COUNT DOWN #31: Snap to Dust

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Snap to Dust •

MOMENT# 31

MOVIE: Avengers: Infinity War

DIRECTORS: Joe & Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Marus & Steven McFeely

Bucky (Sebastian Stan) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for more than a decade now and in that time, audiences have seen heroes rise and defeat incredible villains. No matter how steep the odds, the heroes won. So going into the culmination of the Infinity Saga, audiences expected more of the same. Thanos was coming to Earth and the heroes would come together and defeat the big purple alien. They were in for a surprise.

When Thor plunged his axe into the chest of the Mad Titan, audiences breathed a sigh of relief, it was over. Until Thanos snapped his fingers and the screen went white. Think back to the theater experience at this point, murmuring through the screening began as people weren’t sure what just happened. Did the Avengers just lose? That’s impossible, they don’t lose. Something probably stopped the stones from working right? Even Thanos looks confused as he uses the Space Stone to make his exit. Thor and Steve look around, disaster averted right? Then Bucky turned to dust and audiences were left with the horrible image of watching many of their favorite heroes disappear from existence. Spider-Man, the Guardians, T’Challa, and on and on as the remaining heroes could do nothing but watch their friends disappear right before their eyes.

Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

To put it frankly, it’s a traumatizing scene.

In comic book movies, the heroes win and go home at the end of the day ready to fight the next battle. The creatives behind the scenes of Avengers: Infinity War knew that audiences would go in expecting this and deliberately played with those expectations. It was almost like Marvel had spent a decade lulling their audience into a false sense of security and then pulled the rug out from under them. It hadn’t been that long ago that some of these heroes were introduced, and all of a sudden fans had to say goodbye. Although it was clearly not meant to be a permanent goodbye. It’s not unfair to say that audiences felt safe with Marvel movies. Almost like a warm blanket that you could wrap around you. These were comforting characters for many and part of the reason was that fans knew that nothing disastrous could happen to them. Stakes were always high, but death and loss were rarely, if ever, on the table. 

As internet culture grew, many fans began to learn certain contractual details. For example, many early contracts that these actors had to sign consisted of three “solo” movies and three “Avengers” movies. While most of these details are harder to find now, it was unlikely that Marvel was going to wipe out half of its universe. Still, though, the very act of doing it at all was bold. Because Marvel was mostly aware of its own safe approach to its films, they were willing to take a larger swing. Obviously, the audience would return for Avengers: Endgame so why shouldn’t Marvel kill more than half of their heroes? Doing so created a special communal experience for anyone who came out of the theater. A special type of trauma that would fuel discourse and discussion for the next year while everyone waited for Avengers: Endgame.

Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maxmoff (Elizabeth Olsen) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

The event that fans would go on to call “The Snap” became one of the most impactful moments in the MCU. The time between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was a major moment for the franchise that had fans bonding in their shared trauma. No one had a clue what Avengers: Endgame could have in store for them but seeing the Avengers fail in such a traumatic way created a special longing to see these heroes bounce back. To this day, “The Snap” is still discussed with conversations about who was blipped that weren’t shown and what could the economic fallout of it have been. “The Snap” is a unique moment in the MCU that didn’t just traumatize the heroes, but also their fans.

NIC GAUGE / Pay The Ghost

MOVIE: Pay the Ghost

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Veronica Ferres, Lyriq Bent, Lauren Beatty, Kalie Hunter, Jack Fulton, Stephen McHattie

RELEASE DATE: September 16th, 2015

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Mike Lawford (Nicolas Cage) in Pay the Ghost.

Since it’s October and I have already gone through all the obvious horror films that Nicolas Cage has to my knowledge, I had to try and find one that fits the Halloween theme. That’s when I came across 2015’s Pay The Ghost. Will it live up to similar expectations like Mandy or fall flat like Willy’s Wonderland?

Plot is professor Mike Lawford (played by Cage) has his life torn apart when his son Charlie (played by Jack Fulton) is abducted on Halloween night at a parade. One year after his disappearance, we find Mike is still searching, and both him and his wife (played by Sarah Wayne Callies) are haunted by visions that sends them on a trip into the supernatural to unravel the horrifying truth. Mike finds out that on every Halloween night, more children go missing. They are never found and there might be a connection to them all.

Mike (Nicolas Cage) and Charlie (Jack Fulton) in Pay the Ghost.

Overall, this isn’t a terrible film. The supernatural aspect revolving around pagan rituals is something you don’t see too often. My biggest complaint about this film is that the killer, which is a ghost, comes back every Halloween to take 3 children specifically. The complaint isn’t the ghost’s motives, but that everyone else slowly starts understanding what is happening, and then the ghost decides to kill anyone that figures it out. There is some great stuff they could have done like either getting the kids back or protecting the children. But the addition of random ghost murders and jumpscares for a bigger kill count felt unneeded.

Ghost Annie (Kalie Hunter) and Mike (Nicolas Cage) in Pay the Ghost.

The film also felt rushed to cram in all the necessary information about the ghost in a quick 10-minute bit right before the last act. Which, the last act itself also felt rushed. There was no point in this film that I felt like Cage’s character was in danger. There was never a sense of “Will he find his kid?”. It just felt like a generic ghost story that never got out of first gear.

The acting in this film and the plot were alright. If we were comparing other Cage-based horror films, this would probably be closer to the middle of the pile. But on the whole Nic Gauge scale, it is on the lower end of OK.

Warner’s Schroedinger Superman is Let Out of the Box

By Brandon T. McClure

A new report from The Hollywood Reporter recently stated that a Superman film starring Henry Cavill is in early development at Warner Bros. Discovery. This tracks with a very early insider report from the early days of the merger that stated a Superman film starring Cavill was a top priority for the incoming head of the company, David Zaslav. Since the 2017 release of Justice League, fans have been unsure of what the future held for the Man of Steel, but his appearance in Black Adam (complete with head), this new report from THR, and an announcement video from Cavill himself suggest the future is finally bright for the Man of Tomorrow.

For a while, it was unclear if Henry Cavill was still Superman in the DCEU or whatever Warners calls their DC film continuity these days. The character of Superman appeared in Shazam and Peacemaker but his face was obscured both times, Suggesting that Warner’s wasn’t sure if they were interested in moving forward with Cavill as Superman. While Cavill was clearly interested in returning to the role, the studio just dragged its feet for many years about it. Cavill always stated that if they wanted him, he would be there, indicating that there was no bad blood between him and the company. Cavill’s Superman clearly existed in the film universe, but because they were unwilling to make a call on it one way or the other, he also didn’t 

At one point it was revealed that Cavill himself had approached Warner Bros. head of DC Films, Walter Hamada with directors who were interested in developing a Superman movie. Back in 2019, Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible - Fallout) was asked about his involvement with the now-defunct Green Lantern film. He claimed “[i]t tied into the Superman movie that Cavill and I were proposing” and that Warner’s wasn’t interested. Most recently, during the press for Black Adam, Dwayne Johnson mentioned that the “old regime” (most likely talking about Hamada) were actively blocking attempts to bring Cavill back to the role. It wasn’t until September of this year that they got the green light to include him.

