More Batman: Arkham Knight Details

March 28, 2014, 4:19 am

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The latest round of details regarding Batman: Arkham Knight has made it's way online courtesy of Game Informer. Not only that, but journo's across the internet have been shown a 30 minute hands off demo. Eurogamer seemed to get particularly good look.

Feel free to check out their articles here and here, whilst below we have a few tasty morsels for you.

First up is the size of the new game. 5 times larger than Arkham City, and 20 times bigger than Arkham Asylum. Plenty of space for the new Batmobile:

"When you've got the Batmobile, yeah," Ginn replies with a note of confidence. "We couldn't have gone five times smaller and had an awesome Batmobile experience. We need to be clear about what this game is going to bring that's different and new and exciting. The answer? The Batmobile. So what's going to need to change in order to make that incredible? That justifies the size."

Rocksteady discuss the new Batsuit and it's relationship to the Batmobile:

“You put them next to each other, and you can see that they’re coming from the same family,” says art director David Hego. “You get the same elements on Batman’s suit, you have the same shapes, you have different metal shaders between carbon fiber and the brushed metal shininess. That’s the visual story. The story behind it is that Batman has this new car, and he’s doing all this crazy s--- with it, and he needs to eject at mach 3 out of it.”

Whilst we're at it here are some lovely new images for you too...

Batman: Arkham Knight will be released on October 14th for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Chris Cooper is a Flickering Myth Staff Writer, and owner of the blog Super Duper Stuff. Follow him on Twitter @SDCCooper or visit the blog's Facebook page.

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Exclusive: Preview of Sinister Dexter #5

March 28, 2014, 6:12 am

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The end is approaching in the seven-part tale devised by writer Dan Abnett, artist Andy Clarke and colourist Antonio Fuso which will require some psychological analysing.

Representing the infamous Shrink Rap storyline! Ramone goes to see a psychiatrist and we get a deeper look into the origin of the two deadliest Gun Sharks on planet Earth- Sinister and Dexter… by the end, we’ll all need a Shrink!

Sinister Dexter #5arrives on April 2, 2014.

Pierce Brosnan to appear in the next Expendables sequel

March 28, 2014, 6:36 am

≫ Next: First poster and trailer for Into the Storm

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It seems that Sylvester Stallone and producer Avi Lerner will be adding a former 007 to its roster for the inevitable The Expendables 4, with Pierce Brosnan revealing to Shortlist Magazine (via Expendables Premiere) that, "The offer has come in for the next Expendables. I just worked over in Bulgaria with Avi Lerner who makes them. He said, 'Would you like to be in The Expendables? I'd love to have you', and I said 'Why not?' So we'll see."

The Expendables 3 is set for release on August 15th, with Stallone joined by returning stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Jet Li and franchise newcomers Harrison Ford (Star Wars), Wesley Snipes (Blade), Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Kellan Lutz (The Legend of Hercules), Kelsey Grammer (X-Men: The Last Stand), Glen Powell (The Dark Knight Rises), Ronda Rousey (Fast & Furious 7), and Victor Ortiz.

First poster and trailer for Into the Storm

March 28, 2014, 11:09 am

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Warner Bros. has released the first poster and trailer for Into the Storm, a found footage disaster thriller from director Steven Quale (Final Destination 5), which sees Richard Armitage (The Hobbit) leading a cast that also includes Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead), Jeremy Sumpter (Friday Night Lights), Matt Walsh (Ted), Nathan Kress (iCarly), Kyle Davis (Catch Me If You Can) and Arlen Escarpeta (Final Destination 5); check them out here...

In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, Into the Storm throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.

Into the Storm is set for release on August 8th.

The Flickering Myth Reaction to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer

March 28, 2014, 11:27 am

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The Flickering Myth writing team look at the trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....

It's a movie that is hated by the fact is it exists and the man behind the cash that funded it. But the trailer for the Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles landed online yesterday (watch it here). Was it good? Was it bad? Let's see what our writing team thought....

Anthony Stokes: Looks extremely similar to the Transformers movies, which is no doubt intentional.

