Father Possum goes through the entire alphabet of how human absent-mindedness can be the death of many an animal. Some come down to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Others are just downright hilarious (remember, it’s a black comedy). When story time is done and the kids are in bed, Father heads outside for a bit, leading to an ambiguous ending. It’s not often many short films set up a sequel.

With 44 students working on creating over 30 CGI creatures, this film looks absolutely beautiful. If this is where the future of CGI lies, I am totally on board.

You can check out more from the Media Design School on their YouTube channel here.

So what do you think? Are you going to be more careful and watch where you are walking going forward? Or should the animal kingdom accept its fate? Let me know on Twitter or sound off in the comments below.

Image: Media Design School

Relive Jon Snow’s Journey in New GAME OF THRONES Supercut

There are spoilers ahead if you aren’t current with Game of Thrones through the end of the sixth season. You’ve been warned!

Three years after the Red Wedding, a new King in the North has arisen. Despite his status as a bastard, Jon Snow‘s victory in the Battle of the Bastards (and some very sharp words from new fan-favorite Lyanna Mormont) has led to his being embraced by the remaining Northern houses as the heir to Ned Stark. Except that’s not really true, is it? Jon Snow may have Stark blood in his veins, but it’s not Ned’s. Because R + L = J, and our man Snow is both a Stark and a Targaryen. He may even be the prince that was promised!

As a tribute to the recently concluded sixth season of Game of Thrones, The Garo Studios has posted a new supercut that focuses on the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jon Snow. Although it leaves out Tormond’s hilarious line about why he knew Jon wasn’t a God, the video skillfully uses footage from earlier seasons to build an emotional context for this season’s revelations. Among the reminders is the last time that Ned Stark and Jon shared the screen, all the way back in the first season! At the time, Ned promised to tell Jon about his mother the next time they saw each other. Knowing Ned, he probably would have too.

Jon Snow is the one of the few characters on this show to survive three of the series’ most epic battles. But as Ser Alliser Thorne says in this clip, Jon’s battles are far from over. And we can’t wait to see them!

What did you think about the new Jon Snow supercut? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Featured image: HBO

Celebrate 30 Years of NEUROSIS With a New Album This Fall

Wipe the blood from your teeth and get in the pit: it’s time for a recap of this week’s best hardcore, metal, and punk rock. We dug through the record crates to find the new tunes we think you need to spin and rage to. Looking for some new death metal to bring into your life? Got you covered. Need some grindcore to get your wedding reception off on the right foot? Say no more. Strap in kiddies, it’s time to rock.

 

 

Post-Metal lords Neurosis announced they will be releasing their eleventh album this September and that’s the best damn news we’ve heard all year. Titled Fires With Fires, this album was recorded with famous (infamous?) engineer Steve Albini, who the band has had a long relationship with. Albini has been a big part of the band’s sound since 1999, when he recorded the Neurosis masterpiece Times of Grace. If you listen to the albums before they started working with Albini, it feels like there’s something missing.

Fires With Fires will be the band’s first album since 2012’s Honor Found in Decay, an album that some would argue is Neurosis’ best effort to date. This year is also Neurosis’ 30th anniversary, which they’ve been celebrating with shows all over the world, including big nights in Northern California with Converge. On top of all that, Relapse Records has been reissuing much of the band’s back catalog on vinyl, including albums that have been out of print for over a decade. All of this adds fuel to the excitement–you thought I was going to say fire, I know–of Fires With Fires release.

Sadly, there are no tracks released yet, no teasers to wet our collective whistle, so we suggest spending some time with Neurosis’ other albums to get yourself properly hyped. First and foremost, give Times of Grace a listen. As previously mentioned, it’s the band’s first effort with Steve Albini, and it’s also probably their most straightforward metal record. Heavy, intense, and monstrous, Times of Grace is a masterpiece.

Next, jam Honor Found in Decay into your earholes. This record really showcases how much the band has grown over the years. It’s big on atmosphere and has an almost visual, storytelling like quality. It’s more than just metal, although it’s certainly heavy and filled with thunderous riffs. It’s the sound of a band at the top of their game; a damn near perfect album.

Fires within Fires is set to release on September 23rd, and our calendars have been marked. We’re anxiously awaiting pre-orders, cover art, and teaser tracks. It doesn’t get much better than Neurosis, and a new album from them is our idea of heaven.

