Weird Mind News Room Episode 161: March 23rd - 29th

 *we need some music to avoid death*

Hello to you very fine and wonderful people across the information superhighway, my name is Sam and I like to welcome you all to the 161st edition of the weekly series of Weird Mind News Room where for another week we will be delving into another week we will be delving into the focus of more new releases, trailers and News for all to find out of what you may have missed, so lets not waste time on the usual introductions and lets get to all things media for another week.

The Magic New Releases 

Movies

They Will Kill You

So the first of the new releases of the week is one that will have the ideals that you may be just looking for a job and getting some needed occupation that may not be the most high end job but it will do, but when you learn the location you have found yourself working for has a sinister secret and most may be out for blood, they may not realize that you have dealt with some ordeal like this in the past as we have the release of the all new bloody action comedy horror film known as They Will Kill You. The film will see a young Woman (Zazie Beetz) answer a help wanted ad to be a housekeeper in a mysterious New York City High Rise, not realizing she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years and will be down to fight her way to survive from this onslaught of the residents. Reception on this film has been seen as mixed to modest as while performances and the concept has an interesting ideal to it, the film feels a little too over the top in trying to balance the action and its weirdness into one but could still be seen as a fun popcorn flick and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch the film now in cinemas.

The Magic Faraway Tree

Now for something a littl more lighter in tone and one that can be seen for the whole family to enjoy as its time for a trip to a magical land to make the sudden change from your old home to somewhere new a little more magical as we have the release of the new film based on a beloved story book with the adaption of the magic faraway tree. Now based on the original novel, the film will see a modern world family relocate to the countryside to start a new business and way of life which does not appeal to the kids, but soon will see them off on whimsical adventures when they discover a magical tree in the nearby woods that's filled with eccentric residents. Soon the tree will whisk them off to fantastical and magical lands that may help to bring their family bond back together even more stronger. Reception on this film has been mixed to very well recieved with praise on the visuals, performances and story, though some characters are not overly fleshed out well enough, some plot points feel a bit rushed and elements feel a little off but overall is seen like a feel good film that will appeal to the whole family and if you want to check it out for yourself it is also out now in cinemas.

TV Shows

Daredevil Born Again Season 2

Now on the tv shows and we start in the focus to the realm of some superhero ordeal as we are heading back into the seedy underbelly of the street level crimes and heroes and journey back to Hell's Kitchen to see the continuing resistence to fight back against some corrupt power that is presented to us all, as the man without fear is back for another fight as we have the release of the 2nd season of Daredevil Born Again. The new Season will see Daredevil or Matt Murdock gathering a team of allies to resist against Wilson Fisk / Kingpin, who has become the Mayor of New York and take down his Anti Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) while Matt faces against intense violent action in a city plagued by corruption and Martial Law. Reception on this new season seems to be very well recieved with praise on its performances, gritty story and return of some fan favourite characters including the return of Jessica Jones to help in the fight and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch the first episode now on Disney+ with a new episode releasing every Wednesday Morning.

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special

For this next tv show is more of a special then a full released series or anything but its more in the focus to the realm of the return to a time where when everything seems a bit crazy and mad that sometimes it may best to find a way to life a double life and live the best of both worlds as we have the release of the special 20th anniversary edition reunion based on the popular Disney series of Hannah Montana. This special will see Miley Cyrus sit down with some previous cast members and some special guests to reminisce on some time working on the original series and also giving some performances as the iconic pop star with some classics and new songs too. Reception on this special seems a little more mixed that while the sense of nostalgia and the song performances were well liked, many people felt that most of the guest stars (besides a small handful) were really unnecessary and had no connection with the series and that Miley came off a little too egomaniacal (which makes it sound like the F.R.I.E.N.D.S reunion from 5 years ago that had so many guest stars that had nothing to do with the series at all) but some fans of the original show seem to love it and was what they wanted and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch this new special out now on Disney+.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen

For one last tv show for this week is more in the realm of an ideal that the concept of a wedding is supposed to be a magical day and seen as the best day of people's lives, but it seems in this case this may be turning into a possible nightmare, as we have the release of an all new limited series that is the first for the Duffer Brother post Stranger Things with the release of Something very Bad is Going to Happen. The miniseries will follow Rachel and Nicky as they prepare to be engaged to be married within a week. However, before they can tie the knot, something very bad may so happens to get in their way. Reception on the limited series seems to be very well liked with praise on the performances and the blending of the horror aesthetic with the setting to a wedding to make it that sense of engaging of whats to come and if you want to see the weddings bells ring (and the possible blood to spill) then you can catch this series out now on Netflix.

