Nerd Legion

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive into 'The Sword and the Sorcerer' (1982), a surprising hit from the 1980s fantasy craze. We explore the film's strengths, including its impressive special effects, compelling acting, and memorable cinematography. We also discuss its humorous tonal inconsistencies and the charm of its goofy yet creative elements, such as the unique three-bladed sword. Director Albert Pyun shows how to maximize each penny of a small budget while lead actor Lee Horsley demonstrates surprising acting chops as Talon in a difficult, mostly unlikeable role. Additionally, comparisons are made with other iconic films and characters of the era, including 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Dragonslayer,' signaling its relevance and impact on the fantasy genre. Stay tuned for our verdict on whether this cult classic is worth a watch today, and get ready for our coverage of 'Andor' in the next episode.

Join Nerd Legion as we revisit the iconic 1982 film, 'Conan the Barbarian' as part of our 1980s fantasy marathon. This episode delves into the movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's illustrious career, exploring its lasting legacy, the craftsmanship behind its production, and its impact on the fantasy genre. From its highly atmospheric soundtrack by Basil Poledouris to its stunning sets and John Milius' direction, we cover all that makes this film a timeless classic. The discussion also touches on the performances of James Earl Jones and other cast members, contrasts it with other 1980s sword and sorcery films, and reflects on Conan's influence on contemporary fantasy cinema. 

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive deep into end the second season of 'Severance.' DoA and MonteCristo discuss problems with the season's pacing, major plot points, character developments, and whether the major payoffs are worth the price of the poor set-ups. We also analyze pivotal moments, including the rescue mission for Gemma led by Mark's innie and outie, and the implications of Lumon's Cold Harbor project. Additionally, we debate the needs for filler content, Helena's actions, the ethics of Lumon's experiments, and the series' potential future directions.   Get 10% off your Ridge wallet by using code NERD at https://www.Ridge.com/NERD

Welcome back to Nerd Legion! Join us as we continue our 1980s fantasy film marathon with a review of the infamous Italian-made classic, 1982's Ator the Fighting Eagle directed by Joe D'Amato. This episode dives into the movie's hilarious plot, terrible fight scenes, and unintentionally funny moments. We discuss the strange prophecy, the bizarre love story involving adopted siblings, the laughable special effects, the sub-par performance of Miles O'Keefe, and the unexpected joy of watching a very bad movie that's somehow endlessly entertaining. Quickly filmed after the release and success of Conan the Barbarian, Ator provides great entertainment as a rushed B Movie attempting to capitalize on the popularity of sword-and-sorcery films of the 80s. Don't miss out on the fun, and stay tuned for more episodes featuring our take on other 1980s fantasy films!

In this episode of Nerd Legion, hosts Monte and DoA take a break from their 1980s fantasy marathon to discuss 'Mickey 17,' director Bong Joon Ho's latest science fiction film. They first delve into the movie's box office struggles and introduce Bong Joon-ho's history, noting his thematic blend of class conflict, environmentalism, and existentialism. The hosts critique the film for its rich moments of subtle humor and innovative concepts but argue it becomes unfocused in the second half, shifting from existential questions to heavy-handed political themes. They analyze Robert Pattinson's standout dual role performance, along with contributions from other notable actors like Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette. The episode wraps with reflections on Bong Joon Ho's recurring themes and a funny personal anecdote about South Korea's macaron shop craze, highlighted within the film. They conclude that while 'Mickey 17' is visually appealing and entertaining, it doesn't reach the same profound levels as the director's previous works like 'Parasite' or 'Memories of Murder.'

Disney's 'Dragonslayer' from 1981 is the next film in Nerd Legion's 1980s fantasy movie marathon! In this episode, they discuss the intriguing plot, standout performances, particularly by Ralph Richardson as Ulrich the Sorcerer, and the visually stunning cinematography and special effects. They also explore the film's mixed tones, underwhelming lead character, and its enduring influence on contemporary fantasy media, including George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Join us as we dive into the strange history behind making this underrated film and how it served as the forerunner of contemporary, gritty, and realistic fantasy fiction that dominates media today.

