Nerd Legion

We Used To Love The Boys. Here's What Happened.

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 20:24:33 +0000

We were fans of The Boys. Seasons one and two were genuinely great television: it was a cynical, funny deconstruction of corporate superhero culture that understood how Vought International would actually operate in a modern media landscape. That show is dead now. Three episodes into its final season, The Boys hasn't just jumped the shark; it's jumped about fifty of them, and the Deep is responsible for all of them.

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After 35 Years, Is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Still Good?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:43:29 +0000

MonteCristo and DoA celebrate the 35th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze: the 1991 Golden Harvest sequel that traded the original film's dark, gritty tone for full-on cartoon commitment, and made itself a cultural artifact in the process. DoA has watched this movie so many times he has it memorized. He's not even a little bit ashamed about it.

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Is Project Hail Mary A Money Grab? Or Is It ACTUALLY Good?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:29:31 +0000

Project Hail Mary is a massive box office hit, a visually stunning sci-fi spectacle, and genuinely well-crafted filmmaking, so why did one of its reviewers spend nearly three hours waiting for it to be over? DoA and MonteCristo land on opposite sides of a movie they both agree is good but can't agree on whether it matters. The result is one of Nerd Legion's most honest conversations about what separates a great sci-fi film from a really well-made popcorn flick.

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One Piece Season 2 Is the Best Live-Action Anime Ever Made

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:53:55 +0000

Netflix's One Piece might be the most ambitious live-action anime adaptation ever attempted and, somehow, it works. Season 2 takes Eiichiro Oda's gloriously absurd world of devil fruit powers, talking snail phones, and pirates who commit zero acts of piracy, and translates it into eight episodes of practical sets, committed performances, and fight choreography that has no business being this good. DoA and MonteCristo break down why this show succeeds where Cowboy Bebop and Death Note failed.

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the Blueprint Every Franchise Needs

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:44:42 +0000

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms just wrapped its first season on HBO, and it might be the most important template for franchise storytelling in years.

Six episodes. Thirty minutes each. No world-ending stakes. No required homework from other series. Just a tight, character-driven story set in the Game of Thrones universe that stands completely on its own. It's also a massive hit, averaging nearly 13 million viewers per episode and becoming HBO's third-biggest debut ever.

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Sean Connery as a Glittering Green Knight?! | SWORD OF THE VALIANT (1984)

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:12:07 +0000

What happens when you take the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight… and turn it into an 80s fantasy fever dream starring a glitter-covered Sean Connery?

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive into Sword of the Valiant (1984): one of the strangest fantasy adaptations ever made. Featuring Miles O’Keeffe, Peter Cushing, John Rhys-Davies, and Ronald Lacey, this stacked cast somehow delivers one of the most unintentionally hilarious medieval movies of the decade.

From animatronic severed heads… to magical invisibility rings… to unicorn-eating knights… to the worst synth soundtrack we’ve ever heard. This movie has everything except a coherent moral.

Is it terrible? Absolutely.

Is it entertaining? Without question.

Let’s talk glitter armor, bad fight choreography, Arthurian lore, and why Sean Connery keeps taking fantasy roles he “doesn’t understand.”

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Wonder Man is the Marvel Show That Shouldn't Work

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 19:53:13 +0000

Wonder Man is the rare MCU project that feels like it was written by people who actually understand character, comedy, and theme. It succeeds without leaning on CGI sludge, multiverse homework, or the usual “you must watch 14 other things first” burden.

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we break down why Wonder Man works: it’s an acting-first show disguised as superhero IP, a behind-the-scenes Hollywood comedy-drama with sharp writing, real performances, and surprisingly thoughtful commentary on craft, ego, and the machine that manufactures “content.”

We talk about how the series uses its Marvel connections sparingly (and intelligently), why Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery is the perfect meta-vehicle for the premise, and how Yahya Abdul-Mateen II pulls off the insanely difficult task of playing an actor who has to be convincingly bad at acting, while still being excellent.

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Feels Just Like Game of Thrones?!

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:28:31 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA break down HBO’s latest Westeros spinoff and ask the core question every fan is wondering: does this series understand what made Game of Thrones work in the first place?

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Star Trek for Gen Z Doesn’t Work (Here’s Why) | STARFLEET ACADEMY

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Starfleet Academy should have been an easy win for modern Star Trek: it's a smaller, character-driven series about young cadets learning what it means to serve in a post-scarcity utopia. Instead, it’s a massively expensive show that seems unsure who it’s even for.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash Is a Spectacle With Nothing to Say

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 17:25:52 +0000

James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash is an undeniable technical marvel, but does groundbreaking spectacle excuse shallow storytelling?

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The Forgotten Kids Movie of the 90s | SUBURBAN COMMANDO

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:08:10 +0000

SUBURBAN COMMANDO is one of the strangest artifacts of 1990s Hollywood: a kids’ movie starring Hulk Hogan as an intergalactic bounty hunter who crash-lands in suburbia, rents a converted toolshed, and solves neighborhood problems with raw strength and alien technology.

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The Movie Nintendo Tried to Erase | SUPER MARIO BROS (1993)

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 6 Dec 2025 18:01:02 +0000

The movie Nintendo wants you to forget is somehow even weirder than you remember.

In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA dive headfirst into the 1993 live-action SUPER MARIO BROS: a film so chaotic, so baffling, and so aggressively not Mario that it took Nintendo over 30 years to try a movie again.

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Star Wars Visions Vol. 3 Misses the Mark: But One Episode Shines

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:01:04 +0000

Star Wars Visions Volume 3 is here and, unfortunately, it might be the weakest entry yet. In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA break down all nine anime shorts and ask the big question:

Why does Star Wars keep returning to the same tired ideas?

From endless Tatooine stories to recycled Jedi tropes, half-animated CGI ships, and baffling creative choices, Visions Vol. 3 shows just how far the brand’s stewardship has fallen. Even the anthology format, supposedly a space for experimentation, feels strangely safe and generic.

But it’s not all bad. We highlight the one short that genuinely stands out (“Black”), why it succeeds aesthetically, and how the rest of the series fails to capture anything meaningful about the Star Wars universe.

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What Happens When ALL Humans Merge Into One Mind? | PLURIBUS Review

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 12:45:00 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA dive into PLURIBUS (aka PLUR1BUS), the new Apple TV+ sci-fi series where a mysterious pathogen slowly fuses all humans into a single, global hive mind. They break down the show’s philosophy, dark comedy, and unsettling medical horror along with why Vince Gilligan’s creative fingerprints are all over it.

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Predator: Badlands Is Shockingly Good

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 18:10:21 +0000

Predator: Badlands shouldn’t be this good.

MonteCristo and DoA went in expecting another forgettable franchise sequel and came out calling it the best Predator film since 1987. In this episode of Nerd Legion, the hosts break down how Dan Trachtenberg turned a dormant IP into a bold, emotional, and surprisingly funny sci-fi blockbuster.

They discuss the film’s unexpected focus on the Predator’s culture and honor code, Elle Fanning’s dual performance, and how the movie manages to feel both classic and completely new. From the inventive world-building to the subtitled alien language and practical effects, Predator: Badlands proves that simple stories told well still hit the hardest.

The conversation also detours into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the curse of bloated superhero films, and why Hollywood keeps forgetting how to make tight, self-contained action movies.

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What Went Wrong With The Witcher? | SEASON 4 REVIEW

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sun, 9 Nov 2025 01:49:39 +0000

MonteCristo and DoA return to dissect Netflix’s latest fantasy implosion, where Liam Hemsworth steps into the role of Geralt and discovers that charisma and coherent writing have both been exhumed. From botched tone and nonsense plotting to uneven VFX and dialogue that feels AI-generated, The Witcher has finally become the kind of fantasy parody it used to mock.

The hosts break down why the show collapsed: bizarre subplots, missing chemistry, baffling character arcs, and some of the worst world-building since The Acolyte. They compare Cavill’s grounded performance to Hemsworth’s “mush-mouth” Witcher, praise Laurence Fishburne for stealing every scene, and mourn the death of what was once Netflix’s flagship genre series.

Plus: how this all ties back to bad adaptation culture, writer-room ego, and why Henry Cavill was right to leave when he did.

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Reviving The Original Series... But Is It Good? | SPLINTER CELL: DEATHWATCH

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 18:50:41 +0000

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch might be the most unexpected comeback in gaming history: an animated Netflix series based on a franchise that’s been dormant for a decade. MonteCristo and DoA dive deep into Ubisoft’s strange revival of Sam Fisher, the stealth-action legend who’s now older, grizzled, and apparently stuck in an anime-style John Wick universe created by Derek Kolstad.

In this episode, the hosts debate whether Deathwatch is a solid espionage thriller or just a messy prelude to Ubisoft’s upcoming Splinter Cell remake. They discuss the show’s surprising violence, chaotic hacking scenes, and the questionable logic of “chaos algorithms,” plus the performances of Liev Schreiber as Sam Fisher and the legacy of Michael Ironside’s voice.

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The Funniest Terrible Fantasy Movie Ever Made | ATOR 2: THE BLADE MASTER

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:45:27 +0000

There’s bad. There’s so bad it’s good.

And then there’s Ator 2: The Blade Master: a sword-and-sorcery disasterpiece that transcends failure and becomes pure comedy gold.

MonteCristo and DoA continue Nerd Legion’s 1980s fantasy marathon with the most unintentionally hilarious movie ever filmed. From its wooden acting and nonsensical dubbing to its unforgettable hang glider bombing run, The Blade Master proves that even terrible movies can become classics in their own chaotic way.

Along the way, the hosts explore the bizarre Italian fantasy boom of the 1980s, Ator’s legacy as the world’s dumbest hero, and how this film’s director went from swords and sorcery to adult cinema.

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The Most Hardcore Samurai Film Ever? | Lone Wolf and Cub

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 4 Oct 2025 15:54:48 +0000

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) might be the most outrageous and hardcore samurai film we’ve covered yet. Former shogunate executioner Ogami Ittō becomes a disgraced wanderer, pushing his infant son through Edo-period Japan in a baby cart full of hidden weapons. Along the way, he faces betrayal, conspiracies, and blood-soaked battles that helped inspire everything from The Mandalorian to Ghost of Yōtei.

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Is Samurai Champloo A Masterpiece OR Incredibly Frustrating?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 19:40:06 +0000

Samurai Champloo is one of the most stylish anime ever made: hip hop, samurai, and pure visual flair. But does the second half of the series actually collapse under its own weight? In Part Two of our Ghost of Yōtei Inspirations series, MonteCristo and DoA cover episodes 14–26 and debate whether Champloo is a masterpiece of style or one of the most frustrating anime endings ever.

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How Watanabe's SAMURAI CHAMPLOO Continues To Inspire

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:45:00 +0000

What happens when samurai sword fights meet hip hop beats? In 2004, director Shinichirō Watanabe followed up Cowboy Bebop with Samurai Champloo: a wild mashup of Edo-era Japan, breakdance-inspired swordplay, and lo-fi counterculture.

Two decades later, Champloo still feels fresh, and its influence now echoes in Ghost of Yōtei with the brand-new Watanabe Mode, blending lo-fi hip hop into your samurai journey.

MonteCristo and DoA dive into how Samurai Champloo revolutionized anime, the genius of Nujabes’ soundtrack, and why this series still matters for both anime and gaming.

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LADY SNOWBLOOD (1973): The Ultimate Samurai Revenge Story

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:24:46 +0000

Before Kill Bill, there was Lady Snowblood (1973): a dazzling, hyper-stylized tale of tragedy and vengeance that changed samurai cinema forever. With unforgettable visuals, outrageous martial arts training sequences, and a performance by Meiko Kaji that blends icy assassin and deeply human, this film redefined what a revenge story could be.

It didn’t just inspire Quentin Tarantino, Lady Snowblood is a direct influence on Ghost of Yōtei, with its female warrior on a bloody path of vengeance against those who destroyed her family. From manga-style chapters to iconic snowbound duels, this movie set the template for modern revenge epics.

In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA break down why this film still feels shockingly modern, why it’s better than Kill Bill, and how it connects directly to the cinematic DNA of Ghost of Yōtei.

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GHOST OF YŌTEI Inspirations: 13 ASSASSINS (2010) — The Most Brutal Samurai Film

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 16:02:13 +0000

Takashi Miike’s 13 ASSASSINS (2010) delivers one of the longest, bloodiest action sequences ever put to film: 45 minutes of nonstop samurai carnage. Some call it a masterpiece of brutality, others say it drags on forever. But there’s no denying its influence on the combat design and cinematic feel of Ghost of Yōtei.

In this episode of Nerd Legion, MonteCristo and DoA debate whether 13 Assassins is overindulgent or essential, explore its commentary on the samurai code, and connect it directly to the upcoming game’s Miike Mode. From nihilistic villains to questions of honor and duty, this is modern samurai cinema at its most extreme.

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GHOST OF YŌTEI Inspirations: THRONE OF BLOOD (1957) — Samurai Ghosts & Cursed Destiny

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:45:00 +0000

With Ghost of Yōtei launching October 2nd, Nerd Legion is diving into the films and anime that inspired the game’s haunted world. We begin with Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood (1957), a chilling reimagining of Macbeth that blends Noh theatre, samurai tragedy, and supernatural ghosts.

In this episode, MonteCristo and DoA discuss:

⚔️How Throne of Blood’s fog, wind, and black-and-white style shaped Kurosawa Mode in Ghost of Tsushima (returning in Ghost of Yōtei)

⚔️The fusion of Shakespearean tragedy with Japanese Noh theatre and its symbolism (Lady Asaji’s mask-like stillness, the centipede banners, spinning horses)

⚔️Kurosawa’s legendary use of atmosphere and the unforgettable real-arrow death scene with Toshiro Mifune

⚔️How the film’s themes of cursed destiny and supernatural hauntings echo the mythic tone of Ghost of Yōtei

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DEATHSTALKER (1983): The Sleaziest Fantasy Film Ever?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 17:14:55 +0000

Welcome back to Nerd Legion’s 1980s Fantasy Marathon! This week we tackle one of the most infamous sword-and-sorcery B-movies ever made: Deathstalker (1983).

Produced by Roger Corman and loaded with bizarre editing, random plot “twists,” and way too much sleazy exploitation, Deathstalker has gone down in history as one of the strangest and most uncomfortable entries in ’80s fantasy cinema.

In this episode we break down:

⚔️ Why Deathstalker feels more like softcore than sword-and-sorcery

⚔️ The nonsensical “plot” and awkward tournament arc

⚔️ Garbage Yoda, the magical trans operation, and our favorite bad effects

⚔️ How this film made money — and why people kept watching

Is Deathstalker the worst fantasy movie of the 1980s, or just so-bad-it’s-good cult cinema? Join us for our breakdown, commentary, and plenty of laughs as we continue our marathon through the weirdest corners of ’80s fantasy.

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ALIEN EARTH: First Impressions & Peter Pan Parallels

andrew@lastfreenation.com (last free nation) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 17:16:17 +0000

Join us for our first impressions and review of Alien Earth as we dive into the show’s opening two episodes! Created by Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion), this new sci-fi series expands the Alien universe with an intriguing premise: synthetics, creepy new alien species, and surprisingly heavy-handed Peter Pan parallels.

