As 2016 comes to a close we give you a powerhouse of an episode as EJ and Matt critique Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Monkeys Fighting Robots beat reporter Jon Barr stops by to discuss the mid-season finale of AMC’s The Walking Dead.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is like heroin, never going to get enough.
The Walking Dead has found its Game of Thrones groove!
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 104 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is directed by Gareth Edwards, and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen (IP Man), Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen of Hannibal fame, Alan Tudyk (as a motion capture character), and Riz Ahmed. The film is a prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars, dealing with rebel efforts to convey Death Star blueprints to Leia Organa. The screenplay is by Chris Weitz.
The Walking Dead – Hearts Still Beating
Negan’s unwelcome visit to Alexandria continues as other members scavenge for supplies; things quickly spin out of control.
Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.
Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show? Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.
‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Is Filled With So Many Colorful Characters. Some Great, Some Not So Great!
A new Star Wars film is upon us and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. ‘Rogue One‘ is a standalone movie within the franchise taking place between ‘Star Wars Episode III‘ and ‘Star Wars Episode IV‘. It tells the story of a ragtag team who come together for an impossible mission to steal the Death Star plans.
Though ‘Rogue One‘ feels different than most Star Wars films at times, the knack for memorable characters is still there. Even if I didn’t necessarily love someone in the movie, they stood out for one reason or another.
Below is a list of the best and worst characters in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘!
Honorable Mention:
Darth Vader -Darth Vader’s time in the film is fairly brief but insanely brilliant.
Shining Stars:
Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) -The hype for Donnie Yen appearing in a Star Wars film was too real. After wasting Asian talents like Yayan Ruhian and Iko Uwais in ‘The Force Awakens‘, it was great to see such a legendary actor shine in a major Hollywood film. This blind Force worshipping bad-ass steals the entire show with his heart & skills!
Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) –Diego Luna takes what could have been some sidekick role for ‘Rogue One’ and adds some major depth to Cassian Andor. He struggles with morality through the film and seemingly grows the most out of anyone. Cassian is obviously Han Solo-inspired but has an extra layer of pain that makes him original.
Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) -The major complaints I’ve had with Star Wars villains is their sappy backstories. Rarely is someone just evil for the sake of being evil. Thankfully Director Orson Krennic is! He just wants fame for creating the ultimate killing machine and that drives him to be a formable foe. He also has a gang of cool Stormtroopers!
Stuck In The Middle:
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) -The worst part about Jyn Erso as a character is we just don’t get to see enough action from her. She drives the narrative and plays an important part to the plot but her notability doesn’t go beyond that. Felicity Jones plays Jyn well but can’t make up for a one note character. This allowed for Cassian Andor to shine.
Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) -Bodhi Rook is potentially a great character but is portrayed so inconsistent throughout ‘Rogue One‘. So much so that I’m confused on how I feel about his role in the grand scheme of things. He’s introduced with a bang and gets a great heroic moment but spends most of the time in the background.
Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) –Mads Mikkelsen appears for a respectable amount of the movie and has an important part but doesn’t come close to anything of note. Galen Erso is the catalyst for all of this drama and for some reason, he’s sadly underutilized. He lacks the mystic that the filmmakers attempts to give him.
Stinkers:
K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) -I applaud the great Alan Tudyk on another fantastic performance but sadly, the character of K-2SO feels out of place. Aesthetically, he looks great but his humor didn’t quite match the rest of the film’s tone. I found myself comparing him to Baymax or Johnny 5 from ‘Short Circuit‘ more than anything else.
Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) -The entire arc with Saw Gerrera doesn’t feel fulfilling. He’s one of the few characters that didn’t feel complete within this film and needed more explanation. Also, I can’t help but to think he’s only in this film to serve as another failed father figure for Jyn Erso. Forest Whitaker at least delivers a campy performance.
Comment below and let me know which character you are most excited for?
Synopsis: The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.
Genre: Space Opera Country: USA Director: Gareth Edwards Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, and Ben Mendelsohn
The town of Riverdale just got a little more crowded with some beloved and familiar faces.
