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Trailer for Archie adaptation “Riverdale” Now Available

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After a two month embargo, the first trailer for the new drama Riverdale is finally available online. Before I dive into a full deconstruction of the minute thirty of pure bliss that is this trailer, I’m going to be honest: I have been head over heels for Archie since I was nine years old.

Archie All Grown Up

As I have gotten older, so has Archie and the gang.archie and betty The new Archie book series steps things up a bit with emotions directly addressed rather than flatly ignored. Jughead came out as asexual in his own reboot this summer. Just last month, we saw Betty and Veronica butt heads like they’ve never done before. But the darkest version of the series to date is the upcoming Riverdale on the CW. The new TV series kicks off with a death in sleepy, suburban Riverdale.

What Makes Riverdale so dark?

The series begins when Jason Blossom, twin brother of all around horrible Cheryl, dies under mysterious circumstances. Of course Cheryl had something to do with it, Cheryl is the worst. Then there’s Veronica, who has been coming between Betty and Archie for literal decades (yes, I’m team Betty and I want it written on my gravestone). In the new series, Veronica is new in town, and her new “friendship” with Betty is threatened when she meets the surprisingly muscled version of the show’s lead character. Actually, lets be fair about the subject: Betty, Veronica, and Archie have been in a love triangle with more knots in it than a boy scout camp since the very beginning. Only now are creators starting to recognize that the triangle might include some Betty/Veronica action as well.

While the trailer isn’t available to embed, I’ll share some of the most telling (or confusing) screengrabs below. You may want to watch it yourself, however, in which case, here is the link.

Riverdale – Internaional Upfront Pilot Trailer from Michael Quinn on Vimeo.

Question one: What are the Blossom twins doing in weird matching outfits?

Look, no judgement or anything (yes judgement) but aren’t twins supposed to stop dressing alike when they learn to walk? What is WITH you guys. I bet this was Cheryl’s idea. Look how weird she is, with her weird lace gloves. Bye, Cheryl.

Blossom Twins Riverdale

Question Two: Why is Ms. Grundy reverse Lolita-ing Archie?

The first time through, before I remembered there’s a weird student/teacher relationship between Archie and Grundie in Riverdale, I thought this had to be either Betty or Veronica. She’s got the signature milkshake with extended straw situation going on. Both Betty and Veronica are known for great sunglasses. It is not. It is Ms. Grundy, who has certainly been drinking the same water as Aunt May lately. I don’t know, this is the only plot line I’m just uninterested in learning more about.Grundy Riverdale

Question Three: Who is checking their phone at a time like this?

So the trailer gives us a good shot of Veronica and Archie making out in a coat closet, probably at the same dance where he’s seen entering with Ronnie on one arm and Betty on the other. Which begs a few questions about the coat check scene. First of all, where’s good old Betts? And if he and Betty are just friends, as some of the reviews are insinuating, then why does she want to be part of a power couple, and why shouldn’t he make out with Veronica? Finally, if this is a scandalous few minutes in heaven, why is there a distinctly blue glow on both their faces? The make-out can’t be that good if they’re checking their instagram accounts. Maybe it’s an interrupting “ding” of the messenger app. Betty wants to know where her date went–the real mystery is which one of them she’s talking about.

Veronica Riverdale

Question Four: Is Jughead this show’s moral compass, or just a disappointed bystander?

Everyone loves Jughead. That’s probably why the trailer is being so stingy with him. There are a few questions begging to be asked about him, though, not the least of which being where exactly he falls in all this mess. Maybe Jughead just watches it all from on high (I’m hoping). Maybe he only descends from his throne to impart wisdom and deliver finishing blows, a la Silent Bob in Chasing Amy. Maybe he’s just in it for the cheeseburger. Or maybe looks really can kill, and this glare was Jason’s actual cause of death. Whatever it is, I would probably trust Cole Sprouse with my life.Jughead Riverdale

Question Five: Are you team Betty or are you Team Betty?

Honestly. Look how perfect she is. I hope she isn’t played off as some naive child though. The new books have given her some serious claws, and if that doesn’t translate to the screen, Berlanti and I are going to have some words.

Betty riverdale
I am leaving this picture full size and you can not stop me.

Needless to say, Riverdale is a serious change from anything we’ve ever seen from Archie and his gang. I highly doubt Josie and her Pussycats are playing anything like “Sugar Sugar” at that dance, or ever in their lives.

