DC’s “New Age of Heroes” initiative continues this week with The Terrifics by Ivan Reis and Jeff Lemire. Lemire has stated that their goal is for the series to be a fun, all-ages adventure story in the vein of classic Kirby comics like Fantastic Four and Challengers of the Unknown.
And the team succeeds on that front. The opening page sets a tone that’s not only reminiscent of Kirby’s FF run, but of Mark Waid’s as well. It promises adventure: to “wrangle the unknowable” and “pin the impossible down.” There’s a sense of grand wonder that permeates the entire story. Then, by the end, we have a classic call-to-action that will have readers both young and old itching for issue two.
There’s definitely a wholesome vibe to this first issue. It’s a ton of fun to read, and the characters blend together in very interesting ways. They butt heads quite a bit, which helps their situation feel more relatable, but they still retain a great chemistry that makes this series one to keep an eye on. It very well could become one of the best mainstream team books on the shelves.
But while book as a whole is worth its cover price, the real selling point is Plastic Man. Long absent from DC Comics, he steals the show on all fronts in his return. From the way Lemire writes him to the way Reis draws him, Plas stands out among the rest. You can tell the creative team is having a blast playing with him. He allows them to really stretch (pun intended) the limits of the book, and is shaping up to be the heart and soul of the Terrifics.
The illustration of Plastic Man deserves extra praise in particular. Based on a design by Doc Shaner (who will take over regular art duties after this first arc), Reis, inker Joe Prado, and colorist Marcelo Maiolo make the character the best part of literally every panel he’s in. The rest of the issue is traditional Ivan Reis, which is to say it’s good. Reis is one of the best artists DC has, and this book further proves that. But his Plastic Man doesn’t feel “traditional”; he feels special – and that makes the book feel special in turn. There’s a 2-page splash in the middle of the issue that exemplifies this point (seen above). It’s the perfect blend of Reis, Prado, and Maiolo’s normal great work and Plastic Man’s unique, cartoony quality.
Jeff Lemire wanted a superhero comic that he could read with his kid, so he wrote it himself, and did a bang-up job with the help of Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Marcelo Maiolo, and Tom Napolitano. The Terrifics is, in a word…fantastic. (See what I did there? You thought I was going to say “terrific,” because the name of the book is…. ah forget it, just go buy the comic.)
It’s nothing new that The New Mutants release date was pushed back to 2019, but the reasoning behind the decision is brand new information.
We were previously told that the film needed reshoots to make it ‘more scary’, despite the reports that audiences responded well to the test screenings. However, new information, via THR, has suggested that the filmmakers are actually adding a new character to the lineup.
The film currently tabs five members to the team in Cannonball, Magik, Mirage (or Moonstar), Sunspot and Wolfsbane, but to narrow it down would be difficult as there are a plethora of characters in the comics that could be added in for the film. It had been previously reported that Warlock, an alien mutant, would be the sixth member of the group, but it would obviously have to be a CGI-generated character. Some other possibilities could include: Boom-Boom, Cypher, Karma, Surge or Magma, which is another character that would need to be CGI-created.
So, considering how long of a push-back it is, would suggest the character will need some CGI enhancements which would suggest it could be either Magma or Warlock.
We will have to wait and see, but we are set to find out when the film hits theaters on February 22, 2019, unless there is (gasp) another delay.
There is a laundry list of characters to have come and gone from the New Mutants squad, but which character(s) would you like to see in the film? Let us know in the comments below.
With the Winter Olympics closing ceremony this past Sunday, the focus can once again turn to the most glamorous night of the year: the 90th Academy Awards.
Returning this year is Jenkins, an Oscar prediction system named for surprise winner Moonlight‘s director Barry Jenkins. It looks at every nominee from the past 25 years, and using regressive analysis predicts the winners in each category based on similar awards won.
For example, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award is very predictive of Best Actor, while the People’s Choice Awards don’t predict much of anything. Most of the predictors are “inside,” or guild awards, like the SAG, Critic’s Choice, Producers Guild of America, etc., where the same people voting for these awards also vote in the Oscars. The rest of the predictors are “outside” and include film critic societies from around the world, some of which are better than others.
