NOC Review: ‘The Long Walk’ is a Harrowing Journey Worth Taking

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 Mike Manalo

At the time of writing this, I’ve had the opportunity to see The Long Walk twice. Once at a conventional screening, and another at an interactive experience where we walked on a treadmill for 3.4 MPH for the full screening to simulate the film’s experience. Why put myself through an emotionally devastating movie twice in a row, with a second experience being a physically exhausting one? Because this emotionally devastating movie is actually one of the year’s best.

Interview, Movies, Streaming

Director and Star Say ‘Badland Hunters’ is More Than an Action Movie

January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Badland Hunters director Myeong-haeng Heo and its star Don Lee (aka Dong-seok Ma) want you to know that the movie is not a sequel to the 2023 disaster film Concrete Utopia, nor is it part of that universe. It is in its own post-apocalypse world.

Interview, Movies

Matthew Libatique on Capturing the Nightmare of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

September 23, 2022September 23, 2022 Mike Manalo

Today, after many weeks of drama, Don’t Worry Darling, the anticipated sophomore film for director Olivia Wilde is finally hitting theaters. And while the film itself is getting something of a mixed reaction, the one thing many can agree on is that the visuals are terrific. And part of that is the vision of Oscar-nominated, Filipino American cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

Movies, Reviews3 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is Not That Bad

September 22, 2022September 22, 2022 Mike Manalo

I need to get something off my chest. We’ve gotten to a point where behind the scenes drama that has absolutely nothing to do with narrative, character, acting, etc. is affecting audience perceptions of movies, without audiences actually bothering to see a movie.

Interview, Movies1 Comment

Editing the Dystopian World of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ with Affonso Goncalves

September 21, 2022September 21, 2022 Mike Manalo

They say that shooting a movie means collecting footage, but editing a movie makes it a film. Ok, that’s not an actual quote from anywhere, I just made it up. But doesn’t make it any less true. The editing process is actually where a movie finds itself. And for director Olivia Wilde’s head-trip, Don’t Worry Darling, you need a strong editor to bring to life the nightmarish fever dream poor Florence Pugh must fight through. That’s where Affonso Goncalves comes in!

Movies, Music, Sci Fi

New Song for ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ from Emerging Artist Quantrelle Released

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 Mike Manalo

Part of the reason why the original Matrix movies hacked their way into our hearts has to do with the killer soundtrack featured in all three films. After all, it’s difficult to picture the iconic lobby shootout scene without the Propellerheads’ “Spybreak!” playing in the background. Or the thought of Neo flying into the sky without Rage Against the Machine accompanying the image. And in the grand tradition of those classic films, The Matrix Resurrections has tapped emerging artist, Quantrelle, to do a song for the film, that everyone can see next week, on December 22!

Movies, Sci Fi

New Poster for ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Goes Full Jesus Wick

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 Mike Manalo

In the fourth sequel, he will come again! As you can tell, I’m having way too much fun finding biblical parallels throughout The Matrix (actually all Keanu Reeves projects). And today is no exception, as WB has just dropped a gorgeous new poster ~~of John Wick absolving his children of their sins~~ for The Matrix Resurrections. The new film, serving as a reboot/sequel of sorts, comes to theaters and HBO Max this Christmas!

Movies, Sci Fi, Streaming1 Comment

Whoa! Return to The Matrix with ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Trailer

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 Mike Manalo

It’s finally here folks! After the crazy buzz from Cinema Con and a bit of Easter egg hunting from WhatIsTheMatrix.com, the trailer for the highly anticipated fourth Matrix film has dropped: The Matrix Resurrections!

Movies, Sci Fi, Streaming

New Teaser Website for ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Launches

September 7, 2021September 8, 2021 Mike Manalo

It’s coming folks! Ever since the buzz came out of Cinema Con two weeks ago the world has been beaming with anticipation to return to The Matrix!

