Alright here is a new rumor that you should know about when placing your bets on who will get the coveted role of The Caped Crusader in 2015’s Batman/Superman movie. Batman On Film is reporting from multiple sources that Warner Bros. is actively looking for an older “more grizzled” Batman for the Zack Snyder-directed feature set for release in 2015. The age range has been narrowed to actors who are almost or already in their 40’s.
To me this is a bit of good news because it is guaranteed that we will not get any form of Batman origin story again for this movie. It looks like we will be getting a Batman that is already on the job and good at what he does. This makes the dynamic between the two characters much better than two rookie heroes figuring things out as they go. At least one of them will be a veteran who can lead by example.
Let us know who you think would make a great Batman (no matter the age) and we will include it in our fantasy casting article that is coming soon.
And yes, I know Jon Hamm is going to be the overwhelming favorite. I am in the minority on this. I used to be all for it, but over the past year or so I have found other actors I would rather see in the role.
Paramount has announced that [amazon_link id=”B005LAIIN0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]World War Z[/amazon_link] will be released on Blu-Ray on September 17th.
The movie based on the Max Brooks book was a surprise hit after having multiple production problems and delays. It has grossed over $470 million dollars worldwide and a sequel has been put into motion. We gave the movie a good 7.5 review back in June.
Here is the list of special features that will accompany the Blu-Ray:
-“Origins” — The filmmakers discuss collaborating with renowned actor/producer Brad Pitt to create a zombie film the likes of which have never been seen.
-“Looking to Science” — Explore the scientific realities of zombie behavior in nature and learn more about zombies in literature and film.
-“Outbreak” — Go on set with Brad Pitt and director Marc Forster for a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s breathtaking first attack in Philadelphia.
-“The Journey Begins” — Delve deeper into Gerry’s fight for survival during the dramatic escape in South Korea.
–“Behind the Wall” — Explore the epic scene in Jerusalem and discover the incredible logistics of creating the elaborate stunts and crowd sequences.
-“Camouflage” — Experience the final confrontation between Gerry and the zombies and discover the phenomenal scope of the film’s production.
We are under a week away the release of We’re the Millers. I have been looking forward to this more than any comedy release this year and this new red band trailer simply re-affirms that thought.
Jason Sudeikis, sporting a beautiful porn stache, and the dirty-thought inducing Jennifer Aniston introduce the trailer which is a mix of scenes from the previous red band trailer and some new hilarious footage.
Why am I looking forward to this so much? Two red bands trailers and I have teared up laughing at both. Works for me.
If you know me then you know I love Pacific Rim. More than I should. It struck the right chord in the theater and made me feel like I was 10 again watching a big, bombastic action movie. Now Sideshow Collectibles are trying to test my love with these new statues based on the movie.
How is that possible you might ask?
Well, while the statues of Gipsey Danger and the knife-head Kaiju are a wonder to behold, they also will cost a sweat-inducing $400 a piece. I am gonna need some more incentive for a purchase like that. If I pay 800 bucks for two statues I better get a romantic dinner with Charlie Hunnam while Charlie Day sings The Nightman Cometh by candle light.
We are only a few days away from a new trailer for Thor: The Dark World and today Marvel has released a new poster to get the thunder god talk going.
Literally every character is on this poster. It will be one of those posters that you want to take a glance at while you are at the theater, but can’t get to because of the two fu**tards that stand in front of it and analyze every single person on the damn thing.
As expected, there will be an extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. While not lengthening the film quite like The Lord of the Rings did, it will feature 13 minutes of new footage.
If that does not sound like enough to warrant another purchase for those that have the theatrical version maybe the nine hours of special features will change your mind.
Yep. Nine hours.
The Blu-Ray release last March was simply a bare bones version and if you are any type of LOTR fan you knew that meant that there would be a huge amount of special features coming when the extended edition was announced and Peter Jackson never disappoints. There will be a full chronological telling of the pre-production and shooting of the film called The Appendices just like in the LOTR extended versions.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition will release on November 5th.
I loved Pacific Rim. Like almost too much. Yet, there was one thing that bothered me and that was why in the hell did they wait so long to use that damn sword that was built in their Jaeger? If I am fighting beastly creatures from another dimension in a thirty story tall mech you can be damn sure I am whipping that bad boy out before getting into a fist fight.
Luckily artist Kelly Turnbull has answered that question. That’s cold blooded Mako.
I know there are more than one of you wondering how a second Wolverine movie even got made considering the complete abomination that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine and you would be right to think that. The movie made money, but is universally reviled by most comic fans and let’s not even start on Deadpool fans. The simple answer is that Wolverine is the most bankable of all of the X-Men, so that is why director James Mangold was given the helm and the character has been given a second chance to make a first impression.
You would think the surprising part is the fact that there is another Wolverine movie given what I just said. That’s not the truth. The surprising part is that The Wolverine is actually really good.
