With a week to digest last week’s Batman: Rebirth, I thought I’d list the ten top points I took away from the issue. Though it’s been out for a week, spoilers will be kept to a minimum for anyone who is still wanting to read the book. Enjoy!
Batman is NOT conducive with electricity.
Calendar Man is disgusting!
Alfred seems to have a thing for avocados.
Calendar Man is still disgusting!
Batman might actually be trying to have a social life.
Bruce Wayne has a starkly unique method of exercise.
Calendar Man…still disgusting.
Why did Alfred throw away that avocado? Seriously, what was that about?
I hope they don’t give Duke Thomas one of the lesser names of yellow birds like; Palia, Finch, or Flycatcher.
And finally…Calendar Man, the grossest villain I’ve ever seen. Ever. In forever. And ever.
I hope you guys enjoyed the list and the issue itself. This was an excellent single issue self-contained story with the Dark Knight in some time, and seeing him take on a new member of the family is always a welcoming sight.
So what did you guys think of Batman: Rebirth? Are you liking the direction the Dark Knight is heading so far?
The studio responsible for the popular Walking Dead and Game of Thrones games has officially released information on an upcoming game centered on Gotham’s Dark Knight. Given the studio’s penchant for character study and focus on dialogue, this is definitely an intriguing concept for the Batman mythos.
This follows the now legendary run of Arkham Asylum games by Rocksteady Studios, which has been praised for breaking the Batman curse of absolutely terrible games. The feat was in no small part to the tremendous voice acting for the characters.
Telltale has stated the game will not follow any previous continuity, comics, games, movies, etc. Both Batman and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, will be available to the player. No information has been released if other characters will be available, but several secondary figures have been mentioned to be involved in the initial plot.
It would be very interesting to see if there will be a focus on the detective elements of one of DC’s main powerhouses. Many games, including the Arkham series, tended to rely on action and stealth elements to entice the audience. Sadly, there has been little done to involve Batman in solving actual mysteries in the many games he has stared in so far. Hopefully Telltale will focus on this facet of the character once the final product is out.
The studio has also stated they are in development of an unannounced Marvel project, the second season to their Game of Thrones series, and the third season to their popular Walking Dead franchise.
Originally conceived as a live-action team-up movie with Guillermo Del Toro attached to direct, Justice League Dark appeared to have gone the way of the dinosaurs. And many other superhero projects honestly. However, the British Board of Film Classifcation have recently released details pertaining to DC’s latest animated feature, Batman: The Killing Joke. This information revealed that the additional material will include “A sneak peak at Justice League Dark” that will run for 7 minutes and 50 seconds along with the main feature.
Justice League Dark was also a comic book series introduced in DC’s The New 52 that featured a team consisting of; John Constantine, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Enchantress, and Shade the Changing Man. This team would focus on supernatural and magic threats.
Batman: The Killing Joke will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD on August 2nd 2016.
This issue is all about journeys. For Ich, it’s a journey through the soul as he works towards figuring out his next move. For Sebastian, it’s a hunt to find Ich and track him down but more is revealed about this enforcer of god’s law in the second issue. He is revealed to be a demon (hinted at in the previous issue) and the silent man who follows him is not some kind of illusion but is instead an assassin who is only known as “The German.” It was a bit hard to tell in issue one what he was as the character says nothing and disappeared from panel to panel. Considering this is a series with magical masks and worms which take people on soul searching walkabouts, it becomes easy to question what is real and what is an illusion. Still, this intrigue will help to keep readers engaged.
Not much action takes place compared to the previous issue. It’s easy to see this issue’s purpose is to deliver more backstory about the characters and where each is coming from. Luckily, Ariel Olivetti’s art hasn’t diminish in quality and the look of the world he is crafting is still intense, detailed, and incredibly eye pleasing. Fans of art in comics need to make sure to give this comic a read as the time and effort which went into creating it translates onto the page.
The series is still engaging but the lack of any real action scenes really hinders this second issue especially with the fact it’s part of a miniseries and halfway of the story has been told. Still, the art is engaging and the series is shaping up to be one of the best Graphic Novels which will be produced this year once all the individual issues are collected.
Movie theater marathons are all the rage these days, and 20th Century Fox is getting in on the action. The studio has announced plans for an Independence Day double feature leading up to the release of Independence Day: Resurgence.
The first film starts at 5pm the day before Resurgence‘s official release date. The sequel is scheduled for 8pm, giving fans the opportunity to “be among the first to see” it.
See the flyer below for the details:
Click here for more information and to get tickets!
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Independence Day: Resurgence hits theaters everywhere on June 24th. It features the return of stars Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, while adding Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher to the war for humanity. Will Smith is not reprising his role of Captain Steven Hiller.
Despite reports to the contrary, Channing Tatum remains committed to playing Gambit. The actor is attached to play the Cajun mutant, but people are wondering if he might do a DC film.
Recently, it was stated Rick Famuyiwa would direct The Flash for Warner Brothers and DC Films. On Twitter, the filmmaker was noted to have followed Tatum, whose planned Gambit movie has yet to begin production. Previously, the “X-Men” spin-off was scheduled to shoot last March for an October 7, 2016 release. Rumours alleged Tatum had been planning to star in a DC film, such as Shazam.
However, these reports appear to be unfounded. According to Latino Review”, a source described the rumours as “totally off-the-mark, and assured us that Fox was moving forward with Gambit, with Tatum fully committed.” Yet the fact remains that Gambit is still without a director.
Currently, 20th Century Fox doesn’t have non-compete clauses with regard to actors playing other comic book characters. Such examples include Halle Berry appearing as Storm in the original X-Men trilogy and starring in 2004’s Catwoman. Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds also played Green Lantern in the 2011 box office flop.
Marvel Studios does have a stipulation that contracted actors can’t play other Marvel characters. However, Guardians of the Galaxy star Vin Diesel is attached to play Black Bolt in an Inhumans movie, which is currently in development.
Despite the delays, producer Simon Kinberg says Fox is focused on bringing Gambit to the big screen. He explained they are determined to find the right tone for the script and voice for the character.
Patrick Wilson is one of the finest actors working today, honest to God he is. He is a personality chameleon, able to garner sympathy from the biggest of scumbags, or pity from heroes. He can be a charmer in an indie picture, a leading man in a blockbuster, it doesn’t matter to him. The problem is, the guy just doesn’t show up in as many films as some of his peers. Now, if you look deep enough you can occasionally spot a VOD release from Wilson, but as far as marketable cinema, we simply need more Patrick Wilson.
Here are his five greatest films:
5. Bone Tomahawk – S. Craig Zahler’s brilliant 2015 western/horror was a terrific example of genre mashup and an unbelievable cast playing off one another to perfection. Patrick Wilson plays Arthur, the town doctor whose wife is kidnapped by a tribe of cannibals. Despite having his broken leg in a splint, Arthur is determined to track down the savages with Sheriff Hunt (Kurt Russell and his mustache), Richard Jenkins’ Chicory, and Matthew Fox’s Brooder.
As a straight genre role, Wilson uses his universal charm and determination to hold his own against Russell and Jenkins. He also has the toughest task here, given his broken leg in the story, and it allows Wilson to show off the more physical side of his acting talents.
4. The Conjuring – James Wan’s house of horrors throwback is terrific for a number of reasons. It hearkens back to a classic “haunting” tale, it has genuine scares, and an ensemble that includes Llili Taylor, Ron Livingston, and Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, real-life paranormal investigators. Wilson is again part of an ensemble, and his work here and in Wan’s Insidious serves similar purposes. But as a film surrounding Wilson and Co., The Conjuring has the slight edge.
