Will ‘Doctor Strange’ Be Too Obscure For Audiences? $55M – $75M Opening Weekend Estimates

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October 13, 2016

Tickets went on sale for ‘Doctor Strange’ Monday and the film is tracking for an opening weekend of $55 – $75 million domestic box office take, according to Deadline.

Will this be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film that will be too complex for the average movie goer? ‘Ant-Man’ is a simple concept to understand, he gets very small, but he is a second tier character and the film opened at $57 million in the middle of the 2015 summer. The ‘Guardians of The Galaxy’ is the exception to the rule, taking a bunch of third tier characters to box office gold with a $94 million opening in 2014.

‘Doctor Strange’ looks to have amazing visuals unlike any previous entry from the MCU. The trailers are playing up the big spectacle, but they do lack a grounded story. Where’s Rachel McAdams? Right now audiences are getting cookie cutter lines from Benedict Cumberbatch and Mads Mikkelsen. This might be the first film that Marvel doesn’t know how to market properly.

On top that, Doctor Strange’s powers make him look more like a Green Lantern than a mystic, we also don’t get an explanation to why the world is folding. With ‘Inception’ at least Christopher Nolan explained it was a dream world and anything was possible.

What are the rules of the mystic universe in ‘Doctor Strange?’

Powers and abilities according to Wikipedia:
Strange is a practicing magician who draws his powers from mystical entities such as Agamotto, Cyttorak, Ikonn, Oshtur, Raggadorr, and Watoomb, who lend their energies for spells. Strange also wields mystical artifacts including the Cloak of Levitation which enables him to fly; the Eye of Agamotto, an amulet whose light is used to negate evil magic; the Book of the Vishanti. a grimoire which contains knowledge of white magic; and the Orb of Agamotto, a crystal ball which is used for clairvoyance.

In addition to his magical abilities, Strange is trained in several martial arts disciplines, and has shown proficiency with numerous magically conjured weapons including swords and axes. Strange was a skilled neurosurgeon before nerve damage impaired his hands.

Are you planning to see ‘Doctor Strange’ opening weekend?

‘Doctor Strange’ is directed by Scott Derrickson and stars Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Stuhlbarg with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton.

‘Doctor Strange’ will hit theaters on November 4, 2016

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‘War of The Worlds’ Heading to MTV as Movie-to-TV Adaptations Spiral Out of Control

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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October 13, 2016

Every day, we get an announcement of another cinematic property getting the TV treatment. Every. Day. And now, it seems, War of The Worlds is going to be serialized. Which would be fine, if it weren’t going to get MTV’ed up…

Deadline reports that the brain trust behind MTV’s abominable Teen Wolf series, writer Andrew Cochran and producer Jeff Davis, will take over adapting H.G. Wells’ classic work of literature for the Teen Mom crowd.

War of The Worlds has been adapted and remade in so many forms over the years, beginning with the 1938 Orson Welles radio broadcast of the novel itself that (allegedly, depending on who you believe) sent people into fits of hysteria who thought it was real. Most recently, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise teamed up in 2005 to adapt the story with a stark, disturbing post-9/11 vibe. It’s an often underrated film in Spielberg’s catalogue, marred at the time by Cruise’s publicity tour of craziness.

That makes about, give or take a few, a thousand movies that are headed to TV somewhere. These cannot all work, but I bet this War of The Worlds will have plenty of dreamy teens and high school drama to hold the attention of its demographic. Hooray.

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New ‘Doctor Strange’ Footage Debuts in TV Spots

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 13, 2016

Doctor Strange is only weeks away from opening in cinemas, and anticipation is high for this new, magical entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. New TV spots have materialized, via ComicBook.com. You can watch the two new clips below.

Wow. Seems that in addition to all the magic and sorcery, Marvel fans can expect the same level of action they have come to know and love from these films. Adding the Ghost Rider appearing in the new season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it seems that the MCU is primed for a supernatural invasion. Now if they could only work Blade in.

Doctor Strange tells the story of neurosurgeon Stephen Strange whose life takes a tragic turn after a horrific car accident damages his hands. When medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing in a mysterious place known as Kamar-Taj. There he learns that this is not just a place for healing but also the sight of a magical battle to save the world. Soon Dr. Strange must choose to return to his normal life or leave it all behind and take his new place as the world’s Sorcerer Supreme.

Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Star Into Darkness, ), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Rachel McAdams (True Detective Season 2), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man), Mads Mikkelsen (Valhalla Riding/Hannibal) and Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel). It is directed by Scott Derrickson, and written by Derrickson, Jon Spaihts (Prometheus), and C. Robert Cargill (Sinister). It opens November 4, 2017, in theaters nationwide.

