Geekstranger – Page 5 of 6 – Because you can never be geek enough, or strange enough

In which rather than write up a nice neat review, I indulge in a stream of consciousness/brain vomit post while watching Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ultimate Edition) at home. These were originally just notes, but no; you deserve to read my impressions as pure as they were as they happened. Cleaned up for clarity and grammar. So maybe they’re not so pure anymore, but then, is anyone pure involved in this movie? These are the deep questions we ask here.

There’s a paragraph or two surmising the whole movie versus the theatrical at the bottom, along with the Geek Stranger Score, but I’m going to make you scroll all the way down to it, because I’ve earned that. (Or you can chicken out and click here, we won’t judge.)

Also, spoilers for the Ultimate Edition. And, I guess, by default, the theatrical, too. So for those brave and bold enough… onward!

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

Ghostbusters (2016)

By Ryan

On July 16, 2016

In Movies

“Saw Ghostbusters. Childhood still intact. Manhood still exists. Apocalypse- on and off screen- averted.” – Me, on Facebook, like last night.

It seems every year there’s two or three lightning rod issues that divide the nerd community into contentious camps. Such seemingly innocuous remakes like 2009’s Star Trek or Batman v Superman or the de-canonizing of non cinematic Star Wars material or the not so innocuous Hugos hijacking are all like the end times for a group of people who are not known for expressing their passions in moderation. The 2016 Ghostbusters certainly falls into that category. And I won’t be touching on any of that because I’m out of high school.

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

RevNews: Daredevil on Netflix, Season 1 – Happy to See You!

By Ryan

On July 15, 2016

In Podcasts, RevNews and RevCast

Sometimes just reading Geek Stranger isn’t enough. Sometimes you just have to listen… and where can you listen to me marvel about the first season of Daredevil on Netflix? :

Greetings, RevFans. We present to you another one of our RevNews podcasts that was thought to be lost in the midst of Gary’s cross-country move! We found it in the box with the good silverware. Season two may be streaming (and awesome), but please join us for a look back!

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

Secret Life of Pets

By Ryan

On July 11, 2016

In Animated, Movies

I’ve often wondered how many people, like me, who come home to a wrecked couch or looted pantry or missing items and an animal pretending innocence with wide eyes staring up at me full of love while yawning as they awake from an afternoon nap, have wondered at what secret lives our pets have while we’re gone throughout the day. The nearly full theater I was in on a Sunday evening suggests many people.

Every dog has a little bit of a wild wolf in them, and every cat is (not so) secretly a murderer just waiting for their chance to kill. We project on them the qualities we want to see, like love and innocence, and while they do have attachments to us, they aren’t quite what we believe them to be. Because of this, and because we put more on our furry friends than may actually be there, it’s really not much of a stretch or surprise to us to see them existing in a community across species, going on adventures, and living double lives in a movie. The only real surprise about Secret Life of Pets is that it took this long before someone made it.

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

Independence Day: Resurgence

By Ryan

On July 4, 2016

In Movies

However much Will Smith wanted for this film, they should’ve given it to him.

Independence Day: Resurgence teaches us that destroying the world can’t be upped without destroying credibility. In this bad case of sequel-itis, what worked in the first film must be repeated in greater amount in the sequel, as long as they don’t have to pay any heavy actors. What does that get us? It gets us a soulless, by the numbers, inconsistent, and illogical, supersized even more ‘destroyingener’ movie, that had me rooting for the aliens. It’s a two hour summer money grab that took my $15 and left me hoping for at least twenty more years before the next installment. So how bad was the movie? Bad enough that I’m making up new words!

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

Legend of Tarzan

By Ryan

On July 3, 2016

In Movies

If Spider-Man can swing through New York on webs of his own invention, and we’re cool with it, I argue a vampire named Eric Northman can swing through the jungles of central Africa by vines, and it’s equally as cool! Except this time he’s not a vampire; just English.

