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https://blacknerdproblems.com/skull-island-review/

Legendary Pictures has cracked the code on the next medium for expanding their Godzilla and King Kong-centric monster-verse: animation. Out of nowhere like a gift wrapped in silk and dropped from the sky by Mothra herself, Skull Island arrived on Netflix. With a Western anime aesthetic and a partnership with Powerhouse Animation, this cartoon pulls no punches and looks good doing it. Super self-aware, clever, and more witty than any animated action series needs to be, Skull Island delivers a nice Summer binge.

Another One

Skull Island picks up on the momentum of the cultural success of the Godzilla and Kong movies (five under Legendary Pictures, so far). If you’ve seen the movie Skull Island, that’s exactly where this takes place, thirty years in the future with an older Kong than in the movie; but younger than in Godzilla vs. Kong. The monster-verse is monster-verse-ing for real.

We come to Skull Island for two things: more monster verse lore and Kaiju fights! The fights do not disappoint! They aren’t as frequent early on, but once they get kicking, they go for it. The team on Skull Island indeed took their time with the scale and scope of the conflicts. They feel as visceral as the film versions, which can be difficult to capture in an episodic animated series – but they pull it off. Adding to the Kong mythos is wild after being around since 1933, but Skull Island manages to do it without making a heavy lift for viewers.

New but Old

Despite being a new animated series with super clean visuals and fluid action animation – Skull Island is bringing back some of that old-school grit. About to date myself here, but I’ve got to ask. Do y’all remember Jonny Quest? The Hanna-Barbera banger from the 60s with the intro composed by Jazz legend Count Basie? Yeah, Skull Island is moving in that vein. Jonny Quest opened every episode with a body being bagged. Skull Island is giving three bodies an episode. Not just extras and nameless characters, but straight-up main characters with monologues getting monster mashed.

On the flip side of that more intense and graphic violence is a quippy repartee so constant that it almost feels out of place. Mind you, it’s all well written but goodness gracious! After the first episode, Sull Island shifts into rapid-fire wisecracks. If there’s a Guinness World Record for quips in a series, this has got to rank high.

Variation Over Diversity, Huh

Without a tremendous amount of fanfare, Skull Island boasts a lot of different skin tones for the characters. Not just the core characters, but even the nameless monster fodder red shirts. The cast is diverse and made up of heavy hitters from TV, movies, and voice work. The performances are all very decent. More decent than any series about a Kaiju island should be. Benjamin Bratt, Mae Whitman, Nicholas Cantu, Betty Gilpin, Darren Barnet, and Phil Lamarr?!? This is an A-Team of talent.

We Gotta Go Back to the Island

With a group this strong and lore this deep, it’s hard to imagine that this flew under the radar. Let me tell you now if you have any love in your heart for Kaiju-type things, you’re going to love Skull Island. Great action elements and great storytelling aren’t knocked off track by the quickly quipped pace of the series. If Legendary and Powerhouse Animation wanted to, they could keep this going for a long time and open the floodgates for some great monster-verse series in the future. Binge this on Netflix if you’re here for a good time, streaming now.

Cover image via Netflix

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The post ‘Skull Island’ Review: A Kaiju Gift for All appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://www.thenerdelement.com/2023/07/20/the-venture-bros-radiant-is-the-blood-of-a-baboon-heart/

The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of a Baboon Heart is out on digital tomorrow July 20th and Blue-ray July 25th!!! See film synopsis below along with the trailer and a new clip from the film!

Doc’s latest invention will either bankrupt Team Venture or launch them to new heights, as Hank searches for himself, Dean searches for Hank, The Monarch searches for answers, and a mysterious woman from their pasts threatens to bring their entire world crashing down on them.

Returning in their original series roles are James Urbaniak (The Fabelmans) as Dr. Venture, Patrick Warburton (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events)as Brock Samson, Michael Sinterniklaas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Dean Venture, Chris McCulloch (Superjail!) as Hank Venture and Doc Hammer as Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. Also featured in the voice cast are Nina Arianda (Being the Ricardos) as Mantilla, Clancy Brown (John Wick: Chapter 4) as Red Death, John Hodgman (Up Here) as Snoopy, Hal Lublin (Welcome to Night Vale) as Clayton, Jane Lynch (Glee) as Bobbi St. Simone, Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick) as Jefferson Twilight, Jay Pharoah (Spinning Gold) as Nuno Blood, Steven Rattazzi (New Amsterdam) as Dr. Orpheus, JK Simmons (Whiplash) as Ben and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) as The Alchemist.

From Adult Swim, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, and Titmouse, series creators Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick wrote and executive produced, and Publick directed. Executive producers also include Chris Prynoski (The Legend of Vox Machina), Shannon Prynoski (Fairfax), Antonio Canobbio (Arlo the Alligator Boy), and Ben Kalina (Big Mouth).  

The post The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of a Baboon Heart appeared first on The Nerd Element.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/chicago-pastor-hosts-worlds-largest-baby-shower-for-1000-mommies-to-be/

Expecting mothers from Chicago’s Southside will receive the baby shower of their dreams from a well-known community leader.

