"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
20 – Under Paris
(6/5) Director: Xavier
Gens Writer: Sebastien
Auscher, Yannick Dahan, Xavier Gens, Maud Heywang, Yaël Langmann, Olivier
Torres Actors: Bérénice
Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Anaïs Parello, Iñaki Lartigue, Léa Léviant Genre: Action,
Drama, Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 41min IMDb Blurb: Sophia, a brilliant scientist comes to know that a
large shark is swimming deep in the river. I simply cannot get enough sharksploitation. I tend to even enjoy
the bad ones, and this one seems more in the mid-range. Never-the-less, I’m the
target audience. 19 – Daddio
(6/28) Director: Christy
Hall Writer: Christy
Hall Actors: Dakota
Johnson, Sean Penn, Marcos A. Gonzalez, Shannon Gannon Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 41min IMDb Blurb: A woman taking a cab ride from JFK engages in a conversation
with the taxi driver about the important relationships in their lives. Movies starring mainly two people are a rough sell. Those
two actors need to be enough to hold the attention of the audience. There are
some successful flicks, but a lot of them do wind up falling flat. When it
comes to Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn (Asphalt City, Flag Day, The Gunman),
I blow hot and cold with both. I need to see which way the wind goes before I
commit to anything higher than 19 for Daddio. 18 – The Present
(6/13) Director: Christian
Ditter Writer: Jay
Martel Actors: Shawn
Balentine, Jaden Betts, Bryan Billy Boone, Iman Crosson, Michael Daruler, David
Eisen, Isla Fisher, Ryan Guzman, Symera Jackson, Mason Shea Joyce, Greg
Kinnear, Madeline Logan, Sarah Jane MacKay Genre: Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 26min IMDb Blurb: A brilliant boy discovers that he can manipulate
time using a family heirloom. He soon teams up with his siblings in returning
to the time of their parents' separation, with hopes of changing the outcome. I might have had The Present up higher on my list if
it was last year. It looks quirky and fun, full of fantasy. Seeing the same
thing from the perspective of kids with parents going through a separation is a
bit too close to home for me now, but that doesn’t change how good the film
looks. 17 – Ghostlight
(6/14)
Director: Kelly
O'Sullivan, Alex Thompson Writer: Kelly
O’Sullivan Actors: Keith
Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Dolly De Leon, Hanna Dworkin,
Dexter Zollicoffer, H.B. Ward, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Alma Washington Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a
local theater's production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to
mirror his own life. It’s important in a coming-of-age flick to get the parents
just as right as the kids or it feels like there’s something missing. It looks
like Ghostlight does just that; giving the parents some things to work
out alongside the kids. That opens it up to being relatable to people of all
ages. 16 – Tuesday
(6/14) Director: Daina
Oniunas-Pusic Writer: Daina
Oniunas-Pusic Actors: Arinzé
Kene, Lola Petticrew, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Leah Harvey, Ellie James, Taru
Devani, Jay Simpson Genre: Fantasy Rated: R Length: 1h 51min IMDb Blurb: A mother and her teenage daughter must confront
Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird. This trailer took a hard left turn. What I thought was just
going to be a heartbreaking drama suddenly became a fantasy, and it caught my
attention. A decent cast with a unique concept, I think Tuesday is going
to be a fantastic watch – even if we do need a ton of tissues. 15 – Am I Ok?
(6/6) Director: Stephanie
Allynne, Tig Notaro Writer: Lauren
Pomerantz Actors: Dakota
Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Whitmer
Thomas, Sean Hayes, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’zion Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Romance Rated: R Length: 1h 26min IMDb Blurb: Lucy and Jane have been best friends their entire
lives. Only when Lucy embarks on a personal journey, will she face a test of
her friendship, and her sense of self, on a path she may not be entirely ready
to take. Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey, The Social Network,
Madame Web) is getting a ton of work lately. Am I Ok? Would look more
cringey without the way she plays the lead role in the trailer. Instead, it
winds up feeling more endearing. There’s always the possibility that the
trailer shows all her best moments, but I think that won’t happen here. Am I
Ok? Is exactly the kind of movie Johnson could elevate. 14 – The Watchers
(6/7) Director: Ishana
Shyamalan Writer: Ishana
Shyamalan, A.M. Shine Actors: Dakota
Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, Siobhan Hewlett, Shane O’Regan,
Hannah Howland, Oliver Finnegan Genre: Fantasy,
Horror, Mystery Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 42min IMDb Blurb: A young artist gets stranded in an extensive,
immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes
trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night. The trailer for The Watchers is interesting. It’d be
higher up on my list, except M. Night Shyamalan’s (Old, Split, The Last
Airbender) name doesn’t carry the weight it once did. That’s unfortunate,
because I don’t know the first thing about his daughter, Ishana Shyamalan (Servant). I’m interested in what she can do with this concept though. 13 – Horizon: An
American Saga Chapter 1 (6/28) Director: Kevin
Costner Writer: Jon
Baird, Kevin Costner Actors: Kevin Costner,
Abbey Lee, Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, Dale Dickey, Isabelle Fuhrman, Will
Patton, Tom Payne, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sam Worthington, Michael Rooker,
Thomas Haden Church, Giovanni Ribisi, Luke Wilson, Danny Huston Genre: Drama,
Western Rated: R Length: 3h 1min IMDb Blurb: Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and
post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west. I know. A western film on my top 20 is damn near unheard of.
