#American superhero comedy film

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

#The Mask #1994 #90s #90's #American superhero comedy film #superhero comedy film #comics #Cameron Diaz #Stanley Ipkiss #The Mask franchise #Jim Carrey #my gif #gif #my edit

[wanderinginksplot]

What to watch during the writer's strike:

Don't pay attention to companies who blame writers for delayed movies and television shows! The WGA strike comes from people who are trying to make things better - not only for themselves and other writers, but the films and tv shows we all love.

While we wait for a resolution, I thought I would share some existing television shows that I enjoy. I didn't bother with too much well-known stuff. Instead, I focused on shows I feel many people missed because of the glut of content that all premiered at once over the last few years. (I may make another one of these for movies later on, but this one is about tv.)

[Update: Movie version here]

Feel free to add on! Just try to give a quick, spoiler-free synopsis for the show and the streaming service where it can be found.

List under the cut!

Netflix:

The Good Place (2016-2020) - A 'bad' woman is accidentally sent to heaven. She and her moral philosophy professor of a soulmate try to save her soul by making her a better person. Genre: Comedy with deeper implications and one of the best endings in television history.

Russian Doll (2019-2022) - When Nadia dies at her birthday party, she's more than a little confused to come back. Especially when it keeps happening. Genre: Time loop drama with a wicked sense of humor and a dash of theoretical physics. Potentially not ended?

Narcos (2015-2017) - The fight of the American DEA and the Colombian army against cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar and his reign of terror. Genre: Drama with thrilling elements. Lots of violence, some sex and language. Lots of subtitles. Features Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook, if you need some extra incentive.

Derry Girls (2018-2022) - Five teens grow up in Derry, Ireland in the 1990s, amid the final years of the Troubles, a low-level war that lasted roughly 30 years. Genre: Comedy. Some sexual content, some religious content, less violence than you would expect, and the best nun ever to appear on film.

Arcane (2021-?) - Two sisters are alienated when one accidentally kills their adoptive father. Their different paths threaten the fragile peace of a city already on the breaking point. Genre: Drama with elements of action-adventure. Though it's animated, Arcane's animation is beautifully done with tantalizing steampunk elements that will keep you invested.

Disney+:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020) - If you haven't seen any of the Star Wars animated series, this is a good place to start. Set in the time gap between Episode II and Episode III, this series helps flesh out Anakin Skywalker and the Jedi. It is also a great introduction to some of the characters and plots of The Mandalorian. (Star Wars: Rebels is another good choice.) Genre: Adventure with some drama. Violence and death are a large part of The Clone Wars, but it's usually appropriate for children. The clone troopers will steal your heart!

Gravity Falls (2012-2016) - Dipper Pines and his sister Mabel are sent to Gravity Falls, Oregon to live with their great-uncle for their summer break. But when Dipper finds a mysterious book in the woods, the pair find that Gravity Falls is far more mysterious than it seems... Genre: Adventure with a lot of comedy. Though it's billed as a children's cartoon, Gravity Falls is an intriguing watch with mystery subplots that will keep anyone guessing. It also features a famously strong and cohesive series ending. I was in my late 20s when I first watched this and I was still invested!

Daredevil (2015-2018) - After being blinded as a young boy, Matthew Murdock trained his other senses to replace the sight that he lost. He uses his skills to protect the helpless in the New York City neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen. Genre: Action and superhero. Features a lot of incredibly choreographed violence. (Jessica Jones is also an excellent show to watch, especially if you think of David Tennant as the consummate 'good guy'. He's got range!)

HBO Max (Just 'Max' now, I guess):

Ghosts (2019-2023) - Petty roommate squabbles don't stop just because you're dead! Alison and her husband Mike inherit a house, then a near-death experience allows Alison to see its ghostly inhabitants. Chaos and humor ensue as the ghosts try to adjust to the house's new owners. Genre: Humor. Ghosts is a British sitcom, but since the writers are comedians (writing and performing in Horrible Histories), the show is done in a style that feels more natural to American viewers. Hint: watch the BBC version, not the American one. They're fairly similar, but definitely not the same!

Pushing Daisies (2007-2009) - A pie-maker with the ability to bring back the dead helps to solve murders. He's helped by his once-dead childhood sweetheart. Genre: Comedy with some dramatic elements. Some of the CGI-heavy moments haven't aged particularly well, but the show has a unique premise and an incredibly talented cast!

Hulu:

Abbott Elementary (2021-?) - This mockumentary series showcases an inner-city elementary school in Philadelphia. The teachers and administration do their best for the kids, but they're constrained by budgets and the limitations of the educational system itself. Genre: Comedy mockumentary. Though Abbott Elementary is fictional, some of the issues brought up are all too real. This is a funny and incisive look at the American public school system.

Amazon Prime:

Fleabag (2016-2019) - The unnamed protagonist of the show struggles through life on her own with limited support from her alienated family and the memories of her recently deceased best friend. Genre: Comedy with lots of dramatic elements. Lots of sexual content and references, some language, breaking the fourth-wall, and several characters you just long to hit. I watched the second season in a single day, that's how good this was.

Unknown Streaming Service:

Black Sails (2014-2017) - This prequel to Treasure Island features elements from the book, original characters, and real pirates from history in a setting that emphasizes realism. Captain Flint and his crew search for a legendary prize... one that might allow them to claim Nassau for their own. Genre: Action and adventure. Think Game of Thrones, but with pirates. Incredibly well-written and well-acted with gorgeous scenery, LGBTQ representation, and just enough historical accuracy to keep things grounded. Black Sails also boasts one of the best endings ever given for a television show.

Like I said, please feel free to reblog and add your own television show recommendations onto this list! There are plenty of things to watch and plenty of ways to support the WGA strike that don't involve giving in to big studios.

#the good place #russian doll #narcos #derry girls #arcane #star wars the clone wars #star wars rebels #gravity falls #daredevil #ghosts #bbc ghosts #pushing daisies #abbott elementary #fleabag #black sails #television #television show #tv shows #tv recommendations #wga strike #recommendations #ink's life

[oswincoleman]

A great new interview with Jenna Coleman about Jackdaw, The Jetty, The Sandman, and her plans for the future!

The Jetty is set to release in September, and she’s currently filming Sandman season 2!

“I feel like I’ve definitely done my time of thrillers and murderers,” Coleman says. “My time of murdering and… thrilling? is done.”

She is on the lookout for “emotionally liberated” characters. “I kind of want someone who’s a bit more immediate, I think. I’ve done a lot of brooding, interior, tense anxiety pieces.” The irony is that the more of these she does, the more of them she’s sent. Why? Because she’s good.

Perhaps she might like to do more comedy? Coleman lights up. “I keep telling my agent I’m really funny. But I don’t think she’s quite taken it on board yet. I would love to do some more comedy. I love dark comedy.”

There was a bit of an “unreality” to the hysterical Comic Con level of recognition she encountered with Doctor Who, and she doesn’t seem itching to chase it.

If there were some kind of superhero call she’d be open to the possibility but acknowledges that it’s often hard to find a sufficiently “complex, nuanced character” in the heightened world of comic-book films – which is why she loves The Sandman, the second series of which she is filming now.

