"Endgame" Concludes In This Week's Batman #40

Before we get started, let me state the obvious...SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Still with me?  Good!  Let's get started...
\
Yesterday, the conclusion to Scott Snyder's Batman storyline came to a conclusion, and it was amazing!  It ended with a bang, so to speak.  Batman and the Joker are in a cave that contains the cure for the Joker's plague,  both duking it out, both of them doing heavy damage to the other.  Near the end of the battle, the Joker detonates the cave.  Satisfied that he's saved the city, Batman comes to terms with his fate and the two are buried in the cave.

Wait...what?  They died?  Let's go to the source and find out, here's what Snyder had to say:

"So what I'm saying is, yes, they're dead -- and they went in ready to die; so there's no sort of trick to it.  But, that being said, if we didn't have a story that we really loved about where they're going to end up somehow, we wouldn't do it.  You love the characters too much to do that to the fans.  So yeah, just stay tuned."

Well that sucks.  Here's more from Synder:

"Batman knows that he is going to go down fighting.  And that's the way that Batman will always end.  He's not going to retire, at least our version of him.  He's not going to ride off into the sunset.  He's going to go down fighting for the city whether old or young.  Giving him the chance to fight his greatest enemy, who represents everything that he stands against is the perfect ending for him.  The Joker represents meaningless and the idea that everyone is laughing at him and you.  Joker doesn't think that your life means anything whereas Batman says, 'Stand up and make your life matter.'  Who wouldn't want to go down in a blaze of glory?  If you're going to go down some way, what better way than saving the city and making sure that this monster never gets out of the box on your watch.  It's almost a happy ending for Batman."

Batman #41 will be released next week, and it features a mech-suit Batman, but it's not Bruce Wayne inside of it.  Do you want a hint as to who's inside?  I'll give you a hint...Commissioner...

Take Aways From The New Star Wars Trailer

I love this photo!  I have to ask, though...how did it stay so intact upon re-entry?  You'd think at least the command tower would have buckled!  Yeah, that's what I took away from this photo!!! LOL!

SO!  Since the second trailer for the most anticipated movie was released, there have been a whole slew of stories accompanying it, whether it's about what people think about it, or what it might possibly mean as far as the story goes.  So let's take a look at a few of the thoughts from the people over at www.wegotthiscovered.com!

They start out by marveling (and with good reason!) the picture above.  There's a downed X-Wing fighter and a Star Destroyer.  This plays a tribute to the original trilogy, while letting us know that the war between the Rebels and the Empire continued to rage.  They both crash-landed on a planet called Jakku...not Tatooine, as many of us suspected.  This new planet is where the new story begins, and looks to be where Rey and Finn first meet.

The next thing they talk about is the voice over given by Luke Skywalker.  They fail to mention that Luke refers to his father in the present tense, though, and don't seem to think that he's playing apart in the new story, except as a reminder of the old guard, since we see that someone has taken his melted and deformed helmet from his grave.  They seem convinced that the figure from the trailer who lays his hand on R2D2's dome is Luke, however JJ Abrams likes to misdirect people with his trailers.  My suggestion is that it might not be Luke at all (why remove the synthetic skin from your hand?) but may be, in fact, Anakin.  How he still is alive, I have no idea, but it seems to me that he'll be playing a part in this continued universe.  Here's the picture I'm referring to below:



They also talk about how it appears that it's Leia that is taking possession of the lightsaber that's being handed to her, and they wonder if she has in fact become a Jedi herself.  I don't believe this to be true.  Early indications of the film lead me to believe that it's being presented to her by Rey, who discovered it on the planet Jakku, and is trying to return it to it's rightful owner.  Since Luke has been in a self-imposed exile, the leader of the Rebel Alliance seems to be a pretty good choice as far as who to turn it over to.

The next scene that they talk about is the one featuring the X-Wings.  They're flying over a lake and the pilots really seem to be enjoying themselves.  I think this aspect of the movie is to get us excited for the upcoming stand-alone film, Star Wars: Rogue One.  That's not to say that they won't play a large part in the upcoming film, but my guess is that they will be involved with a subplot of some sort.  There's a new Imperial weapon that can cause utter destruction.  Are they going to be tasked with capturing it's plans like their brethren before them were tasked with stealing the plans for the Death Star?  Just a suggestion...

Next, they talk about Rey and Finn.  It appears that they are being hunted by the Empire.  Why?  Is it because of what they are in possession of (i.e. lightsaber) or because Finn is a deserter?  On this point, we'll have to wait until the movie comes out.

There's a scene in the trailer that shows a bunch of new Stormtroopers on a snow covered planet.  Is it Hoth?  I doubt it, because the new desert planet in the film is Jakku and not Tatooine, why return to an already familiar planet?  That's just my opinion, though.

The last thing that I want to discuss they they bring up is the scene where Han Solo and Chewbacca are on the Falcon, and Han says," Chewie...we're home."  They wonder why Han and Chewie have been away from the Falcon.  Rumors on the web suggest that Han and Chewie (who really looks good for his age!  No gray hairs or anything!) have been in command of a captured Super Star Destroyer and are commanding parts of the Rebel Alliance.  They suggest that the Falcon is in Rey's possession, because it's rumored that she is Han and Leia's daughter, she just doesn't know this fact yet.  If this is true, then how did she become in possession of the Falcon?