3. Hard Candy – This disturbing little gem from the mid 2000s put Patrick Wilson – and his costar Ellen Page – on the cinematic map. Here, Wilson plays Jeff, a photographer who meets a young girl online and invites her back to his home for “a photo shoot.” And by young, we’re talking fifteen. Hard Candy subverts expectations early on when Page’s Hayley turns the tables on Jeff and things grow increasingly dark as the story plummets to its nihilistic conclusion.
This is Wilson showing off his finest talent: the ability to squeeze every last ounce of sympathy from unsympathetic characters. Jeff is a scumbag, at least we think he is, but Wilson’s desperate portrayal and insistence that he’s an innocent photographer begin to work on the audience. Is he really a monster? We’re pretty sure, but not totally sure, and that’s because of Wilson’s dedicated performance.
2. Watchmen – Another ensemble story, Zack Snyder’s (only good) comic-book adaptation was a polarizing but ambitious story. Spanning decades, and existing in an alternate 1980s that makes the dystopian 1985 from Back to The Future II look like a walk in the park, Watchmen has terrific performances top to bottom. Jackie Earle Haley’s Rorschach nabs most of the accolades here, but Patrick Wilson’s Dan Dreiberg is an exercise in nuance in a film not that committed to such subtlety.
Dreiberg is formerly Nite Owl – a sort of Batman cover band – but in the story of Watchmen Dreiberg has hung up his cape and cowl. He’s pudgy, timid, emasculated, but when the time comes he slips into the costume once again with great zeal. Dreiberg is the audience’s inroad to the film, the only former superhero who seems to be a truly good person, and Wilson’s performance is vital in bringing humanity to the film.
1. Little Children – If Hard Candy put Patrick Wilson on the map, Little Children proved he had the ability to carry an honest adult story. In Todd Field’s suburban melodrama, Wilson plays Brad “The Prom King” Adamson, the object of lust for desperate housewives who falls into an affair with Kate Winslet’s Ruth. Brad is an Adonis drifting aimlessly through this landscape of dissolved dreams. He’s reluctant to let go of his former glory, opting for late-night football and watching skateboarders over studying for his BAR exam.
While the story veers into disturbing subject matter with a subplot involving a sex offender ruffling feathers in the neighborhood (Jackie Earle Haley, owning again), this remains the story of Wilson’s Brad and Winslet’s Ruth. It’s a terrific display of Wilson’s good looks, his smarmy jock persona, and once again his ability to garner sympathy where there should be none.
Some fans complain that the mid 2000’s seem a little barren. True, very few years can match the success of horror’s late 70’s to mid 80’s run. However, I honestly believe if you dig around enough you can easily secure enough valid entries to mold an interesting and debatable top 5 list for any year. Let’s start with 5 fun fright films celebrating their 10th anniversaries in 2016.
5. Slither
This creature feature stars Nathan Fillion and the incredibly eye-catching Elizabeth Banks. Slither is a throwback film with a nostalgic 80’s double feature feel. A fantastic early effort from Hollywood heavyweight James Gunn that almost perfectly balances the absolute ridiculous and gooey monster filled fun. All though it sometimes skirts close to former genre staples like David Cronenberg’s 70’s masterpiece Shivers, it always feels like a well crafted mix of originality and homage. 6.7/10
4. Silent Hill
Not everyone’s cup of tea but this 2006 supernatural horror film based on the iconic game of the same title, maintains a large and active fan base visible on social media and every major horror event I attend. A more than serviceable cast including Radha Mitchell and Sean Bean add substance to this beautiful shot nightmare. Some of horror’s most visually exciting creatures live in this hellish town of mystery and madness. 6.9/10
3. Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon
A fan favorite that came out of nowhere 10 years ago and had old school horror hounds making the obligatory “Have you seen this yet?” phone calls. A decade later it holds up well as a smart and creative take on the slasher sub-genre. Leslie is calculated, nice and deadly. He validates his predecessors before lulling us into an entertaining and memorable finale. One question remains, all these years and no sequel? Leslie has potential to join the greats, he just need another outing or two. 7.1/10.