In other, non-Neurosis news, Frameworks is finally streaming their new album Smother in its entirety. We’ve been hyping this one for a while and you can now hear for yourself just how hype-worthy it is. Emotional, raw, and straight up rocking, Smother is one hell of an awesome album. The opening track even has a bit of that San Diego sound to it, like there’a little bit of Hot Snakes or Drive Like Jehu living in there. Smother is available everywhere on July 8th, so do yourself a favor and pick it up.

(Noisey)

Controlled Bleeding are difficult to describe. Gnarly is perhaps the only world that really captures their ugly, analog sound. It’s certainly punk, without element of noise, and maybe a little surf rock. Larva Lumps and Baby Bumps is the bands first album in 14 years and you can hear a track from it below. Again, it’s hard to describe, so just give it a listen. It’s infectious, in a way; that riff will stay with you, worming itself into your brain and rocking you into a coma of like slumber of madness and reverb.

The Bouncing Souls have been at this for along time. Their new record, Simplicity, has their unmistakeable sound, that danceable, singalong-punk-rock quality. In other words, The Bouncing Souls haven’t changed one bit and that’s not a bad thing. Check out the song “Up to Us” below and get your “Whoa oh oh!” voice ready cause this track is filled with them. Also, as someone who has seen them live recently, I can tell you they still put on one hell of a great show, so check them out when they head out on tour to support this album.

Nomad Stones features a member of Cave-in that isn’t Stephen Brodsky, which is unusual since that dude is constantly touring with one band or another. This three piece plays good old fashion punk rock and we adore it. Check out the song “The Frugal Yankee” and start pumping your fists and jumping up and down. There are simply not enough bands like this anymore, so Nomad Stones needs our support. Buy their record, go see them live, and support the scene. Punk’s not dead, guys.

Nomad Stones by Nomad Stones

Finally, what would the Fourth of July weekend be without some blistering hardcore? That’s where Sect comes in, a new band that features members of Cursed and Earth Crisis. It actually sounds a lot like Cursed, which is a good thing since we sorely miss that monster of a band. These guys are self-releasing their debut album this August, but in the meantime you can enjoy some feedback and blast beat infused tracks on their Soundcloud page. So, light up some fireworks, gather your friends and family, and blast some brutal hardcore to give ol’ Uncle Sam the tribute he deserves.

(Noisey)

 

That’s it for this week. Go forth; throw some horns up and keep spinning in the black circle. If there’s a metalcore, grindcore, hardcore, or any other core song you think the world needs to hear, sound off in the comments below. \m/

Featured Image: Neurosis/Relapse Records

Gif: Disney XD

 

Cody Rhodes Will Face Stephen Amell Once More–This Time on ARROW!

Last year, Arrow star Stephen Amell had a scripted feud with Cody Rhodes‘ alter ego Stardust that culminated in a tag-team match at WWE’s SummerSlam. Earlier this year, they teased a potential WWE rematch via their Twitter accounts, which played up their anti-bromance. Rhodes recently left WWE, but that doesn’t mean that he and Amell can’t get a rematch on Arrow!

Via ComicBook.com, Amell and Rhodes made the announcement during a joint panel appearance at Heroes & Villains Fanfest in New Jersey. Amell also posted a video from the panel , which also includes the duo talking about how they first met.

According to Amell, Rhodes closed his deal to appear on the series on Friday, and the new season of Arrow is slated to begin filming on July 5th. Given that time frame, Rhodes probably won’t be in the first few episodes of the season, but it seems likely that he’ll show up before the winter break.

There are currently no details about whom Rhodes might portray on the show. Now that Rhodes is no longer tied to WWE, he may be free to stick around for more than just a single episode. In his farewell message from the WWE, Rhodes indicated that he wasn’t done with his wrestling career, but there’s a long history of former WWE stars who have found work as actors following their time with the company. That said, we’d be surprised if Rhodes portrayed any of Green Arrow‘s pre-established villains, especially since the show has already borrowed bad guys from other DC supeheroes’ rogues gallery. There is also the possibility that Rhodes won’t be playing a villain, but where would the fun be in that? (He’s definitely not right for Onomatopoeia.)

Arrow season 5 will premiere this fall on The CW.

Who do you think that Rhodes should play on Arrow? Step into the ring and share your casting pick in the comment section below!