I’m notorious for absolutely despising western films. They all feel roughly the
same to me – unless they have another genre woven in, like with Serenity
(2005). In fact, the only single genre western I’ve ever enjoyed is 3:10 to
Yuma (1957). Even then, there were parts that made me roll my eyes. In the case of Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1, I
can’t deny the efficacy of the trailer. It would still take a lot for me to
actively sit down and watch it… but just having the desire to is strange for
me. Deserves to be noted. 12 – Trigger
Warning (6/21) Director: Mouly
Surya Writer: John
Brancato, Josh Olson, Halley Wegryn Gross Actors: Jessica
Alba, Mark Webber, Anthony Michael Hall, Alejandro De Hoyos, Tone Bell, Jake
Weary Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: A skilled Special Forces commando (Jessica Alba)
takes ownership of her father's bar after he suddenly dies, and soon finds
herself at odds with a violent gang running rampant in her hometown. I’m a fan of Jessica Alba (Idle Hands, Honey, Sin City)
from way back in her Dark Angel (2000-2002) days. I’m always happy to
see a new flick with her in it. In this case, the trailer looks decent. A solid
action. I’m just hoping they didn’t show all the exciting parts in the coming
attractions. 11 – Bad Boys:
Ride or Die (6/7) Director: Adil El
Arbi, Bilall Fallah Writer: Chris
Bremner, Will Beall, George Gallo Actors: Will
Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Eric
Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Tiffany
Haddish, Joe Pantoliano Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: R Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: When their former captain is implicated in corruption,
two Miami police officers have to work to clear his name. Bad Boys is a series I’m always going to be
interested in. Even though Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Men in
Black, King Richard) is slapping comedians and Martin Lawrence (Martin,
The Soul Man, Death at a Funeral) is definitely too old for this shit. It’s
just an iconic series that I couldn’t not want to watch the next one of. I hope it’s worth it.
10 – The
Bikeriders (6/21) Director: Jeff
Nichols Writer: Jeff
Nichols Actors: Jodie
Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook,
Norman Reedus, Damon Herriman, Beau Knapp Genre: Crime,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 56min IMDb Blurb: After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn
to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club
transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between
Kathy and his loyalty to the club. I got a very Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) vibe from
the trailer for The Bikeriders. The blurb even reminds me of a story arc
from the show. I’m all for seeing a flick that brings me back to that feeling. There’s a fantastic cast involved, and it’s written/directed
by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Loving, Mud) – a man that has not made a
dud film yet. I have absolute faith that The Bikeriders is going to be
incredible. 9 – Trim Season
(6/7) Director: Ariel
Vida Writer: David
Blair, Sean E. DeMott, Cullen Poythress, Megan Sutherland, Ariel Vida Actors: Bethlehem
Million, Alexandra Essoe, Ally Ioannides, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Juliette Kenn De
Balinthazy, Jane Badler, Ryan Donowho, Cory Hart Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: A group of young people go to a remote marijuana
farm where they hope to make quick cash. But, they discover the location's dark
secrets and now must try to escape the mountain on which they are trapped. I am not the wake and bake type. I usually wind up ignoring
most media that revolves around marijuana. I have nothing against it, or people
who use it, but I know I’m going to miss a lot of the references and some of
the humor will be lost on me. At least, I assume it will be. I was ready to
write Trim Season off as ‘not for me’ because of that. The trailer made that impossible. If you ask me, most movies could take a cue from Trim
Season’s trailer. It left me with a bunch of questions that I want answers
to. That’s what a trailer is meant to do, and what a lot simply don’t. As a
result, I’m super interested in seeing something that I would have written off
immediately if it had weaker coming attractions. 8 – Kinds of
Kindness (6/21) Director: Yorgos
Lanthimos Writer: Efthimis
Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos Actors: Emma
Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn,
Mamoudou Athie, Hunter Schafer Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 2h 44min IMDb Blurb: A man seeks to break free from his predetermined
path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed
drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to
become a renowned spiritual guide. I love anthologies. Give me some nicely framed short stories
all put together by a genius director – which Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things,
The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is – and I’m a happy girl. In
this case, there’s also an insane cast. Emma Stone (La La Land, Poor Things,
Cruella), Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog, The Irishman, Civil War),
Willen Dafoe (Spider-Man, The Lighthouse, The Florida Project), Margaret
Qualley (Kenzo World, Novitiate, Poor Things), Mamoudou Athie (The
Get Down, The Boy and the Heron, Black Box), Hong Chau (The Whale, The
Menu, Asteroid City), and Joe Alwyn (The Favourite, Harriet, Mary Queen
of Scots) are all fantastic additions to a flick like this. The best part of an anthology? If you don’t like one story,
the next one could always be better. 7 – Hit Man (6/7) Director: Richard
Linklater Writer: Richard
Linklater, Glen Powell, Skip Hollandsworth Actors: Adria
Arjona, Glen Powell, Retta, Austin Amelio, Molly Bernard, Mike Markoff, Bath
Bartley Genre: Action,
Comedy, Crime Rated: R Length: 1h 55min IMDb Blurb: A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for
his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he
finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services. When Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Before Midnight, Bernie)
comes out with a new movie, you must take notice. Most of his stuff is
relatable and humorous. He very rarely goes to a place of cringe or something
over-the-top. It’s almost a given that anything he puts out will be a fun
watch. Hit Man in general has a cute concept, and even the
trailer made me laugh. It’s going to be a good one. 6 – The Exorcism
(6/21) Director: Joshua
John Miller Writer: M.A.
Fortin, Joshua John Miller Actors: Russell
Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, Adrian
Pasdar, David Hyde Pierce Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: A troubled actor begins to exhibit a disruptive
behavior while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's
slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at
play. Just about every cinema fan knows the behind-the-scenes
stories that follow certain kinds of horror flicks. Like the trailer suggests,
movies like The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976) have a ton of
horrific stories of things that have happened on set. Trust the Dice has seen plenty of movies that play with the
idea, my favorite probably being The Cleansing Hour (2019). That film
goes into what happens when a fake exorcism becomes real. I thought, even
watching that flick, that a movie depicting those kinds of behind-the-scenes
stories would be fantastic. I’m pretty sure Cat and I had a whole conversation
about it. Probably on stream. And here it is. I am hoping we’ll get to see The Exorcism this month
when it comes out, because I’m absolutely loving the trailer. 5 – Thelma (6/21) Director: Josh
Margolin Writer: Josh
Margolin Actors: June
Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Chase Kim, Richard Roundtree Genre: Action,
Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 37min IMDb Blurb: When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone
scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest
across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. June Squibb (Nebraska, About Schmidt, Godmothered) is
a national treasure. I’ve said it before and I’m positive I’ll be saying it
again. Seeing her in this outstandingly adorable trailer was so much fun that
it’s impossible to not look forward to the movie. It’s going to be hilarious. 4 – Ultraman:
Rising (6/14) Director: Shannon
Tindle, John Aoshima Writer: Shannon
Tindle, Marc Haimes Actors: Christopher
Sean, Rob Fukuzaki, Hiro Nakamura, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: PG Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: Ken Sato, a superstar baseball player who returns
to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. However, he
is compelled to raise a newborn kaiju monster, the offspring of his greatest
enemy as his own child. Ultraman, as a hero concept, lends himself phenomenally to
the animation medium. In this specific case, I can’t get passed just how clean
the art looks. I’m a huge fan of the art style chosen. I would watch just about
any animation film in this style. Ultraman: Rising has the added benefit of looking
cute. I can see my daughter actually agreeing to watch it with me, making it
fun for the whole family. 3 – Latency
(6/14) Director: James
Croke Writer: James
Croke Actors: Sasha
Luss, Alexis Ren Genre: Action,
Horror, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: When Hana, a professional gamer who suffers from
acute agoraphobia, receives new equipment that enhances her game, she begins to
wonder if it is reading her mind - or controlling it. I was immediately intrigued by the plot of Latency. I’ll admit that the whole ‘stuck in a video game’ idea isn’t
exactly unique. We’ve seen it done quite a few times since Tron (1982). Latency
seems to take that idea and crossbreed it with that psychological, ‘is anything
really happening’ thriller tension that I love. Latency isn’t usually the kind of film that finds
itself this high up on one of my Top 20s. What intrigues me most about it is
the inclusion of writer/director James Croke (Shift, The Mirage, Australian
Summer). Although this is Croke’s full-length feature debut, he’s
shown some serious success as a production designer for shorts. Not one of
which has below a 7.0 on IMDb. That’s insane. I’m dying to see what he can do
with something like Latency. 2 – A Quiet
Place: Day One (6/28) Director: Michael
Sarnoski Writer: Michael
Sarnoski, John Krasinski, Bryan Woods, Scott Beck Actors: Joseph
Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, Alex Wolff, Lupita Nyong’o, Thea Butler Genre: Drama,
Horror, Sci-Fi Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: A woman named Sam must survive an invasion in New
York City by bloodthirsty alien creatures with ultrasonic sound hearing. The Quiet Place movies are super tense. I love the
way the story unfolds and the characterizations. Obviously, A Quiet Place:
Day One is going to be slightly different, but I imagine it’s going to have
the basic general feel. It’s missing key actors like Emily Blunt (Edge of
Tomorrow, The Devil Wears Prada, The Adjustment Bureau) and Millicent
Simmonds (Wonderstuck, Bumblebees, Andy Mack), but gives us absolute
powerhouses in the form of Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave, Us, Little
Monsters) and Djimon Hounsou (Gran Turismo, The King’s Man, How to Train
Your Dragon 2). It’s a fair trade off. Not only that but seeing how the actual invasion started is
going to be interesting. 1 – Inside Out 2
(6/14) Director: Kelsey
Mann Writer: Dave
Holstein, Meg LeFauve Actors: Amy
Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri,
Paul Walter Hauser, Kensington Tallman, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Yvette
Nicole Brown, Bobby Moynihan, Paula Poundstone, John Ratzenberger, Flea, June
Squibb Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: Follow Riley, in her teenage years, encountering
new emotions. Showing sarcasm as a literal chasm is my favorite thing
ever. I found it so much funnier than I probably should have. I had to step
away from YouTube and calm myself down. It was just such a perfect dad joke. The original Inside Out (2015) had some icon moments.
None more-so than that one Bing-bong moment that became an audio file on TikTok.
People who’ve never seen the film can still quote it. With that kind of staying
power, it’s impossible to not look forward to the sequel.
