A "Star Wars" Link-o-Rama 2018 by Negromancer - Update #81

Posted by Leroy Doureseaux - on Patreon.

EPISODE IX - From FlickeringMyth:  Todd Fisher, the brother of the late Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), says that there is enough unused footage from "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi" to make a fitting end for Fisher in Episode 9.

EPISODE IX - From BleedingCool:  According to John Boyega, "Episode 9" takes place one year after the events depicted in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Episode 8).

COMICS - From Newsarama:  A "Star Wars" T-shirt, with art by "Star Wars Adventures'" Derek Charm, will be available for Free Comic Book Day 2019.

THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety:  Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, and Werner Herzog are among the new cast members for the Disney+ streaming series, "The Mandalorian."

ROGUE ONE PREQUEL - From THR:  Stephen Schiff, a producer on FX's "The Americans" named showrunner for Disney+'s "Rogue One" prequel TV series.

OBITUARY/A NEW HOPE - From EW:  Gloria Katz, the screenwriter who was a script doctor on the original Star Wars film, died Sunday, November 25, 2018.  Katz worked with her husband, Willard Huyck.

THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety:  Academy Award nominated actor, Nick Nolte, joins Disney+'s "Star Wars" streaming series, "The Mandalorian."

GALAXY OF ADVENTURES - From Deadline:  Starting Friday, Nov. 30th at StarWarsKids.com, the first six animated shorts in the new series, "Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures," will debut.

EPISODE 9 - From YahooEsquire:  Luke Skywalker may return in Star Wars Episode IX, but not as a force ghost...

THE MANDALORIAN - From SlashFilm:  Unofficial word is that actor Pedro Pascal (Netflix's "Narcos") will be the lead actor in "The Mandalorian," the new Star Wars TV series for the upcoming streaming service, Disney+.

ROGUE ONE - From Variety:  Diego Luna will reprise his "Rogue One" role of "Cassian Andor" in a new "Star Wars" series for Disney's upcoming streaming service, called "Disney+".  The unnamed series will be a prequel to "Rogue One."

BOBA FETT - From The Playlist:  Lucasfilm boss, Kathleen Kennedy says that "Boba Fett" spinoff film no longer in development.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Star Wars: Age of Republic Special #1" is a Jar Jar Binks story.

RESISTANCE - From BleedingCool:  Elijah Wood will be a voice actor on "Star Wars Resistance" (Disney Channel), specifically the episode, "Fuel for the Fire," which is scheduled for Sun., Oct. 21st, 2018.

THE MANDALORIAN - From TheWrap:  Lucasfilm releases the first image from the upcoming streaming series, "The Mandalorian," and the names of people who will be directing episodes of the series.  Those names include Taika Waititi ("Thor: Ragnarok"), Bryce Dallas Howard, and Dave Filoni ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels).

THE MANDALORIAN - From Deadline:  That is the title of the upcoming Star Wars streaming TV series from Jon Favreau, "The Mandalorian."  It will focus on the Star Wars race that gave us bounty hunter Jango Fett and his son Boba Fett.

STAR WARS TV - From WeGotThisCovered:  Jon Favreau's "Star Wars" TV series for Disney's streaming service is looking at "Game of Thrones" actor Pedro Pascal for lead role.

STAR WARS RESISTANCE - From IndieWire:  Japanese-American actor, Christopher Sean, talks about his voice acting role in the upcoming (Sun., Oct. 7th) Disney Channel animated series, "Star Wars Resistance."

LEGACY - From NewJerseyHerald:  A story about Greg Hildebrandt, his iconic poster for the first "Star Wars" film, and working with his twin brother, Tim, who also worked on that poster.

LUCASFILM - From Variety:  Lucasfilm extends Kathleen Kennedy's deal as president to 2021.

OBITUARY - From Variety:  "Star Wars" producer Gary Kurtz has died at the age of 78, Sunday, September 23, 2018.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From YahooCelebrity:  Billy Dee Williams pranked young Mark Hamill during the 1980 royal premiere of "The Empire Strikes Back."  Read the story.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "This is the Age of Star Wars! STAR WARS: AGE OF REPUBLIC, AGE OF REBELLION and AGE OF RESISTANCE chronologically tell a series of spectacular adventures featuring your favorite characters from ALL THREE STAR WARS TRILOGIES."

FRANCHISE - From Variety:  Michael K. Williams, who lost his part in "Solo" because of scheduling, still wants to be part of the "Star Wars" universe.

EPISODE IX - From BleedingCool:  Oscar Isaac ("Poe Dameron") says that the late Carrie Fisher is with the cast as they film Star Wars 9.

EPISODE IX - From Variety:  Matt Smith, who played the 11th incarnation of "the Doctor" in "Doctor Who," has joined the cast of Star Wars 9

EPISODE IX - From Deadline:  Dominic Monaghan was one of the stars of J.J. Abrams' TV series, "Lost."  Now, he reunites with Abrams as Monaghan has joined the cast of "Star Wars 9."  Monaghan also appeared in "The Lord of the Rings" films.

STAR WARS RESISTANCE - From StarWars:  See the first trailer for the new Disney Channel / Disney XD, animated Star Wars TV series, "Star Wars Resistance."

EPISODE IX - From CNET:  Latest rumor, Episode 9 may be titled "Star Wars: A New Order."

From CinemaBlend:  New photo from the set of "Episode 9."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Could there be a Hutt connection from "Return of the Jedi" in Star Wars Episode 9.

From WeGotThisCovered:  There is a rumor that "Star Wars 9" could be the longest film in the series, so long that it might be split into 2 films.

From WeGotThisCovered:  John Boyega teases a new hairdo for Finn.
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STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  According to an article in "The New York Times," the "Star Wars" series that Jon Favreau is developing for "The Disney Streaming Service" will have a budget of $100 million for a 10-episode season.

RETURN OF THE JEDI - From WeGotThisCovered:  James Marquand, the son of "Return of the Jedi" director, the late Richard Marquand, defends his father's work on the final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy.

STREAMING - From IndieWire:  The "Star Wars" films (the three main trilogies and the stand alone films) won't be on Disney's upcoming streaming service until 2024.

EPISODE IX - From Deadline:  J.J. Abrams tweets first photo from the set of "Star Wars Episode IX."

EPISODE IX - From WeGotThisCovered:  George Lucas to be working with Disney on the script for "Star Wars IX."

EPISODE IX - From StarWars:  The cast for Star Wars Episode IX was officially announced today.  Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.

From BleedingCool:  Carrie Fisher will return in Star Wars IX via unused footage from Episode VII.
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THE CLONE WARS - From StarWars:  Beloved CGI animated series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" will return for a new season of 12 episodes... which will be available on Disney's "direct-to-consumer" streaming service.  This article also includes an interview with supervising director and "shepherd of the series," Dave Filoni.

EPISODE IX - From THR:  Sources confirm that Billy Dee Williams will return as "Lando Calrissian" for Star Wars Episode 9.

EPISODE IX - From THR:   Keri Russell is in talks to join Star Wars 9.  Russell previously appeared in Episode 9 director, J.J. Abrams' breakout TV series, "Felicity."

FRANCHISE - From Collider:  Sources say that Lucasfilm is putting the development of future "anthology films" or spinoff films (like "Rogue One," and "Solo") on hold.

EPISODE IX - From ScreenRant:  Rumors heat up that Billy Dee Williams will appear in Star Wars 9.

FRANCHISE - From WeGotThisCovered:  Lucasfilm Reportedly Has 9 Star Wars Movies In Development Right Now

GEORGE LUCAS - From DenofGeek:  Via an interview for James Cameron's TV series, "James Cameron's 's Story of Science Fiction," George Lucas reveals a few details about his unused plans for the Star Wars "sequel trilogy" (Episodes 7 to 9).

FRANCHISE - From ScreenRant:  "Star Wars" is taking a break.

LUCASFILM - From ScreenRant:  Star Wars Rumor: Kathleen Kennedy Stepping Down From Lucasfilm?

EPISODE IX - From FanthaTracks:  "Star Wars 9" changes working title from ""Black Diamond" to "trIXie"

EPISODE IX - From WeGotThisCovered:  Is Lando Calrissian returning for "Star Wars 9."

FUTURE - From SlashFilm:  Emilia Clarke is currently starring in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and is the lead in HBO's "Game of Thrones."  She says that "Game of Thrones" TV series creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, will make their announced Star Wars TV series "Star Wars on acid."

FUTURE - From TheWrap:  There is a report that Oscar-nominated James Mangold has been hired to write and direct a "Boba Fett" movie.

EPISODE IX - From WeGotThisCovered:  Rumors are that "Legends" characters turned "Rebels" star, Grand Admiral Thrawn, will appear in Star Wars 9.

OBI-WAN - From JoBlo:  The rumored "Obi-Wan Kenobi" movie would be a prequel to "Star Wars: A New Hope" (Episode IV).

EPISODE IX - From FlickeringMyth:  Rumoured plot breakdown for Star Wars: Episode IX surfaces online

EPISODE IX - From WeGotItCovered:  Bizarre Star Wars: Episode IX Leak Points To Time Jumps And More

FRANCHISE - From EveningStandard:  The British newspaper site ranks the Star Wars films from best to worst - according to the writers.

EPISODE IX - From WeGotThisCovered:  Rumors have it that J.J. Abrams is looking for a new female lead for "Star Wars Episode 9."

ANIMATION - From Variety:  Disney Channel ordered the anime-inspired series, "Star Wars Resistance," which will debut this fall on Disney XD.

CARRIE FISHER - From SideshowToys: Todd Fisher talks about his late sister, Carrie, and late mother, Debbie, in this video interview.

EPISODE IX - From YahooMoviesUK: Lucasfilm has hired Victoria Mahoney as J.J. Abrams' second unit director on "Star Wars Episode 9."  She is the first black woman to work as a director on a Star Wars film.

FRANCHISE - From BleedingCool:  Rian Johnson says the "Star Wars" franchise needs directors who are not white guys.

EPISODE 9 - From EmpireOnline:  At "AwesomeCon 2018 (in Washington DC), John Boyega dropped some info saying that Finn and Rey would be reunited after spending "The Last Jedi" separated for almost the entire film.

FRANCHISE - From YahooDigitalSpy:  Not even Steven Spielberg could get the rights to use 'Star Wars' in 'Ready Player One'

CELEBRITY - From LATimes:  Mark Hamill gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

From Variety:  Harrison Ford remembers Carrie Fisher at the ceremony for Mark Hamill's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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STREAMING - From StarWars.com:  Jon Favreau to Executive Produce and Write Live-Action Star Wars Series

From YahooEntertainment:  Jon Favreau hired for 'Star Wars' series: Why fans have mixed feelings
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COMIC BOOKS - From StarWars:  How Dark Empire Kickstarted Star Wars Comics for a New Generation

TELEVISION - From CinemaBlend:  Could "Star Wars Resistance" be the next "Star Wars" animated or first live-action TV series?

FRANCHISE - From PopSugar:  All the Details We Have on the Upcoming Star Wars Films

EPISODE IX - From BleedingCool:  J.J. Abrams says he has a script for "Star Wars: Episode 9," and a start date for production.

THE FORCE AWAKEN - From DenofGeek:  New tidbits about "The Force Awakens," including an earlier different title for the film.

A NEW HOPE - From Oscars.org:   Myth-making: STAR WARS and the Art of Advertising

NEW FILMS - From Movieweb:  Will there be two "Star Wars" per year?

NEW FILMS - From StarWars:  "Game of Thones" creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, write and produce a new series of Star Wars films.  These films will be separate from the episodic Skywalker saga and the recently announced Rian Johnson trilogy.

CHARACTERS - From CinemaBlend:  More "Expanded Universe" characters may soon become canon, as "Grand Admiral Thrawn."

CARRIE FISHER - From USMagazine:  Carrie Fisher posthumously won the Grammy Award for "Best Spoken Word Album" at the 60th Grammy Awards for the audio version of her 2016 memoir, "The Princess Diarist."

OBI-WAN - From YahooEntertainment:  After winning a Golden Globe for his performance in the FX (mini) series, "Fargo," Ewan McGregor was backstage to speak with the press and got grilled about playing Obi-Wan Kenobi.

EPISODE 9 - From YahooEntertainment:  How 'Star Wars: Episode IX' can give Princess Leia the ending she deserves

FRANCHISE - From TheNewYorker:  A Field Guide to the Musical Leitmotifs of “Star Wars”

ORIGINAL TRILOGY - From DenofGeek:  The secrecy of the Star Wars films apparently drove a wedge between Darth Vader actor, David Prowse, and Lucasfilm.

NEW TRILOGY - From TheScotsman:  The new Star Wars trilogy, to be created by Rian Johnson, is set to begin filming Summer 2018 in Scotland... according to this website.

Review: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" is Pure Classic Era

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Running time:  135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence
DIRECTOR:  Ron Howard
WRITERS:  Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan; based on the characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS:  Simon Emanuel (p.g.a.) and Kathleen Kennedy (p.g.a.)
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Bradford Young (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Pietro Scalia
COMPOSER:  John Powell (and adaptation)

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring:  Alden Ehrenreich, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany, Clint Howard, Erin Kellyman, Anthony Daniels, and Warwick Davis and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jon Favreau, and Linda Hunt

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a 2018 science fiction and fantasy film from director Ron Howard.  It is the tenth live-action film in the Star Wars film franchise, and it is the second anthology or “stand-alone” film (meaning that it is not part of the “Skywalkers saga”), following 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.  The film focuses on a younger version of classic Star Wars character, Han Solo, and tells the story of how he got his start as a space pirate and smuggler.

Solo: A Star Wars Story opens on the shipbuilding world of Corellia.  There we meet a young "scrumrat" and aspiring pilot named Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and his lover, Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke), who both long to escape the clutches of the local criminal gangs and to leave the planet for new lives.  However, only Han manages to escape, and he joins the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire as a flight cadet.

Three years later, Han is serving as an infantryman during a battle on the planet Mimban.  There, he encounters a gang of criminals posing as Imperial officers, led by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson).  Han and his new friend, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), a Wookie with whom he just became acquainted, bribe their way onto Beckett's crew.  Han and Chewbacca's first heist with Beckett, however, leads him into dangerous places.  Han meets a murderous crime lord, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany); discovers a smooth-talking and rising young smuggler, Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover); enters a new heist that could make or break his future; and reunites with a figure from his past.

Much about Solo: A Star Wars Story feels contrived and shoved in, as if the filmmakers and storytellers are trying to reveal the origins of everything Star Wars fans know about the Han Solo.  From his name to his personality, very little if anything is not covered.  Still, one can make an argument that much about the original Star Wars (1977) is contrived.

What is important is that Solo: A Star Wars Story feels like classic era Star Wars films (1977 to 1983).  Like the other anthology film, Rogue One, Solo: A Star Wars Story is infused with the spirit of adventure of the original films.  Solo is partly a Western, like the original Stars Wars.  Solo is a far-flung space opera and interstellar fantasy like the original trilogy.  Part of the reason that Solo feels so classic Star Wars is that one of the film's two screenwriters, Lawrence Kasdan, wrote two of the original trilogy films, and his son, Jonathan, is the co-screenwriter here.  Solo director Ron Howard should have directed a Star Wars film a long time ago, as far as I am concerned.  He has previously worked with Star Wars creator, George Lucas, on the fantasy film, Willow (1988).  So Howard was fated for a Star Wars film, and I am glad it is Solo.

As for the characters, Alden Ehrenreich is good as young Han Solo.  Ehrenreich tries to capture the spirit of the performance of the original Han Solo actor, Harrison Ford, but Ehrenreich plays young Han, not as a fully grown man, but as someone still evolving.  Donald Glover is excellent, superb, and great as young Lando Calrissian (who was originally played by Billy Dee Williams).  Solo is not a big enough movie for two personalities like young Han and young Lando, so Lando needs his own movie.  And new Chewbacca actor, Joonas Suotama, is good, but it is hard to mess up playing Chewbacca.

If this review makes it seem that I am much more pleased with Solo: A Star Wars Story than I am about the most recent other Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I unequivocally am.  Solo is a real movie all on its own – beginning, middle, and end.  While it may not add much to the fictional mythology of the Star Wars franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story gets it right by looking, feeling, and acting like classic Star Wars.

8 of 10
A

Friday, May 25, 2018


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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"Solo: A Star Wars Story" Link-o-Rama by Negromancer - Update #52

Posted by Leroy Doureseaux - on Patreon.

From Patreon:  Leroy's "Solo" review is here.

From YouTube:  The official trailer for "Solo:A Star Wars Story."

From YouTube:  The first official teaser from "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

From YahooEntertainment:  The "Solo" Super Bowl LII TV spot

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From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics will publish an adaptation of "Solo," and a new five-issue miniseries that examines Han's time as a... Stormtrooper? It is entitled "Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet."

From CinemaBlend:  Solo's Timeline Has Been Revealed, Here's What That Means For Darth Maul

From TheWrap:  ‘Solo’ Is Failing Because Disney Has No Vision for the ‘Star Wars’ Franchise (Commentary)

From WeGotThisCovered:  Disney responds to disappointing opening for "Solo."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Director Ron Howard talks about the soft box office opening for "Solo."

From Variety:  Box Office: ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Headed for Underwhelming Holiday Weekend Debut

From YahooEntertainment: A list of "Solo" "Easter Eggs."

From ComicBookMovie:  Meet Erin Kellyman who plays "Enfys Nest" in "Solo"

From YahooLifestyle:  Donald Glover, Alden Ehrenreich Talk ‘Star Wars’ Fans and Critics

From YahooEntertainment:  How Donald Glover's son plays with his 'Star Wars' action figure will make you laugh

REVIEW - From NYTimes: ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Answers Questions You May Not Have Asked

From YahooEntertainment:  Yahoo has "Entertainment Tonight's" full video interview with director "Solo" director Ron Howard.

REVIEW - From LATimes: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" never gets off the ground, but don't blame Alden Ehrenreich

REVIEW - From Vulture: "Solo: A Star Wars Story Hits All Its Marks — Except for the Most Important One"

From TMZ:  Original Han chats up new Han Solo and director Ron Hward.

From YahooEntertainment:  After it's premiere, strong buzz for "Solo."

From Vulture:  Donald Glover Talks About When He Told His Dad He Was Lando

From YahooHuffPost:  Mark Hamill may have let slip that C-3PO will appear in "Solo."

From EW:  Ron Howards says George Lucas changed a scene in "Solo."

From YahooEntertainment:  Donald Glover, Lando Calrissian in "Solo," gives fans a tour of his Millennium Falcon in this video clip.

From Variety:  "Solo" tracking for a $170 Memorial Day weekend opening.

From YahooSports:  Ron Howard participates in Day 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

From MovieWeb:  Alden Ehrenreich, Han Solo in "Solo," has a three-movie deal to appear as Solo.

From BleedingCool:   A new set of "Solo" character posters have arrived - 9 in all.

From YahooEntertainment:  Director Ron Howard offers proof that his brother, Clint Howard, is in "Solo."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Ron Howard says that test audiences love "Solo."

From CinemaBlend:  A Rogue One Character Has Been Spotted In The Latest Solo Trailer

From Variety:  "Solo" will premiere in May at the Cannes Film Festival.

From YahooVulture: An unnamed actor talks to Vulture about the trouble production of "Solo," including the problems the film's original directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, had.

From CinemaBlend:  The fired directors of "Solo," Phil Lord and Chris Miller, will be credited as "executive producers.'

From WeGotThisCovered:  Has the villain of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" been revealed?

From BleedingCool:  See the new international poster for "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

From StarWars:  "Solo: A Star Wars Story" Books and Comics Revealed

From EW:  Here's how a galaxy of new books will connect to Solo: A Star Wars Story

From WeGotThisCovered:  A "Solo" news blowout.

From SlashFilm:  Actor and director Jon Favreau will provide the voice for an "important alien" in "Solo."

From Vulture:  Why do some Star Wars fans want "Solo" to flop.

From TheWrap:  George Lucas stopped by the "Solo" set and ended up directing a scene.

From WeGotThisCovered:  Ron Howard speaks about why he took the gig directing the troubled production now known as "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

From WeGotThisCovered:  The "Solo" may make some kind of appearance during the Super Bowl...

From Collider:  The first "Solo" trailer will debut next week during ABC's morning news show, "Good Morning America."

From BleedingCool:  We may get a "Solo" trailer during this Sunday's Super Bowl LII (52).

From THR:  "Solo" seems to be the most under wraps Star Wars movie yet.

From StarWars:  The official synopsis for "Solo" has been posted at the Star Wars webstie.

From WeGotThisCovered:  The first teaser trailer for "Solo" is rumored to arrive Friday, Jan. 12th, 2018 during ABC's "Good Morning America."

From WeGotThisCovered:  "Solo" Lego toy sets revealed.

From EW:  Entertainment Weekly has all the photos director Ron Howard posted from the set of "Solo."

From DigitalSpy:  Christian Bale says he was in talks to appear in "Solo" as a mentor character to Han Solo back when Phil Lord and Chris Miller were still the film's directors.

From io9:  John Williams will compose the theme for "Solo."  Williams has composed the musical score for all eight mainline "Star Wars" films.  John Powell will write the rest the score for "Solo."

From BleedingCool:  There is a rumor that Disney is prepared for its young Han Solo movie, "Solo: A Star Wars Story," to bomb.

Review: "The Jungle Book" Goes Live with Spectacular Effects

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Jungle Book (2016)
Running time: 107 minutes
MPAA – PG for some sequences of scary action and peril
DIRECTOR:  Jon Favreau
WRITER:  Justin Marks (based on the books by Runyard Kipling)
PRODUCERS:  Jon Favreau and Brigham Taylor
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Bill Pope (D.o.P)
EDITORS:  Mark Livolsi with Adam Gerstel
COMPOSER: John Debney
Academy Award winner

FANTASY/ADVENTURE/DRAMA/FAMILY

Starring:  Neel Sethi and the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken, Garry Shandling, Brighton Rose, Sam Raimi, Jon Favreau and Dee Bradley Baker

The Jungle Book is a 2016 fantasy adventure film directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Walt Disney Pictures.  The film is a live-action remake of Disney's classic animated film, The Jungle Book (1967), and both films are based on stories from The Jungle Book (1894), the collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling.  The Jungle Book 2016 focuses on a boy raised by wolves who makes a journey of self-discovery after a fearsome tiger threatens his life.

The Jungle Book focuses on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a human who is raised by the wolf Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o) and her pack, led by her mate, Akela (Giancarlo Esposito).  Mowgli is called a “man-cub” and lives in harmony with the animals in a jungle in India.  However, Shere Khan (Idris Elba), a tiger with a scar on its face, catches Mowgli's scent; Khan hates man because it was a man that scarred his face.  Now, Khan has decided to kill Mowgli.

The black panther, Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), who rescued Mowgli when he was a baby and brought him to the wolves, decides that he must take the man-cub out of the jungle and get him to a nearby man village.  Shere Khan, however, is not content with Mowgli leaving the jungle; he wants to kill him.  Mowgli must prove to everyone, including Bagheera and his new friend, Baloo the sloth bear (Bill Murray), that the jungle is where he belongs.

The Jungle Book 2016 is not a great movie, but it is a pretty good movie.  The voice acting is good, but only Christopher Walken as King Louie the Gigantopithecus (an extinct genus of ape), and Idris Elba as Shere Khan bring real power, heat and menace to their voice acting.  As Mowgli, one of the few real or non-computer generated characters, Neel Sethi gives a performance that has both strong and weak moments, but overall is good.

The most impressive things about The Jungle Book 2016 are the visual effects.  The animal characters are some of the most realistic computer-generated animals that I have ever seen in a movie.  The sheer number and variety of animals make this the greatest cinematic achievement in terms of using computer software to create animals.  If there is better, I have not seen it yet, but I want to see that movie or movies.

The Jungle Book 2016 will not make you forget the 1967 film, which I do not consider to be among the best of Disney's animated films.  Still, it is a truly nice family movie that even some adults can find entertaining, and, of course, the visual effects achievements here make The Jungle Book a must-see for film fans.

6 of 10
B

Sunday, October 22, 2017

NOTES:
2017 Academy Awards, USA:  1 win “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, and Dan Lemmon)

2017 BAFTA Awards 2017:  1 win: “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (Robert Legato, Dan Lemmon, Andrew R. Jones, and Adam Valdez)


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "Spider-Man: Homecoming" Sparkly Fresh New

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 19 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Running time: 133 minutes (2 hour, 13 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi/action and violence
DIRECTOR: Jon Watts
WRITERS:  Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers; from a screen story by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Salvatore Totino
EDITORS: Debbie Berman and Dan Lebental
COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino

SUPERHERO/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey, Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Michael Chernus, Garcelle Beauvais, Chris Evans, Stan Lee, and Jennifer Connelly (voice)

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a 2017 superhero film and drama from director Jon Watts.  It is the sixth film in Columbia Picture's Spider-Man film franchise, but it is the first in a new film trilogy.  Spider-Man: Homecoming is also a co-production between Columbia and Marvel Studios, making it the sixteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Homecoming finds Peter Parker trying to balance his life as a new threat to the safety of New York City emerges.

Spider-Man: Homecoming focuses on Peter Parker (Tom Holland), who is the superhero, Spider-Man.  Peter quits his high school's academic decathlon team so that he can spend more time focusing on his crime-fighting activities as Spider-Man.  He tells his guardian, Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), and his classmates that he needs to spend more time on the “Stark internship” given to him by Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.).

