Depp Animaniacs Joke

This will kind of tie into the last blog with talking Johnny Depp. Before getting to the point, I'll get to Animaniacs first. It was announced a couple years ago to return and dropped on the 20th earlier this month. For the most part, its well received. A lot of split opinions on the political aspects, something that the original in 1993 did throughout its five season run. But the controversy isn't about tired old Trump jokes.

Keep in mind that the writing was from 2018. That being said, it's not a good excuse, either. Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures had loads of visual gags that you'll barely notice unless you go back and notice. One of the former's early new episodes included a small visual of Depp. Posters of him as an adult and a baby. A tagline for one being Johnny 2: Telling Lies. Confirmed by one of the voice actors, it was supposed to be a play on a nursery rhyme that was big when the writers were coming up with episode ideas.

I don't think Warner Brothers was being intentional in lieu of the outgoing battle between Depp and Amber Heard. But this is one of those things the writers themselves and the studio should have kept an eye on a little more. Meme jokes don't even last long either, so the datedness is already there. About as bad as South Park's pop culture incident episodes being dated long after they aired. I know the show understands they were being written for 2020 with 2018 stuff, but it's not an excuse. Yes, they attacked other figures, regardless of love or hate, but this is too far. On the other side, the Depp fans are only making themselves look way worse.

If this were to have come out last year, I don't think there would be anywhere the level of bashing from the untolerable Depp fans. This is adding fuel to a big wildfire that is still impossible to contain. It's not a boycott type of situation, but bad timing on bringing in the reboot. It leaves me with a little worry that Tiny Toons Looniversity may not show up on HBO Max due to reception on specific parts of Animaniacs. As I said, this I don't think was intentional, but this should have been left on the cutting room floor.

In Depp Analysis, Heard Nothing

I find this to be fascinating and a disaster at the same time. I'd wager most Hollywood marriages end in divorce. No shocker regarding Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. But this stuff is still going on. Proceedings came about in 2017 and it's escalated. The Sun, a paper out of the UK, put out an article in 2018 calling Depp a "wife beater". There has been leaked audio of Heard saying she beat him up and that no would believe him. Alleged stories of severed fingers. Both are pieces of garbage in my opinion. I truly believe they both hurt each other physically.

For this month, a libel case against The Sun resulted in a Depp loss and being forced to step down from Fantastic Beasts 3, Warner Brothers adaptation of JK Rowling's work. But Heard hasn't had any punishments and continues to have work with Aquaman 2 when that films next year and a couple other projects. That's why a petition on change.org that has been around for a couple years has blown up over the last month and reached over a million and half signatures. Pretty big altogether.

I do think a decent majority of signings are from Depp fans. But I also think a number of it has to do with regards to domestic violence and the double standards regarding women who abuse. The petition creator, which is a woman by the way in Jeanne Larson, talked about in the description of it the hypocrisy. Heard hides behind movements like MeToo and pretends to be a victim. She isn't. I think Depp hurt her, but I also think she isn't completely innocent either. For her to say the petition is a paid campaign is horseshit and that people have no basis in reality is ridiculous. This isn't a slap on the wrist thing. Not to mention there was a time when she abused another partner long before meeting Depp.

I can't claim that I've seen this in real life, but stuff like this hurts and upsets people who have gone through it. And it's cunts like Heard who make it harder for actual victims to bring up domestic violence without fear of being a liar. No one wins. Hollywood bats a blind eye. And women can skew things to make the media sympathize with them. Not all, mind you, but it's still dangerous.

Unless things escalate, there's nothing Warner Brothers can do with a firing of Heard because of contracts. But they are also being tone deaf on it by not taking the petition and the cases seriously. They compared the situation with Captain Marvel, which isn't even a good comparison. Brie Larson is a sexist bitch, but there are actors that have issues with the media. Very different from domestic violence. Hugely different. The studio also has ideas on making a Mera film, which is the Aquaman character Heard plays. If people didn't want to see Birds of Prey, why would anyone want a stand alone film of this? This isn't like Marvel.

Aquaman 2 has the potential to underperform when it comes out Christmas 2022. This long fight between Depp and Heard isn't over yet. Far from it. Pending what happens for December, that petition could make Warner Brothers think a little more seriously. Either way, both should not be in the Hollywood spotlight for the next couple of years.

