In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews the new DisneyPlus series, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” Disney celebrated Star Wars Day with fanfare, merchandise sales, and a new addition to the Star Wars saga, the ‘Bad Batch’ is an animated series that follows the aftermath of the Clone Wars from the perspective of an elite and experimental team of Clone Troopers that fans have met before. Andy looks at the characters, the story, and the animation style of the series; agreeing with KSL TV’s Dan Spindle, that it is something families and fans would likely enjoy.

Star Wars Day is finally here! And with the coronavirus pandemic finally starting to wane, fans are ready to get back to exploring the worlds they love with the people outside of their household. Today on the Fan Effect Podcast host KellieAnn Halvorsen is joined by local Star Wars fan clubs that can help you get back to action from costuming, saber fighting, and even droid building. For years Utah chapters of The 501st Legion, Mandalorian Mercs, The Rebel Legion, The Saber Guild and more have been using their passion for the Star Wars universe to raise awareness and funds for non-profit organizations like Make-a-Wish and more. As a community these fans are dedicated to “one galaxy, one goal;” using their fandom to help others.   In this episode we are joined by Mike Porter, Ruus’alor (Sergeant at Arms) of the Krayt Clan chapter of the Mandalorian Mercs, Brenda Ahlemann, Commanding Officer of the Alpine Garrison: The 501st Legion, Jakob Tice, former Commanding Officer as well as a founding member of the Rogue Base of the Rebel Legion, and Rocky Mountain Droid Builders Phillip Bareither, builder of all things astromech.

Do you know what we've missed the most since the pandemic started? Going and just seeing a movie in the theater! We may have been to a few, but the full-blown movie experience is a thing hosts Andy Farnsworth and KellieAnn Halvorsen are excited to get back to as the COVID pandemic starts to wane. Today they are joined by a guest who is lucky enough to have never really stopped that experience, Megaplex’s Jeff Whipple, our favorite PR person for our favorite theater chain, and sponsor of our show; Megaplex Theatres. In this first monthly special, Jeff discusses the magic of the movie theater, lessons they have learned during the pandemic, the love of their supportive audiences, and of course all the great movies, anniversary screenings, and more MegaExperiences that the Megaplex has in store for this May.  What MegaExperiences are we talking about? How about Free screenings of all eight of the "Fast and Furious" films leading up to the premiere of F9 for MyMegaRewards members, continued discounted popcorn and pop refills for your 2020 MegaTub and MegaMug through 2021, the Kids Summer Movie Pass 2021, multiple movies that are finally being released after major delays, and special anniversary screenings of classic films like Mission Impossible and Fried Green Tomatoes.  Are you ready to go back to the movies? Because we are!

In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews two films making their big debuts on streaming platforms this weekend for home audience; “Tom Clancy's Without Remorse” & “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”  One is bringing some hilarious, family fun to your home screen, while the other is a rated R for violence feature that fans of the action/mystery genre and fans of Tom Clancy’s novels will probably enjoy. In “Without Remorse” from Paramount Pictures and Amazon Studios, we finally meet a character from author Tom Clancy’s action thriller world, Senior Chief John Kelly played by rising action star Michael B. Jordan who happened to be the highlight of the pretty standard action flick. In Netflix's “Mitchells v Machines,” is a uniquely animated family-road trip film that happens to take place amid a robot-apocalypse, originally titled “Connected” before its delayed release, households will be able to connect to one another with the family-friendly comedy of the film. Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premiere movie entertainment company.

In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews the latest video game turned silver screen movie “Mortal Kombat.” The groundbreaking arcade game has transformed a lot over the past 30 years, and already has had two films based on the franchise, but this R-rated modern version really capitalizes on the violent visuals and a multitude of hidden easter eggs for fans of the game. In this review, Andy breaks down the story, pros-and-cons, and what parents should know before giving their teens permission to see the nearly NC-17 rated film.  Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premiere movie entertainment company.

Have you ever wanted to come face-to-face with a tyrannosaurus rex? From April 23-May 9, 2021, at the USANA Health Sciences Amphitheatre in West Valley City, you will get a chance. Well, Bumper-to-bumper at least. When Jurassic Quest’s Drive-Thru dinosaur safari rolls, or roars, into town! Families, fans, and pint-sized paleontologists alike will enjoy the audio tour featuring more than 70 moving and life-like dinosaurs, as well as a 50-foot long Megalodon. Today, Host KellieAnn Halvorsen is joined by Dino-Wrangler Dino Dustin to talk about Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru! Tickets for Jurassic Quest are just $49 per vehicle (8 people or less) and available only at www.jurassicquest.com.  Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premiere movie entertainment company.

In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews the larger than life ‘Godzilla Vs Kong. ’ These two titular titans face each other once more in this epic movie in their cinematic Monsterverse. Audiences get another larger-than-life battle between the two, and this time it looks just like you would imagine. If the reason you’re watching this movie in the first place is the massive monster fights, boy, does this movie deliver! Particularly if you are watching on the big screen.

In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews Benedict Cumberbatch’s “The Courier” and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League.’ It’s been said that “the door of history turns on small hinges,” and that is nowhere more evident than the story told in “The Courier,” a true story about an English businessman who gets caught up in the world of espionage during the Cold War in the 1960s. Not a reboot, not a reimagining, not a prequel or sequel, but an actual, “let’s-do-this-again-with-the-same-cast-and-footage-and-make-it-better-this-time.”  And yet that’s precisely what has happened for fans of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the other DC Comic superheroes of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” streaming now on HBO Max.

When you sell 250,000,000 of your books, it's hard to believe you can stay relatively anonymous.  But Jeff Kinney, author of the mega-popular "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series of books and movies, manages to pull off that feat--for the most part. In this episode, Kinney joins Fan Effect  host Andy Farnsworth to talk about his best-selling kids' books about a "wimpy" junior high student, including the newest entry, "Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories."  They also talk about why he doesn't put his own picture in his books, seeing his books adapted into movies, and a bit about an animated series coming this year to DisneyPlus.

In this minisode, host Andy Farnsworth reviews Disney’s latest release, ‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ on KSL-TV. In the midst of the (hopefully) waning pandemic, Disney is bringing their latest animated feature to both the movie theaters and their DisneyPlus streaming service as a premium purchase. The feature mixes several genres and styles, and It’s, no surprise, heavily influenced by Southeast Asian culture. The family film is rated PG and something the whole family can enjoy.  The big question seems to be, “Do I take my kids to the theater yet?  Or do we spend the $30 fee and watch it on Disney Plus at home?”