Celebrating the Unpopular Arts
 
Greg Hatcher, History, Movies, Rummaging & Ruminating

Atomic Roundtable: Best Movie (Whatevers) From Before 1990!

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A while back, author Adam-Troy Castro commented on Facebook that he keeps seeing posts on different pop culture sites with titles like “All-Time Greatest Movie [whatevers]” — best villains, sexiest stars, costumes, vehicles, etc. — and almost never do the lists include any movies made before 1980, and often not even from before 1990. It’s like a whole lot of people think nothing existed before they did. So, let’s discover some things from decades before we were born. Welcome to the latest Atomic Roundtable!

Cosplay, DIY, Jim MacQuarrie, Movies, Pop culture

Atomic DIY: Build Your Own R2-D2!

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One thing I think everyone who loves Star Wars has said at least once is “man, I wish I had an R2-D2!” My good friend and fellow archery coach Russell Rucker said the same thing, and then he went ahead and built one. His R2 unit is completely screen-accurate, and has appeared at a number of Star Wars events over the years. Naturally, like a whole lot of other people, I asked Russell how he built his R2. He gave me permission to share the process here.

Animation, Culture, Jim MacQuarrie, Movies, Pop culture

‘Soul’ and the Transformation Trope

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Pixar’s Soul was the center of a meme that circulated this summer, prior to the release of the film, which suggested that it was racist for the lead character, an African-American, to be transformed into a blue-green blob in the trailer. The author cited several films as examples of the problematic pattern. Taking a look at the trope, the cited films, and the context and messaging of each, might be in order.

Books, Jim MacQuarrie, Movies, Music, Pop culture, Review

“When in Doubt, Do Something.” Harry Chapin in Recent Media

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Recently, our own Greg Hatcher sent me a link to a new documentary about Harry Chapin; when I mentioned that I’d seen it, he suggested a review, and when I mentioned that there are also a couple of new books out, he suggested a round-up review. See, Greg is smarter than me and he thinks of things like this. So here we go.

advertising and commercials, Culture, History, Jim MacQuarrie, Rummaging & Ruminating

Of Breakfast Cereals and Cults

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So I went down a rabbit-hole a while back and I ended up in a weird place. It started innocently enough, with a discussion of General Mills’ monster-themed breakfast cereals, Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry, but it somehow ended up with a weird Victorian-era metaphysical cult.

Comics, Jim MacQuarrie, Movies, Pointless Fanboy Speculation, Rummaging & Ruminating

Pointless Fanboy Speculation: Howard the Duck

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After he got his cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy, I thought that eventually Howard the Duck would get another shot at the movies. Hope burns eternal. Which brings us to Pointless Fanboy Speculation, in which I tell you how I would adapt this particular character to the MCU. Here’s the Elevator Pitch: Howard the Duck and Beverly take a “road trip” through weird middle America, which warps into a political satire when Howard is cajoled into running for President. It is, at heart, a Frank Capra movie.