“It’s not about when you show up, it’s about what you do once you’re there,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
Fiege said this in reference to Spider-Man joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an interview with IGN. The MCU guru also talked about what it means to have Peter Parker where he belongs now that marvel and Sony have worked out a deal with the movie rights.
“Making that agreement … was great, and was really amazing, and on a personal level making these movies, it means a lot because I think we can do great things with Spider-Man. I think Spider-man can serve a great purpose in our universe and that’s where he belongs. That was what was unique about him in the comics was not that he was the only superhero in the world; it’s that he was a totally different kind of superhero when compared against all the other ones in the Marvel universe at the time,” said Feige.
How excited are you, now that Spider-Man will fight alongside the Avengers?
The first time you will see your favorite Wall-Crawler is on May 6, 2016 in Captain America: Civil War.
Actress Anna Paquin announced recently that she isn’t going to play Rogue in the new Gambit movie, a spin-off to the X-Men franchise, developed thanks to Channing Tatum. Paquin was having a small Twitter conversation with a fan who asked her whether she was going to appear in the Gambit movie and the actress simply said “no”.
So that gives us at least one hint about Gambit: Rogue won’t be his love interest. Or will she? After being cut from X-Men: Days of Future Past, Paquin might not want to return to the franchise under any condition, and who could blame her? I imagine she has other more interesting projects for her (like The Pink Hotel film adaptation, which she is producing) that don’t involve going back to something she did years ago.
But in the original X-Men movies, which Bryan Singer seems to want to cancel out, Rogue is involved with Ice-Man and not Gambit, like it is in the comics. That could be another reason why Paquin will not be in it. Her “no” could mean “They’re not counting on me”.
Something which is also certain is the fact that the pre-production phase of Gambit is being rather tumultuous after Channing Tatum allegedly almost abandoned it (but really pressured Fox to get more money) and director Rupert Wyatt actually left.
Staying true to the comics this time, Rogue defines herself as a southern belle, as she was born in Mississippi. If Fox ever decided to cast a new actress to play Rogue, in either Gambit or any other X-Men film, here’s a few actresses who I think could pull it off:
Brie Larson
She has an impressive filmography, from hugely popular movies like 21 Jump Street and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, to indie gem Short Term 12 and the TV drama United States of Tara. She has proven to posses a wide range of acting habilities, although she has mainly leaned towards comedy. Apart from that, although Brie Larson is younger than Anna Paquin, she has a mature look.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Also appeared in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, playing Ramona Flowers. She has a sweeter look in comparison to Paquin, but she is closer in age and could pull off an action superhero movie. She has a few indie, horror, drama, and comedy films under her belt. She was also born in North Carolina, so she has the southern belle aspect down.
Brit Marling
I’m not sure that she would go for a role like Rogue, but Marling has shown time and time again how skilled an actress she is (playing a handful of strong female roles) as well as writer, producer and director. In The Keeping Room she flawlessly put on that important southern accent.
Saoirse Ronan
This might be an unpopular choice, but if they ever wanted to go for a younger-looking Rogue, this girl is brilliant in any kind of genre. So a superhero film would be a piece of cake for her. She’s lived in Ireland since she was very little, but with a good dialect coach she could master a southern accent. She starred Hanna, an action-adventure thriller for which she trained hard, so she already has that experience.
Dakota Fanning
In the same line of choosing a younger Rogue, Dakota has an incredible acting experience for her 21 years of age. We all know she has worked with some of the better recognized directors and veteran actors in Hollywood, and she’s also a real southern belle (born and raised in Georgia).
As the month comes to an end and the upcoming Fall season approaches, excitement for what this season has in store is beginning to grow. But I’m not done covering some lesser known shows. So, before the month changes to the 10th, allow me to cover the action show Lance N’ Masques, you might just find it interesting.
Synopsis: “Yōtarō Hanafusa is a young man who is part of the last remaining order of knights in the 21st century, “Knights of the World.” As he fights as the mysterious Knight Lancer, he must hide his identity behind a mask. One day he meets a girl named Makio Kidōin, and when finding that she lives alone, decides to watch over her.”
I have to be a little honest here, I am not a fan of the art style. It’s pretty freakin’ ugly. Not to mention Studio Gokumi doesn’t have the best record (Saki Episode of Side A being their best work), and I’ve never been a fan of the authors work (even if he named one after me).
