Review: "GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE" is Lukewarm

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 of 2024 (No. 1960) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Running time:  115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references

DIRECTOR:  Gil Kenan

WRITERS:  Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman (based on the film, Ghost Busters, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman)

PRODUCERS:  Jason Reitman, Jason Blumenfeld, and Ivan Reitman

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Eric Steelberg

EDITORS:  Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid

COMPOSER:  Dario Marianelli

FANTASY/COMEDY/ACTION/MYSTERY

Starring:  Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Logan Kim, Celeste O'Connor, Ernie Hudson, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Dan Ackroyd, Annie Potts, William Atherton, and Bill Murray

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a 2024 supernatural comedy, action and mystery film from director Gil Kenan.  It is the fifth entry in the Ghostbusters film franchise, and it is the third sequel to the original film, 1984's Ghost Busters (now known as “Ghostbusters”).  In Frozen Empire, the old and new Ghostbusters must take on an evil force unleashed from an ancient artifact.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens in New York City in 1904 where a group of fireman enters a hotel suite and finds an entire party frozen solid in the middle of an extremely hot summer.  In the present day, Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, son, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and daughter, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), have moved from Summerville, Oklahoma to New York City, with Phoebe's former summer school teacher, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), in tow.  The four live in the old Ghostbusters' NYC firehouse that had been maintained by original Ghostbuster, Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).

Now, Phoebe, Trevor, Callie, and Gary are the active Ghostbusters, but a particular Ghostbusting case leads to significant damage in the city.  That brings them to the attention of the mayor and leads to Phoebe being forced out of the Ghostbusters because she is underage at 15-years-old.  But the world of the supernatural does not stop because of the human world's concerns.

Original Ghostbuster, Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), has come into possession of a peculiar artifact, which he turns over to Winston Zeddemore's top-secret research lab.  Meanwhile, Phoebe, sidelined as a Ghostbuster, is trying to find her place in the world of the Ghostbusters.  Then, Garraka, an ancient god, is freed.  He wants to gather all the ghosts ever captured by the Ghostbusters and turn them into his personal army as he brings about a new ice age.  Despite her troubles, Phoebe will have to figure out how to stop the ancient evil that is Garraka before it's too late.

I was a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters films, Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989).  I enjoyed Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), and I thought that film's teen characters, siblings Phoebe and Trevor, and their friends, Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor), made a great foundation for the new Ghostbusters.

Thus, I was surprised to see Phoebe and Trevor playing Ghostbusters with the adults, their mother, Callie, and their quasi-stepfather, Gary.  Honestly, I find Carrie Coon's Callie and Paul Rudd's Gary to be extraneous here.  I have no interest in their characters beyond what they did in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.  In fact, this film has too many characters.  Bill Murray's Dr. Peter Venkman, Annie Potts' Janine Melnitz, and William Atherton's Mayor Walter Peck are also mostly irrelevant.  Pretty much everything these characters do could have been passed off to other characters or deleted because it wasn't important enough to clutter up the narrative.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire spends much of its first half meandering around assorted relationship dysfunction, including one involving a ghost.  Then, the film rushes to a forced satisfactory conclusion that wastes a truly scary monster in Garraka.  I am glad that Ernie Hudson's Winston Zeddemore has a substantial part in this film, especially because Hudson spent the first two films fighting off Columbia Pictures' executives and Ghostbusters cast mates who were determined to sideline his character.

As a franchise, Ghostbusters needs to move on from its past or just die.  The young characters:  Phoebe and Trevor Spengler, Podcast, and Lucky Domingo are the franchise's present and true future.  When this Ghostbusters film focuses on them, it feels alive and is fun.  When it doesn't, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is frozen and freezer-burned.

[This film has one mid-credits scene.]

5 out of 10

C+

★★½ out of 4 stars

Friday, March 22, 2024

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Review: "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" Takes Us on a Fantastic Voyage

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 of 2023 (No. 1897) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Running time:  125 minutes (2 hours, 5 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for violence/action, and language

DIRECTOR:  Peyton Reed

WRITER:  Jeff Loveness (based on the Marvel Comics characters)

PRODUCERS:  Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Bill Pope

EDITORS:  Adam Gerstel and Laura Jennings

COMPOSER:  Christophe Beck

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, Bill Murray, Katy M. O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, James Cutler, David Dastmalchian, Randall Park, and Corey Stoll

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a 2023 superhero and sci-fi action film directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Marvel Studios.  It is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and is also the third entry in the Ant-Man film series.  The film and the series are based on the Marvel Comics character, Ant-Man, who first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 (cover date: September 1962) and was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby.  Quantumania finds Ant-Man and the Wasp on an incredible adventure in a strange universe where they face a dangerous new foe.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania finds Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) living his best life after his most recent adventures with the Avengers (as seen in Avengers: Endgame).  He is a successful author and is happily living with his girlfriend, Hope van Dyne/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly).  However, there is some trouble at home.  Scott's daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), has become an activist and has been recently arrested during a protest.

While they are visiting Hope's parents, her father, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the scientist who was the original Ant-Man; and her mother, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), who was the original Wasp, Cassie reveals that she has created a device that can map the “Quantum Realm,” a subatomic dimension of the Multiverse.  However, the device can also send messages to the Quantum Realm, which freaks out Janet, who was trapped there for 30 years.  Before Janet can do shut it down, a portal appears and pulls Scott, Hope, Cassie, Hank, and Janet into the Quantum Realm, separating Scott and Cassie from Hope, Hank, and Janet.

Once the two groups begin to explore the Quantum Realm, they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.  There is also a dark side.  Janet fears they are all headed for an encounter with someone she met when she was first trapped in the Quantum Realm – a despot named “Kang” (Jonathan Majors).

Ant-Man was a D-list character as far as Marvel Comics superheroes go, especially where familiarity with the general entertainment-consuming public was concerned.  Marvel Studios chose the right actor to play Ant-Man, the irresistibly likable, Paul Rudd.  The addition of Hollywood legends like Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer and television star Evangeline Lilly as a new female superhero made Ant-Man A-list box office.  The result was two lovable, loopy, and imaginative superhero films, Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), that seemed aimed at young viewers even more so than adult audiences.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is just as loopy, but is bigger than the previous two films.  If French film director, Luc Besson (The Fifth Element), made a Star Wars film, it would probably look like Quantumania.  This film's menagerie of people, beings, creatures, machines, tech, etc. are almost on the level of Avatar: The Way of Water.  Quantumania is a dazzling spectacle, and it is nothing like what I expected based on the earlier films.  Everyone from director Peyton Reed and writer Jeff Loveness to the craft and visual effects people did the damn thing and the results are mind-blowing.

The performances are excellent.  As usual, Paul Rudd comes across as the actor most perfect to be Scott Lang and Ant-Man.  Michael Douglas plays Hank Pym with a mix of spry comedy and pitch-perfect drama.  However, I must make way for the women in this film.  Quantumania allows Michelle Pfeiffer to let the dog in her out to play Janet van Dyne, in a way that she probably has not done since White Oleander (2002).  She left me wanting more of Janet.

Evangeline Lilly is once again great as The Wasp, and in Quantumania, she makes me believe that it is time for the Wasp to have a solo outing.  Also, Kathryn Newton makes it impossible to leave Cassie down on the superhero farm (so to speak).  Katy O'Brian also gives a fierce turn as the Quantum Realm freedom fighter, Jentorra.

