If you a Marvelite like me then you should be excited by this long list. A visual look at the next 10 movies from the Marvel Universe. Okay so the last few are mock ups but since their release dates aren’t until 2014/2015 they can be forgiven, but just look at what they have in store for us.
There are some missing films that I would have liked to see, such as Captain Marvel and any other female led story, my colleague Laura has a few suggestions for Marvel here. Despite this though I am very excited by what’s to come, which ones are you looking forward to?
We’re back this week with a round-up of film news, a preview of this week’s new release Evil Dead and a look at the rumour of a major character departing in the sixth series of True Blood. I’ll also tell you why I’m excited about Filth.
This Week’s Top Stories
There have been plenty of trailers released over the past week, with new looks at The Lone Ranger and Man of Steel (which is pure cinematic sex) along with the first trailer for R.I.P.D. and the final for Star Trek: Into Darkness. We’ve also had some new posters including a first look at 300: Rise of an Empire which is based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel, Xerxes. Set to be another explosion of CGI and little else, that’s one that I’ll probably be giving a miss.
A poster has also been released for Spike Lee’s remake of Korean classic Oldboy, which I think is absurd. Starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen, released in October this year, I’m expecting it to be an abomination.
Another bizarre piece of news comes in the form of Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic The Shining having a sequel in the works. The Overlook Hotel is having its first draft written by The Walking Dead’s Glen Mazzara. Interesting.
Next we have some information regarding Disney’s takeover of the Star Wars franchise and what I consider to be serious overkill. Disney have promised a new Star Wars film EVERY year starting with 2015, alternating between standalone films with character spin-offs and ‘episodes’. Yup, they’re going to ruin it.
The Lone Ranger
It was also announced earlier this week that Michael Rooker has joined the cast of Guardians of the Galaxywhich is released next year, laying the groundwork for Avengers 2 which Joss Whedon has announced will begin filming in February 2014.
Wesley Snipes joining the cast for Expendables 3and Stanley Tucci joining Transformers 4 have also been in the news.
We’ve also been given two new fabulous trailers for Only God Forgives along with a nifty poster, which I featured in the last edition of Geeks on Film. This really is going to be one to watch out for in the coming months, but the release date is uncertain. It premieres at Cannes next month so we can expect a late June/July release. The new trailers show off the plot a great deal more, rather than the dark and cryptic trailer released a few weeks ago. The film really does look fantastic and I can’t wait for it’s release.
New Releases
This week’s main new release is Fede Alvarez’s remake/reboot/whatever you’d like to call it, Evil Dead. Based on 1981 cult classic The Evil Dead, directed by Sam Raimi, the film follows the story of five friends stuck in a remote cabin in the woods. They discover a ‘Book of the Dead’ and unknowingly summon all manner of nasties which possess the friends in turn.
I won’t go into too much detail, because we’ll have a Geek Prider reviewing the film very soon, and if you don’t know the plot of The Evil Dead, why the hell not?! I have high hopes for the remake which I’ll be seeing very soon, but I’m not counting on it being as good as the original, which is full of hilariously awful horror fun. Some of it’s quite nasty though, with that classic scene with the branches in the woods- yeah, you know the one. This is how horror should be. However, Alvarez’s film looks more Eli Roth than horror classic, but keep watching for a review.
Geeks in TV
With Game of Thronesin full swing and Defiance finally kicking off, geek TV is picking up again. I’ll admit that I hadn’t started to watch Game of Thrones properly until this week, but I think it’s fabulous.
I’m also getting excited about meeting some of the cast next week at Wales Comic Con who I’ll hopefully get a few words with for Geek Pride! We also had Eli Roth’s Netflix-exclusive series Hemlock Grove kick off this week, so expect a review this weekend.
In this week’s Geeks in TV mini feature, I’ve decided to focus on a rumour I heard today about the upcoming series six of True Bloodheading to US screens on June 16th. Information from cast members and other sources suggests that this series the show will be really whittling down its central cast. This comes as no shock with the introduction of new characters and the fact that there are far too many already in play.
We’ve got Sookie, Eric and Bill who have always been central to the plot, but then there’s heaps more humans, bloodsuckers, faeries, shapeshifters and more. The sheer amount of sub-plots gets a little messy at times, so it’s no surprise that they’re apparently going to kill some off. However, there’s a little bit of a *SPOILER* in the next rumour…
There’s a big rumour floating around which emerged over the past day or so regarding the killing off of a main character in episode six. Episode seven’s title ‘The Funeral’ suggests the death of a rather major character and seasoned truebies will not like the rumour regarding who that just might be. Everybody’s favourite Nordic beauty, Eric.
That’s right folks, there’s a big rumour surfing the waves of the internet that Alexander Skarsgard will be leaving the series, following a death around mid-season. There was already a rumour before series five aired regarding his departure, so maybe this is something similar.
However, I do think the series needs a big departure, but perhaps this is more likely to come in the form of Southern gent turned vampire demi-god Bill? Since he’s gone all ubervamp on us, maybe he that will meet his true death this Summer. Keep posted for more True Blood updates as series six approaches.
I’m Excited About…
After watching the red-band trailer for the next cinematic release based on an Irvine Welsh novel, Filth, I’m rather excited about it. Lately it seems I’ve got a thing for these red-band trailers, that might have something interesting to say about my taste in film….
James McAvoy stars as Bruce Robertson, a corrupt sergeant and sociopathic drug addict. Following the lines of films such as Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, another Welsh adaptation, this is a film that’s not going to appeal to everyone. However, I’m a big fan of Welsh and this looks like an interesting adaptation, so check out the trailer below. It’s heavy on the profanities and all sorts else, but it looks like a good bit of fun. Lots of filth.
Ever the fan of the female super heroes I almost squee’d out loud when I came across these outstanding pieces of digital art. The artist responsible for these incredible images is Singapore based Stanley Lau aka Artgerm. Formally trained as a graphic designer, Artgerm has gone on to co found Imaginary Friends Studio, described on their own website as “A World-class Concept Art & Digital Illustration Agency.”
Artgerm’s Deviant Art gallery is definitely worth the look and I encourage you to visit. There are so many images I wanted to share with you because this guy is seriously talented, but it was the following choices that got me all excited. These mock up covers of a Justice Magazine, feature some of our favourite DC super heroines and whilst Wonder Woman is my favourite superhero overall; it is the Supergirl cover that is my favourite. I do hope he does more, I would love to see Batgirl!
Considering the number of graphic novel reviews I’m doing that are under the ‘Vertigo’ label, I feel that I should be on their pay roll (I swear I’m not). It’s just that all the series they produce, I really like. Whether it’s “100 bullets”, “Y: The Last Man”, “DMZ” or “Transmetropolitan”, they have one thing in common, they are exceedingly well written and drawn.
“DMZ” is a comic book series written by Brian Wood. Whilst Wood worked for Marvel as well as DC, his best work in my eyes is mainly unknown. These works include; “Northlanders” and “Demo” and “The New York Four/Five”. Another slightly unknown fact about Mr Wood is his work for Rockstar Games. He was a staff designer on works including “Manhunt”, “Grand Theft Auto 3/Vice City” and “Max Payne”.
“DMZ” stands for ‘demilitarized zone’ and it’s set in the very near future, where a second American civil war has broken out. America, having sent its Army and National Guard into military conflicts around the world, neglected the threats coming within their own borders. Seemingly pushed too far, Middle America rises up and violently makes its grievances known. The two forces involved are: the federal government of the United States of America and the ‘Free States’ armies. Their conflict came to a standstill in New York.
The story itself focuses around the ‘DMZ’ of Manhattan Island with the two forces encamped either side. the forces of the ‘Free States’ in New Jersey and inland, the federal army of The United States of America in Brooklyn/Queens and Long Island. It starts with a young photo journalism intern named Matthew (Matty) Roth, who, thanks to his Dad, found himself as part of Viktor Ferguson’s news crew working with Liberty News Network. Due to Manhattan Island being a ‘DMZ’ and still having 400,000 people living there, cut off from society, Ferguson wanted to be the first reporter onto the island and report the real story.
Whilst flying into Manhattan Island, their helicopter is attacked, leaving only Matty alive, completely unprepared for the new world that now engulfs him. Thankfully for him he meets one ‘Zee Hernandez’ who before the war was a medical student. She takes pity on Matty and tends to his wounds before leaving him, being very untrusting of his motives in coming to Manhattan.
The series follows Roth around as he takes up the mantle left by the now deceased Viktor Ferguson – telling the story of the voiceless in Manhattan.
Being an American series, there are officially 72 issues, but for us in Britain it can be collected as 12 trade paperback volumes.
It is certainly another Graphic Novel series aimed primarily toward a more mature audience, with strong language, sex and violence never far from the book’s pages. But, like so many of the Vertigo titles, has been exceedingly well written. The city and its inhabitants are gritty, down to earth and believable, and the heroes are not of the ‘super’ variety, they do have their flaws.
It is a series with some very nice artwork, which is done by Brian Wood himself and Riccardo Burchielli. Burchielli is best known for his work on DMZ, in fact if it were not for Will Dennis, the series editor, he never would have been found at all. Dennis discovered a series of illustrations the Italian had done in a comic book fair in Naples in March ’03, which he had put on Wood’s desk, who after seeing them approached the Italian to work for them at DMZ.
There are certain movies from your childhood that you deem sacred. For me it was movies like Flight Of The Navigator and WarGames, but also lumped-in by default is pretty much anything that the late John Hughes made- The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Weird Science.
Unfortunately the “law” has been broken, and (according to Deadline) producer Joel Silver wants to do a remake of our ode to hormonal nerds, Weird Science. In case you’ve not seen it (a travesty!) it’s about two nerdy kids- Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) who decide to make the perfect woman in the form of Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), only she’s a little more than that.
Michael Bacall (21 Jump Street, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) is set to pen the new script, so there’s hope that at least that’s going to be OK- I loved Scott Pilgrim and 21 Jump Street, so I’m crossing my fingers.
Now, in case anyone forgot, there’s already been a remake of sorts; back in 1994 there was a Weird Science TV series, still featuring the same characters Gary and Wyatt, though instead played by John Asher and Michael Manasseri. This never aired in the UK I completely missed this when it was on, so I’ve not had the privilege of seeing it, however it ran for five seasons and clocked-up 88 episodes, so it can’t have been all that bad.
So with all of this, the question remains: if the original is still amazing (I re-watched it two days ago as it happens) and the TV series was good too, what’s the point of remaking it? It won’t be the same without a baby-faced Robert Downey Jr acting like a douche and screaming like a girl with a bra on his head.
Straight to the point; The 4th and final season; this ultra-violent yet engrossing show goes out with a bang. And it’s one hell of a ride…
Many a tear was shed in the Walklate villa on Monday night as the last ever episode of Spartacus was finally aired, after 4 seasons and 3 years of swords, sand and Jupiter’s Cock. But now the show has finally reached its inevitably painful conclusion; it’s time to take a step back and look at one of the most popular shows on TV for the past 3 years.
Spartacus is a unique TV show; in that it’s a show everyone loves to watch, despite the fact that it’s one of the cheesiest, raunchiest, certainly the most preposterously violent show on tv at the moment. Anyone that has watched even a single episode will have no doubt seen the lady bits (and indeed male bits) on show almost continuously, or the rivers of blood that gush forth from the slightest paper cut, and that’s not even mentioning the writing (“Fuck the gods; remove cock from ass, and set mind to purpose!”). You’d expect some might be turned off by one thing or the other, but it seems everyone love it; from action-thirsty young adults to my 60 year old work colleague who cheekily loves to admit “it’s a bit rude, isn’t it!”. This is why, to me, this is a show that is a lot deeper than it seems on the surface, and one that simply cannot be missed.
After finally defeating their nemesis, Gaius Claudius Glabber, in epic style at the end of the last season; many were wondering how American TV network Starz was planning to up the stakes. It seems we had nothing to worry about, as thev have managed to do so in almost every way. Now their rival’s gizzards are firmly splattered up the walls of a roman villa, and more slaves are joining his cause every day, Spartacus is beginning to gain the advantage. However as everyone knows, while a bigger army brings bigger battles and bigger action; it also brings bigger problems. Up until now, Spartacus has been about slaves vying for freedom, and importantly, being on the back foot; always scrambling to fight their way out of each new situation the Roman legions face them with. Now, Spartacus has responsibilities.
This season then, doesn’t so much change the pace of the series; it manages to keep the pace going while introducing a sense of responsibility, and the problems this causes. After all, this is an area Spartacus knows little about. Starz genuinely do an excellent job of showing the difficulty of leadership; Spartacus’ gladiator brethren simply want to take the fight to the enemy and inflict retribution on the Romans, however Spartacus quickly learns that being a leader is more than fighting. He doesn’t command an army anymore; he commands a huge population, including women, children, the elderly and infirm. Consequently, one could say that the theme of this series is power, and conflicting ideologies. Spartacus is constantly faced with incredibly tough choices, and he must carefully toe the line between doing what’s right to keep his people safe, while also trying to placate (and occasionally indulge) his gladiator brother’s insatiable thirst for vengeance and war. Inevitably, Spartacus’ decisions are bound to displease one group or another, and as such Spartacus spends a lot of this series battling simply to keep his people together.
All this isn’t to say the series lacks for action, however. The Roman Senate has understandably had quite enough of Spartacus’ shenanigans, thank you very much; so they decide to go all out by appointing an Imperator of Rome, in the form of Marcus Crassus. The most feared and respected commander in the Republic; Crassus gives plenty of opportunity for the series’ signature excellently choreographed, beautifully violent and furious battles, including some all out huge fights between armies (compared with the skirmishes we’ve seen in the past). To go along with this, Spartacus and his brothers have still not forgotten about their origins; while the drama might’ve moved out of the arena; it still remains firmly rooted in our ex-gladiator’s minds and actions.
Liam Macintyre returns as the titular Thracian gladiator/rebel leader Spartacus, along with his loyal brothers in arms Crixus, Gannicus, Agron and of course everyone’s favourite German berserker, Lugo. I’ve always thought the casting to be absolutely spot-on for Spartacus himself; Liam does a great job of giving a commanding authority and instilling a sense of respect for one of history’s most famous heroes, taking up the mantle brilliantly after the actor in the first season, Andy Whitfield, sadly passed away after series one. Equally, Manu Bennet returns as a personal favourite character of mine; the gruff, rash, strong, yet loyal and honorable Crixus, “The Undefeated Gaul”. Dustin Clare also returns as the boisterous, wine-quaffing womanizer Gannicus, and Daniel Feuerriegel and Pana Hema Taylor also deserve a mention for their portrayal of Agron and Nasir; a homosexual couple in an open relationship; one of the only relationships of its kind currently being portrayed on TV, and one that both actors do so very honestly and touchingly.
Steven S DeKnight returns as well; bringing with him the same excellent writing and characterisation. Old favourites all have large parts and individual storylines, and are also joined by the occasional smattering of new talent here and there. Of course, the witty and original profanities and insults are all back with a vengeance as well (“Words fall from your mouth as …. falls from….!”). DeKnight also does an excellent job of blurring the lines between good and bad; as we see a more human side to Spartacus’ enemies. Crassus is a fiercely intelligent and skilful character, and goes to great lengths to train, fight and think like a gladiator so he can better fight Spartacus. Crassus may not empathise with Spartacus, but understands why he is revolting. Similarly now we no longer have some faceless bad guy to shake our fists at; just like Crassus, we have an adversary that we may not empathise with, but can certainly respect and understand.
Crassus also has a son who he is training to become leader, as well as a slave who he is in love with and genuinely cares about on a deeper level than just baseless sex or as a means to an end; both relationships we haven’t seen before from a Roman point of view, and ones which bring a sympathetic dimension to a character we are supposed to despise. However, Crassus also adds another new degree to the show; a sense of intrigue. His cunning mind constantly plots schemes to advance his status and bring down Spartacus in the most glorious and insidious fashion possible; starting with planting a spy right in the middle of Spartacus’ ranks…
Of course there’s one elephant in the room we need to discuss; and that’s the ending. It’s the final season, and this is one of the most famous stories in history; so we obviously know how it’s going to end. However I will say that just because we knew, in absolutely no way did it diminish our enjoyment of the series. And it really is as simple as that. Spartacus is a great piece of historical drama heavily interspersed with a great swords and sandals epic. Sure, it’s over the top, and it’s cheesy, but neither reason’s good enough to stop me from recommending it.
