Author: The DHK

Netflix takes to the high seas in their new animated film “The Sea Beast.” The film is written and directed by Chris Williams, who has previously helmed “Bolt”, “Big Hero 6” and co-directed “Moana.” Taking place in a world where mythical creatures roam the high seas, the movie follows a crew of creature hunters. Jacob Holland (voiced by Karl Urban) is first mate to famed Captain Crow (Jared Harris). The two are perpetually in search of their white whale, and by white whale we mean red whale-ish creature.  Their paths cross with young orphan Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator) who idolizes…

Move over heroes with powers- Viola Davis is here with “The Woman King” to show y’all up. The trailer for the film just dropped, along with our jaws. Davis stars as General Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors. Inspired by true events, the fighters protected the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s from colonizers.  Dahomey was located in West Africa (present day Benin) and existed from about 1600 – 1904. It was oft frequented by European visitors and unfortunately became known as a major supplier of slaves. They would conquer neighboring societies and supply their…

Our favorite Kiwi returns to Asgard with “Thor: Love and Thunder”, and we couldn’t be happier! We’re of course referring to our favorite franchise helmer, Taika Waititi. He’s back for his second outing with the God(s?) of Thunder. The best part of the film is the gang’s all here again. Chris Hemsworth returns as the titular character. Waititi reprises his role as stalwart companion Korg. Tessa Thompson returns as Valkyrie, now King of new Asgard.  Listen on Apple Podcasts Of course the most celebrated return to the franchise is Natalie Portman who is back as Jane Foster, now Jane Thor.…

Well Ant-Man has finally addressed (or come as close as he can) to explaining why he didn’t take on Thanos from the inside. In a clip that’s making the rounds from the Disney Wish: Worlds of Marvel show, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly make appearances as Ant-Man and Wasp. In the bit, Rudd as Scott Lang acknowledges why he didn’t “shrink down, go in, and kill Thanos in a really creative way. First of all gross, secondly it’s much more complicated than that.” Unfortunately at that point, his explanation gets cut off by Lilly’s Hope van Dyne. Patrons of the…

Baz Lurhman’s latest musical epic “Elvis” takes a look at The King himself. The lens through which it approaches the number-one-selling solo artist of all time (to date) is certainly an odd one. Former Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Austin Butler steps into Elvis Presley’s (blue suede) shoes for the flick. However it’s Tom Hanks as Elvis’ corrupt manager, Colonel Tom Parker.  Hanks is generally an incredible actor, but not one we’d say is good at disappearing into roles. His affable off-screen personality is often what helps pad his more recent performances. But Parker…

Poppy Liu of “Hacks” is joining Disney+’s upcoming series “American Born Chinese.” The project is quickly turning into the Avengers of Asian and AAPI talent. The show is based on Gene Luen Yang and Lark Pien’s graphic novel of the same name. The source material follows the adventures of Jin Wang, a high schooler who after meeting a new student, Wei-Chen, finds that his life becomes intertwined in a battle amongst Chinese mythological gods. He’ll need to navigate his immigrant home life, this fabled entanglement, and oh yeah, school. It was a National Book Award finalist and won the Printz…

It’s a whole new “Westworld” in season 4. Okay maybe not wholly new. That said, season 4’s premiere has dropped us well outside the confines of the nightmare park we started with six years ago. The end of season 3 felt like a big old memory wipe, and to be frank, we’ve forgotten a considerable amount going into season 4.  It’s tough on a show where now characters can die but also come back as hosts. Or we aren’t sure if they were hosts to start etc. Consequences feel muted even though the premiere was trying to set the stage…

Legendary animator Phil Tippett’s 30 year in the making passion project “Mad God” has been unleashed upon the world. The film which finally came to fruition thanks to a KickStarter campaign is available to stream on Shudder. Tippett is the mastermind behind the chess scene in “Star Wars” and the AT-AT Imperial Walkers. Most notably, he was the Dinosaur Supervisor for “Jurassic Park.” A film that we’d argue set the standard for what visual effects SHOULD look like, and continues to do so. Listen on Apple Podcasts He started his own VFX house in Berkeley, California in 1984 and he…

It’s been 10 years since the debut of Disney Channel series “Gravity Falls” (and about 6 since it went off the air). In commemoration of this anniversary, series creator Alex Hirsch has been sharing various goodies this past week. Let us draw your attention to a truly spectacular and unhinged series of exchanges between Hirsch and the Disney S&P team regarding “Gravity Falls.” S&P are Standards and Practices, they are typically the internal department at a television network who regulate the content of the show. Think internal censorship. While television shows are held accountable to the television content ratings of…

“Spiderhead” shows us that sometimes short and sweet is the way to go. Based on The New Yorker short story “Escape from Spiderhead” by George Saunders, the sci-fi / psychological thriller probably should have stayed in its original format. The film centers around a private penitentiary run by Steve Abnesti. Inmates at said prison are allowed to lead relatively cushy lives. The tradeoff is they have volunteered as lab rats in mind-altering drug trials in order to be afforded such comforts. Abnesti is played by Chris Hemsworth, and this is not to say that brilliant scientists can’t be model level…