One of individuals behind the creation of the legendary animation company, Studio Ghibli has passed on. Isao Takahata, 82, died after a year long battle with a cardiac related illness. This is a sad day for not only fans of anime but for any who enjoy the work of animation and the power it can have on the audience.
When looking at the history of anime in America, two films were big influences in the 1980s and helped the media to come to be seen as being iconic. These films were Akira and Grave of the Fireflies, which Takahata directed. The film helped to show a message of the horrors of war and presented a film which even today is visually striking, emotionally powerful, and remains on the best film of all time list by several prominent film critics.
Takahata would continue to work at Studio Ghibli for years as a director, writer, and producer. His film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya was nominated for an Oscar at the 87th academy awards. Truly this is a sad day for many anime fans.
If any one message can be taken from his long catlog of titles he would created, it would be to hold onto hope and learn to smile even through the hard times. You will be missed Director Takahata.
Digital Spy got a chance to check out an extended, 30-minute preview of Avengers: Infinity War. The outlet couldn’t share much, but they called the film “ambitious,” noting its different tones. Here’s their full reaction:
“We’ve just seen 30 mins of #AvengersInfinityWar. Can’t say too much but it’s way ambitious, it’ll switch tones between different groups (the Guardians sequence had a very different, look, feel and soundtrack to the New York scenes) and it’s going to be funny. Still no Hawkeye!”
We’ve just seen 30 mins of #AvengersInfinityWar. Can’t say too much but it’s way ambitious, it’ll switch tones between different groups (the Guardians sequence had a very different, look, feel and soundtrack to the New York scenes) and it’s going to be funny. Still no Hawkeye! pic.twitter.com/FehX5anmB9
As we get closer to release, more reactions are likely going to land online. With any big release comes potential for spoilers, so be wary when browsing certain online communities ahead of Avengers: Infinity War.
“As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.”
Avengers: Infinity War features Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Josh Brolin as Thanos.
Whether Marvel Studios knows it or not, it has created the greatest MCU villain in Fitz aka Fitz-Simmons aka Leopold Fitz on their show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, portrayed by Iain De Caestecker. While Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. puts him to great use, he would be wasted if he isn’t used as a villain on a larger scale. We have been watching the perfect villain origin story unfold since the end of season one. He may not be able to face the Avengers alone, but as a behind the scenes super-villain he would rule the MCU.
Insane
In general, insane may seem like a bad thing and well it might be for most people, but with Fitz’s advanced mind, his bouts with insanity have only helped him. His first was after his near-death experience by Grant Ward. (End of season one, the beginning of season two) Ward dropped Fitz-Simmons to the bottom of the ocean, at which time Fitz gave up his oxygen to save Simmons. He lived but his mind was severely damaged, he suffered from gaps in his vocabulary and loss of individual motor skills because of cerebral hypoxia. Though those things were setbacks, he gained something he needed, independence. With Simmons being out of the picture Fitz’s mind made its own Simmons to bounce his thoughts off of when she did return the two grew apart, which at this point in his life was what he needed. In season five he is hit with another significant bit of insanity while the stress of fixing the rift in space and time brings out the Framework version of his mind, Leopold. This moment is the most important, once Fitz realizes that Leopold is not one of the living fears created by the rift, his split Framework mind, and rational mind finally become one. He becomes the Leopold Fitz that can not only think of the tough choices but can also carry them out without regret.
Genius
He is the co-creator/creator of some of the best inventions/upgrades on the show. His official title is an engineer but come on let’s be honest, though not there yet he is quickly reaching Stark’s level. For the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Fitz’s inventions have been a core piece of how the team moves. The Zephyr One, S.H.I.E.L.D.s newest mobile base of operations is just one of many notable contributions. Now that his split mind is seemingly one (season 5), his genius is even more of a force to be reckoned with. Fitz created the Framework, which was later improved upon by Holden Radcliffe, and along with it came Aida. Artificial Intelligent Digital Assistant or A.I.D.A. was created by Radcliffe but perfected by Fitz and was the first of the Life-Model Decoys or L.M.D.s. The original intent of these L.M.D.s was to protect S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the field, but Aida went full-on Terminator and was almost unstoppable. One L.M.D. for each of Tony’s suits, or better yet an L.M.D. Tony wearing one of Tony’s suits. (Insert evil laugh here)
Complete Knowledge of S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA
Fitz has been a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. through all of the major events of the MCU, even its fall. Which means he knows everything there is to know about its heroes, S.H.I.E.L.D. had contingency plans for some of them which include’s the containment modules he created. His evil half was second in command of Hydra and in charge of all their whacked out experiments. His role in Hydra gives him the knowledge and experience needed to command and deal with the darker side of the MCU. Let’s not forget Hydra won in the Framework world, so they could have a way to beat Earth’s mightiest heroes.
With a Hydra mastermind lurking around in his head, the ability to create killer robots, portals to other worlds, and heck other worlds completely, Leopold Fitz could easily be the MCU’s public enemy number one.
Do you think Fitz could take on the MCU? Leave a comment below.
The HBO documentary Andre The Giant (which airs April 10th at 10 pm) is a gripping look at the tragic circumstances surrounding one of the all-time great sports entertainers.
The filmmakers stayed away from making a movie solely biographical look at one of the biggest icons in wrestling. They instead meticulously sought to find out what drives a French athlete afflicted with acromegaly to sacrifice his body night after night for a sport which was predetermined (what a refreshing approach). While most assume the answer would be a complex one, a news clip of Andre reveals it was because he wanted to make a living.
While the disease impacted his appearance in such a drastic way resulting in crowds of fans jamming dimly lit arenas/armories just to catch a glimpse of him, it was the Giant’s work ethic which catapulted him to stardom. The documentary provides accounts of Andre wrestling in various territories (back when there were territories around the globe) connecting with anyone he came in contact with. In the beginning, Andre would wrestle under the name Le Géant Ferré, and as he grew in height/stature, the name became more menacing. However, no one ever mistook him for a villain when he would compete in the ring. His smile could win over even the most skeptical of spectators.
As his fame grew, so did the exposure to all sorts of vices. The documentary tackles alcoholism directly. Through interviews with Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, and Vince McMahon we learn about how much of a party animal the eighth wonder of the world was. Flair gleefully explains how one night Flair was with Andre and he managed to drink 106 beers in the span of a few hours. Lawler and McMahon later explain how the biggest wrestler in the world would drink to dull the agony of his daily life. His stature and girth were already impacting his life.
One of the more bold moments of the documentary was when they examined the detachment promoters have with their wrestlers. Vince Sr. (Vince McMahon’s dad) was the man who originally signed him to an exclusive deal but had no problem loaning him out to various territories all in the name of making money. Regardless of his condition, Andre never said no and would work night after night. When McMahon took over for his dad, the dynamics changed instantly. While he adored the most prominent athlete in wrestling, he viewed the aging star as a product more than a person.
The most engaging portion of the Simmons documentary was concerning Hulk Hogan. Hogan was McMahon’s vision of what a wrestler should be. The director Jason Hehir used news footage along with clips of everyone talking about Andre becoming a villain in the wrestling world and putting Hogan over. The result is a recount of one the most significant sporting events ever: WrestleMania 3.
Overall the documentary delivers a very balanced look at an icon whose mere presence ignited a passion for wrestling which still burns today.
Steven Spielberg is ready to take Indiana Jones in a new direction.
The Ready Player One director feels the next Indiana Jones should be a woman.
After the upcoming fifth film, Spielberg says its time for the character to take a different form.
During an interview with The Sun, he discussed the many female influences in his life.
“My mom was strong. She had a voice, she had a very strong opinion.
“I have been very lucky to be influenced by women, several of whom I have just loved madly — my mom and my wife.”
The upcoming fifth film “will be Harrison Ford’s last Indiana Jones movie, I am pretty sure, but it will certainly continue after that.”
“We’d have to change the name from Jones to Joan. And there would be nothing wrong with that,” he added.
Since the original Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford is in his 70s, fans thought it was time for a younger actor to be cast. Many suggested Chris Pratt but Spielberg said no one was in consideration at the time.
“It’s certainly not my intention to ever have another actor step into his shoes and the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman,” the director said. “There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford.
As Greg Pak’s creator own series Mech Cadet Yu continues to battle against the alien invaders, the comic has proven to be a hit for Boom! Studios. Does the latest issue continue the trend or does it fail its mission?
Yu and his team have disobeyed orders to save the world and now there remaining teammate wants to bring them in.
Writing
This issue picks up moments after where the previous one left off. It becomes apparent not everyone is happy with the major secret which was revealed. It’s hard to really make anymore commentary on what went down in this issue without spoiling the recent revelation the series but there are still a few details which can still be looked at.
As Standford and his team fly into space to take on the invading aliens, there seems to be hints this will not be the only invasion force the earth will face. Leave it to writer Greg Pak to be planning out more to his giant robot saga. Hopefully there will be much more of Mech Cadet Yu and the upcoming battle will not be the end of everything.
Artwork
The art in this issue is once again up to the impeccable standard previous issues has set. Thanks to the illustration by Takeshi Miyazawa the battle feels intense and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The color work by Triona Farrell helps to cement the tone and flow of the story. With the lettering by Simon Bowland helping to land the perfect emotional impact, everything comes together in a way which makes the entire issue so visually pleasing to take in.
Conclusion
The series has been a great ride so far and hopefully there is much more to come. If not, and the battle in next issue is the end, then it will be an incredible, knockout, edge of your seat battle which everyone will need to check out.
The penultimate chapter of the “Bizarroverse” arc is fun, as well as a bit insane, but still has time to tug your heartstrings. In the DC Multiverse, there is an Earth whose population is made up of backwards versions of the main universe. The most iconic of these is the backwards bruiser Bizarro, who has been revealed to have a son, Boyzarro. The latter finds a portal to the main universe, where he runs into his equivalent, Jon Kent the Superboy. He takes Boyzarro to his dad, Superman, and after some convincing, they go back with a group to Htrae. Unfortunately, Bizarro sees Superman as a threat to his ideal lifestyle and starts fighting with him. What will be the outcome of this clash of opposites?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
While Bizarro and Superman fight on Htrae’s moon, the kids feel the planet shake. Keeping in line with this Superman‘s story in the series thus far, Bizarro is giving a peculiar reaction to this world. The more he fights against his position as the father figure, the planet breaks more. Hoping it was set Bizarro’s head straight, Superman sends the children to find the Bizarro League, who have been captured by the Legion of Fun, The Legion of Doom’s Bizarro doppelgängers.
This is a fantastic climax to the Bizarroverse arc. It has kick-ass action, humorous moments, but most of all, it makes you feel emotional over these backwards people. The stars of the issue are, without a doubt, Bizarro and his son. They have a shocking amount of humanity and emotions that will pull readers in. Bizarro wants to be the hero of his world, but the moment Superman arrives, the world loves him more. You end up feeling bad for the backwards bruiser; he’s the worlds protector, possibly creator, and no one gives him the recognition he deserves. The only one you’d feel worse for is Boyzarro, who just wants a Dad. It’s actually a very tragic story, but a well told one.
There is one slight problem that may irritate readers. Like the first chapter of this arc, most of the dialogue is in Bizarro’s backwards dialect. There will be some difficult parts to decipher if you aren’t used to it by now, but the issue is still worth the read.
Art:
It’s not a secret that I am not the biggest fan of Doug Mahnke’s art, but it works extremely well here. His creepy style of illustrations fit the world of Bizarro, making the people look monstrous enough to stand apart from their doppelgängers, but still have enough detail for emotion. Wil Quintona takes that skill further with his expert color work. When the team’s work melds together, it creates a wide range of emotions. There are panels that’ll make you laugh and some that will punch you in the gut with emotion. The team knocked it out of the park.
Conclusion:
This was an excellent issue and one I recommend to any fans of Bizarro. Does it have flaws? A few, such as Mahnke’s art for the heroes from the main DC Earth and the Bizarro speech, but it doesn’t detract from the quality of the story. If you need a comic to read, go grab this one. You won’t be disappointed.
With just a few weeks until Avengers: Infinity War lands and our lives change forever, Marvel Studios is pushing the marketing with a bunch of new character posters.
The posters include a look at most of the main heroes, which naturally includes Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), along with a bunch of other Marvel characters.
Check out the posters below:
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is directed by The Russo Brothers and stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Scarlet Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (Vision), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Vin Diesel (Groot), Dave Bautista (Drax), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Benedict Wong (Wong), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man).
Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet — the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artefacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.
A Quiet Place is deftly written, masterfully staged, and a beautifully shot film which oozes with intensity while leaving audiences exhausted from the ordeal.
Classifying which genre Director/Actor John Krasinski’s latest project would fall under appears to be much easier than it is. A Quiet Place is one of those few releases that manages to transcend traditional genres. Sure, the film has elements of post-apocalyptic madness as the family manages to evade a rarely seen monster. There are individual dramatic elements as the characters always are having to come to terms with either death or their mortality. Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and Krasinski have masterfully woven these elements together to create one of the very best movies of 2018.
The narrative gets off to quite a jarring start which immediately grabs the audience and causes everyone to be invested in this family’s survival. Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and Lee Abbott (Krasinski) are trudging through the woods trying to survive in this new world where making the slightest sound will result in certain death. Knowing this, the world is adjusting to life with no sound. The Abbott’s communicate by using sign language with their children (Noah played by Marcuse Jupe and Regan who is portrayed by Millicent Simmonds). However, with Evelyn having another baby and life’s little mishaps like breaking a glass, their lives are joyless as they continuously live in fear.
Krasinski makes ample use of every element at his disposal to ramp up the intensity of A Quiet Place. Silence plays a significant factor in enhancing the post-apocalyptic and dramatic aspects of the film. As the creatures are milling around the Abbott’s farm, Evelyn is forced to deal with the pain of having a nail in her foot while the monster is just two feet behind her. Silence has an impact on the family dynamics also. While Lee’s wife and son understand why there is the need to be quiet at all times, his daughter thinks it means she is unloved.
Cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen made use of the reduced lighting and intricate set pieces to deliver fantastic shots. One of the highlights had to be the scene where Evelyn is downstairs with the newborn baby in the near dark (only a red light is on) while water is filling the room. The mixture of the creature’s rattle, the look of sheer terror on Blunt’s face, the glow from the red light, and the water trickling in will cause audience’s hearts to race. Krasinski staged this film exceptionally well. The sequences in the cornfield were terrifying. Marco Beltrami’s score evoked feelings of serenity and heartache.
While Krasinski, Jupe, and Simmonds were equally excellent in the film, it was Blunt who gave the best performance. The actress was able to convey such pain and sheer terror as they trudged through this hellish landscape. She had a deep understanding that Evelyn is the emotional backbone of A Quiet Place. With one glance, she can convey such love to her daughter Regan while showing such intensity as her character holds a shotgun directly at the aliens head. Blunt’s performance was astonishing.
A Quiet Place is the type of film which demands to be seen in theaters. Rarely has a release combined so many elements resulting in a gut-wrenching yet captivating final product. See it this weekend but be prepared to be messed up afterward.
The latest installment in the Marvel cinematic universe has passed Frozen at the worldwide box office, making it the tenth highest grossing film of all time. Black Panther has brought in just under 1.3 billion, and will likely hit that milestone within the next week. This information comes to us via Exhibitor Relations.
Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER keeps making its mark in the record books–now the #10 top-grossing film worldwide with $1.279 billion, passing Disney’s FROZEN.
We’ve seen just how big of a hit Black Panther is, but its staggering numbers still come as a surprise to me. Director Ryan Coogler made it obvious he studied the characters and their backstories from the comics, and translated them and Wakanda into a stellar story on the big screen.
Did you enjoy the movie? Comment below, let us know!
“After the events of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakanadan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.”
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Sterling K. Brown.
