[Weekly Update] 2024 & Talking about the Oscar

Happy belated new year! After a month long break, I'm back and am excited to talk more about movies. I hope the year has been good for you!

CHANNEL UPDATE

Hope you enjoy our first 2024 video on copyright infringement. I've been working on this video for quite a while. Getting all of the films was not an easy task, and I still barely have enough time to cover them. Fun Fact, hbomberguy's video on plagiarism nearly made me scrap the entire video, as I'm not sure how the Internet would react to this discussion. But I'm honoured to say, the comment discussions are some of the most constructive I've seen anywhere.

You may have also noticed we have new animations. After hearing your feedbacks on our last change, I've remade everything, keeping the branding colours but adding a bit more energy back into our videos. So far, I'm seeing zero comments on the aesthetic, which is probably a good sign. That just means it works so well for our channel, people don't even notice it. I hope?

Up next, we have a video about Devilman, arguably the worst Japanese film ever. And after that, we have a video on Chinese movie memes, as voted by you! If you have any meme suggestions, drop it in the comments! I'm looking for a bit more variety, because so many memes are from Stephen Chow, lol.

Finally, we'll be hosting another poll in March, if all goes well. It'll be between these three topics:

• Kung Fu Movies from Outside of China
• Hong Kong Comedies before Stephen Chow
• Women Playing Male Characters in Chinese Films

Stay around and cast your vote!

MEDIA TALK

It's award season, let's do the most boring thing imaginable: The Oscar.

My prediction? Jimmy Kimmel is gonna make a joke about being afraid to be slapped.

Alright, let's be honest, 2024 wasn't exactly an eventful year in American cinema. The same five movies are being nominated in nearly every major category. The films being: Oppenheimer, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, Anatomy of a Fall, and Poor Things. While they are good movies, and will likely be remembered for years to come, they are also the only ones most of us care.

Anyway, let's talk about some of the surprises. The best visual effects category was a surprise for me, as Indiana Jones 5 was not nominated. The film features one the most ambitious uses of de-aging ever, and also extremely well done. Much of the effects in that film, even if not realistic, feels quite appropriate for the style it is going for. I supposed de-aging isn't all that big of a deal anymore. But between this, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and Mission Impossible 7, I'd think Indiana Jones 5 is the one I remember the most.

Of course, many of us also heard of that dumb decision of bumping Barbie into the adapted screenplay category. I do think it is a boneheaded move. But It likely wouldn't matter at the end, as the Original category has both Anatomy of a Fall and Past Lives.

Oppenheimer leads with 13 nominations, and it stands a good chance of sweeping many major categories. Personally, I do think it'll be his chance to win best director. Oppenheimer has a good chance of winning best film as well. But a part of me think it'll be Barbie, judging by what the track record and preferences of the academy in recent years. I can't wait for the sh*t storm afterward.

Poor Things, despite having 11 nomination, second highest in the running, may be the biggest loser of the night. Nearly every category the film is in, it faces fierce competition from other productions that are higher profile, more widely seen, and probably has more money to do a "for your consideration" campaign.

And finally, the category with the clearest winner, in my opinion, is Robert Downey Jr. as supporting actor. Dude is just on another level.

But that's just my opinion, and my opinion on the Oscar is quite often wrong. So, if you have a prediction, feel free to share! In any case, I'll see you in our next update!