The sweet smell of rivalry is in the air, so grab your popcorn and slide into the hell that is the YouTube comments section, because this week has brought with it some strong opinions.
On today’s menu: a DC trailer that takes digs at the Trump-supporting Marvel CEO, another Asian character whitewashed with a mediocre actor, slow motion boobs and a potentially exploitative documentary on a murdered 6-year-old.
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Take your pick.
Justice League
Let’s just get straight to this week’s most anticipated trailer: DC’s first for Justice League that is determined to remind superhero lovers that they may have the most Razzies, but at least they have diversity.
Justice (shot of Hawaiian lead) for (shot of Israeli woman) all (shot of African American lead) — has there ever been a clearer attack on Marvel’s beige and boring cast? I don’t think there has. It’s made even more satisfying, too, when you remember that Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter is a Trump supporter.
And, yes, Zack Snyder is at the helm of this film, so no one is expecting cinematic greatness. But if it annoys a few racists or gets called feminist propaganda, then I will give it my money (despite the use of The Beatles’ cover).
Justice League is out November this year.
Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On
Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On is a six-episode documentary series from the creators of the 2015 Netflix documentary Hot Girls Wanted.
The series “peels back the curtain on the state of the [porn] industry, the talent, the consumers, and the technology that powers it all,” the description reads.
It seemingly explores the lives of both creators and regular watchers of porn, and the often toxic relationship that forms between them.
“The same people who are judging you are the same people who consume your product.”
Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On is available for streaming from 21 April.
Baywatch
Look, a film that objectifies every actor and actress it stars doesn’t need plot. That’s not what it’s selling — and we’re all going to watch it whether it’s dumb or not.
For the lady lovers, there’s Alexandra Daddario and Priyanka Chopra. If you’re into dudes, there’s Dwayne Johnson and a buff Zac Efron. And if you’re into both, there’s an absolute field day.
There’s also some stuff about lifeguards taking on criminals on the beach, but, like, okay. Whatever.
Baywatch is out 26 May.
Fight for Space
Bill Nye and Neil Degrasse Tyson talk about NASA in this trailer for Fight for Space, and they don’t hold back.
The documentary features American scientists discussing NASA’s failings in motivating young scientists and getting humans to Mars.
“This film probes why and how the space program came adrift, will examine our current plans and asks why we don’t have a more ambitious space program and what steps can be taken to fix it,” reads the description.
It’s not for everyone, but I imagine there’s a good deal of people who would love to watch Bill Nye throw shade.
The film premiered at DOC NYC Film Festival last year, and does not have an iTunes release date as of yet.
The Sweet Life
Despite this getting the theme song for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody stuck in my head for the rest of the week, The Sweet Life looks like an honest film about loneliness and depression that could make you sob if you watch it at the right point in your cycle.
The description calls it an “edgy and unconventional dramedy” about “Lolita Nowicki” — so you should be in for your standard manic pixie dream girl kind of film.
“Each struggling with their own brand of demons, [Kenny and Lolita] first meet by chance in Chicago and form a pact to travel across country to the Golden Gate Bridge to commit suicide… together,” the description reads.
It, too, does not have a regular release date yet.
Casting JonBenet
Casting JonBenet is a documentary about the murder of JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado in 1996. The murder remains unsolved and a huge focus for those interested in true crime.
Some believe the parents did it, some think it was her 9-year-old brother and others believe the parents’ story of strangers holding her up for ransom.
This documentary explores the various theories by inviting local Boulder residents to “audition” for the roles of the various people involved. In doing so, the filmmakers get them to open up about their thoughts on the case and how it affected their lives.
“A darkly moving exploration of crime, guilt and personal bias, Casting JonBenet expertly blurs the lines between documentary and drama,” reads the description.
The film premieres on Netflix 28 April.
Death Note
I’m as tired about writing about Hollywood’s whitewashing of Asian characters as much as you’re tired of reading it. But come on — you’re telling me Nat Wolff of Paper Towns and Mr Troop Mom was the best actor they could have chosen?
According to Edward Zo — an Asian YouTuber — Netflix told him it wasn’t considering Asian actors at all for this live action remake of an anime. And, as some Twitter users have pointed out, a movie in which a white dude grows a God Complex isn’t exactly escapist fantasy.
It’s time to write Netflix’s Death Note in the Death Note.
The film is available on Netflix on 25 August.
