I won’t go into detail here about The Collingwood Brewery: I already reviewed their Fireside Extra Special Bitter. Much like Collingwood Brewery’s ESB, their Vintage Ale is an award-winning Ontarian brew. Vintage Ale won Silver in the Honey Beer category at the 2016 Ontario Brewing Awards, behind Sleeman Honey Brown Lager.
Collingwood Brewery: Vintage Ale – First Sip
Collingwood Brewery’s Vintage Ale pours a cloudy golden colour. It has a good inch of foam at the top of the stemmed tulip glass that its can instructed me to drink this beer from. Specifically, I’m drinking this award-winning brew from an Éphémère glass that I haven’t had the opportunity to use for a long time.
Vintage Ale has a sweet smell that complements its malty, almost fruity taste. The bitterness of Vintage Ale’s Meaford-grown hops is understated. But, it’s still there, presenting more during the finish than it does upfront.
Vintage Ale’s moderate carbonation level and low viscosity level give it a mouthfeel that makes it surprisingly drinkable. Harvest ales and other seasonal brews often have thick mouthfeels, which this surprisingly strong 6.6% ABV brew avoids.
Collingwood Brewery: Vintage Ale – Last Sip
As with so many others, I entreat you to drink this beer from a glass, preferably the glass specified on the can. Its subtle aroma and thick layer of foam are best enjoyed this way. If you don’t have a stemmed tulip glass, try a flute rather than a standard pint glass. A pint glass will let the foam and aroma dissipate, whereas the tulip glass or flute will concentrate it.
Because of this brew’s malty taste, I suggest enjoying this beer with a savoury meal, like a steak and/or grilled vegetables. In terms of alcohol content, this is a beer that creeps up on you. With its surprisingly smooth taste and high alcohol content, it’s important to keep track of how many you’ve had.
Several months ago I wrote an article about several old movies that could use a remake. (here) At the time I thought that was a rare thing. I thought most films were either classics or so bad as to be unredeemable. since I wrote the first article, I’ve realized that many movies could be great if remade correctly. There are plenty where just an outdated style is the only thing keeping a good story or a needed message from a modern audience. For instance, aside from film buffs who has actually watched any of the Dr. Mabuse series? Or early Hitchcock? I doubt very many. I am therefore amending my list of movies to add another three films to the list of in need of a remake.
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari was released in 1919 and is very much a German film of the era, but it contains an enduring plot element: its title killer commits murders without being present for the crime. This is still a compelling mystery plot device and is used today in franchises like Death Note. Doctor Caligari’s power is hypnosis, which sadly, has fallen out of style in modern horror films, but could easily make a powerful comeback. The original was made with a vehemently anti-war, anti-propaganda social message which is still something that would resonate today in modern America. The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari is admittedly so old that most of the script would need to be rewritten dramatically, but the core concept and story would make for a great modern horror film.
2000 Leagues Under The Sea
Captain Nemo is one of literature’s great antiheroes and a compelling, powerful presence if written right. Yet there hasn’t been a decent and somewhat faithful adaptation of 20000 Leagues Under The Sea since Disney’s 1950s effort. Submarines are commonplace now and no longer fanciful advanced technology, but a madman in a submarine is still a powerful image. It was used in Season 2 of TNT’s The Last Ship with much success. Also, the popularity of the The Last Ship and we know submarine movies sell. Never the less 20000 Leagues Under The Sea needs to remain a period piece. The story only works in a setting where submarines are advanced technology. Audiences want to see more sci-fi period pieces, and action/adventure period pieces both are underrated sub-genres and fun to watch.
The Shadow
There has never been a successful film made from a retro pulp hero. This needs to change. With the recent adaptations of Tarzan and John Carter, early 20th-century action stories seem to be appealing. The Shadow is an iconic superhero. He’s a classic and compelling antihero who could be modernized fairly easily. The 1994 film, however, was a disaster. It was over the top without being a comedy or at least trying for camp. Alec Baldwin was the only name actor and was just wrong for the role. A serious, but campy adaptation of The Shadow — something in the style of a Marvel film — would be fun to see, and it would be an easy way to promote interest in other old pulp heroes like The Rocketeer and The Phantom.
This list is clearly not exhaustive. What are some movies you would like to see remade?
It’s Veteran’s Day and no other director makes use of the military quite like Director Michael Benjamin Bay. Depending on the cinematic flavors you enjoy you either love or hate Bay’s work. To perfectly illustrate his polarization, the average Rotten Tomato score for Bay movies is 40 percent. He’s the Trump of filmmaking if you will. So, before we get started, I’d like to say that Michael Bay movies give me headaches. I call modern Hollywood “Michael Bay Hollywood” and think he makes the same vapid movies that are slavishly devoted to the Save the Cat formula. But … I also love Michael Bay. I wrote a short play about Michael Bay (100% true. If I had a relationship with Bay on Facebook, it would most certainly be complicated.
For those not familiar, or who have lived beneath rocks inside the hollow earth, Michael Bay is the mastermind behind the Bad Boys films, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Transformers movies. Bay proudly says “I make movies for teenage boys. Oh, dear, what a crime.” And he’s right. There’s no crime or shame in the big, dumb, and loud movies he makes. They’re fun and undoubtedly draw people into theaters to the tune of billions.
A common theme in Michael Bay movies is his use of the United States military. Bay has a close relationship with the armed forces and so his often global-spanning films feature planes, tanks, and other weapons of war in ways few movies even dream.
In honor of Veteran’s Day … here are seven great films to watch featuring the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines NOT directed by Michael Bay. Remember, I did say that his movies give me headaches.
Top Gun – 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAfbp3YX9F0
Military-focused movies were big in the 80s and this one is a must-watch on Veteran’s Day. Cruise plays Maverick, a hotshot pilot in a program for the best-of-the-best. Directed by Tony Scott, it has a little something for everyone including a love story and possibly a love triangle if you believe some interpretations. The action scenes are a little dated, but the film is no less fun to watch and absurdly quotable.
Hunt For Red October – 1990
The first film in the now long legacy of Jack Ryan movies. The Hunt For Red October is tense, gripping, and arguably the least Michael Bay type of movie on this list. The film provides a look at Cold War era politics. An American CIA analyst played by Alec Baldwin tries to convince United States officials that Sean Connery’s Russian submarine captain is defecting and not trying to start a nuclear war.
Independence Day – 1996
As the Michael Bay era of Hollywood was on the verge of beginning, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin handled the big, dumb, and loud movies. ID4, as it’s known, is the ultimate action movie for Fourth of July but it also fits nicely as a Veteran’s Day salute to the brave soldiers who fight wars. If humans survive long enough, we will need to take on some alien scum sooner or later.
Three Kings – 1999
An unlikely cast of Ice Cube, Mark Walberg, Spike Jonez, and George Clooney are at the heart of this unsung hero of a war movie. David O. Russell crafted an action-comedy laced with social commentary about war and politics. The film follows four soldiers on a mission to take gold from Saddam Hussein following the chaos of the early 90s Persian Gulf War. The self-serving mission turns into a chance for the soldiers to prove who the good guys truly are in the fight for freedom.
Black Hawk Down – 2001
Ridley Scott’s career is a treasure trove of movies that are both visually arresting and thematically gripping. Scott’s Black Hawk Down follows the true accounts of a group of soldiers who crash-land in the middle of war-torn Mogadishu. A star-studded cast fights to survive the ensuing chaos. Scott and cinematographer Sławomir Idziak, clearly inspired by Spielberg and Janusz Kamiński’s work in Saving Private Ryan, adapt the impactful visual style for modern day warfare.
Zero Dark Thirty – 2012
Kathryn Bigelow has two films in her filmography centered on the military: The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. Both of them are fantastic. If you want a little less political commentary, then The Hurt Locker is a better choice. But Zero Dark Thirty is the one that follows the actual story of the raid that took out the most notorious terrorist in the world — Osama Bin Laden. The film does pull punches when it comes to thoughts on torture and terrorism.
Honorable Mention: Navy SEALs – 1990
Pure early 90s action awesome. Navy SEALs stars Michael Bien, Charlie Sheen, and Bill Paxton as classic manly men Navy Seals who drink and party and kick ass. A mission to save a downed aircrew takes the rag-tag team into a war zone and a fight for their lives. The film features a classic montage sequence and this cheesetastic song from Mr. Big. Pure joy for a happy Veteran’s Day movie marathon.
The idea of a “Hogwarts in space”-type story sounds appealing
Just imagine the idea of “Hogwarts in space.” No, this is not a Harry Potter spin-off.
This is the premise of Dave Roman’s Astronaut Academy comic book series. Also, it is the latest project of producer Vivek Tiwary.
According to Tiwary, he became interested in Astronaut Academy upon learning the film rights were available. “As soon as I realized it hadn’t been scooped up, I said [to Dave], ‘I would love to do this and I would love to do this with you.”
