‘Jean Grey’ #2 Assembles Crew Of Former Phoenix Hosts

By

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May 25, 2017

Time displaced mutant teenager Jean Grey finds herself being courted by the fiery cosmic Phoenix entity. In an effort to avoid following her adult future’s footsteps, she seeks help from fellow X-Men with previous experience. In Jean Grey #2, our young hero assembles a crew of former Phoenix hosts.

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

The Phoenix has contacted Jean, she consults Beast and the scientific community on the matter, only to find nobody believes her. Ms. Grey uses Cerebro to reach out to former hosts of the cosmic force. She finds Hope Summers in danger and intervenes.

Colossus, Magik, Rachel Summers, and Quentin Quire arrive for assistance and consultation. As the “Former Phoenix Force” tears through an underground Reaver hive, Quentin gives Jean a tour through the groups mental experiences with the Phoenix.

What a lovely group of fan-favorite X-Men to watch take down waves of cyborg enemies. All utilizing their unique abilities together while giving Jean a look inside their heads courtesy of Kid Omega’s psychic bullets.

Two issues into the run, written by Dennis Hopeless, it’s been a surprise hit. Coming into a solo Jean Grey series, readers didn’t know what to expect. Hopeless has so far delivered a fast and fulfilling experience. Between this title and the fabulous X-Men: Blue, Jean might be the character benefitting most from ResurreXion.

Quentin Quire has been getting the star treatment he deserves recently. Between Generation-X, Mighty Thor, and Jean Grey, his heavy involvement is a good sign for X-Men comics.

Seeing Hope Summers appear was also a major highlight. She’s one of the most crucial players in the mutant cause that is usually left on the shelf for some reason. Hopeless and artist Victor Ibanez show her becoming more like her father, Cable, in both appearance and attitude.

As always with X-Men comics, they function best within a team dynamic. This issue is no exception, these former Phoenix hosts have a collaborative chemistry that provides a stunning visual.

The Summers’ provide a more optimistic approach to Jean’s impending fate, while Quentin and Magik do their best to terrify the young teen. Her lack of understanding, thanks to Quire’s aggressive approach, leads her to seek out Namor in the next issue.

Hopeless scripts an intriguing tale of the girl trying to avoid her seemingly unavoidable future fate. Ibanez fills every page to capacity with stunning action paired with carefully crafted layouts and designs. The combination of Jay David Ramos and Chris Sotomayor top it off by fulfilling Marvel’s promise to make X-Men comics colorful and lively again.

There’s a lot to celebrate about this series so early on. As long as Marvel manages to keep the creative team together, they should be able to continue dazzling readers as Jean attempts to forge her own path in life.

Jean Grey #2 is worth your time. This issue does more to satisfy longtime fans and newcomers alike than even X-Men: Gold. Hopefully Marvel recognizes this and keeps the team together, they have plenty more to contribute to their successful turn around of X-Men comics.

What’s your favorite ResurreXion title so far? Let us know in the comments below!

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40 Years Of Star Wars: A New Hope – How Does It Hold Up?

By

Jonathan Bruce

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May 25, 2017

It’s hard to believe we’ve known the Force for 40 years.

Yes, Star Wars: A New Hope is officially forty years old. Now the question remains- does it stand the test of time?

Forget the sequels and prequels. Ignore the re-releases and edits by George Lucas. This is the original movie. It would kick off an extended universe and various spin-offs.

Everyone knows the story. A young princess sends two droids into hiding with top secret plans of the Empire’s secret weapon. A young farm boy finds the droids and learns of a secret plot. Enter a wizened mentor, a cocky pilot and a furry sidekick. Oh, the pilot has a starship that can complete the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. From there, they set out to rescue the princess and destroy the Death Star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP_1T4ilm8M

In terms of story, the plot is straightforward. We jump into the middle of the action and move on from there. Lucas’ writing ability is no work of genius, but he does well in setting up Luke, Leia and Han. We get hints of the galaxy’s history, and there are many references to the Clone Wars and “dark times.”

Mark Hamill is good at showing Luke Skywalker’s vulnerability and resolve to become a Jedi knight. You can see the change come over Hamill as he returns home to find his uncle and aunt are dead. His eventual growth is shown as he begins to embrace the Force and let go of his feelings. Hamill’s being the focus is a big part of what makes the trilogy work.

