Today Marvel Comics announced a new way to introduce new readers to Black Panther; a video series. The video is a blend of animated comics, commentary, and narration. The purpose is to bring T’Challa / Black Panther, who is going to be one of the breakout characters of Captain America: Civil War, to an audience that might not know anything about him.
The new comic series, written by Ta’Nehisi Coates and with art by Brian Stelfreeze was extremely well received in April and Marvel has decided it can help bolster interest in not only that series but the character through this series of hip hop inspired videos. “Black Panther #1 drove new fans into stores across the country, topping the sales charts and selling out in two days,” says Editor In Chief Axel Alonso. “This series of videos will direct even more eyes toward the most discussed comic book series – and character – of the year.”
The first video, Black Panther 101, is an introductory course for both new and old fans to take a look at the history of Black Panther, the country of Wakanda, and why he is so important to the history of Marvel Comics. Then, each month, a new Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet will be released with the issue of the Black Panther comic. The purpose of the videos will be education with motion graphics and “elevating hip-hop score from some of the world’s largest hip-hop acts.”
“After decades of great work done on Black Panther — everyone from Reginald Hudlin to Don McGregor to Christopher Priest — it really is an honor to be writing King T’Challa,” says Coates. “Add to that the masterful performance by Chadwick Boseman as the ruler of Wakanda and it really feels like this is Black Panther’s time.”
The videos are made by the production company Bow & Arrow and are an interesting way for Marvel to approach a character that is about to reach a whole new audience from Captain America: Civil War.
What do you think about this new video series from Marvel? Is it going to bring in new fans?
Quotes, video, and images provided by a press release from Marvel Comics.
Justice League vs. Teen Titans, the 25th entry in the DC Original Animated Features series, is a mixed bag, at best. It does a few fun and clever moments, mostly written around the adolescent Titans and how they relate to one another as well as a new member among their ranks.
However, the film suffers severe pacing issues that make it feel much longer than its 78 minute running time. It’s also fairly predictable story-wise, and the voice acting feels stiff and uninspired. Overall, it’s a rare disappointing entry in what has historically been a consistently entertaining series.
What’s it about?
During a Justice League battle against a Lex Luthor-led “Legion of Doom” (Cheetah, Solomon Grundy, Weather Wizard, and Toymaster), Robin/Damian Wayne (Stuart Allan) disobeys the orders of his father, Batman (Jason O’Mara) yet again.
Thinking his arrogant, headstrong son needs a lesson in teamwork, Bats send Damian west to Titans Tower, where Starfire/Koriand’r (Kari Wahlgren) works with this DC continuity’s Titans – Raven (Taissa Farmiga), Beast Boy/Garfield Logan (Brandon Soo Hoo), and Blue Beetle/Jaime Reyes (Jake T. Austin) – to hone and control their abilities.
Displaying the aristocratic attitude and air of superiority that he’s shown just about everyone since his introduction into the DCU, Damian wastes no time in starting trouble with his new “teammates.” Damian is surprised, however, to find a kindred spirit in Raven, who understands Damian’s origins and early tutelage under a monster all too well.
Just when Damian and the Titans begin to thaw toward one another, the monster from Raven’s past, her father, Trigon (Jon Bernthal), makes his play to take back both his wayward child and Earth. His weapons to do it are none other than the Justice League themselves, who fall prey to possession by Trigon’s demons.
So all the Titans have to do is defeat their mentors, the world’s most powerful heroes, save the world from a powerful demon, and make sure that demon can never harm one of their own ever again. No problem, right?
Not exactly “original”
Yes, Justice League vs. Teen Titans differs from some of the DC Original Animated films in that it doesn’t draw inspiration from or adapt any one particular printed DC Comics story arc. If anything, it does take elements from the 1984 “New Teen Titans” arc “Terror of Trigon” by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.
On some occasions in the series, most notably Justice League: Gods and Monsters and Batman: Assault on Arkham, exploring wholly original story arcs has turned out well, giving audiences fresh and edgy takes on familiar characters and concepts.
However, with this release, there’s precious little that’s either “fresh” or “edgy.” In fact, the only new element to be found in Justice League vs. Teen Titans is actually a rather unwelcome one: the use of a “good times montage” set to a pop song soundtrack. The trope may be more appropriate here than it ever has been before, considering the youth of the film’s main characters, but it still feels forced and lazy.