YouTube Videos: Nov 20-26

 

Toy Story at 25 Thoughts

The leading type of animated film now these days are computer generated imagery, or CGI. Back in the 90s, it was more traditional, hand drawn animation. It's very easy to forget how ambitious Toy Story was when it released around Thanksgiving 1995. Let's just say that people expected it to flop. Nobody took it seriously as a contender. Low and behold, highest grossing film of 95, huge critical acclaim, the rise of Pixar, and a very strong franchise.

It has a very simple plot and moves by at a very fast pace. A group of toys, led by cowboy doll Woody. In comes the flashy new one, Buzz Lightyear. Things get out of hand, and the two have to get back to their child owner. There's more to it, but basic. No filler, no side plots. Plenty of visual stuff, quotable lines, tons of humorous moments. What also works that even though it's a Disney film, it doesn't follow the tropes associated with them. No romance as your big plot line, no singing, no sappy stuff. A film that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

As I said, it was ambitious. At 30 million, it was cheaper than what The Lion King's budget was the year prior. They did get some big names, but it wasn't all top of the line names outside of Woody and Buzz. They found ones they knew could create the film into a memorable one. It holds up in many ways and the score is still fantastic to hear. This is still my favorite of the Disney CGI films. It paved for more Pixar films, competitors in Dreamworks and Blue Sky (though Blue Sky is Disney owned now due to buying Fox), and the decline of traditional animation in film.

The appeal for Toy Story knows no bounds. You want a franchise with lots of respect and memorable, this is one of the few that has that. Give each one a watch. There is tons of enjoyment you'll get out of them and for different reasons. 

Xbox 360 at 15 Thoughts

I'm not big into Microsoft's home consoles like I am with their computers. But I do have some good memories of playing the Xbox 360 for a good seven years or so. It was a push to a new generation when it came out around the end of November 2005. Easy to develop games for, smoother playability, lots of digital stuff. You get the good with the bad that includes the Red Ring of Death, scratched discs, squandering what they had in 2010. However, you can't deny it being a great system to have.

My first experience with it was in 2009. I was not too familiar with the Xbox brand. My older brother had an original Xbox, but didn't play it except once or twice. I do remember commercials for 360 within the first couple years, especially the Game Fuel Mountain Dew ads and Halo 3.That game was the first title I experienced on 360 with the multiplayer via system link. Seven of us played and I was not good. About a year later, my younger brother and myself get our own 360. Get a handful of titles, including some Call of Duty games and GTA IV, 2010 was pretty good.

With being away at college, my opportunities of playing it were on specific weekends I came home for a couple years. Played a lot of The Simpsons Game, Dead Rising, Call of Duty single player from Modern Warfare to Black Ops. Little bit of Forza. Played a lot of GTA IV for about six months going through the single player. Invested until 2016 into other games, especially when I got my own 360 in 2014. Fallout, The Orange Box, Sonic Unleashed and many more. I haven't played much of it since due to playing more PlayStation 3 and 4, but it was still a great experience.

You look at it, and it paved the way for online being what it is with its pros and cons. Extra content, various apps, multiple things. But I do wonder if it could have kept the same pace from 2011 to 2015/16 like it did its first five years and continued with bringing big exclusives of their own. It's still hard to believe that it has reached 15 years old. And it still gets support from Microsoft despite no one making titles for it since 2017. The legacy will still go on and people have not given up on it being their main machine. Still plenty of practical use for a lot of ways besides gaming.

Panic Buying 2.0

It's back.

The second wave of high cases has come for the United States. Lots of coronavirus infections and its that wave again of people buying everything again at a huge bulk. Especially being this close to Thanksgiving.  Can't blame them a little bit. At my work, we got a couple dipshit college girls who might test positive because they wanted to be selfish and drink at a bar instead of getting their buzz at their home. Just not a good sight now.

Don't go overboard. It won't be like what happened back in March. If you think you're low, get your hands on what you need. What is essential, get it. If there is something that isn't important, have patience and wait it out unless you're desperate. Try to shop early if you think there won't be any huge crowds at seven or eight in the morning. Know your entrances and exits in stores. Know where you can get tested if there comes a point where you might potentially be exposed.

We can get through this. Just follow guidelines. Take it seriously. 

YouTube Videos: Nov 13-19

 

The McMahon Effect

You get a look at what Vince McMahon has done in 2020, and it's obvious it's a very bad year. The XFL faltered, health issues all around, and the way he has run WWE. I'm not into wrestling. Never really have. Seen YouTube videos of old matches, though. It's a "sport" that never caught my attention. But his firing of one of the wrestlers shines a light into how bad it has gotten and scares other wrestlers to speak out publicly.

