nerd Trivia Death Match: Angry Nerd vs. Giant Robot Mech By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000 WIRED’s Angry Nerd Chris Baker takes on the WIRED robot at Comic Con for a trivia test about all things robot-related. Find out how many rounds you could go with the robot and who wins. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Depicting Computer Graphics By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:15:00 +0000 As if the lamestream media didn't have enough problems—dopey, dated graphics and cutaways have become standard visuals for stories about computers. And the Angry Nerd ain't having it. Next time ridiculous images of keyboards, cables, and binary code flash across your TV screen, remember: That's how those shows see you. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Kick-Ass 2 and Real-Life Superheroes in Films By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:30:00 +0000 With films like Kick-Ass, and now, Kick-Ass 2, cosplay vigilantes have become the new superheroes—in Hollywood's bizarro world! Angry Nerd explains why these everyday crusaders don’t cut it. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Bad Ideas from Hollywood: Punctuation in Titles—Age of the Colon By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:00:00 +0000 "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" is giving the Angry Nerd a disease: colonitis. The problem: Movie titles are overusing the colon. At fault: The man who brought us such titles as "Star Wars—Episode II: Attack of the Clones." Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why is WWE on SyFy?! Cable Networks Straying from Their Original Missions By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000 Cable networks are straying from their original mission, and Chris Baker isn't having it. Why is wrestling on the SyFy channel? Why is Star Trek playing on BBC America? When's the last time you saw a classic American movie on AMC? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - What the Bleep is Bumblebee? Indecisive Autobot Keeps Switching his Vehicular Form By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000 The Transformer known as Bumblebee keeps changing his alternative automobile form, and Chris Baker is issuing a moving violation. Is the Autobot a VW Bug? Or a mustang? A station wagon? A Zamboni?! Stop the madness! Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - TV Networks Are Running Out of Original Ideas By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000 Hunky time-traveling Ichabod Crane has made Chris Baker lose his head. Why is every other TV show an updated version of some classic fairytale or children's story? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Deconstructing LEGO: How a Beloved Toy Sold Out to Cross-Brand Licensing By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000 LEGO has strayed from its original purpose, and the Angry Nerd will not stand for it. The creative potential of infinitely interlockable plastic pieces has been killed by tie-ins with kiddie titles like Batman and Harry Potter. It used to be about the bricks, man! Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Inauthenticity of CG Blood and the Demise of Karo Syrup and Red Food Coloring By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:30:00 +0000 Angry Nerd used to love binge-watching scary movies on Halloween. But when directors started swapping classic fake blood for CG gore, the authenticity of it all went out the window. What happened to the squibs of Karo syrup and red food coloring that could splatter, squirt, and spray with frightening realism? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Implausibility of Thor's Physics-Defying Hammer, Mjölnir By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 11:30:00 +0000 Thor’s hammer Mjölnir is undoubtedly one of the most badass superhero weapons around. But its physics-defying and trajectory-changing travel powers are too much for Angry Nerd to handle. A majestic hammer...come on! Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Unraveling of Secret Societies in Pop Cultural References By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:30:00 +0000 Long gone are the days when secret societies were, in fact, secret. Now, hacks use underground organizations as shorthand for evil in their pop culture products and Angry Nerd demands an end to it. Is a mention of the Templars in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Jay Z rapping about the Illuminati worth taking away from the power of the actual conspiracy theories? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Watered-Down Hunger Games Trilogy By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:30:00 +0000 People say The Hunger Games is a watered-down Young Adult version of the brilliant Japanese movie Battle Royale, but Angry Nerd completely disagrees. He likens the sci-fi tale to a watered-down version of Running Man, but with a premise that doesn’t actually work. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Giving Thanks for TV Shows That End Before Their Time By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:14:02 +0000 It’s the time of the year for counting blessings and giving thanks. And the Angry Nerd is most thankful for the cancellation of Futurama—because it let the show go out on a high note (and avoid a slow decline, like so many other one-time favorites). Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Can Ben Affleck Successfully Suit Up as the Dark Knight? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:30:00 +0000 Has everyone finished panicking about Ben Affleck being cast as the Dark Knight in Batman vs. Superman? Because the Angry Nerd thinks you should chill—Affleck could totally pull this off. (Just think of Daredevil as a…starter superhero movie.) Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Chris Baker Responds to YouTubers About Kick-Ass 2 and the Real-Life Superheroes Trend By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Dec 2013 11:30:00 +0000 The Angry Nerd has read your comments about his loathing of Kick-Ass 2 and the trend of real-life people who become cosplay vigilantes. You have failed to convince him to change his position on the subject. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the Evolution of CG Dragons By www.wired.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 11:30:00 +0000 For years, it’s been a fantasy cinema rule that real actors and CG dragons just don’t mix—ever. With the new release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, will Peter Jackson be able to avoid the pitfalls of the disastrous dragons featured in flicks like Dragonheart, Reign of Fire, and Eragon? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Chris Baker’s Favorite Christmas Movie of All Time By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 11:30:00 +0000 A quest for films that genuinely reflect the spirit of the holidays leads the Angry Nerd to create an all-new celebration in honor of the best Christmas movie-maker of all time: Shane Black. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Riddick and Hollywood's Failed Attempts at Using POV Cameras By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:30:00 +0000 Seeing carnage through a character’s eyes used to mean something. Nowadays, Hollywood is wasting POV shots in sci-fi films like Vin Diesel’s Riddick. Angry Nerd explains why these fancy-schmancy first-person perspectives are failing, and he issues the Tinseltown execs an ultimatum. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Big Bang Theory’s Shortcomings and Inaccurate Portrayal of Geek Culture By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 11:30:00 +0000 You'd think the Angry Nerd would be square in the targeting sights of The Big Bang Theory. You'd think he'd love the show. And yet…and yet…. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Will Disney Ruin Star Wars? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:30:00 +0000 With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, the House of Mouse and J.J. Abrams are well on their way to destroying all that’s right with Star Wars…or are they? Angry Nerd poses an alternate ending to the Walt and George partnership. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Most Famous Female Comic Book Character is a Franchise Flop By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:30:00 +0000 A kick-ass lady protagonist? Check. Greek mythology? Check. Comic book source material? Check. Wonder Woman has all the ingredients for a hit TV series. So…where is it? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Unnecessary RoboCop Remake By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:30:00 +0000 They’ve resurrected RoboCop and we can’t figure out why. Actor Joel Kinnaman has a big helmet to fill, and considering all of the outrageous changes that have been made to the reboot, Angry Nerd is doubtful that the new cyborg will live up to the task. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Late Night with Seth Meyers and Stale After-Hours Talk Shows By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:30:00 +0000 Seth Meyers is ready to take over the Late Night throne, but with an antiquated show formula riddled with predictable monologues, commercials, celebrity interviews, commercials, skits—and did we mention more commercials?—how can the former S.N.L. star break out from the rest of the late night pack? Angry Nerd offers a simple solution. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - How to Improve the Academy Awards By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:30:00 +0000 It’s excruciatingly dull and doesn’t even feature the most important awards on the telecast—highlighting best actor over best scientific and technical achievement? The nerve! Angry Nerd offers advice on how to improve this year’s Oscar awards ceremony. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Today’s Remakes of Classic Cartoons By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:30:00 +0000 Pertinent question about the Mr. Peabody and Sherman cartoon: Why? It's a half-century-old cartoon with no brand recognition. But more to the point, all these expensive reboots tend to take away the things that made the original kids' shows…weird. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Veronica Mars Movie Project and the Pitfalls of Crowdfunding Films By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Veronica Mars fans pledged more than $5 million on Kickstarter to get a film adaptation of the show off the ground. And while Angry Nerd is all for crowdfunding for a good cause, when it comes to fans calling the shots in return for financial backing, the money-making model might end up causing more harm than good. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Fox News’ Abundant & Unnecessary Use of Big-Area Touch Screens By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Hollywood is always trying to sell us crazy computer interfaces. Wavy hands and holograms? Never gonna happen. But now Fox News is in on the game, too—and the Angry Nerd is unfairly unbalanced about the network's giant, newsgathering touch screens. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Captain America’s Unrealistic Vibranium Shield By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Angry Nerd is ready to demote Captain America from his current rank to lieutenant. In the Marvel superhero’s newest movie adaptation, his vibranium shield defies everything that physics and materials science has taught us. Angry Nerd calls blasphemy on the ingredient-altered shield. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Problem with Game of Thrones By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000 There’s a massive publishing gap in the books that Game of Thrones is based off of, and Angry Nerd is concerned that the show could catch up to the plot before the next book is out. But, one simple solution could solve everything. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Hasbro, Your "Magic: The Gathering" Movie Is Murdering My Childhood By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000 First Transformers, then G.I. Joe, now Magic: The Gathering? When will Hasbro learn that a successful game or toy does not equal a successful movie franchise? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - How Hollywood Can Get Evil Twins Right By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Put a bit of facial hair (or swap hair color) for your protagonist and you get an evil twin. But just because you can doesn't mean you should. The Angry Nerd describes the slippery slope from plot twist to lazy trope. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why Exactly Is Parkour Not a Film Genre Yet? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000 In Brick Mansions, parkour co-founder David Belle shows off his wall-climbing, window-jumping, rail-surfing action skills. So why isn't Belle the new Bruce Lee? This should be the greatest genre in cinema history. Angry Nerd blames the French. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Networks Somehow Find Another Way to Resurrect Old Shows By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 01 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 When a TV show goes off the air, it's supposed to stay dead. Unless it gets syndicated. But networks don't seem aware of this rule anymore, with resurrections of "24" and "Heroes" on the way. Angry Nerd does not approve of this turn of events. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Greatest Fictional Characters Ever All in One Show? Sign Me Up By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 08 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Character crossovers and storyline mash-ups are nothing new. But if the premise has been done before, are the character overlaps and reincarnations worth a watch? Angry Nerd makes the case for metaphysical mash-ups, including Showtime’s new “Penny Dreadful.” Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why the New Godzilla Movie Won’t Suck By www.wired.com Published On :: Fri, 16 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The makers of the new Godzilla movie are taking great pains to telegraph their deep reverence for kaiju cinema. In other words, they want us to know they won’t screw it up like Roland Emmerich did in 1998. Angry Nerd makes the case for why we should believe them. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - The Madness of the Timeline Mashup in the New X-Men By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 22 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Angry Nerd has been to the future and he brings back an important message: don’t see the new X-Men movie. With a scrambled timeline and inclusion of too many sub-franchises, the film adds a new dimension to the “days of future past” continuum: straight confusion. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why Disney Needs to Make More Movies About Classic Villains By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 29 May 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The House of Mouse might be onto something: Forget the hero and make the villain the star. Disney’s new film Maleficent does just that and it actually…kind of…works. Angry Nerd explains the pros of putting the evil queens and wicked witches front and center. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why Edge of Tomorrow is of the Greatest Movie About Video Games, Ever By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000 The new sci-fi flick Edge of Tomorrow is basically a sci-fi rip-off of Groundhog Day, but with more Tom Cruise and less Bill Murray. And somehow, it manages to establish itself as one of the best movies about a video game, ever. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Is Darth Disney Destroying Star Wars’ Expanded Universe? By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 With Darth Disney holding the keys to Star Wars, the fate of the expanded universe is at stake. Since the movies are only a fraction of the franchise’s stories, Angry Nerd makes a desperate plea to the only one who can help save the unabridged material: George Lucas. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” is Destined to Crash & Burn on the Big Screen By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Musicals. They’re great. But jukebox musicals? That’s an entirely different—and often terrible—story. Even with Clint Eastwood behind the camera of the new stage-to-film rendition of Jersey Boys, there’s only so much Dirty Harry can do for the destined-to-flop silver screen adaptation. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Death to the Superhero Comic-Book Movie … But Not All Comic-Book Movies By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:30:00 +0000 It’s hard for him to admit, but Angry Nerd just doesn’t need anymore Marvel or DC comic book movies. Instead of another big budget flick with an oversaturated superhero, why not look elsewhere for solid source material? Case in point: The excellent, new comic-to-silver-screen adaptation, Snowpiercer. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Why Andy Serkis is the Greatest Actor of His Generation By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 He's the maestro of motion capture performance. From Gollum in Lord of the Rings to Caesar in the new Planet of the Apes movies, Andy Serkis is the greatest actor you've never seen. So where is this man's Oscar? The Angry Nerd has words for the Academy—doesn't he, my Precious? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Give Me a Standalone Comic-Book Movie or Give Me Death By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Is it too much to ask for a comic-book flick that doesn't rely on three crappy prequels for the plot to make sense? Let's lose the complicated, interwoven story lines and focus on quality standalone films. Angry Nerd explains why Marvel's new Guardians of the Galaxy gets it just right. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Reboots We Need Way More Than "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 The upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remake is completely unnecessary. Instead of fixing flicks that ain't broke, why not reboot the films that can actually be improved upon? Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Brett Ratner's Hercules & Pillaging Story Lines for Big-Budget CGI Films By www.wired.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:20:00 +0000 Angry Nerd is hungry for some new material. Instead of force-feeding us cinematic souvlaki with CGI blowouts of Greek-inspired story lines, maybe it's time to look beyond the Peloponnesian lore. And no, Brett Ratner, we will not be entertained with your upcoming Hercules starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Full Article
nerd The Giant Creature Destroys Angry Nerd in Movie Monster Trivia at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:25:09 +0000 Angry Nerd challenges Bodock the Giant Creature to a round of movie monster trivia. Despite Angry Nerd's best efforts to trick the massive beast, Bodock comes out ahead with a few tricks of his own. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd Takes on the Avengers Cast, Cosplay Superheroes, and More at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:02:17 +0000 Angry Nerd is on location at #SDCC2014, and he's got a bone to pick with cosplay fans waiting to get into the coveted Hall H. Plus, he stops by a signing with the cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron to give Marvel a piece of his mind about the new Ant-Man movie. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd Blasts Batman and Praises Mad Max: Fury Road at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 By www.wired.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:04:07 +0000 On location at #SDCC2014, Angry Nerd talks about the new comic-book films he supports (Mad Max: Fury Road) and those he opposes (Ben Affleck's Batman). Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Luc Besson Can Give Us "Lucy" But Marvel and DC Can't Give Us She-Hulk or Black Widow? By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:30:00 +0000 Scarlett Johansson stars as the ass-kicking, nearly superhuman protagonist in the new sci-fi action flick Lucy. But while the French—namely the film's writer and director Luc Besson—continue to put out films with strong heroine leads, Marvel and DC seem content to sit on a reservoir of amazing female characters like She-Hulk and Black Widow. Full Article
nerd Angry Nerd - Chris Nolan's First Time at Comic-Con, the Interstellar Trailer & Elizabeth Olsen's Mutant Flub By www.wired.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:00:00 +0000 Chris Nolan showed up to #SDCC2014 to promote his new sci-fi flick Interstellar and Angry Nerd has a few choice words for him. Watch as he gives Nolan a piece of his mind, talks to a few cosplay fans, and gives advice to the Marvel world. Full Article