‘Occupation: Rainfall’ is a Fun Sci-Fi Opera Hindered By its Own Weight

March 28, 2022March 29, 2022 Bray Lawrence

Occupation: Rainfall is a confusing enigma. At moments, it feels at home in B-movie schlock delivering campy actor performances that chew on scenery and heavy action sequences drenched in CGI screen filters and explosions. Other moments, there’s a sincerity in its attention to detail in the story it weaves. Crafting interesting cinematography to amplify its thoughts on trauma, war, and moving forward.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

Depths of Unexpected Emotions Unravel in Kogonada’s ‘After Yang’

March 4, 2022March 4, 2022 Lauren Lola

It’s been five years since audiences were swept away by director Kogonada’s emotionally-driven debut, Columbus. Now, he returns to up the ante with the driving of emotions in his science fiction drama, After Yang; an adaptation of Alexander Weinstein’s short story, Saying Goodbye to Yang.

Horror, Movies

New Poster for Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’ Has Us Saying ‘Neigh’

March 2, 2022March 2, 2022 Mike Manalo

Please forgive me. I couldn’t resist. Universal just released a new poster for their horror Summer tentpole, from the mind of Jordan Peele, Nope. And the movie continues to look bonkers!

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.

Horror, Movies1 Comment

‘Nope’ Trailer Teases Jordan Peele’s Latest Scares from Above the Clouds

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 Michael Lee

Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for Jordan Peele’s Nope. Peele promises to bring a new kind of pop nightmare to the expansive horror genre for his third directorial effort. Though the trailer doesn’t reveal too much about the plot, we can only assume that the kite string attached to the dark cloud that hovers above the dusty California gulch means doom for all those underneath it.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

NOC Review: ‘Moonfall’ is a Fun, Absurd Blockbuster

February 4, 2022February 7, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Director Roland Emmerich knows his way around a disaster. After Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012 — to name a few, many audiences can expect grandiose special effects and top-tier actors trying to save the world. In his latest disaster film Moonfall, the moon is literally falling towards the Earth — causing chaos as gravity is affected.

Interview, Movies

‘Moonfall’ Star Kelly Yu on World Disasters, Halle Berry, and Incorrect Chinese Tattoos

February 2, 2022February 2, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Kelly Yu has a lot going on. So much so, that she hasn’t really thought about what she would do if the world was ending. Unlike her character in the upcoming Sci-Fi film Moonfall, which tells the story of the Moon falling into the Earth causing mass chaos, Yu has no idea what she would do in that situation.

Movies, Sci Fi

See the Haunting Trailer for Kogonada’s New Film, ‘After Yang’

February 1, 2022February 1, 2022 Keith Chow

After making a splash at the Cannes Film Festival last summer, After Yang is finally being released to mass audiences next month. The film — starring Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, and Haley Lu Richardson — is director Kogonada’s follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, Columbus.

Movies, Recaps, Reviews1 Comment

Sundance Highlights Speculative Storytelling From Southeast Asia

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 Lauren Lola

The 2022 Sundance Film Festival has come to a close, following 11 days of presenting in-depth films and conversations from all over the world, for an audience that was originally supposed to be a hybrid one. While there was so much in store in terms of new works, a major takeaway yours truly got from attendance is that there are quite a few speculative works arising from Southeast Asia, and Sundance made the world premieres possible for two of them: Ham Tran’s Maika and Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die.

Sci Fi, Television

SYFY Launches Insider Program

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 Mike Manalo

Today, SYFY is officially launching its first-ever, members-only club for sci-fi superfans: SYFY Insider. The network, known for some of the most quirky, and fan-loved genre shows, like Resident Alien, Chucky, and Wynonna Earp has decided to reward its most loyal fans with an all-new destination that offers exclusive, premium content to all Insiders.

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!

Sci Fi, Streaming

Director Kim Jee-woon Says ‘Dr. Brain’ is Based on Science

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Directed by acclaimed visionary Kim Jee-woon and based on the popular Korean webtoon Hongjacga, Dr. Brain follows a brilliant neuroscientist Sewon (Lee Sun-kyun) who suffers a personal tragedy when his family falls victim to a mysterious accident.

