IDW Publishing is commemorating Star Trek‘s 50th anniversary with Star Trek: Boldly Go, a new ongoing series hitting shelves this October. Boldly Go will follow the events of Star Trek: Beyond, the franchise’s latest film (hitting theaters this weekend).
The series reunites writer Mike Johnson with artist Tony Shasteen, a “fan-favorite Trek team.”
Star Trek editor Sarah Gaydos:
“What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of STAR TREK? And what better team to do it with? Mike and Tony are poised to take the series in such an exciting direction. I can’t wait to introduce the world to these new characters… as well as some interesting friends and foes from the past.”
Chronicling the adventures of Captain Kirk and his iconic crew, a danger unlike anything the Federation has faced before threatens our heroes as they explore new worlds and encounter new species. All that plus brand-new uniforms for the crew!
Boldly Go replaces the current Trek comic, which will end at issue 60.
So for those who don’t know, there is a group of creators on Youtube who create Abridged series. An Abridged series is when an episode of a cartoon show, typically an anime, is shortened down and redubbed for comedic effect.
My own experience in Abridged entertainment began with Youtuber Lanipator Yu Yu Hakusho Abridged. This is a series I highly recommend if you have an interest in checking this kind of series out.
Ironically, Lanipator and a few other compatriots have their own Youtube Channel, Team Four Star(TFS). One of the main works is the abridgment of the famous anime, Dragon Ball Z. Titled Dragon Ball Z Abridged, or DBZA for short, this is one of the best examples of an abridged series out there.
One of the unusual elements of such a series is the room these creators have to completely remake an established character. Though I am a proud anime fan, there is a real problem with characters coming off as wooden and predictable. That and they sometimes say more than they need to say to make their point. Usually this comes with translating the original Japanese scripts and trying to keep the English dubbed in perfect unison.
Because a whole new script is written for these episodes, this problem is completely avoided. Furthermore, characters have the chance to break away from tropes and stereotypes in interesting ways.
So without further ado, I present my favorite characters from DBZA:
10. Maron
Maron is a throw away character during the Garlic, Jr. Saga and the first part of the greater Cell Saga. For the most part she replaces Bulma as the eye candy of the group once Bulma’s took on a greater in the team’s efforts to stop the androids.
That and I think Toryama didn’t wan’t Bulma to give young Trunks a bad role model.
Regardless, in the original series, Maron is pretty lame. She is the epitome of the dumb blonde, sans the blonde hair.
Which is why I love her in this form. Though is in only one episode, her character enjoys a full arc. You know she’s hiding a lot, and it isn’t until the end you find out just how much she is hiding. Pun partially intended.
The fact she’s putting on an act, and why she’s doing it makes her character memorable, and it makes you look forward to re-watching the episode again.
Having in a few more episodes of the series would’ve been fantastic. But when you think about it, her brief cameo somewhat captures her character’s treatment in the original series. Though it is nice to see her character having more importance than being mere eye candy.
Source: Gatnne/Deviantart
9. King Kai
King Kai’s role in the DBZ and DBZA universe is bar none. Being the first celestial tutor to Goku, and his guide through much of the series, Kai holds a unique place in this eclectic cast.
And seeing him lose his sanity because of the people around him is hilarious. Of course his original counterpart is not lacking in jokes, but seeing the DBZA version suffer from complete idiots is a treat.
Particularly with his protege, Goku, who gives Kai many reasons to scream for any reason. This is gives Kai a look into the limitations he has when teaching his wards. He still cares for his duties and the protection of his universe. But it doesn’t mean he enjoys it. Especially when his best student is a complete idiot.
I still feel his commentaries during Goku’s and Freeza’s fight is among the highlights of the whole second season. And it gives that season a unique vibe from the first one.
Source: elfaceitoso/deviantart
8. Frieza
Wow, this character underwent an incredible change in DBZA. Frieza is in the DBZ a very typical villain. Bloodthirsty, merciless, backstabbing, the works.
Retaining all these traits, Team Four Star added another facet that fits Frieza perfectly, managerial. Despite being a space emperor who kills entire planets on a whim, this guy cannot catch a break when dealing with his staff. And his reactions are fantastic.
The anguish from hearing one bad news to the other, suffering the limitless absentmindedness of Goku, and the constant speeches by Vegeta made Frieza a real joy to watch. And in all honesty, he isn’t a character I enjoy in the original series.
Nothing against the V.O. actors in their work, but the character was never that interesting. Here we see a guy trying to achieve immortality, and losing his marbles because Murphy’s Law is running rampant.
I also love how he keeps track of certain lines made in heroic speeches. That makes his presence the more interesting, and slightly terrifying when you think about it. And by the time he’s killed off the show, I was sad to see him go. (Which makes me wish to see TFS do their own take on Resurrection of F when they get the chance.)
source: bardocksonic
7. Goku
First, I want to give kudos to Team Four Star for using Goku’s proper name from the manga, Son-Goku. I know it isn’t a big change in the character, but it shows the team’s dedication to both the manga and anime. Which I respect, greatly.
Second, how they crafted Goku from a valiant hero, into a complete klutz is pure genius. Goku suffers a bit from naivete in the original series. But in DBZA he just has no sense of how the world works.
The man thought Chi-Chi had cinnabuns underneath her shirt when she was pregnant with Gohan. I’m not joking, this was an actual joke.
Despite being a savant in battle, Goku is almost lost in every other aspect in life. And seeing how his relationship with Gohan grows more and more twisted is a real treat. This is in no small part to how Piccolo, a one time enemy of Goku, pretty much becomes Gohan’s substitute father. Essentially arguing Goku’s inability to rise a child.
A fact that DBZA reminds you of throughout the series without reservation.
I also love how Goku is eager to punch something, disregarding the total danger to his health and well being.
Seeing this deconstruction of his character never fails to make me smile.
6. Super Kami Guru
This guy, this guy truly embodies the spirit of DBZA. A complete twist on the original character, Super Kami Guru goes from being a kind, caring, compassionate leader of Planet Namek to a near uninterested tyrant.
The way he treats Nail were among the best scenes of the entire second season. Guru’s complete misuse of the dragonballs to create a mail service and wanting a big plasma screen TV cause my sides to hurt from laughing so hard.
Do yourself a favor and Google ‘Guru Batman Reference’; you’ll thank me later.
And hearing how he orchestrated a complete genocide to cover his devouring of Namek’s fresh water is…magical. Which is weird considering the annihilation of an entire people.
Just seeing how little he cares for his fellow Namekians adds to the humor of the situation, as everyone else is trying to save the planet from eventual destruction. All the while he just wants to watch TV in style.
And hearing him detested by global warming and natural light are a scream. Despite the hilarity of his departure, he was another character I was sad to see go away.
source: maffo1989/deviantart
5. Krillin
At the risk of incurring troll hate, I make this statement. I…never…liked Krillin. Honestly, it wasn’t until the proper Cell Saga I started liking this guy.
Until DBZA. The ‘Krillin Gets Owned’ counter was the first thing that made me love this series. And the constant reminder of Krillin’s growing uselessness actually adds to his character. Despite being among the weakest of the Z-Fighters, he still seems to offer the most assistance.
But it doesn’t stop people from giving him trouble on how weak and useless he is in battle. Piccolo aptly puts it when he refers to Krillin as being a meat shield for the rest of the group.
Ironic, as Krillin survives that battle and Piccolo didn’t…hmm…ah well. I digress.
Though Krillin still retains his comedic role in the series, the humor in DBZA fits his character much better than in the original series, in my opinion. It’s not just him acting over the top for the sake of the joke. And his reactions to the situations he’s forced into make sense.
I mean, who wouldn’t freak out when confronting insanely powerful beings from other planets?
And seeing his frenemy relationship with Vegeta develop gives all three seasons a nice touch. This is on top of fact that despite his supposed weakness, Krillin is probably the bravest of the Z-Fighters, given his willingness to enter the fray, regardless of his weaknesses. Which TFS subtly bring up during the series.
source: khmaivietboi/devianart
4. Mr. Popo
Wow…what they did to this guy…just wow.
In the original series, Mr. Popo is a sweet caring attendant to the Guardian on earth. Always eager to help aid in Earth’s protection.
But this guy…this guy is just disturbing!
DBZA‘s Mr. Popo has more issues than a Tennessee William’s play, and pretty much has everyone in the series scared beyond words, including Goku (and members of TFS!)
Sexist, racist, sadistic, selfish, arrogant, and apathetic to a Tee, he is probably one of the best characters in the series.
He is such a deviation from his original persona it makes his character truly intriguing. You never forget a scene he’s in, and you almost hope he appears in the next episode TFS uploads to their channel.
You also wonder at what point will this guy go nuts and just destroy the world.
source: maffo1989/deviantart
3. Nappa
Without a doubt, TFS proved their mettle when they turned this one-dimensional character into the darling of the first season.
Having no sense of direction throughout his time onscreen, Nappa was the exact opposite of his partner, Vegeta. Landing them in jail, referring to the prince as a “prison bitch” repeatedly, never taking a fight seriously, and enjoying wanton death and destruction with child-like glee.
Nappa appears to be one of the few characters to have a realization of the nature of the show, and just has fun with the story. That doesn’t mean he isn’t psychotic, but he enjoys the insanity along the way.
Whether it’s making a royal couple perform coitus, making anime references, or antagonizing Aquaman, Nappa never fails to entertain the audience. This is in no small part to the voice actor, Curtis Arnott (aka Takahata101). The voice behind TFS‘s Guru, Dende, Perfect Cell, and he really nails the roles perfectly.
And when Nappa comes back as a ghost at the end of season one and as a recurring character for season two, those scenes were a treat to watch.
source: salvamakoto/deviantart
2. Vegeta
In essence, Vegeta’s character experiences the least amount of change between the original series and DBZA. Which is why his character in DBZA is always entertaining. You almost feel that Vegeta from the original series wound up in this mixed up universe and is trying desperately to keeping the story on track.
His constant posturing as being the best there is also makes his time on screen memorable. One line he utters during the Cell Saga captures his ethos perfectly, “I AM THE HYPE!” And he is.
Lanipator voices the Saiyan prince and both the unyielding rage and constant suffering of idiocy of his peers with skill. His interactions with Takahata101 and Masakox, who voice Nappa and Goku, respectively, really make the show shine.
The utter astounding disappointment Vegeta has in his relationship with Goku in DBZA helps set it apart from the original series. Vegeta just wants to be back on top and his ego almost cannot allow him to fathom the idea of Goku’s increase in skill.
That and Vegeta’s response to someone increasing in power levels always puts a smile on my face.
source: bejitsu/deviantart
1. Bulma
Another character whose character is not changed too much from the original series. Bulma’s treatment in DBZA is actually quite refreshing. Let’s be honest with ourselves about the show, she’s pretty much been playing fanboy service since the beginning.
And when looking for pictures to use for this list, this was the first one that was actually family friendly. I’m not joking, if you didn’t know about her history in the show, you’d think she was in an entirely different genre of anime entirely.
So for DBZA to have her character have more to offer is a real service. She speaks her mind, has a personality from the beginning, she’s eager to partake in the Z-Fighters’ exploits, she uses her intelligence to try and aid her friends.
Plus, one could make the argument she’s one of the main reasons Vegeta starts to become a real hero in the story.
Her lines improve considerably from the original anime, and fits her personality. Also, the TFS team gives her attitude when necessary, not just for the sake of having an attitude.
Added with her calling out characters for keeping her out of the action during the Namek Saga, and putting herself more and more into the thick of things as the series progresses, TFS really give Bulma depth and development she was sorely missing in the original series.
So that’s my list of characters I felt were improved the most in DBZA. Who do you think had the most development between the original and abridged? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Also, TFS held a contest for new talent for abridged series called a Tenkaichi Ironman Budokai Abridgathon. Check out the entries for the contest, and stay updated on their choice for the winner.
Horror Films Come In All Shapes And Sizes But We Just Keep Getting Supernatural Jump Scares
Horror works in trends. We get one concept that runs American cinemas for years. The 80’s had the rise of slashers while the 00’s introduced American audiences to J-horror films. Recently, those Japanese ghost stories have influenced a massive paranormal sub-genre that dominates box-offices.
First, ‘Paranormal Activity‘ re-introduced haunted films. Then the genre was taken over by James Wan. Before he was the ghost movie master, he ushered in the torture horror films with ‘Saw’. Ever since then, Wan moved away from gore and became known for his “jump scares” with films like ‘Insidious‘ and ‘The Conjuring‘. His influences can be found over in almost EVERY paranormal film that has come out in the 2010’s.
‘Lights Out’ is no different.
Producer James Wan and relatively new director David F. Sandberg crafted yet another movie in a long list of haunted horror films. ‘Lights Out‘ originally started as a short film directed by Sandberg that went viral. Facebook pages re-posted it daring viewers to watch; this attention sparked the interest of many producers. Now, Sandberg directed the project on a much larger scale. Sadly, he falls into some tropes that are far too typical within the studio horror system.
Some will say the horror genre is based on cliches. That excuse causes lazy scares. Audiences jump when that loud score strikes and something lunges at you but the terror is superficial. That’s why a strong story needs to be in place to make up for Hollywood faults. ‘Lights Out‘, like many of these horror films, had the jump scares that weakly work but Sandberg’s film was backed by an interesting explanation for the haunting. If only the screenwriters didn’t pile on so much useless exposition.
“You were right to be afraid of the dark.”
I believe the simple scares are what attracts people to these types of films. With the real-world being so cruel, films tinged with reality scare people off. These supernatural boogeymen save viewers from the real things that go bump in the night. I personally loved to be challenged on a deeper level in horror films. Pieces like ‘Neon Demon‘ and another 2016 standout ‘The Shallows‘ scared me beyond some simple jumps. You carry the terror dealt with in the films long after the credits.
I’m thankful that this is one of the rare original horror films and not a franchised project but I can’t help but feel ‘Lights Out‘ blends into the other supernatural films like this year’s ‘The Conjuring 2‘. I’m a minority in my feelings towards the sub-genre. As of now, Sandberg’s film is sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with little negative feedback. Compare that to the 51% on a film that I believe is far superior, ‘Neon Demon‘, and you can see my confusion on the beloved status of films like ‘Lights Out‘. Only thing they have in common in some serious Dario Argento ‘Suspria‘-inspired cinematography.
It will be interesting to see if ‘Lights Out‘ makes their small budget back and grab sequel buzz. The story seemed fairly contained and ended on a VERY definitive note BUT studios can always squeeze the most out of any idea. I’m not against more supernatural films, especially if they are all handed with this raw style of a new director, but studios like Warner Bros. needs to back more than just one type of horror. The audiences deserves more and so do the artist creating the films.
“Whether it’s a popcorn movie or some really intellectual sociopolitical movie, I think to some degree they’re all influenced by the social climate that we’re living in.”
–James Wan
We are in a time where our horror needs to reflect our times. It’s been a duty of the genre long before ‘Night Of The Living Dead‘ was a social commentary on race. If the Hollywood studio system wants to keep pumping out these ghost movies year after year, the viewers will never get the chance to deal with real horror. Sure, we get one or two genre pieces that are different but mainstream audiences are only treated to the lowest common denominator in horror.
When will we get another revolution in horror films? Before that, when will supernatural films start to decline with critics & viewers? I believe the sub-genre will be around for a few more years as James Wan is producing two films next year: ‘Annabelle 2‘ and ‘Insidious Chapter 4‘. As he leaves the horror genre for bigger pieces like ‘Furious 7‘ and the upcoming ‘Aquaman‘, who will replace him as the leader of modern horror? Creators like Adam Wingard and Fede Alvarez could lead their pack with their inventive edgy films. We also could see deeper horror films to provoke audiences.
Man, this one really hits right in the feels. Picking up where the previous episode left off, Steven’s dad Greg has been given a very large check because his song has been turned into a jingle for a burger joint. Deciding it’s best to splurge a bit, Greg, Steven, and Pearl head to Empire City and live it up Broadway style. All is not well in this group thought as Pearl is still holding onto negative feelings which really help to kill the mood. Will the power of song be able to bring her around?
This episode is full of singing. This shouldn’t be surprising to anyone as a character breaking out in song is common in Steven Universe but this time around the entire episode is packed with songs. It’s like the creators were trying to have a musical spectacular. Given how deep and emotional some of these songs can be it really is a spectacular.
Focusing on Pearl and Greg’s relationship really is a great place to tap into some deep drama. Pearl still hasn’t gotten over what happened between Greg and Rose and how Rose seem to abandon her to be with him. This is all portrayed through singing and stirs up some tearful emotions in all who listen to it. Luckily, by the time the episode is over, the two are able to bridge some common ground they can start walking across.
It’s good to see Pearl and Greg will finally be getting along. Considering they are the two people Steven looks up to the most in his life, it will be nice to see them interacting without a feeling of awkwardness. Sure, no action or fight scenes are present but with great storytelling like this those things aren’t really needed.
The news of the similarities of Melania Trump’s speech to one previously given by Michelle Obama has spread like wildfire across the internet. In an effort to try and defend the possible future first lady, Sean Spicer, the Communications Director of the Republican National Committee rushed to her aid. Unfortunately, he may have done more harm than good.
Spicer began by comparing quotes made by John Legend and Kid Rock to previous statements by Mrs. Trump. To bring his point home, he decided to pull a quote from a certain Princess of Friendship named Twilight Sparkle and made the following statement,
“Melania Trump said, ‘The strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.’”
“Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony said, ‘This is your dream. Anything you can do in your dream you can do now.’”
The full section of this discussion can be found at the bottom of this article. Considering these two quotes seem to only have similar themes instead of being close to one another, it’s hard to tell what kind of a point Spicer was trying to make with this statement.
Quick to react to the use of one of her lines, Tara Strong, voice actress for Twilight Sparkle issued the following response:
Obviously not everyone is okay with Spicer’s poor attempt to prove Melania Trump’s innocence. Still, the entertainment value of it cannot be ignored.
When you think about Blink 182 and extra-terrestrials, you may think the only connection between them is their now decades-old song “Aliens Exist.” Former guitarist Tom Delonge has made it abundantly clear that the title wasn’t a throwaway line, it’s his battle cry. Most recently, the first book in his “Sekret Machines” series reveals how deep he’s into this.
DeLonge left Blink 182 “officially” (more on that later) several years ago. His post-band project, To the Stars, is a multi-media monster which he hopes will help reveal the secrets (Sekrets?) of aliens on Earth once and for all. At the heart of the project is the “Sekret Machines” series. Here’s what you need to know about this crazy new career.
“To the Stars Inc.” is Sekret Machines Headquarters
There is one place online to catch all the DeLonge/space-related news, updates on what’s coming out, and even blog posts about NASA. To the Stars is that place. You can buy merchandise from books and music to tees and sunglasses, join the official fanclub, chat with others in forums, read press or news relating to the project… the list goes on (and on…reckless abandon…).
The Project DOES Blend Fact and Fiction
Book 1 of Sekret Machines is technically a novel, titled Chasing Shadows. However, almost everything in the novel is deeply researched, and references tons of very real people who have lived and worked in the world of U.F.Os. In almost every real-life interview with Delonge, he talks about how the early stages of the project are mostly laying groundwork for much more science-based writing in the future. More specifically according to an article in L.A. Weekly, “Two other novels, a documentary television series, nonfiction books and a new Angels & Airwaves album will follow [Chasing Shadows].” Delonge explains further in the same article: “‘We want to build on a very strong foundation of credibility by talking to very high-level people.'”
Music Has Taken a Back Seat
This particular fact is actually the hardest part of the project to determine fact from fiction so far. In official forums like interviews, articles, and even news on To the Stars, Delonge has claimed a voluntary hiatus from Blink 182, and a hold on his other musical pursuits. However, on his facebook and twitter accounts, he has been advertising personal music equipment for sale, claiming he won’t be needing any of it anymore. The equipment is also listed on To The Stars, without an explanation re: his motivation to sell. Further, when former bandmates Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus discuss DeLonge’s split, they don’t even inch towards the word “amicable.” In fact the words they chose when speaking with Rolling Stone Magazine were “ungrateful” and “disingenuous”. Oops.
So what’s really going on here? Is DeLonge going crazy? Is he secretly an alien himself? Or is he about to blow the lid on one of the government’s best-kept sekrets?
While some might argue that the internet is a wealth of information, on Monday night the internet showed that it was a pool of hate.
Leslie Jones, one of the stars of Ghostbusters, was the target of internet bullies who channeled their hatred for the rebooted film into a mountain of racist rants meant to tear her down.
Here is one. (Disclaimer – these tweets are pretty horrible, so read at your own risk)
Now most assume that this type of vile behavior has been directed just at Leslie, but Ghostbuster director Paul Feig has dealt with this behavior as well.
It’s one thing to critique a film, and it’s another to make this personal. It seems that the internet tough guys think that it’s their right to attack anyone associated with this film on a hurtful personal level. Some might argue that this is simply the drawbacks of being a celebrity but just because someone makes a movie that shouldn’t allow a person to be treated as less than a human being. Where do we draw the line? How do we draw the line? Is this the dark side of fandom that will never go away?
What are your thoughts? Do you think that these are just overzealous or a few bad fans that make the rest look bad? Let us know!
Lights Out delivers on its premise — it’s well acted and it’s got its fair share of good scares. If that’s all you’re looking for out of the film, then its unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
Just don’t look any closer at the production or think too much about what you’re actually getting. The writing is thin, and the characters are more or less one-note. An astute viewer should have the film’s ‘mystery’ figured out even before the characters literally talk it out on-screen.
Those limitations point to a certain lack of ambition and limited scope for the film. In this case, though, it’s forgivable, because the areas where the production does show ambition and inventiveness work.
What’s it about?
In Lights Out Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) plays Rebecca, a twentysomething who’s been on her own since her teens after leaving her home and her depression-prone mother, Sophie (Maria Bello) behind. Audiences soon learn that Rebecca and Sophie were themselves abandoned by Rebecca’s father when she was young, and his leaving took a terrible toll on them both.
As an adult, Rebecca avoids emotional entanglements, and her relationship with her mother is nonexistent. However, she’s drawn back home when her 10-year-old half-brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman, TV’s “American Gothic“), appears to begin experiencing what Rebecca herself experienced living with Sophie years before.
In particular, Martin is seeing something in the house when the lights go out. What’s worse, it appears that Sophie, his mother, cannot or will not protect him. She seems to know what it is skulking and clawing in the dark. In fact, she talks to it like a friend.
Once Rebecca has her own encounter with what’s terrorizing Martin, she resolves to get him away from Sophie for good. But once they uncover what the entity is and its connection to their mother, they realize that they may never be safe, no matter where or how far they run.
Humble origins
Swedish director David F. Sandberg makes his feature film directorial debut with Lights Out, a project that sprang from his short film of the same. That horror short, featuring Sandberg’s wife Lotta Losten, introduced the “blink-in, blink-out” aesthetic to the being that haunts the proceedings in the full length movie. (Losten also appears in the feature-length version in a small role.)
It’s easy to see why the concept would attract the attention of producer James Wan, who himself directed Saw and The Conjuring films. The “rules” the film establishes for how the evil operates in Lights Out provide for lots of opportunities for creativity with different light sources, turning on and off at opportune or inopportune times.
To his credit, Sandberg makes the most of those opportunities. Lights go out, or in some cases turn back on, at just the right moments to build or pay off anticipation. His efforts should lead to lots of gasps and involuntary starts and maybe one or two cases of insomnia even among seasoned horror fans.
Character complexity lacking
Where Lights Out falls short is during the moments between the scares. The script by Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5) doesn’t give the leads a whole lot to work with. The characters are more or less one-note, and while the actors make them likeable, there’s not enough there to make them truly resonate.
Are they the sort of stock characters from horror films of a bygone age that we’ve seen lampooned in modern horror films that skirt the edge of parody, like Scream and The Cabin in the Woods? Not remotely, but they and the family drama between them meant to give Lights Out depth and heart ends up just feeling like obligatory melodrama.
Thankfully, at only 81 minutes, there’s not a whole lot of it to slog through in order to get to what audiences are really paying for.
Worth seeing?
For fans of recent supernatural horror films such as The Conjuring films and Annabelle,, Lights Out should be a fun, scream-filled night out at the movies. It’s best enjoyed in a dark theater, surrounded by a receptive audience who will likely be jumping and crying out right along with you. Admittedly, though, seeing the movie alone at home with all the lights turns off might do the same trick.
However, if you’re not a horror film fan and/or you’re prone to insomnia, best give this one a wide berth. Script limitations aside, it’s done just well enough to maybe leave you hesitant about turning the lights out at bedtime.
Lights Out
Starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Billy Burke, Alexander DiPersia, and Maria Bello. Directed by David F. Sandberg.
Running Time: 81 minutes
Rated PG-13 for terror throughout, violence including disturbing images, some thematic material and brief drug content.
A new trailer for the upcoming Batman: The Telltale Series has been released.
The trailer sheds light on the tone of the game, and gives us a few looks at some villains, heroes, and supporting characters we’ll get to know in the story.
Batman: The Telltale Series will be shown off at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016, with its first five episodes titled “Realm of Shadows” being released on August 2.
“Enter the fractured psyche of Bruce Wayne and discover the powerful and far-reaching consequences of your choices as the Dark Knight. In this gritty and violent new story from the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead – A Telltale Games Series, you’ll make discoveries that will shatter Bruce Wayne’s world, and the already fragile stability of a corrupt Gotham City.”
What are your thoughts on the trailer? Drop a comment down below and let us know.
This weekend, Fox Searchlight Pictures is set to release Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, in limited release this weekend. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley return as the persistently hung over BFF’s Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone. While the biggest obstacle facing this film is attracting an audience of new fans, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie certainly has all the familiar elements that will thrill hardcore fans of the show. Can you name me another film this summer that includes a jacuzzi that’s described as a “smoothie of old sperm”, an elaborate drag show to the song “At Seventeen”, the murder of a supermodel, a gender fluid wedding, and the details of Jon Hamm losing his virginity?
No one will ever say that Absolutely Fabulous is a great film, but it is a smashing good time darling (Edina Voice).
While Absolutely Fabulous the television show had it focuses on more domestic issues, the film has more of an international flair. The film starts off during London’s fashion week during Giles Deacon Runway show. Saunders and Lumley show off some of their slapstick ability as they fight the models to have the best seat during the show. Edina is now 60 years old and is still muddling away as the world’s worst PR agent. She so lacks self-awareness that she writes her memoirs only to be told that her life is worth living but not worth reading. Instead of taking this as a cue to reassess her life choices, Edina decides that she needs to snag the biggest PR client possible to put her in the spotlight once more. Patsy is told that Kate Moss has fired her PR firm and is looking for representation and lets Edina know the good news. The two of them hatch a plan to woo Moss to sign with Monsoon PR but as always something happens when Patsy and Edina are involved. Edina goes to approach Kate at a fancy fashion event but only manages to push her into the River Thames appearing to kill her. Instead of staying in England to face the music, the girls decide to run away from the police or as Patsy calls them “The Pigs” and heads off to the south of France.
One of the highlights of this film was the smart script that Saunders came up with. Saunders managed to develop a narrative with the familiar beats that we’ve grown accustomed to as well as something even more. For example, throughout the film we see Edina grappling with the reality that she’s getting an old and the world is passing her by. Now, no one is saying that she handles this is the most effective manner (remember this is Edina we are talking about), but this shows a level of depth that Fabulous didn’t strive during its initial run on television. This sort of topic would have been taboo for the TV show as the deepest they indeed reached was what type of booze Patsy was going to drink next.
Where this film struggles mightily is the direction of Mandie Fletcher. This movie shows no creativity in its shot selection and what was crazy is that it wasn’t due to the movie lacking elaborate locales. Fletcher has locales ranging from the south of France to the most high-end areas of London. How can you not highlight those areas in your shot selection? The shots are constricted and tight like they’re on a TV set. The lack of creativity in shot selection caused the film to visually bland at times.
Absolutely Fabulous also falls into the same type of trap that the A-Team movie did a few years back. It’s awfully challenging to take a 30-minute show and stretch into a 90-minute film. Audiences know with A-Team that they will be given a task that seems impossible and pulls it off in the end ( while maybe shooting a few bad guys). The same can be said about Absolutely Fabulous. Everyone knows that you will get the drunken exploits of Patsy and Edina and in the end, they will stumble their way to a resolution to whatever problem they are facing. The source material doesn’t lend itself to any expansion.
This film isn’t going to blaze any trails cinematically but does provide enough fun that audiences won’t leave disappointed. Whether it’s enough to motivate groups to go see it this weekend, remains to be seen.
It will be interesting to see if ‘Lights Out‘ makes their small budget back and grab sequel buzz. The story seemed fairly contained and ended on a VERY definitive note BUT studios can always squeeze the most out of any idea. I’m not against more supernatural films, especially if they are all handed with this raw style of a new director, but studios like Warner Bros. needs to back more than just one type of horror. The audiences deserves more and so do the artist creating the films.
While Absolutely Fabulous the television show had it focuses on more domestic issues, the film has more of an international flair. The film starts off during London’s fashion week during Giles Deacon Runway show. Saunders and Lumley show off some of their slapstick ability as they fight the models to have the best seat during the show. Edina is now 60 years old and is still muddling away as the world’s worst PR agent. She so lacks self-awareness that she writes her memoirs only to be told that her life is worth living but not worth reading. Instead of taking this as a cue to reassess her life choices, Edina decides that she needs to snag the biggest PR client possible to put her in the spotlight once more. Patsy is told that Kate Moss has fired her PR firm and is looking for representation and lets Edina know the good news. The two of them hatch a plan to woo Moss to sign with Monsoon PR but as always something happens when Patsy and Edina are involved. Edina goes to approach Kate at a fancy fashion event but only manages to push her into the River Thames appearing to kill her. Instead of staying in England to face the music, the girls decide to run away from the police or as Patsy calls them “The Pigs” and heads off to the south of France.