Last night, we learned that legendary character actor, a man who was seemingly everywhere and in everything, John Hurt, passed away at the age of 77.
There seemed to be no job too small or too brief for Hurt, who never bothered turn his celebrity into leading-man roles. He worked brilliantly in the margins of classic movies; and anytime he popped up on screen, those in the audience who knew best would light up. His gruff delivery and dogged gaze elevated any otherwise insignificant role.
It would be a fool’s errand to try and list all of the wonderful roles from John Hurt. There are too many to count scattered among his 205 imdb credits. So I just picked five roles that stuck out to me, personally. Five that are great, however brief they may be, and five that encapsulate the diversity of one of the best “That Guy in That Thing” actors of all time.
There was never going to be another number 1. Character actors often take pride in their death scenes, and there was no better a death scene in all of sci-fi/horror cinema than the unfortunate demise of Kane. His death kickstarted one of the greatest films of its kind in 1979.
Two brown eyes dilate in the dark. They peer out at a TV across a room. On the screen, a teenage girl creeps through a dark house. Then we see a masked murderer, or a leering stalker, or a hideous monster. The young girl is doomed, but when, how? Brown eyes narrow as the music patiently swells, a subtle hint at the approaching terror. The heart beats faster with fear and excitement when a jolt action punctuates the scene! That’s what a night with a great horror movie is all about. But what year produced the most amount of those kind of great nights?
The argument for “best year in horror” comes down to two solar cycles: 1999 and 2016. Each year featured a large variety of critical and commercial successes. So, we took the ten biggest films of each year and pitted them against each other in–
The Mummy was summer blockbuster fun that spawned many an underwhelming sequel. It’s short on scares as it’s more of an action movie, but Arnold Vosloo is scary enough to make this a horror film. And, as it turns out, The Mummy is the third horror movie of 1999 to crack the top 20 grossing of all time.
Under The Shadow is an international production if there ever was one. Co-Produced by the UK, Qatar, and Jordan, the film’s Iranian director, Babak Anvari, crafted a brilliant film. Social commentary blends with scares to create an effective horror movie. A woman, tormented by a supernatural force, must also survive the chaos of 1980s Iran.
Verdict: No question that Under the Shadow is the better-crafted film. The Mummy has the Hollywood budget and polish, but Under the Shadow works on many levels and has a flavor horror fans aren’t used to that makes it must-see.
There you have it! Our scientifically accurate system determined that 2016 is indeed the best year horror has ever seen!
Months ago, when the first teaser poster for the new CW series Riverdale debuted, I had doubts about its direction. A half-sunken rowboat set against a cobalt blue-toned creek and landscape? That hardly captured the frivolity and humor of the 75 year old comic book franchise. It looked like Billy Wilder’s version of Archie.
Which is exactly what it is.
And it’s brilliant.
Riverdale was developed by Archie Comics’ own Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and uber-producer Greg Berlanti. The show stays true to the legendary characters, yet gives them a modern update.
The pilot begins as all great crime/noir stories do: with a voice over. Our narrator is Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), and he’s writing a Truman Capote-esque novel about the summer death that rocked Riverdale.
Who died? Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines), who – with his scarlet-haired sister Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) – were the dictators of Riverdale High School. On July 4th, the Blossoms took an (incestuous?) hand-in-hand walk down to the Sweetwater River for a rowboat ride for two. Hours later, kid brainiac Dilton Doiley (Daniel Yang) discovers Cheryl washed ashore, in a near catatonic state.
Jason wasn’t found at all. The river was dragged. Ultimately it was concluded that his body was swept away by the current after trying to retrieve his sister’s glove. Jason’s accidental death is turned upside down by the end of the episode when his body washes up… with a bullet hole dead center of the skull.
Just like Dawson’s Creek and Buffy The Vampire Slayer before it, Riverdale launches at the beginning of everyone’s sophomore year of high school. We’re introduced to Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) and her gay bestie Kevin Keller (Casey Cott). With some urging by Kevin, Betty is on the threshold of revealing her simmering love for long-time friend Archie Andrews (KJ Apa).
And how could she not? To both her and Kevin’s shock, Archie got chiseled over the summer. Definitely an upgrade from the clumsy ginger in the comics.
Of course, Betty’s plan and confidence is threatened by the arrival of New York debutante Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes). Veronica and her mother Hermione (Marisol Nichols) have just moved to Riverdale after Veronica’s father Hyram crapped out the family fortune over sleazy business practices.
If you think it’s an all-out cat fight between Betty and Veronica, think again. Kevin makes it clear to Veronica that Archie and Betty are an official un-official couple, and Veronica respects that. In a nice twist, timid Betty and confident Veronica forge a friendship against a common hated enemy: Cheryl Blossom. Betty wants nothing more than to be a River Vixen, one of the school’s cheerleaders. But as head cheerleader, Cheryl has made that impossible. However, she wants Veronica for the squad. Veronica only agrees to be a River Vixen if Betty is allowed to join. This surprising show of solidarity empowers Betty with a confidence she didn’t know she had.
Our hero Archie isn’t without his own dilemmas. While working for his dad Fred’s (Luke Perry) construction company over the summer, Archie fell in love with music. Not to mention his Pacey Witter-like tryst with the high school music teacher(Sarah Habel). Take note: this is so unlike the character of Archie and should’ve been excised from the show. In any event, Archie has a decision to make: pursue music as a career or take over the family business from his father. Disappointment weighs heavily on Archie’s decision.
The episode ends on a heartbreaker. After a school dance, Cheryl invites Archie and friends back to her house for a game of spin the bottle. Archie and Veronica step into the closet and actually kiss! Remorse inevitably follows for both; they’ve betrayed Betty. Upon rejoining the party, they discover that Betty is gone.
On Jughead’s advice, Archie talks to Betty. They reveal their feelings for each other. While Archie loves Betty, it isn’t a romantic love. In fact, he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. Hopes destroyed, Betty slinks back inside her house, leaving Archie reeling.
I’m no Archie expert. I’ve only took an interest when writer Mark Waid rebooted the comic series in 2015, and have been a fan ever since. The show’s tone may differ drastically from that of the comic book, but the characterizations and spirit remain the same. There’s even a few nods to the history of the comic. The sign welcoming everyone to Riverdale features the word “pep” in a slogan. A reference to Pep Comics, where Archie first debuted back in 1941. The same year in which Betty tells us that Riverdale was founded. Josie (Ashleigh Murray) and the Pussycats even show up! We better hear their theme song at some point.
Two interesting departures from the comics to take note of concern Betty and Jughead. Betty is on Aderal to cope with the stress of living up to her mother Alice’s (Madchen Amick) high expectations. Most surprising is that Jughead and Archie are no longer best friends. Something has caused a rift between then, evident by a chilly, tense exchange post-dance at Pop’s.
Riverdale has the opportunity to be a culturally influential teen drama like Glee and Dawson’s Creek. The writing is sharp and witty. The characters are relatable. Hell, they even dress like small town high schoolers, not wannabe adults fresh off a Lord & Taylor shopping spree. Except for Cheryl and Veronica, of course.
Whether or not every episode lives up to the greatness of the pilot remains to be seen. But if the premiere is any indication, Riverdale will be around for a long, long time.
Justice League vs. Suicide Squad finishes up this week with #6, and instead of doing a review of one issue, I decided to cover it all. I reviewed the first issue of this event when it first came out, and I’ve followed the series from there. I’ve even read the tie-in books. Now we get the chance to see how this fares as an event and as a launching point for JLA. Now with this, I will be covering the main story here, with the tie-in books in a separate article. Right now I would tell you to get comfortable, get a nice snack, and some water or other beverage of choice and hang out for awhile. This event has a lot to get into so let’s get started. On with the massive analysis of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad.
This analysis of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad is going to be a beast, so prepare yourselves now. There will be spoilers, some mild to moderate ones.
One thing to note with this series, that it came together as well as it did is remarkable. A weekly series, with tie-ins, and not a delay in sight. That should be applauded in its own right. Putting the first major event of DC Rebirth already on the right foot. Now as for the quality of the event – it’s good. It’s scary good. Joshua Williamson wrote a series that’s compelling from beginning, middle, and end. I loved the first issue of this comic, I really did. Then it kept becoming stronger as the series went on. Even the tie-in stories mattered, for the most part anyway, to Justice League vs. Suicide Squad. You’ll see more in my tie-in article why those worked as well as they did, as the main story in itself is a powerhouse.
First Off: Why did this work?
The simple answer as to why the main story worked is easy to explain, it all makes sense. The first two issues are great at establishing the motives for everyone involved. In any major event like this, if you don’t have a compelling reason for two teams to fight, you’re screwed. I can say this event has many compelling reasons, the one for the Justice League getting involved is a big one. Batman gets the entire League compelled to deal with the Suicide Squad after the events of “I Am Suicide”, and it is brilliant. That’s how the Suicide Squad gets put on a collision course with the Justice League. Which then puts the League in the line of sight of Amanda Waller and here comes the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad. It’s perfect.
