Ty Watches "Barbie"

Now that I am done with the football talk I want to get to some things that I have seen or done or listened to the past couple weeks and have been waiting to tell you all about. The first thing I want to talk about is "Barbie".

Me, my wife and kids all finally went to see the movie two Sundays ago. I have been pestering my wife to see it and told her the kids should come. The movie is a phenomenon and I felt like it would benefit the kids to see it. They had typical reactions. My son, who is 11 and focused solely on sports said it was a "6 out of 10". My daughter loved the colors and seeing Barbieland, but when it got to the more serious stuff she was not interested. My wife and I absolutely loved the movie. I mentioned on the podcast last week how much I adore this movie. I fully believe it is going to go down as one of the best, and most impactful movies to ever come out.

"Barbie" tells a great story about acceptance and being okay with who you are and how it is fine to be sad sometimes and that everything is never going to be as perfect as one may want their lives to be. I was moved by this movie. I laughed harder at this movie than some of my favorite comedies of all time. The imagery was astounding and cool. They used old style techniques and made them modern day. It was highly impressive. And the acting was superb. Margot Robbie knocked it completely out of the park. She was fully engrossed in this role and gave it her all. She played funny and heartbroken to perfection. She blew me away. Ryan Gosling was what I imagine Ken would be like if the doll came to life. I fully believed he was Ken. It was terrific. He was the funniest person in this whole movie. America Ferrera spoke for all of us in our early 40's and how tough life can be with kids nowadays, especially kids with an opinion. Ferrera is wildly underrated and this role should push her to the fame she deserves. Even the smaller roles, those were nailed. Michael Cera as Allan was my favorite. Issa Rae as president Barbie was pitch perfect. Will Ferrell as Mattel CEO was spot on. Simu Liu as a rival Ken was the best foil you could want for Gosling's Ken. Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie was an example of how great a comedic actor McKinnon is. I was blown away by everyone. To see all the Barbies and Kens, that was quite a feat.

What got me most was Greta Gerwig's directing and her and Noah Baumbach's script. The directing was second to none. Gerwig controlled every aspect of these super talented actors and pulled the best out of them. To get drama and comedy the way she did, that work should not be overlooked. She should be the odds on favorite at the Oscars for best director. There should be no question. The script was even better than the directing. Gerwig and Baumbach told a relatable, real life story using Barbie and Ken dolls. They found a way to make a real life story out of dolls. There were moments in this script that were the best of the best. The way they tackled the stupidity of the patriarchy to Barbie dealing with an existential crisis to America Ferrera dealing with her daughter growing up and being over Barbie, it all worked. I bought it all and wanted more and more.

This is one of the rare perfect movies. I cannot find a flaw anywhere. Any early skepticism I had was instantly erased. I cannot recommend this movie enough. I think everyone should see it. It is a feat that will not be met for a very long time. "Barbie" is destined to become a classic and I am stoked that I saw it in a packed theater during week four of its release. What an accomplishment. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Twisted Metal"

After returning from vacation I decided that I am going to get caught up on some tv that I want to see. The first show I am going to watch is "Twisted Metal". I have watched the first three episodes before writing this. Let’s discuss.

I heard about the show from a bunch of different podcasts that I listened to. Shaun Diston mentioned it on a few of his shows, Ify Nwadiwe mentioned it on an appearance of "CBB" and Mike Mitchell was tooting its horn, before the writers and actors strike, on "Doughboys". I was primed to watch the show. I even tried while on vacation, but it was a hard sell for my family. So I waited and started yesterday.

This show is wild. It is at times funny, gory, violent and heartfelt. This show is really trying to have it all, and for me, so far it's working. I'm all in. I am very invested so far. I like the story. I guess it is based on a video game that I have heard of but never played. I didn't even know what the game was about until I read about the show. The short story is that a catastrophic event happened in 2002 that messed up all the computers in the world. Cities blocked themselves off and let the criminals run wild in the open. There are delivery drivers, called milkmen, that bring stuff to the walled off cities, but on the way they encounter some undesirable bad guys and girls. Anthony Mackie plays the main milkman in the show. He is hilarious. I really enjoy the comedy he brings to this role. He is funny, motor mouthed and always finding some way to use his charm to get out of trouble. Stephanie Beatriz plays a loner who loses her brother and is now on a quest to avenge him and live in peace. Thomas Haden Church is a bad cop who is out to hurt anyone he deems is "breaking the law". He is a very, very bad guy. Neve Campbell is the leader of New San Francisco, and she has some kind of ulterior motives with Mackie's character. Mike Mitchell and Tahj Vaughans are two guys who are about to get eaten, but are busted out by the nefarious police officers and are recruited to become officers themselves. One is into it, the other, not so much.

The best part of the show so far for me has been Sweet Tooth, the evil clown that runs Las Vegas. Sweet Tooth is also played by two people. Will Arnett does his voice, and this is such a perfect move for him. He has such a cool and distinguishable voice, and getting to play an insane clown suits him well. Pro wrestler Samoa Joe plays the person behind the clown mask, and that is a match made in tv perfection. He is a big dude, his body looks like it would survive an apocalyptic event and he can kick some ass. I'm usually terrified of clowns, and this one is very frightening, but the way they are having this character come to life is so funny that I can get past my fear.

I have been enjoying what I have seen so far. I am not going to binge it because I want to take it in slowly. I think I will do a few episodes a day, when I have the time to watch, so I can really let it sink in. I definitely recommend the show. For people like me, who do not know the video game, it is kind of perfect. I'd be curious what the players of the game think, but I'm in. I like it. I will be watching it all. I suggest you do the same. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Muscles and Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators"

Yesterday I finished the Netflix mini series , "Muscles and Mayhem". This five episode series is about the rise and fall of the excellent gameshow, "American Gladiators".

I loved this show as a kid. RD and I have mentioned the show many times on the podcast. I was hooked. I would watch every morning in the summer before heading out to hang with my friends. I craved this show. I loved the competition, the personalities and watching the wild and crazy games they created. "Muscles and Mayhem" goes very in depth about all of this, and so, so much more.

The series starts out introducing the viewer to the very early days of this show and just how out there this idea was. There were injuries, long set changes, crowds getting bored waiting, gladiators coming and going, all kinds of issues. But when they brought on the right people, the show thrived. The behind the scenes stories of the people behind the show, that was fascinating. There were some certified weirdos who made "American Gladiators" one of the top shows on TV in the early 90's. There were a bunch of smart people who knew what they were doing as well.

