Podcast
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘LEGEND’
Glitter and Bubbles Legend is a bizarre fantasy fever dream—one rife with an excess of pollen, bubbles, and glitter. These things are literally everywhere, folks. They flood the beautiful scenery and are unrelenting. Also unrelenting is the film’s glaring lack of plot. If you kill the unicorns, the world will be cloaked in darkness. That’s the movie. Jack o’ the Green, Tom Cruise, must atone for his mistake of introducing his crush Lili, Mia Sara, to the wonderous creatures by killing the Lord of Darkness, Tim Curry, and taking back the severed alicorn. It’s pretty to look at, wildly dumb, and almost entirely remembered for Curry’s dazzling turn as the Lord…
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘KRULL’
Murder Frisbee Krull is a pseudo cult classic. It’s got some kick ass box art and a host of ideas that nostalgia clouds as being awesome. But when revisiting it, neither of those two things amount to much. Why? Well, Krull is chock full world-building. It’s got a Cyclops, a cannibalistic crystal spider, horses whose speed creates a trail of flame, and so much more. But none of them are fleshed out all that well; and most of it is just ripped from better properties. And that’s because Krull was a cash grab—meant to capitalize on the popularity of those other IPs. Fantasy, in particular space operas, were kind of a thing in the late…
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘CONAN THE BARBARIAN’
What’s Worst in Life? 2011’s Conan the Barbarian is as bad of a reboot of a classic film as you are going to find. It’s just a mess, folks. Its script is often witless, contradicting itself multiple times; and its cast—as distinguished as some of their careers may be—just don’t fit the roles. Worst of all, Jason Mamoa, who plays the titular hero, just didn’t appear ready to bear the weight of Conan‘s broad sword. As much as the filmmakers purported they wanted to channel the writings of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, it more shamelessly robs better films. It should come as no surprise then that this was a massive flop.…
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘THE VOID’
Right Next Door to Hell From the directing team of Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski—the latter of which helmed indie hit PG: Psycho Goreman—The Void is a tension-fueled ride that relies heavily on practical effects and pace to maximize its sense of dread. It works. And it is worth your investigation, especially if you are a fan of Lovecraftian horror. Those inspirations are quite evident. The Void involves a cult, a small town, and the cosmic terrors that lie outside our consciousness. That conceit isn’t all that original, but its execution is what sets the film apart. From its ominous opening onward, Gillespie and Kostanski build an uneasy atmosphere—an uncertainty akin to what lurks beyond.…
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96,000 Reasons to Watch In The Heights
Lights up on Washington Heights! Mike and John review the musical event of the summer in their spoiler-free episode! Check out our review of John M. Chu‘s In the Heights. In Washington Heights, N.Y., the scent of warm coffee hangs in the air just outside of the 181st St. subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies a vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is a likable and magnetic bodega owner who hopes, imagines, and sings about a better life. Watch In the Heights in theaters now.
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘THE RUNDOWN’
The Rock and Walk Connection The Rundown is a legitimately good action movie. Directed by Peter Berg, in what was his second feature film, it showcases the Rock’s size and athletic abilities—while also utilizing his expansive charm. It was an indicator for how well rounded he could be as a leading man. One of the movie’s tests of that is its pairing of him with Seann Williams Scott and Christopher Walken. The former is his comedic foil; the latter is the film’s villain. Scott has rarely been less funny, leaving much of the burden on the Rock to carry their interactions. Walken, on the other hand, is incredible as Hatcher, an…
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MY HERO ACADEMIA Recap: Our Brawl
In this week’s MHA recap Mike, Isak, and Leo Rydel review episode 99 – Our Brawl! They also discuss manga chapter 315. If you want to avoid manga spoilers, use the timestamps in the video description! We’ll be back to review episode 100 of My Hero Academia next week!
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Hops and Box Office Flops: ‘WALKING TALL’
Swing and a Miss Walking Tall is a remake of 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker. It’s also “inspired” by a real-life sheriff, Buford Pusser, who patrolled the crime-laden streets of McNairy County, Tennessee, with a crudely fashioned cudgel. That’s essentially the movie. The Rock walks softly and carries a big stick. As a conceit, that sounds like it could be pretty badass. Walking Tall is just executed poorly. It’s hokey and feels far more like straight-to-DVD fare than an action showcase for its star. Worse, the fisticuffs and fireworks just can’t sustain the silly plot that surround them. There’s an entire shootout where the Rock’s paramour just wears her bra because ……
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MY HERO ACADEMIA Recap: Deku Unlocks Blackwhip!
For this week’s episode, The Amateur Otaku is joining forces with no other than Geekly Goods‘ own Leo Rydel. Deku awakens blackwhip and unleashes an incredible burst of power. What does this mean for his future, and will Uraraka be the hero to save heroes? We discuss! It is an amazing episode filled with Al Pacino references, bad musical numbers on top of all the hype and speculation talk for this series going forward. We’re reviewing every episode of My Hero Academia so if you’ve missed our previous discussions check them out here!
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Cruella and A Quiet Place Part II Saved Cinema – Mike and John
In the latest episode of Mike and John at the Movies, we review both Cruella and A Quiet Place Part II! After having the largest box office since the start of the pandemic, is it safe to say that movies are officially back? We discuss! Both Cruella and A Quiet Place Part II are in theaters now!