Join hosts DoA and MonteCristo for another episode of Nerd Legion as we dive once more into our 80s fantasy marathon, discussing the animated cult classic 'Heavy Metal' from 1981. We reveal plans for upcoming reviews, including 'Dragonslayer', and share major updates about Star Wars, including Kathleen Kennedy's rumored retirement and the new Andor Season 2 trailer. Plus, we offer insights on the movie's legacy, its controversial content, and its impact on modern fantasy and animation. Don't miss this blend of nostalgia, critical analysis, and some laughs along the way! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com!

Captain America: Brave New World somehow fails to explore any interesting topics in what might be the most bland Marvel film yet released. Simply put: there is nothing "brave" about this film as it adamantly refuses to engage with interesting topics such as Captain America's role in a politically divided country, what it means to be a Black Captain America, and Sam Wilson's choice to not take the super serum. The film goes through the same motions as most Marvel film, but without any memorable scenes. Anthony Mackie is not given an opportunity to display his acting chops since the script plays it much too safe, and the movie fails to even generate a single iota of American patriotism or optimism.

Join hosts DoA and MonteCristo for another episode of Nerd Legion as we dive once more into our 80s fantasy marathon, discussing the animated cult classic 'Heavy Metal' from 1981. We reveal plans for upcoming reviews, including 'Dragonslayer', and share major updates about Star Wars, including Kathleen Kennedy's rumored retirement and the new Andor Season 2 trailer. Plus, we offer insights on the movie's legacy, its controversial content, and its impact on modern fantasy and animation. Don't miss this blend of nostalgia, critical analysis, and some laughs along the way! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Captain America: Brave New World somehow fails to explore any interesting topics in what might be the most bland Marvel film yet released. Simply put: there is nothing "brave" about this film as it adamantly refuses to engage with interesting topics such as Captain America's role in a politically divided country, what it means to be a Black Captain America, and Sam Wilson's choice to not take the super serum. The film goes through the same motions as most Marvel film, but without any memorable scenes. Anthony Mackie is not given an opportunity to display his acting chops since the script plays it much too safe, and the movie fails to even generate a single iota of American patriotism or optimism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Netflix's second anime film version of The Witcher has dropped, this time featuring Geralt of Rivia in an adventure called Sirens of the Deep. While some Witcher fans may not be pleased by the liberties taken in this adaptation of a story by author Andrzej Sapkowski, Monte and DoA found it to be charmingly reminiscent of a quest from The Witcher series of video games. With the departure of Henry Cavill from the Netflix series, this movie uses Geralt's voice actor from the games, Doug Cockle, alongside support actors from the live-action show Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra. In spite of the occasionally over-the-top anime action, both Sirens of the Deep and Nightmare of the Wolf offer more satisfying Witcher stories than most of the episodes of the TV series and should amuse fans of the IP. Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mind-bending thriller Severance season two has finally begun after an extended break, but the wait has delivered perhaps the best show currently running on television. Ben Stiller's direction and oversight of Severance as a producer has yielded an immaculately paced and intricate mystery, offering a steady drip-feed of tantalizing reveals every episode. The intrigue and insidiousness of Lumon continues to grow, and Monte and DoA discuss their ideas and theories surrounding the show. Severance's exceptional plot, cinematography, and notable cast deserve your time and attention like few shows currently on the air. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another Alex Kurtzman Star Trek turd has dropped on Paramount Plus and this one is called "Section 31." Originally designed as a stand-alone tv series starring Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou, the project was hacked down to a 90 minute film that might be the single worst piece of Star Trek ever created. The movie succeeds in being constantly annoying, cliched, and thoroughly unfunny throughout its entire runtime and fails to even jump the shark into "so bad it's good" territory. Without Star Trek branding this film is barely recognizable as Star Trek, as it contains none of the values or vision created by Gene Roddenberry. Into the AM Anniversary Sale from January 22 - February 9 with up to 50% OFF. Get an additional 10% off with code LFN at https://ww.intotheam.com/lfn Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skeleton Crew concludes on Disney Plus, but where does it rank all-time among Star Wars films and TV shows? Monte and DoA discuss their affection for the show, in spite of the fact that it is almost wholly derivative of other cinematic and literary work, because the execution of its tropes is good and it spices them up with clever Star Wars flourishes. Jude Law also turns in one of the most memorable Star Wars performances in years as Ja Na Nawood and the child actors alongside him deliver as well. While the ratings may be low compared to other Star Wars shows, Skeleton Crew's short 8 episodes are well worth your time. Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dune: Prophecy delves into the past, 10,000 years prior to the original Dune series and the latest films by Denis Villeneuve. HBO Max's new series clearly apes the political intrigue of their previous shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, ultimately Dune: Prophecy fails in getting the audience emotionally invested in the characters. While beautifully shot and designed in the vein of Villeneuve's Dune aesthetic, the plot feels rushed and unresolved, leading to an emotionally unsatisfying conclusion in spite of strong acting. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MonteCristo and DoA discuss "Secret Level", an Amazon Prime Video anthology series based on video game franchises. They reveal which shorts are worth watching, which ones to skip, and their hopes for the second season of the show. EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Nerd Legion! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/nerdlegion Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Nerd Legion! In this exciting episode, MonteCristo and DoA dive deep into the far reaches of the galaxy with a review of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew! Join us as we unravel why this series shines brighter than some of the recent Star Wars projects. From nostalgic nods to 80's and 90's films, to standout performances by the cast, there's a lot to unpack. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newbie to the franchise, this discussion is packed with insights that you won't want to miss. Hit that play button and grab your lightsaber for an exciting ride! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Nerd Legion! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/nerdlegion Enjoy the first episode of "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" with this accompanying commentary from MonteCristo and DoA! - https://soundcloud.com/lfnculture/nerd-legion-skeleton-crew-ep-1-watch-along-audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive into the latest episode of Nerd Legion as MonteCristo and DoA break down Max's surprisingly compelling Batman spinoff, "The Penguin"! Join us as we spotlight the incredible performances from Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, and explore the film's complex themes found in classic mafia tales. We'll discuss how "The Penguin" refreshingly reimagines Oz as a captivating villain, offering viewers a unique perspective. Don't miss out on this deep dive into the world of Gotham's underbelly and see why this spinoff deserves a watch! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Nerd Legion! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/nerdlegion Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We review the final episodes of Arcane Season 2! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode!Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code NL for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A long-awaited anime adaptation of Junji Ito's manga Uzumaki has finally arrived, but unfortunately with uneven results. Commissioned by Cartoon Network for Adult Swim, Uzumaki suffered serious delays in production and drama with the directors and animation studios. While the art style accurately reflects Ito's original work, the animation beyond the first episode leaves much to be desired and leads to some sequences being goofy instead of scary. For a show that took five years to release just four episodes, only the first one shows the love and care fans expected when viewing the trailers and teaser materials. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive into the thrilling world of Arcane Season 2 in our latest review! Join MonteCristo and DoA as they break down the first batch of episodes, scrutinizing the stunning animation and exploring the hefty budget that brought this masterpiece to life. With their extensive history with League of Legends, these veteran hosts uncover the driving forces behind the show's success while tackling the biggest unsolved mystery lurking in Runeterra! Don't miss a minute of their expert insights! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for an in-depth exploration as MonteCristo and DoA break down Netflix's "Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance" in this episode of Nerd Legion! Join the duo as they dive into the expansive Gundam universe, dissecting the unexpected portrayal of iconic mechas and the show's narrative twists. While the review touches on some captivating elements, the duo won't shy away from critiquing the not-so-great animation that left fans wanting more. Perfect for both seasoned Gundam lovers and newbies, this review is packed with insights. Don't miss out; tune in now and add your thoughts in the comments! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dense, enigmatic, and bombastic epic, John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur brings the Arthurian romances to life in all their symbolic glory. Featuring a stellar cast, including Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Ciarán Hinds, and Gabriel Byrne, the film is an opportunity to see many lauded British and Irish actors early in their careers. Excalibur leans into the episodic and mysterious nature of the Arthurian stories, leaving it to the viewer to interpret and understand the events unfolding on screen. The film also provides a visual feast with amazing costuming, epic set-pieces, and stunning cinematography, all of which add to its larger than life feel. While challenging and, at times, confusing, Excalibur holds up well in the modern day and its ambition is second-to-none. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clash of the Titans continues Nerd Legion's 1980s fantasy marathon, taking us into Greek mythology (kind of) with Perseus' battles against Medusa and the Kraken. While straying very far from its source material, the film gave us Ray Harryhausen's last crack at stop-motion and effects wizardry as a capstone to a multi-decade career in Hollywood. Maggie Smith and Lawrence Olivier also add some dramatic weight as Greek gods to counter-balance the action sequences of Harry Hamlin's Perseus. A little bit silly, but still compelling, Clash of the Titans remains a fantasy classic and a must-watch for fans of the genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beloved by many who saw it in their childhoods, the Rankin/Bass musical interpretation of the Return of the King from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic is Nerd Legion's next film in the 1980s fantasy film marathon. Featuring music from folk legend Glenn Yarbrough and narration from the incomparable John Huston, this film represents a serious if flawed attempt to realize this iconic book. From disco orcs to a Skeletor-sounding Witch King, this interpretation of Return of the King is as silly as it is memorable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We kick off our review of every 1980s sword and sorcery movie, with Hawk the Slayer, a cult-classic British fantasy film directed by Terry Marcel from 1980. With charmingly terrible dialogue and special effects, this movie provides an unabashed good time with cheesy and tropey moments. Clearly inspired and derivative of Star Wars and pulp fantasy of the era, Hawk the Slayer still provides some unique moments and solid pacing. While no masterpiece, viewers should still find this film to be an incredibly fun viewing experience filled with lords of the dance, fully automatic crossbows, and glowing bouncy ball magic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warcraft is a 2016 action fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name. Director Duncan Jones attempts to adapt the story from the very first Warcraft game, and ends up creating a tonally confusing film that can't decide who its target audience is. We praise most of the effects and some of the film's comedic moments, but pan the fight choreography, poor writing, and several other key aspects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alien: Romulus is the latest installment of the Alien franchise, stretching back to Ridley Scott's original sci-fi horror flick from 1979. Taking place between Alien and James Cameron's sequel, Aliens, this film takes the franchise into the teen slasher genre by featuring a young cast and a compelling set-up to their encounter with the xenomorphs. However, once the action starts, Alien: Romulus quickly devolves into the equivalent of a theme park ride of the franchise's first two films, with some bits and pieces of Prometheus thrown in for good measure. Director Fede Álvarez nails the visuals and creates a beautiful, haunting movie, but also presents a story that we've all seen before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deadpool & Wolverine is a blockbuster smash success, now surpassing the billion dollar mark at the box office, but is Ryan Reynolds' latest outing good or just another tedious entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hugh Jackman is resurrected to perform his iconic role as Wolverine in a quippy buddy comedy that may be thin on plot but makes up for it on entertaining action sequences, referential humor, and pure millennial nostalgia bait. Deadpool & Wolverine is a film obsessed with necromancy, but it's fun to see our past brought back from the dead in a gleeful fashion.

