‘Fruitvale Station’ director Ryan Coogler has seen many of his films have success at the Academy Awards. At the 2016 ceremony, ‘Creed’ star Sylvester Stallone was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. ‘Black Panther’ garnered seven nominations, winning Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.
Despite his success, Coogler has declined offers to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
“I don’t buy into this versus that, or ‘this movie wasn’t good enough to make this list,’” Coogler told The Hollywood Reporter. “I love movies. For me, that’s good enough. If I’m going to be a part of organizations, they’re going to be labor unions, where we’re figuring out how to take care of each other’s families and health insurance. But I know that these things bring exposure.”
Citing his nomination for the historical drama ‘Judas And The Black Messiah,’ Coogler questioned the timing of his accolades and why it took so long for the Motion Picture Academy to take notice.
“Why did it take 93 years for there to be three Black producers nominated for an Academy Award,” he asked. “Is it because there weren’t three Black people willing to produce movies? Probably not. Was it because we didn’t have the access to the kind of capital to make a big, sweeping studio feature? Maybe a little bit. Was it because we made that stuff and they didn’t recognize it? Maybe a little bit. But none of it feels good. So it’s bittersweet.”
Coogler described reading the script for ‘Judas And The Black Messiah’ with director Shaka King for the first in 2017. “Our jaws just kind of dropped,” he explained “I felt, ‘That should exist.’ ”
‘Judas and the Black Messiah has received five Oscar nominations including Best Original Song, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and the coveted Best Picture.
The movie won Top 10 Films at the Black Film Critics Circle, American Film Institute Awards, and the National Board of Review.
‘Black Panther’ Director Ryan Coogler Refuses To Join The Motion Picture Academy
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Build-A-Bear Launching Tomorrow
Good news Animal Crossing: New Horizons fans! Build-A-Bear (BAB) will release their new Animal Crossing plush line tomorrow!
Get ready for the #AnimalCrossing: New Horizons collection from @buildabear, launching tomorrow! Sign up for email updates to find out when the collection is available.
Sign up here: https://t.co/hJ6veiI509 pic.twitter.com/SCoFfnz8EP
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 5, 2021
“Get ready for the #AnimalCrossing: New Horizons collection from @buildabear, launching tomorrow! Sign up for email updates to find out when the collection is available.”
If this goes like the Target Amiibo cards, they’ll probably sell out quickly or slow the site. There are already almost 15k likes on the Instagram post already!
View this post on Instagram
We haven’t even gotten a look at what Animal Crossing: New Horizons character plush we’re getting yet. I think that’s an issue for some people who want to plan around the launch. Even with very popular releases, we’ve had some looks at them before the launch.
I have a feeling this launch is going to be a Cluster F*$k.
One thing is assured. Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
What do you think? Comment and let us know!
Vintage Care Bear Shirt Designs Are Available at Hot Topic
I’m a child of the 80’s and if you follow our blogs or shows you likely know that. Today I’m happy to share that Hot Topic has adorable, vintage design, retro Care Bears shirts online!
Let’s take a look!
There are three new shirt designs featuring the evil fighting, belly blasting, bears.
The first design even features the Care Bear Cousins.
Care Bears Group Boyfriend Fit T-shirt – $24.90-$28.90
Sizes XS-3X (junior sizes)
I love the colors on this one. The art has a watercolor feel and the t-shirt is sunny and sweet!
Here’s the write-up:
“Straight from the Kingdom of Caring to your closet, this boyfriend fit tee features all your favorite Care bears dancing together on a flowing rainbow. This means they’re spreading love, good cheer, joy and care together. That’s one powerful Care Bear Stare!
- 100% cotton
- Wash cold; dry low”
Cheer Bear Tye-Dyed Crop Top T-shirt – $26.90-$30.90
Junior sizes XS-3X
Here’s the write-up:
“Turn that frown upside down with Cheer Bear! This cropped Care Bears tee features a pink & blue tie-dye print with a classic illustration of Cheer Bear, rainbow and clouds.
Please note: Wash pattern may vary.
- 100% cotton
- Wash cold; dry low”
Grumpy Bear Tye-Dyed Crop Top T-Shirt – $26.90 – $30.90
Sizes again are XS-3X in junior sizing.