So in Jenna Coleman’s future there may be more theatre, and perhaps there will be more comedy, if her agent can be convinced. If it’s Geordie, American, Welsh or regal you want, look no further. She can wear a crown, she can fire a gun. She can do it all. She’s made it, and it was always inevitable.

#jenna coleman #jenna louise coleman #interview #jackdaw #bo #the jetty #ember manning #the sandman #johanna constantine #lady Johanna Constantine

[fuckyeahworldoftaika]

Taika Waititi: “I just want to spend my money and enjoy it”

As he talks about what a fabulous thing it is to be Taika Waititi, he occasionally glances out the window of the hotel to the gin palaces moored in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. So, which one is his?

“They’re all mine. I’m actually trying to get rid of some of these to make room for my QE3.” Everyone in the room laughs – there’s a Disney PR team with camera crew present for a small conveyor belt of local interviews with journalists under instruction not to ask our most prominent global celebrity anything unrelated to his new movie. But Waititi does present as a man who has done quite well for himself. That’s assuming the jewellery that is adorning his fingers, neck and ear is as expensive as it looks. Of course it is. The man’s been on the cover of Vogue, after all, albeit as half of a “power couple” with wife of a year-plus, UK pop star Rita Ora.

It’s not the Listener that has brought up the fruits of his success. Just before the boat quips, Waititi had been pondering the difference between being the young Taika following his creative whims and the 48-year-old one, who now doesn’t have the option of starting things – like multimillion-dollar superhero films – and not finishing them because he can’t be bothered. Add to that, he has so many irons in the fire, there is a risk of a stable overflowing with shoeless horses. That’s whether it’s writing that Star Wars film (“four pages,” he deadpans on how far he’s got), acting in pirate comedy series Our Flag Means Death, making videos for the All Blacks, among other corporate gigs, or supposedly doing remakes of seemingly everything he ever liked growing up. Yes, there is a New Zealand film on his to-do list. More of which later.

To that work-in-progress pile (“I’ve got a few irons underneath the other irons”) you can also add a redo of Mel Brooks’ classic comedy Young Frankenstein. The Jewish-American comedy great liked Waititi’s Hitler-spoofing Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit very much – it reminded him of his own Hitler-spoofing good old days. He asked Waititi if he’d like to remake Young Frankenstein, the 1974 film starring Gene Wilder that was arguably his greatest big-screen comedy. You don’t say no to Mel Brooks. He is 97, after all. That said, Waititi says he could do with a break from the blacksmith shop. Right now, he says, “I just want to spend my money and enjoy it”. Well, reportedly, he has splashed out on that unobtainable thing for many Kiwi artists of his generation – a nice house in Auckland. The NZ Herald last month reported he’d bought a $10.5 million waterfront property in Point Chevalier, supposedly as a base for his joint custody of his two daughters with his former wife, producer Chelsea Winstanley.

We would be discussing his purchase – after all, who doesn’t like a natter about Auckland real estate? – but this interview is taking place back in April. Disney stipulated it couldn’t run until the local release of his new film Next Goal Wins, which it eventually bumped until the end of the year, having made its New Zealand staff redundant in the interim. Next Goal Wins is based on the true story – there was an earlier doco of the same name – about the American Samoan football team, the biggest losers of any Fifa World Cup qualifying round, having gone down 31-0 to Australia. It stars many familiar faces including Oscar Kightley, Beulah Koale, Dave Fane (“all of my mates – I think Robbie Magasiva is the only one not in this”). And, as the Palagi saviour coach, is Michael Fassbender, an actor not exactly known for his comedy. He plays Dutch-American Thomas Rongen, who became the team’s coach and lifted them from the bottom of the Fifa rankings, a little.

It’s a film that seems to have been stuck in extra time. It was shot in Hawai’i in 2019. Then came the pandemic, which paused production for a year. Along the way, Armie Hammer, who played a minor role as an American Fifa official, became persona non grata due to a storm of sexual abuse allegations, which required reshoots with comic actor Will Arnett subbing in. “I was actually already changing that character in the edit and Will came in and played a different version of it,” says Waititi, who isn’t the first director caught with a cast member who’s acquired a toxic reputation. But all his films, even his modest budget New Zealand ones at the start of his career, have taken years. “This is just the normal Taika schedule … I started working on Star Wars three years ago. By the time I finish, it will probably be another four years from now.” Next Goal Wins debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and opened in North America last week. The reviews have been decidedly mixed. That’s possibly because, like his parody-risking Thor films, it’s trying to be two things at the same time – a feel-good underdog sports film with the coach trying to redeem himself, and a send-up of feel-good sports films.

The American-Samoan team featured Jaiyah Saelua, a fa’afafine who was the first transgender international footballer. Played by fa’afafine actor Kaimana in the film, the character is a big chunk of the story. Some reviews have wondered why the film’s whole focus wasn’t Saelua. Why wasn’t it? “Jaiyah’s story is really interesting, but I was not tempted, because I really wanted it … to be about that relationship between the team and Thomas. But also him and the team, because there are a lot of other interesting characters there … [Jaiyah’s story] wasn’t something that I was massively drawn to as the main thing.” Waititi wanted to keep things light and bright in what he has said is his least cynical film yet. By which he means? “It’s more just that in this film nothing bad happens to anyone. In all of the other films there’s some darkness there. Jojo Rabbit is probably the most cynical, but in a satirical way. But with this film, the message is on the poster: “Be happy.” I think one of the most important parts of the film is when Thomas says, ‘I can’t win’, and Oscar says, ‘Well, then lose, but don’t do it alone, come lose with us.’ That’s a really important thing. If it was in an American’s hands, it would be all about winning … I think it’s good to embrace losing but doing it together.” Waititi isn’t much of a football fan. He played as a kid for a while before switching to rugby. “I played it from, like, eight to 10. I just felt like it was a real white sport, so I was a bit turned off because all of my mates were playing rugby. I just enjoyed playing touch a lot more than waiting for that round ball to come my way … ‘Can someone, like, kick it to me?’ “Notoriously, soccer is one of the worst things to try to film, because it just always comes across as super boring … It’s bad enough watching it when you’re waiting for something to happen in a big game. But it’s just a hard sport to make look interesting on film. And I think we did a really good job.” Whatever Next Goal Wins does at the box office – and it’s unlikely to be troubling Oscar voters – you suspect Waititi’s life and career will continue on its seemingly charmed way. According to the man living it, it has always been thus.

“It’s like The Truman Show – everything has just been put in front of me, for me. Like, you’ve just been sent in here to entertain me for 15-20 minutes, then you’ll go and these people [the PR team] will do something for me. My mother says this to me all the time … I used to write stories about how the world was on fire and everyone was dying. My parents died and I was the only one who survived. I’m always, like, the star of my own show … This is basically my whole story, just for me.” There are words for that. “It’s called being a Leo. Oh, narcissism? It’s true.” But with that, he says, is the self-doubt of being a fêted figure but feeling a bit of a fake. “It all comes from a deep place of insecurity and imposter syndrome – all the things that everyone else in this industry has – the deep sense of not feeling like you belong here, or that you’ve gotten away with something, and no one’s found out yet. “Most people in this industry have that fear or that sense that it’s either all going to be taken away – the window is going to close – you’re going to be irrelevant soon, or that you’ve somehow stumbled into this undeservedly – that there’s been some sort of glitch or mistake, and no one has noticed that you don’t know what you’re doing. “If anyone asks me, ‘So, how do you make films?’ I don’t know. I don’t know any of the names of the equipment on set. All I know is what I’d like to see as an audience member in a rectangle on a big screen, and I’ll try my hardest to get that. “I think directing in general is just you making decisions fast and confidently, and then people will believe you and follow you.” Does he have anything left to prove? “Nah, I’m good. Film wasn’t even my dream. I didn’t have a dream of doing this, and I’ve already achieved it. I don’t care about anything other than just my happiness and my family.” His marriage to Ora has made him both tabloid-famous and a glossy magazine fixture. He also appears to have met everybody. Yes, he has been starstruck on occasions. Such as when Ora introduced him to Mick Jagger at a party. He gulped, excused himself and departed.

