The Code Is Zeek

Keanu was my most anticipated film of the new releases this week and while it was merely hit or miss as a film, it did feature plenty of cute kitten action. Speaking of animals in action, the wily Lombax of video game fame got his feature film debut with Ratchet & Clank , which was satisfactory, as far as video game adaptations go. Really, more people should see Green Room , which spreads wider this week. And with all that, be sure to check out my coverage of The Newport Beach Film Festival , along with our latest podcast and more. Enjoy! In Theaters Now: Keanu -  http://whysoblu.com/keanu- movie-review/ (Hit or miss, but mostly hit) Ratchet & Clank -  http://whysoblu.com/ratchet- clank-now-fun-movie-arsenal- movie-review/ (Decent video game adaptation) Green Room -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/2016/04/green-room-is- punk-rock-nightmare-of.html (A dark and dirty thriller, spreads wider this week) Here's The Archive Of ...

I guess it is time for me to finally anticipate Oliver Stone 's latest drama covering a real life and fairly recent event. There was a trailer for Snowden   last year, but then the film was delayed and then delayed again. If it means Stone has had all the time he needed to make a great film, so be it (although I think we're still getting new cuts of Alexander ). With this in mind though, how about that accent?

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe, the guys have captured their great white whale. The guys are joined Ana Bosch to discuss something that happened at the Newport Beach Film Festival , along with thoughts on Ratchet & Clank and The Huntsman: Winter’s War . Among topics covered, we have a modified round of Know Everybody ( 2:34 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 13:05 ), Trailer Talk for Jason Bourne and The Magnificent Seven ( 25:08 ), the main review ( 36:45 ), and Out Now Feedback ( 53:47 ). We then wrap things up ( 59:23 ) and end it all with some bloopers ( 1:07:45 ), following this week’s close out song.  So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

Just in time for Earth Day, Fox has released another trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence and it's a good one. I am both an unabashed fan of the original 1996 blockbuster and one who has been cautiously optimistic about this sequel that finally gotten off the ground. It is mainly because I have not seen a major motion picture sequel tackle what happens after the world is destroyed, yet still moved on. I also just tend to have faith in director Roland Emmerich , when it comes to how he delivers these kinds of films and the inherent goofiness, melodrama and big budget effects melding together.

This week we get The Huntsman: Winter's War , the prequel/sequel no one asked for. Snow White  may have made some money a few years back, but it wasn't exactly amazing and this new effort does nothing to change that. Fortunately you can look elsewhere, as Elvis & Nixon  and A Hologram for the King offer some strong work from the cast members ( Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Tom Hanks ), regardless of how good the overall films are. Plenty of trailers came out this week as well, which you can read all about here. And be sure to take a listen to podcasts put up this week. Enjoy! In Theaters Now: The Huntsman: Winter's War -  http://whysoblu.com/ huntsman-tells-fantasy-tale- never-wanted-movie-review/ (An awful waste of talent) Elvis & Nixon -  http://whysoblu.com/elvis- nixon-movie-review/ (Leaves a smile on your face) A Hologram For The King -  http://whysoblu.com/ hologram-king-movie-review/ (Decent, low-key Tom Han...

Finally, a trailer for one of the big summer blockbusters I am most looking forward to. Jason Bourne  is back and once again he looks pissed. People just won't leave this man alone. Also back - Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass . Both are coming off of lots of acclaim ( The Martian , Captain Phillips ), so it is not as if they need this movie, which makes me hope they have a really cool approach for this (official) fourth entry, generic title aside.

If you thought Ben-Hur  was something to look out for, well we now have another remake of a remake coming in the form of The Magnificent Seven . This version features Denzel Washington in the lead role, along with Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D'Onofrio , among others, and is directed by Antoine Fuqua ( Training Day , The Equalizer ). Frankly, the cast is pretty terrific, but it is more the filmmaker choice that gives me pause, as the film looks fine but nothing special, based on just this teaser. 