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi

Paging Dr. Yueh: An Interview with Chang Chen from ‘Dune’

October 21, 2021 Mike Manalo

Tonight’s the night! It’s been a long road for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, and the country is finally going to see his faithful, epic, visually stunning adaptation hit the big screen, in the way it was meant to be seen! And to celebrate, we are finally going to reveal that were given the very exciting opportunity to speak with Dune star, Chang Chen, who plays the complex Doctor Yueh.

Movies, Sci Fi

‘Dune’ Comes to Life at Texas SandFest 2021

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021 Mike Manalo

Your ship to Arrakis is almost here folks! Dune is at long last finally hitting theaters this weekend! And when you think about the epic, monumental scale of the film, and the hauntingly beautiful but harsh environments that create the desert planet of Dune, only one thing comes to mind — sandcastles in Texas!

Manga, Movies, Sci Fi

New Manga-Inspired ‘Dune’ Poster Debuts

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021 Mike Manalo

The countdown for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is on! And though much of the world has seen the film already, a few territories are still waiting in anticipation for their journey to Arrakis. We in the US are still, of course, waiting for the film to hit theaters on October 22. However, Japan only has 11 days more, since the film hits cinemas there on October 15!

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, Reviews, Sci Fi2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Dune’ is Decent

September 3, 2021September 3, 2021 Mike Manalo

Sometimes there are movies that just come into your life, and live rent free in your brain days or weeks after you’ve seen them. That’s how you know you generally love them, and they make a profound impact on you. Either you replay or relive scenes that made you smile or blew you away. Furthermore, when you see them again, you still smile, or laugh, or get goosebumps. The Matrix in 1999. The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001. The Dark Knight in 2008. The Avengers in 2012 and Endgame in 2019.

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi7 Comments

Is ‘Dune’ Truly a White-Savior Story?

September 3, 2021September 3, 2021 Mike Manalo

Not according to Denis Villeneuve.

Recently, members of the press, including The Nerds of Color, were given the privilege of speaking directly with the visionary director behind Dune. During the conversation, Villeneuve was asked about Dune being an example of the White Savior trope, among many other questions, and he wanted to make it specifically clear that while many have taken the surface-level concept of the story and expressed condemnations for it based on that, interpreting the story as such would actually be missing the true point of it.

Interview, Sci Fi, Television

Tyler Blackburn on All Things ‘Roswell, New Mexico’

August 30, 2021August 31, 2021 Sophia Soto

Tyler Blackburn portrays Alex Manes in The CW’s hit series Roswell, New Mexico. The show first premiered back in 2019 and is now in its third season. New episodes of season three air Mondays at 8:00PM. Roswell, New Mexico was already renewed for a fourth season as well!

Comics, Streaming

Raise Your Brellies! ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 3 Has Wrapped

August 28, 2021August 30, 2021 Jamal Michel

Hargreeves stans rejoice because The Umbrella Academy has officially wrapped production of season three. Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s stellar graphic novel turned groundbreaking Netflix series has fans eagerly waiting for its release. Per the series’ official Twitter page, the super kids turned badass time travelers (oops, spoilers I guess?) came together to announce the end of production and how excited they were for fans to dive into the new season. With the end of season two came countless questions, like who the hell is the Sparrow Academy, why is Ben their leader, what planet is Sir Reginald Hargreeves from, and where’d Lila go at the end of it all?

Books, Interview, Sci Fi1 Comment

Author Katrina Olan Discusses the Making of Mecha-Centric Sci-Fi Novel, ‘Tablay’

August 27, 2021August 27, 2021 Lauren Lola

In the fall of 2019, sci-fi and comics fans in the Philippines were transported to the 22^nd century in Katrina Olan’s novel, Tablay. War has been raging for generations between the Philippine Mech Force and hostile machine life called aswangs. When a mecha pilot finds out that the enemy is creating a super weapon of drastic proportions, she and her partner must find a way to stop it before it is too late.