Howdy ladies and gents of the internet, as some of you may have seen, last year I started a film podcast entitled Film Focus and on this podcast, I talk about various topics in film and reviews as well on a biweekly basis. As for the latest episode, it was actually done a few weeks ago and the topic was on theme songs in superhero films.
Anyway here’s the episode 36:
In this episode, I cover theme songs in superhero films and their importance not only to the characters they represent but also how they enhance the overall film experience when you have memorable themes. So from the John Williams Superman theme to Danny Elfman’s Spider-Man theme to the recent theme from Batman V Superman/Wonder Woman by Junkie XL, I cover some of the most recognisable and less notable themes that I feel should be talked about. Now I should have uploaded this podcast episode weeks ago but I got super busy and then forgot until now. Scheduling around work has become a tad complicated and tedious. Hopefully, the latest episode will be done soon.
As I mentioned before I’ll cover a different topic or review in each episode and since I don’t have much in the way of listeners or promotion, I’m here to spread the word about my podcast. 🙂
So if you have some spare time on your hands and would like to listen to the ramblings of a passionate/strange man then please check it out, and share it with your friends if you can. Also, you have any feedback or if you’d be interested in joining on future episodes be sure to let me know, until next time, laters! 😀
Howdy people of the internet, the year is pretty much over and I think it’s about time that I give you my top 10 list of my favourite films of 2015. Before I get into this list I have to explain a few things:
As per-usual I DO NOT include 2015 films that got released in 2015 here in the UK, so films like Big Hero 6 and some others that were originally released in 2014 for me they don’t count. I only list films that are new and were released between the start and end of this year.
The following films aren’t the best critically received films, the reason I’ve listed them is because of my personal enjoyment, the quality and the re-watch value.
This list was constantly shifting over the last month and in the end at least the first four films are solid, but other than that everything is sort of up in the air.
Oh and there were some great films that didn’t make the list like the lovely Cinderella, the thrilling Sicario and the fun and imaginative Inside Out.
With all that in mind let’s begin shall we?
10. Ant-Man
This was the Marvel film of 2015 that I thought I’d end up just liking, however in the end I liked it way more than Avengers: Age of Ultron and I never thought I’d feel that way earlier in the year. But this Peyton Reed-lead film was incredibly funny, action-packed, refreshing and reminded me of why I appreciate the solo adventures in the MCU over the connected stories. Paul Rudd owned in the lead role, and Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Pena were some of the other highlights in the cast. And while the MCU villain issue reminds and the way Hope was handled could have been better, in the end this was another solid entry in this film universe and I can’t wait to see the sequel in a few years time.
9. The Martian
I thought The Martian would be good, and I hoped it would be good, but damn it was a lot better than I expected it to be. Thankfully Ridley Scott found his way back to greatness with this sci-fi adventure very much focused on this one man’s survival on the planet Mars after being left by his team. This film could have easily been very boring and conventional, but luckily it was very engaging, dramatic and surprisingly funny. The central performance from Matt Damon was awesome and I also appreciated the focus on the characters on Earth as well too.
8. Black Mass
Black Mass was an intense, dramatic and engaging film about power and how its use had major ramifications for everyone involved. The film dealt with manipulation, influence, corruption, and the moral and ethical issues that could be used for good or bad when it came to law enforcers and the criminals. I liked the non-linear style applied to the story and seeing certain characters recall their interactions with Jimmy and the use of different time periods detailing the rise and fall of Jimmy’s power. This was return to form that I’ve always wanted from Johnny Depp as he was incredible, but on top of that Joel Edgerton was brilliant and I also really liked appearances from Jesse Plemons, Benedict Cumberbatch and Adam Scott too.
7. Mad Max Fury Road
Now this is where the controversy will probably kick in. For a lot of people, this was one of their favourite film of the year because of its unique style, insanity and use of practical effects. For me the fourth entry in this franchise was really impressive and had so many characters and moments of badassery, and some of those action sequences were just amazing. That being said, the film was overhyped before I saw it and I don’t believe it met the high expectations that many people had thrown out online, plus there were elements from Road Warrior that missed too. But make no mistake I still enjoyed this film a great deal and I thank George Miller for coming back to this series after so long.
6. Amy
I only saw this film a little while ago, however, it was certainly one of 2015’s most impactful films in my opinion. Just like Senna, director Asif Kapadia crafted a documentary that was incredibly insightful, dramatic, in-depth and heartbreaking. While I’m not the biggest fan of Amy Winehouse or her music, but I did like some of her material and because I was so familiar with her success and talent as a musician it made the rise and fall all the more tragic and painful especially when I saw her creative process and the way she was treated by certain individuals close to her.
