‘Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone’ – Movie Review

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September 27, 2018

As the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald approaches, I thought it would be a good idea to re-visit the Harry Potter movies and review the entire franchise leading up to the next instalment. In the episode below, you can listen to my full review of the movie that started it all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

If you like what you hear, it would be awesome if you hit the like/subscribe buttons and drop a comment in the appropriate section.

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Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.

Listen to the review below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF0FnCtg4GY[/embedyt]

Adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling’s popular children’s novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents’ mysterious deaths.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was directed by Chris Columbus and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths.

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First ‘DARK PHOENIX’ Trailer Teases The Darkest X-Men Movie Yet

By

Kieran McLean

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September 27, 2018

As promised, 20th Century Fox has released the first official trailer for Dark Phoenix, revealing the first look at what appears to be the darkest chapter of the X-Men franchise so far.

The trailer, which you can watch in the player below, focuses heavily on Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey and offers small glimpses of her transformation into the villainous Phoenix.

Watch the trailer below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbMckU3AOQ[/embedyt]

Read the official synopsis for Dark Phoenix below:

In Dark Phoenix, the X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiralling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.

Directed by Simon Kinberg, Dark Phoenix stars Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Jessica Chastain (Smith), Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Alexandra Shipp (Storm), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler), Evan Peters (Quicksilver), Olivia Munn (Psylocke). The film will land in cinemas on February 14, 2018!

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Review: Aleister Black Comes Out of the Dark in WWE NXT TAKEOVER: REDEMPTION #1

By

Kimberly Cook

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He’s made a name for himself in the independent circuit, and now Aleister Black is making a quick ascension in BOOM! Studios’ WWE NEXT TAKEOVER: REDEMPTION #1.

WWE_NXT_004_A_Main — BOOM! Studios – WWE NXT TAKEOVER: REDEMPTION #1

STORY

Dennis Hopeless has a knack for great kayfabe storytelling, and Black’s story is no exception. Black has a don’t-give-a-damn attitude and won’t take anyone’s crap, which Hopeless narrates efficiently.

WWE_NXT_004_PRESS_5 - Regal Hello — BOOM! Studios – WWE NXT TAKEOVER: REDEMPTION #1

Without working through the ranks, NXT General Manager William Regal automatically put Black in a title hunt. After shutting up Velveteen Dream, Black set his sights on a war with Andrade “Cien” Almas. He can’t be trusted for a fair fight, especially with valet Zelina Vega in tow.

When you’re champion, you compete against the best. Former BFFs Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are in the middle of a violent breakup. These two keep beating the hell out of each other in the most exciting and entertaining ways, so who better to have a title match with. Black doesn’t care about their petty BS, he’s here to fight. And fight is what he’ll do.

ART

Action-packed, uniquely-shaped panels grace the pages of this issue at the hands of Rodrigo Lorenzo. The artwork in this NXT issue has been the most fun of the miniseries. The action is just damn good, the layout is dynamic and eye-catching, and the dark-toned color choices of Wesllei Manoel are proper.

Lettering is a subtle and sorely often overlooked aspect of comics, and I have to give props to Jim Campbell for this issue. Using black boxes with white lettering for Black’s inner-thoughts is pure genius. These stand out so well while moving through the action sequences, letting us inside Black’s dark and twisted mind.

WWE_NXT_004_PRESS_7 - Dream — BOOM! Studios – WWE NXT TAKEOVER: REDEMPTION #1

CONCLUSION

I’ve said it often, but it’s worth repeating: NXT is some of the best professional wrestling today. The storytelling is stellar and the athleticism is unmatched. The talent are hungry, and you can tell. Black is hungry, too… for whatever fresh meat happens to be across the ring from him.

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Review: Chip Zdarsky’s SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #310 Is An Emotional Goodbye

By

Manuel Gomez

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Chip Zdarsky writes, draws, colors and inks Spectacular Spider-Man #310, an emotional and heartfelt issue that perfectly captures what makes the old Web-Head such an enduring, inspiring and relatable character.

When filmmakers set out to document Spider-Man’s impact on New York City, they couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen to them next.