I love talking about all of this stuff!  I'm even more excited for the film to be released this December.  What are your thoughts on the trailer?  Did you see anything that I failed to mention, and what are your thoughts on it?  Let me know in the comments section below!

The International Space Station Is Getting A New Toy

 

What's one of the problems with living on the International Space Station?  No decent way to watch television shows or movie!  I'm guessing that being in outer space and being able to witness extraordinary views of the earth and stars must get kind of old after a while, am I right?  Yes, I'm being facetious...

 

Actually, there are some benefits to having this new addition on the ISS.  Up until now, the only devices that the scientists had to view data, video chat with family members, and yes, watch movies and shows, were on 13-inch screens.  So how cool would it be to be able to video chat with family members on a 65-inch projection screen?  It would make them nearly life-size!  With the isolation of space, and being away from one's family, it has to get a little rough.

 

So how do you send up a monitor into space that one) will survive the launch intact, and two) cut down on the cost it would take to send something of this size and weight up to the ISS?  The short answer is...you don't.

 

NASA reached out to a company called Screen Innovations and asked them to design a projection screen, what Screen Innovations refers to as Slate, that could be rolled up, sent into space, and deployed flat under zero-gravity conditions.  Why their Slate is so impressive is because they've developed a material that not only can handle all of the above mentioned requirements, but it also gives an ultra-bright picture due to an "ambient-light rejection projection system," which is important for a crisp, clear picture because the lights on the ISS are never turned off.  Like I said, this is just the screen.  They also received a 1080p digital project to go with their new toy. Here's a short video featuring this endeavor:

 

 

So now, when the wonders of space become boring and common-place, they can kick back and enjoy the wonders of television.  The first movie they plan to watch on it?  Gravity!

Another Classic Movie Is About To Get Ruine...um, Remade.

 

Why, oh why, oh why do movie companies feel the need to remake classic movies?  This latest remake that's been announced is probably the worst idea possible because it came out in a time where movies weren't nearly as dark, there was humor involved, and the campy special effects were what helped it be so fun.  I'm talking about Gremlins.

 

Chris Columbus, the original film's screenwriter, is back to co-produce the reboot along with Steven Speilberg, and the new script is being written by Carl Ellsworth, who's writing credits include Disturbia and The Last House On The Left.  So why and go and screw up a classic movie with a reboot?  Here's what Chris Columbus had to say about the new movie:

 

"It's real.  I am involved.  When I finished Gremlins and the first Gremlins was released, I was asked to write a sequel and said there was no place else to go.  Now this was before the pre-crazy-franchise-era of Hollywood where everything is a franchise.  So obviously a long 30 years has passed, and I thought, 'Okay, we can do this. We can actually find a way not to remake the first movie, but take those characters and do something interesting.'"

 

"I realized, not from the Star Wars phase, but from JJ Abrams other movie, when he did Star Trek, he has a sense of taking that sort of sense of nostalgia we all want and bringing it forward like he brought Leonard Nimoy into the first Star Trek.  And that to me was why we connected to that and it was painfully obvious wen we saw the Star Wars trailer recently that when you saw Han Solo and Chewbacca, we all had tears in our eyes because we want that feeling again."

 

"So I thought, 'Okay, it's cool.'  If we can pull it off - If we can create that feeling but deliver something new to the audience, then maybe we can do a really terrific Gremlins reboot."

 

I'm not sure if I feel better about the whole thing after hearing from Columbus, but at least he's going to try and recapture that same feeling for the reboot.  Me?  I still think it's a horrible idea.  But what do I know?  I just love movies and hate it when movie studios care more about making money than making good and new ORIGINAL movies.  Leave the classics alone.  Don't think that this is a bad idea? Robocop, Total Recall...  

Area 51 Is Finally Getting Released!

After years (and I do mean years!) of filming and rewrites and reshoots, Area 51 is finally getting it's release...sort of.  I'll explain in a minute, but first, here's the trailer:

This sci-fi/horror film has been lost in limbo for pretty much the last 6 years.  We first learned of the Oren Peli film, which began shooting soon after it's announcement, back in 2009.  Then...nothing.  In 2013, we heard that the script had gone through a rewrite back in 2011, and that reshoots were being done, and we'd soon learn about it's release date.  Again, this was back in 2013.  Jump ahead to today, and we finally know when Area 51 will get it's theatrical release...and the answer may surprise you!  Here's what Paramount announced in it's press release:

"HOLLYWOOD, CA (April 23, 2015) - Paramount Insurge today announced that 'AREA 51' and 'DRUNK WEDDING' will receive one-weekend-only limited engagements exclusively at 16 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations in May.  Additionally, the films will be available day-and-date on VOD and all digital platforms."

"AREA 51 will debut Friday May 15th and run through Sunday, May 17th with one showtime daily.  Tickets are on sale online and at participating Alamo Drafthouse Cinema box offices beginning Monday, May 11th.  The found footage horror film will also be available May 15th on VOD and all video platforms."

"AREA 51 is directed by Oren Peli, written by Oren Peli and Christopher Denham and produced by Jason Blum and Steven Schneider.  The film follows Reid, who has always been obsessed with UFOs.  While on a weekend trip to Vegas, he convinces two friends to join him on a mission to break into Area 51, where they find terrifying proof of alien presence.  Starring Reid Warner, Jamel King, Ben Rovner, and Jelena Nik."

So the film went from "missing" to "soon-to-be released."  I would love to be able to watch this one in the theaters, but since there's not an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema anywhere near where I live, I'll have to settle for VOD.  What do you think?  Does this movie look like it was worth the six year wait?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, and I'll be back next week!

Is (SPOILER) Going To Appear In Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

We've all heard that there are going to be flashback scenes in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and it's rumored that one scene will focus on Darth Vader...but what if his appearance isn't limited to a flashback?

I have to admit, it took me several viewings of the second trailer for the film before something soaked in.  In the trailer, we hear Luke Skywalker talking to someone.  Here's what he said:

"The Force is strong in my family.  My father has it.  I have it.  My sister has it.  You have that power, too."

So, did you catch it?  Don't feel bad, when I heard it the first time I thought he just misspoke.  But really?  In a movie of this magnitude, you don't flub dialogue like that, let alone put it in the trailer!

"My father has it."

Luke doesn't refer to his father in the past tense.  In an interview with the AP, Mark Hamill recalled having to do the delivery a number of times because he kept getting the tense wrong.  He said he kept saying "My father had it."  This seems pretty significant, but what does it mean?  Here's what Mark Hamill had to say on the matter:

"[There is] so much information there for you to speculate about.  It implies so much that's gone on, from Jedi 'til now.  They don't call it a teaser for nothing.  They want to tease you."

I know that today's post isn't very long, but I thought that it was worth reporting this.  While I have you, let me pose a question to you.  What if that person that touches R2-D2 in the trailer isn't Like at all?  What if that was Anakin?  He was one of the owners of the droid, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that it could be him.  I mean, why would Luke take the synthetic skin off of his hand?  What if Anakin was cloned to try and prevent any degeneration from the original?  There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and as soon as the movie is released, I'm sure they will be!  Just things to make you go Hmmm...

Is Ryan Gosling Going To Join The Sequel To Blade Runner?

 

1982.  That was the year that the original Blade Runner made it's way into movie theaters.  The movie was based on the novel by Philip K. Dick called Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? It was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer.  Now, thirty-three years later, the cult hit is about to get a sequel.

 

Harrison Ford will be reprising his role as Rick Deckard, which seems to be par for the course for Ford.  He's already made his return as Indiana Jones in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, he's returning as Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens due out at the end of this year, so why not return as everyone's favorite replicant?  Besides, it fits his acting style.  I'M KIDDING!!!

 

The sequel for Blade Runner as been in the works for quite a while, and even though it had been reported that Ridley Scott was going to return as director, he recently pulled out and the honor was given to Denis Villeneuve.  The film is being co-written by Michael Green and Hampton Fancher.  Fancher helped write the original film, so he brings some credibility to the sequel since he understands it's world.  Plot details on the upcoming film haven't been released, but that doesn't mean people aren't talking about it.

 

For instance, it's being reported that Ryan Gosling is getting ready to sign on to the movie.  It will take place thirty some years after the original in the dystopian society of Los Angeles.  One report said that the movie will focus primarily on Gosling's character, with Ford's Deckard playing a smaller part in the movie.

 

The sequel does bring up some interesting questions, though.  It was revealed recently by the creators of the original that yes, Deckard was a replicant.  But if that's true, then how can Ford's character be returning?  Replicants can't live that long.  What was their life span...something like five years or something? (Sorry, it's been years since I've watched the film, and I honestly don't remember how long they lived for.)  Will they address this in the sequel, and will we be asking the same question of Ryan Gosling's character at the end of the movie?  Chances are, the sequel will raise more questions than answer.

 

The special effects for the original were cutting edge when it was released, but the advances in that department have grown so much since then, I'm excited to see what kind of world they create for the film.  Let's just hope that they don't go all "Michael Bay" with it and have them overwhelm the story.

 

No release date for the film has been set yet, but as soon as it is, I'll let you know in a follow-up blog. 

Is A Stand Alone Black Widow Movie In The Works?

First off, I'd like to apologize for yesterday's post.  Apparently Disney didn't like the fact that the video of their Star Wars: Rogue One made it's way onto the Internet, and they pulled it...but trust me, it was AWESOME!  Okay, on to today's topic!