Video Games

Life is Strange Reunion

Now onto the games and the first of the 2 will be the ideals of some stories that you may recall from the past could be well and truly done and wrapped up, but there is always a chance that if given a moment, an encounter, and some form of abilities to manipulate time, it may provide a sense of a different ending to a story as coming in as a surprise release, we have the all new epilogue game of the popular narrative choice series with Life is Strange Reunion. Set as a sequel to the original and Double Exposure, the game will see you take control once again of Chloe Price and Max Caulfield, who reunite at Caledon University, as the former needs help dealing with memories of a life or death she did not live out, amidst a imminent coming of a destructive inferno threatening to destroy the campus. Reception on this new title has been very well recieved with praise on the returning characters of the original and better focus narrative choices that lead to a different outcome to many overtime and if you want to play it for yourself then it is available to play now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Super Mario Bros Wonder Switch 2 edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park

And the final release of this week is one that has been covered on this channel before in both an episode of this and its own series too (that will continue real soon) as we have an all new updated edition of a popular title for the hybrid console with the release of the Super Mario Bros Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 edition with Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion (these Switch 2 game titles keep getting longer and longer). Now this will of course have the original game of you playing as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and a whole array of characters as you explore and restore the flower kingdom to harmony after Bowser uses the wonder flower to take control of the kingdom and this new expansion will have you play some all new challenges, another new edition to the playable characters of Rosalina and also dealing with a battle wave of the Koopalings too. Reception on this new edition has been very well recieved with praise on the new editions (especially the koopaling boss battles), challenges and visual upgrades, though most critique comes to the overpricey cost of the title and that the new editions could've been a free update for both versions but if you want to return to this magical land of wonder then you can play this new version out now on Nintendo Switch 2.

Trailers to amaze

Moana Live action

So the first of the trailers that we have for this week is one of the 2 that I have seen the most of the focus and discussion to it all online for a lot of reasons and in this case we are focused on the ideals of wondering with anything about how far this studio will go when it comes to retelling all of their original stories into a live action form and we have the remake that has had the shortest release from animation to live action as we have the release of the 2nd trailer for the live action take on Moana. Now this is of course based on the film from 2016 that follows the titular character who is a Polynesian Princess who destines to travel across the vast oceans to see what lies beyond her home. Soon that chance come to pass when her home begins to show signs of decay and despair from the removal of the Heart of Te Fiti and will soon go on a journey to locate the Demi God Maui and restore the heart to its rightful place before the world turns to Ruin. So if there is anything I can discuss about with these remakes is the ones I see from the past being reasonable of being remade if they were from a long time ago, but it feels with this one, this just feels way too soon and just feels really kind of cheap looking. Besides the likes of what we can talk about with the likes of The Rock's hair piece looking rough (like how do we go from solid hairpiece in Smashing Machine to this), some of the characters in live action being overly animated (don't even get me started on Tamatoa, in this regards go listen to schaffrillas talk about this trailer) and it just being really lacking in decent colouring, like what has happened with films having a sense of colour (Not you Project Hail Mary, you are a great example of it) and I just feel that if its a case that people still go to these then they'll keep making them when its really just not needed (besides some that maybe had a rough original box office and would work wonders in Live action) but I guess we will see what the box office will come from it I guess. I'll probably watch it for the eventual rewatchathon but I guess we'll see by its release into cinemas from July 10th. 

The Sheep Detectives

Moving from Live action remake to a more comical form of a whodunnit, its time for a new adventure in the focus of mystery, death, suspects and a lot of wool about to be raised all in the name of justice and making the sense of this murder mystery being a lot more different then the usual affair as we have the release of the all new trailer for the upcoming title of The Sheep Detectives. The film follows a shepard named George (Hugh Jackman) who loves to read murder mysteries to his flock of sheep, never suspecting that they can understand him. However when George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep decide to solve the crime themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn't as simple as it appears in books. Now with anything I do enjoy a fair few murder mysteries from the serious, the goofy and the adaptions and this has the appeal that the likes of the concept of having the usual detectives coming to us from the likes of animals and honestly this looks like it could be something that I will find a lot of entertainment out of it and it actually looks like a very fun time and its not too long away from release either as the mystery will be unleashed into cinemas from the 8th of May.