Legend of Tarzan gets a lot right, making some smart decisions and taking risks that pay off. It also struggles with a lot more, weighed down by modern sensibilities in what is, frankly, a white savior story, though it tries its damnedest not to be. Except when it embraces it whole cloth. The movie wisely tries to center around the classic tale of Tarzan saving Jane but sets this in a real historical backdrop where Tarzan affects literally world changing events as a consequence of saving the first white woman he ever saw.

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

Warcraft

By Ryan

On June 18, 2016

In Movies

According to IMDB, the title has been changed to Warcraft: The Beginning. Franchise unlocked! Thanks, China, I guess?

Not long ago I was dragged to this movie, not against my will, but with less than normal enthusiasm. But hey, temperatures were approaching 120° F so it was almost economical, even at current ticket prices, just for the air conditioning. Also, popcorn.

If you can’t see the appeal of MMORPGs or the sort of sword and sorcery pulpy fantasy novels that inspired epic van art of days past, you probably won’t like this movie. Heck, even if those things do appeal to you, you may still not like this movie. If you’ve come to expect good quality fantasy like Game of Thrones, you won’t get it here. This is more your Legend of the Seeker fare (season 1). But with a better CG budget.

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

X-Men: Apocalypse

By Ryan

On May 30, 2016

In Movies, Super Hero

On the way home from seeing the oft neglected middle child of summer comic films that isn’t Captain America: Civil War or Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I began explaining how the continuity from X-Men: Apocalypse played out in the comics to my erstwhile and long suffering movie going companion; the origins of Apocalypse, where he (may have) got his tech, the relevance of the after credits scene, how it all tied together, and so on and so forth. When I got to the time travel aspects regarding Cable, after explaining his birth from a clone of Jean Grey who wasn’t really the Phoenix after all, she told me to, and I’m quoting exactly; “Shut the f$&k up. You’re ruining the movie for me.”

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

RevNews: Captain America: Civil War – #TeamFeels

By Ryan

On May 22, 2016

In Podcasts, RevNews and RevCast

Sometimes just reading Geek Stranger isn’t enough. Sometimes you just have to listen… and where can you listen to me scream like a little boy about how awesome Captain America Civil War was, and what I got right and wrong? Why here with the fine fine folk at RevNews:

Listen in as they talk about why previous delays weren’t Tegan’s fault; their general reactions to the movie; the capable hands of the Russo Brothers; what predictions they got right (and wrong); their trouble believing that was Howard Stark’s car; Tony’s deep need for therapy; their quibbles and the feels; Zemo’s plan and if Mike was happy that Zemo wasn’t Cobra Commandered; the deaths, more feels and the many needs for hugs; how they felt about all the characters; Bucky’s Legolas moment; Tony’s need for therapy; the incredible cuteness of Vision & Wanda; the redemption of Clint Barton; their need for a Black Panther movie right now; what Spidey brought to Team Tony; Zemo’s vicory and need for another hug; Tegan’s use of “Hobbiting” as a verb; the big airport fight; how the Russo brothers used our expectations against us in a fantastic way; the intensity & deep feels of the final fight; Bucky putting on a smile for Steve’s sake; #TeamBladder; and where they ranks it amongst the MCU movies so far.

This doesn't have to be our little secret:

RevNews: Captain America: Civil War – A Backpack Full of Feels!

By Ryan

On April 26, 2016

In Podcasts, RevNews and RevCast

Sometimes just reading Geek Stranger isn’t enough. Sometimes you just have to listen… and where can you listen to me elaborate about what I’m looking forward to in Captain America: Civil War before seeing it? Why here with the fine fine folk at RevNews:

Tune in as our comic book heroes discuss if Tony is a supervillain now; Steve’s character arc vs Tony’s in the MCU; they try not to get Tegan started on the “Martha” thing again; what Spidey’s role in all this is going to be; everyone’s love of the Russo brothers; how we need Captain America branded tissues for the screening; the Team Cap and Team Tony lineups, with how Steve should have played some MMOs before this to better understand making a balanced team; a breakdown on known Infinity Gems so far; Mike’s need for Zemo to be Cobra Commandered; Tegan’s terrible Force Awakens joke and the greenhouse mystery.

This doesn't have to be our little secret: