After struggling to get better guests on the show, the Reel Nerds discover that they have some competition and struggle to understand if this rival podcast is more popular because of their reviews or that they have a girl in the group.
The Reel Nerds watch Prisoners and Ryan farts into the mic.
Long time friend Branden visits the show, Statham finally calls in, and the gang reviews Insidious 2.
Macbrebonics is back to help us review Riddick and Brad gets pranked. The Last of Us is also examined.
I have already voiced my displeasure of the decision by Marvel to kill Peter Parker and replace him with one of his greatest enemies Otto Octavius. Now that the “Superior” Spider-Man has been in action since January I thought I would share with you why not only does this idea not work, but makes a mockery of the legacy of Peter Parker.
The editors of Marvel promised that the 700th issue would be the most controversial issue in Spider-Man’s history. There is a difference between being controversial and doing a story just to drive sales. I have been a Spider-Man fan since I first read the back of a card that described the death of Gwen Stacy, and if you ask me I still believe the most controversial issue of Spider-Man are the issues that ran from Amazing #509-514. That one had Gwen Stacy hooking up with Norman
Osborn, and having genetically enhanced twins, yes that really happened. That was dumb, and even the writer J. Michael Straczynski thought that the story should be retconned when Marvel decided to end the marriage of Peter and Mary Jane. Another story that I had huge problems with. In that story Aunt May is shot. And after Peter tried every avenue to save her he realized it was hopeless. So too did the Marvel Devil, Mephisto. He offered to save May in exchange for the end of the Parkers’ marriage. Peter agreed and in one magic swoop his marriage was over, Harry Osborn was alive and Peter was happy. The reason I bring these stories up is that it is not the first time Marvel has decided to mess with Spider-Man. I also understand that it is difficult to tell a new story for a character who has been around for 50 years. Also I understand that writers have the right to take risks for the sake of the story they tell. Spidey also is at his best when he is put in situations where he doesn’t seem he can win. Flash forward to Amazing Spider-Man 700 where Spidey is in an almost no win situation where his mind is trapped in the dying body of Dr. Octopus, but Peter can’t save himself from a death in a dying, decaying body of Ock. Doc Ock decides there that he will be a better Spider-Man, a “Superior” Spider-Man. I’m not sure if Dan Slott did not remember a story he wrote just a few months before where Octavius tried to murder millions of people on Earth, and now in the course of two pages he realizes that maybe he should be a good guy, what? And then came the Superior Spider-Man.
Almost every issue starts with Otto (remember his brain is Octavius, his body is Parker’s) declaring that he is the Superior Spider-Man. Just because the character(or the writer) says that he is better doesn’t mean it’s true.
It is beaten into your head over and over again that Otto’s intelligence makes him a better Spider-Man. No Otto(aka Dan Slott) just because you think your smarter doesn’t make you Superior. It’s the actions that you do as a hero that makes you who you are. When Peter allows a burglar to escape custody and learns that his Uncle Ben was killed by the same man, he learns that “With Great Power, comes Great Responsibility”. A horrible way to become a hero but it was his guiding force for all his years as Spidey. What did Otto learn when he became Spider-Man, that “I can steal this mans body, use the good name that this man has EARNED and piss it all away because I believe he hasn’t used his powers to their fullest”. And Slott wastes no time having Otto leave his mark.
In Superior Spider-Man#2 Octo-Peter uses Peter’s memories of his relationship with Mary Jane to try and get her into bed. So this new called “hero” is trying to trick a
woman who has feelings for Peter into falling for him again, that is borderline rape. To a fan of Spider-Man that is totally unacceptable, but the horrible stories just keep coming. In Superior Spider-Man #5 the villain Massacre escapes from jail and goes on a murderous rampage. Yes it is horrible and Spidey should bring him to justice. Octavius (I refuse to call him Spider-Man during this part of the story) tracks Massacre down and kicks his ass. During the scuffle Massacre drops his gun. To which Otto picks it up. He points it at Massacre and the villain begs for his life, Otto then does the unthinkable, he shoots a defenseless man right in the head, KILLING the villain. No remorse 
just cold blooded murder. What the hell!? Again it’s ok to challenge a hero, but making him kill, making him arrogant and a total asshole doesn’t make the hero edgy, it makes him just a jerk. This is supposed to be a Superior Spider-Man? I don’t think so.
Not everything is a failure with Spidey’s relaunch. When you are not being told that Otto is a better Spider-Man and when Otto doesn’t talk some of the stories are pretty good. The threat of a new Green Goblin is fun and so too is Peter’s ex-girlfriend Carlie Cooper investigating Spider-Man because she doesn’t believe that the Superior Spider-Man is really Spider-Man at all. I just hope that Carlie figures it out soon. I don’t know how much longer I can keep reading Spider-Man. I don’t like seeing Spidey like this, he is no fun. Right now the Superior Spider-Man is just a horrible person, and a villain. The editors at Marvel will say that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko always put Parker through the ringer(want proof read the letters in Superior Spider-Man 13 that’s their defense), yes that might be true, but they never killed him and replaced him with a homicidal ego-maniac.