What better than to have a comic fan adapt a comic book?
In a Publisher’s Weekly interview, Tiwary admits to being a huge comic book fan. He’s also the author of the graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story. The book is being adapted to a television series for Sonar Entertainment. Tiwary is producing the series and writing the screenplay.
“I’m one of those producers who wants to work very closely with the creators of the source material,” Tiwary says. “Dave is a super cool guy with super cool ideas.”
As it stands, Astronaut Academy has many options at this point, because it could be done in live-action or animation. Although the property is still in development, Tiwary is considering which direction to take the franchise.
“It could be live action, it could be animated, it could be a TV show, it could be a feature film,” he explains. “If you read the source material, there is a version of this that is really goofy for little kids and a version that could be more mature, for teenagers.”
Tiwary remains excited for the future of Astronaut Academy. “We have a strong point of view but we are keeping our options open.”
Whether live-action or animated, Astronaut Academy is bound to delight audiences.
Zack Snyder and Geoff Johns are two of the DCEU’s head honchos
Warner Brothers is trying to build the DC Extended Universe, and Geoff Johns is a major part of it.
According to the New York Times, Kevin Tsujihara, the studio chief executive, says he is confident about the future. While Batman v Superman got mixed reviews, it is profitable with audiences worldwide. Suicide Squad also has divisive reviews, but the box office returns are one of the year’s highest. The total gross for both films is $1.6 billion.
“Quietly, we’ve been having an amazing year,” Tsujihara says. “The narrative, over all, has not reflected that.”
Johns, the DC Chief Creative Officer, has a major role to play in the DC Extended Universe. Recently, he and Jon Berg are now in charge of developing Warner Brothers’ superhero films. Zack Snyder also has a hands-on role as a director and a producer. As Dark Horizons reports, Tsujihara is confident that these decisions will please the fans.
Regarding the the DCEU’s mixed reviews, Tsujihara points out the studio strives for . “People overlook our consistency,” he says. “The thing that really makes me confident is that I’ve seen Wonder Woman, and it’s great.”
Perhaps the Green Lantern reboot will be even better than last time around.
Despite this optimism, it is worth noting the majority of Time Warner’s success comes from the television department. Game Of Thrones, Westworld and The Big Bang Theory are among the biggest series. According to Time Warner, these shows generate more than $1 billion per year. In addition, AT&T became the owner of Time Warner for $85 billion, which could be a sign of things to come.
Could Westworld be HBO’s flagship show after Game of Thrones‘ last two seasons?
The studio is planning for its upcoming slate of new movies. Fantastic Beasts is set for release on November 18th. So far, it is tracking to be a bit hit. Kong: Skull Island will come to theatres next spring.
Meanwhile, the DC Extended Universe continues to grow. Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman will arrive on June 2, 2017. Snyder’s Justice League is set for November 17, 2017.
Jessica Chastain is set to star in, and produce, an adaptation of the graphic novel series Painkiller Jane.
The popular graphic novel series will get the film treatment, and here’s a layout of the story from Deadline for anyone unfamiliar:
Chastain… will play Jane Vasko, a New York City street cop who gets recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a major NYC drug and human trafficking ring. In a near death experience, Jane develops exceptional regenerative abilities that give her a unique indestructible advantage. With nothing to live for and no way to die, Painkiller Jane becomes an unstoppable force of nature seeking revenge to those who destroyed her life as she leaves a path of death and destruction in her wake.
The series, from Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada, seems tailor-made for a tough female star. Chastain will be a perfect fit.
There are no further details on Painkiller Jane regarding co-stars, a director, or release date. Stay tuned for those as we get them.
Beware the Slenderman is HBO’s next true-crime documentary, and this trailer is pretty terrifying. Mostly because, behind all the supernatural elements, is a sad and disturbing true story about two 12-year old girls who lured another girl of the same age into the woods and stabbed her 19 times, allegedly in order to impress the fictional character the Slender Man.
Watch this trailer, then go outside in the sunshine or something:
Beware The Slenderman tells the story of the internet’s elusive Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their best friend into the woods, stabbed her 19 times, then set out on an odyssey to meet the tall and faceless man known online as Slenderman. Shot over 18 months with heartbreaking access to the families of the would-be murderers, the film plunges deep down the rabbit hole of their crime, a Boogeyman and our society’s most impressionable consumers of media. The entrance to the internet can quickly lead us to its dark basement, within just a matter of clicks. How much do we hold children responsible for what they find there?
