Makoto Shinkai Brings His Best in the Rollicking Adventure of ‘Suzume’

April 17, 2023September 14, 2023 Lauren Lola

Makoto Shinkai has been directing animated films for over two decades now, but it was his 2016 film, Your Name, that garnered critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad. While both Your Name and his 2019 film, Weathering with You, are notable for the creative development of their respective magic systems and intricate plots, they lack in substance of their female leads and development of the romantic tension between the male and female characters.

Sci Fi, Television

Taking the Leap with ‘Quantum Leap’ Star Raymond Lee

September 15, 2022September 15, 2022 Mike Manalo

Are you ready to take the next leap forward? Quantum Leap was a terrifically fun sci-fi show on NBC that ran from 1989 to 1993. It chronicled the journey of Dr. Sam Beckett, a man stuck in time after an experiment gone home, who would “leap” all over the annals of history solving problems, and hoping that his next leap would bring him home to the present.

Interview, Sci Fi, Streaming

Natasha Lyonne and the Cast of ‘Russian Doll’ Talk about Season 2

May 31, 2022June 1, 2022 Bray Lawrence

Russian Doll season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. I was incredibly fortunate to have a chance to speak with Natasha Lyonne, Charlie Barnett, Chloë Sevigny, and Greta Lee about the new season and what’s in store for their characters.

Sci Fi, Television

Oh, Boy: NBC Picks Up ‘Quantum Leap’ Reboot to Series

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022 Keith Chow

NBC has announced that it is committing its reboot of Quantum Leap to series after announcing the casting of the pilot in March. Such a quick turnaround can only mean that the network heads were blown away by the pilot. And for what it’s worth, this show sounds tailor-made for me and me alone.

Interview, Star Trek

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Director and Executive Producer Olatunde Osunsanmi Discusses Season 4

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 Swara Salih

Star Trek: Discovery has returned to our streaming screens for another spectacular season as the Discovery crew and the Federation of the future must deal with a galaxy-threatening anomaly. It’s unlike anything the Discovery crew has faced before, and resultingly Captain Burnham and her crew and loved ones are pushed to the brink in so many ways. What goes into making such a spectacular adventure that we watch every week?

DC Comics, Interview, Television1 Comment

Showrunner Keto Shimizu Discusses Season 7 of ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’

October 7, 2021November 8, 2021 Swara Salih

Slight setup spoilers for DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Season 7 follow below:

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is coming back already! After closing Season 6 last month! In the Season 6 finale, just as our time-traveling superheroes celebrated their victory over alien invaders in 1925 Texas, their time-travel ship, the Waverider, was blown up by another Waverider that just came and left! This is where we see them at the beginning of Season 7, and there’s going to be no easy way for them to get out of this one.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

‘Nebulous Dark’ Can’t Time Travel Enough to Be a Strong Movie

August 18, 2021August 18, 2021 Bray Lawrence

A nightmare-fueled time-traveling plot unravels in Shahin Sean Solimon’s new film, Nebulous Dark, a sci-fi movie about the world’s last human man as he wakes from deep sleep to find the Earth has been conquered by aliens. This sounds pretty straight forward for a plot, but this is only how I could fully understand the film after watching it and reading the synopsis again. If you were to watch Nebulous Dark after only seeing the trailer, as I did, you would find an almost surreal, nihilist nightmare of a film that I can’t tell if it’s poorly edited and poorly written, or if it’s actively trying to attack the viewer on a subconscious level. What I was left with was an art piece that genuinely intrigues me and is unintentionally funny, by a film that takes itself incredibly seriously.

Marvel, Movies, Streaming

We Was Kangs: On Jonathan Majors’ Lively ‘Loki’ Performance

July 28, 2021November 18, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

It has been a minute since the season one finale for Loki aired. These last few Loki-less Wednesdays [not counting the making-of special last week] have been brutal, but they’ve allowed me to take a sort of reflective look at the Marvel series.

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi, Streaming1 Comment

NOC Interview: Sam Richardson Talks His New Film, ‘The Tomorrow War’

June 18, 2021 Sophia Soto

Sam Richardson stars in Amazon Studios’ The Tomorrow War! The new action sci-fi movie will be available to stream on Prime Video starting July 2. The actor is best known for his roles in Veep, Detroiters, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. Some of Richardson’s most recent work includes Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. and HouseBroken. Along with The Tomorrow War, he also has many other new upcoming projects such as Werewolves Within and The After Party.

Interview, Streaming, Television

‘Timewasters’ Creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor on His New Series and Time-Traveling While Black

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Laura Sirikul

When you think of time-traveling films or television series, the first ones you think of mainly consist of white casts. If someone asked you to name a predominantly black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) led time-traveling series, it may take a little bit to come up with one, if any. Thankfully, that’s where IMDbTV’s Timewasters comes in to change the game

Marvel, Reviews, Streaming

NOC Review: Kneel Before ‘Loki,’ the Best Marvel Studios Series Thus Far!

June 8, 2021June 11, 2021 Mike Manalo

I realize I’ve only seen two episodes, but as of this moment, Loki is absolutely already my favorite of the Marvel Studios shows so far. Don’t get me wrong. WandaVision is incredibly original and ambitious. ~~The Falcon and the Winter Soldier~~ Captain America and the Winter Soldier was relevant and politically aware. But after the first two episodes of each, I found myself questioning whether or not I loved the shows as much as the films. Yes it’s great to give us time to explore these characters as more than just B-members of The Avengers, playing second fiddle to the original six. But was it really going to give me the same feelings I got whenever I’d walk out of the cinemas after another rousing $200M budgeted 2-3 hour installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Marvel, Streaming

Owen Wilson Talks About Being in the MCU in New ‘Loki’ Featurette

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 Laura Sirikul

It’s been a long time coming for the celebrated actor Owen Wilson to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s hard to believe he’s never been in a Marvel film or television series. Having been part of the Disney family since 2006 in Disney Pixar’s Cars as the voice of Lightning McQueen, Wilson never really thought about being part of the MCU until he was pitched to by Loki director Kate Herron. Now, Wilson plays Time Variance Authority (TVA) agent, Mobius, who works with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to stop a rogue variant from killing more of his Time Agents in Marvel Studio’s Loki.