As Leia, the late Carrie Fisher projects a feisty persona and a tough-girl demeanour. While no means an Ellen Ripley, she holds her own, and this is true in the cell block fight. She has some of the best lines, such as calling Chewie a “walking carpet.”

Yet it is Harrison Ford who steals the show as Han Solo. Often witty and sarcastic, he goes from being a selfish pilot to galactic hero. Even when he’s thinking of himself, you can’t help but like him. Ford retains Gary Cooper’s presence and swagger of Jeff Bridges. His charisma is one of the main highlights of the film.

The rest of the cast do well in their roles. C3PO and R2D2 provide the comic relief, and it is not overdone or drawn out. Alec Guinness provides a warm, sage-like gravitas as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi. His grandfatherly visage masks a keen intellect and stoic vision. Even after he meets his match, Kenobi’s presence is still felt throughout the film.

Peter Cushing’s portrayal of Grand Moff Tarkin is steely and intense. It is a shame that he appears in one Star Wars film, because his villain is truly menacing. Finally, special credit goes to James Earl Jones for his powerful voicing of Darth Vader.

Technically, the film is very good with 1970s VFX. While some might call them dated, the opposite is true. Lucas’ goal was to create a “used space” which looks and feels real. He did not want to emulate the pristine vision seen in Kubrick’s 2001. Indeed, the Alien movies would follow suit. So would Battlestar Galactica.

Ben Burtt and John Dystrka’s effects are pretty cool even today. Whether it’s a blaster or a TIE Fighter, the sounds are spot-on and realistic. Look no further than the cell block shootout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kCWFPTL-Jk

Special credit must be given to the makeup effects by Rick Baker. This is especially true in the Mos Eisley scenes. Baker’s finest work is with Chewie, whom is played by Peter Mayhew. Using a suit of yak hair and wool, he succeeds in making the Wookie both fierce and lovable.

Last but not least, the film’s score is perfect. John Williams’ sound helps to set the mood and feel of the story. Indeed, it brings to mind the scores of 1930s and 1940s movies. The climatic Death Star finale is one of his best pieces of work to date. This is among his best work as a composer.

Much is made about Lucas’ various edits over the years. The 1997 Jabba the Hutt bit is neat, but it feels a bit redundant after the Greedo scene. Sharp-eared fans can also hear changes in dialogue and sound in 1997, 2004 and 2012. In this writer’s opinion, the film is able to stand on its own without changes.

A New Hope is a fine piece of science-fiction, and it stands the test of time. While Empire Strikes Back may surpass it, this film did change the way people go to the movies. This would be the first but not the last time people would go crazy about Star Wars.

Forty years on, the Force is strong with the fans. Here’s hoping it will be just as strong for the next forty years.

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About Last Night Episode 13: ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ Video Review

By

EJ Moreno

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May 25, 2017

Monkeys Fighting Robots Exclusive Review: ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’

“About Last Night” is a movie review show, where movie critic EJ Moreno talks about the movie he saw last night. This week’s episode is about the newest Disney film, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales‘.

“Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas”

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales‘ stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Joining him is Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin McNally, and Geoffrey Rush. Also making a series return is Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

The film opens in theaters on May 26th, 2017.

What did you think of this review? Let me know in the comments below!

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DC Rebirth Hits Its One Year Anniversary!

By

Nick Enquist

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May 25, 2017

One year ago today (May 25th, 2016) DC Entertainment released “DC Rebirth #1” and launched the Rebirth line. It was an engaging renaissance for the company that garnered immensely positive feedback from both fans and critics. And it doesn’t look like DC is slowing down anytime soon.

But, let’s give a quick recap of what DC’s past year was like post its inaugural Rebirth issue. Many of their title were put on a twice-monthly schedule, which had very few delays. (Side note: some of those titles are pas their 20th issue now and are still selling like hotcakes). DC also released the Hana-Barbera line, which gave us some surprising hits like The Flintstones and Future Quest. My Chemical Romance lead Gerard Way ventured into comics as the head of the new “Young Animal” imprint that introduced some more psychedelic and unique comics like Cave Carson has a Cybernetic Eye and the reintroduction of Doom Patrol.

