Author Archives: Ryan Cadaver

Matt Damon’s is the only life on Mars in “The Martian”

The Martian had every opportunity to be a dull, depressing chore of a movie. Instead, it delivers a heartfelt and exciting tale of survival on the barren red planet Mars. Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is an astronaut on a manned Mars mission when a violent, fast-moving storm causes his crew to abort its mission. During the escape, he is struck by debris and disappears into the fierce storm. He is presumed dead and awakens to find his crew is long gone. He quickly has to assess the situation and has to plan for years of survival. He is alone, millions of miles from home with severely limited air, food and water, and no means of communication with Earth.

I am typically not a fan of survival movies; I didn’t like Cast Away, wasn’t a fan of 127 Hours and thought Gravity was decent, but I didn’t have any urge to ever sit through it again. My main problem with these movies is they get so dark and serious and by the halfway point you are just ready for them to either die or get rescued so you can move on with your day. The Martian is a breath of fresh air (despite Mars’ lack of oxygen) because the main character never gives up hope, even when the situation can’t get any more dire. He often smiles and cracks jokes, but is also realistic about his situation and his odds of survival.

Watney is an amazingly-written character and his survival skills are second to none. I heard the author of the novel (Andy Weir) refer to him as “MacGyver in space,” which really sums him up perfectly. From what I understand about the movie, the science is pretty accurate, but even if that wasn’t the case, it’s very believable. Some of the scenarios are far fetched, however an astronaut on a manned Mars mission would presumably be the best of the best and ridiculously intelligent, resourceful and industrious. Mark’s attitude remains tremendously positive throughout the movie, never giving in to what I imagine would be crushing loneliness and despair. Damon makes this character extremely entertaining, funny and heartfelt, allowing the viewer to become fully invested in the story. You cheer for every success and weep for every set back. This is definitely my favorite performance from Matt Damon since The Departed.

The supporting cast in The Martian is out of this world. Even though Matt Damon carries most of the film, he is backed up with a NASA team, as well as the Ares 3 crew that leaves the planet during the storm. Sean Bean, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig (playing well against type) and Donald Glover make up the NASA support team. Daniels is the director of NASA and is sometimes a bastard, sometimes a hero, but always a very sympathetic character. He is deeply concerned with Watney, but he must also consider the well being and survival of NASA as a whole. The remaining crew of the Ares 3 is wonderfully played by Jessica Chastain, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan and Aksel Hennie. It feels like there is an authentic bond between these five, as if they actually experience these life changing events, love each other and each mourn the loss of their colleague and friend. Periodically stepping away from Mars to NASA and the Ares 3 keeps the pace of the movie changing so it never drags.

The cinematography of this film is absolutely breathtaking. The portrayal of the landscape of Mars is desolate and beautiful. The vast empty terrain really fosters the feeling of utter isolation and loneliness. It’s simultaneously terrifying and stunning. Mars is more than a backdrop, it is a character in this film.

As a long time fan of Ridley Scott and sci-fi movies, I highly suggest checking this one out. The film has the big blockbuster moments and is able to tell a very engaging tale of survival on a planet that is completely devoid of life. It is about never giving up in the face of seemingly insurmountable trials. There are moments when I laugh so hard it hurts and there are moments where I feel despondent over Watney’s journey. You feel his terrible loneliness and isolation, but more than that you feel his infinite hope. The Martian is an incredibly engaging story mentally and emotionally and is extremely visually striking, making it appealing to almost any moviegoer.

www.themartianmovie.com

Ryan Cadaver ventures into the Unknown

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I have been an Unknown Hinson fan for about seven years. It all started when I got a copy of The Future Is Unknown and I listened to it nonstop for several months. I couldn’t stop listening to it and it seemed to get better and even more hysterical the more I played it. I would even say it’s still my favorite album, but Unknown Hinson would disagree. It’s not an album, it’s a CD.

Ryan Cadaver (left) talks shit (middle) with Unknown Hinson (right). Photo by Kevin Mayfield.