Will there be a stand alone Black Widow movie in the near future?  We know that Marvel is in the process of making a Captain Marvel movie, and they're being praised for giving a female lead to a movie.  But why Captain Marvel?  She hasn't proven herself to the fans of the films, right?  Who has?  Scarlett Johansson!  So why hasn't Marvel given her her own film?  Here's what Scarlett Johansson had to say on the matter:

"I've spoken to Kevin about it.  I mean, of course, of course we've had that conversation before and I think Kevin would also like to see a stand alone film.  I think I can speak for him and say that.  That's all, really.  Right now I think this character is used well in this part of the universe, but I think Kevin - I mean, we've talked about it and we both share similar vision for what could be a stand alone series."

"Kevin" is Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.  She continued:

"I think that there's room for a stand alone movie.  The character has a really rich origin story and I've been really fortunate to kind of place all of these layers on top of one another and kind of build up this character to this point where I think I can now start to peel them away and reveal different sides of her and really focus on.  I think I've been able to grow with the character, the character's been able to grow with me."

"Her dilemma that she faces it's a deeply personal one, she has this great, huge, epic kind of calling and now is suddenly going,'Wait a minute.  I have this epic calling, but I wanna make a choice for myself.  I feel like I've put in the hours, I should be able to make active choices' and she inevitably chooses the heroic path and kind of puts her own personal desires and needs aside.  Those are the things that kind of butt up against each other and interesting things happen when you have a character that's pulled in many different directions and in my mind there's room for plenty more Black Widow and certainly more - I think I could see her in a stand alone film."

That's a lot to say to give us a maybe, but hey, it's good enough for me!  Black Widow will next be appearing in the Avengers: Age of Ultron, and then she'll be appearing in Captain America: Civil War.

The Force Awakens Isn't The Only Star Wars Movie Trailer That Leaked!

This is a great time to be alive if you are a Star Wars fan!  Not only did we get another new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer this past week, we also got a teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Wars: Rogue One movie that's going to be released next year!  Check it out:

The video was obviously filmed off of somebody's phone at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, and I'm so glad that someone filmed it! People have been getting so caught up in the upcoming The Force Awakens movie, which is understandable, but we've neglected to look at the upcoming Rogue One film!  And why?  We're complaining that we haven't seen a Batman v Superman trailer yet (until last week!) and it's coming out the same year as the stand alone Star Wars film!  So why haven't people been clamoring for it's trailer?!? 

They're calling these films the Anthology Series, and they will all be stand alone films.  The trailer has a voice over by Sir Alec Guinness with dialogue from A New Hope, and has an incredible shot of the Death Star from a view from an alien planet.  The movie, from what I've come to understand, follows the adventures of the Rebel's most elite squadron trying desperately to steal the plans for the Empire's Death Star plans.  The movie is slated to be released December 2016.  

So what do you think?  Have you been so caught up in The Force Awakens that you've forgotten about Rogue One?  Leave your comments in the section below and tell me your thoughts!

New Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer!!!

Really, how cool was this?  I have to say, I'm even more interested in seeing this movie now, more than ever before!  Check out the new trailer:

This trailer was wicked awesome, to use some language from my New England brethren!  Not only do we get to see some pretty awesome shots, it also opens up a little into what's going on in the Skywalker family.  There is obviously an heir to Luke, whether it's a son/daughter of his, or a niece/nephew of his has yet to be determined.  But oh my gawd!  The space battles, and the environment in which they take place are AMAZING!!!  A lot of people do not like spoilers, but this trailer gave nothing away, and at the same time it gave the die-hard fans from the 70's something to look forward to!

I hope you enjoy the trailer, and join me in camping out a week in advance of it's release!

Remembering Herb Trimpe

A couple of days ago, before I turned in to go to sleep, I was online looking for different things to write about.  That's when I found out that we lost a giant in the comic book world.  I held off on writing this until today because I wanted to talk to my sister first, in case she hadn't heard yet, and didn't want her to find out from reading this.  My sister introduced me to Herb Trimpe a couple of years ago at the New York City Comic Con.  She had met Mr. Trimpe a number of times at other conventions, and he always remembered her and my two nephews.  In fact, the first time they had met him, he was doing drawings in Artists Row, and she took the boys over to meet him.  He asked them who their favorite characters were, and offered to draw them for the boys. When they returned later to pick up their sketch books from him, my sister went to pay him for his time and talents, but he refused.  He told her that it was a "special" that day, and there'd be no cost.  That's the kind of person Herb Trimpe was.

Herb Trimpe was an artist that drew for Marvel Comics.  He's most widely known for his work on The Incredible Hulk, which he drew for from 1968 to 1975.  He was also the first person to ever draw Wolverine, and is credited as one of his co-creators (The Incredible Hulk #180.)  His work also extended to other comics for Marvel, drawing for titles such as the very first issue of its licensed G.I. Joe, as well as Godzilla, Shogun Warriors, Iron Man, Ant Man, and Captain Britain.  In Captain Britain he helped co-create the character Elizabeth Braddock.  If the name doesn't sound very familiar, you'll be able to learn more about her when the movie X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters in May next year.  Her character will be played by Olivia Munn.

Trimpe was fired by Marvel in the 1990's when Marvel was going through it's bankruptcy, something that hit him extremely hard. He went on to earn a BA in art and went on to teach at a local school in New York, but never left the world of comics.  He drew cover art for a number of publications, and even returned to Marvel for a Hulk story in 2008. 

