The Nerd Corps

For The Fans…

Posted on October 13, 2019August 30, 2020 by randomgerm101 in Reviews

A Review of EL camino: A breaking bad movie

Another movie this year which I chalked up to being “unnecessary”, but in this instance I still believe that. But, did I watch El Camino the second it dropped on Netflix? As Walter White once proclaimed, “You’re goddamn right.” I guess this review has a hint of spoiler territory if you’ve never seen the original six seasons of Breaking Bad. If this is the case, be sure to stop reading here and go watch the series as it is one of the best television moments to ever grace the airwaves.

When we last left off the story of Jesse Pinkman, he was driving off into the sunset in an El Camino stolen off the once living, meth dealing white supremacists whose corpses now littered the very compound they had been keeping Jesse hostage in. This all of course thanks to Walter White’s last minute heroics which included robots and a fully automatic machine gun (Seriously to all the readers, go watch Breaking Bad). Anyways, to me this was the perfect send off to a beloved character who was only supposed to get a very short episode arc, but due to Aaron Paul’s prodigious performance, he became the Oliver Hardy to Bryan Cranston’s Stan Laurel. This ending sees Jesse burst through the locked gate of his previous forced residence as we get a close-up to his face both laughing manically while crying tears of relief and delirium. It left all viewers who watched with the idea that Jesse, a character who had gone through hell during this last season, would have a happily ever-after. Vince Gilligan had capped off one of his greatest achievements with an ending that left most, if not all fans, satisfied.

A little more than six years later we get El Camino, whose existence is more of a love letter from Gilligan to the fans. Was it necessary? Far from it. Was it satisfying? Oh, hell yeah it was. The story starts right at the very ending of Breaking Bad and doesn’t slow down. We find that not all stories are straight forward and sometimes our characters go from the frying pan and into the fire. Fans of Breaking Bad will not lose that feeling of satisfaction by the end of this movie, but will have more details to go with it.

Seeing Aaron Paul back as his titular character is refreshing and getting call backs to conversations he had with his past castmates from Jonathan Banks to Bryan Cranston made me nostalgic for the series. Two characters whose portrayals must be recognized are that of Todd Alquist, played by Jesse Plemons, and Ed Galbraith, played by the now late Robert Forster (who passed away, the same day the movie was released, at the age of 78). These two characters help to provide the details of Jesse’s past and move the story forward into his future. All I can say is that it is a must to have the exact change when purchasing a vacuum.

Can a two hour movie provide the same quality as six seasons? No, but Vince Gilligan has penned a love letter to the fans that allows us to see some of our favorite characters one more time. For that, I am giving El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie a 9.25/10. YoungYoda out.

This Week on The Nerd Corps Podcast Feed (September 30th – October 6th)

Posted on October 7, 2019August 10, 2021 by The Nerd Corps in Uncategorized

Wondering how our week went? Look no further than this week on the podcast feed! As always click those sweet edits made by YoungYoda to check these episodes out.

High Flyer Radio #1: AEW Dynamite Preview

We opened the week hot with the debut of our new pro wrestling podcast, “High Flyer Radio.” The hosts introduced the show and gave their thoughts on the AEW Dynamite premiere before its debut!

The Nerd Corps Podcast #279: Not Fun. So Done.

We kicked off Horror Film Month with our amazing guests Ayden and Leah by watching Brad’s first pick which ended up being a complete and total disaster of a movie.

Unstructured With YoungYoda #9: Shook Ones

Unstructured is literally unstructured this week as YoungYoda talks about Kevin Smith’s “Not Ones.”

The Impaired Files #13: Robert Butler III

Raul was joined by RB3 as they discuss RB3’s love of movies and what set him on his path as a filmmaker.

The Gamer Corps #59: Diversify Your Grind

The nerds go deep into a conversation on whether Bungie needs to concentrate on making a new non Destiny game, and Raul also opened the wrong link in this episode a couple of times.

The Nerd Corps Podcast #280: Confusing & Unsatisfying

Claire joins the nerds again this week to review Millennium Actress and she vents her frustration with the film and her overall confusion.

The Nerdy Chicano Show #45: Love For Our People

Luis watched Joker, shenanigans, and a lot of nonsense. It’s pretty much what you would expect from an episode of The Nerdy Chicano Show.

I Exist.

