Weird Mind News Room Episode 111: April 7th - 13th

 *Dropping some music with the odd memes*

Hello to all you fine and fancy people from across the Information Superhighway to the 111th new edition of my all form weekly series of Weird Mind News Room, where this week we have a focus on some variety of New Releases, a selection of Trailers and some news stories that I promise will not be way too long and drawn out like last week, but for that instance, lets not dwell on the intro for too long and lets get to talking about all things media that came out for this week.

A user will like to airdrop some new releases

Movies

The Amateur

So the first of the new releases for this week is with the focus of asking the question that if you were a simple person who's life was upended from the sudden loss or passing of someone very important to you of how far you will go to get avenge what happened, no matter how far or long it takes, well in the case of this first release for the week, that is how the story will take shape as we have the all new action thriller known simply as The Amateur. The film follows Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA decoder whose life comes crashing down when his wife dies in a London Terrorist attack and when his supervisors refuse to take action, his intelligence becomes the ultimate weapon as he embarks on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible. Reception on this new title has garnered some very well recieved reception with praise to its performances (particularly of Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne), its take on the action thriller and the focus of its narrative of being a well entertaining affair, not all bogged down by mindless action and if you want to check this one out for yourself then you can catch this new film out now in cinemas.

Drop

As for the 2nd film for this week is seeing a a case that a simple planned night out, hoping to start something new could lead to cryptic messages and a whole deep level of fear and terror as the studio of Blumhouse and the director of Happy Death Day has brought a sense of horror with a little bit of a technology twist as we have their all new film of Drop. The film follows Violet as she heads on a date to an upscale restaurant to meet Harry, her charming and handsome date after being widowed for far too long. However, her pleasant evening soon turns into a living Nightmare when she receives phone messages from a mysterious, hooded figure, who threatens to kill her young son and sister unless she kills Henry. Reception on the film has also garnered some well recieved reception with praise on its concept and performances, though I  have seen some say it has a bit of a dumb concept for a horror title and my own issue with the film is why did they have to CGI or AI in skyscrapers throughout the entirety of Dublin when they make no logical sense in explanation and is just unnecessary. But if you want to look past both of those problems, then you catch this new film out now in cinemas.

G20

The last of the films for this week is something that in most other years in the past would be seen as something close to an action film on the political level but in this day and age it does feel close to reality with some slight changes but when the world leaders are in danger, one must step up to the challenge to resolve the problem as we have the new Political action film of G20. The film focuses on US president Danielle Sutton who must rise up and use her governing and military experience to help rescue and defend her family, fellow leaders and the world when a group of Terrorists take it upon themselves to take world leaders hostage at the annual G20 summit. Reception on this film has been a bit more mixed in reception that while praise for the main focus leads of Viola Davis and Anthony Starr has been praised, the film has been a bit more mixed in feeling a little too disconnected and unnecessary in a world of political mess and drama that is currently happening right now, but I am sure if you look past that and dull out the real world drama you can have something that may be an entertaining movie night and if you want to check it out for yourself, then you can catch this new film now on Amazon Prime Video. 

TV Shows

Black Mirror Season 7

As for the first of the TV shows for this week is giving that ideal that sometimes in this strange and scary reality we live in can be a lot sometimes and the need to escape is just what is needed in this world... thouh the case of this series reality is near close to the real one outside, as after a bit of time, comic actor Charlie Brooker is back once again to bring a new wave of unsettling tales that hit close to reality as we have recieved the all new 7th season of Black Mirror. The series of course will continue the focus of being an anthology series and focus on stories and topics based on some strange and twisted concepts of reality and give them a focus of the limelight in this day and age and see a bunch of big name stars come together to tell these tales as one off stories or continue the narratives of some episodes of the past few seasons. Reception on this new season like the previous seasons has continued to be very highly well recieved with praise to this going to the new stories, the all star cast in the season and for feeling like a proper return to form of the classic era of Black Mirror everyone loves, and if you want to see a bleak reality that may still be close to our own, then you can catch the 6 new stories now on Netflix.

Video Games

South of Midnight

On the games side of things for this week, the first mixes a vibe of mystery, fantasy and a trip deep down in the marshes of the south as we have the all new action adventure fantasy title of South of Midnight. In this title you will play as Hazel as she is taken on a journey into the deep south after a hurricane destroys her hometown of Prospero where she is pulled into a realm of fantasy of mythical creatures and dangers based on myths and legends of the American South where she must become what is known as a weaver (a mender of broken bonds and spirits) and must untangle her family's Past and reweave the tears in the Great Tapestry and find a new place that feels like home. Reception on this title has garnered some very well recieved reception with praise on its visuals, story, sound and performances with some issues stemming that it can be a lot to play in one sitting and needs to take its time to play, but if you want to take a trip to the bayous then you can play this new title now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Star Overdrive

As for the last game and release for this week, we are heading off into the deep cosmos, far beyond our own galaxy and with a trusty board on hand, we are about to hit the space dunes and look good while doing it as we have the release of the all new Action adventure title of Star Overdrive. the Game will see you racing across a vast strange alien planet with your trusty hoverboard in hand as you explore, master tricks, battle enemies and solve many puzzles and with the harnessing of new powers will help you to overcome challenges and shape your destiny. Reception on the title is a little mixed though still modestly recieved with praise on its concept and gameplay, though most case issues stem for performance and length or difficulty but I am sure it will be worth a play and travel across this new planet and if you want to play it out for yourself then you can play it now on PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Trailer attachment in email

Mission Impossible The final reckoning

On the first of the trailers, should you choose to watch them is seeing the fruits of the past catching up for one special agent everything that was built upon all leads to one final mission as Ethan Hunt is coming back once more with an all new trailer for the upcoming supposed final entry of the MI series with Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning. The film will follow on the the conclusion of Dead Reckoning with Ethan Hunt and the IMF obtaining the key item needed and must now travel across the globe in order to find and destroy a highly deadly weapon known as the Entity, a powerful AI gone rogue that may destroy humanity if it falls into the wrong hands, while also dealing with the misdeeds of the past getting in the way of saving the world. It is definitely a case that I can say that with this series could have crashed and burned after an appealing first film, a mixed appeal of a sequel and development troubles of a 3rd film but it only proved the case that from 3 onwards that every new edition just got better and better and these films definitely have that excitement and appeal of action, big set pieces and just seeing what mad crazy shit that Tom Cruise and the rest of the team decide to do for this film and I am all for seeing how this franchise will come to an end and it is not too long away either as this new film will be dropping into cinemas from the 21st of May.

The Phoenician Scheme

Now we go from a big action film series to a new original story from a director that is often known for his eccentric style and approach to filmmaking in cinematography, writing and directing as Wes Anderson is back once more to bring with him an all new black comedy political espionage film with the trailer for the new film of The Phoenician Scheme. The film will follow wealthy businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda who after surviving another plane crash, decides to leave his entire estate to his sole daughter of Sister Liesl. This soon leads to him going on a journey of embarking on a new enterprise that soon becomes a target to scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins. So its always an intriguing aspect to learn and observe what kind of crazy and madcap form of storytelling that Anderson has in mind for his projects from small desert towns that hold sightings of space craft, madcap murder at a very fine established European hotel, to even a  case of an island full of dogs or an adaptation of a quite a fantastic fox, he really gives something unique and I feel from this small clip it has that charm, humor, intrigue and all star cast taking the reigns and I am excited to check this one out and in the case this one is also not too far away as it will be released here in cinemas from May 23rd before a release a week later in the US on May 30th. 

Predator: Killer of Killers

So the final trailer for this week is actually just appeared and announced out of nowhere but relates back to a rumour that went around back at the end of last year or earlier this year that there is another story of the ultimate hunter coming out this year but instead of just one setting we are jumping across history, as the director of the surprisingly great Prey film is returning to this world with a trailer for the animated anthology film of Predator: Killer of Killers. The film will give a focus on 3 of the most fiercest warriors in Human history: a Viking Raider guiding her young son on a request for revenge, a Ninja in Feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle of succession; and a world war 2 pilot taking to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the allied cause and while they may all be killers in their own right, they will be merely prey to their new opponent who is seen as the ultimate killer of killers. So in all case I was intrigued to see what was being made of this 2nd Predator project for the year and now seeing it in motion it looks cool and the animation style is giving me a bit of an Arcane style to it all and I think if this works out well then this will be a proper top tier title to watch and I am excited to check it out and it is not too long away from a release either as the new anthology will be releasing on Disney+ and Hulu from June 6th this year.

Notifications of news reports

Directors of choice for some close quarter combat and for some muscle at the bar

Now on the first of the news stories for this is firstly going to be not as long as last week and in this instance we have a small little round up of some new projects or project updates coming from some directors that may appeal or be a surprise in the process as well but lets delve into what those projects are in particular (not these were supposed to be brought up last week as well but there was away too much discussed last week and I felt to add them to this week instead).

So the first of the projects that was announced and to be helmed by a certain director is one that you would not expect to see as it was announced that the director with a rabid fanbase of Zack Snyder has been confirmed to be helming a new film based on UFC known as Brawler. Not much is currently known on this project besides this directing announcement and UFC head of Dana White has been confirmed as a Producer but it seems odd for Snyder to go for a more grounded type of film compared to his more larger then life titles like 300, Dawn of Justice or Rebel Moon and maybe he could make something out of it. But there is also a case that the story could become very elaborate, have multiple director cut lengths and about 30 mins of the film will be filled with slo-mo shots of punches and kicks to the face and body but I guess we will have to see as more of this production does come along soon.

Speaking of characters related to UFC (for better or worse) we also have the confirmation that we are getting a follow up to last years remake of the 80s classic film of Road House with Jake Gyllenhaal set to return for this follow up, and while it was teased for a sequel, things were quiet since the first films release, until just the end of last week when it was announced the sequel had found a new director in the form of workhorse British director of Guy Ritchie taking the reigns who can do well with his array of film styles and action so I feel there will be some flair and appeal to this and I am sure we will see this get a turn around release very quick as this man does not stop with making film after film or show after show every year. If there is one request for this film, besides this being unnecessary, is that you recast a certain former UFC fighter from the original film as his actions as of late have not been the most great and appealing and is a bit of a danger to himself and others and either a case to recast or kill him off straight away, but that's just me so we'll see how it goes.

And the last piece I will add to this one is one that may not be related to a director focus but has a prominent name in the development of said project and that was with the new take of Tomb Raider for Amazon Prime and from Fleabag writer and creator of Phoebe Waller Bridge as there has been a bit of an update that has come up in the last few hours as of writing this. The last bit of news we had for this series was that it was initially coming down to the casting of the new take on Lara Croft and that role was being given to Game of Thrones star of Sophie Turner and since then it has been quiet and radio silent about any updates on writing or starting of production or even word from the main star herself. But just late this week there may be a reason why as it has been reported in some form that this new upcoming take on the series may have been shelved and possibly cancelled. The reasons for this is unclear but could be some form of creative differences or just budget or production problems but there is no idea on it as of yet. Now in the case of this as well this is just a rumour and if it is true then I feel it could not mean it is fully dead as it could be turned into a new film version or get some more big name talent involved in the production like what happened with the Horizon series turning into a film and the new writing and directing team for the God of War series but as I said it is all speculation and a rumour of its shelving for the moment and until we get some word on that we will have to wait and see until then but hopefully this version of the iconic explorer will get their chance.

But what do you think of these announcements, do you see Snyder make a good UFC film, will you watch Guy Ritchies take on a Road House film and do you see that version of Tomb Raider get made or even reworked in the outcome? Let me know what you think down below in the comments.

Many Follow ups involving Blocks, Birds, Anti-heroes and someone beginning with B.

So our next story consist of some announcement of some release dates for 2 upcoming projects and the case of we have some updates of an announcement of 2 titles getting another new follow up as well and we can discuss what those are now below so what has been announced?

So the first is about to make you take some peace MF as after being confirmed we will see this new season release after the upcoming release of Superman, we finally got the confirmation of the release for the 2nd season of DC's Peacemaker which has a confirmed release for August 21st this year, but that is only confirmed for the US for the moment but hopefully this will be the world wide release date as well (as well as them confirming when we will get the new series of Creature Commandos over here cause we are still waiting on confirmation for that series to be released). I really enjoyed the series of Peacemaker that it made a character that was such a douchebag in the Suicide Squad into someone that you feel sympathetic for and someone to root for by the end of it into an appealing and hilarious watch (and also an intro that is something not to skip at all) and I hope this new season will work out well in explaining its transition to the new DCU and provide more laughs and heart overtime by its release later this year.

Now we have an update to a release date for a project that was announced not too long ago but now has a new production company involved and an official release date and some cast confirmation, as it was announced on Tuesday that the 3rd Angry Birds movie will be getting a release on January 29th 2027 and that this film will not be made by Sony but rather will be distributed by Paramount Pictures this time around. Now they did drop some cast announcement with 4 confirmed returning voices including Jason Sudakeis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Rachel Bloom as Red, Chuck, Bomb and Silver respectively with some new additions including Keke Palmer, Emma Myers, Tim Robinson, Lily James, Sam Richardson and a few more new additions. So the one question I have in the case is if this will still be a rivalry between the Birds and the Pigs after the end of the 2nd film or if the pigs will even appear as some familiar voices including Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Kate Mckinnon and others have not been confirmed to be back and some of these either could be replacements or they are not in the film. Now I am sure we will see how this comes about in due time to know what this film plot entails and what both films directors will bring to this but I will watch and check it out with keen interest as I did like the 2 previous films and the 2nd film was for a time was the best reviewed video game film adaptation so maybe it could work out but we will see by its release in about 2 years time.

So these next 2 are ones that were announced to be on the way but have not gotten a release date as of yet and the first relates to a film that has been a discussion on social media for the last week for better or worse and after becoming the 2nd best opening for a video game adaptation, we got word from Warner Bros that a sequel to a Minecraft Movie is in the works and in the early stages of development. Now by the time I have written and recorded this story I will have probably seen the film as I have heard that it is a lot better then people expected it to be and I am hoping when I do I am not suddenly covered in popcorn or drink from a possible packed screen when the Chicken Jockey scene occours but we can't all be saved from the popularity it has obtained and I am sure there is another story to tell with this world and characters but I am sure we can see when that film releases eventually.

And the last announcement seems to show that the Juice is about to be loose once more, as on Friday of this week it was announced that we are getting a 3rd film on Beetlejuice with Tim Burton confirmed to be coming back to the directing duties. Now it is unclear in the case of what they can do this films story as the original was a cult classic and the 2nd one was not too bad and was entertaining but I hope the case that this is not overdone to death but I am sure we can learn about it in due time. Most case I feel it was done so that you can have the title be Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice and have him appear at every screening of the film but who knows at this rate and who will be returning from previous entries but I am sure we can learn more overtime by its eventual release.

But what do you think of these announcements, Are you excited for the return of Peacemaker, will you see the new Angry Birds films and what are your thoughts on the first 2 and would you watch the announced sequels of Minecraft and Beetlejuice? Let me know your thoughts down below and we can discuss them there.

Nintendo.... we need to talk about your spending habits

So this one is just a little update to one of the stories from last week as we have a little more discussion about Nintendo and specifically we are talking about the whole ordeal that has been going on about the pricing ordeal of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. So I talked about this briefly at the end of the last of the Switch news about the issues that have popped up about this new console with the big issue that came was the pricing of the console and game. to give a quick rundown, they announced the console will cost €470 / $450 / £396 for the console on its own or €510 / $500 / £430 for the bundle with a code for Mario Kart World and in the case of the games with some like Mario Kart cost €80 / $80 / £68 for the digital and €90 / $90 / £75 for the physical version of the game had many people gobsmacked at the such high prices when people expected at most a price of 400 for the console and that games only costing about a tenner more but it seems to be a case of being misconstrued and many wondered why that was the case. Now it has been brought up by some new outlets that some speculated it has become part of the tariffs the orange man put on the world which saw the delay of the pre-orders for the console this week in the US (which have now been put on hold for 90 days I think and tariffs have confirmed will not affect towards tech) but it seems to have gotten an answer which is still leaving people questioning. Earlier this week, new Nintendo America president of Doug Bowser gave a response to the prices and emphasized the reason on the pricing is due to the amount of content and long lasting appeal that the titles may provide and differ on games, which is them explaining why the likes of Mario Kart is that high a price, compared to the likes of Donkey Kong Bananza being a tenner cheaper, but even a case I still feel that nearly doubling the price of a game compared to saying a switch 1 version for half that price still offers the same amount. I then thought maybe the case it could be justified if say the likes of the game was the price but they promised that all forms of expansions or DLC for a title will be free or included with the game, but then again that opinion was also debunked soon after as there was discussion that with the switch 2 edition of Breath of the wild, a game that did get some form of paid DLC back then, was not going to include the DLC with the version and will have to be bought separately so in most case will be spending $90 / €100 / £80 for the full version which I find it so dumb. It does bring a concern to me that we may see another situation of a Wii U fiasco that was a case that that console underperformed as the console was the most expensive console at the time for Nintendo, there was not much support for the system the hardware was hit or miss and a bit of it is starting to feel it here with this being the new most expensive console and the prices for the games going to turn people away from the new console when so many were excited for it in the first place. Now Nintendo can still resolve and fix an issue here by actually realizing the issue of reducing game prices and maybe even a little for the console cause it is even a case where every stream, comment section and even opinions from former Nintendo Staff are saying that these prices are way too high when the world is on the brink of a financial crisis, trade wars and so much drama that they could resolve issues, reduce prices and take a hit financally with development costs depending on the system selling price that they could make it back quick enough and get back in people's good graces and hopefully they do but I guess we will watch this space and see if they will fix the issue or see some uncertain outcomes.

But what do you think of this whole ordeal, do you see the reasoning for the prices of the games to make sense or do you see them fix the issue and reduce prices to help better sell the console and are you still excited to get a Switch 2? Let me know your thoughts down below and we can discuss about it all there. 

The stunt people finally getting some love and respect

So this next story is going to be a quick one as this announcement is a long time coming for the basis of the realm of the award season discussions. Now of course every year there is always a variety of awards and categories that come and go and some that stick around for better or worse like initially it was a similar form from the earlier oscars that the best picture was split into the form similar of the golden globes with best for drama and best for comedy, then overtime became one category that got more nomination numbers after complaints. Then of course you can have a disaster of a category choice that could've worked better if it was not overly rigged from the start which was the popular vote and biggest cheer moment that were basically rigged by the excessive Snyder Bots and the vote option was immediately dropped the year later. But this time, we have one that is well overdue for an award category for those that risk their lives in the film productions to make the scene or set piece work and that is of course with the stunt crews as it was announced on Friday that the new category for best Stunt design and performance will now become an all new award category that will be implemented into the award show itself at the 100th edition of the show which will be in early 2028 and I feel it is best to start their as a new century of Oscars gets a new category and about time these brave performers get the recognition they deserve. Now a case I hope this award goes off with a success and not a mess like the previously mentioned popular vote category and can lead a way for some new award categories that make sense but I am sure we will see in due time and about time this group got some respect for their efforts.

But what do you think of this award category announcement, are you happy with stunt performers getting the award recognition and what other forms of award categories do you want to see get implemented in the future? Let me know what you'd add down below.

Disney May be reconsidering retelling the same stories again

This last story is one that may not have been a case of fully announced and discussed but there has been a bit of a discussion about a future of one form of film that has been pumping out new version for about 15 years now and that is with the never-ending amount of Live Action Remakes from Disney. Now since 2010 and even as early as the mid 90s Disney has made a total of 23 (possibly 24) live action remakes of some of their classic stories from 101 Dalmatians and Cinderella, to Jungle Book, Aladdin and Lion King and it seemed to be a case that while many people were tired of these remakes, they were still a money maker with every new release and seemed to be a case they were not going to be ending.... but that may be about to change. This comes in the recent ordeal with everyone's favourite film to just hate and review bomb of this year and that is of course with the recent remake of Snow White that has both been getting a mixed of opinions with some positive and negative and then a whole lot of review bombing to make it one of the lowest rated on IMDB (though they may have altered it as many are just all from a group giving it 1 star with little reason) and the film has not been overly financially successful and has been one of the weaker in terms of Box office and it seems to have affected Disney from this outcome (well when they are not putting the blame of the whole ordeal onto main star Rachel Zegler when it is not her fault for the ordeal and just feeding into the hate and drama). From this ordeal there has been discussion that Disney may be considering to stop with the Live action remakes due to the demand that people are not interested in them or feeling unnecessary and the outcome and drama this recent film has gotten may be the catalyst. It has seen the case of one of their recently announced remake to be paused on production which is the new take on Tangled and there has been no other discussion of any other remakes in the pipeline besides 2 that are in post production releasing in a few weeks or next year and that is with Lilo and Stitch and Moana (and I may be hearing this as a rumour but there is one for the Disney+ streamer either later this year or next year and it is a remake of the Aristocats) . Now I feel that it may be a consideration they will do now and then the case that Lilo and Stitch will alter that as it is discussed that early box office projections has the next remake having a 100 mil domestic opening weekend (add that to worldwide could make it a success) so they could go back on their opinion here within a month and announce more remakes but hopefully it is a case they may consider that they don't need to make all their original films into remakes and actually make more originals to fill that gap instead or a case you can do the remakes but just end it with the films that were not the biggest of success but could work in live action (or give them some sequels) but I guess we will see in due time of the whole ordeal if this will happen or not.

But what do you think of this rumoured discussion, do you see Disney ending their Live action remakes anytime soon or will they keep making them and this one is just a little hiccup in terms of success? Let me know what you think of all this down below and we can discuss that there.

And with all of that this brings us to the end of episode 111 of weird mind news room and I do hope that you enjoyed my ramblings for another week of all things media. Let me know your thoughts on everything down below and as always, I hope you all stay being wonderful people and have a great day everyday doing many great things and I will see you all in the next episode :)

Take Care, keep being you, signing off :)

Sam H