Based on characters from Archie Comics, Riverdale was created by Greg Berlanti. The show will star KJ Apa (Archie), Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper), Camila Mendes (Veronica Lodge), and Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones).

The show is set to premiere on the CW sometime in 2017.

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Why We Should Be Excited About A Younger Spider-Man

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Spider-Man hasn’t had a great deal of cinematic success. After two reboots, and five solo movies it looks like we’re finally getting the definitive portrayal of Peter Parker on the big screen. Tom Holland’s short but memorable appearance in Captain America: Civil War  gave new life to the character, and proved that Spidey is in better hands at Marvel. Heading into yet another solo movie, why should we be excited to see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man? I have one simple answer, his age.

Spider-Man

In the previous Spidey movies, we haven’t spent much time with a teenage Peter Parker. Both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire portrayed an older webslinger, and while there are enjoyable aspects of both those versions of Spider-Man, what truly makes the character exciting and more engaging than other characters is his youth. Civil War introduced a naïve Peter Parker, whose youthful energy was present in every line he delivered. It looks like Spider-Man: Homecoming will continue that characterisation, with Peter’s school life being a major theme of the movie. This new Spider-Man franchise has even been compared to the Harry Potter movies, in the sense that we will watch the character grow, and evolve slowly into an adult.

 

Spider-Man
Spider-Man v Experienced Enemies

The great thing about a younger Spider-Man will be the opportunity to see Peter go up against more experienced enemies. This was the most exciting aspect of Spidey in Civil War. We got the chance to see Peter as a rookie, going up against some of Marvel’s greatest heroes. He even went head to head with Captain America, the most experienced fighter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Spider-Man: Homecoming currently filming in Atlanta, we can look forward to Spidey fighting another older enemy. This time it’s an actual Marvel villain, Vulture.

Spider-Man

Spider-Man v Homework

We’ve never seen Peter balance his superhero life, family life and homework. Peter Parker is a troubled young man, who has to hide his identity from the people closest to him. It’s incredibly exciting that we will be seeing Spidey save lives, while also trying to find a date for Homecoming. It adds a level of realism to the character, and offers something unique to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve seen billionaires, soldiers and lab experiments. We’ve never see a superhero in high school.

Are You Excited To See A Younger Spider-Man? Be Sure To Let Me Know In The Comments Section Below!

 

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Review: ‘Jem and The Holograms’ #18: Bait And Switch

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THE HOLOGRAMS struggle to come to grips with the emotional ramifications of Silica and their short tour gone wrong, The unsure what recent events mean for their band’s future. Is there even a future for JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS?

Writing

The previous issue promised things were going to change. This issue delivered on these promises, but not in the way many probably would have predicted. There is a definite change which will be affecting the series from here on, but it also employed the use of excellent set up and misdirection for what was actually coming to the group. Writer Kelly Thompson really succeeded in taking the story a totally different way, but still made sure to leave it with plenty of emotion for people to have the proper reaction to the entire things.

What is the big change? You’ll have to go read it for yourself. Though, as a small spoiler, the Stingers do show up again and it appears as if they will be a main part of the next story. The use of these new characters to shake things up will definitely have fans eager to read the next issue.

Jem18_cvrA-MOCKONLY

Artwork

This issue features good character work, which is what makes the issue stand out most visually. Unfortunately, there is lot less holographic effects or pages of the bands performing than there were from previous issues. Jen Bartlet does a great job at the end of showing she can draw a great performance page, but a few more of these in the issue wouldn’t have hurt.

Conclusion

The issue has the perfect setup for change and, with the Stingers coming, things are only going to get worse for the group. This is a fantastic issue which fans will not want to miss out one. Especially as things won’t be the same from here on out.

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CW’s The Flash Debuts Images From Flashpoint Storyline

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Season three gets a little crazy on The Flash, where the show will parallel the comics story “Flashpoint”, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Flashpoint DC ComicsFlashpoint on Paper

The story line includes an alternate timeline, “the Reverse Flash”, “Kid Flash”, dead parents coming back to life–all the good stuff. While only Barry’s mom comes back to life in the comics, both his parents are brought back for the small screen counterpart. In the comics, all the cities heroes have gone dark side, with Captain Cold hailed as the laudable “Citizen Cold”. We wonder how Cisco feels about the name change.

