It’s 2016 and Disney has already started to shift it’s promotional machine towards Captain America: Civil War. A new behind the scenes video surfaced last night and thanks to some quick thinking Monkeys Fighting Robots fans, we were alerted to the video. The video doesn’t give away too much but it gives fans a tiny glimpse into the film. Check it out !
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. Starring 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, 2016
Batman V. Superman Dawn of Justice will be the third franchise Batman has starred in less than thirty years. Which, on one hand, is insane that a character can be popular enough to call for eight live action movies spanning over three different film sagas. But, it shows how popular and enduring the character Batman has become. The fact that audiences are ready for another film starring Batman proves that the character has come a long way since his first modern film back in 1989. However, the question remains, how does the movie hold up after more the a quarter of a decade since its initial release?
Before we get started, it’s imperative to understand that before Batman the popular consciousness and understanding of the character was not good. Adam West’s TV series was popular, but pigeonholed the character of Batman to a campier, goofier outlook. As opposed to the dark, brooding crusader Bill Finger and Bob Kane envisioned Bruce Wayne as. So, instead of a crime fighter using the shadows of the night to hunt criminals, most people imagined Batman as a dancer.
Don’t stop the music, old chum.
However, the comics were starting to embrace a darker Batman again. The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke were some of the most popular comic books out at the time. Partially because of their bold story telling, but also because of the dark atmosphere they exuded. Filled with themes of violence, anger, redemption, and twisted visuals these books shocked the comic book world. So, Warner Bros. (who had recently bought the rights to a Batman film) decided that maybe they could make a darker movie. They hired Tim Burton, who was just hot off his first major success, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, to direct, along with screen writers Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren to write a script. The main plot of the story being the classic Batman meets the Joker story and conflict, with Michael Keaton as Batman and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.
Now, personally, I love this movie, but I think that the film has a lot of problems with it in terms of story and the portrayal of certain characters. Now since I’m a pessimist, I’ll start with my issues with the movie and where I think it could have used some more work.
Oh God, it’s like that one Halloween when your Uncle drank too much and got into his ex wife’s maschera.
First and foremost, I know that most people like this portrayal of the Joker, but I think he is one of the most annoying villains ever created on film. Now before you all rush to the comment section to let me know exactly what kind of asshole I am, let me make something clear. There are some fantastic scenes with Jack Nicholson. His unwrapping at the underground surgeon’s office is great. His killing of the old crime boss is a fantastic reveal. And his last confrontation with Batman is enjoyable. My feelings about the Joker is that whoever plays him is supposed to balance out being funny while also being terrifying. Jack Nicholson is neither. He’s more like that guy you go out drinking with who tries to be really funny, but just comes off as awkward. Especially when he’s making fart noises, and bad puns.
It feels like Jack Nicholson is trying way too hard to be the funniest Joker possible. And it’s just kind of creepy, particularly when he’s after Vicki Vale. In fact his whole motivation toward the end of the film is just about Vicki Vale. It feels petty for a villain like the Joker to go after a woman basically because, she’s hot. The Joker is after better and bigger things than just a woman’s admiration.
Also my biggest complaint of the film comes from the plot is the big reveal, which is that Joker killed Batman’s parents. In terms of the film’s logic it makes sense, but for me it just cheapens the tragedy of Bruce Wayne. The idea that Wayne could never really solve his parent’s murder, or find the man who did it makes it all the more heart breaking. Having him find out that Joker killed his parents and then avenging them just sort of feels odd. Especially since, they didn’t have to reveal it at all, and the movie still would have worked fine.
Now, what do I love about this movie? Well, pretty much everything else. The cinematography is just spectacular, as well as the visual style. It really feels like watching a comic book. The tone and atmosphere are very specific; this comes from how each shot is set up, to the sets, to even the clothes the actors are wearing. There’s definitely a very timeless feel to the movie, which Burton manages to convey very well purely through the images. Many of which have worked their way into other properties: the pearls falling, the roses on crime alley, Batman spreading his cape, and Batman’s shadow.
Burton’s directing is definitely one of the strongest parts of the movie. He masters the art of showing, not telling. There are lots of scenes with very little dialogue, but a lot is said. One of the best examples of this is when Vicki Vale finds out Bruce Wayne is Batman. There are no overblown speeches about why Bruce Wayne does what he does. There are no long debates of analysis, it’s just two people talking, but so much is said about who these characters are.
The cast (apart from Nicholson) is fantastic. Every actor gives a unique and specific performance. Michael Gough’s Alfred is wise and sweet, Pat Hingle’s Jim Gordon is kind and authoritative, Kim Bassinger’s Vicki Vale is compassionate, but has limits. Even Billy Dee Williams did a great job as Harvey Dent, and he only had like eight lines to work with. In hindsight it would have been really interesting to see him become Two-Face.
