Weird Mind News Room Episode 175: June 29th - July 5th
*Minions and Music*
Well Hello to all of you super very fine and wonderful people across all forms of the information superhighway, My name is Sam and I would like to welcome you all to the latest episode of the weekly series of Weird Mind News Room where for another week we will be delving into all forms of content from New Releases, Trailers and News to cover it all from the last week, so lets not waste time here and lets get to talking on all things media for another week.
New Releases and Monsters
Movies
Minions and Monsters
So we will start off the new releases for the week in the focus of film and in this case, many of us love the concept of the media format and many hope to make their name in the industry in some form from your classics, historical epics, animation and experimental, but in this case this will be more in the classic realm of the B-Movie Monster flicks and in this case it will be the cause of particular group of henchmen creating and solving something on a monsterous scale, as those wacky yellow henchmen are back once more as we have the release of the 3rd entry of this prequel spin off series with the film of Minions and Monsters. Set as a Prequel to the original Despicable me series and of the first 2 Minions films, the new entry will see the Minions in 1920s Hollywood, with some Minions of James, Henry and Ed looking to get into the industry and create their own Monster film. Through the power of some spiritual incantation they summon a small form of Cthulhu who will help them to find some real monsters for their monster movie and I am sure everything will work out in the process... Right? Reception on this newest entry of the spin off series has been surprisingly very well recieved and is currently the best reviewed film in the Illumination catalog with praise on its animation, humour and for the representation and also focus of love for the medium of cinema, which I can appreciate the effort that was attempted in that regards and if you are up for a little bit of monster fun then you can catch this film out now in cinemas.
Enola Holmes 3
The 2nd title for this week will be the focus that in all forms of life, there is a sense of mystery in every form of our daily lives like what will the day bring, is there some something positive or lucky going to happen and the such could have been a focus, but the one biggest mystery this young sleuth will have to solve is the biggest mystery yet: Marriage and the case of some other forms of mystery as after a few years since the last entry, we are returning to a new take on the realm of the famous detective with a new tale on their younger sibling as we have the the release of the 3rd film of the Enola Holmes franchise. The film will see Enola preparing for her impending wedding to Lord Tewkesbury, but soon becomes a case of being a little more complicated when it is discovered that her brother Sherlock Holmes has been kidnapped and a mystery to rescue him will soon bring things into chaos. Reception on this 3rd film in the trilogy has been modestly recieved by critics but a little more mixed by Audiences that while some elements of performances are done well and praise on it being more close to the books itself, the films plot of the mystery and some other characters introduced in this title are a little undercooked in translation compared to the other 2 entries but I am sure there will be some sense of appeal, but if you want to find the answer to this mystery then you can catch it now on Netflix.
The Invite
The 3rd film of this week is in the focus that in some communities of where you may live with some neighbours in a building and you may feel you have been neglecting a sense of making acquaintances in a way to have some companionship in this complex of a world we live in, but it will seem by this gathering, there is a lot of layers to learning about ones neighbour and the decision to invite them over may not have been the best choice, as Olivia Wilde is back once more to provide a new relatable comedy of us to enjoy with the release of her new film of The Invite. Based on the original film from a few years ago, the film will focus on Joe and Amanda (Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde), who seem to be on the rocks in terms of marriage who decide to invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours (Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton) for a dinner party to try and bond with one another but soon things will spiral into a night that heads into many unexpected places. Reception on this new title has been very well recieved with praise on the simple concept and setting, the performances of all the leads and its humour and relatability to many and seen as one of this years best and if you want to check it out for yourself then you can catch it now in cinemas.
Nirvana the Band, the Show, the Movie
The last of the films for this week is one that I have been wondering for the better half of this year when it was going to release in some form as it was a case that something that started as a concept, that turned into a popular web series, then a popular show and now a popular feature length film full of madcap capers, time travel and Canadian hospitality was finally releasing (and being very quiet and very limited in the screenings for this) as after a fair bit of waiting we finally have the release of the film of Nirvana, The Band, The Show, The Movie. The film will follow the titular popular band as they try and make an elaborate plan to achieve their dream of booking and playing a show at the Rivoli theatre that hasn't really gone to plan so far. In the attempt of their most latest stunt soon ends with them on an elaborate and madcap outcome of ending up travelling in time back to the year of 2008 and soon some hijinks will surely occour. Reception on this new film has been highly well recieved with praise on its concept, performances, humour and concept and seen as one of this years best films and if you are up for the movie of the show and of the web series and of the band, then you can catch it all out now in cinemas.
