Pop Culture and Politics on the Artistic Spectrum
I've spent some time listening and seeing others play modern video games, and I realized that I don't care. Most modern games look incredible, however, they also appear to be incredibly time-consuming. Which is good for some, not so much for me. One of my favorite things about the games of my youth was that… Continue reading Joe Z’s Retro Gaming Adventure
As I'd mentioned in a previous article, Black Mirror--the so-far 13-episode long cinematic series on Channel 4 and Netflix respectively--has quickly became a favorite of mine due to its thematic elements, style, and ability to fuck my shit up royally for a few days at a time. Everyone who reviews this show, aside from insisting that it… Continue reading Obligatory Ranking of ‘Black Mirror’ Episodes from OK to OMG
Black Mirror was a show I started watching at the behest of a lady whose opinion I can't help but trust. I'd never really heard anything about the show other than that it was "like The Twilight Zone for a new generation"...which, as a massive fan of The Twilight Zone, I have to tell you it's not. It's… Continue reading What Does Watching ‘Black Mirror’ Say About You?
The year is 1992. The President of the United States, George H.W. Bush had been filmed vomiting in the lap of the Prime Minister of Japan. America saw that happen. To his credit, he also met with the President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, to officially bring the Cold War to a close. But to his demise,… Continue reading Disney Pre-9/11 Video Vault: 3 Ninjas
With Freddy and Jason in Hell, Ghost Face waiting for the turn of the century to make rich Californians “Scream” again, Candyman banished to behind the mirror and Michael Myers without a head, the summer of 1999 would end the decade without a gory drop of blood being shed -- thanks to The Blair Witch… Continue reading A Missed Opportunity to Make the Blair Witch Great Again
Comedian and rapper, Donald Glover, has been working on the FX series Atlanta for several years (since 2013), and considering he grew up in the capital city, you could argue he's been developing this series his entire life. Everything about the series feels real and lived-in. So real, in fact, that it becomes difficult to describe what type… Continue reading Welcome to “Atlanta”
Tons of speculation is flying around about Kanye West's jaw-droppingly sexy video for FADE, a track from his latest album The Life of Pablo, featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Post Malone. Like most of the insanity Kanye has been up to, his art carries some kind of subliminal message, direct message, or manic and mental symbolism that can… Continue reading Kanye West Makes It Weird with “Fade”
The first time you heard about the movie Sausage Party you probably thought to yourself, “WTF”, which is incredibly accurate. The first time you saw the trailer you probably said to yourself, “WTF” and “I think I want to see this”. I have seen Sausage Party, and let me tell you this, it’s the hilarious… Continue reading Bath Salts & Hot Dogs: Sausage Party Review
That guy who is known for portraying Harry Potter is going to star as an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates white supremacist groups in order to prevent a terrorist attack!?! Sign me up! After watching a few interviews with Daniel Radcliffe explaining that the dialogue was so harsh he had to apologize to his fellow… Continue reading Harry Potter and the Grand Wizarding World of White Supremacy
New look for the new generation: The Sailor Twift Studios Generation! The gang performs LIVE at Tattooed Mom on South Street in Philadelphia! We talk about our favorite shows (Rick and Morty / I AM CAIT / Wet Hot American Summer), favorite games (ZELDA), and favorite movies (KILLA SEASON). We play some games, and give… Continue reading Talking Nerdy LIVE at the Philly Podcast Festival 2015 at Tattooed Mom!
The crew takes refuge from the Snowpocalypse to discuss Racist Robots, the blogging villainy of Dr. Doom of the 'Fantastic 4' reboot, and an all-female 'Ghostbusters' cast. We read our favorites from this week's #HASHTAGorDIE game, Dan Explains #Supernatural Tweets from Girls on Twitter, we debate American Sniper and other Oscar movies we've actually seen,… Continue reading Talking Nerdy, Ep. 131: Dr. Doom’s BuzzFeed Fantastic Forty
In our 50-episode mark, we talk SUPERMAN! Man of Steel sets off a rally of comic book talk, ended with some bizarre sports news, and a fun new way for non-sports fans to play Fantasy sport games! Thanks for listening! Check out http://www.PhillyPodFest.com for ticket info for the upcoming PODCAST FESTIVAL featuring TALKING NERDY! Download… Continue reading Talking Nerdy, Ep. 50 “DAN of STEEL”
Director: Zack Snyder Writer: David S. Goyer Studio: Warner Bros. Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane Release Date (UK): 14 June 2013 Certificate: 12A Runtime: 143 min A common criticism of “Superman Returns,” director Bryan Singer’s spiritual 2006 follow-up to Richard Donner’s triumphant 1980 comic-book sequel “Superman II,”… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Man of Steel”
The amazing Technicolor dreamworld of Oz, as originally imagined at the turn of the 20th century by children’s author L. Frank Baum, was unforgettably brought to life in the iconic 1939 screen musical “The Wizard of Oz,” a groundbreaking masterwork that would enrich and live on in childhood memories for decades to come — just… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Oz the Great and Powerful”
“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” is a fairy tale remix that’s Grimm in all the wrong ways, a one-joke premise that’s stretched paper-thin before the end of the first reel. Its title will remind many of last year’s “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” a goofy comic-book actioner in which America’s 16th president was reimagined as an… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”
“A Good Day to Die Hard” is the worst of the “Die Hard” movies, not because of its restrictive 12A rating, nor its over-reliance on computer-generated effects, but because it is the first instalment in the 25-year franchise to treat its audience with open contempt — here is the “Die Hard" for the “Transformers" crowd,… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “A Good Day to Die Hard”
“How are you, Sheriff?” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s grizzled lawman Ray Owens is asked in the central firefight of “The Last Stand" after hurling himself through the front doors of a bakery. “Old," is his deadpan reply as he staggers to his feet and brushes the debris off his dusty leather jacket. It’s one of several self-deprecating… Continue reading Watson’s Review of The Last Stand
“The spaghetti western is one of the greatest genres, as far as I know, in the history of the world cinema and definitely in the history of the Italian cinema. The fact is that they've never been truly appreciated.” So says Quentin Tarantino, the exploitation maestro whose encyclopedic knowledge of cinema is legendary and whose… Continue reading Watson’s Review of Django Unchained
Look out at the Toulon dock on the right day in 1815 and you shall see a magnificent sight: a monster sailing ship being dragged to dry land by ropes exhaustively heaved by a raggedy chain gang who are thrashed by waves as they sing a song of slavery. This is the big opening to… Continue reading Watson’s Review of Les Miserables
The problem with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” — and it’s a problem many fans have likely foreseen — is that it follows in the Middle-earth-shattering footsteps of a giant. Peter Jackson’s masterfully assembled “Lord of the Rings” films, based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy book series, arguably made for the greatest trilogy… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
It is as remarkable a culture clash as I can recall. In a small, wooden lifeboat straddling the waves of the vast Pacific Ocean sits an Indian teenage boy named Pi and a fully-grown Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Victims of a shipwreck, they sit at opposite ends of the 27-foot boat, watching the horizon… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Life of Pi”
“End of Watch” is a no holds barred, vivaciously visceral thriller centred on two workaday cops as they patrol the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles. Writer-director David Ayer has been working towards this film his whole career. In his previous efforts, such as “Street Kings,” “S.W.A.T.,” and “Dark Blue,” Ayer strived to enter,… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “End of Watch”
In a breathtaking, action-drenched prologue that boosts the heart rate and then brings it to a sudden, chilling halt, James Bond adventure “Skyfall” triumphantly vanquishes the bitter aftertaste left behind by the enduring M16 agent’s previous escapade, the chronically arse-numbing “Quantum of Solace,” and boldly promises that great things are to come. It’s an audaciously… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Skyfall”