On top of all that, Michael Keaton’s Batman is really well done. He manages to play the character with a lot of subtlety, but some how is still intimidating and menacing. The fact that you can’t really see this man dress in a bat costume and beat criminals makes it so brilliant. How he plays Bruce Wayne is very different to how he plays Batman. It’s especially funny now to hear how Ben Affleck has gotten so much flak from fans considering Keaton got it just as bad, if not worse. There were petitions against him playing Batman, because Keaton starred in a movie called Mr. Mom. And keep in mind, those petitions were before the Internet, so there were some really dedicated fans trying their hardest to make sure he was replaced.
That kind of backlash has happened for a while now. Ben Affleck is not the first case. But, luckily Keaton killed it, and hopefully Affleck will too.
So, with all that said, I highly recommend watching Batman. If you’ve never seen it definitely give it a watch, it’s a spectacular looking movie with good fight scenes and some damn good acting. If you have seen it give it another watch, it won’t disappoint. It’s available on DVD, iTunes, and Netflix.
So, what do you guys think of this movie? Am I underselling how great it is? Or is it overrated? Let us know in the comments below. Next time on “Road to Batman V. Superman” I review Christopher Reeve’s first Superman film. The movie that made audiences everywhere believe that a man can fly.
Last week, everyone was raving about the twitter account “Emo Kylo Ren”. For those of you who are unaware of this parody account, it was set up under the premise that Kylo Ren was some how very Emo. Here’s an example of an Emo Kylo Ren Tweet
*approaches you at party* *clears throat* has anyone ever told you your eyes are the color of Darth Vader's helmet glinting in the moonlight
This week everyone is raving about an account called “Very Lonely Luke“.The Luke Skywalker seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens seems to be a bit of a loner and seems to have been that way for sometime. After his location was revealed in Episode VII, it appears that Luke has taken to twitter to express some feelings after being lonely for so long and it’s pretty hilarious.
Here’s some of the best ones so far:
Kylo Ren, nobody in our family has hair that dark.
My advice is to head over to your twitter account now and make sure to follow @verylonelyluke right away. As of Friday night, @verylonelyluke is up to 45,500 twitter followers.
When it comes to Sherlock, we can always expect greatness. There was a huge sense of hype around the “Christmas Special”, which ended up not being aired on Christmas and also not centered around the holiday. But it was finally released and of course, it didn’t disappoint in the slightest.
I’d say that regular fans of the show have probably enjoyed this special Sherlock episode – directed by Douglas Mackinnon – a lot more than others, not only because they’ve been in love with the show for years and years, but also because everything about it was made to appeal to them, clearly. There is no doubt in my mind that the creators and writers of Sherlock, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, are two of the greatest, most clever minds in the business. They seem to be very aware of what fans wish for the show to get into, and they always know how to use it to their advantage. The fact that from the beginning it’s made very apparent how much of a feminist episode this is attests to that, as a lot of the show’s vocal audience is female.
The Abominable Bride sets the tone very quickly, transporting us to some kind of alternate universe where John Watson and Sherlock Holmes meet in the 1890s. A spooky mystery falls in the hands of our most beloved (although not very charming) consulting detective: the case of a woman stricken by a desire for vengeance.
This is the most canon the creators have dared to be on Sherlock and it ties in perfectly with the rest of the seasons, taking from previous dialogue and even specific shots, which will be explicitly reminiscent of some of the best stories. Also the appearance of (and references to) old characters surely made fans giddy and excited for an upcoming season.
Needless to say, all the performances from the pros Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss, as well as recurring actors Louise Brealey, Amanda Abbington, Una Stubbs and Rupert Graves, are as excellent as we’re used to seeing. By now they’re all very much comfortable with their roles, enjoying it, and it shows. One unexpected surprise puts the cherry on top.
Another aspect that stood out when the show first started was how well the modern world was incorporated into a Sherlock Holmes world, with text messages, emails, clues and thoughts displayed and highlighted on the screen. In The Abominable Bride‘s Victorian universe there are no cell phones or computers, but the same style of detail is introduced in the form of newspaper clippings and other more comedic ways.
Overall, the Sherlock Special is a brilliant exercise of coherency while changing up and refreshing a much loved show. It maintains its spirit and style, throwing it back 100+ years.
Olivia Munn took to Instagram last night and counted down the top five memories from the past year. One of her favorite memories was landing her mutant role in Bryan Singer’s upcoming X-Men film.
“To say hello to 2016, I’m gonna say GOODBYE TO 2015 with my Top 5 Favorite Memories of 2015 (that I can think of),” Munn posted on her Instagram. “#4: Getting to play Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse. She’s a telekinetic telepath who chooses to kill with a sword because she wants to do it up close and intimate and killing from afar just seems too easy and no fun.”
She added this picture as well.
Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-Men: Apocalypse. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
The Force Awakens has been out for about two weeks now, and since then, there have been a myriad of reactions to the film. It has largely met with universal praise and record setting box office numbers, but it seems to be starting another conversation. A conversation about how the movie sausage gets made. Carrie Fisher and George Lucas have, in their own way, kickstarted this conversation.
Recently Carrie Fisher did an interview with Good Housekeeping U.K. in which she revealed that she was asked to lose 35 pounds for her role reprising Princess General Leia in The Force Awakens. Fisher has always been candid and didn’t mince words about how Hollywood judges female performers on appearance and little else, and how that seems to have not changed much in 36 years since the release of the original Star Wars. This bought about what has grown to be the usual reaction throughout social media when a woman in any field dares speak against established norms. A New York Post Op Ed columnist even sought to take her to task, stating that if she didn’t want to be judged on her looks, she should quit acting, and taking the ludicrous point further that she only had success later on in her career, as a writer, because of her looks. Mrs. Fisher has handled all of this as smartly as one can, and who are we, as fans, to say she hasn’t aged well, or should have looked better for her role in The Force Awakens?
General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) Photo: Lucasfilm/Disney
Earlier this week, George Lucas sat down with Charlie Rose to talk about the Star Wars franchise, his ideas for a new trilogy, and his decision to sell Lucasfilm to Disney. Lucas called the films ‘his kids’ and stated he sold them to ‘white slavers’. A bit of hyperbole on George’s part, but it cast a bit of a shadow in which detractors of the new film carried that banner and those who favored the film lambasted Lucas for his choice of words. Now, this was Lucas’ life for 35+ years, but he did walk away, and while he could have just stated he didn’t like the direction of the new films, he chose to invoke some pretty specific imagery to do so.
Lucas would retract those comments a day later and congratulate director J.J. Abrams and his longtime producing partner and current head of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy on the success of the newest entry in the franchise.
Two longtime celebrities and two vastly different reactions to views they expressed. A cursory look at social media when Carrie Fisher’s interview made the rounds show that we have a long way to go when it comes to how we view women in Hollywood and entertainment in general. George Lucas had a myriad of defenders when his opinions were made public, but he also faced a significant amount of blowback because of the way he worded his feelings.
We, as fans, have a responsibility to raise the level of discourse when things like this happen. Carrie Fisher’s appearance in The Force Awakens should be at the bottom of the list of priorities, especially considering that anyone over 50 would be hard pressed to get into what Hollywood considers ‘in shape’. Does George Lucas have a right to dislike the new films, he most certainly does, but it is problematic when he decides to invoke ‘white slavery’ when talking about films he made. If we demand excellence in these films, we should be deserving of them and have the courage to call out a friend or a fellow fan when something they have to say just isn’t right.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m fat? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @MatPDouglas
No one will argue that Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger has brought the most change to the company. During his tenure as Mickey’s boss, the company has acquired Pixar, Marvel, and of course Lucasfilm. In doing so he’s turned Disney into one of the most powerful movie companies in the world. Iger sat down with Bloomberg for a half-hour conversation about mostly Star Wars. However, during the course of the conversation (which centered on the direction of the studio), there’s one little piece of information that stood out.
“With George Lucas’s Star Wars – and Indiana Jones, by the way, which will be coming, we have more great stories,” Iger said.
This is huge news as it has been rumored that the new Indiana Jones film would be slated for a 2018 release date.Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford have both been very open to the idea of returning to the franchise. Even Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy has dropped hints that Indiana Jones‘s whip will crack again. What do you guys think about this news? Do you think that Harrison Ford should return to the role as Indiana Jones or should they recast the role?
After racking a handful of Emmy nominations and just achieving outright comedic brilliance in its first season, fans are counting down the days till season two of the Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt. The series was created by Tina Fey and stars Ellie Kemper and first-time Emmy Nominee Titus Burgess. Right now the show is currently shooting its second season, and Netflix is giving us tidbits about what we can expect when the comedy comes back and also releasing some new stills from the second season.
It seems as if in season two, we will have our fair share of guest stars. Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp is seen in one of the photos but we don’t know much about her character just yet. Call it a hunch but she could be playing Jane Krakowski’s sister. Zosia Mamet from Girls is also going to guest star in season two as well. However, the guest star that we are all excited to see back is the show’s creator Tina Fey. Tina Fey guest starred last year in a role that can only be described as a twisted version of Marcia Clark and she killed it. This year it seems like she just might be some drunken lady (that’s just judging by the photos). Tina Fey was asked recently at a TCA panel Q and A about whether or not Kimmie is done with the bunker in the new season and she had this to say
“Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) would love to believe that it’s entirely behind her because of the trial, but it’s not.”
