The Justice League Proves Superman Gives DC's Best [SPOILER]

The Justice league

Superman has always been portrayed as a hero who exemplifies kindness, generosity, and goodwill. This is particularly emphasized around Christmas time when the Man of Steel volunteers to give gifts to children and the needy, essentially filling Santa Claus’ role (although Saint Nick is actually a real person in the DC Universe).

who is the leader of the justice league..?

At one point, however, Superman decided to give gifts to people he has a personal connection to – his fellow Justice League members. In Superman #165, Superman paid a visit to all the main members of the current roster of the JLA to offer them some holiday cheer – and show his more lighthearted, humorous side.

who are the 7 members of the justice league..?

Related: When Superman Is Raised By Apes, He Becomes TARZAN Instead

The story began on the moon at Justice League headquarters where Superman spent some time hanging out with Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man. The visit was not completely joyous as Lex Luthor had recently been elected President of the United States, making Superman wonder if the JLA could have done anything to stop Luthor’s ascension to power.

who is in the justice league..?

Martian Manhunter spent some time teaching Superman some relaxation techniques (which involved hanging upside down), while Plastic Man managed to get Superman to smile when he claimed the only thing worse than having Luthor as president was having two Lex Luthor's as president. In thanks, Superman left Plas a bunch of rubber bands as a Christmas gift and a box of Chocos cookies for the Martian Manhunter. (Considering J’onn was basically addicted to Chocos cookies and once went into a violent withdrawal phase when he was denied them, this may have not been the smartest choice for Superman – although J’onn certainly appreciated them).

Superman next journeyed under the sea to pay a visit to Aquaman. While Arthur Curry also had misgivings about Luthor, he admitted to supporting Luthor’s willingness to open trade between Atlantis and the surface world. Although Superman wasn’t happy about this, he left on good terms – giving Aquaman a snow globe of Metropolis as a keepsake (considering the snowglobe somehow managed to survive the crushing depths of the ocean, Clark must have enhanced its structure somehow at the Fortress of Solitude).

Related: The Superman/Wonder Woman Romance Actually Worked In [SPOILER]

Clark’s next two gifts are also in the “gag gift” category. He spent some time knocking debris out of Earth’s orbit with Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) and gave the ring-bearing hero a small jar of ring polish as a holiday gift. Next, he participated in an impromptu race with the Flash (Wally West) as they ran across America’s heartland to San Francisco. Upon arriving, Superman wished Flash happy holidays and gave him his gift – tube socks!

Related:Superman Replaces Mowgli In DC’s JUNGLE BOOK Universe

Superman’s gift to the final two Justice Leaguers – and arguably his closest superhero friends – were more heartfelt. He spent some time sparring with Wonder Woman in Antarctica to burn off some of his lingering frustration about Luthor. After taking Diana’s advice about spending some more time with Lois, Clark thanked her by giving her a golden chain with a miniature Mjolnir. Considering Wonder Woman had actually wielded Thor’s hammer during the Marvel vs. DC crossover event, this gift had a particularly special meaning for her.

Finally, Superman visited Batman in Gotham. In contrast to his earlier meetings, this one was largely somber – with Batman only briefly breaking the silence to remind his friend that they needed to trust in the American people to do what was right, and when the time was right, they would take Luthor down. In gratitude, Superman handed Batman a magnifying glass (telling him it was from Lois). Reinvigorated, Superman then got to enjoy his Christmas present – a two-day vacation with Lois Lane in the bottle city of Kandor where the red sun radiation allowed him to enjoy life as a normal man.

By turns funny and affectionate, Superman’s gifts showcase how much he cares about his friends. While some might expect a man who can literally crush coal into diamonds to offer something more extravagant, in Superman’s case, it’s the thought that truly counts – and the reminder that Superman is first and foremost a really good friend.

Next: Superman DESTROYS Iron Man in Marvel/DC Crossover Art



source https://screenrant.com/superman-gifts-justice-league-dc-comics/

Hawkeye is Trending on Twitter For All The Wrong Reasons During Protests

Over the weekend, the term "Hawkeye" started to trend on Twitter, but it wound up having nothing to do with either the character from the MCU or the actor who played him,Jeremy Renner. Instead, it turned out to be due to an individual who drove to the downtown area of Salt Lake City during one of the protests and got out of the car brandishing a bow and arrow. Hawkeye, the bow-wielding member of the Avengers, has been in five of the MCU films and has been awaiting a solo adventure, which will eventually debut on Disney+.

The Black Lives Matter protests, which have spread across the United States since the death ofGeorge Floyd, have been witness to incidents ranging from peaceful moments between protestors and police to violent clashes and looting. With video-capable smartphones now ubiquitous, scenes are being captured and posted to social media within moments of their occurrence. Some of those scenes have included costumed heroes like Batman joining alongside the protestors.

Related: Superman Stands With Protesters Against Police Brutality

However, when Hawkeye started trending, it became clear this wasn't a case of a cosplayer stepping in, but rather a motorist blocked in traffic by one of the protests. On getting out of his car, he took out a compound bow and an arrow and nocked it while protestors called for him to put it away. Various videos recorded the incident showing him drawing the bow and attempting to aim at demonstrators. As he did so, protestors managed to close in and tackle McCormick. Using his bow as his weapon of choice quickly earned him the social media nickname of Hawkeye.

Several protestors had rushed to the police line to let them know about the incident, with several officers moving and taking custody of the individual (who later identified himself in an interview as Brandon McCormick). Meanwhile, protestors purportedly flipped his vehicle and set it ablaze. In the interview, McCormick expressed that protestors had reached through his car's window and assaulted him before he exited his vehicle. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall later made a statement regarding the incident expressing that detectives had collected sufficient information and were planning to file charges against McCormick in the days ahead.

No arrow-related injuries were reported by the protestors, somewhat debunking the Hawkeye moniker, since his primary superpower is being unable to miss his target. So far, the protests around the country continue to reverberate, with more incidents of violence being documented and reported.

