When it was announced that Batman vs. Superman had been delayed to May 6, 2016 we knew that was a date that Marvel had already staked out for an unknown film. Through the power of the internet we now know that it will be Captain America who gets to honor to take on DC’s two mightiest heroes.
While superhero battles are great in the comics, it sucks for movie fans. Now, your uber-fans are going to see both in the same weekend, but with theater trips costing your first-born son these days, there will have to be a choice made for most. I hope that one studio backs off and changes dates because both of these movies are large enough that they need to have their own weekend in the spotlight.
If I had to play the guessing game as to who would flinch first, it would be Marvel. Captain America is a big property, of this there is no doubt, yet, he is not on the same level as Iron Man or Avengers (at least in the Marvel cinematic universe).
If these two movies do open against each other I would have to give the edge to Batman and Superman. This will be the third Cap film up against the two biggest comic characters in history. Even with all the bitching about Batfleck (even though I think he will own it), there will be a curiosity by moviegoers to see how the first movie team-up goes with the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight.
If both movies open on the same weekend which one will you be seeing first?
Man can not live by trailer alone. He needs pretty, shiny pictures to stare at as his boss thinks he is deep into work at his computer.
Here are 18 screenshots from Batman: Arkham Knight in all their next-gen goodness showing off shots of Batman, Penguin, Two-Face, the redesigned Batmobile, new villain Arkham Knight and more.
Rocksteady is saying the game is five times larger than Arkham City. That is way too much Bat-fun.
The new issue of Game Informer has revealed the next game in Rocksteady’s Arkham series; Batman: Arkham Knight.
The game will be releasing this year for Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. If you can’t tell by the cover, the Batmobile will play a role in the new game and be drivable over the streets of Gotham in combination with Batman’s normal means of travel (grappling hook and gliding).
Notice there was no mention of current-gen consoles? And that the cover says that this is the series finale for the Arkham games?
Check out the first trailer for the game which encapsulates everything I love about Batman in four minutes.
Artist Jeff Victor has created this great piece called The Ultimate Pop Culture ABC’s which is the best possible way to teach your children the alphabet.
I know I grew up associating B with Batman or R with Robocop. It’s probably why I grew up into the portrait of normality I am…and why I was sent home in third grade for saying “Bitches, leave”.
Just days after Ben McKenzie was cast as the lead in Fox’s Gotham, most of the major parts are being filled.
Sean Pertwee has been cast as Alfred Pennyworth.
Robin Lord Taylor will play Oswald Cobblepot
The rest of the cast includes Erin Richards as Gordon’s fiancée Barbara Kean and Zabryna Guevara as Gordon’s captain (and future mistress) Sarah Essen.
With the casting of Alfred it looks like Bruce Wayne may be more than just a recurring character and more of a series regular. I like they have brought the Essen character into the mix as well knowing her (future) history with Gordon.
Besides being the bane of bare feet everywhere, LEGO’s have been a part of our upbringing for over 60 years. Few companies can claim that the height of their popularity began in their second half-century, but with each new franchise Lego associates itself with, they close the cultural and age divide of their fans. This has become apparent in the fact that I was at a video game store buying Lego Batman 2 next to a mother buying it for her child or how I try to justify paying $150 for a Lego Hobbit set being (almost) in my mid-30’s.
Now the inevitable has happened; a full-length movie based on the blocks themselves. The reigns were given to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who have made a niche for themselves in two very different franchises (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs & 21 Jump Street). They have expertly combined these two vastly different types of comedy and created a very special thing: a movie that is as good to watch as an adult as it is a kid.
The LEGO Movie follows everyman, Emmet (Chris Pratt), a construction worker who gets up, goes to work, buys overpriced coffee, watches the same show as everyone else and basically conforms to the life society has told him to live. The social commentary in the first ten minutes is palpable even through the laughter. It is just the beginning of self-awareness you will watch for 100 minutes.
After work one day Emmet notices a woman snooping around the construction site and as he follows her he accidentally happens upon the Piece of Resistance. It becomes fused to Emmet and he is taken to be interrogated by Bad Cop (Liam Neeson). Soon, the woman, Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), comes to his rescue and takes Emmet to see Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) who pronounces Emmet to be the “special”. The one to take the Piece of Resistance and stop Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from unleashing the mysterious “Kragle” destroying the LEGO world as they know it.
Only problem being that Emmet is not a master builder, meaning his ideas appear to be pretty much useless.
Emmet, Wyldstyle and Vitruvius make their way to a secret meeting of master builders including Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Shaquille O’Neal, Michelangelo (the artist), Michelangelo (the Ninja Turtle), Gandalf and Dumbledore to name a few.
Side note: Morgan Freeman’s dialogue with Gandalf and Dumbledore is worth the price of admission alone.
