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Ryan Reynolds

The Croods: A New Age – Stone Age Meets the Modern Age

February 23, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

If you want to look at the present, sometimes we need to start with the past.

Following the events of 2013’s The Croods, The Croods: A New Age follows the ‘first family’ as wander through the wilderness. Their simple lives are turned upside down though when they stumble upon the Bettermans, a family that has built a life of privilege through their innovative technology and their high value on self-protection. When the Bettermans decide that the Croods are a threat to their life of luxury, they attempt to rid themselves of their visitors but, in the process, unleash the danger that lurks on the other side of their incredibly high walls.

Directed by Joel Crawford, Croods: A New Age was not a sequel that seemed necessary yet proves to be most welcome. Whereas the first film focused entirely on the Crood clan, New Age opens up the world considerably (and creatively) with the addition of the Bettermans and their utopian realm. While the first film was fairly well-received, the world in which they lived had a relatively limited colour palette as the Croods trudged through their largely dusty terrain. However, with a new environment comes new opportunities for innovation and Crawford and his team let their imaginative juices fly.

Featuring wild creatures and dazzling bursts of colour, there’s an energy within New Age that was missing from its predecessor which also gives the franchise new life. (Personally, I believe that anyone who came up with the idea of ‘wolf-spiders’ really needs to seek some professional help, regardless of how adorable they look.) Filled with modern references like ‘window addiction’ and enough technological wonders to make The Flintstones jealous, Croods: A New Age feels relevant to the modern family and keeps the laughs going along the way.

Even the cast seems slightly more… well… animated in the sequel now that they some new blood to play with. Given the opportunity to work alongside Dinklage’s sophisticated but slimy Phil Betterman, Nicolas Cage’s Grug seems much more likable and endearing. At the same time, with their relationship now firmly established, both Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds are much more comfortable with one another as their characters move towards their ‘forever’. Stealing the show, however, are the aforementioned Bettermans, played by veterans Peter Dinklage and Leslie Mann. Stepping into the role of antagonists to the Croods, Dinklage and Mann are a joy to watch as the obnoxiously wealthy Bettermans. (‘Emphasis on the better,’ they remind.) Though detestable for their celebration of privilege, Dinklage and Mann embed their performances with a nervous desire to protect their family that somehow makes them seem more sympathetic. 

Similar to the first film, A New Age also wants to explore what it means to be both an individual and valued part of the pack. As they settle into the Betterman’s luxurious villas, the Croods finally have the opportunity to have some privacy… but is that something that they really want? As they adjust to living in a technological paradise that allows for them to finally have some space between them, the Croods also find themselves more divided.

Having built a bond between them by always sticking together (primarily out of fear), their new environment provides a certain sense of ease to it that gives them freedom. While this can be life-giving to some, innovations like the ‘man-cave’ and Thunk’s obsession with the window also create roadblocks within their family. In this way, the film recognizes the modern challenges of relationships as we continue to find new ways to create space between us and struggle to maintain open communication in the family unit.

What may be most surprisingly, however, is that A New Age is also unafraid to venture into a new age of ideas by adding the numerous layers of cultural subtext to the family-friendly adventure. From the female empowerment of the Thunder Sisters to the abuse of the environment, the film explores a broad range of culturally relevant issues that help elevate the film’s story. (In fact, through Betterman’s control of the bananas and water supply, the film even suggests the socio-economic ramifications of creating a caste system where the divide between rich and poor continues to grow.) In doing so, there’s a certain level of bravery to A New Age as it intelligently explores some of the deeper issues of our current culture while never becoming overburdened by the conversations or losing the fun.

Despite having little that’s new to the standard animated release, the disc Little Red Bronana Bread and Dear Diary: World’s First Pranks are not spectacular but are effective and entertaining. What’s more, director’s commentaries are always welcome as well. Still, the simplest shorts may be the most helpful. For parents looking for something to do with their kids during a lockdown, shorts that offer creative options like ‘FamiLeaf Album’, ‘How to Draw: Caveman Style’ and ‘Stone Age Snack Attack’ may help bring some activities into your home. It’s also worth noting that the colours really pop onscreen with the home release, especially on the 4K disc.

Filled with humour and heart, The Croods: A New Age is a worthwhile venture. Once again, Grug, Eep and the rest of the family prove that the value of knowing your place in the pack and the importance of supporting one another in the most difficult of circumstances. 