Herb Trimpe's cousin, Glen Baisley, was the one to break the news to the world.  This is what he posted to his Facebook page:

"This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing my cousin, Herb Trimpe, in action doing what he loved - meeting fans and drawing comics.  I was there capturing video and interviews about his life and work with Marvel for a documentary that we were planning to work on.  Little did I know, this would be the final time I would get to see him.  I want to share some very sad news with everyone.  Monday night, Herb passed away."

"He was a legend in the industry, co-creator of Wolverine and penciled some of the most iconic characters ever.  He will be greatly missed."

Just meeting him the one time, I can honestly say he was one of the most friendly and genuine people I've ever had the pleasure of being introduced to.  I know I'm not the only fan that met him that feels this way, because he treated everyone he met with the same smile and interest that he did me.  He will be missed.

Herb Trimpe passed away at the age of 75.  He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and his four children.

Trimpe sketching at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan, October 2, 2010.

Ryan Reynolds Channels His Inner Deadpool

Even I have to admit that this is pretty bad-ass!

Anyone that's been following me on YouTube for the past couple of years, whether it was on BYBI or the Comconocave, know that I'm not a fan of Ryan Reynolds.  I used to be.  To be honest, I thought he was hilarious in Two Guys, A Girl, And A Pizza Place, and nailed it when he starred in Van Wilder, but then came Wolverine: Origins...then Green Lantern...then R.I.P.D.  You can understand why I don't have a lot of faith in his movies that delve into the comic book genre.

I think that even Reynolds understands my frustrations.  I remember reading an interview he gave where he said that he wishes he would've read the Green Lantern script before agreeing to sign on.  I don't know if he was joking, but seeing how terrible a movie it turned out to be, I think he was being sincere.  So once again, I'm hopeful, but at the same time not holding my breath, for his upcoming Deadpool movie.  I think this time around, though, I may not have to worry.

After the flop that was Wolverine: Origins, and yes it was a flop (how do you take away the mouth from "The Merc With A Mouth?!?"), Reynolds has been pushing for a stand-alone Deadpool movie, if for no other reason than to give the fans a Deadpool that was true to his comic book character.  It would also help redeem himself in the eyes of these same fans.  Then came the teaser that leaked online.

This changed the whole situation.  After having the project sit in limbo for years, this teaser trailer resonated with fans all over the world, and this is what helped get the movie back up and running.  They've been filming for a while up in Vancouver, and all of the news that's been coming out of the set has been absolutely positive!  Well, not every bit of news...

Ryan Reynolds was hit by a car driven by a 52 year old photographer that he'd gotten into an argument with.  I'm guessing that the photographer was trying to get some unauthorized pictures of the filming that was taking place, and Reynolds confronted him.  The photographer was arrested by Vancouver police and they are considering bringing him up on charges of intimidation.  Reynolds sustained a sore knee and back from the incident, but true to form, was back on the set filming the very next day.  I guess you can't keep a good Deadpool down!

Deadpool is scheduled for release on February 12, 2016.

What's Going On With Marvel And The Hulk?

I think that this is a valid question, and one that should be addressed.  For a while now, there have been rumors that near the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Hulk will somehow get caught up in some sort of rocket, and go flying out into space.  This has led to speculation that there may be a Hulk/Guardians of the Galaxy meeting in the latter's sequel.  But like I said, this has all just been rumors...

...but I've recently read a couple of things that seem to give validity to these rumors.  The first one is somewhat discreet.  I was looking at the list of characters that are set to appear in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War movie, and here's a list of the people signed up for it:

Scarlett Johansson
Robert Downey, Jr.
Chris Evans
Jeremy Renner
Sebastian Stan
Anthony Mackie

Notice anyone in particular missing?  We know that Thor will be dealing with his own thing in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok which is set to be released in 2017.  But where's Doctor Banner?  The other thing that makes this rumor seem a little more valid was an interview that was given to the cast of the Avengers by IGN, and the prospect of a Planet Hulk movie was raised, and here's what Mark Ruffalo had to say on the matter:

Mark Ruffalo: "I think there's a lot of places to go with him [Hulk]."

Scarlett Johansson: "Like where?"

IGN: "Space?"

Ruffalo: "Well he's going to space.  Yeah, I mean there's some talk of maybe Planet Hulk."

IGN: "Would you like to see that?"

Ruffalo: "I'd be completely interested in entertaining that."

So...did he just give away that the Hulk is going into space?  Are the rumors about his fate at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron valid?  Here's something else that Ruffalo revealed.  Do you know why we haven't seen a stand alone Hulk film since his break out performance in The Avengers?  Marvel doesn't have the distribution rights to the character.  Those rights still belong over at Universal Studios.  Now, thy could make a stand alone Hulk film,but they'd have to cede some of the distribution profits to Universal, and I don't know if they have the same "friendly" relationship with one another like Marvel has with Sony.

