Blogs > Tuned in to Pop Culture

They’re not standing around the watercooler, but Cheryl Sadler, Mark Meszoros, Mark Podolski and Nicole Franz are talking about what they’ve been watching, listening to and playing during their free time.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

"Just the Joker" highlights Heath Ledger's talents

Saw this video, "The Dark Knight - Just the Joker," on Boing Boing showing just Heath Ledger's shots as the Joker from "The Dark Knight" and immediately had to watch it (several times). 


Ten-plus minutes of Heath Ledger's best performance ever? Yes, please.

I was a Heath Ledger fan dating back to "10 Things I Hate About You," and it wasn't just because he was incredibly attractive. He was always compelling to watch, and it seems hard to believe he's been dead for more than four years.

I'm sure I'll be watching "The Dark Knight" in the weeks leading up to "The Dark Knight Rises" opening on July 20 — and Ledger's rollicking performance keeps the two-and-a-half hour film from dragging. 

Here's hoping the conclusion of Christopher Nolan's epic Batman trilogy has something similarly fantastic to make it worthy of repeat viewings, too.

-- Nicole Franz | NiFranz@News-Herald.com | @FranzOrFoe

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Monday, May 28, 2012

'Men in Black 3' knocks 'Avengers' out of first place

I wanted to see "Men in Black 3" this weekend, but the bad reviews kept me away. Anyone see it? Is it worth the full price (or the matinee price)? Or should I wait until it's at the dollar theater (or on Netflix)?

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Tuesday.
1. “Men in Black 3,” $70 million ($133.2 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire; "Smith and Jones form the 'Men in Black' backbone'" by The AP's David Germain)
2. “The Avengers,” $46.9 million ($26.3 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
3. “Battleship,” $13.8 million ($2.9 million international). (Review by Meszoros)
4. “The Dictator,” $11.8 million ($11.8 million international). (Review by The Lemire)
5. “Dark Shadows,” $9.4 million ($13.1 million international). (Review by Lemire)
6. “Chernobyl Diaries,” $9.3 million.
7. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” $8.9 million ($1.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
8. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” $8.2 million ($853,000 international). (Review by Lemire)
9. “The Hunger Games,” $2.9 million ($800,000 international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by Germain)
10. “Think Like a Man,” $1.8 million.(Review by Lemire)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Monday, May 21, 2012

Podcast: Renewed and canceled TV shows

Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros, Community Engagement Editor Cheryl Sadler and Sports Editor Mark Podolski take a look at what TV shows from the 2011-12 season were canceled, what was renewed, and what we can expect for the 2012-13 season.

Then Sadler kind of tunes out while the comic fanboys go gaga for Spider-Man and the Dark Knight.

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

'The Avengers' holds on to No. 1 at weekend box office

Even though Mark Meszoros gave "The Avengers" and "Battleship" the same number of stars in his review, the star-packed superhero movie has held on to the No. 1 spot.

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Avengers,” $55.1 million ($56 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. “Battleship,” $25.4 million ($6.5 million international). (Review by Meszoros)
3. “The Dictator,” $17.4 million ($30.3 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
4. “Dark Shadows,” $12.8 million ($30.4 million international). (Review by Lemire)
5. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” $10.5 million. (Review by Lemire)
6. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” $3.3 million ($1.8 million international). (Review by Lemire)
7. “The Hunger Games,” $3 million ($1.5 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
8. “Think Like a Man,” $2.7 million. (Review by Lemire)
9. “The Lucky One,” $1.8 million ($2.7 million international). (Review by Lemire)
10. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” $1.5 million. (Review by The AP's John Defore)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

In honor of Donna Summer ...

The passing of the great Donna Summer conjured up memories of one my favorite movies scenes of all-time.

This scene from "The Full Monty," the 1997 film about a group of out-of-work men who resort to stripping to make ends meet,  is a classic and features one of Summer's most notable songs, "Hot Stuff."

Click here to watch the video.

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Best peak at 'Amazing Spider-man' yet

Wow.

