Why You SHOULD Be Watching The CW's Arrow...

With the traditional 2013-2014 TV season coming to an end (I'm still not on board with the whole new programming airing in the summer thing… although that’s not stopping me from watching FX’s The Strain next month!), it’s the perfect time to do a little binge-watching, and get caught up on those shows that you've been putting off. Of course, you could also do things like go outside and enjoy the weather or spend time with family and friends and stuff, but, seriously, who wants to do that? What you really need to be doing is catching up on The CW’s superb show, Arrow. (I'm looking at you Alex Welch and Mark Reilly!)

Now, I am a self-proclaimed Marvel fan-girl, and I make no apologies for it. I've always been drawn towards Marvel properties and usually prefer them to DC. Does this mean that I think all DC properties suck and they need to be wiped off the face of the Earth? Absolutely not! Good is good… and while I don’t cut DC/The WB a lot of slack when it comes to their movie universe, the one thing that they do extremely well is television. Both their live action and animated properties are fantastic. 

I will admit, I knew nothing about The Green Arrow before the pilot episode. What I did know, however, was that the show was based on a comic-book (which always peaks my interest) and that Stephen Amell looked pretty damn hot doing those salmon-ladder pull-ups, half naked, in the promos. How could I not watch?

Image courtesy of The CW

I'm sorry… What was I saying? I got a little distracted… hmmm, abs… Where was I again? Oh yeah… I think I remember now…

So, right from the get go, I admit, I was hooked. Having no previous knowledge of the character or his story, I found the pilot engaging and the characters extremely interesting. The episodes move swiftly along, never really stopping long enough to get bogged down by the sometimes serious subject matter. The overall story arc of the season is interspersed with stand-alone episodes, giving the heavy plot a much needed break. The show-runners do a fantastic job of seamlessly blending the current timeline with a set of flashbacks, meant to give insight and some exposition into Oliver Queen’s transformation into The Arrow. They also do a great job of preventing the story from becoming predictable. Often times, when you think they’re going to zig, they actually zag, completely throwing off the viewer’s perceptions. They also have no problem changing the game part way through or irrevocably altering the landscape. There are plenty of Easter eggs scattered throughout, as well, and many nods and introductions of other famous characters in the DC universe. You’ll actually be quite surprised by who shows up in Starling City. The action is top-notch, especially once you get to some of the later episodes in season two. The overall production value of the series is amazing, and I have to give props to The CW for allowing the show-runners to go for it. It is definitely paying off.

While I do love the show, there is one thing that I have a serious issue with. My main problem is with Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance. While Cassidy kicked ass as the original Ruby on The CW’s Supernatural, her Laurel Lance is a serious dud. It’s almost as if the writers had a plan for her but changed their minds part way through, and then just kind of let her character fall by the wayside. I know that in the comic books, Laurel is the Black Canary, and while I fear that that is the direction that the show is heading, I really hope that they change their minds. They have introduced other, more interesting characters into the mix and I would prefer that they explore those characters and their story arcs. But, this is really just a me thing, because I really think that, overall, this is a fantastic series.

It will definitely be interesting to see what happens with the addition of The Flash to this universe. Up until now, the series has been pretty reality based (well, as much as a TV series based on a comic book can be!), so the addition of people with “super-powers” is going to change things significantly, I think. If nothing else, it opens up the world to many other possibilities. I'm excited to see where they take us.  

Thanks For Nothing Alan Ball...

...And While We're At It, You Too, Charlaine Harris...

(Now, I am going to say this, because, unless it's not obvious to you, this is going to be a frank discussion of True Blood and The Southern Vampire Mystery novels by Charlaine Harris. Therefore, it will contain spoilers... you have been warned!)


With the final season of True Blood premiering this past weekend, I thought I would look back on the six seasons and 13 books that comprised the series.

I did not jump on the True Blood bandwagon back in 2008. I didn't get HBO at that time, and although I had heard about the series, I didn't think much of it. I kept hearing that the show was amazing, but I kept putting it off, really not all that interested. Finally, in the fall of 2009, just as I was about to go on vacation, I ran across Dead Until Dark, the first novel in the Southern Vampire Mystery series, which the show True Blood was based on. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I picked it up. I found the novel intriguing, as I don't read many books that are told in the first person narrative. The character of Sookie Stackhouse was interesting and the novel was an easy read. I found myself hooked.

Once I returned home, I dove into the world of True Blood, the series that Alan Ball had created for HBO. And I fully admit, that if I was basing my opinion on the pilot episode alone, I would never have watched another episode. The pilot was slow and messy and seemed to be based on nothing but shock value. I think that Ball liked the idea that he could do and say and show whatever he wanted, and the network wouldn't even bat an eyelash. But, I stuck with it, as I kept hearing how amazing it was. After about 3 or 4 episodes, it finally picked up enough steam that I was on board. And for the 12 episodes of the first season, it did a pretty good job of sticking close to the source material.

I continued to read the book series, as I watched season 2 of the show. And this is where everything seemed to go off the rails. Not only did the series veer so far away from the source material, but it seemed like the show runners and writers had never even read it. Turns out, they hadn't. Apparently, Charlaine Harris signed away all her rights to the property when she made the deal with Alan Ball and HBO, giving him free reign to do what he wanted with, not only the characters, but their story arcs as well. And boy did he! Turns out that Ball only ever read the first novel... saw the Bill Compton/Sookie Stackhouse relationship as a love for the ages and went for it. Needless to say, that is not how it happened in the books. In fact, Bill and Sookie's relationship pretty much ends in book two. Bill has vampire business that he needs to attend to, and basically up and leaves Bon Temps. And other than a couple of quick scenes in the other 12 books, that's it for the great love that was Sookie and Bill. The rest of the novels are in fact, about Sookie and her relationship with Eric Northman. It is the vampire Viking who is actually the love of her life, and the rest of the novels follow the ups and downs of loving the vampire sheriff of area five.    

Now, those of you who only follow the series knows that this ain't the way it is on the screen. Not only are Bill and Sookie the main love story of the series, but Ball and his team gave other supporting characters huge story lines and screen time. Now, that part I get, because it would be difficult to tell the story with just a handful of characters. A character like Lafayette, who is amazing on the show, didn't actually survive the second book in the series, Living Dead In Dallas. The main antagonist of season 2, maenad Maryann, was nothing more than a passing character in the novels. If I remember correctly, she didn't even have a name, was only known as the maenad. And don't get me started on the character of Alcide. While I hate the way that Harris eventually treated the character in the novels, I absolutely loathe the douche-bag that Alan Ball and his writers have turned the beautiful Joe Manganiello into. Needless to say, the two properties are very, very different.  

I understand that there is always a difference between what happens in the written form and what happens on either the big screen or the small screen. It's not possible to get everything that's written onto the screen, and usually not practical. But there's a difference between altering the source material to make it work visually, and throwing it away and doing whatever you want. And the team behind True Blood definitely did the latter. Other than the fact that the characters share the same names, there are no longer any similarities between the novels and the TV show. And that is too bad, because the overall story arc of the books was quite interesting... I would have liked to have seen that story actually played out on the small screen, other than the over the top, off the rails, what the hell was that?, that we got.

That doesn't mean that I am completely in love with the novels or the eventual story arc that Charlaine Harris had for the story. In the end, Eric chooses duty over Sookie and he leaves to marry another vampire that he is forced to, by the ruling vampire government. And Sookie ends up with Sam Merlotte. It's not the fact that she ends up with Sam that bothered me so much (I completely love Sam Trammell, who plays Merlotte on the show, and my dislike for the ending of the book series has nothing to do with him!), it's the fact that, throughout the entire series, Sookie and Sam were friends. Best friends, mind you, but nothing that would preclude them ending up in bed together, which was the final scene of the last novel, Dead Ever After. I don't understand what the point of building Sookie and Eric's relationship over the last 11 novels was about, only to have it end so abruptly and, for lack of a better term, just be over. Yeah, I get that things don't always work out, but that's usually not what I'm looking for in my literature. I fully admit to being a happily, ever after type of girl. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement...

So, here we are, at the beginning of the end... and honestly, I'm not sure that I want to take those final steps. The series has turned into an absolute gong-show, and I don't know that I'm willing to put in the time and effort to see it through to the end. Sometimes, it's just too far gone to even care. I no longer get HBO, so I have to decide whether or not this whole thing is worth it to me to put in the extra effort to actually watch it. Knowing me, I'm sure I'll eventually cave and watch the damn thing. I am nothing if not a completest and hate not knowing things, when I know that others do. Now, I know that Alan Ball is no longer the show-runner and hasn't been since season 5, but his fingerprints are still all over this whole thing, so that's why I feel justified in blaming him for the train-wreck that True Blood has become.

So, thank you, Alan Ball, for introducing me to Alexander Skarsgard in all his Swedish glory, ALL of Joe Manganiello and Jace Everett, the singer of the opening theme song, Bad Things. You can keep everything else... I don't want it. 

Random Bits From The Week That Was...

It's that time again... Friday! So, you know what that means... my thoughts on the bits that I was too lazy to write about, or you know, didn't actually require a full post...

Couple of Surprises At The Weekend Box Office...

