Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - The scoop and digest

After Colin Trevorrow left project due to creative differences, J.J. Abrams is back at directorial helm to conclude saga.

Daisy Ridley - Rey
John Boyega - Finn
Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher - General Leia Organa
Adam Driver - Kylo Ren/Ben Solo
Oscar Isaac - Poe Dameron
Billy Dee Williams - Lando Calrissian
Richard E. Grant - General Pryde

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

Dur, dur, duh, duh, dur, dur, dur, dur, dur ,dur, etc etc etc

Summary

Title crawl goes something like this.

The dead speak! A sinister voice believed to be Emperor Palpatine sends shockwaves across the galaxy.

General Leia Organa dispatches agents to gather intelligence while Rey prepares to fight the First Order.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren is determined to hunt phantom down.

(Camera pans down).

The force frowned at this one

Unlike Episode VII (which basically remade A New Hope), we applaud the fact that Return of the Jedi isn't just re-skinned.

But having said that, risk-free story has no alarms and no surprises.

Of course high-octane action looks stunning, but lightsaber duels and space battles are never exhilarating.

Boring even.

Driver and Ridley give impressive performances, but Finn and Poe simply bicker like an old married couple.

Integrating unused footage of Carrie Fisher into new surroundings always worried me.

And guess what?

It looks weird.

Snoke? He's nothing but a clone baby.

(Sigh).

Palpatine pulling First Order strings on Exogol screams desperation.

Kudos to Ian McDiarmid for doing a great job though.

Convoluted plot basks in exposition and stupid dialogue, retcons The Last Jedi and relentlessly ticks fan service boxes.

Rey is Emperor's granddaughter and wants her to kill him so the Sith can rule the universe.

Having sucked the Force from both Rey and Ben, hooded villain apparently becomes omnipotent.

But in true Rocky style, a seemingly beaten Rey (buoyed by Jedi voices), picks ass up from canvas and uses Skywalker lightsabers to deflect lightning blasts.

As Darth Vader once said, "All too easy."

Before finding peace with the Force, Ben brings Rey back to life (SWALK).

Aww, how sweet.

Easy to miss, but on Passanna, C-3PO remarks the Festival of Ancestors is only celebrated every 42 years.

Minus number from 2019 and you'll get 1977 (year 'original' was released).

Smashing.

Black Christmas - The scoop and digest

The second loose remake of Bob Clark's psychological slasher classic is directed by Sophia Takai.

Imogen Poots - Riley
Aleyse Shannon - Kris
Lily Donoghue - Marty
Britanny O'Grady - Jesse
Caleb Eberhardt - Landon
Cary Elwes - Professor Gelson

Summary

Sorority sisters are stalked by fraternity members possessed by black goo oozing from the bust of Hawthorne College's dead founder.

It's as dumb as it sounds.

Post-credits

Cat is seen lapping up said liquid.

Setting up a potential sequel? Are they taking the piss?

Horrendous

Believe the hype, this was unbelievably BAD.

Aside from lifeless performances and preposterous plot, why was feminist piece of shit rated a 15?

Oh yeah, principle.

There is no blood, swearing, tension or suspense.  It's absolutely fucking pathetic.

During some bullshit talent contest, sexy Santas sing an embarrasing song with all the enthusiasm of a dead slug.

I was cringing.

DKO Army dude using festive lights to strangle girlie from behind rapes the infamous garden shear scene from The Exorcist III.

We're told that college's address is 1974 Elm Road.  Number is surely reffing year when original was released.

Okay, I'll give them that.

Resident Evil 2 (2019) - Beyond the Horror

After callbacks.

http://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2019/04/resident-evil-2-2019-1998-callbacks.html

And 1998 original.

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2019/04/resident-evil-2-1998-beyond-horror.html

Comes the grand finale.

Imagery is taken from various sources, hence why quality varies.

Copy and paste

RE Engine gives the perfect excuse to recycle items and backgrounds from Resi Evil 7.

Bolt cutters becomes cutting tool.

Fuse

Mini library

Stolen from Jack Baker's collection.

Creepy mannequins.

But wait.

The Evil Within

Staff

Awagomihs is Shimogawa (as in Teruhiro) spelled backwards.

Localisation team feature on Goddess statue.

And more.

Operations room

Related

Featured locker combination is CAP'com'.
There's also DCM and SZF, which if rearranged, becomes Devil May Cry and Street Fighter Zero (Japanese name for SF Alpha).
Why not keep it simple?

No doubt about this one.

Frank East refs Frank West of Dead Rising fame.

And of course.

"We Do It"
'Motto' refers to Yoshiki 'H' Hirabayashi announcing on Capcom's YouTube channel in August 2015 that remake was officially happening.
Producer from R&D 1 Division even wore a cool t-shirt for the occasion.

Details

Broken chain on floor and claw marks left on Orphanage front door are stunning touches.

Resi 3 remake is released on 3 April 2020.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
To whet appetites, observe the destruction that Nemesis 'probably' caused at RPD.

Secret room has a model of the police station.

Concept artwork of G Stage 5 shows William's head at bottom-right hand corner.

I don't really like this, but whatever.