Image: WWE

STAR TREK BEYOND Clip Sees Spock Get Dating Advice

One of the things that gave fans pause with the release of J.J. Abrams‘ 2009 reboot of Star Trek was the romance between Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Lt. Uhura (Zoe Saldana). Spock had never much gone in for the sexytime stuff—except when he’s Pon farr-ing it up—and Uhura had never really gotten to do much of anything that wasn’t directly work related. But their relationship, fraught as it is, has been a factor of both the Abrams films, and from the new clip below, a story point in Star Trek Beyond as well.

Ooof. Things do not look to be going that great between Spock and Uhura this time around. We don’t know what Spock did—or maybe Uhura just realized Spock is a major drag a lot of the time?—but we do know that she’s returning a necklace given to her, and that stuff don’t fly in the Vulcan culture. It’s everywhere in the Earthling culture, though. And luckily(?) for Spock, his good buddy Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban) is around to give him some advice. The old “it’s not you, it’s me thing?” Yeah, it’s always you, pal. When we first met the version of McCoy, he had gone through a messy divorce…so maybe don’t take his wise words as gospel just yet, Spock.

Justin Lin‘s maiden voyage at the helm of a Trek film was co-written by series star Simon Pegg, and we can assume a fair amount of comedy given Pegg’s previous writing credits. One of the best things about these new films has been the casting, and Urban’s McCoy has been a highlight though he hasn’t been given all that much to do. If this new movie let’s him take on the comedic role, we’d certainly be okay with that.

Would you take advice from Bones? Let us know in the comments below!

Image: Paramount Pictures

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s a sci-fi lover of the highest order. Follow him on Twitter!

Fan Art Friday #84 – THE FORCE AWAKENS Rey a Day Project

There are too many wonderful things on the internet to keep track of. It is known. I constantly discover new artists and makers through social media, and that’s how I stumbled onto the work of Michael Firman. Galactic Fashion retweeted one of Michael’s Rey-a-Day images, and I was intrigued. I scrolled through his Twitter feed and noticed he’s been creating different, lovely Rey art inspired by the Star Wars: The Force Awakens character every day for a while.

Michael’s drawn Rey on Jakku with BB-8, Rey in her Resistance base ensemble from the end of the film, Rey as an X-wing pilot, Rey licking all her rations from her plate–all the Reys. His style is distinct, and you can see it in every single drawing.

Look at this design–I want it on a t-shirt.

I’ve selected a few more of my favorite Reys and placed them in the gallery below. You’ll find a Rey-Pikachu combo and a Junkyard Princess Rey, so keep scrolling. Then, be sure to follow Michael on social media to view the rest of his Rey project and see new illustrations. He’s up to 70 Reys thus far. Find Michael on Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter.

Which Rey do you love the most? Tell me in the comments.

P.S.: Do you create awesome fan art or know someone who does? Get in touch with me on Twitter or at alratcliffe at yahoo dot com and we can discuss being featured in future editions of Fan Art Friday. Have the best weekend, everyone!

Images: Michael Firman

Jack White to Release Pearl Jam Live Album

Jack White is at it again. Third Man Studios will release a special live album by Pearl Jam, and it comes with plenty of additional goodies. Be sure to stick around after we get into the details to learn about a special Neutral Milk Hotel auction, the impending breakup of Brand New, Jamie xx’s mesmerizing video, The Avalanches sophomore album stream, LCD Soundsystem’s tropical music festival, and Robyn’s dark remix that you can stream now.

Jack White gets pretty much whomever he wants to play at his Third Man Records studio in Nashville. A while ago, Pearl Jam stopped by to play an intimate show and the guys teamed up to play “Of the Earth” together. Turns out that show was recorded directly to acetate. As such, Third Man will release Pearl Jam’s show as the centerpiece of their next Vault subscription series package. The 29th package includes a black-and-gold split-colored vinyl, a photo book from the session, a pin, a patch, and a solo acoustic song by Eddie Vedder. Pearl Jam fans, this is the release you need to own. If you don’t have the money to spare, check out a preview of the live show above. [Pitchfork]