When I got the opportunity to interview Unknown Hinson for Wrestling with Pop Culture I was over the moon. I have admired this man for years. He is a master musician, songwriter, lyricist and a hell of a character. I was pumped all day to finally meet him and when the green room doors opened and Unknown invited me in, it was surreal. Meeting your heroes is always intense, but I was meeting my hero and interviewing him, so this experience was totally new to me. When we got situated I put on my serious face and started getting to business. I was relieved to find out he was eager to talk and had a hilarious response to every question I had. It would have been nice to have a longer chat with Unknown, but it was obvious that showtime was approaching rapidly. Being in a band myself, I absolutely did not want to be that guy who overstayed his welcome backstage. We did manage to have some hilarious conversations about party liquor, calcium, rock ‘n’ roll, prison and then we ended with some insight on his self production of his music and advice for up and coming musicians. I was kinda kicking myself for not saving time for more info on upcoming releases and Squidbilles, so the future remains a bit unknown. Until then, watch my interview with the King of Country Western Troubadours. Then catch him on tour this month and next.

www.unknownhinson.com

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. provides enough action and comedy to make you say “uncle”

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Henry Cavill trades in his Superman outfit for a swanky spy suit in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is based on a ’60s television show of the same name that I had heard of, but knew absolutely nothing about. I, like many moviegoers, have been fatigued over the years by constant remakes and reboots and I went in with minimal expectations, at best. Little did I know The Man From U.N.C.L.E was about to take me on a thrill ride that was so much fun it would easily become one of my favorite films of the summer.

The film follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin through a mission to stop a criminal organization that is working on developing nuclear weapons for worldwide destruction. The plot isn’t particularly deep or groundbreaking, but it is everything the movie needs to keep the action high and the banter hilarious. Napoleon is played by Man of Steel‘s Henry Cavill, and he absolutely kills the role. He is sharp, funny, smart and he always gets the ladies, as any spy should. Kuryakin is played by Armie Hammer who I haven’t seen since The Lone Ranger. I am glad he is back because he is fantastic as the unstoppable and unstable KGB agent. Hammer and Cavill have great chemistry and complement each other well, with their onscreen interactions feeling very natural and effortless.

Armie Hammer as KGB agent Illya Kuryakin. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

One of the things that gave me hope for this film from the start is director Guy Ritchie. I have been a huge fan of his work ever since I saw Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He has a really unique visual style and he usually backs it up with a solid story involving interesting characters. This is achieved once again with a very fun, color-saturated 1960s backdrop and two very unlikely heroes who have to work together to prevent worldwide catastrophe. The crazy editing and fast-paced cuts we have seen him do in the past are back and better than ever, and the over the top flashiness just adds to the movie and never takes anything away. One of the best things about this film is the use of music. The score and soundtrack is a phenomenal mix of very traditional spy movie music, ’60s jams, classic Italian music and original pieces, all of which enhances the atmosphere and story without being distracting.

Elizabeth Debicki as the villainous Victoria Vinciguerra. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

This movie isn’t non-stop action throughout, but it never drags. The back-and-fourth spats between Napoleon and Kuryakin are consistently funny and never feel forced. One thing I really enjoy about the film is the screen time seems very even between both lead characters. The two strong male leads are also well balanced by a great cast of supporting characters. There is the charming, yet tough and resourceful, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander) and the unassuming Alexander Waverly (Hugh Grant) as the head of United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.). The villain Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki) is a bit of a cliché and lacks dimension. In the end, however, she’s strong enough to provide a threat to the heroes as well as set up a climatic ending that left me grinning when the credits rolled. U.N.C.L.E. is a fun, light summer flick. If you are a fan of the spy genre, Guy Ritchie or buddy movies, you will not be disappointed.

www.manfromuncle.com

Whannell adequately Furthers the horror with “Insidious: Chapter 3”

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Insidious was one of my favorite movies of 2011 and one of my favorite mainstream horror films in years. So much so, in fact, that I even wrote a song called “The Further” that I perform with my band The Casket Creatures! I have always been a sucker for paranormal horror, so I was thrilled with the way Insidious took a classic formula and proceeded to go batshit crazy with it. Introducing us to an otherworldly realm called The Further, various ghouls, spirits and demons along the way made Insidious a franchise that could go on forever if the quality didn’t decline.

Quinn (Stefanie Scott) is the victim of the evil spirits from The Further in “Insidious: Chapter 3”. Photo by Matt Kennedy.

Insidious: Chapter 2 was a solid follow up in 2013, with fewer scares, but more backstory that seemed to make the first movie feel complete. When Insidious: Chapter 3 was announced, I was beyond excited – that is until I found out director James Wan was leaving the franchise to direct The Rock in Furious 7. I was very concerned that the atmosphere and the movie as a whole just wouldn’t feel the same, and that would kill it for me. About ten minutes into the movie, however, all of these fears went away and I realized that Leigh Whannell, who wrote the first two Insidious films and assumes the roles of both writer and director for this one, knows exactly what he is doing with this franchise. He nailed the pacing, sound design and the overall atmosphere of the other two films, which I imagine would have been hard for anyone else to do.