Detective Alex Cross must be some kind of superhuman. He waltzes into a homicide scene, informed only of the basic details of the situation, and instantly knows all that has occurred. He knows how many were involved in the killing. He knows if the victim was drugged and whether or not they screamed. He knows… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Alex Cross”
Few will disagree that Paul Verhoeven’s planet-hopping, ultraviolent sci-fi classic “Total Recall” is utterly bonkers — those who do disagree need to order it on Netflix or buy the DVD/Blu-ray and watch it again, this time more closely. Loosely sprung from Philip K. Dick’s mind-boggling, reality-bending short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,"… Continue reading Watson’s review of ‘Total Recall’
Here is a film in which an alien menace is treated with indifference by those being menaced. “The Watch,” scribed by “Superbad” helmers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, is a science-fiction comedy in which little green men (who aren’t so little) plan to annihilate all of mankind. A buddy film, it has four male leads… Continue reading Watson’s review of ‘The Watch’
“The Dark Knight Rises” opens not with a whimper but with an ominous crack of heart-stopping thunder. In the clouded skies looming large over a desolate landscape in central Asia, a CIA plane manned by a cocky agent and three handcuffed mercenaries is hijacked by its prisoners, suspended nose-down in mid-air from a second, much… Continue reading Watson’s Review of The Dark Knight Rises
I doubt we will see a funnier character on the big screen this year than Ted, the eponymous secondary protagonist of “Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane’s feature-length debut. This is at first surprising for the same reason it becomes so obvious: Ted is a stuffed teddy bear, the kind you can make at a Build-A-Bear… Continue reading Watson’s Review of TED
“The Amazing Spider-Man” is a reboot of a blockbusting franchise that got off to a good start with “Spider-Man” in 2002, web-slung to towering new heights with “Spider-Man 2” in 2004, and lost its footing with “Spider-Man 3” in 2007. While each of those films were helmed by horror maestro Sam Raimi, this redo is… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Amazing Spider-Man”
“Friends with Kids” is an effective comedy and an even more effective drama, though technically it’s more of a comedy. More specifically, it is a romantic comedy ostensibly not about romance but about parenthood and child-rearing, two topics that - in spite of and because of the hardships that naturally accompany them - provide direct… Continue reading Watson Reviews “Friends with Kids”
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is based on a true story, in a way. Part biopic and part action-horror film, it takes more than a few creative liberties in telling the life story of America’s 16th president, reimagining him as a professional slayer of demonic bloodsuckers. Apparently, when not governing the US of A, Mr. Lincoln… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”
The films of Wes Anderson exist in their own little world, and what a strange little world it is. As shown in his “Rushmore" and “The Royal Tenenbaums," it is an eccentric, colourful world populated with flawed individuals who wander about in unfashionable clothing and whose every reaction is almost a non-reaction. It is soundtracked… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Moonrise Kingdom”
In his joyously vibrant comedy musical “Hairspray,” backing dancer-turned-Hollywood-movie-maker Adam Shankman transported us to 1962 Maryland, where racial segregation sadly ran rampant. In “Rock of Ages,” Shankman transports us to 1987 Los Angeles, where many things run rampant, not least of all the devil’s music - or rock and roll, to be less damning. Like… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Rock of Ages”
Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” intrigues with its opening scene and sustains this right up until the end credits, perhaps even after this point: hours after seeing the film, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it. A semi-prequel to Scott’s science-fiction horror masterpiece “Alien,” it begins rather appropriately with the silent introduction of an extraterrestrial… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Prometheus’
“Mirror mirror on the wall,” commands the villainous Queen Ravenna, as played - or rather performed - by South African Oscar-winner Charlize Theron in fantasy action picture “Snow White and the Huntsman.” “Who is fairest of them all?” she questions her magic mirror with sturdy self-assurance. But, much to the evil queen’s tumultuous horror, the… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’
Not since Marty McFly sent streaks of fire hurtling through the streets of 1955 Hill Valley has a method of time travel been so exciting. In “Men in Black III,” alien-hunting MiB Agent J (Will Smith, of course) time jumps: he climbs to the 61st floor of the Chrysler Building, steps out to the edge… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Men in Black III’
Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” is a Frankenstein’s Monster of a movie - or should that be a Frankenweenie? Like Mary Shelley’s undead creature, Burton’s gothic horror-comedy is constructed from separate bits and bobs dug up from hither and thither and hurriedly stitched together without the slightest care for sightliness or collectivity. The result is indeed… Continue reading Watson Reviews “Dark Shadows”
If there’s one thing I admire about Sacha Baron Cohen, it’s his uncanny ability to always get a laugh out of his audience. The English actor and comedian, whose award-winning “Da Ali G Show" launched a television comedy career to be reckoned with, has what some would refer to as “funny bones,” although perhaps those… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “The Dictator”
I don’t need to tell you that “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” is the full-blown manifestation of many a comic-book nerd’s wet dream - I assume you’ve seen the film’s many marketing materials, which show Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Incredible Hulk heroically assembling, and have come to the exact same conclusion all by yourself.… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “The Avengers”
To my knowledge, “Safe” is the one and only Jason Statham vehicle to not only utilise the “odd couple” formula, but to effectively epitomise it. The film, a balls-to-the-walls actioner, is a classic case of brain and brawn, pairing a stubble-faced cockney geezer (who once rammed the barrel of a tarred-up shotgun deep inside a… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Safe”
As twenty-four young citizens from the twelve districts of Panem travel to the Capitol to take part in the annual Hunger Games, aliens from outer space are travelling to planet Earth to play a few rounds of Battleship. Following in the plodding footsteps left behind by “Skyline,” “Battle: Los Angeles” and “The Darkest Hour,” “Battleship”… Continue reading Watson’s Review of Battleship
The characters of the “American Pie” franchise have survived high school, college and a wedding, and now it seems a reunion is on the table. Well, I say survived, but the most dangerous circumstances these horny teens ever encountered merely involved unbearable discomfort, traumatizing embarrassment and, last but not least, sexually transmitted infections (the causes… Continue reading Watson’s Review of American Pie: Reunion
Before he began assembling the Avengers (that’s Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and that incredibly incredible Hulk, by the way), “Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon was helping longtime collaborator Drew Goddard (the writer of “Cloverfield") disassemble the horror genre in “The Cabin in the Woods,” a horror-comedy filmed three years ago but, due… Continue reading Watson’s Review of Cabin in the Woods
In her bestselling 2008 young adult novel “The Hunger Games,” Suzanne Collins imagined a futuristic world in which a post-apocalyptic North America (now renamed “Panem") revels in the thrills of televised adolescent violence, in much the same way that our present society revels in the intimate, private dramas of “Big Brother” contestants. In his adaptation,… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “The Hunger Games”
The thing about Indian film director Tarsem Singh is that he’s very much a visual filmmaker; take a look at his 2000 debut “The Cell” or last year’s “Immortals” and his keen dedication to catering to the viewer’s eyeballs is all too clear. And the thing about classical fairy tale “Snow White,” as written by… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Mirror, Mirror”
It’s clash of the accents in “Wrath of the Titans,” an action-packed blockbuster sequel that’s so multicultural you’d swear you were attending or listening in on a United Nations meeting - well, you would be, had it not been for all the fire-breathing monsters and lava-spewing demons on frequent display. While apparently set in ancient… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Wrath of the Titans”
You’ve gotta hand it to screenwriter Michael Bacall: he redeems himself pretty goddamn fast. Just two short weeks after the release of his last co-writing project, namely the earth-shatteringly dreadful found-footage party comedy “Project X,” Bacall has proven that his mouth-watering 2010 effort “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” wasn’t just a fluke, coming up with… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “21 Jump Street”
With a title like “Project X,” you could be forgiven for assuming that music video director Nima Nourizadeh’s feature film debut is a science-fiction film; there was, after all, a science-fiction comedy released in 1987 also called “Project X,” starring a fresh-faced Matthew Broderick alongside a trained chimpanzee named Willie. The “Project X” of 2012,… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Project X”