Chris Cooper: I am not disgusted. Which considering how I thought I'd feel is quite an achievement! Look, with Bay and Fox involved I'm not expecting magic. But so far it looks OK. The snow setting is interesting and I like the look of the Brothers working together. Over time I may even become accustomed to their chins and noses (which I think is why I'm not quite connecting at the moment).

Transformers burnt me badly, so I'm going to go with 'cautiously optimistic' for now. I'm open to new takes and changes if it's an entertaining film. I've seen nothing to say otherwise yet. Anthony, they've no doubt that on purpose. They put Bay's name first and not the actual director.

Thomas Harris:Don't tell me not to freak out. They look like weird penises.

Vilordsutch:I see Michael Bay and instantly I feel violent towards him. The man's a hack job currently stamping across my childhood making it new, exploding and shit! There is nothing in this trailer that even made me think I might give it a chance. 

Chris Cooper: What can I say, I'm either a 'glass half full' guy, or an idiot. Regardless I stand by my original comment. I expected Grimlock in Transformers: Age of Extinction levels of rage to build inside me. But it hasn't happened.

Luke Owen:It looks like Transformers, only with heroes in half shells instead of robots in disguise. The trailer isn't terrible, nor is it brilliant. I didn't hate it, but it didn't excite me either.

However, the idea of the fathers of Shredder and April O'Neil creating the Turtles is an unnecessary plot addition. Did the writers think that would add more drama to their rivarly? I just don't see the point in making that change.

Martin Deer: I thought it was really interesting to see this lizard like creature destroy a humvee simply by slamming in to it. Presumably this film is actually the sequel to this summer's Godzilla? Absolute gash!

Luke Owen:Well, he was slipping sliding pretty fast...

Gav Logan: I didn't hate it…thats all I'm saying right now!

Scott J Davis: Looks turgid.

Helen Murdoch:My childhood has officially been ruined. Completely agree with Luke it just looks like Transformers with bad CGI turtles instead. Megan Fox looks like she's doing her 2 usual facial expressions again as well.

Tom Jolliffe:I'll let you know what I think when I've finished cutting my ears off and gouging my own eye balls out.

Matt Spencer-Skeen:Bleurgh.

Chris Cooper: Woooo I'm on my own! It's lonely out here....

Oliver Davis:Yeah, I agree with Martin ...why have the pre-title money shot as a slow motion turtle hitting a car? That wasn't exciting in the slightest.

Anghus Houvouras:It looks so generic. They're seven feet tall now? Inception BRAMS? The opening of the trailer could be any movie released in the last 10 years. The last gag is kind of funny. On the scale of franchises, this looks like its going to be on par with G.I. Joe and Transformers. That is nothing to celebrate. Nothing.

Gary Collinson:I can't decide whether it looks distinctly average, or completely shite.


Hmmm. So not overwhelmingly positive. However, our TMNT expert Chris Cooper seems to be on board for the movie so that has to count for something right?


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars Megan Fox (Transformers) as April O'Neil, Alan Ritchson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) as Raphael, Pete Ploszek (Parks and Recreation) as Leonardo, Jeremy Howard (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as Donatello, Noel Fisher (Battle Los Angeles) as Michaelangelo, Danny Woodburn (Seinfeld) as Splinter, William Fichtner (The Dark Knight) as The Shredder, Will Arnett (The LEGO Movie) as Vernon Fenwick, Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost) as Bernadette Thompson and K. Todd Freeman (The Dark Knight) as Baxter Stockman.  


What did you think of the trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Did you agree or disagree with our writers? Let us know...

Vikings Season 2 - Episode 5 Recap

March 28, 2014, 11:49 am

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Megan Applegate recaps episode 5 of Vikings season 2...

Like most family reunions, Lagertha and Bjorn’s return to the fold was a little awkward and a heap sentimental.

