Since making his big screen debut in Transformers back in 2007, Bumblebee has been lots of places. From a used car lot in the first movie to Earth’s many other regions in the films that followed it. Now he’s going to a place that is a hotspot for many movie characters. The 1980s.
In the synopsis for Paramount’s Bumblebee, the Autobot finds himself on the run in 1987. Badly wounded, broken, and scarred, he finds a junkyard in California to use as a place of refuge. While in his disheveled state, he crosses paths with an 18-year-old girl named Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) who fixes him up and from there the rest of the story is unknown.
The movie also stars John Cena, Kenneth Choi, and Pamela Adlon and is directed by Travis Knight. It is currently in post-production and has a release date of December 21, 2018. Are you excited to see Bumblebee get his own prequel? What do you think of him returning to his original Volkswagon form? Comment below!
As 2017 wraps up, entertainment news outlets around the web are posting their most anticipated films of the coming year. One of which is Black Panther, which is just over a month and a half away from release.
USA Today has unveiled a new image from the movie. See it below.
“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.”
Black Panther releases in theaters on February 16, 2018. Are you looking forward to Marvel Studios‘ next movie? Comment below, let us know.
It’s the end of an era, 2017’s Doctor Who Christmas Special makes Peter Capaldi’s final appearance as The Doctor and fans are treated to an adventure with two Doctors.
After the events of “The Doctor’s Fall,” the Twelfth Doctor lands on the South Pole refusing to regenerate. There he meets his first version of The Doctor (David Bradley playing William Hartnell’s role), the only other time the Doctor refused to regenerate. Because of this meeting, the Doctors inadvertently cause a time paradox, leading to them meeting a First World War army officer (Mark Gatiss) and a race of people from the distant future known as The Testimony: but this event could also lead to the resurrection of Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie).
The Captain (MARK GATISS), The First Doctor (DAVID BRADLEY), Bill (PEARL MACKIE) – (C) BBC/BBC Worldwide – Photographer: Simon Ridgway
Steven Moffat has an extensive knowledge of Doctor Who and its history. He was even able to turn his own fan theory about The Doctor being the linguistic source of the word doctor meaning wise man or healer in every culture. Throughout his time as showrunner he has referenced events in the classic series as well as the modern series, and with his final episode he continues two stories: as well as continuing from “The Doctor’s Fall” “Twice Upon a Time” continues from the First Doctor’s episode “The Tenth Planet.”
Both stories followed an adventure against the Cybermen and looked at why The Doctor refuses to regenerate. It also served to fill in a gap that was when The Doctor disappeared before his regeneration in “The Tenth Planet.” “Twice Upon a Time” starts with footage from “The Tenth Planet” which turns from black-to-white in 4:3 ratio to color and widescreen. Fans of the classic era will appreciate the combination of the old series with the new while fans who only really know the modern version of the series should still be able to follow the events of “Twice Upon a Time.”
Compared to the send-offs for Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi’s final episode is a more thoughtful and reflective take on regeneration since the process has already started. Capaldi had his grand action set piece in “The Doctor’s Fall” fighting off Cybermen and made an impassioned pledge to The Master and Missy. The story for The Doctors is one of acceptance of their change. The First Doctor has to accept he has to regenerate and The Twelve Doctor questions why The First Doctor reacted this way. Capaldi had a poignant final monologue as the Twelve Doctor tells his future self what they should be like.
However, the drawback of this reflective approach is that the stakes felt low in comparison to the previous Doctors’ final episodes. The Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors went down fighting protecting people and falling a great enemy. Of course, the Doctor can’t keep fighting bigger and bigger battles, that would get stale over time, but there still needs to be some level of peril. The Testimony were an interesting concept as a race that goes into the past and preserves human memories but their cause is benevolent, and their mission is hardly evil: returning a man to the point of his death. The Doctor would normally side with that The Testimony’s philosophy.
The other issue affecting this Christmas Special was the comedy. Normally Doctor Who Christmas Specials are aimed towards a slightly broader audience, and comedy is the way to do this, but most of the jokes in this episode fall flat and relies on the music to compensate. There is an exciting play on the dynamics between The Doctors – despite the First Doctor looking older he is actually the younger and inexperienced member of the pair: he is surprised when The Twelve Doctor says he protects the Earth. But other jokes made at the expense of Bill’s sexuality don’t make sense because The First Doctor is a time-traveler so shouldn’t be surprised that a woman might like other women. The First World War officer’s reaction is understandable but not the First Doctor’s.
As a final episode for a Doctor in the modern era “Twice Upon a Time” is sadly the weakest. It has interesting concepts and Capaldi final scene does hit the necessary emotional beats, but it is an average entry in the Doctor Who canon.
In its list of the most anticipated 2018 movies, USA Today revealed two images from the upcoming journey into J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald.
The first image gives us an incredible new look at Johnny Depp as the film’s villain, Gellert Grindelwald. After his shocking introduction in the first Fantastic Beasts movie, Grindelwald will be more active in his mission to rid the magical world of non-magical beings, which will undoubtedly bring him back into contact with Newt Scamander and his old pal, Albus Dumbledore.
Check out the image below:
The second image is possibly the most exciting one we’ve seen, as it reveals a new look at Jude Law as a younger Albus Dumbledore. In the film, Dumbledore is “passionate, mischievous and an inspiration” Director David Yates tells USA Today. “Dumbledore sees Newt as a kindred spirit, an outsider, who is misunderstood. They recognise each other’s strengths and vulnerabilities.”
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwaldstars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, and Claudia Kim. The film is scheduled for release on November 16, 2018.
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
USA Today has published its list of the ten most anticipated movies of 2018, including upcoming blockbusters like Aquamanand Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. Of course, the list also included Avengers: Infinity War, which is arguably and rightfully the most anticipated movie of the entire year.
In the article, a new Avengers: Infinity War image was revealed, giving us an incredible new look at Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his interaction with the Guardians of the Galaxy. The image shows Thor unconscious, while Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) attempt to wake him up.
Check out the image below:
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.
Avengers: Infinity War will land in theatres on May 4, 2018.
While the latest instalment of the DC Extended Universe proved to be a disappointment both critically and at the box-office, fans are still eagerly anticipating the franchise’s next solo outing, Aquaman.
The film, which is directed by James Wan, will see the return of Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry aka. The King of Atlantis and we have an incredible new look at the movie. In a newly released image from USA Today, Momoa is shown in what appears to be a submarine. It also looks like the character is in some kind of altercation with his most iconic villain, Black Manta.
Check out the image below:
Aquaman stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The film is the next instalment of the DC Extended Universe, and the first time Aquaman has appeared in his very own movie.
Aquaman will land in theatres on December 21, 2018!
The debate rages on about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but while fans are less than agreed in their response to Rian Johnson’s epic, Disney and Lucasfilm are busy prepping the May 2018 release of their next release. Just as rumors are swirling that the House of Mouse is bracing for disappointment, we’ve received our first official look at Solo: A Star Wars Story, via a Russian leak no less. This bit of news had us thinking about exactly what we can expect when we travel to that “galaxy far, far away” yet again in a few months. With Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) stepping into the iconic role originated by Harrison Ford, hardcore fans of the franchise may be understandably skeptical. At least Han’s backstory is ripe for translation to the big screen. Here are some highlights we hope to see brought to life in Ron Howard’s upcoming film.
1. First meeting with Chewbacca
Wherever Han goes, Chewbacca follows. As first mate of the Millennium Falcon, the loyal Wookiee is without his best friend for the first time in The Last Jedi. However, Solo gives us the chance to witness how the two first met. According to Star Wars lore, Han once saved Chewie’s life, and the latter wound up swearing a life debt that blossomed into an unshakeable friendship. Though we know Chewbacca will factor into the upcoming film, it’s unclear how much details we’ll get about how his bond with Han began.
2. Winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando
A pair of golden dice hanging from the Falcon‘s cockpit play a pivotal role in The Last Jedi. In that respect, Rian Johnson’s film neatly sets up the story behind this keepsake, as those dice are the ones Han played with when he — as revealed in The Empire Strikes Back — won the iconic ship from Lando Calrissian. Donald Glover is, of course, set to play the younger version of Billy Dee Williams’ character, and we presume that the fateful game of Sabacc that ends with Han and Chewie flying away in the Falcon is a key reason why.
3. Making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs
It’s a major selling point of the Millennium Falcon that Han uses to convince Luke and Obi-Wan of his ship in A New Hope. Even decades later in The Force Awakens, an older Han seems especially proud of his run-in with the Kessel Run. So you can bet that Solo will touch on the Falcon‘s famous accomplishment. Family Guy once poked fun at the logic behind Han’s claim, though the details of it have been sussed out within the fan community. Still, it would be fun to see Han’s “hunk of junk” in action.