The show, as expected, spent most of its time talking to the former gladiators. This was very eye opening. This was something I'm glad 40 year old me watched. They talked sex, drugs, alcohol, steroids, HGH, sexuality, it was all there and all done very well I thought. I like hearing all the real stories from the real people behind it all. It is always good to get their side because they lived it. The way they went into steroid use was fascinating and very eye opening. I mean, we all knew they were using steroids, but to hear how they got them, how they hid it, how the network and sponsors dealt with it, that is the stuff I like when I watch docu series like these. I also liked to hear about the dating, or attempts to date, that each gladiator had with one another. I enjoyed seeing what they did when they tried to venture out from the world of "American Gladiators". It was great to see some of the original people fight for what they thought was rightfully theirs when it came to merchandising and the like. It was great to hear how the gladiators were raised, where they came from and how they ended up on that show. I liked seeing some of the gladiators I forgot about and remembering them for some of the wild stuff they did. I totally forgot about the live tour they went on. To see that come to fruition, and to see the behind the scenes stuff on the bus, that was some of the better content this whole series had. It was nice to meet some of the competitors and to hear their stories of how they ended up on the show and what it was like while there. I was also very pleased to see what they are all up to now, both competitors and gladiators.

This series felt like it was made for someone like me. I am very happy my dad told me about this and showed me some of the show when I was hanging out with him the other day. I cannot recommend this series enough, especially for people who watched this show when they were younger. It is an excellent watch. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Outlaws"

Since my daughter had her sleepover on Friday night we pushed our date night to Saturday. It was my wife's turn to pick the movie and she chose "The Outlaws".

This is a newer movie on Netflix. I had heard of it because I am a big "Workaholics" fan and I listen to "This Is Important" every week. Adam Devine, as expected, was promoting the hell out of the movie. I read some reviews that weren't too kind, but that stuff doesn't really push me either way. If I want to watch a movie, or my wife wants to watch a movie, we usually watch it together. We will decide for ourselves if it is a good movie or not, but more importantly, if we like it or not.

On the surface "The Outlaws" wasn't the best movie I have ever seen, nor was it the worst. I felt the critics' reviews that I read were a little too harsh. This wasn't a movie trying to send a message or give you hope or optimism or make a statement. The movie was clearly made to have fun and hopefully make a little money. Adam Devine is the lead and I feel like critics simply like to slam him. He seems like an easy mark for critics. But the guy is clearly having a great time making this movie and this role is in his wheelhouse. He is really good at playing these put upon dudes that just want to have fun in life. He really embraces that part and that is not different here. Nina Dobrev, while not the best actor, does a fine job in this movie. She doesn't get to do much, but she does just fine with the little bit she is given. Blake Anderson is in here for a minute and he is very funny. Richard Kind and Julie Hagerty play Devine's parents and they are both hilarious. They made me laugh more than anyone in this movie. Lil Rel Howery and Laci Mosley are Devine's co workers and they both play very well off one another and they are making jokes seemingly every second. Some land some don't, but you never know what works if you don't take the chance. Dean Winters has a bit part and is okay. Lauren Lapkus would have been better served with a bigger role, but she nails the comedy in her few scenes.

The best part of this okay movie was Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan. They are Dobrev's folks. They don't come around much. But they want to be at the wedding. Or so they say. They are really big deal bank robbers and they rob the bank that Devine is the manager for. They do this to help their daughter, but they also owe a debt to the villain, very well played by Poorna Jagannathan. She was probably the best part of the movie if I sit and think about it. Brosnan and Barkin really nail the comedy, the action and the puts and falls of being lifetime criminals. Brosnan is a pro. I expect nothing less from him. I haven't seen Barkin in a while, but she was more than up to task for this role.

"The Outlaws" isn't going to win any awards. I don't think that was the goal. But this is an entertaining enough 90 minutes. I was never bored. I laughed. Sure there were some clear issues, but I was never taken out of the moment by said issues. It is a fine movie that is kind of perfect to have on in the background. It did the job. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty (and His Kids) Watches "Elemental"

Over the weekend my daughter had a sleepover and we took her and her friend to see "Elemental". My wife and son joined us as well. Let’s discuss.

All in all I thought the movie was a decent allegory to the life of an immigrant. The writer of the movie pretty much said that was the story of his folks coming to America. I really liked the animation. The fire looked very cool. I loved how the water could shape into whatever form it needed. The forest people were very neat. It was a very well done, straight down the middle fastball from Pixar. There was some stuff I would have liked to see a bit more of, like the forest people, or get a more in depth view of the city they built, but nonetheless, it was a well made movie. I enjoyed it. But what I want to do today, for a longer review of this movie, is get my kids, one 11, a boy, and the other 7, a girl, to tell me what they thought and I will transcribe it as best I can from a kids point of view.

I'll start with my son.

I gave him the simple task of giving me a few sentences on what he liked and disliked about the movie. He isn't much for words if it isn't involving sports, so let's see where this takes us. First off he told me that he thinks kids will enjoy this movie much more than adults. I pushed and asked why. He told me that the story is much more geared towards kids. I kind of disagree though. I think the whole idea of immigration knows no age or class or society types. But this is his opinion. He said the characters are good. I pushed some more. He said they acted like adults, like it wasn't kids trying to take over business and continue the family legacy. He thought that was the best way to represent his idea of what this movie was supposed to be about. Finally he said, the ending was good. This will be spoiler free. He liked that it ended a movie he liked very well. He enjoyed what they did with the characters. He liked the way the story concluded. That I fully agree with.

Now for my daughter.

I gave her the same task, two or three sentences about the movie. She said she liked it a decent amount. It isn't the best she's seen, but not the worst either. She said it was a funny movie. She thought the water guy, when he squeezed himself out of a drain, looked all muscular, but that was wrong. He looked like a regular guy when he was back to his normal self. I agree that was a very funny part. I know I laughed. She did not like the sad parts of the movie. This is a typical thing in Pixar movies. They do stuff that really pulls at the heartstrings. I think they do this for adults, but kids are intuitive and my daughter picked up on that quickly. She did not cry, neither did her friend or my son, but my wife cried and I got choked up. I get they kind of have to do this, but it doesn't make it any less sad. She did however find it funny that the water family was always crying. This was another solid joke in the movie. The water people always had water flowing everywhere, and the eyes were a prime area for the animators. It was a well done joke throughout, and it worked with the sad parts too. T

hat is what my kids thought, in a very short, general way. I think it is good to get perspective from the age these movies are really trying to win over. I don't know that I will watch this movie again, I did enjoy it, but I bet my kids will watch it again, especially my 7 year old. I think this is a movie she will dig for a long while. We might just have to fast forward the sad parts. I'm cool with that. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Jury Duty"

Last night my wife and I finished "Jury Duty". I'm not going to say season one because I truly believe there is no way they can pull this off again. "Jury Duty" centers around one person, Ronald, who thinks he is going to be in a documentary about what it is like to be on a jury. What he doesn't know is that everyone else involved is an actor, and I mean everyone else. Every other person is a working actor, and they are all playing a character. Even James Marsden. Marsden plays a hyperized version of himself. To watch this show, to see how they pulled this off, to ask why Ronald never questioned anything, I was in awe.

