INTERVIEW / Actor & Recording Artist - Jovan Armand

We have a very special episode this week with a very special guest. Kyle and Dave are joined by one of the stars of the recently released Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Jovan Armand. Jovan joins us to talk about the new movie, how he was cast in the original film, and what got him into acting. He also talks about his new song that he recorded and is available NOW!

Interview can also be found on your favorite podcast app at Atomic Geekdom @atomicgeekdom

Lost In Linkin Park Nostalgia

If you know anything about me, you’ll know I love Linkin Park. I’ve been a huge fan since day one. Not to say I was a fan of them before they were called Linkin Park when they were called Hybrid Theory or Xero, but the first time I heard One Step Closer I was hooked. I rushed to my super old computer, dialed up America Online, booted up Napster and was ready to see what other songs I could find. Low and behold, there was a fresh debut album. I downloaded, burned the CD and popped it into my CD player stereo. I was a changed young man. The next day I was in Best Buy purchasing the actual CD and playing it loudly in my car the whole drive home and have been to this day. Since that time, the band has released seven studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums, two remix albums, three soundtrack albums, 12 video albums, 10 extended plays, 25 singles, 20 promo singles, and 68 music videos (according to Wikipedia at least). And as of February 09, 2023, we’ve been treated to an additional unreleased track titled “Lost” that is being included on the upcoming 20th Anniversary of Meteora box set available on Linkin Park’s website.

Photo: Revolver

With the release of this new song and the box set, we get more press for the remaining members of the band. Since Chester’s passing, they haven’t said much in the way of creating new music or touring. They did one final show as a tribute to Chester by inviting friends of the band to step into singer’s role and perform. This included some great Linkin Park classics and newer songs that fans hadn’t had the chance to see performed live. Now, Shinoda and the crew are getting asked about the chance for new music. They haven’t confirmed it, but again they have made steps towards that process which begins with getting them all in the same room together and that is what happened when it came to putting things together for this Meteora box set releasing in April.

Back to the topic of a new Linkin Park song. It’s bittersweet, right? I ache for new Linkin Park music, but hearing Chester’s voice does hit me harder every time I hear it now, especially when it’s a new song with such powerful lyrics. Lyrics that are written with such care like in the new song “Lost”. The story Mike and Chester tell with their lyrics is very personal and it’s universally relatable. We’ve all felt pain, we’ve all dealt with anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, betrayal, paranoia. It’s all there in the songs. The songs aren’t meant to drive you to depression but to express that you’re not alone. You don’t have to go through it all by yourself. The sad story of Chester is that he appeared always so happy and fun when on stage, on camera or with his friends and family. He seemingly had found it all; Fame, fortune, success, a loving family, right? But depression is deep and no amount of money or fame can take it all away.

To many, Chester had one of the most powerful and beautiful voices in the history of modern music. Not only will his talent for singing be missed, but for relating to the masses with his words. He spoke the truth along with Mike Shinoda, writing about their lives and experiences. Take the music out of it and read some lyrics. There is pain there and we can all identify with that pain. The band was somehow able to imbue their music with these powerful feelings, instruments and led by Chester’s dynamic engine of a voice. As Mike Shinoda said, '“He was born to do this.”

So here we are. Die hard LP fans are getting a special treat with this release of fresh lyrics and music from what I feel to be one of the biggest bands of the century. From the second I heard Hybrid Theory, I made a choice to learn guitar and sing in a band. My roommate and I had dreams of what it would be like performing on the road. I have notebooks of songs and lyrics still with me to this day, writing while working various jobs in my life.

Fast forward to 2017. I never signed a record deal but I played a lot of shows with my best friends and it was a shining moment in my little life. It wasn’t until Chester passed that I realized I need help. That my depression isn’t something I’ll just pull myself out of like the generations before me would tell us to do. No, I needed to speak to someone and I did. I still talk to a professional and I am on some medicine, but I’m no longer as hopeless and alone as I had been at one time. I beg you, if you’re suffering, seek help. Talk to someone. There will always be someone there to listen and to help. Even if its a stranger like one of us through the Atomic Geekdom Twitter DM.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 9-8-8. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

If you or someone you need may be feeling depressed, hopeless, lost, alone or any of these things, here’s some information on how you can find help. Please speak with someone.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Includes information on finding your local crisis center.

Phone: 988

Website: http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

FOUR EYES REVIEW / The Batman

Welcome back to another “Four Eyes” review. We take this moment to share 2 opinions on a single geek topic.

Below both Justin and Dave will each dive into what they thought about Matt Reeve’s The Batman. Join us for a “Fan”-tastic, gushing with praise, recap.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on social media using #foureyesreview

MOVIE: The Batman

STARRING: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravits, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Keoghan, Andy Serkis

RELEASE DATE: March 4th, 2022

WHERE TO WATCH (as of March 2022): Theaters (Streaming on HBO Max on April 19th, 2022)

FROM JUSTIN POMERVILLE:

Cue the 60’s Batman theme song, because our favorite caped crusader is back again on the big screen. When The Batman was first announced with Robert Pattison as Bruce Wayne/Batman, I was a little hesitant. It wasn’t Pattison’s acting capabilities, but more or less the direction this film was going to go. As time went on and the more information released, it became clear that Pattison (and director Matt Reeves) had a clear vision of what exactly this Batman story would be and how it would stand out from the rest of the pack. Their story, as well as the overall style and feel, was told in a fantastic way that kept you on the edge of your seat.

