We all know that to build the Death Star would cost in the quadrillions of dollars. I don’t know what it would cost to convert a planet into a superweapon but I can’t imagine that Starkiller Base would be any cheaper to construct. One thing that few talk about is how much it would cost to build and maintain Darth Vader’s suit. Surprisingly, it’s fairly cheap compared to most Imperial construction projects.
Entertainment
The WWE Draft Shows the Root Problems Won’t Be Fixed Overnight
Last Tuesday’s inaugural edition of SmackDown Live featured the second WWE brand extension draft. Unlike 2002, which had the WWF stars and writers that carried it through the Attitude Era and a multitude of WCW and ECW alumni, the current incarnation of WWE is headed up by a select few wrestlers who are allowed to be stars and writers that have led WWE to viewership declining to record lows.
As part of the TV deal that WWE has with the USA Network / NBC Universal, the USA Network requested that changes be made to SmackDown to shore up its ratings. The call was made to go live on Tuesday nights (when WWE tapes the show) and break up the WWE roster into two separate crews in order to give people a reason to watch SmackDown in addition to Raw.
The problem is that the draft didn’t really do anything to make SmackDown important and worthy of appointment viewing.
Entertainment Link-Off: To the Unknown
It’s Comic-Con weekend, so there would be plenty of new reveals taking place, even after the ELO gets posted. However, if you’re not lucky enough to attend, perhaps you can venture to the cinemas to catch the latest Star Trek Beyond. Reviews have been kind so far and you can catch Sofia Boutella in the flick! Not that you would recognize her under all that make up in the movie though…
After the jump, Brad Bird does not like video games, a Pokemon movie could be on its way, Divergent series is headed to your TV screens instead, a few new Marvel/Netflix teasers to check out, and the latest Honest Trailer tackles Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off
Wow, those five weeks have passed by rather quickly. Well I’m officially back with your weekly set of entertainment links. I’m sure Steve is extremely relieved that he doesn’t have to cover for me now. Anyway, there’s a lot of summer flicks out there right now but it appears that most of them aren’t leaving a lasting impression.The new release this weekend is the Ghostbusters reboot. While it’s not a terrible movie and it might not be deserving of all the thumbs down on Youtube, let’s just say it doesn’t quite hit the high notes as it anticipates to.
Gonna kick off the link off with Maika Monroe. She’s keeping a busy schedule ahead but you can catch her in Independence Day: Resurgence.
After the jump, comparing reboots to the original franchises, Suicide Squad is looking to roll in the cash, Mortal Kombat movie ain’t dead yet, breaking down the new Rogue One clip and listen to Samuel L Jackson recap Game of Thrones. Continue reading
Entertainment Link-Off: Dog Days of Summer
Is it just me or is summer really a dead time for movies. Since I’ve taken up temporary residence on Saturdays doing the entertainment links, I can’t think of massive summer blockbusters apart from family movies. Where are the big budget action movies? Where are the superheroes?
On the plus side, The Secret Life of Pets opens this weekend. Critics really seem to like it but not to the same extent that Pixar’s Finding Dory was adored by critics. The other big release is Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates which is getting middling reviews.
Anyway, it’s Saturday night so it’s time for the links. Let’s kick off with the lead pair from one of this weekend’s movies. Here are Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza.
Entertainment Link-Off: Movies and Music and TV, Oh My
We’re getting into the middle of summer which should be full with all sorts of news and interviews about upcoming movies and TV shows because we’re running up to summer blockbuster movies and a few months from the start of the fall TV season. Unfortunately, it’s the holiday weekend on both sides of the weekend so we’re a bit short on news. The result is a hodgepodge of everything I find interesting. So the status quo, then.
So this weekend, theatres see three big releases. The Legend of Tarzan opens at the lowest Rotten Tomatoes rating of the weekend as we wonder how many Tarzan movies Hollywood has made over the years. The Purge: Election Year might turn out to be decent political satire in hindsight depending on this year’s US Presidential election. And the top movie of the weekend is Steven Spielberg’s The BFG but critical reception says don’t expect an Oscar.
Anyway, let’s kick off the links with Margot Robbie who stars as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan.
Game of Thrones: The Winds of Winter Review
What is hype may never die. There were a lot of loose plot threads heading into this season’s finale. Not only were they paid off spectacularly but we are set up for the stretch run of Game of Thrones with a series of mic drops as the episode came to an end.
Worst of Music: Fall Out Boy – Ghostbusters
It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these. While the Worst of Music isn’t dead (it can’t given music today), I still have to bust it out for special occasions. And the good folks in Fall Out Boy were kind enough to give me a reason to officially christen something the Worst of Music with their new song for the Ghostbusters reboot. Ray Parker Jr. this most certainly ain’t.
Entertainment Link-Off: Power Brokers
This week’s edition of the entertainment links is all about people with power and money and ratings and all the things that matters in the acquisition of power in Hollywood. Not to sound too cynical but everybody wants to rule the world. We have a lot of those people featured in today’s ELO.
So how many of you have heard of The Neon Demon? IMDB has that as the best movie coming out this weekend. Also out this weekend are the far too late Independence Day cash-in, the one where Blake Lively gets eaten by a shark and a biopic with Matthew McConaughey. So let’s kick off with Blake Lively before she gets eaten by the aforementioned shark.
Game of Thrones: Battle of the Bastards Review
Sure, Game of Thrones is at its best when it tells a story and focuses on its characters. However, the show also has this expectation that the ninth episode will wow us. This season’s ninth episode brings us the biggest and most expensive battle in the show’s history as the forces of Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton did battle for control of Winterfell and the North. And, yes, it was pretty epic.
The Lowdown 