It’s been an eventful year for them to say the least. And we at Monkeys Fighting Robots cannot wait to see where the company is going from here. (Anyone else excited for Dark Matter?)

So, here’s to you DC! Congratulations on a phenomenal year of superhero storytelling and great comics. We hope you have many more years like this one.

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Star Trek Bridge Crew Boldly Goes Where No Game Has Gone Before

By

Christina Freeman

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May 25, 2017

During E3 of 2016 Ubisoft aired a trailer for a Virtual Reality Star Trek game called Star Trek: Bridge Crew. This VR game would be playable on Oculus Rift and compatible with HTC Vive as well as on the PlayStation VR platform. Originally set for a late November 2016 release, then a mid-March 2017 release, it looks like the game will finally surface at the end of this month for a May 30th release.

Captain’s Log

Set in the Kelvin timeline specific to the J.J. Abrams 2009 reboot, the game focuses on role playing as the main component of interaction. As a crew member of the U.S.S. Aegis, players are put into a co-op situation after choosing a team member role on the ‘starship’. Players can choose to be captain, helm, tactical or engineering. As expected game play is designed around the specific duties of the role.

Star Trek Bridge Crew Role Focus

While the story remains consistent regardless of platform, the ability to change roles creates diversity in the game play atmosphere. In addition to that it is in Virtual Reality placing the gamer as close to an actual Star Trek experience as possible. As noted by Brian Drew from a September post on Trekmovie.com, this sounds like an exciting and engrossing experience.

Team Spirit Needed

One of the main focal points of gameplay is team interaction. Gameplay features the player working in tandem with the other three roles which can be live players. With online access even if a player does not have three other friends nearby, they will be able to find other game players to interact with. However in the case no one else is engaged, non-player characters (NPC) will be assigned to play the needed roles.

Yes THE Enterprise

Bonus content includes playing as a member of the original U.S.S. Enterprise. Also the game will be playable cross-platforms. As long as VR gear is compatible with the game, players can engage each other. This means gamers can play with friends with different VR set-ups. Something Ubisoft made possible late last year with their VR game push.

The game seems to mesh the interests of virtual reality enthusiast, online gamers, role playing gamers and tactical strategic gamers in a world that is familiar and extraordinary at the same time. Is there a universe better suited for VR than the Star Trek one? Star Trek Bridge Crew is hopefully an opening foray into a brave new space.

The title is currently still available for pre-order.

Does a Star Trek VR game sound like the best of both worlds? Comment below with your thoughts.

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That All-Female Screening for ‘Wonder Woman’ Sure Hurt a Lot of Man Feelings

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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May 25, 2017

Last night, the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin announced an all-female screening for Wonder Woman. It’s a fun idea, especially since the ratio of male-centric superhero movies to female-centric is about 200 to 1. Literally 1.

Here’s the official announcement from the Drafthouse Facebook page:

Apologies, gentlemen, but we’re embracing our girl power and saying “No Guys Allowed” for one special night at the Alamo Ritz. And when we say “Women (and People Who Identify As Women) Only,” we mean it. Everyone working at this screening — venue staff, projectionist, and culinary team — will be female.

But the announcement, which meant all the well in the word, ruffled the fragile feathers of all the angry men out there on The Internet Dot Com, and they took time out of their busy day to let Alamo Drafthouse know just how Mad Online they were:

These are merely grains of sand on a beach of angry bros. And you gotta feel for them, right? I mean, how will they ever get a chance to see Wonder Woman now that a single theater on a single night has been completely filled up with cootie-ridden girls? I guess they’ll have to wait until it comes out on Bluray or something… at least then they won’t be surrounded by all these girls and their skirts.

Oh, and speaking of that single night… Alamo has announced a second all-female screening since the first one was sold out, despite this bros rock-solid prediction:

Whoops.

This wasn’t an event about inclusion, it was an event created to have some fun with an iconic female superhero, one of only a handful of female superheroes among a sea of male superheroes. What sort of angry, sexually-frustrated little boy do you need to be to get up in a twit about this? Go back in our treehouse and spray-paint “No Girls Allowed” on the door if you want, but give up this flaccid “my man feelings are hurt” sentiment about movies.

