NOC Review: ‘Haunted Mansion’ is Better than the First but Still Flawed

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023 Mike Manalo

Justin Simien’s Haunted Mansion is hitting theaters this weekend. This is the second attempted to adapt Disney’s beloved attraction The Haunted Mansion into a stellar blockbuster film. The first was the 2003 adaptation that starred Eddie Murphy, which, if I’m being honest, wasn’t great. And thankfully Simien does a little better with the material, but overall, I’m still waiting for a definitive adaptation to materialize.

Horror, Interview, Movies1 Comment

‘Haunted Mansion’ Director Justin Simien Takes Us on a Ride to the Other Side

July 22, 2023July 23, 2023 Mike Manalo

Welcome Foolish Mortals! It’s time to hitch a ride to the other side with the release of Disney’s Haunted Mansion coming on July 28! And to celebrate the transformation of this iconic attraction into a brand new horror family comedy, we managed to speak with the film’s director Justin Simien about what it truly means to be a Nerd of Color, and what his thoughts are on ghosts and the afterlife!

Movies, Trailers

Here’s the Teaser Trailer for Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’

March 2, 2023March 6, 2023 Sophia Soto

It’s finally here: check out the teaser trailer and poster for Disney’s comically creepy adventure, Haunted Mansion! Directed by award-winning filmmaker Justin Simien, the movie will be released in theaters on July 28.

Conventions, Movies

D23Expo: ‘Haunted Mansion’ Brings New Scares and Happy Haunts

September 10, 2022April 4, 2023 Michael Lee

It’s the D23Expo, so of course we are going to get to see some exclusive new footage from all kinds of films from their animation and live-action slate. While the studio’s film adaptations of their rides have been more or less a mixed bag, director Justin Simeon, who used to work at Disneyland, seems to embrace the true spirit of the Haunted Mansion.

Interview, Streaming, Television

Jared Leto Talks ‘WeCrashed’ on Apple TV+

March 18, 2022 Sophia Soto

Jared Leto takes on the role of Adam Neumann in WeCrashed. The new eight-episode limited series, which Leto also executive produced, is based on the hit Wondery podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork. The first three episodes are now streaming on Apple TV+. New episodes will be released weekly, each Friday.

Streaming, Television

Check Out the Teaser Trailer for ‘WeCrashed’ Starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022 Sophia Soto

Apple TV+ has just shared the teaser trailer and premiere date for WeCrashed, which is a new limited series based on the Wondery podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork. The talented cast includes Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, Kyle Marvin, America Ferrera, and O-T Fagbenle. The first three episodes will premiere on March 18.

DC Comics, Podcasts

FDI Cast 106: We Live in a Society…

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 Jamie

Despite our best interests, we caved and watched the Snyder Cut of the Justice League movie. All four damn hours of it. Here’s our review.

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DC Comics, Movies, Streaming

‘Justice League’ Side-By-Side

March 18, 2021June 14, 2022 Keith Chow

Today is the day. Zack Snyder’s Justice League has finally been released to HBO Max and people can now see the director’s four-hour magnum opus as he bids adieu to the DC Universe. And while a lot has been made about the restored scenes and characters that were left on the cutting room floor of the theatrical edition, I was most struck by the differences between shots that appear in both versions. Below you will find side-by-side comparisons of several of these scenes.

DC Comics, Movies, Reviews, Streaming5 Comments

NOC Review: The Snyder Cut is Good, Actually

March 15, 2021June 14, 2022 Keith Chow

Long time readers of this site will know that I have a a complicated history with Zack Snyder’s take on DC’s most iconic characters. While my opinion on his first foray, Man of Steel¹, has waxed and waned over the years, I’ve never been able to see Batman v Superman as anything more than a convoluted mess of bombast and pretension feigning to be more profound than it actually was (Batman’s fight in the warehouse was cool, I guess). Moreover, the ferocity of the online debate about these films — both the religiosity of Snyder’s fans and the unnecessary cruelty of his detractors — turned me off to the whole enterprise. Talking about these movies on the internet was not worth the hassle or the harassment (says the guy who actively engaged in online arguments defending The Last Jedi for at least three years).

Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies, Streaming, Television

Hard NOC Life 204: Why So Serious

February 22, 2021May 15, 2021 Hard NOC Media

Dominic and Keith are discussing the latest WandaVision, speculating about Monica Rambeau’s future in the MCU, breaking down the Snyder Cut trailer (and its associated Joker memes), revisiting the De La Soul episode of Teen Titans GO!, and getting hyped for digital-first comics set in the Burton and Donner cinematic universes.

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies

Hard NOC Life: Oscar Snubs and Super Villains

January 14, 2020January 30, 2020 Hard NOC Media

On Hard NOC Life this week, Dominic and Keith share their thoughts on the Academy Award nominations and break down the latest superhero movie trailers.

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Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi2 Comments

‘Blade Runner 2049’: More like Blade Snorer ZZZ

October 3, 2017November 27, 2019 Josephine Chang

In a time where old franchises are dug up from the grave, we now have Blade Runner 2049: the latest movie we never asked for but then Alcon Productions fought for the rights for 12 years and here we are. Because after all, there’s always money in nostalgia.

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DC Comics, Movies10 Comments

How to Reboot Lex and Joker in the DCEU

August 29, 2016July 12, 2017 Keith Chow

It goes without saying that I haven’t been the biggest fan of Warner Brothers’ approach to the films based on their roster of DC Comics superheroes (also known as the DC Extended Universe). Even before Batman v Superman or Suicide Squad debuted to less-than-enthusiastic reviews, I went on record being against the DCEU’s tone and aesthetic. After BvS failed to become the pop cultural behemoth it was supposed to be, the folks at DC Films attempted a much publicized “course correction” to take their movie universe in a different direction — and if the Comic-Con trailers for Wonder Woman and Justice League are any indication, consider me all in for this new “course.” But as much as I’m looking forward to this new phase of the DCEU, I will never be satisfied until they recast the two characters I feel they’ve bungled the most: Lex Luthor and the Joker.

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DC Comics, Movies, N.O.C. One-Shot5 Comments

N.O.C. One-Shot: Batman v Superman and What’s Wrong with DC Movies

April 27, 2015April 27, 2015 The Nerds of Color

Stay tuned for a longer conversation between Keith, Raymond, and Jordan Calhoun, from Black Nerd Problems, about all things Daredevil. In the meantime, the trio took a moment to discuss the Batman v Superman trailer and what it portends for DC’s Cinematic Universe.