The latest firing is a result of Thea Budgen, who goes under her wrestling name Zelina Vega. Within the last month or two, WWE has forced their wrestlers to stop using sites like Twitch. I don't know if it's a money thing or power for McMahon to do whatever he wants, but it has not been met with anything good. The last couple months have also seen Andrew Yang go after them for the company's actions. Saraya Bevis, who goes by Paige, has spoken out about it and the greediness of WWE. With how things sound, it gets more concerning.

There is no union in the WWE. Obviously, wrestling can be damaging physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. But not having one is awful. Vega has gotten support. The fact that SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris supported her says a lot. You'd wish other wrestlers would come out publicly with what is going on, but I think there is fear. Fear that if they say something, McMahon would go after them and potentially fire them. I keep reading that they are independent contractors. If they truly are, why force them to stay with WWE? Think about some of the wrestlers that could have had health insurance and some of this other stuff back in the day. They are wearing their bodies out for entertainment. 

I don't know what WCW or ECW was like back then, but I would think it had better support of their wrestlers more than WWF/WWE. I would think smaller ones and some of the competitors like NXT and AEW do a much better job. I think McMahon is out of touch with how things work now. They haven't been big in a very long time since the early Cena days. Too many controversies, too many bad moments. How much more will it take before the company craters? If it doesn't, fans should hope a new CEO will take over and not act like McMahon. 

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 50

Up to the 50th episode. 

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-50-I-Must-Break-50-emjugo

Rocky V: 30 Years Later

Even with it being a sports film, Rocky was a drama at its core. An up and comer who gets his big chance against the heavyweight champion. Working for a loan shark, finding the beauty in a shy woman, dealing with an arrogant trainer. Yet, he still chugged along and the film wasn't about winning. It was about making a name for yourself and defying the expectations of many. That's why it was a huge hit in 1976. The second, while not as good, still retained being a great drama. With the third, it was more over the top, and even more ridiculous with the fourth.

When you get to Rocky V, it goes a different direction, and that's what angered movie goers and critics back in November 1990. Following his match against Ivan Drago in the Soviet Union, Rocky Balboa is back in Philadelphia. Things do not go well. He has no money and he can't box due to brain damage. In a way, it tries to go towards the route of the first film, but in a different manner. He is like his old trainer, Mickey, and trains Tommy Gunn, played by real boxer Tommy Morrison. But that relationship gets soured and turns into a street fight at the end, probably the film's most iconic moment.

This was a really bad period for Sylvester Stallone. From 86 until his comeback with Cliffhanger in 93, he wasn't wowing critics. With Rocky V, it lacks any of the charm the first two had. It's not a bad idea to end with what began. Going back to your roots, when done right, is fantastic. It tries to juggle many things. The relationship between Rocky and his son (played by Stallone's son, Sage). Dealing with the financial situations with his wife Adrian. Tommy Gunn and the betrayal. It wasn't developed altogether.

Most networks avoid airing it most of the time. It has its moments, but you won't have the same reactions in the first two films. The impression also being that it would be the last film until speculation in the early 2000s probably didn't sit well. Rocky Balboa captured that dramatic feeling when it came out in 2006. What I think is that people wanted Rocky to bow out on a good note and with V, it didn't feel like a good bowing out. It focused on the idea of boxing, but also Rocky's personal stuff without the juggling issue. Creed 1 and 2 also follow the same template

It's not a completely horrible movie, but it's not a must watch either. There were good ideas, but they felt like they were thrown out the window. But hey, the redemption is there with the last few films that have been made the last 14 years. As long as they know what makes Rocky and Creed tic,, they can avoid disasters like this.

Home Alone: 30 Years Later

If you grew up in the 80s, chances are you saw a movie or two from writer John Hughes. His teen comedies are still remembered. The Vacation films that were based on stories he wrote at National Lampoon have aged well. He knew how to write fantastic characters. His output was about two films a year from 1983 through the end of the decade. But his biggest film came in November 1990 when Home Alone came out. This was one of the more dominant films, staying number one for almost three months and the highest grossing domestic film of that year. What was so special about it that made people ignore the mixed/kind of negative reviews?

Its a very simple premise. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is tired of his family treating him like crap. A scramble to the airport following leaves him all alone at his home while they head for Paris and figure out mid-flight he's not around. He enjoys having some fun, but must fend for himself. The Wet Bandits, Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) are robbing the neighborhood and only the eight year old can save his home from being flooded.