Emmet is scorned for not being the “special” and has to prove to everyone that if they all work together, they can defeat Lord Business. Their journey is a frantic one as they are continually being hunted by Bad Cop over various LEGO sets that give a good history lesson to the little plastic blocks. All the while Emmet pines for the affection of Wyldstyle who is currently dating Batman (Will Arnett), who even writes a song for his girlfriend about being an orphan and dark.
Speaking of Batman’s love song; The LEGO Movie’s soundtrack is expertly handled by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, who has also done the music to multiple Wes Anderson films as well as Nickelodeon’s Rugrats. The film’s theme song “Everything is Awesome” (written by Shawn Patterson) plays a prominent role throughout. Tegan and Sara teamed up with The Lonely Island (yes, from Jizz in my Pants) to sing what is perhaps the greatest song ever performed in human history. I oversell, but seriously, try and have a bad day listening to this.
The voice casting is as close to perfect as you can get. You already know that Morgan Freeman will be awesome because…Morgan Freeman. We also get the likes of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in a nice bit of back and forth as Superman and Green Lantern, giving fans of 21 Jump Street some fun fan service, Alison Brie, Charlie Day (who goes full-on Sunny in one scene), Will Forte and Nick Offerman. We even get Anthony Daniels and “Sweet” Billy Dee Williams as C-3PO and Lando for God’s sake!
Second side note: Liam Neeson’s Good Cop voice will haunt my dreams forever.
Even as The LEGO movie winds down with an epic battle it does something unexpected; it hits you right in the feels. I will not give anything away, but it is sufficient to say, when it is revealed what is in the abyss and the movie reaches its climax, prepare for a gut punch that only an adult can feel. I almost had a Toy Story 3 moment…almost (don’t make me go there again).
I was expecting good things out of The LEGO Movie and even those expectations were far exceeded. It is increasingly funny the farther along the story goes and will make you feel what it was like to be a kid again, then brings you back to remind you that you are an adult, but it is still never too late to be special.
Everything is awesome, indeed (at least for 100 minutes).
Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Southland) has won the role of James Gordon in Fox’s new series, Gotham.
The series will follow a young Gordon as he tries his best to be a good cop on the corrupt streets of Gotham. It has already been announced that Bruce Wayne will be a recurring character and that some of Batman’s rogues gallery will make appearances as well.
I am happy with the casting of McKenzie who shined in the short time Southland was on the air. The creators and writers should take special care and follow the Arrow blueprint for keeping comic shows interesting. Handled as a gritty cop drama, Gotham could be special, it could also become Smallville just as quickly.
Warner dropped a bombshell in casting news for Zack Snyder’s untitled Batman vs. Superman movie.
Jesse Eisenberg has been cast to play Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will take over the role of Alfred.
First impressions of this massive news? I think Eisenberg will knock it out of the park. I am sure the trolls are already out crapping all over the news but this is a great choice. Why? Go watch The Social Network, for which Eisenberg was nominated for an Oscar.
That’s fu**ing Lex Luthor in his 30’s!!!
I think his Luthor will be similar to a Zuckerberg with a beyond genius I.Q.
The Jeremy Irons casting is just gravy. When you can go from Michael Caine in Nolan’s trilogy to Irons, you have made another winning decision.
The Man of Steel sequel releases on May 6, 2016. Read the official press release below.
Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Jesse Eisenberg has been set to star as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will play Alfred in the upcoming Zack Snyder untitled Superman/Batman film. The dual announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Snyder stated, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”
The director added, “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”
Artist Dan Panosian has brought members of the Justice League into the world of steampunk with these two pieces featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg.
Batman looks a little like pirate Batman from Grant Morrison’s The Return of Bruce Wayne. I do love Superman’s look as well. Cyborg’s character was custom fit for the steampunk world and is well represented in the top work looking like the Vitruvian Man.
See the other piece below and let us know what you think about the mix of styles.
The summer of 2015 is getting less and less crowded the closer we get to it. Star Wars has already staked out a December 2015 release date and now Warner Bros. has announced that their huge untitled Man of Steel sequel, which will see the first ever big screen team-up of Batman and Superman, is being delayed to May 6, 2016.
The big deal here is that it will put DC’s biggest heroes in direct competition with a Marvel movie. Marvel has an untitled movie set for release on May 6th also, which means it will be one big ass movie weekend, or one of the studios is going to have to flinch and move release dates. We don’t know what movie will be released from Marvel but the timetable suggests possibly Thor 3 or a new Phase 3 hero like Doctor Strange.
There have been huge rumors that Warner is secretly wanting to film the Justice League movie right after Man of Steel 2 and release it only a year later. This delay could give them time to get the two massive productions off the ground without an unnecessary rush. One has to wonder if Ben Affleck’s busy schedule has come into conflict somehow also. I think we can all agree that we just want to see a shot of him in the Batsuit.