Let me put this out here right now, this show was excellent. I will for sure be watching it again. I am endlessly fascinated that they pulled this elaborate prank off. This should go down in the record books. It was amazing. I loved how each juror that wasn't Ronald had some kind of backstory. Ken was from another land trying to figure stuff out. Todd was a tech geek who just needed a friend. Barb was an older lady who loved edibles. Vanessa was a true crime fan who thought the case was boring. Ross was the cool high school teacher that everyone loved. Pat was the gruff working man. Ravi was a secret genius. Noah was in over his head and just wanted a girlfriend. Jenine was down for anything. Inez wanted to be the leader but couldn't quite get it all together. Lonnie was the extra juror thrust into action. And all of these people were actors. None of them were these people they were portraying.

All along though, Ronald did his work and made friends and had fun. He had many opportunities to call this all out, even making comments about how it felt like a reality show, but never wavered. When thrust into a leadership role he didn't want, he ran with it. James Marsden wanted to run lines for a fake movie role, Ronald was his guy. Noah needed a wingman, Ronald was there. The judge told him to get the other jurors to shape up, he made sure he did it. Lonnie needed a confidant, Ronald was his guy. He could have said mean stuff, he could have talked behind people's backs, but he never did. There were multiple times when I would say to my wife, "there are still good, genuine people out there". His kindness, his sincerity, it was such a breath of fresh air. Through every twist and turn, Ronald kept plugging away and helping out anyway he could. It was remarkable. I am not going to spoil the ending, I will just say it was moving and Ronald got a nice prize. And the last episode made my wife tear up.

This was such a lightning in a bottle idea and it worked. I don't want them to do it again because it won't carry the same weight that it did the first time around. There are other prank shows, like "Joe Millionaire" or "The Joe Schmo Show", that had great first seasons, but messed it up by trying to do it again. I hope "Jury Duty" is one and done. They gave us eight incredible episodes that will stay with me a long, long time. If you have not watched this show yet do yourself a favor and check it out. It is one of the better things on tv right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Renfield"

Over the weekend my wife and I watched "Renfield". I had wanted to see this movie in the theater, but never made it out. I also saw that the reviews were kind of tepid and that kept me home. I figured it would be streaming sometime soon, and lucky for me, Peacock had it exclusively. I guess I could have gotten it on Prime, but I would have had to pay. So I am glad that we have Peacock for reasons like this. When I told my wife what we were going to watch, she got excited as well. We both wanted to watch it, so we used our date night.

I have to say, I loved this movie. It was gory, funny, has an excellent cast and was a blast. I enjoyed every minute of this movie. I was on board from the start and that never wavered for me. I believe my wife felt the same. For people that may not know, "Renfield" stars Nicolas Cage as Dracula, a role he was born to play, and Nicolaus Holt is his familiar, Renfield.

The short synopsis is, the movie takes place from Renfield's point of view. It shows what he has to do, how he became a familiar and how he is in a codependent, toxic relationship. They even go as far as to put Renfield in a support group for people in his position. The movie uses that plot line and then goes kind of nuts with all the other stuff. I appreciated the fact that they used a different tact to show the relationship of Dracula and a familiar. I was on board with the telling. And Cage and Holt were fully bought in. They were giving it their all. Holt was exceptional. He plays this put upon, dorky, quiet guy very well. I bought him. I rooted for him. I wanted him to get out of this toxic relationship. It was a fine acting job. Cage, as I stated before, felt born to play this role. We all know Cage as the guy he is now. He is over the top and he doesn't hide that. He goes for it in any role he takes on. And he seems to be having the time of his life here. I read about all the research and people he based his character off of and it makes me like his performance even more. This is perfect for him.

The cast outside these two is pretty wonderful. Ben Schwartz plays a mob kid and he goes for it. I'm used to seeing him play odd, funny people. Here he gets to do goofy stuff, but he also has some more action style moments, and he does a good job. Shohreh Aghdashloo plays the mob boss. She is Schwartz' mom and she has one of the coolest voices I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Awkwafina is a cop who is out there fighting for what is right. I mentioned during the movie that I love this career arc for her. She is a very solid actor and I like that she is doing movies like this, then doing a great tv show and then showing up in Marvel movies. She's more than earned this. Brandon Scott Jones, who is having a moment as well, is the leader of the support group and he is funny and uplifting in this role. They did a great job of casting this movie.

The movie is also very gory, but it is almost cartoonish gore. It didn't make me queasy or anything. It actually made me laugh. And, outside of the toxic relationship stuff, I liked learning about Renfield's past. Awkwafina had a good backstory and I bought why she was so frustrated. Cage crushed. Schwartz did a good job being this, essentially, a nepo baby. The writers had fun. The director did a fine job. They didn't take themselves too seriously, and that is why this movie works for me.

While not as good at telling a vampire story like "What We Do in the Shadows" does, I'd much rather watch "Renfield" before I turn on a "Twilight" movie or watch one of those brooding vampire shows or movies. "Renfield" is a well done horror comedy that I will definitely watch again. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "The Bear" Season 2

Last year I was late to the scene on the tv show "The Bear". But when I found it, I devoured it. The show is one of the better shows currently streaming. I remember seeing it was eight episodes, so that meant four, maybe five days to finish. I watched it all in two days. I wanted more and after each episode, and with it all dropping on one day, that made it easier to watch more. So when they announced a second season I was excited. And hesitant. Sometimes these shows cannot duplicate the success of the first season. They have the "sophomore slump". It doesn't have the same feel as the first. All of this and many more contribute to these shows falling off.

Well, four episodes into the new season I can tell you that "The Bear" season 2 is as good as season 1. The show captures the same feeling. I get the same vibes. The actors, writers and creators have the same push and will to make the show great. They are all working their butts off and it shows. The second season picks up with the crew beginning to open the new restaurant. And it is as chaotic as everything in season 1. The show is fast paced, yet each episode tells a great story, sometimes two. Four episodes in and I have met Syndney's dad, been to Denmark with Marcus, met one of Carmy's old high school friends, seen Rich trying to be a better dad and person, watched Nat admit to being pregnant, seen Tina and Ebraheim attend culinary school and watched Neil and crew have fights over mold and rebuilding. Again, that is just four episodes in. So far my favorite half an hour has been in Denmark. Marcus is sent there to work with a pastry wiz, played by Will Poulter, and it is an excellent episode, with some of the coolest visuals I have seen on TV. The food looks amazing. The scenery is second to none. The houseboat is rad. Seeing Marcus help an injured bike rider was moving. Him dealing with his sick mom was relatable. It is a wonderful viewing. I cannot recommend it enough. But each episode so far has had its great moments. Seeing Richie talk to Carmy in the first episode about trying to be a better person is moving as hell. Watching Carmy, Sydney and Nat talk to Oliver Platt about being business partners is nerve wracking. Seeing Carmy and Sydney cook together is amazing. I wanted to eat all the food that Sydney was eating when trying to get a better handle on what to make. I also loved seeing her talk to each restaurant owner and employees about how they became successful. That was eye opening. Seeing Nat come on as project manager gives Abby Elliot so much more to do and uses her talents to perfection. Watching Richie talk to his daughter about becoming a better father was touching. This show gets it. Even Carmy running into an old high school chum was relatable. I love the scene between the two of them when she reveals she knows the name of his new restaurant.