Chapter 3 is a prequel to the original that, at first glance, would leave you to believe that it is about a new family with new ghost/demon problems. Same Further, different day. The plot involving the new family is very well done and I really found myself caring about these people and the horrible things that they were going through. Immobilizing protagonist Quinn (Stefanie Scott) for most of the movie offers a unique tension throughout the film. In my eyes, the star of the movie is the medium Elise, played by the incredible actress Lin Shaye, reprising her role from the first two films. At this point in the Insidious timeline, Elise has sworn off using her gift and is very fearful for reasons that are revealed as the story progresses. Seeing her character progress into the badass we all know is extremely gratifying. The lovable ghost hunting duo of Specs (Whannell, who has some great tongue-in-cheek dialogue) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) turns up as well to show us a very amusing look at their early relationship with Elise, the woman they grow to respect and work closely with in the future. (Wan also makes a cameo, appropriately enough, as a theater casting director.)

Quinn's father Sean (Dermont Mulroney, left) talks to the ghost hunting duo of Tucker (Angus Sampson) and Specs (Leigh Whannell) about how to save his daughter from The Further. Photo by Matt Kennedy.

Quinn’s father Sean (Dermont Mulroney, left) talks to paranormal investigators Tucker (Angus Sampson, center) and Specs (Leigh Whannell, right) about how to save his daughter from The Further. Photo by Matt Kennedy.

There are things about this installment that I’m not crazy about. The segments in The Further, for example, aren’t as awe-inspiring and chilling as they were before. Something about this whole film feels more grounded and less surreal than the first two. It losses a little bit of the insanity and it lowers the stakes overall. That being said, it is a very strong entry to the franchise and, if the quality stays at this high level, I will continue to look forward to future installments as they come out. I highly suggest Insidious: Chapter 3 if you are looking for a worthy theatrical horror experience. In a world full of mainstream horror remakes and reboots, it is good to know that films like Insidious are out there creating new worlds and lore and trying to scare the pants off audiences around the world.

www.insidiouschapter3.com

“WWE 2K15” slams sports entertainment gaming into the next generation

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I have a strange relationship with wrestling games. I have never been great at them. However, at the same time, I find myself addicted to them when a new installment drops. When a new WWE title comes out, you usually know what to expect. You may have a new roster, new create-a-wrestler options and some sort of single player story mode; but not a lot changes from year to year. This is why I was very excited to get my hands on the first sports entertainment game on a next-gen console.

I received my copy of WWE 2K15 on PlayStation 4 and my first impression was great. For my first match, I chose Bray Wyatt and my opponent was John Cena. As soon as the entrances started, I knew that the graphics were a massive jump up in quality from the previous games on last-gen consoles. The whole look and feel of 2K15 is a huge accomplishment for capturing the intensity of a real match. The best thing about 2K15 is how it showcases what we have to look forward to graphically with the next-gen wrestling games.

As impressed with the graphics as I was, I couldn’t help but realize how much was missing this year. The CAW mode is not what it used to be. There are not many options for your look and there are no options at all for creating a diva, arena, finisher or title. They also removed one of my favorite features, which was being able to have my wrestler come out to my own custom music. Maybe I should not have expected as much since the visuals have improved drastically; but it is disappointing that we can’t have it all with the first venture into the next generation.

There are two main single player modes this time. The 2K Showcase features famous rivalries and requires you to perform historical objectives in order to progress. This is very similar to the Attitude Era mode on WWE ’13. However, the story and the cut scenes are not quite as engaging. The Career mode is an exclusive to PS4 and Xbox One. Career mode has been popular in sports games for years, but I was pretty happy that this feature made its way to WWE games. In this mode, you start out with your CAW character in the WWE Performance Center. Your goal is to work your way up by making various decisions and winning matches to eventually become the superstar you know you want to be. The Career mode feature is my favorite addition to the franchise.

Overall, I have enjoyed my experience with WWE 2K15. The graphics and the gameplay are top notch, and I never noticed any huge glitches besides a couple of weird moments where the computer would seem to get stuck running in place. The roster is dynamic and fun and, as usual in these games, it really shines when playing with friends. The creation options are limited within this installment, but if that is not a deal breaker for you, I highly suggest picking it up. I give WWE 2K15 a solid 7 out of 10.

wwe.2k.com