A new, extended TV Spot for Thor: Ragnarok has been released, delivering fans some footage of Thor, Hulk, Valkerie, Surtur, and even the villainous Hela. Watch it below.
This film is promising so much, I just hope it can sufficiently deliver on all its fronts. Not only are fans getting Hulk vs. Thor, but we have also seen a look at Hulk fighting Surtur, Hela taking over Asgard, and Loki’s side schematics. What plot will take focus and be the emotional crux? Ultimately, this is all speculation on my part; I trust director Taika Waititi to make an engaging, humorous, and powerful Thor movie.
“In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok”, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladictorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk!”
Thor: Ragnarok is directed by Taika Waititi and stars Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeff Goldblum.
This film, the third in the Thor franchise, hits theaters on November 3.
Though over a year and a half away, we’re starting to get more information—or at least more rumors—of Avengers 4. The newest bit of information comes from MCU Exchange, and it could reveal quite a bit of how Avengers: Infinity War affects the Avengers.
We already know that Steve Rogers is dropping the Captain America mantle in Infinity War, taking the Nomad role in the wake of Captain America: Civil War. But he’s not the only person changing identity. In Avengers 4, Clint Barton might trade Hawkeye for Ronin.
In the comics, Barton donned the Ronin costume during a very dark time for him and the Avengers. He was resurrected by Scarlet Witch in House of M, and didn’t know what he wanted to be. In the wake of Civil War, he joined Luke Cage’s underground Avengers and took the new persona during Secret Invasion and Dark Reign.
The unnamed source where MCU Exchange got this rumor from has a proven track record too. They uncovered both Cap’s Nomad status, and the inclusion of Thanos’ Black Order, so while this is still a rumor, it does have validity.
Either way, we have 20 months before we might see Barton kick ass with swords and a bow-staff. Jeremey Renner will sure have fun with the new identity.
Captain Phasma is a Star Wars character that, so far, has very much gotten the Boba Fett treatment. She’s a visually grabbing villain that didn’t get enough screen time and met a pretty lame fate in The Force Awakens.
Journey To The Last Jedi: Captain Phasma is a fleshing out of the character. Picking up from the garbage shoot she was left in when we last saw her on screen, through the Starkiller Base assault, and beyond.
Phasma quickly recovers from being disposed of and immediately gets back to work. With their massive base falling down around her, she pursues a First Order traitor who assisted in this Resistance assault.
The job comes first for Phasma, she is the ultimate FO trooper. This was not a Star Wars elaboration that feels unnecessary. As we get ready for The Last Jedi, books like this will bridge the gap perfectly and build major hype for the December release date.
I’m a sucker for any time a Stormtrooper uses anything from their utility pouches. Captain Phasma gets her hands dirty and even does her best Batman impression.
Despite having limited dialogue in the movie, I hear her voice through every line I read. With Star Wars books specifically, this can sometimes backfire if what you’re reading doesn’t sound like the character we know intimately. That’s not the case here, this book only adds to the bad-ass lore of the good Captain.
Getting Phasma’s perspective on the biggest moments to The Force Awakens‘ finale was a nice touch. As her chase leads her off planet in pursuit of the traitor, we also get introduced to evil BB-8.
As pleasing as this Captain Phasma tale is, the art is kind of a mess at first. When Starkiller Base is falling apart, the action panels and pages are more overloaded than a Tatooine background in the Star Wars Special Editions.
That being said, every shot of Phasma is glorious. Her reflective armor creatively plays a part in conveying emotion in a stone cold soldier wearing a full helmet.
The first installment of Captain Phasma’s solo journey is a quick read. Fast, fun, and straight to the point. This doesn’t feel like a pointless waste of time like some of the other Star Wars mini-series.
Here’s to Captain Phasma getting more screen time and leaving a bigger legacy behind than Boba Fett.
A narrative which is grossly imbalanced plus campy elements of horror makes It a massive disappointment.
Summary
The narrative is centered on seven young kids who are considered by many to be outcasts growing up in Derry, Maine. Each of them seems to have some sort of target on their respective back which makes them the subject of ridicule from any number of bullies. The “Losers’ Club” takes solace in the idea that each member has had to face their own fears at the hand of one or many perpetrators. When they’re not dodging behind corners to avoid being beaten, they are subjected to unspeakable terror at the hands of a shape-shifting clown they refer to as “It”. When the kids finally come to grips with the recent disappearances being part of a killing cycle that happens every 27 years, they resolve to be the ones to end this brutality. However, “It” (aka Pennywise the Clown) might have his own agenda for these seven brave preteens.