"The Bear" is right up there with "Black Mirror" for great television. The people who work on these shows understand the assignment and they all nail it. If you are not watching this show, remedy that right now and do yourself a favor. It is a pure delight. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "The Super Mario Bros Movie"

Yesterday I watched "The Super Mario Bros Movie" with my son. He had already seen it, but he said he would watch it with me again. He liked it the first time around, but he did have some critiques. I think he wanted a second viewing to get a good grip on how he felt. He loved it this time around. I thought the movie was fine, but I was lost from time to time.

I'm not a gamer, as you all know. I used to try and play "Mario", but being the youngest of four boys I barely got to touch our Nintendo. I would go to my friends' houses who had Nintendo's, but we barely ever played. We would play "NBA Jam" or go outside and play sports. I even tried "Mario Odyssey" when my son first got his Switch, but I am no good at role player games and I gave up on it quickly. I say all this to say, there are a TON of inside jokes in this movie that flew way over my head. My son is 11 and he knew what they were talking about. That was good for me because if a joke flew over my head, he would explain it to me. It was a reverse of how we usually watch shows and movies. But it was nice to have most of this stuff explained to me. While asking all these questions, I would miss plot points or seemingly important story arcs in the movie. I was finding myself confused at times. I would have to rewind, which frustrated my son. After about 30 minutes I promised him no more messing with the movie. I was just going to go with the flow. A lot of stuff cruised right by me. But I did find myself enjoying bits and pieces.

The movie looks cool. Illumination did the movie, and it has that "Minions" look. I enjoy the little I have seen of "The Minions", so this animation was nice and familiar for me. I also thought it was very colorful and pretty. The mushroom kingdom looked spectacular. Bowser's spot was as creepy as it should be for a kids movie. Even the world before they go into the game looked good. I also liked the whole plot of Mario getting sucked into the mushroom kingdom and Luigi going into Bowser's spot. That made for a fast paced movie. That was also great. This movie is 88 minutes long. That is perfect. I very much like it when modern movies are 90 minutes or less. That is the best amount of time. I also thought the voice actors did a fine job. I know people were up in arms about Chris Pratt being cast as Mario. I'm not a fan of his generally, but he was solid here. Anna Taylor Joy was excellent as Princess Peach. Charlie Day crushed as Luigi. Keegan Michael-Key was great as one of the Toads. But they all paled in comparison to Jack Black. Casting him as Bowser was a stroke of genius. He was more than game and he was the best part about this movie by a wide margin. And "Peaches" is a legit good song. The two times they played it in the movie I found myself humming along.

I do think not knowing the lore took away a bit. Me not picking up on certain jokes and missing story points hurt a bit. Having to constantly ask my son who or what certain stuff was hurt a bit. And me not being a gamer definitely took away. The movie is fine though. I texted a buddy of mine who was curious of my thoughts and I told him what I am telling you all right now. He went so far as to say he didn't think it would move me. He was right. I think fans of the video game will really enjoy this movie. It feels like it was made specifically for them. And kids will enjoy it too. I'd go ahead and recommend it, but it is a soft recommendation from me.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches the New "Clone High"

Back in 2003, while living with RD in a townhouse, I stumbled upon a show called "Clone High". I didn't think much of it at the time, but it very quickly grew on me. I loved the show. I watched each week. I had to see it. It was a TV show on MTV that felt worth my time. When it was canceled after one, 13 episode season, I was bummed out. I thought the show could use more time. I thought it was going into more promising territory. I started to care about cartoon characters and their story arcs. But in an instant it was gone. There were always rumors that it may come back, but I never fully bought in.

The show was created by Lord and Miller, and they have clearly moved on to bigger things. But the show did come back. They officially announced it awhile back and I was amped. But then I kind of forgot that it was coming back. With HBO Max switching over to Max and announcing a ton of canceled shows, I just assumed "Clone High" would not be made. But it is back and I am loving it as much as I did before.

So far I have watched the first four episodes and I cannot get enough. It still has the feel of the original show. Everyone is back, except for Gandhi, and they have added new people. Gandhi was, quite possibly, the best part of the show, and I do not know why he isn't back, but the transition has been pretty seamless. Abe, Joan, JFK and Cleopatra are back. So is Professor Scudworth and his trusty robot assistant. They have added another evil shadow government villain, and a good amount of new students. Harriet Tubman, Frida Kahlo, Christopher Columbus and Confucius are here, and I have enjoyed all of them so far. They also have most of the original voice cast, and the actors cast to voice the new characters are great as well. I really like how they did the new premiere too, thawing out the old students and just setting them down at Clone High in 2023. I like how the show is taking on cancel culture and male toxicity. I have read that some people are calling the show "woke" and opining for"the good old days when you could tell real jokes' '. I hope those people realize that, in the second episode, they are who Topher Bus is being. He is a little shit online and hides behind a screen name. That is how all of those people bad mouthing the new direction of the show act and sound. They need something to complain about so they go on their computer in their parent's basement and gripe. Topher Bus' portrayal and the writer's portrayal is spot on. I like the new direction of the show. Things evolve. People grow up and change. The world changes. And the people behind the show have to have realized that it has been 20 years and they cannot say some stuff they did in the early aughts. That is a sign of maturity.

I'm all in on the "reboot" or second season or whatever we are calling it. I want it to stick around for longer than a season. They have a formula that works and works really well. If you liked the original version you have to watch the new version. It is a really decent throwback and I remembered instantly why I liked this show in the first place. Check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

Over the weekend I took my kids to see “Across the Spider-Verse”. It was the only movie the three of us could agree on and my wife had a friend over so we wanted to go out.

I loved the first movie in this series. I think it’s the best “Spider Man” movie to date. The way they shot it was so cool and unique. It was filmed to look like a moving comic book. It was amazing to see. That happened with this movie as well, and they even pushed a little further. This movie had saturating colors within scenes. There was more writing of movement. You’d see stuff like “ZIP” on the screen when they were slinging webs. It was like the old “Batman” show, but way, way, way cooler. There were even moments of what looked like comic book panels in this movie. I was sitting in my chair in the theater and thinking how cool the whole thing looked. It is a moving work of art. It’s astounding.

