Marvel Studios released a new Captain America: Civil War trailer Thursday morning featuring your first look at Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Without further ado, here we go:
Captain America: Civil War is directed by Anthony & Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.
The film stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Martin Freeman.
Captain America: Civil War is set for release on May 6.
Daisy Ridley is being courted for a Tomb Raider reboot, according to the report at Deadline.
Fresh off her role as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ridley is a ht commodity in Hollywood. Of course, she is busy filming Episode VIII currently, but MGM and Warner Bros. are still hoping she agrees to reboot Lara Croft, which Angelina Jolie previously helmed in the early 2000s.
Here’s what Deadline had to say about the property in Hollywood, which experienced a rebirth a few years back:
The latest adaptation, which has been in development for a number of years, received a jolt of adrenaline when the video game series was rebooted by game developer Square Enix with 2013’s Tomb Raider, which depicted Croft’s first adventure as an archaeology student and follow-up Rise of the Tomb Raider. That younger take on the character’s origin and path to derring-do are believed to have given the film’s producers some creative guidance.
There is no confirmation at this point that she has taken the role, but there have been preliminary meetings. Let’s hope this happens, because there isn’t anyone out there better fitting to refashion Lara Croft and Tomb Raider than Daisy Ridley.
What a film. If you love heists, gambling, and master plans, this is the film for you. Ocean’s Eleven tells the story of Danny Ocean and his band of criminal friends as they seek to hit Terry Benedict’s famous casino establishment, the Bellagio.
This movie is gripping from start-to-finish as Danny takes you through the entire plan, from finding and meeting up with the gang to the blueprint for the robbery and then finally, the actual robbery. It truly is both an informative and entertaining watch.
Ultimately, the content and acting throughout the film is excellent – and it would be foolish to expect anything less with so many brilliant actors and actresses involved in the movie. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are just three of the big names involved in this remake of Ocean’s 11 and it’s fair to say the second edition attracted a lot more attention than the original. Though the first movie was released back in 1960 and featured the legendary Frank Sinatra it was both less realistic and exciting, largely due to lacking special effects and other movie techniques.
In terms of adrenaline and action most is experienced through the thrilling excitement of the heist itself. In terms of on-screen gambling, there’s a fair bit but it’s far from excessive. Familiar games as Australian pokies, both French and American roulette, and a multitude of slot machines can be seen throughout the movie. In fact, Ocean’s Eleven was also selected by Lugget Nugget in their top 10 gambling-themed movies.Though in terms of gambling experiences, you’d be better served going online rather than getting the gaming action through Ocean’s Eleven.
If you’ve seen Ocean’s Thirteen, you’ll know there’s a lot more gambling involved in that film. Danny and the crew meet up to wipe out casino owner Willy Bank, played by Al Pacino, after he double-crosses Danny’s old friend Reuben Tishkoff.
However, Ocean’s Eleven is the original in the three-part trilogy and by all means, it’s the best movie. The storyline is the greatest; the plot is the most thrilling and the actual acting is top drawer. In fact, Ocean’s Eleven is widely regarded as one of the best films of all-time and sits in the IMDB’s list of the top 100 movies in history.
Matt Damon features in Rounders, gambling films seems magnetically attracted to the actor, and compared to Ocean’s Eleven it is a lot more focused on the gambling side of things. While Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) predominantly exerts poker excellence in the hope of helping his friend, the scenes is unsurprisingly similar to Ocean’s Eleven with everything from slot machines, to various card and table games. However, in terms of plot and thrilling scenes Clooney & co have got the better of them.
If nothing else, Ocean’s Eleven is a scintillating film that takes you on a journey of comradeship and criminality. The likes of Clooney and Pitt only help to increase the drama and excitement throughout the planning of the heist and you truly feel as though you’re involved in one of the biggest robberies of all-time. It’s DEFINITELY worth a watch!
Walt Disney Pictures. Universal Studios. Warner Bros. Entertainment. A24 Films?
The name may not sound familiar if you’re not an indie film geek. A24 Films is a distribution and production company founded in 2012, making it a baby compared to veterans like MGM, Paramount, and the ones named above. But in only four short years, A24 has established itself as a force to be reckoned with. Films they distributed were nominated for a total of seven Oscars this year, winning three (Amy won for Documentary Feature; Ex Machina won for Visual Effects and was also nominated for Original Screenplay; Brie Larson won Best Lead Actress for Room, which was also nominated for Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay).
How has such a young company found such quick success? Simply put, by taking calculated risks.
Juggernauts like Disney tend to play it safe. Their films aren’t always great on screen, but they usually appear to be good on paper. Major studios have the resources to drive audiences to the theater; they use star power, or a massive marketing budget. Even if the film flops critically, the box office returns show the producers that they played their cards right (usually). No harm, no foul, and they move on to the next project.