Director James Mangold and screen writers Mark Bomback and Scott Frank have decided to take the character on a personal journey based on one of the greatest Wolverine stories ever written by the legendary Chris Claremont. Not only is Claremont’s Japanese epic the basis for The Wolverine, but there are plenty of nods to other historic stories in the Logan/X-Men universe including Fatal Attractions and Old Man Logan. When you notice these it becomes clear that some care was taken with the character this time instead of just having him wrestle The Blob, fight the shittiest Deadpool ever and deal with bad CGI.
The Wolverine takes place after X-Men: The Last Stand with Logan playing the part of mountain man recluse living his life as a Grizzly Adams look-a-like and deep in despair over having had killed his love, Jean Grey. There really is no reason to watch X-Men 3 to catch up (or any reason to watch it at all) because that is the only main part that connects to this movie. He is content to spend his days drinking whiskey and listening to the radio while dreams of Jean haunt him. A young Japanese woman named Yukio (Rila Fukushima) tracks him down and requests that he come to Japan with her so that her employer, Yashida, be given the opportunity to say goodbye and thank Logan for saving his life in World War II when the bomb hit Nagasaki. Through some coaxing he boards a plane for the Land of the Rising Sun.
Meeting Yashida becomes more complicated than anticipated when he informs Logan that he has the ability to transfer his healing ability to another and can allow Logan to live a normal life. And yes, you guessed it, Yashida would like it transferred to him so he can keep on living. Needless to say Wolvie declines with a simple “you don’t want what I got”, but that is not quite good enough for the dying man and has his associate Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) implant a device in Logan that robs him of his ability to heal correctly. It is still too late for Yashida as he passes and control of his corporation passes not to his son, but his granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamoto). This puts a target on her back as the Yakuza try to kidnap her at her father’s funeral. Reluctantly, she allows Logan to help her flee and during their escape and hideout the two form a relationship. Eventually the Yakuza gets their tattooed, grubby mits on Mariko and Logan has to figure out a way to reverse what has been done to him and save his new found love.
Like I said, this isn’t On The Waterfront.
What The Wolverine manages to do well is pacing. The slow parts do not drag on for too long and the dialogue is believable for a action movie like this. It is always interesting, for me, to watch the Japanese culture clash with anything different. Of course, the different this time is a self-healing mutant with adamantium claws that calls everyone “bub” and it completely works. You can never adapt Claremont’s story perfectly and there is plenty to point out that has been altered, but the central heart of the story is still there.
The set pieces are handled well including a Yakuza shootout at a funeral which leads to a chase throughout the street of Tokyo and ends with a fight on top of a bullet train which you may have seen in the previews. As over the top as the train scene is, it is still handled with a deft hand. The fighting never really gets too over the top or for the lack of a better term, comic book-y, until the final moments of the movie and it is in the final 15 minutes of the film where the train doesn’t fly off the track, but it begins to wobble like someone put a penny on the rails.
The final showdown, while wrapping up the story, left a little to be desired when compared to all the good the story had set up in the first 90% of the film. Yes, there is a nine-foot tall robotic Silver Samurai and you have already decided whether you hate this decision or not. For me, I was not hot on the idea, but it received a pass from me because of a very guessable reason. I am not saying the end ruins the movie…far from it. It is just a decent end game to a very good movie.
The Wolverine has surprised me more than any other movie this summer. Going in with blinders on, not wanting to remember the horrors of X-Men Origins is the best way to view this. It is far and away better than its should-have-been aborted offspring. It also holds up on its own as a singular movie including Jackman’s best performance as Logan due to a much better script than he has ever had for the character. If this had been the first movie for Wolverine, we would be talking about what an amazing future the character has in his own set of movies, but with the stench of Origins hanging this feels like an apology to fans and a hope that maybe there is more in store for “The Ol’ Canucklehead”.
The Wolverine opened up at number one just like everyone thought it would, but its $55 million take was on the lighter side of expectations with studio estimates leaning more towards a $70 million opening. While initially this would be considered a disappointment, The Wolverine pulled in $86 million from the foreign box office and with a budget of only $115 million, the film is already sitting at almost $150 million after one weekend of release. The gross was on par with 2011’s [amazon_link id=”B004LWZW4C” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]X-Men: First Class[/amazon_link] which opened with $55.1 million.
The Conjuring held over amazingly well in its second weekend. Normally horror movies fall off the face of the Earth in their second weeks, but the James Wan-directed feature managed to pull in $22 million. After two weeks the $20 million film has grossed almost $100 million worldwide.
At the Star Wars Celebration in Europe, it was announced that John Williams would return to score the music for Star Wars Episode VII. There really was little doubt that the legendary composer would be returning to the galaxy far, far away, but there were very few out there (me) that was holding out a little hope that J.J. Abrams collaborator, Michael Giacchino, would get a shot at bringing something new to the franchise.
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad to have Williams back on board, it just would be nice to get some new blood infused in the franchise. With Disney planning at least four more Star Wars movies, maybe there is plenty of film to go around for other composers.
Williams can’t do all of them…can he?
Here is Williams talking about returning to the franchise:
