Weird Mind News Room Episode 138: October 13th - 19th
*ring the phone for some new music
Hello to all of you fine people and what you identify as for the 138th edition of the weekly series on this side of the Information Superhighway with Weird Mind News Room where this week we are delving into the realm of a large selection of New Releases and a small odd selection of some trailers and News Stories but let us not waste time on the intros and focus and lets delve into all things media for another week.
Ringing up of some new releases
Movies
The Black Phone 2
So we start off with the first of the many films of this week with the focus that sometimes in the past we may have dealt or experienced something that may have traumatized or scarred a person and the aftermath ordeal that someone may experience afterwards will bring with it a sense of hopefully finding a sense of peace from the trauma, but in this case when the phone rings again, it seems like the nightmares may be happening again as we have returned to a follow up to a sleeper hit film from a short story from the son of Stephen king with the Sequel to the Black Phone. The film is set 4 years after the original and will see Gwen, now 15 years old, being haunted by nightmares where she is receiving calls from the Black Phone and some disturbing visions of three boys being stalked and killed at a Winter camp. Accompanied by her older brother, Finn, they head to said camp to solve that mystery, only to once again confront the Grabber - a killer who seems to have grown even more powerful in Death. Reception on this follow up similar to the first film seems to be well recieved with praise to the story, setting and performances, though it seems some have questioned if the film was necessary for a sequel and that some elements felt it was trying to be like another classic horror movie monster, but if you want to check it out for yourself and pick up that call, you can do so now in cinemas.
Roofman
The next film is giving us the focus to the perspective of a bit of a true story tale that in some case these stories can be something simple or led to some change in the world, but in this case it is more to do with the workings of a mastermind getting away with many forms of robbery and how it alluded capture up until his eventual takedown as we have the release of the all new true story comedy of Roofman. The film is a true story about a fugitive known as Jeffrey Manchester, a former US Army Reserve officer, known colloquially as Roofman due to his propensity to steal from branches of McDonalds after entering their premises through the Roof and evaded capture from police by hiding in the walls of a Toys "R" Us store until he can find a way to make his next move. Reception on this true story seems to be very well recieved with praise to telling an engaging focus of the true story, the performances and for the humour found in the project with many saying this is one of Tatum's best performances and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch this film out now in cinemas.
Good fortune
The 3rd film for this week is seeing the case that we may feel in our lives that we may be lost or not have much of a major purpose in our lives and someday we hope or in our times of need would hope to have a Guardian Angel appear to us and help us out when needed most, but it may be a case where in this instance what may be seen as a good deed may mess up a lot of stuff in the process as we will see in this feature directorial debut of actor Aziz Ansari with their new film of Good Fortune. The film follows Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), a budget Guardian Angel, who often helps save peoples lives who are texting while driving, come across a man named Arj (Ansari) a man down on his luck and who does odd jobs for a wealthy socialite (Seth Rogen) and losing what he had left. Soon intervening and trying to prove that their life won't be any better by having wealth to solve his problems, Gabriel swaps the lives of the 2 men's lives and showing his demonstration failed, Gabriel soon loses his wings and must now live on earth amongst the humans, soon becomes the roommate of Jeff and all the work he did as an angel begins to unravel around him. reception on the directorial debut seems to be well recieved with praise to the cast and performances, the messaging and humour and seems like a possible feel good film of this year and if you want to find enlightenment then you can check it out now in cinemas.
After the Hunt
the 4th film in focus is in the realm of talking on a topic that in this day and age is one that is very much present in many areas and it is the case of the topic of the he said she said mentality and in the case of wondering about the likes of who do you trust and who is telling the truth and how it could relate from past experiences you never wanted to come back up with, well that is the focus of this next film with the release of the newest film from Luca Guadagino with After the Hunt. A film will see a college Professor (Julia Roberts) finding herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a Star Student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past. Now reception on this film initially from the film festivals was mixed but has seen a lot more of a disappointing outcome as while the idea of the concept of a film with this topic worked better on paper and had solid performers, especially from Roberts and Garfield, however the film misses the mark in telling a concise and straight forward story that never wraps up all of the issues in the context of the messaging and leaves a lot of things unanswered that could've been resolved easily, but if you want to check it out for yourself then you can check it out now in cinemas.