“It was, ‘I’m not going to sit down and talk to you because I’m going to fuck this up, so I’m just going to walk away.’ ‘Have a good night.’ That was enough for me.” He will be busy for the foreseeable future with whatever is next on his Hollywood to-do list. But he does have the makings of a New Zealand film in a drawer somewhere. One of his early short films, Tama Tū, was about six Māori Battalion soldiers in World War II Italy. He’s been tinkering with an idea about a battalion feature. It is the “Don Quixote of all films that every Māori film-maker has been trying to make,” says Waititi. He’s not the only one – Muru director Tearepa Kahi also has one in the works. Waititi feels his is a good 10 years away. “I think the problem is we shouldn’t be making a Saving Private Ryan version of the Māori Battalion film because we’ve already got Saving Private Ryan, right? So, it has to be something that celebrates being Māori – the stories, the cool, amazing stories of the battalion. It’s got to be in our style, which means it has to be entertaining and fun.”

By Russell Baillie, 24 Nov, 2023 And thanks to @sassy1121 for the article

#taika waititi #next goal wins #nz herald

[callmebrycelee]

MY MAN CRUSH MONDAY IS...BRETT GOLDSTEIN

FULL NAME: Brett Goldstein

DATE OF BIRTH: July 17, 1980

PLACE OF BIRTH: London, England

AGE: 43

SIGN: Cancer

BEST KNOWN FOR: Portraying Roy Kent in the American sports comedy-drama television series Ted Lasso; Hercules in the MCU superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder. In addition to being an actor, Brett is also a comedian, writer, producer, and podcaster.

HEIGHT: 5 feet and 11 inches tall

#mcm #man crush #mcm 2023 #man crush monday #man crush mondays #brett goldstein #brown eyes #london england #cancer #roy kent #ted lasso #thor love and thunder

[brokehorrorfan]

The Toxic Avenger Collection will be released on August 29 via Troma. The box set collects all four films in the cult classic superhero horror comedy franchise on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray.

1984's The Toxic Avenger is directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman and written by Joe Ritter. Mitch Cohen, Mark Torgl, Andree Maranda, and Pat Ryan Jr star.

1989's The Toxic Avenger Part II is directed by Herz and Kaufman and written by Gay Partington Terry. Ron Fazio, Phoebe Legere, John Altamura, Rick Collins, Rikiya Yasuoka, Tsutomu Sekine, and Mayako Katsuragi

1989's The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie is written and directed by Herz and Kaufman. Ron Fazio, Phoebe Legere, John Altamura, Rick Collins, Lisa Gaye, Jessica Dublin, and Michael Kaplan star.

2000's Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV is directed by Kaufman from a script he co-wrote with Trent Haaga, Patrick Cassidy, and Gabriel Friedman. David Mattey, Clyde Lewis, Heidi Sjursen, Paul Kyrmse, Joe Fleishaker, Debbie Rochon, and Ron Jeremy star.

The unrated director’s cuts of all four films have been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negatives with HDR as well as English DTS 2.0 Stereo audio. A Toxic Avenger postcard is included. Special features are listed below.

The Toxic Avenger special features:

Introduction by The Toxic Avenger creator Lloyd Kaufman (new)

Audio Commentaries with Casts and Filmmakers

Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Introduction by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Interviews with Actors Jennifer Baptist, Robert Prichard, Mitch Cohen, and Dan Snow

Interview with Co-Director Michael Herz

Interview with Actor Aark Torgl

Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery

Trailers

The Toxic Avenger II special features:

Introduction by The Toxic Avenger creator Lloyd Kaufman (new)

Audio Commentaries with Casts and Filmmakers

Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Introduction by Director Lloyd Kaufman

At Home with Toxie Mockumentary

 Interview with Actress Lisa Gaye

Japanese News Report on the Filming

Radiation March - Short Film Directed by Lloyd Kaufman

The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma

Trailers

The original negative of The Toxic Avenger Part II, while complete, was missing several short dialogue sequences in the opening third, which had been removed for pacing reasons. Although no film materials for these sequences could be located, in order to present the most complete version possible, these short segments were inserted from the highest quality digital master.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie special features:

Introduction by The Toxic Avenger creator Lloyd Kaufman (new)

Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Audio Commentary by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Audio Commentary by Actor Joe Fleishaker

Behind the Scenes of the "Return to Nuke 'em High Vol. 1" screening at MOMA

The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma

Make Your Own Damn Horror Film - Behind the Scenes of Old 37 with Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley

Radiation March - Short Film Directed by Lloyd Kaufman

A Halloween Carol - Short Film Co-directed by Lloyd Kaufman

Rabid Grannies Blu-ray Infomercial

Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV special features:

Introduction by The Toxic Avenger creator Lloyd Kaufman (new)

Audio Commentaries with Casts and Filmmakers

Prologue by Director Lloyd Kaufman

Apocalypse Soon: The Making of Citizen Toxie

Tribute to Lemmy Kilmister

The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma

Trailers

Pre-order The Toxic Avenger Collection.

#the toxic avenger #toxic avenger #troma #lloyd kaufman #horror #80s horror #1980s horror #citizen toxie #debbie rochon #ron jeremy #horror comedy #the toxic avenger 2 #the toxic avenger 3 #dvd #gift

[signalwatch]

The Marvels (2023)

Watched:  11/09/2023

Format:  Alamo Drafthouse

Viewing:  First

Director:  Nia DaCosta

Marvel has been having some issues, of late, with quality and maintaining a fanbase.  I'm not sure why having a fanbase for sci-fi/ fantasy stuff means eventually that the absolute worst people on Earth feel like their opinions should dictate what the rest of the planet sees and what constitutes a "good" Marvel, Star Wars or whatever movie.  But I suppose it's the same reason that people think they get to tell other people they're the only *real* Americans.

I don't want to define the film Captain Marvel or TV show Ms. Marvel by the audience that manages to mix misogyny and racism into rocket fuel for social media, but I will say - in the event of this year's strike by SAG-AFTRA, it's been tough to get much in the way of promotion out there for The Marvels other than dropping trailers, and that's left a gap in the conversation those folks have filled.  It's more likely we'll see the occasional hit-piece by a major industry publication looking for clicks than Disney doing anything worthwhile to actually promote the film on their own.  We coulda really used the lead cast hitting Hot Ones and Good Morning America.

Look, I agree:  Marvel has put out too much content since Endgame, and that's had a deleterious effect on the overall quality of the material.  Even I have been asking "will this be necessary?" as I hear about each new Marvel thing still in the pipeline.  And sometimes you're watching, say, Loki Season 2, and you're thinking "I literally do not care what happens here" because something like "oh noes, the timelines will all collapse" is both meaningless, up it's own ass of the story being about itself, and insanely old hat to us aging comic nerds who've seen timelines and multiverses collapse and expand over and over for our *entire lives*.  And, yes, Superman will still get printed every month.

Movie superheroes still have to have an antagonist, and they still have to wind up in a big crescendo of a finale, but we've seen this dozens of times in the past fifteen years.  You can polish it, put a new coat of paint on it, but eventually it's someone in a slugfest with their evil opposite who has the advantage on paper (but not the heart of a hero).

So what you have left is what you can do with characters.

And that brings us to The Marvels (2023), Marvel Studios' latest offering.  

The movie has mediocre reviews and is tracking to open badly.  I haven't read the reviews, because (a) I already had tickets and was going, and (b) I kinda wanted to write this before I saw what Chris Spectacles of the Akron Observer thought of the film.*  And I didn't want this review to be me addressing the concerns of reviewers.  

I saw it in a 2/3rds full theater on opening night, and with not a child in sight.  I will say the following up top:  

First - there's no post-post-credits sequence to wait for.  Go home after the first couple of them.  This is not a trick.

Second - Before watching this, yes, you will have to have seen Captain Marvel.  You should see Ms. Marvel.  You will want to just skip Secret Invasion, which this movie pretends didn't happen, and that's fine, because that show was quite bad and more confused the MCU than helped it along.

SPOILERS

The Marvels (2023) is not going to change the world.  This is also not going to "save" Marvel Studios, if, indeed, Marvel Studios needs saving, or the *idea* of saving the studio that means anything at all.  

What I'll argue the movie does is provide a fun time at the movies with characters that are a good hang for the movie's speedy, non-stop runtime.  If Guardians of the Galaxy taught Marvel that what you need is a mix of action, comedy, space and family issues, this movie is absolutely a product of that line of thinking.  The Marvels isn't trying to copy Guardians (despite the fact the villain is a version of Ronan who is a mean lady instead of a mean man), but clearly those items were on a whiteboard somewhere while this movie was getting sorted out.  

The movie knows that the villain's plot is going to fail, and knows we, the audience, are just following the beats on that score.  And so it does the unthinkable of late for Marvel:  it uses the plot as an excuse to tell a three-sided story with three solid characters thrust together an inextricably linked, thereby creating a movie that's character driven.  The problems it addresses are personal in nature as much, or more!, than the need to stop Kree Hammer Lady.**

We catch up with the MCU as Kamala Kahn has settled a bit into her role as teen-hero, Ms. Marvel.  She's still very much a kid living with her family (Marvel understands when they've struck character gold).  Meanwhile Carol is in deep space, living with Goose and part of a network of folks helping keep peace across the galaxy, one supposes.  And, working aboard SABRE's orbital base, Monica Rambeau (I think last seen in WandaVision) is putting her powers to some use and being a scientist/ astronaut type.

But it seems since we checked in during the 1990's, the Kree had a civil war that somehow:  (a) messed up their sun? (b) evaporated their oceans and (c) ruined their atmosphere, creating a permanent state of planet-wide nightfall.  Not-Ronan has taken up the mantle and is trying to restore Hala, the Kree homeworld in a very Kree way - by murdering people.  She's obtained the second Quantum Band (Kamala having the first one we'd seen - there are two) and she's using it to open worm holes to...  

Look, the plot is the villainous plot from Spaceballs, and our villain is MegaMaid.  There's really no way around it.  It's not what *I* would have done as a writer, but Spaceballs was also 40 years ago, so... we may have to let this one go.  What's important is that MegaMaid is targeting planets in which Carol Danvers has an emotional investment and stealing their water, air and sun, and that's personal and mean.  But why?  Well, thereby hangs a tale.

But, like I say, it kind of doesn't matter.  She could be unleashing cooties on those planets.  She exists so our heroes get together and figure out their personal stuff.  And that's what the movie is about.

Monica has to figure out what it means that Carol didn't come back for Monica when Maria fell ill, both the why's and the impact.  Kamala has a parasocial relationship with Carol that Carol feels she has to live up to, even as it inspires Kamala and Carol doesn't feel at all like that hero.  But Kamala's hero-worship is kind of the unspoken opposite of how Monica has reacted to learning she has powers of her own.  And Kamala and Monica are complete strangers, navigating knowing each other while also seeing each other's relationship with Carol.  It's complicated stuff!  You could have made a similar indie movie about a movie star, her old friend and a fan, and gotten much of the same effect.  

But this one is in space, action-packed (I mean VERY action packed) and manages to balance the sincere moments with the incredibly silly moments with the pathos of inadvertently causing the self-immolation of Space Nazis.  And, in my opinion, it all worked.  

I liked the singing planet (but they did need to hold to the concept through the battle), I liked the kitten Flerkens and the absolute chaos of the evacuation scene.  I liked Kamala's family dealing with the nonsense of superhero/ SABRE life.  I liked the kooky three-way fights and the "we gotta synch up" montage.  The fight sequences are very well choreographed and work well despite what absolutely should have been a lot of confusion for the audience - ironically, only the audience is in a position to get what's happening. And I very much liked that our heroes *tried* to reason with the mad despot once it was clear they had the upper-hand and offer a way out of this.

In general, I was already in the bag for Brie Larson's take on Carol, and it's interesting to see a version 30 years older and with a lot of new, self-inflicted baggage.  Iman Vellani's Kamala Kahn is an absolute delight and can't wait to see her again.  And Teyonah Parris is very pretty great as my first Captain Marvel, and with decades of baggage to sort through with Carol, the blip, super-powers and how to be a superhero, which, frankly, she doesn't want to be.

Complaints:

So - did the singing planet die?  I have no idea what happened there.  It would be nice to know.  It seemed like everyone was going to die, and no one seems to care.

They basically borrowed the ending of All Star Superman, but didn't do it as well or with much emotional resonance, which is a real bummer.  Now DC can't use it, and this didn't land as well as it could have for Carol.  Felt like it needed a few more beats.

We gotta find more interesting ways to dress aliens.  Bright robes are very 1990's ST:TNG and it keeps happening at Marvel

Space is boring in this movie.  Marvel space was defined by James Gunn, and it is beautiful. Show that candy colored majesty, not ST:TNG white stars (the new Trek knows this).  There's definitely some more creative design they could have done, but maybe less is more if Quantumania was any indicator

Carol sure is good at astro-navigation and everything is apparently cosmically nextdoor in the MCU

I don't understand how the heroes became disentangled

Kamala uses her powers without her bangle, and I didn't know that was a thing

Spoilery Spoilers

It was fun seeing Valkyrie again, and good use of the character in her current role.  Also, sure felt like she and Carol knew each other pretty intimately...  Close to making that happen as Marvel will get, I guess

I don't know who Park Seo-joon is, but he was swoony.  I guess he's a big star?  Probably make the kids very happy

The first post credits scene was met with audible joy from the audience, so here's hoping that works.

The second post credits scene received an involuntary verbal response from me and a few others in the theater.  I like where they're going with this.  X-Men will not work in the MCU, but as close-universe neighbors, seems like a fine idea.  Also, thank goodness that isn't the last we'll see of Lashana Lynch

I was led to believe Richard Ryder/ Nova would appear, he does not.  

(late edit: this movie has the single greatest needle drop in Marvel history)

I don't think this one landed for me exactly as hard as the origins of either Ms. or Captain Marvel, but if the requirement was "I would like to spend time with these people, and see them together in a fun way" this managed that.  It feels unnecessary only in that it only barely strives to move a universe of stories forward and is, instead, self-contained and about these three people and their family/ friends.  It is very necessary as a "we should have solo stories that advance the characters but not carry the universe forward in obvious and awkward ways" sort of way.

Would I watch four more of these?  Yes.  

And thank god they got Nick Fury into a place where it's not a drag to have him around.

Look, I don't know what you people want out of Marvel, but I want something fun I can rewatch without feeling like I'm doing homework.  I like a good adventure and fight scenes and jokes and characters to enjoy.  I suppose I'll check out some reviews, and I think from my laundry list of nits to pick, it's clear I'm not giving this a 5/5, but when all you hear is "underperforming" and "mediocre reviews" in a world with ten movies about Vin Diesel driving cars fast and the general shit people get enthusiastic for, I won't even pretend to know what people consider a win.

*I swear to god, if I see one more person thinking they've got the edgy take on Marvel by saying "I don't consider Marvel movies to be *cinema*...   Dude, we get it.  You're very special and very smart and you can get your "I'm a very smart person on the internet" cookie on your way out the @#$%ing door

**no one is beholden to remember made-up alien names for longer than the name pass by in the credits

#marvel cinematic universe #marvel #marvels #captain marvel #ms. marvel #movies #movie review

[kidvultureinvestigations]

Not to like take funny joke and turn a lecture out of it like somebody’s dad, but as one of the five people who actually thinks Micheal Morbius is kind of a fun character in the comics, I think how terrible the movie is merely a symptom of how the mainstream American populace conceptualizes the medium of comics.

Traditionally American comics, especially those created by the big two publishing houses, Marvel and DC, has been dominated by the superhero genre. There are of course outliers, most of the newspaper strip industry is slice of life comedy, romance and teen comedy books like Archie show up from time to time, and sci-fi, fantasy, horror and noir books pop up from time to time but the public perception of “what comic books are” in America has always leaned towards the Batmans, Supermans, and Spidermans.

However even within the realm of superhero comics there are characters that don’t quite fit into the narrative framework of the superhero quiet as neatly as you’d think. Michael Morbius for example tends to be written as a a tragic little mad scientist gremlin man who lives in the sewers (but still wears a costume with a plunging neckline for some reason) who occasionally shows up, waxes poetic about how tragic his lot in life is gets chased by Spider-Man and lays low for a bit afterwards. Not exactly superhero material but entertaining in a wet rat kind of way. The problem arises however when the film studio got a hold of him.

Basically the way I figure it whenever an American film studio gets a hold of a comic license for adaptation they try to turn it into a cut and dry superhero movie (protag is good guy, here is bad guy, protag must beat up bad guy, protag wins thunderous applause). This works with characters like the avengers because that’s what their stories tend to be about, however not so much if the character(s) you’re adapting aren’t traditional superhero comics characters. Take the Fantastic Four for example, a lot of the strength of their books comes from their open and curious exploration of the unknown, and the familial dynamics between all the team mates. They arguably share more fictional dna with Star Trek than Iron Man. However when they made both the originals and Fanfourstic, they tried to just have the plot be a knock down drag out fight with Doctor Doom. Sure Doom is a cool villain but their fights with him isn’t the reason why fans really like the F4.

Similarly with Morbius, Sony tried to make a fairly simple superhero narrative when most fans like Michael for classic mad scientist/vampire angst. He’s not a character who’s most interesting in a fight, he’s most interesting brooding in a subterranean lab. Honestly with the whole fixation tumblr has on horrible little rat men, I think they could’ve had something great on their hands (provided they changed the casting) if they just stocked closer to that character concept. However, because the Marvel name was slapped on it the directors probably felt like they had to do something traditionally super heroic.

Of course the idea that American comics are purely superhero affairs is a false one as I outlined before, however the movie going public, especially a non-comic reading public, doesn’t realize that. So when they go to see a comics adaptation, that’s the kind of narrative they expect. Now while their’s something to be said about playing to audience expectations, it does a disservice to the narrative in this case, and also does not help shift the public’s idea of what kind of stories comics can offer as a medium.

TLDR: Morbius didn’t work because they tried to put doctor Frankenstein in a cape and thought there wouldn’t be any resultant tonal issues.

#morbius #rip to anybody just looking for memes but I felt like it needed to be said

[janeaye]

2024 Golden Globes

Hello!! I watched the Golden Globes tonight and like many others was underwhelmed and off-put by the monologue at the top of the show. Bored and reading too many Buzzfeed "Best Dressed" and "Check Out These Awkward Moments" posts after, I decided to take a sorry stab at a shortened, substitute monologue. I'm no comedy writer, but consider it award-show alternate universe fan fic. Enjoy :)

---------

Welcome to the Golden Globes!!!

The Golden Globes of course are a unique time where television and film combine for a night of joint celebration. Which differs from our more categorial counterparts in the Oscars for film and the Emmys for TV. And so for those of you looking to claim a Globe tonight for either medium, please know this does not make you one step closer to the EGOT. Okay? That G is for Grammy. Leave that to Taylor Swift & Billie Eilish. (Hi Taylor *smooch*. Billie *wink*.)

Tonight the Golden Globes competes with the likes of the final games of the regular season of the American National Football League. Thank God we’re only competing for ratings and not actually competing. Although these folks may portray the occasional superhero or athlete on screen, these are a bunch of theatre and improv kids, okay? Wouldn’t be pretty.

We also have a couple new awards this year. We have one for stand-up comedy. You’ll notice no current late-night show hosts are nominated in that category. That’s because they perform 80% of their comedy sitting down. Doesn’t qualify. Not a high enough threshold.

Another new award is for cinematic and box office success. Because if there’s one thing those nominees need more than all of the money they made at the box office is the acknowledgement of all of the money they made at the box office. In the form of solid gold handed to them on a glittering stage.

Amongst that gold, true Hollywood Royalty is here. We have Emma Stone. Margot Robbie. Oprah Winfrey. All people that exude the confidence and message and grace of Barbie. But perhaps not quite that of Poor Thing's.

The content nominated tonight really is magnificent. Killers of the Flower Moon is nominated tonight. Or what women used to be called in the olden days before menstrual cycles were truly understood.

The cast of Oppenheimer is here tonight. Oppenheimer has one of the most star-studded ensemble casts I’ve ever seen...From Matt Damon to Cilian Murphy to RDJ..It’s the stuff Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve dreams are made of. (Sorry Bradley Cooper.. Robert De Niro..)

Saltburn made it in under the wire for a nomination for the outstanding Barry Keoghan. Barry, somehow I was more comfortable when you portrayed a deranged joker at the end of The Batman than I was when I saw you in a mere bathtub. 

Speaking Batman, William Dafoe is here tonight. He’s one of a select few nominees who have multiple projects up for awards tonight. William, of course, voiced the Noble Pelican in the English dubbed version of The Boy and the Heron. And yet Batman himself, Robert Pattison, was actually the voice of the eponymous heron and not William, which, if you’ve seen the film, I mean believe me you’d understand why I’m mentioning that tonight. Truly a shocking non-plot-related twist for us viewers.

And, finally, you know what, forgive me for the delay folks, Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024. It’s a big year. Big year for our industry following what our incredible writers and actors advocated for last year...Big year for world events too. Leap Year. The Olympics. The Election. Because at the end of the day, can’t we all agree that Paris & [insert US politician’s name here] don’t get enough attention as it is?…

:)

#taylor swift #golden globes #barbie #oppenheimer #film #tv #award season #emma stone #margot robbie

[hologramcowboy]

The whole branding and social media thing is too confusing for me. If I am trying to be cast for a very much negative character - ie a pedophile or a psychopath - I need to refrain myself from posting good stuff in my personal sm and try to portray myself as a potential evil to make investors believe in me? 😶

I don’t know anything about Hollywood, but I have seen the most goofy person of the industry playing a devilishly psycho and rapist and giving a great hit in my country’s film industry. I have repeatedly seen a man maintaining absolutely normal family man image in social media and subsequently doing romantic hero, villain, tough police officer, comedy, drama or thriller all efficiently. That makes me think social media and PR image is for public, and not for insiders of industry- they have different team to play out that. I mean, if I maintain an image of romantic hero publicly and get cast in such roles only, won't I get typecast? And most importantly what is my credibility and efficiency as an actor if I cannot break myself over and over again and deliver all kind of roles?

Anon, at the beginning of your career and up until you reach top tier you will be typecast. In fact, the only way to get into the industry and work steadily is to typecast yourself based on your essence and then target buyers that need that character type. E.g. let's say you match the superhero vibe, that means your buyers are those who produce those types of shows/movies.

As you career advances and you rich top tiers, let's say you get promoted from recurring to series lead, as your brand becomes established now you have more leeway. You have the option of rebranding your materials to aim for your new desired tier. But, even then, you must be careful to stay faithful to your essence or you risk alienating your fanbase. By essence I don't mean past characters you've played. I mean what makes you YOU. If you are goofy then the way you play a lawyer is very different from how a serious, dark, moody man would and that's perfect. You are you. If your uniqueness centers on being able to be lighthearted and playful because that is who you are at the core then you will play different character in those main notes and you will be credible playing them.

Trying to be everything to everyone ensures failure. The only actors who can pull off a wide range are transformative actors like Meryl Streep, Charlize Theron, Jared Leto, for example, they can fully transform into a character due to intense studies, prep and using behavioral psychology. Unless you are at a tier where you are Tom Cruise famous, you will have to have a defined brand and character types that match your target goals. Once you reach the offer level of your career (meaning you get offered roles directly because you are an established, trustworthy professional and your name resonates in the industry), you get to have way more creative control but, cautiously, because as I've mentioned earlier, if something works, don't ruin it. Don't try to be something you are not. It will always backfire.

No actor is expected to deliver all kinds of roles, they are expected to realistically live the circumstances they get hired for and those will always be in line with their essence. Know who you are. Because who you are does not change. The character type might change, you might get called in as a doctor but your job is to deliver that role along with your uniqueness so your version of a doctor will match your essence and not be a general idea of what a doctor is like or a copy of what some actor actor is doing.

What you say you've seen is impossible. Most likely, the actor you are referring to is from a country where american actor branding does not apply OR you are missing the common thread in all of his roles and how it ties into his essence.

An actor's brand is his essence and under the umbrella of that brand are character types he can play, as I explained earlier. His look, physique and essence are well suited for certain characters so he gets cast as those. It has nothing to do with his family man image, unless that's his main type. All actors may post something about their family but how you do it needs to be inline with your brand or you dilute your image.

I'm really curious about this goofy actor who played a rapist. Which country was this and what is the name of that actor, most importantly, what is his look?

As for an actor social media, it is always, always, always geared at his buyers and goals unless said actor is clueless about his own industry. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that what actor present online is who they are in real life. They are maintaining an image and it is for PR purposes that they make certain posts. It is a part of their job. Their actual private profiles( if they have any because not all do) are not something you will ever be privvy to. An actor is a product and any smart actor knows this and carefully curates their online image.

#actor branding

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

The Mask (1994) directed by Chuck Russell 

#The Mask (1994) #American superhero comedy film #superhero comedy film #comics #The Mask franchise #Jim Carrey #Cameron Diaz #Stanley Ipkiss #my gifs #gif #my edit

[heavenboy09]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 To A Very Reowned English Actor 🇬🇧, Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. 

Born On January 30th, 1974

Born in Wales to English parents, He had his breakthrough role at age 13 in Steven Spielberg's 1987 war film Empire of the Sun. After more than a decade of performing in leading and supporting roles in films, he gained wider recognition for his portrayals of serial killer Patrick Bateman in the black comedy American Psycho (2000) and the titular role in the psychological thriller The Machinist (2004).

In 2005, He Played Most Important Role Of His Career

The Titular Superhero Of DC COMICS Based On Bob Kane's & Bill Fingers Comicbook

Batman in Batman Begins and again in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), garnering acclaim for his performance in the trilogy, which is one of the highest-grossing film franchises.

He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Forbes magazine ranked him as one of the highest-paid actors in 2014.

Please Wish This Legendary Actor 🙏 A Very Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊

The 1

& Only

MR. CHRISTIAN ✝️ CHARLES PHILLIPS BALE🇬🇧🦇

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 TO YOU MR. BALE & HERE'S TO MANY MORE YEARS TO COME

 

#ChristianBale #TheDarkKnight

#Christian Bale #The Dark Knight #Spotify

[watchmorecinema]

I've seen people complain that there's no good art being made anymore and everything is just bland. I believe it comes down to two reasons:

The mainstream is fairly bland (arguably not more than usual)

It is really hard to find the unique, interesting stuff if you aren't looking for it.

Like yeah it's easy to get burnt out by superhero fatigue but there's over a century of cinema from around the world to explore. Branching out can be hard but I think if you go in with an open mind you'll find a lot of great films. And it's not too hard to ease into it.

Popular films from the past are easy to get into, while still being different. They aren't making action films like Robocop anymore, where the whole thing is a dark satire of corporatism. Lots of franchises that are still running got started in the 70's and 80's and the original film(s) usually still hold up!

Going back further, silent comedies are timeless. If you've ever loved Mr. Bean then you're going to have a great time with Safety Last or Modern Times. Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton were doing looney tunes level stuff before looney tunes even existed.

Going foreign means you can experience new cultural perspectives. Korean thrillers like Oldboy are made differently than American ones. Kurosawa made samurai films but the adaptions were made into wild west films.

There are just so many kinds of films, but the assumption is that movies are either mainstream or arthouse shit for pretentious weirdos. It's a bad assumption and it's holding a lot of people back from watching a lot of really great films.

Exploring cinema absolutely means you'll find a lot of films you hate. They don't appeal to you, they're poorly made, the cultural dissonance is too much, whatever. But it also means finding new kinds of films that you might really love.

There's over a century of cinema from around the world. What's the likelihood that the only movies you'd ever like are recent ones from your home country?

#movie #cinema #film #mcu #robocop #80s #70s #mr bean #modern times #safety last #harold lloyd #charlie chaplin #buster keaton #oldboy #korean #kurosawa #arthouse

[gemtvusa]

Upcoming Movies In 2024: What new movies are going to come out in 2024?

In 2024, a diverse array of movies is set to be released, spanning various genres. Here are some of the highlights: - April 2024: Key releases include "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," "Challengers," "The First Omen," an untitled monsters film, and "Someone Like You"​​. - May 2024: Anticipated movies include "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," "The Garfield Movie," "Deadpool 3," "If," and "Furiosa"​​. - June 2024: Major releases are "Inside Out 2," "The Watchers," "Bad Boys 4," "Horizon: An American Saga," and "A Quiet Place: Day One"​​. - July 2024: Big titles are "Captain America: Brave New World," "Twisters," "Despicable Me 4," "Venom 3," and "Mufasa: The Lion King"​​. - August 2024: Look out for "Alien: Romulus," "Kraven the Hunter," "Borderlands," "Speak No Evil," and "Harold and the Purple Crayon"​​. - September 2024: "Transformers One" and "Beetlejuice 2" are set to release​​. - October 2024: "Joker: Folie à Deux," "Smile 2," and "Terrifier 3" are among the key releases​​. - November 2024: The month will see releases like "Wicked," "The Amateur," "Gladiator 2," "Alto Knights," and an untitled Sony and Marvel Universe film​​. This lineup suggests an exciting year for cinema, offering a mix of sequels, new adaptations, and original content across a range of genres.

Upcoming movies in 2024 new movie release dates netflix

The movie lineup for 2024 promises an exciting array of films across various genres. While the schedule is packed with anticipated Marvel and DC superhero movies, there's also a notable surge in horror films. However, the offerings extend beyond just superhero adventures and horror stories. The 2024 movie calendar is rich and diverse, catering to a wide range of cinematic tastes and preferences. From action-packed blockbusters to unique indie films, there's something for everyone in the upcoming year.

JANUARY 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

January 2024 is set to kick off with an exciting mix of movie releases: - Night Swim - Starring: Kerry Condon, Wyatt Russell - Release Date: January 5, 2024 - The Beekeeper - Rating: R - Starring: Jason Statham, Josh Hutcherson - Release Date: January 12, 2024 - The Book of Clarence - Starring: Lakeith Stanfield, Benedict Cumberbatch - Release Date: January 12, 2024 - Lift (Netflix Release) - Rating: PG-13 - Starring: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Release Date: January 12, 2024 - Mean Girls - Starring: Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho - Release Date: January 12, 2024 - Distant - Rating: PG-13 - Starring: Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott - Release Date: January 19, 2024 - The Tiger’s Apprentice (Paramount+ Release) - Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Oh - Release Date: January 19, 2024 - The Underdoggs - Starring: Snoop Dogg, Tika Sumpter - Release Date: January 26, 2024 This lineup offers a variety of genres, from action and comedy to drama, appealing to a wide range of audiences.

FEBRUARY 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

February 2024 will see the release of several notable movies: - Argylle (Theatrical Release) - Starring: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard - Release Date: February 2, 2024 - Imaginary - Starring: Betty Buckley, Brooklyn Majors - Release Date: February 2, 2024 - It Ends With Us - Starring: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni - Release Date: February 9, 2024 - Lisa Frankenstein - Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse - Release Date: February 9, 2024 - Untitled Dirty Dancing Project - Release Date: February 9, 2024 - Bob Marley: One Love - Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashanna Lynch - Release Date: February 14, 2024 - Madame Web - Starring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney - Release Date: February 14, 2024 - What About Love - Starring: Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia - Release Date: February 14, 2024 - Lights Out - Starring: Frank Grillo, Scott Adkins - Release Date: February 16, 2024 - Drive-Away Dolls - Rating: R - Starring: Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon - Release Date: February 23, 2024 - Ordinary Angels - Rating: PG - Starring: Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson - Release Date: February 23, 2024 This month features a mix of genres, including action, drama, and biopics, headlined by films such as "Madame Web" and "Bob Marley: One Love."

MARCH 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

March 2024 is set to be an exciting month for movie releases, including some highly anticipated titles: - Dune: Part Two - Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya - Release Date: March 1, 2024 - The Fall Guy - Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt - Release Date: March 1, 2024 - Kung Fu Panda 4 - Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie - Release Date: March 8, 2024 - Rayman's Big Movie - Release Date: March 8, 2024 - Mickey 17 - Starring: Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette - Release Date: March 29, 2024 - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon - Release Date: March 29, 2024 This month will feature a variety of genres, from the epic continuation of "Dune" to the animated fun of "Kung Fu Panda 4," and the new installment in the "Ghostbusters" franchise.

APRIL 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

April 2024 will see the release of several notable movies, including a new chapter in the saga of iconic monsters: - Untitled M. Night Shyamalan Project - Release Date: April 5, 2024 - Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - Starring: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall - Release Date: April 12, 2024 - Challengers - Rating: R - Starring: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor - Release Date: April 26, 2024 - Unsung Hero - Starring: Joel Smallbone, Daisy Betts - Release Date: April 26, 2024 This lineup includes a mix of genres and promises some highly anticipated entertainment, particularly with the continuation of the Godzilla and Kong saga.

MAY 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

May 2024 is set to be a thrilling month for movie releases, featuring a mix of action, comedy, and adventure: - Deadpool 3 - Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman - Release Date: May 3, 2024 - My Ex-Friend’s Wedding - Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Ariana DeBose - Release Date: May 10, 2024 - Imaginary Friends - Starring: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon - Release Date: May 17, 2024 - Furiosa - Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth - Release Date: May 24, 2024 - Garfield - Starring: Chris Pratt, Hannah Waddingham - Release Date: May 24, 2024 - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allen - Release Date: May 24, 2024 This lineup includes highly anticipated titles like "Deadpool 3" and "Furiosa," promising a diverse and exciting cinematic experience.

JUNE 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

June 2024 promises an exciting array of movie releases across various genres: - Ballerina - Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves - Release Date: June 7, 2024 - The Watchers - Starring: Dakota Fanning - Release Date: June 7, 2024 - Bad Boys 4 - Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence - Release Date: June 14, 2024 - Inside Out 2 - Starring: Amy Poehler, Lewis Black - Release Date: June 14, 2024 - A Quiet Place: Day One - Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn - Release Date: June 28, 2024 - Horizon: An American Saga - Starring: Kevin Costner, Jena Malone - Release Date: June 28, 2024 - Horrorscope - Starring: Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden - Release Date: June 28, 2024 From the action-packed "Ballerina" to the emotional journey in "Inside Out 2," and the thrilling continuation of "A Quiet Place," June 2024 has something for every movie enthusiast.

JULY 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

July 2024 is set to feature some exciting movie releases: - Despicable Me 4 - Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig - Release Date: July 3, 2024 - Mufasa: The Lion King - Starring: Aaron Pierre, Seth Rogen - Release Date: July 5, 2024 - Twisters - Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell - Release Date: July 19, 2024 - Captain America: Brave New World - Starring: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford - Release Date: July 26, 2024 This month will see Anthony Mackie's debut as Captain America in a feature film, alongside the continuation of popular franchises like "Despicable Me" and "The Lion King."

