On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, the roundtable reviews Transformers: Age of Extinction!
Is it on par with the first three?
Is it any better than the first three?
Might it actually be worse? Do
the Dinobots actually make an appearance?
Is it time for Michael Bay to walk away from the franchise? Can Michael Bay actually be considered an auteur,
or is he merely a skilled technician? Is
the franchise beyond redemption at this point?
Is the source material too inane to be made palatable for adults?
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
No Sleep till Brooklyn: ‘Do the Right Thing’ Turns 25
For those who can remember, 1989 was undoubtedly the year of
The Batman. The Dark Knight’s shadow
loomed large, and the famed Bat Signal was emblazoned on every product
imaginable. Indeed, after all the box
office and merchandising receipts had been counted, the “World’s Greatest
Detective” emerged victorious. However,
a phenomenon of a much more lasting variety took place merely a week
later. It was spurred on by an
exponentially smaller, yet infinitely bolder film. That film was far more significant from a
sociological standpoint. It exposed long
festering wounds that hadn’t yet healed, and openly pondered one of life’s
great mysteries: What is, ultimately, the right thing to do?
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 6/14/2014: Who You Gonna Call?!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, the roundtable reviews Edge of Tomorrow!
Is it just another generic Tom Cruise flick, or is it something
altogether different? Does it mark the beginning of a major comeback
for Tom Cruise? Could it be this generation’s answer to The Matrix?
Might it even be this summer’s best kept secret? Is it truly as smart
as some reviews are letting on? Does a sci-fi actioner such as this
truly have any mass appeal? Will gamers and hardcore genre fans relate
to it more than the average moviegoer?
Labels:
22 Jump Street,
30th Anniversary,
All You Need Is Kill,
Edge Of Tomorrow,
Ghostbusters,
Harold Ramis,
Lahmi,
Movie Review,
Odeisel,
Scott Wilson,
The Rowdy One,
VQ Dollars
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 5/31/2014: The Days of Future Past!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, The Roundtable reviews X-Men: Days of Future Past!
Is it the best X-Men film yet? Is
it the best X-Men Bryan Singer has ever made?
Is it true to the classic Chris Claremont story arc? Is it just as good as, or possibly even
better than, X-Men: First Class? Does it successfully manage to juxtapose the
cast of the Singer films with that of the Matthew Vaughn film? Does it manage to do all of its many
characters justice? Does Quicksilver
manage to be the film’s breakout star?
Should the franchise be allowed to continue on its current course? Would it better off in the hands of Marvel
Studios and Disney?
Labels:
Alien,
Anniversary,
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade,
Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom,
Odeisel,
Scott Wilson,
Scottscope Talk Radio,
The Rowdy One,
VQ Dollars,
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Friday, May 23, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 5/17/2014: Behold, The King of All Monsters!
Does the film ultimately
deliver the goods? Is the very idea of a “serious” Godzilla film an
oxymoron? Should giant monster movies be nothing more than campy fun?
Is it possible for the genre to offer something more substantial? Could
Gareth Edwards’ approach to the material be considered pretentious?
Should he have simply stuck to the blueprint established by Toho studios
over the past 60 years? Does he even manage to best Roland Emmerich’s
much derided Godzilla film? Will the undisputed “King of All
Monsters” ever receive proper treatment by an American studio? Is this
film worthy of a sequel? How heavily does it borrow from the Gamera Trilogy?
If there is a sequel, which one of Godzilla’s foes should make an
appearance? How many films will it take before Hollywood’s giant
monster revival becomes stale?
Labels:
Creatures/Monsters,
Gareth Edwards,
Godzilla,
Jay-Z,
Kaiju,
Movie Review,
Odeisel,
Scandal,
Science Fiction,
Scott Wilson,
Scottscope Talk Radio,
Solange Knowles,
The Rowdy One,
VQ Dollars
He Stands Alone: An Interview With Lord Jamar Part 2
In part 2 of my interview with Lord Jamar (You can read part one by clicking here), he talks a bit about his much publicized feuds with Yelawolf and Marlon Wayans. He also discusses his acting career and his upcoming album.
Labels:
DJ Alamo,
DJ Vlad,
HBO,
Hip-Hop,
Interviews,
Kilts,
Known Associates,
Lord Jamar,
Omar Epps,
Oz,
Racism,
Skirts,
Supreme Allah,
Yelawolf
He Stands Alone: An Interview With Lord Jamar Part 1
Throughout the 1990’s,
Brand Nubian spread the gospel of The Five Percent Nation beyond the confines
of the five boroughs. Their debut LP,
One for All, served as a musical manifesto for the organization, making its
complex ideology palatable for the masses.