Series Name/Year: Trigun(1998) Series Name/Year: Trigun Stampede(2023-) Streaming Service (Both): Crunchyroll Genres (Both): Animation, Action,
Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Western Average Episode Length -
Trigun: 24 min (1 Season, 26 episodes) Average Episode Length -
Trigun Stampede: 24min (1 Season, 12 episodes) Rating (Both): TV-14 Director - Trigun: Satoshi Nishimura Directors - Trigun
Stampede: Kenji Muto, Minoru Yamaoka, Naomichi Yamato, Hiroshi
Nishikiori, Mie Ôishi Writers - Trigun: Yôsuke Kuroda, Yasuhiro
Nightow Writers - Trigun Stampede: Tatsuro Inamoto, Yasuhiro
Nightow, Shin Okashima, Takehiko Okishi, Yoshihisa Ueda Actors - Trigun: -Japanese Cast: Masaya Onosaka, Satsuki
Yukino, Hiromi Tsuru, Show Hayami, Tôru Furusawa, Masamichi Ota, Aya Hisakawa,
Toshihiko Seki, Kôki Miyata - English Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Lia Sargent,
Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Jeff Nimoy, Kirk Baily, Bridget Hoffman, Richard Cansino,
Bryce Papenbrook, Joshua Seth Actors - Trigun Stampede: - Japanese Cast: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Sakura Ando,
Kenji Matsuda, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Junya Ikeda, Yumiri Hanamori, Tomoyo Kurosawa,
Tarako, Ryûsei Nakao, Maaya Sakamoto, Kimiko Saitô, Mirei Kumagai - English Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Sarah Roach, Ben
Bryant, David Matranga, Austin Tindle, Kristen McGuire, Madeleine Morris, Megan
Shipman, Larry Brantley, Emily Fajardo, Lydia Mackay IMDb Blurb - Trigun: Vash the Stampede is the
most infamous outlaw on the planet Gunsmoke and with a 60 billion double dollar
price on his head the most sought after! IMDb Blurb - Trigun
Stampede: Follow gunman Vash the Stampede as he struggles to
maintain his pacifist ways while avoiding the immense bounty on his head.
Cat’s Point of View: Before we
delve into the warm fuzzies of the Holiday Season – better yet, before we
return to our more usual review fare with the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike; I
thought I’d dive into one of my favorite Japanese manga adaptations: Trigun.
Of course,
there’s more than 1 series to mention, considering the freshly released Trigun
Stampede that premiered this year. Both series approach the same material
(for the most part) from different perspectives, and I find both of them
excellent in their own ways.
I have a
bit of a soft spot for westerns. Couple that with my love of science fiction
and adventure and Trigun just started checking a lot of boxes in the
positive column as I caught the original series airing on Adult Swim years ago.
If I had
to pick some well known titles to mash together to compare Trigun to,
I’d have to say that it would be somewhat like a combination of the world of Mad
Max (1979) and the sci-fi blend in Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999). (Of
course, Trigun was one of Bebop’s contemporaries airing in the
same year.) I adore the blend of action with drama and comedy. Some of the
physical anime gags go a little over-the-top (especially facial features and
expressions). Those really aren’t my favorite bits, but everything else about
the series is a wonderful blend of chaos, futuristic steampunk, and the visuals
of an alternate world “old West.”
Before I
go any further, I feel I do need to warn that this review will inherently
contain some mild SPOILERS regarding the Trigun storyline continuity.
The 1998 series and the 2023 series approach Vash’s story from different points
in the timeline and some bits of information revealed as a surprise or
plot-twist late in the Trigun original series are front and center in
the very first episodes of the Trigun Stampede series. Further, anyone
who has watched the original series will generally know most of what will
happen in Trigun Stampede, however not everything is shown in this first
season. There’s room for the “missing characters” (to some extent) and other
plot elements to be explored in season 2 and potentially beyond.
First,
let’s talk animation style. With the 20-plus years between Trigun and TrigunStampede, it’s a given that animation production methods and styles will
have changed over time. 1998’s series fits right in with the high quality of
its contemporaries. The action was handled really well, and not all of the
comedy digressed into “comicalization” or simplistically exaggerated facial
expressions for the characters. Hey, I’m not knocking that stylistic choice –
it’s just not my preferred cup of tea. Even so, plenty of my favorite series
utilize that affectation as a common anime trope. It doesn’t generally impact
my enjoyment.
The Trigun
Stampede series is rather straight-shooting in a seamless animation style
that remains uniform, even while still delivering the moments of emotion and
comedy. The new style is clearly rendered in a digital format, though still
retains much of the “old school” animation charm rather than the shiny plastic
nature of most 3D animation. The action is fluid and well done, and Stampede
also utilizes a more modern approach to cinematography. As an example, there’s
one scene in an early episode of Stampede that comes to mind where Vash
is using parkour as he dodges bullets, and as he flips onto another rooftop or
similar surface the camera does a rotation with him. (This scene is actually
shown in the music video that accompanies the opening theme music for Stampede.)
Now let’s
get into the story a bit. Trigun Stampede might be hard for some fans of
the original series to take in at first because of some changes and/or seeming
omissions. Some characters aren’t seen that are in the 1998 series and even the
world has a different name. Previously called Gunsmoke, it’s now called Nomans
Land. Some of the villain-of-the-week characters don’t make an appearance, and
even some of the Gung-Ho Guns don’t show. Some characters have different backgrounds…
you get the picture.
Most of
the differences are honestly splitting hairs, in my opinion. Stampede is
not worse for wear for these changes. Honestly, it felt like the story was more
cohesive and streamlined. It felt like the original series had more
light-hearted moments sprinkled through the explosions, raining bullets,
questionable pick-up lines, and camaraderie. Trigun Stampede has the
comedy and action down, but also leans in a bit more to drama, ethics,
discrimination, personal moral code, and existential questions. It’s a bit
heavier in tone in some places, considering you know from the outset what the
relationship is between Vash and Knives and get an inkling as to what the
stakes are overall.
There’s
one main thing to keep in mind, however. When the 1998 series ran, the manga
was not finished by a long shot. Both series are made from a combination of Trigun
and Trigun Maximum. The latter just wasn’t complete when the first
series made its run. Maximum also wasn’t a reboot of the original Trigun
manga, but a continuation. The name only changed due to legal red tape because
the publisher changed, etc. Stampede now has the full manga run at its
disposal to draw from, and has the opportunity to spin the entire story in a
different way than presented in 1998.
