Monkeys Fighting Robots Exclusive Review: ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2’
“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 ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2‘!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfk8e4snXvU&t=4s
In the tenth episode of “About Last Night”, the show dives into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the second installment of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘. Will the typical MCU problems plague this film or does James Gunn get to make his piece? EJ Moreno dishes his candid feelings and answers questions from fellow Monkeys Fighting Robots writers.
‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2‘ is written and directed by James Gunn. The film stars an ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, and Kurt Russell.
Leave your feelings in the comments below!
Check back next week for another episode of “About Last Night”.
‘Edge of Tomorrow 2’ Is Now ‘Live Die Repeat and Repeat’
When speaking with Collider.com, ‘Edge of Tomorrow‘ director Doug Liman revealed new details about the upcoming sequel. Not only did Liman confirm the return of Emily Blunt but he also gave away the film’s new title. It will be called ‘Live Die Repeat and Repeat‘.
“We have an amazing story! It’s incredible! Way better than the first film, and I obviously loved the first film. It will be called Live Die Repeat and Repeat. Tom [Cruise] is excited about it, and Emily Blunt is excited about it. The big question is just when we’ll do it. But it’s not an if, it’s a when.”
-Doug Liman to Collider
While the title may seem confusing to some, it’s based on the first film’s tagline. It also perfectly sums up the very insane plot of ‘
It also sums up the very insane plot of ‘Edge Of Tomorrow‘. The underrated sci-fi film featured a military public relations officer sent to film the first wave of an attack against an alien race. Tom Cruise’s character is killed in combat but finds himself on a loop that sends him to the day before the battle. Emily Blunt plays an officer in Special Forces who eventually teams up with Cruise to defeat the aliens. While Blunt’s character died in the first film, director Doug Liman described ‘Live Die Repeat and Repeat‘ as a “sequel that’s a prequel”. Expect them to find a tricky way to include her in the film!
What do you think of the film’s title? Some folks online are calling it a bit confusing.
Did you enjoy the first ‘Edge of Tomorrow‘ enough to come back for a sequel?
The burgeoning relationship between Samurai Jack and Ashi takes an unexpected turn after they find themselves hunted by one of the galaxy’s deadliest creatures.
After getting his sword back last episode, Samurai Jack isn’t exactly heading in a beeline towards Aku. Instead, he and Ashi essentially go on a date. Yes, straight out of a romantic comedy, the two have a weird meal, share awkward glances and touches, and even have a moment where they each don a version of Jack’s classic straw hats. It is adorable at times because you know neither character has any real experience when it comes to relationships and its all new to each other. At the same time, you find yourself screaming at the screen: “Just kiss already!”
The other main element of this episode is the pair fighting off an escaped space prisoner. It’s an intriguing creature and there is a lot of good animation but it feels more like a generic “monster of the week” more than a credible threat. With it being so close to the ending, stories like this seem unnecessary but Jack and Ashi did need somewhere to go to enjoy their date. .
Despite the redeeming elements of this episode, it is a little light on the overall plot. With only two episodes left it feels more like the creators should be working towards a final confrontation with Aku and trying to sort out the craziness with explaining the implications of Jack returning to the past. There is a lot of cause and effect from him changing the past which would need to be addressed. Unless of course the ending doesn’t result involve time travel but such an ending would seem counterproductive from the mission statement of the entire series of getting back to the past and preventing the world of Aku.
The first teaser for Marvel’s Inhumans is here, and it’s not much. Although it’s a good piece of marketing to inform the general public when the show will premiere, it’s not well done in the sense that it gives fans absolutely nothing to get excited about. Nevertheless, watch it below.
This upcoming first season, which will be shown on ABC, consists of eight episodes and is helmed by Scott Buck, the individual who handled Netflix’s Iron Fist show.
The cast includes Black Bolt (Anson Mount), Medusa (Serinda Swan), Gorgon (Eme Ikwuakor), and Karnak (Ken Leung).
Are you excited for Marvel’s Inhumans? Sound off in the comments below! The show’s first two episodes will be shown in IMAX, with the rest of the season being on normal television.
One of director James Gunn’s latest Facebook posts was dedicated to thanking the fans for the love and appreciation they’ve showed him over the course of making Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Additionally, Gunn mentioned that Vol. 3. will take three years to make.
I've spent the past two and a half years making a film – probably a good 95% of my non-sleeping life during that time -…
“Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.”
GotG Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt as Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Kurt Russel as Ego The Living Planet, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Sylvester Stallone in a currently unknown role.