Gabby Dollhouse Movie
Now this next film is one that I see as being more for the kids and one that I am not going anywhere near but adding it in just so I cover everything that released in cinemas that I know of and that is with the release of a Live Action / Animated Hybrid based on a popular series on streaming that got their big screen debut and that is with the film based on the popular series of Gabby's Dollhouse. The film will see Gabby end up on a big adventure when her dollhouse, her most prized possession, end up in the hands of an eccentric cat lady named Vera, she soon sets off on a journey into the real world to get it back and save the rest of the Gabby Cat's before its all too late. Reception on this title from what I can gather seems to be very well recieved with praise to its mixed medium styles, performances and for a well made translation from popular series to cinema that I am sure will appeal for the kids come the upcoming Midterm and if you want something to keep the kids entertained then you can check it out now in cinemas.
The Twitz
As for the final film release of the week and the only one that is not going to the big screen and more in the realm of streaming is taking us to a new look and take on a popular book from a beloved children's author (though who also like some other famous children's book authors had some more problematic things that we are getting into and look past it and focus on their work instead) as we are looking into a take on a story of some of the grossest and not nicest people you know trying to het their way or go to war with some that don't deserve it and will see the error and consequences of their actions as we have the release of what I assume is the first attempt and take on an adaptation of the popular Roald Dahl book of the Twits. The film will tell of the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest couple of people in the world who also own and operate the most disgusting, most dangerous and most idiotic amusement park in the world of Twitlandia. Soon when their park is shut down, they soon take their revenge out on the town and decide and take a rise to power to do so and will soon come down to two brave orphans and a family of magical animals who must become as tricky as the twits in order to save the day. Now reception on this take on the novel has seen a bit more of a mixed outcome as while the performances are done well with a stacked cast and the animation has a bit of a unique look to it, the film feels a little overstuffed in concepts not seen from the small novel and a lot of issues with the Americanization of the classic British novel but may be seen as a bit of a harmless outcome and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch it now on Netflix.
Video Games
Pokémon Legends Z-A
Now on the big gaming title for this week is seeing proving to ourselves of wanting to be the very best, like it was as if no one ever was, while the main test would be to catch them, the real cause would be to train them for battle and with a large open world location to travel and search far and wide in, it will soon e time to prove if you have what it takes to catch them all as after the success of the original title with this new approach to the series, we have finally seen the release of the 2nd entry of the Legends series with Pokémon Legends Z-A. This new title will see you take the reigns of your own new Pokémon Trainer as you travel across the vast open lands of the Kalos region and of Lumiose city to find and capture the vast array of Pokémon found around the place and find places to battle other trainers and Pokémon and rank up from the Z Rank all the way to A rank and be the best of the best. Now reception is a bit more of a mixed outcome as while critics have praised the title for its gameplay, battle system and setting, many longtime fans seems split on the title and some have called it the worst mainline Pokémon title. Now I have not played the title but my friend who is a long time fan of the series has been playing it since launch and has really enjoyed it a whole lot, with most of their complaints being with the overly long tutorial at the start of this game and some of the city is lacking in its appeal but I am sure it may grow accustomed to it all real soon and if you want to play it for yourself then you can play now on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.
Just Dance 2026
As for the 2nd game of this week will have us feeling a focus of one thing and that is the ideal that I may be in the mood for Dancing (but not sure on Romancing, unless it was with one specific person) as its that time of year again as we have the release of the 2026 edition of the Just Dance series. This is of course the return of the popular series with a focus of some all new tracks and moves to dance to including songd from Lady Gaga, Smash Mouth, Chapelle Roan, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter and a whole more in over 40 tracks of new and classic to groove along to. Reception on this title has seen some decent reception as always with praise to the songs and fun for the whole family and friends to get behind, though it seems the same issues still consist of noticeable bugs and many wanting a bit of a technical overhaul to be added to update it. But if you want to play the title for yourself then you can play it now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 1/2.
