Dont Tell NetflixDont Tell Netflix

by Emily Nagle

[usr 4]

Last week, Netflix released “The Cuphead Show!“, based on the award-winning shoot ’em up game “Cuphead“.

I remember a couple of years ago, the news broke that Netflix had greenlit a series based on the game. Initially, I was psyched; I had played quite a bit of “Cuphead” while holed away in my tiny freshman year dorm room, so it held a special place in my heart. I couldn’t wait to see what creative direction the show would go in, and what kinds of stories would be told. Although the game has a story (you have to defeat a bunch of villains in order to repay your debt to the Devil), it’s not like the characters were super fleshed out, due to the emphasis being on gameplay as opposed to its story. So I figured the show would have some fun developing the characters’ personalities by putting them into crazy situations.

As it turns out, this one isn’t particularly story-driven. Instead, it relies more on slapstick and visual gags, drawing from early animation like classic Disney and the original Looney Tunes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it still took me a little while to get used to. Sometimes it’s nice to have a show you can watch that’s simple and episodic, where you don’t have to follow a big, overarching story. Due to this format, I’d go so far as to say you don’t even need to know what “Cuphead” is to enjoy this show, because it’s a little bit different from its source material. The only thing it really does regarding the game is use the characters, but you won’t feel lost if this show is the first time you’re seeing them.

With that being said, the visuals in “The Cuphead Show!” are super fun. Compared to other animated shows in recent years, this one looks a bit more traditional, despite being computer-animated; it’s still got the rubber-hose animation style used in the game, although of course the frame rate is much lower due to it being an animated show. The color palette for the entire show is a little bit darker, adding to the old-timey feel.

My favorite part of the animation, though, is the incorporation of claymation elements. An example that comes to mind is the episode “Ghosts Ain’t Real”, which follows Cuphead and Mugman as they spend the night in a graveyard that’s occupied by mischievous ghosts. The brothers are shown walking through a 3D graveyard backdrop, and later on when the ghosts are making them open doors, the doors are 3D but the things behind them aren’t. Although it took away from the 1930s vibe a little, the combination of two-dimensional and clay elements looked super cool together. It’s not often you see something like that in modern animation. The only other show I can think of that did something similar is Cartoon Network’s “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” back in 2008.

This one was definitely created with kids in mind, as opposed to the teens and young adults who make up most of the game’s players (“Cuphead” is NOT an easy game, folks!). But even if you’re not a kid, you’ll get a kick out of “The Cuphead Show!”. It’s fast (each episode is about 15 minutes long) and fun, making it easy to watch. I’d recommend “The Cuphead Show!” to animation enthusiasts, and anyone who’s a kid at heart.

by Emily Nagle

The 2021 documentary film “Hell or High Seas” takes viewers along on an emotional adventure with U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Grieger and his friend Stephen O’Shea. A former rescue swimmer, Grieger suffered from PTSD that continued years after he left the military. After a failed suicide attempt, Grieger took surviving that experience as a sign. He sprung into action, deciding to chase a lifelong dream. He turns to “the YouTube Academy”, as he refers to it, following video tutorials to patch up a ramshackle sailboat (later dubbed The Old Lady) in an effort to raise awareness for veterans like himself battling the psychological adjustments of a return to civilian life. Grieger brings O’Shea and the audience on a dangerous sea voyage around Cape Horn at the tip of South America; this is considered by many sailors to be the most difficult trip of all.

Grieger’s journey ends up being more than just a sailing trip – over the course of the film, he makes strides in healing from PTSD, and readjusts to civilian life after being away from traditional society for so long. He and O’Shea encounter numerous challenges aboard the rickety ship, as they endure extreme temperatures, push through a hurricane (with a busted engine!), and fight off pirates. It’s through hell and high seas that the duo defies odds, healing from battle wounds along the way.

Also part of the production team are director Glenn Holsten and producer Chayne Gregg. In an interview at the film’s premiere, Holsten revealed that upon viewing O’Shea’s footage for the first time, he was instantly captivated by Grieger’s cause of helping fellow veterans, and wanted to bring the story to the big screen to spread the message to as many people as possible.

Not only does the production share Grieger’s message through a compelling, heart-wrenching story, but also through stunning visuals. The cinematography in “Hell or High Seas” is unique in the sense that it’s not shot like a traditional documentary – instead of simply explaining things, it’s more like a video diary that showcases Grieger’s journey. This more spontaneous filming style only supplements the story by giving viewers a raw look into Grieger’s experience. It’s rich and colorful, with breathtaking shots that include glaciers and the ocean – you’ll want to watch this one on the biggest screen you can find!

