Tag: Avengers

Hollywood In 2015: Something’s Gotta Give

We are all used to big summer movie seasons. It is a part of movie culture and it is one of the few reasons to actually get excited about sweating your balls (or other various parts) off in the baking sun. But is Hollywood headed for a year of heartbreak? Two years from now will be the biggest movie year in history. Not just summer, but for 365 days we will be given a deluge of big-budget extravaganzas like we have never seen before in such a short period.

This would indicate that Hollywood should reach their highest box office total ever, but with so many huge event and franchise movies in such a short time will we get burned out? Chances are that a few of these offerings will either not meet lofty expectations or completely bomb altogether just because of the competition releasing so close together.

So now, let’s look in our crystal ball (which oddly looks like a box of Gobstoppers) and see what franchises are sure things and which ones may be left out to wither and die.

Note: These movies are for the entire calendar year of 2015, not just the summer season.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

As close as you will get to a sure thing to make a billion dollars. Even if the story ends up being weaker than the first, people will show up in droves.

Bomb Factor- 0/10

Batman/Superman

Completely off the radar until last week’s Comic-Con. Zack Snyder returning to direct and Christopher Nolan executive producing. Just don’t screw up the Batman casting and watch the money flow in.

Bomb Factor- 0.5/10

Star Wars: Episode VII

Disney is going to run this franchise into the ground with yearly movies, but this first one by J.J. Abrams should be a massive hit and hopefully set up a new trilogy well.

Bomb Factor- 1/10

Independence Day 2

It will be 19 years between the original and the sequel when this hits. No Will Smith may hurt, but Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are returning and if they can cast some good new leads this could work. Will people still care after so long?

Bomb Factor- 4/10

Jurassic Park 4

The fourth dino adventure will return to the original island. Jurassic Park 3 made its money back but failed to live up to the first two. Depending on release date, this may get lost in the shuffle.

Bomb Factor- 5/10

Assassin’s Creed

Michael Fassbender is starring in and producing this adaptation of the Ubisoft video game. I am excited about the prospect, but fear that this may fall into the John Carter or Prince of Persia bunch when it releases.

Bomb Factor- 7/10

Fantastic Four Reboot

The first two FF movies made plenty of money against their budgets, but were bashed by critics. Better casting and and early spring release should help the new team reach better heights.

Bomb Factor- 5/10

Pirates of the Caribbean 5

On Stranger Tides was the first Pirates to not break $300 million domestically yet it was a huge hit worldwide being the first one in the franchise to cross $1 billion. Even if some are tired of Jack Sparrow, the rest of the world box office will make him a hit again.

Bomb Factor- 3/10

Terminator 5

Arnold is returning and there are rumors that The Rock may be circling. He revitalizes franchises, of that there is no doubt, but is this one too far gone to rehab?

Bomb Factor- 6/10

The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 2

Mocking Jay is not a large book so making two movies out if it may be a stretch. Let’s hope they don’t sacrifice quality for quantity.

Bomb Factor- 3/10

Finding Dory

Pixar has had a case of sequel-itis for a few years now and I have still not gotten my Incredibles 2. Finding Nemo is one of the most beloved of all the Pixar offerings so I think people will embrace this more than Cars 2 or even Monsters University.

Bomb Factor- 2/10

Ant-Man

As Marvel pulls farther into their hero pool, their gambles get bigger. Guardians of the Galaxy will put their muscle to the test next year. Ant-Man will have the distinction of being the first Marvel movie after Avengers 2 and Edgar Wright will easily make the movie entertaining. Will people embrace it?

Bomb Factor- 5/10

Bond 24

Skyfall was not only the most successful Bond movie ever it was also in talks as being possibly the best movie in the series. Daniel Craig is locked up for at least two more films and Sam Mendes is returning to direct 007’s next adventure. It may not hit the heights of Skyfall, but it will not fall very far.

Bomb Factor- 2/10

Inferno

Ron Howard and Tom Hanks are returning to the Robert Langdon character for a third film from Dan Brown’s book series. Has the Dan Brown craze train left the station? Most likely.

Bomb Factor- 7/10

Warcraft

The long-in-development Warcraft is finally going to make it to the big screen thanks to Moon director Duncan Jones. World of Warcraft has almost 10 million subscribers that pay $15 a month to play so if a good portion of those pony up $10 a ticket it will have a decent opening weekend. The problem comes in convincing the general public to take the trip to Azeroth.

Bomb Factor- 5/10

July 23, 2013
Avengers 2 To Feature New Ultron Origin Story

Photo courtesy filmschoolrejects.com

Joss Whedon has shed some light on his just announced sequel to The Avengers, Age of Ultron. Once again, Whedon makes us internet guessers look foolish by saying that this will be a completely new origin for the character of Ultron. His script is going to bring in the robotic terror in a new way. So no Hank Pym…yet. Whedon also said that since this will be a new story that this past years Age of Ultron story will have no bearing on the next Avengers film.

Check out the interview he gave for Marvel at Comic-Con just after the announcement:

July 22, 2013
The Avengers Will Enter The “Age Of Ultron”

You knew Marvel could not leave San Diego Comic-Con without something pertaining to The Avengers right? At the end of the panel which featured Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, Joss Whedon came out on stage and announced the title for his follow-up to the second biggest movie of all time.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Not exactly what anyone was expecting huh? I think most thought that Thanos would be the big bad in the second Avengers film, but this tells me that he will most likely be held off until #3. Why would you have him be the villain in the second film where he doesn’t even have top billing?

The title does (possibly) reveal a few things about the upcoming Marvel cinematic universe. We know that Vin Diesel has been teasing his future work with Marvel and the fact that Ultron will be the villain in Avengers 2 almost guarantees that he will be cast as The Vision, who was created by Ultron. The villain also may be the segue into the Ant-Man movie with the robotic terror being a creation of Hank Pym himself.

Marvel certainly got a lot of people talking now about the next Avengers, but was it enough to trump the DC announcement of the Batman/Superman movie?

July 21, 2013
Robert Downey, Jr. Signs On For Avengers 2 & 3

Photo courtesy underthemaskonline.com

Robert Downey, Jr. is already a very rich man. Now he is most likely Johnny Depp, buy his own island rich. The cinematic Tony Stark has officially signed on for the next two Avengers movies.

Here is the statement from Marvel:

Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.” Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” and “Marvel’s The Avengers 3.“

There is no planned Iron Man 4 in the deal which should surprise no one since RDJ has been very vocal that he felt Iron Man 3 was a natural ending to the Tony Stark story and does not want the character to carry another movie.

This should also be a good sign for the other actors that have been having contract disputes with Marvel (Hemsworth, Evans, Ruffalo and Johansson) since it has been reported that Downey was holding out to try and get them more more money in their deals.

June 20, 2013
Joss Whedon Announces: No Avengers 2 Without RDJ

In a recent interview, Joss Whedon announced that he will not direct Avengers 2 unless Robert Downey, Jr. returns as Iron Man.

“He is Iron Man in the way that Sean Connery was James Bond. I have no intention of making Avengers 2 without him, nor do I think I’ll be called upon to do that. I don’t think it’s in my interest, Marvel’s interest, or his interest, and I think everything will be fine.”

You can read the interview here.

Avengers 2 is expected to start shooting early next year with a release in 2015.

June 6, 2013
Awesome Avengers Character Quote Posters

All photos courtesy lauraracero.com

Are you, like me, covered with framed pictures on your wall of randomness like comic characters and The Walking Dead, making all the women you bring there instantly turn around and leave?

I’m kidding, we both know that there are no women coming there, so keep filling up that wall space! Here is a great suggestion!

