Top 10 Overrated Movies

Welcome one and all to a TOP TEN LIST

This list comprises of movies that were BOX OFFICE HITS but were subsequently Big Pieces of Shitaki Mushrooms.  

10. Transformers Series
9. Zoolander
8. TMNT (2007)
7. Titanic
6. Avatar
5. The Green Hornet
4. Funny People
3. Grown Ups 2
2. Twilight Series
1. 50 Shades of Grey

* please not that this list is my opinion and you are free to disagree with it

The D.U.F.F

The D.U.F.F

Welcome to my review of The Du…..  HOMER NO THIS ISN’T A REVIEW ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE BEER!!!  Ahem ….. The D.U.F.F

What does Homecoming mean for me?  Frankly I haven’t been to a homecoming since high school  so yeah there is that small detail.  This is a tween chick flick.  Albeit very awkwardly funny and for those of us who have been out of high school for a while….. prepare to have the floodgates of awkward moments in your life come rushing back to you.  Once the word Duff gets defined it brings to mind some of those random experiences where you felt like people were just using you to get something….. It is explained in the movie that even men can be Duffs… but we don’t call it that.. we call it wingman or diffuser.  A label placed a on friend that makes us “look better” or a gatekeeper to get our friends some points with potential dates.  Anyway you spin it, it can hurt or it can be a great asset.  

The D.U.F.F in of itself is a good movie with a great message.  Believe in and be yourself and your positive vibes will shine through.  It also sheds light on how to handle bullying of any kind.  The main character Bianca grew a lot in the short time we meet her.  She went from hard, to insecure and then to enlightened enough to realize it didn’t matter what happened in that moment.  She gained a confidence that not many of us could discover until we were way out of high school or in college.

The highlights of the movie came from the awkwardly funny situations Bianca puts herself in.  While attempting go from approachable to dateable.  I was skeptical going into the movie but by the end I found myself enjoying the film and having a good time laughing at the humor and story presented to me and my date.  It is a mixture of happy and fun and feeling bad for Bianca as she attempts to grow that makes this movie so appealing.  

If you are looking for a movie to bring your date to than take your date to see The D.U.F.F.  On a scale of 1 to 5 I give this movie a 4.  It has it’s moments but it is by no means the perfect film.  Some of the scenes just seem out of place and I feel if the directors added a bit more in certain places it would have been slightly more cohesive.   But be that as it may.  Go out and enjoy!

Thank you so much for reading please feel free to comment below and if you like what you read please feel free to read other reviews and stories by myself and the other authors.  

Last Review:  The Fifth Estate

Nerdist Podcast

I have decided that as of today I will be going over Podcasts and writing my thoughts on them. 

What better way to start off this weekly segment than by talking about Nerdist Podcast http://www.nerdist.com/podcast_channel/nerdist-podcast-channel/

This is a podcast started by Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray and Matt Mira.  They have been going strong for five years.  Starting off as once a week, than twice a week, now three podcasts up a week.  Each podcast has great topics and great guests.  Ranging from Tom Lennon to Bill Gates and all the way to Sir Paul McCartney from the Beatles.  It is consistently entertaining and always fun to listen too.  When I was down with the flu, I had the podcast streaming on my iheart radio app on my tablet.  Even when they do hostful episodes (Episodes where all the guys get together) they are just as funny and fun to listen to as their guests.

I highly recommend you listen to this podcast.  ENJOY YOUR BURRITO!!!

*Enjoy your burrito is how Nerdist Podcast ends their podcast.

Please tell me what Podcast I should write about next week.  Leave suggestions in the comments. 

The Fifth Estate

A review by HieiYYH2

Disclaimer:  I am by no means condoning or praising the actions of the founders of Wiki-leaks I am simply reviewing a movie based on their story.  Now forward and Allons-y (It's french for Let's Go)

"A secret organization that fears information.  Historically not awesome."  Tony Stark from The Avengers.

The Fifth Estate a movie based on the raise and fall of the infamous information site named Wiki-leaks.  A site that mirrors a much more widely used and sited website called Wikipedia (though the credibility of information on Wikipedia is questionable at best.).  The movie shows us possibly a more monstrous underbelly of the world.  The premise of the movie while based on true events, dramatizes the lengths too which governments and organizations will go to silence those who would make public knowledge the dirty skeletons in their closets.  This albeit extreme case scenarios for a movie leaves open the door to some haunting questions.

1. How can you trust what you read or hear?

2. Is your sources credible?

3. What are those in power hiding that they would silence those who would call attention to them?

4. In a world where truth is distorted based upon the tellers beliefs and understanding.  How than do we know what is truth and what is heresy?

The flow of information has DRASTICALLY changed in the last thirty years.  It has gone from what we are told on TV and Newspapers.  To being able to find information on anything at just a few key strokes.  Information both public and private spread faster than you could ever possibly imagine my humble readers.

But.... As we delve deeper into this.... remember this my friends.

The truth of a matter is lost depending on who you speak to and who has the more convincing information.

The Fifth Estate opens with the downfall of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.  Moments after his speech to the world about the biggest leak of information in history.  It shows you Julian being driven off in a private car with one of his followers in the backseat.  And than as the car scene fades out we cut to two years earlier in Berlin.  

The story starts off with Wiki-leaks meager begins with an auditorium speech to a miniscule sized group at best.  Julian speaks to the crowd while his partner Daniel Berg looks on as Julian lures in a few of the listeners into his web.  "One Convert at a time."  Julian says as he and Berg exit the conference hall. At this point in the movie we are slowly being introduced to the magnetic charisma that is Julian.  He has information and knows how to use it to both intrigue and mystify you.  He shows time and again his ability to pull people to his side.  It is truly amazing to behold.

The Story also delves into the progression of Wiki-leaks from minor site to major pain the rear for many governments and companies.  Going even to the embarrassing story of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin using her personal emails for what should have been on her government email.  Amongst many other stories.  As the story progresses it begins to show the darker side of this ripping back of the veil of secrets spun before our eyes by our governments and the companies in which we buy our products and place our money in.

"Give a man a mask and he will give you the truth." Oscar Wilde

It is in the crescendo of the story in which the real reason to which Wiki-leaks was ultimately torn asunder.  The incident involving a blank CD labeled only with the words Lady Gaga.  An item so unobtrusive was used to leak the biggest information leak in history and turned the world of Berg and Assange upside down and turned them on each other.

For the technical side of this review I have nothing but the utmost praise.  The script is well paced, the dialog between the characters is believable even the parts with Assange's psychobabble.  The music is fitting but doesn't over power or underplay the mood of the scene.  The characters themselves are believable and you feel for them.  You have a star studded cast with Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead role of Julian Assange it is a joy to watch.  The cast also leaves you both sympathizing and thinking on what will become of them as they go down their path.  When a movie can move you to question and think and not talk down to you like you are below the intelligence of the movie.  You know you have found a great film to watch.

I give this movie a 5 out of 5.  I highly recommend you go out and rent or buy or stream this movie.  Enjoy.

I thank you so much for reading and I look forward to bringing you my next piece

Andi's 2015

Well hello there nerds. How are you doing today? I hope you're all well.
This is going to be a quick rambling of what I'm promising to bring to the page for the year 2k15... Granted. I hate myself for typing it as 2k15, it physically hurts me... Apparently it is a lot harder to reach up and hit 0 than it is to hit k...
A.D.D Aside... Adam has made this fantastic youtube page for us, and I for one cannot wait to get started on using it to my advantage. Mwhaha! I subscribe to Loot Crate so you'll have to deal with my face and my often raspy voice as I unbox them with you! Though... I'm a wee bit over zealous and have already opened the 2 that I have in my home currently. The first... vlog? I suppose, that I'm going to do is going to cover November, and December's Loot Crates with a generalized showing of what is in it, and how fan girl excited I get over the most simple things. I hope to start filming for this later today if not tomorrow.
I'd also like to bring my specific brand of sass to the Nerdom (get it. kingdom, but not?) with various reviews of games, movies, TV shows and such. I'll try some products and give you guys my opinion on them. So long as there are promises not to start a witch hunt for me saying that a horrible movie wasn't really all that bad. Speaking of... I'll just do a quick review of the most recent movie I've seen...

