Paranormal Activity Is Ending

It's nice to see a franchise know when it's time to call it quits.  

Paranormal Activity was a trail-blazer in the modern world of horror, but with all of the copycats and knockoffs, I think they decided that it was time to end the story that started back in 2007.  The upcoming film, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension will be the final of the series, and they promise that they will answer all of the questions that we've been asking over the last eight years.

This fall, the final installment of the series will be making it's way to theaters.  Jason Blum, one of the producers of the film, had this to say about the upcoming film:

"It's coming to an end.  This is it, the finale.We're saying it before the movie opens.  We're not going to grind this franchise into the ground.  This will keep Paranormal Activity as part of this culture and in this particular time in a really fantastic way."

Knowing that this was going to be the final movie of the series, the promise of "Toby" being revealed is pretty huge.  The official synopsis of the film was given as the following:

"The Ghost Dimension, directed by Gregory Plotkin, follows a new family, the Fleeges — father Ryan (Chris J. Murray), mother Emily (Brit Shaw) and their young daughter Leila (Ivy George) — who move into a house and discover a video camera and a box of tapes in the garage. When they look through the camera's lens, they begin to see the paranormal activity happening around them — including the re-emergence of young Kristi and Katie."

I have to give the creators of this film a few props...knowing when to call it quits before it gets too drawn out and dull is a huge accomplishment. Don't believe me?  Can you say Saw, A Nightmare on Elm Street, or Friday the 13th?  This isn't to say that they won't ever bring the series back.  They concluded by saying:

"At some point, might there be a reboot?  You never know.  We've never discussed it.  (But) we made this mobie like it's the end of this Paranormal line for sure."

How do you feel about them ending the franchise?  Are you upset, or relieved?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Two Classic Star Wars Characters Rumored To Be Returning To The Force Awakens!

The closer we get to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the more rumors are sure to get out, but it seemed that most of the major ones had already leaked.  We kinda know what the plot is, we think we know about all of the new characters and who will be playing them, and we all think we know how they are connected to the original players from the original trilogy.  So what could we possibly find out now that would blow our minds???

I think I might have the answer for you!  There are a few sites that are claiming that two more characters from the original series are going to be making an appearance in the upcoming film!  Who are they, you ask?  Take a look below!





There have been a few water-marked photos that have leaked out that show one Admiral Ackbar, who looks a little worse for wear, standing on the set of the movie.  He's being described as a one of the "practical creatures" on the set.  There's no word on whether Tim Rose, who portrayed Admiral Ackbar in The Return Of The Jedi, is reprising the role, but there is no arguing that the Mon Calamari is going to be returning.  Unless, of course, these photos were released to throw people off.  I mean, this is a JJ Abrams' movie, and he is great at misleading people when it comes to releasing teasers!

Next, we have Lando's co-pilot Niem Numb, and from what we've seen, he seems to have aged a lot better than Ackbar!  He also seems to be wearing the exact same outfit he was wearing during his fight against the second Death Star.  I guess if a fashion works, you stick with it, right?

It's hard to tell from the photos if these characters are actual actors or puppets, but the fact that they are on set, will wax nostalgic with fans of the original trilogy!  So tell me, are you getting even more excited hearing this news, or just make you more curious to go see it?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Has Lexus Created A "Hoverboard"?

I'm still not sure what to make of this yet...

Lexus has created a promo video for what they are claiming is to be their own version of a "hoverboard."  It looks cool and stylish, and inside it has liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets (which explains the mist coming from the board), and will only work over metal.  Lexus has admitted that the skate park show was done with metal inlaid to the set when they filmed this promo video.  The video does not, however, show the skater actually getting onto the board and riding it around.  Check out the video below:

If they are even one step closer to making this a reality, then I think that it's pretty cool, but until we actually develop tech that gives us "antigravity" capability, then everything that they tout as a "hoverboard" is really only a gimmick that uses magnets and metal.  Look, I get it, we still have a long way to go in this field, but if everything has an equal and opposite reaction, then if there's gravity, there also has to be antigravity, right?  Makes sense as far as the laws of physics go.  Why is it being so difficult to explain, or for that matter, create and duplicate?  

I'm not trying to pooh-pooh there product here.  It is actually pretty cool looking.  I was just hoping for the real deal, that's all.  I know, I ask too much.

This Is One Way To Prevent Traffic Accidents

Everyone who has driven a car, truck , or motorcycle on a two lane road knows the frustration of getting stuck behind a big rig.  It's even more frustrating trying to peak around the trailer to see if you have enough room to overtake them.  To help drivers pass around these trucks more safely, Samsung has developed a trailer that the driver behind it can "see" through.

The truck is equip with a camera on the front of the truck that projects what's in front of the truck onto four panels which are located on the back of the trailer.  This gives the driver behind the truck a full view of what's in front of the truck, allowing them to pass more easily and safely.

The company's website boast that, "So far Samsung has been able to confirm that the technology works and that this idea can definitely save the lives of many people."  The company is still in the process of securing permits and approvals from different governments where they hope to roll out these truck.  The next thing they need to try and do is lower the cost of these trailers.  The front camera may be cheap and easy to install, but the four panels providing the picture on the back sounds to be a little expensive, and would require companies to heavily invest in this technology.  The cost for installing one of these onto a trailer, though, is still far less than the cost of another persons life. 

This Has Got To Be Every Trekker's Dream!

                  

There's been a lot of talk going around that CBS is thinking about bringing Star Trek back to the small screen, and a lot of die-hard fans that think it works better as a television show, rather than a motion picture.  In fact, Michael Dorn has been trying to get them to okay a series called Captain Worf, that would take place after Deep Space Nine ended, but before the movie Star Trek: Nemisis. It would bring back a few of the old characters, and follow them through space.  This crew would have no real allegiance to either the Federation or the Klingon Empire, and makes them out to be more of an independent group exploring the galaxy. So far, though,CBS isn't biting...

...And then there's Michael Gummelt, a self-proclaimed "superfan" of the Star Trek universe.  For the last 20 years he has been working on a series called Star Trek Uncharted.  He's written a pilot script and has even made a website around his idea.  He's also drawn the attention of Paramount, which owns the rights to Star Trek, and they've recently invited him to their offices to pitch his idea in person.

His idea is to follow a crew that is aboard a new "Perseus Class" Enterprise NCC-1701 (no letter) as they travel to and explore the Andromeda Galaxy.  They travel there by using a "spacefold gate," which is being described as warp technology on steroids.  The ship would be commanded by two people, instead of one.  One of the captains would be a human, while the other one would be a half-alien one.  They'd follow the concept of the original series and focus on charting and exploring new worlds.  Since this would take place in another galaxy altogether, it would not interfere with the current movie's storyline, and could be completely separate from their stories, while still existing in the same universe.

It's been ten years since the last Star Trek television show left the air (Enterprise) and with the 50th anniversary of the original show coming up next year, this may be a great way to capitalize on all of the fanfare that is sure to surround everything Star Trek.

Which idea would you be more interested in seeing, Michael Dorn's pitch, or Michael Gummelt's idea?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Upcoming Green Lantern Movie Might Actually Star...

,,,Multiple Green Lanterns!

According to Collider, DC's next attempt at a Green Lantern movie may actually have multiple Green Lanterns.  Yeah, okay, we saw plenty of Green Lanterns in that god-awful Ryan Reynolds attempt, but this one will focus around two or three of the Earth-born Lanterns (i.e. Hal Jordan, John Stewert, and/or Guy Garner).  Comicbook.com suggested that by following these three heroes, the movie could possibly be a really good "buddy cop" kind of movie.  The fact that each one of these Lanterns has a very distinct personality that either compliments the others or rubs them the wrong way isn't completely lost on me either.  I think a little conflict within the group would make the story that much more fun to watch.  I mean, as much as they may disagree on how to handle certain situations, they always come together to get the job done.  My only complaint is that Kyle Rayner wasn't one of the Lanterns mentioned as making a possible appearance, but hey!  It's still early, and a lot can happen between now and the time filming is set to begin. Let's be honest, Marvel and Sony just now decided on a Spider-Man actor, and Captain America: Civil War sounds like it's nearly two-thirds of the way done with filming, so I'm guessing they aren't in too much of a hurry to cast people right now. 

My hope is that this particular Green Lantern film really makes an impression with people, and that somewhere down the road we get a Green Lantern: Blackest Night movie!  They could pull it off, too, since WB owns all of the DC characters for their own cinematic universe.  I'm sure I'm getting way ahead of myself, though!

Collider is speculating that all of this will be confirmed in the next few weeks at Comic Con International: San Diego.  They even think that at least one of the Green Lanterns will be introduced to everyone there.  I'll keep you up to speed on everything as news of this starts to unfold!

Looks Like Sony Won The Spider-Man Fight

Tom Holland was announced yesterday as the next Spider-Man.

There had been a "disagreement" between Marvel and Sony on who they were going to cast in the role of Peter Parker.  Marvel wanted Charlie Plummer to don the web-shooters, and Sony was pulling for Tom Holland.  Looks like round one goes to Sony.

So...a little bit of information about Mr. Holland.  He's an nineteen year old English actor, who was born in Kingston upon the Thames, United Kingdom.  He's worked both in movies and on stage, playing the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London, and starring in the movie The Impossible.  He's also played Gregory Cromwell in the television mini-series Wolf Hall.

It's a good thing they finally decided on an actor, too.  Our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is set to make his first appearance in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War.  After that, Holland will be playing Spidey in the Jon Watts-directed solo Spidey movie that'll be released July 28, 2017.

So, what do you think of their decision?  Would you have picked someone else, and if so, who?  Let me know in the comments section down below.

This Summer's "The Gallows"

"This July 10...Every School...Has It's Spirit!"  Hah!  I loved that line from the trailer!  Have you heard of the "Charlie, Charlie" fad going around?  Well you are soon going to meet Charlie Grimille.  Here's a quick run donw of what the next found footage horror film is a all about:

"Everyone in Beatrice, Nebraska knows the name Charlie Grimille, just as everyone knows what happened 20 years ago on stage at Beatrice High School's production of 'The Gallows.'  Originally the understudy, Charlie took the lead's place on opening night.  But instead of bowing to applause, Charlie ended up really swinging from the noose.

Charlie's death has loomed over the small town ever since.  Now, on the anniversary of his tragic real-life curtain call, Beatrice High School's drama department is preparing to perform the same play, in the same auditorium.  Pfeifer, the star of the show, has spear-headed the revival in an attempt to put the past to rest.  The night before the big debut, however, Pfeifer discovers her male costar, Reese, with his football buddy, Ryan, and Ryan's cheerleader girlfriend, Cassidy, sabotaging the props in an attempt to ruin the opening.  But there is far more to worry about than the show going on.  Suddenly locked in, with no cell service, no way out, and no one knowing they are even there, the teens soon realize Charlie isn't at peace.  And he isn't resting..."

I think I'm going to like this.  It mixes the new "found footage horror" genre with the classic "horror from the 80's" story.  The best of both worlds!  If you are any sort of fan when it comes to horror, then you need to give this movie a watch.  And if you need a little more convincing, here's the trailer:

The Gallows hits theaters July 10 of this summer.

DC Is Taking Over Television

So let's see...there's Arrow, Flash, iZombie, Supergirl, Titans, Legends of Tomorrow, and now Hawkgirl?

