Snart is back! Crossover of a lifetime! Can we expect to see anyone else on Legends of Tomorrow?
When Snart (Wentworth Miller) was killed off in the first season of ‘DCs Legends of Tomorrow’ fans, such as myself were not happy, to say the least. When word broke that Snart would be back in the new season, and add some more fun to the four part crossover special.
According to my source, not only is Snart returning, but four bad guys will be appearing during this time.
Captain Cold will make his entrance in the midseason finale, teaming up with Reverse Flash from The Flash, Damien Dahrk and Malcom Merlyn from Arrow. Together, they form the Legion of Doom.
Executice Producer Greg Berlanti chimes in.
“it’s the ultimate bad guy team up. We just finished the script for an episode we’ve been tentatively calling “legion of Doom” that’s all from the bad guys’ perspective.”
Unfortunately, because of the weird time travel, both Cold and Dahrk will be their younger selves. Captain Cold will come back to before he died, and Dahrk will be before he was married and had a kid.
Hearing that Captain Cold will be back tickles my happy bone, but I don’t know if ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ can handle all that is in store for them.
We have yet to hear an air date for this epic crossover event, but keep your eyes open!
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ stars Caity Lotz, Arthur Darvill, Brandon Routh, Ciara Renee, Dominic Purcell, Victor Garber, Franz Drameh, and Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold/Leonard Snart.
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ airs Wednesday nights 8/7c on the CW.
The crossover is coming! New villains and Team Flash is nervous! Danielle Panabaker gives her two cents on what’s to come!
With this season comes the epic crossover we have been waiting for. The four-show event, features The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl,
Based of the 1988 super sized comic books, ‘Invasion’, we see the Dominators making their way into Central City. They come to the earth because they see a danger, and their plans take some twists and turns along the way. It all starts on The Flash, and carries over to each of the shows.
According to my source, Danielle Panabaker, who plays Caitlin Snow, gives her take on what Team Flash is feeling. “The biggest fear for Caitlin and for Team Flash is how powerful they are and how much of an unknown they are,” Danielle Panabaker says of the Dominators. “We’re only getting used to dealing with metahumans with these powers that have generally come from the particle accelerator explosion, or Doctor Alchemy, and those are formulas we’re a little more used to. Having these guys come in from who knows where, the biggest question mark for all of them is starting to figure out how they’re going to battle them.”
Looks like the super hero gang will have their work cut out for them, and tougher fights ahead.
The Dominators want to ultimately erase the threat of unpredictable metahumans in the comic book limited series. Consequently, we can only imagine what happens when you get a bunch of metahumans together to fight some evil.
A release date has yet to be announced.
The Flash stars Danielle Panabaker, Candace Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanaugh, Carlos Valdez, and Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash.
Doctor Strange is the latest Marvel Studios movie. While a self-contained origin story, it offers a new look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Furthermore, the film examines how not everything needs to make sense.
Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a gifted neurosurgeon with a great memory. However, he also display arrogance and an inflated view of his own talent. This causes him to upstage fellow doctors, much to the chagrin of his colleague and former lover Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams).
While driving to a public event, Stephen ends up in a car wreck and suffers severe nerve damage to his hands. He tries various experimental surgeries without success, and it is clear that his medical career is over. Christine tries to get him to move on, but he rejects her efforts of help.
Desperate to recover, Stephen seeks out a man who recovered from paraplegia and learns about a place called Kamar-Taj. Upon traveling to Nepal, he meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and learns the truth about her abilities. He wants to learn the mystic arts, but she rejects him after sensing his arrogant nature. Ultimately, it is Strange’s determination that prompts her to take him on as a student.
Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) worries about Strange, feeling he is not worthy to be a sorcerer. He also fears Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), a former ally engaging in the dark arts. Kaecilius and his band of zealots steal a spell belonging to the Ancient One and seek to obtain eternal life.
When Kaecilius attacks, Strange and Mordo have to work together to save the New York, London and Hong Kong Sanctums. Kaecilius wants to summon Dormammu from the Dark Dimension and take over Earth. Both Strange and Mordo discover the truth about the Ancient One, which has dire consequences for them. Strange must decide whether to return to his former life or become something greater.
Benedict Cumberbatch is compelling as Stephen Strange, and it feels as if he has just stepped out of the comic books. The actor is able to display intelligence, humor, and arrogance in depicting Strange’s character growth. As the film progresses, he goes from selfishness to becoming selfless. Some might compare him to a light version of Tony Stark, but Cumberbatch succeeds in making the part his own.
Ejiofor does a great job as Baron Mordo. He provides a stoic, mature counterpart to Strange’s arrogance, and their relationship is one of the film’s finest elements. Benedict Wong offers an impressive take on Wong, who proves to be a capable sorcerer. His self-assured nature makes him an ideal straight man and ally for Strange.
Swinton brings an aura of wisdom to the Ancient One, but she doesn’t get much more to do in the story. Much has been made about the race change, yet it doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. Rachel McAdams does a nice job as Christine Palmer, and she has good chemistry with Cumberbatch. However, she is mostly sidelined for most of the film, and it would have been nice to expand her character arc.
Mads Mikkelsen succeeds in making Kaecilius a compelling antagonist. In contrast to other villains, he has a definite plan and seeks to achieve his goal. What’s unique is that he has legitimate grievances against the Ancient One. This allows for a more gripping plot and shakes things up for the characters.
The film does suffer from moments of placing bits of comedy at odd intervals. These examples include Strange spouting pop culture jokes about musicians and Wong listening to Beyonce. While there is nothing wrong with humor, one needs to use it carefully.
Director Scott Derrickson is surprisingly faithful to the source material. The film adheres close to Strange’s origin story, his training and growth as a sorcerer. Marvel fans will be pleased to see the hospital fight scene, because it adapts a sequence from The Oath miniseries. There is also a surprise cameo in the movie, and it is bound to set up the next part of Phase Three.
In terms of VFX, the movie is a delight to behold. The visual effects and CGI make Steve Ditko’s impressive 1960s-era artwork come to life. Specifically, Strange’s battles on the astral plane are one of the major highlights. While the revolving buildings may feel like Inception, the sequence is breathtaking to watch.
Doctor Strange is one of Marvel’s best films. It opens up wider possibilities for the franchise. Cumberbatch and cast do a great job with the material. Derrickson deserves praise for his focus on plot and characters.
Doctor Strange is shaping up to be a great movie, but it hints a new direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Yes, the film sets up Baron Mordo as a villain, and Dormammu makes an appearance. According to Comicbook.com, there is a more subtle nod to yet another Marvel character.
During Stephen Strange’s training, he learns about mystical items. At one point, Baron Mordo teaches him about weaponry. One such item is his weapon, which he calls “The Staff of the Living Tribunal.” It may look like a wooden staff, but there is more than meets the eye.
This is no ordinary staff
Although the film doesn’t elaborate, the Living Tribunal is a big deal in Marvel lore. He serves as the guardian of alternate realities. His biggest role is in the Infinity Gauntlet storyline, during which Thanos attempts to become a god. As the story unfolds, the Tribunal decides to split up the Infinity Gems for safety reasons.
Could you see him appearing in the MCU?
The character’s existence could hint at a future appearance in the movies. We know Thanos will be the villain in Avengers: Infinity War. Assuming the movie follows the comic, the Living Tribunal could play a role in the plot. If not, it is quite possible the character could show up later on in Phase Three.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently shared his thoughts on if and when we can expect to see the Inhumans movie, via Slashfilm.
“I think Inhumans will happen for sure. I don’t know when. I think it’s happening on television. And I think as we get into Phase 4 as I’ve always said, it could happen as a movie. I think it would be super cool.”
With the addition of Inhumans on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., many fans speculated that the movie got cancelled; it’s good to hear news on the project coming from the man himself.
Does the potential for an Inhumans movie grab your attention? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments section.