Spectacular Spider-Man #310
Writing, Art and Colors by: Chip Zdarsky
Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham

“No matter what…he’s never going to stop trying” -Peter Parker

Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker, has always been one of comics most enduring characters. In the right creative hands, Spidey becomes infinitely relatable. The creators who get what makes Spidey work know that it’s not the powers, or the origin, or even the Rogues Gallery (though Spider-Man does have some of the best villains in comics) that make for a good Spider-Man story. What makes for a good Web-head tale is what’s under the mask; Peter Parker. Chip Zdarsky is one of those creators. And although he has written Spidey before (and it has been good and fun) Spectacular-Spider Man #310 is not only his best issue yet, it’s one of the best and purest Spider-Man stories you will ever read.

In just 28 pages Zdarsky, using a clever ‘documentary’ framework shows us Spidey through the eyes of a few people (including Peter Parker’s). What unfolds is a story that runs a full gamut of emotions, from tragedy to action, to comedy and even suspense. You won’t get any spoilers here, but the ‘main’ story that runs through this issue is pretty gut-wrenching and features not a single supervillain or super-crime. Just a mother, her son, and the impact Spider-Man had on their lives.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, as Zdarsky, ever the humorous and clever writer, creates some great visual gags, jokes, situations and one-liners. And who doesn’t love seeing classic Spidey sporting a backpack (see the image at the top of the page)!

But what links everything is the heart and soul that is felt on every page. Spider-Man is many things to many people in New York, he’s everything from a menace to a hero. But something all can agree on is he is New Yorker, and his love for his city, his neighborhood and his people is unique among not just the Marvel Universe, but the entire medium of comics as well. Can you even think of another character that can even use “Your Friendly Neighborhood…” before their name? Didn’t think so!

You could talk at great length about this issue, but the very best thing you can do is pick it up and read it. It’s a standalone issue that can be read by just about anybody, and it should. This is a classic Spidey story, the kind that will be collected in ‘Best Of’ trades in years to come. Grab the single issue so you can say you read it when it was new.

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VADER IMMORTAL VR Star Wars Trailer For Oculus Quest Released: Yay Or Nay?

By

Daniel Forster

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September 26, 2018

A breaking new trailer dropped for Vader Immortal, a VR story series made exclusively for the Oculus Quest headset. There’s no shortage of Darth Vader fans in the Star Wars fandom base and Mark Zuckerberg plans on capitalizing on it. Partnering with ILMxLAB, the Oculus Quest launch is riding completely on Vader Immortal. The question on gamers minds, however, is will they be able to play it with other VR headsets?

Much like gaming consoles make content exclusive, so is the VR industry. Oculus Quest is a new wireless VR headset and is priced at $399. Vader Immortal is the first “episode” of three for the Oculus Quest and will be available at launch in the spring of 2019.

What We Know So Far About Vader Immortal

According to ILMxLAB, the story series will take place on the planet Mustafar. The Canon period is that of between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, allowing gamers to fight within Darth Vader’s infamous castle.

“We always look for opportunities to explore the Star Wars universe in new ways,” states president of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy. “ILMxLAB is very excited to be working with David S. Goyer on a first-of-its-kind Star Wars experience which allows fans to travel to Darth Vader’s fiery, lava-ridden fortress and wield a lightsaber on his home turf.”

Writer for the Vader Immortal David S. Goyer went on to say, “The experience is designed to be ‘immersive first,’ meaning that from its inception, this 3-part series has been conceived and executed specifically for the VR medium.”

Star Wars Rivals mobile game canceled.

Executive in Charge Vicki Dobbs Beck also added, “Our mission at ILMxLAB is to have fans ‘Step Inside Our Stories,’ and Vader Immortal represents a significant step forward in that ongoing quest.”

While this all sounds good, words and promises only mean so much. The ongoing controversy surrounding Battlefront II is a reminder that developers don’t always deliver on promises.

Looks cool but…all my friends have Vives lol https://t.co/7UQgxOaxlr

— Star Wars Explained (@StarWarsExplain) September 26, 2018

The Oculus Rift and Oculus Go have their place in the VR world. They are not, however, exactly known for being the best. Most VR gamers own a VIVE and aren’t happy about the news of Vader Immortal being exclusive towards the Oculus Quest. Add in a price tag of $399 and the interest begins to wane even more.

Let us know in the comments how you feel about Vader Immortal. Is the Oculus Quest VR headset worth the purchase, or give it a pass?

“May the Force be with you, always.”

Source: Starwars.com

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Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #1 Shoots For The Stars

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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This new Justice League series is off to a great start.

At the end of the No Justice event, an all-new Justice League sprung up. Unlike the regular Justice League and the Justice League Dark, this team was smaller and were heading for the stars. Cyborg looks at Brainiac’s ship and thinks of the entire sector of planets that was released in the aftermath. He decides to lead a team into this new frontier. This team consists of Starfire, Azrael, and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. As they head into the great unknown of this Ghost Sector, someone else is watching them: Darkseid. Why would the god of Apokolips be watching these fledgling heroes?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

We learn that the entire sector is essentially a maelstrom full of dangerous creatures and planets. The Guardians of the Universe have set up a perimeter to ensure that nothing can get in or out until things settle. The only member of the Justice League that is allowed to be a sentry is Jessica Cruz. During her routine checking of the perimeter, she sees the Brainiac ship fly past her at breakneck speeds. Cyborg reveals that he his flying the ship into the sector in an attempt to keep order.

Along with him, Starfire hopes to find Tamaran, which had been lost when the planets were released. While they bicker about how many intergalactic laws they are breaking, Azrael reveals he stowed away in the ship. He is following a voice within the maelstrom and hopes it will lead to enlightenment. Before their fight can get any further, Jessica tries to stop them as they all enter the sector.

In terms of first issues, this was a pretty good one. It gave a simple prologue for those who didn’t read the previous event and goes further by explaining each of the characters’ motivations. You definitely don’t need to have read previous comics to understand these characters or personalities. I genuinely like the cast and their interactions with one another. While I knew Cyborg and Starfire would play off of each other, Azrael didn’t really feel out of place. I also enjoy this concept of a whole new sector that needs to be explored. It feels like an epic space adventure with a twist at the end that will hook readers guaranteed. I just wish this Justice League came sooner because I’m already loving it.

Art:

To go along with this epic opening, we have Stjepan Sejic as the illustrator. His style fits this story perfectly, making this adventure feel larger than life. The first two-page spread was breathtaking, showing this new sector beautifully. The character design is pretty phenomenal as well, especially for the Justice League. Starfire looks more royal and Cyborg has plenty of new details to make him look more machine. Even Azrael’s look is amazing, harkening back to his iconic look and amalgamating his new title as Agent of the Bat. The only thing I am not a fan of is the new design of Darkseid. The design appears to be going for a more cloth-based costume instead of the futuristic armor he has worn in the past. When he wore that, his look screamed new god. When I look at him now, however, he looks more like Ronan the Accuser from Guardians of the Galaxy. That aside, the book looks extraordinary.

Conclusion:

Any new reader or comic veteran could pick this Justice League book up and still have a great time. It gets readers up to speed, has great characters, and overall looks fantastic. Let’s hope that from here on out its space epics without delay.

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Review: DOOMSDAY CLOCK #7 Sees the Return of Dr. Manhattan

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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This chapter to the Doomsday Clock series sees the return of Dr. Manhattan.

During our last trip into the world of Doomsday Clock, we made a slight detour from the main story. Since the beginning of this series, we’ve followed original characters Mime and Marionette, but know little about them. Told through flashbacks, the story of these two villains is a mix of sweet and dark. Along with the backstory, we see the Joker leads them to other DC supervillains. Unfortunately, such a large gathering of villainy gains the attention of the Comedian, who was saved by Dr. Manhattan. The anti-hero attacks the villains but gets caught by Joker, Mime, and Marionette to be tortured. While all of this was going on, where are the other heroes?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

After saving Johnny Thunderbolt, Rorschach and Saturn Girl prepare to take him somewhere safe with Alan Scott’s Green Lantern. Ozymandias is able to triangulate their location to come and pick them up. On board the ship, he explains to the group that Saturn Girl and Johnny have more significant parts to play a Bubastis, the kitten Ozymandias brought on the journey, will lead them to Dr. Manhattan.

Meanwhile, in Gotham, Comedian is getting tortured by Joker, Mime, and Marionette. The couple hopes to get a straight answer on where Manhattan is, but Comedian only reveals he was ordered to kill Bubastis. Before they can kill him, the villainous trio is interrupted by Batman and Ozymandias’ group.

We get a ton of revelations this chapter, and they are mind-blowing. During the fight between the psychos and heroes, we finally get the appearance of Doctor Manhattan and begin to get answers. One after another, things get more bizarre and intriguing as Manhattan dissects Ozymandias’ plan. By the time he goes off, it’ll keep readers more invested than they ever have been. Add that to the brutal fight between the heroes and the psychos; we have a pretty phenomenal issue.

Art:

While I am usually a fan of Gary Frank’s art, this time around the quality begins to waver. While it doesn’t detract from the issue as a whole, there are some panels that feel off—an unwarranted creepy face here, illogical movement in the fight there. It’s tiny details like that cause you to scratch your head and wonder why. That being said, there are even more breathtaking panels that are extraordinary. The buildup and appearance of Doctor Manhattan, in particular, stand out as being well drawn and well colored. In the end, the art has hiccups, but overall still looks fantastic.

Conclusion:

It’s issues like this that make me irritated that each new chapter comes out every two months. The story is great. The art is fantastic. By the end of the issue, I wanted to run out to buy the next one. I highly recommend picking up this issue before it’s too late.

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BIRDS OF PREY: Jurnee Smollett-Bell And Mary Elizabeth Winstead Cast

By

Kieran McLean

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September 26, 2018

According to Variety, Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) will join Margot Robbie in Cathy Yan’s Birds Of Prey movie! Winstead will portray Huntress and Smollett-Bell will play Black Canary, while Margot Robbie will reprise her Suicide Squad role as Harley Quinn.

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While nothing is confirmed, the report states that the three characters will team-up to fight an unconfirmed (Black Mask?) crime-lord. For those of you that don’t read comics, Huntress is described as a former mafia princess who was devastated at a young age when her family was killed, while Black Canary is described as a good-natured and idealistic streetfighter.

Cathy Yan is directing Birds Of Prey, which has been scheduled for a February 7, 2020 release date!

Source: Variety

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CREED II Trailer Holds Nothing Back

By

Matthew Sardo

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September 26, 2018

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures released the second trailer for CREED II, with a more defined look at the sequel’s plot.

About the film:
Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

CREED II is directed by Steven Caple Jr. from a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone. The film stars Michael B. Jordan, Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, Andre Ward, Florian “The Big Nasty” Munteanu, Dolph Lundgren, and Russell Hornsby.

CREED II hits theaters November 21.

Are you excited for the sequel? Comment below with your thoughts.

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Review: BLACK PANTHER #4 Pulls Us Deeper into the Intergalactic Empire

By

David DeCorte

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The story of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda continues its gradual unfold in Black Panther #4. Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuna give us a little more to explore with each new issue, but keep their cards close to the chest.

The Story

I’m loving the Afrofuturist vibe and the unique take on the characters and setting. Our main cast, including T’Challa, M’Baku, and Nakia, are starting to feel more familiar as we spend time with them.

I feel like the characters tend to get overshadowed from time to time, though, as we learn more about the world around them. The Galactic Empire of Wakanda is a massive world with its own unique lore and history. Coates gives us a little more information about The Empire with each new issue and how T’Challa and the others fit into place here.

The real clencher of Black Panther #4 comes in the last few pages; I won’t give away any spoilers, but a tragedy befalls our main cast. I’m not completely sure it gets the emotional weight that was intended, but I’ll reserve judgement until the next issue to see where the team takes that story thread.

As an installment in the larger narrative, I feel a bit conflicted so far. The fact that it is such a radical departure from typical territory leaves us without much to latch onto and orient ourselves. As a result, I find myself having to go back and reread certain sections to remember what’s happening. The lack of firm ground under your feet can make it hard to fully appreciate the story at times.

There are details that link us to the narrative through comparatively obscure Marvel lore. In Black Panther #4, for example, one of the main cast wields the Spear of Bashenga. It’s a callback to older Marvel stories, similar to the introduction of the M’Kraan Shard back in issue #2. We see the Emperor N’Jadaka (Killmonger) describe himself as the “Avatar of Bast,” suggesting he sees himself not just as favored by the gods, but a literal god in the flesh.

While the twists and Easter eggs in the story are great fun for Marvel aficionados, it demands some extensive knowledge (or extensive Googling). That can be an issue, considering this run is marketed as a jumping-on point for new readers.

The Artwork

As with previous issues, the artwork in Black Panther #4 remains stunning. The softer tones in backgrounds and contrast between muted and vivid colors make the more alien elements pop nicely.

The line work and inks complement those colors to form a nicely cohesive final product. For the most part, it gives us clarity when we need it, and some sci-fi flavor where appropriate. My only complaint is that it can be a little hard to distinguish what’s going on in some of the action sequences. The panel layout keeps everything pretty clear, though, so it’s not a major gripe.

Black Panther #4: Final Verdict

Black Panther #4 is a solid next step in the saga of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. I’m still enjoying the ride…I just wish we had a little more insight on where we’re headed.

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