The first movie has great voice acting. It’s quite the cast. This movie adds on to that, and then some. We have actors like Issa Rae, Oscar Isaac, Jason Schwartzman, Daniel Kaluuya, Jack Quaid, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and so many more. Some of these people appeared in very minor role. You add all that to the first movie’s cast, people like Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Mahershala Ali, Luna Lauren Velez and Shameik Moore, this is a real stellar cast. And they all crush their roles. You fully buy into the voice acting.

The first movie does a great job of giving us another origin story, but in a cool, interesting and different way. This movie adds on to that while adding seemingly endless Spider People. There are a ton of Spider People in this movie, and we get quick backstories with the important ones. And the first movie gave us some excellent villains, a great story and even a possible love story. Again, this movie pushes all of that further. Miles Morales and Spider Gwen clearly like one another. They have a web slinging type of date in this one. Schwartzman was excellent as The Spot, who looks to be a terrifying villain. Oscar Isaac brings a certain gravitas to his character, and I don’t know if I like him at all.

What makes this movie work, what makes it so enjoyable, besides the way it’s filmed, I am fully in on the main story. I’m invested. I cannot wait to see the third installment. This movie ends on a massive cliffhanger, but I’m not mad about it. I simply cannot wait to see where they go from here.

These “Spider Man” movies work because they’re so cool to look at. It helps that the writing is amazing. It helps that the animation is next level. It helps that the cast is giving their all. And it helps that the movie is good, and cool. “Across the Spider-Verse” may be the best movie of the year. It’s incredible and fun and a total work of art. I cannot recommend this movie enough. My son and I were thrilled. It kept my daughter’s attention. This movie rules. Go see it.


Ty

Ty Watches "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" Season 3

I just finished season 3 of "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" and I'm going to give some instant reactions and quick thoughts. I could have finished last night but my wife was done with work and she did not want to watch the show. I only had one ep left so I knocked it out this morning. I also have it running in the background right now as I write this so I can get another look at it.

Instantly, I am fully in on the show. No other current TV show makes me laugh, like legitimately laugh out loud like "ITYSL" does. It has a near perfect hit rate for me. I like how absurd and abstract the writing is on the show. It feels like a sketch show written by people much smarter than me and my friends, but it also has that gonzo style. There is a lot of yelling this season, but that has always made me laugh. I also like when the people who have been yelling are confronted with a soft, smooth voice from someone else.

The guest stars are back and that makes this show even better. Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Biff Wiff, Sam Richardson, they are all here, they are all game and they are all having fun. Seeing Biff Wiff do his thing now knowing he has cancer, it makes it so bittersweet. He has been a tremendous addition to this show.

What sets this show apart from other sketch shows, outside of the superb writing, is how real yet absurd each sketch gets. In every episode it feels like they up the ante and it totally works. I feel like this is a show that I can have on in multiple settings and find something new and funny with each watch. The show never feels stale. The sketches work on multiple levels. The actors and writers are giving it their all. I fully believe this is, hands down, the best comedy show on TV. "ITYSL" bypasses sketch comedy. It is in its own genre and it is something special.

I am part of a fan group for the show on Facebook, and the way people talk about this show on there is insane to me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it feels like some people just want to complain. Their expectations are so high that they will never be met and then they go online to gripe about it. But what makes these people complaining even worse, in about a month they will be back on the same page talking about how great season 3 is. They will forget all the mess they talked about the show in the moment, and then they will finally appreciate it. I am on board from the jump. There are others who feel the same.

This show is otherworldly and highly hilarious. They are doing what they want, how they want and where they want and it all works. The fact that "SNL" didn't use Tim Robinson properly might have been a good thing because it led to "Detroiters", which is massively underrated, and then to "ITYSL", which is the best comedy on TV. I love this show. I adore the actors and the writers. Go watch this masterpiece of comedy. It is next level in all the best ways. What an achievement. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Sisu"

Last week, or maybe a few weeks ago, I wrote about the trailer to the movie "Sisu" and how excited I was to watch it. Well, I watched it on Saturday and I'm here today with a review.

The trailer more than lived up to the hype. This movie is awesome. I could watch it over and over and over again. I was fully in from the moment the voiceover started right after the opening credits. The voiceover guy got on mic, told us what we were about to watch and had this cool, gravely voice that instantly hooked me. From there on out it was about as good as an action movie can get. I could definitely see the "John Wick" influence on this movie. The producers produced this as well, and their fingerprints were all over the movie.

For those that may not know, "Sisu" is about a former Finnish soldier who abandoned the war, World War II, and went to live in the countryside as a gold miner. One day he finds a ton of gold and decides he needs to cash in. His family is gone, he is on his own, besides his dog, and he wants to start a new life. On his way to cash in the gold he is confronted by Nazi's. They are losing the war so they are doing childish things to try and recoup. When he first sees them he tries to go without any conflict. Nazis, who stink, won't let that happen and that is when the action begins. This Finnish soldier is a total badass. He is known as one of the best soldiers ever. People who have come across him think he is immortal. At one point it is mentioned that he himself has killed over 300 Russian soldiers alone. He is the man. But, again, he wants to leave that life behind. The Nazis will not let him though, and he has to take matters into his own hands. There are knives through heads, Nazis stepping on landmines, gun shots galore. It is all there and it is all gory. I mean, some of the kill shots in this movie gave me visceral reactions. I was yelping so much my dad asked if I was okay, he watched with me. The landmine scene is especially awesome. After he loses his horse, he starts to throw landmines at the incoming bad guys. He uses his shield to protect from the many gunshots aimed at him. He continues to mow them down left and right. I loved it. I really enjoy these violent action movies. Add on the fact that he was killing Nazis, who are portrayed as bad as they were in real life, it makes it that much more okay to watch what he does to them. From the landmine scene we go to an underwater scene that is equally as gory and cool. There is another scene where it looks like our hero might get defeated, twice, but he makes it. We then have the final scene wherein our hero saves some women the Nazis have captured and gets them to help. They are more than willing. Our hero then gets on a plane, oh, pardon me, he uses his pickaxe to hang on to the plane as it takes off and then digs a hole to enter said plane after it is in the air. In this scene there is a fistfight that turns into strapping the final Nazi he has encountered onto a nuke and sets that free, to which a humongous explosion happens, The plane then proceeds to have a direct crash, face first, into the ground. Not to worry, he survives and walks away relatively unscathed, except for the bruises and cuts from the fight. We then see the women walking directly into some Russian guards with a gun, tank and a Nazi strapped to the shooter of the tank. You can guess what happens. The movie ends with our hero walking to the bank and saying his first lines of the entire movie, which are Finnish.