Have you checked out Vol. 2 yet? If not, be sure to get to the theater and see it, because it improves upon the first in virtually every way.
Epic of Gilgamesh is a story unlike any other currently out in the industry. The name might be familiar to some more academic readers. Based off the latest chapter, however, it has little to do with the Mesopotamian poem. Elements of fantasy are used in brand new ways to deliver something completely its own. This manhwa uses some common tropes to deliver one of the best stories ever penned.
Plot
We are treated to the plights of a man alive since the beginning of time and who cannot die. How would immortality ever be bad you ask? The author does an excellent job of showing us how many people an immortal has to see come and go. The isolation from living forever is something that would be unbearable to many of us.
We are also shown how many history changing moments he was a part of. Meeting the first legendary magicians, saving a king from death, and even raising a dragon are all deeds he’s done.
At first being like a shadow throughout history, he soon found things his immortality was a blessing for, which changed him. He taught himself anatomy with his own body and eventually became a doctor. After having mastered those skills, he finally saw the appeal in collecting knowledge instead of simply existing. The main character eventually learned that his brain had a finite amount of knowledge it could learn before forgetting something else. To remedy that he created a technique to seal away skills he had no use for anymore.
While half of the story is in the past, the other half is in the present. The current story follows our main character as he seeks to die, while also trying to free his companion from a curse.
It creates a nice duality between the immortal hoping to die and his companion yearning to live.
Characters
The characters are the greatest part of this comic.
The heroes
First up is Ram, short for Ramen. He is the main protagonist of the story and has had many names throughout history. He has also had many roles. Initially useless, he taught himself various different skills. The author makes a point of telling us that Ram is not a genius and is instead a hard worker. Having all the time in the world removed the pressure people normally have to learn things on a time limit. He is immortal and also has regeneration.
Next up is Trudia. She is a trainee knight and is afflicted with a curse that is slowly killing her. She is portrayed as a big hearted person who doesn’t have much skill in learning sword fighting. Trudia also has what appears to be a bottomless stomach. Ram eventually figures out that the sword fighting technique she uses is not a good match for her. He decides to teach her a more fitting technique so that she can survive until she can be healed. She also becomes a big part of their fighting potential.
The final main character that can be talked about without spoiling the plot is Hadar. He is a warrior from the Onui tribe. They are a group of people who use bows and arrows and have very distinct customs. They are never taught words and have their vocal cords cut. All of this is done to stop them from giving out information if they are ever captured. All of the tribesmen have a clock and distance engrained in them that allows them to snipe their targets from far or close away using measurements instead of variables. What makes Hadar even more special is that he’s an elite bowman from the Onui. He only communicates through sign language and is often the comic relief.
The enemy
Chasing after them is Malta, a cult looking to learn more about immortality. Having captured Ram once, they experimented on him day and night until he escaped. Within their ranks are knights such as Tink. Knights are normally the highest class of warriors, but Malta classifies individuals based on how long they’ve been a part of the group. They are also not above bringing knights, such as Waron, from outside to accomplish their plans.
Traditionally in media knights are people who paid to get their rank, look good in armor, or are from nobility. The knights in Epic of Gilgamesh are geniuses among geniuses that are the best fighters around. Normally they aren’t attached to any particular faction other than the kingdom. They are the equivalent of an army, have special abilities, and use unique weapons. Tink uses swords called Fang and Molar that allow him to break magic and to reduce the impact of a hit respectively. Waron uses a heavy spear that he can guide on the condition of closing his eyes.
The knights sound incredibly overpowered but they also have strict guidelines they have to adhere to. Tink can only fight people he can see and so on.
Tink alone outclasses our heroes.
Art Style
The art style is very detailed and conveys motion properly. While being serious in nature, the artist also takes the time to slip in visual gags which helps break the tension every chapter brings along. The characters are great to look at and Ram reminds me of Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series, both in looks and to a lesser degree, personality. The comic has colored pages and it looks really good.
The panels convey so much information like a motion picture. True to its name, everything feels epic in this manhwa.
Hadar’s using an arrow to fight a dude!
Read it
If you love fantasy stories about knights and dragons, read this. If you don’t, what’s wrong with you? Read it anyways. Epic of Gilgamesh approaches those classic elements with its own ingenious spin. All of the lovable characters will pull you in and never let you go as you patiently wait for more chapters to come out.
Comic book publisher Lion Forge Press has a slogan, “Comics for everyone”. And with their latest creation, Superb, they are taking that to a new level.