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Ewan McGregor Would be Open for Obi-Wan Solo Films

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 13, 2016

The highlight for many of the very controversial Star Wars prequels was Ewan McGregor’s performance as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. From all the cast, he seemed to best capture the spirit of the original trilogy. According to DarkHorizons, McGregor shared his thoughts while speaking with French magazine Premiere (via website Den Of Geek):

I’ve always thought there was a story to tell between my last one and Alec Guinness’ first one. It would be fun to film that story now [that] I’m older. I’d be the right age. I’m forty-five, Alec Guinness was what, sixty? I could do two of them (laughs)! I hope that they’re going to explore different genres under the Star Wars banner. And one of those could be an Obi-Wan Kenobi feature film. Or two! The Obi-Wan Kenobi Story Part 1 and Part 2.

Rumors and fan speculation on an Obi-Wan Kenobi solo film have been surging for years, with some even making their own fan films and trailers on the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRPuiknCOzI
Meanwhile, fans can look forward to Star Wars: Episode VIII.Star Wars: Episode VIII, is written and directed by Rian Johnson and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcomes back cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Academy Award® winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award® nominee Laura Dern, and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski. Joining the production crew will be some of the industry’s top talent, including Steve Yedlin (Director of Photography), Bob Ducsay (Editor), Rick Heinrichs (Production Designer), Peter Swords King (Hair and Make-Up Designer), and Mary Vernieu (US Casting Director). They will be joining returning crew members Pippa Anderson (Co-Producer, VP Post Production), Neal Scanlan (Creature & Droid FX Creative Supervisor), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Jamie Wilkinson (Prop Master), Chris Corbould (SFX Supervisor), Rob Inch (Stunt Coordinator), Ben Morris (VFX Supervisor), and Nina Gold (UK Casting Director).

Star Wars Episode VIII is scheduled to open in December of 2017. In the meantime, we can all look forward to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story this December,

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Review: ‘Reborn’ #1 Beats Even The Highest Expectations

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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October 13, 2016

Reborn follows Bonnie Black, an 80-year-old woman who learns that there is a life after death. But it’s not the traditional Heaven or Hell situation most people are familiar with. Instead, Bonnie is reborn as a 25-year-old and thrust into a fantasy world that’s bigger than you can even dream of.

And that’s it; that’s all the plot information you’re going to get from this review, because that’s all the information the creators divulged in the months leading up to the series debut. That is incredibly bold, going almost full media blackout in 2016. Millar and Capullo have such confidence in their work that they’re asking fans to buy it without offering a single lettered preview page. That confidence is 100% deserved.

Mark Millar’s a captivating storyteller; it’s as simple as that. His work speaks for itself. The man has enough bestsellers under his belt that I shouldn’t have to explain why he’s brilliant. But I will anyway. The way he paces this first issue is out of this world. So much happens – all of it with real weight – that it’s hard to believe Reborn is only 23 pages. And Millar knows how to give his audience just enough to keep the mystery alive and leave them ~~wanting~~ needing more.

But while Millar’s name carries a lot of clout on its own, Greg Capullo is the main reason to pick up Reborn. Fresh off his legendary run on Batman, Capullo is proving that he can draw just about anything. He’s gone from the dark and hyperrealistic landscape of Gotham City to a world of hope and fantasy without missing a beat. Inker Jonathan Glapion and colorist FCO Plascencia have also come along for the ride, and when these three dudes work together, magic happens.

The bottom line is that the premiere issue of Reborn is great; it’s sure to be on many “Best of the Year” lists come December. This is a story that literally grabs hold of you on page one and doesn’t let go (which sounds cliched, but it’s true). It has heart, action, intrigue, and everything else you could possibly want from a sci-fi/fantasy book. Reborn is already being rushed back to print, so be sure to run to your LCS to get a copy before they sell out!

Reborn
W: Mark Millar
A: Greg Capullo
Jonathan Glapion
FCO Plascencia

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Going Back: The 5 Best Tom Cruise Movies Since 2000

By

Robert Yaniz Jr.

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October 13, 2016

Ever since making his big-screen debut in 1981 romance Endless Love, Tom Cruise has appeared in nearly 40 films ranging from blockbuster fare like the Mission: Impossible franchise to Oscar-caliber dramas like Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July. What’s most impressive, however, is that Cruise has maintained a pretty solid track record of successful projects. Rarely has he headlined a box office disaster, and even films that aren’t widely praised (e.g., Vanila Sky, Legend) often go on to develop cult following. Since 2000 in particular, Cruise has been on a roll. As he reprises the title role in his new action thriller Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, let’s go back in time and revisit the best films Cruise has appeared in recent years. For the record, we’re only including one entry per franchise. So fans hoping to see multiple Mission: Impossible entries on here will be sorely disappointed.

5. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Call it Edge of Tomorrw, Live Die Repeat or some combination of the two, but this sci-fi action thriller — based on the 2004 Hiroshi Sakurazaka light novel All You Need is Kill — is a blast to watch. Cruise plays against type as a sniveling military public relations officer who winds up trapped repeating the same day over and over after a battlefield encounter with an invading alien race. Emily Blunt also shines as the war hero who whips Cruise’s character into fighting shape. We can only hope that the discussed sequel eventually pans out.

4. Tropic Thunder (2008)

In an uncredited role as a ruthless studio executive, Cruise was unrecognizable and hilarious in this Ben Stiller-directed Hollywood satire. Still smarting from the image problems caused in part by his couch-hopping appearance on Oprah, Cruise’s delightfully profane, over-the-top performance here won audiences over so thoroughly that a spinoff film was once being considered for his character. We’ll never hear Flo Rida’s “Low” without thinking of Cruise’s Les Grossman now.

3. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)

Over the past 20 years, Cruise — driven perhaps by his ambition to perform his own increasingly dangerous stunt — has continued to keep the Mission: Impossible franchise afloat. Following the tepid critical response to the second film and the underwhelming financial performance of the third, this fourth entry in the series reinvigorated the franchise and proved to be one of the biggest hits of Cruise’s career. Moreover, director Brad Bird (making his live-action debut) infuses such a high energy and visually striking spectacle into the adventure that it still stands as arguably the best of the Mission: Impossible films to date.

2. Minority Report (2002)

Cruise’s 2005 collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, the duo’s remake of War of the Worlds, may have its critics, but this other sci-fi thriller is widely regarded among the best films that either has ever made. Set in a 2054 wherein law enforcement uses precognition to prevent crimes before they happen, the film flawlessly marries elements of film noir, murder mystery and sci-fi cautionary tale. It’s also one of the best films ever made to be based on the work of influential novelist Philip K. Dick, whose writing also inspired Total Recall, Blade Runner and A Scanner Darkly. Cruise is perfect in the role, emotionally grounding his deeply damaged hero and delivering one of the best performances of his career.

1. Collateral (2004)

Few actors embody the archetype of Hollywood leading man more than Cruise. So it may come as a surprise that our top pick sees him as a philosophical hitman who forces a Los Angeles cab driver (Jamie Foxx) to drive him from one target to the next over the course of a single night. Gorgeously shot and dripping with symbolic imagery, the film — directed by Michael Mann (Heat) — features one of Cruise’s most chilling and charismatic performances ever and earned Foxx an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. A meditative, meaningful thriller sure to keep audiences on their toes, Collateral is easily Cruise’s finest film in quite some time, an endlessly rewatchable entry in his filmography.

What’s your favorite Tom Cruise film released since 2000? Let us know your pick in the comments section below!

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Scarlett Johansson Drops Updates on ‘Black Widow’ Movie

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 13, 2016

Ever since her debut in Iron Man 2 as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Black Widow, fans have been clamoring for the red-headed super spy to ger her own film. According to ComicBook.com, actor Scarlett Johansson (who has played Natasha Romanova/Black Widow in five films now) touched on the subject in a Variety interview:

I would like for it to happen under the right circumstances. I think there’s a lot of opportunity to mine that story line. She’s got a really rich origins story. There’s a lot of places you can go — you can bring it back to Russia. You could explore the Widow program. There’s all kinds of stuff that you could do with it. You could really uncover the identity of who this person is, where she comes from and where she’s part of.

When asked abut the possible timeline of a solo movie, Johansson had this to say:

There’s plenty of back story. Or not. It could be something else. Where do the Avengers go? They are underground. What happens then? What happens after it all falls apart? There are so many ways you can go. I think it would just have to be very much like its own specific thing. It would have to have its own specific vibe. It would have been totally different than any of the other standalone films. I think if the fans wanted it enough, then it would probably become a reality. I talk to them about it often. It would have to fit in the idea of where they want to go. I’m invested in that character. Marvel is greatly invested in that character. If I did it, I’d have to do it while I still actually wanted to wear a skin-tight catsuit. I don’t know how much longer that’s going to be.

The upcoming scheduled movies for the MCU are: Doctor Strange on November 4, 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on May 5, 2017, Spider-Man: Homecomin on July 7, 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017, Black Panther on February 16, 2018, Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.

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Beyond Wolverine: 5 Must-See Hugh Jackman Movies

By

Robert Yaniz Jr.

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October 13, 2016

We live in a golden age of superhero films. While fans may argue over whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Extended Universe is superior, there’s such a wide array of comic book-based features out there that most moviegoers have no trouble finding something that fits their taste. While this modern explosion of superheroes can be traced back to the 1998 release of Blade, most credit Bryan Singer’s X-Men for really helping to re-popularize the genre after films like Batman & Robin caused it to falter. That film also launched the career of Hugh Jackman into the stratosphere.