Last year, Jenkins produced 67% accuracy across all categories. Hopefully, it only gets better. Check back as we predict every category leading up the big night on Sunday.
Without further ado, the predictions for Best Picture, Director, and the Acting categories:
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Most Likely: Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
This is a very weird year for Supporting Actor. Here’s the thing: Every actor in the past 25 years that has won the Golden Globe, the SAG, the BAFTA, and the Critics’ Choice awards have gone on to win the Oscar. Thus, Sam Rockwell is the favorite.
Yet, the same is also true for actors who have taken every outsider award, making Willem Dafoe the favorite. A similar scenario played out the past two years, with Mahershala Ali and Mark Rylance winning despite not taking most of the insider awards.
So who do we pick then? Despite Dafoe’s wins and excellent performance, Rockwell’s awards have felt like a recognition of his body of work. He’s been around for a long time, often playing this same basic role, but has not been recognized for it. That’s something the Academy loves to do, and it’s a safe bet they will repeat that here.
Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Allison Janney is a shoe in. She swept the SAG, Critic’s Choice, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. You can bet your bottom dollar that she’ll take the stage on Sunday.
Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Less Likely: Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Very Unlikely: Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Unlike many past seasons, this year’s Best Actress feels like a lock. Frances McDormand took the SAG, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice awards. While the outsider awards are fairly mixed in their picks, the weight of these insiders makes her win a sure thing.
Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Fences
Unlikely: Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Very unlikely: Timothée Chalamet, Call My by Your Name
Gary Oldman has never won on Oscar. He’s been around for decades, and done an incredible variety of roles, but never taken home the statue.
That’s only going to bolster his near guarantee win on Sunday night, what with his SAG, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe Drama, and BAFTA wins.
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
It will be shocking if del Toro does not take the trophy home on Sunday night. He has won the DGA, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA, and Golden Globe. But more than this, del Toro has a fat resume of incredible contributions to the industry. It’s his time – simple as that.
Best Picture: The Shape of Water
Unlikely: Lady Bird
Very unlikely: Get Out
Save for any embarrassing nationally televised mishaps, The Shape of Water will take the win this year.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has gained momentum, and is the leading choice in a lot of polls. Its SAG, Golden Globe, and BAFTA wins certainly help.
But The Shape of Water has taken the PGA, DGA, and Critic’s Choice. The PGA is the most predictive category for Best Picture, and it carries a lot of weight. Yet, just last year, the Oscar winner did not line up.
And that, more than anything, is a reflection of the changing times. While La La Land was the favorite to win, it did not reflect the changing voter base and their preferences.
That same trend will play out this year. Three Billboards is topical, but that does not translate beyond surface level. It is not telling a new story, by and large. And as good as McDormand was, one performance a win does not guarantee.
Instead, the Academy will choose a love story about those who never receive them. It will choose a movie that celebrates love in all forms, peace, the borderless advancement of science, and the admission that the villains of the world were born out of 1950’s white government and corporate men.
The Shape of Water will win, and only those who aren’t paying attention will be surprised.
Last week Nintendo won 11 times at the DICE Awards. Four of the wins were for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including Game of the Year. Prior to those awards, January marked 10 million Nintendo Switch units sold in just 10-months. 4 million short of surpassing the Wii U’s lifetime sales number of 13.56 million. Though it fell short in that aspect, it did beat the Wii U in Japanese sales at the same time.
Amassing 3,407,158 in units sold compared to the 3,301,155 Wii U’s sold in the country. It took the Switch 10-months to beat its predecessor in Japan. A predecessor that had a six-year headstart. While the Wii U was nowhere near perfect, and its name did cause a lot of confusion, it was the best thing to happen to the company.
But why? To put it in perspective, everyone needs to fail at some point in order to become better. Was the Wii U as bad as the Apple Pippin, Philips CD-i, or the Sega Saturn? Absolutely not. But everything from its average library to its confusing marketing strategy brought about a revelation for the company.
A company that realized it had two choices. Either learn from its mistakes or fail again and possibly leave the home console market and stick to handheld and mobile gaming. That was a possibility that became real to me. When was there ever a console maker that had multiple failures and stayed in the home console market?