That sums up the just-released four-minute extended trailer for "The Amazing Spider-man," set for a July 3rd release.

You won't be disappointed. Check it out:


- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

Sunday, May 13, 2012

'Avengers' stays at top of weekend box office

Another good weekend for "Marvel's The Avengers," which easily took first place at the box office, but "Dark Shadows" had a respectable second-place showing -- at least, for competing against the summer's first blockbuster.

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Avengers," $103.2 million ($95.4 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. "Dark Shadows," $28.8 million ($36.7 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
3. "Think Like a Man," $6.3 million. (Review by Lemire)
4. "The Hunger Games," $4.4 million ($2.4 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
5. "The Lucky One," $4.1 million ($2.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
6. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," $3.2 million ($2.2 million international). (Review by The AP's John Defore)
7. "The Five-Year Engagement," $3.1 million ($1.7 million international). (Review by Lemire)
8. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $2.7 million ($1.9 million international). (Review by Lemire)
9. "Chimpanzee," $1.6 million. (Review by Meszoros
10. "Girl in Progress," $1.4 million.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Saturday, May 12, 2012

Expendables 2 ... Time to reload

Sylvester Stallone.

Bruce Willis.

Dolph Lundgren.

Jason Statham.

Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Chuck Norris.

Jet Li.

Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Expendables 2.

Time to reload.

Check out the trailer:


- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

It's sung Sinatra's way at PlayhouseSquare

Truth be told, I'm typically not all that interested in dance shows.

Don't get me wrong. Professional dancers and choreographers are tremendously talented people, and there's plenty to love about the world of dance. But, as someone who's worried about falling down when he tries to walk and chew gum, I don't relate to that graceful world all that much.

Yet, as someone who greatly appreciates music and high-quality audio, I was very interested in a specific aspect of "Come Fly Away," the latest entry in the current Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland. One of the many shows choreographed by the renowned Twyla Tharp, "Come Fly Away" is built around a collection of songs recorded by the late Frank Sinatra.



However, unlike Tharp's "Movin' Out" -- built around the songs of Billy Joel -- a vocalist wasn't cast to perform the songs. Instead, "Come Fly Away" cast Sinatra's himself -- or at least recorded performances by him -- and combines them with a live big band on stage.

How would this work? Would it sound good. Would it feel natural? (Pretty well, mostly and sort of are the respective answers.)

Sitting about seven rows back on Tuesday's opening-night performance, Sinatra's voice and the band backing it did not sound like a cohesive whole. The sound of the band sounded like it came, from, well the band. Sinatra's vocals, on the other hand, sounded like they came from above. Perhaps it was meant to sound as if he is singing from heaven, but it's a bit odd. (It should be noted, though, that when I moved to the back of the Palace Theatre at the show's end, the sound was more unified, so maybe good seats come at more than one kind of a price.)

I'm leaving the actual News-Herald review of "Come Fly Away" to Bob Abelman, a regular contributor of well-written, thought-provoking theater reviews, but I will say the show did boast lovely and sensual -- even downright sexy -- dance numbers, and it was great to hear the Chairman of the Board's voice for an hour and 15 minutes. ("Come Fly Away" is a short show with no intermission, which may help you drag someone who isn't a fan of dance down to the theater. Tuesday's show started a little after 7:30, and I was home in Willoughby before 9:30.)

Courtesy of PlayhouseSquare
Anthony Burrell and Ashley Blair perform 
one of the sexy numbers in "Come Fly Away."

There is not one line of dialogue in "Come Fly Away," so all the communication comes via Tharp's choreography and Sinatra's music. And while Sinatra may not have sounded as if he was standing with the big band, he sounded great singing truncated versions of "That's Life," "My Way" and scads of other tunes.

So start spreadin' the news: Sinatra's in town ... sort of.

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures


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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

'Serenity (2)' now!

In July, at Comic-Con 2011 in San Diego, writer-director Joss Whedon joked, "I'm waiting for someone to call me to make a "Serenity" sequel," which was followed by a great deal of applause by his captive audience. "But they won't."