However, the director for the is responsible for bringing Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso to us. It was his full directorial debut, and it was pretty great. This story seems to be a different style than what the author normally goes for (at least, I hope it’s not just a school slice-of-life), so perhaps we can actually look forward to this.
Concerns aside, I plan on watching this solely for the director, and who knows, maybe it’ll be great, maybe it’ll be a dud. We’ll just have to watch and find out.
Lance N’ Masques will begin airing October 2nd, 2015 for the Fall 2015 season.
Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and director Justin Kurzel discuss the method and direction behind their new Macbeth adaptation in this interview special from Film 4. Along with brief interviews the five-minute special also shows behind-the-scenes glimpses, displaying some of the majestic sets and scenery of the film.
Here is the interview special:
Shakespeare’s work is always open for interpretation, and the trio appear to have a firm grasp on how they want to tell the story of the Scottish king, corrupted by violence and, as Fassbender says here, suffering from PTSD. The super slo-mo war footage also fascinates me.
Here is the official synopsis, for anyone unfamiliar with the original work:
Set in the 11th century and using Shakespeare’s original dialogue, the film follows General Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), whose ambitious wife (Marion Cotillard) urges him to use wicked means in order to gain power of the throne over the sitting king.
Macbeth will begin with the limited release rollout schedule this fall, beginning with its UK release December 4.
In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’s opening episode for season three, “Laws of Nature,” Marvel spares no time to slowly ease into the newest season. No, right from the get go AOS is running smoothly as if it’s in mid-season form, with no missteps between the action, story, and possible Easter Eggs. AOS instantly feels like the Marvel property it was always meant to be. If every episode going forward runs as seamlessly and fluid as “Laws of Nature”, one can only imagine how good it will be once all the pieces of this season’s plot are in play.
After Joey Gutierrez (Juan Pablo Raba) ingests the Terrigen infused Fish Oil capsules from season two’s finale, he is almost instantaneously hunted down by a mysterious black ops team (later to be revealed as the Advanced Threat Containment Unit) when he is unable to control his abilities, setting fire and melting various objects around his apartment block. It is from this point where we also get a look at where all the characters have come since last season, as well the MCU’s current struggle with super-powered and alien individuals, after several large scale catastrophes to include The Battle of New York (Marvel’s Avengers), the attack on London (Thor: The Dark World) and of course most recently, Sokovia (Avengers: Age of Ultron). AOS also briefly touches upon the need for the Advanced Threat Containment Unit, since the last agency who handled these matters, is no longer trusted or even known to exist since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This is where we are introduced to Rosalind Price (Constance Zimmer), the head of the ATCU and a possible ally for the Agents moving forward, who I have some theories about I’ll touch upon later. But let’s not forget our first villain this season either, in Lash (Matthew Willig), a destructive Inhuman who if anything like his comic counterpart, will be seen alot in the coming season, as more and more Inhumans begin emerging.
Overall, AOS could not have had a better start to its third season. Marvel easily shows how “everything is connected” within their cinematic world, without overcompensating in their films. AOS stands strong on its own without the need of the bigger film powerhouses, but doesn’t shy away from reminding the audience it’s aware of what happens in the rest of the MCU world. Even Marvel’s most recent film Ant-Man, gets a nod and name drop in a theory Fitz’s (Iain de Caestecker) has about what happened to Agent Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), when she was engulfed by the ancient alien monolith. Even HYDRA is not forgotten but seems to be in limbo until they return as the forefront villains.
With such a strong start to the third season, one can only wonder what lies ahead in future episodes.
Random Thoughts and Theories: Advanced Threat Containment Unit: With the way the ATCU is being introduced, I have a sneaking suspicion this could be laying the ground work for S.W.O.R.D or at least some variation of it. I would even go so far as to put money on the ATCU, being the beginning of S.W.O.R.D or the Sentient World Observation and Response Department.>
Rosalind Price: If the ATCU will eventually become S.W.O.R.D, I would guess to say it’s highly probable Rosalind Price could be Special Agent Abigail Brand. Price has been shown to have worked for multiple government agencies, Zimmer who plays Price is a strong actress who could pull off a long term role as Brand and finally, AOS has established Price goes by a variety of aliases, with her real name unknown. Maybe Brand is another one of these aliases?
