It seemed that a sequel to ‘Pacific Rim’ might not happen, but now ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ is having a hard time finding a safe place in a very crowded 2018 release schedule.
Universal stated Wednesday, the release date to ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ would be pushed back from February 23 of next year to March 23, according to a report by Deadline.
A big budget action film can usually find a spot during the summer, but now that you have the Marvel Cinematic Universe releasing 2-3 films a year, Warner Bros. with 2 DC Extend Universe movies a year, and an annual Star Wars film – where does a giant robot monster movie find time to shine?
Let’s look at the early part of 2018:
Feb. 2 – ‘God Particle’ sequel to ‘Cloverfield’
Feb. 9 – ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’
Feb. 16 – ‘Black Panther’ MCU
March 2 – ‘Red Sparrow’ Jennifer Lawrence
March 9 – ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Disney / ‘Gringo’ Charlize Theron action thriller
March 16 – ‘Tomb Raider’ Alicia Vikander
March 23 – ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’
March 30 – ‘Ready Player One’ Steven Spielberg
April 6 – no blockbuster films
April 13 – ‘New Mutants’ X-Men
April 20 – ‘Rampage’ Dwayne Johnson
May 4 – ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
After looking at the schedule ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ should have moved up a month and released in January instead of getting eaten alive by ‘Ready Player One,’ but every studio wants distant from ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi.’ There will be a lot of box office failures and success stories between ‘The Last Jedi’ and ‘Infinity War.’
Do you think Legendary Pictures made the right move? Comment below.
It’s been confirmed that John Boyega’s character Jake Pentecost, is the son of Stacker Pentecostis who was played by Idris Elba.
‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ is directed by Steven S. DeKnight from a screenplay by Emily Carmichael, Steven S. DeKnight, T.S. Nowlin, and Kira Snyder. The film stars Scott Eastwood, Tian Jing, Adria Arjona, John Boyega, Burn Gorman, Charlie Day, and Rinko Kikuchi.
Grumpy Cat and Garfield is the sort of crossover that makes perfect sense when you think about it. They both like to sleep, they’re grouchy, and lovable in their own ways. Grumpy Cat/Garfield is a comic that I’ve been looking forward to. To start with, I’m one of the few people you know who likedGrumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever. I also love the Garfield and Friends animated series. With both of these awesome cats, I have history and a great history with both of them. Now it is time to see if both of these cats make for a winning combination. Will this be the worst comic ever? Will it be one delicious plate of lasagna? Hopefully it isn’t as dark a day as a Monday. Now let us begin our adventure into the grouchy but lovable world of Grumpy Cat/Garfield #1.
Grumpy Cat/Garfield #1 is a clever crossover idea from Boom! and their Kaboom! imprint and Dynamite. Still can’t believe this is real but I can’t help but like that it exists.
What helps here is Mark Evanier has had a long history with Garfield from comics to TV with Garfield and Friends and The Garfield Show. Evanier knows our lasagna loving friend and his universe well, probably about as much as Garfield’s creator Jim Davis at this point. This is also Evanier’s first time writing Grumpy Cat and her universe and to be fair on my part, I’m not familiar with the Grumpy Cat comics. From this though, I find I should get more familiar with Grumpy Cat’s comic series. Even if you’re not familiar with either of them, Evanier keeps the story simple, nefarious businessman Mr. Ichabod Gross is trying to make cats act like dogs, and from one wacky idea comes wonderful results.
Now the simple premise works wonders in getting two of our favorite cats together. Both of them think Gross is a fool and ignore him immediately. You can almost figure how these cats collide with Gross yet it works and it is delightful. I also like the bits in between as Grumpy Cat’s brother Pokey and Odie have a role to play in this too. I’ve always liked Odie but Pokey was a lot of fun and I will enjoy seeing Odie and Pokey meet. Evanier crafted a neat story that gets everyone together and that’s all you need. It’s fun, it’s sweet, and it will be a blast to see how this plays out. A simple story idea that brews many neat possibilities for a fun crossover adventure. Sometimes all you need a simple hook to make a story fun and keep readers wanting more.
Yes I am a touch biased here in my liking of both Grumpy Cat and Garfield but sincerely this is a lot of fun.
I can’t rave enough about the art, Steve Uy is pitch perfect for this comic. Uy’s art has vibrant colors, wonderful expressions, and it all comes together beautifully. Evanier’s script has a lot of life to it and Uy captures the life in this comic with ease. It’s a book you can’t help but appreciate how the art merges the worlds of our feline friends effortlessly. Two different styles of characters mixing well with one another between the script and a great artist. I also enjoy Tom Napolitano’s lettering, especially in the handling of the narration of the book. The narration has a neat text style going for it, think mysterious typewriter style narration, and I like that. Even more so I love the lettering for Odie’s “Yeah! Yeah!” conveying his joyful nature perfectly.
Overall a solid start to a fun adventure. Grumpy Cat/Garfield #1 begins what should be a great time to be had by all readers.
Considering this book got me curious in learning more about Grumpy Cat’s comics, I say this is a win. I was already a fan of Garfield and now I’m game for this entire crossover adventure. If you’re a fan of one or both of them, you will have a great time with this comic book adventure. It is better than any Monday that’s for sure.
Netflix is taking ‘Narcos’ a little too far today with the release of the season three trailer. The streaming network has a Narcos truck in Manhattan serving white powdered donuts and Colombian coffee.
Watch the trailer for sesaon 3:
About ‘Narcos’ Season 3:
Cocaine cartels are all about succession: The day Pablo Escobar went down, the Cali Cartel became public enemy number one. They called themselves the Gentlemen of Cali – the biggest drug lords you’ve probably never heard of. Led by four powerful godfathers, the Cali Cartel turned the cocaine trade into a global enterprise.
Meet the Kings:
•Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (Damian Alcazar)- leader of Cali Cartel, “boss of bosses”
• Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela (Francisco Denis)- the brains behind the rise of the of Cali Cartel and Gilberto’s brother
• Pacho Herrera (Alberto Ammann)- the on-the-low hitman, runs the Mexican connection and international distribution
• Chepe Santacruz Londono (Pepe Rapazote)– runs the satellite NYC empire of the Colombian drug network
Just as Gilberto announces a bold plan to walk away from the business, DEA agent Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) enlists the help of American and Colombian law enforcement to take it down. This season opens up a complex and ruthless world of new figures.
Other new players include:
• Jorge Salcedo (Matias Varela)- Cali’s head of security who prioritizes his wife and kids’ protection over his bosses
• DEA agents Chris Feistl (Michael Stahl-David) and Daniel Van Ness (Matt Whelan), who enter the operation with enthusiasm and inexperience
• Franklin Jurado (Miguel Angel Silvestre)- the cartel’s money launderer who unknowingly puts his wife, Christina (Kerry Bishe) in mortal danger
• David Rodriguez (Arturo Castro)- Miguel’s oldest son, who is reluctant at first to take a leading role in the cartel structure
Narcos hits Netflix on September 1.
Where does ‘Narcos’ rank among the Netflix great show? Comment below.
MGM Pictures released the first trailer to ‘Death Wish’ remake starring Bruce Willis Thursday morning. Filmmaker Eli Roth looks to start a conversation about violence with an intense display of it.
About the film: Dr. Paul Kersey is a surgeon who only sees the aftermath of Chicago violence when it is rushed into his ER – until his wife and college-age daughter are viciously attacked in their suburban home. With the police overloaded with crimes, Paul, burning for revenge, hunts his family’s assailants to deliver justice. As the anonymous slayings of criminals grabs the media’s attention, the city wonders if this deadly vigilante is a guardian angel or a grim reaper. Fury and fate collide in the intense, action-thriller
Death Wish.
Paul Kersey becomes a divided person: A man who saves lives, and a man who takes them; a husband and father trying to take care of his family, and a shadowy figure fighting Chicago crime; a surgeon extracting bullets from suspects’ bodies, and the vigilante called “The Grim Reaper” who detectives are quickly closing in on.
‘Death Wish’ is based on the novel by Brian Garfield. Charles Bronson played the title charcter in the 1974 version.
Check out the orginal trailer.
The remake is directed by Eli Roth from a screenplay by Joe Carnahan. ‘Death Wish’ stars Bruce Willis, Elisabeth Shue, Camila Morrone, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dean Norris, and Kimberly Elise.
‘Death Wish’ hits theaters on November 22.
Are you going to be there opening night? Comment below.
Extremity is a beautifully brutal comic book series from Image that is created, written, and illustrated by the great Daniel Warren Johnson. Revenge is a dish best served violent and like nothing you’ve seen before. The newest installment puts major pressure on our hero and her family.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
After demolishing a handful of enemy hordes the last few issues, our heroes find themselves a worthy foe. They suffer some major casualties and retreat.
Extremity #6 sees Thea make a game-time decision that costs a lot of lives in order to save her brother. Abba reacts in a less-than-fatherly way, which makes for a powerful moment of drama. He beats Thea and abandons both his children.
Hobbie comes away as MVP of this issue and is the center of probably the most compelling scene in the series thus far. He sacrifices himself to allow the kids to flee, but not without sharing a piece of Thea’s art that he’ll be taking with him to the afterlife. Rollo and his sister are shot down during their escape, setting the table for the next arc.
This series has been a home-run so far with every chapter. However, this issue stands out as particularly dominant. Every scene is a heavy investment for readers and these characters.
Extremity is a doom metal album come to life. Loaded up with gruesome carnage and swift action sequences, it’s an extremely satisfying experience. DWJ is delivering a massive effort that’s well crafted and executed flawlessly. Mike Spicer’s color work is also worth noting, his pallet choices play a huge part in these panels sticking in a readers mind after they close the book.
Giant splash pages that act as a “Where’s Waldo” for detailed murder illustrations. Thea and her skiff bike are as iconic as characters get right out of the gate. If there is ever a Thea action figure, I want to be the first to add her to my collection.
The same can be said about all the supporting characters and their various weaponry. DWJ has a firm grasp on iconography. Extremity is tapping into a aesthetic vein that few can find this early on in a series.
The comic combines minor elements from all corners of sci-fi history and scatters them throughout each environment and landscape. This helps make readers feel at home while taking them to this brand new world of discovery. He’s achieving this without borrowing too much or leaning heavily on any comic book tropes.
With six issues in the bank now, the direction this title is headed in looks as promising as a comic book could possibly be. Daniel Warren Johnson is doing something special here and it more than deserves the attention of all comic book readers.
Starting withDC: Rebirth more than a year ago, the DCU has been a non-stop rollercoaster ride of storytelling. And now we have DC: Metal and the introduction of the ‘Dark Multiverse’ upon us! What exactly is the ‘Dark Multiverse’? What can we expect? We still have a lot of questions t but today we have our first hint! Check it out below!
Evil versions of the Dark Knight are coming to terrorize Earth this fall! Seven one-shot comics that tie into the upcoming DARK NIGHTS: METAL event are on the horizon, each spotlighting a different, corrupted version of Batman spawned from the Dark Multiverse.
How can the Justice League stop a horde of deadly beings that appear to be powerful, nightmare versions of themselves? Find out in these special tie-in issues, beginning September 20 withBATMAN: THE RED DEATH #1by Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomenico followed byBATMAN: THE MURDER MACHINE #1by Frank Tieri and Ricardo Federici on September 27.
Check these two covers out below.
BATMAN: THE RED DEATH #1 cover by Jason Fabok and Dean WhiteBATMAN: THE MURDER MACHINE #1 cover by Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson
All seven of the DARK NIGHTS: METAL one shots will feature covers by Jason Fabok. Stay tuned to Monkeys Fighting Robots for more cover reveals of BATMAN: THE DROWNED, BATMAN: THE MERCILESS, BATMAN: THE DEVASTATOR, BATMAN: THE DAWNBREAKER, and THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS in the coming week.
Pretty cool huh? A whole team of evil other-dimensional Batmen is certainly a HUGE threat for the DCU. Things are definitely about to get dark and heavy.
What do you guys think? Comment and discuss below!
‘The Dark Tower’ invades the summer blockbuster season this week with a pleasant surprise. This Stephen King adaptation is a warped version of ‘The Never Ending Story,’ with its modest production budget can compete with the likes of Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe.
Matthew McConaughey is an over-the-top villain, while Idris Elba made a women crying out during the press screening:
“That’s a bad man! You don’t mess with that man!”
If you are a fan of Stephen King, fantasy, and westerns; ‘The Dark Tower’ has enough to win you over and is worth seeing in the theater.
When building a cinematic universe you need Easter eggs and with ‘IT’ right around the corner one scene will make you jump out of our seat with excitement
Facebook Live Review
Pros
• Elba does what he does best. Makes men want to be him.
• The film takes a surprising twist.
• The final battle can compete with what Marvel is putting out.
• Film Easter Egg
Cons
• McConaughey does his best Darth Sidious impersonation.
• Giant beam in the sky.
• This film needed more creatures
• Jackie Earle Haley needed a bigger role.
With a $60 million budget, ‘The Dark Tower’ should earn a sequel at the box office and hopefully, Sony Pictures will up the financial ante for the next film.
There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.
After you go see the film, come back here and give us your thoughts.
Though it hasn’t begun, ABC has decided to end it’s comedy series The Middle after the ninth season. It’s one of the networks longest running sitcoms, but has never scored huge ratings. It saw a small increase last year after moving to Tuesdays.
ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said this in a statement, “The Heck family has been part of the ABC family for almost a decade. It’s rare for a series to have this type of longevity, and we are proud to have been its home. We’ve watched Axl, Sue and Brick grow up right before our eyes under Frankie and Mike’s unique parenting style, I’m looking forward to the fitting and happy ending the producers will give the Hecks and our viewers.”
ABC
While the cancellation is a surprise to fans, the cast and crew knew it was coming to an end.