Just over 9 months before the T-virus was unleashed upon Raccoon City, Brad was the face of S.T.A.R.S. recruitment poster.

1.5

Here's what made it from cancelled 'original'.

Elza Walker costume.

Firing range.

Tyrant with a hat.

Ada's trench coat.

Garms

Claire's Military outfit smacks of Vasquez and arm was Made in Heaven.

Tank top (ntbcw Classic top) vs Lara Croft (2013)

As for Leon.

Arklay Sheriff vs Nick Grimes (The Walking Dead)

Noir vs Sebastian Castellanos (The Evil Within)

Series miscellany

Ada unnecessarily wearing shades at night fails to upstage Wesker.

Annette randomly burning a corpse may be an obscure ref of using kerosene to prevent a 'dead' zombie from becoming a terrifying Crimson Head in the Gamecube remake.

Leon's licence plate M4T-ILD4 refs Matilda gun from Resi 4 (named after Natalie Portman's character from Leon), and Let Me Live can be found on Queen's album Made in Heaven.

Claire's Harley reads MD3 IN H3VN.

Fancy checking out posters of scantily clad women?

Opening sequence at Mizoil station does not disappoint.

Trend began in Resi Evil, and same poster was repeated in Nemesis.

Sticking with Resi 3.

Mikhail's Pierogis

Marvin vs Brad

Both are wounded in identical place.

Outbreak: File 2 is given lots of love.

Operation Report in West Office explains how Rita Phillips escaped. 

Blonde bombshell.

Her first initial (along with several others), is used to open Leon's desk.

Meat of Guide Pamphlet is very similar to Marvin's Memo.

Police station was originally an art museum you know.

Shoot fifteen Mr. Raccoon toys* to receive unbreakable knife.

*Also in File 1.

Miscellany

1.21 (possibly gigawatts) could be a nod towards Back to the Future.

Surname of Daniel Cortini may be in homage to Nine Inch Nails keyboard player Alessandro Cortini.

Carried by Zeus or Athena, Aegis is interpreted as a shield or animal skin.

HERE'S BRIAN!

Kubrick's classic has a lot to answer for.

Molten hot trivia alert.

When skulking around the Orphanage, you'll eventually hear a piece of music.

Oh, you wanna know what is?

Well as you asked so nicely.

It's the climax of Richard Wagner's epic musical drama Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), specifically Act III Scene III.

This is not, I repeat NOT listed in end credits.

In Leon's campaign, he and Ada will take a shortcut through Kendo's gun shop.
Banner of Ballistics ammunition is pretty hard to miss.

On meeting Ashley for the first time in Resi Evil 4, Luis famously remarks:

"Well, I see that the President's daughter equipped his daughter with ballistics too."

WTF?

There isn't much room for light relief, so I present my own.

 I like a fag as much as the next bloke, but I hardly think you could describe any cigarette as 'refreshing'.
Who knows, maybe Dingo Red taste of lager?

Gas station only allows 3 students at a time and only $30 is kept in register after dark.
So this place is basically advertising the fact that anybody can break in during the night and help themselves to a daily, if fairly modest Brucie bonus.
Brilliant security.

Missing persons poster at RPD is ridiculous.

As luck would have it, yours truly knows the whereabouts of Chanel Heatherton, Carl Beatty, Karlie Bair and Stephanie Winervine.
I'll just dial XXX-XXX-XXXX and give details.
"The number you have dialled has not been recognised, please check and try again."
Now why doesn't that fucking surprise me?

Take a look at the back of Cortini's motor.

There is a clear gap in the middle of SHE RIFF. 

Done on purpose?

Well maybe so, but when you nip around side.

Despite post obscuring view, said word is written how it should be.

(Frowns).

Near beginning of title sequence, illuminated sign of REDBU spins towards camera.

One would think another nod to The Shining, but that wouldn't make any sense.

My head hurts.

Poetry Slam and Rat Em Out!

In loving memory of those who served with the valor of lions, the nobility of unicorns, and whose ultimate sacrifice is as pure as the maidens of old.

Not quite William Blake, but good effort though Capcom.

Likeness steals

Claire is modelled on Canadian hottie Jordan Mcewen.

But why does she look so much like Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider reboot?

Who looks remarkably similar to:

Zoey (Left 4 Dead)

Tyrant

Okay, he's not as frightening as he was 21 years ago, but invincible bastard still shouldn't be fucked with.

I'm suggesting ugly mug is an amalgam of Dolph Lundgren and Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010).

Coincidence?

Robert Kendo vs Andy (Dawn of the Dead 2004)

Sure they look nothing like each other, but both own a gun shop.

To add further weight, Andy also has a daughter.

On the flip side, it's entirely possible that character in Zack Snyder's remake was 'inspired' by original dude.

Ooh, sorry about that babe.

Just so we're clear, there was a gun shop in DOTD (1978), but that doesn't count.

Rip offs

Tyrant breaking through vs Nemesis breaking through (Resident Evil: Apocalypse)

Both (more likely the latter), stink heavily of Arnie doing the same at Cyberdyne building in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Best is saved until last.

Cut scene continues vs Robocop 2

Baddies clock oncoming threat.

Vehicles approach at high speed.

Ramming targets inside wall.

Damn I'm good.