Agent Simmons: I have only seen a couple theories for Simmons location, two of which being the most plausible in Hala, the Kree home world or the Blue Area of the Moon, which is deeply connected to the Inhumans in the Marvel mythos. However, I don’t see it being either of those. Both are too big and important in the MCU, to be left to AOS to establish. Especially with James Gunn handling the cosmic end of the MCU and the upcoming Inhumans I would guess this alien planet is some kind of former Kree satellite city or maybe colony, rather than something as important as Hala or the Blue Area of The Moon.
Joey Gutierrez: An interesting theory online suggested Joey, the first openly LBGT character in the MCU, could be some kind of homage or inspired character of Joey the Morlock. Since Marvel cannot use the Morlocks in their properties, the theory suggest that AOS will use some kind of underground group of Inhumans instead, with them recently developing powers and hiding out from the world. I see this theory as unlikely, with Joey most likely being a new character from Marvel, who they will be using going forward. But, it’s an interesting theory worth mentioning none the less.
Finally … FINALLY … we now are into the meat of the movie season. After trudging through drivel week after week and sitting through such mind-numbing trash like The Boy Next Door, we get to tackle movies that are truly worth our time. Like Sicario. There are good movies and there are great movies. Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners), is a great film and the perfect movie to help usher in Oscar season.
From a score that is skin crawling and haunting, to sensational performances, to breathtaking cinematography (shot by the always brilliant Roger Deakins), Sicario is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Moral ambiguity is the currency throughout, represented brilliantly in all characters (some more than others). Each character is brilliantly written, with hidden layers of depth, and it seems everyone (and I do mean everyone) has an agenda. We learn very quickly in Sicario, just because a person is wearing a badge doesn’t mean that they are a good guy.
From the very first moment Sicario begins, it’s clear nothing will be held back. It is a commendable decision, refreshing. While on a tactical mission with her team, FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) comes face to face with a literal house of horrors. We are witness to rotting carcasses after rotting carcasses hidden in every corner of this house. Just when you think it couldn’t get much worse, a member of her team falls victim to a booby trap and is blown to pieces. At that moment, Kate decides to join a special task force to bring down the kingpin responsible for it all, Fausto Alarcon. CIA team leader Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), along with a shadowy figure named Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), lead Kate on a mission into the heart of cartel-controlled Mexico. From the start of this manhunt there is an immediate feeling Kate is in way over her head. This isn’t your typical by-the-books operation: this is a mission with an unclear objective. Do we even know who the bad guys are?
The entire picture is shrouded in mystery, cloaked in secrecy. Sicario is Spanish slang for hitman, and for a majority of the film we don’t know the Sicario in question. It didn’t matter, at least to me, as I was too enthralled in every moment to catch my breath and try and unpack the mystery. Sicario questions just how far the “good guys” are willing to go to get the “bad guys.” Are we willing to skirt federal laws in order to keep our country safe and secure in the long run? It’s a terrifying question, one Sicario attempts to answer.
Two aspects of this film stood out as brightly as the Las Vegas strip: Benecio Del Toro and The cinematography. Del Toro performance in Sicario is awe inspiring. His every movement, breath, motion, and gaze oozed ruthlessness. He commands each scene as if he’s in a spotlight on stage. You get this feeling everything that has transpired or will transpire is in some way a result of Del Toro’s character. Benicio’s performance is reminiscent of J.K. Simmons in Whiplash; Both are dominating performances, so riveting you just know they will be rewarded come Oscar season.
Deakins’ Cinematography in Sicario is on another level. The gunfight in the tunnels between America and Mexico is especially memorable. Director Denis Villeneuve creates such cutting edge action sequences, with quick shots between daytime and night vision, it effectively creates an immersive experience.
Movies like Sicario are masterclasses in filmmaking. The editing, the sound, the cinematography, and the performances all translate into a movie that will be considered one of the top 10 movies of 2015 by everyone (yes that means you). Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin are the anchors in an all star cast that makes this movie a can’t miss. Benecio Del Toro delivers a supporting performance that I feel is a lock for multiple nominations, and maybe even multiple wins for the veteran actor. Sicario really has kickstarted Oscar season.
The Martian is, for lack of a better word, astonishing. From one moment to the next you’re gripping the armrest, just waiting to see what twist director Ridley Scott – working from Andy Weir’s tightly-wound novel – will throw at you next. There is a good chance you will leave the theater wanting to see it again.
The plot of The Martian is simple. American astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is separated from his crewmates in a violent storm on Mars and is left behind, presumed dead. However, he is very much alive and now he has to let Earth know it. It’s a tremendous problem, but Watney is the crew’s biologist and he thinks he’ll make it. His method is to solve the problem in front of him and then move on to the next one. He sums this up rather directly: “I’m going to have science the shit out of this.” As Watney, Damon nails the humor in Weir’s novel. The film is filled with a fantastic plot, realistic science, an awe-inspiring Martian surface, and stellar performances.
The science elements of the film are woven in seamlessly and don’t seem above the audiences head. The film handles the scientific jargon by having Watney explain what he’s doing to a video mission log. NASA consulted on the film and it’s quite evident.
The cinematography is stunning. Mars is shown as beautiful, majestic, and bleak. From one moment to the next we are witness to the Martian elements trying their best to kill Watney, and as an audience we see his pure will to survive at all costs. Scott also incorporates a cornucopia of shots and shots using a go pro which, when mixed together, put you center stage in this tale of ultimate survival. Scott’s and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski’s shot selections are masterful.
In reality, the key to this movie rested on the broad shoulders of Matt Damon. Some may argue that this movie is a collaborative effort due to the fantastic performances from an all star supporting cast (Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig, and Chiwetel Ejiofor) but in reality they are but notes in Damon’s symphony of brilliance. It’s important to note that a large portion of this movie does have just Damon on screen dealing with the emotional and physical tolls of being on Mars. He delivers an authentic performance of a man who at times comes to accept an inevitable fate, but is still determined to never give up. Even in the face of what seems to be unbeatable odds, Watney manage to mix in the humor. The Martian is truly a movie about the human spirit. Damon’s performance will draw the attention of Oscar voters, whether that translates into an inevitable nomination remains to be seen.
I challenge you to find a space exploration film as succinct as The Martian, one with the same range of emotion, fantastic visuals, stellar moments of acting brilliance, and a relatable plot-line that anyone can get behind. Too often these types of films will pull off some elements, but may miss a crucial one, causing it to fall just short. The Martian doesn’t miss, it is a masterful motion picture.
The Adult Swim block, (Toonami) posted an english dubbed trailer of one of its upcoming shows, Parasyte. Parasyte premiere on Saturday, Oct 3rd at 1:00 a.m. EDT. The Toonami action/anime block starts every Saturday at 12:00 a.m. EDT.
Sentai Filmworks describes the story:
Unbeknownst to mankind the world is quietly being invaded. Alien beings known as “Parasytes” begin infiltrating humans one by one, burrowing into their brains to take complete control of both their bodies and their identities. With an insatiable hunger for human flesh these cold and calculating creatures mutate into grotesque monsters who feed on the unsuspecting when they’re not hiding behind the faces of everyday people. Only Shinichi Izumi, a lone high school boy, is aware of the terror lurking in plain sight. After one Parasyte’s attempt to take over his brain ends in failure, Shinichi’s right arm is instead possessed by this monster with a mind and an agenda all its own. As Shinichi and his unwanted cohabitant, “Migi,” struggle for dominance of his body, the alien infection continues to grow and so does the trail of bodies in its wake. Now Shinichi and Migi must become more than host and parasite if they hope to not only protect themselves, but Shinichi’s loved ones as well. As Shinichi and Migi’s symbiotic bond deepens, will Shinichi be able to hold on to his humanity, or will he evolve into something more than he ever imagined?
Last week, “The Magician’s Apprentice” ended with a huge cliffhanger, with the Doctor pointing a gun at a child after Clara and Missy are presumably killed by the Daleks. Now we have had the conclusion while also setting up the arc and threat for the season to come.
Clara awakes tied up and hanging upside down while Missy is sharpening a stick as Missy reveals how they survived the Dalek attack. Together they decide to go back into the capital city of the Dalek to help The Doctor who is being held captive by a dying Davros and his Dalek army.
“The Witch’s Familiar” is a much stronger entry than the previous episode. It’s what fans would want from Doctor Who, a grand epic of an adventure with The Doctor facing his greatest foes. Because the set up has been done in pervious installments, the follow-up was able to jump straight into the action. “The Magician’s Apprentice” was too bogged down with the series continuity, making the episode only one die-hard followers could get into. “The Witch’s Familiar” was less dense, more accessible, despite it being the second part of a two-parter. It was A two-pronged story, one of The Doctor and Davros having a battle of wits and the other being Missy and Clara going on a rescue.
One of the main criticisms of the last season was, it turned into Clara Oswald show and The Doctor was her companion. Though Jenna Coleman seems like she is a perfectly nice person and her Clara does have a cheek to her, her character is too understated and bland. For the rescue mission Missy takes the lead, and Clara is on the receiving end of the Time Lady’s actions. Their interactions raise a smile and Michelle Gomez excels once again, showing off her brilliant comedic timing, an intelligence and arrogance that can rival The Doctor and a ruthless and self-serving streak that makes her a truly Machiavellian character. Clara is still made out to be very intelligent because of her experience with The Doctor, but she’s not central to proceedings. Her big moment is a reference to the big reveal in her first Doctor Who appearance in “Asylum of the Daleks”.
The Doctor and Davros mental sparring is also a major part of this episode, both of them trying to outwit each other. Much of their conversations about the morality of their actions over the years and similarities between the two, like the rivalries between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Batman and the Joker and Professor Xavier and Magneto. But while The Doctor and Davros have been battling for years, Davros’ attempts to seek forgiveness and feeling guilty rings hollow considering his creations are nothing but hate-filled war machines programmed to commit genocide. They are not a misguided attempt to try to do the right thing. The Doctor does get physical with Davros and we get the fun of seeing our hero in Davros’ chair pointing a laser cannon at the Daleks.
Hettie Macdonald returns to directing a Doctor Who episode for the first time since “Blink” and she transitions brilliantly from a horror themed mystery to a more grand sci-fi spectacular. The episode is full of epic moments like the Daleks floating over the capital of Skaro, having the choir based music. The reboot series does have amazing classical style music. This episode is a special-effects heavy episode having some big moments and Macdonald directs some wondrous moments, like when Davros is pulled out of his chair and just a torso with cybernetic entrails, Davros opening his real eyes and the sunrise of Skaro. Macdonald does get a moment to show her abilities with horror when Clara and Missy are in the Dalek sewers, covered in a half-live goo craving to be reborn.
This episode was the one setting up the arc for the series to come, continuing a storyline from “The Day of the Doctor” and “The Time of the Doctor,” which tells of an ancient prophecy that could make The Doctor face his greatest nightmare. It also contained some small bits of dialogue, side mentions, that can lead to other potential storylines. It will be exciting to see how Steven Moffat and the Doctor Who writers will proceed with this arc, whether it will be continually referred to or simply be left for the finale; it will probably be the latter.
“The Witch’s Familiar” is a big step up from the previous episode, a follow-up that has everything you want from Doctor Who, rife with drama, comedy and spectacle. Hopefully, there will be more of this to come from this new season.
Ridley Scott is out promoting his latest film Martian, and the 78-year-old British filmmaker spoke with Yahoo! about the Blade Runner sequel, the possibility of more than one film, and admits that Deckard is a Replicant.
“Of course he’s a bloody Replicant!” said Scott.
According to Scott, Harrison Ford wasn’t too interested in a sequel to Blade Runner. He told Ford to read the script and after reading script Ford replied, “This is the best script I’ve ever had.”
When asked if there will be more than one sequel to Blade Runner, Scott gave a philosophical answer that could be interpreted as a yes.
Listen: Everyone else is, so why not? I love to work. The French say “Work to live,” and I live to work. I’m very lucky to have a job that I adore. All my kids do the same thing. Some of it’s trying, but it’s like being in professional sport. It’s so competitive [that] you better keep bouncing the ball. You can’t rest,” said Scott.
The interviewer, Jordan Zakarin tried to get Scott to reveal the time-frame for the sequel.
It was 2017, so coming back it’ll be 2047, roughly. As young as you can play Ryan Gosling. He’s 34, but he looks 27 when he’s doing his push-ups. So maybe 2050,” said Scott.
As the executive producer of the film Scott will have final cut.
Blade Runner 2 will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford.
Production for Blade Runner 2 is scheduled for 2016.