So for the time being, it looks like we'll just have to enjoy seeing the Hulk pop up in other character's movies until Marvel can get Universal to sell back his rights.  Mark Ruffalo still has at least four more appearances as the Hulk left in his contract, so don't fear, the Jade Giant won't be going away any time soon!

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters May 1, 2015. 

So How Is Netflix's "Daredevil?"

So what does a fanboy do when Netfilx releases an entire season of Daredevil to their subscribers?  He binge watches the entire thing in one day!

I have to admit that I was a little concerned on whether or not I would like it, what with how disappointed I was with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  However, with the fewer constraints put on the show by going to Netflix as opposed to network television, they were really able to capture the true essence of the character and the comic.

Watching the series felt more like sitting through a thirteen hour movie instead of watching individual episodes.  They all ran smoothly from one chapter to the next.  The story took precedence here and not unbelievable special effects.  I don't know what the series was budgeted for, but it felt more believable than anything else that Marvel has released so far, even though it does take place n the same universe as the Avengers.  Because of this fact, there are a lot of references to the Battle of New York, which as you know took place during the first Avengers movie.  The destruction of the city is what drives the Kingpin to rebuild "his city" in the vision that he sees being the best for everyone living there...even if it means killing people along the way.  Strangely, both Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock see themselves as trying to save Hell's Kitchen, they just go about it in two completely different ways.

The show has drawn a lot of their inspiration from the comic book series, and there are Easter Eggs galore in each episode, whether it's a nod to one of Daredevil's creators, to referencing other characters that may or may not appear in either season two, or one of the other series that Marvel will be releasing on Netflix.  And yes, Stan Lee does make an appearance...well, sort of.  Did you see him?

Over all, this was extremely fun to watch, and it was easy to immerse yourself into the world that they created.  I only hope that a.k.a. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist are given the same treatment.  If they are, then the Defenders might out-shine the Avengers as the most exciting superhero team up that they've given us.

Daredevil is streaming now on Netflix.

Daredevil Is Finally Here!

For all of you fans of the "Man without Fear," or just anything Marvel, Netflix releases their very first original Marvel series.  The fact that it's on Netflix and not ABC makes this one pretty exciting, since it won't be bound by the same restrictions that normal broadcasting television shows are held by.  Expect a much darker and violent series than that of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Daredevil is the first of four new character series that will be making their way onto Netflix.  It will be followed by a.k.a. Jessica Jones, then Luke Cage, and then finally Iron Fist.  Of course, it wouldn't be Marvel if they didn't plan for an all-star team-up between all of these shows.  After Iron Fist, they are planning a Defenders series that will star each of these characters.  Pretty exciting stuff, huh!

All of these shows will be taking place in the same universe as the Avengers, but where the Avengers work to save the universe, these heroes will be working to save the neighborhood, focusing on local crime as opposed to universal conflicts.  Bringing these characters to Netflix wasn't an easy task, though.  One of the shows creators had to have a lot of things fall into place before they were able to tell their story.

The first thing that had to happen was to get the rights to the character back from FOX.  Once that happened, it would be first optioned to the motion picture division of Disney's Marvel Studios.  Jeph Loeb, the genius behind this series, said he went to Disney and pitched the idea for a television series, but instead of taking it to ABC, suggested focusing on a "straight to series" Netflix program.  The project got the green light, and then the second problem to overcome began to get tackled...creating a new character for the show and trying to get rid of the stigma that was the motion picture flop that starred Ben Afflek.  They did this by being grittier and more character driven, with the Matthew Murdoch character, as well as the Wilson Fisk character, a.k.a. the Kingpin.  Just because they're focusing on character story lines, that doesn't mean that there won't be some wicked fight scenes (make sure you don't miss the fight at the end of episode 2! EPIC!)

Daredevil  is streaming now, so let's all hunker down for the weekend and enjoy some great television!

Let the binge-watching begin!!! 

Blastr.com Gives Us 13 Facts About The Millennium Falcon

 

How cool is this picture!

 

Blastr.com published a pretty cool article giving us 13 facts about the Millennium Falcon that people might not be aware of, and it was a fun read, especially because of all of the excitement that's building with the soon to be released Star Wars: The Force Awakens!  If you'd like to read the article, I'll leave the link at the end of this post. 

 

A couple of the interesting facts that they give us?  Did you know that the name Millennium Falcon wasn't the YT-1300 freighter's original name?  Neither did I!  It had two previous names: Second Chance and Gone To Pieces!  Here are a few more facts that they list:

 

George Lucas got the inspiration for the Falcon's shape after seeing an olive on a toothpick that was attached to a hamburger that had a bite taken out of it.  I guess inspiration really does hit you at the strangest moments!

 

This one you might already know:  We all know about the ship's "Kessel Run", done in less than 12 parsecs, but do you know why it was there in the first place?  Han used to smuggle spice out of Kessel for the Hutts before joining the Rebels.  The spice was a narcotic that was outlawed by the Empire.

 

Okay, here's the last one that I'm going to give you:  Did you know that in one scene of A New Hope, there are a pair of gold dice seen hanging in the Falcon's cockpit?

 

If you want to know more facts on the Falcon, here's the link to the article:

 

http://www.blastr.com/2015-4-8/infographic-day-13-things-you-didnt-know-about-millennium-falcon

 

Hope you are intrigued enough to check out the rest!

Guess Who May Be Joining The DC Cinematic Universe! Here's A Hint...

 

...Give up, or did you figure it out?

 

We've known for a while now that DC and Warner Brothers are going to be giving us a whole slew of comic book-based movies, starting with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, followed by a Suicide Squad movie, then Justice League, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg, and finally Green Lantern,  What hasn't been reported on are all of the secondary characters that will be making their way to the silver screen along with them.  As the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Suicide Squad quickly approaches, more of these characters are beginning to be revealed, and there is one in particular that has me quite excited!

 

According to Latino Review, there is going to be a back story that will be woven into the upcoming films that deals with Jason Todd, the second Robin, that was famously killed by the Joker in the Batman comic books back in 1988.  Fans were allowed to vote on his fate by calling an 800 number, and although the vote was close, Robin was killed off.

 

*side note-I called and voted for him to be killed off. Jason Todd was no Dick Grayson, and I was happy to see him go.

 

It's being reported that in the upcoming Batman v Superman film, there will be shots of the Batcave in which we are allowed to see a tattered Robin costume.  It's not discussed or explained, but it's there none the less.  When the Suicide Squad movie hits later that same year, we'll be given more of a glimpse as to why it's there.

 

As I've told you already in previous posts, the Suicide Squad movie is set to take place prior to the events of Batman v Superman.  In it, people aren't actually aware of the existence of Batman.  He's kind of an urban legend, a bogeyman. He is a primary focus for Amanda Waller, who is determined to find out who he is, and believes that he will be the answer to finding out who all of the "Supers" are.  She believes that by acquiring this knowledge the government will gain the upper hand in controlling these "superheroes."  This is the main reason why the Joker is in her custody.  You see, the Joker is the only person that has actually dealt with the Batman, and Waller believes he is the answer to finding out who he really is.

 

In the movie, Harley Quinn and the Joker have had a falling out, and it's rumored to be because she feels guilty about Jason Todd's death.  The Latino Review makes it clear that the Joker is somehow responsible for Todd's death in the DC Cinematic Universe, but the situation and circumstances surrounding his death aren't revealed.  They do report, however, that DC and Warner Brothers are very interested in making the Red Hood a "priority character," which means we'll be seeing the eventual appearance of Jason Todd somewhere down the road.

 

What do you think?  Does this news excite you as much as it does me?  Even though I couldn't stand Todd as Robin, the Red Hood is one of my favorite characters in the Batman universe.  If you want to catch up on who the Red Hood is and you don't want to go digging through a bunch of comic books, make sure to check out the DC animated feature Batman: Under The Red Hood.  It's a fantastic movie!

 

Until next time, people...same Bat-time...same Bat-channel!

Your Movie Theater Experience Is About To Get Much Better!

 

On April 1, at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, the very first movie projected through the use of laser beams was released to the public when it showed Furious 7.  This new laser system is supposed to give us the "sharpest, brightest, clearest and most vivid digital images ever."

 

This new technology, which is only available in IMAX format, has been in the works for a number of years, but only recently came to fruition. Back in 2013, IMAX Chief Technology Officer Brian J. Bonnick had this to say about the new technology to Slashfilm:

 

"One of the most important thing a filmmaker is concerned about with projection is contrast.  Film projectors can give you, on a good day, 3,500 and 4,00 to one contrast.  This is the Achilles' heel of digital projectors as others in the marketplace right now are maybe 2,000.  The IMAX one is around 2,600 or 2,800 on a good day, so we are a lot better, but we are not where we want to be.  IMAX film is around 4,000.  The IMAX laser system will get at least 6,000...we are the only company tat uses duel projectors in both 2D and 3D modes, so we are getting more light on the screen, more pixels on the screen."

 

That is some seriously intense clarity!  Watching a movie in IMAX is already an amazing thing to see, so the fact that they've improved upon an already incredible experience is pretty mind-blowing.  Right now, TCL Chinese Theater will be the only place that will be operating this new technology.  I wouldn't expect it to make it's way across the country any time soon, though.  The cost of this new projector I'm sure is quite high, and IMAX ticket sales aren't really high enough for theater owners to justify dropping a ton of cash on higher quality that will only generate a modest return.  So if you're in the Los Angeles area, you really should stop by the TCL Chinese Theater and take in a movie.  It might just blow your mind!

Star Trek Crosses Over Into The Green Lantern Universe...Or Vice Versa.

Huh.  Well, this is different.

According to Comicbook.com, IDW, DC Entertainment, and CBS Consumer Products have come to an agreement that will culminate in a Green Lantern and Star Trek comic book cross over that will be released this summer in a six-issue miniseries called Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War.