Building off the success of blockbuster titles like ARCHIE, JUGHEAD, BETTY & VERONICA and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, Archie Comics is widening the scope of Riverdale stories by assembling some of the brightest stars in comics to tell four brand-new tales in a wave of oversized one-shots arriving in comic book stores and digitally this March.
The four one-shots build upon the foundation of the smash-hit ARCHIE and AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE series by exploring classic Archie Comics concepts and characters in new and ambitious ways.
Each week in March will see a new one-shot arrive from some of the brightest stars in the comic book industry.
“The worlds of Archie Horror and New Riverdale are always expanding and changing and we’re always striving to tell the best stories we can with the Archie characters,” said Archie Comics CEO/Publisher Jon Goldwater.
“These new launches give readers a wider lens with which to see the Archie characters and concepts, including perennial favorites like THE ARCHIES, SABRINA, LITTLE ARCHIE and more. I think of it as a very ambitious and top-line pilot season that showcases the successful and acclaimed New Riverdale sensibility. If these books resonate, fans might just see them greenlit as regular series.”
Kicking off the wave of one-shots will be the team of Art Baltazar and Franco (Little Archie/Tiny Titans), as they return to Riverdale for a must-have Little Archie adventure in the LITTLE ARCHIE ONE-SHOT. After a strange cat eats Archie’s homework, are these pint-size pipsqueaks ready for the wildest day ever? Aw yeah!
Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg, the writers behind the sold-out and smash-hit ARCHIE MEETS RAMONES one-shot, team with ARCHIE artist Joe Eisma to follow Archie’s dreams of becoming a songwriter in THE ARCHIES ONE-SHOT, arriving March 15th and featuring a rockin’ cover by comics legend Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets).
Sabrina the Teenage Witch begins her first journey into the real world as she heads off to college but a shocking revelation will change her life in a way she never expected. Co-writer Franco teams with the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic duo of Katie Cook and artist Andy Price to bring the magical adventures of everyone’s favorite teenage witch to life in the SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH ONE-SHOT, arriving March 22nd.
The one-shots wrap up on March 29th as insatiable appetite of Jughead Jones takes a sinister turn in the JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER ONE-SHOT, the newest installment of the critically acclaimed Archie Horror line. Writer Frank Tieri (Wolverine) and artist Michael Walsh (Secret Avengers) explore the dark family legacy surrounding Jughead as the lives of Riverdale’s most well-known inhabitants hang in the balance.
To pre-order these one-shots, contact your local comic book shop by using the Comic Shop Locator Service or calling 1-888-COMIC-BOOK.
LITTLE ARCHIES ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Archie’s wildest day ever starts with a cat eating his homework—and things just get crazier from there! But this isn’t just an ordinary cat, and this certainly won’t be an ordinary day for Little Archie and his friends. Join in on the fun adventure from the superstar comics team Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans, Action Cat and Adventure Bug)!
Script: Art Baltazar and Franco
Art: Art Baltazar
Cover: Art Baltazar
On Sale Date: 3/8
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
THE ARCHIES ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Follow Archie’s quest to make his songwriting dreams a reality, and see what happens when the rock ‘n’ roll dream starts affecting his relationships with his closest friends. Join co-writers Alex Segura and Matthew Rosenberg (Archie Meets Ramones) and artist Joe Eisma (Archie) for a power-pop one-shot that goes loud on the music, fun and friendship.
Script: Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg
Art: Joe Eisma
Cover: Jaime Hernandez
On Sale Date: 3/15
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Sabrina is off to college for her first foray into “the real world.” After years of being protectively home schooled by her aunts, she is ready to experience friends, boys, and parties—but a shocking revelation will rock her world in a way she never expected! From writers Franco (Tiny Titans) and Katie Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) and art by Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)!
Script: Katie Cook and Franco
Art: Andy Price
Cover: Sandra Lanz
On Sale Date: 3/22
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Jughead Jones has always had an insatiable appetite… but what if his hunger came from a sinister place? When a murderous menace is on the prowl, taking the lives of some of the most well-known and esteemed inhabitants of Riverdale, Jughead and his family’s dark legacy comes to light. Join writer Frank Tieri (Wolverine) and artist Michael Walsh (Secret Avengers) for this horrifying one-shot for TEEN+ readers.
Script: Frank Tieri
Art: Michael Walsh
Cover: Michael Walsh
On Sale Date: 3/29
48-page, full-color comic
$4.99 U.S.
Visit the official Archie Comics website for more information, follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates, and check out the Archie Comics Shop or download the Archie App for iOS and Android to read all your favorite Archie Comics!
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ben Affleck offered an update on his upcoming Batman film.
“We still have to get a screenplay and get it together. I’m a real believer in not reverse engineering projects to meet a window or a date, but rather when you get the right story, the right idea, the right thing, then you make the movie. That’s what we’re doing, and I’m hoping to get that done. I’m spending a lot of time working on that, but also working on other stuff.
If I could, there’s nothing I’d love more than to direct a stand-alone iconic, great Batman movie. But it’s been done. Chris Nolan did three really great movies. I’m really mindful of that. I’m not in any hurry to jam the mediocre movie down the pipe. I really want to make sure, if we do it, we get the great version and one that’s worthy of tradition of guys like Tim Burton, Chris Nolan, and Christian Bale.”
See Affleck as the caped crusader next in 2017’s Justice League.
Deadline is reporting that Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) has been cast in James Wan’s solo Aquaman movie as Orm.
Orm also known as Ocean Master is the evil half-brother of Arthur Curry and competition for the throne of Atlantis. Wilson previously worked with director James Wan on The Conjuring 2 which was a critical and financial success, so it’s great to see this partnership continue.
Aquaman will be the seventh film in the DC Extended Universe and will see Jason Momoa step back into the role. The character had a small cameo in Batman v Superman but will have a much larger role in next year’s Justice League before Wan’s solo movie.
Aquaman also stars Amber Heard (The Danish Girl) as Mera and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as Nuidis Vulko. The film recently received a new release date from Warner Bros. and will land in theaters on October 5, 2018. Jason Momoa will star alongside Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and Ezra Miller in Justice League.
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
When DC Comics started a revamped Hanna-Barbera line, no one knew what to expect. With the success of the new line, DC Comics is now unleashing their heroes in Hanna-Barbera Land. Via The Hollywood Reporter, we learn that a series of four annuals in March 2017, you get Adam Strange/Future Quest, Green Lantern/Space Ghost, Booster Gold/The Flintstones, and Suicide Squad/Banana Splits. There will also be backup stories with Top Cat, Ruff and Ready, The Jetsons, and Snagglepuss, adding more to the world. Now let us go forth and explore these stories together, March 2017 just got a whole lot more fun with this announcement.
Hanna-Barbera and DC Collide in March 2017 in Wonderful Ways Next Year with these Annuals.
Adam Strange/Future Quest Annual No. 1
In the first annual, Marc Andreyko and Jeff Parker write a story with Adam Strange teaming up with the Future Quest characters. Adam Strange is dealing with the events following Death of Hawkman. Steve Lieber is the artist on this story and it involves Jonny Quest, Hadji, Race Bannon, and Dr. Benton Quest helping Adam Strange get back to the DCU after a trip through many dimensions. Of course, it’s never that simple, as the plan to get him back home involves going through Dino Boy’s Lost Valley. Yes, we get giant Dinosaurs and that’s awesome. Then in the backup, you get Dan Didio writing a story with Top Cat escaping prison, only to go through a portal and meet Batman, with Phil Winslade on art, this should be amazing.
Booster Gold/The Flintstones Annual No. 1
With the second annual, Booster Gold goes back in time to meet The Flinstones. Written by Mark Russell with the art team of Rick Leonardi and Scott Hanna, Booster Gold is sent to the time of our prehistoric family to save the 25th Century from alien invaders. Now Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble would be perfect to help Booster out in his quest to defeat the evil aliens, he just has to convince them to help him out. In our backup, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Pier Brito handle The Jetsons. Think all the futuristic technology of The Jetsons, with a twisted take. When the solicitation mentions the idea of Rosie the Robot getting the imprint of Grandma’s brain, this will be fantastic.
If you’re not already excited by this, just wait till you see the next two annuals.
Green Lantern/Space Ghost Annual No. 1
With the third annual you get an amazing crossover, Space Ghost and Green Lantern. This one is written by James Tynion IV and Chris Sebela, with Ariel Olivetti on art, involving our two heroes getting stuck in a rift in time. Now they have to fight many upon many foes, even having to face each other at one point. Eventually, they’re stuck in a world that doesn’t know space travel and no idea what even aliens are. They get stripped of their weapons and it looks like Space Ghost will get the Lantern Ring and Green Lantern will get the Power Bands. In the backup, Howard Chaykin writes and draws a story for Ruff and Ready. Chaykin takes the classic animal team and shows how wonderful their life was until it gets terrible today.
Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Annual No. 1
In our final annual, The Banana Splits are mistaken for Metahumans and sent to Belle Reve Penitentiary. Written by Tony Bedard with art by Ben Caldwell, The Banana Splits get recruited by Amanda Waller to save the Suicide Squad. The musical supergroup of Hanna-Barbera meets The Suicide Squad, let the craziness begin. In the backup story written by Mark Russell with art by Dale Eaglesham, Snagglepuss is a Southern Gothic Playwright in New York City. Snagglepuss is working with many people relevant in the culture in the New York theater scene of the 1950’s. This should be interesting to see.
I’m curious what you all think of these annuals out there in the MFR Universe. Let me know in the comments below. No matter what the case may be, these are all creative and fascinating in their own way, this should make for a good time.
We’ve had an awesome year for geek and nerd culture television series. Shows have tackled zombies, cartoons, robots, and even Dungeons & Dragons. Netflix and CW have build superhero empires (the latter of which recently had an amazing crossover event). More and more, things formerly considered “geeky” are gaining the attention and respect of TV viewers. But which of these shows had the best year? Here is our list of the Top 15 geek shows currently on television.
No. 15 – The 100 (Season 3)
The young adult dystopian series has just had its third, and arguably strongest, season on the CW. The series is set in the near future, where a group of space-dwelling humans attempt to re-colonize the Earth. The third season focused on the space settler (or “Skaikru“) fighting the native Earth-dwellers, and the A.I program that decimated the Earth in the first place. Season 4 will begin airing on February 1st, 2017.
No. 14 – The Walking Dead (Seasons 6/7)
Even after six years, The Walking Dead is one of the most viewed TV shows currently on air. The show has continued with its formula of Rick Grimes, a former sherrif, leading a group of survivors against the hordes of Walkers. This past year, however, The Walking Dead has picked up new notoriety with the arrival of Negan, the show’s newest antagonist. Though the show’s ratings may be in a rut, there’s no denying that this is a big piece of pop culture. The TV series is currently airing on AMC, Sunday nights at 9PM EST.
No. 13 – The Flash (Seasons 2/3)
The CW’s scarlet speedster had a crazy second season. This season was full of time-traveling shenanigans, multiple villainous metahumans, and Team Flash dopplegangers. Season Two even featured an episode directed by the legendary Kevin Smith! The Flash has always been more fun than its gritty sister TV show Arrow, and that trend continued beautifully. The show is sandwiched in between Supergirl and Arrow, airing as part of their superhero weekly programming. The third season is currently on the air, and you can read our weekly CW reviews here!
No. 12 – Son of Zorn (Season 1)
FOX has a new TV family sitcom, but this one is unlike any other. While the network has had several animated shows, like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers,Son of Zorn throws its goofball father into the real world. Jason Sudeikis plays Zorn, the He-Man-esque hero that comes home to help raise his son. It takes a while to warm up, but once Son of Zorn hits its stride, it embraces the insanity of the 80s cartoons for a wonderful TV show. It is currently airing FOX, every Sunday night.
No. 11 – iZombie (Season 2)
For a series with a somewhat convoluted premise, iZombie has proven to be a phenomenal TV show. The show follows Liv Moore, a zombie who helps to solve crimes by eating the brains of murder victims. It’s not a zombie show like The Walking Dead, which focuses on the gritty world of survivors. Instead, the show is helmed by Rob Thomas, creator of comedy shows like Party Down and Veronica Mars. The blend of a police procedural set-up, supernatural characters, and a comedic tone makes iZombie a lot of fun. You can watch this past season, and S1, on Netflix right now.
No. 10 – Voltron: Legendary Defender (Season 1)
On top of their roster of superhero shows, Netflix has also brought back a classic cartoon series. Voltron: Legendary Defenders is a reboot of the classic 80’s cartoon TV series, about five teenagers who become pilots of robot lions. The new TV show is helmed by the creative team behind both Avatar: The Last Airbender, and its sequel series The Legend of Korra. Not to mention one of its stars is Steven Yeun. It makes for a light-hearted viewing experience for those going through Glenn-on-The-Walking-Dead- withdrawl. The series currently has one season available for streaming, with Season 2 due out January 20th, 2017.
No. 9 – Daredevil (Season 2)
In Daredevil’s second season, the man formerly known as The Mask has a whole lot of villains to contend with. Fisk may be in prison, but Daredevil has to fight off The Hand, the mystical ninja cult. On top of Murdock’s legal team, Daredevil also teams up with Elektra, his former girlfriend turned assassin, and Punisher, the violent vigilante. The season may not be as well-centered as the last one, which focused purely on beating Kingpin, but it was still packed with intense action and high stakes.
No. 8 – Harmonquest (Season 1)
If you haven’t checked out NBC’s streaming service Seeso, you’re missing out on a lot of quality comedy. One show of particular note is Harmonquest, the semi-animated D&D campaign. Helmed by Dan Harmon, creator of the sci-fi comedy cartoon Rick & Morty,Harmonquest features a revolving cast of well-known guest stars like Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, and Nathan Fillion. The first season can be streamed in its entirety on Seeso, along with additional “expanded universe” content.
No. 7 – Preacher (Season 1)
AMC has more than just The Walking Dead to appease comic book fans. Over the summer, executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, mostly known for their comedy films, brought the series to life. Preacher follows a small-town preacher gifted with incredible power in the vein of Jessica Jones’ Kilgrave. The show features vampires, angels, cowboys, and a character named Arseface. Not to mention the fact that Jesse Custer, the titular preacher, has a phone call with God. What more could you ask for?
No. 6 – Luke Cage (Season 1)
The latest Netflix/Marvel partnership gave us another compelling series about a street-level superhero. Set in Harlem, NY, Luke Cage follows the bulletproof hero learning to embrace his heroic side. Many have compared the show to HBO’s The Wire, which isn’t totally accurate, but it is a nice change of pace from Marvel’s movie line-up. Luke Cage fits well within the context of Netflix’s other shows, while locking down its own unique tone. Check out the season before Cage joins with The Defenders in 2017.
No. 5 – Westworld (Season 1)
HBO’s new smash-hit show is simultaneously set in the Wild West, and the near future. Westworld revolves around the robot hosts, beginning to gain sentience, and the people in charge of them. There are all sorts of mysteries built into the framework of the universe, making the show exhilarating and exciting every episode. The show has a powerful team behind its production, and has already picked up some Critic’s Choice Awards for their female actresses. You can watch the whole first season on HBO GO.
No. 4 – Supergirl (Seasons 1/2)
Folks may be on the fence about Supergirl, the newest superhero TV show the CW snagged from CBS. However, if any part of you is thinking about checking it out, then you should absolutely do so. Supergirl has the same elements that makes The Flash great – a more upbeat tone, great action scenes & CGI, and isn’t saddled with too many sidekicks (looking at you, Arrow). Since joining the CW, Supergirl has flourished on the network that knows how to make superheroes work. Not to mention that Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman is far more fun that Henry Cavill. The second season is airing on CW, but you can watch all of the first one on Netflix.
No. 3 – Black Mirror (Season 3)
The British show came out on Netflix this year, with twice the amount of episodes as past seasons. The series is part horror, part sci-fi, telling a series of different stories every season. It’s more like a movie marathon that a standard TV show. This season tackles topics like war, privacy, video games, and the afterlife. With such varied storytelling, Black Mirror builds a lot of compelling, unpredictable, phenomenal worlds. All three seasons – twelve episodes total – can be streamed on Netflix.
No. 2 – Game of Thrones (Season 6)
HBO’s current flagship show is still going strong. Game of Thrones has continued the medieval madness of seasons past, albeit with way less Dorne. The latest season corrected a lot of the problems that plagued the show before. There was more action, bigger fights, and answers to several Jon Snow mysteries. Game of Thrones used this season to prove what made it such a hit from the beginning. You can watch all six seasons on HBO, with Season Seven due out in the summer of next year.
No. 1 – Stranger Things (Season 1)
Of course, the top geek show is one of the biggest pop culture moments of the year. Stranger Things is a Netflix series that managed to capitalize off 80’s nostalgia in the best way possible. Instead of trying to reboot an old movie, the Duffer Brothers created a compelling new series about superpowers, demons, and Dungeons & Dragons. There’s so much of Stranger Things that will be considered classic in years to come.
Be sure to check out our list of Top 10 New Shows! It includes great new shows that aren’t quite as geeky, like ‘Atlanta,’ ‘The People vs O.J,’ and ‘The Crown.’ Add them to your holiday binge list as well!
Over the weekend, Disney and Lucasfilm held the premiere of Rogue One in California. If we’re to believe the Twitter reactions of the ones lucky enough to attend, we’re in for one helluva great movie, according to Movie Web.
Wil Wheton, leech smorgasbord and star of that other outer space franchise, tweeted:
“The last time I loved a Star Wars movie as much as I loved #RogueOne, it was 1977.”
Rainn Wilson, Juno‘s snarky convenience store clerk and star of America version of The Office, tweeted this:
“1sr Rogue One review. It was actually AMAZING!!! Super fun & exciting. Ties in w/episode 4 perfectly. #StarWars”
Steven Weintraub, writer for Collider, tweeted:
“The 3rd act is really amazing. Some of the best action in any Star Wars movie. Need to see it again asap.”
And Anthony Breznican, author and writer for Entertainment Weekly, tweeted this:
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#RogueOne”
Aaaaaand this:
“People worried about #RogueOne not being a gritty war film need not worry. It’s intense, relentless. You can practically taste the grit.”
It appears Disney and Lucasfilms have another hit on their hands. How could it not be a success, though? Other tweets mentioned various screeners said the movie is better than last year’s The Force Awakens. No small feat considering fans had waited 32 years for a Star Wars continuation.
Rogue One follows a host of Rebels led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) who try to steal the blue prints of the Death Star. It’s essentially a MadLib covering events between Revenge of the Sith and the A New Hope.
Besides Jones, the cast includes Forest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, and the velvety smooth register of James Earl Jones back as Darth Vader.
Gareth Edwards directs from a screenplay written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters this week! Scavenge your tickets while you can!
Warner Bros. has released the first poster for Christopher Nolan‘s upcoming movie Dunkirk. The director of films such as Interstellar and The Dark Knight wrote and directed the WWII film, which is based on the evacuation of Dunkirk.
This first poster shows exactly how big Nolan is going with this latest venture. This is the first time the director has delved into the genre of historical drama, but of course, everything we’re seeing looks as epic as his usual display of skill.
Check out the poster below:
Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy, Jack Lowden,Barry Keoghan, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Harry Styles, the film will land in theaters on July 21, 2017.