More: John Cusack Shares Video Of Altercation With Chicago Police During Protests

Source: Twitter



source https://screenrant.com/hawkeye-trending-twitter-black-lives-matter-protest-mcu/

The Disaster Artist

Movies about making movies are always tricky. There’s always a danger that the final result might come off as pretentious–yet another exercise…

source https://filmthreat.com/reviews/the-disaster-artist/

The Tear’s Thing

WE ARE ONE: A GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! A relationship is a beautiful thing. It’s getting over it after it ends that […]

source https://filmthreat.com/reviews/the-tears-thing/

Elmo In Flames Meme Becomes Real-Life At A Protest in Philadelphia

The famous "Elmo Rise" meme has sprung into real life at a protest in Philadelphia. The meme, sometime referred to as "Hellmo," is a fan favorite on the Internet, especially in the last few months. It features the classicSesame Streetcharacter Elmo, photoshopped over rising flames. It pops up often on social media, sometimes as a reaction gif. However, as is often the case with memes, users sometimes add other characters or text to "Elmo Rise," with one popular version featuring SpongeBob SquarePants.

Ironically, another popular meme on the Internet also has flames: the arguably even more famous "This Is Fine," which shows a dog sitting in a house burning around him. That meme has also only become more relevant this year, as the coronavirus has taken hold. That particular meme originally came from a webcomic, before reappearing as the now well-known meme a year later. All told, memes can provide social media users with the perfect reaction to whatever situation they're in. They also show the creativity of the collective Internet, with the same image remaining fresh and funny just because of the context it's used in.

Related:The Origin Of The Spider-Man Pointing Meme

The "Elmo Rise" meme received some added attention this weekend, thanks to a protester dressed as Elmo. In photos shared by various Twitter users, a person wearing an Elmo costume head stands in front of a burning object with his fist in the air, making the "Elmo Rise" meme come to life. One user even provided a side-by-side comparison of Philly Elmo and the meme. Check out a selection of photos below:

This isn't the first time pop culture has factored into this weekend's protests. Also in Philadelphia, an individual dressed as Batman took to the streets to cheers from the crowd. One Twitter user even pointed out the scene was reminiscent of one of Bane and Batman's fights in The Dark Knight Rises. Meanwhile, Marvel character Hawkeye got some attention for the wrong reasons, trending on Twitter after a man shot an arrow into the crowd, terrifying nearby individuals who were protesting peacefully.

It's not surprising to see pop culture play a role in a key moment like this one and also shows the importance of social media. During this weekend's protests, it was an important resource for sharing information, as well as photos and videos. It also allowed separate protests across the nation to remain connected to a common cause. Though the "Elmo Rise" photos may not make quite as much of an impact as others shared this weekend, it's impressive to see people finding humor during a stressful time.

More: Avengers: Endgame's "These Are Confusing Times" Hulk Meme Explained

Source: Blackrock Wednesday, S. Rifai, Alex Mason



source https://screenrant.com/elmo-rise-flames-meme-real-life-philadelphia-protest/

DC Comics Cancels Another Series, But Instead Of A Digital First Approach, It Goes Right To Collected Edition!

DC Comics Cancels Another Series, But Instead Of A Digital First Approach, It Goes Right To Collected Edition!

The following has been reported:

After completing its periodical publication with issue #18, released on March 18, DC’s Lucifer #19-24 will be released directly as a collected edition, or in this case an OGN. Writer Dan Watters and artist Sebastian Fiumara’s planned story will reportedly not be changed aside from switching to the collected format.

“At last, the devil goes to hell,” reads DC’s original solicitation for Lucifer #20, with #21’s solicit saying “Lucifer trespasses into the garden of Destiny of the Endless, but for what nefarious purpose? Nothing less than tearing a page from the Book of Destiny itself.”

The follows the surprise cancellation of an event spin-off mini-series as well as the cancellation of 18 books Dollar Comics line titles and 4 from the Facsimile line.

Sad news for Lucifer fans above, but a nice way to end the run.



source https://insidepulse.com/2020/05/31/dc-comics-cancels-another-series-but-instead-of-a-digital-first-approach-it-goes-right-to-collected-edition/

What the World Was Watching: ECW Hardcore TV – January 31, 1995

Footage shows fans in Fort Lauderdale tossing chairs into the ring at the end of the ECW show there.

Joey Styles says that tonight’s show is coming from Orlando, Florida. He hypes the “new” Tully Blanchard that is coming for Shane Douglas’ ECW title.

ECW Champion Shane Douglas cuts a promo by a hotel pool. Douglas meanders before saying Blanchard was a hypocrite telling people not to do drugs and yet he did cocaine behind the scenes. He says he is addicted to the ECW title and he is not going to give it up. Douglas also puts over how he, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit are now the Triple Threat and will be a challenge to anyone in the promotion.

ECW Tag Team Championship Match: The Public Enemy (Champions) beat Sabu & the Tazmaniac (w/Paul E. Dangerously & 911) when Rocco Rock pins the Tazmaniac after knocking him off the top rope and through a table at 8:52:

Sabu and the Tazmaniac put the Enemy on their heels, but just like Holiday Hell the referee has a hard time getting into position to count falls when Sabu hits a moonsault and the Tazmaniac covers Rocco Rock after a Tazplex. Lots of weapons are used and the combatants brawl into the crowd. What this match proves is that doing a tag match without tags is hard because there is no sustained heat segment to engage the crowd. A table is set up in the ring by Sabu and the Tazmanic and Johnny Grunge is laid on top of it, but Rock saves his partner. As Sabu uses 911’s help to put Grunge on a table on the floor, Rock knocks the Tazmaniac off the top rope and through a table to help the Enemy retain the titles. This was a mess. Rating: *

After the bell, Sabu puts Grunge through the outside table with a somersault leg drop. Rock hits 911 in the back with a chair, so 911 does not sell it and chokeslams him. Referee Pee Wee Moore gets chokeslammed as well.

Styles interviews Paul E. Dangerously, who says that the Enemy are going to go through tables at the next ECW Arena show. He vows to send the Enemy back to the hood.