Both
versions of the series remain true to Vash’s core journey – both literal and
figurative. He strives to put together what went wrong in the past and find
some redemption in his life. Vash has profound sadness within him, and yet shows a great understanding and zest for life and laughter all the same. Throughout both series, in the face of daunting circumstances, he maintains his beliefs in finding alternate
solutions to violence. Though, when violence cannot be avoided, he shows
strength and stands up to defend even those that have tried to hurt him. In
this way, the story of Trigun in both series reminds me of the way of life and perspective
of the late Gandhi and makes this story that much more powerful.
“My creed of nonviolence is an extremely active force. It has no
room for cowardice or even weakness. There is hope for a violent man to be some
day non-violent, but there is none for a coward. I have, therefore, said more
than once....that, if we do not know how to defend ourselves, our women and our
places of worship by the force of suffering, i.e., nonviolence, we must, if we
are men, be at least able to defend all these by fighting.” - M.K. Gandhi
As usual,
I feel I must disclose that, at this time, I haven’t read the manga to know
specifically what differences exist between either Trigun’s original
series or Stampede and the source material. There are many anime
resource sites, forums, and databases you are welcome to peruse should you wish
to look up the play-by-play yourself.
One of the
things that brings me great joy about all of the Trigun series is that, at
least for the English dubbed versions, Johnny Yong Bosch (Black Clover,
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War) has
remained the voice of Vash the Stampede throughout. He seems to be the
only consistent cast member to return through both series and the 2010
stand-alone movie. He brings something great to all of the characters he brings
to life on the screen, and seemingly effortlessly evokes both their strengths
and vulnerabilities.
Yes, I did
mention that there was a Trigun movie. Trigun: Badlands Rumble
hit screens in 2010 as an independent story that could have taken place
somewhere in the middle of the continuity of the 1998 series. It didn’t pick up
from the end, as some might have hoped. In that way it shared even more in
common with the Bebop series, as Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
did the same thing (much to my dismay).
Trigun
Stampede does have
a 2nd season announced, though details are scarce as to the timeline
for production. The ending of Stampede’s first season did allude to the
return of a familiar original series character that was conspicuously missing
thus far. There’s always room for more villains and other supporting characters
to pop up in the next installments, as well as new elements of the expanded
story within the source material. I just hope they also find a way to fit
Kuroneko back in for at least a cameo. The familiar silly black cat was a
missed opportunity in Stampede, in my book at least.
If you are
a fan of the original series, I implore you to give Trigun Stampede a
chance. If you haven’t watched any of the series yet – old or new – I do not
envy your decision between original and new series, but once you’ve watched one,
I encourage you to watch the other. Stampede is definitely an easier
binge with only 12 episodes compared to the original’s 26 + movie, but I’d have
to say it’s well worth the time spent to view both perspectives.
Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the
best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week.
These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe
in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your
friends, and/or post it on social media.
These projects don’t just need money, they need people to
care and spread the word that they exist.
Support creativity. Support indie artists.
Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you
have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.
Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project
creators for
Appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the
idea,
proposal, and people involved.
5 – Under An
Arctic Sky
Crowdsource Platform:
Kickstarter
Director: Chris
Burkard
Writer: Chris
Burkard
Other Staff: Unknown
Amount Requested:
$150,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $80,997 raised by 1,510 backers.
I don’t have a huge amount of interest in surfing. In fact,
the great wide ocean scares the hell out of me. I refuse to swim in it. (It
probably doesn’t help that the closest beach is Coney Island and it’s
absolutely gross pollution-wise. I get super creeped out. I’d much rather go
into a pool and let the chemicals turn my hair orange.)
That being said, it’s impossible to ignore the trailer for Under An Arctic Sky. Not only is it crystal
clear and absolute perfection – but the passion indicated in both the subjects
and the eyes behind the camera is immediately apparent.
If I had even an iota of interest in surfing this film would
be much higher on the list, it still wouldn’t be at number 1, but that’s not
because of the project, that’s because of the actual Kickstarter page.
I feel like I know way too little about what they want me to
give money toward. I’m guessing the page creator is the director and not just a
producer. I’m guessing it’s a documentary and not some realistic drama. I have
no idea who else might be involved in the project – I don’t even have the names
of the surfing subjects. I wish I had more behind the scenes, and general,
information.
The trailer makes me want to know so much more, and reading
the rest of the page gave me a feeling I can only describe as blue balls.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$1 – Thank You! – Thank you for your support! Every little bit helps.
Highest Fund Reward:
$8,000 – 6-Day Iceland Photo Workshop – Travel with Chris to Iceland for an
exclusive in-depth photo workshop over 6 days. Visit some of the locations
where the film was shot, learn about photographing the northern lights and
surfing in the Arctic. We will cover 7 extensive learning modules and end your
trip with a portfolio review. All food/accommodation and travel are included.
Flights to and from Iceland are not included. Dates & further details to be
discussed at the conclusion of the Kickstarter campaign +
poster/book/t-shirt/print/film (Film Bundle).
4 – Two Wait
Alone
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Sunny
Perera
Writer: Jhad
Francis
Other Staff: Brennan
Pierce (Producer), Austin Crum (Director of Photography), Jon Birondo (Editor),
Kirsten Norsworthy (Production Design), Thomas Farmer (Lead Audio), Noah
Spencer (Composer), Sarah Shaw (Associate Producer), Cyrus Queen (Behind the
Scenes), Truman Kohler-Katz (Assistant Director), Rebecca Buhrke (1st Assistant
Camera), Adrian Glickman (2nd Assistant Camera), Rigoberto Raya Favela
(Assistant Editor), Nathan Williams (Assistant Audio), Shannon Quillman
(Assistant Production Design), Charles Quaas (Production Assistant)
Amount Requested:
$900
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $726 raised by 18 backers.
