HunterWick Podcast

 

This is part 2 of our review of Steven Spielberg's nostalgia-porn movie Ready Player One. In it we lament the lack of any real danger or even drama in the film, as well as laugh at its lack of knowledge of the actual nature of online gaming, and discuss how the changing nature of copyright and IP management these days has made this film easier to make. All this, and much more in the last of our two-parter on Ready Player One. Plus, it's dangerous to go alone, so take this warning along with you as you listen to this episode: we take a deep dive into the movie and explore many plot points, so be pepared for MANY SPOILERS!

Here's a handy link to Part 1 of our Ready Player One review:  http://nerdstalking.podbean.com/e/ep-34-ready-player-one-review-part-1/   Show Notes: 02:50 - The myth of Parzival. 06:14 - The terrible acting of Mark Rylance. 11:34 - Put the f'ing key in the f'ing lock! 12:38 - The ghost in the machine. 16:02 - Is the movie saying video games should be revelled in or regulated? 17:24 - i-R0k! 18:37 - In the future, everyone lives in Columbus, OH. 19:24 - RP1 is an amazing technological breakthrough in drama-less movies! 20:17 - A funny joke in the movie: the Alien bit. 33:24 - Everybody loves to queue in a video game. 38:06 - How copyright has changed in the Internet era. 42:18 - Our final verdict.   Thanks for listening!   Video featuring the real-life Infinadeck VR treadmill featured in Ready Player One:  https://youtu.be/SVs7iegtDIk   If you have the stomach for it, here is a video with over 300 Easter eggs from the movie, the vast majority of which are not actually Easter eggs (protip: Easter eggs are hidden): https://youtu.be/PfeVH2bbzlw   A video review of Ready Player One, by the jerks over at RedLetterMedia:  https://youtu.be/_KkGRT_4its   A reporter from CNET tries out a RealDoll sexbot (in conversation, not what you were thinking, sicko!):  https://youtu.be/5pKczGG19uo  

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

Ready Player One is so stuffed with pop-culture references, and our derision so strong for this hollow exercise, we can't even fit our review into one Nerdstalking episode! Log in and listen to Part. 1 of our review as we slag director Steven Spielberg for not understanding video games, knock the world-building of the film as being as shaky as the Stacks, and lament about the lack of heart in the film, among other complaints. And you might even find a couple of positive comments in here too; consider them the Easter eggs you have to search for. As usual here at Nerdstalking, we give the movie a thorough going over and dive deep into what it is and what it means, so also be on the search for MANY, MANY SPOILERS!

Show Notes: 01:19 - Will they start patching movies next? 03:37 - Steven Spielberg: out of touch. 05:59 - Bill's favourite line of the movie. 07:33 - The real problem with video games these days. 11:27 - A case study in better world-building: Alexander Payne's Downsizing. 19:58 - Would the kids of this near-future give a shit about all this retro stuff? 29:31 - Missing in action: any character arcs. 36:13 - The movie lacks a solid heart. 41:51 - So much exposition! 43:24 - The best part of the movie: the Shining sequence.   Thanks for listening! Tune in next week for the conclusion!   Trailer for Ready Player One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixWL1BWi44U   A video detailing 138 different pop-culture references in the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmfEx3taAM   Author of the novel, Ernest Cline, reveals every video game reference in the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zglevXKpJGY

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

Chad and Bill take a look back at a cult movie classic: the animated epic Heavy Metal. We examine its impact over the years, and break it down segment by segment. Smoke a bowl and join us on a fantastic magical mystery ride (with boobs!).

Show Notes: 04:05 - The ultimate stoner movie. 08:18 - What does it all mean? 12:13 - Captain Sternn's Hanover Fiste as Paul Ryan. 14:54 - The movie's magazine roots. 16:22 - Elon Musk: Big fan of Heavy Metal. 17:00 - Explanation of the central plot. 18:20 - Death rays and taxi cabs. 19:32 - A look at the Den sequence. 21:16 - So Beautiful, So Dangerous, and so much plutonium nyborg. 23:54 - STERNN!!! 27:24 - B-17. 32:08 - The deep impact of Heavy Metal. 32:50 - Help Chad kill a singer.   Thanks for listening!   Trailer for Heavy Metal:  https://youtu.be/FDPBdswW3xU   Soft Landing sequence from the movie, with Elon Musk's Spaceman edited in:  https://youtu.be/bMPJWeIg6zw   Oliver Jewellers TV commercial: "The Cashman":  https://youtu.be/NSQVVHyvOZU  

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

What happens if you take TRON, mix it with The Last Starfighter, and throw in a pinch of references to every SF movie and video game of the last 30 years or so? You get Steven Spielberg's latest flick Ready Player One, based on Ernest Cline's love-letter-to-videogames novel of the same name. We anticipate the release of the film with all the giddy glee of kids waiting in line for Back to the Future in 1985. Plus we celebrate Sam Rockwell's 2018 Oscar win with a retrospective of his career, and take a look at Steven Soderbergh's guerilla feature filmmaking iPhone experiment Unsane. 