For every Boba Fett, there’s always a Jar Jar Binks. That’s the kind of character Alan Tudyk wanted to avoid creating in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, according to sources at The Huffington Post.
Hatred for Jar Jar ignited the moment he opened his mouth in The Phantom Menace. Director JJ Abrams even joked about putting an Easter egg in his Star Wars: The Force Awakens – the bones of Binks. Alas, he didn’t.
Tudyk, who plays new Droid K-2SO had this to say about the Jar Jar legacy:
“[Jar Jar] was such an outlier ― not an outlier, an anomaly in the world ― that was backed away from as quickly as they could.”
Knowing that Rogue One would essentially be a war movie, Tudyk strived for a balance between comedy and drama:
“I did have it in mind because K-2SO can be very funny in moments, and I talked to [director] Gareth Edwards, saying, I hope I’m not coming across as a character that makes jokes, that he is a sarcastic character or a passive-aggressive character or an honest character that can be funny within a moment, especially these moments of high-stakes life and death, which this movie has a lot of ― you know, it’a a war movie. He told me that I wasn’t, so I trusted him, and I’m really happy with the outcome.”
Rogue One is stand-on-its-own Star Wars movie that fills in the blanks featured in the opening crawl of A New Hope. The story centers around a cavalcade of Rebels who hatch a plan to steal the Death Star’s blueprints.
Joining Tudyk in the cast are Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Forrest Whitaker, Diego Luna, and the wheezing baritone of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader.
Gareth Edwards directs from a screenplay written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy.
Disney’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters this Friday. Tickets are available now
-Darth Vader’s time in the film is fairly brief but insanely brilliant.
-The hype for Donnie Yen appearing in a Star Wars film was too real. After wasting Asian talents like Yayan Ruhian and Iko Uwais in ‘The Force Awakens‘, it was great to see such a legendary actor shine in a major Hollywood film. This blind Force worshipping bad-ass steals the entire show with his heart & skills!
–Diego Luna takes what could have been some sidekick role for ‘Rogue One’ and adds some major depth to Cassian Andor. He struggles with morality through the film and seemingly grows the most out of anyone. Cassian is obviously Han Solo-inspired but has an extra layer of pain that makes him original.
-The major complaints I’ve had with Star Wars villains is their sappy backstories. Rarely is someone just evil for the sake of being evil. Thankfully Director Orson Krennic is! He just wants fame for creating the ultimate killing machine and that drives him to be a formable foe. He also has a gang of cool Stormtroopers!
-The worst part about Jyn Erso as a character is we just don’t get to see enough action from her. She drives the narrative and plays an important part to the plot but her notability doesn’t go beyond that. Felicity Jones plays Jyn well but can’t make up for a one note character. This allowed for Cassian Andor to shine.
-Bodhi Rook is potentially a great character but is portrayed so inconsistent throughout ‘Rogue One‘. So much so that I’m confused on how I feel about his role in the grand scheme of things. He’s introduced with a bang and gets a great heroic moment but spends most of the time in the background.
–Mads Mikkelsen appears for a respectable amount of the movie and has an important part but doesn’t come close to anything of note. Galen Erso is the catalyst for all of this drama and for some reason, he’s sadly underutilized. He lacks the mystic that the filmmakers attempts to give him.
-I applaud the great Alan Tudyk on another fantastic performance but sadly, the character of K-2SO feels out of place. Aesthetically, he looks great but his humor didn’t quite match the rest of the film’s tone. I found myself comparing him to Baymax or 
-The entire arc with Saw Gerrera doesn’t feel fulfilling. He’s one of the few characters that didn’t feel complete within this film and needed more explanation. Also, I can’t help but to think he’s only in this film to serve as another failed father figure for Jyn Erso. Forest Whitaker at least delivers a campy performance.
Hatred for Jar Jar ignited the moment he opened his mouth in The Phantom Menace. Director JJ Abrams even joked about putting an Easter egg in his Star Wars: The Force Awakens – the bones of Binks. Alas, he didn’t.