Finally, I'm not sure that I have words to quite describe Jonathan Major's brilliant turn as Kang.  It is as if Majors has given flesh to James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice.  He makes Kang own Quantumania, and I think it will be a blast going forward to watch Majors play this character.

You may have heard bad things about Quantumania, from film critics and reviewers and others.  But fuck 'em.  Quantumania is one of Marvel Studios' best films of the past few years, and I heartily recommend it to you, dear readers.  With its sense of the unexpected and of the future known, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the perfect start to what is called “Phase 5” of the MCU.

9 of 10

A+

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Friday, February 17, 2023

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Young Stars Bring "GHOSTBUSTERS: Afterlife" to Life

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 66 of 2021 (No. 1804) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Running time:  124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for supernatural action and some suggestive references
DIRECTOR:  Jason Reitman
WRITERS:  Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman (based on the film, Ghost Busters, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis)
PRODUCER:  Ivan Reitman
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Eric Steelberg
EDITORS:  Dana E. Glauberman and Nathan Orloff
COMPOSER:  Rob Simonsen

FANTASY/MYSTERY/ACTION/COMEDY

Starring:  Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Logan Kim, Celeste O'Connor, and Bokeem Woodbine with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a 2021 supernatural comedy, action and mystery film from director Jason Reitman.  It is the fourth entry in the Ghostbusters film franchise and is a kind of sequel to the original film, 1984's Ghost Busters (now known as “Ghostbusters”), which was directed by Jason's father, Ivan Reitman.  In Afterlife, a single mother and her two children arrive in small town Oklahoma, and the children discover their grandfather's amazing and secret legacy.

Thirty-two years after the events of Ghostbusters II (1989), Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), arrive in Summerville, Oklahoma.  Currently homeless, they will try to make a new home in the rundown farmhouse owned by Callie's late father, Egon Spengler.  While rooting through some of Egon's belongings, Phoebe discovers a P.K.G. Meter (a ghost-tracking device).  While digging around, Trevor finds a beat-up old car that sports the “Ghostbusters” logo.

Phoebe, who does not believe in the supernatural, makes a friend, a boy named “Podcast” (Logan Kim), who believes in the strange and unusual and discusses it in his podcast.  Trevor makes a friend in a local, a teen girl named Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor).  Eventually, the children discover that Phoebe's summer school teacher, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), is quite familiar with their grandfather, Egon's legacy as a scientist, an inventor, and a member of “Ghostbusters,” the ghost-catching organization that was famous for its activities in 1980s New York City.  Now, the four youngsters and Callie and Gary must face the same great evil that once confronted the original Ghostbusters.

I was a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters films.  When I first saw Ghost Busters in a movie theater in 1984, I laughed so much that the other people in the theater were giving me the side eye.  I enjoyed the sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), although many people I knew at the time did not like it all that much.  Still, I was happy, but over the years, Ghostbusters became a fond memory that I sometimes relived via my cable TV package.  In the years that followed Ghostbusters II, there was always talk of a third Ghostbusters film, but I was only mildly interested.

For some people, however, the Ghostbuster films and the related merchandise became a lifestyle choice, something to which they dedicated themselves as if it were hobby, a second career, and maybe even a quasi-religion.  Those were the people who claimed to have been traumatized by the 2016 franchise reboot, Ghostbusters, which featured an all-female cast as the Ghostbusters (and which may have since been re-titled “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call”).  I was only mildly interested in that film, and have seen most of it via cable TV.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is supposed to remedy the trauma of Ghostbusters 2016.  Afterlife director Jason Reitman once said that his film was giving Ghostbusters “back to the fans.”  I never felt like something had been taken from me.  After all, as I've said, I can see the original films at least a few times a week on television.  That said, I do like Afterlife.

Reitman offers an exciting film that is as much a mystery film as it is a comedy, and the secrets of the town of Summerville and its surroundings are quite intriguing and provide a nice setting for the story.  I do wish that the film had given us more on the town and its inhabitants.  However, there is much focus on the darkness at the edge of town – the big bad supernatural being.  Reitman and his co-writer, Gil Kenan, work overtime to make sure everyone understands that the villain is connected to the events of the original film.  I didn't find that connection necessary, but I understand why Reitman and Sony Pictures felt that it was very important to make a hard connection between the events of 1984 and the events of 2021.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife's shining light isn't the desperation to connect to a 37-year-old movie.  Afterlife's true treasures are its young stars:  Mckenna Grace as Phoebe, Finn Wolfhard as Trevor, Celeste O'Connor as Lucky, and Logan Kim as Podcast.  As Phoebe, Grace is totally capable of carrying this film's emotional center and of stabilizing its subplots and narrative threads until they come together.  When Jason Reitman focuses on his young cast, turning them into young supernatural investigators and Ghostbusters, Afterlife explodes with life and has all the magic of an old-fashioned summer blockbuster movie in spite of its November release date.

Yes, it was good to see the original cast members.  No, Paul Rudd is not the star of Afterlife, as the film's trailers and commercials suggest, but he is important to the development of the story.  Yes, Carrie Coon is good as the kid's mother, Callie.  However, it is time for this franchise to move on from nostalgia and fanservice if it is going to have a future.  These four young actors and four new characters are why Ghostbusters: Afterlife can be a true resurrection story.

7 out of 10
B+

Friday, November 19, 2021


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 23rd to 30th, 2019 - Update #25

Support Leroy on Patreon:

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  The winner of the 6/28 to 6/30/2018 weekend box office is "Toy Story 4" with an estimated take of 58 million dollars.

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BOND - From YahooEntertainment:  Actor Idris Elba says he was "disheartened" by the reaction to him, a Black man, possibly playing James Bond.

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DISNEY - From Variety:  Melissa McCarthy in talks to play "Ursula" in Disney's planned live-action remake of its 1989 film, "The Little Mermaid."  Rob Marshall of "Mary Poppins Returns" is set to direct.

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SCANDAL - From PageSix:  The website notes that Oscar-winning filmmaker, Paul Haggis ("Crash"), is still partying despite a rape allegation against him.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Paul Rudd ("Ant-Man" films) has joined Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters classic" film.

From Variety:  Mark Wahlberg is replacing Chris Evans in director Antoine Fuqua's upcoming film, "Infinite."

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BLM - From YahooFinance:  Slavery reparations could carry a $17 trillion ($17,000,000,000,000) price tag.

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MOVIES - From EW:  Jordan Brewster is returning to the "Fast & Furious" franchise.  She will appear in the ninth film  (currently filming in London), after sitting out the eighth installment, "The Fate of the Furious."  She has played, Mia Toretto, the love interest of the late Paul Walker's character, Brian.

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STAR TREK - From Deadline:  Pulitzer Prize winning author, Michael Chabon, has been named the showrunner of CBS All Access' "Star Trek: Picard."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Mary J. Blige signs first-looks TV development deal with actress-singer, Mary J. Blige.

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AWARDS - From Deadline:   The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild said Wednesday that it will hold its 2020 awards ceremony on Saturday, January 11th, 2020.

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MUSIC - From YabooEntertainment:  The biological father of Grammy-winning rapper and recording artist, Eminem, died earlier this week.  Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr. was 67.