Show Notes: 01:01 - We start in on Ready Player One. 01:33 - E.T.'s scrotum sack. 03:47 - Ready Player One compared to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 07:38 - The nostagia train has left the station. 09:43 - Again with the Inception city-folding SFX. 11:58 - Ready Player One as TRON sequel. 15:13 - Where have you gone, Clint Eastwood of our youth? 17:26 - Sam Rockwell: real actor. 30:34 - Is Steven Soderbergh Unsane? 34:40 - Chad's dangerous obsession with Downton Abbey.   Thanks for listening!   Pure Imagination, from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ-uV72pQKI   The electronica version of Pure Imagination as used in the Ready Player One trailer:  https://youtu.be/XTPCwA1AcPk   Trailer for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpDaNqSXxp0   Bill's article on the history of the movie TRON, at The Dot Eaters: http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=games-on-film-i-tron   Bill's article on the history of The Last Starfighter, at The Dot Eaters:  http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=games-on-film-ii-the-last-starfighter  

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

This episode looks at the classic cold-war computer hacker film WarGames, and the new interactive reboot based on the property. We also shine some light on the other black superhero, DC's Black Lightning, found on Netflix. Lastly, Chad latches onto the inexplicable Venom teaser trailer and tries to make some Spidey sense of it.

Show Notes: 00:56 - We start with WarGames. 04:43 - A description of the reboot, and a look at the original movie. 06:53 - Chad starts in with Short Circuit. 08:22 - Dabney Coleman is a dick. 10:36 - Again with Short Circuit? 24:56 - Start of Black Lightning discussion. 29:03 - The unbearable deadness of James Remar. 37:31 - Chad breaks down the Venom teaser trailer.   Thanks for listening!   WarGames trailer:  https://youtu.be/hbqMuvnx5MU   WarGames web series trailer: https://youtu.be/ZfObVggo5QE   #WarGames interactive series website (also available on Steam and iOS): https://helloeko.com/wargames/episode-one-chasing-bryce/?autoplay=true&utm_source=verge&utm_medium=affiliate   Bill's article on the history of the film WarGames, at The Dot Eaters: http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=games-on-film-iii-wargames   Black Lightning series trailer: https://youtu.be/uoUlGwYa4QE

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

We focus our tri-corders on USS Callister, an episode of the great Netflix anthology SF series Black Mirror that deftly parodies Star Trek while presenting the usual futuretech dystopia that is the hallmark of the series. We also hold up DTube, a video sharing site that is being hailed as a YouTube killer, as proof that there is no redeeming features of mankind whatsoever. Enjoy!

Show Notes: 00:42 - We start off with our analysis of USS Callister. 01:39 - A detour into The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, starring Ben Stiller. 18:25 - Chad questions what's wrong with baby-killing. 27:06 - We start talking about the dumpster fire that is DTube. 31:23 - Some choice morons on the DTube short bus. 34:46 - The mechanics of DTube. 42:21 - How to win friends and influence idiots. 44:31 -Deutsche Tube   Thanks for listening!   USS Callister Trailer: https://youtu.be/qgTtyfgzGc0   The Nerdstalking DTube channel: https://d.tube/#!/c/nerdstalking   Jack and Jill trailer:  https://youtu.be/oJVv3PBoPMc   I realize this presentation is an assault on the visual senses, but this is the full version of the TV play of Bertolt Brecht's Baal, by David Bowie. My recommendation to you is to zoom in to the window on the bottom left that contains the video, so you don't see any of the effects that are designed to throw off the content ID algorithyms of Google. As far as I can see, this is the only post of the TV show in its entirety. And the immense creative power of Bowie is not diminished by reducing the image. No Earthly confinement could ever do that:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_l6jBYsQ60

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

Bill and Chad can't conceal that they have a bad feeling about Solo following the first trailers for the next Star Wars story, then Chad hooks us up with a breakdown of the much-anticipated character Cable, soon to light up screens in the upcoming Deadpool 2. Tune in, turn on and drop everything and listen!