The new season of the Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt is coming to Netflix in 2016.
Now that the year has come to a close, we can look back at the best scenes we had this year. Due to various circumstances, there’s a lot of movies that I have yet to watch, so I’m sure this is a list that I’ll keep updating as I watch more films made this year. Be warned that there are possible spoilers for the following films: American Ultra, Spectre, Jurassic World, It Follows, Ex-Machina, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two, Paper Towns, The Peanuts Movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,The Walk, Bridge of Spies, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Inside Out and Mad Max: Fury Road
15. American Ultra – The supermarket fight.
The action scenes were an underrated aspect of this movie. Many were imaginatively choreographed, shot and edited. Making a creative use of space, reflection, props and lighting that leaves one hoping Nima Nourizadeh gets to do more action in the future. Credit also goes to screenwriter Max Landis for coming up with some very creative action scenes. This climactic fight is the highlight for everyone.
Featuring an astonishing “oner” and mixing danger and humor, this sequence belongs in the Best Bond Openings Hall of Fame. Also credit must be given to them for showing that Mexico City or Mexico itself isn’t all old, dirty buildings. Mendes and his crew give great use to this location.
Even if you saw it coming, you can’t deny you wanted it to happen. It’s the most fun moment of the film, perfectly balancing how much we care for the dinosaurs and for the humans in the situation as well. Trevorrow shoots the scene in such a way that he lets it play out before our eyes. You manage to believe it all and it gets you cheering.
A perfectly creepy sequence. We’re right in Jay’s shoes as she becomes aware that she’s in a situation far more sinister and unexplainable than she could have expected. Director David Robert Mitchell shoots it in such a way that amplifies the sense of dread. Just like Jay we can’t look away from the situation.
Unexpected, funny, even creepy. It offers the audience an opportunity to relax in a film with a rather somber tone. It’s a perfect highlight of everyone who worked in the film, behind and in front of the camera.
10. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 – The execution.
It’s always good to see characters we hate get what they deserve. This is the principle on which the scene is based on, but what I most loved about it was how it was a turn for Katniss. She’s tired of violence, but once she sees that it could resurface under new President Alma Coin, that’s her only choice of action. The lesser of evils.
8. The Peanuts Movie – Anything with the Red Baron.
This is where the choice of 3D animation felt most justified and wonderfully used. These were some of the best moments in the original Peanuts cartoons and they’re also the best in this movie. Even when they’re just purely fantasy sequences, we always care enough to look forward to seeing Snoopy battle against the Red Baron again.
7. Kingsman: The Secret Service – The Church Scene.
In a film filled with great sequences and scenes, this is probably its most memorable for its brutality and cinematography. It’s a very scary moment in the film, where Matthew Vaughn rises to the occasion; he monumentally raising the film’s stakes without losing a sense of dark humor. Big kudos to Colin Firth for exceeding his level of badassery here, and shame on the censors in countries where they decided to mutilate this scene to appease them.
Any moment in which they’re brought up, the movie lights up considerably. Anyone who loves movies and catches the references surely loved these way-too-brief scenes.
This is what the movie kept leading into, so you knew it was going to happen but both characters and filmmakers outdid themselves in making it awe-inspiring and frightening at the same time. Even watched on 2D, the sequence is absolutely dizzying.
Spielberg puts us right in the pilot’s seat. He perfectly communicates the scene using nothing but visuals to paint the character and stakes. What’s worse is that we know that even if the pilot makes it out alive, he’s still screwed. It’s a great sequence and one of the movie’s best turns. A big shout-out to the Coen Brothers and Matt Charman for writing such a great moment.
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – The bridge scene.
A tender moment that becomes quickly horrifying, this is probably the best scene in a film filled with great scenes. Everyone involved created a moment that perfectly mixes the drama between Han Solo and Kylo Ren, using the setting and visuals to match the state of the characters’ minds as the First Order catches up to them.
It’s a moment that brings the movie’s powerful message that not all can be joy, but that sad moments can become our greatest victories. Character,Props, blocking, and production design form a perfect scene.
In a movie packed with great action set-pieces and imaginative visuals, this was tough to pick but it’s here where the action has the most perfect sense of rising action and a fantastic use of color that burns the images in your head.
George Lucas has released a statement regarding his comments about Star Wars and Disney made during a taped interview with Charlie Rose that aired December 25th. Here it is in full:
“I want to clarify my interview on the Charlie Rose Show. It was for the Kennedy Center Honors and conducted prior to the premiere of the film. I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize.
I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks. Most of all I’m blown away with the record-breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of JJ and Kathy.”
Do you think that this is Mr. Lucas coming to his senses or that he was told to make a statement apologizing for his comments?