It’s unclear what Hamada had against bringing Cavill back, but he put two alternate Superman projects into development. As part of an overall deal with J.J. Abrams's Bad Robot company, Ta-Nehisi Coates was brought in to write a script for a 1940s set Superman film that would introduce a black version of Clark Kent. The other project was through a deal with Michael B. Jordan’s production company, Outlier Society Productions, to develop an HBO Max series based around the Superman of Earth 2, Val-Zod. Jordan was potentially interested in starring in that particular project. These two projects were part of Hamada’s Multiverse strategy which already delivered films like Joker and The Batman to critical acclaim. Now that Hamada has left the company, perhaps we’ll never truly know why he was so desperately opposed to Cavill’s return. 

These projects went quiet amid the chaos of the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. The deal WarnerMedia signed with Bad Robot was in 2019 and no projects have come out of that thus far even though rumors of various Justice League Dark shows have surrounded the deal. Shortly after Batgirl was canceled by Zaslav, an insider report hit the internet suggesting that Coates had turned in his first draft of his Superman project and Zaslav was requiring rewrites. These rewrites were reportedly to change the setting to the modern day and make the film about a white Clark Kent instead of the originally intended black version. Speculation around this report suggested that Zaslav could be interested in turning Coates’ script into a new Henry Cavill-led Superman film. However, the same THR article that spoke of “Man of Steel 2” also suggested that Coates’ Superman film is separate and still in active development. Where that leaves the Val-Zod series is anyone's guess at this point. 

2017 was the last time Henry Cavill was seen in the Superman suit (Zack Snyder’s Justice League notwithstanding), and it’s good that he’s finally able to return to the role that he clearly loved so much. The cinematographer for Black Adam recently told news outlets that a headless Superman was originally going to make an appearance in the film’s post-credits scene, in the vein of Shazam. Who knows how that would have gone over with audiences since they were already getting tired of the runaround from his previous two “appearances”. Every time a new regime shift happens at Warner Bros. they claim to have a “10-year plan” in place for the DC films. Unlike the last regime, part of that new plan appears to involve Henry Cavill as Superman. For five years, fans have wondered what the deal with Superman was and can rest comfortably knowing they have their answer.

CW / The End of the ARROWVERSE

By Brandon T. McClure

In the midst of massive restructuring in Warner Bros. and the CW channel, the CW recently announced that the planned ninth season of The Flash will be the end of the long-running (pun intended) Arrowverse show. After it was revealed that Superman & Lois did not take place in the Arrowverse (despite conflicting reports in the first season), The Flash became the last show standing. At its height, the Arrowverse consisted of six shows, and one by one the expansive universe dwindled into one. The exciting New Era promised after the “Crisis On Infinite Earths'' crossover seems to be ending with a whimper, rather than a bang.

Flash (Grant Gustin) in CW’s The Flash

After Arrow’s successful first season, the second season looked to expand the world and introduced Bary Allen. His episode was meant to be a backdoor pilot for a series based on the DC character, The Flash. The Flash began airing in 2014 and quickly became popular with viewers. It was instrumental in expanding the Arrowverse and the relationship between Oliver and Bary became a crucial linchpin in the franchise. What started as a world without superheroes, developed into an exciting and expansive world that would go on to include many superheroes. 

Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman would soon follow, as the world and the multiverse expanded. Dozens of DC Comics heroes and villains big and small would be introduced like Firestorm, Martian Manhunter, and even Superman. Eventually, the shows felt just as alive as the comics they were based on. Crossovers became annual events that would delight audiences as the universe grew bigger and, often, more ridiculous. Eventually, the crossovers grew so large that they adapted the biggest crossover in DC comics history, Crisis on Infinite Earths. The end of the massive five-part crossover promised a bright future for the Arrowverse. Green Arrow was gone, Supergirl and Black Lightning were merged into the same Earth and Superman was about to get his own show, an assumed spin-off of Supergirl, the stage was set for even bigger events and even a Justice League.

Mon-El (Chris Wood) and Supergirl Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist) in CW’s Supergirl

Then the pandemic happened and the bright future was cut off. The pandemic was a struggle for the entire entertainment industry the longer it went on. Shows and movies were able to film but the restrictions made scheduling very difficult. Restrictions on how many actors could be on set, not to mention actors getting sick from the COVID-19 virus made the job of writing the shows much harder. Proposed crossovers weren’t able to happen due to various scheduling issues and a desire to keep every set isolated in the hopes of quelling the virus. Keeping a shared universe together requires a lot of planning, and the pandemic made planning and structure almost impossible.

Ruby Rose, who headlined Batwoman, was going to be positioned as one of the new faces of the Arrowverse due to her natural chemistry with Melisa Benoist, who had played Supergirl for many years now. Rose left the Arrowverse show, however, for many reasons, most notably the abuse she suffered on set from producers. Rather than replacing Rose in the lead, the showrunners created a new character to be played by Javicia Leslie, in the second season, in the hopes of saving the show from cancellation. Benoist herself decided to leave the Arrowverse, which put an end to Supergirl due to her becoming pregnant and wanting to focus on her family. The end of Supergirl would follow the premature end of Black Lightning, although a spin-off of the latter was developed but never greenlit.

Ryan Wilder/Batwoman (Javicia Leslie) in CW’s Batwoman

After Superman & Lois, the Arrowverse struggled to launch new shows set within the “Earth-Prime” continuity. A spin-off of Arrow was developed centered around Oliver Queen’s daughter taking up the mantle of the Green Arrow in the Star City of the near future. Tentatively titled Green Arrow and the Canaries, the show would languish in development hell until The CW decided not to move forward with the series. Fan favorite character John Diggle currently has a series in development called Justice U, but it remains to be seen if that series will ever make it to air.

Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow ended earlier this year, leaving The Flash as the final Arrowverse series. As each show began to fall, it became increasingly bizarre that The Flash was still going. Every time the series was renewed for a new season, many would wonder how long this show could continue. Finally, the announcement came that the upcoming ninth season would be its last. While there are other DC shows on the CW like Stargirl, the upcoming Gotham Knights, and the aforementioned Superman & Lois, there are no more that share the continuity established in 2012 with Arrow. 

With so many shows set in one continuity, it can be difficult to sustain them, and the ambitious plans for the future of the Arrowverse might not have been sustainable anyway. The shows were incredibly popular, and perhaps their popularity was always going to wain after “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, but it’s hard not to lament the way the Arrowverse is going out. The Arrowverse deserved to go out with a big bang, something even bigger than their biggest crossover. But sadly, all it will get is a few episodes of The Flash season 9 and that will be it. These were popular characters and actors that audiences loved and it just feels like they deserved more.