The rest of the film is, as stated earlier, predictable fare. The inclusion of the League screams “marketing” – Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Cyborg and Flash (No GL and Shazam in this release) actually come off as a rather unimaginative and ineffectual team, easily falling prey to Trigon and then utterly failing to even slow the demon down once freed from his grip to fight him. But this is by design – how else could the Titans save the day and the new Robin find his place on the team?
Remarkably poor voice acting, pacing
The film’s second act (which contains both the unwelcome montage and a video game dance-off scene – not kidding) drags terribly, contributing to Justice League vs. Teen Titans feeling much longer than its one hour and 18 minute run time. In the scripting process, perhaps it seemed necessary, considering all the new characters introduced and interpersonal dynamics established.
But in execution, it all falls flat, due in part by a lack of energy and inspiration in the voice cast. Noticeably absent from this release is acclaimed voice acting director Andrea Romano, who has directed the voice casts in the more memorable and successful DC animated series and features. It makes much more sense that the lack of zip and dramatic timing in the delivery of dialogue in Justice League vs. Teen Titans is due to her absence rather than any shortfall of talent in the cast itself.
Worth seeing?
Justice League vs. Teen Titans is worth a rental, at best, unless you’re a completist and have been collecting all these releases from the start. In that case, buy it in the gift set edition with the collectible figure (Damian Wayne), watch it once, then put it on the shelf and let it collect dust.
When you do watch it, however, be sure to watch for the mid-credits scene, which has become a staple of these releases almost as much as it has in Marvel’s live-action films. Old time Teen Titans fans will certainly enjoy it, and it holds some promise for a better Titans feature release in the future.
Justice League vs. Teen Titans
Starring the voices of Jon Bernthal, Taissa Farmiga, Jason O’Mara, Sean Maher, Rosario Dawson, Jerry O’Connell, Christopher Gorham, Stuart Allan. Directed by Sam Liu.
Running Time: 78 minutes
Rated PG – 13 for fantasy action violence and some suggestive images.
LEGO celebrated May the Fourth (aka Star WarsDay) by dropping a new trailer for LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens that promises to “go beyond the movie”. The new game will feature several all-new, exclusive Star Wars stories just for this game.
The new adventures include:
Rathtar Hunting
Lor San Tekka’s Return
Poe to the Rescue
Crimson Corsair
Trouble Over Taul
Ottegan Assault
Previous LEGO Star Wars games have pretty much followed the movie scripts and that was great. But in recent years LEGO has created all new adventures for the DC and the Marvel Universes, so it only seems natural to combine source and original content into one game.
The best move LEGO made with its games over the past decade was adding dialogue. It gets even better with this game because the it’s the actual cast from the movie providing the voices. That means more Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, and of course Harrison Ford.
I’ve played and enjoyed pretty much every LEGO video game made so far (with the exception of Harry Potter, that one was awful). The best part about these games is that they are fun for the whole family. You don’t have to be a video game wizard to be able to play. My 6-year-old loved this movie and loves the LEGO games so this game will be a big hit in my house.
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is available now for pre-order and will be available everywhere June 28.
The new trailer for the new shark thriller The Shallows starring a bikini-clad Blake Lively hit the internet today and it falls a little closer to Sharknado thanJaws.
It starts out fairly strong with shots of Nancy (Blake Lively) surfing in a place she describes as “taking forever to find, but perfect”. Sure, there are a couple of creepers that want her attention, but otherwise, this does indeed look like the picture of paradise.
But we all know it’s not paradise, and the trailer makers know we know. Using some creative editing they create a slow build up here for the first shark attack that is reminiscent of Jaws. The best example is the moment where you get a point-of-view shot approaching Lively’s surfboard and just when think the shark is about to chomp down on her… it cuts to her chomping down on an apple.
Even the scene where Lively finally gets attacked helps build the suspense because while we see her struggle and her eventual wounds, we don’t see the shark.
