Let’s be honest. After Part One, you know if you’re in for this or not.

Same things apply: great performances, and a level of Hollywood movie making they really don’t do much of anymore.

As everyone said when the movie was split in half, it’s the weaker half, and as a stand alone movie, does not fit the bill.

But — if you’re a fan, you’re gonna be satisfied.

That said: there’s one moment of de-aging CG which may be among the most disturbing things on film this year.

Much like the first — gorgeous animation, fun enough script, great cast. Missing that extra something, but fine enough for a Saturday morning watch.

What a truly charming little movie. Shame it seems to have bombed in theaters, but hopefully more will catch it at home. 

Unofficial new Holiday movie entry?

Much like the movie's lead, this new version of The Running Man has everything to check the boxes, but it's just missing that certain something.

It's a fine watch, a fun way to spend a few hours, and there are little bits from actors who I was happy to see (Katy O'Brien, Martin Herlihy, Michael Cera), but it never really blew me away.

I think what has me feeling down on it is that, to this point, Edgar Wright has been one of my favorite directors, someone whose joy in the movie he is making comes through every frame. But there's something missing, and I can't place my finger on what.

The ending, too, feels like there were some strong studio notes.

Aside: Was Josh Brolin channeling Vince McMahon here, or is that my wrestling-addled brain talking?

Maybe I'll watch this again and enjoy it more on what it is, versus what it isn't, but until then: it's Fine™.

I’m not sure why this has me rankled today, but it does.

Per Deadline.com, in this morning’s quarterly stockholders call, Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke of future changes to the Disney+ streaming service, saying:

Since splashing out on an equity stake in Fortnite owner Epic Games for $1.5B last year, Iger said the opportunity is now there to “integrate game-like features into Disney+,” which would directly challenge streaming rival Netflix – a business that has leant hard into gaming of late.

“Obviously there is a huge opportunity for games and our investment with Epic Games, well that will largely be an opportunity to integrate game-like features into Disney+,” said Iger.

This is the absolute last thing I could want.

I don’t need “game-like features”. I have games for those. I subscribe to their service (yes, I came back after they fixed things up with Jimmy Kimmel) to watch things. Period.

Now, I recognize, that doesn’t sound great to stockholders. “The average user of Disney+ watches what they subscribed us for and moves on”. This is why they, like all streaming services, want to push you into automatically playing content, binging, following their suggestions, and so on. To be able to say that the average user was “engaged” (i.e. the app was on and showing something) for more minutes every quarter.

It’s not fun. It’s not entertaining. It’s not enjoyable. It’s cruft that makes me waste time.

Is it any wonder that people are flocking to using apps like Plex, Stremio, Infuse, and Kodi to just watch things? The more traction you put between me and what I’m intending, the less I want to use your service. “Engagement” minutes or not.

Kind of an odd bird of a movie.

Dwayne is, if nothing else, getting out of his element here — I still think that Pain & Gain is his best performance.

What I didn’t expect was how much this movie reminded me of Steve Jobs, in terms of its “here’s these key moments” structure.

The “plot” as it were wasn’t terribly compelling, but the performances and the direction are top notch and enough to keep you interested.

I can completely see why this didn’t resonate, but if you’re into MMA/combat sports, it’s at least worth a watch.

Oh man. What a fun movie!

Credit to whoever at the studio said, “yes, the audience CAN take subtitles.”

Al-Pacino-Saying-What-A-Picture.jpg

Never Naruto Run. Not even once.

River Akira Davis on The Japan Times by way of The New York Times:

The Japanese parent company of 7-Eleven is betting billions of dollars that it can expand its business in the United States by making its convenience stores more like the food meccas they are in Japan.

Convenience stores, or konbini, are an indispensable part of daily life in Japan, known for high-quality fresh food — from seasonal bento boxes to egg salad sandwiches that celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once called “pillows of love.”

Leading the push to expand Japanese-quality fresh food to 7-Eleven in North America is Stephen Dacus, a Japanese American former Walmart executive who started as CEO of Seven & I Holdings, the 7-Eleven parent company, three months ago.

