Zack Snyder Shares Behind The Scenes ‘Justice League’ Video

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October 7, 2016

Well, we didn’t see that coming. Justice League director Zack Snyder has shared a behind the scenes look at the film, as a way of saying goodbye to the UK. England has been the primary filming location for Justice League, but as the crew moves over to film in Iceland it’s time to say goodbye, and I couldn’t think of a better way for Snyder to do it.

Get A New Look At The Justice League Below

Last day filming in the UK. It has been an amazing shoot. Big thanks to everyone involved! #JusticeLeague pic.twitter.com/TEjEdlo81u

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) 7 October 2016

As you can see, the video gives us a better look at the Justice League, including possibly our best look yet at Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. Synder also slips in a quick look at what Superman has been up to at the 37-second mark of the video (h/t DC Mate). Henry Cavill looks to be wearing the traditional Superman look with no beard or black suit.

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.

Directed by Zack Snyder, this marks the big screen debut of the Justice League, featuring an all-star lineup: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher.

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10 Best Comedies to Hit Theaters the Past 20 Years

By

Robert Yaniz Jr.

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October 7, 2016

Comedy is by far among the most subjective type of filmmaking out there (right next to horror, we’d say). However, even though moviegoers may have vastly different opinions of what is truly funny, some films still manage to break through and become recognized for the innovative ways they manage to elicit laughter and the sheer number of laughs per minute they can inspire in audiences. Focusing specifically on films released since 1996, here are the 10 best comedy movies released since that have stood the test of time.

1. There’s Something about Mary (1998)

Back in the late 1990s, this Farrelly Brothers film shocked audiences with its gross-out gags and outrageous, blatantly offensive sense of humor. However, the sharp performances from Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Dillon have helped it transcend that era to emerge an enduring favorite among comedy aficionados.

2. The Big Lebowski (1998)

Joel and Ethan Coen are regularly regarded among the best filmmakers working today, but this is probably among the goofiest films of their filmography. Jeff Bridges created an icon in his turn as The Dude, launching a zillion memes and quotable lines alongside co-stars John Goodman and John Turturro.

3. Office Space (1999)

Although this comedy from Mike Judge (King of the Hill) was a box office bomb, it has since earned a reputation as one of the most relatable comedies ever made. Office Space is just a barrage of laugh-out-loud moments and memorable lines. No one who has seen this has ever looked at office work the same way again.

4. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

The first in the Blood and Ice Cream (or Three Flavors Cornetto) trilogy, this spoof of zombie films made veritable stars of all involved. Director Edgar Wright instantly earned a global fanbase, and stars Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost went on to share the screen several more times. Be sure to check out Hot Fuzz and The World’s End as well.

5. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Will Ferrell has headlined so many hit comedies, but none has had the cultural impact of his initial turn as the pompous titular newscaster in this Adam McKay film. So many hilarious lines and memorable characters that viewers will find themselves trapped in a glass case of emotion, unable to stop the laughter.

6. Mean Girls (2004)

This Tina Fey-scripted teen comedy set a new gold standard for what that particular subgenre can look like in the modern age. Buoyed by flawless performances by Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls appears to be more relevant than ever before. That’s no small feat for a film that’s already more than a decade old.

7. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Steve Carell and filmmaker Judd Apatow are two of the hottest names in Hollywood now. However, since this film was released, Carell has become an Oscar-nominated actor, and Apatow is essentially his own brand. This perfectly cast and surprisingly sweet film still stands as perhaps the best work either has done on the big screen.

8. Borat (2006)

Fans of Da Ali G Show knew that Sacha Baron Cohen was one of the most fearless comic talents in recent memory. Borat made that announcement to the world, as its star took tremendous creative risks to satirize our own society, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in the process.

9. Bridesmaids (2011)

Whether you loved or hated the Ghostbusters reboot, director Paul Feig proved with this Kristen Wiig-led comedy that he has a knack for giving funny ladies a place to showcase their talents. Melissa McCarthy, as well as screenwriters Wiig and Annie Mumolo, received Oscar nominations, and Hollywood finally realized that female-led comedies can succeed at the box office.

10. 21 Jump Street (2012)

Reboots are coming fast and furious these days, and 21 Jump Street — based on the 1980s TV show — deftly commented on its own place among that trend. Meanwhile, stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill deliver uproarious performances that still have us hoping that a third Jump Street film eventually comes to pass.