Here’s the write-up:
“Never feel alone when you’re sad when you have Grumpy Bear! This light blue tie-dye tee from Care Bears features an illustration of Grumpy Bear with three yellow stars. Raw hem.
- 100% cotton
- Wash cold; dry low“
There are other Vintage Care Bear pieces available as well!
My personal favorite is this Grumpy Bear “Not Today” hat for ‘ $19.90
There are many more items HERE.
What do you think? Which ones are your favorites? Comment and let us know!
EA Bans Apex Legends Player for Using Japanese Word Mistaken for English “N-word”
It’s being reported that EA has banned a Japanese Apex Legends player for using the Japanese word “nigero,” which simply means to “run away” in Japanese.
Of course it’s probably being mistaken for that other English “n-word,” but it’s an idiotic ban nonetheless.
A notification from EA to the player informing them of their ban seemed to have first surfaced on reddit…
And word of EA’s idiocy even made its way to this Taiwanese gaming site…
A (poorly) translated snippet from the article reads “It is well known that if non-blacks use the term “n**ga” against blacks, it will be regarded as offensive racial discrimination, and the term can only be referred to among black people of the same descent. In fact, many online games do enable the detection system of inappropriate speech in chat rooms to prevent players from using text to abuse or send negative messages to hate behavior.”
And Japanese gamers weighed in on Twitter.
最近話題になった元ツイートを発見した。このツリーにあるコメントによると”N word”を言ったからとのこと。これが本当であれば“那个”が悲劇を生んでしまった例となる。なんであれ暴力は許されないが、こんな誤解を受けないよう気をつけよう。 https://t.co/9RN8YCim9V
— DTH 见义不为，无勇也 (@DTH03597062) March 31, 2021
One Japanese Twitter user commented…
It is said that the account was banned because the Japanese word “nigero” was racist. I’ve heard that the Chinese word “nage” was misunderstood, but it’s too difficult to avoid land mines around here.
Oh boy.
I wonder how Nigerian players are handling this?
[Hat Tip: Dat One Girl]
Sony’s ‘Bewitched’ Movie Reboot Delayed
Sony Pictures has delayed its next reboot of the hit American sitcom ‘Bewitched.’ Originally slated to premiere in 2021 when it was announced as a television series in 2018, TV Overmind is reporting that the release date is now unknown and will now be heading the big screen.
‘MacGyver’ reboot and ’12 Monkeys’ creators Travis Fickett and Terry Matalas will be penning the script, the Wrap reports. John Davis and John Fox will be producing through Davis Entertainment. Little is known about the plot, other than it remakes the sitcom.
The original ‘Bewitched’ premiered in 1964 on ABC and ran for eight seasons. It featured Elizabeth Montgomery as the witch Samantha Stephens, married to normal human Darrin, played by Dick York and later Dick Sargent. Agnes Moorehead also appeared as Samantha’s mother Endora, who served as the antagonist for the series. The TV show had a short-lived 1977 spin-off ‘Tabitha’ featuring Lisa Hartman as Darrin and Samantha’s daughter.
This will be the fourth attempt to successfully reboot the show and the second time as a movie remake.
Nora Ephron directed, produced, and co-wrote a 2005 romantic comedy that starred Will Ferrell as Jack Wyatt, an actor playing Darrin in a remake. Nicole Kidman’s character Isabel Bigelow is cast as his co-star, who turns out to be a real witch. Michae Caine and Shirley MacLaine also starred. The film was a financial disaster, with both critics and audiences panning it.
In 2014, Sony Pictures Television shot a pilot for NBC for a TV continuation which would have seen Darrin and Samantha’s granddaughter Daphne adjusting to life as a witch. It was written by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, but was never picked up.
When the reboot was announced in 2018, ‘Black-ish’ creator Kenya Barris was attached to the project. It would have run on ABC, but that show seems to have been recycled in favor of this Sony feature film project.
Rediscovered Footage Of John Lennon Featured In ‘Look At Me’ Video
Rare footage of Beatles co-founder and world-renowned musician John Lennon appears in ‘Look At Me’ music video from the 50th Anniversary box set of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
According to Rolling Stone, John Lennon Estate released the previously unseen footage features Lennon playing with guitar, interacting with friends, and hanging out with his wife Yoko Ono. In both color, as well as black and white, we see a rare side of the lyricist as ‘Look At Me’ plays over the video.