Following YouTubers like Seerasan, it’s abundantly clear how much better Japanese convenience stores are than those here in the States. If done right, I truly believe that this could thread the needle of fast, fresh, healthy food in places which don’t normally have it, and crucially, make it as convenient — if not more so — than standard fast food.

I really really hope this works out for the best. It could benefit all of us.

People of Earth,

They say there are a few rules of comedy…rules like…

• The rule of threes
• Don’t punch down
• Leave ‘em wanting more

On the last one, as announced on stage tonight at Otakon, I share the difficult but necessary announcement that 2025 will be my final year as a full time, regular host of Super Art Fight.

The only constant in life is change, and as SAF heads towards two decades(!!) of existence, the voices and faces who guide you through this incredible live event need to be different. New voices, new visions, new ideas.

Mine is a voice and a vision which I’ve had the absolute honor of my life to share with the world. Mine is now a voice which will be ceding to the new and the next.

Before the year is out, we’re planning a big farewell event for the Ottobar in Baltimore. It would be my honor and privilege to see you there as I wrap up this era of my life.

Until then — let’s laugh. Let’s cheer. Let’s make it awesome.

Your pal, Marty Day

Dictated not read.

I know, I know, a full five.

Here’s what I had tonight:
- A very funny, very silly movie chock-a-block with jokes
- A modern update of a true classic, which rarely felt cloying in its respect for what came before
- An incredibly game, open to laugh, here-for-a-good-time audience.

I’ve missed this. And this was just a joy which reminded me of being in a theater for Anchorman, or a preview screening of Scott Pilgrim, or seeing Hot Rod. 

Loved it.

I know, I know, a full five.

Here’s what I had tonight:
- A very funny, very silly movie chock-a-block with jokes
- A modern update of a true classic, which rarely felt cloying in its respect for what came before
- An incredibly game, open to laugh, here-for-a-good-time audience.

I’ve missed this. And this was just a joy which reminded me of being in a theater for Anchorman, or a preview screening of Scott Pilgrim, or seeing Hot Rod. 

Loved it.

A Wes Anderson movie at this point in his career is a consistent thing. He may try new things here and there, but they’re always little bespoke music boxes.

Shocked — shocked! — it took him this long to work with Michael Cera for the first time.

A Wes Anderson movie at this point in his career is a consistent thing. He may try new things here and there, but they’re always little bespoke music boxes.

Shocked — shocked! — it took him this long to work with Michael Cera for the first time.

For ages, my friends and I have gone on and on and on: the best way to do a Fantastic Four movie is as a period piece. Mad Men with superheroes. The Incredibles, but live-action.

But they'd never do it, right?

Even with each piece of marketing -- the posters, the trailers, the Giacchino theme -- I thought, "yeah, but it's gonna turn into a generic superhero movie, eventually."

The first ten minutes is what my mind's eye and nerd brain had craved for ages. Holy fucking shit. That montage is absolutely unreal.

For the first time in years, it's a Marvel movie where you don't need the point of entry. Much like James Gunn's Superman, it's a movie bold enough to say, "you get superheroes now, yeah? Now watch THIS."

I cannot wait to watch this a billion more times. They fucking did it.

For ages, my friends and I have gone on and on and on: the best way to do a Fantastic Four movie is as a period piece. Mad Men with superheroes. The Incredibles, but live-action.

But they'd never do it, right?

Even with each piece of marketing -- the posters, the trailers, the Giacchino theme -- I thought, "yeah, but it's gonna turn into a generic superhero movie, eventually."

The first ten minutes is what my mind's eye and nerd brain had craved for ages. Holy fucking shit. That montage is absolutely unreal.

For the first time in years, it's a Marvel movie where you don't need the point of entry. Much like James Gunn's Superman, it's a movie bold enough to say, "you get superheroes now, yeah? Now watch THIS."

I cannot wait to watch this a billion more times. They fucking did it.