HALLOWEEN HAUNTS 2022 / The Hill Has Eyes - Franklin, WI

Let’s kick off our Halloween fun with some rad haunts around the country.

Dave & Kyle had a blast exploring “The Hill Has Eyes” in Franklin, Wisconsin last week. Despite having to channel their inner patience for the sun to set, both highly recommend checking this one out.

Before starting the maze, you’re brought down to the opening area where you can warm up by the fires, grab a drink (both alcoholic and kid friendly options) at the Umbrella Bar or treat yourself to some food from the many food trucks on site.

Kyle loved the Carni Vore maze. He’s not afraid of clowns but enjoyed watching others in his group who were. “They pulled off the scares really well. There was a kaleidoscope-like hallway that moved back and forth. Made me think I couldn’t walk straight!”

Continuing with Dead End, Failed Escape and Hunger Hollow mazes, this gets a big ol’ bloody thumbs up.

Both agree that with near 2 hour drive, a Chicago to Franklin roadtrip would be totally worth it for this haunt that is nestled just outside of Milwaukee.

NIC GAUGE / Drive Angry

MOVIE: Drive Angry

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, David Morse, Todd Farmer, Christa Campbell, Charlotte Ross, Tom Atkins

RELEASE DATE: February 25th, 2011

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Piper (Amber Heard) and Milton (Nicolas Cage) in Drive Angry.

Drive Angry is a thriller/action film that came out in 2011 under the title Drive Angry 3D. It’s pretty much a cross between Fast & Furious and Ghost Rider. As you know already from my Ghost Rider review, this is going to be rough. With a tagline, “All Hell Breaks Loose”, how rough could it be? I’m a fan of grindhouse and cults, so it’s got to be fun.

The plot is John Milton (played by Cage) escapes Hell with Satan’s shotgun to hunt down cult leader, Jonah King (played by Billy Burke). King killed Milton’s daughter and is planning on sacrificing Milton’s granddaughter to open a doorway to Hell. Milton accidentally involves waitress Piper Lee (played by Amber Heard) on a cross-country road trip while also being pursued by The Accountant of Hell (played by William Fichtner) who is trying to retrieve Milton and drag his soul back. 

Milton (Nicolas Cage) in Drive Angry.

This film is confusing because although it is slightly entertaining, it’s confusing in tone. It calls itself a grindhouse action/thriller when in reality, it’s more of a rated R action film that was made for fans of 3D films. The special effects are terrible, the 3D effects make it look tacky, the script is repetitive, and there were parts of the film felt awkward in terms of where my attention was drawn to. There were background actors that felt like they had bigger roles than what was in the final product.

There are really only two positives of this film that pull it up a little bit from some of the other “Hot Mess” films. The performances of Nic Cage and William Fichtner. Although Cage really feels like he is just going through the motions, he still is entertaining to watch. Then there is Fichtner, who every time I see him in a role, he always plays this wooden, bureaucratic type, and it is always hilarious. Because of those two, this film rises to the lower end of “Terrible” on the Nic Gauge.

QUANTUM LEAP 2022 / Scott Bakula not returning...

By Brandon T. McClure

Quantum Leap is returns to the small screen on September 12th. The reboot of the 1989 sci-fi drama series about Dr. Sam Beckett leaping through time, trying to put right what once went wrong. This time, it will follow a new scientist (Dr. Ben Strong played by Raymond Lee) and his team as they restart the Quantum Leap program and begin their own journey. Since the new series is billed as a sequel to the original, many fans were hopeful that it would finally give Sam Beckett the happy ending he was denied in the original show. But Dr. Beckett himself, Scott Bakula, took to Twitter to set the record straight.

The original show began airing in March of 1989 and became a success due to its good-natured storytelling. It was anchored by the chemistry between Dean Stockwell and Scott Bakula, whose friendship was at the heart of every season. Since the infamous ending title card read “Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home,” fans have been left wondering what ever happened to the intrepid time traveler. Donald P. Bellisario, the shows creator, had been working for a number of years to bring the further adventures of Sam and Al back, first with a television movie on the SciFi Channel and then as a big screen feature-length film. Now that universe is finally returning and, even though Bellisario is involved in the new series, everyone has been pretty quiet on whether or not Bakula will be involved.

Scott Bakula posted a Twitter thread that explained his involvement in the new show. In short, he’s not involved at all. “I have no connection with the new show” he tweeted, which immediately dashed the hopes of long-time fans. Apparently, he was sent a script for the pilot of the new show, because the Sam Beckett character was initially included, but decided to pass on it. He went on to say “‘How could you do [Quantum Leap] without Sam?’(or Al, for that matter)  Well, I guess we’re about to find out.” He did mention that it was a difficult decision to make and that he hopes for nothing but the best for the new team, but he will not be making an appearance.

This kind of cuts the new show off at the knees a bit. Fans were hopeful that the new series would pick up on some of the threads from the original show, especially considering Ernie Hudson’s returning character. The original announcement for the 2022 reboot told audiences that the new Quantum Leap project was being restarted to find out what happened to Sam. Since Dean Stockwell has passed away, it was clear that Al couldn’t be a part of the series but knowing that Sam won’t be either is a tough pill to swallow.

This is not to say that the new show won’t be able to stand on its own of course. Certain expectations come with sequel shows, and it’s good that Scott Bakula quelled those expectations before the show aired. While some legacy actors try to keep their returning roles a secret, Scott Bakula didn’t mince words over him not returning. His language makes it sound pretty definitive that he’s not looking to guest star on the show at any point. Perhaps if Quantum Leap does get a second season, the writers could reach out again to see if he has changed his mind. 

NIC GAUGE / Jiu Jitsu

MOVIE: Jiu Jitsu

STARRING: Alain Moussi, Nicolas Cage, Raymond Pinharry, Mary Makariou, Tommy Walker, John D. Hickman, Eddie Steeples, Rick Yune, Ryan Tarran

RELEASE DATE: November 20th, 2020

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Wylie (Nicolas Cage) in Jiu Jitsu

Do you like aliens? Martial arts? The movie Highlander? Then 2020’s Jiu Jitsu might be the missing movie from your collection. As someone who is a fan of sci-fi, martial arts, and Nic Cage, this film felt like it was catering to a very small, niche fanbase. As an added bonus, this film was adapted from a 2017 comic book of the same name that was written by Dimitri Logothetis, who also directed this film. So, how can a movie with those kinds of details fail? Turns out, fairly easily. 

The plot is that every six years, an ancient order who are Jiu Jitsu experts face off against alien invaders for supremacy of Earth. For thousands of years, they have this contest, and every year, the humans win. Now, when a master Jiu Jitsu fighter, Jake Barnes (played by Alain Moussi) refuses to face an indomitable alien creature names Brax, the future of humanity hangs in the balance. Injured and suffering from severe amnesia, Jake is captured by a military squad unequipped to fight the merciless intruder who has descended upon the planet. Jake is rescued by Wylie (played by Cage) with an ancient order of Jiu Jitsu fighters who must help him recover his memory, regain his strength in order to band together and defeat Brax in an epic battle that will determine the fate of mankind.

Brax (Ryan Tarran) in Jiu Jitsu

This movie is extremely boring. It feels like they were trying to make their own variation of Mortal Kombat, but everything lands like a cheap knock-off. Anytime there were fight scenes, you could see the crash pads under straw. The sword fighting was extremely slow and messy. And unfortunately, the acting was horrendous. It felt as if everyone was just going through the motions without any real emotion behind anything. From start to finish, it was a boring film with cheap-looking effects, and although the design of Brax was eye-catching, it felt like it would have been better used on a good film. This falls near the end of “Hot Mess” on the Nic Gauge.

COUNT DOWN #32: Trevor "The Mandarin" Slattery

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Trevor “The Mandarin” Slattery •

MOMENT# 32

MOVIE: Iron Man 3

DIRECTORS: Shane Black

WRITERS: Drew Pearce & Shane Black

Trevor “The Mandarin” Slattery (Ben Kingsley) in Iron Man 3.

Iron Man 3 is remembered, pretty unfairly, as one of the lower-tiered MCU films. When people recall Shane Black’s only entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one thing constantly stands out as the reason why the movie doesn’t work: The Mandarin reveal. The Mandarin had been teased in the Iron Man films since Tony was captured by the Ten Rings terrorist group in the first film, so anticipation was high that he would finally go up against his comic book rival. While some felt disappointed, others enjoyed the twist on the villain, and, for better or worse, it has become a defining moment in the MCU.

The Mandarin was originally conceived as a villain for Iron Man but plans changed throughout the development of the film. Instead, the creatives behind the scenes felt that saving the villain and teasing him was a better option. So instead, Iron Man introduces the Ten Rings, a terrorist group that captures Stark and forces him to build a powerful missile. The rest of the movie plays out and Tony doesn’t find out who was behind the mysterious organization that captured him. A deleted scene in Iron Man 2 includes a member of their organization helping Ivan Vanko (Whiplash) come to America. Outside of that, they were absent from that film.

Iron Man 3 takes place after The Avengers and Stark is feeling some PTSD from his experiences in the major crossover event. Things get more complicated when the leader of the Ten Rings, The Mandarin, starts to take credit for various bombings in the United States. Stark takes it upon himself to look into them after Happy becomes one of the victims. His investigation not only points to The Mandarin but a brilliant scientist named Aldrich Killian. Killian runs AIM in the MCU and had a previous run-in with Tony that almost led Killian to kill himself. As far as Stark can see, Killian had teamed up with the Mandarin in order to get his work funded. But unfortunately, he’s only half right.

Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) in Iron Man 3.

Stripped of his Iron Man armor, Tony remembers that he’s still a capable hero without the suit and storms the Mandarin’s hideout. He successfully infiltrates it, only to find a crazy British drunk who’s high out of his mind named Trevor Slattery. Stark demands answers, because how could this fool be the most dangerous terrorist in the world? Turns out Killian had co-opted the name of the Mandarin and used it to cover up failed experiments. The bombings, it turns out, were people overdosing on a new drug called Extremis. Like most of Shane Black’s films, the scene is ridiculous and Ben Kingsley’s instant turn from menacing to bumbling is a true masterclass performance. Guy Pearce’s Aldrich Killian ended up being the main villain of the movie, which was one of the biggest plot twists in the MCU.

Savin (James Badge Dale) on Extremis in Iron Man 3.

This reveal was somewhat controversial and continues to be to this day. Regardless, the MCU has had a number of plot twists like the Mandarin reveal over the years. In fact, the third act villain reveal has become a staple of their recent TV shows on Disney+. Iron Man 3 was also an early example of Marvel keeping what a movie was to be truly about under wraps. Arguably, Tony Starks third outing is a major factor in Marvel’s emphasis on secrecy. Iron Man 3 was only their second film to cross $1 billion so keeping the real plot of the film such a tight secret ended up paying off for them in a big way. This strategy would eventually evolve into misleading trailers and planted leaks to try and get scoopers off their scent.

It’s been made pretty clear that the film was never trying to say Aldrich or Trevor was the real Mandarin, but that has been the major misunderstanding of the film since its release. Thanks to the Marvel One-Shot short film All Hail The King, MCU fans were made aware that there was a real Mandarin out in the world and he was very upset with Trevor’s portrayal of him. Ever since that short film was released in 2014, Marvel fans had been asking when would the MCU finally introduce the real Mandarin. That prevailing question became Iron Man 3’s legacy, for better or worse, and would become a defining one for years to come. Thankfully, fans were finally rewarded in 2021 with the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. 

Whether you believe the Mandarin twist worked or not, the twist became a defining feature of the MCU. Marvel’s desire to keep the real details of their movies stems from this. No one going in had any idea that Ben Kingsley was playing anyone other than the terrifying leader of the Ten Rings. Iron Man 3 continues to be a sore topic with members of the MCU fandom but it worked and served as a satisfying conclusion to Tony’s first story arc. Whether its legacy is the question “where is the real Mandarin” or Marvel’s continued overwhelming desire for secrecy, The Mandarin twist is cemented as a defining moment in the MCU.

NIC GAUGE / National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

MOVIE: National Treasure: Book of Secrets

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Ed Harris, Helen Mirren, Harvey Kaitel

RELEASE DATE: December 21st, 2007

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Disney+, Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) and Patrick Gats (Jon Voight) in National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.

Not going to lie, I had high expectations going into National Treasure: Book of Secrets. I really enjoyed the first movie more than I thought I would, but I was curious about how they could possibly top stealing the Declaration of Independence. Well, it turns out, it’s pretty easy to top. For another first-time watch, let’s see how Book of Secrets stacks up to the first.

Ben Gates (Cage) and his father (played by Jon Voight) are talking about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth’s diary that possibly could lead to a lost golden city. They are blindsided by Mitch Wilkinson (played by Ed Harris) who claims to have proof that Gates’ ancestor was actually a conspirator in the shooting of Lincoln. Now, both Gates (father and son) must team back up with Abigail and Riley to go on another treasure hunt in order to clear their family name.

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) in National Treasure: Book of Secrets,

I’ll start with my positive thoughts. The addition of Ed Harris as the villain and Helen Mirren playing Ben Gates’ mother adds more fun element to the film. I’m used to Harris playing villains, and most of the time, he usually steals the show. Helen Mirren and Jon Voight’s chemistry as a divorced couple is pretty cute. Their relationship slowly coming back together as Ben and Abigail's relationship is on the rocks, which pairs well. Ben and Abigail's turmoil stems from … I guess an argument over the usage of the word “So” and it’s context. It’s not very clear.

Emily Appleton (Helen Mirren) and Patrick Gates (Jon Voight) in National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

That leads to my negatives. National Treasure: Book of Secrets is seven minutes shorter than the first one, clocking in at 2 hours and 4 minutes yet it feels like it goes on forever. The first film felt like every scene had a purpose to keep the film moving. This felt like they had time to kill at certain points. Some scenes felt stretched out and made me ask, “Do I need to remember any of this?” The scene where Gates “kidnaps” the President was both interesting and boring at the same time, to use as an example. The one main chase sequence in the entire film even feels like a filler scene. Nothing interesting happens for 90% of it.

This film felt more filler than actual story overall with some really good beats thrown in. Because I found myself fading in and out at times, this falls more into the lower end of “OK” on the Nic Gauge.

NIC GAUGE / National Treasure

MOVIE: National Treasure

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha, Harvey Kaitel

RELEASE DATE: November 19th, 2004

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Disney+, Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) in National Treasure.

In the words of the greatest treasure/artifact hunter, Indiana Jones, “It belongs in a museum”. If you have seen an Indiana Jones film, then you already know how these kinds of films go. Once again, I am here to admit to everyone, this was my first time watching National Treasure. So, you already have a rough idea of what the next film will be, but what did I think of this heavily memed film?

Historian and code-breaker, Ben Gates (played by Nic Cage) and treasure hunter, Ian Howe (played by Sean Bean), have been on the hunt for an ancient treasure. Their latest clue causes a rift in their partnership as they have to look at the back of The Declaration of Independence. Ian decides to leave Ben and his colleague Riley (played by Justin Bartha) for dead when he decides to steal the historic document. Ben survives and decides that in order to keep the Declaration and treasure out of Ian’s hands, he would need to steal it first. While in the act of stealing it, he accidentally gets curator, Abigail Chase (played by Diane Kruger) involved. With her help and the Declaration in hand, Ben goes on the greatest treasure hunt in American history.

Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) in National Treasure.

This film overall is fine. I did enjoy it, but it just makes me think about how it’s just an upgraded version of the aforementioned Indiana Jones series. That’s not a bad thing to say, because I do enjoy treasure hunt films, especially when it involves booby-trapped rooms and such and that is something this film lacked. Where were the booby traps?! Just a minor gripe, but still a gripe. 

Speaking of gripes, my main one was actually in the villain of the film, Ian Howe. He is considered to be just as resourceful as Ben when it comes to figuring out where to go next for clues in this film. Yet, he ends up doing the bare minimum and still finds a way to catch up to Ben at every turn. There is a scene where Ben gets a whole clue/riddle by sending a kid into a museum to decipher letters, then spending 10 minutes talking it out before figuring out where to go. Ian on the other hand, just gets the last four letters of the clue from the kid and uses the internet to use the top search as the answer.

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and Ian Howe (Sean Bean) in National Treasure.

My overall feelings about this film are that it is acted well by everyone, the action and suspense were alright, but there are a couple of minor details that bugged me. Not enough to make it unenjoyable, but just enough that it made me question some of the choices that were made. I’ll be curious to see how this affects my first viewing of the sequel. National Treasure sits in the middle of “Good” on the Nic Gauge.

COUNT DOWN #33: The After Party

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The After Party •

MOMENT# 33

MOVIE: Avengers: Age of Ultron

DIRECTORS: Joss Whedon

WRITERS: Joss Whedon

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In Marvel’s first team-up film, The Avengers, the six heroes introduced in the previous five films united to stop a threat none of them could stop alone. In the final two team-up films, the heroes of the Earth were scattered and forced to face a villain they weren’t prepared for. Only one film prior to that showed the heroes as a team, and more than that, friends: Avengers: Age of Ultron. 

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony and Bruce are working with Loki’s scepter from the first film to find a way to harness the power so they can finally activate Ultron. Ultron was meant to be a protector program. “I see a suit of armor around the entire world”, Tony tells Bruce when he’s trying to convince Bruce to help him. After many trials, it doesn’t look like it’s going to work, so the two of them join the party happening in Avengers Tower. Many friends and heroes are at this party, but by the end of the night, it’s just a few close friends sharing a drink.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) share a drink in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Before Ultron crashes the party, the gang is trying to figure out the secret to Thor’s enchanted hammer and Thor invites them to try and lift it. One by one, the men of the group try to lift the hammer while Natasha and Maria Hill sit back and watch them, amused. Stark and Rhody use parts of their armor and Banner pretends to Hulk out but Thor can’t help but laugh at his friend's attempts. It’s all in good fun as they continue to laugh and drink and throw playful jabs at each other. They’ve been fighting Hydra together since the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and earned this fun. None of them were able to lift it…almost.

This moment also has the distinction of teasing the audience with the most excellent bit of fan service yet to come: Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer. When Steve gets up to try his hand at lifting the hammer, it moves ever so slightly. Its movement is signified by a squeak of the table and Thor’s changed expression from joyfulness to confusion. Could Captain America also be worthy of Mjölnir? That answer wouldn’t come for a number of years, but it was enough to make audiences very excited for what was to come.

Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) attempting to lift Mjölnir in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has the only scene in the franchise where the Avengers have fun goofing off together. Every time they’re together from this point onward, it’s because something has forced them together. This after-party scene shows them as friends, not co-workers who get together every once in a while to save the world. They enjoy being around each other. It’s a simple scene but it sets the tone for the team. When you see them banter with each other on the battlefield, like Thor and Captain America do very often, you understand that it’s coming from a place of camaraderie. With all the world-ending stakes the Avengers have had to deal with, it’s a shame more scenes like this weren’t peppered into the rest of the Infinity Saga.

NIC GAUGE / Valley Girl

MOVIE: Valley Girl

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, EG Daily, Michelle Meyrink, Heidi Holicker, Tina Theberge, Lee Purcell, Michael Bowen, Cameron Dye

RELEASE DATE: April 29th, 1983

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Julie (Deborah Foreman) and Randy (Nicolas Cage) in Valley Girl.

It’s time for another edition of “classic" Nic Cage films that I have never seen”.

This week’s film is Valley Girl. I’m open to all kinds of films. I do find myself more geared towards horror/action/comedy-style films. There are very few instances where I find myself into romance, especially romantic comedies. From earlier entries, I did find myself enjoying Moonstruck and Honeymoon In Vegas but also hating Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Where will this film fall?

This is another 80’s troped film that follows preppy San Fernando Valley girl Julie (played by Deborah Foreman) as she falls in love for edgy Hollywood punk named Randy (played by Cage). However, she finds herself conflicted, trying to choose if she wants to be with someone who goes against everything she grew up to understand. It’s her pink-clad rich family and friends vs the punk rock street lifestyle. Which will she choose?