One night while patrolling his neighborhood, Spider-Man sees a group of criminals robbing an ATM.  Upon confronting them, Spider-Man discovers that they are using highly-advanced weapons to which they should not have access.  Through tenacious investigating, Peter learns that the weapons are being produced by Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), who owns a salvage company, by using alien technology he scavenges and steals as necessary.  Peter is determined to stop Toomes, who wears a high-tech Vulture-like suit.  However, Peter's Spider-Man activities are causing friction between him and his mentor, Tony Stark, and threatens not only Peter's life, but also the life of everyone close to him.

I really liked Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in director's Sam Raimi's three Spider-Man films that started the Sony Pictures Spider-Man film franchise, although I thought that only Spider-Man 2 (2004) was really good.  I liked Andrew Garfield in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man, which I thought, at the time, to be the best Spider-Man film.

I don't know if I am ready to give up on Tobey Maguire as the best Peter Parker, but I think that Spider-Man: Homecoming is the best Spider-Man feature film yet.  Homecoming really sells the idea that it is about a 15-year-old playing superhero, and the film feels like a teen movie as much as it does as a superhero movie.  It is lighthearted and angsty like one of those John Hughes movies from the 1980s (say Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles).

At the same time, Spider-Man: Homecoming reminds me of Marvel Studios' first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Iron Man (2008).  It is not ironic or coincidental that Homecoming features the movie star (Robert Downey, Jr.) and character from that 2008 film.  Like Iron Man, Homecoming focuses on making Peter Parker the center of the story, making Spider-Man a role that Peter plays.  Spider-Man is not the most important role in Peter's life; Peter's most important role is being himself.  One could say that the first Iron Man movie was about about Tony Stark (as played by Downey) than it was about Iron Man.  So it makes sense for Downey/Stark/Iron Man to appear in Homecoming to help Peter Parker find himself as Spider-Man by first finding himself.

Tom Holland gives a superb performance as Peter Parker.  His performance seems to create a heroic arc in which Peter finds himself as Spider-Man, but most importantly, finds himself and learns what is most important – how to be the best Peter Parker so that he can be the most effective Spider-Man.  [Of note, Homecoming is not an origin story and Parker is already Spider-Man when the film begins.]

Late in life, Michael Keaton seems to be convincing more and more people of just how good an actor he is.  Keaton and his villainous role (“The Vulture,” although he is never called that in the film) turn out to be quite important to this film because Keaton's performance and the character he plays are a mirror of Peter Parker's situation in many ways.  Keaton is so good and effective in this movie that he has earned the right to return in a future film.

Homecoming also features a number of good supporting performances besides Robert Downey, Jr.  Jacob Batalon is just right as Peter's friend, Ned, who is the perfect sidekick and guy-back-at-the-base.  Disney Channel star, Zendaya, makes the most of her role as Michelle Jones, and left me wanting to see much more of her.  As Peter's Aunt May, Marisa Tomei also demands more screen time.

I love Spider-Man: Homecoming.  It is the Spider-Man movie that I have been wanting ever since I first saw Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man.  Spider-Man: Homecoming captures the magic, the sense of wonder, the imagination, and the freshness of Spider-Man's first appearance, a 12-page story included in the comic book, Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)

9 of 10
A+

Monday, July 17, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 21st to 27th, 2016 - Update #40

Support Leroy on Patreon.

SPORTS - From YahooSports:  San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick causes discomfort by not standing for the National Anthem in protest.

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CULTURE - From AmericanHeraldTribune:  American exceptionalism means we can sell cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia to kill civilians in Yemen.

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CRIME - From NBCNews:  Rodney Earl Sanders charged with the the death of two 68-year-old nuns in Mississippi.

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OBIT - From TheWrap:  The actor Marvin Kaplan has died at the age of 89, Thursday, August 25, 2016.  Kaplan was best known for his role on the sitcom, "Alice," as the phone lineman Harry Beesmeyer.  He was also noted for his voice work on the animated series, "Top Cat."

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Sam Mendes is in early talks to direct a live-action film based on Roald Dahl's book, James and the Giant Peach.  20 years ago, Disney released a version of "James and the Giant Peach" that mixed live-action and stop-motion animation.

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COMICS-FILM:  From THR:  The screenwriters of the hit film, "The Fault in Our Stars," are working on the script for "New Mutants," Fox's adaptation of one of the X-Men spinoff comic books.  The lineup of characters has also been announced.

From CBR:  Josh Boone, the director of "The Fault in Our Stars," is slated to direct "New Mutants."  He co-wrote the early drafts of the script with Knate Lee, and credited the original creative team of the "New Mutants," Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod.

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COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews:  Joe and Anthony Russo are telling tales of "Captain America: Civil War" for its DVD release.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  See pages from an unpublished comic book adaptation of "Peter Pan."

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TELEVISION - From BleedingCool:  Seth McFarlane and Jon Favreau unite for a sci-fi comedy that just sounds like crap.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Jeremy Renner is joining the voice cast "Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad."

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TELEVISION - From BleedingCool:  Chris O'Dowd and Ray Romano will be the lead in Epix's "Get Shorty" series, based on the book and movie.

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POLITICS - From RollingStone:  Curt Schilling is the next Donald Trump says Matt Taibbi.  I think losing his fortune is what is driving him crazy.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Helen Mirren in talks to join Disney's "The Nutcracker" film.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sarah Paulson in talks to join the all-female "Ocean's Eight."

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Denzel Washington is interested in starring in "Inner City," a legal drama from Dan Gilroy, the mastermind behind 2014's "Nightcrawler."

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Victor Miller, the writer of the original "Friday the 13th," is seeking to reclaim rights to the movie, which has lead to a lawsuit.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Beloved French film, "The Intouchables" (2011), is being remade with Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart.  Neil Burger is set to direct.

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MOVIES - From YahooNews:  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is the highest-paid actor.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  The fallout from a summer full of movie flops.

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COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment announced a new comic book movie, "Dark Universe," also known as "Justice League Dark."  Doug Liman has been announced as the director.

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COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Marvel Studios has a short-list of three female directors to helm its "Captain Marvel" movie, which is not due until March 2019.

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  Prince's "Paisley Park" to open to public tours in October 2016.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Amazon and Warner Bros. is developing a TV version of Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning film, "The Departed," which was based on a Hong Kong film, "Infernal Affairs."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  The actor Steven Hill has died at the age of 94 on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.  Hill was best known as New York City District Attorney Adam Schiff on "Law & Order" during the series first decade.  Schiff was also played "Dan Briggs," the first leader of the Impossible Missions Force during the first season of "Mission: Impossible."  [Actor Peter Graves' Jim Phelps replaced Hill's Briggs as the leader for the series second season.]

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Jennifer Lawrence is the world's  highest paid actress.

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BOX OFFICE - From YahooMovies:  Box office flop, "Ben-Hur," a remake of an Oscar-winning 1959 film, may lose up to $100 million dollars.

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MOVIES - From TheTrackingBoard:  If you want more original films and fewer remakes and sequels, buy tickets to original films.

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COMICS - From Mashable:  The new African-American female Iron Man will be called "Iron Heart."

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MOVIES - From FlickeringMyth:  John Boyega gives a small update on "Pacific Rim 2."

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FILM - From Variety:  10 actors to watch.

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CULTURE - From HitFix:  Napster founder, Sean Parker, offered Ian McKellen $1.5 million to marry him and his bride, but McKellen had to dress as "Gandalf" from the Lord of the Rings.  McKellen declined.

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COMICS-FILM - From ScreenRant:  Doctor Strange may appear in "Thor: Ragnarok."

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SPORTS - From YahooFinance:  Kobe Bryant has set up a $100 million dollar venture capital fund with tech entrepreneur and investor, Jeff Stibel.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 8/19 to 8/21/2016 weekend box office is "Suicide Squad" with an estimated take of $20.7 million.

From Deadline:  "The Secret Life of Pets" #1 at international box office.

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PRINCE - From YahooNews:  An official in the investigation of the death of Prince says that synthetic drugs were found at his estate and those pills fentanyl, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin.

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MOVIES - From TheDailyBeast:  Comedy god/legend Mel Brooks talks about his films, including the controversial and fantastic "Blazing Saddles."

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CRIME - From ChicagoSunTimes:  Chicago cops throw the bodycam microphones on a roof.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  A special clip wishing "Happy Birthday" to Katherine Johnson, one of the women whose story is told in the movie, "Hidden Years," due January 13, 2017.

From YouTube:  The first trailer for the film, "Rings," which may be a reboot of or sequel to "The Ring" horror movie franchise.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 1st to 7th, 2016 - Update #26

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From MoviedotCom:  Tom Hooper won an Oscar for directing "The King's Speech."  Then, he directed the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of "Les Miserables."  Now, he adapting the Tony Award-winning legendary musical, "Cats" into film.

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MOVIES - From Collider:  We finally have a synopsis for "The Mummy" reboot starring Tom Cruise.

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COMICS - From ScreenRant:  There is a strong chance of a "Black Widow" movies, says Marvel super-producer Kevin Feige.

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STAR WARS - From YahooMovies:  Young Han Solo is Alden Ehrenreich.

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COMICS - From XMenMovies:  Play X-Men" retro arcade game.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Netflix has ordered a 10-episode series based on Justin Simien's film, "Dear White People."

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MOVIES - From LatinoReview:  Universal is producing a new series of movies based on Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles," and the first movie may have its Lestat.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From Truthout:  Man who spent 37 years in Angola for killing to Klanmen cops, dies at 98.

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COMICS - From GMA:  Anthony Mackie makes a surprise appearance at Langley Air Force Base.

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MUSIC - From RSN:  Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late rapper, Tupac Shukar, died Tuesday, May 3, 2016.  She was 69.

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MOVIES - From LatinoReview:  Did you know that Bruce Willis is headlining a remake of Charles Bronson's "Death Wish?"  Well, it has lots its directors.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  FOX picks up sci-fi TV series from Seth MacFarlane.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Russell Crowe in talks to star with Tom Cruise in "The Mummy" reboot.

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THEATER - From YahooNews:  "Hamilton" breaks record at the 2016 Tony Award nominations with 16.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the "Twilight" novels, is developing someone else book franchise, "Anna Dressed in Blood," for film.

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POLITICS - From YahooNews:  Sen. Ted Cruz is out of 2016 Republican primary.

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COMICS - From CinemaBlend:  There looks to be some subtraction in Marvel's ABC television plans.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Director Justin Lin of the "Fast and Furious" films is set to direct "Space Jam 2" with LeBron James... Do you remember the original "Space Jam" with Michael Jordan?  Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

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TELEVISION - From DeadlineTV:  Complete list of 2016 Daytime Emmy Award winners.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  On "Game of Thrones," Jon Snow's fate is revealed.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The #1 movie at the box office for the 4/29 to 5/01/2016 weekend is Disney's "The Jungle Book" with a take of $42.4 million.  This is its third week on top.

From Variety:  "Captain America: Civil War" makes it international debut, taking in a haul of $200.2 million in 37 major territories.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  HBO to sumbit Beyonce's "Lemonade" special for Emmy Awards consideration.

From Variety:  See "The Late Late Show's" James Corden parody "Lemonade."

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POLITICS - From YahooNews:  A list of President Obama's top zingers at 2016 White House Correspondence Dinner.

POLITICS - From YahooNews:   Helen Mirren wears body art and purple dress in tribute to Prince.

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COMICS - From SlashFilm:  Jon Favreau does not rule out directing another Marvel film. He previously directed Iron Man and Iron Man 2.

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COMICS - From FlickeringMyth:   Rumors say that Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. execs are fighting over the direction of their Justice League film.  Warners once called Snyder "visionary director."

"The Wolf of Wall Street" Posters Released

Revered filmmaker Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).   From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s.  Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title – “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Money.  Power.  Women.  Drugs.  Temptations were for the taking and the threat of authority was irrelevant.  For Jordan and his wolf pack, modesty was quickly deemed overrated and more was never enough.

Visit the official site and make your own The Wolf Of Wall Street GIFS: http://TheWolfofWallStreet.com

In theaters December 25th

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWolfOfWallStreet
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWolfofWallSt

View one of the trailers here.

Review: Ben Affleck Miscast as a Superhero in "Daredevil"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 18 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Daredevil (2003)
Running time:  103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for action/violence and some sensuality
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Mark Steven Johnson
PRODUCERS:  Avi Arad, Gary Foster, and Arnon Milchan
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Ericson Core
EDITORS:  Armen Minasian and Dennis Virkler
COMPOSER:  Graeme Revell

SUPERHERO/ACTION/CRIME

Starring:  Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano, Erick Avari, Scott Terra and David Keith

The subject of this movie review is Daredevil, a 2003 superhero film starring Ben Affleck in the title role.  The movie is based on the Marvel Comics character, Daredevil, created by Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett.

The movie’s plot also borrows heavily from elements Frank Miller introduced during his stint as writer-artist on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil comic book series and on several other Daredevil publications.  Stan Lee is one of this film’s executive producers.  Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland apparently contributed to the screenplay, but did not receive a screen credit.