This movie rips. I want to watch it over and over again. I loved the backdrop, the story, the gore, the violence, it all worked for me. This is the type of action movie I crave. Everything about it worked for me. I have no notes. Seek this movie out, it is well worth your time. I may go watch it again today. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches Tenacious D Live

Last night I saw Tenacious D at The Factory here in Saint Louis. I'll do a proper review of the venue tomorrow. Today I want to talk about the show last night.

I have not seen The D live since 2002. Back then I saw them open for Weezer and it was pretty awesome. Last night they were the headliner and I am also older and more mature. This was a different experience. The opener was Steel Beans. This was an interesting and decent opener. Steel Beans is one dude who plays guitar, drums and sings. It was fascinating to see him do all this. But I felt like he had to be exhausted after his set. He played for 45 minutes, and it was solid. But some of his songs were a bit long. And he used a ton of distortion, which is smart on his part because it masks mistakes. But the use of distortion made it hard to hear him sing at times. All in all though he was a solid opener. I was never bored during his set. He did a good enough job.

Tenacious D came on stage after about a 30 minute intermission. Again, my expectations were high and different from 21 years before. They absolutely delivered. The set was fast and furious. They must have played something close to 20 songs. Jack Black is a true showman and he controlled the crowd and the stage for their entire 90 minute set. I am endlessly floored by Black. I was saying to my buddy after the show that he is a legit movie star who does music for fun, and he is extremely talented at it. His voice and playing is very good. He can hit some very high octaves. At one point he sang the beginning of "War Pigs" and it was amazing. He showed off his range on "Master Exploder". From song to song, all night long, he was on point. It was so enjoyable. Kyle Gass is the perfect sidekick to Black, and his guitar playing is exceptional. He is so proficient and technical, but he can also have fun with it. When he plays some of his wild solos on his acoustic guitar I am blown away. He is so good at his craft. He is also the perfect foil for all the bits The D do during their live shows. He plays off of Black so well. He performs like a true professional. I loved every second of their time together on stage. The backing band is truly wonderful. The lead guitar player shreds and has some pipes. He played the Devil during "Beelzeboss" and he hit a grand slam, both with his playing and singing. He is no Dave Grohl, but he is a damn good compliment. The bassist kept the rhythm going all night and when he got his chance to solo for the crowd, he was amazing. He was sliding up and down that bass and having the time of his life. It was dope. The drummer was pretty rad as well. He kept the tempo up and the band going strong. He also exploded during his solo. It reminded me of the playing in "Whiplash", except he was having fun playing. His solo was the best of the night in my opinion. He was pounding away on his kit. I was pleasantly surprised at all the love given to the crew throughout the night too.

This was a fun show through and through. It was also fantastic to hear all these songs again. It brought me back to my 20's when I really got into them. But I felt I appreciated it more last night. I got it all right away. I knew the words and was humming along. I was laughing at the jokes within the songs. To hear a song like "Double Team" as a 40 year old, it is so much more funny because I get every single joke within the song. It was great. The fact that The D is famous enough to headline a tour makes me very happy as an adult. I think it is rad that Jack Black and Kyle Gass still like doing this and are willing and able to tour. Neither of them have to do this, they want to do this. That much was apparent watching them perform last night.

I loved this show, the venue was cool, the band was great and I got to see an actual movie star in person. I had a blast. It was more than worth the price of admission and the exhaustion I have today. Good times. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches The Met Gala

I am not a fashionable person. I like to wear comfortable clothing whenever possible. I am a hooded sweatshirt and shorts type of guy. I almost always have a hat on, unless I have just shaved my head. My attire is simple and comfy.

During the week we had the Met Gala and I was blown away at some of these outfits I saw. I mean, it was wild people. I don't know how many of you check in on the Met Gala, or at least look at the clothing, but this was next level insane. I was talking to my folks about it and they had some takes as well. My mom loved looking at the clothing. She said she was checking out all of the outfits on the internet. She was telling me about her favorites and some of the wilder things she saw. My dad didn't really seem to care, but he knew about the whole deal. He knows what the Gala is and why they do it. As does my mom. But my dad's takes were not as interesting as my mom's. I get it. I am usually the same. But I paid more attention this year. I saw stuff online. I talked to my wife about it a bunch. I think I piqued her interest in fact.

I was astounded at what I saw and wanted everyone else to be interested. Doja Cat had makeup that made her look like an actual cat. She also had diamonds all over her dress. Not to be outdone, pretentious asshole Jared Leto was wearing an actual cat outfit. Head and all. He was dressed as a literal cat. It looked very uncomfortable and cumbersome. I didn't get his look at all. Lil Nas X looked like a futuristic spaceman. He had all kinds of diamonds covering his full body. He had a facemask that looked like it was encrusted in diamonds. I can't imagine that was fun to sit down in, but he was able to pull it off. You could barely see Rhianna. Her face was covered in some kind of white headdress. Cardi B had the biggest skirt I have ever seen. Pedro Pascal had some shorts on, which apparently drove the internet wild. The hairdos were nuts. Quinta Brunson, who I adore, had some big buns put in her hair. Paris Hilton's date had some wild comb over do. Janalle Monae had some wild braids, but she did look great. Some people looked "regular" for this event. Dua Lipa looked great. So did Margot Robbie. Lizzo crushed. Russell Westbrook was very mild mannered. Kendrick Lamar wore something that I would wear on an everyday basis.

Basically, this whole thing looks like it is an event covering opulence. I'm not one for opulence, but some people are I guess. I never cared about any of this stuff before, and I still don't very much, but this is the first time I actually looked into the whole deal. This is the first time I did some research and talked to some other people about it. It is fascinating but also not my cup of tea. But I had some things I wanted to tell you all about. I had never really delved into this stuff at all, but there are some wild things about this whole deal, but most of all it is the outfits.

This was a fun little wormhole I went down. Check it out if you are interested at all. It is interesting.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches the Trailer for "Dune Part 2"

Yesterday I watched the trailer for "Dune Part 2".

I'm pumped. I loved the first movie. Let me clarify, I loved the first new one that Denis Villenuve directed. I was fully on board from the jump. I like the book. I have seen the David Lynch directed "Dune" a few times. I find that watchable. And I am a Villenuve fan. I know RD doesn't like "Arrival", and I haven't seen that one yet, but I like the other Villenuve directed movies I've seen. So seeing "Part 2" was not a bridge I had to cross or conclusion I had to come to. I'm in. I want to see it on the opening weekend, preferably on opening day.