Julie (Deborah Foreman) and Randy (Nicolas Cage) in Valley Girl.

I try to go into all films with an open mind. I can usually find myself pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, this film fell into the latter collection of “meh” to “bad” films. I’ll start with the positives. I like the comparisons between the sleek, pink, classy style of the higher class/popular kids versus the darker, dirtier, grit of the punk world. I also really enjoyed the music.

Beyond that, this film feels like they had enough of a script for a short story-style film, but had to pad it out to give it an hour and a half runtime. It could easily be my impatience with the film's usage of pacing, and I do understand that this film was made in the early 80s, but there is so much dead air in this film. People have conversations that have nothing to do with anything, that you only catch bits, long shots of footage of the street of Hollywood, and the majority of this film felt like it took place in one house for one party scene. 

Julie (Deborah Foreman) and Randy (Nicolas Cage) in Valley Girl.

The acting in this film is very hollow as well. Not even crazy Cage could save it. The majority of the time he is on screen, he looks bored. I want to believe that was the choice of portraying Randy, but it didn’t feel genuine. The other actors appeared like they were just going through the motions to keep the film moving. There is also a really confusing element about a secondary character that pursues the interest of the mother of the girl that is into him. To add to the awkwardness, the guy and the daughter end up together anyway without any real build.

In summary, overall film felt drawn out and the acting was very bland in general. This film ends up on closer to “Terrible” than “Ok” on the Nic Gauge.

SAN DIEGO COMIC CON 2022

By Jenny Robinson

We finally made it back!!!

July 20th - July 24th, SDCC returned to the San Diego Convention center after being postponed for two years due to Covid. It was hard to know what to expect. The world is slowly coming out of a pandemic so crowds and events are still a bit iffy. I debated whether it would be mellow due to society’s “social distancing” habits or absolute mayhem because we’ve been shut in too long. Well, it was a bit of both.

The great thing is that those participating were in high spirits. Everyone I encountered has prepared to be patient, excited for all the new exclusives and delighted to chat about all the geeky things they saw. SDCC has always been one of the best communities I have seen. This year was no different. It was also a strange year where Hall H was only partially packed on a Friday afternoon but packed late on Sunday. The lines were long but worth the wait. It’s an unwritten rule that you need to go into this convention with the understanding that it will be impossible to do and see everything.

This year had Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO, FX, SyFy, and others all participating in exclusive parties and/or off-site events. You could walk through the House of the Dragon and sit on the Iron Throne. You could participate in new employee orientation at Luman Industries through Apple TV'+’s activation from Severance. Attendees grabbed glowing green Dragon’s Brew at the Paramount+ Dungeons and Dragons Tavern. The IMDB boat was in full swing and Amazon released their new trailer for the highly anticipated Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series and threw a special party for the fans. The list goes on and on.

Panels this year saw the likes of Dwayne The Rock Johnson as DCs “Black Adam”, the last “Walking Dead” panel, the “What We Do in the Shadows” cast and crew, AND THE MIGHTY RETURN OF MARVEL TO HALL H! They came in swinging with not only the announcement of the end of Phase 4, but Phase 5 and 6 as well! As I said earlier, there was just too much to take it all in.

WELCOME BACK!!!

Watch our “recap” video to get a quick view of Jenny’s weekend HERE.

To revisit Atomic Geekdom’s daily coverage, check out our links below.

WEDNESDAY - Preview Night

THURSDAY 7/21

FRIDAY 7/22

SATURDAY 7/23

COUNT DOWN #34: If He Be Worthy

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• If He Be Worthy •

MOMENT# 34

MOVIE: Thor

DIRECTORS: Kenneth Branagh

WRITERS: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Don Payne

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” These are the words inscribed on the side of the mighty hammer Mjolnir by the All-father Odin. While they do appear in Norse mythologies, they play a large role in the MCU’s 4th film, 2011’s Thor. This film would introduce the famous Norse god to mainstream audiences and pave the way for his future adventures with his fellow Avengers.

Thor is a relatively simple film when you strip it back to its bones. Thor has been raised to be the greatest warrior in all of Asgard and will soon take up his father's role as king. But a group of Frost Giants ruin Thor’s big day and he seeks revenge with his brother Loki, and his friends Sif, Vostag, Hogan, and Fandral. The six of them go to Joutenheim and accidentally spark the fires of war between Asgard and the Frost Giants, something which Odin wished to avoid. After a heated argument between the God of Thunder and the All-Father, Odin strips Thor of his power and banishes him to Earth, to seemingly live the rest of his life as a mortal. 

What does it really mean to be worthy of the hammer? When Odin strips Thor of his godliness, he calls him a vain, greedy, and cruel boy and laments that Thor's warrior heart has blinded him to what Odin had taught him. Thor needed to learn humility and to think with his head and not his heart. He wanted glory and to be feared and worshipped throughout the nine realms, but that is not how a king, or a god, should behave.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

As a film, Thor is very lean, it has very little fat. Thor needed to learn a certain lesson and he does, very quickly after arriving on Earth. When he couldn’t pick up his hammer again, he realized he was no longer worthy and what that truly meant after he saw the words inscribed on the side of his former weapon. No more will he soar through the skies as the God of Thunder or dine in the banquet halls of Asgard. Now he will be forced to live out a mortal life on Earth. But it’s not all bad, he’s grown to love a woman named Jane Foster and has grown fond of the people he’s met.

Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

Now it’s time for one more test, however, in the form of the Destroyer. Loki, afraid that Thor will return to Asgard, sends Asgard's greatest weapon, the Destroyer to Earth to kill his adoptive brother once and for all. As the Destroyer lays waste to the town, Sif, and the Warriors Three, Thor attempts to do the unexpected, and apologize. He approaches the Destroyer, apologizing to his brother for all the wrongs he had caused all his life, knowing that his life could very well end. Thor knew the battle could not be won with strength, but with words of compassion. Through his sacrifice, he finally became worthy. Mjolnir exploded out of the ground and charged toward its former and future wielder and in one of the greatest moments in the first Thor film and the MCU, he caught it and reclaimed his mantle as the God of Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

Thor grabbing the hammer out of the air is a good old-fashioned fist-pumping moment. An early moment in the history of the MCU where the audience could cheer for the hero. The character of Thor has seen a lot of changes over the years, but the first film stands as a solid foundation to build up the God of Thunder. The one thing that needed to work in the film was Thor's redemption and, thankfully, by the time that hammer shoots up from the ground, audiences were reassured that it did.

NIC GAUGE / Grand Isle

MOVIE: Grand Isle

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, KaDee Strickland, Luke Benward, Kelsey Grammer, Zulay Henao, Oliver Trevena, Emily Marie Palmer, Beatrice Hernandez

RELEASE DATE: December 6th, 2019

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Vudu)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Fancy (KaDee Strickland) and Walter (Nicolas Cage) in Grand Isle

Grand Isle came up this week for the Nic Gauge and before I started it, I was curious what critics thought of it. Every once in a while, I like to look at reviews, but I never really post them. This one was interesting. Most critics thought this film was terrible, but there are also a lot of reviews from moviegoers that paise this action/thriller. So, going into this, I knew this would be an interesting watch, and interesting it was.