It’s the sort of thing nightmares are made of, a combination of horror films we all like to use as an escape, but with a stark shot of cold reality behind everything. I feel like I’ll be watching most of this with my mouth hanging open in horror.
Starting Monday, November 28, DC Comics and The CW will astonish fans with the four-night crossover event ‘Heroes v Aliens,’ involving ‘The Flash,’ ‘Arrow,’ ‘Supergirl,’ and ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.’
The first teaser hit the internet earlier today.
In three weeks Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow team up in a special four-night crossover event on The CW! The biggest and best team-up ever!
According to Entertainment Weekly, the four-show crossover event begins in the final scene of ‘Supergirl’ and unfolds over the next three nights in episodes of ‘The Flash,’ ‘Arrow,’ and ‘Legends’ as aliens will be assembled by the Dominators and descend on Earth to bring an end to the “threat” of Earth’s burgeoning metahuman community. The CW event is based on the DC Comics mini-series Invasion! from 1988. EW also reports, the Dominators will apparently be mind-controlling the aliens that join them. Which means some of the heroes might also fall under mind-control and you could see possible battles between friends.
What hero vs hero matchup do you want to see? Comment below.
In yet another slap across this face in 2016, the influential musical genius, whose unmistakable pipes made him an icon of sound, and whose melancholy sadness found its place among some of the greatest films, is gone.
Cohen’s label, Sony Music Canada, released a statement via Cohen’s Facebook page earlier:
“It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.”
Born in September, 1934 in Quebec, Leonard Cohen’s poetic songwriting abilities place him among the giants of his era, when Bob Dylan and Paul Simon walked alongside him, tapping into a generation of people hypnotized by his deep, heartfelt vocals. His version of “Hallelujah” is perhaps the greatest of all versions.
I first became aware of Leonard Cohen, and his incredible abilities, in Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers of all places. “Waiting for a Miracle” blew me away on the soundtrack, and from there I dove into his albums, picking them apart and savoring the sounds of Songs From a Room and Songs of Love and Hate – “Dress Rehearsal Rag” especially hitting me. His work on McCabe & Mrs. Miller, one of a handful of Robert Altman masterpieces, has never left my subconscious. It’s one of the most magical marriages of song and image in the history of film:
Cohen’s music found its way into so many films over the years, from Altman’s snowbound western, to Zack Snyder’s Watchmen (albeit in an incredibly awkward sex scene set to “Hallelujah”).
And now, we say goodbye to another genius. I suppose making room for more idiots. I hope not, but it sure feels that way right now, doesn’t it?
Daredevil, at least the Netflix and Marvel combined production of Daredevil, has been quite the success for the comic publisher. However, there was time where Daredevil wasn’t as widely well-regarded in adaptation form. Prior to Charlie Cox, there was Ben Affleck and director Mark Steven Johnson adapted parts of popular Daredevil comics, and the film mostly tanked with the public writ large.
This was in the interim between the breakout X-Men, the first film of that franchise, and the later comicbook revolution in film. Johnson also directed the first Ghost Rider film. Though the Netlfix series has widely surpassed the film in fans’ eyes, Charie Cox and company actually “really, really like” the Ben Affleck-led Daredevil film, according to Comicbook.
“I actually really, really liked the film and thought Ben Affleck did a really good job. I think the film is tonally a bit confused [but] I actually really enjoyed it. I think that if you make Spider-Man, and I don’t know much about the other characters to be honest, but if you make Spider-man, for example, you can make a movie for kids and adults and it can have that kind of humor because I think it’s true to the characters for the most part. Daredevil needs to be on a platform like Netflix because the source material is so dark and so complicated and so sinister at times. I think what benefited us so much was that Netflix wanted to make the show with Marvel and we were able to embrace those darker tones.”
The new Daredevil’s thoughts on the subject mostly mirror what many reasonable reviewers have already opined and stated about the 2003 film in the past.
Daredevil co-star Elden Henson backed the Ben Affleck Daredevil film as well. He explained that “…they were making these types of superhero things” at that time.
“Just so everyone knows out there – it’s not easy to make a movie. It’s really hard. No one sets out to make a bad movie or disappoint anybody. I think they were [just] making these types of superhero things in a much different way back then.”
It is unlikely that any of this will change fans’ minds at this point, but it hopefully helps those who worked on the 2003 film feel a little bit better about making one of the comicbook films that had a “failure to launch,” so to speak,” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Could Westworld be HBO’s flagship show after Game of Thrones‘ last two seasons?