Forgotten Island

For the 3rd trailer for this week is bringing us into the world of Animation as it will give a focus to the world of adventure, mystery and a strong connective bond and the power of friendship that can span across continents and decades as we have the release of the newest film coming to us from Dreamworks with Forgotten Island. The film is set in the 90s in the Philippines, where childhood friends Jo and Raissa promise to remain close forever. As they graduate from High School, Raissa prepares to move to the US at the urging of her parents. Fearing the loss of their bond, Jo tries to persuade her to stay, but suddenly they are transported to a portal to the fantastical world of the forgotten island of Nakali, where memories fade the longer one remains. So it is a case that I will say that Dreamworks really likes to go the route of bright and colourful and I can see that given the directors were the one that gave us the fantastic Puss in Boots The Last Wish, I can definetly see they learned from it and evolved the concept of the fantastical world that this island will show and it has an appeal of some characters that I am sure we will get accustomed to and I am sure will have an appeal and could have an entertaining story and more appealing visuals and wonderous character designs but I am sure it will be well worth a look into and its a bit of time before its release as the film will drop stateside on September 25th before arriving here on October 16th. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone (HBO)

For the 4th trailer that we have in focus for this week is the other heavily discussed and debated trailer from this week and it is one of those series that I have been making my point clear about since it was first announced in the works for about 3 years now and it seems that after casting discussions, backlash and all other forms of ordeals, it seems that the ideals of the magic will be beginning once again for a 2nd time around as we have recieved the first trailer for the upcoming tv series adaption of Harry Potter and the Philosopher stone. Of course this season will be based on the original first novel in the series that will see a young boy named Harry who lives with his neglectful and abusive aunt Petunia and Uncle Dursley will discover that his long deceased parents were magical wizards and he is one as well and will see him whisked away to a place known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he will make new friends, enemies and learn of some many new secrets of the wizarding world and of the truth of his identity of the Boy who lived. So as I have made myself clear with this whole series, I have said it since the announcement that the series is really unnecessary, especially with the first half of the franchise as the books had more appeal to the overall tone and vibe and covered everything from those pages in their respected films and the case those films are still very much still relevant and appeal to the eyes of many (just ask Andrew Garfield who just watched them recently), however I already said that I would not be a fan cause of the author and her very hurtful remarks about the Transgender community (which with me I would be an ally for the Trans and LGBTQ community and I know I did play Hogwarts Legacy but on the likes of the series I did on my YouTube, if I get monetized to earn money on that series, the money for that would be aiming for a organisation that supports Trans rights and healthcare) and while I am one that likely is not interested in it , but I know its not going to be the voice that can tell you what to and what not watch. If you are still interested, there is no set date as of yet but will be releasing later this year around Christmas.

The end of Oak Street

The final trailer that we have for this week is giving us a bit of the sci-fi realm where you think a simple normal day in the neighbourhood couldn't be anything of concern of expected to drastically change, but this ordeal that will occour is about to have some time bending consequences as we have the release of the newest film from J.J Abrams and David Robert Mitchell with the trailer for the end of oak street. The film will see a mysterious cosmic event ripping Oak Street from Suburbia and transports their neighbourhood to someplace unknown in the far distinct time period of the past, where a family will soon discover that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable and more dangerous surroundings. The ideals of what the trailer is showing here has some appeal of not showing too much but rather giving an aspect of what is expected with this title itself of keeping things cryptic and mysterious (as Abrams is one to do) and it is one that has intrigued to see what they pull off with this new film and I am for sure will be checking this out in due time and its not too long from release either as the film will be released into the world of the cinemas from the 14th of August.

News to live again

Many news of projects, casts, dates and changes of good and bad

For the one focused story for this week is the fresh serving of the usual hodge podge of stories that will cover all realms and aspects of all the world of media has to offer from new projects, release dates, castings and updates to some other aspects of the industry of entertainment, so let us delve into what we have in focus for another week of news stories.

So we have already talked about the world of the Disney Live action remakes already in the trailers for this week but we have some news that will focus in the world of that era, but in this case it is not adapting another film into live action, but rather it will be a focus to a story in a different perspective as it was reported that an all new film dubbed "Stepsisters" is in the works at the studio and will be helmed by Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer who has show their work with the surprisingly entertaining Naked Gun Reboot last year and has already done a form of a Live action Disney film with the Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers film from a few years ago. Now personally compared to how I feel about the Live action Moana film, this one is more that I feel is a bit more of an appealing outcome as it gives more in the approach of telling a story in a different perspective, similar to the likes of Maleficent or Cruella as 2 examples and the initial plan they had for Hercules of them seeing the perspective from Hades before it was dropped and will focus on the original version of the film instead. Now this could also be a case of it giving one of them a proper redemption arc as a lot of the time in the narratives, one of the sisters of Anastasia would be seen as a form of heroine as well, especially in the 2 direct to DVD sequels they made of Cinderella in the past but I guess its unclear at the moment of what's to come. Now there is no indication of when we can expect this project but if there is any new updates on when or if it connects to the 2015 film, I will provide it in a later episode. 