18% on Rotten Tomatoes, 2014 Worst Picture Razzie nominee, over $1 Billion Worldwide Gross.3% on Rotten Tomatoes, won 2012 Worst Picture Razzie, almost $150 Million Worldwide Gross.
25% on Rotten Tomatoes, tied for 2015 Worst Picture Razzie, over $571 Million Worldwide Gross.
A24, on the other hand, relies on story. Granted, they have distributed films starring well known actors, but the stories are still what drive people to watch, and what keeps them talking about the experience days later.
They don’t always succeed in a conventional way. Tusk, Kevin Smith’s horror/comedy, is 40% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, and fell shy of even a $2 million gross. Yet it’s still a perfect example of the company’s modus operandi. They didn’t rely on fluff and advertising; they trusted Kevin Smith’s ability as a storyteller. It didn’t strike a cord with a mainstream audience, but it has since earned cult status, and helped gain A24 Films credibility as indie filmmakers.
The festival circuit is full of strange projects like Tusk, and that’s where A24 is striking gold. They see value in quirky projects that offer something new and different. Their success recalls that of Miramax, whose early history followed a similar pattern, and who also took a chance on Smith’s storytelling prowess when they purchased and distributed Clerks in 1994.
A24’s latest win is The Witch, having purchased the rights at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival (along with The End of the Tour and Mississippi Grind, both critical successes as well). Robert Eggers’ New England horror story was a huge risk. It opts for an old English dialect over a common tongue, and utilizes tension instead of the gore typical to modern day horrors. It’s a slow burn, for sure. The film could have been a tough sell to American audiences, yet it has made a name for itself as one of the best genre flicks in recent memory. It holds a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and came in fourth at the box office over its opening weekend. The company’s gamble paid off once more.
So, what does A24 Films’ success say about the movie industry? It shows that viewers are seeing the same value in these films as the company is. It shows that people have grown bored of the same old tiresome plot formulas and want to branch out. They want to watch stories that are different and a little bit strange.
Should big studios be worrying? Probably not. Rom-Coms and Michael Bay movies will still rake in the dough appealing to the masses. But A24 Films is proving that there’s still a market for smaller movies with original stories. Hollywood isn’t dead just yet, it’s just waking up from a long sleep.
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What’s your favorite film distributed by A24? See a full list here and sound off in the comments!
Entertainment Tonight released a behind the scenes look at Captain America: Civil War.
Captain America: Civil War is directed by Anthony & Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.
The film stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Martin Freeman.
Captain America: Civil War is set for release on May 6.
Saban Films and Lionsgate released the first trailer for I Am Wrath, the action thriller directed by Chuck Russell and starring John Travolta, Christopher Meloni, Sam Trammell, Amanda Schull, Asante Jones, Luis Da Silva Jr., Paul Sloan, Patrick St. Esprit and Rebecca De Mornay (Comingsoon.net)
I Am Wrath gets a digital release on April 15 and then hits the theaters on May 13.
With Travolta at 62, this is a film that should have come out 20 years ago. What Hollywood star today will lead the next generation of action heroes?
CBS and the CW released an official poster for The Flash Supergirl crossover in Supergirl‘s March 28 episode (Digital Spy).
The first race between the Flash and Superman was in the pages of Superman #199 from 1967. You can see the television series understands its history.
“‘Worlds Finest’ – Kara gains a new ally when the lightning-fast superhero The Flash (Grant Gustin) suddenly appears from an alternate universe and helps Kara battle Siobhan, aka Silver Banshee, and Livewire, in exchange for her help in finding a way to return him home.”
The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye series has been one of the best runs of comics the franchise has ever seen. With the unique and interesting stories by James Roberts and the outstanding artwork of Alex Milne the comic has earned Comics Alliance’s Best of 2015: Continued Excellent in Serial Comics Award. What’s so appealing about it? Basically it’s a series where the best and brightest Autobots and Decepticons are nowhere to be seen. Instead, characters like Swerve, a pop culture referencing bartender, Whirl, a psychopath who loves to stir things up, and Ultra Magnus, the one straight laced character in the mix are on a quest to find the ancient warriors known as the Knights of Cybertron which they think will help bring peace to their planet which is still settling after the end of the Decepticon and Autobot war.
So, how did the creative team decide to spend the big 50? By leaving the readers on a cliffhanger which will make them scream in frustration of how awesome it is. The story, “How Bright their Frail Deeds”, begins with a preface showing every Autobot and Decepticon from around the universe getting deathbed confessions and funeral requests from several members of the Lost Light crew. As Optimus Prime is quick to try to find a way to save them, it’s revealed these messages were sent three weeks ago and those who sent the message are probably dead. A very cryptic way to start a comic.
Jumping back to the Lost Light crew, after saving a group of aliens from some generic robots, they return to the ship and Megatron is teaching a class. This may come as a surprise to many, but Megatron has become a good guy and was made captain of the ship in an effort to give him a sense of purpose with his new alliance and make sure he stays in line. Just as it seems Megatron is starting to finally become all the way good, he decks someone. He insists it was an accident and gets a check over by new character Velicity, who has been working as the ship’s doctor. Just as she is starting to examine him, multiple crew members report hearing voices. After tracking the source of what was causing everyone to hear something, a team heads out to investigate. This is when things from bad to worse.
Turns out the voices were all a plan by a prisoner named Getaway, who has staged a mutiny and with the help of others has left the group stranded on a planet. This wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact the crew isn’t alone. The Decepticon Justice Division, a group of extremist Decepticons who have made it their life’s work to track down and destroy any deserters or traitors to the Decepticon cause are on the planet and want Megatron erased for changing sides and will destroy anyone who tries to stand in their way. This is where the main story comes to a close with a cliffhanger fans will be freaking out about for a month.
As it is an anniversary issue, the creative team decided to add a bit more with a backup story called “No guns, no swords, no briefcases.” In it, different crew members use a machine to appear as ghosts and flashback on important events in the comic’s history and look at different members of the crew they lost in the 50 issue run. It’s a nice short story which really shows some of the more powerful events which have occurred in the course of the series run.
The issue is fantastic and continues the level of excellence the creative team has been known for. The only complaint which can be addressed is, if you are a fan of Transformers and haven’t taken the time to check this comic out, this is as far from a starting point as you can get. This is the only real negativity which can be levied against this book and if you are a fan of Transformers, you owe it to yourself to find some back issues and read up so you can appreciate where this series is going.
This Michael Keaton career renaissance is one of the best stories to come out of Hollywood in some time. After starring in two consecutive Best Picture winners (Spotlight and Birdman), and collecting a Best Actor nomination (he should have won) along the way, Keaton isn’t slowing down any time soon.
Deadline reports Keaton has agreed to star in American Assassin, Michael Cuesta’s upcoming thriller about a badass Cold War vet who teaches greenhorns about the art of war. Keaton will play said Cold War badass, Stan Hurley, replacing Bruce Willis. Which, as crazy as it sounds, is probably the best news for the film. Willis has devolved into VOD action fodder in recent years and built a rather sizable reputation as a tyrannical prick on set, so Keaton taking over should smooth the road for Cuesta and probably result in a better film.
Cuesta (Kill The Messenger) had this to say about Michael Keaton joining the project:
Stan Hurley is one of the pillars of the Vince Flynn universe and a favorite character for millions of readers, so casting him was a daunting challenge… To have an actor as intelligent and gifted as Michael Keaton bring this beloved character to life is a thrill for everyone involved in American Assassin, and a cause for celebration amongst ‘Hurley’ fans the world over.
Nobody else has joined American Assassin at this point, but consider the wild notion that Michael Keaton’s name attached to a project should now draw the interest of top tier talent in 2016. This is the guy, one of my personal favorites, who stumbled through films like Jack Frost and White Noise for years (back off of Desperate Measures though) before he finally found his footing again in 2014. And on top of his career turnaround, where his talent has been able to truly shine, it seems Keaton is a genuinely good dude.
This Keaton-aissance is simply wonderful, and here’s hoping for another rousing success with American Assassin.
If Something Wild was released today, the movie could be seen as a genre twist on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope. Melanie Griffith plays Audrey Hankel; she dresses weirdly, she cheerfully starts conversations with strangers, and she’s willing to do spontaneous road trips with them. Yep, all signs point to MPDG. All in high contrast to the shy, more conservatively dressed Charles (Jeff Daniels) who ends up joining her. But the movie doesn’t leave them as mere quirks or stereotypes, as the story goes on, they become fully formed human beings.
Jonathan Demme directs this movie to near perfection: The abrupt change in tone halfway through works without betraying the rest of the movie because Demme allows it to land naturally and with enough aplomb to get the audience excited for this new turn in the film. It doesn’t feel forced. It’s not the kind of twist that makes you wish the movie had stayed in the same tune it started in. The movie has a natural, mundane look to it but with the characters dressed in bright colors making them stand out and giving the movie a style that feels both real and cartoonish in a good way. And with Demme you also get some great filmmaker cameos such as John Sayles and John Waters, and great musician cameos such as The Feelies and Sister Carol. It must be mentioned that the movie also has one of the coolest end credit sequences ever put on film. It’s surprising and charming, just like the film itself.
Something Wild is something of an underrated gem. It has its fans, it’s respected in many cinephile circuits, but it has never quite joined the ranks of the classics. Could it be the change in tone? Maybe. But that’s what makes it a great experience to watch. This movie stands out as one of the most memorable films of 1986 and of the 80s overall. The fact that it almost feels like it could be made today is a testament to its endurance.