So, it turns out that people were really looking forward to 22 Jump Street. The sequel landed at the number one spot at the box office this past weekend, pulling in $57.1M. How To Train Your Dragon 2 debuted at number 2 with $49.5M. I found this a bit of a surprise, as family movies usually kill at the box office, and HTTYD2 is a spectacular film. I guess the bromance between Hill and Tatum was enough to draw the adults to the R-rated flick. Maleficent is holding strong in the number 3 spot with $18.5M, it's 3 week total now at $163M. Edge of Tomorrow, due to great word of mouth no doubt, was in the number 4 spot with $16.5M and The Fault In Our Stars sank like a stone to land in the number 5 spot with $14.8M, down about 70% from it's opening weekend. While I caught the film last weekend, and enjoyed it, I was the only one in the theatre on Sunday afternoon... literally. It was just me, all by my lonesome self, which was kind of weird, but whatever. I guess the films audience flocked to it in it's opening weekend, and without a great deal of re-watchability, the numbers definitely reflected that. It was also fantastic to see Edge of Tomorrow holding it's own in this busy summer season, as the film is fantastic. With not much competition opening this coming weekend, I am interested to see how the numbers for all of these films play out.


Final Trailer For Apes On Horses Debuts...

20th Century Fox has released what it is referring to as the final trailer for the upcoming Dawn of the Planet of The Apes, and holy crap, is it amazing. The trailer is a great mix of footage we've already seen, and a touch of new, just enough to offer the perfect amount of interest and excitement. I am so looking forward to this film, it's not even funny. The first one was so amazing, that if this one even comes close to being as good, we're in for a serious treat. I'll definitely be checking this one out on opening night.


Dr. Strange Finds It's Scribe...

Hot on the heels of the news that Scott Derrickson would be directing Marvel's Dr. Strange movie, the studio announced that Prometheus writer, John Spaihts is in talks to pen the script. While I admit, I have not seen Prometheus yet, so I therefore cannot have an opinion one way or another about that film, I do find this news very intriguing. By getting Derrickson and Spaihts to helm this project (if that's the way that this all eventually turns out, mind you), it appears that Marvel is interested in taking this project in a new, and exciting direction. Dr. Strange is a dark and twisted character, and it looks like Marvel is wanting to keep it that way. All I can say is, I'm in! In Feige, I trust.


Marvel Drops A Second International Trailer For Guardians...

The studio released a new, international trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy earlier this week and all I can say is, it's absolutely stunning. Going for a slightly more dramatic feel, this trailer shows off some of the depth that I think the movie will be bringing to the big screen when it's released in August. While I enjoyed the first two trailers, they were mostly focused on the comedic aspects of the film, which I think was a little off-putting to some people. This trailer shows that, like the other properties in the MCU, this one should also be a nice mix of comedy, action and drama. I am highly anticipating this film and cannot wait for it to be released in a few weeks.


And Then There Was Aquaman...

So, it is being reported by The Hollywood Reporter that Jason Momoa is confirmed as Aquaman for the upcoming Justice League film  Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film, slated for release on May 6, 2016. While Momoa wouldn't be my first choice for the normally blonde superhero, I understand Warner Brothers motivation. Aquaman has always been the Justice League character that has been ridiculed and scoffed at, so I understand the need to hire an imposing presence to play the character. And Momoa definitely fits the bill. While I'm still not completely sold on this film and what exactly it's going to be, I am intrigued to see the final product. One of two things is going to happen: either the film will be great, like the recently released Days of Future Past, or it will be a train-wreck of epic proportions like The Amazing Spiderman 2. I guess we'll see...


Next Bourne Film Pushed Back A Year...      

Universal has pushed it's next movie in the Bourne Franchise back to July 15, 2016 in order to make room for their upcoming N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, which is moving into the August 14, 2015 date. Rumours are swirling, however, that the studio has ulterior motives for the move. According to Latino-Review (via Schmoes Know), the real reason for the push-back is so that the studio can get Matt Damon back in the fold of the franchise. Damon has had a couple of so-so performances at the box office recently, and his return to the franchise might be what he needs to turn things around. I like this news, as I think that the Bourne Legacy did a great job of expanding the universe and it would be amazing to see Aaron Cross and Jason Bourne on the big screen together, kicking ass and taking names.


Don't Worry! The Batman Is, Apparently, On His Way...

When Nikki Finke's supposed scoop broke about the upcoming slate of DC films going to be released by Warner Brothers over the next few years, one of the things that stood out to me the most was the fact that there was no solo Batman flick listed. Fear not, fans of the Caped Crusader! According to Latino-Review (again, via Schmoes Know, because if you haven't guessed by now, that's where all of my movie news comes from!), Warner Brothers has slated a new Batman stand-alone film for release in 2019. As I speculated in my article about Finke's scoop, the delay is most likely due to Affleck's busy schedule. He is currently filming BvS, which will then lead into the Justice League film. That gives him late 2015/early 2016 to direct his next project, the gangster flick Live By Night, before he has to don the cape and cowl once again. It will be interesting to see if the WB hands the directorial reigns to him for the Batman project as well, although I would think it would be a no brainer on their part. You don't have a guy with Affleck's talents in your back pocket and not use him to his full potential. 

Sorry, Big Guy! Why Another Standalone Hulk Film Won't Work...

So, Mark Ruffalo sent the interwebs into a tizzy earlier this week when he said that he would be interested in making another stand-alone Hulk movie. In an interview with Digital Spy (via Schmoes Know, because that's where I get all of my movie news), Ruffalo confirmed that Marvel is "entertaining the idea." He goes on to say that, prior to the Avengers, it wasn't even a consideration, but that since, it is a possibility.

Ruffalo was fantastic in his portrayal of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the Avengers. Arguably one of the best parts of the film, his version of The Hulk was what we, as comic-book movie fans, had been waiting for. He managed to bring that perfect balance to the film, both as Bruce Banner and The Hulk. While I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to another stand-alone Hulk film, I completely understand Marvel's hesitation with the property.

So, let's see where we're at, shall we? First there was the The Incredible Hulk TV series that ran on CBS from 1978-1982. Starring Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk, it told the origin story of the character and showcased his race to find a cure for his affliction. The series ended with Banner still searching for a cure and running from Jack McGee, the reporter out to unmask his secret. A number of TV movies were made after the series run, culminating in 1990's Death of the Incredible Hulk, where Banner/the Hulk, did in fact die in the end. Generally thought of as a good depiction of the characters, it remains one of the best telling's of the Hulk's story arc.

For his next outing, we have 2003's Ang Lee directed, The Hulk. Starring Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, and for some unknown reason, Ang Lee as the motion-captured Hulk, the film was a disappointment for the studio. It's world-wide box office total was about $245M on a budget of $137M, making it just barely profitable. The reviews for the film were mixed, many citing the altered origin story, depressing story arc for the characters and poor CGI as the reasons for not enjoying the film. While I generally applaud studios for thinking outside the box when it comes to their properties, The Hulk went beyond that, right into off-the-rails territory. The addition of Banner's father and his mutated DNA and the fact that the angrier he got, the bigger the Hulk got were enough to turn even the most die-hard fan off. Which is too bad, because I thought that Eric Bana was the perfect choice for the mild mannered Bruce Banner. Overall, the movie was a huge disappointment to fans everywhere.

So, now it's 2008 and Marvel has begun to plant the seeds of it's cinematic universe with the release of the first Iron Man movie. Quietly on the heels of that release came The Incredible Hulk. Starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, this time Marvel skipped over the origins of the character, instead choosing to show how the Hulk came to be in a series of comic-book like panels at the beginning of the film and then jumping directly into the story. Officially considered canon in the MCU, this film had a more stream-lined feel to it, sticking with the more well known origins and motivations of the character. The film was a modest success, making slightly more at the box office than it's predecessor. Overall, I think this was a way better film, and Edward Norton was a competent Bruce Banner, although definitely not my first choice for the role. The villain of the film, The Abomination, was the perfect foe for our unorthodox hero and the fight scenes were out of this world. This film still didn't blow the masses away, however.

By the time that The Avengers rolled around in 2012, Norton had been given the boot, and Ruffalo had been hired to fill Banner's shoes. Playing both Banner and the motion-captured Hulk, Ruffalo stole the show. And that's when it started. Fans rumbling about a new stand-alone Hulk film, this time with Ruffalo at the forefront. Wouldn't it be great? He did such a fantastic job, he could do it again. The Hulk needs his own film... seemingly forgetting that the last two times the studio tried this, no one seemed to care.

There are a number of reasons why a stand-alone Hulk film doesn't work, no matter how hard the studio tries to make it happen. The first, and foremost, is the Hulk himself. When people go to see a superhero, or comic book based movie, if you will, they want to see the comic book character. That's difficult to do in a Hulk stand-alone, if you want to tell any sort of story that doesn't involve the Hulk doing nothing but smashing things for 2 hours. While Tony Stark is Iron Man, Peter Parker is Spiderman and Logan is The Wolverine, Bruce Banner is not the Hulk. They are two separate characters, with extremely different motivations. While they may share the same DNA, Banner has spent every waking moment of his life, since the accident, trying to eradicate the other part of himself. Shockingly enough, the Hulk doesn't want to be eradicated, which puts the two of them at odds with one another, right from the get go. Any significant character development or story arc has to be told from Banner's point of view, leading to more screen time for the man, and less screen time for the beast. While personally this doesn't bother me, I know there are a lot of people out there who would be, and have been, disappointed with that sort of story telling. There's a fine line between too much Banner and not enough Hulk and Marvel, so far hasn't been able to balance it for a full two hour movie. Now, it is possible for the studio to go in the complete opposite direction and do something like a Planet Hulk movie... which, don't get me wrong, would be all sorts of cool and wicked and awesome... but, I also think it might get old, pretty fast. While I like the Hulk character, there isn't a whole lot that can be done with him in regards to character development. And while I know a lot of people would love to see him smash aliens in a gladiator style smack-down, I don't think it would hold water for a full two hours. There has to be a little more substance to it for it to be placed in the same regard as the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They've raised the bar, and now, anything less will be considered a failure.

The reason that the Hulk worked, and worked so well, in the Avengers was because he wasn't the main protagonist. When he was on screen, they made the most of it, and that's why we fell in love with him. He was used in the best possible way, but the film wasn't centred around him. He wasn't forced to carry the storyline all the way through, and that's why it was refreshing and bold when he was on the screen. While I have no doubt that eventually we will see another Hulk stand-alone film, I can't see Marvel jumping on board any time soon. I don't think that a Hulk film fits in with their plans, just yet, but I'm sure eventually Bruce Banner will grace the silver screen once again. Let's hope they are able to balance the character's two persona's and that we get the Hulk film that the character deserves.      

Review: And The Stars Align...

The following is a review of the new movie, The Fault In Our Stars, and will contain spoilers. If you do not want to be spoiled, because you have neither read the book or seen the movie, then I suggest that you leave now and come back once you're done. If, you are one of those weird people that either like to be spoiled, or don't care either way, then please, read on....


**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**********


I will admit that I have not read the novel The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, so I went into the movie, completely oblivious to what awaited me. Okay, so not completely oblivious, as I don't live under a rock, but you get what I mean.

We meet Hazel Grace Lancaster as she's just about to attend a cancer support group. She has stage 4 thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, and requires that she carry an oxygen tank around with her. Her mom thinks she's depressed and is forcing Hazel to go to the group in a effort to get out and meet other people and share their experiences. At the group, she meets Augustus Waters, who has survived his bout with osteosarcoma, but lost part of his leg in the process. Gus invites Hazel back to his house, where they share their stories and promise to read each others favourite novels. Hazel's favourite book is An Imperial Affliction, written by Peter Van Houten. It tells the story of a young girl, Anna, who is stricken with cancer, and Hazel sees parallels in her life with that of the character. Augustus is frustrated by the novel, as it has an extremely cryptic ending (the novel actually ends in the middle of a sentence), so he tracks down Van Houten, who has become a recluse in Amsterdam, and begins a correspondence with him. Hazel writes the author to get him to explain to her what happened to the other characters in the novel after Anna died, but he explains that he can only tell her in person, so if she's ever in Amsterdam, she should stop by and chat. Unfortunately, due to financial restrictions Hazel and her family are unable to make the trip. Gus surprises Hazel with a trip to Amsterdam, funded by a make-a-wish foundation wish that he had yet to use. (Hazel had used hers when she was 13 on a trip to DisneyWorld). Before the trip, however, Hazel suffers a set back that hospitalizes her and her doctors advise against her going. Undaunted, her parents, knowing that she'll never get another chance, make arrangements for the trip to happen anyway. So Hazel, Gus and Hazel's mom, Frannie, pack up and head to Amsterdam. Gus and Hazel share a romantic dinner at an upscale restaurant, care of Peter Van Houten, where they taste champagne for the first time. Gus tells Hazel that he's in love with her, although she doesn't admit her feelings, still afraid of what's going to become of the people that are left behind after she dies. The next day, the two finally get an opportunity to meet the great Peter Van Houten. They are disappointed, however, when they discover that their idol is nothing more than a nasty, insulting drunk, who didn't actually want to meet them and who had no intention of discussing his book with them. It was his assistant, Lidewij, who had arranged the meeting, hoping that it would help Van Houten see the effect that his work had on people. They leave disgusted and disheartened, but are stopped by Lidewij, who apologizes and offers to take them on a tour of the city. The end up at the Anne Frank house, but unfortunately, it does not have an elevator. Hazel insists that she can do the stairs, even though her lungs are weak, and they continue. She struggles, but eventually makes it to the top floor. Hazel finally realizes that she is also in love with Augustus, and the two of them share their first romantic kiss. Gus takes her back to his hotel room and they make love. The next morning, Gus insists that they go for a walk alone, where he tells her that, just before she was admitted to the hospital, he had some pain in his hip. When they did a PET scan, they found that his cancer had spread and that he was terminal. Hazel refuses to give up on him, and they continue their relationship. Once they return home, Gus' health deteriorates rapidly. He holds a mock funeral for himself, wanting to hear what his best friend, Isaac, and Hazel plan to say in their eulogies at his funeral. Hazel's eulogy explains that there are many infinities and that although their time together was short, she would not trade it for anything, that Gus was the love of her life. He dies eight days later. At his actual funeral, she's surprised to see Peter Van Houten in attendance. When she gets up to speak, she doesn't use the eulogy that she had previously written, instead telling the mourners the general tropes that they want to hear. As she's leaving Van Houten gets in the car with her, admitting that he and Augustus continued to correspond with one another after their trip to Amsterdam. He also admits that the girl in his novel was based on his daughter, who died at a young age. He tries to answer the questions that Hazel had in regards to the characters in his story, but she will have none of it, insisting that he leave her alone. He hands her a note as he exits, but she crumples it up and tosses it on the floor of the car. Isaac comes to visit her later, and lets her know that Gus had asked Van Houten to help him write a eulogy for her. Realizing that that was what the note Van Houten tried to give her earlier was, she finds it and reads it. It was an e-mail that Gus had sent to Van Houten, explaining his acceptance of his fate and his love for Hazel. The movie concludes with Hazel accepting her own fate and appreciating what she has now and what she had with Augustus.

As you can imagine, this movie is pretty heart-wrenching. My thoughts going in were, okay, she has terminal cancer, so she's going to be the one to die. For Gus to be the one to actually die over the course of the film, kind of threw me for a loop. It was unexpected, which is never a bad thing in a movie. You want a movie to keep you on your toes, and this one did it beautifully.

What I appreciated about this story was the fact that it was an honest to goodness love story. No bells and whistles, or, these days, vampires and werewolves, to pull the plot along. It's about two people, facing unbelievable challenges who find each other and don't give up when life intervenes. It was funny and heart-breaking in it's honest portrayal of these characters and the trials that life had thrown at them. Shailene Woodley is a force to be reckoned with, as she brings an honesty and likeability to all the characters that she portrays. Her Hazel Grace is strong and resilient in the face of insurmountable adversity, but was also scared and vulnerable at the same time. The scene, just before Gus' mock funeral, where she's arguing with her parents is amazing. She's afraid what's going to become of them after she's gone but has never had the courage to say it out loud. When she finally tells them that she's afraid that they are going to give up and possibly kill themselves, you feel her fear. When her mom tells her that she's going to school to become a counsellor, so that she can help other families who are facing what they are, you can see the burden being lifted from Hazel's shoulders. It's a touching scene about facing the truth and being strong enough to talk about it and deal with it.

The pacing of the film is great, never getting bogged down by the heavy subject matter. Director Josh Boone does a great job of keeping the focus on Hazel and Augustus' relationship, and the film is beautifully shot, the location shots in Amsterdam particularly stunning. While the plot device may be serious, the movie has a light-hearted feel for the most part, as the focus is kept on the relationship and the characters, and not the cancer. Woodley and Elgort have an easy chemistry, making you believe that they are truly in love. It will be hard to go back to the Divergent trilogy and see them as brother and sister now, that's for sure.

While this movie definitely tugs at the heart-strings, possibly even breaking a few in the process, ultimately it's about more than that. It's a tale of two people who fall in love under less than ideal circumstances and use that love to become better people. People determined to leave this life having left their mark, even if it's just on the people who meant the most to them. It's a story that we can all learn from. Life is short, so we'd better make the most of the time that we have. Heartbreak is inevitable, unless you never put yourself out there. But where's the fun in that? Is it not truly better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all? I guess that's a choice we all have to eventually make for ourselves.

Review: Now That's The Mother Of Dragons....

The following is a spoiler review of the new film, How To Train Your Dragon 2. If you have yet to see the film, and are planning to (which I highly, highly recommend!), then you may want to stop reading this post. If, you have no intention of watching the film (shame on you!) or don't care if you're spoiled, then by all means, please continue...

**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**********

I will fully admit that I only just discovered the beauty of the first How To Train Your Dragon movie a couple of months ago. Based solely on the enthusiasm of Mark Reilly over at www.schmoesknow.com, I decided to check it out. Never knew what I was missing... and it was a lot! The movie has a great story, a hauntingly beautiful score and amazing visuals. It was love at first sight... or watch... or whatever you want to call it. I fell completely head over heels in love with the film. Just in time for the sequel...