What Worked
The ensemble they cast to portray “The Losers Club” was absolutely fantastic. Jaeden Liberher (Midnight Special), Sophia Lillis (37), Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs, Jake Dylan Glazer (Tales of Halloween), Jackson Robert Scott, Nicholas Hamilton (Captain Fantastic), Fin Wolfhard (Stranger Things)andJeremy Ray Taylor exhibited chemistry which was reminiscent of both Stand By Me and Goonies. Their presence in the story provided an appropriate amount of levity to counterbalance how dark the film was at times.
Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman developed a screenplay which played to the talents of the fairly young cast. Each member of “The Losers Club” has to come to grips with their own fears. Liberher’s portrayal of Bill had him coming to grips with losing his brother to the very thing terrorizing his hometown for years. Lillis’s character Beverly has to realize she can’t allow her dad to continue sexually assaulting her. The narrative certainly hits on the idea that sometimes our biggest fears are right in our homes.
Lillis was easily the best part of this film for me. Her character in the film brings an equal amount of toughness and morality to the picture. “The Losers Club” didn’t have any idea how they were going to combat “It” until she showed the power in having little fear. Whether it was leaping off a cliff into the lake below to swim or grabbing a metal spike to attack Pennywise, she proves that having no fear can be empowering.
What Didn’t Work
Bill Skarsgård portrayal of Pennywise came off as just a bit too safe. Shouldn’t audiences have been just a bit more frightened by his presence? After all, we are talking about one of the most iconic characters Stephen King created. While the writing team of Palmer, Fukunaga, and Dauberman were able to knock it out of the park when it came to providing source material for “The Losers Club”, Pennywise came off as a supporting character more than the central source of terror in this story. Had Skarsgård been given even more to work with, the 2017 version ‘It’ could have easily eclipsed the original.
The CGI scenes were awfully executed. They were cheesy and boarding on slightly campy as well. Director Andy Muschietti should have stuck to using as many practical effects in the film as possible as it would instill terror in any number of scenes and heighten the realism in the picture.
Director of Photography Chung-Hoon Chung didn’t nearly do the same quality work in his scenes involving Pennywise as he did with individual members of “The Losers Club.” In the scenes involving the preteens, he was able to capture the angst of each member of the group by utilizing close up shots as each kid was being terrorized by what they feared at home. When Beverly’s dad asks, “Are you still my little girl”, he immediately switched to a shot of the child fighting off this level of disgust on her face. In contrast, when we were in scenes involving Pennywise, it was nothing but generic shots of the group and the psychotic clown. My guess is Muschietti was betting on the story being able to conjure up fear rather than visuals on the screen. Why can’t it be both?
Overall
The best way to sum up It is to say that the film is really a combination of two different pictures. On the one hand, there’s this powerful coming of age tale involving seven pre-teens. We also have this poorly executed story of a shape shifting clown who has been terrorizing the town of Derry for years. Had more attention been made towards punching up the elements of horror in this film, we might be talking about a great horror film. It is at best a mediocre attempt at recreating a great piece of horror movie magic. My advice is stick with the original and avoid being disappointed.
Drew Goddard who launched the ‘Daredevil’ Netflix series, and was set for a Sinister Six film until it got scrapped, will get his chance to lead the ‘X-Force’ into battle as FOX has signed Goddard to write and direct the film, according to Deadline.
According to the report, the team will feature Deadpool and Cable as head figures. Ryan Reynolds is one of the producers of the film as well. 2018 will be a big year for the X-Men film universe with ‘New Mutants’ set for release on April 13, ‘Deadpool 2’ follows with a June 1 release, and then ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’ closes out the year on November 2.
Not plot details, release date, or additional casting was announced at this time.
‘X-Force’ is written and directed by Drew Goddard, and stars Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin.
Welcome to the Movie Show, we have a jammed packed episode for you with three films that are powerful all in their own way: ‘IT,’ ‘Crown Heights,’ and ‘Chuck’
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 131 of the MOVIE SHOW by Monkeys Fighting Robots is here.
Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.
Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show? Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Although there were several Japanese trailer drops for Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You!, the English marketing, for individuals in the west, has just kicked off.
Along with a new trailer, Game Freak has announced a special promotion that allows players to receive a special Pikachu in their game.
“Starting September 19, check back here on Pokemon.com to discover a code that allows you to receive a Pikachu wearing one of six different hats in your game. Each hat is based on the hat Ash wore in the various regions he and Pikachu explored. Not only will each Pikachu sport a different hat, but they will also come equipped with a unique set of moves that reflect those that Pikachu would often use in the region that corresponds with the hat it wears.
PLEASE NOTE: You will only be able to use this code once! The date you choose to enter the code will determine which hat and move set your special Pikachu will have. This means you’re going to have to be very careful when deciding on which Pikachu you wish to add to your party. Study the schedule below, and get ready to choose your Pikachu!
9/19/17 – 9/25/17: Original hat (Kanto and Johto regions)
9/26/17 – 10/2/17: Hoenn region hat
10/3/17 – 10/9/17: Sinnoh region hat
10/10/17 – 10/16/17: Unova region hat
10/17/17 – 10/23/17: Kalos region hat
10/24/17 – 10/30/17: Alola region hat”
Along with this code giveaway, the company has incentivized seeing the film in theaters even more:
“There is yet another special Pikachu that you will be able to receive, this time in your copy of the upcoming Pokémon Ultra Sun or Pokémon Ultra Moon. When you attend a showing of Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, you will receive a QR code that will grant you a Pikachu wearing the hat that Ash wears in the movie. Fans who attend the movie will also receive a special, never-before-seen card for the Pokémon TCG. It’s been an exciting journey we’ve been on with Ash and Pikachu, and we can’t think of a better way to commemorate it!”
Are you looking forward to Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You!? Comment below, let us know.
Click here for more information on seeing the movie in theaters.
A fourth Powerpuff Girl will be added making the famous super hero trio a quartet. The name of the new girl hasn’t been revealed, but what we do know is she’ll be unveiled on September 17 during the premiere episode of the five part movie event, The Powerpuff Girls: Power of Four.
Some have speculated the newest member may not be new at all, but the original fourth Powerpuff girl Bunny. Bustle tells us, in 2000, The Powerpuff Girls introduced a fourth sister named Bunny, who lasted for just one episode. In the episode, “Twisted Sister” the girls decide to create a new sister to help them with their hero duties. The formula they use to create Bunny isn’t exact — they use a mix of artificial sweetener, twigs, and their personal ideas of what nice means with an added dash of Chemical X — but her imperfections make her all the more endearing.
The Powerpuff Girls were created as a short in 1992 by Craig McCraken. Before making its debut on Cartoon Network in 1998, it was featured in the animation showcase What A Cartoon! in 1995 and 1996.
The last episode aired on March 25, 2005 with a total of 78 episodes. The series has been nominated for 6 Emmy Awards, 9 Annie Awards, and a Kid’s Choice Award.
On June 16, 2014 Cartoon Network announced a reboot which premiered April 4, 2016.
Any thoughts on who the fourth girl will be? Sound off in the comments!
It’s a red-letter day for the good folk of Unliklistan as they start to power up their first atomic reactor. But after pushing the wrong button, the ultra-rare radioactive element, unstabilium, has been released into the atmosphere! Now it’s up to pilot Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Atcherly and his navigator Captain Dudley “Mutt” Muller to save the day. Will they safely complete their mission? Or are things about to get a little…wacky?
Writing
Here we go, another addition to DC’s impressive library of titles featuring reimagining of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons. This time around the focus is on Dick Dastardly and his sidekick Muttley being retold as modern characters who get swept up a bizarre antics. How does it come off? A bit forced actually.
Writer Garth Ennis seems to be trying a bit too hard to be funny with this title. It introduces concepts like a drone which farts gas which creates weird cartoon like effects on what are supposed to be normal looking characters. It’s a weird idea and gives a chuckle here and there. Unfortunately, the grounded backstory of these two as pilots being in a world where bizarre stuff doesn’t happen on a regular basis seems to make it hard to transition into the slapstick zany comedy the book is trying to obtain. It’s not bad, it just feels awkward at times.
Artwork
The art by Mauricet is very good. Too good in fact. The slapstick and unpredictable humor doesn’t play well with such impressively detailed human characters. The designs feel more like they should be in a action series more than a comedy one. When it comes to comedy, everything must blend well for the humor to come off just right.
Conclusion
This is one of those comic series where a second issue will help to cement the idea of where the story is going. This is not a bad thing at all and seems to be a trend which is happening lately in comics. So far Dastardly and Muttley is better than Wacky Raceland but nowhere near as good as The Flintstones. Nevertheless, it’s a welcomed addition to the Hanna-Barbera library DC is creating.
Warner Bros. and DC have finally found a director for Suicide Squad 2! According to Variety, Gavin O’Connor (The Accountant) will helm the project, which will see Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto and more stars return. The article also states that Warner Bros. wants the project to begin production by the end of 2017.
O’Connor’s hiring puts an end to the massive search for a new director, a search which looked at a lot of high-profile names such as Mel Gibson and Jaume Collet-Serra. David Ayer, who wrote and directed the first film, decided to move away from the franchise and focus on another DCEU movie, Gotham City Sirens.
This is a massive job for O’Connor, the first Suicide Squad movie grossed $745 million worldwide, although it was poorly received by critics. The franchise centres around a group of imprisoned supervillains, who complete missions for the government in exchange for a reduced sentence.