Before I get into the heart of the review, I want to start off by saying that Daredevil really ain’t nothing special, and that makes this pretty run of the mill, except for the subject matter.  If you just have to see it (and I can only imagine that comic book fans feel this way as the character originates from a long running Marvel comic of the same title), see it in a movie theatre; otherwise, it may not be worth the time, money, and effort of going to the movies.

Another note before getting into the review:  although he doesn’t get credit, renowned comic book writer/artist and cartoonist Frank Miller just might be the major contributor to this film.  Miller, wrote and drew, the comic book, Daredevil, for Marvel Comics from the late 1970’s to the early 80’s and again wrote the title in the late 80’s with sometime New Yorker cartoonist, David Mazzuchelli, as the comic’s illustrator.  Miller created the character Elektra Natchios (played in this film by Jennifer Garner of TV’s “Alias”), but he did not create all the characters used in this film.

However, the stylistic approach used for the characters comes almost exclusively from Frank’s work.  This movie wouldn’t exist without Frank’s legendary accomplishments; Frank’s Daredevil stories are available in book form as Daredevil Visionaries:  Frank Miller Vol.’s 1-3 and Daredevil: Born Again.  In fact, the 1989 film version of Batman owes very much to Frank’s work on the character in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which is always in print.  Miller is also a screenwriter, having penned Robocop 2 and Robocop 3, and his original script (presumably the for second Robocop) will be adapted into a comic book by Avatar Comics.  Now, to the review.

Attorney Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck) was blinded as a child by a chemical that, though it robbed him of his sight, heightened his four remaining senses.  His hearing developed a kind of radar sense that allows him to “see” objects through the sound waves that bounce of those objects.  In the movie, we see the radar sense in operation as a rather cool looking visual effect.  After the accident that blinded him, young Murdock (Scott Terra) trains his body to be as superior as his heightened senses.  After criminals murder his father Jack (David Keith), young Matt grows up to be the costumed crime fighter, Daredevil, prowling the night in a tight, red leather uniform and pounding criminals into dust, literally.  Daredevil don’t play that; he’ll dispense justice to the extreme even if it means that a criminal might lose his life.

Matt meets Elektra, who is an ass kicking, martial arts hottie, and they have a brief romance, but when a crazed assassin named Bullseye (Colin Farrell) kills her father (Erick Avari, The Mummy), Elektra seeks revenge.  In her haste for revenge, she doesn’t realize how complicated matters are and that hanging over all their heads is master manipulator and super crime boss, Wilson Fisk - The Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan).

Daredevil is much darker than many super hero movies, almost as dark as Batman Returns, but the former does share the latter’s leather fetishistic theme.  There are lots of really good fight scenes mixing martial arts, boxing, and gymnastics.  Like Spider-Man, Daredevil uses quite a bit of CGI (computer generated imagery) to create human-like figures that can rapidly bounce off walls and scale ceilings while fighting.  In fact, in addition to the “bullet time” technique used so famously in The Matrix, CGI is the only other way live action film can mimic the impossible acrobatics of comic book fight scenes.  Daredevil’s fight scenes are exciting and even thrilling, but many times the CGI is so obviously fake, particularly in the jerky manner in which the CGI figures move.

The story has its moments.  Some of the romantic elements are genuinely sad and sentimental, and some of the drama is palatable.  However, like Spider-Man, the best stuff is during the fights are when Daredevil soars over the CGI New York skyline.

Director Mark Steven Johnson’s love for the material is evident.  He really tried to capture the feel of the comic book in his film.  However, some of the film is awkward, forced and clunky.  The movie drags, and sometimes it races headlong through the story without any substantial development.  There are too many characters, some who, if given more screen time, would have made a better movie.  Jon Favreau, as Matt’s law partner Foggy Nelson, is simply delightful, but Johnson uses him strictly for comic relief.  Farrell strains and overacts as Bullseye; by the time, Johnson reigns Farrell in enough to make Bullseye a good villain, the movie’s almost over.

Suffice to say, Daredevil is an average movie going experience, and might serve as a decent video rental.  It’s special only to comic book fans; most everyone else will find this to be just another movie, unless you’re into the strange and the unusual.  There is a really funk vibe going on with all those leather suits and the rest of the characters’ impressive wardrobe that’s worth experiencing on the big screen.

4 of 10
C

NOTES:
2004 Razzie Awards:  1 win: “Worst Actor” (Ben Affleck; also for Gigli-2003 and Paycheck-2003)

2010 Razzie Awards:  1 nomination: “Worst Actor of the Decade” (Ben Affleck; also for Gigli-2003, Jersey Girl-2004, Paycheck-2003, Pearl Harbor-2001, and Surviving Christmas-2004; Affleck nominated for 9 ‘achievements,” and “winner” of 2 Razzies)

Updated:  Friday, August 23, 2013

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Review: Bateman, McCarthy Capture "Identity Thief"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 48 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux

Identity Thief (2013)
Running time:  111 minutes (1 hour, 51 minutes)
MPAA – R for crude and sexual content and language
DIRECTOR:  Seth Gordon
WRITERS:  Craig Mazin; from a story by Jerry Eeten and Craig Mazin
PRODUCERS:  Pamela Abdy, Jason Bateman, and Scott Stuber
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Javier Aguirresarobe
EDITOR:  Peter Teschner
COMPOSER:  Christopher Lennertz

COMEDY/CRIME

Starring:  Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Genesis Rodriguez, Morris Chestnut, John Cho, Robert Patrick, Eric Stonestreet, Mary-Charles Jones, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Matthew Burke, and Jon Favreau

Identity Thief is a 2013 crime comedy from director Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses).  Starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, the film follows a mild-mannered businessman who sets out to confront the woman who has been living it up after stealing his identity.

Accountant and family man, Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Jason Bateman), finds himself arrested for an assault that occurred in Winter Park, Florida.  The problem is that Sandy lives in Denver, Colorado and has never been to Winter Park.  After his new boss informs him that his credit score is getting him fired from his new job, Sandy learns that he is the victim of identity theft.

Traveling to Florida, Sandy confronts the other Sandy Patterson, a portly woman named Diana (Melissa McCarthy), who is having the time of her life with his credit.  By hook and crook, the real Sandy manages to convince Diana to return with him to Denver to help him clear his name.  Diana plans on using any means necessary to escape, but Sandy isn’t the only one after her.  A skiptracer (Robert Patrick) is after Diana for a substantial bounty, and an imprisoned crime boss has sent two of his hired guns, Marisol (Genesis Rodriguez) and Julian (Tip “T.I.” Harris), to kill her.

Comedies from big studios tend to follow a formula that I first noticed in 2003’s Old School.  The lead characters, especially the men, act like over-grown boys for most of the film.  Then, the filmmakers spend the second half of the movie turning these guys that we love to watch being dicks into “dads” or other responsible White male types.