While the album didn’t set the Billboard Charts ablaze, it managed to
amass a loyal and reverent following. Group
members Grand Puba Maxwell, Sadat X (Formerly known as Derek X), and Lord Jamar
became icons of the Black consciousness movement in Hip-Hop. When Puba left the fold to pursue a solo
career, Sadat and Jamar continued on for two more albums before they reunited
for 1998’s Foundation. Throughout all of
the group’s incarnations, Lord Jamar always remained its most reserved
member. Nevertheless, his contributions
always proved essential to group’s lasting success.
Labels:
Brand Nubian,
Five Percent Nation,
Golden Era,
Hip-Hop,
Interviews,
Kilts,
Lord Jamar,
Nation of Gods & Earths,
Nation Of Islam,
New Rochelle,
New York City,
Westchester
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 5/3/2014: Welcome Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!
This on Scottscope Talk Radio, The Roundtable reviews The Amazing Spider-Man 2!
Is it any better than the first one? Might it actually be worse? Are
there too many villains and characters? Does director Marc Webb truly
understand Spider-Man? Will this franchise ever reach the amazing highs
that it did under Sam Raimi’s watch? Is Andrew Garfield a better Peter
Parker than Tobey Maguire? Does this film offer the best depiction yet
of Spider-Man’s powers and abilities? Should Sony Pictures allow a
crossover between Spidey and The Avengers? If so, should Spidey be the
sole headliner of that adventure? Does anyone actually need a Sinister
Six movie? Would Spidey be better off in Disney’s hands?
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 4/26/2014: Enter The Matrix!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, we’ll be celebrating the 15th anniversary of The Matrix! Has it stood the test of time? Can it truly be considered a watershed film on par with the original Star Wars?
Is it truly the Wachowskis single best film? Is it nothing more than a
polished amalgamation of wuxia films, heroic bloodshed, cyberpunk,
anime, and manga? Did the Wachowskis basically steal their ideas from
Sophia Stewart? Did they simply plagiarize writer Grant Morrison’s
comic series The Invisibles? Has the film’s influence truly been a lasting one? Can The Matrix
be considered a loving tribute to Hong Kong Action cinema, or just a
cheap imitation of it? Can the Wachowski’s ever return to their former
glory? Should the saga of Neo continue?
Labels:
15th Anniversary,
Bryan Singer,
Cyberpunk,
Heroic Bloodshed,
Scandal,
Scott Wilson,
Scottscope Talk Radio,
The Matrix,
The Rowdy One,
VQ Dollars,
Wachoskis,
Wuxia,
X-Men: Days of Future Past,
Yuen Woo Ping
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 4/19/2014: Time is Illmatic!
This week on Scottscope
Talk Radio, the roundtable reviews The
Raid 2: Berandal! Is it a worthy
follow-up to the original? Is it
actually better than the original? Is it
too ambitious for its own good? Can it
be considered bloated and pretentious? Could
it possibly be the most violent action film ever made? Does it deserve comparison to classic “Heroic
Bloodshed’ films like Hard Boiled and
City on Fire? Might it even deserve comparison to the likes
of The Godfather Part 2? Does it raise the bar for action cinema? Are fans overhyping it? Is it merely an ultraviolent yet disposable
cult film from a familiar genre?
Labels:
20th Anniversary,
Crime Drama,
Gareth Evans,
Heroic Bloodshed,
Illmatic,
Martial Arts,
Nas,
Odeisel,
Scottscope Podcast,
Scottscope Talk Radio,
The Raid 2: Berandal,
VQ Dollars
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Movie Review: The Raid 2: Berandal
Though weary from battle, Officer Rama (Iko Uwais) is
afforded no rest. Mere hours after
emerging from the bloodied hallways of a Jakarta apartment block, he’s thrown
to the wolves once again. This time, he
goes undercover to infiltrate the powerful Bangun crime family. He eventually becomes bodyguard and confidant
to its heir apparent, the impetuous Uco (Arifin Putra). As a result, he becomes privy to family
business and gangland politics. However,
when an unsanctioned hit triggers an all-out gang war, Rama finds himself on
the front lines. Will he be able to
fight his way out of the slaughterhouse once more?