The episode of Nerd Legion kicks off with highlights from MonteCristo and DoA's watch-along of the first two episodes and then continues with our review and thematic discussion.

While Alien Earth impresses with its visuals and strong performances (including Timothy Olyphant as synth character Kirsch) we also examine its pacing issues, plot contrivances, and tonal inconsistencies. Can this series live up to the legacy of the original Alien films, or is it destined to become another overextended franchise experiment?

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STRANGE NEW WORLDS (SEASON 3): Is Star Trek Now An Inside Joke?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 9 Aug 2025 11:45:00 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we grapple with the first four episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3. After a long two-year hiatus, the show has returned, but has it lived up to expectations? We discuss the highs and lows, such as the Gorn plotline wrapping up, thematic episodes like the musical and the holodeck murder mystery, and question whether the show is being overly self-referential. We also touch upon our hopes for Star Fleet: Academy and address concerns for the future of the show. Tune in for an in-depth analysis!

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FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST STEPS: A Glorious New Beginning or Another Failure?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 2 Aug 2025 18:39:13 +0000

Nerd Legion breaks down Fantastic Four First Steps, critiquing its flawed storyline, sometimes questionable CGI, and underwhelming writing. They discuss the film's failed promise and compare it to other Marvel and non-Marvel films, highlighting both the good and the not-so-good aspects. The film struggles to maintain the audience's suspension of disbelief and mostly squanders a strong start by the time the heroes visit Galactus in space. In spite of generally solid casting with Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby in the lead roles, believable chemistry between the actors, and a compelling alternate Earth with a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, the film ultimately is weighed down by poor writing.

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KRULL: The 80s Fantasy Cult Film That Was ALMOST An All-Time Classic

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 19:34:22 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive deep into the retrospective analysis of Krull, a polarizing cult classic of 1980s fantasy cinema. We break down the highs and lows, discussing everything from the film's impressive visuals, soundtrack by James Horner, and a strong ensemble cast including young Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane. We critique the film’s convoluted script, misaligned dialogue, and missed potential, comparing it with contemporaries like Conan and Star Wars. How could an all-star creative crew including director Peter Yates, cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, and editor Ray Lovejoy fail to live up to their potential in Krull?

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SUPERMAN (2025): How Good is James Gunn's New Take on The Man of Steel?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 11:45:00 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, Monte and DoA dive into the latest Superman reboot directed by James Gunn. The hosts discuss the film's light-hearted tone, its departure from traditional Superman lore, and the new interpretations of characters like Lex Luthor and Jor-El. They debate the merits of the movie's humor, its portrayal of media, and the overall freshness it brings to the superhero genre. Despite some disagreements on key elements, both find aspects to appreciate and speculate on the future of the DC Universe under Gunn's direction.

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THE DARK CRYSTAL: Puppetry Masterpiece or Childhood Relic?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 17:24:55 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we conclude the first three years of our 1980s fantasy film marathon by discussing and ranking the best and worst films from 1980 through 1982. We delve into titles like Dragon Slayer, Excalibur, and Conan the Barbarian, while also debating the merits of cult classics and lesser-known gems. The hosts discuss their favorite fantasy movies, the most surprising finds, and the least enjoyable watches. They also dive deep into a discussion on Jim Henson's 'The Dark Crystal,' analyzing its storytelling, puppetry, and its influence on future fantasy media. Looking ahead, they tease the upcoming fantasy films of 1983. Tune in for a nostalgic trip through 1980s fantasy cinema!

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FIRE AND ICE: The Lost Animated Cult Classic

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 5 Jul 2025 18:17:05 +0000

This week, we dive into the 1983 animated fantasy film 'Fire and Ice'. Join us as we explore the unique rotoscoping animation technique used in the film, the notable artists involved like Frank Frazetta and James Gurney, and the film's place in 1980s fantasy cinema. We also discuss the film's storytelling, its less-than-edgy approach compared to its peers, and its influence on modern works. Plus, we touch on voice acting, missed meme opportunities, and amusing trivia related to 'Fire and Ice'. Tune in for an entertaining and insightful discussion!

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THE LAST UNICORN: Does This Dark Fantasy Deserve to Be a Cult Classic?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 18:04:18 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, the hosts dive deep into the 1982 Rankin/Bass animated film 'The Last Unicorn.' They discuss the movie's memorable characters, voice acting, animation style, musical contributions by the band America, and the profound themes that blend with some truly bizarre moments. They also touch on the film's cult classic status and speculate on its possible influence on later works by Studio Ghibli. Stay tuned for a lively talk filled with nostalgia, humor, and unique insights into this quirky 80s fantasy classic.

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SORCERESS (1982): The Worst Fantasy Movie of ALL-TIME?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 03:16:46 +0000

Join us on Nerd Legion as we dive into the 1982 fantasy film 'Sorceress'—a movie so bad, it's good! From bizarre plot twists to unforgettable characters, this review covers the hilarious production history, the highly questionable special effects, and snippets of insane dialogue. Whether you're here for a laugh or to see why this is considered one of the most entertainingly bad movies of its time, we've got you covered. Explore why Sorceress stands out even in the crowded genre of 1980s fantasy films, and stay tuned for what's next in our marathon!

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THE BEASTMASTER (1982): Hilariously Bad Barbarian Stereotypes & Tropes

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 15:52:51 +0000

Join us as we explore the 1982 fantasy movie, The Beastmaster, as part of the Nerd Legion 1980's fantasy film marathon. We discuss its quirky plot, memorable scenes, and the characters involved. From Rip Torn’s villainous role to a tiger painted black, and even touch upon the influences of other classic fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian. We also share funny moments and our own watch-along commentary. This is an in-depth review you won’t want to miss, complete with nostalgic details and insights into what made The Beastmaster a mainstay on cable television for years. After our deep dive into this cult classic, stay tuned for a preview of our next episode on another outrageous 80's fantasy film, Sorceress.

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ANDOR: The BEST Star Wars Content Since The Original Trilogy

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 24 May 2025 16:03:20 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive into a detailed discussion about Season 2 of the Star Wars series 'Andor.' Filmed together in person (or is it just green screen magic?), Monte and DoA analyze the show's characters, themes, and its impact on the Star Wars universe. Hear our thoughts on why Andor is the best Star Wars content since the original trilogy, the challenges of maintaining continuity within the larger Star Wars saga, and some minor gripes we have.

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THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER: What Made This 80's Cult Classic a Hit?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 10 May 2025 17:48:15 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive into 'The Sword and the Sorcerer' (1982), a surprising hit from the 1980s fantasy craze. We explore the film’s strengths, including its impressive special effects, compelling acting, and memorable cinematography. We also discuss its humorous tonal inconsistencies and the charm of its goofy yet creative elements, such as the unique three-bladed sword. Director Albert Pyun shows how to maximize each penny of a small budget while lead actor Lee Horsley demonstrates surprising acting chops as Talon in a difficult, mostly unlikeable role. Additionally, comparisons are made with other iconic films and characters of the era, including 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Dragonslayer,' signaling its relevance and impact on the fantasy genre. Stay tuned for our verdict on whether this cult classic is worth a watch today, and get ready for our coverage of 'Andor' in the next episode.

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN: The Genre-Defining Fantasy Classic

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 3 May 2025 18:00:37 +0000

Join Nerd Legion as we revisit the iconic 1982 film, 'Conan the Barbarian' as part of our 1980s fantasy marathon. This episode delves into the movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's illustrious career, exploring its lasting legacy, the craftsmanship behind its production, and its impact on the fantasy genre. From its highly atmospheric soundtrack by Basil Poledouris to its stunning sets and John Milius' direction, we cover all that makes this film a timeless classic. The discussion also touches on the performances of James Earl Jones and other cast members, contrasts it with other 1980s sword and sorcery films, and reflects on Conan's influence on contemporary fantasy cinema.