SpoilerTV is reporting that the CW is seriously considering giving Ciara Renee's character her own show.  They must like what they've seen with her in the upcoming Legends of Tomorrow show set to debut early next year.  There's no word on whether the series will take place before or after Legends does, but with her introduction to everyone with that series, it seems probable that they will forgo the whole pilot show and move straight to series.

I was a little surprised to hear about this, but I guess that it really shouldn't.  The CW has a few shows that are nearing the end of their run (i.e. Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries) and they are going to be needing programs to take their place.  With the success that they've had with both Arrow and Flash, it would make sense that they would look for another hit by going to the DC universe.  They also may have chosen Hawkgirl as their go-to girl to compete with CBS' upcoming Supergirl.  This choice will also give them a female superhero lead, which is something that television is seriously lacking.  This might also help them keep the younger female viewers that they may lose after TVD finishes its run.

So what do you think?  Is this a good idea for the CW to make, or is this making things a little too crowded in regards to superheroes on television?  Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

Hyperloop Train Is About To Become A Reality

I know I've talked about Elon Musk's Hyperloop Train before, so this is more of an update from the original post.

Hyperloop Transport Technologies, an Elon Musk-founded company that was created shortly after he came up with the Hyperloop Train, has struck a deal with the state of California to build an 8 km. (5 mile) test track.  Musk's vision is to create a train that will shuttle people around at speeds between 320 to 480 km/h (200 to 300 mph) by using magnets and levitation.  His goal is to have shuttles running from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with the journey only taking 30 minutes.  Right now, it takes around six hours to make this trip by car.

Now, I know what you're thinking.  "Levitation?"

Here's what was written at IFLScience.com:

"The Hyperloop train will run using a combination of magnets and levitation.  The train itself  will shoot through a tube that is elevated above the ground.  Magnets will be placed on the outside of the train and on the inside of the tube.  By coordinating attraction and repulsion, the magnets will propel the train along quite nicely.  On top of this, each pod has an air compressor that takes air from the front of the train and blows it out the bottom.  This helps the train levitate and also reduces air resistance."

If all goes well, the tests should begin after the track is completed, which should be done by 2017.  They're also hoping to be shuttling people around by 2018.  This isn't going to be a cheap project.  If they do actually build this from San Francisco to Los Angeles, they are going to have to do a lot of work borrowing through mountains and building bridges to cross valleys.  The most ideal track would be a straight shot from one city to the next, to cut down on turns that may make passengers "travel sick."

They're considering making the train windowless, but to keep passengers relaxed, nature scenes of the outside world could possibly be projected onto the interior walls through the use of cameras.  Here's what they might actually look like:



What do you think?  Would you want to be shot through a tube at 200-300 mph with no way of getting out if something went wrong?  Yeah, I'm still kind of iffy about it myself...

Pizza Hut Just Took Pizza And A Movie To A Whole Different Level!

This is so cool!  Why did it take so long for someone to come up with this?!?

So Pizza Hut has come out with a genius idea for their version of "pizza and a movie."  They are going to offer four distinct pizza boxes, each with a scannable QR code.  When you scan it with your phone, a movie is downloaded onto your phone.  The four pizza boxes each have a different name.  There's Slice Night for the horror fans, Anchovy Armageddon for the sci-fi lovers, Hot & Ready for the romantics, and Fully Loaded for the action-film freaks. Once the box is delivered, you take out the lens that is embedded in the pizza table, punch out the pre-cut circular piece on the side of the box and place the lens in the opening.  After you scan the code and download the movie, you place your phone in front of the lens, and use the pizza table prop up your phone inside the box.  Once the movie starts to play, the picture will be projected onto your wall for you to watch!  See?  What a great idea! 

Unfortunately, this advertising gimmick is only being offered in China, but who knows if it'll take off and make it's way the U.S.? 

There are a couple of downfalls to this stunt, though.  First off, you actually have to put your phone inside a greasy, cheese-crusted pizza box.  Do you really want to do that to your phone?  Secondly, the picture quality you get after it's projected onto the wall?  I have a feeling that it won't be very good, and unless you run speakers to your phone, the muffled sounds coming from your phone that's inside the box might be a little distracting, as well.  Still, the idea is clever enough for most people to want to give it a try. 

What do you think of this advertising stunt?  Would you give it a try?

Wolverine III May Be An Old Man Logan Movie

I don't know how they're going to pull this one off if the rumor is true, but I'd still love to see it!

This particular rumor was first reported on be Umberto "El Mayimbe" Gonzales on an episode of the "Marvel Movie News" videocast, and he reported that the final Wolverine movie was going to based on the popular tale of "Old Man Logan."  Here's a quick back story on the comic book...oh yeah, SPOILERS!!!

It's a story that's set in the future, a future where Logan has refused to pop his claws and fight and has basically become a pacifist.  He lives on land that is owned by the Hulk clan, and is behind on his rent.  He lives there with his family.  In order to get the money that he owes for rent, he sets off on a journey across what used to be the United States with Hawkeye.  They are tasked with delivering a package to some people who turn out to be in league with the Red Skull.  When Logan returns home, he finds his family murdered by the Hulks.  Wanting revenge, Logan sets out to kill Bruce Banner and his entire family.  If you want to know how everything turns out, though, you'll have to read the book!

 This was probably one of the best stories ever written by Mark Millar, and the art work was amazing!  But in order to bring this adaptation to the big screen, they are going to have to make some serious changes to the story!  Here's why...

20th Century Fox owns the rights to the X-Men universe, which include Wolverine, Emma Frost, and Magneto (the last two either appear or are mentioned in the story.)  They also own the rights to the Fantastic Four characters and their universe, which also includes Doctor Doom, who briefly appears in the the story.  Marvel owns the rights to the Avengers characters and their universe, which include Hawkeye, Hulk, and the Red Skull.  Sony (even though they are now sharing Spider-Man with Marvel) own the rights to Spider-Man and the characters in his universe, which also include Mysterio, and I'm assuming Peter Parker's daughter, who also appears in the story.  They also own the rights to Venom and the symbiotes.  You see where I'm going with this?

One of the reasons why this book was so good, was because of all of the characters that made an appearance, or were at least mentioned in the comic for a back story.  If they do decide to base Wolverine III after "Old Man Logan," they are going to have to gut the original story and start from scratch.  The only thing that the two will have in common will be the title "Old Man Logan."  It's kind of like "World War Z".  The only thing that the movie had in common with the book was the title. 

As much as I loved the book, I'm worried that if they do try to attempt making this film, they are going to make a very disappointing picture, and if the last two Wolverine movies are anything to gauge this feeling to, I think I'm justified in these assertions.  But what do I know?  I'm just a blogger and a comic book geek.  I'll still go see it, no matter disappointed I may get after watching it.

The Original Star Wars Movies Have Finally Made It To China

It's taken nearly forty years, but China is finally showing the original Star Wars trilogy in their movie theaters.  Well, at the Shanghai International Film Festival.  They're actually going to be showing all six of the Star Wars films this week, and it marks the first time that the original trilogy has made it to their screens.  There aren't plans to release them nationwide, though.

When Star Wars first debuted in the United States back in 1977, China had just emerged from the chaotic Cultural Revolution and hadn't launched economic reforms yet that would transform the Communist-led country.

Even though people over there can buy pirated copies of the entire series for around $12, the Tuesday showing of the original trilogy had almost sold out.  As one movie goer stated, "It looks better on the big screen!"

Most people in China are more familiar with the prequels than the original trilogy.  The Chinese website Douban gave A New Hope a rating of 8.3 out of a possible 10, and drew more than 35,000 comments.  Most were positive, but a few were negative.  One of those negative responses said, "Although the character design is weak, the leading actress not beautiful, the leading actor not handsome and the action parts like children fighting, placed in 1977, the visual effects are amazing."

Disney is hoping that the release of these films at their festival will help build up excitement for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

They Should Call This One HALLOWEEN: Here We Go Again...

Time to dust off that old William Shatner mask again.  A new Halloween movie is in the works, but it doesn't sound like it's going to be a reboot, but more takes place after the events from original John Carpenter film.  Here's what I've heard about the film so far...

The new film is going to be directed by Marcus Dustan, who directed The Collector and helped write some of the Saw films, and as of right now, will be titled Halloween Returns.  It originally had been reported that it was going to be called Halloween: The Next Chapter, but that information was false.  Besides, doesn't that sound like a Friday the 13th ripoff?

The story is said to be picking up years after the original film.  One of the characters is an 18-year-old child of one of Michael Myers victims, and another character will be a child of a police officer that is completely obsessed with Myers case, so obsessed, in fact, that he puts the case before his own daughter.  Michael Myers is on death row, and these two kids sneak into the prison to witness Michael Myers' execution.  As you would guess, things go horribly wrong, Myers escapes and everyone is his sights.

Like I said before, this is not a reboot, but it is the movie studio's attempt at reintroducing the character to a whole new generation of movie goers, while tempting fans of the original to go see the film.  Information is still coming out about the film, and I will let you know more as I find out.

Still no word yet on whether or not Jamie Lee Curtis will make an appearance, but here's hoping!

Big Name Actor Joins Star Wars: Rogue One

With all of the rumors about the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens running around the web, it's easy to forget that Star Wars: Rogue One is filming and going to be released December of next year.  It will be the first movie that will take place in the Star Wars universe that won't feature Jedi, and is said to be more of a "war movie" than anything else.  It's also expected to be much darker and grittier than any other Star Wars film so far.

Taking place in between The Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the movie will follow a band of the Rebel's best fighter pilots in their mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, which is under construction at the time of this story.

We already know that Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, and Diego Luna are going to be starring in the film as several of the fighter pilots, but it was recently announced that Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to also star in the film.  Even though it isn't official yet, it looks like it's a done deal.  When he signs, he'll be joining Ben Mendelsohn and Sam Clafin (as well as the already mentioned actors) in the first of the Anthology movies.  The Anthonlogy films will be released in between the years of the "chaptered" stories (i.e. Episode I, II, III, IV, and so on) and will tell stories within the Star Wars universe that haven't really been touched on yet.  The second Anthology film is rumored to follow Han Solo and Boba Fett, and tell us how they became adversaries.  Other stories that fans seem to want to see include a feature starring IG-88, Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

These movies will really open up the Star Wars universe to moviegoers that may have been too young, or not even born yet, when the original series was released back in the late 70's and early 80's.

Star Wars: Rogue One will be released December 2016.

Marvel And Sony Can't Seem To Agree On Spider-Man Actor

This would be funny if it weren't so sad...

With the filming of Captain America: Civil War nearing completion, Marvel and Sony still haven't decided on an actor to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man.  Why?  Is the competition really that fierce?  Not according to TheWrap.com's Jeff Sneider.  He recently appeared on the podcast Meet the Movie Press and revealed that there are currently three actors that are all still vying for the role, but there seems to be disagreement between Marvel and Sony on who should get the role.

Right now, there are three actors that are still being considered for the role.  They are Tom Holland, Charlie Plummer and Matthew Lintz.  Here's where the disagreement comes into play.  Marvel wants to cast Plummer in the role, while Sony likes Holland.