Almost a full century after its publication in 1917 and following decades of über-successful cinematic byproducts (I’m looking at you, George Lucas), Edgar Rice Burroughs' pulpy science fiction adventure novel “A Princess of Mars” has finally blasted its way onto the silver screen with a passionate, tremendously talented director in tow and the significantly less… Continue reading Watson Reviews “John Carter”
More of a bad script-picker than a bad actress, Katherine Heigl has certainly plummeted in public opinion since her shining performance alongside chuckling funnyman Seth Rogen in Judd Apatow’s phenomenal 2007 romantic comedy “Knocked Up.” In the five years following the film’s release, Heigl has taken on leading roles in such cinematic turds as “27… Continue reading Watson Reviews “One For The Money”
There’s something oddly enticing and almost appealing about a character who is a dangerous and cunning sociopath. Look back through the history of cinema and you will find many characters of this ilk in villainous and anti-hero roles, most notably cannibalistic mass murderer Hannibal Lecter from “The Silence of the Lambs” and clown-faced criminal mastermind… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Safe House’
“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” is an absolute headache, and I’m not just talking about the sloppy 3D. What I am talking about is a furiously mediocre sequel-slash-reboot to a comic-book stinker from 2007 that saw Nicolas Cage wearing shiny biker gear and having his dodgy hairpiece set on fire along with the rest of… Continue reading Watson’s Review of “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”
Josh Trank’s “Chronicle” further intensifies the stigma of being a creepy loner, almost as much as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and Michael Powell’s “Peeping Tom” did all the way back in 1960. The only difference here is that the creepy loner in “Chronicle” is not a psychotic serial killer, but instead a teenage boy who is… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Chronicle’
The premise of “Man on a Ledge” naturally calls for a constant assortment of nausea-inducing visuals; I trust you can decipher the reason why just by reading the film’s brilliantly blunt title. The film takes a man, takes a ledge and places the man on top of the ledge; it’s as simple a concept as… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Man on a Ledge’
The fact that “Carnage” is based on a stage play is very evident in the way in which the film is presented to its audience; if it weren’t already based on a play, I’m sure I’d be recommending that a stage production be based on the film. The play in question here is the Olivier… Continue reading Watson’s Review of ‘Carnage’
“Young Adult” marks the second collaboration between talented screenwriter Diablo Cody and very talented director Jason Reitman. The pair’s first film together was “Juno,” the surprise smash-hit comedy of 2007 about a teenage girl whose likability depended almost entirely on one’s tolerance for quirky-turkey dialogue. “Young Adult” is slightly different; it too is a comedy,… Continue reading Watson Reviews ‘Young Adult’
from attorneyguy. This video failed to make it to my New Year breakdown of the Best and Worst Music Videos of 2011. This was due to a combination of seeing the video after I'd already created my lists, and also that the video appears to be comically independent. But no matter, I'm pumped and prepared… Continue reading Worst Music Video of 2011: Addendum
Forgive my enthusiasm for being retrospective at the start of a New Year, but I've done a lot more this year than I actually realized. Slacking a lot more too, I imagine. This site was always supposed to be about being funny, or at least entertaining, and the most fun and entertaining events I've been… Continue reading The Top 10 Philly Comedians of 2011
Hey, boys and girls! I've been reviewing music all year--songs and artists that I've really enjoyed, and those I found horrifying. I try not to be genre-specific, but it does become a strain on my ability to effectively deliver my honest opinion. Having said that, I can (and regularly do) appreciate lots of different styles… Continue reading Best and Worst Music Videos of 2011
Yesterday evening, I posted a list of what I believe to be the top 25 best films of 2011; now it’s time to look at the opposite end of the spectrum. Listed below are the ten films I believe to be the worst of the worst of 2011 – yes, these are the cinema releases… Continue reading Top Ten Worst Films of 2011
Probably the most interesting thing about 3D family film “Hugo” is that it is directed by Martin Scorsese, a filmmaker famed for his viciously violent and prodigiously potty-mouthed 18-rated flicks suitable only for mummy and daddy. Look down his filmography before the release of “Hugo” (ignoring 1993’s U-rated romance “The Age of Innocence,” which, to… Continue reading Watson reviews Martin Scorsese’s Hugo
