Film & TV Friday: Toxic Fans
This week's news segment will be dedicated to one topic: The toxicity of some fans. Specifically, Star Wars fans. This is Film & TV Friday.
The News
So this week, Star Wars actress and all around awesome human Kelly Marie Tran deleted her Instagram account. She did that after months and months of harassment by some so-called Star Wars fans. And I want to talk about that.
There's a strain of Star Wars fans that somehow missed the basic point of the series, which is about fighting space Nazis. I mean, their soldiers are literally called Stormtroopers. But now they're complaining that evil Disney put social justice in their series of movies about fighting space Nazis? This is like Star Trek fans making the same complaint about their show, which Gene Roddenberry expressly created to express diversity. And also Marvel fans complaining about social justice in Captain America, a series about a character literally created to punch Hitler.
I mean, in case some of y'all are reading this: The fact that a thing you love can be about someone other than a white dude is not actually hurting you. You still have white dudes representing you in most media. And also, y'all can do what women and people have had to do for years, and find ways to identify with folks who don't look like you. It's called empathy. Look it up.
Now, these people are very obviously very wrong about their favorite franchises, but that's mostly pitiable. What isn't worthy of pity or empathy, is they way they have expressed their ire. These abuse campaigns, usually aimed at women, and especially women of color, aren't any kind of just fight. They're racist being racist.
Wide Release Films Opening This Weekend:
| Film | # of Theaters |
|---|---|
| Ocean's 8 | 4,145 |
| Hereditary | 2,964 |
| Hotel Artemis | 2,407 |
Source: BoxOfficeMojo
This almost never happens. This week actually has two films I want to watch! The reviews for Hotel Artemis have been mixed at best, but I still think I'll dig it. And I've been all in for Ocean's 8 since it was announced.
TV Show Premieres This Week
| Show | Season | Country | Network or Service | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hero Six: The Series | 1 | US | Disney | Sunday | 9:00AM EST |
| Claws | 2 | US | TNT | Sunday | 9:00PM EST |
| The Bold Type | 2 | US | Freeform | Tuesday | 8:00PM EST |
| Lucha Underground | 4 | US | El Rey | Wednesday | 8:00PM EST |
| Strange Angel | 1 | US | CBS All Access | Thursday | 3:01AM EST |
| Lip Sync Battle | 4 | US | Paramount | Thursday | 10:30PM EST |
| Goliath | 2 | Some Countries | Amazon | Friday | 3:01AM EST |
| Queer Eye | 8 | Worldwide | Netflix | Friday | 3:01AM EST |
| The Ranch | 3 | Worldwide | Netflix | Friday | 3:01AM EST |
| 12 Monkeys | 4 | US | Syfy | Friday | 8:00PM EST |
Source: The Futon Critic
There's all kinds of intriguing stuff here, bu only 1 show I can actually guarantee I will watch. That's right, Lip Sync Battle, y'all!
Trailers
Last week, I wondered why we had so few trailers. Turns out they were all waiting for this week! There's a huge variety here, and a lot to like!
The Children Act
I love Emma Thompson, and the Tucc is great, but this looks like a bummer.
Widows
Four women's criminal husbands die, and leave them in debt. Now, they need to do something bold - and probably criminal. This looks interesting!
Suspiria
I'm glad for Dakota Johnson that she's done with the 50 Shades movies, and Tilda Swinton is the very best, but this was too creepy for me to even finish watching the trailer.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2
If you've seen one trailer from this week, it was probably this one. And rightly so. It looks utterly delightful. I loved the first Wreck-It Ralph film, and I am here for this one.
White Boy Rick
This true life crime story has a stellar cast, but I am very unclear on how good this will be, or even what the tone of the film really is.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
I am less certain about this sequel to a delightful animated film than I was about the second Ralph movie, as the trailer isn't as good, and the original directors aren't on board.
Bumblebee
Will this be the Transformers film that doesn't suck? The odds aren't great. But being better than the Michael Bay films in the franchise is a low bar, and one I think it will clear.
Operation Finale
Huh, it's the Eichmann capture movie. I have seen too much holocaust media in my life as it is. So even though Oscar Isaac is great, and seeing Nick Kroll as a serious spy is just inconceivably bizarre and intriguing, I won't be seeing this.
Mortal Engines
Am I entirely off base and off my rocker, or does this look super awesome?
The Old Man And The Gun
Another true crime story, but damn, the cast here makes the one in White Boy Rick look like a bunch of amateurs. Except that Casey Affleck's in it, and I don't watch his movies.
A Star Is Born
I'm not entirely sure this one needed another remake, but it seems updated, and I am very curious to see Gaga's acting chops and Cooper's directorial abilities.
London Fields
This is intriguing, and also possibly terrible? I honestly can't tell.
The Girl in the Spider's Web
New Lisbeth Salander actress, based on the book by the new Lisbeth Salander author. This looks less brutal that the earlier works, so maybe I could bear to watch it?
Serenity
The second Matthew McConaughey film in this trailer rundown is a noir thriller that is mostly interesting for featuring a blonde Anne Hathaway.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I liked the previous two films, and I expect I'll like this one as well!
Bad Times at the El Royale
I've loved Drew Goddard's work ever since he became the third and best writer called Drew working on Buffy - thus becoming Ultimate Drew. And this looks great. Creepy, but just the right amount. Beautifully cast, and just delightfully odd. I think I'm here for this one!
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