Whitewashing – I’m sure you’ve heard the term recently. Marvel Studios suffered criticism for casting Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, a role many thought should have stuck to the comics and gone with an Asian man. Now, According to Variety, Iron Fist actor Lewis Tan agrees with those sentiments.
“I’m not the biggest fan of [the Tilda Swinton] casting choice. I can see why they wanted to switch it up. Producers, studios, directors, writers — there’s a lot of voices. I think that an Asian woman would’ve been fantastic cast in that. They said she would be too much of a ‘Dragon Lady’ or too stereotypical, but I disagree.”
Personally, I don’t think Swinton was the right fit for the character. She gave a cliche performance in the role, and the ethnic diversity could have potentially made the film feel more authentic.
What are your thoughts on Tan’s comments, as well as the casting of Tilda Swinton in the role? Be sure to let us know in the comments section.
Are we alone in the universe? That is a question humanity has asked itself for eons and it’s been addressed in countless sci-fi films. Denis Villeneuve’s latest movie, Arrival, examines the first contact story from a fresh new angle.
One day, 12 spacecraft land in 12 different locations around the world, from Montana to the Pacific Ocean near Australia, to Shanghai. When the military seek to communicate with the beings they approach Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) – a world renounced linguist – to figure out a way. However, as Louise starts to make progress, the stress of the mission takes its toll on everyone involved and while she advocates peace, other forces – led by General Shang (Tzi Ma) of the Chinese Army – prepare for war.
Arrival is one of the most richly thematic films this year, taking a realistic look at how the world would react to aliens coming to Earth, operating brilliantly on both a personal and cerebral level. It also pulls off a magnificent trick of being an intimate story while showing the wider social impact of the aliens coming to Earth.
In recent years there has been an increase ambitious yet realistic sci-fi films. Interstellar was based on the theories of Kip Throne and was praised by Neil deGrasse Tyson; last year’s The Martian focused on how a man could survive on Mars using his scientific knowledge and limited resources. Arrival shares a lot with Interstellar, as well as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Contact in its slow-burning intensity and heavy philosophical motifs.
The main focus of Arrival is the struggle of communication: how will humanity try and communicate with the aliens and also manage to communicate with each other. At times, Arrival comes across as a linguistics lesson – as Louise breaks down the basics of language for everyone: breaking down the constructs of a sentence, the precise meanings of words and even the method of delivering a message. It sounds like it could be dry and dull, but everyone involved in the movie is able to elevate the emotion, especially Amy Adams’ Louise. If The Martian was a celebration of science and survival, Arrival celebrates language and communication.
Alien contact movies are often about the evil conquerors of Earth or the beings having some ulterior motive. Arrival‘s approach is to show how the world would actually react and what scientists do when studying the aliens – from the precautions they take, the monitoring and the long process of research they can conduct. It’s an arduous process and it has a physical and mental strain on the scientists investigating the aliens. They have to work round the clock for months.
The world Louise and her colleagues inhabit is a bubble. They focus on their research, governmental pressure and geopolitics. As audience members, we get hints of what’s happening in the wider world through news reports showing the global societal reaction. There are glimpses of the wider world through news reports and phone calls to family members – showing the panic and protests. It’s a great snapshot of the world as we see it through the eyes of everyone in the scientific outpost.
The personal elements come from Louise’s relationship with her daughter and how it impacts her work. Like Interstellar and Contact, familial relationships play a large part in the narrative. There is also a spectacular twist in the middle of the movie that should take many by surprise. In retrospect, there were clues about the reveal, but Villeneuve does expert misdirection with the audience.
Icelandic composer and regular Villeneuve collaborator, Jóhann Jóhannsson gives Arrival a haunting score, using synthesized sounds (and the roars and growls of the aliens are particularly ominous). As well as getting Jóhannsson, Arrival has the excellent composer Max Richter to create the opening and final tracks for the movie.