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JAMES BOND - From Variety:  First behind-the-scenes footage from "BOND 25" has been released.

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STREAMING - From Variety: Amazon will carry "Small Axe" in the U.S.  "Small Axe" is an anthology series from Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave").

From EOnline:  Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Ariana Grande join Ryan Murphy's adaptation of the Broadway hit, "The Prom," for Netflix.

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ANIMATION - From TVSeriesFinale:  There is a new Scooby-Doo animated series coming to Boomerang, "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?"  Actor Jaleel White is reviving his Steve Urkel character, from the old ABC series, "Family Matters" (1989-1998), for an episode of "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?"

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STREAMING - From Variety:  Viacom partners with Tyler Perry for "BET Plus" streaming service.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 6/21 to 6/23/2019 weekend box office is "Toy Story 4" with an estimated take of 118 million dollars.

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MOVIES - From FlickeringMyth:  "Hidden Figures" actor Aldis Hodge has joined the cast of Blumhouse's Universal Monsters remake of "The Invisible Man."

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ECO - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor, Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), has quit the Royal Shakespeare Company over the theaters sponsorship with oil company, BP.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Lena Waithe Criticizes Black Movie Stars For Not Financing Indies From Black Filmmakers

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  James Marsden is vying for the role of Stu Redman in "The Stand," the CBS Studios/CBS All Access limited series adaptation of the classic Stephen King horror novel.  This streaming series would be the second miniseries adaptation of King's novel, following ABC's 1994 miniseries.

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STREAMING-TELEVISION - From Vulture:  "15 Fantasy Adaptations We’re Excited to See on TV Soon" by Devon Ivie

OBITS:

From EW:  Actor Billy Drago died Monday, June 24, 2019 at the age of 73.  Drago is best known for portraying real-life gangster, Frank Nitti, in Brian DePalma's film, "The Untouchables" (1987). He was also a recurring character in The WB's series, "Charmed" (1998-2006).

From Variety:  The actor Max Wright has died at the age of 75, Wednesday, June 26, 2019.  Wright was best known for playing the role of Willie Tanner on the NBC TV series, "Alf" (1986 to 1990).  Will Tanner was the head of the family that took in a back-talking alien, Alf.  Wright appeared in numerous TV series, including "Friends" and "Murphy Brown."  He received a 1998 Tony Awards nomination for his performance in "Ivanov."

From Deadline:  The New Orleans musician, composer, arranger, and record producer, Dave Bartholomew, had died at the age of 100, Sunday, June 23, 2019.  Bartholomew is best known for his partnership with pianist and singer-songwriter, Fats Domino.  He co-wrote such Domino hits as "Ain't That a Shame" (1955) and "I'm Walkin'" (1957).  He also wrote the song "Blue Monday" (1954) that was first recorded by guitarist, Smiley Lewis, and then, became a hit for Domino in 1956.

From Deadline:  The bestselling author and journalist, Judith Krantz, has died at the age of 91, Saturday, June 22, 2019.  Although she had a long career in magazine journalism, Krantz is best known for her career as an author of bestselling novels, including her debut, "Scruples" (1978).  Many of her novels were adapted into television miniseries.

Academy Announces Third Round of Presenters for 91st Oscars

ROUND 3: A DOZEN MORE STARS TAKE OSCARS STAGE

Elsie Fisher, Danai Gurira, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Keaton, Helen Mirren, John Mulaney, Tyler Perry, Pharrell Williams, Krysten Ritter, Paul Rudd and Michelle Yeoh

Stars continue to line up to present on the Oscars® - the year’s most-watched, live entertainment event - on Sunday, February 24, 2019, announced show producer Donna Gigliotti and co-producer and director Glenn Weiss. The Oscars air live on the ABC Television Network, and is broadcast in more than 225 countries and territories.

“We are excited to welcome these amazing artists and filmmakers to the show,” said Gigliotti and Weiss. “They bring excitement, momentum, and elements of surprise to this year’s Oscars.”

Previously announced presenters include: Awkwafina, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Allison Janney, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, Amy Poehler, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Tessa Thompson and Constance Wu.

Javier Bardem, Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Emilia Clarke, Laura Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Stephan James, Keegan-Michael Key, KiKi Layne, James McAvoy, Melissa McCarthy, Jason Momoa and Sarah Paulson.

The 91st Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

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Review: "Ant-Man and the Wasp" Improves on First Film

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 9 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Running time:  118 minutes (1 hour, 58 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR:  Peyton Reed
WRITERS:  Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari (based on the comic book created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Dante Spinotti (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Dan Lebental and Craig Wood
COMPOSER:  Christophe Beck

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Walter Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Abby Ryder Fortson, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Laurence Fishburne, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Stan Lee

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a 2018 superhero film and sci-fi action-comedy directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Marvel Studios.  It is a direct sequel to the 2015 film, Ant-Man.  Both movies focus on the Marvel Comics character, Ant-Man, who first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 (cover date: September 1962) and was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby.  Ant-Man and the Wasp finds the title hero on a new adventure to uncover the secrets of his friends' past.

In the wake of the events depicted in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is under house arrest.  He is three days from finishing his sentence, so he is determined not to leave his house and be in violation.  However, Hope van Dyne/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), Scott's erstwhile girlfriend, and her scientist father, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who have both been estranged from Scott, reenter his life.

They need Scott's help in rescuing the original Wasp, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), who has been lost in the microscopic “quantum realm” for 30 years.  However, there are numerous obstacles in their way.  FBI agent, Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), Lang's parole officer, is determined to catch Scott in violation.  Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), a low-level, but ambitious thug, is determined to obtain Hank Pym's technology so that he can sell it on the black market.  Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne), a former colleague of Hank Pym, claims that he will help Pym in his quest, but Foster is really out to help Ava Starr (Hanna John-Kamen).  This mysterious young woman is also the costumed “Ghost,” who needs the same technology that Scott, Hope, and Hank need.  She will do anything to get it because time is running out for both her and Janet Van Dyne.

Ant-Man is D-list as far as Marvel Comics superheroes go, especially where familiarity with the general entertainment-consuming public is concerned.  Marvel Studios chose the right actor to play Ant-Man, Paul Rudd, who is irresistibly likable.   In the original film, Ant-Man, Rudd's affable charm sells the idea of Scott Lang as a well-meaning criminal who had a just cause for the crime he committed.  Ant-Man might be a silly concept, but Rudd makes it all seem less so.  After stealing some scenes in Captain America: Civil War, Rudd and Ant-Man are pretty much settled in near the upper echelon of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For the new film, Ant-Man and the Wasp, the visual effects (VFX) are the biggest star.  The process of shrinking and growing characters and all manner of objects (building, automobiles, knick-knacks, etc.) have a rhythmic quality.  The VFX flows and is poetic; call it “floetry” (like the early aughts R&B group).  While watching this new movie, I never thought it was too much.

Sure, I like the new character, Ghost, and the child actress, Abby Ryder Fortson, makes Scott Lang's daughter, Cassie, indispensable as a character.  [How about Cassie as a new Marvel superhero?]  Still, from the first time I heard of an Ant-Man movie, I thought that this character and concept was born to take advantage of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and of the advancement in VFX.  Ant-Man and the Wasp is a cinematic magic spell successfully completed.  It is not a great movie, but it greatly and hugely entertained me.