TV Shows
Elle
On the first of the tv shows for this week will be taking a focus to the world of going from the big screen to the story of the small screen of how this icon that proved her name in law and congress started out in trying to make a name for herself, and doing so with a whole lot of pink too as we have the release of the all new prequel series based on the world of Legally Blonde with the series of Elle. Set 6 years before the events of the original film, the series will follow a teenage Elle Woods as she deals with moving to Seattle and having to fit in with a crowd that sees her as an outsider and look to find herself that will lead her to the path we know her for in the original. Reception on this new prequel has been a bit of a mixed to decent reception as while the performance of Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods has seen some praise and really captured the appeal from the original performance by Witherspoon, the sense of nostalgia from prequel approaches and early season stumbles can be seen present and seen before but given there is already a 2nd season in the works and some more better reception on the audience side, I am sure it will have a chance down the line and if you want to see where it all began then you can catch the full first season now on Amazon Prime.
X-Men 97 Season 2
The 2nd of the tv shows for this week will be giving us a fair sense of animation appeal, the fun of Saturday morning cartoons in the modern day and the return of the focus to the realm of high quality superheros coming back after ending their run a couple of years ago to all be back for another round of heroics and for them to come to me my X-Men, as we have returned to the revival of this classic series with the release of season 2 of X-Men 97. This new season will see members of the X-Men scattered across time and must find a way back to the 1990s while also dealing with the impending threat of Apocalypse. Meanwhile some of the members are still in the present and must deal and face off against new foes and the continued intolerance against mutants with the absence of some of these other members. Reception on the new season so far similar to the first season has also been well recieved with praise on its appealing animation, enjoyable narrative and character development and continuing build of the story to the original animated series left off and if you are up for more adventures in that focus then you can catch the first 3 episodes of this new season now on Disney+ with a new episode or 2 releasing every Wednesday.
Video Games
Rhythm Heaven Groove
The last of the new releases and the only big game title that I can see for this week will be seeing you preparing to move to the beat and get ready to get the tempo and timing down right as after a decade since the last entry we have the release of the newest title of the Rhythm Heaven / Paradise series with Rhythm Heaven / Paradise Groove. This new title will be similar in its approach to the other entries in the series with you playing to the beat of over 40 different music tracks and levels each with their own unique elements and focus to build upon including new additions with Co-op games and a rhythm based RPG. Reception on this new entry has been well recieved with praise on its music tone, visuals from the title and interesting new elements introduced in this next entry of the popular series and if you are up for some rhythm based games then you can play this new title now on Nintendo Switch (and also playable on Switch 2).
Trailer of inviting aspects
Robert Eggers Werwulf
On the first of the trailers for this week will be a return to the realm of some narratives in the focus of the return of a genre that pops up here and there as of late and that is in the realm of the folklore and in this case where the last time we were given a project by this director that told us the focus of the well known myth of an undead king, this next one will be the focus of the tale of creature that would become present in this world and all from the rising of the full moon as coincidentally on the day of this trailers release was just that as we have the release of the first look at the upcoming new film from Robert Eggers with Werwulf. Set in Medieval Britain, a mysterious creature becomes tale that stalks a small foggy countryside, that will soon transform local folklore into a terrifying reality as the villagers face an ancient supernatural threat. It has been a case that Eggers has really made a name for himself in the realm of some outlandish but well made, engaging and unsettling Folklore based film from the Witch, The Lighthouse, Northman and Nosferatu that it seems like he has made a name for himself in the form of making something special in a era where everything is more modern and near identical in some aspects but it really shows with this project that is has a hook and appeal to it all. Now while not showing too much so far, this definitely has me very interested in seeing the overall outcome of what is to come from all of this in the near future and I am sure it will be worth seeing the new folklore tale of it all and be a better outcome then the Wolfman from last year but I am sure we will see in due time when the film releases into cinemas sometime this Christmas.
