‘Transformers’ Star Anthony Ramos Discusses POC Themes in ‘Rise of the Beasts’

June 9, 2023June 9, 2023 Mike Manalo

This week, the Transformers return to the big screen in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! And I have to say folks, this one truly is more than meets the eye. I personally dug the heck out of this movie. Part of the reason was the way director Steven J. Caple (Creed II) subtly brings up POC themes throughout the movie. And one of the others was its charismatic star Anthony Ramos!

Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ is a Worthy Successor to ‘Bumblebee’

June 6, 2023July 18, 2023 Mike Manalo

Let’s be honest, we all wrote off the Transformers franchise long ago. As soon as they stopped the entire Age of Extinction movie to try and justify why it was okay for one character to date a minor, I instantly noped out. I didn’t even bother with The Last Knight, and it seems I was right not to. But then something funny happened. Bumblebee hit theaters, and ended up being a really charming movie.

Movies, Sci Fi

Prime Meets Primal in New Clip from ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 Keith Chow

Last night during the MTV Movie and TV Awards, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro unveiled a sneak peek at a scene from the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts!

Movies, Trailers

Latest ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Trailer has Been Unleashed

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 Keith Chow

Paramount Pictures and Hasbro have unleashed the beasts in the official trailer for this summer’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! Check it out below!

Nerd Nostalgia, Podcasts

FDI Cast 166: The Trial of Sisyphus

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 Jamie

Does it feel like everything is falling apart, like you’re constantly pushing a boulder up hill and life just kicks it down again? That’s basically what this episode is about.

Fandom, Movies

I Assure You, the ‘Clerks III’ Trailer is Open

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 Keith Chow

Forget Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or The Dark Knight. After nearly three decades, filmmaker Kevin Smith finally concludes his epic trilogy with the Clerks III trailer that just debuted — even if Dante and Randall weren’t supposed to be here today.

Books, Interview

Ibi Zoboi on Writing a Biographical Constellation of Octavia Butler

February 16, 2022February 17, 2022 Shannon Gibney

Award-winning author Ibi Zoboi has penned a “biographical constellation” of the late, great Black feminist sci-fi writer Octavia Butler. Called Star Child (Dutton, January 2022), the book contains poems, short essays, and actual fragments of Butler’s own writing and musings.

Streaming, Television

Peacock Drops Official Teaser for ‘Bel-Air’ Coming 2022

November 23, 2021November 23, 2021 Jamal Michel

The Nerds of Color has steadily followed the hype and news around Peacock’s upcoming series Bel-Air, a reimagined take on the classic ’90s sitcom that starred Will Smith, James Avery, and Janet Hubert, and today they dropped an official teaser for the show.

Movies, Reviews

‘Home Sweet Home Alone’ Has a Moral Compass and a Happy New Year

November 11, 2021November 13, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

The holiday season is underway yet again. As some of us prepare to celebrate with our loved ones, let’s keep in mind the folks who may be spending this season apart. Hopefully none of us are getting into any ridiculous, mischievous, or downright zany shenanigans that might earn you a mark inside the old “Maybe” box on the naughty/nice list. If that’s the case, at least there are now six movies that explain in cartoonish detail what to do if you find yourself riding the sleigh solo during a ho-ho-home invasion.

Streaming, Television

Peacock’s Highly Anticipated ‘Bel-Air’ Reboot Finds its Cast

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 Jamal Michel

Today, Peacock’s highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air, the contemporary reimagining of the dope ass and culture defining ’90s sitcom, has announced its full main cast. The serialized reboot comes courtesy of director Morgan Cooper’s viral fan film Bel-Air from 2019, with T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson on board as co-showrunners.

Streaming, Television1 Comment

West Philly Local Jabari Banks to Star as Will Smith in Peacock’s ‘Bel-Air’

September 3, 2021September 3, 2021 Jamal Michel

It’s official, folks! After carefully searching for the right lead, Peacock’s highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air, the contemporary reimagining of the immortalized ‘90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has cast newcomer and West Philadelphia local Jabari Banks in the iconic role of “Will.”

Movies, Toys

Details from the ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Production Kick-Off Event

June 22, 2021June 23, 2021 Laura Sirikul

At today’s Transformers Production Kick-Off Event, press gathered together virtually to watch a conversation with Director Steven Caple Jr., producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, and stars Anthony Ramos and Dominque Fishback. Moderated by Vanity Fair’s Anthony Breznican, Caple Jr. and Di Bonaventura announced the title of the 2022 Transformers film: Rise of the Beasts.

Recaps, Streaming, Television

NOC Recap: The ‘Cruel Summer’ Season Finale Wraps Everything Up and Then Blows It All Up Again

June 15, 2021June 16, 2021 Sophia Soto

“Hostile Witness” shows events from (approximately) October 3rd, 1993, 1994, and 1995. For the remainder of this recap, we will be getting into heavy spoilers; so only continue reading if you’ve seen episode 1×10 of Cruel Summer.