And then we see the shark…
…in all it’s CGI silliness. At least he took care of the creepers. If this is the only silly appearance of the shark in The Shallows it’s forgivable and probably even necessary, but why include this particular scene in the trailer? The GoPro wearing surfer being dragged under, the fins sticking out of the water, the overhead shot of the shark circling all while Lively is trapped hundreds of yards off shore would have and should have been enough to create the suspense this trailer is trying to build.
What made Jaws so brilliant (at least partially thanks to a faulty mechanical shark) was it proved what Steven Spielberg himself said that, “it’s what we don’t see which is truly frightening.” If Jaws would have featured the cross-eyed mechanical shark, the movie would have been laughable. It’s a lesson this trailer seemed to be following until it wasn’t.
The tagline for this movie is “not just another day at the beach” and even though the trailer started out well by the end it sure feels like just another killer shark movie with nothing original to speak of… not even a tornado.
We don’t know really anything about this Han Solo film other than Miller and his partner Phil Lord being the director, and the film focusing on the early days of Solo and Chewbacca. At least we now know shooting will be underway shortly, and the release date is set for Memorial Day 2018.
As ‘Captain America: Civil War’ hits theaters this week, it is time to look to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo spoke with Uproxx about Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and 2.
“The movies are two very different movies.The intention is we will change it; we just haven’t come up with the titles yet. But, yes, we will change it. And, yes, that is a scoop: we will retitle them.” said Joe Russo.
‘Infinity War’ filming is expected to begin in fall of 2016.
‘Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1’ will be released on May 4, 2018, and ‘Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2’ will open on May 3, 2019.
This is a developing story, and we will have more details for you as they become available.
Ok, so we’ve all seen how the Ghostbusters 2016 reboot trailer is being heavily rejected across the internet. Literally the most disliked movie trailer in history rolling in at over 690,000 thumbs down on YouTube alone. Many are speculating because it’s an all woman cast, and that it’s a misogynist ideology for the massive hate towards the movie.
However, let’s be real here America. Did we not properly watch the trailer we have at hand?
#1. Terrible Creature Design
The original had some cheesy characters but in a fun way! It was appealing to children and the inner child alike, encouraging the demand for merchandising. None of these ghosts in the preview seemed remotely appealing. Yes we saw a minor hint of Slimer appearing however, there’s isn’t any other creature appearances apart from these blue mundane spirits. A whole city invaded by ghosts is a solid conflict, however if we’re going to use a major franchise with a plethora of paranormal imagery, why wouldn’t we spend a little more time on the creature design? What, was it all wasted on the cast? Not only did they have the 1984 Ghostbusters and the 1989 Ghostbusters II to work off of, they also had the 1986 Ghostbusters animated series to bounce ideas off as well! A huge opportunity to create some awesome new memorable spooky characters to add into the Ghostbusters’ franchise realm, but nope mediocrity will just do.
#2. Unappealing Casting
To be completely honest, I could completely careless about the headlining actresses involved in this film. I’m happy for the 3 out of the 4 women did great on SNL and kudos to Melissa McCarthy’s successful career with Gilmore Girls as well as the 2015 Spy movie, however none of this has any substantial weight in my personal interests. None of these actress participate in things that I actively seek for viewing pleasure. The only things I did could find upon further research is that Kristen Wiig did a voiceover for Madame Hagfish in Spongebob Squarepants back in 2011 and Leslie Jones made an in appearance in a Workaholics episode back in 2014, but still doesn’t motivate me whatsoever to see this remake. The only name that caught my personal interest was Chris Hemsworth, but only in the light of eye candy. Fantastic marketing ploy, or attempt to appeal to the female crowd, but still not something that’s going to make me cough up movie ticket money or even try to search the scurvy seas to download this movie.
#3. Pseudo Equality
One of the main issues I truly have with this film is the idea of trying to promote equality but in the worst way possible. Yes, we get it, not all “heroes” have to fit the standard of the Wonder Woman archetype but it doesn’t mean that we should downplay entertainment value. I mean who does this cast exactly appeal to apart from Middle America and close minded middle aged women? You have Melissa McCarthy with an unnamed role in the group but she of course is the “funny” plus sized one. Kristen Wiig is supposedly this huge quantum physics expert with a dry personality. Kate McKinnon appears to be the younger genius engineer who plays the role with minor sexuality but it’s accepted because she hints at the cool potential lesbian/bisexual and we have to be politically correct. And then we have Leslie Jones who doesn’t get the role of being a scientist or upper level of scholar intelligence… No, no, she’s the big black sassy woman who gets dubbed as having the street smarts. Who seriously came up with this character system? Even if we had different actresses to play the same roles, yet again nothing really interesting for viewers to strive and see. It’s not the all female cast that’s the problem, it’s truly the character roles provided.