2. Black Christmas
There’s not a better looking slasher gore film on this list. It strays from the 70’s classic enough to make it worth watching on its own merit. A superb cast of young and veteran actresses including Katie Cassidy, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Lacey Chabert offer better than average horror movie performances. The top-notch cast combined with the many great kill scenes, make the 2006 version of Black Christmas and it’s 1974 original, a perfect holiday double feature. It’s a remake and some won’t appreciate that but. it’s one of my 14-year-old daughters favorite yuletide watches and it seems to be a classic for that upcoming generation of fans. 7.4/10.
1. The Hills Have Eyes
Yes, another remake, and our top entry at that. Shame on us. However, you have to confess this amazing vision of terror from original creator Wes Craven (R.I.P.) and talented French filmmaker Alexandre Aja is truly unforgettable, all over again. The ultimate examination of a suburban family’s fight for life against a forgotten clan’s brutality and guerrilla warfare tactics. The bloody opus is redone at pitch perfect tone. Including the original version’s intensity and uncomfortable sequences designed to make the viewer throw their preconceived notions of horror on film completely out the window. 8/10.
That’s all for now Horror Hounds. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the comment section, or feel free to leave your own top 5 list from 2006. Come see me at The Horror Hound Page & Group on Facebook. We’ll be back next week with our top 5 horror films of 2001 (15 years ago) to discuss with all you fans out there. See us then.
‘Conjuring 2’ Proves If You’ve Seen One Haunting Then You’ve Seen Them All
While the supernatural scares are always popular with American horror audiences, ‘The Conjuring 2‘ shows how tired this genre is becoming.
The sequel to 2013’s ‘The Conjuring‘ follows the returning Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson & Vera Farmiga) as they reluctantly take on another haunting. This time in gloomy North London. After dealing with the infamous Amityville case, the pair want a break. The paranormal activity that haunts the English family is enough to bring them out for one last investigation.
My biggest gripe with the film is the unoriginal plot being based around jump scares. I’ve never noticed how lazy these supernatural moments come off until you see doors being locked just for some weak tension. If the film focused more on original elements and less on cliches, it would have been a far more entertaining experience. ‘Conjuring 2‘ felt like a carbon-copy of the first film.
And who was asking for that pointless scene of Patrick Wilson singing Elvis? The whole theater was on the edge of their seat for that…
It isn’t all negative though. There was a scene with a creepy painting that unnerved me. Very rarely can a scare be built that well and this was a great example of how to do it. The film needs far more inventive new spooks like that.
Also the acting from everyone involved was so honest. The fear was believable, the humor was natural, and the chemistry between Wilson & Farmiga is undeniable.
‘Conjuring 2′ isn’t downright deplorable but needs to change its ways. Director James Wan (Saw, Insidious,Furious 7, Aquaman) has banked on his horror formula for years now. If he wants to make impactful genre pieces though, there has to be some sort of re-invention within this supernatural horror genre.
Do you agree with my review? Will you be seeing ‘The Conjuring 2‘?
LEGO is probably the worst offender in the toy market when it comes to spoiling movies. While they aren’t always accurate they can sometimes ruin major surprises such as Giant Man in Captain America: Civil War. This new set for the upcoming Doctor Strange shows us a number of things such a Wong taking flight with fans, a look at the Sanctum Sanctorum, and Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo fighting some sort of monster coming out of the wall.
The set doesn’t reveal any other details; we don’t know who is in control of this monster or where it comes from. This seems like a detail that could be seen in the next trailer but there is no way of knowing for sure. As always if you want to be spoiler free for Marvel movies it’s best not to collect LEGO.
Despite the delays, producer Simon Kinberg says Fox is focused on bringing Gambit to the big screen. He explained they are determined to find the right tone for the script and voice for the character.