It's been five years since the residents of Berk discovered that dragons were not the fearsome monsters that they thought. The dragons have become their companions, a part of their everyday lives... and that includes dragon racing. The villagers race upon the backs of their dragons, collecting sheep in a complicated points system. The one with the most points at the end of the race, wins. Stoick, Hiccup's father and the village chief, is disappointed to see that Hiccup and Toothless are nowhere to be found during the race. That's because, they are off exploring the world in a way that was never before possible, expanding the map that Hiccup has created, as they discover new lands and civilizations. Hiccup also practices his flying, having created his own set of wings. They crash land in an area that is unexplored, soon joined by Astrid, after she has won the dragon race back at Berk. In the distance they spot a plume of smoke and decide to go investigate. When they get closer, they find a village destroyed by large pieces of ice. Suddenly, they are trapped by dragon hunters, who are out looking for prey. Eret, their leader, lets it be known that Drago Bloodfist is amassing a dragon army and that he pays well for captured dragons. Hiccup and Astrid get free and return to Berk, trying to get Stoick and the other to help them find Drago so that they can reason with him. Stoick refuses, and instead orders Berk to be fortified for the coming attack. Hiccup, deciding that the only way to win is to convince Drago to give up his fight, flees Berk, quickly followed by Astrid, and promptly turns them in to Eret, in the hopes that he will take them to Drogo. Stoick, Gobber and the other follow them, and Stoick grudgingly admits that he has met Drago before, that he is fanatical and can't be reasoned with. He demands that they return home. Hiccup, still angry, flies off with Toothless, determined to end the conflict his way. Hiccup and Toothless, on their way to Drago, are kidnapped by the dragon-rider, Valka, who it turns out is Hiccup's mother. She also has the gift of dragon mastery, and tried 20 years before to get the residents of Berk to listen to her about the dragons. She was taken by the dragons when Hiccup was a baby, and decided that it was her responsibility to see that the dragons remained safe, choosing to not return to Berk. Instead, she lives at a dragon island, made of ice, that was created by the alpha dragon, known as a Bewilderbeast. All dragons answer to the alpha. Stoick and Gobber find Hiccup at the haven, where Stoick learns that the wife he thought was dead for 20 years, is actually alive. He and Valka share a moment and she decides to return to Berk and be with her human family. In the meantime, Astrid and the other riders kidnap Eret and force him to take them to Drago. They accidentally let it slip that Berk is full of Dragon riders and that they will never give up looking for them, so Drago should really let them go. Drago chooses to take the fight to them, and his army sets sail for the dragon island. They attack the dragons full force, forcing the alpha from inside the sanctuary. Drago then reveals that he has his own Bewilderbeast, who emerges from the depths, completely under his control. The two colossal beasts fight, and Drago's alpha wins the battle, killing the other alpha. All of the dragons come under the control of the new alpha, and by extension, Drago. To prove his new power, he takes control of Toothless, forcing the dragon to attack Hiccup. Just as he's about to hit Hiccup with a plasma blast, Stoick pushes his son out of the way and is killed by the dragon. Distraught, Hiccup lashes out at Toothless, who turns away and is taken by Drago. The Vikings send Stoick to Valhalla, and Hiccup realizes that with his dad's death, he is the new chief of Berk and is responsible for it's safety. Realizing that Drago will be headed to Berk to get the dragons that live there, he and the others fly the baby dragons home, as the babies are the only ones that aren't effected by the alpha's spell. When they arrive, they realize that they're too late, Drago and his army have already arrived and taken control of the dragons. Hiccup confronts Drago, who orders Toothless to kill him once again. Hiccup reaches out to Toothless, who is finally able to break the alpha's enchantment, reuniting with Hiccup. Drago then orders the Bewilderbeast to attack them, blasting them with ice and seemingly killing them. The ice begins to glow and then blows apart, as Toothless uses his new found plasma glow to rescue them. Toothless then challenges the alpha, firing plasma blasts at the large beast. As he is injured, the other dragons come back under their own control and side with Toothless and the humans. Defeated, the Bewilderbeast and Drago retreat to the ocean as the villagers celebrate their victory. The other dragons bow down to Toothless, their new alpha. Hiccup is officially made chief by the village elder, as they go about repairing the village and erecting a statue of the late Stoick. Others may have armies and soldiers, but Berk has dragons.

To say that I loved this film would be a complete understatement. This film is incredible. It is everything that you want your sequel to be. The story is interesting and engaging and visually the film is stunning. I am not a huge fan of 3D, but I completely recommend that you see this one in that format. The scenes where Hiccup and Toothless are flying through the clouds, over the ocean are spectacular. There is a gorgeous scene where Hiccup and his mother, Valka, go soaring through the air on their way to the feeding grounds, and it's breathtaking. The film is once again scored by John Powell, and just like the first time, he easily captures the beauty and elegance of the film with his score. The score is sweeping and epic in it's complexity and I also highly recommend that you check it out as well. The entire production is grand and stunning, full of heart and soul... everything that you hope for in a film.

I am excited to know that the production team has at least a trilogy in mind (word did leak last week that Dreamworks is thinking of adding a fourth film to the slate, so we'll see what happens with that, although I say go for it, especially if all of the films are as stunning as these first two), as I cannot wait to see what other adventures they have in store for us. While I really enjoyed The Lego movie, this film is now at the top of my list for best animated film of the year. Hell, I think it's actually in my top five movies overall for the year so far. The upcoming releases The Book of Life and Big Hero 6 have big shoes to fill, and I'm not sure they're going to be able to do it. I guess we'll see.    

Review: We've Gotta Go Back To School...

The following is a review of the new movie, 22 Jump Street, and it will contain spoilers. If you have not seen the film, but are planning on it, I recommend that you come back after you've watched the movie, if you want, to get my take on the sequel. If you don;t care, one way or another, then, please, continue...


**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**********


The film, 21 Jump Street caught me completely off guard. I had never watched the television show, although I knew the premise of it, and was not really all that interested in the movie. Sure, it had Channing Tatum in it, but that still wasn't enough to get me to see it. Then I kept hearing all these great things about it. Finally, I decided to check it out... and boy, was I glad I did. Not only was it hilarious, but the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum was out of this world. The movie made a bajillion dollars, so of course, a sequel was a no-brainer for the studio.

Fast forward a couple of years, and here we have 22 Jump Street. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the movie opens with a funny bit about a bust gone wrong, where Jenko and Schmidt accidentally let the bad guys escape. They get hauled into the Chief's office, where they try to explain what went wrong. Because it worked so well last time, the police chief puts Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) back into the undercover program, now known as 22 Jump Street, because they were forced to move locations to across the street, when the Korean community bought back the church they were originally in. This sets off a hilarious running gag about the major increase in the budget, as their new offices are all state of the art and they actually have interns. Turns out that there's a new drug on the market, WHYPHY (Wi-fi... get it?) that's being distributed at the local college. The "McQuaid's" once again go under-cover, this time as college freshmen. Jenko is accepted right away, given his penchant for football and having a good time, whereas Schmidt has rougher go of fitting in this time. As they continue their investigation, cracks begin to show in their bond, as they are pulled in different directions. When Jenko's new BFF, Zook, is implicated as the drug dealer, it places even more tension between the partners. In the meantime, Schmidt meets the lovely Maya, who he then sleeps with. Maya has a weird, creepy roommate who constantly makes jokes about how old Schmidt is, while he continues to insist that he's a 19 year-old freshman. In another hilarious scene, Tatum takes the reigns and goes for it, when at the precinct it's revealed that Maya is actually Captain Dickson's daughter. The fall-out of this encounter also plays throughout the rest of the film. It leads to another intensely funny scene where Ice Cube goes crazy at brunch during parent's weekend at the college. Watching him destroy the buffet is awesome. Jenko and Schmidt eventually get a lead that brings them face to face once again with Ghost, the villain in the opening scene of the film who got away. Ghost manages to get away again. Traces of WHYPHY are found in the Psychology professors office, leading to his arrest as the drug supplier. In the meantime, Jenko confides in Schmidt that he's been offered a scholarship to play football, and that he is seriously thinking about doing it. Schmidt makes the decision for him, leaving the program and returning to the force, alone. Jenko tracks Schmidt down, who is back on patrol, and lets him know that WHYPHY is still circulating on campus. Schmidt tells him that he's been looking into the case too and that he figured out Ghost has been paying the tuition for someone at the school. The two decide that the supplier and dealers will target the kids during spring break, and head to Mexico to find them. They soon realize that Maya's weird roommate, Mercedes, is Ghost's daughter and is actually the drug supplier. Chaos ensues as they break into the room, guns blazing. Mercedes takes the captain hostage and is pursued by Schmidt, while Jenko follows after Ghost. Schmidt and Mercedes get into a very funny fist fight, before she's knocked out by Maya. Schmidt then goes to help Jenko, who is on the roof of the hotel with Ghost and his men. In an attempt to protect Jenko, Schmidt jumps in front of him as one of the bag guys fires off a shot, but he mis-times his jump and Jenko gets shot again. As Ghost is taking off in a helicopter, Jenko and Schmidt leap to grab it, and use the grenade that Schmidt has stored in his shorts to blow it up. As the crowd on the ground cheers, the partners realize that they make a good team and that they should stick together. As the credits roll, Dickson approaches them and tells them that he has another mission for them, this one in medical school.

I actually really liked this film. It was funny and well paced, and the chemistry between Hill and Tatum is spot on. I also liked the fact that this film knew what it was, and made the most of it. The cracks about this seeming familiar, the increased budget, doing the same thing over again, gave it a tongue-in-cheek kind of feel, that is welcome in a sequel. The problem with a lot of comedy sequels is that they just don't live up to the original. The jokes are never quite as funny or original and most of the time, it just feels like a rehash of the first one. While this one is exactly that, it knows that it is and doesn't shy away from the fact. It wears it proudly and practically screams it from the rooftops. It's approach is refreshing.

As I mentioned, the chemistry between Hill and Tatum is, once again, incredible. I remember reading an article about the first movie, where Jonah Hill called Channing Tatum and said, "I want you to be in this movie with me." Tatum then replied, "Why? I'm not funny." How glad are we, the movie fan, that Jonah Hill managed to talk him in to it? (Although, I would disagree with him, because he was hilarious in She's The Man with Amanda Bynes!) The two of them are like a comedy team, playing off one another is such a way that you actually believe in their bromance. While I'm sure, given the numbers that it's pulled in so far, another film, to make the franchise a trilogy, will soon be on it's way, I would actually like to see the actors tackle a different project together.