From there this story could have easily been about the Justice League fighting the Suicide Squad for six issues. Yet fans right now are tired of all the hero vs. hero battles and this event is the perfect antidote to those fights. In two issues you have the brewing of the fight and then the actual fight, while the actual villain is hiding in the background, Max Lord. Of course, Max can’t succeed on his own so he frees a powerful assortment of warriors from a secret prison known as The Catacombs and the prisoners are, Rustam, Emerald Empress, Johnny Sorrow, Doctor Polaris, and Lobo, and that’s his team. A master of mind control leading a team like this is frightening and Williamson makes this known, big time.
Max Lord and his team are a force to be reckoned with. They add another layer to the conflict.
The addition of Max’s team is where the story gets elevated to another level. As the story goes on to reveal, Max and everyone on his team have issues with Amanda Waller. If you have issues with Waller, that’s when you deal with the Suicide Squad. All of this I mention is in only the first three issues of the series. The conflict, the battle, and then the aftermath with the Justice League captured and in the belly of the Belle Reve beast. Yes, the League gets put in Belle Reve Penitentiary and that’s when it all is revealed. That’s when the story heats up in a big way, it all comes together in #3.
One part I do especially love is you end up learning that in a weird way, the Justice League and Suicide Squad can get along. Williamson makes a big push toward character development for everyone, especially Killer Frost. Since she plays a huge role in the upcoming JLA, this is her time to shine and it is done to perfection. Heck, once you win Superman over I say you’re in good shape. You also can’t help but dig the camaraderie of Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman. It shouldn’t work but by golly it does. Yet alas, as The Justice League is freed from the cells of sorts from Waller, thanks to Batman and his chat with her, is when the madness begins.
When the madness begins, it really does begin. Justice League vs. Suicide Squad’s second half is a thrill ride.
In #3, Batman is the one that kicks things off with Waller as she frees the League and now they have to work together. This is how you get the Justice League and the Suicide Squad on the same page. The build up to all this works as Max Lord makes small to big moves in the first three issues to put his plan in motion. I love as Lord’s team is revealed Superman makes the ultimate point, Max Lord is the real threat. Which leads to my favorite moment of Captain Boomerang trying to snark Superman, never a good idea.
Though now that the Justice League and Suicide Squad know that Max Lord and his team are in play, they don’t know why. Now that’s when Waller has to reveal that they’re all after her and they need to protect her, cue the Squad laughing their heads off. You can’t help but love it as you see the Justice League looking at each other in surprise as the Squad is laughing. It’s fun to see how even as it is all about to hit the fan, there is always time for humor. Especially in having to protect Amanda Waller from danger. Take note, these character interactions are another reason why this series works so well.
The series is really the best example of how to make an event work and build everything else up in the process.
One factor as to why Max’s team is that much more terrifying is the fact that they worked together at one point. His team is the first Suicide Squad and that’s why they all have issues with Waller. That reveal made for a powerful last page and set up things in a big way for issue #4. In #4, that’s when you see things go off the rails in the best way possible. That’s when the big battle between Max’s Squad, the Justice League, and the Suicide Squad happens. The fight is a lot of fun, but even after that’s over, it’s only the beginning. Max Lord’s ultimate plan is set in motion and it is amazing to see.
Thanks to Lord’s plan, you do get your Justice League vs. Suicide Squad fight, oh yes you do. I’ll say this, the Heart of Darkness is involved, and it takes the series up to another level. All I can say is, there’s a good reason why Superman says Max Lord is the real threat in all of this. Max Lord is full on Eclipso and it is scary, to say the least. As now we’re hitting #6, we are in heavy spoiler territory from here. I will say #6 is satisfying on many levels. You get a great set up as to how Lobo fits into the JLA, as Killer Frost has already been established at this point, now it is Lobo’s turn. It’s amazing how organic this all comes together by the end.
I told you, only mild to moderate spoilers for Justice League vs. Suicide Squad here. You have to read this to believe how crazy it gets.
Down the line, I’ll probably do a more spoiler heavy piece on this, but #6 this week is such a satisfying conclusion to this story. I’ll say this, it’s going to be tough to top this but I look forward to seeing DC try. Joshua Williamson, a round of applause for this one. Now all the pieces are in place for JLA and multitudes of other series all across the DCU. It’s going to be amazing to see just what happens next. If anything I could relate the impact of this series to is Infinite Crisis, it does that level of organic world building. It’s truly an amazing effort all around, especially with the art teams.
