‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’: 6 Stars that Have Since Hit It Big

September 18, 2016

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World might carry with it the distinction of being the only major Edgar Wright-directed film to date that isn’t part of the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost-starring Blood and Ice Cream trilogy (also known as the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy). However, the film — based on Bryan Lee O’Malley comic series — has also become a hub for some of the finest young talent working today. Though actors like Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman were known quantities upon the film’s release, some of its supporting players have gone on to lead some impressive careers. Let’s take a look at what some Scott Pilgrim alumni are doing now.

Brie Larson

When Larson played Scott’s own “evil ex” Envy Adams in the film, she was still largely unknown to American audiences. However, roles in film’s like 21 Jump Street and Short Term 12 helped catapult her to more and more notoriety, culminating with her Best Actress win earlier this year for Room. Now Larson is set to headline Marvel Studios’ upcoming Captain Marvel film as well as next year’s Kong: Skull Island. Not too shabby for an actress who most moviegoers hadn’t even heard of until recently.

Anna Kendrick

Okay, so Kendrick had already experienced her breakthrough role before she appeared as Scott’s younger sister, having earned an Oscar nomination for her role opposite George Clooney in Up in the Air. Still, we maintain that the actress had yet to become a major star at the time of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘s release. That wouldn’t happen until Pitch Perfect two years later. Currently, the actress is reveling in all the offers being sent her way, appearing in films as varied as Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods and outrageous comedies like Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.

Brandon Routh

Normally, playing a superhero as iconic as the Man of Steel is a fast-track to the A-list. However, this Superman Returns star was robbed of a significant career boost after that film failed to wow audiences in 2006. He’s been consistently busy since — including an appearance as a super-powered vegan in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World — but has only recently regained notoriety. Since 2013, Routh has played scene-stealing hero Ray Palmer a.k.a. The Atom on The CW’s Arrow and that role ultimately landed him a lead spot among the network’s Legends of Tomorrow.

Aubrey Plaza

She only has a couple of key moments among the massive ensemble of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Plaza unmistakably delivers the sarcastic edge that fans of her work on Parks and Recreation have come to expect. In addition to that NBC series, she’s popped up on the big screen in films like Safety Not Guaranteed, Life After Beth and the aforementioned Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. Even if Plaza hasn’t quite landed her star-making film role yet, she’s amassed a pretty devoted following in the past few years.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

One might think that appearing in a Quentin Tarantino film would be a tremendous boon for one’s career, but perhaps when the film in question is Death Proof, that logic no longer applies. In any case, Winstead is perhaps one of the most prolific actors on this list, with talent that ranges from harrowing drama (Smashed) to more traditional blockbuster fare (10 Cloverfield Lane). No matter where she appears, the actress — who brought Scott’s aloof love Ramona Flowers to life — is always at the top of her game.

Chris Evans

Try as we might to erase 2005 release Fantastic Four and its equally mediocre sequel from our minds, Evans’ role as Johnny Storm still put him in the Hollywood conversation. Yet, it wasn’t until he wielded the shield of Captain America — post-Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, mind you — that Evans became the A-list star he is now. We’re not saying that his role as evil ex/skateboarder-turned-actor Lucas Lee had anything to do with that transformation. We’re simply pointing out that Wright’s film could see the writing on the wall: Evans is a bonafide star.

Are you a fan of Scott Pilgrim vs the World? Share your favorite moment from the film in the comments section below.

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5 Terrible Superhero Films with Awesome Soundtracks

Robert Yaniz Jr.

September 18, 2016

Thanks to composers like John Williams and Danny Elfman, Superman and Batman boast two of the most iconic superhero movie themes of all time, respectively. However, while those DC characters were lucky enough to be featured in well-received classic releases, other comic book heroes were given less-than-stellar representation on the big screen. Even when the resulting film isn’t up to snuff, sometimes awesome soundtracks can emerge from terrible superhero films. Here are a few examples.

Spawn (1997)

Todd MacFarlane’s titular character has deservedly sustained a cult following since his debut in 1992. However, little of that popularity can be traced back to this substandard film adaptation, despite the casting of Michael Jai White in the role. Regardless of Spawn‘s failure to capture what made the character so damn cool, the soundtrack — which features a fusion of hip hop and hard rock — has a ton to offer fans, including standout tracks like Filter and The Crystal Method’s “(Can’t You) Trip Like I Do” (see above) and Marilyn Manson and Sneaker Pimps’ “Long Hard Road Out of Hell.”