4. Smuggling for Jabba the Hutt
When we meet him in A New Hope, Han already has a long-standing relationship with Jabba the Hutt. The gangster seems to be one of his primary business associates, in fact. Eventually, Han’s ejection of one of Han’s shipment lands him in hot water with Jabba, ultimately leading the pair toward a confrontation in Return of the Jedi. Although we don’t expect to see Han ditch his cargo, Solo should at least feature a cameo appearance by Jabba, establishing the conflict that leads Greedo to Mos Eisley Cantina on Jabba’s behalf.
5. First screen appearance of Sana Solo
In recent comics, Han was revealed to have been illegitimately “married” long before he fell in love with Leia Organa. Thanks to the established canon, we know that Sana Starros is around after Han joins the Rebel Alliance. Solo might not take us all the way back to the smuggler’s early days and the scheme that led him to a fraudulent first marriage with Sana. Nevertheless, rumors abound that the character could make her live-action debut, much like Rogue One took Saw Gerrera from The Clone Wars.
6. Disbelief of the Force
In the original trilogy, one of Han’s trademark characteristics is his skepticism regarding the Force, the Jedi and pretty much anything that falls in the realm of mysticism. That’s what makes his speech about how “it’s all true” in The Force Awakens so powerful. Fans shouldn’t expect to see any lightsabers ignite in Solo, but the film needs to reflect Han’s attitude about how the Jedi religion is a bunch of “simple tricks and nonsense” in order to preserve his arc in the stories that follow.
7. Han’s homeworld of Corellia
Over the course of his appearances in the films, Han develops quite a bit, from the selfish smuggler and all-around “nerf herder” to a Rebel soldier and general. However, one aspect of Han’s life that has yet to be realized on the big screen is his homeworld of Corellia. The best chance for the films to showcase this is, of course, in Solo. It’s unlikely that much of the action will go down on Corellia, but it will feel like a missed opportunity if we don’t get a glimpse of where young Han grew up before becoming everyone’s favorite scoundrel.
8. That fateful meeting in the Mos Eisley Cantina
When news broke that Rogue One would be set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, fans were excited at the prospect of an adventure that would bridge together those two trilogies. Few, however, considered that this first anthology film would lead so directly into the original Star Wars. Seeing how Rogue One’s approach was praised by most fans, we could see Solo taking a similar approach, skimming through Han’s life and ending soon before he and Chewie encounter Obi-Wan Kenobi And Luke Skywalker in Mos Eisley.
What are you hoping to see in Solo: A Star Wars Story when the film hits theaters in May 2018? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments section below, and may the Force be with you!
Love it or hate it (most people seem to be one extreme or the other), Star Wars: The Last Jedi definitely has moviegoers wondering what comes next for the saga. However, one thing that most fans are able to agree on is the fact that Rian Johnson’s epic uniformly features some of the finest acting we’ve seen in a Star Wars film. To that end, this seems like as good a time as any to take a look back at the best performances in a “galaxy far, far away.” So let’s journey from the original 1977 classic through to the Star Wars adventure currently playing at your local theater.
Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
George Lucas’ space opera vision sparked a phenomenon, and Star Wars — now retconned into Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope — not only helped usher in the concept of the modern blockbuster but also earned six of its 10 Oscar nominations. While Sir Alec Guinness failed to snag a statue for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, the accomplished actor lent gravity to a sci-fi/fantasy hybrid that could have easily been dismissed early on as kids’ stuff. His character ushers audiences into the concept of the mystical Force and the majesty of being a Jedi Knight. As such, he had us at “Hello there.”
Honorable Mention: James Earl Jones (voice of Darth Vader)
Frank Oz (Yoda), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
No one expected Star Wars to be as big as it was, but its sequel was met with extraordinarily high expectations. With Obi-Wan Kenobi falling in the first film, the role of Luke Skywalker’s mentor fell to Yoda, who was brought to life thanks to Muppet veteran Frank Oz. The actor and puppeteer both performed the Yoda puppet and provided his signature voice. With The Empire Strikes Back able to delve deeper into the spirituality of the Force, Yoda’s role serves as to accentuate the saga’s themes and — perhaps most importantly — 100% makes you forget that you’re not looking at a real-life alien creature.
Honorable Mention: Harrison Ford (Han Solo)
Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
By the third film in Lucas’ original trilogy, Luke Skywalker has fully developed into a brand-new Jedi Knight, but his twin sister, Princess Leia Organa, also comes into her own. The late Carrie Fisher brilliantly infused Leia with strength, vulnerability, and humor. In Return of the Jedi, Leia finally realizes her connection to Luke and Darth Vader, claiming her place in the story. She’s also more hands-on with the plot — such as her and Luke’s speeder bike chase on Endor — and gets to take out Jabba the Hutt herself. Fisher brought such life to Leia, and the character never seemed as vital or as interesting as in this film.
Honorable Mention: Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine)
Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
To be honest, the performances in The Phantom Menace are often pretty rough. Between Ahmed Best’s Jar Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd’s young Anakin Skywalker, identifying a “best” performance here wasn’t easy. Even usually dynamic actors like Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor feel muted. But any emotional engagement with Anakin’s journey to join the Jedi Order is credited solely to Pernilla August, who sells the hell out of her final goodbye to her young son. Never do you doubt for a second that this is a mother who deeply and selflessly cares for her son and his future.
Honorable Mention: Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn)
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
It appears that most rankings of the saga tend to put Attack of the Clones at the very bottom of the list. Surely, much of this had to do with the insipid/creepy/awkward “romance” between Anakin and Padmé. Thankfully, the other plotline is much more fun, anchored as it is by McGregor’s charming take on Obi-Wan. The smooth Kenobi essentially takes on a detective story as he unravels the truth behind the attempted assassination of Senator Amidala. In doing so, we get to witness just how much McGregor has grown into the role since The Phantom Menace. Mullet and all, he owns the film.
Honorable Mention: Christopher Lee (Count Dooku)
Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Sixteen years after Ian McDiarmid played Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi, he reprised the infamous Sith Lord in the prequels. Though his role is very much a supporting one in the first two installments, Palpatine’s unmasking as Darth Sidious and his subsequent seduction of Anakin to the dark side position him as the driving force behind much of Revenge of the Sith. Given a chance to delve deep into the delicious darkness, McDiarmid doesn’t disappoint. His performance is subtle when it needs to be — as in “The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise” scene — and over-the-top in just the right moments.
Honorable Mention: Ewan McGregor (Obi-wan Kenobi)
Daisy Ridley (Rey), Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
J.J. Abrams’ sequel/reboot of the saga got so much right. Sure, The Force Awakens hews a bit too closely to A New Hope, but it introduces several new characters who have already been embraced as some of the best in the series. The best of them all is scavenger Rey, brilliantly brought to life by Daisy Ridley. The character has all the heart and power one could want from a potential Jedi, instantly endearing audiences to her thirst for belonging. Ridley delivered a breath of fresh air to the saga just when it needed it, creating an unforgettable character that all Star Wars fans can root for.
Honorable Mention: John Boyega (Finn)
Alan Tudyk (voice of K-2SO), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Serving as a direct prequel to A New Hope, the first anthology film of the Star Wars saga unites a host of new characters. However, though Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) make fine additions to the Rebel Alliance, the most memorable character is easily the sarcastic K-2SO, as voiced by Firefly actor Alan Tudyk. With such an ensemble of human characters, we didn’t expect the token droid to make such an impression. Yet, K-2SO brings a special ingredient to the film that sets him apart from the rest of the motley group of Rebels he assists.
Honorable Mention: Ben Mendelsohn (Director Orson Krennic)
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
Forty years after he originated the role of farm-boy-turned-Jedi Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill finally got to catch viewers up on what their childhood hero has been up to over the years. In the process, Hamill gets to radically reinvent the character, thanks to the bold decisions by writer/director Rian Johnson. The Last Jedi doesn’t handle Luke how we expected it to, but that’s part of what makes the film (and Hamill’s performance) so great. The actor captures the pathos of the original trilogy’s now-legendary figure with ease, contributing a moral complexity we’ve never seen in Star Wars. Hamill makes Luke more than just the central focus of the film’s plot. He’s the best one in it, which is saying a lot.
Honorable Mention: Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)
Did we miss your favorite performance in a Star Wars film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Looking at the incredible films we’ve seen over the past twelve months, it would be reasonable and logical to crown 2017 the best year for comic book movies ever. From emotional dramas like Logan and Wonder Woman to outrageous comedies like Thor: Ragnarok, the genre has delivered a mixed bag of tones but now it’s time to pick a favourite.
In the list below you can read our ranking of every comic book movie that was released in 2017. As you can imagine, this was no easy task but we managed nonetheless.
Without further discussion, swipe through our ranking below:
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, John Goodman, Rihanna, and Elizabeth Debicki.
Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets, Luc Besson proves that beauty on the outside is not perfection. While the film is undoubtedly beautiful its flaws are in the many.
“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is the kind of film that will divide critics. It’s even divided the crew at Monkeys Fighting Robots. Matthew Sardo and Ej Moreno liked it, and I have my issues with it. Should people go and see this film? Well, it depends on what your endgame is when you go to the movies. If your goal is to see something that’s lacking in substance but will blow audiences away with its special effects, then certainly this film is for you. If your goal is to watch something that has more to it, then this one is definite miss.” – Dewey Singleton
9. Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Mark Strong, Jeff Bridges, Pedro Pascal, and Hanna Alström.
Kingsman: The Secret Service was one of the most surprising comic-book movies in recent memory but it seems, lighting only strikes once.
“While I understand it’s all the rage these days to expand a cinematic universe, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a film that should never have been greenlit. If Vaughn and Goldman were ever going to attempt a sequel that matches the standard set by the original, they should have gone back and looked at what made the first film special. The first film has a tight narrative that is centered on an origin story. The action sequences in the movie were insane. The villain was strong and at any moment could steal the scenes he was in with Firth and Eggerton. Kingsman: The Golden Circle is bland by comparison and has too much of a storyline with few action sequences. If anyone loved the first film, then check it out and make your own judgment. Just remember to temper those expectations.” – Dewey Singleton
8. Justice League
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, J.K. Simmons, Amber Heard, Jeremy Irons, and Diane Lane.
After the financial and critical success of Wonder Woman, the DC Extended Universe is yet again in the dumps after Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
“While Justice League has moments where the film is entertaining, the poor writing and odd pacing of the film doomed the final product. If anyone in your family is a hardcore fan of DC Comics, they might be willing to overlook these flaws. However, with the price of a movie ticket these days, investing in a film that’s this mediocre doesn’t seem to be a wise choice.” – Dewey Singleton
7. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.2
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell, and Pom Klementieff.
James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy is undoubtedly one of the greatest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and arguably, one of the best comic-book movies of all-time. Unfortunately, Gunn couldn’t stretch out that magic for an equally great sequel.
“Even with all the issues surrounding Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the film will still be a major commercial success for Marvel. The narrative delivers just enough for the comic book fans to be satisfied. Average fans will forgive the thin plot line because they’ll still be guffawing over a line Rocket just yelled. The musical selections are so perfect that one can’t help but wonder if Gunn picked what songs were going to be on the soundtrack before he even wrote the screenplay. If you plan on going this weekend, don’t expect the same brilliance of the original film. That’s just a standard this film has no chance of reaching.” – Dewey Singleton
6. Atomic Blonde
Director: David Leitch
Starring: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, and John Goodman.
I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of seeing Charlize Theron kick some ass.
“If anyone is heading into this release expecting the best action movie of the summer, then they will be very disappointed. However, if fans head into this film realizing that the character development will be minimal, but the action will be brutal, then they will be very pleased. The mixture of cinematography, great action sequence, and great action sequences make Atomic Blonde the most fun you’ll have at the movies this weekend.” – Dewey Singleton
5. The LEGO Batman Movie
Director: Chris McKay
Starring: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Zach Galifianakis, and Ralph Fiennes.
As one of the most beloved comic-book characters ever, Batman has a very rich history and director Chris McKay dug up every detail for The LEGO Batman Movie.
“While The Lego Batman doesn’t reach the lofty standards set forth by The Lego Movie, this film is a highly entertaining spoof of an ever-growing genre. The animation is surprisingly crisp during the film (especially during the fight scenes). Is this movie perfect? No, I think in parts of it tries too hard to be relevant and the film could have easily been 80 minutes long. That being said, I can not remember the last time I’ve laughed that much in a movie. The Lego Batman movie isn’t going to win any awards, but it will certainly delight fans of all ages. Can’t ask for much more than that.” – Dewey Singleton
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Laura Harrier, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, and Robert Downey Jr.
While Sony Pictures gave fans a few great Spider-Man movies, seeing the character introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a truly special experience and with Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel Studios has proven that this is where Spidey belongs.
“Spider-Man: Homecoming is a welcomed example of originality in a genre that can be quite rote at times. The film is anchored by a great ensemble and solid performances from both Holland and Keaton. This certainly should be seen in theaters on July 7th. Hopefully, the success of this collaboration with Sony will lead to other ventures with Marvel. That certainly would be fantastic for all us.” – Dewey Singleton
3. Thor: Ragnarok
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Taika Waititi, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, Idris Elba, and Anthony Hopkins.
Where Guardians Of The Galaxy opened the door for Marvel to tell cosmic adventures, Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok tears the door from its hinges.
“Thor: Ragnarok is the first Marvel release that made me want to start reading comic books. Waititi’s approach has created a film which is full of visual splendor yet rooted in Thor‘s rich history. No one needs to be a comic book historian to enjoy this release. The bottom line is the film is highly entertaining and should be seen ASAP.” – Dewey Singleton
2. Wonder Woman
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Eugene Brave Rock.
After two divisive films with Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, the DC Extended Universe was in need of a critical success and thankfully, Patty Jenkins delivered with Wonder Woman.
“Wonder Woman is a triumph for not only DC but the Comic Book movie genre. The film is enjoyable from the first beats of the opening sequence down to the final moment when the credits begin to roll. Patty Jenkins showed that you can take a comic book character and make a poignant film. Jenkins, Gadot, and Pine seemed to understand the importance of this film. It wasn’t just for super nerds and comic book geeks around the globe. Jenkins made this film for the Zoey’s, Scarlett’s, Grace’s, Joella’s, and Siena’s everywhere. Little girls everywhere now have their hero to look upon with wonderment.” – Dewey Singleton
1. Logan
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Rochard E. Grant, and Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Saying goodbye to Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was never going to be easy, but James Mangold’s character-driven Logan turned out to be even more difficult and a million times better than anybody could have guessed.
“To just refer to Logan as a great superhero movie is a tad bit rudimentary. Logan is a fantastic, compelling film. The performances from Jackman and Keen are rich and nuanced. The writing in the movie is balanced and hits all the right notes. This is James Mangold’s finest directorial work since Walk the Line. I could go on and on about various parts of this film, but that would spoil the experience for everyone.” – Dewey Singleton
We have now reached the final issue of the “Children of the Gods” arc and what an odd trip it has been. Starting with the death of Hercules, Wonder Woman finally comes face to face with her long-lost twin brother, Jason. As an infant, Jason was taken away from Themyscira by the last Argonaut, Glaucus, to hide him from the vengeful Hera. As the twins grew up apart, both train under legendary Greek heroes to become skilled in combat. Jason over time grew envious of his sister and betrayed her, allowing Grail and her father, Darkseid, to defeat her. Before the pair of dark gods takes her life force, someone steps in to fight Darkseid. Diana and Jason’s father: Zeus.
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
This issue is 99% fight scene… and I am perfectly okay with that because it is an epic fight. Zeus and Darkseid coming to blows might be one of the most epic battles I have seen this year. Diana trying her hardest to get to her father, desperately trying to help, was heartbreaking to witness. The fight was so full of emotion and action, you don’t realize how quickly it’s going.
Despite my love of this fight, the ending is somewhat of a letdown.
First, when all the smoke clears, we are left with a hasty wrap-up. This is supposed to be a conclusion to this arc, answering any unanswered questions and allowing for an open “what’s next” question to be asked. We don’t really the weight of the fight’s results or are left with questions for next time. It feels as if the writers want an epilogue to further explore this, but have to move on to the next arc.
Second, the ending shows that all of the destruction could have been avoided if Wonder Woman called the Justice League. As this is her solo title, writers would need to have Diana do most of the heavy lifting, but this isn’t Ares, The First Born, or any Wonder Woman villain. This is Darkseid, the villainous god that the Justice League was formed to fight. Three members of the League could have shown up almost instantaneously, but Wonder Woman still would fight Darkseid alone. This oversight drags down the entire issue, which considering how epic the fight was, is a damn shame.
Art:
A comic book fight is nothing without good art and the team went all out on this issue. The pencil work of Carlo Pagulayan and Stephen Segovia gives fantastic designs to Zeus and Young Darkseid. They are unique versions of the characters that I have personally never seen before. The faces of all the characters across the board are done extremely well. They are bursting with emotion and help set the tone for the issue.
The colorwork of Romulo Fajardo Jr. is superb, going hand-in-hand with the pencils. The vibrant colors of every attack and the shadows they created made each attack feel powerful. It was beautiful and scary all at the same time.
Conclusion:
While the between these two powerful gods was fun, the issue overall was average at best. The fight was amazing, almost Fight of the Year worthy, but when you take a step back, you realize that’s all the issue had. As this is the creative team’s first arc, the repercussions will probably develop over time. As it stands, this issue was a “meh” ending to a “meh” opening arc.