The main plot focuses on a young Bruce Wayne who has only been Batman for a few years. That is the biggest difference, and because of that, we got a very different kind of Batman. We get a Batman that was still learning what exactly it means to be the hero Gotham needs. His fighting style, detective work, even his gadgets are still being honed and crafted. His interactions with the rest of the characters is fabulous as he learns to form relationships in order to become that better hero. This is the kind of Batman story where we actually get to watch Batman’s growth. With that growth, we learn how it affects Gotham and lays out the beginning rise of his rogue gallery.

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in Warner Brother’s 2022 release of The Batman.

Bruce’s relationships with both Selena Kyle (played by Zoë Kravitz) and Jim Gordon (played by Jefferey Wright) were meticulously put together. They all intertwine with each other flawlessly and it never felt forced to move the film forward. We got to see the beginning romance between Bruce and Selena as well as the trust and friendship (which is what I would call it) between Bruce and Jim as they work the murder case. Everyone’s role played out great and left me wanting to see the next step in their evolution.

Everyone’s performance was top-notch, but a couple really stood out. Paul Dano’s portrayal of The Riddler was maybe my favorite because they took such a weird villain in the comic whose whole bit is elaborate traps that can be solved by riddles, and they made him dangerous, smart and gave his whole character a fresh direction. He became visually terrifying in his mask, giving him a Zodiac killer vibe, but with the intelligence that is just as scary. The Riddler has been that character in the comics that in recent years has been taken more seriously, but this representation took it to a new level.

Jim Gordon (played by Jeffrey Wright) and Batman (played by Robert Pattinson) in The Batman.

The overall feel of this film is thrilling, Gotham felt claustrophobic and gave you a real sense of how dangerous the place is. The soundtrack is just insane and fits with the tone. Reeves littered this movie with Easter eggs and Batman lore that could make this a solid franchise going froward (if he so chooses to go in that direction). This wasn’t just a superhero movie. This was a thriller detective film that just so happened to involve Batman. That is something we don’t see very often. You can’t really compare it to the others,. If I had to choose, this may have become my new favorite Batman film.

FROM DAVE CLARK:

For as long as I can remember, my two favorite comic book properties have been the X-Men and Batman. I remember my excitement to see Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989. I would have to wait for the VHS but I was still very excited to see this larger-than-life hero played out in movie form. For me it wasn’t about world building or easter eggs. It was about seeing my favorite superhero take it to his most feared enemy on the big screen. It would then lead to the greatest animated series in the history of Batman cartoons. It would define comic book movies for a very long time and we’d set the scale as to who would portray Batman, The Joker, Alfred, Gordon, and so on. They’d be rated alongside the cast of the original film and even Adam West’s Batman. Here we are. We are in the twenty-first century and I’m getting the seventh actor to portray Batman/Bruce Wayne in live action form.

Robert Pattinson as The Batman.

I was extremely apprehensive when they announced the casting and idea behind this film so soon after Ben Affleck’s portrayal in Justice League. It started when Matt Reeves joined as Writer and Director after Affleck dropped from being the Director. Then Affleck dropped out altogether, opening the door for Robert Pattinson. Pattinson was a man I thought as horrible at acting based solely off the Twilight films alone. For the record, I was wrong and the actors are not to blame fully for those films being so bad. So many of them would go on to have amazing careers, including Pattinson. Recently, I loved him in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. Pattinson taking over the cape and cowl for this potential new take of the story gave me confidence in the capable creative hands of Matt Reeves.

This film is now not only my favorite Batman film, but it may also very well be one of my all-time favorite films ever. It establishes our Batman as a great detective, though not the greatest, not yet at least. He’s still not the polished Dark Knight as it is only his third year on the job. However, right from the title screen, we’re getting a Batman film with narration. We’re treated with an inner monologue from Batman explaining his thoughts and observations, which in turn end up being the vocalization of his ritual of writing in a journal during this Gotham Experiment he calls being the Batman. While there has been Batman narrating before, this felt different. It felt stronger and a more intimate look into the mind of Batman. Without getting too long winded, the portrayal of every character in this film was done with respect and knowledge of the source material.

Robert Pattinson as The Batman.

The music throughout set the tone and was perfectly fit for a Gotham that no person would choose to live in unless they had no other choice. Each character had their own theme and they worked well to establish the tone of their character in the scene. The music and sound production was stellar. You felt every punch, every footfall from Batman as he emerged from the darkness. You felt the car chase with every crash and explosion.

I really could gush about this movie for thousands of words but I’m going to cut myself short and direct you to our podcast we’ll be releasing this week (link to come) with our more detailed review of The Batman. This was a strong Batman movie, and best of all - it’s simply just a great movie overall. It’s a crime thriller about a desperate chase of a maniacal serial killer who has a political agenda to expose the city’s corruption at its core. The inspiration for this film from Zodiac, Seven, and Chinatown can be noticed even after the credits have rolled. It’s safe to say, we’re in good hands for the future of Batman and his Rogues Gallery and perhaps his extended Bat-family. The future is bright in a dark dank Gotham.