The CCD Podcast #115 - "Character Witness" Bill Paxton

The great Bill Paxton departed our mortal coil recently and we are taking a look back at his varied career. Filmmaker Leland James guides us through the big hits and the lesser known gems of this amazing character actor.

Michael Natathanson, one of the stars of the upcoming Netflix original series, Marvel's The Punisher also joins us. Michael offers his Paxton perspective, as well as giving us a little update at the top of the show about what to expect from The Punisher, his visit to Marvel HQ, and being a part of the MCU.

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Early Roles:

Crazy Mama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSFyTT-gwWU

Terminator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv0Jc4ziS-U

Near Dark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufcsS9E-JVs&t=31s

Mid Career:

Slipstream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX6r9zXVOk8

Aliens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vstBC4N_tA&t=27s

Tombstone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPUTRyHbKm0

One False Move: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-4dGY2gYc

Leading Man: 

Twister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCIK_AN8Zn4

Titanic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kqw9w1w7T0

Mighty Joe Young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPWHp2KZoY

Making his own mark:

Frailty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPUTRyHbKm0

A Simple Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfJtnfG6EMI&t=31s

Music:

Reach! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkz0Lx6VyxA

Fish Heads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkz0Lx6VyxA

Club Dread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwt4fAMscDE

The CCD Podcast: Episode #103 - A Sit Down With Michael Nathanson

It is always nice to know someone on the inside,... especially when we are talking about someone that is in the cast of an upcoming Marvel Netflix show. AND EVEN MORE ESPECIALLY when that someone from the cast of the upcoming Marvel Netflix show is a friend of CCD!!!! We are so excited to have the talented Michael Nathanson LIVE in the Nerd Cave recording the CCD Podcast. He joins filmmaker Leland James and Jedi Rob to talk about his role in the upcoming Punisher series... as well as some of his favorite films/directors, Stranger Things, BBQ Films/Immersive Cinema and much more!!!! It is going to be great... what more do you need to know?






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Already Missing 'Making a Murderer'? Hopefully These Memes Will Satisfy Your Appetite....

Making a Murderer on Netflix is literally ruining my life. I am OBSSESSED with the latest "Netflix & Chill" binge-worthy show and  I am not ashamed to say it. Them boys over at the Red Envelope have truly hit a homer with this one... and as soon as I was done I was pacing, thinking about when the next round of material in this new obsession would be coming my way! Since the first season just dropped on Dec 18th, I am assuming it might be a while before we see Lieutenant Lenk and his band of blood planting buffoons terrorize the Avery family again... so I turned to the Internet for an answer. And as per usual... the Internet NEVER DISAPPOINTS! Without any further ado, here is the Top 10 'Making a Murderer' themed memes that the 'Net has to offer! 

Marvel & Netflix Team Up To Change The Game

Good lord... this is a true game changer! Marvel and Netflix have agreed to team up in one of the most ambitious ventures ever announced. The two industry titans have decided to come together and produce 4 individual 13 episode television shows based on the characters of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Power Man & Iron Fist... and then a Defenders mini series highlighting all four characters!!! Holyyyyyy SHIT!!! Are you kidding me? All four series will be set in Hell's Kitchen, NY and will be based in the same universe as the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well. Good god... the best part is they say "a minimum of four" live action series... could even be more!!! The plan is to unroll the shows in 2015, and given the recent success with Netflix original programming (Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, etc) and everything live action Marvel (movies & the SHIELD TV show) this should go over swimmingly. Plus, I really dig the idea of getting 13 episodes to explore each character in full detail. Than we can bring them all together... wow. This can be so great, and think about how many villains, lesser characters and cameos we can plan on seeing. Check out the full press release after the jump...

"This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel's brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty," said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. "This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what's sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure." 

"Marvel’s movies, such as 'Iron Man' and 'Marvel’s The Avengers,' are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "With 'House of Cards' and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we're thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude." 

This new original TV deal follows last year's landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm.  Netflix members can currently enjoy a wide range of Disney, ABC TV and Disney Channel films and shows across the 41 countries where Netflix operates

Disney Joins Forces With Netflix... Bring It On!!!!

This is one of the greatest pieces of news to come out of the Netflix camp in the history of the company. Disney has had a limited partnership with Netflix Streaming over the past few years, and I have watched a few movies (Princess & The Frog comes to mind) from the studio on the service. But now Netflix has locked up this partnership for the better part of the rest of the decade, and Disney is bringing along the newly acquired Marvel Films & Star Wars franchises along for the ride. How fucking cool is this? First up, I can't wait to eventually watch Clone Wars on Streaming. Secondly, this provides Disney with an outlet for movies that they have put in the Vault, which sucks if you miss out on buying one of these films when they are released shortly. Not to mention Avengers on repeat... yeah buddy! These changes will begin right away, with films like Dumbo, Alice In Wonderland, and Pocahontas starting to stream shortly and more titles to follow over the next few years. Thanks to Deadline for breaking the story. This sure leads me to believe that Netflix will still be getting my 7.99 a month for the foreseeable future. Check out the full press release after the jump...

Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run live-action and animated feature films from The Walt Disney Studios.

Beginning with its 2016 theatrically released feature films, new Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Disneynature titles will be made available for Netflix members to watch instantly in the pay TV window on multiple platforms, including television, tablets, computers and mobile phones. Also included in the agreement are high-profile Disney direct-to-video new releases, which will be made available on Netflix starting in 2013.

Separately, Disney and Netflix have reached agreement on a multi-year catalog deal that today brings to U.S. Netflix members such beloved Disney movies such as “Dumbo,” “Pocahontas” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

“Disney and Netflix have shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship and this deal will bring to our subscribers, in the first pay TV window, some of the highest-quality, most imaginative family films being made today,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “It’s a bold leap forward for Internet television and we are incredibly pleased and proud this iconic family brand is teaming with Netflix to make it happen.”

“With this cutting-edge agreement, we are thrilled to take our highly valued relationship with Netflix to the next level by adding Disney’s premier films to their programming line-up,” said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. “Netflix continues to meet the demands of its subscribers in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, and we are delighted that they will have much earlier access to our top-quality and entertaining slate,” she continued.Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.  

Netflix Instant Streaming Recommendations: You Need To check These Choices Out

I have long been a supporter of the Netflix Instant Streaming service. With growing competition in the form of other services like Amazon Prime & Hulu Plus, you would think Netflix's time in the sun has come and gone. Fortunately, that is not the case at all. The content available on netflix expands every week and is getting better and better, and and with a price of just $7.99 a month it is a freaking steal. I have been working a lot lately and finally had a day to sit down and watch some of the films in my queue, so here are my most recent recommendations to you. I enjoyed these choices very much, and you probably will too... check out my picks after the jump....

1) The Snowtown Murders - 2011 - This grizzled piece of Australian film making takes a look into the case of John Bunting, the main participant in a series of real life murders that took place in Australia back in the 90s. The case is one of the worst crimes in the history of Australia and this film does a great job showing you why. Gritty and very graphic, the film takes you on a trip into the mind of a psycho. If you like true crime movies, this is a must see for you. It also helped that Aaron Hillis screened the film over at ReRun Theater (one of my favorite places on Earth) in Brooklyn last year, and his taste in film is pretty fucking great. One of the better foreign independant films I have seen in a while...

2) Haywire -2011 - This is one of those films that I really wanted to check out in the theater and just never got around to. MMA fighter Gina Carano is perfect for the role of a female special agent who is good at wetworks and tying up loose ends. But what makes this film so great is that Stephen Soderberg directs it with the same style and panache that I have come to expect from his films. The fonts used in the headings and title card/credits, the music, and the overall awesome tone of the film make this one a must see. Add in a spectacular supporting cast of film legends like Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Bill Pullman and Ewan Mcgregor with newly minted stars like Channing Tatum & Michael Fassbender and you have an excellent female Bourne/Bond type movie that does not disappoint.  

3) Supernatural - 2005 to the present (7 seasons, #8 on the way) - This is my current TV project that I am working on. Tara and I always pick out shows that have a ton of episodes to knock off, and this one is no joke. 126 episodes (seasons 1-6) are currently available on Netflix Instant and the 7th season from last year will probably hit around the time Season 8 premieres on the CW sometime in the next month. This show follows the exploits of brothers Dean & Sam Winchester as they fight all types of evil baddies in a quest they were put on by their dad at a very young age. The effects are great, the cast is likable, and the action is both non-stop and scary.... which is not something you get from a regular network TV show all the time. All the types of monsters, ghosts, and other baddies are given the unique treatment on this show and if you are a fan of horror like I am you will love it. I am currently wrapping up Season 2 right now and moving ahead at a pretty rapid pace. You should get started too...

So there you have it... get to work!!!!

The Bluths Are Back... You Better Get Your Netflix Accounts Right!!!

Arrested Development may very well be one of the all time best comedies to ever air on American television. Anybody who has watched the show knows this to be true. But in that statement lies the problem... Fox constantly moved the show's time slot and it never garnered the ratings that the network wanted. So it got cancelled way before it should have. Ever since it was cancelled, there have been all kinds of rumors of the return of the Bluth family: a series revival, a new network, and even a possible movie. But all of those things proved to be false... Netflix Instant is going to be the platform where we get more misadventures from this classic cast!!! Click after the jump for more details on the announcement...

Here are some blurbs from the Netflix press release:

"Netflix's bold entrance into original programming presents an exciting new opportunity for our two companies" commented Peter Levinsohn, Fox Filmed Entertainment's President of New Media & Digital Distribution. "Bringing a classic show back to production on new episodes exclusively for Netflix customers is a game changer, and illustrates the incredible potential the new digital landscape affords great content providers like Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine."