Myself, and a small gathering of my home slices of pizza went to see Into The Woods... Hmm...
Now, let me start by telling you guys, that I did not do any research into the movie, I saw the previews, I saw the actors and figured it was a good idea. Well... Firstly... I didn't realize it was a musical. Which, I personally have no problem with, I'm a girl, we like these things, it happens. In most musical's I have seen in the past though, there is at least a decent amount of spoken word in the movie as well as singing. Not so much the case for Into The Woods. Almost every single word was sung. This movie takes your typical fairytales that we've all grown up with; Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, all of those and kind of squishes them into one giant cluster of a movie. So you're following at least five to six different stories that are all happening and variously intertwining all at one time; all surrounded by nothing but music, constant music. Though, I will thoroughly praise the actors and actresses in the movie for their performances; the movie is already nominated for three Golden Globe awards. I give even extra credit to the actors and actresses who I didn't know could sing, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep for example; hats off to ya'll. Johnny Depp, one of my all time favorites had a rather... interesting role in the movie. Interesting and short... His character was probably the absolute creepiest in the entire movie, singing a song that came across a bit too much on the pedobear side for me to get behind, though, it did still give me chills, thank you Mr. Depp. There was a song, a scene, chapter in the movie, in which Chris Pine, whom plays the prince, and his brother prince are singing about the women that they've fallen in love with. This scene was the most... over acted... ridiculous, oh my gosh there are no words in the English language for what happened in that scene... Just... Lots of laughter.
Despite the company I went to see the movie with, they've done many things right, the casting was on point, the acting fit the parts to a t. All in all I give the movie a thumbs up, though I wouldn't pay to see it in theaters. The movie itself is listed at 125 minutes long, though I felt it lasted longer than that. Most likely because we did the movie wrong and didn't use the bathroom first. The sets were clearly all via stage, the makeup and costumes were fantastic. All in all, thumbs up to Into The Woods.

And the harder I'm sitting here thinking about this movie, I do recall sometime in high school, all those many years ago, the musical being Into The Woods... Maybe. The shrill noise that accompanies the song where they actually say "Into The Woods" about a thousand and twelve times is starting to seem all too familiar. Whether that's from hearing it in the movie, or dredging up memories that I've clearly blacked out, I'm starting to wonder...

So there you have it. A promise of what is to come turned into a review for your viewing pleasure.
If you have seen this movie. Please let me know what you think about it. I'd love to hear your feedback.

Happy New Year Nerds. =)

The Nerdist Way

I just want to start off to say this book changed my life in many many profound ways.  Before I go into my review I just want to take this time in my post to thank Chris Hardwick ( @nerdist on twitter) even though I know he will never read this review.  Without further ado I give you

The Nerdist Way: How To Reach The Next Level.... In Real Life
By: Chris Hardwick
Audio Book voiced by Chris Hardwick

This book released on hard cover back on November 1st 2011 (According to Amazon).  If you know Chris Hardwick you may think of the guy who shouts POINTS! on @Midnight or the host of the Talking Dead and Host of Nerdist On BBC amongst many other things.  But at one point he was an author.  When I first ordered this book I was expecting a comedy filled auto biography (because I read those from time to time). What I got was a book that showed me ways to get out of my own way and forge ahead with my idea.  "JUST FUCKING DO IT." Is a quote in the book that resonated with me when I was coming up with the Idea of Generation Nerd.  But enough of me pro-fusing my love for this book.

The Nerdist Way is broken down into three parts.  1. Mind; 2. Body; 3. Time.  Each part told through auto biographical narration of the authors life combined with thought provoking theories. Shape each part of the book and gives the reader things to think about; take away ideas; and helps the reader to find ways to be a better human in general. 