Superb will be part of the company’s Catalyst Prime line of superhero comics with the first issue of Noble and the Catalyst Prime special that was just released for Free Comic Book Day. The comic is written by David F. Walker (Marvel’s Nighthawk, Luke Cage) and Sheena C. Howard ( Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation). On the art side are Ray-Anthony Height, Le Beau L. Underwood and Veronica Gandini. The series will be produced in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Lion Forge President Geoff Gerber has this to say:
Everyone faces different challenges in life, but those challenges don’t prevent us from wanting to be heroes. Superb is a story about two young people faced with challenges who struggle to understand one another and what it means to be heroes. But, some challenges are more difficult for many of us to understand. Luckily, NDSS is willing to help our creators explain this and to help our readers understand. Nothing could be more important when telling the story of a character who acquires powers that increase his capabilities without taking away his disabilities.
NDSS President Sara Hart Weir had this to add:
As the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome, NDSS is thrilled to work with Lion Forge in the development of a Superb comic superhero named Jonah. We look forward to sharing Jonah’s adventures with Catalyst Prime’s wide readership to encourage the value, acceptance, and inclusion of the superheroes we know exist within all people with Down syndrome.
As someone who’s family is personally affected by a mental disability, I love this. Diversity in comics has taken big steps lately, and this is another leap forward. A true testament to the power of storytelling and comics in particular. What do you guys think? Comment and discuss below!
Superb will launch this July as the third ongoing Catalyst Prime book.
It’s hard to believe that George Clooney is now 56 years old.
In honour of his birthday, we will take a look at his career. While his big break was on ER, Clooney did branch out into films but didn’t become a major star until he was nearly 40. Here’s a look back at his biggest roles.
10. Oh Brother Where Art Thou?
This marks Clooney’s first work with the Coen Brothers. Ulysses Everett McGill escapes from a chain gang in an attempt to return home. However, he’s chained alongside two inmates, both of whom have mixed feelings about their predicament. Along the way, they encounter an odd cast of characters, including beautiful women, the Ku Klux Klan, and a one-eyed bible salesman.
9. Gravity
While Sandra Bullock is the star, Clooney has a major role as astronaut Matt Kowalski. His wry sense of humour makes the film a little less depressing. Clooney’s final moments are heartbreaking, but he keeps Bullock focused on her mission.
8. From Dusk till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is one of Clooney’s first major movies. He holds his own as the anti-hero Seth Gecko, who’s just pulled off a bank job. Together with his brother Richard, they continue their crime spree on the way to Mexico. Neither of them expect having to face off against a swarm of vampires. Clooney’s banter with Quentin Tarantino is funny to watch.
7. Out Of Sight
While breaking out of jail, criminal Jack Foley and his friend (Ving Rhames) kidnap U.S Marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) in the process. The plan is to pull off one final score in Detroit, but they can’t afford to let their captive go. As the trip progresses, Sisco grows closer to Foley- or is this part of her plan to arrest him?
6. Good Night And Good Luck
Clooney’s first directorial success concerns the McCarthy Hearings of the 1950s. As Fred Friendly, he acts as confidant and sounding board for Edward Murrow. The film boasts an all-star cast and excellent production values. Indeed, it feels like an old-school character drama.
5. Ocean’s Eleven
As Danny Ocean, Clooney oozes charm, swagger and down-to-earth likability. Upon getting out of jail, Ocean quickly breaks his parole in plotting to rob three casinos in one night. Things get complicated when he encounters ex-wife Tess, who’s dating their target Terry Benedict. One of the film’s main highlights is his banter with Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan. Watching them scheme and debate how to pull a heist is a joy.
4. Syriana
This is Clooney’s Oscar-winning role. As CIA officer Bob Barnes, he is trying to thwart illegal arms trafficking in the Middle East. During a routine assignment, Barnes gets caught up in an assassination attempt, kidnapped and tortured for information. The scene of Clooney being subject to beatings is difficult to watch.
3. The Ides Of March
Governor Mike Norris is one of Clooney’s most complex roles. Cool and charismatic, he’s preparing a run for the White House. Ryan Gosling learns he is not all he seems to be when a young intern is pregnant with Norris’ baby. The climatic confrontation shows Clooney can be intense when he needs to, which shows the dark side of a politician’s character.