“Hell or High Seas” brings inspiration and hope to not just veterans, but anyone dealing with PTSD or healing from trauma. The film weaves the moving story of one man channeling his trauma into something constructive, following his passion after years of struggling mentally. Grieger’s story is one that will resonate with many, instilling strength and hope in them while also raising awareness for veterans.

by Emily Nagle

Top 5 Highest Grossing Films for President’s Day Weekend 2022
5. Jackass Forever ($6.1 million)
4. Death on the Nile ($7.5 million)
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home ($8.5 million)
2. Dog ($18 million)
1. Uncharted ($51 million)

The long weekend saw “Uncharted” dominating ticket sales across the country. Based on the video game series by Naughty Dog, this action-adventure follows treasure hunter Victor Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) when he recruits street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) to assist him in unearthing a 500-year-old mystery that is worth billions. While it ruled the box office this weekend, it’s received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Holland’s performance and the action sequences, but found issues with the screenplay. Critics found “Uncharted” to be watered down and less developed compared to other action films like “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or the “Fast & Furious” series. Despite this, director Ruben Fleischer has already expressed openness to a sequel in the future.

Another new release this weekend was road trip dramedy “Dog”. Although its numbers came nowhere close to those of “Uncharted”, it still beat out “Spider-Man: No Way Home” for second place. “Dog” is directed by and stars Channing Tatum as U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs, who escorts Lulu, a military dog, from a military base in Washington to her handler’s funeral in Arizona. The trip ends up being a healing experience for Briggs as well as Lulu, as both of them are still grappling with trauma from their past. With mostly positive reviews from critics, who have praised Tatum’s direction and the execution of the film’s heartfelt plot.

by Emily Nagle

Good news, everyone – for the first time in nearly a decade, new episodes of Futurama will be arriving on Hulu.

Fans of the sci-fi comedy were initially thrilled to hear of the show’s return until Variety announced that while much of the original cast would be reprising their roles, John DiMaggio is not currently signed to return as alcoholic robot Bender. Now they’re protesting the show and lobbying for DiMaggio’s return, leading to #BenderGate trending on Twitter.

John DiMaggio thanked fans for the support on Twitter, writing, “Thanks for the concern and the props, everyone. I really appreciate it,” he posted Wednesday night. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted, but until then… CHEESE IT! #bendergate”.

The reason for DiMaggio’s absence from the credits? According to Entertainment Weekly, last year when 20th Television Animation and Hulu reached out to him, Katey Sagal, and Billy West to negotiate pay for the revival series, DiMaggio was dissatisfied with the pay, finding it to be inadequate relative to the success of the show. As the studio does not want to pay him more than Sagal and West, the casting for Bender is ongoing.

Although DiMaggio is not currently on board to return to “Futurama”, there is still hope for his return. He’s still willing to return as Bender, so long as his team and the studio can come to an agreement regarding his pay.

Production for the “Futurama” revival is set to begin this month, with a projected release date of 2023. Hulu ordered 20 episodes of the series revolving around pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry, who tumbles into a cryogenic freezer and emerges 1,000 years later. From there, he works for his distant nephew Professor Hubert Farnsworth’s interplanetary delivery crew, where he meets quirky characters, which, in addition to Leela and Bender, include the crustacean-like Doctor Zoidberg and ditzy intern Amy.

by Emily Nagle

The long-discussed WarnerMedia-Discovery merger is one step closer to becoming a reality after being approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, Discovery announced on Wednesday.

After being approved by the IRS and the European Commission back in December, this legal approval was the final hurdle to pass needed before the deal gets finalized.

Expected to pass in the second quarter of 2022, the $43 billion deal will consolidate the assets of WarnerMedia – which include the Warner Bros. movie studio and channels such as HBO, CNN, and TBS – with those of Discovery, which is known for channels like TLC, Animal Planet, and HGTV.

On March 11, Discovery will hold a virtual shareholder meeting to vote on the acquisition. AT&T shareholders will not be voting.

The conglomerate resulting from the deal will be known as Warner Bros. Discovery; the new moniker and logo were unveiled on Twitter last summer. Discovery CEO David Zaslav will oversee the company, in addition to CFO Gunnar Wiedenfuls.

by Emily Nagle

Top 5 Highest Grossing Films for Weekend of February 4-6, 2022
5. Sing 2 ($4.2 million)
4. Scream ($4.7 million)
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home ($9.5 million)
2. Moonfall ($9.8 million)
1. Jackass Forever ($23.1 million)

The first weekend of February saw the release of several new films, two of which ended up dominating ticket sales across the United States. “Jackass Forever” made $9.6 million on opening night Friday, and had raked in a total of $23.1 million by the end of Sunday. A followup to “Jackass 3D“, the fifth and most likely final installment in the slapstick comedy series’ box office performance surpassed predictions.

Although it came in second place this weekend, “Moonfall” is already a box office bomb. With a production budget of over $130 million – making it one of the most expensive independent films ever produced – it made a little under $10 million during its opening weekend. While some of this can be attributed to it being released during a destructive winter storm that knocked out power and shuttered theaters for thousands across the country, “Moonfall” has received poor reviews from critics, with some of them comparing the film to B-movies. The movie follows NASA executive Jo Fowler (Halle Berry) and conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley) as they figure out how to stop the moon from colliding with the Earth, destroying life as they know it.