5. Straight Outta Compton
This was not a film I was expecting to like as much as I did, I’ve seen a few music biographies in the past, but only a few of them capture the spirit and drama of the real events, but luckily everyone was on-point and crafted a really compelling and fun film. Now obviously certain elements were left out or dramatised for the film, but at the end of the day the film was effect in display the highs and lows of NWA during the formation, success and disbandment with awesome performances from O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell.
4. Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation
This is the fifth entry in Mission Impossible franchise and most films by this point would have sucked terribly, however Rogue Nation is to some the best entry in the series and for good reason. The stunts and action sequences were of the highest quality and were shot really well, we got to see Ethan Hunt in his most difficult position yet physically and mentally, but we also got more from the returning characters Benji and Brandt, but also got some interesting new characters in the form of the sexy/badass Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) and Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin). This new entry definitely improved on a few of the elements from the last entry, but I feel like there’s a sense of fun and style missing from Ghost Protocol, but besides that I really enjoyed this film.
3. Ex Machina
In a way this may still be my favourite film of the year. Back in January I expected this film to be a good watch, but I had no idea that I’d enjoy Ex Machina as much as I did. I love a good thriller and with the sci-fi elements incorporated it was just so compelling to watch. The themes, tone and style of this film made every scene feel relevant, interesting, tense and not boring at all. I adore the main performances Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac as each of their characters were engaging and different.
2. Kingsman the Secret Service
I had a lot of hope for this film considering that it was another comic book adapted film from Matthew Vaughn, but it ended up being far better than I had hoped. Kingsman was the most exciting, humourous and violent material I’ve seen in the spy genre for a while. This film felt classically infused with the best codes and conventions of the spy/action genre paying homage and referencing films that have come before. From the snappy dialogue to the crazy violent action sequences, this film has everything, and I loved the performances from Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong and Sofia Boutella.
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It feels like a cheat to have The Force Awakens as my number one considering it’s issues and similarities to A New Hope, but fuck it, no other film has made me feel a sense of delight quite like this new Star Wars film. Of all the films year, none have given me that feeling of joy and magic that this one had. Part of that was the nostalgia factor that this film provides so well with the return of classic characters, music and use of practical effects, but in addition to that J.J. Abrams has brought a new sense energy with the pacing, humour, visual style and cinematography. All of the new characters, Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8 and Kylo Ren had interesting new personalities, motivations and chemistry, and there were also great returns for Han Solo, Leia and few others. The best aspects of the film for me was the new lightsaber duels, the drama between certain characters and the sense of magic and connections to the Original Trilogy.
Conclusion
In the end 2015 was a pretty good year for films, sure there was plenty of disappoints films, but there was also a great deal of surprises and certain films that delivered their promise of awesomeness. With 2016 around the corner we’ve got the likes of Batman V Superman, Captain America: Civil War, Star Wars: Rogue One, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, The Jungle Book and Suicide Squad being some of the heavy hitters, it’ll be fun to see how next year pans out.
So how do you feel about my list and are any of your favourites on here? Also do you feel like some of these entries are wrong? And in general what were you favourite films of 2015? Whatever your thoughts are be sure to leave them below and I’ll see ya on the next blog post, laters! 😀
Howdy people of the internet, today I return to give you a new film review and this is for Marvel Studios’ latest film, Ant-Man. Now, this film has had quite the history with the directors behind it, script rewrites and a less than stellar hype from fans and the general public about there being an Ant-Man film. But now the film is out and the early response has been pretty positive, so it is good? Well I can’t hide my excitement for this film as I thought it was awesome and I’m going to tell you why in this review!
I am going to keep this review as clean and simple as possible.
When it comes to the story it goes a little like this:
“Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.”
The story in this film is actually really good. The film’s also bizarre and self-aware and it makes the experience more enjoyable. What makes this film work so well is that is that it isn’t like a typical superhero film, much like last year’s Captain America: The Winter Solider and Guardians of the Galaxy, this film adopts a style puts that first and then incorporates the superhero elements later. Ant-Man is a heist film and it has all of those quirky, smart and inventive aspects that makes films of this genre so fun to watch and speaking of fun, the film is also hilarious. I know that is to be expected in a Marvel film and some have gotten sick of it, but here it really works. There is a constant sense of fun, quirkiness and just randomness that makes the film great to watch. But beyond the humour there is heart, like the best of the Marvel films there’s genuine emotion and drama to draw you in and make you root for the good guys. I have to commend not only Peyton Reed for directing this film in such a great way, but also for the script done by Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay and Paul Rudd as it is very witty and unique. If I had any negatives it’s that some of the plot elements do fall into that “I’ve seen it before” department, but beyond that the film’s very good. There are also some nice references to the comics and other MCU films from the past and future and they’re great, make sure you stay for the post-credit scenes! Don’t be a donut and leave early! 😀
When it comes to the cast they’re all pretty good. Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man. What I liked about Scott is that he’s a great guy who wants to do good but has ends up in bad situations and doesn’t commit to doing good deeds, and it’s interesting to see him go on this journey and change for the better. Rudd, he’s just great in this film. Rudd naturally excels in comedy and he uses that to his advantage as he’s really funny and has great timing with his jokes, but in addition to that he brings a lot of charm and depth to his character with the more dramatic moments. Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym. I knew that Douglas would be important in the film but I didn’t expect him to have such a significant presence because this film felt like a passing of the torch, but Douglas had so many great lines and he continues to show why he’s such a great actor as he’s emotionally versatile and just kills it in every scene he’s in. Oh and his relationship with Rudd is great too. Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne was really good too. She’s strong, confident, but also defensive and complicated emotionally because of her father and I love what Lily did with this role. Her and Douglas have a great dynamic because of their family based relationship, and Lily and Rudd also had pretty good chemistry and their banter was lovely.
Corey Stoll was really good as Darren Cross/Yellowjacket. Darren is a man with class, style and charm at face value, but he’s also sneaky, dangerous and obsessed with power and success. Stoll plays this character with just the right amount of villainy and craziness. You could argue that his character was a bit cliché and stereotypical, but I thought he was one of the stronger and more memorable villains of the MCU. Then there’s Lang’s heist team consisting of Michael Pena as Luis, Tip “T.I.” Harris as Dave and David Dastmalchian as Kurt. The strongest of the three is Pena as Luis, this guy is seriously one of the most strange and funny people ever. The guy’s so energetic and jokes and Pena just oozes charm and humour. T.I. and Dastmalchian are also pretty good and have their individual moments to shine. Bobby Cannavale did well as Paxton and it was good to see Wood Harris as Gale too and finally Judy Greer was good as Maggie and Abby Ryder Fortson is just one of the most adorable and hilarious child actors ever as Cassie.
As for the presentation is pretty damn good. Visually the film is really cool, the cinematography is well-done and the use of special effects used to craft the action sequences, suits and the miniaturised world that Ant-Man and Yellowjacket inhabit is so unique and interesting. The creativity behind the shrinking and growing of the Pym particles was great and there’s some really interesting, unexpected and hilarious uses of the powers. The soundtrack crafted by Christophe Beck is also very nice too, it has a great sense of charisma, sass and style, it had the perfect sound for a heist film but also for a 1960’s spy film.
In conclusion Ant-Man was pretty badass. I had hoped it would be good and that the early reviews were a good sign, but the film exceeded my expectations so much. It was full of all the regular great superhero codes and conventions but beyond that it had heart, style and stood alone perfectly from the rest of the MCU films while also existing within the same world. Marvel continue to prove that they are far still incredibly creative and versatile and I would highly recommend this film as it is SO much fun and really entertaining.
Rating: 8.5/10 (Very impressive)
So what do you think of Ant-Man? Did you love it, hate it or think it was okay? And how do you think it compares to the previous Marvel films? Do you think it’s the best solo film since Iron Man like some claim or do think differently? Sound off your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll see ya on the next review. Laters! 😀
Howdy people of the internet, today I return to give you a new trailer review for the next Marvel film, no not Avengers: Age of Ultron, but the other one coming out later on in July and that’s Ant-Man. Now, the first trailer for this film didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but I’ve still been interested in seeing how this turned out. So today the second trailer’s dropped today and I’ve seen some positive feedback lurking around online, so is it good or not? Well read on and find out!
Check out the trailer below:
So my first thoughts after seeing this trailer? Well this is certainly better than the last one for sure, and the hype level has definitely gone up for sure.
I am going to keep this trailer review as simple as possible. Basically, this trailer expands upon what we saw in the previous trailer by giving us more details on the story, characters and action. We see more Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and A LOT more of Corey Stoll.
When it comes to the story it looks like we have a better understanding about what the technology behind what the Ant-Man suit can do and what its original purpose was for (being used for the military and being super stealthy), and it seems like Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) is the main man behind the technology and is looking to sell it to everyone. While on the other side of things you have Dr. Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne (Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly) who see Cross as bad man who has to be taken out, so Pym finds Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and recruits him to steal tech away from Cross (I assume) and become a hero. I like how Hope is integral to the story and understands the technology behind the Ant-Man suit and trains scott to fight and understand how his powers work when he’s small. I also appreciate how we get to see more of Stoll as the bad guy, he clearly looks like he has an aggressive villain who will give our hero a lot of trouble.