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SEVERANCE SEASON 2: Big payoff or a shaky set-up?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:01:20 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, we dive deep into end the second season of 'Severance.' DoA and MonteCristo discuss problems with the season's pacing, major plot points, character developments, and whether the major payoffs are worth the price of the poor set-ups. We also analyze pivotal moments, including the rescue mission for Gemma led by Mark's innie and outie, and the implications of Lumon's Cold Harbor project. Additionally, we debate the needs for filler content, Helena's actions, the ethics of Lumon's experiments, and the series' potential future directions.

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ATOR THE FIGHTING EAGLE: The "So Bad It's Good" Conan Knock-Off

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:45:00 +0000

Welcome back to Nerd Legion! Join us as we continue our 1980s fantasy film marathon with a review of the infamous Italian-made classic, 1982's Ator the Fighting Eagle directed by Joe D'Amato. This episode dives into the movie's hilarious plot, terrible fight scenes, and unintentionally funny moments. We discuss the strange prophecy, the bizarre love story involving adopted siblings, the laughable special effects, the sub-par performance of Miles O'Keefe, and the unexpected joy of watching a very bad movie that's somehow endlessly entertaining. Quickly filmed after the release and success of Conan the Barbarian, Ator provides great entertainment as a rushed B Movie attempting to capitalize on the popularity of sword-and-sorcery films of the 80s. Don't miss out on the fun, and stay tuned for more episodes featuring our take on other 1980s fantasy films!

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MICKEY 17: Does Bong Joon Ho's New Film Live Up to Parasite?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 7 Apr 2025 18:10:16 +0000

In this episode of Nerd Legion, hosts Monte and DoA take a break from their 1980s fantasy marathon to discuss 'Mickey 17,' director Bong Joon Ho's latest science fiction film. They first delve into the movie's box office struggles and introduce Bong Joon-ho's history, noting his thematic blend of class conflict, environmentalism, and existentialism. The hosts critique the film for its rich moments of subtle humor and innovative concepts but argue it becomes unfocused in the second half, shifting from existential questions to heavy-handed political themes. They analyze Robert Pattinson's standout dual role performance, along with contributions from other notable actors like Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette. The episode wraps with reflections on Bong Joon Ho’s recurring themes and a funny personal anecdote about South Korea's macaron shop craze, highlighted within the film. They conclude that while 'Mickey 17' is visually appealing and entertaining, it doesn't reach the same profound levels as the director's previous works like 'Parasite' or 'Memories of Murder.'

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DRAGONSLAYER: Disney's Dark, Grim, and Forgotten Film

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 17:08:09 +0000

Disney's 'Dragonslayer' from 1981 is the next film in Nerd Legion's 1980s fantasy movie marathon! In this episode, they discuss the intriguing plot, standout performances, particularly by Ralph Richardson as Ulrich the Sorcerer, and the visually stunning cinematography and special effects. They also explore the film's mixed tones, underwhelming lead character, and its enduring influence on contemporary fantasy media, including George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Join us as we dive into the strange history behind making this underrated film and how it served as the forerunner of contemporary, gritty, and realistic fantasy fiction that dominates media today.

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HEAVY METAL: The Cult Classic That Shocked the 80s

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 21:01:44 +0000

Join hosts DoA and MonteCristo for another episode of Nerd Legion as we dive once more into our 80s fantasy marathon, discussing the animated cult classic 'Heavy Metal' from 1981. We reveal plans for upcoming reviews, including 'Dragonslayer', and share major updates about Star Wars, including Kathleen Kennedy's rumored retirement and the new Andor Season 2 trailer. Plus, we offer insights on the movie's legacy, its controversial content, and its impact on modern fantasy and animation. Don't miss this blend of nostalgia, critical analysis, and some laughs along the way!

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CAPTAIN AMERICA BRAVE NEW WORLD: Is it a worthy successor to Captain America?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:56:26 +0000

Captain America: Brave New World somehow fails to explore any interesting topics in what might be the most bland Marvel film yet released. Simply put: there is nothing "brave" about this film as it adamantly refuses to engage with interesting topics such as Captain America's role in a politically divided country, what it means to be a Black Captain America, and Sam Wilson's choice to not take the super serum. The film goes through the same motions as most Marvel film, but without any memorable scenes. Anthony Mackie is not given an opportunity to display his acting chops since the script plays it much too safe, and the movie fails to even generate a single iota of American patriotism or optimism.

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WITCHER SIRENS OF THE DEEP: High Budget Anime Witcher Fans Will Love

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 18:45:00 +0000

Netflix's second anime film version of The Witcher has dropped, this time featuring Geralt of Rivia in an adventure called Sirens of the Deep. While some Witcher fans may not be pleased by the liberties taken in this adaptation of a story by author Andrzej Sapkowski, Monte and DoA found it to be charmingly reminiscent of a quest from The Witcher series of video games. With the departure of Henry Cavill from the Netflix series, this movie uses Geralt's voice actor from the games, Doug Cockle, alongside support actors from the live-action show Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra. In spite of the occasionally over-the-top anime action, both Sirens of the Deep and Nightmare of the Wolf offer more satisfying Witcher stories than most of the episodes of the TV series and should amuse fans of the IP.

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SEVERANCE: Is it the BEST show on television? | Analyzing Ben Stiller's hit

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:54:00 +0000

Mind-bending thriller Severance season two has finally begun after an extended break, but the wait has delivered perhaps the best show currently running on television. Ben Stiller's direction and oversight of Severance as a producer has yielded an immaculately paced and intricate mystery, offering a steady drip-feed of tantalizing reveals every episode. The intrigue and insidiousness of Lumon continues to grow, and Monte and DoA discuss their ideas and theories surrounding the show. Severance's exceptional plot, cinematography, and notable cast deserve your time and attention like few shows currently on the air.

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SECTION 31: Is this the WORST Star Trek ever?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 7 Feb 2025 15:15:00 +0000

Another Alex Kurtzman Star Trek turd has dropped on Paramount Plus and this one is called "Section 31." Originally designed as a stand-alone tv series starring Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou, the project was hacked down to a 90 minute film that might be the single worst piece of Star Trek ever created. The movie succeeds in being constantly annoying, cliched, and thoroughly unfunny throughout its entire runtime and fails to even jump the shark into "so bad it's good" territory. Without Star Trek branding this film is barely recognizable as Star Trek, as it contains none of the values or vision created by Gene Roddenberry.

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SKELETON CREW FINALE: The most UNDERRATED Star Wars of all time?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:13:00 +0000

Skeleton Crew concludes on Disney Plus, but where does it rank all-time among Star Wars films and TV shows? Monte and DoA discuss their affection for the show, in spite of the fact that it is almost wholly derivative of other cinematic and literary work, because the execution of its tropes is good and it spices them up with clever Star Wars flourishes. Jude Law also turns in one of the most memorable Star Wars performances in years as Ja Na Nawood and the child actors alongside him deliver as well. While the ratings may be low compared to other Star Wars shows, Skeleton Crew's short 8 episodes are well worth your time.

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DUNE PROPHECY: Gripping political intrigue or a weaker Game of Thrones?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:51:00 +0000

Dune: Prophecy delves into the past, 10,000 years prior to the original Dune series and the latest films by Denis Villeneuve. HBO Max's new series clearly apes the political intrigue of their previous shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, ultimately Dune: Prophecy fails in getting the audience emotionally invested in the characters. While beautifully shot and designed in the vein of Villeneuve's Dune aesthetic, the plot feels rushed and unresolved, leading to an emotionally unsatisfying conclusion in spite of strong acting.