The “blood and boobs” opinion that the show carries actually hides a very deep story, which will draw you in completely if you give it but half a chance. Here is a show that has action, sex, blood, and enough creative swearing to make Jay & Silent Bob do a double take, but one that also has a very engaging plot, one that tackles a lot of interesting issues and paints the legend of Spartacus in a new, interesting, and most importantly; very entertaining way. When the credits finally began to roll on Monday night, the Walklate household was almost in tears that it was over. In a show like this, it’s not about plot twists, or spoiling the end, it’s about enjoying the ride. And what a ride it is.
Carin Taylor aka Velocity meets Stryker her estranged Father. Aphrodite makes a decision. CDI moves forward with their plan and Carin’s sister Cassandra code name Ballistic continue’s her pursuit.
This recently relaunched Cyberforce could be one of the worst titles in the history of comics and you’d still not really be able to complain given that it’s completely free due to it’s Kickstarter funding, the fact it’s actually rather good is just a big bonus.
Taking the cliched ‘daughter meets estranged father for first time’ development and transplanting it into the smoking ruins of a former city with Stryker stood atop a building looking down on Carin after just taking out a squad of SHOC troopers is a great framing framing sequence.
That Stryker is shocked by this revelation makes it better but what really seals the deal is the spiky dialogue from his daughter upon seeing his confusion ‘Okay I’ll go slow this time. You banged my mother, she got pregnant, and here we are.’
Ballistic and Aphrodite on the hunt.
A sequence with Dolorossa proves yet again that he really isn’t a nice guy and it’s good to have a genuine bad guy, there’s no grey areas or ambiguity he’s just a twisted sociopath with a talent for killing.
The mega corporation with a sinister plan is nothing new but the sheer scale of CDI’s plan is definitely a change, hingeing around the eradication of almost all life on Earth via a sequence of manipulated and orchestrated events including, detonating a nuclear device prompting the volcano beneath Yellowstone National Park to erupt killing 150 million people before a similar set of eruptions occur around the globe.
The goal being rebuilding life on Earth as CDI see’s fit.
Stryker learns the ways of things.
Carin knows this because her dog Ninja, formerly military with a neural interface among other enhancements who was left behind presumed dead after a skirmish on the run, told her.
Aphrodite remains a wild card, who’s allegiance isn’t set despite being sent by Ballistic to recover her sister, this ambiguity leaves room for plenty of twists and turns.
The art from Khoi Pham, Sal Regla and Andy Troy is good stuff but the character designs from writer Marc Silvestri really make it work. Stryker and Ripclaw are mean, rugged and the biomechanical look really works. This grizzled veteran look contrasts with Velocity’s punky teenager and Aphrodite.
I just watched the trailer for R.I.P.D… twice… in quick succession… and I’m still grinning like a crack-addicted lolcat after they’ve actually got that bloody cheesburger.
Have you ever wondered what a Zombie(ish)-orientated cop version of Men In Black would be like? Well now you don’t have to, because Peter M. Lenkov already beat you to the punch and wrote a graphic novel about it called Rest In Peace Department. Now it’s been adapted for the big screen by director Robert Schwentke (RED, Lie To Me, Flightplan) under the title R.I.P.D.
Ryan Reynolds plays veteran cop Nick Walker who gets gunned-down mid-raid, and upon reaching the afterlife is recruited to the R.I.P.D – an elite group of undead cops tasked with retrieving undead absconders from the world of the living. He then uses his newfound supernatural policing abilities to track down his killer.
I don’t know if its just ’cause I think Ryan Reynolds is a frickin’ genius, or if Jeff Bridges‘ accent is so hammy-yet-awesome, but I really love this trailer, and can’t wait for the movie – and as I have an affinity for prettymuch anything zombie-orientated (even if it is a very loose association by being undead cops), I think I’ll be looking up the graphic novel too!
A great vid taken from the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ show where in Harrison Ford refuses to answer Star Wars questions and gets on the wrong side of a wookie
Thanks to Paddy AKA Custord Trout for bringing this to my attention
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