I can only imagine how much work went into getting this done, but wow am I ever impressed.
I’ve raved enough on Williamson’s writing on this, but the artists he worked with were top flight and worked with him well. Seriously take a look at this talent, Jason Fabok on #1, Tony S. Daniel and Sandu Florea on #2, Jesus Merino and Andy Owens on #3, Fernando Pasarin and Matt Ryan on #4, Robson Rocha and Jay Leisten, Daniel Henriques, Sandu Flores, and Oclair Albert on #5, and Howard Porter on #6, what they pulled off is incredible. There may have been points where deadline crunch was hitting but overall, it looks great. I think it also helped in having strong colorists in Alex Sinclair for the whole run with Jeremiah Skipper assisting Sinclair on issues #3, 4, and 5, they helped a lot in this. Rob Leigh’s lettering is great throughout this series, so everyone involved in getting this out, kudos to you.
That this looks as good as it does in the time frame it was released, this is incredible.
In closing, Justice League vs. Suicide Squad is one phenomenal event. It’s definitely one of the best DC events I have read in a long time. If you are a lapsed DC fan and haven’t thought about giving this a go, do so. It’s waiting for you and you won’t regret a single second of reading this event.
The cast and crew of Monkeys Fighting Robots do their best to make a boring subject (The Oscars) more entertaining as they look at the off-beat angles of the award show. Managing Editor, Larry Taylor joins the conversation this week.
Best Picture Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester By the Sea
Moonlight
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 108 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.
Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.
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About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast:
A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Who is EJ Moreno? Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ Feel Like An Expensive B-Movie
It’s amazing to think that the ‘Resident Evil‘ film franchise has been around for about 15 years now. The series has seen some highs and a fair share of lows but it’s always been a wild ride. With everything coming to a close, how would ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter‘ decide to end things? Well, giving the most ridiculous entry is their answer!
To say that this film is over-the-top would be the tip of the iceberg.
From start to finish, the action moves at a brisk pace and rarely, if ever, stops. Starting things off in the aftermath of a massive attack, Alice (Milla Jovovich) gathers herself and heads to Raccoon City for one last mission. She’s told there is a cure for all this mayhem beneath the city and she only has 48 hours to get it.
This simplistic plot allows for tons of extra baggage like untold backstories and plot twists. While I hate that the series waits till the last minute to fill in some major questions, at least most plot threads are resolved. Without giving too much away, there’s finally important information on Alice’s background and what came before the first film.
Below, I will breakdown the good & the bad from ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter‘.
The Good:
The action in this film is the franchise’s best ever. Other than zombie killing madness, there’s plenty of impressive hand-to-hand combat scenes. Milla Jovovich’s Alice has some great fights that show a different side to the action. It feels like Alice has a variety of threats as she takes on zombies, humans, and even winged beasts! Each of these fights feel distinct and end up being a big highlight throughout.
I enjoy that this strips away the sleek/futuristic feeling from the two previous films. These movies shine when it can feel dirty and grimy; ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter‘ provides that grittiness. Taking away the polished look from the last two helps blend any bad visual effects and more important, sets a moody atmosphere.
More so than any others in the franchise, this uses the R-rating to its advantage. Going with the film’s darker look, everything just feels more brutal. When a character falls into a giant fan blade, I expect the camera to cut, showing a reaction shot but we get a giant blood splat instead. Love seeing a mainstream horror franchise use the most of their gore!
The Bad:
It seems like the editing for this was there to cover up bad moments but it sadly distracts from some of the greatness as well. There’s scenes that are cut so jarringly with no real purpose that it leaves you wanting more. Or there is times where the action scenes are so choppy that I could hardly see what was happening. This style of editing is very early 00’s and worked in ‘Resident Evil: Apocalypse‘ but now feels very dated.
The side characters in this are some of the most generic throwaways ever. It felt like they’re basically “red shirts” from Star Trek. You know they’re just here to fill up the body count. I know this story needs to be about Alice and her final mission but fleshing out some of the people on the side would have given me a reason to care.
The script as a whole isn’t great. The film keeps referring back an betrayal in Washington by Wesker to Alice but we never see it. It starts after the attack and never flashes back. There’s been talk that the Sony wanted to wipe the slate clean but it comes off disjointed when an important piece of information is missing. Other than that, the film suffers from some pretty cliched dialogue but that’s never been what you go into these for.
