Special: Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Screwball, See You Yesterday Mini-Reviews

Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Synopsis: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles go to Gotham City and discover that the Foot Clan is working with the League of Assassins to reign terror over Gotham. Batman then teams up with the Turtles while investigating to save Gotham from the newfound alliance.

My thoughts: I had previously read the comic book series and worried it would be a near identical adaptation but it was changed enough while keeping the core story in tact that it was enjoyable for me without being too much of a retread. Overall the movie was strong but I wasn't a fan of the animation style so it's hard for me to call this a perfect movie. I will say that DC and Nickelodeon did a great job balancing this flick so it appeals to DCAU fans while still being kid friendly enough for the Nickelodeon fans.

Final verdict: 4 cartoon crossovers out of 5.

Screwball:

Synopsis: Recounting the high-profile doping scandal that rocked Major League Baseball, director Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys) takes us into the surreal Miami underworld that provided performance-enhancing drugs to Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and other star players. They say South Florida is a sunny place for shady people and this is certainly true of steroid peddler Anthony Bosch and his most notorious client, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. While Bosch's medical credentials may be lacking, his storytelling skills are first rate as he hilariously details the rise and fall of his "health clinic", including mob connections, financial chicanery, his cocaine habit, and Rodriguez's eccentric behavior. The documentary plays like a madcap Floridian crime comedy in the vein of Elmore Leonard or the Coen Brothers while it raises serious questions about the ethics of professional sports. Powerful interests would be happy to let this story slip from memory, but Screwball makes it unforgettable.

My thoughts: You normally wouldn't rave over the storytelling of a documentary but you have to for Screwball. They have the real life people recounting their stories while children dressed like them act it out. It's a riot. It's compelling and it's incredibly interesting even if you only have passing knowledge of steroids in baseball.

Final verdict: 4 anti-aging clinics out of 5.

See You Yesterday:

Synopsis: High school best friends and science prodigies C.J. and Sebastian spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel. But when C.J.'s older brother Calvin dies after an encounter with police officers, the young duo decide to put their unfinished tech to use in a desperate bid to save Calvin. From director Stefon Bristol and producer Spike Lee comes See You Yesterday, a sci-fi adventure grounded in familial love, cultural divides and the universal urge to change the wrongs of the past.

My thoughts: A nice modern day time travel tale. I'll be up front in saying sci-fi is not my cup of tea so this was a harder sell but as far as these things go this was fine even if it was a tad predictable the powerfulness of the story made up for that.

Final verdict: 3 time travelling backpacks out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: May 25, 2019

10. Panic! At The Disco - Dancing's Not A Crime
Last week: 10.


9. Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties - Runnin' Towards The Light
Last week: NEW!


8. Seaway - Pleasures
Last week: 9.


7. The Story So Far - Light Year
Last week: NEW!


6. The Story So Far - Proper Dose
Last week: 2.


5. New Found Glory - This Is Me
Last week: 8.


4. Grayscale - If I Ever See You Again
Last week: 5.


3. Fever 333 - One Of Us
Last week: 1.


2. The Interrupters - Gave You Everything
Last week: 3.


1. State Champs - Criminal
Last week: 4.

Special: Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five, The Hustle, Hellboy Mini-Reviews

Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five

Synopsis: The Justice League faces a powerful new threat, the Fatal Five. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman seek answers as the time-traveling trio of Mano, Persuader and Tharok terrorize Metropolis in search of budding Green Lantern. This may drastically change the destiny of the universe.

My thoughts: This is a really good introduction to the Legion of Superheroes into the DCAU of movies. Now this is technically not canon to the shared universe but it's a starting point for people so they can put them in the mainline series and not miss a beat. The writing was strong and the JLU style animation is always welcomed as is the voice of our main cast. DC could've done better but not that much better as this is a pretty good movie overall.

Final verdict: 4 teenagers from the 31st century out of 5.

The Hustle:

Synopsis: Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway have winning chemistry as a pair of con artists plying their trade in a stunning seaside town in the south of France. Josephine Chesterfield (Hathaway) is a glamorous, seductive Brit with a sprawling home in Beaumont-sur-Mer and a penchant for defrauding gullible wealthy men from all corners of the world. Into her well-ordered, meticulously moneyed world bursts Penny Rust (Wilson), an Aussie who is as free-form and fun-loving as Josephine is calculated and cunning. Where Penny amasses wads of cash by ripping off her marks in neighborhood bars, Josephine fills her safe with massive diamonds after ensnaring her prey in glitzy casinos. Despite their different methods, both are masters of the art of the fleece so they con the men that have wronged women. Wilson's talent for physicality and Hathaway's withering wit are a combustible combination as the pair of scammers pull out all the stops to swindle a naive tech billionaire (Alex Sharp).