As the well-known YouTube personality Comic Book Girl 19 stated in her reaction video:
“You know what’s more progressive? Having a team of both men and women ghostbusters who work together and they have their own unique talents and own unique skills.”
The 80’s Ghostbusters movies are far from perfect, however they have some many memorable elements that earn the title of being classics. From the casting, to the creature design to the overall fun vibe of a silly likeable crew, this remake shouldn’t have been in production in the first place. It’s unfortunate that people are mistakenly labeling the rejection of the trailer as primarily “straight white boys” but I am far from that description and I do not support this movie. I personally find this movie offensive as a woman of color who has worked in a male dominated environment and steadily looks for positive lights in HUMAN equality apart from just female rights. If they take the race labeling, mind-numbing female stereotyping, lack of character importance and sad attempts of humor out of the equation, maybe America could have potentially enjoyed this trailer a tiny bit better.
Blake Lively has a pretty big shark problem in the new trailer for The Shallows. The film seems like a mixture between Open Water and any number of lone survivor stories, and it continues our decades-long obsession with gigantic killer sharks.
Check out the shark jumping out of the water:
If you need a synopsis for some reason, here you go:
When Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark while surfing alone, she is stranded just a short distance from shore. Though she is only 200 yards from her survival, getting there proves the ultimate contest of wills.
This looks solid. That shark jumping out of the water was a pretty cool moment, and it was fairly believable as far as CGI is concerned. These survival stories are always crazy intense when they’re filmed competently. The main question will be whether or not Lively can carry a film like this on her own, but let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.
The Shallows is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, (Orphan, Non-Stop, Run All Night), and it opens June 29.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is joining the action-comedy Why We’re Killing Gunther as none other than Gunther himself. The film also marks the directorial debut of SNL‘s most undervalued member of the current cast, Taran Killam.
The story revolves around a group of assassins who are fed up with Gunther, the arrogant, brash assassin who’s also a badass at his job and lets everyone in his profession know it. The group decides to take him out, but they find the task a little hard since Gunther is a step ahead of them at every turn. Expect a great deal of one liners.
The other assassins in Why We’re Killing Gunther include Killam himself, fellow SNL‘er Bobby Moynihan, Coie Smulders, Paul Brittain, and Kumail Nanjiani.
I want to see this now. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comedy catalogue is spotty to say the least (Junior anyone?), but this seems to be blending his 80s/90s action persona with some comedy from a competent comedian in Killam. I have faith in his ability to mange the material, and perhaps this opens up a new avenue for him, since SNL seems dead set on not utilizing him to his fullest potential.
Captain America: Civil War brings with it expectations arguably higher than any Marvel movie to date.
All those characters, all those moving parts, so much at stake built up from the prior films plus new characters being primed to carry the Marvel Cinematic Universe into its next phase.
So much that could have gone wrong … and simply doesn’t.
With the exception of a slow-moving first act, the only way Captain America: Civil War fails is that it fails to disappoint. Full of imaginative, high-octane action, humor in just the right amount and heart from start to finish, the film meets all the aforementioned expectations … and exceeds them.
What’s it about? (Spoiler-free, unless you consider what’s been shown in commercials and trailers “spoilers.” In that case, jump to the next section.)
A year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the Avengers team assembled at the end of that film as they continue their mission to defend the world from evildoers near and far.
However, Rogers has his own continuing mission, as well, one that began 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He’s resolved to find his lifelong friend “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who the world recently came to know as the ruthless Cold War assassin Winter Soldier, and help him somehow regain the memories lost when Hydra turned Barnes into a weapon.
Rogers’ two missions come into conflict when another battle leading to collateral damage and innocent lives lost forces the Avengers to accept civilian oversight. Doing his best to sell the team on the plan is none other than Iron Man/Tony Stark, the one-time maverick superhero who once thumbed his nose at government control, but has now seen too much and suffered too many personal losses to ignore the fact that things must (in his view) change.