Pretty basic. I think what helps is that it wasn't geared greatly towards adults. It wasn't exactly fantasy driven, though the slapstick is like The Three Stooges and a more successful Wile E. Coyote. This was a pure comedy. Nothing scary like Gremlins. Nothing to drive it towards a PG-13 rating. For the most part, a cleaner (though there is cursing and the slapstick violence) driven movie that knew when to be funny and when to have serious parts. Reminds me a bit of Hughes' Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Very down to earth.

As the film goes on, Kevin realizes how much family does mean to people. Has a friendship with a neighbor who he thought killed people and reveals to him his own family problems. You add in John Williams' score, and it's widely regarded by people as one of the great holiday classics. The house used is one of the more iconic ones in film. I think what most miss when trying to imitate is the kind of heart that it had. The selling point is the slapstick and traps, but its also that Christmas feeling. We all have our flaws, but there can still be good that can come out of it. That's how I look at why it was a huge blockbuster. It's also not heavily dated, but the concept has, and that shouldn't be a knock if one were to review it today.

Home Alone hit all the right buttons for most movie goers and families. Give at least the first two films a chance. Hughes knew what he wanted and succeeded on what was needed for a family film.

YouTube Videos: Nov 6-12

 

Ohio Young

Can't say I'm too bothered with MLB's Cy Young awards.

Shane Bieber very much deserved it during this short season. Pitching in all 12 starts. Eight wins and one loss. A small blemish, but he was a force with the Cleveland Indians. Almost to the halfway point of strikeouts he had last year by getting to 122 this year. A very low earned run average, clocking in at 1.63. At 77 innings, he also got the triple crown, which accounts for wins, ERA, and strikeouts. A unanimous pick and rightfully so. Everything you could ask for and it was lights out for the season.

Then we have the loud Trevor Bauer. The only big question is his wins and losses, going in at five and four. His numbers were either better or behind Jacob DeGrom. Exactly 100 strikeouts, which was second in the National League. He got the ERA title at 1.73. Two complete games and shutouts. He had 73 innings pitched. One of the big improved pitchers considering his disastrous time last year with Cincinnati. They gave him another chance and it paid off. The Reds first playoff team in a good while and he shined in the first game that had no score until extra innings.

It's going to be one of the very few nice things for the state of Ohio. Most of their sports are mediocre at the moment, but the baseball is one that fans should get excited for heading into next year.

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 49

New episode

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-49-Jeopardizing-ema0ci

Who Is Alex Trebek? That's Correct

When you are hosting a game show that everyone knows for a very long time, it will be hard to forget them. You think The Price is Right, you think Bob Barker even though he retired in 2007. Wheel of Fortune, it's Pat Sajak. Jeopardy, who is Alex Trebek? Unfortunately, he passed away from his battle with pancreatic cancer. It leaves a void in who will be the next host of the long running show. Something that iconic and the same host since 1984, what do you do?

The comparison to Trebek will be common after his final episode that will air next month. You watch a Jeopardy episode, he keeps it calm. There might be points where he'll let loose, but he was able to stay in a professional form despite some answers. Nothing over the top. It's a quiz show with the answers given to you first. Not to mention some of its notoriety. Guys like Ken Jennings having their unbelievable streaks. James Holzhauer last year, it's created a lot of fantastic moments for the show.

Of course, there's ridicule. Saturday Night Live had their version of it which was often funny with idiot celebrities and their version of Trebek getting ridiculed. With SCTV in the 70s and 80s, they had their own take on him not too long before he went on to do Jeopardy. But it is still a fresh show since it doesn't rely on flashy signs, big prizes, and surveys. That's not a knock on other game shows because if it were all the same, no one would want to watch any of it. Not to mention, there is difficulty in figuring stuff on these programs.

Whoever takes over as the host of the show, I would hope they show the professionalism that Trebek carried for over 36 years. There's a reason why it is one of the biggest game shows still going. The new generation growing up will one day not know about the legends of hosting these programs.

ESPN Layoffs: How Much More?

You could say 2020 has been a really bad year for ESPN.

In 2015, they laid off a few hundred people. It happened again in 2017. This is happening again as it laid off 300 over the weekend. Small role people, large ones, producers. You know it's that bad when you have Bob Ley, who was part of the original group when it began in 1979 and retired last year, rips this situation. While I get that people will lose jobs, we're not talking anything normal. And some of the ones who were notified are ones that have been for quite a bit of time. Even people that have had almost 20 years experience with the brand.