Detective Jones (played by Kelsey Grammer) is holding a battered and bruised former sailor Buddy (played by Luke Benward) in an interrogation room. Buddy is forced to tell Jones about what happened to a murdered body he was found with the day before. We are then watching the events of the day before as Buddy arrives at a house owned by a hard-drinking Veteran named Walter (played by Cage) and his wife, Fancy (played by KaDee Strickland). Buddy is hired by Walter to fix a fence, but when a hurricane warning is put into effect, Buddy is trapped in their house. where he learns about Walter and Fancy’s increasing dislike for each other. He finds himself stuck between a woman trying to seduce him, and a man unhinged from the choices of his wife.

Walter (Nicolas Cage) in Grande Isle.

Grand Isle had some interesting moments, but as an overall film, seemed to lack when it came to having enough action and/or thrills. There is more to the plot, mainly the real reason for Walter and Nancy’s weird actions, but instead of letting those beats play out, they just tell you through audio clues throughout the film. By the third act, you learn that they have been kidnapping teens and forcing them to have children because Fancy cannot get pregnant. And because you are told this throughout the film, it takes out any suspense or surprise by the end.

Walter (Nicolas Cage) and Lisa (Emily Marie Palmer) in Grand Isle.

Although the plot and script left me with much to be desired, everyone’s acting abilities do make it enjoyable. Nic Cage’s performance is not as crazy as we are used to, but he does teeter on the edge for a few moments. KaDee Strickland steals the movie with her performance. Being able to show off her “disgust” for her husband as well as keeping all her secrets close to her chest, baiting us to learn more. Because of that, this film lands in the middle of “OK” on the Nic Gauge.

BOOK REVIEW + INTERVIEW / Upgrade By Blake Crouch

Jenny had a Fan-tastic opportunity to sit down with bestselling author, Blake Crouch. Atomic Geekdom’s friend Nicole Reid joined the Q&A as they discussed his July 12th, 2022 release UPGRADE. Check out the full interview below or on YouTube (HERE) and the AG podcast (HERE).

Join the conversation in the comments and on social media.

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UPGRADE by Blake Crouch

Release Date: 07/12/2022

Published by Penguin Random House

By Jenny Robinson

What happens when a cure becomes a plague? When can you forgive yourself of your inadvertent crimes against nature? How do you survive in the ripples of the disaster? And what would happen if your DNA was highjacked? UPGRADE is a fast paced story that follows Logan Ramsey. He is a family man confronting each those questions.

The storyline takes place in a world recovering from a famine. Due to gene editing, much of the world’s crops were destroyed by science gone wrong. Already, I began to have that sense of storytelling anxiety that oddly makes me love suspense books. Logan’s mother was the prestigious gene-editing biologist behind this disaster. She was a force to be reckoned with. Her scientific creations were meant to help save the planet, but instead backfired and killed millions. Logan had worked along side his mother and carried the weight of regret from that mistake. To atone, he then became a federal agent once he was released from prison. He began working to put a stop to the outlaw geneticist popping up after the disaster and who were using his mother’s science.

The plot picks up quickly during a raid that leaves Logan suspiciously injured. During and after the recovery, he begins to notice changes in his thoughts and reflexes. The realization hits hard when he understands that he also has been exposed to his mother’s science. His progression begins to move faster. He has been upgraded. I raced through those chapters as Logan ran from authorities while searching for who was responsible for this conspiracy. This is where I truly loved the character development. Friends from his work were now his foe, family becomes endangered and questionable. Those questions kept piling up. The plot is intense.

There is a lot to unpack as we learn about these characters. Layer upon layer of moral dilemmas for everyone involved. It made for a riveting story. The tough and moral life questions are another reason why I loved this book. The idea of attempting something that could make the world dramatically better, while running the risk of destroying it, make for an exciting read. Logan’s mental scars and guilt from his past endeavors drive home a since of humanity as he struggles through those risks. Logan is the star of the story (obviously). Sub-characters like his mother Miriam, sister Kara, and partner Nadine fell a little flat in comparison but their stories were crucial to establishing the fine line between the heroes and villains. Those characters highlighted the reasons why Logan Ramsey is such an important protagonist.

It’s true that my favorite stories are those that wrap themselves in reality, where the fiction feels plausible. Upgrade, for example feels a lot like what we are currently seeing with CRISPR technology. We may realistically be able to start editing our genes to enhance ourselves but the questions remains…should we, and at what cost? Crouch writes in a way that you do not need to know the science to understand the plot, and I appreciate that. The research and terminology are quite impressing and encouraged me to reach towards Google to dive more into that science I enjoy that in his writing, you can understand the science simply by the “good vs evil” in the uses. He also successfully overlays the protagonists righteous ambition to those facts. It’s a common trend in his books to guide the reader through complex theories that makes sense due to the character’s journeys. As a reader, you struggle with the “rights and wrongs” of the events along side Logan, page by page.

Crouch’s UPGRADE is a legit, hard hitting sci-fi thriller that teeters on dystopian. UPGRADE has a ton of suspense, intrigue, and characters that will draw the reader in and make them question their own beliefs.

As I finish each Blake Crouch book, I am left anxiously awaiting what next gripping scenario he’s cooking up next. From my love of the parallel universes of Dark Matter, mind-bending memories in Recursion, and moral dilemmas of Upgrade, I am sure I’ll be mentally and morally tested. In my book, that’s a win.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BLAKE CROUCH is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of a dozen novels, most recently, Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade, for which he is also writing the movie for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. His novel, Recursion, is currently being developed as a Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes and Matt Reeves, and Skydance is developing a film adaptation of his novella, Summer Frost, based on Crouch’s script. His novels have been translated into forty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Cemetery Dance. At the moment, Crouch is writing a new book and creating a nine-episode adaptation of his novel Dark Matter, for Apple TV+. Blake lives in Colorado.

The best way to stay apprised of new releases is to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

COUNT DOWN #35: Stark Learns The Truth

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Stark Learns The Truth•

MOMENT# 35

MOVIE: Captain America: Civil War

DIRECTORS: Joe and Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

Howard Stark (John Slattery) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in Captain America: Civil War.

The relationship between Captain America and Iron Man is a rather complicated one. While the two of them grew a friendship, it was always on a rocky foundation. Steve trusted that Stark would take a bullet for him and vice versa but it would only take a push to break their partnership. This push came in the form of a coordinated attack by Helmut Zemo in Captain America: Civil War. This attack would send ripples through the MCU and pave the way for Thanos’ victory in Avengers: Infinity War.