Posted on October 5, 2019August 30, 2020 by randomgerm101 in Reviews

A Non-spoiler review of joker

If life is a comedy, then for Arthur Fleck, no one is laughing. Though I’ve thrown out words to describe this movie previously, such as “unnecessary” or even to go as far as saying “a money grab” I must now eat them with a side of humble pie. Though there is no absolute Joker origin story, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix have crafted an unsettling look into madness and what could have easily caused the Clown Prince of Gotham to put on the face paint. No, it wasn’t falling into a vat of chemicals or facial scars that created this Joker, but rather governmental budget cuts and an uncaring society who looked the other way time and again. Joker is eerily realistic in its portrayal of violence which can cause an anxiousness few films could ever attain (Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade being one of those…minus the violence of course). This movie does not shy away on its social commentary either, putting modern society’s gun violence, lack of attention and facilities for those with mental illnesses, and the widening wage gap right in our faces. For a movie about a clown there are no gags, few puns, but just raw manic emotion which will make all audiences wonder, “Where does Joaquin Phoenix go from here?” as he leaves it all on the screen. So, let’s all put on a happy face and be glad DC finally decided to take a risk and birthed a classic. YoungYoda out.

Ad Astra, A Psychological Melodrama That Shoots Beyond the Stars

Posted on October 1, 2019August 30, 2020 by Raúl Alejandro Mendoza in Reviews

Ad Astra is a riveting melancholic experience through the void of space as Brad Pitt maneuvers the void not just outside of his ship but in his mind too.

CREDIT: Francois Duhamel/20th Century Fox

In his newest directorial effort since 2016, James Gray ventures into the corners of a man’s psyche as he deals with his mission to rescue his absent father portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. Brad Pitt plays the main character, Major Roy McBride who is contacted to go and rescue his father who is in the remnants of the “Lima Project.” Now why is this so important? Well, as it seems these surges threatening the Solar System seem to be coming from around that area. After learning about the truth of the history of the project, Major McBride decides that he is the only one who can go for his father.

If you are walking into this film expecting a spectacle like Gravity, Interstellar, or 2001: A Space Odyssey then you are walking into a completely different film from those three. James Gray constructs a film where the characters are at the forefront and the void of space is the backdrop. This distant void is what allows for Major McBride to explore the various feelings that are going through his head as he reaches closer and closer to his father. I am a huge fan of Brad Pitt’s performance in this film that with every word spoken there is an underlying sense of melancholy to Major McBride, and once he does get to his father the both of them work so well off each other.

An aspect of this film that is so interesting is the commercialization of space travel which is an aspect about space colonization that has not been explored. It really gets the mind thinking that maybe this is the most accurate possibility of how space travel will work. Maybe once we colonize the Moon we will throw a McDonald’s up there, and at least the zero gravity will cut construction costs for a play area. Other than the incredible performance, writing, and direction the cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema is incredible and I feel like that statement inside of itself is an understatement. I was so blown away by this aspect that I am throwing a lock in for Oscar nominations and Hoyte Van Hoytema will one hundred and ten percent will be nominated for this picture.

Ad Astra is my favorite movie of this year so far and have not been this surprised by a film since 2018’s Hereditary. If you are looking for an incredible psychological space venture then this is the film to see this weekend.

“It’s a good lie.”

Posted on September 19, 2019August 30, 2020 by randomgerm101 in Reviews

A Review of the farewell

This may be the most difficult review I will ever have to write for a movie. Lulu Wang has created art which crosses all thresholds and is relatable to any audience. The Farewell is masterful in dredging up familiar moments. Moments which include the happiness of family gatherings to the horrible, gut-churning acceptance of a reality where cancer may soon take your patriarch.

Its portrayals of the ridiculousness of how families deal with both marriage and death are both different yet recognizable. Even though this family is predominately of Chinese origins, any race or culture can understand and appreciate the events happening on the screen in their own lives. Even the dinner scenes have those similar bickering moments between relatives we’ve all had to be witness to. This is a film whose emotional connection to its audience may be unmatched by any film which has ever come before it (and I do not say this lightly).

The superb casting works hand in hand with the script to create a family unit that comes across as being real and not one haphazardly thrown together to be portrayed on the big screen. I would be very surprised and disappointed if Awkwafina does not garner a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her portrayal of Billi, the somewhat somber and cynical grandchild of the bubbly and full of life (and also unfortunately cancer) Nai Nai, played by Zhao Shuzhen. The supporting cast also help to carry the burden of Nai Nai’s cancer (as they refuse to tell her as to not scare her to an earlier grave) throughout the film. Their interactions help show every side of a family trying to deal with the ever-looming presence of death including humor, guilt, and heartbreak.

The vulnerability presented in The Farewell is as unnerving as it is beautiful. This along with the ending scene, which is almost a guarantee to elicit the waterworks, is why I am calling this the best film of the year and it is only September. 10/10 long cries. YoungYoda out.

(P.S. This review is purposely short as words are difficult when it comes to the emotional intensity of this film. My suggestion is to go watch it and understand where I’m coming from. Much love.)