Flashpoint on Screen

Thanks to Katie Yu at the CW, we’ve got a whole series of images from the upcoming season of The Flash. Barry is facing friend and foe alike. Now the only question is, where’s Detective West in all this? Is that the trade off for having parents? I feel as though his absence from all promo images is suspicious. Then again, we did get to see him tap dance at Comic Con. Maybe I’m just being greedy.

 

Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg

Based on DC characters, The Flash was created by executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”), Geoff Johns (“Arrow,” “Robot Chicken”) and Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”). The show stars Grant Gustin (Barry Allen), Candice Patton (Iris West), Danielle Panabaker (Caitlin Snow) and Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon).

The Flash returns Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

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Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburne to Star in Richard Linklater’s Next Project

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Richard Linklater’s next film sounds pretty strange, but the director has assembled a solid trio of stars to headline.

The Hollywood Reporter just broke the news that Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, and Laurence Fishburne will be in Last Flag Flying, Richard Linklater’s sequel to… The Last Detail?

Well, as is the case with Linklater, whose last picture Everybody Wants Some!! was a sort of spiritual sequel to both Boyhood and Dazed and Confused, Last Flag Flying will “sort of” be a sequel to the 1973 Hal Ashby military comedy. It will be based on the 2005 Darryl Ponicsan novel, also a sequel to Ponicsan’s The Last Detail novel. Linklater has been circling this project since 2006, and now it seems his schedule has cleared up. Enter Cranston, Carell, and Fishburne.

The Last Detail starred Jack Nicholson and Otis Young as two Naval officers who are tasked with brining a young offender (Randy Quaid, Oscar nominated) to prison. But they decide to show the kid a good time before sending him off to jail. Quaid was nominated, as was Nicholson and the adapted screenplay from Hal Ashby.

Last Flag Flying will, according to THR, take place in this Post-9/11 world:

[The film] reunites the reader with the trio, now living in a  post-9/11 American life: the former Naval Petty Officers come to the aid of their former prisoner who needs their help to bring home the body of his son, the latter who was killed in Iraq. The request that sends them back retracing their journey from Norfolk, Virginia, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

It’s definitely a weird idea for a long-gap sequel, but Richard Linklater paired up with that cast is worth the price of admission. The film should start production this November.

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First Look : Gotham Season Three, ‘Mad City’

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The Hollywood Reporter  revealed an exclusive first look at  key art for season three of Fox’s DC Comics drama, Gotham, featuring Ben McKenzie’s ‘Detective James Gordon’ holding a crystal ball showcasing the infamous villains Gordon will have to deal with in the upcoming season. Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Edward Nygma, aka the future Riddler (Cory Michael Smith), along with Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova), Barbara Kean (Erin Richards), Tabitha Galavan (Jessica Lucas) and Butch (Drew Powell) pose in the snow globe along with the newly recast, grown-up version of Poison Ivy (Maggie Geha)

 

A noteworthy addition is the brand new tagline “Mad City,” which  replaces the “Heroes Will Fall” moniker previously used for season three. It follows season two’s “Rise of the Villains” and “Wrath of the Villains” , At the end of which, Hugo Strange (BD Wong) let all his unscrupulous experiments, that included a Bruce Wayne look-alike (which is sure to give actor David Mazouz a fun challenge next season) , escape Indian Hill and into the City of Gotham. Gordon left Gotham to find his ex Lee (Morena Baccarin) and repair their relationship at the end of season two, but will most likely be drawn back to Gotham with the chaos sure to come from the Indian Hill escapees.

gotham_s02_finaleon the new season, executive producer John Stevens promises fans “a natural continuation” of the events of season two, saying;

“In season three you’re really going to see how villains have taken up residence inside the city,” . Adding that “The villains have become more and more a part of the fabric of the city of Gotham. It’s less and less a police show like it was in season one. It’s a natural continuation of that in season three.”

Check out the new GOTHAM: MAD CITY poster below

_Gotham_s3_KA_F1-EMBED (1)

GOTHAM returns to small screens for season three on September 19th on Fox Network.

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Arrow Goes Demonic: Casts David Meunier As Ishmael Gregor

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Season five on Arrow is going to hell, according to Deadline Hollywood. David Meunier, known for his role on FX’s Justified, joins the CW’s Arrow for season five as the demonic Ishmael Gregor. Meunier has appeared in many television series as both a regular and single episode character. His resume includes DamienScandal, CSI: Miami, Legends, and Burn Notice. Most recently he played Charlie Manson’s gatekeeper Roy Kovic on NBC’s Aquarius. Arrow is Meunier’s first comic-based show.