While this film is not perfect, it is good enough to say it's equal to it's predecessor. I wouldn't go as far as to say surpass, because I think that overall the first film was superior. This film had enough laughs in it that it's definitely worth the watch, although I could have done without the Rob Riggle/Dave Franco prison sex jokes. I enjoyed this film and would recommend it, although I wouldn't call it the comedy of the year just yet. I felt that Neighbors with Seth Rogen and Zac Efron was overall a funnier film, and the red band trailer for Sex Tape, with Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz, has now bumped that one up to my must watch list.       

Five Films You've Probably Never Seen...

...But Really Should! (I mean it! You really should check these out... They're awesome!)

The following is list of a few of my favourite, extremely under appreciated films. As the title states, I'm sure that you haven't seen most of, if any of them, although I do highly recommend them all. I will try to stay away from spoilers, as I really think you should check them out without being spoiled. Hopefully you'll be able to find them, somewhere...


The Nines

Released in 2007, the film stars Ryan Reynolds and Melissa McCarthy, although it's not a comedy. Considered part science fiction/fantasy, part psychological thriller and part drama, it was written and directed by John August. Separated into three different vignettes, it tells three very different stories all anchored by the number nine. Reynolds and McCarthy play various characters with differing relationships in each of the parts that all come together in the end. An interesting take on spirituality, this is one of the films that I knew nothing about going in, but was completely blown away by it.


Muriel's Wedding

Released in 1994, this film stars Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. An Australian film, it tells the story of Muriel Heslop and her journey to find herself. Through various means, some not entirely legal, Muriel discovers who she is, and more importantly, the person she wants to become. It's an uplifting, chick-flick, of epic proportions, but one that I think everyone will understand and enjoy. A coming of age story for those of
us who came into our own in the 90's.


Noises Off!

Released in 1992, the film was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Based on the play of the same name, written by Michael Fran, it tells the story of the "play within a play" antics of a theatre troupe and it's long and painful road to Broadway. Starring Michael Cain, Carol Burnett, Marilu Henner, Christopher Reeve and John Ritter, it is probably the funniest film I have ever seen. The physical comedy is out of this world and you will find yourself laughing out loud at some of their antics. A must watch for anyone with a funny bone.


Waitress

Released in 2007, the film was written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. (Adrienne also has a supporting role in the film, which would be her final performance before she was murdered just three months before the film debuted). Starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith, it tells the story of Jenna, a waitress trapped in her current life, with dreams of a different future. This is another story of finding yourself and following your heart. Learning that it's never too late to turn things around and live the life that you want.  


Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

Released in 2012, the film was written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. Starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, it tells the story of two people who come together for various reasons, just as the world in about to be destroyed. A story of missed opportunities, righting wrongs, hope, despair and love, it takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotion. A beautifully, touching story that I recommend to anyone who will listen.

Are We Headed For Superhero Over-Saturation?

So, an interesting tid-bit has emerged that involves DC and Warner Brothers and their plans to build their Cinematic Universe. The Schmoes Know broke the story yesterday, (which you can find here,) about The WB's upcoming slate of films and their potential release dates. Now, as the article states, this information hasn't been confirmed by anyone and should be taken with a grain of salt, as the source may be slightly questionable. Regardless, it makes for interesting speculation.

So, according to Nikki Finke, formerly of Deadline.com, at this years Comic-Con in San Diego, Warner Brothers and DC are set to announce the line-up of films that they have planned in regards to their Cinematic Universe. The list is as follows:

May 2016 - Batman v Superman
July 2016 - Shazam
December 2016 - Sandman
May 2017 - Justice League
July 2017 - Wonder Woman
December 2017 - Flash/Green Lantern Team Up
May 2018 - Man of Steel 2

All I can say is, holy ambitious, Batman!

First off, what strikes me about this list is the fact that DC and Warner Brothers look to be going balls to the wall in regards to this whole thing. For the foreseeable future, their plan is to release three movies a year. Apparently, they're hell-bent on making up for lost time. The report also goes on to state that the reason that BvS was pushed back a year was not, as speculated, because the WB wasn't ready to move forward with the film, but was in fact because they were still trying to get the members of the Justice League to sign on the bottom line. Apparently, the actors will be making cameo appearances in the films leading up to the big one and they wanted to make sure that everyone was on board. (I'm not exactly sure if Sandman fits into the DCU or not, as it doesn't seem like it would, but then, I don't really know a whole lot about the character and where he fits in the comic book universe, so I can't say for sure).

The second thing that stands out, is the inclusion of a Wonder Woman stand-alone film on this list. Rumour has always been that Warner Brothers was gun-shy in regards to a female-led superhero flick, even though that female superhero in question is iconic and extremely recognizable. I would love to see a Wonder Woman movie, and given how, recently, female-driven films seem to be killing it at the box office, I can understand the WB's about face in regards to this project. I still have my doubts about how well Gal Godot is going to be able to pull off this character, however. It would have been nice if they had hired an actual actress, instead of an underwear model, but whatever. I guess the jury's out on this one until we see what she does in Batman v Superman.

The inclusion of Shazam on this list is also very interesting. He's not an extremely well known character, although, speculation is that this could be the role that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been hinting about, making it all the more intriguing. How they're going to pull this one off, I'm still not sure, but it will be interesting, to say the least. The fact that Shazam (or Captain Marvel as he was formerly known... although you can see where that could get really confusing, really fast!) spends half his time as 12-year-old Billy Batson (or 15-year-old, if you're going by the New 52 timeline), seems to be a waste of The Rock's talents. Another rumour has Johnson playing Black Adam, Shazam's arch-nemesis, turned member of the Justice League. Either way, it makes for an intriguing prospect.

I think the biggest surprise of this list is the exclusion of Batman. While the Caped Crusader will have a large part in Batman v Superman and will definitely be part of the Justice League, I am surprised that there are no plans for a stand-alone Batman movie, or franchise just yet. Either the WB thinks we're Batman'd out and doesn't want to compete with Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, or this has something to do with Ben Affleck's schedule. Either way, I find it interesting that there doesn't seem to be an immediate plan for one of their most iconic characters. This leads me to believe that Affleck's Batman will be the main character in the upcoming Batman v Superman film, his character arc needing to be relatively well developed for them to move forward.

But, overall, what does this mean for the Superhero genre as a whole? Now that both Fox and Sony have also thrown their hats into the Universe building ring, are all of these comic book adaptations going to flood the overall market? By the time that 2018 rolls around, will we be so sick and tired of Superhero movies that the bottom falls out of the whole genre? I mean, if all goes to plan, then we will be getting probably somewhere between six and seven comic book movies released every year. I guess it's possible that there could be some fatigue, although I do think it's highly unlikely. With the exception of The Amazing Spiderman 2 (let's hope that Sony has learned it's lesson, although it doesn't look like it, as there is a report out that says, while they're pushing TASM 3 back to 2017, it's only so that they can shoehorn their Sinister Six movie into its 2016 release date! Did they learn nothing with TASM2?), comic book movies just keep getting better and better. The studios are raising the bar with each subsequent release. The Winter Soldier and Days of Future Past are arguably the best Superhero releases to date... moving beyond just great genre films and into the realm of great films, period. If the studios continue to release great movies, I think that audiences will continue to flock to them. The idea of solid, strategic Universes, built around characters that we have come to know and love is very appealing. As long as the end product is entertaining, what difference does it make if it's based off a comic book or not? Besides, it's very cool to see the heroes that we grew up with on the big screen, in a manner that is fitting to their stature. It's nice to be a film fan at a time where, technologically, film makers are able to bring these larger than life characters to life on the big screen, without it looking hokey or fake. These days they are able to pull images directly from the page and transport them to a movie screen near you. It really is great to be a geek!

I guess what remains to be seen is whether or not Finke's "scoop" is actually true or not. With just a little under five weeks until Comic-Con in San Diego, we don't have long to wait and see what comes of this whole thing. It will be interesting to see how on the money she was. And what else Comic-Con has in store for us. I can hardly wait!

Random Bits From The Week That Was...

So, here we are again. Friday. That glorious day at the end of the week. That means it's also time to wrap up the bits and pieces that came out over the last 7 days or so. Here's my take on the bits of news I was too lazy to write about earlier...


Could Tom Cruise Wrestle The Box Office Title Away From Shailene Woodley?

The answer is a resounding no! The Fault In Our Stars was the number one movie at the box office last weekend, crushing the competition with a $48M domestically in it's opening weekend. Maleficent was in the number two spot, bringing in $34.3M in it's second week, followed by Edge of Tomorrow with $28.8M in it's first weekend out. While I'm glad that the female led, and driven FIOS did so well (I still have yet to check it out), I am disappointed that EoT didn't have a better opening. It is a spectacular sci-fi movie, driven by a horrendous marketing campaign, that deserved way better than it got. It's interesting to note that the Angelina Jolie led Maleficent came in strong in the number two spot. Never count out the ability of a family friendly flick to wreak havoc with the box office predictions. I'm betting that How To Train Your Dragon 2 takes the number one spot this weekend.


Ant-Man, FINALLY, Has A Director...

