From Past to Future: Revisiting Pac-Man Cartoons and The Uncertain Fate of the Movie

Pac-Man Movie De-RezzingBack in August 2022, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Wayfarer Studios and Bandai Namco Entertainment were developing a live-action Pac-Man movie. Sonic the Hedgehog producer Chuck Williams originated the idea, with Justin Baldoni (Clouds, Jane the Virgin) joining as producer.

Since then, updates have been scarce. By early 2023, news went silent, and by 2025, the project appears stalled. Industry chatter suggests Wayfarer has put it on “internal hold.” Baldoni’s recent legal controversies have added uncertainty. While no official cancellation exists, this movie risks becoming another Hollywood vapourware unless Wayfarer or Bandai Namco retool it.

With the film’s future in doubt, revisiting Pac-Man’s past media ventures feels timely. Do we really need a live-action feature about a spherical alien in our world? Pixels (2015) tried and fell short, with Adam Sandler’s nostalgia trip earning more groans than cheers.

Continue reading “From Past to Future: Revisiting Pac-Man Cartoons and The Uncertain Fate of the Movie”

After Watching The Grocery List Show, To Say “Who’s Hungry” Goes Without Saying….

The Grocery List Show is coming to PBS soon, and we got a preview! Although this series run is very short, let’s hope this miniseries will grow and show why buying local matters!

The Grocery List ShowWorld Premiere

I’m spending my time checking out the short films being played at the Los Angeles Asian Film Festival and when there’s “food” involved, I have to begin with The Grocery List Show. This five-part series hosted by Chef Chrissy Camba will be available on May 28 on PBS YouTube channel and their app, and it’s an impressive look at what keeps some mom-and-pop type operations alive.

Quite often, after school, I’d stop by my local corner store for a snack and maybe a comic book. They had some essential groceries too, since not everyone wanted to make a longer trip to the market for a jug of milk. Although today’s stores are not like that, the reason is because of how times have changed. Instead of finding next month’s Spider-Man here, it’s only Archie these days. Sometimes, those personalities behind the counter are people I know from either down the street or they live in the suite upstairs.

Continue reading “After Watching The Grocery List Show, To Say “Who’s Hungry” Goes Without Saying….”

When Assassination Classroom is Making A Comeback in Japan, There’s A New Soundtrack Attached (not Attacked) To It!

Fans of the anime Assassination Classroom might want to check out the upgrade! As for whether Crunchyroll will also replace their vaults with this new broadcast, it’s all about the music here!

Assassination Classroom Manga CoverA Japanese television network is rerunning the anime series Assassination Classroom using new opening and closing songs. This wonky science fiction comedy manga series created by Yūsei Matsui has quite the following because it’s about saving Earth from destruction.

This series is about an alien octopus teaching tweens the finer points in what goes on in their galaxy and encouraging them to put a stop to his nefarious plans by any means necessary. Honestly, I think he looks more like Pumpkinhead Sam from Trick ‘r Treat, but I digress. While he doesn’t hide the fact he’s targeting their home world for destruction, they’ll have to halt his plans. On my first impression, this high school series may well be digging up ideas which predate Baby Assassins and include concepts from Nightmare on Elm Street on top.

Continue reading “When Assassination Classroom is Making A Comeback in Japan, There’s A New Soundtrack Attached (not Attacked) To It!”

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man is Amazing! But Will Pete Get A Day Off like Ferris Bueller?

The producers behind this latest take on Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man have a lot of unique twists and turns planned on what’s familiar. When this story takes place in a much distinct reality from what we know, the different relationships elevate the mythos to an edgy new level.

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-ManNow Playing on Disney Plus
Spoiler Alert

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man is a refreshingly different take about our favourite wall-crawler. And as for who are his worst enemies, it is slowly developing. Without it, I doubt I’d care about the antihero Tombstone as much. Unlike other animated series which cut to the chase, the best part concerns Lonnie (Eugene Byrd) before his fall and Miko (Grace Song) her transition. Their side stories develop along with the hero’s, but as for if they will be his amazing friends, that’s debatable.

Here, Peter Parker (Hudson Thames) is learning the ropes in what it takes to be a hero. Here, he doesn’t meet the Avengers or even get recruited. The random reference to those events from the Captain America films is just that! As for where the other superheroes are, we only catch two in action, and hear about others.

Continue reading “Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man is Amazing! But Will Pete Get A Day Off like Ferris Bueller?”

When PBS’ NOVA Tries to Explain “What Are UFOs?” We Should Pay Attention!

Although one-third of the episode is repeating old information, the final third is worth paying attention to for the public to help UFOlogists study What Are UFOs? 

NOVA What Are UFOs? General PosterWhen America’s most beloved popular science television program decides it’s time to deal with the UFO phenomenon, a lot of viewers are going to take notice. That’s because the answer to “What Are UFOs?” actually offers a few bits of information that’s absolutely new to me, and the 50-minute program is not simply regurgitating information that’s already well known to Ufologists.

The December 2024 timestamp on the most recent footage surprised even me. I notice that much information in television productions is usually outdated by broadcast time. Sometimes, the footage doesn’t make it to the mainstream until years later. Cellphone footage is difficult to validate, but the producers’ prompt action shows they take this subject seriously.

While the program’s first third covers familiar material, it successfully acquaints newcomers with the phenomenon’s beginnings and explains the preference for using “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” (UAP) over the old term. And to recap the incident that really catapulted interest and put “closure” to the Roswell incident, even I’m skeptical. That’s because while Project Mogul is a plausible explanation, there’s still the question if aliens bodies were also found.

Continue reading “When PBS’ NOVA Tries to Explain “What Are UFOs?” We Should Pay Attention!”

Henry Danger The Movie, Preparing For A New Generation The Right Way!

At long last, Henry Danger the Movie is being developed to be somewhat like Batman while retaining what defines a Nickelodeon show! And the horror schtick helps.

Henry Danger the Movie Poster
Nickelodeon / Paramount+ (Jan 17) and YTV (Jan 20)

Spoiler Alert

Every once in a while, when I see a commercial for Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger or one of its spinoffs on YTV, I wonder if the former side-kick (Jace Norman) will ever become  Nightwing from DC Comics? And I’m surprised Henry Danger The Movie delivered. I can easily picture him as that type of jaded individual after the events from the original series. Although this continuation has moments which has to recognise why this studio loves silly, the trip through the light fantastic was very entertaining!

That’s because Frankini (Frankie Grande) steals the show. He manages and performs at the nightclub where the best action takes place. Although this individual appeared in only three episodes of the series, for the producers to decide on which recurring character to bring back must have been tough. And when he got transformed into a vampire, I’m sure he can give Paul Reuben a run for the money. Unfortunately, the alt version of this dancer does not have a hilarious death scene like in the Buffy movie, but he looks absolutely fabulous!

Continue reading “Henry Danger The Movie, Preparing For A New Generation The Right Way!”