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe has all the bare necessities and more. The guys are joined Jose Cordova and David Yeh to talk The Jungle Book from director Jon Favreau . Lots of good discussion regarding this CG marvel, as well as other conversations that extend to many things, including some insightful discussion about whitewashing in Doctor Strange .  Among topics covered, we have a fun round of Know Everybody ( 4:13 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 9:23 ), Trailer Talk for Doctor Strange ( 24:55 ), the main review ( 40:38 ), Out Now Feedback ( 1:12:30 ), and Games ( 1:24:16 ). We then wrap things up ( 1:31:15 ) and end it all with some bloopers ( 1:38:48 ), following this week’s close out song.    So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

Warcraft  is coming this summer and while I have no real connection with the popular Blizzard video game franchise, aside from general acknowledgement that it exists and is wildly popular, I would really like it to be good. Director Duncan Jones ( Moon, Source Code ) has earned plenty of good faith from me and the film has certainly had the time and the money spent to come up with something good, but can it be good? That's something I don't really know if I can be completely optimistic about.

It is something to be the talk of the Sundance Film Festival , land the largest acquisition deal to date and be a film already considered to be a lock for major Oscar contention. That is just what Nate Parker 's The Birth of a Nation has done. Parker writes, directs, produces and stars in this film depicting the story of Nat Turner, the African-American slave who led a rebellion in Virginia during the 1830s. A lot has been said since the film made its Sundance debut and know we can all get a look at the first trailer.

Time for another commentary and this time it is accompanying a bit of ultra-violent comic book fun. Aaron is joined by Scott Mendelson , Brandon Peters and Cullen Bricker to talk Punisher: War Zone starring Ray Stevenson , from director Lexi Alexander . This rare Marvel flop has held onto a cult audience over the years and the guys are happy to delve into what works, what’s crazy about it and whatever other random thoughts there are that cross their minds. Tune into to learn a thing or two about the film and enjoy some fun conversation. Important Note:   This commentary may feature both juvenile uses of language and jokes that may be considered un-PC.  We of course are just trying to have a fun time… So now, if you’ve got an hour to kill…

This has turned out to be a pretty solid week for movies. I may have missed the latest from Kevin Costner (on purpose), but you still have The Jungle Book and Barbershop 3 in wide release, along with a couple indies in the form of Green Room and Sing Street . All of these are worth checking out for various reasons. I also got busy with trailers and other stuff, as I decided to do a little research and talk about other silly superhero movie titles to go along with Spider-Man: Homecoming . And you can check out our very fun podcast for the week and my weekly reviews of The Americans . It's all here, so enjoy! In Theaters Now: The Jungle Book -  http://whysoblu.com/trust- jungle-book-astonishing- visuals-movie-review/ (Astonishing visuals) Barbershop: The Next Cut -  http://whysoblu.com/ barbershop-next-cut-best-trip- shop-yet-movie-review/ (Funnier and smarter than you may think) Green Room -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/2016/04/green-room-is-...

Green Room : 4 out of 5 Of all the versus battles we will be seeing this year, I’m not sure punk rockers vs. white supremacists was one I would have expected. Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier follows up his fantastic thriller Blue Ruin with Green Room , another pitch black look at humans pushed to their limits when it comes to taking on a despicable force. The results are rough, but handled in a way that is as technically sharp as the box cutter blades and machetes put to use in this ultra-violent suspense tale.

I really enjoy putting my reviews together.  I honestly wish I could delve deeper into certain movies, but alas, I get incredibly busy and can sometimes only deal with movies to a briefer extent than I would prefer.  This is why I write these occasional "Brief Thoughts" posts on movies I have seen, as I want to at least offer some of my own perspective on them.  They may not be as polished, but I can at least get my opinions out there. This Brief Thoughts post is a double review of two thrillers both similar and different - 'The Invitation' and 'Hush'.

The word is out that Spider-Man: Homecoming  is officially the title for the next live-action Spider-Man  film and honestly, it sounds pretty silly. For fans, there is a clear connection to the comics with this one and it also reflects the high school age of this version of Peter Parker (portrayed by Tom Holland , currently 19 years old in real life), but the somewhat inside joke is also clear. Yes, this is a Sony film that is now connected to Marvel Studios and the title easily reflects the idea of Spider-Man finally coming 'home'.  We will apparently be seeing MCU characters pop up in this one, which only makes sense, given that Spidey will be popping up in Civil War , but honestly, the title feels like too much of a gag. It seems more like something the writers and producers joked about, only to have it become the actual thing. With all that said, how about we look at some of the sillier titles of various superhero movies that have poped up over the decades. ...

