Finally! ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ is back! The synopsis of the first new episode of the mid season is revealed! internet world has been lucky enough to get some snippets of the new episode. This one is particularly hard for Sara.
In the midseason finale, we found out what happened to Rip Hunter. He was MIA the entire season, the team tries, and fails to get him back. The new clip shows Jax giving Sara a pep talk, after the disappointment of not being able to save Rip.
Will they get Rip back?
Here is the synopsis for the upcoming episode, brought to you by my source.
LOST MEMORIES — When Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) and Malcolm Merlyn (guest star John Barrowman) try to capture Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) in 1967, they create an Aberration big enough to draw the attention of the Legends. However, when the team arrives they discover that Rip has no memories of his past due to “time drift” and is just a graduate film student.After trying to convince Rip of who he was, they discover that he possesses an incredibly powerful artifact known as the Spear of Destiny, which the Legion of Doom is after. Ray (Bradon Routh) and Nate (Nick Zano) realize that the Aberration has also affected them personally making it difficult to help the team. Meanwhile, Rory (Dominic Purcell) asks Stein (Victor Garber) for help and makes him promise to keep it a secret from the team.
After the crossover event, it seems as if ‘Legends’ is still a contender. Moving days and times should help it be a contender for the rest of the season. Premiering after ‘The Flash’ midseason opener.
All new ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ premieres at its new date and time, this coming Tuesday, January 24th at 9/8c. Right after ‘The Flash’ on The CW.
Millions of woman… men, and children around the world marched today in protest of President Trump and his ideals.
‘We’re Not Going Away’: Women’s March Highlights as Huge Crowds Protest Trump said The New York Times.
Superman is a defender of truth, justice, and the American way. It appears the real Supergirl has the same values. Melissa Benoist was in Washington, D.C. today and she had a strong, nerdy, and powerful message for our new president. Benoist held up a sign that said, “Hey Donald, don’t try to grab my pussy. It’s made of STEEL.”
It is very hard to not love this girl! You can follow the real-life superhero on Instagram @melissabenoist. ‘Supergirl’ returns to the CW on Monday, January 23.
Does this make you a bigger fan of Benoist? Comment below.
Assholes are everywhere, especially on the set of Universal’s latest movie! By now many of you have heard about a film from Universal called A Dog’s Purpose. If you haven’t, let me bring you up to speed. A Dog’s Purpose is based on a novel by W. Bruce Cameron and stars the voice of Josh Gad. It’s the story of a dog’s life, death, and reincarnation. Sounds cute, right? Unfortunately, a part of the creative team — the second unit to be exact — are assholes.
The film is set to release next Friday (January 27th, 2017) but you wouldn’t know it. Universal pulled promotions and press junkets, leaving the film with little exposure. Why? Behind the scenes video released by TMZ showed the second unit forcing a German Shepherd named Hercules to do a stunt it did not want to do. Crewmen are heard yelling “Cut it!” trying to stop the film as the dog is made to perform against its will.
The American Humane Association suspended their representative who was on set and is investigating further. But, a Care2 petition, along with PETA is trying to get Universal to donate proceeds from the film to animal protection groups. And the movie’s star, Josh Gad, released a statement regarding the flick.
I want to remind readers of two things. First, I love animals of all kinds, especially dogs. My furry friend, Commander Riker, means the world to me, so the thought of harm coming to him or forcing him to do anything against his will is gross. Second, I see the world in a very simple way: People are either assholes, or they’re not assholes.
So, on behalf of MFR, I’d like to say that the second unit team who worked on A Dog’s Purpose are 100%, USDA certified assholes.
For the sake of a shot they put a dog through hell. And the video might seem mild to some, but consider that animals don’t know what’s going on. They work on instinct, not rationalization, so when they fear it’s a deep-seated fear. They don’t “suck it up” or “get through it” they agonize. And for that, I say again, the second unit team are assholes and if Universal doesn’t do more to correct this, then they’re assholes too.
In December of 2014, former President Obama opened the doors to Cuba after 56 years of U.S. economic embargo. Two years later, MAD Event Management has partnered with Paradiso, the Cuban cultural agency, to launch Cuba Comic Expo, which will be held May 19–21 in Havana, according to Trade Show Executive.
A website was launched as well – cubacomicexpo.com – “Join us on May 18, 2017, for a historic trip to the beautiful Cuban capital of Havana. You will be treated to culture, tours and wonderful food and classic Cuban drinks.”
According to the article, Mad Event Managment will sponsor comic, animation, prose and other creators to join them in Cuba and will facilitate meetings with their Cuban peers for a one-day trade event, followed by a two-day public event to be held at Havana’s Cuba Pavilion.
“This cultural exchange program will welcome creators from the aligned pop culture worlds of comic book, animation, storytelling and other creative arts to Havana for a unique and historic event,” Marty Glynn, CEO of MAD said to TSE.
No creators or panels have been announced yet, but the Cuba Comic Expo website has information on how to book your trip if you are coming from the United States.
Stay tuned as more details become available.
MAD Event Management also produces the New Jersey Comic Expo, Long Beach Comic Expo, Anime Fan Fest, and Long Beach Comic Con.
Are you excited for Cuba Comic Expo? Comment below.
Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, appeared to be at first glance a return to past cinematic glory for the wildly popular director. However, this film is nothing more than a cliche filled, ego driven, meandering bore fest riddled with predictability. While I understand that Blumhouse is thrilled to release a product to a nationwide audience but one would think that they have standards of quality. Didn’t they see warning signs?
The story is about a man named Kevin who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. Kevin has 23 personalities, and it appears that the personalities with any conscience are no longer in control. “Dennis” (one of Kevin’s personalities with no moral compass) abducts three teenage girls and locks them in prison below the surface. Now if the movie had been this and this alone, we might have had a better overall product. However, it seems if the director was fueled by some desire to make the film predictable and cliche, so he creates a character in the story who saw the “good” in Kevin (his therapist played by Betty Buckley).
The therapist believes that people with multiple personalities can undergo changes biologically, making them appear to be very real. It would be one thing if the film got right to her point and put the focus back on Kevin, but alas her backstory went on and on and on. Nothing in the therapist story adds any layer or nuance to either the development of the film or Kevin himself.
The same can be said about the narrative surrounding Casey, which we see in the form of ill-timed flashbacks. How does knowing that her dad was sweet and her uncle was a child molester add anything to the story of Kevin’s break from reality? The answer is nothing. What it does do is distract from what’s important about the film, and that is Kevin Crumb’s mental well-being. When you add so many extraneous parts to the narrative, it loses focus and takes away from the impact of the film.
James McAvoy plays the villain Kevin Crumb and his performance is commendable. However, his efforts are wasted in this film. The supporting cast, including the three girls who are abducted, are incredibly lackluster and don’t elicit any empathy when the audience should 100% be pulling for their safe return. To take this point even further, it’s as if each girl serves as some sort of personality quota that the director was looking to fill, I can just hear him now.
” Okay … we need a feisty young looking girl, a popular blonde hair girl, and a loner who is the rational one of the bunch”
Kevin spends a majority of the film having an internal debate about his mental capacity and which personality is in charge. Why do I care which personality is calling the shots? FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS! Why is Kevin even the way he is? The films barely address his past but doesn’t come close to addressing the level of psychological torture he endured to end up the way he was. Shymalan is hell bent on telling “his” story but isn’t dedicated to telling a quality story. It’s as if the director’s ego got the better of him.
In the end, Split is a film that got in the way of its own success. Instead of realizing what it already had, by adding layer after layer frivolous backstory it turned what was meant to be an extraordinary look into the evil one man possess to a very predictable look at someone with a mental illness.
Monsters Unleashed is Marvel’s newest crossover that brings in all their heroes to face a threat of giant monsters. Yes, Marvel superheroes are fighting something else besides each other. It’s a great sight to see after Civil War II and Inhumans vs. X-Men, so already this book gets a heap of praise from me. However, how does the rest of the comic hold up? Is it worth spending the $4.99 on? Or should Monsters Unleashed be written off as another uninspired Marvel crossover event?
Writing
Cullen Bunn has proven himself to be a great writer, and here is no exception. Monsters Unleashed’s plot is simple, but not mundane. Giant monsters are falling from the sky, and it’s up to our favorite Marvel heroes to stop them. Easier said than done. This issue allows the audience to experience the scope and scale of the incoming threats. It’s certainly a great hook that will leave the reader wanting more. But where the writing really shines is in its characterization and dialogue. Bunn gives each character a unique voice, and shows off as many of them as possible. All the major superhero teams have a page or two dedicated to them; they’re showcased in a way that might make people interested in their stories. I know I’ll be checking out Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur after reading this issue. (Hell this comic even made me kind of like the Inhumans. That’s impressive)
However, the entire issue isn’t just superhero team after superhero team battling a Kaiju. There’s a deeper plot that focuses on two characters that have a relation to the event. A young boy named Kei Kawade – who may be unwittingly responsible for everything happening – and everyone’s favorite bad-ass, British monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone. Her story indicates that she may have a way to stop the monster apocalypse, or at the very least, we’ll be seeing more of her soon. Which, I’m very happy about.