The Black Keys--El Camino In this Danger Mouse-produced follow-up to "Brothers," The Black Keys seems to be doing something a little different, and that's great. A few people may see this as a complete transgression from their previous work, but I totally dig it. The Black Keys have an eclectic sound which enables them to… Continue reading What We’re Listening To (12/5/11)
I'd like to kick-start this review by openly stating that I, hand on heart, am an enjoyer of the first three "Twilight" movies. Now, notice I used the word "enjoyer" and not "fan;" there is a difference between the two. You see, yes, it's true, I have indeed enjoyed the opening three chapters of the… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, pt. 1”
Following my viewing of the newly-released festive family film “Arthur Christmas,” I’ve been furiously racking my brains (and my google machine) for other genuinely decent Christmas movies that have been released in the last ten years. I discovered that, off the top of my head, I could name only two: Jon Favreau’s “Elf” and Terry… Continue reading Watson Reviews “Arthur Christmas”
It’s no secret that Hunter S. Thompson was a bit of a mad hatter; indeed, it’s practically the only way to describe the man. Known for his regular consumption of drink and drugs, the American author and gonzo journalist would frequently write of the substance-fueled exploits and helplessly whacky adventures (possibly tall tales) he experienced… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Rum Diary”
One wonders if “The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)” was ever intended to be taken seriously; I suppose the same could be said for the first sequence too. You see, this full sequence rendered me confused, in that I was unsure if the rib-tickling moments, of which there are many, were an attempt at dark… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence”
I’m sure you, dear reader, have heard the saying “time is money” at some point or another; it’s typically spoken by those who are in a rush or are on a tight schedule. Well, writer-director Andrew Niccol has certainly heard of this three-word phrase, given the fact that he decided to base an entire movie… Continue reading Watson Reviews “In Time”
The thing that I love about the “Paranormal Activity” franchise is its use of tension and build-up. Each instalment, from the 2009 original to this brand new third entry, is absolutely littered with the kind of hair-raising tension that will shred your nerves and cause you to bite your fingernails down to the bone. I… Continue reading Watson Reviews Paranormal Activity 3
Lars von Trier's "Melancholia" works wonderfully as a companion piece to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life." For one, they're both stunningly shot arthouse films that are epic in scale and that some label “visionary" and others label “pretentious.” The second reason is that Malick's film is seen by many as a celebration of birth,… Continue reading Watson Reviews Melancholia
“The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn” is a master class in visual extravagance which should be attended by any filmmaker intending to create a spectacle; they may learn something. Teaching this master class are legendary director Steven Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, Spielberg’s photographing partner since 1993’s “Schindler’s List.” Together, they create… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Adventures of TinTin”
“Real Steel” is a boxing movie that focuses more on the trainer than it does on the boxer; think “Rocky” focusing on cranky ol’ Mickey rather than the eponymous Italian Stallion. Now, that may sound a bit crap, but with “Real Steel” it’s a plus, given that the boxer is a hunk of junk that… Continue reading Watson Reviews “Real Steel”
My last review was of Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” a film which, as you may have guessed from the title, was set in the beautiful city of Paris. Paul W.S. Anderson’s “The Three Musketeers” is also set in Paris, though this time it’s 18th Century Paris; y’know, that time in history when Frenchmen and… Continue reading Watson Reviews “The Three Musketeers”
from FarDarrigTrailers. This trailer for the 2012 film Chronicle surfaced on the Internets this week, and I am stoked. This film looks incredible. The description of "three boys gain super powers and eventually discover the dark side," seems kind of played out, but the effects, the cinematography, everything looks pretty fucking spot-on. I'll be shocked… Continue reading Must See in 2012 (of the Moment)
DRIVE If you go into “Drive” expecting adrenaline-fuelled action, you will come out satisfied. If you go into “Drive” expecting hard-hitting drama, you will come out satisfied. If you go into “Drive” expecting heart-warming romance, you will come out satisfied. If you go into “Drive” expecting explicit violence, you will come out satisfied. If you… Continue reading Watson Reviews DRIVE, ABDUCTION, and JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN
from FarEastMovementVEVO. Despite the fact that this song has been around for some time now, I've decided it needs to be addressed. Far East Movement grabbed a couple beats and lyrics from The Cataracs and DEV, threw in their own shit, and now it's a new song. First off, Far East Movement (abbreviated "FM" for… Continue reading F.U.B.A.R…like a G6 (of the moment)
“Warrior” is the surprise tear-jerker of the year. Why such a surprise? For one, it’s called “Warrior,” which gives the immediate impression of heroic, muscle-bound manliness. Secondly, its story centres around mixed martial arts, a sport in which beefy men willingly take part in beating one another to a misshapen pulp, which of course brings… Continue reading Watson’s Reviews of Warrior and Killer Elite
As we're all aware, pleasuring one another is an absolute nightmare: the exercise, the performance anxiety, and the mess--my god--the mess! If the rest of the American people are just as fat and lazy as I (and I think they are) they would be doing everything in their power to avoid sexual or intimate human… Continue reading Fleshlight Freaks: Taking Masturbation Too Far
“The Troll Hunter” is a movie that tries to convince us that it’s real, but knows that we won’t believe it. It starts and ends with statements that all of the footage in between is 100% genuine and has not been tampered with. However, all of the footage in between is fantastical and silly, and… Continue reading Watson’s DVD Review of The Troll Hunter
There are two reasons that “Red State” is a movie that’s destined for attention. The first is that it tackles religion, an issue which is and always will be a topic of much controversy. Some may find themselves offended by the movie’s way of handling the sensitive subject and the beliefs the film’s writer and… Continue reading Watson’s DVD Review of Red State
You could say that the best way to describe “Apollo 18” is to say that it’s “The Blair Witch Project” meets “Alien.” Or you could possibly say that it’s “Paranormal Activity” meets “Moon.” Anyway, there are two reasons for this movie supposedly being the meeting place for these four movies. The first reason is that,… Continue reading Watson Reviews Apollo 18
“Fright Night” is a rare example of a remake that surpasses its original; it joins the ranks of recent examples such as Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and Matt Reeves’ “Let Me In,” though of course their superiority to their originals is just my opinion. The original “Fright Night,” which was written and directed by Tom… Continue reading Watson Reviews Fright Night
The star of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is Andy Serkis, an actor who appears in the film solely through the use of motion-capture technology. He plays Caesar, a chimp who is presented to us entirely through computer-generated imagery inserted into a real-life environment. Serkis, who previously provided the movements of towering ape… Continue reading Watson Reviews Rise of the Planet of the Apes
It was only yesterday that I watched and reviewed Studio Ghibli's beautiful "Arrietty," an animated fantasy family film revolving around pint-sized heroes as they come into contact with human beings. And now here's my review of another animated fantasy family film revolving around pint-sized heroes as they come into contact with human beings, only this… Continue reading Watson Reviews The Smurfs
It’s with the release of “Captain America: The First Avenger” that the superhero genre takes a well-deserved break until 2012. Earlier this year, the genre has offered us “The Green Hornet,” “Thor,” “Super,” “X-Men: First Class” and “Green Lantern,” which amounts to a bit of a mixed bag for 2011 superhero flicks. And if anything,… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Captain America, the First Avenger
“Horrible Bosses” caters to the morbid fantasies of abused employees: the thought that your employer can simply disappear with the pulling of a trigger or the slicing and dicing of a kitchen knife. Bosses can make your life a living Hell, and one can easily dream of a life in which your boss ceases to… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Horrible Bosses
After promoting and advertising this event for quite some time, the sold out Comics on Chestnut event officially went down this past Friday night (7/22/11). The line up was spot-on as always, featuring some old favorites and some fresh faces. Hosted by Jack Martin, the show started off with a roaring crowd, and when it… Continue reading Comedy Stands Up at NoChe in Center City Philadelphia
Originality can be a rarity within the sparkly streets of Tinseltown, its cinematic offerings tending to consist of remakes, reboots, copycats and sequels which consistently dominate the worldwide box office. Just this week, Hollywood is presenting the US with Will Gluck's "Friends with Benefits," a rom-com about two long-time pals who decide to have casual… Continue reading Seeing Double: Top Ten Movie Clones Released Cheek-to-Cheek