Capitol/UMe said in a statement, “In the video … we get a glimpse into the life of John and Yoko and behind-the-scenes of their filmmaking. We see John playing acoustic guitar in between takes, his drum skin from the Sgt. Pepper’s album cover (designed by Joe Ephgrave) and his psychedelic upright piano (painted by Marijke Koger and Simon Posthuma from the Dutch design collective the Fool), the film crew setting up shots, Yoko dancing around the swimming pool while John plays his steel string and a peek into their domestic life and the undeniable connection that bound them together.”
You can watch the video below:
The Beatles alumni started writing “Look At Me” in 1968, but shelved it until the release of his solo album in 1970 where it was co-produced by Yoko Ono and Phil Spectre. Two different versions of the song would be released including on 1998’s John Lennon Anthology and 2004’s Acoustic.
John Lennon also discussed ‘Look At Me’ and what the song meant to him personally.
“A couple of tracks, which one would suppose were written under therapy, like ‘Look at Me’, were written … about a year before therapy,” he said according to UCR. “But the theme was the same: ‘Look at me,’ ‘Who am I?,’ all that jazz. So that’s why I stuck it on that album. But actually it had come from beforehand.”
Wyatt Russell Opens Up About Playing A Different Captain America In The MCU
From pro-Hockey player to Hollywood star, Wyatt Russell stars in the Marvel Studios production ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ as John Walker, the successor to Steve Rogers’ Captain America played by Chris Evans.
“I didn’t know comic books were still a thing. When I was a kid, I didn’t know anyone who read comic books,” Russell told Yahoo. “I grew up with sports and athletes. Bo Jackson was a superhero.”
When asked about MCU fans’ less-than-enthusiastic reaction to his character, Russell, who is not on social media, applauded the audience for being so passionate.
“I love that people have that and the ability to share whatever their feelings are, but it’s not in the cards for me,” Russell said. “If you don’t [get that reaction], you did something wrong.”
“I don’t like telling people how to feel because it’s like explaining your art,” he continued. “It sounds cheesy, but it is. You go out and you do it, and however, you feel is how you’re supposed to feel. I am not here to say, ‘You should like him!’”
The 21 Jump Street star also discussed his audition to play Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America: First Avenger’ before losing the role to Chris Evans.
“I think I was just brought in to read, they probably auditioned a million people,” Russell explained. “It was like anyone who had legs and could walk and could talk auditioned to play Captain America. But it was fun, I don’t remember too much. … But I kind of knew, this wasn’t happening.” He added that he was “too wet behind the ears.”
Russell took a dig at himself saying, “I was not good at acting, probably.”
He continued, “I was not going to be in a Marvel movie. I had been in like two short films and a student film.”
Russell stars in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ which sees Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan returning to their roles as titular heroes. It explores the aftermath of Steve Rogers’ retirement, the fallout after ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and introduces Russell’s character John Walker as the new Captain America. The show currently airs on the streaming service Disney Plus.
In the comics, John Walker is also the successor to Captain America, but he soon becomes unstable due to the pressure of the role. This forces Steve Rogers to reclaim the mantle with Walker becoming US Agent.
‘Star Wars: Republic Commando’ To Get Physical Releases and Collector’s Editions on PS4 and Nintendo Switch
‘Star Wars: Republic Commando’ was a well-received game by both gamers and critics in 2005. It currently sits at a 78 on Metacritic. The game followed a company of specially trained clones during the Clone War.
It was a squad-based first-person-shooter. It featured some great visuals and the much-missed LucasArts flair. That golden age of ‘Star Wars’ games is sorely missed, but there is a bit of a consolation prize heading our way.
It was surprising to see an article pop up on NintendoLife announcing that the game is making a surprise comeback. While ‘Republic Commando’ has been available digitally on XBOX and PS4, Nintendo Switch powers were left out in the dust until now. A digital version of the title will hit the Nintendo eShop on April 6th, thanks to Aspyr Media. For those of us who prefer physical media, Limited Run Games has that covered.
