The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 43: The Color of the Solar System

Alright, 'Combies, as you know, your boys have a tendency to keep things light but we also don't shy away from difficult topics either. So for Black History Month, the boys have decided to get real and going deep. From the origins of the month as Negro History Week to a wide range of social and political issues. The boys are diving deep and they're talking about some real issues and ills, so settle in, 'Combies,and let's get REAL as we swim through the depths of humanity and explore among the color of the solar system.

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And for those of you curious about the first female Captain Marvel A.K.A. Spectrum, here's some reference from various artists:

Dexter Soy, Greg Land, and Kenneth Rocafort

And feel free to hit up your boys on the social media!

Joe: Twitter and Instagram

Drew: Twitter and Instagram

Paul the Engineer: Twitter and Instagram

The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 41: Doctors, Detours and Dick-sclusions!

Here we are, 'Combies, the last episode of the year and the boys are going out in their typical flair! Come on down as Joe, Paul and Drew review Marvel's latest cinematic daliance, Doctor Strange. The boys give you the rundown on the film but also dive into a rather interesting controversy that spun out of a casting choice made in the film, as well as an in-depth dscussion on media coverage in general. Ready yourselves because this one gets really tangential so keep your head on a swivel because they're going all over the place. Oh and you'll also get to find out what a good sandwich is worth.

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For context on the Huffington Post's article surrounding Tilda Swinton's discussion with Margaret Cho, see THIS!

To see Ghost Rider pwn Galactus, watch THIS!!!

And for what they're laughing at in the post-outro segment, that would be THIS and THIS! Yeah, that was basically this episode, y'all.  LOL

Also, feel free to hit up your boys on the social media!

Joe: Twitter and Instagram

Paul the Engineer: Twitter and Instagram

Drew: Twitter and Instagram

The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 40: Back to the Melee: SHUT UP, INTERNET!!!

Well, 'Combies. It's that time again. Of course, it's another episode of the Honeycomb Hideout, but it's more than that. It's a Melee episode! For those uninitiated, a "melee" is a confused scuffle or struggle. That is a pretty accurate description of what these episodes are; they are unplanned, unbridled streams of consciousness of your boys jump from topic to topic. Whether it's politics, fan entitlement, video games, extremely random references... Well... more random references than usual... and so much more! So if you want to get swept up into the melee, come on down and hold on tight, 'cuz it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!

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For the video "Couch Commander" featuring President Barack Obama referenced by Paul, watch THIS!

For the interview that the guys inadvertently gape at William Fichtner over, watch THIS!

For the non-butchered original image that Joe is referencing from the Marvel series "Siege", look at THIS!

And because awesomeness, for the Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite teaser, WATCH THIS!

Also, feel free to hit up your boys on the social media!

Joe: Twitter and Instagram

Drew: Twitter and Instagram

Paul the Engineer: Twitter and Instagram

Equality: It's Up To Us

On the heels of National Women's Equality Day in August, I found myself debating with my partner the feminist qualities of 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, which garnered a lot of attention not just for its stunning visuals and practical effects, but for its perceived feminist plot and characterization. As evidenced by our conversation, and the ongoing conversation of the internet, not everyone agreed with the "fempositive" perception. I don't think I'm being naive in believing that most educated and open-minded people today believe in the value of gender equality, yet women in the workplace still make 80¢ on the dollar, and the "damsel in distress" trope is still alive and well in Hollywood.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Intention does not equal action, and as an advantaged white male in America, I realize with discomfort that despite my feminist beliefs, I am still embedded in a long-standing privileged patriarchy, and coded sexism sneaks into my thoughts and syntax on a daily basis. 

Imaginos Workshop was created because a group of people agreed that art and stories are important, and that shared creativity is an endeavor worth pursuing. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-gender group of strange and unique people, an oddball microcosm of society at large. We are both creators and consumers, telling stories and crafting characters, while also voraciously taking in the wealth of entertainment available to us in so many forms. So how can we be sure that we aren't falling victim to the systemic prejudices that plague our society? How can we avoid unwittingly perpetuating inequalities of race and gender? 

Aliens (1986)

I don't have the answers to all of these complex problems (and my baked-in pessimism regarding human nature whispers to me that we'll never conquer them completely), but I can say that I think positive change starts with thinking critically and interacting with more (different!) people. We should strive for empathy, which in my experience happens when we dissolve that feeling of otherness that comes from ignorance of another group. As consumers of media, we should do so actively, which is to say that we should be critical and questioning of even the most seemingly benign tidbits of popular media, from commercials and billboards to multi-million dollar budget summer blockbusters. Like I said, I don't have all the answers. But I'm trying, and I've come up with a few questions to ask the next time you're sitting down to watch a movie, whether it's an action epic or a romantic comedy (even the term "chick flick" figures into this conversation. See? It's everywhere). 