Artist Laura Racero has created these prints of The Avengers with one of there quotes from the movie. Each one is availbale on her website and are reasonably priced. Check out the rest of the prints below and be sure to check out the rest of her site also (she has some really nice Fringe prints too).

April 20, 2013
Might Morphin Power Avengers

http://youtu.be/n5z_W1ccPbA

We live in a culture of mash ups. It is inescapable. There are some winners and a whooole lot of losers.

I consider this a winner.

Someone has taken footage from The Avengers and created a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers style TV show opening for it. I will let you debate among yourselves about which Avenger is what color Ranger, but I hope we can all agree that Agent Coulson and Maria Hill are NO Bulk and Skull.

March 20, 2013
Joss Whedon Blown Away By Iron Man 3’s Ending

Photo courtesy craveonline.com

Well here is another reason to be even more excited for Iron Man 3 this May. Marvel president Kevin Feige has been making the rounds building up the hype machine for the Shane Black directed sequel and in a recent interview he may have gave the biggest reason to think that Iron Man 3 may be the best Marvel movie yet.

“There are a lot of suits in this movie. While it is both a movie in which he spends quite a bit of time outside of the suit, as you see it’s not working and he’s — and he’s with Ty in Tennessee, by the end of it we reveal that underneath the house, which is now covered with rubble, he’s got dozens and dozens of suits.

And once, throughout the course of the movie, and all that rubble gets pulled aside by construction cranes, just when he needs them, he calls them to the rescue and we have what I think is the biggest most action-packed finale we’ve had. I showed the film to Joss Whedon, who is our writer-director of Avengers and who is currently working on Avengers 2, and he saw the finale of this and he goes, ‘Now what am I supposed to do now? What am I going to do in Avengers 2?’”

So the ending of Iron Man 3 has Joss Whedon wondering how is going to top it in Avengers 2? Consider my excitement level at maximum thanks to Whedon and his damn opinion.

March 20, 2013
Top 10 Movies Of 2012

With the announcement of the Academy Award nominations I figured it would be a good time to post our top ten movie list for the year. Now unlike the Academy, you won’t find Beasts of the Southern Wild or Amour on here. All we can do is go by the movies we have seen this year and whittle that down to the ten that we had the most fun with. What you will find is a whole lot of explosions, bad puns, dwarves and ex-slave bounty hunters. So let’s get started shall we?

10. [amazon_link id=”B005LAIGPU” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Chronicle[/amazon_link]

Max Landis, son of film legend John Landis and creator of the hilarious Death and Return of Superman video, wrote this smart found footage film about three teens that discover something in a cave and find themselves developing powers. Please don’t let the tag word “found footage” scare you off. This movie is witty and snap quick in its dialogue and then add to it a believable tale of heroes and villains and you have a winner.

9. [amazon_link id=”B008G33O0G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Cabin in the Woods[/amazon_link]

I can not reiterate enough that if are planning on seeing this movie do not let someone tell you the ending. Now when the movie begins you think that they are giving away a big piece of it right off the bat but you really have no idea. It takes everything we thought we knew about the rules of a horror movie and turns it on its head. I wish it had been a bigger hit because it should be considered the Scream of this generation. The most unique horror film since the first Saw.

8. [amazon_link id=”B0084IG7KC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Hunger Games[/amazon_link]

Despite the books being in the polarizing “young adult” category, The Hunger Games was filled with unflinching violence. The movie did a great job of taking a concept as off base as children being forced to kill each other to ensure government control and made it work in a PG-13 environment. I hope no one simply did not watch this because of what I call the “Twilight syndrome”, where some movies are lumped into the same category as Twilight when they really should not be. This movie is is visually arresting in places and tense.

7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit can not equal The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I think we should all admit that. The source material is a completely different animal but Peter Jackson crafted a very good and enjoyable return to Middle-Earth this year that set up the return of Smaug and showed that Martin Freeman may have been born to play Bilbo Baggins. It was good to see Ian McKellan as Gandalf again and each of the dwarves were represented well with Richard Armitage stealing the show as Thorin.