Under the two company's agreement, Sony agreed to let Marvel use the Spider-Man character in their MCU, and Marvel has agreed to help Sony rebuild their Spider-Man franchise.  With all of the success that Marvel has had with their characters and franchises, Sony thought that this would be in their best interest to help make Spider-Man profitable again.  Marvel is going to collaborate with Sony over the stand-alone Spider-Man movies, and help integrate him into their own MCU, but even though Marvel is helping with the stories, Sony is footing the bill.  Because of this, Sony wants their own guy to play Peter Parker, even though Marvel has had a lot more success in this area.  Think Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Pratt as Star Lord, Chris Evans as Captain America...I could go on and on.

That's not to say that Sony hasn't had luck in casting their Peter Parkers.  Toby Maguire and Andrew Garefield were both good choices for the role, so Sony does have a good reason for wanting their own guy.  Just for the record, though, I did not like Garfield as Spider-Man, although I know a lot of people did enjoy him in the role. 

Marvel and Sony have said that they will make an official announcement on who gets the role by the end of this week.  I guess with whoever gets the role, we'll see who has the upper hand in this arrangement.

The Kingsman: The Secret Service Sequel Is Coming

Okay, I have a slight confession to make.  I hadn't watched Kingsman: The Secret Service until this past weekend.  When I saw the previews for the film, all I could think was it looks like a British version of Agent Cody Banks, and how horrible of a movie was that one?  Boy, was I ever wrong!

I think that the scene that won me over was when Colin Firth went ape-crap crazy in the church, all to the tune of Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Holy cow, was that a bloodbath!  And Samuel L. Jackson  talking like Mike Tyson the whole time made me laugh, too!  This one is definitely going to be added to my library of BluRays!  My only complaint about the movie?  Once it was over, it was over.  I wanted to see more!

Well, it sounds like I might get my wish! Yahoo recently sat down with Matthew Vaughn, and he confirmed that a sequel is currently in the works, which is a little unusual for him.

"Well, the good news is that I'm writing it next door at the moment, " Vaughn said.  "If I think I can get the script good enough, then we are making it.  We are doing our damnedest to make it happen."  He continued, "I'm in love with these characters and I want to work with them again, so I'll probably be breaking the rule of me tending not to make sequels."

Matthew Vaughn, who also directed and helped write both Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class, even suggested that if he could get the script to his liking, he'd probably end up directing the sequel, as well!  The writer/director doesn't shy away from graphic novel adaptations, or even toning the films down to get a PG-13 rating, like most movies do.  His adaptation of Mark Millar's graphic novel was fantastic, and it's $400 million haul it made during it's run should help ease the minds of the people over at 20th Century Fox over their Deadpool movie that'll be released soon.  Stay true to the comic, and the people will show up to watch!

What were your thoughts on the movie?  How about your thoughts on the sequel?  Let me know in the comments down below!

Can NASA Cut The Travel Time To Mars Down By Half?

Yesterday I talked about how the astronauts are preparing for space travel by spending time in orbit around the moon in cislunar space.  The next task for NASA is to figure out how to shorten the journey it's going to take to the Red Planet.

"Right now it's about an eight-mission mission," according to NASA administrator Charlie Bolden.

There are a number of reasons why NASA wants to shorten the trip to Mars.  One of the most important reasons for this is to cut back on the exposure of harmful radiation that will bombard our astronauts who will travel there.  We don't feel the affects of these here on Earth, because our planet is protected by an atmosphere.  Out in the vacuum of space, however, the astronauts won't have that protection.

Another reason to try an shorten the trek is to cut down on the amount of time the astronauts will be in a zero-gravity environment.  Prolonged exposure to zero-gravity can have an adverse affect on the human body that's been conditioned to live in a gravity-filled environment.  These problems can include muscle atrophy, lengthening of the spine and eyesight deterioration.

To reach this goal, technology is going to have to improve.  Scott Seymour, the CEO and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne, said their company is currently working on a solar-electric propulsion system (SEP) that will boast a 5-kilowatt engine.  It'll take baby steps, though.  5 kilowatts is where they're at right now, and they're wanting to boost that up to 15 kilowatts.  After reaching that goal, they'd cluster them together for a more powerful engine.  In  the long run, Seymour is hoping that they can develop 50 to 100 kilowatt engines for future missions.  Solar is the best type of fuel for these engines, since in the vacuum of space, light is the only thing that they'll have a never ending supply of.  Not only that, but space on the rocket will be essential for supplies, so the less room they need for a chemical engine and it's fuel, the better.

We're still a long ways off in reaching our goals, but every day brings us one step closer to reaching the Red Planet.

How Are We Preparing For Mars?

I only hope that I'm alive for this!

A manned mission to Mars is going to be an arduous one.  There is going to be a lot of planning involved and astronauts are going to have to be at peak levels.  This will require months, if not years, of training to be able to cope with the realities of space travel.  Now, the United States government has decided to team up with privatized groups and other countries to send people into space, at an orbit around the Moon.  This bothers me.  Look, I've always promised myself that I would keep this non-political, but really?  How do you retire a fleet of reusable space ships without having a backup fleet?  Hopefully the next president will see the need for space exploration more than the current one.  We are leaders in space exploration!  Not hitchhikers!  My anger in this field takes over sometimes, and I apologize.

NASA is in the process of planning for a manned Mars mission, and in order to do this, they need to make sure that they are able to insure the survival of our astronauts.  There are a lot of variables that they need to take into account, from making sure that they are able to survive the radiation that the Red Planet will bombard them with (since it doesn't have an ozone layer,) to making sure that they can survive the rigors of isolationism.  To test these problems, NASA is planning on launching some "cislunar" space missions, which means that they will be taking place around the orbit of the moon.  They are planning on testing the habitation tech that they are going to be using on their journey to Mars.  There goal is to make sure that long-term habitation is possible on the Red Planet.  Here's what they had to say on the matter:

"The concepts that we're working on today call for us to begin in the early '20s with a set of missions involving Orion to get some early experience in cislunar space, leading to a series of longer missions," said Skip Hatfield, manager of the Development Projects Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center, during a session of the Humans to Mars Summit here May 6. 