Without question, they have peaked my interest to see what happens in the next age.

Croods: The New Age is available on VOD, 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD on February 23rd, 2021.

Filed Under: DVD, Featured, Film, Reviews, VOD Tagged With: Emma Stone, Leslie Mann, Nicolas Cage, Peter Dinklage, Ryan Reynolds, The Croods

Giveaway! THE CROODS: A NEW AGE on Blu-Ray!

February 23, 2021 by Steve Norton 1 Comment

Thanks to our friends at TARO PR, you can bring The Croods: A New Age home on Blu-Ray!

Return to a simpler time with a Blu-Ray copy of The Croods: A New Age. Directed by Joel Crawford, New Age stars the talents of Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone as the ‘first family’ encounters the ‘next family’ for the first time!

Following the events of 2013’s The Croods, The Croods: A New Age follows the ‘first family’ as wander through the wilderness. Their simple lives are turned upside down though when they stumble upon the Bettermans, a family that has built a life of privilege through their innovative technology and their high value on self-protection. When the Bettermans decide that the Croods are a threat to their life of luxury, they attempt to rid themselves of their visitors but, in the process, unleash the danger that lurks on the other side of their incredibly high walls.

In order to enter, simply like/share this post on Facebook and/or Instagram and tell us who your favourite cast member is from The Croods: A New Age!

Winners will receive a Blu-Ray copy of The Croods: A New Age.

All entries must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday, February 24th, 2021.

The Croods: A New Age was released on Blu-Ray, 4K and DVD on February 23nd, 2021.

Special thanks to our friends from TARO PR!

Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways Tagged With: Emma Stone, Joel Crawford, Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, The Croods

5.16 Discovering Identity in DETECTIVE PIKACHU

May 19, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

With Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Nintendo gets back into the movie game with their first live-action adaptation of the popular franchise. When Tim Goodman gets the news that his absentee father has passed away, he returns to his home to search for answers. However, after Tim discovers his father’s partner, a wise-cracking Pikachu, he quickly discovers that there may be more to the story than he first believed. As the two venture out to solve the puzzle of his father’s disappearance, Tim and Pikachu learn to work together while, at the same time, tackling their own inner battles as well. This week on the show, Steve welcomes a couple of Pokemon masters in Rob Jackson and Anthony Simone to get to the bottom of the mystery behind why video game movies often fail and the film’s understanding of identity and mental health issues.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

5.16 Detective PikachuDownload

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Anthony and Rob for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Ash Ketchum, Detective Pikachu, Nintendo, Pokemon, Ryan Reynolds, video games

teenFish#3 – Telling Stories with ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL

January 13, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Have you ever really wanted to know what goes on in the mind of today’s teens? Not just ‘what are they thinking?’ but how they feel about life’s issues? About truth? About where God is in the world today? At long last, ScreenFish is proud to announce teenFish, a new podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish will be air the first Sunday of every month and invite local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TeenFish3-Once-Upon-a-Deadpool.mp3

With the release of ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL, the Merc with a Mouth steps for the first time into… a PG film? Previously released as DEADPOOL 2, this film trims the R-rated fat while adding some new Princess Bride-themed material (Fred Savage!) but does it still hold the same impact? This month, Daniel welcomes Jacob to talk about what they think about death and the meaning of family.

You can stream the episode above, on podomatic or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast, teenFish Tagged With: Deadpool, Josh Brolin, Once Upon A Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds, Zazie Beets

4.18 DEADPOOL 2 and the New F-Word

June 3, 2018 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/4.18-Deadpool-2.mp3

The Merc with the Mouth is back… and he’s got babies on his mind! In DEADPOOL 2, the hero without rules wants to settle down and start a family with Nessa, the love of his life. However, when tragedy strikes, Deadpool must try to rescue a young mutant who’s being hunted by Cable, a deadly assassin from the future. (Insert Terminator 2 joke here.) This week, Peter Adourian joins Steve to tackle the new F-Word (family), Deadpool’s cultural relevance and his God-complex.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.18 Deadpool 2

Thanks Peter for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Cable, Deadpool, Domino, Family, Josh Brolin, Moreno Baccarin, Ryan Reynolds, Wade Wilson, X-Force, X-Men