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

When director Bryan Singer exited the X-Men franchise after X2: X-Men United, he never got to bring his trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. Enter Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), who botched both the epic Dark Phoenix saga as well as a loose adaptation of the “mutant cure” storyline from Joss Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men. Thankfully, the film’s silver lining is its appropriately grand score from composer John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon). It’s just too bad that Powell’s majestic melodies didn’t have better imagery to fully realize its power.

Superman Returns (2006)

Here is the other side of the lose-lose scenario that came to pass when Singer exited the third X-Men film. X2 composer John Ottman accompanied the filmmaker in his quest to pay tribute to Richard Donner’s era of Superman films, and in addition to appropriating John Williams’ main theme, Ottman devised a set of new refrains that give the mostly ho-hum Superman adventure some of its only truly memorable moments, such as when Supes and Lois take to the sky for the first time in years. What the film’s narrative lacked Ottman’s musical score had in spades.

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

After director Sam Raimi and composer Danny Elfman had a short-lived falling-out (the two ultimately re-teamed for Oz the Great and Powerful in 2013), the filmmaker turned to Christopher Young (Hellraiser) to compose the score for his third and (ultimately) final Spider-Man installment. The film itself was a mess that fell embarrassingly flat thanks to a miscast villain in Topher Grace’s Venom, a lame amnesia subplot and more than one laughable dance sequence featuring emo Peter Parker. However, even with that mess, Young’s work soars, especially the new theme he created for the villainous Sandman (see above). Sadly, an album of the film’s soundtrack has never been made available in North America.

Suicide Squad (2016)

We might take some flak for outright labeling this DC Extended Universe release as a “terrible superhero film,” seeing as it’s legacy is still in flux. The divisive fan reaction and dreadful critical one support our position on this disjointed David Ayer film, which bears countless signs of studio interference. Even if the story has tons of problems, Suicide Squad: The Album is the symphony of chaos that the film should have been. Take the Rick Ross/Skrillex banger “Purple Lamborghini” (see above) or equally catchy singles like “Sucker for Pain” and “Heathens.” The soundtrack even features a solid cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Panic at the Disco. If only Suicide Squad itself was as much fun to watch as this album is to listen to.

Are there any other terrible superhero films with awesome soundtracks that we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Box Office Breakdown: ‘Sully’ Continues To Fly High, Newcomers Tank

Will Ashton

September 18, 2016

Evidentially, Sully‘s success wasn’t a fluke last weekend. The Clint Eastwood-helmed Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger biopic soared into the number one spot once again with a respectable $22 million added to its $70.5 million domestic gross. It dropped a mere 37 percent, and it already earned back its $60 million budget. Suffice to say, Warner Bros. should be pleased with their latest picture.

Not quite as successful was this weekend’s other biopic, Oliver Stone’s Snowden, based on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, which opened to a mere $8 million in fourth place. That’s below the film’s already-low $10 million expectations, and it has now become Stone’s lowest opening for a film released in over 2,000 theaters. Granted, the movie isn’t great, but it’s also not terrible. Snowden does provide some compelling, often timely and important food for thought, and it features another great performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In short, it’s better than Sully.

Also underperforming over the weekend was Blair Witch, the sequel-reboot to 1999’s indie smash The Blair Witch Project, which came in second place with $9.7 million. Granted, that’s not completely terrible given the $5 million budget. It should make back its modest funds. But it does come below expectations around the $15-19 million range. Though reviews were initially strong, the reception cooled down significantly before the film’s release. The Rotten Tomatoes score dipped to 37 percent in a matter of hours, and even CinemaScore wasn’t too kind. Granted, I usually don’t take much stock in that latter service, but it’s rather telling to see the new horror flick earn a rare D+, below the genre’s C average.

Trying to recreate the magic of the original Blair Witch Project as best as they could, Blair Witch came with seemingly good intentions. It hid under the title The Woods for months and kept a low profile until Comic-Con, when it revealed its true association to the popular late ’90s horror phenomenon. That said, while competently-handled, making a good Blair Witch Project sequel is damn near impossible —especially in today’s Internet climate. They gave it their best shot, but it wasn’t enough.

Speaking of underperforming sequels, Bridget Jones’s Baby also came in rather unremarkably here in the United States. It opened to $8.2 million in third place, which were also below the studio’s expectations around the $15-20 million range, hoping to match My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 ‘s $17.8 million debut earlier this spring. It’s ultimately a disappointment, but it’s not a complete loss. The film is still doing well overseas, where it earned an impressive $29.9 million. Considering its agreeable $35 million budget, it should still be in the black in no time worldwide. Though I’m sure Universal would’ve loved if it did as well as its predecessors, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, both here and abroad.