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SECRET LEVEL: A Cacophony of Video Game Stories: Is It Nostalgic or Cringe?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:30:00 +0000

MonteCristo and DoA discuss "Secret Level", an Amazon Prime Video anthology series based on video game franchises. They reveal which shorts are worth watching, which ones to skip, and their hopes for the second season of the show.

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SKELETON CREW: Why You Need to Watch This Star Wars Spin Off - It's Great!

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Welcome back to Nerd Legion! In this exciting episode, MonteCristo and DoA dive deep into the far reaches of the galaxy with a review of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew! Join us as we unravel why this series shines brighter than some of the recent Star Wars projects. From nostalgic nods to 80's and 90's films, to standout performances by the cast, there's a lot to unpack. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newbie to the franchise, this discussion is packed with insights that you won’t want to miss. Hit that play button and grab your lightsaber for an exciting ride!

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THE PENGUIN (2024): The Surprisingly Good Batman Spinoff with Amazing Acting

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Dive into the latest episode of Nerd Legion as MonteCristo and DoA break down Max's surprisingly compelling Batman spinoff, "The Penguin"! Join us as we spotlight the incredible performances from Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, and explore the film's complex themes found in classic mafia tales. We’ll discuss how "The Penguin" refreshingly reimagines Oz as a captivating villain, offering viewers a unique perspective. Don't miss out on this deep dive into the world of Gotham's underbelly and see why this spinoff deserves a watch!

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ARCANE SEASON 2 FINALE: Was it rushed? Will Riot lean more into film?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 8 Dec 2024 12:30:00 +0000

We review the final episodes of Arcane Season 2!

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UZUMAKI: A Genuinely Terrifying Horror Anime Plagued by Animation Studio Drama

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 4 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A long-awaited anime adaptation of Junji Ito's manga Uzumaki has finally arrived, but unfortunately with uneven results. Commissioned by Cartoon Network for Adult Swim, Uzumaki suffered serious delays in production and drama with the directors and animation studios. While the art style accurately reflects Ito's original work, the animation beyond the first episode leaves much to be desired and leads to some sequences being goofy instead of scary. For a show that took five years to release just four episodes, only the first one shows the love and care fans expected when viewing the trailers and teaser materials.

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ARCANE SEASON 2: The Highest Budget Animation EVER. Good but Concerning

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:04:00 +0000

Dive into the thrilling world of Arcane Season 2 in our latest review! Join MonteCristo and DoA as they break down the first batch of episodes, scrutinizing the stunning animation and exploring the hefty budget that brought this masterpiece to life. With their extensive history with League of Legends, these veteran hosts uncover the driving forces behind the show's success while tackling the biggest unsolved mystery lurking in Runeterra! Don't miss a minute of their expert insights!

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GUNDAM REQUIEM FOR VENGEANCE: The Netflix Gundam Animation for Everyone

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Get ready for an in-depth exploration as MonteCristo and DoA break down Netflix's "Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance" in this episode of Nerd Legion! Join the duo as they dive into the expansive Gundam universe, dissecting the unexpected portrayal of iconic mechas and the show's narrative twists. While the review touches on some captivating elements, the duo won’t shy away from critiquing the not-so-great animation that left fans wanting more. Perfect for both seasoned Gundam lovers and newbies, this review is packed with insights. Don't miss out; tune in now and add your thoughts in the comments!

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EXCALIBUR (1981): The High Budget Arthurian Romance Film That's Horny?...

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 2 Nov 2024 11:30:00 +0000

A dense, enigmatic, and bombastic epic, John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur brings the Arthurian romances to life in all their symbolic glory. Featuring a stellar cast, including Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Ciarán Hinds, and Gabriel Byrne, the film is an opportunity to see many lauded British and Irish actors early in their careers. Excalibur leans into the episodic and mysterious nature of the Arthurian stories, leaving it to the viewer to interpret and understand the events unfolding on screen. The film also provides a visual feast with amazing costuming, epic set-pieces, and stunning cinematography, all of which add to its larger than life feel. While challenging and, at times, confusing, Excalibur holds up well in the modern day and its ambition is second-to-none.

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CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981): Greek mythology and mechanical owls in 80s fantasy

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 1 Nov 2024 17:56:00 +0000

Clash of the Titans continues Nerd Legion's 1980s fantasy marathon, taking us into Greek mythology (kind of) with Perseus' battles against Medusa and the Kraken. While straying very far from its source material, the film gave us Ray Harryhausen's last crack at stop-motion and effects wizardry as a capstone to a multi-decade career in Hollywood. Maggie Smith and Lawrence Olivier also add some dramatic weight as Greek gods to counter-balance the action sequences of Harry Hamlin's Perseus. A little bit silly, but still compelling, Clash of the Titans remains a fantasy classic and a must-watch for fans of the genre.

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RETURN OF THE KING (1980): The Forgotten Lord of the Rings Musical Animation

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 23:31:00 +0000

Beloved by many who saw it in their childhoods, the Rankin/Bass musical interpretation of the Return of the King from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic is Nerd Legion's next film in the 1980s fantasy film marathon. Featuring music from folk legend Glenn Yarbrough and narration from the incomparable John Huston, this film represents a serious if flawed attempt to realize this iconic book. From disco orcs to a Skeletor-sounding Witch King, this interpretation of Return of the King is as silly as it is memorable.

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HAWK THE SLAYER: A goofy and delightful 1980s fantasy film surprise!

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:30:00 +0000

We kick off our review of every 1980s sword and sorcery movie, with Hawk the Slayer, a cult-classic British fantasy film directed by Terry Marcel from 1980. With charmingly terrible dialogue and special effects, this movie provides an unabashed good time with cheesy and tropey moments. Clearly inspired and derivative of Star Wars and pulp fantasy of the era, Hawk the Slayer still provides some unique moments and solid pacing. While no masterpiece, viewers should still find this film to be an incredibly fun viewing experience filled with lords of the dance, fully automatic crossbows, and glowing bouncy ball magic.

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WACRAFT MOVIE: Underrated or another trash video game film?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 11:30:00 +0000

Warcraft is a 2016 action fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name. Director Duncan Jones attempts to adapt the story from the very first Warcraft game, and ends up creating a tonally confusing film that can't decide who its target audience is. We praise most of the effects and some of the film's comedic moments, but pan the fight choreography, poor writing, and several other key aspects.

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ALIEN ROMULUS: Fresh Sci-Fi Horror or What We've Seen Before?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:28:00 +0000

Alien: Romulus is the latest installment of the Alien franchise, stretching back to Ridley Scott's original sci-fi horror flick from 1979. Taking place between Alien and James Cameron's sequel, Aliens, this film takes the franchise into the teen slasher genre by featuring a young cast and a compelling set-up to their encounter with the xenomorphs. However, once the action starts, Alien: Romulus quickly devolves into the equivalent of a theme park ride of the franchise's first two films, with some bits and pieces of Prometheus thrown in for good measure. Director Fede Álvarez nails the visuals and creates a beautiful, haunting movie, but also presents a story that we've all seen before.