The episode doesn’t take long to get into the full swing of things and soon Ragnar and a Bjorn (along with two sacrificial Vikings) set out to Kattegat to destroy the food supply, setting in motion a ploy to get Borg and his men to follow in pursuit of revenge only to find a dead guy stuck to a log, and a nest of revenge-seeking Vikings (led by Ragnar) in front of them.

It isn’t pretty for Borg and in a few short, bloody minutes after Bjorn’s survived a near-miss and Rollo’s mowed down half of the enemy with nothing but a shield and some fantastic jump sequences, the battle is done. Borg has retreated and Kattegat belongs to Ragnar once again.

The group triumphantly walks back into the village, greeted by grateful residents and Aslaug can’t help but notice how much more popular Lagertha is, like some medieval popularity contest Aslaug and Siggy will never win as long as the badass blonde bombshell is around.

Being the rowdy Vikings they are, they celebrate by letting Bjorn behead a prisoner and get all smear happy with the dead man’s blood.

The old drama returns for Ragnar as well as he struggles with feelings for both Lagertha and Aslaug. The princess can feel it, despite Ragnar’s half-hearted attempts to convince her otherwise. The creepy eyeless oracle is no help either and tries to give the jarl advice by way of a story about ancient feet. Even Ragnar was lost on that one and sits through the long-winded story looking fidgety and frustrated.

Lagertha makes the decision for Ragnar.

She leaves Bjorn—“all she has left”—in the hands of the good people of Kattegat and dutifully returns to her jerk of a husband. How many times in one season can this woman break my heart?

Poor Athelstan. He’s been delivered from the cross only to live a prisoner among Ecbert’s people. He’s made an especially nasty enemy out of Ecbert’s son who seems just as determined as Floki was to prove he’s not “one of them.” He’s also suffering from visions and the inability to receive holy communion without spitting it out. Bleeding crosses. Virgin Mary apparitions in the courtyard. Demons scuttling through his room and underfoot. It’s not looking good for Athelstan.

Next week’s preview hinted at the return of King Horik with news of Ecbert’s attack and Athelstan’s capture. It also teased a possible attempt to bring Borg (whose wife is pregnant) into the fold again. How many times can Borg and Ragnar stand across each other on a battlefield and without realize they weren’t meant to be besties?

In series news, History Channel has renewed Vikings for a third, ten-season episode. Filming begins this summer in Ireland and will air next year. Let the celebrating and shield-banging commence, friends. The show goes on!

Megan Applegate - follow me on Twitter

More set photos of Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch in action in Avengers: Age of Ultron

March 28, 2014, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: New poster for Transformers: Age of Extinction

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With filming on Avengers: Age of Ultron still in full swing in Italy, The Daily Mail has dropped a new batch of set photos featuring Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in action against Ultron... or rather Ultron's stand-in. They're pretty similar to what we've already seen, but they do offer up a better look at Hawkeye's new threads...

The Avengers: Age of Ultron is set for release on May 1st 2015, with Joss Whedon directing a cast that also includes returning MCU stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Paul Bettany (JARVIS / The Vision) alongside new additions Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass) as Quicksilver, Thomas Kretschmann (Dracula) as Baron Strucker, and James Spader (The Blacklist) as Ultron.

New poster for Transformers: Age of Extinction

March 28, 2014, 12:14 pm

≫ Next: Second Opinion - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

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Fresh from yesterday's trailer for the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [which you can watch here], we've now got a new poster for Bay's other upcoming project, Transformers: Age of Extinction, which features Mark Wahlberg (Ted) and his on screen daughter Nicola Peltz (Bates Motel). For some reason, Wahlberg seems more interested in the farmhouse he's leaving behind, rather than the enormous floating Decepticon that's hovering above it and filling the sky...

Transformers: Age of Extinction is set for release on June 27th with a cast that also includes Jack Reynor (What Richard Did), Stanley Tucci (Captain America: The First Avenger), Bingbing Li (Resident Evil: Retribution), Sophia Myles (Underworld), Victoria Summer (Saving Mr. Banks), Titus Welliver (Lost) and T.J. Miller (She's Out of My League). Watch the first trailer here.

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Second Opinion - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

March 28, 2014, 12:23 pm

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Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2014.

Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell and George St-Pierre.

SYNOPSIS:

Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

After decent but unremarkable first film, and a by-the-book second outing with his fellow Avengers, it is probably fair to say that Captain America has been the most underwhelming member of Marvel’s cinematic supergroup. Lacking the humour of the Iron Man films, and the fantasy world-building we get from Thor, it was easy to get the impression that ‘Cap’ was around simply because you couldn’t have The Avengers without him.

Now however, with the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we have been given irrefutable evidence that the star-spangled superhero is here to do a lot more that make up the numbers; he has his own unique contribution to make to the Marvel cinematic universe, and we should all be grateful for it.

Set almost entirely in Washington D.C., the film’s first half plays out more like a political espionage thriller than a superhero blockbuster. Laden with untrustworthy authority figures, rouge agents, car chases and set pieces focused around impressive hand-to-hand combat, the only thing in the first act to remind you you’re watching a comic-book movie is the outlandish costumes (and even they’ve been toned down). For the opening thirty minutes the only difference between Steve Rogers and Jason Bourne is that iconic shield.

It’s a thematic choice that is both refreshing and effective. For starters it shrouds the entire film with an air of mystery, which generates a fair amount of tension. Say what you will about the superhero genre, it is usually fairly clear who or what the villain is (with obvious exceptions, of course), and so to employ the snaking narrative structure of a political thriller really pays off. I never thought I’d leave this film drawing comparisons to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but there are definite similarities.

Marvel fans worried about a Captain America/House of Cards crossover needn’t fear though. The final act returns to the familiar ‘epic silliness’ that the franchise has become known for. The Marvel floodgates creak open and gargantuan set pieces and pithy one-liners gush out thick and fast. Despite the visual assault, the narrative doesn’t take a back seat entirely. In fact the climatic plot-points show a sort of unabashed courage that has been one of the franchise’s biggest assets over the years. There’s a particular piece of exposition that will have real consequences on all the Avengers films that follow; a revelation far more meaningful and interesting than the empty gesture at the end of Iron Man 3.

In terms of the filmmaking cogs working in this film, there’s very little to complain about also. The cast are all on fine form and Chris Evans is very much the finished article when it comes to being a leading man. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan have great introductions and there’s some sharp back-and-forth between Samuel L Jackson and Robert Redford, even if the latter does chew a little scenery from time to time. Having said that though, he isn’t exactly helped out by the script he’s been given. Regardless of the great narrative work going on here, some of the screenplay is incredibly clunky, both in terms of dialogue and the transpiration of coincidence within the plot.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the film that many of us had been waiting for. Building on the promise of the first film, whilst incorporating a style and tone previously untapped by the Marvel films. Armed with a plot to keep you guessing and action to keep you enthralled, the man-out-of-time has finally arrived in the twenty-first century.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

Jackson Ball - follow me on Twitter.

The Hunger Games' Dayo Okeniyi cast as Danny Dyson in Terminator: Genesis

March 28, 2014, 12:45 pm

≫ Next: Frank Marshall shoots down "ridiculous" Bradley Cooper / Indiana Jones rumour

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A couple of days ago it was reported that Attack the Block star John Boyega was up for the role of Danny Dyson, son of Skynet creator Miles Dyson, in the upcoming reboot Terminator: Genesis. Well, it looks like the British actor has lost out, with Variety revealing that Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games) has signed on to play the part in the fifth instalment of the franchise.

Terminator: Genesis is being directed by Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World), with Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his signature role as the T-800 alongside Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) as Sarah Connor, Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard) as Kyle Reese, Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as John Connor and J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man) in an unknown role.

Terminator: Genesis is set for release on July 1st, 2015.

Frank Marshall shoots down "ridiculous" Bradley Cooper / Indiana Jones rumour

March 28, 2014, 12:56 pm

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Earlier in the week Latino-Review ran a story claiming that Disney could take a leaf out of the James Bond franchise's book with Indiana Jones, suggesting that Lucasfilm has been considering recasting Harrison Ford if Indiana Jones 5 doesn't start moving forward soon, with Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) said to be at the top of the studio's shortlist for a younger incarnation of the archeologist and adventurer.