The Angry Birds Movie 3
The 2nd trailer for this week is in the focus to a new entry of some video game adaptions and with this next one in focus is one that started off with making something that was based on a title with very little in narrative richness but turned into a series that has proven themselves in being a bit of a success and after a 7 year gap since the last release, it looks like we will be back to prep the slingshots and be taking flight, but may be a bit of a different approach for this next entry as we have gotten the release of the first trailer for the 3rd entry in the Angry Birds movies. The new film will see Red (Jason Sudeikis) about to face his greatest Challenge yet in the form of becoming a father for 3 young hatchlings, while also having to deal with saving the world and his home from outsides dangers like the Pigs and other threats. So this series of films have been quite the journey over the years and I will not lie but the previous 2 have been very entertaining in some form and they made a decent effort in making a film out of something with very little plot besides throwing birds at pigs in structures via a slingshot and it is a case that the did it well with an origins and elaborate goofy spy flick too. Now while we have not much on a focus of a overall narrative in this besides a focus to the fatherhood story but I am sure we will get an ideal of more bigger focus (and for the placing of the casting for the other names in this film in due time) and I am sure it will be worth checking out when the film releases into cinemas from the 23rd of December.
Not Alone
The next trailer for this week will be giving us a case of a return to another studio that has been also present this week with the new release in film, but it seems that we will be looking forward to what is next from this studio and it seems we will be returning back to the realm of the cosmos again for this new title and when a sense of a series of events lead to a cosmic visit, it will also bring some together in finding some sparks in a place that you least expect it as we are back with Illumination once more this week as we have the first trailer for their next film of Not Alone. The film follows Joe (Timothee Chalamet) an introverted Mechanic and Fran (Selena Gomez), an Astrobotanist, who are tasked with created the first ever plant-fueled rocket. They soon develop immediate chemistry, but they both lack romantic competence. In amongst this chaos and feelings, Joe who lives a secluded solitary lifestyle soon finds himself sheltering 3 small aliens of Dunk (Rob Brydon), Welly (Diane Morgan) and Shirm (Jamie Demetriou). This trio is on an interstellar escape from the overzealous officer Zandro (Brett Goldstein) and deduce that Frans rocket will safely get them home. I do say the case that I know the likes of Illumination can be seen as a bit of a simple and not too majorly focused in a few bits but there is a sense that when they try with originals there is some semblance of some potential and hope present in there and I can see from this that this new film does have some interesting potential. Its not too reliant on overly goofy or low brow humor and there is a sense I am interested in seeing a fully focused Rom-com with this studio as if other studio have made an attempt with various success then I am sure this could be the same but I am sure we will see overtime with more footage unveiled before this cosmic romance will debut into cinemas from the 16th of April.
The Odyssey?
The next trailer for this week may be a little bit of a question mark in being allowed in my ruling with trailers but I will make the exception with this one for this week as it technically released a few days before the deadline but it will be a return to another era of history with this trailer and one that has caused a fair bit more of the discourse and debate online for this project but similar in the subtitle for this film it seems to be a case this could be the focus of defying the gods as we have the release of the final trailer for the upcoming new film from Christopher Nolan with The Odyssey. Based on the book and stories of Homer, the film will tell the tale of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the legendary Greek King of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical creatures such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, while attempting to reunite with his Wife Penelope. As I made mention a few times on here, there has been quite the discourse on this film with people feeling this will not cover the entire appeal of this epic tale in full focus, as well as the debate and discussion on the dialogue, casting choices for certain famous figures and other elements but I am one that will keep it as the focus of optimism that I am sure that I am sure there will be some decent performances and visual set pieces done well in all of this but I am sure we can see in due time with this journey set to be unleashed into cinemas from the 17th of July.
Star Wars Visions The 9th Jedi
The final trailer for this week will be a focus of being a spin off from a series of spin offs that seemed to be a shown success of many different stories that have been seen across the realm of a galaxy far far away and I am sure the expanding on this narrative will have its appeal as we have the release of the trailer and look at the upcoming spin off to the narratives of Star Wars Visions with the focus of the 9th Jedi. Based on the episode from the first and third season, the series will follow the daughter of a Lightsaber-Smith who is being pursued by dark forces as she makes a delivery of the newly crafted sabers across the galaxy. It has been said that through the likes of the series of visions with telling new stories in various forms and art styles that their was going to be at some point an entry of the series getting its own full length season, akin to Marvel's What If with the Zombies spin off and from what i have seen with the series, this has been one that has had the most success in appeal overall with another one or 2 I am sure will get one down the line, but the visual anime style and continuing story could be an appeal and it has been seen that Star Wars and Animation has been a proven success but I am sure we will see the outcome for it all in due time with this new season dropping onto Disney+ from the 5th of August.
News: the stories, the appeal, the excitement
The sounds of many forms of announcements and dates
It is that time again in the focus of delving into the realm of the usual array of media discussion from the weekly serving of the Hodge Podge that will consist this week in the focus of some new project announcement and some release date or 2 from the last week or so but I am sure we will see what will come from it all so let us see what will come from the news of media overall.
So we will start with one of the 2 release dates that we were given an update on that I had forgotten about to discuss from last week as there was one other big announcement that was given from a well established studio and given that we are returning to this franchise in a years time, this follow up is coming very soon after as it was announced that the planned spin off from Shrek focused on Donkey has gotten an official release date with the film set to drop on June 30th 2028, one year after the release of Shrek 5. While we have not gotten much of a deep analysis of what to expect but the brief of description will be telling the origins of how Donkey became Donkey in the series and I am sure we will get more of an idea as it gets closer to release after the next upcoming film. Now I do wonder in some form if it will go in the same visual style as the more recent title or earlier films or even another unique animation style like Puss in Boots 2 and I also wonder if it will be a story that will take place around the time of the other films as well or stay as an origin or if any other characters will make an appearance (most likely seems to be at most an appearance of Pinocchio) but I am sure we will see closer to its release in 2 years time but if any new news on this then I will let you know in a later episode.
Another release date we have in focus that I was going to give a brief mention on is a title that has been up in the air of when we will expect it as we had only gotten the window of Summer but after a bit of time we finally got a confirmation that we will be getting the all new full fledged remaster / remake of the Elder Scrolls Oblivion for the new updated handheld real soon as the Switch 2 port of this title will be releasing now on August 11th. Now the major focus to some of the other recent Bethesda title has been the discussion on if this will release in some physical form or just akin to the Fallout and Skyrim ports will be just an overpriced Code in box, but thankfully it has been confirmed that it will be a full physical release akin to Indiana Jones and not in a Game Key Card either. I feel in the announcement of this was a bit coincidental with one big piece of news that we will discuss in a bit but at least I know when I can return to the lands of Cyrodiil in due time and I guess we will see how it functions when it begins its quest in a months time.
The last of the release dates will be a return to some popular and high octane action and adaption on a popular series of novels and will see a return of some big muscle as it was confirmed we have a release date for the 4th season of the popular series of Reacher with it set for release on August 12th but it is not however the only project as the planned spin off from the series based on the character of Neagley has also been confirmed with this spin off now set for release a month later on September 16th, which will start after the weekly release of the new season before that spin off drops all at once. It is an interesting one and I feel in any form and focus shown that there is plenty of appeal and entertainment from this series and plenty of narrative elements to pull from that I am sure it will be an interesting watch to see by its release in the future. I need to get a catch up on this show and see all the appeal of it all but I am sure I can get around to checking it all out by the start of this double show watch when it starts in about a months time as well.
From release dates to project announcements, this first one will be bringing us back to one more piece in the focus of the realm of some video game adaptions and it seems in this case the concept could work but the format may be a bit of concern, especially in where it will be distributed as it will be time for action in due course as it was announced that live action anime based on the popular gaming series of Persona is in the works and that this anime will be distributed and released onto Netflix. Now this will not be the first of the gaming adaptions that have been made into a series as least we forget that Netflix has done some success in the animation scene with Cuphead, Cyberpunk, Captain Laserhawk and Arcane and will be down to see what their take on the Assassins creed series will entail in due course. The most big concern of it all comes down to the approach of going from the anime to live action and with Netflix as the track record of Anime Adaption from this streamer has not been the best with the only success so far has been the adaption of One Piece as others like Death Note, Cowboy Bebop and Full metal Alchemist just to name have had less then successful attempts in appeal and adaption. I still feel they could turn it around in all forms if they make it into a fully animated anime style in the unique and visual art form of the video game series cause I worry if this is a fumble then it could affect the appeal of the series in the process. Now I am sure we will see what will come of this title and when in some form down the line we will see this project but in this case if I hear anything new about it all I will let you know in a later episode.
So moving over to some new project announcements and in the case of these next 2 projects, it seems that we will be looking over to the realm of the deep dark reaches of the internet for these next projects and with this one I feel its a bit more of an obscure one and maybe the timing of its planned project concept could be a little dated but it was announced that Warner Bros will be making a new horror film based on the creepy pasta character of Siren Head with the film to be written by Weapons director Zach Creggar and No One Will Save you Director Brian Duffield. Now while I can give some faith with these 2 in the production and writing as I felt both have done some decent projects and concepts of the unsettling and supernatural, the one caveat is wondering if the appeal and creepiness of this cryptid Creepypasta is still relevant as I know the character was first created nearly a decade ago but really popped off in popularity around 2022 or so and since then he sort of came and went so the approach of this appeal will be a major question. The one film that it will possibly be majorly compared to is with the 2018 title of Slenderman that was also a Creepypasta creature and who's film was less then stellar in appeal and ended up a massive disaster (that and from the drama of getting it made especially with this character causing a near murder of a real girl in 2014). I am sure it could work in the likes of the unsettling sounds and some interesting approach to scare and spooks but it will have to be seen what will come of this project down the line. Now we have no idea as to when we may expect this title but I am sure that once I hear anything I will provide it in a later episode.
But staying on the internet horror for just a moment, it looks like we will be delving back into the realm of horrors and creatives found amongst the pages of YouTube as while we have been seeing a mass success for the young filmmaker and his concept of the world found from no clipping outside our reality (and back again with an all new extended cut of the film with an extra 16 minutes of footages attached to the end of the credits to the film) and another with one wish going a little too far, it looks like another young creator will be giving his take on a popular creepypasta and Analog horror a big screen treatment and it looks like he will also be getting a little bit of help from a well known filmmaker as it was reported this week that Amazon will be developing a film based on the popular YouTube series of The Mandela Catalogue, with the original creator Alex Kister attached to direct the project and the film being produced by the father of the summer blockbuster of Steven Spielberg. Now for those that may not be familiar with this series, it is set in the fictional location of Mandela County in Wisconsin that is known for being a location swarmed and invaded by Shape-shifting and near immortal creatures known as Alternatives that will stalk and torture their victims to the point of leading them to take their own lives and take on their form as Doppelgangers. The concept itself is pretty well done and from the series I have seen on this since its inception all the way back in 2021 and it is a case that in a small form like on YouTube it can work in the small doses, but in the full fledged film format will be a lot more of a debate to have on how this will all come about in general but if the Backrooms proved it can be done then I am sure it will be worth seeing how something like this can be done well tooo. Now similar to the first Internet Horror story, I have no idea as of yet on when we can expect this title as well as who may be in this upcoming film, but if I hear any more news about it all I will provide all of that in a later episode.
One last project announcement that seems to be on the way is a return back to a title from the past as it will be double the tricks, double the laughs and especially in this case it will be double the trouble as it was reported earlier this week that their is a planned sequel to the popular 90s Disney film of The Parent Trap in the works and it seems in this case as well that original star of Lindsay Lohan will be back in this follow up and likely playing the pair of twins from the original title as well in the process. Now for those that may not be familiar with the original or haven't watched it in a while, the original film saw Lohan play a pair of Identical Twins that meet each other at a summer camp and try and make an elaborate plan for both of their single parents to fall in love with one another through the means of hijinks and since its release back in 1998 has garnered a cult following and a well loved critical reception in the process that the likes of a follow up, fresh of the success of another Lohan led legacy sequel with Freakier Friday that it could be interesting to see what they would do for a follow up, with likely both of the twins dealing with some aspects of their children doing the same to them or something like that but I guess it is unclear on that front for the moment. At the moment nothing has been made fully confirmed but I am sure we will see by the upcoming D23 next month but I am sure if any new news comes about it then I will let you know in a later episode.
