Pop Culture Guy episode 50: Reviews On The March

BlacKkKlansman

BlacKkKlansman is the true, inspirational, and very poignant story of Ron Stallworth, the first black cop in Colorado Springs, Colorado who teamed up with another officer to infiltrate the local chapter of the KKK and stop their next terrorist attack in 1972. The film is unapologetic when it comes to the true life bigotry of anyone who has ever joined the organization and their feelings toward anyone of color or different beliefs. As the director and one of the cowriters, Spike Lee crafts a superb detective drama that adds a bit of comedy here and there, while also making one uncomfortable in such a way that you keep getting invested. The decision to end the film with footage of modern day alt-right protests over white pride, the Charlottesville car attack in 2017, and Trump's response shows how much little has changed but how much like the events of the movie can bring people together against such threats. John David Washington and Adam Driver pull of not only great performances but have such an amazing chemistry. All of the actors portraying the KKK, especially Topher Grace as leader David Duke, all do too good of a job at making us hate them. Both the music and cinematography do a fantastic job at evoking and capturing the era in which the film is set. This is a film that, no doubt, will leave an impact on so many people, will inspire so many, and will be impossible to just forget about, especially in today's current climate. Over all: 100%

2018 top list so far:
1. Won't You Be My Neighbor?/BlacKkKlansman (tie)

2. Incredibles 2

3. Avengers: Infinity War

4. Mission: Impossible - Fallout

5. Solo: A Star Wars Story

6. A Quiet Place
7. Deadpool 2

8. Black Panther
9. Ant-Man and the Wasp

10. Ready Player One

11. Sicario: Day of the Soldado

12. Ocean's 8

13. Isle of Dogs

14. Game Night
15. Thoroughbreds

16. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

17. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1

The third and last of the free digital comics after seeing Thor: Ragnarok, The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1 takes place after Thor has lost the unworthiness of being able to lift Mjolnir and is now on a quest to find another version of Mjolnir that belonged to the Ultimate version of Thor. Although I haven't read the comics that have to do with the new Secret Wars event or Thor losing his hammer, the comic itself gives information about those events as well as learning about them from comic book video reviewers. You get to see a Thor who is more vulnerable than he's ever been as he fights large enemies without the use of his magic hammer. The issue has a perfect balance of Thor's expositional narration and the fight scenes that he takes part in. It had an artwork very similar to the previous Thor comic I read, and just like the former this is really good. One of my favorite moments was when Thor ran into Beta Ray Bill and agreed to help in, and this is the first time I read a comic with Bill. As the other Thor comic and the first issue of the Planet Hulk storyline, this has elements that Ragnarok would use, mainly Thor losing his hammer and much like how Infinity War played out he goes after a battle axe version of it. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
2. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
3. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
7. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
8. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
9. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
10. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
11. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
12. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
13. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
14. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8