What it interests me the most about this film again is the action sequences. I know that it’s mainly CGI, green screen and motion capture, but man it looks SO good, the level of detail is so sharp and beautiful, loving the colours and the way things seem a little slower and stylized in the smaller world. Seeing Ant-Man running with the heard of ants or taking out dude with his miniature super strength, it all looks pretty slick and intriguing as a form of combat. But the best stuff for me is seeing Ant-Man and Yellowjacket fighting, all of the jumping, flying, lasers and explosions is badass.
Oh there’s a fair amount of humour in the trailer, like most Marvel films, whether it is joking about the ‘Ant-Man’ name or talking about breaking into a place to steal something or seeing Paul Rudd get punched in the face by Evangeline Lilly, it looks humourous, and that final moment of the trailer when Yellowjacket was about to get hit by the Thomas the Tank Engine train and you just see the train just hit and fall over, that was funny, best funny moment in the trailer.
This is perfect, really random, but funny too. Any person who knows about Thomas will get a kick out of this.
In conclusion the second trailer for Ant-Man is pretty good. This is looking like it will be a very different kind of adventure like Guardians of the Galaxy last summer. I’m just curious to see how this all pans out, the costumes are looking hella good and the action seems better and better with each trailer. I’m not stupidly over the moon about this film yet, but I definitely want to see it more than before.
So what do you think of the second trailer for Ant-Man? Are you more or less excited for the film than before? Whatever your thoughts are be sure to drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya on the next review. Laters! 😀
Yo yo people of the internet, time for the penultimate blog post in this series based on upcoming films in 2015 with my top 11 most anticipated films of the year. If you haven’t already, check out PART 1, 2 & 3 of my 2015 film preview. It does seem a little late now considering that we’re just over two weeks into January, but I feel like I had to be done after the film preview and I guess it’s better late than never right? With all that in mind let’s begin from number 11 to 1.
11. Jurassic World
At one point I wasn’t going to put this on this list. The first trailer didn’t wow me, however, in the end, it’s another Jurassic Park film, I need to see it. after all these years of talk, rumours and speculation, we’re finally getting another Jurassic Park film. One that ties back to the first film, it has a great cast including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Vincent D’Onofrio among others, and it introduces a story that mixes in elements new and old. That being said, the concept of genetically modified dinosaurs sounds questionable, pet velociraptors and re-hashing “humans getting eaten by dinosaurs” doesn’t give me much hope. I PRAY that future trailers get me more hyped up and that the whole film is great.
10. Ant-Man
Ant-Man is another film that I’ve been interested in seeing, but also had a lacklustre teaser trailer. Now this is a character I’ve never been th biggest fan of, however, I’ve warmed to him in recent years and since Marvel Studios have come to the point where they can make anything look cool in a live-action film, I have to believe they’ll do the same with this. They have a great cast, an original and unconventional hero and a different kind of superhero story. Even though Edgar Wright is gone and some of us just haven’t gotten over it, I do have faith that Peyton Reed, Kevin Feige and everyone behind the film will give us something worth watching… Unless it fails completely, which will be a first for Marvel.
9. The Peanuts Movie
Out of all of the animated films coming out in 2015, this is the one I’m looking forward to the most. The Peanuts Movie is very important, because like a few other films on this list, the characters are part of history and the source material is very reach and nostalgic for many generations of people. After so many years with no Peanuts material, we have a new film, in 3D CGI, but with the right look and sounds of the old TV show. Now this good be beautiful or it could fail terribly and turn out like The Smurfs or Garfield, but I hope for that it turns out great.
8. Mission: Impossible 5
So now we have Mission: Impossible 5. After the badassery that was Ghost Protocol, I knew I had to see more Ethan Hunt adventures and in the latter part of 2015 we’ll get to see this crazy man start all over again. Now I feel like this film will not be as good as the previous one, but if it can be at least half as fun and action-packed as the last film then I’ll be happy for sure.
7. Tomorrowland
I’m super curious about this film, there hasn’t been that much information provided about it beyond a few images and a really intriguing teaser trailer. But to be honest that’s all I need. That and the fact that Brad Bird is directing it makes me so hyped to see what he’ll do with this.