8 of 10
A

Thursday, July 12, 2018


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



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Adult Animated Comedy, "Nerdland," Gets One-Night Special Storing

Paul Rudd and Patton Oswalt Star in Adult Animated Comedy ‘Nerdland,’ in Movie Theaters Nationwide for a One-Night Event on December 6, 2016

Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fathom Events Present This Action-Packed, Over-the-Top Adventure Including Special Cast Panel on the Big Screen

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Moviegoers are in for a hilariously debauched and satirical affair at the cinemas like they’ve never seen before. “Nerdland,” debuting in movie theaters nationwide on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. local time, follows two unknown showbiz buddies John (Paul Rudd) and Elliot (Patton Oswalt) who are determined to go from Hollywood nobodies to viral somebodies.

    .@FathomEvents News: #Nerdland starring Paul Rudd & Patton Oswalt comes to theaters 12/6 only

In addition to the big-screen premiere of “Nerdland,” the one-night cinema event also includes a cast discussion, recorded live at Beyond Fest in Hollywood featuring stand-up comedian and moderator Blaine Capatch, the movie's stars Patton Oswalt, Kate Micucci, John Ennis and Brendon Small, as well as director Chris Prynoski and Writer/Producer Andrew Kevin Walker. Attendees will also get to view an exclusive short film from Titmouse Animation Studios.

Tickets for “Nerdland” can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 530 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

“I’m stoked that we are doing a Fathom event for the theatrical release of Nerdland! Their audiences come for something you can’t get just any night at any cinema. They come for that extra special experience of like-minded people all together in one spot for an exclusive night of film, special features and fun that doesn’t exist at home on your couch or anywhere else!” Chris Prynoski, director and founder of Titmouse Animation Studios said.

From Writer Andrew Kevin Walker (“Seven,” “8mm” and Tim Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow”), Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fathom Events present director Chris Prynoski (“Metalocalypse,” “Superjail!,” “Venture Bros.” and “Son of Zorn”) and Titmouse Animation Studios “Nerdland” - an adult-themed cartoon comedy about celebrity and excess that “revels in the foulness of 21st-century pop culture” (Variety). John and Elliot, over the course of one night, make a last-ditch effort to become famous, stumbling into a series of misadventures that threatens their dignity and lives. The film also features an army of cameos including Hannibal Buress, Laraine Newman, Reid Scott, Mike Judge, Kate Micucci, Riki Lindhome, Paul Scheer and Molly Shannon.

“We’re excited to partner with Samuel Goldwyn Films for the first time to bring ‘Nerdland’ to big screens for its nationwide debut,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “This wild animated adventure is a must-see event for mature audiences looking for some not-so-mature fun.”

Peter Goldwyn, President of Samuel Goldwyn Films said, “There has never been a film like ‘Nerdland.’ We can’t wait for everyone to join us for the fun in December. We are so excited that the team at Fathom Events has a great sense of humor, and think that their audience will love this film.”


About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions such as the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live’s Hamlet, sporting events like FS1 Presents USA v Mexico, concerts with Roger Waters and One Direction, the TCM Presents classic film series and faith-based events such as The Drop Box and Four Blood Moons. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 885 locations and 1,348 screens in 181 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About Samuel Goldwyn Films
Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries. The company is dedicated to working with both world-renowned and emerging writers/filmmakers and committed to filmed entertainment that offers original voices in uniquely told stories. This is best exemplified by the Academy Award® nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and SUPER SIZE ME, AMAZING GRACE and Julie Delpy’s hit comedy 2 DAYS IN PARIS. Past Goldwyn titles include: HARRY BROWN starring Michael Caine, the box office smash FIREPROOF and the 2010 independent hit MAO’S LAST DANCER. Samuel Goldwyn Films also released THE WHISTLEBLOWER, a powerful, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller starring Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz, and the 2012 critics’ darling ROBOT & FRANK, starring Academy Award® nominee Frank Langella and Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon. Current Samuel Goldwyn Films releases include: Chris Bell’s expose PRESCRIPTION THUGS; Andrew Renzi’s Tribeca Film Festival favorite THE BENEFACTOR starring Richard Gere; the widely anticipated Jason Wise follow-up SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE; Toronto Film Festival’s Gala Presentation HYENA ROAD directed by Paul Gross; Ted Balaker’s docu CAN WE TAKE A JOKE? in which comedy and outrage collide and TRANSPECOS, the directorial debut and 2016 SXSW Audience Award Winner by Greg Kwedar. Upcoming films include Sasha Gordon’s subversive romantic comedy and festival favorite IT HAD TO BE YOU, Ian Old’s award-winning BURN COUNTRY with Oscar winner Melissa Leo, James Franco and breakout lead Dominic Rains and Carles Torrens’ physiological thriller PET starring Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo & Jennette McCurdy.

About Titmouse
Titmouse is a full-service, award-winning animation production company. Our artist-run studios in Los Angeles, New York City, and Vancouver keep 400 of the most talented people in the industry (that are guaranteed 100% human) employed and pushing creative boundaries. Writers, producers, directors, storyboard artists, animators, compositors, editors and Virtual Reality artists are all right here, in house. Its state-of-the-art sound studio is where many of our TV shows, films, commercial work, branded and original digital content projects are recorded. Titmouse founders Chris and Shannon Prynoski launched Titmouse in Los Angeles, the birthplace of the American entertainment industry. Known for series such as Venture Bros., Metalocalypse, Superjail!, and its first feature film, Nerdland, Titmouse creates high-quality cartoons for all ages and interests.

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Rush Concert Film/Documentary "Time Stand Still" in Cinemas One Night Only

‘Rush | Time Stand Still’ Rocks U.S. Cinemas on November 3, 2016 Only, Featuring Exclusive Bonus Content and Narration by Paul Rudd

Fathom Events, Concord Music Group and ole Present One Special Night Featuring the Legendary Rock Band’s Highly-Anticipated Documentary and Much More

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In partnership with Concord Music Group and ole, Fathom Events is set to bring an epic one-night cinema event with legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Rush, to fans nationwide with “Rush | Time Stand Still” on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. local time. This event, narrated by Paul Rudd, provides an intimate look into the band’s sold-out final (“R40”) tour and the unique relationship Rush has with their devoted fans. With more than 40 million records sold worldwide and countless sold-out tours, Rush – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart – remains one of the most popular, inventive and influential groups in rock history, and this event is a night for their passionate and loyal fans to celebrate their storied career.

    @FathomEvents News: Rush #TimeStandStill documentary rocks cinemas nationwide Nov. 3 Only

In addition to the documentary, fans will also view exclusive extras including Rush | A Salute to Kings – a 20-minute in-depth discussion with Gene Simmons (KISS), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart), Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) and the band’s producer Nick Raskulinecz, as they share their unique stories about Rush at home and away for over 40 years.

Tickets for “Rush | Time Stand Still” can be purchased beginning Friday, October 7, 2016, online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 430 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

In 2015, Rush went out for a 40th anniversary tour. At the time the R40 tour was rumored to be their last tour – an end to Rush’s life on the road together. “Rush | Time Stand Still” follows this farewell journey. Exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the band and crew throughout the tour provide the raw and vivid emotional undertones of this feature-length film. At its core are Rush’s devoted fans, and their undying devotion and quirky sense of ownership are on full display as the R40 tour comes to a crescendo at the “Fabulous” Forum in Los Angeles. Personal stories highlight the importance Rush holds in their lives and the lasting impressions of their extensive catalog. For Rush, they are quick to acknowledge the role their fans have played in their success, which makes the reality that this might be the last so difficult. Candid interviews with Lee, Lifeson and Peart bring “Rush | Time Stand Still” to an emotional conclusion for a band who built their career the old-fashioned way; one show at a time.

“Rush are in the pantheon of the all-time greatest rock and roll groups,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “‘Rush | Time Stand Still’ brings the behind-the-scenes story of their R40 tour to the big screen. The cinema’s big sound/screen experience is the best environment to bring Rush’s legions of fans together for this personal celebration of one of the biggest classic rock bands of all time.”


About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions such as the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live’s Hamlet, sporting events like FS1 Presents USA v Mexico, concerts with Roger Waters and One Direction, the TCM Presents classic film series and faith-based events such as The Drop Box and Four Blood Moons. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 887 locations and 1,354 screens in 181 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About Concord Bicycle Music:
Concord Bicycle Music is one of the largest independent recorded music and publishing companies in the world. With offices in Beverly Hills, New York, Nashville and Cleveland, Concord Bicycle Music is comprised of Concord Music Group and The Bicycle Music Company. Concord Music Group primarily manages the company’s recorded music activities, while The Bicycle Music Company oversees publishing and rights management.

Concord Bicycle Music's portfolio of more than 10,000 active album recordings includes at least 243 Grammy winners and 370 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum releases. Concord Bicycle Music's songbook includes over 120,000 copyrighted works and more than 750 Billboard chart hits.

The company’s celebrated family of labels includes Bicycle, Concord, Fantasy, Fearless, Hear Music, HighTone, Kidz Bop, Loma Vista, Milestone, Nitro, Prestige, Razor & Tie, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Telarc, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Wind-up.

Concord Bicycle Music is owned by Barings Alternative Investments, Sound Investors, and seventy institutional and individual partners, including forty members of the company’s management team. Barings Alternative Investments is a leading investor in intellectual property assets including music, other copyrights, filmed content and patents and trademarks, with over $7.4 billion in total assets under management. At the forefront of intellectual property valuation, acquisition and utilization, the Concord Bicycle Music investment underscores our partners’ belief in the lasting and appreciating global value of superior original entertainment content.

About ole:
ole is one of the world’s foremost music publishing and rights management companies with investments of over $550M. Founded in 2004, with operations in Toronto, Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and London, ole is engaged in IP acquisitions, creative development, and worldwide rights management. The ole catalog includes over 50,000 songs and 60,000 hours of TV and film music across all genres. Copyrights under ole’s control include songs recorded by artists such as Rush, Taylor Swift, Timbaland, Backstreet Boys, Beyoncé, Blake Shelton, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Michael Jackson, One Direction and Rihanna.

ole operates a robust label services arm under the umbrella of ole label services. The division includes noted Rock label, Anthem, the label home of Rush, Big Wreck, Ian Thornley, Steven Page, The Tea Party. Anthem Legacy imprint includes catalog recordings by such artists as Max Webster, Ian Thomas. Included under OLS is red dot, artist development and incubator label that has developed and up-streamed artists including Charlie Worsham, Haley Reinhart, Josh Dorr, Sam Grow, George Canyon and Jordan Davis. www.majorlyindie.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 14th to 20th, 2016 - Update #50

Support Leroy on Patreon.

POLITICS - From TheWrap:  Jeb Bush suspends presidential campaign.

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CRIME - From RSN:  The last of "The Angola Three" is ordered released from prison.

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OBITS - From TheWrap:  The author Umberto Eco has died at the age 84.  He was the author of the international best-seller, "The Name of the Rose," which was adapted into a film released in 1986.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From TheNation:  Why Hillary Clinton does not deserve the Black vote.

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OBIT:  From Variety:  Haper Lee, the author of the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died at the age of 89 (Fri.., Feb. 19th, 2016).

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MOVIES - From HitFix:  Why "dumping" Blade Runner 2 in January 2018 is a good idea.

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CULTURE - From YahooCelebrity:  Shia LaBeouf in an elevator for 24 hours.

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POLITICS - From RSN:  Michelle Alexander - We will be our revolution, not politicians.

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  New details on "John Wick 2."

POLITICS - From SeattleTimes:  Kentucky Senate approves two marriage licenses to - one for straight couples and one for gay.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Amazon has the North American distribution rights to Woody Allen's next film, which stars Kristen Stewart.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  The Blade Runner sequel, which stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, will be released in January 2018.

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POLITICS - From RSN:  Forest Whitaker on securing a future for child soldiers.

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POLITICS - From Politico:  Cornell West on why Bernie Sanders is better for Black people than Hillary Clinton.

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TECH - From WashPost:  Apple CEO Tim Cook releases a statement about opposing an FBI order.

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MUSIC - From WashPost:  Yet, Beyonce does not care.

BLACK LIVES MATTER - From WashPost:  It's Beyonce's fault?

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CULTURE - From WashPost:  San Francisco "tech bro" laments homeless people ruining his view.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From VICE:  Chicago cop sues the people he victimized.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" begins production with new cast members.

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MOVIES - From THR:  "The Hurt Locker" wins a long-running "publicity rights" lawsuit in an appeals court.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-winner Julianne Moore is in talks to play the villain in "The Kingsman 2."

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POLITICS - From RSN:  Robert Reich - "The Death of the Republican Party."

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OBITS - From Variety:  The actor George Gaynes died at the age of 98 on Monday, Feb. 15th, 2016.  He was best known for his roles on the TV show, "Punky Brewster," and in seven "Police Academy" movies.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Now, that Deadpool has made Ryan Reynolds a box office star again, he is trying to get into big sci-fi pic, "Life."

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  FOX wants the next Wolverine movie to be R-rated... so predictable in the wake of R-rated "Deadpool's" success.

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MUSIC - From Mashable:  An anti-Beyonce protest rally turns to something good.

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MOVIES - From Mashable:  A review of the creepy new film, "The Witch," with a trailer for the film.

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OBITS - From TheWrap:  Vanity, the singer who was a protege of musical icon Prince, has died at the age of 57 on Monday, February 15, 2016.  She was the lead vocalist of Prince's girl group, Vanity 6, and had a hit with the song "Nasty Girl."

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COMICS - From YahooTV:  James Gunn delivers smack down to fake Hollywood executives over the success of "Deadpool."

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AWARDS - From YahooMusic:  Complete list of Grammy winners - updated.

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TV - From Yahoo:  Recap of "No Way Out," the midseason debut of "The Walking Dead."


BLACK LIVES MATTER - From the New York DailyNews:  Yes, the New York City Police Department can throw you out of your apartment... if you are Black and Brown... even if you have not committed a crime.

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CRIME - From WFMY:  Did you know that the FBI arrested, Cliven Bundy, the rancher who had the standoff with federal officials?

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From NPR:  Federal grand jury begins in Eric Garner case.

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POLITICS - From RSN:  Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone says that the media continues to ignore the nation's most serious issues.

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COMICS - From CBB:  New Johnny Bullet (Episode #61).

From CBB:  New Johnny Bullet (#61) in French.