The then mostly-unknown Australian actor has since appeared in eight of the 9 X-Men films Fox has released over the years (and, really, he sort of showed up in Deadpool anyway). As a result, he is just as synonymous with the role of Wolverine as Robert Downey Jr. is with Iron Man. With recent news revealing that Jackman’s final appearance as the adamantium-clawed mutant has been titled simply Logan, we look back at some of the other memorable roles the actor has taken on.

5. The Fountain (2006)

Although some cinephiles hold this Darren Aronofsky film in high regard, its divisive status among other moviegoers pushes it to the last spot on our top five. An ambitious narrative unites three different storylines separated by time, all of which star Jackman and co-star Rachel Weisz. The film uses Aronofsky’s distinct visual style to delve meaningful themes of love and mortality. While The Fountain was a box office flop, it has since developed a cult following and demonstrates Jackman’s impressive range.

4. Eddie the Eagle (2016)

Inspirational sports dramas are a known crowd-pleaser, but this charmer from director Dexter Fletcher rises above other recent additions to the genre, thanks to winning performances by Taron Egerton and Jackman. The story follows real-life skier Eddie Edwards (Egerton), who represented Great Britain in the 1988 Olympic Games. Jackman shines as Eddie’s alcoholic coach, and together the two leads elevate what could have been a pretty standard biopic.

3. Les Misérables (2012)

Based on the timeless stage musical, this Tom Hooper-directed film earned Jackman his first (and, so far, only) Academy Award nomination. As the morally conflicted fugitive Jean Valjean, Jackman hits all the right notes, both musically and emotionally. The actor commits every bit of his physicality to the role and proves that his 2004 Tony win for The Boy from Oz was no fluke. While the film may be dire, Jackman has rarely been better than this.

2. Prisoners (2013)

Talk about a harrowing experience. This thriller follows an ensemble cast — including Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Terrence Howard — as they grapple with the abduction of two young girls. As the father of one of the missing kids, Jackman is raw, fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) demonstrates a slick command of the story and its characters. How this thematically rich film didn’t earn more than simply a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination is beyond comprehension.

1. The Prestige (2006)

As a pair of feuding magicians, Jackman and co-star Christian Bale dig deep into obsession and the dangerous places men will go to when they’re hell-bent on winning. Director Christopher Nolan transforms the Christopher Priest novel into a thrilling period piece that features one of the most memorable twists in recent memory. Jackman too taps into a quiet intensity and simmering darkness that easily makes The Prestige one of his most popular non-superhero films.

What’s your favorite non-Wolverine film that Hugh Jackman has starred in? Share your pick in the comments section below!

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‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Trailer #2 Released

By

Aric Sweeny

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October 13, 2016

Lucasfilm has officially released the second trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, via their Youtube page. Check it out below.

“From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,’ an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.”

‘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, and the film is due in theaters on December 16.

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An Open Letter To Vendors In Role-Playing Game Worlds

By

Ruben Diaz

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October 13, 2016

Dear Vendors in RPGs,

You might recognize me. I’m the one everyone is talking about. I’m the one who is destined to save your entire existence by learning a great lesson and defeating an even greater evil. It was probably a prophecy that foretold my arrival or just word of mouth of my sheer awesome. If it helps, the entire plot revolves around me. Now remember?

I appreciate how you appreciate that I’m brave enough to take on pure evil to save you. I do it for the love of button-mashing, uh, I mean smiting evil! So, is it still necessary to charge me 100 gold pieces for that sword? I kind of need it, you know, to save your sorry behind from being enslaved by whatever mysterious uber-villain comes for us all.

Listen, vendors, I understand capitalism.

I understand profit margins and that you have mouths to feed. But I counter that with the fact that if not for me there would be no mouths left to feed. Mr. Uber-Villain is not going to give you brownie points for making it harder on me. Mr. Uber-Villain is going to eat your soul or enslave you or do some other imaginative apocalyptic thing.

The point is, I need that sword, and you need money. But we BOTH need a relatively peaceful world that’s not tormented by the psychotic tyrant but by an experienced, albeit uninspiring, leader. So, how about you give me the sword, and I’ll earn some money. I’ll bring the gold to you and even though I’m now a level higher and have a new power capable of incinerating you, I will refrain from using it on you because I’m the force for good. But right now, keeping me from that sword keeps me from my destiny, and that’s leaning you, Mr. Shoppe Keep, towards being a part of the problem, not the solution.

Is that a threat? Yes! But not one I can follow through on since the programmers of this game don’t let me kill NPCs.

Do you take BitCoin?

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