1. Does a woman or women drive the plot in a meaningful way?

2. If so, do they do it actively or passively? (This follow-up question is hugely important.) e.g. If a woman is captured, thus forcing a man to rescue her, this is passive action which feeds into old patriarchal plot structures. But if, on the other hand, a woman rebels from the status quo (Furiosa deciding to take the war rig off course in Mad Max: Fury Road) or takes action against a threat (Ripley fighting off the xenomorph in Aliens), this is active influence, and in my opinion indicates a measure of equality and respect towards women and their ability to be as forceful and decisive as men, both in changing their own lives and the lives of others, and also in influencing the landscape and direction of the film plot.

3. To what end do the actions of women in the film lead? If they drive the plot but ultimately only in the service of a male protagonist, this is problematic and may indicate a regressive attitude towards women and their roles as being useful only in regards to how it might benefit a man.

4. Is the sexiness of women a key part of the film, both in terms of aesthetics and narrative? And if so, how is it depicted? Women as sexy is of course not offensive in itself. Women (and men, for that matter) can be sexy while still being powerful and intelligent. But if women are there only to satisfy the male gaze as objects of sex appeal, this is damaging and regressive.

This is not an exhaustive system obviously, but I think if audiences ask themselves these questions in combination with something like the Bechdel test, we can say fairly confidently whether a film is feminist or not, or at least get the discussion started in the right way.

- Jonathan

The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 31: Executive Movie Missteps

Alright, 'Combies! The boys are back again and this time we're getting into the meat of the movie industry and our thoughts on the what's and why's of their present actions. There's been a lot happening of late within geek corner of the film industry, specifically Marvel Studios and Disney, as well as Warner Bros. and their burgeoning DC Cinematic Universe. It's a very lively and in-depth discussion and, if you're interested in understanding the decisions that go on within your favorite companies and movies, this is definitely a show you might want to check out!

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And for context of Nik's palpable concern during the last portion of the show, 
we have exhibit one:

And Exhibit two:

2015 Oscars Winners

Well, that's a wrap. Here are the 2015 Academy Award winners: 

Best animated short

Feast — Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed

Best live action short film

The Phone Call — Mat Kirkby and James Lucas

Best adapted screenplay

The Imitation Game - Graham Moore

Best original screenplay

Birdman - Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo

Best documentary short subject

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 — Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry

Achievements in visual effects

Interstellar — Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher

Best original score

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Alexandre Desplat

Best original song

"Glory" from Selma - music and lyrics by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn

Best documentary feature

Citizenfour - Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky

Film editing

Whiplash — Tom Cross

Cinematography

Birdman — Emmanuel Lubezki

Production design

The Grand Budapest Hotel — Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock

Best animated feature

Big Hero 6 — Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli

Sound editing

American Sniper — Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

Sound mixing

Whiplash — Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley

Best foreign language film

Ida — Poland

Makeup and hairstyling

Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier — The Grand Budapest Hotel

Costume design

Milena Canonero — The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best actor in a supporting role

J.K. Simmons — Whiplash

Best actress in a supporting role

Patricia Arquette — Boyhood

Best actor in a leading role

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Best actress in a leading role

Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Best director

Alejandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman

Best picture

Birdman

The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 14: Counter Culture Shock part 2!

Alright, 'Combies! Your patience has paid off! Here's part 2 of Imaginos Workshop's  examination of the dark side of counter culture, this time looking at the ethnic issues and politics within it. Joined by our guest Tobi Ogunyemi, founder of Multimedia Pop-Culture site "SpaceLion", the gang examine how ethnicity comes to play in the various aspects of comics, films, cosplay and even from the production standpoint. Get ready for some major deep (and always humorous) conversation and debate!

Also, make sure to check out Tobi and his crew's  website and 'Like' them on Facebook:
http://www.spacelioncs.com
https://www.facebook.com/spacelioncs

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The Honeycomb Hideout Episode 11: The Summer Rundown

What's up, 'Combies? The boys are back with a solid rundown of some of the major events of the summer. We cover the big film releases, their aftermath and what the "folks in charge" should really be paying attention to as result, as well as major video game releases still to come that we're excited about. On the more serious tip, we cover a number of the tragedies that have taken place in the past few weeks, as well as some of the possible sociological factors that contribute to these events.  That's right, we're deep and funny here in the 'Hideout! Also, enjoy the special behind-the-scenes snippit at the beginning. Yep, y'all are going to get a taste of how we at Imaginos really tend to interact, which really isn't that different than how we do on the show, but Nik didn't realize we were recording at first so that adds to the awesome! So come on down and join in the fun!