Ever since Captain America: The Winter Soldier, audiences had been privy to the information that Bucky Barnes, as the Winter Soldier, was responsible for the death of Howard and Maria Stark. The third Captain America film takes this quick expository moment and makes it the crux of the plot. All throughout the movie, Zemo is trying to get his hands on information that happened on December 16, 1991. A reason that isn’t made clear until later. While this is happening, the government is trying to have the Avengers sign the Sokovia Accords, which would put the heroes under government control. This is the first time that Steve and Stark would come to blows.

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr. ) in Captain America: Civil War.

The major fight scene of the movie happens towards the end of the second act as Bucky and Steve are trying to get to Siberia to stop Zemo from awakening sleeping super soldiers. All the while Iron Man is trying to stop them because Bucky was framed for the murder of King T’Chaka. There are a lot of moving parts in Captain America: Civil War, but they culminate with Iron Man, Captain America, and Bucky in an abandoned Hydra base in Siberia looking for Zemo. Only to find that the real plan was to reveal to Stark that Bucky was the one who murdered his parents, and worse, Steve knew. 

This throws Stark into a blind rage as he tries to avenge the death of his parents. In his mind, Bucky robbed him of ever reconciling with his parents. From the beginning of the movie, it’s made clear that Stark regrets how his last interaction went with them and now he has someone to blame. What’s almost worse is that Steve and Howard were friends, so how could Howard's idol betray him like that? Steve, of course, tries to reason with his friend by explaining that Bucky was brainwashed but all Stark can see is the murderer, exclaiming “he killed my mom”.

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in Captain America: Civil War.

It’s likely that Stark and Steve would have come to blows over something sooner or later, but this was irreparable damage in Stark’s mind. Not only did Steve betray him but Howard as well. Zemo’s actions successfully tore the very fabric of the Avengers apart. United they could stop any foe, but divided was another story. If Thanos had come to Earth to face a united Avengers, they may have very well been able to fend off the Mad Titan, but thanks to Zemo, Thanos met very little resistance.

NIC GAUGE / Fast Times At Ridgemont High

MOVIE: Fast Times At Ridgemont High

STARRING: Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Nicolas Cage, Forest Whitaker

RELEASE DATE: August 13th, 1982

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Vudu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

Every legend has a beginning.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High is the feature-film debut of Nicolas Cage. He has a very insignificant role as one of the main character’s buddies. He has maybe one line total in the entire film, but I felt that in order to be fair with the Nic Gauge, his first appearance should be included.

A brief history lesson about me and this film. I had never seen it. Over the years, I always found the reputation of this film confusing. I have heard so much about it and how it’s amazing. I also work in a store that buys and sells movies, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High is the most returned/sold back film that has ever come across my doorway. This is over the course of 10+ years in this business. So, the Nic Gauge chose this film for this week, so let’s see if I can finally unravel the enigma of this film.

Brad’s Buds, played by Michael Wyle (left) and Nicolas Cage (right) working at Captain Hook Fish & Chips in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Made in 1982, the plot of the film is the generic high school cliche. In California, at Ridgemont High, a group of teenagers are looking for something as part of the discoveries in their lives. The pothead Jeff Spicoli (played by Sean Penn) dreams of becoming a great surfer in Hawaii. His history teacher Mr. Hand (played by Ray Walston) gives him a hard time. The fifteen-year-old virgin Stacy Hamilton (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) wants to have sex. The shy Mark Ratner (played by Brian Backer) is into Stacy. Stacy’s brother Brad Hamilton (played by Judge Reinhold) works as a fast-food employee to pay for his Cadillac. Brad wants to break up with his girlfriend Lisa (played by Amanda Wyss) because he is senior and wants to date other girls. Throughout the semester, they have surprises and make discoveries about friendship and love.

This film has an amazing cast. Not only do you have the previously mentioned notable actors including Nic Cage, but Forest Whitaker as the star quarterback of the school is also included. That is probably all I can positively say about this film. Overall, I am bias and not really into the high school films. This film is also definitely a product of the times. The comedy is out of date, using derogatory terms for cheap laughs, and having onscreen nudity between a 15-year-old girl and a 26-year-old man is bizarre and crass. I believe this film could not be made today. Those elements made it not funny and I found myself bored. It is more than likely because of the current climate in the world helped make this film unenjoyable for me. It was better than other Nic Gauge films on here, but this sits in “Terrible”.

COUNT DOWN #36: The Cameo

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The Cameo•

MOMENT# 36

MOVIE: Iron Man thru Avengers: Endgame

DIRECTORS: various

WRITERS: various

Captain Marvel’s opening title card in tribute to Stan Lee

Probably one of the most enjoyable parts of seeing a Marvel Cinematic Universe film was seeing what kind of Stan Lee cameo would show up. From Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame, Lee was a consistent figure in the lives of MCU fans. However, in November of 2018, Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95. With his legacy cemented in the halls of history, there was nothing more the great man could bestow on the world, and in March of 2019, Captain Marvel surprised audiences with a touching tribute.

The Marvel Studios logo has changed a lot over the years. Different composers from Brian Tyler to Michael Giacchino would even compose new fanfare whenever it changed. Captain Marvel opens with the same title card, but this time it packed a bigger emotional punch. Normally clips of previous MCU films would play as the words revealed the Marvel Studios logo, but this time it was every single Stan Lee cameo

Stan Lee in Captain America: Civl War

Since Marvel Studios knew how important the cameos had become, they were almost a signature moment in each film. They would often bend over backward to make sure he didn’t miss one. One time, around the filming of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, director James Gun was hired to film multiple cameos to be inserted into upcoming films. The reason was simply that the rapid filming of the Marvel movies would surely become too difficult to keep up with for the aging celebrity. The cameos were too important to miss.

Marvel fans love to make a mountain out of a molehill (which isn’t a bad thing) and because of that, a popular fan theory began spreading like wildfire. As the MCU expanded into the cosmic realm, fans began to wonder if Stan Lee was meant to be Uatu, the Watcher. Since the Watcher only observed important moments, it seemed to make a certain amount of sense for long-time fans. The theory became so popular that Marvel Studios decided to make a version of it canon. For Lee’s cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, he’s seen talking to various Watchers in a space suit and is credited as “Watcher informant”. That was one of the many times Marvel would go out of their way to make a fan theory canon. Uatu would be introduced in Phase 4 played by Jeffrey Wright.

Stan Lee as the “Watcher Informant” in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

With such a long legacy and a beloved figure, Marvel’s tribute to him in Captain Marvel hit all the right marks. It was exactly the kind of thing audiences needed to see after his passing. Now anyone who goes to watch Captain Marvel on physical media or Disney+ will always be reminded of the most famous cameo in cinema history. Lee’s cameos exist in the bubble of The Infinity Saga and are some of the most charming and humorous moments of each film. From Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame, there’s just no denying how crucial his face was in defining the Infinity Saga.

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