6. [amazon_link id=”B005LAII80″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Dredd[/amazon_link]

Movies are a funny business sometimes. The Avengers became the third biggest movie of all time (deservedly so) and Dredd was a certified flop at the box office which is, as I said, a funny thing since people may have overlooked the best straight up action movie of the year and the most faithful comic to film translation ever. Karl Urban’s scowl should get an award by itself. This movie is unapologetic in it’s violence, as it should be, and it should have propelled Dredd into the minds of “normal” moviegoers, but now let’s just hope it becomes a cult hit. For a better idea of what to expect check out our review.

5. Django Unchained

Some people may think that Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction may be Tarantino’s best and it would be hard to argue, but how many film makers could truly say that they are hitting their stride 20 years into their career? Inglourious Basterds and now Django Unchained have brought the director into the rare trifecta of great artists. Where their movies are critically loved, successful at the box office and yet do not compromise the director’s vision. Django is as close to a comedy as I think Tarantino will ever make and is a great look at our country’s bleak past seen through the eyes of a rare director.

4. [amazon_link id=”B0085Z8F4A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Prometheus[/amazon_link]

Look, the easiest way to explain this is that I am a sucker for Ridley Scott being involved with anything sci-fi. Does the movie have plot holes? Yes, but I am pretty sure most movies do. I appreciate this film for not taking the easy way out for a prequel to my favorite film franchise ever. It seemed like people wanted to be spoon-fed information instead of trying to look for themselves and enjoy the adventure. Sounds a lot like LOST huh? Guess Damon Lindelof will never get away from that.

3. [amazon_link id=”B004LWZWGK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Dark Knight Rises[/amazon_link]

There was really no way that Christopher Nolan could top The Dark Knight. The movie was a cultural phenomenon anchored by the Academy Award winning performance of Heath Ledger. So for The Dark Knight Rises he took the character to the depths of defeat and closed up his Batman story by weaving together the stories of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight in a way that proved Nolan’s point that he set forth in Begins. That Batman should be a symbol, not just a man. Oh and I personally thought Tom Hardy owned the role of Bane.

2. [amazon_link id=”B007REV4YI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Skyfall[/amazon_link]

As I said in my review, Skyfall is the greatest Bond movie ever made so the fact this is almost at the top of this list is a no brainer. Director Sam Mendes brought Bond into the new age and simultaneously took Craig’s version of the character back in time (the classic Aston Martin, Moneypenny, Q). It moves at a quick pace despite being over two hours. And finally, for the first time in his Bond tenure, Craig got to match wits with a villain worthy of the franchise in Javier Bardem’s Silva. The fact Bardem did not get a supporting actor nod is beyond me. Just thinking about Skyfall makes me ecstatic to know that we have Daniel Craig for at least two more movies.

1. [amazon_link id=”B0083SBJXS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Avengers[/amazon_link]

I have to admit I went back and forth for a few days between this and Skyfall for the top spot but in the end it had to be this. While Skyfall may be the best Bond ever, it may someday be surpassed by another Bond movie. The Avengers was something different and only people that grew up tried and true nerds, geeks, fanboys etc. know what I am talking about. When you were growing up reading comics (for me in the 80’s & 90’s) you always imagined what it would be like to have a movie like The Avengers come out but knew it could never be. It wasn’t possible. But then something happened. Comic book movies became popular, raking in heaps upon heaps of cash and now the characters that you grew up loving and getting made fun of for liking became normal in pop culture. It was cool to go see Iron Man. Everyone loved Thor…..THOR! Imagine that internally as your ten year old self. Still seems weird right? Then Marvel did the near impossible. They built a film franchise out of separate movies, gambling that each would be successful enough to warrant them teaming up and making an Avengers movie. And guess what? It paid off. By trusting nerd god Joss Whedon to write and direct, The Avengers gave Marvel a 1.5 billion dollar reward for their risk. And not just that, the movie lived up to a lot of people’s lifetime expectations, mine included.

