With how common remakes/new adaptations are in today’s entertainment, we sometimes lose sight of the inspiration behind it all. Steve’s pick of the source for Steven Spielberg’s lesser seen Always (1989), is a hidden gem lost among the clouds featuring some of the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age and a great message about letting go amidst World War II. I enjoyed my ride with Spencer Tracy so much, another first story outing featuring him will be coming next week.
Two Cents 087: Non-Sexism is the New Sexism
The episode in which daylight savings just began so we are a day late, Ghost in the Shell is getting an awesome Japanese dub, we predict the futures of Blumhouse and Disney’s live-reactions, La La Land goes on a world tour, Ridley Scott wants more Xenomorph flicks, and Avatar 2 has been delayed yet again. I finally caught X-Men: Apocalypse, share my trip to the New Wave Bar, continue my descent into Lego Dimensions, and give a taste of PSVR 3D Blu-ray playback. Also, Camarada brings 3D recording to all Android devices, Oculus continues blurring VR’s future, IMDb’s F-rating for female projects, Time Warner expands its streaming to animation, our take on videogame adaptations, and the slate of 2017 blockbusters.
Debt to Cinema 077: A Simple Plan
There are so many filmmakers out there, both talented and not, that never leave their comfort zone and basically make the same movie over and over again. Sam Raimi is luckily not one of them, capable of filming any type of story, bringing us the perfect Hitchcockian thriller here. This selection was made initially to honor Bill Paxton, but now its a reminder that the zany guy behind The Evil Dead and Spider-Man has plenty more to offer us than genre flicks #IdBuyThatForADollar
Two Cents 086: Oscars Still Fucked
The week in which The Obamas path to post-White House superstardom is still on track, New Line is returning to Oz, Tron and Transformers news, dreams of YouTube TV, and follow up info on The Oscar’s Best Picture incident last week. Among the other things we covered this busy week are Mobile World Congress devices, Game Developer’s Conference’s many VR news items (including an Oculus price drop), the Nintendo Switch launch, Avatar 2, white privilege, and the impending doom of this news show.
Dollar Reviews 032: Logan
Before every comic book fanboy and pretender had a favorite entity in the ever expanding list of shared cinematic universes, Hugh Jackman landed the role of a lifetime as Wolverine. Capes and tights come and go, but the iconic badass with mutton chops and an ever present cigar found a soft spot in every movie goers heart. Nearly 20 years later, Fox gives his fans the due they deserve by honoring their favorite X-Man one last time in the latest evolution of the superhero genre #IdBuyThatForADollar
Debt to Cinema 076: Wings
With the Oscars just happening and award season finally coming to a close, Steve thought it would be the perfect time for both of us to watch the first film to win Best Picture. That’s not an entirely accurate description of 1927’s Wings, the silent epic which clung to the majestic camera work afforded to films mid out sound, at the precipice of talkies, but it might be just enough to get you to tune in #IdBuyThatForADollar
Two Cents 085: Oscars So WTF
The episode in which our hero from Bulworth and Dick Tracy finds himself in a sticky situation, the passing of Bill Paxton, the state of Playstation VR, Hellboy, Nightwing, and Devon Sawa?! Steve caught the apparently similar Get Out and A Cure for Wellness, while I have had HEALTH’s Disco 3 on repeat while exploring Thumper (PSVR). Plus, Netflix looking very Bright (so we try to calculate its money pool), 5G tests are coming this year, and VR in space!
Debt to Cinema 075: All the President’s Men
Its impossible to avoid political conversations or news items at the time this episode is recorded. Being at the onset of a presidency most Americans disapprove of, rife with fallacies in the news, and a severe distrust for the men and women appointed to govern alongside the latest celebrity turned politician. However, the best way to prevent future bumbles is to study the past, and this document that chronicles why Nixon resigned at the hands of dedicated journalists is the best place to start.
Two Cents 084: I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
The episode in which we intro a new segment, Hulu might be producing a shared Stephen King universe show, Amazon’s Costume Quest series(!!!), hiphoptherobot’s early Nintendo Switch delivery, Donald Glover is Simba 2.0, and the first wedding hosted in VR. Steve watched Justice League Dark, Harold Lloyd’s Speedy, and Flyboys; while I caught John Wick Chapter 2, went further into Lego Dimensions, and started Grim Fandango. Plus, IMAX VR’s first Experience Centre, developments in staged VR, and how all three can learn from Japanese arcades, Microsoft bolstering voice recognition, Pewdiepie’s anti-semetic fall from grace, Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson, all telecos now offer unlimited LTE plans, and A Cure For Wellness advertising with fake news.
Debt to Cinema 074: My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Following Steve’s subversion of Xmas with Black Christmas, this is the next installment in his (hopefully) continuing series of holidays gone rogue. If you’re a fan of the slasher genre or a spoilsport when it comes to Cupid’s Day of Love, you should check this out for its inventive kills on/surrounding a day generally reserved for bleeding hearts of a different order, just don’t expect too much, because the MPAA is the real killer here.
Dollar Reviews 