The finale of House of the Dragon's second season left many fans disappointed, but was it as anti-climactic as some are saying or is it a slow burn setting up for an epic conclusion? DoA and MonteCristo break down their favorite moments as they review the entirety of Season 2 as well as the scenes and story arcs that failed to deliver. Even without a conclusive battle sequence to close out the final episode, HotD sets up immense stakes in the war between the Greens and the Blacks that we're hopeful will continue to play out well in the third season.

Time Bandits from 1981 is Terry Gilliam's first film after his efforts with Monty Python, announcing the arrival of a wildly creative director striking out in his own direction. While slow and clunky at times, the film retains much of Monty Python's deadpan and surreal humor while offering highly memorable scenes and an utterly unforgettable concept. Monte discusses his nostalgia for Time Bandits while DoA watches with fresh eyes, providing a unique breakdown of this cult classic.

The Boys Season 4 is finished and, unfortunately, hasn't gotten much better since Monte & DoA discussed the first three episodes. The whole season feels like unnecessary filler, particularly with the re-introduction of Soldier Boy in the final moments of the season finale. Hughie's plot armor somehow only gets thicker the longer the show goes on and this season is completely crammed with pointless plotlines from Frenchie to Neuman. The Boys fails to present compelling or funny satire, reaching instead for the low-hanging fruit of modern politics without offering a compelling twist or interesting interpretation.

