Boomstick Comics

THE FILM

(The film portion was written by Liz Tramer)

Director David Mackenzie’s latest film, Hell or High Water, is a perfect example of how slow and steady wins the race.  The film is a little slow to start, but once it gets going, it’s fantastic. The story centers around two brothers, Toby  Howard (Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) who are desperately trying to save their mother’s farm and keep it in the family. The brothers are literally under the gun to find the money and decide the quickest way to make the deadline is to rob banks. Toby is intelligent, calm, cool and collected and the brains behind the operation. Tanner is an ex con hothead who relishes the crime spree and does little to control either his rage or his inclination toward violence.

As their plan to get fast cash slowly unravels, they are pursued by two Texas rangers – Marcus (Jeff Bridges) is an experienced veteran who is working his last case. His partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) is along for the ride, an old friend who is willing to endure Marcus’ not so gentle teasing and curmudgeonly ways.

Fortunately, this film is elevated from your average cops and robbers movie. It is enhanced and nuanced in large parts due to a poignant script by Taylor Sheridan and cinematography that reinforces the message. Sheridan tells the story of the working mans’ struggle to hold onto his land and fiscally survive when large companies have all of the power and control. It is difficult to not empathize on some level with the plight of the Howard brothers. You may not agree with their methods, but you can understand the reasons behind their actions.

http://boomstickcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hell-or-high-water-review.mp3

Another strength of the film is its use of opposites. Each yin has its equally strong yang. Toby is contained while Tanner is wild. Marcus is old school, after the criminals and unconcerned with the means to get there, while Alberto is inoffensive and by the books. The greatest opposite is the Texas scenery and landscaping. The times they are a changing, and it is apparent as you see the towns that are being shutdown, the cowboys struggling to survive and the large buildings that are overshadowing what once was. The message is constantly reinforced as the story continues.

Bridges, Foster and Pine all give strong performances and easily transform into their characters. Although slow to start, Hell or High Water finishes strong and will pull viewers in. A Must-See!

THE VIDEO/AUDIO

The Video: 'Hell or High Water' comes with a great 4K UHD transfer with Dolby Vision that is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Watching the film in its 1080p HD transfer, then in its 4K UHD with Dolby Vision, you will immediately be able to tell a difference in both the color and detail with each image. The 4K UHD with Dolby Vision is for sure the best way to watch this incredible movie. Colors are more vibrant and nuanced in each scene. With its rustic vibe, browns, oranges, and greens look more luscious and deep. There are certain scenes that have filters applied, mostly blue or orange filters, which looks great stylistically here.

We have a very fun 71st episode of our fun podcast under the MULTI-MEDIA MEN banner called ‘Media-Ocrity‘, where the show is just – okay. Here on the show, we focus strictly on horror/sci-fi, comic books, and video games – basically all the fun stuff that tickles your fancy. In our 71st episode, titled ‘Michael Fassbender is a Fury‘, we discuss the new news on 'Kung Fury' with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Fassbender, the best Marvel Cinematic Universe moments thus far, and current TV shows that should be turned into video games. It was so much fun. This episode is guaranteed to thrill you, chill you, and fulfill you. I am joined pop-culture wizard Jonathan Atterbury and comic book artist Jeremy Megert.

And don’t forget to visit iTunes and Stitcher to subscribe to our podcast. Enjoy the show and see you next week! Thank you for listening.

We have a very fun 71st episode of our fun podcast under the MULTI-MEDIA MEN banner called ‘Media-Ocrity‘, where the show is just – okay. Here on the show, we focus strictly on horror/sci-fi, comic books, and video games – basically all the fun stuff that tickles your fancy. In our 71st episode, titled ‘Michael Fassbender is a Fury‘, we discuss the new news on 'Kung Fury' with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Fassbender, the best Marvel Cinematic Universe moments thus far, and current TV shows that should be turned into video games. It was so much fun. This episode is guaranteed to thrill you, chill you, and fulfill you. I am joined pop-culture wizard Jonathan Atterbury and comic book artist Jeremy Megert.