Pastor Corey Brooks is planning the “world’s largest baby shower” for moms at New Beginnings Church on Aug. 13, Audacy reports. As founder and CEO of his nonprofit, Project HOOD, Brooks says this event is crucial to help mothers in need. “We wanted to figure out a way to assist and give resources to a lot of these single-parent women who are in need of help with their newborns,” Brooks said. “Eighty percent of the households in our neighborhood are single-parent households. We’re promoting life, and so what better way to do that than assist them with prenatal care?”

The goal is to have 1,000 mothers and 800 have already signed up. With the anticipation of reaching capacity, he is asking the community and others for supply donations and to volunteer on the day of the event. “I’m sure we’re going to make that,” Brooks said. “Whether it’s donating baby items, volunteering time, or offering financial support, every bit helps.”

Project HOOD serves the Southside community, which holds an 80% fatherlessness rate, according to the Southland Journal. The nonprofit hopes that the project will provide much-needed support to the single mothers of that community while at the same time encouraging fathers and extended families to get involved. A recent study shows Black women have the highest maternal death rate across the country, and new mothers need all the help and support they can get.

During the event, mothers and family members will receive baby essentials, educational resources, and mostly importantly, a supportive host of mothers in their same shoes. “This event is more than just a shower; it is a gesture of compassion, unity, and hope,” the pastor said. “We believe that every child deserves a safe and loving environment, and every mother, has the resources and support to provide it.”

 

https://blackgirlnerds.com/age-aint-nothin-but-a-number-how-important-is-the-gap-when-it-comes-to-dating/

Two, five, or ten years, what is considered an acceptable age gap between two consenting adults that are dating?

With movies such as “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Something’s Got to Give”, and “Siver Linings Playbook,” audiences have been led to believe that romances with significant age gaps are possible and can be successful. 

However, society doesn’t seem as accepting of real-life couples. When the age gap is within the double digits, many people question the authenticity of the relationship.

With the differing opinions of which age gap is acceptable and which is not, where should couples draw the line?

How much of an age gap is ok?

A couple’s most acceptable age difference between most heterosexual couples is three years. Yet this age difference tends to be judged more in some instances than others. For example, a 23-year-old dating a 30-year-old with a seven-year difference can raise an eyebrow. However, a 7-year difference between someone that is 45 and 52 doesn’t seem too strange. 

For Gen Z, these age gaps seem suspicious, especially when an older man is in a relationship with a significantly younger woman. Many younger people have shared their opinions on social media about the dangers of being taken advantage of by an older partner. 

These social stigmas may be why the most recent relationship announcement between Marcus Jordan, age 32, and Larsa Pippen, age 49, has been under recent scrutiny. Their over-17-year age gap has received criticism and mockery from the public. The couple had endured harsh comments, such as Pippen was babysitting Jordan when he was younger.

Even Michael Jordan, Marcus’s father, was questioned if he approved his son’s relationship with an older woman; he was quoted saying a flat-out no.

When Pippen first heard of his disapproval, she said she was embarrassed. Fortunately, Marcus Jackson cleared up rumors by admitting his father was joking and hadn’t taken the criticism seriously. 

Yet Jordan and Pippen aren’t the only couples who have found romance across generations. 

George Clooney and Amal Clooney have a 17-year age gap and are happily married with twins.

Singer Elton John and filmmaker David Furnish share a 15-year age gap.

The superstar couple, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, have a 10-year age gap.

Julius Tennon and Viola Davis have a thirteen-year age gap and have been married for 20 years.

Even one of the most famous and probably wealthiest couples, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, have a 12-year age gap.

As evident in these couples and others, the age gap doesn’t seem to be a problem for them. What appears to be the case is the age gap is uncomfortable for anyone outside of the relationship.

It begs the question if an age difference is a factor in the success and vitality of a relationship.

How important is an age gap in a relationship?

Many professionals say that number of years isn’t the biggest concern between two adults, but the stages of life are a more influential factor. Every stage of life consists of different goals. For instance, someone in their early 20s might be focused on their career. Someone in their late 40s might be already established in their career and looking to settle down. 

Thus, a couple can succeed or fail based on their life stage. If a couple wants similar things for the future, then the couple’s age difference may not come into play.

Furthermore, other factors need to be considered for a lasting relationship. These factors include:

Emotional maturity: Self-control to understand, manage and work with your emotions.

Financial stability: Feeling and being confident in your financial situation.

Educational levels of partners: Relationship success tends to be stronger when both partners have a high education level.

Acceptance of the relationship between family members and friends: Relationships tend to thrive when they have the support and approval of family members and friends.

Secure attachment: When both partners feel confident in who they are and feel they can be themselves around their partner.

Is age really nothing but a number?

Celebrity couples often receive a lot of criticism and disapproval since their relationships are often on display to the general public. However, when it comes to two consenting adults in a relationship, their large gap age has very little to do with the connection two people have for each other.

Couples born a decade or two apart can have many differences, such as listening to different music and having different interests. However, a couple can stay connected through similar goals, values, and future aspirations. With these things inline it can increase the chances of couples staying together. 

When a couple’s expectations are inclined, and they use healthy communication, the age difference may not factor into the ins and outs of their relationship.

However, society is often quick to look at one factor and make judgments and jokes. If a younger woman is with an older man, people say she’s only with him for his money. When an older woman is with a younger man, she is accused of “robbing the cradle.” 

Although many people may not be comfortable with large age gaps, the only people who should be concerned about a relationship are the people in it.