In an empty classroom, Raven says that childhood is not kind to misfits and leaves them with a scar that refuses to fade. Raven warns Tommy Dreamer that he will return to the classroom of his youth and this time he will not graduate. After the promo, the camera turns to the classroom’s chalkboard where “I hate Dreamer” has been written more than ten times.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: Cactus Jack beats the Sandman (w/Woman) (0-1) after a Cactus elbow drop at 9:10:

One of the world’s most noted hardcore wrestlers, Jack came to ECW after finishing a three-year run with WCW in 1994. He won the promotion’s tag team titles with Mikey Whipwreck twice before settling into a feud with the Sandman over who the company’s best brawler was. The match is a fun mix of wrestling and brawling, with the Sandman nearly finishing Jack after a Bitchin’ Leg Drop off the top rope as a trash can lay over Jack’s face. And then Jack’s hand is hurt when he goes to punch the Sandman but hits the trash can instead. The trash can gets used so much that it is flat as a pancake by the end of the bout. Just when it looks like things are dire for Jack, the Sandman misses a dive and flies over the top rope, allowing the Cactus Elbow Drop to finish on the arena floor. Rating: ***

After the match, Woman hits Jack with a Singapore cane. Jack no sells it but the Sandman comes in and beats Jack with a cane several times to get his heat back. Cactus bleeds as the Sandman continues to land blows and then the Sandman lights a cigarette and tries to use it to put out Jack’s eye. With only one good hand, Jack looks like a goner until Mikey Whipwreck makes the save by caning the Sandman.

Following a commercial break, the Sandman and Woman are in the backstage area. The Sandman beats himself with a cane as Woman tells Jack that she is going to turn Jack into the Sandman.

A bloodied Jack tells the Sandman that he used to have pride seeing him wrestle because he reminded him of himself. In an awesome promo, Jack tells the Sandman that he has lost his edge and that he needs to stop caring about others. He challenges the Sandman to a Texas death match, where if Jack loses, he will walk away from wrestling forever.

The Last Word: The last half of this broadcast was awesome, with Cactus Jack and the Sandman having a fun brawl and Jack cutting an intense promo to crystalize why and the Sandman are so hell bent on destroying each other. ECW could not have asked for a better show to hook new fans or get them invested in the Jack-Sandman angle.

Before the Double Tables show at ECW Arena on February 4, which will be recapped next, the company did a house show in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Here were the results of that show (courtesy of thehistoryofwwe.com):

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania – The Flagstaff – February 3, 1995 (400): 911 defeated the Young Dragons in a handicap match…Stevie Richards beat Dino Sendoff…ECW Champion Shane Douglas beat Mikey Whipwreck…Chris Benoit wrestles the Tazmaniac to a no contest…Tommy Dreamer beat the Sandman…ECW Tag Team Champions the Public Enemy defeated JT Smith & Hack Myers…Sabu beat Al Snow.

Backstage News*: WCW took a shot at ECW on its Worldwide program this week when it said that SuperBrawl V was going to be at the Baltimore Arena and not a bingo hall.

*After closing a deal to get the promotion on television in Birmingham, Alabama, ECW is hoping to get access to the New Orleans market, possibly running television tapings and house shows at a casino there.

*In talent relations news, Terry Funk and D.C. Drake have been contacted to come into the promotion to feud with Cactus Jack.

*Backstage news is provided courtesy of Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer for February 13.

Up Next: ECW: Double Tables!



source https://insidepulse.com/2020/05/31/what-the-world-was-watching-ecw-hardcore-tv-january-31-1995/

Everything Bucky Did As The Winter Soldier Between Captain America 1 & 2

The exploits of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as the Winter Soldier in the decades between Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are some of the most notorious in the history of the MCU. Yet, despite his evil deeds (which he performed under brainwashing and he deeply regrets), Bucky is a beloved character among fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He will soon return to headline The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Disney+ TV series alongside Sam Wilson AKA The Falcon (Anthony Mackie).

As seen in Captain America: The First Avenger, Sergeant James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was born in 1917 and grew up as the best friend (and occasional protector) of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Bucky enlisted in World War II, but while he served in the 107th Infantry Regiment,Steve volunteered for the Strategic Scientific Reserve's Super Soldier Program. After the experiment to create a new breed of super soldier proved successful, Hydra attacked the program and killed the inventor of the Super Soldier Serum, Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci). However, Rogers emerged from the experiment enhanced and he took on the name Captain America. After Steve entered the European theater of the war, he rescued the captured 107th from Hydraand was reunited with Bucky, who had been the subject of experiments by Dr. Arnim Zola (Toby Jones). Captain America then led Bucky and the Howling Commandos on a slew of missions against Hydra, until Bucky was lost during a train mission in the Austrian Alps in 1945.

Related:Captain America Is Marvel's Best Movie Trilogy

After Bucky was presumed Killed In Action, Captain America himself was frozen in ice in 1945 and wasn't discovered until 2012. After Steve was revived in the 21st century, he joined the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., respectively. In 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Steve was shocked to discover that Hydra had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. since its inception and that the Hydra operative known as the Winter Soldier was actually Bucky, who also survived World War II. Steve made it his personal mission to rescue Bucky and restore his true personality; ultimately, Cap was successful. However, his loyalty to his oldest friend tore the Avengers apart in Captain America: Civil War, after the Winter Soldier was framed by Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) for the assassination of the Wakandan King T'Chaka (John Kani).

Eventually, Bucky began to piece his old personality and memories back together. After taking refuge in Wakanda (where he was called the White Wolf), Bucky fought alongside the Avengers against Thanos (Josh Brolin) and the Black Order in Avengers: Infinity War. Bucky was among the billions who died thanks to Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet snap, but he was brought back by Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) to fight and defeat Thanos alongside all of the MCU's heroes in Avengers: Endgame. However, despite his recent heroic deeds and his noble path to redemption, Bucky fears that he may never make up for the evil he was forced to commit by Hydra as the Winter Soldier.

When Bucky fell into the Danube River, he survived because of Zola's experiments, which had enhanced his physiology. Sadly, Bucky's left arm was ripped off during the fall. He was found by Soviet soldiers, who turned him over to Hydra's Soviet division. Zola continued to experiment on Bucky to turn him into Hydra's super-soldier; he was grafted with a new, metal prosthetic arm and he underwent severe brainwashing that erased his memories and personality, thanks to a memory suppression machine.