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Deadpool & Wolverine: Nostalgia bait or pure entertainment?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:20:11 +0000

Deadpool & Wolverine is a blockbuster smash success, now surpassing the billion dollar mark at the box office, but is Ryan Reynolds' latest outing good or just another tedious entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hugh Jackman is resurrected to perform his iconic role as Wolverine in a quippy buddy comedy that may be thin on plot but makes up for it on entertaining action sequences, referential humor, and pure millennial nostalgia bait. Deadpool & Wolverine is a film obsessed with necromancy, but it's fun to see our past brought back from the dead in a gleeful fashion.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON FINALE: Was Season 2 a Disappointment or a Triumph?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:41:28 +0000

The finale of House of the Dragon's second season left many fans disappointed, but was it as anti-climactic as some are saying or is it a slow burn setting up for an epic conclusion? DoA and MonteCristo break down their favorite moments as they review the entirety of Season 2 as well as the scenes and story arcs that failed to deliver. Even without a conclusive battle sequence to close out the final episode, HotD sets up immense stakes in the war between the Greens and the Blacks that we're hopeful will continue to play out well in the third season.

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TIME BANDITS (1981): Terry Gilliam's Fantasy Story with Monty Python Humor

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:39:03 +0000

Time Bandits from 1981 is Terry Gilliam's first film after his efforts with Monty Python, announcing the arrival of a wildly creative director striking out in his own direction. While slow and clunky at times, the film retains much of Monty Python's deadpan and surreal humor while offering highly memorable scenes and an utterly unforgettable concept. Monte discusses his nostalgia for Time Bandits while DoA watches with fresh eyes, providing a unique breakdown of this cult classic.

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THE BOYS S4 FINALE: Filler, plot armor, fake drama | Complete season 4 review

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 19:09:11 +0000

The Boys Season 4 is finished and, unfortunately, hasn't gotten much better since Monte & DoA discussed the first three episodes. The whole season feels like unnecessary filler, particularly with the re-introduction of Soldier Boy in the final moments of the season finale. Hughie's plot armor somehow only gets thicker the longer the show goes on and this season is completely crammed with pointless plotlines from Frenchie to Neuman. The Boys fails to present compelling or funny satire, reaching instead for the low-hanging fruit of modern politics without offering a compelling twist or interesting interpretation.

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STAR WARS THE ACOLYTE: IT GETS WORSE... | Complete season review

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 19:31:39 +0000

Star Wars' The Acolyte finishes its first - and hopefully only - season on Disney+ and, unfortunately, ends as badly as it begun. DoA and MonteCristo conduct their final review of the first season, including a live watch along with episode 8. Our hosts are appalled with the recycling of Star Wars tropes within the series, the reliance on deus ex machina to advance plot points, the lack of ability to care about any of the characters, and more. They finish off the episode with some cross over ideas, including cures for Cortosis and a pitch for a new kids comedy movie: The Jedi Trap.

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MADAME WEB: The Worst Film of 2024

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 15:10:55 +0000

Sony's latest disastrous attempt at a superhero film, 2024's Madame Web, is almost unbelievably bad, boring, and poorly acted. Perhaps undermined by significant re-writes and changes in post-production, it's possible that the original vision of the movie may have been of passable quality. MonteCristo and DoA discuss just how awful the film is and debate whether it successfully moves from regular bad to comedically bad and its potential as a cult classic. Nerd Legion debuts a new, segment-based format this week, so let us know what you think!

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: Better than Game of Thrones?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 7 Jul 2024 18:24:41 +0000

While many laud the first five seasons of Game of Thrones, can House of the Dragon be held to the same lofty standard at the start of the second season? This show refines its predecessor and provides a sharp and focused narrative on feudal politics and a believable succession crisis within the Targaryen family. Monte and DoA discuss the first season of House of the Dragon and the start of the second, focusing on the intricately-wrought intrigue, the wonderful acting, and the depth of the world of Westeros.

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THE BOYS: Where it went Downhill

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 19:17:49 +0000

Amazon Prime has released the fourth season of The Boys, which was very quick to un-do almost everything that occurred in the previous season. While the stellar acting, particularly by Antony Starr as Homelander, remains, much of the plot revolves around copy/pasting modern politics into the show without the artfulness or cleverness of satire. While Monte and DoA still enjoy some of the plotlines, particularly around Vought and Neumann, the new story arcs seem lifted from soap operas, such as Frenchie's love affair and Ryan's plight with his father. The result is an uneven series forced to forget almost all the events of Soldier Boy and Temp V in the third season, which makes it an unsatisfying continuation.

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Star Wars Acolyte: How did they mess up so bad?!

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 17:58:51 +0000

Star Wars is back with The Acolyte and the franchise may have finally hit rock bottom. The new show on Disney+ is a nonsensical mess that backfires in its thematic choices and leaves viewers bored and with virtually no characters or plotlines to care about. Monte and DoA break down this televised catastrophe and wonder how Disney managed to collect such a unique combination of terrible writers, actors, and producers to waste $180 million.

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FURIOSA: The prequel nobody wanted from the Mad Max Universe

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:38:53 +0000

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga debuted to critical acclaim, but weak box office sales. Monte and DoA discuss George Miller's latest effort and whether it lives up to the Mad Max legacy. With compelling performances from Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, Furiosa continues in the vein of Fury Road with epic chase sequences and further world-building around the Citadel of the film. The question remains: did anyone actually want this prequel or would it have been better to continue where Fury Road left off?

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X-MEN '97: Nostalgia bait or is it actually good?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 7 Jun 2024 13:30:00 +0000

Disney+ has revived the late '90's X-Men animated series with a sequel set in the same era, X-Men '97. Resurrected by pop-culture necromancer Beau Demayo, this series may appeal to millennials desperate for any form of nostaligia, but for the uninitiated it may be jammed with too many subplots and other distractions. While many reviewers are raving about this show, DoA and Monte found the core storypoints and faithfulness to the X-Men universe compelling, but lacked the same enthusiasm for the series as other critics.

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DUNE (1984): Hilariously bad... but it's good? | Lynch's Dune 40th anniversary

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

40 years after its release, Nerd Legion revisits David Lynch's version of Dune from 1984, which stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides. DoA and Monte discuss the differences between this first attempt to put Dune on film with the recent Denis Villeneuve epic, both appreciating and laughing at some of the decisions made in this interpretation. While perhaps the source material was too challenging for the technological limits of the era, Lynch's Dune still contains some impressive visuals, performance, and an intriguing exploration into the expansion of consciousness.

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SHŌGUN: FINAL REVIEW of the intrigue thriller | A wonderful period drama

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 20 May 2024 21:22:21 +0000

We return to Shogun on Nerd Legion to give our final review and to discuss the second half of the series, which concludes Toranaga's ambitious character arc. The latter half of the show focuses on the deep political intrigue of feudal Japan and rounds out the character development of John Blackthorne and Mariko, leaving us with a consummate victory before the battle truly begins. This show will go down as an all-time triumph and we beg for it to end here since it's already a complete story. Please do not give us new seasons!

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REBEL MOON 2: Reviewing Snyder's DIASTROUS sequel | Why is it SO BAD?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 11 May 2024 17:54:14 +0000

Not simply content with making one terrible Rebel Moon movie, Zack Snyder delivers another via Netflix called Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver. Almost nothing happens in this film as it decides to dedicate its running time to slow motion grain harvesting rather than world-building or character development, leading to some rushed and hilarious moments. Interspersed with occasionally interesting visuals, Rebel Moon ends up being a hybrid of the Seven Samurai and The Canterbury Tales if they were interpreted by an idiot. Watch for laughs only.

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FALLOUT: A GOOD video game adaptation?! | Jonathan Nolan's suspense and humor

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 4 May 2024 17:07:49 +0000

Amazon Prime tapped Jonathan Nolan to create an adaptation of the video game property Fallout, which largely succeeds in providing and entertaining expansion of the games' world. Originally created by Bioware and followed-up with titles from Bethesda, Fallout portrays a post-apocalyptic Earth with macabre, dark humor and quirky characters, which the show gleefully portrays. The adaptation even managed to "feel" like a video game at times with side quests and bit characters while also channeling the comedy of some of its writers' former shows, such as Portlandia. Nerd Legion enjoyed Fallout and we're excited to see a continuation of the plot twist in season two!