6. In the Heart of the Sea
This is a film I have a lot of hope for. After Rush in 2013, I knew I had to see whatever Ron Howard was up to next and this film looks incredible. The trailer I saw was amazing and gives us a look at a film which is dark, mysterious, large in scope and epic in action. Plus the cast for this film looks really good and the story seems like it’ll be a one of hardships and tragedy. I can’t wait.
5. Furious 7
Now we have the 7th film in the Fast & Furious series, it is really weird to think that this series has been going on for this long, that being said after Fast 5, I think everyone was ready for more F&F action. That first trailer was awesome, it was like a mini preview of the film and while I don’t like to see too much of a film in the trailers, I feel like the teaser for Furious 7 was enough to get me hyped.
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
I have been watching this film from afar, but it wasn’t until the last trailer came out that this film got on my radar. I’ve not seen any of the previous Mad Max films, however, I’m not that bothered, if this film is half as good as the trailers are letting on then it’ll be a hell of a good time. I love Tom Hardy and the action sequences look mental, I want it in my system now! XD
3. Spectre
After 3 years we have the next James Bond film in the form of Spectre. There is no official images or a trailer, but my anticipation of this film is very high, I really liked Skyfall and since most of the cast and crew are back for the next adventure makes me smile. I’m not sure what to expect, but with Sam Mendes at the helm I’m hopeful that he’ll do us Bond fans proud once again.
2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron
I am surprised this ended up being at number 2, because to be honest it is my most anticipated film. I am I’m a comic book nerd and these superhero films are my crack. Marvel Studios have been giving me the good stuff for the last 7 years and now we’re heading towards the second Avengers film which promises to give fans everything they liked about the first film and more with darkness, drama and a badass villain. That first trailer blew me away and the second trailer gets my hype juices flowing and so now we’re around 4 months away (3 for us UK people) and the wait, ah man, it is killing me, I just need it now.
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Ah man, it was a very close call between this and Avengers, but in the end the top choice had to be this film. I mean it’s frigging STAR WARS! Now I know this film could go one of two ways; it could either be great or a terribly disappointing, however it doesn’t matter, Star Wars is one of the biggest parts my childhood and is part of cinematic history regardless of whether you like it or not. For a lot of people this is their major film event of 2015, after the prequels most fans have been waiting for a proper SW film with the original cast and they are finally getting their wish. The short teaser trailer was FRIGGING AWESOME! And now loads of people are hoping that J.J. Abrams doesn’t mess this film up.
So that’s it, my top 11 list done, hope you enjoyed my choices. Now I shift my focus to you, the readers, what is your most anticipated films of 2015 and are any of your entires on my list? Whatever your thoughts are be sure to drop them in the comments below and I’ll see you on the next review yo. 😀
Howdy people of the interweb and welcome to the second part of my special series of blog posts dedicated to the films that you should be looking out for this year entitled: Films to look out for in 2015! It’s a preview to this year’s selection of films in the cinema and I’m basically going to highlight why I believe they’re worth paying attention to. Before checking this out be sure to read PART 1 first.
Now before we begin I have two main things I need yo point out:
Obviously a lot films come out, so if they’re not only my list it’s either because I don’t know about them or I don’t care…
2014 films getting their UK releases this year don’t count! So there.😛
Okay then, let’s start 😀
Furious 7
Release Date: April 3rd (USA & UK)
Trailer:
I don’t think anyone expected the Fast & Furious film series to survive this long. I now its been said many times before, but before the fourth film, this series was pretty much on the way out. It wasn’t until the fourth film when things picked up, and then with the fifth, that’s when the series became a totally different beast. Fast 5 was amazing and Fast 6 reinforced the fun factor of this new series, and now we have the SEVENTH film in the series. Furious 7 is a very important film in this series, besides looking to be awesome with more-the-top action sequences and having Jason Statham added to the film, this is also the last film to feature Paul Walker. And I think a lot of fans are wondering how his character’s story will be concluded. I just hope we’ll get another great film with a good final send-off for Walker.