Recaps, Television

NOC Recap: ‘Cruel Summer’ Episode 8 Reveals Some Shocking and Interesting Missing Events to the Story

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 Sophia Soto

“Proof” shows events from (approximately) August 30th, 1993, 1994, and 1995. For the remainder of this recap, we will be getting into heavy spoilers; so only continue reading if you’ve seen episode 1×08 of Cruel Summer.

Recaps, Television

NOC Recap: ‘Cruel Summer’ Episode 7 Changes Everything

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 Sophia Soto

“Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis” shows events from (approximately) August 29th, 1993, 1994, and 1995. For the remainder of this recap, we will be getting into heavy spoilers; so only continue reading if you’ve seen episode 1×07 of Cruel Summer.

Gaming, Movies, Music

Death Row Records Celebrates ‘Above the Rim’ Deluxe Soundtrack with Exclusive Merch

May 20, 2021June 11, 2021 Jamal Michel

When we all saw Tupac Shakur in Juice in the ‘90s, not only did we pray to never run into someone like Bishop in our own lives, but we learned the range Pac had outside of the studio. ‘90s and early 2000s Black cinema was marked by a particular era of gangster-laden, hip-hop fueled narratives that sometimes hit the mark, with films like Do the Right Thing, Boyz N the Hood, and New Jack City lending various insights into the cinematic representation of Black Consciousness as it was in the ‘90s and later.

Movies, Streaming

‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Announced with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy Returning!

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 Laura Sirikul

It has been almost 28 years since we were first introduced to the wicked Sanderson Sisters in the 1993 live-action Halloween cult classic Hocus Pocus, which became everyone’s go to family Halloween movie since then. Now, Disney has just announced Hocus Pocus 2 is coming to Disney+ in 2022 — most likely for Halloween season… and Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are reprising their roles from the original!!!

MY INNER CHILD IS SCREAMING.

Interview, Television

NOC Interview: Nathaniel Ashton Talks Being Ben on ‘Cruel Summer’

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 Sophia Soto

Nathaniel Ashton portrays Ben on Freeform’s newest hit drama. I got to speak with the actor about all things Cruel Summer, including episode 6, “An Ocean Inside Me,” so beware: we will be getting into spoilers. New episodes of the psychological thriller air Tuesdays at 10 PM EDT/PDT on Freeform and are available the next day on Hulu.

Recaps, Streaming, Television

NOC Recap: ‘Cruel Summer’ Episode 5 is a Tangled Web of Twisted Games

May 11, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

“As The Carny Gods Intended” shows events from (approximately) July 29th, 1993, 1994, and 1995. For the remainder of this recap, we will be getting into heavy spoilers; so only continue reading if you’ve seen episode 1×05 of Cruel Summer.

Interview, Streaming, Television

NOC Interview: Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut on Everything ‘Cruel Summer’

May 11, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut plays Ashley Wallis in Freeform’s highly anticipated new drama, Cruel Summer. Ashley Wallis is Kate’s stepsister and Rod’s daughter. I got to speak with the actress all about the series and episode 4, “You Don’t Hunt, You Don’t Eat,” so beware: we will be getting into spoilers. New episodes of the series air Tuesdays at 10 PM EDT/PDT on Freeform and are available the next day on Hulu.

Music, Streaming, Television

First Look: Lily James is Unrecognizable as Pamela Anderson for Hulu’s ‘Pam & Tommy’

May 7, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Having a Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee film surrounding their infamous sex tape from the ‘90s was not on my 2021 Bingo card, but here we are.

Podcasts, Television3 Comments

Bonus Hard NOC: Chiara Aurelia Discusses Episode 4 of ‘Cruel Summer’

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021 Sophia Soto

Chiara Aurelia portrays Jeanette Turner, a nerdy and sweet high schooler who wants more from life, in Freeform’s highly anticipated new drama Cruel Summer. I got to speak with the actress all about the series and episode 4, “You Don’t Hunt, You Don’t Eat,” before it aired so beware: we will be getting into spoilers. New episodes of the series air Tuesdays at 10 PM EDT/PDT on Freeform and are available the next day on Hulu.

Recaps, Streaming, Television2 Comments

NOC Recap: ‘Cruel Summer’ Episode 4 Leaves Us With the Biggest Cliffhanger So Far

May 4, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

“You Don’t Hunt, You Don’t Eat” shows events from (approximately) July 15th, 1993, 1994, and 1995. For the remainder of this recap, we will be getting into heavy spoilers; so only continue reading if you’ve seen episode 1×04 of Cruel Summer.