After the whole debacle with Edgar Wright, and the oh, we've hired Adam McKay... oh wait, sorry, not going to work out thing, Marvel has finally hired a new director to helm it's Ant-Man project, still set for release July 17, 2015. Peyton Reed, the director of Yes Man and The Break Up will now helm the project. Given that filming was supposed to begin this week I believe, it took them long enough. While, overall I have no issue with Reed, as he's a competent director, this hiring still concerns me. While I trust Marvel, as they have yet to lead me astray with their properties, the fact that their focus has been on very comedic directors is alarming. The beauty of Wright was the fact that while he was comedic, he was also kind of quirky, giving the hope of an interesting take on the character. The idea that Marvel was hell-bent on replacing him with a director who's main focus was comedy sent up a couple of red flags in regards to this Ant-Man project. Of course, the same thing could be said about Joe and Anthony Russo, who before Captain America: The Winter Soldier, were best know for directing the television shows Community and Arrested Development. And we all know how that turned out. The Winter Soldier is arguably the best Marvel movie to date. So, I'll trust in Feige and wait to see how this goes.


Has Marvel Found It's Steven Strange?

Technically, no, but that hasn't stopped the rumour mill from churning. When it was announced last week that Scott Derrickson would be helming the film of the Sorcerer Supreme, this was the first real confirmation that Dr. Strange would actually be a part of Marvel's Phase 3 plans. So, of course, speculation began as to who would be cast as Steven Strange. The first rumour out of the gate was Jared Leto. While he wouldn't have been my first choice, I would have been okay with it. Now, it appears the Marvel's short list is down to two: Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch. While I am okay with either of these guys, my preference would be towards Hardy. Having just finished watching Locke, I've got to say, the guy is amazing. While Cumberbatch is also good, with serious geek cred, for some reason, I just don't see it. Not that I would be disappointed, if tomorrow, Marvel said Cumberbatch is our guy, I would just prefer they went with Hardy. Now, the question that remains to be seen is, are either of these guys willing to sign on long term with Marvel? I guess we'll wait and see.


Del Toro Calls It Quits On The Beast...

Citing scheduling conflicts, Guillermo Del Toro has dropped out of directing his live action telling of the classic tale Beauty And The Beast. In development since 2012, Emma Watson is slated to star in the film as Belle. Del Toro will, however, remain on as a producer of the film, alongside Denise DiNovi. Although disappointing, it's not all that surprising, given the fact that he always has a huge number of projects on the go at any one time. This has led to speculation that he may have dropped this project to focus on a Pacific Rim sequel, as he did state earlier in the week that he was working very hard on a script with Zack Penn. While Legendary has yet to actually green-light a sequel, according to Del Toro, he and Penn are proceeding like the film is actually happening. Now, if he would only put this much effort into a Hellboy 3, I'd be one happy camper.


Gamers United In Los Angeles This Week...

The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo happened in LA this week, and lots of exciting news and trailers for some awesome games have been released. While I'm not a hard-core gamer by any means, there were a few titles that caught my eye. The trailer for Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor looks amazing, and you have my attention anytime you mention Middle Earth. I enjoy War in The North, so am looking forward to this one. The other one that intrigues me is the Batman: Arkham Knight trailer. I am also in anytime you say superhero, and have tested my prowess as Batman, with Arkham Asylum. For all the other E3 news and trailers, check out the the gaming page from the guys at schmoesknow.com who have got you covered.


New Trailer For Laika's The Boxtrolls Drops...

Holy cow, animation is sure kicking ass these days! The first trailer for Laika's upcoming stop-motion flick The Boxtrolls dropped this week, and boy, does it look charming. The masters behind ParaNorman and Coraline will be bringing The Boxtrolls to life on September 26, 2014, and I honestly can't wait. While I get that stop-motion animation isn't for everyone, I personally love the medium and don't think that it gets nearly enough love and support. This film looks charming and fun and I think that 2014 is going to be a banner year for animation, with the likes of The Lego Movie, How To Train Your Dragon 2, The Boxtrolls, Big Hero 6 and The Book of Life all being released.


A Dame To Kill For Kills It...

A new trailer for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For dropped this week, and boy is it a doozy. Now, I will admit, I have never seen the first Sin City film, but if this trailer is anything to go by, I will be checking it out soon, so that I can catch this flick in theatres. Opening August 22, 2014, the movie is a sequel to the 2005 film Sin City and is primarily based on the second graphic novel in the series by Frank Miller. This trailer looks fantastic and I am intrigued about this world. I'll let you know what I think after I've checked it out.


And The Most Watched Shows In The World Are...

Earlier this week, at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, NCIS took the International Television Audience Award for Drama, meaning it is the highest rated drama series worldwide. The show won with a global audience of 57.6 million viewers in 66 different countries. The winners for Comedy were Modern Family and in the Soap Opera category, The Bold and The Beautiful took the crown. While I don't watch either NCIS, which is also the most watched show in North America, or The Bold and The Beautiful, I do enjoy Modern Family. It's interesting to see how closely the worldwide audience is tied to the North American one.


Daredevil Has Found It's Kingpin...

On the heels that Charlie Cox would be portraying Matt Murdoch in the upcoming Marvel Netflix series Daredevil, word came down that Hell's Kitchen had also found it's Kingpin. In keeping with their interesting casting choices of late, Marvel announced that Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin, would be played by Vincent D'Onofrio. I will admit, this casting is amazing. D'Onofrio is an excellent actor, who does dark and fearsome like no other. This Netflix project is looking more and more interesting, and I for one, can't wait to see it.


       

How Do You Stop The Information Super-Highway From Ruining Everything?

Or at least slow it down long enough so you don't get trampled?

This is the conundrum facing Star Wars Episode VII director J.J. Abrams. The notoriously secretive director currently finds himself in the middle of a firestorm, as anticipation and speculation run rampant in regards to this latest venture. Star Wars fans are clamouring for any sort of Star Wars related news, no matter how big or small, in a effort to piece together anything in regards to this new film. Contrarily, Disney and Lucasfilm have been very tight-lipped in regards to the new movie, releasing only what they feel they need to, in order to keep fans happy. It's a vicious cycle, frustrating for everyone involved.

Last week, as is wont to happen in this day and age, TMZ somehow got it's hands on photos taken at Pinewood Studios in London, where it appears that the crew is busy recreating full scale models of spaceships, including the Millennium Falcon. (You can see all the photos here). These pictures came directly on the heels of another set of leaked photos, again from TMZ, this time from the actual set in Abu Dhabi, where principle photography began shooting last month. These photos, found here, are thought to be of a Tatooine Marketplace that will appear in the new film.

These leaks have got to be driving director J.J. Abrams absolutely crazy! As I mentioned, he is a notoriously secretive director, who hates for his projects to be spoiled before the audience has had a chance to see them in their entirety, in all their finished glory. He prefers that his work be experienced as a whole, and honestly, who can blame him? There's nothing worse than going in to a movie having already had the ending spoiled for you. How un-surprising and disappointing would The Sixth Sense have been if you already knew what the twist was heading in to see it for the very first time? How many times have you gone to see a comedy, only to find out that all of the best jokes were already shown in the trailer? It's frustrating and annoying.

But what can you do to stop it? In this digital age, where everyone carries a mini-computer, with audio and video recording capabilities, in their pocket, how do you stop the leaks from happening? Ultimately, you can't. We live in a world where just about any information that we require is at our fingertips, ours to know or find out at the push of a button. We also seem to feel that it's our right to have whatever information that we want at our disposal, and feel we're being cheated if we don't get exactly what we want. We then turn around and complain if our movie going experiences are less than we hoped, blaming marketing and over-exposure for our disappointing time. While sometimes, it is true (I'm looking at you TASM 2!), most of the time, the blame rests solely on the shoulders of the movie fan. We get over-excited and devour every scrap of information that we can find, giving sites like TMZ reason to continue to "find" these photos and story leaks. And I fully admit, I am one of those rabid fans that clicks and watches and looks at everything that's released, no matter how hard I try to remain spoiler free. For me, it's just the nature of the beast.

But, what do you do if you're J.J. Abrams? Why, you go with it, of course!

Earlier this week, in an amusing, tongue-in-cheek way, Bad Robot (Abrams' production company) tweeted the following picture:

Now, any Star Wars fan is going to recognize that little nugget of spoilery goodness. (Although, seriously, who in their right mind didn't think that the Millennium Falcon was going to make an appearance in the film. That's just a no-brainer!) And I like the fact that Abrams is being a little more open to sharing, because, aside from confiscating the phones of everyone on set and tackling anyone with a recording device to the ground, what else is he going to do? I think he's finally realized that, if you tease a little bit, it will be enough to satisfy even the most die-hard fans. I have heard so many people say that since they're getting bits and pieces from Disney, Lucasfilm and Abrams, they don't really have a desire to go in search of other information. And, I agree that this seems to be the best course of action. One of the main issues that a lot of people had with Star Trek Into Darkness was the whole controversy in regards to Benedict Cumberbatch's character, and whether of not he was actually Khan. The Bad Robot camp denied it right up until the movie opened, which I personally think was a detriment to the film. Knowing that Cumberbatch was Khan wouldn't have ruined the movie, and might have actually helped build the anticipation. Khan is a very recognizable character in the Star Trek universe, and I think that they could have used that information to their advantage. Instead, they chose a different route, and I think it kind of backfired on them a little. Lesson learned, maybe?