We never bothered running the original story, as Latino-Review has a habit of dropping carefully worded rumours that go absolutely nowhere, and it seems this is the case here too with producer Frank Marshall taking to Twitter to shoot the report down, stating that: "due to the ridiculous rumors that keep popping up, like agents pipe dreams, I will stop commenting on our projects until I have real news." Meanwhile, Frank Darabont has also denied part of the story suggesting he's pitched a new Indy movie, while Slash Film's sources have also suggested that there's no truth to the story.

So, it looks like this is another rumour we can chalk off as speculation... although Harrison Ford isn't getting any younger, and you'd have to imagine Disney would be keen to keep the franchise going once Ford finally decides he's hanging up the bullwhip.

Free Comic Book Day Preview of Rocket Raccoon

March 28, 2014, 1:25 pm

≫ Next: Patrick Brennan cast as Blackout in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Before he makes his big screen debut in this year's Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel's gun-toting Rocket Raccoon is set to star in his own Free Comic Book Day issue from writer Joe Caramagna and artist Adam Archer, which sees Rocket as a wanted mammal who's out to clear his bounty - by any means necessary! Check out the preview here...

You can pick the issue up on Saturday, May 3rd, while Guardians of the Galaxy will hit cinemas on August 1st, with Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) voicing Rocket Raccoon alongside Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious 6) as Groot, Benicio Del Toro (Sin City) as The Collector, Lee Pace (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) as Ronan the Accuser, Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) as Nebula, Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) as Korath, John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) as Rhomman Dey and Glenn Close (Damages) as Nova Prime Rael. 

Patrick Brennan cast as Blackout in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

March 28, 2014, 3:43 pm

≫ Next: Special Features - Up, Up, and Away: The Elevated Structure of Superhero Films

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The Marvel villain Blackout is heading to the small screen, with Patrick Brennan (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2) securing the role as Marcus Daniels in the upcoming eighteenth and nineteenth episodes of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; here's an official first look shot of Brennan in character...

According to Marvel.com, Blackout's powers will differ slightly from the comic books, with the character having the ability to suck the energy out of anything around him, and by the sounds of it his story will link in with that of Amy Acker's (Angel) cellist Audrey, the love of Coulson's life before his "death" in The Avengers.

"This guy, Marcus Daniels, a.k.a. Blackout, was shrouded in darkness, his soul, everything about him was shrouded in darkness until he comes across this Cello player," says Brennan. "And the music was the only light that came into his soul, and it gave him hope and it gave him some sense of what light was. I thought to myself, oh my god, you don’t even need to explain anything else. Because music, to me, is what gets me through most of the time. My kids, my wife, and music. That aspect of it totally intrigued me. I thought that was quite beautiful and very interesting, that aspect of the character."

Special Features - Up, Up, and Away: The Elevated Structure of Superhero Films

March 28, 2014, 4:45 pm

≫ Next: First look at a superpowered Scarlett Johansson in Luc Besson's Lucy

≪ Previous: Patrick Brennan cast as Blackout in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Anghus Houvouras on the elevated structure of superhero films...

We're in a golden age of comic book adaptations.  A time where every major comic book icon is getting the cinematic treatment.  As these film types become more commonplace in our culture, patterns begin to emerge.  I talked before about my distaste of the super hero origin story, a movie type that has become ridiculously redundant.  Origin stories are shackles that must be endured every 10 years or so because studios worry that people have forgotten that Uncle Ben was killed because Peter Parker refused to act.  Or that Batman's parents were murdered in front of him changing him irreparably and launching his crusade on crime.

In the past it was the origin story that we had to deal with.  The creative hurdle that had to be jumped.  Once we got past the basic storytelling structure, filmmakers could then move on to more interesting and epic stories.  Now we're starting to see the potential problem for that scenario.

Comic book movie sequels usually work on a double down principle.  The sequel has to double the amount of visceral thrills of the first.  The third film doubles down again.  The stakes keep getting raised until the series is exhausted and has nowhere left to go.  I'll give you an example.

The first X-Men film was a solid movie that featured a relatively sublime conflict between Professor X and Magneto.  The movie was heavy on establishing characters and the final battle was a small conflict at the Statue of Liberty.  The big finish is basically Wolverine and Magneto toe to toe pushing back and forth trying to destroy the mutant creating machine threatening the leaders of the free world. 

The second X-Men film doubled down on the big set pieces.  You had the excellent opening sequence with Nightcrawler.  A military raid of the X-Mansion.  An aerial conflict with the military involving tornadoes, missiles, and a mid air rescue.  And that's before we get to the Alkali Flats and have a breaking dam, a Weapon X throw down, and Jean Gray's sacrifice holding back a river to save her fellow X-Men.

X-Men: The Last Stand doubled down so hard, the entire movie feels like one long garish spectacle.  The ridiculous Danger Room sequence.  The ridiculous scenes with Angel.  The ridiculous confrontation between the Brotherhood and the X-Men at Jean Grey's house.  And that insane Golden Gate bridge/siege bit that through everything and the kitchen sink on screen.

To coin a famous Superhero catchphrase, the first three X-Men movies went Up, Up, and Away.  After Last Stand there was nowhere left for them to go, so the studio went back in time with a hybrid prequel/reboot X-Men: First Class which stayed relatively small and character based until their kitchen sink based Cuban Missile Crisis finale.

X-Men: Days of Future Past looks to follow the double down trend.  As does The Amazing Spider-Man2 and it's massively expanding roster of villains.  As does Captain America: The Winter Soldier with giant flaming helicarriers spiraling to the ground.  For some reason, studios believe that volume and spectacle is what sells these movies.  There's the rare exception like The Wolverine that manages to take a nice step back and pare down the obscene amount of third act kitchen sink shenanigans.  Iron Man 3 felt like a nice change of pace until they blew up Tony's mansion in epic fashion before launching into an incomprehensible third act shipping dock battle featuring fifty different suits of armor and an army of Extremis soldiers. 

My point is, why is 'up' the only direction for these films?  

Man of Steel is an interesting example of this theory in action.  A lot of people wondered why Batman was introduced into the sequel after only one movie.   But what choice did they have?

Where do you go from Man of Steel?  A galaxy spanning story with exploding planets, cities being leveled, giant battle scenes of super powered warriors shooting lasers from eyes, throwing each other into space, fighting giant mechanized world engines.  Man of Steel took the concept of 'Up, Up, and Away' to crazy new heights.

A great possible option for Batman vs. Superman would have been to take things down a notch.  Slow it down.  Introduce us to Clark Kent, reporter at the Daily Planet.  Bring Lex Luthor into the mix.  Show us the aftermath of the big, city destroying battle and people's apprehension about Superman.  The problem is, studios don't seem to know how to notch things down.  They only know how to ratchet everything up.  Hence, we get Batman thrown into the mix in order to further elevate the already ludicrous stakes. 

It's a shame that the genre hasn't found a way to tell more textured, subtle superhero stories.  As a medium, comic books have found a way to tell a number of stories both big and small, but for the most part only the big ones are making it to the big screen.  Every subsequent release gets bigger.  Every Director doubles down on the action and spectacle turning the third act into an all out war.  I understand the need to try give people a nice song and dance so they walk out of the theater feeling that the ticket price was justified.  What history has shown is that you can only go Up and Up for so long before it just goes away.

I think that's why Marvel was smart to hold off on the introduction of Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet story line.  They realize that there's only so many places you can go after our heroes face a would be Universe conquering nihilist with the power to bend reality.  Superhero stories need to take small steps, or else you end up like Man of Steel which played it's hand too quickly leaving Warner Bros. with only one option: mashing franchises together. 

If you've got nowhere to go but 'up', you might just see your franchise go 'away'.

Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the novel My Career Suicide Note, is available from Amazon.

First look at a superpowered Scarlett Johansson in Luc Besson's Lucy

March 28, 2014, 8:00 pm

≫ Next: J. Jonah Jameson continues his campaign against Spidey in latest viral article for The Amazing Spider-Man 2

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With a trailer set to debut on iTunes next Wednesday (April 2nd), Entertainment Weekly has got its hands on the first image of Scarlett Johansson (Under the Skin, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) as the super-powered protagonist in Luc Besson's (The Fifth Element, The Family) action thriller Lucy....

Lucy sees Johansson's character gaining superhero-level powers after ingesting a mysterious drug that she's been forced to carry, which leads her to exact her revenge. The film is set for release on August 8th, with a cast that also includes Morgan Freeman (Now You See Me), Choi Min-sik (Oldboy), Amr Waked (Contagion) and Pilou Asbæk (Borgen).

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J. Jonah Jameson continues his campaign against Spidey in latest viral article for The Amazing Spider-Man 2

March 29, 2014, 1:50 am

≫ Next: Second trailer for horror sequel The Purge: Anarchy

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The Daily Bugle's editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson has continued his campaign against the wall-crawler in the latest viral article for the upcoming superhero sequel The Amazing Spider-Man 2,which you can read right here....

Spider-Man: Hero or Heel?

An editorial from Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson

Is social media a powerful tool to connect people around the world or is it home to a cyber-den of cyber-losers who spend their time spreading cyber-lies about a certain “hero” named Spider-Man… 

So is Spider-Man a hero because some bearded Brooklyn hipster posted a cyber-video of him webbing up a mugger outside a coffee shop? Is he a hero because a misguided high school student starts a fan club on cyber-Twitter? Is he a hero because a “cyber-blogger” like Melissa Hutchins encourages fans to plaster stencils of the masked vigilante on crosswalk signs across Manhattan? 

These days it seems like everyone is talking about Spider-Man, except for one person of course: Spider-Man himself, who refuses to talk to the press. The wall-crawling weirdo would probably say actions speak louder than words, but the longer Spider-Man doesn’t talk, the longer he ignores legitimate questions about how his actions have frustrated on-going police investigations. How he has used excessive force in foiling minor crimes. How his web swinging has distracted city drivers and led to a documented twenty-four accidents (and counting). 

Has Spider-Man stopped a mugger, a carjacker, or a bank robber here and there? Yeah, okay, I’ll admit he has. But can Spider-Man answer this: do those actions offset all the problems he’s created? Even if he could, I doubt he will. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is set for release on April 18th in the UK and on May 1st in North America, with returning stars Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Sally Field (Aunt May), Chris Zylka (Flash Thompson), Campbell Scott (Richard Parker), Embeth Davidtz (Mary Parker), Martin Sheen (Ben Parker) and Denis Leary (George Stacy) joined by new additions Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained) as Electro, Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) as Harry Osborn, Paul Giamatti (12 Years a Slave) as The Rhino, Chris Cooper (American Beauty) as Norman Osborn, Colm Feore (Thor) as Donald Menken, Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) as Felicia Hardy, Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings) as Dr. Kafka, B.J. Novak (The Office) as Alistair Smythe. 

Second trailer for horror sequel The Purge: Anarchy

March 29, 2014, 1:50 am

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Universal Pictures has dropped a new trailer for Blumhouse Productions' upcoming horror sequel The Purge: Anarchy, which you can check out below....

"The New Founders of America invite you to celebrate your annual right to Purge in THE PURGE: ANARCHY. Returning alongside writer/director/producer James DeMonaco to produce the sequel to 2013’s sleeper hit are Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity and Insidious series), alongside Sébastien K. Lemercier (Assault on Precinct 13, Four Lovers) and Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay (Pain & Gain, Transformers), Brad Fuller (The Amityville Horror, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Andrew Form (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th)."

is set for release on June 20th with a cast that includes Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire), Kiele Sanchez (Lost), Carmen Ejogo (Alex Cross), Edwin Hodge (The Purge) and Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights).


The Purge: Anarchy is set for release on June 20th.