And today, fans are going to get that chance, as WB just launched WhatIsTheMatrix.com and dropped the latest teaser poster for the film as well.

Movies, Sci Fi

Inside the Music of ‘Reminiscence’

August 18, 2021August 18, 2021 Mike Manalo

This week, Warner Bros. releases Reminiscence, from the terrific Lisa Joy (co-creator of Westworld), in theaters and on HBO Max. And to celebrate, The Nerds of Color was recently invited to a virtual roundtable with Joy, Grammy-nominated music producer Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, musical artist Lonr, and legendary composer Ramin Djawadi (Iron Man, Pacific Rim, Game of Thrones, Westworld). Together they discussed the process of writing and composing the moody tones featured in the film, as well as Lonr’s original song for the film, “Save My Love.”

Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Interview: Gina Rodriguez Discusses Netflix’s ‘Awake’

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Sophia Soto

Gina Rodriguez stars as Jill Adams in Awake, which premiered on June 9. The new Netflix film will take you on an intense journey with an incredible performance from Rodriguez, who plays a mother that will do anything to save her children. The actress is best known for playing the title role on Jane The Virgin, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy.

Movies, Sci Fi

First Trailer for Lisa Joy’s ‘Reminiscence’ is Finally Here

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 Keith Chow

The Greatest Showman stars Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson genre-swap the technicolor movie musical for sun-kissed film noir as they reunite for the mind-bending action thriller, Reminiscence. Lisa Joy takes her Westworld sensibilities to the big screen, making her directorial debut — and re-teaming with Thandiwe Newton — with another project that has characters navigating between reality and reverie.

Check out the first trailer for the noir-ish thriller below!

Movies, Streaming

Watch the Official Trailer for ‘The Tomorrow War’ Starring Chris Pratt

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 Sophia Soto

The Tomorrow War, which was directed by Chris Mckay, is coming to Prime Video on July 2. The talented cast includes Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, and more. Along with starring in The Tomorrow War, this will also be Pratt’s first executive producer credit on a feature film.

Interview, Sci Fi, Television

The Spectacular Susan Park on ‘Snowpiercer’

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 Mike Manalo

The Eternal Engine keeps on rolling! This past Sunday, TNT’s re-imagining of Snowpiercer made it’s hotly anticipated debut. And while on the show the passengers of the circumnavigating locomotive might seem to be constantly at war with one another, in reality, all the actors that contribute their talents to the series couldn’t be more humble and close to one another. In addition to being able to speak with Jaylin Fletcher early last week, The Nerds of Color was also fortunate enough to chat with Snowpiercer star, Susan Park, who plays the train’s chef, Jinju, to discuss her role, the show’s themes, and the magnificent chemistry with her co-stars.

Continue reading “The Spectacular Susan Park on ‘Snowpiercer’”

Books, Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Marie Lu

September 25, 2019December 25, 2019 Southern Fried Asian

Southern Fried Asian is back! This time, Keith is joined by New York Times-bestselling YA science-fiction author Marie Lu. Her new novel, Rebel, the follow-up to her epic Legend series of books, will be available in bookstores October 1 — as will the graphic novel adaptation of her DC Icons story, Batman: Nightwalker.

Continue reading “Southern Fried Asian: Marie Lu”

Fantasy, Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi3 Comments

‘Sorry to Bother You’: An Endorsement

July 23, 2018September 8, 2019 Shawn Taylor

It has been an experience watching people twist and bend, trying to slot Sorry to Bother You into some kind of familiar category. “It’s Michel Gondry married to Spike Jonze,” or “Wes Anderson by way of Charlie Kaufman.” Not only do these comparisons try to position this flawed masterpiece in a white filmmaker pantheon, but it also disrespects Boots Riley’s vision and execution. Let Riley live.

Oh yeah, let’s stop it with the Get Out comparisons. Lazy. Continue reading “‘Sorry to Bother You’: An Endorsement”