Bucky received extensive combat training and he was turned into a living weapon and assassin for Hydra and the KGB under the designation "The Winter Soldier". Bucky was activated using a precise sequence of trigger words, which, in Captain America: Civil War, Zemo learned were: "Longing. Rusted. Seventeen. Daybreak. Furnace. Nine. Benign. Homecoming. One. Freight Car. Soldier". Bucky's mind was wiped after every mission and, to prevent him from aging, he was routinely placed in suspended animation in a cryostasis chamber. Along with his superhuman physiology, this allowed Bucky to survive for decades into the 21st century.

Related: Bucky Is One Of The Marvel Characters Who Got A Second MCU Superhero Identity

As the Winter Soldier, Bucky performed over two dozen assassinations for Hydra and the KGB over the next fifty years. As Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) told Steve Rogers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the robotic-armed assassin was considered a ghost story, and "most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists."

Perhaps the most fateful kill that Bucky carried out was the assassination of Howard (John Slattery) and Maria Stark (Hope Davis) and the theft of a supply of Super Soldier Serum on December 16, 1991. The Winter Soldier ambushed the Starks as they were driving in Long Island and caused their car to crash. After the Winter Soldier secured the Super Soldier Serum from the Starks' car, he beat Howard, who recognized him as "Sgt. Barnes", to death with his metal arm before he turned his attention to killing Maria. Bucky then destroyed the closet circuit camera recording the double murder before making his escape.

Once Bucky returned to Hydra's Siberian facility, he was used to train the next crop of potential Winter Soldiers that Hydra used the stolen Super Soldier Serum to create. Under Hydra's rules, if the potential Winter Soldiers could defeat Bucky in battle, they would be accepted into the program. However, the new Winter Soldiers proved unstable and caused a riot. They were captured and placed in permanent cryostasis, where they remained even after the Siberian facility was abandoned. Meanwhile, Hydra continued to use Bucky as the Winter Soldier.

In 2009, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff was assigned to escort a nuclear engineer out of Iran. The Winter Soldier was sent by Hydra to assassinate the scientist. As Romanoff recounted her encounter with the Winter Soldier to Steve Rogers, "Somebody shot at my tires near Odessa. We lost control, went straight over a cliff. I pulled us out, but the Winter Soldier was there. I was covering my engineer, so he shot him straight through me." 

After the Winter Soldier successfully killed his target despite Black Widow's protection (leaving her with a permanent scar in the process), Natasha went on the hunt of the mystery assassin but came up empty. The Winter Soldier proved to be more elusive than anyone Black Widow had faced up to that point, and they wouldn't meet again until Bucky Barnes was unleashed by Hydra after Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) was targeted for assassination as part of Project Insight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Next: Everything We Know About The Falcon And The Winter Soldier TV Series



source https://screenrant.com/captain-america-bucky-winter-soldier-hydra-missions/

Kajal Agarwal (2020) New Released Full Hindi Dubbed Movie | Latest South Indian Blockbuster Movie


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Netflix’s ‘Space Force’ – Woke, Progressive and Pointless

There’s an awful lot of projection going on in the Netflix comedy “Space Force.”

Steve Carell’s deeply unfunny trolling of President Donald Trump’s space efforts mocks military spending over and again. Shooting comedic fish in a barrel, eh?

So… how much did this disaster set Netflix back?

Carell’s salary alone was reportedly $10 million for co-writing, co-creating and starring in this mess. The show itself likely cost more, with lavish production design and a killer cast which couldn’t have come cheaply.

Sometimes you have to break the bank to help humanity, as Carell’s character semi-wisely argues in one “Space Force” exchange.Other times you get “Ishtar,†“Heaven’s Gate†or, regrettably, “Space Force.â€

(Note: This critic watched four of the show’s first 10 episodes.)

YouTube Video

Carell, re-teaming with “The Office†creator Greg Daniels, plays the man tasked with leading an unseen POTUS’s Space Force mission. The show never actually mentions Trump by name, but it’s obvious who the target is.

He’s like Voldemort in Hollywood -- his name cannot be spoken!

Carell’s Mark Naird is a four-star general in way over his head with the new mission. Or is he? Much of the time General Naird is as dumb as Lt. Frank Drebin of “Police Squad.â€

Until he’s not. You can practically see the switch being thrown on Carell’s character. Homer Simpson dumb to Alex P. Keaton smart.

Arguably the biggest problem is how the show doesn’t understand the main character. He’s alternately idiotic and sweet, a doting, overmatched dad and a simpleton who think dogs can fix complex space equipment.

The latter may be the most expensive, CGI-laden gag ever made for a TV project, and the laugh-to-cash ratio is embarrassingly small.

RELATED: Condescending ‘Vice’ Trips on Its Own Propaganda

General Naird must juggle a smarmy rival (the sublime Noah Emmerich), cost-conscious Congressmen, PR pressures and more. Plus, he’s essentially a single dad to a grating, entitled teen (Diana Silvers) because his wife is rotting in jail for a good long while.

That’s the great Lisa Kudrow stuck in the slammer to sling tired prison jokes and riff on cultural appropriation. Why is she in jail? Oh, the show keeps it a secret! Why make her character a jailbird in the first place? That’s a secret, too, because it’s nonsensical and bears little comic fruit.

The best we can say about “Space Force†is that John Malkovich gets oodles of screen time as Dr. Adrian Mallory. He’s the scientific thorn in General Naird’s side, a reminder how this administration treats science like an unwanted rash.

Only the Mallory-Naird connection evolves beyond that talking point, and Malkovich is irresistible in the part.

YouTube Video

Woke Culture is throttling comedy in 2020, something even Malkovich himself admitted recently. Case in point: About every eight to 10 minutes we get a gag meant to appease progressive viewers. Consider:

  • A gag tying gun sales to mass shootings
  • Dern that climate change threat!
  • Don’t bring up my gender, thunders Jane Lynch in a micro-cameo
  • Silvers’ character mocking the South
  • A God-fearing politician, likely from a Southern Red State, believes the Earth is flat

You wanna score lazy ideological points? Have at it. Can we make the show itself worth a darn at the same time?

