Entertainment
Raunchy Star Wars Tribute Film Reveals Every Problem With The Disney Era
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
There’s nothing quite like returning to a guilty pleasure film; it’s the cinematic equivalent of raiding the fridge at 2:00 am and making a sandwich so unhealthy it would give Scooby and Shaggy diabetes. Sure, you could watch something more enriching, just like you could eat something other than meat covered with every sauce and topping that you own, but where’s the fun in that? Sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants, even if that happens to be (let’s face it) pure cinematic junk food.
Recently, I returned to one of my ultimate guilty pleasure foods: Fanboys, the film about Star Wars nerds trying to see The Phantom Menace before its release. With a 33 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s fair to say that most people consider this film a serious stinker. But I’ve always enjoyed how the movie embraces the cringe of both its premise and its characters, effectively leaning into the goofiness that made us fall in love with Luke, Leia, and Han in the first place. Watching Fanboys now also reveals the biggest problem with the Disney era of Star Wars: the desperate need to make a dorky franchise seem cool.
Get Into The Garbage Chute, Fanboy!
Most of Fanboys is a tribute to the Original Trilogy, which makes sense: in this ‘90s set film, the prequels have yet to come out. Of course, Fanboys came out in 2009, four years after the Prequel Trilogy ended. The creators were very well aware of how much fans largely hated George Lucas’ follow-up film, so they ended Fanboys with a bit of cheeky meta-commentary. As our characters settle in to watch The Phantom Menace on the big screen, one of them broaches a once-unthinkable proposition right before the credits roll: “What if the movie sucks?”
That line hits differently now that Disney has released its own Sequel Trilogy of Star Wars movies. In the wake of those film failures, there has been plenty of critical reappraisal of the prequels. Some of this comes from younger audiences who grew up with those movies and have a nostalgic fondness for the foundational schlock of their childhood. But a surprising amount of the reappraisal comes from older fans who once mercilessly bashed movies like The Phantom Menace. Those fans have decided that, in retrospect, passionate Star Wars movies from an honest weirdo are better than dispassionate Star Wars movies made by a soulless company.
Force Choking The Critics
As one of those older fans, I kept thinking about this comparison when watching Fanboys. To be clear, this is a film that is filled with flaws: the humor is broad, and much of the raunchier stuff (added at Harvey Weinstein’s request, no less) is simply gross rather than engrossing. However, most of the bad jokes were written from the perspective of the titular fanboys, and they collectively manage to do something that I thought was impossible. Namely, the humor of the film captured what it was like to be a Star Wars fan in the ‘90s.
The characters debate about whether Boba Fett was actually cool, get advice from Harry Knowles, strike out with women, and generally act like a gaggle of homeschooled kids whose only teacher was a VCR. Some of the jokes and even the performances are rough around the edges (seriously, Kristen Bell is acting circles around her colleagues), but that’s part of the charm: like the best of the worst bad B-movies, all of this came from creators who are deeply passionate and had something to say. In this way, they effectively channel the quirky excesses of George Lucas himself when he was making the soon-to-be-hated prequels.
The Nostalgia Menace
In The Phantom Menace, does it really make sense for Qui-Gon Jinn to trust his life to an idiot with a speech impediment? Of course not, just like it doesn’t make sense for him to risk the fate of an entire planet on the child slave that he ends up buying and bringing back to the Jedi temple. The craziness continued with Attack of the Clones, which had Obi-Wan Kenobi solving huge galactic conspiracies by talking to the weirdo owner of his favorite diner. In Revenge of the Sith, meanwhile, Anakin murders a zillion children because he got an “IOU” on saving Padme from a boss who now has resting monster face.
All of these are bonkers creative decisions by George Lucas, but that’s part of what makes the prequels special. The man is always swinging for the fences, and even when the bat doesn’t connect, it’s fun to watch each swing. You can’t ever really predict where Lucas is going to go with this story, just like you can never predict what will happen next to the titular protagonists of Fanboys. There’s a certain magic to that, and watching this fannish comedy unfold has the same bizarrely captivating quality as listening to your craziest friend tell his most unhinged story.
E-Girl And Her Podracer Boyfriend
Compared to the prequels, Disney’s Star Wars sequels are depressingly flat. You can feel the corporate meddling at every step, from transforming The Force Awakens into a soft reboot to bringing Palpatine back for sheer nostalgia value. There is no actual creative vision behind these movies because the company doesn’t care about creativity: they just care about keeping fans happy enough to keep buying endless Funko slop. Lucas might have gotten rich by selling toys, but he didn’t worry all that much about pandering to fans; instead, he jammed his prequels with anything and everything he found interesting, giving us a trilogy truly unlike any other ever made.
While Fanboys pokes very gentle fun at the prequels, it has something important in common with those films: it’s filled with every crazy idea that the creators can jam into it. Major cameos from heavyweights like William Shatner and Carrie Fisher exist alongside scenes where our heroes learn life lessons from hookers. The film has poignant things to say about life and death, but it also has time to make our heroes strip down to impress a local gay bar (their own personal Mos Eisley). The whole thing is a surprisingly complex meditation on friendship, though this can be hard to notice when, say, Kristin Bell is dressed as slave Leia.
Much like the Star Wars prequels, Fanboys is very flawed and divisive, but it was made with honesty and passion from quirky creators who had a genuine vision. That alone gives the film more rewatchability than the Disney-era Sequel Trilogy. If you’d like to see just how funny fan humor can be, or maybe you want to relive the glory days of ‘90s Star Wars fandom, you’re in luck. Fanboys is currently streaming on Tubi, which should honestly consider making a new slogan based on everyone’s favorite galaxy far, far away: “the free will be with you. Always.”