3.16 The Meaning of LIFE

April 10, 2017 by Steve Norton 3 Comments

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/3.16-Life.mp3

This week, Steve is joined by special guest and friend to the show, Wade Bearden (Seeing and Believing) to talk about whether or not there’s a meaning to LIFE, the newest sci-fi actioner to hit the big screen.  Yes, the film is tense but does it have something to say?  Plus, the guys give their top 3 remakes since the year 2000!  Only on ScreenFish.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.16 Life

A special thanks to Wade for coming on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Action, Alien, Deadpool, George Clooney, Jake Gyllenhaal, life, Rebecca Ferguson, Ridley Scott, Ryan Reynolds, sci-fi, science fiction

3.12 Grilling THE FOUNDER

February 19, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/3.12-The-Founder.mp3

This week on the show, Steve welcomes co-host of the Feelin’ Film podcast, Aaron White, to serve up a hot and fresh conversation about Michael Keaton’s new movie, THE FOUNDER!  Telling the origin of McDonald’s and it’s global empire, THE FOUNDER also has lots to say about the balance between ambition and pride.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.12 The Founder

A very special thanks to Aaron White (Feelin’ Film) for joining us this week!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Academy Awards, Awards Season, Batman, Fate of the Furious, Ghost in the Shell, Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, life, Logan, McDonald's, Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Oscars, Ryan Reynolds, The Belko Experiment, The Founder

not knee-jerking over Deadpool (or in general)

February 19, 2016 by Matt Hill Leave a Comment

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what do you think
the “typical Christian review”
of Deadpool is like?

[Google if you wish . .
go ahead, i’ll wait]

perhaps you correctly predicted
that many “Christian reviews”
focus on its rating

[UNNECESSARY SPOILER:
Deadpool is unabashedly R-rated,
prolifically profane,
conspicuously sex-laden,
intentionally irreverent,
vehemently violent,
et cetera, et cetera]

in fact,
maybe surprisingly,
not only are
“Christian critics”
focused on the rating,
so are most other critics
and the film industry
in general,
leading to a
digital deluge
of conversations
and articles about how
Deadpool is
“kicking the door open”
for R-rated superhero flicks

[Google it if you want . .
go ahead, i’ll wait]

but here’s the thing:
why?

why has this become
the conversation to have
about this movie?

for the larger culture,
perhaps we can
chalk it up to just the
basic need to have a fresh story

i mean,
if the story isn’t
“dirty Deadpool!”
or whatever,
what else is there to say?
the movie itself,
in fact,
sells itself this way

and just think:
how boring would it
be to have some
same-old-same-old
conversation just about how
Deadpool is super well made
and impeccably cast,
even by Marvel standards?
how Ryan Reynolds nails it?
how the writing is
consistently hilarious
and refreshingly original?
how the action is
viscerally satisfying?
how the meta, fourth-wall-breaking
snarky tone – so easy to mess up –
is spot-on here?

super boring.
that won’t do.
what we’ll do is
focus on the rating.
spin it.
click bait it.

for the “Christian culture,”
however,
the issue isn’t the
focus on rating
so much as it is
the fact that
*you knew*
the rating
would be the focus

we’re used to the
Christian focus
on the rating,
and that’s the point

nevermind that –
if you care to look –
the web is full of
Christian takes
that focus on
redemptive elements
(like this or this),
what’s important
is that the
“Christian culture”
has taught us
to expect
rating-focused
takes like this or this

in other words,
the “typical Christian review”
of a movie like Deadpool
reflects what’s
(unfortunately)
seen as the
“typical Christian response:”
to focus on rating,
morality . .
on calling out and
counting up
and valuing according to
sins first

but here’s the thing:
should it be this way?

should the
“typical Christian response”
be to immediately
focus on sins?
to immediately
focus on the negative?

i submit that it should not

i submit that this
(unfortunately) typical,
“Christian”
knee-jerk reaction –
focusing on,
calling out,
counting up,
valuing by
sins first,
as opposed to
focusing on,
calling out,
counting up,
valuing first
by positive,
redemptive elements –
needs to change

to be sure,
as in the links above,
seeking for redemption
in dark, R-rated stories
currently gets done often
by Christians,
and has for years,
but the problem is
that it’s certainly
not what the
larger culture expects
from us . .
they expect
sin counting . .
a focus on the negative . .
and unfortunately
we often oblige

and sure,
sin counting
*does matter* . .
it’s important
to discuss the negatives
of a movie like Deadpool,
but not at the expense
of discussing positives . .
and again,
when it’s expected
of us to focus
on the negatives first,
there’s a problem

however,
as most are,
it’s a fixable problem

and,
as usual,
looking to Jesus is instructive

i notice, when dealing with
sinners like Deadpool,
Jesus seemed to like to say
things like:
“I do not condemn you, either.
Go. From now on sin no more.”

i notice that he offered water
before rebuking sin

i notice that both are present . .
the positive and the negative,
the redemption and the judgment . .

but i notice that one comes first

Filed Under: Editorial, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Christian, Deadpool, Jesus, Marvel, profanity, R-rated, religious, review, Ryan Reynolds, spiritual, violence

Deadpool: Have You Ever Run From Your Call?

February 15, 2016 by Chris Utley Leave a Comment

deadpool-movie-costume-pic-2Alrighty. Let me tell y’all what you already know. $135 million in the bank in it’s first three days. Hard R rating. F-bombs, blood, sex and wanton irreverence galore. Yup. That’s Deadpool – that career reviving, genre twisting, don’t give a darn Fox/Marvel collaboration that is the toast of early 2016. At first glance to the Christian viewer, there’s nothing redemptive about this movie at all. It’s tongue is firmly planted in cheek – amongst other places! It’s rude, crude, lascivious (look kids! A BIBLE TERM!!!) and has no place in a Bible believing Christ worshipper’s life. Or so we think…

I spent my time firmly hedged in the aforementioned point of view after leaving the theatre. I felt the guilt and stain of all 108 minutes of irreverence and chalked the whole thing off as a guilty pleasure – something I may repent for when I see Him face to face. But as we peeps here at DA FISH were debating the thing and I hopped on my “THERE’S NOTHING REDEMPTIVE ABOUT THIS MESS!!” bandwagon, God, as He often does, drops a bomb on me in the form of a thought. As I meditated and debated on the perils of Wade Wilson, The Lord hit me with this:

HAVE YOU EVER RUN FROM YOUR CALLING BEFORE?

deadpool-red-green-band-trailers-easter-eggs-deadpool-red-band-trailer-for-a-red-sui-548080Wade (Ryan Reynolds) is perfectly content in his life of buck-wildness. He’s got his swag. He’s got his woman. It’s all good until the hammer drops in the form of cancer. He’s cosigned to the notion of death when a mysterious figure offers him the chance to be saved. Resisting at first, he takes the cat up on his offer and is brought to some cesspool freakazoid makeshift hospital where tons of experiments on presumed mutants and the sick are taking place. In this sick and twisted environment, he obtains his cure of cancer…adding to it a 2000 ton layer of invincibility in which he can heal from any pain, stabbing, gunshot, self-imposed dismemberment and on and on. The one side effect: he loses his calling card – his boyish matinee idol good looks.

Hellbent on getting revenge on the “doctor” who gave him these powers, Wade – now renamed Deadpool – slaughters nearly every bad guy in town in search of his adversary. Along the way, his exploits become known to a member of the legendary X-Men: Colossus. Colossus does his best over the flick to explain that DP was given these powers to do greater things and that perhaps his call is to join the X-Men to use his ability for THE! GREATER! GOOD!

DP wants no parts of this. He wants his vengeance. He wants his (kidnapped) woman back. And he’s gonna shoot, cuss and give it to all the bad guys till he gets what he wants. Kinda like us…

God has a call on our lives. Thanks to our Mother – not Mary…EVE – we were introduced to the concept of SELF; where we now barter and measure what God wants for us against what WE want and what WE desire. In the call of God, Greatness Awaits (thank you, PS4!). But many of us would rather forge our own paths to create our own sense of greatness instead of submitting to God. So we run from Him and that great call. We run to chasing $$$. We run to various addictions and lifestyles. We run, we run, we run. (Not So Epic Spoiler Alert) And that’s where DP ends up by the closing credits: still running.

So now that we’re gonna get at least two sequels out of this puppy (Triple digit opening weekends in February are a leading cause of greenlit sequels from Hollywood), I’m interested to see if Fox/Marvel will further explore this notion of a man running from his call. In my opinion, that’s more interesting to me than two more hours of screwing, shooting and epithets.