New promo artwork for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

March 29, 2014, 2:19 am

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Earlier this week we got the first trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and now we've got a new piece of promotional artwork showing off the four Heroes in a Half-Shell from the upcoming live-action reboot from director Jonathan Leibesman (Wrath of the Titans) and producer Michael Bay (Transformers: Age of Extinction)....

"The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars Megan Fox (Transformers) as April O'Neil, Alan Ritchson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) as Raphael, Pete Ploszek (Parks and Recreation) as Leonardo, Jeremy Howard (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as Donatello, Noel Fisher (Battle Los Angeles) as Michaelangelo, Danny Woodburn (Seinfeld) as Splinter, William Fichtner (The Dark Knight) as The Shredder, Will Arnett (The LEGO Movie) as Vernon Fenwick, Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost) as Bernadette Thompson and K. Todd Freeman (The Dark Knight) as Baxter Stockman. The film opens in North America on August 8th and in the UK on October 17th.

 

Second Opinion - Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

March 29, 2014, 2:20 am

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Muppets Most Wanted, 2014.

Directed by James Bobin.
Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz, Tony Bennett and Hugh Bonneville.

SYNOPSIS:

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

In an interview with Little White Lies, Kermit was asked what he loves about the movies. In response he announced, “I love the movies because it’s like dreaming with your eyes open.” Muppets Most Wanted may not be perfect, in fact it’s flaws are more evident than ever but as Kermit so proudly said, everything we watch is rooted in the imagination. Anything goes with The Muppets and in an era of the mundane this is something to be celebrated.

Immediately following the events of their last adventure, The Muppets find themselves at a crossroads, do they helm their skills or go on tour. Enter Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), who suggests they employ him as manager and go on a world tour. Everything isn’t as it seems with the world’s most dangerous frog Constantine using Badguy as a way of manipulating The Muppets, kidnapping Kermit and replacing him. Let madness ensue.

And madness certainly does ensue. Director James Bobin is well aware of the fundamental irreverence of the product and he welcomes this with a warm embrace. From the off set, there is a sense of the random. Not in a manner that has lead to the failure of many a feature, but in a manner attached only to The Muppets. “We’re doing a sequel, That’s what we do in Hollywood and everyone know the sequel’s never quite as good,” seemingly encompasses this. Ambition is something to be celebrated and though there’s an inevitable element of failure, Bobin has achieved the upmost of success.

Pushing the celebrity however can only go so far before the audience become far too adept to these cameos. An argument can be made as to the breaking of the fourth wall-a concept evident throughout Muppet history-but Most Wanted almost takes the biscuit. Ricky Gervais carries the pomposity and gross sense of obnoxiousness from his stint as host of the Golden Globes into the film creating an effect of alienation. The film has to work around him in order to create a sense of coherency. His only musical number is out of place and fits awkwardly among the playful silliness of “We’re Doing a Sequel” and “The Big House” (a quite brilliant doo-wop number).

To truly dislike Muppets Most Wanted represents a certain sense of cynicism. Of course, it lacks the charm of “Man or Muppet” or the impossibly lovely “Life’s a Happy Song,” but it compensates this with a Pink Panther-esque sensibility and a plot so gloriously irreverent, it’s really quite difficult to dislike. Sit through the final number "The Muppets Again, Again" and not break into a ear to ear grin and then we can talk.

Flickering Myth Rating - Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Thomas Harris 

Preview of Starlight #2

March 29, 2014, 3:13 am

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The second issue of writer Mark Miller and artist Goran Parlov's superhero tale Starlight hits shelves this week, and we've got a preview of Starlight #2 for you right here..

Duke McQueen once saved an alien world from destruction—but it happened in a place nobody believes in, during a time nobody remembers. Surrounded by memories of his late wife and his happier past, Duke’s days as a hero are long gone...or so he thinks! Now, a young visitor from the world Duke once saved is coming to him with a desperate plea for help. It’s one last chance at adventure for Duke, and another chapter to unfold in the ever-expanding Millarworld Universe!

Starlight #2 is out on Wednesday, priced $2.99.