Keeper
The last of the games in focus for this week is in the realm of an all new zany wacky title created by the minds of a studio that make some quirky titles from a Detective who is a skeleton, A game about the greatest rock legend of all time and the games of a small kid from the circus who wants to be a hero that has the power to read minds and enter them too is bringing us a new title with the main new character will be a tall beacon that lights the way out to see as we have the release of the all new game from Double Fine in the form of Keeper. In this game you will take control of an animated Lighthouse and with the assistance of a strange bird known as Twig you will both travel across a vast colourful post apocalyptic land and reach a beacon found upon a mountain in the far distance and keeping themselves safe from the strange parasitic like species of the wither that is consuming the life around everyone. Reception on this title has also seen some very well recieved reception with praise to the colourful art style, fun puzzles and enjoyable concept and gameplay with a lot of fun messages to find on the journey and if you want to play it now for yourself then you can play it now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.
ROG Xbox Ally
We do have one more piece to talk on releasing this week and its in the realm of some tech as we have seen the likes of every brand of playing games tapping into the realm of handhelds from Nintendo initially dominating the market and still doing so, Sony making a splash and then stopping for a decade and bringing out a new one that just connects to the new console and Steam and PC having their share of handhelds, well it looks like the final member of this collective group are releasing their own take on the handheld as after being announced about 4 months ago we have the release of the ROG XBOX Ally. This will be Microsofts foray into the realm of handhelds of taking the gaming power of the Asus models and adding the rich power of the Xbox to allow you to play games on the go from your vast library of titles. Now reception on this device has been a bit of a mixed but still a bit more positive outcome as while the reception is good on the power and specs and a step up for the original ROG ally, the issues seems to stem in wondering if there is a specific market for this handheld, the form of holding the handheld is a little jarring and the other big issue stems to the massive price tag of $600 for the smaller model and a $1000 / €900 for the Ally X model turning people away that I am sure it may appeal or get an audience if it has a lower price tag, but if its something you are looking forward to and want over other great or affordable handhelds then you can buy it wherever it may be sold.
trailers to run and terrify you
The Running Man
So the first of the 2 trailers that we have in focus for this week is in the perspective that if you were stuck in a time where a situation seems dire in terms of needing to obtain something for your loved on that leads you to risk your life in a game about life or death that is viewed and streamed to millions of people around the world all for the sole chance of a life changing amount of money, would it be something that you would risk and try and survive in the process as that is the focus of this first trailer taking a classic story from an acclaimed author that was initially turned into a film classic of the 90s and then along comes a new director to take a swing at it in their own approach to the concept as we have the release of the 2nd and final trailer for the upcoming new take from acclaimed director Edgar Wright of the Running Man. The film is of course based on the original 80s novel by Stephen King and set in an alternate 2025 where the economy is in ruins and worldwide violence is high that sees a massive popular worldwide television game show called the Running Man see contestants earn big cash prizes by trying to survive for 30 days from being hunted down and killed by professional hitmen by any means necessary and will see our main focus of Ben Richards become the next contestant on the run and may soon lead to him wondering if this an elaborate scheme and find a way to shut it down and provide a better life for him and his family. There is something about an Edgar Wright project that just appeals to me, whether its him behind the camera or writing a project, there is something that just appeals to me with his works from his distinct style of the classic Cornetto Trilogy, the music splicing of Baby Driver or the Creepy unsettling tone of the Last Night in Soho or even to some of his writing elements for the currently 1 film adaptation on Tintin, and its really interesting to see what his approach is with a book adaptation and from the looks of things its going bigger, badder and crazier and looks like it will be something that may appeal in the world of action splendor and hopefully a surprise hit for the winter season and I am excited for it too see what comes of it and its not too long away either as the film will be running its way into cinemas in under a months time on November 14th.
Keeper
As for the 2nd and final trailer that we have for this week is in the realm of a film that is also named after one of the new releases of this week and while that other project has a clear idea of what to expect in that one, this other project is more in the realm of being a bit more of a mystery from the approach of the marketing and from the creative that is making the project itself but I feel has an overall outcome that works in its favor in a year of other big horrors as Osgood Perkins provides us with what I assume will be the final trailer for their new original horror in the form of Keeper. Now not much is really explained to us of what to expect but what we have been given in some vague plot is the focus of a Wife finding herself isolated in a secluded remote cabin and will soon find herself fending off a presence that is of some unspeakable evil. It is a dying trend where the likes of a film can interest you without telling you too much of what is happening or keeping things vague and cryptic and I feel it will appeal more when in this day and age we get some trailers and footage that feels a little too lengthy and tell or show us way too much in the outcome, but I feel it may be something that when they do it right, it helps to appeal to a bigger audience and hopefully it will stick the landing in appeal and an unsettling nature, especially with the glimpse of whatever that thing they are fighting against is when the film release into cinemas also on the 14th of November.