My thoughts: It wasn't completely unwatchable, but it was completely un-funny and even though Anne Hathaway deserves better she did nothing to redeem this movie either. It's a stinker.

Final verdict: 2 gender-swaped remakes out of 5.

Hellboy:

Synopsis: Hellboy is back, and he's on fire. From the pages of Mike Mignola's seminal work, this action packed story sees the legendary half-demon superhero (David Harbour, "Stranger Things") called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil series), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, Hellboy is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.

My thoughts: It doesn't touch the animated or Del Toro films. But it didn't need to in order to be good, but it didn't quite reach that either. It seems this movie was made due to the success of R rated superhero movies lately and they decided to give Hellboy that treatment except with a low budget it all just kind've looked forced and mildly cringy. This movie is a big ol' meh at it's core.

Final verdict: 3 demons out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: May 18, 2019

10. Panic! At The Disco - Dancing's Not A Crime
Last week: NEW!


9. Seaway - Pleasures
Last week: 10.


8. New Found Glory - This Is Me
Last week: 9.


7. Our Last Night - Bury The Hatchet
Last week: 7.


6. Beartooth - You Never Know
Last week: 3.


5. Grayscale - If I Ever See You Again
Last week: 8.


4. State Champs - Criminal
Last week: 5.


3. The Interrupters - I Gave You Everything
Last week: 4.


2. The Story So Far - Proper Dose
Last week: 1.


1. Fever 333 - One Of Us
Last week: 2.

Special: Avengers: Endgame, Long Shot, Dragonball Super: Broly Mini-Reviews

Avengers: Endgame:

Synopsis: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films, "Avengers: Endgame."

My thoughts: This was a highly satisfying movie. I will not give away anything spoilery but I will say the film takes a few unexpected twists and turns each more enjoyable than the next. The Avengers were due for change after Infinity War and Endgame provides it as a step up from it's predecessor. The 3 hour run time feels like 1.5 since you're so invested in what's happening with lots of comedy, enough action and even some drama blended in for good measure. Can't wait to see what the next 22 films have in store for us.

Final verdict: 5 snaps out of 5.

Long Shot:

Synopsis: Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she's a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for... well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish out of water on Charlotte's elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamorous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to a round-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.

My thoughts: Honestly I went into this thinking this was a solid 3 since I don't do halves but I'm having a hard time getting it that low. The chemistry between the stars is undeniable even if sometimes it reverts back to typical Seth Rogen fair but you quickly forget when the script gets sharper.

Final verdict: 4 embarrassing boners out of 5.

Dragonball Super: Broly:

Synopsis: A planet destroyed, a powerful race reduced to nothing. After the devastation of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans were scattered among the stars, destined for different fates. While two found a home on Earth, the third was raised with a burning desire for vengeance and developed an unbelievable power. And the time for revenge has come. Destinies collide in a battle that will shake the universe to its very core!

My thoughts: I was pretty disappointed with this. I've enjoyed the last few Dragonball movies quite a bit and I got the hype for this one since it made Broly cannon as he previously only appeared in GT, a series widely panned and quickly wrote off as not cannon but people loved Broly. I never watched GT so I didn't have that attachment so for me this film introduced me to him and it did very little. The fight scenes as always was exciting and I enjoyed the ending we got however there wasn't a whole lot going on here, much to my chagrin,