One way in which he helps you is by RPGing your life.  Meaning by creating a visual representation of your honest assessment of yourself and your skills.  It helps you build up Experience Points that you set the values one to help you obtain goals and grow in your life.  He uses a dumbed down form of the Dungeons and Dragons character sheets for you to model your character sheet after. (Though I personally think the World Of Darkness sheet would be more applicable and easier to manipulate than D&D's).  As you go through the book you add to this sheet in sections of the books called Charactersize which means it is a work out for you to do in the chapter.



One of the main points the book makes throughout is this.  "Nerds are hyper self aware and have intense focusing capabilities."  It shows you many ways in which you can use your intense focusing skills to create and become better at everything you could want to do in life.

It goes over a wide variety of topics.  From stress and anxiety, to conquering fears and addiction.  Even during those sections of the book the author stresses you to seek professional help if you truly need it and not to just take his advice or what he is saying in the book.  Which is an excellent thing to do.  In the body section he gives you a basics guideline on things you can do to start you in the direction of a healthy body constructed by his personal trainer.  In the section Time it gives the readers ways to increase productivity; manage time; how to set up goals and reach for them (on a deeper level)

Overall I highly recommend this book.  As I stated earlier it changed my life for the better and I continue to go back and read and listen to it.  My very simple review does not do the book justice.  Chris Hardwick is a much more eloquent writer and speaker than I am.  I implore you.  Go out and read this book.  I give this book a 9 out of 10.  You can find it on sale at Amazon and Barnes & Nobels

Suicide Squad Movie....This Won't End Well

DC Comics has decided to make a film adaptation of the Suicide Squad.  An obscure government funded group of convicts implanted with explosives into their skulls are sent on missions to make the world a better place.....  FUN TIMES!?... Right?..... Right???  Lets take a look at how this can all go oh so wrong.

Writers: Ross Andru; Robert Kanigher; John Ostrander and Justin Marks.  So Three of the comic's writers and one screenplay writer.  The Screenplay writer Justin Marks is known for his work on Street Fighter The Legend of Chun-Li.....

Director: David Ayer I have some hope for.  He has a good few movies that did fairly well under his belt in both directing and writing and producing.  

The Cast this is where a movie can be made or broken if not done right.

IMDB has some of the cast listed as rumored and IGN has the cast as confirmed. Hmmmm  Lets analyze

Jared Leto: Joker (IMDB Not listed at all not even rumored; IGN is saying Confirmed)
Tom Hardy: Rick Flag (According to IGN) Simply Rumored and not given a character by IMDB
Jai Courtney: Boomerang (According to IGN) Deadshot (Rumored According to IMDB)
Will Smith: Deadshot (According to IGN) and listed as Simply Rumored and without a character by IMDB
Margot Robbie: Harley Quinn (According to IGN) Confirmed on IMDB
Cara Delevingne: Enchantress (According to IGN) Not listed on IMDB
Jesse Eisenberg: Lex Luther (Listed as Rumored in both IMDB and IGN)

Why the Joker?  The Joker has NEVER been a member of Suicide Squad in ANY of it's incarnations so why throw The Clown Prince of Crime into this rag tag group?  For the Harley/Joker love story?  It doesn't work with the premise of the story.  Even by the groups leader Amanda Waller's standards finds Joker far to unstable.  There is no need to throw Joker into the mix.  For that matter there is no need to throw Lex Luther into the mix either.  Unless they are going to go a new route and have The Joker and Lex combine forces to create The Suicide Squad... I can see that working but the partnership would be far to strained to last long.

What would the story even be like.  As Amanda Waller isn't even listed as a character who is going to be the Nick Fury of this unstable group of bomb strapped expendables? 

Why Tom Hardy? He has been established as Bane and a damn good Bane to boot.  Why have him portray Rick Flag? By this I am guessing it is going to be the grandson as the original Rick Flag was in the WWII incarnation of Suicide Squad.

Needless to say I am not all that hopeful for this movie.  However I will continue to keep my eye on the development of this movie.

Update:  nerdist.com has confirmed the cast of Suicide Squad still having Lex Luther as just being rumored.  Adding to the rumored cast list.  Amanda Waller has 3 possible actresses.  Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, or even possibly Oprah Winfrey