January 11, 2013
2012 Box Office Rundown

Mayan Apocalypse Doesn’t Scare Off Moviegoers.

Now that it is officially 2013 we can look back on the year that was at the box office. 2012 set a new record with almost 10.8 billion dollars which overtakes 2009’s total of 10.6 billion. No doubt having so many choices at the theater feature wise helped out receipt totals with many films being in IMAX, 3D, IMAX 3D and theaters that have D-BOX motion chairs.

The big winner of 2012, by far, was The Avengers which took in $623.3 million domestically and over 1.5 billion dollars worldwide as well as setting the single weekend record with $207.4 million in just three days. The Dark Knight Rises did not make as much as it predecessor, The Dark Knight, domestically but made more in worldwide totals.

A few of the surprises of the year were the comedy Ted which was Seth MacFarlane’s first feature film and grossed $218.6 million off of a 50 million dollar budget. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s 21 Jump Street came in with little expectations and pulled in over 138 million dollars.

2013 is loaded with releases including the second Hunger Games film, Catching Fire, and the return of The Man of Steel but may have a hard time keeping pace with 2012’s record pace.

Here are the Top 20 releases for 2012 domestically followed by their worldwide totals:

1. [amazon_link id=”B0083SBJXS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Avengers[/amazon_link]- $623.3 million/ $1.51 billion

2. [amazon_link id=”B004LWZWGK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Dark Knight Rises[/amazon_link]- $448.1 million/ $1.08 billion

3. [amazon_link id=”B0084IG7KC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Hunger Games[/amazon_link]- $408 million/ $686 million

4. [amazon_link id=”B007REV4YI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Skyfall[/amazon_link]- $289.6 million/ $1 billion

5. [amazon_link id=”B007857FOO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2[/amazon_link]- $286.4 million/ $799.6 million

6. [amazon_link id=”B008QZ5PY2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Amazing Spider-Man[/amazon_link]- $262 million/ $752.2 million

7. [amazon_link id=”B005LAIHZY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Brave[/amazon_link]- $237.2 million/ $535.3 million

8. [amazon_link id=”B007ZQAKHU” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey[/amazon_link]- $228.6 million/ $702.1 million

9. [amazon_link id=”B005LAII1C” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Ted[/amazon_link]- $218.6 million/ $501.7 million

10. [amazon_link id=”B0091JK1B4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Madagascar 3[/amazon_link]- $216.3 million/ $742.1 million

11. [amazon_link id=”B0085Z3B2Q” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax[/amazon_link]- $214 million/ $348.8 million

12. [amazon_link id=”B008518MOW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Men in Black 3[/amazon_link]- $179 million/ $624 million

13. [amazon_link id=”B00A7OJ0DC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Wreck-It Ralph[/amazon_link]- $175.5 million/ $275.7 million

14. [amazon_link id=”B005LAIISU” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Ice Age: Continental Drift[/amazon_link]- $161.1 million/ $875.1 million

15. [amazon_link id=”B005LAIHSQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Snow White and the Huntsmen[/amazon_link]- $155.1 million/ $396.3 million

16. [amazon_link id=”B009UWYFFK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Hotel Transylvania[/amazon_link]- $143.9 million/ $311 million

17. [amazon_link id=”B0067EKYDG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Taken 2[/amazon_link]- $138.8 million/ $365.5 million

18. [amazon_link id=”B003Y5H5BA” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]21 Jump Street[/amazon_link]- $138.4 million/ $201.5 million

19. [amazon_link id=”080507970X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Lincoln[/amazon_link]- $131.8 million/ No Worldwide Release Yet

20. [amazon_link id=”B0085Z8F4A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Prometheus[/amazon_link]- $126.4 million/ $402.4 million

January 2, 2013