Image Credit: Ebay/theimbunche

Phil Elverum, the man behind The Microphones and Mount Eerie, has spent the last couple of months raising money for his wife, Geneviève, after she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. To help Elverum raise that money, fellow ’90s acts are lending a hand. Neutral Milk Hotel announced the sale of several items, all of which raise money for the Elverums. In addition to selling their own super signed box set, Neutral Milk Hotel are also selling the headstock of a guitar Fugazi co-leader Guy Piccioto smashed in ’85 at a Rites of Spring show, a signed copy of Bikini Kill’s debut single, a signed test pressing of Fugazi’s first single and more. Check it out here, or donate directly to the Elverums here. [Stereogum]

The end is near. Well, for Brand New it is. At some of their early shows, Brand New hinted at the dissolve of the band with shirts that said “Brand New, 2000 – 2018,” implying they would cease to be a band in said closing year. At their kick-off tour with Modest Mouse, frontman Jesse Lacey reaffirmed that shaky news. “We’re done,” he said into the microphone before playing closer “Sowing Season”. “Oh yeah, we’re done, and it makes nights like this all the more special, so thanks for being here.” Hurry up and grab tickets to see them, folks. You really don’t have much longer. [Consequence of Sound]

Last year was all about grooving to Jamie xx‘s long-awaited debut LP, In Colour, which is full of singles and connecting tracks worth blasting during the summertime. Over a year later, he’s shared a brand new video for “Gosh.” Why the long wait? Well, considering the visual is incredibly complex yet never once used CGI, it begins to make sense. Directed by Romain Gavras, the video sees dozens of people explore Tianducheng, a nearly uninhabited complex built to impersonate Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. To call it intricate is a giant understatement. [Rolling Stone]

It’s been 16 years since Australian DJ team The Avalanches released their much-loved debut LP, Since I Left You. The group return today with their sophomore full-length, Wildflower, which you can stream in full above. It comes after several singles have been released and sees a massive list of collaborators on board: Danny Brown, DOOM, Toro Y Moi, Mercury Rev’s Jonathan Donahue, Camp Lo, Father John Misty, Biz Markie, Royal Trux’ Jennifer Herrema, the Bad Seeds’ Warren Ellis, and more. [Stereogum]

LCD Soundsystem will continue their sonic takeover one festival at a time. Now that includes curating a festival. Wave hello to Beach Vibes, a tropical new festival that will take place in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico from January 26th-28th, 2017. LCD Soundsystem are set to perform two nights. Additionally, Hot Chip, Run the Jewels, Carl Craig, Holy Ghost!, and more are set to play. Festivalgoers also have the option to take part in “adventures” such as zip-lining, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, and more. Be warned, though. Packages are all-inclusive, which means the cheapest option starts at $3,399. [Consequence of Sound]

As we reported a while back, Robyn is performing live remixes of her older material at festivals this summer. One of those remixes just hit the web and is worth streaming over and over. Hear The Black Madonna take on “Indestructible” from 2010’s Body Talk. It’s a golden, dark, pulsing take on the original that translates perfect to the dance floor. Boogie away, friends. [Rolling Stone]

Enjoy the weekend!

Image Credit: Pearl Jam/Brian Babnieaux/Jack White

STAR WARS Convention Exclusive Figures Are a Pair of Bens

“Ben, the two of us need look no more/We’ll both be on a convention floor…”

The old Ben and the new, a smart Alec and a black Adam, are getting gussied up for the big summer cons in 6-inch Hasbro Black Series style. First, at Star Wars Celebration, the Murder Artist Formerly Known As Ben Solo (Kylo Ren, to you) will come in an exclusive unmasked version, complete with First Order banner and stand, Knights of Ren helmet, and melty Darth Vader mask.

Then, at Comic-Con in San Diego, the brash young apprentice’s namesake, Old Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi will be packed with a light-up table that features a Princess Leia hologram, along with two lightsabers to make him doubly elegant. As a bonus for fans up north, he will also be sold at Fan Expo Canada in September.

With all the bonus extras, they’ll cost a bit more than a standard figure: 34.99 for Kylo, and $44.99 for Obi-Wan. But those will be bargains compared to after-market prices; Black Series figures generally only go up in value. If you’re not attending any of these conventions, it’s time to start being really nice to your friends who are, as the lines for these can be an all-day proposition. Still, for any true collector, you might call it the First Order of business at any show.

Is the Force calling to you to pick these up? Will you let it in? On a standard ratings scale, do you give each Ben a 10? Take your first step into a larger comment section below with your take.

Images: Hasbro