Final Thoughts:
You know what to expect the second you walk into any of these films. ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter‘ is no exception. It’s loud, abrasive, and mindless fun, but I’d never want it to be anything less or more. There’s very clear flaws in the script and some of the editing but I still admire the insane nature of this franchise.
Fans of the other films will enjoy this but it won’t attract any new viewers. You should see this if you’re in the mood for shameless fun or if you’re a fan of the series!
Synopsis: After wandering a ruined city for years, two siblings enter a building and find a man who makes them a dangerous offer.
Genre: Action/Horror Country: USA Directed By: Paul W. S. Anderson Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Ruby Rose, and Iain Glen
Since it’s announcement, Riverdale had been pushed on having a Twin Peaksvibe. Now that the show has finally arrived, that can indeed be confirmed. But if I had to call it anything, it would be “Teen Peaks”, as the CW drama is aimed directly at a young crowd. But that is not an insult. I just don’t know if I am the target audience.
The show opens with an evocative and creepy (think Flowers in the Attic) scene with Jason and Cheryl Blossom. The scene is dreamlike and ambiguous and ends with the revelation that Jason drowns under mysterious circumstances. The scene is an homage to the discovery of Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks. The influence doesn’t end there, as the entire hour is filled with call back images to David Lynch’s show. Work mills dot the scenery, eerie country roads lead everywhere, even Pop’s Chocolate Shoppe is garishly lit with neon lights in the dark.
The cast, in general, is solid, and the pilot does a serviceable job introducing all the main players. In this first hour, we meet Archie, Jughead (as our narrator), Betty, Kevin Keller, Dilton Doyle, Reggie, Moose, Ms. Grundy (now a hot thirty-something), and Josie and the Pussycats.
Everyone’s social hierarchy is also expressed and set up. The well-known classic relationships are formed and the story is on its way. It’s rather workman-like but it’s a structure usually done in most pilots. Still, it all feels like it is aimed at a younger crowd, even for the CW.
There are elements for adults, as some time and story arcs are paid to the parents and older denizens of Riverdale. Luke Perry is actually pretty engaging as Archie’s father, and the scenes between Perry and KJ Apa (as Archie) are some of the stronger ones.
The narrative is best when addressing the mystery at hand, and it feels like the show is still finding a way to balance that with the classic Archie tropes. It feels uneven at the moment.
The real strength of the show for me is Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, who narrates the story in a very strange and unique third-person form that opens and closes the episode. Jughead has always been a fan-favorite and pop-culture icon, so telling the story through his eyes is not a bad idea. His relationship with Archie is also tweaked, as it is hinted that they were close before but not so much now. Again the mystery there is good.
I guess I have to say that the jury is still out on Riverdale. The show still needs time to find it’s identity and play out all the storylines it has set up. Younger fans will find a lot to like, though, and perhaps this is all for them anyway. Classic Archie fans may be turned off, but I will still give it a chance.
Riverdale stars KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Molly Ringwald as Molly Andrews, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper, and Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge.
It is written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Warner Brothers Studios and Berlanti Productions. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, Jon Goldwater, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa serve as executive producers.
Walt Disney Studios has released a series of character posters for its upcoming Beauty and the Beast live-action reboot.
The elaborate posters give a closer look at each character, including the human forms of Beast’s servants. See each poster in the gallery below.
In addition to character posters, Disney released a slew of motion posters for the central characters.
As if that wasn’t enough, Disney also announced a final trailer will debut Monday.
Disney previously released two full-length trailers for the movie. The first one garnered 127.6 million views in just 24 hours of its release.
Beauty and the Beast is one of the most anticipated movies of 2017, and could be one of the first blockbusters of the year.
About Beauty and the Beast
Directed by Bill Condon, Beauty and the Beast is a live-action adaptation of the Disney animated classic. The movie includes classic songs, as well as new ones from original composer Alan Menken.
Beauty and the Beast stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as LeFou, Kevin Kline as Belle’s father Maurice, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Audra McDonald as Garderobe, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
More news has been released regarding today’s announcement of a new video game from Marvel and Square Enix, reveals ComicBook.com. According to a press release, the game will have a “completely original story”. Jay Ong the Senior Vice President of Games & Innovation for Marvel Entertainment said the following:
The Avengers project is a perfect example of how Marvel is making games a key part of the landscape for Marvel storytelling, alongside comics, television and film. We can only do this by matching our greatest Super Heroes with the world’s top developers, such as the creative minds at Square Enix.
Is Marvel going to put out their version of the hugely popular DC Injustice games? Seems like it! Tell us what you think of this developing story below!