AUGUST 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

August 2024 will bring a variety of new movies: - Harold and the Purple Crayon - Starring: Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel - Release Date: August 2, 2024 - Trap - Starring: Rolando Davila-Beltran - Release Date: August 2, 2024 - Borderlands - Starring: Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis - Release Date: August 9, 2024 - Flint Strong - Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Olunike Adeliyi - Release Date: August 9, 2024 - Speak No Evil - Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis - Release Date: August 9, 2024 - Alien: Romulus - Starring: Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny - Release Date: August 16, 2024 - Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 - Starring: Kevin Costner, Isabelle Fuhrman - Release Date: August 16, 2024 - Kraven The Hunter - Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe - Release Date: August 30, 2024 This lineup includes a range from family-friendly adventures to thrilling action and horror.

SEPTEMBER 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

September 2024 will feature two highly anticipated movie releases: - Beetlejuice 2 - Starring: Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega - Release Date: September 6, 2024 - Transformers One - Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth - Release Date: September 13, 2024 This month is marked by the return of iconic franchises with the sequel to "Beetlejuice" and a new animated feature in the "Transformers" series.

OCTOBER 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

October 2024 will see the release of some thrilling and possibly terrifying movies, just in time for Halloween: - Joker: Folie á Deux - Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga - Release Date: October 4, 2024 - Smile 2 - Release Date: October 18, 2024 - Terrifier 3 - Starring: David Howard Thornton - Release Date: October 25, 2024 This month will be marked by the DC musical sequel "Joker: Folie á Deux" and the slasher sequel "Terrifier 3," among other releases.

NOVEMBER 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

November 2024 will feature several high-profile movie releases, including a much-anticipated adaptation of a Broadway musical: - The Amateur - Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan - Release Date: November 8, 2024 - Untitled Venom Sequel - Starring: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple - Release Date: November 8, 2024 - Alto Knights - Starring: Robert De Niro, Debra Messing - Release Date: November 14, 2024 - Gladiator 2 - Starring: Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington - Release Date: November 22, 2024 - Wicked: Part One - Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande - Release Date: November 27, 2024 This month promises a diverse range of films, from the big-screen adaptation of "Wicked" to the sequel of "Gladiator" and the latest installment in the "Venom" series.

DECEMBER 2024 MOVIE RELEASES

December 2024 is set to end the year with several big movie releases: - Karate Kid - Release Date: December 13, 2024 - The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim - Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Otto - Release Date: December 13, 2024 - Thunderbolts - Starring: Harrison Ford, Florence Pugh - Release Date: December 20, 2024 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Starring: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz - Release Date: December 20, 2024 - Untitled Fourth Jordan Peele Film - Release Date: December 25, 2024 This month will see a range of films from a new "Karate Kid" to the expansion of the Marvel Universe with "Thunderbolts," and the return of "Sonic the Hedgehog." In 2024, several eagerly awaited movies are expected, though their exact release dates are yet to be announced: - Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley (Netflix Release) - Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold - Damsel (Netflix Release) - Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Angela Bassett - El Muerto - A Family Affair (Netflix Release) - Starring: Joey King, Nicole Kidman - Here - Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright - Janet Planet - Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler - MaXXXine - Starring: Mia Goth, Halsey - Problemista - Rating: R - Starring: Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton - Spaceman (Netflix Release) - Starring: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan - Spellbound (Apple TV+ Release) - Starring: Rachel Zegler - Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse - Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld - They Listen - Starring: Katherine Waterston, Riki Lindhome - Tuesday - Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lola Petticrew These titles, spanning various genres and featuring an array of notable stars, are part of what makes 2024 an exciting year for movies. Read the full article

[kevrocksicehouse]

Blue Beetle.

D: Angel Manuel Soto (2023).

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) isn’t the first Hispanic character to carry a superhero film – Miles Morales and Doctor Strange’s America Chavez were only the most recent to precede him --and a running joke in the film is the cheesy Mexican superhero comedy El Chapulin Colorado -- but it’s the first to proudly wear its ethnicity on its sleeve. That’s not always to the films credit. At times the story of a young Mexican-American graduate whose body fuses with a sentient alien weapon (in a sequence that mixes body horror and slapstick) placing him and his close family – wise parents (Elpidia Carrilloand Damián Alcázar) feisty younger sister (Belissa Escobedo), wacky uncle (George Lopez) and a grandmother (Adriana Barraza) who has…..a history – in danger, skirts Latino stereotypes a little too clumsily  (Lopez especially lays on the schtick) and pushes the concept of familia almost too close to sentimentality. But when that same family is captured by armored goons (sent by Susan Sarandon’s entertainingly overplayed evil corporate head), lined up and forced to their knees the ICE parallels aren’t so much forced as simply obvious. At the same time the film’s embrace of pop culture junkiness (with a color scheme that evokes video arcades) keeps it from heavy-handedness. It might be the best Marvel movie DC ever made.

#blue beetle #angel manuel soto #dc #kevrock #review

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Why do you think romcoms don’t hit the way they used to?

I grew up watching all the classics with my mom so I do think nostalgia is one reason, but it can’t be the only one.

These days many romcoms miss some elements that the earlier onse had. I can’t pinpoint what.

I recently watched this movie( The royal treatment) who tried to emulate classic romcoms by giving the girl these quircky Italian-American family who lives in NY and are very close to the community to give an example, but it doesn’t work. To put it nicely the movie sucks ass.

There's several reasons why rom-coms today don't look the same as they used to. We have to remember that any film (at least in my view) reflects the society and the current times in which its made. An 80s rom-com will have characters with a specific set of values that protagonists in the 2000s might not. I'd say even the 1930s-1940s screwball comedy is sort of the beginning of the genre, just think of the movies Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant did together. The genre changed so much throughout the history of cinema and what we have today reflects the world in which we live. In terms of ideological/societal changes, just look at how the female characters are depicted. Still in the 2000s, it looked like the majority of female characters had but one purpose: finding love. Nowadays, as an effect of current understanding of feminism and gender roles, we're loooking at different needs and desires.

Another element would be the financial aspect. Franchises and comic-based films took over the industry in the last 10-15 years? It feels like a lot of genres of mid-range films disappeared and were instead replaced with the superhero blockbuster. And obviously we still have the B-movies. The point is, there's less investment and that is ruining Hollywood, among other reasons. On top of that, we've been living in a golden age of television. If we want good stories, that's what we watch. A lot of money goes into that. Streaming platforms had their contribution as well. They still put out some rom-coms from time to time. Some do well, others go unnoticed. A lot of the times, there are no big names playing the protagonists. No JLo or Julia Roberts. The big names either go for the drama because it has more Oscar potential; tv series of course and lastly, the bug budget film because it pays well and they end up stuck with a franchise for 10 years, aka Hell. But hey, they get money.

I see this as a period that it's definitely a low in general for genre films in terms of the budget they get and the audience reach. It might come back, but perhaps with some added changes. Like I said, it's a bigger issue, of studios not investing anymore in mid-cinema.

#m thoughts #hollywood #romantic comedy