First Ghostbusters, now this?! Men have all the bad luck!

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‘Wind River’ Trailer: Taylor Sheridan’s Directorial Debut Looks Excellent

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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May 25, 2017

In the past two years, two of the best crime dramas to come out of Hollywood were Sicario and Hell or High Water, both written by Taylor Sheridan. Now, Sheridan has his directorial debut, Wind River, and this first trailer is simply magnificent.

Check it out:

https://youtu.be/TjqHn6_LhGo

An FBI agent teams with the town’s veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.

There are echoes of a dozen movies in here. I see a little Thunderheart, Shoot to Kill, Fargo… the list goes on and on. But it’s written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, which adds another element of anticipation.

Wind River stars Jeremy Runner and Elizabeth Olsen, the great Graham Greene, and the great Jon Bernthal. The reunion of Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch is intriguing, and the setting makes for plenty of tension. Looks cold AF there…

Wind River is currently at Cannes, and will hit theaters stateside August 4. About the same time Hell or High Water released.

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Jason Bateman is a Criminal on The Run in This Chilling ‘Ozark’ Trailer

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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May 25, 2017

It’s virtually impossible to keep up with the Netflix original programming these days. Ozark, their new crime thriller series starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, is the most recent example.

Check out this excellent trailer:

The Byrdes, husband and wife Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney), their teenage kids Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) — are for all intents and purposes an ordinary family. Ordinary save for Marty’s job: The top money launderer for the second largest drug cartel in Mexico.

That synopsis barely scratches the surface, judging from this tense, shockingly violent teaser. Ozark will be a 10-part series for Netflix, and it starts July 21.

The business model over at Netflix is certainly odd, or maybe it’s just new. The company churns out original programming faster than the entirety of the Hollywood studio system, and they have an incredible rate of success. Ozark looks to be right in my wheelhouse.

As much as I enjoy the sardonic Jason Bateman sense of humor, it’s always great to see him pop up in a serious role. He was aces in The Gift, and joining forces with the great Laura Linney only makes this better.

Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams are the creators of Ozark, and I am here for their show.

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Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind Is DLC Done Right

By

Ruben Diaz

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May 25, 2017

A part of modern gaming includes downloadable content (DLC) and Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) just released on big, bad addition called Morrowind. Of course, not all DLC is the same. Gamers have complained of companies selling half a game only to DLC players to death. While another DLC is lauded as an addition to the game that elevated the original to new heights. Where does Morrowind fall?

Morrowind isn’t easy on the wallet, but for the price,
there is an enormous amount of content.

The easiest answer to this question complicates the discussion even more. Bethesda, publishers of the ESO, doesn’t call Morrowind a DLC but a “chapter.” Old school gamers might remember the days before DLCs when the best of the best games released “expansions.” Morrowind is an expansive addition to an already massive game. In modern terms, it’s a DLC, and it’s the kind of DLC that’s done right.

Most DLC add one particular significant aspect to the game; a new class, zone, or game mode. Morrowind does all three, plus a little more. And while the initial look at the price tag might turn your face into an emoji, always remember to weigh cost versus content.

If you only look at Morrowind as a $40 DLC, it’ll put a little fear into your wallet. However, this new chapter adds, at a minimum, 30 hours of story content in the form of new quests. Those quests take place around a new zone that’s bigger than any previous area before it. Exploring areas in Elder Scrolls is a few hours worth of gameplay in itself.

Morrowind doesn’t leave the PvP crowd out of the mix.

A new game mode called Battlegrounds creates fast-paced, FPS-style matches. Smaller, focused maps allow for three teams of four to wage war in Deathmatch and Capture the Flag games.

To explore this new zone and fight in the new game mode Morrowind introduces a new class: the Warden. As with the other classes of ESO, the Warden can play a variety of roles in a party. It all depends on how you build it and equip the character. But the class brings some fresh mechanics and effects to unleash fantasy chaos.

Layered into this DLC is the new sugar of the 21st century: nostalgia. Morrowind was the third solo Elder Scrolls game and one of the most loved. Morrowind for Elder Scrolls Online is a faithful recreation of that game with a twist. The lands in the original game are covered in ash after the Red Mountain erupted. Here, it’s centuries prior, and the mountain still sleeps. All the familiar places of the third game are there, but different.