I know I talk a lot about not watching trailers, but that was out of the question here. I was going to watch the trailer as soon as the official first one came out. So I did. And it rips. I'm so on board with the direction they are going in with this second movie. I know some people complained that the first one was too slow, well "Part 2" looks to be mostly action. Zendaya and Chamelet are back and they are ready to fight. Paul, Chamelet, is with the fighters, led by Javier Bardem, and they look like they are on a singular mission. Paul also rides a sandworm in the trailer. He also is trying to find and save his mom. I'm so in for all of this. Zendaya looks like she is going to kick some ass. And her fans should be happy to know that she will be in this sequel a whole lot more. A bunch of her fans were upset she was barely in the first one. Well no need to worry anymore. She looks to be a co-star in this one. Josh Brolin is back and looks badass. There is a scene where some people are burning Oscar Issac's character's painting, he was the king of his province, and that seems to set people off. Stellan Skarsgaard is back and looking as gross as ever. He is also up and moving, so that should be interesting. Austin Butler looks totally odd and painted all white. Dave Bautista looks scary and badass. Florence Pugh is here and ready to go to war. I mean, how can you not want to see this movie?

I am so stoked. I read that the writers, I stand with the WGA by the way, and Vilenuve have said that this is going to be more of a war epic, which is awesome. I love a good war movie. My favorite "Star Wars" is "Rogue One". I like movies like "Saving Private Ryan", "Platoon", "Apocalypse Now" and "The Hurt Locker". I'm here for war movies. Add on the fact that this particular war movie is taking place in a science fiction world that the creators of "Dune" made up. That is just icing on the cake for me.

I watched the trailer a few times yesterday after the first watch. My kids watched it with me. I kept telling my wife about it. My family are all good sports because they indulge me. Now you all have to do the same. But I know there are some readers who are just as excited as me about this trailer and movie. I cannot wait and I hope to see a lot of you out there on opening day. I am pumped. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "Grand Crew" Season Two Finale and You Should Too

Season two of "Grand Crew" wrapped up last Friday. I watched the last two episodes of the season last night. Let’s discuss.

I really enjoyed how they closed out the second season. All the characters were given good arcs this season, I liked where everyone ended up and I would like to watch more. I really hope this show gets picked up for a third season. I feel like it is finding its stride right now. The show got consistently better from the pilot to now. Each actor is really nailing it, they do a wonderful job giving this ensemble separate storylines and the actors make this show so much fun to watch. I have written about the show before and it truly is a really solid throwback to sitcoms from the 90's. There are a plethora of jokes. The writing is top notch. The camaraderie on set seems genuine. I was overly impressed by what I watched last night, and for this whole second season quite frankly. And if it was still the 90's, there wouldn't be any doubt that it would be coming back for a third season.

"Grand Crew" is so much better than a good amount of shows that had multiple seasons in the 90's. But I fear not enough people are watching this show. I also fear people are catching it too late to matter when it streams on Peacock. I fully understand that that is what these networks want, but "Grand Crew" has the ability to have a long run. It is already a better show, in my opinion, than shows like "Young Sheldon" or pretty much anything on CBS. I truly believe it is NBC's best show right now. It is so much better than any reality show or dating show or gameshow. It is only outdone by shows on FX or premium cable. And those shows have free rein.

What makes "Grand Crew" a cut above is the fact they are pulling off so many jokes on a major network. Sitcoms usually do not get all the stuff off that they want. "Grand Crew" is seemingly doing what they want and that rules. I also love that they are giving more, lesser known, comedy people a shot on the show. Jacquis Neal had a two episode run this season. Colton Dunn was excellent in his run. Ronnie Adrian has been one of the funniest people on the whole show. They are giving funny, younger, unheard actors a real shot, and these actors are proving to be more than up to the task. As for the main characters, each and everyone of them is exceptional. They add so much to each other. They seem to like working with one another. They can play off one another. They can make joke after joke that hits each and every time. This is a stellar ensemble who can do great things with more chances.

"Grand Crew" is an excellent show. It is a throwback yet original show in every sense of the words. I hope it gets another season. The show has shown it deserves it. Go watch this show right now on Peacock. It is awesome and you will love it. I know I sure do. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "Cocaine Bear"

I finally watched "Cocaine Bear" this weekend and it was everything I wanted it to be. The movie was violent, funny, silly, ridiculous and cool to see. I did not expect to see the best movie I have ever watched. I also did not expect to see the worst movie. It is what it is.

I saw what some critics had to say about the movie, but with certain critics you do not tend to take them seriously when they are talking about a movie like "Cocaine Bear". The movie is "based on a true story". Yes, a bear did ingest cocaine in the forest in the 80's, but not much is known about how that certain bear acted after ingesting said cocaine. This movie tries to give us a glimpse into what could happen if a bear were to ingest cocaine and go on a rampage. Elizabeth Banks did an exceptional job directing this odd, B movie. She knew exactly what she wanted and she gave it to us. I could say the same for the writers. I have to imagine, when asked to write a script about a bear ingesting cocaine, you kind of know what you are getting into. This movie didn't do any cliche stuff. Sure, there were good guys and bad guys. There were monologues. There was gore. But it was all done in fun and jest. I do not think anyone involved was taking this movie seriously.

Having said all of that, the actors did a tremendous job with the material they were given. And this cast is stacked with some very, very good actors. Matthew Rhys is in the very first scene and doesn't say a thing. But you see that he is doing something wrong and he is the reason why the cocaine ends up in the forest. Keri Russell is rocking the 80's clothing and doing a very good job of playing a distressed mother worried about her daughter. Her daughter, played by Brooklyn Prince is precocious, but not in a bad way. I enjoyed her journey. Her friend, played by Christian Convery, is goofy and funny and looks to be having a blast. He also has some great line reads. Margo Martindale is crushing it again as she does in every role she takes. She is so good as the park ranger. Jesse Tyler Ferguson is barely noticeable, but he is hilarious and his death scene is gruesome. The three punks who terrorize the ranger and the park are excellently cast and nail the job. And then we have O'Shea Jackson, Alden Ehrenreich and Ray Liotta. They are the drug guys in the movie. I do not know that anyone plays a better gangster than Liotta, may he rest in peace. Jackson has proven time and again how good of an actor he is, and he is excellent here. And Ehrenreich is the funniest part of the whole thing. His backstory and relationship with Liotta, who plays his dad, was hilarious. Isiah Whitlock Jr is great at playing a cop, and when he reads the line, "an apex predator on a whole lot of cocaine", I was in tears laughing. And Ayoola Smart, who was new to me, did a good job of being a good person gone bad. And then we have the bear. I mean, you could tell it was CGI, but it didn't matter. I loved how they made it seem like the bear knew exactly what it was doing. It felt like the bear had a plan. I was in for the fact that the bear wanted to continue to eat as much cocaine as it could get its hands on. The same can be said for the bear's cubs. They found some too and couldn't get enough. And the kills in this movie were gruesome and gross and, at times, hilarious. The music and mood of this movie, it takes place in the 80's, was pretty spot on.