Hey, don't be so sure, Joss.

OK, maybe it's still wishful thinking that Whedon, creator of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV series, would be able to do something further with the universe he created with his next series, the short-live sci-fi-Western cult fave "Firefly." Yet a show that lasted only three months in late 2002 was resurrected once already on the big screen in 2005. "Serenity" was good -- not great -- but it provided the welcome returns of Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), Zoe Washburn (Gina Torres) and Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin," as well of the rest of the appealing main cast of "Firefly."

Some story lines were tied up, but others weren't, and there seems to be much left to be explored in Whedon's vision of the future, set in 26th century following global war resulting in the United States being the only super powers and English and Chinese being the two prominent languages. (The names of the series and movie stemmed from Mal's crew flying in a Firefly-class spaceship named Serenity.)

Why am I bringing all this up now? "The Avengers," that's why. As you probably know, Whedon wrote and directed the superhero mega hit, which scooped up a reported record-setting $207.4 million in its opening weekend in the U.S. (Released a little earlier elsewhere, the movie raked in more than $650 million worldwide in its first 12 days.)

Marvel Studios
Could the huge opening of "The Avengers" lead
to a "Serenity" sequel? We can dream.

In other words, Whedon is a much more player in the film industry than he was even two weeks ago. Seriously.

According to his IMDb page, Whedon has already helmed another film that's in the post-production stage, but nothing's listed after that.



He probably shouldn't wait by the phone for somebody to call him about making "Serenity 2." But, after the kind of opening "The Avengers" had, if he wanted to pick up the phone and make a few calls himself, I'm betting he could make it happen.

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures

Video puzzle with iPhones to fun.'s 'We Are Young'

If you like the song "We are Young" by the band fun. and neat videos made utilizing iPhones, check out the video below.



The time and patience it would take to create this video is unfathomable to me. But I'm glad these guys put it together, so I can have the opportunity to watch it in awe and amazement. (Be sure to watch through the end of the video to see the behind-the-scenes look and some outtakes.)


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Perfect Strangers: Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now


Who doesn't love the 1980s-1990s sitcom "Perfect Strangers," amirite?

Now, thanks to the Internet, Cousin Balki can help you achieve your dreams. Check out the game Perfect Strangers: Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now. Chase your dream with Balki as he runs on rainbows, fields and streets, and flies through a beautiful blue sky. (And then get the theme song in your head for the rest of the day.)


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

'Avengers' smashes weekend box office competition

The first-place movie at this weekend's box office should come as no surprise to anyone who pays a lick of attention to pop culture. I am surprised, however, at the amount of money "The Avengers" took in over its competition -- $192 million more! What I would do with $192 million ...

From The Associated Press:
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Avengers,” $200.3 million ($151.5 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. “Think Like a Man,” $8 million. (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
3. “The Hunger Games,” $5.7 million ($4.3 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
4. “The Lucky One,” $5.5 million ($5.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
5. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” $5.4 million ($2.6 million international). (Review by The AP's John Defore)
6. “The Five-Year Engagement,” $5.1 million ($2.3 million international). (Review by Lemire)
7. “The Raven,” $2.5 million. (Review by Germain)
8. “Safe,” $2.47 million ($2.2 million international). (Review by Germain)
9. “Chimpanzee,” $2.4 million. (Review by Meszoros)
10. “The Three Stooges,” $1.8 million. (Review by Lemire)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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Friday, May 4, 2012

'Amazing Spider-man' legend grows

The buzz for "The Amazing Spider-man" (July 3) continues to build with the release of the latest trailer this week.

Those checking out the mega-anticipated "The Avengers" this weekend will be treated to Spidey's newest trailer, which doesn't disappoint.

It's clear Director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) has taken this reboot where no other Web Head story or film has gone before: That being an in-depth look at Peter Parker's past.

Oh, and the Lizard (aka scientist Curt Connors) continues to amaze the more he's revealed. Check out the trailer below:


- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

Before heading to theaters, give our podcast one more listen

If you haven't yet gotten your fill of previewing “The Avengers,” be sure to listen to the podcast The News-Herald recorded early last week.