The amount of effort that went into breaking down exactly
what the money requested would be used for, and when it would be used by, for Two Wait Alone is staggering. I was
scrolling through this Indiegogo page for what felt like forever.
That’s not a bad thing in the slightest! If someone is
asking for money from the public, they SHOULD be very clear about what exactly
that money is for.
Transparency. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I’m
all for it.
This is a student film associated with the University of
North Texas. It’s very important to encourage students to create. There could
very well be one among them that is the next Spielberg, Scorsese, or Kubrick.
In this case, the plot is also fascinating. I urge you to
watch the trailer to see where the passion of the students comes in and what
the story is.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$2 – A Tweet Just For You! – We’re two steps closer to our goals! Your support
means the world to us, and we can’t wait to show our gratitude in a shout out
just for your.
Highest Fund Reward:
$330 – Cover Location Costs – The apartment of Twp Wait Alone is written to be
a character in itself. Our location requirements include: hard floors, large
windows with a balcony for lighting, A/C control within the space for sound,
potentially moving furniture out of location, and dressing the set (no
furniture) as dusty. Includes featurette of BTS and crew interviews. – Items Included:
Poster Signed by Cast & Crew, Link to Film, Twitter Shout Out!, Film Credit
“Location Sponsor”, Featurette Video Link
3 – The Lone
Drone
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Vanessa
Elliott
Writer: Vanessa
Elliott
Other Staff: Rick
Darge (Cinematographer), Nick Senft (Creative Producer), Fabianne Meyer
(Casting Director), Benjamin Taylor (Composer), Brian Taylor (Sound Designer)
Amount Requested:
$35,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $405 raised by 4 backers.
Westerns are not my thing. I just never really got into the
genre, but this one is a bit on the different side. There’s a modern twist with
the introduction of a drone with AI. The idea of mixing periods or genres is
one that is very close to my heart.
Simple Westerns will never be my thing. A Western/Sci-Fi…. well…
that’s a whole different animal. I’d really like to see that.
Although this film doesn’t technically mix eras, there’s a
certain taste of that general thought in the way T.O.D. escapes from his
dilemma and arrives in a desert where he meets a girl that he bonds with. The
mix of technologically advanced ideas and nature-bound lifestyles could easily
give it that era-mix feel.
It’s kind of nice to see a rogue AI that doesn’t want to
kill all humans, as well.
When you have a project like this that tackles an original,
and new-ish, subject you wind up with the base knowledge that there won’t be a
hell of a lot of tropes involved in the script… mainly because there aren’t
many tropes to begin with. Films that tackle new subjects are going to be the
films that CREATE tropes. Even as a short, this film could wind up influencing
creators for years to come if it’s as good as it can be.
The writer/director is experienced, which is a very good
sign that she may be able to accomplish what she wants from this project. She
has a clear idea of the plot, the impact of the film, and the possible
challenges she might face.
All-in-all, this film has a high chance of success if it’s
funded.
The project is also working with Allies in Arts, which is a
nonprofit organization that is willing to provide donation receipts to donors
for use toward tax deductions.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$10 – Way-Bill – Ah thank you for the help! As a token of our appreciation we’ll
bring you into our newsletter where you can follow the journey, shout you out
on social media and have TOD, the film’s drone lead, follow and engage with
your social media. – Items Included: Newsletter Access, Social Media Shoutout,
Online Friendship w/ drone.
Highest Fund Reward:
$5,000 – Executive Producer – Donating $5,000 is a special gift for us. In
addition to all other perks, you will receive an executive producer credit and
invitation to spend a day on set in Los Angeles when we shoot the drone on
green screen. With this kind of support we want you to in ways be a part and
witness this project happen! – Items Included: All Previous Perks, Executive
Producer Credit, Day on Set
2 – Agent 355
Crowdsource Platform:
Kickstarter
Director: Lauren
Armantrout
Writer: Lauren
Kilbane
Other Staff: Sarah
James (Producer), Taylor Smith (Line Producer), Peter Clark (1st Assistant
Director), Aubree Buschert (Editor), Luke Dyra (Director of Photography),
Bethaney McGowan (Production Design), Kelsey Cox (Costume Designer), BriElle
Achterhof (Location Sound Mixer)
Amount Requested:
$5,000
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $770 raised by 9 backers.
I’ve seen many films about the little known female spies of
the past. That said, none of them were a part of the American Revolutionary
War. Most, actually, were from World War I or World War II. Just the fact that
I’ve never seen a film on this particular historical story, makes it a valuable
film to me.
Historical films are usually very strong with feels and a deep
plot. Reality can often be stranger than fiction – as the saying goes – and watching
historical films will almost always convince anyone of that fact.
Due to the fact that I have no knowledge of the story being
used for Agent 355, I can’t guarantee
that it will be as deep as I hope it is but other factors make it clear that
this film has a high change for success. The trailer indicates a significant
amount of interest and passion throughout those working on the film. The project
is also very well laid out on the page from the goals to the plot to the
schedule they hope to stick to.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$5 – Join, Or Die – Whether you’re a Patriot or a Loyalist, it’s time to gather
your arms and fight! Welcome to the Revolution. – Includes: Shout out on
Facebook Page!
Highest Fund Reward:
$1,000 – From 711 to 355 – Even General Washington himself congratulates you on
your efforts. You have proved yourself a great asset to the cause. Thank You! –
Includes: Shout out on Facebook page, Cast/Crew Photo modelled after Washington
Crossing the Delaware, Cryptic spy letter thank you, DVD copy of Film with
Bonus Features, Handmade Candle Prop, Movie Poster, Fake Oil Painting of
Yourself, Executive Producer Credit, Personalized Puzzle.