September 19th, 8pm at The Bug Theater, The Emerging Filmmakers Project will include a screening of Reel Nerds Podshow Episode 1 among several other films from local filmmakers.
The Emerging Filmmakers Project (EFP) has been showcasing the best of Denver’s indie film scene since 2002. Held the third Thursday of every month and hosted by local filmmaker Patrick Sheridan, the EFP is a great place to screen your work, network with other creatives in town, and to support your fellow indie filmmakers.
A spirited talkback with each filmmaker follows their movie where you, the audience, gets to to tell the filmmaker exactly what you think of their work!
The line up for the September 19th EFP includes the following movies:
Reel Nerds Podshow Episode 1: Gay for RDJ – Bradley Haag (10:45)
Neuroplasticity by Kitty Tooth Salad – John Hartman (6:00)
City O’City – Denver Open Media (4:15)
Kerouac’s Denver – Peter Simon (8:15)
You Don’t Know Me by Lost Caravan – David Quakenbush (3:15)
Divine Intervention trailer – Colin Floom (2:30)
Lineup subject to change!
Doors open at 7:30. Screening begins at 8:00. $5.
The Bug Theatre and The Emerging Filmmakers Project are supported by the SCFD, Patsy’s, Yelp, The Onion, and cool cats everywhere.
The Reel Nerds do a double-feature of The Spectacular Now and I Declare War while enjoying their award-winning Open Screen Night and James slams Paramount.
Hauntingly beautiful, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is the ultimate test of not only survival but also the most important game that has ever been produced for the Playstation 3. That is quite the statement, yes with amazing exclusive titles such as the Uncharted series, God of War and Infamous, The Last of Us stands above them all.
The Last of Us tells the story of Joel, an ordinary man that must survive a deadly virus outbreak. The story has been told before but not this well. Joel’s story begins the night of the outbreak, his brother Tommy rushes to Joel’s house and informs him he must leave. Joel grabs his daughter and they go. It doesn’t take long for the world to go to Hell. The government has started to panic and the virus has infected many people already. You have no time to figure out what is going on and Joel’s life is forever changed in an instant.
Flash forward 20 years and Joel is a changed man. He does anything he can to survive, even killing other people. Joel is recruited by his friend Tess to transport cargo across the city. The “cargo” turns out to be in the form of a fiercely independent 14 year old girl Ellie. Ellie is might be carrying the cure for all of humanity, herself. But in order to extract the cure Joel, Tess, and Ellie must first locate the Fireflies, a group of resistance fighters who can help. They encoun
ter danger along the way, not only in the form of the infected but also there are many evil people around.
The Last of Us is such an amazing piece of entertainment. Not only as a video game but as a form of storytelling. The game succeeds in all areas. The first thing that grabs your attention is how beautiful the game is. Every detail in the game is fully realized and wonderfully rendered. Look at the screenshot to the right, that is in game graphics. The cities are in ruin but the Earth has taken them back. They are overgrown with vegetation and wildlife.The game’s story takes place over a year and each season has it’s own unique look. Also, it takes place over several major cities each with there own personalities and dangers. If you are familiar with any of the cities the story takes place in you will immediately recognize landmarks.
The controls are tight as well. At first they seem a little overwhelming because there is so much you can do. But after about 20 minutes they seem like second nature. And it’s a good thing too because the gameplay is so diverse.You have to sneak around, run, shoot, throw, make weapons, make bombs, make health kits. The controls are precise and shooting is accurate.
The sound design is also top notch. Although there is not music throughout, it is well placed and hits all the right emotional core. The game is also terrifying. The infected are very scary. There are several types. The most common are referred to as runners. They are fast and attack in packs. Runners are newly infected, so they are wild and out of control. The scariest type are known as clickers. The fungus has infected them so much that they are blind. But they can kill you instantly and are incredibly difficult to kill. The noise they make will haunt your dreams.
What makes the game so unforgettable is the characters. Joel is a no nonsense tough son of a bitch. He doesn’t let anyone get close to him and keeps everyone at a distance. He is a borderline villain for the things he does until you realize the world he lives in, and you think I would probably do the same things. My favorite character and I’m sure I am not alone is Ellie. She is so real and honest I do not think there is a better written character in video games. The interaction between her and Joel is so real you swear that these are not scripted moments. I love too how she calls out where there is danger and how much she kicks ass in fights, I can’t count how many times I was about to get shot, stabbed and Ellie would shoot them before they got to me.
I loved this game. I have never felt this way playing any other game. It was heart breaking, powerful and intense. It would also have moments when I was smiling when Joel and Ellie’s relationship grows from weary strangers to two individuals who care so much for each other. You have to play this game. If you own a PS3 and do not own this game, shame on you, if you own a Xbox 360 trade it in for a PS3 and get this game and play it.
Graphics 5.0
Stunning, every detail from faces to ruined cities are amazing.
Controls 5.0
Tight and precise.
Sound 5.0
Voice work is amazing, and the soundtrack is first rate.
Fun Factor 5.0
Get this game now.