What’s your favorite comedy of the past 20 years? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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5 Reasons ‘Iron Man 2’ Is a Critical Part of the MCU

By

Robert Yaniz Jr.

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October 7, 2016

Fans and critics alike have consistently proclaimed that Iron Man is among the best films to ever come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ironically, its 2010 sequel is often labelled as one of the weakest MCU entries released so far. Considering that this summer‘s Captain America: Civil War marks a turning point of sorts of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and the rest of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, we thought it about time to re-address common perception on Iron Man 2 and explore why — despite its black sheep status — it’s actually one of the most important films in the MCU. For the record, we’re not saying that Iron Man 2 is superior to other films in the franchise, such as The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy. Rather, we’re looking to point out the ways in which Jon Favreau’s film set up future events and laid the groundwork for the MCU as a whole.

Tony’s Daddy Issues

Captain America: Civil War emotionally centers on Tony’s guilt over the death of his parents and, in particular, his animosity towards his father. Most of his appearances in the films don’t directly address that, save for Iron Man 2. A major plot point delves into the father-son relationship of the Stark family, and Howard Stark (played, for the first time, by John Slattery) expressed the faith he had in his son all along.

Introducing Black Widow

Mainstream audiences had no clue who Black Widow was before Scarlett Johansson slipped on that leather bodysuit to bring the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and Avenger to life. Iron Man 2 introduced her while working undercover at Stark Industries. This not only sets up her sneaky, morally ambiguous nature but her contentious relationship with Stark himself. Who knew then that Natasha Romanoff would turn out to be such a fan favorite?

Rhodey Suits Up

In the first Iron Man film, James Rhodes declares that perhaps he’ll get the chance to wear one of Tony’s suits “next time.” Well, when the sequel came around, fans finally get their chance to see War Machine in action. The character has since continued to evolve into a key supporting player in Tony’s life as well as a team member of the Avengers. It all started here, with Rhodey taking a suit for himself and tricking it out with all manner of weaponry.

Government Intervention

In Captain America: Civil War, the government finally takes action against the Avengers, who have gone unsupervised for years. Yet, the U.S. government first tried to gain control of superheroes in Iron Man 2, with Senator Stern (Garry Shandling) — later revealed to be a HYDRA agent — calling Tony Stark to hand over the Iron Man suit. Though Tony would be more open to regulation down the line, the seeds for the Sokovia Accords truly begin here.

Phil Coulson Returns

Phil Coulson’s (Clark Gregg) death in The Avengers serves as one of the most memorable moments of that film, though Gregg’s casting on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. less than a year later undermined its impact for some fans. However, the biggest reason why his murder at Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) hand was so impactful is because of Tony Stark’s reaction. In this film, we get the chance to spend a bit more time with Coulson (as does Tony), setting up his heroic act of defiance against the evil Asgardian.

Are there any other major MCU connections we missed in Iron Man 2? Let us know in the comments section below!

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‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Trailer Description Released

By

Aric Sweeny

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October 7, 2016

Fans in attendance of the War For The Planet Of The Apes panel at New York Comic-Con were screened the first trailer for the film, which has not been released to the public. Heroic Hollywood dropped a description of the trailer, as they had a writer in the audience. Read it down below.

“The trailer opens with a wooden bridge made behind a waterfall, we hear some military chatter over walkie-talkies. The footage then cuts to military personnel in spec-ops outfits and rifles with green laser sights walking crouched in a cave, the military chatter over comms continues. They are then attacked by Caesar, who takes them all out. The person on the other end of the radio wants the squad to report in, Caesar picks up the line to listen. The trailer cuts back outside on the bridge, where another guard is looking around. Caesar comes out of the cave and lunges at the guard. Cut to action montage in the snow, voice-over from Woody Harrelson’s colonel character. The brief action showcases the film will definitely have grand war scenes, with humans in tanks, apes on horseback with guns, the whole deal. Final shot is Caesar kneeling before the colonel who places a gun against Caesar’s forehead. Harrelson’s voice-over continues saying “If humans should lose the war, this will truly become a planet of apes.” (Fantastic ‘he said the title’ moment).”

I just hope we get to see the actual trailer sometime soon!

War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on July 14, 2017.

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Recovered Audio: The UnPOP Podcast Field Review of Blair Witch

By

Curtis Waugh

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October 6, 2016

This is the audio recovered from the UnPOP Podcast’s field recording at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Curtis, Brock and Austin ventured out into the dank, dark depths of the woods (in a state park, in LA) searching for answers as to why Blair Witch was such a massive disappointment. Much to their surprise, the guys came upon skunks, coyotes, shadows in the night and frayed each other’s nerves as the night grew colder and stranger.

Listen to this doomed trip where audio is lost, Brock almost climbs a tree in fear, Blair Witch is deconstructed and the guys are locked in the park and saved by Felicia, the greatest Uber driver on earth. If you dare…

0:00 Entering the woods…

5:02 Spooky lost audio

9:20 Bad Pizza Rankings

15:14 News: IMdb and actors’ ages

17:34 LA Podfest

20:19 What’s Cookin’ in The Rock’s Kitchen

21:57 Blair Witch discussion

Post Credits: An Uber rescue from Griffith Park

Have a topic you’d like to hear UnPOPPED? Send any comments/love/vitriol to unpopentertainment@gmail.com

At long last, The UnPOP Podcast is on iTunes! Check us out there!

We’re on Stitcher! Add us to your playlist and rate and review our show!

Subscribe to our Soundcloud page!

Give the Facebook page a big ol’ “Like”

Follow the show on Twitter @UnpopPodcast and the guys @curtwaugh and @brockvox!

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NYCC: Marvel Reveals All-New Joe Quesada Poster For Netflix ‘Iron Fist’ Series

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 6, 2016

A new Joe Quesada illustrated ‘Iron Fist’ concept art poster for the upcoming Netflix series has been unveiled at New York Comic Con by Marvel Comics.

Quesada is Marvel’s Chief-Creative-Officer and former Editor-in-Chief. He made a name for himself with the Marvel Knights imprint, which brought back prominence to many of Marvels “street level” heroes, including Daredevil and the Punisher, characters already adapted into the Netflix MCU.

Iron Fist stars Finn Jones and is executive produced by showrunner Scott Buck and Jeph Loeb. The show will follow the adventures of millionaire turned hero Danny Rand aka Iron Fist, as he uses his mystical kung-fu abilities to fight crime and corruption on the streets of New York. Historically Danny Rand is one-half of the Heroes for Hire duo with current breakout character Luke Cage. Iron Fist will also join Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage in forming the superhero team The Defenders, scheduled to appear in their own 2017 series.

Iron Fist is currently shooting and set to premiere streaming in 2017.

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‘Iron Fist’ Hopes to Be Marvel’s Next Big Hit on Netflix

By

Don Draper

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October 6, 2016

Now that Luke Cage is finally here and everyone was able to binge-watch the latest Marvel series, the attention has already moved on to the next hero. Netflix is prepping for the next streaming series tied to the MCU and people are hoping that it will make for the perfect bookend to Cage. This post may contain what some could consider mild spoilers pertaining to Iron Fist and his origins, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The next major Marvel show slated for Netflix will be on the longtime comic book pal of Luke Cage, Iron Fist. He is best known to comics fans through his partnership with Luke Cage as one half of the Heroes for Fire. But for those not in the know, Iron Fist can almost be thought of like a kung-fu Batman in a lot of ways. To give a quick background, Iron Fist also goes by Danny Rand, the scion of the wildly successful Rand Corporation. In the comics, Danny’s parents die during a tragic hiking accident, which prompts the young boy to undertake the training from a mysterious master to ultimately become Iron Fist. Hmm, young billionaire with dead parents trained in the mountains by a secretive martial arts clan… where have we heard this before?

The titular character is being played by Finn Jones (best known for his part as Loras Tyrell in Game of Thrones) and we also know that the series will introduce the character of Colleen Wing (played by Jessica Henwick, best known as Nymeria Sand from GoT). The inclusion of Wing is notable because in the comics she goes on to form the dynamic duo of the Daughters of the Dragon with Misty Knight, whom we just met in Luke Cage. Now that Cage has become a bonafide hit, Comic Book Resources reports that Marvel has followed that success with the announcement of Iron Fist‘s release date: March 17, 2017.

Iron Fist will help to complete the last piece of the puzzle in the streaming universe that will set us up for Marvel’s The Defenders, due sometime in 2017, too. Of course, with The Defenders and a solo series for The Punisher currently scheduled, the character that started it all, Daredevil, has taken a backseat. According to Den of Geek, there’s still no current release date for season three. However, with Iron Fist, Defenders and Punisher all first in line, it will likely be at least 2018 before we see anything new.

It might be a long wait, but fans will be able to occupy their time through the myriad other Marvel shows and online distractions, thanks in part to the slew of slot reals based on Marvel characters outlined at Gambling.com. Among others, those characters include the namesake Man Without Fear, Elektra and the Punisher. These games are simple games based on traditional slot reels that spice things up through their inclusion of popular characters along with weapons like DD’s billy clubs or Elektra’s deadly sais. Daredevil devotees can also find the characters in Marvel Heroes 2016 where EW reports that Marvel has also added new costumes for both Luke Cage and Jessica Jones based on their respective series.

Marvel has quickly built quite the streaming empire and they’re following the same playbook they did for their big-screen counterparts. As the publisher continues to fill out the roster, it will all lead us to Marvel’s The Defenders. The show should be like a small screen version of The Avengers that’ll also be more than enough to tide us over until the third season of Daredevil finally comes out.

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Trailer Now Available for “A Series Of Unfortunate Events” Netflix Series

By

Jen Schiller

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October 6, 2016

Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events is possibly the only book series on Earth where the narrator urges you to stop reading–a trend which continues in the first trailer for the Netflix series based on the books.

A Series Of Unfortunate Movie Events

Back in 2004, during the height of Potter-mania, Nickelodeon attempted to create a series of films of their own. Their source material? The 13-book series A Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Daniel Handler under the pen-name Lemony Snicket. Nick only put out the first movie, which incorporated the first three books, before giving up.

While the movie was great fun and beautifully costumed, it did not do as well as Nick and Paramount wanted it to in theatres. During production, the film suffered from scheduling setbacks, directors and writers signing on and then leaving, and budget restraints. Even after the film garnered critical acclaim and an Academy Award for makeup, the project was still abandoned.

Netflix to the Rescue

Nickelodeon may have abandoned the Series of Unfortunate Events, but fans of the books and movies never gave up hope. Even Handler returned to the world of Snicket and the Beaudelaires, creating a series called All the Wrong Questions.

Considering the continued popularity of a book series that’s almost as old as Harry Potter, it’s no surprise that Netflix picked up the property. Not only have they picked it up, but the series is the most expensive that the streaming service has produced to date.

So far details about the show are scarce, but most of the big-hitters have been cast. Neil Patrick Harris (Count Olaf), Malina Weissman (Voilet Beaudelaire), and Louis Hynes (Klaus Beaudelaire) make up the core cast, while Bernadette Peters (Aunt Josephine), Joan Cusack (Justice Strauss), and K. Todd Freeman (Mr. Poe) will also make appearances. Perhaps most surprising is the early reveal of Patrick Warburton as Snicket. In the books (and film), Snickets face was always kept hidden in order to protect him from some unnamed danger.

A Series of Unfortunate Events will release on Friday, January 13th, 2017. Tune in if you dare.

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NYCC: Robert Kirkman Drops Major Reveals During ‘The Walking Dead’ Panel

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 6, 2016

The Walking Dead New York Comic Con Panel was held this afternoon, series creator, writer, and executive producer Robert Kirkman has been very forthcoming with information regarding the upcoming new season, according to live recap reports from ComicBook.com

On the much rumored and anticipated appearance of the comics’ The Whisperers, “Probably, eventually. As long as we don’t get cancelled it should.” He also jokingly added, “I can’t wait to see Andrew Lincoln saying ‘Now we gotta worry about the Whispererererers’.”

Editor Sean Mackiewicz asked where the idea of wearing flesh came from. “I feel like it’s something that probably evolved over time,” Kirkman said before a tease of the Whisperers actually being the future of Fear the Walking Dead’s group, saying, “Maybe they were putting blood all over their faces and were walking around in Mexico and went, ‘Oh, it would probably be better if we just used skin.'”