I really do hope that the United States is serious about sending people to the Red Planet, and I honestly hope that I am able to be around to see it.  We do things because we can, and this is one of the most difficult things that we could do.  I hope and pray that we take this endeavor seriously, and that I'm able to witness it.

Another planet to explore...how cool would that be???

Nathan Fillion To Join Halo 5: Guardians

How cool is this!

Nathan Fillion has been confirmed for Halo 5!  Fillion will be reprising his role as Gunnery Sergeant Buck.  Fillion first did the voice work for the character in 2009, for Halo 3: ODST, and again in 2010 for Halo: Reach.  He had previously done the voice work on Halo 3 for Sergeant Reynolds.  As you can see, not only are they using Fillion's voice for the game, but they are also using his likeness! 

I know this post is short, but Nathan Fillion is my favorite actor, and it's going to be AMAZING to be able to see him in the greatest video game title out there!

Halo 5: Guardians is set for release October 27, 2015.

This Batman V Superman Twist Could Be Big!

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So I was reading an article on Latinpost.com the other day, and they claim to have some huge news regarding the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie...and just so you know, possible SPOILERS ahead!

If you are still reading this, don't say I didn't warn ya!

So this website is reporting that according to Heroic Hollywood, it has been revealed that when Batman goes up against Superman (again, it's called Batman 'V' Superman!  Of course they're going to fight!) his weapon of choice is going to be a "Kryptonite Laced Spear."  So now there's the question, id Batman going to kill Superman?  Even if it's unintentional?  If he does, we know that Superman won't stay dead.  They've already announced that he was going to be in the Justice League movies, and there's a Man of Steel 2 that's been scheduled for release.  To be honest, though, this scenario is quite possible.  How is that, you ask?

We know (or at least we think we know!) that Doomsday is going to be making an appearance in the film.  Doomsday is the one that killed Superman in the comics.  Now let's say that Doomsday doesn't show up until after Batman and Superman start fighting, maybe set loose by Lex Luthor hoping that Doomsday will kill both of them off.  What if Batman has injured Superman with this spear, and then they decide to team up to fight and destroy Doomsday.  During the battle, Doomsday kills Superman, who'd already been injured by Batman from their earlier fight.  Plausible?  Maybe even just a little?

I know, I'm grabbing at straws here to come up with a possible explanation for this little bit of news that they released.

What do you think?  Could the movie play out this way?  What are your thoughts on the matter?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Jon Bernthal Is The New Punisher!

The Punisher is coming to Daredevil...and it's about to get AWESOME!!!

One of my friends suggested that Kurt Sutter from Sons of Anarchy should write the scripts!  Another believed that was an amazing idea, and thought we should start a petition.  I agree! #KurtSutterForPunisher!!!

Jon Bernthal, best known for his portrayal as Shane on The Walking Dead is going to join Daredevil for season 2 on NetFlix, which will be released in 2016.  Here's what Jeph Loeb, Marvel's Head of Television, had to say on his hiring:

"Jon Bernthal brings an unmatched intensity to every role he takes on, with a potent blend of power, motivation and vulnerability that will connect with audiences. Castle’s appearance will bring dramatic changes to the world of Matt Murdock and nothing will be the same.”

The release of this news didn't specify whether or not Frank Castle (a.k.a. The Punisher) would be a friend or foe to Matt Murdock.  In the comics, they aren't outright foes, but do see things differently.  My guess is that they're going to be butting heads more than sharing a drink, at least that's what I got from the new logo for the show's season two.  Check it out:

Notice the bullet holes? I'm guessing that they don't get along very well when they meet!  So what are your thoughts on Marvel bringing in Bernthal as The Punisher?  Good idea?  Great idea? Yeah, bad idea isn't even an option in this question.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

What's The Story Behind C3P0's New Arm?

Sorry about the photo, but it's the best I could pull off of the web.  It's reported to be on can of soda that was released in Mexico.  Believe it or not, this is the second photo to appear that has C3PO sporting a new red arm.  The first image was released on an image of a table and chair set (?!? Yeah, I'm at a loss for this one, too!)

C3PO has always been in a constant flux of dismemberment.  In the original movie, A New Hope, he suffered a loss of a limb to the Tusken Raiders.  In The Empire Strikes Back he was blown apart by an Ugnaught, presumably.  In Return of the Jedi, well, he pretty much stayed in tact.  So what's the deal with his new red arm?  Did they run out of gold or something?  It has me wondering if this is something that will be addressed in the movie or if it'll be something that's covered in the comic books that Marvel is creating that will fill in the blanks between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.  

Just to fill up more space with this post, did you know that director JJ Abrams was/is considering throwing in the bones of one of the most despised characters ever to join the franchise onto the desert planet that the film opens up on?  Yes, just to please himself (and fans!) he considered inserting the bones of Jar Jar Binks in a shot that panned around the new desert planet.  He said that only three or four people would notice them, but I'm guessing that if they are put into the movie, a lot more than that will notice!  Now if he'd just do the same thing with the Ewoks!  I'm pretty sure that the latter won't happen, because it's rumored that Wicket is set to make an appearance in the film when the Empire's First Order and Kylo Ren head to Endor to retrieve the helmet of Darth Vader, which we see in the trailer for The Force Awakens.

So why do you think C3PO's arm is red?  Let me know your theories in the comments section down below!

Could These Marvel Titles Be Coming To The Small Screen?