Show Notes: 00:08 - Premiering the new Nerdstalking theme! 02:06 - The start of our Solo talk. 19:38  - We talk about the hilarious Deadpool 2 trailers. 22:25 - The start of our discussion of Cable. Who is this Cable guy? 32:30 - The powers of Cable. 37:12 - How will Cable fit into Deadpool 2? 40:11 - Demollition Man: A Retrospective.   Thanks for listening!   Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer: https://youtu.be/K9PkToULL1c   Deadpool 2 Teaser Trailer: https://youtu.be/I4tFNfROlqk   Moss buys some women's slacks on The IT Crowd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujGCGZqwaSc   Deadpool 2 "Wet on Wet" Trailer: https://youtu.be/8-Cjsnq8kVU   Demolition Man Trailer: https://youtu.be/0B5v6QZ5R3g

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

At the expense of causing fur to fly, Bill and Chad smell something pretty bad in the kitty litter as they do an extensive break-down of the 2018 Black Panther movie from Marvel. Try not to get scratched as you listen! As usual, we examine lots of details of the movie to cover all the bases with our assessment of it, so THERE BE SPOILERS!

Show Notes: 3:00 - We confront the white colonizer elephant in the room. 6:25 - How the filmmakers shortchanged Wakanda. 10:55 - An action film needs impressive set pieces. 16:53 - No buttons at the end of any scene. 22:40 - Talk of how Marvel cheaped out on not-so-special effects. 26:52 - Female empowerment. 30:45 - Hitting close to home, the Boko Haram scene. 33:21 - Paying tribute to the white boys. 38:35 - We point out some weak motivations. 42:23 - Summing up.   Thanks for listening!   Black Panther trailer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxWvtMOGAhw   Nerdstalking presents Black Panther chasing Winter Soldier in Avengers: Civil War to the Benny Hill theme -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulq30Qob6IM   A portion of this Nerdstalking episode with video -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFxyLk7zBl4

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

Chad and Bill examine the trailer for Marvel's Black Panther, and find it wanting. Bill also ponders the Amazonian (or not) nature of Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, we dwell on next year's Captain Marvel, and other pressing topics. 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro, and we go right into our breakdown of the Black Panther trailer. 15:25 - The beginning of our thoughts on leaked set pictures of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, as well as Chad sets up some comic book context for the character. 16:02 - Is Gal Gadot tall enough to be Wonder Woman? 23:40 - Chad gives a run-down on Fox's post-apocolyptic sit-com The Last Man on Earth. 26:10 - More Captain Marvel talk. 30:30 - We ponder what terrible thing Mark Hamill must have done to Rian Johnson to make the director force him to milk a sea cow in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 33:46 - What in the Hell is cryptocurrency? 36:55 - After what Donald Trump would no doubt describe as a "fake sign-off", we really do sign off.  

Thanks for listening!

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/ 

 

Listen as Bill and Chad milk everything they can out of their breakdown of the go-nowhere middle episode of the current Star Wars trilogy. We also give our thoughts on the brutally excellent The Punisher Netflix series. *SPOILERS INSIDE, AND NO LOUNGING SEA CREATURES WERE ACTUALLY MILKED IN THE MAKING OF THIS EPISODE.

Show Notes: 01:00 - The start of our discussion of Netflix's The Punisher. 04:55 - Shocking revelations about Punisher actor Jon Bernthal. 30:44 - The start of our discussion on The Last Jedi. 46:48 - A useless scene: Finn and Rose at the Cantina er I mean Casino. 56:13 - The singularly strangest scene in any Star Wars movie. 1:06:24 - Jokes that would have been rejected for a Marvel movie, put into a Star Wars movie. 1:16:32 - To be fair, a couple of not-so-lame jokes from The Last Jedi. 1:21:20 - How the much-better movie Rogue One helped recapture our lost youth. 1:24:52 - The Last Jedi makes Bill and Chad appreciate the prequels.... for opposite reasons. 1:27:30 - Did The Last Jedi include a reference to 1978 short spoof film Hardware Wars?   Thanks for listening!   The Punisher trailer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMW_dPtm7Bo   The Last Jedi trailer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0CbN8sfihY   Nerdstalking's funny video take on the Luke Milking scene from TLJ -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzKLD5RY2H8

 

Connect With Your Nerdstalkers:

Bill Hunter - writer, and creator of video game history website The Dot Eaters

Chad Wick - writer, musician and creator of the Canadian Culture Thing

Our Website: http://nerdstalking.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdstalkingPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdstalking/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdstalking/