Goldberg and Rogen Look to Do the Impossible Again by Bringing ‘The Boys’ to Life

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November 9, 2017

Executive Producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen will be bringing another Garth Ennis comic book to life with The Boys. Amazon has greenlit an eight-episode run set to be released in 2019, according to The Hollywood Reporter. At one time, the series was in development by Cinemax.

The creators of the comic book series The Boys (published by WildStorm, then Dynamite Entertainment), Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, will be co-executive producers. Ennis, Goldberg, and Rogen, as well as producers Neal Moritz and Ori Marmur, have previously worked together on Preacher, the series from AMC based on the comic book created by Ennis and the late Steve Dillon. Preacher was recently renewed for a third season.

That’s When You Send The Boys Around

In the world of The Boys, superheroes are created and employed a massive corporation that markets them like any other billion dollar product. These corporate super-beings prove that absolute power corrupts absolutely (think if Donald Trump had Superman’s powers). They abuse their power and privilege, and it’s all covered up by lawyers and PR teams. That’s where ‘the boys’ come in. Led by Bill Butcher, a former British soldier with a deep hatred for ‘capes’, this team of killers uses their various skills and the backing of the CIA to impede and, if need be, eliminate threats.

Told largely through the perspective of their most recent recruit, the naive Hughie Campbell, The Boys is a story about redemption, understanding, and revenge. Well, mostly about revenge. It has many of the features that Garth Ennis is known for: Brutal (and often hilarious) violence, great dialogue, and a depth of idiosyncratic characters.

For anyone thinking the violence, depravity, and twisted humor of The Boys couldn’t be made into a series, you need look no further than Preacher to see that it’s possible. Now all that’s left is to see the end result.

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‘Riverdale’ Gets Real in Episode 5 “When A Stranger Calls”

By

Jen Schiller

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November 9, 2017

Spoilers for Riverdale seasons one and two.

Last night Riverdale approached a social issue with a new level of gravity. For the most part, the show handles realistic issues as elements of melodrama: almost everything that happened in season one traced back to the overarching murder mystery. The show introduces Polly’s teen pregnancy, Ms. Grady’s pedophilia, and even Cheryl’s quest to reclaim her independence all within that frame.

There is, however, one issue that both seasons attempted to tackle: sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. In season one, the story unfolded in a stereotypical way, painting with a wide brush and introducing a new character (Ethel) before personalizing it. Some of the male jocks at Riverdale begin slut shaming Veronica, Ethel, and others all over the school. The girls get their power back through blackmail, public shaming, and a weirdly sexualized physical attack. Promos for the episode focused on Betty and Veronica in their bathing suits and lingerie. Kevin references the incident as part of Betty’s “BDSM sexuality” during season two.

Cheryl Blossom And The Very Bad Day

SPOILER ALERT: ⏰ This topic is something that really hits home for me, and I felt it was important to address the issue and provide resources… So I made this PSA. Head over to my YT channel for more on why this is important to me & BTS. Thank you @bioreus for the help! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wA9FvVsw57

— Madelaine Petsch (@madelainepetsch) November 9, 2017

Episode 2.5, titled “When A Stranger Calls”, does what season one couldn’t: it shows assault without fetishization. Nicholas St. Clair, Veronica’s New York ex, shows up with a pocket full of drugs and a head full of dark intentions. He then attempts to sexually assault first Veronica, then Cheryl.

Choosing Cheryl and Veronica as victims of the attempted assault shows that assault affects everyone. Both girls are in control of their bodies, extremely confident, and unafraid of their sexuality. The choice shows that assault can happen to anyone—the only stronger choice would be a male victim. Cheryl feels anger even though she was “saved” before her attacker could “do anything”. Veronica immediately feels guilty for allowing Nicholas into their lives. Veronica and Cheryl react very differently, but neither is right or wrong.

Betty Cooper: Assistant to the Vigilante

Betty sends the black hood after Nicholas when she discovers what he tried to do. The audience then must choose between cheering for Betty (which by extension means cheering for the Black Hood to murder someone), and mourning that Cheryl will not get the justice she so desperately needs for closure.

Betty attmepted to help Kevin similarly two episodes ago in “The Watcher In the Woods”. She went over his head to tell his father that he was cruising in the woods while the unknown serial killer was on the loose. This episode had a happier ending. Sheriff Keller started talking honestly with Kevin about his homosexuality, and showed that he cares for his son. This particular topic can easily become part of the melodrama or kept as a “personality quirk”, but Riverdale is inching towards open communication about something that still presents a challenge for many teenagers struggling with their identity.

Riverdale is not necessarily a smart show, however it is certainly a fun one so far. If it keeps taking steps in this direction it could even become a good one. Considering its target audience it certainly has somewhat of a responsibility to do so.

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‘The Killing Of A Sacred Deer’ Review: A Sensational, Unsettling Tale

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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Fantastic performances from Farrell and Keoghan plus a deftly written narrative make ‘The Killing Of A Sacred Deer’ an excellent film.

Summary

Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is one of the best cardiovascular surgeons in the country, but his proclivity for drinking on the job leads to him making a mistake in the operating room. Filled with guilt, he attempts to build a relationship with the son of the deceased, Martin (Barry Keoghan). What comes off as an odd relationship turns into a deadly one. Martin begins to date Steven’s daughter Kim (Raffey Cassidy) much to the dismay of his wife (played by Nicole Kidman). Then about a quarter of the way through the film, the children begin to fall gravely ill and it appears Martin is to blame. To reverse the side effects of this illness, Martin challenges Steven to make a “Sophie’s Choice”.

What Worked

Director Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou have crafted a narrative that is deliciously diabolical and something you’d expect to see in any number of Saw films. Lanthimos once again takes the simple, detached approach to his storytelling. There is no sudden twist, and the dedication to atmosphere creates an eerie authenticity. Farrell’s character desperately wants to put an end to this deadly game, but there is nothing he can do to stop it.

Farrell and Keoghan light up the screen in each of their respective roles. Farrell plays the good doctor as a man quietly, tersely struggling to keep his mind together. This illness has turned his world upside down, and the only way out involves making a heinous choice, and the decision creeps up on Farrell’s performance much like the madness surrounding him.

Keoghan’s character slowly reveals his intentions to the audience. For a slight moment, maybe he’s just socially awkward. The feeling doesn’t last, however.

What Didn’t Work

While the ending was something that caught everyone off guard, it still was a little too neat. A more original finish was indeed in order.

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The Killing Of A Sacred Deer tackles unsettling subject matter that’s par for the course in a Lanthimos film, but that shouldn’t sway anyone from avoiding this release. The acting is top notch, the writing fresh and new, and the storyline will stick with you long after the credits end.

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The Shannara Chronicles Episode 6 Review: Love, Marriage, And Mayhem

By

Ruben Diaz

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November 9, 2017

The Shannara Chronicles new run on SpikeTV crosses over into the final five episodes. Episode five revealed some further details that’ll make the race to the finish a wild one. To make things interesting, Spike aired episodes five and six together. And will air the remaining four episodes in two batches of two. So, that leaves very little Shannara left for the rest of the year. —Insert sad emoji here— However, let’s look on the bright side of things. After last night, we have four more episodes to close out the show’s much-improved season two run on SpikeTV.

The narrative hits a major new high.

So, episode five brought us to here and where is that exactly? To recap, Eretria is part demon and must train to resist the will of the Warlock Lord. Eretria might be the key to stopping the rise of evil, but only if she harnesses her power. And as we know, the young former Rover isn’t much about discipline.

Wil and Mareth are in the Shannara version of Back to the Future, trying to find the Warlock Skull for Bandon to save Flick’s life. A smart set of clues leads them right to what they are seeking. But the past has surprises that Wil never knew about.

Jax is hired by Tamlin to kill Riga, leader of the Crimson forces. The mission doesn’t go as planned for the weapon master. However, Jax, as is becoming the norm, puts his skills on display again in an attempt to survive. If anyone were to have a spinoff show, Jax would be a perfect candidate.

Eretria stands face-to-face with a minor wraith, a lesser minion of the Warlock Lord. The creature serves as Eritrea’s training ground on the road to mastering the darkness inside of her.

If there is one thing to say here it’s that Shannara dropped the mic here.

The narrative hits a major new high. It also ditches a lot of the exposition from the previous episode.

As Wil’s story unfolds, it redirects the future of the world. Will the Warlock King rise again and rule the Four Lands? Running alongside that, the fate of the Four Lands also hinges on the political turmoil between Ander, King of the Elves, Queen Tamlin, and the Crimson rebellion. It’s a careful balancing act between stories that Shannara Chronicles does well. And here, both trains come to their respective dramatic stations to unload a whole lot of WTF! And as trope-y as Shannara can sometimes get, it also subverts genre tropes in a nod to Game of Thrones.

If there is one thing to say it’s that Shannara dropped the mic here. The show is staring viewers down, arms crossed in an epic dramatic pose. What is to come with the final four episodes and the future of the Four Lands?

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‘Game Night’ Trailer: Things Are Out of Control for Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 9, 2017

Game Night looks like a wild comedy riff on David Fincher’s The Game, where unwilling participants get caught up in a real-world of fake danger. Or is it?

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star, and there’s really nothing else you need to know. It’s a Bateman comedy, with Rachel McAdams, there is fun to be had. Check it:

Bateman and McAdams star as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother, Brooks (Chandler), arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all part of the game…right? But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this “game”—nor Brooks—are what they seem to be. Over the course of one chaotic night, the friends find themselves increasingly in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. With no rules, no points, and no idea who all the players are, this could turn out to be the most fun they’ve ever had…or game over.

This sounds like fun. Looks like fun too. Aside from Bateman and McAdams it stars Jesse Plemons and Kyle Chandler. Also, Jason Bateman comedies are always worth a watch simply because he’s in them; even his bad ones are good because he’s there. Yeah, even The Switch. What’s up…

Game Night opens March 2 and I mean, really, what else is there to do March 2?

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The Rock Voices Support For ‘Black Adam’ Writer Adam Sztykiel

By

Jackson Hayes

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November 9, 2017

Following the report that Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam would appear in the upcoming Suicide Squad 2, The Rock himself took to Twitter to confirm that Adam Sztykiel would be penning the script for this character’s solo film. Even going as far as praising Sztykiel’s knowledge of Black Adam and the DCEU as a whole.

Excited to expand the DC Universe w/ writer Adam Sztykiel (co-wrote @rampagethemovie) and bring this complex & gritty anti-hero to the big screen. This character’s in my bones. Ruthless code. #Kneel #BlackAdam⚡️https://t.co/mGUKIQAcSP

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/928420170577666048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fheroichollywood.com%2Fthe-rock-impressed-black-adam%2F

Sztykiel’s body of work doesn’t scream superhero film, with films such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Although, it appears that the up and coming writer caught the eye of The Rock. It was unannounced to this point that Sztykiel had worked on Rampage with Johnson until now, a film not set to release until next year.

Little is known about the Black Adam solo film, with the character originally set to appear in Shazam! then was removed at some point in the planning phase. It was then announced earlier this year, the iconic DC villain would be getting a solo film. There hasn’t been a release date set as of yet, or even if the film will be connecting to the larger DCEU, something that has been a point of contention between outlets in the past.

Black Adam is currently on the list of DC villains who have a solo film in development, a list that also includes Deathstroke, Joker and the Gotham City Sirens. It’s unlikely that every film will hit theaters, with a large number of DCEU films currently in development and only one in production, the aforementioned Shazam!.

It’s yet to be seen what kind of direction Warner Brothers will take the Black Adam film. Hiring a writer with a comedic background like Sztykiel could bring a levity to the film that could be difficult to find with a character like Black Adam and having The Rock’s stamp of approval never hurts.

Are you excited to see Black Adam? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Shannara Chronicles Episode 5 Review: Let’s Do The Time Warp!

By

Ruben Diaz

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November 9, 2017

The Shannara Chronicles new run on SpikeTV reaches the midpoint of the season with new twists and turns to set up the final five episodes. In an exciting move, Spike is now showing the remaining six episodes of the season in three batches of two. Reportedly, this is to appease viewers who prefer to watch on demand and binge a few hours at a time rather than just one hour a week. So, fans can rejoice! More Shannara is never a bad thing. And this two-part combo deals some vicious narrative blows.

Jax and Eretria split up. Soldiers attack Eretria, and after she kills most of them, Cogline shows up and finishes off the last few. Cogline changes Eretria’s quest and tells her that it’s more important to head back to Queen Tamlin.

Meanwhile, in Leah, King Ander and Princess Lyria form an alliance to go after the Crimson.

Eretria and Cogline talk to Queen Tamlin, and we get some much-needed exposition about the Queen’s deal with the Warlock Lord. As per the genre, the Lord is after ultimate power by drinking from a source of magic which feeds the Four Lands.

“If the Warlock Lord drinks from the well he will be unstoppable.”

Famous last words in stories like these. We all know bad guys are going to lose in the end, so it begs to wonder why writers still use this sort of trope. Maybe a break of 10 years or so can make it feel fresh again.

Wil and Allanon lead Bandon to the Warlock Lord’s skull in order to rescue Flick. But the plan goes sideways when Allanon’s secret mission to trick Bandon goes wrong. Instead, Bandon and Allanon end up trapped in a magical cage while Flick is dying from a contagion placed on him by Bandon.

Cogline fires off another round of exposition when telling Eretria about her mother. This moment also reveals Eretria’s roots which has a lot of implications moving forward.

Jax reveals his deepest intention when he arrives at the home of his friend’s widow. Jax rewards the widow with the money earned from bounties. However, Jax isn’t alone, and he brings more pain to the widow. After putting his weapon skills on display, the widow exiles Jax and says that the bounty hunter is cursed.

Trapped together in a magical prison with no powers, Allanon and Bandon have no intention to hurt each other. Instead, it’s now a chess match of wills. Bandon begins by digging into Allanon’s connection to Mareth.

But what is destiny leading to …

Mareth and Wil seek the Warlock Lord’s skull to appease Bandon. But they end up in a place that’s familiar to Wil in many ways but different in some key ways. Not too soon after arriving, the pair finds out exactly where they are.

Lyria and Ander receive a special prize which can change the tied of the rising darkness. However, to get what they need, the young King and Princess must do some unthinkable things.

The episode ends when Wil sets destiny into motion. But what is destiny leading to and how many more sacrifices must be made? A few too many expository moments are minor speedbumps in an otherwise well-paced 45 minutes.

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Toby Jones is a Madman in First ‘Kaleidoscope’ Trailer

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 9, 2017

It’s easy to look past Toby Jones sometimes. He’s blended into the background of some great films, and starred in some quiet indies, and he’s never been anything but great in whatever capacity is required. Judging from this trailer for Kaleidoscope, Jones is front and center and pretty unhinged.

This looks like a heavy dose of Hitchcock imagery, maybe some Lynch sprinkled in, with a little bit of early Polanski to top things off. Check it out:

Here is a synopsis from Birth.Movies.Death:

Co-starring Anne Reid and Sinead Matthews, Kaleidoscope is said to be an intense, twisty thriller that unfolds in the darkest corners of a man’s mind. Recently released from prison, mild-mannered Carl (Jones) quietly attempts to move on with his life. Just as he embarks on his first date in 15 years, Carl’s fresh start is shattered by the sudden reappearance of his domineering mother (Reid), whose presence awakens within him a deep-seated trauma. What unfolds is a brain-warping puzzle as reality and illusion, past and present collide and explode in violence.

This looks pretty unnerving, and it looks like a great thriller for genre fans. Toby Jones rarely gets to cut loose, so this could be an exciting moment of catharsis worth seeing.

Kaleidoscope opens December 8 in select theaters and on VOD.

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Ben Affleck Is Unsure About His Future As Batman

By

Aric Sweeny

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November 9, 2017

San Diego Comic-Con International 2017 was a wild one. Not only did it have great reveals and trailers, but it also seemingly settled a debate online that had been going down for weeks, if not months. Many assumed Ben Affleck’s future as Batman/Bruce Wayne was locked, as he’s part of the universe. Others, however, had skepticism and thought he’d be done with the role sooner than later. After Affleck tried to silence his critics, it seems as though the conversation is starting back up again.

In an interview with extratv, Affleck was asked about his future as the caped crusader. The interview mentioned that Justice League will be his third time as the character, and asked if we’ll see him at least two more times. Affleck’s answer?

“I don’t know about that. We’ll see what the future holds”.

While nothing was confirmed or denied in this interview, it seems like even Affleck doesn’t know what his future as Batman will be.

Do you think he will continue to play Batman for the foreseeable future, or is he done after one solo film, or even Justice League? Comment below, let us know your thoughts.

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Full-Length ‘Dark’ Trailer, the Next Bingeworthy Netflix Show

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 9, 2017

A few weeks ago, Netflix released a brief teaser for Dark, their new German-language series that looks like a mix of Stranger Things and three or four David Fincher movies. Now, we have the full-length trailer, and this one looks pretty compelling.

See for yourself:

The disappearance of two kids in the German small-town of Winden opens abysses that turn the concept of time on its head. The question is not who has kidnapped the children…but when.

Obviously the synopsis indicates this will be a time-jumping thriller. whatever the case, this looks beautiful and haunting and quite thrilling. The symmetrical imagery reminds me of David Fincher’s cinematic compositions. Early buzz is through the roof, so this should be the next show sci-fi fans will binge when it opens December 1.

Dark is a ten-part series and it’s brought to us by directors Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar. They aren’t familiar names in the States yet, but they might wind up being the next Duffer Brothers for Netflix.

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