Pre-orders for the standard and collector’s editions won’t start until April 14th. So, start saving them pennies because that CE is running $89.99 in good ol’ US dollars. What do you get for all that money? Check it out here:
- A physical PS4 copy of the game
- Thermal detonator enamel pin
- Commemorative metal coin
- Art cards
- Steelbook
- Reversible 18″x24″ poster
- Certificate of authenticity
Now that this is a thing, what other classic LucasArts games would you like to see get the Limited Run Games treatment? The original ‘Battlefront’ titles? ‘X-Wing’? Let us know in the comments section.
Warner Bros. Animation Unveils Cast For ‘Batman: The Long Halloween Part One’
Warner Bros. Animation has revealed its ensemble cast for the long-awaited animated adaption of the hit comic book story-arc ‘Batman: The Long Halloween.’ The biggest revelation is that ‘Supernatural’ star Jensen Ackles will voice the Dark Knight and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
“Been sitting on this news for while now,” he wrote on Twitter. “So excited and honored to be a part of the ‘Batman’ legacy.”
Ackles previously voiced the former Robin Jason Todd in the animated feature-length film ‘Batman: Under The Red Hood,’ where Bruce Greenwood played Bruce Wayne. Prior speculation centered on ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ star Kevin Conroy voicing the Dark Knight, but the reaction to Ackles’ casting has been largely positive.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the rest of the cast includes Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven) as Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent, Billy Burke (Twilight) as Commissioner James Gordon, Titus Welliver (The Town) as Mob boss Carmine Falcone, David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad) as Calendar Man, Troy Baker (Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison) as the Joker, Amy Landecker (Dan in Real Life) as Barbara Gordon, Julie Nathanson (Swift) as Gilda Dent, Jack Quaid (The Hunger Games) as Alberto, Fred Tatasciore (Kung Fu Panda 2) as Solomon Grundy, and Alastair Duncan (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) as Alfred Pennyworth.
The late ‘Glee’ actress Naya Rivera will voice Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. Rivera passed away in July 2020, but Warner Media confirms that she concluded her voice work for the movie.
The filmmakers also released a brand new image from the movie, showing that the animation will be different from the comic book series written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale.
First shot from the upcoming Batman: The Long Halloween animated movie pic.twitter.com/knadZjCVBk
— Batman Shots 📸 (@BatmanShots_) March 31, 2021
The movie will be helmed by Chris Palmer who made his directorial debut with ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ and screenwriter Tim Sheridan, who has penned the script.
‘Cruella’ Actress Emma Stone Downplays ‘Joker’ Comparisons To The Disney Remake
After the release of the first teaser of the Disney remake ‘Cruella,’ the movie’s tone, visuals, and even music were immediately compared to similar properties. Specifically, the DC Comics adaptions ‘Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey’ and ‘Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix over the seeming descent into villainy of its main character after facing trouble in their life.
“It’s hard to call someone a bad ’un completely when you see them from the very beginning,” ‘Cruella’ star Emma Stone told Total Film in an interview.
“It’s very different from Joker in many ways,” she insisted.
While acknowledging that there are similar “thematic lines” in the origin stories of ‘101 Dalmatians’ antagonist Cruella De Vil and the Joker, she insisted that her portrayal is totally different.
“I would never even remotely compare myself to Joaquin Phoenix,” Stone said. “I wish I was more like him.”
‘Cruella’ director Craig Gillespie chimed in, calling ‘Joker’ “a cultural point of reference” for the audience, but stressed that the two films are not similar.
“There are some really deep, emotional things that Cruella’s dealing with that send her to the villainous darker side. So in that sense, it is [similar],” Gillespie said. “But it’s definitely its own thing. Just to sort of reframe Cruella, I thought it was important to show this darker side of her. But there’s going to be a lot of fun, a lot of humor in it. There’s a lot of absolutely delightful banter and rhythm to the style of it, which is different from Joker.”
‘Cruella’ is slated for release in May 2021. Check out the trailer below:
Emma Stone is the third actress to portray the Disney villain in a live-action setting. Glenn Close played Cruella in the 1996 film ‘101 Dalmations’ and its 2000 sequel ‘102 Dalmations.’ The ABC series ‘Once Upon A Time’ featured Victoria Smurfit as the villainous fashionista, giving her the ability to control animals.
DeVil’s first appearance in a Disney setting was the 1961 animated feature ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians’ where she was voiced by Betty Lou Gerson.