*SPOILER WARNING: We go into significant detail about the overall plot and resolution of "The Dark Knight Rises" during the show, so if you haven't seen it yet and would rather still be surprised and whatnot when you see it, hold off on listening to it until after you've seen it. If not, venture forth and enjoy!

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Summer movie preview: 5 under the radar films to watch for

The days are getting longer. Memorial Day has come and gone, beaches are open and school will be out soon for the summer months. Although summer doesn’t technically begin until June 20, it is already summer in many peoples’ minds. For the movie industry this means it’s time to release the biggest movies of the year. The Avengers has already gotten the ball rolling with a record-setting spring release, and there are some huge films on the horizon that studios (and theaters) are hoping will get people off the beach and into the cinema.

You will hear plenty of talk about Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic Prometheus which appears to be a spiritual successor (prequel?) to the Alien series. Then there’s Pixar’s Brave, which features a roguish red-headed heroine (a first for Pixar) that people will see no matter what the trailer looks like because, well, it’s Pixar. And of course Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy will come to a conclusion in what is undoubtedly the summer’s most highly anticipated film – The Dark Knight Rises.

But what about the rest of the lineup? I could give you a list of my most anticipated summer films but my guess is that you don’t need me to convince you to go see The Dark Knight Rises. So instead I’ve put together a list of a few promising movies that are getting far fewer headlines than the big dogs. This doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily small movies (although a couple are) but my guess is that you’ve heard far less about them than the sequels and superhero movies. Here are my Top 5 under the radar films of the summer season.


Editor's note: If the full screen option is not working for the trailer videos and you would like to enlarge them, I would recommend clicking on the title of the video above it in white letters. It will open the video in a new tab on the YouTube website.

The Pact   Release Date: June 8

One of the few horror releases this summer, The Pact is director Nicholas McCarthy’s feature length debut. The movie itself is based on his short film of the same name that debuted at Sundance in 2011. It is about a woman (Caity Lotz) who stays at her childhood home after attending her mother’s funeral, only to sense a mysterious presence in the house. The short was well received at the film festival, and early reviews of the full length version are positive, praising its eerie atmosphere and suspenseful pacing. So much of horror films’ success lies in execution; here’s hoping that The Pact is able to deliver.

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap   Release Date: June 15

Legendary rap icon Ice-T is the director and interviewer in this ambitious documentary that debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film explores the prodigious rap game: the music, the inspiration, the history and the characters of a music that is much more than just a genre. It features a ridiculous list of artists and interviewees including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Afrika Mambaataa, Grandmaster Caz, Mos Def, Ice Cube, Chuck D., Common, Kanye West, Q-Tip and Rakim (to name just a few). Based on the trailer it’s hard to discern exactly what the mission of the documentary is but at the very least it looks to be a fascinating and funny journey into the history and ambitions of a type of “folk music” that has evolved into a movement.

To Rome With Love   Release Date: June 22

After Woody Allen’s Oscar-nominated Midnight in Paris last year, Allen turns his unique cinematic eye to Rome in a movie that appears to be comfortably in the auteur’s wheelhouse. A large eclectic cast, snappy dialogue and luxurious shots of Rome’s sun-warmed streets will perhaps do for Italy what Midnight in Paris did for France, although there are no implications of magical twists of fate this time around. Allen himself returns as a character among a cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Ellen Paige and Roberto Benigni. If Allen can keep ahead of his formidable (and sometimes misdirected) intellect this film should be a pleasant alternative to the summer’s heavier hits.

Savages   Release Date: July 6

Director Oliver Stone’s latest movie looks more like Natural Born Killers than anything he’s released in over a decade. It eschews the political trappings of much of his filmography in exchange for Mexican drug cartels and high octane violence. There is a love triangle that includes Blake Lively, a federal agent played by John Travolta and some drug-dealing baddies in Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro. It’s nothing too intellectual, but if Stone can make us care about these characters then the guns, drugs and explosions should do the rest.

360   Release Date: August 3

This globetrotting drama is directed by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles who directed City of God (that alone is enough for me to watch it) and written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Last King of Scotland). It weaves together the storylines of various characters across several continents while examining the dynamics of social and sexual relationships and how they shape our lives. It debuted at the Toronto Film Festival to mixed reviews, with some complaints that the connections between its characters were too tenuous but drawing praise for the breathtaking cinematography that has become director Meirelles’ trademark. It stars Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Ben Foster and Anthony Hopkins. For some reason I wasn’t able to find an American trailer online so I’ve put up a Thai version. Sorry about the poor quality.

Release Date: August 3


Jon