Star Wars' The Acolyte finishes its first - and hopefully only - season on Disney+ and, unfortunately, ends as badly as it begun. DoA and MonteCristo conduct their final review of the first season, including a live watch along with episode 8. Our hosts are appalled with the recycling of Star Wars tropes within the series, the reliance on deus ex machina to advance plot points, the lack of ability to care about any of the characters, and more. They finish off the episode with some cross over ideas, including cures for Cortosis and a pitch for a new kids comedy movie: The Jedi Trap. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code NERD at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod

Sony's latest disastrous attempt at a superhero film, 2024's Madame Web, is almost unbelievably bad, boring, and poorly acted. Perhaps undermined by significant re-writes and changes in post-production, it's possible that the original vision of the movie may have been of passable quality. MonteCristo and DoA discuss just how awful the film is and debate whether it successfully moves from regular bad to comedically bad and its potential as a cult classic. Nerd Legion debuts a new, segment-based format this week, so let us know what you think!

While many laud the first five seasons of Game of Thrones, can House of the Dragon be held to the same lofty standard at the start of the second season? This show refines its predecessor and provides a sharp and focused narrative on feudal politics and a believable succession crisis within the Targaryen family. Monte and DoA discuss the first season of House of the Dragon and the start of the second, focusing on the intricately-wrought intrigue, the wonderful acting, and the depth of the world of Westeros.

Amazon Prime has released the fourth season of The Boys, which was very quick to un-do almost everything that occurred in the previous season. While the stellar acting, particularly by Antony Starr as Homelander, remains, much of the plot revolves around copy/pasting modern politics into the show without the artfulness or cleverness of satire. While Monte and DoA still enjoy some of the plotlines, particularly around Vought and Neumann, the new story arcs seem lifted from soap operas, such as Frenchie's love affair and Ryan's plight with his father. The result is an uneven series forced to forget almost all the events of Soldier Boy and Temp V in the third season, which makes it an unsatisfying continuation.

Star Wars is back with The Acolyte and the franchise may have finally hit rock bottom. The new show on Disney+ is a nonsensical mess that backfires in its thematic choices and leaves viewers bored and with virtually no characters or plotlines to care about. Monte and DoA break down this televised catastrophe and wonder how Disney managed to collect such a unique combination of terrible writers, actors, and producers to waste $180 million.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga debuted to critical acclaim, but weak box office sales. Monte and DoA discuss George Miller's latest effort and whether it lives up to the Mad Max legacy. With compelling performances from Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, Furiosa continues in the vein of Fury Road with epic chase sequences and further world-building around the Citadel of the film. The question remains: did anyone actually want this prequel or would it have been better to continue where Fury Road left off?

Disney+ has revived the late '90's X-Men animated series with a sequel set in the same era, X-Men '97. Resurrected by pop-culture necromancer Beau Demayo, this series may appeal to millennials desperate for any form of nostaligia, but for the uninitiated it may be jammed with too many subplots and other distractions. While many reviewers are raving about this show, DoA and Monte found the core storypoints and faithfulness to the X-Men universe compelling, but lacked the same enthusiasm for the series as other critics.

40 years after its release, Nerd Legion revisits David Lynch's version of Dune from 1984, which stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides. DoA and Monte discuss the differences between this first attempt to put Dune on film with the recent Denis Villeneuve epic, both appreciating and laughing at some of the decisions made in this interpretation. While perhaps the source material was too challenging for the technological limits of the era, Lynch's Dune still contains some impressive visuals, performance, and an intriguing exploration into the expansion of consciousness.

We return to Shogun on Nerd Legion to give our final review and to discuss the second half of the series, which concludes Toranaga's ambitious character arc. The latter half of the show focuses on the deep political intrigue of feudal Japan and rounds out the character development of John Blackthorne and Mariko, leaving us with a consummate victory before the battle truly begins. This show will go down as an all-time triumph and we beg for it to end here since it's already a complete story. Please do not give us new seasons!

Not simply content with making one terrible Rebel Moon movie, Zack Snyder delivers another via Netflix called Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver. Almost nothing happens in this film as it decides to dedicate its running time to slow motion grain harvesting rather than world-building or character development, leading to some rushed and hilarious moments. Interspersed with occasionally interesting visuals, Rebel Moon ends up being a hybrid of the Seven Samurai and The Canterbury Tales if they were interpreted by an idiot. Watch for laughs only.