Keeping to the realm of fairytales and fantasy for the next project announcement, this one may have some sense of appealing to some that enjoyed the original title but also could be a case that many could be a bit more hesitant about as it was reported on Tuesday of this week that a new film based in the world of Middle earth and lord of the rings is in the works after the release of the Hunt of Gollum and will be a project that will be written and developed by Light Night Host Stephen Colbert and his screenwriting son. In the brief description on what this new film will focus on with the title of Shadows of the Past, the film will be set around 14 years after the passing of Frodo Baggins and will see Sam, Mary and Pippin as they retrace their steps with the beginning of this adventure, while Sam's daughter Elanor, is determined to find out about a secret she unearthed that could proved how the war for the ring could've been lost before it even begun and will be based mainly from the chapted of Fellowship that were left out of the original film (Mainly Chapters III thru VIII) and see some new additions like the focus on the fog on the barrow-downs and the popular character of Tom Bombadil. Now this could be the case of some concern as the appeal and aesthetic about project from the world of Tolkien and Middle earth has been a fair bit of a mixed outcome since the mixed opinion of the Hobbit films and the massively expensive Rings of Power series that it could be a bit of a concern and it also comes in the case of Colbert being involved as he often makes a lot of comments that are often very political and many are concerned they will be mixed in with the narrative, but it seems the host is quite a fan of the series and will want to give it respect to it all instead of trying to dilute the series further. Currently as things stand it is unclear of when we can expect this project and if the original cast of characters will be back for this new tale, but if there is any new updates to it all I will provide it in a later episode.

Now for a small project announcement that has already been a project that has released but it looks like we got a callback from the studio for another round of heroics as it was announced on Monday that the Marvel series of Wonder-Man has been renewed for a 2nd season and will see the return of Simon and Trevor continuing their work in the field of acting and Hollywood while also dealing with their pasts, hidden superpowers and the sense of Superhero Fatigue in that universe too. Now personally I am happy with this announcement as I really enjoyed that first season as it felt different and more entertaining and had an appeal of that friendship between Simon and Trevor and personally I hope its as good as the first and even bring an appeal for other Marvel shows to get a follow up season (like Moon Knight, Hawkeye and even the case of Ms Marvel and She-Hulk) so lets hope it will be a success. Now it is unclear of when we will see this new project, given Cretton is busy with Spider-Man and likely with Avengers and Shang-Chi at the moment but if there is any update of when we can expect it I will provide it in a later episode.

Staying with Marvel for one more story for this week is with an announcement of an all new confirmed release date for a project that has been first discussed a little over a year ago and it seems it will be time to lock and load possibly for one last time as it was announced on Tuesday that the one off special for the character of the Punisher has been set for release on May 12th of this year and is set to drop a week after the release of the finale of the new season of Born Again. Now we have also gotten a bit of a plot of what to expect with this special with it focused on Frank Castle set to try and hang up the killing and live a normal life that does not need a focus on revenge, but that does not fully last long as he is pulled back into the world of crime one last time to battle an unexpected conflict. Now it is unclear in the likes of this at the moment if this will be set before or after the events of Brand New Day as Castle is confirmed to be appearing in that title but we have no clue on where in the timeline this is all set. I am sure we will likely get a trailer and a bit of footage for this in due time but I am sure it will be worth a look into the project by its release in the Middle of May. 

As for the one other release date news that we have in focus for this week is one that I felt it was expected was going to get a release date change but the approach for this was a little more of an unexpected one in that regards as the games will evolve once more soon as the planned 3rd film of the Jumanji reboot films has been delayed, but only slightly as it was pushed from its December 13th release to a Christmas Day release instead. Now the likes of this is a little odd as I expected this would be delayed so it would not be completely decimated by the box office of the Dunesday double bill of Dune Messiah and Avengers Doomsday, but just a 2 week delay is an odd one, but it seems their approach was instead of having a 5 day chance and then being obliterated out of cinemas by these 2 blockbusters but moving it to the holiday season will see it have a bit of a chance for them to make some cash and for a bit more of an alternative family adventure to the movies (with that now going up against another family film of The Angry Birds Movie 3) but I guess we will see of how the outcome of all this will be. Now I really enjoyed those last 2 films so I am sure it will well worth a watch and may do a form of Doomanji (prefer it over Dunesday personally) but I guess we will see by the first bit of footage and release in December this year.