“Last year we sat down with our cast and made the bittersweet decision together that in this ninth season it is time to bring the Hecks’ story to a close. It’s been an amazing run, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’re looking forward to having an entire year to say goodbye,” said co-creators Heisler and Heline. “Plus, we wanted to go out before too many people knew we were on the air.”
The middle stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie,the narrator and matriarch of the Heck family. Neil Flynn as Mike, Charlie McDermott as Axl, Eden Sher as Sue, and Atticus Shaffer as Brick.
The final season will premiere Tuesday, October 3 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Seven members of the original London cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Childwill return for the Broadway production, opening in spring 2018, including Olivier winners Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger), and Anthony Boyle (Ron Weasley).
“We have assembled an extraordinary cast for Broadway,” said director John Tiffany. “Our Cursed Child family is growing with twenty-eight brilliant new actors bringing their unique talents to our production. I also can’t wait to dive back into it with seven of our original London cast members reprising their thrilling performances for New York audiences. The adventure continues.”
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up nineteen years after the events of The Deathly Hallows, following an adult Harry as he grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs. His youngest son, Albus, must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender, and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions are producing Cursed Child on Broadway, which opens at the Lyric Theater on April 22, 2018. Tickets go on sale in October.
Are you going to stand in line to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway?
THE FANTASTIC STORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO AMELIA EARHART! Mysteriously transported to a strange new world filled with flying beasts and alien civilizations, Amelia desperately struggles to return home. Along the way, she forges alliances and makes enemies as she goes from aviator to freedom fighter in a rebellion against a merciless warlord.
Elsewhere #1 Written by: Jay Faerber Art by: Sumeyye Kesgin Colors by: Ron Riley Created by: Jay Faerber & Sumeyye Kesgin
Published by: Image Comics
Be warned, SPOILERS!
When I picked up Elsewhere #1 to review, I knew little about it other than it was written by Jay Faerber, a writer whose work I have enjoyed before (Noble Causes was great!). I knew nothing about the premise and nothing about the plot. I had a vague idea (mainly from the title and one image I saw) that it was a fantasy tale. I really picked it up because gambling on a new Image book is usually a good roll of the dice. I have to say I lucked out. I found the book to be a joy to read, well illustrated and refreshingly fun in tone even with its high concept of using people who actually went missing in real life.
Art by Sumeyye Kesign
Writing
Jay Faerber has always been a solid writer. He may not have the superstar status of so many of his colleagues, but that is not a sign of his talent at all. He has always been one to craft great stories and build his own worlds. Elsewhere is no different. The story starts in medias res and keeps us guessing a bit until we meet the protagonist and the book’s true concept is given light. This is going to be a story about Amelia Earhart and where she went when she famously disappeared. It’s a great high-concept story that could very well rely on its own cleverness too much, but Faerber creates a likable Earhart who seems like she came out from a 40’s pulp novel as much as she did out of actual history. She’s brave, rambunctious, and has an Indiana Jones vibe to her that just works. Before then it may seem like just another fantasy setting with an evil over lord and escaping slaves, but it’s all just a setup. And it’s done quite well. Of course, the book’s second (and best) reveal is saved for last and it’s the one that REALLY hooked me. Captured and tossed in a cell by the minions of the villain Lord Kragen, Amelia meets another human. None other than urban legend and subject of much historical debate himself, D.B. Cooper! This reveal is done on the last page and it has a nice old-school cliffhanger feel to it. It definitely hooks you enough to want to read issue two. D.B. Cooper’s disappearance has always been one of histories biggest mysteries and tossing it into a fantasy setting is actually a great idea. What’s great about all this there is no exposition at all and the story relies on the general knowledge we all have about these two people to make it work.
Art by Sumyye Kesgin
Art
Sumeyye Kesgin’s art, although cartoony, works well with the tone of the book. Her panels and layouts are light and airy, keeping the story moving at the pace of an adventure movie or old-school serial. Her design of the villain Lord Kragen is also great and seems like something out of an excellent action/adventure animated show. And come to think of it (now as I write this) that’s how the art feels; animated. It zips and zags, moving with a good amount of energy.
The landscape, ship and creature designs are also very good. They seem simple but effective, not overly designed and distracting.
Ron Riley’s colors are actually subdued for this kind of story, but you only notice that when you see how ‘bright’ Amelia seems in contrast to the world around here. This gives her role as what is likely a savior, a nice subtle push. It’s coloring being symbiotic with the pencils, which is what you want out of any art team.
Page from ‘Elsewhere’ #1
Conclusion
With its use of historical figures combined with a total fantasy setting, Elsewhere was a nice surprise. Books like these are usually over powered by more high-profile releases, and that’s a shame. It’s not an attention grabber but it’s a solid book that leaves you wanting to read more about its characters and world. And sometimes that’s all you need in a comic book. Pick this one up. You’ll have fun with it.