I couldn't be happier with my decision to watch this movie. It was so perfect for what they were trying to do. My hat is off to Elizabeth Banks because she did a hell of a job directing something this wild. I whole heartedly recommend this movie. I may watch it again this week. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "Air"

Yesterday I went to see the movie "Air". This movie is very new to me. I didn't even know that this was being made. I had zero idea that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were together again, I definitely didn't know they were making a movie about Nike and I sure as hell had no idea it was about Nike signing Michael Jordan. This is all in my wheelhouse. I love movies like this. I read "Shoe Dog". I like when Affleck and Damon work together. And I am a Nike guy, even though I cannot wear their shoes anymore. So when I found a time that worked for me, I went to the theater to watch.

I loved this movie. Again, it is right in my zone. This is what I am into. I liked "Moneyball", and this movie reminds me so much of how that one was made. There is hardly any basketball in this movie. My son wants to see it. I had to explain to him that Michael Jordan is barely in this movie and you only ever hear him say "hello". This movie is all about the pursuit and eventual signing og Jordan. This movie is about the making of the first Air Jordan's. This movie is about the people behind the scenes and all the hard work and loops they had to go through to sign Jordan.

Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro. Say what you will about Vaccaro, but he was a revolutionary in the shoe game and he is a person I respect. Damon nailed it. From the opening scene to him gambling all the way through his endless pursuit to sign Jordan was pitch perfect. I bought him. I was in. I want to see more of this character, although Vaccaro is a real person. Affleck plays Phil Knight. Say what you will about Knight, and he has done a lot of wild stuff, the dude built an empire. Affleck played the newly minted millionaire version of Knight. He answered to the board. He was hesitant to take chances. He did a wonderful job playing this role in that time of Knight's life. I also bought into him giving in to Vaccaro's obsession near the end. Jason Bateman was incredible in this movie. He played Phil Strasser, who was one of the first bigwig basketball guys at Nike. Bateman played Strasser as a little more stated and quiet than he actually was, but it was needed to play off of Vaccaro. Bateman had his moments. He had some nice speeches. He has a great head of hair. All in all though, he was very good in his very understated role. He was the comic relief in this movie and he nailed it. Matthew Maher played Peter Moore. He is the creator of the first Air Jordan's. He also created the symbol that we now always see when you buy Jordan Brand products. He was a genius and he was portrayed as such here. Chris Tucker played Howard White, one of Jordan's best friends and close confidants. Tucker was so good. He embodied the person he was playing. I watched some videos of the guy he was and he nailed it. Marlon Wayans was only in one scene, as George Raveling, and the story about the "I Have a Dream" speech he gave was moving. Chris Messina was tremendous as Jordan's agent, David Falk. The back and forth between him and Vaccaro was spectacular. And then we have Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. She was the absolute star in this movie. She and Damon were amazing, but Davis' portrayal of Jordan's smart, savvy and brilliant mom was exquisite. I can see why Jordan said he wanted only her to play his mom. This cast is the only cast I feel could pull off a movie like this. They were all tremendous.

"Air" was great. I can watch movies like this all the time and never get bored of them. I like to see how the sausage is made if you will. I also like to see where everyone in the movie ended up. I know of Vaccaro, Jordan, his mom and Knight. But to read about Strasser, Falk, White and Moore, that is what I am here for. I am a sucker for biopics featuring a topic I love. I love basketball. MJ is the GOAT. Air Jordan's are the coolest basketball shoes ever. I am a Sonny Vaccaro fan. This movie had more than enough to keep my full attention.

Go check this movie out. It is more than worth your time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Dave": Season Three Premier

Season three of "Dave" premiered last week. I have not watched the newest episode yet, but I am here to say that this show is still at the top of its game. I was trying to figure out what FX was going to do with "Atlanta" going off the air. That was their hit show that was weird but still wonderful. It was able to toe the line. "Legion" took it too far. "DEVS" didn't get more than one season. "Boy Meets Girl" was canceled too soon. I watched parts of all of these shows, but "Atlanta" was the only one that really nailed it. They crushed it from start to finish. But after watching the season 3 premiere of "Dave", I am confident that FX has found their next show to really give their all too.

They are letting Dave Burd and all of his creative people around him do what they want how they want and it is really working out in their favor. The first season was surprisingly good and, at times, dramatic. I didn't see that coming, but it hooked me right away. I was here for it, and then some. The second season was filmed at the height of COVID, and it showed, but they pulled it off. The second season was odd. They had wild storylines. They had crazy and cool guest stars. And in the end, it all worked out really well. I still think about the Benny Blanco episode. I go back and rewatch the Rick Rubin episode, it wasn't really Rick Rubin, a bunch. And the episode with Dave's manager where he argues about trash can placement in the street, that was golden. But I was curious about this new season. I really wanted to know which direction they were going to go in.

When the premiere showed them on tour, I was stoked. The second season ended with Dave and GaTa going on tour together. The third season picks up on that tour, with Lil Dicky being the headliner. The first episode of season three was great. It was all about Dave trying to find real, true love. He is with a fan at the start and it goes well until it doesn't. GaTa tries to tell him to enjoy it. His manager is focused on the tour. His friend is filming a documentary about the tour. Dave explains to all of them that he wants true love, and we are off. They go to a party in small town Texas where Dave meets fans and, eventually, a possible partner. He likes this girl. She claims to not know who he is, that she just went to the show with a friend. Dave is interested and spends the rest of the night with her and her friends. It all turns out very weird and ends up with Dave telling all of the people about life on tour. He gets real with them. He tells him about it all, mainly all the warts. They don't care. They want to party. He eventually bounces when he realizes the girl is a true fan and that her friends are taking advantage of him. The ending of the premiere is great because of how odd it is. I loved it.

There was a second episode. This one was even better. Dave is filming a music video, and as always, he is wound extra tight. The whole episode is kind of chaotic and nuts. There is constant movement and tons of stuff happening. It is anxiety ridden in the best possible way. The episode unfolds and we find out that Dave is making a video about his first true love, who shows up and plays herself in the video. But it gets much deeper than that. Dave and the crush get into it. We find out things about each of their pasts. And the way they figure out the video, and how it all comes together is what I love about this show. Like I said, the whole episode is fast paced and moving, but it ends with grace. It is fitting. I was moved by what I saw.

"Dave" is a very good, very well made show. I love that FX has, seemingly, given the creators full reign to do what they want how they want. I highly recommend watching. They are doing something special here. Now I'm going to watch the third episode because I am so stoked to see where it goes from here. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.