And don’t forget to visit iTunes and Stitcher to subscribe to our podcast. Enjoy the show and see you next week! Thank you for listening.

http://boomstickcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mediaocrity-71.mp3

Going into the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you'd hope you wouldn't see the same thing over and over that we've been watching since Iron Man debuted a decade ago. As the years have passed on by, watching a Marvel movie became something tedious, even though most of the films are fun and enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, Marvel has done a great job with each and every film they've put out, but moving into their 18th film, it seems like we've seen almost everything and every action scene is something recycled from the previous, whether it be superheroes jumping from car to car during car chases or aliens come out of the sky and destroying the planet. Luckily for all of us Marvel fans, 'Black Panther' breathes new and creative life into a somewhat stale film series in the best ways possible.

Filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station), was the perfect choice to bring this character to the big screen as his attention to detail in storytelling, character development, and shooting action sequences is fresh and might be better than any previous Marvel film. If you're unfamiliar with the whole story around Black Panther, Coogler gives you a short refresher course at the start of the film, showing you that Black Panther or his real name T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) comes from a place called Wakanda, which is located in Africa, but is hidden from the rest of the world. It is the most technologically advanced society on Earth, even more so than anything Tony Stark has thought up. Their society survives and is capable by a certain flower that produces something called Vibranium, which allows for big science advancements, including Black Panther's super-suit.

As we saw in 'Captain America: Civil War', T'Challa's father (the king of Wakanda), was killed in a terrorist explosion, which leaves T'Challa the rightful heir. All seems right in the world, but it doesn't last long as someone has stolen some Vibranium in which to make weapons and sell across the globe. That's where Killmonger enters the screen who is played expertly by Michael B. Jordan. This Killmonger villain might be the best villain in the entirety of the Marvel Universe, because he is so layered and is actually right for believing his ways. You actually side with him due to the circumstances that is told out in such a tragic way. He's one of those villains that you truly connect with on many levels and might agree with his reasoning.

On the other hand, we get to witness T'Challa's struggle with his family skeletons. All this sets the stage for a couple of excellent action sequences, which are never over-the-top, but feel realistic and brutal all at the same time. It's what we've needed in this Marvel Universe for a long time now. At certain points, you might feel like you're watching a 007 James Bond film as Boseman calmly walks through each scene and is shown by his little sister (the...

Going into the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you'd hope you wouldn't see the same thing over and over that we've been watching since Iron Man debuted a decade ago. As the years have passed on by, watching a Marvel movie became something tedious, even though most of the films are fun and enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, Marvel has done a great job with each and every film they've put out, but moving into their 18th film, it seems like we've seen almost everything and every action scene is something recycled from the previous, whether it be superheroes jumping from car to car during car chases or aliens come out of the sky and destroying the planet. Luckily for all of us Marvel fans, 'Black Panther' breathes new and creative life into a somewhat stale film series in the best ways possible.

Filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station), was the perfect choice to bring this character to the big screen as his attention to detail in storytelling, character development, and shooting action sequences is fresh and might be better than any previous Marvel film. If you're unfamiliar with the whole story around Black Panther, Coogler gives you a short refresher course at the start of the film, showing you that Black Panther or his real name T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) comes from a place called Wakanda, which is located in Africa, but is hidden from the rest of the world. It is the most technologically advanced society on Earth, even more so than anything Tony Stark has thought up. Their society survives and is capable by a certain flower that produces something called Vibranium, which allows for big science advancements, including Black Panther's super-suit.

As we saw in 'Captain America: Civil War', T'Challa's father (the king of Wakanda), was killed in a terrorist explosion, which leaves T'Challa the rightful heir. All seems right in the world, but it doesn't last long as someone has stolen some Vibranium in which to make weapons and sell across the globe. That's where Killmonger enters the screen who is played expertly by Michael B. Jordan. This Killmonger villain might be the best villain in the entirety of the Marvel Universe, because he is so layered and is actually right for believing his ways. You actually side with him due to the circumstances that is told out in such a tragic way. He's one of those villains that you truly connect with on many levels and might agree with his reasoning.

http://boomstickcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/black-panther-movie-review.mp3

On the other hand, we get to witness T'Challa's struggle with his family skeletons. All this sets the stage for a couple of excellent action sequences, which are never over-the-top, but feel realistic and brutal all at the same time. It's what we've needed in this Marvel Universe for a long time now. At certain points, you might feel like you're watching a

If you missed our radio show on the air and can’t catch our video show on our YouTube channel, please catch our full un-edited show in podcast form by Subscribing to iTunes or Stitcher Radio. At ‘The Entertainment Answer‘, we have a ton of fun while we talk about movies, television, Blu-rays, and anything pop culture that comes up, PLUS, we might just have the answer to any question you might have. Join Matt Mungle and Bryan Kluger weekly for this fun-as-hell Radio Show! In this episode from February 6th, 2018, Matt and Bryan discuss the latest movies, the current box office, Blu-rays, pro-wrestling, and more.. Also, catch Matt Mungle’s very own podcast by clicking HERE. Enjoy!