David Meunier: Demon Beast or Regular Baddie?

david meunier ArrowAlthough Gregor, in the comics, transforms into a massive hell-beast form, we likely won’t see him take that shape on Arrow. Showrunners, stars and Executive Producer Wendy Mericle all discuss season five in terms of a return to the originally gritty and grounded world of season one.

This probably means we get to see David Meunier as an terrifyingly human character, like his role on Justified. According to Deadline Hollywood, the show transforms Gregor into “the slick and intimidating Pakhan (“Godfather”) of the Bratva, whom Anatoly (David Nykl) reports and takes a special interest in Oliver Queen”. This plays off Gregor’s double life in the comics, where he was a Russian crime boss whose ambitions led him to the demonic Sabbac.

Oliver’s Got a Lot on his Mayor’s Desk

Oliver Queen For Mayor
Who keeps hurting this Cinnamon Roll?

Last season, Oliver Queen won the race for Mayor of Star City while watching his team dwindle in numbers. If that weren’t enough to make any man go batty (wrong guy?), now the City has dueling vigilante teams. Once Green Arrow took down Damien Darhk, a group of new guys joined the fray. However, like a boy wonder with no field experience, they often get in the way rather than providing any help.

Adversaries old and new are on the scene this season. Long-time viewers will likely remember Anatoly Knyazev, from the shows first two seasons. According to ComicBook.com “His reappearance isn’t entirely a surprise, since most fans had hoped David Nykl would reprise the role once it became clear this year’s flashbacks would deal with the Bratva storyline, but there were doubts: most characters tend to vanish from the CW DC Universe once they’re headed for the big screen, and Knyazev played a key role in this spring’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Based on DC characters, Arrow was created by executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”), Marc Guggenheim (“Eli Stone,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters”) and Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”). All three are Executive Producers along with Wendy Mericle (“Desperate Housewives,” “Eli Stone”) and Sarah Schechter (“Supergirl,” “Blindspot”). The show stars Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen), David Ramsey (John Diggle), and Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak)

Arrow Season 5 premieres Wednesday, October 5, on the CW.

 

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Review: ‘Micronauts’ #5: Shrinks Back

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SEARCH FOR THE TIME TRAVELERS! OZ says he knows where they are… but does anybody know what finding the secrets of the TIME TRAVELERS will mean for MICROSPACE… and for Earth?

Writing

After an impressive previous issue, this one stumbles back on its own faults. The heroes come back into the picture and more of their personality can be explored, but nothing really comes from it. Instead, there is simply more exposition, but not anything memorable from the characters.

The classic rule of writing could come into play here. It says show, don’t tell. One of the best examples comes from the character Oz. It’s been established he is related to the Time Travelers and may have information which both of the Barons could find useful. Instead of showing the torture and having the readers grow attached to the characters, he’s simply dropped back in the prison cell and the story continues without time for the characters to truly shine.

Micronauts

Artwork

This issue is lacking in any of the glorious two pages splashes of battle which were present in the last issue. The art is serviceable but not exceptional. There just isn’t enough action scenes to really showcase the talent the art team has at their disposal. There is a panel or two in the issue which are memorable but this isn’t the best work that artist Max Dunbar has delivered.

Conclusion

This book is barely standing on its own and now it’s about to be a part of IDW’s crossover event, Revolution. All things considered, this doesn’t fill fans with a sense of ease. Maybe interacting with the other titles may help it, but there is a better chance of this book being overshadowed by some of the other books such as Transformers or G.I.Joe. Unless of course the book can find a way to finally rise to the occasion.

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Five Favorite Films From The Year I Was Born: 1976

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That’s right, kids, there was a time before the 1980s. And, frankly, it was an excellent decade for movies. The 70s saw the release of some of the greatest films ever made. Star Wars in 1977. The Godfather in 1972. Jaws, 1975. In 1976, the world was introduced to two beautiful things: me, though that depends on your point of view, and a host of flicks which left a lasting impact on cinema. Here are five of my favorite films of 1976.