Art
Civil War artist, Steve McNiven, helms the artistic side of this crossover, so of course the art is outstanding – particularly in the monster design. Each one looks unique, epic, and for lack of a better word, monstrous. There is a grand scale in the panels, particularly in how the angles of said panels are set up. I felt small while reading this comic. There’s also a great sense of motion going on as we see each of the heroes take on a monster. Totally Awesome Hulk, Amadeus Cho, has a really epic scene as he takes down one ugly Kaiju. This book is worth checking out just on the art alone. Sure, there are a few wonky perspectives and facial expressions, but they are few and far between and can be forgiven, especially on this grand a scale. McNiven’s craft is definitely the strongest selling point for this comic. His pencils are complimented greatly by Jay Leisten’s inks and David Curiel’s coloring. Both of them add depth and complexity to these designs.
Final Thoughts
It’s a shame that Civil War II was the first event that sprung out of the All-New All-Different Marvel relaunch; clearly Monsters Unleashed is what should have been released back in May. This comic not only brings all the heroes together to fight a common foe, but it also smartly showcases all the major teams and their heroes. It gives the audience a little tasting of Marvel’s line up. If you’ve given up on Marvel event comics, this one might be change things around for you, as it is engaging, uncomplicated, and fun. If you haven’t read anything from Marvel in a while, this will give you a smorgasbord of everything great going on in their other comics.
However, there is that $4.99 price tag on the comic. If it were a dollar cheaper, or printed in a prestige formatting, then I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. The issue does come with more story, which is a plus. However, I’m not a fan of the flimsy, cheap paper Marvel uses for their books. There’s also the question of how the tie-ins will effect the story or the progress of the event. However, it’s still an enjoyable event and I’m excited to see where the series is going to go next.
Although The Lego Batman Movie comes out on February 10 in theaters nationwide, the film will be screened five days before, on February 5, for charity.
Producer Dan Lin has organized the event in honor of his son Miles Lin’s charity, I Dream Fish. The screening will be held at the Los Feliz’s Vista Theater in Los Angeles, CA.
About the screening: “I Dream of Fish and Harvest Craft would like to invite you and your friends to an advance screening of the highly anticipated, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. This is an exclusive event where you get to watch the movie a week before its nationwide release! Seats are limited and will sell out in advance. Ticket prices include free drink, popcorn, and valet parking. The best part – ticket proceeds will go towards funding future aquaponics systems, similar to our projects in India, Uganda, and our most recent project in Haiti, where we started a chicken farm!”
Created by Lin when he was nine, I Dream Fish’s goal is to encourage and promote sustainable fishing and farming in India, Haiti and Uganda.
Tickets to see The Lego Batman Movie early are available now, and range from $50-$100.
If you’re in the area, do you plan to see The Lego Batman Movie in support of I Dream Fish? Let us know in the comments section below.
“In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.”
The Lego Batman Movie stars Will Arnett as the Caped Crusader, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Mariah Carey as Mayor Grange, and Michael Cera as Dick Grayson/Robin.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage is the person we all are in front of the mirror. When there’s no one else around, we stare at our flesh and we make goofy faces, smile and laugh like we’re with friends, pop zits, pluck eyebrows, do our makeup and give it our best Bowie. All pretense is dropped and we’re left with only what is staring back at us. It isn’t always what we want to see and it isn’t always what the world wants to see but gosh darn it if it isn’t beautiful anyway.
There is a segment of the world that might scoff at the wanton abandon for fun at play in Vin Diesel’s spy franchise. “I can’t take it seriously” or “It’s dumb”, some may say. Just like a bully in high school or a drunk asshole at a bar, those people are to be pitied, not hated. Dismissal based on face value (don’t judge a cover by its book, or something like that) is the death of all art and robs people of the experience of getting to know what another person, or art form is like. If I sound defensive it’s because I know the ludicrous action film I saw today has a big, pulpy heart that likes to make fearless faces in the mirror and, as evidenced by today’s presidential inauguration, a lot of the world is afraid of that sort of fun.
Now, let me quickly say that I know this is all ridiculous semiotics for a film where dirt biking through a 30-foot wave is treated as plausible. But that’s part of the point. The amount of fun, charm, wit and innocence present in xXx 3 rises its viciously anti-physics actions to a realm of entertainment and pleasure that is desperately needed in this world. The United States of America today witnessed an occurrence that the majority of us didn’t ask for and that we all deservedly have a necessity to be afraid of as humans with certain inalienable rights. That isn’t politics, that’s fact. Art as escapism, while being a practice in which I partake, is partially a misnomer because we will all find a way to relate our experiences to the events in our lives and society. The art displayed in xXx doesn’t have an air of self-importance as other action masterpieces like Terminator 2 but that quality makes it fully capable of handling the absurd nature of our present, real crises. Like Xander Cage, Americans and the world “live for this shit” and we will find a way out of it.