Books, Television

Production for HBO’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ Begins in New York

June 1, 2021June 4, 2021 Sophia Soto

The new HBO Original drama series The Time Traveler’s Wife is officially in production, which is taking place in New York. David Nutter will direct the six-episode first season and serve as an executive producer. The cast includes Rose Leslie, Theo James, Desmin Borges, and Natasha Lopez.

Comics, Reviews

‘Time Before Time’ Review: Leave Your Troubles Behind

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

What would you do if you could leave all your troubles in the past, literally? If starting over again was as easy as hopping in a rickety metal box, pressing a few buttons, and starting life anew in a completely different century? That’s the question posed in Time Before Time, a brand new series written by Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville with art by Joe Palmer.

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi

The Master of Inversion: ‘Tenet’ Star John David Washington

September 18, 2020September 22, 2020 Mike Manalo

Tenet has made its way into theaters! And though it’s no secret that the pandemic has hindered our ability to see the film on IMAX screens as auteur, Christopher Nolan, intended, I was very fortunate to run out and see it from the safety of my car at an LA drive-in recently. And let me tell you, this is one heck of a twisty, complex, roller coaster ride that challenges and thrills you! Multiple viewings will be required. That said, I encourage folks to treat themselves to a drive-in night to see it as safely and as soon as possible, because it’s incredibly fun!

Movies, Sci Fi4 Comments

Time Gets Trippy in the New Trailer for ‘Tenet’

May 21, 2020May 22, 2020 Mike Manalo

Oh man, do I love Christopher Nolan!

It’s no secret that we’re living in an unprecedented time where the very existence of the theatrical experience is being threatened. Even if the quarantine is lifted, there’s going to be a lot of hesitation for audiences to return to the big screens. However, if anyone can bring people back to theaters, begging for more — if anyone can provide an argument for why cinema and movies need to be viewed outside the comfort of our own homes, and through immersive experiences we can’t get from streaming on our TVs — it’s Christopher Nolan!

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel, Movies

Hard NOC Life: ‘Spider-Man’ Into the Multiverse

May 10, 2019May 8, 2020 Hard NOC Media

This week on Hard NOC Life, Dominic Mah returns as guest co-host to join Keith for additional spoilery Endgame thoughts. This time with more Spider-Man: Far From Home!

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel, Movies

Hard NOC Life: We’re in the ‘Endgame’ Now

May 3, 2019May 8, 2020 Hard NOC Media

After it demolished box office records around the globe, we finally talk about Avengers: Endgame! Though the film has been out for more than a week, you should be aware that the discussion will be filled with spoilers throughout.

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DC Comics, Recaps, Television1 Comment

NOC Recaps The Flash: Back to the Future

April 19, 2016March 2, 2023 Christelle G.

Did anyone notice the new voice over intro now includes King Shark, Trajectory, and Jay as Zoom? I love these show runners; you can tell how geeky they get over their jobs. Each week it gets harder for me to come up with increasingly more clever titles than the actual show episode name. “Flash Back,” c’mon! How could I beat that?

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Movies, Sci Fi5 Comments

The People of Color in Back to the Future Part II

October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 Keith Chow

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last ten months, you’re probably well aware that today is Back to the Future Day. Though not a national holiday (yet), today has been so named because it is the day Marty McFly arrives in the future in 1989’s Back to the Future Part II. Though most blogs will be reminiscing about the classic movie trilogy and documenting everything the movie got right (and wrong) about 2015, we’re going to use this space to rank all of the people of color in the movie.

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Sci Fi, Television11 Comments

Character Study: Doctor Martha Jones

October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

In honor of #BlackSpeculativeFictionMonth

[Scene: Attending a party where friends are discussing their favorite Doktah.]

Partygoer 1: I love the Classic Who’s. Tom Baker is my guy.
Partygoer 2: Eccleston, through and through.
Partygoer 3: Tennant. The only 10 I see.
Partygoer 4: My Doctor was Eleven. Denny, who is your favorite Doctor
Denny: stops typing on iPhone Huh?
Partygoer 4: Who’s your favorite Doctor?
Denny: Oh that’s easy. Dr. Martha Jones, followed closely by 10.

Resumes typing on iPhone and departs while others stand in confusion.

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DC Comics, Recaps, Television5 Comments

NOC Recaps The Flash: No Fate But What We Make

May 20, 2015May 22, 2015 Christelle G.

It is time to bust out my time-travel movie reference arsenal, because things are about to get heavy, Doc. Yes, this recap title is a Terminator quote, and dammit does it apply. I am about to recap the crap out of The Flash’s first season finale, so SPOILER ALERT: you can’t go back in time and unread what you’re about to read if you haven’t already seen this magnificent episode of superhero time travel television. Alright, here I go:

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DC Comics, Recaps, Television5 Comments

NOC Recaps The Flash: Sibling Roguery

March 25, 2015April 2, 2015 Christelle G.

Barry runs so fast that he literally runs through time and back “a day and some change,” specifically into the beginning of last week’s episode. To recap, he’s ran into a time before [SPOILER ALERT] Weather Wizard 2.0 kidnapped Joe in revenge, before Captain Singh was hospitalized/paralyzed, before the WestAllen kiss, before a tsunami threatened Central City, and before Wells vibrated his fist through Cisco’s chest.

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