From CBB: Chapter 2, page 4

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POLITICS - From EcoWatch:  Mark Ruffalo - "There is no fracking that can be done safely."

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POLITICS - From Fusion:  Latino celebrities line-up against Republican "Anti-immigrant fear mongering."

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  Dave Grohl serenades Lionel Richie at MusiCares.

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AWARDS - From TheWrap:  BAFTA Awards winners.

From Variety:  A BAFTA analysis.

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STAR TREK - From the NYPost:  William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy had not spoken to one another for the last five years of his life.

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SPORTS - From the New York DailyNews:  Apparently, back in the mid-1990s, Super Bowl hero Peyton Manning sexually assaulted a woman when he was a student at Tennessee.  It has been covered up for years.

From the DailyNews:  Meanwhile, Cam Newton is treated like the rapist.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 2/12 to 2/14/2016 weekend box office is "Deadpool."  It's $135 million estimated take is a record for the opening of an R-rated movie.

From YahooTV:  An analysis on Deadpool's box office success.

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MOVIES:  From DarkHorizons:  Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd will play a married couple in "An Ideal Home."

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MOVIES - From YahooNews:  Sony releases a short video announcing that the first full trailer for the new "Ghostbusters" film will be released March 3rd, 2016.

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COMICS - From CBR:  DC Comics releases cover art for its April event, "Super League."

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AWARDS - From BAFTA:  Here are your 2016 BAFTA nominees.  Awards ceremony begins soon.

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AWARDS - From Deadline:  2016 Writers Guild Award winners; "Spotlight" and "The Big Short" lead.

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From WashPost:  The paper's announcement of the death of Supreme Justice Antonin Scalia on Sat., Feb. 13th, 2016.

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VIDEO:

From YouTube:  Director Adam McKay talks about his film, "The Big Short," with Michael Lewis, who wrote the book upon which the film is based.

Marvel's Ant-Man and Hulk Begin the Hunt for the Coca-Cola Mini Cans

Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Incredible Hulk Clash for the First Time in an Epic Battle for Coca-Cola’s Mini Can

Sometimes you just want a little Coca-Cola

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Super Bowl Sunday evening, millions of viewers witnessed a David and Goliath-style brawl between Super Heroes for the ultimate prize – an ice-cold Coca-Cola Mini Can. Debuting during the Big Game’s second quarter, the 60-second ad gave viewers something small to consider as Coca-Cola reintroduced its 7.5-ounce Mini Can to America.

    “Teaming up with Coca-Cola for such an exciting project on a larger-than-life stage is just the beginning of a broader partnership”

Coca-Cola’s advertisement – “Coke Mini” – was developed in collaboration with Marvel and featured two of the world’s most popular Super Heroes – The Incredible Hulk and the tiny, yet astonishing Ant-Man. In the spot, the diminutive Ant-Man, voiced by actor Paul Rudd, attempts to swipe a Coca-Cola Mini Can from the refrigerator in Dr. Bruce Banner’s lab, only to be caught by the doctor mid-heist. In a fit of rage, Banner turns into Hulk and chases the tiny hero through busy city streets. Ultimately cornered, Ant-Man surrenders the Mini Can, but not before helping Hulk, whose fingers are too large to open the Coca-Cola Mini Can. Clearly friends, not foes, The Hulk and Ant-Man enjoy a little ice-cold Coca-Cola refreshment – and a special moment together – as the sun sets over a sweeping cityscape. “Sometimes you just want a little Coca-Cola” closes the spot, which fades to black, marking the kickoff of a virtual hunt for limited edition, Marvel-themed Coca-Cola Mini Cans.

“Trends in the U.S. are driving smaller package sizes. This ad recognizes the trends and celebrates our smallest pack, the Coca-Cola Mini Can,” said Emmanuel Seuge, Senior Vice President, Content, Coca-Cola North America. “Coca-Cola’s ‘One Brand’ strategy puts the irresistible taste and feeling of an icy-cold Coca-Cola at the center of our storytelling. There is no better partner than Marvel, and no better platform than the Big Game, to bring this story to life in an epic and meaningful way – for the fans and for our brand.”

The airing of “Coke Mini” kicks off a virtual hunt for Marvel-themed Coca-Cola Mini Cans, which feature six of the world’s best-known heroes – Hulk, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Iron Man and Falcon. Each day through February 14, Coca-Cola will release hidden clues (known as “Easter eggs”) through its social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Each individual “Easter egg” will unlock a limited number of cans and provide young adults direction for the chance to obtain a limited edition six-pack of their own. Marvel-themed, limited-edition Coca-Cola Mini Cans are not available for sale in retail outlets – and only available while supplies last.

“Americans are looking for greater variety from their beverages, and we’re helping shape consumer choice through smaller packaging options,” said Andy McMillin, Senior Vice President, Coca-Cola Trademark, Coca-Cola North America. “Smaller packages are a top priority for us in 2016, and so is making people more aware of the variety of choices they have across the entire Coca-Cola Trademark. ‘Coke Mini’ is an early example of our commitment to smaller packages. The partnership with Marvel is a bold and entertaining new way to drive home the choice of smaller packaging options available in our portfolio.”

This is the 10th consecutive year Coca-Cola commercials have appeared during the Big Game broadcast. Coca-Cola worked with Wieden + Kennedy (in Portland, Ore.) and Disney to create “Coke Mini.”

“Teaming up with Coca-Cola for such an exciting project on a larger-than-life stage is just the beginning of a broader partnership,” said Mindy Hamilton, SVP, Global Partnerships, Marvel. “As we build up to the release of Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ we look forward to celebrating both brands by creating some truly special moments for fans throughout the year.”


About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero™, vitaminwater®, POWERADE®, Minute Maid®, Simply®, Georgia® and Del Valle®. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About Marvel Entertainment
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 more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2016 MARVEL

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Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly Talk "Marvel's Ant-Man"

This Q&A was provided to the press by Disney's public relations and marketing partners.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PAUL RUDD AND EVANGELINE LILLY FOR THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF MARVEL’S ANT-MAN

The latest evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the newest member of the Avengers: Marvel’s Ant-Man. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit. Full of humor and heart, as well as awesome special effects, this action-packed adventure will shortly be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD – complete with never-before-seen deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, a gag reel and audio commentary.

To celebrate the exciting in-home release, we talk to Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly – who play Scott Lang/Ant Man and Hope Van Dyne – to discover their thoughts on the daring heist adventure…

Q:  Ant-Man is an iconic new character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How much comic book research did you undertake when you signed up for the role, Paul?

Paul:  Growing up, I didn’t know about this character, so I read a lot of comics before we started shooting the movie and writing the screenplay. I did a lot of research and I tried to get into his mindset as much as possible. To prepare for the film shoot, there was also all of the physical training that I wanted to throw myself into in order to feel as though I could play the part. Not only did I want to be convincing, but that also helped me feel comfortable in the role. I enjoyed being able to do shoulder rolls and flips for the first time in my life.

Q:  Does this mean you were able to tackle a lot of the stunts and fight scenes in the movie?

Paul: I did some of them; I did as much as I could do. Even when Scott is hidden in the suit and the helmet, the director wanted me to act out the scenes because you can tell when I’m not inside. You can tell when it’s me just by the way I move. However, it wasn’t all me. I had a great stuntman who could put on the suit and do the really heavy lifting. I still did a lot of the fighting, though. I worked with a gymnast who taught me all kinds of tumbling and very light parkour. It takes a while to really get it down.

Q:  How else did you physically prepare for the role?

Paul:  I didn’t eat anything for about a year and I worked out all the time. I took the Chris Pratt approach, which was to just basically eliminate anything fun for about a year. That’s a good way to prepare to play a superhero. But again, it also helped me feel the part.

Q:  How comfortable did you feel in the Ant-Man suit?

Paul:  I’m biased because I loved the suit. I think it’s the coolest-looking suit of all of them, so I loved wearing it. It was not too uncomfortable, so I’d wear it all the time – even on my days off. Something happens when you get into it. It’s inevitable. I would stand differently and I would feel different. I’d feel like Ant-Man in that thing.

Evangeline:  Even though you looked like a total dork!

Paul: Ha ha! Yes, thanks. They kept the sound stages a little bit cooler because the suit didn’t really breathe that well, but it helped me feel the part. It was cool. I would sometimes catch myself and think, ‘Gosh, this thing is amazing-looking!’

Q:  Let’s talk about your character, Evangeline. Hope Van Dyne has been praised by fans for being the biggest badass in the movie. Did you feel like you were playing a full-on superhero, even though she doesn’t wear a superhero costume?

Evangeline:  That was the most exciting thing for me about the role. While we were filming and during post-production, there was a lot of buzz on the internet: “Is Evangeline playing the Wasp? Is she a superhero?” I had a lot of questions directed my way about that, but I couldn’t have felt more comfortable or happier saying that Hope is a really capable, very powerful force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t have a superpower and she doesn’t put on a fancy suit and look dorky in it. My super-suit was my power suit that I would go to work in to be a high-level scientist and a senior member on the board of a very powerful corporation. I think that’s a fantastic example for young women. Playing the role of female scientist in a world where mostly scientists are men is a great role to play.

Q:  When the Wasp costume is revealed at the end of the movie, Hope declares: “It’s about damn time.” Did you feel like you were speaking for all womankind in finally getting this intense female superhero moment?

Evangeline:  Amen and touché. I think that there is a lot of excitement with the female audience about this character in general, and about the fact that Marvel are really, really taking female characters very seriously. Looking at their line-up, you can see that they have great intentions.

Q:  How much effort went into the creation of your feisty female character?

Evangeline: As a woman who came into a predominantly male film, I had a great time working with the director, Peyton Reed, and with the producers on this character because I could see a hunger in them to really do right by Hope. I know they want to do right by their female fans and the female audience. When I pick a role, one of the things that I aspire to is that somebody’s parent will come up to me after the film to say, “My daughter idealizes that character. You’re her hero.” That’s what we aim for, especially with this brand. We’re in the business of making heroes.

Q:  Talking of youngsters… What does your son think of you playing a superhero, Paul?

Paul:  This is the first thing I’ve ever done that they're legitimately jazzed about. My daughter is still a bit young, but my son can see it -- his friends know about it, and that's great. We were at Disneyland for an Ant-Man event a while ago and I’ll never forget the look on his face when he was watching a preview scene. As soon as it ended, he looked at me and said: “That’s awesome!” Every time a commercial comes on, they yell, “Dad, Dad, Dad!” They're so excited and I’ve never experienced that. It's wonderful to be able to share this with them.

Q:  What do you think of the father-daughter storyline in Marvel’s Ant-Man? Does it add another level of depth to the character?

Paul:  In regard to the father-daughter theme, that was the thing that I hung the whole story on. You can have a movie with amazing effects, brilliant visuals, a lot of action, humor and whatever – but whenever you see something that you can connect to that’s emotionally resonant, it stays with you in a very different way. I think that’s the key to any movie and that’s what I thought about throughout this whole film. That is what the movie is about.

Evangeline:  And with Bobby Cannavale’s character, Paxton, and Cassie [Paxton’s stepdaughter/Scott’s daughter]; I thought it was really cool that there was also the stepfather and daughter relationship.

Paul: I also think there’s an interesting father-son dynamic with Hank Pym [played by Michael Douglas] and Darren Cross [played by Corey Stoll], so the whole idea of parents and children runs throughout the movie. I think that’s the thing that’s most relatable. I think it’s great.

ENDS

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Paul Rudd Discovers His Thoughts on Ant-Man

This Q&A was provided to the press by Disney's public relations and marketing partners.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PAUL RUDD FOR THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF MARVEL’S ANT-MAN

The latest evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the newest member of the Avengers: Marvel’s Ant-Man. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit. Full of humor and heart, as well as awesome special effects, this action-packed adventure will shortly be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD – complete with never-before-seen deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, a gag reel and audio commentary.

To celebrate the exciting in-home release, we talk to actor and screenwriter Paul Rudd – who plays Scott Lang/Ant Man – to discover his thoughts on the daring heist adventure…

Q:  What does the home entertainment release of Marvel’s Ant-Man mean to you?

RUDD:  When you work on a project like this, you put your heart and soul into it. You work on it for a long time and you’re proud of it, so you certainly want it to be seen. It’s really nice to know that people like the movie enough to want to buy it on DVD and Blu-ray to watch repeatedly at home. 

Q:  How much do you enjoy the bonus extras that are released with the Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD versions of movies?

RUDD:  Whenever there’s a movie that I really love, I always get the Blu-ray to hear the commentary. I want to listen to the voiceover and see deleted scenes because it’s a little bit like taking a film class. I always think it’s really cool to hear directors talk about what they are trying to accomplish with a specific scene. It’s fun to hear their stories, but I find it most interesting when it gets technical. I think you can learn a lot from the extras, and I love the thought of hearing about what was going on while people were shooting a project. It’s like being privy to hearing conversations that you aren’t normally privy to. 

Q:  Did you work on many Ant-Man scenes that didn’t make it into to the final cut of the movie?

RUDD:  There were quite a few scenes that you didn’t see in the [big screen version of the] movie, so you’ll definitely see some of them on the Blu-ray. Working on this script, one of the first things I thought of was: if you steal a suit and then you stumble across what this suit can do – and you’ve just gotten out of jail and you’re a thief – what would you do? There was a whole montage scene that we called ‘the wish-fulfillment sequence’ and I always figured it would be a fun part of the movie. We came up with lots of different scenarios and things that I could do in the suit. We shot a bunch of those, but they didn’t make it to the theatrical version.

Q:  Marvel loves to hide Easter eggs and secret references within their movies. Were you thinking about these when you were writing the screenplay?

RUDD:  Not really. At that point in the process, you’re just dealing with the story at hand. [Marvel’s Ant-Man co-writer] Adam McKay and I were aware that we were making a heist movie, so you start with the heist structure. It seems like in every heist movie, the thieves do a test run and it never goes well, so we sat with that idea for a while. We had fun coming up with different scenarios. For example, what if Ant-Man wound up fighting somebody that’s not just an average guy? What if it was one of The Avengers? We’d think of things like that for the movie we’re working on, but we never have ideas like, ‘Oh, we could do this now and we can connect the dots three movies later.’

Q:  At what stage did you start to think about the stinger scene at the end of the credits, when the Wasp costume is revealed?