Child 44
Release Date: April 17th (USA & UK)
I don’t know much about this film is about, it doesn’t even have a trailer, however I am intrigued by the cast alone. I love Tom Hardy and there can never be too much Gary Oldman in anything. And then add on top of that Noomi Rapace, Vincent Cassel, Jason Clarke and I think we’re in for an interesting experience. And with a premise that sounds interesting enough, I hope that this film turns out to be good.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Release Date: May 1st (USA), April 24th (UK)
Trailer:
Oh yes, this is the big one! The Avengers was one of my favourite films of 2012 and I have been eagerly anticipating the sequel ever since… And now in 2015 the film’s nearly upon us! The teaser trailer pretty much blew me away and ever since I’ve been shivering like a man on crack just waiting for my next fix. This film looks like all shit hits the fan, the Avengers all have individual struggles to take on and on top of that have to deal with Ultron, the new crazy robot wanting to destroy humans. The action looks heavy, the drama is everywhere and it looks like there are going to be crazy repercussions. I can’t wait to see Ultron, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch and of course ANDY SERKIS! 😀
Mad Max: Fury Road
Release Date: May 15th (USA & UK)
Trailer:
I’ve been curiously watching this film from afar for so long, but it wasn’t until that last trailer when this film jumped on radar and smacked me in the face. The last trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road was one of the most hardcore trailers I have seen in quite some time. I love the cast, the story and setting looks interesting and with those crazy action sequences with car chases, explosions and massive sandstorms, I’m all over it. I want this film now.
Pitch Perfect 2
Release Date: May 15th (USA & UK)
Trailer:
The first film really surprised me and I found it to be one of the best musical-based experiences I’ve had in the cinema, maybe ever. I just love good singers and good acting, and Pitch Perfect had both. So when I heard there was going to be a sequel, I was dubious, but since I like the last film, I thought I’d give this sequel a chance. The trailer looks interesting, the scale is bigger, there are more music groups and Rebel Wilson looks like she’ll be just as fun as last time. I hope Elizabeth Banks’ direction work for this sequel.
Tomorrowland
Release Date: May 22nd (USA & UK)
Trailer:
So now we have Tomorrowland, a film that’s been shrouded in secrecy for a while and even after the trailer came out we only learn a few details about the film in terms of the story, setting and characters involved. That being said, the trailer did spark my curiosity and the fact that it’s being directed by Brad Bird, the man behind two of my favourite films (The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) automatically makes this a film worth watching.
San Andreas
Release Date: May 29th (USA & UK)
Trailer:
This is a film I had head about but never seen nothing about until I watched the trailer recently. It has been a while since the last disaster film, and while they are very predictable, over-the-top and quite silly, there is something about seeing the world going to shit that always draws people in, me included. This films looks like fun and I like the cast, Dwayne Johnson, great choice and look there’s Paul Giamatti and the gorgeous Alexandra Daddario, I’m down.
Jurassic World
Release Date: June 12th (USA & UK)
Trailer:
You know wasn’t blown away by the teaser trailer, in fact ever since it came out I’ve been in two minds about the film. On one hand we have the first Jurassic Park film in 14 years and there is a lot of potential with the cast and modern visual effects. That being said on the other hand this film could just rehash ideas from past films with nothing new being added and whatever new elements included (hybrid dinosaurs, scientists meddling with stuff they should, big theme park full of people, trained velociraptors, etc) don’t seem as exciting as they could be. I’m willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt and I PRAY that it’s good, but right now the film doesn’t give me much hope.
Inside Out
Release Date: June 19th (USA), July 24th (UK)
Trailer:
Okay so now we have the next Pixar film which I’m hoping will be good. Pixar for me haven’t done a truly great film since 2010 with Toy Story 3 and in recent years Disney, DreamWorks and other animation studios have been stealing their thunder. So now we have Inside Out, a film that has an interesting premise, and while the first trailer didn’t grab me, the latest trailer (as seen above), gives me a better idea of what to expect. The film seems incredible inventive, colourful, funny and true to life.
Terminator Genisys
Release Date: July 1st (USA), July 3rd (UK)
Trailer:
This film, boy oh boy, I really hope this film is good. The Terminator film series has never been able to rise above the first two films with a decent third film and forgettable fourth one. These days I think people are in two camps; those who want more films and those who can’t be arsed with it. I would like to see the Terminator series get back on track, but with the right amount of care and attention that Jame Cameron put into the first two films. But since that isn’t happening anytime soon, we have Alan Taylor at the helm instead with an interesting cast and a crazy variation on the basic Terminator mythology. It looks interesting for sure, but it looks so dodgy at the same time with some references to the past that a little too on-the-nose for me. But here’s hoping.
Minions
Release Date: July 10th (USA), June 26th (UK)
Trailer:
I’m not one of those super obsessed fans of the Despicable Me films or the Minion characters. That being said I do like the films, I think they’re fun and the Minions were definitely one of the best parts of Despicable Me 2, and with them getting their own film, I thought initially this was overkill and unnecessary, but after seeing the trailer I think it may be worth watching. The concept of the Minions being so old, surviving throughout time and trying to have leader who they don’t inadvertently kill looks hilarious. The trailer is full of humour, charm and all that good stuff that has come before. I hope this film is doesn’t kill my love for these guys.