And don’t forget to visit iTunes and Stitcher to subscribe to our podcast. Enjoy the show and see you next week! Thank you for listening.

If you missed our radio show on the air and can’t catch our video show on our YouTube channel, please catch our full un-edited show in podcast form by Subscribing to iTunes or Stitcher Radio. At ‘The Entertainment Answer‘, we have a ton of fun while we talk about movies, television, Blu-rays, and anything pop culture that comes up, PLUS, we might just have the answer to any question you might have. Join Matt Mungle and Bryan Kluger weekly for this fun-as-hell Radio Show! In this episode from February 6th, 2018, Matt and Bryan discuss the latest movies, the current box office, Blu-rays, pro-wrestling, and more.. Also, catch Matt Mungle’s very own podcast by clicking HERE. Enjoy!

And don’t forget to visit iTunes and Stitcher to subscribe to our podcast. Enjoy the show and see you next week! Thank you for listening.

http://boomstickcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ent-answer-feb-6-2018.mp3

THE FILM

Back in 2012, author R.J. Palacio released her novel 'Wonder', which caught on worldwide quickly and became one of the most heartfelt and dare I say it "wonderful" stories of recent memory. It was only a matter of time before it was optioned into a movie. Luckily Lionsgate picked it up where author/director Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being a Wallflower) signed on to take on the task in adapting this fantastic story for the big screen. 'Wonder' follows a young boy named Auggie (Jacob Tremblay) who was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that causes facial disfiguration at birth, which can cause problems with hearing, eyesight, and breathing.

Other than that, the people affected with this syndrome are normal. Auggie has had a few dozen surgeries before he enters middle school to get him looking the way he does in the film, which subsequently is his first time attending a public school, and not home school with his mother Isabel (Julia Roberts). The book as well as the film tells the story from the eyes of several different kids, including Auggie, his sister, and new friends he makes. By telling the story this way, we get to see not just how the kids react, but what may cause their reactions to Auggie and the decisions they make. It's truly remarkable.

Luckily, the whole story flow and characters are more or less so genuine and likable, much like they way 'Gilmore Girls' was. As Auggie goes thru his first year at school as a 6th grader, this coming-of-age drama hits a ton of highlights of growing up that brings both the high points and low points, which Chbosky has done well in before with 'Perks of Being a Wallflower'. This is one of those films where you want to spend not just an hour or two with the characters, but a lifetime with them, with a very simple message at its core. The film is quite funny and pulls the heartstrings often, but never in a cheesy way, but in a very realistic way, which brings evoke some deep emotions.

The comedic elements are all perfectly delivered and the 'Star Wars' references are top notch (I'm not kidding). Everyone turns in a great performance, but the young Jacob Tremblay truly shines in this deeply felt role for him. At such a young age, this kid can perform with the best of them, no matter what age. 'Wonder' is a family-friendly gem that will never grow old and should be watched forever. One of my new favorites for sure.

 

THE VIDEO

The Video: Lionsgate brings 'Wonder' to the front of the class with 4K UHD with an option of HDR10 encoding as well as Dolby Vision, which is just phenomenal. It is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio as well. The film simply looks amazing in each scene. Colors are bright and boast beautiful primary colors throughout. The rare green trees in New York City illuminate the brown and platinum colored buildings that engulf the landscape, while the clear blue skies look fantastic.

Interiors of the house and school are all warm and inviting with natural shades of browns ...

THE FILM

Back in 2012, author R.J. Palacio released her novel 'Wonder', which caught on worldwide quickly and became one of the most heartfelt and dare I say it "wonderful" stories of recent memory. It was only a matter of time before it was optioned into a movie. Luckily Lionsgate picked it up where author/director Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being a Wallflower) signed on to take on the task in adapting this fantastic story for the big screen. 'Wonder' follows a young boy named Auggie (Jacob Tremblay) who was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that causes facial disfiguration at birth, which can cause problems with hearing, eyesight, and breathing.