1 – Inked
Crowdsource Platform:
Indiegogo
Director: Haley
Harmon
Writer: Haley
Harmon
Other Staff: Kaitlyn
Kilpatrick (Director of Photography), Spencer Campbell (Producer), Shannon
Quillman (Production Designer), Jenni Johnson (Assistant Camera), Matthew
Spellings (Assistant Director), Eric Dumios (Sound Designer), Ben Plauche
(Gaffer), Gabby Hall (Script Supervisor), Joel Mendez (Behind the Scenes
Photographer), Jhad Francis (Editor), Joseph De La O (Composer), Robert
Tagliaferro (Executive Producer), Cao Dien (Color Grader)
Amount Requested:
$700
Current Standing (as
of Saturday night): $165 raised by 4 backers.
I am absolutely obsessed with this idea. It is the greatest,
most original idea I’ve heard for a creative project in a very long time.
The world used in the movie is full of human beings that are
born with the first thing their soulmate will ever say to them tattooed on
their body. I’ve never seen or heard of anything remotely like that and I’m in
love with the idea. Especially since it’s not always a unique line – Inked focuses on two characters and one
of them is a girl with the word “yeah” tattooed on her. That means she hears
the word her soul mate will greet her with every day… but not necessarily from
him.
This is another University of North Texas film and there isn’t
a damn thing to dislike about it. It’s unique and well thought out.
If I had to criticize anything, I’d say that it all goes
back to the Indiegogo page not being quite as informative as I’d have liked it
to be. The money use isn’t really laid out and you don’t get to see much of a
schedule or anything. There is, however, a twitter to follow and the trailer
does take a quick dip into what they need the donations for.
Trust the Dice has donated a small amount toward the hopeful
success of our number one crowdfunded film project for this week: Inked.
Lowest Fund Reward:
$1 – Charmed! – We are absolutely charmed by your generosity! For a 1 dollar
donation you get our undying gratitude and the opportunity to help a great film
go into production! – Items Included: Thanks.
Highest Fund Reward:
$200 – Soulmates! – Oh my gosh! We’re soulmates! You just helped us
tremendously with all parts of production! You will receive a special thanks, a
digital copy, a film credit, a signed script, a behind the scenes digital copy,
a signed poster, your own set of temporary tattoos from the film, and a special
thank you video from the director and DP!
Tagline: Live by
the gun. Die by the gun. Come back for more.
Genre: Western
Horror
Length: 92
minutes
Rating: R
Production Companies:
Boundless Pictures, Jack Bowyer Productions
Producer: Alex
Avant, Jack Bowyer, Brandon Burrows, Roger Alan Grad, David Higginson, Guy
Nockels, Courtney Lauren Penn, Ken Ross, David Schiff
Director: Andrew
Goth
Writer: Andrew
Goth, Joanne Reay
Actors: Wesley
Snipes, Kevin Howarth, Riley Smith, Tanit Phoenix Copley, Simona Roman, Steven
Elder, Jay Grant, Hector Hugo, David De Beer, Alyssa Pridham, Dallas Page,
Derek Griffiths, Alex Avant, Jenny Gago, Tommy Van der Nest, Arthur Berezin,
Jack Bowyer, Frederick Haraseb, Shani Maritz, Vicky Moller-Forbes, Sean Naude, Villo
Vilonel
Blurb from Netflix:
A mysterious gunman inherits a curse that ensures each of his victims will come
back to life as a member of the undead in this zombie western.
Selina’s Point of View:
I had a lot of fun this week telling people what movie I was
going to be watching. The look on people’s faces when I told them I was going
to be watching a western zombie film starring Wesley Snipes (Chi-Raq, The Player, Brooklyn’s Finest),
was priceless. My husband and my best friend both stuttered when I described
it. There were many giggles.
Of course, there’s a minor issue.
I hate westerns. I hate the pacing. I hate the tropes. I
HATE westerns.
I don’t even really like the settings of westerns unless it’s
something like Blazing Saddles
(1974), which is more of a comedy than anything else, or Django Unchained (2012), which is more of an action film than
anything else.
Gallowwalkers is
supposed to be a horror/western. It was more western than horror and had all
the tropes I despise. It had the worst of recipes. I didn’t even like the kind
of zombies they used, and we all know I love zombie flicks so much that I tend
to even like the bad ones.
I spent the majority of the movie more interested in where I
recognized Riley Smith (Bleed, Nashville,
True Blood) from than the actual story.
There was a certain brutality to Gallowwalkers, however, that reminded me of the Machete (2010) series. So if you like
that kind of B-movie violence and you enjoy westerns, this film might amuse you.
It was definitely not for me.
Cat’s Point of View:
When this movie first came to my attention on Netflix, I was
intrigued. I generally like westerns. I generally like zombie movies. I like
Wesley Snipes (The Contractor, 7 Second,
Blade), usually. A zombie-western featuring Snipes as the lead? Sign me up!
One word: Ugh.
I wanted to like this. I really did. It fell far short of
the kickass expectations I had, unfortunately.
Frankly, I was bored out of my mind watching it.
The concept of the curse that applies to the main character
is somewhat interesting. Fans of gore will see a good amount. It wasn’t
gratuitous – for which I am immensely grateful. It just felt disjointed and
like it couldn’t decide whether to be a western-horror or a bleak art film.
Too many fancy slow motion shots, and even a few random
camera pans that made no sense whatsoever, were a couple of the issues I had.
The pace of this movie is also super slow. This doesn’t have nearly the level
of “action” that one would expect from a Snipes project.