Need more?

Early on we’re told POTUS is verrrrry friendly with Russia. It’s as if the recent Russia collusion hoax revelations never happened -- the show was probably in the can at the time. There’s no excuse for missing the stink bomb that was the Mueller Report, though.

Yes, Hollywood is still shrieking, “Russia, Russia, Russia†despite facts, logic and reason.

The “Space Force†characters often tweak real life Beltway players. Ben Schwartz’ social media savvy soul riffs on Anthony Scaramucci’s name. He plays F. Tony Scarapiducci. Get it? And then there’s Rep. Anabela Ysidro-Campos (Ginger Gonzaga), our AOC stand-in. Only her initials are AYC.

Get it? How much did that gag cost?

Hollywood hasn’t lobbed a single jab at the absurdly overmatched politician in two years. “Space Force†is no different so far. Wonder why? Wonder no more!

Hi @AOC 👋 I play aYc on @realspaceforce on @Netflix, a show made by kind, smart people like you! It’s an honor to play even a satirical version of you, & if you see it, I hope it makes you giggle. Grateful 4 this excuse to say thanks 4 all your work…especially now. #bffs? 🚀👯â€Â♀ï¸Â

— Ginger Gonzaga ✨ (@gingerthejester) May 29, 2020

The show’s concept, as the creators admitted but backtracked from, is all about mocking Trump’s space ambitions. It doesn’t end there. The show routinely brings up “POTUS†in an unflattering light, from Twitter misspellings to unrealistic “boots on the Moon†rhetoric.

Episode 4 drags “FLOTUS†into the hilarity, as the First Lady’s team demands it design the Space Force uniform. The show can’t even get this satirical nugget right. Melania Trump has been a mostly hands off First Lady, focusing on kind messaging and her “Be Best†campaign. Plus, she’s a veteran model with style and elegance to burn -- even if no fashion magazine will let her show it.

Again, if the comic subplot had any laughs it wouldn’t matter what you think of her or her husband.

Adding insult to so much injury is what may be Fred Willard’s last screen appearance. The comic legend, looking frail and trembling, is given a few dementia gags to embody as General Naird’s father in episode one.

Make. It. Stop.

Twice in the first four episodes General Naird breaks into song. The show’s trailer made one of those moments winning and wise. Not here.

Likely most of “Space Force,†the moments are embarrassing, humorless and dumb.

The post Netflix’s ‘Space Force’ – Woke, Progressive and Pointless appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.



source https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/netflix-space-force-review/

10 Best New French Extremity Films For The Curious (Ranked by IMDb)

Inevitably, horror film buffs will go in search of the worst of the worst. From the late 90s through the current times, a film movement has been takingthe horror underground violently by storm. Known as the "New French Extremity," films under this umbrella are notable for their visceral scenes of explicit sex, gore, torture, uncomfortable topics, and a myriad of disorienting techniques designed to make the viewer uncomfortable.

RELATED:15 Most Uncomfortable Movie Scenes To Sit Through

However, just because a film is extreme does not guarantee it's quality, and the sheer number of films classified in the movement can make it overwhelming to the curious film nerd. Here are 10 movies from the "New French Extremity" movement that are prime for initiation into this dark side of horror.

10 Romance/Romance X (5.3)

This 1999 film explores BDSM in a way that would make fans of Fifty Shades of Grey outright blush. A candid and emotionally complex portrait of a woman's sexual exploration, Catherine Breillat's film is tame, in some regards, when compared to some of the other titles in the movement. That being said, Romance is far from mainstream.

Much of the film's success stems from a truly fearless performance from lead actress Caroline Ducey. Scenes of nudity and consensual bondage pepper the film's more contemplative moments in which Ducey's character silently tries to work out what it is she wants from her romantic life.

9 Trouble Every Day (6.0)

Claire Denis is one of France's most celebrated indie filmmakers. This film from 2001 represents her attempt at a horror film. True to her own style, as well as the traditions of the "New French Extremity," Trouble Every Day is certainly not an easy watch.

RELATED: Time Of The Season: 10 Wild Horror Movies For Spring

Combining a passionate love affair and a story of cannibalism, the film is bizarre and detached in a way that alienates the viewer. Underground rebel Vincent Gallo turns in a typically neurotic performance as an American man on honeymoon with ulterior motives. Twilight, this is not.

8 Frontier(s) (6.2)

Frontier(s), directed by Xavier Gens, is the story of the world's worst hotel. On their way out of a politically tumultuous Paris, a group of Arab 20-somethings decides to stop at an inn run by a family of nazis.

Released in the United States with an NC-17 rating in 2008, the film garnered mixed reviews. Its material is elevated beyond the typical formula with the addition of some fairly astute social commentary. A nightmare for the modern times, more relevant now than ever, Frontier(s) is an uncompromising polemic against xenophobia.

7 Them (6.4)

Short, brutal, and full of incredible tension, Them was released in 2006 to warm reception from horror critics. The story of the 74-minute long ride is simple -- a couple is terrorized throughout the night by a group of unseen attackers.

RELATED: 10 Creepiest Home Invasion Movies, Ranked By IMDb

A brisk and lean trip through a nerve-wracking game of cat-and-mouse, the film contains a seriously cruel final scene that provides a perfect exhibition of the "New French Extremity" penchant for bleak endings. One of the best entries in the "evil kids" subgenre, Them is a great way to enter the world of these hellish films.

6 High Tension (6.8)

Perhaps one of the most widely known of the NFE films, Alexandre Aja's twisted thriller launched the director a relatively successful Hollywood film career. Combining gritty action, home intrusion, and psychological horror, the subversive film became infamous for its extreme violence, which garnered it an NC-17 rating from the MPAA.

Telling the tale of two girls visiting family members at a large manor, the night soon turns into an all-out bloodbath with a killer twist at the end. A cocktail of many defining elements of the "New French Extremity" movement, High Tension remains an excellent entry point into the genre.