It's inevitable that, as the movie continues filming, and the release date gets ever closer, more and more information on the project will be released, either officially or unofficially. This project is a huge deal to many, many people around the world, as Star Wars shaped an entire generation of film-goers, myself included. I honestly can't think of a more anticipated project, aside from The Phantom Menace, back before it was released back in 1999. With the mediocre reception of George Lucas' prequel trilogy, it's imperative that Disney and Lucasfilm take the utmost care in regards to the direction of their Star Wars franchise. The stakes have never been higher. And in the age of digital technology and social media, it will never be easier for us, as film fans, to scrutinize every little thing that comes our way. Let's just hope that J.J. has truly learned his lesson and has chosen to embrace the idea that a little something is better than nothing at all. It keeps the wolves at bay, and makes a much smoother experience for everyone involved.  

Review: Live. Die. Repeat. Over And Over Again...

The following is a review of the new film, Edge of Tomorrow. It will definitely contain spoilers, so you have been warned. If you don't want to be spoiled, you should really turn back now, because you really need to see this movie. If, you don't care if you're spoiled, or you like to be spoiled, because you know, some people do, then please continue...


**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**********


Now, I am not a Tom Cruise fan. Before this weekend, I believe the last Tom Cruise film that I had seen was Tropic Thunder. Yes, it was that long ago. And honestly, until Kristian Harloff and Mark Ellis over at www.schmoesknow.com highly recommended this movie, I had no intention of seeing it. And that would have been a terrible shame.

Edge of Tomorrow, based on the Japanese novel, All You Need Is Kill, tells the story of Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), an officer of the United States Military and spokesperson for the United Defence Forces, a NATO military outfit created to fight the escalating war with the alien race known as the Mimics, who have taken refuge on the planet and are attempting to destroy the human race. Through a series of unfortunate events, Major Cage finds himself among the first wave of soldiers on the eve of battle, even though he is not a combat trained soldier. Stripped of his rank and branded a deserter, he is placed in J-Unit, a group of misfits, not really fit to be soldiers in the eyes of those higher up. Although the attack was supposed to be a covert one, somehow the enemy knows that they are coming and the soldiers are ambushed. Cage stumbles around the battlefield, watching as everyone around him is slaughtered by the aliens. Just as he's about to be killed by a Mimic, he deploys an explosive, killing both the alien and himself in the process, in a rather gruesome fashion. And then he wakes up. He finds himself once again, at the Heathrow Airport base, the day before the invasion is set to begin. He tries to explain the situation to anyone who will listen, but is written off as crazy and just trying to get out of combat. The invasion happens again, and every time he dies, the day somehow resets and he finds himself waking up on the same morning, before the invasion, over and over again. He has somehow gotten himself in a time-loop and has no idea how to get out of it. When he saves Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), and lets it slip that he's been here before, she tells him that when he wakes up, he needs to come and find her. It turns out that Rita knows exactly what's going on with him, as the same thing happened to her in the past. By getting doused in the Alpha Mimic's blood, Cage gained the ability to reset time. Turns out that all of the Mimic's are controlled by the time-controlling Omega and that if they can destroy it, they will be able to win the war. As the Mimic's try to locate Cage's consciousness, he will start getting visions of the Omega, giving them clues as to where to find it, so that they can destroy it. Through loop after loop, Cage and Rita get closer and closer to finding the Omega. Tired of watching her die no matter what he does to try and stop it, in one loop, Cage doesn't go to Rita at the base and instead goes in search of the Omega alone. He gets to the place in his visions, a dam in the Alps, but quickly realizes that it is a trap, as the Omega is not there and he is ambushed by an Alpha. The Alpha attempts to kill him by slowly draining his blood, therefore taking away his ability to time-jump, but he manages to drown instead, waking up the previous morning once again. Armed with the knowledge that the Mimic's are playing with them and the fact that the Alps are a dead end, Cage and Rita seek out a scientist, Dr. Carter, an expert on Mimic physiology, who may have a solution. On the authority of the UDF, he designed and created a transponder that would neurally link with the Omega, giving them it's location. The only problem is, it needs to be hooked to a live Alpha in order to work. Going on the hunch that Cage's blood, since it hold the ability to time jump, may work, they break into the UDF offices to obtain the device, this portion told through a number of off camera loops. Once they leave the building, UDF officers step in to arrest them, leading to a hectic car chase. Cage uses the transponder and discovers that the Omega is housed below the flooded Louvre in Paris. Before Rita can kill him and reset the day, their car crashes and they both blackout. Cage awakens in a military hospital, having been given a blood transfusion, wiping out his time jumping ability. He and Rita escape, determined to destroy the Omega before the invasion the following morning, in essence saving all of the soldiers about to deploy. Recruiting the soldiers in J-Unit, they head to Paris to stop this thing before it starts. Cage and Rita are the only two to survive the trip to the Louvre, and Rita eventually sacrifices herself so that Cage can destroy the Omega. As he is swimming towards it, grenades in hand, he is attacked by an Alpha. Dropping the grenades, he turns to look at the alien, showing it that he had pulled the pins before letting go. The grenades blow, destroying the Omega, which in turn destroys all of the Mimic's on the planet. As he is dying, Cage's body absorbs the Omega's blood. He awakens once again, but this time, two days before the invasion. The Omega has been destroyed and the war is virtually won. With his ranking still in tact, he finds Rita, who he has come to love. As he steps towards her, the screen fades to black.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie would be a gross understatement. A cross between Groundhog Day and any other alien invasion movie, I found myself thinking of Aliens as I watched it. Watching it gave me the same kind of feelings I get when I watch the James Cameron classic (once I was old enough to see it for the fantastic movie that it is and not let it scare the crap out of me, anymore).  And that is not a bad thing at all. It is honestly, a great sci-fi flick, with fantastic humour and great heart. Although it pulls from other science fiction tropes, it weaves them together in a surprising and pleasant way. While I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise, I liked him in this role because it was outside of the box for him. Instead of playing the macho hero, his character is actually a bit of an ass, and a huge coward to boot. I was able to see past Tom Cruise and actually see William Cage, which is what you hope for in any movie. And don't get me started on Emily Blunt. The woman is amazing! She seems to have unbelievable chemistry with everyone she works with (if you haven't seen her and Matt Damon in the Adjustment Bureau, you really need to!), and here it's no different. Rita is an incredible, strong, determined character, and it's nice to see the female lead being the one to kick ass and take names, especially in a Tom Cruise movie. The pacing of this film was fantastic too, the loops and flashbacks edited perfectly to get the right tone and feel. It is a formula that could have gone horribly wrong, but didn't because the film makers actually used it sparingly and as a way to move the story forward.

While the film as a whole is excellent, I did have a few issues with it. First off, the plot is a little thin. While the premise as a whole makes sense on paper, there are quite a few plot holes when it comes to the explanation of the whole time-loop theory. I get that it's difficult to truly explain something so complex, but you're expected to go on blind faith for most of the film, just accepting the theory that Rita and  Dr. Carter have come up with in regards to the Omega and it's link to the Mimic's. Now, it may be that, somehow, they figured all of this out while Rita was looping through time, but since we don't get to see what her experience was like, we'll never know. I have also heard rumblings about the ending being a bit of a cop-out, but on this one I disagree. While I would have been content if Cage and Rita had sacrificed themselves and stayed dead when the end credits rolled, I think that the addition of the last loop was clever. Cage's consciousness brought him back even earlier, to before everything started, but with alternate timeline already in place, the Omega destroyed. While it would have been easy for him to turn around and go on with his life, he made the decision to seek Rita out and see what happens now that the war is won. Maybe it's the romantic in me... I also really liked the fact that the film ended ambiguously, without Cage actually saying anything to her. Just a smile and a fade to black.

Overall this is an excellent, original sci-fi film, and it's unfortunate that it didn't do better at the box office in it's opening weekend. I blame the fact that it's coming off of the Tom Cruise led Oblivion, which was a disaster of epic proportions, and the terrible marketing campaign that Warner Brothers hatched for the film. The trailers that were released did not do the film justice, making it look, in part, like a sequel to Oblivion. If they had shown what a smart, witty film this actually is, I think that it might have been received better by audiences. Another mistake that Warner Brothers made was changing the title from that of the book, All You Need Is Kill, to Edge of Tomorrow. The original title was edgy and in your face, while the new title is pretty bland and generic. I don't know if a different title would have made that much difference in the long run, but I guess we'll never truly know.         

Review: Finding Your Passion Where You Least Expect It...

The following is a review of the new Jon Favreau film Chef. If you have not seen Chef yet, I suggest that you do not continue to read this post, as it will contain information that will spoil the movie for you. If you like to be spoiled, then by all means, please continue....


**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!**********


I have been waiting, rather impatiently, for over a month to see this film. Originally released in a limited run on May 5, it finally made it's way to theatres here this past weekend. A passion project of writer/director/producer/star Jon Favreau, it tells the story of chef Carl Casper and his fall from grace and eventual rise, as he once again discovers his true passion.