The story will take place in the 23rd Century of JJ Abrams Star Trek franchise.  It will follow the crew of the USS Enterprise from the rebooted movie universe, as they come into contact with what appears to be General Chang, a Klingon that we were first introduced to in the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.  General Chang looks to be in possession of a yellow power ring, from the Sinsetro Corps.  Yeah, that can't be good.

One of the Gaurdians, most likely Ganthet, summons Hal Jordan into the fight to stop Chang from causing all sorts of chaos.  After that, all sorts of comic book sci-fi excitement ensues.

This isn't the first time that the Star Trek universe has crossed over with DC.  The original crew of the Enterprise, with the likenesses of William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley, teamed up in a crossover with the Legion of Super-Heroes back in 2011 in a five-issue miniseries.  This one will be featuring the likenesses of Christopher Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and Simon Pegg.

Here's what Greg Goldsein, IDW President and COO had to say on the crossover:

"We've looked forward to bringing these two iconic universes together for a long time.  Star Trek and Green Lantern both share so many of the same science-fiction adventure themes and ideals, that a galaxy-spanning crossover like this is simply...logical.

On the DC side of things, here's what Bob (who spells his name backwards) Harras, Editor-In_chief of DC Comics had to say:

Green Lantern is one of the most popular, storied characters in the history of comic books and a modern DC icon.  An entire universe of Green Lanterns and other supporting characters have grown out from his original adventures in the 1940's, and this series rally showcases the intergalactic scope of the franchise."

So what do you think about this crossover?  Does this sound exciting, or just plain cheesy?  Weigh in below in the comments and let me know your thoughts!


                                          

Arrow Teams Up With The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Okay, not really!  However, Stephen Amell will be joining the heroes in a half shell in their follow up movie as Casey Jones.  How cool is that?

To quote Comicbook.com, he's "trading arrows for a hockey stick,"  He is Canadian, you know!

Stephen Amell auditioned with around six other actors, but it was his chemistry with returning cast member Megan Fox which won him the role.  For those of you who don't know who Casey Jones is, he's a vigilante to the city, and fights crime wielding a hockey stick.  He befriends the Turtles, and is also has a romantic interest in Fox's April O'Neil.

Along with Amell and Fox, Will Arnett will be returning for the sequel as well, reprising his role as Vernon Fenwick. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is set to hit theaters on June 3, 2016.

Two New Characters Added To CW Arrow/Flash Spinoff

When the creators behind Arrow and Flash teased that they were going to be introducing three never-before-seen-on-TV characters in the new CW spin off show, they couldn't have been more vague.  As the show gets closer to production, though, we are beginning to learn who these mystery characters are going to be.

The first one that to be revealed is Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl!  The lucky (and talented) actress that has landed this role is Ciara Renee.  Even though she just recently made her television debut in a Law and Order: SVU episode, she has performed on Broadway in the productions of Big Fish and Pippin.

In the upcoming series, Kendra is just learning that she has been reincarnated many times, and when she gets angry, her warrior persona emerges...as well as her wings.  The wings sprout from her back, earning her the name Hawkgirl.

Another character that was revealed is one Rip Hunter.  Rip Hunter is going to be played by Arthur Darvil. Doctor Who fans may know him better as Rory Williams, of of Matt Smith's companions from the series.  It's fitting that the time traveling companion be cast in this role, since Rip Hunter is also a time traveler.  Rip Hunter is the son of Booster Gold, and is credited with inventing technologically-based time travel in the DC Universe.

There's still one more character that they haven't revealed yet, but as soon as I hear something, I will let you know.

Ciara Renee and Arthur Darvil will join Wentworth Miller (Captain Cold), Dominic Purcell (Heat Wave), and Victor Garber (one half of Firestorm) from the Flash series, an Brandon Routh (ATOM) and Caity Lotz (the late Canary) from Arrow on this yet to be named spin off show.

The show is expected to make a mid-season debut next year.

Batman '66 Movie To Be Released Next Year

Do you miss those old campy 1966 Batman shows with the horrible acting and even worse dialogue?  Well fear not, my friends!  DC Animation is gearing up to release a 90 animated movie based on the decades-old television show next year to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the TV shows premier.

The upcoming feature will bring back the voices of Adam West and Burt Ward, who will be reprising their roles as the Dynamic Duo.  Ward confirmed this by saying:

"You can look forward to a new, animated BATMAN full-length 90-minute feature coming out on the fiftieth anniversary.  One of possibly two, but for sure one, that Adam and I are going to be doing the voices for."

For a long time, the only way that you could enjoy these old episodes was if you were lucky enough to have a television station that still aired them.  The reason for this was Warner Brothers and FOX had been fighting over the rights to the show.  They finally came to an agreement and only last year were they released on DVD and Blu Ray.  The excitement over their release, coupled with the popularity of DC comics Batman '66 led the project being green lit.

This isn't the first time that West and Ward have done voice work for Batman and Robin.  The two did the voice work for the legendary crime fighters in The New Adventures Of Batman and also on the cult classic series Superfriends.

So what do you think?  Are you excited to hear about this, or was it way before your time?  Let me know in the comments section below, and I'll be back here again tomorrow....same Bat time, same Bat channel!