5 Inside (6.8)

Featuring one of the great screen villainesses in horror, with Beatrice Dalle's "La Femme," Inside is one of the subgenre's scariest offerings. A taut home invasion thriller with a feminine twist, the film is relentlessly brutal in its depiction of a woman's quest to steal another woman's baby from her womb.

RELATED: Isolation: 10 Of The Scariest Films Set In a Single Location

The violence in the film is truly hard to watch, particularly in the film's bloody final act. An intruder thriller unlike any you've seen before, Inside is well-worth your time and attention -- if you can stomach it, that is.

4 Martyrs (7.1)

A gorefest with big ideas and questions beneath the surface, Martyrs is on the more cerebral side of the movement's spectrum. Simultaneously a bloody revenge drama and theological discourse on martyrdom, the film manages to deftly balance its cross-genre elements into a slick and truly disturbing package.

As the narrative gets sicker and sicker as the runtime progresses, the film slowly transforms into a highly original take on the concept of life beyond death. Stylish, gross, beautiful, and horrific, Martyrs is one of the "New French Extremity's" most cohesive offerings.

3 Caché (7.3)

Notable provocateur Michael Haneke's 2007 paranoia thriller is Hitchcock by way of the "New French Extremism" style. An intense meta-thriller about surveillance, media, and society's fascination with violence, Caché is one of the director's best-realized visions.

RELATED: 10 Conspiracy Movies That Will Make You Paranoid

What begins as a surreal mystery soon becomes something deeper and more malicious, as the tapes the couple are getting begin to reveal a terrible secret from the husband's childhood. Brilliantly structured and layered with bleak ideas about truth and responsibility, Caché is one of the movement's deepest entries.

2 Enter The Void (7.3)

Ask anyone who loves these types of film to name their favorite director, and chances are they might respond "Gaspar Noe." One of the most beloved and reviled filmmakers to come out of France in decades, Noe made a name for himself with his brand of freewheeling cinematography documenting some of the grimmest stories this side of Sade.

Perhaps his most experimental film is 2009's psychedelic opus, Enter The Void. Truly a film unlike any other, the film documents a soul's journey through neon Tokyo as his life swirls around him. Dark, thrilling, beautiful, and controversial, Enter The Void is one hell of a trip.

1 Irreversible (7.4)

Without a doubt one of the most infamous films of all time, Gaspar Noe's Irreversible is the film that cemented him as the bad-boy of the "New French Extremist" movement. A film that plays out in reverse, Irreversible tells the story of a night on the town from the pits of a hellish nightmare.

Noe's camera has rarely been more chaotic and the images he chooses to show us are traumatic. The film's 'centerpiece' is a one-take sexual assault, the event that jumpstarts the rest of the film's narrative, which has caused innumerable walk-outs and premature turn-offs. Unrelenting and powerful, Irreversible is the definitive film of the "New French Extreme" movement.

NEXT: 10 Unbearably Suspenseful Movies Most Can't Watch More Than Once



source https://screenrant.com/best-new-french-extremity-films-imdb/

Friends: Chandler's 15 Most Hilarious Pick-Up Lines That Are So Bad They're Good

Chandler Bing remains a relatable icon in TV lore today, despite having appeared in a series that concluded in 2004. Time really had little effect on Chandler's infamous antics, jokes, and all-around awkwardness, as he is often considered one of the most timeless elements of friends.

Many fans identified with Chandler and that is still true to this day. There's nothing like representation for the underrepresented, and when Friends was airing, introverts weren't typically main characters, especially not on sitcoms.

RELATED:Friends: 10 Easy Ways To Recreate Joey & Chandler's Apartment

Chandler was the source of many hilarious storylines on Friends, due to his awkwardness, sarcasm, and notorious inability to flirt. Chandler Bing was no Joey Tribbiani, so let's take a look at some of his most hilariously bad pick-up lines.

Updated May 31st, 2020 by Meg Pelliccio: When it comes to Friends, Chandler was undoubtedly the comedy king in pretty much everything he did, whether he meant to be funny or not. In keeping with this character trait, his pick-up lines are often hilarious, or so awkward that they become funny. It's hard to imagine anyone actually using these lines in real life, or at least using them successfully.

With ten seasons to its name, Friends has plenty of cringe-worthy Chandler jokes for fans to enjoy, but hispick-up lines remain some of the funniest quotes out there.

15 "Well, maybe you can get in on a beauty scholarship."

In season three, one of the episodes that feature a hilarious flashback to the 80s, we see Ross making out with a classmate called Adrienne, which goes against the pact he had with Chandler. Annoyed at discovering this and seeking revenge, Chandler decides to hit on Rachel as he knows Ross cares for her.

After striking up a conversation with Rachel and listening to her complain about the possibility of not getting into college, Chandler says "Well, maybe you can get in on a beauty scholarship." Rachel responds with "What a line!" and she's not wrong.

14 "Excuse me, I seem to have dropped my ball."

In season three, episode six titled "The One With the Flashback," we see that Chandler and Rachel encountered each other when she was engaged to Barry. Chandler overhears Rachel telling her friends that she needs one last fling with the first man she sees before she settles down with Barry and so Chandler, for some reason, thinks his best bet is to fling his snooker ball her way and swagger over.

He greets her with the line, "Excuse me, I seem to have dropped my ball" as if that will suddenly make her rip his clothes off. Of course, this pick-up line is unsuccessful and just leads to an awkward moment shortly afterward when Monica introduces him to Rachel.

13 "Well, come here. I'm very happy we're going to have all the sex."

In season five, episode 14 we see Phoebe and Chandler trying to seduce each other in an attempt to see who will chicken out first and admit that Chandler is in a relationship with Monica. This hilarious episode sees both characters cranking up their flirting routines in an effort to break one another.

Rather awkwardly, one of the seduction lines that Chandler chooses to use is, "Well, come here. I'm very happy we're going to have all the sex." Unsurprisingly, this line doesn't work and Phoebe ends up being the one to break Chandler.

12 "So ah, did ya, did-did-did ya fall high?"

In season three, episode 14 titled "The One With Phoebe's Ex-Partner" Chandler is queuing for the men's restroom and is annoyed at the length of time the person is taking inside. As the occupant starts to emerge, Chandler irritatedly asks "Jeez man, did you fall..." before noticing it is a beautiful woman.