Bad DLC will cost a lot and give little. Morrowind isn’t easy on the wallet, but for the price, there is an enormous amount of content. As with the rest of the acclaimed MMO, the quality of the product is also top-notch including the spot-on voice acting and lush graphics that’s a staple of the game.

Morrowind officially releases for PC, Mac, PS4 and Xbox on June 6th. Fans of the series and the MMO should not hesitate. And for new players, there’s no better time to transport yourself to the world of Nirn and begin looting and leveling until your heart’s content.

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‘Baywatch’ Review: A Mixture Of Sun, Fun, And Laughs

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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Baywatch does enough to overcome its flaws to deliver an action-rich laugh filled experience.

Summary

The film starts off on the beach during tryouts for the new Baywatch recruits. The leader of the squad, Mitch (Dwayne Johnson) is hell bent on putting this crew through the ringer. However, one of the recruits appears to be getting special treatment from Mitch’s boss. Matt Brody (Zac Efron) is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose mere presence could mean great publicity for a program the county commission believe is antiquated. Mitch eventually gets the commission to agree to Brody having to go through the same tryouts as everyone else (one that involves some highly unorthodox events). Predictably, Brody makes it as well as two other lifeguards recruits played by Alexandra Daddario and Jon Bass. The narrative quickly pivots from tryouts to finding out why drugs keep washing up on the beach. It appears that the deeper they dig into the drug issue, the more dead bodies begin to appear. Mitch suspects that real estate mogul Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra) is behind all of this. Matt thinks that this whole mess is best settled by the police.

What Worked

Damian Shannon and Mark Swift developed a narrative with a good sense of tone. If anyone (including critics) expected this picture to be anything other than a silly adaptation of a cheesy show from the 90’s, they obviously haven’t seen an episode of Baywatch.

Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson are oozing with chemistry on screen. Both actors appear to understand that their respective characters are extremely similar to their TV counterparts, with each interpretation being so over the top it’s hilarious.

When the narrative ventures into “R” rated territory, Baywatch is at its most hilarious. The scene in the morgue may be the funniest sequence in the film.

Elements in the production design added to the overall comedic value of Baywatch. Through a sequence of events, Matt ends having to sleep over at Mitch’s house on a cot right next to the fish tank. Mitch warns him that he’s always watching and as you are leaving we get a shot of a miniature fish tank version of Mitch watching Matt with binoculars.

What Didn’t Work

Why didn’t Seth Gordon go all in on making Baywatch the “R” Rated comedy we all anticipated seeing? The reason why Ted and Deadpool work so well is there is no ambiguity in the type of film it wanted to be. Watching the end credits, you just got the feeling that some of the more funnier moments of the film didn’t even make the final cut.

While it seemed the movie had plenty for Efron and Johnson’s characters to do, the rest of the supporting cast was severely ignored. Part of the storyline involves the hiring of three new lifeguards, two of which clearly belong on the squad and one named Ronnie (Jon Bass). It’s not hard to see that they were shooting for the punchline when writing in Ronnie making it on the squad. He’s goofy, pudgy, and manages to get his privates stuck in a beach chair. After we go through the first quarter of the film and Ronnie makes it as a trainee, he disappears into the background of the film. Why? Don’t ignore the guy who is generating as many laughs as Dwayne Johnson.

Priyanka Chopra should not have been cast as the main villain for the film. She looks amazing in the film but does nothing on screen that convinced me even 1% that she was the right pick.

Cameos! Why the need for Cameos?

Overall

Baywatch is the type of release that some critics will mercilessly bash because everyone is doing it. What baffles me is that these are the same people who, as I sat in the theater with them, were laughing hysterically at the film. How can you bash something that apparently you found entertaining enough to laugh? Are you really going to tell me something is the worst film of the summer when you clearly seemed to be enjoying yourself?

What did I think of Baywatch? While the film has its share of issues, I enjoyed watching it. Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson were a hell of a lot of fun on screen. When the film went into that “R” rated realm, it was hysterical. This film is a great date night film that will require little thought from the audience but will provide maximum enjoyment for all in the theater.

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