Final Verdict: 3 Saiyans out of 5

Top 10 Countdown: May 11, 2019

10. Seaway - Pleasures
Last week: NEW!


9. New Found Glory - This Is Me
Last week: NEW!


8. Grayscale - If I Ever See You Again
Last week: NEW!


7. Our Last Night - Bury The Hatchet
Last week: 8.


6. As It Is - The Fire, The Dark
Last week: 1.


5. State Champs - Criminal
Last week: 6.


4. The Interrupters - Gave You Everything
Last week: 5.


3. Beartooth - You Never Know
Last week: 3.


2. Fever 333 - One Of Us
Last week: 4.


1. The Story So Far - Proper Dose
Last week: 1.

Top 10 Countdown: May 4, 2019

10. Steve Aoki Ft. blink-182 - Why Are We So Broken
Last week: NEW!


9. I Prevail - Bow Down
Last week: 9.


8. Our Last Night - Bury The Hatchet
Last week: 10.


7. I Don't Know How But They Found Me - Choke
Last week: 3.


6. State Champs - Criminal
Last week: 7.


5. The Interrupters - Gave You Everything
Last week: 6.


4. Fever 333 - One Of Us
Last week: 5.


3. Beartooth - You Never Know
Last week: 4.


2. The Story So Far - Proper Dose
Last week: 2.


1. As It Is - The Fire, The Dark
Last week: 1.

Special: Emo Meme Review #1

What's up everybody. For this special I'm doing a new segment inspired by a youtuber that is also a great mate... Nate the mate. On his channel Nate has a segment called "Emo Meme Review" where he discusses various "scene music" memes. Now perhaps in the future we will do a written word version of that but for now I want to discuss one meme in particular that comes to us from @allpunkedup on twitter.

Now this is an interesting exercise as I can't actually off the top of my head decide three bands so I figure if I take this in stages I can figure it out. So firstly I'll remove the bands that I either do not like or have not listened to.

So not much to go over here. My apologies to Stand Atlantic for not giving them a shot to this point I plan on correcting that. I also didn't give Moose Blood much of a shot either though they obviously don't deserve it. Twenty One Pilots and Angels & Airwaves I just can't really get into. They have some good songs but others that miss so they come off here as well. Next up we'll remove the bands I may like but don't love.

Trash Boat and Boston Manor are newer bands with only 2 full lengths but I have not given them as much attention as I'd like to. Weezer is legendary but they are touch and go for me. I wouldn't buy any Weezer records honestly. Against The Current probably wouldn't be here if their new album was better but alas they've fallen a bit in my eyes. Next up we'll remove the bands that I don't like their earlier music.

Blink and Green Day are legendary but they both required an album or two before they hit their stride. I mean realistically even though I like these bands they probably wouldn't be final 3 bands so no harm removing them now. Pierce The Veil is likely a controversial one since their old stuff doesn't sound much different then the big albums that followed but I just can't get into it. Waterparks is well expected. Even the band doesn't like anything prior to the Crave EP and even that one is touch and go. Now we'll remove the bands that have an album/era that I didn't like.

In fairness to these bands they've been around for a very long time. Unfortunately I hated Pretty Odd era P!ATD. I never got into Senses Fail Hardcore era. Sum 41 went downhill after Underclass Hero before bouncing back recently. AAR hasn't been good since When The World Comes Down. Next up we'll take a couple more off that had an album that didn't measure up to their other work.

Yet again punishing bands that have been around a while. Fall Out Boy, Paramore and The Wonder Years newest albums weren't up to snuff compared to their previous releases. Mayday Parade on the other rebounded after a few middling albums, especially Monsters In The Closet. Let's give the vets a break. Let's remove some younger bands that don't have as much material as the others.

Not much explanation is needed here. Sleep On It has 1 full length and an EP. With Confidence and Knuckle Puck have 2 full lengths and a handful of EP's and As It is has 3 full lengths, as do others on the list but they're the lowest on my preference list. Alright one last round of bands that had albums/eras I didn't like to get down to 8.

I feel bad taking The Maine off but I really just couldn't super enjoy the Pioneer/Forever Halloween era's. The Story So Far's EP was not good and the self-titled record doesn't have much staying power for me. Good Charlotte's pre hiatus work wasn't great and Set It Off's pre Duality work wasn't either. And then there were 8 so now let's just eliminate the 4 I like the least.

Honestly I'm shocked Real Friends made it this far. Had you of told me it would be final 8 I would've laughed but here they are. Simple Plan almost got knocked off last round but they squeaked in here so that made them expendable here. I love Seaway but given their "newer band" status it was hard to carry them any other further. All Time Low was the tougher cut but they have some misses in their catalog overall even if I enjoy each album mostly.

So that leaves 4: Neck Deep, A Day To Remember, State Champs and New Found Glory. NFG and State Champs were easy picks for the final but now the question is do we keep Neck Deep and their amazing Life's Not Out To Get You album and the still excellent The Peace And The Panic. Or ADTR's extensive catalog. I tend to lead ADTR especially since I have the pop punk covered with the other 2. So there you go. My pick 3: New Found Glory, State Champs, A Day To Remember.