RELATED: Friends: 10 Hidden Details Fans Never Noticed About The First Episode

Thinking on his feet, Chandler does his best to change the question into a pick-up line and stutters out, "So ah, did ya, did-did-did ya fall high?" While it doesn't seem like a great line, it must have worked as he and the woman, named Ginger, go on to date for a brief time.

11 "I have kissed over four women."

In an unforgettable two-parter season six episode titled "The One That Could Have Been", audiences get to see how different the beloved Friends' gang's lives would be had a number of things had been different at the beginning, such as Rachel never running out on Barry, Monica never losing weight, and Ross staying married to Carol.

In this alternate universe episode, Monica and Chandler are not dating but appear to harbor secret feelings for each other. In a satisfying, adorable conclusion, the beloved Friends couple does end up together in this two-parter episode, but not before Chandler awkwardly flirts with Monica, saying things such as, "Well, I have kissed over four women."

10 "Gum would be perfection."

In an iconic season one episode titled, "The One With The Blackout", Chandler infamously finds himself trapped in an ATM vestibule with Victoria's Secret model, Jill Goodacre. This episode is unforgettable and hilarious for many reasons, namely Ross' incident with a rogue cat and a musical number of sorts from the gang, but easily the most notable part of this episode was Chandler's predicament.

He handles being stranded in a blackout with a beautiful woman in a way that only Chandler would, by being awkward and quiet most of the night. When he turns down Jill Goodacre's offer of gum, Chandler immediately regrets it, and reiterates, saying, "gum would be perfection."

9 "I'm hopeless and awkward and desperate for love!"

In season three, Chandler infamously dates Janice and quickly becomes scared of the commitment that this relationship entails since he has a lifelong fear of commitment. After Joey encourages him to face his fear, Chandler goes to the other extreme and asks Janice to move in with him, who in turn, freaks out about this new stage of commitment.

This sets Chandler off on a rampage, in which he begins to act ridiculously, and although it's hilarious, this episode really speaks to just how deep-rooted Chandler's relationship issues were. In a last-ditch effort to convince Janice not to leave him, Chandler yells out, "I'm hopeless and awkward and desperate for love!"

8 "Hi... Ok, next word."

In the season one episode, "The One With The Butt", the gang attends a performance of the musical Freud!, in which Joey is playing the lead. The play is predictably awful, but Chandler considers himself lucky as he ends up meeting a beautiful woman named Aurora.

RELATED: Every Episode Of Friends Season 9, Ranked

He hesitantly approaches her, and in an attempt to have a conversation, says this, "Hi... Ok, next word. Chandler is my name." This awkward line is so adorable it's easy to see why he and Aurora get together. Too bad it doesn't work out.

7 "Would you like to go out with me sometime? Thank you. Good night."

In the same episode with Aurora, Chandler decides to follow up on his awkward introduction by asking the beautiful woman out on a date. The hilarious part is that he quickly asks her, then thanks her and then makes his goodbyes in quick succession before trying to make his escape.

Strangely, this tactic seems to work as Aurora calls him back and agrees to go on a date with him. Is this pick-up line worth trying? Maybe, but maybe not.

6 "Do you know me, or are you just really good at this game?"

In season two, Friends aired a two-part episode titled, "The One After The Superbowl", because the episode(s) literally aired directly after NBC's broadcast of the Super Bowl XXX. The episode(s) are mainly about Ross tracking down Marcel, his pet monkey, but there is also some signature Chandler awkwardness thrown in.

Ross finds that Marcel is in New York filming Outbreak 2: The Virus Takes Manhattan, and the gang heads to the set, where Chandler reunites with his childhood classmate, Susie Moss. Though we later find out that she has ulterior motives, Susie begins flirting with Chandler, and his first response is simply, "Do you know me, or are you just really good at this game?"

5 "We swallow our feelings, even if it means we're unhappy forever."

Joey starts dating Kathy early on in season four, and Chandler begins to have feelings for her. He tries to hide this for a few episodes, but of course, ends up failing spectacularly. In the self-explanatory episode seven, "The One Where Chandler Crosses The Line", Chandler and Kathy get closer, causing Chandler to immediately regret his actions because he has betrayed his best friend.

Chandler turns Kathy down, saying, "We swallow our feelings forever, even if it means we're unhappy forever. Sound good?"

4 "This was great. I'll give you a call. We should do it again!"

In the season three episode, "The One With The Dollhouse", Chandler finds himself in an unusual situation when it's revealed that Rachel's boss, Joanna, has feelings for him. Chandler agrees to go out with her, but this soon backfires when he learns that Joanna is a "big, dull, dud!"

RELATED: Friends: 10 Life Lessons That Are Still Applicable Today

Of course, instead of confronting Joanna, Chandler attempts to simply and quietly remove himself from the situation. Rachel insists that he just tell Joanna that he doesn't want to see her, which he does, but immediately follows it up with "This was great. I'll give you a call. We should do it again sometime!"

3 "It's Gaelic for 'thy turkey is done'."

When Chandler is put on the spot, he typically reacts by spouting something nonsensical and often very humorous. In the same episode in which Chandler meets, dates, and dumps Joanna, he also delivers this hilarious pick-up line of sorts.

Rachel introduces Chandler to Joanna and on hearing his name, Joanna comments, "Bing - that's a great name", to which Chandler responds, "Thanks. It's Gaelic for "thy turkey is done." You know what they say - if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

2 "H-hey!"

Arguably one of Chandler's most memorable and hilarious attempted pick-up lines was when he first met Kathy and began flirting with her before he knew that she was with Joey. Kathy first appeared in season four, episode five titled "The One With Joey's New Girlfriend".

Chandler asks Kathy her name, and when she tells him, he asks, "Kathy with a C, or a K?" She responds, "K", to which Chandler quips, "H-hey!" Well, if that doesn't start a romantic connection then what will?

1 "Thanks, I grow it myself."

There is another great flirtatious line from the season four episode, "The One Where Chandler Crosses The Line". Chandler and Kathy engage in some awkward banter while she cuts his hair. To fill the tense silence, Kathy comments, "You have really great hair."