I was tickled, though, when I found Dallas Page (Vengeance, What Now, The Bet) in the
credits as Skullbucket. Wrestling fans from the 90’s and early 2000’s might be
more familiar with the monikers of “Diamond” Dallas Page or DDP. He’s no
stranger to the horror genre. He even had a role in The Devil's Rejects (2005). Unfortunately, due to character makeup,
he’s not really recognizable in the movie.
I’ll leave you with a bit of trivia. The narration
voice-overs throughout the movie sound like Wesley Snipes, but aren’t actually
him. The production had to find a sound-alike artist to record those parts, due
to the fact that it was during the time period that Snipes was going through
the beginnings of his legal woes stemming from tax evasion. He was filming this
movie when he was indicted.
Tagline: Life,
liberty and the pursuit of vengeance.
Genre: Drama
Length: 165
minutes
Rating: R
Production Companies:
The Weinstein Company, Columbia Pictures
Executive Producer:
Shannon McIntosh, Michael Shamberg, James W. Skotchdopole, Bob Weinstein,
Harvey Weinstein
Director: Quentin
Tarantino
Writer: Quentin
Tarantino
Actors: Jamie
Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson,
Walton Goggins, Dennis Christopher, James Remar, David Steen, Dana Gourrier,
Ato Essandoh, Sammi Rotibi, Escalante Lundy, Don Johnson, Franco Nero, Jonah
Hill
Dr. King Schultz is looking for a slave that might know
where he can find his bounty. He meets Django while the man is being
transported to his new owners. From there, they form a partnership considered
more than strange for their time.
Selina’s Point of View:
This movie is awesome.
Of course, this wasn’t technically the first time I’d seen
the film. My husband was watching Django
Unchained one Saturday when I had to work. My desk and the TV are in the
same room, so I had my headphones on to help me concentrate while I was
writing. From time to time, a scene would catch my attention and I’d look up,
zone in for about fifteen minutes then get back to work.
Long story short, I saw roughly an hour and a half of this
film in nonconsecutive scenes about a year ago.
The first thing I noticed, after watching it in order, is
that it makes so much more sense now! Scenes that I thought were really out of
left field just clicked into place. Of course, that’s what happens when you watch
a movie properly.
The acting in this film was outstanding.
Jamie Foxx (Annie,
Horrible Bosses, Due Date) was ridiculous. Who would have known he could
pull something like this off? He was incredible. Samuel L. Jackson (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Turbo,
Avengers: Age of Ultron) transformed into a character so repugnant that it’s
almost difficult to recognize him. Christoph Waltz (Carnage, The Zero Theorem, Muppets Most Wanted) portrayed Dr.
Schultz in such a way that it was impossible to not get emotionally invested in
him. Kerry Washington (Scandal, A
Thousand Words, Lakeview Terrace) made for an ethereal and engaging love
interest.
Finally, Leonard DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, Blood Diamond) was out-right
robbed. Do you know what award he won for his stellar performance in this film?
A National Board of Review award for Best Supporting Actor. I just… no. I’m not
going to get into my theories about the corrupt award ceremonies. We’re just
going to move on and keep this about the film.
Quentin Tarantino (Pulp
Fiction, Kill Bill, Natural Born Killers) delivered a fast-paced, deep,
intense plot with incredible settings and acting that just can’t be beat. Not
only that, he made a three hour film that didn’t make me feel like I wanted to
bang my head against the wall out of boredom.
The man may have a screw loose, but there’s no doubting his
talent.
Cat’s Point of View:
I’d heard good things about this movie – mostly praise, as I
tried to avoid spoilers. The film also won an impressive stack of awards. I
counted at least 52 awards on IMDb (not counting 2nd and 3rd place showings);
and many more award nominations.
Just because a gazillion other people liked it, doesn’t
always mean that I will. Though, with Quentin Tarantino (Grindhouse: Deathproof, Inglorious Basterds, From Dusk Till Dawn: The
Series), I generally have an expectation that I’ll be entertained.
This film delivered with both barrels.
The only downside I have to mention about this film was just
its length. There was so much landscape in this movie, both figuratively with
the writing and also literally; so I understand that it couldn’t necessarily be
short. It doesn’t really take away from it, though – and with the Netflix
platform, it’s not like you can’t pause the movie and then come back to it.
The story was compelling in this period piece, and the
actors really fleshed out their characters brilliantly.
I can’t envision anyone other than Jamie Foxx (The Kingdom, Law Abiding Citizen, White
House Down) in the role of Django. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tarantino
wrote the part for him.
My favorite character in the film, however, was Dr. King
Schultz. Christoph Waltz (Inglorious
Basterds, The Three Musketeers, Epic) was phenomenal in this role. I loved
his sense of humor, intelligence, and even the clipped and precisely enunciated
way he spoke. The character was endearing and interesting.
That’s really just scratching the surface. There were so
many fantastic performances here. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed, Shutter Island, J. Edgar), Kerry Washington (Mother and Child, The Details, Peeples),
and Samuel L. Jackson (Oldboy, Robocop,
Kite) didn’t disappoint in the least. It’s amusing to note that Jackson got
to use his “favorite vocabulary,” once more, in this film.
On a final note, fans of Sons
of Anarchy (2008-2014) might recognize one of the actors here in Walton
Goggins (Cowboys and Aliens, Lincoln,
American Ultra). He played Venus Van Dam in the critically acclaimed FX
series, and also Boyd Crowder in Justified
(2010-2015). He’s slated to team up with Tarantino again in The Hateful Eight, currently expected to
hit screens in December 2015.
I would definitely confirm that this movie is worthy of the
accolades it received, and would gladly recommend it.