In Identity Thief, the bad boy White guy is actually a woman of many names, whom we come to know as “Diana.”  As played by Melissa McCarthy, Diana is not like the frat-pack, stuck-in-adolescence types that headline such films as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Wedding Crashers, to name a few.  Diana is practically too complicated to be in a studio comedy.  This character has issues.  Diana is scarred, but bent, not broken.  She has a rat-like determination to survive, and she’s adopted so many guises and told so many lies that you wonder when she’s telling truth.  Who is the real Diana?

Diana is not a criminal with a heart of gold.  She simply is good at beating the system, and, as the ultimate bull-shitter, she can separate the honest from the dishonest and truth from lies.  For the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do crowd, she is the worst nightmare: someone who can spot hypocrisy in all its guises.

Identity Thief’s plot and story, however, simply do not live up to Diana’s complexities.  She’s intricate, while the plot is a by-the-numbers crime comedy that takes the easy way out of the obstacles placed before Sandy Patterson and Diana.  Identity Thief is not a bad movie, because the lead actors and their corresponding characters are witty, engaging, full of intricacies, and damn funny.  They make Identity Thief a really good movie.

I don’t want to forget Jason Bateman.  He has perfected his spin on the genial good guy and the universal everyman in the television series, “Arrested Development,” and in movies like Hancock and Horrible Bosses.  Sandy Patterson is a familiar character, but Bateman offers layers and subtexts that make the character three-dimensional – one certainly more complicated than this movie’s plot and the ending deserve.  Bateman and McCarthy are so good that they make the holes in this movie take a backseat to their characters.  Identity Thief is an evergreen film because of their performances, and their characters are the reason that this movie will be worth watching a decade from now.

7 of 10
A-

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Review: "Iron Man 3" About the Man in the Iron

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux


Iron Man 3 (2013)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Shane Black
WRITERS: Drew Pearce and Shane Black (based on the characters and stories created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Toll (director of photography)
EDITORS: Peter S. Elliot and Jeffrey Ford
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ty Simpkins, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak, William Sadler, Miguel Ferrer, Jon Favreau, and Paul Bettany (voice)

Iron Man 3 is a 2013 superhero film co-written and directed by Shane Black and starring Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role. It is the third movie in the Iron Man film franchise and the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which began with the first Iron Man movie in 2008). In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark/Iron Man is forced to rebuild his world after it is torn apart by a formidable terrorist.

Iron Man 3 finds billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) suffering from anxiety after his experiences with The Avengers. He has built several new Iron Man suits, which causes friction with his girlfriend and current CEO of Stark Industries, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Also, Tony’s friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), is now the U.S. government’s go-to-guy when it needs Iron Man-type help. Rhodes in his War Machine armor has also been re-branded as the Iron Patriot.

Tony has been working non-stop for months, but one thing that does catch his attention is the global tension caused by a mysterious terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). After his friend, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is gravely wounded in one of The Mandarin’s terrorist attacks, Tony vows revenge, but The Mandarin strikes first. Tony begins a journey of rebuilding and retribution, which is complicated by a cast of characters that includes friends and foes and even people whose allegiances are suspect.

Iron Man 3 is spectacular. Destruction is rendered in vivid colors and in awesome visual effects generated by computer software with the god-like ability to create new realities. But I was buying it the way I did for the first two Iron Man films. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Man 3 is good, and I enjoyed it – for the most part. For all its superhero action pageantry and its out of this world combat between demigods and demigod wannabes, I was only somewhat titillated.

There is one glaring thing that dampened my enthusiasm for Iron Man 3, and it is the entire Tony Stark anxiety, panic attack, quasi-PTSD, crisis of faith/conscience factor that is at the heart of Iron Man 3. To me, Tony’s angst comes across as contrived. I just wasn’t buying it. Didn’t we already litigate Tony Stark’s mental demons, relationship shortcomings, and personality glitches in Iron Man 2?

I did enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, and the actress shows that if the filmmakers did more than just scratch the surface of this character, they’d have something super. In addition, Don Cheadle easily moves past being the replacement actor (as Terrence Howard played Rhodes in the first Iron Man), as he fully comes into his own as James Rhodes. Here, Cheadle is funny and engaging, and he clearly has the film personality to be an action-movie star – certainly in superhero movies. Also, Ty Simpkins is surprisingly good as the Harley, a non-annoying, forthright boy.

In terms of tone, attitude, and spirit, Iron Man 3 is different from its predecessors. In fact, it seems odd, and The Mandarin subplot keeps things weird – perhaps too much. So Iron Man 3… maybe I’ll like it more when I see it again, on DVD or television. It is a good movie, but I can only be generous enough to give it a grade of “B.”

6 of 10
B

Sunday, May 5, 2013

"Iron Man 3" Opens Early in IMAX

Marvel's Iron Man 3 Flies Into IMAX® Theatres Worldwide Starting April 25

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX), and Marvel Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), today announced that Marvel's Iron Man 3(TM), the latest installment of the film franchise that has grossed more than $1.2 billion at the global box office, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX(®) 3D format and released to IMAX(®) theatres internationally starting April 25 and domestically on May 3.

Marvel's Iron Man 3 marks the fourth Marvel Entertainment film to be presented in IMAX theatres, following the releases of Iron Man 2 in 2010, Thor in 2011 and Marvel's The Avengers in 2012 - which all delivered record breaking performances in IMAX theatres.

"Marvel and IMAX are a perfect one-two punch and the Iron Man franchise has become a global phenomenon that resonates with fans around the world," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We look forward to moviegoers experiencing this highly-anticipated next installment of Tony Stark's latest adventures in IMAX 3D."

"With Iron Man 3 building on the events of Marvel'sThe Avengers, audiences are in for yet another incredible moviegoing experience from Marvel Studios," said Dave Hollis, Executive Vice President of Motion Picture Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios. "We're thrilled to be able to offer that to fans in the larger-than-life action of IMAX 3D."

The IMAX 3D release of Marvel's Iron Man 3 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(®) with proprietary IMAX DMR(®) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. You can learn more about Marvel's Iron Man 3 by visiting Marvel's official site at http://marvel.com/ironman3.


About Iron Man 3
Marvel's Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel's Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel's iconic super hero Iron Man, who first appeared in the pages of Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with The Invincible Iron Man # in May of 1968.

Marvel's Iron Man 3 is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D'Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

About Marvel Entertainment, LLC
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit http://www.marvel.com/.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, there were 689 IMAX theatres (556 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 113 institutional) in 52 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.