Chandler hilariously responds, "Thanks, I grow it myself." Though it sounds like the ultimate dad joke, this adorable line increases Kathy's affection for the loveable jokester and shortly afterward we see the two connecting on a romantic level.

NEXT: Friends: 10 Big Mistakes That Phoebe Did That We Can Learn From



source https://screenrant.com/friends-chandler-hilarious-pick-up-lines-best/

The Batman among movies given go-ahead for restart of UK filming

The Batman among movies given go-ahead for restart of UK filming submitted by /u/RayInRed
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source https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/31/the-batman-among-movies-given-go-ahead-for-restart-of-uk-filming

FACING DEMONS (SAVE ME TOO)


When 'Save Me' was broadcast on Sky Atlantic two years ago, it set a high bar for other UK dramas made by the channel.

Created by its lead actor Lennie James, the hard hitting child abduction drama waded into some very dark themes.

And under the direction of Nick Murphy, it attracted some serious acting talent from both sides of the Irish Sea.

(SPOILER ALERT!!!)

At the end of 'Save Me', James' estranged dad Nelly found himself at an auction attended by paedophiles trying to win back his missing teenage daughter, Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness' Jody McGory.


Beaten up after bidding way above his limit, Nelly still managed to break into a warehouse where she might be held - only to discover Olive Gray's teenager Grace chained inside a caravan.

At the start of 'Save Me Too', Nelly Rowe is still looking for Jody and is sitting 17 months later in a car in his trademark yellow puffa jacket with blood on his knuckles.

With episodes penned by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan, Marion Smith and Emer Kenny, 'Save Me Too' from the off follows a less linear narrative than its predecessor.

We go back and forth in time, seeing Nelly and Thomas Coombes' Goz earlier in the day tailing the car of Lesley Manville's disgraced upper middle class wife Jennifer Charles.


She is living with the shame of her husband is Adrian Edmondson's creepy Gideon Charles having been tried for paedophilia.

Shocked to see Nelly in a supermarket, she is coaxed into having a cup of coffee with him - believing he might offer a sympathetic ear.

What Nelly really wants is to extract names and telephone numbers from her of Gideon's associates - even pretending Goz, who is waiting outside the cafe, is a tabloid journalist to pressurise her.

When Nelly tracks Gideon down on the back of one piece of information, the paedophile panics and decides to flee with the help of his wife.


Nelly nevertheless is determined to do whatever it takes to secure more information to help recover Jody.

James and his writers go back in time once more to the trial of Gideon Charles, which Nelly, attends in the public gallery with his ex, Jody's mum Suranne Jones' Clare and her husband, Barry Ward's Barry.

Grace is the main prosecution witness but is unhappy about having to live through the trauma of testifying about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Gideon and his associates.

After a cross-examination in the witness box goes disastrously, she storms out of the courtroom and goes to ground, causing the case to collapse.


Weeks later, she returns with Nelly spiriting her upstairs to the flat above his local The Palm Tree, run by his friend Susan Lynch's Stace.

However events take a darker turn the following morning when Nadine Marshall's DS Shola O'Halloran turns up at The Palm Tree where Nelly and his mates have been sleeping after his 50th birthday celebrations to reveal Gideon Charles has been murdered.

The police are especially interested in Nelly's whereabouts on the previous day.

'Save Me Too' finds Nelly forging a close bond with Grace as he tries to find some morsel of information that could lead to the whereabouts of Jody.


But it also sees Stephen Graham's fragile Melon trying to sustain his relationship with Alice May Feetham's pregnant Bernie and wrestling with his murky past.

While Nelly obsessively chases any lead, Jones' Clare McGory is coming to terms with her grief for Jody and the likelihood that her daughter may be dead.

Camilla Beeput's Zita shares a bed with Nelly who takes her young son, Kassidy Anderson's Samson to school but soon becomes uneasy about the arrival of Grace in their lives.

Goz panics when Nelly bounces him into providing an alibi for the day when Gideon was murdered - a concern that is shared by his partner, Alisha Bailey's Heather.


Jason Flemyng's cross dresser Tam remains as supportive as ever - even taking Clare to a medium in the hope that it can provide some piece of mind about Jody.

As in the first series, James and the writers are not afraid to plunge into some very disturbing territory and it is Nelly's tendency to take huge risks in pursuit of the truth that makes every episode feel like a jittery but compelling high wire act.

Well written, intelligently directed by Jim Loach and grippingly acted, 'Save Me Too' is every bit as good as its previous series.

Lennie James remains the heart and soul of the show and is just wonderful as a desperate man who is often too clever for his own good.


As before, every member of the cast, including Kerry Godliman as another of Nelly's exes Teens, is on song.

But if there is one quibble, it is that Jones, Ward, Graham, Lynch and Flemyng are so good that you cannot help but feel they are a little underused.

With a bit more to do than some of her colleagues, Beeput is excellent as the no nonsense Zita.

Gray also injects a nervous energy into the show as the volatile and very damaged Grace.


Marshall and Coombes rise to the occasion too, while Edmonson is impressively slimy as Gideon.

Manville, not surprisingly, is a terrific addition to the cast as Gideon Charles' damaged wife and like Jones, Graham, Lynch and Flemyng, you find yourself wishing there was more for her to do.

While Jim Loach is on board to direct three of the episodes, ultimately it is the quality of the writing is 'Save Me Too's' greatest asset - providing a solid foundation for the cast to work from.

Each episode lands a heavy emotional punch and the cast devour and savour every piece of dialogue.


You suspect James and his writers will have no difficulty asking the cast to return for a third series.

And it seems viewers have an appetite for ot as well, with over 3.1 million downloads on Sky's streaming services during April.

By the time 'Save Me Too' reaches its crescendo, there are still too many questions still to be resolved.

It seems only fair that Nelly and his yellow puffa jacket get at least one more outing again.

('Save Me Too' was broadcast on Sky Atlantic from April 1-May 6, 2020)


source https://loveitinpomona.blogspot.com/2020/05/facing-demons-save-me-too.html