News not to hang up on
The rising of new famous figures, teenage angst and families of the future
So initally I was going to have a week that was actually very quiet in news that I was not going to have anything to really talk on for this section but there was a few little news stories in relation of some casting additions that were unveiled this week that I can at least delve into for this week, so lets get into focus and talk on what was announced.
So first off we have a bit of a quick update made on a casting change I talked about last week as it was initially reported for the Passion of the Christ Sequel where I discussed that both Jim Caviezel and Monica Belluci were both confirmed not to be involved with the project anymore where initially it was seen as scheduling issues but was properly confirmed that it was to do with some production costs savings as it would've heavily increased from the use of visual effects for the De-Aging of the 2 actors and from there a search for a new pair of leading stars was started and it was not too long after that we got the confirmation on the replacements as it was confirmed that Jesus will now be played by Finnish Actor Jaakko Ohtonen and that his mother Mary will be played now by Cuban Actress Mariela Garriga. I feel in all sense it makes sense to cast younger for this follow up as it would keep them close to the age the original actors were when they made the original 20 years ago and I feel it was expected to occour in that form. It will be interesting to see what will come of these performances and help them to see a rise in their careers as their big breaks and I am sure we will see how it all comes about by the release of this 2 part follow up in about 2 years time.
Now the next in the focus of the casting reports was with an update of some new additions being added to the overlong production for a 3rd season of the popular HBO series of Euphoria as the season is finally underway in filming and production and is set for a release in the Spring of next year and will have the usual affair of cast making a return with the likes of Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter schafer, Jacob Eloridi and others from that first 2 seasons, it was confirmed that we have an array of a total of 18 new additions to this 3rd season with some familiar faces and one that I am wondering if it feels necessary but the new additions include Gideon Adion, Bill Bodner, Colleen Camp, Danielle Deadwyler, Homer Gere, Jessica Blair Herman, Natasha Lyonne, Hemky Madera, Kwame Patterson, Matthew Willig, Sam Trammell, Jack Topalian, Madison Thompson, Horror director Eli Roth, Cailyn Rice, Bella Pordaras, Rebecca Pidgeon and the one that I question the most is YouTuber Trisha Paytas. So there is quite a few new names popping up in this follow up that I feel with it being reported as a possible final season if much of these will have a lot to do and how they would interact with the original narratives of the characters but I guess we will see by the time of the production releases next year and who they will play but I am sure if any confirmation of how they are involved I will bring it up in a later episode.
As for the last of the casting discussions that we have for this week, this one is more in a rumoured or not fully confirmed but there is talks of a new project in the works of taking another classic cartoon and giving it the live action treatment, but this is not with the usual suspect of Disney, but rather we are tapping into the vault of the cartoons of Hanna Barbara as there is talks that Jurassic World Director Colin Trevorrow is making a live action film based on the Jetsons. Now nothing major has been discussed as of yet but it seems they may have already started casting the main family and the first is with the father figure with it currently being in talks that comic legend and Dr Eggman himself of Jim Carrey has been eyed for the role of George Jetson. Now in all sense I would be intrigued to see what they would make of this property as it is a case that the series has been one of the more dormant of the WB cartoons compared to the counterparts of Scooby Doo and the Looney Tunes and would be in the approach of dormant series as say their counterpart of the Flintstones so I would be interested to see what they would make of the perspective futuristic world it is focused in and who else would make up the cast of Jane, Judy, Elroy and the other familiars of the series in due time. Now at the moment its still in just the talking phase and no word has been made yet for the other cast but I am sure if any new updates come about, I will provide it in a later episode.
But what do you think of these castings, do you see either of those new leads doing well as the biblical figures, do you see any of this new cast for Euphoria as appealing and would you be down for Jim Carrey in a Live Action Jetsons film? Let me know what you think down below in the comments.
And with all of that, this will being the end of the 138th edition of the Weird Mind News Room and I hope you enjoyed the rambles as always. Let me know your thoughts on all that was discussed down below an as always 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 :)
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