Entertainment
Chuck Norris' Insane, R-Rated 80s Action Flick Is Exploitative, Violent, And Awesome
By Robert Scucci
| Published
1985’s Invasion U.S.A. Holy crap, what a movie. Chuck Norris doesn’t kill terrorists. Terrorists kill themselves when they learn that Chuck Norris is coming for them. This movie was made possible by Cannon Films, the studio that also brought us 1987’s Masters of the Universe and 1989’s Cyborg. The latter was famously written in a single weekend by Albert Pyun after Masters of the Universe underperformed, its sequel plans fell apart, and Cannon needed to repurpose expensive sets and props in a last-ditch effort to recoup their losses.
In case you’re wondering what caliber film Invasion U.S.A. is, the above paragraph is all the explanation you need. It was written by Chuck Norris and James Bruner, and directed by Joseph Zito, best known for classic punishers like 1979’s Bloodrage, 1984’s Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, and 1984’s Missing in Action, another powerhouse Chuck Norris vehicle that sits with a 19 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes but is revered as a cult classic.
One Lone Badass Against Every Single Terrorist
Chuck Norris is retired CIA Agent Matt Hunter in Invasion U.S.A., and before things truly heat up, he’s totally fine with his quiet life. He rides around on his airboat with his best friend John Eagle (Dehl Berti), wrestles alligators, and rocks a full Canadian tuxedo like it’s standard issue. What Matt Hunter doesn’t know yet is that he’s about to be forced out of retirement when he learns that his old rival Mikhail Rostov (Richard Lynch) is back to his old tricks.
And what are Mikhail Rostov’s old tricks, you ask? It’s a bit convoluted, but here’s what I picked up after watching Invasion U.S.A., not knowing what I was getting into. Rostov, a Soviet terrorist, wants to create civil unrest in the United States. He first leaves his mark by posing as the Coast Guard and murdering a group of Cuban refugees. He then walks into a flop house, shoots a random dude in the dick, and throws a cocaine-addicted woman through a window.
By themselves, these sequences are unintentionally hilarious, but they also establish exactly what kind of menace Rostov is. These incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, because what he plans next is total anarchy. Rostov, haunted by nightmares of Matt Hunter finally delivering brutal justice, decides to assassinate him so he can finally stop looking over his shoulder. He screws it up, misses his target, blows up Hunter’s swamp house, and kills John Eagle in the process. That’s enough to bring Hunter out of retirement so he can make Rostov’s nightmare come true after all.
Rostov and his goons, thinking they’ve eliminated Matt Hunter, show up in suburban neighborhoods with bazookas and start blowing up random houses. They hit a mall with enough explosives to blow the Santa display into the stratosphere. They show up at public spaces and mow down people coming out of church. All of these acts of terror build toward race wars and full societal collapse. Chuck Norris drives around in his truck wearing driving gloves, because he needs to keep his hands fresh for combat.
More Collateral Damage Than You Could Ever Reasonably Count
Everything explodes in Invasion U.S.A. There is a very clear bad guy and good guy here, and Rostov has a very specific, very insane calling card. He shoots multiple people in the crotch as if it’s his signature move. He literally pulls down the waistband, inserts the muzzle, and starts blasting. Right in the family jewels. He does this a lot. It’s a perfect action movie if these are the kinds of thrills you seek. As Matt Hunter gets further into his crusade for justice, he stays stoic, confident, and ready to tell the higher-ups exactly what they need to do to make sure America rebuilds and remains a dominant world power.
It’s all so stupid, but it’s such a great flick to throw on with friends. The rewind-and-laugh-your-ass-off value on this one is off the charts, making it perfect for a group setting. If you want to celebrate one of Cannon’s most insane clunkers from the 80s, you can stream Invasion U.S.A. for free on Tubi as of this writing.
Entertainment
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Atletico Madrid are fresh from beating Barcelona in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League. They’re going to come up against Arsenal in the next round, but first they face off against Real Sociedad in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Atletico Madrid are comfortably above their opponents in La Liga, but Real Sociedad possess the quality to beat any side on their best day. The likes of Mendez and Oyarzabal will likely cause problems for Diego Simeone’s team this weekend.
If you want to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad?
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 18. This fixture takes place at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Mashable Top Stories
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad for free
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit ITVX
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Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
How to watch Verona vs. AC Milan online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Verona vs. AC Milan in Serie A for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Serie A showcases a number of interesting matchups this weekend, including Verona vs. AC Milan. These teams are at either end of the table, so most fans will be expecting a comfortable victory for the visitors. There’s always the possibility that the slim chance of survival will drive Verona on to do something special at the Marcantonio Bentegodi.
If you want to watch Verona vs. AC Milan in Serie A for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Verona vs. AC Milan?
Verona vs. AC Milan in Serie A kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on April 19. This fixture takes place at the Marcantonio Bentegodi.
How to watch Verona vs. AC Milan for free
Verona vs. AC Milan in Serie A is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
Mashable Top Stories
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Verona vs. AC Milan for free by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
-
Visit BBC iPlayer
-
Live stream Verona vs. AC Milan for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Verona vs. AC Milan without committing with your cash. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from Serie A before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
-
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Verona vs. AC Milan in Serie A for free with ExpressVPN.
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