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 4/5/2014: The Rise Of The Winter Soldier!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, the roundtable reviews Captain America: The Winter Soldier! Just who is this mysterious character known as the “Winter Soldier”? What significance does he have to not only our hero, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe as whole? Will filmmaker’s Anthony and Joe Russo continue in the tradition established by Joe Johnston, or will they stake out new territory for Cap to conquer? Will the MCU ever manage to truly diversify its brand? Are all MCU films, and by extension, all superhero films exactly the same? Is it time for a change? Is Tony Stark/Iron Man still the most interesting and charismatic Avenger? Does Captain America: The Winter Soldier set a new watermark for the MCU? Is the hype justified? Join us as we ponder these and other mysteries of the MCU!
Labels:
Anthony Mackie,
Anthony Russo,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier,
Joe Russo,
Marvel Cinematic Universe,
Odeisel,
Scott Wilson,
Scottscope Talk Radio,
Spy Movie,
The Rowdy One,
Vashawn Quinones
Movie Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) walks a lonely road. Since awakening from his arctic slumber, he
wanders through life in a perpetual state of bemusement. His once beloved country has evolved into a
high-tech police state. It also happens
to be the preeminent world power. Now,
with the help of Stark Industries technology, S.H.I.E.L.D hopes to make that
power absolute. Alas, a cancerous growth
has been gestating deep within the bowels of the organization since its very
inception. That once hidden threat now
seeks complete dominion over its host, and by extension, the world at large. As this evolution takes place, key
S.H.I.E.L.D operatives become strategic targets. Now, more than ever before, Captain America
is the lone ambassador of an outmoded ideal.
With the help of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and The Falcon
(Anthony Mackie), he hopes to restore freedom to world on the brink of losing
it forever.
Labels:
Action/Adventure,
Anthony Russo,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier,
Chris Evans,
Comic Book,
Joe Russo,
Marvel Cinematic Universe,
Marvel Studios,
Movie Review,
Samuel L. Jackson,
Spy Movie,
The Avengers
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Scottscope 3/39/2014: It's a Sabotage!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, the roundtable reviews Sabotage! Is it on par with
the best of David Ayer’s work, or is it just more of the same? Has he become too predictable? Is it time for him to leave his comfort zone
and try something new? Have gritty cop
thrillers and crime dramas finally run their course? Could this be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s single
most violent film to date? Could this be
his best performance since coming out of retirement? Is there still room for him to grow as an
actor at this point? Is Sabotage merely a thinly-veiled
exploitation film operating under the guise of serious drama?
Labels:
Action Film,
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
David Ayer,
Diddy,
Exploitation Films,
Hip-Hop,
Jay-Z,
Kanye West,
Kilts,
Police Procedural,
Pusha T,
Sabotage,
Skirts,
Snoop Dogg
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Scottscope Talk Radio 3/22/2014: Bustin' Out Of The Boondocks!
On this week’s edition of Scottscope Talk Radio, the roundtable will be discussing Aaron Mcgruder’s departure from The Boondocks. Should the show continue on without him? Will it even be worth watching? Might it actually be better off without him? Given that the show bears relatively little resemblance to comic strip it was based on, would it be fair to question his actual level of involvement up until this point? Was his abandonment of the property inevitable? What of his new show, Black Jesus? Given the controversial nature of his humor, is McGruder truly a master satirist, or just a petty, self-hating provocateur? Is the animated iteration of The Boondocks truly meant to provoke thought, or is just a mean-spirited minstrel show that denigrates Black America?
Labels:
20th Anniversary,
Aaron McGruder,
Above The Rim,
Black Jesus,
G-Funk,
Harlem,
New York City,
Odeisel,
Rucker Tournament,
Scott Wilson,
Soundtrack,
Streetball,
The Boondocks,
The Rowdy One
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Duplicating Perfection: Is There Actually Hope For The Upcoming Remake Of 'The Raid'?
It was the announcement that fandom had been collectively
dreading for well over two years. One
could liken it to an inmate on death row, anxiously awaiting his execution
date. Sooner or later, after all the
appeals have been filed and ultimately denied, the sentence will be carried
out. In this particular case, the switch
was finally pulled (or the guillotine dropped) on Thursday, February 20th. Screen Gems and XYZ films officially
announced that the American remake of The
Raid: Redemption would be going into production this fall. Patrick Hughes, who is currently in
post-production on The Expendables 3,
is slated to direct. A cast has yet to
be announced, though some have mentioned the Hemsworth brothers as possible
candidates. So began a worldwide outcry
of fans everywhere.
Labels:
Action Film,
Gareth Evans,
Larnell Stovall,
Martial Arts,
Michael Jai White,
Remake/Reboot,
Scott Adkins,
Screen Gems,
The Raid 2: Berandal,
The Raid: Redemption,
Todd Brown,
XYZ Films
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