When Barnes seemingly resurfaces right at the center of another international incident that costs lives, it proves to be the flashpoint for a conflict years in the making: Cap versus Shellhead, with the Avengers and some new faces choosing sides and facing off. Stark and his team won’t stop until they bring the Winter Soldier to justice. Rogers won’t give up on his friend, or what he feels is the right course for the Avengers going forward.
In the past, when superhero films from either Marvel and Disney or DC and Warner Bros. have been burdened with the task of “seeding” new characters and plots for future films within a film that has its own story to tell, the juggling of priorities makes a mess of things.
Not so with Captain America: Civil War. Somehow, directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) manage to balance telling a character-driven, compelling chapter in Steve Rogers’ story (and Tony Stark’s, for that matter) while still providing meaty, memorable turns for the heroes who will carry the Marvel standard through the studio’s next “phase”: Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd).
Of the three, Boseman gets the most screen time here. A dynamic, magnetic performer who has yet to deliver anything less than stellar in his work on screen, Boseman proves the perfect blend of charisma, athleticism, and regal bearing to play T’Challa, a warrior born of royalty and possessed of fighting skills easily the equal of Captain America and his peers.
Boseman’s is a quietly compelling presence; Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, however, makes his entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a very talky splash, as well he should. Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely provide Holland plenty of opportunities to show he can handle both Peter’s youthful earnestness and ol’ Webhead’s propensity to banter during fights, and handle them he does. Audiences may leave Captain America: Civil War wishing there had been more of Spidey in the film – not to worry, true believers: Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters next year.
As for Rudd, reprising his role from last year’s Ant-Man, it’s like picking up right where he left off. Rudd’s comedic actor chops serve him well in his non-action scenes here, but make no mistake: his character isn’t just here for comic relief. Anyone still unconvinced that Ant-Man is too campy a concept or a poor fit for Marvel films going into Captain America: Civil War will most likely walk away rethinking their opinion.
Cap’s film, or Iron Man’s?
Though Robert Downey Jr. gets quite a bit to do here, and the material the script gives him draws heavily from all his previous turns as the Golden Avenger, Captain America: Civil War is still without a doubt a “Captain America” film, driven wholly by the presence and character of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Yes, Downey Jr.’s presence here makes for a compelling antagonist. After all, this is more or less the same flawed hero we all bought into back at the very beginning with 2008’s Iron Man, and the character still entertains thanks to the actor’s immeasurable skills.
But it’s Evans’ task to convey the personality aspects of Steve Rogers that take his story credibly in this direction. A lesser performer might get stuck on Rogers’ idealism and come off as sanctimonious, or his loyalty and steadfastness and deliver a wooden, stolid turn. Evans, as he has from the first time he picked up the shield, humanizes Rogers, makes him a likeable guy that audiences can cheer for as well as an ideal to be aspired to. None of this works if you don’t buy in to Evans as Cap – thankfully, he makes it pretty easy.
What about the action?
Credit the Russo brothers for showing that their vision and talent for comic book-style action wasn’t just a one-off with the last Captain America film. They bring that same style of sweeping camera work, fast-moving, gritty fight scenes and clever uses for the characters powers to inject energy into just about every set piece. The film’s centerpiece action sequence, when the two teams finally face-off in the knock-down, drag out audiences most likely came to see in the first place, should rate among the very best superhero action beats put on film yet. Everyone involved has a chance to shine, and considering how many performers are present here, that’s no mean feat.
Worth seeing?
All that said, Captain America: Civil War may just leave you cold IF you’re not a fan of these movies to begin with or you’re coming into the film without having seen the previous films in the Marvel franchise. Without a doubt, the Russo brothers and everyone involved here made a film that they were certain the fans would enjoy, but it does come with backstory and baggage without which a casual viewer might be lost.
But it may just be entertaining enough to win you over, if you let it.
As for all the fanboys and fangirls reading this? Those plans to see Captain America: Civil War on opening night? Stick to them.
Then buy tickets to see it again.
And again.
Yup, it’s that good.
Captain America: Civil War
Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, and Daniel Brühl. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.
Running Time: 147 minutes
PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem.