Ant-Man
Release Date: July 17th (USA & UK)
Trailer:
Now this is the next big Marvel film to break into Phrase Three and while I’m naturally excited for any new film that Marvel Studios will put out, this is the project I’m most concerned about. It has had a long time in production, last year it lost Edgar Wright (most people’s sole reason for watching the film) and the recent teaser trailer hasn’t given many much reason to be excited. However, it is Marvel Studios and if they can make Guardians of the Galaxy work, then hopefully they can do the same for this.
Alrighty then, that’s part 2 done. Thanks a lot for reading. Are any of the films listed on your personal list of films to watch? Whatever your thoughts are be sure to drop them below and I’ll see you for PART 3! Laters 😀
Howdy people of the internet, today I get to review a trailer for a film I’m very intrigued about, I am of course talking about Ant-Man. Now this is a film that I’ve been interested in since it was announced mainly because of Edgar Wright’s involvement, but since he left I’ve been curious to know how Peyton Reed picked up the pieces and shaped the film afterwards. So now we have out first look at the film, how does it look? Well read on and find out!
Check out the trailer below:
So my first thoughts after seeing this trailer? Looks interesting, but there’s nothing amazing here. Now before people start ripping into me, allow me to explain.
So what happens in this trailer? Well it seems like former criminal, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is being recruited by scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to become the hero Ant-Man. It looks like Lang has a daughter he wants to protect, it also seems like he’s had a run-in the law, got locked up and released, and now looks to redeem himself as a force for good. As for Pym, it seems like he’s aware of who Scott is and see potential for him to become a hero and probably be a mentor/father figure. The first half of the trailer has few shots of Scott Lang and his daughter, Hank Pym in his lab, Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne) and Corey Stoll (Darren Cross) can be seen walking around and this is all on top of a narration from Pym talking to Lang about getting his act together and becoming a hero. After that we get the second half which is more action heavy where we see Lang in the Ant-Man suit, he shrinks and rides flying insects. We also see people fighting in prison, some sparring/fight session between Scott and Hope, Michael Peña is walking around with a serious face and a few other things are happening.
The one thing I did like about the trailer was the presentation. The film looks very pretty, the colour palette and camera work looks good and the visual effects used for Ant-Man’s shrinking ability and his movements while moving around at a small level looks really cool. Similar to the slow motion sequences in Dredd in terms of rich colours and enhanced lighting.
The trailer was primarily serious and it was kind of hard to take seriously with the use of the name “Ant-Man” or seeing the protagonist ride a flying insect. But there were two nice moments of humour firstly with Lang’s response to becoming Ant-Man with “Huh.” And secondly at the end when he suggests to Pym “Is it too late to change the name?” Nice. The film is self-aware, I like that. While the trailer certainly looks interesting, for me as a fan of superhero films and films in general, this trailer didn’t get me overly excited for the final product. For me the point of a trailer is to get me hyped for the film when it eventually gets released and basically this trailer didn’t do much for me in the way that Avengers 2, Star Wars: Episode VII, Tomorrowland or Mad Max 4 did.
In conclusion the first trailer for Ant-Man looks interesting, while it has certain standard codes and conventions of a standard superhero film, it does seem to have a story, with a setting and characters that look very different from the standard superhero film. There seems to be action and drama and the visuals look amazing. That being said, I can’t say that I was that moved by the trailer, I’m a little interested than I was before, however there was nothing that made me freak out with excitement, maybe that will change with the next trailer.
So what do you think of the teaser trailer for Ant-Man? Are you more or less excited for the film than before? Whatever your thoughts are be sure to drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya on the next review. Laters! 😀
Howdy ladies and gents, time for some important film news relating to an upcoming Marvel film. The following information comes from superherohype:
Following a report last night that he was the frontrunner for the position, Marvel has confirmed today that director Peyton Reed will step behind the camera and direct Ant-Man following the departure of director Edgar Wright. In addition, Marvel has revealed that Adam McKay, who at one point was also in contention to direct, will contribute to the film’s script. Reed’s previous credits include Yes Man, The Break Up, and Bring It On. He was also previously attached to the Fantastic Four feature film before director Tim Story.
Here’s the synopsis:
“Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.”
Also starring Evangeline Lilly, Patrick Wilson, and Corey Stoll, Ant-Man is scheduled for release on July 17, 2015.
