Movies Archives

RPadTV 3000 Episode 12: Big Trouble in Little China With Jose Sanchez

For nerds of a certain age, Big Trouble in Little China is one of the most important movies of all time. This John Carpenter cult classic did not do well in theaters but became hugely influential after heavy cable rotation and changing sensibilities. Jose “Fubar” Sanchez dropped by to talk about why this movie is beloved by geeks all over the world.

Some of the aspects of Big Trouble in Little China that Jose and I discuss include:

RPadTV 3000 Episode 11: Paul Semel, Moon Knight, and Dr. Strange

My excellent colleague and friend Paul Semel dropped by to share his thoughts on Moon Knight on Disney Plus and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Although we both enjoy many of the same nerd things, our tastes also vary. With that in mind, I didn’t expect him to enjoy Moon Knight as much as I did. Although he said it was his least-favorite Marvel series on Disney Plus, he enjoyed it more than I expected him to.

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was received similarly. Paul Semel also enjoyed, but not as much as I did. He tends to be more cynical about entertainment in general and doesn’t enjoy secondary comics characters as much as I do. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the Starbrand and Nightmask comics, while Paul could not care less about characters at that…level, for lack of a better word.

Marcus Beer is on Twitch and You Should Watch Him

Millions of GameTrailers fans know Marcus Beer as the Annoyed Gamer. Thousands of people in the videogame business know Marcus Beer as “that angry yet dashing PR fellow.” I know him as my excellent friend Marcus, an intelligent and charming rogue that’s outstanding to have drinks with and even better for intensely nerdy conversation. You can be part of his nerdy conversations in his all-new, all-different Twitch stream, I Am Beer.

There are many reasons why you should tune in and watch Marcus Beer stream on Twitch, but if you need more convincing then keep on reading.

Best Movie of 2020: Pixar Soul

2020 was a strange year for movies due to ~~BOSH~~ COVID-19. Many releases were delayed…and delayed again, with some major releases being pushed to 2021. As such, I didn’t see as many movies as I normally would because there were fewer releases. Going into Christmas, there weren’t any movies that truly captivated me.

When I started thinking about this article, Palm Springs was at the top of my list. It’s a clever romcom that puts a nice twist on time paradox hijinx. The writing is witty, the performances are strong, and it’s a charming film…but it didn’t feel like it should be anyone’s choice for the best movie of 2020.

Coffee Talk #676: Streaming Services and Social Layers

I’ve been wishing for the confluence of streaming services and social layers for a long time. With new services like Scener and Netflix Party, it’s finally happening. Although it’s not quite what I was looking for, these services are a welcome addition to the streaming video experience.

Netflix Party, Scener, and You

Netflix Party and Scener are extensions that work on top of streaming video services. Both add video and text chat windows to video. Netflix Party works with Netflix (duh), while Scener works with a number of streaming video services. Scener also has the added distinction of being officially supported by HBO Go and HBO Now.

These services aim to offer an experience that’s akin to watching a movie or television show with friends, sans physical presence. This is especially welcomed during a global pandemic, when social distancing and stay-at-home practices are strongly encouraged. Video calls through Facetime, Zoom, etc. are great, but watching movies and TV with your nearest and dearest takes it to another level.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starring in your own version of Mystery Science Theater 3000 or you simply miss watching TV with your friends, Netflix Party and Scener are worth checking out.

Coffee Talk #675: How Much Time Should Elapse Before it’s Okay to Reveal Spoilers?

Last week I caught a bunch of heat on N4G. This article on Final Fantasy VII Remake discussed a major event from the original FFVII. The kids accused me of being the “spoilers!” guy. Initially, I dismissed it as Internet people being Internet people. Then RPadholic G-Iceman asked an interesting question in the RPadTV Slack:

“What is the appropriate amount of time that should pass before you can blurt out spoilers?”

Random Thoughts on Shazam

Shazam is a delightful movie that’s full of joy and wonder. It has a lighthearted tone that’s deftly balanced by weighty consequences. It’s also the best film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Unlike previous DCEU efforts, Shazam isn’t hampered by dull moments sandwiched by great scenes (Wonder Woman). It doesn’t suffer from action that’s distractingly frenzied and Patrick Wilson yelling as if he graduated from Vegeta’s School of Melodramatic Screaming (Aquaman). The other DCEU movies…the less said about them, the better.

Shazam is funny, exciting, and captivating. It does very little wrong and does so many things right. You should see it. Now in the grand RPadTV of binary lists, here are some random thoughts on the wonderful Shazam movie. [Spoilers are about to strike like lightning. Preterite mode engaged.]

Your Avengers Endgame Theories

The latest trailer for Avengers Endgame (embedded below) has dropped and it looks amazing. The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film will probably be the nerd movie of the year and, more than likely, the highest-earning film of all time. Forget about all the for a moment. Today I’d love to hear your theories on how Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will get out of the dire predicament Avengers: Infinity War left them in.

Before we delve into Avengers Endgame theories, let’s take a look at the trailer. Be sure to turn your spoiler shields on (please)!

10 Thoughts on Avengers Infinity War

Avengers Infinity War is a brilliant movie…if you’ve been keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for the last decade. If you’re one of those ~~nerds~~ moviegoers then you’ll be enthralled by the film’s action, snappy dialogue, and complexity. If not then you’ll find it to be a strange and confusing mess. Since you’re reading this article then you probably fall into the former category. With your geekdom established, I humbly present you with 10 thoughts on Avengers Infinity War.

[If you don’t want spoilers then stop reading now.]

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Coffee Talk #674: Should Netflix Be More Social?

Did you ever wish that Netflix had more social features? It’s something that I think about often. In many ways, it seems like a great opportunity; adding a social layer to Netflix would give it stickiness, increase the amount of time people use the service, and help the company retain subscribers. In my head, social features on Netflix would be fun and useful for several reasons.

You could get recommendations based on what your friends are watching.
You could see when friends are done binge-watching new shows and see who you can have spoiler-free discussions with.
You could see what your friends are watching and make fun of anyone that watches Maid in Manhattan.

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