Other than that, the people affected with this syndrome are normal. Auggie has had a few dozen surgeries before he enters middle school to get him looking the way he does in the film, which subsequently is his first time attending a public school, and not home school with his mother Isabel (Julia Roberts). The book as well as the film tells the story from the eyes of several different kids, including Auggie, his sister, and new friends he makes. By telling the story this way, we get to see not just how the kids react, but what may cause their reactions to Auggie and the decisions they make. It's truly remarkable.

http://boomstickcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/film-review-wonder.mp3

Luckily, the whole story flow and characters are more or less so genuine and likable, much like they way 'Gilmore Girls' was. As Auggie goes thru his first year at school as a 6th grader, this coming-of-age drama hits a ton of highlights of growing up that brings both the high points and low points, which Chbosky has done well in before with 'Perks of Being a Wallflower'. This is one of those films where you want to spend not just an hour or two with the characters, but a lifetime with them, with a very simple message at its core. The film is quite funny and pulls the heartstrings often, but never in a cheesy way, but in a very realistic way, which brings evoke some deep emotions.

The comedic elements are all perfectly delivered and the 'Star Wars' references are top notch (I'm not kidding). Everyone turns in a great performance, but the young Jacob Tremblay truly shines in this deeply felt role for him. At such a young age, this kid can perform with the best of them, no matter what age. 'Wonder' is a family-friendly gem that will never grow old and should be watched forever. One of my new favorites for sure.

 

THE VIDEO

The Video: Lionsgate brings 'Wonder' to the front of the class with 4K UHD with an option of HDR10 encoding as well as Dolby Vision, which is just phenomenal. It is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio as well. The film simply looks amazing in each scene. Colors are bright and boast beautiful primary colors throughout. The rare green trees in New York City illuminate the brown and platinum colored buildings that eng...

Sometimes you get a film that seems so good on paper, but after you watch it, you can't help but be sorely disappointed in just about everything you've witnessed. 'Flower' is that kind of movie that had a lot of potential, but just couldn't get it together for anyone to really relate to, even though it tried to be realistic. The film was directed by Max Winkler who hasn't really done anything before this, and was written by three male writers, which is weird, because the main characters are female, which causes some strange dialogue for sure.

The story centers on a teenage girl named Erica (Zoey Deutch, the chick from 'Everybody Wants Some'), who is a fast talking, inappropriate young woman who loves to eat at the bowling alley, draw penises in her notebook, and give anyone blowjobs that crosses her path. She seems to love giving blowjobs, but she blackmails everyone she does it to for all the cash they have with the help of her two dumb friends who sneak up on her victims with their camera phones. Erica's mother (Kathryn Hahn) is trying to pick up the pieces of recent breakups and Erica's biological dad who is in jail for something "awesome", but she has new boyfriend now named Sherm who comes with a teenage son who is awkward to say the least.

Erica has no intention of being nice to this new kid who has moved in, but she changes her tune when she walks in on him trying to commit a ridiculous suicide attempt. From here, she learns that her future step brother has problems due to a former teacher who has molested him, which is the same person (Adam Scott), she has the hots for at the bowling alley. She tries to conceive a plan to blackmail this guy who has a different story of things. This is where the film turns into a ridiculous 'Very Bad Things' situation for no real reason at all and it just gets more disgusting from there. The problem here is that the writers and director failed to make Erica and her friends likable or redeeming in any way, shape or form.

Right form the get-go, you hate this girl and her friends. You'd think if this was a coming-of-age film, there would be some sort of redeeming quality or someone would learn a thing or two, but not here. Everyone is just so annoying, unfunny, and just awful people, with the exception of Sherm and Erica's mother. With this aspect, you can't expect to love or connect with the main protagonist at all. Even if this movie was in the remote bit realistic (it definitely isn't), it still would seem far-fetched and unlikable.

As for the performances themselves, I really like Zoey Deutch and she plays this part very well, but the character just gets in the way of being any sort of charming or witty. Adam Scott is fantastic in a role that's very subtly off in a bad way and he kills it in every frame. Hahn again is excellent too as the frazzled mother. 'Flower' should have been a great film, but due to the super unlikable characters and the film taking an over-the-top turn, there's just no redeeming part about it.

 

Written By: Bryan Kluger