But what do you make of all of these stories, do you see the Donkey Spin off staying on that release date or move to a later time, will you be playing Oblivion on the Switch 2 when it releases, are you excited for another season of Reacher, will the live action Persona be a success or should it be an animated anime instead, do you see a Siren Head film or a Mandela Catalogue movie working out for the big screen or feel that the appeal of both has sailed and should be just a Youtube based projects and will you check out a sequel to the Parent Trap? Let me know what you think of them all down below.
Its time to protect physical media
So I often try to keep things a bit more positive on this channel and try and avoid most complaints and ordeals or negative outcomes, but this story that dropped earlier this week has been one who's decision on their choice has not been the most positive at all and since the announcement, a tidal wave of negative reactions and concerning responses has hit the internet and I thought this would be an ordeal from a week ago about the biggest game of the years release method being really dumb and affecting my appeal of playing the title, but I have to wonder if it was to do with this as it was announced back on Wednesday that PlayStation and Sony announced that as of January 2028, they will no longer be making and releasing PlayStation titles with physical Discs, essentially making it all become a digital only format. Now to think this will be accepted by many was clearly an oversight from the company cause so many people have come out against this decision as many see this as being the continuing concern of the mantra floating around of "you will own nothing and you will be happy" seen with the movements of Stop Killing Games and other forms and in the case where we had a similar complaints from a fair amount of people last week when the GTA 6 Pre-orders on the physical side came out about it not having a disc and it being a code in a box (There was reports that it may release down the line in physical disc form after launch, but the results of that is currently unclear). This also didn't help that if they were looking to be all digital that on the same day announce that the Stores of the PS3 and PSVita will be shutting down by the middle of next year, and the case that just last week announced that over 550 films will be removed from the PlayStation store due to licensing and that includes for those that purchased them with no compensation, refund or alternative backup, which really makes their outcome that much more confusing on all of this. Now their reasoning is them saying the case that 85% (not sure where they pulled this number from) of players on PlayStation play on digital but it seems that is not the most accurate of outcomes as it was revealed from that unfortunate Insomniac Hack from 3 years ago that some numbers may be inflated as it was seen that more then 60% of players that bought and played both Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2 played by a physical disc, and it even was seen with some other titles being over 50% including God of War Ragnarok and Astro Bot being similar and some suggest this percentage is from indie titles and games with difficult means to obtain physical copies of or never had a physical to begin with or of the subscription, DLC and other aspects like that. Now my own thoughts on this like many others from studios working with the brand and even some creatives like Kojima have been very critical of this decision as I really do not see why they think this is a good idea at all. If you may not know, I always will push and go more for the physical media as I prefer it to have something that I physically bought and own instead of it being locked by an account that could easily be deleted if I have not touched it in 36 months or be hacked and lose access and a library I spend hundreds if not thousands on just disappearing like that and see this as a very greedy practice to pay even more for games that are already overly pricey enough (and physical and 2nd hand were more affordable) and them already discussing points about their next generation console in this economy is actually so greedy and money hungry of them to do this. Now since then they have gone radio silent on all platforms but some elements have been spotted over the last few days and many have assumed they are staying quiet until the ordeal with X-Box on Monday is covered to try and take the heat off of them but even with that being a concern I would still see this as a big old mess that I do hope they will reverse their decision on cause I do not see how this will be sustainable and in the process will lose a lot of players that loved gaming on their systems and just hope this will not be the end of physical Media.
But what do you make of this whole mess of an ordeal and do you think Sony made a good decision or do you see yourself agreeing with a fair amount of the internet this week? Let me know what you think of it all down below in the comments.
And now finally with all of that, this ends the latest episode of Weird Mind News Room and I hope you enjoyed the rambles 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 :)
Comments
Post a Comment