Art and film work in funny ways. Just because we have amazing films like Silence, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight that carry the torch of the human experience with solemnity doesn’t mean there isn’t room for Fast Five and xXx at the table also. Diversity in art is just as important as diversity elsewhere.
I wouldn’t be making this argument if I didn’t think xXx: Return of Xander Cage wasn’t actually a gloriously fun and poignant film about rebuking the system and finding a family you can count on. D.J. Caruso’s film is shot with the glee and fervor of a person discovering love for the first time. Everything from Diesel’s goofy gravel voice, Donnie Yen’s uber coolness, Tony Jaa’s weird rhythm to Nina Dobrev’s innocently violent awakening brings a cinematic joy that many rote studio blockbusters are lacking. Not all big, dumb action movies are Great, big, dumb action movies and the heart displayed here is the difference-maker.
Back to the semiotics — I don’t think, however, I’m making a mountain out of a molehill remarking that this sort of joyous lunacy was accidentally released on a day with such divisible world views. I firmly believe that if we sat down every American voter in a theater for xXx: Return of Xander Cage, we might not get a different human at our helm but we would definitely look at each other’s faces and see ourselves and smile and we would be able to work this all out.
Movies can change the world. I’m approaching life after January 20, 2017 with a new confidence I didn’t think I would have had when I woke up on this day. xXx provided that for me and for that, I thank the film and everyone involved. Go see it, go see anything, take a risk, believe in yourself and look in the mirror and create the weirdest face you’ve ever imagined. I guarantee it’s beautiful.
According to Deadline, Cameron will return to the Terminator franchise. He’ll serve as executive producer on a new movie.
Tim Miller is in talks to helm the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to reprise his role as the T-800.
Paramount Pictures is keen to start production on a new movie. The original film came out in 1984, and the film rights would revert to Cameron in 2019.
According to Mike Fleming Jr, the project is under the guidance of David Ellison, who owns Skydance Productions. His plan is to hire “some top-flight science fiction authors to find the movie creatively.”
I wonder if we’ll see more of the future war….
This marks Cameron’s first involvement with the franchise since 1991. After the release of T2: Judgement Day, he sought to buy back the rights to the series. Unfortunately, his fellow producers beat to the punch in getting the rights, prompting him to walk.
The next two Terminator films didn’t have Cameron as part of the crew. However, he did serve as a consultant on 2015’s Terminator Genysis.
As it stands, the plot of the new movie is unknown. No script has been written, and there is no start date. Whether it will be a sequel or reboot remains to be seen.
Cameron is now working on the four Avatar sequels. Time will tell when production starts on the sixth Terminator film.
When she was just a girl, Abbie discovered a portal to a fantasy world and has since had great adventures there: defeating horrible monsters, power-mad scientists, and evil nobles. But when she turned twenty-one it all came apart and she decided to return home. Her sister, Mae, had no idea what happened to Abbie all this time, and Abbie’s tales are too hard to believe—that is, until the monsters and other terrible creatures start to cross over to our world . . . Collects issues #1–#6.
Writing
Ready to go on an adventure? If not, then you should probably stay far away from this comic, because this series is nothing but a fantastic ride into another world. A series full of legends, magic, and super science which is the beginning of something big. From the moment in the first issue when Mae reunites with her sister Abbie, Mae’s world is turned upside down. The poor woman has little time to adjust to anything before she finds herself having to take drastic steps to keep her family safe from bizarre and dangerous opponents.
Writer Gene Ha shows a lot of geek love through the course of the book. There are plenty of nerdy references to behold. Each issue features a member of the cast quoting a cult classic movie or TV series. This is especially true in the back up stories where many items are spun into the background of each panel. It helps to sell the comedy of the book without it getting old or feeling forced.
Artwork
Gene Ha also provides art for the series with help on the colors from Rose McClain and Wesley Heartman. Ha draws some odd facial expressions at times but this is really the only complaint against the entire series. There is a wonderful mixture of different fantasy realms and styles on display from Star Trek to Gurren Lagann and other anime series.
There is a notable shift in art in chapter six when Paulina Gancheau takes over the art and with Kendall Goode on colors. The style isn’t bad, and does help to show a different side of the characters. It’s just noticeable when you get to the last chapter of the book and it turns out to be such a shift.
Conclusion
This is the start of a great indie book series which makes you want to check out the next chapter as soon as it is done. The only individuals who won’t find this book entertaining are those who are looking for a light read. This series is gearing up to take the reader on a very long adventure with a lot of dynamic characters. The pace and plot may move fast so hurry and pick up this first volume.