“No comment,” on whether or not Nick from Fear the Walking Dead is going to be a Whisperer.

“When I run out of ideas for Negan, I’ll just kill him,” said Kirkman. “Negan was supposed to die at the end of the Something to Fear arc. He was originally supposed to be in the book for only four or five issues.”

The Walking Dead is entering is 7th successful season. Adapted from the comic book series of the same name, the megahit show follows a band of survivors navigating through an increasingly more dangerous zombie-infested world. Season 7 will pick up from the highly suspenseful end of season 6’s brutal moment depicting new villain Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) violently murdering someone with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. The identity of the victim is still a mystery, a detail that sparked controversy among the fan community. Negan, the comics most notorious character, is set to become a fan-favorite and the series new antagonist.

The Walking Dead Season 7 premiere will air on Sunday, October 23 at 9pm on the AMC network.

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Review: ‘The Birth Of A Nation’ A Searing Opus That Holds Nothing Back

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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October 6, 2016

Nate Parker’s The Birth Of A Nation is a searing opus that harkens back to a period when the degradation of a human based on the color of their skin was an acceptable part of life (sadly, we haven’t come as far as we should have). Parker holds nothing back in this retelling of the rebellion, led by a minister slave named Nat Turner, in 1831. It depicts some of the most horrific acts a human being could endure in hopes of achieving catharsis and generating a discussion the audience.

Don’t waste time trying to compare this film to 12 Years a Slave. While both films dive deeply into the topic of slavery, The Birth Of A Nation feels like more of a window into this period than 12 Years a Slave. In 12 Years A Slave, there was always hope that Solomon Northop (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was always going to be rescued. Certain parts of the film felt as if it were Hollywood’s version of what slavery was in the United States. The Birth Of A Nation is a film that’s artfully structured, bringing truths to light about slavery that no American history book would ever say.

Nat Turner seems destined for greatness at a young age when, during an African rite of passage ceremony, his ancestors have visions of greatness. At an early age, he seemed to be far more advanced than the average African American boy. His life on the Turner plantation takes a sudden turn when Mrs. Turner (played beautifully by Penelope Ann Miller) notices how talented he is and offers to teach him how to read the Bible. Years later, we find him picking cotton for a new head of Turner, Samuel (played by Armie Hammer), whom Nat had grown up with on the plantation. Times are tough for the Turners, but Samuel likes to keep up appearances and is convinced by Nat to buy a slave girl named Cherry (Aja Naomi King), whom Nat has fallen in love with.

As time moves on, the economy gets tougher, and a local preacher suggests that they turn Nat’s newfound ability to preach to the plantation workers into a money making scheme. They start renting him out to plantation owners on the condition that he preach the gospel of submission to the masters.

As the tour progresses, Nat witnesses atrocity after atrocity occurring in the name of keeping order and making sure all the cotton has been picked. Samuel begins to pick up on the rage boiling over and realizes it needs to be dealt with. He starts to take a more hard-line approach towards Nat, even going so far as to whipping him in a scene that is, amazingly, equal parts uplifting and gruesome. It isn’t until Cherry is brutally assaulted by three plantation owners, though, that Samuel decides the only answer here is to fight back.

Parker has a tremendous feel for pacing, as the narrative slowly matriculates to its crescendo, and violence erupts. The feeling of pent-up rage is palpable. Don’t confuse that to mean this is a film about violence; in fact, it’s quite the opposite as The Birth Of A Nation is a movie about freedom and how far we are willing to go to achieve it.

Cinematographer Elliot Davis plays a big part in the success of this film. Davis, tasked with capturing the simmering rage of these slaves as they morphed from submissive members of the plantation to human beings who were willing to fight for the freedom to live their lives, allows his camera to creep into the psyche of the characters. He uses tight shots during the most emotional moments of the film to capture this transformation.

Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, and Penelope Ann Miller are magnificent here. Parker stands out, bringing such fire to a role that it will be difficult to ignore this type of performance around awards season. Armie Hammer and Penelope Ann Miller both command the screen as they both show such conviction to “southern values,” but are torn about how they are treating Nat. Aja Nicole King projects such resilience on the screen that our heart shatters for her every time she faces another tragedy. It will not be shocking if all four of these names are ones we hear in the coming months as we get closer to awards season.

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