Chef Casper has been the head chef at an LA eatery for a long time. On the eve of a very big critique, he plans an elaborate new menu, just the thing to impress a picky critic. The restaurant owner, however, has different ideas. Set in his ways, he insists that the staff stick with the tried and true, albeit tired menu that the patrons have come to know and enjoy. Needless to say, the critic is not impressed by the ho-hum fare, and writes a scathing review of the restaurant, focused mainly on his disappointment with the chef. Angry and disgusted, Chef Carl accidentally gets into a war on Twitter with the critic, not realizing that everything he says over social media is for public consumption. Finally, he calls the critic out, inviting him to another tasting, where he plans to show him just what he's capable of. The restaurant owner, played by a deliciously clueless Dustin Hoffman, will have none of it, basically giving the chef an ultimatum. Either he cooks the regular menu, or he doesn't cook at all. Chef Carl walks away, hours before the showdown with the critic, leaving his Sous Chef, Bobby Canavale, who is quickly promoted to head Chef, in charge. Needless to say, the critic is not impressed again, and this time, calls Chef Carl out, tweeting that he's a no show and must be afraid. Carl flips out and heads to the restaurant, where he rips into the critic, his rant rapidly going viral. With no job and all prospects dried up, he heads to Miami with his ex-wife, Inez (Sofia Vergara), so that he can spend more time with their son. She has been trying to get him to open a food truck, where he could be in charge and cook what he wants. He had always scoffed at the idea, but finally relents, meeting with her other ex-husband, a fabulously quirky Robert Downey Jr. He takes the truck, calls it El Jefe, and he, his son and his best friend, Martin (John Leguizamo), who quit being the new Sous Chef at the LA restaurant to join him, make the trip from Miami to LA, stopping in various cities along the way to sell their wares. Carl's son, Percy, uses the power of social media, and his dad's inadvertent huge following, to promote the truck, making them a huge success. Upon returning to LA, Carl realizes that there are more important things in life than being a huge success and working all the time, and the truck becomes a family business, so they can all spend more time together. The critic, realizing that Chef Carl has re-discovered his passion, offers to bankroll a new restaurant, where Carl would have complete creative control. Cue the happily ever after.

I really liked this movie. It's an interesting take on finding ones passion and truly experiencing life to the fullest. We only get a short time on this ride called life, and we should really make the most of it while we're here. Doing something that you're passionate about and loving what you do are steps in the right direction. I thought that the acting in this film was great, and that the actor that played Percy, EmJay Anthony, did an outstanding job. And of course, anytime that a movie features my favourite city in the World, New Orleans, I'm going to be all in! The movie does a great job of balancing the food and what it means to us and how it brings us together, with the more personal elements of the story. Visually, the film is gorgeous, showcasing ingredients and techniques that you would be hard pressed to find outside of an industrial kitchen. It's obvious that food is one of Favreau's passions, and he showcases it here beautifully. While the story is quite predictable, overall, the film is a joy to watch and I highly recommend it.

I did have a couple of issues with the film, however, the main one being how neatly everything was tied up in a little bow by the end. Not only was the food truck a huge success, but of course, the critic, who had sold his website for millions of dollars, is willing to invest in a restaurant because he believes in the chef again. The final scene of the film shows the restaurant, six months later, closed for a private event, which just happens to be the wedding of Chef Carl and his ex-wife Inez, making the three of them one big happy family again. While I do watch rom-coms, the syrupy sweet ending was a little out of place in the film for me. Just having the truck be a success and Carl finding his passion once again, would have been enough. Add on the restaurant and the happily ever after fairytale ending and it was just a touch over the top. Not enough to change my opinion of the film overall, but it was enough to detract from the overall message, I think. My other issue with the film is a bit of a nit-pick, but oh well. Someone please tell me, how a guy that looks like Jon Favreau, who I am sure is a really great guy, can get women who look like Sofia Vergara and Scarlett Johansson? I mean, seriously? Is it just because he's a chef? I guess it's true what they say... the key to anyone's heart is through their stomach.

Random Bits From The Week That Was....

So, here we are again... Friday... and it's time for my thoughts on the bits and pieces of news that came out over the last week, that I was too lazy to blog about, or they just didn't warrant a full post. Enjoy....


Star Wars Finds Some Females...

Earlier this week it was confirmed that Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie will be joining the cast of the next Star Wars movie. This is fantastic news, as these ladies are top notch actresses, and this bit of casting news should quiet all of those that were complaining that the cast was very "male-centric." While I'm glad that it looks like there will be some strong female characters in the new trilogy, the lack of estrogen of the original announcement didn't bother me. I trust JJ Abrams and if in his new Star Wars trilogy, some weird virus wiped all the females off the face of the galaxy, then so be it. I'm just excited to be getting new movies from the universe.


Ant-Man Finds A New Director... Oh, Wait... Never Mind...

So, after the whole "creative differences" exit of Edgar Wright last week, speculation has run rampant on who would take over the next Marvel franchise. The short list of directors that was going around was interesting, albeit a little bizarre. Word did come out that Stepbrothers and Anchorman director, Adam McKay, had been hired, but that was quickly shut down, when it was revealed that he had actually turned the project down. While he wasn't my first choice to direct this project, I find it interesting that there was something about it that he obviously didn't like. The concern that I have, besides the fact that as of today, there is still no one attached to direct this project, is that the directors that Marvel is looking at seem to be very heavily focused on comedy. While I know that there are some comedic elements to the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, up until now, they have been well balanced within the story. This full-on comedic approach worries me a bit, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.


But, Apparently, Dr. Strange Is Good To Go...

So, while Marvel is busy scrambling to get Ant-Man on track and ready for it's release date a little over 13 months from now, they are already moving on with their next project. Word was released this week that Sinister director, Scott Derrickson, will be helming the film based on the Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Steven Strange. Expected to be either their second release in 2016 or the early release in 2017, it will be a true departure for the studio, given that his story revolves around magic and mysticism. The choice of Derrickson is interesting, given his horror genre background. It makes me think that this is going to be a darker story, with maybe a bit of a sinister tone to it. The only thing that's troubling is that the writers who have been hired to write the script, other credits include Kung-Fu Panda and Spongebob Square Pants. While I love the Kung-Fu Panda movies, I'm not exactly sure how that style will transfer to a Dr. Strange movie. It will be interesting to see what happens and what Derrickson ultimately does with this project.


Is X-Men: Apocalypse Stifling The X-Force Movie Over At Fox?

Tweet it, and the controversy will come. Earlier in the week, Rob Liefeld, creator of the X-Force comic over at Marvel, tweeted that the development of X-Men: Apocalypse has basically quashed any hope of an X-Force movie being released by Fox. While I'm not sure that it's quite as dire as that, I understand Fox's need to move on with their current franchise, striking while the iron is hot, or so they say. Within nine days of release, Days of Future Past became the highest grossing film in the franchise, so it's perfectly understandable for the studio to want to continue telling that story. In an attempt to build a cinematic universe, there has been talk that the studio is looking to do spin-off and stand-alone films, so I'm sure that the focus will roll back around the their X-Force property eventually. Unlike Sony, who only has Spiderman and his villains, the rights to X-Men encompass a number of characters and teams and Fox would be foolish to not explore all the avenues at their disposal.


Game Of Thrones Becomes HBO's Highest Rated Show, Ever...

Long live Westeros! HBO's Game Of Thrones officially surpassed The Sopranos as the channel's most watched series. Averaging 18.4 million viewers this season, the audience for the show just continues to build. (Last season averaged 14.4 million viewers). Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, the cable giant is just about to wrap the shows fourth season. While I admit that I have yet to watch the show, I have read all of the novels, so when I hear about the goings on in Westeros, I understand the context. It is my goal to binge watch Games of Thrones this summer, so I will keep you posted as to how that goes! :)


Bad News For The Wachowski Siblings....

Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow Pictures have more or less pulled the plug on the Wachowski's latest project, Jupiter Ascending. Originally set for release on July 18th, they have pushed the film, which stars Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, to the no-man's land of February, where movies go to die. Although no official word has been released in regards to the move, it can't be good news. There is only one reason that a studio pulls a big, action heavy flick out of a prime summer release slot, and that's because the movie is crap. While I was interested to see this film, I still had a bit of apprehension in regards to it, as I find the Wachowski's pretty hit or miss. It looks like my gut feelings might have been right on the money. Rumour has it that the $150M movie was tracking somewhere in the $25M range. Definitely not what the studio wants to see. It will be interesting to see if the move pays off, giving the flick the time and space it needs, and a lack of competition next winter. Only time will tell on this one.


And Another Director Is Headed To A Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Disney announced this week, following their announcement last week that Gareth Edwards would be directing a Star Wars spin-off film, that Josh Trank will also be directing one of their properties. Although no further details have been released, it is speculated that the Chronicle director will be helming a Han Solo film, with Edwards directing the much anticipated Boba Fett flick. Mark Reilly, the editor-in-chief over at www.schmoesknow.com wrote a fantastic article on this topic, which you can find here. It's an excellent read, written by a die-hard Star Wars fan, and I completely recommend checking it out. (And while you're there, check out some of the other cool things they've got going on!). I think that Trank will bring an interesting take to whatever story he is telling, and I really like his vision and style of film-making. I am curious to see what he brings to the table.


Is Marvel Really Trying To Sabotage The Properties That They No Longer Have Control Of?

An interesting tid-bit out of the interweb this week has Marvel sabotaging some of their own properties in a bid for dominance in the movie-sphere. Rumours are swirling that Marvel is using under-handed tactics to try and diminish the returns of their properties currently contracted out to other studios, which include the Fox owned The Fantastic Four and X-Men franchises. If they're to be believed, Marvel is in the process of cancelling it's Fantastic Four and Ultimate Fantastic Four comic series in an attempt to lower the profile of the franchise, before the movie hits theatres next summer. While it may very well be true that they are going to jostle their comic book titles around, to this nonsense about affecting the box office returns, I say, bologna. In the grand scheme of things, comic book readers represent a very infinitesimal fraction of the movie going public. The majority of movie goers have never even picked up a comic book, let alone read one, so this will have absolutely no impact on whether the movie is successful at all. I doubt very highly that the Marvel execs are sitting around their offices, trying to come up with ways to thwart the other studios anyway, as they are too busy counting their money and laying the ground work for world domination. It doesn't make any sense... but then again, conspiracy theories rarely do.