Movie review: "Avengers" comes together with mostly smashing results

"Marvel's The Avengers" brings together big-time Marvel Comics superheroes from a bunch of recent movies for one big-budget adventure.

Community Media Lab blogger Chris Lambert (Comics, Don’t Get Me Started) and The News-Herald editors Mark Meszoros (movie nut), John Bertosa (an extra during the “Avengers” shoot in Cleveland last year) and Mark Podolski (superhero enthusiast) talk about how the movie came to be made, their expectations for it and its roots in the comic books.



Lambert is a lifelong comic book collector and author. He has lectured on film and comics at Lakeland Community College, written a weekly column for The News-Herald, and written and performed a daily radio show about the history of comics. Find Lambert online at his blog at Comics Don't Get Me Started and at the website E Comics Gazette.

Follow Meszoros on Twitter @nhfeatures, Bertosa at @JBertosa and Podolski at @mpodo.

(And we're not on iTunes yet, but we're working on it!)

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Making sense of 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Give Christopher Nolan credit. The director is excellent at making the viewer want more. Much more.

The third, and most revealing, trailer for the much-anticipated film, "The Dark Knight Rises" (July 20) was released late Monday night.

The biggest reveal is Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) is a broken-down individual, physically and perhaps mentally. Times appear bleak for Wayne. What we don't know is why. Do the affects of his battles with the Joker and Two-Face at the end of "The Dark Knight" still linger, or is it perhaps something bigger? Namely the new villain in "Rises" named Bane. The muscular terrorist proclaims himself in the trailer as "Gotham's reckoning."

In the trailer, there's also an appearance by Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, another new Batman toy (the batplane?), and the Wayne character that is thoroughly beaten down by Bane, which could be a reference to a storyline from the 1990s. In "Knightfall," Bane breaks Batman's back, putting the hero out of commission.

There's also a plea by Catwoman, telling Batman, "You don't owe these people any more. You've given them everything." Batman's reply is, "Not everything. Not yet."

Interesting comments, which are a perfect tie-in to a theory many are asking: Will Nolan kill off Batman? History tells us it's a possibility, or at least the appearance of his death.

First, let's examine where Nolan has found inspiration for his films. The director has said many of the storylines in his first two films, especially "Batman Begins," were helped along by Frank Miller, author of the highly regarded comics series/graphic novels "Batman: Year One" and "The Dark Knight Returns." Both were written in the 1980s, and gave the caped crusader a dark, edgy persona that gave new life to the character.

"The Dark Knight Returns" was a boon for the Batman character. The story was the first of its kind: Bruce Wayne is in his 50s, and has been retired as Batman for 10 years. (Sound familiar? Published reports say in "Rises," Batman has been out of action for eight years until the threat of Bane brings the cape and cowl back). In "Returns," Batman is back to take on the Joker, Two-Face and Superman, who is now a puppet for the government. There's also a storyline in which mutant teen-agers attempt to take over Gotham by force, which has relevance to "Rises."

Many have theorized Nolan's final Batman film is more about a civil war, than about superheroes and villains. In Miller's version, he writes Batman's return from retirement is "to bring sense to a world plagued by worse than theives and murderers ..." Sounds a lot like "Rises" doesn't it? Bane has come to bring Gotham City to "ashes," as he tells Wayne in a trailer.

In order to stop Bane, it could be a battle to the death. Or will it? In Miller's final scenes of "Returns," Batman defeats Superman in a fight (thanks to kryptonite), but in the aftermath Batman succumbs to a heart attack. The man is, after all, in his 50s. Later, it's revealed the death was staged, and Wayne retreats underground to continue his fight.

How all of this plays out in "Rises" is anyone's guess, but "Returns" could be a handbook for those with curious Batman minds. I give the book the highest of recommends. Until then, check out the newest trailer for the film, plus a clip from the Batman animated series in the 1990s highlighting a few scenes from Miller's classic "Returns" tale.



- Mark Podolski | @mpodo