All I can say is FINALLY! After Doctor Strange got’s director I really thought this film was in the worst place possible, but it seems like Marvel Studios have gotten themselves back on track. These last two weeks have been a literal trainwreck for Marvel fans. After losing Edgar Wright a little while ago (which by the way still hurts), Marvel Studios seems to be scrambling all over the place to find directors with all the reports and rumours surrounding all the potential candidates. Now obviously its all been speculation at this point about what Marvel are doing on their end, but it genuinely seemed like Ant-Man was pretty much dead in the water after Wright left and many fans just didn’t care about the film anymore. But now there is hope! While I’ve never seen any of Peyton Reed’s films because I’m not a massive fan of comedy films, he does fit in with the same kind of genre of work that Edgar Wright does, so we know that this film definitely need some sort of comedic edge. I just Marvel and Kevin Feige know what they’re doing, they have yet to lead me astray yet, but this is one of those films that has to succeed if the Marvel Cinematic Universe is to grow and expand.
Good day to you ladies and gentlemen, time for some film news and this is not the good kind and I just have to blog about it sooner rather than later. The following information comes from superherohype:
In a surprise announcement, Marvel Studios and Edgar Wright have revealed that Wright has departed Ant-Man. The official statement on the matter reads as follows:
Marvel and Edgar Wright jointly announced today that the studio and director have parted ways on Ant-Man due to differences in their vision of the film. The decision to move on is amicable and does not impact the release date on July 17, 2015. A new director will be announced shortly.
Written by Wright and Joe Cornish, Ant-Man is set to star Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Patrick Wilson and Corey Stoll. The film follows a biochemist Dr. Hank Pym using his latest discovery, a group of subatomic particles, to create a size-altering formula. Though his first self-test goes awry, he develops an instrument that helps him communicate with and control insects. Paul Rudd will play Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Michael Douglas stars as Hank Pym.
Well I saw the article for this news story on Facebook and I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but then saw it wasn’t a joke and my heart sank. Honestly this is the worst news for us fans, Ant-Man has been in development for the longest time with Edgar Wright attached before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was even crafted into the unified awesomeness that it is now. All the news that’s been coming from this film from the story, cast and the Comic-Con footage, everything was coming together in a beautiful way and with Wright at the helm we all knew that it would be a great film… But now, now we get this news and everything pretty much falls apart and I’m just gutted, really gutted. In truth for me and a lot of other Marvel fans who aren’t comic book fans to the max, this film never sounded like an overly interesting solo film, but with Wright at the helm it made the film so much more intriguing especially considering his track record with films like Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and my personal favourite Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. But now unless Marvel Studios can film a capable director and convince fans that this’ll still be a great film then this film has pretty much lost a lot of its credibility. And then there’s this talk of creative differences, Marvel have a lot of problems in that area especially with music composers too, but I hope that Marvel aren’t that difficult to work with and that they are not the type of company to stifle creativity. But hey no one knows what happened behind the scenes, I just hope that Marvel can rectify this. Looks like DC fans have some smiling and laughing to do at us Marvel people due to our recent loss.
So what do you think of this news? Be sure to comment below and let me know. 😀
Good day to you ladies and gents, time for some film news and it seems like another actor has been added to the cast of Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man film. The following information comes from superherohype:
(Photo Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN.com)
“Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man has targeted “House of Cards” star Corey Stoll for a mystery role in the upcoming Marvel Studios film, Variety reports. He’ll join Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas for the July 17, 2015 release with Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena and Patrick Wilson also still in talks to form the cast.
Set to begin production shortly in Georgia, Ant-Man will be directed by Wright, who co-wrote the script with Joe Cornish (Attack the Block).
Stoll is also well known for big screen roles in projects like The Bourne Legacy, Salt and Midnight in Paris.
The film, which is supposed to launch “Phase Three” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will follow Avengers: Age of Ultron’s May 1, 2015 release.”
Okay, cool, so we have another cast member for this film, unfortunately I don’t really remember him from anything. I just looked up his filmography and have found that he’s been a few films I’ve seen including The Number 23, Push, the last Bourne film and more recently Non-Stop, and that’s when I realised where I’d seen his face before. He’s one of the passengers on the plan that has a fair bit of interaction with Liam Neeson’s character. I can’t tell how good of an actor he is because I’ve not seen him in a leading role or a massive supporting role, I’ve yet to see House of Cards so I dunno if he’s good in that or not, but hey if he’s been cast in this film he must have some talent right? As for the mystery role he’s got I’ve got no clue. I don’t read any of the Ant-Man comics, however fans online have speculated Stroll could be Egghead just because he’s the only bald villain in that universe. I’m curious to see what happens in the future when the mystery of Stroll’s role becomes apparent.
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