Obviously, Disney is losing billions and you can't point the finger at one specific aspect. Clearly, the pandemic hurt them a lot. Cord cutting more than likely has had some influence. The oversaturation of political topics hasn't helped. Poor ratings altogether because of politics and the question of whether or not sports seasons would get finished. I'm not sure if digital will help ESPN. I don't think Jimmy Pitaro had much choice back in the spring and the effects it caused. But if he wants to win back viewers, there needs to be multiple things that has to work.

First, you need anchors that people can give a shit about. I'm not talking idiots like Stephen Smith and Max Kellerman. Anchors that can also get their point across without having a bias. I doubt they would, but the second thing would be to cut down on their NBA talk. Maybe a little NFL as well, but there are other sports. We don't need 24 hour coverage of specific players. Last is to remember past incidents. Understand why SC6 failed in 2017 and why audiences want to watch something that isn't CNN or Fox News. If they continue the path like they did in the summer, there will be heavier losses.

This is a bad move I think altogether. ESPN must know things will get better sooner than they realize, barring a shutdown if Biden does shut the country down completely. I don't know how much more of a bath Disney will take if it struggles the next couple of years.

Sean Connery: More Than Bond

If one were to think of Sean Connery today, they will point to one of the most prominent names in the film industry. With his passing on Halloween night, one should discover the career he had. Stuff that was small, but serviceable. Being able to sustain a career, especially when you get to the mid 80s and his resurgence for a decade. He carved out a career that everyone can look at and be rather pleased at most of his roles.

That prominent name of course is James Bond. And Connery was the first one to portray Ian Fleming's character when Dr. No first came out in 1962. After many television show appearances in the UK, you can say this was his first major break. He wound up playing the character six more times. It had a formula on what to do. You had puns, catchphrases. There was interesting gadgetry, cars, the Bond girls. It made the spy genre very attractive. This was when programs like Man of U.N.C.L.E. and the parody Get Smart appearing thanks to Bond. Over 30 years later, you have the Austin Powers movies that lampoon how ridiculous those early films were.

With that role being attractive, it would be hard to get roles without being typecast. That is something for many in Hollywood. Connery was still finding roles after Bond. There's The Great Train Robbery. He was Robin Hood in Robin and Marian. Consistently finding work in the 70s and early 80s. But then you look at what he got from 1986 through at least 96, he was in the spotlight for different reasons. Highlander for one. Being part of The Untouchables in 87. Indiana Jones in 89 as Indy's father. The bad guy in The Hunt for Red October, the first major Jack Ryan film.  Of course, Connery slowed down, but still able to do Rising Sun, The Rock. Even in 2000 with Finding Forrester. A couple more films and he retired from acting. Point is, he put out an even bigger legacy with the efforts of playing different types of characters.

When you think about Connery, think about his other roles. He was more than just James Bond.

YouTube COPPA: One Year Later

Last year, YouTube got in trouble with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. They violated rules and paid a hefty fine. Had something to do with data and collecting it based on what kids would search for. Since then, video uploaders have had to state whether their videos are directed towards kids or not. Over the last year, it has been concerning, but there was a lot of overreaction.

The problem with YouTube is that a lot of it isn't explained very well. Altogether, they are not out to fuck with people. They are not looking to punish everyone since they are aware of what they have. So does the Federal Trade Commission. Many are not exploiting kids to their content. If it is very blatant, then they will go after the violators. Knowing the site's history on how they do things, the overreaction comes from very mediocre help from them and the responses feeling very robotic with automated responses.

Figured this would be a very short blog. Not a lot going on right now that I want to discuss. No YouTube Videos blog since I wanted a recharge and take a week break from doing it. Definitely will try to get back on track next week with new videos. Seems like the site is doing a little better with handling things. If they want to keep being the go-to site, then they will keep abiding to rules and standards. That is if they can remember them.

Tiny Toons Looniversity Thoughts

The thought in my mind was that Tiny Toon Adventures was more deserving of a reboot than Animaniacs. I like Looney Tunes and I like the 90s approach the Steven Spielberg produced show had. You get your ups and downs, but it paved the way for Warner Brothers. Maybe as a way to avoid stealing Animaniacs' spotlight when it returns November 20th, the Tiny Toon gang is coming back with Tiny Toons Looniversity. Plans are two new seasons and on HBO Max.