2. Up In The Air
Up In The Air offers a more vulnerable side to Clooney. Ryan Bingham travels the U.S to give motivational speeches and conduct layoffs. He has no permanent abode or meaningful relationships. His only goal is to reach the ten million frequent flyer miles. Ryan’s life takes an unexpected turn when he meets a new hire (Anna Kendrick) and strikes up a relationship with another frequent flyer (Vera Farmiga).
1. The Descendants
The Descendants is Clooney’s finest turn as an actor. After his wife Elizabeth gets hurt in an accident, Matt King is forced to be a hands-on parent to two daughters. Having left the child rearing to his wife, Matt struggles at being a Mr. Mom while working on a real estate deal. In addition, he must come to terms with his wife’s condition as he learns she had an affair behind his back. His final moments with her are very difficult to watch.
I’d suspect not many readers will have heard about Big Bang Comics, my LCBS in Dundrum, Dublin, but they are by far one of the most facilitating and amiable businesses I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. This is unsurprising considering they became the first Irish store to ever be shortlisted for the Eisner “Spirit of Comics Retailer Award” in 2016. This was my first FBCD since moving to Dublin, though I’d been a mail-order customer for many years and needless to say, the lads put on an absolute belter of a show. People began lining up at 5 am for a 9 am opening and over 500 people showed up to collect their comics in the first hour alone. The range of comics on offer from 50 sanctioned books, to smaller independent works from Irish creators was unparalleled. Not to mention the deals on off, everyone who popped along from the young to the young-at-heart seemed to really enjoy themselves. This is comics as they should be, a unifying medium that brings those people together and alienates none. Maith sibh lads, maith sibh.
As the only comics and game shop in sleepy Cape Coral, FL, Cool Comics and Games is a geek port in a land of bars, boat docks, tourist stops, big box stores and labyrinthine canal waterways. Founded in 2003, the store is not only always current with its weekly shipment of new books, it also has a strong (and neatly organized!) section of affordable back issues and classic and new toy collectibles as well.
But perhaps the best thing is the sense of community the store brings. Tom and his small staff are not only friendly but knowledgeable and thoughtful as well. A good half of the store is set up with long tables that not only serve in helping host various weekly game nights, but you’ll also find fans sitting around reading, snacking, and talking comics and games. As a fairly recent transplant to this smallish town, Cool Comics and Games felt like home as soon as I walked in. And in my opinion, that’s the key feeling that any great comic shop can give a reader.
This year they once again hosted a great Free Comic Book Day, with people lined up before opening. A great diverse crowd of fanboys, gamers, kids, cosplayers and families! ‘Nuff said!
For the last few years, on the first Saturday in May, I’ve headed down to Dr. Cain’s in San Luis Obispo to get my free comics. The business always has something going on during FCBD, whether it be samples of food, custom t-shirt designs, raffles, and more. Despite the shop’s small size, it always brings a great atmosphere that is fun for all comics fans – whether you’re into Archie, Sonic The Hedgehog, the classics, or the “standard” Marvel and DC. If you’re even mildly into comics, I’d recommend heading to your local comic book store on Free Comic Book Day to join in on the fun.
In celebration of FCBD, the focus of River City Comics was on sales. With storewide discounts up to 60% off, patrons were able to add stacks of key issues to their collections in addition to grabbing their free comics. The experience at River City is always superb, it’s a haven for we comic book obsessed. The two guys running the shop are the most welcoming and delightful retailers in NJ. They’re fairly priced and extensive selection is what gets you through the door, the conversations and enthusiastic debates had within are what keeps you.
In celebration of Free Comic Day, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc (DGRI) set up a sidewalk festival. Food trucks, sidewalk vendors, and people in costume were everywhere. The line stretched down the block and around the corner. The local staff of The Vault of Midnight had a stand out front with a “Wheel or Destiny” where you could spin for a prize.
The last time Torchwood graced the small screen was with Miracle Day, in 2011. The series received mixed reviews from fans, but is part of the official canon. Torchwood has been novels and audio drams since then, most recently from Big Finish.
Torchwood fans have warmly received Big Finish audios. Thus far the Torchwood dramas have come from all along the timeline. With much of the original main cast gone by the end of 2009, this has allowed them to bring back fan favorite characters.
Now, however, Big Finish is tackling an even greater challenge. Starting in August, they will begin releasing Torchwood season 5. Still audio dramas, this series will directly follow the events after Miracle Day.
Aliens Among Us will see Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper returning to Cardiff and restarting Torchwood. But things have changed and new threats loom. Besides Rhys and Andy there will be new characters as well. The series is produced by James Goss and will be released in three parts.