On the likes of the one bit of casting that we have in focus for this week, it looks like this cleaner is getting themselves a new client to work for that will come with an array of secrets as it was confirmed on Wednesday of this week that Kirsten Dunst has gotten another film on the way as she will be starring in the sequel to the Housemaid with the Housemaid secret alongside Sydney Sweeney and directed once again by Paul Feig. Now likely case from what I can get from the plot of the 2nd novel is that she will likely play the client who may be bed ridden and can't see her face and will have some dark secrets hidden behind the doors of that home she will find herself in this time around. It seems like the case that the original was a success from what I have seen and likely if this one is as much a success as the first then I am sure they will make the 3rd film based on the 3rd novel of the series but I guess we will find out by its release next Christmas. Now at the moment it is unclear on anyone else will be joining this cast or anyone from the first film bar Sweeney returning but if I hear anything new I will provide it in a later episode.

We have one bit of news relating to some form of gaming news and this comes in the focus of the biggest and oldest company still in the gaming scene as we have 2 piece of story in relation to Nintendo and their line of Switch consoles and the first one may see a case that some change may be about to occour for the console as it seems with a possible new EU regulation coming in relation to tech items, it could see a case that the switches may have to provide an option to allow for the ability to remove and replace the battery in a switch console that is easy for consumers. This new law has been made the apparent for tech mainly in Europe, but could become a thing in the States and other locations and I see with this that it could provide some possible appeal of making the battery run longer then it is which has been an issue with the switch consoles is that the battery life is a bit low and the other element is the aspect that it could make development costs cheaper for the system and make the console more affordable but that latter one may be a bit of a pipe dream, but in most case will help to keep people gaming and easily fix if the battery suddenly dies, breaks or swells up but I am sure we will leanr of it in due time. I also have to know if we will have to send in our switches to get this modified but I sure it will be some new models but if there is any news I will provide that in a later episode.

But while the tech side may be promising, the game side is a bit of a different story as earlier this week it seems Nintendo has made an emphasis on some form of dynamic pricing for the consoles games (well mainly with Switch 2 at the moment) will be different for Physical and Digital with Physical costing about an extra €/£/$ 10 then digital. This is mainly what I have seen on the Nintendo Store where from the release of the pre-orders of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book onwards will have this approach to the likes of games like Tomodachi life may be fine and the likes of this being adjusted in retail shops that sell games have not been seen yet but it will be best to hopefully they do their own pricing. This does bring a sense of concern as I would be more of a physical game buyer then digital (would only go digital if there was no physical made for it or really want the game) but hopefully it will not go overboard and that it reverses the appeal of having the physical over this but I guess we will see in due time and if there is any change I will provide it in a later episode.

And for the last of the stories for this week is more of a positive good news one and it is to do with something that I would have much of an unappeal to for a lot of things and that is with a story on AI (I know I have specified I am making a video on AI for someone but that is an exception as they are very special to me and I care about them and promised them I will make that video). Now its not a case that I have joined the appeal of AI or been enticed by those that see AI as a positive thing of the future cause it is far from that and instead it is a focus that some big change has occoured as on Wednesday this week the AI company of Sora has shut down with its video piece which is a positive thing. From this sudden change it has seen Disney pull out of its $1 Billion deal with the company from it being shut down so seeing this get a change has been a very appealing outcome and has also seen some other companies and brands turn against the use of it and also seen some statistics and information that AI companies are losing mass amounts of money by the day and will see most of them going out of money by 2027 so it is a very positive thing and will avoid a possible Skynet type future. Now I hope this will give a sign that many people don't want AI taking over everything and that if they did it will consume the planets water and will more often then not cause high costs and take the jobs of people that it has been trained in but hopefully it won't be the case and it more a positive of the end of this system itself.

But what do you think of all of these stories, will you be watching the new Stepsister film from Disney, do you think the new Lord of the Rings film will be good or should be left as is, are you excited for a 2nd season to Wonder-Man and what other Marvel series should get another season, Will you be watching the new Punisher special, is the date change for Jumanji a solid move or a mess, who else do you see join the Housemaid sequel, will the new battery change law appeal and the game pricing going to be a big affect on Nintendo and are you happy with the closure of this AI program? Let me know what you think of it all down below.

And with all of that, this brings us to the end of Episode 161 of Weird Mind News Room and I hope you enjoy the ramblings for another week, let me know your thoughts on all that was discussed down below and as always I hope you all stay being wonderful people and have a great day everyday and I will see you all in the next episode :)

Take care, keep being you, signing off

Sam H :)