Suicide Squad: Trailer Drop SDCC 2015

So…due to life priorities I couldn’t get the free time needed to do a proper review on this SDCC 2015 trailer and a movie I saw a couple weeks ago in Marvel’s Ant-Man. But better late than never I always say so let’s do a run down on DC’s other highly anticipated Batman related thrill ride, “Suicide Squad”.

See…I make that little comment about this film also being Batman related since it seems that’s still all DC has going for it. Sounds mean spirited or harsh but I truly believe that. Yes…there’s Superman. But even then they couldn’t wait to throw Batman in his movie world which plenty of hardcore Superman fans will tell you they were/are pissed about. Now DC has clarified they will have Superman have his 2nd Official stand-alone film, but alot of fans wished that could of happened first.

So here you have “Suicide Squad”…and anybody who follows DC Comics know this team of baddies as the C-List of mostly Batman Villains. The teams leader (of sorts) or better said “all-star” is one of Batman’s more famous villains in Harley Quinn. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been yearning for she crazed on-again/0ff-again Joker love interest to make her way onto the big screen. I was praying Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight Trilogy, Interstellar) would have figured out a way to get that done since his Batman World was wonderfully dark enough for a character such as Harley. But never-the-less, she is finally making her debut…Along with The Joker Himself! And guess what…

BATMAN is in the movie!!! See what I’m getting at?

Regardless…this movie looks great!

I love the look and feel of this movie. “Suicide Squad” has plenty of rich characters with wildly different personalities and problems. What else they did well was casting.

Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) as Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel is perfect! She was amazing in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and has the perfect look. She’s gorgeous but can look seriously mad. Attractive and terrifying!

Will Smith (I Am Legend, Seven Pounds) has finally found his way into the Comic Book Film Universe and will playing a lower class of Batman Villain but cool in his own right, Deadshot.

I’m very excited to see Will Smith in a DC movie like this. And for Will not to play a Super Hero but a Bad Guy? That’s very intriguing to me. It’s also been a little while since Will has been in a good movie so if this movie turns out to be good or great, that’s going to feel refreshing for fans of Will Smith.

Cara Delevingne (Paper Towns) is also in this character jam packed film as Enchantress. The model/actress hasn’t been on the scene that long to really judge but she seems serviceable and Enchantress won’t be the center stage with the likes of Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto front running this film so serviceable will be more than enough.

I won’t get into every single actor/character in detail but you have plenty to go around. Some other of the more notable ones are Jai Courtney (Terminator: Gynesis) as Captain Boomerang. Don’t have anything good to say about Mr. Courtney so I’ll leave it alone. But at least he gets to use his natural accent this time. Yay?

Remember the whole Rick Flagg disaster with Tom Hardy and then Jake Gyllenhaal? Well the character was finally replaced with Robocop himself, Joel Kinnaman. I like Joel, so here’s hoping he plays a decent Rick Flagg who suppose to be the real leader of the Suicide Squad. But clearly he’ll be taking a more backseat approach for the same reasons I explained in Enchantress’ situation.

One of my favorite surprises is Killer Croc! I love Croc and am very very excited to see him pop up finally in a Batman mov…ah ah ah I mean “Suicide Squad”.
To boot, he’s being played by Oz and Lost alumni Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaije.

I love this guy! He’s a great actor and played one of the more infamous characters in HBO TV Series history. Killer Croc + Adewale = AWESOME!

Obviously I’m going to get into Jared Leto/Joker…but first let me stat the following: My Favorite casting in this entire thing is Viola Davis (The Help) as Amanda Waller. The Law of Last Resort herself. The Warden and Commander of these Cons turned antiheroes. Viola Davis is top notch in my opinion. Everything she is in she owns. The Wall as they call her, is a very interesting character. To watch this woman command this cast of misfits is exciting. She’s going to bring something special to Amanda Waller and really put her stamp on this movie.

Finally, let’s talk about the crowned prince of Gotham’s return to the big screen, The Joker being played by Jared Leto (Dallas Buyer’s Club, Mr. Nobody). Arguably, the most anticipated and debated big screen upcoming performance.
Here’s the thing; You have the fans who love Jared Leto as an actor and feel he’s going to bring us something new and exciting to best comic book Villain we have. And then you have the other side of the table who that think Leto is a mistake to play The Joker. But the funny thing is (see what I did there), nobody is going to outwardly question it due to the Heath Ledger casting for “The Dark Knight”. Many of people spoke out and protested Heath as The Joker and now thank the heavens it happened because he gave us arguably the best Joker of all time. So nobody is going to be the guy/girl that stands up and possibly makes that mistake again. But it’s a beautiful thing and a true credit to what Heath was able to accomplish. Now, we choose to trust this casting whether we like it or not and still put our money on another new version of the iconic villain we’ll come to love as we did Jack and Heath. I’m still not a fan of the tattoos or the grill, but it won’t take away from the performance. I myself think Leto is an outstanding actor and will give us a brand new devastating Joker that we’ll love for a long time.

Overall, the movie itself looks gritty, dark and very serious. From Amanda Waller to Harley to Deadshot, all the characters look amazing as the characters they are portraying. We get a bonus with having confirmed that Batman is indeed in the film which I’m assuming is actually a flashback of sorts during the Harley Quinn back story breakdown. The costumes are spot on, the setting is fantastic and the overall vibe from this DC’s attempt at their own Guardians of the Galaxy (my opinion) is perfect.

Final Thought: “Suicide Squad” trailer is too damn cool and I can’t stop watching it daily! COME ON 2016!!!

I’m Mr. Matt Inee…that Joker-Mobile looks ridiculously cool!

 

 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – SDCC Trailer

WHOAAAAAA!!! AS ROBIN WOULD PUT IT
“HOLY MARCH 2016 BATMAN!”
Ok…let me calm down. Listen, I’m excited for this movie as it is but after seeing the newest trailer from
San Diego Comic Con, I’ve gone full drool! Let’s dive in…

Every year San Diego holds the biggest and best comic convention we have. So it’s become customary that this is the stage for the big companies (whether it’s movie, TV, or comic related) to showboat, promote and tease their new projects. But usually this consists mostly of extremely anticipated comic book movies whether DC, Marvel or other. You get that famous Hall-H packed with a full cast of A-List Hollywood Stars that play our favorite characters in these films ready for alot of Q&A with fans and media alike.
But the most exciting part of this whole experience is the exclusive comic con trailer that drops. Sometimes it’s a teaser trailer we’re seeing for the first time or it’s the first official lengthy trailer jam packed with new footage that will have you talking for weeks with your friends.

This year has four big ones. All big time stand outs for different reasons of course. So I’m going to break down each one of them the best I can with what material and sources I have since I did not attend SDCC 2015. Starting with the big one that everyone is flipping out about: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 1st Official Extended Trailer” exclusive to SDCC 2015.

There’s alot to talk about with this trailer. But I’m going to try and keep it short, I promise. But it’s one of those trailers that you have to watch over and over again to keep catching the details in every clip. For now, let’s take it from the top.

To me…it’s one of the best parts of the trailer. Ben Affleck (Bat-flick) as Bruce Wayne running into the dust cloud that fills the street as one of his buildings full of his employees comes crashing down. Just what you want to see Bruce Wayne doing, being a hero when everyone else is running away. The anger in his face as he comforts a little girl surrounded by the pieces of debris speaks volume as to what Bruce/Batman we’re getting with this new version.

You see a couple more scenes with Ben sporting the Bruce Wayne look and gotta admit…he looks great! I’m completely buying Ben as Bruce. Perhaps that’s jumping the gun, but to me he seriously looks great so far.

It seems as if Bruce has retired the cape and cowl for quite some time and is coming out of retirement due to the mayhem and destruction cause by the ending of Man of Steel. I buy it. Absolutely no problems with that plot.

As for Superman himself, you get a bunch of interesting shots with him as well. See him standing in court; bowing to Lex Luthor with pure anger in his expression; having serious conversations with Lois Lane and his mother about the choices he is to make. More shots of human beings being torn by his presence on earth. We got that already from the teaser so nothing to really talk about there.

With Lex though, you finally get a good look of Jesse Eisenberg with his terrible wig. He definitely seems to be portraying a Lex Luthor we haven’t really seen before. He is one of the only things about this movie I’m worried about. And after seeing him on screen…I still don’t buy it. You also get a glimpse of what seems to be Lex looking at a nice chunk of Kryptonite rock glowing that beautiful green. So gotta figure that’s going to play a huge role somewhere.

One of the most talked about clips is Bruce starring up at a Robin Costume that has words written in spray paint on it. Clearly from the Joker.

Is this the Death in the Family reference we’ve been waiting for?!
I for one think that would be fantastic! Especially if there’s some kind of connection between “Suicide Squad” and this movie. That could be way to set up a glorious cinematic universe in the Batman world.
Another highly mentioned quick clip is General Zod being zipped up in the body bag. So Zod is going to play a part in this too. You got to figure it’s most likely a scenario where Lex uses his Zod’s body to find a weakness with Superman seeing as he’s of the same make-up as Superman.
OR what about Bruce? Maybe Bruce gets a hold of Zod’s corpse and uses it to scientifically find a solution to aid him in his uphill battle against Superman.

Who knows, but it’s very fun to speculate!

We finally see the debut of Wonder Woman as well. We see Gal Gadot as a casually dressed Diana as she steps into a Limo. Not much to comment there except Gal is quite beautiful. So… there’s that I guess…

But we get a shot of her smashing her gauntlets together to cause a huge wave of energy; we also get a shot of her being pushed back with severe force. Both seem to be pretty cool scenes. The shield and sword look great on her so they did a good job with capturing the style of the weapons she uses in the comics. The character itself looks very good but I’m still concerned the actress portraying the character can do her…justice (rimshot).

Saving the best for last are the scenes where DC’s top two heroes clash in battle. Very cool scene of Batman donning the famous armor (used in the Frank Miller graphic novel “The Dark Knight Returns”) jumping down on Superman sending him crashing through a glass roof onto the ground.

The movie has a nice homage to Frank Miller with a specific pose Batman makes while hanging from the side of a building (gotta see it for yourself). You may not catch it the first time you see it but it you pay attention it’s there and it’s nicely done.
What that moment leads to is a great shot of Batman shooting the famous grappling hook and darting out of the way as a bright red blast destroys the part of the building he was hanging on.

So wait…if that is indeed Superman who shot his iconic eye beams at Batman…was he attempting to Kill Him?!?! Because definitely seems like Batman would be a pile of bat-dust if he didn’t move.
But my point to that is there’s speculation that some of the fight scenes between Batman and Superman and even Wonder Woman are them fighting a stronger power…not each other. Interesting theory to be honest and I wouldn’t rule it out. Although that would be a disappointment and a huge you-know-what tease due to the trailer.

The trailer ends with a heart-pounding moment from the movie. Superman walks up to the Bat-mobile and rips off the doors exposing Batman sitting there. Batman stands up and is on eye level with the Man of Steel and IT’S FUCKING AWESOME!!! That scene alone is the reason everyone wants to see this movie! TAKE MY MONEY! TAKE IT NOW! WHATEVER YOU WANT!

Like I said, there’s alot of things you could miss if you watch it once and don’t pay close attention. It’s a wonderful trailer that gives us alot without giving anything away. There’s some things I still question or that rub me the wrong way per say. For instance there’s a speech Lex is giving a rant about something and says in weird creepy fashion “the red capes are coming?”…What!? What does that mean? Superman I’m assuming. Is it a reference to the Red Coats are coming?
Another scene where he makes numerous references to Batman v Superman with lines such as Day vs. Knight and Black vs. Blue…etc etc etc. It honestly took me away from the seriousness and the tone of the trailer. Kind of made it silly for me.Again…maybe because it’s Eisenberg that’s rubbing me the wrong way I don’t know.

It’s also made clear that we’re going to revisit and reimagine the Wayne’s being murdered for the millionth time. Seriously…we need that again? I believe we understand by now Bruce lost his parents as a boy in devestating fashion.
Probably won’t take anything away from the movie at the end of the day but I got to mention it because I couldn’t help but let out a “Really? This again!?” reaction.

Final thought: This trailer is amazing. I’ve watched it over and over again and can’t get enough. I buy all story line from what I gather from the trailers. I love angry Bruce Wayne and buy Ben as Batman completely now. I dig the torn Superman angle and the torn reaction the people of Earth are having with him being here. Wonder Woman looks good despite if she’ll be very good at acting the part. This version of Lex is confusing to me so far but we’ll see what develops.
Regardless…Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 1st Official Extended Trailer that debuted at SDCC 2015 is amazing and I can’t wait for more! Long as they don’t spoil anything which is alot to ask now and days.

This is Mr. Matt Inee…WAIT! I almost forgot about this clip of Batman being swarmed by Superman Soldiers while wearing some kind of Desert Punk attire. What the heck is this about? I dunno…but I like it and would make for a cool Halloween Costume idea! *wink*

Spider-Man (2017) has a Peter Parker & Director

Marvel & Sony finally land a young Peter Parker and a director for their 2017 (yet to be titled) Spider-Man film.

That’s right folks, the wait is finally over. I don’t think I’m out of line by saying Marvel had alot more to do with these picks then Sony…for good reason too. But to be honest, I’m alittle surprised by the picks but then again I understand them. Let’s take a look…

Tom Holland (The Impossible) is the horse to win the race in what was called “a worldwide thorough search” to find the perfect fit for the again rebooted Spider-Man franchise. Not familiar with Tom? That’s okay…neither am I quite frankly. I hear him get alot of praise for his performance along side Naomi Watts in “The Impossible”. I’ve not seen the movie so therefore I cannot comment. He’s starring along side Chris Hemsworth (Thor) in Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea”. So if you’re going to see that in theaters when it comes out, you’ll get a good look at this young actor.

I’m alittle surprised only because I was sold on the rumor they wanted Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game, Hugo). He’s a bigger name, the general public has heard of him and he’s the biggest name when you think young up and coming actors. But I’m sure they have their reasons for this decision. So looking at Tom Holland I would say…Yeah, I see a young Peter Parker. This is what they wanted after all. A very young actor who is believable to be a freshman in high school and could be Spider-Man for the next 10 years. He doesn’t need to be a mega star despite all the ones Marvel already has playing their major heroes. But then again nobody really knew Chris Hemsworth until he was the Mighty Thor.
Looking at his background he has a very accomplished background and makes me think he’s a great fit. When you read what Sony & Marvel were looking for, I think looks wise they got a good fit with Tom. So I’m okay with it.

Along with Tom, they have also brought on a director in Jon Watts (Cop Car). Who’s Jon Watts?…I don’t know. I feel bad not knowing who the man is but he doesn’t exactly have an extensive background. He has a scary movie called “Clown” (which actually does look terrifying! But then again, I’m afraid of clowns) and a movie not even out yet titled “Cop Car” with Kevin Bacon (Footloose, X-Men: First Class). If you look him up on IMDB, they literally have a mini-bio for him that tells you nothing except he directed the two movies I mentioned. So why him? I’m sure for very good reason. I think Marvel and Sony got together, watched “Clown” and said “Holy Shit…that was creepy! He’d be great for the Spider-Man reboot with the young kid as Peter Parker.”

Bottom line is this: The ball is rolling on the next Spider-Man. We finally have an actor, and a director to boot. Are the picks surprising? Yeah alittle. But it’s nice to finally put a face on Peter Parker. According to Hollywood Reporter, they had Tom test independently with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans at the end of the casting process. So I’m sure that left the studios with a good feeling that this was the right kid for the part. You can bet your paycheck he’ll be in “Captain America: Civil War” whether it’s a major role (like Spider-Man should be) or a small role just to introduce the character in this Avenger fueled Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The untitled Spider-Man reboot is due out in 2017, so there’s plenty of time to debate this decision. Who would you have picked or liked to have seen get picked; or do you like this decision? Feel free to comment and let me know.

This is Mr. Matt Inee…I just hope they still do a Venom stand alone, I can dream can’t I!?

Death Note: Live-Action Update

The popular Japanese Manga and Anime “Death Note” is getting a North American Live-Action remake by the same name and has it’s director set in stone…is it a good fit? Are you excited? Let’s break it down…

“Death Note” is a Japanese Manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The story follows Light Yagami who is a genius high school student who comes across a notebook called the “Death Note”. The book is dropped by a bored shinigami named Ryuk to the human world in hopes of some entertainment. The book itself wields the power of death by simply writing a person’s name with a pen in the pages of the book. Light is determined to use his new dark gift to rid the world of evil people, or who he sees fit to be evil people.

The Manga series consist of 12 Volumes (to which you can find as a complete boxset now and days). In addition to the manga series, a guidebook was released shortly after titled “Death Note: 13: How to Read” (included in that boxset).

Two novels were also released with the first one being “Death Note, Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Case” which served as a prequel to the manga series. The other novel was “L: Change the World” which was an adaptation of a live-action film that is a spin-off from the manga series.

While the manga series and novels are highly recommended and beloved, the anime adaptation that came in 2006 was a huge hit with not only audiences in Japan and around the world, but even in the United States. The Anime Series consisted of 37 episodes to which were followed by two stand alone anime movies. Both in which are basically a series recap. “Death Note: Relight: Visions of God” is the anime series summed up in a two hour special as seen through Ryuk’s eyes as he explains the human world and what happened between L and Light to another shinigami. The other is “Death Note: Relight: L’s Successors” which more so follows Mello and Near’s confrontations and that last arc of the Death Note series.

In addition to the manga and anime, Live-Action film adaptions were also created. Three movies in total, first two titled “Death Note” and “Death Note: The Last Name” which are simply based off the the manga series. The third installment was mentioned earlier with “L: Change the World”. Much like the anime and manga, the live-action movies are well received.

All the material above was picked up, licensed, and released in English Dub and Sub by VIZ Media in North America.

An American Live-Action film adaptation of “Death Note” is now in production and will be based off the manga series. Not much is known about the movie as of yet, but the latest news is the movie has found it’s director. Adam Wingard (You’re Next) has signed on to direct the popular manga and will start working on the movie once he has completed his work on his next film, “The Woods” (as reported by THR).

The feeling about this will be spit between two groups. The group that believes anything that is originated and successful overseas that is later picked up and remade by any North American studio is nine out of ten times complete garbage. Which, I can’t argue with honestly. There is alot of wonderful material (whether book, film, or animated) that is very successful internationally and later re-imagined or remade in the US that is unfortunately butchered.
Then you have the other group that is open-minded and does not mind the retelling of these beloved stories. Sometimes this particular group tend to have the bad habit of going into these things with blinders. But it’s simply because they’re such die hards they want to like it regardless of quality. These people are the same certifiable people that like and defend 2009 “Dragon Ball: Evolution“. Yeah…love is blind sometimes I guess. And therefore, they’ll take this news with enlightenment and be over joyed to know a great property like “Death Note” will be hitting North American theaters in the next few years.
I, for one, am learning towards the latter of the groups despite my recognition of their faults. Why? Despite the “Dragon Ball: Evolution” example, I think since then studios are willing to take these types of remakes more seriously. With the success of all the comic book movies, studios are paying attention to the fact that these stories are more than just manga or comics, they’re great stories that can make them some serious cash if done right. There’s a huge audience for this genre and that’s a fact that is being proven over and over again.
I’m also okay about Adam Wingard directing the project. I liked his direction in the 2011 “You’re Next“. Which was surprisingly pretty good. I like the fact they would hire on a horror director because “Death Note” to me although a wonderful drama, it is quite disturbing and has a good base for the horror genre.

Here’s another reason why I think it will be good: If this movie is successful and does well in the box office; then guess what?

We get more Japanese animes that we hold so dear to our hearts turned into very good live-action films. “Cowboy Bebop” is one that has been rumored for a very long time. If “Death Note” is a hit, then you bet your sweet ass we get a Bebop movie! (If you recall, Keanu Reeves was rumored to play Spike)

Another one was “Neon Genesis: Evangelion“, which was rumored to have Peter Jackson at the helm. Weta Workshop, the special effects production company that won multiple Oscars for the special effects in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, were said to be interested in the project. Again, if this movie is successful, you will probably get that epic Evangelion movie. Might even get an Eva-Movie Trilogy. “Pacific Rim” was successful just imagine that, throw in the rich characters from the manga/anime, and slap the title on it. How about an anime and manga that’s taking the world by storm right now, “Attack on Titan“!? Which is getting a live-action adaptation in Japan in the very near future. Imagine a “Pacific Rim” like film but with creepy human-like Titans that eat people like it’s nothing in your local iMAX Theater? “Pacific Rim” meets Horror anybody!? Sounds awesome to me!

Despite your disposition on this news, we can all agree that we hope they take the source material and do it justice. Because nay-sayers and dreamers alike would want nothing more than to see a fantastic live-action version of this beloved story come to fruition and hit the big screens in the near future. But is that asking for too much?

This is Mr. Matt Inee…here’s hoping!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Prequel: Cast Update

One of Horror’s iconic franchises, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, is getting another prequel…

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was a low budget horror movie directed by Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist, Salem’s Lot) that was loosey based on the real-life murderer Ed Gein. The movie hit theaters in 1974…30+ years later and we’re still getting remakes, reboots, and prequels.

The popular BBC Soap “East Enders” star, Sam Strike, is set to play the chainsaw wheeling maniac himself in a prequel simply titled, “Leatherface”, which is set to come out sometime in 2016.

The character actually gets his name from one of Ed Gein’s more infamous and horrific traits, where he would take his victim’s skin and use it to make a mask. If you’ve seen or know anything about “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies, whether it’s the original classic or the many poor installments that followed, they all share that same thumbprint of having Leatherface kill these people and then wearing their faces as his mask. Disturbing to say the least, but that’s what sets this franchise apart from the other big name horror franchises.

The original is one of the most terrifying and disturbing movies still to this day. To me, it’s still one of the best horror movies out there. And many would agree with that opinion. It was one of the most controversial movies to hit theaters at that time. The tone of the movie alone will have your hair standing on your arms. What I loved about it the original, is the fact that they did not use a score during alot of their scenes. Most films always have a score to add effect to what’s happening in each scene, but in this jaw dropping classic they let you hear every noise loud and clear.

So when Leatherface was killing someone, it was just silence in the background. All the focus was on the sounds of bones crunching and blood spilling. The sounds of doors slamming shut or Leatherface running down the hallway seemed loud and overpowering. It’s an element of the movie that really helps create the unnerving atmosphere it’s famous for. This movie can turn really your stomach and leave you feeling uneasy. Not for the faint of heart!

Unfortunately, the original was followed by 3 poor to terrible sequels as they went on to be released.
Tobe Hooper returned for the sequel, 1986 “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” which starred the late Dennis Hopper (Speed, Water World). Although not awful, was obviously a huge step down from the original in quality despite the fact the movie was considerably more graphic and violent.
Following Tobe’s sequel, he could not return to work on the 3rd installment which was released in 1990 “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III”.
In 1995, we would get the last of the sequels with “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation”. Oddly enough, this starred Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club) and Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jone’s Diary, Jerry McGuire). Yeah…I know that’s weird isn’t it? You’re saying to yourself “I didn’t know that”…that’s because it’s terrible so you’ve either never seen it or even knew of it’s existence.
New Line Cinema and Platinum Dunes would give us a remake of the original film (of course with their own spin on things) in 2003 “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” starring Jessica Biel (The Illusionist, Summer Catch). Michael Bay is actually attached to the project as producer, Tobe Hooper also returned as a co-producer. I actually enjoyed the remake, it has mixed reviews but to me I very much enjoyed it.
In 2006 we would get the first attempt of a prequel with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”. Not the worst of the bunch but it’s flat compared to even the remake let alone the original.
But then in 2013, Hollywood was sweet enough to give us “Texas Chainsaw 3D”. What hunk of crap that was. Of course they had to dip into the 3D money grab. This may be the worst of the lot.

So here we are in 2015 and the attempt at another prequel is the plan for this franchise. I have never watched “East Enders”, therefore I know nothing about this kid. I didn’t notice a movie he’s even played in yet let alone star. He was rumored to be in the running as the new teenage Spider-Man in the upcoming movies, but I would assume that’s all but done with now that he’s working on this movie (seeing as Captain America: Civil War is set to also be out in 2016).
It’s to be directed by the duo of Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo. Their a french film making team that have worked together on mostly horror films. They put out the cult hit 2007 “Inside” and later with 2011 “Livid”. Although they have not exposed themselves to the American audience, they seem to have an eye for horror and are well received for their work internationally. They were once attached to direct Clive Barker’s 1987 “Hellraiser” remake, but had left the project in hopes of continuing to put out original pieces.

Final Thought: Aside from the actor and the directors…I can’t help but feel tired of the franchise all together. And that’s saying alot considering how much I love the original. I always have hopes they will one day put out another amazing installment to the franchise…but it just hasn’t happened. If you remove the original from the list of films this franchise has offered, it’s an unsuccessful horror franchise. Which is a real shame considering the source material they are working with. And the fact that Leatherface himself is immediately recognizable and still terrifying…it’s sadly amazing nobody has find a way to put out a really horrifying movie under the Texas Chainsaw Massacre umbrella.
So with that being said…I have Texas Chainsaw Massacre fatigue.
BUT…I fall for it everytime! I have seen every movie since the remake in theaters…and this prequel will be no different.
I’ll be there with my hopes in my hands…waiting to be pissed off again. But maybe this time will be different and the thought of going as far back as him as a youngster showing us how he came to be Leatherface, could be something fresh and new. But Rob Zombie tried the same thing with Michael Myers’ story in the “Halloween” remake, which to me I did not enjoy. But we’ll see…*SIGH*…I’m going mad with these remakes, reboots and prequels!

This is Mr. Matt Inee…People on Large Hooks get me every time though

The Crow (Remake): Lead Actor Cast

A popular cult classic from the 90’s has been in the works for a remake for what seems like forever now. But now that they have their lead man, we’ll be finally getting that remake…but do fans even want it?

Jack Houston (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) has been officially cast to star in the remake of 1994 “The Crow”. Known for his role on HBO’s hit series “Boardwalk Empire” which ran from 2010-2014. His portrayal of a disfigured World War I veteran turned mob hit-man named Richard Harrow is simply great. His character was one of my favorites on the show. He had a way of making the audience feel his pain and sympathize with him despite him being a ruthless killer.

The 1994 “The Crow” starred the late Brandon Lee who died while on set from an accidental gun shot, he was only 28 years old. The son of Legendary Martial Artist, Bruce Lee, who also died tragically young at 32 years old due to an allergic reaction to pain medication. “The Crow” followed a murdered musician name Eric Draven. Set to marry his fiance, Shelly, on Halloween but is murdered by a gang of criminals on Halloween Eve also referred to as “Devil’s Night” in the movie. Shelly is raped and beaten that same night and would eventually die in the hospital. A year to the date of their deaths, a crow returns to Eric’s grave where it taps on the stone with it’s beak, bringing Eric back from the dead to take revenge as “The Crow”.

The remake will be directed by Corin Hardy (The Hallow) who I do not know much of anything about. He’s a movie and music video director who has an eye for beautifully dark visuals. Which from that stand point, directing a movie like “The Crow” would benefit from a dark and beautiful tone. But seeing I don’t know much about him, I can’t comment on him as a director. But “The Crow” is not a big budget film nor is it a huge franchise, so hiring a guy that isn’t one of the big names in Hollywood shouldn’t be alarming to anyone.

It’s also said that this version of the film will be a straight adaption of the 1989 graphic novel by the same name written by James O’Barr. O’Barr’s graphic novel tells the story of a murdered poetic musician who returns from the dead to hunt the members of a gang responsible for his and his fiance’s murder. The original movie was of the same story line as explained earlier but like any adaptation it was it’s own spin on the story. It’s not verbatim but it was still well within the guidelines of the graphic novels. But a direct copy and paste approach will make this one different from the original. Still a remake, but not a direct attempt at remaking the exact same movie.

The original was followed by several sequels that were not well received.
– 1996 “The Crow: City of Angels”
– 2000 “The Crow: Salvation”
– 2005 “The Crow: Wicked Prayer”
Poor attempts to continue the story line or failed attempts at cash grabs. Either way, none of them are worth the watch in comparison to the original. And each of this sequels did not continue Eric Draven’s story but would have a new character be killed and return as “The Crow”. Rob Zombie planned to make another movie in the franchise titled “The Crow: 2037” sometime in the late 90’s but it never happened.
They also had a Canadian TV Series called “The Crow: Stairway to Heaven” which is the only other version to reprise the Eric Draven character.

The problem to me is… people don’t want this remake. I know this can be said about most of the remakes we have received and continue to receive. So I’m not breaking any ground by suggesting that notion. But this one is a special case. It’s not a big budget movie that is graphically out dated and is in need of today’s advanced CGI. Or one of these big name classics that Hollywood knows will make a ton of money if remade. It’s a cult classic…it has a strong following. I mean “The Crow” overall is definitely well known and recognizable, don’t get me wrong. But that true following is due to the hardcore fans going way back. These kind of fans are dedicated and stay true to the original. It’s dear to them and beloved. The thought of a remake is blasphemy. Aside from that…

The remake has seen numerous actors, directors and writers come and go. The talks of a remake has been active for a long time now. “The Crow” has become something of a Hollywood curse at this point. Most notable were Bradley Cooper (Hangover, American Sniper) and Luke Evans (Dracula: Story Untold, The Hobbit) who is the latest star to walk away from the project. But I think they have a good actor and a good fit with Jack Houston (who is also scheduled to star in the remake of “Ben Hur”). If you haven’t seen him in “Boardwalk Empire” then you wouldn’t understand and you’re missing out. Richard Harrow is by far the best character in that show to me, and many I’ve talked to would agree. And It’s alot to do with Jack Houston’s performance, so casting wise I believe this is great.

But the thought of remaking this movie at this point seems redundant. It’s a shame to say that but it’s true. Can it be a good movie? Of course. Will Jack Houston make a good Eric Draven? I think so.
But he can’t replace Brandon Lee in the hearts of all the die hards out there…and that’s something that’s never going away.

Good Luck to this remake…they’ll need it.

This is Mr. Matt Inee…It can’t rain all the time

Suicide Squad (2016): Casting Update

Warner Bros. and DC’s 2016 film adaptation of the popular group of villainous good-doers “Suicide Squad” has finally filled the void of one character, added two new characters, and even has it’s official antagonist…maybe.

Let’s start with the official replacement for Tom Hardy as the Leader of this group of misfits, Rick Flag. It will be 2014 “Robocop” remake lead actor, Joel Kinnaman (Robocop, Run All Night). It was becoming a bit concerning that this film was struggling to find an actor who would sign on to play the much needed character. As addressed in a previous post, it was confirmed Tom Hardy was set to play Rick Flag. Then for reasons unknown he backed out. Was claimed it was a scheduling issue. But rumors circulated Tom was unhappy with the script. Not long later, it was highly suggested that Jake Gyllenhaal was sought after and very likely to step in. Again, Rick Flag was left without a star as Jake declined. But now that issue has finally been resolved. Joel I don’t believe is a face people recognize yet. I didn’t love the remake of “Robocop”, albeit it was a tall order considering the original is a classic, but I wouldn’t blame Joel for the disappointment. He seems to be a capable actor, I can’t see how this is a bad move. I don’t see Rick Flag as being this difficult role to portray to be perfectly honest…so let’s just hope they got their guy finally and we don’t experience another actor departure.

Amanda Waller was character much discussed among fans of the comic book and who would they cast to play the role. She is the leader and general of the “Suicide Squad”. She is in charge of a small, somewhat secretive, division known as Task Force X. This character has mostly played the villain role, although she has also acted as an antihero that would work along side the Super-Heroes. Regardless, Amanda “The Wall” Waller is a toughie! She’s strong, vicious, and not shy to throw down with any of DC’s villains and heroes alike despite having no powers of her own. Amanda now has a star attached to the character, Viola Davis (The Help, Prisoners). I love this casting! Viola is an amazing actress who steals the screen every time she’s on it. She earned an Academy Award Best Actress Nomination for her powerful performance in 2011 “The Help”. Her addition to this film is perfect…I look forward to her as the infamous Amanda Waller!

Keeping itself in the movie headlines, “Suicide Squad” is close to adding another key character from the DC Universe. Deathstroke will be making his big screen debut with Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike, True Blood) on the verge of landing the role. It’s said he’s all but signed on officially. Jason Clarke (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) was said to have a chance as well, but seems that Joe has the role locked up. If this is the case, I’m happy with it. I like Joe alot, the guy can act and he has a great look to play a badass like Deathstroke. Even look wise, he resembles Slate Wilson very well. Again, a strong casting decision. I have no doubts he’ll do well playing the terminator of the DCU. I definitely hope I’m right seeing as Deathstroke is one of my favorite DC characters.

Last update as of now to this star studded comic book movie is the rumor that we may have our antagonist.

It would seem that it’s quite possible we could be seeing our antiheroes go up against Onslaught and it’s leader Antiphon, who might very well be played by Ed Harris (The Truman Show, Gravity). Rumor is thanks to an instagram post by Latino Review’s El Mayimbe who posted “Onslaught are hunting Super Heroes & Villains for their own agenda. They’re like a special ops team made up of mercenaries. Antiphon is a burn victim and has a prosthetic leg. Ed Harris is rumored for the role.”

I do not know a whole lot about Onslaught or it’s leader, except they’re an international terrorist group for hire. Seems like a fitting reason to have Amanda Waller assemble the Suicide Squad. And if Ed Harris is indeed the man to play the leader, then that is once again the kind of casting that has this movie absolutely buzzing.

“Suicide Squad” is shaping up to be a royal rumble of Hollywood star power and I mean that in the best way possible. I’m very excited for this movie and I can’t wait to see what we will find out next. Keep the good news coming baby!

This is Mr. Matt Inee…go head DC with your bad self!

Beauty & the Beast (2016): Casting Update

With the recent success of turning Disney Animated classics into Live Action adaptions, “Beauty and the Beast” is next on the list and we now have our main cast. Let’s break it down…

“Beauty and the Beast” is slated for a 2016 theater release, but no specific date has been attached to it as of yet. I don’t think I have to explain what “Beauty and the Beast” is about, do I? It’s not only a Disney animated classic, it’s one of the more famous and classic love stories of all time.

Based on a traditional French fairy tale of the same name, 1991 “Beauty and the Beast” was the 30th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classic Series in addition to being the 3rd in the Disney Renaissance period. It’s apart of Americana; It’s a musical play on Broadway, it’s had several different versions of the story portrayed through film and literature, and it’s one of Disney’s most popular titles.

In recent years we’ve seen four of Disney’s Classics be adapted into Live Action Films. It started with Tim Burton’s (Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands) 2010 version of “Alice in Wonderland” under the same name starring Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Mortdecai). The movie visually is really something to see, but not my favorite telling of the story. The movie wasn’t well received despite making a ton of money in the box office. We then got an interesting twist on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” with 2012 “Snow White and the Huntsman” starring Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga) and Charlize Theron (Prometheus, Monster). Like Burton’s attempt, it’s visually spectacular but again lacks in the story telling and as an overall movie despite a masterful performance from Charlize Theron.
With two arguable stinkers out there, Disney would see another classic get the live action treatment with 2014 “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie (Salt, Wanted). Again we would get a twist to the classic story and characters but this time it was more than a visual delight. “Maleficent” was well received and proved that live action adaptations of these animated classics can be great. This year we are getting the latest of the live action Disney tales with “Cinderella” starring Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit) and Lily James (Downton Abbey) which hits theaters Friday, March 13th. And from what I’ve heard so far, it’s fantastic. I’ll be there Friday to judge for myself of course. (*wink, wink* look for the review *wink, wink)

“Beauty and the Beast” will be starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter, Noah) as Belle. Emma is best known as Hermione from the “Harry Potter” franchise. So some people might be skeptical of this casting, but she’s honestly a terrific actress. She recently starred along side Russell Crowe (Man of Steel, Robin Hood) in 2014 “Noah” and before that she was in a good little film called “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” released in 2012. In both films, she more than holds her own and is honestly quite wonderful. Although her casting didn’t scream to me “Oh she’s Belle!” I still like the casting because she is a more than capable actress and she’s beautiful. She’ll definitely give us a fresh take on Belle and will prove she’s beyond being a starlet.

With Emma cast as Belle, it was interesting to see who would play her counterpart as the Beast, and who will play the antagonist in Gaston. Well those questions are the most recent to be answered. “Downton Abbey” star, Dan Stevens (The Guest, A Walk Among the Tombstones) is set to play the Beast, while Luke Evans (The Hobbit, Dracula: Story Untold) is set to play Gaston.
I unfortunately do not know Dan Stevens. I do not watch “Downton Abbey” (although I might start soon) and have not seen 2014 “The Guest” or 2014 “A Walk Among the Tombstones”. I have heard he’s really good in “The Guest”, so I’ll have to watch it soon. I’m sure he’s a capable actor and will do a fine job. The Beast will most likely be mostly CGI anyway…that’s not confirmed just my assumption.
Luke Evans, on the other hand, I’ve seen plenty of now and think he’s awesome. He’s got everything studios are looking for in a leading man so I’m sure in the near future we’ll see Luke being offered alot more lead roles. As far as playing Gaston, I feel like acting wise he’ll be great. But does he have the look? Because Gaston is a hulking guy. Not that Luke is small by any means, he’s roughly 6 foot tall I believe and is in good shape. But he’s not hulking for sure. But I would look at it like this…Emma Watson is a pretty tiny girl. So in comparison to Luke Evans it will seem like he’s huge when on screen with Emma.

Final Thought: I think this trio of talent will serve well for this version of the animated classic. Will Bill Condon directing (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 & Part 2, Dreamgirls) “Beauty and the Beast” could turn out to be the best yet in the “Disney Animated Classics turned Live Action Movie” genre. But let’s see who’s playing the rest of the supporting cast…now that shall be interesting. It’s rumored Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee, Sense and Sensibility) will be cast as Mrs. Potts, but that has yet to be confirmed. She would be perfect in that role!

This is Mr. Matt Inee…Be My Guest, Be My Guest

Note: In 1996, we actually had a live action version of a Disney Classic with “101 Dalmatians” starring Glenn Close and Jeff Daniels. I forgot about that movie, my apologies. I just remember Glenn Close was an awesome Cruella De Vil.

Stephen King’s IT (Remake): Update

In case you were not aware, Stephen King’s classic horror novel turned TV Mini-series “IT” is receiving a remake. It will be split into two movies, the 1st of which is set to be released sometime in 2017.

For those who don’t know: “IT” takes place in the small town of Derry, Maine where a group of outcast kids that refer to themselves as “The Losers Club” band together to take on life struggles, bullies, and a shape-shifting monster that takes the form of a clown named Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Pennywise was played by Tim Curry (Clue, Home Alone 2) in the original 1990 TV adaptation. He has the ability to transform into your worst fears and uses it to prey on his victims.

The story is broken up into two arcs: The first of which follows the main characters as kids who make a vow to destroy Pennywise. The second part follows them as adults as they realize it’s time to return to Derry and finish what they once started.

The first part of the story is very well received and is the more beloved part. As kids, the characters are much easier to get behind as they deal not only with this terrifying unexplainable creature but also with everyday life such as school and home. Their individual stories and their bond as a group gives the story it’s charm while still being eerie and haunting. Together they believed in strength in numbers, together they wouldn’t have to fear, they could fight Pennywise and defeat him. You couldn’t help but fear for these kids.

The second part seems to lose the eerie tone and becomes a bit boring. As adults, it lost it’s charm and doesn’t seem to capture that same interest that grabbed you in the first part. But the story needs to be told as a whole to work so to me you still need one with the other. That’s the way it’s meant to be.

The remake has Director Cary Fukunaga (True Detective HBO Series) set to direct the first film and at the very least co-write for the second film. I would much rather see one man take the project and complete it as a whole. One vision, one direction. But we’ll see what happens with that, it can always change. If the first of the two is successful, they can always have Cary do the second one.

The buzz surrounding the remake right now is really just one question: “who is to be cast as Pennywise the Dancing Clown?”

Well in an interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo (via Bloody Disgusting), Cary Fukunaga had the following to say on the matter: “I’ve been on this project for about five years. I had already read versions of the script but nothing felt right. Everybody tried to put too much into it, telling it from the perspective of the adult and the child in a two hour movie. It didn’t fit. So I decided to throw it all away and start from scratch. This will be my first movie in the US and I’m still trying to find the perfect guy to play Pennywise. It’s really good to know Stephen (King) likes what we did. We changed names, dates, dynamics, but the spirit is similar to what he’d like to see in cinemas, I think.”

His comments are interesting. The fact it’s been five years can sound alarming but it’s really not. Projects can take years before they’re finally off and running between the right director and producer to the cast and the right script. I feel good about Cary taking the director’s chair for this remake. I loved “True Detective” which btw actually had me freaked out at some points so I trust he can make this remake something special. But the thought of things being different bother me, I’m not going to lie.

I love the original “IT”! I know some people think it’s not scary at all but I’m not one of them. It’s apart of my childhood so it’s dear to me. Plus, I’m afraid of clowns so that doesn’t help. But ultimately the small changes to the story won’t really matter if the script, the tone, and Pennywise are done right. So his focus on the perfect Pennywise is dead on!
I wonder who will they pick…we shall see.

This is Mr. Matt Inee…and down here…we all float!

Aliens & Neill Blomkamp: Movie will be a Sequel to “Aliens”

Neill Blomkamp confirms his installment to the franchise will be a sequel to “Aliens”

 

With “Chappie” about to open in theaters, Director Neill Blomkamp finds himself in front of the camera answering plenty of questions. But the questions are not all about this movie, but more so about the one he’s now confirmed to be working on…and it’s exciting news!

Neill has officially stated that although he is not attempting to undo 1992 “Alien 3” and 1997 “Alien 4”, they will not be apart of the timeline for his movie will tie in with 1979 “Alien” and 1986 “Aliens”.

In other words, he’s telling us to forget “Alien: 3” and “Alien: Resurrection” because his installment will follow the events of “Aliens” making the other sequels obsolete. So you would have the original “Alien”, then it’s sequel “Aliens”, and then Neill Blomkamp’s installment. To me, that’s excellent news! I, although don’t hate the later sequels, do not care for them either.

I mean you start the 3rd movie with Hicks dying in between movies while in space! WHAT?! I was always bothered by that. Hicks was an awesome character in the James Cameron’s (Aliens, Terminator 2, Avatar) action packed sequel. Then quickly into the movie it’s confirmed Newt is also dead. So no Hicks, no Newt, and Ripley is trapped in a prison full of monks…yippie! (Can you feel that sarcasm?) Again, don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the 3rd movie…it has some things that make it watchable but overall a far drop from “Aliens”.

Then five years later we get the 4th installment which is a mess within itself. “Alien: Resurrection” really went off the rails and turned what was once something very special and turned it upside down making fans realize…the glory days were behind us. It also committed “Alien” blasphemy by ruining the Ripley character by making her a clone. Sigourney has been on record stating she wished for her character to be killed in the 4th movie so she could be done with making any more. James Cameron has openly stated his displeasure for the sequels as well. So it’s no secret they’re not beloved by most. And I think any true fan of the franchise understands why and would agree.

Now I understand there are people who like/love those movies and the Alien Franchise as a whole from “Alien” to “Alien: Resurrection”…and for those people that’s fine enjoy them by all means. But I would feel confident in stating that the vast majority would agree to move forward with disregarding them and going back to “Aliens”.

So the real question to me is: Is Ripley, Hicks and/or Newt alive? And will Sigourney herself and perhaps even Michael Biehn reprise their roles as Ellen Ripley and Cpl. Dwayne Hicks?
Well, while in London, Sigourney greeted her fans that were waiting outside her Hotel and was sweet enough to put our little fanboy hearts at ease by confirming she will be working with Neill again for the next “Alien” movie as the iconic Ellen Ripley. Nothing can be said for Hicks or Newt yet…but considering the concept art Neill had posted on his instagram (that I previously blogged about) will show you that he has Hicks in mind and can very well return to fight along side Ripley.

With this being the case I can’t see why they wouldn’t also bring back the Newt character. The mother/daughter bond that Ripley and Newt had was a big part of that sequel. Added another strong dimension to Ripley’s already strong character and was the motivator behind Ripley willingness to go toe to toe with the beast.
Sigourney Weaver is now 65 years of age…so you could assume that Neill’s installment will perhaps take place 30 years later or something to that nature…if you’re playing off the actress’ actual age. So the Newt character can be all grown up and still working side by side with Ripley. Let’s not forget Bishop too…Bishop is alive, well… functioning seeing he’s a robot, at the end of “Aliens”. So you would have to also consider what Neill might do with that character. There’s plenty of questions that need to be answered.

But again, what we do know as of now is the following:
Neill’s installment is a sequel to “Aliens” which means “Alien 3” and “Alien: Resurrection” are to be disregarded; And Sigourney Weaver is back as Ellen Ripley.

I seriously think this is the best course of action. I did not want to see them completely reboot this franchise seeing how classic the Ridley Scott’s (Prometheus, Alien, Blade Runner) “Alien” is, let alone the amazing sequel that followed under James Cameron. You go back to that timeline, you go back to the tone of those epic movies, and give Ripley and possibly Hicks and Newt the proper ending they deserve. Sigourney and Ripley started this journey…let her finish it!

What makes me even more excited for this movie is Neill has suggested he indeed plans to bring the atmosphere and tone back from the original classic. That feeling of being stuck in a dark, closed-in space with no where to hide. Have to make these menacing creatures scary again. “Alien” was a horror/sci-fi franchise when it started…I would love to see it go back to it’s roots.

This is Mr. Matt Inee…you get away from her you Bitch!