There are definitely some big hurdles and its things I can only speculate that early. Can the Toonsters adapt to a 2020s style of humor? Or will it try to follow the classic formula that Looney Tunes had? Another part is that the main cast are teenagers. When Tiny Toon Adventures first aired, they were roughly 14 to 15 years old. They might up the ages a couple years. I'm not sure if there is continuity or trying a different age to liven up the comedy. Both them and Animaniacs feel like they are aiming for PG territory. And they weren't afraid of showing stuff for adults that kids wouldn't understand.

But the biggest hurdle will be voicing the characters. Buster Bunny's original voice left before the final season wrapped up in 1992. I'm not sure if he would return. Same for any of those actors that were around 30 years ago. From other types of media I've seen, its tough to see the same energy at an older age. The passing of Joe Alaskey in 2016 leaves a huge void in someone to voice Plucky Duck. Billy West took over as Hamton Pig when Don Messick passed in 1997. I don't even know if West is still acting, but he's near 70 years old. Whether they go with a new youthful group, I have no idea. Danny Cooksey was a teen when the show debuted, but whether he can unleash his inner Montana Max, that's up to the producers.

One notable omission is going to be Elmyra Duff, whose mentor is Elmer Fudd. The character is not like the hunter when it comes to animals. She loves them and wants them as pets rather than shoot them. Some want answers. I know PETA was around when the show was new, but I can't see them going overboard. Then again, they went after Super Mario, so you never know. Supposedly, executives loved her and writers grew tired of her. I would wager most fans don't care for her. When used right, she's not a horrible character to have. There are episodes where you can't help but feel bad. An episode I can think of is Prom-ise Her Anything. Max throws insults on Prom night and she's brokenhearted. There is redemption, but those moments were very rare. I think removing her will benefit from a comedy standpoint where writers won't feel forced to shoehorn her in.

There is plenty of material that is ripe for humor for Tiny Toons Looniversity. You got plenty of high school material. Easily do parodies from stuff that was made 15 to 20 years ago. Horror movies have seen surges in popularity since 1996. While not new, there is much more to mock. Those are just some small examples. If they're going to do slapstick quite a bit, they better find ways to be more creative or make running gags common yet feel fresh.

All that aside, it has the better potential to do well. Animaniacs feels like shaky ground unless the humor really wins the audiences over due to not many characters returning. But either way, both shows have to get a new audience hooked to them and hopefully bring the 90s fans along for a new ride. The 90s generation for Warner Brothers rides again.

Uncharted Waters: Uncharted Movie Finished

When you think of Uncharted, you think of mostly the original trilogy on PlayStation 3. It was an important one as it got the system going with the original and the second one was when Sony pushed the system that hard. For Naughty Dog, it was very much your cinema type of game. That treasure hunt and weaving in some platforming, action. Feeling like Lara Croft or Indiana Jones, but much more wisecracks. It has the makings of a movie, and the one that they are making finished up not too long.

Barring any setbacks from the pandemic or other situations, this video game movie is set to come out next summer. The last couple of years have seen the usually hated genre get commercial success through Rampage, Detective Pikachu, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic and Pikachu also were well received compared to Rampage's mixed reviews. Uncharted went through a lot development hell. This was supposed to be made five years ago and come out in 2016. It went through many directors and never fitted with anyone. 

Whatever happened before and during the pandemic, they got it to work. Ruben Fleischer has a decent track record. Out of all the people to get to play Nathan Drake, why Tom Holland? I know studios see him as the new hot talent, but is it going to be their version of Spider-Man? Pending what they show and what the script was, it could work. Mark Wahlberg playing Victor Sullivan is an odd choice, but he could be a natural to be that character. I guess they got the story to involve Chloe Frazer, who will be played by Sophia Taylor Ali. How that pans out, I'm not sure. And they also have Antonio Banderas in if I had to guess, a villain role. I haven't followed much of the film's production, but from brief glimpses in the last few days, the set up seems better than what I expected.

I could see audiences sort of getting into it, but it will have to impress a lot of gamers to make them see it. At least with the PS3 games, they set up a foundation for what worked and what didn't with its characters. You have the big characters involved. Depending on the timeline, there may not be characters like Elena Fisher. Whether you see rivals like Eddy Raja, I can't say for sure. I'm speculating too much, but it can go down in huge glory or be a massive bomb if the budget is very expensive. It has the makings to go either. The momentum has been better the last few years. Only a matter of whether audiences enjoy a different take on treasure hunting.