James McAvoy, beloved by geek culture for his role as young Professor Xavier in the X-Men film series, is playing Lord Asriel in the BBC’s new adaptation of His Dark Materials. After a failed movie attempt in 2007, fans have been worried that Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy would never see the screen again. However, James McAvoy joins a growing and well-established cast in what is shaping up to be an excellent version of Pullman’s work.
The BBC announced their adaptation of His Dark Materials earlier this year, and the project includes former Doctor Who producers Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter. The project also brings Tom Hooper, director of the Les Miserables feature film, on board.
Other casting decisions include Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby (whoa!), Logan star Dafne Keen as the main character Lyra Belacqua and Ruth Wilson from The Affair as the deadly and beautiful Mrs. Coulter. As of yet, no news on who’s playing the bear.
His Dark Materials: Why The First One Flopped
The 2007 adaptation of The Golden Compass, first book in the trilogy, failed tremendously. Mainly, it ignored the core themes of the book. While we won’t spoil the ending of the first book, it’s deeply unsettling and ties into the trilogy as a whole. By changing it, the movie did an incredible injustice to Lyra as a character and to Pullman’s writing.
As a result, while physically beautiful, the movie was soulless. Furthermore, there was nowhere to go with it, since the ending had been so drastically altered.
Ultimately, this adaptation could have the best cast in the world, and the writing may not hold up. However, the increased flexibility offered by long-form storytelling and television will hopefully give them the room that they need.
(And I, personally, can’t wait for the casting of Serafina Pekkala. Bring on the Witch Queen!)
What do you think about the upcoming BBC His Dark Materials?
As newly appointed movie editor of this here site, I knew from the off that I would want to contribute a regular column, a standing destination for any editorial op-ed topic that I felt inspired to respond to. And so Franchise Opportunities was born.
Every cinephile nowadays knows that we’re living in a franchise-driven world. In the past, stars like Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Julia Roberts guaranteed a studio would make bank at the box office, but today’s big money-makers are Star Wars, Marvel Studios and, well, other Disney-owned properties. So keep an eye on this column for my thoughts on what the future may hold for your favorite film franchises. That being said, on to our maiden FO voyage…
The past week has been a treasure trove of new trailers, but while Ralph Breaks the Internet and Halloween no doubt have inspired much excitement from their respective fanbases, the one that really stood out to me — much to my surprise — was the first trailer for Bumblebee, the upcoming prequel/spin-off to Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise.
Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, I developed a long-standing fandom with many of the pop cultural touchstones of the era. Masters of the Universe, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers all ruled my world at various points. Yet, one of the biggest franchises (and, honestly, toy lines) that never captured my attention as a kid was Transformers. So, when Bay’s film adaptation came out in 2007, I was pretty indifferent to the whole thing. Barely able to tell the difference between an Autobot and a Decepticon, I shrugged off all the hype and came at it from the simple hope that the idea of robot aliens who transform into various vehicles could make for a fun time at the movies.
Even with that low bar, I was underwhelmed by the film and absolutely detested its horrid sequel, 2009’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Although the continued financial success mystified me, I assumed nostalgia was simply blinding the core fanbase in the same way I will halfheartedly defend the recent Bay-produced TMNT films. With no connection to the fate of Optimus Prime (and certainly not the series’ awful human characters), I decided to sit out the rest of the films. It was no big loss to me that the Transformers films turned out to be such an incomprehensible mess.
Over the subsequent near-decade, the franchise has devolved into a punchline in the film criticism community, and fans have apparently begun coming around to critics’ side, as the fourth and fifth films in the franchise are the lowest-grossing domestic earners of the bunch. Even as Hasbro and Paramount mount plans for a whole Transformers shared universe, the series has remained firmly entrenched in my Things-that-Are-Clearly-Not-Meant-for-Me list, alongside perceived dreck like the Fifty Shades franchise.
Then something funny happened. News about Bumblebee began to creep out into the world, and I began to think it could actually (maybe) be a decent film. After all, I did consider the character to be a rare bright spot of the first one. But the fact that Bay would not be directing the film is what truly inspired my first ray of hope. Director Travis Knight may be a newcomer to live-action filmmaking, but when your debut feature is the gorgeous and stirring Kubo and the Two Strings, you have earned my full attention.
Couple that with Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld — who wowed me in The Edge of Seventeen, one of 2016’s best films — in the lead and the 1980s setting, which itself ties directly into the very roots of the franchise itself. Before long, it became apparent that Transformers was at last going for something very different from Bay’s mind-numbingly dumb and offensive approach to a property that should have always been right up my alley.
With all that in mind, I watched the Bumblebee trailer buzzing (yeah, I did) with cautious optimism, and thankfully, the film does appear — at least thus far — to present an opportunity for a fresh start for the Transformers franchise. The period setting lends itself to a throwback vibe that neatly dovetails into the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial meets The Iron Giant tale the film looks to be telling. Such a franchise-wide rehabilitation is certainly in order, and Paramount is likely waiting to see if it pays off before deciding where to take the franchise next. According to reports, the studio has removed its seventh Transformers film from its release schedule. So no pressure Bumblebee, but you’d better earn back that audience goodwill in a jiffy.
At least based on this first trailer, the Transformers franchise could be on the mend. Whether Bumblebee is the first in a series of spin-off films or the final entry before a full-on reboot, it has the makings of a film that could successfully bring together a promising filmmaker, a solid cast — John Cena looks to be playing the governmental antagonist opposite Steinfeld and her robotic pal — and significantly improved visual effects to be the first Transformers film to actually win over the series’ harshest critics, like myself. Even though its story may hit some familiar beats, perhaps an Amblin-inspired Transformers film is the first step toward making the franchise, much like its titular heroes, more than it appears to be.
Of course, we’ll find out for certain whether Bumblebee is actually a step up for Transformers or simply another red herring when the film hits theaters on December 21, 2018. For now, consider me legitimately interested in a Transformers film for the first time in over a decade.
Agree or disagree with my thoughts? Comment below to let me know or chat movies with me on Twitter @crookedtable!
On Friday, Universal announced via social media that the trailer for First Man was going to be released in conjunction with the film’s star, Ryan Gosling’s appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. To appease the throngs of fans who follow Gosling’s every move, they even went ahead and released the poster for the film. Here it is.
The poster is much brighter than I had anticipated but it certainly sets high expectations as we inch closer to its eventual release. First Man is directed by Oscar-winner Damien Chazelle. Gosling is set to play Neil Armstrong, and the film chronicles his life from 1961 all the way to the moon landing in 1969. The narrative is adapted from James R. Hansen’s book which bears the same name. The movie promises to be less about the actual moon landing and more about the sacrifices, and the toll this mission took on him. What’s appealing about this film is the strong supporting cast. Claire Foy (Crown) plays Armstrong’s wife. Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Patrick Fugit, Ciaran Hinds, Ethan Embry, Shea Whigham, Corey Stoll, and Pablo Schreiber round out the cast. If there’s anything we’ve learned from is Chazelle has a keen attention to detail, so it will be interesting to see the level of authenticity in this picture. Check out the trailer!
Webcomics come in all colors, and Melissa Capriglione and Clara W.’s collaboration project Falconhyrste is a dazzling array of them. From bright blues and pinks to a diverse set of skin tones and vibrant expressions, the fantasy webcomic makes a point of popping off the page.
Falconhyrste (started in 2015) follows a young trans boy Cei in his first year of a bizarre boarding school. After a spooky experience in the woods that leaves him half-conscious, a strange girl walks out of the forest and announces that she’s a new student. But who is she, and what is up with the spooky forest and weird school anyway?
I sat down with Melissa Capriglione with some questions about the comic!
FALCONHYRSTE – Melissa Capriglione
Dunstan: Let’s start with a question for the both of you. How did your partnership [with Clara] start, and did it start with or before Falconhyrste?
Capriglione: It started back on Tumblr in December of 2014. I was running a fandom blog at the time, and the show was about to end, so I figured I needed to make my own fandom while working on what I wanted to work on (comics). I made a post on my blog about starting a webcomic, and Clara was the only one who responded! We were both in the fandom and bonded over it and immediately got to work on the webcomic project. So I guess you could say that it started with Falconhyrste, but also ended up with us becoming best friends.
Dunstan: A lot of comic book co-creatorships are relatively clean-cut between writing and art. You both do some of the writing and art. How does that work out, what’s your process like?
Capriglione: I think both of us wanted to individually improve our writing and art skills, so we decided to work alongside each other. It has been a huge learning curve, but having someone there to help out or turn to for inspiration is a great opportunity. We do run into arguments often, but we’re thick as thieves and always move on. Our process usually starts with discussion of plot to the final script, which Clara writes, and I edit as needed. I then do the thumbnails for every page, and she pencils out the details and adds the lettering. I finish off the pages with linework and colors.
Dunstan: Has finding an audience been difficult or did you find your crowd early on and stick with it?
Capriglione: We haven’t always had a crowd! Up until just last year, we probably had barely a handful of readers (mostly being friends). But with lots of patience, we were able to slowly build a small following which turned into wonderful support, allowing us to get a website and do a comic issue run! Our audience has always been all-ages and LGBT+ friendly; it just took us a while to find one!
Dunstan: Is there a plan for each chapter of Falconhyrste, or is there a certain amount of going with the flow/throwing things out there? In other words, are you gardeners or pantsers?
Capriglione: I would say about 50/50. The full script for the entire story is written, but it wasn’t written very well, and it’s very old. That kind of paved the way for us, but the overall arc is figured out, and our ending is planned. We currently work with chapters broken down into plot and then add filler stuff. Usually, we work with one chapter at a time.
Dunstan: Are one or the other of you responsible for certain characters or plot points?
Capriglione: Most of the jokes and funny stuff is written by Clara. I usually write the more dramatic anime stuff. Specifically, however, I don’t think there is anything in the story that you can point to and tell which one of us was responsible. Usually, I come to Clara with wild ideas, and she filters whatever dramatic and outlandish plot points I come up with.
Dunstan: Representation is a hot topic in media right now. What does it mean to you, especially in terms of writing something with a lot of casually queer characters?
Capriglione: The basis of our comic was to make every character unique and strong in their own way. The world in which we live in is incredibly diverse, so we wanted to reflect that into our story. Our goal, I believe, was to have queer characters casually existing in a universe and discovering magic. Young adult tales of magic have always been intriguing to me, but the stories I’ve read have always lacked queer representation. With our story, we wanted to create something that we would want to read. Seeing as both me and Clara are queer, we wanted to make sure that our story represented different queer identities and orientations.
Dunstan: How can readers and other interested folks best support you?
Capriglione: Of course, the easiest way to support us is to read the comic on our site (falconhyrste.com) and whitelist it for your adblocker because we get ad revenue from views. To support us monetarily, we have a Patreon (patreon.com/falconhyrste) with lots of great rewards, like requests, giveaways, and reading ahead! You can also follow us on various social media and join us on Discord to stay up-to-date! I also post a lot of sketches and previews on my Twitter account @mcapriglioneart.
Big thanks to Melissa for taking the time to sit down with me! This is just one of the webcartoonist interviews coming along for #PrideMonth.
With the third season well on its way to the finish line, The Expanse edged along with “Intransigence” dropping F-bombs all the way. And, no, I’m not talking about the Belter curse, “felota.” Depending on where you live and who your TV provider is, you may be getting the censored version but, thankfully, in morally bankrupt Canada I’m getting the good stuff courtesy of the SpaceGO streaming service. This canuck viewer counted three separate uses of the network-banned oath, although technically one of them was “un-f*ck,” so maybe it cancels out one of the “f*cks.”
Of course, the main focus of “Intransigence” wasn’t the coarse language. It was the Ring and what the Ring represents to the various factions racing to understand it. For the Inners, which include people from both Mars and Earth, the Ring represents a new frontier. For the put-upon Belters, the Ring represents a chance to prove themselves to the rest of the system. And for Holden and the crew of the Rocinante, the Ring represents the next step in their peculiar unfolding destinies.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Never Trust a Blind Cameraman
The Rocinante is safe for now thanks to the unique physics of the Ring. And, having evaded the Belter torpedo fired at them, Holden and the crew try to figure out how the forged message showing Holden declaring war upon the Inners was transmitted from their ship.
An irate Amos grabs Cohen and accuses him, having seen the cameraman snooping around the machine shop in “It Reaches Out.” Under threat of violence, Cohen immediately admits his misdeed, but claims that he was just trying to gain access to all of the Rocinante’s logs and didn’t realize his actions would have the effect they did. So although Cohen may not have understood what he was doing, whomever is pulling his strings apparently did.
Naomi Nagata is having a tough time aboard the Behemoth. She seems to be growing suspicious of the OPA, especially of Anderson Dawes’s influence over it. Naomi wants to determine if the malfunctioning Behemoth did fire upon the Rocinante and if her old ship was destroyed. This elicits a reprimand from Ashford who reminds her that her job as chief engineer of the Behemoth is to fix the malfunctioning ship. Naomi reluctantly agrees to get to work, and, in a surprise move, Captain Drummer apologizes for her order to fire, saying she’s sorry if the crew of the Roci is dead. Well, at least she’s sorry.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – “…for his family.”
But they’re not dead, they’re just in grave peril. On the run from the MCRN and inside a physically unique environment, Holden and the crew of the Roci work on a plan. Unfortunately, the previously helpful if somewhat cryptic undead Detective Miller has gone AWOL. Holden locks himself away and shouts Miller’s name, but doesn’t hear a peep in response.
Aboard the UNN Thomas Prince, an address from Secretary-General Avasarala informs Dr. Volovodov and her fellow academics that because of the attack of the Seung Un and the erratic behaviour of the Ring all civilians are being ordered away from the area.
We see Melba and her shipmates discussing the unfolding events and the apparent death of fellow mechanic Ren. Hiding her guilty conscience quite poorly, Melba lashes out when Stanni suggests Ren was a drunk. Soledad suggests that they clear out Ren’s locker “…for his family,” and Melba agrees.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Papa-Oom-Mao-Mao
In a different part of the Thomas Prince’s cafeteria, Volovodov discusses the evacuation notice with a fellow member of the clergy. They both dislike being turned back, but don’t think they can avoid it. Tilly Fagan walks up and declares that she will not be going to Titan with the others, giggling in her trademark fashion. Melba hears the annoying laugh, causing a flashback. It shows Melba and Fagan, both in expensive-looking evening gowns, at a very posh party.
In the flashback, Melba overhears Fagan joking with her date, saying that it would be “just like her to ditch her own party.” A brief glimpse of a projection of the Razorback gives a clue to who “she” is. Apparently under pressure to start the party, Melba walks off to “find them.”
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Sibling Rivalry
Walking through an immense house, Melba eventually finds who she’s looking for. In a grand sitting room, she finds Jules-Pierre and Julie Mao engaged in an argument. Julie plans to go to the Belt, but Jules-Pierre won’t have it, saying he won’t have any daughter of his “whoring around the Belt.”
Not surprisingly, Julie doesn’t respond well and drops F-bombs two and three. She calls her father corrupt and walks out. Jules-Pierre tells Melba the party is over, and says that the racing team will have to wait until next year. He also provides a big fan-theory confirmation when he calls Julie Melba’s sister.
Back in the present, “Melba” gets up and walks out of the cafeteria, Fagan’s vapid giggle echoing in her ears.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Creative Negotiation Tactics
In the machine shop aboard the Rocinante, Cohen tells Amos that he never met his contact and didn’t know the purpose of his act of sabotage. Cohen removes the chip he inserted into the comm system in the last episode, and offers it to Amos. But, Amos isn’t much of an engineer. He’s more of an ex-mob boss.
Alex doesn’t know anything about engineering either, saying that’s a “Naomi thing.” But Amos wants answers, so he focuses on his strengths: he grabs Monica by the back of the head and threatens to kill her unless Cohen reveals what he knows.
The MCRN Xuesen takes this moment to launch two probes, one which progressively ramps up its speed until the Ring grabs it, and another slow-moving one. Alex tells Holden that the fast-moving probe was traveling at approximately 18,000 km/h when the Ring grabbed it, and Holden describes this as the Ring’s speed limit. The Xuesen increases its speed to match and so does the Roci, Holden declaring he’s not interested in being caught.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – A Good Safety Tip
Although the Ring draws the fast-moving probe toward its center, the slow-moving probe continues on its trajectory and disappears when it hits what Alex describes as the bubble around the Ring. Alex sums their situation up nicely: if they turn then the MCRN boards them, and if they follow their current course then the ring blinks them out of existence. Holden says they have until their collision with the bubble to figure out a viable option for survival.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Nostalgia Kills
Informed of the MCRN’s progress inside the Ring by a Martian skiff, Ashford finds Naomi and informs her of the transmission. He suggests that since the MCRN is currently in pursuit of the Rocinante, the Roci must still be intact. Contrary to the MCRN’s orders, though, the Behemoth will pursue both ships into the Ring.
After waxing philosophical about the nature of guilt, Ashford suggests that nostalgia makes Naomi long for the good ol’ days aboard the Roci but suggests that, like him, she outgrew her old ship and crew. He says the OPA needs Naomi. Naomi says she’ll fix the Behemoth, but doesn’t say any more than that.
Still on course to potentially be wiped from existence, Holden has heard nothing from the wraith-like Det. Miller. Alex happens upon Amos putting Monica and Cohen in the airlock, and while Monica pleads for help Amos calmly instructs his two captives, who are wearing vac suits, to put on their helmets. His plan is to send the film crew to the Martians in hopes that Monica and Cohen will tell the MCRN the truth about the Rocinante’s falsified declaration of war.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Blackmail and Miracles
Aboard the Thomas Prince Volovodov asks Fagan how she plans to avoid the evacuation order. Fagan says that the ship’s XO is close to retirement and is seeking employment in one of her mother’s companies. Seeming shocked at first by Fagan’s act of extortion, Volovodov promptly asks if Fagan can also pull strings for her.
When Fagan, who admits to thrill-seeking, asks why Volovodov is so interested in staying aboard, Volovodov says the awakening of the Ring is the only miracle that’s happened in her lifetime. She says she wants to be there when everything changes. Fagan says Volovodov is motivated by a selfish desire to be a part of something amazing, and, dropping her guard, Volovodov agrees.
“Melba” and her two companions clear out Ren’s locker. “Melba” finds a photo of Ren’s family and uncovers Ren’s administrative reports about her, Stanni, and Soledad. “Melba’s” guilt increases when she finds out how reasonable and supportive a boss Ren was.
Another flashback is triggered, this one showing “Melba” telling Julie off. “Melba” is embarrassed by Julie and is disappointed that Julie doesn’t care about embarrassing the family. Julie calls their father a damaged man and tells her sister that she’ll never be enough for him.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – “I was being gentle.”
With no other option available and death staring them in the face, Holden suggests that they surrender to the MCRN and attempt to clear their names. Alex reminds Holden that this will mean giving the Rocinante up to the Martians, but Holden can’t see any other way out of their situation, their only other option being death.
Aboard the Behemoth we see Naomi assign a docked ship for departure. Based on the quizzical look on Ashford’s face, it seems that the assignment is news to him. Drummer takes a moment to give her crew a pep talk, but Naomi doesn’t join in when the rest of the crew erupts in cheers of Belter pride. No matter how Naomi feels about her place in this historic moment for Belters, though, she’s in the felota now: the Behemoth has entered the Ring.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – “At the foot of a false idol.”
The Thomas Prince is being evacuated. Volovodov tries to convince her fellow member of the clergy, Hector, to stay aboard. We see a UNN soldier arrested for desertion while trying to escape along with the civilians. Hector balks and makes excuses to Volovodov about why he can’t stay. Whatever Volovodov is looking for, she’ll have to look for it without him. Later, Volovodov sends her wife a transmission telling her that she’s going through the Ring but promises to come back.
We see Volovodov meet “Melba” on the command deck. Volovodv admits to having some reservations about seeing the trip into the Ring through, and “Melba” says she understands. Volovodov asks why “Melba” chose to stay. This triggers another flashback.
Jules-Pierre asks “Melba” where her sister is, and she tells him that the “b*tch finally left.” He tells his daughter that she shouldn’t call her sister names. “Melba” asks why he continues to defend Julie. Jules-Pierre tells “Melba” that Julie reminds him of what it was like to be young, that she seeks to carry her name into the future whereas “Melba” just plans parties. Ooh, tough dad-burn.
Back in the present “Melba” lies to Volovodov, saying she stayed aboard for the hazard pay, and walks off.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Hazard Pay
Free of the pastor’s prying eyes, “Melba” riffles through Ren’s bag and finds his futuristic phone. She records a message, giving the dead man’s family a cursory greeting and saying that Ren was a good man. She then uses the rest of the transmission to send a message to her father.
It turns out that “Melba” is a zealot out for revenge. She tells Jules-Pierre that she can’t free him from prison, but she can bring down the man who put him there — read Holden — something Julie could never do. She ends the transmission and hides the phone back in Ren’s bag.
Aboard the Behemoth we see Naomi trying to steal a skiff. After two “Access Denieds” Drummer sidles up behind Naomi and asks her why she’s deserting. Naomi responds that she came back to the OPA for the wrong reasons, and, reinterpreting Ashford’s advice, says that when she left the Rocinante she was just feeling nostalgic for the OPA. Naomi tells Drummer that she hid her plans to leave because she worried Drummer wouldn’t let her go. Drummer responds by unlocking Naomi’s skiff. She allows Naomi to go with a parting warning, “Don’t go too fast out there.” Now that’s an understanding captain!
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – “You seem different.”
Looking damn good in his fedora, Miller finally shows up and asks Holden why he’s slowing down. He tells Holden that they have to get to the middle of the ring. Miller calls it both the “crime scene” and the “nucleus.” He says that he has a crime to investigate and Holden wants the truth. Holden remarks that the previously confused detective seems different, and Miller responds that the signal is better inside the Ring.
We see Naomi aboard her skiff. She hails the Rocinante and tells them she’s coming home. Unfortunately, because the Roci’s comm system is down, no one responds. She tells them to hang on but Holden is doing anything but. We see him in a vac suit on the hull of the Rocinante. The intrepid adventurer takes a look around, locks onto the so-called nucleus, and pushes off toward it.
The Expanse Season 3, Episode 9: “Intransigence” – Final Thoughts
This episode did some serious foundation laying for the coming season finale and the story arc that will lead up to it. Although it was good to see Naomi among other Belters for a while, I’m glad she’s heading back to the Rocinante. As proven in this episode, none of the other crew aboard the Roci are much for engineering. It must have been hard for Naomi to leave though. That was a damn fine speech from Drummer.
It was also good to see “Melba’s” story through. The flashback sequences worked well at filling in her motivations.
Wes Chatham in his role as Amos was great in this episode as was Cas Anvar as Alex. I especially liked how Amos described his violent acts of psychological torture as “being gentle.” Both Alex and Amos have grown a lot since the show started, and good scenes between the two have definitely helped.
Even though the narrative in Gary Ross’s Ocean’s 8 isn’t cleverly constructed like its predecessors, the cast’s performance and the film’s snappy pace make it an enjoyable experience.
Now, hearing this might disappoint some of those who are reading the review, as people have been hyperfocused on the gender-swapping in Ross’s latest project. It’s hard to forget the vitriol that Ghostbusters director Paul Feig faced and the hate spewed at the cast (especially Leslie Jones). In 2000, when it was announced that a remake of Oceans 11 was on the way, no one lost their mind about George Clooney stepping into a role made famous by Frank Sinatra. However, in 2015 when it was announced that Feig was rebooting Ghostbusters with a female cast, everyone lost their minds.
In 2016, history repeated itself when the cast of Ocean’s 8 was revealed. Why should it matter who is playing these roles? These releases shouldn’t be judged on the gender of the cast member but the merit of the final product. How can these performers forge their own paths if we are always comparing them to what’s already been done?
The next chapter in the Ocean family saga centers around Debbie (Sandra Bullock), Danny’s kid sister, who — following in the footsteps of her brother — is being paroled after serving almost six years in jail on a fraud charge. As she exits the prison and we find out that her brother is allegedly dead, Debbie has really nowhere to go and hardly any money. In the blink of an eye, Ocean manages to rectify the issue by setting herself up for what’s to come.
She quickly connects with partner in crime Lou (Cate Blanchett) and begins to slowly reveal a plan that’s been in the works since the moment Debbie was locked up. They are targeting the Metropolitan Museum of Arts’s annual gala and are looking to steal the legendary Cartier necklace, made out of antique diamonds and worth $150 million. It quickly becomes clear that the job is enormous and they need to bring in six more members to their crew. Enter the characters played by Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway.
The strength of the film indeed is the chemistry between the cast members. There’s a level of comfort the actors have with one another that keeps the interactions loose. It looks as if they are enjoying the notion of, for once, playing the villains in a film. My standout performer would have to be Hathaway’s portrayal of Daphne Kruger. Kruger is this over-the-top A-list actress whose mood changes on a whim and who begs to be the center of everyone’s universe. One has to think that the Oscar winner had to have based her portrayal on any number of A-list celebrities. Hathaway’s performance indeed is the funniest and most impactful of the whole cast.
Ross maintained a snappy pace throughout the film, not allowing for any lag. Alex DiGerlando’s production design adds a layer of sophistication to the gala. Particularly, the use of a water feature in one wing of the museum wherein the jewels glistened off it resulted in some elaborate lighting. My only concern in Ocean’s 8 stems from the writing. Ross and co-screenwriter Olivia Milch seemed too concerned with making a connection to the original set of films. They even brought two former cast members in for cameos (no, not Clooney or Brad Pitt).
Rather than trying to force a connection, they should have concentrated on digging deeper into Debbie’s motivations. Why does she feel the need to do this job after being locked up? Is it just about revenge? Is she trying to live up to her brother’s reputation? Also, it would have been helpful had Ross injected more of an original angle to this predictable tale. If it hadn’t been for the performances of the ensemble, my opinion of Ocean’s 8 would have been drastically changed.
Overall, the film indeed is entertaining. It’s the type of release that would be perfect for either a date night or girls’ night out. Don’t expect much in the way of a story, but the enjoyment audiences get from the playful banter of this ensemble is what makes it worth seeing this weekend.
Halloween, the most highly anticipated horror film of 2018, finally released its first trailer on Friday. The sequel is forty years after the first movie and pretends that the previous sequels didn’t even occur. Haddonfield is still reeling from Michael Myers last killing spree and doesn’t seem to have recovered.
Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode while Judy Greer plays her daughter. Strode has been living with the trauma of Myers first killing spree and appears to have dedicated her life preparing for the day when he finally escapes. Of course, we all know what happens next which sets up a showdown between the two. The film’s storyline was developed by David Gordon Green, Jeff Fradley, and Danny Mcbride. Green is also is at the helm of this much-anticipated sequel. Here’s the trailer!
The film opens October 19th and stars Will Patton, Virginia Gardener, Dylan Arnold, Drew Scheid, Miles Robbins, Nick Castle, Andi Matichak, and James Jude Courtney.
What did you think of the trailer? My personal highlight how they seamlessly integrated the iconic theme while showing us images which are consistent with what made the original film so special. Horror doesn’t have to be elaborate it just has to scare the hell out of ya. What was your highlight? Please let us know by leaving a comment.
Writer Al Ewing has been a Marvel fan-favorite for a number of years. His work on Ultimates, Royals, U.S.Avengers, and Avengers: No Surrender has landed him plenty of gigs in the internet community fantasy-casting. Immortal Hulk could potentially be the series to finally push him into the next level of comic book writing super-stardom.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Immortal Hulk sees our old pal Bruce Banner back from the dead and on the run once again. However, things are different this time. Al Ewing is bringing a different perspective, one of horror.
Most of the issue is a story told from outside perspectives. The tale of a gas station robbery gone wrong in order to pay off a debt owed to a dangerous gang. Banner and his green counterpart find themselves among the victims, only to be resurrected and hungry for revenge. Meanwhile, the local police and a reporter piece the story together on their own.
Putting a horror spin on the Hulk is a fantastically fun concept. Giving readers the optics from outside perspectives amplifies the spectacle and horror of a small town hit that all of a sudden features a gamma-powered monster.
Displaying and discussing the Hulk at a distance always makes him more significant. You can’t have a successful Hulk book without anyone turning green, but the way Ewing uses him here is the right amount. When Hulk shows up, it should matter and carry weight one way or another, especially through the lens of horror. This is a masterful script by Al Ewing.
Joe Bennett keeps the monster at bay as well, making sure the Hulk’s reveals have an impact. Even the way Hulk looks is more like a classic Universal Studios monster than the smooth sci-fi hunk we’ve grown accustomed to. Paul Mounts does spectacular work with his color, keeping the bright green at bay until the time to strike was just right.
Immortal Hulk is a truly fresh and interesting take on a character that could use a shakeup. Al Ewing has been deserving more attention for long enough, hopefully this creative series will catapult him into getting the credit he deserves.
Our favorite green gamma monster is getting a “Fresh Start” indeed! Be sure to pay attention to this one.
Chido Comics and Masked Republic, Thursday night, announced a comic book Luchaverse starring Rey Mysterio, Blue Demon Jr, Konnan, Los Cadetes del Espacio (Solar and Super Astro), and Lucha Brothers Penta Zero M & Rey Fenix.
The first book, The Masked Republic Luchaverse: Rey Mysterio One-Shot will debut at San Diego Comic-Con International on Friday, July 20. Mysterio will be in attendance according to the press release.
We asked Chido Comics Founder & Publisher Ivan Plaza, what is it about Lucha Libre that makes it perfect for comic books and how you are going to take the Luchaverse to the next level?
“Well, the common answer you would normally hear is that these Luchadores are the closest thing to real-life superheroes and villains fighting in a ring. Which is true! We are going more for the nostalgia aspect of classic Lucha Libre in Latin Pop Culture. This is back when fans were able to see legends like El Santo or Blue Demon star in movies solving crimes, fighting monsters and saving the world! Mexican comic books were no different. In comic books there is no limited budget for special effects, this is why it’s the perfect medium to bring back the glory and tradition of the real-life Lucha Libre stars,” said Plaza.
Co-writer on the books, Marco Lopez couldn’t contain his excitement for the new series.
“I’m so excited to be a part of this. As a fan of wrestling and a fan of the coolest brand of wrestling native to Latin people. It’s an honor to have helped create this world and write these one-shots. Lucha Libre is beloved around the world and celebrated by so many. They’re superheroes in the ring and to their fans. We’re just bringing that passion and theatrics to the page with an unlimited visual budget. It’s gonna be a wild ride,” said Lopez.
About the series: “A dormant and mysterious power that long ago held the fate of our planet Earth has now been released. Our legends will be put to the test, as Chido Comics and Masked Republic bring back the glory and tradition of real-life Lucha Libre stars in comic books taking on epic and unprecedented events based in our real world mixed with adventure, fantasy and science fiction!”
The Masked Republic Luchaverse one-shots are written by Marco Lopez and Ivan Plaza, with artwork by Ben Harvey and Bryan Magnaye (Rey Mysterio), Diego Simone (Blue Demon Jr), Javier Martin Caba (Lucha Brothers), and Micah Myers will letter all five books.
The Blue Demon Jr and Lucha Brothers One-Shot Specials will be available this year, with The Konnan and Los Cadetes del Espacio One-Shots available late 2018/early 2019.
What are your thoughts, are you excited about a shared Luchaverse? Comment below.
After the announcement of a 12th season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on a Netflix and a live tour featuring original show creator Joel Hodgson, fans (MSTies as they are known) couldn’t ask for more to come from the franchise. Luckily, they won’t have to ask and will instead be receiving a cherry on top of all of this good news because they will soon be gifted with a comic book series featuring their favorite bad movie watching robots.
The series, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Comic will be released by Dark Horse Comics on September 9th. Hodgson is set to write the series which will feature the cast riffing on Public Domain comics.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 began in 1988 where it was a little low budget show produced for public access. It was picked up by the blossoming Comedy Channel (which became Comedy Central) and was reworked to tell the story of man who was shot into space by his bosses. Best to just let the opening tell you about it better.
Though it may be a change from making fun of bad movies to mocking bad comics their still is a lot of potential for a lot of great comedy to come from this new comic series.
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Are you looking forward to the new series from Dark Horse Comics? Leave a comment below and let us know.