Although Arrival has so much working for it, the biggest weakness is its cinematography by Bradford Young. It employs a strangely dark and murky style – but it makes the movie ugly to look at and, at times, hard to see what’s happening: made worst because many of the rooms have minimal lighting. Despite this Arrival is, overall, a fantastic take on a First Contact story. It can stand alongside many greats in the genre because of the focus on characters, realism and complex themes.
Trafalgar Brewing’s Fresh Hop Harvest Ales are becoming hard to find. Absorbed by All Or Nothing Brewhouse last June, these bottles of ale can still be found in the craft beer sections of some LCBOs, but maybe not for long. There aren’t any advertisements for Fresh Hop Harvest Ale on the All Or Nothing website. It only makes reference to their All Or Nothing Hopfenweisse. I may have bought two of the last Trafalgar Brewing Fresh Hop Harvest Ales in existence … probably not, but it’s possible. Now I’m going to drink them!
Trafalgar Brewing: Fresh Hop Harvest Ale – First Sip
Fresh Hop Harvest Ale pours a cloudy golden colour with a small layer of foam that dissipates almost immediately. I’m surprised at how tart this OntarianAPA is as I take my first sip. Its low carbonation level, like a British pub ale, gives this brew a remarkably smooth mouthfeel. Fresh Hop Harvest Ale’s tart and bitter flavour lingers, providing a steady hop taste from start to finish.
Trafalgar Brewing: Fresh Hop Harvest Ale – Last Sip
I poured mine into a standard pint glass, and I suggest you do the same. Because there isn’t much foam or aroma, though, you’re not likely to miss too much if you drink this beer straight from its 500 mL bottle. You’ll just feel smaller than usual.
With its tart taste, I suggest enjoying Fresh Hop Harvest Ale with something sweet and/or savoury. Dark chocolate would be a great choice. Or, if you’re going to have this beer with dinner, I suggest trying it with some barbecued chicken. Weighing in at a respectable 5% ABV, two should probably be your maximum. But with its unique bitter and tart flavour, Fresh Hop Harvest Ale will leave you wanting more. This is a serious problem because, as I mentioned, there’s a limited supply.
Blumhouse is a production company primarily known for low-budget horror fare like Paranormal Activity, Sinister, and Insidious. They have a recognizable brand that they’ve built a sustainable following on. Most of their films make a healthy profit, which allows themm to venture outside of their comfort zone every now and then. That might explain why they funded writer/director Ti West’s In a Valley of Violence. The film is a dialogue heavy Western that plays much like an homage to some of the most iconic titles of the genre.
In the film, you’re introduced to Paul (played by Ethan Hawke), a man of mystery that the film is content telling you very little about at first. He is on his way to Mexico with his dog Abby, but needs to cross through a small town named Denton. Trouble ensues, in more ways than one, and the film unfolds from there. To say much more about the events of the film may ruin the suspense.
The film’s strongest selling point is the writing by Ti West, especially the dialogue. While the story itself is quite predictable for those with knowledge of certain films, the dialogue these characters are provided give this movie so much life you can forgive its lack of originality. The entire cast is perfectly suited for their roles. John Travolta in particular stands out as a highlight in this film, alongside Hawke and James Ransone. All three embody their characters perfectly, and their interactions in the film are continuous highlights.
On top of terrific dialogue and great acting, the film’s technical aspects are on point as well. Eric Robbins’ cinematography is just what you want from a good Western, as is Jeff Grace’s score. The environment this film creates feels like a perfect homage to what came before, while West’s dialogue and directorial style gives it that edge it needs to stand on its own feet.
For fans of Westerns, In a Valley of Violence is a must-see. It is well scripted, beautifully shot, terrifically acted, and has a great score. While the story is a bit predictable, the film makes up for it in spades with its style and sincere love for the western genre. This might just be one of the best westerns made in recent years.
A new trailer for The Lego Batman Movie has been released via Warner Bros. on Youtube. Check it out below.
The film features Will Arnett as Batman, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn, Michael Cera as Robin and Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth.
“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 hits theaters on February 10, 2017.