Rocky-Film-1976Rocky
“You’re gonna eat lightnin’, and you’re gonna crap thunder!” – Mickey

One of the single most quotable movies all time, Rocky is Stallone’s masterpiece which earned three Oscar statues. Four decades later, Rocky has seven sequels, including Creed in 2015, a critically acclaimed movie in its own right. Stallone’s writing and acting encapsulate the time, place, and tone of the story, Conti’s score is brilliant and timeless, and the direction, plus phenomenal, captured boxing like never before in cinema.

TaxiDriver-Film-1976-BluRayTaxi Driver
“Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There’s no escape. I’m God’s lonely man. “ – Travis Bickle

Scorcese has created some great films over his long career, but Taxi Driver is perhaps his grittiest. Robert DeNiro stars as Travis Bickle, an unhinged American stalking the streets in a perpetual boil over what he sees every day in a 1970s New York City, before it’s transformed into a giant theme park. The streets are ugly, Bickle is hideous, and the film is a powerhouse of direction and performance.

LogansRun-Film-1976Logan’s Run
“We’ve been outside! There’s another world outside! We’ve seen it!” – Jessica

Watching it today will make most people cringe. If you’re not able to put yourself in the time and place, a film was made then it’s difficult to enjoy any movie from a previous era. Logan’s Run is experimental 70s science fiction at its best. Wild, psychedelic imagery and costumes. Pseudo-philosophical themes. Logan’s Run tells the story of a society where dying young is a way of life.

Carrie-Film-1976

Carrie
“It has nothing to do with Satan, Mama. It’s me. Me. If I concentrate hard enough, I can move things.” – Carrie

Brian DePalma has quietly made some brilliant films over the years. He’s often overshadowed by contemporaries like Scorcese and Coppola, but DePalma has a unique signature that’s worthy of a movie night devoted to him. DePalma took Steven King’s novel about young Carrie White and added a visual richness that’s all DePalma. The 1976 film is famous for its “pig’s blood” finale. The iconic ending often overshadows the subtle themes at play beneath the surface of this horror classic.

ASSAULT-ON-PRECINCT-13-Film-1976

Assault on Precinct 13
“The very least of our problems is that we’re out of time.” – Leigh

Two years before director John Carpenter would become synonymous with horror by unleashing Michael Myers on the world, the director made a visceral, brutal action film called Assault on Precinct 13. Carpenter is sometimes an acquired taste as director’s go and it took many years for this film to settle into the minds of viewers and critics. Carpenter is methodical in his approach but doesn’t hold back once he unleashes the payoff.

See more films from this year!

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Reboot ‘The Last Starfighter’ With This One Creative Team

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It’s pretty clear in today’s movie climate that Hollywood has found a fat, juicy cash cow in the remake/reboot/rebake business. Audiences, young and old, seem to crave seeing the same thing all over but slathered in CG. Over the course of the last ten years, we’ve seen more reboots than in the 30 years prior. Hollywood is high on nostalgia and yet has ignored one reboot that’s a perfect match for today’s cinema — The Last Starfighter. I know Seth Rogan is doing a TV comedy that’s heavily inspired by Starfighter. Original writer Jonathan R. Betuel is also busy re-imagining the show with virtual reality “scenes” (a cool concept that I wait to see). But those are just all wrong. Think bigger. We’re in the age of cinematic universes.

There is only one creative trio who should be allowed to reboot The Last Starfighter — Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright.

LastStarfightTeam

If you don’t know, The Last Starfighter then consider yourself a heretic. It’s every fan-boy/girl’s duty to go back in time and look at all the weird, quirky stuff that lead to all the shiny, polished reboots we know and love today. Along that Dr. Who-esque voyage, you will come across this 1984 sci-fi, comedy gem. Starfighter is the story of (old-school arcade machine) gamer Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) who, as it turns out, has been playing a game that’s training him for interstellar war. It’s a little Ender’s Game, a little Star Wars, and a whole lot of fun. Director (and original Michael Myers) Nick Castle (Major Payne, The Seat Filler) also featured some of the earliest CG work in film.

The Last Starfighter offers Hollywood a chance at rebooting something without super-heavy source material. It’s a movie about a video game, making multi-media product tie-ins easy and organic. Sci-fi is hot. Reboots are hot. Cast Frost as the neck-beard gamer, Pegg as Centauri, the mentor, and let Wright go nuts with his kinetic style of filmmaking. Trilogy. Spinoffs. Cinematic AND gaming universe. Boom. Fingers will be cramping from counting all the cash.

You’re welcome, Hollywood. And when you’re done, please stop with all the reboots already.

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