Amazon Prime tapped Jonathan Nolan to create an adaptation of the video game property Fallout, which largely succeeds in providing and entertaining expansion of the games' world. Originally created by Bioware and followed-up with titles from Bethesda, Fallout portrays a post-apocalyptic Earth with macabre, dark humor and quirky characters, which the show gleefully portrays. The adaptation even managed to "feel" like a video game at times with side quests and bit characters while also channeling the comedy of some of its writers' former shows, such as Portlandia. Nerd Legion enjoyed Fallout and we're excited to see a continuation of the plot twist in season two!

Made for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, Sunghoo Park's Ninja Kamui breaks no new ground for anime or film/TV shows in general, instead preferring to lean on every trope imaginable. The show uses flashbacks to tell the story in the worst way possible, instead of sequencing the story chronologically, which would have given the story more emotional resonance. Beyond some cool fight sequences, Ninja Kamui offers nothing new and your time can be safely spent watching much better anime that's already been released.

Netflix's adaptation of The Three Body Problem, originally a novel in Chinese by Liu Cixin, provides audiences with a fun, if flawed, hard science-fiction show. Created by D. B. Weiss and David Benioff of Game of Thrones fame, many actors from their previous series also are cast here alongside other sci-fi acting staples. The premise of the show is strong, but some of the character interactions and story arcs come across as quite saccharine or cheesy. We still recommend this show since the fun parts outweigh the drudgery.

Nerd Legion returns to review the new FX television miniseries Shogun, which can be found streaming on Hulu. Based on James' Clavell's 1975 novel and previously filmed in 1980, the new version by creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo provides a spectacular period drama set in feudal Japan. The level of attention to detail in the sets, costumes, and historical accuracy lends the weight of authenticity and pomp befitting of a drama between feudal lords in the 1600s. While outside of Nerd Legion's normal purview of science fiction and fantasy, we heartily recommend Shogun to our fans as an alternate take on Japanese history. Toranaga's machinations are fascinating to follow and we can't wait to watch the rest of the show!

Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two burst onto the screen in 2024 to an excellent reception, and Nerd Legion also gives plaudits to this wonderful film. Monte and DoA have an in-depth discussion on changes from the books, the success of streamlining the story for film, the wonderful casting, and fulfilling character arcs. While Dune Part One may have been a bit rushed and flawed, the second movie dives into the world of the Fremen and is a much more complete thematic exploration that takes time with the central characters. We certainly recommend seeing this film in the theater while you have the opportunity!

Netflix's live-action adaptation of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender has drawn criticism from fans of the original, but still retains much of the magic and excellent world-building that made it great. The wonderous aesthetics and fantastical bending magic translate well into real-world action and the characters come to life with actors who are (mostly) well-cast. The addition of scenes from the Fire Nation shifts some of the character focus in this series and leaves some plot points rushed, ultimately Avatar remains an entertaining experience with significant character development. We recommend the show particularly to people dipping their toes into the world of Avatar for the first time!

Blue Eye Samurai dropped on Netflix in 2023 and became one of our favorites shows of 2023, if not the best show on Nerd Legion thus far. While chock-full of tropes from Tarantino, Zatoichi, Kurosawa, Mulan, and more, the show takes its influences in bold and surprising new directions. Creative duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi have created an animated masterpiece with a compelling main character in Mizu and an exemplary supporting cast. It's well worth anyone's time to watch this gorgeous animated show!

Netflix released Zack Snyder's unique terrible Rebel Moon in 2023, and Monte and DoA are here to tell you exactly how bad it is. The film is derivative of a litany of other science-fiction and fantasy film as well as being a direct rip-off of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. With almost no redeeming qualities, from lackluster world-building, boring characters, poor acting, and an insipid plot, you are well-warned to stay away.

DoA and MonteCristo review the first five episodes of the new AppleTV+ show set in the MonsterVerse, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Starring Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt, who plays the younger version of Kurt, and set in both the modern day and in 1950's flashbacks, the show ultimately disappoints. Perplexingly, the show contains surprisingly few actual monsters and spends an exorbitant amount of time on the psychological woes of its boring characters. Furthermore, Monarch fails to even explain any of the mysteries surrounding its titular organization, leaving viewers bored and with few answers gleaned from five hours of watching this show.