RUDD:  I never know where those are going, what they are doing, or even if they’ll do one, so sometimes those ideas come around later. However, I always knew that this movie was going to be a good introduction to Wasp. That was in the script, so as we were writing it we were thinking it would be part of the movie. I didn’t know how they were going to separate it from our story; they figure out some of that stuff in post-production.

Q:  At what stage did you know that Falcon was going to be part of Marvel’s Ant-Man? Did you consider any other characters from The Avengers for the scene?

RUDD:  That was a scene we created when we were writing the screenplay. At first, we were thinking, ‘Oh gosh, Ant-Man should fight an Avenger. How great would it be to see him fight an Avenger? No one would see it coming.’ And then we pitched it to Marvel. We said, “Falcon would be cool. That would be a really interesting fight.” We ran it by Kevin Feige and he agreed.

Q:  Many fans were blown away by that scene. How tough was it to keep Falcon’s participation in the storyline secret?

RUDD:  It was really, really hard. But to be honest, it’s hard to keep anything secret. There are people on the hunt to find out any kind of information, so you’re always thinking, ‘I hope this doesn’t get out.’ You always hope for the best, but you’re always thinking that something will leak. It’s impossible to keep everything secret.

Q:  But that scene was a complete surprise for the audience…

RUDD:  Yeah, which was great. Part of the fun of going to see a movie is down to the fact that you want to be surprised. Scenes like that are a thrill for people who are really passionate about the story. 

Q:  How did you come up with the idea for the terrifying bunny toy in the movie? It’s another scene-stealer!

RUDD:  When my son was a baby, he was really into a show called Boohbah, which was a very weird show. It got me thinking that Scott and his daughter should have a connection that only they share. I thought the idea of him giving her a birthday gift of a very weird stuffed animal would be funny, as well as sweet and interesting. And it’s not saccharin. It’s not like he’s giving her a teddy bear or something like that. I wanted it to be an unidentifiable thing, similar to a Boohbah or a Teletubby – but we would make up our own. That’s how I imagined it, but I never wrote it in the screenplay as a terrifying-looking bunny. 

Q:  Did you have much input into the look of the bunny?

RUDD:  When we were getting ready to shoot the movie, they brought it out and showed it to me – and I was actually bummed out about it. I told them it wasn’t what I wanted; that it’s not cool for a father to give his daughter something this terrifying. Plus, it was so tiny. I know he has no money, but it was going against what I imagined in my mind. To the credit of Peyton Reed – and this is why he’s the director of the movie – he said he thought it was good, and that it was what we wanted to go with. He had OK’d it, as had [President of Marvel Studios] Kevin Feige, who knows what’s up – and they were right. But it was something that was always a sticking point with me. I’m like, “I don’t want to give her a terrifying-looking rabbit!” 

Q:  Did the bunny have a name in your script?

RUDD:  No, it wasn’t even a bunny in the script. You know what it was? I think I put down as a cat.

Q:  Which scene in the movie is your proudest achievement?

RUDD: When Falcon swoops in; that was cool. Even when we were shooting it, or even when we were writing it, we were thinking, ‘Oh, wow… The hairs on my neck are standing up because this could be such a cool movie moment. Does this mean that the other Avengers will now know about his existence?’ It was fun to think about that kind of stuff. 

Q:  It’s been revealed that Ant-Man appears in Captain America: Civil War. What’s it like to work with Captain America actor Chris Evans?

RUDD:  It’s been really great fun, and it’s also made this whole experience seem much more real in a way. Well, I always knew it was real and I certainly felt like I was part of the Marvel family with Ant-Man – but to stand around and see Captain America, and to see Iron Man, and to know that I’m in scenes with them was just mind-bending. It was really cool.

Q:  Do you get nervous before scenes with such an esteemed group of actors?

RUDD:  I get nervous because I’m walking into a pretty well-established group that a lot of people know and love. To be the new kid at school was always a bit of a nerve-racking experience, but it was more exciting than anything else. It’s been great.

ENDS

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Review: "Marvel's Ant-Man" is a Tiny Marvel

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 47 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon.]

Ant-Man (2015)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR:  Peyton Reed
WRITERS:  Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish & Adam McKay and Paul Rudd; from a story by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish (based on the comic book created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Russell Parker
EDITORS:  Dan Lebental and Colby Parker, Jr.
COMPOSER:  Christophe Beck

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, Michael Pena, David Dastmalchian, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Hayley Atwell, John Slattery, Martin Donovan, Garrett Morris, Anthony Mackie, and Stan Lee

Ant-Man is a 2015 superhero film and sci-fi action-comedy film directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Marvel Studios.  The film focuses on the Marvel Comics character, Ant-Man, who first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 (cover date: September 1962) and was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby.  Ant-Man the movie focuses on an ex-con who is given a super-suit that shrinks the wearer to microscopic size while increasing the wearer's strength, so that he can use it to pull off a heist that will save the world.

Ant-Man opens in the year 1989.  Scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) discovers that his colleagues at S.H.I.E.L.D. are attempting to duplicate his shrinking technology, which he calls the “Pym particle,” so he quits.  Pym once used that shrinking tech to power his “Ant-Man” suit.  In the present day, the now-retired Pym discovers that his protégé at Pym Technologies, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), is also trying to duplicate the “Pym particle.”  In fact, Cross is very close to doing so and has even built his own shrinking suit, which he calls “Yellowjacket.”

Pym and his estranged daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), believe that the only way to stop Cross is to steal the “Yellowjacket” suit and all of Cross' data and research.  To do that, they will have to break into the heavily-secured Pym Technologies building, and that means someone will have to wear the Ant-Man suit.  Is down-on-his-luck ex-con and master thief, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), the perfect person to be the new Ant-Man?

As Marvel's superheroes go, Ant-Man is D-list, as far as familiarity with the public is concerned.  To bring him to the big screen, Marvel needed the right actor.  Paul Rudd is the right actor; he is irresistibly likable.  I have been a fan of his since I first saw him in Clueless about two decades ago.  His affable charm sells the idea of Scott Lang as a well-meaning criminal with a just cause.  If you find Ant-Man to be a silly concept, Rudd makes it all seem less so.  Everything about him says just-right.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cast is pretty good.  Corey Stall, who has been giving dramatic heft to FX's summer vampire television series, “The Strain,” since 2014, is Marvel's best villain-of-the-first-movie since Jeff Bridges menaced the first Iron Man film.  Michael Peña as Luis, Scott's friend, is good, although the character sometimes seems a bit like an out-of-place oddity.  Evangeline Lilly is lost in make-up as Hope van Dyne, who is also an oddity in this film.

I guess “odd” is the theme for Ant-Man the movie.  I can't believe how much I like this movie.  I saw Ant-Man at an early matinee on a Friday afternoon.  There were a few children in the audience, and they loved the movie, often squealing with delight.  I was dignified enough to force my squeals into hearty laughs.

Of all the Marvel Studios films, Ant-Man is the one that most effectively uses the avalanche of CGI and special effects we have come to expect of modern summer blockbusters, fantasy films, and superhero movies.  I would dare say that just about every use of computer-generated imagery and effects in Ant-Man is in context, serving the narrative.  Ant-Man is like The Matrix (at least the first one) in that all of the movie and computer magic is justified.  I want a sequel, so I'm asking the rest of the world to join me in loving ants and Ant-Man as you never thought you could or would.

8 of 10
A

Sunday, July 19, 2015


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