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NINJA KAMUI: TERRIBLE flashback storytelling & old tropes | NOTHING new

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 19:31:47 +0000

Made for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, Sunghoo Park's Ninja Kamui breaks no new ground for anime or film/TV shows in general, instead preferring to lean on every trope imaginable. The show uses flashbacks to tell the story in the worst way possible, instead of sequencing the story chronologically, which would have given the story more emotional resonance. Beyond some cool fight sequences, Ninja Kamui offers nothing new and your time can be safely spent watching much better anime that's already been released.

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3 BODY PROBLEM: Brains in space, an alien invasion & the Cultural Revolution

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:54:38 +0000

Netflix's adaptation of The Three Body Problem, originally a novel in Chinese by Liu Cixin, provides audiences with a fun, if flawed, hard science-fiction show. Created by D. B. Weiss and David Benioff of Game of Thrones fame, many actors from their previous series also are cast here alongside other sci-fi acting staples. The premise of the show is strong, but some of the character interactions and story arcs come across as quite saccharine or cheesy. We still recommend this show since the fun parts outweigh the drudgery.

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SHŌGUN: Political intrigue and murderous plots in feudal Japan

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 17:36:25 +0000

Nerd Legion returns to review the new FX television miniseries Shogun, which can be found streaming on Hulu. Based on James' Clavell's 1975 novel and previously filmed in 1980, the new version by creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo provides a spectacular period drama set in feudal Japan. The level of attention to detail in the sets, costumes, and historical accuracy lends the weight of authenticity and pomp befitting of a drama between feudal lords in the 1600s. While outside of Nerd Legion's normal purview of science fiction and fantasy, we heartily recommend Shogun to our fans as an alternate take on Japanese history. Toranaga's machinations are fascinating to follow and we can't wait to watch the rest of the show!

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DUNE 2: The pinnacle of modern sci-fi cinema | Fremen, faith and false prophets

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 17:15:55 +0000

Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two burst onto the screen in 2024 to an excellent reception, and Nerd Legion also gives plaudits to this wonderful film. Monte and DoA have an in-depth discussion on changes from the books, the success of streamlining the story for film, the wonderful casting, and fulfilling character arcs. While Dune Part One may have been a bit rushed and flawed, the second movie dives into the world of the Fremen and is a much more complete thematic exploration that takes time with the central characters. We certainly recommend seeing this film in the theater while you have the opportunity!

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AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER: Successes and failures of the live-action adaptation

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 3 Mar 2024 01:30:47 +0000

Netflix's live-action adaptation of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender has drawn criticism from fans of the original, but still retains much of the magic and excellent world-building that made it great. The wonderous aesthetics and fantastical bending magic translate well into real-world action and the characters come to life with actors who are (mostly) well-cast. The addition of scenes from the Fire Nation shifts some of the character focus in this series and leaves some plot points rushed, ultimately Avatar remains an entertaining experience with significant character development. We recommend the show particularly to people dipping their toes into the world of Avatar for the first time!

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BLUE EYE SAMURAI: A thousand old tropes remixed into a new, beautiful whole

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 18:43:51 +0000

Blue Eye Samurai dropped on Netflix in 2023 and became one of our favorites shows of 2023, if not the best show on Nerd Legion thus far. While chock-full of tropes from Tarantino, Zatoichi, Kurosawa, Mulan, and more, the show takes its influences in bold and surprising new directions. Creative duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi have created an animated masterpiece with a compelling main character in Mizu and an exemplary supporting cast. It's well worth anyone's time to watch this gorgeous animated show!

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REBEL MOON: The TERRIBLE version of everything you've seen before

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:43:15 +0000

Netflix released Zack Snyder's unique terrible Rebel Moon in 2023, and Monte and DoA are here to tell you exactly how bad it is. The film is derivative of a litany of other science-fiction and fantasy film as well as being a direct rip-off of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. With almost no redeeming qualities, from lackluster world-building, boring characters, poor acting, and an insipid plot, you are well-warned to stay away.

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MONARCH: Why are there NO MONSTERS in the MONSTERVERSE? / What is MONARCH?

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:13 +0000

DoA and MonteCristo review the first five episodes of the new AppleTV+ show set in the MonsterVerse, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Starring Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt, who plays the younger version of Kurt, and set in both the modern day and in 1950's flashbacks, the show ultimately disappoints. Perplexingly, the show contains surprisingly few actual monsters and spends an exorbitant amount of time on the psychological woes of its boring characters. Furthermore, Monarch fails to even explain any of the mysteries surrounding its titular organization, leaving viewers bored and with few answers gleaned from five hours of watching this show.

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SCAVENGERS REIGN: the BEST sci-fi of 2023? Adventures on a truly alien world

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:30:00 +0000

Scavengers Reign is quietly one of the best TV shows of 2023 and offers a totally unique science-fiction experiences set on the truly alien world of Vesta. Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner and based on an animated short they created for Cartoon Network, Max picked up the concept for a full run that certainly delivers a thrilling survival experience. With an art style clearly derived from the French artist Moebius, Scaverngers Reign focuses on an unforgiving ecosystem in which humans arrive unprepared after crash-landing in a cargo ship disaster. While boasting interesting characters separated during the Demeter's evacuation, the most interesting aspects of the show focus on the planet's biome itself and the beauty and terror it inspires in the humans who encounter it.

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LOKI: Final review on Marvel's time-skipping, multi-versal banger

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 8 Dec 2023 17:47:41 +0000

Nerd Legion wraps up the second half of Loki's season two, which certainly doesn't disappoint. Monte and DoA discuss the success of the show, particularly the strength of the core cast, the satisfying conclusion of the Loki character arc, and speculate about the future of the MCU. They also compare it to other MCU shows and ask: is Loki the best Marvel TV series to date?

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SURF NINJAS: The BEST 90's ninja movie? Unintentionally hilarious

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:49:25 +0000

DoA forces Monte to watch a forgotten kids' movie from 1993, the terrible and hilarious Surf Ninjas. Clearly attempting to capitalize on the martial arts craze arising from Karate Kid and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the film contains notable actors Leslie Nielsen and Rob Schneider in some of their most forgettable roles. Surf Ninjas attempts to shoehorn product placement for its own video game on the SEGA Game Gear portable video game system, using the novel approach of having the video game be used as a tool for prophecy. While completely ridiculous, Surf Ninjas does provide some accidental big laughs and can be viewed as a time capsule for terrible 90's cinema.

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THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER: A gruesomely fun and heavy-handed Poe tribute

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:57:54 +0000

Mike Flanagan's latest horror effort, The Fall of the House of Usher, has arrived on Netflix just in time for Halloween! Serving as a modernized tribute and anthology to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, it weaves together a variety of the author's short stories and poetry around a larger narrative of one family's responsibility for the American opioid epidemic. The series provides a variety of pulpy and fun moments, but struggles to contain a ham-fisted and overly preachy condemnation of capitalism. Mark Hamill, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, and the rest of the ensemble cast shine as the deeply unlikable Usher family and their cronies, and the cinematography is also memorable and spectacular.

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LOKI: Zany time travel, witty banter, and McDonald's product placement

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:05:20 +0000

Nerd Legion is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this week with the start of Loki Season 2, which, unlike the tragic Secret Invasion, appears to be well-crafted and entertaining. The three primary actors in this season, Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, and Ke Huy Quan, all excel in their roles and create an atmosphere of banter and fun. The show uses clever visual queues to make the timelines easily comprehensible to the audience and abides by its own set of rules to create an air of mystery about the TVA and guide the viewer along.

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AHSOKA: Thrawn is an IDIOT, deus ex machina writing, giant plot holes

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:41:43 +0000

Ahsoka's first season wraps up with the reveal of Grand Admiral Thrawn, long-anticipated by fans of the Star Wars extended universe. Unfortunately, his characterization as a complete buffoon leaves Monte in shock, since he bears little resemblance to his portrayal in Timothy Zahn's novel. While the visuals and design of Ahsoka remain spectacular, the plot contains massive holes, deus ex machina writing, and non-sensical actions by the characters. DoA and Monte argue about whether anything actually happened over the course of the show's eight episodes, and DoA explains his fondness for Ahsoka in spite of its flaws.

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AHSOKA: The return of Anakin, stylish Jedi battles, and Kurosawa's influence

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:09:01 +0000

Nerd Legions dives further into Ahsoka as the show fleshes out her character with the return of Anakin Skywalker and flashbacks to her past. The show includes incredibly impressive visuals, well-choreographed lightsaber battles, and an admirable commitment to the Star Wars aesthetic that impressed our hosts. While some rather glaring plot holes emerged and viewers are left contemplating Hera's arguably criminal parenting, Ahsoka's plot moves along at a reasonable clip and continues to deliver an entertaining experience. DoA and Monte also discuss the influence from Kurosawa's samurai films, the mythological and Arthurian references made in the show, and much more.

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AHSOKA: REVIEW of Star Wars' newest show / Is it a RETCON of the sequel trilogy

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:30:00 +0000

New Star Wars content arrives in the form of the first two episodes of Ahsoka, with Nerd Legion here to provide an initial impression and review as the Disney+ series kicks off. DoA and MonteCristo discuss where this show fits in the Star Wars universe, if its intention is to provide a retcon of the terrible sequel trilogy, the success of the show's aesthetic, and more. Even though some scenes felt a little too drawn out and the dialogue fell flat in parts, overall the show looks to set up a highly-anticipated arc with an exciting adversary in Admiral Thrawn. Although it's not peak Star Wars yet and comes with some pacing flaws, we leave excited to watch the remainder of the series.

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STRANGE NEW WORLDS: the best episode yet, boy band Klingons, and a cliffhanger

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:30:00 +0000

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wraps up its second season this week with three strong episodes. The dreaded musical episode was actually executed well and in a manner consistent with the tone of the franchise and, even better, we were treated to the best episode of this show yet, Under the Cloak of War. The Gorn might be boring as an adversary with few original traits to make them stand out among science fiction antagonists, but we're hopeful that next season will close out their arc and introduce some fresh concepts. We give our final ratings for a Star Trek season that began disastrously and ended strong, while recognizing and celebrating Strange New Worlds' willingness to take risks.

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WILLOW: does it still hold up 35 years later? / Reviewing a childhood classic

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 16:19:20 +0000

Conceived by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard in 1988, Willow has reached its 35th anniversary and Nerd Legion reviews this childhood classic. Upon release, it was a landmark in special effects and enchanted a generation with its simple plot and charming, feel-good story. Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis shine in their performances, even if the script doesn't give them much to work with. Ultimately, has the film aged well in the context of other fantasy movies or is it beloved purely from nostalgia?

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THE WITCHER: crippled Cavill, wizard battles, and inexplicable unicorns

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:00:30 +0000

In spite of the compelling build-up for the Battle of Thanedd, the second half of Netflix's The Witcher Season 3 massively drops the ball in terms of pacing and execution to close out Henry Cavill's tenure on the show. The wizard conflict is massively rushed through one episode only to result in a plodding and boring character arc for Ciri as she wanders around a desert with an inexplicable unicorn. Meanwhile, Geralt lies around injured in a bed for Cavill's last moments in the series, leaving viewers pitying the actor for being given such a lackluster way to end his time as the signature character. The Vilgefortz storyline still holds promise for future seasons, but seems to lead to inevitable disappointment given the track-record of the show thus far.

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SECRET INVASION: the WORST Marvel film/show EVER?! / SNW x Lower Decks crossover

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 2 Aug 2023 19:36:20 +0000

Secret Invasion faceplants at the end of the series, not only ruining its own story arc, but creating unavoidable problems for the entire Marvel universe moving forward. How can they reconcile the power level of G'iah as she assumes the abilities of the Avengers and dozens of other superhuman beings? Monte and DoA discuss the numerous problems with the series and its disappointing finale before moving on to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. SNW continues to borrow from better Star Trek series, particularly in the crossover with the cartoon Lower Decks, and they guys argue about the success of the episode and the uneven quality of the show thus far.

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THE WITCHER: A good story badly told / Wizards, intrigue, and horny wine

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:05:41 +0000

Monte and DoA tackle the first five episodes of The Witcher Season 3, which continues Geralt's saga as political intrigue builds among the mages and Ciri eludes her many pursuers. They touch on the success of the first two seasons of the Netflix show, criticizing the editing and pacing as hindering a fundamentally good story that is needlessly confusing for the viewer to follow. While the third season largely improves upon the the problems that plague The Witcher, it still suffers from overwrought storytelling that obscures the strength of the narrative and acting. Should The Witcher be considered the ultimate mediocre TV show?

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Secret Invasion's MARVEL FATIGUE problem / SNW becomes REAL Star Trek!

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:51:49 +0000

This week, Nerd Legion returns to Marvel's Secret Invasion and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. While Secret Invasion drags on with ridiculous situations and boring action, there are a few good scenes and performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle buried in the muck. Monte and DoA discuss the issues with fatigue in the Marvel universe and a burdensome expectation to watch all Marvel content if viewers want to understand anything at all. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds finally releases a couple of good episodes that draw from classic franchise tropes to deliver some genuinely entertaining content. Will the rest of the season follow this pattern or regress to the disappointing narratives that kicked off season two?

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny REVIEW / Nostalgia bomb to end the series

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 13:30:00 +0000

In the first episode of Nerd Legion to examine a feature film, Monte and DoA discuss their (mostly) fond impressions of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. They explain some of the historical details the movie build upon, including the Antikythera Mechanism, the life of Archimedes, the Lance of Longinus, and Nazi mysticism. While Dial of Destiny freely repeats many Indiana Jones tropes, including Nazi castles, supernatural artifacts, bringing melee weapons to gun fights, and loveable street urchins, fans of the series should find the nostalgia heartwarming and entertaining.

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Secret Invasion: Is Marvel's spy show a SUCCESS? / Strange New Worlds: Kirk date

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Wed, 5 Jul 2023 14:44:11 +0000

DoA and Monte return their attention to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds this week as they discuss whether the time-travel episode with Kirk was actually worse than season two's opener. These two episodes are chock-full of ridiculous moments, including an absurd court scene where a lawyer introduces a critical law at the end of a trial and La'an Noonien-Singh leaving a gun in Khan's childhood room. Marvel's new show, Secret Invasion, has kicked off, but does it live up to its lofty expectations as a Samuel L. Jackson-led spy thriller? While the first episode proved confusing, the backstory explaining the skrulls' motivation finally arrived in episode two, piquing our interest moving forward.

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Strange New Worlds: a good intro to STAR TREK? / DISAPPOINTING start to Season 2

andrew@lastfreenation.com (Last Free Nation) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:50:37 +0000

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has resumed, so Monte and DoA discuss their impressions and review the first season as well as the disappointing start of season two. Is the show an adequate intro for Trek newbies, despite constantly pilfering plots from popular sci-fi? The guys bring up the ridiculous moments of season two episode one, including a drugged-up doctor fight and a hangover being a punishment for mutiny. The conversation continues around the show's parallels to other famous franchises such as Aliens, Indiana Jones, Freaky Friday, and more.

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