I'd warn you that there are spoilers ahead, but right now these are all just rumors.

Fresh off of the success that they've had with the release of Daredevil on NetFlix, Marvel is looking to expand their Marvel Television Universe even more.  We still have A.K.A. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The New Defenders set to be released over the coming years on NetFlix, but now it's being rumored that they could get some company in the form of Blade, The Punisher, and Ghost Rider.  These may titles may not be full-season orders, though.  They may be limited runs, or they might just be appearing in the other titles as a backdoor pilot to see how they fare with the viewers.  If they do well, then they may each get their own full season orders.  Just so you know, the Blade: The Series that was aired on Spike will not be a part of this universe's canon.  Duh.

On the network television side of things, Marvel is mulling the idea of adding a Cloak and Dagger series, as well as a Ms. Marvel and a Hulk prequel.  With the Captain Marvel movie set to be released soon, I was kind of surprised to see the Ms. Marvel title as a possible contender for a series.  And a Hulk prequel?  I don't know...maybe if they brought back that slow and sappy music from the original series I'd let it slide.

What are your thoughts on the possibilities of these new projects?  Let me know in the comments section down below!

U.S. Air Force And Their Desire For A Hypersonic Jet

For the longest time, the fastest plane that the U.S. Air Force had in it's fleet was the SR-71 Blackbird.  The Blackbird served the U.S. Air Force between 1964 and 1998 when it was "retired."  I say "retired" because after they retired it, they didn't have anything to replace it...or so we were to believe.  Why would you retire the fastest plane ever if you didn't have something to replace it with?  My guess is that they did, and just didn't tell the public about it.  Now let's jump ahead to 2013...

In that year, the U.S. Air Force tested  the X-51 WaveRider hypersonic plane, but it wasn't to introduce it to us as the Air Force's new elite plane for service, but more of a tech demo.  Since then, it's creators have further developed this tech, and the Air Force now plans on getting the next generation of hypersonic planes into service by the year 2023, and these plans are said to reach speeds of Mach 5.1.  They want to create an entire fleet of these planes, but may end up just creating a few "flagship" planes due to the expensive nature of this endeavor.

Air Force Chief Scientist Mica Endsley told Military.com that the new plane will incorporate the new tech that they've gathered from the X-51 so these new planes are "capable of operating at the kind of temperatures you have when you are going at hypersonic speeds."  To make all of this possible, they are also currently developing a guidance system that can still function at speeds of Mach 5.

The Air Force's goal is a lofty one, to say the least, but it is a good thing that they are giving themselves nearly a decade to get this project off the ground.  The X-51 was the culmination of many failed attempts at a hypersonic plane, and a "recent test of a hypersonic missile didn't even make it through takeoff."  So, yeah, they still have a few bugs to work out, but still, it all seems pretty cool!

Is Han Solo REALLY (SPOILERS!) ???

Wait...what???

Ever since Marvel reacquired the Star Wars comic book brand from Dark Horse Comics, they've been using it to fill in the gaps between the films to give us a better look at what took place during this time, and explain how we arrived at the start of each film from the ending of the previous one.  All of this is also "official canon" for the Star Wars universe.  So what they dropped on all of us in Star Wars #6 was pretty huge!  Like I said in the title...SPOILERS!!!

Still with me?  Good!  Check this Out!




Holy crap!  Really?!?  It looks like our favorite scruffy smuggler is a taken man!

Ever since the title began its run, Jason Aaron and John Cassaday who are writers for the comic, have been teasing a mysterious woman hot on the trail of Han Solo.  Her face was first released to the net in a teaser for Star Wars #9 which made its way online, and as soon as it hit, the rumors and speculation on who she was kicked into high gear!  One of the more popular theories that people were talking about was that it might be Salla Zend, an ex-girlfriend of Han Solo's, as well as a fellow smuggler, that was introduced during Dark Horse's Dark Empire series.  How cool would it have been if a hold-over from the old Expanded Universe made her way over to the Official Expanded Universe?  Well, as you can see, that didn't happen.

So what does all of this mean?  How long have they been married?  Are they actually still married?  We know that he's pursuing Leia pretty heavily in The Empire Strikes Back, so will this all be resolved before they reach Hoth?  Only time will tell, but I can honestly say that I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out!

Second Star Wars Anthology Film Details Revealed

This really is an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!  Currently, Disney is busy putting together four...count them...four Star Wars films!  We all know that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is nearly complete and will be released in December of this year, and we've also seen a teaser trailer for Star Wars: Rogue One which will be released late next year.  A year after, we'll see the currently untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII, and one year after that, the second of the Star Wars Anthology films will be released.  Like I said, it's a great time to be a Star Wars fan!

There have been a lot of rumors surrounding each of these films from what they will be about to who will be in them.  There have also been a lot of rumors of things that have been going on behind-the-scenes that have made their way onto the web.  One of the biggest rumors involves the second of the Anthology films, and the departure of it's director, Josh Trank.  Trank told everyone that he was leaving on his own accord, but sources close to the project said that there had been some bad blood brewing between Disney and Trank.  You can read my previous blogs for more details on their split.

So where does that leave the second of the Anthology films?  First of all, Disney needs to find a new director, and it seems that they have narrowed their list down to two people.  The first is Matthew Vaughn, who directed Kingsman: The Secret Service, and the second (and my personal favorite!) is John Favreau, who has a ton of movies under his belt, both as a director and an actor.  You may know him as the director that helped launch Marvel's Cinematic Universe!

Second, they need a story.  Right now, Simon Kinberg (Fantastic Four) is writing the screen play, and it was rumored to be a Boba Fett origin story.  However, it's now being reported by Schmoes Know that it will be a film that focuses on how the Han Solo/Boba Fett rivalry began.  The film is said to be taking place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and it's rumored that Chewbacca and Lando will also be appearing, as well as the bounty Hunter Bossk.

This is still a number of years away, so it's possible that all of this could change, but for the time being, I'm pretty excited to see another movie with Boba Fett in it!

Old Man Logan And Secret Wars

Last week Old Man Logan joined the Secret Wars universe!

The story picks up after the conclusion of Mark Millar and Steve McNiven's critically acclaimed story which follows Wolverine 50 years into the future of one of the possible Marvel universes.  Logan is essentially the last of the superheroes due to all of the big baddies of their universe pooling together to take them all out.  In Logan's case, Mysterio convinces him that he's taking out a bunch of villains that have attacked Professor X's mansion, but it turns out Mysterio tricked him into slaughtering all of his friends.  Logan vows never to shed his claws again, and settles into a passive life.  The United States is then divided into separate territories between the biggest of the bad guys. 

I won't go into more of the story just in case you haven't read it yet, and if you haven't, you really need to!  This first issue to be released was a little slow, but I'm guessing that they just needed to set everything up for where they are going to go with the story.  Even though it was a little slow, the art work is, again, fantastic!  This is definitely one of the comic book titles that you should be collecting!  If you are familiar with the original storyline of Old Man Logan, and you've read the new issue that came out last week, let me know your thoughts.  Instead of leaving them in the comments section below, though, email me at comconocave@gamil.com.  That way if people reading this aren't familiar with this story, we won't give anything else away!

Is Stephen Amell Going To Face Off Against Stardust?

I have to admit, this used to be a guilty pleasure of mine.  I used to watch "professional" wrestling every Monday night.  Over the years, though, I've watched it less and less.  Not because I don't like it anymore, but it's on way too late with the job that I have.  I might have to make an exception for this feud, though!  Or at least, DVR it!

A few weeks ago, Stephen Amell was in the audience, and Stardust got right in his face!  Amell jumped up and threatened to throw a punch at him.  Since then, their Twitter accounts have been blowing up with smack talk from both of them!  Then came the rumor that Stephen Amell was going to be fighting Stardust in the upcoming SummerSlam!

...but hold on a second...

Stephen Amell post the following on his Twitter account:

"Lots of rumors circulating that I'm fighting @StardustWWE at SummerSlam.  Not true.  Cody wants no piece of me."

Here's Stardust's response from his Twitter account:

"No Stephen...Cody doesn't & I don't want Stephen.  There must be someone else, SOMETHING else...#SummerSlam."

This has led some to believe that there won't be a match between them after all.  Others have speculated that this means that Stardust will be fight the Arrow in SummerSlam!  And why not?  Canadians make incredible wrestlers, so why not Amell, er...the Arrow?  Do you follow the WWE?  If you do, what are your thoughts on this feud?  Let me know in the comments section below!

They're About To Ruin Another Classic!

I think that this picture says it all (sob!).

According to Comicbook.com, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is in negotiations to play Jack Burton, a role that was originally played by Kurt Russell in the John Carpenter film from 1986.  Jack Burton is a truck driver that finds himself caught in the middle of a mystical fight between two warring factions in New York City's Chinatown.  Do yourself a favor, watch the original before this ever makes it's way onto the big screen!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Hollywood is now filled with talentless hacks that can't come up with an original idea if their life depended on them.  Don't believe me?  Let me give you some examples:

Total Recall

Poltergeist

Godzilla (the one with Matthew Broderick!)

The Karate Kid

Psycho

Footloose

Rollerball

Do I need to go on?  And let's not forget:

Friday the 13th

A Nightmare on Elm Street

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Halloween (maybe...)

I'm not looking forward to this one, but I know others are.  Heck, even Ken said that he thought it would "Rock."  Yeah, I know.  Made me groan, too.  But it was funny!

Mark Millar On A Stand Alone Hit Girl Movie

I have to admit, I loved the movie Kick-Ass.  The story was good, the actors that they chose to play the roles were spot-on, and the gore factor of some of the fight scenes actually made me laugh!  I never went and saw Kick-Ass 2, though.  I didn't want to ruin the first movie by watching a lousy sequel...that and Jim Carey was in it.  Judging by the returns the movie made, I'm not alone in my feelings about the sequel.  The only reason I would've considered going to see the movie was to find out what happened to Hit Girl after the first movie.

It sounds like Mark Millar also has a soft spot for this character, as well.  Here's what he had to say on the matter when he recently sat down for an interview with JoBlo and the topic of a stand alone Hit Girl movie was brought up:

"I love the idea of there being Hit Girl movies, it has to be the right story though," Millar stated. "We have a crazy idea for it, and every now and then I think, is this too crazy? Because it's kind of insane. Would the world accept this? It makes Kick-Ass look like Finding Nemo. Matthew [Vaughn] and I have chatted about it in the pub, and it's fine in the pub, but when we're being interviewed two years later, is it going to be terrifying? So I don't know, it seems a fun thing, though."

He went on to say:

"It's funny, because Hit Girl was slightly pre-dated by about a year, before those kick-ass action heroine characters like The Hunger Games and Hanna and those kinds of things came along. And now I feel is a great time for her, so it could be really interesting."

He makes a very good point, especially with people still giving Marvel grief about it's lack of female led movies.  Yes, we have Black Widow, but she still hasn't got her own movie, and her back story is probably to the most interesting out of all of the Marvel characters in the movies to date.  Instead, they're going to give us a Captain Marvel film, someone that we have nothing invested in, and if you don't read comic books, know nothing about.  It is a step forward for them, though.

So what do you think?  Would you go and see a stand alone Hit Girl movie?  Chime in down below in the comments section and give me your thoughts!