Plus Nintendo has had a stranglehold on the handheld market since the Gameboy’s release in 1989. Tiger handhelds are no more (Tiger Electronics went defunct in 2012), and the PlayStation Vita’s selling of over 10 million in 2017, fails in comparison to the over 60 million 3DS’ that have been sold since 2011. 7.2 million of which were sold last year according to Statista. Super Mario Run alone was downloaded 200 million times by mobile users, 90% of which came from outside of Japan.
So the idea of Nintendo fully going away is something that will more than likely never happen. The Wii U’s failure came as a form of enlightenment for Nintendo. It caused them to look at what got them to where they are as a video game publisher and console maker. Starting with the controller.
When it comes to head-to-head gaming Nintendo has always been at the forefront. Whether it was via a link cable for Pokémon so friends could trade and battle each other or the groundbreaking four-controller ports placed at the front of the Nintendo 64. With the Joycon, there’s no need to buy another controller. Allowing gamers to save money while being able to game with other people.
Then there is the portability which the Wii U lacked. It’s great to be able to travel and not have to put my game of Skyrimor Super Mario Odyssey on hold while I’m away. While the battery life differs from what game I play, it’s not like the Game Gear days. Where it took six batteries to work and as soon as a few minutes went by the damn thing died.
But the biggest win and realization for Nintendo was it realized hardware doesn’t make a console, it’s the games that are made for it. When consoles cost as much as they do, companies need a library that justifies its price. Fans wanted a new Zelda title, they got one at launch. Many including myself wanted a new Metroid game.
Now we know Metroid Prime 4 is in development. An announcement which to me was the biggest highlight of E3 last year (Sorry Beyond Good and Evil2). While Nintendo is also porting a lot of third-party games, the truth is its first-party content is what makes the Switch a win for me. I already own a PlayStation 4 so my third-party needs are met when it comes to those types of games.
Looking at the release dates of upcoming games, it seems as if Nintendo has a genius idea. An idea that results in bi-monthly releases of first-party titles. March contains the release of Kirby Star Alliances,while Mario Tennis Aces, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will be released in the Spring. Not to mention a new Yoshi title is in the works as well.
Also, they aren’t primarily kid-centric anymore and are bringing in games like Dark Souls for older gamers. Sure they’re releasing the Nintendo Labo, but as an earlier article of mine points out, it’s for both kids and adults. Talking to a friend of mine in his late 30’s over the weekend, he told me how the porting of more mature games makes him want to buy a Switch. Simply because it has good games for both he and his son.
If the disappointment of the Wii U caused a company like Nintendo to re-evaluate and focus on what works then that’s a win for gamers everywhere. Plus a strong Nintendo means better competition for Microsoft and Sony and provides a strong alternative to both. Which will lead to better ideas, better games, and shows those two companies they cannot just rest on their laurels. Nintendo has revolutionized gaming once again.
They didn’t do it through horrible gimmicks like motion controls (I know the Switch has them but they’re not primary like the Wii), or VR. They did it though giving people what they wanted. A portable home console with a strong library that utilizes colors well. Not to mention hitting a nerve of nostalgia by going from discs to cartridges.
So thank you Wii U. Thank you for causing Nintendo to look at themselves and re-evaluate how they should move forward. Now if we can just get a new F-Zero game that would be amazing. Reggie if you are reading this please make it happen!
One of the greatest benefits of being a collector of Funko pops is that other collectors are routinely looking out for everyone. Such was the case this afternoon when Instagrammer sw_up_wir20 posted a screenshot of the newsletter sent by Secret Stash.
It appears the comic book store Secret Stash is set to sell a limited edition set of Funko pops dedicated to the hit show The Comic Book Men. They are even going to have them signed by the cast. This sale is a unique opportunity for anyone who collects pops. Lost in all of this is that it seems they are going to take orders for the exclusive Kevin Smith Secret Stash Funko pop (one of the hardest to locate). Are you excited about this news? Are you going to order all of them? Please be sure to leave a comment below.
The official Wreck-it Ralph Twitter account revealed that a new trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will debut tomorrow, February 28. Check out the teaser below:
The first film was such an incredibly well done adventure, and the upcoming installment brings nothing but excitement for me. The way Wreck-it Ralph blended such a diverse bunch of characters into a feature that brought not only action, but also humor, heart, and spectacular writing.
6 years after the events of “Wreck-It Ralph”, Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 is directed by Phil Johnston and Rich Moore. The movie features Kelly Macdonald, Kristen Bell, Mandy Moore, Auli’i Cravalho, Alan Tudyk, John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, and Anthony Daniels.
The sequel releases on November 21. Are you excited about the next Wreck-it Ralph installment? Comment below, let us know!
It’s time for our first look at Shazam!. Warner Brother’s take on the Billy Batson story is set to star as the titular Captain Marvel. The David F. Sandberg directed flick is set to bring a more lighthearted tone to the DCEU.
The biggest question around the film so far is what would Levi look like as the iconic comic hero? The internet has debated whether or not the Chuck actor was too small to portray such a large framed hero. We have our first look at Levi in costume from set photos via Twitter.
The suit looks very similar to the one that the character in the comics wears. The cape, along with the golden boots and gauntlets indicate that Levi’s costume won’t’ stray far from his comic counterparts.
This particular scene being filmed seems to be taking place at Christmas time in a mall. We can also sport Mark Strong on set, who is playing the villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Is it possible that Billy Batson went on a trip to the mall only to be confronted by the protagonist? Only time will tell.
What do you think of the suit? Let us know in the comments below!
Shazam! is set to hit theaters April 5, 2019
“We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still, a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.”
Filmmaker and ubiquitous pop culture geek Kevin Smith suffered a massive heart attack at the age of 47 Sunday night. The always open and honest director posted to social media about the scare:
“After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground!” said Smith via Twitter.
We here at Monkeys Fighting Robots only wish him the best and are rooting for a speedy recovery. When creators are faced with death they all react differently, and it will be interesting to see what path Smith takes.
Smith’s first film, Clerks was his interpretation of his twenties, Clerks 2 his thirties, and Jersey Girl was about being a father. With all the nerd love Smith gets, he’s never had box office success. He’s made 12 films with an average box office gross of $18 million. The numbers are slightly skewed as his last three films; Red State, Tusk, and Yoga Hosers did not receive a wide release. If you take those out, Smith’s numbers look a little better, averaging about $22.5 million per film. All of the films have turned a profit except Jersey Girl, which only took in $25 million domestic against a bloated $35 million budget (Can we blame Jennifer Lopez and a Will Smith cameo for exploding the expense? Yes!).
In 2010, Smith decided to go outside his comfort zone and direct a film he did not write: Cop Out, aka A Couple of Dicks. This was a low point in his career as he had issues with Bruce Willis, movie critics, and the film was a disaster. Visibly, you could tell Smith was going to a dark place. In March 2010, Smith was kicked off a Southwest flight for being too fat. Having seen him at the Cop Out panel at San Diego Comic-Con International in 2009, his Hall H panel in 2010, and then his ‘An Evening with Kevin Smith’ at the Chicago Theater in the fall of 2010, it was clear his weight gain was massive and his depression was real.
I remember telling a friend after the Chicago show in 2010, we are going to lose him if something doesn’t change.
Things did change. The Comic Book Men after The Walking Dead on AMC was a hit. The podcast industry took off. Smith has started directing TV, and he lost 85 pounds.
Now Smith is at another crossroads after the heart attack. Clint Eastwood is 87-years-old and has 39 directing credits to his name. What are Smith’s next 27 films going to look like? It may have been too big of a burden to come out of the gate with Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy but Mr. Smith, you were our generation’s weird John Hughes.
Mr. Smith, you are on borrowed time now. Take as much time as you want and love your friends and family. Get back in shape, change your diet, get feeling good again. Then create like you’ve never created before. Learn a new appreciation for your craft. There are no guarantees in life, and every time you sit in the director’s chair it could be your last. Get obsessed with life and share your writing and filmmaking gifts with the world.
Work out a deal with whatever streaming service you want (I hear Netflix is hiring), and create an anthology series. Today, there is no need to reach for box office glory with big budget films going directly to your phone. Ride the new wave of creation, and get every story that’s running around in your brain on paper, and then on screen. It could be therapeutic for your new recovery, and your new lease on life could spark an entirely new creative bone in your body you never knew existed.
Whatever the case, we’re all glad that you’re still with us.
We live in a golden age of superhero movies, with an endless backlog of costumed heroes ready to charge to the top of the box office. The Marvel Cinematic Universe gets most of the credit these days for ushering in this era. However, the seeds for that actually go all the way back to August 21, 1998. On that day, Blade, — starring Wesley Snipes as the day-walking vampire hunter — proved that the world was ready for a new era of superheroics just a year after Batman & Robin definitively closed the book on a sillier take.
Blade set the tone for films like X-Men, Spider-Man and Batman Begins, which helped solidify audiences’ love affair with superheroes years before Robert Downey Jr. became Iron Man. Of course, not every superhero film is created equal. For every Guardians of the Galaxy, there’s a Green Lantern, and for every Wonder Woman, there’s a Catwoman. Yet, with Black Panther perhaps kicking off another stage of superhero cinema’s evolution, let’s take a look back at the best the genre has had to offer over the last 20 years.
Of course, any list about superheroes is bound to disappoint some passionate fans. So, after you’ve scrolled through our choices, feel free to share your picks in the comments.
20. Man of Steel (2013)
Yet, despite its divisive reputation (we will concede that the third-act mayhem is a bit much), Man of Steel retains many of the classic elements of Superman while simultaneously modernizing and reimagining the more dated elements of his backstory. Throw in a solid cast, impressive visuals, and a soaring (literally) Hans Zimmer score, and you have easily the best Superman film since Richard Donner’s original.
19. Kick-Ass (2010)
Deadpool was lauded for its irreverent take on the superhero genre, but Kick-Ass arguably has the more difficult task in trying to bring it down to earth. Sure, viewers need to suspend their disbelief more as the story goes on. Yet, the premise of an everyday teen who dreams of being a real-life superhero marks a welcome departure from expectations. Plus, Chloe Grace Moretz owns the screen as the foul-mouthed badass known as Hit Girl.
18. Blade (1998)
We referenced it above, but the impact of this one cannot be understated. A hard-R superhero film — let alone one with a person of color in the lead — had never become a mainstream success like Blade, and the film was the first release based on a Marvel Comics character to not be an embarrassment to the source material (Howard the Duck, 1990’s Captain America, etc.). Plus, the film itself is a blast from beginning to end.
17. Spider-Man (2002)
Kids today have no clue how much the idea of a big-budget film featuring Spider-Man blew people’s minds back in 2002. The wallcrawler was, up to that point, essentially the most iconic Marvel character to never lead his own film. Thankfully, director Sam Raimi found the perfect balance between action, humor, and heart, creating a box office phenomenon that cemented Marvel Comics as a Hollywood force to be reckoned with.
16. V for Vendetta (2006)
Hugo Weaving may be better known for The Matrix trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the eccentric revolutionary known simply as V may remain his most memorable role. While it does smack of George Orwell’s 1984 and takes great liberties with its source material, the film does feature undeniably slick visuals, thought-provoking social commentary, and exciting action sequences, courtesy of writer-producers The Wachowskis.
15. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Charged with finally uniting Fox’s disparate X-Men franchise, X-Men: Days of Future Past serves as the culminating chapter of the previous six mutant-fueled adventures. With a deep well of cinematic history to draw from, the film places each of its lead characters in morally intriguing positions, creating and enriching the dynamics between them and correcting many past missteps. Here’s hoping X-Men: Dark Phoenix justifies that approach.
14. Deadpool (2016)
It may not be the first tongue-in-cheek superhero film or the first R-rated one, but neither of those approaches to superheroes had ever yielded a hit the size of Deadpool before. Surpassing everyone’s expectations, the Ryan Reynolds-led action comedy emerged from years of development hell to become the highest-grossing film in the entire X-Men series. Time will tell how its impact will shake up the industry, aside from giving us Deadpool 2.
13. Wonder Woman (2017)
After more than 70 years, Diana Prince finally got the compelling big-screen origin story she deserves. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot crafted a loving portrait of Wonder Woman as a compassionate warrior and, along the way, inspired women and men alike by telling a thematically rich tale that serves as both timeless parable and poignant social commentary. Wonder Woman also gave DC Films the unquestioned victory it needed.
12. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
In many ways, Captain America: Civil War is really more of an Avengers film than a solo one. Nonetheless, its efforts at tying together its disparate heroes through a story about accountability, consequences and moral ambiguity are admirable. Perhaps it doesn’t push its risk-taking far enough, but Civil War still stands as a shining achievement for the MCU, rounding off Cap’s story and setting the stage for the upcoming Infinity War.
11. Watchmen (2009)
In an adaptation many thought impossible, Zack Snyder remains true to the classic graphic novel, capturing its philosophical themes and unique color palette. Buoyed by standout performances by Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Watchmen could have been a disaster but winds up an unlikely (but flawed) masterpiece. In the end, the film is an underrated bit of comic book cinema that will certainly stand the test of time.
10. Batman Begins (2005)
Stripping the character of his Bat-nipples and neon color scheme, Christopher Nolan took Batman literally all the way back to the beginning. The untold (at least on the big screen) origin of whya traumatized child chooses to strike terror into the hearts of big-city criminals finally comes to light. For the first time, audiences were taken deep into the psychology and inner workings of “The World’s Greatest Detective.”
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
No one expected this sequel to take the Star-Spangled Man into a political thriller. But that’s exactly what directors Joe and Anthony Russo do. Thrust into the modern world; Cap soon realizes that things are now much more complicated. In that way, Captain America: The Winter Soldier neatly builds on its predecessor, even as it folds in richer themes, more kinetic action and a complex story of its own. Chris Evans also becomes an MCU standout.
8. Unbreakable (2000)
Released just a year after The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan’s follow-up underperformed at the time. In the years since, it has maintained a cult following that saw demand for a sequel to this stealth superhero origin story reach a fever pitch. Finally, fans got their wish with last year’s Split, which was revealed to be set in the same universe in a last-minute twist. We can’t wait to see Bruce Willis’ David Dunn back in action next year.
7. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Whereas 2000’s X-Men was merely an introduction to the world of mutant powers, this follow-up sharpened the franchise like a certain Canadian mutant’s adamantium claws and remains a shining example of a comic book movie sequel done right. Fox’x X-Men series has faced a rocky road ever since, filled with as many bright spots (X-Men: First Class) as misfires (X-Men: The Last Stand). But X2 is still one of the franchise’s finest moments.
6. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Even after Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Homecoming, Sam Raimi’s sophomore effort still stands as the best adaptation of the character to date. The pitch-perfect casting of Alfred Molina as the sinister eight-limbed Doctor Otto Octavius and Peter Parker’s complicated balance between his personal desires and his duty place the film leagues beyond its solid predecessor and abysmal follow-up. Like X2 the year before, super-sequels just dig deeper.
5. The Avengers (2012)
After four years of build-up, this ultimate team-up of Marvel heroes changed the way movies are made. By introducing four characters in separate franchises and then converging them into one super-franchise, The Avengers created Hollywood’s current obsession with creating cinematic universes. Bonus points for proving Joss Whedon’s adeptness at handling a super-powered ensemble, Justice League notwithstanding.
4. Black Panther (2018)
Following up on T’Challa’s introduction in Captain America: Civil War, director/co-writer Ryan Coogler takes moviegoers into the tech-heavy nation of Wakanda at last. More than just a cultural milestone, Black Panther offers a politically rich story — brimming with memorable new characters and breath-taking dramatic beats — about social responsibility to one’s people and indeed the world. A new MCU benchmark has been set.
3. Logan (2017)
After 17 years, Hugh Jackman finally hung up the adamantium claws with this Western-inspired epilogue to the story of Wolverine. By stripping away the glossy flourishes of its predecessors (including director James Mangold’s own The Wolverine), Logan creates an aesthetic that feels entirely new for the superhero genre. We hate to see Jackman step away from this iconic role, but if he must, we can’t imagine a better swan song.
2. The Incredibles (2004)
It’s hard to believe that we are finally getting a sequel to this, arguably one of the best films Pixar has ever made. Focusing on a couple of retired heroes and their kids, The Incredibles uses the superhero genre to evaluate the difficulties of keeping a family together. Its whiz-bang action and jazzy score harken back to classic comics, and the sharp story by writer/director Brad Bird captures superheroes better than almost any other film.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Taking into consideration both cultural impact and pure, unadulterated acclaim, no other film could possibly top this list. Nolan’s Batman Begins sequel set a new standard for superhero movies and played an instrumental role in the genre’s acceptance as a true art form. Of course, Heath Ledger’s ingenious Oscar-winning performance steals the show as well, helping to cement The Dark Knight‘s status as a true milestone of cinema history.
Outraged that your favorite modern superhero film didn’t make the cut? Make yourself heard and let us know which film(s) we missed.
With the women of the WWE set to make history again with another first-time-ever special match with RAW’s Elimination Chamber, the lackluster card and predictable outcomes dimmed the spotlight on this noteworthy event.
The kickoff show match between Good Brothers Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows against The Miztourage’s Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel was the most appropriate for possible future storylines. The match was so run-of-the-mill, though, that the announcers spent more time talking about the night’s upcoming competitions instead of calling the match in front of them. Regardless, I hope that this sets up a good three-on-three feud to include these four men and their leaders Finn Balor and The Miz, respectively. That Intercontinental Championship belt would look really great on Balor’s waist in the near future.
Leading off the show was the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, a first in WWE history. Alliances worked at first, as each competitor seemed to have an ally at some point in the match. However, it quickly became every woman for herself. With the women being lighter and more limber, it was fun to see the ladies use the chamber structure to enhance their acrobatics. Alexis Bliss came out on top, keeping her WWE RAW Women’s Championship. Her victory speech was candy-coated in typical Little Miss Bliss style.
Photo: WWE.com
Tag Team Champions were next, and again, another humdrum bout. The Bar, Sheamus and Cesaro, seem unstoppable. With the tag team competition on the RAW roster being slim, it makes sense to just let these guys continue to take the single spotlight that shines on them with every entrance.
No one is ready for Asuka, even the Irresistible Force Nia Jax, and apparently, no one with WWE creative is ready to let her lose. She’s undefeated, which makes every match she competes in utterly certain. She won. Again. Go figure.
The insanity continued with the clash that we’ve seen over and over again with Woken Matt Hardy and the Eater of Worlds Bray Wyatt. We have the googly-eyes and sinister laughs that make you wonder which of these guys is less crazy. Some were hoping to get a twist in the action with the return of Matt’s brother Jeff as Brother Nero, but it looks like we’ll have to wait for his return to the ring.
The most publicized ceremony of the night was the contract signing of former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. Not sure if the nerves took over or if she’ll be horrible at cutting promos, but she was shaky when handed the microphone. It’s no doubt that she can kick ass, but can she kick it on the mike, too? Wrestlemania 31 was the last time that Rousey was in a ring with WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H and Monday Night RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, which Kurt Angle made sure to make everyone aware of. Tempers flared and Rousey put her new boss through a table, making a contentious impression with her new colleagues.
Photo: WWE.com
Wrestlemania 31 seemed to be a recurring theme of the night, with Roman Reigns victorious in the first-ever seven-man Elimination Chamber match. The top men of the WWE savagely battled, with the best-executed move of the night culminating with a four-man powerbomb to level the Monster Among Men Braun Strowman. Reigns victory was, again, not a huge surprise, as he has unfinished business with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar from that fateful night in 2015. The Wrestlemania 34 rematch of Lesnar and Reigns will be the first time the two will face off alone since then.
Photo: Twitter @WWE
With the predictability factor of this pay-per-view, I have to admit that I’m leery of the upcoming SmackDown event in two weeks, Fastlane. I know that we’re officially on the road to Wrestlemania and the card is being set, but with no twists in any saga, it seems like we’re just killing time until April 8.
What were your thoughts on the pay-per-view? Did you enjoy any of the matches? What feuds would you like to see come out of this event?