And so it ends. Eight movies, all glorious; millions of fans, all utterly devoted; billions of dough flooding the bank, all very much deserved. The "Harry Potter" franchise truly has become a gigantic staple of contemporary popular culture, each magical movie wonderfully adapted from the beloved series of bestselling books written by celebrated British author… Continue reading I Love Movies, but I Hate Yours: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
"CARS 2" The problem with "Cars 2" is that it's produced by Pixar, a film studio that is automatically preceded by a reputation for producing groundbreaking masterpiece after groundbreaking masterpiece. Ever since it made its first full-length feature in 1995, the animation company has been responsible for some of the most highly regarded movies of… Continue reading I Love Movies, but I Hate Yours: Cars 2, Transformers 3, and Bad Teacher
GREEN LANTERN I think we’ve all been waiting for a “Green Lantern” movie for friggin’ yonks, haven’t we? I mean, we’ve watched together as all the other comic book superheroes received the summer blockbuster treatment over the past few years, and “Green Lantern” will have been top of the list for everyone, yes? Because everyone… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Green Lantern, Bridesmaids, and The Beaver
After eleven short years and five cash-guzzling hit movies, the timeline of the "X-Men" franchise is well and truly knackered. Questionable continuity issues run amuck throughout the series started by director Bryan Singer as it tries to juggle a boatload of characters taken from the Marvel source material, sometimes clumsily dropping them and not knowing… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: X-Men First Class
It's been a month since I've last seen the hilarious crew from Main Street Comedy. Their performances never cease to amaze me and I'm honored to call them...people I've met. The lineup is always changing which makes each show interesting and new. This month's theme was "Bike Race Fever," to piggyback on the upcoming drunken… Continue reading Main Street Comedy: Bringing Funny Back
The Hangover Part II In a predictable world, Todd Phillips' "The Hangover Part II" would be utterly dreadful. After all, it is an over-marketed sequel to one of 2009's biggest box-office smashes, an R-rated comedy which was essentially a much better orchestrated copycat of 2000's "Dude, Where's My Car?" set in Sin City, aka Las… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: The Hangover II and Kung Fu Panda 2
The Muppets It took a while for everyone to truly appreciate the Muppets for what they were. The ball's in your court, Segel. 50/50 This may be the most depressing thing Seth Rogen's done since The Green Hornet. But this might actually be good. Shark Night 3D From the people who brought you Hostel and… Continue reading Trailers of the Weak–May 2011
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is like an increasingly annoying friend who's come over to your house one night for dinner. While at first charming and entertaining, the friend telling you some wonderful stories, he has a little too much wine to drink, causing him to become a bit unstable and loud, banging his… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides
SOMETHING BORROWED The purpose of a love story is to enchant an audience with a tale of passion and romance, to entrance them with characters who fall for each other in spite of what is put in place to separate them and keep them from holding and caressing and kissing each other. Luke Greenfield's "Something… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Something Borrowed, Priest, and Attack the Block
Once again distancing himself from his vampiric role in the cash-guzzling "Twilight" franchise, English heart-throb Robert Pattinson is taking another dip into the un-supernatural romantic drama section. Last year saw him falling for a daughter of a detective in Allen Coulter's amiable "Remember Me," and now this year he's falling for the wife of a… Continue reading I Love Movies, but I Hate Yours: Water for Elephants
FAST FIVE I think I'll have to start this review by stating that I have not seen any of the previous instalments of the "Fast and the Furious" franchise. The series has simply driven past me, never having revved up my interest enough for me to bother taking the franchise for a test drive. However,… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Fast Five, Insidious, Beastly
Architecture in Helsinki--Moment Bends Fans of this Australian ensemble have been waiting for this album for what feels like an eternity. Then when it finally dropped, it was so under the radar that it took a whole month for me to check it out. Architecture evolves so quickly it would make a Creationist's head spin.… Continue reading What We’re Listening to (May 2011)
Kicking off 2011’s summer of big-budget blockbusters is superhero flick "Thor," probably one of the most challenging stories for Marvel Studios to adapt onto the silver screen from the pages of a comic book. This is not necessarily because of the arguably second-rate awareness of the eponymous character himself, but because creating "Thor" requires one… Continue reading I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Thor
SAILOR TWIFT BLOG 