To round out the weekend, Suicide Squad is now in seventh place with $4.7 million added to its continuously-impressive $313.8 million domestic gross. Additionally, When the Bough Breaks dropped 61.1% from last week, now coming in sixth place with $5.5 million. Ouch. Also, Hillsong – Let Hope Rise opened in 816 theaters over the weekend and it came in 13th place with a commendable $1.3 million. Nice job guys.

Check out the full box office report, via THR and Box Office Mojo, below.

Sully Weekend: $22 million Domestic Gross: $70.5 million
Blair Witch Weekend: $9.7 million Domestic Gross: $9.7 million
Bridget Jones’s Baby Weekend: $8.2 million Domestic Gross: $8.2 million
Snowden Weekend: $8 million Domestic Gross: $8 million
Don’t Breathe Weekend: $5.6 million Domestic Gross: $75.3 million
When the Bough Breaks Weekend: $5.5 million Domestic Gross: $22.7 million
Suicide Squad Weekend: $4.7 million Domestic Gross: $313.8 million
The Wild Life Weekend: $2.7 million Domestic Gross: $6.7 million
Kubo and the Two Strings Weekend: $2.5 million Domestic Gross: $44.2 million
Pete’s Dragon Weekend: $2 million Domestic Gross: $72.8 million

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Misty Knight & Claire Temple Featured In New ‘Luke Cage’ Posters

Aric Sweeny

September 17, 2016

Some Luke Cage posters were recently dropped online, courtesy of @LukeCage on Twitter. They feature Claire Temple and Misty Knight.

"If you want justice, you have to get it yourself." -Claire Temple#LukeCage pic.twitter.com/mMw611twGM

— Luke Cage (@LukeCage) September 16, 2016

"I don't seek justice, I stalk it." -Misty Knight #LukeCage pic.twitter.com/xnROvBAR7Z

— Luke Cage (@LukeCage) September 16, 2016

“After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive who attempts to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But soon he is pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.”

Luke Cage hits theaters on September 30.

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Here’s What To Expect From The Live Action ‘Death Note’ Film

Aric Sweeny

September 17, 2016

In a recent interview with Collider, Death Note director Adam Wingard talked about what to expect from his upcoming film.

“We can do whatever we want. That was the cool thing about it because it’s an anime film. So, technically, it’s a cartoon that you bring to life. To me, the thing about anime is that it’s so adult-oriented. I remember going to Suncoast growing up and you see Akira there with the little “Not for Kids” sticker on it. That always made an impact on me. So, doing my first live-action anime thing, to me it was important that you have those adult themes. So, it’s got nudity, it’s got swearing, it’s got a ton of violence. Jason Eisener, who did Hobo with a Shotgun. I brought him on – I’m good friends with him – as second-unit director. There’s basically like three good Jason Eisner short films in there and they’re all very gory. I was able to just turn him loose some time, and just do some crazy stuff.”

Let us know if you’re looking forward to Death Note in the comments section down below.

The film hits theaters sometime in 2017. We’ll post the official release date when it gets revealed.

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Get The First Look At Commissioner Gordon From ‘Justice League’

Aric Sweeny

September 17, 2016

Zack Snyder, director of Justice League, has recently shared the first photo of J.K. Simmons in the role as Commissioner Gordon. Check it out below.

Along with the image, Snyder used #BatmanDay in celebration of the character.

“Justice League: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.”

Justice League hits theaters on November 17, 2017.

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Monsters Unleashed! A straightforward crossover event from Marvel

Dan Hex

September 17, 2016

Monsters Unleashed Again!

Marvel comics has a long and proud history with unleashed monsters and probably even a few leashed monsters. Before the return of super-heroes to Marvel in the 1960’s, popular comic books often had love stories, westerns, sci-fi and monster stories. Up-and-coming creators in the 1950’s, such as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko often wrote and created monsters that they never quite let go of when the industry shifted towards super-hero stories. Embedded in early Marvel comics such as the Fantastic Four, monsters clearly staked their place in the Marvel Universe.

In January 2017, Marvel will introduce their new crossover event, Monsters Unleashed. This event will showcase Marvel’s monsters in all their glory against the Marvel heroes in a Pacific Rim-style threat. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Marvel’s editor-in-chief Alex Alonso stated:

“If there ever were a monster who stood 10 stories high or taller and created mayhem in the Marvel Universe over the last several decades, they’re gonna be in the story.”

An uncomplicated crossover event

Monsters Unleashed appears to be the first crossover event post-Civil War II. In recent years, Marvel has weathered severe criticism for the lateness of their major annual crossover events. In 2015, Secret Wars was months behind schedule and 2016’s Civil War is following the same distressing pattern. Both of those troubled crossovers had a significant number of tie-in’s as well.

Monsters Unleashed may shift to a more simplified structure as well as a typical “hero vs bad guy” approach. Scheduled as a five issue bi-weekly series, with limited tie-ins, CBR has called this a “reader friendly” approach. Given the complexity and lateness of recent crossover events, “reader friendly” sounds enticing . This means costs are a little lower, and for those who are a little tired of “good guys fighting good guys”, it appears we’ll have a good old fashioned super-heroes trying to save the world from the monsters’ story. Of course, there is bound to be some internal struggles. It’s likely some friends will turn to foes and that we’ll learn just exactly what defines a monster.

As usual, Marvel has established an all-star creative team with Cullen Bunn writing and Adam Kubert, Salvatore Larocca, Greg Land, Steve McNiven and Leinel Yu headlining the visuals. It will be interesting to see how Greg Land handles his monsters, given his glamourous style. Unlike Secret Wars and Civil War II, each issue of the mini-series is illustrated by a different artist. This should help Monsters Unleashed to be released on schedule, but hopefully not adversely affect the story given the wide-range of illustrators.

Monsters Unleashed has tremendous potential to be a breath of fresh air to readers who want a simpler event. For Marvel fans, get ready to see your favorite heroes aligned together in a clash against a clear “monster-ific” threat.

marvel monsters — Marvel’s favorite monster – Fin Fang Foom, illustrated by Jack Kirby.

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Left Field Brewery: Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale – An Unexpected Review

Michael Bedford

September 17, 2016

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Review: ‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable’: Episode 25

Anthony Wendel

September 16, 2016

Heart Father

There are moments where you just want to know how the staff meeting went down to result in the finished product. This episode features the cast fighting against a living instant photo from a camera. This means there had to have been a meeting where the original creator Hirohiko Araki tossed this idea out to his editor and he was given the go ahead to move forward with it. Thanks to this decision this show once again lives up to the bizarre part of its title.

As Kira is working to get used to his new identity, Josuke and the team look into his old life. It’s amazing how much detail they go into how Kira did everything he could to be middle of the road thereby be beyond the suspicion or criticism. He really was a diabolic individual his entire life. His new role of masquerading as the someone else to hide out from Josuke and Jotaro is very suspenseful. It’s impossible to tell how long gone he will decide to suppress his homicidal nature around the wife and child he inherited from the face of the man whose life he stole.

This episode also proved the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kira’s father turns out to be demented and off the deep end as his son. After using his abilities as a ghost to become a photo he starts terrorizing through team time make sure they don’t do anything to mess up his son’s life. Even though he’s fully aware his son is a psychotic killer.

With the addition of Kira’s father and the revelation there is a second bow and arrow which creates Stands, this season just got picked up a notch. Just when things were intense after the last episode, this one proves this show won’t simply play it safe until the end.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Mary Elizabeth Winstead Enters ‘Fargo’ Season Three

Will Ashton

September 16, 2016

It’s a good day when you get to write about FX’s excellent Fargo. Though creator Noah Hawley is currently hard-at-work on his newest series, the upcoming Legion, the novelist-turned-showrunner will return for another round in North Dakota sometime next year, and he’s already gathering another exceptional cast. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) is now set to join Ewan McGregor and Carrie Coon in the critically-acclaimed anthology series.

Variety reported on the latest casting. Winstead will play Nikki Swango, “a crafty and alluring recent parolee with a passion for competitive bridge playing.” She’s also “a woman with a plan, focused on always being at least one move ahead of her opponents.” We’ll have to wait and see how that factors into the impending season.

Set in 2010, a mere few years after the first season’s 2006 setting, Fargo‘s third season will focus on McGregor’s Emmit and Ray Stussy, who are not identical twin brothers, who’ll soon get intertwined in some small-town violence and crime, as one would expect. Coon, meanwhile, will play Gloria Burgle, the chief of the Eden Valley police. Additionally characters should be announced in the weeks to come. Although no one from season one is expected to come back, Slashfilm reports one undisclosed character from season two will work their way into the new season.

There’s no word yet on when season three will air, but it looks like the production start date is on the near horizon. Season two is nominated for 18 Emmys, and Sunday will determine how many Hawley and his team win. It already won two during last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, so things are already looking up.

Winstead currently stars on CBS’ political farce Braindead, but that show’s fate remains on the balance. The showrunners are currently working on CBS All Access’ Good Wife spin-off and, with Winstead’s joining this newest Fargo season, a second season for the summer comedy series looks more unlikely than ever.

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