The sovereignty of the comic book gods made Wade Wilson greater than he ever imagined. The sovereignty of God has done the same for us. Will he embrace that greatness? Will we? Only time, and God, will tell.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Colossus, Deadpool, Marvel, Ryan Reynolds

Deadpool – The Romantic Merc With The Mouth

February 15, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes 1 Comment

deadpoolEver since the atrocity that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it has been Ryan Reynolds’ mission to give fans the perfect Deadpool movie. For years, FOX has put it on hold. Maybe they didn’t want to go the R rated movie route, or maybe they weren’t confident in the character. But one would think, with FOX’s track record of more duds than good X-Men films, that a change would be welcomed.

And then, the “leaked” test footage came out.

Suddenly, social media exploded and Deadpool fans went crazy over how great it was. Let us not be fooled, FOX gets about 10% credit for Deadpool coming to the big screen. The film, the character, the marketing was all Ryan Reynolds. This was either going to be a major fail on him, or it was going to be the role that defines him.

I am happy to say that it was the latter.

Deadpool is a hilariously funny movie that is filled with humor, heart and–since it’s rated R–vulgarity. The thing is, the film never went overboard on the vulgarity. There is definitely strong language and some graphic violence, all expected with a character like Deadpool, but the “so called” nudity is very little. Ryan Reynolds could have easily went overboard on the vulgarity, but he reeled it in.

Deadpool tells us the story of a man who is more of an anti-hero than anything else. He’s a mercenary, with a non-stop wise cracking mouth. He will help the little guy with all their needs, for a fee of course. At the same time, he also has a heart and a soft spot. When he meets someone who’s as crazy as he is, your love story begins…and then quickly ends. After being diagnosed with rapidly spreading terminal cancer, he can’t think of anything else but to leave his woman in order to spare her the pain of watching him die…but she refuses to allow it. When he’s given an opportunity for a cure (even though it meant becoming the one thing he never really wanted to be), he takes it, if only for the chance at love it offers. Of course, nothing that sounds that good ever actually is. All of a sudden, the wise-cracking man is left disfigured, but with a power that allows him to heal or regenerate (like Wolverine). Disgusted in himself, and thinking that his love would never accept him how he is, his mission becomes finding the person who did this to him and get a cure. Throughout the film, he leaves a trail of dead bodies while still being the wise cracking “merc with the mouth” that fans have come to know from the comics. He has a run in with two X-Men, and also enlists their help to save his girl. It is a high octane, comedy-filled film that is a love story at it’s heart, as only Deadpool can tell.

deadpool-red-green-band-trailers-easter-eggs-deadpool-red-band-trailer-for-a-red-sui-548080

Though, the big question is how can a R-rated Deadpool film have any redeeming qualities? I had that question going in, and as the movie went on I started to realize that you have to scale back and look at the story on a whole. Colossus was there as a moral voice in the film, but the film was more than just that. We have a love story in it’s true form. The film is a journey of how many view their lives when God calls them. They feel that they are too disfigured and too dirty and God would never accept them. The sickness of sin is so deep that they think they need to find a cure under their own will and power. Along the path, they constantly fail and take two steps back rather than a step forward. Meanwhile, that moral voice is there letting them know they can be more, if they just listen and ask for help. In the end, you come to a point where you have to come face to face with God and say sorry.

I’m sorry I walked away.

I’m sorry I stopped calling.

I thought I could fix me, and it turns out I can’t.

We don’t want Him to look at us, but God says “remove the mask, I accept you how you are because My love runs deeper”. Deadpool isn’t the ideal character where we would think we can find redeeming values, but then again, isn’t that how Jesus operated?

Deadpool does a great job in being a comic book film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and rightfully so. Deadpool breaks the 4th wall, makes fun of X-Men films, Ryan Reynolds films, Wolverine and even Hugh Jackman. It’s what you expect Deadpool to do. The opening credits scene has you laughing from the get go and throughout the film there are several moments that make you want to fall out of your seat. Ryan Reynolds has found his role to the tone of Robert Downey Jr and Iron Man. TJ Miller was a great supporting actor in adding to the comedy. Stan Lee has his expected cameo and even Bob from Hydra (if you are a Deadpool fan you know who he is) makes an appearance.

The honest truth is, Deadpool is everything you will expect from a Deadpool film.

It’s up to you to figure out if that’s a good thing or bad thing.

deadpool-movie-costume-pic-2

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Deadpool, FOX, Ryan Reynolds, X-Men

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