We may have Captain America: Civil War  coming soon enough to launch the start of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Doctor Strange appears to be setting up more of the weirder and wilder Marvel films to be coming. A Guardians of the Galax y sequel, Thor: Ragnarok , Black Panthe r  and others are all on the way, but let's back up and take a look at what Doctor Strange seems to be promising.

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe features our Round 2 attempt. Sadly, guests Adam Gentry and Peter Paras joined in to record one of the best podcast episodes every recorded, only to become victims of a technical error. Still, this did not stop Peter from jumping back on later on to record a make-up episode. This is a loose one, as the guys discuss Batman v Superman ( 4:48 ), Daredevil ( 18:53 ), Rogue One ( 31:50 ), The Boss ( 1:01:54 ), Everybody Wants Some!! ( 1:06:05 ), Out Now Feedback ( 1:29:44 ) and more. Lots of ground covered and lots of fun tangents as well. So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

You know, we have recently gotten new trailers for Suicide Squad, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them  and Central Intelligence , but the trailer I actually go into is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows . You know why? It looks fun. I am not about to say it will be one of the best movies of the summer or even better than the films I mentioned (maybe  Central Intelligence ), but given all the doom and gloom we have been seeing lately, there is a lot here suggesting Out of the Shadows  could be a fun breakout sequel that delivers more on a new theatrical version of a series that has continued being a presence in the lives of many kids (and kids at heart) for a few decades now.

This week we have The Boss, Hardcore Henry and Demolition . I haven't got around to seeing the last film as of yet, but Hardcore Henry did deliver what it promised, forgettable as it may be. The real surprise is The Boss . Even though I seem to be in the minority on this one, I had a good time laughing at Melissa McCarthy in a comedy for a change. Plenty of Star Wars happened this week too! The Blu-ray is out now and I wrote about the exciting trailer for Rogue One . Feel free to check it all out and more. Enjoy! In Theaters Now: The Boss -  http://whysoblu.com/the- boss-movie-review/ (I've been hot and cold on Melissa McCarthy movies. This one made me laugh) Hardcore Henry -  http://whysoblu.com/ hardcore-henry-combat-evolved- movie-review/ (Wears out its welcome by the time it ends, but a decent action exercise) Here's The Archive Of Every Review Throughout The Year(s) -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/p/review-archive.html

A new Star Wars trailer is here and it looks decidedly different. Whether or not you are ready for a Star Wars film every year, that is what's happening and Rogue One will hopefully be a successful test of how well the universe can be expanded without the aid of Skywalkers and episodic titles. The premise is certainly a juicy one, so let's hope this gritty espionage adventure delivers.

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe features a special gathering of abilities. The guys are joined Jimmy O and Jason Coleman to talk Midnight Special from director Jeff Nichols . There are a bizarre number of references to other things, as that’s what happens when Jimmy’s around, but plenty of insight into thoughts on the film. Among topics covered, we have a fun round of Know Everybody ( 5:56 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 11:00 ), Trailer Talk for The Nice Guys ( 19:29 ), the main review ( 24:12 ), Out Now Feedback ( 1:00:00 ), and Games ( 1:27:21 ). We then wrap things up (1:34:36) and end it all with some bloopers ( 1:49:26 ), following this week’s close out song.  So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

Last week was pretty massive with the release of Batman v Superman , but this week actually offers something better with the latest from Richard Linklater ,  Everybody Wants Some . Additionally, the terrific Midnight Special expands to more theaters and The Witch actually returns to theaters, so there is plenty out there to see. Of course, you can also check up on what has come to Blu-ray this week and we have a terrific new podcast episode available as well. All that and more for you to enjoy! In Theaters Now: Everybody Wants Some -  http://whysoblu.com/ everybody-wants-some-movie- review/ (All kinds of entertaining) Midnight Special -  http://whysoblu.com/ midnight-special-movie-review/ (Some really strong sci-fi) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice -  http://whysoblu.com/the- batman-v-superman-movie- review/ (It seems to be lacking fun, but plenty of cinematic spectacle) The Witch -  http://whysoblu.com/the- witch-movie-review...