"We also pride ourselves on breaking the rules at this studio, and after bringing back two canceled series – 'Family Guy' and 'Futurama'—to enormous success, we are bullish on the prospects for this brilliant series. We can't wait to get back to work with Mitch, Ron and Brian on bringing the Bluths back to America's living rooms," they added. 

And here is some encouraging words from producer Ron Howard:

 "Of all the projects we've been involved with over the years, we probably get more questions about Mitch Hurtwitz's brilliant 'Arrested Development' than any other-- everyone, ourselves included, seems to feel like the Bluths left the party a bit too soon. Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, 'Arrested' always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again."

Finally, thanks to the gang over at ScreenRant for the screen caps of tweets from Brian Grazer & Jason Bateman:

You can catch the full run of Arrested Development (three seasons) on Netflix Instant currently, and the new episodes of the show are proposed to start in 2013. I for one can't wait!!! I guess there really is money in that banana stand!!!!

The Kindle Fire Is Here To Change The World... One Tablet At A Time!!!

November 15th, 2011 may be a day that goes down in history... or at least the history of the tablet wars. Apple is about to get it's first serious challenger in the form of Amazon's Kindle Fire. All of the other tablets that have hit the market so far have been over-hyped and failed to make a dent on Apple's stranglehold on the market. No tablet has challenged the Ipad's efficiency and capabilities, and the Apple App store is just phenomenal. So what makes the Kindle Fire so different? Well, lets talk about that after the jump....

Well, here is the biggest feature the Amazon Kindle has to offer... the price! It is retailing for $199 bucks, less than half the price of it's Ipad brother. The biggest drawback of taking a shot at another tablet has been the fact that the cost is relatively the same as the Ipad itself. Why take a chance on the Motorolla Xoom tablet (which I hear is really good) if it is THE EXACT SAME PRICE as the already proven Ipad? If you are gonna drop $500 bucks or more on a niche item, you want to get the best item you can. For $199, it is a lot easier to take a shot. Not to mention that this is a Kindle, which is a proven product that has Amazon as a backer. These are sure to attract customers who are already in the Kindle family.

Amazon + Android = Win!!!

Also, Amazon has constructed a diesel content market to attack I-Tunes and the Apple App store. First, they started Amazon Prime, which ties in streaming 10,000s of movies and TV shows with free shipping on all Amazon products you order off the site. At just $6 bucks a month, this service is sure to appeal to tons of people who already order a lot of stuff off of Amazon, one of the biggest Internet retailers out there. They have also adopted the Android App market, which is starting to rival the Apple App store as well. You got all you usual suspects, including Netflix, Pandora, games like Angry Birds & Words With Friends, and other stuff we love. And it promises to be the smoothest E-Readers ever to hit the market... magazines, newspapers, and books all at the touch of your fingertips!

Is Jeff Bezos the new Steve Jobs???

Amazon is also pitching the operating system, Silk, as the deal closer. It is supposedly faster than the Ipad 2's processor and the task management on the device is supposed to be seamless... hence the smooth as SILK name for the OS. As far as I am concerned, I have yet to enter the tablet market or the E-Reader market, so I am going to take a flier on the new Kindle. For $199 and since I have a grad school graduation gift coming from my girlfriend, why not take a shot? I'll be getting it this week, so I'll check back in early next week and let you know how its going. Amazon is in the building... Apple better watch it's back!!!

Netflix Streaming Picks of the Week - 7-16-2010

So heres what I been watching all week on Netflix Streaming thru my Wii. I suggest you check these titles out immediately, or pop em in your instant que and get to them when you can!!! Thats the best part about Netflix Streaming... it's there whenever you get to it!!!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo -

Let me start off by saying that this movie is in Swedish with subtitles... I know I just lost a few of you guys right there. But for those who have stuck around, you are in for a treat. This awesome psychological thriller is right up there with Silence of the Lambs... totally crazy!!! The title actually translates to "Men who hate women" so there are some pretty graphic domestic violence scenes, and the film explores some really dark themes. Noomi Rapace provides an amazing performance as Lisbeth Sadler, the tortured girl who plays the title character. Try to catch this one  before the American remake comes out... or read the book, which I'm sure was awesome. There is also two additional sequels in the "Millenium" trilogy. Enjoy kids...

Step Brothers - 

This is why I love Netflix Streaming... they mix in some a ton of new titles with the older ones in the library. I watched this movie last night, and its better everytime you watch it. John C Reilly and Will Ferrell are perfect in every way. I personally love the uncomfortable scenes between John C Reilly and Kathryn Hahn, especially when they are having sex... hysterical. Plus, Reilly and Ferrell are perfect together... if you want to laugh, watch this puppy!!!

Monsters Inc.

  

Perfect. Pixar. Movie.... nothing else to say. If you haven't seen this yet, get it done. There really isn't a better kid/cartoon movie out there. A perfect voice cast, spectacular graphics, and a great story... make it happen, captain!!!

So, what are you guys watching??? Any suggestions for us... please leave them in the comments section below!!! Thanks.